|b{Richard_Rolle_of_Hampole,_an_English_Father_of_the_Church,}
|b{and_His_Followers,}
|b{ed._C._Horstman._New_York:_Macmillan,_1895,}
|b{pp._3-182_(with_interruptions).}
|b_Note:_For_some_reasons_(e.g._anonymous_authorship,_parallel_text_versions)
|b_only_some_of_the_texts_of_this_edition_have_been_selected,_namely


|p1-
|p2-


|p1._ée_forme_of_liuyng._____________MS._Rawl._C_285_f._40___pp._3-49.

|r2._Ego_dormio_et_cor_meum_vigilat._MS_Rawl_A_389,_fol_77,_pp._50-58.
                                    |rMS_Vernon,_pp._59-60.
                                    |rRawl._cont.'d,_pp._60-61.

|r3._ée_commawndement_&c.____________MS_Rawl._A_389,_fol_81._pp._61-71.

|r4._[Points_best_pleasing_to_God]___MS_Vernon
                                    |rMS_Harley_______________pp._110-112

|r5._[Meditation_on_the_Passion;_and_of_three_arrows_on_doomsday]
|r___________________________________MS_Arundel_507,_fol._48.pp._112-121.

|r6._De_Sancta_Maria_________________MS_Bodl._938_fol._202___pp.158-159.

|r7._Of_Angels'_Song_________________MS_Thorton_fol._2196.___pp._175-182.



|p3


|rEpistels_&c._in_Ms._Cambr._Dd._V._64.
|r{selected_by_ICAMET:_Ms._Rawl._C._285_f._40.}]


|r1._ée_forme_of_liuyng.
|r[Ms._Rawl._C_285_f.40]


IN Ilke a synful man or womman
čat es bunden in deedly synne, er thre
wrytchednes, če whylk brynges čaim to
če deed of helle.  ée first es, defaut of
gaastly strengthe: éat čai er so wayke



|p4


wyth-In in čair hert, čat čai may nou_ther 
stand agayn fandyngs of če fynd,
ne čay may lift čaire wille to yherne če
lufe of gode and folwe čare-tille.  ée
tothir es, vs of flesshely desyres: -- for
čay hafe na wille ne myght to stand,
čay fall in lustes and lykyngs of čis
werld; and for čaim thynke čaim swete,
čay dwelle in čaim stille, many til čaire
lifs end: ande swa čai com to če thrid
wrytchednes.  ée thride wrytchednes
es schangeyng of lastand gode for a
passand delyte; als wha say čai gife
Ioi endles for a litil Ioi of čis life.
 If čai will turne čaim and ryse til
penaunce, god wil ordaynge čaim
wonynge with angels and haly men.
Bot for čai chese če wyle synne of
čis werld, and has mare delyte in če
filth of čaire flesshe čan in če fayrhede
of heeun, čai loose bath če werld and
heeuen: for he čat has nogth Ihesu
Cryst, he tynes al čat he has, and al
čat he es, and al čat he mygth gete;
he ne es nogth worthi če life, ne to be
fede wyth swynes meet. Alle creatures
sal be sterde in his wengeaounce in če
day of dome.  éir wrytchednes čat I
hafe of tald, er nogth anely in werldisshe
men and womene čat vses glotory or
lytchery and other appert synnes, bot
čai er alswa in som čat semes in
penaunce and in gud life. For če



|p5


deeuel čat es enemy to al man kynd,
whene he sese a man or a woman
amange a thousand turne čaim haaly
vnto god and forsake all vanytese and
rytchesce čat men čat lufs čis werld
couaytes, and seke če Ioi lastand,"
thousant wyles he has on what maner
he may deceyf čaim. And when he
tnay nogth bryng čaim in til swylk
synnes če whylk mygth ger all men
wonder on čaim, he bygiles many so
pryuely, čat čai can nogth oft-sythes
fele če trap čat has taken čaim. Som
he takes wyth errour čat he puttes
čaim In. Som wyth synguler witte,
when he gers čaim wen čat če thyng
čat čai thynk or do es best; and for.[či]
čai wyl na counsayl haue of other čat
er better and conander čan čai -- and
čis es a foul stynkand pryde: for he
wald nogth ells sette his witte bifore
all other. Som če deeael deceyfs thurgth
vayne glory, čat es Idel Ioy; when
any has pryd and delite in čamůself of
če penance čat čai suffre, of gud dedis
čat čai do, of any vertu čat čai haue;
er glad when men loues čaim, sary
when men lakkes čaim, has envye to
čaim čat er spoken mare gud of čan
of čaim; čai hald čaim-self so gloryous
and so fer passand če lif čat other
men ledis, čat čaim thynk čat na man
suld reprehend čaim in na thyng čat



|p6


čay do or say, and dyspyses synfall
men & othir če whilk wil nogth do als
čai bid čaim. How may čou fynd a
synfuller wreche čan swylke ane? and
so mekell es be če wers čat he wat
nogth čat he es ille, and es halden
and bonourd of men als wys and haly.
Som er deceyfd with ouer.mykell lust
and lykyng in meet and drynke, when
čai passe mesur and com in til ontrage,
and has delyte čar.Inne, and wenes čat
čai synne nogth ... and so čai distroy
vertus of sawle. Som er bigylled with
ouermykel abstynence of meet and drynk
and slep. éat es of temptacyon of če
deeoel, for to ger čaim fall in myddes
čair werk, swa čat čai bryng it til
nane enddynge, als čai suld haue don
If čai bad knawen skyl and halden
discrecyoun, and swa čai tyne čaire
meryte for čaire frawardenes, čis gilder
lays oure enemy to tak vs with whene
we bygyue to hat wyckednes and turne
vs til god, čan many bygynuys če
thynge čat čay may neuermare bryng
til end; čan čai wen čat čai may do
what so čaire hert es set opon. Bot
oft čai fall ar čai com In-myddys če
gate, and čat thyng čat čai wene es
for čaim, es lettyng til čaim. For we
haue a lange way til heeaene, and als
many gud dedis als we do, als many



|p7


prayers als we make, and als many
gud thoghtes als we thynk in trouth
and hoop and charyte, als many paases
ga we til heeuen-ward, čan If we make
vs so wayke & so feble čat we may
nothire wirk ne pray als we suld do,
ne thynk, er we nogth gretely at blame,
čat faylles when we had mast nede to
be stalward? And wele I wat čat it
es nogth goddis wille čat we so do:
For če prophete says: "Lord. I sal
kype my strength til če": swa čat he
mygth sustayne goddis seruyse til his
deed.day; Nogth in a litel and in a
schort tyme waast it and sithene ligge
wanand and granand by če wagthe,
And it es mykell mare peril čan men
wenes: For saynt Ierome says čat he
makes of Rauyne offerand čat ontrage_onsly 
tourmentis his body in ouerlitel
meet or slep. And saynt Bernard says:
"Fastyng ne wakyng lettis nogth gaastly
goddes, bot helpis, if čai be don with
discrecyoun; wytlt.owten čat, er čai
vices." For-či it es nogth gud to pyne
vs so mykele and sithen haue vnthanke
for oure dede. éare has ben many,
and er, čat wenes čat it es nogth all
čat [čai]  do hot if čai be in so mykell
abstyttence and fastyng čat čay make
all men at spek of čaim čat knawes
čaim. Bot oft-sithes it byfalles čat ay 



|p8


če mare Ioy and wonderyng čat čai
haue with-owtene of če loouynge of
men, ay če lesse Ioy čai haue with_Inne 
of če luf of gode. At my dom~,
čay suld pay Ihesu Crist mykel mare
if čai tok for his luf and in thankyng
and louuynge of hym, for to sostayne
čaire bodys in his seruyse and to hald
čaim fra mykele speche of men, what
so god sent čaim for če tyme and če
steed, and gayfe čaim sithen entierly
and parfytely til če luf & če louuynge
of our lourd Ihesu Cryst, čat wile
stalwardly be lufd, and lastandly be
serued; swa čat čaire halynes war mare
sene in goddis eghe čan in mannes
eghe. For ay če better čat čou ert
and če lesse speche čou has of men,
če mare es či Ioy bifor god. Ha, what
it es mykell to be worthy lounynge and
be nogth loued! And what wrytchednes
it es to baf če name & če habyte of
halynes, & be nogth swa, bot turne to 
pryd. Ire and envye vnder če clathes
of Crystes bamhed!A foul lytchery it
es to haue likyng and delite in mens
wordes, čat can no mare deme whate
we er in oar saul čan čai wate what
we thynke. For oft-sithes čai say čat
he or scho es in heghere degre, čat es
in če lagher; and čat čay say es in
če laghere, es in če heghere. For-či
I hald it bot wodnes to be gladder or



|p9


saryer, whether čai say gud or ille. If
we be oboutward to hid vs fra speche
and lounynge of če werld, god wil
schewe vs til his lounyng, and our Ioy.
For čat es his Ioy when we ar strenth_full 
for to stand agayne če pryoe and
če appert fandyngs of če deeaele, and
sekes na thyng bot če louuynge and
če honoure of hym, and čat [we] mogth
entierly lufe hym. And čat agth to
be our desire, our prayer and our
entent, nygth and day, čat če fyre of
luf kyndell in our hert, and če swetenes
of his grace be our comfort and our
solace, in wele and in wa. éou has
herd now a party how če fend deceyfs
with his sutell castes vn-quaynt men
and wommen: and if čou wil do gud
counsaylle and folow haly lare, als I
hop čat čou wil, čou sal distroy his
trappis, and brynn in če fyre of lufe.
Alle če bandes čat he wil bynd če
with, and alle his malice sal turne če
til Ioy, and hym to mare sorow. God
suffirs hym for to tempe gud men for
čaire profyte, čat čai may be če hegher
coround when čai haf thurgth his help~e
ouer-comen so cruel ane enemy, čat
oft-sithes bath in body and in saul
confoundes many a man.  In thre
maners če deeuel has power to be in
a man: On a maner, hortand če
gudes čat čai haue of kynd, als in dom



|p10


men, and in other, blemyssand čaire
thogth.  On a nother maner, reeffaad
če gudys če whilk čai haue of grace:
and swa es sene in synfall men whaim
be has deceyfd thurgth delyte of če
werld and of čair flesshe, and led with
hym til helle.  On če thred maner,
tourmentand a mans body, als we red
čat he was in Iob. Bot wyte čou
wele: If he bygile če nogth with-Inne,
če thar nogth dred what he may do
če with-owtene. For he may do no
mare čan god gifs hym leue to do.
 Bot for čou has forsakene če solace
and če Ioy of čis werld and taan če vnto
solitary life, for goddis lufe to suffire
tribulacioun and anguys here and sithen
to com to če rest and endlesse Ioy in
heeuene. I trowe stedfastly čat če
comfort of Ihesu Cryst and swetenes of
his luf, with če fyre of če haly gast
čat purges all synne, sal be in če
and with če, ledand če and lerand če
how čou sal thynk, how čou sal pray,
what čou sal wyrke; swa čat in faa
yheris čou sal haue mare delyte to be
by čine ane and spek til či luf and
či spouse Ihesu Cryst, čan If čou war
leeuedy of a thousant werldis. Men
wenes čat we er in pyne and in
penance: bot we haue mare Ioy and



|p11


mare verray delyte in a day čan čay
haf in če werld all čaire life. éai se
our body, bot čai se nogth our hert
whare oure solace es. If čai sagth
čat, many of čaim wald forsake all čat
čai haf, forto folwe vs. For-či be
comforted and stalward, and drede na
noy ne anguys, bot fest all čine entent
in Ihesu, čat či lif be gode to queme;
and at čare be na thyng in če čat
suld be mys-payand til hym čat ne
čou son amend it, če stat čat čou
ert Ine, čat es solitnde, es mast able
of all other til reuelacyoun of če haly
gast. For when saynt Iohn was in če
Ile of Pathmos, čan god schewed hym
his preuetese, če gudnes of god it es
čat he comfortes čaim wondirfully čat
has na comfort of če werld. If čai
gif čair hertis entierly til hym and
couaytes and nogth sekes bot hym: éan
he gifs hym-self to čaim in swetnes
and delite, in brynnyng of luf, and in
Ioy and melody, and dwellis ay with
čaim in čaire saule, swa čat če com_fort
of hym departis neuer fra čaim.
If čai bygyue ogth to here thurgth
ignoraunce or freyllyte, son he schewes
čaim čeůrygth way; and all čat čai
haue ned of, he leris čaim. Na man
comes til swylke reuelacion and grace
on če first day, bot thurgth lang
trauaylle & besynes to lufe Ihesu Crist,



|p12


als čou sal here afterward. Nogth-for_či
čan he suffirs čaim to be temped
on sere maners, bath slepand and
wakand. For ay če ma temptacions
and če greuouser at čay stand agayne
and ouer-comes, če mare sal čaire
Ioy be in his luf when čai er passed.
Wakand čai er vmwhil temped with
foul thoghtis, vile lustes, wikked delites;
with pryd, Ire, Envye, Despayre, Pre_sumpcyon,
and other many. Bot čaire
remedy sal be prayer, gretyng, fastyng,
wakyng. éir thynges, if čai may be
don with discrecioun, čai putte away
synne & filthe fra če saul, and makis
it clene for to resayfe če luf of Ihesu
Cryst, čat may nogth be lufd bot in
clennes.  Alswa vmwhil če fend tempis
men and wommen čat er solitary by
čaim ane, on a quaynt maner and a
sutelle he transfigures hym in lickenes
of ane aungell of ligth, and apperis til
čaim and says čat he es ane of god
aungells commen to comfort čaim, and
swa he deceyfs foles. Bot čaim čat er
wis and wil nogth tyde trowe til all
spirytes, bot askes counsayl of conand
men, he may nogth bygile čaim. Als
I fynd wrytene of a recluse, čat was a
gud woman, til whaim če ille aungelle
oft-sithes appered in če fourme of a
gud aungell, and sayd čat he was co_men



|p13


to bryng hir til heeuen. Wharfor
scho was rygth glade and Ioyfull. Bote
neeuer-če-latter scho taald it til hir
schrythfader: and he, als wys man and
quaynt, gayf hir čis counsayl: "When
he comes", he sayd, "bid hym čat he
schew če our lauedy saynt Mary. When
he has don swa, say Aue maria". Scho
did swa. ée feend sayd: "éou has na
ned to se hir: Mi presence suffice vnto
če". And [scho] sayd, on all maner
scho suld se hir. He sagth čat hym
behoued outhir do hir wil or scho wald
dispyse hym: als tite he brogth forth
če fayrest body of woman čat mygth
be als to hir sygth, and schewed it til
hir. And scho sete hir on hir knese
and sayd Aue maria: And als tite al
waynysht away, and for schame neeuer
sithen com he at hir. éis say I nogth
for I hoppe čat he sal haue leue to
tempe če on čis maner; bot for I wil
čat čou be war, if any swylke temp_taciouns
bifalle če slepand or wakand,
čat čou trow nogth ouer-tite til čou
knaw če sogth.  Mare pryuely he
transfigures hym in če fourme of aun_gell
of ligth -- čat commonly all men
er tempid with: when he hidis ille
vndire če lickenes of gud; and čat es
in twa maners.  Ane es when he egges
vs til ouer-mykel eese and rest of body,



|p14


and softnes til our flesshe vndirneethen,
to sustayne our kynd. For swylke
thoghtes he puttis in vs: bot if we eet
wele and drynk wele and slepe wele
and ligge soft and site warme, we may
nogth serue god ne last in če trauaylle
čat we haf bygune. Bot he thynkis to
bryng vs til ouer-mykel lust.  A nother
es when he hidis ille vndir lickenes of
gastely gud: he entyces vs til asper and
ouere-mykel penaunce, forto distroy our
self, and says čos: " čou wat wele čat
he čat suffirs maast penaunce for goddis
luf, he sal haue maast mede. For-či eet
litell and feble meet, and drynk lesse,
če thynnest drynke es gud Inogthe til če.
Recke nogth of slep. Weer če hayer, če
haubergeoun. All thyng čat es afflic_tyoun
til či flesshe, do it; swa čat čare
be nane čat may passe če in penaunce",
He čat says če čus, he es aboute to
sla če with ouer-mykele penaunce &
abstynence. als he čat sayd če tother,
to sla če with ouer-lytele. For-či, if
we wil be rygth dispoosed, vs bihoues
to sete vs in a gud meyne, and čat
we may distroy our vyces and hald our
flesshe vndir, and neeuer-če-latter čat
it be stalward in če seruyse of Ihesu
Cryst.  Alswa our enemy wil nogth
suffir vs to be in rest when we slep:
bot čan he [es] aboute to bygyle vs in



|p15


many maners: vmwhyle with vgly
Images, forto make vs rad and ger vs
lath with our state; vmwhile with fayre
Images, fayre syghtes, and čat at semes
comfortable, forto make vs glad in
vayne, and ger vs wene čat we er
better čan we ere; vmwhile telle vs čat
we er haly and gud, for to bryng vs
in to pryde; vmwhyle say čat we er
wycked and synfull, for to ger vs falle
in to despayre. Bot he čat es ordayner
of all thyng, suffirs nogth čat oure
slepe be with-owtene mede til vs, if
we adresce our life til his wille,
 And wite čou wele, čou synnes
nogth sleppand, if čou be euer-mare
wakand with-owtene outrage of mete and
drynke, and with-outene ille thoghtes.
Bot many has če deeuelle deceyfd
thurgth dreemes, when he has gert
čaym sette čair hert on čaim: For
be has schewed čaim som~ sogth and
sithen bigiled čaim with ane čat was
fals. For-či says če wys man čat many
bysenes folowes dreemes, and čai fel
čat hoped in čaim. Whare-foor, čat čou
be noth bigyled with čaim. I wile čat
[čou] witte čat it er sex maners of
dremes. Twa er čat na man haly ne
other ntay etchape, čat es: if čair
wambes be ouer-tom or ouer-full, čan



|p16


many vanytese in sere maners byfalles
čaim slepand ée thryd es of illu_syons
of our enemy. ée fierth es of
thogth byfoor and illusyon folwand. ée
fyft thurgth reuelacyone of če haly gast,
čat es don on many maners. ée sext
es of thoghtes byfoor čat falles to Cryst
or haly kyrke, reuelacion command
efter. In čus many maners toaches če
Images of dreemes men when čai slep.
Bot swa mekyle we sal če latlyer gyf
fayth til any dreeme čat we may nogth
sone wit whylke es soth, whylke es
fals; whilke es of our enemy, whylke
es of če haly gast. For whar so many
dreemes er, čar er many vanytese, and
many čai may make to erre: For čai
hegth vnquaynt men and swa deceyfs
čaim.  [I] Knaw čat či lif semes gyfuen
til če seruyce of god: čan es it schame
til če bot if čou be als gud or better
with-Ine či saule als čou ert semand
at če sigth of men.  Turne for-či či
thoghtes parfytely til god, als it semes
als čou has don či body. For I wil
nogth čat čou wene čat all er haly
čat has če habyte of halynes and er
nogth occupied with če werld, ne čat
all er ille čat melles čaim with erthely
bisenes; bot čay er anly haly, what
staate or degre so čai be Inne, če
whilke despises all erthely thyng, čat
es at say, lufs it nogth, and brynnes in



|p17


če luf of Ihesu Cryst, and all čaire
desyres er sette til če Ioyes of heeuene,
and haates all synne, and ceeses nogth
of gud werkes, and feles a swetenes in
čaire hert of life with-outene end; and
neuere-če-latter čai thynke čaim-self
vylest of all, and haldes čaim-self
wrytchedest, last and laghest. éis es
halynese of lyfe. Folow it and be haly !
and if čou wil be in mede with appo_stells,
thynke nogth what čou forsakes
bot what čou despises. For als mykell
čai forsake čat folowes Ihesu Cryst in
wilfull poueert, and in mekenes, and
in charyte, and in pacyence, als čay
may couayte čat folwes hym nogth. And
thynke with how mekyle and how gud
wile čou presentes či wowes byfor hym
-- ffor til čat he has his egthe. And if
čou with grete desyre offre či prayers
and with grete feruoure couayte to se
hym, and sekes na erthly comfort bot če
saoeour of heenene, and in eontempla_cyon
čaire-of haue či delyte. Wondir_fully
Ihesu wirkis in his lufers, če whilke
he reeues fra če lust of flesshe and blod
thurgth tendir lufe; he makis čaim to
haf wil to na erthly thyng, and dose
čaim ryse in to solace of hym, and to
for-gete vanytese and flesshely luf of če
werld, and to dreede na sorow čat may



|p18


fall, to laghte with ouere-mykele bodily
eese. To suffre for his luf, čaim thynke
it ioy; and to be solutary čay haue
grete comfort, čat čai be nogth letted
in čaire deuocyone. Now may čou se
čat many er werre čan čay seme, and
many er better čan čai seme; and
naamly amang čaa čat has če habyte
of halynes. For-či afforce če in all
čat čou may čat čou be nogth were
čan čou semes: and if čou wil do als
I lere če in čis schort fourme of lyfyng,
I hop thurgth če grace of god čat if
men hald če gude, čou sale be wele better.

   AT če bigynnyng turn če en_tierly
to či louerd Ihesu Crist.éat
turnyng til Ihesu es nogth ells bot
turnnyng fra all če couaytese and če
lykyng and occupacyons and če byse_nese
of če werld and of flesshely lust
and vayne luf; swa čat či thogth čat
was ay dounward moldand in če erth
whiles čou was in če werld, now be
ay vpward als fyre, sekand če heghest
place in heeuene, rygth til či spouse čare
he sittes in his blisse- Til hym čou ert
turned when his grace illumyns či hert,
so čat it forsakes al vices and confourmes
it til vertus and god thewys and til all
maner of debonerte and mekenes. And
čat čou may last and wax in gudnesse
čat čou has bygune, with-outene slaw_nes



|p19


aud sarynes and irkynge of či lif:
[ Four thyngs sal čou haue in či thogth
til čou be in parfite luf -- For when čou
ert comen čar-til, či Ioy and či desyre
wil ay be brynnand in Cryst.  Ane es:
mesure of či life here, čat so schort
es čat vnneethes es it ogth. For we
life bot in a poynt, čat es če lest
thyng čat may be, and sothely, our
life es lese čan a poynt if we lickyn
it to če lif čat lastes ay.  Another
es: Vncertaynte of our endyng. For
we whate neuere when we sal dye ne
how we sal dye, ne whare, ne whidir
we sall ga when we er deed; and čat
god wil čat čis be [vn]certayne til vs,
for he wil čat we be ay redy to dye.
 ée thrid es: čat we sal answere
by-for če rygthwys Iuge of all če
tyme čat we haue here, how we haf
lifde, what our occupacyons haf bene
and why, and what gud we mygth
haf done when we haf ben Idele.
For-či sayd če prophete: "He has
called če tyme agayne me" -- čat es
ylke day čat he has lent vs here for
to dispend in gud vse and in penance
and in goddis seruyce. If we waast
it in erthly luf and vanytese, ful grief_ously
mon we be demed and punyst.
For-či čat es ane of če maast sorowe
čat may be, Bot if we afforce vs manly
in če luf of god and do gud til al
čat we may to-whyles our schort
tyme lastes. And ylk a tyme čat we
thynke nogth on god we may account it
als če thyng čat we haue tynt.  če



|p20


fierth es čat we thynke how mykel če
Ioy es čat čai haue če whilk lastis
in goddis luf til čair endyng: for
čai sal be brethire and felaghs with
aungels and haly men, lufand and
hafand, loounand and seand če kyng
of Ioy in če fayrehed and schynyng
of his maieste; če whilke sygth sal
be mast mede and delyte čat any
creatur may thynke, and mare čan
any man may telle, til al his lufers
withouten end. It es mykell lyghter
to com to čat blysse čan to telle
it. Alswa thynke what sorow and
what payne and toarment čay sal
haue če whi[l]k lufs nogth god ouer all
other thynges čat man sees in čis
werld, bot files čaire saules in lust
and lycchery of čis lif, In pryd and
couaytes and other synnes: čai salle
brynne in če fyre of helle with če
deeuele wham čai haue serued, als
lang als god es in heeuen with his
sergeantis, čat es eeuer-mare.  I
wil čou be ay clymband til Ihesu_ward
and ekand či luf and či seruyse
in hym: Nogth als foles dose čat
bygynnes at če heghest degre and
comes doun til če lagthest. I say
nogth for I wil if čat čou haue by_gune
vnskylwys abstynence, čat čou
hald it, bot for many čat war bryn_nande
at če bygynnyng and able to
če luf of Ihesu Cryst, ffor oner-mykele
penance čai haue alledgede čaim-self,
and made čaim so feble čat čai mygth
nogth luf god als čai suld. In whilk
luf čat čou wax ay mare and mare es
my couatyng and myne amonestyng.



|p21


 I hald če neeuer of če lesse meryte if
čou be nogth in so mykele abstynence;
Bot if čou sette al či thogth how čou
may luf či spouse Ihesu Cryst mare
čan čou has donne, čan dar I say čat
či mede es waxand and nogth wanande.


Wharefor, čat čou be rygth despoosed
bath for či saul and či body, čou sal
vndirstand four thyngs.  ée first es,
what thyng files a man.  ée tother,
what thynge makis hym clene.  ée
third, what haldis hym in clennes. ée
fierth, what thyng drawes [him] for to
ordayne his wile al at goddis wile.
 For če first, wite čou čat we synne
in [thre] thynges čat makis vs foul, čat es
with hert, with mouth, and dede.  ée
synnes of če hert er čir: Ille thogth.
Ille delyte. Assent til synne. Desire
of ille. Wikked wile. Ille suspeccyoun.
Vndeuocyoun. If čou lat či hert any
tyme be Idell, with-outen occupacioune
of če luf and če loouyng of god. Ile
drede, Ite luf. Errour. Flesshly affec_cioun
til frendis or til other čat čou
lufs. Ioy of any mans Ille-fare, whethir
čai be enemyse or nane, Despite of
poure or of synfull men. To honoure
Ryche men for čair rychesse. Vnconable
Ioy of any wordis of vanyte. Sorow
of other mens wele-fare. Vnthool_modenes.
Perplexite, čat es doute
whate es at do, what nogth -- For ilke
a man agth for [to] be sekir what he
sal do and what he sal leeue. Obsty_nacyon 



|p22


in ille. Noy to do gud. Angre
to serue god. Sorow čat he did na
mare ille, or čat he did nogth čat lust
or čat wile of his flesshe če whilke he
mygth haue don, Vnstablenesse of
thogth. Pyne of penance. Ipocrysy.
Luf to pleese men. Drede to despleese
čaim. Schame of gud dede. Ioy of ille
dede. Syngnlar wite. Couaytice of
honoure or of dignyte, or to be hal_dene
better čan other, or rycher or
fayrer, or to be mare drede, Vayne
glorye of any guddis of kynde, or
of happ, or grace. Schame of pouer
freyndis, Pryde of ryche kyne or of
gentil -- for all we er ilyke fre byfor
goddis face, bot if our dedis make any
better or wers čan other. Dispite of
gude counsayll and of gude teechynge.
 ée synnes of če mouthe er čir: To
sweer oft-sythes. Forsweeryng. Sklaun_deryng
of Cryst or of any of his halwes.
To neeuen his name with-outene re_uerence.
Gaynesayng and Stryf agayne
Suthfastnes. Grucchyng agaynes god
for any angwys or noy or trybulacyoun
čat may bifale in erth. To say goddis
seruyse vndeuoutely and with-outene
reuerence. Backbytyng. Flateryng.
Leghyng. Myssayng. Werying. De_ffamyng.
Flytyng. Manasyng. Sawyng
of Discorde Treeson. Fals wittenese.
Ille Counsayll. Heethyng. Vnbonx_somnes.
With word to turne gud dede
to ille, ffor to ger čaim be haldene Ile
čat duse čaim -- Vs agth to lapp our
negthbur dedis in če best, nogth in če
werst. Excytyng of any man til Ire.
To reprehend in a nother čat he dose



|p23


hym-self. Vayne speche, Mikel speche,
fole spe[ch]e. To spe[k]e Idele wordis
or wordes čat er na nede Rosyng.
Polysyng of worddes. Defendyng of
synne. Crying in Laghter. Mow mak_yng
on any mane. To syng seculer
sanges and luf čaim. To prayse ille
dedis. To syng mare to loouyng of
men čan of god.  ée synnes of dede
er čir: Glotony. Litchery. Drunken_hed.
Symony. Wytchecraft. Breekyng
of če haly days. Sacrilege. To receyfe
goddis body in dedly synne. Breekyng
of wowes. Apostasy. Dissolucyon in
goddis seruyse. To gif ensampile of
ile dedes. To hurt any man in his body,
or in his guddis, or in his fame. Theft.
Rauyne. Vsure. Deceyte. Sellyng of
rygthwysenes. To herken ille. To gif
to herlotis. To withhald necessaryse
fra či body, or to gif it outrage. To
bygyne n thyng čat es abovene our
mygth. Coustom to syn. Fallyng oft
in synne. Fenyng of mare gud čane we
haue, ffor to seme halier, or conander,
or wyser čan we er. To hald če office
čat we suffice nogth tille, or čat may
nogth be haldene with-outene syne. To
lede Carols. To bryng vp new gyses.
To he Rebelle to his soueraynes. To
defoule čaim čat er lesse. To synne
in sygth, In heryng, In smellyng, In
touchyng, In handdellyng, In schewyng;
In giftis, in ways, signes, bydynges,
wrytynges. To Receyf če Circumstance,
čat er Tyme, Stede, Maner, Nombre,
Persone, Dwellyng, Conyng, Eld: čir



|p24


makis če synne mare or lesse. To
couayte to syne ar he be temped. To
constreyne hym to synne.  Other
many synnes er čar of omyssyoun, čat
es of leeuyng of gud vndone: When
men leeues če gud čat čai suld do;
nogth thynkand on gode, ne dredand,
ne lufande hym, ne thankand hym of
his benefyces. To do nogth al čat he
dose for goddis luf. To sorow nogth
for his synne als he suld do. To dispose
hym nogth to receyf grace. And if he
haf taken grace, to vse it nogth als hym
agth, ne to kype it nogth. To turne
nogth at če Inspiracioun of gode. To con_forme
nogth his wile to goddis wile. To
gif nogth entent til his prayers, bot rable
on and reke neuer bot at čai be sayd.
To do necligently čat he es halden til
thurgth a vowe or comandement, or es
enioynt in penance. To drawe on
lenth at es at do son. Hafand na
ioy of his neighbur profyte als of
his awene. Sorowand nogth for his ille_fare.
Standand nogth agayne tempta_cions.
Forgifand nogth čaim čat haf
don hym harme. Kepand nogth trouth
to his negthbur as he wald he dede to
hym, and yheldand hym nogth a gud
deide for another if he may. Amendand
nogth čaim čat synnes bi-for his eghen.
Peesand nogth strifes. Lerand nogth
čaim čat er vnconand. Confortand
nogth čaim čat er in sorow, or in
sekenes, or in pouert, or in penance, or
in pryson. éir synnes, and many other,
makes men foule. --  ée thynges čat



|p25


clenses vs of čat fi[l]th er thre. Agaynes
čase thre maners of synnes.  ée first
es Sorow of hert, agayne če syne of
thogth; and čat be-houes be so parfite
čat čou be in ful wile neuer to syne
mare; and at čou haf sorow of alle či
synnes; and at al ioy and solace, bot
of god and in god, be pute out of či
hert.  ée tother es Schrift of mouth,
agayne če synne of mouthe; and čat
sal be hasty with-outene delayinge,
nakede with-outene excusyng, and en_tier
with-outen partyng: als for to tell
a synne til a prest and another til
another. Say all čat čou wat til ane
or al es nogth worth.  ée thride es
Satisfaccyoun; čat has thre partis: Fast_yng,
prayer, and Almus-dede. Nogth
anly to gif poueer meo mete and drynke,
bot for to forgif čaim čat dose če
wrange, and praye for čaim, and en_fourme
čaim how čai suld do čat er
in poynt to perisse. --  For če thrid
thynge, čou sal witte čat clennes bi_houes
be kepide In hert, and in mouth,
and in werke. Clennes of hert thre
thynges kepis: Ane es waker thogth
and stable of gode. Another es bisenes
to kipe če fyue wites, swa čat all če
wicked stirynge be closede out of či
flesshe. ée thrid es honest occupanyoun
and profitable.  Also clennes of mouth
kepis thre thynges: Ane es at čou
vmthynke če bifour ar čou speke. An_other,
čat čou be nogth of mykele
speche bot of litele, and namly ay til
či hert be stabled in če luf of Ihesu,



|p26


swa čat če thynk čat čou lokes ay on
hym whether čou speke or nogth. Bot
swylke a grace may čou nogth haue on če
first day, bot with lang trauayl and grete
bisynes to luf and with costome, swa čat
če eghe of či hert be ay vpward: čan
sal čou come čar-til. ée thrid, čat čou
for na thyng ne for na mekenes legthe on
any mane -- for ilke a leghe es synne and
ille and nogth at goddis wile. ée thar
nogth telle al če south ay bot if čou wil;
bot al leghes bate. If čou say athyng
of či self čat semes či loouyng, and
čou say it to če loouyng of god and
belp of očer, čou duse nogth vnwysely,
for čou spekes southfastnes. Bot if čou
wil haue any preue loouyng, tele it til
nane bot swilk ane čat čou be sekir
čat it sal nogth be schewed bot anely
to če loouynge of gode of wham es all
gudnese, and čat makes sum better čan
other, and gifs čaim special graces,
nogth anely for čaim-self bot alswa
for čaim čat wile do wele, till čaire en_sampil.
 Clennes of werk thre thynges
kepis: Ane es assiduele thogth of či dede
-- for če wyseman says: "Vmbethynke
če of či last endynge and čou sal noth
syn". Another: fle fra ille felischipe
čat gifs mare ensampile to luf če werld
čan god, če erth čan heeuene, filthe of
bodye čan clennes of saul.  ée thrid es
temperance and discrecion in mette and
dry ake, čat it be nother till outrage, ne by_neethen
skylwys sustynance of če body.
For bath comes til ane endyng: outrage
and ouer-mykele fastyng -- For nother
es goddis wile; and čat wil many nogth



|p27


wene, ffor nogth čat man may say. If
čou take sustynance of swylke gud als
god sendes for če tyme and če day, what
it be, I out-tak [na] maner of mete čat
crystend men vses -- with discrecyon and
mesure, čou duse wele; ffor so did Cryst
hym-self and his Apostels. If čou leeue
many metes čat men has; nogth dispisand
če met čat god has mad til mans help,
bot for če thynke čat čou has na nede
čarof, čou duse wele, If čou se čat čou
ert stalward to serue god and at it bree_kes
nogth či stomake. For if čou have
broken čat with ouer-mykel abstynence,
če es reft appityte of mete, and oft sal
čou be in qwaythes, als čou war redy
to gif če gaste. And wite čou wele
čou synned in čat dede. And čou
may nogth wite son whether či ab_stynence
he agayne or with če. For_či,
to-while čou ert yhung, I red čat
thou ete and drynke better and ware als
it comes, čat čou be noght bygyled.
And afward, when čou has proued many
thynges and ouer-comen many tempta_cyons
and knawys či-self and god better
čan čou dose now: čan, if čou se at
it be at do, čou may take če til mare
abstynence. And whils čou may do
pryue penance, čat all men thar noght
wite. Rygthwy[s]nes es nother in Fast_yng
ne in eetynge: Bot čou ert rygth_wys
lf al he-like be to če Dispite and
Loouyng, Poeuert and Rychesse, Hunger
and ede als delites and dayntes. If
čou tak čir with a loouyng of god. I
hald če blyssed and hegh byfor Ihesu.
Men čat comes til če, čai luf če for
čai se či grete abstynence and for čai



|p28


se če enclosed: bot I may nogth louue
če so ligthly, for ogth čat I se če do
with-outene, bot if či wile be con_fourmed
entierly to goddis wile. And set
nogth by čair loouyng ne čaire lackyng,
And gif čou neeuer tale if čai spek
lesse gud of če čan čai dide: Bot čat
čou če brynnander in goddis luf čan
čou was. For of a thyng I warne če:
I hop čat god has na parfyte seruaunt
in erth with-outene enemys of sum men --
For anely wrycchedenes has nane enemy.
 For to draw vs čat we confourme
our wile til goddis wile, čar er thre
thyngs:  Ane es ensampil of haly men
and haly women, če whilk war ententife
nygth and day to serue gode and drede
hym and luf hym; and if we folow
čaim in erth, we moun be with čaim
in heeuene.  Anočer es če gudnes of
our lord čat despises nane, bot gladly
receyfs all čat come til his mercy, and
es hamelier to čaim čan bročer or
sister or any frende čat čai maast luf
or maast traystes on.  ée thrid es:
ée woundirfull ioy of če kyngdome of
heeuene, čat es mare čan tung may
telle or hert may thynke or eghe may
se or eer may heer. It es so mykell
čat, als in hell mygth na thyng lyue
for mykel pyne bot at če mygth of
god suffirs čaim nogth to dye, swa če
Ioy in če sygth of Ihesu in his gud_hede
es so mykell čat čai mond die
for Ioy, If it ne war his gudnes čat
wile čat his lufars be lifand ay in blysse,
als his rygthwysnes wile čat all čat
lufe hym nogth, be ay lifand in fyre,
čat es horrible til any man at thynke,



|p29


Lok čan what [it] es to feele! Bot čai čat
wile nogth thynk it and drede it Now,
čai sal suffre it, eeuermare.  Now has
čou herd how čou may dispoose či
life and rewle it to goddis wile. Bot
I wate wele čat čou desires to here
sum speciale poynt of če luf of Ihesu
Cryst, and of Contemplatif lif če whilke
čou has takene če ůtil at mens sigth.
Als I haue grace and conyng I wile
lere če.

AMORE LANGUEO. éir twa wordis
er wrytene in če bok of luf, or če
sange of sanges -- For he čat mykel lufs,
hym list oft syng of his luf, ffor ioy
čat he or scho has when čai thynke
on čat at čai luf, namely if čaire lufer
be trewe and lufand. And es til če Inglis_she
of čis twa wordis: I languysshe
for luf. Sere men in erth has sere giftis
and graces of god: Bot če special gift
of čase čat ledis solitary life, es forto
luf Ihesu Cryst. éou says me: "All
men lufs hym čat haldes his comaunde_mentis
." South it es; bot all čat kepis
his bedyng, kipis nogth als his coun_sayll
; and all čat dos his counsayll, es
nogth als ful-filled of če swetenes of
his lufe ne files nogth če fire of bryn_nand
luf of hert. For-či če diuersite
of luf makes če diuersyte of halynes
and of mede in heeuen. ée Angels
čat er brynnandest in luf, er nerrest
gode. Alswa men or women čat maast
haf of goddis luf, whethir čai do pen_aunce
or nane, čai sal be in če hegthest
degre in heeuene; čai čat lufs hym
lesse, In če laghter order. If čou luf



|p30


hym mykell, mykel Ioy and swetnes
čou felis in his luf čat es či comfort
and či strength bath nygth and day;
If či luf be nogth brynnand in hym,
litele es či delite. For hym may na
man fele in Ioy and swetnes but If he
be clenne and fillid with his luf. And
čar-til saltow come with gret trauayll
in prayer and thankyng, hafand swylke
meditaciouns čat er all in če luf and
če loouyng of god. And when čou ert
at či meet, looue ay god in či thogth
at ylke a morsell, and say čus in či
hert: "Looued če čou kyng, and
thanked be čou kyng, and blyssed be
čou kyng, Ihesu all my ioying, of
all či giftis gude, čat for me spylt či
blode, and dyede on če rode. éou gif
me grace to syng če sang of či loou_yng."
And thynk it nogth anely whils
čou eettis, bot bath bifoor and after,
ay bot when čou prayes or spekes; or
if čou haue other thoghtes čat čou has
mare swetnes and deuocyon In čan in
čase čat I lere če, čou may thynk
čaim. For I hop čat god wile do
swylke thoghtes in či hert als he es
payed of, and als čou ert ordaynede.
For when čou prays, loke nogth how
mykell čou says, bot how wele; čat če
luf of či hert be ay vpward and či
thogth on čat čou says als mykel als
čou may. If čou be in prayers and
meditacyons al če day. I wate wele čat
čou mon wax gretly in če luf of Ihesu



|p31


Cryst and mykel fele of delite, and
with-Ine schort tyme.  Thre degrees
of luf I sal telle če: For I wil čat čou
mygth wynne to če hegthest.  ée fyrst
degre es called Insuperable.  ée secund
Inseparable.  ée third Singuler.  éi
luf es insuperable when na thyng čat
es contrary til goddis luf ouer-comes it,
bot es stalward agayne all fandyngs,
and stable, whether čou be in eese or
in anguys, or in heele or in sekenes;
swa čat če thynke čat čou wald nogth
for all če werld, to haue it with-outene
ende, wreth god ane tyme, and če war
leeuer, if other suld be. to suffre al če
pyne and če wa čat mygth come til
any creature, or čou wald do če thyng
čat suld mys-pay hym. On čis maner
sal či luf be Insuperable, čat na thyng
may doun bryng bot springand on hegth.
Blyssed es he or scho čat es in čis
degree! Bot yhete war čay blysseder
čat mygth hald čis degre and wynne
in til če tothyr, čat es Inseparable.
 Inseparable es či luf whenn all či
hert and či thogth and či mygth es so
haly, so entierly and so parfytely fest_end,
sete and stablede in lhesu Crist,
čat či thogth comes neeuer of hym,
neeuer departyd fra hym, out-taken
slepynge: And als son als čou wakkenes,
či hert es on hym, sayand Aue Maria",
or Gloria tibi domin~e, or Pater
noster, or Miserere mei deus If čou



|p32


haue bene temped in či slepe, or thynk_and
his luf and his loouyng als čou
did wakand. When čou may na tyme
forgete hym, what so čou duse or
says, čan es či luf Inseparable. Ful
mykele grace haue čay čat er in čis
degre of luf! And me thynk čat čou
čat has nogth ells at do [but] forto luf
god, may come čar-til, if any may it
gete.  ée thred degre es hegthest, and
maast ferly to wynne: éat es Called
singuler, ffor čat bas na pier. Singuler
luf es when all Comforth and solace
es closed out of če hert bot of Ihesu
Cryst anely. Other delyte ne other
Ioy list it nogth. For če swetnes of
hym in čis degre es swa comfortand
and lastand in his luf, swa brynnand
and gladand, čat he or seho čat es in
čis degre, may als wele fele če fyre
of luf brynnand in čair saule, als čou
may feile či fynger brynne if čou pute
it in če fyre. Bot čat fyre, if it be
bate, es so delytable and wondirfull
čat I can nogth telle it. éan če saul es
Ihesu lufand Ihesu thynkand, Ihesu desy_rand,
anely in couaytes ofhym hangand, til
hym sygthand, of hym brennand, in hym
restand. éan če sang of loouyng and
of luf es comen. éan či thogth turnys
in to sang and melody, čan če bi_houes
syng če psalmes čat čou byfore
sayd. éan čou mon be lang about fa
psalmes. éan če wil thynke če deide
swetter čan hony, ffor čan čou ert
ful sekyr to se hym čat čou lufs. éan
may čou hardyly say: "I langnysshe
for luf." éan may čou say: "I slep and my



|p33


hert wakes" In če fyrst degre men may
say "I languysshe for luf" or "me
langes for luf", and in če tother degre
alswa: for languyssyng es, when men
falles for sekenes, and ča čat er in
čis twa degrees, falles fra all couaytese
of čis werld and fra lust and lyk_yng
of synfull lif, and settis čair en_tent
and čair hert til če luf of god;
for-či may čay say: "Ilanguysshe for
luf" -- and mykel mare čat er in če
secund degre [čan] in če fyrst.  Bot
če saul čat es in če thred degre, es
als brynnand fyre, and als če nygthgale
čat lufs sang and melody and falles
for mykele luf. Swa čat če saul es
anely comforted in loouyng and lufyng
of god, and til če dede come, es syn_gand
gaastly til Ihesu, and in Ihesu,
and Ihesu, nogth bodyly cryand with
če mouth -- of čat maner of syngyng
speke I nogth, ffor čat sang has bath
gud and ille; and čis maner of sang bas
nane bot if čai be in čis thred degre
of luf: til če whilke degre it es In_possible
to cum bot in a gret multitude
of luf. For-či, if čou wil wite what_kyns
ioy čat sang has, I say če čat
na man wate bote he or scho čat felis
it, čat has it, and čat looues god syn_gand
čar-with. Ane thyng telle I če:
It es of heeuene, and god gifs it til
whame he wille, bot nogth with-outene
gret graces comand bifore. Wha so has
it, hym thynk all če sang and če myn_stralcy
of erth nogth bot sorow and
waa čar-til. In souerayne rest sal
čai be čat mon get it. Gangrels and
Ianglers and kepers of comers and



|p34


gangers arely and lat, nygth and day,
or any čat taglede es with any synne
wylfully and wetandly, or čat has delite
in any erthly thyng: čay er als fer
čar-fra als es fra heeuen til erth.  In
če fyrst degre er many; In če točer
degre er ful faa: bot in če thred degre
vnnethes er any -- for ay če mare at če
perfeccyone es, če fouer folowers it
has. In če fyrst degre er men lykened
til če sternes; In če tothir degre til če
mon: and in če thred degre til če
sonne. For-či says sayne Paul: "Othir
es of če sonne. Othir of če mone,
othir of če sternes." Swa es it of če
lufers of god. In čis thred degre, if
čou may wynne čare-til, čou sal wite
of mare Ioy čan I haf taled če yhete.
And amang othir affeccyons and sanges
čou may in či langyng syng čis in či
hert til či louerd Ihesu, whene čou
couaytes his comyng and či gangynge:
 "When wil čou come to comfort me
and bryng me out of care. And gif
me če čat I may se, hafand eeuermare?
či luf es ay swetest of all čat euer
ware- My hert whene sal it brest? for
laf čan languyst I no mare. For luf my
thogth has fest, and I am fayne to fare. I
stand in stil mournyng of ane, če luflyest of
lare; es luflangyng. It drawes me til my day,
če band of swete brynnyng. For it haldes
me ay fra place and fra playn~g. Til čat I
gete may če sygth of my swettyng, čat
wendys neeuer away. In welth beese our
wakynge, with-outen noy or nygth. My luf
es in lastyng. And langes vnto čat sigth."



|p35


 If čou wil be wele with god and haf
grace to rewel či lif and com til če ioy of
luf, čis name of Ihesu fest it so fast in či
hert čat it come neeuer out of či thogth.
And when čou spekis til hym and says
Ihesu thurgth coustome, it sal be in
čine eer Ioy, in či mouth hony, and
in či hert melody: For če sal thynk
Ioy to heer čat name be neeuend, Swe_tenes
to spek it, Mirth and sang to
thynke it. If čou thynk on Ihesu
contynuelly and haldes it stabilly,
it purges či synne, and kyndels
či hert. It claryfies či saul. It
remoues anger, and duse away slawnes.
lt woundes in luf. Fulfilles of char_yte.
It chaces če deeuel. It puttes out
drede. It opens heeuene and makis a
Contemplatif man. Haf in memor Ihesu:
for all vices and fantoms it puttes fra
če lufer. And hayls oft Marye, bath
day and nygth! Mikel luf aud ioy sal
čou fele If čou wil do after čis lare.
ée thar nogth couayte gretely many
bokes: hald luf in hert and in werk,
and čou sal haue all čat we may say
or wryte: for fulnes of če lagthe es
charyte; In čat hynges all.  Bot now
may čou aske me and say: "éou spekis
so mykel of luf: Telle me what luf
es, and whar it es, and how I sal lufe
god veraly, and how I may knawe čat
I luf hym, and In what state I may
maast luf hym." éir er hard qwestyons
to lere to a feble man and a flesshly
als I am. Bot neeuer-če-latter čare_foore



|p36


sal I nogth leue čat I ne sal
schew my witte and als me thynke čat
it may be: For I hop in če help of
Ihesu, čat es welle of luf and pees of
swetenes.  éE fyrst askyng es: What
es luf? And I answer: luf es brennand
yhernyng In god with a woundirful
delite and sikyrnes. God es lygth and
brynnyng. Ligth clarifies our skylle,
and brynnyng kyndeles oure couaytese,
čat we desire nogth bot hym. Luf es
a lif coupland to-gider če lufand and
če lufed: For mekenes makys vs swet
to god, Purete Ioynes vs til god, luf makes
vs ane with god. Luf es fayrest of all ver_tus.
Luf es thynge thurgth če whilke god
lufs vs, and we god; and ylk ane of vs
other. Luf es desire of če hert, ay thynk_and
til čat it lufs; and when it has čat it
lufs, čan it Ioyese, and na thyng may mak
it sary. Luf es yhernyng Imelle twa,
with lastandnes of thoghtes. Luf es a
stiryng of če saul for to luf god for
hym-self, and all other thyng for god;
če whylk luf when it es ordayned in
god, it dose away all vnordayned luf
in any thyng čat es nogth gud. Bot
all dedeIy [syn] es vnordayned luf in
a thyng čat es nogth: čan luf puttes
out all dedly synne. Luf es a vertu,
čat es če rygth affeccyoun of a mans
saul. Trouthe nogth |r[!] may be with-outen
luf, bot it may help with-outen it.
Luf es perfeccyoun~ of letters, vertue of
prophetye, fruyte of trouthe, heel of
sacramentis, stablyng of wite and co_nyng,
Rychesce of pouer men, Lif of
diand men.  Se how god luf es! If we



|p37


suffre to be slayne; If we gif all čat
we haf, til begger stafe; If we can als
mykel als men may cun in erth; til all
čis with-outene lufe, es nogth bot so_row
ordayned and tourment.  If čou
wil ask howe gud he es or scho, ask
how mykel lufs he or scho: and čat
can na man telle -- Forči I hald it bot
foly to deme of a mans hert, čat nane
knawys bot god. Luf es a rygthwys
turnyng fra all erthly thynges, and es
Ioynt til god, with-outene departyng,
and kyndeled with če fier of če haly
gast; fer fra filyng, fer fra Corupcyoun,
obliged til na vice of čis lif, Hegth
aboun all flesshely lustes. Ay redy
and gredy til Contemplacyoun of god.
In all thynges vnouercommene. ée soun
of all gud affeccyons. Heel of gud ma_ners.
End of če comandementis of
god. Dede of synnes. Lif of vertus.
Vertu whils fightyng lastes. Coroun of
ouercomers. Armes til haly thoghtes.
With-outene čat, na man may pay god;
with čat, na man synnes -- For if we
luf god in all our hert, čar es na
thyng in vs thurgth če whilke we
serue to synne. Verray luf clenses če
saul, and delyuers it fra če payne of
hell, and of če foule seruyse of synne,
and of če vgly felishipe of deeuels;
and of če fendes sone makis goddis
sone, and partyner of če herytage of
heeuen. We sal afforce vs to cleeth vs
in luf als če Iren or če cool dose in
če fyer, Als če ayre duse in če son,
Als če wolle duse in če hewe. ée
cool swa cleethes it in če fyre čat all
es fyre. ée ayre swa cleethes it in če



|p38


sone čat all es ligth. And če wolle so
substauncyaly takes če hewe čat it es
like it. In čis maner sal a trew lufer
of Ihesu Cryst do: his hert sal so brene
in lufe čat it sal be turnyd in til fyer
of luf and be als it war all fyre; and
sall swa schyne in vertus čat in na part
of hym he be myrke in vices. --  ée
tother askynge es: Whar es luf? And
I answer: luf es in če hert and in če
wile of a man, nogth in his hand ne
in his mouth, čat es at say: nogth in
his werke, bot in his saul. For many
spekes gud and duse gud, and lufs
nogth god: Als Ipocrytes, če whilk
suffres grete penance and semes haly
to mens sygth: Bot for čay seke
loouyng and honour of men and fa_uour,
čai haf lost čair mede and in če
sygth of god er če deeuels sons and
Rauyschand wolfes. Bot if a man gif
almus-dede and takys hym til poouert
and duse penance, it es a syng čat he
lufs god, bot čare-foure lufs he hym
nogth. Bot when he forsakis če werld
anely for goddis luf and settis all his
thogth on god and lufs all men als
hym-self, and all če gud dedes čat he
may do, he dose čaim in entent for to
pay Ihesu Crist and to come til če
rest of heeuen: čan he lufs god, and
čat luf es in his saul, and swa his de_dis
schewes with-outen. If čou spek
če gud and do če gud, men supposes
čat čou lufs god: Forči lok wele
čat či thogth be in god, or ells čou
dampnes či-self and deceyfs če men.
Na thyng čat I do with-outen prooues



|p39


čat I luf god: For a wykked man
mygth do als mykel penance in body,
als mykel wak and fast als I do. How
may I čane wene čat I luf, or hald
me better, ffor čat at ylk a man may
do? Ceertis, my hert, whethir I luf my
god or nogth, wate na mane bot god,
for nogth čat čai may se me do.
Whaar-foor luf es in wile verrayly,
nogth in werke, bot als synge of luf.
For he čat says he lufs god and wil
nogth do in dede čat in hym es to
schew luf, say hym he leghes! Luf
wil nogth be Idele: It es wirkand some
gud eeuer-mare. If it cees of wirkyng,
wite čou wele it kelis and wytes away. --
 éEůthird askyng es:"How sal I ver_rayly
luf god?" I answer: verray luf es,
to lufe hym in all či mygth stalwardly;
In all či hert wysely; In all či saul
deuoutely and swetly.  Stalwardly may
na man luf hym bot If he be stalward.
He es stalward čat es meke: For all gast_ely
strenth comes of mekenes -- on whame
restis če haly gast? in a meke saul. Mekenes
gouernes vs and kepis vs in all our tempt_acyons,
swa čat čai ouer-come vs nogth.
Bot če deeuel deceyfs many čat er meke
thurgth tribulacyons and reproefs and
backbytynges. Bot if čou be wrathe for
any anguys of čis werld, or for any
word čat men says of če, or for ogth
čat men says til če, čou ne ert nogth
meke, ne čou ne may nogth so luf god
stalwardly. For luf es stalward als če
dede, čat slaas al lifand thyng in erth;



|p40


and hard als hell, čat spares nogth to
čaim čat er dede. éarefoor he čat
lufs god parfytely, he ne griefs hym
nogth, what schame or anguys so he
suffirs, bot he has delyte and couaytes
čat he war worthy for to suffre tour_ment
and payne for Cristis lufe, and he
has Ioy čat men reproues hym and
speke ille of hym. Als a dede man,
what so men dose or says, answers
nogth: swa wha so lufs god parfytely,
čai er nogth stirid for na word čat man
may say. For he or scho can nogth
luf čat may nogth suffre payne and
angre for čaire frendys luf: For wha so
lufs, čai haf na pyne. Proud man or
woman lufs nogth stalwardly: For čai
er so wayke čat čai fal at ylke stir_ynge
of če wynd, čat es temptacyoun.
éai seke hegther stede čan Cryst: For
čai wile haf čaire wile done whethir it
be with rygth or with wrange, and
Cryst wil na thyng be done bote wele
and with-outene harme of othir men.
Bot wha so es verrayly meke, čai wile
nogth haue čaire wile in čis werld,
čat čai may haf it in če tothir plenerly.
In na thyng may men soner ouer-come
če deeuel čan in meknes, čat he mykele
haatis: For he may waak and fast and
suffre pyne, mare čan any other crea_ture
may, bot mekenes and luf may he
nogth haue.  Alswa če bihoues luf
god wysely. And čat may čou nogth
do, bot if čou be wys. éou ert wys,
when čou ert pouer, with-outen couay_tese
of čis werld, and despyses či-self



|p41


for če luf of lhesu Crist, and dispendys
all či wite aud či mygth in his seruyse.
For some čat semes wysest er maast
foles, ffor all čaire wysdom čai spyll
in couaytese and bysenes about če werld.
 If čou sagth a man haue precyous
stanes čat he mygth by a kyngdome
with; If he gaf čaim for ane appyl als
a barne wil do, rygthly mot čou say
čat he war nogth wys, bot a grete fole.
Whar-foor, if we wile, we haf precyous
stanes: pouert, and penance, and gastly
trauayle, with če whilk we may bye
če kyngdom of heeuen. For if čat
čou luf pouert and despise rychesce
and delyces of čis werld and haldis či_self
vyle and pouer and thynkes čat
čou has nogth of či self bot synne:
ffor čis pouert čou sal haf rychesce
with-outen ende. And if čou haf sorow
for či synnes and for čou ert so lang
in exile out of či cuntre, and forsakes
če solace of čis lif, čou sal haf for
čis sorow če Ioy of heeuen. And if
[čou] be in trauayl and punysches či
body skylwysly and wysely in wakynges
and fastynges and in prayers and
meditacyons, and suffirs hete and cald,
hunger and threst, Mysays and angwys,
for če luf of Ihesu Cryst, for čis
trauayle čou sal come til če rest čat
lastes ay, and sitte in a setill of ioy
with aungels. Bot some er čat lufs
nogth wysely, lyke til barnes čat
lufs mare ane appyl čan a castel; swa
dose many: éai gif če Ioy of heeuen
for a litil delite of čaire flesshe, čat es
nogth worth a ploune.  Now may čou



|p42


se čat wha so wil luf wysely, hym
bihoues luf lastand thyng lastandly,
Passand thynge passandly; swa čat his
hert be sette and festend in na thyng
bot in god.  And if čou wil luf Ihesu
verrayly, čou sal nogth anely luf hym
stalwardly and wysely, bot alswa de_noutely
and swetly.  Swete luf es,
when či body es chast and či thogth
clenne.  Deuoute luf es, when čou
offers či prayers and či thoghtes til
god with gastly Ioy and brynnand
hert in če hete of če haly gast, swa
čat če thynk čat či saul es als it war
drunken for delyte and solace of če
swetnes of Ihesu, and či hert conceyfs
so mykel of goddis help čat če thynke
čou may neeuer be fra hym departyde;
and čou comes in til swylke rest and
pees in saul and quyete, with-outen
thoghtes of vanytesce or of vyces, als
čou war in silence and slepe, and sette
in Noe schipe, čat na thyng may lette [če]
of deuocyoun and brynnyng of swet luf.
Fra čou haf getyn čis luf, al či lif, til
dede come, es Ioy and confort als verray
Chryst lufer, and he restis in če whase
steed es maked in pees.-  éE fierth
askyng was: How čou mot knaw
čat čou war in luf and charyte. I
answer čat na man whate in erth čat
čai er in charyte, bot if it be thurgth
any priuelage of speciale grace čat god
has gifen til any man or woman, čat
all othir may nogth take ensampyl bye.
Haly men and women troues čat čai
haf trouth and hop and charite, and
in čat duse als wele als čai may, and



|p43


hoopes certaynly čat čai sal be saaf;
čai wate it nogth als tyte: ffor if čai
wyste, čaire meryte war če lesse. And
Salamon says čat it er rygthwys men
and wys men, and čaire werkis er in
goddis hand. And nogth-for-či a man
wat nogth whethire [he] be worthy
hatred or luf: Bot al es reseerued
vncertayne til anothir werld. Neeuer_če
-latter if any had grace čat he mygth
wynne til če thred degre of luf, čat I
called Singulere, he suld knawe čat he
war in luf. Bot in čat maner his
knawyng es čat he mygth neeuer beer
hym če hegther ne be in če lesse bisynes
to luf god, bot swa mykel če mare čat
he es sekir of luf, wald he be bisy to
luf hym and drede hym čat has mad
swylke bisynes (!), and done čat gudnes.
And knawe čat he es so hegthe, he
wald nogth hald hym-self worthyer čan
če synfullest man čat gas on erthe.
 Alswa seeuene experymentis eer čat a
man be in charyte. ée first es, when
all couaytese of erthly thyng es sleckend
in hym. For whar so couaytyse es,
čare es na luf of Cryst. éan if he haf
na couaytyse, sygne es čat he has
luf. ée secund es, brynnand yhernyng
of heeuene. For when men has felid
ogth of čat sauour, če mare čai haf
če mare čai couayte, and he čat nogth
has felid nogth he desyres. For-či when
any es so mykel gifen til če luf čarof
čat he can fynd na Ioy in čis lif, Taken
he has čat he es in Charyte. ée thred
es: If his tung be chaunged, čat was
wone to speke of če erth, and now



|p44


spekes of god and of če lif čat lastes
ay. ée fierth es, excercyse of gaastIy
profyte, als if any man or woman gifs
čaim entierly til goddis seruyse and
entirmetis čaim of nane erthly bisynes.
ée fift es, when če thinges čat er hard
in čaim-self, semes ligth forto do. éat
luf makes. For als Calcidor says:
Lufreden es če thyng čat brynges
nerehand inpossible til possible mygth
appeertly. ée sext es, hardynes of
thogth to suffre all angwysses and noyse
čat comes-with-outene čis, all če tothir
ne suffyces nogth. For it sal nogth
make a rygthwys man sary what so
bifalles hym. For he čat es Rygthwys,
he haatis nogth bot synne, he lufs nogth
bot god, he dredis nogth bot to wrethe
god. ée seuent es, delytablete in saul;
when he es in tribulacyoun and makis
loouyng to god in ylk ane angre
čat he suffres. And čis schewys wele
čat he lufs god when na waa may bryng
hym doun. For many looues god whiles
čai er in eese, and in aduersyte čai
grucche and in til so mykel sarynes čai
falle čat vnnethes may any man comfort
čaim, and swa sk[l]aunder čai god, flitand
and figthtand agaynes hys domes. And
čat es a caytif loouyng čat any welth
of če werld makes! Bot čat loouyng
es of mykel prys čat na vyolence of
sorowe may do a-way. -- éE fift askyng
was: In what state men may maast luf
god. I answer: In whilke state so it
be čat men er in maast rest of body



|p45


and saul, and leest occupyed with any
nedis or bisynes of čis werld. For če
thogth of če luf of Ihesu Cryst and of če
day čat lastis ay, sekis rest with-outen,
čat it be nogth lettid with comers and
gangers and oconpacyon of werldisshe
thynges; and it sekis with-Inne gret
silence fra če noyse of couaytise and
of vanytese and erthly thoghtes. And
namely all čat luf contemplatife lif, čai
seke rest in body and in saul. For a
gret doctor says čat čai er goddis throne
čat dwellis stille in a stede and er nogth
about rennand, bot in swettenes of
Crystis luf er stablede.  And I haf
lufd forto sytte, for na penance, ne for
na fantasy čat I wald men spake of
me, ne for na swilke thyng, bot anely
for I knewe čat I lufd god mare and
lengar lasted with me comfort of lufe,
čan gangand or standand or kneland.
For sittand am I in mast rest, and my
hert mast vpward. Bot čarfor parauenture
it es nogth če best til anothir to sitte
als I haf done and wil do to my dede,
bot if he war disposed als I was in his
saul.



|p46


   |r<b>Twa lifs er čat cristen men lifs:
Ane es called actife lif: for it es [in]
mare werke bodely. Anothir Contemplatif
lif: for it es in mare swetnes gastly.
 Actif lif es mykel outward, and in
mare trauaylle and in mare perille,



|p47


for temptacyons čat er in če werld.
 Contemplatif lif es mykel inward,
and for-[či] it es lastander and sikerer,
restfuler, delitabler, luflyer and mare
medfull. For it has Ioy in goddis
luf, and sauour in če lif čat lastes ay,
in čis present tyme if it be rygth ledde.
And čat felyng of Ioy in če luf of Ihesu
passes all othir merytes in erthe. For
it es so hard to cum tille, ffor če freyllte
of our flesshe and če many temptacyons
čat we er vmsette with, čat lettis vs
nygth and day: All othir thynges er
ligth at come to in reward čareof. For
čat may na man deserue: Bot anely it
er gifen of goddis gudnes til čaim čat ver_rayly
gifs čaim til Contemplacyone and til
qnyete for Cristis luf. Til men or women
čat takis čaim til actif lif, Twa thynges
falles: Ane, forto onlayne čaire menyhe
in drede and in luf of god and fynd
čaim čaire necessaryes, and čaim-self
kepe entierly če comaundementis of god,
doand with čaire neigthbor als čai
wil čat čai do til čaim.  Anothir es
čat čai do at čaire power če seuene
werkys of mercy; če whilke es: to fede če
hungry, To gif če thresty a drynke,
To cleth če naaked, To herber hym
čat has na housyng, To vysete če seke,
To comfort čaim čat er in preson, and
to graue dede men. All ča čat may,
and has cost, čai may nogth be quyte
with ane or twa of čir, bot čaim
bihoues to do čaim all, If čai wil haf
če beneson on domes-day čat Ihesu



|p48


Crist sal til all gif čat duse čaim. Or
elles may čai dred če malysoune čat
I mon haue čat wil nogth do čaim
when čai had guddes to do čaim with.
 Contemplatyf lif has twa partys, a
lagther and " hegther. ée lagher partye
es medytacyone of haly wrytyng -- čat
es godis wordis -- and in othir gude
thoghtes and swete čat men has of če
grace of god obont če luf of Ihesu Cryst;
and alswa in louoyng of god in
psalmes and ympnes, or in prayers.
 ée hegther party of Contemplacyoune
es bihaldyng and yhernyng of če thynges
of heeuene, and Ioy in če haly gast;
čat men has of grace, and if it be
swa čat čai be nogth prayand with če
mouthe bot anely thynkand on god
and of če fayrehed of angells and haly
sauls. éan may I say čat Contemplacyone
es a woundirfull Ioy of goddis luf, če
whilke Ioy es loouyng of gode čat may
nogth be tald, and čat woundirful
loouyng es in če saul. And for aboun_daunce
of ioy and swetnes it ascendis
in til če mouthe, swa čat če hert and
če tung accord in ane, and body and
saul Ioyse in god lifand.  A man or
woman čat es ordand til Countemplatif
life, fyrst god enspires čaim to forsake
čis werld and all če vanyte and če
couaytise and če vyle lust čare-of.
Sithen he leddis čaim by čaire ane and
spekis til čaire hert: and als če prophete
says, he gifs čaim at souke če swetnes
of če bygynnyng of luf; and čan he
settis čaim in wille to gif čaim haally
to prayers and meditacyons and teeris.
Sithen when čai haf suffred many



|p49


temptacyons, and če foul noys of
thoghtes čat er Idell, and of vanytyse,
če whilke wile combre čaim čat can
nogth distroye čaim, es passand away,
he gers čaim gader til čaim čaire hertis
and fest čaim haally in hym: and opens
til če egth of čaire saul če yhates of
heeuen, swa čat čat ylke egthe lukes
in til heeuen. And čan če stye of luf
verrayly ligges in čaire hert and brynnes
čare-Inne, and makis it clenne of erthly
fylth; and sithen-forthward čai er
Contemplatife men and rauyshed in luf.
For Contemplacyoune es a sygth: éai
se in til heeuen with čaire gastly egthe.
Bot čou sal wyte čat na man. has parfite
sigth of heeuen whils čai er lifand bodyly
here; bot als sone als čai dye, čai er
brogth byfore god and seese hym face
til face and eghe til eghe, and wonnes
with hym with-outen end. For hym
čai sogth and hym čai couayted and
hym čai lufd in all čaire mygth.
   Lo, Cecil, I haf schortly sayd [če]
če fourme of lufyng, and how čou may
come til perfeccyoune and to luf hym
čat čou has taken če til. If it do če
gud and profyte, thanke god, and pray
for me. ée grace of Ihesu Cryst be
with če and kepe če. Amen.



|p50


|r2._Ego_dormio_et_cor_meum_vigilat.

|r[MS._Rawl.A_389,_f.77.,_pp._59-60_MS._Vernon]

   Ego dormio & cor meum vigilat.
ée čat lyste luf, held čine ere and here
of luf. In če sang of luf I fynde it
writen čat I haue sett at če begynnynge
of my wrytynge: "I slepe and my hert
wakes." Mykell luf he shewes čat neoere
is irke to luf, bot ay, standande, sittande,
gangande or any other dede doande es
ay his luf thynkand, and oft-sithe čer_of
dremand. For-či čat I luf če, I wogh
če, čat I myght haue če as I wilde,
noght tille me bot till my lard. I wille
be comer and messager to bryng če
till his bed čat has made če and boght
če, Criste če kynges son of heuen;
for he will wed če if čou wille laf hym;
he askes če na mare bot či luf. And
my wille čou dose, if čou luf hym.
Crist couaytes či fairehede in saule,
čat čou gyf hym halely či hert: and I
preche noght ellys bot čat čou do his
will, and afforce če day & nyght to lefe
alle fleschely luf and al likyng čat lettus
če to luf Ihesu Crist verrayly; for I_whils
či hert is heldande to luf of any
bodyly thyng, čou may not parfitly be
cupilde wit god.  In heuen er IX.
ordirs of aungels, čat are conte[n]yd in
thre Ierarchies: ée lagheste Ierarchy
contenys aungels, archangels, vertu¨. ée
myddes Ierarchi contenys: Potestates,
principatus, Dominaciones. ée heghest
Ierarchi, čat next is til god, contenys:
Tronys, Cherubyn, and Saraphyn. ée
laghest ordir is Aungels, če heghest
Seraphyn. And čat ordir čat lest is
bryght, is seuen sa bryght as is čis
son. And as čou sees če son bryghter
čan če candel, če candel bryghter čan
če mone, če mone bryghter čan če
sternys, alswa are če orders of aungels



|p51


in heuen ilkane brighter čan other, fra
aungels tille Seraphyn. éis I say to
kyndel či hert to couayte če felaw_schype
of aungels: for alle čat are
gode and haly, when čei passe of čis
werld, salle be takyn in till čire orders,
som til če lawest: éat has lufed god
mykel; som to če myddes: éat has
loued god mare; other til če heghest:
čat mast lufes god and brennandest er
in is lufe. / Seraphyn is at saye "bryn_nande":
tille whilke ordir čai er re_ceyfede
čat leste couaytes in čis werld,
and mast swetnes felys in god, and
brennand[est] hertis han in lufe.  Tille
če I wryte čis specialy, for I hope in
če mare gudnes čan in any other, [&]
čat čou wille gyf či thoght to ful_fille
in dede čat čou sees is profitable
to či saule, and čat lyf gyf če tille in
če whilke čou may halelyeste offer či
hert tille Ihesu Cryst and leste be in
bysynes of čis werld. For if čou wille
stabilly luf god & brennandly whiles
čou lyfes here, with-outen doute či
setyll es ordaned for če ful hegh and
ioyfull before če face of god ymanges
haly aungels. For in če self degres čare
proude deuyls felle downe er meke men
and wymmen, Cristes doufys, sett in, to
haf rest and ioye with-outen ende, for
a littul schort penaunce & trauaile čat
čei hafe suffrede for goddes luf.  ée
thynke now perauenture harde to gyf či
hert fra alle erthly thynge, fra ydil speche,
fra al fleschely luf, and ga by čine ane
to wake & pray and činke če ioye of
heuen, & to haue compassion of če
passion of Ihesu Crist, and to ymagyn
če pyne of helle čat is ordeyned for
synfulmen. Bot witterly, fra čat čou
be vsed čerin, če wil činke it lighter
& swetter čen euer če did any erthly
solace. / Also sone as či hert is toched
wit če swetnes of heuen, če wil litel



|p52


liste če myrth of čis werlde; and when
čou felys ioye in Cristes luf, če wil
lathe wit če ioye & če comford of
erthly gammyn. For alle če melodye,
alle če ryches, alle če delites čat alle
če men in čis world kan ordeyne or
thynke, semes & es bot noy & angyre
til a mannys herte čat verrayly is brennand
in če luf of god, for he has myrth &
melodie of aungel sange, as čou may
wel wyit. lf čou lefe alle thynge čat
če liste fleschely, & haue na thowght
of či syb frendys, bot for-sake alle for
goddes luf, and anely gyf či herte to
couayte goddes luf and to paye him,
mare ioye čou schal fynde in hym čan
I kan thynke -- howe myght I čan wryte
hit? I wat neuer if many men be in
swilke luf; for ay če hegher čat če lyfe
es, če faer folowers it has here, for
many thynges drawes men fra goddes
luf, čat čou may here & see; [and] god
comfortes his lufers mare čan čei wene
čat lufes hym noght. For of we seme
in penance wit-outen, we salle haue ful
mykel ioye within, if we ordeyne vs
wysely to goddes seruys and set in hym
alle oure thoghtes & forsake vanite.
 Gyf alle čine entente to vnderstonde
čis wrytyng: [&] if čou haue set či desire
to luf god, here čere thre degres of
luf, swa čat čou may ryse fra ane til
a nother, tille čou be at če hegheste;
for I ne wil not hil fra če čat I hope
ma torne če tille halynes.  ée first
degre of luf es when a man haldes če
ten commaundementes, and kepes him
fra če seuen dedly synnes, and is stabul
in če trouthe of haly kirke; and when
a man wille noght for any erthly thynge
wreth god, bot trewly standes in his
seruice and lastes čare-in tille his lyfes



|p53


ende.  éis degree of lufe by-houes ilke
man haue čat wille be safe; for na man
maye come tille heuen bot if he luf god
and his neghbur with-outen pryde, ire
and any bakbytyng, and with-outen alle
other wennymouse synnes as slawnes,
glotery, and lichery, and couaytys: for
čere vices slaes če saule & makes hit
to depart fra god čat es lyfe of če
saule; and when a wreched man or
wommon es departed fra god, we saye
he is ded, for he is slayne fra god with_outen
wham na creature may lyf. Als
a man poysunde in a swete morsell takes
venym čat slas his body, swa dos a
synful wreche in likyng and lust,
destroyes his saule and brynges hit tille
dede with-outen ende. Men činke hit
swete to synne, bot čaire hire čat is
ordayned for čaim, es bitterer & galle,
sowrer čan atter, wers čan alle če
wa čat man caa thynk in erthe.
 Alle perisches & passes čat we with
eghe see. Hit wanys in till wrechedhede
če wele of čis worlde. Robys & riches
rotes in če dyche. Pryde & payntynge
slake salle in sorowe. Delytes and
drorys stynke sall ful sone. éaire gold
& čaire tresoure drawes čaim til dede;
Alle če wykked of čis werlde dryues
til a dale, čat čai may see čaire
sorowynge čare wa es alle če rabel.
Bot he may synge of solas čat lufed
Ihesu Cryst, When alle če wreches fra
wele falles in tille helle. --  Bot when
čou has wel lyfed in če commaundementes
of god and styffely keped če fra alle
dedly synnes, and payde tille Criste in
čat degre: vmthynke če čat čou wil
mare luf god, & do better with či saule,
and bycome parfite: & čan enters čou
in tille če tother degre of luf, čat es:
to forsake alle če worlde and či fader
and či moder & alle či kyn & folowe



|p54


Crist in pouerte.  In čis degree čou
schalle stody howe clene čou may be in
herte, and howe chaste in body, and gyf
če tille mekenes, suffryng & bosumnes,
and loke how faire čou may make či
saule in vertuese, and hate alle vices:
swa čat či lyfe be gastely, noght fleschely;
neuer-mare spekand ille of čine neghbur,
ny gyf ane ille word for a nother, bot
alle čat men says, ille or gode, suffir
hit debonerly in či hert, with-outen
stirryng of wreth: and čan schal čou
be in reste within, and lightly come in
to gastely lyfe, čat čou salle fynde
swetter čan any erthely thyng.  Parfite
lyfe and gastely es, to despise če erth,
couayte če ioye of heuen, and destroye
thurgh goddes grace alle wikked desires
of če flesche. And forgete če solace and
likyng of či kynredyne, and luf čaim
noght bot in god; whethire ča dye or
lyf, be pore or ryche, be hale or seke,
in wa or in wele, thank čou ay god,
and bles hym in alle his werkes: for
his domes are so priue, čat na creature
may comprehende čaim; and oftsith
sum men has čaire likyng and čaire
wele in čis world, and hell in če
tother: and sum men es in pyne &
persecucioun & anguys in čis lyfe, and
has heuen til čaire mede. For-thy, if
či frendes be ay in es and hele & in
welth of čis werlde, čou & čai bathe
maye če mare drede, čat [čai] lose
noght če ioie with-outen ende. If čai
be in penaunce, in sekenes, or if čei
lyf ryghtwysly, čai may trayste in god
to come to his blisse. For-či in čis
degree of luf čou salle sa by filde in
grace of če haly gast čat čou sal
noght haue sorowe ne gratyng bot for
gastely thynge, and for či synnes and
other mennys, and aftir če luf of Ihesu
Crist, and in thynkyng of his passioun --
and čat I wille čat čou hafe mykel



|p55


mynde of, for hit will kyndel či hert
to set at noght alle če gudes of čis
werlde and alle če ioye, & to desire
brennandly če light of heuen with
aungels and haloghys.  And when či
hert is ordayned halely to če seruice
of god, & alle werldes thoght is putt
oute: éan wille če liste stele be či
nane, to thynk of Crist and to be in
mykel prayng; for thorow gode thoghtes
and haly prayers či hert salle be made
brennande in če luf of Ihesu Crist, and
čan salle čou fele swetnes and gastely
ioye bathe in prayinge and in thynkyng.
And when čou arte be či nane, gyf če
mikel to say če psalmes of če sawter,
and Pater noster and aues; and take
not tent čat čou say many, bot čat čou
say hom wele, and in alle če deuocioun
čat čou may, lyftande vp thy thoght
til heuen. Bettir hit is to say seuen
psalmes in desyre of Cristes luf, hafand
či hert on či praying, čan seuen
hundred, suffrande či thoght to pas in
vanitees of bodily thynge. What gode
hopes čou may com čerof if čou lat
či tonge blabir on če boke, and či hert
ryn aboute in sere stedes in če werld,
whare hit will? For-thy set či thoght
in Crist and he salle refe it tille hym
and halde hit fra če venym of werldes
bysynes. And I pray če, as čou couaytes
to be goddes lufer, čat čou lufe čis
name Ihesu, and thynk hit in či herte,
swa čat čou forgete hit neuer, wharsom~
čou be: and witterly I hete če čou
salle fynde mykelle ioye & comfort čerin,
and for če luf čat čou lufes lhesu sa
tendirly and sa specialy, čou salle be
filde full of grace in erth, and be Cristes
dere mayden & spouse in heuen. For
na thynge sa mekill pays god as verray
luf of his name Ihesu. If čou lufe hit
ryght and lastandly, & neuer let for na
thynge čat men may saye or do, čou
salle be raysed in tille a hegher lyfe



|p56


čan čou can couayte. His godenes es
sa mekill čat čare we inwardly aske
hym of ane, he wille gyf vs thre: sa
wele payed he es when we set alle oure
hert to luf hym.  In čis degre of luf
čou salle ouercom či thre enmys: ée
werld, če deuel, and či flesche; -- bot
neuer-če-latter čou schal hafe ay fightyng
whils čou lyfes, and ay til čou dye by_houes
če be bysy to stande & to falle
noght in ille delyte ne in ille thoght or
in ille worde or in ille werkis: for-či
grete augh či gernynge to be čat čou
luf Crist verraily. éi flesche salle čou
ouer-com thurgh haldyng of či mayden_hede
for goddes luf anely, or, if čou
be na maydun, thurgh chast lyfynge
in thoght and in dede, and thurgh
discrete abstinence and resonable seruyse.
ée werld salle čou ouer-com čorow
couaytyng of Cristes luf, & thynkynge
of his swete name, and desire til heuen;
for als son as čou feles sauowr in Ihesu,
če wille thynke alle če werlde noght
bot vanite and noye for mennys saules.
éou wil noght couayte čan to be ryche,
to haue many mantils and faire, many
kirtils, many dreurise, bot alle čou wil
set at noght and despise alle, and take
na mare čan če nedes. ée wille thynke
twa mantils or ane Inogh, čat nowe
has fyfe or sex; for-či gyf som til
Crist čat gas naked and pore, and hald
noght til če alle: éat wate noght či
lyfe tille čay be halfe gane. / ée deuyl
is ouercommen when čou standis stabilly
agayns alle his fandynges, in sothfaste
charite ande mekenes. And thynke on
me čat I be noght forgeten in či prayeres,
čat is aboute-warde čat čou were dere
with Criste, whas mercy me nedys. I
wille čat čou be neuer Idel, [bot] be
ay other spekand of god, or wirkand
some notabul warke, or thynkand in
hym and principally, čat či thoght be



|p57


ay hafand hym in mynde. And thynk
oft čis of his passioun:
      (Meditacio de passione.)
    My kynge če watur grett, and
če blod he swett; sithen full sare
him bett, so čat his blode hym wett,
when čaire scourges mett. Ful faste
čai gun hym dynge, and at če piler
swynge, his faire face fouled with
spittyng. ée thorne coronys če kynge,
fulle sare es čat prykkyng. allas my
ioye and my swetyng, es demed for to
hynge! Nayled was his hende and
nayled was his fete, & thirled es his
syde sa semely & sa swete. Naked his
white brest, and red his blody syde;
wan was his faire hewe, his woundes depe
& wyde. In fyfe stedys of his flesche če
blode gan downe glyde, as če streme
dos of če strande, čis pyne es noght
to hyde. To thynke es gret pite, how
demed es tille če dede, and nayled on
če tre, če bryght aungels brede. Dryuen
he is til dole čat is oure gastly gode, and
fouled as a fole, in heuen če haloghys
fode. A wondir hit is to se, wha-som
vndurstode, how god of mageste was
dyande on če rode. Bot sothe čan is
[it] saide čat luf ledes če rynge; čat
him sa laughe has laide, bot luf hit
was no thynge. Ihesu, resayue my
hert, and til či luf me brynge: alle my
desir čou art, I couaite či comynge.
čou make me clene of synne, and lat
vs neuer twyn, kyndel me fyre with_inne,
čat I či luf may wynne, and se
či face Ihesu in blys čat neuer may
blynne. Ihesu, my saule čou mende,
či luf in to me

|r[Here_a_leaf_is_wanting_in_the_Ms.;_I_supply]
|r[the_gap_from]
|r[Ms._Vernon_(=_2nd_text_in_Rawl.)]
|r{Ms._Vernon_from_p._58_to_p._60}


[sende, čat I may wič če lende, in
ioye wič-outen ende. In loue čou
wende my čou¨t and lyfte myn herte



|p58


to če; če soule čat čou hast bou¨t,
bi-fore če make hit be. bute i coueite
če, čis world for če i fle; čou art
čat i haue sou¨t, či face whon mi¨t
i se? // éou make my soule clere:
či loue chaungeč my chere; how longe
schal i ben here? whon mai i nei¨¨he
če nere, či melodye to here, Ofte to
here če song, čat is lastyng so long?
wolt čou beo my louyng, čat I či
loue mai syng. --  --  ¨if čou wolt
čenke čis eueri dai, čou schalt fynde
čerin gret swetnesses, čat schal drawen
čin herte vp and make če falle in to
weping, and gret louing haue to Ihesu;
and či čou¨t schal be raft from alle
eorčliche činges, and aboue če sky
and če sterres, so čat če e¨e of čin
herte may loke in to heuene. And
čenne entrest čou in to če čridde
degre of loue.  In če w¨uche čou
schalt beo in gret delyte and cumfort,
¨if čou mai¨t gete grace to come čerto.
For i sei not čat čou or eny očur
schal don hit al, for čat is in godes
wille, čat scheweč to don čat her is
seid, or očur čing of očur manere, as
he ¨iueč mon grace to heore hele.
For diuerse men takeč diuerse ¨iftes of
vr lord Ihesu Crist, and al schal be
set in če ioye of heuene čat endeč in
charite. Whose is in čis degre, wisdam
he hač and discrecion to louen at
godes wille.  éis degre of loue is
called Contemplatyf loue, čat loueč to
ben onlich, from ryngyng and dune,
syngyng and crying. At če bigynnyng,
whon čou comest čerto, či gostli e¨e
is taken vp in to če blisse of heuene,
and is ilumyned wič grace and cundlet
wič če fuir of Cristes loue, so čat čou
schalt haue verreiliche če brennynge
of loue in čin herte euermore lastyng,
and či čou¨t euermore vpward to god,
felyng če loue of ioye, and so muche



|p59


swetnes čat no seknesse, ne schame,
ne anguissche, ne penaunce čat schal
greue če: Bote al či loue schal turne
to ioye. And čenne for hihnesse
of čin herte či preyers schal turne
in to ioyfol song, and či čou¨tes in to
melodie.  éenne Ihesu schal beo al
či desyre, al či delyte, al či ioye, al
či solace, al či cumfort, so čat of
him wol ben euermore či song, and
in him al či rest.  éenne mai¨t čou
seye: "I slepe and myn herte wakeč.
 Ho schal to my lemmon say čat for
his loue me longeč ay?"  Alle čat
louen vanytes and specials of čis world
and setten heore hertes on eny očur
čing čen on god, in to čis degre
mowe čei not comen, Ne in to čat
očur degre of loue čat bi-fore is
nempned.  And čerfore alle worldes
solace hem bihoueč forsake, čat heor
herte beo not bouwynde to no loue
of eny creature, ne to no bisynesse of
eorče:  éat čei mowe euere be in
silence, stablich and stalworčelich wič
herte and mouče loue god.  Vre
lord ¨eueč not to men and wymmen
feirnesse, richesse and dilytes forte
sette heore hertes holliche on hem, &
dispende hem in synne, bute for čei
scholde knowe him & loue him & čonke
him of alle his ¨iftes. And čerfore če
more is heore schome, ¨if čei wraččen
him čat hač i¨iuen hem mony ¨iftes in
bodi or in soule.  For-či, ¨if we
coueyten to fleo če peyne of helle,
purgatori, vs bihoueč reste vs parfyt_liche
in parfyt loue from če lustus &
če lykynges & from če vuel dilytes &
če wikked drede of čis world; and
čat worldes serwe be not in vs, but
čat we holde euere vr herte faste on
Ihesu Crist & stonde monlich a¨einus
temptaciuns.



|p60


[Ms. Vernon.]

  |r<b>Nou i write a song of loue, čat
čou schalt delyte in whon čou
art louyng Ihesu Crist.  My song is
in syngyng, Mi lyf is in
longing, to če i seo my
derlyng so feir in his schyning, So feir
in his feirhede: in to či li¨t čou
me lede, And wič či loue čou me fede,
In loue mak me to spede, And čou
beo euere my mede. // Whonne wolt
čou come, Ihesu my ioye, & keuere me
of sore, And ¨eue me če čat i may se
& haue for euer-more? Al my coueit_ing
were comen, ¨if i mi¨te to če
fare; I wol no čing but only če, čat
al my weolnes ware. Ihesu
my saueour, Ihesu my cumfortour, Of
alle feirhede če flour, Myn help and
my socour: Whon may i se če in či
tour?  Whon wolt čou me calle? Me
longeč to čin halle, To seo če & hem
alle: éi loue let hit not falle...  Now
wax I pale & won, For loue of my lem_mon.
Ihesu boče god and mon, či
loue čou lered me čon, Whon
i faste to če ron: For-či non loue i
con.  I sitte and synge of loue-long_ynge,
čat in myn herte is bred. Ihesu,
Ihesu, Ihesu, whi neore i to če led?
For wel I wot čou seost my stat, in
loue my čou¨t is sted; Whon i seo če,
and dwelle wič če,]

     |r[Ms._Rawl._continues:]

čan am I filde and fed. Ihesu či luf es
feste, and me to luf thynke beste: my
hert when may hit brest, til com to če
my reste? Ihesu, Ihesu, Ihesu, tille če es
čat I mourne; For-či, my life and my
lyfynge, why ne may I hythen tourne?
Ihesu my dere and my drewry, delite art
čou to synge; Ihesu my myrth my melodie,
when wille čou com my kynge? Ihesu my
hele and my hony, my whert, my com_fortynge:



|p61


Ihesu. I couaite for to dye,
when it is či payinge. Langynge es in
me lente, čat my luf has me sent; alle
wa fra me es went, sen čat my hert es
brent.  In Cristes luf sa swete, čat
neuer I wille lete, bot euer to luf I
hete: for luf my bale may bete / and
til my blys me brynge, and gyf me my
¨ernynge, Ihesu my luf swetyng. Lang_ynge
es in me light, čat byndes me
day & nyght, til I hit hafe in sight,
his face so fayre an bryght. Ihesu my
hope & hele, my Ioie euer-ilka dele,
či luf lat it noght kele, čat I či lufe
may fele, and won wit če in wele.
Ihesu with če I bygge and belde, leuer
me ware to dye, čan al čis worlde to
welde and hafe it in maystry. When
wil čou rewe on me, Ihesu čat I
myght with če be, to luf and loke on
če?ůmy setill ordayne for me, and sett
čou me čare-in: for čan we neuer
twynne, and I či luf salle synge,
thurgh syght in či schynyng, In heuen
wit-outen endyng. amen.


|r3._ée_commawndement_&c.
|r[Ms._Rawl._A_389,_f._81]
|rpp._61-71 


    Richard hermit,

   ée commaundement of god is čat
we lufe oure lord in al oure hert, in
al oure sowle, in al oure thoght. In



|p62


al oure hert, éat is in al oure vndir_stondyng
with-outen erryng. In al oure
sowle, čat is in al oure wille with-outen
¨eynsaiyng. In al oure thoght, čat is, čat
we thynk on hym with-outen forgetyng.
In čis manere is verray luf & trewe,
čat is werke of monnes wille. For luf
is a wilful stiryng of oure thoght in to
god: so čat it receyue no thyng čat is
a¨eyns če luf of Ihesu Crist, and čare_with
čat it be lastyng in swetnes of
deuocion: and čis is če perfeccion
of čis lif. To če whiche al dedly
synne is contrary & enemy, bot not
venial synne: for venial synne doth
not awey charite, bot onli letteth če
ois and če brennyng čare-of. éare_fore
alle čat wil luf god parfitly,
čaim behouith not onli fle alle dedly
synnes, bot also, als michel als čai
may, al veniale synne, in thoght, and
word, and dede; and namely to be
of littul speche -- and čat silence be
in occupacion of gode thoghtes, It
helpes gretly to goddes luf. For ianglers
and bakbiters čat apeireth othir mennes
lif with wicked wordes, and alle čat
louen čaire owene state by-foren alle
othere, or čat despiseth any state in če
whiche a man may be sauf: thai haue
no more sight of če luf of god in čaire
sowle čen če egh of a backe hath of
če sonne. For veyn speche and ille
wordes arne signe of a veyne hert &
ille čat is with-outen če grace of god.
And he čat speketh ay če gode, and
holdes iche mon better čen him-self:
he schewith wele čat he is stable in
godnesse in his hert, & ful of charite
to god and his neghbur.  And čat
čou may come to če swetnesse of goddes
luf, I sette here thre degrees of luf, in
če whiche čou be waxing.  ée first
degre is cleped Insuperable, če tother



|p63


Inseparable, če thridde Singuler. Thi
luf is insuperable, when no thing may
ouer-com it, čat is, nouther wele ne
wo, ese ne anguys, luf of flesch ne
likyng of čis world; bot ay it lasteth
in god, čogh it were tempted gretly,
and hit hateth al synne, so čat no
thyng may slakne čat luf.  Thi luf
is inseparable, when alle thi thoghtes
and alle thi willes are gaderd to-gedir
& festned holly in Ihesu Crist, so čat
čou may notyme for¨ete hym, bot ay
čou thynkest on hym; and čerfore it
is cleped inseparable, for it may not be
departed fro thoght of Ihesu Crist.
 That luf is singuler, when al če delit
is in Ihesu Crist, and in non other thing
fynde ioye or comfort. In čis degre is
luf stalworthe als ded, and hard als
helle: for als ded slees al lyuyng
thing in čis world, so parfit luf sleth
in a monnes sowle alle fleschely desires
and erthly couaytise. And als helle
spareth not to ded menne, bot tormenteth
alle čat cometh čerto, so a mon čat
is in čis degre of luf, not only he for_sakith
če wreched solace of čis lif, bot
also coueiteth to suffre pynes for godes
luf. éare-fore if če list luf any thing,
luf Ihesu Crist, čat is fairest, richest &
wisest, whos luf lasteth in ioye endeles;
for al erthly luf is passing and witeth
sone a-wey; noht čat falleth čerto is
dwellyng, bot pyne čat it deserued. If
čou be coueitous aftur gude: luf him
and čou hast al gude; desire hym trewly
& če schal wonte no thyng. If delites
like the: lufe him, for he ¨eueth delites
to his lufers čat neuer may perisch: bot
alle če delices of čis world are feynt
and fals and failyng in most nede; /
thai bygynne in swetnesse and čair
endyng is bitterer čen galle. If čou
kan not lyfe with-outen felashipe: lift
či thoght to heuen, čat čou may fele



|p64


comfort with aungels and halewes, če
whiche wil helpe če to god, & not lette če
als či fleschely frendes doth. / Restreyne
či wille a while fro al lust and likyng
of synne and čou schalt haue afterward
al thi wille: for hit shal be clensed &
made so fre, čat če wil lust to do no
thyng bot čat is paiyng to god. If če
lust speke: for-bere it at če bygynnyng
for goddes luf: for when či hert feleth
delit in Crist, the wil not lust speke ne
iangle bot of Crist. If čou may not
dreghe to sitte bi thyn one: oise the
stalworthly in his luf and he shal
so stabli sette če, čat al če solace
of čis worlde shal not mowe remewe
če, for the wil not luste čare-of. /
When čou art bi thi-self, be ay,
to slep come, outhir in prayer or in
gode meditacioun. / And ordeyne či
wakyng and či praying and či fasting,
čat it be in discrecioun, not ouer_mychel
ne ouer-litel: bot thynke ay
čat of alle thinges most quemeth god
luf of monnys hert. / And čare-fore
seche more to luf hym čen to do any
penance; for vnskilful penance is litul
worth or noght, bot luf is ay če best,
whether čou do penance mychel or
litel.  Be aboutewarde in al či myght
čat čou were so inwardly ¨euen to če
luf of Ihesu Crist čat for gostli ioye of
či sowle nouht čat men may say or do
made če sory, so čat či thoght withinne
be fed only in če swetnesse of Cristes
luf, not in delit of erthly ease, ne in
louyng of men, if čai be-gan to speke
gude of the, ne in idel ioye. / Trust
in god, čat he wil ¨eue to the thingis
čat čou prayes hym skillefully. Skylful
prayer is to cristen mennes sowle to
seche and aske nyght and day če luf
of Ihesu Crist, čat it may luf him verrali,
feling comfort & delit in him, oute_kasting
worldes thoghtes and Iuel



|p65


bisines. / And siker be čou, if čou
coueite his luf trewli & lastyngli, so čat
no lust of či flesche, ne angrynge of
če world, ne speche ne hatereden of
men, drawe a¨eyn & cast če not in
bisinesse of bodili thynges: éou shalt
haue his luf, and fynde and fele čat
hit is delitabler in an oure čan alle če
welthe čat we here see, may be to
domes-day. And if čou faille and falle
for temptacions, or for angres, or
for ouer-myche luf of či frendes: it es
no wonder if he holde fro če thing čat
čou coueitest not trewly. He sayth čat
he lufes thaim čat lufes him; and, čei
čat erIy waketh to him schal fynde
him. éou art erely wakyng oftesyth,
whi čan fyndes čou him not? Certes
if čou seche hym ryght, čou schalt
fynde him; bot whiles čou sechest
ertheli ioye, čogh čou wake neuer so
erli, Crist may čou not fynde: for he
is not founden in čaire londe čat lifes
in flescheli lustes.  His moder, when
he was willed fro hire, soght wepyng
erely & late amonge his kynreden and
hires: Bot sche fonde him not for alle
her schetyng and her sorowyng, to at
če laste sche come in to če temple,
and čere sche fonde hym sittyng among
če maistres, heryng and onsweryng.
So behoueth če do, if čou wilt fynde
hym: seche inwardly, in trouthe & hope
and charite of holichirche, castyng oute
al synne and hathing it in al či herte:
for čat holdeth hym fro če, and letteth
če čat čou may not fynde hym.  ée
herdemen čat soght, fonde him liggyng
in a crybbe, bi-twene two bestes; čat
čou knowe, if čou seche hym verraly,
če be-houeth go in če way of pouert,
and not of richesse.  ée sterre led če
thre kynges in to Bethleem: éere čei



|p66


fonde Crist in swethil-cloutes simpli,
as a poure childe. éarby vnderstonde
čat whiles čou art in pryde and vanite,
čou fyndest him not. How may čou
for schame, čat art bot seruant, with
mony clothes & riche folewe či spouse
and či lord, čat went in on kirtil: &
čou trailest as myche bihynde če, as
al čat he had on? éare-fore I rede
čat čou part with hym er čou & he
mete, čat he reproue če not of outrage;
for he wil čat čou haue čat čou hast
myster of, and nomore. He said to his
disciples čat čei schulde not haue als
mony clothes als two moght be susteined
with -- for to trauaile čare-aboute, is
outrageous besenesse, čat he forbedeth.
 The luf of Ihesu Crist is ful dere
tresor, ful delitable ioy, and ful siker
to trust men on. éare-fore he wil not
¨eue hit to foles, čat can not holde hit
and kepen it tenderly: bot to thaim he
¨efeth it če whiche nouther for wele
ne for wo wil let it passe fro thaim, bot
čei wil die er čei wolde wrathe Ihesu
Crist. / And no wysmon dos precious
licour in a stynkyng vessell, bot in a
clene. Also Crist dos not his luf in a
foule hert(e) in synne, and bonden in
vil lust of flesshe: bot in an herte čat
is faire and clene in vertues. Neuer_ée-latter
a foule vessel may be maked
so clene, čat ful dere thyng sauely may
be don čere-in. And Ihesu Crist ofte_sithes
purgeth mony synful monnes
soule, & maketh it able thurgh his grace
to resceyue če delitable swetnesse of
his luf, and to be his wonyngstede in
holynesse; and ay če clenner it waxeth,
če more ioy & solace of heuen(e) Crist
setteth čare-in. éarefore at če first
tyme when a mon is turned to god, he
may not fele čat swete licour til he
haue ben wel oised in goddes seruice
and his herte be purged thurgh prayers



|p67


& penance & gode thoghtes in god;
for he čat is slowe in goddes seruice,
may not be brennyng in luf, bot if he
do al his myght and trauaile nyght and
day to fulfille goddes wille. And when
čat blissed luf is in a monnes herte, it
wil not suffre hym to be idel, bot ay
it stireth hym to do som gode čat myght
be likyng to god, as in praying, or in
worching profitable thinge, or in spekyng
ofIhesu Crist; and principally in thoght,
čat če mynde of Ihesu Crist passe not
fro his thoght. For if čou lufe hym
trewly, čou wil(t) glade če in him and
not in other thyng, / and čou wilt
thynk on him, castyng awey alle othir
thoghtes. / Bot if čou be fals & take
othir čen him and delite če in erthely
thyng a¨eins his wille: witte čou
wele he wil forsake če as čou hast
don hym, & dampne (če) for či
synne. / Wharfore, čat čou may luf
hym treweli, vndirstonde čat his luf is
proued in thre thynges: In thynkyng,
in spekyng, in worchyng. / Change
či thoght fro če world and cast
hit holli on hym, and he schal
norisshe če. / Change či mouth fro
vnprofitable & wordli speche (& speke)
of hym, and he schal comfort the. /
Change čine honden fro werkis of
vanites and lift čaim in his nome and
worche only for his luf, and he schal
resceyue če. Do čus and čou Iufes
him trewly and čou gost in če wey of
parfitenesse. Delite če so in hym čat či
hert resceyue nouther worldes ioy ne
worldes sorowe; and drede not anguyse
or noy čat may be-falle bodili on the
or on any of či frendes, bot betake al
in to goddes will, and thanke him ay
of all his sondes: so čat čou haue rest
and sauour in his luf; for if či herte
outher be led with worledes drede, or
worldes solace, čou art ful far fro če



|p68


swetnesse of Crist¨ luf. And loke wele
čat čou sente not on withouten and be
an other withinne, as ypocrites doth,
če whiche are like to a sepulcre čat is
peynted richely with-outen, and with_inne
roteth stynkyng bones. If čou
haue delit in če [name of religion,
loke čat čou haue more delyte in
če] dede čat falleth to religion. éin
habit saith čat čou hast forsaken če
world, čat čou art ¨efen to goddes
seruice, čat čou delites če not in erthely
thyng: loke čenne čat it be in či
hert(e) as hit semeth in mennes sight -- for
nothčing may make če religious bot
vertues and clennesse of soule in charite.
If thi bodi be clothed with-outen as
čin order wil, loke čat či soule be not
naked withinne -- čat čin order forbedeth:
bot naked be thi soule fro alle vices,
and warme happed in luf & mekenes,
Drede če domes of god, so čat čou
wretthe him not; stabil či thoght in his
luf, and held oute of če alle synnes;
cast awey slowenesse, oise če monli in
godenes, / be deboner ande meke to
alle men, lete no thing brynge če to
ire or enuy(e); dight thi soule faire,
make čare-inne a trone of luf to goddes
son, and make či wille be coueitous to
receyue hym as gladli as čou woldest
be at če comyng of a thyng čat čou
lufed most of alle thyng. Wasshe či
thoght clene with luf-teres and brennyng
desiryng, čat he fynde no thyng foul
in če: for his ioy is čat čou be faire
& lufesom in his eghen. / Fairehede of
či soule čat he coueiteth, is čat čou
be chast & meke, mylde & suffrynge,
neuer irk to do his will, ay hatyng alle
wrychednesse. In al čat čou dost think
ai to come to če sight of his fairehed,
& sette alle čin entent čare-inne čat
čou may come čare-to at thin endyng --



|p69


for čat oweth to be ende of al oure
trauail čat we euermore, while we life
here, desire čat sight in alle oure hert,
and čat vs ay thynk longe čar-to.
 Also festne in thin herte če mynde
of his passione & of is woundes: gret
delit and swetnes schal čou fele, if
čou holde či thoght in mynde of če
pyne čat Crist suffred for če.  If
čou trauaill ryght in his luf, and
desire him brennyngli: alle temptacions
& dredes of euel čou salt ouercome
and defoule vnder či fete thurghe his
grace; for alle čat he seeth in gode
wille to luf him, he helpeth thaim
a¨eins alle thaire enemys, and reiseth
čair thoght abouen erthely thynge,
so čat thei may haue sauour of če
swetnesse of heuen. Purchace the če
welle of wepyng, and cese not til čat
čow haue hym: for in če hert where
teres spryngen, čer wil če fire of
če holigost be kyndelet: and sithen
če fire of luf, čat schal brenne in
či herte, wil brynge to noght aI če
rust of synne, and purge či soule
of al filthe, als clene as če gold čat
is proued in če fourneys.  I wote
no thinge čat so inwardly schal
take či herte to coueit goddes luf /
and to desire če ioy and to despise če
vanites of čis world, as stedfast thynkyng
of če mysese & greuous woundes and
of če deth of Ihesu Crist; it wil reise
či thoght abouen ertheli likyng / and
make thin herte brennyng in Cristes
Iuf, and purchace in to či soule delitablete
and sauour of heuene. / Bot peraunter
čou wilt say: "I may not despise če
worlde, I may not fynde it in my hert
to punysshe my bodi, and me behoueth
luf my flessheli frendes, and take ease
when it comes." If čou be tempted
with suche thoghtes, I pray čat čou be_thynk
če, fro če bigynnyng of čis



|p70


worlde, where če worldes luferes are
now, / and where če lufers are of god.
Certes, čai were men and wemen as we
are, & ete and dronk and loghe: / and
če wrecches čat lufed čis world toke
ese to čair body, and lifed as čaim
luste in likyng of čaire wicked wille,
and ledde čair daies in lust and delices:
and in a pointe čai felle to helle. Now
may čou see čat čai were foles aad
foule glotons, čat in a fewe ¨eres wasted
endles ioye čat was ordeynt for tham if
čai wold han don penance for thaire
synnes. // éou seest čat al če riches
and delite of čis worlde vanisseth awey
and cometh to noght. Sothli, so doth
alle čaire lufers: for no thyng may
stonde stabli on a fals gronde. éair
bodies are ¨euen to wormes in erthe,
and čaire soules to če deuelles in helle. /
Bot alle čat forsoke če pompe and če
vanite of čis lif, and stode stalworthly
a¨eins alle temptaciones, / and ended
in če luf of god: éai are now in ioye
and haue če heritage of heuen, čere to
won with-outen ende, restyng in če
delices of goddes sight; for here čei
soght no more rest ne ese to čair body
čen thai had nede of. // O thynge l
rede the: éat čou for¨ete not čis nome
Ihesu, bot thenk hit in či hert nyght
and day, as či special and as či dere
tresour. Luf hit more čan či lif, rote
it in či mynde. Luf Ihesu, for he made
če, and boght če ful dere. ¨ef či hert
to hym: for it is his dette. éerfore set
či luf on his nome Ihesu, čat is hele. //
éere may non euel thing haue duelling
in čat hert(e) čer Ihesu is trewly holden
in mynde: for it chaceth deuelles, it
destruyeth temptacions, it putteth awey
wicked dredes and vices, and clenseth
če thoght. Who so loueth hit verraily,
is ful of goddes grace and vertues, in
gostli comfort in čis lif, and when čai



|p71


die, čai are taken vp in to če ordre
of aungels, to se him in endles ioye
čat čai haue lufed. Deo gracias.



|p110


|r4.[9.]_[Points_best_pleasing_to_God].
|r{Vernon_and_Harley_MSS_up_to_page_112}
|rpp._110-112.
|r[Ms._Vernon.]

   <b>Hit was an holi mon and bi-sou¨te
god sende him grace such vertues for
to vse čat weore best to lyf and to
soule. éenne apeered vr lord Ihesus
godes sone to him and seide: // "¨if čin
herte to me and čin almus to če pore
mon for če loue of me: and hit schal
lyke me betere čen čauh čou ¨iue al
če gold of čis world aftur či day. //
Weop a ter wič čin ei¨e, čenk on my
passion: and hit schal lyke me bettere
čen čow weope as muche watur as is
in če s‚‚ for anger and for teone of
los of worldes catel. // Forbere a wikked
word of čin euen-cristen: and hit schal
lyke me bettere čen čou beote či-self
wič as mony roddes as grouweč on an
acre of londe. //Keep če out of dedly
synne wič al či mi¨t: and hit schal
lyke me bettre čen čou founde Ni¨ene
knihtes werryng vppon Sara¨ynes, euer_more
liggyng aboute my sepulcre. //
Haue reuče and pite of čin euencristne:
and hit schal lyke me bettre čen čou
faste fourti wynter čreo dayes in če
wike to bred and to watur. // Visyte
če pore and če seke, spekyng alle
goodnes: and hit schal lyke me bettre
čen čou go bare-foot to če wei rennyng
blod on či feete. //Do no wrong to
no mon, noučur harm ne schome: and
hit schal lyke me bettre čen čow eueri
day maade a newe churche. // Tel to
me al či wille, and leeue čat I am al_mihti
al goodnesse to fulfille: and hit
schal lyke me bettere čen čou preyed
my moder and al če halewes of heuene



|p111


to preye for če. // Loue me wič al
čin herte, to haue my blisse: and hit
schal lyke me bettere čen čou made a
piler rechyng vp to heuene, stikyng ful
of rasours al či bodi to renden on."

|r(Follows:_Vnkuinde_mon_¨if_kep_to_me_&c.,
|rsee_p._71).



|p{110-111}

|r[Harl._1704]
   <b>It was an holy man besought god
to send hym grace to teche soch vertues
for to vse that were best to lyf and to
soule. /"Yef thyn hert to me and a
peny to the pore for the loue of me:
and it shall like me better čan čou
yeue all the good of čis world after
thy day. / Veppe a tere with thyn eye
čenkyng on my passione: & it shall like
me better čan čou wepte also moch
water as is in the see for anger or for
tene of los of worldis Catell. / For-bere
a wicked word fro thyn euen-Cristen:
& it shall like me better čan čou bete
thy-self with all-so monye Roddis as
growen in an acre londe. Kepe the
oute of synne with all thi myght: and
it shall like me better čan čou fynd IX
knyghtes werryng vppon the Sare¨ens,
euer-more lying aboute my sepulcre:
čan čou for to lie in synne. / Haue
rewth and pite on thy euen-Cristene: &
it shal like me better čan čou fastid
XIti wynter III dayes in the woke bred
and water. / Visite the pore and the
sike, spekyng all goodnesse: and it shall
like me better čan čou goo barefote
that če waye renne blod after thy feet. /
Do no wrong to no mane, nether harme
ne shame: and it shal like me better
čen čou eueryday make a newe Chyrch.
Tell to me all thy will, and beleue wele
that I am al-myghti god and all good_nesse
to fulfill: and it shal like me
better čen my moder & all alowene



|p111


praydene for the. / Loue me for me: and
it shall like me better čan čou make a
piler Rechyng vp to heven, stiking full
of Rasoures all či body to Rendyn
vppone."

|r[Ms._Harl._continues_in_the_same_strain:]

   Flee perile and doute of deth, take
če better for hope of mede: the blisse
of heven shalt čou not misse, so čou
wilt kepe the commaundementis of Crist. /
Thou most forsake pride and all wickid
willis, yef čou wilt kepe če commaunde_mentis
of Crist. // I besech the, leue
brother, take to če loue & Charite, yef
thou wilt to heven flee. // Here čou
might lere the commaundementis X; ne
be čou neuer so gret Clerke, čou hast
gret nede for to lerne hem. // Haue god
in worship. Take not his name in Idel_ship.
/ Hold wele či Holidaye. Fader
and moder worship aye. / Loke that čou
nought stele, Ne no fals wetenesse thou
ne bere. / Loke čou ne sle non mane.
Do no foli by no womane. / Desire not
thy neygbours wyff, Ne nothing that
čerto light. / He that will kepe these
commaundementis he shal neuer die. //
Leue frende, I beseche the, the VII.
dedely synnes that čou flee, / yf čou wilt
in heven be. / Who so is taken čerin /
in hell shalbe his wonnyng. // Pride /
Wrath / Envye, / Slouth / Glotenye, /
Lecherie / Couetise. / He that is taken
čerin, sore may hym agrise. // Man, take
Comfort to the, beholde and se the
vertues seuyne, that will bring the to
heuyne: // Mekenesse, Pacience, Charite /
Besinesse, Mesure, Chastite / Largesse
to hem that haue nede to the. / He that
will kepe these vertuesse seuen: in heven
shal be his dwellyng, with oure lord
heven kyng. AmeN.



|p112


|r5[10]._[Meditation_on_the_Passion;_and_of_three_arrows
       |ron_doomsday.]
|r[Ms._Arundel_507,_f._48]
|rpp._112-121.


   <b>Oppyn či hert with sighings sare til
čink on če pynes čat Ihesus Crist suffred,
& sette čaim in či saule: bi ordere /
as he čaim tholid: How čai his hali
face with spittynge filid, How čai buffet_tid
če fairest face of al mankynde; How
čai with cordis bande his faire handes,
so čat oute of alle his fyngres če blode
oute brast; How čai betid him with
knottid scourgis; How alle with a voice
cried "do him on croice, / čat he die
als schameful dead: as eauer any deied",
How he was strekid on če croice čat



|p113


was laid on če erth, / & drawyn oute
with rapis: til make handes & fete
acorde til če holes / čat ware made
in če tree. So straite he was dra(w)en
oute on če croice: čat men might telle
alle his banes; & to čat croice was he
festenid with irnen nailes. Thinke after
how is bodi was liftid vp with če croice /
& smyten oft in če erth: als men dose
a stake of tree til make it fast til stand:
with čat swete bodi lifand čat hinged
čeron. At čis smytynge in če erth:
alle his vaynes brast, čat oute of alle
his swete lymes: če blode oute stremid.
éis greuid him sarest of alle očer paynes:
oute-take oure vnkyndenesse, čat ilk
daie newes his pyne. Thynk after
how knightis to him knelid: & said to
him in scorne: "Haile, kynge of Iues!
éou čat mani helpis: čou nedes now
helpe če selfe; come downe fra če
croice / čou art nailid to: & we sal
trow čat čou art goddis sone of heuen".
Think on če scharpe corone of thornis,
čat made his loueli face: til streme al
on blode; & of če bitter aysill myngid
with galle, čai gafe him to drink / when
he pleynid him of thrist / als he čat
mikil had bledde. Bot witte čou wele,
him thristis noght after pyment ne wyne /
ne after očer liquore: bot aneli after
če lufe of man / čat he so dere boght.
think čen / when čou dose ani thinge
agayn his wille: éou dose as če Iues
did / birles him galle to drinke, as a
vnkinde wreche. Thinke on his careful
moder, & on sayn Iohan his dere cosyn,
čat stode bi him & sagh al čat he
tholid; na tonge mai telle: how sari
čai ware čat tyme. Thinke on če wordes
he spake til his moder hangand on če



|p114


rode: "woman: lo here či sone"; til
sayn Iohan his cosyn: "lo here či moder
dere: éou serue hire with al či might". /
What sighinges come til hire hert / when
sche herd čis wordes: when mannes
sone for goddis sone / če disciple for
če maister / ée seruant for če lorde:
was gifen hire to ¨eme. Thinke on čat
blissid bodi nakid & pale hinged on če
rode / so ryuen with scourges: čat
noght left hale. And ¨itte so pouerli
was he stad in čat stoure: ¨at he had
noght to rest his heuid on; & als nakid
as he was borne-bot his moder couer_chiefe
was knit aboute his lymes. Thinke
how ful he was of merc(i) ¨it whil he
hinged on rode / čat forgafe če theefe
his synnes čat hinged biside him: éat
missaid him a while bifore; & hight him
he suld čat daie be with him in para_dise.
When čou art vmbithought of
alle |r(f.47) (če) pynes čat Ihesus suffred
for če: thinke in či saule / čat čou
standis bi (him) in čat place & sees
what čai him do; speke čen to či lorde
če wor(des) of sayn Bernarde: "God mi
lorde, swete Ihesu, / what haues čou
(do)ne: čat čou so blodi hinges on rode /
čat neauer did iuel: bot eauer did gode? /
Sakles čai do če til deade, wa is me
čerfore / for i am gilti of či deade;
& agayn lawe & reson it is: til sla him
čat neauer did misse, & lat him passe
free: éat did če harme. For-či, ¨e
wreches (!) Iues, (ta)kes me, for i am če
synful čat yuel has done & folowid če
fendis rede. I prai ¨ow / latis čis
Inocent passe: & dose me til deade,
for i haue trespassid". Tinke alswa
inwardli / how he said on če rode
bifore he ¨elde če gaste-for it mai
stere če til haue sorugh of či synnes
& rue on his deade čat was so pynid
for če, & swa wreke his deade on če
selfe; / čat čus on če rode cried: Con_summatum
est: éat is: "al is fulfillid",



|p115


as if he said: "I am fulfillid of sorugh:
bathe in bodi & saule". In bodi: for
al was pynid / fra če croune of če
heuid til če sole of če fote. In saule:
thorugh oure vnkyndnesse, čat kithis
him na thanke for his gode dede: bot
dose čat in vs is: euer til (n)ew his
payne; & čat ouerpassis alle his paynes
čat he bifore tholid, for-či he said at
his ende: "I am fulfillid of sorugh". &
at čis worde: he loutid downe his heuid
/ & said til his fader: "In til či handes:
mi saule i ¨elde". Think čen on če
wondres čat čen felle: how creatures
čat na witte had: rued on his deade.
ée sone withdrow his brightnesse &
bicome al mirke, & schewid so: čat it
rued Cristes deade; če harde roche rafe;
če erth qwoqe; če grafes openid / &
če deade men čat ware in čaim / rase
to life, & wittenesid čat he was sothe_fast
god: éat če Iues did til deade, /
with sighings & teres. Als i rede čou
čink on če stingand sorughs of his
moder, čat was with him ai til če
deade / & bihild al čat čai did with
hire child. Neauer tholid martir so
mikil as sche tholid! for martirs ware
pynid in bodi, & goddis modir: in saule,
čat mai noght deie; for alle če pynes
čat hire sonne tholid: thorugh-stikid
hire saule, & sche ¨ernid for sorugh til
deie: & na sorugh might hire sla. éen
was fyfillid če worde of Simeon: Tuam
ipsius animam pertransibit gladius, čat
is: "ée swerd of sorugh sal thorugh_stike
či saule". Think als inwardli
what he is čat čus tholid, & how vn_worthi
čai ware to lufe / for whaim he



|p116


deied; ffor if čou haue oft in mynde
čis steryngs: čai hald či hert in lufe &
makis če to flee synne. Thinke after
with what deuocion he was taken downe
of če rode; how če .III. Maries dight
him with oignementis & faldid his bodi
in white clathe & laid him in toumbe
of stane. Thinke after of his wendynge
til helle; / what comforte čai had: čat
abade so lange his (co)mynge čare in
so mirke stede; what sorugh & drede /
sighing & gn(as)tinge če wode fendes of
helle had čat tyme; how he bande
Sathan so čat he might neauer harme
ne fande če folke after / as bifore. After
of (his) vprisyng: / how bright / how
faire he rase in bodi: éat če Iues so
laitheli di(ght) in čat entente / for
til haue fordone če mynde of him for
eauer; & now he lifes al-mighti god
& kyng coronid in heuen, & sal deme
čaim at (his) wille. Thinke what ioie
alle his disciples had: when čai saw
him risyn / & haue če maistri of deade;
bifore: čai deniid him & sa(id) čai
knew him noght; bot čen čaim for_thought
čat čai had missaide, & luffied
him as čaire lorde; & ware so fyfillid
of his Iufe: čat čai ware redi til die for
him / & qwite him deade for deade.
Til telle what ioie his (mo)der had / when
sche sagh him risen til life: na man mai
telle. Thinke af(ter) how he steie til
heuen with oure manhede, & sette it on
če right hand of al-mighti god his
fader; & swa festenid oure kynd in him:
čat čai sal neu(er) twyn; & thorugh čis
alliaunce / if we kepe vs fra synne / or
forth(inke) & schryue vs of čat we haue
misdone / & turne na mare agayn: we
m(ay) chalange as haires / til dwelle in
his blisse. Thinke čat he sal come &
deme al mankynde / & gife ilk man
after he has wroght; & als gl(ad)ful as
is come is to če gode: als auful &



|p117


grisly sal it be to če ille. For god thretis
če yuel with .III. arowes / & sais:
Congregabo super eos mala & sag .III. com.
in eis, čat is: "I sal hepe on čaim al_kyns
yuel & wa, & mi .III. sharpe
arowes sal i in čaim feste: čat sal
wounde če s(in)ful / čat he sal neuer
couer". ée first arow is: when he sal
bidde č(aim) rise & come til čaire
dome / with čis wordes: Surgite mortui:
venite ad iudicium, čat is: "rise ¨e čat
are deade, & comes til ¨oure dome".
Thorugh might of čir wordes: alle čat
ware deade sal quikyn. éis is č(e) arowe
čat sayn Ierome said by: Siue comedam
siue bibam, semper vi(detur) michi quod
illa vox terribilis insonet auribus meis
"Surgite mortui, venite ad iudicium",
čat is: "Whečer i ete or drynke / or
what ellis i do: euer me thinke čis
dredeful wordes rynges in mine eres:
Rise ¨e čat are deade, & comes til ¨oure
dome". Sen čis hali man dredid čis
wordes: nede is a synful man til drede
čaim, so čat he falle in na synne. For
Salomon sais: Sicut fremitus leonis: ita
ira eius; čat is: "če wreke of če domes_man
at his comynge: is as romiinge of
a lion". / ée liones kynd is til f(ere)
alle bestes with his romiinge, & ¨itte
dar čai noght flee; & čofe čis noice
be dredeful til alle bestes: ¨itte com_fortis
it his awen whelpis & quykins
čaim til life. Swa sal Ihesu Crist at če
straite dome do til alle bestli men čat
has liuid in synne & wold |r[f.44] make na
endynge of čaire ille; at čis callinge
čai sal be so f(erid) & so vnmighti,
čat on na halfe sal čai flee, bot čai sal
dwelle (&) take as čai haue seruid. & as
he sal be wrathful to če wreches, so
sal he be loueli til his aune childre čat
has wroght his wille here: for čai sal



|p118


wakyn with ioie at his callinge / & wend
with him til dwelle in blisse. Bot če
synful wreches sal seke til hide čaim
čat čai see noght his dredeful face /
čat flais čaim oute of čaire wi(tte); as
Ysaie sais: Introibunt in cauernas petra_rum
& voragines terre / a facie (for)mi_dinis
domini: cum surrexerit percutere
terram, čat is: "ée weried synful sal
crepe in to če creuys of če stane: &
in holis in če erth, for to hide čaim
fra če wrekeful face of god / when he
risis til smyte če erth", čat is, when
he sal come to deme erthli men. Of
čis comynge spekis sa(yn) Anselme &
sais: "On a halfe sal oure synnes bitterli
bicalle vs of če slaghter of oure saule.
On an očer halfe sal stand rightwisenesse,
čat na pitee is with. Abouen vs / če
wrekeful domesman / čat als soft as he
is here: als wrathful he is čare; mild
here: storne čare; & he is bathe domes_man,
& wittenesse, čat wate alle oure
giltis". // éat očer aro(w) is: when god
sal čaim areyn of al čat čai haue mis_done,
sethen čai ware borne; & če
domesman sal schew his woundis til alle
men / čat čai mai see sotheli čat he
vngiltli tholid for čaire synnes, & with
čis word(es) he sal čaim areyne: "Of če
erth i če toke / & with mi handes če
made, In paradise čat loueli stede with_oute
kare til haue duellid / if čou had
bien buxom to me & kepid mi comand_mente
; bot sone čou brake it, & left
me: for mine enemy; for-či rightwise_nesse
dampnid če til helle, čare to be
n sorugh & waa. When i sagh after
čine iuel fare: i had pite on če / čof
čou nane deseruid; I lightid til erth &
toke če kyn of če; whare i was sare



|p119


pinid & despisid, & toke for če mikil
vil(a)nie in dede & worde. And after
Iudas had salde me: če Iues toke me,
& buffet me & spittid in mi face; with
sharpe thornis čai coronid me, with
knottid scourgis čai dang me; so laitheli
čai dight me: čat i was like a mesell
til loke on. Al čis aght haue gart če
haue pite on me / if čou had bien
kynde. In mi thrist čai gaf me to
drinke aysill myngid with bitter galle;
čai thirlid mi fete & handes: & nailid
me to če rode, & hopenid mi side with
a spere: & made mi hert til blede. I
forgate me selfe: for on če was al mi
thoght; & ¨itte čou as an vnkind: settis
al at noght. Now čou vnkyndman
vnderstand & loke to me, & bihald mi
side / fete & handes / how waful i
am made for če, & to hele či wondes;
& for-či čou suld haue louid me če
mare; (for i) ne wate what i might
haue done for če: mare čen i haue
do(ne). For-či nedli bihoues če til
schew: what čou haues done or tho(li)d
for me; ffor now mi rightwisnes wil:
čat i schape til ilk man his mede /
to dwelle in pyne or in ioie for eauer /
after he has seruid". How sal čen če
waried synful fare / when he is čus
reyned of če wrathful domesman / &
alle his synnes schewid til alle men?
for noght mai čare be hid: bot čat was
fordone here with schrifte; for hali Iob
sais: Reuelabunt celi iniquitatem eius, &
terra consurget aduersus eum, čat is:
"heuen sal schew če wikednesse of če
synful, & erth sal rise & stand agayn
him & bere witnes of his werkis". And
¨itte če apostle sais: Testimonium
reddet illis: consciencia eorum, čat is:
"čaire inwitte sal bere witnes agayn
če synful", fra če whilke man mai noght



|p120


hide. And ¨itte his iuel werkes sal
stand bi him at če dredful dome, &
bitterli flite with him & sai: "We are
če werkis čat čou wreche has wroght
in despite of či gode lorde; for čou
wroght vs agayn his wille: čat schad
his hert-blode for če. Now forthinkis
če čat eauer čou synnid: bot, sari
wreche, / al to late; & čerfore sal we
dwel with če with-outen ende: for til
eke či pyne". / ée .III. arow sal he
schote: when he sais čis wordes: Ite
maledicti in ignem eternum, čat is: "ga
¨e waried, in til endeles fire". ée hali
man sais: "ée inee of ča čat are in
čat fire & smoke: sal grete ma teres /
čen water is in če brade see". éis fire,
as saynt Austin sais, brennis so wodeli
& eauer ilike / & so stalword is in his
kynd: čat čof alle čis werldis waters it
al ouerflowid: it might noght čis fire
slokyn nor kele it a litil. éis fire makis
ai smoke, čat makis če wreches til
wepe; & čaire teres strynthis če fire
čare: as oil wold if it ware castin in
čis fire here. ée hali man had mynd
of čis teres, čat said til his disciples /
when čai had lange cried on him til
sai čaim some gode worde: "Mi dere
childre, he saide, wepe we here: so čat
oure teres seche vs noght in helle".
When če waried heris & wate čat čai
are dampnid, & wate čer is na gayn_chare
ne merci to fynd: čen he sais če
wordes of Iob: "ée dai mote peris čat
i was borne inne / & če night čat i
was conceyuid inne! When had i
bien dead in mi moders wambe? allas
čat sari while čat eauer i was horne!
Wharto sette mi moder me on hire kne,
& wesch me, & rokkid me, & fed me on
hire breste? allas če while, so mikil
trauail sche lost / čat norist me a brande
til smore in helle-fire". When čis waful
worde Ite maledicti &c. is said, če



|p121


latheli deuels sal geder če iuel fra če
gode, & as wode lions: draw čaim til
helle / eauer čare to be in al če pynes
čat mai be on thoght. For če fendes
čat sal čaim pyne: sal neauer be weri,
bot eauer ilik fresche, til wirke čaim waa;
& čir sari wreches / na pyne mai sla
čaim. Neddres / snakis & tades & očer
venemouse bestes sal life in čat hate
fire / as fish in water: til pyne ča
wreches; & for |r[f.45] thrist čat čai
haue: č[ai] sal souke če venym oute of
če neddres heuid(es. éare) sal noght be
herd / bot ¨ellinge & gretyng & gnaistinge
of tethe. (Light) is čare nane for smoke,
bot so mikel merknesse: čat men mai
it g(rape). / Bot goddis awen childre čat
haues done here his wille: sal be ledde
w(ith) angels til če blisse of heuen /
čare til be in ioie / eauer with-outen
ende- S(o) grete is čat ioie, as če
apostle tellis: čat na hert mai it thinke /
ne iee it (se). If man might be in čat
ioie / halfe an houre & felid čat heuenli
likynge / & ware broght agayn til čis
middel erth: so strange payne it ware
t(il) him til life hereůinne, / čat, of al
če welth of čis werld ware at his wille,
he wold his bodi ware dalte in a thou_sand
pecis / til wynne čat ioie a(gayn)
čat he come fra. // Thinke, čou was with
Ihesu Crist in alle his paynes, & čat
čou stode so nere him in al his passion_tyme
& al če hardnes čat was done til
him: & be awondird čat so grete a lord
wold thole swilke hardnesse: & falle
č(on) doune to če erth, as gilti of his
deade, & thank him of če woundes čat
he for če tholid / & haue him eauer in
mynde. Thinke noght of alle čis to_geder
at ane tyme / as čai stand in
ordre, for kolynge of deuocion: bot
n(ow) on ane / now on ane očer / as
čou felis čat god če steris / thorugh
his dere g(race). // éus mani woundes
suffird god for man kynde: ffyue thou_sa(nd)
& foure hundreth & sexti & fiftene.
And if čou sai ilk dai of če (¨)ere
fiftene: čou sal sai als many pater nostres
in če hale ¨ere.



|p158


|r[Treatises_of_MS._Harl._1022]

|r6.[2.]_De_Sancta_Maria
|r[Ms._Bodl._938_f.202]
|rpp._158-159.


     Here bigynneč če reule of če lijf of oure lady.
   <b>Aboute če glorious maiden of whom oure lord Ihesu Crist toke fleisch and
blood, we may bičenke vs of hir lif. / Of whiche čou schalt wite čat when sche
was čre ¨eer olde, sche was offrid in to če temple of hir fadir & hir modir, /
& čere sche duellid in čat degre in to če fourteneč ¨eer. / And what sche did
čere we may wite bi reuelacions čat sche schewid to a deuoute seruante of hirs,
and men trowič it was seynt Eli¨abeth, of whom we synge of a solempnely. / In
whiche reuelacions among očere aren contenyd čees čat folwen.  Sche seide:
"When my fadir & my modir leften me in če temple, i sette in myne herte to
haue god to my fadir, & čou¨ it deuoutly, and ofte-tyme y čou¨t (!) what y my¨t
do to goddis liking, so čat he wolde vouche-saaf to gif me his grace; / and i
made to teche me če lawe of my god. / And of alle če comaundementis of
goddis lawe, čre y kepid namely in myne herte / čat is: éou schalt loue či lord
god wič al čine herte, & wič al či soule, wič al či čon¨t, & wič alle či
strengčis. / And, čou schalt loue či nei¨bore as či-silf. / And, čou schalt hate
čin enemy, čat is synne. / éees, sche seide, y kepid in my soule, and I sette
me forto gedir alle če vertues čat are contenyd in hem; and so I wol teche
čee. / Forsoče čat soule hač no parfit vertu: čat louič not god wič al his
herte. / And of čis loue comeč al fulnes of grace; / and after čat čis fulnes is
comen, it duellič not stille in če soule, but flowič as watir, where |r(!) it hatič hise
enemys, čat are vices & synnes. / éerfor he čat wol haue grace lastingli in his
possessione, him bihouič to ordeyne his herte to loue, & to haterede. / éerfor I
wol čat čou do as I did. / I ros alle tymes at mydny¨t, and wente bifor če
auter of če temple, / and wič as myche desire, as myche wille & as grete
affeccione as I kouče & my¨t I askid grace of god almi¨ty to kepe če čre co_maundement¨,
& alle očere comaundement¨ of če lawe: / & so stonding befor
če auter. I made seuen preieris to oure lord god, whiche are čees:  First I
askid grace čat I my¨t fulfille če comaundement¨ of louynge, čat is, to loue him
in al myne herte &c. as it is seid before. /  In če secound preier I askid grace
čat I my¨t loue my nei¨bore after če wille & plesaunce of him, and čat he wolde
make me to loue alle činges čat he louid.  In če čridde preier I askid čat he
wolde make me to hate alle činges čat he batid.  In če fourče preier I askid
him mekenes, pacience, debonertee, & alle očere vertues bi whiche I schulde be
maad glorious before his si¨t.  In če fiueč preier I askid čat he wolde make me
se čat tyme in če whiche če holy virgyne schulde be born čat schulde bere
goddis sone; / and I askid čat he wolde kepe myne i¨en čat I my¨t se hir, my
tunge čat I my¨t preise hir, my handis čat I my¨t serue hir, my feet čat I my¨t
go to hir seruise, my knees čat I my¨t worschip hir & goddis sone in hir barme.



|p159


In če sixte I askid grace to be obedient to če comaundement¨  & to če
ordenaunce of če byschope of če temple.  In če seuenič preier I askid čat he
wolde kepe če temple & al his peple to his seruice". & čen seynt Eli¨abeth, when
sche hade herde čees wordis, seide: / "A, swete lady, ne were [¨e] not ful of
grace & of vertues?" / éen če blessid virgyne answerid: / "Wite čou forsoče čat
I helde me gilty & most vile & vnworči, čoru¨ če grace of god, as čou doist či_self;
and čerfor I askid of him grace & vertues". And ouer čat: "čou trowist čat
al če grace čat I had, čat I hade it wič-outen trauel: but it is not so. / For l
sey čee sočli čat i had no grace ne ¨ifte ne vertu of god: wičouten grete trauel
& contynuel preiyng, brennyng desire, depe deuocione, many colde teeris, mekil
affectione, euermore čenkand & seiand & worchand činges čat weren plesinge to
him as i kouče & my¨t; outaken če grace of halwing, čat I was halwid in my
modirs wombe". / And ouer čat sche seide: "Wite čou forsoče čat no grace comeč
in to a soule, but bi grete preiynge & punysching of body; / and after čat we
haue ¨iuen to god al čat we may čou¨ it be but litel: he wol come in to oure
soulis, bringyng wič him so he¨e ¨iftis čat it semeč če soule to faile in him-self
& lese his mynde, and hač for¨eten what he did or seide any čing before plesing
to god; / and also he semič to his owne si¨t more vile and more worči dispit,
čen euere he was." / Hiderto lastič če reuelacione.
    And seynt Ierom writič of hir lif on čis wise & seič; / "čat blessid virgyn
ordenyd to hir čis reule, čat fro če mornyng to vndern sche ¨af hir to preiers, /
and fro vndern to none sche ocupied hir in weving werke, and fro none after_ward
sche went not fro preier to če angel apperid to hir of whos hand sche was
wont to take hir [mete]. / And so sche preued better & better in preiynge &
worchinge & in če loue of god; & in alle vigilies & holy wakingis, sche schulde
be founden če firste, / In če wisdom of če lawe of god best lerid, In mekenes
most meke, In psalmes of Dauič moost likande, / In charite moost gracious, In
clennes moost clene, & in alle vertues moost parfit. / Sche was stidfast & vnmou_able,
when sche profitid in to better & better. / Noman herd hir neuere wroč. /
Euery word of hir was so ful of oure lord, čat god was knowen in hir speche. /
Sche duellid euer in preier and lernyng of če lawe of god. / And sche was besy
aboute hir felawis, čat noon schulde be proude ne mysberynge a¨ens očere.
Wičouten ceessing sche blessid god; / and for sche schulde not be taken away
fro če louynge of god in hailsinge of hir: what man čat hailsid hir, sche ¨af
čanking to god for čat hailsing. / And of hir come it first čat holy men when
čei ben hailsid: čei ¨iuen louynge to god. / And of če mete čat sche toke of
če angels hand sche was fedde; / and euery day an angel was seen speke to hir,
& was buxom to hir as [to] his derlynge." Hiderto Ierom.
    In če fourtenič ¨eer čat blessid virgyn was weddid to Ioseph by reuelacione
of god, & went a¨en in to Na¨areth; / and in what maner it was don, men may
fynde in če legende of hir Natiuitee. Salue regina. Deo gracias.



|p175


|r[Treatises_of_MS._Cambr._Dd._V._55.]

|r7.[2.]_[Of_Angels'_Song.]
|r[Ms._Thornton_fol._219b.]
|rpp._175-182.


   |r<b>Dere ffrende, wit čou wele čat če ende and če soueraynte of perfeccione
standes in a verray anehede of godde and of manes saule by perfyte charyte. éis
Ende čan es verrayly made whene če myghtes of če saule er refourmede by grace
to če dignyte and če state of če firste condicione, čat es whene če mynde es stab_lede
sadely with-owttene chaungynge and vagacyone in godde and gastely thynges,
and when the resone es cleryde fra all worldly & fleschely behaldynges and Ima_gy[na]cyones,
fygurs and fantasyes of creatures and es illumenede with grace for to



|p176


be-halde godde and gastely thynges, and whene če will and če affeccyone es pury_fiede
and clensede fra all fleschely lustes, kyndely and werldly lufe and es en_flawmede
with brennande lufe of če haly gaste. Bot čis wondirfull anebede may
noghte be fulfillede perfytely, contenually, ne hally in čis lyfe for corrupcyone of
če flesche, bot anely in če blysse of heuene. Neuer-če-lattere če nerre čat a
saule in čis presente lyfe may come to čis anehede, če mare perfite it es, ffor
čat it es refourmede by grace till če ymage and če lyknes of his creatoure here,
one čis manere-wyse če more ioy and blysse sall it hafe in heuene. Oure lorde
godd es ane Endles beynge with-owttene chaungynge, all-myghtty with-owttene fayl_ynge,
souerayne wysdome, lyghte, so[th]fastenes with-owttene errour or myrknes,
souerayne gudnes, lufe, pees and swetnes: čan če mare čat a saule es anehede,
festened, confourmede & ioynede to oure lorde godd, če mare stabill it es &
myghty, če mare wysse & clere, gude, peyseble, luffande, and mare vertuous, and
so it es mare perfite. For a saule čat haues by grace of Ihesu and lange tra_uayle
of bodyly & gastely excercyse ouercommene and dystroyede concupyscens and
passiouns and vnskyllwyse styrrynges with-in it-selfe and with-owttene in če sen_sualite,
and es clede in vertus as in mekenes and myldnes, in pacyence, in
sothefastnes, in gastely strenghe, and ryghtewisenes, in contynence, in wysdome,
in trouthe, hope, and charyte, čan es it made perfite als it may be in čis lyfe.
Mekill comforthe it reschayues of oure lorde, no¨te anely inwardly in his preue
substance, be če vertu of če anehede to oure lorde čat lyes in knaweynge and
and lufynge of godde, in lyghte of gastely brynnynge of hyme, in transfourmynge



|p177


of če saule in če godhede, bot also in many očer comforthes, & sauours,
swettnes, and wondirfull felynges one sere maners, aftir oure lorde vouches-safe
to vesete his creatours here in erthe, and eftyre če saule profytes and waxes in
charyte. Some saule by vertue of charyte čat godde gyffes it es so clensede, čat
all creaturs in all čat he heris, or sese, or felis by any of his wittes turnes hyme
till comforthe and gladnes, and če sensualite receyues newe sauour and swetnes
in all creaturs, and righte als before če lykynges in če sensualite ware fleschely,
vayne, and vecyous for če payne of če orygynalle synne, righte so nowe čay ere
made gastely, and clene, with-owttene bitternes and bytynge of concyence. And
čis es če gudnes of oure lorde, čat sen če saule es puneschede in the sensualite,
and če flesche es pertynere of če payne, that eftirwarde če saule be comforthede
in hir sensualite, and če flesche be felawe of če ioye and comforthe with če
saule, noghte fleschely, bot gastely, als he was felawe in tribulacione and payne.
éis es če fredome & če lordchipe, dygnyte and če wyrchipe čat a manes saule
hase ouer all creaturs, the whilke dygnyte he may receyue by grace here, čat
ilk a creature sauoure to hyme als it es, and čat es when by grace he sese, or he
heres, or he felys anely godde in all creaturs. One čis maner-wyse [a] saule es
made gastely in če sensualite by abowndance of charite čat es in če substance
of the saule. Also oure lorde comforthes a saule by aungells sange. Bot what čat
sange es it may noghte [be] dyscryuede be no bodyly lyknes, for it es gastely and
abowne all manere of ymagynacyone and mans resone. It may be perceyuede and
felide in a saule, bot it may noghte be spokene. Neuer-če-lattere I speke čare-of



|p178


to če als me thynke. / When a saule es puryfyede by če lufe of godde. Illumynede
by wysedome, stabled by myghte of godde, than es če eghe of če saule opyned
to be-halde gastely thynges, as vertus, aungells and haly saules, and heuenly
thynges. Thane es če saule abill by cause of clennes to fele če toucheynge, če
spekynge of gude aungells. This touchyng and spekynge es gastely, noghte bodyly:
ffor whene če saule es lyftede and raysede owte of the sensualyte, and owte of
mynde of any erthely thynges, thane in gret feruoure of lufe and lyghte of godd,
if oure lorde vouche-safe, če saule may here & fele heuenly sownne, made by
če presence of aungells in louynge of godde. Noghte čat čis sange of aungells es
souerayne ioy of če saule, bot [for če] defference čat es by-twyxe a manes saule
in flesche and ane aungelle be-cause of vnclennes, a saule may noghte here it bot
by rauyschynge in lufe, and nedis for to be puryfiede full clene, and fulfillide
of mekyll charyte, are it ware abyll for to here heuenly sownne. For če souerayne
and če Escencyalle ioy es in če lufe of godde by hyme-selfe and for hyme-selfe,
and če secundarye es in comonynge and byhaldynge of aungells and gastely crea_turs.
For ryghte  as a saule in vndirstandynge of gastely thynges es ofte-sythes
touched and kennede thurghe bodyly ymagynacyone, by wyrkynge of aungells -- as
E¨echielle če profete sawe in bodily ymagynacyoune če sothefastnes of goddes
preuates -- righte so, in če lufe of godde, a saule be če presence of aungelles es
raueschede owte of all mynde of erthely and fleschely thynges in to a heuenly
ioye to here aungells sannge and heuenly sownne eftir čat če charite es mare or
lesse. Nowe thane, thynke me, čat čer may no saule fele verreyly aungells sange
ne heuenly sowne bot it be in perfite charite. And noghte for-thi all čat are in



|p179


perfite charyte ne hase noghte felyde it, bot anely čat saule čat es [so] purede in če
fyre of lufe of godde, čat all erthely sauoure es brynte owte of it, and all če menes
lettande be-twyx če saule and če clennes of angells es brokene and put awaye
fra it. éan sothely may he synge a newe sange and sothely may he here a blysfull
heuenly sowne and aungells sange with-owttene dessayte or feynynge. Oure lorde
wate whare čat saule es čat for abowndance of brynnande lufe es worthi to here
aungells sange. Wha-so čan will here aungells sange, and noghte be dyssayuede
by feynynge ne by ymagynacyone of hym-selfe, ne by illusyone of če Enemy, hym
behoues hafe perfite charite, and čat es when all vayne lufe and drede, vayne ioy
and sorowe, es castene owte of če herte, čat he lufes na thynge bot godde, ne
dredis na thynge bot godde, ne ioyes ne sorowes na thynge bot in godde, or of
godde. Whoso myghte by če grace of godde go čis way, he sulde noghte erre.
Neuer-če lattere some mene ere disceyued by čaire awenne ymagynacyone, or by
illucyone of če Enemy in čis matere. Some mane whene he hase lange trauelde
bodyly and gastely in dystroynge of synnes and getynge of vertus, and perauenture
hase getyne by grace a somdele ryste and a clerete in concyence, onone he leues
prayers, redyngs of haly writte, and medytacions of če passione of Cryste, and če
mynde of his wrechidnes, and, are he be callede of godde, he gedyrs his wittys
by violence to seke and to be-halde heuenly thynges, are his eghe be made
gastely by grace, and ouertrauells by ymagynaciouns his wittes, and by vndiscrete
trauellynge turnes če braynes in his heuede, and forbrekes če myghtes and če
wittes of če saule and of če body; and čane, for febilnes of če brayne, hym
thynkes čat he heres woundirfull sownes and sanges: and čat es no thynge ells bot



|p180


a fantasie caused of trubblyng of če brayne, as a mane čat es in a frensye hyme
thynkes čat he herys or sese čat na nočer mane duse, and all es bot vanyte and
fantasie of če heued. Or elles by wyrkyng of če enemy čat fenys swylke sownne
in h(is her)ynge. For if a mane hase any presumpcione in his fantasies and in his
wirchynge, and čare-be falles in to vndiscrete ymagynacyone, as it ware a frensye,
and es noghte kennede ne rewlede of grace ne comforthede by gastely strenghe,
če deuelle entirs čan by fals illumynacyons and fals sownnes and swetnes, and
dyssayues a mans saule. And of čis false grounde sprynges errours and herysyes,
talse prophesyes, presumpcyons and false rusyngs, blasfemyes and sclandirynges, and
many očer myschefes. And čare-fore if čou se any mane gastely ocupiede ffalle
in any of čise synnes and čise dissaytes, or in frensyes, wit čou wele čat he herde
neuer ne felide aungells sange ne heuenly sowne. For sothely he čat verreyly heres
aungels sange, he es made so wyse čat he sall neuer erre by fantasye ne by in_discrecyone,
ne by no sleghte of če deuelle. Also some men felis in theire hertes
as it ware a gastely sowne and swete sanges of dyuerse maners and čis es com_monly
gude, and somtyme it may turne tyll dissayte. éis sowne es felide one
čis wyse. Some mane settis če thoghte of his herte anely in če name of Ihesu
and stedefastly haldis it čare-too, and in schorte tyme hym thynkes that čat name
turnes hyme till gret comforthe and swetnes, and hyme thynkes čat če name sownnes
in his herte delitabely as it were a sannge, and če vertu of čis lykynge es so
myghty čat it drawes in all če wittes of če saule čare-to. Who-so may fele čis
sownne and čis swetnes verrayly in his herte, wite he wiele čat it es of godde, and



|p181


als lange als he es meke he sall noghte be dissayuede. Bot čis es noghte aungels
sange, bot it es a sannge of če saule be vertu of če name, and by touchynge of
če gude aungelle. For when a saule offirs it to Ihesu trewly & mekely, puttande all
his traiste and his desyre in hym, and besily kepis [hym] in his mynde, oure lorde
Ihesu, whene he will, puris če affeccioune of če saule, & fillis it & fedis it with
swetnes of hym-selfe, and makes his name in če felynge of če saule as hony,
and as sange, and as any thynge čat es delitabill: so čat it lykes če saule euer_mare
for to cry Ihesu Ihesu; and noghte anely he hase comforthe in this, bot also
in spalmes and ympnes and antyms of haly kyrke, čat če herte synges čame swetely,
deuotly and frely, with-owttene any trauelle of če saule, or bitternes, in če same
tyme and note¨ čat haly kyrke vses. This es gude and of če gyfte of godde,
ffor če substance of čis felynge lyes in če lufe of Ihesu whilke es fedde and
lyghtenede by swilke maner of sanges. Neuer-če-lattere in čis-maner felynge a
saule may be disceyuede by vayne glorye, noghte in čat tyme čat če affeccione
synges to Ihesu and loues Ihesu in swetnes of hym, bot eftyrwarde, whan it cesses,
& če herte kelis of loue of Ihesu, thane entyrs in vayne glorie. Also sum mane
es dessayuede on čis wyese: He heris wele say čat it es gude to haue Ihesu in
his mynde, or any očer gude worde of godde, and čane he streynes his herte myghtyly
to čat name and by a costome he hase it nerehande alway in his mynde. Noghte
ffor-thi he felis noučer čare-by in his affeccyoune swetnes, ne lighte of knawynge
in his resoune, bot anely a nakede mynde of godde, or of Ihesu, or of Mary, or of any
očer gude worde. Here may be disceyte, noghte for it es ill to hafe Ihesu in mynde



|p182


one čis wyse, bot if he this [felynge] and this mynde, čat es anely his awene wyrkynge
by custome, halde it a specyalle vesytacyone of oure lorde and thynke it mare čane
it es. For wite čou wele čat a nakede mynde or a nakede ymagy[na]cione of Ihesu
or of any gastely thynge, with-owttene swetnes of lufe in če affeccione, or with_owttene
lyghte of knawynge in resoune, es bot a blyndnes, and a waye to dessayte,
if a mane halde it in his awene [syght] mare čane it es. Thare-fore I halde it sekyre
čat he be meke in his awene felynge, and halde čis mynde in regarde noghte till
he mowe be custome and vsynge of čis mynde fele če fyre of lufe in his affeccione
and če lyghte of knawynge in his resone. Loo, I haue tolde če in čis mater a
lyttill as me thynke; noghte affermande čat čis suffisches, ne čat čis es če sothe_fastnes
in čis mater. Bot if če thynke it očer-wyse, or elles any očer mane sauour
by grace če contrarye here-to, I leue če saying and gyfe stede to hym. It suf_ficith
to me for to lyffe in trouthe principally and noghte in felynge.


|r{End_of_ICAMET_text;_the_remaining_texts_in_this_edition_are_anonymous.}