|b{Nicholas_Love's_Mirror_of_the_Blessed_Life_of_Jesus_Christ.} |b{A_critical_edition_based_on_Cambridge_University_Library} |b{Additional_MSS_6578_and_6686.} |b{ed._Michael_G._Sargent} |b{Garland_Medieval_Texts,_18} |b{New_York,_London,_1992. |b{pp.3-241.} |b{Lines_unbybed.} |p3 |r[1r]  SPECULUM VITE CHRISTI |r[Page_number] At če byginnyng če proheme of če boke čat is clepede če Mirroure of če blessede life of Jesu criste. |r9  če ferst part for če Moneday. 5  A deuoute meditacion of če grete conseile in heuen for če restoryng of man & his sauacion. Capitulum primum |r13  Of če manere of lyuyng of če blessed virgine Marye. Capitulum 2=m= |r18  Of če Incarnacion of Jesu, & če feste of če Annunciacion & 10 of če gretyng, Aue Maria. Capitulum 3=m= |r21  How čat oure lady went to Elizabeth & mekely gret hir. Capitulum 4=m= |r30  How Joseph čouht to leue priuely oure lady seynt Marye. Capitulum 5=m= |r33 15  Of če Natiuite of oure lord Jesu criste. Capitulum 6=m= |r36  Of če Circoncision of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum 7=m= |r40  Of če Epiphanye, čat is če opune shewyng of oure lorde Jesu Criste. Capitulum 8=m= |r42  Of če purificacion of oure lady seynt Marie. Capitulum 9=m= |r46 20  če secunde part for če twesday.  Of če fleyng of oure lord Jesu in to Egipte. Capitulum 10=m= |r51  Of če turnyng a¨eyn of oure lord Jesu fro Egipt. Capitulum 11=m= |r55  How če child Jesus laft aloue in Jerusalem. Capitulum 12=m= |r57 25  What maner of lyuyng oure lord Jesus hade & what he dide fro his xij ¨ere, in to če biginnyng of his xxx ¨ere. Capitulum 13=m= |r60 |p4  Of če baptisme of oure lord Jesu & če weye čerto. Capitulum 14=m= |r65  če iii part for če Wennesday.  Of če fasting of oure lord Jesu & hese temptacions in 5 deserte. Capitulum 15=m= |r71  How oure lord Jesus began to teche & geder disciples. Capitulum 16=m= |r78  Of če myracle done at če bridale of water turned in to wyne. Capitulum 17=m= |r80 10  Of čat excellent sermon of our lord Jesu in če hille. Capitulum 18=m= |r84  Of če seruant of Centurio & če sone of če litel kynge heled of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum 19=m= |r88  Of če paletyke man let don in his bedde by če house 15 hillyng, & heled of our lord Jesu. Capitulum 20=m= |r89  How čat Martha was heled of hir sekenes by touchyng of če hem of oure lordes cločing. Capitulum 21=m= 89  Of če conuersion of Marie Maudleyn. Capitulum 22=m= |r90 |r[1v]  Of če spekyng of oure lorde Jesus with če woman 20 Samaritane at če pitte of watere. Capitulum 23=m= |r96  Howe če disciples of Jesu plukkeden če eres of corn & eten it for hungere on če sabbote day. Capitulum 24=m= |r98  če iiij part for če thursday.  Of če fedyng of če grete peple with brede multipliede. 25 Capitulum 25=m= |r103  Of če fleyng of oure lorde Jesus when če peple walde haue made him hir kyng. Capitulum 26=m= |r105  Of če praiere of oure lorde Jesu in če hille. Capitulum 27=m= |r108  How če pharisees & očere token occasion of sclandre of če 30 wordes & če dedes of Jesu. Capitulum 28=m= |r111  Of če speciale rewarde of oure lord Jesu behoten to alle čoo čat forsaken če world for his loue. Capitulum 29=m= |r113  Of če transfiguration of oure lord Jesu in če hille. Capitulum 30=m= |r114 35  Of če seke man heled at če water in Jerusalem, clepede probatica piscina. Capitulum 31=m= |r115  How oure lorde Jesus cast oute of če temple, če biggeres & če selleres a¨eynus goddus lawe. Capitulum 32=m= |r117  Of če receyuyng of oure lord Jesu by če tweyn sistres 40 Martha & Marie, & of če two maner of lyuyng čat |p5 bene actif & contemplatife in holi chirch. Capitulum 33=m= |r118  Of če reisyng of Lazare & očer tweyn dede bodies. Capitulum 34=m= |r125 5  Howe če Jues token hir conseil & conspirede a¨eynus Jesu in to his deč. Capitulum 35=m= |r136 How oure lord Jesus came a¨eyn to Betanye če saturday before Palmesunday, & of če sopere made to him čere. Capitulum 36=m= |r137 10  How Jesus come to Jerusalem vpon palme soneday. Capitulum 37=m= |r141  What oure lord Jesus dide fro če palmesuneday in to če čursday after next suynge. Capitulum 38=m= |r143  Of čat worči sopere čat oure lord Jesus made če night 15 before his passion, & of če noble circumstances čat befelle čerwith. Capitulum 39=m= |r146  če v part for če Fryday.  Of če passion of oure lorde Jesu criste, & first of his praiere & takyng at matyne tyme. Capitulum 40=m= |r161 20 |r[2r]  Of če bryngyng of oure lord Jesu before pilate at prime. Capitulum 41=m= |r169  How oure lorde Jesus was dampnede to če deč of če crosse about tierce of če day. Capitulum 42=m= |r172  Of če crucifiyng of our lord Jesu at če sexte houre. 25 Capitulum 43=m= |r176  How oure lord Jesus ¨elde vp če spirite at none. Capitulum 44=m= |r179  Of čoo činges čat befelle after če deč of oure lord Jesu and aftere če none. Capitulum 45=m= |r181 30  Of če takyng done fro če crosse oure lordes body Jesu at euene souge. Capitulum 46=m= |r183  Of če burying of our lorde Jesu at Complyn tyme. Capitulum 47=m= |r186  What was don of our lady & očer after če burying of Jesu. 35 Capitulum 48=m= |r188  če vj part for če saturday  What oure lady & očer with hir diden on če saturday. Capitulum 49=m= |r191 |p6  če vij part for če sonday.  Of če gloriouse Resurrection of oure lorde Jesu, & of če first aperyng of him to his blessed modere as it may be resonably trowede. Capitulum 50=m= |r195 5  How čat Maudleyn & očer Maries come to če Graue. Capitulum 51=m= |r197  How oure lord Jesus aperede to Maudleyn. Capitulum 52=m= |r199  How oure lord Jesus aperede to če čre Maries. Capitulum 53=m= |r201 10  How oure lord Jesus aperede to Petre. Capitulum 54=m= |r202  Of če comyng a¨eyn of oure lord Jesu to če fadres, & of hir ioyful songe. Capitulum 55=m= |r203  How oure lord Jesus aperede to če two disciples goyng towarde če Castell of Emaus. Capitulum 56=m= 203 15  How oure lorde Jesus aperede to hese apostles & disciples čat were reclused for drede on če self day of his Resurrexion. Capitulum 57=m= |r205  How oure lord Jesus aperede če viij day after to hees disciples Thomas presente. Capitulum 58=m= |r208 20  How oure lord Jesus aperede to če disciples in Galile. Capitulum 59=m= |r209  How oure lord Jesus aperede to če disciples at če see Tiberiades. Capitulum 60=m= 209  Of alle če aperynges of our lord Jesu in generale. Capitulum 25 61=m= |r210  Of če Ascension of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum 62=m= |r212 |r[2v]  Of če sendyng done & če comyng of če holi gost. Capitulum 63=m= |r220  Of čat excellent & most worči sacrament of Cristies 30 blessede bodye. Capitulum 64=m= |r225 |r Expliciunt Capitula |p7 Attende lector huius libri prout sequitur in Anglico scripti, quod vbicumque in margine ponitur litera N'. verba sunt translatoris siue compilatoris in Anglicis preter illa que inseruntur in libro scripto secundum communem opinionem a 5 venerabili doctore Bonauentura in Latino de meditacione vite Jesu Christi. Et quando peruenitur ad processum & verba eiusdem doctoris'. inseritur in margine litera B, prout legenti siue intuenti istum librum speculi vite Christi lucide poterit apparere. 10 Memorandum quod circa annum domini Millesimum quadringentesimum decimum, originalis copia huius libri, scilicet Speculi vite Christi in Anglicis'. presentabatur Londoniis per compilatorem eiusdem .N. Reuerendissimo in Christo patri & domino, Domino Thome Arundell, Cantuarie 15 Archiepiscopo, ad inspiciendum & debite examinandum antequam fuerat libere communicata. Qui post inspeccionem eiusdem per dies aliquot'. retradens ipsum librum memorato eiusdem auctori'. proprie vocis oraculo ipsum in singulis commendauit & approbauit, necnon & auctoritate sua 20 metropolitica, vt pote catholicum, puplice communicandum fore decreuit & mandauit, ad fidelium edificacionem, & hereticorum siue lollardorum confutacionem. Amen <\Latin> |p9 |r[3r] Here bigynneč če proheme of če boke čat is clepid če Mirroure of če blissed lyffe of oure lorde Jesu cryste. |r Quecumque scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinam scripta 5 sunt vt per pacienciam & consolacionem scripturar[um] spem habeamus, ad Romanos xv=o= capitulo. |r čese ben če wordes of če gret doctour & holy apostle Powle consideryng čat the gostly leuyng of all trewe crysten creatures in čis worlde stant specialy in hope of če blysse & 10 the lyfe čat is to come in another worlde.  Ande for also mich as tweyne činges pryncipaly noryschen & strenkčen čis hope in man čat is pacience in herte & ensaumple of vertues & gude liuyng of holy men writen in bokes'. Ande souereynly če wordes & če dedis 15 writen of oure lorde Jesu criste verrei god and man for če tyme of his bodily liuyng here in erthe'. čerfore to strenkeč vs & confort vs in čis hope spekeč če Apostle če wordes aforseid to this entent seying čat all thynges čat ben written generaly in holi chirche ande specialy of oure lorde Jesu cryste čei bene 20 wryten to oure lore that by pacience & conforte of holi scriptures we haue hope that is to say of the Life & Blysse that is to come in anothere worlde. Here to acordyng spekeč Seynt Austyn čus, Goddes son toke man & in hym he soffred that longeč to man & was made medicyne of man'. & this 25 medicyne is so mykell čat it may nou¨t be čou¨t. For čer is no pryde bot it may be heled čru¨e mekenes of goddis sone. čer is no Couetyse bot čat it maye be heled thorgh is pouerte'. [No] Wrath bot it may be heled throw his pacience. [No] Malice bot čat it may be heled črow¨e his charite. 30  Ande more ouer čer is no synne or wikkednesse, bot that [he] schal want it & be kept fro [it] če whiche byholdeč inwardly & loueč & foloweč če wordes & the dedis of that man in whome goddes sone ¨aff himself to vs in to ensaumple |p10 of gode leuyng. Wherfore nowe boče men & women & euery Age & euery dignite of this worlde is stirid to hope of euery lastyng lyfe. Ande for čis hope & to čis entent with holi writte also bene wryten diuerse bokes & trettes of |r[3v] devoute men not 5 onelich to clerkes in latyne, but also in Englyshe to lewde men & women & hem čat bene of symple vndirstondyng. Amonge če whiche beč wryten deuovte meditacions of cristes lyfe more pleyne in certeyne partyes čan is expressed in the gospell of če foure euaungelistes. Ande as it is seide če deuoute man & 10 worthy clerke Bonauentre wrot hem to A religiouse woman in latyne če whiche scripture ande wrytyng for če fructuouse matere čerof steryng specialy to če loue of Jesu ande also for če pleyn sentence to comun vndirstondyng [s]emeč amonges očere souereynly edifiyng to symple creatures če whiche as 15 childryn hauen nede to be fedde with mylke of ly¨te doctryne & not with sadde mete of grete clargye & of [hye contemplacion]. Wherfore at če instance & če prayer of some deuoute soules to edification of suche men or women is čis drawynge oute of če forseide boke of cristes lyfe wryten in 20 englysche with more putte to in certeyn partes & wičdrawyng of diuerse auctoritis [and] maters as it semeth to če wryter hereof moste spedefull & edifyng to hem čat bene [of] symple vndirstondyng to če which symple soules as seynt Bernerde seye contemplacion of če monhede of cryste is more likyng 25 more spedefull & more sykere čan is hy¨e contemplacion of če godhed ande čerfore to hem is pryncipally to be sette in mynde če ymage of crystes Incarnacion passion & Resurreccion so that a symple soule čat kan not čenke bot bodyes or bodily činges mowe haue somwhat accordynge vnto 30 is affecion where wič he maye fede & stire his deuocion wherefore it is to vndirstonde at če bygynyng as for [a] pryncipal & general rewle of diuerse ymaginacions čat folowen after in čis boke čat če discriuyng or speches or dedis of god in heuen & angels or očere gostly substances bene only 35 wryten in čis manere, & to čis entent čat is to saye as devoute ymaginacions & likenessis styryng symple soules to če loue of god & desire of heuenly činges for as Seynt Gregory seič. |r[4r] čerfore is če kyngdome of heuene likenet to erčly činges'. čat by čo činges čat bene visible & čat man kyndly knoweč'. he 40 be stirede & rauyshede to loue & desire gostly inuisible činges, čat he kyndly knoweč not. Also seynt Jon seič čat alle čo činges čat Jesus dide, bene not writen in če Gospelle. Wherfore we mowen to stiryng of deuotion ymagine & čenk diuerse wordes & dedes of him & očer, čat we fynde not |p11 writen, so čat it be not a¨eyns če byleue, as seynt Gregory & očer doctours seyn, čat holi writte may be expownet & vndurstande in diuerse maneres, & to diuerse purposes, so čat it be not a¨eyns če byleue or gude maneres. 5  And so what tyme or in what place in čis boke is writen čat čus dide or čus spake oure lorde Jesus or očer čat bene spoken of, & it mowe not be preuet by holi writ or grondet in expresse seyinges of holy doctours'. it sal be taken none očerwyes čan as a deuoute meditacion, čat it mi¨t be so 10 spoken or done. And so for als miche as in čis boke bene contynede diuerse ymaginacions of cristes life, če which life fro če bygynnyng in to če endyng euer blessede & withoute synne, passyng alle če lifes of alle očer seyntes, as for a singulere prerogatife, may worčily be clepede če blessede life 15 of Jesu crist, če which also because it may not be fully discriuede as če lifes of očer seyntes, bot in a maner of liknes as če ymage of mans face is shewed in če mirrroure'. čerfore as for a pertynent name to čis boke, it may skilfully be cleped, če Mirrour of če blessed life of Jesu criste. Forčermore fort 20 speke of če profitable matire of čis boke'. če forseide clerke Bonauenture spekyng to če woman forseide in his proheme bygynneč in čis manere sentence.  Bonauenture incipit. |r Amonge očer vertuese commendynges of če holy 25 virgine Cecile it is writen čat she bare alwey če gospel of criste hidde in her breste, čat may be undirstand čat of če blessed lif of oure lord Jesu criste writen in če gospele, she chace certayne parties most deuoute. in če which she set her meditacion & her čouht ni¨t & day with a clene & hole herte. 30 And when she hade so fully alle če manere of his life ouer gon, she began a¨ayne. And |r[4v] so with a likyng & swete taste gostly chewyng in čat manere če gospell of crist'. she set & bare it euer in če priuyte of her breste. In če same manere I conseil čat čou do. For among alle gostly exercyses I leue čat 35 čis is most necessarye & most profitable, & čat may bringe to če hyest degre of gude liuyng čat stant specialy in perfite despysing of če worlde, in pacience, suffryng of aduersitees, & in encrese & getyng of vertues. For sočely čou shalt neuer finde, where man may so perfitely be taght, first for to stable 40 his herte a¨eynus vanitees & deceyuable likynges of če worlde, also to strengh him amongis tribulacions & |p12 aduersitees, & forčermore to be kept fro vices & to getyng of vertues'. as in če blissede life of oure lorde Jesu, če which was euere withoute defaut most perfite.  First I say čat bisy meditacion & customable of če 5 blessede life of Jesu, stableč če saule & če herte a¨eynus vanitees & deceyuable likynges of če worlde. čis is opunly shewede in če blessed virgine Cecile before nemede, when she fillede so fully her herte of če life of crist'. čat vanytees of če worlde mi¨t not entre in to her. For in alle če grete pompe of 10 weddyngis, where so many vanytees bene usede, whene če organes blewene & songene, she set hir herte stably in god, seying & praying, Lord be my herte & my body clene, & not defilede'. so čat I be not confondet.  Also as to če seconde'. whereof hauen martires here 15 strengh, a¨ayns diuers tormentees'. bot as seynt bernarde seič, in čat čei setten alle here herte & deuocion in če passione & če wondes of criste.  For what tyme če Martire stant with alle če body to rent, & neuer če lesse he is ioiful & glade in alle his peyne, 20 where trowest is čan his soule & his herte? sočely in če wondes of Jesu, ¨ee če wondes not closed, bot opun & wide to entre inne, & elles he shuld fele če harde yryn, & not mowe bere če peyne & če sorow, bot sone faile & denye god. And not onlich Martires'. bot also Confessours, Virgynes, & alle čat 25 liuen ri¨t wisely despisyng če |r[5r] worlde'. in many tribulacions infirmytees & dedes of penance, boče kepyng pacience, & also more ouere čerwič bene ioyful & glade in soule as we mowen se alday. And whi so, bot for hire hertes bene more proprely in cristes body by deuoute meditacion of his blessed lif'. čan 30 in hir awne bodies.  And as to če čridde poynt, čat hit kepeč fro vices, & disposeč souereynly to getyng of vertues'. preueč wele in čat če perfection of alle vertues is fonden in cristes lif. For where salt čou fynde so opun ensaumple & doctrine, of souereyn 35 charite, of perfite pouerte, of profonde mekenes of pacience & očer vertues, as in če blessed lif of Jesu crist.  Herefore seič seynt Bernard, čat he trauaileč in vayn aboute če getyng of vertues'. who so hopeč to fynde hem owhere bot in če lord of vertues, whose lif is če mirrour of 40 temperance & alle očer vertues.  Lo here grete confort & gostly profite in deuoute contemplacion of cristes blessede lif.  Wherefore čou čat coueytest to fele treuly če fruyt of čis boke'. čou most with all či čought & alle čin entent, in čat |p13 manere make če in či soule present to čoo činges čat bene here writen seyd or done of oure lord Jesu, & čat bisily, likyngly & abydyngly, as čei čou herdest hem with či bodily eres, or sey čaim with čin eyen don'. puttyng awey for če 5 tyme, & leuyng alle očer occupacions & bisynesses. And čouh hit so be čat če bigynnyng of če matire of čis boke, čat is če blessede lif of Jesu crist, be at his Incarnation'. neuereles we mowen first deuoutly ymagine & čenk sume činges done before, touchyng god & his angeles in 10 heuene, & also as anentes če blessed virgyne oure lady seynt Marie in erče, of če whech is to bygynne. And for als mich as čis boke is dyuydet & departet in vij parties, after vij dayes of če wike, euery day on partie or sume čerof to be hade in contemplacion of hem čat hauen čerto desire & deuocion'. 15 čerefore at če Moneday as če first werke day of če wike, bygynneč čis gostly werke, tellyng first of če deuoute instance & desire of če holy angeles in heuen for mans restoryng, |r[5v] and his sauacion, to stire man amongis očer čat day specialy to wyrshipe hem, as holy chirch če same day makeč speciale 20 mynde of hem. Also not onelych če matire of čis boke is pertynent & profitable to be hade in contemplacion če forseide dayes, to hem čat wolen & mowen'. bot also as it longeč to če tymes of če ¨ere, as in aduent to rede & deuoutly haue in mynde fro če bigynnyng in to če Natiuite of oure lorde Jesu, 25 & čere of after in čat holy feste of Cristenmesse, & so forč of očer matires as holy chirch makeč mynde of hem in tyme of če ¨ere.  And amongis očere who so redič or herič čis boke felyng any gostly swetnes or grace čerečorth'. pray he for 30 charite specialy for če auctour, & če drawere oute čereof, as it is writen here in english, to če profite of symple & deuoute soules as it was seide before. And čus endič če proheme, & after foloweč če contemplacion for Moneday in če first partie, & če first chapitre. 35  A deuout meditacione of če grete conseile in heuen for če restoryng of man & his sauacione. Capitulum primum & prima pars. |r Aftire če tyme čat man was exilet oute of če hie cite of heuen by če [ri¨twis dome] of almi¨ty god souereyn kyng 40 čerof, for his trespasse & his synne, & so wrecchedly lay in |p14 prison & was halden in če handes of čat Tyrant če deuel of helle, čat none mi¨t come a¨eyne to čat blessed Cite če space of fyue čowsande ¨ere & more'. alle če blessede spirites of heuene, desyrynge če restoryng of hir companye, čat was 5 fallen don with Lucifere, hadden grete compassion of so longe meschefe of manne, čat was made to hire restoring, & prayden often for his restorynge, bot specialy & with more instance when če tyme of grace was comen'. what tyme as we mowen deuoutly ymagine'. alle če blessede companye of angeles 10 gederet to gedire with one wille & souereyn deuocion fellen done prostrate to fore če Throne of almi¨ti gode kyng of heuen, & Gabriel to whome as seynt Bernord seič was made speciale reuelacion of cristes Incarnacion in hire al name |r[6r] seyde in čis manere: 15  Almi¨ty lorde it liked to ¨our hie maieste of ¨our endles gudenes, to make of no¨t čat noble & resonable creature man, for oure comfort & oure gudenesse, čat of him suld be made če restoryng of oure fals companye Lucifere & his felaghes, čat fellen done fro vs by apostasie, so čat he 20 shuld dwelle here in čis blessed place with vs, louyng & wyrchipyng ¨owe with outen ende. Bot lo gude lorde, now alle čei peryshen & none is sauet, & in so many čousande ¨ere passede'. we sene none of hem alle here. Oure enmyes hauen če victory, & of hem oure party is not restoret, bot če prison 25 of helle continuelich filled.  Where to lord be čei born to so grete myschefe? For čough it be done after ¨our ri¨twisnesse'. neuerles lorde it is now tyme of mercy. Haue in mynde čat ¨he made čaim after ¨our awne liknesse, & čough hire formfadres folily & 30 wrecchedly breken ¨our maundment'. neuereles ¨our mercy is aboue alle činge. Wherefore hir alle eyen ben sett vpon ¨ow as če seruantes on če lordes handes, til ¨e haue mercy & help hem with a spedeful & heleful remedye. De contencione inter misericordiam et veritatem &c. 35 |r HErewič began a maner of altercation & disputeson by twix če foure kyngesdouhteres, čat is to say Mercye & sočfastnes, Pees & ri¨twisnes. Of če whech foure Mercy & Pees, acordyng to če Angeles prayere forseide, were fauorable to mannus restoryng. But čat očere tweyn sistres, Sočfastnes 40 & ri¨twisnesse a¨eyn seiden. Also seynt bernarde by deuoute |p15 ymaginacion makeč hereof a processe faire & longe'. Bot for to take čerof shortly as to oure purpose at čis tyme'. sumwhat in očer manere & in očere wordes we mowen ymagine & čenk čus. First Mercye & Pees knelyng to fore hire fadre kyng of 5 heuen by če prophetes wordes, Dauid, seiden čus, Lord shalt čou kast awey fro če man withouten ende? or hast čou for¨eten to do mercye? And čis often & longe tyme čei reherseden. čan seide oure lorde, Let clepe forč ¨our očer tweyn sistres, če whech ¨e seen redy a¨eynus ¨ow, & let vs 10 see also what čei wole say hereto. And when čei were cleped & comen alle to gedire, Mercy began & seide in čis wise, My fadere of Mercye it |r[6v] was ¨our wille euere with outen ende, among ¨our očere douhteres my sisteres to ¨if me čat prerogatif aboue alle ¨our werkes čat not onlich I sulde 15 specialy regne here with ¨ow in heuen'. bot also čat če erče suld be repleynyshede & filled with me, to so mykel vertue'. čat whoso wold treuly & bisily aske my help in any myschef or nede'. he suld with outen faile fynde ¨our socour & help čorh če mediacion of me. Bot lo now my dere fader čat worči 20 partye of erče & ¨oure noble creatour man, in his grete wrecchednes & myschef so longe tyme liggyng crieč continuelich & askeč after my help, & now tyme is comen, in če which bot ¨e help & saue him, I perish & lese my name.  Here a¨eynus čat očer sistere sočfastnes seide, And 25 ¨e knowen wele my fadere sočfast god, čat I am če bygynnyng of ¨our wordes, & after ¨e made man in so grete worčinese čat ¨e weddet me to him in čat condition čat what tyme he breke ¨our hest'. he & alle čat come of him shold lese hire blessed life & be dampnet & done to deč. Wherefore 30 sičen he forsoke me & betoke him to ¨our enemy & myn, če fadere of lesyng'. witnesse my sistere Ri¨twisnes, I perisch & lese my name bot he haue če deč čat he hač deseruet.  čan spake Ri¨twisnesse & seyde, Ri¨twise lorde my fadere, čou hast ordynet me gouernour of či dome lastyng with 35 oute ende & my sistere treuče techere of či lawe, & al čoh it so be čat oure sistere Mercye be stirede of pitee & a gude zele for mans sauacion'. neuerles in čat she wold saue him čat hač so gretly forfeted a¨eynus ¨ow & vs also'. withouten dewe satisfaccion'. she wolde destruye vs boče hire sistren, čat is to 40 sey treuče & ri¨twisnes, & fordo oure name.  Herewič če ferče sistere came forč čat is sey Pees, & first soburly blamyng her sisteres for hire contrarious wordes & hire strif seide to hem čus, know ¨e not wele sistres čat oure fadere hač ordeynet & made his place onlich čere as |p16 I am, & I may not abide nor dwele čer as is strif & dissencion, & čat is not semely but fully a¨eynus kynde to be among vertues? Wherefore bot ¨e cesen of strif & be acordet'. I most forsake ¨ow & my fadere also. 5  Lo here a grete controuersy by twix čees foure doghteres |r[7r] of oure lorde, & so grete resouns, čat it was not seyn how čat in mannus sauacion Mercy & sočfastnes, Pees & ri¨twisnes my¨t fully be kept & acordet.  čan badde če fader of heuen, čat for als mich as he 10 hade committede & ¨ifen alle his dome to his dere son souereyn wisdome, kyng euerlastyng with hym in one godhede'. čat čees foure douhteres shuld go to him he to termyne čis question & ¨if a dome čeron.  And čan če kyng souereyn wisdome wrote če 15 sentence & če dome in čis matire, & toke it to his Chancelere Resone to rede it in his name seying in čees wordes:  čis douhter sočfastnes seič čat she perish & lese hire name bot man haue če deč čat he hač deseruet, & with hire acordeč hire sister ri¨twisnes. And on čat očer side Mercie 20 seič čat she perish & lese hire name bot man haue mercye & be saued, & with hir acordeč če ferče sistere Pees.  Wherefore to acorde alle čees to gedir, & for a finale dome in čis matire, let be made a gude deč of man, so čat one be fonden withouten synne, čat may & wole innocently & for 25 charite suffre deč for man'. & čan haue čei alle čat čei asken. For čan may not deč lengire hald hym čat is with oute synne or trespasse, & so he shale pers him makyng in him a hole & a way čorow če which man may passe & be sauede. In čis sentence & dome alle če court of heuen wondryng & 30 commendyng če souereyn wisdome'. assentiden wele hereto, bot forčermore askeden among hem self where čat one mi¨t be fonden čat shold fulfille & do čis dede of charite. And čan Mercy toke with hire reson & souht among alle če ordres of angeles in heuen, to se whečer any of hem were able to do čis 35 dede, bot čer was none.  Also sočfastnes souht fro heuen to če cloudes benečen, whečer čere were any creature čat mi¨t performe it, & čei weren alle vnable.  Ri¨twisnes went doone to erče & souht among če hie 40 hilles & in to če depe pitt of helle, whečer čere were any man čat mi¨t take čis gude & innocent deč, bot čer was none fonden clene of synne, no not če child of one dayis birče, & so she went |r[7v] a¨eyne vp to hire sisteres tellyng čat alle men hade forfetede & weren vnable, & čer was none čat mi¨t do |p17 čat gude dede. Wherefore čei weren alle ful sory & heuy čat čei mi¨t not fynde čat one čat čei desirede. čan seide Pees, witte ¨e not wele čat če profete seide čer is none fonden čat may do gude. After warde he putteč to 5 more & seič til hit come to one. čis one man may be he čat ¨af če sentence forseide of mannus sauacion. Wherefore pray we him, čat he wille help & fulfille it in dede. For to him spekeč če profete in če psalme forseide, seiyng, Lord čou shalt saue man & bestes after či mikel mercy. 10  Bot čan was a question among če sistres committed to Reson fort termyne which person of čre fader & son & Holigost one god sholde become man & do čis mercifull dede. čan seide Reson čat for als mych as če person of če fadere is proprely dredeful & mi¨ty, če person of če son all 15 wise & witty, & če person of če holygost most benyng & godely'. če seconde persone semeč most conuenient as to če ful acorde of če forseide sistres to če skilful remedye of man, & to če most resonable victorye of če enemye. For as anentys če first, if če person of če fadere shuld do čis dede'. for his 20 drede & mi¨t, Mercy & Pees mi¨t sumwhat haue him suspecte, as not fully fauorable to hem, & so on čat očer side, for če souereyn benygnyte & gudenes of če holigost, trewč & Ri¨twisnes mi¨t drede of not ful satisfactione bot to mikel mercy. Wherfore as a gude meyn euen to boče parties, če 25 person of če son is most conuenient to performe čis dede čorough his souereyn witte & wisdome. Also it semeč most skilful remedye to man for als mich as he forfeted by vnwitte & folye, čat satisfaction be made for him by sočfast wisdome čat is če son, so čat as he felle to deč 30 by če fals worde of če feende, čat he rise a¨eyne to life by če trew worde of gode. And as for most resonable victory of če enmy it is skilful čat as he conquered man by wikked sleght & fals wisdome, so he be ouercomen & venkisched by gude sleght & trew wisdome. 35  And when Reson hade seide čis verdeit'. če fadere seide it was his wille čat it shuld be so, če son ¨af gladly his assent čerto, & če holigost seide he wolde wirch čerto also. And čan fallyng done alle če spirites of heuen & souereynly |r[8r] čankyng če holi trinyte, če foure sistres forseide weren 40 kyssed & made acorde, & so was fulfilled čat če profete dauid seid, Mercy & sočfastnes metten louely to gedere. Ri¨twisnes & Pees hauen kyssed. And čus was termynet & endet če grete conseil in heuen for če restoryng of man & his sauacion. |p18  če which processe sal be taken as in liknes & onlich as a manere of parable & deuoute ymaginacion, stiryng man to loue god souereynly for his grete mercy to man & his endles gudnes. Also to honour & wirchipe če blessede angels 5 of heuen for hire gude wille to man & for his sauacion hauyng continuele bysinesse, & also to loue vertues & hate synne, čat broght man to so gret wrecchednes.  And čus mykel & in čis maner may be seide & čought by deuoute contemplacion of čat was done aboue in 10 heuen byfore če Incarnacion of Jesu'. now go we done to erče, & čenk we how it stode wič his blessed modere Marie, & what was hire liuyng here before če Incarnacion of Jesu čat foloweč aftere. Of če manere of lyuyng of če blessede virgine Marie. 15 Capitulum secundum. |r As it is writen in če life of oure lady seynt Marie whan she was čre ¨ere olde, she was offrede in če temple of hire fadere & modere, & čere she abode & dwellet in to če fourtene ¨ere. And what she dide & how she lyued čere in čat 20 tyme, we mowen knowe by če reuelationes made of hire to a deuoute woman which men trowen was seynt Elizabeth. In če whech reuelationes is contynet amongis očere, čat oure lady tolde to če same woman & seide in čis manere:  Whan my fader & my modere laften me in če temple, 25 I purposed & set stably in my herte to haue god in to my fadere, & oft sičis with grete deuotion I čought what I mi¨t do pleysyng to god, so čat he wold vouchsafe to sende me his grace. And herwič I was taght & I lerned če lawe of my lord god. In če which lawe of alle če hestes & biddynges 30 principaly I kept čre in my herte. če first is, čou shalt loue či lord god with alle či herte, with all či soule, with alle či mynde & with alle či mi¨tes. če seconde, čou shalt luf či nei¨borh as či self'. če čridde is, čou shalt hate čin enmye. 35  čees I kept trewly in herte, & anone I conceyued & toke alle če vertues |r[8v] čat beč contyned in hem. For čere may no soule haue any vertue bot it loue god with alle če herte, for of čis loue comeč alle če plente of grace. And after it is comen, it abideč not in če soule, bot renneč oute as water, bot 40 it so be čat he hate hees enmyes, čat is to say vices & synnes. |p19 Wherefore he čat wole haue grace & kepe it'. hit behoueč čat he dispose & ordeyn his herte to loue & to hate, as it is seide. And so I wole čat čou do in manere as I dide.  I rose vp al gate at mydny¨t & went forč before če 5 autere of če temple, & čere with als grete desire & wille & affection as I koude & mi¨t'. I asked grace of almi¨ty god to kepe čo čre hestes, & alle očer biddynges of če lawe. And so standyng to fore če autere I made vij peticiones to god, če whech bene čees: 10  First I asked grace of god, čorh če which I mi¨t fulfil če heste of loue, čat is to sey, fort loue him with all my herte &c.  če seconde'. I asked čat I mi¨t loue my neičborh after his wille & his likyng, & čat he wolde make me to loue alle 15 čat he loueč.  če čridde, čat he wolde make me to hate & to eschewe alle činge čat he hateč.  če ferče'. I asked meknes pacience, benignyte & swetnes, & alle očer vertues by če whech I mi¨t be graciouse 20 & plesyng to goddus si¨t.  če fift peticion I made to god, čat he wolde let me se če tyme in če whech čat blessed maiden shold be born, čat shuld conceyue & bere goddus son, & čat he wolde kepe myn eyene čat I mi¨t se hire. Min eres'. čat I mi¨t here hire speke. 25 My tonge'. čat I mi¨t praise hire. Myn handes'. čat I mi¨t serue hire wič. Myn fete čat I mi¨t go to hire seruice, & myn kneene'. with če whech I mi¨t honour & wirchip goddus son in hire barme.  In če sexte peticion'. I asked grace to be obeschante 30 to če biddynges & če ordinances of če bischope of če temple. And in če vij'. I prayed god to kepe alle če peple to his seruyce.  And whan če forseide cristes seruant hade herde čees wordes'. she seide a¨eyne, A swete lady, were not ¨e ful of 35 grace & of alle vertues? And če blessed mayden marie answerede, Wit čou wele for certayne, čat I held myself als gilty, most abiecte, & vnworči če grace of god'. as čou. And more ouere, trowest čou doghter, čat alle če grace čat I hade, I hade withoute trauaile? Nay, not |r[9r] so. Bot I telle če & do če 40 to witte čat I hade no grace, ¨ifte nor vertue of god, withoute grete trauaile, continuele praiere, ardant desire, profonde deuocion, & with many teres & mich affliccion spekyng, čenkyng & doyng alwey as I kuoče & mi¨t, čat was plesyng |p20 to god, čat is to sey, outake če holy grace, čorh če which I was halowed in my modere wombe.  And forčermore oure lady seid wit čou wele in certayn, čat čere comeč no grace in to mannus soule bot by 5 prayere & bodily affliccion. And after čat we haue ¨iuen to god čo činges čat we mowen, čouh čei bene litel & fewe'. čan comeč he in to če soule, bryngyng with him so grete & so hye ¨iftes of grace, čat it semeč to če soule, čat she faileč in hire self, & leseč mynde & čenkeč čat euer she seide or dide any 10 činge plesyng to god, & čan she semeč in hire awne si¨t more foule & more wrecched čan she was euer before. Alle čis sentence is contyned in če forseide reuelaciones.  Also seynt Jerome writyng of hire life seič in čis maner, čat če blessed maiden Marie ordynet to hire self čis 15 maner of reule in lyuyng, čat fro če morn tyde in to če terce of če day'. she ¨af hire alle to prayeres, & fro terce in to none'. she occupied hire bodily with weuyng werke. And eft fro none she went not fro prayeres, to če angele of god came & apperede to hire, of whose hande she toke mete to če bodily 20 sustynance. And so she profited algate bettur & better in če werk & če loue of god. And so it befel čat she was fonden in wakyng, če first. In če wisdome of goddus lawe'. most kunnyng. in mekenes'. most lowe. in če song & če salmes of dauid'. most conuenyent & semelich. in charite'. most 25 graciouse. in clennes'. most clene & in alle manere vertue'. most perfite.  Sche was sadde & inuariable, so fer forč'. čat as she profited alday bettur & bettur'. so was čer none, čat euer seih or herde hire wroč. Alle hire spech was so ful of grace'. čat 30 god was knowen by hire tonge. Sche was continuelich dwellyng in prayere & in če lore of goddes lawe, & algate bisy aboute hire felaghes čat none of hem shold trespasse or synne in any worde, & čat none shold lawh dissolutly'. & also čat none of hem shold offend očer'. čorh pride or any wronge, 35 & euer withouten failyng |r[9v] she blessed god, & lest perchance by any gretyng or preysyng she suld be letted fro če loouyng of god'. what tyme any man gret hire'. she answered a¨eyn, Deo gracias'. čat is to sey, čonked be god. Wherefore of hir sprange first, čat what tyme holi men bene gret, čei seyen 40 a¨eyn, Deo gracias, as she seid.  Sche was fedde of če mete čat she toke of če angeles hande, & čat mete čat she toke of če bischope of če temple, she ¨af to pore men. Euery day goddus angele spake with hire & als he shuld to his derworč sister or modere'. so he serued |p21 & was obeschant to hire. čus mich seič seynt Jerome of hire life.  Forčermore in hire xiiij ¨ere čat blessed maiden marie was weddet to Joseph by če reuelacion of god, & čen 5 went she home a¨eyn into Nazareth als it is writen by processe in če story of hir Natiuite. Bot čus mich at čis tyme sufficeč to haue in mynde & in contemplacioune of čo činges čat befellen before če Incarnacion, če whech whoso wole wele čenk & haue deuoutly in mynde & folowe vertuesly in dede'. 10 he shal fynd hem full of gostly fruyt.  Now come we to speke of če Incarnacion of oure lord Jesu. Of če Incarnacion of Jesu, & če feste of če Annunciacion, & of če gretyng Aue Maria. Capitulum tercium. 15 |r WHen če plente of tyme of grace was come in če which če hie Trinite ordeynet to saue mankynd čat was dampnet čorh če synne of Adam, for če grete charite čat he hade to mankynd, spiryng him his grete mercy, & also če prayere & če instance of alle če blessed spirites of heuen, after 20 čat če blessed maiden Marie weddet to Joseph was gone home to Nazareth'. če fadere of heuen called to him če archangel Gabriel & seid to him in čis manere:  Go to oure dere doghter Marie če spouse of Joseph če which is most chere to vs of alle creatures in erče, & sey 25 to hire čat my blessed son hač coueyted hire shape & hire bewtye & chosen hire to his modere & čerfore pray hir čat she receyue him gladly. For by hir I haue ordeynet če hele & če sauacion of al mankynd, & I wole for¨ete & for¨iue če wrong čat hač be done to me of him here before. 30  Now take hede, & ymagine of gostly činge as it |r[10r] were bodily, & čenk in či herte as čou were present in če si¨t of čat blessed lord, with how benyng & glad semblant he spekeč čees wordes. And on čat očer side, how Gabriel with a likyng face & glad chere vpon his knen knelyng & with 35 drede reuerently bowyng receueč čis message of his lord. And so anone Gabriel risyng vp glad & iocunde, toke his fli¨t fro če hye heuen to erče, & in a moment he was in mannus liknes before če virgine Marie, čat was in hire pryue chaumbure čat tyme closed & in hir prayeres, or in hire meditaciones 40 perauentur redyng če prophecie of ysaie, touchyng če |p22 Incarnacion. And ¨it also swiftly as he flewe, his lord was come before, & čer he fonde al če holy Trinite comen or his messagere.  For čou shalt vndurstand čat čis blessed Incarnacion 5 was če hie werke of al če holy Trinite, čouh it so be čat al only če person of če son was incarnate & bycame man. Bot now beware here čat čou erre not in imaginacion of god & of če holi Trinite, supposyng čat čees čre persones če fadere če son & če holi gost bene as čre erčly men, čat čou seest with 10 či bodily eye, če whech ben čre diuerse substances, ech departed fro očere, so čat none of hem is očer. Nay it is not so in čis gostly substance of če holi trinyte, for čo čre persones ben on substance & on god, & ¨it is čere none of čees persones očer. Bot ¨it maič čou not vndirstande by 15 mannes reson ne conceyue with či bodily wit, & čerfore take here a generale doctrine in čis mater now for algate. What tyme čou herest or čenkest of če trinyte or of če godhede or of gostly creatours as angeles & soules če whech čou maist not se in hire propre kynde with či bodily eye, nor fele with 20 či bodily witte'. study not to fer in čat matere occupy not či wit čerwič als čou woldest vndurstande it, by kyndly reson, for it wil not be while we be in čis buystes body lyuyng here in erče. And čerfore when čou herest any sich činge in byleue čat passeč či kyndly reson, trowe sočfastly čat it is soč as 25 holy chirch techeč & go no ferčer.  And so čou shalt byleue in čis matere of če Incarnacion, čat če seconde person in trinyte goddus son of heuen cam in to erče & toke flesh & blode of če blessed virgyne Marie, & becam verray man & ¨it was he neuer 30 departed fro če fader |r[10v] or če holi gost in his godhed, bot euer was dwellyng stille with hem one verray god in heuen.  Bot now fort go to oure purpose of če Incarnacion before seide'. take hede & haue in mynde as čou were present in če pryue chaumbur of our lady where če holi trinyte is 35 present with his angele Gabriel. A lord what house is čat, where sech gestes bene & sech činges ben don. For čouh čat če holy trinyte is euery where by presence of his godhede, neuerlese čou maič čenk & vndurstand, čat he is čere in a more speciale manere by reson 40 of čis hie werke, of če Incarnacion.  Gabriel čan entred in to Maries chaumbure čat was stoken fro men bot not fro angeles as seynt Bernerde seič, knelyng with reuerence beganne his message in čees wordes |p23 & seid, Heile ful of grace, Oure lord is with če. blessed be čou in women or aboue al women.  Marie čan heryng čis message, & čis new gretyng, čat she neuere herd before'. was astoned & abashed & no¨t 5 answered, bot čouht what čis gretyng my¨t be. Sche was not abasched or disturblet by any viciouse or synful disturblyng nor agast of his presence, for she was wont to angeles presence & to če si¨t of hem'. bot as če gospel seič, She was astoned in his worde, čat was a new gretyng. For he was neuer 10 wont before to grete hire in čat maner. And for als mich as in čat gretyng she saye her self comend & praised specialy in čre grete činges, in čat she was perfitely meke'. she most nede be abasched in čat hye gretyng. For she was comend čat she was ful of grace, & čat oure lord was with hire, & čat she was 15 blessed aboue al women. And for als mich as če perfite meke may not here his praisyng without abaschement & shamfastnes'. čerfore she was abasched & astonede with a honest shamfastnes, & also with drede, for čouh she trowed wele čat če angele seid soč'. neuerles she dred his worde, for 20 as mich as čei čat been perfitly meke, han čat proprete čat čei reward not hire awne vertues, bot račer taken hede to hir awne defautes, wherečorh čei mowen algate profite vertuesly haldyng in hemself a grete vertue litel & a litel defaute grete. And so as wise & warre as schamfast & dredful she held hire 25 pees & |r[11r] answered not.  Here čan mai¨t čou take ensaumple of Marie, first to loue solitary praiere & departyng fro men čat čou mowe be worči angeles presence, & forčermore, lore of wisdome to here or čou speke, & fort kepe silence & loue litil spech, for čat is 30 a ful gret & profitable vertue. For Marie herde first če angele twis speke or she wold answere ones a¨eyn. And čerfore it is abhominable činge, & gret reproue to a maiden or virgyne to be a gret iaunglere & namly a religiouse.  Forčermore after če gospel, če angele biholdyng hire 35 semblande & knowyng če cause of hire abaishment & drede'. answered to hire čouht & spake more homelich, callyng hire be name & seide, Drede čou no¨t Marie, & be čou no¨t abashed or ashamet of če praisyng čat I haue gret če wič, for so is če treuč, & not only čou art ful of grace in či self, bot 40 also čou hast fonden special grace of god & rekeuerde grace to alle mankynde. Forwhi, Lo čou shalt conceyue & bere a childe, & čou shalt calle his name Jesus, čat betokenneč sauioure, for he sal saue fro synne & fro dampnacion alle his peple čat treuly hopen in him. |p24  Here seič sent Bernerd, God graunt čat my lord Jesus vouch saue to noumbre me among his peple, so čat he saue me fro my synnes. For sočly I drede čat many shewen hem as čei were of his peple, če whech he knoweč not ne hač not as 5 his peple. And as I dred he may sey to many čat semen in his peple more religiouse & more holi čan očere'. čis peple wirchipeč me with lippes, bot sočly hire herte is ful ferre fro me. Bot wolde čou know whečer čou be of his peple or wilt čou be of his peple'. do čat he oure lord Jesus biddeč in če 10 gospel & če lawe & če prophetes, & also čat he biddeč by his ministres, & be buxum to hes vikeres, čat bene in holy chirch či souereyns, not only gude & wele lyuyng'. bot also schrewes & yuel lyuyng, & so lerne of Jesu to be meke in herte & buxom & čen shalt čou be of his blessed peple. 15  Bot here now forčermore what če angel, spekeč in praisyng of čis child Jesus, He shal be grete, no¨t in temporele lordshipe & worldly dignite, for čat he shal forsake, bot he shal be grete god & man, grete prophete in miracles worching, grete doctour in sočfast prechynge, & grete conquerour in 20 mi¨tyly če deuel ouercomyng, & so worčily He sal be cleped, če son ofče alčer hiest |r[11v] lord god, če whech sal ¨iue him če sete of Dauid his fadere, for he sal take mankynde & be born in flesh by desent of his ansetrye. And he sal regne in če house of Jocob euermore & of his kingdom sal be none ende. 25 čis hous of Jacob is gostly holychirch, in če which Jesus sal reigne in trew soules, first ouercomyng synnes & če deuel here in erč by grace, & after in heuen in blisse withoute ende.  Here mai¨t čou sey with seynt Bernard, desiryng in če če kyngdom of Jesu'. čus: 30  Come my lord Jesu & put awey alle sklandres of synne fro či reume, čat is my soule, so čat čou may regne čerin as če oweč to do. For coueytise comeč & chaulengeč his rewme in me'. Presumption coueteč to be my lord. Pride wolde be my qwene. Lechery seič I wole reigne. Detraction, Enuy, 35 Wrač & Glotony stryuen which of hem sal principaly reigne in me, & I in als mych as I may a¨eyn stand hem. Bot čou my lord Jesu destruye hem in či vertue, & take čou či rewme & či kyngdom in me, for I haue no trew kyng bot če my lord Jesu. 40  And when če angel hade tolde čes conditiones & če worčines of čis blessed child Jesus to čat meke maiden Marie čat was chosen to his modere'. čan she spake first to če angele no¨t dredyng of his wordes nor of hire conceyuyng nor knalechyng nor forsakyng če preysynges before seide of his |p25 gretyng'. bot willyng to be more pleynly certified of čat she dredde most, čat was čat she shuld not lese hire maidenhede, asked of če angel če manere of hire conceyuyng in čees wordes'. How & of what maner sal čis be done, sičen I know 5 no man fleshly, & I haue made a vowe to kepe me chast to my lord god, without faile, & I sal neuer dele with man fleshly. And čen če angel answered & seid to hire, It sal be done be če worching of če holi gost, čat sal li¨ten in to če in a singulere manere, & čorh his vertue čat is alčerhiest'. čou 10 shalt conceyue sauyng či maidenhede & čerfore čat holi činge čat sal be born of če, sal be named goddus son. And in confort forčermore hereof, Lo, Elizabeth či cosyn čat is olde & was baren hač conceyued a child nowe sex monečes apassed, for čer sal no činge be impossible to god. 15  Now take here gude hede & haue in mynde, how first al če holy trinyte is čere abydyng a finale answere & assent |r[12r] of his blessed douhtere Marie takyng hede & beholdyng likyngly hire shamefast sembland hir sad maneres & hir wise wordes'. And forčermore how alle če blessed spirites of 20 heuen, & alle če ri¨twislyuyng men in erče & alle če chosen soules čat weren čat tyme in helle as Adam Abraham Dauid & alle očer desireden here asent in če which stode če sauacion of alle mankynde. And also how če angele Gabriel standyng wič reuerence before his lady enclynande & with mylde 25 semblande abideč če answere of his message. And on čat očere side take hede how marie stant saddely with drede & meknes in grete auysment hauyng no pride nor veyn glorye for alle če hye praisyng before seide. Bot čo souereyn ¨iftes of grace čat she hač herd ¨iuen to hire čat neuer were ¨iuen to 30 creatour byfore'. alle she aret only to če grace of god.  Lerne čou čen by ensaumple of hire to be shamefast vertuesly & meke, for without čees tweyn vertues'. maidenhede or virginyte is litel worč.  For as seynt Bernerd seič, virginite is a faire vertue, 35 bot mekenes is more necessary. For čou maičt be saue without če first bot without čat očer čat is mekenes čou maist not. In so mich čat I dar herdly sey, čat without meknes če virginyte of Marie had no¨t be plesyng to god. For bot Marie had be meke'. če holi gost hade not rested vp on hire, seič seynt 40 Bernerd.  At če last os če ende of če gospel seič, če myld maiden Marie when she hade herd & wisely vndirstand če angeles wordes by gude auysement'. ¨af hire asent in čis manere, as it is writen in hire reuelaciones, she kneled done |p26 with souereyn deuocion & haldyng vp boče hire handes & liftyng vp hire eyen to heuen seid čees wordes, Lo here če hande maiden & če seruant of my lord be it done to me & fulfilled after či worde. And so in čees meke & lowe wordes 5 of Marie at če ende čou hast ensaumple of grete mekenes, as čou haddest in hire silence at če bygynnyng.  Lo she is chosen goddus modere & of če angele cleped ful of grace'. she nemeč hireself his hande maiden. And no wondere, for as seynt Bernerd seič, mekenes is euere wont 10 to be felawe with če grace of god. Bot čis mekenes was not litel, for as he seič, it is not much to praise mekenes in abiectioun, bot it is a grete vertue & seldom seen |r[12v] mekenesse in wirchipe.  Also sone čen as she hade ¨iue here answere, goddus 15 son entred in to hire wombe, & čorh wirching of če holi gost was made man in verrey flesh & blode taken of hire body & not as očer children conceyued & boren by kynde ben shapen membre aftere membre & after če soule shedde in to če body'. bot anone at če first instance, he was ful shapen in alle 20 membres & alle hole man in body & soule, bot neuerles ful litel in quantite. For aftere he waxed more & more kyndly as očer children done. So čat at če first he was ful perfite god & man als wise & als mi¨ty as he is now.  And when čis was done Gabriel knelyng done wič 25 oure lady & sone after wič here risyng vp'. toke curteysly his leue of hire with a deuout & lowe bowyng to če erče, & so vanyshed awey fro hire wič a swift fli¨t & toke his wey to heuen a¨eyn tellyng & certifiyng če holy court of heuen his message fulfilled, & čat čat was done in erče, & čen was čere 30 a new ioy & a new fest & ful miche mirč & solempnyte.  Afterward oure lady fulfilled & enflaumede with če holi gost, & in če loue of god more brennyng čen she was before'. felyng čat she hade conceyued'. kneled don & čonked god of čat grete ¨ifte, mekelich besekyng him & deuoutlich 35 praiyng čat he wold send hire grace & tech hire so'. čat alle čat were after to come & to be done about his blessed son čat she mi¨t fulfille hem & do hem without defaute.  And čus mich touchyng če gospel & če processe of če Incarnacion of Jesu criste. 40 Of če feste of če Annunciacion and of čoo činges čat befelle čat day. |p27 |r Nowe take gode hede & vndurstande how worči čis fest & čis solempnite is, & haue čerfore a gostly mirč & make a speciale fest in či soule, čonkyng god inwardly, for sech was neuer herde before. For čis is če solempnite of alle če holi 5 trinite fadere & son & holi gost by whom čis souereyn dede of če Incarnacion was wro¨t & fulfilled as it is seide before. čis also is a speciale fest of oure lady seynt Marie če which as čis day was chosen of če fadere of heuen in to his dere douhter & of če son in to his mylde modere, & of če holi gost 10 in to his speciale spouse. čis day is also a special solempnite of alle če blessed spirites of heuen for čis day was begunne če restoryng of hire company & felaschipe |r[13r] čat felle done by synne of Lucifere. Bot souereynlich čis day is a hye fest & a special solempnite of al mankynde. For čis day was mankynd 15 souereynly wirchiped in čat he was oned & knyt to če godhede in crist without departyng. And čis day began če hele & če redemption of mankynd & če reconcilyng to če fadre of heuen, for in to čis tyme god was wroč to mankynd for če synne & če trespase of oure forme fadres, bot fro čis tyme 20 forč, he may no lengire be wroč seyng his dere son bycome man. And čerfore is čis day skilfully called če plente of tyme to man.  And so čis day oweč euer to be hade in mynde of man & woman, for čis day was man made to če liknes & če 25 ymage of god & set in čat ioyful place of Paradise & fort haue lyued euer without deč. And čis day če first man Adam by če frute of če tre forboden, deformede in him čat ymage of god, & lost čat ioyful place, & was dampnet to deč without endyng.  Bot čis day če seconde Adam crist god & man 30 reformed čis ymage in his Incarnation, & after by vertue of če blessed fruyt of his body, hangyng on če tre of če crosse'. restorede man to blisse & life euerlastyng.  Also čis day če first woman Eue čorh pride assentynge to če serpent če deuel of helle was cause of 35 mannus dampnacion'. & čis day če blessed maiden Marie čorh mekenes trowyng to če angele Gabriel was cause of mannus sauacion.  And so čis day hač man matere of gret ioy & of grete sorow. First of gret ioy'. for če souereyn gudenes, 40 wirchipe & grace of god done to him. And also of grete sorow, for his grete synne & vnkyndnes done to god a¨eynward. |p28  And čus mai¨t čou haue či contemplacion of čis day & of čis blessed fest of cristes Incarnacion & oure ladies Annunciacion.  And for als miche as čat blessed gretyng of če angele 5 Gabriel where wič we honouren & greten oure lady euery day is grondet in čis gospel as čou hast herde here before'. čerfore I sal telle če sumwhat more hereof as me čenkeč to stire či deuocion če more in seying of čat gretyng, Aue maria &c. As I conceyue čis gretyng in maner as holi chirch hač 10 ordeynet it to be seide, hač fyue parties in če which mowen be vndurstand specialy če fyue ioyes of oure lady, & in čo fyue ioyes'. fyue vertues čat she hade in hem souereynly aboue alle erčly creatours, če whech ben, Meknes |r[13v] Chastite, Feič, Hope & Charite. 15  In če first part of čis gretyng čat stant in čees tweyn wordes, Heyl Marie'. čow mai¨t vndirstond če first ioy čat she hade in hire Annunciacion of Jesu gracious conceyuyng, of če which'. mekenes was če grounde as čou hast herde before. And as čees wordes Heil Marie, bene če first & če bygynnyng of 20 čis gretyng'. so čis fest was če bygynnyng & če gronde of al očere. And as it was če bygynnyng of Maries ioy & al mankynd'. so is meknes če bygynnyng & gronde of al vertues. And čerfore in čees first wordes Heyl Marie, skilfully čou maist vndurstande če first ioy čat she hade in hire 25 Annunciation, of če conceyuyng of hire blessed son Jesu, & čat specialy čorh če vertue of Mekenes.  In če seconde party čat stant in čees wordes, Ful of grace, may be vndurstonde če seconde ioy čat Marie hade in Jesu Natiuyte & hire ioyfulle berynge. In če which she hade 30 souereynly če vertue of Chastite & of clennesse. & čerfore čen was she specialy ful of grace, in čat čat sche clene maiden & modire bare without sorowe čat neuer dide woman bot sche alonly.  In če čridde parte čat is in čes wordes, Oure lord is 35 with če may be vndirstonde če čridde ioy čat sche hade in hire son Jesu gloriouse vprisyng speciali be če vertue of stedfast feič & trewe by leue. For fro his deč into čat time he dwelled al only with hire by stedfast byleue čat sche had čat alle his aposteles & disciples weren departed fro him by mysbyleue & 40 despeire čat he was god. And čerfore če feič of holy chyrch čo čre daies stod al only in hire so in čat tyme it my¨t specialy be seide to hire Oure lord is with če čat is to sey by trew feič & byleue. And after at his vprising more speciali bi |p29 his bodily presence first to hire aperyng was fulfilled Oure lord is with če.  In če ferče parte čat is in čes wordes, Iblessed be čou in women or elles aboue al women may be vndirstonde če 5 ferč ioy čat she hade, in če siht of hire sone Jesu mi¨teli to heuen vp steing. In če which si¨t če hope čat sche hadde in his godhede was fullich strengčede & confermede seying čat očer women neuer dide čat was čat part čat he toke of hire in fleisch & blode bodily čoru¨ če mi¨t of če godhed boren vp 10 to heuen & so hoping withoute |r[14r] drede čat she sholde folow aftere. Wele čan miht it be seid čat tyme & now may to hire, Blessed be čou souereynly in women, seing či son Jesu mihtily to heuen vpsteynge.  In če fift part, čat is Blessed be če fruyt of či wombe 15 Jesus, may be vndurstond če last ioy čat she hade in hire blessed sone Jesu when he toke hire vp with him to blis. & čere wirchipfully coronede hire qwene of heuen euerelastynge, čan was hire desire & loue fulfillede, when she was endlesly čorh plente of Charite knyt to hire blessed son Jesu & he to 20 hire, & so fedde with čat blessed fruyt čat she couated nomore, for she was čerečorh filled of al gudenes, blisse & ioy without ende.  And čus shortly in če fyue parties of čis gretyng Aue maria mowen be vndurstonde če fyue ioyes of blessed Marie 25 with fyue vertues čat sche hade souereynly in hem, as I haue now seide, če which gretyng after če comune vndurstandyng may be čus seide in englishe tonge, Heyl Marie, Ful of grace, Oure lord is with če, Blessed be čou souereynly in women, & če fruyt of či wombe Jesus euere blessede be. 30  And if če lust in čis gretyng specifie če fyue ioyes with če fyue vertues before seide'. čow maiht sey čus in short wordes: Heil Marie'. maiden mekest. Gret of angel gabriel in Jesu graciouse conceyuyng. 35 Ful of grace'. as modere chast without sorow or peyne či son, Jesu blessed beryng. Oure lord is & was with če by trew feič at Jesu ioyful vprysyng. Blessed be čou souereynly in women, 40 by sadde hope seying či sone Jesu to heuen mihtily vpsteyng. And blessed be če fruyt ofči wombe Jesus, in euerlastyng blisse čorh perfite charite če quene of heuen gloriously cronyng. |p30 Be čou oure help in al oure nede, & socour at our last endynge. Amen.  Sičen čen če processe of če blessed Incarnacion of Jesu, & če bygynnyng & mynde of če ioyes of his blessed 5 modere Marie, & če gronde of sauacion of mankynd is contened in čis gospell, Missus est, as it is seide, & čou hast herd before'. wič gret deuocion & gostly desire owest čou & euery cristien creature here čis gospel & wirchipe čerin Jesu čat so bycame man for oure sake, & his blessed modere Marie 10 to whose wirchipe & profite of či soule & myn'. čis short tretyse be wryten. Amen. |r[14v] How oure lady went to Elizabeth & mekely grett hire. Capitulum iiij=m= |r After če processe of če Incarnacion of Jesu before 15 seide'. če blessed maiden Marie hauyng in mynde če wordes of če angele touching hire cosyn Elizabeth'. she purposed to viset hire fort čonke god with hire & also to ministre & to serue hire. And so with hire spouse Joseph, she went fro Nazareth to hire house beside Jerusalem, čat is če space of 20 sixty Mile & fourtene or čere aboute. Sche taried not & lettid not for če louge & disesy wey'. bot anone she went with hast, for she wold not longe be seene in opun among folk. And so she was not heuyed or chargied by če conceyuyng of hire sone as comunely beč očer women, for oure lorde Jesus was not 25 chargant to his modere. Now take hede how čat blessed lady qwene of heuen & of erče goč alone with hire spouse & čat not vp on hors bot on fote. She ledeč not with hire many kny¨tes & barones nor če grete companye of boure maidenes & damyseles, bot sočely 30 čere goč with hire a wele better companye, & čat is Pouert, Mekenes, & honest Shamefastnes, ¨ei & če plente of alle vertues, & če best of alle čat is oure lorde god is with hire. She hač a grete & wirchipful company, bot not of če vanyte & če pompe of če world. And what tyme she came & 35 entred in to če house of Zakarye'. she gret his wife Elizabeth in čis manere, Alheyle my dere sistere Elizabeth. And anone herewič Elizabeth glad & ioyful & li¨tnet čorh če holy gost'. rose vp & clepped hire dereworčly & tendurly criyng for ioy & seying čus'. Blessed be čou amonge women & blessed be če 40 fruyt of či wombe. And wherfore or of what desert is čis |p31 befallen me, čat če modere of my lord shold come to me? &c. and so forč in če wordes of če gospelle. And so what tyme čat oure blessed lady gret Elizabeth'. Jone in his modere wombe was fulfilled with če holi gost, & 5 also his modere, & no¨t first če modere čan če sone'. bot če sone fulfilled če modere čorh his desert, in als mich as in him was more fully če grace of če holigost, & first he feld & receyued grace, for as he felt če comyng & če presence of oure lady'. so he felt če comyng of oure lord. And čerfore he 10 withinne forč ioied & she spake & prophecied without forč.  Beholde now & take hede what & howe mich vertue is in če wordes of oure lady in čat at one prononcyng of hem is ¨iuen če holi gost. For she was so fully repleneshede with him, |r[15r] čat čorh hire merites & deserte, če same holigost also 15 filled očere. čen to če wordes of Elizabeth Marie answered & seide'. My soule magnifieč oure lord, & my spirite is glade & reioycede in god my sauyour &c. and so forč seying & fulfillyng čat Canticle of gostly ioying & louyng, čat is 20 Magnificat as it is contyned in če gospell. And when she had done'. čei wenten to sitte to gedire. And oure lady of hire souereyn mekenes, sette hire doune in če lowere place at Elizabeth feet. Bot she anone risyng vp'. suffred not bot toke hire vp & so čei setten downe to gedire. 25 And čan asked oure lady of Elizabeth če manere of hire conceyuyng, & she a¨eyn of če maner of hire conceyuyng, & so čei tolden eičere to očere gladly če grete gudenesse of oure lord, & lowedon & wirchipedon god of eičer conception, & so in čonkyng god & gostly myrč čei contynueden dayes & 30 ny¨tes. For oure laidy duelled čere če space of čre monečes seruyng Elizabeth in al čat she my¨t, mekely, reuerently & deuoutly as a seruant, for¨etyng čat she was goddis modere & qwene of alle če world. A lord god what house was čat, what Chaumbur & 35 what bedde in če whech duelleden to gedire & resteden so worči Moderes with so noble sones, čat is to sey Marie & Elizabeth, Jesus & Jon. And also with hem duellyng čo wirchipful olde men, Zakarie & Joseph. čis was a blessed companye of men & women & of children. 40 In čis forseid processe of če visitacione of oure lady we hauen ensaumple čat it is leueful & oft spedful, deuout men & women to viset očer for edificacion & gostly recreacion, & namelich če ¨ongere to če eldire, so čat it be done in dewe tyme, & with očere leueful menes. And also čat |p32 če ¨iftes of grace mowen be notifiede to očere for edificacion, in tyme so čat it be not done for vayn ioy, bot goddus wirchipe. Also if we take gude entent to če wordes of Marie & 5 Elizabeth, alle čei weren in lowyng of hem self, & to wirchipyng of god & magnifiyng him in alle hese werkes, & tellyng his grete mercy shewed to mankynd to stire man to če loue & če wirchipe of god.  Forčermore when če tyme of Elizabeth was come she 10 was li¨tnet & bare hir child, če which in token of his grete holynes, oure lady lift vp first fro če gronde, & after bisily di¨t & treted as it longet to him. |r[15v] And če child as vndurstondyng what she was, sette hees eyene saddely vpon hire, & when she wolde take him to his modere'. he turned his 15 hed & his face to hire, als hauyng in hir al only his likyng, & she gladly pleide with him, & louely clipped & kissed him. And here mowe we se če grete worčines of čis child, for čere was neuer none očer before čat had so worči a berere. After in če viij day as če lawe wold če child was 20 circumcised & nomed Jon by myracle of god as če gospel telleč, & če mouče & tonge of če fadere Zacarie before closed for vntrowyng was čan oponned & so he prophecyed, seyng, Blessed be oure god of Israel, for he hač visited čorh grace & made redemption of his peple &c. and so forč as it is contyned 25 in če gospel. And so in čat house čees tweyn noble & worči Canticles, čat is to sey Magnificat & Benedictus weren first spoken & made, & oure lady standyng čat tyme withinne sume curtyne for she wold not be seen of hem čat weren come to če circumcision of čat child Jon, listnet bisily & herd ententily 30 čat Canticle Benedictus. In če which was made mynde of here blessede sone Jesus, & alle she kept in hire herte as she čat was most wise & ful of grace. And at če last when al čis was done'. she toke hire leue at Elizabeth & zacarie, & blessed če child Jon, & so went 35 home a¨eyn to hire awne house in Nazareth. Now here bečenk če & haue in mynde če grete pouert of hire in čis goyng a¨eyne to hire owne house. For čere she sal nečere fynde brede nor wyne nor očer necessaries, & čerwič she hade nečere possessiones nor money. And when 40 she hade al čo čre monečes dwellet with hem čat weren plentyuous & hauyng'. now she turneč a¨eyn to hire owne pouerte & bare house, where she behoueč to gete hire lyuelode with hir awne handes & bodily trauaile. And here of, mich owht we to haue compassion, & be stired to če loue of |p33 vertuouse pouerte by če ensaumple of hire. Blessed mot sche euere be. Amen. How Joseph čouht to leue priuely oure lady seynt Marie. Capitulum V=m= 5 |r What tyme čat oure lady & Joseph hire spouse duelleden to gedire, & hire blessed son Jesus day by day encresed bodily in his modere wombe'. at če last Joseph seyng hire grete with child & beholdyng hire not |r[16r] ones bot oft sičes'. was wondur sory & gretly disturblet, made hir heuy 10 chere & turned awey hees eyene oft sičes fro hir. And as in a perplexite čouht what he mi¨t best do. For on čat one side, he sawh hir life so holi, & none token of synne in hire neyčer in contenance nor in worde nor in dede'. čat he durst no[t] opunly accuse hire of auoutrie. And on čat očer side he knew not how 15 čat she mi¨t conceyue bot by man'. wherfore he čouht čat he wolde pryuely leue hir. Sočely it may wele be seide of him čat is writen in če gospel to his preisyng, čat is to sey, čat he was a ri¨twise man, čat shewed wele čis dede of grete vertue. 20 For sičen comunely auoutre of če woman is to če man occasion of most shame, most sorow, & os a maner of wodenesse'. neuerles he vertuesly tempered him self, & wold not acuse hire nor venge him self, bot paciently suffryng čat semyng wrong, & ouercomyng himself with pite'. čouht čat he 25 wold priuely leue hire. čis is an opun ensaumple of reproue to gelouse men, čat bene so suspiciouse, čat at če leste contenance of louely spech of hir wifes wič očer men, haue hem suspecte of avoutre. 30 Also if we take here gude entent, we mowen se boče in Joseph & also in Marie a fructuouse doctrine, how čat we sholen paciently suffre tribulacion, & how čat god suffreč hees chosen soules to be disesed & tempted for hir beste, & to hir mede. 35 For wite we wele oure lady was not here without tribulacion & gret disese what tyme čat she sawh here hosbande so disturblet, & neuerles she suffrede & held hire pees mekely, & kept pryue čat grete ¨ifte of god, & chase račere to be holde as wikked, viciouse & vnworči'. čan she |p34 wold make opun čat gret sacrament of god, & to speke & telle činge čat mi¨t seme to hir praisyng, boste or iactance. Bot herwič she praied god čat he wold send remedy in čis case, & čat he wold as it were his wille put awey fro hir 5 & fro hir hosbande čis tribulacion & čis disese. And so our lord čat suffreč & ordineč al činge for če best, to confort of boče, send his angel če which apered to Joseph in his slep & seide, čat he shold not dred to take him Marie his spouse, bot tristily & gladly duelle with hir, for čat 10 čat she hade conceyued, |r[16v] was not by man, bot by če werching of če holy gost, & so after tribulacion came gret ioy & confort.  In če same manere it shold falle with vs, if we kuowče wele kepe pacience in tyme of aduersite, for oure lord 15 god after tempest, sent soft & myry wečure, & it is no doute čat he suffreč no temptacion falle to hese chosen'. bot for hir profite.  čan after čis reuelacion, Joseph asked oure lady of čis wondurful conceyuyng, & she gladly told him če ordere & 20 če maner čerof. And so Joseph duelled & stode ioyfuly with his blessed spouse Marie, & with chaste & trew loue so feruently loued hire, čat it may not be tolde, & bisily in alle činges toke hede to hir, & oure lady a¨eynward tristily duelled with him, & so in here boče pouerte čei lyueden to gedir with 25 gret gostly mirče.  Herewič also oure lord Jesus as recluse & stoken in his modere wombe če space of ix monečes in manere of očere children'. paciently & benyngly suffreč & abideč, če dew tyme of his birče. 30  Lord god how mich oweč we to haue compassion, čat he wold for oure sake enclyne to so profonde mekenes. Mich oweč we to desire & loue če vertue of mekenes, & if we wolde haue bisily in mynde how čat hie lord of so gret maieste so miche lowed himself'. shold we neuer be lift vp to 35 veyn pride & reputacion of oure self. For of čis one benefice of so longe reclusion for our sake we mowe neuer do satisfaction worčily or recompensacion to him. Bot neuerles knowe we čis trewly in herte, & with alle oure affeccion deuoutly čonke we him specialy we čat bene religiouse, čat he 40 wold take vs fro očer, & graciously depart vs fro če world. So čat in čis čouh hit litel be, sumwhat we ¨eld him, čat is to sey, čat we stande perseuerantly recluse in his seruyce. For sočely čis alonly is his benefice of grace & not oure desert, & čat a gret benefice & wirchipful in čat čat we bene not recluse |p35 to peyne'. bot to gret sikernesse. For we be sette as in a hie & strong towre of religion, vnto če which'. če venemous arwes of čis wikked world, & če disturblyng tempestes of čat bitter see mowe not attyne or neihe'. bot in oure awne defaute & foly. 5  Bot for als mich as bodily enclosyng is litel worče or no¨t, without gostly enclosyng in soule'. čerfore čou čat art enclosed bodily in Celle or in Cloystre, if čou wilt be with Jesu vertuesly enclosed in soule'. First čou moste |r[17r] with him anentish či self in čin owne reputacion, & bycome a child 10 čorh perfite mekenes. Also čou most kepe & loue silence not spekyng bot in tyme of nede or edificacion. And forčermore or čou be born, čat is to sey, or čou shew či self outward by word or by opinion of perfeccion'. čou most abide če tyme of ix monečes, čat is while čou art not perfitely grondet in 15 vertues, & in knowyng of goddus lawe, for če nombre of x commandmentes tokeneč perfeccion of če lawe, & čerfore čat čat is lasse'. tokeneč imperfeccion. Wherfore as če child čat is born before his kyndly tyme is vnable to črife'. so whoso wole shew him outwarde by 20 worde or by dede holi & perfite or če tyme čat he be perfitely growen & shapen in vertues, withinneforč'. he is vnable to stant as a man in tyme of temptacion by gostly strengh & to profite of očer & of himself. Wherefore closyng & withdrawyng to oure powere al oure mynde fro vanyte & 25 lustes of če worlde'. bisy we vs to conforme vs in clannes of hert to oure lord Jesu, čat for oure sake wold be so closed in če wombe of his blessed modere Marie.  Also to stire vs to compassion & to suffre with Jesu penance & disese in čis world'. we shole considere & haue in 30 mynde čat he was in continuele affliccion fro če first tyme of his concepcion in to če last tyme of his deč, specialy & principaly for čat he knewe his fadere of heuen, whom he louede souereynly'. so inworchipede of sinful men & forsaken, for mawmentry & misbeleue, & of čat gret compassion čat he 35 had to če soules made to his ymage so wrecchedly & for če most parte dampnet'. čis was to him more peyne, čan his bodily passion & deč. Forwhi'. to put awey misbyleue & destruye čis dampnacion, he suffret čat deč & čat passion.  And so shold euery trew louere of Jesu haue 40 compassion & be inwardly sory not onely for če misbyleue of Jues & saracenes & here dampnacion'. bot also & mich more for če wikked lyuyng of vntrew cristen men. In so mich čat it suld be to him more passion & gostly disese, when he knewe or sawh a soule perishe, čorh dedly synne'. čan če losse of any |p36 worldly catel or čen his owne bodily deč, for čat wole perfite charite.  And so in čis forseid processe we haue profitable doctrine & gude ensaumple first in oure blessed lord Jesu'. of 5 penance suffrynge of perfite Charite |r[17v] & trew compassion. Also in his modere Marie'. of profonde mekenes & pacience in tribulacion, & in hire hosbande Joseph'. of vertuese ri¨twisnes a¨eynus fals suspicion. And if we wolt witte whi & wherto oure lady was 10 weddet, to Joseph, sičen he hade not to do with hir bodily, bot she was euer clene maiden'. hereto answeryng bene čre skylles. First'. for she shold haue confort & solace of man, to hir bodily seruyce & witnes of hir clene chastite. če seconde is'. čat če meruelouse birče of goddus son shold be heled & 15 priuey fro če deuel. And če čridde'. čat she shold not be defamed of avoutre, & so as worči če deč after če lawe'. be stoned of če Jues. And čus endič če first party of čis boke, čat stant in contemplacion for če Moneday, & for če tyme of Aduent in to 20 če Natiuite of oure lord Jesu. Whose name with his modere Marie'. be euere blessede wičout ende. Amen. Of če natiuite of oure lorde Jesu. Capitulum vj=m= |r What tyme čat ix monečes fro če conception of blessed Jesu drowen to ende'. Cesar Auguste če emperoure of Rome 25 send oute a mandment or an heste, čat alle če world suget to him shold be descryuet, so čat he mi¨t knowe če noumbre of Regiones, of Cites & of če hedes longyng to hem, čat weren subdite to če Empire of Rome. And herfore he ordeynet & badde čat al men where so euere čei duelleden, shold go to če 30 Citee of hire first birče & propre lynage. Wherefore Joseph čat was of če lynage of Dauid, whose Citee was Bethleem'. toke with him his blessede spouse Marie čat was čat tyme gret with child, & wente fro Nazareth vnto čat Citee Bethleem, čere to be noumbret among očere als suget to če Emperoure. And so 35 ledyng with him an Ox & an Asse, čei wenten al čat longe wey to gedire, als pore folk hauyng no more worldly gude bot če tweyn bestes. And what tyme čei comen to Bethleem'. for če gret multitude čat was čerinne čat same tyme for če self cause'. čei mi¨t gete none herbere in none hous, bot in a 40 comune place by twix tweyn houses, čat was hiled aboue, men |p37 fort stand čere for če reyne, & was cleped a Diuersorie'. čei were nedet to rest inne, & abide al čat tyme. In če which place Joseph čat was a carpentary made hem a closere & a crach for |r[18r] hire bestes. 5 Now take here gude hede & haue inwardly compassion of čat blessed lady & maiden Marie, how she so ¨onge & of so tendire age, čat is to sey of xv ¨ere & gret with child as nehe če birče trauaileč čat longe wey of lxti Mile and x or more, in so gret pouerte, & ¨it when she came to če Cite 10 forseide čere she shold rest & asked herburgh in diuerse place shamefastly among vnkeč folk'. alle čei werned hem & let hem go. And so for nede at če last čei toke as for herborgh, čat comune place aforseide. Bot now forčermore fort speke of če blessed birče of 15 Jesu & of čat clene & holi delyuerance of his dere modere Marie, as it is writen in party by reuelacion of oure lady made hereof to a deuout man, when tyme of čat blessed birče was come, čat is to sey če soneday at midni¨t, goddus son of heuen as he was conceyued in his modere wombe by če holi 20 gost, without sede of man, so goyng oute of čat wombe without trauaile or sorowe'. sodeynly was vpon hey at his modere feet, & anone she deuoutly enclinande with souereyn ioy toke him in hire armes, & swetly clippyng & kissyng, leide him in hir barme, & with a fulle pap, as she was taght of če 25 holi gost, weshe him alle aboute with hir swete milke, & so wrapped him in če kerchif of her hede, & leide him in če crach, & anone če Ox & če Asse knelyng done leiden hir moučes on če craches, brečing at hir neses vpon če child, at čei knewen by reson čat in čat colde tyme če child so simply 30 hiled hade nede to be hatte in čat manere. And čan his modere knelyng done wirchiped & loued god, inwardly čonkyng & seying in čis manere, Lord god holi fadere of heuen, I čonke če with al my mi¨t, čat hast ¨iue me či dere sone, & I honour če almi¨ty god goddus son & myn. Joseph also honouryng & 35 wirchipyng če child god & man, toke če sadel of če Asse, & made čerof a qwischyn oure lady to sitte on & a suppoyle to leyn to. And so sat če lady of al če worlde in čat simple araye byside če crach, hauyng hir mild mode & hir louely eyene, with her inward affeccion, vpon hir swete derworth child. 40 Bot in čis pore & symple worldly aray what gostly riches & inward confort & ioy she hade'. may no tonge telle. |r[18v] Wherfore if we wole fele če trew ioy & confort of Jesu'. we most wič him & wič his modere loue'. pouerte, mekenes & |p38 bodily penance os he gaf vs ensaumple of alle čese here in čis birče & first comyng in to čis world. For of če first čat is pouerte seynt Bernard in a sermon of če Natiuite of oure lord tellyng how he was born to confort 5 of mankynd, seič in čis manere:  Goddusson conforteč his peple. Wolt čou knawe his peple? čat is of whom spekeč Dauid in če sautre & seič, Lord to če is belaft če pore peple, and he him self seič in če gospel, Wo to ¨ow rich men čot hauen ¨our confort here. How suld 10 he confort hem, čat hauen here hir awne confort. Wherfore cristes innocens & childhode'. conforteč not iangeleres & gret spekers, cristes wepyng & teres'. conforteč not dissolute lagheres. His simple cločing'. conforteč not hem čat gone in proude cločing, & his stable & crache'. conforteč not hem čat 15 louen first setes & worldly wirchipe. And also če angeles in cristes Natiuite apperyng to če wakyng shepherdes'. conforten none očere bot če pore trauaileres, & to hem tellen čei če ioy of newe li¨t & not to če rich men, čat haue hir ioy & confort here. 20  Also as to če seconde, we mowen se at čis birče boče in crist & in his modere perfite mekenes. For čei were not sqweymes of če stable, nor of če beestes nor of hey, & seche očer abiecte symplenes. Bot čis vertue of mekenes boče oure lord & oure lady kepten perfitely in alle hir dedes & 25 commende it souereynly to vs. Wherfore be we aboute with alle oure mi¨t to gete čis vertue, knawyng čat without it is non sauacion. For čer is no werke or dede of vs čat may pleys god with pride.  Also as to če čridde we may se in hem boče, & 30 namelich in če child Jesu no¨t a litel bodily penance. Of če whiche seynt bernarde seič čus:  Goddus son when he wold be born čat hade in his owne fre wille to chese what tyme he wold take čerto'. he chese če tyme čat was most noyus & hard, as če cold 35 wyntour, namelich to a ¨onge childe & a pore womans son, čat skarsly hade cločes to wrappe him inne, & a cracche as for a credile to lay him inne, & ¨it čouh čer was so mich nede'. I fynde no mynde of fureres or pilches. And sičen crist čat is not bygilet chase čat is most harde to če flesh'. sočely čat is 40 best, most profi*table |r[19r] & račere to be chosen, & whoso techeč or biddeč očere'. he is as a fals deceyuere, to be fledde & forsaken.  Al čis seič sent Bernord and čus miche of čese vertues at čis tyme. |p39  Go we now forčermore to speke of če forseid blessed Natiuite of crist. What tyme čat oure lord was so born, če gret cumpany of angeles čat čere weren honourying & wirchipyng hir lord god'. wenten anone to če shepherdes, čat weren čere 5 byside aboute a myle fro bethleem, tellyng hem čat birče of hir sauioure, & also če place čerof by one of hem aperyng wič gret li¨t, perauenture Gabriel čat was special messagere of čis werke. And čerwič al čat multitude of angeles token vp čat newe ioyful songe, seying as če gospel telleč in čees wordes, 10 Joy withoute ende be aboue in alčerhiest heuen to god, & in erče pees to al men čat bene of gude wille. And so with čat ioyful songe & miche mirče čei wenten vp in to heuen, tellyng hir očere felaghes čese newe ioyful tičinges of hir lordes blessed birče. Wherof al če court of heuen ioyful & glade 15 more čan tonge may telle or hert čenk'. makyng a solempne fest & deuoutly čonkyng če fadere almi¨ty god, as we mowen deuoutly čenk & ymagine'. comene alle after by ordre aftere ordre to se čat louely face of goddus son hir lord, with gret reuerence wirchipyng him & his blessed modere. 20  Hereto acordyng spekeč če apostle seynt Poule in his pistele ad hebreos seying čat when če fadere of heuen brouht his first goten in to čis world'. he badde čat alle če angeles of god shold wirchipe him.  Also če herdmen aftur če angeles weren passed fro 25 hem, comen & wirchipede čis child tellyng opunly what čei herden of če angeles, & his dere modere, as she čat was souereynly wise & witty, toke gude hede of alle čat was done, & kept priueyly in hir herte al če wordes čat weren spoken of hir blessed son. 30  čus miche & in čis maner, we mowen haue in contemplacion touchyng če processe of če blessed Natiuite of oure lord Jesus.  And forčermore touchyng če solempnyte & če worčinesse of čis feste & čis hie day, we sholen haue in 35 mynde čat čis is born če kyng of blysse, & če son of almi¨ty god, lord of al lordes & makere & gouernere of alle če world, whose name is cleped specialy Prynce of Pees, |r[19v] for by hym was made čat gret & endles pees, čat is told before in če Incarnacion. Wherfore čis day če angeles songen čat ioyful 40 songe. Gloria in excelsis deo &c. as it is seide before.  čis day as holi kirke singeč in če messe after če prophecye of ysaie, A child is born to vs, čat is like to vs in his manhede, & a son is ¨iuen to vs, čat is euen to če fadere of heuen in his godhede. |p 40  Also čis day če sonne of ri¨twisnes čat was first vndur cloude, sprang opunly his bemes of mercy & če li¨t of his grace in alle če world, & so čis day was seen čat blessed newe si¨t, čat neuer ere was seen in erče, čat is to sey, god 5 almi¨ty in mannus likenes.  čis day also befelle čo twey gret wondres čat passen al kynde & al mannus witte, če whech mowe alonly be conceyued čorh trew byleue, čat is to sey, čat god is born, & a maiden without sorow or blemyshyng of hir maydenhede hač 10 born a child. Wherfore čis day hade she čat seconde souereyn ioy in felyng done in dede čat she ¨af feič to spoken before & behey¨t by če angel at hire conceyuyng, & so to alle mankynd čis is a day of gret ioy, & a gret fest boče of god almy¨ty & of his blessed moder Marie, as it was seid before in če feste 15 of če Incarnacion, for al če skiles čat čere were seid began, & here more pleynly fulfilled. Ioyn čat to čis & čan it wole shewe pleynly.  In token also & in witnesse of čis wondurful birče a¨eynus kynde, at Rome čat day out of a taverne sprange a 20 welle of oyle, & in če same Cite an ymage of golde, with a temple čat was cleped če euerlastyng temple of pees, for als miche as it was propheciede čat it shold neuer fal done til a maiden bare a son'. čis day felle done boče to gedire anone as crist was born. In če which place is now made a chirch in če 25 wirchipe of oure lady seynt Marie. Whose name with hire blessed son oure lord Jesus blessed be now & euer withoute ende. Amen. Of če Circumcision of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum vij=m= |r In če viij day čat če child was born'. he was 30 Circumcised aftur če byddyng of če lawe. And so in čis day twey gret činges were done čat we owen to haue deuoutly in mynde.  če first is čat če blessed name Jesus čat was |r[20r] euere wič out bygynnyng ¨iuen to him of če fadere of heuen, & also 35 of če angele cleped & tolde or he were conceyued'. čis day was opunly declared & nemede, & he čerwič specialy cleped Jesus, čat is als mich to sey as sauioure, & čis name resonably is aboue al names, for as če apostle Petur seič, čer is none očere name vndur heuen in če which we owen to be sauede. |p41  Of če whiche name & gret worčines & vertue čerof, seynt Bernard spekeč deuoutly by processe čat sal be seid aftur.  če seconde činge čat was done čis day, worči to be 5 hade in mynde is'. čat čis day oure lord Jesus began to shede his preciouse blode for oure sake. He began betyme to suffre for vs, & he čat neuer dide synne'. began čis day to bere payne in his swete tendire body for oure synne.  Miche owht we to wepe & haue compassion with 10 him, for he wept čis day ful sore, & so in čees gret festes & solempnites, we sholde make miche mirče, & be ioyful for oure hele, & also haue inwarde compassion & sorowe for če peynes & anguysh čat he suffret for vs. For as it is seid before, čis day he shedde his blode, when čat aftur če rite of 15 če lawe, his tendere flesh was kut, with a sharp stonen knife, so čat ¨onge child Jesus kyndly wept for če sorow čat he felt čerčorh in his flesh. For without doute he hade verrey flesh & kyndly suffrable as haue očer children. Shold we čan not haue compassion of him? ¨is sočely, & also of his dere modere. For 20 wele mowe we wit, čat when she sey hir louely sone wepe'. she mi¨t not withhold wepyng, & čan mowe we ymagine & čenk how čat litel babe in his modere barme seynge hir wepe, put his litel hande to hire face, als he wold not čat she shold wepe, & she a¨eynward inwardly stired & hauyng compassion 25 of če sorowe & če wepyng of hir dere son, with kissyng & spekyng, comforted him as she mi¨t, for she vndurstode wele by če inspiracion of če holi gost čat was in hire če wille of hir son, čouh he speke not to hir, & čerfore she seid, Dere sone if čou wolt čat I sees of wepyng'. sese čou also of či wepyng. 30 For I may not bot I wepe'. what tyme čat I se če wepe, & so čorh če compassion of če modere, če child sesed of sobbyng & wepyng. And čan his modere wipyng his face, |r[20v] & kyssyng him & puttyng če pappe in his mouče'. conforted him in alle če maneres čat she mi¨t, & so she dede als oft os he wept. For 35 as we mowen suppose he wept oft sičes as očer children done, to shew če wrecchednes of mankynd čat he verreyly toke, & also to hide him fro če deuel, čat he shold not knawe him as for god.  And čus mich sufficeč seide at čis tyme of če 40 Circumcision of our lord Jesu.  Bot now in tyme of grace ceseč čis circumcision of če olde lawe, & we hauen in čat stede baptisme ordeynet by criste, čat is če sacrament of more grace, & lesse peyn. Bot for čat bodily circumcision, we sholen haue gostly |p42 circumcision, čat is kuttyng awey al superflue činges fro vs čat disposen to synne, & haldyng with vs as in affeccion onelich čat is nedfull to vertues lyuyng. For he čat is treuly pore'. is vertuesly circumcised, če whiche circumcision če 5 apostle techeč in čees wordes, when he seič čat we hauyng mete & drinke & cloče, we shold hold vs paied.  čis also gostly circumcision nedeč to be in alle oure bodily wittes, as in seyng heryng, touching & očer čat is to sey, čat we in alle čees eschue superfluite & kepe skarsyte & 10 namelich in spekyng, for miche spech without fruyte is a grete vice, & displesyng to god & to gude man, & a token of an vnstable & a dissolute herte, as a¨eynwarde silence is a gret vertue, & for gret cause of gudenes ordeynet in religione, of če which vertue diuerse clerkes speken čat we shole passe 15 ouer at čis tyme, and čus endič čis chapitre. Of če Epiphany čat is če opune shewyng of oure lorde. Capitulum viij=m= |r First touchyng čis solempne day & worči feste we shole vndurstande čat čere is none feste čat hač so miche 20 diuerse seruice in holy chirch longyng čerto, as čis fest hač, not for it is more worči čan očer'. bot for many gret činges befelle & were done in čis day specialy touchyng če stat of holi chirch.  As first vndurstondyng čat holi chirch here in erče 25 stant in twey maner of peple, čat one is of hem čat comen of če Jues čat hadden moyses lawe & weren circumcised, čat očer is of če remenant čat weren not circumcised & were cleped Jentiles'. čis day, čat is to sey, če xiij day fro če Natiuite acontyng čat self day'. če blessed child Jesus shewed 30 him as god & man specialy |r[21r] to če kynges čat weren of če Gentiles. And in here persone holi chirche nowe cristened čat is principaly gederet of če multitude of Jentiles'. was čis day receyued & acceptede of god to trew byleue. For če day of his Natiuite, he aperede & shewed him specialy to če Jewes, in če 35 persone of če herdmen, če whech Jues for če most part receyuet not goddus worde & byleue, bot čis day he shewed him to če Jentiles of whom we comen čat bene now his chosen chirch. Wherefore čis feste is specialy & proprely če feste of holi chirch of trewe cristen men. |p43  če seconde činge čat was done čis day touchyng holi chirch, is, čat she was čis day gostly weddet to crist & treuly knyt to him, by če baptisme čat he toke čis day xxix ¨ere aftur complete. For in če baptisme bene soules weddet to crist, 5 & če congregacion of cristen soules is cleped holi chirch, čat by baptisme is washen & made clene of če filče of synne, & cločed new in vertues.  če čridde činge is čat, čat same day a twelfmoneč, čat is to sey, a ¨ere aftur če baptisme of crist, he wrouht čat 10 first Miracle at če brydale, turnyng watere in to wyne, by če whech is vndurstonde also če gostly brydale of holy chirch.  če ferče činge čat befel in čat day'. is, as bede seič, čat in čat same day a ¨ere aftur'. oure lord Jesus wrouht čat gret myracle, fedyng če gret multitude of peple with a fewe 15 loues & a fewe fishes. Bot če first čre bene rehersede čis day in holi chirch, & not če ferče.  Lo how wirchipful čis day is, če which oure lord god chese specialy to wirch čereinne so many gret & wondurful činges. Wherefore holi chirch consideryng so many gret 20 benefices done to hir čis day of hir gostly spouse Jesu crist'. by wey of dewe kyndnes, makeč gret mirče & solempnite in čis day.  Bot for als mich as principaly & most specialy če solempnite of čis day, stant in če mynde of če first'. čat is če 25 wirchepyng of če kynges, & hir offryng to Jesu'. čerfore speke we forčermore of če contemplacion hereof, leuyng če remnant at čis tyme. And so ymagine we & set we oure mynde & our čouht as we were present in če place where čis was done at 30 Betheleem'. beholdyng how čees čre kynges comen with gret multitude & a wirchipful company of lordes & očer seruantes, & so by token of če Sterre firste |r[21v] ledyng & after restyng vp on čat place, čat če child Jesus was inne'. čere čei li¨ted done of če dromedaries čat čei rydene vpon'. byfore čat simple 35 house & maner of stable in če which oure lord Jesus was born. And čan oure lady heryng gret noys, & stiryng of peple'. anone toke hire swete child in to hir barme, & čei comyng in to čat house, als so soon as čei seene če child'. čei kneled done & reuerently & deuoutly honoured him as kyng, & wirchiped him 40 as god. Lord god how gret & how sadde was here feič & byleue, čat sich a litel child so simple cločed, fonden with so pore a modere in so abiecte a place withoute cumpanye, withoute meyny & without al worldly aray shold be verrey god & kyng & lord of al če world'. & načeles čei byleued |p44 sočefastly boče two. čis was a gret gudenes of oure lord god ordeynyng sech forledars & sech bygynnars of oure byleue, & so it behoued to be.  Forčermore touching če processe we mowe čenk how 5 če kynges aftur če first honouryug of če child speken with his modere reuerently askyng of če condiciones of him, in what maner he was conceyued & born, & so of očere čat čei desireden to knowe, & oure lady mildly answeryng told hem of alle as it nedet, & čei ¨iuyng ful credence & byleue, to al 10 čat she seide. And for als miche as čei weren clerkes & men of gret wisdome, čerfore we mowe suppose čat čei kowčen če langage of hebrewe, & speken in čat tonge čat was če modere tonge of our lady & alle Jues.  Now take we here gude entent to če manere of 15 spekyng in boče parties, first how reuerently & how curteysly čei speken, & asken hir questiones, & on čat očere side, how oure lady with a maner of honest shamefastnes, holdyng done hir eyene toward če erče spekeč & answereč sadly & shortly to hir askynges, for she hač no likynge to speke mekyl or to 20 be seene. Neuerles oure lord ¨af hir strengh & special confort to speke more homely to hem, because čat čei representeden holi chirch, čat was čan to come of če Jentiles as it is seid before.  Behald also če child Jesus'. how he spekeč not, bot 25 stant with a maner of sad semblant & glad chere & als he vndurstode hem louely lokyng vpon hem, & čei haue gret likyng in če siht of him, no¨t only gostly in soule of his godhed, as illumynet & tauht of him'. bot also in his bodily si¨t, withoute |r[22r] forč, for as Dauid witnesseč, He was faire & 30 louely in body before al mennus sonnes.  And so when čei were gretly conforted by him, čei maden here offryng to him in čis manere as we mowen suppose, čei opuneden hire cofres with hir tresoure, & spredyng a tapet or a cloče before če childes feet oure lord 35 Jesu'. čei leyden čer vpon & offreden ich on of hem, golde, encense & myrre, & čat in gret quantite, namelich of golde, for elles as for a litel offryng it hade not nedet hem, fort haue oponede here tresour cofres, as če gospel seič, but her awmoneres or here tresoureres mi¨t li¨tly haue hade it in 40 hande & taken it hem, bot čerfore če ¨iftes & če quantites were gret, by reson as it is seide. And when čei haden čus offred & leide here ¨iftes before him'. čen reuerently & deuoutly fallyng done čei kisseden his feet, & čan perauenture če child ful of wisdome fort confort hem more & strengh hem |p45 in his loue'. ¨af hem his hande to kysse & aftur blessed hem čerwič, & so čei reuerently enclynyng & also takyng here leue at his modere & Joseph'. with gret ioy & gostly mirče as če gospel seič, turnede a¨eyn in to hir owne cuntre by an očere 5 wey. What čat čees čre ¨iftes offred of čese kynges bytoken gostly & many očere činges čat če gospel more ouere telleč at it is expownet by holy doctours'. is sufficiantly & fully writen in many očer places, wherefore we passen ouer alle čat 10 here.  Bot what hope we was done with čat gold of so gret prise? Whečer oure lady reserued it & put it in tresory or elles bouht čerwič londes & rentes? Nay nay god forbede'. For she čat was a perfite louere of pouerte, toke none hede of sech 15 worldly godes. Bot what? She louyng pouerte & vndurstondyng also hir blessed sonnes wille, not onlich čorh his inspiracion teching hir in soule withinne forč'. bot also by signe shewyng his wille, without forč, čat he loued not sech riches, perauentere turnyng awey oft sičes his face fro čat 20 gold, or spittyng čer vpon'. withinne a fewe dayes & short tyme, she ¨af it al to pore men. For če kepyng čerof čat litel tyme, was to hir bot a gret burčen, & heuy charge, & čat semeč wele'. for she made hem so bare of money, čat when she schold go to če temple forto be |r[22v] purifiede'. she hade not 25 wherwič to bigge a lombe fort offre for hir sone, bot only bouht turtures or dowues of litel prys, čat was če offryng of pore folk aftur če lawe. And so we mowen resonably byleue, čat če offryng of če kynges was gret & riche, & čat oure lady louyng pouert & ful of charite ¨af it in haste to pore men, as 30 it is seide. So čat here is shewed a gret preconye & worči ensaumple of pouerte.  Also if we take here gude hede'. we mowe se opune ensaumple of perfite mekenes. For čere beč many čat halden hem self lowe & abiecte in her owne herte, & bene not eleuate 35 be pride as in her owne si¨t, bot neuerles čei wold not be halden sech in očer mennus siht, nor mowen not suffre to be despised or skorned of očere, & also čei wold not čat hir vnworčines & hir defautes weren knowne of očer lest čei were dispised & reproued of hem. Bot čus dide not čis day čat child 40 Jesus lord of alle očer, for he wold čat his lowenes & abieccion were knowen, & seen to hese & to očer, & čat not to simple & fewe'. bot to gret & many čat is to sey, to kynges & lordes, & her meyne many & feel. And also čat is more to wondur in sich a case & tyme, in če whech by reson it was |p46 mich to dred, čat is to sey, lest če icomyng fro so ferr & fyndyng him čat čei souhten kyng of Jewes, & whom čei trouden almi¨ty god, liggyng in so simple aray, & so gret abieccione'. by čat simple si¨t supposyng hem deceyuet & 5 haldyng hem self as foles'. sholden go awey without deuocion & byleue. Bot not forči če maistre of mekenes & louere of symplenes laft not to fulfille če perfeccion čerof, ¨iuyng to vs ensaumple čat we shold not go fro če grounde of trewe mekenes, by colour of any semelich profite or gude, bot čat 10 we sholden lerne, to wille fort apere & be seen symple & abiecte in če si¨t of očer.  čat vertue of perfite meknes he graunt vs čorh his grace, čat so wolde meke him for oure sake oure blessed lord Jesus. Amen. 15 De mora domine apud presepe, continetur in proximo capitulo, excepta meditacione, de ministerio suo & solicitudine circa puerum Jesum, de quibus poterit quis faciliter meditari. Of če purificacion of oure Laydye seynt Marie. Capitulum nonum. 20 |r[23r] |r Aftere če kynges hadden performede hir offeryng & werene gone home a¨eyne in to hir owne cuntre as it is seide'. ¨it stode čat worči lady of al če worlde in čat simple herbour with hir blessed sone Jesu, & hir husband čat holi oldman Joseph, at če cracche paciently abidyng vnto če xl day 25 ordeynet by če lawe to hire Purificacion, as she were anočer woman of če peple defoylet čorh synne, & as če childe Jesus were a pure man & no¨t god, nedy to kepe če obseruance of če lawe. Bot whi hope we čat čei diden čus? Sočely for ensaumple to vs, shewyng če trewe wey of obedience, & for 30 čei wolde none singulere prerogatif'. čei kepten če comune lawe as očer.  Bot čus done not many čat liuen in comune congregacion, če which desiren to haue speciale prerogatifes, & čerby wole be seen more wirchipful čan očer, & singulere 35 aboue očer, bot čis suffreč not trew mekenes.  When če xl day was comen of hir Purificacion aftur če lawe'. čan went oure lady out with hire sone Jesus, & Joseph & toke če wey fro Bethleem in to Jerusalem, čat is |p47 aboute v or vj myle čere to present če child & offre him to god in če temple, after čat it is writen in če lawe of god.  Now lat vs here go with hem by deuout contemplacion, & help we to bere čat blessed birčen če child 5 Jesus in oure soule by deuoucion, & take we inwardly gude entent to alle čat bene here seide & done, for čei bene ful deuoute. In čis manere čen čei beryng & bringyng če child Jesus, in to Jerusalem, & če lord of če temple in to če temple of god'. at če entre čerof čei bouhten tweyn turtures or elles 10 tweyn douf briddes to offre for him as če maner was for pore folk, & čerfore če gospel spekeč not of a lombe čat was če comune offryng of rich men'. in token čat čei weren with če porest folk. And herwič čat ri¨twisman Symeon, lad in spirite by če holi gost'. came in to če temple, to se čat he hade longe 15 tyme desiret, crist goddus son, aftur če byhest & answere of če holi gost. And anone as he came & hade če si¨t of him, knowyng him by spirite of prophecie, he kneled done & deuoutly honourede & wirchiped him as he was in his modere armes born, & če |r[23v] child blessed him & lokyng vpon his 20 modere, bowed towarde him in token čat he wold go to him, and so če modere vndirstondyng če childes wille, & čerof wonduryng'. toke him to symeon, & he with gret ioy & reuerence clippyng him in hees armes'. ros vp blessyng god & seying with glad spirite, Lord I čonk če, for nowe čou letest 25 či seruant aftur či word in pece. Forwhi I houe seene with myn eyen či blessed son oure sauyoure &c. And afterwarde he prophecied of his passione, & of če sorow čerof čat shold as a swerde perce & wonde če moder herte. Herewič also čat worči widewe Anne če prophetisse 30 came to hem into če temple, & wirchipyng če child she prophecied also of him & spake of redempcion čat was to come by him to mankynde. And če modere wonderyng of alle čees wordes'. kept hem by gude entent priueyly in hir herte. And čan če child Jesus strecchyng hese armes towarde his 35 modere, was betaken to hir a¨eyne. Afterwarde čei ¨eden in maner of procession toward če autere, with če childe, če which procession is represented čis day in alle holi chirch, with li¨t born to goddus wirchipe. And čan čei wenten in čis manere. First čo tweyn wirchipful olde men Joseph & Symeon 40 goon before, ioyfuly eyčer haldyng očer by če handes, & with gret mirče singyng & seying, Lord god we haue receyuet čis day či gret mercy in middes of či temple, & čerfore after či gret name so be či louyng & či wirchippe in to če ferčest ende of alle če world. Aftur hem foloweč če blessed modere & |p48 maiden Marie, beryng če kynge of heuen Jesus, & with hir on čat one side goče čat wirchipful widowe Anne with gret reuerence & vnspekable ioy louyng & preysyng god. čis is a solempne & wirchipful procession of so fewe 5 persones, bot gret činges bytokenyng & representyng. For čer bene of alle states of mankynde sume, čat is to sey of men & women, olde & ¨onge, maidenes & widowes. Forčermore when čei weren come to če autere of če temple'. če modere with reuerence knelyng done offreč hir 10 swete sone to če fader god of heuen, seying in čis maner, Takeč now hiest fadere ¨our awne dere sone, whom I offre here to ¨ow after če biddyng of ¨our lawe for he is če first born of his modere. Bot gude fadere I beseke ¨ow čat ¨e |r[24r] ¨iue him to me a¨eyne. And čan she risyng vp, laft him vp on 15 če awtere. A lord god what offeryng is čis? Sočely čer was neuer sičen sich a nočer fro če bygynnyng of če world, nor shal neuer after in to če ende. Now take we here gode hede how če child Jesus sit 20 vpon če autre, as it were a nočer child of če comune peple, & with čat louely face & sadde chere he lokeč & beholdeč vpon his dere modere & očer čat čere were present paciently & mekely abidyng what čei wolden do with him. And čerwič were brouht če prestes of če temple & če child lord of alle če 25 world was bouht a¨eyn as a seruant for v penys čat weren cleped cicles a maner of money aftur če lawe as očere. And when Joseph hade paiede čat money for him'. če modere oure lady toke a¨eyn with ful glade wille hir blessed sone, & after she toke če forseid briddes of Joseph & knelyng done & 30 liftyng vp hir eyene, deuoutly in to heuen haldyng hem in hir handes, offrede hem seying čus: Almi¨ty & mercyful fadere of heuen vndurfong ¨e čis litel ¨ift & offryng, & če first ¨ift, čat ¨our litel child čis day presenteč to ¨our hie maieste of his symple pouerte. & čerwič 35 also če child Jesus puttyng hese handes to če briddes & liftyng vp hese eyene to heuen, speke not bot sheweč contenance of his offring with če modere, & so čei leyden hem vpon če awtere. Now here takyng hede what čei bene čat čus offrene 40 čat is to say če modere & če sone'. trowe we whečer čat offryng čouh it were litel mi¨t be forsake? Nay god forbede. Bot we shol fully trowe čat it was by angeles presented vp in to če court of heuen, & čere of če fadre of heuen ful gladly |p49 acceptede, so čat alle če blessed cumpanye of heuen, čerečorh was reioycede & gladed. Aftur čis was done, & so če lawe fully kept as it is seide in alle čat longed to če childe fro his birče in to čis 5 tyme'. oure lady with hir blessed sone, & hir spouse Joseph toke če wey fro čat Cite of Jerusalem homewarde in to Nazareth.  bot by če way she visited hir Cosyn Elizabeč, desiryng also to se Jon her sone čat she loued specialy. And 10 what tyme čei metten to gedire čei maden gret ioy & namelich Elizabeth, when she sawh čat blessed si¨t of če child by vertue of whome in hir first concepcion |r[24v] Jon in hir wombe reioycede & she also replenishede with če holi gost.  Also če children Jesus & Jon, when čei weren brouht 15 to gedire čei kisseden očer louely & with lawhyng chere, & maden miche mirče to gedire, bot Jon as vndurstandyng his lorde'. hade him allewey in cuntenance as with reuerence to him.  And what tyme čei hade rested hem čere certayn 20 dayes'. oure lady with hir child & Joseph wenten forč on hir wey, towarde Nazareth as to hir home & rest. Bot ¨it befalle no rest to hem as it shale shewe after.  Nowe if we take gude entent to če forseid processe & how longe tyme čei hauen lyen out of hir owne house in so 25 gret pouerte & simplenes'. by reson we shold be stired to compassion, & to lerne by ensaumple of hem mekenesse pouerte & buxumnesse čat were opunly shewed in hir symple duellyng, in her pore offryng, & in če lawe kepyng.  And forčermore as worldly men maken bodily mirče 30 in čis tyme of Cristenmesse fro če Natiuite in to čis fest of če Purificacion čat is cleped Candelmesse'. so shold euery deuout soule in čis tyme specialy with deuocion & gostly mirče in soule, wirchipe & honour čat blessed child Jesus, & his modere Marie, visityng hem by contemplacion & sume 35 deuoute prayere, at če leste ones on če day as čei seene in spirite oure lady with hir child liggyng at če cracche, hauyng čerwič in mynde, če mekenes če pouerte & če buxumnesse of hem, as it is seide, & louyng hem & kepyng hem vertuesly in dede. Amen. 40  And čus endič če first part of čis boke in contemplacion for če Moneday. |p51 Of če fleyng of oure lord Jesu in to Egipte. Capitulum x=m= |r WHen oure lady with hir child & Joseph weren towarde Nazareč as it is seid before'. not knowyng ¨it če priuey consele of god hereof, čat Heroude če kyng purposed 5 to sle če child Jesus'. če angel of god appered to Joseph in his slepe, biddyng čat he shold fle in to Egipte with če child & his modere for Heroude wolde seche če child to sle him. And anone Joseph wakyng of his slepe, cleped oure lady & tolde hir čees harde tydynges, & she in alle haste toke vp hir dere 10 son & began to go, for she was ful sore agast of čis worde, & she wolde not as she mi¨t not be seene negligent in če kepyng of him, wherefore anone |r[25r] in čat ni¨t čei token če wey towarde Egipte. And so fledde čat gret lord če pursuet of his seruant, ¨e more proprely če deueles seruant, trauailyng with 15 him his ¨onge & tendire modere, & čat olde man Joseph, by a nuyes wey & herd & diuerse, čat was not inhabited & also a wey ful longe, čat is to sey aftur če comune sawe če space of xij or xv dayes iurney of a comune Currour perantre to hem it was če trauaile of two monečes & more. And čat wey as it 20 is seid was by čat deserte in če which če children of lsrael lad out of Egypte, duelleden xl ¨ere. Lord how dide čei čere of hire lyuelode, or where rested čei & were herbored in če ny¨tes, for in čat wey fonde čei ful seldome any house. Here ouht we to haue inwardly 25 compassion of hem, & no¨t be loče or čenk trauailous to do penance for our self'. sičen očer token so gret & so oft trauaile for vs, namely čei čat weren so noble & so worči. Also in čis forseid processe if we take gode hede'. we mowe se many gode ensaumples & notable doctrines to vs. 30 First if we take gode hede, how oure lorde Jesus toke in his owne persone sumtyme prosperite & welče, & sumtyme aduersitee & wo'. we shold not be stired to impacience, what tyme čat it befalle to vs in če same maner, bot in tyme of |p52 prosperite & of comfort, so a¨eynward on čar očer side, & if čou wolt se ensaumple hereof in Jesu'. lo first in his birče he was magnifiede to če herdmen as god & honoured & wirchiped of hem as god with ioy, & sone aftur he was 5 circumcised as a simple sinful man with sorow. Aftur, če kynges comyng to him wirchiped him souereynly boče in hir persones, & in gret ¨iftes, & ¨it duelled he stille in čat stable among bestes in pouerte, wepyng as a nočer child of a simple mannes. Aftur, he was presented in če temple with ioy, & gret 10 činges was prophecied of him as of god almi¨ty'. & now he is beden of če angele to fle fro Heroude in to Egipte, as he were a pore man withoute mi¨ht. And so forčermore we mowe fynde in alle his life prosperite & aduersite meyned to gedire to ensaumple & 15 techyng of vs. For he sent vs diuerse confortes to lift vp oure hope čat we falle not by despeire & čerwič he sent vs tribulacion & disconfortes to kepe vs in |r[25v] mekenes čat čerby knowyng oure owne wrecchednes'. we stand algate in his drede. 20 če seconde lesson čat we mowe lerne in čis forseid processe is touchyng če benefices & če speciale confortes of god, čat he čat feleč hem specialy be not čerby eleuate in his owne si¨ht, as haldyng him more worči čen očer čat hač hem no¨t, & also he čat feleč not sech speciale ¨iftes or confortes'. 25 be not čerfore kast done by sorow or enuy to him čat hač hem. For as we se here če angeles apperyng & spekyng of če child'. weren to Joseph & not to oure lady, & neuerles ¨it was he lasse in merite miche more & vnworči čan she. Also here we mowe lerne, čat he čat feleč sech special ¨iftes of god, 30 čouh he haue hem not algate as he wold & aftur his desire, čat čerčorh he grucche not, nor be not heuy be vnkyndnes a¨eyns god. For not withstandyng čat Joseph was so nyhe & acceptable to god'. neuerles če apperynges of če angele & če reuelaciones were not done to him opunly & in wakyng'. bot 35 in maner of dremes, & in his slepyng. če čridde notable činge čat we haue ensaumple of here is'. how čat oure lord suffreč hees derlynges to be disesed here čorh persecuciones & tribulaciones, & čat sheweč wele here in Marie & Joseph. What tyme čei knewen če child souht to 40 be slayn, what mi¨t čei here more sorowful? For čouh it so were, čat čei knewen & wisten wele čat he was goddus son, neuereles če sensualite & če reson of hem miht kyndly be disturblet & meuede to sey in čis maner, Lord god fader almihty what nede is it to či blessed sone čat here is, to fle, as |p53 čou mihtest not defende him fro hees enmyes, & kepe him saue here? And also hir tribulacion & disese was in so miche če more'. čat hem behoued to go in to so ferre a londe, čat čei knew not, & čat by harde wayes & nuyes, sičen čei were 5 miche vndisposet to goyng & trauailyng, oure lady for ¨ouče & tendurnesse, & Joseph for eld & feblenesse, & also če child čat čei shold bere & kary'. was vnneč twey monečes olde, & ¨it here wič čei ¨eden in to čat londe, in če which čei as pore & vnknowen hade noht to help hemself wič. 10 Alle čees diseses weren to hem matire of gret tribulacion & affliccion, & čerfore |r[26r] čou čat suffrest here tribulacion'. kepe čerinne pacience, & loke not to haue hereof a priuilege of him čat wolde not take him self hit, nor ¨ife it is modere. 15 če ferče notable činge čat we mowe considere here is če gret benyngnite & mercy of oure lorde. For čere as he miht anone in a momente haue destrued hees enmyes čat pursuede him, ¨it wolde he not, bot benyngly & swetly he chace račere to fle, & ¨if stede for če tyme to če malice & če wodenesse 20 of čat wikked Heroude'. čen to be venged as he miht ri¨twisely of him, & čis was a profonde mekenes & a gret pacience. In če same manere shold we do, čat is to say not wilfully wičstonde & seke vengance of hem čat done wrong & pursuen vs'. bot paciently for če tyme bere hem, & fle hir malice, & 25 more ouer specialy pray for hem, as god techeč vs also in a nočer place of če gospel, to do to oure enemyes. Forčermore as to če processe of če fleyng of Jesu, with his modere & Joseph. When čei comen to Egipte, anone at če first entre alle če mawmentes of čat land felle done as it was 30 prophecied before by če prophete ysaye. And čan went čei to a Cite of čat londe čat hi¨ht Hermopolis or Lymopolis & čer čei hired hem sume symple house where čei dwelleden vij ¨ere, as pilgrymes & strangeres pore & nedy. 35 Here mowe we deuoutly ymagine & čenk of če maner of lyuyng of hem in čat vncouh londe, & how oure lady wrouht for hir lyuelode, čat is to sey with nedil sewyng & spinnyng as it is writen of hir, & also Joseph wirching in his craft of Carpentary, & how če child blessed Jesus aftur he 40 came to če age of v ¨ere or čere aboute, ¨ede on hir erndes, & halpe in čat he miht, as a pore child to hem, shewyng in alle hese dedes buxumnesse, lowenesse & mekenesse. And sičen hem behoued to gete hir lyuelode in čat manere with hir trauaile, & perantur with reprofe oft sičes of hem čat čei |p54 dwelled among, as it falleč comunely to straungeres, & also with shame'. what hope we of hir housholde as of beddyng, cločing, & očer necessaries whečer čei hadden in čis superfluyte or curiosite? Nay with oute doute, čei čat loueden 5 perfite pouerte, wold |r[26v] not haue čouh čei miht čat, čat is contrarye to pouerte as superfluite & curiosite. And namelich touching curiosite. Trowe we čat oure lady in hire sowyng or očer manere wirchyng made curyouse werkes as miche folk doče? Nay god forbede. For čouh čei wirchene sech 10 curyositees, čat taken none hede to lese če tyme'. she čat was in čat nede miht not nor wold not spende če tyme in veyn, as many done, namelich in čees dayes. For čis vice of curiosite is one če most perilouse vice čat is'. & čat by many skilles may be shewed. 15  First by lesyng of tyme čat is ordeynet to če wirchipe of god, for siche curiose werke occupieč miche more tyme čan wolde očer pleyn & simple werke do čat were sufficiant to če nede, & čat is a gret harme, & contrarie to goddus wille.  če seconde harme čat comeč of curiosite is cause & 20 matire of veyn ioy to če wirchere. As what tyme čat a man makeč siche a curiouse werke'. oft lokeč he čeron with likyng, & čenkeč & ymagineč in his čouht bisily also when he wircheč not & specialy in tyme of goddus seruice, & when he shold haue his herte to god'. čenkeč or spekeč fort make čat 25 curiouse & čerby halt himself sotile & witty, & so wold be seen passyng očer.  Also it is cause of pride to him čat če curiouse werke is made to. For as simple, pleyn & buystes werkes bene occasion of lowenes & mekenes'. so bene curiouse werkes as 30 oile, nurishyng če fire of pride in če halderes & če haueres of hem.  Also it is to hem čat haue likyng in siche curiosite'. matire fort drawe hir hertes fro god & heuynly činges. For as seynt Gregory seič, In als miche as a man hač delite here 35 beneče in erčely činges, in so miche he is departed fro če loue aboue of heuenly činges.  Also it is one of čo čre, by če whech alle če world is infecte in synne, čat is če foule lust of če eyene, for sech curiositees seruene of nouht elles bot to fede če eyen, & als 40 oft as a man likyngly & in vayn with sech curiosite fedeč hese eyene'. so oft če makere & če vsere offendeč god. Wherfore men shold be eschew to make seche curiositees for ¨iuyng occasion of synne. For a man shold not asente to synne for any cause'. bot in alle maner abstine |r[27r] for če offence of god, |p55 & sičen god ¨af ensaumple & comendeč & loueč pouerte, as it is oft seide'. without doute it foloweč čat he is gretly offendet in čat činge čat is directe contrarie to pouerte, čat is specialy curiosite. 5  Also with alle očer harmes, more ouer čis is čat it is a token of a veyn & a li¨ht & an vnstable herte, & soule. Wherefore he čat wole lyue in clennesse of conscience & without defilyng of his soule'. him behoueč to abstine him boče fro če makyng & also fro če vsyng of sech veyn 10 curiositees, & to fle čerfro, as fro a venymowse serpent.  Neuerles by čis forseid reprofe of curiosite'. we shole not vndirstonde generaly forbeden to make faire werkes & honest apparaile'. for čat is leueful so čat it kepe a gude mene, & namely in čo činges & werkes čat longen to goddus seruice. 15 In če which it is nedeful to be warre & to eschew alle corrupte entent of veyn ioy & alle fals affection & foule likyng of worldes vanite, so čat če vertues mene of sufficiant honeste passe not in to če excesse of viciouse curiosite. And čus mich sufficeč seid of čis matire at čis tyme. 20 Of če turnyng a¨eyn of oure lord Jesu fro Egipte. Capitulum xj=m=. |r Aftere čat Heroude was dede & vij ¨ere were at ende, in če whech oure lorde Jesus hade duelled in egipte'. če angele of oure lorde apperede to Joseph in his slepe, & bad čat he 25 shold take če child & his modere, & go in to če londe of Israel, for čei weren dede čat souhten to sle če childe. And he anone rose vp, & with če child & his modere as če angele bad turned a¨eyne in to če londe of Israel. And when he came čere & herd čat archelaus če sone of Heroude reigned in čat party 30 čat was cleped Judea'. he dred & durst not go čidere, bot as he was eft beden of če angel in his slepe, he went to če cuntre of Galilee, in to če cite of Nazareč.  Here mowe we se in če comyng a¨eyn of Jesu as it was seid in his goyng, drede & disese meyned with confort & 35 ese. For what tyme čei beyng in a strange londe herd of če deč of hire enemyes, & čat čei shold come a¨eyn in to hir owne londe'. no doute, bot čat it was gret confort & hope of ese, bot takyng hede čerwič to če hard trauaile by če wey, & aftur when čei comen |r[27v] in to hir owne londe in hope of pees, 40 tydynges of a newe enmye, & for drede of him byden fort |p56 eschew his cuntry.' čer was discomfort & disease, & al to oure lore as it is seide. Lord Jesu čou faire ¨onge child čou art lord & kyng of heuen & erče. What disese & what trauaile suffrest čou for 5 oure sake, & how sone čou began! Sočely wele spake če prophete in ¨our persone, when he seič čus, I am pore & in diuerse trauailes fro myfirst ¨ouh. Swete Jesu how ¨edest čou or was cariede alle čat longe & harde wey, & namely čorh čat horrible desert, passyng ouer če rede se, & also če flode 10 Jordan, in so tendur age'. for as it semeč čis a¨eyn comyng is more trauailouse & more nuyes to če, & to či lederes'. čan was či first goyng. For whi, čat tyme čou were so litel čat čou mihtest esily be born in armes'. bot now čou art eldere & more waxen, as in če tyme of vij ¨ere, čou mai¨t not so, & go 15 miche mai¨t čou noht for tendere age, & to ride art čou no¨t vsed. Sočely it semeč čat čis trauail al only čat we speken now of, were sufficiant vnto ful redempcion for mankynde. Forčermore as to če processe of hir wey, we mowe čenk čat what tyme čei comen toward če ende of čat desert'. 20 čere čei fonden John baptiste, če which čat tyme hade begune čere to lyue in desert penance doyng, čouh it so were čat he hade no synne penance worči. For as it is seide čat place of Jordan in če which John baptizede'. is čat same place whereby če children of Israel ¨edene dry fote when čei comen by čat 25 desert oute of Egipte, & čat nihe čat place in desert John liuede in penance. Wherfore it is likely čat Jesus & his modere fonden him čere, & čat čei maden gret ioy & mirče gostly comyng to gedire. And no wondur, for he was an excellent & a worči child fro his birče. He was če first hermet & če 30 byginnyng of religiouse lyuyng in če newe lawe. He was clene maiden & grettest prechour after crist. He was a prophete & more čan a prophete, & a preciouse & gloriouse martire. Wherfore we deuoutly wirchipyng & honouryng him'. take we oure leue at him at čis tyme, & go we forč with oure lord Jesu 35 & his modere, in če forseid wey. After čei weren passed če flome Jordan, čen come čei forčermore to če house of oure lady Cosyn Elizabeth, |r[28r] where čei weren specialy refreshed, & maden to gedire a gret & likyng fest. And čere Joseph heryng čat Archelaus reigned 40 aftur his fadere Heroude, in če cuntre clepede Judea, by biddyng of če angel as it is seid before'. went with če child & his modere in to če Cite of Galile cleped Nazareč, & čere čei duelled as in hir owne home ledyng a symple & a pore lyfe to gedire'. bot in čat gret gostly richesse of Charite. |p57 Lo čus is če child Jesus brouht out of Egipte, & čan as we mowen čenk, če sistres of our lady & očer kynnes folk & frendes comen to hem, welcomyng hem home & visityng hem with presentes & ¨iftes as it was nede to hem, čat fonden of 5 hir owne bare housholde. Also among očer we mowe specialy haue in mynde, čat John Euangelist came with his modere oure lady sistere to viset & se Jesus, če which John was čat tyme aboute fyue ¨ere olde. For as it is writen of him, he diede če ¨ere fro če 10 passion of oure lorde lxti & vij, čat was če ¨ere of his age XC & viij. So čat at če passion of crist he hade in elde xxxj ¨ere & crist himself xxxiij, or litel more. And so at čis a¨eyn comyng of Jesu čat was čen vij ¨ere olde'. John was fyue ¨ere olde. And as he was aftur among očer chosen apostles & 15 disciples, specialy byloued of oure lord Jesus'. so it is likly čat in čis tyme of hir child hode, he was more chere čan očer, & as most special pleisere to Jesu. Fro čis tyme in to če tyme of xij ¨ere of Jesu age'. če gospel makeč none mynde of če child Jesu, neuerles it is 20 writen & seid čat čere is ¨it in čat place a welle, whereof če child Jesus fet oft sičes watir to his modere. For čat meke lorde refused not to do sech lowe seruices to his modere. And also she hade none očer seruant. Alle hir lyuyng was in mekenes & in pouert to oure ensaumple fort folowe hem. 25 Amen. How če child Jesus laft alone in Jerusalem. Capitulum xij=m= |r When če child Jesus was xij ¨ere olde'. & his modere with Joseph went in to Jerusalem, for če feste day čat lastede & continuede viij dayes aftur če biddyng & če custome of če 30 lawe'. he went also with hem in čat tendire age trauailyng al čat longe wey before seide, |r[28v] to honour & wirchipe his fadere of heuen in hese fest dayes as reson wolde, for čer is souereyn loue by twix če fadere & če sone. Neuerles čer was more inwarde sorow of herte & 35 compassion to če sone, of če vnwirchipyng of his fadere čat he sawh in doyng of many manere synnes'. čan was any ioy withoutforč in če pompe & solempnite of čat feste. Bot so stode he with his parens in če tyme of čat feste kepyng če lawe mekely as a nočer of če pore peple til what tyme če feste 40 dayes weren fulfilled & endet. And čan after čat hees parens |p58 weren gon homwarde'. he duelled stille čere in Jerusalem hem vnwityng.  Now take we here gude entent as we were present in alle čat is here spoken of for čis is a fulle deuout matire & a 5 profitable to vs. As it is seide before če Cite of Nazareč where oure lord duelled, was from Jerusalem če space of lx mile & xiiij or čere aboute, & so befelle čat his modere oure lady & Joseph token diuerse weyes homewarde & what tyme čei 10 comen to gedire at euen, where čei hadden set to be herbored'. our lady seynge Joseph without če child čat she supposed had gone with him'. asked of him where was če child? And he seid čat he wist neuer, for he wende as he seid čat she had ladde him with hir. And čerwič she brast on wepyng, & with gret 15 sorow seid, Alas where is my dere childe? For now I se čat I haue not wele kept him. And anone she began to go aboute in če euentyde as she mi¨t honestly fro house to house askyng, Sey ¨e ouht of my sone? Sey ¨e ouht of my sone? Vnnečes mi¨t she fele hirself for sorew & kare of hir sone. And če sely 20 old man Joseph folowed hir algate wepyng. And what tyme čei hadden longe souht & fonde him not'. what rest hopen we čei hadden in čat ni¨t, & namely če modere čat loued him most tendurly? Sočely no wondur čouh čei had none confort, al čouh hir frendes conforted hem as čei mi¨hten. For it was not 25 a litel losse to lese Jesu.  Wherfore here we mowen haue resonably gret compassion of če gret anguyshe čat our ladies soule is now inne for hir sone. She was neuer in so gret fro če tyme čat she was born. 30  And also here mowe we lern, what tyme tribu*lacion |r[29r] & anguysh fallen to vs'. not to be to heuy or miche disturblet čerby, sičen god sparede not his owne modere as in čis party. For he suffreč generaly tribulaciones to falle to hem čat bene hese chosen, & so čei beč token of his loue, & to vs 35 it is expedient to haue hem, for many skilles.  čan our lady sory as it is seide for she miht not fynde hir sone'. čat ni¨ht closed hir in hir chaumbur, & toke hir to praiere as to če best remedy in čat case'. seying in čis manere:  Almi¨hty god fadere of heuen, ful of mercy & of 40 pite, it liked ¨ow & was ¨our wille to ¨iue me ¨our owne dere sone, bot lo now fadere I haue lost him, & I wote note where he is, bot ¨e čat knowen alle činge, telleč me & sheweč me where my swete sone is, & ¨if him to me a¨eyne. Gode fadere takeč hede & beholdeč če sorow of my herte'. & not my gret |p59 negligence, for I knowlech wele čat I haue offendet in čis case. Neuerles for it is falle me by ignorance'. ¨e for ¨our gret gudenes ¨eue him me a¨eyn, for I may not lyue without him. And čou my swete sone Jesu where art čou now or how is it 5 with če? & where art čou now herborede? Lord whečer čou be gone vp in to heuen a¨ayn to či fader? for I wote wele čat čou art verrey god & goddus sone. Bot why čan woldest čou not telle me beforen? Also I wote wele čat čou art verrey man of me born, & here before I kept če & bare če in to Egipte fro če 10 malice of Heroude, čat souht če to sle. Bot now whečer any wikked man hač aspied če? či fadere of heuen almi¨hty he kepe če, & shilde če fro alle perile & malice. Dere sone telle me where čou art čat I may come to če or elles čou come to me, & for¨iue me čis negligence at čis tyme & I behete čat it 15 sal neuer eft befalle me, for how čis is befalle I wote neuer bot čou knowest čat art my hope, my life & alle my gude'. & without če I may not liue.  In čis manere & by sech wordes as we mowe deuoutly suppose'. alle čat ni¨t če modere kared & praied for 20 here dere sone.  Aftur vpon če morow erely Marie & Joseph souhten him by očer diuerse wayes čat ladden to Jerusalem'. & forčermore souhten him bisily among |r[29v] hir frendes & kynnesmen, bot čei mi¨ht not here of him, wherefore his 25 modere was so sory čat she miht in no maner be confortede. Bot če črid day aftur, when čei comen in to Jerusalem & souhten him at če temple'. čere čei fonden him sittyng among če doctours of lawe heryng hem entently, & askyng hem questiones wisyly. And anone as oure lady had če si¨ht of 30 him'. she was as glad as she had be turnede fro deč to lyfe, & čerwič knelyng done čonked god inwardly with wepyng ioy. And also sone as če child Jesus sawh his modere, he went to hir, & she with vnspekable ioy clippyng him in hir armes & kissyng him oft sičes, & haldyng him in hir barme, rested a 35 while with him for tendurnesse, to she hade take spirite, & čan she spake to him & seide, Dere son, what has čou done to vs in čis maner? For lo či fadere & I with gret sorow haue souht če alle čese čre dayes. And čen he answeryng a¨eyn'. seide, And what eyled ¨ow to seke me, know ¨e not wele čot it 40 behoueč me to be occupied in čo činges čat longen to če wirchipe of my fadere? Bot čees wordes čei vndurstode not in čat tyme. And čan seid his modere, Sone, wolt čou not go home a¨eyn with vs? And he mekely answeryng seide, I wole do as ¨e wil at I do, & as it is plesyng to ¨ow. And so was he |p60 suget to hem, & went home a¨ayn with hem vnto hir Citee Nazareth. In čis forseid processe of Jesu what hope we čat he dide or where & in what manere lyued he čo čre dayes? We 5 mowe suppose čat he went to some hospitale of pore men, & čere he shamfastly praiede & asked herborgh, & čer ete & lay with pore men as a pore child. And sume doctours seyn čat he begget in čo čre dayes. Bot čerof litel forse, so čat we folowe him in perfite mekenes & očer vertues. For beggyng 10 withoutforče bot čere be a meke herte withinneforče'. is litel worč als to perfeccion. Forčermore in če forseid processe we mowe note & lerne čre notable činges to vs. First is čat he čat wole perfitely serue god shal not 15 duelle among hese fleshly frendes & kynnesmen, bot he most leue hem & go fro hem. In token whereof'. če child Jesus laft his owne dere modere what |r[30r] tyme he wolde ¨iue entent to če gostly werkes of his fadere. And also when he was souht among hees frendes, & kynnesmen'. he was not fonden čere in 20 čat tyme. če seconde is'. čat he čat ledeč gostly life'. wondere not miche ne be not disconfort ouere heuyly, čouh he be sume tyme so drie in soule & als voide of deuocion'. as he were forsake of god. For čis maner bifelle to goddus modere as it 25 is seid before, wherefore be he not in despeire čerby'. bot bisily seche he Jesu in holi meditaciones & gude werkes, & specialy in deuout praiers, & he sal fynde him at če last in dewe tyme. če črid is'. čat a man folowe not to miche his owne 30 witte or his owne wille. For oure lord Jesus, aftur he seide čat he behouede to be occupiede in čo činges čat longen to his fadere wirchipe'. aftur he laft čat propre wille, & folowed his parens wille, goyng forč with hem fro če temple home in to Nazareth, & was suget to hem. And čis is specialy nedeful to 35 religiouse folke to folowe by trewe obedience to hir souereyns. And also here haue we gret ensaumple of mekenes in oure lorde Jesu, whereof we shole trete more pleynly in če chapitre čat nekest foloweč. Amen. What manere of lyuyng oure lorde Jesus hadde & what he 40 dide fro his xij ¨ere vnto če begynnyng of his xxx ¨ere. Capitulum xiij=m= |p61 |r FRo če tyme čat oure lorde Jesus was gone home to Nazareth with hees parens, when he was xij ¨ere olde, as it is seide before, vnto his xxxti ¨ere, we fynde no¨ht expressed in scripture autentike, what he dide or how he lyued, & čat 5 semeč ful wondurful. What sal we čan suppose of him in alle čis tyme, whečer he was in so miche ydul'. čat he dide noht or wro¨ht no¨ht, činge čat were worči to be writen & spoken of? God shilde. And on čat očer side, if he dide & wrouht, whi is it not writen as očer dedes of him bene? Sočely it semeč 10 merueilouse & wondurful. Bot neuerles, if we wole here take gude entent'. we shole mowe se čat as in no¨ht doyng'. he dide gret činges & wondurful. For čer is no činge of hees dedes or tyme of |r[30v] his lyuyng withoute misterye & edificacion, bot as he spake & wrouht vertuesly in tyme'. so he holde his pees & 15 restede & wičdrowe him vertuesly in tyme. Wherefore he čat was souereyn maistere & came to teche vertues & shewe če trewe wey of euery lastyng life'. he began fro his ¨ouče to do wondurful dedes, & čat in a wondurful maner & vnknowen, & čat was neuer ere herde before, čat is to sey, shewyng him self 20 in čat tyme as ydul & vnkonnyng & abiecte in če siht of men in maner as we sal say aftur, not fully affermyng in čis or očer čat we mowe not opunly preue by holi writ or doctours apreuede'. bot deuoutly ymaginyng to edificacion & stiryng of deuocion, as it was seid in če proheme of čis boke at če 25 begynnyng. And so we suppose čat oure lorde Jesus in čat tyme wičdrowe him fro če cumpanye & če felishipe of men, & went oft sičes to če sinagoge, as to če chirche, & čere was he miche occupiede in praiere, bot not in če hyest & most wirchipful place, bot in če lowest & pryuest place, & aftur in 30 tyme when he came home, halp his modere & also perauentur his supposed fadere Joseph in his craft, comyng & goyng among men'. as he knew not men. Alle čat knewen him, of če comune peple čat he dueled among, & seene so faire & semely ¨ong man doyng no činge čat was in to preisyng or 35 magnifiyng of his name'. wonderet gretly of him. Namely for as če gospel seič of him, when he was ¨ong & of xij ¨ere age, Jesus profitede in age, in wisdome & in grace to fore god & man, čat is to sey as in če si¨ht & opinion of men. Bot now when he was of more age in to če tyme of his xxxti ¨ere'. he 40 shewed no dedes of comendacion outewarde, wherefore men skorned him & held him as an ydiote & an ydul man & a fole, & so it was his wille to be hald as vnworči & abiecte to če worlde for oure sauacion, as če prophete spekeč in his persone čus, I am a worme & not a man reproue of men & abieccion |p62 of če peple. Bot here mowe we see čat he in čat abiection as it were no¨ht doyng'. dide a ful gret vertues dede of worči comendyng. & what was čat? |r[31r] Sočely čat he made him self foule & abiecte in če si¨ht of očere, & hereof hade he none 5 nede'. bot we hade čis nede. For sočely as I trowe in alle oure dedes, čer is no činge grettere or hardere to fulfille čan is čis, wherefore as me činkeč čat man is come to če hiest & če hardest degre of perfeccion'. če which of ful herte & trewe wille, without feynyng, hač so ouercome himself, & maistrede 10 če proude stiryng of če flesh'. čat he willeč not to be in reputacion of men, bot coueyteč fully to be despised, & hald as foule, vnworči & abiecte. For čis is more worči & more to comende, čan a man be passyngly stronge & a conquerour of Citees & londes as salomon witnesseč. 15 Wherefore til we come to čis degre of perfeccione'. we sal halde oure self as ful imperfite, & al čat we done as nouht to account. For sičen in sočenesse alle we bene bot as vnworči seruantes what tyme čat we done če gude čat we oweč to do, as god him self witnesseč'. til če tyme čat we come to is degre 20 of abiectione, & perfite reproue of oure self'. we bene not set sadly in trew[č]e, bot račer in vanite, as če apostle opunly sheweč, in čees wordes, Who so halt himself in his owne reputacione as ouht worči, sičen in sočnes, he is as nouht'. he begileč & deceyueč himself. 25 And so as we seide before oure lorde Jesus lyuede in čis manere, & made himself abiecte & as vnworči to če world'. not for his owne nede, bot fort teche vs če trew wey of perfeccione, wherefore if we lerne it not'. we mowe not be excused. For it is abhomynable činge to se him čat is bot a 30 worme, & wormes mete to come'. fort hye him self by presumpsione, & lift vp him self as ouht'. when čat če hie lord of maieste so meked him self by abiectione, & lowed him self as nouht, & čat dide he not by feynyng, bot as he was sočely meke & mylde in herte'. so also without symulacione he lowed 35 him self in alle maner of mekenes & abiectione in če siht of očere fulfillyng first in dede, čat he taght aftur by worde when he bade hees disciples to lerne of him fort be meke & mylde in herte. And in so mych he lowed & anentyshede himself, čat also aftur he began to preche & to speke |r[31v] so hie činges of če 40 godhede as če gospel telleč, & to wirche myracles & wondres'. ¨it če Jewes set no¨ht by hym bot despised him & skorned him, seying, What is he čis? Is not he čat wrightes sone Joseph? & also In če deueles name he casteč out deueles, & many sech očer despites & reproues he suffret paciently & |p63 mekely, makyng so čere čorh a swerde of mekenes'. čerwič to sle če proude aduersary če deuel of helle. And if we wole se how mi¨htily he girde him with čis swerd of mekenes aftur če biddyng of če prophete'. let vs take gode hede to alle his dedes 5 & we sal se in hem alle algate shewed gret mekenes, as we mowe se if we haue in mynde in alle če processe čat is seide ¨it hidere to. And also here aftur shal be shewed more & more in to his hard deč. And more ouer aftur his resurrexion & at his vp steying to heuen, & ¨it hereto more ouer at če last day 10 of dome, when he sal sitte in his maieste kynge & domesmane of al če world'. ¨it sal he shewe his souereyn mekenes to hees creatours hees brečerne by čees wordes, Als longe as ¨e diden almesdedes to čees my leest brečerne ¨e diden to me. And whi hope we čat he shewed so mich & loued 15 principaly čis vertue of mekenes? Sočely for he knew wele čat as če byginnyng of alle synne is pride'. so če fondament of alle gude & of sauacione is mekenes, without če which fondment če bildyng of al očer vertues is in veyn. And čerfore if we triste of maydenhede of pouerte or of any očere vertue or dede 20 without mekenes'. we ben deceyuede. And for als mich as he tawht & shewed vs in what maner čis vertue of mekenes sal be goten, čat is to sey by despysing & abiection of a man him self in his owne & also in očer mennus si¨ht, & by continuel doyng of lowe & abiecte dedes, čerfore vs behoueč to loue & 25 vse čees menes, if we wole perfitely come to čat hie vertue, as seynt Bernarde seič in diuerse places, God ¨if vs grace to gete it perfitely as hit is seide. For sočely I čat write čis'. knowlech me ful ferre čere fro. And čus miche at čis tyme sufficeč spoken of čis souereyn vertue. 30 Bot now to go a¨eyn to oure |r[32r] principale matere of če mirrour of če blessed life of oure lord Jesu'. beholde we čere če maner of lyuyng of čat blessed cumpanye in pouerte & simplenes to gedire, & how čat olde man Joseph wrouht as he mi¨t in his craft of Carpentary, oure lady also with če distafe 35 & nelde, & čerwič makyng hir mete, & očer office doyng čat longen to housholde as we mowe činke in diuerse maneres, & how oure lord Jesus mekely holp hem boče at hir nede & also in leying če borde, makyng če beddes & sech očere choores gladly & lowly ministryng, & so fulfillyng in dede čat he seič 40 of him self in če gospel, čat, Mannus sone came not to be seruet'. bot to serue. Also we mowe čenke how čei čre eten to gedire euery day at one litel borde, not preciouse & delicates metes'. bot symple & sobre as was onely nedeful to sustinance of če |p64 kynde. And aftur mete how čei speken to gedire, & also perantere očerwhile in hir mete, not veyn wordes or dissolute'. bot wordes of edificacione ful of wisdome & of če holi goste, & so as čei weren fed in body, čei were miche better fed in 5 soule. And čen aftur siche manere recreacione in comune'. čei wenten to praiere by hem self in hir closetes. For as we mowe ymagine čei hade no grete house bot a litel, in če whiche čei hade čre seuerynges as it were čre smale chaumbres, čere specialy to pray & to slepe. And so mowe we čenk how oure 10 lord Jesu crist, euery ni¨ht aftur praiere goč to his bedde lowely & mekely, shewyng in čat & al očer nedes of mankynde čat he was verrey man, & hidyng his godhede fro če fende. A lord Jesu wele maiht čou be cleped hidde god čat 15 woldest in alle čis longe tyme čus trauaile & put to penance čat most innocent body for oure sake, when če trauaile of on ni¨ht hade sufficede to redemption of alle če worlde. Bot či grete loue to man made če to do grete dedes of penance for him. And so ¨e čat bene kynge of kynges & almi¨hti god 20 withouten ende, čat helpen alle men in hir nede & ¨iuen ¨oure godes to al očer plentyuously as euery condicion & state askeč'. ¨e chase & reseruede to ¨oure owne persone so gret pouerte, abieccione & penance in wakyng in slepyng, abstinyng, etyng |r[32v] & in alle ¨our očere dedes doyng, & čat in 25 so longe tyme, for oure loue. Lord god where bene now čei čat louen so miche če lust & če likyng & če ese of če flesh, čat seken so bisily preciouse & curiouse & diuerse ornamentes & vanytees of če worlde? Sočely we čat louen & desiren sech činges'. we lerne 30 not čat in če scole of čis maistre. For he tauht vs boče by worde & by dede, mekenes, pouerte & penance, & chastisyng of če body. And sičen we be not wisere čan he, if we wole not erre, late vs folowe him čat souereyn Maystere, čat wole not begile & čat may not be bygilede. And also aftur če 35 doctrine of his apostle hauyng lyuelode & cločing in čees be we apaiede, & čat in nede couenable'. & not in superfluyte. And also in alle očer vertues lyuyng & exercises before seide, folowe we to oure powere oure lorde Jesu, čat we mowe aftur čis wrecchede life in penance'. come to his blisse, & če life 40 euerlastyng in ioy. Amen. |p65 Of če baptisme of oure lorde Jesu & če wey čerto. Capitulum xiiij |r Afture čat xxix ¨ere were complete, in če whiche oure lorde Jesus hade lyuede in penance & in abiection as it is 5 seide'. in če bigynnyng of hees xxx ¨ere he spake to his modere & seide, Dere modere it is now tyme čat I go to glorifye my fadere & make him knowen, & also to shew my self to če worlde, & to worche če sauacion of mannus saule as my fadere hač ordeynet & sente me in to čis worlde for čis 10 ende. Wherefore gude modere be of gude confort, for I salle sone come a¨eyn to če. And čerwič čat souereyn maistere of mekenes knelyng done to his modere asked lowely hir blessyng. And she also knelyng & clippyng him derworčly in hir armes'. with wepyng 15 seide čus, Mi blessed son as čou wolt, go nowe, with či fadere blissyng & myne, & čenk on me, & haue in mynde sone to come a¨eyne. And so reuerently takyng his leue at his modere, & also at his supposed fadere Joseph he toke his wey fro Nazareth toward Jerusalem, & so forč til he come to če watere 20 of Jordan, where Jon baptizede če peple at čat tyme, če whiche place is fro Jerusalem če space of xviij mile. |r[33r] And so če lord of alle če world, goč alle čat longe wey barefote & alone, for he hade ¨it none disciples gederet. Where fore we takyng gude entent by inwarde 25 compassion of him in čis jurneye'. speke we to him deuoutly in hert čenkyng in čis manere : A lorde Jesu, ¨e čat bene kynge of alle kynges whidere go ¨e in čis manere al one? Gode lord where bene ¨oure dukes & erles, knihtes & barones, horses & herneys, chariotes 30 & sumeres & alle ¨our seruantes & ministres čat sholde be aboute ¨ow to kepe ¨ow fro če comune peple in manere of kynges & lordes? Where bene če trompes & clariones & alle očer mynstralsye & herborgeres & poruyoures čat shold go before & alle očer wirchipes & pompes of če world'. as we 35 wrecched wormes vsen? Be not ¨e čat hie lord of whose ioy & blisse heuen & erče is replenishede? Whi čan go ¨e čus symply alone & on če bare erče? Sočely če cause is for ¨e be not at čis tyme in ¨our kyngdome, če which is not of čis world. For here ¨e haue anentishede ¨our self, takyng če 40 maner of a seruant, & not of a kynge, & so ¨e haue made ¨our self as one of vs, a pilgrime & a strangere as alle oure fadres weren, ¨e become a seruant to make vs kynges, & for we sholde sikerly come to ¨our rewm'. ¨e came ¨our self shewyng |p66 vs če trewe wey whereby we shold mowe come vp čerto. Bot lord god whi leue we & forsake we čat wey? Whi folowe we not after če? Whi lowe we not & meke not oure self? Whi loue we & hald we & coueyt we so bisily wirchipes & pompes 5 & vanytees of če world? Sočely for oure rewme is of čis world, & for we knawe not oure self here as pilgrymes & strangeres'. čerfore we fallen in alle čees folies & myscheues, & so we veyn mennus sones louen & halden alday činges čat bene veyn & fals'. for čo čat bene gude & trew, & čo čat bene 10 temperele euer feilyng'. for čo čat bene heuenly & euerlastyng. Trewly gude lorde if we desireden with a sadde wille to ¨our rewme'. & oure confort were in heuenly činges, & also čerwič if we inwardly čouhten & knewen our self here as pilgrimes & strangeres'. we shold sone & li¨htly folowe ¨ow, & of alle 15 |r[33v] čees erčly činges & temperele godes takyng onely čat were nedeful to oure lyuyng'. we shold not be taryed to renne aftur ¨owe, bot as without birčen we shold go li¨tly & fully despise & set at no¨ht alle čees worldly richesse & godes. Bot now speke we forčermore of če baptisme of oure 20 lord Jesu. What tyme čat he came to če watere Jordane'. čere he fonde John baptizing sinfulmen, & miche peple čat was come čider to here his predicacion, for čei helden him čat tyme as criste. And čen oure lorde Jesus amongis očer went to John, & praied him čat he wolde baptise him with očere. And 25 John beholdyng him & knowyng him in spirite'. was dredde & wič grete reuerence seide, Lord I sholde be baptizede of če & čou comest to me? And Jesus onswered, Suffre now, for čus it falleč & besemeč vs to fulfil alle ri¨twisnes. As who sey, Sey not čis now, & bewrye me not, or make me not knowen, for 30 my tyme čerof is not ¨it come. Bot now do as I bidde, & baptise me for now is tyme of mekenes, & čerfore I wole now fulfille alle maner mekenes. Here seič če glose, čat mekenes hač čre degres. če first degre is'. a man to be suget & lowed to his 35 souereyne, & not preferred or hiede aboue him čat is euen with him in astate. če seconde is'. to be suget to his euen like in astate, & not to be hiede or preferred aboue his vndurlynge. če čridde & če souereyn degre of mekenes is'. to be 40 suget & lowede to his vndirlyng, čat is he čat is lasse in astate čan he. And čis degre kept oure lorde Jesus at čis tyme, when he meked him & lowede him to John. & čerfore so he fulfillede alle če perfeccion of mekenes. |p67 And čan when John sawh oure lordes wille čat most nede be do'. he dide as he badde & baptizede him čere. Now take we here gude hede, how čat hie lorde of maieste dispoleč him & doč of hees cločes as a nočer simple 5 man, of če peple, & aftur he is plunget in čat colde watere, & in čat colde tyme as in wynter, & alle for oure loue, & for our hele ordeynyng če sacrament of baptisme, & washyng čerwič none of hees owne synnes for he hadde none, bot oure filčes & oure synnes, & so weddyng čere gostly to him holy chirch 10 generally, |r[34r] & alle trewe soules specialy. For in če feič of oure baptisme we bene weddet to oure lorde Jesu crist. Wherefore čis is a gret fest & a werke of gret profite & excellence. For in čis worči werke alle če holi trinyte was opunly shewed in a singulere manere. When če holi goste 15 came done in če likenesse of a doufe & rested vp on him, & če voice ofče fadere seide, čis is my belouede sone, in whom it lykeč me wele, & čerfore Heire ¨e hym. Vpon če which worde seynt bernarde spekeč in čis manere, Lo lorde Jesu, now is tyme to speke, & čerfore now bygynne & speke. How 20 longe wolt čou be in silence? Me čenk čou hast longe tyme hald či pees, ¨e & ful longe. Bot now speke for now čou hast leue of če fadere. How longe wolt čou čat art če vertue of god & če wisdome of če fadere'. be hidde in če peple as he čat were feble & vnkonyng? How longe čou čat art worči kyng of 25 heuen, suffrest či self to be clepede & also to be supposede & halden a wryhtes sone, čat is to sey Joseph? For as Luke in his gospell witnesseč, ¨it in to čis tyme of hese xxxti ¨ere'. Jesus was supposed & halden če sone of Joseph. A čou mekenes čat art če vertue of crist, how miche 30 confondest čou če pride of myn vanite? For I kan bot litel, or more sočely to speke'. onely it semeč to me čat I kan'. & ¨it now I may not halde my tonge vnwisly & withoute shame, puttyng my self forče, & shewyng me as wise, & so redy to teche & liht to speke'. bot slow to here. And crist what tyme 35 čat he helde his pees so longe, & also hidde him self fro če knowyng of men, whečer he dredde ouht veyn ioy? What sholde he drede veyn ioy čat was in sočenes če ioy of če fadere? Bot neuerles he dred čis, not to him self'. bot to vs, če which he knewe wele hade nede to be adredde of čat veyn ioy. 40 And in čat he spake not with his mouče'. he tauht vs in dede. And čat činge čat he tauht aftur by worde, now he spake by ensaumple, čat is Lerneč of me for I am mylde & meke in herte. For of če ¨ouče of oure lorde in to čis tyme of xxx ¨ere'. I hyre or rede bot litel more. Bot now may he no lengire |p68 be hidde'. sičen he is so opunly shewed of če fadere. Alle čees bene če wordes of seynt Bernarde |r[34v] in sentence confermyng čat was seide before in če nekst chapitre how čat oure lord Jesus mekely held his pees in to čis tyme for oure doctrine to 5 fle presumpcione & kepe perfite mekenesse, če which vertue ¨it here in his baptisme he shewed more growen čen it was before, by souereyn lowenesse opunly shewed to his seruant, makande him worči & gret'. & him self as vnworči & abiecte. And also in a nočer poynt, we mowe se his mekenes here 10 growen, for in to čis tyme as hit is seide he lyuede lowely as in ydulnesse & in abiection, bot now he shewede him self opunly as a sinfulman. For John prechede to sinful men to do penance & baptized hem. And oure lord Jesus came among hem, & in hir siht was baptized as one of hem, & was a 15 souereyn poynt of mekenes, namely in čis tyme, when he purposed to preche & shewe him self as goddus sone. For as by wey of mannus reson, he shold haue dredde čan of čat lowe dede lest čerby aftur when he prechede he shold haue be in lasse reputacione, & despised as a sinfulman & vnworči. 20 Bot čerfore laft not he čat was maistere of mekenes, to meke him self in alle manere of lowenes, to oure doctrine & ensaumple, shewyng him self činge čat he was not, in to despite & abiectione of him self.  Bot we in contrarie maner shewen oure self čat we 25 bene not in to wirchepe & praisyng of oure self. For if čere be any činge in vs of vertue čat ouhe to be praisede'. čat gladly we shewen & maken knowe, bot oure defautes & trespasses we helen & hiden, & ¨it be we in sočenes wikked & sinful. And čouh it so be čat we knowen our self as in oure owne 30 si¨ht vnworči, & sinful, neuerles we wole not be halde so in če si¨ht of očer. And in čat is oure mekenes fer fro če parfite mekenes of Jesu, as it was here & before shewede. And in alle hese dedes he shewed it as čat vertue čat is most nedeful to vs. Wherefore loue we hit & bisy we hus in alle oure dedes 35 principaly to kepe hit, not dredyng čerby to be če more vnable to profite of očer. For as he was in čis tyme of his souereyn mekenes in vndurfon[g]yng of his baptisme taken of his seruant, shewed by witnesse of če fadere & token of če holy gost |r[35r] verrey goddus sone'. So čouh we make vs abiecte & 40 lowe vs neuere so miche in oure owne siht & in očer mennes'. if we be able to profite to očere, god wole make vs knowen in tyme as it is most spedeful to oure owne mede, & to očere mennes profite. Amen. |p69 Explicit pars secunda & contemplacio pro die Martis'. |p71 |r Incipit pars tercia. Of če fastyng of oure lord Jesu & hees temptacions in Deserte. Capitulum xv. |r What tyme čat oure lorde Jesus was baptizede, as it is 5 seide nekst before'. anone he went in to desert, & čere vpon a hille čat was fro če place of his baptisme aboute foure myle, & is cleped Quarentana'. he fastede xl dayes & xl nihtes nouht etyng or drinkyng, & as če Euangelist Marke tellič, his duellyng was čere with bestes. 10  Now ¨iue we here gude entente to oure lorde Jesu'. specialy & to hees dedes. For here he techeč vs & ¨iueč vs ensaumple of many gret vertues. As in čat čat he here is solitarie, & fasteč & preyeč, & wakeč, & lyč & slepeč vp on če erče, & mekely is conuersant with beestes. In če whiche 15 processe bene touched foure činges, čat longen specialy to gostly exercise & vertuese lyuyng, & wondurfully holpyng eche očere to gedere, čat is to sey, Solitary beyng, Fastyng, Prayere, & Penance of če body, by če whech we mowe come best to čat noble vertue čat is clennesse of herte, če which 20 clennes we oweč souereynly to desire in als mich as it is most nedeful to vs, & comprehendeč in it self alle očere vertues in manere, čat is to sey, Charite, Mekenesse, Pacience & alle očer vertues. And also it putteč awey vices. For with vices or with defaute of vertues'. clennes of herte may not stande & 25 last. And čerfore in čat booke čat is cleped Collationes Patrum it is seide čat al če exersise of a Monke shuld be principaly to gete & haue clennesse of herte, & no wondur, for čerby a man shal deserue to se god. As crist him self witnesseč in če gospel seying čus, Blessed be če clene in 30 herte'. for čei shul se god. And as seynt Bernard seič, če |p72 clennere čat a man is, če nerre he is god, & če more clerely seč him.  Wherfore to gete & haue čis noble vertue čat is to sey clennes of herte, principaly helpeč bisy & deuoute praiere 5 of če which we shole speke aftur. |r[35v]  Bot for als miche as praiere with glutony or with če lust & če likyng of če body & ydulnesse is litel worče'. čerfore it behoueč čat čere be čerwič Fastyng & bodily penance, & čat with discrecion. For bodily penance withoute 10 discrecion'. letteč alle gode werkes.  Also for če kepyng & fulfillyng of alle čo čre forseide činges'. helpeč mich če ferče, čat is solitary beynge. For with miche noyse & turblynge'. praiere wil not wele & deuoutly be seide. And he čat seeč & hereč many činges, shal 15 ful harde ascape vnclannes of herte & offence of conscience, for oft sičes deč entreč be oure windowe in to če soule.  Wherefore čou čat wolt be knyt gostly to oure lord Jesu crist, & coueytest in clannes of herte to se god, by ensaumple of him, go in to solitary place, & in als miche as 20 čou maist, sauyng čin astate, fle če cumpanye of fleshly men. Seke not by curiosite newe knowleches & frendeshipes. Fil not čin eyen & čin eres with veyn fantasies. For it was not without cause čat holi fadres here before souhten desertes & očer solitary places fer fro če comune conuersacion of men. 25 And also it was not for nouht čat čei tauhten & beden hem čat duelled in religiouse congregation, čat čei shold be blynde, defe & doumbe. And čat may let & desturble rest of soule, fle as venymous to če soule. čis solitarye beynge & čis fleyng as seynt Bernard seič 30 is more vertuesly in soule čan in body, čat is to say, čat a man in his entention in deuoucion & in spirite be departed fro če world & men'. & ioynede so in spirite to god, čat is a spirite, & askeč not solitarye beinge of body bot in manere & in tyme, as specialy in tyme of speciale preyer, & also in očer tyme of 35 hem čat ouhen by wey of hir degre be solitarye, as recluse & sume religiouse. And čerfore seič če same seynt, čou čat art among many bodily'. čou maiht [be] solitary & alone gostly if čou wille not & loue not čese worldly činges, čat če comunate loueč. And also if čou despise & forsake čo činges čat al men 40 comunely desiren & taken. Also if čou fle stryfes & debates & if čou fele not with sorow čin owne hermes, & haue not in mynde wronges done to če, fort be auengete. And elles čouh čou be alone & solitarye |r[36r] in body'. čou are not alone treuly in soule. And generaly in what manere companye of men čat |p73 čou art conuersant, bewarre specialy of twey činges, if čou wolt be treuly solitarye in spirite, čat is'. čat čou be not a curiose & a bisy serchere of očer mennus conuersatione or elles a presumptuose & temerarye demare of očer men. 5  čis is seynt bernard sentence of solitary beynge, by če which we mowe vndurstand čat bodily solitude sufficeč not, without gostly. Bot fort haue če gostly'. če bodily helpeč ful miche, puttyng awey occasion wičout forč, čat miht drawe če soule withinforč fro če onyng & knittyng to hir spouse Jesu 10 criste.  Wherefor čat we mowe so be knit to him by grace'. be we about wič alle oure wille & miht to folowe him, čat is to sey. In trewe solitarye beinge as it is seid & in deuoute praiere. In fastyng & discrete bodily penance doynge. 15  And forčermore čat his conuersacione in desert was among beestes'. we haue ensaumple fort lyue symply & bere vs lowely in what maner congregacion we bene, & čerwič to bere paciently & suffre also hem'. čat semen to vs as vnresonable & bestiale in maneres & in lyuyng. 20  And čus hauyng in mynde če maner of lyuyng of oure lord Jesu crist in desert so in penance čo xl dayes'. euery cristen soule ouht to viset him čere oft tymes by deuoute compassion, & specialy in čat tyme begynnyng at če Epiphanye when he was baptizet in to xl dayes aftur, in če 25 which he fasted & lyued čere as it is seide.  Bot now ferčermore at to his temptacion, when čo xl dayes of his fastyng were complete'. oure lord Jesus hungret, & anone čat fals temptour če fende čat was bisy about to knowe whečer he were goddussone'. came to him & begane to 30 tempte him of glotonye & seide, If čou be goddussone sey čat čees stones be made & turnede in to brede loues. Bot he miht not wič his trecherye deceyue him čat was maistre of treuče. For he answered him so wisly'. čat neyčer he was ouercome by če temptacion of glotony, & ¨it če aduersarie miht not knowe 35 čat he desirede. For neičer he denyed nor affermede čat he was goddus sone'. bot concludet him by an auctorite of holy writ. And so haue we here ensaumple of oure lord Jesu, to wičstonde če |r[36v] vice of glotonye. For čere most we begynne'. if we wole ouercome očer vices, as če enemye comunely 40 begynneč čerwič to asaile hem čat taken hem to gostly lyuyng. Wherefore as it semeč, he čat is ouercomen with čat vice of glotonie'. čat while he is feble & vnmihty to ouercome & withstonde očer vices, as doctours seyn in čis place of če |p74 gospel, čat bot Glotony be first refreynet'. man traualeč in veyn a¨eynys očer vices. Afturwarde če deuel toke him vp & bare him into Jerusalem, čat was fro čat place about viij mile as men seyn, 5 & čere he sett him vpon če pynnakle of če temple, where he tempted him of veyn ioy, coueyting to know as he dide before whečer he were goddus sone. Bot here was he also ouercome by auctorite of holi writ, so čat he lost fully his purpose, in čat he hirt him not as man be pride, & himself was neuer če 10 wyser of his godhede. And here haue we ensaumple of pacience, consideryng če gret benignyte & pacience of oure lord Jesu čat suffrede him self to be handlet & born of čat cruel beste, čat hatede him & alle čat he louede. And aftur čat tyme as seynt Bernarde seič če enmye 15 seyng čat he shewede no činge of če godhede , & supposyng čerby čat he was not god'. tempted him aftur as man, at čis čridde tyme, when he toke him vp eft, & bare him a¨eyn in to a ful hie hille beside če forseide hille of quarentana, as če space of two mile & čere he tempted hym of Auarice, & 20 čerwič of ydolatrye. Bot čerfore was he čere opunly reproued, & fully venkyshede & ouercome as diuerse doctours tellen, čat expowen more pleynly čees temptaciones & čis gospel, & čerfore we passen ouere če shortlyer here as we do in očer expositiones, standyng principaly in meditaciones, as it was 25 seide at če begynnyng of čis boke. If we take here gude hede how our lord Jesus was handlet & temptede of če enmye, we shole not wondur čouh we wrecches be oft sičes tempted, for not onely he was tempted in čees čre tymes, bot also as seynt bernard seič in 30 očer diuerse tymes, as če apostle seič, čat he was tempted in alle maner temptacion čat longeč to če infirmyte of man without synne. Forčermore when če enmye was fully ouercome & gone awey, Angeles |r[37r] come & seruede & ministred him. 35 Bot nowe here take we gude hede & behold we inwardly oure lord Jesu etyng alone, & če angeles aboute him, & čenk we deuoutly by ymaginacion čo činges čat folowen here aftur, for čei bene ful faire & stiryng to deuocion. And so first we mowe aske what maner of mete it was čat če angeles 40 seruede him of, aftur čat longe fast? Here of spekeč not holi writ, wherfore we mowe here ymagiue by reson & ordeyne čis worči fest as vs likeč, not by errour affermyng bot deuoutly ymaginyng & supposyng, & čat aftur če comune kynde of če manhode. For if we take hede & speke of his miht aftur če |p75 godhede'. čere is no question. For it is no doute, čat he miht make what čat him lust, & also haue of čo čat bene & weren made at his owne wille. Bot we shol not fynde čat he vsed čis mi¨t & čis powere, for him self or for hees disciples, in hir 5 bodily nede. Bot for če peple to shewe his godhede, we reden, čat at twey tymes he fedde hem miraculously in gret multitude of a fewe loues & fyshes. Bot of hese disciples is writen čat in his owne presence, čei plukkede eres of corn & eten hem for hungere as 10 it sal folowe here aftur. Also what tyme he him self was wery of če wey & sat vpon če welle, spekyng with če woman samaritane'. we rede not čat he made mete fort ete'. bot čat he sende hese disciples in to če cite to bigge hir mete, & so it is not likly čat in čis 15 tyme aftur his faste & bodily hungere he puruede his mede by miracle'. sičen in čis tyme he shewed onely his manhede. And also čer was no peple čere fort wirche miracle to hir edificacion, as comunely he dide, bot onely angeles weren čere presente. And sičen in čat hille was no duellyng of men, nor 20 mete redy diht'. we shol suppose čat angeles brouhten him mannus mete al redy diht fro an očere place, as it befelle to če prophet Daniel. For as holi writ telleč, what tyme Daniel was put in to če pitte of lyones, & Abacuk a nočer prophete bare mete to his repsteres on če felde'. goddus angele toke him vp 25 by če her of his hede, & bare him fro čennus in to Babilone to Daniel fort be fedde with čat |r[37v] mete, & aftur anone he was born a¨eyn. And so in čat manere let vs ymagine here, & with gostly mirče as it were rehetyng oure lorde Jesu at čis mete, & also hauyng in mynde specialy his dere modere, čenk we 30 deuoutly in čis manere. What tyme Sathanas was reprouede as a fals temptour & vtturly dryuen awey'. holi angeles in gret multitude comen to oure lord Jesu aftur his victorye, & fallyng done to če erče deuoutly honourede him & saluede him as hir lord, & almihty 35 god, & oure lord benyngly & swetely token hem vp enclinyng to hem with his hede, as it were knowelechyng him self verrey man, & in čat sumwhat lasse & lowede fro angeles. And čen speken če angeles & seiden čus, Oure worči lorde ¨e haue longe fastode, & it is now ¨our tyme to ete'. what is ¨our wille 40 čat we ordeyn for ¨ow? And čan he seide, Goče to my dere modere, & what maner of mete she hače redy'. bringeč to me, for čer is none bodily mete so lykyng to me as čat is of hir di¨htyng. And anone tweyn of hem goyng forč'. sodenly weren before hir, & wič gret reuerence gretyng hir, of hir sone |p76 behalf'. told hir message, & so of čat symple mete čat she hade ordeynet to hir self & Joseph'. če angeles tokene with a lofe & a towel, & očer necessaryes, & brouhten to Jesu, & perantere čerwič a fewe smale fishes čat oure lady hade 5 ordeynet čen, as god wolde. And so čerwič če angeles comyng'. spraddene če tuwaile vpon če gronde & leiden brede čeron, & myldly stoden & seiden graces with oure lord Jesu, abidyng his blessyng, & til he was sette. Now take gode entent here specialy čou čat art 10 solitarye & haue in mynde, when čou etest či mete alone as without mannus felashepe, če manere of čis mete, & how lowely oure lorde Jesus sitteč don to his mete on če bare gronde, for čere hade he niečer bankere nor cushyne, & take hede how curteysly & how soburly he takeč his mete, not 15 wičstondyng his hungre aftur his longe fast. če angeles serued him as here lorde, perantere one of brede, anočer wyne, a nočer diht fishes, summe songen in če stede of mynstrelsye čat swete songe of heuen & so čei reheteden & confortede hir lorde as it longen to hem with mich ioy meynede with 20 compassion. čis felawship hast čou čouh čou se hem not, |r[38r] when čou etest alone in či celle, if čou be in charite, & specialy when čou hast či herte to god as če oweč to haue aftur če biddyng of če Apostle, če which seič to vs čat whečer we eten or drinken or any očere činge do'. alle we shole do in 25 če name of oure lorde, če which name Jesus we shole algates blesse & čonk him in herte, haue we miche haue we litel, haue we gude haue we badde, & so ete oure mete čouh we bene alone'. as čei we seeue bodily čo blessed angeles čat bene present gostly. And herewič hauyng inwarde compassion of 30 oure lord Jesu, & beholdyng in mynde him čat is almi¨ty god, souereyn lord & makere of alle če worlde, čat ¨iueč mete to alle fleshly creatours'. so mekede, & in maner nedet to bodily mete, & čerwič etyng as a nočer erčely man'. miche owt we to loue him & čonk him & with a gladde wille take penance 35 & suffre disese for him čat so mich suffred for vs. Forčermore as to če processe when oure lord Jesus hade eten & seide grace, čat is to sey čonked če fadere in his manhede of čat bodily refeccion'. he badde če angeles bere a¨eyn to his modere čat was laft, tellyng hir čat he sholde in 40 short tyme come to hir a¨eyn. And when čei hadden do as he badde, & were come a¨eyn čat was in ful short tyme'. he spake to hem alle če angeles čat čere weren & seid, Goče a¨eyn to my fadere & ¨our blisse, & recommendeč me to him, & to alle če court of heuen, for ¨it it behoueč me to do my |p77 pilgrymage here in erče a while. And anone čerwič čei fallyng done to če erče & deuoutly askyng his blessyng'. aftur he hadde blessed hem, wenten vp a¨eyn to heuen, tellyng čere čees tydynges of his graciouse victorye, & čerof was alle če 5 blessed court reioycede, & fulfilled in mirče & čonkyng of god. And čus & in čis manere we mowe čenke & ymagyne če forseide processe'. to stiryng of oure deuotion as by wey of meditacion. In če whiche processe bene many gude notabilitees touchyng temptacion of man in čis world, of če 10 whiche seynt Gregoury & očere doctours speken in če exposition of čis gospell, Ductus est Jesus in desertum, &c. & specialy Crisostome in inperfecto, če whech for čei bene sufficiantly writen, not onely in latyne, |r[38v] bot also in english'. we passen ouere at čis tyme spekyng forčermore of če turnyng 15 a¨eyn of oure lord Jesus home to his modere at Nazareth. And čen when he went done fro čat hille & came to Jordane'. John baptist als sone as he sawh him come towarde him, with his fyngere puttyng towarde him shewede him & seide, Lo če lombe of god. Lo he čat doče awey če synnes ofče world. He 20 it is vpon če whome I sawe če holy gost rest, what tyme I boptized him.  Afturwarde also a nočer day, when Jon hadde shewed him as he dide first'. Andrewe & Peture with očer disciples speken with him & hadden a bygynnyng of his knowlech as 25 John telleč in his gospel.  Afturward oure lord Jesus laft čat cuntre & toke če way toward Galile til he came to his modere at Nazareth, whom we shole also folowe by compassion of his gret trauaile alle čat longe wey of lxxiiij myle, as it was seide before. 30  Ande what tyme čat he was come home, & his modere hade če siht of him'. no wondur čouh she was gladde & ioyful in so mych čat čere may no tonge telle. Wherefore anone she rose & clippyng & kissyng him, welcomede him home, & čonked če fadere of heuen, čat hade brouht him safe 35 to hir. Bot čerwič beholdyng his face lene & pale'. she hade gret compassion, & he a¨eynward reuerently enclynande dide her worchipe as to his modere, & also to Joseph as to his trowede fadere, & so duelled he with hem as he dide before mekely bot in an očere maner of liuyng, as by shewyng 40 without forč of his perfeccion more & more, as it sal shewe here aftur.  Bot for als miche as hit were longe werke & perauenture tediose boče to če rederes & če hereres hereof, if alle če processe of če blessed life of Jesu shold be wryten in |p78 englishe so fully by meditaciones as it is ¨it hidereto, aftur če processe of če boke before nemede of Bonauenture in latyne'. čerfore here aftur many chapitres & longe processe čat semen litel edificacion inne, as to če maner of symple folk čat čis 5 boke is specialy writen to'. shal be laft vnto it drawe to če passion, če which with če grace of Jesu shale be more pleynly continuede, as če matere čat is most nedeful & most edifying. And before onely čo materes čat semen |r[39r] most fructuose & če chapiteres of hem, sholen be writen as god wole ¨ife grace. 10  Wherefore as če same Bonauenture biddeč čou čat wolt fele če swetnesse & če fruyt of čees meditaciones take hede algate, & in alle places deuoutly in či mynde beholdyng če persone of oure lorde Jesu in alle hese dedes, as when he stant with hees disciples, & when with očer sinfulmen. And 15 when he precheč to če peple, & how he spekeč to hem, & also when he worcheč myracles, & so forč takyng hede of alle hese dedes & hees maneres, & principaly beholdyng his blessede face, if čou kynne ymagine it, čat semeč to me most harde of alle očere, bot as I trowe it is most lykyng, to him čat hač 20 grace čerof. And so what tyme čat singulere meditaciones bene not specifiede'. čis generale shale sufficieč. Amen. DE Aperitione libri in sinagoga'. nota in capitulo sequenti. How oure lord Jesus began to teche & gedire disciples. 25 Capitulum xvj=m= |r Afture čat oure lorde Jesus was come home a¨eyn to Nazareč, fro his baptisme & his temptacion as it is seide'. he began litel & litel to shewe himself, & to teche priuely & in party. For as opunly & fully we rede not čat he toke vpon him 30 če office of prechyng, alle čat ¨ere folowyng, čat is to sey vnto čat tyme čat he wrouht če first miracle at če weddyng, čat was čat self day twelf moneč čat he was baptized. And čouh he or his disciples precheden in če mene tyme očerwhile'. neuerles it was not so fully nor so customably done before čat 35 Jon baptist was taken & enprisonede'. as aftur'. And in čat he ¨af vs ensaumple of a wondurful mekenes, when touchyng če office of prechyng he ¨af stede to Jon, čat was miche lasse, & without comparison more vnworči čen he. And so we mowe |p79 se čat he began not with boste & blowyng as many done'. bot with mekenes litel & litel softly. Wherfore vpon a sabbate day when he was come in to če sinagoge as he was wont to do with očere as in če chirch 5 of Jues'. he rose vp fort rede in maner of a minstere or a clerke, & when čer was take him če boke of če prophete ysaie'. he turnede to čat place where it is writen, & so he radde in čis manere, če spirite of our lorde |r[39v] hač restede vp on me. Wherefore he hač anoynted me, & fort preche to če pore'. he 10 hač send me &c. And čan when he hade closede če boke & taken it to če seruant'. he sat done, & čan he spake forčermore & seide, čis day is čis scripture fulfilled in ¨oure eres. Now take hede of him how mekely at če byginnyng he takeč vp on him če office of a redere as it were a symple 15 clerke, first with a benigne & louely chere redyng, & aftur expownyng it mekely of him self, & ¨it not opunly expressyng or nemyng him self, when he seič čis day is fulfilled čis scripture, as who sey, I čat rede čis, čis day'. am he of whom it spekeč. 20 And če eyene of alle čat were in če sinagoge were set bisily in him. And alle čei wondreden of če wordes of grace čat ¨eden out of his mouče. And no wondere. For he was souereynly faire & also most eloquente. As Dauid seič to him of boče, čou art faire in shape passyng če children of men, & 25 grace is shedde in či lippes. Forčermore also oure lord Jesus bisying him about oure sauacion'. began to clepe & gedire to him disciples & so he cleped Peture & Andrewe čre tymes. First tyme when he was about če watere of Jordan, as 30 it was seid before, & čen čei comen sumwhat in to his knowlech, bot čei folowed not him. če seconde tyme he clepede hem fro če shippe, when čei weren about to take fishe, as Luke telleč. Bot čen čouh čei herden his doctrine & folowede him'. neuerles čei čouhten at 35 čat tyme to turne a¨eyn to hir propre gudes. če čridde tyme as Mathewe telleč, he cleped hem fro če shippe, when he seid to hem, Comeč aftur me for I sal make ¨ow fisheres of men. And čen laft čei hir nettes & ship & fadere & folowed him. 40 Also in čo twey last tymes, he cleped James & John, as in če same place is made mynde of hem with Petur & Andrewe. Also specialy he cleped John fro če bridale as seynt Jerome seič, bot čat is not expressed in če text of če gospel. |p80 Also specialy he cleped Philippe, & also in a nočere place Mathew če publicane. Bot če maner of clepyng of če 5 remnant'. it is not expressely writen saue čat luke makeč mynde of če xij apostles chosen & nameč hem alle. Nowe take we here entent to če maner of him in čis clepyng & gederyng |r[40r] of hese disciples, & of his conuersacion with hem, how louely he spekes to hem, & how homely he 10 sheweč him self to hem, drawyng hem to his loue, withinforče by grace & without forče by dede, familiarely ledyng hem to his modere house, & also goyng with hem oft to hir duellynges, techyng & enfourmyng hem, & so in alle očer manere beynge als bisy aboute hem, & with als gret cure, as 15 če modere is of hir owne sone. In so miche čat as it is writen seynt Petur tolde, čat what tyme he slept with hem in any place'. it was his custome to ryse vp in če niht hem slepyng, & if he fonde any of hem vnhilede'. priuely & softly hil him a¨eyne. For he loued hem ful tendurly knowyng what he 20 wolde make of hem. As čouh it so were čat čei were men of rude & buystes condiciones, & of symple lynage'. neuerles he čouht to make hem princes of če worlde & cheueteynes of alle cristien men in gostly bataile, & domesmen of očere. Here also lat vs take hede of what maner peple began 25 če feič & če gronde of holi chirch, as of seche symple fysheres, pore men & vnlernde. For oure lord wolde not chese hereto grete clerkes & wise men or mihty men of če worlde, lest če grete dedes čat sholde aftur be done by hem, miht be aretted to hir worčinesse. Bot čis he reseruede & kept to him 30 self as it was reson, shewyng čat onely in his owne gudnes & miht & wisdome, he bouht vs & sauede vs. Blessed be he without ende Jesus. Amen. Of če miracle done at če bridale of water tornede in to wyne. Capitulum xvij=m= |r BEfelle čat day twelf moneč čat oure lorde Jesus was baptizede as it is seide, čere was made a bridale in če contre 35 of Galile, in a place čat was cleped če Cane. Of če which bridale čer is doute whos bridale it was. Bot we at čis tyme sholen suppose aftur če comune opinion, čat it was of John če Euangelist as seynt Jerome also telleč, in če prologe of če Gospel of John. |p81 At če which bridale oure lady Jesu modere was, as she čat was če eldest & most worči of če čre sisteres. And čerfore she was not byden nor cleped čidere as očere strangeres were'. |r[40v] bot she was čere in hir sistere house homely as in hir owne 5 house, ordeynyng, & ministryng as maistrese čerof, & čat we mowe vndurstande by čre euidences of če processe of čat gospel. First by čat če gospel seič, first, čat če modere ofJesu was čere, & aftur čat Jesus & hese disciples weren cleped or 10 byden čerto. And so as we suppose it befelle, čat what tyme oure ladies sistere Marie, Salome, če wife of zebede shapt to wedde hir son John'. she ¨ede before to oure lady to Nazareč čat was fro če Cane about iiij myle, seyinge čat she wolde make a bridale to hir sone John. 15 & so čen oure lady went wič hir, to ordeyn čerfore certayn dayes before. So čat when očer gestes were beden'. she was čere alredy & homely before. če seconde euidence is, čat she knew če defaut of wyne, wherfore it semeč čat she sat not at čat mete as očer 20 gestes čat were beden'. bot at she ¨ede about mynistryng as one of hem čat delyuereden mete & drinke & očer necessaries. Wherfore she parceyuede by tyme & sauh če defaut of wyne, & told priuely hir sone čerof for help & remedy, & čat miht she not haue do, if she had sette among očer women, bot she 25 had risen fro če borde'. čat is not semely to be, & also it is not to leue'. čat she čat was vertuesly shamefast sat by her son amonge men. Wherfore it foloweč čat she sat not as a geste, bot ministred as it is seide before. če čridde euidence hereof is, čat she badde če 30 seruantes fort go to hir sone, & čat čei shold do what čat he bad hem do. And so it semeč, čat she was ouer hem, & čat če bridale was gouernede by here & čerfore she was bisy čat no defaut were čereat. Wherefore we mowe take hede & vndurstonde če 35 manere of čis bridale, & če processe of če miracle čereat done, čus: First we shole beholde oure lord Jesu etyng čere among hem, as a nočere comune man, & čat sittyng in če lowest place & not among če grete & most wirchipful gestes abouen, 40 as we mowe vndurstande by čis processe. For he shold aftur teche čis lesson of če gospel, when čou art beden to če bridale or to če fest'. sitte & take či stede in če lowest place &c. And for als miche as he wold first do in dede čat he shold aftur tech by worde'. čerfore, he wold not |r[41r] take če first & če |p82 principale sette in manere of proude men, bot račere če lowest among symple men. Herewič also beholde oure lady his modere bisy čat alle činge were wele & couenably don, tellyng če seruantes & 5 če ministres how čei shold serue & whereof. And so aftur when it drowe toward če ende of če feste'. čei comen to hir & seide čere is no more wyne. And she answerede, abideč a litel'. & I sal gete ¨ow to haue more. And she went out of če chaumbre in to če halle, to hir son Jesus čat sat at če bordes 10 ende nihe če chaumbre dore & rownede him in če ere, & seide, My dere sone, čei haue nomore wyne, & she čis oure sistere is pore. Wherfore I ne wyte where we shole haue more. And čan Jesus answered & seide, What is čat to me & to če woman? čis semeč a harde & a buystes answere as to his 15 modere. Bot neuerles it was seide in mistery & for oure techyng as seynt bernarde seič, & as it shal be tolde aftur če processe. Bot of čis harde & strange answere as to semyng, his modere was not disturblet nor in despeire'. bot fully traistyng in his gret godenes & benignite'. she went a¨eyn to če 20 seruantes & seide to hem, Goče to my sone Jesus, & what so euer he seič & biddeč ¨ow do'. doče. And čen at če biddyng of oure lorde'. čei filleden če stenes čat čere were ful of watere & anone at his blessyng alle če watere of hem was turnede in to wyne. And čen he bad hem drawe čerof, & bere 25 to če Architriclyne, čat is to sey če most worči persone of alle če gestes in čat house. In če which biddyng we mowe se first če discrecion of our lorde'. in čat he sende čat wyne first to če most wirchipful man. Also we mowe se hereby čat oure lord sat ferr fro him, 30 in čat he seide bereč to če Architricline. And so sičen he sat in če hiest place'. it semeč čat oure lord sat in če lowest place, as it was seide before. And when he hade tasted če wyne, & preysed it, & he & očere dronken čerof'. če mynistres čat knewen how it was 35 made, tolden opunly če myracle, & čen hees disciples leueden in him more sadly as for če first miracle čat čei seene done before hem. And so in čat Jesus shewed his |r[41v] blysse & his godhede. After warde when če fest was alle done'. oure lord 40 Jesus cleped John by hym self'. & seid, Leue čis woman čat čou hast take to či wife & folowe me, for I sal bringe če to a better & more perfite weddyng čen čis is. And anone without more'. John laft his wife čere & folowed Jesus. |p83 In če forseid processe we mowe note many činges to oure doctrine & edificacion. First in čat oure lorde Jesus wold come & be present at če bridale & weddyng, he sheweč vs čat matrimoyn & 5 fleshly weddyng is leueful & ordeynet of god. Bot in čat he cleped John čerfro'. he doče vs to vndurstond, čat gostly matrimoyn is miche more perfite & worči. Also in čat harde answere & straunge as to semyng, čat he ¨afe to his modere whan he seid What is čat to me & to če 10 woman? As seynt bernard seič, he tauht vs čat be religiouse & haue forsake če world, not fort be to bysy & haue grete care about oure fleshly parens, so čat hir nede let not oure gostly exercise. For als longe as we bene of če world'. so longe we bene in dette to oure parens, bot aftur we haue laft it & 15 forsake oureself'. miche more we be fre & delyuerede of če besinesse of hem. And so we fynde writen čat čere came vpon a tyme to on hermete or a monke čat hade forsake če worlde & lyuede solitary in deserte, his owne fleshly bročer, praying him of his 20 help in a certayne nede touchyng če world, & he bad him go to his očere bročere čat was dede longe before. And whan he wondret of čat biddyng & seide, čat he was dede as he knewe wele'. če monke answerde & seide, čat so was he dede to če world. 25 And so tauht vs oure lord Jesus, čat we čat haue forsake če world, shold not be bisy about oure parens & fleshly frendes, ouere čat čat religione askeč'. when he answered to his modere & namely to sich a modere seying What is čat to me & to če woman &c. 30 Anočere vnderstandyng is in čees wordes če which doctours comunly tellen, & čerfore we passe ouer čat, at čis tyme. Forčermore we haue here techyng of pacience & hope in če dede of oure lady, čat laft not for čat strange answere, 35 as it is seide before. And so what tyme we clepen to Jesu for help at oure nede bodily or gostly, |r[42r] čouh we fynde it not anone'. bot račere hardnesse & contraryte'. we shole not leue čerfore to calle vp on him by gude hope'. til čorh his mercy & grace če vnsauory watere & colde of aduersite & penance be 40 turned in to wyne of confort & gostly likyng. Aftere čis miracle was done'. oure lord Jesus willyng & purposyng soforč to wirche & preche opunly for če sauacione of man'. he went fro čat place with his modere & hees disciples in to Capharnaum beside Nazareth, & after a fewe |p84 dayes, a¨eyn home to Nazareth ledyng his modere by če wey, & folowyng hees disciples & bisily heryng hees wordes & his techyng. For he was not ydul, bot euere dide & wrouht gude, or tauht & spake to edificacion. And so do we in his name, čat 5 blessed be without ende. Amen. Of čat excellent sermone of oure lord Jesu in če hille. Capitulum xviij=m= |r When oure lord Jesus hadde chosen & gederet hees disciples as it is seide before, willyng to teche hem & 10 enfourme hem če perfeccion of če newe lawe'. he ladde hem vp into a hille, čat is cleped Thabor about two myle fro Nazareth aftere če comune opinion, & čere he made to hem a longe sermone & full of fruyte če which as seynt Austyn seič in če byginnyng of his boke čat he made of čat same sermone'. 15 it conteneč al če perfeccion of cristien lyuyng. For in čat sermone he tauht hem first whech men ben blessed of god, & worči to haue his blisse. Also he tauht hem če trewe maner of prayere, of fastyng & of almesdede, & očere vertues longyng to če perfite life of man, as če text of če gospel opunly telleč, 20 & diuerse doctours & clerkes expowen it sufficiantly, če which processe we passen ouere here for als mich as it is writen boče in latyn & english in many očere places. And also it were ful longe processe to touch alle če poyntes čerof here as by maner of meditacione. Wherfore at čis tyme we shole specialy note, 25 čat oure lord began čis sermone first at pouerte, doyng vs to vndurstonde, čat pouerte is če first grounde of alle gostly exercise. For he čat is ouerleide & charget with temporel gudes & worldly riches'. may not frely & swiftly folowe crist, čat is če mirrour |r[42v] & ensaumple of pouerte, namely he čat 30 hač his likyng & his affeccion vndre čees worldly gudes, for he is not fre, bot čralle & as in bondage of hem. For of čat činge čat a man loueč inwardly & by affeccione'. he is made wilfully čralle & seruant. And čerfore is če pore man blessede, čat is to sey he čat inwardly loueč no činge bot god, or for 35 god, & čerfore he despiseč alle očer worldly činge for god. For in čat he is knit to god as for če more part. Wherfore seič seynt bernarde in a sermone čat pouerte is a gret fečere or a gret wenge, čorh če which a man flieč so sone in to če kyngdome of heuen. For as to očer vertues čat folowen in čis 40 place of če gospel, če mede of hem is [behey¨t] fort come as |p85 in tyme čat foloweč aftur. Bot to če vertue of pouerte it is not onely beheyht fort come'. bot as in tyme čat is nowe present it is ¨iuen of crist, by če forseid wordes at če byginnyng of his sermone, čat bene čees, Blessed be čei čat bene pore in 5 spirite, for hir mede is če kyngdom of heuen. Lo he seič not hir mede shal be, bot as nowe, hir mede is. Also čei čat bene not only pore, bot pore in spirite, ben blessed, for čerinne stant čer vertue of pouerte, & he is pore in spirite'. čat hač litel of če spirite of pride, čat is comune to 10 mankynde by če first synne, as a man is cleped pore worldly čat hač litel of worldly gudes. Bot now leuyng čis matere turne we vs to če contemplacion, beholdyng oure lord Jesu howe lowely & mekely he sitteč vpon čat hille, & hees disciples about him, & 15 with how louely & sadde chere, he spekeč čo wordes ful of edificacione & techeč čat noble lesson of souereyn perfeccion. And also how mekely & entently hees disciples beholden his blessed face & heren čo swete wordes, & setten hem bisily in hir mynde. And so haue čei gret ioy & gostly 20 likyng boče in his speche & in his siht. And specialy as I hope čei were conforted in čat noble short prayere čat he tauht hem among očer in čat tyme, čat is če pater noster. & čat for če gret fruite čat čei feldone čerinne, & also for če gret trist & hope čat čei were put inne 25 čerby. For as we mowe wele suppose as to če first, čat is če fruyt čerof, not only čei vndurstode it after če lettur, bot also čerwič čei hadden čorh |r[43r] his grace če gostly vndurstandyng of ech peticion čerof. And sičen čerinne is contenede če askyng of alle čat vs nedeč to če body & to če soule, & čat 30 touchyng oure temperele lif in čis world, & če lif euerlastyng in a nočer world, & alle comprehendet in so short wordes'. no wondur čouh čei hadden gret likyng & confort in čat prayere by če gret fruite čat čei tastede čerinne. And so hauen alle čei čat čorh grace felene če gostly fruite & če swete tast čerof. 35  Also as to če seconde confort in čat prayere čat is trist & hope, how miht hir trist & hope be more stablet & strenghede'. čen to se hym čat alonly knewe what was nedeful & spedeful to hem to aske, & čat miht onely ¨iue it hem'. tech hem čat peticion by če which čei miht not erre in hir askyng, 40 nor faile of hir askyng. And so he čat was domesman, made če libelle in hir cause, a¨eynus če whiche he miht not ¨iue his dome & his sentence.  Also he čat was lord made če bille of hees seruantes, fort aske onely čo činges čat were nedeful to hem, & likyng |p86 to him fort graunte. More confort miht not be touchyng prayere & askyng in nede.  And also more ouere čis confort of čis praiere was če more for als miche as nekst before in če same place of čat 5 sermone, he reprouede če praiere of ypocrites & očer čat weren not worči to be herde. And so was če medicine more confortable & likyng'. čat če defaute & sekenes was oponede & tolde before.  Alle čis confort sal we fynde in čis forseid praiere 10 Pater noster, if we sey it deuoutly & not in dedely sinne. For oure lord Jesus made not onely čis prayere to his disciples čat were čat tyme specialy with him in čat hille'. bot also to vs & alle cristien men generaly, čat sholde make hir praiere to če fadere of heuen in his name in to če worldes ende. 15  Bot če more harme is'. here is miche peple deceyuet, čat leueč to mich čis most worči praiere & beste'. by singulere deuocion in očer priuate praieres'. or seying it without deuocion. As we mowe se alday many men & women beringe bedes with trillyng on če fingeres, & waggyng če lippes'. bot 20 če siht cast to vanytees & če herte čat onely god knoweč'. as it is to drede, sette more vpon worldly činges. Of če whiche maner of peple spekeč oure lord god by |r[43v] če prophete & seič čus, čis peple praieč & honoureč me with hir lippes'. bot hir herte is ferr fro me. 25 Bot for als miche as čis matere is spoken of in many očer tretees & bokes boče in latyne & in english'. & čis praiere sufficiantly expowenet'. čerfore we passen ouer more shortly at čis tyme hereof. Bot one činge touchyng čis praiere, sočely I trowe čat 30 whoso wole ¨iue his entent fort sey it with deuocion & hač an inwarde desire to če gostly vndurstondyng čerof, settyng his herte čerto als miche as he may when he seič it boče in comune & in priuate'. he shale čorh grace by processe of tyme finde so miche confort čerinne, čat čere is none očere praiere 35 made of man čat shal be to him so sauory & so effectuele in what so euere nede or case he be stirede specialy to pray for remedy & help to god. And so shale he fynde in his soule whan god wole ¨ife his grace with gret likyng diuerse vndurstandyng čerof most pertynent to his desire & čat'. očere 40 čan is writen in če comune exposicion čerof, or perantere čan he can telle. Bot miche folke as seruantes & hirede men haue more wile to praye for speciale mede čat čei coueyten here čan as trewe sones'. for če loue & če pleysyng of oure fadere god of |p87 heuen'. And so čei setten more hir likyng & bisinesse in a priuate praiere made of man to oure lady or to očer seyntes of heuen'. čen čei done in čis generale praiere made of god him self, če which without dout is most pleisyng to him, & most 5 spedeful to vs, & čerfore če bene deceyued in many maneres. I speke not here of če sawter & če seruice in holy chirch. Neuerles also očere deuout praieres made to god & to oure lady & očere seyntes bene gude to be seide after čat če deuocion of men is stired to sey hem in conable tyme, so čat 10 čei sette not hir affeccion če lasse vpon čis most worči praiere pater noster. As miche folk in če seying of očere priuate praieres, setten al hir entent & speken hem with grete deuocion. Bot in če seying of če pater noster čei bene to negligent & rablene it forč without deuocion. And čat makeč 15 oft speciale mede temperel čat čei hopen fort haue by če seying of sech priuate praieres as to |r[44r] ouercome hir enmyes or fort be kept fro fire or watere or sudeyn deč or očere bodily periles. And čat is a gret foly to trist vpon by če seying of any praieres'. without rihtwise lyuyng. And also men shold not 20 desire seche speciale temporele medes, bot onely as it is če wille of god, čat alonly knoweč what is spedful to vs, & čat without doute shale gete vs most effectuely of eny očer praiere če pater noster if it be seide treuly with deuocion & specialy by čat peticion & askyng, Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo & in 25 terra, čat is to sey, Oure fadere in heuen, či wille be done in alle činge as in heuen'. so in erče. And so if it be best to vs fort be kept fro fire or watere or sudeyn deč or any očere bodily perele'. without dout oure fadere of heuen god, wole ¨iue it vs, aftur če forseide peticion with rihtwise lyuyng, & 30 elles not, sey we neuer so many priuate prayeres. For as we rede alday of diuerse martires & seyntes, čat sume were brent, sume drouned & in očere diuerse maneres put to shamful deč as to če world & čat was best to hem, & encrese of hir ioy in blisse of heuen. 35 Wherfore it hade bene a gret opun foly to hem as we wele mow wite, to haue praiede fort be kept fro siche bodily harmes, or periles, & as anentes sudeyn deč'. it is spedeful to many men, fort haue siche deč shameful to mannus siht as seynt gregour telleč, be ensaumple of če prophete Abdo čat 40 was weried of če lyone, čat god purgeč oft tyme here rihtwise men, by siche shameful deč. For as holi writ witnesseč sočely, če rihtwise man if he be ouercome by any maner of bodily deč, his soule salbe sauede, & he set in rest euere lastyng. |p88 Neuerles we preyen oft & čat leuefully to be kept fro sudeyn deč'. bot čat is vndurstonde čat we be not combret with dedely synne, čerinne to deye without repentance of herte & shrift of mouče, & čerto as I hope is most best & effectuele 5 praiere če pater noster specialy in če tweyn last peticiones & askynges čerof, by če whech we prayen almihty god fadere of heuen čat he suffreč vs not to falle & to be cumbret with temptacion of dedely synne, bot čat he kepe vs & deliuere vs fro alle wikkednes. Amen. 10 And čouh |r[44v] it so be čat če matere of čis worči praiere be so plentyuous, & also če desire of če writere here of were, to speke more čerof'. neuerles for it is writen in so many očere places as I hope sufficiantly, & also for če gret processe čat foloweč after'. we leuen čis matere at čis tyme, & alle čat 15 fructuose sermon, čat oure lorde Jesus made to hees disciples in čat hille before, goyng done with him by deuout contemplacion, & beholdyng how čat after čat noble lesson tauht in če hye hille, as it was skilful for če hie perfeccion čerof'. oure lorde Jesus came done with čat meke folk of hees 20 disciples, spekyng also homely with hem by če wey, & čei as če chikenes of če henne, folowen him with miche gostly likyng, coueytyng eche before očer to be nekst him & here his vertuese & swete wordes. And aftur he was come done'. miche peple come 25 a¨eynus him, bringyng diuerse seke folk & many, as če gospel telleč by processe, če whech alle'. he ful of mercy heled & made hole boče in body & soule. And čus shortly we passen ouere here miche processe of če gospel & many chapitres of če forseid boke of 30 Bonauenture, for če litel edificacion of hem as it semeč nedeful to symple soules, to whech čis boke is specialy writen in english'. as it hač oft be seide here before. And so leuyng čis processe in many places'. we shole onely telle če notabilitees čere vpon shortly to edificacion. 35 Amen. Of če seruaunt of Centurio, & če sone of če lytell kyng helyd of owre lord Jesu. Capitulum xix. |r IN čis gospel in čat oure lorde Jesus mekely vnpraiede went bodily to hele če seek seruant, & wolde not go to če 40 kyngessone praiede'. oure pride is reprouede, in čat we in |p89 contrarie maner bene redy & leue to go to riche men & mihty čat we mowe be worldly wirchipede by, & to pleyse hem, & do če seruice čat we mowen for worldly mede, bot we bene loče to go to pore men & simple, or to helpe hem in hir nede 5 for gostly mede lest it were a¨eynus oure wirchipe, as seynt gregory noteč in čis place. Of če palatyk man let don in his bed be če house helyng, and heled of owre lord Jesu. Capitulum xx=m=. |r IN čis gospel we haue ensaumple |r[45r] & doctrine, čat oft 10 sičes bodily sekenes'. comeč of gostly sekenes, čat is synne, & čat če helyng of gostly sekenes'. is oft cause of bodily hele. In čat oure lord first for¨afe to če paletyke hees synnes, & aftur heled him of če bodily palesye. Also here we mowe se če grete vertue of trewe byleue, 15 in čat, čat če feče & če byleue of one man'. helpeč & saueč a nočer. As če feič of če bereres of čis paletike man'. sauede him, & also in če nekst chapitre before, če feič of Centurio'. gate hele to his seruant. And also here aftur, če feič of če woman chanane'. sauede hir douhter. And so it falleč now 20 alday, čat childrene baptizede & aftur dede before če ¨eres of discrecion'. bene sauede in če feič of hir godfadres čorh če merite of criste. And čis is opunly a¨eynus sume heritikes čat holden če contrarie opynion. How čat Martha was helyd of hyre sekenesse be towchyng 25 of če hemme of owre lordys clothyng. Capitulum xxj=m=. |r čE gospel nemeč not če woman čat was heled by če touching of če hemme of Jesus cločinge. Bot seynt Ambrose & očer doctoures seyn čat she was Martha če sistere of Marie 30 Maudeleyn. By če hem of Jesus cločing as seynt Bernerde seič, may be vndurstonde, euery meke seruant of god, če whiche in any vertuese dede čat he doče oweč to knowe treuly in herte & knowlech opunly by mowče, čat onely god is če principale 35 doere čerof & nouht he, as če clouče heled not, bot oure lord Jesus čat werede če cloče. |p90 Of če conuersyon of Marie Maugdelyn. Capitulum xxij=m=. |r Oure curteise lord Jesus was praiede of Symonde če leprose on a day to ete with him, & čerto he grauntede gladly, & came to mete as he was wont to do oft sičes, boče of his 5 owne curteysie, & also for če loue & če zele čat he hade to če sauacion of mannus soules, for če whech he was made man. For so etyng with hem & benyngly comunyng with hem he drou[¨]e hem vnto če loue of him. Also for als mich as he made him self so perfitely pore, čat he toke none possession 10 of worldes godes for him self or for hees'. čerfore čorh čat loue of pouerte he čat was če mirrour of mekenes, what tyme he was preyede or bidene to mete'. toke it for če tyme & če place'. mekely |r[45v] & with curteyse čonkyng, & gode wille. And čan befelle čat Marie Mawdeleyn, čat perantere oft tyme 15 before hade herde him preche & čorh touching of his grace was gretly stired to compunccion & to če feruent loue of him, čouh it were ¨it priuely hidde in hir herte'. when she herde & knewe čat he was at če mete in če house of če forseid symonde'. she was so feruently touchede with sorow of herte 20 withinforče for hir synnes, & also with če brennyng fire of his loue'. čat she miht no lengir abide, bot anone she went to čat forseid house where Jesus satte at če mete, considering čat without him she miht not be saue nor haue for¨iuenes of hir sinnes, & so she went bodily in to če house, & as she hade 25 for¨ete hir self takyng no rewarde to če gestes čat čere were at če mete, haldyng done hir face & hir eyene to če erče, she letted not til she came to him čat she souht & inwardly louede oure lord Jesu. And anone čen she felle done to če gronde prostrate at hees fete, & with grete inwarde sorowe & shame 30 for hir synnes spake in hir herte to him, čenkyng as it were in čis manere: My swete lorde I wote wele & treuly knowlech čat ¨e ben my god & my lorde, & čat I haue offendet ¨our hye maieste in many gret offenses & trespasses, in so miche čat I 35 knowlech sočely čat my synnes bene without noumbre as če grauele of če see. Bot for als miche as I byleue čat ¨our mercy passeč al činge'. čerfore I wrecchede & sinful come to ¨owe & fle to ¨our grete mercy forčenkyng inwardly of čat I haue offendet, & askyng mercy & for¨iuenes. And I behete 40 with al my herte amendment of my synnes & čat I shal neuer to my powere forsake ¨our obedience. Gode lord put me not fro ¨ow, & forsake not my repentance for očere refute I wote wele čat I may none haue, & also I wole not haue, for I loue |p91 ¨ow souereynly aboue al očere. Wherfore gude lord forsake ¨e not me, bot punesh ¨e me at ¨our wille, neuereles I aske algate mercy. And herwič with grete trist of his mercy & inwarde 5 affeccion of his loue'. she kissed his fete oft & sadly wepyng & shedyng teres so čikke čat she weshe hese fete with hem. And so it semeč čerby, čat oure lord Jesus went |r[46r] barefote. After when she hade wele wept wič grete drede of hir vnworčinesse čat hir teres shold touche oure lordes fete'. she 10 wiped hem with hir her, deuoutly, for she brouht no činge with hir so precious to wipe hem wič. And also she wiped hem with hir her, in amendment of čat she hade before trespassede with hir her, čat is to say'. as she hade before vsed it in pride & vanite'. čan she wolde put it to če vse of mekenes & 15 deuocion. And also for če feruent loue & deuocion čat she hade to him, she wold not be letted čerof, by če fecchyng of any cloče to wipe hem wič, bot so wipyng hees fete with hir her, & afterwarde deuoutly kyssyng hem oft sičes'. aftur she anoynted hem with a preciouse oynement čat she brouht with 20 hir, supposyng perantere čat oure lordes feet were harde of če wey, & also for inwarde deuocion byginnyng with drede at his fete, as she dide after with more boldenes of loue anoyntede his hede. Lord god whoso wolde inwardly čenk & take hede to 25 čis dede of čis woman, & al če circumstance čerof'. miche gostly fruite sholde he fynde čerinne, stiryng to inwarde repentance of synne, & to trewe loue of Jesu, & grete deuocion. Bot now forč as to če processe, take we hede also of 30 če manere of oure lorde Jesu in čis tyme, how benyngly & paiciently he suffreč hir do al hir wille, for it liked him ful wele, knowyng če inward affeccion & če trewe loue of hir herte. And so al čat tyme he cesed of etyng, & also with him alle če gestes, wondryng of če woman, & of čat vnkede dede, 35 & of če pacience of oure lorde Jesu & his suffrance of hir. And specialy če maistere of če house Symonde, demede him gretely in his herte, čat he wolde suffre siche a comune sinful woman touche him so homely, & in čat he čouht čat he was no profete supposyng čat he knewe hir 40 nouht. Bot oure lorde čat passyng alle očer prophetes, knewe če leste čouht of mannus herte, answerede opunly to his priuey čouhtes, shewyng him self čerby a verrey prophete & more čan a profete. And by an ensaumple of tweyn dettours'. he concludet him iustifying če woman čat he held so sinful & |p92 preuyng čat she louede him more, & shewed him more token of loue by hir dede'. |r[46v] čan he with alle his feste, & so shewyng, čat not onely če perfeccion of alle vertues, bot also če iustifying of če sinfull, stant principaly in trewe loue of 5 god'. he siede to Symonde as for a conclusion čus, Many sinnes bene for¨iuene hir, for she loued miche. And čen he turnede him to Maudeleyn, & seide to hir as for a fulle ende of čat she askede, či feič hač sauede če, go now in pees. 10 A lorde Jesu how swete & likynge was čis worde to hir, & with how gret ioy čat she went awey! Sočely it was so likynge'. čat as I trowe it went neueraftur out of hir mynde. And so was she perfitely conuertede to Jesu, leuyng hir sinne fully, & liuyng euer after in al honeste holily & drawyng 15 algate to him & to his modere without departyng perseuerantly. In če forseide processe & če sentence of čis gospel bene many grete notabilites to oure edificacione of če whiche we shole touch sume in partye. First as to a souereyn confort 20 of alle sinful folke we haue here opunly shewede in oure lorde Jesu če abundance of his endles mercye, čat so sone & so gladly for¨afe so many grete sinnes & trespasses of čis sinful woman, & so doče he to alle čat trewely desiren & asken his mercy, but here behoueč charite & trewe loue, čat was so 25 specialy comendet of him in čis woman, če which onely reformeč pes by twix god & če sinful man, as če apostle seič, čat charite couereč če multitude ofsinnes, & without če which it is impossible to pleys god. For as seynt bernarde seič, če quantite of euery mannus 30 soule shale be taken & estimede after če mesure of charite čat is čerinne, čat is to sey, čat soule čat hač miche of charite'. is gret, & čat hač litel'. is litel, & čat hač noght'. is nowht, as seynt poule seič aftur če rehersyng of many gret vertues'. concludyng čus, If I haue not charite'. sočely I am nouht. And 35 čerfore seid oure lord of čis woman, čat for she louede miche'. čerfore she hade miche for¨iuene as it was seide before. Forčermore also here haue we ensaumple of trewe repentance & penance čat is nedeful to for¨iuenes of synnes'. shewed in čis woman Maudleyn, as we haue herde, če whiche 40 penance as alle holy chirch techeč, stant in sorowe of herte in shrift |r[47r] of mouče & in satisfaccion of dede. Bot here perantere sume men čenken aftur če fals opinyon of lollardes čat shrift of mouče is not nedeful, bot čat it sufficeč onely in herte to be shriuen to god, as če forseide |p93 woman was, for če gospel telleč not čat she spake any worde by mouče, & ¨it was hir sinne fully for¨iuen as it is seide, & as it semeč čis is a gret euidence for čat opinion. Bot hereto is an answere resonable čat oure lorde Jesus 5 to whome she made hir confession in herte'. was čer in bodily presence verrey god & man, to whom by vertue of če godhede was also opune če čouht of hert'. as is to man če spech of mouče, as oft sičes če processe of če gospel telleč, & specialy here opunly, boče of če woman & also of če pharise čouht. 10 Wherfore če čouht of herte onely was čan to him als miche, as is now čerwič spech of mouče to man bodily. And for als miche as nowe in če newe lawe what tyme čat we sinnen dedely, we offenden him not onely after his godhede, bot also after his manhede čat he bouht vs with, fro synne & gostly 15 deč, čerfore vs behoueč to do satisfaccion to him after boče kyndes, by trewe penance knoweleching oure trespasse boče to god & man, & askynge for¨iuenes. And sičen we haue not here his bodily presence as Maudleyn hade'. čerfore in his stede vs behoueč to shewe to če preste by worde, čat we haue 20 offendet him as man, as we shewen to him by repentance in herte, čat we haue offendet him as god, čat is to sey at če leste by dedely sinne. For čerby onely we be departede fro him & vnkyndly lesen če grete benefice čat he ¨afe vs in his manhede. 25 Wherfore if we wole be restorede a¨eyn, & knit to him as we were before in grace'. we most do satisfaccion not onely to him as to god'. bot also as to man, čat we haue so forsake by dedely sinne in manere as it is seide. And so as holy chirch hač resonably ordeynet & beden 30 knowlech by mouče & make oure confession trewly of oure sinne to če prestes čat he hač specialy ordeynet in his stede as his vikeres hereto, by čo wordes of če gospel čat he spake to hese disciples when he seid to hem čus, What so euere ¨e bynden in erče'. it sal be bonden |r[47v] in heuen, & what čat ¨e 35 vnbynden in erče'. sal be vnbonden in heuen. Of čis trewe penance nedeful for dedely sinne, not onely by repentance in herte, bot also by shrift of mouče to če preste in goddus stede if we mowen'. for more god askeč not, & čerwič of dewe satisfaccion folowyng'. we haue perfite 40 ensaumple opunly shewed in čis blessede woman čat was before so sinful Marie maudleyn in če processe before seide of čis gospel, as it is opune ynogh touching če first part & če last, čat is to sey repentance & satisfaccion. & as to če seconde čat is confession'. čouh we rede it not of hir by worde |p94 spekyng, for čat was no nede to him čat knewe fully hir herte oure lord Jesu čere beynge in his bodily presence as it is seide'. neuerles she shewede če effecte of čis confession parfitely in dede, in čat čat she wolde not shewe hir to him in 5 priuete as sinfulle, & askyng mercy, as she miht haue done by twix him & hir, or elles onely before hese disciples'. bot sparyng for none shame, čat is a gret part of penance in confession, she chace če place & če tyme where it miht be to hir as opune reproue & shame, čat was in če house of če 10 pharise, če which she knewe wele hauynge indignacion & despite of če sinful, & also at če mete when it sholde be most wondring to him & alle his gestes vpon hir for če reproue & če shame čat she hade of hir sinne was so gret wičinforč'. čat she for¨ate al shame & reproue withoutforč, & so in čat dede 15 she knowelech opunly hir synne in generalle, & also by wille in speciale, not refusyng fort haue herde it rehersede & opunly tolde of him čat she came to, oure lord Jesu, če which as she wist wele knewe in speciale če lest part čerof, & čat miht resonably haue reprehendet hir opunly of it, or he hade for¨iue 20 it. Bot oure curteise lord ful of grace & of mercy, sawh čat verrey contricion in her herte, & čat gude wille grondet in trewe byleue čat he was verrey god, & čat miht fully for¨iue hir synne as him likede, & čerwič čat she hade ful hope to haue his grace & for¨iuenes, & also če feruent loue čat she 25 hade to him, če whech čre vertues bene nedeful to euery man čat wole haue for¨iuenes of synne. And so without any more penance he fully for¨afe |r[48r] alle hir sinne, & bade hir go in pes, čat was pes of conscience fully made by twix hir & god & manne. For hir trewe feič & byleue in če whiche were grondet 30 perfitely hope & charite, as it is seide'. had made hir safe. And so shal it če most sinful man čat is or euer shal be, if he haue it trewly grondet in his herte by verrey contricion as she hadde, for čan without doute he wole not spare for any shame to knowelech his sinne by worde opunly to man in goddus 35 stede'. as she dide by wille to him čat was boče god & man as it is seide. Bot here perantere semeč to sume men čat as če sinful man shal folowe čis woman by trewe forčinkyng of his sinne'. so sholde če preste folowe oure lorde in li¨t for¨iuyng 40 shewede čerof, enioynyng no more penance čan he dide čerfore. Bot here answeren holi doctours čat seyne, čat če contricion & forčinkyng of synne may be so grete & so parfite, čat it sufficeč without any more penance to ful |p95 for¨iuenesse čerof, če which čere as it is, if če preste miht se & fully knowe'. he shold ¨iue nomore penance. Bot for als miche as man seeč not če herte as oure lord Jesus god & man dide'. & so he may not knowe it, bot in party as be tokenes 5 without forč'. čerfore as for če siker part he shal enioyne penance for sinne, more or lasse as holi chirche hač ordeynet. And wold god čat alle sinful peple wold folowe čis woman in trewe forčenkyng, & čen without doute čei shuld haue of god ful for¨iuyng, were če penaunce more or lasse of če prestes 10 enioynyng. Forčermore in če forseide processe of če gospel, oure lorde Jesus ¨afe ensaumple to če preycheres of godes worde čat čei shold not spare in tyme to sey če soče, for displesyng of hem čat feden hem, or ¨iuen hem očer bodily sustinance. 15 In čat not wičstandyng čat če pharise fed him as he dide oft, he reprehendet him opunly in his owne house of his mysbyleue & of his fals čouht in če whech he hade indignacion of če sinful woman, & as it wolde seme to stiryng of his grete mawgreč'. he spared not to iustifie čat woman čat he demed so 20 sinful, shewynge hir more louynge god čan he, & čat she was saued by hir trewe byleue, before him čat failed čerof. Bot not wičstandyng čis, on čat očere side če pharise laft not aftur to fede him, & do him |r[48v] humanyte, as many men now done, če whech what tyme čat a soče is seide, čat is 25 contrarie to hir wille or opinione'. čei withdrawen hir humanyte & affeccion fro him čat seič it, be he neuer so gude or vertuese in lyuyng. And sočely in čat condicion, čei shewen hem self what so euere čei bene vnlouyng to Jesus čat is verrey sočefastnes, & more vnkynde čen was čis pharise, & so 30 worči more reproue of him & more peyne. Neuerles če prechour, or an očere gostly man čat representeč cristes persone, shal not spare to sey če soče in tyme'. for drede or mawgreč, or wičdrawyng of fauour or any temperel profite, if he wole be če trew membre of criste. And souereynly be he 35 warr of gloysyng or fauour to errour'. for čat is most abhominable. Also in čis forseid processe of če gospel, in čat čat oure lord Jesus rehersede to če pharise če gude dedis of če woman, in če whech he failed, as čat she woshe hese fete with 40 hir teres, čat he dide not with watere, & so forč of očere, & čerwič he tolde not what he dide to him, čat she dide not'. we haue ensaumple & techyng what tyme we bene temptede to iustifying of oure self & reproue of očer'. čen to čenk & haue in mynde če gude dedes & vertues čat ben or mow be in čat |p96 očere man, for¨etyng oure owne gude dedes or vertues, & bryngynge to mynde oure defautes, & trespasses, & so shole we vertuesely deme oure self & excuse očere, & so profite in če vertue of trewe mekenes, čat he graunt vs'. mirrour of 5 mekenes blessede Jesus. Hic pretermittuntur duo Capitula de Johanne Baptista. Of če spekyng of ovre lord Jesus wyth če woman samaritane at če pyt. [Capitulum x] xiij=m=. |r BEfelle vpon a tyme čat as our lorde Jesus shuld go fro 10 če cuntre of Juda in to Galile, he most make his wey by če cuntre of Samarye, where was a drawe wele čat čei clepeden če welle of Jacob čat was a pitte of watere, vpon če which pitte he restede him as wery of goyng. Lord Jesu what is čis, čat čou čat art če sočfast wey & 15 maker of alle erčly wey, so art wery of če wey, če which čorh či souereyn miht berest vp & confortest al očere in hir wey. Bot čus woldest čou in či manhede shewe alle če kyndly infirmite of man as in hungere & črist & werinesse oft sičes & sech očere fort |r[49r] shewe če verrey kynde of man čat čow 20 take for oure sake, & so was alle či bodily lyuyng in čis worlde peynful & trauailous to oure ensaumple, blessed be čou euere. In če mene tyme as he sat so on če welle, & hees disciples weren gone in to če nekst Cite fort bigge mete'. čere 25 came a woman of čat cuntrey to fette watere at čat welle, če whiche was cleped Lucye. And oure lord Jesus willyng shewe to hir, & by hir to očer his godhede'. spake with hir longe tyme of gret činge & hie in gostly vndurstandyng, če whiche spekyng boče of him & hir & how his disciples comen a¨ayn, 30 & how at če womannus worde če peple of če cite comen out to him, & held him with hem a certayn tyme & after how he went fro hem'. we passen ouer at čis tyme, for als miche as it is opun & pleynly writen in če gospel of Jon. Bot in čis processe we mowe note in oure lord Jesu 35 first a token of gret mekenes, in čat he wolde be alone, what tyme he sent hese disciples in to če Cite fort bigge mete, & in čat biggyng, ensaumple čat it is leueful to goddus seruantes fort haue money & reserue it to hir nede. |p97 Also in čat he spake so homely with čat simple woman al one, & of so grete činges, as čouh it hade be with many gret wise men'. če pride & če presumption of many grete clerkes & prechours is confondet & reprouede, če whech if čei 5 sholde shewe hir wisdome or hir konnyng not only to one man, bot also to fewe men čei wolde halde al as loste, & siche a simple audience telle vnworči, to take hir proude spech. Forčermore in čat, če disciples brouhten hir mete to him & beden him ete čere at če welle'. we haue ensaumple of 10 pouerte & bodily penance, in his maner of fedyng after his trauaile so čere without če cite, & as we mowe suppose drinkyng of če watere, & čat not onely in čis tyme, bot as we suppose oft sičes, when he went by če cuntrey he ete in čat maner without če townes & če duellyng of men at sume 15 ryuere or welle were he neuer so wery or trauailede in body, shewyng čerinne če gret loue čat he hade in pouerte & mekenes, he vsede not curiose |r[49v] dihtyng of diuerse metes rosted & sodene, nor preciouse vesseil of siluere or pewtere, nor dilicate wynes white & rede'. bot onely če clene watere of 20 če welle or če ryuere, etyng brede čerwič as a pore man mekely vpon če erče. Also in čat he answerede to his disciples first when čei beden him go to mete, & seide to hem čus, I haue mete to ete čat ¨e knowe not, for my mete is čat I do & worche če wille 25 of him čat sent me. And so he abode če comyng of men of če cite to preche to hem first'. we mowe se how bisy he was about gostly fedyng, first fulfillyng in dede čat longeč to če soule & gostly sustynance'. čan čat longeč to če bodily sustinance, čouh he hade čerto grete nede, & so ¨afe he 30 ensaumple to prechours & curates fort do. Miche more gostly fruyt is contenede in čis gospel, če which whoso desireč to knowe more fully'. he sal fynde it in če boke of seynt Austyn vpon če gospel of Jon, where he makeč of če processe of čis gospel a longe processe & 35 clergiale ful of gostly fruite. Bot for als miche as here is made mynde of če pouerte of oure lord Jesus as it is oft before, & also of his abstinence'. čerfore of čees tweyn vertues perfitely tauht vs by ensaumple boče of him self & his disciples, it sal folowe after more 40 plenerly in če nekst Chapitre. Amen. [H]ic pretermittuntur plura Capitula, & transitur ad Capitulum xxxvij=m= in Bonauentura, pro eo quod materia illius Capituli videtur conuenientius sequi istud Capitulum |p98 pretactum. Sed postea sequuntur de ipsis'. quinque Capitula pertinentia ad contemplationem pro die Jouis. How če dysciples of Jesu plukked če eres of corn & etyn yt for hunger on če sabootday. Capitulum xxiiij. 5 |r IN a sabbate day as če disciples of oure lord Jesu wenten with him by če feldes where ripe corne was growyng'. čei weren a hungret & plukkeden če eres & froteden hem by twix hir handes & etene. And če pharisees čat euer aspiede oure lordes wordes & dedes fort take him in defaute a¨eynus 10 hir lawe'. reprouede herfore boče him & hese disciples, & seiden čat it was vnleueful on če sabbat day. Bot oure lorde excusede hem, first by nede čat is outake in če lawe. As |r[50r] Dauid & hees men in nede eten če prestes brede čat was elles forbeden. And also by čat reson čat če prestes of če lawe on 15 če sabbate day circumcysed & maden sacrifice'. če whech weren bodily werkes not so nedeful as čat čei diden. And also his presence čat was lord & auctour of če lawe'. ¨af hem leue. Bot if we take here inwarde entent with deuout compassion of čat nede of če disciples in če presence of hir 20 lord almi¨hti'. we oweč resonably to be stirede to če loue of pouerte & bodily nede for his sake. For wondurful it is to čenk čat čei čat were chosen so specialy to čat hye degre of Apostles, & čere čorh made princes & domesmen of če worlde'. sholde be put in to so gret pouerte & nede, fort ete če 25 rawe corne for hungre as čei were vnresonable bestes, & namely in his presence čat was makere of alle mete & drink at his wille, & lord of al če world as čei he miht not help hem at hir nede. Bot če gude lord čat dide alle činge for oure sauacion, 30 he suffrede čis nede in hem for če beste, as he toke in him self alle če nede of mankynde without synne. And so čouh he hade compassion of hem, in als miche as he loued hem tendurly'. neuerles it liked him čat nede in hem & če gude wille of hem čerwič čat gladly suffrede čat nede for his loue. 35 And so it pleised him not onely for hir mede, čat he knewe miche čerfore'. bot also for ensaumple of vs čat shold come aftur. For here haue we specialy čat haue forsake če worlde for če loue of god'. ensaumple & stiryng to čre vertues namely čat bene nedeful to vs. |p99 čat is to sey, Pacience in bodily nede, perfite pouert, & a¨eynus glotony vertuese abstineuce. And as to če first, sičen če disciples of Jesu čat hade laft & forsaken alle čat čei hade fort folowe him, suffrede 5 paciently & gladly so grete nede of bodily hungere in his presence, whom čei seene myraculously fede očere men & help at hir nede'. miche more we oweč to be pacient in bodily nede when it falleč'. čat bene not so worči nor so perfitely louen god, bot račere haue deseruet for oure mislyuyng & 10 vnkyndnes a¨eynus oure lorde god miche more penance & disese čan he wole suffre vs fort haue, |r[50v] and perauentur we comen neuer to so gret nede fort suffre for his sake.  And as to če seconde čat is perfite pouerte for goddus loue'. we shole vndurstaude čat his pouerte passed in 15 perfeccione če hiest degre of wilfulle pouerte of očer without comparisone. For očer mennus pouerte čat hauen forsake for cristes loue alle richesses & wirchipes of če worlde, is in reputacion of men, in als miche as it is halde vertuese as it is.  Bot his pouerte was in reproue & despite of men, in 20 als miche as it was not knowen, čat he toke čis pouerte wilfully bot as of nede, as it semed in če forseid processe of him & hees disciples when čei eten rawe corne for hungre & he halpe hem not, and in [many] očer places of če gospel he shewed him as pore & nedye. And for als miche as čat pouerte 25 čat comeč of nede & not of wille is in despite & reproue, & alle čat knewen him seyen čat he hade neyčer house nor possessiones'. čei hade him in če more contempte. For comunely sech nedeful pore men, bene despised of al men & set at nouht. Bot neuerles čei mowe be ful honourable in his 30 siht, čat čus ¨afe ensaumple čerof. Wherfore it is ful perilouse fort despise any pore men.  Bot if we wole wite who is vertuesly & perfitely pore'. we shole vndurstande, čat not onely he čat hač made his profession to pouerte, & hač laft alle worldly richesses as in 35 hauere wič out forč'. bot he čat čerewič hač čat pouert sette in his herte withinneforč so čat he wille not more loue nor desire any worldly godes or possessiones, bot onely čat is nedeful to his lyuyng. For if a man be in pouerte & suffre nede withoutforč 40 čorh lake of worldly godes, & čerwič he desire wič deliberacion in herte withinforč more čan him nedeč'. čat man lyueč not in vertuese pouerte bot in wrecched nede without mede. For če lust of če wille withinforč wič ful assent čereto'. sufficeč to če fulfillyng of synne, & to če losse of mede. |p100  Wherefore he čat wole be perfitely pore'. he most loke čat neičer he haue nor desire more čan is nedeful to his liuyng.  Of čis vertuese pouert, spekeč seynt Bernard, 5 sermone 4=to= de Aduentu, & in sermone iiijto de Natiuitate domini.  Forčermore touching če čridde vertue čat is Abstinence'. |r[51r] wherof a¨eynus glotony we haue ensaumple here in če disciples, & also before in oure lorde Jesu'. we shole 10 vndurstande, čat Glotory is a vice, a¨eynus če which it behoueč vs while we lyuene in čis flesh'. fort haue continuele bataile, as holi fadres čat knewen če temptacion čerof by longe experience techen vs, & specialy seynt bernarde in diuerse places, telleč how we shole fle Glotory, & nurish če 15 body onely as it nedeč to če hele čerof, & more sholde we not seke or desire to če body. Wherefore in alle čat we take ouere'. čat is to sey to fulfille če lust & če likyng'. čat passeč če termes of kynde, & disposeč to deč bodily & gostly, and so it falleč oft čat 20 many men bene so miche ouerecome, with če lust & če likyng of če flesh čat as vnresonable bestes čei putten če lust before če hele takyng seche metes & drynkes če whech čei knowe wele contrarie to hir hele, & after če whiche čei witen wele čat čei shole fele gret passiones & sekenes. And so not onely 25 is če body vndisposede to serue god & vertuese occupacion'. but also če saule defuylet čat he may not se god with clennes of herte, as he made him to. And sočely čis is a foule vice & a perilouse, & neuerles miche peple is blyndet & deceyuet in čis poynt, boče 30 worldly & gostly, čat excusene hem falsly by če loue of če flesh, & če stiryng of če lust, čat comunely escheweč, čat is most holsom to če kynde if it be not likyng to če sensualite, & desireč čat is most vnholsom if it be delicate & likyng čerto. 35 Wherfore amonge alle če spices of glotory čis semeč most reprouable, in als miche as it is not onely contrarye to če soule'. bot also it destrueč & sleč če body. And so he čat takeč mete or drinke wilfully, knowyng čat it is contrarie to him & vndisposyng to bodily hele'. may 40 drede of his dome & reproue in goddus siht, os of a man sleere, & čat is wors, sleere of him self. Očere men čat bene ouercome by če sensualite & če temptacion of flesh fort take of mete or drynke čat is holsome, čouh it be likyng, owčere in vntyme, or more in quantite čen |p101 nedeč, or with gret lust & gredynes'. ben more excusable for če comune infirmyte of če first synne of Adam. |r[51v] Bot for als miche as čis vice of Glotony in alle hees spices is reprouable'. čerfore it is nedeful vs fort eschewe it to 5 oure powere & gete & kepe čer vertue of discrete Abstinence as oure lord Jesus & his apostles & očere seyntes hauen boče tauht vs & ¨iuen vs ensaumple, keping če body & fedyng as it is nedful čerto, after če kynde čereof & če trauaile čat longeč čereto. In manere as a hors oweč to be kept fort do his 10 iurneye so čat he faile not by defaute by to miche abstinence on čat on side, & čat he be not rebelle to če spirite & to proude by miche pampryng on čat očere side, bot in a gude mene of abstinence čat techeč če vertue of discrecion, če whiche discrecion as seynt bernarde seič is not onely a vertue'. 15 bot also kepere & ledere of al očer vertues. For if čat lake'. čat semeč vertue is vice, as seynt Gregory seič, Discretioune is modere & kepere of alle vertues. čis discrecion touching abstinence & fedyng of če body'. stant generaly in čis poynt, as seynt Austyn seič in his 20 boke of Confessiones'. čat a man take of mete & drinke to sustinance of če body onely, as he wolde take of medicyne fort hele his infirmite. Wherefore riht as in takyng of medicine man hač no rewarde to more or lasse or to če preciosite or buystesnes or swetnes or bitternes, bot onely as it is most 25 conuenient & profitable to hele če sore or če sekenesse'. so for als miche as hungere & čriste bene infirmite of mankynde čorh če first sinne of man'. mete & drinke čat bene as medicine to čis infirmite, sholde be take onely as for hele čereof, as seynt Austyn seič. 30 čus miche is specialy spoken here of abstinence & Glotorye by occasion of če hungre & če simple fode čere a¨eynus of če disciples of Jesu as it is seide'. for als miche as here endeč če črid part of čis boke, čat stant in contemplacion of cristes blessed life for če Wendusday, vpon če which day 35 to oure ensaumple he began če fiht a¨eynus glotorye specialy by his fasting in desert as it is seide before, če which vice of glotorye, he graunte vs of his grace fort eschewe in če vertue of discrete abstinence to kepe'. čat is blessed without ende Jesus. Amen. 40 Explicit contemplacio pro die Mercurij & tercia pars. |p102 Item bernardus de abstinencia in epistola ad fratres de monte dei, quantum ad religiosos. Item in sermone tercio de circumcisione domini. |p103 Incipit 4=a= pars |r[52r] Of če fedyng of če grete peple with brede multipliede. Capitulum xxv=m=. |r Tweyn tymes če gospelle telleč čat oure lorde Jesus 5 multipliede a few loues of brede, & čerwič fedde many čousandes of men to če fulle.  In če whiche processe takyng hede to če wordes & če dedes of oure lorde as če gospel opunly telleč'. we mow se to oure edificacion gostly, many gude stiringes to loue him & 10 čonke him & wyrchipe him souereynly. And specialy we mowe se in čis processe čat oure lord Jesus was mercyful & curteise & kynde, & discrete & circumspecte.  First čat he was Merciful'. shewen hese wordes he seid čus, I haue pite & mercy vp on če peple, so čat mercy 15 stired him & drouh him to help hem & fede hem at hire nede. For as Dauid witnesseč, Alle če erče is ful of his mercy. Also he shewede his gret curtesye & wondurful kyndnes in če cause čat he assignede after seying čus, for lo now čese čre daies čei abiden & suffrene & beren me fasting, 20 & čei haue not whereof to ete, as čei he were bonden to hem, for hir benefice done to him, in čat čei abiden so with him, & neuerles in sočenesse, it was for hir owne gude & profite, & not for his. Bot čat is his souereyn kyndnesse & curtesie & endles godnesse, čat he hač likyng to dwel with vs, onely for 25 oure profite & sauacion, čouh čere be čerečorh as to him none encrese of his gudenes. Wherfore al čo čat folowen him by gode liuyng & gladly heren his doctrine, & kepen his hestes'. he loueč & hač likyng to dwel with hem gostly, & faileč neuer to help hem at 30 hir nede. |p104  Forčermore oure lorde Jesus takyng hede, čat many of če peple were come to him fro ferren cuntrey & seyng če perile of če peple in to miche fasting'. bycause of če gret trauaile čat čei sholden haue in hir goyng a¨eyne'. seide čus, 5 If I suffre hem go home a¨eyn in to hir owne house fasting'. čei shole faile & perish by če wey. Where he shewede čat he was discrete & circumspecte, seyng be fore hir nede & vnmihte'. & čerfore ordeynyng remedy & helpe before, by hir bodily sustinance, čat was nedful to hir trauaile to come afture. 10 And so in čis spech & dede of Jesu'. is doctrine & ensaumple of discrecion to prelates & hem čat hauen cure of očer, |r[52v] to take hede of hir infirmite & of hir trauaile'. & čereafter ordeyn to hem bodily sustinance couenable & sufficient, čat čei faile not by defaut in če way of čis bodily 15 lyuyng in erče. Also in če forseide processe we mow vndurstande gostly, če graciouse gouernance of oure lorde Jesus to vs lyuyng in čis worlde eche day. For we haue not to ete bodily or gostly'. bot he ¨ife vs, & so if he suffre vs fasting'. we shole 20 faile in če wey. For without him we mowe not help oure self in any gostly nede. Wherefore we haue no matere of elacion or veyn ioy of oure self, what tyme čat we felene any gostly confort or profite in gostly exercise, for it is nouht of vs, bot onely of him. And so if we take gude entente we mowe se, čat 25 čei čat bene trew seruauntes of god & chosen of him'. če more perfite čat čei bene in liuyng, & če nerre god, & če more excellent in hese ¨iftes of grace'. če more meke čei bene & če more abiecte in hir owne siht, for čei knowen wele čat čei haue noht of hemself bot wrecchednes & sinne. For če nerre 30 čat a man comeč to god, če more clere siht he hač gostly, & so he seč če more clerely če gret gudenes & če mercy of god. Wherefore pride & veyn ioy, čat comen of gostly blyndenesse'. mow not haue place & restyng in his soule čat is so li¨tnede čorh grace. For without dout he čat knewe wele god, & sočely 35 examynede him self'. miht not be proude dedely. Also here is grete confort to sinful men of če gret mercy of oure lorde Jesu if čei wole turne a¨eyn, & come to him by verrey repentance what tyme čei bene departed fro him & gone in to če ferr cuntrey of wikkednesse. For as če gospel 40 telleč čat he was specialy stired to mercy of če peple, for als miche as sume of hem were come to him fro ferren cuntrey'. so without doute wole he to euery sinful man, čat wole come to him gostly as it is seide, be his wey of departyng neuere so longe before. Amen. |p105 Of če fleyng of oure lord Jesus when če peple wold haue made him here kynge. Capitulum xxvj. |r Aftere čat oure lord Jesus hade fedde če peple to če fulle as it is seide in če nekst chapitre byfore'. čei seynge his 5 miht in čat miracle, & how he miht help hem at hir nede'. for hir temporele profite, čei wolde haue made him hir kynge. Bot oure |r[53r] lord Jesus knowyng čis wille of hem'. hem vnwityng fled in to če hille, so čat čei miht not fynde him. And čis was čat hille as sume clerkes seyne vp on če which, 10 he made čat excellent sermone čat is spoke of before. And čus he fled'. for he wolde not haue temperele kyngdome & veyn worldes wirchipe.  Bot take we here gude entent how & in what manere he fled čis worchipe effectuely without feynyng. First he 15 badde hese disciples take če shippe & go in to če water before him, & čen he alone went in to če hille. So čat if če peple wolde seche him among hese disciples'. čei shold not fynde him, & so he skapped awey fro hem čat souhten hym to wirchipe, ¨iuyng ensaumple to vs fort fle temperele wirchipe, 20 for he fled not čat wirchipe for him self'. bot for vs knowyng what perile it is vs fort coueit or desire temperele wirchipe. For soče it is, čat wirchipe is one of če most perilouse [gnarre] of če enemy to cacche & bygile mannus soule, & one of če heuyest birčen čat draweč don & ouercomeč če soule 25 dedely, whečere it be wirchipe o[f] prelacie, or of temperele lordeshipe, or of gret konyng. For skarsly is čere any man čat hač delite in wirchipe'. bot čat he is oučere in grete perile of fallyng, or elles fully fallen don in to če pitte of dedely sinne as we se by many resones. 30 First for als miche as he čat hač gret delite in worchipe'. is bisy al tymes in his mynde, how he may kepe his wirchipe & make it more, & so as seynt Gregory seič, In als miche as a man hač set his likyng in činge čat longeč to če worlde or to če flesh here beneiče forč'. in so miche is he 35 departed fro če gostly likyng & loue of god & heuenly činges aboue forč. Also he čat loueč wirchipes, is bisy to procure & gete him frendes, čat mowe kepe him in his wirchipe, & also forčere him to gretter wirchipe. Wherfore often sičes falle 40 diuerse causes, in če whech he offendeč god & his owne conscience, fort plese seche frendes, & in če same maner he makeč hem to do for him. |p106  Also comunely he hač indignacion of očere čat bene in wirchipe, & bakbyteč hem, to make himself more wirchipeful & more worči, & so he falleč in to hate & enuye of his bročer. 5 Also he halt himself in his owne siht |r[53v] & also desireč to be halde so in očer mennus siht, worči & wirchipful, & so he falleč in to če foule vice of elacione & pride & veyn glory. Bot čerfore as če gospel seič, He čat halt him self as ouht worči when in sočenes he is nouht'. he deceyueč foule him self, 10 & čerfore seide our lord to hese disciples in če gospel, when ¨e haue done alčinges čot bene bedene to ¨ow'. seič ¨e sočely with herte, we bene vnworči & veyn seruantes. Bot čis may not he sey čat halt him self worči & wirchipful. 15 Forčermore as to če last when čis likyng of wirchipe is rotede in man'. he is so hungry & gredy after wirchepes, čat he may not be filled, bot euery day procureč newe wirchipes & grettere & če moo čat he geteč'. če moo he coueiteč & desireč for he halt algate him self more worči & more 20 worchipful čen he was before, boče in his owne siht & in očer mennus siht, & so he falleč in to depe Coueitise, čat is če foulest vice, & če rote & cause of many očer vices. Of čis veyn delite in wirchipes & of če perile čerof'. seynt bernard spekeč to men specialy in čis manere, Alle we 25 bene noble & worči creatures, & of a gret manere wille. Wherfore kyndly we desiren hyenesse. Bot wo to vs if we wole folowe him čat wole set his fete in če hille of lordeshipe & hye miht, & be like to god in worchipe, čat was Lucifer čat čus stey vp by proude wille in to če hille of hyenes first a 30 gloriouse angele'. bot sodeynly fel done čer fro, made a foule feend of hell. Also takeč hede forčermore čat he čat foule feend after his falle, coueytyng by his wikked enuyous wille, to cast man done fro his blisse'. he durst not tempte him fort stey vp to čat 35 hille of lordeschipe & gret miht, čat him self so sodeynly fel don fro'. bot as a fals trechour he shewed him in a nočer hille like čerto, čat is to sey če hille of gret konyng, & conseiled him falsly to stey vp in to čis hille by proude desire of wirchipe, when he seide to him in čis maner, ¨e shole be as 40 goddes, čorh gret kunyng knowyng boče gude & ille. And for als miche as man ¨af his assent to his suggestion'. čerfore he fel don as he dide. And so we mow se čat coueitise of gret lordeschipe & hye miht, pryued če angele of angeles blisse, & desire of gret konyng despuylet man of |r[54r] če ioy of endles life. |p107 And of boče meschefes was gronde & cause'. delite & desire of veyn wirchipe. Wherfore seyng čis perile of veyn wirchipe, if we drede če falle of če angele & of man'. we most fle in wille fro 5 boče čese hilles of hye lordeschipe & gret konnyng & go vp with oure lorde Jesu in to če hille of contemplacion & deuocion, by mekenes forsakyng če worlde & če wille to be wirchiped of če comune peple as he dide. Bot in čis fleyng fro če peple & goyng of him al one 10 in to če hille, as it is seide before, in če processe of če gospel take we hede forčermore to oure edificacion, howe he laft hees disciples, & made hem a¨eynus hir wille to take če ship & go in to če se without him, for čei wold not hir čonkes haue bene departede fro him, & in čat was hir desire gude fort duelle 15 euere with hir lorde. Neuerles he ordeynet očerwise seyng what was best for hem. And so čen čei mekely diden as he bad & were obeschaunt to him, čouh it so were čat it was neuer so greuous & harde to hem. čus it fareč comunely with gostly lyueres by speciale 20 felyng of če presence of Jesu, & of his absence in hir soule, čei wold not čat euere he shold go fro hem, as by special gostly confort in any tyme. Bot he doč očerewyes, for he goč & comeč as it is his wille & for hir best. Bot what shal siche a deuout soule do when she feleč hir gostly spouse Jesu so 25 withdrawen, touching his special confort? Sočely she behoueč bisily & oft, clepe him a¨eyn in continuele desire & deuout praiere, & in če mene tyme paciently suffre če absence of hir spouse, & by ensaumple of če disciples of Jesu, čat čorh meke obedience at his biddyng wenten in to če shippe, & toke če 30 watere in his absence'. suffre če wawes & tempestes of temptacione & aduersite, & paciently abide til he wole of his grace come in to čat soule, & make rest & pes, as it shal folowe after in če processe nekst to come. Of čis matere seynt bernard, in diuerse places makeč 35 faire processe & deuout, če which for als miche as it longeč & is pertynent specialy to gostly folk, & also as I hope is writen sufficiently in diuerse tretees of contemplacion'. we passen ouere here, as we done in many očere places sech auctoritees of him, lest čis processe of cristes blessed life 40 sholde be tedyouse |r[54v] to comune peple, & symple soules, to če whech it is specialy writen. Amen. |p108 Of če praiere of oure lorde Jesu in če hille, & how aftere he came to his disciples vpon če water goyng. Capitulum xxvij=m=. |r Aftere če disciples of oure lord Jesu were gone in to če 5 shippe & če watere as he bade hem, & as it is seide before'. he went vp in to če hille alone, & čere was he occupiede in praiere in to če ferče part of če niht, so čat čre partes of če niht čat were passede he hade continued in praiere & čus we redene čat oft sičes he ¨afe him to praiere. 10 Wherfore take we here gude entent, in what maner he praieč, & how čat he loweč him in his manhede & mekeč him to his fadere of heuen. He cheseč solitary places & goč to hem alone to prey, & doče his tendir body to penance & wakeč longe wakynges. He preyeč as če trew herde for his 15 shepe. For he praieč not for him self bot for vs, as oure aduokete & mediatour betwix če fadere & vs. And also he praieč to ensaumple of vs, čat we sholde oft sičes prey & specialy loue preiere. For oft sičes he bade hese disciples & tauht hem fort pray. And so čat he bade hem by worde, he 20 shewed him self in dede. He tauht hem & seide, čat it behoueč & is nedeful euer to pray, & not faile in leuyng čereof, shewyng čat continuyng & oft askyng in praiere, geteč at če last without faile čat činge čat is askede. And hereof he told ensaumple of če domesman, čat at če last čorh longe criyng 25 & askyng of če widowe, dide hir riht as če gospel of luke telleč. Also to stire hem fort pray bisily, & trist fort gete čat čei asken'. he told a nočer ensaumple of a frende čat at če last čorh miche askyng lante to his frende če brede čat him nedet, 30 as če same gospel telleč in processe concludyng & seying čus, Askeč & it shal be ¨iuen to ¨owe. And alle čis he seide to teche vs če vertue of gude praiere, če whiche may not be estimede, for če vertue čerof is so mihty & so grete'. čat it geteč al gudenes, & putteč awey al 35 manere of wikkednesse. Wherfore if čou wolt paciently suffre aduersitees & mihtily ouercome temptacions & diseses'. be čou a man of praiere. Also if čou wolt knowe če sleghtes of če deuel & be not bygilet with hese fals suggestions'. be a man of praiere. 40 Also if čou wolt take če streyt wey to heuen by trauaile & penance of če flesh, & čerwič gladly continue in goddus seruice'. be a |r[55r] man of praiere. Also if čou wolt put awey veyn čouhtes & fede či soule with holi čouhtes & gostly |p109 meditacions & deuocions'. be a man of praiere. Also if čou wolt stable či herte in gude purpose to goddes wille, puttyng awey vices & plantyng vertues'. be a man of praiere. For čorh preiere is goten če ¨ift of če holi gost, čat techeč če soule al 5 činge čat is nedeful čerto. Also if čou wolt come to heuenly contemplacion & fele če gostly swetnes, čat is felt of fewe chosen soules, & knowe če grete graciouse ¨iftes of oure lord god, čat mowen be felt bot not spoken'. be a man of praiere. For by če excercise of praiere specialy'. a man comeč to 10 contemplacion & če felyng of heuenly činges. Here mowe we se of how grete gostly miht & vertue is deuout preiere. And to confirmacion hereof & of al čo činges čat bene seide before, čat holi writte & doctours seyinges fully preuene'. forčermore we haue a special profe in 15 čat we seen euery day by experience diuerse persones simple & vnlettrede, by če vertue of praiere gete & haue alle čo činges čat bene seid before, & many mo gretter ¨iftes of grace. Wherfore miche owhten al cristien folke be stired to če exercise of preyer, bot principaly čei čat bene religiouse, 20 whose maner of lyuyng is ordeynet more specialy hereto. Of čis vertue of preyere & how oure lord god ¨iueč to hem, čat deuoutly askeč him in preyer čat činge čat čei asken in maner as it is most spedful to hem'. seynt bernard by deuout processe telleč in diuerse places, če whiche processe passyng 25 ouere'. turne we to oure lord Jesus & hese disciples & to če forseid processe of hem. What tyme čat oure lorde Jesus was alone preying in če hille as it is seide'. hese disciples were in če see, in grete disese, for als miche as če wynde was a¨eynus hem, & če ship 30 in poynt of perishyng čorh če grete wawes & če gret tempeste čat was risyne in čat tyme. And so we mowe se if we take gude hede by deuout compassion in what mischefe & tribulacion čei weren at čat tyme, boče for če gret tempeste čat was risen vpon hem, & also for če nihten tyme, & 35 principaly for čei lakkeden hir lordes presence, čat was alle hir refute in hir nede. Bot he čat gude lorde čat knewe what was best for hem, & čat suffrede čis disese of hem for če tyme'. when he |r[55v] sawh tyme also, sende hem confort & help. And so at če forče wakyng of če niht'. he cam done fro če hille goyng 40 vp on če see & comyng toward hem. Now beholde we here inwardly how čat blessed lord after his gret trauaile of longe wakyng & preyinge come done alone in če nihten tyme fro čat trauailouse hille & perauenture stony & barefote, & so he saddely vpon če water as it were on |p110 če erče, for čat creature knewe hir maker, & was obeschant to him at his wille. And what tyme he cam nyhe če shippe če disciples supposyng čat he hade bene a fantasme'. cryede for drede, & čan če benyng lord hauyng compassion of hem, & 5 willyng čat čei sholde no lengir be desturblet & trauailede'. sikerde hem of his presence & seide, I am he čat ¨e desiren beče not adrede. And čan Petre čat was more feruent čen očer tristyng of his miht'. at his biddyng he began to go toward him vpon če water, bot anone as a gret wynd blewe'. he failed in 10 byleue & dredde, & so began to drench, bot če gude lord with his riht hande toke him vp & kept him fro perishyng, & čen went in to če shippe with him, & anone al če tempeste cesed, & alle was in pes & tranquyllite. And so če disciples with gret reuerence & ioy receyuyng hir lorde'. weren put in gret reste 15 & souereynly confortede by his blessed presence. čis is če processe of čat gospel shortly.  In čis processe touching če disciples, we haue gostly doctrine & ensaumple of pacience in tribulacion & of profite čerof'. as we hade before touching him self of če vertue of 20 preyer as it is seide. Wherfore we shole vndurstonde čat as it felle with če disciples bodily'. so it falleč with vs alday gostly.  Oure lord Jesus suffreč hem čat bene chosen of him fort be disesed & haue gret tribulacion in čis worlde, boče in body & in soule. For as holi writte witnesseč, he beteč euery 25 childe čat he receyueč to his grace. And as če apostle poule seič, Alle čo čat bene without disciplyne'. ben not kynde children, bot of auoutrye. And it is spedful to vs to be so beten, & to suffre tribulacion & disese in čis world for many causes. For čerby we bene tauht fort knowe oure self & oure 30 owne wrecchednes. Also čerčorh we profitene |r[56r] gostly & geten vertues, & when čei bene gotene, čerečorh kepen hem če better, & forčermore čat is moste of alle, čerčorh, we tristely hopene & abidene čat euerlastyng mede in če blisse of heuen. Wherefore we shold not be disconforted by hem or 35 impacient in hem'. bot račere coueit hem & loue hem. Bot for als miche as če profite of tribulaciones čouh it be miche worče & of grete vertue & mich mede'. neuerles many men činken hem ful harde & grucchen a¨eynus hem as importable by cause čat čei knowe not & seene not če vertue of hem. 40 Neuerles many holy doctours tellen & techene vs če grete profite of hem in many places to confort vs gladly fort take hem. And specialy among očere seynt bernard'. in diuerse tretees. |p111 Wherefore haue we no wondur čouh oure lorde Jesus suffred hees disciples če whech he louede so specialy to be turblet with tempestes as it is seide, & suffre tribulacions, for he knewe hir gostly profite čereby. For oft we rede čat hire 5 shippe was in perile by tempestes & contrarye wyndes'. bot it was neuere drownede or fully perishede, & no more shole we what tribulacion so euer come to vs, if we suffre paciently & triste fully in če help of oure lord Jesu čat wole not faile vs at oure nede. Amen. 10 CApitulum sequens de Chananea pretermittitur vbi notatur de Angelis, ut infra capitulo xxx=o=. How če pharisees & očere token occasion of sklandre of če wordes & če dedes of Jesu. Capitulum xxviij=m=. |r WE shole haue no wondre čouh sume take occasion of 15 sklandre of oure wordes & dedes be čei neuer so gude & trewe, for so it befelle of oure lord Jesu oft sičes, & ¨it miht not he erre in worde or dede. Wherefore befelle on a tyme čat če pharisees askeden him, Whi čat hese disciples woshe not hir handes when čei went to mete, & in čat čei kept not hir 20 custome after če teching of hir eldere. Bot oure lord seyng čat čei charget more če washing withoutforče & bodily clennesse'. čen vertuese of če soule withinforč & gostly clennes'. answerede harde a¨eyn reprouyng hem, čat čei breken če hestes of god, for hir tradiciones & bodily obseruances, 25 declarynge after čat, vices čat comen out of če hert defoylene |r[56v] more a man, čan doč če bodily mete takene vnwashede, wherefore čei were gretly sclandrede & stired a¨eynus him, bot he toke none hede čereof, for čei were blinde in soule čorh malice. 30 Also oft sičes oure lord Jesus wrouht miracles vpon če sabbate dayes, čat weren goddus halidayes to če Jues, as bene now če sonedayes to cristene men, & čat he dide to confusion & reproue of če Jues, čat kepten streitly če lawe in bodily obseruances, & not in gostly vndurstandyng as his wille was. 35 For he badde not če haliday fort leue čereinne gude worching & dedes of charite'. bot fort cese & abstyne fro synne & bodily werkes. Wherefore čei weren gretely sklandret čat is to sey, token occasion of sclandre a¨eynus him, & conspirede in to his deč, & seiden čat man was not of goddus halfe čat kept |p112 not če sabbate day. Bot oure lorde laft not čerfore, to worche miracles & do dedes of charite in čoo dayes, bot miche more didene hem, fort destruye če Jues erroure forseide. Anočere tyme also whan he tauht in če sinagoge gostly 5 lore & seide, čat he was če brede of life čat came fro heuene, & how it behouede to ete his flesh & drinke his blode who so shulde be safe & haue euerlastyng life, čei vndurstandyng hese wordes fleshly & not gostly'. gruccheden a¨eynus him, & token occasion of grete sclandre, & many of hees disciples 10 čorh čat mysvndurstandyng fleshly, forsoken him. Bot Petur in če name of xij apostles, answered čat čei wolde not leue him for he hade če wordes of euerlastyng life. And so čat was sklandre to če badde'. was vertuese to če gode. In če forseide wordes & dedes of oure lord Jesu we 15 haue ensaumple čat we shold not let to do gode werkes for occasion of sclandre vnskilfully takene of očere or for enuy & yuel wille of hem, and specialy of čat dede čat is necessarye to soule hele'. we shold not cese for any sclandre. Wherefore seynt gregory seič, čat a man shal račer 20 suffre sclandre fort rise'. čen he sal leue če treuče, čat is to sey, in čre maneres after če comune sentence of doctours. First of če gude life man sal not cese for sclandere, čat is to sey, he sal not do dedely sinne, for puttyng awey of any sklandere. |r[57r] Also a doctour or a prechour shal not teche or preche false for 25 any sclandere, bot in case he may hald his pes of a certayn treuče, as what tyme he knoweč čat če hereres bene obstinate in errour & shold be če worse if čat treuč were seide. če čridde is treuč of rihtwisnes, čat shal not be laft for sclandre, čat is to sey, a domesman shal not ¨iue fals dome, 30 nor a witnesse bere fals recorde for any sclandere. Bot of očer certayn dedes čat mow be laft without perile of soule, a man sal očerewhile cese, čouh čei bene gude in hem self'. fort put awey occasion of sclandere'. as če apostle poule seič, čat wold račere neuer ete flesh, čen he wold čerčorh ¨iue occasion of 35 sclander to his bročere. Also in če forseid processe of oure lord Jesu we ben tauht fort charge more če clennesse of soule & čat disposeč to vertues'. čen bodily clennesse & honeste withoutforč, čat is no vertue inne. Neuerles honeste & bodily clennes is gude, so čat 40 it dispose not to veyn glorye or curiosite, or lechery or očere synnes, & so bene gude customes čat bene grondet vpon reson fort be kept, bot če biddynges of god, & če ordynance of souereynes in holi chirch, bene miche more fort charge. Wherefore in čis poynt errene many cristien men & specialy |p113 religiouse, čat chargen more bodily obseruance & customes, čouh čei dispose to no vertue, & oft bene a¨eynus reson'. čen čei done če biddyng of god & doctrine of holi fadres, touching charite, mekenes, pacience, deuoucion in praiere, discrete 5 abstinence & očere vertues. Wherefore čei mowe drede če reprofe of oure lord Jesu pryuely'. čat he reprouede če pharisees opunly as it is seide before. Of če speciale rewarde of oure lorde Jesu behoten to alle čoo čat forsaken če worlde for his loue. Capitulum 10 xxix=m=. |r What tyme oure lord Jesus by occasion of če riche man čat wolde not leue hese temperele gudes for perfeccion, seide'. čat it was harde to a riche man fort entre in to če kyngdome 15 of heuen'. če Apostle Petur in če name of alle hees felaghes če xij apostles asked of him what rewarde čei shold haue čat hadden forsake & laft alle worldly činges for his sake'. |r[57v] And čen oure lorde answered, not onely byhetyng to hem a souereyne mede in če blisse of heuen'. bot also to alle očer čat 20 forsakene fadere & modere & očere kynne & temperele gudes for his sake'. če hundret folde in čis worlde, & after'. lyfe euerlastyng in a nočer world to come. Wherefore alle čo čat haue taken hem to gostly liuyng & fully forsakene če world'. hauen matire of gret gostly ioy & 25 special confort in čis byhest of Jesu, not onely for če euere lastyng life in heuen, čat čei tristly hopen to haue by his gracious byhost'. bot also for čat hundretfolde rewarde, čat čei shole fele in čis bodily life, if čei treuly louene Jesu & fully forsaken če worlde, čat is neyčer golde nor siluer, nor deynteč 30 metes or preciouse cločes'. bot gostly richesse of vertues, & confort of če holi gost, če which he alonely knoweč, čat by experience felič it in himself, & čat is among očere clene conscience & rest in soule, loue of pouerte, chastite, pacience & očere vertues. And what tyme čat oure gostly spouse Jesu 35 wole & to whome'. če sensible presence of him felt boče in body & soule, čat passeč not onely a hundret folde'. bot also a čousande folde alle če fleshly lykyng of erče. čis speciale ¨ift of Jesu is knowen of gostly folke before seide, bot it is hidde to fleshly folk čat hač set hir herte 40 & hir confort in čis worlde. As če prophete Dauid felyng čis ¨ift spekeč to god in čis manere, Lord how grete is če |p114 multitude of či swetnesse čat čou hast hidde to hem čat dreden če. Of čis matire seynt bernard makeč a deuout processe, in a tretyse of him čat is cleped De colloquio simonis & Jesu, spekyng more plenerly of čis gostly mede, of če whiche Jesus 5 graunt vs part Amen. Of če transfiguracion of oure lorde Jesu in če hille. Capitulum xxx=m=. |r Oure lord Jesus willyng conferme & strengče hees disciples in čat trew byleue čat he was boče god & man'. he 10 shewed hem čat he was verrey man, by čat he suffrede after če kynde & če comune infirmite of man, & also čat he was god'. by če miracles čat he wrouht aboue če comune kynde & miht of man, & čerwič also he informede hem |r[58r] & tolde hem before'. čat he sholde suffre peynfully če harde deč as man, & 15 after arise vp gloriously to lyfe as god. And to čis ende, what tyme as če gospel of Mathewe, & Marke & Luke telleč, čat he hade tolde hese disciples, čat he shold suffre many reproues & despites in Jerusalem, & at če last be slayn & dede'. & after čat, he shuld rise fro deč to lyfe če črid day'. čen forčermore 20 he concludet & seide čat čere were sume of hem čat čere stoden at čat tyme če whech shold not tast bodily deč til čei seene mannus son čat was him self comyng in his kyngdome, čat is to sey aperyng in a wondurful & ioyful clerenesse of his manhode as longyng to his kyngdome. And čat fort fulfille čis 25 byhost'. about če viij day aftur he toke with him petur, James & Jone vp into a hye hille, čat was as clerkes seyn clepede Thabor, & čere he was transfigurede in hir siht, čat is to sey turnede out of če lowe likenes of seruant into če hye & gloriouse liknes of his kyngdome. For his face shane as če 30 sune, & hese cločes were als white as če snowe. And čerwič čere appereden Moises & Helye spekyng with him of his passion čat he sholde suffre in Jerusalem. In če which blissful si¨ht če disciples raueshede & specialy Petur for¨etyng al erčly činge'. desired fort haue duellede stille čere, in čat 35 blestful place & seide, Lord it is gude čat we abide & duelle here, & čerfore if čou wolt, make we here čre tabernacles, one to če, & one to Moises & one to Helye, bot he wist not what he seide, neyčer in čat he wolde haue duelled with Jesus in blisse'. before čat he suffrede with him če passion of deč, 40 as he hade told hem before bat he shold do. nor in čat he |p115 wolde haue seuerede hem čre čat were alle one as in gostly felyng če lawe, če prophetes & Jesus. And čerfore fort conferme him, čat is to sey Petur & hees felawes in trewe byleue of Jesus čat he was goddus son, & čat čei shold here 5 & folowe him in alle činge'. čerwič a briht cloude ouere shadewede hem, & out of če cloude came a voice fro če fadre of heuen, seyinge, čis is my bylouede son in whom me likeč wele, & čerfore here ¨e him'. čat is to sey in alle čat he techeč, for he is verrey sočfastnes without lesyng, |r[58v] & 10 čerewič foloweč him in čat he sheweč, for he is če riht way withoute erryng, whom ¨e haue herde in če lawe, čat is vndurstande in Moises & in če prophetes čat bene vndurstande in Helye. And čen when če disciples hade herd čis heuenly voice before seide of če fadere'. čei felle done to če erče on 15 hir face with gret drede for če infirmite of man miht not bere čat hye voice aboue kynde. And čen oure lord Jesus benygnly lift hem vp & bad hem not drede, & čerwič čei liftyng vp hire eyene & lokyng about hem'. seene no mo bot alonely Jesus. And as čei wenten done če hille'. he bade hem telle noman čat 20 čei hade seene, til he mannus sone were rysen fro deč to life.  čis is če processe of če gospel, in če which whoso hač grace of gostly vndirstandyng & swetnes'. may se many notabilytes to lowyng & despisyng of man himself, & to feruent deuocion & loue of god, & specialy he čat hač felyng 25 aboue kynde ¨iuen by speciale grace'. may tast & haue miche gostly confort, čat he graunt vs part of, Jesus crist, Amen. Of če sekeman helede at če watere in Jerusalem clepede probatica piscina. Capitulum xxxj=m=. |r [č]Ere was in če Cite of Jerusalem in maner of a ponde 30 a standyng watere cloused aboute with fyue dores. In če whiche watere če shepe were weshene, čat were offrede in to sacrifice. In če which watere also aftere če opinione of sume clerkes, lay če tre of če holi crosse, where it befelle as by wey of miracle čat ones in če ¨ere čat watere was gretly stired & 35 mouede of če angele of god, & čen what seke man miht first entre in to če watere'. he was helede of his infirmite. Wherfore many seke men duelleden continuely by čat water abidyng če mouynge čereof by če angele. Among če whech, čer was one liggyng in his bedde, on če pallesye xxviij ¨ere, če which man 40 oure lorde Jesus helede on če sabbate day, & bade hym bere |p116 awey his bedde & go, as če processe of če gospel telleč more plenerely.  In če whiche processe we mowe note specialy čre činges to oure edificacione. First in čat oure lord Jesus asked 5 če seke man whečere he wolde be made hole'. we mow vndurstande čat oure lord god |r[59r] wole note ¨ife vs grace & gostly hele'. bot we willen & desire it. Wherefore čoo sinful men čat desire not & wole not assent to goddus wille of hir gostly hele & sauacion'. bene dampnable without excusacion. 10 For as seynt Austyn seič, He čat made če without če'. wole not iustifye če without če. če seconde notablete is'. čat it behoueč vs to be warre & bisy aftur we be delyuerete & clensede of sinne, čat we fal not wilfully a¨eyn čerto, lest čat oure vnkyndenesse in čat 15 partye worčily be puneshede more hard of oure lorde Jesu. Wherfore he seid to čat seke man čat he hade helede, Go & wille čou sinne no more'. lest worse wil falle to če. For oft syčes it falles čat for gostly infirmite, čat is to sey sinne'. comeč bodily infirmite, & so čorh delyueryng & assoilyng of 20 sinne'. oft tymes če body is heled of bodily sekenes. če črid činge notable is, čat wikked men gladly supposen vertuese dedis of očere men in to če worse partye, & so čei lesene hir mede comunely'. as gude men on čat očere side supposen al činge in to če better part in encrese of hir 25 mede. čus če Jewes ful of enuye, when čei seene čat seke man made hole miraculously of oure lorde Jesu, & beryng awey his bedde on če sabbate day at his biddyng'. čei asked him who badde him bere his bedde, bot čei asked not who 30 made him hole. And so čei token čat part čat hem čouht was reprouable, bot čei laft čat part čat was comendable. And čus comunely čei diden in alle če miracles of oure lord Jesu. In če same manere worldly men & fleshly turne in to če worse part čat gudely men & gostly turne in to če best part. For čei čat 35 bene in charite & dreden [gode,] lyuing rihtwisely'. aretten al činge for če best, & to goddus wirchip whečer it be prosperite or aduersite, knowyng čat alle činge is done rihtwisly by goddus wille, or his suffrance, & so in al činge spirituel men wynnen & geten hem mede, ¨ei so ferforč, čat of hir owne 40 sinnes & očer mennus, & of če deueles werkes'. čei profiten & winnen gostly, as seynt bernord sheweč in diuerse places. Whoso hade čis grace perfitely to suppose & arette al činge čat befel in to če bettur part'. he shold mow suffre tribulaciones & temptaciones without gret disese, & by longe |p117 exercise, |r[59v] come to so grete rest of soule'. čat ful seldome or neuere sholde he be disturblet with any činge. Bot it shuld be verifiede in him čat če wisman seič'. What so euer befalle to če rihtwiseman'. it sal not make him sorye. 5 In capitulo de chananea 30 Forčermore in če forseide processe, in če speciale mynde of če angele'. we shole vndurstande čat goddus angeles bene as mynistres & menes bytwix god & deuout soules as seynt Bernard seič. Wherefore we oweč to wirchipe hem & 10 honour hem & čonke hem. And for als mich as čei bene continuely present with vs, we shole be eschewe to čenke or speke or do'. čat miht offende hem, for čei bene oure kepers ordeynet of god, & bisy about vs coueityng algate oure gostly profite. 15 Of čis matere spekeč seynt bernard Super psalmum Oui habitat sermone xi ibi Angelis suis mandauit de te &c. Item super cantica sermone lxxjo. How oure lorde Jesus cast oute of če temple če biggeres & če selleres a¨eynus goddus lawe. Capitulum xxxij. 20 |r TWeyn tymes as če gospel makeč mynde oure lord Jesus cast out of če temple če biggeres & če selleres čereinne, & čat with a skourge made of cordes, če which dede among alle če miracles čat he wrouht semeč wondurful. For what tyme čat he wrouht očere miracles in če whech he shewede če 25 souereyn miht of his godhede, če pharisees & če scribes & očer of če Jewes despised & reprouede him. Bot at čis tyme when čei were in grete multitude gederet in če temple, & in hir grete solempnite'. čei hade no powere to withstande him al one. And če cause was, for če gostly fire of his zele brennyng 30 withinforč, for če vnwirchipyng of his fadere, specialy in čat place, where he owede most to be wirchipede shewede him so dredful in his face withoutforč, čat čei were wondurfully adredde, & disconfyted, & had no powere to wičstande him. čis processe aftur če exposition of seynt Gregory & 35 očer doctours is ful dredeful to al cristien men, bot namely to prelates & curates & očer men of holi chirch, & specialy we religiouse čat bene sette in goddus temple fort serue him continuely in deuout praiere, & očer gostly exercises'. if we |p118 ¨ife vs to coueitise & vanitees, & medle vs ouere nede with worldly occupaciones & chaffarynges, as čei diden'. we mowe |r[60r] skilfully drede če indignacion of Jesu, & his castyng out fro grace in čis life, & after departyng fro his blisse euerlastyng. 5 Wherefore čou čat wolt not drede če indignacion of Jesu'. loke čat in no manere čou putte če wilfully nor medle če to či powere with worldly occupacion. Bot for čis matiere is fully & plentyvously tretede in če exposition of čis gospel in many places'. čerfore we passen 10 ouere čus shortly at čis tyme. Post istum capitulum sequitur in Bonauentura, Quando discipuli vellebant spicas &c. quod capitulum supra translatum est parte tercia, capitulo xxiiij. Of če receyuyng of oure lord Jesu by če tweyn sisteres 15 Martha & Marie, and of če tweyn manere of lyuynges čat bene actife & contemplatife in holy chirch. Capitulum xxxiij=m=. |r BEfelle vpon a tyme čat oure lorde Jesus went with hese disciples in to Bethanie čat was cleped če Castel of 20 Marthe & Marie, & came in to če house of hem. And čei čat loueden him with alle hir hertes, weren gladde & ioyful of his comyng. And Martha če elder sistere čat hade če cure of če housholde anone byside hir & went fast aboute to ordeyne for če mete couenable to him & hees disciples. Bot hir sistere 25 Marie for¨etyng alle bodily mete & desiryng souereynly to be fedde gostly of oure lord Jesu'. set hir done on če gronde at hees fete, & kastyng hir eyene & hir herte & hir eres in to him onely'. with more ioy & likyng čen may be spoken was fed gostly & confortede in če blessede wordes of oure lord Jesu. 30 For he wolde not be ydule'. bot as his comune manere was, occupiede him with spekyng of edificacion & wordes of euerlastyng life. Martha čat was so bisily occupiede aboute če ministracion & če seruice of oure lord Jesu & hees disciples, seyng hir sistere Marie so sittyng as it were in ydulnes'. toke 35 hit heuyly, & compleyned hir to oure lord as he hade take no rewarde čerto, & praiede him čat he wolde bidde hir sistere rise & help hir to serue, & čen was Marie aferde lest she shold haue be taken fro čat swete rest & gostly likyng čat she was inne. And nouht she seide, bot henge don hir hede, abydyng |p119 what oure lord wolde sey. And čen oure lord answeryng for hir, seide to Martha čat čouh she was bisy & turblet about many |r[60v] činges, neuerles one činge was necessarye, & čat was če best parte čat Marye chase, če whiche shold neuer be take 5 fro hir. And čen was Marie gretly conforted & satte more sikurly in hir purpose, & Martha without enuye held hir paiede & serued forč with gude wille.  In čis processe of če gospel forseide so shortly touchede after če letter'. we mowe note & vndurstande many 10 faire činges gostly to oure edificacion. And first če gret gudenes of oure lord Jesu in his homely comyng to čat pore house of čo tweyn sistres Martha & Marie, takyng oft syčes with gude wille & likyng siche simple refeccion & bodily fode as čei hadden. For as it semeč wele by čat seying of Martha, 15 čat hir sistre lete hir serue alone'. čere was not multitude of seruantes, & so foloweč čat čere was no gret aray in diuerse messes or many delicate metes & drinkes, & ¨it came oure lord oftere customably vnbeden to čat place, čan he dide to any očere to take his bodily fode, & čat specialy as I trowe, 20 for če gret loue & affeccion čat he hade to Marie after hir conuersione, as he knewe wele čat she louede him souereynly euere after, as it is seide before.  And so it semeč čat oure lord Jesus, wole loue specialy & oft visite by grace & duelle gostly with čat soule, 25 čat by trewe repentauce & penance forsakeč hir sinne, & perseuerantly kepeč hir in če loue of him. Lord how gladde & ioyful were čese tweyn sistres forseide of če comyng at čat tyme of čis blessed gest Jesus to hir house, & principaly Marie. For as it semeč after če 30 processe of če gospel, čis was če first tyme čat he came to čat house, & čat sone after če conuersion of Marie forseide, & in so miche it was če more ioyful to hir, for čen she hade čat she souereynly louede & onely desired. And čerfore hir sistere not knowyng how it stode with hir withinforč in hir herte, & 35 seyng hir maneres changet, čat was wont before to be occupiede in bisinesse of bodily ministracion with hir, & now as takyng no rewarde čerto, bot sittyng & tentyng onely to če swete contemplacion of Jesu as it is seide before'. merueilede gretly čerof, & čerfore compleyned to oure lord as it is seide, 40 not reprouyng hir sistere after če comune condicion of women. In tokene |r[61r] & ensaumple čat he čat is occupied vertuesly in actif life'. shal not reproue him čat is in rest of contemplatif life, čouh it seme to him čat he be as ydul. |p120 Of actife life and contemplatife life. By čees tweyn sisteres forseide, Martha & Marie, as holy men & doctours writen'. ben vndurstande tweyn maner lifes of cristen men, čat is to sey actif lif & contemplatif lyfe. 5 Of če whech čere beč many tretees, & gret processe made of diuerse doctours. And specialy če forseid Bonauenture in čis boke of cristes life makeč a longe processe aleggyng many auctoritees of seynt Bernard, če whiche processe čouh it so be čat it is ful gude & fructuouse as to many gostly lyueres'. 10 neuerles for it semeč as inpertynent in gret party to many comune persones & symple soules, čat čis boke in english is writen to, as it is seid oft before, čerefore we passen ouere shortly takyng čereof čat semeč profitable & edificatife to oure purpose at čis tyme. 15  And first it is to vndurstande, čat če processe of če forseid Bonauenture of čees tweyn manere of lyfes Actif & contemplatif longeč specialy to spirituel persones as bene prelates, prechours & religiouse. And so he seič at če byginnyng, čat actif life čat is vndurstonde by Martha, hač 20 tweyn parties.  And če first part is čat manere of lyuyng by če which a mannus bisinesse stant principaly in čat exercise, čat longeč to his owne gostly profite, čat is to sey in amendyng of him self as wičdrawyng fro vices & profetyng in vertues. First as 25 to profite of him self, & afterwarde as to his neihborgh by werkes of rihtwisnes & pite, & dedes of charite as it sal be seide more pleynly here after.  če seconde part of actif life is, when a mannus occupacion & bisinesse, stant in čat exercise čat longeč to če 30 profite of očer men principaly, čouh it be also čerwič to his owne mede če more čerby. As it is in gouernyng of očer men & teching, & helping to če hele of soule, as done prelates & prechours & očer čat hauen cure of soule.  And bytwix čese tweyn parties of actif lif before 35 seide'. stant contemplatif life. So čat in čis ordre'. first a man trauaile & ¨if him to gude exercise in praiere, & in study of holi scriptures & očer gude werkynges in comune conuersacion. |r[61v] Amendyng his life & wičdrawyng fro vices & profityng in getyng of vertues. And after čen secondly restyng 40 in contemplacion čat is to sey in solitude at če lest of herte, forsakyng alle worldes bisinesse'. with alle his miht be about, continuely to čenk on god, & heuenly činges, onely tentynge to plese god. And čen here after when he is perfitely in če |p121 tweyn forseid exercises tauht & stablet in verrey wisdome & vertues, & lihtned čorh grace desiring če gostly profite of očermen'. čen may he sikerly take vpon him če cure & če gouernale of očere. 5 And so after če forseid processe, first it behoueč čat in če first part of actif life mannus soule be purget of vices & strenghed & conforted in vertues. After čat it be enfourmede tauht & lihtnede in contemplatif life, & čan in če čridde degre may he sikurly go out to gouernaile & profite of očer, as it is 10 seide. Vpon čis forseid processe of Bonauenture, so shortly touchede'. he aleggeč after many auctoritees of seynt Bernard fort preue alle če partes čereof, čat is to sey, če first of actife, če seconde contemplatif, & če čridde čat is če seconde of 15 Actif life, če which we passe ouere with gret proce sse of contemplacion & many auctoritees of seynt Bernard. For fewe čere bene če more harme is awčere in state of contemplatif life touchyng če seconde poynt beforeseide, or in če state of perfite actif life, touching če čridde poynt'. čat comen to hir 20 astate by če trewe wey čat is declarede before. And čis is če cause čat in čis tyme many čer bene boče men & women in če state of contemplatif life, as specyaly ankeres & recluses or hermytes čat witen litel as in effecte trewly what contemplatif life is by defaut of exercise in actife lif as it is before seide. 25 And čerfore it is ful perilous & ful dredeful to be in astate of perfection & haue a name of holynes'. as hauen specialy čees Recluses, bot če lyuyng & če gostly exercise of hem be acordyng čerto. For seynt Gregory seič, čat čere bene many čat fleen 30 occupacion of če worlde & taken hem to rest, bot čerwič čei bene not occupiede with vertues, & čerfore oft sičes it falleč, čat če more sikurly čat čei cese fro outwarde occupacion, če more largely čei gederen in to hem by ydulnesse |r[62r] če noyse of vnclene čouhtes. And so of euery siche soule čat spendeč 35 hir tyme in ydulnes & slouče, spekeč če prophete Jeremye in his lamentacions in čis manere, viderunt illam hostes & deriserunt sabbata eius, čat is to sey, če wikked spirites enemyes of mankynde, seyng & takyng hede of če lyuyng of siche an ydul soule'. laghen to scorn hir daies of rest. For in 40 čat she is ferre fro outwarde occupacion & čereby is trowede to serue god in holinesse'. in so miche she serueč če tirantry of čo wikked spirites in ydulnes. Also če same holi Clerk seynt Gregory in če same boke after spekyng of čees tweyn lifes, actif & contemplatif, |p122 seič, čat mannus soule shold first b[e] wiped & made clene of če desire of temperele ioy & veyn glorye, & of al delectacion or likyng of fleshly lust & desire'. & čen may he be lift vp to če siht & degre of contemplacion. In figure & token hereof, 5 when god ¨af Moises če lawe'. če comune peple was forbeden to neihe če hille. In tokene čat čei čat bene of weike wille & desiren erčly činges'. shold not presume to clymbe vp to hye činges of contemplacion. And forčermore declaryng how čei shal preue hem self 10 able čat wole go to contemplatif lyfe seič, čat first it behoueč čat čei preue hem self by excercise of vertues in če feelde of worching, čat is to sey, čat čei knowe hem self bisily, if čei done none harme to hir neihborgh & if čei bere paciently harmes & wronges done to hem of očer men. Also if čei haue 15 no gladnesse in herte or likyng when temperele godes fallen to hem, & a¨eynwarde if čei be not to heuy or sory, when čei bene wičdrawen. Also if čei felene in hir mynde če loue of spirituel činges so mihty, čat it ouercomeč & putteč out of hir herte če affeccion & ymaginacion of al erčly činges, & so in 20 čat čei coueytene to come to čat činge čat is aboue hir kynde'. čei ouercomen čat čat čei bene by kynde. Al čis seič gregory. Hereto acordyng seynt bernarde & alle očer doctours generaly'. seyen čat who so wole go dewly to contemplatif life'. it behoueč čat he be first preued in exercise of actif life. In 25 figure whereof is alegged comunely če storye of če tweyn douhteres of Laban če whech Jacob toke to hees wifes, čat weren cleped, če eldre |r[62v] Lya, čat was sore eyede, bot plentyuous in beryng children, by whom is tokened actif life. če ¨onger was Rachel, faire & louelich bot bareyn, & by her 30 is tokened contemplatif life. And čouh it so were čat Jacob loued better Rachel čen Lya & couaited first to haue hade hir to wife for his vij ¨ere seruice'. neuere lese he was made to take first če eldre Lia. In token čat actif lif shuld be before contemplatif as it is seid, & čis story is pleynly treted in many 35 places to čis purpose, & čerfore we passe ouere so shortly. De vita actiua & contemplatiua. |r BOt fort speke of če maner of lyuyng in čese tweyn lifes actif & contemplatif in special, & namelich of actif čat stant in so many degres, as of seculeres & religiouse & lerede |p123 & lewede, it were hard & wolde ask longe processe, & also as it semeč it nedeč not. For če generale exercise of actif life, as it longeč first to a man him self, čat is in fihtyng a¨eynus vices, & bisy in 5 getyng of vertues. And also after as it longeč to hese euen cristien, čat is in fulfillyng of če dedes of mercy, & almesdedes doyng of hem čat haue abundance of temperele godes'. in euery degre, is writen sufficiently as I hope, & čerfore I leue to speke more of čis matere at čis tyme. 10 Saue to make an ende acordyng to če byginnyng of če mater before seid in če gospel of čese tweyn sisteres Martha & Marie by če whech bene vndurstonde čees tweyn lifes actif & contemplatif as it is seide. First čei čat bene in actif life, hauen ensaumple in 15 Martha of čat vertue čat is souereynly nedeful to hem in alle hir dedes čat is charite, & first as to hem self čat čei be without dedely sinne, for elles Jesus wole not duelle in hir house, nor accept hir seruyce. Also as to očer, čat čei deme not nor despise očer če whech perauenture done not so many 20 vertuese dedes as to mannus siht as čei done. For čei mowe not knowe če priue domes of oure lord Jesu, čat accepted more pleysingly & preferrede če pryue contemplacion of Marie, čat satte at hese fete in silence, as she hade be ydul'. before alle če gret bisy seruyce of Martha, and čat was for če 25 feruent loue čat she hade in contemplacion of him, and ¨it was če seruice & če bisynesse of Martha ful pleisinge to Jesu & medeful to hir, as actif life is gude, bot contemplatif bettur. And so forčermore |r[63r] it is to note, čat not wičstandyng če grete commendacion of oure lord Jesu touching Marie & če 30 preferryng of hir part, Martha grucched not of hir part, bot continued forč in hir manere lyuyng, seruyng customably to Jesu & hese disciples, as John witnesseč after in his gospel. In token čat he čat is called to god & stant in če state of actif life, hald him paied & gruch not, čouh contemplatif life be 35 commendet before his astate. For how so euere it stande of čese tweyn astates & degrees of lyuyng'. god wote al only who shal be before očere in če blisse of heuen, of če persones in čees astates. And čus miche be seide as touching če part of Martha, 40 & of actif life tokened by hir. Forčermore touching contemplatif life, he čat is in čat state, hač ensaumple in Marie of čre činges čat nedeč souereynly to čat astate, čat bene mekenes, pacience & silence. |p124 First mekenes is tokenet in če lowe sittyng of Marie, at če fete of oure lord Jesu'. & bot čis gronde be trewly sette in če herte of him čat is in čis degre of contemplacion, čat is to sey čat he presume not of his owne holynesse, bot čat he 5 despise him self trewly in his owne siht as it is seide before in diuerse places, what longeč to mekenes'. sočely elles alle his byldyng of contemplacion be hit neuer so hye wole not stande stedfastly bot sone at a lytel wynde of aduersite falle to nouht. če seconde vertue acordyng hereto is pacience, in 10 suffryng fals demynges, skornynges & reprouynges of če world čat he shal suffre čat fully forsakeč & despiseč če world as it nedeč to če trewe contemplatife, committyng alwey by pacience in herte, his cause to his aduoket Jesu, without answere reprouyng a¨eyn as Marie dide, when če pharisee 15 demede & reproued hir. Also hir sistere pleyned vpon hir'. & če disciple hade indignacion & grucched a¨eynus hir. Bot in alle čese she kept silence, čat is če čridde vertue nedful to če contemplatife, & so ferforč she ¨afe ensaumple of silence čat we finde not in alle če gospel čat she spake before če 20 resurrexione of oure lorde saue ones, by a short word at če reisiug of hir bročer Lazare, not wičstandyng če grete loue čat oure lord Jesu shewed to hir, & če grete likyng čat she hade in če wordes & |r[63v] če holi doctrine of him, čat shold stir hir by reson če more boldly to speke. 25  And whoso coueiteč to knowe če fruyte of vertuese silence, if he haue affeccion & wille to trewe contemplatif lyuyng'. without doute he shal be bettur tauht by experience, čen by writyng or teching of man, & neuerles seynt bernard, & many očere holi fadres & doctours comenden hyely vertuese 30 silence as it is worči. Whereof & očer vertuese exercise čat longeč to contemplatif lyuyng, & specialy to a recluse, & also of medelet life, čat is to sey sumtyme actife & sumtyme contemplatif, as it longeč to diuerse persones čat in worldly 35 astate hauen grace of gostly loue'. who so wole more pleynly b[e] enfourmed & tauht in english tonge'. lete him loke če tretees čat če worči clerk & holi lyuere Maister Walter Hilton če Chanon of Thurgarton wrote in english by grete grace & hye discrecion'. & he shal fynde čere as I leue a sufficient 40 scole & a trew of alle čees. Whos saule rest in euerlastyng pese'. as I hope he be ful hye in blisse, ioynede & knyt without departyng to his spouse Jesu, by perfite vse of če best part čat he chase here with Marie. Of če which part he graunt vs felawchipe'. Jesus oure lord god, Amen. |p125 Of če reising of Lazare & očere tweyn dede bodies. Capitulum xxxiiij. |r Among alle če myracles čat oure lord Jesus crist wrouht here in erče, če reisyng of Lazare principaly is 5 comendet & souerenly is to be consideret, not onely for če souereyn miracle itself, bot also for many notable činges čat befelle in čat myracle & diuerse misteries, če whech seynt Austyn clergialy treteč, by longe processe vpon če self gospel. Of če whiche sumwhat I shal touche in partye, & more ouer 10 as če grace of oure lord Jesu wele sende wit pertynyng to če purpose.  And for als miche as če gospel makeč mynde of čre dede bodies reised by oure lord Jesu fro deč to life'. of če which tweyn če first, bene not spoken of specialy in čis trete 15 before'. čerfore it semeč conuenient to čis purpose sumwhat touche of hem now in čis place as če forseid seynt Austin doč.  And first we shole vndurstande & haue in mynde, čat as če dedes of oure lord Jesu after his manhede bene ensaumple to vs fort folowe him, as in mekenes, pouerte, 20 pacience |r[64r] & očere vertues'. so in hese miracles done by vertue of če godhede we shole not desire to folowe him fort do as he dide'. bot we shole wirchipe him as almi¨ty god in čat partye, & more ouere coueyt fort vudirstande če gostly meynyng of hem, how čo miracles done čan bodily & in 25 bodies, bene now done oft sičes gostly in mennus soules. And so as seynt Austyne seič, by čo čre bodies če whech oure lord Jesus reised fro deč to life bodily'. ben vndurstande čre maner of dede soules, če whech čorh his speciale grace he reiseč euery day to euerlastyng lif gostly. For as če gospel makeč 30 mynde, he reised če douhter of če maister of če temple, čat lay dede in če house, by whom is vndurstande dedely sinne onely in assent, without če fulfillyng čerof in dede. Also he reised če widowes sone born dede on če bere without če ¨ates of če cite, by whom is vndurstande dedely sinne withoutforč 35 parfourmet in dede. And če čridde dede body he reised čat was Lazare biryed & foure daies dede, by whom is tokenet dedely sinne in custome. For if we take gude hede & vndurstande čat sinne is deč of če soule'. we mowe fynde čat če soule is dede gostly & slayn čorh sinne in čees čre 40 maneres. First by full assent of wille to do čat is forbeden of god, onely within forč in če soule, without če dede čerof withoutforč. As by ensaumple of lecherye čat is forbeden, what tyme as oure lord seič in če gospel, čat a man seeč a |p126 woman lustily to čat ende fort haue to do with hir fleshly, & fully assenteč čerto in his wille'. čouh če dede folowe not after'. he is aconted as a lechour in his herte, & so is his soule slayn gostly čorh čat assent, & ded in goddus siht. 5  And čis maner of gostly deč is vndurstande by čat first dede bodye čat oure lorde Jesus reised in če house, čat was če douhter of če prince of če sinagoge or če maister of če temple as it is seid before.  Of whom če gospel telleč, čat he came to oure lord 10 Jesu preyng him čat he wold come to his house & hele his douhter čat lay seeke čerinne. And as oure lord čat of his grete grace & endles gudenes was euer redy to help & hele al čoo čat asked him trewely, was goyng with him toward his house, |r[64v] čere came worde to če forseid prince čat his douhter 15 was dede, & čerfore čei beden him, čat he shold not make če maister čat is Jesus trauaile in veyne, for čei trowede wele čat he was of miht to hele če seke, bot not to reise če dede. Neuerles oure lord Jesus letted not for hir mysbyleue nor for hir scornyng to do his grace, bot bade če fadere čat he shuld 20 not drede bot onely byleue. And when he came to his house, & fonde čere, after hir custome many wepyng & mourneful minstralsye, & očer aray, for če exequyes'. he seid to hem, wepeč not, for če wench is not dede bot slepič, & čan čei scorned him, for čei vndurstode not what he mened. For čouh 25 she was dede as to hem'. neuerles to him čat was of miht to reise hir & make hir to lyue'. she dide bot slept. And čan puttyug out alle čat were in če house saue če fadere & če modere, & če čre apostles, Petur, James & John, oure lord Jesus bad če wenche rise, & anone she rose vp fro deč to life, 30 & after ete & was al hole. čis is če processe of če gospel, after če vndurstandyng of če letter. In če which we mowe gostly vndurstonde first čat as oure lord god čan reised bodily če douhter at če praiere & by če feič of če fadere'. so he reiseč nowe oft sičes gostly 35 dede soules by sinne to life of grace, čorh če preching & preyinge of holi men, & če feič of holi chirch. And as oure lord Jesus spared not for mysbyleue & scornyng of očer, to help him čat asked his grace'. so shold not men spare to profite to očer soules & namely men of holi chirch spare to preche 40 goddus worde whan it longeč to hir office, in to reisyng of dede soules to gostly life, čouh sume men scorn hem or reproue hem čerfore. For as seynt Austin seič it falleč al day, čat a man čat is gostly dede by ful assent in his herte to dedely sinne, by če preching of goddus worde, is compuncte |p127 in his herte čerof čorh grace, as čei he herd oure lorde bidde him rise. And so is he reised in his soule by repentance fro deč to life, at it were in če house, or čat he be born without by če dede more ouere of čat sinne. And čis is če first manere 5 of dedely sinne, & lihtest forto rise out čereof čorh grace, čat is betokenet by če first dede bodie reised of Jesu |r[65r] in če house as it is seide. Bot neuerles čis manere of dedely synne čat is onely in assent, is moste perilouse if it longe abide, & specialy if it 10 be gostly, as hye pride or enuy. For as seynt Gregory seič, čat sumtyme it is more greuous sinne in goddus siht, pride by deliberacion in herte'. čen is če dede of lecherye, & ¨it alday čat one is gretly charget, čat is to sey lecherye, bot čat očere seldom or litel, & čerfore bene many men here deceyuet. Bot 15 now passe we here ouere. Of če reisyng of če seconde dede body, is writen in če gospel, of seynt Luke, how what tyme oure lord Jesus came to a Cite čat was clepede Naym & hese disciples with him & mikel peple'. he mette at če ¨ate of če Cite a dede body born 20 on a bere, čat was če al one son of a wydowe čat came with če corse & mikel folk of če cite with hir. And čan oure lord hauyng pite, of če grete sorow of če widowe, & meuede čorh his endles mercy'. bade hir čat she shold not wepe, & čan [ne¨hyng] & touchyng če bere, & čerwič čei čat berene it 25 standyng stille'. he spake to če dede body in čees wordes, čow ¨onge man I say to če arise vp, & anone he rose fro deč to lyfe, & went on hees fete, & bygan to speke, & so he betoke him to his modere alyfe. čis is če processe of če forseid gospel. 30 A lord Jesu mikel is či mercy shewed to sinful men, če which as čou reisedest čat dede body born out toward birying without praiere made to če before, onely stiryng če čyne endeles gudnesse & pite'. so čou reisest alday gostly hem čat ben dede in soule, by gret sinnes perfourmede in dede, as by 35 če dede of lecherie, glotenye & očere gret sinnes fleshly & gostly, ¨iuyng či grace oft sičes before or čou be praiede or souht by any desert, čorh če which sinful men bene stirede to repentance & forsakyng of sinne, & so by shrift & penance doyng after če lawes of holy chirch, čei bene reised gostly to 40 lif of grace, čat first were dede by sinne perfourmede in dede. And if it so be čat čis sinne be opunly knowen, in to yuel ensaumple of očere & sklaundre'. čen is it nede of opune penance as holi chirch hač ordeynet, after čat oure lord Jesus ¨af ensaumple in čat opene reising of če forseid dede body, |p128 čat was opunly born dede |r[65v] on če bere wič out forč in siht of če peple. |r BOt now as to oure principale purpose fort speke of če reising of če črid dede body, čat is to sey Lazare foure daies 5 dede. For als miche as in čis processe bene continede many faire & gret notable činges'. čerfore we shole here more specialy gedere in oure entent, & make vs by ymaginacion, as čei we were present in bodily conuersacion not onely with oure lord Jesu & hees disciples'. bot also with čat blessede & 10 deuout meyne, čat is to sey, Martha, Marie & Lazare, čat was specialy belouede of oure lord Jesu, as če gospel witneseč. And first we shole vndirstande & haue in mynde, če processe of če nekst chapitre before čis, how vpon a tyme when oure lord Jesus walked in če temple, čat is to sey in čat place čat 15 was clepede salomonus porche, in če feste of če dedicacion of če temple'. če Jues comen about him, as rauyshing wolfes or wode dogges, with grete ire grennyng vp on him & seying in čees maner wordes, how longe wolt čou make vs in suspense & in dwere in oure he rtes what čou art. Ifčou be crist'. telle 20 vs opunly. čis čei seyden by fals & malicious entent to čat ende čat if he hade opunly knowlechede čat he was crist, čat is to sey anoynted kynge'. čen fort haue taken him & accusede him as traitour to Cesar če emperour of Rome. Bot čerfore oure lord Jesus knowyng hir fals ymaginacion, temperede 25 wisly his answere, & as an innocent lambe among so many trecherouse wolfes, soburly & mekely seid to hem a¨eyn, I speke to ¨owe & ¨e leue me not, bot če werkes čat I do in če name of my fadere'. čo beren witnese of me what I am. And after more ouer when he seide, I & my fadere arne alone, čei 30 token vp stones fort haue stonede him as blasfeme, makyng him self god. And forčermore when oure lord hade concludet hem in čat party by reson & auctorite of holi writte, čat čei miht not a¨eyn seye, & čei not withstandyng his resonable & meke 35 answere, & so gudely wordes, continueden & encreseden in hir malice. For als miche as če tyme of his passion was not ¨it comene & fort ¨iue ensaumple of pacience, & of ¨iuyng stede to |r[66r] rennyng wodenesse'. he wičdrowe him out of hir handes, & went wič hese disciples by ¨onde Jordane, in to čat place 40 where John baptist first baptizede, aboute xviij Mile fro Jerusalem, & čere he dwellede awhile with hees disciples. And in čat tyme sone after as če gospel telleč nowe to oure purpose'. Lazare če bročer of Martha & Marie before |p129 seide waxed sore seke, & anone če tweyn sistres senden worde to Jesu where he was in čat forseide place by ¨onde Jordane seying to him in čis manere Lo lord he čat čou louest čat is lazare, is sore seke. And čei seiden no more. For als miche as 5 hem čouht čat čat sufficced to him čat louede & wist what čei menede. And also perauenture, for čei knowyng če malice of če Jues a¨eynus him in to his deč, & how a litel before čei wolde haue stenede him'. čei durst not clepe him to hem, bot committede alle to his wille. And čan Jesus answerede & seide 10 to hem čis infirmite is not to deč'. bot for če louyng of god čat goddus son be glorified čerby. če gospel telleč čat he seide čees wordes to hem, bot it specifieč not to whame, for če sistres čat senden to him were not čat tyme present, bot a grete wey fro him as it is seide. 15 Neuerles we mowe vndurstande as by če processe, čat he answered to hem in čees wordes by če messagere, or elles seid so to hese disciples, or to boče, as it is most lykly. A lorde what conforte was čis to če sistres, when čei hardene of če messagere čese wordes, čat Jesus seide, čis 20 infirmite is not to deč, vndurstandyng perantere by hem, čat hir bročer shold not dye bodily by čat infirmite. Bot what disconfort was it to hem aftur whan he was dede & biriede, not vndurstandyng čat oure lord menede of čat gloriouse reisyng čat folowede after, nor trowyng čan čat it sholde haue 25 falle. Neuerles čat disconfort for če tyme'. was after turnede in to more confort čen čei desirede first by čat čei wolde haue hade him preseruede fro če deč, & helede of his infirmite by oure lord Jesus. čus it falleč oft sičes with hem čat god loueč & bene 30 in tribulacion or disese, |r[66v] oure lord graunteč hem not čat confort čat čei asken & desirene'. bot suffreč hem as for če tyme to be in despeire of hir desire. And after when his wille is, he fulfilleč hir desire better čen čei wolde first, & turneč hir disconfort in to more confort čan čei wolde haue ymagined 35 or čouht. Forčermore as to če processe of če gospel, after oure lord Jesus was certifiede of če seke lazare, & hade answerede as it is seide, he duelled stille in če forseide place tweyn dayes, & after he seide to hese disciples, Go we a¨eyne in to 40 če Jewery, & čei aferde of čis worde seiden to him, Maister riht nowe če Jues wolden haue stenede če čere, & now wolt čou go čidere a¨eyn? & čen Jesus answered, Be čere not xij houres of če day? as who seič, whi be ¨e aferd supposyng čat če Jues continuen in hir malice? Wit ¨e not wele čat as oft |p130 sičes, as če houres changen on če day'. so oft mannus herte & purpose varieč & changeč? Bot če gostly menyng of čese wordes as seynt Austin expowneč is čis, Oure lord vndurstandyng him self as če day, & hees xij disciples, as xij 5 houres of če day, reprehendet hir misbyleue, & hir vnresonable drede of his deč čat was in his wille, čat čei wold ¨iue conseil to him, as men to god, disciples to če maister, če seruantes to hir lorde, & če feble & seke to him čat was souereyn leche. Wherfore in manere blamyng hem, oure lord seid to hem in 10 čis maner sentence, Are čere not xij houres ofče day, who so walkeč in če day'. he offendeč not, or erreč not. Foloweč ¨e me if ¨e wol not erre, & wole ¨e not ¨iue conseil to me, sičen it is nede to ¨ow to take conseil of me. And čerfore sičen it so is čat I am če day, & ¨e če houres'. by kyndly reson če houres 15 folowen če day, & not če day če houres'. foloweč ¨e me & čat if ¨e wil not offende or erre. And after čis oure lord Jesus knowyng in spirite čat lazare was dede'. seid to hem, Lazare oure frende slepeč bot I wole go fort wake him & reise him fro slepe. And čen če 20 disciples vndurstandyng fleshly čo wordes of kyndly slepe'. seiden, Sir if he slepe'. hit is a token čat he shal be hole & safe of his sekenes. For comunely by wey of kynde, slepe of sekemen |r[67r] is token of hele aftur folowyng. Bot Jesus menede of his deč. And so here we mowe se če gret homelynes of 25 oure lord with hees disciples, čat as in maner of bouredyng spake with hem here. Bot after declaring to hem opunly, čat he spake first mistily'. seide, Lazare is dede, & I am glad for ¨owe, čat čereby ¨oure byleue may be encresed & strenghede, knowyng čat I was not čere in tyme of his deth, & so če 30 račere byliuyng čat I am goddus sone.  Forčermore leuyng many wordes of če gospel, & takyng čat semeč most notable to oure edificacion'. after when oure lorde Jesus with hese disciples turnede a¨eyne toward bethanye, & če tweyn sistres hadden worde of his comyng, 35 Martha anone went a¨eynus him, bot Marie satte stille at home til after čat she was cleped forč by če biddyng of Jesus. And so it semeč by čees wordes, so specialy after če letter tellyng howe čese tweyn sistres Martha & Maria, diuersely hadden hem as anentes Jesu'. čat če holi euangelist John menede 40 gostly here as he doč in očere places, če diuerse condiciones čat longen to hem, čat bene in čese tweyn astates, čat is to sey of actife life & contemplatif life. For it is no doute bot čat Marie louede Jesus als mikel as hir sistere Martha or more, & was als glad of his comyng & als sory was of hir bročer deth |p131 & als feruently desirede his life. Whi čen went she not anone with hir sistre out a¨eynus Jesu? Bot in figure & for ensaumple, čat čei čat bene in če state of contemplatif life, shole not take vpon hem bodily exercise of če dedes of mercy, 5 as fort go out to visite če seke, or hem čat bene in prison, or to fede če hungry or cleč če naked, & so forč of očer, or elles fort preche or teche, or to minystre sacramentes of holy chirch'. bot it so be, čat čei bene cleped out čereto, by če biddyng & če auctorite of holi chirch in Jesu name gostly as Marie was 10 bodily.  Sittyng čen Marie at home as it is seide & Martha goyng out'. what tyme she met with Jesu'. she felle done at hese fete & seide, Lord if čou haddest ben here'. my bročer hade not be dede, neuerles & nowe I wote wele čat what so 15 euer čou askeste of god'. god wole ¨if it če, she dorst not |r[67v] sey vtturly čat she desirede inwardly, seying as čus, now reise my bročere fro deč to life'. for she wist not whečire it were expedient čat hir bročere shuld be reised, or whečer it were Jesus wille, and čerfore she sette hir wordes discretly in čis 20 maner of menyng, Lord I wote wele čou maist reise him, & čerfore if čou wolt'. it sal be done, bot whečer čou wolt or nouht'. I committe it to či dome, & not to my presumptione. čan seide Jesus to hire, čat hir bročer shold ryse fro deč to life, so in generale wordes, čat miht be taken in tweyn 25 maneres, fort preue hir byleue of če finale resurrexion, not specifiyng whečer he wolde reise him at čat tyme or none. And čerfore Martha takyng čat part čat she was siker of after če byleue, seide, čat she wist wele čat he shold rise in generale resurrexion, at če last day of dome. And forčermore 30 at če askyng of oure lorde, whečer she byleuede, čat he seide of himself, čat he was resurrexion & life, & of euerlastyng lif of alle hem, čat byleuede sočfastly in him'. she answerede finaly čus, I byleued čat čou art criste goddus son čot art come in to čis world for mannus sauacion. And čan at če 35 biddyng of Jesus, she went home & clepede Marie hir sistere in silence, čat is to sey in soft spekyng, seying to hir, Oure maistre is comen & clepeč če to him, & anone she rose vp & went to him. Lo how expressly here also is tokened gostly what longeč to če contemplatife, čat is to sey, first in pees & 40 rest silence & soft spech, & not loude cryinge or gret noyse as če world vseč. And forčermore what tyme čat oure lord clepeč him out by obedience to cure & gouernaile of očere as in če office of prelacie'. čat čen by ensaumple of Marie anone he rise by applying of his wille to goddus wille, loue he neuer so |p132 mykil rest, or haue he neuer so mykil likyng in swete contemplacion, čat is to vndurstande, what tyme čat he is cleped so vtturly, čat if he withstode he shold synne dedely by inobedience. 5 Forčermore we mowe se by če processe of če gospel, če speciale loue & homelynes čat oure lord Jesus hade souereynly to Marie in čat he abode stille čere as Martha first mette with him, & wolde nouht do as to če reisyng of Lazare in to |r[68r] tyme čat Marie was comen. And čen when she was 10 come & fallyng done at Jesus fete & with sore wepyng teres, hadde seide as hir sistere dide before, čat if he had be čere hir bročere hade not ben dede'. oure lorde Jesus seynge hir wepe, čat he loued so specialy, & also če Jues wepyng čat čere were at čat tyme, & were comen to confort Marie'. he wept also, & 15 čat for čre causes, first for če loue čat he hadde to Marie specialy & to hir sistere & to Lazare. Also to shewe če greuoustye of sinne in custome, & of če gostly deth čerečorh, čat is tokened in Lazare foure dayes dede & biriede, & če čridde for če misbyleue of hem čat čere were, če whech 20 beleued čat he miht haue kept him fro deč, bot not čat he miht čen reise him to life a¨eyn. Who so wole čan here inwardly take hede & beholde how oure lord Jesus wepeč, če sistres wepen, če Jues wepen, ¨e & as reson telleč če disciples wepene'. skilfully he may be 25 stired to compassion & wepyng, at če leste inwardly in hert namely for synne in custome, čat is so harde to ouercome, & to rise out of, as oure lord Jesus shewed in gostly vndurstandyng, by če gret difficulte čat he made as in wepyng & in maner of turblyng himself, & čat tweyn tymes wroč & 30 grucching in spirite before čat he reised Lazare, by whome is vndurstand sinne in custome, as it is oft seide, ¨iuyng ensaumple as seynt Austyn seič, čat čou čat art ouerleyde with če heuy stone of dedely sinne'. be wroč & grucche in spirite & turble či self in čis maner, demyng či self gilty, & čenkyng 35 how oft čou hast sinned, worčy euere lastyng deč, & god of his endles mercy hač spared če & suffrede če. How oft čou hast herde če gospel forbedyng sinne, & čou hast taken none rewarde, bot art continuely contrarie & fals to či first baptisme, & čen so čenkyng with compunccion for či sinne, 40 & as in maner askyng in či herte, What shal I do? Whydere sal I go? In what maner sal I askape čis grete sinne & dredful perile of euerlastyng deth? Whan čou seyst čus in či herte čan criste gruccheč in če, for feič gruccheč, & if feith |r[68v] be in vs, čan is crist in vs, & so in čis manere of grucchyng'. is hope of |p133 vprisyng. For after čis wepyng & turblyng as če processe of če gospel telleč, oure lorde Jesus asked where čei hadden put Lazare, not for vnknowyng, bot spekyng in manere of man & in tokennyng gostly of a straungenes of his grace, to hem čat 5 bene ouerleide with dedely sinne for če tyme. Neuerles he hač alwey compassion of če sinfulle, & his mercy is redy to alle čat wole trewly aske it, for after he hade asked where čei hadde putte him, & čei seide a¨eyne, Lord come & se'. čen he wept, & če Jues čat čere weren, seide La howe he louede him, 10 & so he shewede če affeccion čat he hač to če sinfulle, as he seič in če gospel, I came not to clepe če riht wise, bot če synneres to penance. Bot now go we to če graue of lazare, folowyng oure lord Jesu with alle čat meyne, čat is to sey, če tweyn sistres 15 Martha & Marie & če apostles, & če Jues many čat weren čere čat tyme, to confort če sistres, & as oure lord wolde to se & bere witnesse of čat solempne & worči myracle & so we mowe se by deuout ymaginacion how oure lord Jesus goč before bytwix čo tweyn sistres, talkyng homely with hem & 20 čei with him, shewyng to him če grete disconfort & sorow čat čei hadde of hir bročer deč, & specialy for als mykel, as čei durst not bidde him come to helpe hem & kepe him fro deč for drede of če malice of če Jues, čat čei knewen hade conspirede in to his deč, & how čei were hiely confortede čan 25 of his blessed presence. Bot neuerles čerewič čei hadden gret drede of him by cause of če Jues, & čen how oure lorde benyngly confortede hem a¨eyn, & badde hem not drede of him, for alle shold be for če best, & at če fadere wille. And so talkyng to gedir'. čei come to če graue, čat was keuerede with 30 a grete stone abouene, čan badde oure lord Jesus čat čei shold take awey če stone, & čei abashede for če grete tendur loue čat čei hade to him, dredyng če horriblete & če stinke of čat carione čat it shold ouht offende him, seiden, Lord now he stinkeč |r[69r] for he is foure daies dede, shewyng čerby čat čei 35 hade none hope of his lyuyng a¨eyn. Bot oure lord a¨eynwarde, confortyng hir byleue, & makynge če stone taken awey'. afterwarde liftyng vp hese eyene to heuen seide, Fadere I thonke če, for čou hast herde me, & sočely I wote wele čat čou herest me euer, bot I sey čis, for če peple čat here stant 40 čat čei beleue čat čou hast sende me. And when he hadde seide čus'. he criede with a gret voice, Lazare come out of či graue. A lord Jesu, what nede was če to cry? Sočely as seynt Austin seič, to shew in gostly vndurstandyng, how harde it is |p134 to him fort rise to life of soule, čat is ouerlayde with če stone of dedely sinne in custome. How many bene čere seič seynt Austin, in čis peple, če whech bene ouerleide with čis heuy birthene of wikkede 5 custome, perauenture sume heren me, čat bene ouercomen with Lechery, or Glotenye čat če apostle forbedeč hem where he seič čus, Wille ¨e not be drunken with wyne in če which is lecherye. And čei seyn a¨eyn, We mow not, & so forč of očere grete misdedes & wikkednesses čat god forbedeč & holi 10 chirch. When it is seide to hem, doč none of čese lest ¨e perish'. čei answeren & seyn, we mowe not leue oure custome. A lord Jesu reise čese folk as čou reisede Lazare, for čou art sočely as čou seyst resurrexion or vprisyng & life. How heuyly čis stone of wikked custome ouerleič men 15 in alle degres, not onely lered & lewede seculeres, bot also religious nyheby in alle astates'. whoso wole speke a¨eynus hir wikked customes, he sal knowe sočely by experience, & čat čere is no remedye bot onely Jesu. A lord Jesu crye to alle čese menne with a gret voice, 20 čat is to sey, shewe či miht & reise hem to life of grace, puttyng awey čat heuy stone of wikked custome, as čou reised Lazare, for after či crye & at či biddyng he rose vp & went out of his graue, bot ¨it bonden handes & feet til he was lesed & vnbonden by či disciples at či biddyng. 25 čis is a gret wondur as seynt Austin seič, to many men how he miht go out of če Graue with hese fete |r[69v] bonden'. bot it is miche more wondur how he rose fro deč to life čat was foure dayes byriede & with čat body of a stynkyng kareyne. Bot what tokeneč alle čis seič seynt Austin? Sočely čis it 30 tokeneč. When čou doyst a gret sinne by contempte'. čou art gostly dede, & if čou contynuest customably čereinne'. čan art čou dede & byriede. And when čou forčenkest withinforč, & shryuest če & knowlechest či sinne withoutforč'. čen risest čou & goste out of či graue, for it is nouht elles to sey, go forč 35 out, bot shewe & make knowen outwarde, čat is priue withinforč. And čis knowleching & shewyng of sinne, makeč onelich god, crying with a grete voice, čat is to sey with his grete grace clepyng. Bot ¨it čouh he čat was dede be reised & gone out of 40 his graue'. neuerles he duelleč bonden, čat is to sey gilty, in to tyme čat he be lesede & vnbonden by goddus ministres, to whom onely he ¨af čat powere, seying čus to hem, Alle čat ¨e vnbynde in erth'. sal be vnbonden in heuen. Alle čis seič seynt Austin in sentence. |p135 In če which we mowe se opunly a sufficient auctorite a¨eynus hem čat repreuene confession ordeynet by holi chirch, & also če assoylyng of curates, seying falsly čat it is ynowh generaly to euery man, fort shryue him onely in his herte, to 5 godde. And čat prestes or curates of holi chirch haue no more powere to assoile of synnes, čan anoyčer comene man, bot čat god alonly assoileč, & none očere in his name. Bot nowe leuyng čees fals opiniones, & goyng to če ende of oure forseid processe'. what tyme čat Lazare was 10 reised to lif by oure lorde Jesus'. as it is seide & aftur vnbonden by hees disciples'. he & hese sistres wič gret ioy lowely čonkeden Jesus of čat souereyn benfete & ladden him with hem home to hir house makyng mykel mirth. And čen če Jewes čat čere weren wondryng hyely of čat grete myracle'. 15 sume turnede in byleue to Jesu, & sume ¨eden & tolden če pharisees čat Jesus hadde done, & so was it publyshede & opunly knowen. In so miche čat gret multitude of Jerusalem & če cuntrey čere aboute, comen to se Lazare čat was reisede, & čan were če princes of če Jewes & če pharisees |r[70r] alle 20 confusede, & čouhten & kastene fort sle Lazare, by cause čat čorh him many weren conuertede to Jesu. Now čen fort make a conclusion of alle če processe before seide of če čre dede bodies reised by oure lord Jesu'. seynt Austin seič in čis sentence, Alle čese forseid činges we 25 haue herde brečerne to čat ende'. čat čei čat lyuen gostly kepe hem in lyfe of grace, & čei čat bene dede'. rise vp in čis manere. First he čat hač sinnede dedely by assent in herte, & is not gone out by performyng čerof in dede'. amende him of čat čouht by repentance, & so rise he vp, čat was dede 30 withinne če house of his conscience. Also he čat hač performede in dede, čat he conceyuede dedely in čouht'. be he not in despeire, bot čouh he rose not withinforč'. rise he withoutforč, so čat he be not biriede & ouerleide with če heuy stone of wikked custome. 35 Bot forčermore, perauenture I speke to him če which is ouerleide with čat harde stone of hees wikked maneres & kombrede with če heuynesse of custome, & so is as foure daies dede & stinkeč'. ¨it despeire he not, for čouh he be depe dede & biriede'. crist Jesus is hye of miht, & can breke alle 40 erčly birthene, criyng čorh his gret grace, & makyng him to lyfe, first by him self withinforč, & after takyng him to hees disciples fort vnbynde him, & so fully restore him to gostly life, so čat čere sal leue no stinke of sinne in his soule gostly, |p136 nomore čen dide in Lazare, reisede bodily, čat he grant to alle čat hauen nede'. Jesus crist Amen. Hic pretermittuntur duo Capitul Bonauenture. How če Jues conseilede & conspirede a¨eynus Jesu in to 5 his deth. Capitulum xxxV=m=. |r Aftere če reisynge of Lazare before seide, when če tyme ney¨hede, in če which oure lorde Jesus disposede to wirke oure redemption, čorh če shedyng of his preciouse blode'. če deuele fadere of enuye, armede hees kny¨tes & 10 mynistres & whettede hir hertes a¨eynus oure lord Jesu, finaly in to his deč. And specialy by occasion of hese gude & vertuese wyrkyngis, bot souereynly for če reisyng of lazare, enuye kyndelet in hir hertes more & more, in so mykel čat čei miht no lengere |r[70v] bere hir wodenes without execucion čerof 15 a¨eynus Jesu. Wherefore če princes & pharisees gederet a conseil a¨eynus him, in če which consele Caiphas byshope of čat ¨ere, al čouh he menede wikkedly'. propheciede sočely čat Jesus shuld dye for sauacion of mankynde. And so haue we here opun ensaumple čat wikked men 20 & reprouede of god'. hauen sumtyme če ¨ift of prophecye. And so by comune assent čoo fals princes & pharisees in čat consele ordeynet vtturly to sle čat innocent lambe Jesu, & to čat ende, leste alle če peple shuld beleue & trowe in him, & čen če Romaynes as settyng hir lawe at nouht'. shuld come 25 & destruye boče hir temple & peple. A fooles & foly consele, haue ¨e not wryten of če wisman, čat čere is no wisdam nor consele a¨eynus god? And čerfore it sal falle in contrarye manere to ¨oure wikked entent, as it is nowe performede in dede. For čere as ¨e slewen Jesu, 30 lest če Romaynes shold destrue ¨our place & ¨our peple'. after befelle a¨eynwarde, čat for ¨e slewen Jesu'. ¨oure place & peple was destruyede by če Romanes, as če story telleč of destruccion of Jerusalem by Tite & Vespasiane. In če same manere it falleč oft sičes in worldes 35 wisdam, čat is contrarie to če wisdam of god. For oft sičes oure lord god turneč in to če best'. čat če worlde demeč as worst & to če worst. And specialy čere as enuye is gronde of čat entent of worldes wisdam, as it shewed opunly by a notable ensaumple in Joseph whom hese brečerne, by enuy |p137 after worldes wisdam'. soldene in to Egipte as to his vndoynge, for čei wolde not wirchipe him after his sweuen'. bot after it turnede in to če contrarie effecte, by goddus grace, for čat sellynge of him, was occasion & cause of his hye auansyng, 5 & hir lowe submission to him & wirchipyng. And so it befalleč alday as men mowe se prouede by experience in če worldes changyng. Bot nowe leuyng čis matire & turnyng to oure purpose of če forsiede fals & enuyous conseilyng'. oure lord Jesus 10 euerlastyng wisdam of če fadere of heuen, to whom may no činge be hidde'. knowyng čis malicious conspirynge of če Jewes a¨eynus him'. for als miche as his tyme was not fully come, in če which |r[71r] he disposede to suffre deč for mannus sauacion, & also to ¨iue ensaumple as it is seide in če nekst 15 chapitre before, to fle malice, čat it encrese not by duellyng'. he wičdrowe him for če tyme fro če Jewes & went in to a cuntre, byside deserte, in to a cite čat was cleped Effrem, where he duelled with hese disciples a litel while, čat is to say a seuen nyght. For as sume clerkes seyne, he reised Lazare če 20 friday before če passione soneday, when če same gospel is radde in holi chirch, & če setturday seuene niht after, he was come a¨eyn in to Bethanie as če processe folowyng declareč. How oure lorde Jesus came a¨eyn to Bethanye če saturday before Palmesoneday, & of če sopere made to him 25 čere, & of čoo činges done čeratte. Capitulum xxxvj=m=. OVure lord Jesus souereyn doctour & maister of al vertues not onely by worde techiug, bot also by ensaumple ¨iuyng'. riht as in če processe before seide to oure edificacion 30 he vsede če vertue of Prudence, in fleyng fro hees enmyes, & čereby shewyng čat we also sholeu wisely wičdrawe vs fro če wodenes of hem čat pursuene vs maliciously, čat is to sey, when če place & če tyme askeč'. so nowe he vsede če vertue of gostly strenghe in čis turnyng a¨eyne to hese enmyes, when 35 če dewe tyme was come in če which he wolde by his fre wille offre him to če passione, & strongly & myhtyly suffre če malice of hese pursueres in to če vtturest ende, čat was če harde deč. čus also an očere tyme he vsede temperance, what 40 tyme he flewe, eschewyng worldes wirchipe, when če peple |p138 wolde haue made him hir kynge'. & a¨eynwarde he vsed rihtwisnes, when he wolde be wirchipet as a kynge as it foloweč here aftur, what tyme če peple comen a¨eynus him, with branches of trene & očer manere of gret reuerence doyng 5 to him in če cite of Jerusalem. And forčermore souereynly he vsede čis rihtwisnes, after when he entrede in to če temple, & sharply reprouede če fals couaitise of preestes of če lawe & pharisees, & with a scourge drofe out če biggeres & če selleres of goddus temple. 10 And so vsede če lorde of vertues čese foure principale vertues, |r[71v] čat is to sey, prudence, & temperance, strengče & rihtwisnes, for oure doctrine & informacion in vertues. Wherfore as he shal not be supposede or demede as variant or inconstant'. no more sal none očer čat vseč čees 15 forseide vertues, after discrecion as diuerse cases askene. Bot leuyng čis matere, when oure lord Jesus, as it is seide, forto offre him to če passion in tyme ordeynet of him before če world, came a¨eyn to Bethanye, čat is to sey če sabbate nekst before palmes soneday, če which place is nyhe Jerusalem, as 20 aboute če space of tweyn myle'. čere čei maden him a sopere hees trewe bylouede frendes čat were ful glad of his a¨eyn comyng, & čat in če house of Symond leprose, čat hade čat name for čat he was sumtyme before leprose, bot not at čat tyme, for he was helede of oure lorde before. And čere at čat 25 sopere was čese homely gestes with Jesu, čat is to sey Lazare, Martha & Marie, hir sistre. And as John noteč specialy Martha seruede & Lazare satte at če borde with očere čat setene also with oure lorde. Bot Marie ful of brennyng loue to Jesu, & taht withinforč of če holi goste'. tuke a ful preciouse oynement 30 & shedde vp on his hede, & also anoyntyng his feet, of če which precious oynement če swete sauour filled alle če hous. Now let vs abide here awhile & take hede inwardly of če forseide notable poyntis, & first how oure lorde Jesus wolde haue čis sopere specialy in čat house of če forseid 35 Symonde čat was a pharisee, as it is seide before, & in whose hous čat self'. Marie anoyntede him with preciouse oynement, & with inwarde sorow & bitter teres of contricion, bot nowe more perfitely with vnspekable ioy & ful swete teres of deuocion, & čat knewe wele oure lorde before, & for čat one 40 skil he chase čat place at čat tyme, specialy for Maries sake as we mowe resonably suppose. For no doute čat she louede specialy čat place in če whiche she fonde first čat grete grace of for¨yuyng, of hir grete synnes as it is seid, & so it was |p139 more likyng to hir čere to do čat excellent dede of deuocion shewyng hir feruent loue to Jesu. Also he wolde haue čat sopere in Symondes house, |r[72r] knowyng his charite & trewe affeccion continuede to him & 5 to hees disciples, not withstandyng če frendely reprehension before bycause of Marie, & also for če more opun witnesse of če trewe reisyng of Lazare čat ete & dranke as očer dide in čat hous of če pharisee opunly & in presence of many Jewes čat comen at čat tyme čidere to se not onely him self Jesu'. bot 10 also Lazare as John specialy telleč. And so we mowe se at čat sopere & in čat house čees foure persones doyng to oure lord Jesu trewe seruyce in diuerse maneres, čat is to sey če maister of če house by charitable hospitalyte, Lazare by opun witnesse of his trewe 15 godhede, Martha by bisy mynistringe, as longeč to trewe actife life, & Marie by feruent loue & deuout wirchipyng, as longeč to hye contemplatif life. Bot on čat očere side we mowe se in contrarie manere, očere ¨iuyng occasion of offense to oure lord Jesu, by enuye, 20 fals coueitise, & wrongeful demyng, as enuyous Judas, čat fort coloure his fals coueitise, grucchyng as of losse of so miche money spendet in čat preciouse oynement, pretendet falsly če releuyng of pore men čereby, & seide čat it miht better haue bene solde for čre hundret penys & ¨iuene to hem čat nedet, 25 & očer also meuede by hees wordes bot očerwise & in gude entent as it semede for pore men'. grucchede & were gretly stirede a¨eynus Marie, as for so grete losse of čat preciouse oynement. Bot she kepyng silence, oure lorde answered for hir, as he dide tweyn tymes before, nowe reprehendyng hem & 30 declaring čat gude dede, euer to be hadde in mynde as in anoyntyng before of his body in to če birying čat folowede after. A lorde Jesu how soryfull & disconfortyng was čis worde, čat so opunly declared či deč'. to Marie specialy & to 35 alle očere trewe freendes čat čere weren, bot souereynly to či blessede modere. For os we may sočely byleue čat worde persede hir herte more sharply čen any swerde. And so čan was alle če mirče of čat feste turnede in to sorowe, & namely for als miche as čei knewen, čat če Jewes hade vtturly 40 conspirede in to his deč. Bot neuerlese |r[72v] čat fals traitour Judas continuede in his enuyous indignacion, & hereof he toke occasion to betraye him, & selle him, as he dide če wendesday nekst after for xxxti penys, whereof we shale speke here after. |p140 Here mowe we forčermore note specialy to oure purpose čat čei are of Judas parte čat reprehenden almesdede, offrynges & očere deuociones of če peple done to holi chirch, haldyng alle siche ¨iftes of deuocion bot foly, & seying čat it 5 were more nedeful & bettur, to be ¨iuen to pore men. O Judas čou čat pretendest with či mouth če releuyng of pore men, čere as sočely in če entent of či herte čat is grondet in enuye a¨eynus men of holi chirch'. it perteneč not to če of pore men'. bot račere čine owne fals coueitise in 10 excusacion of či nygunrye, čat hast none deuocione & nouht wilt ¨iue of čin owne gode. For experience opunly techeč, čat comunely alle sech Judas felawes bene als coueitous or more čen any očere, & čat sal he finde sočely in dede, who so hač to do with hem in one manere or očere. 15 We redene in če gospel of oure lord Jesu in diuerse places & specialy nowe here after, a¨eynus his passione čat he reprehendet sharply če scribes & če pharisees oft sičes namely of coueitise, bot we finde not čerfore, čat euer he bade če peple to wičdrawe auther dymes or offrynges or očer ¨iftes of 20 deuocione done to hem, bot a¨eynw arde badde hem alwey do hir dewtye after če lawe, & commendet hir fre deuocion in offrynges, as it is opunly shewede in če gospell of Marke & of Luke, when oure lord Jesus behelde how riche men putten hir ¨iftes or offrynges to če temple in to če arch čat was clept 25 tresourye, or a cofre, hauyng a hole abouene in maner of stokkes, čat bene now vsede in chirches, če which arch was clepede Gazophilacium, & amonge hem he sauhe a pore widowe offring tweyn minutes, če ferče part of a sicle, & čat was če substance of hir lyuelode. And čan oure lorde not 30 reprehendyng on or očere bot račere commendyng'. souereynly preisede če pore widowe, for hir gret deuocion, & siede čat hir litel ¨ift in goddus siht passede alle če gret ¨iftes of če riche men. |r[137b]  Here mowe we se if we take gude hede to alle če 35 circumstances čat by čis onely processe and sentence of oure lord Jesus'. Judas & hees felaghes bene sufficiently reprouede & confondet in heere fals opinione & doctrine before seid a¨eynus holy chirch.  Bot nowe leuyng čis processe turne |r[138a] we a¨eyn to 40 Bethanye ymaginyng how oure lord Jesus after če forseide sopere in če house of Symonde went wič lazare and hees sistres to heere house, če which was his comune hostery & namely čoo fewe daies folowyng in to his passione, for čere he ete on dayes & slept in nihtes with hees disciples & also |p141 his blessede Modere with hir sistres. For alle čei wirchipeden hir souereynly as worči was, bot specialy Maudleyne wolde neuer depart fro hir.  čan amonge čoo hese trewe frendes oure lord Jesus, 5 čat čei shold not be to miche abashede or disturblet with čat vnkeč dede to come'. tolde hem čat he wolde on če morowe go opunly in to Jerusalem, and čan were čei alle souereynly aferde, & preiden him hertely & his modere namely čat he wold not put him self so vtturly in to hees enmyes handes & 10 semely forčermore in to če deč čat was conspirede wič out faile a¨eynus him of če Jewes. Bot oure gude lorde confortyng hem a¨eynwarde, badde hem drede nouht & seide, lt is če fadres wille, čat I take čis iourney, & he sal kepe vs & so ordeyne for vs at čis tyme, čat ¨e shale se me among |r[138b] alle 15 myne enmyes in če grettest wirschipe čat euer ¨e seyhe me, & čei shole not haue no powere now a¨eynus me. Bot after čat I haue done alle čat I wille'. to morow at euene we shole come hidure a¨eyne saue & sonde. And čen čorh čees wordes čei were alle wele confortede, bot neuerlese alwey dredynge. 20 How čat Jesus came to Jerusalem vpon Palmesoneday. Capitulum xxxvij. |r čE soneday after erely vpon če morowe oure lorde Jesus disposede him as he hade seide to go in to Jerusalem in a newe manere & an vnkeč, očer wyes čan euer he dide before 25 bot to fulfille če prophecie of zachary če prophete seide to čat purpose. And when he with čat litel bot blessede companye came to a place in midde wey čat was clepet Bethfage'. he sent tweyn of hees disciples in to Jerusalem & badde hem bringe to him an Asse & hir fole, čat were tyede čere in če comune 30 wey & ordeynet to serue pore men at heere nede čat hade none beestes of heere owne, & when čei were brouht, & če disciples hade laide heere cločes vp on hem oure lord mekely sett him first a litel |r[139a] while on če Asse, & after on če fole ridyng in čat simple aray toke his weye forč in to Jerusalem. 35  A lorde Jesu what siht was čis to se če kynge of kynges & lorde of alle če world'. ride in siche araye, namely in to čat solempne Cite of Jerusalem. Bot sočely čis čou diste as alle čine očere dedes to oure enformacione & ensaumple. For we mowe se & vndurstande čat in čis manere of worldes 40 wirchipe takyng'. čou despisede fully al če pompe of veyn |p142 worldes wirschipe, hauyng instede of golden harneys & curiouse sadeles & brideles simple cločes & hempen heltres.  And when če peple herde of his comynge, by cause of čat gret miracle čat was publishet before of če reisyng of 5 lazare'. čei wenten a¨eynus him, and receyuet him as kynge wič ympnes & songe[]¨ & gret ioy strawyng in his wey hir cločes & braunches of trehen. Bot wič čis ioy oure lorde Jesus meynede sorowe & wepyng. For when he came nihe če Cite'. he wept čere vpon, seynge before če destruccion čerof, čat 10 came aftere |r[139b] & sorowynge for heere gostly blyndnes. For we shole vndurstonde čat as holi writ makeč mynde oure lorde wept notably čre tymes. One tyme in če deč of lazare'. če wrecchednes of mankynde, where by he is nedet to deth by če first synne. Another tyme he wept for če gostly blyndnes & 15 vnkonyng of man as now at čis tyme of hem čat duelled in čat Cite of Jerusalem čat wolde not knowe če tyme of heere gracious visitacion, & čerfore after was to come to čat Cite hire vtture destruccion. če čridde tyme he wept če gret trespasse & malice of man & čat was in tyme of his passion 20 hangyng on če crosse. For he sauh čat his passion was sufficient for redempcion of alle men, bot neuerlese it toke not effecte of profite in alle, for not in reprouede & harde hertes & obstinate to do penance |r[73r] čat wole not forčinke & amende hem of hir sinnes. And of čis wepyng spekeč če apostle poule 25 where he seič, čat Jesus in tyme of his passion wič a gret crye & wepyng teres was herde of če fadere for his reuerence, & of čees čre wepyng tymes holy writte spekeč. Also holi chirch makeč mynde čat he wept če ferče tyme, & čat was when he was a ¨onge childe, & čat weping 30 was fort hide fro če deuel če misterye of his incarnacion. Beholde we nowe oure lord Jesu so weping, & čat not feynyngly, bot effectuely & largely with a sorowful herte specialy for hir dampnacion without ende, with če destruccion temperele of hem & of hir cite. And as we mowe sočefastly 35 trowe his dere modere & al čat blessed cumpanye, seynge hym wepe so'. miht not conteyne hem fro weping at čat tyme, & no more shold we when we seene losse of soules. čus oure lord Jesus ridyng on če Asse, & hauyng in stede of princes Erles & barones'. hees pore & simple disciples 40 about him, with his modere & očer deuout women folowyng'. entrede in to čat solempne cite, & also če peple doyng him gret wirchipe as it is seide before. Of če which comyng alle če cite was gretly stired. And so went he first in to če temple, & cast out čerof biggeres & selleres a¨eynus goddus lawe as it |p143 is seid here before in če xxxij chapiter. And čer was he standyng opunly in če temple preching & answering to če princes & pharisees, alle čat day til it drowe towarde euen. And so he & hese standyng alle če day fastyng'. after če gret 5 wirchipe before, čere was not one čat wold bidde him ones drinke, wherefore at euene he went with hees disciples to his homely hostrye Bethanye, goyng so simply čorh če cite, with čat litel cumpanye, čat came on če morow with so gret wirchipe. 10 And here mowe we considere čat it is litel to charge & litel forse of worldes wirchipe čat is so sone done & so lihtly passeč awey. Bot what ioy trowe we čat his modere & Maudleyn & očere trewe freendes hadden when čei seene him so wirchipede of če peple & namely at niht when he was come 15 with hees safe & in prosperite to Bethanye? Sočely |r[73v] he alonely knoweč oure lord Jesus čat is euer blessed without ende. Amen. What oure lorde Jesus dide fro Palmesonday in to če čoresday aftere nexkst suwyng. Capitulum xxxviij=m=. 20 OVure lord Jesus full of charite & welle of alle charite willyng to shew boče in word & dede his souereyn charite as wele to hese foos as to hees frendes, & desiring čat no man shold be lost, bot alle saue'. when it drowe to če ende of his dedely life here, & his passion tyme, was nihe at hande'. he 25 trauailed bisily in preching & teching opunly to če peple, & specialy in čese čre daies, čat is to sey first on če soneday as it was now last tretede'. & after on če moneday & če tywesday to gidere suwynge. In če whiche dayes he came erely vp on če morow in to če temple & čere continuede in preching & 30 teching to če peple, & disputyng with če scribes & če pharisees & answering to hir deceyuable questions & many sotel temptynges, & so he was occupiede fro če morowe'. in to če euentyde'. whan he went with hees disciples to his rest at his homely hostrye with Lazare & hese sistres in Bethanye as 35 it is seide before. Bot for als miche as it were longe processe to trete in speciale of alle če maters čat tyme bytwix oure lord Jesu & če Jues, & lettyng fro če purpose čat we bene nowe inne of če passion'. čerfore passing ouer alle če parables & ensaumples 40 by če whech oure lord reprehendet če Jues, & očer processe |p144 of čat tyme in speciale'. we mowe in generale considere on čat one side how če princes & če pharisees seyng če fauour of če peple to Jesu, & čerfore dredyng to performe hir malice a¨eynus him opunely'. casten sotely & fellye to take him in 5 worde oučere a¨eynus hir lawe or elles a¨eynus če tribute paiede to če Emperoure of Rome'. whereby čei mihten accuse him as worči če deč. Bot oure lorde to whome al priuete of mannus herte is opun, knowyng če soteltye & če malice of hem'. answerede wisely to alle hir questions, & so couertely in 10 trewče sette hees wordes'. čat čei were sufficiently answerde, & ¨it čei miht not haue hir entent in any parte, bot at |r[74r] če last čei were so confondet čat čei dorst nomore aske any questione of him. And čen after oure lord Jesus sharply reprehendet če 15 pride, če ypocrisye, če coueitise & očer wikked condicions of hem, & specialy of če scribes & če pharisees, seying to hem in čees wordes, Wo to ¨owe scribes & pharisees, čat louen worldly wirchipes in many maneres, & so forč of očer vices. Neuerles čerwič he bad če peple, čat čei sholde kepe 20 & fulfille alle hir techingis'. bot čat čei shold not folowe hir werkes & yuel lyuyng. At če last rehersyng če vnkyndnes of če Jues a¨eynus god, in generale, by name of če cite of Jerusalem, for als miche as he was so oft bisy to gedire hem to gedir as a henne doče hir chekynes in to če wey of hir 25 sauacion & čei wolde not'. & čerfore tellyng hem before hir destruccion folowyng temperele & euerlastyng'. he laft hem & withdrowe him out of če temple, & with hees disciples & očer many of če Jues čat beleuede on him'. he went in to če monte of olyuete, where he tauht hem more ouere by ensaumples, 30 how čei shold dispose hem & make hem redy in to hir last ende, & finaly tolde hem of če day of dome, in če which gude men čat sholde be fonden on če riht half of god, shold haue euerlastyng life'. & wikked men on če lift half'. euerlastyng sorow & endeles deč. 35 čus made oure lord Jesus an ende of his opun preching to če peple of Jues on če tywesday towarde euen, & after in priuete seide to hees disciples, witte ¨e wele čat after čees tweyn dayes Paske sal be made, & čan mannus sone sal be betraiede fort be crucifiede'. A sorowful worde was čis, to 40 alle hese trewe disciples, bot če fals traitour Judas was gladde čerof, čenkyng anone by instigacion of sathanas čat was entrede in to his herte, how he miht be occasion of his deč, fulfille his fals coueitise, & here vpon he slept note, bot anone on če morow čat was če wendesday, when če princes of |p145 preestes with če Aldere men & scribes were gederet in caiphas hows če bishope, to consele how čei miht by sleyght take Jesu & sle him, bot not in če feste day for drede of če peple'. |r[74v] Judas aspiyng & knowyng čis conseil, went to hem & profered 5 to take him to hem at hir wille, so čat čei wolde mede him & do him whye, & čei gladde of čis profre'. graunted & ordeynet to pay him čritty grete pens, of če whech euery peny was worč tene comune pens, as now our grote is worč foure comune pens. And so falshede & coueitise malice & trechery 10 were acordet in to če deč of lnnocens. And čan hade čat fals traytour his coueitous desire of če prise of čat forseide oynement, čat he grucchede fore, as lost'. čat is to sey, čre hundreč pens. And fro čat tyme he souht oportunite how he miht 15 betray Jesu without če presence of če peple. And for čis bytraying of oure lord vpon če wendusday'. is čat day resonably ordeinet moste of penance doyng & abstinence in če weke after fridaye. čis was če processe of čat cursede part Judas & če Jues 20 on čat wendesday. Bot on čat očere part, what dide oure lord Jesus & his blessed cumpany čat day? We fynde not writen expresse in če gospele, for soče it is čat he went not in to Jerusalem, nor aperede opunely to če Jues čat day. What trowe we čan čat he 25 dide alle čat day? Me činke it resonably to be trowede, čat he was čan for če moste part occupiede in praiere for če performyng of redempcion of mankynde čat he came fore, & not onely for hees frendes čat trowede in him & louede him'. bot also for hese cruel enemyes, fulfillyng če perfeccion of 30 charity čat he hade tauht before to hees disciples in praiere for hir enemyes, & hem čat shold pursuene hem, & čerwič knowynge & seynge in spirite če forseid malice of Judas če traytour & če Jues in čat day vtturly kast a¨eynus him, & in to his deč. 35 And so skilfully men mowe suppose, čat in čat praiere to če fadere specialy he seide če salme, Deus laudem, čat dauid seide in prophecye of him, & of Judas & here očer enemyes longe tyme before, bot čan moste proprely it was seide of him self, not desiring by če wordes of čat psalme 40 veniance of hese enmyes, as it semeč after če sentence of če letter'. bot conformyng his wille rihtwisly to če wille of če fadere, & |r[75r] propheciyng če rihtwise punishing & veniance deseruyng of hem, čat so maliciously conspirede a¨eynus him & after obstinatly continuede in hir sinne. |p146 And for als miche as čat was če last day čat he thouht to duelle in čat maner of bodily conuersacion with čat gude & belouede meyne Lazare & hees sistres'. he occupiede him čat day če more specialy with hem in gostly confort of hem, by 5 hese edificatife & holi wordes, as he was wonte alwey to do, bot nowe at more leyzere to strengč hem & confort hem a¨eynus če gret sorowe čat was to come after bycause of his passion. And souereynly as we mowe trowe in homely comunyng with his blessed modere to hir speciale confort, & 10 also with Maudleyn specialy čat euer was čristye to drinke of his swete gostly wordes. Of če whech he ¨iue vs taste & sauour Jesus crist blessede with out ende. Amen. Of čat worči sopere čat oure lorde Jesus made če niht before his passion, & of če noble circumstances čat 15 befelle čerwič. Capitulum xxxix=m=. |r When če tyme came, in če which oure lord Jesus hade disposede of his endles mercy fort suffre deč for man & shede his precious blode for oure redempcion'. it liked him first to make a sopere with hees disciples, as for a mynde euerlastyng 20 of his grete loue to hem, & al mankynde, & fort fulfille če figure of če olde lawe, & begynne če treuče of če newe & performe če misteryes čat were to come of his preciouse passion. čis sopere was souerenly worči & wondurful, & gret & 25 wondurful činges weren done čerate, wherfore if we here take gude entent with inwarde deuocion čerto & to čo činges čat oure lord Jesus dide čerate'. čat curteys lord wole not suffre vs go fastyng čerfro, bot he sal fede vs of his grace as we tristly hope, with miche gostly confort čerof. 30 We shole vndurstonde čat foure činges specialy befel at čis sopere, of če whech inward meditacion shal by reson stir oure loue to oure lord Jesu, & kyndele če gostly fir of oure deuocion. če first is, čat bodily sopere, & če maner čerof in 35 fulfillyng of če lawe. če seconde is, če washyng of če fete of če disciples by oure lorde Jesu. če čridde is, če ordynance & |r[75v] če consecracion of čat preciouse sacrament, of his blessede bodye. And če ferče is čat noble & fructuouse sermon čat he made to hese disciples. Of če whech foure we shole speke & 40 se by processe & in ordre. |p147 As to če first čat is če bodily sopere, we shole haue in mynde, čat Petre & John at če biddyng of oure lord Jesu ¨eden in to če Cite of Jerusalem to a frende of čeires čat duelled in čat part of če cite čat was cleped Mont syon, where 5 čere was a large house on loft strewede & able fort make čis sopere in, & so aftur oure lorde Jesus, with čat očere disciples entrede in to če cite & came to če forseide place on če čoresday toward euen. Now take hede & beholde with alle či mynde čou čat 10 redest or herest čis, alle čat folowen, čat bene tolde, spoken or done, for čei bene ful likyng & stiryng to gret deuocion. For in čis processe is če most strengče & gostly fruyte of alle če meditaciones čat bene of če blessed lif of oure lord Jesu, principaly for če passyng tokenes & shewyngis in dede of his 15 loue to mankynde, wherefore here we shol not abregge as we haue in očere places'. bot račere lengh it in processe. Now čen beholde oure lord Jesu after he was come to če forseide place, how he stant in sume part benečen, spekyng with hese disciples of edificacion, & abidyng til it was made 20 redy for hem in če forseid house aloft. And when alle činges were redy'. seynt John čat was most homely & familiere with oure lord Jesu, & čat bisily went to & fro, to se čat alle čat nedet were ordeynet & done'. came to him & seide, Sir ¨e mowe go to sopere when ¨e wole'. for alle činges bene redy. 25 And čan anone oure lorde Jesus with če xij apostles went vp, bot John algate nekst him & by his side without departyng. For čer was none čat so trewly & familierely drow to him, & folowede him as he dede. For when he was take he folowede him when očer fledde, & was present at his 30 crucifiyng & at his deč, & after he laft him not til al was done, & he was biriede. And so at čis sopere he sat nekst him, čouh he was ¨ongere čan očer. What tyme čat oure lord Jesus with če xij apostles cam vp to če borde where |r[76r] vpon čei sholden ete'. first standyng 35 čere aboute čei deuoutly seiden graces, & after he hade blessed'. čei seten don alle aboute čat borde, bot John nekst Jesu, & čat vpon če gronde as če maner was of olde men before. Bot here we shole vndurstande čat čat borde was 40 square as men supposen, made of diuerse bordes ioynet to gedir, & as men seyen čat haue seen it at Rome in če chirch of Lateranensis, it conteneč in euery part of če foure square'. če space of tweyn armes lengče & sumwhat more. So čat in euery side of če square borde, čre disciples seten as men |p148 supposen, čouh it were streytly, & oure lord Jesus in summe Angle. So čat čei alle miht reche in to če myddes, & ete of one dishes. And čerfore čei vndurstode not him, what tyme he seide, He čat with me putteč his hande in to če dishe or 5 doblere'. he shal betraye me. čus we mowe ymagine & suppose of če maner of hir sittyng at če borde. Also we mowe vndurstande in če etyng of če paske lambe'. čat in čat tyme čei stoden about če borde vpriht, haldyng stafes in hir handes after če biddyng of Moises 10 lawe, čat oure lord cam to fulfille. So čat čouh čei stoden in čat tyme, neuerles čei seten also in očer tyme, as če gospel telleč in diuerse places, & elles miht not John haue leid his hede & rested him in maner of liggyng opon če breste of Jesu. What tyme če paske lambe was brouht to če borde 15 rosted after če lawe'. oure lorde Jesus čat was sočfast lambe of god, without wemme of synne'. & čat was in middes of hem, as he čat serueč & ministreč'. toke če lambe in his blessed handes & kut it & departede & ¨af to če disciples, biddyng hem ete gladly & confortyng hem with louely chere. And čouh 20 it so was čat čei eten as he badde'. neuerles confort miht čei none haue, for als miche as čei dredde alwey lest čer shold falle ouht a¨eynus hir lord in čat nouelte. And so as čei eten'. he told hem če sorowful dede more opunly & seide, I haue desirede fort ete with ¨ow čis paske lambe before I suffre če 25 deč. For sočely one of ¨ow shole bytraye me. čis spech went to hir hertes as a sharp swerde. Wherfore čei ceseden of etyng & lokeden |r[76v] ech on očere, & seiden to him, Lord'. whečer I be he? Here if we take gude hede we oweč to haue inward compassion, boče of oure lord 30 Jesu & also of hem. For it is no doute čei were in ful gret sorowe. Bot če traytour Judas laft not of etyng, for čese wordes of bytrayinge shold not seme as pertynyng to him. čan John at če instance of Petur asked of oure lord & seide, Lord who is he, čat sal be tray če? And our lord Jesus 35 priuely told him, & as to him čat he loued more specialy specifiede who was čat traytour. And John čerof gretly astonede, & wondet with gret sorow to če herte'. nouht wold telle Petur, bot turnede him to Jesu, & softly leide done his hede vpon his blessed breste. 40 And as seynt Austin seič, oure lord Jesu wold not telle Petur who was če traytour. For and he hade wist'. he wold haue al to torn him with hese teče. And as če same seynt Austin seič, by Petur bene figurede & vndurstande čei čat bene in actif life, & by John |p149 čei čat bene contemplatife. Wherefore we haue here doctrine & figure, čat he čat is contemplatif, medleč him not with foreyne worldly dedes, & also he secheč not veniance withoutforč of če offenses done to god, bot is sory withinforč 5 in his herte, & turneč him onely to god, by deuout prayers, & če more saddely turnyng him & drawyng him to god'. committeč al činge to his disposicion & ordinance. čouh it so be čat he čat is contemplatif sumtyme goč out by zele of god & profite of mannus soule, as whan he is 10 cleped čerto. Also, in čat čat John wold not telle Petur čat he bad him aske of če traytour, we mowe vndurstande čat če contemplatif sal not reuele če priuete of his lord. As it is writen of seynt Francese čat priuey reuelacions 15 he reueled not withoutforč'. bot what tyme čat nedeč made him for hele of mennus soules, or če stiryng of god by reuelacion meuede him čerto. Now forč in oure processe beholde we če grete benyngnyte of our lord Jesu, čat so homely suffreč his derlyng 20 John enclyne & rest vpon his blessed breste. Lord how tendurly & treuly čei louede to gedir. čis was a swete rest to John, & a profitable to alle cristien soules, in če which as clerkes seyn, he dronke of čat welle of euerlastyng wisdome, če precious drinke of his |r[77r] holi 25 gospel, with če which aftur he conforted alle holi chirch & ¨afe it as tryacle a¨eynus če venyme of diuerse heretikes. Beholde forčermore očer disciples ful sory of če forseide worde, of betrayng of oure lorde Jesu, not etyng bot lokyng eche on očere as čei čat wist not what conseil or 30 confort čei miht haue in čis case. And čus miche at čis tyme sufficeč touchyng če first article, of čat bodily sopere, & of če etyng of če paske lambe in fulfillyng of če lawe, & endyng of če figure čat our lord Jesus dide it fore. And as clerkes seyn we fynde not čat oure lord ete flesh in alle his life, bot onely 35 at čis tyme in etyng of čat lambe more for mistery čan for bodily fode. Touching če seconde poynt čat is če washing of če disciples feet'. we shole vndurstonde čat after če forseide processe, oure lord Jesus rose vp fro če sopere, & also hese 40 disciples anone with him, vnwittyng what he wold do forčermore or whider he wold go. And čan went he with hem done in to če neičer house vndur če forseide loft as čei seyn čat haue seen čat place, & čere he badde alle če disciples sitte a done, & made water be brouht to him. And čan he cast of |p150 hees ouer cločes, čat were perantere cumbrose, & lettyng to čat he čouht do'. & girde him with a linnene cloče, & put himself watere in to če basyne čat was of stone as men seyne, & bare it & set it before petur fete & knelede done fort washe 5 hem. Bot petur gretely abashede & astonede of čat dede as no wondur was, first forsoke to haue čat seruyce of his lord, as inconuenient to him, bot after he herde his črete, čat elles he shold haue no parte with him in blisse'. turnede his wille in to bettur & mekely suffrede him do his wille. 10 Now if we ¨iue here gude entent to če dedes of oure lord Jesu & alle čat foloweč in čis tyme'. sočely we mowe with grete wondur, be stired specialy boče to če loue & drede of him. For what was čat to se? če kyng of blys & čat hie lord of maieste knele done & bowe him to če feet of a pore fisher, 15 & so forč to alle očer čat čere seten, & so with čo blessed handes washe hir foule fete, & after tendirly |r[77v] wipe hem, & more ouere deuoutly kysse hem? Sočely he čat was souereyn maister of mekenes, shewede vs in čis dede & tauht vs a perfite lesson čerof, & ¨it more ouer in čat he dide če same 20 lowe seruice to his traytour'. commendeč souereynly his passyng mekenes. Bot wo to čat harde herte, ¨e hardere čan če Adamant or any očere čing hardest'. čat melteč not or softeč not with če hete of so grete fire of charite & profonde mekenes, & čat 25 dredeč not čat lorde of maieste in čat dede, bot a¨eynward frowardly čenkeč & procureč deč & destruccion of him čat euer was so innocent & so trewe louyng. Wherfore it is boče wondurful & dredeful če grete benignyte & mekenes of oure lord Jesu'. & če grete obstinacye 30 & malice of čat traitour Judas a¨eynwarde. Whan čis washyng was don in misterye as it is seide'. he went a¨eyn vp to če place of če forseide sopere, & when he was sett with hem'. he tolde hem če cause of če forseide dede, & čat was čat čei sholde folowe him in mekenes eche 35 to očer'. as he ¨af hem ensaumple, čat was hir lord & maister, & čat čei sholde not onely wash očere fete'. bot also for¨iue trespasses done to očere, & wille & do gude to očer, as it is vnderstande by his wordes čat folowen aftur, when he seide to hem, If ¨e knowen čees čat I haue do to ¨ow'. ¨e shole be 40 blessede if ¨e fulfille hem in dede. Here also aftur če first Messe čat was če paske lambe as it is seid before'. when čei were washen & made clene'. he seruede hem with če seconde Messe of his owne precious body, čat was deynteč of alle deyntečes, as men vsen in bodily |p151 fedyng & festes, first to be seruede with buystes & homely metes, & after with more delicate & deyntečes. Whereof foloweč here aftur touching če čridde article. As anentes če čridde article of čat hiest sacrament of 5 Jesus precious body'. lift we here vp oure hertes souereynly & bečenke we inwardly wonduryng of čat moste worči dignacion & vnspekable charite, čorh če which he betoke him self to vs & laft to vs in to mete & gostly foode, makyng & ordeynyng čat precious sacrament in čis manere. 10 Whan |r[78r] he hade washe hees disciples fete, & was gone vp a¨eyn with hem čere he before satt at če sopere as it is seide'. as for an ende of če sacrifices of če olde lawe, & byginnyng of če newe testament, makyng him self oure sacrifice'. he toke brede in his holi handes & lift vp hees eyene 15 to his fadere almi¨ty god, & blessed če brede & seide če wordes of consecration čere ouere, by vertue of če whech wordes brede was turnede in to his body, & čen he ¨af it to hese disciples & seide, Takeč & eteč for sočely čis is my body čat sal be toke & ¨iuen for ¨ow. And after in če same manere 20 takyng če chalice with wyne seide, takeč & drinkeč alle here of, for čis is my blode čat shal be out shedde for ¨ow & manye in remission of sinnes. And aftur he ¨af hem powere of čat consecracion & alle preestes in hem & seide, [č]is doč ¨e als oft os ¨e take it 25 in commemoracion & mynde of me. Take nowe gude hede here čou cristien manne, bot specialy čou preeste, how deuoutly how diligently & treuly či lord Jesus criste first made čis precious sacrament, & after with hees blessed handes ministrede it, & comunede čat 30 blessede & his belouede meyne. And on čat očer side take hede with what deuout wonder first čei sah him make čat wondurful & excellent sacrament, & after with what drede & reuerence čei toke it & receyuet it of him. Sočely at čis tyme čei laft alle hir kyndely reson of manne, & onely restede in 35 trew byleue to alle čat he seide & dide, beleuyng without any doute, čat he was god & miht not erre. And so most čou do čat wolt fele & haue če vertue & če gostly swetnes of čis blessed sacrament. čis is čat swete & precious memoriale čat souereynly 40 makeč mannus soule worči & pleisyng to god, als oft as it is dewely receyuede, oučere by trewe & deuout meditacion of his passion, or elles & čat more specialy in sacramentale etyng čerof. Wherefore by reson čis excellent ¨ift of loue shold kyndele mannus soule & enflawme it al holy in to če ¨iuere |p152 čerof our lorde Jesus criste. For čer is no činge čat he miht ¨iue & leue to vs more derworč, more swete, or more profitable'. čan him self. For without any doute he čat we receyuen in če sacrament of |r[78v] če autere'. is he čat self goddus 5 son Jesus čat toke flesh & blode & was born of če virgine Marie, & čat suffrede deč on če crosse for vs, & rose če čridde day fro deč to lyue & after stey vp in to heuen & sitteč on če fadres riht side, & čat shale come at če day of dome, & deme alle mankynde. In whos powere is boče lif & deč, čat 10 made boče heuen & helle, & čat onely may saue vs or dampne vs euer without ende. And so he čat self god & manne is contynede in čat litel ooste čat čou seest in forme of brede, & euery day is offrede vp to če fadere of heuen for our gostly hele, & 15 euerlastyng sauacion. čis is če trew byleue čat holi chirch hač tauht vs of čis blessed sacrament. Bot ¨it more ouere lat vs sitte a litel lengir at čis worči lordes borde Jesus & take we hede inwardly to oure gostly 20 foode & conforte more specialy of čat preciouse & moste deynteč mete, čat is čere set before vs, čat is če blessed body of oure lorde Jesus in čis holi sacrament before seide. And so by inwarde consideracion tast we če swetnes of čis heuenly foode, hauyng first in mynde če gracious & resonable makyng 25 & ordinance of čat blessede sacrament, and after če gret worčines & merueylous worching čerof in chosen soules to confort & strenčing of oure feič. And as anentes če first poynt, we shole vndurstande čat almihty goddussone če seconde persone in trinite willyng of 30 his souereyn charite & endles gudenes to make vs perceyneres of his godhede'. he toke oure kynde & became man to make men as goddes, & forčermore čat he toke of oure kynde čat was flesh & blode'. alle he ¨af to vs for oure hele & oure sauacion. For he offrede to his fadere of heuen vpon če autere 35 of če crosse'. his blessed body for oure reconcilyng, & he shedde his preciouse blode in to prys fort bigge vs out of oure recched čraldame, & to wash vs & make vs clene of alle sinne. And for als miche as he wolde čat če mynde of čat hie gret benefice shold duelle in vs euerlastyngly'. he ¨af to alle 40 trew cristien peple his body in to mete & his blode in to drinke vnder če lykenes of brede & wyne, in maner as it is seide before, |r[79r] in če first makyng of čis blessede sacrament. Bot now here beholde we inwardly & take we hede what wonduryng it was to če apostles čan to se oure lord Jesus |p153 verrey man as čei were, sittyng with hem bodily, & čerwič haldyng in hese handes čat self body in čat čat semede as to hir bodily siht, nouht elles bot brede, affermyng čus sočely, čis is my body čat shalle be ¨iuen for ¨ow, & also of čat čat 5 in če chalice semede onely verrey wyne'. čis is my blode čat shal be shedde for če remissione of ¨our sinnes. And so čat self body čat čei seyen with hir bodily eye before hem, was sočely vndur čat forme of brede, & čat self blode čat was alle hole in his body'. was čere in če chalice in če forme of wyne. 10 Bot čan was not čat brede as it semede, & as it was before če wordes of consecracion, nor wyne as it semede in self manere, bot onely če likenes or če forme of brede & wyne contynyng verrey cristes flesh & blode as it is seide. Bot what mannus witte or reson miht comprehende čis 15 at čat tyme? Sočely none. And čerfore če trewe apostles at čat tyme laften alle hir bodily reson & witte, & restede onely in trewe beleue to hir lordes wordes as it is seide before, saue Judas čat was reprouede for his falshede & misbeleue, & čerfore he receyued čat blessed sacrament in to his 20 dampnacion. And so done alle čo čat bene nowe of his part, če whech falsly byleuen & seyene čat če holy sacrament of če autere is in his kynde brede or wyne as it was before če consecracion, bycause čat it semeč so to alle hir bodily felyng, 25 as in siht, tast & touching, če whech bene more reprouable as in čat part čan Judas, for čei seene not Jesus bodily byside čat sacrament as he dide, and čerfore it is lihtere to hem fort byleue, & more to hir dampnacion if čei byleue not as god himself & holi chirch hač tauht, namely sičen čat trewe 30 teching of čis blessed sacrament, hač be halden stedfastly so many hundreč ¨ere, & of so many holi men, Martires, confessours & očer trewe cristien men če whech in to hir last dayes stoden without |r[79v] doute in čis feič & diedene čerinne. če which feič is čis in short wordes, čat če sacrament 35 of če autere dewly made by vertue of cristes wordes is verrey goddus body in forme of brede, & his verrey blode in forme of wyne, & čouh čat forme of brede & wyne seme as to alle če bodily wittes of man brede & wyne in his kynde as it was before'. neuerles it is not so in sočenesse, bot onely goddus 40 flesh & blode in substance, so čat če accidentes of brede & wyne wondurfully & myraclesly a¨eynus mannus reson, & če comune ordre of kynde bene čere in čat holi sacrament without hir kyndely subiecte, & verrey cristies body čat suffrede deč vpon če crosse is čere in čat sacrament bodily |p154 vnder če forme & liknes of brede, & his verrey blode vndur likenes of wyne substancially & holely, without any feynyng or deceit, & not onely in figure as če fals heritike seič. čese termes I touch here so specialy bycause of če 5 lewede lollardes čat medlen hem of hem a¨eynus če feič falsly. And more ouere, čis before seide feič of holi chirch touching čis excellent sacrament tauht by holi doctours & worči clerkes'. is confermede by many maneres of myracles as 10 we redene in many bokes & heren alday prechede & tauht. Bot here lawheč če lollarde & scorneč holi chirche in allegance of seche myracles, haldyng hem bot as maggetales & feyned illusiones, & bycause čat he tasteč not če swetnes of čis precious sacrament nor feleč če gracious wirching čerof in 15 himself'. čerfore he leueč not čat any očere doč. Bot here in confusion of alle fals lollardes, & in confort of alle trewe loueres & wirchiperes of čis holi sacrament & principaly to če louyng & honour of če hye auctour & makere čerof oure lord Jesus'. I sal say more ouer sumwhat in speciale 20 čat I knowe sočely of če gracious wirching in sensible felyng of čis blessed sacrament, če which merueylouse wirching & felyng aboue comune kynde of manne sheweč & proueč souereynly, če blessed bodily presence of Jesu in čat sacrament. 25 čere is one person čat I knowe now lyuyng & perauenture čere bene many čat I knowe not, in če self degre |r[80r] or hiere, če which persone, oft sičes whan oure lorde Jesus vouchsafe, to touch him of his grace in tretyng of čat blessede sacrament, with če inwarde siht of his soule, & deuout 30 meditacion of his precious passione, sodeynly feleč also shedde in to če self bodye, a ioy & likyng čat passeč without comparison če hiest likyng čat any creature may haue or fele as by wey of kynde in čis life, čorh če which ioy & likyng'. alle če membres of če body bene enflaumede of so deletable 35 & ioyful a hete čat him čenkeč sensibly alle če body as it were meltyng for ioy as waxe doč anentes če hote fire, so farforč čat če body miht not bere čat excellent likyng, bot čat it shold vtturly faile, nere če gracious kepyng & sustenyng of če touchere oure lord Jesu aboue kynde. 40 A lorde Jesu in what delectable paradise is he for čat tyme čat čus feleč čat blessede bodily presence of če, in čat precious sacrament, čorh če which he feleč him sensibly with vnspekable ioy as he were ioynede body to body? Sočely I trowe čat čere may no manne telle it or speke it, and I am |p155 sikere čat čere may no man fully & sočefastly know it, bot onely he čat in experience felič it. For withoute doute čis is specialy čat hidde Manna, čat is to sey angele mete, čat noman knoweč bot he čat feleč it, as seynt John witnesseč in 5 his Apocalipse. And he čat sočefastly feleč it'. may welle sey with Dauid če prophete souereynly reioycyng body & soule, hert & flesh in god alyue, A lorde Jesu how mykel is če multitude ofči swetnes čat čou hast hie to hem čat in trewe loue dreden če. 10 čus haue I vndurstande of če forseide graciouse, wondurfulle & myraculose wirching of oure lorde Jesu, shewyng sensibly his blessede delectable bodily presence, in čat moste excellent sacrament of če autere, in maner as če forseide persone čat felt it miht telle it so in partie, & als I 15 koude shortly & imperfitely write it, če whiche myraculous wirchyng to my vndirstandyng hauyng consideracion to alle če circumstance čereof'. passeč many gret myracles čat we redene shewede in čis holy sacrament, in als miche as če witte of čat bodily felyng'. passeč in certeynte če witte of siht, & hač lasse 20 |r[80v] of straunge liknesse, & more of če self sočfastnes. For what tyme čat oure lorde Jesus appereč in čat blessede sacrament to strenčynge of byleue or to confort of his chosen derlynges aučer in likenes of a litel childe, as he dide to seynt Edward kynge & confessour, or elles in a quantite of 25 flesh all blodye as it is writen in če lif of seynt Gregour & in očere places'. soče it is čat čat bodily likenes seene in čat quantite'. acordeč not with če verrey bodily quantite & shappe of oure lorde čat henge on če crosse, & čat is sočely in čat sacrament hidde fro če bodily siht. 30 Bot he čat feleč čat gracious ¨ifte before seide'. hač none straunge bodily siht of any likenes očere čan če sacrament in trewe byleue. Bot in his soule lihtenede čorh speciale grace, he seeč inwardly with souereyn ioy čat blessede body of Jesu riht as he heenge on če crosse, withoute 35 any deceyte. And čerwič also in če body he feleč sensiblye če bodily presence of oure lorde Jesus in manere as it is seide before, with so grete ioy & likyng čat čere can no tonge telle it fully, nor herte vndurstande it, bot onely he čat felič it. 40 And as it semeč čat ioyful felyng in če body is like to čat čat holi chirch singeč of če Apostles & disciples at če feste of Pentecost, when če holi goste was sent to hem sodeynly in če likenes of fire withoutforč, & vnspekable ioy in hir bodies withinforč, čat is čat hir boweles fillede with če |p156 holi goste'. ioyede souereynly in god. And so may he čat hač čat forseide gracious ¨ifte sočely say in čat tyme with dauid in speciale maner & hye gracious felyng, My herte & my flesh reioycede hem souereynly in to če presence of god alyue 5 Jesus, čat blessede be euere, & souereynly for čis hie ¨ift of grace to man. Bot now cese we here awhile of čis delectable gostly chewyng & tretynge of čis moste deynteč & preciouse mete, & take we hede forčermore to če noble lesson čat oure lord 10 Jesus tauht hese disciples čerwič, after čat worči sopere, čat is če ferče article before seide, with purpose ¨it if our lorde wole sende grace to touche more of čis precious sacrament, & čat at če last ende of čis boke as in a conclusion of alle |r[81r] če blessede life here bodily of oure lord Jesus, acordyng so with 15 če gracious & resonable ordinance of holi chirch, of če worči & solempne feste of čis blessede sacrament, as in a perfite conclusione of alle če festes of oure lorde Jesus, whos name blessed be euere without endyng. Amen. Forčermore touching če ferč article, take hede čou 20 cristien soule, čat haste any liht withinne če of če fire of loue, how čis souereyn scole maister Jesus criste made to hese disciples a noble sermon ful of gostly swetnes, & brennynge koles of loue & charite. For when he hadde ¨iuene čat blessede sacrament to hese disciples, & among očer of his hie 25 charite to his enmye čat wikked Judas'. he seide to him, čat čou purposest to do'. do it anone. As whose seič, I wote where about čou arte, & čerfore delyuere če betyme, vndirstandinge his betraying. Bot čere was none of hese očer disciples, čat wist to what ende Jesus seide čoo wordes. And anone čis 30 cursede traitour went forč to če princes of preestes to whome he hade solde him če wendusday before as it seide, & asked of hem cumpany to take him. And in če mene tyme, oure lorde Jesus, made čis forseide longe & worči sermone to hese disciples. 35 Of če which profitable sentence first comendyng pees to hese disciples'. we mow vndurstande alle če effecte comprehendet shortly čat he enformede hem specialy & betauht to hem with čese čre principale vertues, čat is to sey, Feič, Hope & Charite. 40 First he betauht to hem Charite oft sičes, & most bisily when he seide, I ¨ife ¨ow a newe maundment, & čot is čat ¨e loue to gedir. And also in čis one činge souereynly, alle men shole knowe čat ¨e bene my disciples, if ¨e houe loue ech to očer. And also after how čei shold treuly kepe čis charite by |p157 worching in če loue of him, he seide to hem čus, If ¨e loue me'. kepeč myne hestes, & also after, Whoso loueč me'. he shale kepe my worde & čan shale my fadere loue him, & we shole come to him & duelle with him, & in očer diuerse places 5 specialy he commendeč to hem charite & pees as a principale |r[81v] byquyst in his testament at čis tyme, as če processe of če gospelle telleč. In feič also he enformede hem & stablet hem more perfitely in byleue of his godhede. Seying in čees wordes, Be 10 not ¨our herte turblet, & drede it not. For as ¨e beleuen in god'. so ¨e most beleue in me. And after he tauht hem in čis byleue čat če fadere & he bene one god, & čouh he be lasse čen če fadere after če manhede, neuerles, he is euere euen with če fadere after če godhede, & čerfore he reprehendet 15 Philippe, čat bad him shewe hem če fadere & seide, čat whoso seeč him, seeč če fadere. And after in conclusion of čis feič, he seid to hese disciples, Leue ¨e not čat I am in če fadere & če fadere is in me? elles for čo werkes čat ¨e seene, beleueč. In hope also he confortede hem in many maneres, & 20 first touching če effecte of praiere, seyinge to hem in čees wordes, If ¨e duelle in me & my wordes duellen stedfastly in ¨ow'. what so euer ¨e wole aske'. it sal be ¨iuen ¨ow. Also he confortede hir hope a¨eynus tribulacions & hate of če worlde seying čus, ¨if če world hate ¨ow'. witteč 25 wele čat it hated me first before ¨owe, & so forč as če text telleč, confortyng hir hope in pacience of persecucion by ensaumple of him self čat was hir lorde. In če čridde maner he conforted hem to hope without despeire bycause of če wičdrawyng fro hem his bodily presence, tellyng hem before 30 čat čei sholde haue gret sorowe for če absence of him, čorh his hard deč'. bot afterwarde čat sorow shold be turnede in to endles ioye, by his gloriouse resurrection & ascension to če fadere, & sendyng of če holy goste to hem, če which shuld souereynly confort hem in alle disese, & teche hem alle 35 sočfastnes. And čen he concludet in čees wordes, Alle čese forseid wordes I haue spoken to ¨ow vnto čat ende, čat ¨e haue pese in me. In če world ¨e shole haue sorow & anguysh, bot trusteč wele by sadde hope, for I haue ouercome če world, as 40 whose seič & so sal ¨e. And after čis oure lord Jesus turnede his spekyng to če fadere, liftyng vp hese louely eyene to heuen & commendyng, |r[f.156b] first himself after če manhede, & aftere praying tendurly for hese disciples & forčer more praying not onely for hem, |p158 bot also for alle hem čat shold byleue on him aftere čorh heere worde & in to čat ende at če last čat al miht be onede to gedire in trew loue & charite, as če fadere in če sone & če sone in če fadere'. so čei alle in one god fadere & sone & holy 5 goste.  A lorde Jesu how wondurfullye perseden čees forseid wordes če hertes of či disciples, for soče- |r[157a] ly čei loueden če so feruently čat čei miht not haue born hem, ne hade bene če speciale preseruynge of či grace. 10  And so whoso hač grace inwardly to bečenke & diligently to discusse alle če processe of čis blessede & worči sermon'. skilfully he sal be stirede in to če brennyng loue of Jesu & likynglye reste in če swetnes of his blessed doctrine. And on čat očer side who so takeč hede to hees disciples 15 howe čei standen sorowfully hangyng done heere hedes & wepinge & hiely sihyng'. resonably he may be stirede to grete compassion, & speciale for Jone čat [was] most familiere with Jesu, & čat toke gude hede specialy before očer to alle čat Jesus spake, as he was chosen by speciale grace onely to write 20 sočely čoo forseide swete wordes of Jesu, to edifiyng of alle holy chirch, & oure hye confort.  Forčermore among očer wordes of Jesu we redene čat he seide to his disciples, Riseč vp & go we hennys. A dere god what drede entrede čan in to hem not knowyng whidere 25 čei sholde go, & gretely dredynge of his departyng fro hem. Neuerles he spake to hem after, fulfillyng če processe of his sermon goyng by če wey & čei bisily takyng hede to hit.  Now beholde how če disciples folowen |r[157b] him & in maner of chikenns čat folowen če henne, & putten hire 30 hyderwarde & čider warde fort come vnder hir wenges, so čei bisidene hem nowe one & now an očere to here & to be next him, & čat he suffird & likede wele.  At če last when čis sermone was done, & alle misteries fulfillede'. he went with hem in to a ¨arde or a 35 gardyne ouere če water of Cedron čere to abyde his traitour Judas & očer armede menn, where of hit shale folowe here after in processe of his passione.  Here mowe we haue in mynde čat oure lord Jesus ¨af vs ensaumple in čis euentyde & niht of fyue grete vertues, čat 40 is to sey first of profunde mekenes, as it is seide in če washyng of hese disciples fete. Aftere of souereyne charite, in če excellent sacrament of his blessede bodie, & in čat swete sermone fulle of brennyng koles of charite. And če čridde of passynge pacience, in so benygne suffryng of his traitour, & |p159 alle če despite done to him after'. če ferče of perfite obedience'. in takyng wilfully čat harde passione & bitter deč after če fadere wille. And če fift of deuout praiere, continuede čre tymes in longe & feruent praying & his precious blode 5 shedyng. In če which fyue vertues he graunt vs grace to folowe him Jesus čat blessede be euere |r[158a] without ende. Amen.  čus endeč če contemplacion for čoresday, & after foloweč če passion čat longeč specialy to friday. |p161 Of če passion of oure lord Jesu, & first of his praiere & takyng at matyne tyme. Capitulum xl. AT če bigynnyng čou čat desireste to haue sorouful compassion čorh feruent inwarde affection of če peynful 5 passion of Jesu'. čou most in či mynde depart in manere for če tyme če miht of če godhede fro če kyndely infirmite of če manhede čouh it so be in sočenes čat če godhede was neuer departede fro če manhede. For čere beč many so blynde gostly by vnresonable ymaginacion of če miht of če godhede in Jesu, 10 čat čei trowe not čat any činge miht be peynful or sorouful to him as to a nočer comune man čat hač onely če kynde of man'. And čerfore hač čei none compassion of če peynes čat he suffrede supposyng, čat for als mich as he was god'. čere miht nočing be a¨eynus his wille or dere him. 15  Bot čerfore here a¨eynus fort haue trewe ymaginacion & inwarde compassion of če peynes & če passion of oure lorde |r[158b] Jesu verrey god & man'. we shole vndurstande čat as his wil was to suffre če hardest deč & most sorouful peynes, for če redempcion of mankynde'. so by če 20 self wille he suspendet in al his passione če vse & če miht of če godhede fro če infirmite of če |r[82r] manhede, nomore takyng of for če tyme'. čen hač anočer tendere & delicate man, onely after če kynde of manne. Wherefore čou shalt ymagine & inwardly čenk of him 25 in his passione as of a faire ¨onge man of če age of xxxiij ¨ere, čat were če fairest, če wisest če moste rihtwise in lyuyng & moste godely & innocent, čat euer was or miht be in čis worlde'. so falsly accusede, so enuyously pursuede so wrongwisely demede, & so despitesly slayne'. as če processe 30 of his passione after telleč & alle for či loue. Also vnderstonde as clerkes seyne & reson techeč, čat in his bodily kynde of manne'. he was of če clannest complexione čat euer was manne or miht be. Wherfore he was |p162 če more tendire in če bodye. And so foloweč, čat če peynes in če bodie were če more sore & bittere'. & če hardere to suffre. čan sičen he toke none socour of če godhede, bot onely 5 suffrede after če kynde of če manhede'. če leste peyne čat he hade, was more peynfull to him čan it miht haue bene to any očer manne. Wherfore hauyng čis in mynde, first to stiryng of če more compassion. Forčermore after če processe of 10 Bonauenture, whoso desireč with če apostle Poule to be ioyful in če crosse of oure lorde Jesu criste, & in his blessede passion'. he moste with bisy meditacion abide čereinne. For če grete misteries & alle če processe čerof, if čei were inw ardly consideret with alle če inwarde mynde & beholdyng of 15 mannus soule'. as I fully trowe, čei sholde bringe čat beholdere in to a newe state of grace. For to him čat wolde serche če passion of oure lorde with alle his herte & alle his inwarde affeccione'. čere shuld come many deuout felynges & stirynges čat he neuer supposede before. Of če whech he shuld fele a 20 newe compassion & a newe loue, & haue newe gostly confortes, čorh če whech he shold perceyue him self turnede as it were in to a newe astate of soule, in če which astate čoo forseide gostly felynges, shold seme to him as a nerneste & partie of če blisse & ioy to come. 25 And fort gete čis astate of če soule'. I trowe as he čat is vnkenyng & blaberinge'. čat it behouede to sette čerto alle če |r[82v] sharpenesse of mynde, with wakyng eyene of herte, puttyng aweye & leuyng alle očere cures & bisinesses for če tyme, & makynge him self as present in alle čat befelle aboute 30 čat passion & crucifixione, affectuesly, bisily, auisily & perseuerantly and not passing li¨tly, or with tediouse heuynes'. bot with alle če herte & gostly gladnes. Wherefore if čou čat redist or herest čis boke, haste herebefore bisily taken hede to čoo činges čat hauen be writen 35 & spoken of če blessede life of oure lorde Jesu criste in to čis tyme'. miche more now čou shalt gedire alle či mynde & alle če strengh of či soule to čoo činges čat folowen of his blessede passion. For here specialy is shewede his hye charite, če which resonably shold alle holely enflaume & brenne oure 40 hertes in his loue. Go we čan now to če processe of his passione, takyng hede & makyng vs in mynde as present, to alle čat foloweč. And first beholdyng how after če processe of če gospell of seynt John, oure lord Jesus after čat worči sopere was done, |p163 & čat noble & fructuose sermone endet whereof it is spoken in če next chapitre before, went with his disciples ouer če watere of Cedron in to a gardyne, in to če which he was wonte oft sičes to come with hees disciples, & čere he bade hem 5 abide & praye. And forčermore takyng with him hese čre speciale secretaries, čat is to sey Petur, James & Jone, & tellyng hem čat his herte was heuye & sorowfulle vnto če deč'. badde hem čere abide & wake with him in praieres. 10 And so a litel ferčere fro hem, as aboute če space of a stone cast vpon a litel hille'. mekely & reuerently knelyng vpon hese boče knene made his praiere to če fadere, deuoutely in manere as it foloweč after. Bot here abide we a litel while, & take we hede with 15 a deuout mynde of čis wondurfulle dede of oure lord Jesu, sočely worči to be hade in mynde in inwarde soroufulle compassion. For lo nowe he praieč to če fadere mekely, & čat for him self'. as we rede čat he hač oft before praiede, bot čan for 20 vs as for oure aduoket. Wherefore skilfully we sholde be stirede |r[83r] to inwarde compassion, & wondere here'. of če lowest mekenes of če moste perfite obedience & of če vnspekable charite of god shewede to vs, & first of čis moste profonde mekenes, consideryng him čat is verrey god euen 25 with če fadere almi¨ty & euerlastyng, so as it were for¨etyng him self as god, & so lowely praying as a nočere comune man of če peple. Also take hede of his most perfite obedience. For what is čat he preyeč? Sočely he praieč če fadere if it be his wille, 30 čat he be not slayne & put to čat harde deč, & ¨it with če fadere he hač ordeynet to take čat deč for manne. And so he praieč če fadere, & ¨it he is not herde after his wille čat is to sey after one maner of wille čat was in him. For čere was in him čre maner of wille, čat is to sey, first če wille of če flesh 35 & če sensualite, & čat grucchede & dredde & wold not gladely suffre deth. Also če wille of reson, & čat was obeschant & assentante, as če prophet ysaie seič of him, He was offrede vpon če crosse to če fadere for so was his wille. And če čridde was če wille of če godhede če which ¨afe če 40 sentence of his passione, & bade in alle maner to be done. Wherefore in als miche as he was verrey manne'. he dredde as man, after če first wille & was čen in grete anguysh. And čerfore inwardly haue compassion of him in als miche as čou may with alle či herte. For lo če fadere wille vtturly čat he be |p164 slayn & dede, & not wičstandyng čat he is his owne dere louede sone, ¨it he spareč him not, bot ¨iueč him to če deč for vs alle, & oure lorde Jesus takeč mekely čat obedience & fulfilleč after in dede, as če processe of his passione witnesseč 5 fullye. In če čridde poynt beholde če vnspekable charite of če fadere & če sone shewede to vs čat oweč worčely to be hade in inwarde compassione & hye wonder & wirchipe. For onely for oure sauacione'. čis harde deč is beden of če fadere & 10 taken of če sone. Beholde now how he praieč. Longe tyme knelyng vpon če grounde he spekeč to če fadere & seič in čees manere wordes, My dere fadere almi¨ty & ful of pite & mercye, I beseke če, čat čou herre my praiere & despise not my bede, 15 beholde to me & here me. For I am made sory in myn exercise of vertue, shewyng to myn |r[83v] enemyes pacience & charite, & čei not amendet, & so my spirite is in anguishe withinne me, & my herte greuously desturblete. Wherefore bowe čin ere to me & take hede to če voice of my bede. lt likede če fadere to 20 sende me in to če worlde, fort make aseeč for če wronge čat was done of man to ¨owe, & anone at ¨our wille & biddyng I was redye & seide lo I go, & so či sočfastnes & či hele'. I haue declarede & shewede, & I euere pore & in diuerse trauailes fro my ¨ouče, doyng či wille & alle čat čou hast 25 beden me'. am nowe redy to fulfille vtturly čoo činges čat bene ¨it to be done & fulle endete. čou seeste fadere če malice čat myne enemyes hauen conspirede a¨eynus me, & how I haue euere done čoo činges čat bene plesant to če, & done goode & benefices to hem čat haten me, & čei a¨eynwarde 30 hauen rewardet me yuel for gude, & hate for my loue, & so čei haue corrupte my disciple, & made him here ledere to destruye me, & hauen solde me & set my prise in thrittye penyes. Goode fadere I beseke če, čat čou do awey fro me čis 35 cuppe of sorowe, & bitter passione, čat is ordeynet to me to drinke. And elles be či wille fulfillede. Bot my dere fadere rise vp in to my helpe, & haste če to socour me at my nede. For be it so fadere čat čei know me not čine sočfast sone'. neuerles sičen I haue ladde amonge hem 40 a ri¨twise & innocent life, & also done to hem many gude dedes'. čei sholde not be so cruele & so maliciouse a¨eynus me. Haue in mynde gude fadere how I haue stante in či siht fort speke euer če gude of hem. Bot lo now čei ¨eldene yuel |p165 for gude, & hauene ordeynet če vileste deč for me. Wherfore čou lorde čat seest al činge'. rise in to my helpe & leue me not. For grete tribulacion is now nihe, & čere is none čat wille & may helpe bot čou alone. 5 And after čis praiere oure lorde Jesus turnyng a¨eyn to hese disciples'. woke hem & confortede hem ¨it to praye. And eft če seconde tyme & če čridde tyme turnede a¨eyn to hese praiere in diuerse places alitel fro očere, as in če space of a stones caste lihtlye withoute grete strengh, & continuede če 10 forseide praiere to če fadere, |r[84r] addyng to & seying, Fadere rihtwise, if it so be čat čou haste ordeynet & wilt in alle manere čat I suffre če deč vpon če crosse'. či wille be fulfillede. Bot I recommende to če fadere my swete modere & my disciples, če whech I haue kept in to čis tyme, alle če 15 while I haue bene duellyng with hem. And with čis prayere čat precious & holiest blode of his blessede bodie'. brekyng out in manere of swote'. droppede done in to če erče abundantly in čat grete agonye & herde bataile. 20 Sočely here is grete matire of sorowe & compassione, čat ouht to stire če hardest herte čat is in čis worlde to haue inwarde compassion of čat grete & souereyn anguish čat oure lorde Jesus suffrede in čat tyme, & for oure sake. For by če godhede he sawh če hardest & souereyn peynes čat were to 25 come in his bodie. And čerfore after če manhede, his tendure bodie, for fere & anguysh'. brake out violently on blode. Take hede also here, čat is specialy to be notede a¨eynus oure impacience how oure lorde Jesus preyeč čre tymes or he hač answere fro če fadere. 30 Bot čen at če čridde tyme when oure lorde Jesus was in so grete anguishe of spirite as it is seide'. lo če prince of goddus angeles Michael, stondyng by him confortede him & seide, Heil my lord Jesu, ¨oure deuoute praiere & ¨our blody swete I haue offrede & shewede to če fadere in siht of alle če 35 blessede court, & we alle fallyng done before him, hauene besouht him, to put awey fro ¨owe čis bitter drinke of ¨our passione. Bot če fadere answerede & seide, My derelouede sone knoweč wele, čat če redempcion of mankynde, če whiche we desirene so of oure hie charite'. may not be fulfilled & 40 done, so conueniently & resonably'. without shedyng of his blode. Wherefore if he wole če hele of soules'. it behoueč him to dye for hem. And čerfore my lorde, what deme ¨e nowe in čis matire? Oure lorde Jesus answerede čen to če angele, I wole in alle maner če hele & sauacion of soules. And čerfore |p166 I chese račere to suffre če deč, where čorh če soules čat če fadere hač made vnto his likenes mowen be sauede'. čan I wolde not dye, |r[84v] & če soules be not a¨eyn bouht. Wherefore my fadere wille be fulfillede. And čan seide če angele to him, 5 Beč čen now of gude confort my lorde, & worcheč manfully. For it is semely to him čat is in hye degre'. to do grete činges & worči, & to him čat is a manful man'. to suffre harde činges. For čoo činges čat bene harde & peynful shole sone passe, & čoo činges čat bene ioyful & gloriose shole come 10 after. če fadere seič čat he is & shale be euere with ¨owe, & čat he sal kepe ¨our dere modere & ¨our disciples, at ¨our wille, & shale ¨iue hem safe a¨eyne to ¨owe. And so če gude meke lorde toke benynglye čis manere of confort, & čat of his creature, consideryng him self after če kynde of manne, lasse 15 in worčinesse čen angeles, for če tyme of če dedely life in čis world, & so he was sorouful as man, & so he was confortede of če angeles wordes as man, & so he toke his leue of him, praiyng him to recommende him to če fadere & alle če court of heuen. 20 And čan čis čridde tyme he rose vp fro his praiere, alle če bodie blodye, whome čou maiht beholde with inwarde compassion how he wipeč his bodye, or elles perauenture washeč him priuely in če ryuere & so gretely pynede in his body, & čat is reuerently to be hade in sorouful compassion. 25 For without grete bitternes of sorow'. čis miht not befalle to him. Neuerles doctours & wise clerkes seyne, čat oure lorde Jesus praiede če fadere in čis manere'. not onely for drede of his passion'. bot also for če grete pite & mercie čat he hade of his first peple če Jewes, sorowyng čat čei sholde be loste by 30 occasion of his deč. For čei sholde not haue slayn him namely sičen he was of hir kynde, & was also contynede writen in hir lawe as criste to come & čerwič shewede hem so many grete benefices. Wherefore he praiede če fadere to čis entent čus, My 35 fadere, if it mowe be wič če hele & če sauacion of Jues čat če multitude of očer folke be turnede to byleue'. I forsake če passion & če deč. Bot if it be nedeful čat če Jues be blyndet in hir malice, so čat očer folke mowe haue siht in trewe beleue'. not my wille bot čine be fulfillede & done, čat is to 40 sey after če first manere of wille |r[85r] in hym as it is seide before. Aftere čis he came to his disciples & seide to hem, Nowe slepeč & resteč, for čei hade slept a litel before čere. Sočely he as a gude herde, was ful wakkely & bisye vpon če |p167 kepyng of čat litel flokke, hees bylouede disciples. O trewe loue, sočely he louede hem in to če vttrest, čat in so grete anguish & so bitter agonye, was so bisye to procure hir hele & hir reste. 5 čan sawh oure lorde after hees aduersaries comyng with torches & armes, & ¨it he wolde not wake & reise hees disciples til čei comen nihe hem, & čan he seide to hem, lt sufficeč now, ¨e haue slept ynowh. Lo he čat shale bytraye me is nihe at hande. 10 And čerwič came čat wikked Judas če fals traytoure & worst marchant before hem, & boldly kissed čat innocent lambe his lorde Jesus. For as it is writen, če manere of custome, čat oure lorde vsede of his grete benyngnite was'. what tyme hese disciples were sent forč'. at hir comynge a¨eyn 15 fort receyue hem in louely kosse, & čerfore čat traytour went before & kissed him as who seič, I am not comene with čese armede men'. bot in maner as here before I was wonte & at myne a¨eyn comynge, & kisse če & seič, Heile maistere. Oo verrey traitour! Take nowe gude hede to oure lord 20 Jesu, how paciently & benyngly he receyueč čat fals feynede clippyng, & traytours kosse, of čat vnseily disciple'. whos feete he woshe a litel before of his souereyne mekenes, & fedde him with čat hye precious mete of his owne blessede bodye, čorh his vnspekable charite. 25 And also beholde how paciently he suffreč him self to be takene, bonden, smyten & wodely ladde forč, as čei he were a thefe or a wikked doare, & in alle maner vnmihty to help him self. And also take hede how he hač inwarde sorowe & compassion of hees disciples, fleyng fro him & erryng, & 30 also čou maiht se here grete sorow of hem, how a¨eynus hir wille, by freelty of mannus drede, čei goyn fro him, makyng grete mournyng, & wič hye sihhyng as faderles childrene, not wittyng what to do, & ¨it was hir sorowe miche more, seyng hir maister & lorde so vileynsly ferde with, & čo helle hondes, 35 drawynge him as a beest to sacrifice, & him as a meke lambe wič oute |r[85v] resistence folowyng.  Now forčermore beholde how he is ladde of čoo vileste wrecches fro čat ryuere vp towarde če cite of Jerusalem, & čat hastilye & with grete pyne, hauyng hees 40 handes bonden byhynde hym as a thefe, girde aboue his kote, bot not curiously, & his mantile drawen fro him, & goyng barehede & stoupyng for če grete haste & trauaile čat čei made him to haue. |p168  And whenne he was brouht before če princes of preestes, & če scribes & če alderemenne čat were čan gederet abydyng his comyng'. gladde were čei čan examinyng him & aposyng sotelye in many questiones, & procuryng fals witnesse 5 a¨eynus him, & spittyng on hys holiest face, & hidyng hese eyene'. čei buffetede him scornyng & seying, Prophecie nowe, & telle vs who smote če last, and so in many maneres čei vexede & tormentede him, & he in alle shewede hie pacience. Wherefore here we oweč to haue inwarde compassion of alle 10 čat he suffrede so for vs.  At če last če grete maistres went hir weye, puttyng him in to a maner of prison čere vndur a loft, & čere čei bonden him to a stonen pilere as men seyne čat haue seen it. And also čere čei laft with him sume armede men to kepe him 15 for more sikernes, če whech alle čat niht vexede him in skornynges & shrewede wordes. Abreydyng him & reprouyng in čees maner wordes as we resonably mowe suppose:  Wendust čou to be better & wisere čan oure princes & maistres of če lawe? What vnwitte & folye was čat in če to 20 reprehende hem? čou sholdest not haue bene so hardy ones fort haue oponede či mouče a¨eynus hem. Bot now sheweč či lewede witte. For now čou standest as it besemeč to suche as čou art, withoute dout čou art worči če deč, & čerfore čou shalt haue it, and so alle čat niht nowe one & now a nočere by 25 wordes & dedes skornede him & reprouede him.  Take hede also on čat očere side of oure lorde as shamefast paciently in silence haldyng his pees to alle čat čei putte vpon him, kastyng done towarde če erče his chere, as čei he were gilty & taken in blame, & here haue [inwardly] 30 compassion.  A lorde Jesu in to whos handes art čou now comen, how mikel is či pacience? |r[86r] Sočely čis is če houre & če powere of derkenes. And so stode he bonden vnto čat pilere vnto če morowe. 35  In če mene tyme John čat hade folowede oure lorde, went to oure lady & Maudleyn & očer of hir felawes, čat were čat tyme gederet in maudleyn house, where he hade made če sopere before, & tolde hem alle čat was befalle of oure lorde & hese disciples, & čen was čere vnspekable sorowe, criyng 40 & wepyng. Take nowe entent to hem, & haue compassion of hem, for čei bene in če grettest disese & hyest sorowe for hir lorde. For čei seene now wele & fully trowen čat he shale be dede. |p169 At če last oure lady drowe hir by hir self, & turnede hir in to praiere & seide, Most wirchipeful fadere, most piteuous fadere, & moste mercyful fadere, I recommende to ¨ow ¨oure awne & my derrest louede sone. Gude fadere beč 5 not to him cruele, sičen ¨he bene to alle očer beninge. Fadere euerlastyng, whečer my dere sone shale be dede? Sočely he dide neuer ille. Bot rihtwise fadere, if ¨he wole če redempcion of mankynde'. I beseke ¨ow if it may be čat it be fulfillede by a nočer maner, & čat my sone be not dede if it be ¨our wille, 10 for alle činge is possible to ¨ow. He helpeč not him self, by cause of ¨oure obedience & reuerence, bot hač in maner forsake him self, & made him as feble & vnmihty among hees enemyes. Wherefore merciful fadere help ¨e him & delyuer him fro hir handes, & ¨iue him me a¨eyn. By seche maner 15 wordes praiede oure lady for hir sone, with alle hir miht of soule & in grete sorowe, & čerfore haue here pite of hir whom čou seest in so grete affliccione. Of če bryngynge of oure lord Jesu before pilate at prime. Capitulum xlj. 20 |r čE fridaye erely on če morowe če princes & souereynes of če peple comen a¨eyn to če forseide place, where čei hadde laft oure lorde Jesu & maden hese handes be bonden byhynde him & seiden čus to him, Come now with vs, come thefe to či dome, for čis day či wikked dedes shole haue 25 an ende, & nowe shale be knowen či wisdam.  And so čei ladden him to Pilate če Justice, & he folowede |r[86v] hem as a innocent lambe. And when his modere & Jone & očer women of hir companye, čat went oute erely fort here & se of him'. metten 30 with him at a crosse weye, & seene him with so grete a multitude of peple, ladde as a thefe, & so foule & disputesly ferde with'. with how grete sorow čei were čan fulfillede'. it miht not be spoken. And so in čat metyng to gedire of oure lorde Jesu & 35 hem'. & siht of očere'. čere was grete sorowe on boče parties. For oure lorde also hade grete sorowful compassion of his modere, & čo očer with hir, & namely of his modere čat he knewe in so grete sorowe for him, as čei če soule sholde be departede fro če bodie. Wherefore also we oweč in alle čees 40 to haue grete compassion. |p170 čanne as it is seide oure lorde was ladde to Pilate, & čei foloweden aferre for čei miht not come nihe for peple. He was čere accusede of many činges, če whech čei miht not preue, & čerfore Pilate sende him to Heroude as če gospelle 5 of Luke telleč. And for als miche as Heroude miht neičer haue worde of him, nor miracle done, as he desirede'. he helde him bot a fole. Wherfore as in scorne, he lete cloče him in white'. and so sende him a¨eyn to pylate. 10 And so čou maiht se čat oure lorde not onely is halden as a thefe & a wikked doere'. bot also as a foole. čus as seynt gregour seič, done holy doctours & prechours, folowyng oure lorde Jesu'. when čei seene če hereres, onely desire & loke after curiosite, & profitten not in 15 amendment of yuel lyuyng'. čei chesen račere in silence to be halde as foiles'. čen to shewe hemself in prechinge, without fruyt of soules. Beholde nowe forčermore če grete pacience of oure lorde in alle čat is done to him. For čei ledene him čorh če 20 cite towarde & frawarde as a fole, hangyng done his hede in shamefast manere, & paciently herynge reproues, scornynges, criynges, & suffryng many despites as perantere in castynge of stones at him, or of fenne & vnclannes vpon him. And also beholde his modere & hese očer frendes, with 25 vnspekable sorowe on ferre after folowyng. When he was čan brouht a¨eyne to Pilate, & čoo cursede hondes bisily & stiffely stodene in hir fals accusaciones'. pilate knowyng |r[87r] hir enuye wolde haue delyuerede him & seide, I finde no cause of deč in čis manne. 30 Wherfore I shale vndirnyme him & chastise him, & so leue him amendet. O pilate, pilate, wolt čou reprehende & chastise či lorde god? čou woste not what čou doist, for he neuer deseruede betyng nor deth. Bot čou sholdest do better & more 35 rihtwisely, if čou woldest chastise & amende či self at his wille. And čan at če biddyng of pylate, čat he sholde be scourgete & beten'. oure lord was despoilete, bonden to a pilere, & harde & sore scourgete, & so stant he nakede before 40 hem alle, čat fairest ¨onge manne of alle childrene čat euer were born takyng paciently of čoo foulest wrecches, če hardest & moste bitter strokes of scourges, & so is čat moste innocent, faireste & clennest flesh, floure of alle mankynde, alle to rente & fulle of wondes, rennyng out of alle sides čat preciouse |p171 kynges blode. And so longe betene & scourgete with wonde vpon wonde & brisoure vpon brisour'. til boče če lokeres & če smyters were werye, & čen was he bidene to be vnbonden. Sočely če pylere čat he was bonden to'. ¨it scheweč če 5 steppes of his blode as it is contenede in stories. Take now here gude hede by inwarde meditacion of alle hees peynes abidyngly, & bot čou fynde či herte melte in to sorouful compassion'. suppose fully & halde, čat čou hast to harde a stonene herte. 10 čanne was fulfilled in dede, čat če prophete ysaie seide of him longe tyme before, We seene him in čat tyme, & čere was none semlynesse nor beutye in hym, & we helde him as foule as a leprose manne čat were smitene done & made lowe of god. Wherfore we set no rewarde of him. Oo lorde Jesu, 15 who was he so fole hardye čat dorst despoile če? Bot who were čei miche worse hardy čat dorst bynde če? Bot ¨it who were čei alčere werst & moste foole hardye, čat dorst so bitterly bete če & scourge če? Bot sočely čou sonne of rihtwisnes, at čat tyme 20 wičdrowest či bemes of liht, & čerfore alle was in derkenes, & in če miht of wikkednes. For nowe alle čine enmyes bene more mihtye čan čou, & čat made či loue & oure malice. Cursede be |r[87v] čat malice & wikkednes of sinne, wherfore čou were so tormentede & pynede. 25 Aftere he was vnbonden fro čat pilere'. čei ladden him so beten & nakede aboute be house sekynge after hese cločes, čat were cast in diuerse places of hem čat despoilede him. And here haue compassion of him in so grete colde quakyng & tremelyng, for as če gospelle witnesseč it was čanne harde 30 colde. And when he wolde haue done on hees cločes'. sume of čoo moste wikkede wičstoden & comene to pylate & seide, Lorde, he čis made him self a kynge. Wherfore let vs cloče him & corone him as a kynge. And čen čei token an olde silken mantelle of redde, & kast on him, & madene a garlande 35 of sharpe čornes, & črist vpon his hede & putten in his hande a rede as for a sceptre, & alle he paciently suffreč, & after when čei knelede & saluede him in scorne, seyinge heile kynges of Jewes'. he helde his pees & spake not. Now beholde him with sorowe of herte, namely when 40 čei smitene him greuously & oft sičes vpon če hede, ful of sharpe čornes, če whech persede greuously in to če brayne panne, & made it alle fulle of blode, & so čei scornede him as čei he wolde haue reignede, bot čat he miht not'. & alle he suffreč as hir seruante or knafe. |p172 Oo wrecches, how dredeful sal čat hede apere at če laste to ¨ow če which ¨e smyten now so boldly. And ¨it čis sufficeč not to hir malice'. bot to more reproue & scorn of him čei gederet alle hir wikkede companye 5 first to wondre vpon him in če hous, & after čei brouht him out before pylate, & alle če peple in čat manere illudet with če corone of čornes, & čat olde purpure vestiment. Se now for goddus loue, how he stant in čat maner, hangyng če face done towarde če erče before alle če grete 10 multitude criyng & askyng of pilate, Crucifye, crucifie him, & scornyng him čat he wolde make him wisere čan če princes & če pharisees & če doctours of če lawe, & how his wisdome was turnede in to so grete folie at it shewede in čat tyme. And so not onely he suffrede grete peynes & sorow in his body 15 withinforč'. bot also many |r[88r] & foule obreydynges & reproues withoutforth. How oure lorde Jesus was dampnet to če deth of če crosse about tierce of če day. Capitulum xlij=m=. |r Aftere čat oure lorde Jesus was longe tyme so 20 tormentede & illudet as it is seide, & če princes of če Jues with grete instance continuely askedene & madene alle če multitude with hem to crie & aske čat he sholde be crucifiede'. at če last če wretchede Justice Pilate dredyng more to offende hem čen to condempne če innocent wrongwisly'. ¨af če 25 sentence vpon him at hir wille, & so dampnet him to be hanget on če crosse. And čan were če princes & če pharisees & če aldermenne ioyful & glade, čat čei hade hir entent fulfillede. čei haue not in mynde če grete benefices & če 30 wondurfull dedes čat he hač shewede hem. And also čei be not mouede to pite for his innocence, & čat is more cruelte in hem, čei be not slakede nor withdrawen fro hir malice by če grete despites & peynes čat čei haue seene & done to him before'. bot laghen & maken ioy, & scornene him čat is verrey 35 godde & may dampne hem to euerlastyng deč. And so čei now bysyen hem in alle čat čei may to bringe him hastely to his deč. Wherfore he is ladde inne a¨eyn to če hous, where he was before scourgete & illudete, & čer was drawe fro him čat |p173 olde purpure mantele, & so he alle naked was beden to cloče him self a¨eyn. Now with inwarde compassion beholde him here in maner as I seide before onelich after če manhede, so passyng 5 faire a ¨onge manne, most innocent & most louely in čat maner alle to rent, & wondet, & alle blody nakede with a maner of schamefastnes gederyng hese cločes, in diuerse places of čat hous, as čei were deskaterede by čoo harlotes, doyng hem on in honest maner before hem čat euere laghen 10 him to scorn, as čei he were če most wrech of alle očer forsaken of god, & withouten alle maner socoure or help. Wherfore nowe take hede diligently to him, & haue wondre of čat grete profonde mekenes of him, & in als miche as čou may conforme če to folowe him by pacience & 15 mekenes & suffryng of wronges for his loue. And go forth with him & beholde howe after he hač done on hees cločes'. čei leden him forč in grete haste, & layn |r[88v] vpon him čat wirchipefulle tre of če crosse, čat was heuye & fulle longe, čat is to sey as it is writen in stories, xv fote of lengh, če which 20 he as a meke & most pacient lambe, takeč vpon hese sholderes & bereč forč. And so was he ladde forče with hees tweyn felauhes, čat were thefes & dampnet to če self deth, & čis is his felawshipe at čis tyme. Oo gude lorde Jesu what shame done čei to ¨owe, čei 25 čat sholde be ¨our frendes, čei maken ¨ow felawe to čefes, [¨]ei & ¨it čei done worse'. for čei maken ¨ow to bere ¨oure crosse, čat is not radde of hem. Wherfore not onely as če prophete ysaie seič, ¨e bene put with wikked doeres & čefes'. bot also with worse čan 30 thefes. Sočely lorde či pacience may not be spoken. Forčermore as to če processe, seyng his dere modere čat she miht not folowe him nihe for če grete multitude of peple about him'. she toke a nočer wey more short in hast, with Jone & očer of hir felawshipe, so čat she miht mete with 35 him before očer by čat weye. And when she mette with him, without če ¨ate of če Cite, čere as tweyne weyes meten to gedire, & sauhe him charget & ouerleide with so grete a tre of če crosse, če which she sawe not before'. she was alle out of hir self, & half dede 40 for sorowe, so čat neičer she miht speke to him one worde nor he to hir bycause of če grete haste of hem čat ladden him to če iewes. And alitel after oure lorde turnede him to če women čat folowede him wepyng, & seide vnto hem. ¨he douhteres |p174 of Jerusalem, wepeč not on me bot on ¨our self, & so forč after če gospel. And in čees tweyn places were after made chirches in mynde of čees činges, as čei seyne čat haue seene hem. 5 Forčermore bycause čat če monte of Caluarie where he was crucifiede, was a gret space fro če ¨ate of če cyte, & he was after so ouercome wič trauaile & werie, čat he miht no lengire bere čat heuy crosse'. he leide it done. Bot če cursede tormentours, & čei ful of malice, dredyng fort differre his deč, 10 lest čat Pilate wolde haue clepede a¨eyn his sentence & dome, for he shewede before a wille to haue delyueret him'. čei maden a nočer manne |r[89r] čat was clepede Symonde, to bere če crosse with him, & ladden him so descharget of če crosse, bot čan bonden hees handes byhynde him, as a čefe, to čat place 15 of his iewes če monte of Caluarie. Nowe if čou take gude hede to alle čat hač bene done to oure lorde Jesu, & alle čat he hač suffrede, at matyne tyme & pryme & tierce, in to čis tyme'. shale it not be sene to če as matire of grete compassion of his grete passion & sorow? 20 Sočely I trowe ¨is. And namely if čou wilt nowe make in či mynde a recapitulacione, & reherse in generale čat he hač suffrede, & čat hač be done to him in to čis tyme. For what is it to čenke, čat oure lorde Jesus verrey god 25 blessede aboue alle čiuges fro če houre čat he was taken in če niht in to čis tyme of his crucifiyng was in continuele bataile, in grete reproues, despites & sorowes, illusiones & tormentes. For čere was ¨iuen him no reste, bot euer trauaile in peynes & sorow. 30 And if čou wolt knawe in what conflicte & bataile he was'. beholde & se. First one despitesly leič hande on him & takeč him. A nočer is redy & harde byndeč him. A nočer criynge putteč vpon him blasfeme. A nočere spitteč in his face. A nočer 35 sotely askeč of him many questiones in deceite fort accuse him. A nočer is bisy to bryng fals wittenes a¨eynus him. Anočer draweč him forth before če Justice. A nočere stiffely accuseč him. Anočer hideč his eyene. A nočer buffeteč & scorneč him. Anočer after despoileč him. A nočer byndeč him 40 harde to če pilere. A nočer with sharpe scourges sore beteč him. A nočer vnbyndeč him. A nočer casteč on him čat olde selken mantelle. A nočer setteč a croune of sharpe čornes on his hede. A nočer pitteč in to his hande a rede. A nočere takeč it wodely fro him, & smyteč his sore hede ful of čornes. A |p175 nočer in scorn knelič before him, & so forč now one & now anočer & diuerse & many, with alle hir witte & miht byseyn hem to torment him in če worst manere. čei leden him as a thefe, nowe to če bishope Anne & now to Caiphas, nowe to 5 Pilate & nowe to Heroude, now hiderwarde & now čiderewarde, nowe inne & nowe oute. Oo my lorde god, what is alle čis? Loo čenke če not here a fulle harde |r[89v] & continuele bitter bataile? ¨itte abide a litel while, & čou salt se hardere. 10 čei stande stiffely a¨eynus him alone, če princes & če pharisees & če scribes, with čousandes of če peple, criyng alle with one voice čat he be crucifiede. And at če laste če Justice Pilate ¨iueč če dome čat he be crucifiede, & anone čat heuye crosse was leide on hees 15 sholdres čat were alle to rente & broken with wondes of hees scourgyng. Now forčermore beholde či lorde Jesu, so goyng forče with his crosse on his bake, & how čanne out of če cite at alle ¨ates rennene boče citesenes & strangeres of alle degres, not 20 onely gentiles'. but also če foulest Ribawdes & wyne drinkeres, not to haue compassion of him, bot to wondre vpon him, & scorne him. čere is none čat wole knawe him by pitevous affeccion'. bot račer with če fenne & očer vnclannes, alle čei despisene 25 & reprouene him. And so as če prophete seič, he is now as in a parabole in alle hir moučes. And čo čat seten in če ¨ates as iuges spekene a¨eynus him, & čoo čat dronken če wyne in hir luste'. maden hir songe of him. 30 čus was he drawene & hastede by grete violence, without reste'. til he came to čat foule stinkyng place of Caluarie, where was set če ende & če reste of čis harde bataile čat we speken of. Bot what maner reste is čat, whereof we now shole 35 trette? Sočely čat harde tre & de th, sharpere čan če bataile. Lo what reste? certayn če bedde of sorow. čus maiht čou se in generale contemplacion how harde a batail či lorde hač suffrede in to čis sixte houre, whereof now we shole trete, folowyng če processe of his blessede 40 passion. |p176 Of če crucifiyng of oure lorde Jesu atte če sixte houre. Capitulum xliij=m=. |r NOw forčermore maiht čou se whan oure lord Jesus was come to čat stinkyng hille of Caluarie'. how wikkedly čoo 5 cursede werke menne begunne to worche on alle sides čat cruele werke. Take hede now diligently with alle či herte, alle čo činges čat be now to come, & make če čere present in či mynde, beholdyng alle čat shale be done a¨eynus či lorde Jesu 10 & čat bene spoken or done of him. And so wič če innere eye of či soule beholde |r[90r] sume, settyng & ficching če crosse fast in to če erče. Sume makyng redye če nailes & če hameres to dryue hem wič. Očere makyng redy & settyng vp laddres, & ordeinyng očer instrumentis čat hem čouht nedeful, & očer 15 faste aboute to spoile him, & drawe of hees cločes. And so is he now če čridde tyme spoilede & standeč nakede in siht of alle čat peple, & so bene nowe če čridde tyme renvede če brisours of če wondes in his scourgyng by če cleuyng of če cločes to his flesh. 20 Now also first his modere seeč how he is so takene & ordeynede to če deth. Wherefore she sorouful out of mesure, & hauyng shame to se him standyng alle nakede. For čei laft him not so miche as hese pryue cločes'. she went in haste to hir dere sone, & clippede him & girde him aboute če leendes 25 with če kerchefe of hir hede. Aa lorde in what sorowe is hir soule nowe? Sočely I trowe čat she miht not speke one worde to him for sorowe. Bot she miht do no more to him nor help him. For if she miht without doute she wolde. 30 čanne was hir sone anone taken oute of hir handes in wode manere, & ladde to če fote of če crosse. Now take hede diligently to če maner of crucifying. čere bene sette vp tweyn laddres, one behynde & a nočere before at če lift arme of če crosse, vpon če whech čoo wikked 35 ministres gone vp with nailes & hameres. Also a nočer short laddre is sette before če crosse čat lasteč vp to če place where hees feete sholde be nailede. Now take gude hede to alle čat foloweč. Oure lorde čanne was compellede & beden fort go vp one čat laddre to če 40 crosse, & he mekely doče alle čat čei bedene him. And when he came vp to če ouerest ende of čat short laddre'. he turnede his bakke to če crosse, & streyht out one brede čoo kynges armes, & hese fairest handes ¨afe vp to hem čat crucifiede |p177 him. And čan liftyng vp hees louely eyene to heuen seide to če fadere in čees maner wordes, Loo here I am my dere fadere as čou woldest čat I sholde lowe my self vnto če crosse, for če sauacion of mankynde, & čat is pleisyng & acceptable to 5 me, & for hem I offre my self'. če whech čou woldest sholde be my |r[90v] brečerne. Wherefore also čou fadere take gladely čis sacrifice for hem of me, & now hečen forwarde be plesede & wele willede to hem for my loue, & alle olde offense & trespasse for¨iue & wipe awey, & put aferre alle vnclannes of 10 sinne fro hem. For sočely I offre here now my self for hem & hir hele. And čan he čat was on če laddere behynde če crosse'. takeč his riht hande & naileč it fast to če crosse. And after he čat was on če lift side draweč wič alle his miht če lift arme 15 & hande, & driueč čerčorh a nočere grete naile. After čei comen done & taken awey alle če laddres & so hangeč oure lorde onely by čoo tweyn nailes smyten čorh hees handes without sustenance of če body, drawyng donwarde peynfully čorh če weiht čerof. 20 Herewič also a nočer harlote renneč to, & draweč done hese feete with alle his miht, & anočer anone driueč a grete longe naile čorh boče hese feete ioynede to očer. čis is one maner of his crucifiyng after če opinione of sume men. 25 Očere čere bene čat trowen čat he was not crucifiede in čis manere'. bot čat first liggyng če crosse on če gronde'. čei nailede him čere vpon, & after with him so hangyng čei liften vp če crosse & festen it done in če erče. And if it were done in čis manere'. čan maist čou se, 30 howe vileynsly čei taken him as a ribaude & kasten him done vp on če crosse, & čan as wode čefes drowen on boče sides first hees handes & after hees feete, & so nailede him fast to če crosse, & after with alle hir miht liften vp če crosse with him hangyng als hye as čei miht & čan lete it falle done in to 35 če morteise. In če which falle as čou may vndurstande, alle če senewes to breken, to his souereyn peyne. Bot whečer so it be in one maner or in očere'. soče it is čat oure lorde Jesus was nailede harde vpon če crosse, hande & foote, & so streynede 40 & drawen'. čat as he himself seič by če prophete Dauid, čat čei mihten telle & noumbre alle hees bones. čan rennene out of his blessed body čee stremes of čat holiest blode, on alle sides abundantly fro čo grete wondes, & |p178 so is he constreynede & artede'. čat he may not meve bot his hede. Wherefore hangyng če body onely by čo čre nailes'. no doute bot čat |r[91r] he suffreč so bitter sorowes & peynes'. čat 5 čere may no herte čenke, nor tonge telle. And ¨it more ouere, he hangeč by twix two thefes, of če whech čat one'. blasfemeč & tempteč him to impacience. And čerwič očer blasfemyng & skornyng seyene, Vaath čis is he čat destrueč če temple of god, & makeč it vp a¨eyn in čre 10 daies. And očer seiden, He made očer safe bot he may not now saue himself. And mani očere reproues & scornynges čei seidene to him as če gospelle telleč. And alle čese reproues, blasfemies & despites ben done, seynge & heryng his most sorowful modere, whose 15 compassion & sorowe made him hir sone to haue če more bitter peyne. And on čat očere halfe she hange in soule with hir sone on če crosse & desirede inwardly račer to haue diede čat tyme with him'. čan to haue lyuede lengire. 20 And so stode če modere byside če crosse of hir sone, bytwix his crosse & če čefes crosse'. she turnede neuer hir eyene fro him, she was full of anguysh as he was also. And she preide to če fadere at čat tyme, with alle hir herte seying čus, Fadere & god without ende it was pleisyng to ¨ow čat my 25 sone solde be crucifiede'. & it is done. lt is not now tyme to aske him of ¨owe a¨eyn, bot ¨e seene nowe in what anguish is his soule. I beseke ¨ow čat ¨he wille ese his peynes, gode fadere I recommende vnto ¨ow in alle čat I may my dere sone. And also he hir sone praiede for hir priuely in himself 30 seying: Mi fadere ¨he knawen how my modere is tormentede for me. I sholde onely be crucifiede & not shee. But loo now she hangeč on če crosse with me'. Mine owne crucifiynge sufficeč, for I bere če synnes of alle če peple. She hač not 35 deseruet any seche činge. Wherfore I recommende hir to ¨owe, čat ¨he make hir peynes lesse. čanne was with oure lady Jone & Maudeleyn če belouede disciplesse & očere of his frendes by če crosse of oure lord Jesu, če whech alle maden grete sorowe & wepten 40 & miht not be confortede in no manere of her belouede maister, bot euer was her sorow renvede with his sorowe, aučere in reproues or in dedes, |r[91v] as it foloweč aftere. |p179 How oure lorde Jesus ¨elde vp če spirite at none. Capitulum xliiij=m=. |r Now hangeč oure lorde Jesus on če crosse in grete peyne, & ¨it is he not ydul by cause of čat peyne'. bot he 5 wrouht alle waye & spake čat was profitable for vs. Wherefore so hangyng he spake vij notable wordes, čat bene fonden writen in če gospelle. če first was in če tyme čat čei crucifiede him, when he praiede for hem seying čus, Fadere for¨iue hem, for čei wite 10 not what čei done. če which worde, was a worde of grete pacience, of grete loue, & of vnspekable beningnite. če seconde was to his modere, seying čus, Woman loo či sone, & also to Jone, Loo či modere. He clepede hir not at čat tyme, modere, lest she sholde čorh feruent tendirnes of 15 loue haue bene more sorye. če čridde was to če blessede thefe seying čis day čou shalt be with me in paradise, whereinne his moost large mercye opunly is shewede. če ferče was when he seide, Helye Helye, 20 Lamazabathanye, čat is to sey, My god, My god, whi hast čou forsake me, as čei he seide in čis sentence. My god fadere of heuen, čou hast so miche louede če redempcion of če worlde'. čat čou hast ¨iuen me čerfore, & as it semeč forsaken. Lorde Jesu what confort was čat forseide worde to alle 25 čine enemies'. & what disconfort to alle či freendes? Sočely as it semeč čer was neuer worde čat oure lorde Jesus spake čat ¨afe so miche boldenes to hees enemyes, & so miche occasion to his frendes fort despeire čat he was god'. as čat worde. For [čei] vndirstode it čat tyme bot nakedly after če letter sowneč. 30 Bot oure lord wolde shewe in to če last ende, čat as he suffrede in body fully after če kynde of man'. so also in his spekyng after če infirmite of man, čat he was verrey man suspendyng for če tyme če vse of alle če miht of če godhede. če fyft worde was, I am črestye, če whech worde also 35 was occasion to his modere & Jone & očer frendes of grete compassione'. & to hees wikked enemyes of grete reioycing & gladnes. For čouh it so be čat it may be vndirstande čat worde |r[92r] I čriste, gostely to čat entent, čat he črestede čanne če hele of soules'. Neuerles also in sočenes he čristede bodily bycause 40 of če grete passing out of blode wherečorh he was alle drye wičinforč & čristy. |p180 And čen čoo wikked deuels lymes, čat euer caste how čei miht moste nuye him'. token aisele & galle & proferede him vp to drinke. Oo cursede wodenes of hem, čat bene neuer fillede 5 with malice, bot in alle tyme nuyene als miche as čei kunne or mowen. če sixte worde was when he seide'. Consummatum est, it is alle endete. As čei he seide čus, Fadere če obedience, čat čou hast ¨iuen me'. I haue perfitely & fully done in dede, & 10 ¨it I am redy to do what so čou bidde me. Bot alle čat is writen of me'. is now fulfillede. Wherfore if it be či wille'. clepe me now a¨eyn to če. And čanne seide če fadere, Come now my swete louede sone, čou hast wele done alle činges, & I wole not čat 15 čou be more tormentede, & čerfore come nowe, for I shale clippe če with myn armes & take če in to my bosume. And after čat tyme oure lorde began to faile in siht in manere of diynge menne, & wax alle pale now stekyng če eyene & now opunyng, & lowde his hede now in to one side 20 & now in to a nočer side, failyng alle če strenghes, & alle če vaynes čan voide. And so atte če last he putte če seuenče worde, with a stronnge crye & wepynge teres seying čus, Fadere I commende my spirite in to či handes, & čerwič he ¨elte če 25 spirite, bowynge his hede vpon his breeste towarde če fadere as in maner of čonkyng, čat he clepede him to him, & ¨iuyng him his spirite. Atte čis crye čan was conuertede Centurio, čere beynge & seide, Sočely čis manne was goddus sone, by cause čat he 30 sawh him so criynge dye. For očer menne when čei dyene mowe not crie. Wherfore he beleuede in him. Sočly čis crie was so grete as holi men seyne'. čat it was herde in to helle. Oo lord god in what state was čat tyme his modere 35 soule, when she sawh him so peynfully faile, wepe & dye? Sočely I trowe čat for če multitude of anguishes she was alle out of hir self & vnfelable made as half dede, & čat now mich more'. |r[92v] čan what tyme she mette with him, beringe če crosse as it is seide. 40 What trowe we didene čen Maudleyn če trewe louede disciplesse, what John his awne derlyng, & očer tweyn sistres of oure lady? Bot what miht čei do? čei were alle fulle of sorowe & bitternes, & čerfore čei weptene sore without remedye. |p181 Loo now hangeč oure lorde on če crosse dede, & alle čat grete multitude goče awey towarde če cite, & his sorouful modere with če foure forseide felawes, sette hir done by side če crosse, & beholdeč piteuously hir dere sone so ferd wič & 5 abideč helpe fro god, čat she miht haue him to hir & birye him. čan also if čou beholde wele či lorde'. čou maiht haue here matire ynouh of hye compassion, seynge him so tormeutede, čat fro če sole of če fote in to če hiest part of če 10 hede'. čer was in him none hole place nor membre without passion. čis is a pitevouse siht & a ioyful siht. A pitevous siht in him'. for čat harde passion čat he suffrede for oure sauacion, bot it is a likyng siht to vs, for če matire & če effecte čat we 15 haue čerbye of oure redempcion. Sočely čis siht of oure lord Jesu hangyng so on če crosse by deuoute ymaginacion of če soule, is so likyng to sume creatours'. čat after longe exercise of sorouful compassion'. čei felen sumtyme, so grete likyng not ouely in soule bot also in če body čat čei kunne not telle, & 20 čat noman may knowe, bot onely he čat by experience feleč it. And čan may he wele sey with če apostle, Betyde me neuer to be ioyful bot in če crosse of my lord Jesu criste. Amen. Of čo činges čat befelle aftere če deč of oure lord Jesu & aftere none. Capitulum xiv=m=. 25 |r What tyme čat če wirchipful modere of oure lord Jesu, as it is seide next before abode & duelled beside če crosse, with očer trewe loueres of him before nemede, beholdyng oure lorde Jesu continuely so piteuousely hangyng dede on če crosse, bytwix tweyn čefes'. loo čan comen many armede men 30 out of če cite towarde hem, če whech were sent to breke če leggys of hem čat were crucifiede, & so to sle hem alle out & birye hem, bycause čat hir bodyes sholde not abide hangyng |r[93r] on če crosse in če grete sabbate daye. čan rose vp oure lady & alle očer with hir, & bisily 35 lokede & seene hem come, bot what to do čei wote note. Wherfore čei fallen in to grete sorowe & drede, & namely oure lady, spekyng to hir sone in čis manere: My dere sone what may be cause, čat alle čees armede men comen a¨eyn? What wole čei do more to če? Haue čei 40 not slayn če my swete sone? I hade hope čat čei hade be |p182 fillede with čat čei haue done to če. Bot as it semeč to me ¨it čei pursuene če dede, & I wote not what I may do, for I may not help če nomore čen I miht deliuere če fro deč, bot I shale abide & se, & prey či fadere čat he make hem sawht & esye 5 to če, & čerwič čei alle fyue ¨eden & stoden before če crosse of oure lorde. čan comene čoo forseide armede to hem with grete wodenes & noys, & seynge če čefes ¨it lyuyng'. with gret yre čei hewene & breken despitesly hir legges & so slewen hem, 10 & kast hem anone into sume dike čere nihe beside, & after turnede hem a¨eyn & come towarde oure lorde Jesu. Wherfore oure lady dredyng leste čei wolde do in če self maner to hir sone, & čerčorh smyten with sorowe of herte withinforč'. she koude not elles bot go to hir best armore, čat is to sey, hir 15 kyndely mekenes, & knelynge done before hem, & spredyng hir handes with an hoys voice & wepyng chere, she spake to hem in čis manere: Goode brečeren I beseke ¨owe for almihty goddus loue čat ¨he torment me nomore in my dere sone for sočely I am 20 his moost sorouful modere. And as ¨e knowen wele brečerene I neuer offendet ¨ow nor dide any wronge to ¨owe. Bot čouh it so be čat my sone semede contraryose to ¨ow'. ¨he haue slayn him, & I for¨iue ¨ow alle wronge & offense ¨ei & če deč of my sone. Wherfore now doče me čat mercie, čat ¨e 25 breke him not as ¨e haue done če thefes, so čat I may birye his body alle hole. For it nedeč not'. sičen as ¨he seene he is fully dede, & was a longe tyme now passede. And čerwič Jone & Maudleyn & hir očer sistres knelyng with oure lady bysouht če same with hir sore wepyng. 30 Aa lady what do ¨e? ¨he lowene ¨ow |r[93v] to če feete of hem čat bene moste wikkede, & preyne hem, čat hauene no rewarde to any gude praiere. Suppose ¨he to bowe by ¨our pite, hem čat bene moste cruele & most wikkede & wičoute pite? Or to ouercome hem čat bene alčere priddest wič 35 mekenes? Nay, for proude men hauen abominacion of mekenes. Wherfore ¨e trauaile in vayne.  And čerwič one čat was clepede longyne, & was čat tyme wikkede & proude, bot after a trewe lyuere & martire'. despisyng hir wepyng & praieres'. with a sharpe spere opunede 40 če side of oure lorde Jesu, & made a grete wonde, oute of če which anone ranne to gedire boče blode & water. And čerwič oure lady felle done in swowhen half dede, bytwix če armes of Maudeleyn. |p183  And čan Jon not mowyng bere čat grete sorowe'. toke to him mannus herte, & risyng a¨eynus hem'. seide, ¨he wikkede menne, whi do ¨e čis cruelte? Se ¨e not čat he is dede? Whi wole ¨e also slee čis woman his modere? Goče 5 nowe ¨oure weye, for we shole birye him. And čerwič as god wolde čei went hir weye.  čanne was oure lady excitede & roos as it hade be fro slepe, askyng what was done more to hir sone, & čei seide no newe čing more a¨eynus him. 10 And after she hade kawht spirite & behelde hir sone so greuously wondet'. was also wondet in herte with a newe wonde of sorowe. Seeste čou nowe how ofte sičes oure lady is čis day dede? Sočely als oft as she sawh done a¨eynus hir sone anye 15 newe peyne. Wherfore nowe is fulle fillede in hir čat symeon seide to hir propheciynge longe before, His swerde'. shalle perse čorh čine awne soule, čat is to sey če swerde of his passion & sorowe. And čat befelle ofte sičes in čis day, bot now sočely če swerde of čis spere hače persede boče če body 20 of če sone & če soule of če modere.  After čis čei seten done alle beside če crosse, bot what čei shole do'. čei wite not. For čei mowe not take done če body & birye hit'. bycause čei haue neičer strengh nor instrumentes apte čerfore. 25  And fort go awey fro him so hangyng čei dore not, & longe abide čere čei mowe not by cause čat če niht was comynge |r[94r] on hem. Here maiht čou se in what sorowe & perplexite čei bene. 30 Oo benygne lorde Jesu how is čis, čat ¨e suffrene ¨oure dere modere, chosen before alle očer, čat is če Mirrour of če worlde & ¨our speciale restyng place'. so to be tormentede & turblete'. čat vnneč hač she any spirite to life, & tyme it were čat she had sume manere of reste, & relesyng of 35 hir sorowe. Of če takyng done fro če crosse oure lordes body Jesu at euensonge tyme. Capitulum xlvj=m=. |r IN če meyne tyme čat oure lady & Jone & očer before seide were in so grete perplexite & desolacion as it is seide'. 40 čei lokeden towarde če cite as čei oft sičes diden for drede'. & |p184 čen see čei many očer comyng towarde hem by če weye, če whech were Joseph of Armathye & Nichodeme, bringyng with hem očere mistere menne čat brouhten with hem diuerse instrumentes, with če whech čei sholden take done če bodye 5 of Jesu fro če crosse, & also čei brouht an hundret ponde of Mirre & aloes fort anoynt his body & so birye it. And čan alle čei risene vp with grete drede not knowyng what čei wolde do. Aa lord god how grete is sorowe čis day? 10 čan Jone takyng hede to hem čat were so comyng'. seide to oure lady, Sočely I se comyng čere Joseph & Nichodeme. And čan oure lady kawht spirite, & was gretely confortede & seide, Blessede be oure lorde god, čat hač sente vs helpe at oure nede, & hač mynde of oure sorowe, & čat 15 hač not forsake vs in oure tribulacion. Gode sone Jone go a¨eynus hem & welcome hem. For I wete wele čei come to oure socoure. And anone John went a¨eynus hem. And when čei mettene'. čei clippede očere with wepyng teres & miht not speke to očere a grete while for tendirnes of 20 compassion & sorowe. After čat čei hadde walkede forč, a litel while & drowene nihe towarde če crosse'. Joseph askede who were čere with oure lady, & how it stode with če očere disciples. And John answeryng tolde hem who were čere with oure lady'. bot 25 of če disciples he koude not telle, for he seide čere was none of hem seene čere alle čat day. And forčermore atte hir askyng'. he tolde alle čat was done a¨eynus oure lorde, & alle če processe |r[94v] of his passione. And when čei come nihe če place'. knelyng done & wepyng čei honourede oure lorde Jesu. 30 And after metyng to gedir oure lady & hir sisteres & Maudeleyn receyuede hem worchipfully with knelyng & lowe bowyng to če erče, & čei a¨eynwarde knelyng & wirchipyng'. with grete wepyng stoden so to gedire a grete while or čei speken. 35 Bot at če laste our lady began to speke to hem & seide, Sočely freendes ¨he haue done wele, čat ¨e haue mynde so of ¨our maistre, for he louede ¨ow wele, and as I knowlich pleynly to ¨owe'. it semede to me čat čere was a newe liht risen at ¨oure comynge. For before we wiste not what we miht 40 do, & čerfore god qwyte ¨owe. Ande čei seiden a¨eynwarde, we bene sorye with alle oure herte, for alle čees wronges & malice done a¨eynus him. For as we seene wele, če wikked men hauen če maistrye a¨eynus če rihtwise man, & we wolde fulle gladely haue |p185 delyueret him fro so grete iniurye, if we hade miht. Bot at če leest we shole do čis seruice to oure lorde & maistre, čat we be comen fore, & čen čei made hem redy fort take him done. Take nowe gude hede in maner as I haue seide before, 5 to če maner of takyng done. čere are sette tweyn laddres on če sides of če crosse, on a¨eynus a nočer, & Joseph goče vp on če laddre standyng of čat hande on če riht half, & biseč him to drawe out če naile of čat hande, bot it is ful harde, for če naile is grete & longe & harde driuen in to če tre, & without 10 grete čristyng done of oure lordes hande it may not be done, bot čat is no forse, for oure lorde knoweč čat he doč alle trewely & with goode entent, & čerfore he accepteč his dede. And when če naile was drawe out'. Jone makeč signe to Nichodeme fort take him it priuelye so čat oure lady see hit 15 not for disconfortyng. And after in če same maner Nichodeme draweč out če naile of če lift hande, & takeč hit priuely to John. And čan Nichodeme comeč done fort drawe out če čridde naile of če feete, & in če mene tyme, Joseph susteneč 20 če bodye. Sočely wele is him čat may susteyn & clippe čat holiest body |r[95r] of oure lorde Jesu. čerwič oure lady takeč in hir handes reuerently oure lordes riht hande, & beholdeč it & leič it to hir eyene & deuoutly kisseč it'. sore wepyng & sihhyng. And when če naile of če feete was drawe out'. Joseph 25 came done softly & alle leiden to hande, & token oure lordes bodie, & leide it done on če erče, & oure lady toke če hede & če sholderes & leide it in hir barme, bot Maudeleyn was redy to take & kysse če feet, at če whech she fonde so miche grace before in his life. 30  Očere of čat cumpanye stoden about beholdyng, & alle maken grete lamentacion vp on him, after če prophecie, čat was čan fulfillede, seying, čat čei sholde make sorowe vpon him, as vpon če one begoten childe.  And namely his blessede modere alle tymes sore 35 wepyng, & čan soroufully beholdyng če wondes of handes & feet, & specialy čat horrible wonde of his side now takyng hede to one & now to a nočer, & seying his hede so foule ferde wič, & his her to drawen with če sharpe čornes, & his louely face alle defilede with spittynges & blode, & če heres 40 of his berde drawen awey fro his chekes, as če prophete ysaie spekeč in his persone čus, I ¨af my body to hem čat smyten it, & myn chekes to hem čat drowen če her aweye &c. |p186 Of če biryinge of oure lorde Jesu at compleyn tyme. Capitulum xlvij=m=. |r Aftere a litel while, liggyng če body of oure lorde Jesu bytwix hese modere armes as it is seide'. when it drowe 5 towarde niht'. Joseph praiede oure lady čat she wolde suffre če bodye to be diht aftere če maner of Jues & biriede'. Bot she was loth čerto & seide, Goode brečerne take not so soyne my childe fro me, račere birieč me with him. čan seide Jone, Mi dere modere lat vs assent to Joseph 10 & Nichodeme, & suffre oure lordes body to be byriede, for elles by occasion of to miche tariynge ¨e mihten lihtly falle in dangre & sclandre of če Jues. And at čis suggestion of Jone'. oure lady as wise & discrete, čenkyng čat she was committede to him by oure lorde'. wolde no lengir let his biriynge, bot 15 blessede če body & lete hem diht it as čei wolde. And čan Jon, Nichodeme Joseph & očere |r[95v] begunne to anoynt če bodie, & wrappe it in lynene cloče, as it was če manere of Jues biriynge. Neuerles oure lady kept alweye če hede in hir barme, fort diht čat hir self & Maudeleyn če feete. 20 And when čei dihten če legges & comene nihe to če feete'. Maudeleyn seide, I praye ¨ow suffreč me to diht čees feete, at če whech I foonde so miche grace. And čei suffryng hir askyng'. she helde če feete & lokede vpon hem wepyng & alle mooste failyng for sorowe. And riht as she before in his 25 life, weshe hem with teres of compunction'. now miche more she washeč hem with teres of grete sorowe & inwarde compassion. For as he verrey sočfastnes witnesseč of hir, she louede mikele, & čerfore she wept mykele, & namely in čis last seruice doyng to hir maister & lorde so dede pitevously. 30 Vnnečes for sorow miht hir herte abide in hir bodye. For she wolde ful gladely haue dyede čere at hir lordes feete. She sawh none očer remedye, bot she bisieč hir with alle hir miht nowe at če last seruice to him če which was fulle vnkeč to hir'. fort diht his body in če beste manere čat she maye, bot 35 not as she wolde. For she hač neičer matere whereof nor tyme čerto. Bot neuerles in maner as she maye she washeč če feete with teres & after deuoutly wipeč hem & kisseč hem & wrappeč in cločes in če beste maner she can. Whan čei haue čus done & dressede če body in to če 40 hede'. čei lokene to oure lady čat she wolde parforme hir part, & čan began čei alle newely to wepe & make sorowe. |p187 čan she seynge čat she may no lengire differre'. setteč hir siht vpon če face of hir sone, & spekeč to him in čis maner: My swete sone I halde če nowe here dede in my 5 barme, & as I se we most depart bodily, bot harde is če departyng of dede. Here before čere was a likynge conuersacion bytwix vs, & we were lyuyng among očer men euer without playnt or offense, čouh it so be čat čou arte slayn nowe as a wikked man. And I haue seruede če trewely & čou 10 me, bot in čis soroufulle bataile'. či fadere wolde not helpe če, & I miht not. |r[96r] Wherfore čou forsoke či self for če loue of mankynde, čat čou woldest a¨eynbigge & saue, bot ful harde, peynful & dere is čis biggyng. Whereof neuerles I am gladde for če hele & sauacion of men'. bot in či passion & deč I am 15 fulle harde tormentede, for I wote wele čat čou neuer didest synne, & čat čou art slayn without deserte čorh čat foulest horrible deč. Wherfore now my dere sone, oure bodily felawshipe is twinnede, & now most I nede be departede fro če, & so I shalle birye če. Bot whidere sal I či moste sorouful 20 modere after čat go & where shale I duelle? My dere sone how may I life without če? Sočely I wolde gladly be biriede with če, so čat where so euere čou were'. I miht be with če. Bot sičen I may not be biriede with če bodily'. at če leste I shalle be biriede with če gostly in mye mynde. 25 Wherfore I shal birye with či body in či graue'. my soule, & čerfore čat I comende & leue to če. Oo swete sone how sorouful is čis departyng. And čerwič of če grete abundance of teres, she weshe miche better his hede'. čan Maudeleyn dide before his feete. čan she wipede 30 his face & kissede it & after wonde his hede in a sudarie & so signede & blessed him. And čan alle to gedire honouryng & kissyng his feete'. toke him vp & beren him to če graue, oure lady beringe če hede & Maudeleyn če feete & očere če midele part. 35 čere was nihe čat place of če crosse če space of a stones cast, a newe graue, whereinne none body was biriede before, & čerinne with reuerence knelyng čei leiden him with grete sihhynges, sobbynges & wepynge. And after he was so biriede, & his modere hade ¨iuen 40 him hir blessinge'. čei leiden a grete stone at če dore of če graue'. & went hir wey towarde če cite, čat is to sey Joseph & his felawshipe. Bot Joseph at his goyng spake to oure lady & seide, My lady I pray ¨ow for goddes loue & for če loue of ¨our |p188 sone oure maistre, čat ¨e vouch safe to come & take ¨our herbere in myne house. For I wote wele čat ¨e haue none house of ¨our awne. Wherfore takeč myne as ¨oure owne for alle myne bene ¨oures, & in če self manere |r[96v] Nichodeme 5 praiede on his side. And she lowely enclynyng to hem & čonkyng hem'. answerede & seide, čat she was committede to če gouernaile of Jone. Wherfore čei čan praiede Jon če same, & he answerede čat he wolde lede hir in to Mont sion where hir maistre soupede on če day before at euene with hees 10 disciples & čere wolde he abide with hir. And so čei lowely saluyng oure lady, & wirchipyng če sepulere ¨edene forč on hir weye. What was done of oure lady & očere aftere če biryinge of Jesu. Capitulum xlviij=m=. 15 |r WHanne it drowe to niht, Jone spake to oure lady & seide, lt is not honeste for duelle hir lengire'. & fort come in to če Cite in če niht. Wherfore if it be ¨oure wille'. go we hense & turne we a¨eyn. And čerwič oure lady [r]iseč vp, & with alle hem knelyng blessede & kissede [č]e sepulere & 20 seide, My sone I may no lengir stande here with če, bot I comende če to či fadere, and čen liftyng vp hir eyene, to heuene wič teres & inwarde affeccion seide, Euerlastyng fadere I recomende to ¨ow my sone & my soule če which I leue here with him, & čerwič čei begunne alle to go hir weye. 25 And when čei comen to če crosse'. čere she knelede done & honourede če crosse & seide, here made my son his ende, & here is his precious blode, & so diden alle čat očere. For čou maiht čenke & vndurstande čat she was če first čat honourede če crosse'. as she was če first čat 30 honourede hir sone born. And after fro čense čei toke če wey towarde če cite, & oft by če weye she lokede a¨eyn towarde hire sone. And when čei comen čere as čei miht no more see če crosse'. oure lady & alle očer kneled & honourede it wepyng. 35 And when čei comen nihe če cite'. oure lady sistres hilede hir face in maner of a mournyng widowe. And čei ¨eden before'. & oure lady folowede after, bitwix Maudeleyn & Johen, so keuerede če face. |p189 čan Maudeleyn at če entre of če cite, desirynge to haue oure lady to hir house, before če takyng of če weye čat ladde čiderwarde'. she spake to oure lady & seide: My lady I pray ¨ow for če loue of my maistre ¨oure 5 sone čat ¨e wole let vs go to oure house in to |r[97r] Bethanye, where we mowe best abide. For as ¨he knowen wele, my maistre louede wele čat place, & came gladdely oft sičes čere to, & čat house is ¨oures with alle čat I haue. Wherfore I pray ¨owe čat ¨he wole come. 10 And here čan čei begunne to wepe. Bot oure lady haldyng hir pees & makyng signe to Jone fort answere & maudeleyn praying him for če self matire, he answerede & seide, lt is more semely čat we go to Mont syon, namely for so we answerede & seide, to oure freendes. Wherfore come 15 čou račer with hir to čat place. čan seide Maudeleyn to Jon, čou woste wele čat I wole go with hir whidere so euer she goče, & čat I shale neuer leue hir.  Aftere when čei comene in to če cite'. čere comene 20 on alle sides maidenes & gude matrones to hir, goynge with hir & sorowyng & confortyng in hir manere, & also gude menne čat čei went by'. hade grete compassion of hir, & were stirede to wepyng & seidene, Sočely čis day is done grete wronge be oure princes to če sone of čis lady, & god hač 25 shewede grete tokynes & wondres by him. Auyse hem what čei haue done. And when čei comene nihe če place čere čei wolde reste'. oure lady bowyng lowely to če ladyes čat comen with hir, & čonkyng hem, & čei a¨eynwarde to hir'. tokene hir leue 30 of očere, makyng grete lamentacion & sorowe. Ande čan oure ladye & Maudeleyn & če očere sistres of oure lady, ¨eden inne to čat house, & Jone after he hade conget čat očer women & čankede hem'. stake če dore after hem. 35  čan čei beyng so alle hem self to gedir'. oure lady lokyng aboute če house & myssyng hir louede sone Jesu'. with grete sorow of herte compleynede hir & seide, Oo Jon, where is now my dere son, čat so hie speciale affeccion hade to če? Oo Maudeleyn where is či maister čat so tendirly louede če, 40 & čou so gladdly seruedest him? Oo my dere sistres where is nowe my son? Sočely he is gone awey fro vs, he čat was alle oure ioy & oure conforte & če liht of oure eyene. ¨ei sočely he is gone & čat wič so grete anguish & peyne, as ¨e alle seene. And čat is čat encreseč my sorowe čat in alle hese |p190 peynes we miht not |r[97v] helpe him, hees disciples forsoke him, his fadere almi¨ty wolde not socoure him. And how sone alle čees činges a¨eynus him were done'. ¨e knewen & seene. 5 Was čere euer any čefe or worst doynge man, so sone dampnet & put to so desputese deč? For loo če last niht he was takene as a thefe, & erely on če morow brouht before če Justice, at tierce dampnet, at sexte on če crosse hangede, at none dede & now biriede. 10 Oo my dere son, a bitter departyng was čis, & a sorouful mynde is čis of čine foulest & horrible deč. čan Jone praiede hir to stynte of sech sorouful wordes, & to cese of wepyng, & confortede hir in če beste manere he kuoče. 15 And čou also by deuoute ymaginacion as čou were čere bodily present, confort oure lady & čat felawshipe praiyng hem to ete sumwhat, for ¨it čei bene fastyng, & after to slepe, bot čat I trowe was ful lytel'. & so takyng hir blessyng, go či weye at čis tyme. |p191 What oure lady & očere wič her diden vpon če seturday. Capitulum xlix=m=. |r Erely at če morowe vpon če saturday, stoden in če forseide hous, če ¨ates sperede'. oure lady Jone & očere 5 women before nemede in grete mournynge & sorowe hauyng in mynde če grete tribulaciones & anguish of če day before not spekyng bot by tymes lokyng on očere. In manere as čei done čat bene ouerleide with grete meschefe & sorowe & knowene none confort ne none socour. 10 And čerwič čei herden one knokke at če ¨ate, & čan čei dredden sore. For alle činge in čat tyme čei dredden bycause čat hir sikernesse & cumfort was awey. Neuerles Jone went to če dore & vndirstandyng čat it was Peture'. tolde hem so, & oure lady bade vndo če dore & 15 let him inne. And Petre comyng in with grete shame wepinge & sobbyng saluede oure lady & očer bot nouht spake. And čerwič čei alle begunne to wepe, & miht not speke for sorowe. A litel while after comen očer disciples one aftere a 20 nočere in če self manere at če bygynnyng makyng sorowe & wepyng. Bot at če laste whene čei ceseden of wepyng & begunne fort speke of hir lorde'. Petur first seide in čis wise: I am ashamede & confondet in my self, & I sholde not 25 by |r[98r] resone speke in ¨our presence or apere in če siht of men, for als miche as I laft so kowardely & forsoke so vntrewely my lorde čat louede me so miche. And in če self manere alle očer smytyng hir handes & sore weping, accusede & reprehendet hem self čat čei hade so laft hir lorde. 30 čan oure lady confortyng hem seide, Oure gude maister & oure trewe herdman is gone fro vs, & we bene laft now as faderles childrene. Bot I hope treuly čat we shale sone haue him a¨eyn. And ¨e knowen wele čat my son is benynge & |p192 merciful blessede mote he be, for he louede ¨ow wele, & čerfore douteč not, bot čat he sal be wele reconceilede to ¨ow, & gladly he sal for¨iue alle trespasses & alle offenses. For sočely by suffrance of če fader če malice a¨eynus 5 him was so grete, & če wodenes of hees enemyes so stronge & mihty'. čat ¨e miht not haue socoured him, čouh ¨e hade abiden stille with him, & čerfore dredeč not alle shalle be wele. čan answerede Petur & seide, Sočely as ¨e seyne'. so 10 it is, for I čat sauh bot a litel of če byginynge was with so grete drede smiten in če porche of Caiphas hous'. čat vnnečes wende I fort haue scapede če deč, & čerfore I forsoke him & hade non mynde at čat tyme of čo wordes čat he hade seide to me before til he lokede on me. 15 And Maudeleyn askede what čo wordes were, & he seide how he tolde him before čat he sholde forsake him, & what tyme. And so forč he tolde alle hees wordes spoken to hem, & specialy čat he tolde before many činges to hem of his passion in čat sopere tyme, čat he made with hem če čoresday 20 at euene. čan oure lady seide she wolde gladly here of čat processe čat befelle at čat sopere. And Petur made signe to Jon čat he sholde telle čat processe, & Jone telleč alle čat was done & seide, & after to Petur he tolde alle če processe of his 25 passione as he desirede. And so what of čees činges & of očere done by o re lorde Jesu among hem'. čei tellen to očer, nowe one, & now a nočer as it come to hir mynde, driuyng aweye alle čat day in seeh maner talkyngis of oure lorde Jesu. 30 Aa lorde howe attentifely & bisily Maudeleyn listenede to čoo wordes, bot miche more oure lady'. seying oft sičes at če ende of a processe, |r[98v] Blessede be my sone Jesus. Namely when she & Maudeleyn herde of če makyng of če sacrament, & how he ¨af hem in če forme of brede his 35 owne body to ete, & in če forme of wyne his blode to drynke'. sočely I trow čat with souereyn merueile'. hir hertes meltede in to likyng sorow & sorouful likynge, brekyng oute in wepyng & shedyng swete teres, for čat hye brennyng loue, čat he shewede to man souereynly in čat excellent & passyng dede 40 of charite. Bot now passing ouer so shortly of čis meditacion at čis tyme'. more ouer take hede & beholde hem čis day in grete sorowe & drede, & haue compassion of hem if čou can. For what is it to see, howe čat če lady of alle če world, & če |p193 princes of holi chirch, & cheuetenes of goddus peple'. bene now so in drede & sorowe stoken & hidde in čat litel hous, not knowyng what čei mowe do, not hauyng confort bot onely in čat co[mun]yng of če wordes & dedes of hire lorde Jesu. 5 Neuerles oure lady stode alle weye saddely in a restfulle & peisible herte. For she hade euer a certeyn hope of če resurrexion of hir sone. And čerfore holy chirche makeč speciale mynde of hir euery saturday'. bycause čat in čat day stode onely in hir če feič of oure lorde Jesu, čat he was verrey 10 godde. Neuerles she miht not haue fulle ioy, bycause of če mynde of his harde deč & his bitter passion. Whan če sonne was gone done, & it was leueful to worche'. Marie Maudeleyn & a nočer Marie with hir ¨eden 15 forč in to če cite fort bigge matires able to make oynementes of, as čei hade sumwhat done on če friday before in to če sunne settelyng. For by če lawe čei were bonden to kepe če sabbate day, fro če sonne reste of če day before in to če sunne reste of če self daye. 20 Now take hede & beholde hem, how čei gone with sorouful chere in maner of desolate widowes to sume Apothec arye or spicere če which čei hade knowlech of, čat he was a gude deuoute man, & čat wolde gladly fulfille hir wille & desire in čat partye. 25 And when čei haue chosen če beste oynmentes čat čei koude fynde & paide čerfore'. čei ¨eden home a¨eyn worching hem in če best manere čei kouče. And so may čou see how diligently & trewly čei |r[99r] worchene & trauailene for hir lorde, with wepinges & 30 sihhynges amonge & how oure lady & če apostles standen & beholden & perantere helpene amonge, & when it was niht'. čei ceseden & ¨edene to reste siche as was. And so čis may be če meditacion for seturday touchinge oure lady & očere women, & če apostles. 35 Bot what dide oure lorde Jesus čat daye? Sočely anone as he was dede he went in soule done in to helle čere as če holy fadres werene, & čan were čei in ioy & blisse by vertue of his blessede presence, for če siht of god is perfite ioy. And here mowe we see how grete was his benignite in 40 čat he wolde him self go done in to helle. Howe grete charite & mekenes čat was. For he miht haue sende an angele & haue deliuerede hem out of če deueles bandes, & brouht hem to him where him hadde liste, bot his loue & his mekenes wold not haue suffrede čat, & čerfore he went him self done in to helle, |p194 & visitede hese chosen soules čere, & čat not as seruantes, but frendes of him, čat was lord of alle. And čan alle če holi fadres in his comyng fillede with ioy & blisse, & alle sorowe & mislikyng awey passede'. 5 stodene before him in louynges & songes of prophetes & psalmes, čat were before seide & čan fulfillede, as čei beče writen in holi writte, in to če tyme čat he wolde take his body a¨eyn & rise vp gloriously fro deč to life, as it foloweč in processe here after. To če which life fort rise at če last with 10 him'. he graunt vs oure lorde Jesus čat for vs diede on če crosse. Amen. |p195 Of če gloriouse resurrexion of oure lorde Jesu & how he first aperede to his modere as it may be resonably trowede. Capitulum I. |r Aftere čat če worčiest prince & mihtyest conquerour 5 Jesus čorh his bittere passion & hardest deč, hade venkeshede & vtturly ouercome čat souereyn tirante mannus enemye, & his aduersarie sathanas wič alle his wikked hoste'. als sone as če soule was departede fro če body'. he went done to čat tyrantes prison helle, & riht as in soče he was lorde of vertues 10 & kynge of blis'. so by his souereyn miht |r[99v] & rihtwisenes he brake če ¨ates of čat prison & entrede wič vnspekable ioy & blisse to hese chosen peple, čat čere hade be in distresse many čousande ¨ere before. And čan was čat prison turnede in to a blissed ful paradise čorh his presence, & alle čat blessede 15 felaushipe with mirče & ioy čat may not be spoken or čouht, honourede & wirchipede & čonkede souereynly hir lorde, čat so graciously deliuerede hem fro čat čraldom of če feende, & restored hem to čat blisse čat čei hade forfetede worčily by sinne, & so in ympnes & ioyful songes of če prophecye 20 fulfilled first Adam & his progenie & after Noe & Abraham, Moises & Dauid with alle očer holi fadres & prophetes, louyng & čonkyng oure lord Jesu, continuede čere with him & hese blessede angeles in to če tyme čat it likede him to take hem čennes with grete ioy & mirče & set hem in paradise 25 terrestre where čat Enoke & Helye liuyng in bodyes abiden če tyme of Anticriste, če whech also were souereynly confortede of his glorious presence with čat blessede cumpanye. And when it drowh towarde day vpon če soneday čat was če čridde day fro his passion'. oure lord Jesus spake to 30 hem alle & seide in čese maner wordes: Now it is tyme čat I reyse my body fro deč to life, & čerfore now I shale go & take my body a¨eyn. |p196 And čerwič čei alle fallyng done & wirchipyng him seide: Goče oure lorde kyng of blisse, & sone after if it be ¨our wille comeč a¨eyn. For we desiren souereynly to se ¨our 5 moste gloriouse body to oure souereyn conforte. Comyng čan oure lord Jesus in soule with a wirchipful multitude of angeles to če graue where his blessede body lay, on če soneday ful erely to fore če fulle springe of daye & takyng a¨eyn čat body moste holy'. rose vp čorh his owne 10 vertue & miht & went out of čat graue closede, as he went first out of his modere wombe clene virgine in his Natiuite with out sorow or wemme of sinne. And čan about če self tyme čat is to sey erely on morowe, Marie Maudeleyn & Marie James & Salome, takyng 15 hir leue first at oure lady, token če wey towarde če graue with preciouse oynementes, duellyng stille at home oure lady & makynge a praier|r[100r] in čis manere: Almi¨ty god fadere moste mercyful & moste piteuous as ¨he wele knowen my dere sone Jesus is dede & biriede. For 20 sočely he was nailede to če crosse & hangede bitwix two čefes, & after he was dede I halpe to birye him with myne awne handes, whome I conceuede without corruption & bare him without trauaile & sorowe. And he was alle my gude, alle my desire & alle če life & če confort of my soule. Bot at če 25 laste he passede aweye fro me alle to beten, alle to wondete & alle to rente, & alle hees enemyes risene a¨eynus him & scornede him & dampnede him, & hees owne disciples forsoken him & flewe fro him, & I his sorouful modere miht not help him. And as ¨he knowene wele fadere of pite & of 30 mercy, čat hauen alle powere & miht'. ¨e wolde not čan delyuere him fro če harde deč, bot nowe ¨e mowe restore him a¨eyn to me a lyfe & čat I beseke ¨oure hye maieste. Lord where is he now? Whi taryeč he so longe fro me? Gude fadere sende him I pray ¨owe to me for my soule may not be in reste 35 in to če tyme čat I se him. Aa my swete sone what doste čou nowe & whi abidest čou so longe or čou come to me? Sočely čou seidest čat čou sholdest a¨eyn vprise če čridde day, & is not čis če čridde day my dere sone? Arise vp čerfore nowe alle my ioy, & conforte me with čine a¨eyn comynge'. whome 40 čou so disconfortedest čorh čine aweye passyng. And with čat, she so praying & swete teres shedyng, lo sodeynly oure lorde Jesus came & aperede to hir and in alle čer whittest cločes, with a glade & louely chere gretyng hir on sidehalf in čees wordes, Salue sancta parens, čat is to sey, |p197 heile holy modere. And anone she turnynge hir, seide, Art čou Jesus my blessede sone? And čerwič she knelyng done honourede him, & also he a¨eynwarde knelyng seide, My dere modere I am he. I haue vprisene & lo I am with če. And after 5 boče risyng vp, kisseden louely očere & she with vnspekable ioy clippyng him saddely'. restede alle vpon him, & he gladly bare hir vp & sustenede hir. After boče sittyng to gedire'. oure lady bisily & curiously behelde him in semblant |r[100v] & in handes & feete, & 10 alle če body where he hadde če signes of če wondes before, askyng him whečer alle če sorowe & peyne were aweye. And he answerede & seide, ¨e sočely wirchipeful Modere, alle sorowe is awey fro me, & deč & sorowe & alle peynes & anguish I haue ouercome, so čat I sal neuer hečen forwarde 15 fele ouht of hem. And čen she seide, Blessede be či holi fadere čat hač a¨eyn ¨iuen če to me, & his holy name be exaltede, lovede & magnyfiede euer without ende. And so čei boče louely & likyngly talkyng to gedire, maden a gret ioyful feste & oure lorde Jesus told hir čoo worči činges čat he dide 20 in čo čre daies after his passion, & how he delyuerede his chosen peple fro helle & če deuel. Loo čis is a souereyne paske, & čis is če ioyful day čat Dauid spekeč of specialye seyinge, Haec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemus igitur & letemur in ea Amen. 25 How čat Maudeleyn & očere Maries comene to če Graue, &c. Capitulum lj=m=. |r As I seide before, Marie Maudeleyn & hir tweyn felawes token hir wey towarde če graue of our lorde Jesu with precious oynementes, & when čei come without če ¨ate of če 30 cite'. čei toke in to hir mynde če peynes & če tormentes of hir dere maister, & čerfore in alle places where any činge was notablye done a¨eynus him or by him'. čei sumwhat stodon & abiden, knelyng done & kissyng če erče, sihhinge & wepyng, & in čees maner wordes seying to očere, Loo here we mete 35 him with če grete heuy crosse on his bakke when his dere modere swonede & was half dede. And after here he turnede him to če women of Jerusalem čat maden sorowe for him. And forčermore here for werynesse ouere miht, he leide done če crosse. And here it was čat če wikked tormentours violently 40 & cruelye put him forč & constreynede him to go fastere. & |p198 here at če last čei spolede him of hees cločes & made him alle nakede, & so cruelye nailed him vpon če crosse. And čan with grete sorowe & shedyng of teres fallyng done vpon hir faces, čei wirchipede inwardly & kissed deuoutly če crosse of oure 5 lorde čat was čan spreynede wič his |r[101r] preciouse fresh rede blode. And forčermore čei risyng vp & goynge towarde če graue'. seiden to očer, Who shalle ouerturne to vs čat grete stone fro če dore of če sepulcre, & čerwič čei neihyng čereto & inwardely beholdyng'. seene če stone ouerturnede & an 10 angele sittyng červpon & seying to hem, Dredeč not, ¨e sechene Jesu, & so forč as če gospel telleč. Bot čei for als miche as čei fonde not če body of hir maistre čere as čei hopeden'. were so desturblet in hir wittes & abashede, čat čei toke no rewarde to če angeles wordes. Bot 15 with grete sorowe & drede anone turnede a¨eyn to če disciples & told hem čat hir lordes body was taken awey, & whidere čei wist not. And čen Petur & Jone runnene towarde če sepulcre, & with hem also če forseide women, & alle čei runnene for feruent loue to Jesu sechyng hir herte & hir life. 20 Bot after če processe of če gospel Petre & John entrynge če graue & not fyndyng če bodie, bot onely če cločes čat he was wrapped inne, & če sudarie of his hede'. with grete heuynes čei turnede home a¨eyn. And here we oweč to haue inwarde compassion of hem, for sočely at čis tyme čei were in ful 25 grete desolacion & sorowe, when čei souht so hir lorde & fonde him not, nor wiste where čei sholde seke him more. Also here we haue ensaumple čat oft sičes before grete ioy'. comeč grete disconfort, & sorowe, če which is to be born paciently for če tyme, & euer Jesu to be souht & callede one 30 by deuout praiere & feruent desire vnto če tyme čat he be fonden as če processe after folowyng sheweč.  For after če tweyn apostles were gone a¨eyn as it is seide in maner of despeire'. če forseide Maries abiden & lokeden eft in to če sepulcre, & čen čei seene tweyn angeles 35 sittyng in white cločes & seying to hem, What seke ¨e him čat liueč with hem čat bene dede. Bot čei ¨it toke none rewarde to čaire wordes, nor toke any confort to če siht of angeles, for čei souht not angeles, bot če lorde of angeles, & for čei fonde him not, čerfore če tweyn felawes of Maudeleyn alle heuye & 40 disconfortede wičdrowe hem |r[101v] & seten don sumwhere a litel byside makyng her mone to očer. Bot Marye Maudeleyn wityng neuer what she miht do'. for with out hir maister she koude not lyue'. & for she fonde him not čere nor wist where she sholde seke him elles'. she stode stille čere without če |p199 graue wepyng, & eft she lokede inne, for she hopede euer to fynde him čere as she helpede to birye him. And čan seide če angeles to hir, Woman whi wepeste? Whom sekeste? And she seide, čei haue take aweye my lorde, 5 & I wote note where čei haue put him. Beholde here če wondurfull worching of loue. A litel before she herde of one angele čat he was rysene, & after of tweyn čat he lyuede, & ¨it she hade it not in mynde, bot seide I wote not, & alle čat made loue. 10 For as Origene seič, hir herte & hir mynde was not čere she was in bodye'. bot it was čere as hir loue was, čat is to sey hir maister Jesus, & čerfore she koude not speke nor here bot of him. And čerfore befelle čat what tyme she wept so & toke none rewarde to če angeles bycause of če feruent 15 loue čat she hade to him čat was lord of angeles'. hir mercifulle maister miht non lengir halde him fro hir, bot aperede to hir as it foloweč. How oure lorde Jesus aperede aftere his Resurrexion to Maudeleyn. Capitulum lij. 20 |r Ovre lorde Jesus spekyng with his blessede modere at his first aperyng to hir as it was tolde before'. among očere louely comunyngis, tolde hir of če grete bisinesse & feruent sekynge of Maudeleyn & seide čat he wolde go shewe him bodily to hir to confort hir. And oure lady gladde čerof seide, 25 My blessede sone goč in pees & confort hir, for she loueč ¨ow ful miche & ful treuly, & was ful sory of ¨our deč. Bot I pray ¨owe čenkeč to come a¨eyn to confort me, & so she louely clippyng him & kissinge, lete him go.  And anone was he in če gardyne where Maudeleyn 30 was & seide to hir, woman whom sekeste, & whi wepeste? Oure lorde askede hir čat he wist wele, to čat ende as seynt Gregour seič'. čat by hir answere in če nemyng of him, če fire of loue sholde be more feruently kyndelet in hir herte. Neuerles she not knowyng him, |r[102r] bot alle distracte & out of 35 hir self, supposyng čat he hade bene a gardynere, seide, Sir, if čou hast take him awey, telle me where čou hast done him, čat I may take him to me. And čouh oure lorde was not bodily a gardinere'. neuerles as če same clerke gregore seič, he was so in soče |p200 gostly to hir. For he was, čat plantede in hir herte če plantes of vertues & trewe loues. And čen oure lorde Jesus hauyng compassion of hir grete sorowe, & wepyng chere'. clepede hir by hir homely 5 name, & seide Marie, če which worde sodeynly helede alle hir sorowe, & she čan knowyng him'. with vnspekable ioy seide A maister, ¨e be he čat I haue so longe souht, & whi haue ¨e hidde ¨ou so longe fro me? And anone she ranne to him, & fallyng done to če 10 erče, wolde haue kissede his feete as she was wont before by vnperfite affeccion to his manhode čat was čen dedely, bot not so now after his resurrexion. Wherfore oure lorde willyng to lift vp gostly hir herte & hir affeccion to heuene & to če godhede, & čat she sholde 15 no more seke him in erče in maner as she dide before when he was dedely'. seide, Touche me not in čat erčely manere, for I haue not steyhen vp to my fadere, čat is to sey, I am not ¨it lift vp in či soule by trewe & perfite byleue, čat I am euene with če fadere verrey god, & čerfore touch me not in čat 20 manere imperfitely. Bot go & sey to my brečerne, I stey vp to my fadere & ¨our fadere, to my god & ¨our god. And forčermore oure lorde homely comunyng wič hir'. spake to hir in čis manere'. wost not wele douhter, čat I tolde če before my passion čat I sholde rise če čridde day fro deč 25 to life? & whi woldest čou čan so bisily seke me in če sepulcre? And she seide, sočely maister I sey ¨owe, čat my herte was fillede with so grete sorowe, of če bitternesse of ¨our harde passion & deč, čat I for¨ate alle očere činge, & onely čouht of ¨our bodie dede & biriede, & on če place čat 30 it was biriede in. And čerfore I brouht now čis oynement fort haue anoyntede with ¨oure glorious bodye. Blessede be ¨our almihty godhede, wherečorh ¨e wolde rise vp fro deč, & come a¨eyn to vs. And so čei tweyn trewe louers standen & speken to 35 geder with grete likyng & ioy, & she curiously beholdeč his gloriouse body, & askeč what |r[102v] hir likeč, & he in alle činge answerede plesynglye to hir paye. And forčermore čouh oure lorde so straungely as it semeč answerede hir at če byginnyng biddyng hir čat she 40 sulde not touch him'. neuereles I may not trowe, bot čat afterwarde he suffrede hir to touch him, & to kysse boče handes & feete, or čei departeden. For we mowe suppose & godely trowe čat sičen he wolde so affectuously & specialy after his owne modere first before alle očere visete & apere to'. |p201 čat he wolde not čereby in any maner disturble hir or heuye hir, bot račer in alle poyntes confort hir. And čerfore če goode lorde čat is so benynge & ful of swetnes, namely to alle čoo, čat trewly louene him spake not to hir če forseide wordes in 5 straunge manere & bostesly'. bot in misterye, shewyng hir in perfite affeccion as it is seide, & willing lift vp hir herte holly to god & to heuenly činges, as seič seynt Bernerde. čan seide our lorde čat he wolde go fro hir, & visete & confort očere, & Maudeleyn turnede čan sumwhat in to 10 sorowe, for she wolde neuere haue be departede fro him'. seide, A gude lorde I se wele nowe čat ¨oure conuersacion wole not be with vs in maner as it hač here before. Bot gude maister haue euer mynde of me, & of če grete godnes & če homelynes & če speciale loue čat ¨e hade to me, & so čenkeč 15 euer on me my dere lorde god. And he answerede, Drede not bot be stedefast & triste wele čat I sal euer be with če. And so she takyng deuoutly his blessyng'. & he vanyshyng awey fro hir'. she came to hir felawes & tolde hem alle če forseide processe, wherof čei were gladde as touching his resurrexion, 20 bot čat čei sauh him not with hir'. čei were heuy & sorye. Bot če gude lorde suffrede not hir sorowe longe laste, bot sone confortede hem as it after foloweč. How oure lorde Jesus aperede to če čre Maries. Matthei 29. Capitulum liij. 25 |r FOrčermore as čese čre Maries wenten towarde če cite, oure curtese lorde Jesus metyng with hem, by če weye'. mekely gret hem seying Heyle to ¨owe, & čei so ioyful of his presence, čat may not be seide'. felle done at hees feete & clipped hem & kissede with ioyful teres & speken also with 30 him, & he with hem homely wordes of gostly confort, |r[103r] beholdyng čerwič his gloriouse body with vnspekable ioy'. če which čei behelde če čridde day before with souereyn sorowe. And čan oure lorde Jesus seide to hem, Goče & seič to my brečerne, čat čei go in to Galile'. for čere sočely čei shole 35 me se as I tolde hem before. Lo how če maister of mekenes clepeč hees disciples brečerne. He laft neuer čis vertue če which he souereynly loueč. And whoso wole haue swete vndurstandyng & gostly 40 confort in če forseide processe & also in čat foloweč here |p202 after'. him behoueč to make himself by deuout meditacion as he were bodily present in alle places & dedes as I seide here before. 5 How čat oure lorde aperede to Joseph ofArimathye as telleč če gospell of Nichodeme, & also to če lasse Jomes as seynt Jerom witnesseč'. I passe ouer for litel fruite of hem. How oure lorde Jesus aperede to Peture. Luce. 2[4]. Capitulum liiij. |r When Maudeleyn & hir felawes were come home & 10 tolden če disciples čat oure lorde was vprysen'. Petur čat was mooste feruent in loue inwardely sorowyng čat he sawe not his lorde, & not mowyng rest for his grete loue'. toke his weye al one towarde če sepulc re for he wiste not where he miht seke him elles. 15  And sone after oure benynge lorde Jesus hauyng compassion of his sorowe'. aperede to him in čat weye, & gret him seying Pees to če Symonde. And čerwič Petur smityng himself saddely on če breest & fallyng done to če grounde wič sore wepyng teres, seide, Lorde I knowelech my grete 20 trespasse in čat I kowardely forsoke če & oft sičes denyede če, & čerwič he kissede his feete. And oure lorde benyngly liftyng him vp kissede him & seide, Be in pees & drede not for alle či synnes bene for¨iue če. I knewe čine infirmite better čan či self, & čerfore I tolde če before. Bot nowe go & 25 confort & stable či brečerne, & tristeč saddely čat I haue ouercome alle ¨oure aduersaries & enemyes. And so čei standen & speken homely to gedir, & Petur ful bisily beholdeč him & takeč hede of alle činges, & after his blessyng taken he went home a¨eyn with grete ioy tellyng oure lady & če 30 disciples what he hade seene & herde.  Of čis processe of če apperyng to |r[103v] Petur is not expressede in če gospele. Bot čus by deuoute ymaginacion I haue set it here before očer apperynges čat folowene, for so it semeč čat holy chirch halde, as it is contenede more pleynly 35 in če legende of če Resurrexion. |p203 Of če comyng a¨eyn of oure lorde Jesus to če fadres & of hir ioyful songe. Capitulum lv. |r OVure lorde Jesus after he departede fro Petur, willyng visite & confort after his resurrexion če fadres of če olde lawe 5 & očer če which he hade anone after his deč delyuerete out of če deuels čraldame & sette in paradise of delices'. he came to hem alle glorious in white shynyng cločes with a grete multitude of angeles. And čei seynge him aferr, comyng with so grete blisse'. with vnspekable lovyng & ioy, with songe of 10 mirče čei receyuet him seying, Loo oure kynge of blisse'. comeč alle & mete we with oure sauyour. For nowe če holy day shyneč vpon vs, & čerfore comeč alle & honour we as worči is oure lorde. And čan alle čei fallyng done to če erče deuoutly 15 honourede him, & after risyng vp & standyng before him'. reuerently & mirylye songene če psalmes of Dauid čat specialy pertynede to his lovynge in čis tyme.  And when it drowe sumwhat towarde če euentyde'. oure lorde Jesus seide to hem, I haue compassion of my 20 brečerne če whech bene wondur sory for my deč, & for drede bene disparklet as shepe čat errene without gouernour, & sore čei desirene to se me. Wherfore nowe I wole go & shewe me to hem & confort hem, & sone after I shalle come a¨eyn to ¨owe. And čei alle fallyng done & honouryng him, seiden, 25 Lorde so be it at ¨our wille. How oure lorde Jesus apperede to če tweyn disciples goynge towarde če Castelle Emaus. Capitulum lvj. |r čE self day of če Resurrexion as tweyn disciples of Jesu ¨eden towarde če Castele Emavs, & mournyng, & in 30 manere of despeire talkyng to gedire by če weye of čat befelle če friday before'. oure lorde Jesus come in maner of a pilgryme & felaweshipede wič hem, askynge hem questions & answerynge, & tellyng hem swete wordes of edificacion as če processe of če gospel of Luke telleč pleynly, & at če last 35 bydene, drawene & constreynede to entere & duelle with hem'. shewede him to hem & was knowen in če brede brekyng.  Here mowe we vndirstande |r[104r] & se če grete godenes & če benignyte of oure lorde Jesu in many maneres. |p204 First he shewede his godenes in čat his feruent loue wolde not suffre hese belouede disciples longe erre & be sorye. Sočely he is a trewe frende, a confortable felawe, & a benynge lorde. For loo he ioyneč & felaweč him to hem 5 homely, he askeč če cause of hir sorowe & heuynes, gudely, & he expowneč če scriptures to hem wisely'. & enflawmeč hir hertes gostly, consumyng alle če rust of misbyleue. čus he doč with vs euery day gostly. For what tyme we bene in any perplexite, ouereleide with heuynes or slouth'. & 10 we speke & comune to gedir of Jesu'. anone he comeč to vs, confortyng vs & lihtynyng oure hertes & enflawmynge in to če loue of him. For če best medicine a¨eynus seche gostly sekenesse, is fort speke of god, as če prophete Dauid seič, Lord how swete bene či speches & či wordes to myn chekes, 15 ¨e sočely passyng honye to my mouče, & in a nočer place, či spech is gretely enflawemede as fir čorh če worching of če holy goste, & I či seruant louede it. Also to čenke on god & če grete godenes of Jesu helpeč miche in temptacion & disese, as če self prophete seič, My herte verreyly hetede, with če fir 20 of cristes loue, & in my meditacion of Jesu'. shal brenne fir of perfite loue. Also we mowe se here če godenes of oure lorde Jesu not onely in loue as it is seide'. bot also in his profonde mekenes, as if we take hede how lowely & mekely he goč 25 with hem, čat is to sey če hye lorde of lordes, with hese simple seruantes as one of hem, kepyng nowe če mekenes in his body glorifiede, čat he shewede before in his body dedely, & ¨iuyng vs ensaumple to folowe him in čat vertue. ¨it also here we mowe vndirstonde če mekenes of our 30 lorde Jesu'. in čat he made him self so homely with čoo tweyn simple disciples, če whech were of lowere degre čan če Apostles. Bot čis done not proude men for čei wole not gladly go & speke & be conuersant'. bot with hem čat bene of grete fame, & of hye astate towarde če worlde. 35 And ¨it forčermore here is shewede his mekenes in če čridde poynt a¨eynus proude men. For as we mowe se čei wole not gladly shewe hir wisdam & hir curiouse |r[104v] wordes amangis fewe folke. Bot oure souereyn maister of alle wisdam hač none dedeyn of fewe, for he sheweč his priue wisdam & 40 hye misteries not onely to tweyn as now at čis tyme'. bot also to one as he dide before with če woman samaritane.  More ouere we mowe considere če grete godenes of oure lorde Jesu in alle čis processe of če gospelle forseide čat is to sey howe he enformeč his disciples in maneres, also |p205 feduč & conforteč. And specialy take hede how he feineč him to go ferčer, vnto čat ende, fort kyndele & encrese hir desire & affection to him & to be če more feruently bydene & wičhalden of hem. And forčermore howe benyngly he entreč 5 & goče in with hem, after takeč brede & blisseč it, & wič hees holy handes brekeč & ¨iueč it to hem, & čen sheweč himself to hem.  čus he doč euery day with vs gostly. For he wolde be byden of vs to duelle with vs & drawen with feruent desires, 10 deuout praieres & holi meditaciones, & čerfore as he hač tauht vs, It behoueč euere to praye, & not faile, bot čat we take in mynde če werkes of pyte & hospitalite, & how it sufficeč not to rede or here če wordes & če biddynges of god'. bot čei bene performede in dede, as we mowe here of more pleynly be 15 enformede in če Omelye of seynt Gregory vpon čis gospel.  At če last oure lorde Jesus willyng also visite & confort očere'. duellede not longe wič čees disciples, bot also sone as he hade broken & ¨iuen hem če brede'. he vanyshede awey fro hir eyene. 20 How oure lorde Jesus aperede to hees apostles & disciples čat were reclusede for drede'. on če self day of his resurrexion. Capitulum lvij. |r WHen če forseide tweyn disciples were čus confortede as it is seide, by če presence of oure lorde'. anone for ioy čei 25 turnede a¨eyn to Jerusalem, & comen to če apostles & očer disciples čere priuely gederet, bot Thomas absent, & tolden hem če forseid processe & herden a¨eynwarde of hem, čat sočely oure lorde is rysene, & hač aperede to Petur, & čerwič sudeynly oure lorde Jesus entryng in to hem & če ¨ates 30 closede'. stode in middes of hem & seide Pees to ¨owe. And anone čei fallyng done to če erče &c, knowelechynge čere gilt, in čat čat čei hade so laft him & forsaken'. |r[105r] receyuede him wič grete ioy. And čan seide he to hem, Riseč vp brečerne & beč of gude confort, for alle ¨our sinnes bene 35 for¨iue ¨owe. And so standeč Jesus amongis hees disciples spekynge homely with hem & shewyng hem boče hees handes & his side, & openeč hir wittes to vndirstande clerely holy scriptures & fort knowe sočfastly his resurrexion. He askeč whečer čei haue ouht čat is to be etene, & he eteč homely 40 before hem a part of a rostede fisch & of a honye kombe to |p206 preue his verrey body present & risene. After he brečeč on hem & ¨if hem če holi goste. Loo if we take inwardly hede'. alle čees forseide činges bene ful swete, & ful of gostly likyng. Forči čan were če 5 disciples ioyful in čat siht of oure lorde če whech were before heuye & dredefulle. Lorde god how gladly čei ¨iuen him čat he askede. How treuly čei ministrede & seruede him, & how myrily čei stoden about him. Bot here wič also beholde we oure lady his blessede 10 modere čat was čere present in čat tyme, for to hir were če disciples gederet. Howe she takeč hede to alle čo činges done of hir swete sone with vnspekable ioy sittyng by him homely & seruynge him fulle gladly. & oure lorde takeč bličly hir seruyse & wirchipeč hir čerwič to fore če disciples. 15 And ¨it more ouer for¨ete we not here Maudeleyn če belouede disciples & of če apostles Apostlesse. How she after hir olde manere sitteč at če feete of hir maister, & bisily hereč his wordes, & in alle čat she may gladly & with gude wille ministreč. 20 A lorde Jesu, how worči is čat litel hous, & how likyng & gracious is it to wonne čerinne? Sočely whoso hač any deuocion & gostly tast'. he may se & fele čat here is nowe a grete Paske. Bot oure lorde Jesus stode bot litel while with hem, for 25 it was nihe če euene, & neuerles we mowe suppose čat čei with alle če instance čat čei kouče helde him čere als longe as čei miht, & namely Maudeleyn loče to depart fro him & perauentur with a reuerente boldenes she helde him by hees cločes. For oure lorde was cločede wič allečere whittest cločes 30 of his blisse. And sočely if it so were čat Maudeleyn so helde him'. it is no doute she dide not čat |r[105v] presumptuosly'. bot treuly & mekely in als miche as she was so trewely louyng him, & so treuly belouede of him, & čerfore čat displesede not oure lorde. For it is his wille to be holden & drawen by 35 feruent desire, as it shewede in če forseide tweyn disciples če nekst chapitre before. At če last oure lorde doyng reuerence to his modere & takynge a¨eynwarde reuerence of hir'. blessyng hem alle'. passede aweye fro hem, & čei fallyng done besouhten him of 40 his sone a¨eyn comyng. For čei duelleden euer in his absence hungry & čristye of her swete lorde of whome before čei were wont to haue so grete copye, & čerfore no wondur čouh čei oft sičes with sihynges & feruent desires'. clepede him a¨eyn. |p207 In alle čees forseide aperynges of oure lorde, če whech were done on če self day of his resurrexione, is grete matir of gostly ioy & solempne paske, whoso inwardly tasteč hem. Bot če more harme is, čere bene many čat heren hem with bodily 5 ere, bot fewe čat tasten hem with gostly sauour, & če cause is for čei fele not gostly ioy in his resurrexion. For sočely I byleue čat whoso kouče haue inwarde compassion of če peynes čat oure lorde suffrede for man'. he sholde haue a ioyful paske in alle če forseide processe of his resurrexion. 10 And čat sholde falle euery soneday to him, čat če friday & če saturday wolde dispose him in a hole mynde with drawen fro worldly & fleshly lykynges, & veyn & curiouse činges'. haue trewe compasison of če passion of oure lorde Jesu as če apostle witnesseč seying čat, If we be felawes & perceyneres 15 of če passiones'. we shole be perceyners ofče consolciones & če confortes. Seynt bernerde in a sermon of čis feest of Paske, acordyng to čis purpose, seič in čis sentence, čat alle cristien men čat bene trewe membres of criste sholde folowe him čat 20 is hir hede in čees čre dayes, čat is to sey če friday in če which he suffrede penance & henge on če crosse in to tyme he was taken done with očer mennes handes. Also če seturday in če which his body restede and laye in če sepulcre, & če čridde day čat was če soneday when he rose fro deč to life. Riht so 25 alle cristien men sholde folowe him first on če friday čat is vndirstande alle če tyme of oure bodily lyuynge in |r[106r] čis worlde hangyng on če crosse by penance doyng & mortyfiynge hem self to alle lustes & likynges of če flesh & če worlde. And on če seconde day čat is to sey, when čei 30 bene dede hir bodies rest in če graues, so čat on če čridde day of Resurrexion, čat shalle be če day of dome, čei miht rise in body & soule to lyfe euerlastyng. Bot now če more pite, is, če most parte of hem čat beren vntrewly če name of cristien men practisene & vsene a ferče day čat was neuer made of oure 35 lorde Jesu, bot of če feende, in če which at čis holy tyme čei turnene a¨eyn to alle če lustes of če flesh & sinnes čat čei vsede before Lente če which is as če friday, & so čei gone done wilfully fro če crosse or čei be taken don by god & by his angeles, not folowyng Jesu neičer in čat day nor in čis 40 day, čat is Paske, čat is as miche to sey as passyng forče. For als miche as oure lorde čan passede forče fro deč to life without turnynge a¨eyn, for he sal neuer more dye, bot čei passene not forč, bot turneyn a¨eyn to gostly deč, & so maken hem če ferče day falsly as it is seide, in če which čei turnene |p208 a¨eyn to vices & sinnes čat čei vsede before, & herefore is alle hir ioy in čis holy tyme of Paske, fleshly & bodily & not gostly, as it sholde be wič trewe inwarde ioy of cristes resurrexion, čat is sočefast ensaumple & erneste of oure 5 resurrexione to come, when we shole rise in body & soule to life euerlastyng. And čus miche be seide at čis tyme touching čis holy paske daye. How oure lorde Jesus apperede če viij daye aftere to hees disciples Thomas present. Johannis 20. Capitulum 10 lvii.I. |r When če viij day of his resurrexion was come, oure lorde Jesus aperede eft to hees disciples in če forseide place, & če ¨ates closede, where Thomas was čan present with hem, čat was not so če first day before seide, & after hees felawes 15 hade tolde him howe čei hadden seen hir lorde, & he not byleuyng bot if he miht touch him as če processe of če gospel pleynly telleč'. čan če gode herdeman of his erryng shepe bysye & hauyng compassion, sudeynly standyng in middes of hem saluede hem & seide, Pees to ¨owe. And čerwič turnyng 20 him specialy |r[106v] to Thomas seide, put in či fingir hider & se, & touch my handes, & bringe forč či hande & put in to my side, & be nomore of misbyleue, bot hečen fowarde treuly byleuyng. And čan Thomas reuerently knelyng don wič boče ioy & drede touchede hees wondes as he badde & seide, My 25 lorde & my god. He sauhe him man & beleuede him god, & čan also he knowlechede his gilt, in čat he hade forsaken him as očere also diden, & oure lord godely takyng him vp'. seide, Drede not alle či sinnes bene for¨iue. And čis longe dout & misbyleue of Thomas was of če 30 grete gudenes of oure lorde, in čat maner suffrede for oure profite, to če more opun preue & certeyntye of his verrey Resurrexion. And so we mowe se here če grete benignyte, mekenes & feruent loue of oure lord Jesu, in čat čat he sheweč to 35 Thomas & his očer disciples so opunly hees wondes fort put awey fro hir hertes alle maner derkenes of misbyleue to boče heren & oures grete profite. And specialy oure lorde reseruede in his gloriouse body če steppus of his wondes, for čre skilles, čat is to sey first to 40 confermyng of če feič of his Resurrexion to če disciples, & |p209 secondely fort shewe hem to če fadre when he wole pray for vs, & make him pleisede to vs, for he is oure specialy & souereyn aduokete in čat partye. And če čridde skille is, fort shewe hem at če day of dome, to če reprouede peple vnto hir 5 confusion. And so standeč oure lorde with his blessede modere & Maudeleyn, & hees disciples as longe as him luste comunyng homely with hem, in manere as it is seide in če nexst chapitre before to be hade in contemplacion. 10  And čen at če last he badde hem go in to Galile to če mont Thabor as it is seide, for čere he seide he wolde speke more wič hem & čen ¨iuyng hem his blessyng he passede awey fro hem. How oure lorde Jesus aperede to če disciples in Galile. 15 Matthaei vltimum. Capitulom lix. |r Aftere če disciples were go in to Galile as oure lorde badde'. čere he aperede eft to hem & seide, čere is ¨iuen to me alle če powere in heuene & in erče. Goče nowe & techeč alle maner peple baptizinge hem in name of če fadre & če sone & 20 če holy goste, & |r[107r] techyng hem to kepe alle čoo činges čat I haue byden ¨ow, & beče of gude confort, for lo I am with ¨owe alle če dayes in to če worldes ende. And čei honourede him at his comyng & standen after wič him fulle ioyfulle & gladde. 25 Now take we gude hede to če forseide wordes for čei bene ful confortable & worči. First he sheweč to hem čat he is lorde of alle činge. After he ¨iueč hem auctorite & mandment to preche. če čridde he ¨iueč hem če forme of baptisyng'. And at če last če strengest holt & confort čat čei 30 miht haue, when he seič čat he sal euer be with hem. Loo what ioy & confort he ¨iueč hem, & how many grete tokenes of charite he sheweč to hem, & so ¨iuyng hem his blessyng'. he passede awey fro hem. How oure lorde Jesus aperede to če disciples at če see 35 Tiberiadis. Johannis 2l. Capitulum lx. |p210 |r DWellyng ¨it če disciples in Galile'. vpon a tyme vij of hem wenten to fishe in če see of Tiberiadis, as če gospel telleč in processe, če whiche I passe ouere. Bot if we take hede inwardely to alle čoo činges čat čere were spoken & done'. we 5 mowe fynde mich gostly mirče & confort in hem, & namely in čat solempne feste čat oure lorde made čere to hem. In če which he homely etynge with hem, & as his manere alwey was mekely seruyng hem'. fulle lykyngly fedde hem, not onely bodily'. bot miche more gostly, whereof he ¨iue vs part & 10 gostly tast Jesus for his mercy Amen.  Aftere če forseide feste complete'. oure lorde Jesus askede of Petur whečere he louede him more čen očere, & eft, & če čridde tyme askyng whečere he louede him'. at euery tyme he commendet to him his peple, čat he sholde after 15 gouerne, & badde him feede his shepe, where in we mowe se če propre benignite & mekenes of oure lorde Jesus, & specialy his hye charite & če grete loue čat he hač to oure soules.  And after he telleč before to Petre če deč čat he sholde suffre for his loue, & Petur willyng wit also of John čat 20 folowede with him, in what manere he sholde dye'. was answerede čus of oure lorde, I wole čat he duelle so til I come, as who seič, I wole not čat he folowe me as čou by če passion suffryng'. bot čat in his fulle elde & contemplacion'. he ende čis life in pees, neuerles očere disciples |r[107v] 25 misvunderstode by čat worde čat he sholde not haue diede & ¨it hade not čat bene a grete ¨ift, sičen it is be tter to be bodily dede & duelle euer with criste, as če apostle seič. After čis, oure lorde Jesus passede awey fro hem & went a¨eyn as he was wont, to če holi fadres in paradise. 30 Also oure lorde apperede a nočer tyme, to moo čan fyue hundreč disciples & brečerne, gederet to gedir, as če apostle poule witnesseč, bot where or what tyme or how, it is not writen, neuerles we mowe suppose čat it was as he was wont, with grete charite mekenes & gudenes on his side, & 35 with grete ioy & confort on hir side. And so haue we now touchede of xij apperinges of oure lorde Jesu after his Resurrexion without tweyn čat folowen after in his Ascension. |r Of alle če apperynges of oure lorde Jesu in generale. 40 Capitulum lxj. |p211 |r čOuh it so be čat oure lorde Jesus apperede in diuerse manere after his Resurrexion fourtene sičes as it is seide'. neuerles če gospel specifieč not bot onely of tenne. For how he apperede to his modere'. it is not writen in any place, bot 5 we resonably & deuoutly trowe it as it is seide before. Also of očere čre apperynges, čat is to sey, to Joseph, to James & to moo čan fyue hundreč brečerne'. is specifiede before where čei bene writen, bot not in če gospel. Also we mowe wele suppose of many moo. For it is 10 likely čat he če moste benigne lorde, oft sičes visitede boče his modere & hees disciples & Maudeleyn, his speciale belouede, confortyng & gladynge hem specialy'. čat weren in his passion moost dredeful & sorye, & čat semeč čat seynt Austyn felt, where he seič čus, Of oure lordes body apperynge 15 after his Resurrexion'. alle činges bene not writen, for his conuersacion with hem was oft sičes. And perantere also če holi fadres, namely Abraham & Dauid to whome was made of god če speciale behoste of če incarnacion of goddus son'. comen oft sičes with him, to se čat 20 moste excellent virgine hir douhtere & goddus modere, če which for hem & for alle očer'. foonde so grete grace, & čat bare hir sauioure & alle mankynde. Aa lorde godde how lykyngly čei behelde hir, how reuerently čei enclynede to hir, & with alle če deuocion čat 25 čei kouče čei blessede hir & honourede |r[108r] hir'. čouh it so were čat čei were not seene of hir. Also in alle čees we mowe considere, če grete benignite, če hye charite, & če profonde mekenes of oure lorde Jesu as we be wont, of če whech oft sičes we haue made 30 mynde, & če whech shewen in alle hese dedes & specialy here in čat he wolde after his resurrexion & gloriouse victorye, not steye vp anone to his blisse, bot in maner of a pilgryme xl dayes abide here in erče to conferme & strengče hees disciples & vs in hem, & čat not by hees angeles as he mi¨t haue li¨tly 35 done, bot compellyng him his hye charite, he wolde onely do čat in his owne persone, & bodily be conuersant with hem, apperynge to hem as it is seide xl daies, & spekyng of če kyngdome of god. And alle čis he dide not onely for hem'. bot also for vs 40 & ¨it we cune not se it. He hač louede vs & ¨it he loueč vs so feruently, & we loue not him a¨eynwarde, & čat is a grete reprouable vnkyndnes in vs. For at so grete fire of loue, we sholde not onely be made hote'. bot by reson we sholde fully |p212 brenne. Bot nowe we leuyng čis'. go we to his glorious ascension. Of če Ascension of oure lorde Jesu. Capitulum lxij. |r TOuching če wondurfull Ascension of oure lorde Jesu, 5 čou čat herest or redest čis, if čou wolt fele če swetnes čerof'. I wole čat čou be wakely & qwikke in či soule, so ferforč'. čat if euer here before as it was bydene če, čou madest če by deuout ymaginacion as present to hees wordes & dedes'. now čou do miche more with alle či miht, for čis solempnite 10 passeč alle očer, as I shale clerely shewe če withinforč in processe. And namely čis one činge sholde stire & herte čin entencion & quikene čine affeccion, čat či lorde nowe is in passyng aweye, fro če as by his bodily presence če tyme of his pilgrymage here in erče with če fully complete & endet. 15 Wherfore hees wordes & hees dedes nowe bene če more attentily & bysily to be considerede. For sočely euery trewe cristien soule sholde, hir spouse, hir lorde & hir god, in his awey passyng most wakely & bisily take tent to & čo činges čat bene by him spoken & done, moste inwardly sette in 20 mynde, & moste deuoutly & mekely recommende here to him, & vtturlye |r[108v] wičdrawe alle her mynde in čis tyme fro alle očere činges, & set it holly vpon hir spouse. Fort go čen to če processe of če Ascension of oure lorde Jesu, we shole haue in mynde čat on če xl daye after his 25 Resurrexion oure lorde Jesus knowyng čat his tyme was come fort passe fro čis worlde to če fadere'. takyng out of paradise terrestre, če holy fadres & alle očer blessede soules, & blessyng Enoke & Helye čat čere abydene stille ¨it lyuyng'. he came to hees disciples, če whech were to gedire čat tyme in 30 Mont syon, & in če place where he made čat worči sopere če niht before his passion, čere beynge čan with hem his blessede modere & očer disciplesses. And so apperinge to hem'. he wolde ete with hem or he passede fro hem in a speciale token & a memoriale of loue & 35 ioye to hem. Wherefore alle etyng to gedir with grete ioy & mirče in čis laste feste of our lorde Jesu'. čen seide he to hem: Tyme is come nowe čat I turne a¨eyn to him čat sende me. Bot ¨he shole duelle & abide in če cite til ¨e be newe cločede gostly čorh vertue čat shale come fro abouene. For 40 sočely within fewe daies here after ¨e shole be fillede with če |p213 holy gost as I behei¨t ¨owe, & after ¨e shale go & preche my gospel čorh alle če worlde, baptisyng hem čat wole beleue in me, & so ¨e shalle be myne witnesses in to če vttreste ende of erče. 5 Also he reprehendet or obreydede hem nowe specialy when he biddeč hem preche of hir misbyleue in čat čat čei trowede not to hem čat seye him haue vprisen, & čat were če angeles. As čei he seide to hem in čis manere sentence to make hem vndurstande, Miche more ¨e sholde haue trowede 10 & byleuede to če angeles or ¨e seene me'. čen če peple shal trowe to ¨our prechinge če which shalle not se me. Also he reprouede & obreydede čan hir mysbyleue for čei sholde knowe first hir owne defaute, & čereby be če more meke, shewyng hem nowe in his departyng howe miche it 15 pleisede him mekenes, & čerfore specialy he recommendet it at če last to hem. čan čei askeden him of čoo činges čat were to come after bot he wolde not telle hem, for it was not spedful to hem to knowe če priuytes of god, če whech če fader hade reserued 20 & set in his owne powere to fulfille when him likede. |r[109r] čus standen čei to gedir etyng & spekyng with grete ioy to hem, of če blessede presence of hir lorde, bot neuerles with grete drede & turblance of his awey passyng, & no wondre for čei louede him so tendirly'. čat čei miht not with 25 esy herte bere če wordes of his bodily departyng fro hem, & namely oure lady his blessede moder, čat louede him passyng alle očere. We mowe wele suppose čat she touchede & stirede souereynly with če swetnes of modere loue'. as she satte nexst him at čat mete, leyde don hir hede swetely & restede vpon 30 his blessede breste, as seynt John dide before in čat forseide moste worči sopere, & so with swete teres sihynge, she spake to him in čis manere prayinge: My dere sone if čou wolt alle weye go to či fadere'. I praye če lede me with če. And oure lorde confortyng hir seide, 35 I pray če dere modere take not heuyly my goyng fro če, for I go to če fadere for či beste, & it is spedeful čat čou duelle here ¨it awhile, to conferme hem čat shale treuly byleue in me, & after I shale come & take če with me in to euerlastyng blisse. And čan she seide, My swete sone či wille be done. 40 For not onely I am redy to abide at či wille'. bot also to suffre deč for čoo soules, čat čou suffrest deč fore. Bot euer I beseke če haue mynde on me. And čan oure lorde confortede more ouere hir & Maudeleyn, & očer, seying čus to hem, Be not ¨our herte |p214 turblete & drede it not. For I shalle not leue ¨ow desolate as faderles, for I shalle go & come & euer be with ¨owe. And at če laste he badde hem go in to če Monte of Olyuete, for čennes he wolde stey vp, & so passede he at čat tyme awey 5 fro hem. And anone riht his modere & alle očer wičout taryinge ¨eden in to če forseide Monte, čat is fro Jerusalem about a myle, & čere eft sones oure lorde apperede to hem. Loo here haue we on čis day tweyn apperynges. 10 čan clippede he & kissede his modere, takyng his leue, & she a¨eynwarde clippede & kissede him ful tendirly. And če disciples & Maudeleyn, & alle očere fallyng done to če gronde & wepyng'. kisseden hees feete deuoutly, & he takyng hem vp kissede alle hees apostles benyngly. 15 Now take hede inwardely of hem & of alle čat beč nowe here done, & čerwič beholde če holy fadres |r[109v] čere beynge inuisible, how gladly & reuerently čei beholden, & inwardely blessen hir'. by whom čei hauen receyuet so grete a benefice of hir sauacion, & also how čei beholden čoo worči 20 championes & lederes of goddus hoste, če whech among alle očer peple, oure lorde Jesus specialy hač chosen fort conquere alle če worlde. At če laste when alle če misteries were complete & fulfillede'. oure lorde Jesus began to be lift vp fro hem, & to 25 stey vp by his owne vertue, & čan oure lady & alle očer felle done to če erče, wirchipyng him, & oure lady seide, My blessede sone Jesu čenke on me, & čerwič she miht not wič halde hir fro wepyng bycause of his goyng, neuerlese she was ful ioyful čat she sawe hir sone so gloriously stey vp to heuen. 30 Also če disciples čis seyng'. seiden, Lorde we haue forsake alle worldes godes for če'. haue mynde on vs. And so he hauyng hees handes lift vp, & blessyng hem with a briht ioyful face, coronede worčily as a kynge & gloriously arayede, steying vp to heuen'. seide, Beč stedfast & worcheč manfully, 35 for I shalle be euere with ¨owe. And so oure lorde Jesus, alle glorious, white & rudye, shynyng & ioyfulle, ledyng with him, čat noble multitude, & goyng before, & shewyng če weye to hem'. in dede fulfillede čan čat če prophetes hade seide longe before of his Ascension, 40 & čei also with vnspekable ioy folowyng him'. songen myrily če psalmes & ympnes of his lovyng, as pertenede to čat blisfulle tyme of hir delyuerance fro alle sorowe & entre in to alle blis without ende. |p215 And in čat tyme če Archangele Michaele prouoste of paradise, goynge before, tolde če blessede court of heuen čat oure lorde Jesus was comyng & vp [steying], & anone alle če blissede spirites after hir ordres ¨edene a¨eyn hir lorde, none 5 laft behynde, & metyng with him & worchipyng him with alle če reuerence čat čei kouče, ladden him with ympnes & songes of ioy čat may not be spoken nor čouht. And so metyng to gedir če holy fadres & če blessede spirites & singene Alleluia, & moste ioyfulle songes with reuerence before him'. maden a 10 grete solempnite, & a wirchipful feste. ¨e lorde who miht telle what feste čat was & what ioy čei hade, when čei mette to gedir? And |r[110r] when čei hade done dewe reuerence to oure lorde & fulfillede hir myrye songes čat pertenede to his 15 gloriouse Ascension'. čei turnede hem to očere boče če blessede spirites & če holy fadres reioycyng & singyng. And first če holi spirites in čis maner seyinge: ¨e princes of peples beč welle come & ioyfulle we be of ¨our comyng Alleluia. ¨e are nowe here gederet & 20 wondirfully lift vp with ¨our god, Alleluia. čerefore make mirče & singeč nowe to him čat so gloriously steč vp aboue heuen & heuene Alleluia Alleluia. And če holy fadres ioyfully answerede, To ¨owe princes of goddus peple, Alleluia. Oure keperes & helperes 25 Alleluia, ioy & pees be euer Alleluia. singeč ¨e & makeč mirthe also to our godde, lorde, kynge & sauyoure, Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. And forčermore alle to gedir songen & seiden, Now we gone mirylye in to če hous of oure lorde Alleluia, & čat 30 wirchipefull Cite of godde shalle receyue vs alle to gedir Alleleuia, in ympnes & songes of ioy & mirče Alleleuia Alleluia. Loo here was miche mirče & ioy, alle čei songene & souereynly ioydene as če prophete Dauid seič. 35 God steieč in to heuen in moste wondurfulle ioy of Apostles čat seye him čat tyme. And in voice of Trumpe čat is in voice of angeles čat aperede čan & spake to če apostles. Sočely oure lorde Jesus steye vp čan oponly to če confort of his modere & če apostles, as longe as hir bodily siht wolde 40 suffice to se him. And after a briht cloude toke him fro hir eyene, & anone in a momente čat is in an vnperceyuable short tyme, he was with alle hees angeles & če forseide holi fadres in če hiest heuen. |p216 A lorde what ioy was čat čan to se čat blessede lorde so gloriously vp steying, Sočely I trowe who so miht haue seene čat as če apostles didene, & čerwič herde čat ioyful songe of angeles & holi soules with him vpsteying'. for čat 5 passinge ioy'. his soule sholde haue be departede fro če bodye, & gone vp to heuen also with hem & no wonder. Wherfore oure lorde knowynge če infirmite of mankynde in bodily life here'. wolde shewe sume of his blisse to his modere, & očer disciples, in als miche as čei miht bere, 10 čat was in čat blisfulle of him vpsteyinge & hidde fro hem, čat čei miht not bere so in flesh lyuyng. And čerfore also he sende to hem tweyn angeles in mannus likenesse, |r[110v] čat čei sholde not ouermiche be trauailede in čat standynge & lokyng vp after him to heuen, for čei were so ravyshede by čat 15 blisfulle siht of him čat čei hade for¨ete hem self, & also he sende če angeles to conforte hem in čat čei herde če angeles witnesse acordyng with hem of če Ascension of oure lorde. And when če angeles hade byden hem čat čei sholde no lengir loke after Jesus bodily presence in čat forme čat čei 20 seye him čan stey vp'. in to čat tyme čat he sholde come in čat self forme bodily to deme alle quikke & dede'. bot čat čei sholde turne a¨eyn in to če cite, & čere abide če holi goste as he hade seide hem before'. čen oure lady mekely praiede če angeles to recommende hir to hir blisfulle sone, & čei lowely 25 enclynyng to hir'. gladly toke hir bidyng, & also če apostles & Maudeleyn recommendet hem in če self manere, & after če angeles passyng fro hem, čei turnede a¨eyn in to če cite as čei were byden to Mont syon čere abydyng če behoste of oure lorde Jesu. 30 Nowe go we vp by deuout contemplacion to oure lorde Jesu beholdyng in ymaginacion of heuenly činges by likenes of erčely činges, howe he with alle čat forseide worči & blisfulle multitude of holi soules, oponyng heuen ¨ates čat were before čat tyme sperede a¨eynus mankynde, as a worči 35 conqueroure ioyfully entrede, & gladly before če fadere, seide, Fader I čonke če čat hast ¨iuen me če victorye of alle our enemyes & aduersaries, & loo fadere here I presente to če oure frendes čat were halden in čraldame, & for als miche as I haue beheyht to my brečerne & disciples, če whech I laft in 40 če worlde, to sende to hem če holi goste'. I pray če fadere fulfille my behost, & I recommende hem also to če. čan če fadere takyng him vp'. made him sitte on his riht hande & seide, My blessede sone alle powere & dome I haue |p217 ¨iuen to če, & čerfore of čat čou askedest'. dispose & do as če likeč. After čat alle če holy fadres & če blessede spirites če whech hade in wirchipyng of če holi trinite falle done lowely 5 with alle reuerence'. risyng vp begunne a¨eyn to singe hir songes of mirče & vnspekable ioy, before če throne of god. For sičen Moises & če childrene of Israel songene in čankyng & lovyngis of god, when čei were passede če rede see & hir |r[111r] enemyes čerin drounede. And also če self tyme Marie Aaron 10 sistre, with očere women folowyng hir in timpanes & očer melodye, dawnsedene & songen to goddus lovynge. Also Dauid with his peple ledyng če Arke of god in to Jerusalem herpede & daunsede for ioy before če Arke, & chanteres songen, & in očere diuerse minstralsye če honourede 15 & wirchipede god. And also seynt John seič in če Apocalipse, čat he herde a voice in heuen of an hundret & fourtye & foure čousande herperes herpyng & singyng a newe songe before če throne & če sete of če verrey lambe Jesu. Miche more we mowe 20 resonable trowe, čat nowe in čis ioyful tyme, when Jesus with his cumpany were passede alle sorowe & alle aduersaries were so graciously ouercome, & he čat was tokenede by če Arke Jesus was so gloriously come in to če cite of heuenly Jerusalem'. alle čat blessede felaweshipe of spirites & soules, 25 without noumbre songen & maden ioy & mirče čat none tonge may telle nor herte čenke. Sočely nowe in čat blessede cite of heuenly Jerusalem is songen & herde čat souereyn songe of ioy, & after če prophecie of Thobie, by alle če stretes čerof is songen Alleluia, čat is als miche to sey, as če lovyng of oure 30 lorde. Neuer fro če bygynnyng of če worlde was čere so sollempne & so ioyful a feste, ne neuer perantre shalle be, bot at če laste after če day of dome, when alle če chosen soules shole be presentede čere wič hir bodies glorifiede. And čerfore 35 as I seide at če beginnyng of čis chapitre, čis solempnite alle činges consideret passeč alle očere. Take hede of eche of hem, & se whečer it be soče čat I sey. First če lnc arnacion of our lorde Jesu is a solempne feste & worči, for čat was če byginnyng of alle oure gude & 40 oure sauacion. Bot čat was oure ioy & not hisene, for he was čan closede in his modere wombe. Also če Natiuite of him is a sollempne & hie feste, & worčily mirče to be made čerin. Bot čat is also as on oure side, for as on his side we oweč to haue compassion of him |p218 čat was for vs born in so grete pouert, hardenes of wedur & očere abiection. Also as to vs his passion is a grete feste, čorh če which we bene brouht |r[111v] out of če fendes čraldame, & alle oure 5 sinnes bene for¨iuene & done aweye. And as seynt gregour seič, Hit hadde no¨t auaylede vs to be born, bot it hade also profitede vs fort be bouht. Neuerles for če grete tormentes of him & čat hardest & moste disputose deč čat he suffrede for oure redempcion & byinge'. čere was no matir of ioy but 10 račere of sorowe, boče to him in čat peynfulle suffryng, & to vs for oure sinfulle deseruyng. Forčermore ¨it če Resurrexion of oure lorde Jesu is a gloriouse, sollempne & a ioyfulle feste, boče for him & for vs. For čen was his bodie glorifiede & alle peyne & sorowe 15 passede'. & we iustifiede, & haue an erneste & ensaumple without doute also of oure laste vprisyng in body & soule. And čerfore of čis worchipeful & ioyful day, specialy singeč holi chirch, by če wordes of če prophete Dauid, čis is če day čat oure lorde made, be we mirye čerein & glade. 20 And as seynt Austyn seič in a sermone, čis day is holiest of alle očere, bot čat may be vndirstonde of alle očer before čat day. For čis day of če Ascension by reson is gretter & holiere'. & čat touchyng čre parties, čat is to seye, oure lorde him self, če blessede spirites in heuen & mankynde in 25 erče. For as to če first čouh oure lorde hade čan gloriously in body & soule vprisen fro deč to euerlastyng life'. neuerles he was bodily ¨it as a pilgryme in erče, fro his owne kynde heritage & rewme. Also as to če seconde, ¨it seye not če angeles hir felawshipe encresede by seyson takyng of 30 mankynde with hem in blisse. And as anentes če čridde'. ¨it was closede & stokene če ¨ate of heuynly paradise, & ¨it were not če holi fadres & soules presentede to če fadere of heuen, če whech alle čre were complete & fulfillede in čis holi Ascension. 35 And if we take gude hede'. we mowe se čat alle čat god wrouht & dide'. he dide fort come to čis ende. And withoute čis'. alle hees werkes, hade be as imperfite. For loo heuen & erče & alle čat is made in hem'. is made for man, & man fort haue če blisse of heuen, & čerto miht no man come 40 after he hade sinnede in to čis day were he neuer so gude & rihtwise, & so we mowe se, how worči čis holi day is. ¨it more ouer če feste of pentechost is hye & holy, & worčily |r[112r] holy chirche makeč it solempne. For čen was ¨iuen |p219 čerto čat hye worčiest ¨ift, čat is če holy goste. For čis is to vs & not to him. Bot čis Ascencion day is proprely če moste solempne feste, of oure lorde Jesu. For čis day first in his manhede he 5 began to sitte, on če fadere riht hande in blisse, & toke fulle rest of his pilgrimage before. Also čis is proprely če feste of alle če blessede spirites in heuen. For čis day čei hade a newe ioy of here lorde, whom čei seye neuer before čere in his manhede, & also for čis day 10 began first to be restorede če fallyng done of hir felawes, & čat in so grete multitude & noumbre of blessede soules, of patriarkhes & prophetes & alle čo holy soules, čat čis day first entrede in to čat blessede cite of heuenly Jerusalem her kynde heritage aboue. 15 Wherefore sičen we maken solempne če feste of one seynt čat is passede out of čis worlde to heuen'. miche more we oweč to do of so many čousandes, & ¨it passyngly of him, čat is seynt of alle seyntes. Also čis is specialy če feste of oure lady, for als mich 20 as čis day she sawe hir blessede son Jesu verrey god & man so gloriously coronede as kynge stey vp to heuen. ¨it also čis is proprely oure feste, for čis day was first oure kynde exaltede & lift vp aboue če heuenes, & also for bot if criste hadde so stey vppe'. čat worči ¨ift of če holi goste 25 whereof we makene solempnite, we miht not haue receyuede, as he seide to hees disciples, It is spedeful to ¨ow, čat I go vp to če fadere, for bot if I go so fro ¨owe'. če holy goste confortere shalle not come to ¨owe. And čerfore seič seynt bernarde in a sermon of čis feste of če Ascension in 30 confirmacion of my forseide sentence'. čat čis gloriouse feste of če Ascension of oure lorde Jesu is an ende & fulfillyng of alle očere solempnites & feestes, & a blessede conclusion of alle če iurneye of oure lorde Jesu after his manhede &c. čus mowe we opunly see čat čis day & čis feste is 35 most hie & solempne of alle očere. And čat soule čat louede treuly oure lorde Jesu, sholde čis day be more ravyshede to heuen, & more gostly ioy haue in herte'. čan in any day of če ¨ere. For čus seide oure lorde Jesus to hees disciples, If ¨e louede me'. sočely ¨e sholde be gladde & ioyfulle |r[112v] for čat I 40 go to če fadere. Wherfore I leue čat I seide trewly before čat was neuer in heuen a day so ioyful & so solempne as čis day. And so čis ioy & čis solempnite lastede in to če day of Pentechoste, whereof we mowe deuoutly ymagine & haue meditacion in čis manere: |p220 če Ascension of oure lorde was at če sexte houre. For before he ete with hees disciples at tierce, čan mowe we čus ymagiue, čat čoo tenne dayes fro čat houre čat he ascendet in to če houre of če holi goste sende'. če ix ordres of angeles 5 with če holi fadres & soules čat he toke vp with him, made him tenne festes, & he a¨eynw arde rewardede hem specialy in sume singulere comforte euery day. And so čouh alle čat were čen in heuene generalye were of his Ascensione ioyful & made so myrye a feste čat no 10 tonge kanne telle'. neuerles specialy če first day, fro če houre of his ascension in to sexte of če nekst day folowyng'. angeles made hir feste. če seconde day in če self manere maden hir feste'. archangeles. če čridde day'. vertues. če ferče day'. potestates. če fyueth day'. Principates. če sexte day'. 15 Dominaciones. če seuent day'. Thrones. če eyhteč day'. Cherubyn. če nynče day, Seraphin. And so čees ix ordres of angeles continuede hir festes in to sixte houre of če vigile of Pentechoste, & fro čennus'. in to terce of če day folowyng, čat is of če soneday in 20 Pentechoste'. če holy fadres with hir felawchipe made hir feste to Jesu blessede without ende. Amen. Of če sendyng done & če comyng of če holy goste. Capitulum lxiij. |r Aftere čat oure lorde Jesus was gone vp to his blisse, 25 & če angeles hade byden če disciples to turne a¨eyn in to če cite as it is seide nexst before, čei with his blessede modere wirchipyng him & kissinge deuoutly če steppes of his feete, where he laste touchede če erče'. as če gospelle of Luke telleč'. čei went a¨eyn in to Jerusalem with grete ioye, & čere čei 30 abyden če comyng of če holi goste continuely in deuout prayeres, lovyng god & blyssyng oure lorde.  And when če tenče day was come fro his Ascension, čan was če fiftyče day fro his Resurrexion |r[113r] oure lorde Jesus ioynyng če figure of če olde testament with če newe'. for als 35 miche as če tyme of grace was in čat day come'. he seide to če fadre čus: My fadre haueč nowe in mynde če behoste čat I made to my brečerne of če holy goste. And če fader answerede, My dere sone I am wele apaide of čat behoste, & nowe is tyme 40 čat it be fulfillede, & more ouere he seide to če holy goste, we |p221 praye če čat čou go done to oure disciples, & čat čou fille hem of či grace, conforte hem, strengče hem, teche hem, & ¨iue hem abundance of vertues & ioye. And anone če holi goste come done with a wondirfull 5 noys in brennyng tonges vpon a hundret & twenty disciples, gederet čat tyme to gedir & fillede hem with alle ioy, vertues & grace. By vertue whereof če disciples strengčhede, tawht, li¨tnede & enflawmede'. ¨eden after by alle parties of če worlde, & made it suget to hem in grete partie. 10 čis is a worči feste & čis is amongis očere a swete & louely feste. For čis is če feste of him čat is loue proprely, as seynt gregour seič'. čat če holi goste is loue. Wherefore he čat loueč god'. sholde in čis feste specialy be enflawmede wič loue, or at če leste with a brennyng desire to loue. Bot čis 15 wole not be with fleshly or worldly loue medelet, as seynt Bernard seič in a sermon of če Ascension in čis manere sentence, He erreč gretely whoso he is, čat weneč fort medle to gedir čat heuenly ioy with čees bitter askes of fleshly likyng, or čat swete gostly bawme, with čis venyme, or čoo 20 gracious ¨iftis of če holi goste, with čees foule stinkyng lustes, & no wondre. For as če self Bernerde seič, če apostles for če tyme čat čei hade oure lorde bodily present with hem, for če loue čat čei hade to his body, čouh it was holye & gude'. ¨it for čat tyme čei were vnable to receyue perfitely če holi goste, 25 as he seide himself, Bot I go fro ¨owe'. če holi gost shalle not come to ¨owe. Miche more čen he čat is knit with loue to rotene mukke or to a stinkyng kareyn'. is in alle maner vnhable to čat clanest & swettust loue of če holy goste. For čere is none 30 acorde nor knittyng to gider of sočefastnes & vanite, of liht & derkenes, of če spirite & če flesh, and of fire & colde watere. Bot perantre čou čat felest not |r[113v] če swetenes & confort of čat gostly likyng & loue'. seist to me, withouten confort of loue & likyng I may not be, what shalle I do čan, while I fele not čat 35 gostly loue? Seynt bernarde answereč čus & seič to če, Forsake first fully & treuly alle veyn worldes confort, & alle fleshly loue & likynge, & abide a while in deuout prayeres as če apostles dide če comyng of če holi gost, whereof čei knewe none certeyne tyme'.& čou shalt fele within shorte tyme čat he 40 shale come & confort če better čan čou kowedest before knowe or čenke.  And in grete confort of him čat forsakeč worldly confort for god'. če same seynt Bernard concludeč in čees wordes, če apostles in čis abyding seten perseuerant with one |p222 wille to gedir in praiere with če women & Marie Jesu modere, & in če self manere lerne čou to pray, lerne to seke, to aske, & to knokke at če dore'. til čou fynde, til čou take & til it be oponede to če. Oure lorde knoweč či freele & feble kynde, & 5 he is trewe & wole not suffre če be temptede more čan čou maiht bere. And I trist in him, čat if čou wolt abide trewly'. čou shalt not abide če tenče day, bot čat he shalle come before & confort či desolate soule, & so praying, in hees blessinges of gostly swetnes, so čat čou shalt haue so grete 10 likyng in his mynde & in čoo gostly drinkes, čat he shale make če drunken oft in soule'. čat čou shalt be ioyful & gladde čat euer čou forsoke če fals confortes of če worlde.  Loo by čis forseide sentence of seynt bernarde we mowe se in partie, what behoueč to receyue če holi goste & 15 his loue. Wherfore čat we mowe be able to receyue here čat grete ¨ift of če holy goste & his conforte, & after come to čat blisse čat oure lorde Jesus is nowe steye vp to, & hače made oure weye before vs, leue we & hate we alle fals loue & likyng of čis wrecchede worlde, & set we not oure loue on če 20 stinkyng flesh & norish we it not in desires, bot desire we continuely fort be departede čerefro, so čat čorh če grace of če holy goste helpyng vs, we mowe folowe sumwhat če blessede life of oure lorde Jesu in čis worlde, & after go vp to him & to oure kynde heritage of blisse in če gloriouse cite of 25 heuenly Jerusalem, where he souereyne kynge with če fadere & če |r[114r] holy goste one godde in trinyte lyueč & reigneč without ende Amen.  čus endeč če contemplacion of če blessede life of oure lorde Jesu če which processe for als mich as it is here 30 čus writen in english tonge lengir in many parties & in očere manere čan is če latyne of Bonauenture'. čerfore it semeč not conuenient to folowe če processe čerof by če dayes of če wike after če entent of če forseide Bonauentur, for it were to tediouse as me činkeč, & also it shulde so sone be fulsome & 35 not in confortable deynteč by cause of če freelte of mankynde čat hač likynge to here & knowe newe činges. & čoo čat bene seldome herde'. bene oft in če more deynteč. Wherefore it semeč to me beste čat euery deuout creature čat loueč to rede or here čis boke'. take če partes čerof as it semeč moste 40 confortable & stiryng to his deuocion, sumtyme one & symtyme an očere, & specialy in če tymes of če ¨ere & če festes ordeynet in holy chirche, as če matires bene perteynent to hem. |p223  And for als miche as čat blessede & worči feste of če precious sacrament of Jesu body, in če whiche he is euery day bodily present with vs to oure mooste confort čat we mowe haue here in erče'. is če ende & če conclusion of alle 5 očere festes of him'. graciously & resonably ordeynet by holi chirch as it was seide before'. čerfore with če grace of če holi goste & of him of whom čat feest is'. we shole speke sumwhat more to confort of hem čat treuly byleuen, & to confusion of alle fals lollardes & heritykes Amen. 10  Blessede be če name of oure lorde Jesu & his modere Marye nowe & euere wič out ende Amen. Explicit speculum vite Christi. |p225  A shorte tretes of če hiest and moste worči sacrament of cristes blessede body & če merueiles čerof. |r[114v] |r MEmoriam fecit mirabilium suorum misericors. et miserator dominus escam dedit timentibus se'. čees wordes of 5 Dauid in če sautere seide in prophecie longe tyme before če Incarnacion of oure lorde Jesu, specialy of če wirchipeful sacrament of his precious body, hauen čis sentence & vndirstandyng in english tonge, Oure lorde merciful & mercy ¨iuere hač made a mynde of hees merueiles in čat he hač 10 ¨iuen mete to hem čat dreden him. čis mete is čat preciouse gostly mete of če blessede body of oure lorde Jesu in če sacrament of če awtere čat he of his souereyn mercy ¨iueč euery day in forme of brede to alle čoo čat trewly dreden him as hir lorde god, by če whiche drede, čei kepen hem out of 15 dedely sinne, & mekely standen in če stedefast byleue of holi chirch. And čis gostly mete he ¨iueč, & hač made čerebye a speciale mynde of hees merueiles, čat is to sey as če preeste reherseč in če canone of če messe'. in mynde of his merueylous & blessede passion, & of his merueilous 20 Resurrexion & of his merueylous & gloriouse Ascension & generaly in mynde of alle če merueilous werkes & dedes of him in his blessede life here in čis worlde, če which is tretede in alle čis boke before writen. For to begynne first at his merueilous Incarnacion'. loo 25 howe expresse mynde čerof is čis mete čat he ¨iueč to vs in če sacrament of če awtere, for čerein is he verreyly, & in čat self body čat was so merueilously conceyuede by če holy goste aboue kynde. And also so merueilously born of his blessede modere Marie without sorowe or wemme of sinne, & 30 so forč of alle če merueilouse werkes & dedes of him'. in čis gostly mete we haue čat speciale mynde čat none may be more & čat we haue of none očer. For alle očer činges passede čat we haue mynde of'. we conceyuen in spirite & in |p226 herte so čat čereby we haue not če bodily presence of hem. Bot in čis gostly mete & sacramentale commemoracion of oure lorde Jesu'. he is verreyly & bodily present wič vs vnder an očere forme'. bot sočely in his owne propre substance verrey 5 |r[115r] god & man. For what tyme he sholde stey vp in to heuene'. he seide to hees apostles & hees foloweres in čees wordes, Loo I am with ¨owe alle če daies in to če worldes ende, confortyng hem by čis benigne promisse'. čat he sholde duelle with hem not onely by če gostly presence of his godhede'. bot 10 also by če bodily presence of his manhede, čat he ¨iueč to vs in čis forseide mete of his flesh & blode, in mynde of hees merueiles generaly as it is seide, bot moste specialy in mynde of čat blessede passion, čat he suffrede for vs. For what tyme he sholde passe out of čis worlde to če fadere če niht before 15 his passion at čat worči sopere with hees disciples as it is seide before'. he made & ordeynet čis souereyn & moste wirchipfulle sacrament of his flesh & blode, ¨iuyng his body in to mete & his blode in to drinke, for a speciale mynde of his passion & deč. For čus seide he to hees apostles in čat 20 first makyng of čis helefulle sacrament, čis doče ¨e in mye mynde. So čat če souereyn & moste worči mynde of his passion & passyng loue to vs'. sholde be euere more čis hye wirchipful sacrament. čis is čat precious gostly mete & speciale mynde of 25 oure lorde Jesu, in če whiche is hade alle gostly likyng, & če sauour & taste of alle swetnes. And also čis is čat swete memoriale where čorh we bene wičdrawen & kept fro wikkednes, & confortede & strenghede in godenes, & profiten euery day in encresse of vertues & of grace in sočefastnes. 30 čis is čat hye ¨ift & moste noble memoryale čat oweč worčily to be prentede euer in oure mynde, & to be bisily kept in če inwarde affeccion of če herte in continuele mynde of him čat ¨iueč vs čis swete memoriale & precious ¨ift. For whos ¨ift is oft tyme seene'. his mynde is likyngly prentede in 35 če herte. čus oure lorde Jesus of his grete mercye hač made a likyng mynde of hees merueiles in čis gostly mete, če which is moste merueile of alle merueiles, ¨iuyng čis mete specialy to hem čat dreden him. 40 And here we shole vndurstande čat in two maneres men dreden god, & čeraftere he ¨iueč čis mete diuersely to hem. For sume dreden god as seruantes dredene |r[115v] hir lorde, leuyng & eschewyng to sinne onely for drede of peyne, & to |p227 čees manere of men if čei bene out of dedely sinne & in grace'. oure lorde ¨iueč čis forseide mete, as to hir gostly sustinance, so čat by če vertue čerof'. čei bene sustynede in life of soule & kept fro euerlastyng deč. 5 Bot očer bene čat dreden god as trew children dreden to offende hir fadere, for če loue of him, & to čees maner men oure lorde god ¨iueč čis precious mete not onely to hir gostly sustinance'. bot also to hir souereyn likyng & wondirfulle confort in soule, & of čees maner of dredyng folke spekeč če 10 self prophete Dauid in čees wordes, Aa lorde god how mikel is če manyfolde plente ofči swetnes, če which čou hast hidde to hem čat dreden če. Bot čei čat dreden not god'. hauen neičer gostly sustenance nor heleful likynge of čis precious mete, bot čorh hir owne wikkednesse & vndisposyng in soule, 15 taken it & eten it to hir gostly deč & euerlastyng dampnacion. And čat bene tweyn maner of peple, one is of hem čat drede not to receyue čis holiest sacrament in dedely sinne, or elles by defaut of drede contynuene in hir sinne. For as če wise man seič, če drede of god casteč out sinne, & čerfore whoso 20 continueč in dedely sinne'. it is an opune prefe, čat he dredeč not god, & čan is he vnable to receyue & helefully ete čis worči sacrament. A nočere maner peple čat lakken če drede of god'. bene heritykes, če whech in defaut of buxom drede to god & holy 25 chirch presumptuosly leuyng vpon hir owne bodily wittes & kyndely reson'. leue not čat holi doctours hauen tauht, & holy chirch .determinede of čis blessede sacrament, bot falsly trowene & obstinately seyne čat it is brede in his kynde as it was before če consecration, so čat če substance of brede is not 30 turnede in to če substance of goddes body, bot duelleč stille brede as it was before, bycause čat it semeč so to alle hir bodily wittes. če which errour & heresye & alle očer of čis holiest sacrament'. wičout doute springen of gostly pride & 35 presumpcion of kyndely witte, in defaut & lakke of lowely drede. For awčere seche men leuen čat god may worch alle čoo merueiles abouene če comune |r[116r] course of kynde as holy chirch techeč in čis holi sacrament'. or nouht'. And if čei leue not čat he may'. čan dreden čei him nouht as god almihty, & 40 so bene čei worse čan Jewes or saracenes for boče byleuen čat god is almihty. And on čat očere side if čei seyen & leuen čat god for he is almihty may worch čoo merueiles, bot čei leue not čat he doče so, for als miche as hir kyndely reson telleč hem če contrarye'. čan drede čei not fort a¨eyne sey če |p228 souereyn godenes & loue of god to mankynde, as in čat partye čat holi chirch techeč & byleue of čis holy sacrament, & in čat čei preuene hem self grete fooles. For čouh it were so čat it were in doute, whečere če teching & če beleue čat holy 5 chirch hač, of čis holy sacrament were soče or nouht'. or elles also sette case čat it were not soče'. ¨it če sikere part were to byleue as holy chirch techeč with a buxom drede. For in čat'. we leuyn oure kyndely reson, & bene obeshant to god & holi chirch as him self biddeč vs, & also we withdrawe not in oure 10 beleue of če miht of god, nor of his loue & souereyn godenes to vs, bot račer maken it more'. if it so were čat it were not soče as we beleuen, & čat were litel perile or račere none bot mede to vs in alle partes for oure gude wille to god & holy chirch. And also in čat byleue čere is no perile of ydolatrye, 15 as če fals heretyke seič, čat we honourene & maken brede oure godde. For we seyen & beleuen, čat in čat holy sacrament brede is turnede in to goddus bodye, by vertue of cristes wordes. And so we alle holely honouren not brede'. bot god & his blessede body in forme of brede, čat is to sey in čat 20 likenes of brede čat we seene with oure bodily eyene'. we honouren goddus body čat we seene by trewe byleue in soule with oure gostly eyene. čat we hauyng loue drede of god, & standyng stedfastly in če byleue čat holi chirch hač tauht vs specialy of čis holiest 25 sacrament'. we shole considere & inwardly beholde to kyndlyng & norishing of oure loue to oure lorde Jesu, čat ¨iueč vs of his hye grace čis precious mete of his blessede body'. če merueiles čat he makeč & worcheč čereinne, specialy in tweyn maneres, čat is to sey in one manere, euery 30 day priuely, whereof we haue |r[116v] knowyng onely by byleue withinforč, & also in a nočer manere, sumtyme opunly'. whereof we haue knowyng by trewe tellyng of myracles shewede wičoutforč.  Touchinge če first manere of merueiles, it is a fulle 35 grete merueile čat by vertue of cristes wordes, brede is turnede in to goddus body, & wyne in to his blode. And to strengč vs in byleue of čis merueile, we shole haue in mynde, čat he with če self miht of his worde made alle če worlde of nouht, & of če ribbe of Adam'. made Eue in flesh & blode & turnede če 40 wife of Loth in to an ymage of salt, & Moises ¨erde turnede in to a serpent, & welles & wateres of Egipte turnede in to blode.  Wherfore sičen god almihty wrouht alle čees merueiles & many moo, abouen če reson of man, & če |p229 comune course of kynde'. whi may he not also by če self miht turne brede in to his body? čere is none reson to preue če contrarye, bot if we wolde sey čat god were not alle mihtye, čat god forbede. 5 Also it is a grete merueile, čat če self body of oure lorde Jesu, čat sitteč in heuen vpon če fadre riht halfe, is verreyly & holely in alle če places of če worlde where čis holy sacrament is tretede, sočely contynede in čat sacrament, in če self flesh & blode čat was conceyuede of če holy goste, 10 & born of če blessede virgyne Marie, & henge vpon če crosse for oure sauacion. čis may not be comprehendet fully by mannus reson'. bot onely standeč in byleue, Neuerles čere is a maner of like merueile in kynde, čat a worde spoken of one man to miche 15 peple'. is holely in him čat spekeč it, & also in alle čoo čat heren it be čei neuer so many. It is also a grete merueile čat so grete a body of oure lorde Jesu is fully & holely comprehendet in so litel a quantite of če hooste, & čerwič also if čat hoste be dep artede in to 20 many sm ale partes, it is als fully in euery part, as it was in alle če hole. Hereto also is a maner of likenes čat we seene in kynde. Howe če ymage of a mannus grete face, & of a grete body is seene in a litel Mirrour, & if it be broken & departede'. 25 ¨it in euery parte it semeč alle če hole ymage, & not in partye after če partes |r[117r] of če glasse so broken. Many očere wonderfulle merueiles oure lorde god alle mihty worcheč in čis precious sacrament, of his endeles mercy to oure gostly confort & hele of soule, če whech we mowe not 30 comprehende, by kyndly reson & our bodily wittes'. bot onely by trewe byleue, & čerfore it is grete foly & gostly perile, to seke curiously in ymaginacion of reson če merueiles of čis worči sacrament. Bot it is moste sikere namely to a symple soule, & sufficeč to sauacion touchinge če forseide merueiles 35 & alle očer of čis blessede sacrament, to čenke & fele in čis manere, čus hauen holy doctours tauht, & holi chirch determinede, & čerfore čus I trowe & fully byleue čat it is in sočenes, čouh my kyndely reson a¨eyn sey it. For as seynt Gregory techeč, čat Feič hač none merite, 40 to če which mannus reson ¨iueč experience. Touching če seconde maner of merueiles & miracles shewede without forč by vertue of čis holy sacrament, & in čis holy sacrament'. as we fynden writen. For čre skilles oure lorde sheweč in diuerse maneres čoo miracles & merueiles in |p230 čis preciose sacrament. čat is to sey, sumtyme to confort hem čat bene in trewe byleue of čis blessede sacrament, & to kyndle hir loue čerby če more feruently to god & to wirchipyng of čat sacrament. 5 Also sumtyme by speciale grace fort conuerte & turne to trewe byleue'. hem čat bene out čerof, & also sumtyme to opune prefe of če grete vertue čerof in delyuerance of peynes & sauyng fro bodily meschefe, & gostly. And of eche of čees čre'. I shalle telle shortly sume merueiles & myracles čat I 10 fynde writen, če whech bene of so grete auctorite as to my felyng'. čat čere may no man a¨eyn sey hem'. bot he be worse čan a Jewe or a payneme. Touching če first čat is to sey'. how oure lorde sumtyme sheweč opunly merueiles & miracles of čis blessede 15 sacrament to confort hem čat bene in trewe byleue & to kyndle hir hertes in to če more feruent loue of god'. we fynde writen in če life of če holi confessour seynt Edwarde kynge, whos body lith in shryne at Westminstre, če which life, as for |r[117v] če more auctorite in sočenes'. wrote če worči clerke & holye 20 Abbote of Ryuaws seynt Alrede čus seyinge touching čis matere: In čat worči monasterye of seynt Petur čat is clepede Westminstre, & at če autere dedifiede čere, in če wirchipe of če holy trinite'. as če forseide holy kynge Edwarde herde 25 messe on a day, with če worči Erle clepede leveriche, če which with his noble wife God¨iue če contesse was fondere of many worči houses of Religion, what tyme it came to če consecracion & goddus body in forme of brede was halde vp to če peple siht bytwix če preestes handes after če vse of holy 30 chirch'. he čat is fairest in shappe before alle mennus sones oure lorde Jesus criste apperede bodily in čat hoste to boče hir sihtes, liftynge vp his riht hande & makyng a crosse towarde če kynge blessinge. And čan če kyng with lowtyng of his hede, honouryng če presence of goddus maieste'. mekely with 35 alle če body dide reuerence to so worči a blessyng. Bot če Erle čat sawe če self siht, not knowyng what was in če kynges herte'. & after desiryng čat če kynge miht be parcynere of so grete & worči a siht'. began to go towarde če kynge fro his place, čat was perantere on side benečen, as longede to his 40 astate. Bot če kynge vndurstandyng what was če Erles entent'. seide to him in čis maner, Stande Leveriche stande'. for čat čou seest I se also. Aftere čis čei boče of so ioyfulle a siht gostly confortede, & turnede alle in to deuout praieres & swete |p231 weping teres'. were made gostly drunken of če plente of goddus house, & fedde with če ryuere of his souereyn ioy & gostly likyng. And after če ende of če messe, čei čat were so blisfully refetede with čat gostly mete'. comunede to gider of 5 če forseide heuenly siht with swete teres & inwarde sihynges, oft sičes brekyng hir speches. And čen seide seynt Edwarde, My dere Leveriche I pray če & charge če by čat hye maieste of him, čat we haue so graciously seene, čat neuer while we lyuen čis činge be 10 brouht forče in to če comune knowyng, leste we čerebye falle in to veyn glorie & pride, čorh če opinion of če comune peple to oure gostly deč, or leste če enuye of misbyleuyng men |r[118r] lette & destruye trewe byleue to če wordes hereof. Wherfore after če forseide Erle was gone fro če kynges 15 court'. by če inspiracion of če holy goste as it is to byleue, he was tauht, so čat he kept če biddyng & če heste of his lorde'. & ¨it čerwič čat hye vertues miracle sholde not be fully vnknawene, to hem čat were after to come. For afterwarde he came to če monastery of Wircestre, & čere in confessione to 20 a religious man he tolde če forseide miracle, chargyng him in manere as če kynge hadd charget him, & prayinge čat he wolde write če priueyte of so worči a vision, & putte it in siche a place'. čat it miht be vnknowen to hem čat čan were lyuyng'. & čat it miht be knowen to hem čat were after to 25 comyng. And so dide čat holy man after če Erles praiere, he wrote alle če ordre & manere of če forseide vision in a bille, & leide it among reliques closede in a cofre, če which cofre longe tyme after če kynges deč without mannus hande čorh če 30 miht of god, as it is to byleue was fonden opune. And čan brečerne of čat place bisily serching če reliques fonden če forseide bille & radde it, & after for als miche as čei wolde not čat so grete a tresour & worči miracle sholde be hidde'. čei puplyshede it opynely in če eres of če 35 peple. And so as če kyng wolde, it was for če tyme hidde, bot after by če ordinance of god puplishede & knowene to čat ende, čat če kynges mekenes čerby as hidde shuld be preuede, & neuerles čerwič by opune knowyng of čat grete miracle, če 40 feič of trewe byleuyng men sholde be confermede & strengčede, to če wirchipe of oure lorde god Jesu, čat of his speciale grace worcheč sech miracles & merueiles in čat blessede sacrament of his preciose body in speciale confortyng of trewe lyueres, & more feruent stiryng to his loue. Amen. |p232 Also acordyng to čis self purpose I fynde writen in če longe life of seynt Hugh bishope of Lincoln, & first Monke of če ordre of Ch arthous & Prior of Witham, če which life wrote a chapeleyn of his & monke of če self ordre čat herde & sawh 5 čat he wrote. And among očer in čis manere sentence seyinge: It befelle vpon a setturday |r[118v] če forseide bishope seynt Hugh duellyng at a manere of his clepede Bukedene as he sange a messe of oure lady after his comune custome in čat day'. čere herde his messe with očere a deuout Clerke čat was 10 sende to him by speciale reuelacion of god. Whereof čere is writen a faire processe touching a nočer matere, če which we passen ouere here. And as to oure purpose what tyme it was come to če sacringe as če bishope helde vp goddus body in forme of 15 brede'. čere aperede to če siht of če forseid clerke, bytwix če preestes holy handes oure lord god Jesus bodily in likenes of a passyng faire litel childe. Of če which siht, he čat sawh it inwardly compuncte as no wondre was, & hyely stirede in to feruent deuocion'. contynuede alle če tyme of čat messe in 20 swete teres & deuout praieres, til it came to čat place, where če hooste sholde be lift vp aboue če chalice, & be departede in čre. At če which tyme he sawh eft in če self liknes če forseide Jesu goddus son of heuen, offringe him self in sacrifice to če fadre for mannus hele & sauacion. 25 After če messe was fulle endet'. če self clerk spekyng with če holy byshope in priuete'. tolde him first če reuelacion before nemede, & after čat faire vision of goddus body here declarede, & čerwič at če ende with shedyng teres in čis maner concludyng'. seide čus, I sawh my holy fadre with myn 30 vnworči eyene, čat blessede siht, če which it is no doute bot [č] at ¨e seene it also miche more clerely for lengir & nerre & more worčily. And čerwič boče če bishope & he with swete teres comunyng gostely a grete while to gedir'. after at če conseile 35 of če bishope & biddyng fort kepe če forseide vision priuey'. če clerke became a religiouse man, & after holy lyuyng here'. went to blisse euerlastyng. Amen. Touching če seconde cause of myracles & merueiles shewede in čis blessede sacrament of goddes body'. čat is to 40 sey fort conuerte hem čat bene of misbyleue in to če trewe byleue'. First we redene in če life of seynt Gregory pope & worči doctour in čis maner sentence: čere was a Matrone of Rome če which euery soneday offrede to |r[119r] seynt Gregore certeyn lofes of brede, whereof was |p233 made goddes body. And vpon a day when seynt Gregour wolde haue comunede če forseide woman with one of hem čat was consecrate, & made goddes body, seying after če comune vse of holy chirch in čees wordes, če body of oure lorde Jesu 5 criste kepe če in to euerlastyng life'. she brest out in to a dissolute lawhtere. And čan seynt Gregour wičdrowe če sacrament fro hir, & kept it in to če ende of če messe, & after before če peple he askede če Matrone whi she lowh, & čen she seide, by cause čat čou clepedest goddus body če brede 10 čat I made wič myn handes. And čan seynt Gregour felle done in to hees praieres to god for če misbyleue of če woman. And after čat he rose vp, he fonde če sacrament turnede in to če likenes of a fynger in flesh & blode. Wherčorh če woman was fro hir misbyleue 15 turnede in to če trewe byleue, & so after with če self sacrament by praiere of seynt gregour turnede in to če likenes of brede as it was before'. she was comunede, & more stifely sette in trewe byleue of čis blessede sacrament'. & also očer čorh hir'. to če wirchipe of če hye gracious auctour & 20 worchere hereof oure lorde Jesus criste. Amen. To čis self purpose acordyng also I fynde writen in če forseide life of seynt Hugh, čat vpon a tyme as seynt Hugh goyng čorh France was innede for če tyme in a town, čat is clepede Joye'. čere came to him če parish preste of če towne, 25 če which was an olde man & a reuerent in siht, & wondre leene for grete penance doyng for his sinne as it was supposede, & whereof it foloweč after in processe, če which I take as in short wordes to oure purpose, & če self preste tolde of him self in čis manere: 30 When I was ¨onge he seide, I was made preste, bot neičer ¨eres nor maneres acordyng to čat worči degre'. čorh temptacion & stiring of če feende I felle in to a grete dedely sinne. In če which sinne I contynuede without contricion & confession, čat is horrible to here, so as I was pollute in body 35 & soule & gostly blynde & seke in če feič. I vsede to synge my messe boldly & dredde not to trete & receyue čat |r[119v] worči sacrament of cristes precious flesh & blode. And vpon a day as I was atte my messe in tyme of če consecracion felle to my mynde če grete horrible sinne čat I hade so longe tyme 40 contynuede in'. & among očere wrecchede čouhtes of my blynde herte'. I čouht in čis manere, Lorde whečere čat precious body in flesh & blode of my lorde Jesu čat is clepede če brihtnes of euerlastyng life, & čat gostely mirrour of če godhede without wemme'. is nowe made, tretede & receyuede |p234 verreyly of me so foule & abhominable sinnere'. And so hauyng sech vnthrifty čouhtes, when it came to če tyme of če fraction'. & as če vse is I hade broken če hooste in tweyn'. anone fresh blode ranne out čerof, & čat part čat I helde in 5 my hande was turnede in to flesh & alle ouere wete with če rede blode. And čerwič I seynge čis'. was also astonede & abashede, & welnere out of my witte, & so as forloste če consele of alle reson'. alle čat I helde in my handes I lete falle 10 done in to če chalice. čere was čan to see & ¨it now is, a wonderfull myracle, čat is to sey, wyne turnede opunly to mannus siht in to blode & brede in to flesh, declaring expressely če forme & če sočenes of čat blessede sacrament. 15 Forčermore he seide, when I sawe čees manere of likenes abide stille without any turnyng or changyng'. I dorst nomore touche hem bot priuyly I hilede če chalice with če patene, & če patene with če corporase, & after če messe was done & če peple awey passede'. I sette če chalice with čoo 20 holy reliques, čat ¨it in to čis day beč contenede čerinne in conuenient place be side če autere with dewe reuerence to be kept. After čis I went to če pope, & made to him my confession with sočefast tellyng of alle če case before seide, 25 & of alle myne sinnes. And after he hade enioynede me penance & dewe satisfaccion'. he assoilede me & lete me go. And so aftere če miracle publishede & knowen, čere comen fro diuerse cuntreys mikel folke to see čo preciose reliques with grete reuerence magnifiynge oure lorde Jesu, čat alone 30 worcheč sech hye miracles & merueiles. And čen at če ende če forseide preste |r[120r] preide če clerkes of seynt hugh, to če whech he tolde alle če forseide tale'. čat čei wolde also telle it to him, so čat he miht be holpene as anentes god čorh hees holy praieres. 35 Ande when čei hade so done'. supposyng čat he wolde with a grete desire haue gone fort se če forseide merueiles'. he answerede in čis maner sentence, čat is worčily to be notede, touching če feič of čis holy sacrament: Wele he seide in če name of oure lorde, Lette hem 40 haue to hem self čoo tokenes of hir misbyleue. What is čat to vs of čees činges? Whečere we čat euery day seene with če trewest innere siht of oure soule alle holy & fully čis heuenly sacrifice'. hauen in merueile če particleres ymages of čis ¨ift of godde? as who seič naye. Bot let him go see čo litel smale |p235 porciones čerof wič his bodily eye'. čat seeč not alle če hole with his innere gostly eye. And when he hade čus seide, ¨iuyng his blessynge to če preeste at his goynge'. afterwarde he reprehendet hees 5 meyne of hir curiosite, & not onely stablede hem in byleue'. bot also declarede opunly, čat čoo činges čat oure feič techeč vs'. sholde be vndirstande & halde more certaynly of trewe byleuyng man'. čen čoo činges čat čis erčly liht by reson sheweč to bodily siht. 10 čus oure lorde of his speciale grace by opune miracles & merueiles shewede in čis blessede sacrament'. draweč sume folke out of hir misbyleue, & stableč hem & strenghč in trewe byleue as it is nowe shewede in tweyn maneres. Touching če čridde cause of shewyng myracles & 15 merueiles in čis blessede sacrament, čat is to opune prefe of če grete vertue čerof in delyuerance of peynes & sauynge fro bodily meschefe & gostly'. seynt Gregore telleč in hees Dialoges'. & also in an Omelye vpon čat gospel of Luke, Siquis venit ad me &c. How čer was not longe before his tyme 20 a man taken by enmyes & ladde in to ferre cuntreye & čere leide in prison & set in harde bondes longe tyme. And after many daies his wife čat harde no more of him, & supposede čat he hadde be dede'. lete synge euery wike ones a messe, & offrede |r[120v] če sacrede hooste for his soule, & also oft as čoo 25 messes were sedone for his soule'. so oft tymes, his feteres & bondes were lowsede in čat prison. For longe tyme after when he was delyuerede oute of prison & comene home in to his owne cuntre'. he tolde his wife with grete merueile howe čat certeyne dayes euery wike, his bondes were lowsede & 30 vndone, & his wife bisily acontyng & notyng čoo self dayes'. vnderstode wele & hade knowlech čat als oft as she lete offre če sacrede hooste for him'. so oft was he lowsede & his bondes vndone. And čen če forseide seynt Gregore concludeč in čis 35 sentence, Wherfore dere brečerne, hereof in certeyn consideracion takeč & gedireč in to ¨our mynde of če sacrede hooste čat is offrede of vs, how miche it may in oure self vnbynde gostly če bonde of oure herte, sičen čat it offrede of one man'. was of so grete vertue čat it miht lowse in a nočer |r 40 če bonde of his body. Wherfore miche oweč euery preste to loue fort synge his messe oft sičes, & fort dispose him čerto by clene life & contricion & confession. |p236 To čis self purpose also če forseide seynt Gregore telleč in čat boke clepede Dialogus, how vpon a tyme, when a bishope was in če see towarde Rome & čere came vpon him so grete a tempeste čat he was in despeire euer to skappe & 5 come to lande'. če shipman čat was in a litel bote folowyng če shippe, after čat če rope wherewith če bote was bonden to če shippe, by violence of čat tempest was broken'. sodeynly with če self bote he was so cast among če wawes of če see'. čat če bishope sawe no more of him. And afterwarde when če 10 bishopes shippe after many periles was driuen to lande in a certeyn yle'. če čridde day he went by če see side bisily lokyng whečere he miht haue seen of če bote or of če shipman before seide, bot when he miht not se of hem in any partye of če see'. supposyng čat če shipman was drownede & dede'. 15 hauyng grete sorowe for him'. he lete singe a messe & offre če heleful sacrifice of goddus body for če assoilyng of his soule. And after warde in če self shippe restorede he toke če see |r[121r] towarde ltalye, & when he came to če hauen of Rome'. čere sodeynly he foonde alife če forseide shipeman čat he wende 20 hade bene dede. Whereof gladde & ioyful'. he askede him in what manere he miht life so many dayes in so grete perile of če see'. And he answerede & tolde, how oft sičes in če flodes of čat tempeste he was cast vp & done, nowe aboue če bote ful of watere & now vnder, & at če last what for trauaile & 25 what for fastyng, when he was so ouercome & nere dede, čat he wist neičere forsoče whečer he slept or woke'. sodeynly him čouht čat one aperede to him in middes če see'. & ¨afe him brede to ete, če which also sone as he hade eten, he toke strengče, & sone after in a shippe, čat came čereby he was 30 taken & brouht to lande safe. And when če bishope hade askede of him & vndirstande če day in če which he hade receyuede če forseide brede, & was revigorede'. čan knewe he wele čat it was če self day in če which he lete če preest singe for him, & offre če 35 sacrede hooste in če forseide yle for his soule. čus sheweč oure lorde opunly by myracles & merueiles če souereyn vertue of čis blessede sacrament, & čat not onely in helpyng & sauyng of men alyue as it is now here before seide'. bot also čat is more to charge in lowsyng & vnbyndyng 40 of soules hečen passede out of če fir & če peynes of purgatory, as če self seynt Gregore telleč in če forseide boke pleynly of a monke, čat for če sinne of proprete was in če peyne of purgatory, & after čat če sacrede hooste was offrede for him čritty dayes, he was relesed & deliuerete out of peyne. |p237 And also howe a nočere soule was delyuerete out of peyne'. by vertue of čat blessede sacrament offrede for it alle če daies of a wike. And here mowe we se opun prefe of če passing profite 5 & vertue of speciale messes done & songen boče for če qwikke & če dede. For als če self seynt Gregore seič, če holy sacrede hoost syngulerely & souereynly helpeč to vnbynde oure soules fro synne, & moste principaly pleseč če kyng of heuen, & 10 makeč him sawht to vs'. when he comeč to deme vs so čat |r[121v] it be offrede with teres of compunccion & clannesse of herte. For he čat in him self risyng fro deč shalle neuer dye'. ¨it by čis blessede hooste in his mistery suffreč eft for vs. For als oft as we offre to him če hooste of his passion'. so oft we 15 maken new to vs his passion to oure vnbyndynge fro sinne. čus oure lorde Jesus fulle of mercye, & shewyng to vs souereynly his endeles mercye in makyng & ¨iuyng of čis moste preciouse gostly mete of his blessede body, worcheč in diuerse maneres as it is seide hees merueiles & miracles 20 opunly shewede in čis excellent sacrament, & ¨it continueč priuely & wondurfully'. čere he vouche safe in hem čat by trewe byleue & loue dreden him. Bot čis loue & drede wanteč many grete clerkes, če which leuen so miche vpon hir owne kyndely reson, & če 25 principales of philosophy, čat is mannus wisdame grondete onely in kyndely reson of man'. čat čei wole not leue če trewe feič tauht by holy chirch of čis blessede sacrament, & čerfore čei fele not če sočfast confortable effecte of če merueiles & myracles before seide neičer opune nor priuey touchyng čis 30 holy sacrament. Wherfore miche folke is deceyuet in čat party čat račere ¨iuen credence to čat a grete clerke techeč acordyng to kyndely reson'. čen to čat holy chirch techeč hereof onely in byleue aboue reson. 35 For čere may no man sonere erre in byleue of če sacramentes of holy chirch & specialye in čis hye wondirful sacrament of cristes precious flesh & blode'. čen may grete clerkes, bot čei haue grace of trewe mekenes & loue drede, wherby čei leue hir owne witte & kyndly reson'. & submitte 40 hem lowely by trewe byleue to če doctrine of holy chirch. čat grace god graunt vs specialy of his grete mercye in čees last dayes čat bene as it semeč nihe to če comyng of Anticriste & hees disciples, če whech shole principaly foonde to destruye če trewe feič of čis blessede sacrament, & čat by |p238 grete clergy of mannus konyng, & by merueiles & miracles worchinge, as seynt gregore in his morales vpon čat worde of criste in če gospel spekyng of Anticriste |r[122r] & hees disciples'. seič in čis sentence, čere shole rise vp fals cristenmen & fals 5 prophetes, & čei shole shewe & worche grete signes & wondres in to so miche, čat čei čat beč goddes chosen folk if it may be, shole be brouht in to errour. Sočely seič seynt Gregore now oure trewe martires worchen merueiles'. what tyme čei suffrene tormentes & peynes, bot čen čat is to sey at 10 če comyng of Antycrist'. hees disciples when čei ¨iuen tormentes & peynes'. čei shole also čerwič worche miracles. Lette vs čan čenke & haue in mynde what temptacion of mannus čouht, čat shale be'. when če meke martire submitteč his body to tormentes'. & neuerles če tormentoure 15 before hees eyene worcheč miracles, whose vertue shalle čan be so saddely grondet in byleue'. čat he ne shalle be meuede in his čouht'. what tyme he seeč čat he čat tormenteč also čerwič, by signes & merueiles opunly shyneč? For čan shalle Antyrciste by hye in wirchipe by merueiles worching'. & harde 20 & sharpe by cruelte of tormentyng. čees bene če wordes of čat holy doctour seynt Gregore; & many moo spekynges of če wondrefulle miht of Antycrist, & hees disciples, & če grete temptacion čat shalle be čat tyme to cristien men. And it is likely by reson, čat as 25 če moste confort of oure cristien byleue, stant in čis moste excellent sacrament of cristes bodye'. so Antycrist & hees disciples shole principaly worche in to destruccion first of če trewe byleue of čis blessede sacrament in če forseide tweyn maneres, čat is to sey by clergy & euidence of worldes 30 konnyng acordyng to naturele reson'. & by merueiles & miracles worching in fals deception. And of če first manere worching, we haue seene in oure dayes, howe če disciples of Anticrist čat bene clepede Lollardes, hauen made mich dissension & diuision in holy 35 chirch, & putte many men in to errour of čis blessede sacrament, by če fals doctrine of hir maistere če whech čorh his grete clergy & kunnyng of philosophye was deceyuede'. in čat he ¨af more credence |r[122v] to če doctrine of Arestotele čat stant onely in naturele reson of man'. čan he dide to če 40 doctrine of holy chirch & če trewe doctours čerof touching čis preciouse sacrament. For Aristotle techeč as kyndely reson acordeč čat če accidentes of brede or wyne, čat is to sey če colour, če sauour & so forč of očere'. mowe not be bot in substance of brede or |p239 wyne after hir kynde. Bot če doctrine of holy chirch is, čat in čis blessede sacrament, by speciele myracle of god aboue kynde, če colour če sauour, & očere accidentes of brede & wyne bene čere with out hir kyndely subiecte, čat is to sey 5 without če substance of brede & wyne, čat was before če consecracion. And for als miche as čis doctrine of holy chirch is a¨eynus če principales of philosophie čat is naturele science'. čerfore če forseide maister of Lollardes reprouede it & 10 scornede it, & so he errede him self & many očere made to erre touching če byleue of čis holiest sacrament, če whech ¨euen more credence to him for če opinion of his grete clergy'. čan to če trewe doctrine of holi chirch. And čus ¨it in oure dayes hač Antycrist wrouht in če 15 first manere before seide, by čis fals maister of Lollardes & many očere of hees disciples in to destruccion of trewe cristien byleue touching čis blessede sacrament of cristes body, & many očere poyntis a¨eynus holi chirch'. without če seconde manere, čat is to sey worching of merueiles & miracles. For 20 & Antecrist hade in hem hadde so grete powere, čat čei hade with hir resones, also wrouht merueiles & miracles'. it hade be likly čat holy chirch & če trewe byleue specialy of čis blessede sacrament, in grete partie hade bene destruede for če vnstablenes of če most party of če peple, not wičstandyng če 25 grete merueiles & miracles many & fele čat oure lorde hač shewede here before in čis holy sacrament as it is seide'. to strengč vs & stable vs in če trewe byleue čat holy chirch hač tauht vs čereof. In če which byleue by reson we sholde be so saddely 30 sette'. čat after če sentence of če apostle Poule, čouh |r[123r] čere came done an Angele fro heuene & tauht če contrarye'. we sholde not ¨iue credence to him, bot halde him as cursede, bot soče it is čat čere may none trewe Angele teche če contrarye of če byleue of holy chirch, & čerfore he čat so doč'. is če 35 Angele of Sathanas & not of god, as bene alle če fals lollardes, če whech hauen neičer trewe drede nor parfite loue of oure lorde Jesus, & čerfore čei fele not če gostly swetnesse of čis heuenly mete of his precious body, ne če likyng mynde of hees merueiles shewede in čat blessede sacrament. 40 Bot we čat čorh grace standen in trewe byleue as holi chirch hač tauht vs in čis souereyn holiest sacrament'. with gostly likyng of soule haue we in mynde, not onely če merueiles & miracles writen & prechede of čat holy sacrament in diuerse maneres shewede as it is before seide'. bot also |p240 considere we how čat oure lorde Jesus of his vnspekable gudenes shewede to mankynde he ¨iueč him self to vs euery day bodily in čat precious sacrament, as in a conclusion & most special[e] mynde of alle his blessede life, to souereyn 5 confort & helpe of oure wrecchede life, če which is fulle of temptaciones & ouere sette with many enemyes. Wherfore it is spedeful to vs contynuelye to crye after helpe of če souereyne vertue of čis blessede sacrament, by če wordes čat holy chirch singeč in če ympne of čis sacrament čus, O čou 10 helefulle hooste čat opunest če dore of heuen, če batailes of oure enmyes oppressene & ouersettene vs, wherfore ¨iue vs strengč of wičstandyng & brynge vs či helpe to hir ouercomyng. Also to wičstondyng of temptaciones & ouercomyng of 15 vices, to getyng of vertues & encrese of feruent affecciones in če loue of oure lorde Jesu'. as for a fulle ende of alle his blessede life before writen'. her foloweč a shorte deuoute praiere to him & his blessede body in če sacrament of če awtere, če which oweč to be seide in presence of čat holy 20 sacrament at če messe with inwarde deuocion: |r [H]Eyle holiest bodye of oure lorde Jesu criste čat art nowe |r[123v] sočefastly contynede here in čis moste excellent sacrament. I knowlech če my lorde god wič my mouče. I loue 25 če with alle myne herte, & I desire če with alle če inwarde affeccion of my soule. I beseke če swete Jesu, čat čou vouch safe of čine souereyne gudenes, čis day so benyngly & graciously to visite my seke soule, desiringe to receyue če gostly oure helefulle sacrifice & welle of alle graces'. čat I 30 may with gladnes fynde medicine & hele in body & soule, be vertue of či blessede presence. Beholde not lorde Jesu to myne wikkednesses & manyfolde negligences & myne grete vnkyndenes, bot račer to čine souereyn mercye, & endles gudenes. Sočely čou art čat holy lambe wičout wemme of 35 sinne'. čat čis day art offrede to če euerlastyng fadre of heuene for če redempcion of alle če worlde. Oo čou swettest manna, Angeles mete, O čou moste likyng gostly drinke'. bringe in to myne inwarde mouth čat honyswete taste of čine helefulle presence. Kyndle in me če 40 feruour of čine charite, qwench in me alle maner vices, shede in to me če plente of vertues, encrese in me če ¨iftes of graces, & ¨if me hele of body & soule, to či plesinge. Mye god, I beseke če, čat čou wille so graciously bowe če, & fro |p241 či hye heuen nowe come done to me, čat I knittede & ioynede to če, be made one spirite with če. O čou wirchipful sacrament, I beseke če čat alle myn enemyes bene putte awey fro me, by če strengč of če, & alle 5 myn sinnes for¨iuene, & alle wikkednesse be excludet by če blessede presence of če. Gude purpose lorde čou ¨iue me, myn maneres čou correcte & amende, & alle myne werkes & dedes čou dispose in čine wille. My witte & vnderstandyng, by če swete Jesu be 10 made here clere wič a newe liht of grace. Myn affeccion be enflaumede with fire of či loue & myne hope confortede & strengčede with čis blessede sacrament'. so čat my life here profite euer in amendyng to bettur, & at če last fro čis wrecchede worlde with a blissede departyng, čat I may come 15 wič če to life euerlastyng, Jesu lorde |r[124r] by vertue and grace of či life blessede wič out endynge Amen. amen. amen. Jesu lorde či blessede life'. helpe & confort oure wrecchede life. Amen. [E]xplicit speculum vite christi complete.