Thus endeth the doctrinal of sapyence the whyche is ryght vtile and prouffytable to alle crysten men, whyche is translated out of Frenshe in to englysshe by wyllyam Caxton at westmestter [sic] fynysshed the. vij. day of may the yere of our lord, M,cccc lxxx ix Caxton me fieri fecit — Doctrinal de sapience. English

Author: Roye, Gui de, ca. 1345-1409.1489

This that is writen in this lytyl boke ought the prest [...]es to lerne aud teche to theyr parysshēs: And also it is necessary for symple prestes that vnderstōde not the scriptures. And it is made for symple peple and put in to englissh whiche treates was made by grete counseyl and deliberacion. & is approuued. as it is sayd in the table. and by cause that for to here examples. styreth and moueth the peple that ben symple. more to deuocion. than that grete auctorite of scyence / as it appereth by the right renerend fader & doctour Bede preste / whiche sayth in thystoryes of england that a bysshop of Scotlād a subtyl and a grete clerk was sent by the clerks of Scotlād in to england for to preche the word of god. but by cause he vsed in hys sermons subtyll auctorytees suche as symple peple hadde ne toke therin no sauour. he retourned wythout doyng of ony grete good ne proffyt. wherfore they sente another of lasse scye [...] the whiche was more playn and vsed comynly in hys sermons examples. and parables by whyche he prouffyted moche more vnto the erudicion of the symple peple. than dyd that other. Then maystre Jaques de vytry an holy man and clerke whyche was a Cardynal in prechyng comynly thrugh the wyame of fraunce. vsyd in hys sermōs examples the whyche moued in suche wyse alle the wyame of fraunce that it is not in mynde of ony man that to fore hym was ne syth that styred & moeued the peple to deuocion as he dyde / For as it is redde accordyng to suche exāples. that seīt Austyn doctour of the chirche was more moeued to couuerte hym self to the crysten feyth. by the xamples that were recounted to hym: by symplicien. vyctoryn: and by the xamples of the merueyllouse lyf and conuersaciō of seynt Anthonye thermyte / than he was by the prayers & be wayllynges of hys moder. ne by the sermōs of seynt Ambrose ne also than he was for the grete maladyes that he suffred as hys legende maketh mencion we. rede in the holy scrypture that our lord Jhesu Cryst preched to his discyples oftymes by [Page] examples and parables. wherfore we haue entencion to saye and wryte somme good examples in this matere for the better to styre and moeue the symple peple to deuocion. lyke as dyde they aboue sayd: And by cause this boke shold be the better redde herd and vnderstanden. hit is made short to be the more clerely vndrestōd to thende that ther may be found therin helthe for our soules.

This present boke in f [...]nshe is of right gr [...]te prouffyt and edificacion and is examined & aproued at paris by dyuerse maystres in diuinite / and the ryght renerent fader in god Guy de roye by the myseracion dyuine Archebysshop of Sence hath doon it to be w [...]on for the helthe of his soule. and of the soules of alle hys peple. And in specyal it is made for symple laye men for whome it is specyally ordeyned: And the sayd reuerend fader comandeth by grete end seruent deuocyon that in euery parysshe of the cyte and dyocyse of sence thys wokeh had. And that the curates and chappelayns of the sayd paryss [...]es rede to the peple two or iij chapytres yf ony wyll here it: And to thende that the curates and chappelayns ben the more deuoute to [...]de: and the peple forsayd to here. the sayd reuerend fader. to helthe of theyr soules and in hop that they praye god for hym hath gyuen and graunted to alle them that shal be in thestate of grace that shal rede this boke to other xx dayes of pardon. & also to alle that shal here it rede: and by them self red it. & that praye for that reuerend fader. [...]. dayes for eche tyme perpetuelly / And yf it happen that ony make doubte of ony thyn [...] conteyned in this boke and vndrestande it not wel. by cause it hath be shortly made & grossely for symple peple. by the sayd reuerēd fader or his successours. or by theyr counceyllours shal be gyuen vndrestandyng and declaracion suffisaunt to them that wolde haue it And it is compiled of suche thynges as folowen herafter in this table

Of the xij artycles of the feyth the first chapitre
[Page]Of sorceryes and deuynacyons Capitulo ij
Of louyng god & of chante Capitulo iij
For confort in alle tribulacyons Capitulo iiij
Of dyuerse and obscure Jugemens of god Capitulo. v
Of the passion of our lord Capitulo vj
Of the vertu of the holy crosse Capitulo vij
Of thre pacyences in trybnlacion Capitulo viij
Of louyng his neyghbour Capitulo ix
Of louyng his enemyes Capitulo x
Of the werkes of mercy corporall Capitulo xj
How almesse ought to be don & wherof Capitulo xij
Of the [...] comandementes of the lawe capitulo xiij
Of the goodes that god promysed to the children of israel Capitulo xiiij
Of the soule Capitulo xv
Of the v werks of nature Capitulo xvj
Of the harmes that synnes doon to vs Capitulo: xvij
Of the synne of pryde Capitulo xviij
Of veniall synne Capitulo xix
Of dedely synnes Capitulo xx
Of pryde Capitulo xxj
Of Sentences of excomynycacion Capitulo xxij
Of the braūches of pryde Capitulo xxiij
Of the yefte of drede ayenst pryde Capitulo xxiiij
Of humilyte Capitulo xxv
Of shame Capitulo xxvj
Of dyscrecyon Capitulo xxvij
Of the synne of enuye Capitulo. xxviij
Of the synnes ayenst tholy ghoost Capitulo xxix
Of the yefte of pyte ayenst enuye Capitulo xxx
Of the synne of yre Capitulo xxxj
Of the yefte of scyence ayenst yre Capitulo xxxij
Of the synne of slouthe Capitulo xxxi [...]
[Page]Of owyson or prayer / Capitulo xxxiiij
Of them that talke in the chyrche whan they ought to praye. Capitulo xxxv
Of dysposyng euyl hys tyme. Capitulo xxxvj
Of makyng a wwes. Capitulo xxxvij
Of them that haue science. & vsed euyll. Capitulo xxxviij
Of the pater noster [...]aud who made it Capitulo xxxix
Of the. vij / peticions of the pater noster. Capitulo. xl
Of the aue ma [...]a Capitulo xlj
Of the lyf of Theophile. Capitulo. xlij
How angellis and seyntes haue by our lady ioye Capi. xliij
Of the holy name of ihesu cryst: Capitulo xliiij
Of the yefte of strengthe ayenst slouthe Capitulo xlv
Of the synne of Auaryce Capitulo xlvj
Of Sacrylege / Capitulo. xlvij
Of Symonye Capitulo xlviij
Of dy [...]es Capitulo xlix
Of euyll plays of dyse and tables Capitulo l
Of the yefte of counseyll ayenst auaryce. Capitulo [...] lj
Of the synne of gloutonnye. Capitulo lij
Of fastynges and of them that ought to fast Capitulo liij
Of the yefte of sapience & sobrenes ayenst glotonnye Ca liiij
Of the synne of lecherye / Capitulo lv
Of the yefte of vnderstondyng ayenst lecherye. Capitulo. lvj
Of the goodes that ben doon in dedely synne Capitulo lvij
Of the. vij. sacrementis of the holy chyrche. Capitulo. lviij
Of confirmacyon Capitulo lix
Of the sacrament of the Auter Capitulo lx
Of the goodes that a man hath for to here masse Capit lxj
Of the scyence and good example of prestes. Capitulo lxiij
Of necligences and remedyes of the masse: Capitulo. lxiiij
Of the houselyng gladly and ofte capitulo. lxix
Of the dygnite of prestes Capitulo lxij
[Page]The godes that one hath to receyue the sacramēt worthily lxvi
The harmes that come to the contrare. Capitulo: lxvij
Of the laste vnction: Capitulo. lxviij
Of the Ordres Capitulo lxix
Of the sacrement of maryage / Capitulo lxx
whyche mariages ben of no valewe Capitulo lxxj
Of the state of wedowhed Capitulo lxxij
Of contynence and chaslyte Capitulo lxxiij
Of the state of virginite Capitulo lxxiiij
Of them that ben in relygyon Capitulo lxxv
Of obeyssance in religyon Capitulo lxxvj
To whome one onght to be confessyd. Capitulo lxxvij.
Of the reyne of the preste that sheweth the cōf [...]ssion Ca lxxvjij
Of the sacrement of penaunce Capitulo lxxix
Of confessyon and of hys vertues Capitulo lxxx
Of the scyence longyng to prestes that cōfissiō & how they ought to demaunde the synnar Capitulo lxxxj
How one ought to confisse hym Capitulo lxxxij
How one ought to make amendes to other. and to make satysfaction Capitulo lxxxiij
Of the fyre of purgatorye Capitulo. lxxxiiij
Of the peynes of alle▪ Capitulo. lxxxv
How the dampned soules complaine in helle Capi. lxxxvj
wherfore god made not man that heshold neuer sinner lxxxvij
Of the day of iugement Capitulo lxxxviij
For to conuerte the synner to good lyf Capitulo lxxxix
Of the ioyes of heuen Capitulo lxxxx
Of good admonycyon Capitulo lxxxxj
Thexcusacion of hym that made this boke capitulo: lxxxxij
The complainte of hym that made this boke Ca lxxxxiij

¶ Explicit the table

¶ Of thartycles of the crysten feyth Capitulo. primo

[figure]

[...]ery try [...]n men & woman ought tobi leue fermely the xij artycles of the casten feith. for other wyse he may not be saued syth he hath wytte & reason & ther ben xij artycles after the nōbre of the xij appostols whiche oughten to be kepte & holden of alle them that wyll be saued & these xij articles be conteyned in the credo. the whiche the xij apostoll' made: of whome eche of them made one article The fyrst article is this I byleue in god fader almyghty maker of heuen & of therthe. This article sette in seynt peter The ij article is suche I byleue [...]ly in our lord ihu c [...] sone of god the fader. & h [...] thou oughtest to bileue & vnderstōde that he is semblable to the fader in alle thiges that apperteyne to the [...]rite / & is one self thing with the fader. sauf that the persone of the fader is other than the peas [...]n [...] of the sone. this article put in seynt Johan the [...]gelyst. The iij ar [...]ticle I beleue that he was conceyued of the holy ghoost: & was born of the virgyne marye. the whiche abode alle way hole & entiere byfore & after this article p [...]t in seint iames brother of saynt iohan the [...]elist. The iiij article is this I bileue that he hath suffred deth and passyon vnder [...] ce pylate the whiche was Juge in that tyme of iherusalem for the remains Wh [...] he iugded to deth and crucyfied him wrāg fully and at the request of the felon iewes dyde doo put hym in the sepulcre. This article put in saynt andrewe: The / v: article is this I byleue that he [...] in to [...] after his [...] that [Page] is to wete in to the partye where as the good soules were in very feyth and hope that they shold be saued by hym For [...]y cause of the synne of adam our fyrst fader it byhoued that alle descended in to helle he went not in to that partye where as were the dampned soules perdurably. Thys artycle put in seīt Phelip. ¶ The vj Artycle is suche: I byleue that the thirde day for tacoomplysshe the scryptures he aroose fro deth to lyf. & appiered to hys dyscyples. and pronoūced hys resurection in many maners by fourty dayes Thys Artycle put in saynt thomas. The vij article is suche that the xl day after his resurrection. whan he had eten with hys discyples to fore them he opē ly ascended in to heuē vnto the ryght syde of god the fader. where he sytteth. Thys artycle put in saīt [...]ertyleme we: The viij artycle is thys I byleue that he shal come at the day of dome for to iudge the lyuyng and the deed. the good and the euyll. & shal rendre to euerych after that he hath deserued in this world / this artycle put in saynt mathew the euangelyst. The ix artycle is this I byleue in the blessyd holy ghoost thys artycle requireth byleue that the holy ghoost is the yefte of the loue of the fader and of the sone. of whome cometh alle the wele of grace / whyche is one self god & one thyng with the fader & the sone / sauf that the persone of him is other than that of the fader & of the sone. thys article put in saīt iames brother of saīt Symō & iude The: x. article is suche I byleue in holy chyrche catholical of the cōmynyon of sayntes. that is to saye of the companye of all sayntes / aud of alle the goode men that euer were. ben. and shall be vnto the ende of the world. In thys artycle ben vndrestanden the vij sacrementis of holy chyrche. that is to were baptesme / confyrmacion. the sacramēt of thaulter. of ordres. of maryage. of penaunce. and of the last vnction. This article put in seynt Symon. The xj artycle is this I byleue the remyssyon of synnes that god gyueth by the vertu of the blessyd sacrementis of holy chyrche. thys artycle putte in saynt Jude / Nor he [Page] that betrayed our lord ihesu cryst. but he that was brother of [...]nt Symon. The. xij artcle is thys I byleue in the resurrection of body and soule generall. that is the Joye of heuen the whiche god gyueth to them that serue hym by fryth. and by goode werkes. Thys artycle gyneth to vndrestonde hys contrarye. that is payne perdurable that god appareylleth to them that be dampned. and the lyf perdurable to them that be good. This artycle ought to be vnderstonde in suche manerr. that euery persone good or euyll shall be at the day of iugement rey sed fro deth to lyf in his propre body in whiche he hath lyued in this world / & eueuch shal receyue his hyre & reward in body & in soule that whiche he hath deserued in thys lyf: & the euyl to be dampned in body and soule perdurably In an euyll hour shal he be born that for so lytil a whyle as he shal haue duellid in this world shal lese the lyf perdurable. This artycle put in seint Mathie. Thow oughtest to byleue fermely and lyue in this fayth and deye in alle these xij artycles And yf by symple nesse thou hast byleued or byleuest otherwyse in ony of the for sayd articles / thyn entente ought alle way to be of byleue sted fastly lyke as holy chyrche holdeth and byleueth

¶ Of Sorceryes and deuinacions Ca ij

By cause that many of the symple people byleue and haue byleued and hath had fayth in sorceries and in deuyna ryons we shal make to you therof mencyon thou oughtest to bi leue stedfastly that god maye alle thyng doo. & that without him maie nothing be doo by ony how holy or good that he be. how thēne byleuest thou & hast affiance & trust in sorceues & deuinacōns: certes that whyche they doo & saie. thei doo nothing ne kenowe but by their fals byleue & by reuelacōn of deuyllis & yf thou demāde me wherfor suffreth god it: I āsuere the that he suffreth it not but for to proeue the. & the deuyl also doeth it [Page] for to dāpne the. The doctours of holy chyrche sayen that alle the deuinours & thei that byleue in them ben excomynied & accursed of god and of holy chyrche. And as ydolatres & cursyd crysten men. they attrybute to the deuyl and to mankynde thonour and the fayth that they owe to god. ¶ Ther ben somme that ben sorcerers of herbes. of wordes. and other thynges / And also ther ben somme that make wrytynges and bryeuettes full of crosses and other wrytynges. And sayen that alle they that bere suche breuettys on them may not perysshe in fyre: ne in water: ne in other peryllous place: And ther ben also sōme breuettis and wrytynges whyche they doo bynde vpon certeyn persones for to hele them of somme sekenesses and ma ladyes: And for admonycyon. ne for predycacyon. ne for excom̄ynycacyon that may be doo to them they wyl not leue it: Alle they that make suche thynges / or doo make it. or bere it. or do it to be born / And haue trust and affyaunce therin. And they that selle it. gyue or lene it synnen ryght greuously. But yf they be symple people and so ignoraunt of symplesse / that by Ignoraunce they be excused. the whyche thyng excuse not them yf they be suffycyentely warned and taught. ¶ we saie not that yf ony gadre herbes medycynal in sayeng the credo or the pater noster that it be dedely synne. But that they doo other thynges aud sorceryes. ¶ Ther ben somme that byleue that they haue their destyne after the cours of the sterres / The whyche thyng is false and euyl errour. For seint Gregorye sayth that no good crysten ought to byleue that thei haue ony other destynee: but that onely god whyche hath gyuen to them the lyf be plesed wyth. it yf were trouth saith seynt Gregorye that the sterres were our destynee: we shold be sub gettes to the sterres: whyche is a fals errour to byleue. For the sterres be made for to serue vs. And not we for the sterres Exā. when Jacob the holy patryarke shold yssue out of his moders ¶ wombe. he helde [Page] helde the plante of the fote of his brother Esau. For hym behoued to yssue fyrst. And bothe were born at tones to gydre out of of one wombe in one houre neuertheles the lyf of that one was not lyke to that other / For Jacob was welbyloued of god. an holy man and of good lyf: But Esau was other. Then heretykes ansueren and sayen in thys manere that in the space that one shold prycke a poynt the constellacion of the sterres cha unge and torne. But seint gregorye saith that the natyuyte of the chylde is so grete. that yf it torne and chaunge in the space of a poynt lyke as they saye. that the child hath as many destynees vpon hym / as he hath membres on hym: It is redde of Exā one that was a moche grete clerke whyche was deceyued by grete errour. For he aftermed certainly that he whyche was prede stynate to be saued: that he mnste nedes by necessyte be sa ued: And yf he were predestynat to be dampned / that he muste nedes by necessyte be dampned / And therfore he abandonned and gaf hym self to doo many grete synnes. It happed that he becam greuously seke. And sente for to seche a Physycyan and prayed hym that he wold doo hys deuoyr to hele hym. And the physyeyen whyche was well expert in medycynes / and was a goode Theologyen. And knewe well hys erronr sayd to hym. ¶ Syre yf ye ought to deye of thys maladye I may in noo wyse helpe you. For I sholde thenne lese my peyne. And yf ye shal be hool and guarysshyd yr shal be wel heled wythout me. And the clerke ansuered. Syre how sayr ye soo / I knowe certeynly. but yf I haue remedye for my sekenes. that I shal shortly deye. And the physycien thenne ansuered to hym. Syre yf ye byleue that by the vertu of medycyne your lyf may be lengthed / wherfore byleue ye not that pena unce may lengthe the lyf of our soules. Thēne the clerke thou ghte in the vertu of the wordes of the valyaunt phisicien and ¶ thelogyen. and said to hym [Page] See [...] take hede that fro hens forthon ye be physicyen of sowlis For by the medecyne of your tongue our lord hath delyuered me of grete errour. Byleue thenne stedfastly in god of whom all good cometh: and haue no faith ne truste in these euil deuynours and sorcirers. For yf ye consydere well hys bounte and hys grace ye shal doubte preyse and loue hym

Of louyng god and Charite the iij chapitre

FAyth without charyte is deed as sayth holy scripture cha rite is as a doctour named prosper saith whiche speketh of the lyf con. templatyf. charyte saith he is the ende of all the co mandementis celestial. deth of sinne. ful of vyctories. the armes of holy thoughtes. cause of good merites the rewarde of them that be parfyght. wythout the whiche neuer creature plesith god ne neuer shal playse him. charite is ful of fruit to them that be penytent ioyous in them that perseueren in all good. vyctoryous in good-merites. werker in all good cristen men & in whi me euery good creature lyueth / And the said doctour sayth yf we loue wel god in all our hert: ther shal neuer be in vs ony poynt of desyr for to synne. And seynt Austyn sayth: doo as mo che as thou wylt soo that charite be in the. charyte is to loue god of whyche scrypture saith. thou shall loue god wyth all they her te with alle thy mynde: and with all thy strengthe. we ought to loue god for hym self by cause of his myght. of his sapience and of hys bounte. and for cause of hys benefytes: for vs whi che were nothyng he hath made and fourmed to hys ymage and to his semblance & hath redemed vs fro the handes of the fende of helle and hath made vs his chyldren and heyres of his royame of heuen / yf we loue hym. And verayly he is well happy that remembreth ofte the graces and benefeates of god with goode herte / For thys remembrannce planteth in hys herte. and [...]oteth [...]he loue and charite of god. And thys charyte of lo ue putteth him and ioyneth his herte to god & effaceth and ta Exā keth away the loue fro thynges of the world ¶ An Example [Page] It is redde that a good nonne demanded of a religyous man whether was better charite or humylite. the religyous man an suerd to her & said that charite is fair: & humilite more sure charite is the fontayne of god & the rote of alle vertues / and that is shewyde in euery persone by many maners of whiche we shall speke of foure onely. Fyrst whan the persone loueth god and aboue all thyng / And he be▪ wel ware that he angre [...] hym not. And kepe hys commandementis.

¶ For comfort in all tribulacions ¶ Capitulo / iiij

SEcondly charite she weth. whan the persone for the loue of god taketh a worth & in pacience alle angursshes peryllis & tribulacōns that comen to hym. or that ben doon to hym. For comynly to them that he wyl saue & drawe to his partye. he sendeth or suffreth to come tribulacions for to withdrawe them fro synne yf they be synnars For many shold duelle stylle in theyr synnes / yf tribulacion or greuenes camen to them not for ther be thre thynges that purgen synne. that is to wede / Effusyon of t [...]eres / digne & worthy prayer. & to suffre tribulacōn & maladie we rede in the lif of faders. that ther was Exā a relygious man whyche all his daies he hadde grete maladie & langour. It happed that one yere he had noo sekenesse. wherof he was moche abasshid & sory. & wepte greuously and said to our lord ihesu cryst. lord god thou hast forgoten me & l [...]fte me by cause thou sendest not to me this yere sōme maladye & sekenesse. Thus sendeth god somme tribulacōn to his creatures for to take away theyr herte fro the loue of this wretched world. to thende that they sette all theyr mynde & entente in him For many shold forgete or lytyl shold thynke in god yf tubulacōn cam not to them for to tēpte them or for to proue them for n tribulacōn god proueth the pacyēce & the vertu of the persone Exā Itē for to doo penaūce for theyr sines & their offenses Also we rede in the lyf of seynt gregorye that. whan traian them [...]e [Page] tour of stomè was dede seynt gregorye wepte in prayng our lord ihū cryst for his soule for the good iugement that he had doon in hys lyf: how wel that he was a paynem & anone god sente to hym an āgel whiche sayd to him / that by cause of his prayer god had remised & sente agayn his soule in his bodi to thende that he shold be baptised. & after our swete sauyour sen te to seynt gregorye that he shold chese of ij thinges by cause he had prayd for the paynem. that is to wyte whether he wold be ij. dayes in purgatory after his deth. or that he wold haue al le the dayes of his lyf dyuerse sekenesses & maladies. & yet sayd he to hym also that he shold be wēl ware & kepe hym well. that he neuer shold praye for ony that were dampned. seint gregorye loued better & had lieuer to be seke alle the dayes of his lyf. than to be ij dayes in purgatori after his deth / For the fyre of this world [...]ys but a bayne. to the regard of the fyre of purgatory. Itē for tenerece their glorye in heuen / for to them that shal be saued god our lord shal torne alle the tribulacōns that they haue suffred in this world in to glorye & ioye in heuen. yf they suffre them paciētly. & by these said causes it appiereth that god sheweth grete signe of loue & of saluacion: & therfore Job whiche was the most pacient man of the world & the most ryche. the whiche lost all that he had: & tempested of his x childrē And was in suche wise charged of ordure of rotynnesse. & of vermyne. that he laye on a donghyll / & he neuer said an euyll word but blyssyd all way our lord & rendrid to him & gaaf to hym thankynges of alle that he suffryd. For the holy scripture sayth that alle they that our lord loueth he correcteth and suffreth them to be beten and tormented. And that is a sygne that they ben in the remembraunce of our lord. And that he loueth them / We rede that seynt ambwse wold neuer abide ne reste in the house of a riche man by cause that he said to him that alle his besoygnes and thynges camen to hym at his plaisyr without tribulacion & soone after whan he was departed out of the hous of the riche man. the riche man & all his richesses [Page] sonken doun in to therthe. ¶ Thenne said seint Ambrose well happy ben they that god vysyteth in theyr lyf by somme tribulacion to thende that he punysshe them not ouersore and hard at thēde / For it behoueth as said seynt poule that the creature entre in to heuene by many greuous tribulacions. thou seest wel that the coupe of gold suffreth many a stroke of the hamer. to fore it be sette atte table of the kyng siyght soo it byhoueth the to suffre to fore that thou mayst come in to the companye of god Jhesu criste. For the doctours sayen that it byhoueth that euery man be also pure & clene fro alle synne at the entre of heuen. as he was atte houre that he was baptysed. Alas how byhoueth it vs for to suffre tofore that we be digne or worthy to entre there For the holy scrypture sayth. that we may not passe one day wythout to synne. And lytyl thynke we thewn but we thynke well to haue alle our eases and playes. knowe ye that who that shall haue most payne & trybulacyō in this world. so moche more shal he be happy in heuene: yf he suffre it pacyently for the loue of our lord Jhesu criste. For seynt Jew me sayth that it is a thyng impossyble. that a man may haue in thys world and in that other glorye and fely [...]yte. And therfore thappostles enioyed them of the tribulacions that the iewys dyde to them. ¶ And saynt poul sayth we appostles haue hungre and thurs [...]e and ben naked. beten: blamed and cursed. And we haue noo manere reste. But labours wyth our handes. & suffre reproches & tribulacions and ben chyden and mocked as shep that shall be slain / And neuertheles we blysse them that curse & doon euyl to vs / & praye for oure malfactours & euyl doers / & suffren gladly alle for the loue of our lord Jhesu crist / vnto his apostles & his holy sayntes martres lefte our lord so many tribulacōns that atte laste somewere stoned & other beheded. rosted. & flayn & many suffred other hard tormētis & martirdōs. thēne ought not we to meru [...]ylle ne be aba ¶ sshid of [Page] the harmes paines. ne of the tribulacions that we haue: who that wold take hede and vnderstonde these thynges a fore said wiche is good and the euyll. the helthe and the maladye the pouerte and the rychesse. the lyf and the deth. he shold wel knowe that alle cometh of god and of hys suffrannce lyke as scripture sayth. And that by hym ben made and ordeyned alle thynges except synne / Item he is pafyghtly good. For he suffreth nothyng to be made ne to happē without cause. wherfore yf a man remenbryd hym well he shold alle way loue god and serue him And alle tribulacions suffre pacyently for the loue of god

¶ Of the dyuerse and derke Jugemens of god Capl'o v

WE rede of an heremite whiche moche meruaylled of the dyuers and obscure iugemēts of our lord ihū cryst. and by temptacion of the fende he sayd in his herte that his iugemē tis were not iuste. For god suffred the good men to haue many tribulacions. and the enyl people many good thyrges: and god sente to hym an angel in fourme of a man whiche sayde to hym in this manere / Come and goo with m: for god hath Exā sente me to the. For to lede the in dyuerse places: to thende that I shold shewe to the of hys dyuerse and obscure iugementis: he ledde hym first in to the hous of a good man / the whyche r [...]ryued them benyngly. and made to them right goode chere. and helde them wel at theyr ease On the morn erly the angel robbed hys good hooste of a fayre cuppe. whyche cuppe he loued merueylously. Thenne thermyte was moche angri and thought he was not sēt fro god: the nyght after they were lodged with an euil hoost whiche made to them right euyl chere. & souped euyll & had right euyl beddyng: & in the mornyng the āgel gaaf to the euyl hooste the cuppe that he had stolen fro the good hoost the nyght before. & when the hermite sawe that he had euyl suspecōn vpon thangel. the iij night they were lodged with a good [Page] hoōste whiche lodged them wel and made them Well at theyr ease. And on the morn he delyuered to them hys seruaūt for to shewe to them the way by cause they shold not goo out of the waye. But whan they were on a brydge wherouer they shold passe. the angel threwe the seruaūt fro the brydge into the water and ther was drowned: thēne thermyte was moche abasshed and gretely enangred: And the fourth nyght they were lodged with a ryght valyant and good hoste / a man of grete honour & of ryght good lyf. whiche made to them ryght grete chere & made hem wel at ease. and lodged them ryght wel: but he had a lytyl yong chyld whyche cessed not of alle the nyght to crye & to braye in suche wyse that they myght not slepe. Thenne than gel aroose and went and slewe the chylde. And when thermyte sawe that: he hadde wende that thangel had ben a deuyl. and wold haue departed from hym. fayre frend sayd thangel to ther myte. our lord hath sent me to the. for to shewe to the hys derk Jugementis to thende that thou knowe that he dooth nothīg withoute good cause / I telle the that I toke the cuppe fro the good hoost. by cause that he loued it ouer curiousely. And many tymes he thought on it whan he shold haue thought on godd / & therfore I haue take it away from hym for hys wele and haue gyuen it to this euyl hoost whiche receyued vs euyll. to thēde that of that he hath doon well / he hath hys reward in this world and shal nothyng haue in heuen. And also I haue thro wē in to the water the seruaunt of that other hoost. For he had entreprysed in his herte. that on the morn he wold haue slayn his mayster. And thus I haue delyuerd our good hoost fro deth. & his seruaunt fro the dede of homycyde whyche was by purpoos of euyll by cause he shold be the lasse pugnisshed in this wrold. & our fourth hoost byfore that he had ony chylde dyde moche almesse and moche good and alle that he coude gete aboue hys lyuyng he gaaf to poure people for the loue of god but syth that his sone was born. He hath withdrawe his hondes fro the [Page] werkes of mercy. and hath kepte all for his sone. And by the comaundement of our lord I haue taken away the matere & the cause of his auaryce. And haue sente the soule of the childe in to heuen whiche was innocent. And when thermyte had herde all this / he was delyuered of all the euyll tamptacyons that he had. & glorified god & hys obscure iugementis whiche ben as a grete sowolowe without bottome. lyke as sayth the prophete Thou whiche haste herde the iugementis of god put them in thyn herte: for to gyue to the example for to suffre wel. and to endure alle tribulacions and alle euyllys pacyently. For we haue also example that more and better auaylleth & ought to moeue vs than thexāple whiche we haue sayd & that is of our lord Jhesu crist whiche fro his glorie of heuene descended in to the valeye of myserye that is in to this worlde after that he was born of the virgyne marye vnto the time that he was put on the tree of the crosse he had alleway pouerte. peyne. reproches. and tribulacyoos: And in thende suffred deth and ryght dolorouse passiō as thou shalt here now recyted wyth the helpe of hym. whiche gyue vs grace a men /

¶ Of the passyon of our lord Capitulo vj

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NOw late vs beholde by pitie. how the sone of god wold suffre for vs. how wel that we may not wryte all. Neuertheles sōme thyng we shal be holde to thende that we may loue hym the better & for [Page] to moèue our lxries whim the [...] better / our lord whan the hour of his passyon approched he yssued out with hys dyscyples to the monnt of olyuete in to a gardeyn. where he went oftymes for to praye. And there he sayd to hys dyscyples / that he was heuy and soroufull vnto the deth / And he withdre we hym a lytill fro hys discyples. And put hym self to prayer / And to hym that was very god and man / and knewe all thyng that was to come to whom was presented & sette to fore hys eyen in a moment all that whyche he shold suffre. and incontynent after hys humanyte. and after his flessh. he had therof so grete an horrour that he swette for anguyssh water and blood whiche dropped doun to therthe out of all his body. and ther apered to hym an Aungel fro heuen whyche conforted hym. O herte deuoute beholde the kyng of glorie Whyche is ioye: and solace to angellis of heuen. the whyche for to gyue to the ioye & lyf with out deth: is soroufull & anguysshous vnto the deth. he that hath made the angellis is conforted of an angel / Merueylle the nothyng yf he whiche is god hadde at hys deth drede and anguissshe as a man. For he toke in thnmanyte alle the defaultes & maladeis that a man may haue excepte synne and ignoraunce he synned neuer / and also knewe alle thyng. Ryght soone after cam the traytour Judas that hadde solde hym. with a grete companye of euyl peple whiche camen in the nyght wyth lanternes in armes for to take hym. And the blyssed Jhesus fledde not. but came to them: And how well that he knewe wel what they demaunded. yet he said to them. whom seche ye. they ansuered to hym. we seche Jhesus of nazareth. and he said to them / I am he. for to withdrawe them fro theyr wickednes And to thende that they shold knowe hys puyssaunce. anon as he had said I am he. they fyl doun bacward to therthe. yet after thys Jhesu cryst sayd to them / whome seche ye. They ansuerd to hym Jhesus of nazareth: I haue sayd that I am he / yf ye seche me. late my dyscyples goo. and doo ye to them non [Page] harme. Here ought to be noted. how he gaaf example to them that haue subiettes vnder them how they ought to loue: kepe / and deffende them. And by cause saynt James the lasse resembled of vysage to our lord. the false Judas was a ferde that they shold haue faylled to haue taken our lord. And therfore he salued our lord sayeng and callyng hym Raby that is to saye Mayster. & kyssed hym on the mouth wyth hys mouth enuenimed Alas that ther be many in these dayes that kyssen hym and receyuen in sygne of deuocyon and of loue. whiche ben false and traittres vnto hym for theyr synne and euyll ypocrysye. And anone as the euyl and false Judas had kyssyd on hys swete mouth he was taken on alle sydes and seased and they bonde hys hondes as a theef. and brought hym in to the hous of the prynce of prestes of Jewes. ¶ And passed forth alle that nyght in dooynge despyte and Iniuryes to the swete lombe whyche sayd not one worde. for ony thyng that they dyde to hym / And thenne lefte hym alle hys dyscyples: And fledde from hym sauf saynt Johan theuangelyste and saynt petre: whiche folowed a ferre as they that were moste trewest and that moost loued hym. whan the swete debonayre lombe Jhesus was in theyr hondes / they couered hys face: and gaaf hym grete buffettes and strokes on his hede. and sayd to hym in despyte that he shold rede and prophecye who had smeton hym iu hys gloryouse face and on hys hede Thenne after thys the felon Jewes foule and stynkyng spytte vylaynsly in hys fayre vysage. And brought false wytnesses agenst hym. And in alle the maneres they myght: they dyde to hym despyte and confusyon. ¶ O deuoute persone consydere and beholde. that it is a grete despyte to spytte in the face of a knight And yet more grete in the visage of an Erle or of a duke. but it shold be ouer grete despite to spytte in the vysage of a kynge O lord god. O what confusyon was it to spytte with the [Page] stynkynge mouthes ōf [...]n felon Jewēs in the face of the kyng of glorye. And the swete Jhesus suffred alle benygnely. And hys bounte receyued alle theyr fylthes and ordures in hys swete vysage withoute tornyng hyther or thyder / lyke as he sayth by hys prophete. I haue not torned away my face fro them that lothed me and byspytte me And certaynly a creature may not dygnely ne Worthely remembre ne recounte thys tonfusion: O ryght swete Jhesus what suffredest thou for vs: for this suffysed not to the felon Jewes. but on the morn erly they ledde the as a theef. & presented the to pylate / lyke as a man worthy to deye. and requyred and cryed wyth hye crye for to put the ryght swete Jhesu to deth and to be crucyfyed ¶ O lord god how well that the Juge was euyll and cruell. Neuertheles he said to them / that he fonde in the no cause of deth and de [...] tes he sayd very trouthe. but thou woldest paye the sootte: why [...]lx thou haddest not bore wed. O deuoute soule. yf thou haddest seen that tyme thy maker. thy brother / thy fader thy frende. the ryght swete Jhesu cryst thy souerayn Juge and the kyng of glorye. stondynge to fore the Juge without reuerence and wit hout honour. that lyke as a sheep to fore the sherar spacke not aworde. but helde hym alle stylle wythout ansuere. ayenst many crymes and falsenes that the felon Jewes leyde on hym wrongfully and purposed ayenst hym / And requyreden that Barabas: whyche that for dmycyde and fo [...]t h [...]efte was put in pryson shold by delyuered ¶ And he whyche was pure and Innocent whyche neuer dyde synne. sholde be put to deth. There thou myghtest haue herde how cruelly they cryed to the Juge. ¶ Take hym take hym. and crucyfye hym. lyke as they had abhomynacyon to see hym / And as they myght not beholde hym I too w that thou sholdest not haue kept the fro we pyng. And therfore escryeth saynt Austyn sayenge. ¶ O glorye of Angellys. & obprobrye of men / that is to saye he whiche [Page] is glorye of angellys. is bycomen rep [...]ef and illusyon of men Thenne wh [...]n Pylate sawe that he myght not appease them he made the swete Jhesus to be despoylled and bounde to a st [...]k or a pyller. and hys tendre vyrgynall flessh to be cruelly [...] ▪ and tormented so moche that the precyous blood ranne doune by grete habundaunce alle a longe hys backe and precyous sydes. whyche had not deserued it. After pilate brought hym and shewed hym alle naked to the felon Jewes alle hys body full of woūdes and blood▪ And for to knowe yf thys had suffysed to them. he sayd to them. loo see the man. lyke as [...] wold haue moeued them to pyte for to see hym so vylainsly beten. For naturelly. a man ought to haue pyte of a man so wounded and beten. but the [...]als traitres and euyll Jewes might nothyng be appeased. tyll that he had Judged hym to deth [...] delyuered hym: O deuoute persone opene the eyen of thyn hart and see the kynge of Angellis whyche is Juge of the lyuynge and dede. and that alle the world shal Judge. whyche of a iudge and a man mortal is Judged to deth so vylaynously. as to be crucyfyed. whyche thenne was the moost hard deth. the most foule. and the most shamefullest that myght be▪ For the theues were put to deth by the same deth. See how vylaynsly the felons Jewes despoylleden the swete lambe Jhesus of hys to be or garnementis / And clad hym with a [...]be of purpre. And sette vpon hys hyde a crowne of thornes sharp and pryckynge so that hys precyous blood ran doun ouer hys fayre vy sage. and in his ryght hond they put a staf. in sygne of a deptre royall. and knelid byfore hym by grete derysion. and sayeng I sale we the kyng of Jewes. And so sayenge spytte in his face. And smote hys precyous hyde wyth staues that they helde ¶ O lord god man remembre the that thou art he that berest semblaunce and ymage of the kynge dyuyne: and neuertheles [...]plenesshyd of confusion. ¶ Thys is thy kynge and thy god whyche is reproued and s [...]ytte as a meselle. and the most [Page] a solate of alle the Jewes: by whoin thou art delyuered for confusion perdurable. and hath saued the fro the wounde of pryde whan the felon Jewes were fylled of suche vylanyes and of doyng suche despytes to this swete lambe / whiche opened not hys swete mouth ayenst them. they cladde hym agayn wyth his [...]be. And leyd vpon hys sholdres the crosse and ladde him to the mount of Caluarye for to be crucyfyed wyth ij / theues for to put hym to more shame and confusion / Ther was the kyng of angellys despoyllyd alle naked to fore alle the people couerd onely wyth an olde sudarye aboute hys raynes And somme sayen that it was a pyece of the mantel of hys swete moder thenne beyng sorowefull whyche was presente: whyche cutted it of for to couere hym. And it may wel be byleued. For in suche places as the crucyfyeng of our lord is paynted by the honde of a good maystre. that the mantel of our ladye and the cloth that is about the raynes of our lord ought to be of one colour. ¶ Thenne was the kynge of alle the world throwen on the crosse cruelly. and so drawen and stratched in manere of an hyde: that a man myght lyghtly acounte and rekene alle the bones of hys body. Accordyng to the holy scrypture: ¶ There were hys holy hondes▪ whyche by theyr attouchyng had heled but late tofore the meseles. the blynde / men / And other seek men persed of grete sharpe nayles. ¶ And the swete feet whyche had so ferre god and trauaylled for the helthe of alle mankynde. & after was enhaūced on hye on the crosse now remembre thou deuoute creature in thyn herte how whā the blessyd bodyof our sauyour [...]hū crist was leyed on the crosse how the felons iewes. nayled hys ryght honde wyth a grete nayle so fast to the crosse that no drope of blod yssued out. but aboute the wounde the blod withinforth began to swelle & we [...]ed ble we and bloo al about the naylle. And that other arme wyth alle the body shranke and drewe to that hond / ¶ And whā they shold haue naylled the lyfte hand it was so shr [...]nken [Page] that it wold not reche to the place where they had ordeined it to be naylled by a grete dele / And thēne by force they drewe it wyth cordes to the place and there naylled it to the crosse so faste that no blode myght yssue out / Thenne ye may wel vnderstande that alle the body and hys legges shr [...]nken so moche vp that hys fect myght not come to the place of the place asygned where they shold be naylled / wherfore wyth grete vyolende and strengthe they drewe doun hys legges and feet to the plade where as they naylled them wyth grete strengthe so soore & so faste that no drope of blood yet yssued out neyther of hondes ne of feet / But thou shol [...]st haue seen the hondes and feet so naylled / swollen and black of the blood whyche myght not yssue. ¶ Now thynke denoute creature and fele in thyn herte yf thou myghtest suffre thanguysshe that our lord suffred for the whan hys precyous body was lyfte vp and hanged on the crosse. And the crosse fylle doun in the sokette of the mortays: Thou oughtest well to byleue that whan hys holy body whyche was heuy and pesaunt began to hange and the crosse fylle in to the mortays: that it byhoued by force the woundes of hys feet and hys hondes to bresten and opene. ¶ For the weyght of the body drewe doun hys armes. And the naylles helden fast for they were grete and strong in suche wyse that they opened the woundes / and the blood cam [...]enninge doun habundauntly. And yet more in the sayd fallynge doun of the crosse wyth the body in to the mortays the synewys and vaynes of hys swete blessyd body alle to breken. ¶ O thou sinnar man or woman byholde and see in thys myr [...]nr of pacyence and lerne to suffre. For in alle thyse greuous tormentes that the swete Thū cust suffryd for the he opened neuer hys mouth. ne made noo complaynte. ne excusacion. ne menasses: ne cursynges ayenst the felons Jewes and tormentours. but spredde vpon hys enemyes wordes of merueyllous blessynges whyche neuer [...] had ben herde. For he prayd for them [Page] to his fader / and said in this manere. Fader pardoue them for they knowe not what they doo. And by the vertue of this holy wordes and prayer were afterward many conuerted to our lord Jhesu Cryste▪ and were redemed and wasshen of the precyous blood that he had shedde. And as seynt Austyn sayth opene thyn eyen of thyn herte / and beholde the swete Jhesu crist For from the plante of the feet vnto the hyest of hys heed was on hym noo place: but it was wounded and couerd with blood. beholde thenne the dysposicion of hys body. he had his armes spredde and stratched a brode for tenbrace the. he had hys glorious hede bowed and enclined for to kysse the. he had hys feete fast naylled for to abyde with the. and in alle thy werkes and temptacions seke him there. For thou shal fynde hym there on the crosse. whan the houre of hys dolorouse deth approched he behelde his swete moder. whyche was in so grete anguyssh and torment that no herte may thinke it. For alle thanguysshes Iniuries: vylonnies. and the despytes that he suffred in dyuerses partyes of his body. the ryght swete and sorouful moder bare in her herde. by whiche she was more than a martyr. lyke as saint Austyn sayth. For she suffred as moche or more in her herbe / as the martyrs suffreden in theyr bodyes ¶ And it grieued as moche or more to the swete Jhesu Criste thanguis she of hys swete moder whome he sawe to fore hym. as dyde the payne aud harme that he suffred in his body: And behelde her benygnely and saide to her swetely. woman. loo there thy sone sayd he of saynt Johan theuangelyste whyche was presente in heuynesse / And in grete sorowe of herte / And after saide to saint Johan. loo there thy moder Now thynke what anguisshe thenne she felte in her herte. whan she herde the swete voys of her dere sone whyche thenne was on deyenge. sayenge that she shold receyue in stede of suche a sone hys neuewe / and for the maker the creature. whan the houre of none approched. he demaūdyd drinke & said I thurste. O swete Jhesus. ¶ This [Page] said saint bernard wherfore playnest the of thurste. and spekest nothyng of thyn other tormentes / of whyche thy body is so greuously tormented / Certes lord thys thruste is nothing but of our helthe wherfore thou hast so grete thurst and so grete desire that thou deydest for the talente therof cruelly: After one raught to hym for to drinke a sponge of galle meddelyd wyth vynaygre: And whan the blessyd kynge of glorye had ben on the crosse thespace of thre houres. the sonne withdrewe her light and clerenes. And the derkenes was vpon the vnyuersal erthe and Jhūs crist sayth wyhta lowe voys. It is fynysshed & after cried with an hye voys: to thende that he myght be herde a ferre by cause none shold excuse hym: Fader I yelde and rendre my spyrite in to thy hondes. Thennne they that were comen to the sight. retorned betyng theyr brestes for the tokenes that they sawe: And Centurio whan he sawe thys. gaaf glorye to god and sayd. verayly thys man was the sone of god. Byholde now deuoute persone hym whyche is the lyghte and clerenes of heuen Joye and glorye of alle the sayntes and is the most fayre of alle the sones of men. See hym hanged and deed on the crosse as a th [...]eflothed and blamed for our loue. and yf thou haue ony pyte or swetenes wepe tendrely. be thou nomore harde than the elementes / And the thynges insensible as the sonne whyche withdrewe hys light and clerenes / And certayn yf thou be very frende of hym. that so derely hath redemed the. thou oughtest also to leue alle the clerenes of thys world. the vayne glorie: and the folisshe Joye of delyces / And to flee the Joyouse worldly companyes. ¶ And thou oughtest to crucyfye thyn hert by penaunces wyth thy lord and thy frende Jhesu crist. The stones cleften. the erthe trembled. And monumentes opened. ¶ Thou oughtest also cleue thy herte by contrycyon. and by compassion tremble alle for drede. And opene thy herte by teres of deuocyon ¶ For these thre maneres of teeres▪ oughteste thou to haue. ¶ yf [Page] thou be the frende of god. that is to we [...] of contricion▪ & compassion / and of deuocion. For the thre causes of hys deth.

¶ The fyrst cam of vs whan the swete Jhesu crist deyde for vs synners. as sayth thapostle. And aroos for our Justyficacion. And therfore we oughte moche to waylle and wepe bytterly teres of contrycion for our synnes. whyche ben cause of the deth of Jhesu crist. and of our dampnacion yf god had not had mercy on vs / ¶ The seconde cause of hys deth as touchyng his partye was for the loue that he had to vs. lyke as sayth saint John in thapocalyps. he hath loued vs sayd he. and hath wesshen our synnes in hys blood And by cause that he deyde for our loue. we ought without dessynge wepe teres of deuocyon. After thys by cause he deyde of a deth so shameful he beynge our brother after thumanyte. and our fader after the dyuynite / we ought to wepe teres of pyte and of compassion. he sholde be ryght disnaturel that shold see hys fader and hys brother deye wrongfully of a vylanous deth. But yf he had therof compassion / And certes for the consideracion of the paynes. of the tormētis. and of thanguysshes that our swete lord and trewe frende suffred for vs we ought to despyse alle worldly delices. And by the consideracion of the pouertees that he suffred alle his lyf for vs. and how he deyed poure and naked. For he had not so moche as he myght recline to his gloryous hede. we ought to haue in grete despyte alle the richesses of the world. ¶ After that the swete Jhesus Crist was dede. the Jewes dyde to hym grete cruelte. ¶ For they dyde doo perce hys precyous syde. with a spere. to thende that thou mightest more lightly entre vnto his herte. Entre thenne in to this preciouse side by grete desir and by deuoute loue. not by ypocrisie. and in all thy tribulacions and aduersitees haue thy recours ther. & haue in minde that the wounde is litil wherfore thou maist not entre. yf thou be not litil by humylyte and pouerte of herte: for the proud and riche men be ouer grete & ouer moche charged werfore they may not entre: after these thīges [Page] the precyous body was taken doun fro the crosse. And put in to the sepulcre. and deuoutly anoynted wyth precyous oynement And wrapped in a fayre sudarye and clene. Now take hede that thou haue in thy memorye thys blessyd passyon: And thynke often on alle the thynges that the swete Jhesu cryst wold suffre for to moeue the to swete teres. And to deuoute loue and compassyon. Also to very penaunce. and pacience And whan the swete Jhesu Cryst was dede. He descended in to one of the partyes of h [...]elle for to delyure hys frendes: ¶ And the thyrde day aroos fro deth to lyf. And by fourty dayes folowynge he shewde hym to hys dyscyples and frendes in therte ¶ And after on the day of hys Ascencyon he styed vp in to heuene: And on the day of pentecoste. whyche is called wytsonday he sente the holy ghoost vpon hys dyscyples / And alle this dyde he for vs. For he hath gyuen to vs hope and we ought to byleue that he shal reyse vs fro deth to lyf. ¶ And he shal make vs to stye vp in to heuen wyth hym yf we take on vs the peyne to ryse fro deth of synne to the lyf of grace. And also that we▪ mounte alle way to heuen especyally by holy desyres and deuoute meditacyons and that our herte be sette alle in hym. and redy to receyue the holy ghoost. And thys we beseche hym to graunte to vs by the prayers of hys swete moder. and by the merytes of hys holy passyon. the whiche be alle way enroted in our hertes amen. ¶ Now hast thou herd recyted soin what of the paynes and trybulacyons that the swete Jhesu cryst hath suffred not for hym self. But for the / For as saynt peter saith he dyde neuer synne: Thē ne oughtest thou wel to suffre pacyently alle trybulacions and aduersitees that may come to the. And thou oughtest to bileue stedfastli that thou suffrest moche lasse than thou hast deserued. And certes thi grief shal be aswaged yf thou thus thynke welle. And thou shalt be wel reconforted on the swete ihū ¶ criste whiche so moche hath loued the [Page] that he hath made the to drynke of hys chalyce that is to saye that he hath made the suffre wyth hym▪ p [...]ynes grye [...] and tribulacions /

¶ Of the vertu and dignite of the crosse. Capitulo vij

THe blessyd crosse on whyche was crucyfyed our lord lyke as sonie saye was of iiij trees. that is to wete of pal me / of Cedre. of Cypres. and of Olyue / And of eche of them ther was a pece. that is to wete. the siege or sokette vnder the piece ryght vp. the pyece that wente th wart. and the table aboue in the whiche Pilate wrote these iiij wordes / in grek. in he brew: and in latyn / lo these ben the iiij wordes. Thūs. nazarenus rex iudeorum That is to saye ihesus of nazareth kyng of Jewes / Origene sayth that the crosse is of so grete vertue that who that faythfully haue it in hys remembraunce: nener shal ony lecherye haue domyuacyon in hym ne noo malyce of synne may preuayle in him. but assone as one hath remembraunce therof alle the companye of synne and r [...]morse of synne fleeth fro hym.

Example of lechery

Exā

IT is sayd in the vertu of the rosse / that tofore that seint Cypryan was Crysten / he was a mayster in arte magyke and in nygromancye. And he was a noble man and ryche and loued so moche saynt Justyne virgine that he myght not slepe ne restehe came to saīt iustine & promised to hermany grete yeftes to thende that she shold consente to be his wyffe Ciprian seing that he mighthaue not his entent & desire dide doo calle a deuil▪ & comanded him that he shold god to her for tenbrace her in the loue of him. the deuille wente thider in the sēblaunce of hir nourrisse for to entreate her to doo the cōman̄dem̄t of ciprian / but anone as she felt her self so enbraced she signed & blessyd her with the signe of the crosse and anone the deuyl [Page] departed fro her. and retorned to Cypryen alle ashawed and said to hym that he myght not haue her. & thenne Cypryan called another more foul & horrible deuyl and sent hym to her. but he dyde also lytyl as that other. This deuyl was in the lyknes of her suster / Thirdly cyprian called an other deuyl & he wente in lyknes of her moder. & began strongly to wepe to fore her. & said to her. O fayre doughter how cruelly shalt thou be tormented yf thou doo not the wyll. and desyre of thys noble man: and thys deuyll was the mayster of alle other / And for the more to moeue her. he shewed to her her brestes of whyche she sayde she had gyuen her to souke. ¶ Thenne the mayde almost consented. but anone she blyssyd with her the sygne of the holy crosse And the deuyl wente away alle confused to Cypryen & was constrayned to saye the trouthe and sayd to hym / that by the vertu of the holy crosse. the mayde had vaynquysshed hym whan Cypryan herde thys he sayd. I renounce the and alle thy werkes. And byleue in hym of whom the holy crosse hath so moche strengthe. ¶ Thenne the deuyll was angry. and wende to haue taken hym for to tormente. But he sygned hym wyth the sygne of the holy crosse and so escaped fro hym And wente forthwyth and knelyd doun at the feet of Justyne the virgyne / and cryed her mercy: And after he dyde doo baptyse hym. & ledde after soo holy a lyf. that by the crowne of martyrdoom he regneth wyth our lord perdurably: ¶ An Exā Example Seynt Gregorye recounteth in hys dyalogue that a nonne entred on a tyme in to a gardyn / and sawe a fayre lettuse. of whiche she had an appetyte to ete. and gadred it and ete it wythout to blesse it or to make the sygne of the crosse theron and anone she was taken of a deuyl whiche entred in to her And anone she fylle to therthe / An holy man named Aquyne came hastely to her. And coniured her And anone the deuyl began to crye and saye. what haue I doon to the. I satte vpon thys Lettuse: ¶ And she is comen and hath eten me: [Page] And anone by the commaundement of the holy man. & by the vertue of the sygne of the crosse. the deuyl wente hys way and lefte her: ¶ An Example. Item saynt Gregorye recounteth in the same book of the bysshop of Fondes whyche was named Andrew whyche suffred that a nonne duellyd in hys Exā hous. not hauynge wylle for to sinne with her but for to make clene hys hous: The deuyl is subtyll. whyche on a tyme putte the beaulte of her in the herte of the bysshop / in suche wyse that. in the uyght whan he was in hys bedde. thought to synne with her. wythout dooynge the dede. Soone after as a Jewe wente to warde Rome. It happed that it was late. And sawe that he coude not fynde lodgys for to herberowe hym selfe: But entred in to a temple of Ydollys that was callyd the temple of Appollyn for to lye there alle that nyght / And how welle that he was not crysten. he doubted the euyll place. And was a ferde of the deuyllys / and blessyd hym wyth the sygne of the crosse. It happed that aboute mydnyght he a woke. and sawe a grete companye of deuylles and sawe in the myddys of them the maistre of alle the deuyllys. that satte & demaunded of eche of the other fro whens they cam. and what they hadde doon. Thenne a deuyll cam forth and adowred him. whom the maistre demaūded fro whens comest thou. I coin sayd he from a prouynce. in whiche I haue moeued many bataylles and troubles of the peple by whyche is moche blood shedde and am come hether for to telle it to the / And in how longe tyme hast thou doon thys I haue doon it said he in xxx. dayes. And the maister sayd to hym wherfore hast thou doo no more in so long tyme / and bad the other deuyllys to bete hym well: The secōd cam and sayd I haue be in the see where I haue reysed many tempestes and thondre by whyche I haue all to broken many shyppes. and drowned moche people. ¶ And he axed in how longe tyme he had doon it And he ansuered I haue doou it in one day: ¶ and anone he comaunded he shold be beten: by [Page] cause he had doo nomore in so longe tyme. After camē another and sayd I haue ben in an hermytage by thespace of fourty yere. ¶ And I haue doon so moche that I made a monke to falle in the synne of lecherye. but it hath ben with grete peine / And whan the maister of the deuyllys herd this. he aroos out of his syege. and kyssyd hym and sette hys crowne on his hede and made hym to sytte by hym sayeng that he had doon a grete thyng and more than the other. After came another and said I haue put in grete temptacion Andre we the bisshop of fondes of a Nōne. and said that the day to fore he had brought hym so ferre that in blandysshyng her he had smeton heer vpon the back behynde. Thenne the maistre of the deuyllis prayed hym that he shold accomplysshe that he had begonne. to thende that by the synne of the same bysshop. he myght haue the crowne of gretter vyctory e than alle the other deuyllis By the se. ij. examples may one see how the deuyl hath grete ioie whā he may brynge a persone of the chyrche in to synne. After the maister of the deuyllys commanded that they shold see and knowe who was he that laye in the temple. whan the deuyllys sa we thys iewe Whyche was marked with the sygne of the crosse: they fledde away alle cryeng. Acursed be he it is a vessel alle wyde & foul. But he is marked with the sygne of the crosse. And so fledde they alle and called hym a vessell wyde by cause he was not baptised: whan it was day the iewe a [...]s and wente to the bysshop. and recounted to hym alle the fayte And werke wherof he was abasshed. And anon made wyde fro hys hows the Nonne: And alle the wymen that were aboute And after baptysed the Jewe. Now thou hast herd that the holy crosse hath grete vertue vpon crysten men and other / Saint lowys had a custome that whan he passyd ouer a brydge he sayd alway. ¶ Surrexit dominus de sepulcro. qui pro nobis pependit in ligno ¶ And sayd yf the brydge be of stone I doubte not for to passe ouer. ¶ For the sepulcre of our [Page] lord was of stone in whiche he was buryed / And yf the bryd ge be of tree or wode I fere not to passe it. For the coosse on whiche our lord. Thesu crist was crucyfyed▪ was of treè. And thus he passed all wey surely.

¶ Of iij pacyences in tribulacyon Capytulo viij

OF alle the tribulacyons and vylonnyes that thou suffrest ne will thou ne saye ne doo thou ony harme to other therfore how be it that thou haue sorow therof yet alle way rendre and yeue thankynges to god▪ Thys fyrst pacyence is good / but yf thou blysse god and yeue to hym thankynges as dyde Job / that is the second pacyence and is better than that other. And yf thou haue ioye and be glad of tribulacyon as it is sayd of thappostoles / that is the thyrde pacyence / and that Exā is beste. ¶ Example. It is sayd that whan Seneke the wyse phylosopher shold be maryed he took the werst woman & the most shrew that coude be founde. It happed on a tyme that he cam from withoute home And hys wyf was aboue in a solyer. and he was vnthernethe. she began to chyde and despre yse hym and saye to hym many vylonnyes. but he neuer ansuerd ony word. whan she saw that he spack not agayn to hyr she poured apotful of foul water on hys hede. but for alle that he was not angry but sayd. I wyst wel that after thys thonder shold sone come rayne: & when hys frendes axed hym wherfor he had taken so euyll a wyf whan that he well knewe her shrewdnes tofore. The cause is said he. that I myght lerne in my hows how I ought to be pacyent to other people. I wold it pleased to our lord god that alle the men that be maryed shold be so pacyent toward theyr wyues Ther be somme that wene to be wel pacyent and strong ayenst the fyre of tribulacion. by cause that ther is none that doo ne saye ayenst theyr wil but somtyme whan they be a lytyl touched wyth the lyme of [Page] reprehencion or of correccion / or that they repr [...]ned and corrected of theyr defanltes: or that ony doo or saye thynge that displeaseth them / anon they shewe what they be in the herte by yr theyr proud and hard ansueres. The clocke of the monestawythout sownyng is moche styll as longe as it is not touched But asson [...] as one draweth the corde or ellis it be tonched ony thyng. anone it cryeth so lowde that it is herd ouer alle the toun / Ryght in lyke wyse doon many / For whan they be touched in word or in dede ayenst theyr wyll. anone they crye and make noyse and be inpacy [...]nt. ¶ Example a relygious man demaunded of hys abbot and sayd Fayre fader telle me what I may doo that I may be saued / Thabbot ansuerd to hym / yt thon may endure pacyently all that is doon to the in vylanyes and iniuryes wythout to ansuere ony thyng that is a grete vertue aboue alle thynges.

¶ Of louyng hys neyghbour Capitulo ix

Exā

Thyrdely charyte she weth hym in louyng his neyghbour of whiche the gospel saith thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self. that is to saye thou shalt loue and desire that he loue god and serue hym: and that he doo good werkes by whyche he may come to heuen: as thou woldest thy self Item that thou sholdest loue hym so wel. that thou haue sorow and pyte of hys synne / and of hys harme and that thou doo soo moche for hym. as thou woldest that he dyde for the by reason. as for to helpe hym and socoure hym in hys nede. and to kepe hys good name and fame. And to lette hys scathe and dommage / for [...]accorde hym to them that he hath discord and alle other thinges that thou mayst doo for hym. lyke as thou woldest he shold doo for the. And by thy neghbour is vndersten den alle manere of people nygh [...] and ferre / Frendes and also enemyes: and alle other people

¶ Of louynge his enemyes Capytulo C j x

[Page]THow onghtest to loue thyn enemyes. and to wylle & desire. theyr amendement and theyr saluacion for the loue of god. whiche thynge he wylle and comandeth. ¶ Item for the grete wele and prouffyt that they doo. For yf thou be pacyent. they shall forge for the a crowne in paradys. and sauacion for thy soule: but they dāpne them self ouer hardly / ¶ Example. we rede in the lyf of faders of an holy hermy te whiche at hys deth kyssed right swetely the hondes of a theef and sayd / ¶ These here ben the hondes that shal bere me to paradys / Exā For they haue ofte robbed me and haue takyn a way my lytyl substance ayenst my wylle: and whan I wold haue res [...]owed them they bete me cruelly and I haue all suffred it paciently / And therfore they be the canse to brynge my sonle to heuen: ¶ Item thow oughtest to pardone and forgyue thyn enemyes wyth herte and mouth. alle wrath and maletalent yf they requyre the. For whan thou sayest thy pater noster. dimitte nobis debita nostra. sicut et nos dimittimus debito [...]bus nostris Thou prayest to god that he pardone thy trespaces. as thou pardonest them that trespace to the. he promytt [...]h that he shalle forgyue the yf thou be confessed and repentaunt. but thy catayl ne thy domage thou shalt not forgyue but yf it playse the but thou mayst leueye: & reyse it yf it be raysonable wythout to hurte thy conscyence▪ wel is trouthe that thou hast agaynst them a desplaysaunce / and art angry with them for the harme that they haue doon to the. but thou shalt not wylle that ony harme come to them for to auenge the. ¶ But yf they make not amendes vnto the. and thou woldest that they shold be constrained by ryght and reason that they may be amended and chastysed. that is noo synne / But yf thou woldest onely harme to them for hate for to auenge the. thenne thou synnest dedely Salamon sayth in hys prouerbes▪ take noo hede therto. for it shall not plese hym. and it shal mowe wel thaunge the wrath that [Page] he hath in hym for the harmè that he hath doōn or sayd and hath leyd to the. ¶ Example. Saint gregorie recounteth in hys dyalogue. that by cause seynt beuet was renomed of holy Exā lyf. A preest whyche was named florentyn by cause that he had not so good renommee as he by cause he dyde the werkes For enuye he sente to him on a tyme a loof of breed enpoysonned in manere of a present & of loue to thende that he shold be enposonned and so deye Seynt benet toke the loof and thanked hym. There was a rauen whyche was nyhe by and was accustomed to come to hym atte hour of dyner. to whom seynt be nette gaf gladly mete vnto. And whan he came seynt benette sayd to hym. In the name of god I comāde the that thou bere thys loof of brede in to suche a place that neuer man fynde it / The rauen toke it and bere it away. And in thespace of iij houres after he retorned to seint benet and he gaaf to hym mete as he was accustomed. whan the preste sawe that he myght not put him to deth. he thought atte leste that he wold make him to synne and so to deye spyrituelly and also the soules of hys dyscyples by synne. For in a gardyn nyhe by the halle of seynt benet. Thys preest florentyn brought vij fayre maydens alle naked and made them there to daunce and synge long to thende that the dyscyples of seynt benet myght see them and here hem and so to be tempted. whan seynt Benet sawe thys he doubted of his dysaples / and lefte the contre to thende that the preeste shold haue nomore enuye at hym / But god forgate not thenuye of the preest: For on a day as he satte in the sonne vnder hys hous. god made the hous to falle on hym. and so the preste was dede there vnder / Saynt Maure whyche was discyple of seynt benet abode styll in the monastery for to gouerne the religyous monkes. and sente anon to seynt benet whyche was not goon passyng. v / mylle ferre fro the monasterye that he shold retorne and come agayn: For the preste that poursiewed hym was dede. whan he herd thys he wepte greuously [Page] as wel for the loue ōf the preest. as for his discyple whiche was glad therof. and made hym to doo grete penaunce by cause he was glad of the deth of hys enemye. The loue that thou owest to haue to thy neihbour is clerely shewed by the werkes of mercy of whiche ther ben two maner / The spirituell and corporell. These ben the spirituell. to counceylle wel other for theyr saluacion. to shewe to other theyr defaultes and mysdedes for theyr amendement: to conforte the sorouful. to supporte the ygnorauntes and teche them: & to praye for them that ben in synne to thende that god wylle amende them. to blesse them that curse the. to pardone wrath and euyll wyll. and to praye for thyn enemyes that god wyll amēde them. For herof god gaaf vs ensample on the crosse whan he prayed for them that crucyfied hym and put hym to deth.

¶ Ot the werkes of mercy corporelle. xi

THe werkes of mercy bodyly ben these / to gyue mete & drinke to the poure: to clothe the naked. to herberowe the poure herberughles / to vysite the seke: to supporte and ayde the old aged people. to vysite and conforte the prysonners: to burye the dede bodyes / to susteyne and deffende the poure wydowes. and the poure orphelins / and alle other poure people for Exā the loue of our lord. ¶ Example. It is sayd that a synner wente in to the hospytal of Jherusalem for to serue the poure people. And it happed on a tyme that he weesshe the fret of a poure man whiche was a mesele / and ful of botches of whom he had grete abomynacion. bnt anon as he felt hym self so abhorred he drāk a grete draght of that fonl water of whiche he had wesshed the fret of the poure man ayenst hys herte. but he felte it swete aboue alle other drinkes and oygnementes / this was a grete sygne that alle hys synnes were pardoned and forgyuen by that werke of mercy / ¶ Example / It is redde of a noble lady that loued moche the lepres and meseles / And dyde to them moche good. her husbond was a knyght & a riche [Page] man. and abhorred them and myght not see them: It happed on a day he was not at home. & a lepre come to the yate of thys noble lady And anon she demaunded hym yf he wold ete or drynke. he answered that he myght not. but prayed her that she wold brynge hym in to her lordes chambre. for to lye and reste hym on hys bedde. For he had therof grete desire. er he ete or dranke / And she said to hym. thou knowest wel how my lord hath grete abhominacyon of mesellis: yf he fynde the in his bedde / it myght be cause that bothe thou and I myght be slayn For he shal anon retorne and com home. And the lepre began then ne to wepe: The lady myght not endure to see hym wepe ne waylle. but anon she toke hym in her armes and bare hym in to the chambre and leyd hym on hyr bedde: and leyed a softe pelowe vnder his hede. and couered hym wyth her beest gownes. Anone after the knyght her husband came fro huntyng alle wery and sayd to the lady hys wyf: Dame open the dore of my chambre / For I will goo lye and slepe. I am alle hote the lady whyche was sore a ferd. and doubted moche the deth of the lepre more than of her self dyde not anon his comaundement. wherfore the lord in grete angre brake vp the dore of the chambre And leyd hym doun on hys bedde. and whan he had rested a whyle: he cam to the lady and said to her Dame ye haue now wel made my bedde. but I mernaylle how ye haue so wel arayed it: and where ye haue goten these good odours and swete smelle wherof all the chambre is so swete & smelleth so wel in trouthe that mē semeth that I am in heuen. The lady whiche thought non other but the deth entred in to the chābre and fonde lyke as the lord sayd to her. And she fonde not the lepre / and she thenne by cause of the myracle that she sawe tolde vnto the lord alle that she had doon. And whan he vnderstode it. he was so constrayned / that he whyche was to fore fiers as a lyon was softe & dewnayre as a lombe / and by the merites of his wyf. was in suche wyse conuerted to our lord [Page] that for thēne forthon he ledde suche a lyf lyke as his wyf dyde. This is that saynt poul saith: that the euyl husbond shall be saued by the good wyf / that is to saie he shall be conuerted to our lord. The werkes of mercy gete grace and deuocion toward our lord. Seynt Jherome saith. that he remembreth not to haue seen a persone to deye of an euyll deth. that gladly dyde the werkes of merry. The werkes of mercy doon many good thynges to them that doon them. they taken a way the synnes of hym that is truly confessyd and repentaunt. and in lyke wyse as the water quenchyth the fyre. right so almesse quenchyth the synne of a persone. The werkes of mercy plese so moche to god that what thyng thou doest to the poure for the loue of him he holdeth it doon as to hym self / For at the day of Jugement he shal saie to the good that haue so doon them. Come on ye that blessyd ben of god my fader in the royaulme of heuen whiche is appareylled for you. I had hungre and thurst. and ye gaaf to me both mete and drynke I haue be naked and ye cladde me. I haue ben labouring on the way and ye haue herberowed me. I haue ben seke and in prison / and ye haue vysyted me. what someuer ye haue doon to the leste of my poure people. ye haue doon it to me. And they that haue not accomplysshid the sayd werkes of mercy shal be sente to the fyre of helle lyke as the gospell saith / & knowe thou that alle onely for to refresshe the poure man. to ayde or to conforte hym. to herberow hym. or to gyue to hym [...] lytyl water to drynke. or to doo ony good after thy faculte for the loue of god he shal yelde to the grete guerdon and reward and all that thou doest to them / or gladly woldest haue doon yf thou haddyst myght. veryly he shall holde it for doon: and shall rewarde it to the

¶ How almesse shold be doon and wherof. Capitulo xij

MOche people lesen theyr almesse and other good thynges that they doo / by cause they doo it not as it shold be doon. [Page] For who that wyl doo almesse to thende that it be prouffytable and playsant to god: he ought to byholde thre thīges. Firste wherof for he ought to doo it of his owen. and not of other mennes / and of that he hath of hys propre and good getyng. For god setteth nothyng of euyll yefte. Salamon saith that who that doeth almesse or sacrifice to god of the catayll or goodes of the poure people. it dooth to hym also grete desplaysyre. as he that shold slee thy sone afore thyn eyen. Also a man ought to take hede to whome he dooth hys almesse. thou oughtest not to byholde the synnar that is to saye. thou shal not leue to gyue to them by cause of their synnes ne euyl deedes / but for pyte & compassyon of their pourete of theyr wyues. or of theyr chyldren for to kepe themfro sinne / Example It is redde of a Exā religyous man whan he had money / he gaue it to comyn wymen and said to them. loo here is thy substance for thys day. I praye the that thou synne not this day. Men ought gladly to gyue to the poure peple shamfast and to faderles chyldren / to poure widowes. & to the malades and seek peple whan it is seen to be nede but aboue alle other. one is bounden to his fader and moder whan they haue nede. For nature enseygneth it & god comaūdeth it. The maistres naturiens sayen that the stork nouresshith his fader and moder whan they be olde & may not helpe them self. Thenne nature techeth what ought to be doon. to fader and moder / and yf one doeth not he doth ayenst nature and synneth ayenst the comandement of god And therfore it is wel reason that he or she meschieue that misdoeth to fader and moder lyke as oftymes happeth. Also we ought do it gladly & with good herte. For the holy scripture sayth to vs. that god beholdeth more the herte than the honde saint gregorie saith that god beholdeth not what grete thyng ys gyuen. but wyth w. hat herte. And more playseth to god an halfpeny that a poure man gyueth gladly: than yf a riche man gaaf an. C. [...] wyth grutchyng. Somme be so rude and hard to the poure people [Page] Whan they ax [...] them almesse / that an [...]n they an [...]u [...] them by laynously and calle them truāts and saye to them many reproches to fore they gyue to them ony thyng. Whiche is a grete tō fusion: That almesse plesith not to god: Also a man ought to gyue anon & not to saye goo and com agayn whan a man may doo it forthwyth / many ryche men make the poure people to crye at theyr doo [...]es and longe stand / whiche haue to doo in other places. and so ofte praye / that ouer dere they selle the boū [...]e that they doo / Seneqe sayth that ther is nothyng so dere bought as that whiche is had by prayers. Almesse whiche is made by a mans lyf is more worth than that whiche is doon after his deth. lyke as the lanterne whiche is b [...]n to fore lygh teth the conduit of the way better and more surely that dooth that whiche is born behynde his backe. Also one ought to gyue after hys myght and puissaunce. For the scripture saith / yf thou haue moche gyue largely. and yf thou haue lytyll gyue gladly / Example. A poure man demaunded of a kyng apeny And he ansuerd that so lytyl a yefte apperteyned not to a k [...]g The kyng Alysaundre gaaf to one his seruaunt a Cyte. and he refused it by cause it was so grete a thyng. Alysaunder an suered. I haue no regarde to that: that apperteyneth the to take but I beholde what thyng apperteyneth me to gyue / yf thou haue nothyng to gyue. yet haue thou good wylle For Saynt Gregorie saith that the hande was neuer wyde of gyuynge: whan the cheste of the herte is ful of good wylle / whan thou shalt doo almesse: doo not for preysyng of the world: For then ne thou shalt lese it. Aand despise not the poure. as somme doo that daygne not to see nor speke to them. but yf yt be rudely & desdaygn [...]usly. For they be of suche matere as thou art. And thou as they bee▪ ¶ Somme ther be that doo moche almesses but for alle that they leue not to synne. and suche almesses saue them not. ¶ For yf they deye in suche estate. neuer shal theyr almesses kepe them too dampnacyon. And therfore [Page] sayth the scripture. yf thou wylt playse god. haue fyrst pyte of thy soule / ¶ And saynt Austyn sayth who that wyll to al messe / ought to begynne at hym self the fyrst: that is to wete. to sette hym self out of dedely synne. Somme may demaunde as doon the relygyous whiche haue not wherof to doo almesses. ¶ For they haue nothyng propre to them self. ¶ The relygyous of the cloystre sayen trouthe. For they may nothynge gyue wythout licence of hys souerayn / the whyche ought not to refuse the lycence to gyue yf it be demaunded of them / And they haue wherof to gy [...]e. but they speke not of one point whiche is in theyr rule / For also they ought not to take ony yeftes without lycence They that haue offyces may better and ought to gyue that whyche remayneth of theyr prebendes▪ For therfore were they delyuered to them of good folke and not for to despende them in euyl vsages. as [...]many doo wherof they shal rendre compte atte day of dome: ¶ For saynt Ambrose sayth that the chyche hath gold and syluer / to thende that it be gyuen to the poure for the loue of our bord Jhesu criste. and not to thende that it be euyll spent and dystrybuted / I saye veryly [...]at for to doo almesse none may excuse hym poure ne riche ne Relygyous ne other ¶ For yf he haue nothing to gyue. yet yf he haue good wyll it suffiseth: ¶ And who hath not wher of to doo bodely almesses. late hym doo almesses spyrytuelles ¶ That is to saye: praye for the synnes / and euyll persones wyth good herte and deuoutly. and fede them by deuoute owy son and good admonicyou wyth good example. And of goode techynges of that he wel knoweth: For an holy man sayth that it is a greter thing to fede the soule whiche shall alle way endure than the body whyche shal deye▪ ¶ Example. Sayut Johan thamener that was patriarke of alisaunder recounteth that in his tyme the poure folke satte on a day Exā in the sonue and spaken of them that gladly▪ gaaf to them for goddes sake. ¶ [...]ygh [...] vnto the cyte wys a rich [...] [Page] man named Peter whyche wold nothyng gyue to them. of whom they moche spake of One of them said to the other. what wyl ye gyue to me yf I may doo so moche▪ that I haue almesse of hym / The couenauntes were made. And the poure went forth to fore hys hous and demaunded almesse of hym. The mayster cam and mette hys seruaunt whyche bare two loues of breede for to gyue to dogges or to hogges: he toke one of them by cause he coude not fynde stones redyly and by grete [...]ndignacyon thre we at the poure man. And he anone toke the loof and went to hys felawes: and sayd to them that he had goten it by grete frendshyp. / It happed that two dayes after Peter was seek / And hym thought in hys slepyng / that he was tofore god atte dome and iugement. And that his good dedes and euyl dedes were poysed and weyed in a balaūce whiche he had doon The aungellis whyche were on that other parte were all angry / by cause they founde noo good dedes that he had doon for to put in to that other parte of the balaunce / We haue nothyng said an angel for to put in to the balance but a lytyl loof▪ suche as he gyueth to his hogges whiche he gaaf in grete despyte to a poure man. it is not ij dayes yet agoon. whā it was sette in the balaunce it semeth to hym that it was egal to the euyllis. Thenne said the angel to him goo hens / and doo somme other good that thou be not dampned. he a woke and tolde his vision to the holy patriarke: and said to him in this manere: Syre a lytyl loof of bred hath thus delyuered me too the handes of the deuyllis: Shal I not be better delyuered yf I gyue all for the loue of god It happed on a day that he was clad wyth a fayre robe / and he sawe a poure man alle naked whyche demaunded of hym a goun for the loue of god. And anon he despoylled hym self. And gaaf to hym that goune. And the ponre man wente and solde it whan Peter knewe it he was moche sory and began to wepe / ¶ And myght not etene drynke but sayd to hym self Alas I am not worthy that [Page] thys poure man shold ha [...]e my gowne. to thende that he shold remembre me. whan he was a slepe he sawe our lord Jhesu cryste cladde in hys gowne and sayd to hym / Peter wherfore wepest thou. whan he had sayd the cause. our lord sayd to him knowest thou thys robe. ye syr sayd he in slepyng / I haue euery day cladde me wyth all sayd our lord syth that thou hast gyuen it me. and I thanke the: For I had grete colde. and thou hast cladde me. thēne he awoke & praysed moche thestate of the poure peple sayeng that he shold s [...]o doo that he shold be as poure as they. he gaaf alle that he had for the loue of god. exepte / x. li. whyche he reteyned / and sayd to hys secretary. lede me to the holy cyte & there selle me to somme cristen man for to be his seruaunt. and gyue the money that thou shal receyue for me for goddis sake to poure folke and loo take here▪ x: li for thy labour Thenne the seruannt ledde hys maystre in to the cyte cladde wyth right foul clothyng: and sold hym to an argenter for xxx pens & after gaaf them for the loue of god. Peter serued hys mayster right truly-and dyde all the labour of the hous. in suche wyse that the other seruauntes had enuye at hym. and desprised hym and ofte bete hym. Our lord ofte appered to hym and shewde to hym hys clothes that he had gyuen to poure folke for the loue of hym and reconforted hym. Themperour of constantynoble was moche sorouful by cause he had loste suche a man as peter was. hyt happed that hys neyghbours cam in to Jherusalem in pylgrimage. & were lodged in his maisters hous. & whan they satte atte diner. they sawe peter that semed them & was in poure estat. & that on said▪ to that other. see how this seruaūt ress [...]bleth well sire peter the chaūger: vereli sayd that other it is he. I shal arise & take hym / and shall lede hym hom / whan peter herd this he fledde & went his way. the portier of the hous was deef & dombe. & by signes opened the gate. peter said to him open the gate to me. & anon he recouerd hys heering & spekyng. and ansuerd him & opened to him the gate [Page] And peter went out & fledde. & the portier cam in to the hous They of the hous were moche abasshed they sawe hym speke: and here: And told to them that he that made dene the kychen is goon and fledde a way, but certaynly he is byloued of god For whan he bade me to open the gate / Anon yssued out of his mouth a flame / the whyche touched my tongue and myn eeres / And forth with I recouered speche and hering: And anon alle they wēte out and rāne after hym. but they coude not fynde hym. Thenne alle they of the hous dyden penaunce by cause they had so vylaynsly entreated hym. By thys example mayst thou see: how it is good to doo almesse. The holy scrypture sayth that lyke as water quenchyth fyre. so almesse quen chyth synne of hym that is confessed and repentaunt

¶ Of the x comaudemens of the lawe. Capitulo xiij

FOurthly charite she weth her in obseruyng and kepynge the ten comaundementis of the lawe the whiche god gaaf to moises of whom saīt iohan saith. The charite of god is to kepe his comaundementes. Also sayth the holy euangelyste yf thou wylt come to the lyf perdurable that is the Joye of heuen kepe the comaūdementes of god The fyrst cōmaundemēt of god is this. Thou shalt not bylene ne serue neput [...]thy hope ne seyth but in me & thou shalt haue none other god but me he or she that dooeth the contrarye synneth dedely and doth ay enst the fyrst commaundement. Suche ben they as adoure and worshype ydolles: and make theyr god of creatures. And not of the creatour & maker / lyke as they doo that ouermoch loue their tresour. be it gold or syluer or ony other erthely thīg and sette all theyr herte and their hope therin. that they forget of tymes god whiche hath alle gyuen it to them¶ The secōd cōmandement is this ¶ Thou shalt not take the name of god in vayn that is to saie thou shalt not swere for nought & not without good cause. this same cōmādement defēdeth god our lord in the gospell saieng that thou shalt not swere by he¶uen ne by [Page] erthe ne by other creature But for good cause a man may swere without synne. as in iugement whan trouthe is demanded / or out of Jugement in other good cause. and other wyse ought noman to swere. For who that swereth without reason the name of our lord he periureth hym self fassly wetyngely. and synneth dedely: that is to saye whan one swereth knowyng. aduysedly. and by deliberacion. who that swereth truly to his wetyng and for nought nothyng malicyously / but lyghtly and without blasphemye he synneth venyally: and custome is perillous and may wel torne to dedely synne. But he that swereth horribly by our lord. by malyce and by angre synneth dedely and may not excuse hym. An oth made ayenst the charyte of god and ayenst the soule of hym that swereth ayenste another ought not to be holden ne kept, & of suche an othe one ought moche to repente and to confesse the said synne to a mā of the chyrche that is wyse and vnderstondyng. The third comaundement of god is this. Thou shalt halowe and kepe the sonday and the festes comaunded And thou shalt not werke ne doo werke / and thou shalt kepe the fro synne to thy power. yf ony thyng. be in perill to be destwied or lost not for to abyde tyl on the morn. as a beest to lye in a dyche or suche thyngis lyke. holy chyrche suffreth. that on the holy day be had remedye And on the sayd day of feste a man ought to entende but on the werkes of mercy and of our lord. And therfore a man ought to cesse & leue other werkes contrarie. especyally for to synne dedely. & of daūcyng. but yf it be for sōme good cause / for many euyllis & synnes comen therof. as for to be proud: & to coueyte faire robes & riche Jewellis. enuye. lecherie / slouthe to doo well engendren therof. For it is tyme loste / and ther be many disportes of the world whiche ben contrarie to the soule / saynt austyn saith that it were better to laboure therthe on the sōday than to daūce or playe vnlefull games. and yet to soo doo is dedely synne. ¶ Example. It is redde of a woman that Exā [Page] haunted the daunces / and moche gladly daunced and songe. & arrayed her self merueyllously of ryche and fayre clothing and Jewellys. It happed that thenes wold fayn haue robbed her of her robes and Joyaulx. But the deuyl keyte her alway. & sayd to the theues: how be ye so hardy to wylle to robbe her for ye knowe wel she is proprely oures. For she hath made vs to wynne moo wymen. than haue doon alle oure other famyllye For she admonesteth and encorageth alle other to daunce and to doo many synnes by her vestymentes. And in thus sayeng the deuyl bete strongly the thenes. ¶ Example. Seynt grego Exā rye recounteth in his dyalogue that our lady appered in a vys [...] on to a mayde that had sette her loue in a relygyous man named probas. whiche tolde it hym of his suster / to whome our lady shewed a companye of ryght fayre virgynes lyke to her eage. clad in white And in ryght shynyng habytes. whan she saw them she had moche grete desire to be Joyned and put in theyr companye: but she durst not Thenne the glorious virgyne marye moder of mercy demaunded her yf she wold be wyth the vyrgynes that she sawe come wyth her. and she sayd ye our swete lady demaunded her yf she myght kepe her fro dauncyng. and she ansuerd ye. Thenne she comaūded that she shold kepe her fro than forthon / fro light thynges / fro alle playes & yong voluptuosytees. & af the. xxx. day after she sholde com wyth the virgines that she had seen. whā the vision was departed the maide chaūged her condicions so wel that there were neyther disporte ne lawhinges ne cōpanie of other maidens that she wold ensiewe ne folowe. For whiche cause her fader & moder were strongly admerueilled & demaūded her wherfore she was so styll / & she recoūted to them her aduysyon that she hade seen. whiche was trewe. For on the tenthe day a feuer or sekenes toke her. And on the: xxx: day thende of her lyf approched ¶ And thenne she sawe the sayde moder of mercy come to her with the virgines afore sayde whyche called her swetely. And she ansuered. lady loo I come. and wyth that wys she rendred [Page] her spyryte. And her soule went wyth the virgines in to Joye perdurable. ¶ Now hast thou herde how the danncyng desplaised to our lord: and plaised moche to the deuyl. Thou maist wel dannce whan thou maryest ony of thy chyldren or of the neces of thy parentes. and the day of thy feste for gladnesse & for Joye. but in no wyse doo it not for Jolinesse ne for synne: ¶ Example. The holy scrypture saith that the kyng dauyd Exā whan he dyde do bringe the arke of the olde testament fro one place to another / made grete Joye and daunced wyth dyuerse Instrumentes of musyke. Ye yonge maydens. yf it behoueth you to goo to ony feste or playe: put your self alleway in goode companye And kepe you welle fro gooing in ony place secrete for oftymes there cometh therof ouer moche euyll ¶ For Amon whyche was sone of kynge Dauyd whan he had hys suster named Thamar. secretly in hys Chambre he defoylled her by force: The whyche thyng he had not doon yf they had ben in goode companye. thus sayth the holy scripture. Item holy chirche ordeyneth and comaundeth. that euery cristen creature here masse alle hole vnto the benediccion of the preest on the sondayes. for the beste of the masse is fro the preface vnto the ende of the masse. all they that doo not soo yf they haue not grete empesshement and lettyng. synne moche gryuously. and lese the prouffyt of the masse / whyche is so grete that it may not be comprysed. ¶ The fourth commaundement of our lord is this: thou shalt honoure & worship thy fader & moder and thon shalt lyue the more longe on the erthe. ¶ This commaūdement admonesteth vs that we kepe vs fro angrīg of fader and of moder to our wytyng and of alle hys power for who that dooth the contrarye. and helpeth them not of hys power in their necessite: he sinneth dedely. & falleth in meschief in this world or in that other: and this comādement was suche in the old lawe that who someuer cursed fader or moder he was pnt to deth / Exāple. the holy scripture saith that absalon Exā [Page] sone of the kyng dauyd made grete werre ayenst his fader. It happed on a day that the bataylle shold assemble for to fyghte And whan they assembled Absalon whyche fledde vpon a mule passed vnder a tree bare heded. And he had moche heer on his hede: whiche toke the braunche of a tree. and the mule ranne strongly▪ and he abode hangyng by his heer on a braunche of the tree And he that ranne after hym slew [...] hym with a spere. And wold not that ony harme shold be doon to the other of hys partye / by cause he poursiewed his fader. ¶ Another Example. It is redde that in normandye there was a man Exā and a woman moche ryche & hadde but one sone. whom they maryed rychely. and gaaf to hym the most parte of theyr hauoyr and good in hope whan they were olde he shold gouerne them. The sone was moche ryche for he kepte hys good and despended it not. It happed that the fader and moder were olde and myght not wynne ony thyng. The fader sayd to hys sone / I and thy moder ben olde. and may not lyue longe. wherfore we wyl come and duelle with the. & take that we haue. The sone to whom it playsed nothyng sayd to hym. I shal speke to my wyf therof / and yf she wyll I wyll well / he spak therof to hys wyf▪ the whyche ansuered to hym that she had no nede of a maystre ne maistresse. & after he cam & tolde it to his fader. the whyche went fro hym moche sorouful and angry▪ hyt happed that the day of a grete feste the fader had nothyng arayed ne made redy to ete. and came to hys sone whiche was thenne at hys table and had y nowe redy for his dyner▪ but whan he herd hys fader come he made hyde all the mete▪ hys fader come to hym and sayde. Fayre sone I & thy moder haue nothyng now to ete. wherfore gyue to vs som what. The sone ansuered we haue nothyng but br [...]de and win yf it please you b [...]k your fast with vs. The fader whiche knewe wel the contrarie retorned sore wepyng. and anone as he was out of the hous. the sone dyde do bringe forth the mete [Page] But whan he supposed to haue take the beste piece [...]here came a grete tode [...] toke hym by the ouer lyppe in suche wyse that whā he wold ete. he muste with that one hand lyste vp the [...]de. and wyth that other he put the mete in hys mouth. he sente for a preste for to confesse hym / and recounted to hym all the fayt. The preste bad hym that he shold goo to the archibysshop whiche was a wyse man. and dyscret for to gyue to hym penaūce competent. to thende that he shold gyue exāple to other / Thar chebysshop sayd to hym that he muste goo to the pope: and that he shold in alle places that he came shewe hys maladye and telle the cause. he cam to the pope and told hym all the tronthe whiche helde it doon for a myracle▪ and assoylled hym and bad hym to crie mercy to hys fader and moder. And fro than forthon he shold doo to them the beste that he wyght. And thus thenne the tode teparted fro hym. and he amended hym. Item they do [...] ayenst comaundement that bere no [...] worshyp ne honour to theyr fader and moder ghostly: & to theyr prelates. curates. and maystres of our lord. and they that selle or bye in the chyrche. or doon other thyng that ought to be doon. For it is the hons ofgod in the whiche ought noo thyng to be doon but to seme god hys moder and hys sayntes. ¶ Example. It is redde that constantyn Exā the grete emperour of rome sayd thus yf I sawe a preste synne / I shold couere hym wyth my mantel to thende that noo persone shold see hym ne knowe hys synne for the sklandre and deshonour that myght happen thys is ayenst them that dyscoueren the synnes of theyr faders goostly. as dyd the euyl Cayn whyche dyscouered hys fader Noe for to see his membres naturel. For whyche ca [...]se hys fader made hym bonde to hys bretheren and alle hys lygne. & [...]oo thenne forthon began seruytude / as witnesseth scripture: The fyfeth comaundement is. Thou shalt do [...] noon homycyde / that is to saye. thoushaltsle noman. In thys commandemaunt god defended the that [Page] thou shalt [...]lé no man but by good J [...]styce. & that thou t [...]re non hate ne ran [...]our to ony other. For the scripture sayth he that hateth his brother is an homycyde: Also that thou desyre not the deth of an other for ony euyll cause. hate longe kepte. holden and roted in the herte is dedely synne: But Jre and indygnacion that passeth lyghtly without parfyght will and consentīg to greue another is not dedely synne. Ayenst thys commanndement synneth he that doeth or purchaseth shame or dommage to ony other wrongfully. or is in connseyll or helpyng to hurte and grieue another for to aduenge hym. ¶ They that in necessite socoure not the poure / after theyr power shall be pugnisshed as homycydes. yf by theyr defaulte they deye. And he that doeth hys flesshly synne. or ony other euyl werke that a man may not engendre ne woman conceyue / ought to haue penaū ce as an homycyde / thys saith the lawe Canon. ¶ The. vj commaundement is this Thou shalt do [...] noo fornycacyon. In thys commaundementis deffended alle the synne of lecherie and alle flesshly cōpanye of wymen. but yf it be thy wedded wyf. And a man ought to kepe hym well fro goyng to C [...] myn wymmen. For it is right grete synne by cause they spare none fader ne brother. Cosyn ne kynnesman: Saynt poule sayth that we be not only to our self but to god that hath redemed vs. ¶ Item he saith that we be the temple of the holy ghoost. [...]f thou haue abandonned thy body to the synne of lecherye. thou hast taken it away fro Jhesu criste▪ and hast put it in thādes of the [...]ende of helle. and thou hast made of the monastery of the holy ghoost. the sygnagoge of the deuyl. And therfore admonesteth saynt poul them that wyl not absteyne them fro synne. that they marye them. For it is better for them to be maryed: than to be brent / ¶ Example / It is said that in vitis patrum Exā it is wreton that a pylgrym deyde in a wode: Our lorde sente an angel vnto an hermite for to burye hym / And as th [...]y [Page] b [...]ried hym [...]hermyte stopped his nosethrylles for the st [...]nche of the body. And there cam rydyng a yong man whyche was moche lecherous whyche passed by them vpon a fayre hors sadled wyth a sadle gylt. And thys yong man had on hys heed a chapellet of flowres. And anon the angel stopped hys nose for the comyng of the yong man / & nothyng for the stenche of the dede corps / And the hermyte demaunded of the angel why he abhorred more the yong man than the dede body. The angel an [...]ered to hym that the flessh of enery good & holy man shal be of ryght good odour to fore god: but men fele it not by cause they be nourrisshed in sinne whiche is swete to them and wel smellyng▪ but the synne of a lecherous man is moche foule and horrible in the sight of god and of hys angellys / The vij commandement is thys. Thou shal do [...] no thefte / This commandement defendeth vs to take ouy other thynge what someuer it [...] and to reteyne it wihout rayson. In this commandemēt is defended rapyne. vsure / and. deceyte. as for to d [...]eyue another for to haue hys. and for to bye thyng that is wel knowen / is euyl taken: He that doeth ayenst this commandemēt is bounden to rendre and restore agayn alle that he hath euyl goten / yf he wote to whom. & yf he wote not to whom he oughte to do [...] after the coūseyll of holy chyrche. For otherwise he shold Exā synne dedely ¶ Example. We rede of a preste whiche had a paresshen that was an vsurier. And neuer wold restore ony thyng at his deth / And whan he whas dede the preste wolde not bnrye hym in the chyrche yerd by cause that after the counseyl of old saintes and deuoute men. the vsuriers ought not to be leyed in place halowed yf they yelded not agayn to theyr power alle that they had receyued by vsure of other men but as [...]saye the prophete saith in hys xiiij chapytre / the vsurer ought to haue sepulture of an asse / and ought not to be put ne buryed emong them whos bodyes re [...]eth in pease / It happed that the frendes of this vsurer debated strongly ayenst thys preeste [Page] to thende that he shold be buryed in the chyrcheyerd / whauthe preste saw that he myght not endure for them he made his praer to our lord / and after said to them. leie the dede bodi vpon an asse. and late vs see the wyll of god. And to what place he shal bere it. be it in the chyrche or in the chyrcheyerd I shal burie hit Thenne whan they had leyd the dede body on the asse / he went neither to the chyrche ne to the chyrcheyerd. but went and bare the body strayt to the galowes where as the theuys hange. and there lete it falle doun and after retorned home at whyche place it was buryed: ¶ The viij commandemaūt is thys. Thou shalt bere no fals wytnes / In thys comandement isdefended to the that thou saye nothyng ayēst trouthe for to hurte ony other ne for to lye. For in a good persone ought nothyng to be but trouthe: who that periureth hym self wetyngly he breketh the comandement and synneth dedely. Thenne who for to delyuer a man fro deth forswereth hym self he synneth dedely For to doo ony good dede what someuer it be non ought to pariure hym self. and in lyke wyse none ought to synne dedely. The is comaundement is this▪ Thou shalt not desire ne coueyte auother mans wyf That is to saye▪ thou oughtest not to hane aduisemēt ne desire to haue flessly companie with anosher mans wyf / For the consent withont more shold be dedely ynne after the sentence of the gospel whiche saith / who seeth a woman and coueyteth her in hys herte. he thenne synneth hym self. that is to saie whan the consentemeut is expressed and for thought. For the wyll parfait: is reputed for the dede▪ and yf this thought come to the. and thou consentest not ne delytest the rin but it dysplaiseth the that is not dedely synne. but thou mayste haue therby meryte. by cause thou ouercomest the deuyl whiche entiseth the. the difference of this comandement fro the vj a foresaid is that the vj comandement defendeth the dede without forth / & this defendeth the consentig withinforth. yf the seme that thou doo ony sinne in slepyng yf to fore thy sleping or [Page] after thou woldest for nothing haue doon it / but it desplayseth the / and is not by thy faulte happed / thou synnest not. This comandement defendeth alle desyres and consentyng to haue flesshly companye to another mans wyf and other woman whateuer she be / but yf it be to thy wedded wyf. It defendeth the euyll signes without forth. whiche may drawe folk to synne as be euyll wordes and dyshoneste. and also alle foulle gropynges & touchynges. Alas that this comandement is euyll kept. wherof comen many harmes / In these dayes is not retched to require wedded wymmen / and to styre and cause them to synne / wherof folowen many peryllis. for many of them haue chyldren. whiche ben not theyr housbondes. And thus be he rytiers of them that they be nothyng of kynne ne sibbe to. and the right ful heyres ben desherited. and faders and moders be dāpned cruelly. And of this sinne the cristen men setten lasse therby than doo the paynems or sarasyns. ¶ Example. The holy Exā scrypture sayth that whan Abraham wold passe the royame of egypte. by cause he knewe well that the egypciens were lecherous. he said to his wyf. that she shold saie that she was his suster by cause she was fayre▪ and specially for they shold slee him and take her away / whan they were in the cyte where the king was she was anon taken and ledde vnto the kynge. but whā he knewe that she was wyf to abraham. how wel that he was a paynem he was moche angri. And he neuer touched her. bnt blamed moche abraham of that he sayd she was hys suster and was his wyf. and made to. lede them out of his royame and gaaf. to them many yeftes. Example. we rede in holy scripture of the wyf of putyphar whiche was mayster of the Chyualrie of the kyng of egypte whiche had bought Joseth that whan she sawe Joseph by cause he was so fayre a yong man she wold haue made hym to haue leyen by her oftymes by force. And in thende she had him in her chambre: & toke him by the mātel & wold haue enforced him to haue sinned with hir. but [Page] he lefte his mantel whychè she heldé fasté and fledde away fro hyr sayeng / I shal neuer doo that vylonnye to my mayster. whiche hath delyuèred to me for to gouerne alle that he hath. reserued her wold god that alle the seruantes were also trewe to theyr maystres as he was. and alle wymen better to theyr housbondes than she was. The. x. comandement is this. thou shalt not coueyte thyng that longeth to thyn neyghbour▪ This comā dement defendeth the all manere wyll to haue ony others gaod wrongfulli: ayēst this comādemt doon the ryche men whā they knowe that theyr poure neyghbours haue gardyns or lendes or other thinges nyhe to them anon they wyll haue it & they yf will not deliuer it to them at theyr wyll / they menace them or hurte or diffame them & therfore it is cominly said who that hath a good neyghbour hath good morow. in this comandement is defended enuye at other mannes wele or good or at his grace or welfare. this is an euyll couetise. & whan the consente is acerteined and concluded in his thought it is dedeli sinne. but whan the thought cometh and no consent gyuen therto it is venial synne.

Of the good that god grannted to the childre of israel / C. xiiij

OF goodes that god graunted to the children of Israel yf they kept wel his comādemetis. & the euillis to them that kept them not wel / by cause that for the sinne of our first fader Adam for ony good that we dyde myght none come in heuen to fore the passion of our lord. but in behoued that alle descēded in to helle good & euil how well that the good had not peyne. but that they were in derknesse. & abod the comyng of our lord ihū crist. these ben the goodes that our lord promised to the chyldren of israel yf they kept wel his comādemēts / and how wel that by the grace of hym we may now gete heuen / yf it be not longyng ou vs / thns he prometteth to vs. yf ye doo & kepe my comādements said our lord I shal gyue to yow rayne in your nede. your lond & yonr trees shal gyue to you fruyt so habundantly / [Page] that whan the newe shal come▪ ye shall cast away the olde. Item I shal gyue to you suche peas that non shal mowe grieue you. & yf ony enforce them ayenst you. I shal gyue to you so grete strengthe. that fyue of you shal make an honderde of them to flee. and ye shal ete. slepe & reste in surete: & non shall angre you: & noo euyl bestes shall destroie your fruittes I shal not forgete yon. bnt I shal all way be with you / & I shal be your god. & ye shal be my people: and yf ye kepe not my comā demautis saith our lord. after that ye haue laboured youre landes & vygnes. ther shal com stronge peple whiche shall destroie your fruites and shall robbe you. and shal defoule your wyns and shal slee yon and your children. and after whan ye shal haue laboured your londes and sette your vygnes / they shal gyue noo fruit but shal be destroied with tempeste and wasted with thondre & lyghtnyng / alas we haue oftymes proued for our self. and lytyl we haue amended vs and corected vs for our synnes. verely all that we haue suffred and suffre yet it is not but for our sinnes / for the holy scripture saith that if we had none iniquitees we shold suffre non aduersitees

¶ Of the fyue wyttes of nature. Capitulo xv

GOd haue gyuen to the v wyttes of nature / and the mē bres of thy body for to kepe his comandemēts▪ andfor to serue hym & to sane thy self. and hath gyuen to the an herte for to thynke wel and in specyall for to loue hys and to remembre hys grares and the benefaittes that he hath doon to the lyke as it hath be said to the tofore of charite. nothing to thynke on synne. for fro the herte come the vices and the synnes. For to fore that thou makest thou thynkest on them & ben made in thy herte / lyke as saith saint Gregorie god hath gyuē to the thyn eyen for to lede the and for to behold the in pyte and for to see the merueyllous werkes that he hath made spirituel in heuen on the sonne & on the moue / and on the sterres whiche [Page] moeuen day and nyght wythout [...]ssyng and without fallyng of one onely poynt. and certes lyke as sayth saynt poul / they be wel worthy to knowe god and his vertu. and to shewe his dignite and his glorie. Ceries who that neuer had seen them shold moche merueille for to see them. and to thynke how fro this paynful lyf we shold mounte vp aboue them. And therfor he hath made our visage toward. heuen. Thou oughtest not to byholde so stedfastly the thynges whiche thou oughtest not to coueyte. as ben som tyme these wymen whiche byholden so fixly the men / and the men the wymen / whiche cause eche other oftymes and gyue occasion. to sinne For as the wise man saith fro seyng they falle to speche fro speche to touchyng. fro touch [...]g to kyssyng / fro kyssyng to the dede. ¶ Example. by cause that Exā dauid beheld the wyf of vrye ouer aduisedly he fylle in the sinne of aduoulterie & par aduenture he had neuer seen her tofore After he had gyuen to the / ee [...]s for to here the sermons and▪ al le good wordes: and alle that ought and myght touche thy saluacion. and not for to here euyl wordes and deshoneste whyche tourne to synne & euyll reportes. O lord god how many be ther of these euyl herkners and reporters. Certaynly yf ther were non euyll herkners. ther shold be non euyll reporters / For gladly is nothing re [...]poted. but to them / that be knowen and wyl gladly heere it Thou onghtest to note that god hath not gyuen to the but one mouth. and he hath geuyn to the ij eeres. to thende that thou be more redy to here. than to speke lyke as sayth saynt James. Be diligent to here the good. and slowe to speke the euyl. After god hath gyuen to the a nose for to smelle how our lord is swete and debonayre as dauyd the prophete saith. and not for to delyte in the filthe and odours of this world: After he hath gy [...] to the a mouth and a tongue for to seme. praise and rendre [...] him thākynges of the goodes that he hath doon to the. and not for to saye euyll wordes for to bac [Page] byte and deffame other / for the thondre and tempeste whiche [...]o undeth and destwieth all that it attaingneth. ne quarellis fleyng ne speres percyng. ne fyre brennyng. ne serpēt enuenymed fleyng / doo not so moche harme & [...]uyll vnto the world. as doo the euyll tongues / After god hath gyuen to the the hondes for to doo almesse and good werkes / and he hath gyuen to the thy fret for to bere the to the chirche and monastery: and in to alle good places▪ and alle thy▪ body for to seme hym & to saue thy self: Example. we rede that ther wer two religious men whiche dnellyd togider: and that one said to that other / that he that first deyed of them bothe shold come again yf it were to him possible. and saie to his felawe of his estate. & who it stode wyth hym. It happed that one of them deyed and appered to his felawe. the whiche demaunded of his estate and how it was with him. And he ansuered to him right enyl. For he felte right euyl anguyssh atte herte and sayd to him. I haue ben a religyous man good ynough atte herte pure and clene of alle thynges / But I haue ben of right euyll wyl For whych [...] th [...] ge I haue ben ouer sore tormented and shal be in purgatorie yet xv dayes. hys felawe ansuered to hym and said that is a lityl thyng or nought. The dede man replyed I had leuer be in the world xviij [...] yere. and to be euen daye alle flayn quycke thre tymes that to be in the peyne of purgatorie xv dayes

¶ Of the sowle Ca. xv

THer be many symple folke whiche saye that they knowe not what thing is the sowle. And that saye whan the body is dede that they shal neuer fele good ne euyl whiche is an euyl heresye to saye it. and worse yet to byleue yt ¶ And by that they putte them in many synnes. By cause we haue to fore spoken of the fyue wyttes of nature. ¶ why the may nothynge without the sowle ¶ we wyl here speke som what / For to gyue som techyng ¶ Many [Page] philosophers hau [...] spoken in many inan [...]rs / but we ought to byleue the saieng of saintes and good catholyke & holy maistres whyche sayen. that the soule is a substance spyrituell and reasonable created of nothyng for to quykene the humayn body for thou seest that whan the soule is out of the body. it abydeth all styl as a deed beeste and the man whan he engendreth the child he engendred nothing the soule / but god of his grace putteth the soule therin as saien the maistres. and is a thing perpetuel and entendyble wel made to the ymage of god. it is capable or capa [...] of vertues or of vices recouering peyne or reward. free of liberte / ornate of puissaunce and of affection it is no greter in a grete body than it is in a lytyl body / it hath no figure ne colour / The maistres saien: that it is grete by cause it is perdurable / it is rightwys and Juste by cause it desireth bounte. It is fayr and holy by cause it is partable of the deyte or godhede ne it shal neuer deye / but euer it shal lyue / be it in glorie or be it in peine / yf the sowle were mortal with the body. thenne were it no nede to requyre the saintes ferrene nere. the whiche helpe vs oftimes vnto our lord by theyr prayers. And alle way we be certayn and know verely that theyr bodyes bendede and is left of many but the bones thenne it appeireth that theyr soules lyue. the book of sapience techeth vs. that the soules of iust men lyuen perdnrably. and that their soules ben in the hand of god and the torment of malice shal not touche them. that is the malice of the deuyllis. And of the euyl soules saith the gospel. that atte day of dome they shal seke the deth. but they shal not fynde it. Sith thenne that thou seest thy soule is suche as may not deye kepe it thenne right clene. for the philosopher saith that god hath not deliuered it to the to thende that thou kepe it dishonestly by synne / but to thende that it growe in the vertue of good scyence and by good werkis. For as he sayth yf it be parfight to fore that it be departed fro thy body it shal be lyfte▪ vp to fore god to whom it hath plesed. ¶ And yf it be [Page] [...]parfight / it shall falle in to the depthe of helle without hope of euer to plese god. God loueth so moche the soule that he wold suffre deth & passion an the crosse so shamefully for it. as thou hast herd to fore recounted / whiche he wold not doo for alle the creatures of the world. A wyse man putteth an example and saith for to kepe wel the loue. yf the kyng had adoughter that he loueth wel & holde her dere to thende to make her quene of hys wyalme / and he deliuered her to kepe to som of hys subiectys / And yf he had euyl kepte hyr. I doubte not but that the kyng wold demande reason of his doughter / by cause he had kepte her neclygently. what shall then doo the kyng of heuen of hym to whom he hath delyuered his doughter that is the soule made to hys semblaunce whom he loueth so wel as thou hast herd to fore and entendith to make her queue in heuen yf she haue not be euil kept: And therfore saith the boke of detronomie kepe thy soule curiously & dyligently / he shal be wel happy that shal mowe saye to our lord Jhesu cust atte hour of his deth / Lord god my maker I rende to the my soule: And therfore god hath deliuered to the thy body as a castell for to kepe it wel. And therfor sayth saynt bernard / he kepeth wel his castell that kepeth the body fro sinne. where in the soule is enclosed Now hast thou herd what it is of the soule. therfore kepe wel thyn: to thende that thou mayst yelde good rekenyng & acomptes atte day of dome.

¶ Of the euyllis that synnes make vs to doo: Ca. xvij

TOfore erwe speke of synnes we shal saye of the euillis that synnes doon after the saieng of holy doctours: synne dooth to vs moche harme and causeth many euyllys tofore the deth and after the deth. ¶ Tofore the deth synne hurteth vs. Item it derketh our vnderstandyng that we may not knowe trouthe: It maketh our affeccion and our deuocōn negligēt that we may doo noo good. itē it despoilleth vs fro goodes of grace Itē it deffoilled our soule. it bindeth vs to ꝑpetuel [Page] paine: It maketh our conscience bytter / It hardeth vs in it / It yeldeth vs invisible. It sleeth the soule whan it priueth vs fro the loue of god whiche is lyf perdurable. Thou oughtest to knowe that venyal synne disposeth & gyueth the persone todeth But the dedely synne gyueth the deth: Obstynacion deteyneth & holdeth the persone in the deth. And knowe thou certaynly that one of the synnes groweth of another Fyrst the proud persone wyll be afore and aboue alle other and is enuyous yf ony be lyke or semblable to hym: and so therby he falleth in enuye. Then uyous by cause that lyghtly he is angry on him to whome he is enuyous. he falleth in the synne of wrath or Jre. he that is angry whan he may not venge him on whom he is angry. he falleth in slouthe. The slouthful by cause he wyll not ne may nothyng doo. he kepeth that he hath and becometh auaritious. The auaritious man beyng riche by canse he hath wel to ete & to drinke / he falleth in to glotonye The glouton whan he hath wel dronken & eten he falleth lyghtly in to lecherie / & thus mayst thou see how the synnes growen one of another. Item synne maketh of the man helle. For to the synnar is the fyre of auarice / the stenche of lecherye. derkenesse of Ignorance. Item it rendreth a man all wid. It deceyueth a man in makynge him good chere. It sheweth a man to be a fool. For saint Austyn saith that it is grete folye to lyue in suche▪ astate. wherinhe dar not deye. sinne greueth a man to the deth for at the deth the man is right greuo▪ whā he leseth his delites & the soulace of this world that he hath ledde that is to wite of drinking and eting with his frendes. of his richesses of disportes & plaies. & also is priued of his propre body the whiche he shal neuer recouere in suche forme: for whan the soule of the sinnar shal recouere his body atte day of dome. it shal be moche abasshed. and wold wel haue it agayn in the astate. as it was whā the wormes had half eten it in the sepulture / Item the synnar shal be moche abasshed at his deth whan he shal see the deuillis after ¶ the deth the sinnar shal haue [Page] grete shame and confusion whan the synnes shullen [...]e recounted to fore god and tofore alle his saintes of heuen. And our lord shall reproche hym by cause he had not doon the werkes of mercy as they haue ben tofore sayd / he shal be priued fro reste & fro light. ne the chyrche shal not praye for hym / and he shal be cast in to helle. Item he shal be departed fro god and all saītes of heuē and fro all good he shal falle fro thestate to doo werkes that ben good for his helthe: Now seest thou how synne ennoyeth to him that kepeth it in hys lyf / and whan he deyeth / and yet more whan he is dede / Therfore take hede yf thou wylt haue heuen

¶ Of the sinne of pryde / Capitulo xviij

[...]Any ther ben of symple people whiche know not what thyng sinne is. ne [...]onne not discerne it. but they can well doo it / wherfore I shal shewe to them some thyng by the helpe of god / without whiche may not be gyuen ony techyng ne declaracion / And fyrst of the synne of pryde▪ whyche is the synne that we haue and take of our fyrst fader Adam / the whyche he dide by hys disobeissaunce. And thys synne doth to vs moche harme in diuerse maners▪ as it appereth by certayn names that it hath after the doctours of holy chyche: Fyrst it is named Infirmyte. For yt yeldeth a man Impotent & seek to resyste euyll mouynges and temptacions whyche may come to him Itē it is prompt & redy by cause of continuel inclinacion that it hath of appetyte to doo enyll. Item it hath name corupcyon / whan it bringeth a man to synne. Item vice: by cause it is dymy [...]cion or lassyng of goodes of nature. Item langour whā it dureth in nature corrupt. ¶ Item it is called lawe of the flesshe by cause the lawe is Inflyct and ioyned to the flesshe ¶ Item lawe of the membres for it moeueththem to the werke of euyll concupiscence. ¶ Item nourrisshement. For lyke as asshes nourrisshen the fyre. ryght so by it is nourrisshed synne in the flesshe after the werke nutrityf and generatyf. [Page] ¶ Item the prycke of the flessh / For it moeueth the flesshe at the fyrst moeuyng of synne. and courage to the consentyng: It is callyd concupyscence. that is to saye vyce in dede. as it appereth to them that be nowe able to synne. ¶ Item wylle to synne. as it appereth in the lytyl chyldren. whyche yet haue no power to synne. but they haue the wyll: ¶ Item in so moche that it is compared to the fyrst man. fro whom it cam first that was Adam / it is named original. whiche is as moche to saie as deffaulte of Justice due. Thus sayen the doctours & maystres in theologie

¶ Of venial synnes Capytulo / xix

THese beu the synnes venyal: And fyrst as sayth saynt Austyn. Excesse in drynkyng and etyng. in ouer moche spekyng: or ouer mo [...]he beyng styll: mockyng of poure peple. to ete whan other doon abstynence. to come late to chyrche by ouer long slepyng. to knowe hys wyf without hauyng hope to haue a chyld. to vysite ouer late the seke people and the prisonners. ne wylle accorde them that ben in debate & in dyscorde to despyse his wyf and his chyldren / hys seruaunts and hys neyhbours / Excesse in flatring. to gyue to the poure thynges delycyouses and contagious to vndrestande saye▪ or h [...]ere ydle wordes in the chirche / or els where: to swere for Japes without reason. to doo that wherfore one muste swere to forswere hym self for ony necessyte. lyghtly and folyly to curse an other / the harmes & euillis that venial sinnes doon be these. first venial sinne byndeth the persone to peine / not determinatly ne precisely to peine perdurable / but to peyne purgatyf. & of present affeccion ¶ Item it hardeth the soule. For saynt Gregorye sayth the venial synne derketh the soule. ¶ Item it lasseth the sauour of charyte / Item it lasseth the powers of the soule. for it ableth not to do ony good. Itē it tarieth to haue grace for the soule whiche might anon s [...]ihe vp in to heuē after the deth it behoueth that for the venial sine it be first purged in purgatorie for it behoueth y ^• the sonle be also clene atte coming in to heuē [Page] as it was whan the body was fyrst, baptysed. Itē it dyminys [...] heth the heuenly goodes not them that we shal haue yf we haue noo venyal synne For whan we doo the venyal synnes we lese for to doo ony good meritorye whyche we doo not Item that many tymes the venyal synnes be cause of the dedely Thou oughtest to knowe that lyke at the remyssyon of dedely synne. the byhoueth to leue the werke of synne. and to haue good wille to absteyne the fro than forthon: In lyke wyse in thys presēt world is not pardonned the venyal synne / yf thou leue not in dede and in wyll: For saynt Austyn saith that no synne is venyal but it may be mortal that is to saye whā a persone hath therin playsance and delectacyon. but ther be many thynges by whyche venial synnes may be pardonned. First by the sacre mentes of holy chirche in receyuyng & honouryng them / Item by holy water▪ by the bysshops blyssyng. by smyting on his brest by saieng of the pater noster / by almesses & by fastynges. And thou oughtest knowe that it byhoueth that thou haue contricion and repeutaunce For ellis they shal not be pardoned to the

¶ Of dedely synnes Capitulo xx

SAynt Johan saith in thapocalyps: that he sawe yssue out of the see a moche horrible beste / whiche had vij hee des and .x. hornes and vpon the / x. hornes ten crownes Thorrible beste signifieth the deuyl whiche is the see of the helle The .vij. hedes signifie the vij dedely synnes / that is to wete. Pryde / Enuye. Wrath. Auarice / slouthe. Gloutonye. & Lecherye. For these vij dedely sinnes ben the h [...]ede & chief of all euyllis and of alle other vyces of sinne. The x hornes signifien the brekyng of the ten comandementis of the lawe. And the x crownes signifien the ten vyctoryes that the fende of helle hath / whan for the defaulte of kepyng well the ten comandementis of the lawe by the v wyttes to forsaid the deuyl maketh the pso ne to falle in to dedeli sinne & therfore we will speke therof here

¶ Of the sinne of pryde / Capitulo xxi

[Page]IT is pryde to wene to be better worth / or to knowe more: or may more doo than other or to were prowd for richesses or lygnage for beaute. for scyence: or for ony other thyng to haue moo w [...]es or other Jewellis than it apperteyneth to hys astate▪ or to haue habytes desordinate / to saye. or to too ony thyng for to be preysed. to auaunte hym self of hys synnes whyche is ouer grete an euyll / to seche hye astate in offyce. for to be preysed without that he be worthy / to despyse and desday ne ony other To auaunte hym self of somme good dede for to haue preysyng of the world. For that is ypocrysye. to disobeye the. x: comandements of our lord or of them that he ought to Exā obeye. ¶ Example / we rede in the fyrst book of kynges / that god comaūded to kyng Saul that he shold god ayenst abyma lech for to make warre ayenst hym / And that he shold put to deth all men and wymen lytyl and grete and theyr beste [...] / and that he shold destroye alle that they hadde. And that he shold reteine nothyng. by cause they hadde werred ayenst the chyldren of Israel whan they cam foo ▪Egypte▪ The kyng Saul and hys peple wente thyder. but they dyde not the comaun dement of god but toke the kyng and ladde hym wyth hym prisonner and reteyned the beste of all the good and of the bestis to make sacrifyce to god. For whiche disobeysaunce the king saul loste by hys lyue the moste parte of hys wyalme. and was delyuered to kyng Dauid / It is pryde to haue shame of the poure and to despise his poure parentes and hynnesmen / for theyr synne: The holy euuangelyst sayth that crist had noo shame to be famylyer wyth iiij. wymen synners of the lygnage of our lord after thumanyte. / Saynt Gregorye saith that we ought to hate the synnes and not the persones synnars / & the holy gospel saith that our lord cam in to thys world to calle the synnars / and not the rightful men: It is pryde to haue despyte whan one she weth to hym hys defautes to kepe hym in the santence of cursyng / to here messe whan he stondeth a [Page] cursed / thys is right grete synne / For he taketh no part of the masse. And the preeste shold sgnne gretely: yf he songe masse knowyng that a persone solemp [...]ly acursed w [...]r [...] present

¶ Of the sentences of excomynycacion. Capituls xxij

Many of the symple peple double nothyng the sentences of cursyng. And sayen that it letteth not theyr potte to boyll on the fyre / knowe they for certayn that they disobeye god. For seint poul saith ther is noo power but it be ordeyned of god / And who resisteth the powers of the chirche. resisteth the ordeynaunces of god: God sayth to saynt peter / whan he delyuerd to hym the ij keyes whyche ben the power of cursyng and of assoyllyng. that what someuer he losed vpon erthe / shold be losed in heuen and by the contrarye. what he bonde in erthe shold be bounden in heuen Thenne seynt peter holdeth the power & thauc torite of excominicacyon and cursyng whiche he hath of god. And the other prelates holden it of seynt peter. and alle the Judges of holy chyrche: Thou oughtest to knowe that ther be two parties of sentences moche doubtable to alle persones. as wel of the chyrche as seculer. that is to wete sentence of the lawe wreton. as to sette hond on preest or clerk or a man of the chirche. and after that the caas is grete the sētence also is more grete: The lawe canon saith that yf thou take a clerke [...]aly [...]yously by the hood or by the chyn sayeng yf thou were noo clerke / I shold bete the. thou art bounden in the senteuce of lawe canon. Ther is another sentence that the Judge of the chirche gyueth lyke as prelats osticyals and other deputes of the pope. There is also sentence whiche is called interdict as somtyme the prelates doo whiche Interdite the chyrchys & chercheyerdes for certayn and iuste causes. Ther is another whiche is callyd suspenaon as is doon somtyme on them of the chyrche whyche doo not dyuyne offyces [...]or some causes. Ther is sentence to them [Page] that medle wyth them that ben excomynyed / sauf in caas [...] tryd by the lawe. Saint gregore putteth mauy caases to them that may medle wyth the excomynyed. that is to wete the wyf. the chyldren & the semantes. they that knowe not that they be acursed / they that goo by the way / whan the interdit is in a toun. yf they may not other wyse haue theyr lyuīg but by them and they that for charite and not by pryde wold doo almesse to them that be excomynyed / we forbede not saith saint Gregore. Saint Johan golden mouth saith that none ought to despyse the sentences of the chyrche / For it is no mortal man that curseth & excominieth. but it is god whiche hath gyuen power to man. and hath made the man worthy to haue suche honour. It is pryde to here masse wyth them that stonden acursed: & to medle with them wetyngly / but in caas suffred by the lawe as tofore said is. also to leue to doo well for to speke & mocke the peple. to be in dispayr for his synnes / Example. Exā seint gregore saith & reherseth in his dyalogue. that ther were in a monasterie of seint benet two nonnes. the whyche had one man of religion that semed them whom oftymes they angred & said to him many vyloni [...]s & whan he had longe & moche suffred / he wente to seint benet. & said to hym that he was euil treated by them seint benet sente for them. & had them to correcte their tongues saieng yf ye not ameude you / I shal curse you. they amēded them nothyng. & deied shortly after & were buried in the chyrche. whan the masse shold by song / & the deken cried. that they that were not partyners of the benefice of the chyrche And they that were excominied shold goo out of the chyrche: their nourices whiche offred for them sawe them goo out of the chyrche. & whā she sawe that she remēbred of that whiche seint benet had said to them & told it to seint benet. whiche with his owen hond gaaf thabsolucōn & said goo & make oblacōn for them to our lord: & they shal be assoilled. & soo was doo / & after whan the deken said. that they that were not participant & [...] neuer [Page] after they were seen departe out of the chyrche & note wel that seint benet had not excomynied them ony other wyse but vnder condicyon saieng. yf ye amende not you I shal curse you. Example. Item it is redde that at twyes in chāpayn was a byshop whiche excominied & cursed the baylly of the cyte: Exā and after assoilled him & had him to diner wyth hym. after diner the bysshop demaunded him yf he were not more eased than he was whan he stode acursed / the baylly ansuered / that he sette ytyl ther by and made no fors. And anone the bysshop for to shewe hym his errour made to brynge forth a whyte lo of and departed it a sondre. & after said / Brede by thauctorite of god & of seint peter thappostle I acurse the here / and anone that one half of the loof becam as blacke as a cole / whan the bailly sawe that he and alle his companye were moche abasshed. thenne said the bysshop to the bailly. certeynly ye were as black ayenst god whan ye were in the sentence / and after said by thauctorite of god and of seint peter I assoille the anon the brede was as whyte as it was tofore. Now seest thou how thou oughtist to doubte the sentence of cursyng

¶ These ben the branches of pryde Ca. xxiij

THe first is disloyaulte / that is vntrouthe. The second is despite. the thirde is presumpcōn. the iiij ambicōn. the v. is vainglorie. vj ypocrisie: And the vij folish drede. to these sinnes acorden all the synnes. that apperteyne & that growe of pryde. but to eche of these braunches longen many smale bowes whyche shold be ouer longe thynge to reherce all a long Exāple. It is red that a grete lady was rauysshed in spyrite & sawe a grete coūtesse deed whiche had ben with her wel a [...]ointed and sawe the deuyllys whiche token away the soule fro the body and ledde it in to helle. This coūtesse in complaining her self & in grete by wayllīges saide alas caitif that I am I ought wel to sow we. for I haue ben in my lyf chaste ynow of my body. Abstiuent ynowh of my mouth mercyful ynowh & [Page] pietous to the poure: & am not dampned but onely for the adurnement of my body vayn & poowd whiche I haue ouermoche loued and many tymes I haue ben chastised & rebuked but I wold neuer leue ne absteyne me therof but I dyde grete payne and labour for to plaise men And for so lityl thing and so litil tyme. that so lytyl whyle endured I am dāpned perdurably /

¶ Of the yefte of drede ayenst pryde. Capitulo xxiiij

THe fyrst yefte of the holy ghoost is the yefte of drede: this yefte casteth out alle the sinnes of the herte. but propreli it stoppeth the rote of pride. & it planteth the rote of humilite. the holy ghoost demādeth of the sinnar foure peticions whan he a waketh him & reiseth him fro sinne. & openeth the eyē of his herte. he yeldeth to hym his witte & minde. & axeth hym where art thou / that is to saie beholde caityf in what sorowe & in what sine thou art in this world. for thou art like vnto him that slepeth in the see in perill in a shippe: & feleth nothing ne knoweth his perill. after he demandeth fro whens comest thou that is to saie behold caytif thy lyf vnto this tyme. for thou comest fro the tauerne of the deuil in the whiche thou hast wasted thy lyf & lost thy tyme & alle the goodes that god hath gyuen the. after he demādeth what doost thou. that is to saye / thou art feble toward thy body & toward thy soule. thou wenest to be hole & strong / & by aduenture thou hast at thy herte the humours of infeccion naturell whiche bringeth the to the deth of thy bodi And in thy soule thou hast the humours of sinne whiche shall bringe the to the deth of helle. yf the grace of god rescue not the. after he demādeth whither goost thou. that is to saie thynke & byholde thy gooyng. for thou goest to the deth where thou shalt falle in to the hondes of the deuillis thou gooest to thy iugemēt where thou shalt fide the iustice so cruell so rightful & so mighty that none may gainsaie ne withstond it / thou goest in to helle where thou shal finde fire and thondre & many tormētes whyche neuer shall leue the. ne cesse for to tormente the / this doeth [Page] the holy ghoost to the synnar he openthe the eyen & maleth hym to see & byholde to fore & after these ben the iiij bodyes of thōder that fere the synnars ande makyth them to tremble & to have drede & these regardes ben the regarde of humylite whiche the yefte of drede bringeth to the herte of the synnar whan he is vysited

¶ Of humylite Capitulo xxv

Hvmilite is a vertu that mocheple aseth to god of the which saith seīt berrnard I dar wel saye saith he that without humilite the virgyne marie had neuer pleased god She her self saith in the magnificat that she made: that god behelde more her humilite than her virginite: for without virgynite may wel god be pleased / but not without humilite. yf thou remembrest wel fro whens thou comest. & knewest wel the pouerte of thy birthe. how thou hast be conceyued in sinne & of how foule & vile matere thou hast be made and fourmed / thou sholdest haue no cause to be proud▪ Saint bernard saith vnderstond man vnderstonde & considere in the ende what thou shalt be after thy deth. verily saith he ther was a time in whiche thou were not. after thou were made of vile matere / & in a foule place conceyued. wher for thenne art thou proud. for thou art nothynge but pouldre and asshes conceyued in synne & in miserie & liuest in peyne and deyest in grete sorowe. certes saith saint bernard a man is nothing but a froth stynking in water ful of dung & mete to wormes after that a man is made he be cometh wormes mete and ordnre & rotynnes: and so he cometh to nonght. Beholde saith seint bernard in the sepultures of Emperous. of kinges & of grete barons that haue ben what thou shalt finde there bnt duste & stinking filthe. they were made of suche matere as thou art. and thou shalt be as they ben certes yf thou consider wel the thinges byfore said thou shalt be hūble of hert & of dede & yf thou haue alle way the eyen of thy hert toward thy sinnes thy defaultes / & to thy poure frailte. thou shalt sette nothing by thy self ne preise thi self nothing / thēne thou shalt be grete tofor [Page] god. fo [...] very humilite cometh fro the herte. seint gregore sayth that as moche doth he that gadrith vertues without humilite as he that weneth to gadre dust to fore the winde. & seit austin saith that prid made of āgellis deuills but. humilite made of men angellis. Exāple. it is redde in vitis patrū that on a time thabbot marchaire walked in an halle. & the deuil mette with him / & supposed to haue smeton him with a sharp sithe that he held in his hond. but he coud not. & said to him. machaire thou doost to me moche grief & harme. certes said he I faste & wake more than thou doest / for I neuer ete ne slepe. but only thy grete humilite ouercometh me / now take hede how moche worth is humilite.

¶ Of shamefastenes Capitulo xxvj

Of humilite cometh shamefastnes whiche is a noble thig in a persone that can wel kepe it. seint bernard speketh of shamefastnes & saith. O how fair a thing is it & shynyng gēme of good maners in the face of an adolescent that is to sa ye of yong peple a gēme is to saie a precious stone. shamefastnes saith he is special glorie to kepe conscience & good renōme siege & prouince of vertue preising of nature. & signe of all honeste / & saith yet I knowe nothing more curtois than shumefastnes: and the wyse tulle saith that without shamefastnes may nothing be rightful ne honeste: now be thenne shamefast & be a shamed to be seen in towne ne in comyn place without necessite and be not stowte ne vacabūde or sta [...]ng. but symple & shame fast after thexāple of the virgine marie whiche was troubled at the salutacōn & coming of the āgel gabriel / & that cam of virginal shamfastnes. & that remēbrance cam to her of prudēce & of discrecōn / & that one is nothing worth without that other for ther ben som that ben shamfast of a bestial shāfastnes that can not kepe contenance in them for the defaulte of witte & of prudence. & ther be som that make them wyse & saien without shame that whiche they knowe so precysely that they be noyo [...] to eueriche and ben holden for foles. but shamefastnes ought t [...] [Page] be ioined with prudēce to thende that they be shamefast wysely and wyse shamefastly.

¶ Of discrecōn Ca. xxvij

Dyscrecion is as who saith an holy nourrice & the kepar of alle vertue. and it may not be goten as it is said but by very humilyte It happeth ofte whan a persone hath doo grete peyne & grete dilygence to knowe humilite & to doo som good for his saluacōn the deuil the whiche is āgry ther with cometh to him for to make him lese all to his power by vainglorye. whiche he putteth in his herte & saith to him. now art thou a good man or a good woman / for moche folk saye good of the and holden the for good & hūble & right debonayre. but whan. thou seest the thus assailled thou oughtest anon to renne to discrecyon & there thou shalt fynde iiij consideracōns whiche shal chace & hunte away the deuyl fro thyn herte The first consideracōn ōf thin owen byrthe / the ij is thignoraūce of thy poure estate. for as the doctour saith. ther is none that knoweth: whether he is beloued of god or not. or in grace or out of grace. the iij cō sideracōn is the remēbrauce of deth. the iiij is thabydyng of the grete iugement / whan discrecōn without the whiche noo vertue is ought worth shal come to thy herte & bringe to the these iiij consideracōns. thēne thou maist wel thynke that the fende shal not mowe grieue the. for these be iiij grete causes to holde thy herte in humilite. now thinke thēne on thy propre byrthe & condycyn how king dauid dide whan he said. I am said he a lityl worme & not a man / thus knowleched he his pouerte & his vylete for like as the wormes. be vyle lytil & despysed & growe all of the therthe right so men & wymen ben vyl of them self & of hyr propre frailte. for whan a man entreth in to thys world he bringeth nothing with him ne nothing he shal bere away. & all naked he shal goo. Example. It is rede that saladius. Exā whiche was grete souldan of the sarasins whā he saw approche the houre of his deth he dyde doo hangevpon a spere the shete or cloth in whiche his body shold be wrapped in & buried & made it to be born thurth the cyte and doo crie with and hie wys. [Page] [...]oo here is all that saladyn the gret souldā shal bere with him of all his richesses whan he shal deye. seint bernard saith that who shold wel beholde & take hede of that whiche yssueth out of the eyes / of th [...]eres▪ of the nosthrillis / of the mouth. of the heeris of the nailles or vngles / of hondes of feet & of all other conduites of all the body & of all the flessh he shold finde that ther is non so vyle ne so stinkyng as is that whiche issueth & cometh out of the bodyes of men & of wymen & as we be oueral the body foul hooly / and who that shold thinke wel how the deth cometh soone & approcheth pale and horrible cold & wan stinking and dredefu: & also on them that he hath loued wel whā the eyen shal be broken and turned in the hede & whan all the wyttes & alle the mēbres of the body shal haue lost their offices & the armes & legges shall be stif cold & withdrawen & alle the body shal be as a trōk deed & caroine whiche behoueth anon to be born to the erthe to thende that the ayer be not therof corrupt / for to be gyuen to the wormes for to be eten. who that shold wel thynk heron shold neuer haue cause to be prowd

¶ Of the synne of auari [...]e capitulo xxviij

Tis sinne of enuie whan one hath sorowe of the good lyf & of the wele of another to haue ioye of his sinne or of his harme or dōmage for to detrac [...]e & saie euyl of another be hinde him to make discord bitwene them that be frendes. The sinne of enuye is moche greuous & appropred to the deuil with the synne of pryde. yf thou doo euyl. & thou desyr [...]st that other doo in lyke wise. thou synnest by enuye for thou wilt that the other be euyl lyke to thy self. they that haue good begynnīg to doo well and to prouffite in the loue of god. thenuioꝰ enforce them to quenche & extinkte them yf he may / the other that prouffite wel to god and to the world also thenuyous enforce them to hurte and hindre them to his power they that ben parfight & in grete estate & that doo moche good & good werkes to ward god and the world. thenuious adressith his engins for to destroie & hurte their goode loos and dedes for how the good dede is mo [Page] [...]e grete the more [...] sorowe he hath & therfore saith boece wold god that in alle places▪ tho enuyous hadde eyen tofore and behynde to thende that of the good wele that they sa we other men haue they shold he the more tormēted. thenuyóꝰ hath of custome yf he here that one saith good of ouy p [...]one & be knowe or hath herd ony harm of him. for he is right parfight & wel iuste that hath in him non impfeccōn. anon he ansuereth by grete enuye that certainly he is a good man / but he hath suche a faulte in him this sinne is so perillous that vnneth may one come to good true repentaunce. for it he is contrarie to the holy ghoost whiche is fontaine of all good and god saith in the gospel that who sinneth aienst the holy ghoost shal neuer haue mercy in this world ne in that other for [...]e sinneth of his propre masice neuertheles thou oughtest hoolly to vnderstonde that ther is no sinne so grete but god may pardone & forgyne it in this world and in that other who that repenteth him with good herte bnt vnneth and with grete peiue that ony repenteth of suche sinne whiche warreth to his power aiēst the holy goost & his benigne grace by cause he warrith aiēst spirituel good like as the iewes warred aienst our lord for the good dedes & werkes that he dide

Of the sinnes aienst the holy ghoost / C. xxix

Thou ougtest to knowe that the vi sinnes aienst the holy ghoost & that be specially aienst his grace: the first is pre sumpcōn by whiche a man is bolder to sinne for hope of light & soon forgiuenes & so maketh the merci of god ocasiō more to offēde him this is pr [...]sūpcōn whiche maketh a mā to misknowe & mis vse the grace of the holighost: the ij is despair or wāhop whiche taketh a way the gretenes of goddis mercy like as doeth presūpcion his iustice as thou hast of cain whā god blamed him by cause he had slayn his brother abel he ansured mi wikednes is so grete that I shal not mowe haue [...]dōe ne foryeuenes bnt saīt bernard repreueth him & saith thou best caim for if thou haddest asked pradon And mercy of our lord he had giuen it to the & iudas offended more our lord of that ¶ he was so in despair [Page] than of that he betraied him to the deth. Thei [...] is abstynacion that is hadrnes of herte whan a man wilfully & of purpose disposeth him to fyxe in his malyce. that he wil nat be enclined by ony auctorite or reasō to be turned fro hysmys opynion as ege as was whiche said to saīt andrew I wil paciently here the but what euer thou saye yf thou wilt not here & obeye me I shal crucyfie the / the iiij is despite of penāce. that is whan a man hath purpose in his herte / that he shal neuer repente him of his sinne: and soo contynueth in dede to thende of his lyf / & this is moste ꝓprely sinne in the holyghost. the v is for to warre & deffamethe grace of the holy ghoost in another lyke thou hast herd to fore The vj to warre ayenst trouthe wetyngly. and specyally the trouthe of the cristen faith Alle these sinnes ben ayenst the holy ghoost. & they be so grete that vennethe ony cometh to amendement. and therfore ben they with grete peyne foryeuen & pardōned: Exā ple. It is rede in the lyf of faders that on a tyme the abbot moyses satte with his brethern / & euerich demaunded of him of theyr thoughtes and he gat to eche of them an ansuere. ther was an auncient abbot whiche was moche enuious whiche said to him: abbot moises thou art lyke a comyn woman whiche a rayeth her for to drawe men for to come & sinne with her. moyses ansuered to him thou saist trouthe god hath shewd it to the The other said / moises thy body is all ful of venim / moises ansuerd to him thou saist trouthe abbot. for thon seest that whiche is without forth only / but and yf thou sa west that whiche is within me / thou sholdest yet saie werse. After this said one of his brethern to him. moises faire fader art not thou troubled in thy self: of that whiche this olde abbot saith to the. he said to hym noo veraily. for I am suche within forth as Iam without forth and therfore I am not angry ne troubled

¶ Of the yefte of pyte ayenst enuye. Cápitulo xxx

THe second yeft of the holy ghoost is the yeft of pite that is proprely a dewe & a triacle ayenst alle felōnye & specially [Page] ay [...]nst the sinne of enuyè for this yefte exsti [...]peth & pluketh out the rote of enuye and heleth it parfightly / thenne the herte that receyueth a dewe of swetnes whiche maketh it to germe a rote swete and wel attempred that is the good loue of the herte wherof groweth a faire tree and an hye bering right good fruyt that is a vertue good and faire whiche is called mansuetude or benygnyte that is swetnes of herte whiche maketh a mā swete & de [...]nnai [...]. charitable louing / & amiable for it maketh a man parfightly to loue his neighbour as him self as we haue said tofore

¶ Of the synne of yre Capitulo xxxj

There is a good ire whan one is angry ayenst euyl or ay enst defaulte of another. & that is no sinne / but ther is another euil yre whiche maketh murmure aienst god. or to despite god. his moder and his sainctes. and that is callyd blasphemie. yf a man shold saie blasphemie or vylanie of the kyng or the quene as is said of god or of our lady he shold be greuously punisshed / an holy man saith Alas how grete yre is it to swere and to forswere and seie blasphemye of god / for whyche many deye of sodeyn deth:. Example. saint gregore wherreth Exā in his dyaloge / that ther was at rome a burgeys whiche had a sone of v yere of eage whom he loued merueylloussy & nourrisshed hym mothe tēderly this child had a right euil custome for whan ony thyng cam to him ayenst his will anon he wold swere horribly by our lordis body and his mēbres & his fader chastised him not therfore. it happed that this child was seke vnto the deth: and his fader helde hym in his lappe. The chyld sawe the deuillis how they cam to his deth and began to crie lowd: put away fader. put them away. & so saieng hydde hisvisage in the lappe of his fader his fadedermanded hym what it was that he sawe & he ansuered that he saw the deuillis comīg for to take him. & so saieng he began to saye blasphemye of our lord like as he had be tofore acustomed. & anon he deide sodaily. & god shewde to his fader / wherfor he so deyd & for [...] [Page] sinne he was deliuered to the deuillis for by cause that his fader dyd not correcte hym he was so acustomed: that at the deth he sette nothing ther by. and therfore god pugnisshed hym. now beholde thēne what god shall doo of them that b [...]n in grete age that aduysedly & wetyngly blaspheme so almighty god. whā he punisshed in suche manere a child of v yere of age. Itē to swere by the blod of god: or by his bely. or by sēblable othes it is right grete sinne. also for yre & angre som despeyren & gyue them self to the deuil / Itē for yre & angre to doo harme & hnrte to other in dysfaming them whiche is werse than to robbe hym how wel that the euil that one saith be trouthe. also he that leyeth hond on prest or clerk he is ex [...]mi [...]ed & acursed by the lawe canon. & alle that letten euilly the iu [...]sdiction of holy chyrche ben acursed by the lawe. Of yre growe homicides that is to saie manslawhter. clamours. indignacōns. ranconrs whiche abyden att herte medled with hate / grete desire of vengeance / and mortall warres emong frendes wherof growen ouer grete harmes & hurtes whiche may not be guarisshed ne amended. Example Saynt gregore reherseth in his dialogue that ther was a non ne whiche was so angry that in what place she was she moeued alle way rancour plees and debates It happed that she dey de and was buryed in the chyrche the nyght after. that she was buryed. the kepar of the chirche by grace of god sawe that she was brought byfore the hye aulter & was departed in the body & one parte was brent wyth fyre And that other abode hool / On the morn he recoūted this to the freres which comen to fore the hye aulter wher she had be brent▪ and fonde the place also brent as yf the body had ben visybly brent

¶ Of the yefte of scyence ayenst wrath & yre Ca. xxxij

THe thirde yefte of the holy ghoost maketh a man clere seyng. & therfore it is called the yefte of science▪ for it maketh a man wise by mesure in all thīges. this yeft whā it descē deth to the hert it plucketh & casteth out the rote of the synne of ¶ yre and of felonie [Page] whiche troubleth the herte & maketh the man all fro him self in suche wise that he seeth nothīg for to conduite him self ne none other but this yefte enlumineth the herte of the man on alle parties so that he may not be deceyued of non other. like as the yeft of pyte maketh him innocent right so wyl he deceyue non other saint Johan saith in thapocalyps that he sawe in spirite that the holy men whiche were ful of this yefte were all ful of vertues byfore and byhynde. this yefte is the maister of the hertes that is to saie of the vertues of the soule for he hath ordeined alle thynges to poynt and by rule

¶ Of the synne of slouthe Capitulo xxxiij

THe holy scripture saith that tofore alle werkes thou oughtest in the morning whan thou risest to yelde thankings to god of his benefaites and to blysse the with the signe of the crosse. & to crie him mercy in very repētance of all thy synnes / & at the nyght whan thou gooest to thy bedde in lyke wyse It is slouthe for to be ydle and to waste the tyme in vanite for al our tyme our lord shal demaunde of vs strait acomptes & rekenīge atte day of iugemēt. & on what good we haue enployed our time. & therfore admonesteth vssaint iherome that we doo s [...]m good to thende that the denyl finde vs occupied & thēne he shal flee fro vs. for truly ouer many euillis comen by ydlenes Exā ple Exā / By cause that they of sodome and gomor weren comynly idle & dyde nothīg they fylle in the synne ayenst nature. wherof they we [...]e grenously pugnisshed. Saint bernard saith that ther is nothing so precious for our sauacion. as the tyme & the good that we mowe doo in this litil & miserable lyf by whyche we shal haue heuen whiche is the lyf perdurable. Itē it is slouthe whā god warneth to doo som good whiche thou maist doo / And thou doest it not. Also to forgete the goode dedes and the synnes that thou hast doon. For god forgeteth them not ne the deuil also ¶ Example we rede that saynt Exā Austin on a day studied. & sawe passe by hym the deuil whyche bare a grete boke vpon his sholdres he comāded him to telle [Page] him what was in that boke / the deuyl said these ben the synnes that the peple hath forgete: he demāded saieng ben ther ony that I haue forgeten in tyme passed. The deuyl shewd to hym his boke. and fonde noo synne that he had forgeten sanf only that on a tyme he had seid [...]o complyn Thenne seint Austin comanded hym that he shold abyde. and anon he entryd in to the chyrche and said wel and deuoutely his complin and after come again to the deuill / and bad him to shewe him his boke ther as was wreton the default of his complin. the deuil serched & fond it all wid & scraped out there as was wreton the deffault of his complin. thenne he said to saint augstin that he repented that he had shewd him his boke. For by the vertu of thy prayers thou hast put away thy synne. It is slouthe not to praye to god / and not to doo his deuoir for the d [...]ed bodies as he is bound to doo / ne to doo: truly his dayly werke whan he werketh for an other man / & not to take hede to the prayers that be said for yf thou take non ētencion to them. god taketh none hede to them not to withdrawe another fro euyl doing to his power to flee and goo fro the prechyng & sermons. for that is a signe that he is not on goodes half. that gladly hereth not the word of god for ther he may here moche good to doo wel. & correcte & chastyse him self fro many euillis / & alle way he may lerne. Example. we rede of a riche & noble clerke the whiche liued Exā moche deliciously / and wold not gladly here the sermons for drede that he shold here somthing. for the whiche he shold entre into religion / for he felte himself lightly for to be conuerted it happeth that a frere prechour▪ cam to him in to his chābre in whiche he had a moche fair bedde & wel araied. anon as he sa we him he said to him / frere ye be right welcom but I praye you preche nothing to me ▪ & he promised him he wold not whan they had spoken to geder of many thinges the frere wold haue goon his way & said to him size I haue promised to you that I shold not preche to you. & so I wyll not / but I praye you ¶ whan ye be leyed doun [Page] in this fair bedde / that ye wyl remēbre how the poure soules beleyed in the fyre of purgatone. And ther wyth he departed: whā the clerke was leyed donn in his fair bedde he myght neither slepe ne reste whan he remembred the wordes that the prechour had said to hym On the morn whan he was rysen he gaf all that he had for the loue of god & entred in to relygyon: & after was an holy man / Now seest thou how it is good to here the word of god / It is slouthe whan thou goost not gladly ne with a good wyll to chirche. For it is the first thyng that thou oughtest to doo whan thou art rysen out of thy bedde for to recomande the to god / & in good trouthe thou & all thy werkes & besynesses shall fare the better yf thou so doo. Example Eleazar Exā whyche was patriarke of alexandrie recoūteth of two corde waners whiche were gossybs & liueden by their crafte. That one was right a good werke man and had not grete meiney in his hous. and was alle way poure. & alle way he cessed not to werke / That other was no good werkman & had a grete houshold and grete meiney. but be doubted moche our lord god. and was alleway riche. hit happed that the pour [...] cordowaner said to the riche Thou muste nedes be a theef: for I am better werkman than thou. & am alle way poure. & thou art riche. that other ansuerd to hym softely / brother knowe for certayn that I haue foūden a place / where ther is a grete tresour. yf thou wilt swere that thou shal kepe it secret I shal lede the thyder On the morn they aroos tofore day and went forth tofore the chyrche. and the riche man said to the poure late vs entre first in to the chirche. and late vs praye to god that he kepe vs fro doyng ony thīg by whyche we may take harme / they entred in to the chirche / and herde the masse and the semyde. and anon after it was clere day. Thenne the riche man said to the poure. Late vs now goo home to our houses tyl another tyme and he said further more. brother know thou for certayn that I haue foūden non other tresour but the chirche & I truste [...]e [...]li that if thou frequēte [Page] and vse it. thou shal be as riche as I am. And thus the poure cord w [...]nn [...]r bycam moche riche after whan he frequented the chyrche and the sermons.

¶ Of Prayer C xxxiiij

THou ought [...]st to knowe that in alle places and in alle werkes one may. and ought to praye and serue gode. but most specyally in the chirche. for as the scripture saith The monasten or chirche is called the house of prayer. whan thou goest to chyrche for to praye to god. thou oughtest to putte foo thyn herte / alle erthely afflyc [...]ions for to take the better hede and entente to praye vnto god. ¶ Example it is redde of a Exā grete clerke that sold alle that he hadde: and gaaf all for the loue of god to then de that he myght the better take hede and ent [...] de to prayer. and reteyned nothyng to hym self / sanf only an as se for to bere hym fro toun to toun for to presche omtyme whā he preched or song masse or sayd hys orysons and prayers. all way he thought on his asse. and doubted that he shold be [...]olen or that the wulf shold ete hym. whan he sawe that [...] was so troubled / he sold his asse. & gaaf the money therof for gooddes sake. to then de that he myght the better make hys prayeres. thou oughtest to saie thy prayers. softe and [...]tylly. to thende that the deuyl enforce hym not to lette the / ne that he here them. seynt [...]er nard saith that one maye better and more deuoutly saie his prap [...]rs by nyghte whan alle thynges ben at reste. than by daye For th [...]nne one is not so moche troubled of worldly thynges as he is on the daye tyme Thou oughtest to haue stedfast faith that thou shalt gete that whyche thou demādest: yf thou demāde thyng resonable. For saynt James saith that he that doub [...]h geteth nothyng and g [...]d sayth that / that thyng whyche we demande we shal hane. yf we perseuere / and be nothyng abass hyd yf thou haue not anon that whiche thou demandest: For saīt Austyn saith that god giueth not to vs anon that whicherayed [Page] hou demandest. For saint austyn saith that god gyueth not [...] vs anone that we our lord that he wolde hele hir doughter the first time he ansuerde not ande she perseurede all way bysecrequyre. how w [...] it be thyng resonable Exā to thende that we require hym more ardāntly / Example we rede and haue in the holi scupture of the. woman of canane whiche phyng our lord deuontl [...] our lord ans [...]erd to hyt that it was not good to yeue the breed of chyldren wnto dogges / he calsede the breede the wordes of sauanon ande the chyldren them of Israel and▪ the dogges the paynems / bi cause thry were hethen / but how welle that by the grace of god she vnderstode wel his wordes she ne [...]essid not for to praye. and told to him that he said trouth / but she said that the smale houndes eten ofte of the cro [...]mes that fylle fro the table of their lord / whan our lord sawe hir humylyde and that she compared hir to lytyl houndes. and perseuerd a [...]e way on hir request. he ansuerd to her and said. O woman thou hast grete faith▪ thy prayer is graunted. And anon hyr doughter was hool. For the doctour saith. not in rennyng. but in perseuering the guerdon is gyuen. And saint Gregore saith that it is not vertue for welle to begynne / but to acomplissh & well to perseuere. Thou oughtest to praye our lord in grete reuerence. and with thyn herte. for he saith by the prophete: The peple praye me with their mouth. but the herte is ferre fro me / It pleaseth not to him the presumpcion of somme that goon to him boldely as familier & frende / but he wil how wel that thou be grete and parfyght that thou goo to him in recording & in grete consusion of thy synnes in grete drede and in grete reuerence as to a grete lord and that thou beholde the hyenes of hym: and hys grete puissaunce. and after take hede and see thy lytylnesse and thy pouerte thy feblenes corporall and spirituell And thou oughtest to saye humbly I am not worthy to lifte myn eyen toward heuen for cause of my synnes. by whiche I haue ofte displeaseth the / But lord I that fere and drede thy [Page] Justise and pnissaūce haue recours to thy grete m [...]rcy whyche for the synners woldest suffre thy self to deye & I praye the that to me poure synnar thou wylt shewe and doo thy grate how be it I am not worthy. that thou behold me with the eyen of thy grete mercy. Atte lefte wnchesauf fro ferre to vysite and conforte me in all my necessytees and my werkes / seint austin sa yth that or [...]sō and prayer is to the man an holy defence to hys good angel solace. to the deuil torment. and to god agreable ser uyce / and delyte not the to make thy prayers to god ne to saye wordes polysshed as somme doon: For saynt The rome saith that it is more auayllable to saye vij psalmes in deuocōn than all the psaulter in heuynes and ennoye. And therfore made our lord the pater noster lytyl and short to thende that it shold be sayde wyth the better wyll and deuoutly / ¶ Thou oughtest to know that two thynges letten prayer as sayth saynt Ysodere / that is or by cause that one cesse not to doo euil. or ellys that one pardone not ne forgyue hys euyl wylle or male talent For lyke as it is longe or the wound be heled and may not auayle to the guarysshynge as longe as the yron is wythin So in lyke wyse prayer auaylleth nothyng to hym ne proffyteth as longe as he hath euyll at his herte / Saynt James sayth that moche auailleth the besy prayer of a ryght wys man ¶. Example we rede in the holy scrypture in the thyrd boke Exā of kynges that Helye the prophete whiche was a man and passyble as we be. For the synne of a chas kyng of Israel why the synned moche gretely ayenst our lord: and made the peple [...]o synne. he prayed our lord that it shold not rayne ne dewe on the erthe. And so he dyde not by thespace of thre yere and sy [...]e mo nethes. and after he prayede to our lord to sende [...] them rayne. ¶ And the heuen gaaf raine and to therthe fruyt / by whyche thou maist se that moche auaylleth prayer of a good persone. Exā Somme ther be that for their hye syngyng wene to psease mo che god. ¶ Example / It is redde that in a monasterye of [Page] Cy [...]e [...]uly. ōn a tyme at matin [...]s one had begon a psalme in a mene / And in that poynt and tune the olde men contynued. And ther was a yong monke whiche was prowd which lyfte vp his wis aboue the other. And how wel that the auncyent men / wold haue kept styl contrary to him. yet some of the yōg monkes susteined theyr note & point in suche wyse that the olde men were still / but anon yssued out of the mouth of the yonge monke lyke an hoot yr [...]n all rede / and it transported to them that had holpen him Thys is aienst them that synge more by presumpcyon than by deuocyon And therfore saith saint austin alle the tyme that I me dely [...]ed more in the songe than in the wordes and scrupture that I songe. I contesse that so oftymes I synned greuously / ¶ Example. It is redde of a Exā symple woman that ofte wente to the chyrche. The preste of the chirche had a [...]ght euyl wis. And alle way whan he songe this woman wepte The p [...]ste sawe that she wepte and had supposed that she wepte for his faire syngyng. & enforced hym to synge the more hyer and lowde: and more strongly that he [...]onge: the more the woman wepte The preste myght not lenger tarye but went to her for to demaunde wherfore she wepte in the chy. [...]x / whan he songe / Alas syre said she I ought wel to wepe. For I hadde an asse that dyde to me moche good labour whom I haue loste. and me semeth whan I here you singe / that it is he. The preste whiche supposed to haue had p [...]ysyng departed and wente his way all confused and mocqued ¶ Thys is aienst them that in theyr syngyng loke more after loange and preysyng of the world than of our lord Example It is redde that in an abbaye where as saint benet deyde ther was a monk whiche had a right good wis & it happed that Exā in the vygille of Ester. he blessyd the taper of waye / and of his wis resowned a melodie so swete that it semed to alle them that herde it that it had ben the wis of an angel: whan the pas kall was blessyd. the monk was neuer seen after. and it is sup [Page] posed that it was for that he gloryfyed hym self ouermoche in his songe and thys is ayenst them that glorifye them self ouer moche in theyr songe▪

Of them that speke in the chyrche whan they shold praye god / Capitulo xxxv

IT is slouthe whan thou art in the chyrche & oughtest to praye god & thou troublest and lettest other. For the wyse man sayth that anon as thou art in the chyrche. thou oughtest to remembre wherfore thou art made a man thou oughtest to rede & synge yf thou can or praye to god to thy power. many ther be that doo nothing but [...]angle and destrouble other and let te them and they doo many harmes. ¶ Example / It is redde Exā that on a tyme saint martin sang masse and saint bryxis helped▪ him whiche sawe behynd the aulter the deuil whiche wrote synnes that meu dyde in the chyrche as in lawhyng in spekkyng and in lettyng the dyuyne seruyce and offyce. so it happed whan he had moche wreton / he had not ynowgh of parch [...]min for to wryte yet more that was doon And he drewe out the parchemin with his teeth so strongly that it brake and knocked his heede ayenst the walle And whan saint bryxis sawe that he began to lawhe moche strongly whan saint martyn had ended the masse he blamed him by cause he had lawhed in the chirche Saint bryxys told to hym the cause and saint martin coniured the deuyl. that he shold saye to hym all that he had wreton the whiche said to hym that it were the sinnes that were doon in the chyrche. saint martyn preched this to the peple / And they confessed them of their synnes / And so the deuyl was constrayned to defface and strike out all that he had wreton. An other Exāple. it is redde of an old woman that whā she was Exā in the chirche she lawhed alleway m [...]rmured & letted her fels wes to saie their ousons & prayers. how wel that in other thinges she kept her self right wel [...]oo sinne whan she was d [...]ed all the membres of his body were found fayre and clene sauf the [Page] tongue / for ther yssued out of hir mouth a grete serpent wyht a grete multitude of toothes whiche gnawed vpon her tongue

¶ Of euyl spending the tyme Capitulo xxxv

IT is slouthe as we haue tofore said to occupie the tyme in folie. for it shal neuer be recouered: Exāple A relygio [...] persone of clereuauly reherceth that an holy man herd a wys whiche playned him merueillously And he demaunded what him eyeled. & he ansuerd to him that he was a soule dāpned whiche cōplained his dāpnacyon & saide that the thing why the most tormēted the dāpned sowles▪ is the tyme that they haue loste and euyll spended in this world. for they myght wel haue doon so moche good that they myght haue had the lyf [...]e [...] durable the whiche they haue loste by theyr neglygence of this synne ben not quyte the hunters ne hawkers whiche wast the yr tyme in suche vanitees. & despende the goodes that god hath lente to them in dogges and hawkes wherof they shal rendre & yelde strayt a comptes atte the day of Jugement & many tymes they leue to serue god wherof they shal in thende be right greuously punisshed. the holy canon saith that it is not found in holy spripture that ony hunter was euer saued ne saintifyed And saith yet more that he that seeth the hunter & delyteth him therin that he shal see our lord in grete angre. Example A doctour whiche was called peter de clugny reherceth of an holy mā whiche was in his prayer on the good fryday the whyche was rauysshed in spyrite vnto ester day and said that he had seen in purgatorie a knyght whiche had b [...]n in his lyf a chaste man. a good almes man. and of good lyf. but he had loued ouer moche the disporte of hawkyng. and therfore he had lyke an hawk whiche tyred and ete his hondes & merue [...]lously was therwith tormented / Of thys synne be not quyte they that wast the time in ioustes and tournoys. ¶. Example we rede of a knyghte Exā that frequēted and vsed gladly the ioustes and tournoyes: but he supoosed that suche games had be not synne. For he was de [Page] uoute yno [...]gh toward our lord: a preehar cam & said to hym that out of these games yssued the. vij dedely synnes / First that is the sinne of pryde. for it is not doo but for vayne gloyre and for to haue. preysyng of the world / Itē it is enuye for all way that one hath enuye vpon that other by cause he iousteth better & is more habyle in armes thā that other: Itē it is synne of yre & of wrath. for somtyme that one hurteth or sleeth that other by wrath. Itē it is slouthe for it is tyme lost and is nothynge but vanite. Itē it is auarice for oftymes they take and raūson one that other and take f [...]o them theyr hors and theyr harn [...] ys & make somtyme [...]heuyssaunce and grete extorcōns to their subiettes for to make theyr games & es [...]atementes / Item it is glotonnye for in suche games be made grete mangeries. banckettis / & grete dispenses not only of theyr owne but of the yr subgettis. Itē it is synne of lecherye for many tymes for t [...] playse theyr loues & concubynes they enforce them gretely and somtyme as they saye they bere thenseines & tokenes of their folyssh ladyes and loues / And for the euyllys that ben doon & ensie we therof holy chyrche hath ordeyned that they that deyen in suche games of what estate they be they shal not be buryed in crysten b [...]riels And yf for doubte or for loue they be buried in cristen buryels it shold be more to theyr dampnacyon than to theyr saluacyon whan the knyght herd this he knowe that it was trouthe. And as he to fore had loued suche games he hated them euer after and despysed them merueyllously

¶ Of vowes Capitulo xxxvij

IT is slouthe and dedely synne not to fulfill hys vowes within the terme sette yf they be resonable. and may be goodly doon They that make vowes / ought to be men of xiiij yere of age / & wymen xij yere of age & ought to haue suche witte and vnderstandyng that comynly the said age requireth. And yf ther be no terme / it ought to be doon the moste hastely that it may goodly be doon / for the tarieng dysplaiseth moche. to god / [Page] as the holy scrypture saith I counssi [...] the thou make no vowe ouer lyghtly for the peryl that is in the not accomplysshyng / & that thou saye in makyng the a vowe. that yf thou wylt not ne mayst not doo it but by the counseyl of a good confessour thou maist in the stede of the vowe doo other thyng suche as he shall charge the with. Item yf thou made a vowe that thou mayste not well accomplissh: thou maist doo it to be chaunged by som man that hath power. ¶ Item thou maist reuoque the vowes that thy wyf hath made in thy companye / and of thy chyldrē that [...]n in thy gouernauuce whan thou knowest it fyrst / or ellis not / Thy chyldren doon wel / yf they make the a vowes in whiche thou hast a vowed them / but yf they doo it not they sinne not yf they were not consentyng in the age afore said The relygyouses ought not to make vowes without lycence of theyr soueraynes. or of theyr prelates or abbott [...]s

¶ Of them that haue connyng and vse it euyl Ca. xxxviij

IT is synne of slouthe whan thou hast science & connyng & thou vsest it not wel Thou oughtest to shewe it by werke by predycacion & by enseynementes & techyng. For yf thou soo doo thou doost right wel And yf thou doo it not thou berest lettres ayenst thy self as dyde Urye whiche bare the lettres of hys deth / and it shal be to thy dampnacyon. For the holy scripture saith that the seruaūt that knoweth the wyll of his maister or lord / yf he doo it not / he shal be greuousely punysshed / the Exā doctour saith yf thou knowe a gospel or a good example thou oughtest to preche it or elles thou synnest. For as moche is worth scyēce whiche is not put in ewre as tresour that is cast away. Slouthe is ydle: and all slepy and it prouffyted not to hym self ne to none other ne hath no reste of herte ne of thought he that is slouthful entendeth but to yelde wordes in playes and ydlenes. ¶ Example. We rede in the lyf of vitis patrū Exā that a yong frere demaunded of an ancyent & said to hym fayr fader what shal I doo for I may not endure ne tarye in my [Page] telle. And he ansuered to hym and said fayre sone / that is bycause that thou thynkest not wel on the reste that we entende to haue in heuen. and on the paynes that we ought to fere and doubte yf thou thouhtest heron wel and dilygently. and thy [...]el le were ful of wormes. And thy self in them vnto thy necke thou sholdest wel abyde there wythout beyng a ferd. ¶ It is Slouth and synne whan thou hast wytte and vnderstonding and canst not thy Pater noster the Aue maria. and the Credo wyth that that aperteyneth to thy byleue. And that ought to teche godfaders and godmoders to the chyldren that they hold at the fonte of batesme. ly [...]e as the prest enioineth them at the crystenyng yf the fader and the moder doo it not▪ or yf they fayl le or deye to fore the age they ought to knowe it

¶ Of the pater noster Capitulo. xxxix

THe pater noster is the most worthy and the best prayer that is For it contryneth vij petycyons in whiche werequyre and praye to god our fader that he gyue to vs the vij yef tes of the holy ghoost And that he delyuere vs fro the vn dedely synnes and that he gyue to vs the vn promesses whiche he promysed to his frendes. For to speke bryefly it conteyneth and encloseth it all that the herte may desyre and demaunde of god And our lord ihesu cryste made it short to thende that it shold be sayd wyth a good wyll and ofte. ¶ The vij petycyons of the pater noster be whan we say: Pater. we praye benyuolence. For we calle hym pietous. whan we saye noster we take away pryde. For we calle hym not syngulerly our fader but of alle whan we saye qui es in celis we bere to hym reuerence For we saye not only that he is lord of erthe: ne of the thynges of thys world. but also of heuen /

¶ Of the vij peticyons of the pater noster / Capitulo xl

THe fyrst petycion of the pater noster is Sanctificetur no men tum wherfore demande we the peticyon of our lord [Page] that his name be saintefied. is it not soo / yes For alle the scuptures wytnesse it. but yet he myght be sayntified in the hertes of many moo. that is to wete in the hertes of paynems. why the byleue not on him to thende that they byleue. serue. and honoure hym in theyr hertes. and knowe and byleue on hym more fermely. than doo the fals crysten men / and to thende also that they haue knowleche of his name by the lawe & that they haue the loue of hym by thoffice of loue. and also that he be saynctified in erthe the better in the hertes of good people by the more grete knowleche of charyte and by grete swetenes of loue. wherof. Sanctifycetur & cetera. ¶ The second peticyon is Adueniat regnum tuum▪ what is that we demaūde whā we saye. that hys royalme come. Is he not thenne kyng. hath he not thenne hys royame. yes. but we demaunde that he come: & that he shewe hym by grace to them that he is not yet magnyfested and shewed. that is to wete to them that be now born / & that ben yet to be born / And therfore we saie / O fader celestyal we praye the that they whyche by nature of flesshe be gendred / and whiche by grace be generate in the holy fonte of batesme. And makest them iuste. and by the clerenes of thy iustice / be thou shewde to alle them whyche be sones of thy royame. And lyke wyse as thou regnest in the iuste and good persones / soo take thou away alle wickednes and alle iniquite of the enemies of helle and wylle also regne in them whiche ben yet in synne. wherof. Adueniat reguum tuum & cetera. The third petycion is. Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra / we knowe certainly that they that be in heuen doubte nothyng to doo the wyll of god / and by cause that a chyld of a day old may not be vpon erthe without synne. Therfore we pray hym. that lyke as the saintes doon his wyl in heuen. and the good and iuste peple doon it in the erthe to theyr power / hew wel that we may not doo after theyr propre perfection. that it playse hym to gyue vs grace that we may doo hys wyll after our lytyl faculte and [Page] not onely his wyll be doon of good peple but also of the wycked by remuneracion of sinne. and by operacyon and werkyng of good werkes / wherof / Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra / The fourth peticion is: Panem nostrum cotidiauum da nobis hodie / Thou oughtest to knowe that god hath made a man of double substance. that is to wete of substance spirituel touchyng the soule and of substance corporel touching the body & therfore he hath nede of two loues of brede / one for the soule and that other for the body. the soule is fedde wyth the brede of holy scripture and the body of natural brede. The faders carnal owen the brede natural and corporal to them And to theyr chyldren by the grace of god whiche maked it to come / For wythout hym we mowe not haue it ne spyrituel also. The faders spyrituell ben the prelates and the prestes whiche owen to giue to vs the spyrituel brede that is the doctrine of the holy scripture lyke as god comaundeth them in the gospell / But alas as sayth saint gregore The world is all full of prestes: and neuertheles ther be some that here gladly the word of god But ther be fewe that wyll saye it Alas what shal many prestes saye at the daye of dome whyche haue take thordre of presthode. and neuertheles they be not ashamed to lyue disordynatly. For whiche sayth the wyse man that the euyl prestes make the ruyne of the peple by the euyll examples that they gyue to them: Thou shalt nat scarcely fynde them in the chirche for to teche and enseyne the people / ¶ But forto receyne thoffryngis / ¶ And also thou shal fynde them wyth the peple dissolute and foulle of euyll maners aud thou shalt not knowe ne see ony dyffaulte / of the habite of the seculer men to whome they sholde teche and endoctryue Aud doo not but they ben at playes and esbatemen tes more dyssolute oftymes / than other ben / bothe in wordes & in dedes. There swere they and forswere them. And speken euyl: and wycked wordes bothe of dede men / & also of lyuyng ¶ Theyr rentes and reuenues they demauude rygorously and [Page] oftymes to grete hurte and domages of the poure peple & saye to them grete vylonnyes and take them somtyme wyth bothe hondes / They he cladde wyth the wulle of the sheep of our lord and eten the flessh and after lete aud suffre them to deye for hō gre for faulte of feding them wyth the word of our lord lyke as they be holden and bounden / Of whiche word many cannenot ne knowe it not but goo to tauerues and dunke and ete more that nedeth: and ofte fallen at debat and fyght to gyder. They lyue lecherously aud despende theyr good euill & lewdly the goodes of them that ben departed out of this world & fulle lytyl doo they theyr deuoyr. And that werse is / many therbe so dissolute that it is grete pyte of theyr euyl lyf and euyll examples whyche they shewe to the world For they slee them whome they shold quyckne for whome they shal yelde a compte ful strayt at the day of iugement to our lord: lyke as the prophete sayth. I shal demaūde saith he of the pastours & herdmen of the chyrche the blood of the soules that by theyr deffaulte and neclygence ben peasshed and dampned And therfore be they not displesed whan trouthe is said vnto them. For saint bernard saith that it is better to displease for to saye trouthe than to please by flaterie Atte leste saith saint Gregore yf they haue not scyence and connyng for to preche to the peple And seche them lete them lyue so wel & kepe the waye of Innocencye for to gyne good example / ¶ For the good lyf of prestes is the science Exā in the whyche the laye peple ought for to studie in. And they that be noo clerkes. By the wordes afore said we demaūde of our lord that he gyue to vs the brede of helthe and of doctrine / the whiche the prestes shold gyue to vs. & we seie Panē nrm̄ cotidianū fader gyue to vs corporall brede. & make the lond co germe & bunge forth fruit for to susteine vs bodyly & giue to vs spyrytuel brede that is to wete iuspire our prelats & our prestes of the ch [...]rche that the doctrine whiche thou hast gyuen to them. they will distribute to vs wysely & charitably & yf they will not [Page] good lord we praye the that thou wylt fede vs withe the dinyne inspyrasyon of thy holy spyride to thende that by the we may haue the brede of spyrituel lyf withinforth the whiche it please hym to dystribute to vs by deuocyon Thus panem nostrum totidianum da nobis hodie. The vpeticōn is dimitte no bis debita nostra licut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris / Alas how this peticōn is gretely doubtous & perillous to moche peple that saie it / Certes it dooth to them more harm than good many ther be that by theyr tongue and euyll wrath be so harded ayenst them that haue doon to them ony displaisir that they wold wel haue them slain of theyr propre hondes. and also hurte in alle theyr goodes And neyther for the loue of god ne for prayers requyred to them. ne for mercy that is desyred of them wylle not take ony satysfacion ne make peas ne acoorde wyth them. Of suche peple saith the prophete that theyr prayer is tourned in to synne as touchyng them self. And how wel that they ben suche and so paruerse that they may not be more yet haue they not drede in the world but knele doun on the yr knees to fore god and tofore the aulter and saye this prayere O ye right curssyd synners what is this that ye doo. ye prayr ayen your self ye wyll not pardone ne forgyue to them that haue trespaced to you. and yet ye praye to god that he pardon ne your trespaces lyke as ye pardonne theyres. ye moeue god ayenst yon. and make hym more angry than ye appease hym Certes what someuer pardonneth not ony thyng that had be doon or said to hym god shal neuer pardone to him his synnes for he him self prayde for them that putte him to deth who me he might haue confounded and destroyed yf he had wolde the holy scripture saith that he that / hateth an other is an homicide or māslear & hath no parte in the kyngdom of heuen Now lete him beware & take hede what he shal saye that is in suche estate / for it is better to him to be styl & saie not than to demaū de pardon whan he wyl not forgyue. Thus dimite nobis [Page] debita nostra. The vj peticion is / Et ne nos inducas in temptacionē Thou oughtest to vnderstonde hoolly that we ought not to demāde of god that we be not tempted. but we praye hym that he wyl not suffre vs to be surmoūted of the temptacyon. The tēptacions proffiten moche to moche peple / for by the vyctories in withstonding them they shal haue the crowne of glorie like as saith saint James. wel happy is he that suffreth tēptacion For whan he shal be proued. he shal haue the crowne of perdurable lyf. And yet saith saint James right dere brethern esteme and take in you all ioye of the spirite and of grace whā ye shall be tempted with diuerse tēptacions for by the pacience that ye shal hane ye shal possesse your soules in perdurable glorie Thre thinges ther be that tēpte vs in this world that is to wyte the flessh / the world and the deuil The flessh tempteth vs by glotonnye and lecherye / the world tempteth vs by prosperite and by aduersite. the deuil enforceth him to tempte vs to sinne and therfore we saie Fader suffre vs not to be tempted more than we may suffre ne bere / but gyue to vs strengthe power & will for to suffre wel the temptacōns to thende that we may haue victorie. Thus. Etne nos iuducas in temtacionē.

The vij peticion is. sed libera nos a malo many euyllis ther be to whiche humaine creature is subgette and of whiche in noo wyse by hym self he may not kepe hym ne esche we them. whyche may be dystyngued in sexe manneres. There is one euylle of the body and an other of the soule ¶ Item one euyl of the synne: and an other of payne ¶ Item an euyl of thys present world And another of that whiche is to come And of them that depende of thyse we demaunde of our lord that he delyuered vs of whan we saye / Sed libera nos a malo. Lord delyuer vs fro alle euylle not onely of the lytyl euillis but also of the grete Thus Sed libera nos a malo Conclusion of alle these peticions afore said is Amen that is to saie as verily as we demāde in all the peticōns to foresaid [Page] soo good lord be it. This praier we ought to saye ofte. for god made it and s [...]ewde it to vs how we shold praye And certainli noo prayer may compare to this / ne is more prosytable to vs some ther be that glorifie them self in saieng many other prayers and in redyng many psalme; in the psaulter. And whan they saye them with the mouth of tymes theyr herte is sette on worldy thinges: of whom our lord saieth the peple preyse me with t [...] mouth b [...]t the herte is ferre fro me: we blame not ne gaynsaye ayeust suche prayers: [...]t to saie deuocyens. but we prayse moche yf wyth the polixite of the prayer be the deuocyen of the herte.

¶ Of the Aue maria / capitulo xlj

AUe maria is the fairest salutacyōn and that best pleaseth to the virgyne marie of ony thing that is: & yet it to shold plese her better who that wyl saie in thende ventris tui ihesus She is moder of mercy & of grace Quene of heuen / lady of angellis our swetenes our hope. by whom after god all the world is susteined. The iuste men by her haue consolacyon. The synners pardon: the seke helthe. the angellis. the archangellis. the saintes gladnesse. the deuillis confusion. And the holy tunyte. glorie: That the iuste peple haue by hyr [...]osola [...]yon it apperith by this example. ¶ Example. We rede in the hystorie of saynt Exā Basille. and the same witnesseth philibert bisshop of carnote in Cezarye that Julyen thappostata whyche was fyrste amonke. & after forsoke his custendom / and was Emperoure of rome And whan he cam in to the cyte of Capadoce saint basylle bysshop of the same Cyte / Whyche semed deuoutely the virgyne Marye made to hym a present of thre barly loues:

¶ For he ete none other brede. Julyen was moche angry and sente them agayn / & after sent to him a trusse of heye saieng thou hast sent to vs mete for bestes vnresonable wherfor receiue a like present lyke as thou as sent to vs saint Basylle [Page] sent hym a word again we haue sent to the suche mete as we ete. and thou hast sente to vs mete of a dombe beest / Julyen anfuered to him whan I haue put in my subiecyon all the royal me of perse / in despite of the I shal destroye this cite The night after saint basylle was in the chyrche of our lady and sawe a vysyon a grete innltitude of angellis and in the middes a lady whyche satte vpon a trone. and sayd to the other. Calle to me anon mercurye for to goo slee iulien thappostata whiche blasphemeth me & my sone. This mercurie was a knyght whyche for susteining of the fayth of shū cust iulyau had put to deth and was buryed in the same chyrche of carnote anon thys mercurie by the comandement of the virgine marie arose vp and toke his armes whiche were kept in the chyrche & wente in to the bataill where iulien thappostata was and anon as he saw iulien he smote the hors with his spores & cam hardily to hym and smote him thurth the body and departed soo that noman wyst where he becam and iulien deyeng fylled his honde ful of his owne blod & cast it in to the ayer sayeng thou galileen hast vainquisshed me: he called our lord galileen by cause he was cō ceyued in galile: thus dide iulien thapostata / & all the peple lefte him. thenne cam they of perce & flewe him fro the heed to the feet. & of his skynne made a stole vnder the feet of the kyng of perse aienst whome he went to make warre whan seint basylle had seen this vision he went to the place where seint mercurye was buryed & his armes. and opened the sepulture & fonde neither him ne his armes. and he demāded of the kepar of the chyrche who had taken away his armes. the whiche sayd that they had ben there at euensong tyme byfore / Saint basille wente his way. & on the morn as sone as it was day he cam agayn to the sepulture tofore said. and fonde the body of saynt mercury his ariues & his spere whiche was all blody. & forth with cam anon a man fro the bataill which recōptedto him y ^e maner how iulien had be slain of a knight whiche was not ¶ knowen [Page] what he was ne where he becam: Now seest thou how the vyrgyne marie deliuered saint basile and the cyte fro the hondes of▪ Julien. Thus the iuste peple haue confort by hyr. And I sayd also that the synners haue by hyr pardon and remyssion of theyr synnes. as it appereth herafter by the lyf of Theophyle /

¶ Of the lyf of Theophyle Capitulo xlij

PHylibert bysshop of the cyte of carnote recounteth that in the yere of our lord v C xxxvij in the wyasme of cecylle in a Cyte was a man named theophyle the whiche was vycary of the bisshop and gouerned all the bysshope [...]ch And he gouerned it so wel and wysely that whan the bysshop was dede all the peple chaas hym and said that he was worthy to be bysshop: but he wold not be it. and ansuerd that his of syce suffysed hym / & soo ther was another made bysshop whyche deposed Theophyle of hys offyce. wherof he was moche angry in suche wyse that he wente to an euyl Jewe for to haue counseyll how he myght haue agayn hys office. The Jewe made hym speke with the deuil the whiche said to hym yf he wold renye god and hys moder and renonce his crystendom. And therof wryte to him a lettre of his hond he sholde remyse hym in his office: Theophile agreed to all and made to him a lettre and sealid it with his seal and signed it with hys sygne manuel. ¶ The deuil made anon that theophille was on the morn in the grace of the bysshop & was sette agayn in his offyce / After this Theophyle aduised him better and repented him moche of that he had doon. And wiste not where to haue recouere for he had renyed god and our lady by hys lettre sealyd. he aduysed hym self that our lady was pi [...]ous & moder of mercy & entred in to the chyrche founden in the honour of her. and wias ther by the space of. xl. dayes in prayeng the glorious vrgyne marye that she wold receyue him to grace. It happend [Page] that on a satreday nyght that he in wayllyng & wepyng fylle aslepe and the / gloriouse virgyne appierde to hym & blamed hym strongly of that he had don and after she sayd to hym that he sholde nothyng doubte but that she sholde gete grace and pardon for hym ot hir sone. & anone she toke fro the deuyl mygntily the lettre that he hat delyurede to hym: and she leyde it vpon hys breste. to thende that he sholde knowe certaynly that he was no lēger seruant ne bounden to the deuyl of helle whan he awoke and fonde his lettre noman ooude expresse the Joye that he had and on the morn: whiche was sonday. he wente sonne as he myghte to he chyrche to fore the bysshop & recoūtede to fore alle men all the feat & how it had happened to hym wherof ther were many whyche had grete hope to haue merci of theyr sinnes by the gloriouse vyrgine marie. The bysshop comanded hym to caste the lettre in to thefyre after that the bisshop with all the clergye / brought hym to the aultre and ther gaaf hym the body of our lord / and in receynynge hym his face bycam as clere as the sonne. and after he abode i [...] the chyrche louyng god and the vyrgyne marye by whome he had be delyuerd vnto the / thyrde day that he deyde holyly and wele. now hast thou herde how the synners hane byhir grace and pardon /

¶ How angellis & sayntes haue by our lady ioye: Ca. xliij

WHo that shold wryte alle them that by the vyrgyne marye haue be guarisshed & heled of the maladie of the soule and of the sekenes of the body hym behoueth ouer grete a booke. wherof we leue by cause of shortenes. Also we haue sayd that the angels▪ archangels. and saintes haue by hir Joye & gladnes: For by hyr many synners ben called to penaunce. and the gospell sayth that the angellis haue more gretter ioye of a synnar that repenteth hym and doth penaunce than they haue of iiij. s [...]o [...]e xix. rightful men that neuer synned. The holy saintes whan they see vs come in to heuen haue grete [...]ye and gladnes for as moche as we ben theyr frendes and theyr bretheren. [Page] and lyke as comynly men reioyce of the wele of his frende / The deuylles haue by the virgyne marye grete confusion whā by her the synners be delyuered fro theyr hondes / lyke as thou herdest of theophile. the blyssyd trynyte hath glorye touchyng to vs. For ihesu crist hath bought vs wyth hys precyous blood: Now late vs so doo in this world that we may come in to hir companye. who someuer that salew [...]th ofte and deuoutely our blessyd lady wyth the said a [...]e maria. he shal fynde confort and helpe in her. and she shal defende hym fro the deuylles and in thende she shal reward hym wythout nombre / seynt bernard sayth that he ought tarye for to serue hym whom he calleth in his necessitees. and helpeth him nothing. lyke as he wold saie that none who someuer he be shal requyre hyr deuoutly. But that she shal doo hym comfort and ayde: Therfore sayth the holy scrypture: how wel that god hereth not the synners whan they praye to him yet what someuer synner thou be leue not to serue hyr and to loue her for yf thon perseuere and continue. verely she shal gete grace of her sone and pardon of thy synnesBut beware and kepe the wel that thon synne not in that ent [...]nte Exā ne in hope therof. For that shold deplease hyr. ¶ Example we rede of abbot iohan whiche aroos after his deth and sayde who that wold be saued. shold sale we ofte and deuo [...]tly she vyrgyne marye wyth thys gretyng. Aue maria and whan he had so said he was dede as he was tofore. Another example we rede of a knyght that had a castel nyghe vnto a comyn waye And alle them that passed tofore the castel he robbed without pyte. And he had a custome that euery day w [...]hout f [...]illy [...]y he wold grete our lady wyth an Aue maria. It happend on a tyme that a relygyous man passed forth by and anone sent out hys seruauntes for to robbe hym the relygyoꝰ man praied them that they shold brynge hym to theyr lord / For he had to speke wyth hym secretly / whan he was come tofore hym he sayd to the knyght that he shold doo come alle them of his hows for he [Page] wold preche to them the word of god. whan they were assembled ye said to them ye be not alle here. for the lordes chamber lain was not there And the lord comaūded that anone he shold be [...]ette and anone as he was [...]omen and sawe the relygyous man he began to torne the eyen in hys hede as one enraged the relygyous man sayd to hym I coniure the in the name of god that thou saye to vs what thou art & what thou sechest in thys castel he ansuered to hym / I am said he no man but I am a deuyl. that haue taken the forme of a man and haue duelled in this castel with this knyght the space of▪ xiij. yere / and our maistre the grete deuyl of helle hath sente me hyther. to thentente that yf thys knyght had forgeten to saye on daye to our lady one aue maria: Incontinent I shold haue put hym to deth but the day that he sayd it. I had noo power ouer hym whan the knyght herd thys: he was abasshed. and knelyd doun to the [...]et of the relygyous man and requyred of hym pardon / and fro than forthou he ladde a good lyf The relygyous man comā ded the deuyl that he shold goo in to suche a place / where he shold neuer noye ne grieue hym that semed▪ the virgyne marie Now hast thou herd how thys knyght for sayeng euery day one / Aue maria. was delyuerd fro she deuyl and brought agayn in good lyf. Example. it is redde how a knyght was moche Exā deuont toward our lady / but he was moche lecherous / It happed that on a tyme as he passed thurth a wode that he had so grete hungre that he vnneth myght goo forth / he requyred deuoutly the blyssyd virgine marie of helpe and comfort / And she for to withdrawe hym fro hys synne sent to hym by two: fayr maydens right good mete in a [...]oul styukyng plater whyche prayed hym swetly that he shold ete. and he ansuered to them agayn that he shold rather deye for hungre / than ete of that good mete. by cause the plater was so [...]oul that the good mete was in. They ansuerd to hym yf thou that art a man mortal wilt not ete of this good mete by cause of the fylthe of the plater [Page] and hast so grete hungre / how wenest thou thenne that the vyrgyne marie whiche is so fayre and so swete take in grace & thanke the fayr salutacyons that thou presentest to her enery day whan thy body is so foul & vyle of the ordnre of lecherye & other synnes of whiche thou art all full. for whiche cause thy seruyce plcseth not to her sone ne to her / and yet thou wylt that they receyue them. wasshe thy body by confessyon and amēdyng of thy lyf so moche that it be pure and clene or ellis thou losest thy payne / And whan thys whas said they departed. & the said knyght lost his hungre and confessid him & amended hys lyf. and after serued our lady by long tyme holyly to the honour of of hir sone our sauyour Jhesu criste / whyche lyueth & regneth and after deyde and was saued. Thenne ought the Juste and rightwys men haue grete hope for to serue our lady whā that synners ben by her saued.

¶ Of the holy name of Jhesu criste Capitulo xliiij

IT is slonth whan one nameth the name of ihesus in the chyrche and enclyned not his heed ne his knee for right soo folo weth the ordynaunce of the lawe Canon. & saint poul sayth that the name of Jhesus is aboue alle other names for the whiche enery knee of heuen of erthe and of helle ought to bowe. seint bernard saith that the name of ihesu is mete confortable mete whiche strengtyth and maketh a persone to lyue hesayth that alleway whan he is named / that we ben conforted / yet saith saint bernard▪ that this name ihesus is called a fontaine▪ for of him yssued thre ryuers on the tree of the crosse that is to wyte wordes of swetnes whiche signifie confessyon / effusiō of blod whiche signifieth affection water for to wasshe▪ whiche signyfieth compūction. Item he saith that the name of ihesus. is sayd medycine for noo thyng restraineth so moche the angre of yre the swellyng of pryd / ne heleth the wounde ne restranith so moche the flux of lechery ne atēperith the thurst of auarice / ne [Page] taketh away all stenche and ordure. as doth the name of ihesu Itē seint bernard saith that it is called lyght & saith fro whens is comen thurgh all the world so grete lyght of faith. but of the name of ihesu. This is the name saith he. that saint poul bare tofore the kynges / and tofore all people as a lyght vpon a can styke. Itē said seīt bernard that this is a name of grete sauour & of grete swetenes & saith yf thou wylt write I wyll not rede yf it speke not of ihesus▪ A doctour named richard of seint victor saith that ihesus is a name right delectable moche confortyng the sinnar. and it is the name of holy hope. I prey the saith he that thou be to me ihs. for Ihs is as moche to saie as sauyour Saint peter whiche was pope of rome saith that ihus is the name that gyueth clerenes & sight to the blynde men heeringe to deef men gooyng to the lame: speche to the dombe the lyf to the deed and alle the power of the deuyl it taketh away & oute of the bodies in whiche they put them. Item he counseilleth the and exhorteth that thou haue this name in honour and reuerence & hys blessyd passyon and to thende that god haue the in kepyng: that thou saye euery mornyng and euery euenyng in makyng the signe of the crosse vpon thy breste▪ Ihs of nazareth sone of god whyche suffredest deth and passyon haue merry of me Or saie in latin in this wise. Jhesu nazarene fili dei mise rere mei. Exāple It is redde of a man that soo sayde & whan Exā he was deed the deuyllys wold haue taken hys soule but anone out of hys breste and of his forhede yssued sterres so fayre and clere that they might not approche him. and an angel camfro heuen whiche delyuered hym and reysed / the whiche sayde yf I had knowen in my chyldhode the goodnes to calle the name of ihesu. I had admonested all the world to my power to calle on the said name of ihesus for many perillis

¶ Of the yefte of strengthe ayenst slouthe Ca: xlv

[Page]THe fourth yefte of the holy ghoost is the yefte of strengthe whan god gyueth it to a man he gyueth to hym a new herte / hardy and noble for to despyse alle wordly thynges and he may promise and gyue hardynes and for to suffre alle the Exā euylles that the world may doo and saye to hym▪ Example. we rede that after the fiste of pēthecoste whan thappostles were armed with the yefte of this vertu by the holy ghoost they were strong and hardy for to suffre alle the harmes & paynes of the world. And had ioye whan ther was doon to them ony shame or greuousnes. who that is thenne armed of this yefte he may wel fyghte ayenst alle synnes & alle aduersitres whyche is but a lyght thyng to doo to a vigorous herte Thenne late euery man dispose hym to gete this yefte of strengthe / thathe may myghtyly fyght and resiste synne. and ioyously wyth pacyence suffre payne tribulacyon and aduersite for the loue of our lord /

¶ Of the synne of auarice. Ca. xlvj

IT is auarice for to thynke ouer moche on the goodes of thys world and to gete them ylle and agayn conscience it is vsure for to lene for wynnyng as doon som vsurers whyche lene money for cheuesaunce vpon hors on whete / on wyne or fruytes of therthe / whiche they take in pledge or gage with ont to rekene the said fruites in payement And yet that werse is they wyl rekene ij or in tymes in the yere for to haue theyr entrees of theyr propre dettes. These ben cruel and vygorous vsurers. Other ther ben that lene vpon a bargayn mad entendyng for to haue some guerdon or reward in money or in cuppes of gold or of siluer or in robes / or in hors. or in wyne / or in fatteswyn. or in prebendes for to gyue to theyr chyldren / or in other thynges: And alle is vsure whan ouy man taketh by cause of preste or lenyng. Alle vsurers and theyr heyres ben bounden to make restitucyon alle that they haue vsured or attestre they onght to doo theyr deuoyr & power to restorr / or ellys [Page] to haue grete sorwe atte theyr herte yf they may not make restitucion / ffor yf they deye without doeyng itif it be knowen / they Exā ought not to be buryed in crysten buryell is Example an arche bysshop of besanson maystre in dyuynyte / recounteth that man abbaye was buried an vsurer for the prouffyt that they of thabbaye receyued and was buryed in theyr cloister. but euery nyght he aroos out of hys graue and discouuerd theyr houses. and wold not suffre the monkes to slepe ne [...]rste and oftymes was out of the amyto [...]ie and allway in the morning they brought the body in to the graue▪ It happed that an holy man coniured hym and demanded of hym how the monkes myght haue theyr reste he ansuerd and sayd to hym lyke as I haue angryd god by vsure in lyke wyse I shal not reste day ne nyght ne the monkes neyther vnto the time that they haue put out my body out of theyr cloystre and whan he was put out & buryed in other place not halowed he neuer after greued them It ys auarice to doo fals marchaundyse and to selle by fals mesure & for more thā it is worth. & to bye for lasse thā it is worth for money payed tofore hond. To lene vpon pledge / and that the pledge be lost for lasse than it is worth yf it be not payed atte day sette / For to selle the thyng for the more derrer by cause of the abydyng of the payement And for to reteyne and kepe thinge founden / For saint Jherome saith moche folke wene to be without synne to reteyne that they fynde / & saye god hath gyuen it to me. to whom shold I yelde it they. knowe sayth he that it is synne lyke and semblable to thefte & rauayne yf they rendre it not agayn and they knowe to whom it longeth & yf they know not / the clerkes saie that they ought doo crye it openly & doo saye it in the chyrches / ¶ And yf they fynde none that haue loste it. That theme they dyspose it by the counseyll and aduys of a good confessour: Or yf they be poure to reteyne it and Exā praye for hym that hath loste it / or gyue it for goodes sake Example: It is redde in the lyf of seynt martin / that on a time [Page] seint martin went sayeng his houres and fonde a p̄eny the whiche he reteyned and put it to his owen prouffit. whan he cam toward his deth / the deuil cam to the feet of his bedde. and begā to make grere frste & to crie merueillously seit martin herd him and coniured him to saie what he demaūded and sought there Thenne the deuyl ansuerd to hym and said I tarie for thy soule for it is myn seint martin demaunded of him wherfore The deuil said. thou fondest on a time apeny of whiche thou neuere madest restitucion / but hást reteined it / whan seint Martin herd this he praied god to giue him terme for to restore the peny & make satysfacyon. god suffred hym to lyue a space of time & to gyue the peny for goddes sake. Thenne the deuyl fledde away all confused and enraged. Now seest thou how the sowle of seint Martyn was in ieopardye for apeny Thefte is euyl auarice: It is thefte to take or reteyne other mennes thyng with wronge and wythout the wille of hym to whom it bylongeth / ¶ And the lawe saith that the synne may not be pardoned / Exā but yf restitucion be made to hys power. ¶ Example It is redde of a frere templer of them that be crossed that on a tyme he toke apeny of hys brother the whiche was in the temple relygyous as him self was. and had neuer doon other euil but the same. ¶ It happend that on a day god sente hym a sekenes moche terrible of whyche he deide And whan he was dede he was brought tofore god / and the deuil said to god. Syre knowe ye that this sowle is oures / and our maystre of helle. ¶ For on a tyme he toke fro his brother relygyous apeny. of whiche he made noo restitucyon. ¶ And thou hast said. that he that shal haue of another vnto the fourth parte of a peny shal neuer haue parte in heuen. ¶ The angel whiche was on that other syde wyst not what to saye. sauf he said / goode lord haue pyte of thys poure sowle and muste he for so lytyl a thyng be dampned. ¶ Thenne ansuered our lord nay I wyl not. But I iudge that he be caste in thys pytte [Page] all fulle of leed boyllyng. to thende that he doo penaunce of the synne that he hath doon. and after that the sowle retourne in to the body for to goo in to the world and for to make r [...]stytucion to his brother of the peny that he had robbed fro hym. Thenne thāgel that helde the sowle lete it falle in to the pytte of boyllyng leed▪ & ther he felte so gre [...]e payne and sorowe that none erthely thyng may diuyse: ¶ It happend that the sowle came agayn to the body and said to hys religyous brotheren / knowe ye for certayn that I cam fro the iugement of god / the whiche Judged me in thys manerr. And recounted to them alle the trouthe. and after said. I praye you that ye wille deliuere to me apeni for to restore to thys brother of whom I toke it fro and assone as he had made restytucion the sowle departed fro hys body and was saued in heuen / ¶ Exāple. It it is red of Exā a theef whyche was so euill that there was no murdre ne harme doon. but he was therat & dyde it / It happend that he was taken and by iustyce honged for the euyl feates that he had doon and after ther passed by a knight whiche byhelde this thefe and said to his men ve [...]ily ther hanged a fayre persone and a talle man. wyl ye take him doun. ye saide they / and they toke him donn fro the galowes and in takyng donn the theef said to them: Alas gentil sires I praye you that ye take me donn softli For I am not deed. and they demaunded hym how. And in what manere he had abyden ther so long wythout deyeng and he ansuerd to them that whan he was in the world he said euery day v pater noster & v aue maria. in the honour of v woū des of our lord. and thre pater noster and thre Aue maria in thonour of the trinite and that nener he had doon other goode than that. and said to them. I praye you that ye wyl sende to me aconfessour. and so dyde they. And thenne he confessed him and was saued pedurably.

¶ Of Sacrilege Capitulo xlvij

[Page]IT is [...]lege whan the body of our lord is vilaynously treated as the heretykes doon and they that vse sorceries and the euyll preestes for lucre and wynnyng and in lyke wyse of other sacramentes of holy chyrche. Also whan one [...]leth breketh or treateth vylaynously the saynttuaries. the crosse. the chalyce. the cresme. the corporas. the vestimentes halowed / and other holy thynges whan one leyeth in [...]th and maletalent honde on ony clerke or ony persone of the [...]che. ¶ Also whan one taketh ony thyng and beryth it euylle out of holy place / be it halowed or not halowed. ¶ Item yf one take away in place not halowed / ony thynge halowed it is saculege / and in lyke wyse of thyng not halowed out of halowed place ¶ Of thys synne be not quyte they that dyspende euyll the goodes and the patrymonye of Jhesu cryste / ¶ Also they that reteyne by theyr euyl auarice that whyche they ought to gyne to the poure or to put in good vsage

¶ Of Symonye. Ca xlviij

THys synne is called Symonie by canse of an enchaū cour whyche was named Symon. whyche on a tyme wold haue bonght of seynt peter the appostle the grace to doo miracles. to thende that he myght the better selle them. And therfore ben they called Simonyaks. they that selle or bye the goods spirituell: and it is emonge alle the dedely synnes the grettest. For spyritualte is gretter than temporalite. They be symonyakes that for yeftes or for promesses or for praiers or for carnalite doo so moche that they or other ben. helpers to dygnytees of holy chirche. as ben bisshops. abbotes / or other dignitees whiche shold be made by election. Example It is redde of an abbot Exā that whan he deyed he praied and coūseilled hys monkes that they shold make hys neuew abbot after him and so they dide It happed on a time that this abbot wente in disportyng him allone by a fontayne that was in his gardin ¶ And he herd a wys that complained him sorowful in grete complayntes / [Page] Thabbot coniured him to telle him what he was & he said that it was the soule of thyn vncle that late was abbot & was in the foūtayne merueilleusly tormented and brent / by cause of the carnal affeccion aud loue that he had to the. by cause he had prayed the monkes that they shold make the abbot after hym. ¶ Thabbot ansuerd to hym how may it be. that ye suffre suche brennyng in this fontaine whiche is soo attemperat The wys prayed hym to take a canstyk of coper whiche stode behynd the aulter. and caste it in to the fontayne / And he shold see how hoot it was. be wente and brought it & threw it in: and anon hit was molten as wax that is in the fyre / or butter in boyllyng water / whā thabbot had seen this anon he renounced his abbotshyp vnto the abbaye / and neuer after was the wys herd Item it is symonye whan for yeftes or for prayers or for seruice ben gyuen the prebendes / the cures and the other benefyces of holy chyrche Example. It is redde in the Exā book of peter de clugny / that an holy man was prostrate in his prayers on the good friday. whiche was rauisshed in spyrite vnto Ester day. and whan he was comen agayn to hymself he said that he had seen in purgatorye a man deteyned and kept. by cause he had taken: xv poūd / os a clerke whyche was of the yefte of hys patrymonye. And how well that he moche repented hym at hys deth and had comaunded to make restitucyon yet neuertheles he was moche greuously pugnysshyd and euery day he was constrayned of deuyllis to take and rendre the money all glowyng of fyre. Of thys synne be not quyt that by bargayn maad make leue or change theyr benefices / ne they that sayen one vnto the other. I shal doo my best. & as moche as I may to my power that thou shalt haue my benefyce And thou shalt in lyke wise that I shal haue thyn for the lawe canon saith. beware saith it that ther be noo promesse ne couenaunt made. But they may saye that one to that other I wold wel haue thy ben [...]fyce and thou myn. & signyfie theyr [Page] wyllys to the bysshop. Item they that by bargaryn made entre in to relygion. & they that receyue them in suche maner. & demaunde of them diner or souper / or ony other thyng as wel for the chyrche as for other thing ben excomynied by the lawe canon. for moche people ben taried and withdrawen for to entre in to religyon for suche thynges as ben demanded of them. and they saye that it is the custome. And to thend that this defence be the better holden and kepte. Pope Urban the vj made a decre the wyche is called. Ne in vinea domini. & pope gregore that cam after coufermed the same lyke as to fore they be acursed & that non may be assoilled. but yf it be of our holy fader the pope of rome Ther ben many other dyuerse maners of sinnes and of dyuerse caases of Symonye / whiche apperteynen more to the clerkes. Than to the laye people. ¶ And this booke is made more for the laye men than for the clerkes. whyche haue bookes. But neuertheles it is nede to the laye men. that they kepe them fro thys synne in thre caases / ¶ The fyrst caas is whan they wyll ayde theyr frendes and kynnysmen to ryse to dygnytees of holy chyrche. ¶ The second caas is whan they gyue ony prebendes or chapelles. ¶ The thyrde caas whan they put theyr chyldren in to doystres or relygyon ¶ In thyse thre caases yf they gyue or receyue ony prouffyt or euyl requestes or se [...]y [...]es. They may soone falle in to the synne of symonye whyche is an ouer grete synne. ¶ For as sayth the lawe wreton / Ther be thre maneres of yeftes that make symonye. ¶ That is to wyte yeftes of the hondes: That is whan is gyuen ony thyng portable. yefte of the mouth. As prayers of flaterye or euyl reporte [...] Yefte of semyce dyshonneste to. that is whan it is made by dishoneste or pryncypally for thynges perpetuel /

¶ Of dymes. or tithes / Capitulo xliiij

[Page]IT is syn [...] of auarice of euyl payeng of dy [...]es or of t [...] [...]hes / Thou mayst saye. Syre I knowe not wherof I ought to paye dymes ne how I shold paye them I saye vnto the that thou owest tithes of thy corn of thy wine of thy medewes fruittes / beste. egges / marchaundise. and of all the gayne and wynnyng that thou makest in what manere it be / And the maistres sayen in the d [...]it or lawe that the vsurers & y ^• comyn wymē owen to tythe of theyr wynnīg but theyo wen to gyue it for goodes sake to the poure for the thyrche ought not to receyue it / to thende that the chyrche approue not theyr synnes ne theyr errour. Item they saye yet that yf alaye man haue tythes whiche ben hys propre that he ought to paye tythe to the chyrche / Thenne thou owest to paye the tenthe parte. for our lord saith by the prophete thou shalt paye the tenthe parte of as moche as thou hast. And the pharisee whiche was of the maystres of the lawe cam in to the temple as saith the gospel & sayd that he payed the tenthe of all that he had & note well that the holy scripture saith not the xij ne the [...]x ne the xxx: but the droyt or lawe saith the tenthe and the d [...]it canon saith we comāde and ordeyne straitly that the dysmes and oblacōn [...] of vsurers & of comyn wymen be payed to the chyrche entyerly. to thende that it be in the disposion of the bysshoppes & that they that reteyne them be separate fro the comynalte of the chirche & excominyed and accursed These be the goodes that he hath of god that wel and truli yayeth his tythes: first he hath habondaūce of fruyt Item he hath helthe of body Item he hath remission of his synnes Item he hath the royame of heuen. it is sinne to reteyne the right of holy chyrche & to reteyne the duet [...]es of thē that ben dede it is auarice / for it is gretter sinne than to robbe them that ben lyuyug / Example: it is redde of a knyght why Exā che was in the host of kyng charlemayn / whiche whā he shold d [...]ye said to one his neuewe that he shold selle his hors and gyue the mouey therof for goodes loue to the poure Hys neuew solde the hors / but he reteyned the money / ¶ And put it to [Page] hys owen proffyt. xxx. dayes after he appiered to his neuewe and sayd to hym know thou that my synnes be not pardoned by cause thou hast not accomplysshyd my wyll I haue ben in purgatone: & now goo in to heuen but knowe thou that thou shalt dere abye that thou hast doon to me / the same day the neuewe herd a grete crye as it had be of lyons and of wylde bestes and was taken & born away in the eyer and after he was sought xl dayes longe / but he was not found. It happed xiiij dayes after the batayll of Charlemayn one passed thurth the royame of uauare. And he was founden fallen fro a montayn and was merueilloussely all to frusshyd Item it is auarice for to paye euyl the droytes and rightes that belongyng to the lordes and. to hyde & kepe secrete that whiche is due to them: the heyres whiche reteyne wel wetyng thynges euyl gooten. they reteyne it to theyr dampnacyon. Example. We rede that a fader Exā and his sone were in helle. and eche was angry and chyde eche other the fader said to his sone Acursyd be the hour & the daye that euer I engendred the. For to make the riche / and sette the in honour I haue ben a couetous vsurer. and moche auari [...]yous the soue said to the fader Acursed be thou fader. for by thy coūseil I haue doon moche harme and many euylles. for whyche I am dampned. Item lordes inges / aduocates procurours & other whiche taken of other by euyl can [...]e or for salayre that is gyuen to them to make euyll accordes or take yefte ayenst raisō yf they rend [...]re not alle whiche they haue so euyl take they shal be tormented in helle without ende. It is red of an euylle aduocat that whan was brought to hym the body of our lord be said I wyl that he be first iuge. if Jought to take him or not & whā it is said to him it was right that thou receiue him & we iuge it. he ansuerd to them ye be not my iuges & in saieng I appele it he d [...]yd in that estate. & the denyll bare the soule of him in to hell. Item it is auarice to desire a [...]re tyme for to sell the derrer his machaundise / For to sette pouer people a werke for ony pr [...]est that hath be lent h [...]m / wyhout prayeng theyr hyres [Page] for the day iourney. for to euyl vse thyng lente or hyred or put in kepyng or for to vse it in other manere than it hath be lente fore / or for to paye ouer late his owen werkmen or meyne. Item for make ouermoche sow we for losses of goodes of this world For god whiche wel myght haue kept if he had wold hath suffred it. for to see yf he wyll haue pacyence. Theremye the prophete sayth that fro the l [...]e vnto the grettest all studye in auarice. Salamon speketh and saith, I see saith he a grete euyl in the world for many ther be that haue no chyldren ne bretheren / ne sustrs but be allone & yet neuertheles they cesse not night ne day to hepe and gete tresour and hauoyr. and may haue no reste. And it happeth ofte that they that doo nothyng / but r [...]ste them and be ydell ben theyr heyres and despende largely that of whyche that they dare not doo / For the scripture saith that al so well lacketh to the riche auaricious that whiche he hath. as that whiche he hath not. Example. It is redde in the myracles of our lady that at rome was an archedeken whiche was named Peter the whiche was a good man. but he was ouer moche holdyng after the deth of his brother. the whiche was named Stephen. and by reuelacyon dyuine he sawe hym in purgatorye greuously tormēted: by cause he had ben so strait in kepyng. Thenne he said to his brother whiche had hope to be dely nered out of purgatorie yf the pope and the cardinallis songen eche amasse for hym he shold be delyuerd And so dyde they and was delyuerd Some ther be that of suche goodes as they haue they dare not vse ne despende them for the wele of theyr soule ne of theyr body but tarie & abyde that theyr chyldren doo for them after their deth verely it is grete folye to the. yf thou wene that thyn heyres doo wel for the of thy good whan thou wylt doo no thyng thy self / considere yf thou haue ony wytte that the children Exā doo at this day right litel for their faders. Exāyle. we rede of a moche riche man whiche had iij sones the [...] were mar [...] ed: & the yongest was not / it happed that he was moche sekey supposed to haue deyed. & called his iij sones & said to the oldest [Page] Fayre sone sayd he. I haue had g [...]ete payne to brynge the to honour I praye the that thou saye to me what good wylt thou doo for me whan I am deed. The sone ansuerd to him I promyse to you fader that I shal doo make a chapelle in whyche euery day shal be songen a masse for your soule. Fayr sone sayd the fader that is a fayr promesse / After he sayd to the second Fayr sone I haue doon so moche for the that thou art [...]che & wel maryed. what shal thou doo for me after my deth / I promese to you fader said he I shal doo founde ij chapeles in whiche shal be souge euery day masse for you / & in middle of the ij chapellis I shal make an almesse hous in whiche the poure shal be herberowed whiche shal praye for you. Fayre sone sayde the fader this is a right noble promesse / After this he said to hys yongest sone / Fayr sone and what shalt thou doo for me whā I shal be deed. I promese you fader said he I shal doo as moche for you as my two brethern. how mayst thou doo soo fayre sone sayd the fader thou art not maryed ne art not so riche as they ben. my fader said he. I shal doo it wel. For of all that they haue promysed they shal doo nothyng And therfore I saye to you I shal doo allone as moche as they bothe to gydre: Fader said he truste not on vs but whylles that ye be maister and owner. doo for your self. Ther be many that tarye tyl they be at thende of theyr deth for to doo well for theyr soules. And thenne gyue by cause they may bere nothyng wyth them / And note well that it shal be more auaillable in thy lyf to gyue a lytylle peny for the loue of god. than thou gauest a montayne of gold at thy deth. for whan the frendes see that they make gr [...]te testamentes and grete ordynaunces they say to them leue all this and thinke to be hole. ye shal not deye yet yf it plaise god. And yf ye dye / we shal doo more for you than ye saye. And whan they shal be deed. they shal doo right lytyl or nought. Thus ben the fooles deceyued And therfore saith saint austyn Abyde not vnto the deth for to amende thy self ne for to doo wel for thy [Page] richesses whiche thou hast so moche loued shal assaille [...]he on an other part thou shal be so troubled that lytil or nought shal thou remembre on thy soule. Som there ben that haue corne / wyne malt fruites or thynge that may be eten. or somme olde clothes or vesture whyche had leuer kepe them tyl they [...]te or goo to nought. than gyue them to the poure neyhbours or kynnesmen / or to the poure for goddes sake. I wyl not saye / but they may be wel kept by reson but it is auarice and grete sinne to kepe ony thyng tyl it be [...]oten of lost so that none may be h [...]lpen therby.

¶ Of forboden playes as of dyse and quardes / Capitulo [...]

IT is auarice to playe euyl games as be atte dyse or [...]ardes or at tables or other forboden games what someuer they be where is played for money or other temporel gayne. suche euyl games as of dyse aud of tables ben forboden by the lawe and droites for many synnes yssuen out of them. Fyrst to wynne and despoille hys felawe / It is ouer grete vsure to lene xj for xij not for viij dayes ne a moneth but at one caste. or one day / Item to multiplie lesynges and euyl wordes and that werse is to saye grete blasphemyes to god and to his blessyd moder and to the saintes of heuen wherof god is wroth so that oftimes he hath taken sodain vengeance. For somtime he hath torned the vysage / the former parte to be behynd. Exā ple: Exā A knyght ther was on a tyme whiche swere in grete angre in his playe by the eyen of god and anon hys eyen fyl out of hys hede vpon the tablyer / Itē they gyue an ylle example to them that beholde the game. Item they lose theyr tyme. for they shold employe it in good werkes. Ther ben many other synnes whiche shold be ouer longe to recounte. But I ought not to forgete one thyng that ther is / For they that wynne ought not to reteyne the gayne that they wynne. but they ought to gyue it for the loue of god or to doo by the counseil of hys confessour. but yf it so were that he had goten by barate. by deceyte / [Page] by force or that he made hym to playe ayenst his wylle for in these caases he onght to restore it hym that hath lost it. Example / It Exā is redde that a cristen man on a tyme playd wyth a Jewe and the cristen man sware so ho [...]bly that the iewe myght not here it. and stopped his eres and lefte the playe: and fledde home to hys hows

¶ Of the yefte of counseil ayenst auarice Ca lj

Lyke as the holy ghoost gyueth force and vygour [...]en [...]reprise grete thynges / right so gyueth he counseyl by whiche one cometh to a good bygynnyng and to a good ende of that he enterpriseth / It is a grete grace whan the holi ghoost gyueth the yefte whiche is called the yefte of counseyl / by whyche a man may haue delyberacion in that whyche he enterpryseth to thend that he be not ouer hasty in his entreprises. For lyke as ypo [...]as saith of hassty counseyl men repente soone after & therfor salamon saith doo no thyng wihout counseyl that is to saye counseyl delibered / and forseen▪ and thou shalt not repentethe / The most proufytable counseyl that a man may haue is that whiche god gyueth in the gospell whan he saieth yf thou wyl be parfyght goo and selle alle that thon hast and gyue it to the poure and come folowe me / and thou shalt haue grete tresour in henen. this is the right path of pouerte. for the holy ghoost ledeth hym that is enlumyned wyth the yefte of counseyl / neuertheles as touchyng the richesses of the world a man may wel be saued that useth them wel as Abraham. Jacob / Job. and Dauid. and many other that were moche riche in theyre lyf for they were not subgette to their rychesses. but to god and the holy ghoost ledeth the creature & conduyteth by the yefte of coūseyl to his sauacōn / but yet he ledeth the more righter way & more holy by the path of very pouerte by whiche the world is despised & all couetise for the loue of god. this yefte plucheth out of the herte the sinne of ana [...]ce & of couetise. and planteth ther a moche faire tree that is the vertue of mercy whiche is to haue [Page] sorowe pyte and compassyon of others harme and suffraunce

¶ Of the synne of glotonnye Capitulo [...]ij

IT is synne of glotonnye to ete & drinke ouermoche glotonnously. & out of houre & tyme ordeyned without hū gre or without thurst▪ or for to ete somtym for to drink the better and more than nede requyreth ouermoch to slepe & ouermoche to reste or ouer tendrely to nourissh his body & to seche other eases without necessite. to ete & drinke aboue other. & make him self dronke. It is grete sinne dedely whā one is ther in accustomed▪ for yf ther had neuer ben dronkenesse. ther had neuer ben seruytude ne bondage for by dronkenesse cam fyrst seruytude. & bondage Exāple. We rede in holy scripture the first Exā boke of the byble. that whā noe had planted the vygne and dronken of the wine he was therof all dronke. so that he laye naked in hys tabernacle that his humayne mēbres were seen and his sone cam sawe it. and shewd it to his brethern sem & Japhet / in mockyng his fader and not couerd it / the whiche camen and hydde theyr eyen / to thend that they shold not see theyr faders humanyte. and couerd it. whan noe was sobre and out of hys dronkenesse & knewe what his sone Cam had do soo he said to him / ¶ I wyll that thou be serf & bonde to thy brethern. & ther began first seruytude & bondage. certainly moche harme & many euyllis comen by dronknesse. for after that a man is dronke he hath lost his wytte / & is not his owen. but is to another that is to saye to the deuyl of helle. yf god calle him not by grace. Exāple. we rede that ther was an Exā hermyte of right good lyf & holy & of right grete abstinence / It happed that the deuyl deceyued hym / and said to him that he wold neuer leue hym in peas yf he dyde not one of thre dedely synnes / and that he shold chese whyche he wold leue [...]t doo and that was he shold chese. whether he wold doo fornycacion or ellis manslanghter. or to be dronken. the hermite whiche was a symple man byleued the deuyl and said that he had liene [...]t to [Page] make hym self dronke for hym semed therin shold be comysed the le [...]t [...]inne. and nygh to his hermytage was a myllar whom he loued moche and was hys godsyb. the whiche desired the her myte to come dyne wyth hym at his hous. the hermite thought that ther he wold acquyte him to the deuyl and wente and dyned wyth his godsyb they ete & dranke so moche that thermite and hys godsyb were alle dronke: the hermite wold haue retorned to his hermitage. but he wente all relyng hyther & thyther The millar said to his wyf that she shold lede hym home whā they were wel on the way. the wyf satte doun on the grounde and slepte: the hermyte whyche was dronke leyed hym doun and had company with hyr flesshly The millar sawe that fro hys mylle. and toke a glayue & went toward thermite for to haue slain hym the hermite toke the glayue fro him and slewe hym: Now seest thou how by dronknesse comen many euyllys he supposed to haue doon but one sinne but he comysed thre grete synnes. he was dronke / he knewe carnally his godsyb and he slewe hyr husb [...]nd whiche also was his godsyb It ys glotonnye to dyspende euylly or more than apparteineth to hys astate They that dyspende the goodes that they haue at vttrannce for to haue renomme that they ben large and valyāt peple▪ they shal be greuously pugnysshid and shal rendre strayt acomptes to god whiche had lente them for to put to good vsage and Exā for to gete heuen therwith. ¶ Example. Saint gregore reherceth in his dyalogue of a monke named Theodore the whiche was supposed. to haue ben sobre but the ete in hernes it happed that he was seke and cried strongly saieng that the deuyl lis ete his hondes as dragons And that they had eten alredy hys feet and so saieng deyde /

¶ Of fastinges and of them that owen to faste Ca liij

It is glotonnye & dedely synne to breke the fastes of lente of the quatre temps or ymbryng dayes of vigyles and of other fastynges commanded yf they be▪ not ouer olde ne [Page] vnder the age of x [...] yere. or labourers that other wyse may not lyue wymen grete wyth chyld & nounces in cas that the chydrē shold fare the werse. poure beggars whiche otherwyse may not lyue: seke men they that laboure by the way by necessyte they that make grete werkes and may not reste ne leue. Alle these persones ben excused of fastyng: but it shold be good for them / that they shold praye or doo som good in stede of fastīg & yf ony whyche is not excused of fastyng felte him in place that he were seke by the leue of his curate or of his good confessour whyche hath power to chaūge his fast in to other good werke may charge hym therwyth in stede of fastyng but yf he may fast / he may not chaūge it. & he ought to sette suche a perso [...]e to fastīg dayes comaūded for to obeye to holy chyrche: for obediēce is more worth than ony other thyng for foure grete p [...]nffites comen therof as is said in the preface of the masse in lente. Qui corporali ieiunio. for it maketh to doo penaūce for synnes that haue be doon: & it kepyth one the better fro synne / & the herte is the more deuout to our lord & god giueth grace & vertue & gret reward & guerdon in the ende / seynt ihe [...]me saith that whan thou fastest. thou oughtest to gyue for the loue of god that whyche thou sholdest ete. yf thou fastest not to thende that of thy fastyng. thy soule shold be fedde / and not for to spare. Exāple we Exā rede of a riche man whyche myght not faste / but euery day he ete in the mornyng. and made poure men to ete wyth hym & be said to our lord lord yf thou reproeue me atte the day of d [...] me. of that I ete on mornynges I shal reprehende the / for thou etest wyth me / Glotonnye of the tongue is to speke in the chyrche in the tyme of the seruyce of god. and to lette the other & to them that ben acursed: bnt yf it be in caas of whyche we haue spoken tofore in the chapitre of sētences of excomynyng others secrete to telle and shewe. to speke euyl & shrewd wordes to here gladly ony preysīges flateues or euil reportes. to mocke skor ne: or saye euyl & curse other. for seint James repreueth strōgly [Page] them that sayen euyl / to promyse thyng resonable & not to hold it to swere by the sonne by the mone by the fyre by water by the brede by the wyne. or by semblable othes & to saye ydle wordes whyche may not prouffyte yf thou wylt speke & saie welle thynke twyes on the thyng tofore thou saye or speke it.

¶ Of the yefte of sapieuce & sobrenes ayenst glotōnie ca. liiij

The most hye of the vij yeftes of the holi ghoost and the most souerayn ys the yefte / of sapyence and of sobrenes It ys a grace that the holy ghoost gyueth to an herte contē platyf. by cause it is so nyghe the loue of god. that he d [...]syreth not ne secheth ony other thyng but to see / haue. and delyte hymself and duelle wyth hym Thys is the sōme of perfectōn and the ende of contemplacyon and maketh one to saye. knowe. & fele him as by taste. Ther be many cristen bothe derkes and la ye men whyche ly [...]l know god by fayth ne by scupture by cause they haue the taste disordynate by synne they may not wel sauoure hym / nemore than a seke man fyndeth sanour in good mete the yefte of sapyence purgeth and clenseth parfy [...]htly all fylthe and ordure of synne: & lyfteth vp the spyryte of a manin suche wyse that he ioyneth hym to god by the glue of loue soo that he is all wyth god there he is pleasyd. There he is nourrisshed in grace and in d [...]lyte. Thys is the lyf perdurable for the whyche to haue ought one to lyue sobrely in thys world. As sayth saynt austyn Sobwnes is the vertue whyche is the yefte of sapyence in the herte ayenst the oultrage of glotonnye / for Salamon sayth that sapyence enseyneth sobrenes / ¶ Sobrenes is a tree moche precyous for it kepeth the helthe of the soule and of the body lyke as sayth the holy scripture Of glotonnye and oultrage of dunkyng and etyng ouer moche. comen many maladyes / And oftymes deth taketh them whan they haue the morsel in theyr mouth. lyke as on taketh the fysshe with the hoke. This yefte is behynde in thordre of the vij yeftes of the [Page] holy ghoost / but it is sette here by ca [...]se it is [...] t [...] [...]lot [...]nnye whiche is the v [...] of the [...] [...] [...]ly sg [...]es after the [...] of holy chyrche

¶ Of the synne of letherie Capitulo. lv

OF the synne of letherye we haue sayd. to fore in the fysthe and tenthe comandementis of the. lawe but▪ furthermore knowe ye that payntyng or poppyng of vysages▪ wanton and enyl beholdyng and rega [...]des kyssynges enbracynges & dishonest touchynges ben cause of thys synne. and therfore who soo wyl kepe hym well / lete hym flee and [...]s [...]he we these thynges / and all the companyes by whiche he might falle in thys sgnne for the wyse man saith that thyng whiche the eyen see not. the herte co [...]eyteth not. and yf ony thought or temptacōne com on the anon put thy self in prayer & do [...] abstinence for god saith in the gospel that these ben the thynges by whyche thys synne is most vaynquysshed. and yf temptacyon come to the in thy bedde. arise out therof and put the in prayer. and incontynent the fende shal leue to tempte the they that putchasse by consentyng or helpen to the synne of lecherye synne dedely. these yong men and yong wymen that araye them fresshely and shewe them in thendent that they shold be seen and byholden / make of theyr bodyes grynnes and ne [...]tes of the deuyll for to take them / & b [...]nge them to this synne that soo beholde them / in thys sinne be many braunches whiche may lyghtly be knowen. but emonge alle other ¶ Ther is one whiche is callyd synne ayenste uature for it is doon ayenst the ordynaunce of nature in thys branche ther be many other / the first is whan a man or womā allone of hym self by his soul touchyng of hys propre wylle doooth it aduysely wakyng he falleth in the ordure of this synne wherof symple preestes may not assoylle them / for by cause of the grauyte it is remy [...]ed to the bysshops or to theyr lyeutena n [...]tes and penytenders / Alle the other branches ben so abhomynabl [...] and so horrible that they ought not be named & therfore [Page] I passe ouer to wryte them / stor they that be eutached of them ben worthy to deye as sayth / saynt poul▪ and they shal be dombe atte day of dome to fore god lyke as dombe bestes ben / yf they. a merde them not by confession and by penance suche / as perteyneth to the synne / also lytyl chyldrē doo theyr power after theyr lytyl wytte to be that one wyth that other / and somtyme alle openly they ought to be confessed.. how wel that the chyld lese not the virgymte but yf it be of snche age that it knowe wel Exā that the ftesshe hath be corrupte / Example. It is redde in the lyf of faders / that a good man had a yong dyscyple whom the deuyl tempted strongly. The good man apperceyued it well and said to hym fayre sone yf thou wylt I shal praye god for the to thende that he wyll take fro the this temptacion / the whyche ansuerd ye. neuertheses I file the fruyt that cometh therof / For I faste t [...]e more and entende better to praye and to wakyng. than I shold doo yf I were not tempted. but I pray you that ye praye to god for me. to the ende that he wyl gyue me grace that I may defende me vygorously ayenst the fende of helle

¶ Of the yefte of vnderstondyng ay [...]nst lecherye / Ca / lvj

THe yefte of vnderstondyng. is non other thyng after the doctours but a lyght and a dernes of grace whiche the holy ghoost sendeth to the herte of the persone by whyche the vnder stondyug of a man is left vp to knowe his maker. and the spirituel thynges Thys yefte is called lyght / For it purgeth the vnderstondyng of a man of the errour of deckenes of ygnoraū ce: and of tatches of synnes. to thende that the sonle enlumined wyth the lyght of vnderstondyng may see and know god: and all that / that is of necessite and necessarie to his saluacōn. thys is the blessidnes of whiche god speketh in the gospel whan he sayth. They ben wel blessyd that be clene of herte. for they shal see god in the vysage. in thys world by fayth enlumined and enforced by the yefte of vnderstondyng and after the beth they [Page] shal see hym in heuen all clerly face to face lyke as sayth saynt poul / Thys yefte taketh away alle ordure fro the hert. and maketh clene perfyghtly fro alle tatches of lecherye for who that is entatched of thys synne / he is verily blynd & hath lost the [...]yen of the herte. reson and vnderstōdyng: & so he may not vnderstonde to know his maker ne thing touchyng his saluacyon / but is lyke a dombe beste whyche hath. neyther wytte ne reason in hym self wherof dauyd sayth in the psaulter that a man to whom god hath doon so grete honour as to haue made hym. lyke to hys ymage and semblaunce whyche he not made ony other beste and so forgeteth hys maker and doth to hym self so grete shame that he is bycome semblable to dombe bestes whyche haue noo vnderstondyng The synne whiche most maketh a man to semble a foul beste and vyle is the synne of lecherie thē ne the yefte of vnderstandyng whyche is contrarie specyally ayenst thys fylthe: plucketh and putteth out of the herte the synne of lecherie. and setdeth there a moche fayre tree that is the vertu of Chast [...]te by the whyche one may come to thys blessydnes / whyche god promyteth to▪ them that kepe clēnesse of herte whan he sayd. blessyd be they for they shal see god by cause they haue wel purged and enlumyned the eyen of theyr herte wyth the yefte of the vnderstandyng /

¶ Of the good dedes whyhe be doon in dedely synne Cap. lvij

Thou oughtest to knowe that prayer ne non other good dede that is doon in dedely synne is nothyng worth ne prouffyth to him that do [...]th it as touchyng to haue heuen for yf he deye in suche estate he shal be dampued but neuertheles for all that In what estate someuera man be he ought not to leue to doo wel. thou oughtest to know that praiers & the other good dedes that ben doon in dedely sinne auayllen to iij thiges. the first is that bysuche good werkes god callyth the more soner a sinnar to the state of grace. this is a grete thyng & a gret godenes. The ij is whā that the synner deyeth in suche estate / he [Page] shal be dāpned. but for the good d [...]des that he had doon in this estate he shal haue the lasse payne in helle / and therfore saith a wyse man. yf I knowe certainly that I shold be dampned wherfro god kepe vs all▪ yet for alle that I wold not leue to doo wel. but verily I shold enforce me to doo better and better. The chylde is that for suche good dedes. the goodes temporal / & the worldly werkes that ben for to doo in the wold shold preue the better / and ben the more in auayll.

¶ Of the seuen sacramentes of holy chyrche Capitulo lviij

THe fyrst is of bapteme oftimes by ygnoraunce or neclygence ben the sacramēts of holy chyrche mesprised & euyll doon therfore we shal saye som what for the symple peple Baptesme is the fyrst sacrament & euery persone in nede may baptise and custene and is of as grete auayll. as yf the prest had baptised soo that these wordes that folowe be sayd / I baptyse the in the name of the fader and of the sone and of the holy ghoost and the persone that shal saye these wordes muste caste the water vpon the child and non other and he muste saye the wordes in castyng the water and yf in peull of childyng the hede of the chylde appere and yf a persone baptyse that it is verely cristened For in the hede of the chyld ben the v wyttes of nature and yf ony other membre appere and not the hede / And it be cristened we hope that our lord acomplisshyth the baptesme and performeth that whyche humayne persone may not doo. and yf the chyld be born and haue lyf the preest ought to baptyse it sayeng yf thou art not baptised I baptyse the in the name of the fader and of the sone and of the holy ghoost / Thou oughtest to knowe that wyth wyne wyth veriuse. rose water olyue water. or wyth ony other lycour it may not be baptysed but it byhoueth that it be natural water

¶ Of confirmacion Capitulo llx

[Page]THe second [...]acratnent is confirmacion the whiche some men calle cresmyng. Euery persone that hath vnderstondyng ought to receyue thys sacrament For by this sacrament beu put in the soule of hym that receyueth it worthyly the seuen yeftes of the holy ghoost by whyche he is armed ayenst thassaultes of the fende of helle alle they that haue not receyued thys sacrament and haue vnderstandyng ben in peull to be oueroo men of the fende of helle by dedely synne. Thys sacrament ought we not receyue but one tyme yf ony knowe not yf he had receyued it or not. he myght wel receyne it For the thyng is not vnderstonde to be doo agayn. whan that he knoweth not whether it be doon or not

¶ Of the sacrament of the aulter Capitulo. lx

THe thirde sacrament is the sacrament of the aulter / our lord whiche for the loue of vs is bioomen man and suffred deth and passyon right anguysshous in the trre of the crosse for vs. yet for more ardently to shewe thys brennyng loue and that we shold haue hym in perpetuell mynde and specially hys blessyd passyon. he hath establysshed a superlatyf sacrament of loue that is of his precious body and of hys precyous blood. In whyche hym self is all conteyned and to whyche he gyueth hym self to vs vnto the ende of the world lyke as he pr [...] mysed to his apostles. god said that he shal he wel blessyd that shall write all the alyan̄ees amorouses in hys herte. And ofte recorde and remembre them in thys blessyd sacrament▪ whyche is the lyf of angelles and of seintes / by whome we haue spyrituelly & be by the grace in ihesu crist and he in vs and whom yf we receyue hym wordily we shal haue the lyf perdurable in heuen wyth hym. the whiche conteyneth in him many merueilles and many sygnes of loue & stablyssheth for many causes / whiche were ouer longe to recounte. But for to speke short in hym takē part all they that ben in heuen as touching to glorie & honour. alle they of the world that ben in grace as to glorye. [Page] to theyr saluacion and alle they of purgatorie to the alegemēt of payne and for these causes & many other maketh the prest iij partes of the body of our lord in the sacrament of the aulter. the fyrst is for them of heuen / the ij for them of the world / and the in for them of purgatorie: the maystres of dyuinite sayen that for euery masse that is worthly sayd or songen. many soules ben deliuerd ont of the paynes of purgatorie and goon strait to heuen. Euery prest ought to dispose him self to syng euery day for the merites of the masse be grete and grete prouffit cometh therof. aud that they see that they take it not in vayn for yf they soo doo they shal be greuously punysshyd and tormented / they that take it in vain be lyke to the seruaunt that toke the besaūt of hys lord and putte it not forth to prouffyt. wherfore he was caste out in to derke tenebres lyke as the gospel sayth. our lord comaundeth the prestes that they shold make thys blesshyd sacrament and comanded them in sayeng hoc facyte in meam cō memeracionem. That is to saye that as ofte as ye make thys holy sacrament that ye doo it in the remembraunce of me. About alle prestes shal he be wel happy and blessyd. that shal mowe saye lyke as saint and rewe sayd. Euery day sayd he I offre & sacrifyce to god the fader. the lambe wythout spotte. that is the precyous body of ihesu crist / Example. It is redde of dyuerse Exā prestes that euery day songe masse / saint ambrose saith in the canon this is our cotidyen bred. take it euery day / & lyue in suche maner that thou mayst euery day receyue him worthyly & sait austyn saith / I preyse not ne blame him that receyueth it eueri day. but he saith. euery man doo after his fayth and after that him shal seme good. Neuertheles saith he I admonests that alle and enerych of them receyue it euery sonday: And seynt Grigore in hys omelyes admonesteth to syuge masse of te. & she weth an example of a byshop that songe almost euery day masse. to whom our lord sente word sayeng. doo that thou doost aud werke that thou werkest and cesse not therof

Of the goodes that one hath for to / heere / gladely masse. and to see the body of our lord lx

SAynt austyn sayth in the boke of the / cyte of god / that the day that thou hast seen the body of our lord / thou shalt haue that shal be nedeful to thy liuyng thy vayne wordes & thy vayn othes shal be pardonned to the the lyght of thyn eyen shal be kepte thou shalt not deye of sodeyn deth & yf thou deye that day it shal be acompted to the for thy howsell and as longe as thou art at the masse thou shalt not wexe olde / & in goyng to chyrche and in comyng thens euery paas that thou makest shal be acompted / and of god rewarded. & the holy scripture sayth that almesse emptyth not the purse ne heering the masse lasseth not the iourne Example. it is redde that many pylgrymes wente Exā to gydre on pylgamage. emonge whome ther was one that wold euery day here masse. the other saide. yf we tarye for this man euery day we shal tarye ouer long. and so they lefte hym and went forth to fore. and euery day thys man herde masse / The other supposed to haue be at rome viij dayes tofore hym but whan they were at rome. & had made theyr offrynges / as they shold goo out of the monastery they fonde hym at the dore entring in to the chyrche. and thenne they were moche abasshed and comyng home ward they herde masse euery day as he dyd Thou oughtest to byleue stedfastly wythout ony doubte / that in the sacrament of the aulter is conteyned proprely the body of our lord ihesu criste whiche suffred passyon & deth for vs whyche awos fro deth to lyf on ester day and ascended vp in to heuen the day of hys assencyon. Example. At rome was a grete Exā woman that eueri sonday affred at the masse of saynt gregory many oublees of whyche he honselled and comynyed the good peple. and also thys noble woman / It happed on a day whan he songe masse. he toke the body of our lord and wolde haue housellyd this woman & sayd to her / loo hert is she body of our lord whyche kepe the in to euerlastyng lyf / And she be [Page] gan to lawhe and anoue saynt Gregore wythdre we his hond and leyed the body of our lord vpon the aulter and after demaunded of her wherfore she lawhed She ansuerd to hym and sayd by cause that I haue made thys propre brede with min owen houdes. and thou sayst that it is the propre body of our lord ihesu criste: Anon saynt gregore for the euyl errour of this woman kneled doun and made hys prayer. And after aroos & fonde the body of our lord Jhesu criste torned in to the four me of a fynger of flesshe / and whan thys woman sawe thys myracle: she and alle the peple byleued stedfastly that it was the very body of our lord. and saynt Gregore made hys prayer agayn. And the flesshe cam agayn in to fourme of brede and after houselled the woman. ¶ But I merueylle me moche of a grete abusion whyche is doon in the chyrche. for whan the prest goth to the aulter for to saye the masse. a man ought to be the better confessyd and repentaunt. and in the grettest reuerence that he may. and ought to haue grete drede that he ne doo ne haue doo thyng that may desplayse god. wherfore he ought to be moche contrite and deuoute as he that gooth in the presence of god and of his angellis / For as soone as the preest hath sayd the wordes of the holy sacramēt god is there present with grete multitude of angellis. how wel that we see them not. for they be saintes and espirituel. and we ben mortal and synners therfore we may not see them. & moche peple ful of vyces & of synnes sette not therby. but go nyghe and about the aulter. and stond so nyghe the aulter that they trouble oftimes the preest for the dissolucions that they doo in spekyng in lawhing & many of her maners & not only the laye men & wymen / but also the clerkes by whom the other ought to be gouerned & taken ensā ple of. for they ought to be the mirrour of the comyu peple & neuertheles they that haue the gouernaūce of the chirche ought to reprehēde & chastise them for default of sciēce or for negligēce or flaterie that they ne doo suche thynges as to approche so nighe ¶ thaulter [Page] the men & seruaūtes that ben aboute a kyng how wel that he be a synnar and mortal as we bee / shal not suffre ony persone tapproche nyghe to the kyng without his congie or lycence / ¶ Example / We rede in holy scrypture that Moyses the prophete Exā by comaundement of god made a tabernacle whiche was but a fygure of the monasteries and chyrches that now ben thurgh al crystendom. In thys tabernacle were thre stages. in whiche was one place callyd Sancta sanctorum. that was the holyest place. ¶ That other was the chauncel. In whyche entred no man but the prestes and the leuytes or dekens whyche maden the sacrifice ¶ That other was callyd the ship or body of the tabernacle wherin were the symple people. And in to Sancta sanctorum none entred but the bysshop. the whyche entryd not but onely one tyme in the yere. And there was no thyng in that place that was so wel and holyly kepte. but the Arke. whyche was callyd the Arke of the testament. and in that Arke was nothyng but the tables of stone whyche god delyuered to Moyses in the mounte of Synay. In whiche were wreton wyth the propre hond of god the x commandemētes of the lawe And the rodde of Aaron whyche flourisshed and was dreye and wythout moysture / And a potte wyth manna. And alle these thynges were not but a fygure of the lawe. and of the fayth that we now holde. ¶ Neuertheles it happed that the kyng Dauyd dyde doo lede thys Arke fro one place to another vpon a charyot alle new: whiche oxen drewe. Now it happed that in goyng forth the Arke bygan a lytyl to swarue: And anon one of them that droof and ledde the oxen whyche was named Oza sette hys hond to the Arke to thende it shold not falle / but by cause it apteyned not to hym. for he was not of them that shold doo the sacrifice. god was wroth wyth hym & he deyde forth with sodeinly / for the whyche thing ough [...]n to haue grete fere & drede alle they that approche so nygh thaulter at the masse. wher as is no figure as was in the old [Page] [...]awe / but ther is entyerly the propre body of our lord ihesu cast conteyned in the holy sacrement of thauter as it is tofore sayd [...]emembre the of the thynges to fore said whan thou shalt be in the chyrche And kepe the ferre fro thauter fro the gospel saith that the publycan whiche was in the temple ferre fro the saintu arye was more enhaunced and herd of god by hys humylyte. than was the pha [...]see whiche was more nyghe by hys auauntyng and by hys pryde

¶ Of the dygnyte of prestes / Capitulo lxij

THe prestes ben the mynystres of ihesu criste & ben faders ghostly of all cristen peple. They be the lyght of the world the whiche for thoffice that is comysed to them and for the holynes that they ought to haue in them ben called the angellis of our lord. to the voys of whome the heuenes opene / And Jhesu triste descendeth bytweue theyr hondes with grete companye of Angellis whyche enuyronne alle the partes of thaulter. And as touchyng to absoyllyng or to gyue absolucyon they doo that the angelles may not doo / They ought to kepe and holde them / holyly and chastly and to be garnysshed of alle goodes and alle vertues. For the scripture saith that yf they soo doo god promyseth to them double honour The preste that lyneth in dedely synne specialy in sinne of lecherie. kepe hym wel that he be not his owne iugement whan he receyneth the body of our lord as sayth saint poul. he is culpable of the body of our lord ihesu cryst that is to saye. as yf he had slayn hym / Saynt Jherome called hym iudas the traitre whyche betrayed our lord in kyssyng him And saint Ambrose sayth who that setteth nygh to the sone of the vyrgyne marye the ydole of venym and sayeng the wordes of the holy sacrement he spytteth in the mouth of the sauy [...] of alle world. Saint Austyn saith that the synnes of an [...]uyl prest empessheth not the sacrament. but he dampneth him [Page] right parfondly and resembleth and is lyke the torche of waxe whyche dooth good and gyueth lyght to other and he w [...]steth hym self & knowe ye that the prayers and orysons in the masse auaylle and be muche worth. But god enhaunceth and receyueth moche soner & better the prayers of a good preest than he dooth of an euyl preste. ¶ Example. It is redde of a symple Exā man that wold not take the sacrament of suche prestes as he supposed to be euyll. And by cause he dyde it ygnorauntly / and nothyng for ony malyce god shewed to hym suche an example as foloweth / It happed on a tyme that in slepyng he dremed that he had so grete thurst that he myght not endure it / & hym semed that he was at a welle at whyche was a mesel that drewe the water out of the well or pytte in a grete and right fayre vessell of syl [...]er and the corde was of gold & hym semed moche peple wente for to demande danke of the mesel. Thys man wente thyder. But whan the mezel sawe hym he wythdre we hys honde of whyche he gaf drinke to other & sayd to hym how wylt thou take of the hond of a mesel water for to drinke whan thou wylt not take the sacrementes of holy chyrche / of euyl preestes he a woke / and neuer after was he in that errour. Saynt gregore defendeth in the name of seint peter the apostle that a preste whiche lyueth in synne specyally in the synne of lechery make ne admynystre no sacrementes. for hys benedictions tornen in to maledictions. And hys preyers to synne as touchyng hym self. The lawe of Canon sayth that a preste oughte to saye but one masse on one day. but yf it be the day of the Natyuyte of our lord. on whyche day he may saye thre masses There be somme caases that a preest may saye on other dayes tweyn but not thre. for what someuer necessite that he haue / for therin he shold synne dedely / The fyrst cas is yf he haue cure of sowles and haue a dede corps present on a sonday or on aday that hath a propre masse yf he haue noo chapellayn he may saye two masses. Or yf he haue a weddyng. or for neces [Page] lyte of pylgryms or of hoostes as of grete lordes. o [...] for seke men he may saye two messes And late the prest be ware that he saye not the second masse for noo money / for the lawe saith that it shold be symonye yf he soo dyde. And whan he shal saye two masses on a day at the fyrst masse he shal take no wyn after vsyng in the ende of the masse. For yf he so dyde he shold not be fastyng at the second masse. and therfore late hym take good hede.

Of the science & good example that the prestes ought to shewe ¶ Capitulo. lxiij

THey that haue taken holy ordres or benefices oughte to haue science suffycyent and right competente for to enseygne and ītroduce the peple: for that is the thynge that our lord most commaund th vnto them For at the day of dome they shal yelde strayt Acoūtes of all the soules that ben comytted to them vnto our lord. how they haue enseygned taught and introduced them Alle they of holy chyrche ought to doo peyne for to lyue chastly. for they be bounden therto. and yf they so doo / And doon good werkes▪ alle other may the better take example of them. ¶ Example. It is redde of a theef that was in a woode / whyche Exā robbed all them that he myght robbe. it happed that an abbot passed forth by and assone as he sawe hym he wold haue robbed hym / fayre sone sayd thabbot to hym wherfore doost thou so grete peyne for to gete thy lyuyng. and for to be dāpred. Come wyth me in to thabbaye and I shal gyue to the ynough to ete the theef ansuerd to hym. I may not ete of thy benes. ne cooles. ne drinke old wyne whyche is corrupt wyth water Thabbot ansuerd to hym / I shal gyue the good breede good wyne / good flesshe and good fyssh. And wyth these wordes he wente wyth hym. Thabbot brought hym in to a fayre chambre and dyde do make a fyre. and. couered a good bedde wyth fayre shetes and parementes and sette to hym a yong monke and comaūded hym that what someuer he wold haue [Page] he shold anon [...] haue it. and conmanded the monke that whan the theef had dronke and eten at his playsir / that to fore hym: he shold ete no thyng but brede and water whan the theef had seen thys many tymes. he had supposed that thys monke had tōmysed moche euyll by cause he dyde grete penaūce and demāded of hym on a tyme sayeng. Frere what hast thou doo. that euery day doost this grete penaūce & demanded of hym sayeng hast thou slayn ony man The monke ausuerde to hym. A sire what saye ye I neuer augred man ne slewe none I haue ben in thys hous sithe my chyldehode After the theef said to hym hast thou doo ony fornycacioun or aduoultre The yonge monke blessyd hym & said to hym. O sire whan is that ye saye god saue and kepe me / For I neuer touched woman by sinne. The theef sayd thenne w [...]h [...]rfor doost thou thenne so grete penaunce / by cause sayd the monke that I may gete the loue of god and I faste wake praye and doo other goode to thēde that I may be in the grace of god and be saued▪ whan the theef herd thys he was moche contrite / and sayd in hym self o good god that / I am moche vnhappy. for I haue doon so many dysnatural euyllis so many homycides▪ & theftes and enforced so many wymen & dyde neuer well not so moche as for to faste one day. aud this monke whyche is innocent dooth so moche penaunce / he anone dyde doo calle thabbot and fylle doun to his feet. & prayed hym that he wold receyue hym to be one of hys monkes. Thabbot receyued hym and after he dyde moche penaunce in suche wyse that he passed alle them of thabbaye. Now seest thou how the example of thys yonge monke conuerted the theef Certaynly the that prestres gyuen euyl ensample to other they shal be g [...]euously pugnysshed & tormented for yf they lyue in dedely synne they ben horyble and stynkyng to fore god / and hys sayntes and dampne them self vylaynsly saynt ambrose saith that the [...]baiēg and barkyng of dogges the mowyng of oxen the grontyug of swyne and the cryeng of asses / pleseth god better. than [Page] the songe of suche preestes that be so moche lecherous / And saīt gregore sayth that for theyr synnes. god is oft wroth towarde the world. ¶ Eyample. The holy scrypture sayth in the seconde Exā booke of kynges: by cause that kyng Dauyd nombred the men of hys wyalme. god was angry wyth hym and sente to hym a prophete named agad whyche sayd to hym / For the synne of that thou hast doon god sendeth to the to chose of iij thynges one. Or thou shalt haue famyne in thy lond by thespace of vij yere. or thou shalt haue bataylle thre monethes. & shalt not resiste them. but thou shalt flee tofore them. Or thou shalt haue pestyllence and mortalyte thre dayes in thy contre / The kynge ansuerd to hym. I haue lyeuer falle in the mercy of our lord. than in to the handes of myn enemyes / And anone god sente suche a pestylerce / that in thre dayes ther was so grece mortalyte that ther d [...]yde wel. lxx. [...]. personnes / Now seest thou that the synne of the fader that is of the kynge whiche is the fader temporally. For hys synne god is angry wyth the peple / In lyke wyse it happeth of tymes that for the synne of the peple the fader temporal / or spyrituel suffreth. Example. The h [...] ly Exā scripture saith that Ezechyel the prophete wold praye our lord for hys peple. but god ausuerd to hym / praye to me not for this peple for yf thou praye to me more I shal ioyne thy tongue to thy palate in suche wyse as thou shalt not speke / for the peple is not worthy that thou pray for them by cause of the yr synne by whyche thry haue angred me Now seest thou that for the synne of the people the fader spirytuel suffreth

¶ Of the neclygences of the masse and of the remedyes I passe ouer for it apperteyneth to prestes & not to laie men. C. lxiiij

¶ Of houslyng and comynyeng ofte Capitulo. lxv

Whan a persone whiche hath witte discrecion & ag [...] suffisaunt he ought to be houseled: And specyally he ought to be [Page] confessed at Estre. or he synneth dedely & is not worthy to entre in to the chyrche▪ and whan he is deed he ought to be caste out in to the feldes as a domb beste but yf it so be that he absteyne him fro houselyng by the lycēce of hys confessour for raysonable cause: but not fro confessyō. The man ought to be houseled atte age of xiiij yere / and the woman atte age of xij yere / Saynt Austyn counseilleth and preyseth the deuoutes persones to be houseled euery sonday. and the holy canon sayth that at the lest in the solempne festes / and for to thys ought the prestes to warne & admoneste th [...]yr parysshens so to be houseled & to make them redy by confessyon to fore the sayd festes. For no man can saye ne expresse the grace. the vertue / the guerdon / and [...]ward that one shal haue to confesse hym and be comyned worthely / The wymen grete wyth chyld they that goo in iuste werre or in other perillys of deth they that goon on pylgrimage. alle these oughten to be confessyd and houseled. and they ought not to be prayed ne requyred so to doo. as somme doo. for it is no good signe / We may haue no better physycyen than the body of our lord ihesu crist. They that shal be maried oughten to be confessed. yf the seke man caste vpward and wmyteth at the mouth he ought not to be houseled. & yf after his houselyng haue ony wmyte and ony thyng appere of the sacrament / the preste ought to take it and laye it in the sacrarie wyth other relyques and the remenaunt in the pyscyne.

¶ Of the goodes that a persone receyueth whan he is worthyly houseled. Capitulo lxvj

THey that be comyned & receiue our lord worthyly haue therby many goodes fyrst they haue remembraūce of god & haue his loue / Item they haue magnifycence of herte for many tymes they that haue but lytyl contricyon they ben the more contrite. Item they ben incorporate in ihesir crist for god saith to saynt austyn thou shalt not chaūge me in to the: but thou shalt be chaūged in to me. Jtē they haue the spyrituel refrction and [Page] encreacyng of deuocion. Item they ben ther by the lasse enclyned to the synne of lecherie. for lyke as water quenchyth the fyre / so doth the body of our lord receyued worthyly quenche the concupyscence of the flessh. Jtē he receyueth strengthe of god / for it is a loof that fortyfyeth the persone. Saynt bernard sayth lerne ye cristen men how ye ought to loue ihesu crist whyche hath gyuen to vs hys flessh & blod to ete & drinke his soule also for our redempcyon. the water out of his syde for to wasshe vs f [...] synne. Jtē therin is grete fayth. for in thys sacrament our fayth is enhaunced aboue nature & aboue the vnderstōdyng right exellently Jtē we be fedde in thys sacrament with the mete of alle the angellis. Jtē we haue by this sacrament the wyalme of heuen / Item we haue therby spyrytuel delectacyon. and haue lyght of vnderstondyng. Saynt bernard sayth that this holy sacramēt is medycyne to syke men. the ionrney to pylgrims it conforteth the febles it delyteth them that be stronge. it guar [...]s sheth and heleth the langour & sekenes. & cōserueth and kepeth the helthe / by this sacrament he is the more debonaire to correction. the more pacyent to labour. more dysposed to loue god & his neyghbour / more wyse ayenst cautelles / more redy to o [...]ye and more deuoute to yelde thankynges to god

Of the euyll that one hath to receiue god vnworthyli. c / lxvij

IN lyke wyse as many good thynges come to them that receyue worthyly the body of our lord. right so [...] come many euyllys to them that receyue hym vnworthyly / first he that receyueth hym vnworthyly is more redy to synne / he apparrylleth hys dampnacyon. he sklaundreth his neighbour. his courage is blynde. he is the more subget to temptaciō he mocketh god he abredged hys temporal lyf / & despoilleth hym fro the goodes of grace. The fourth sacrament is the sacrament of penaūce. of whyche we shal speke in the ende of thys [...]ke

¶ Of the last vnction Capituls lxviij

The fifthe sacramēt is the last vnctiō whiche som mē call the last olyēg. ¶ This sacramēt auailleth moch to forgi [...]i [...] [Page] sinnes / & ofte it aledgeth the maladye for it was establysshed for the helthe of the soule. and for the helthe of the body / Thys sacrament may be receyued dyuerse tymes. whan the s [...]ke man [...]eleth hym self in peryll of deth. and he ought to [...] demanded in his good poynt yf he wyl receyue it. and yf it happed that he refused it and saith it is no nede: he is in peul of dampnacyon / yf he deye wythout receyuyng it / For none ought to refuse it. whiche is in peryl of deth

¶ Of Ordres Capitulo / lxix

THe vj sacrament is of the ordres. and we shal fyrst speke of the clerkes. of the other ordres we shal passe ouer except a lytyl that we shal saye for the symple clerkes / the holy canon sayth that the clerkes ought to bere crowne suffysaunte. The crowne whyche hath no bygynnyng ne ende signyfieth that the clerkes oughten to sechen god wyth all their herte / for they ben of hys partye and of hys strengthe. and therfore saye they whan they be blessyd and made benet and take theyr fyrst crown Dn̄s pars hereditatis & [...]e. The clerkes oughten to were symple robes and mayntine them symply. and to flee all the varietees of the world and playes and of the dyse. and also the tauernes but yf it be by necessyte or by the way for the tauerne is the fontayne of alle euylles There is lerned ordure glotonnye. lecherie. swering / forsweung / lyeng. myssayeng of other / renyeng of god. mysrekenyng / deceyuyng in euyl playes / and ouer many synnes ben doon there / There growen noyses. medlynges. homycydes / lecheries. there lerne they to stele & take other [...] thynge. The tauerne is a pytte of theues and fortresse of the deuyl for they warre agaynst god and hys sayntes and they that maynteyne them ben parteners of alle the euyllys that ben ther doon. and certainly yf one sayd as moche euyl or shame to hy [...] fader or moder to his seruaunt or chylde / as is doon in the ta [...]erne to the fader of heuen to our lady & to other sayntes they shold be moche angry / and shold fynde other remedye than they [Page] too The clerkes oughten to kepe these vj thynges atte table [...] han they ete. Ther fyrst thyng is thas they onght to saye noo harme ne euyll of other and specyally of them that be not present / The secōd thyng is that they ought not to skorn ne mocke them that be present The thyrd thyng is that they ought not to speke of the vanytees of the world. The iiij is that they ought to doo rede to fore them the holy scripture and wel to herkene it to thende that the soule be as wel f [...]dde as the body. The v is that they ete sobrely. the vj is that atte bygynnyng and thende they ought all way saie graces & gyue thākynges to god the clerk [...]s ought not to holde wymen in theyr houses but yf they be theyr wynes or right nygh of theyr lignage. For though ther be no synne. yet ther is suspecion of the people and they be no more holy than / dauid. ne more wyse thā salamō ne more strong thā sampson the whyche all were deceyued. & late not them excuse them for to saye they be old & wythout suspecion. For whan the fire is lyghted. it spareth nothyng but wast [...]th all that it fyndeth. Exā ple. Exā It is redde of an / Abbot that went in to a ferre contrey / whā he cam agayn he fōde that his monkes had suffred a good woman & an olde to duelle in thabbay for to wasshe and man ke clene theyr thinges. and nothyng for to sinne whan he spake therof to the monkes they. ansuerd to him that it was not suspecious. Thabbot conmanded the cooke that he shold salte strongli alle the mete of the souper. and also he had hym that after souper he sholde shetre fro them alle drinke. that they sholde fynde no thyng to drinke but the wasshyng of dysshes it happed that whan the monkes were leyd to slepe. they had so grete thurst / that they aroos and sought alle aboute for to drinke. but they. fonde no thyng but the wasshyng of dysshes / the whyche for the grete thurst that they. hade they dronke theyr fylle. on the morn thabbot demanded what was the noyse. that he herde alle the nyght in the abbaye / The monkes sayd to hym that they were rysen for to seche drinke. but they coude fynde nothyng. but the [Page] wassh [...]g of the dysshes: whyche they dronken for the right grete thurst that they hadden / Thabbot sayd to them that. for the [...]rdure of thurst they had dronken that foul water. also by the ordure of the flessh myght they doo theyr willes wyth that old woman. And by thys mene the woman was put out of thabbaye. The clerkes oughten to shewe goodnes and rypenes of herte by good wordes and by good werkes. And oughten to serue. honoure. and praye god: and hys moder / and alle the sayntes of heuen. They oughten to lyue right chastly or cllis marye them. For clerkes shal not besette by. and shullen be mocked / but yf they be better than other. The clerkes that haue benefyces how wel they haue not taken none holy orders / And also dekens and prestes thawh they haue noo benefyces they ben bounden to saie theyr houres canon: calles. and yf they doo not they synne dedely / And thaugh so were that they be excomynyed or in dedely synne / yet be they bounden to saye them compedently. atreat nnd deuoutly / as they that speken to god. For saynt Jherome sayth that better is worth to saye the vij psalmes deuouly and wyth good herte. than alle the psaulter in ennoye and wythout deuocyon / Some ther ben that whan they saye theyr houres. they thynke on vanytees and of theyr werkes or lawhe and mocke other. and talke and entrelarde. theyr houres wyth suche vanytees. And entende not to that thyng that they saye. Example. It is redde that saynt seue [...]ne Exā archebisshop of colen that he appiered after his deth to his archedeken and said to him that he suffred grete peine and shold abide in purgatorie vnto a certain tyme. Tharchedeken said to hym: Syre wherfore suffre ye payue / syth ye haue lyued so holily in the world that we hold you for a saynt / Saynt seuerin ansuerd to him. by cause whan I said myn houres I entended not to that I said whan my seruauntes spaken to me of temporel thīges I entended more to them. than to that I sayd. thus ¶ there be many that whan [Page] they saye theyr houres they haste them in suche wyse. that for theyr hasty sayeng they make many defaultes. and therin they be moche neclygent Of whome the prophete saith that he is wycked that dooth the werke of god negligently. example. It is redde in the lyues of fadres that an heremyte on a time recountred. and mette the deuyll whyche bare a grete sacke / and he demānded of the deuyl what was in the sacke The deuyl said to hym / These b [...]n the wordes and sillables & lettres forgoten & euyl sayd in the seruice of god and therfore ye that saye the houres see wel to that ye haue no parte in the deuylles sacke afore sayd

¶ Of the sacrament of mariage Capitulo lxx

THe vij sacrament is the sacrament of maryage God establysshed this sacrament in paradis terreure to fore alle the other sacramentis / and to fore that man euer synned / Mariage signefieth the loue of ihesu crist and of his holy chyrche. and god hath so moche honoured it. that he wold be borne vnder the shadowe of mariage and he was atte weddyng wyth archydyclyn. were as he chaunged water in to wyn / And he wyll [...] that the husbond loue and kepe his wyf / And the wyf her husbond wyth alle her power. as her propre body. For they ben but one flessh. and they ought to haue but one wyll. and therfore god made not the woman of the hede of Adam to thende she shold not be his maystresse. ¶ Also he made hyr not of the feet of Adam. by cause he shold not haue hyr in subiection and in despyte. but he made hyr of the syde of Adam to thende that he shold kepe her as his felawe. They ought to loue eche other: & forbere in alle good and kepe theyr faith eche to other. and they ought not to byleue lyghtly euyl reportes eche of other ne also wordes ¶ The woman ought to obeye to hyr husbond in alle that is reason: And the husbond ought to holde hys wyf honestely after hys estate wythout pryde / yf god sende to them chyldren [Page] they to enseyne and teche them th [...]yr creānce & byleue / and well to chastyse them fro angring god & dysplesig hym as for sweryng & renyeng god & for to curse & fro all other euyllis also to kepe them deligently and so to brynge them vertuousli in the Exā yr yougthe that it may endure in theyr age. Example we rede in holi scripture that helye the prophete by cause he chastysed not wel his two sones-god was wroth wyth hym and he deyde sodenli / anoher exāple / Itē it is red that a mā had a sone who me he corrected not wel. it happed that for his euyl lyf he was Judged to be hanged / and whan he was ledde toward the galowes he prayd them that ledde hym that he mygth speke with his faderer he sholde be hanged whā his fadercam he cried hym merci and prayd hym to kysse hym & in kyssyng hym he bote hym by the nose wyth his teeth and whan the people. blamed hym therfore he ansuerd to them I wolde doo werse / to hym yf I coude. for he is cause of my deth by cause he chasty sed aud corrected me not in my yongthe werfor. I am now dampned to be hanged The husbond to his wyf ne the wyf to hyr husbōd ougth not to refuse others cōpanye withoute grete cause They ought to absteyne them fro the werke of mariage whā the wyf lyeth a chyldebedde and in other secrete maladye whyche ought not to be▪ sayd. For som sekenesses mygh come that thenne yf the chyldren were engendred shold lightly be me selles. cooked or euyl shapen. ¶ Item in grete festes of the chyrche & in fastyng tyme they ought to forbere / whā so is that it is not but for cause of delyte. ¶ Example Exā Saynt greogre reherceth in hys dyalogue that a woman of rome said to the wif of hir sones doughter we shall goo to morn to the feste of dedycaryon of saynt sebastyan. The yong womā for the reuereuce of the feste wold not absteyne her fro the werk of mariage that night. on the morn anon as they entred in to the chirche of seynt sebastyan. the deuyl ētred in to the body of the [Page] yong woman. whyche tormēted hyr moche strongly but by the prayers of an holy man that was there / he was put out fro her and after she was heled. for the reuerēce of mariage which god hath so moche honoured. they oughtwel to kepe them fro vsyng it dishonestly ayenste thordynaūce of nature. for therin they shal synne dedely. A man may slee hym self wyth hys owne swerd or knyf. The husbond or the wyf that brekyth the mariage for what cause someuer it be. synneth so greuously that in the olde lawe they were put to deth / And he or she that kepeth wel his mariage may make dysseueryng or departing▪ ayenst that partye that so breketh but it shal be comāded that fro than forthon they lyue chastly and he or she that after shal synne wyth other shal be constrayned to take agayn hys or hyr companye. yf the wyf of hyr propre wyll or by iugement of holy chyrche be departed fro hir husbond by cause she hath broken hyr mariage / yf she assembled not agayn wyth hyr husbond she may not demande hyr do wayre. he or she that seeth hys felawe repentaūt of hys synne yf he take hir▪ or she hym in hys or in hyr companye he or she dooth grete almesse / and god shal acompte it to hym in grete penaūce of hys synnes for of a synner repentaunt ought one to haue mercy and pyte

¶ What mariages be of no value Capitulo lxxj

Whan mariages shal be made it ought to be knowen yf it be the wyll of that one as wel as of that other. and that there be none empescheme [...]t of lignage ne gossybrede. ne kynred ne that ony trouthplyght hath be made. ne flesshly companye / or yf ther hath made ony solempne awwe of cotynence / as in the honde of the bysshop. of abbot or abbesse. or of hys curate vpō the aulter to fore good wytnessys or yf he hath receiued holy ordre as subdeken. deken. preste / ▪ Or professyon in ordre or yf he hath had flesshly companye with ony woman of hir lignage [Page] whome he w [...]ld marye. For in alle these cases the maryage is of n [...] valewe / And they that thus shal be assembled yf they knowe the lettyng they synne dedely. and theyr chyldren shal be ba [...]ardis / & they may not haue cōpanye carnall to gydre wyth out dedely synne and they that knowe the lettyng and saye not. synnen dedely. And ben parteners of the [...]yl that may come therof. In alle these caases none may doo grace ne dispence / but the pope onely. For sentence gyuen of another. ne letter auaillen nothyng. And for thys peryll the preest ought to crie aud aske the banes solempnly / and to receyue alle opposaunts. And suche as knowe only lettyng openly or secretly. & yf non saye the contrarie ne oppose. yf the preest thike that ther be ony Impedymēt / he ought to enquyre delygently. & yf there ony he ought to sygnyfye it to theyr ordynarye Juge: Ther be many maryages that [...]e [...] thē euyl by cause they be not made a [...] they ought to be made. The somme taken a wyf for her beaulte. The other for accomplysshe theyr carnalyte or flesshly luste. other for theyr rychesses. And other for theyr lygnage: ¶ Example we [...] de Exā in the holy scripture that Sara the doughter of Raguel had seuen husbondes. The whiche seuen a deuyl named Asmodeus slewe the fyrst nyght of theyr weddyng. whan they supposed to haue leyen wyth hys wyf. he put them to deth by cause they toke her for the causes afore sayd / and nothyng for very loue of mariage for to haue lygnage. And after the Aungel Raphael sayd to yong Thobye that he shold take her in mariage. Thobie ansuered to hym / I haue herd saye that she hath had seuen husbondes. whyche anone as they wold haue leyen wyth hyr the fyrst nyght of theyr espousaylles the deuyl put them to deth I fere and doubte lest he wold doo the same to me. ¶ Than gel ausuered to hym. ¶ I shal t [...]ll [...] to the sayd he. Upon whome the deuyllys hath power whan they marye them. He hath power wpon them that take theyr wyues / not for the loue of god. ne in hope to haue lygnage. [Page] but for to accomplisshe theyr flesshly delyte / as dombe bestes whiche haue none wnderstōdyng. But whan ye shal be espo [...] sed ye shall holde you thre dayes and thre nyghtes fro hauyng to doo carnally that one wyth that other / & ye shal be in prayers & in o [...]ysōs wyth our lord & the fourth nyght ye shall assēble to gyder not for flesshly delectacion but in the drede of god and in hope to haue lygnage. many haue soo doon and haue absteined them fro theyr wyues iij the fyrst dayes and nyghtes whyche after haue lyued to gyder in good loue and in grete progenye. Bytwene them that crystene chyldren atte the fonte & ben godfaders & godmoders is noo gossybrede by the lawe ne is no impediment of mariage and holde for certayn that the lawe sayth that yf thou and thy gossyb he or she haue had chyldren to fore ye were gossybs they may alle take that one that other by maryage. but the chyld for whom ye be godfader non of others chyldren may take by maryage /

¶ Of the state of wedowhed Capitulo lxxij

SAynt Poul preyseth moche the state of wedowhed why the sayth to the wedowes. that it is good that they kepe them in suche estate. or ellis that they marye them. For it is better to marye than to brenne / he or she brenneth that consenteth to synne. For to kepe the state of wedowhed ought to be had example of the turtle / For as sayen the maystres Naturiens in the book of nature of bestis. after that the turtle hath lost hys make he shal neuer after accompanye hym or▪ her to another but is alle way solytarye and fleeth the companye of other Thre thynges apperteynen right welle to them that ben in the state of wedowhed The fyrst is for to enclose her self pryu [...]ly in her hows ¶ And not to folowe suspecyous n [...] euyl companye. ¶ And herof gyueth vs example Judith whyche [Page] was a wedowe and a moche fayre woman. and the holy scripture saith that she helde her enclosed in her chambre wyth her maydens: wherfore saint poul repreueth moche strongly the yōg wymen wedowes that ben ydle. and redy to goo and to come and ben ouermoche spekyng and iangeleresses: & he sayth that they shold be in theyr howses and entende to doo good werkes / Some ther be whan theyr husbondes ben dede whyche were blacke gownes. but ther is nothyng there. but the colour of sorowe and of mornyng. For they be made as well and all so gente and queyntly as thaugh they were of skarlet. The second is that they shold entende to praye and to serue god and to be gladly in the chyrche in deuocyon & in teeres lyke as the gospel saith that a woman a wedowe named Anne dyde whyche departed not out of the temple. but serued god nyght and day in prayers and in wayllynges. The thyrde thynge is sharpnesse of lyf For as sayth saint poul / the woman wedowe that lyueth in delyces is deed by synne And saint bernard saith that chastyte perissheth ofte in delyces. Also it apperteyneth that the yōg wymen ben humble and nothyng proud after the example of Judith. whiche lefte hyr fayr robes and hir richesses and hyr parements whan hir husbond was deed. and toke thabyte of wedowhed symple & humble / whyche is a more sygne of wepyng than of Joye or of vayne glorie. and by cause that she loued chastyte▪ and wold kepe it all hyr lyf. she wered the heyre. And fasted euery day sauf the festes / ▪ And yet she was fayre. wyse and yong. but of bounte of herte and also loue of chasstyte caused hyr to doo it and therfor who that wyll kepe chastite late her lyue in suche estate as dyde thys valyaunt lady iudith

¶ Of continence Capitulo lxxiij

HOw wel that maryage be a sacramēt. & that god hath made it. and moche honoured it: And moche pleasyth hym yf it be wel kept. Neuertheles the state of contynē ce of them that will lyue chastly. And kepe them fro maryeng [Page] for the loue of god is more playsant to god. and is more honourable & more proffytable / Item yt ys A▪ victore that▪ one maketh of his flesshe / by cause he hath ouer come yt / For whiche victorye god shal crowne hym moche hyely in heuen / Itē it is a maner of martyrdom especyally in his yongthe / Item they that lyue chastly ben proprely the monastery of the holy ghoost / For these causes / and for the better to please god counceylleth Saynt poul to yong peple and to them that beu to marye / that they kepe them in suche estate / or ellis that they marie them for peryl to falle in the. synne▪ of lecherye / But he saith that moche happy shal they be▪ yf they may hold them in the state of contynence /

¶ OF / the state of virgynyte Capitulo lxxijij

UIrgynyte. is so right hye estate & so. worthy / that it can not be onermoche preysed / For it is the lyf of Angellis celestyall and it is redde of many dyuerse sayntes whiche haue refused grete dignytes and haue suffred grete & hard tormēte [...] & martyrdoms for theeyr virgynyte to kepe / O the right hye & noble tresour that he or sheleseth that playnly wold haue doon the synne of lecherye / but yf he doo soo nomore / and repenteth hym▪ of his eull wyll with good herte And confessyth hym therof / his / or hir virgynyte retourneth to hym or to hir agayn But & yf he or she accomplyssh the synne of the flesshe / he or she shal neuer be virgyne. yf one enforce a virgyne ayenst hir wyll the meryte of virgynyte lasseth not▪ But it encreaceth▪ wherof is wreton in the lyf of saynt lucye▪ the whiche sayde to the euyl tirannt that wold haue enforced and rauysshed hir yf thou make me to be enforced and defouled ayenst my wyll The crowne of my virgynite shal be doubled wherfor thou oughtest to be wel aduysed and resyste it strough /

¶ Of them that be in religyon Capitulo lxxv

[Page]Relygyon is called deserte / for lyke as the deserte is a place sharp / allone. and ferre fro peple. in lyke wyse ought to be the state of religyon sharp. & that by straytnes of lif Item the state of relygyon ought to be ferre fro the world. that he that is in suche estate fele nothyng / but ought to be deed to the world. and lyuyng toward god as saith saynt poul. For lyke as he is that is deeed bodily. that is to wete. the herynge the seyng. the smellyng. the spekyng / and the tastyng / right so ought to be the relygyous so deed toward the world that he f [...] le nothyng that appertryneth to synne. to thende that he may saye lyke as saint poul sayth of hym self The world is crucyfied in me. and I to the world. A relygyous ought to haue nothyng in the world propre to hym self. he ought to make hys tresour in heuen as our lord saith. yf thou wylt be parfight goo and selle alle that thou haste. and gyue to the poure people / and so shalt thou haue thy tresour in heuen. An holy saynt sayth in vytis patrum that pouerte is the waye by whyche heuen is goten. Example. We rede in the holy scripture that our lord sayd Exā to Abraham in the persoue of relygyous / goo sayd he out of thy lond▪ that is to wete fro the rychesses of thys world so that thou sette not on them thyn herte. Item goo out of thy lygnage that is to saye. leue thy synnes of dede and of wyll. and put not thy herte so strongly in a persone of thy lygnage ne in none other but that thou mayst well take it away whan thou wylt / & thyrdly he sayth goo out of the hous of thy fader / that is to saie leue alle the mynde and remembraunce of thys world entyerly so that thou haue there to no loue ne affeccyon / Alas many ther be in these dayes of relygyous people whyche haue not but thabyte of relygyon. and haue renounced nothīg but only tha byte of the world. They wyl haue the delyces of the worlde / and the reuerence of relygyon wyhout payne ¶ They doo grete payne to gadre to gyder fynaunces for to mounte in hye [Page] [...]ate or for to despènde it in èuyll vsages ¶ They wyl haue games and esbatementes of houndes and of hawkes / & gyue to theyr houndes that. whyche they ought to gyue to the poure for the loue of god. to thende that they praye for the poure sonles whyche haue lefte to them the goodes. and gyuen to them the rentes. by whyche they kepe and mayntene grete estate▪ and doo lytyl theyr deuoyr to that they ought to doo they loue better two knaues to lede theyr houndes▪ than two chapelains for to doo the dyuyne seruyce and offyce. atte leste yf they wyll not doo: late them doo it to be doon for to dyscharge theyr soules they be horsed lyke vnto knyghtes for yf thou recoūtre & mete a knyght and a relygyous man. thou shalt not conne dyscerne. whyche is the knyght. And whyche is the relygyous now in these dayes: Saynt bernard sayth that on thys day the robe of a monke. and the robe of a kuyght ben alle of one cloth. and also is the goun of a monke as wel furred and purlfid better atte hond than is the robe of a knyght▪ how wel that the rule sayth / that a monke shold be clad not of the derrest and best cloth▪ but of the moste vyle. And sayth Gregore sayth that the seruaunt of our lord ought not to seche vesture ne clothyng for to playse the world. but onely. to kepe hym fro the cold. ¶ Example Exā ¶ It is redde of a knyght / the whyche was tuyl horsed / and mette a monk whyche rood on a good hors & was in grete estate. to whome he demaūded what he was. the monke ansuered to hym that he had no lord but god. ¶ The knyght sayd yf ye serue hym. in lyke wyse doo I. We ben brethern and felawes But we haue not euynly parted. For ye ben ryght wel horsed and well cladde. And I am ryght pourely. I wyll as longe were your vesture and ryde your hors / as ye haue / And toke from hym all / ¶ Loo here ye may see how the monke by hys pryde gaaf euyl example to the knyght and occasyon to doo euylle▪ ¶ O thou relygyons persone what someuer thou be whan thou art in religyon that thou be wythynforth like as thyn [Page] habyte sheweth wythout forth that is to saye a very religyous & trewe seruaunt of god of whom thou brest the leuerey. for by the leuerey ben the meyne of a lord knowen. yf thou be suche as thyn habyt sheweth. I doubte not / but that thou holdest thy self and reputest the for deed to the world. For thou hast lefte the glorye of the world▪ And how wel that thou hast playsyrs. tases and delyces of the world to thy dampuacyon. Neuertheles thou art not so abandouned to the world in dede / how wel that thou be in thy herte lyke as thou were of the world / And also thou lesest god and the world. And shalt haue in thys world and in that other torment / Proprete in the persone of relygyon is a right horrible synne / and hath be many tymes greuously punysshed in tyme passed. ¶ The holy scripture sayth that the Apostles and dyscyples of our lord after hys passyon lyueden in suche wyse that ther was not one that sayd thys is myn but they dystribued to euerich after that he had nede. ¶ Example. Exā It happed that there was a man named Ananye. And hys wyf called saphyre whyche were of the comynalte of the discyples. and sold a felde that they had and brought a parte of the money to the feet of the apostles: & reteyned that other parte. Saynt peter sayd to them. what is thys that ye haue doo. ye lye not to vs whyche lyue wyth vs and retryne propre good / but ye lye and be vntrewe ayenst the holy ghoost. And and ne they deyd sodaynly▪ tofore alle thapostlee and dyscyples / wherfore they doubted moche for to reteyne ony thyng proper / ¶ Example. Saint gregore recounteth in hys dyalogue that Exā in hys monastery in whyche he duelled and wherof he was gouernour tofore he was pope. that there was a monke named Juste the whyche was a physycyen▪ ¶ And it happed that thys monke was seke. And whan he sawe that he shold deye. he sayd to hys brother whyche was a seculer / ¶ I haue sayd he hyd thre floryns in suche a place▪ ¶ And told [Page] it not to hys brethern of the relygyon. ¶ The monkes cain in to hys chambre. And serched oueral and fonden the thre floryns the whyche they shewed to saynt Gregore. whyche thenne was moche angry / by cause that he that lyued in comynalte wyth them had made tresour for hym self onely and that at hys deth he had not she wde it to hys brethern. Saynt Gregory for to puruere for remedye to the helthe of thys monke▪ and to thende that he had contrycyon and repentaunce of hys synnes▪ and for to gyue ensample to other he comauuded that none of hys brethern. shold be at his deth. and that he shold not haue confort ne consolacyon of them And yf he demannded of hys brother seculer whyche kepte hym. why hys brethern vysyted not hym that he shold ansuere hym. by cause thou hast made tresour. and haste not delyuered it to the couent they haue abhomynacōn of the Saynt Gregore dyde it by cause he shold haue contricyon of hys synne to fore he d [...]yde. and saint gregorye sayd to hys felawes / whan he shal be deed burye hym not in the cyme [...]orye of the brethern. but make a pytt in th donghyl & caste hym ther in & caste the thre floryns vpon hym sayēg thy money be wyth the in perdycion▪ and after couere hym wyth erthe. whan the other brethern sawe thys. they doubted moche to reteyne ony thynge that was contrarie to theyr soule. and alle that they had. And also that whyche was lawful for them to reteyne they brought all in comyn / therty dayes after that the monke was deed saynt Gregorye sayd to oue of his brethern / ¶ It is a grete whil that the soule of our brother hath be in purgatorye. goo forth / and fro hens forth: to therty dayes saye euery day a masse for hym. And see wel that thou faylle not▪ And he faylled not▪ ¶ And the therty day after that / the deed monke appered to hys brother seculer that lyued ¶ And he demaunded hym how it stode wyth hym. The deed monke ansuered to hym. I haue been oner euyl at case vnto thys day. But now I am wel▪ ¶ For thys day I haue receyued [Page] the goodes and masses that haue be sayd for me / Saynt Bernard sayth that wh [...] a mouke entendeth to haue rychesses of the world. He gyueth ouer euyl ensample to the seculers. And sayth that he taketh agayn that. whyche he hath lefte. And resembleth the hound that retorneth agayn to hys wmyte. ¶ And saynt Iherome sayth that a monke whyche hath euyl entencyon to proprete is not worth an halfpeny. ¶ In lawe canon is not supposed that an Abbotte may not dispence that hys monke may haue ne reteyne propre. ¶ For the renoncyacyon of proprete is annexed to the rule of monkes. lyke as is the dowe of chastyte. In suche wyse that the pope may not dyspence wyth a monke beyng a monke. ¶ But the pope may wel make of a monke noo monke. For he may make hym a bysshop / ¶ And by that he shal be nomore subget to the rule of monkes / A relygyous ought to be poure in dede and in will veryly / For soo he hath avowed. Saynt Iherome saith. that he is not poure. but is riche ynowh. that lacketh noo brede / ¶ Example. We rede in the lyf of Exā faders / that a poure monke solytarye was seke by the espace of therty dayes. ¶ And there was none that vysyted hym. God sente to hym an Aungell fro heuen whyche kepte hym. And mynystred to hym hys necessytees ¶ It happed thenne that the other f [...]es of the deserte cam and vysyted hym And anone the Aungel departed thens. The seke man began to crie to the brethern sayeng goo hens. For whan ye were come the Aungel that serued me wente away. ¶ Th [...] relygyouses oughten to be chaste. For they [...]e bounden to kepe it and haue avowed it. ¶ Chastyte is a moche fayre vertue. But who that wyl kepe it wel / [...]e muste flee alle companye of wymmen. ¶ Saynt bernard sayth yf thou muste nedes speke to a woman speke but lytyl / and beholde her not [...]yely in the vysage. and touche her not by the hōdes for ouermoche harme may come therof. ne sytte not to nyght her. ne lawhe not [Page] lightly come in no detke place to sepeke to hyr. For in alle these thynges yf ther be noo synne. yet ther is suspecyounof them that see it or knowe it. and so ther is blame / and whan thou shalt speke to a woman / holde the in suche manere / and also hounestli as thou Woldest doo yf he rhusboud were there present or ellis thy prelate. to the ende that yf ony cam vpon you. that thou haue noo cause to be a shamed / And also saynt bernard counseylleth the that thou haue no famylya [...]yte to ony woman what someuer she be. r [...]lygyouse ne other. For many tymes comen therof grete pe [...]llis and euyl temptacyons. ¶ And I saye to the yf thou haue good peas of herte and wyth god▪ flee all famylyaryte of wymmen. And loue them alle lyke wel. especyally the good and deuoute. and occupye the not wyth them. for lyke as we haue sayd tofore thou art not more holy than was Dauyd. more wyse than was Salomon. ne more stronge than was sampsom / the whiche were moche deceyued by wymen / Item I counseylle the sayth saynt bernard: that thou [...]erke ne ne here gladly a womā speke / For whan thou herest hir spe. ke. she enflameth the / It is a moche sure thyng that thou see hir not For whan thou seest hir she enuenymeth the. but it is moche more sure whan thou thouchest hir not. For whan she thon che. h the. she fowleth the / Example. it is. redde: of an hermyte Exā that his moder cam for to see him▪ & whan she sholde retorne / he conueyed her▪ It happed that they shold passe ariuer▪ and the her mite toke hir for to bere ouer the watter▪ but he wrapped hys handes wyth hys mantel. to thende that he shold not touche hyr flessh / And she that sawe wel hys entencyon sayd to hym. Caytyf wherfore art thou a [...]erd to touche me / ¶ I am thy moder ¶ It is good to wete. that whan he wold not touche her at the departyng / that he kyssed her not at hyr comyng.

¶ Of thobeyssaunce in relygyon. Capitulo lxxvj

[Page]THe relygyous peple owen to be obedyent to theyr prelat [...] For they haue auowed obeyssaunce vnto the deth. saint poul sayth that our lord Ihesu criste was obeyssaūt vnto god his fader vnto the deth that he suffred on the crosse for vs: saint Bernard saith that the very obeyssaunt obeysseth anon and abydeth not tyl on the morn. saynt Gregore sayth that thou ou ghtest not to dysobeye thyn euyl prelate whan he comādeth the to doo well. ne thou oughtest not obeye thy good prelate whan he comandeth the to doo euyll. ¶ Example. We rede of an abbot Exā whyche wold on a tyme proue the good obeyssaūce of a good monke that he had / and comauuded hym to goo in and entre in to an hoot ouen / and that he shold make dene the ouen for to sette in the brede. and anon the monke entred in and made right clene the ouen / and after com out. and had none har me: wherof thabbot was moche abasshyd of thobeyssan̄ce of the monke: Alas sayth sa [...]t bernard how grete dyfference is it now of vs / to thoo monkes that were in the tyme of saynt Anto ney for many tymes whan they vysyted that one the other. they spaken so of spyrytuall thynges. that they forgate theyr etynge and drinkyug / And on thys day there is none that d [...]ma ūdeth celestyal bred / ne also that will gyue it. that is the word of god for to fede the spyrytuel soule / but now whan we et [...] as many as ther be of messes. so moche is there of rumours / and we saye thys is not wel soden. or rosted. the sauce is not made well / the mete is to lytyl salted / or ellis it is to moche / The good monke saith saynt bernard ought to resemble the asse he ought doo that he is comaūded & onght to ete that whiche is sette to fore him. late vs not speke now of flessh saith saint bernard. for it is fobeden to vs. but if it be to them that be seke & [...]eble of body. but of fyssh. whiche be of iij or iiij maner of facōn / and in diuerce maners. we wyl haue the egges. somwyl haue them rested. som boyled. & other wyl haue them fried. & wherfor is this. but for to satisfye the taast. & what shal I saye sayth [Page] seynt bernard for to drinke clere water whan we retche not to drinke wyne: but yf it be clere. and yf it be not pure & fyn & in dyuerse maners. ther shal be grete noyse▪ And many ther be that chaūge theyr cuppe ij or iij tymes in a mele. and saye I wyl haue that & I wyl haue thys. and thys is not good & in many places at grete vestes. they shal saye that they ought to haue wyne spyced and made wyth good pouldres. and wherfore is this / but for to drinke the more. and the more delycyously▪ and whan he shal haue moche dronken and that the wyn shal moū te in to hys brayne. what shal they doo. whan they be rysen fro the table. they wyl not rede ne studye but wyl slepe or playe▪ as sone as we be monkes sayth saynt bernard we haue an euyl stomak / or we be seke. and ben so delycate▪ that none may serue vs to our plesir / and many ther be that whan they were in the world they lyued moche pourely and with grete payne: & lyuedē sobrely. & helde for grete largesse that▪ whiche they hold at gret vilete in their religyon / They be glotons gormantes / & lykorous and none can serue them at their playsir / and ben more proude in wordes & dedes. more worse for to serue than ben they that come fro grete houses & many richesses and what shal I saye. of our habyte saith saint bernard whiche was wont▪ to be of humylite & now with grete payne may be founde in our ꝓuince ony cloth that we wyl were or bere for yf ther come a grete lord of the world in to our hows he shold be wel contēt to be clothed wyth suche cloth as we haue Alas religyon is moche wasted▪ none wil shewe by werkes / ne. by enseyguements / and where as the relygiouses were wonte to be sayntes & holi they be almost alle dissolute / Theyr is none estate in the worlde of whiche but the relygiouses wil entremete / they wylle be marchanns werof sōme by come meshauns. they will be gossybbes they wyl be hunters. they wyl be fysshers of fysshe and not of the soules. and more playseth them thesbatement and songe of byrdes of the felde than dooth the songe of the chyrche For many / [Page] ther be that whan they be in the chirche. they ben anon hoors [...] eurumed and may not synge and that they saye or doo▪ they doo negligently and slowly wythoute affection wythout deuocion and without renerence / and alle way they be ydle in the chirche or a slepe. but to thiges of the world they be all way redy & wakyng▪ and they holde them so disordyueth and foulli in the chirche that it is a grete abusion / Saint bernart saith that whan thou shalt be in the chirche▪ kepe & holde the reuerentli as he that is in the presence of god. yf thou hane noo deuotion yet doo it / for to shewe example to other I meruaylle saith saiut bernart how the prelates suffre so many desolucions to be doon as bee doon m these dayes m religyon / but yf it be by cause that one wyl not repreue a nother gladly of that he is entatched / For they that shold be our myrrour & ou [...] exemplayre by therr werkes ben blynde and leden the blynde Example It is rede of Exā an Abbot whiche lyuede alle his dayes in grete vyandes and metes & was clad with right syn cloth▪ It happed on a day / as he had gretely dyned▪ and his monkes had in the couuent as who sayth nought or lytyl. Af [...]t dyner he conmāded to one of his monkes the whiche had enyl dyned and sayd to hym moche rudely that he shold doo som thyng. the monk dyde it not anone Thabbot was angri and sayd to hym. brother thou hast not doo that whiche I haue cōmanded the The monke āsuerd to hym / I am your brother [...]ly / but your robe is not lyke to myne. ne your dysshe is not semblable to myn / ¶ Thabbot helde hym alle confused. Many there be of relygyon. whyche neuer be eased. but yf they be out of theyr cloystre / how wel that an holy man saych. that lyke as a fysshe may not lyue out of the water nomore may a monke lyue spiryrituelly. out of hys cloistre. Retorne thenne as shortly as thou mayste. And mayntene the the beste wyse that thou shal conne mowe to thy salnacyon For thou shalt not so sone retorne ne so wel mayntene thy self [Page] but that it behoueth to doo grete paine tofore thou shalt be in suche deuocōn ne also wel sette agayn in thy conscyence. as thou were whan thou departedest

¶ To whom one ought to be confessed / Ca ^o. lxxvij

TOfore we speke of confession we shal saye to whome one ought to be confessed. No prest may assoylle but yf he be thy propre prest. Thy propre preste is called in sixe maners fyrst the pastour of the chyrche as the prelate or c [...]te secondly he that is cōinysed by the prelate or curate. or vycarye / Thirdely they that haue preuylege of the pope. Fourthly they that haue licence of the curate▪ but he ought to amytte non / but discrete psones. honeste. & knowen / fyfthly in necessyte for in necessyte euery prest may a [...]soille in peril of deth & the pilgrims be assoylled in pylgrimage of them that confesse them. syxthly for the defaulte of thy prest whan he is an ydeote. or whan he sheweth the confessyon or whā he praieth the wymē that they confesse them to hym of euyl loue / In alle these cases yf thou fynde a prest that hath auctorite to assoille / thou mayst confesse the to hym so that he be knowen dyscrete of ordre. and of persone / yf thou be of religion none may assoille the without licē [...]e of hym that hath the cure or charge of the. but yf it be in necessite that thon mayst not haue thy pastour or hys d [...]byte or yf thou were so contumax and so peruerse that thou wylt not confesse the to thy pastour or to hym whome he hath commysed / Thenne for peril that thou deye not wythout confessyon or wythout counseyl some dyscrete and approued confessour or prest may assoil le the ¶ Item it is of necessite that the good preste hyde the confessyon by cause of the sacrament of confessyon ¶ I am also that one confesse hym the more hardyly. And knowe ye that the preste ought not to hyde onely the confession. but also alle the thynges whyche may be perceyued of the synnar or of the synne▪ & though the synnar gyue licence to thy confessour to saye ony synne of him that he hereth in confessyon yet the cōfes [Page] sour ought not in ony wyse to open it. but if he knowe it other wyse than by confession / & yet it is not right sure or expediēt to open thēne & yt maye without grete inconuenyents other wyse be eschewed / yf thou demāde yf the prest knowe ony thyng that thou saist to hym in confessyon afore or after that thou confessest the. he is not bounde to hyde it. but yf it playse hym. as touchyng to thys. that he knoweth it as a man. som saie to a preste som thyng in secrete. And they saye to hym I telle it to you in confessyon. and kepe not in thus sayeng the maner ne thordy naūce of confessyon. and therfore yf he shewe thys / he sheweth not the confessyon. but he dooth ouermoche euyl to shewe the coū seyl of another / yf a prest haue herd ony thyng in confessiō and it happeth that he is called to wytnesse tofore a iuge personelly that he shal say yf he knowe ony thyng of that thyng yf he knewe it otherwyse than by confessyon he may saye it wythout peryll. but yf he knowe it not but by confession he may swere surely that he knoweth nothyng therof / for he knoweth it not as a man. but as a vycarye of god /

Of the payne of a prest that sheweth the confessiō. Ca ^o. lxxviij

SAynt gregore sayth in the holy canon. late the prest take good hede of what thyng be sayd to hym in confessyō that he telle it not to neyghbour ne to other that duelle ferre ne by sygne ne tokene ue shlaundre / ne to ony other persone ony thyng. and yf he doo. that he be deposed fro hys benefyce. and all the dayes of hys lyf be he in infamye thurgh the world Item the pope Innocent sayth in the newe constitucyon / late the prest kepe hym wel aboue alle thynges that of thyng sayd to hym in confeyon he saye ne telle it not ne by sygne ne other wyse & also in no maner he accuse hym that is cōfessyd to him ¶ And yf he haue nede of better counseyl than hys owen. lete hym demaunde wythout ony namyng the synner by hys name / For who someuer in Jugement [Page] of penaunce shal she we in ony wyse the synne that hath be sayd to hym in confessyon. not all onely of thoffyce of presthode we wyl that he be deposed. but also wyth that we wyll that he be put in sharp pryson / For to suffre greuous penannce

¶ Of the sacrament of penaunce Capitulo. lxxix

As to the sacrament of penaūce whiche is the iiij sacramēt of holy chyrche. but it is sette here the laste for to accorde to the other Tofore that the synners be reconsyled to god thre thinges be requysyte that is to wete. confessyon / contricōn. and satysfaccion Confessyon and hys vertue shal be declared here folowyng. Contricyon is to haue sorowe atte herte and grete repē taunce of alle hys synnes. and to haue stedfast pnrpos fro than forthon to kepe and absteyne hym fro alle dedely synnes / For who that hath entencyon to retorne to dedely synne. hys confessyon avaylleth hym nothyng. and yf he be houseled in suche estate he synneth dedely. And yf he deye in suche estate he shal be dampned perdurably

¶ Of confessyon and of hys vertue. Capitulo: lxxx

COnfessyon is the second parte of penaunce. whan one is confessyd and repentaunt of alle his synnes / & hath sted fast purpos to absteyne hym self fro alle dedely synnes and for to amende hym. Thenne confessyon is of so grete vertu. that it is as a second baptesme / & as a fontayne in whyche ben wasshen and forgyuen alle synnes what someuer they be / and thys confessyon as sayth saint bernard destwyeth alle synnes and restablyssheth alle vertues. The augellys reioye them. and it confoundeth the deuylles. ir reconnceileth the soule to god. it closeth helle and it openeth heuen. Welle blessyd is he that of [...]e is laued and wasshen in thys fontayne. For yf he kepe hym in purete and cleunesse of conscyence. and in the loue of god. he is the more stronge to doo good werkes / & to kepe him fro the [Page] sende of helle and may the better endure ayenst the euyllis that may come.

¶ Of the scyences that prestes shold haue that here confession & how they shold demaunde the synnes Capitulo. lxxxi

THe preste that taketh the charge for to confesse: ought to haue scyence for to inge wel and to knowe the synner & his synne / and for to gyue penaunce after the quantyte of the synne. yf the synner dooth the penauuce suche as the prest enioy neth hym: he shal be delyured fro dāpnacyou. but yf by fauour. or by doubte. or by deffaulte of scyence the prest gyueth lasse penaunce than he ought. he shal bere the payne. Also the synner ought to doo good dylygence to haue a good physycyen for to hele hys soule of the maladye of synne. lyke as he shold doo to se she a good physycyen for to haue the helthe of his body lyke as Exā saynt Augustyn sayth. ¶ Example. We rede that at paris was a man that knewe hys doughter flesshly. after they wēt and coufessyd them vnto a wyse and a discrete prest a penyten [...]er / The doughter had so grete contrycyon and wepte so greuously that she myght not saye her synne & sayd that she might neuer doo worthy penaunce for hir synne. The fader was so harded of hys synne and had no shame to confesse hym therof The penytauncer sawe the contrycyon of the doughter and sayd to her / I enioyne the in penaunce that thou faste iij dayes to brede and water / Syre said she I am redy for to faste all the dayes of my lyf to brede and water yf it playse you. for me semeth yet it lytyl to the regarde of the gretenes of my synne. the penytancer sayd to her it suffiseth. I wyl enioine to the nomore & after he said to the fader. that him semeth that he had no sha me ne coutricōn of his synne. I enioine to the that all the daies of thy lif thou bere the heyre next thy flessh. & that thou faste as long as thou liuest iij daies of the weke to brede & water. & he was angry & murmured strōgly & considered not that the cōtricōn of his doughter was rekened to her for satisfacōn. and for ¶ hys grete hardnesse [Page] he ought to hane the more penaūce. The preest ought benygnly to receyue the sinner. and ought to haue pyte and compassion of hym and ought swetely to demande of hym of comyn synnes and also of the obscures. to thende that they shold not haue occasyon of sinne / that is to wete of the vij dedely synnes. of the v / wyttes of nafe. of the vij werkes of merci of the. x comādemēts of the lawe. Item yf he can the pater noster. the a [...]e maria &▪ the credo in deū. & yf he can it not he ought to saye to hym that he lerne it thenne he ought to demande hym of what estate he is be he man or womā or in dignyte or in none / or noble or bourgeis or clerke or religyous ¶ And yf he be of religyon he ought to de māde of him yf he haue lycēce of his pastour for to cōfesse. hym to another than of his ordre. For otherwyse he ought not to resseyue hym But yf it be in caas as we haue to fore sayd in the chapytre to whome one ought to confesse hym yf it be a woman she ought to sytte on the side of hym: that is to wete on his lyft fide / & he ought not to beholde hir ne the vysage and ought to saye to hyr swetely that she saye her synnes wel and hardyly without to haue drede ne shame for she speketh to god / & not to a man / and he onght to saye to hyr that god is pyetous and mercyful / For they that shal doo moste penance in this world / shal be moste loued and exalted of god: As it apperith in dauid saynt peter. saint poul-and in marie magdalene-and he ought to saye that the shame that one sayth his synnes is grete parte of hys penaunce And see wel that to a yonge woman he gyne no penaunce to god on pilgremage For therin is moche peryll / ne also to a woman maryed. he gyne no penaunce by whiche her husbond may apperceyue that she hath trespased a [...] enft him: yf the synner be enharded. and that he wyl not wel cō fesse hym / the prest ouht to saye to hym the peryllis that ther is theryn and saye yf thou wylt / thou shalt be saued-And yf thou wylt thou shalt be dampned: It is better to haue a lityl [Page] shame of me / than to haue shame and confusion tofore god & alle hys sayntes atte the day of Jugement wyth dampnacyon perpetuell. Example we rede of a noble nonne of good lyf Exā and holy the whyche was deceyued of the fende. and was grete wyth hyr seruaunt and varlet. she supposed to quenche hyr synne by grete penaunce of her body & harde lyf that she ladde longe tyme she waylled & wep te moche. but she durst neuer confesse hyr synne: as wel for hys noblesse: as for the holynesse of whyche she was renomed. & deyde wythout to confesse this sinne and was dampned perpetuelly. lyke as she made reuelacyon to thabesse whiche was hyr aunte. to whome she appered after hir deeth bering a chyld bytwene her armes all embraced with fyre / whyche breuned all her body / And she sayd to hyr that she shold neuer doo noo good for her / for she was dampned perpetuelly. For that onely that she durst neuer confesse her of that sinne / to thende that she shold not be holden for vyle & for a synner O for goodes sake ye fayre maidens & swete wymen whiche by nature ye be shamefaste take ye her by ensample. and lese not your fayre soules ne also youre bodyes for lytil shame whyche is sone passed / ye see that thys woman that had doon so many good dedes that she myght haue be a saint in heuen yf she had confessed of thys synne. and now she hath all loste for a lityl shame / ¶ And holde ye not our lord for hard / thaugh for one dedely synne he hath suffred to lese a persone. For the shame that one hath to leue to confesse hys synne / cometh of ouer grete pryde. whyche is rote of alle synnes. ¶ Amd by cause that one hath shame to confesse hys synne that he hath doon. and that he wold be holden for good and holy ayenst reason. after these thynges the preest ought to here his confessyon simply after he ought to demande of hys estate yf he be clerke. secular or of relygyon / ordred. or not and yf he haue cure or benefyce and after he ought to demannde hym of Symonye / for symonye is [Page] propred to clerkes. and yf he haue crowne / tonsure. or habyte couenable / And yf he kepe wel chastyte and contynence. Yf he be aduocate. yf he synge masse / yf he playe at tables or at dyse. For in all these thynges synnen ofte the clerkes. yf he be relygyous he ought to demande of hym the xij abusyons of the cloyster. that is to wete. prelate neglygent. dyscyple inobedyent yōg the slowthful. aged obstynat in hys synnes. a monke folowing the court of lordes / A monk that is an aduocat. habyte precyous. metes delycyous. Rumour in the cloystre. plees & striues in the chapytre / dyssolucyon in the chyrche And in his herte vnreuerent in thynges that apperteynen to the aulter. and to holde hym self vnreuerently at the aulter. After he ought to demaūde hym of the thre wwes of relygyon and of the rule. That is to wete obedyence / pouerte / and chastete / for in all these thinges the relygyouse persones mystake and trespace ofte / ¶ Item he ought to aske the princes yf they kepe wel Justyce / and ought to demaūde the knyghtes of rauayne / the marchauntes of fals marchaundises And yf they doo marchaundise in the solempne festes and sondayes. or in the chyrches For god caste and thre we out them that dyde there in marchandyse / and said to them that the hous of god is the hous of prayer / and they made of it a caue or a spelunke of thenes by cause they bonght & sold ther in / Item they ought to demande them that haue offyees of lordes yf they doo ony extorcion to the poure peple. Itē to aske crafty men of deceyte & for swering. Itē burgeses and cytezeyns of vsure. the labourers & semauntes of werkes of thefte & specyally Exā of tythes. of rentes. & of trnages. Exāple / It is redde that a marchaūt coufessyd hym on a tyme at pans. to a good cofessour & īterrogour / & he demāded him how he gouerned hys marchandyse / Syre sayd he the most truly that I may. but I can gete no good to nourisshe me my chyldren & myn houshold after myn estate: and am all way in d [...]tte / The preste asked hym to whom owe ye / Syre said he. I haue a brother whyche is [Page] abbot of an abbay & whan I haue nede of a somne of money he leneth it to me / Aud wyth grete payne can I gete ony thig and I am no player ne gormaunt. and my wyf spareth alle that she may / but I can not wete where it becometh. wherof I am moche soroufull. The preste sayd to hym wenest thou to be riche of the goodes of the chyrche wherin thou hast noo thing And parauenture thabbot whyche hath delyuered them to the hath robbed them of hys monkes / and suffred hys houses to falle doun or hath euyl gouerned hys possessions. Goo and paye hym agayn as hastely as thou mayst. and borowe of somme other temporal man / and atte ende of the yere / come agayn to me / and telle to me of thyn estate. The marchaunt byleued his confessour and payed thabbot. and borowed of other men of the world and atte ende of the yere he retorned to hys confessour. the whyche demanded hym of hys estate & he ansuerd to hym Syre sayd he. by the grace of god and your good coūseyll I haue more prouffyted in thys yere / than I dyde in x yere afore. Goo thenne sayd the confessour & gouerne the wysely of thyn owen. and nothyng of the goodes of the chyrche / for therin thou shalt nothyng prouffyte / After the confessyon the confessour ought to gyue penance. by that whyche is contrarie to the synnes / that is to wyte humylite and prayer ayenst pryde. fastyng and afflyction ayenst lecherye. Abstynence ayenst glotonnye / almesse ayenst auaryce / and soo of alle other by the contrarye of the synnes. and he ought to warne and admonest the synner to leue the synne of dede and of wyll and that he putte him self to doo well and to penauuce. For of the good dedes that he shalle doo in thys world. he shal haue merite in that other / but of the peynes that he shal suffre in that other. he shal haue to merite ¶ For he suffreth them not by hys wyll: but by constraynt. yf the synne be derke he ought to gyue derke penaunce / ¶ Saint Cypryan speketh of penaunce and sayth ¶ O penaunce I shal saye saith he y ^t I knowe of the / thou vnbyndest all thiges [Page] bounden. and thou byndest alle thynges vnbounden. thou mode rest alle aduersytees. thou guarysshest alle sekenesses. And alle thynges foule. thou makest fayre and clere / ¶ Theym that ben desperate by theyr synne and feble / thou reenfordest and makest stronge. ¶ The preste onght to moeue the synnar to contricyon and saye to hym that whyche the doctour sayth. For he myght haue suche contrycyon / that not onely the culpe or synne shal be forgyuen But alle that he shold suffre in purgatorye for hys synnes shold be pardonned: and he shold goo strayt to heuen after hys deth. as it apperith by the good theef that was crucyfyed wyth our lord ¶ For by cause he had very contrycyon at hys deth. god sayd to hym / Thou shalt be thys day wyth me in paradys. At the ende of the absolucyon the confessour ought to saye to the penytent coufessed that whyche our lord sayd to them that he assoylled. goo forth and synne nomore / to thende that no gretter harme happe to the. The confessour ought to take good hede that for ony thyng that the synuar sayth to him in confessyon he despyse ne rebuke hym not. but conforte hym the beste wyse that he maye and promyse to hym pardon and grace of our lord yf he be veryly confessyd and repentaūt of his synnes for ther be some so rude & so euyl traytable to them that confesse them that they put them oftymes in perill of dāpnacyon: Exāple. It is redde in the lyf of faders. that a yong monke Exā confessyd to an old one / & said to hym that he was moche tēpted of the synne of the flesshe The old monke consydered not the yongthe of that other: but repreued hym moche sharply and sayd to hym that he was not worthy to haue the name of a mō ke / the yong monke was moche abasshyd / & went out of the monasteri. as dispayred. & mette a good abbot whiche knewe wel y ^t he was greued at his hert: & demāded him swetli what him ailed / the yong monk coude not ansuece for the grete srowe that he had at his hert / thabbot said to him swetely. fayre sone telle me what thou hast. & he ansuerd to him. I retorne agayn [Page] to the world for to be maryed / for suche an olde monke to who me I haue sayd & confessed my temptacyon of the flesshe. hath sayd to me that I am not worthy to haue the name of a monke. by cause I may not resyste vnto the temptacyōs of the flesshe The good abbot conforted hym swetely. and sayd to hym. be nothyng abasshyd my fayre sone. yf thou that art yong be tempted of the flesshe / For I that am olde am tempted alle day. I pray the retorne to the monasterie tyl to morne. The good abbot went anon to that old monke that had so dysconforted the yong monke. And whan he approched hym he prayed our lorde that the temptacyon of the yong monke myght come vpon the olde monke that had so blamed hym to thende that he myghte knowe by hym self in hys olde age the payne and sorowe that the yong monke suffred in hys yongthe. and whan he had made hys prayer / he sawe the deuyl castyng thembracemētes of the flesshe on the olde monke / and fonde hym in a rage rennyng here and there. and wolde retorne to the world lyke to the yong monke: whan thabbot sawe hym soo demene hym self / he knewe wel that he was totmēted and sayd to hym: whyther wilt thou goo. that art olde aud wasted. he was all ashamed and sawe wel that thabbot knewe hys temptacyon. & coude not ansuere for shame by cause of hys age The Abbot sayd to him retorne in to thy telle / and consydere the payne that the yonge monke suffreth / whan thou whyche art so euyl disposed for the temptacyon thut thou suffrest in thyn old age but the espace of one day onely. And therfore hath our lord suffred and preued in the the payne of the yong monke whome thou hast not [...]n forted ne hast had noo compassyon of hys yongthe. but hast put hym in the way of desperacyon / Thys example techeth and enseygneth vs that the synnar ought to be traytted swetely / and nothyng to be dysconforted

¶ Howe one ought to confesse hym self / [...]Ca lxx [...]ij

[Page]YF thou wylt well confesse thy self. thow oughtest fyrste wel thynke in thy▪ conscyence as he that wyl yelde. and rendre a rekenyng to god Thou oughtest to saye all thy synnes that thou canst remembre / that thou hast doon & woldest gladly haue doon / and all thy thoughtes whyche tornen to synne / And beware that thou reteygne nothyng ne the colour ne the sauour of thy synnes / how wel th [...]u confessest them and repen ty [...] ▪ for he that reteyneth the colour of hys synnes. thaugh he hath confessyd them and repented / neuertheles he reteyneth the euyll maners that he had to fore. as in spekyng▪ in beholdyng in folowyng ylle compaynyes / and thoccasions by whyche one myght falle in synne▪ he reteyneth the sauour of synne that well confessyd hym and is repentaunt. but gladly he hereth to speke the [...]f. and ofte thynketh on hys synnes & hath a delyte in hys euyl thought and playseth hym wel. how wel he wyl not doo them. Aboue alle thīge beware that thou leue not to saye to thy wetynge somme dedely synne of whyche thou remēbrest for to saye to another preste / or for shame. for thy confessyon is nothyng worth thenne. and yf thou be houseled in suche estate thou synnest dedely. and yf thou sholdest so deye thou sholdest be dampned perpetuelly. for one ought to saye alle hys synnes of whiche he remembreth to one preste▪ & not to saye one parte to one and another parte to an other. for suche confessyon is nothynge worth But whan thou art wel confessyd to thy power▪ yf thou be aduysed after ony synne. of whyche thou were not remembryd whan thou were confessyd to fore. yf thou thenne confesse that to an other it shal auaylle the. And thy confessyon is not departed / And excuse not thy self in confessyng the as som doo And saye not also that thy synne is gretter than it is / for then ne thou sholdestlye. Many confesse them in grete and sayen. I confesse me of the synne of pryde. of enuye of leche [...]e▪ and also in other wythout to declare theyr synnes. That confessyon suffyseth not. but it behoueth to thy power thou saye & declare wel [Page] all thy sinnes pureli in the manere lyke as thou hast doon them and as ofte as thou hast sinned yf thou can remembre: It suffiseth not to saye I haue taken other memys thynges / but it by houeth that thou saye what & how moche / and in what place For it is a greter synne to take thyng sacred than other. & to take out of an holi place than out of an other▪ It suffyseth not oneli to saye I haue synned in the synne of lecherie / but it muste be sayd thestate of the persone. that is to were yf it be a womā maryed or wedowe or of religyon: thy moder. or thy suster or thy gossph or goddoughter or symple wymen. or yf thou hast [...]fouled a virgyne / For after the estate of the psone the synne is more grete or lasse▪ yf thou hast wyth a comyn woman For that is a grete synne & grete perill▪ For they spare neyther fader ne so ne Cosyn ne other. & thou must saye how ofte thou hast synned yf thou canst remēbre▪ & in what place / yf it be in chirche chyrche yerd or in holi place / For it is gretter synne. in holi place than in other. And thou oughtest to saye on what daye. yf it be a f [...]ste ful day or day. conmanded to faste / For after the day the synne is grete or lasse or yf thou hast synned wyth ony man or dred to god / as subdeken / deken▪ preest or of religyon but kepe the wel that thou name not the persone by his name wyth whome that▪ hast synned For that shold be grete peryll & thou oughtest to saye yf thou enforcest they self to synne: or yf thou woldest haue synned▪ or for to doo thy synne thou hast made an other persone thy messagyer▪ or yf thou hast synned wyth other whyche had no wylle to synue wyth the. For thy synne shold thēne double. And thou sholdest be holden to admoneste hym or hyr to come to repentaunce. Item yf by thy synne is comen euyl ensample. or yf for cause of thy counseyll consentyng or ay de ony other haue synued. For eueri tyme thou shalt be of god greuously pugnysshed. Item thou oughtest to saye yf thou hast longe abyden in thy synne / and alle other thynges that haue [...]nsed the to synne the more / thou oughtest to saye and declare. [Page] to thy power. For lyke as á good physycyen may not gyuē a good medecyne. yf he knowe not well the maladye right so the prest may not gyue the good counceyl / yf the synner declare not wel the maner of his sinne. yf thou declare not wel thy synnes the prest ought to make the to declare them well / & of other synnes in whyche he thynketh that thou myghtest haue fallen / or that thou woldest haue doon. be ought to aduyse & demāde dyscretly without tofore the. and of sinnes not cōmysed he ought to demande the couuertly and fro ferre and he ought to she we t [...] maner of thy synnes / & to gyue to the good counceyll and suffy sauut remedye / and in the ende of thy confessyon / yf thou repente the wyth good h [...]r [...]e. and thou haue [...]nt [...]ncōn to absteyne the fro dedely synne. and to amēde the. and whan he assoilleth the of thy synnes it is right good that he saye▪ goo forth and synne nomore / leste werse happe to the▪ for so sayd our lord to hym that he assoilled as the gospel sayth / whan thou wylt com to cō fessyon. thou oughtest to thynk on all the places wher thou hast be sythe thou hadest vnderstondyng. and say in thy self in suche a thyng. and in suche a place suche: for thys is a thyng by whiche one shal remembre the better the synne c [...] tyme passed / for by cause that many tarye to confesse them / they forgete many of theyr synnes. but the deuyl forgeteth them not. Example: we Exā rede of a woman that was supposed that she had be the best woman of the toun wherin she duellyd / for she dyde most goode dedes / It apped that whan she was dede and born to the chyrche an holy hermyte was present whyche sawe a deuyl holdīg her ench [...]yned abo [...]t the necke wyth a grete chayne of y [...]n / he prayed to god that he wold she we to hym wherfore it was / & a wys cam anon to hym whyche sayd that she had doon a dedely synne in hyr yongthe of whyche she durste neuer confesse her and for that onely she was dāpned perdurably. many other examples haue we whiche I now leue for cause of briefte / vnderstonde wel thys toke fro the brgynnyng vnto the ende. & veryly [Page] thou shalt fide the by wrapped in many synnes of whyche thou aduysest not thy self. & therfore aduyse the & confesse the the beste wyse thou maiste. for whan thou art best aduysed I coūseill the to be confessyd pure & clene and thou shal fynd thy self the better byloued of god / and saye in thende of thy confessyon. that god hath deliuered the oftymes fro many grete perils by confession & penaūce / but by vnkendenes I haue agayn oftimes āgred him by dyuerse synnes of whyche I am not wel remēbred of whyche and of all them that I haue said & confessid I repēte me & purpose and thynke to absteyne wyth all my power from now forthon & amende me. & requyre absolucion of god. and of Exā you penaunce. Example we rede that a grete maistre in dyuynyte and a right good clerke & prechour whan he shold deye he saw the deuyl in a corner of hys chambre & he damāded of him what thyng greued him moste. the deuyl sayd to hym that nothyng g [...]ued hym more ne lessed more theyr strongthe & might than dide confession & said to him that whan a persone is in dedely synne all his mēbres be so boūden that he may doo no good werkes for hys saluacōn / but assone as he is confessed. he is deliuered fro the grinne of the deuyl & may doo all goode werkes for his saluacōn.

¶ How one ought to make amēdes to other and make satisfaction Capitulo lxxxiij

THe thyrde parte of penaūce is satisfactiō whyche ought to be doon by thys maner: yf thou hast mystaken thy self ayenst ony other amēde it assone as thou mayst. yf thou hast deffamed another. repele it & gaynsaye that deffame to thy power & crye hym mercy. yf he knowe it. & make to him amendes. yf thou hast hurte & don domage to ony other wythout good cause. thou oughtest to rēdre to him his scathe & hurte assone as thou maist. for yf thou maye & doo not. thou art all way in synneand maist not be assoilled & yf he be deed yelde it to his heires / or doo by the coūseil of a good confessour & knowe vereli if thou maist [Page] not fynde hym ne hys heyres aud thou gyue it for goodes sake or puttest it in the tronke in the chyrche of thyn owne auctorite thou art not so quyte. For thou oughtest not to doo almesse of other mennes good but yf it be thyng of lytil valewe. yf thou see that thou mayst not restore to them that thon art holden. or thou haue not wherof or thou can not fynde them thou oughtest to haue grete sorowe in thy herte and good wyll to restore assone as thou mayst. and yf thou see that thou shalt neuer haue to restore. thenne saye som prayers. or doo som good and som penaū ces for them that thou art holden as moche as shal suffyse. and so shalt thou make restytucyon after thy power. & yf thou finde them & yf they knowe that thou art so bounden to them. thenne crie them mercy. & praye them for the loue of our lord that they wyl pardone & forgyue the / Item it is satisfaccyon to doo and a complysshe that whiche the preste enioyneth the in penaunce the whyche thyng thou oughtest to doo assone as thou mayst to thy power. or ellis thou sholdest synne moche greuoussly. & knowe thou. that thou mayst not chaūge it. but yf thou mayst n [...]t doo it late it be chaūged by the prest that charged & gaaf it to the or by another that hath power. & yf thou forgete it thou oughtest to be confessyd therof and take newe penaunce. The preste ought not to gyue the in penaunce. to doo som masses ne to offre at pardons yf thou mayst doo penaunce wyth thy body For who that hath doon the synne he ought to bere the penaunce / But wyth that it is good to doo almesse / & to offre atte pardons they that may. yf thou be seke and in peril of deth. and thou be very repentaunt / euery preste may assoylle the of alle thy synnes. what someuer they be. and also of all sentences of excōmynycacō [...]s. yf thou requyre it for if thou muste deye. and were in the sentence & be knewe it & houseled the in that estate. he shold synne ouer greuously / & therfor he ought first to assoille the. for so saith the law of Canon / But and yf thou become hole agayn. thou oughtest to goo to hym. that put the excomycacyon on the as hastely as [Page] thou mayst for to doo that reason requyreth / or ellis thou sholdest fall agayn in the sentence as thou were tofore / Item if thou haue no prest for to confesse the and thou be very repentaunt of all thy synnes. aud woldest gladly confesse the and be houseled yf thou haddest a prest / yf thon deydest in suche estate it suffyseth to our lord and art out of dampnacyon perdurable

¶ Of the fyre of purgatorye Capitulo lxxxiiij

Thow oughtest moche to enforce the to doo iu thys world penaunce for thy synne. and to haue grete repentannce & sorowe at thy herte / & oughtest to doo good werkes. & suffre pacyently the euyllys and tubulacōus of thys world lyke as to for is said. for that whyche is not ful doon in thys world. muste be doon in the fyre of purgatory. the whyche is so ardaunt & brennyng that all the paynes aud tormentes of thys world be but a dew or a bayne to the regard of that fyre. O good lorde how hard and wythout pite ben the frendes of them that be ther whan they helpe them not to delyuere them to theyr power / the whyche frendes requyre so pye [...]ously by the wys of holy chirch and sayen. Miseremini mei / miseremini mei / that is to saye haue ye pyte of me. haue ye pyte on me my frendes. for I am in the honde of the rightful Justyce / Ther be som euyl dysposed / people that saye. that masses / oblacōns. ne suffrages that ben doon for them that be deed: prouffyten nothyng to them. and that they of the chyrche haue foūden this for to haue money of the good peple / Example. It is red in the booke of frere petre of Clugny that a bysshop suspended a prest of hys offyce. bycause he sange alle way masse for the deed / It happed on a day of a grete [...]este the bysshop wente to matynes. and passed thurth the chyrcheyerd / hym semed that alle the deed bodyes that there we [...] buried aroos out of their sepultures euerich in suche estate as they had ben in thys world. that is to wete the knyghtes in theyr estate [Page] of armes. they of crafte also in theyr estate of crafty men. and sayden that one to that other. loo see here cometh the bysshop whyche hath taken away our prest that sange for vs and he wil not synge for vs. veryly yf he wyl not amende him he shold deye of an euyl deth the bysshop had grete drede. and assoylled the prest / and after he hym self sange for the deede. Saint gregore sayth that we may ayde & helpe them that ben deed in iiij maneres. that is to wete by fastynges. by prayers: by almesses. & aboue all other thynges the masse auaylleth them most / in whiche is offred & sacrifyed for them the precyoꝰ body & blod of our lord thesu criste the whyche may not wel be preysed how moche the masse ꝓffyteth to them that ben dede we haue sayd it to for and also in the chapytre of relygyous whan we spake of seint gregore whyche dyde doo saye xxx masses for the monke that was deed. Example it is redde that in a bataille was a man Exā sore hurte ¶ And hys enemyes supposed that he had be deed but he reuyued and com agayn to hym self & bounde hys woū des and went forth hys waye / he was founde agayn of hys enemyes whyche toke hym & put him in prison iu yrons. thys man had a brother that was prest whiche supposed [...] ^• his brother were deed by cause he hadde founden a man deed ther as the batayll was. whiche resembled wel hys brother. Thys prest sō ge euery day masse for hym atte honre of tierce and at that houre the gyues and yrons of hys brother vnbonde and fylle in pyeces They that sawe it blamed hym and demaunded of hym yf he were an enchauntour. by cause that hys yrons brake euery day at the same houre / he sayd to them nay. but he sayd I haue a brother whyche is a preste and singeth euery day for me: and veryly yf I had be deed my soule had be delyuerd of the paynes of purgatorye by the prayers that my brother sayth for me. Example. Item it is redde that a grete lord went in to a contreye for to defende the londe of the chyrche. ¶ The legate of the pope whyche brought hym forth gaaf indulgence to the fader of the [Page] lord whych was deed by cause that hys sone faught for the wele of the chyrche / The lord abode in that countrey by▪ the space of xl dayes. hys fader appered to hys sone in grete clerenes. and thanked hym of that he had doon / for by hym he was delyuerd out of the paynes of purgatorye Now seest tho [...] how y ^• masses the good dedes. and the indulgences prouffyten to them that be lyuyng & to them that ben deed / and to them that ben in purga torye.

¶ Of the paynes of helle Capitulo lxxxv

THe dampned soules that ben in helle ben dāpned for the synnes that they haue doon perdurably in the companye of the deuylles. whyche [...]eu so horrible to byholde / that saint austyn sayth that ther is no man in thys world. but that he had leuer to brenne all quyk / than to see the deuyl in hys fygure. the deuylles caste doun the dampned soules so horribly in to the grete and depe swalowes wythout mesure all ful of water so cold of yse & snowe that ther is noo thynge lyke to that coldnesse yf a grete montayne fylle therin it shold become yse and after also as they that haue theyr hondes froren whā they put them to the fyre they doo to hem moche grete payne. Also for to make them to fele gret payne they throwe the dampned soules fro the depe abysmes in to a grete stāgne or ponde depe wythout mesure all ful of fyre all brennyng soo hoot that the fyre of thys world nys but warme to the regarde of that fyre. nomore than a bayne or a fyre paited on a wal is lyke to the fyre of this worlde yf alle the water of the see fylle therin. it shal not be the lasse heete therfor. ¶ Example / we rede in vitis patrum that seint Machayre fonde in a way the hede of a dede man. he coniured by the name of god that it shold saye to hym of whom it was And it sayd I am the hede of a preste of the paynems. & wold neuer byleue in the fayth of ihesu crist. Saynt macharye demā manded of hym where art thou. I am in helle said he. what [Page] payne [...] thou / I ansuere the that the fyre vpon [...]y hede is as moche as is fro hens to heuen / and as moche vnder. and as moche on alle sydes of me. And vnder me ben the iewes why the neuer wold byleue in [...]hesu crist / And vnder the iewes ben the euyl cristen men whyche haue byleued in the fayth of ihesu crist wyth theyr mouth / but they haue not doon the werkes & whan it sayd alle thys it fyll alle to pouldre / Item they that be dampned haue so grete stenche. that no mortal man may suffre it / they haue gret drede. horrour / and derkenes palpable. they haue grete ferpentes whyche lyuen in fyre lyke as [...]ysshes doon in the water / dragons horrible that deuoure them. thondre and tempestes whiche falle on them. hamers that all way smite on them as vpon an andlvylde wythout ceassyng or leuyng. deuyl his whyche wyth glayues and speres perce / he we. & detrenche them. they haue grete wormes & grete [...]oodes whiche on them gnawe and many other paynes endure the whyche no man mortal may ne can saye / and of so moche as they haue ben grete synners. the more be they payned and tormented. But aboue alle other they be tormented moste by cause they haue lost by theyr deffaulte the Joye of heuen: And also that they haue none hope to haue euer ony reste of euyllys that they suffre. Example Exā ¶ It is redde that an holy man sawe in vysyon the soule of a man to be ledde in to helle: whyche had ben in grete estate in the world. ¶ And had moche delyte in the playsaunce of the world / ¶ And whan the maystre deuyl saw hym he aros out of hys chayr and cam ayenst hym and sayd. Sytte thou in this chayr for the honour that thou hast had in thys world / the chayre was of alle brennyng fyre. ¶ Whan he was sette ther was brought to hym ryght bytter drunkes and stynkyng / And by force made hym to drynke hyt sayeng / drynke in stede of goode wyn whyche thou hast dronken in the world. After cam two deuylles whyche broughten trompettes and shallemea [...]s.

¶ And blewe so moche in hys eerys that the fyre sprange out of hys mouth / and hys eyen. & out of alle hys other conduits [Page] Loo sayd they thys is for the songes & instrumentes that thou hast gladly herd. After they put serpentes about his necke and hys armes. And sayd to hym loo thys is for the embracynges that thou hast made to wymen. And thus the caytyf was tormented after that he had synned / in an vnhappy houre is he borne that for so lityl a while as he shal lyue in thys world. shall haue so grete tormentes perdurably

How they that be dāpned complayne them in helle / ca ^o.. lxxxvj

Alas the vnhappy dampned for grete payne. strayne & g [...]nte theyr teeth: and caste out grete wepynges complaintes & grete by waillynges & sayen lyke as the boke of sapiēce gyueth out. alas what hath auaylleth or prouffyted vs. our pryde our vayne glorye. our rychesse / our lecherye / our delite our ease. our desyre / and our euyl wyll that we had in the world. Alas alle these thynges be passed as a shado we and we be here in helle per durably tormented. Our vayne ioye and lawhyng is torned in to wepyng. our delyte and our ease is torned in to sorowe & tormente / Alas it semeth to vs that our lyf of the world hath not dured but a lityl. like as it were the flight of a byrde or the castyng of a stone / Moche were we blynde and ygnoraūt that for so lytyl lyuyng we haue lost the ioye of heuen. and goten the tormentes of helle / ¶ Alas alas the caytyfs dampned whan they shal haue ben in helle by the space of an hondred thousaud yere. they shal be yet to bygynne agayn. For all way without ende lyuīg they shat deye. and in deyng they shal lyue. they shal neuer mowe deye. And after the day of dome the body shal be tormented with the soule and for one payne that they suffre now they shal thenne haue an hondred. for so saith the holy scripture

Why god made not man that he myght not synne. ca ^o. lxxxvij

Moche peple demanden wherfor god made not a man that he myght not synne / for yf he synned not / & were a good [Page] crysten man. by the merite of the passyon of our lord ihesu criste and the holy baptesme he shold be sauued / and shold not [...]nne in to the paynes forsayd. the doctours of holy chyrche and the maistres of dyuynyte put forth here many reasons The first is for to shewe the myght and puyssaunce of god whyche is alle onely vnmeuable / and alle creatures ben meuable. as it appyereth of thaungellys whyche god created and made them good whyche for theyr euyl and synne bycome deuylles Item for to shewe and declare the sapyēce and wysedom of god / whyche is suche for he can chese the good fro the euyl. the which thing may not be but yf he had made the creature that he myght chaunge fro good in to euyll Item for to magnyfeste the pyte of god by the whyche and by hys passyon he hath saued man whyche was dampned by synne Item for to shewe the iustyce of god by the whyche he wyl rewarde to the good merite and mede: And to the euyl peyne for theyr sher [...]wdnes & synne. Item by cause that man shold not be of werse condycyon than the other creatures to whom god hath admynystred in suche wyse that he hath suffred them to ioye theyr propre moeuyng and the wyll. And [...]f man had not free lyterte to doo good or euyll. whyche that playseth hym. he shold not be soo free. as the other creatures. Item for to haue preysyng humayne / for it is a grete preysyng to a man that he may doo wel. whan he hath doon euyll. Item the good be enhaunced by the euyl. and whan is seen in a companye of peple a good man. thenne is ther doon to hym gladly gret honour & more than to another that is werse than he

¶ Of the day of dome or of Jugement. Ca ^o. lxxxviij▪

The last day of iugemēt shal be in the valey of iosaphat. the whiche is bytwen Jherusalem and the mount of olyuete For it is nyght the place where our lord ihesu criste dyde the werkes of hys passyon for our redempcyon. There shal come our lord ihesu crist wyth all hys holy angellys and alle the sayntes [Page] for to Judge alle the world. Thenne alle maner of peple shal arise agayn alle hool wythout lackyng of one heer of hys hede and all lyuyng in body and in sowle in suche age as our lorde was whā he was crucyfied. that it to wete in the age of xxxij yere and thre monethes. And youg and olde chyldren shal alle com to the dome and iugement / thenne our lord shal be moche angry ayenst the synnars aforesayd: There shal be the crosse on whyche he was put and crucyfyed / the crownes of thornes. the pyler. the soorges. the naylles and the spere. whyche the angellys shal holde / Thenne our lord shal shewe to the synners hys woundes. the whyche shal appere in hys hondes in hys feet / and in his syde / And as saynt Johan wyth the golden mouth sayth he shal saye ye euyl cursyd I was made man for you. And haue suffred the paynes and tubulacyons that ye here now see. And many other tormentes for you. and fynably deth. and passyon right doulourous and payneful: And for you had appareylled wyth me and myn aungellys and my saynctes Joye and glorye wythout ende. yf ye wold haue serued me truly and loued and kepte my comandementes but all these thynges and myn other benfaittes ye haue put in forgetyng and haue not sette it at your herte / but alle your entencyon and your herte. ye haue sette on worldly thynges. and haue accomplysshed your willes and desyres. On that other parte shal be the deuyll whyche knoweth all the synnes and vayne glorie: vayne wordes and ydle / and hath lost and wasted so moche tyme wythout good cause where as he myght haue doon so moche good that he sholde haue companye wyth god / the deuyl shal leye ayenst hym as sayth saynt Austyn wyhout to leue ony thyng / there shal be brought forth sayth saynt Jherome the obscure and derke synnes. whyche haue not be shewede by confessyon ne amended by penaunce ¶ Ther shal they be opened and manyfested to fore alle. ¶ And he that hath had sha me toshewe. it to one onely preste in that houre he shal receyue [Page] shame and confusion to fore god. and all the court of lxuē. and dampnacion perpetuell. Item the angellis and all the sayntes wyth our lord shal be moche angri. & shal strongly accuse them alas alas the caytif synners. how marrid / astonyed. angred. & a basshed shal they be. for flee ne gaynsaye maye they not doo. then ne ourlord by iuste sentence shal doo caste them that shal be dāpned bounden hondes and feet. in to helle. & in to the pitte of helle and in to the tormentis afore sayd perdurably. and he shal bringe them that be good in body and in soule wyth hym in to heuene. The holy scrypture and the holy canons warnen vs strongly to thynke ofte in thys Jugement. And for to make vs redy wythout taryeng. For to goo worthyly and holily wyth god and hys sayntes

¶ For to conuerte the synner to good lyf Capitulo. lxxxix

Whan thou art in dedely synne: thou art in all perylles that thou hast herd. For by thy synne thou hast loste the loue of god / whyche hath so moche loued the. & wold bycome man and deye for the. Item thou art pryued fro alle the goodes of holy chyrche / For the [...]n thou takest nooparte. Item thou were the sone of god. and thou art nowe sone and seruaut to the deuyllys. to whom thou hast yelden thy self by thy synne Itē thou that oughtest to gyue eusample: and cause to doo wel to other / gyuest to them ensample to doo euyl Item thou hast more gret payne and ēnuye for to doo thy synne thā another hath to doo wel and tolede good lyf. And veryly of thy synne. that in so lytyl tyme is passed. thou hast nothyug but the synne. and dyffame of the remenaunt. Item thou that were a cytezeyn. and he ryter of the cyte of heuen. brother and felaw of the glorious virgyne marye and of alle the sayntes of heuen. thou art priued for thy synne / and art made a brennyng b [...]onde in the fyre of helle ¶ A caytyf synner doo shame to the deuyl whyche thus hath taken the / ¶ And conuerte thy self to our lord wythout more abydyng: ¶ For by long taryeng ben [Page] many lost and dampned. and saye not I shal amende me tyme ynowh as other doo / for thou knowest wel. we haue not leyzer tabide tyl to morn and oftimes assone deyeth the yong as the old. and we see comunely that ther is none so fayre a vysa gene face / But that a lytyl feure or maladye in a short tyme bungeth it to deth. & lytyl thynke we on it / Now thenne thynke and confesse the and do [...] penaunce and lede a good lyf with al thy power. For yf thou so doo thou reioysest the angellys. & recouuerst the loue of god and the lif perdntable in the ioie of heuen of the whiche thou shalt here speke here folowyng

¶ Of the ioyes of heuen Capitulo lxxxx

O glorious wyalme of heuen. where is had alle ioye. alle glorie alle good. and alle blessydnes. and alle thyng that herte wyll desyre wythout ony defaulte. the angellis and the sayntes in seeyng god face to face in hys beaulte. in hys mageste and in hys glorious company haue in hym so grete delyte that they may not therin be fulfylled. but they haue all way Joye wytout ende / honour and glorye so grete that all the delyces of alle the toyes of thys world ben but sorowes and anguysshes to the regarde of that glorie. O soule sayth saynt austyn thou oughtest to flee thys mortal lyf. and take that whyche is lyf wytout deth whyche is yongthe wythout age. lyght wythout derkenesse / Joye wythout heuynes. pees wythout ende & wythout disoorde. wylle wythout wrong. royalme wythout chaungyng in whyche is the guerdon that they shal haue that haue done wel and it is so grete that it may not be mesured. & so precyous that it may not be estemed. yet sayth saynt austyn / O lyf gyuyng lyf whyche all way oughtest to be in remembraūce. in the whyche is all furete: and souerayn haboundaunce wel assuerd. Joyouse blyssydnes. affluence of rychesse / Influence of delyces. & habondaūce of all goodes. saīt thomas of alquyn sayth that the ioyes of heuen be suche & so grete that all & the maystres [Page] in geometrie maye not mesure them. All they of ar [...]memet [...]ke may not rekene them. all gramariens all rethoricyēs / & the may stres of alle scyences may not by wordes saye ne declare them / many wondres & meruaylles may be said but who that wold saye what ther is. it shold conteyne ouer grete scripture. & therfore we leue and passe ouer to speke therof by cause of shortnes. for saynt poul sayth that eye neuer sawe. neere neuer herde mouthe can not expresse. ne herte thynke the grete ioye. that god hath appareylled to them that loue hym / late vs auaunce vs thenne sayth saynt austyn for to go [...] in to thys grete glorye wyth our parentes and frendes. the holy patriarkes & prophetes / thappostls and martires / the confessours and vyrgynes the maried yong and continent. whyche now ben sure of theyr glorie. but yet be they dilygent to serue our lord /

¶ Of good admonycyon and warnyng. Capitulo / lxxxx

The glorye tofore sayd is apparailled of god to them that loue hym and kepe his comaūdemēts / and to them that of that they haue & doon / preyse not them self ne be not proude ther of & after theyr faculte departen gladly to the poure & nedy. & sette not theyr herte pryncypally but in our lord. and to them that the euyllys the paynes. and the trybulacions that come to them or is doon to them. suffren pacyētly for the loue of god and for to haue thys gret eglorie / Our lord admonesteth vs that we be allway redy. and kepe vs fro synne. and that we put not our hertes pryucypally in thys caytyf world. whyche is nothynge but a lytyl passyng. ful of wepyng: of sorowes and of anguysshes / whyche we shalleue / & take uone hede of the houre wyth out to bere ony thyng with vs / sauf the good dedes and the euil that we haue doon. And our body caytyf shal be couuerd with the erthe as a foul stynkyng caroyne. & wormes shal ete & wrote therin. Our lord promyseth not to vs to morn. to thēd y ^t our herts & our principal entencōn be in him & in his loue For we ¶ ought [Page] to loue god / and to remembre ofte a deuoutely how the swete ihe sus vouchedsauf to humble hym self for vs. and descende fro hys glorye of heuen in to the wombe of the glorious vyrgyne marie. and becom a man and our brother / & suffred deth & passion for vs & how he hath made vs of nought. & semblable to hym whyche myght haue made vs yf it had playsed him like vnto toodes & other wormes yf we knowe wel alle the grate that he hath doo to vs / & thāke & gyue hym lawde therfor that is the thynge aboue all other / by whyche we may most soone & most lightly haue his loue & hys grace moche playsed it to god whā one knowlechith the graces & the benefaittes that he hath doon & whan he is remercyed. & thanked therfor / Exāple: we rede that the grete chaūtre of paris. fonde on a time in a felde a Exā conuerse that is to saie a brother & noo preste of the ordre of aste aulx kepyng sheep whiche was moche comtemplatif & deuout toward god & wepte ofte in byholdyng a crapauld or toode the chaūtre demaūded hym wherfor he wepte he ansuerd to him sayeng I ought wel to wepe for my sinnes / & gyue thankynges to god whiche hath made me to hys semblaunce / for yf it had plaised him he had wel made me like vnto this crapauld or to ode. Thus thys good man thanked and remercyed god: thenne late vs rendre and gyue graces and thankynges to our lord of all hys benefaittes & late vs enioye in hym. & synge we in our hertes wyth grete ioye for we ben the sones and the doughters of god made and formed to hys semblaunce. bretheren and sustres of ihesu crist / and bought and redemed wyth his precious blood / Fedde wyth hys precyous body / Felawes to angellis of heuē / herityers but yf it be long on vs for euermore with out ende of the gloryous royalme of heuen. to whyche brynge vs the swete and debonayre Jhesu crist Amen

¶ Thexcasacyon of hym that made thys booke. Ca ^o. / lxxxxij

This boke was first made in the yere of our lord. M. ccc. lxxxviij. by the reuered fader in god. my lord Guy de roy [Page] Achybysshop of sens: But the yere after folowyng. a religyo [...] brother of thordre of clugny behelde & redde ouer thys boke right diligently and fonde that it was right shorte after the matere and he put therto many examples and dyuerse auctorites. chapytres of doctours and maystres auctorised how be it that it is moche shortly sayd and made. for the world is at thys time so lytyl deuoute that it demaūdeth but shortenes and briefte / & in specyal in the seruyce of our lord and in thyuges that apperteynen Exā to the saluacōn of the sowle / for comunely is desyred a short masse / but they wyl haue a long table. Example. It is redde that at troyes in champayne in the h [...]us of guye freres or cordelyers was a knyght that fonde a frere that wold saye masse. to whome he sayd / Frere I praye the that I may haue a masse of a knyght. The frere whyche was a good clerke & a deuoute man and that sawe wel hys entente ansuerd to hym ye shal not syre / but ye shal haue a masse of a kyng. The frere said his masse at his ease. & nothīg after the wyl of the knyght many prestes ben ther now in these dayes in the world. that entende more to doo the playsir of the world thā to the saluacōn of them self. the religious man afore sayd excuseth him in this maner. yf iu this boke I haue ony thīg sayd wel. god be thāked & preised therof & I haue in ony thīg faylled. yf I praie the redars & herars to pardonne me. for I haue doon it ygnoraūtly. & merueill ye nothyng though out of so poure erthe. is yssued so good fruit. for it is by the grace of god & of the holy ghost whiche hath aroused & watred it wythout whyche noo good fruyt may com forth. Our lord said to nychodemꝰ prince of the iewes that the ghoost inspyreth & gyueth hys grace where as it playseth him & the holy ghost sayth by the prophete. opene thy mouth. & I shal fille it with my grace. & god the fader said to moises whā he sēt him to speke to kyng pharao. thou shalt opene thy mouth. & I shal speke for the The holy euangelyst sayth that cayphas whiche was bysshop of the Jewes how be it that he was an cuyl [Page] synner. neuertheles by the grace of y ^• holy ghost he prophtcied the deth of our lord. and sayd to the Jewes. ye know no thing I say to you / that it behoueth that one man deye for all the peple to thende that alle the folke perisshe not. Thus haue I sayd nothyng of my self / but alle that I haue sayd. I haue sayd it by the grace of the holy ghost

¶ The complaint of hym that made thys boke / Ca▪ lxxxxiij

ALas all sorowyng I am as a mylnare whyche gr [...]ndeth the whete of whyche other men lyue. & whan he hath groūden he abideth alle wyde. ne ther abydeth nothyng wyth him ne retryneth for hym self of hys mele. but delyuered it to the peple. Certaynly thus is it of me. Alas poure synner I haue delyuerd and grounden the corne and the spyrytuell vytayll. of whyche ye reders and herars lyue and shal be fedde spyrytuelly & moche shal prouffyte to you. yf it be not your owne defaulte. Alas I reteyne lytyl to my prouffyt / for dertes I confesse humbly tofore god and hys gloryous moder and all the seyntes / that I am not suche as I admonoste you that ye shold be The wordes be there well / but theffecte is not suche ne lyke the wordes god knoweth that I am woo therfore and it dysplayseth me. And I desyre and coueyte moche that I may make my werkes acorde to my wordes. ¶ And to that ende I abyde in the world and laboure How be it that I doo lasse than I ought to doo for to come to perfection and to good werkes lyke as my herte desyreth And of that other part. how wel that I be good. Yet haue I desyre that alle other be good / And I wold wel that I were the werst of alle them that ben in the world. but I wold not enpayre ne be werse than I am. for I haue no nede to lese ony thing. but I wold that all other were better than I am. And that is that me trcomforteth / ¶ For to loue and desyre the good of other. is the begynnynge to come co perfection / ¶ Ye that rede or here thys [Page] book. take it not in despyte by cause it hath be made compyled & wreton of a synful man & that right lytil knoweth. for an euil man fylleth wel his wyne. how wel he maketh it not. & a foul masson croked and lame maketh wel a fayre hous / how wel that he maketh not the stones ne the other matere. certeinly in like wyse is it of me: I haue doo noo thynge / but haue drawen the wordes of thys book of holy scriptures. & out of bokes of traytyes of doctours & of maistres auctorised of whom the scriptures ben holden. and haue ioyned that one with that other there is herein nothyng of myn but the payne and labour that I haue had iu tornyng ouer of many bokes. But I complaine nothyng the labour that I haue had for the loue of god. & of them that it shal prouffyte / and yf ther be ony that can fynde ony thīg for to amende. I submytte me and abandone thys boke to the correccion and amendement of all them that may and can amē de it. Our Lord ihesu custe sayeth in the gospel of the pharisces of the prestes / & maistres of the lawe in admonestyng & prechyng to other / & sayth doo ye that they saye to you. bnt doo not that whyche they doo. yf a preste had a good & a fayr hous / & he despesshed and destroyed it without cause. or yf he had a fayre vygne ful of fruyt and wold take it vp by the rote wythout to gadre the fruyt or grapes. certeinly fewe peple ful of wysedome wold take example of hym. and wold not soo doo by theyres / and therfor I saye to you yf we of the chyrche saie to you wel doo ye ther after / and yf ye see vs doo euyl. doo ye it not. for at the day of Jugement noo excusacyons shal be receyued. But enery man shal bere hys owen dede / for he that shal haue doone wel shall haue Joye glorye and lyf perdurable with our lord and his swete moder the gloryouse vyrgyne marye and all the sayntes. and he that shal haue doon euyl & repenteth hym not shal haue payne. torment / and dampnacyon wyth them that be dampned in hell. and in the ende I pray you that ye wyll all [Page] praye god for me. and that as long as god wyl yeue you space and power. that ye entende to good werkes & to doo penaū ce. For ye knowe not how longe the tyme shal endure. and be that wyl not whan he may. he shall not whan he wold. And god bi his grace graunte for to gouuerne vs in suche wyse and lyue in thys short lyf that we may come to hys blysse for to lyue and regne there wythout ende in secula seculorum Amen

¶ Thus endeth the doctrinal of sapyence the whyche is ryght vtile and prouffytable to alle crysten men / whyche is translated out of Frenshe in to englysshe by wyllyam Caxton at westme stter fynysshed the. vij. day of may the yere of our lord / M / cccc lxxx ix

Caxton me fieri fecit

[Caxton's device]

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