grete comforte of hym that forsakyth worldly coÌ„forte for god The same saint bernarde coÌ„cluded in thise wordes The apostles in this bidyng seten perseuerauÌ„t wyth one No bnÌ„ wyll togyder in prayer wyth the woman mary JhuÌ„s moder And in the selfe maner lerne thou to praye lerne thou to seke No bernardum to aske and knocke at the door tyll thou fynde tyll thou take and tyll it be opened to the Our lorde knoweth thy freeyll feble kynde and he is true and wol not suffre the to be tempted more than thou mayst bere And I truste in him that yf thou wolt abyde truely thou shalt not abide the tenth day but that he shall come before coÌ„forte thy desolate soule And so prayenge in his blessynges of ghostly swetnesse soo that thou shalte haue soo grete likyng in his mynde and in those ghostly drinkes that he shal make the dronke oft in soule that thou shalt be Joyfull gladde that euer thou forsoke the fals comfortes of the worlde Loo by this forsaid sentence of saynt bernarde we maye see in party what behouyth to receyue the holy Ghost his loue wherfore that we maye be able to receyue here that grete yefte of the holy ghost his coÌ„forte and after come to the blisse that our lord JhuÌ„s is now steyen vp hath made our way before vs. leue we hate we al fals loue likyng of this wretched worlde And set we not our loue on the stynkyng flessh nourissh we it not in desires but desire we coÌ„tynuelly for to be departed therfro Soo that thrugh the grace of the holy ghost helping vs we maye folowe somwhat the blessed lyf of our lorde in this worlde after goo vp to him to our kynde heritage of blysse in the gloryious cytee of heuenly Jhrlm where he souerain kyng wyth the fader the holy ghost one god in trinyte lyueth regneth wythout ende Amen ¶ Thus endeth the contemplacoÌ„n of the blessed lyfe of our lorde JhuÌ„ the whiche processe for asmoche as it is here thus wryten in englysshe tonge lenger in many partyes in other maner than is the laten of Bonauenture â–ª therfore it semyth not conuenient to folowe the processe therof bi the dayes of the weke after th entent of the forsayd Bonauenture For it were to tedious as me thynketh and also it sholde soo soone be fulsome and not in comfortable deyntees by cause of the freilte of mankynde that hath likynge to here and to knowe newe thynges and those that ben seldom herde ben oft in the more deyntee wherforÌ„ it semyth to me best that euery deuoute creature that loueth to rede or here this boke take the parties therof as it semyth moost comfortable and stirynge to his deuocoÌ„n Somtyme one somtyme another and specyally in tymes of the yere and the festes ordeyned in holy chirche as the maters ben pertynent to hem And for asmoche as that blessed and worthy feest of the precyous sacrament of JhuÌ„s body in the whiche he is euery daye bodily presente wyth vs to oure moost comforte that we maye haue in erthe is the ende and conclusyon of alle other Festes of hym gracyously and resonably ordeyned by holy chirche as it was sayd before TheforÌ„ wyth the grace of the holy ghost of him of whom that feest is we shal speke somwhat more to coÌ„forte of hem that truely bileuen and to confusion of all fals lollardes heretykes AmeÌ„ ¶ Blessed be the name of our lorde JhuÌ„ his moder mary now euer wythout ende AMEN ¶ Explicit Spâ—lm vite Cristi ¶ A shorte treatyce of the highest moost worthy sacrament of cristis blessid body and the merueyles therof MEmoriam fecit mirabiliuÌ„ suorum misericors miserator dnÌ„s escaÌ„ dedit timentibus se Thyse wordes of dauyd in the saâ—â—ter sayd in prophecye soÌ„ge tyme before thyncarnacoÌ„n of our lorde JhuÌ„ specyally of the worshipfull sacramente of his precyous bodi hauen senteÌ„ce vnder stondynge in englyssh tonge Our lorde mercyfull mercy yeuer hath maade a mynde of his merueyles that he hathe yeue mete to hem that dreden him This mete is that precyous ghostly mete of the blessed body of our lorde in the sacrament of th aulter that he of his souerayn mercy yeuyth euery day in forme of brede to all tho that truely dreden him as her lord god by the whiche drede they kepen hem from dedely synne and mekely standen in stedfaste byleue of holy chyrche ¶ And this ghostly mete he yeuyth and hath made therby a specyall mynde of his merueiles That is to saye as the prestes rehercen in the canon of the masse in mynde of his merueyles blessed passoÌ„n and of his merueylous ResurreccoÌ„n and of his gloryous AscencoÌ„n And generally in minde of all the merueylous werkes dedes of hym in his blessed lyf here in this worlde the whiche is treated in all this boke before wryten For to begyn â—yrst at his merueyllous IncarnacoÌ„n soo how expresse mynde therof is this mete that he yeuyth to vs in the sacrament of the aulter For therin is he verily and in that self body that was so merueylously conceyued by the holy ghost aboue kynde And also soo merueylously borne of his blessed moder mary wythout sorowe or weme of synne And soo forth of all the merueyllous werkes and dedes of hym in to this ghostly mete we haue that specyall mynde that none maye be more and that we haue of none other For all other thynges passed that we haue mynde of we conceyue in spiryte and in hert soo that therby we haue not the bodily presence of hem But in this ghostly mete and sacramentale coÌ„memoracoÌ„n of our lord Jhesu he is verily bodily present wyth vs vnder another forme But sothly in his owne proper substaunce very god man For what tyme he sholde stye vp in to heueÌ„ he sayd to his discyples his folowers in thise wordes Lo I am wyth you all the dayes in to the worldes ende coÌ„fortyng hem by this benigne promyse that he sholde dwell wyth hem not onÌ„ly by ghostly presence of his godhede but also by the bodyly presence of his manhede that he yeuyth to vs in this forsayd mete of his flessh blode in mynde of his merneyles generally as it is sayd but most specyall in mynde of that blessed passion that he suffred for vs. For what tyme he shold passe out of this world to the fader the nyght before his passoÌ„n at that worthy supper wyth his discyples as it is sayd before he made and ordeyned this souerayne moost worshypfull sacrament of his flessh blode yeuynge his body to mete and his blode in to drynke for a specyall mynde of his passion dethe For thus he sayde to his appostles in that fyrste makynge of this heelfull sacrament This dooth ye in my mynde Soo that the souerayne moost worthy
ryght half is verily and hooly in all the places of the worlde where this sacramente is treated soothly conteyned in that sacrament in the selfe flesshe blode that was conceiued of the holi ghost and borne of the blessed virgyn mary and henge vpon the crosse for our sauacyon This maye not be comprehended fully by manÌ„es reason but onÌ„ly stondeth in byleue Neuertheles there is a maner lyke merueyle in kynde that a worde spoken of one man to moche peple is holy in him that spekith it and also in all those that here it ben they neuer so many ¶ It is also a grete merueylle that soo grete a body of our lorde JhuÌ„ is fully holy coÌ„prehended in soo lityl a quantyte of thoost and therwith also yf that oost be departed in to many smale peces it is as fully in euery parte as it was in all the hole ¶ Herto also is a maner of lykenesse that we seen in kynde how thymage of a manÌ„es grete face of a grete body is seen in a litil myrrour And yf it be broken departed yet in euery parte it semyth al the hole ymage not in party after the partes of yâ— glasse so broken Many other wonderfull merueyles our lorde god almighty werchith in this precious sacrament of his endles mercy to our ghostly comfort hele of soule the whyche we maye not coÌ„prehende by kyndly reason our bodily wyâ—t but onÌ„ly by true bileue fayth And therfore it is grete foly ghostly peryll to seche curyously in ymagynacoÌ„n of reason yâ— merueyles of this worthy sacrament But it is most siker to a symple soule namly and suffyseth to sauacoÌ„n Touthyng the forsayd merueyles and all other of this blessed sacramente to thinke fele in this matere Thus haue holi doctours taughte and holy chirche determyned And therforÌ„ I trowe and fully bileue that it is in sothnesse though my kyndely reason againsay it For as saynt gregory sayth That fayth hath no 〈…〉 â–ª meryte to the whiche manÌ„es reason yeuith experyence Touchynge the seconde manere of merueylles myracles shewed wythout forth by vertue of this holy sacramente and in this holy sacrament as we fynde wryten â–ª For thre skylles ouâ—â—oâ—de 〈…〉 shewyth in dyuerse maners those merueylles myracles in this precyous sacrament that is to saye Somtyme to coÌ„forte hem that ben in true byleue of this blessed sacrament and to kyndle her loue therby the more feruently to god to worshippyng of that sacrament Also somtyme by specyall grace for to coÌ„uerte â—orne to true byleue hem that ben oute ther of And also somtyme to open preif of the â–ª grete vertues ther of in delyuerauÌ„ce of paynes and sauyng fro bodily myscheyf ghostly And eche of thyse thre I shall tell shortly some merueyles myracles that I fynde wryten the whyche ben of soo grete auctoryte as to my felynge that there maye noo man agaynsaye hem but he be wors than a Jewe or a paynym â–ª Towchynge the fyrst that is to say how our lorde somtyme â— â–ª causa shewyth openly merueyles myracles of this blessed sacrament to comfort hem that ben in true bileue and to kyndle her hertes in to the more feruent loue of god We fynden wryteÌ„ N 〈…〉 in the lyft of the holy Confessour saynt Edwarde the kyng whos body lyeth in shryne at westmynstre the whiche lyf as for the more auctoryte in sothnesse wrote the worthy clerke holy abbot of Ryuaus Alred thus sayenge touchynge this matere ¶ In that worthy monestery of saynt Peter called westmestre and at the aulter dedifyed there in the worship of the holy trinyte as the forsayd holy kynge edwarde herde masse on a daye wyth the worthy erle called Leueryche the whyche wyth his noble wyfe GodÈyue the couÌ„tesse was founder of many worthy houses of religion what tyme it came to yâ— coÌ„secracoÌ„n and goddis body in forme of brede was holde vp to the peples syght bytwyx the prestes hondes after the vse of holy chyrche He that is fayrest in shape beforÌ„ al menÌ„es sones our lorde JhuÌ„s cryst apered bodily in that oost to bothe her syâ—ghtes liftynge vp his right honde makynge a crosse toward the kynge blessynge And thenÌ„e the kynge wyth lowtyng of his hede honouryng the presence of goddis magestec mekely wyth all the body dyde reuerence to soo worthy a blessinge But the erle that sawe the selfe syghte not knowynge what was in yâ— kynges hert And after desiryng that the kinge mighte be partyner of soo grete worthy a syghte began to goo towarde the kynge fro his place that was perauenture on syde byneth as longed to his astate But the kynge vnderstondin ge what was theâ—es entent said to him in this maner Stande Leueryche stande For that thou seest I see also After this they bothe of so Joyefull a sighte ghostly comforted torned all in deuoute prayers and swete wepynge teeres weren made ghostly dronken of the pleÌ„te of goddis hous and fed wyth the ryuer of his souerayne Joye and ghostly lykynge And after the ende of the masse they that were soo blisfully refeted wyth ghostly mete comyned togider of the forsayd heuenly siyght with swete teres inwarde sighynges â–ª oft tymes brekinge her speches And thenÌ„e sayd saynt edwarde My dere Leueryche I praye the charge the by that hyghe magestee that we haue soo gracyonsly seen that neuer whyle we lyue this thynge be brought fourth in to the comyn knowyng leest we therby falle in to vaynglory pryde thrugh thoppinyon of the comyn peple to our ghostly dethe Or leest the enuye of mysbyleuynge men lette and destroye true byleue to the wordes ther of wherfore after the forsayd erle was goon fro the kynges courte by the JuspyracoÌ„n of the holy ghost as it is to byleue He was taughte soo that he kepte the byddynge the heste of his lorde And yet therwyth that highe vertuous myracle sholde not be fully vnknowen to them that were after to come For after he came to the monastery of wircestre and there in confession to a Religyous man he tolde the forsayd myracle chargyng hym in manere as the kynge had charged him and prayed hym that he wolde wryte the preuytee of soo worthy a visyon and put in suche a place that it mighte be vnknowen to hem that thenÌ„e were liuynge and that it myght be knowen to hem that were to comyng And so dyde that holy maÌ„ after the erles prayer He wrote all thorder maner of the forsayd visyon in a bylle and layd it amonge relyques closed in a cofre the whiche cofre longe tyme after the kinges deth with out manÌ„es honde thrugh the myghte of god as it is to bileue was founde open And thenne the bretherne of that place besily serchynge the reliques fouÌ„den the forsayd bylle and radde it And after for asmoche as they wolde not that soo grete a tresour and worthy myracle sholde
be vnderstonde that of the blessyd lyf of oure lord Jhesu criste wryten in the Gospel she chace certeyne partyes moost deuoute in the whiche she sette her meditacoÌ„n and hyr thought nyghte day with a clene and holy herte And whan she hadde so fully all the maner of his lif ouergone she byganne ageyn And soo wyth a lykynge and swete taste ghoostly shewyng in that maner the gospel of crist she sette and bare it euer in the pryuete of hyr breste In the same maner I counceyll that thou doo For amonge alle ghoostly exercyses I leue that this is moost necesary and moost proffytable and that may Nota tri◠〈…〉 de â—i 〈◊〉 〈…〉 brynge the to the hyhest degre of good lyuynge that stant specially in parfyghte despysynge of the world in pacience suffrynge of Aduersytees and in encrees and getyng of vertues For sothely thou shalt neuer fynde where man may soo parfyghtely be taughte fyrste for to stable his herte ageynste vanitees deceyuable lykynges of the world also to strengthe hym among tribulacions and aduersytees and ferthermore to be kepte tro vyces and to getyng or vertues as in the blessyd lyf of our lord Jesu cryst the whyche was euer wythoute defaulte mooste parfyghte Fyrste I saye that besy medytacyon Primum and custommable of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu stableth the soule and the herte ageynste vanytees and deceyuable lykynges of the worlde thys is shewed openly in the blessyd vyrgyne Exampluz de â—â—aâ—a cecilia Cecylle before named whenÌ„e she fylled so fully her herte of the lyf of cryst that vanytees of the world myghten not entre in to her For in alle the grete pompe of weddyng where so many vanytees ben vsed whan the Organs blewen and songen she sette her herte stably in God sayenge prayenge Lord be my herte and my body clene and not defyled Secundum soo that I be not confounded Also as to the Secound wherof haue martirs her strenght ageynst dyuerse Bernard de martirâ—bus tormentys But as saynt Bernard sayth in that they setten all her herte deuocyon in the passyon the wouÌ„des of criste For what tyme the martyr stant wyth all the body to rente And neuertheles he his gladde and Joyful in all hys payne where trowest is than his sowle and his herte sothely in the woundes of Jhesu ye the woundes not closed but open and wyde to entre in ellis he sholde fele the harde payne not mowe bere the payne and the sorowe but sone faylle and denye god And not only martirs but also confessours vyrgynes and all that lyuen ryghwysely despysynge the worlde in many trybulacyons Infyrmytees and dedes of penaunce both kepyng pacyeÌ„ce And also more ouer therwyth ben ioyeful and gladde in soule as we mowen sene alway and why so but for her hertes ben more proprely in crystes body by deuoute medytacoÌ„ns of hys blessyd lyf than in her owne bodyes And as to the. thyrdde poynte that it kepeth fro vyces Tercium dysposeth souereynly to geting of vertues preuethe wel in that perfeccion of all vertues is founde in cristes lyf For where shalt thou fynde so open ensample and doctrin of souerayne charyte of parfyte pouerte of profunde meknes of pacience and other vertues as in the blessyd lyf of Jhesu cryste Herfore sayth saynt Bernard that he trauayleth in Bernard super canâ—er xxâ— â–ª vaine aboute the getynge of vertues who so hopeth to fynde hem ou where but in the lord of vertues whoo 's lyf is the Myroure of TemperauÌ„ce and all other vertues Loo here grete comforte and ghoostly prouffyte in deuoute coÌ„templacyon of crystes blessyd body wherfore thou that coueytest to fele truly the fruyte of thys booke thou muste wyth alle thy thoughte all thyn entente in that manere make the in thy soule presente to tho thynges that ben here wreten sayde or done of oure lorde Jhesu And that besely lykyngly and abydyngly as though thou herdest hym wyth thy bodyly ere 's or N see them wyth thyn eyen doun puttynge awaye for the tyme and leuyg al other occupacyons and besynesses And though it so be that the begynnyng of the mater of thys booke that is the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryst be at hys Incarnacyon Neuertheles we mowen fyrst deuontly ymagyne and thynge soÌ„me thynges done before touchyng god and hys aungellys in heuen and also as anentes the blessyd vyrgyne our lady sainte marie in erthe of the whyche is to begynne ¶ And for as moche as thys booke is deuyded departed in seuen partyes after seuen dayes of the weke euery daye one partye or somme therof to be hadde in coÌ„templacyon of hem that hauen therto desyre and deuocoÌ„n Therfore at the mone daye as the fyrste weke daye of the weke begynneth thys ghoostly werke tellynge fyrste of the deuoute instaunce and desyre of holy aungellis in heuen for man restorynge and hys saluacyon to styre man amoÌ„ge other that daye specyally to worshyppe hem as holy Chyrche the same daye maketh specyally mynde of hem ¶ Also not onely the mater of thys booke is pertynent and prouffytable to be hadde in contemplacion the forsayd day is to them that wyll and mowe but also it longeth to the tymes of the yere as in aduent to rede deuoutly haue in mynde fro the begynnynge vnto the Natiuyte of oure lord Jhesus And therof after in that holy feste of Crystmasse and so forth of other maters as holy chirche maketh mynde of hem in tyme of the yere and amonge other who so redeth or hereth thys book felynge ony ghostly swetnesse or grace there thurgh praye he for charyte specyally for the auctour and the drawer out therof as it is wreton here in Englisshe to the prouffyte of symple and deuoute soules as it was sayd before and thus endeth the. prohemye and after foloweth the contemplacyon for mondaye in the fyrste party And the fyrst chapytre ¶ Die lune ¶ Incipit Prima pars ¶ A deuoute meditacyon of the grete counseylle in heuene for the restorynge of man and hys sauacion Capitulum I. Et prima pars Capitulo primo AFter the Tyme that man was exyled oute of the hyghe Cyte of heuene by the rightwys dome of almyghty god souerayne kynge therof for hys trespas and his synne and soo wretchydly lay in pryson and was holden in the bandes of that tyrauÌ„t the deuylle of helle that none myghte come ageyne to that blessyd Cyte the space of Fyue thousande yere and more All the blessyd spyrytes of heuene desyringe the restoryng of her companye that was falle doune wyth lucyfer hadden grete compsyon of soo longe meschyef of man that was made to her restorynge and prayden ofte for his restoryng But specialli and wyth more instaunce whan the tyme of grace was come what tyme as we may deuoutly ymagyne all the blessyd companye of aungels gadred to gydre wyth one wyll and souereyne
acounte For fythen in sothenesse all we done but as vnworthy sernauntes what tyme that we done the good that we oweÌ„ to doo as god hym self witnessyth till the tyme that we come to this degre of abieccoÌ„n and parfyte repreef of our self we ben not sette sadly in trouth but rather in vanyte as the Apostle openly sheweth in these wordes who so holdeth hym self in his owne reputacion as ought worthy Qaise 〈◊〉 isâ—mâ—â— all quid esse sythen in sothenesse he is as nought he begyleth deceyueth hym self And so as we saide before oure lord Jhesus lyued in this maner made hym self abiecte and as vnworthy to the world not for his owne nede but for to teche vs yâ— true way of perfeccoÌ„n wherfor yf we lerne it not we may not be ercused For it is an abhomynable thynce to see hym that is but a worme and wormes mete to come for to hye hym self by presumpcion and lyfte vp hym self as oughte whan that the hye lord of mageste so meked hym self by abieccion and lowed him self as nought and that dyde he nought by feyuyng but as he was sothely meke and mylde in herte Lo also with oute symulacion he lowed hym self in al maner of makenes and abieccion in the syght of other fulfyllyng firste in dede yâ— he taughte after by wordewhaÌ„ he badde his disciples tolerne of hym for to be meke mylde in herte And in soo mykel he 〈…〉 mi 〈◊〉 sum lowed hym and auauÌ„tised hym self that also after he began to preche to speke soo hye thynges of the godhede as the gospel telleth and to wyrche myracles and wonders yet the Jewes setten nought by hym but despysed and scorned hym sayeng what is he thys is not he the wryghtes sone of Joseph And also in the deuyls name he casteth oute deuils and many suche other despytes he suffred paciently and mekely making so there thorugh a swerde of mekenesse therwyth to slee the proude aduersary the deuylle of helle and yf we will see how myghtely he gyrde hym self with this swerde of mekenes after the byddyng of the ê“phete lete vs take good hede to al his dedes and we shall see in them algate shewed grete mekenes as we maye see yf we haue in mynde in alle the processe that is said yet hyder to And also herafter shall be shewed more more in to his harde deth And moreouer after his resurreccoÌ„n and at his vpstyenge to heuen and yet here to more ouer atte last daye of dome whan he shall sytte in his mageste kynge domes man of all the world yet shall he shewe his souerayn mekenes to his creatures his brethern by these wordes ¶ As longe as ye dyden almesdedes to these my loued bretheren ye dydeu it to me And why hope we that he shewed so mykel loued pryncipally thys vertue of mekenes Sothly for he knewe wel that as the begynÌ„ynge of al synÌ„e is pryde soo the fundament of all good of sauacion is mekenes wythoute the whiche fuÌ„dament the byldynge of all other vertues is in vayne And therfore yf we trust of maydenhede of pouerte or of ony other vertue or dede withoute mekenes we ben deceyued And for as mykel as he taught shewed vs in what maner this vertue of mekenes shal be geten that is to saye by de spysynge and abieccoÌ„n of a man hym self in his owne syght and also in other menÌ„es syghte and by contynuel doynge of lowe abiecte dedes Therfore vs behoueth to loue and vse these meanes yf we wille perfytely come to that hye vertue as saint Bernard saith in dyuerse places God yeue vs grace Bernard in epistolâ—â—d canoni cuâ— regula rem to gete it parfytely as it is said For sothely I that wryte this knowleche me ful ferre there fro And thus mykel at this tyme suffyseth spoken of thys souerayne vertue But now to goo ageyn to our pryncypal mater of the myrroure of the blessyd lyf of our lord Jhu beholde we there the maner of lyuynge Nota moduÌ„ viueÌ„di dnÌ„i nostri Jhesu cuÌ„ parentibus of that blessid coÌ„pany in pouerte symplenes togyder and how that olde man Joseph wroughte as he myÈt in his crafte of carpentry oure lady also with the dystaf and nedel and ther with makyng her mete and other offyce doynge that loÌ„geth to houshold as we may thinke in dyuerse maners And how oure lorde Jhs mekely halpe hem bothe at her nede and also in leyeng of the borde makyng the beddes suche other besynes gladly and lowely mynystrynge and soo fulfyllynge in dede that he saith of him self in the gospel that manÌ„es sone came not to be serued but to serue Also we maye thynke how they thre eten togyder euery daye at one lytyl borde not precious delicate metes but symple sobre as was oonly nedeful to sustenauÌ„ce of the kynde And after mete how they speken to gyder And also paraueÌ„ture other while in her mete not vayne wordes or dissolute but wordes of deuocoÌ„n and ful of wysdome and of the holy ghoost And soo as they weâ—en fedde in body they wereÌ„ mykel better fedde in soule And thenÌ„e after suche maner recreacion in comyn they wenten to prayer by theym self in theyr closettes For as we maye ymagyne they had noo grete hous but a lytyl in the whyche they had thre seuerynges as hit were thre smal chaÌ„bres there specially to pra Nota 〈…〉 ye to slepe And so maye we thynke how our lord Jhs criste euery nyght after prayer gooth to his bedde lowely mekely shewynge in that all other nedes to mankynde that he was very man hydynge his godhede fro the fende O lord Jhesu wel mayste thou be cleped hydde god that woldest in all thys longe tyme thus trauaylle and putte to penauÌ„ce that moost InnoceÌ„t body for oure sake whan the trauaylle of one nyght had suffysed to redempcion of all the world But thy grete loue of man made the to doo grete dedes of penauÌ„ce for hym And so thou that art kynge of kynges almyghty god wyth oute ende that helpest all men in theyr â–ª nede and yeuest thy go odes to all other plentyuously as euery condycoÌ„n and state as Nota 〈◊〉 â—râ— caâ—na lâ—â— â—uÌ„ dalâ—â— keth ye chose reserued to youre owne persone soo grete pouerte abieccoÌ„n penauÌ„ce in wakyng in slepyng absteynynge etynge and all youre other dedes doynge and in that so longe tyme for oure loue Lord god where ben they now that louen soo mykel the lust the lykynge the ease of the flesshe that se then soo besely precious curious and dyuerse ornamentes vanytees of the worlde Sothely we that louen and desyren suche thynges we lerne not that in the scole of this mayster For he taughte vs bothe by worde and by dede mekenesse pouerte and penaunce â–ª and chastysynge of the body And sythen we ben not wyser than he yf we wylle not
to saye clennesse of herte princypally helpeth besy and deuoute prayer of the whiche we shall speke after But for as mykel as prayer with glotenye or with the lust the lykynge of the body ydelnes is lytyll worthe Therfore hit behoueth that there be therwith fastyng bodyly penauÌ„ce yâ— with discrecion For bodily penauÌ„ce without discrecoÌ„n letteth al gode werkes Also for the kepynge fulfyllynge of all tho thre for sayd thynges helpeth moche the fourth that solytary beynge For with moche noise troublynge praier will not well deuoutly be said he that seeth hereth many thynges shal ful hard escape vnclennesse of hert offence of coÌ„science for ofte sythes deth entreth by our wyndowes in to the soule wherfoâ— thou that wilt be knytte ghostly to our lord â–ª Jhesu criste coueytest in clennesse of herte to see god by ensample of hym goo in to a solytary place in as moche as thou mayst sauynge thyne astate flee the coÌ„pany of flesshely meÌ„ Seche not by curiosite newe knowleche freÌ„shippes Fylle not thyn eyen thyn ere 's with vayn fantasyes For it was not withoute cause that holy faders here before soughten desertes other solitary places fer fro the comyn coÌ„uersacion of men And also it was not for nouÈt that they taughten boden hem that dwelleden in religious coÌ„uersacoÌ„n that they shold be blynde â–ª deeâ— dombe that may lette distourble rest of soule flee as venemous to the soule This solitary beyng this fleyng as Bernard 〈…〉 say 〈…〉 â–ª sayth is more vertuously in soule than in body that is to say that a man in his entencion in deuocion in spiryte be departed fro the world men ioyned so in spyryte to god â–ª that is a spyryte asketh not solytary beynge of body in maner tyme as specially in tyme of special prayer also in other tyme of hem that owen by way of her degree by solytary as recluse some relygious therfore saith the same saint that thou that art amonge many bodyly men thou maist be solytary alone ghostly yf thou will not loue not these worldly thynges that the comynalte loueth also yf thou despyse forsake tho thynge that comynly al men desyreÌ„ taken Also yf thou flee stryues debates yf thou fele not with sorewe thyn owne harmes haue not in mynde wronges done to the for to be auengyd And els though thou be allone solytary in body thou arte not allone in soule truly ¶ And generally in what manere companye of men that thou arte coÌ„uersauÌ„t beware specially of thoo thynges yf thou wilte be truly solytary in spirite that is that thou be not a curious and a besy sercher of other menes conuersacyon â–ª or els a presumtuouse and temerary demer of other men This is saynte Bernardes sentence of solytary beynge by the whiche we may vnderstaÌ„de that bodyly solicitude suttyseth not with oute ghostly But for to haue the ghostly the bodily helpeth ful moche puttynge away occasion without forth that myÈt drawe the ioule within forth fro the onynge and â–ª knyttynge to hir spouse Jhesu Crist wherfore that we maye so be knytte to hym by grace be we aboute with all our wille myght to tolowe hym that is to saye in true solitary beynge as it is layde and in deuoute prayer in fastyng discrete bodily penauÌ„ce doyng And ferthermore that his coÌ„uersacoÌ„n in deserte was Nota â—â—ne amonge bestes we haue ensample to lyue symply and bere vs lowely in what congregacion we ben And there with to bere paciently and suffre also hem that semen to vs as vure sonable bestiall in maneres in lyuynge And thus hauyng in mynde the maner of lyuynge of our lord Jhu Crist in deserte so in penauÌ„ce tho xl dayes euery crysten soule ought to visite hym other oftymes by deuoute coÌ„passion and specially in that tyme begynÌ„yng at the Epiphanye when he was baptised in to xl dayes after in the whiche he fasted lyued there as it is sayd But now ferthermere as to his teÌ„ptacion whan tho xl dayes of his fastynge were coÌ„plete oure lord Jhs hongred And De â—epâ—â—ci one dâ—i prima temptacoÌ„ de gulâ— anone that fals temptour the fende that besy was a boute to knowe whether he werÌ„ goddes sone came to hym began to tempte hym of glotonye and sayd yf thou be goddes sone saye that these stones be made tornyd in to loues But he myghte not with his trechery deceyue hym â–ª that was maister of trouthe For he answerd hym soo wysely that neyther he was ouercome by the temptacion of glotenye yet the aduersary myghte not knowe that he desyred For neyther he denyed ne affermed that he â–ª was goddes sone but coÌ„cluded hym by an Auctoryte of holy wrytte And soo haue we here ensaÌ„pie of our lord Jhesu to withstonde the vyce of glotenye For there must we begynne yf we wylle ouercome other vyces De 〈…〉 as the enemy comynly begynÌ„eth therwyth to assaylle hem that taken hem to ghostly lyuynge wherfore as it semeth he that is ouercomen with that vyce of gloteny that while he is feble vnmyghty to withstonde and ouercome other vyces â–ª as doctoures sayen in this place of the gospel â–ª that but glotony be fyrste refrayned man trauaileth in vayne agenst other vyces Afterward the deuylle took hym vp bare hym in to Jherusalem that was fro that place aboute eyghte myle â–ª as men sayen there he sette hym vpon a pynacle of the Temple where he tempted hym of vayne Joye coueitynge to knowe as he dyde before whether he were goddes sone But here was he also ouercome by auctoryte of holy writte so that he loste fully his purpoos â–ª in that he hurte hym not as man by pryde and hym self was neuer the vyser of hys godhede And here haue we ensample of pacience coÌ„siderynge the grete benygnyte and pacience of oure lorde Jhesu That suffred hym self to be handeled and borne of that cruel beest that hated hym and all that he loued And after that tyme as saynt Bernard sayth the enemy seyng that he shewed noo thynge of the godhede And supposynge therby that he was not god 〈…〉 tempted hym after as man at thys thyrdde tyme whenne he tooke hym efte bare hym ageyne in to a ful hye hille besyde the forsayd hylle of QuareÌ„tana as the space of two myle and there he tempted hym of auaryce And therwith of ydola trye But therfore was he there openly repreued fully ouer come and vaynquysshed ouercome as dyuerse doctoures tellen that expowneÌ„ more plainly these temptacions and thys Nota de 〈…〉 Gospel And therfore we passe ouer the shortlyer here as we doo in other exposicions standynge pryncipally in meditacions as it was said at the begynnynge of thys book â–ª If we take here good hede how oure lorde was handled
effectuelly of ony other prayer the Pater noster yf it be sayd truly wyth deuocion and specially by that peticion askinge Fiat voluÌ„tas tua sicut in celo et in terra that is to saye Oure â—ader in heuen thy wylle be doone in al thing as in heuen so in erthe And so yf it be best to vs for to be kepte fro fyer or water or sodeyne deth or ony other bodily perylle wyth oute doubte our fader of heuen god wylle yeue it vs after the forsayd peticion with rightwys linyng els not saye we neuer so many priuate prayers For as we rede al daye of diuer se martirs saintes that somÌ„e were brente somme drowned and in other diuerse maners putte to shamful dethe as to the worlde and that was best to hem encreace of her Joye and blisse of heuen wherfor it had ben a grete open foly to hem as we may well were to haue prayed for to be kept fro suche bodily harmes or perils as ayenst sodeyne deth it is spedeful to many men for to haue suche dethe shamful to mannes syghte As saynt Gregory telleth by Ensample of the prophete Abdo that was woryed of the lyon that god purged of tyme here ryghtwys men by suche shamful dethe For as holy writ Jusâ—ê° simoâ— te â—occupatê° fuâ—â—it in refrigeâ—â—â—â—â—it te wytnesseth sothely the ryghtwysman yf he be ouercome by ony maner of bodely dethe his soule shal be saued and be sette in reste euerlastynge Neuertheles we prayen ofte that lawfully to be kepte fro sodayne dethe but that is vnderston de that we be not combred wyth dedely synne therinne to deye withoute repentauÌ„ce of herte shryfte of mouthe and therto as I hope is moost beste effectuel prayer the pater noster specyally in the two laste petycyons and askinges therof by the whyche we prayen almighty god fader of heuen that he suf freth vs to falle to be combred with temptacyon of dedely Et nâ—noâ— i ducas inâ—â—p taâ—â—onâ— synÌ„e but that he kepe vs and delyuere vs fro all wyckednesse And though it so be that the matere of this worthy prayer be so plentiuous also the thesyre of the wryther herof were to speke more there of Neuertheles for it is writen in so many other places as I hope suffysauÌ„tly and also for the grete processe that foloweth after we leue this matere at thys tyme al the fructuous sermons that our lord JhuÌ„s made to his discyples in that hyll before goynge downe with him by deuoute contemplacion and beholdinge how that after that noble lesson taught in the hyll as it was skylful for the hyghe per feccion therof our lord JhuÌ„s cam downe with that meke tâ—lke of his disciples spekyng also homely with hem by the waye they as the chykens of the henÌ„e folowen him with mikel ghostly lykynge coueytynge eche before other to be neâ—â— hym and here is vertuous swete wordes ¶ And after he was come downe mykel peple cam ageinst him bringinge diuerse se ke folke many as the gospel telleth by processe the whiche al he ful of mercy heled made hole bothe in body in soule ¶ And thus shotly we passen here ouer mykel processe of tye gospel many chapiters of the forsayd boke of boâ—aâ—â—uâ—â—t for the litil edificacion of hem as it semeth nedful to simple soules to yâ— whiche this boke is specially writen in englisshe as it hath ofte be sayd here before And so leuyng this processe in many places we shall only telle the notabylytees therupon shortely to edyficacion AmeÌ„ ¶ Of the seruauÌ„t of CeÌ„turio the sone of the litil kynge heled of our lord Calpin â—â—â— IN this Gospel in that our lord ihesus mekely vnpraâ—ed wente bodely to hele the seke seruauÌ„t and wold not go to the kinges sone praied our pride is reproued in that we â—oÌ„ coÌ„â—â—â— suphiaÌ„ muÌ„â—â— noâ—um in the contrary maner ben redy leue to goo to Ryche men and myghty that we maye beworldly worshipped by and to please them and do the seruyce that we may for worldly me de but we ben loth to go to poure men and simple or to helpe hem in her nede for ghostly mede leest it were ageynste our worshyp as saynt Gregory noteth in thys place ¶ Of the paletike maÌ„ leide done in his bedde by the hous heling heled of our lord JhuÌ„ Captm xx IN this gospel NoÌ„de iâ—iâ—mi taâ—ibê° corpo ralibê° spuÌ„ alibê° we haue ensample doctryne that ofte sythes bodely sykenes cometh of ghostely sikenes that is sinÌ„e and that the helinge of ghostly sekenes is ofte cause of bodyly hele In that our lord first foriaf to yâ— paletike his sinÌ„es after heled him of the bodily palesye ¶ Also here we may see the grete vertu of true bilyue in yâ— yâ— the feith the biliue of one man helped saueth another as the feyth of the berers of this paletike man saued hym also in the next chapytre before the feithe of Centurio De â—â—ute fidei gate he le to his seruauÌ„te And also here after the feithe of the woman Chananee saued her douÈter And so it falleth now al daye that children baptysed after dede before the yeres of discression ben saued in the feith of their godfaders thorugh the meryte of crist this is openly ageinste somme heretikes that helden the contrary opinion ¶ How that Martha was heled of hyr sykensse by touchynge of the hemme of our lord clothinge Captm xxi The gospel nameth not the woman that was heled by the Finibria vestimeÌ„â—a bin touching of the hemme of JhuÌ„s clothinge But saint Ambrose and other doctours sayen that she was Martha the syster of mary Maudeleyne by the hemme of Jhesus clothynge as sainte Bernerd saith may be vnderstonde euery meke seruauÌ„t of god the whyche in ony vertuous dede that he doth oweth to knowe truly herte and openly knowleche by mouthe that only god is principall doer therof and noughté he as the clothe heled not but our lord JhuÌ„s that wered that cloth ¶ Of the Conuersyon of Mary Maudeleyne Captm xxii OVre curteis lord Jhesus was prayed of Symon the leprose on a daye to ete with him and therto he grauÌ„ted gladly came to mete as he was wonte to do oftsythes both of hys owene curtosie also for the loue the zele that he had NoÌ„ de cuâ—â— alâ—tateâ— dom 〈◊〉 Iâ—â—â—â— to the sauacyon of manÌ„es sowles for yâ— wyche he was made man for so etyng wyth hem benygnly comining wyth hem he drowe hem to the loue of hym Also for as mykel as he made hym self so pertitely poure that he toke none pocession of worldly godes for hym self as for hys therfore thruÈ that loue of pouerte he that was the mirrour of mekenes what time that he was prayed or beden to mete toke it for the tyme the place mekely
yâ— deuoutly askyth hym in prayer that thynge that they aske in maner as it is moost spedful to hem Saynt bernard by deâ—oute processe telleth in dyâ—erse places the whiche processe passyng ouer tornÌ„ we to our lorde â—huÌ„s his disciples and to yâ— forsaid processe of hem what tyme that he was alone prayenge in the hyll as it is sayd his discyples were in the see in grete disease for asmoche as the wynde was against hem and yâ— shippe in pâ—ynt of perysshynge thrugh the grete wawes â— the grete teÌ„pest that was rysen in that same tyme And soo we may see yf we take good hede by deâ—out compassion in what mysche yf â— tribulacion they were in at that tyme bothe for the grete tempest yâ— was risen vpoÌ„ hem also for the nyght tyme and pryncipally for they lackeden her lordes presence that was al her refute in her nede But he that good lorde that knewe what was beste for hem and that suffred this dysease of hem for the tyme. whaÌ„ he sawe tyme also sent hem coÌ„fort helpe and so at the foâ—â—th wakyng of yâ— nyght he came downe fro yâ— hylle goyng vpoÌ„ the see comyng towarde hem Now beholde we here Inwardly how that blessâ—d lorde after his grete traueyle of longe wakynge prayenge came downe al onÌ„ly iâ— yâ— night tyme fro that traueylouê° hyll and perauenture stony bare fote and soo gooth he sadly vpon the water as it were vpon the erthe For that creature knew her maker and was obeysauÌ„t to â—ym at his wyll And what tyme he came nye the shypÌ„ the dyscyples supposynge that it had be a fantasme cryeden for drede And thenne the benygne lorde hauynge compassion of hem and wyllynge that they sholde noo lenger be distourbled traâ—eylled hem sykerde of his presence and sayd I am he that ye desiren be not adradde And theâ—Ì„e peter that was more â—er uâ—Ì„t than other trustyng of his mygâ—t at his byddyng he begaÌ„ to goo towarde hym vpon the water But anone as â–ª a grete wynde blewe he faylled in byleue and dradde and soo began to drenche but the good lorde wyth his ryght honde toke him vp and kept hym fro perysshynge and thenne went in to the shyppe wyth hym and anone all the tempest ceased and alle was in pees tranquylite And so the discyples wyth grete reuerence Joye receyuynge her lorde weren putt in grete reste â–ª and soueraynly comforted by his blessed presence This is yâ— Notabâ—â— processe of that gospell shortly In this processe touchynge yâ— disciples we haue ghostly doctryne ensample of pacyence 〈◊〉 trybulacoÌ„n of profyte therof As we had before touchynge hymself of the vertu of prayer as it is sayd wherfor we shall vnderstonde that as it felle wyth the discyples bodâ—â—y soo it falleth wyth vs all daye ghostly Our lorde â—huÌ„s suffreth hem yâ— ben chosen of hym for to be dyseased and haue trybulacoÌ„n in this worlde bothe in body in soule For as holy wrytt wrtnessyth 〈…〉 he beâ—yth euery chylde that he receyueth to his gâ—ace â–ª And as the apostle poul sayth All tho that ben wrthout discyplyâ—e ben not kynde chyldern but of auoutrye and it is spedefull to vs to be soo beten and to suâ—â—re trybulacoÌ„n dyseaâ—e in this worlde for many causes For therby we beÌ„ taught for to knowe ourself our owne wretchidnes Also ther thrugh we profiteÌ„ ghostly geteÌ„ vertues and whaÌ„ they beÌ„ goteÌ„ theâ—e thrugh kepen heÌ„ the better and ferdermore that is moost of al there thrugh we trustly hopeÌ„ abyde that euerlastyng mede 〈◊〉 yâ— blâ—sse of heuen wherforÌ„ we shal not be discoÌ„forted by hem or in pacyent in hem but rather coueyte hem loue hem â–ª But for asmoche as yâ— profyte of tribulacoÌ„ns though it be moâ—he worthe and of grete vertu moche mede Neuertheles manâ— mâ— thynken heÌ„ full harde grutcheâ— ayenst hem as inportable â–ª by cause that they knowen not seen not the vertue of hem Neueâ—theles â—ernard suâ—â—o â—ui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many holy doctours tellen techen vs the grete profyte of hem in many places to comforte vs gladli for to take â—eÌ„ And specyally amoÌ„ge other saynt Bernard in dyuers tretees wherfore â—aue we noo wonder though our lorde â—huÌ„s suffred his discyples the whiche he loued so specyally to be troubled wyth tempestes as it is said suffre trybulacoÌ„ns For he kneew â—tmÌ„ can xiii xxv lxxx her ghostly profyte therby For ofte we rede that her shipÌ„ was in peryll by tempestes contrary wyndes but it was neâ—er drowned or fully perisshid â–ª nomore shal we what tribulacoÌ„n soo euer come to vs yf we suffre pacyently trust fully in yâ— helpe of our lorde â—huÌ„ that woll not fayle vs at our nede â—apituluÌ„ sequens de chananea premittitur vbi notatur de angelis vt infra caplo xxx ¶ How the pharysees other token occasion of sclauÌ„der of the wordes dedes of â—huÌ„ â—aplin xxviii WE shall haue noo wonder though some take occasion of sclauÌ„der of our wordes and dedes ben they neuer soo â–ª go de true For soo it befelle of our lorde â—hesu oft tymes And Descan 〈◊〉 yet myghte not he erre in worde or dede wherfore it befell on a tyme that the pharysees askeden him whi that his disciples wysshe not her hondes whan they went to mete And in that they kepte not her custome after the techynge of her elders But our lorde seenge that they charged more the wasshynge wythout forth bodily clenÌ„es â–ª than vertues of the soule with inforth and ghostly â–ª Answerde harde agayne reprouynge hem that they breken the hestes of god for her tradycoÌ„nes and bodily obseruauÌ„ces declarynge after that vyces that comen out of the herte defoylen more a man than dooth the bodily mete taken vnwasshen wherfore they weren ghostly â—â—â—aundred styred agaynst hym but he toke none hede therof for they we ren â–ª blynde in soule thrugh malyce Also ofte tymes our lorde â—hesns wroughte myracles vpon the sabott daye that weren goddes holy dayes to the Jewes as ben now the sondayes to crysten men that he dyde to confusoÌ„n and repreyf of the Jewes that kepten straytly the lawe in bodily obseruaunces and not in ghostly vnderstondyng as his wyll was For he badde not the holy daye for to leue therin good worâ—hyng and dedes of charyte but for to sease and absteyne fro synne and bodily werkes wherforÌ„ they were gretly sclauÌ„dred that is for to say token occasion of sclauuder ayenst hym and conspyred in to his detâ—e and sayden that man was not of goddis half that kepte not the sabott daye But our lord left not therfore to weâ—ke myracles and do dedes of charyte in those dayes but moche more dyde hem for to destroye the Jewes errour afore sayd Another tyme also whan he taught in yâ— synagoge ghostly lore sayd that he
to vnderstōde the ghostly meanynge of hem how the myracles done than bodily And in bodyes ben now done oft times in ghostly men̄es soules and so as saynt augustyn sayth by tho thre bodyes the whiche our lorde Jhūs reysed fro dethe to lyfe bodily ben vnderstonden thre maner of dede soules the whiche thrugh his speciall grace he reyseth euery day to euerlasting lyf ghostly for as y◠gospel makith minde he reysed the doughter of the maister of the temple that lay dede in the hous By whom is vnderstonde dedely synne on̄ly in assent wythoute the fulfyilynge therof in dede Also he reysed the wydowes sone borne dede on the bere wythout the yates of the cyte by whom is vnderstonde dedely syn̄e wythout forth performed in dede And the thirde dede body he reysed that was lazar buryed and foure dayes dede by whom is tokened dedely syn̄e in custome For yf we take good hede vnderstonde that syn̄e is dethe of the soule we maye fynde that the soule is dede ghostly slayn thrugh syn̄e in thise thre maners Fyrst by ful assent of wyll to doo that is forboden of god on̄ly wythin fourth in the soule wythout the dede therof wythoute forth As by ensāple of lechery that is forboden what tyme as our lord sayth in the gospel that whan a man seeth a woman lustely to y◠ende for to haue to doo wyth her flesshly fully assentith therto in his wyll though y◠dede folowe not after he is acoūted as a lechout in his herte and soo is his soule slayne ghostly thrugh y◠assente dede in goddis syghte And this manere of ghostly deth is vnderstōde by that fyrst dede body that our lorde Jhūs reysed in the hous that was the doughter of the prynce of the synagoge or the mayster of the temple as it is sayde before Of whom the gospel telleth that he came to our lord Jhū prayenge hym that he wolde come to his house and hele his doughter that laye seke therin And as our lord that of his grete grace endlesse goodnes was euer redy to helpe to he le all tho that asked hym truely was goynge wyth hym towarde his hous There came worde to the forsard prynce that his doughter was dede And therfor̄ they bodē hym the be shold not make the mayster that is Jhūs traueyle in vayne for they trowed well that he was of might to hele the seke but not to reyse the dede Neuertheles our lorde Jhūs letted not for her mysby leue ne for her scornynge to doo his grace but badde the fader that he sholde not drede but on̄ly byleue And whā he came to his hous foūde there after her custome many wepyng mournful mynstralsy other aray for her exequyes he sayd to hē wepeth not for the wenche is not dede but slepyth and then̄e they scorned him For they vnderstode not what he meaned for though she was dede as to hem Neuertheles to him that was of myghte to reyse her and make her to lyue she dyde but slepe And then̄e puttynge oute all that were in the hous sauf the tader the moder and the thre apostles Peter James John Our lorde Jhesus badde the wēche to ryse And anone she rose vp fro dethe to lyfe And after ete and was all hool This is the processe of the gospell after the vnderstondyng of the letter In the whyche we maye ghostly vnderstonde fyrste that as our lord god thenne reysed bodily the doughter at prayer by the faythe of the fader soo he reyseth now oft tymes ghostly dede soule by syn̄e to lyfe of grace thrugh the prechynge prayeng of holy men and the fayth of holy chyrche And as our lorde Jhūs spared not for mysbyleue and scornyng of other to helpe hym that asked his grace so sholde not mē spare to profite to other soules And namly men of holy chirche spare to preche goddis worde whan it lōgeth to her offyce in to reysing of dede soules to ghostly lyf though some men scorne hem or reproue hem therfore For as saynt augustyn say the. It falleth all daye that a man that is ghostly dede bi ful assent in his herte to dedely syn̄e by the prechyng of goddes worde is compūcte in his herte therof thorugh grace as though he herde our lorde bydde hym ryse And soo is he reysed in his soule by repentaūce fro dethe to lyfe As it were in the hous or that he be borne wythoute by the dede more ouer of that syn̄e And this is the fyrst maner of dedely synne and lightest for to ryse out therof thrugh grace that is betokened by the fyrste dede bo dy reysed of Jhesu in the house as it is sayd But neuertheles this manere of dedely syn̄e that is on̄ly in assent is moost perillous yf it longe abyde And specially yf it be ghostly as hye pryde or enuye For as saynt gregory sayth that somtyme it is more greuous syn̄e in goddes syghte pryde by delyberacōn in herte than is the dede of lechery And yet aldaye that one is gretly charged that is to saye lechery but that other seldom or lityll And therfore ben many men here deceyued But now passe we here ouer Of the reysynge of the seconde dede body is wryten in the gospel of saynt luke How what tyme our lorde Of 〈…〉 dede bo d 〈…〉 Jhūs came to a cite that was named Naym his disciples wyth hym and moche peple he mette at yate of the cyte a dede body borne on a bere that was the allone sone of a widow that came wyth the corse and moche folke of the cytee wyth her And then̄e our lorde hauynge pyte of the grete soro we of the wydowe and meued thrugh his endles mercy badde her that she sholde not wepe And thenne nighyng towchyng the bere And therwyth they that beren it standinge styll he spake to the body in thyse wordes Thou yonge man I saye to the aryse vp and anone he rose fro dethe to lyfe and wente on his fete and began to speke And soo he betoke him to his moder alyue This is the processe of the gospel forsayd O lorde Jhū moche is thy mercy shewed to synfull man in the whiche as thou reysedest that dede body borne out towarde beryeng with out prayer made to the before on̄ly styrynge thyn endles godenes pyte Soo thou reysest all daye ghostly hem that bē dede in soule by grete syn̄es flesshly ghostly yeuyng thy grace oft times before or thou be prayed or sought by ony deserte thrugh the whiche synfull men be styred to repentaūce and forsakyng of syn̄e And soo by shryfte penaūce doynge after the lawes of holy chirche they ben reysed ghostly to lyf of grace that first were dede by syn̄e performed in dede And yf it soo be that this synne be openly knowen in to the euyl ensample of other sclaūder thenne it is nede of open penaunce as holy chirche hath
deth and yet wyth the fader he hath or N â–ª ê“fuÌ„ dissiam obedien ciam dened to take that dethe for man And so he prayeth the fader yet he is not herde after his wyll that is to saye after one maner wyll that was in hym For there was in him thre manere of wyll that is to saye Fyrste the wylle of the flesshe the sensualyte and that grutched and dradde and wold not gladly N â–ª tripliceÌ„ voluÌ„teÌ„ in xpÌ„o snffre dethe Also the wyll of reason and that was obeysaunt assentyng as the prophete ysaye sayth of hym He was offred vpon the crosse to the fader for so was his wyll And the thyrde was yâ— will of the godhede the whiche yaaf the sentence of his passion and badde in all manere to be done wherefore Oblatê° eÌ„ qa ipÌ„e voluit in asmoche as he was very man he dradde as man after the fyrste wyll and was thenne in grete anguysshe And therfore Inwardly haue compassion of him in asmoche as thou mayst wyth alle thy herte For loo the fader woll vtterly that he be slayne and dede and not wythstoÌ„dynge that Proprio â—ilio suo noÌ„peê‘câ—t he is his owne dere loued sone yet he spared hym not bnt reuyth hym to the dethe for vs all And oure lorde IhuÌ„s takith mekely that obedyere fulfylleth after in dede as the processe â—â— of his passyon wytnessith fully In the thyrde poynte beholde N â–ª indici biâ—eÌ„ caâ—â— tateÌ„ pris filu the vnspekable charyte of the fader the sone shewed to vs yâ— owyth worthily to be had in Inwarde compassyon and hye wonder worshyp For onÌ„ly for our sauacoÌ„n this harde deth is beden of the fader and taken of the sone Beholde now how N. dnÌ„i Jhâ—â— oâ—â— nem he prayeth longe tyme knelynge vpon the grouÌ„de he spekyth to the fader and sayth in thise maner wordes My dere fader almyghty and full of pyte mercy I beseche the that thou here 〈…〉 mâ—â—m my prayer and dispyse not my bede â–ª beholde me and here me For I am made sory in myn exercyse of vertue shewynge to myn enmyes pacyence and charyte and they not ameÌ„ded and soo my spiryte is in anguyssh wythin me and my hert greuously distourbled wherfore bow thine ere to me take hede to the voys of my bede It lyked the fader to sende me in to yâ— worlde for to make a seth for the wronge that was done of man to you and anone at your wyll byddyng I was redy and sayd â—oo I goo and soo thy soothfastnesse thy hele I haue declared 〈…〉 tuâ—â—â—â—lu tâ—re tuuÌ„ dui shewed And I euer poore in dyuerse traueylles fro my youth dooynge thy wyll and all that thou haste beden me Am now redy to fulfylle vtterlly those thynges that yet ben to be done and full ended Thou seest fader the malyce yâ— min enmyes haue conspyred agaynst me â–ª and how I haue euer done those thynges that ben pleysauÌ„t to the and done good be nefyces to hem that haten me and they agaynwarde haue rewarded me euyll for good and hate for my loue And so they TraÌ„sfer caliceÌ„ istuÌ„ a me haue corrupte my discyple and made hym her ledeâ— to destroye me and hauen solde me and set my pryce in xxx pens Good fader I besethe the that thou doo awaye fro me this cuppe of sorowe and bytter passion that is ordeyned to me to drynke And elles be thy wyll fulfylled But my dere fader ryse vp in to my helpe haste the to socour me at my nede For be it soo fader that thei know me not thi sothfastnes sone neuertheles sythen I haue ladde amonge hem a ryghtwys Innocent lyf And also done to hem many good dedes they sholde not be so Recorda re quamstete rim iÌ„ coÌ„spectutu cruell malicyous ayenst me Haue in mynde good fader hou I haue stonden in thy syght for to speke euer the good of hem But loo now they yelden euyll for good and haue ordeyned the vylest deth for me wherfore thou lorde that seest al thyng ryse in to my helpe and leue me not For grete trybulacoÌ„n is o now nighe and there is none that wyll may helpe but thou QmÌ„ tribulacio ê“xiÌ„a est alone And after this prayer our lorde IhuÌ„s tornynge agayne to his discyples woke hem and comforted hem yet to praye efte the seconde time and the thirde tyme torned agayn to his prayer in dyners places a lytyll fro other as in the space of a stones caste lyghtly wythout grete strengthe and cotynued the forsayd prayer to the fader addynge to and sayeng Fader rightwis yf it soo be that thou hast ordeyned and wilt in al maner that I suffre the deth vpon the crosse thy will be fulfilled But I recoÌ„mende to the fader my swete moder and my discyples the whiche I haue kepte in to this tyme. all the whyle I haue ben dwellynge wyth hem And wyth this prayer that precyous and holyest bloode of his blessed body brekyng oute in manere of swete dropped downe to the erthe habundantly N in that grete agonye harde batayle Soothly here is grete matere of sorowe compassion that oughte to styre the hardest herte that is in this worlde to haue Inwarde compassyon of that grete souerayn anguyssh that our lorde IhuÌ„s suffred in that tyme. and for our sake For by the godhede he sawe the hardest and souerayne paynes that were to come in his body And therfore after the manhede his tender body for fere anguyssh brake out vyoleÌ„tly on blode Take hede also here that is specyally to be noted agaynst oure Inpacyence How oure lorde Jhesus prayeth thre tymes or he hath ansuere fro the fader â–ª N. coÌ„tra â—paciâ—ci am nost â—am But thenne at the thyrde tyme whan our lorde Ihus was in soo grete anguyssh of spiryte as it is sayd Loo the prynce of good angels Mychael stondynge by hym comforted hym and sayd Heyle my lorde Jhesu your deuoute prayer and your blody swete I haue offred and shewed it to the fader in lyghte of all the blessed courte And we all fallynge downe beâ—â—â— hym hauen besoughte hym to putt away â—ro you this bitter N. coÌ„foâ— tacâ—em aâ—â—â—â— drynke of your passyon But the fader ansuerde sayd My dere loued sone knoweth well that the redempcyon oâ— mankynde the whiche we desiren so of our hygh charite maye not be fulfylled and done soo conuenyently resonably wythout shedynge of his blode wherfore yf he woll the hele or soules it behouyth him to deye for hem And therforÌ„ my lorde what deme ye now in this mater Our lorde Jhesus ansuerde thene to the angell I woll in all manere the hele the sauacyon oâ— soules And therfore I chese rather to suffre the dethe where thrugh the
ye breke him not as ye haue done the theues soo that I maye berye his body all hole for it nedith not sythen as ye seen he is fully dede and was a longe tyme now passed And therwyth John magdalene and her other systers knelynge wyth our lady besoughten the same wyth her sore wepynge O lady what doo ye ye lowen you to the fete of hem that ben moost wycked And prayen hem that haue noo rewarde to ony good prayer Suppose ye to bowe by your pyte hem that ben moost cruell and moost wycked wythout pyte Or to ouercome hem that ben alder proudest with mekenes naye For proude men haue abhomynacoÌ„n of mekenes ye traueyllen in vayne And therwyth one that was named longius and was that tyme wycked proude but after a true lyuer marter despisyng her wepyng prayers wyth a sharpe spere openyd the syde of oure lorde Jhesu and made a grete wounde Out of the whiche anone ranÌ„e togyder bothe bloode water And therwyth our lady felle doune in a swounyug half dede bytwene the harmes of magdalene And that John not mowynge bere that grete sorow toke to hym manÌ„es hert and risyng ayenst hem sayd ye wycked meÌ„ why doo ye this cruelte See ye not that he is dede why woll ye also slaye this woman his moder Go now your way for we shall berye hym And therwyth as god wolde they wente her waye ThenÌ„e was our lady excyted and so rose as it had be fro slepe askynge what was done more to her sone they sayd none newe thynge more ayenst hym And after she had caughte spiryte and behelde her sone soo greuously wounded was also wouÌ„ded in her herte wyth a newe wouÌ„de of sorow Seest thou now how oft times our lady is this day dede sothly as oft as she sawe done ayeÌ„st her sone oni payne wherfore now is fulfylled in her that symeon sayd to her prophecyeng Tâ—aÌ„ ipsiê° aâ—am ptraÌ„sibit gladâ—ê° longe before his suerde shal perce thrugh thyn oune soule that is to saye the suerde of his passoÌ„n sorowe And that befelle oft tymes in this daye But now sothly the suerde of this spere hath perced both the body of the sone the soule of the moder After this they saten doune all besyde the crosse but what they shall doo they wote not For they may not take do un the body berye it by cause they haue neyther streÌ„gthe nor Instrumentes apte therfore And for to goo awaye fro hym soo hangynge they dare not and longe abyde there they may not â–ª by cause that the nyghte was come on hem Here mayst thou see in what sorow and perplexyte they ben O benygne lorde Jhesu how is this that ye suffre your dere moder chosen before all other that is the myrrour of the worlde and youre specyall restynge place soo to be tormeÌ„ted troubled that vnneth she hathe ony spiryte to lyue And tyme it were that she had some manere of reste and relecynge of her sorowe ¶ Of the takynge doune of the crosse our lordes body Jhesu at euensonge tyme Caplm xlvi IN the mene tyme that oure lady Johan other before sayd were in soo grete perplexyte desolacion as it is sayd they lokeden toward the cyte as oftymes dyden for drede and thenne see they many other comynge towarde hem by the waye the whyche was Joseph of armathre and Nycodeme bryngynge wyth hem dyuerse Instrumentes wyth the whyche they sholde take doune the body of JhuÌ„ fro the crosse And also they broughte an hondred pouÌ„de of myrre and aloes for to anoynte his body soo burye hyt And thenÌ„e they all rysen vp wyth grete drede not knowynge what they wold do O lord god how grete is thy sorowe this daye ThenÌ„e Johan taking hede to hem that were so coming sayd to our lady Sothely I see comyng there Joseph Nichodeme And thenÌ„e our lady caughte spiryte was gretely comforted and sayd Blessed be oure lord god that hath sente vs helpe at oure nede hath mynde of oure sorowe that hath not forsake vs in oure trybulacyon Good sone Johan goo agaynst hem welcome hem For I wote well they come to our socoure And anone Johan wente agaynste hem And when they metten they clipped other wyth wepynge teres myghte not speke to other a grete whyle for tendernes of coÌ„passyon and sorowe After that they hadde walked forth a lytyll whyle and drawen nyghe towarde the Crosse Joseph asked who were there wythe our lady how it stode wyth the other dyscyples Johan answerynge tolde hem whoo were there wyth our lady but of the discyples he coude not tell for he sayd there was none of hem sene of all yâ— day â–ª ferthermore at her askynge he tolde all that was done agaynst our lord all the processe of his passyon when they come nygh the place knelynge doune and wepynge they honoured our lorde Jhesu And after metynge togyder our Lady and her systers mawdleyne receyued hem worshipfully with knelyng low bowynge to therthe and they ayen warde knelynge worship pynge wyth grete wepynge stoden soo togyder a grete whyle or they speken But at last our lady began to speke to hem said Sothly frendes ye hane done wel that ye haue mynde so of your mayster for he loued you well And as I knowlege plainly to you it semyd to me that there was a newe light rysen at your comynge For before we wyste not what we myighte doo therfore god quyte you And they sayden ayeÌ„warde we ben sory wyth all our herte for all thyse wronges malice done ayenst hym For as we seen well the wycked men hauen the maystry ayenst the ryghtwysman and we wolde full gladly haue delyuerde him fro so grete Jniury yf we had mighte â–ª But at the leest we shal do this seruyce to our lorde maister that we ben come fore And thenÌ„e they made hem redy to take hym downe Take now good hede in maner as I haue sayd before to the maner of takynge downe there are sette ii laders on the sydes on the crosse one ayenst another Joseph gooth vpon the ladder stoÌ„dynge of that houde on the right halfe besteth hym to drawe out the nayle of that honde but it is full harde For the nayle is grete longe harde driuen in to the tree And wythout grete thirstyng doune of our lordes hoÌ„de it may not be done but that is noo force for our lorde knowyth that he doyth al truly with good entent and therfore he acceptith his dede And whan the nayle was drawen out iohn makith sygne to nychode for to take hym it priuely soo that our lady see it not for dyscomfortynge And after in the same manere nychodeme drawyth oute the nayle of the lyfte honde and takyth it pryuely to Johan And thenne nychodeme comyth doune for to draw out the thirde nayle of the fete
passyon moost dredfull sory And that semyth that saynt augustyn felt where he sayth thus Of our lordes body apperynge his ResurreccoÌ„n alle thynges ben not wryten For his conuersacoÌ„n wyth hem was oft tymes peraueÌ„ ture also the holy faders namly abraham dauyd To whom was made of god the specyall byheste of the Incarnacyon of goddes sone comen ofte tymes wyth hym to see that mooste excellent vyrgyne her doughter and goddis moder The whiche for hem and all other founde soo grete grace and that bare her sauyour and all mankynde O lorde god how likyngely they behelde her How reuerently they enclyned to her And wyth all deuocyon that they cowde they blessed her and honoured her Though it soo were that they were not seen of her ¶ Also in alle thise we maye consider the grete benygnytee the hyghe charytee and the profounde mekenesse of our lorde Jhesu as we ben wonte Of the whyche ofte tymes we haue made mynde and the whiche shewen in alle his dedes And specyally he in that here wolde after his resurreccoÌ„n and gloryous vyctory not stye vp anone to his blysse But in manere of a pylgryme fourty dayes abyde here in erthe To conferme and strengthe his discyples and vs in hem And that not by his angels as he myghte lyghtly haue done but compellinge hym by his highe charytee He wolde oonly doo that in his owne persone and bodily be conuersaunt wyth hem aperynge to hem as it is sayd fourty dayes spekynge of the kyngdome of god ¶ And all this he dyde not oonly for hem but for vs And yet we can not se it He hath loued vs. and yet he loueth vs soo feruently and yet we loue not hym agayn warde And that is a grete reprouable vnkyndnesse in vs For at soo grete syre of loue we sholde not be made hote But by reason we shall fully brenne But now leuynge this Goo we to the gloryous AscencoÌ„n ¶ Of the AscencoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu Caplm lxii TOuchynge the wonderfull Ascencyon of oure lorde Jhesu thou that herest or redest this yf thou wolt fele the swetnes therof I woll that thou be wakeli quicke in thi soule so ferforth that yf euer herby fore as it was byden the thou madest the by deuoute yma gynacoÌ„n as present to hys wordes dedes Now thou doo moche more wyth alle thy myght For this solempne nyte passeth all other as I shall clerly shewe the wyth in forth in processe namly this one thing shold stire herte thyn entencoÌ„n quyck thin affeccoÌ„n that thy lord is now in passyng away fro yâ— as by his bodily preseÌ„ce the tyme of his pylgrymage here in erth with the fully coÌ„plete ended wherfore his wordes dedes may be the more atteÌ„tyfly besily to be coÌ„sidred For sothly euery cristeÌ„ soule shold hir spouse hir lord her god in his away passing most wakly besily take tent to And tho thinges that beÌ„ by him spokeÌ„ done most inwardli set in mynde moost deuoutly mekely recoÌ„mende here to him vtterly withdraw al her mynde in this tyme fro al other thinges set it holy vpoÌ„ her spouse For to go thenÌ„e to yâ— processe of thascencoÌ„n of our lorde JhuÌ„ we shall haue in mynde yâ— on the xl day after his resurreccoÌ„n our lord JhuÌ„s knowing yâ— his tyme was come for to passe fro this worlde to the fader takiÌ„ge out of paradyse terrestre the holy faders alle the blessed soules blessinge enoch hely that there abidyng styll yet liuyng he came to his discyples the whiche were togyder that tyme in mount Syon in the place where he made that worthy supper the nyght before his passyon there beinge thenÌ„e wyth his blessed moder other discyples And soo aperynge to hem he wolde ete wyth hem or he passed fro hem in a specyall token and a memoryall of loue Joye to hem wherfore all etynge togyder wyth grete Joye myrthe in this laste feest of our lorde JhuÌ„ Thenne sayd he to hem Tyme is come now that I torne agayne to hym that sent me But ye shal dwelle and a byde in the cyte tyll ye ben newe clothed ghostly thrugh vertu that shall come fro aboue For sothly wythin fewe dayes here after ye shall bee fulfylled with the holy ghost as I behighte you And after ye shall go preche my gospell thrugh all yâ— worlde baptisynge hem that woll byleue in me And soo ye shall be my wytnesse in to the vttreste ende of the erthe Also he reprehended hem or abreyde hem now specyally whan he byddeth hem preche of her mysbyleue in that that they trowed not to hem that saye hym be vpryseÌ„ and that were the angels And though he sayd to them in this maner sentence to make hem vnderstonde Moche more ye sholde haue trowen byued to the angels or ye sawe me than the peple shall trow to your prechyng the whiche shall not see me ¶ Also he reproued and abreyde thenÌ„e her mysbyleue for they shold knowe firste her owne defawte and therby be the more meke she wyng hym now in this departyng how moche it plesed hym mekenes And therforÌ„ specyally he recoÌ„mende it at the last to hem Thenne they asked hym of those thynges that were to come after but he wolde not telle hem For it was not spedefull to hem to knowe the preuytees of god the whiche the fader had reserued and set in his owne power to fulfyll whan hym liked Thus stonden they togyder etynge and spekynge wyth grete Joye to hem of the blessed presence of her lorde But neuerthelesse wyth grete drede and trowblaunce of his awaye passynge And noo wonder For they loued hym soo tenderly that they myghte not wyth easy herte bere the wordes of his bodily departyng fro hem and namly our lady hys blessed moder that loued him passynge alle other We maye wel suppose that she touched styred soueraynly wych yâ— swetnes of moderly loue as she sate next hym at that mete layd doun her hede swetely rested vpoÌ„ his blessed brest as saynt Johan dyde before in that forsayd moost worthy supper and so wyth swete teeres sighyng she spake to hym in this manere prayeng My dere sone yf thou wolt alwaye goo to thy fader I praye yâ— lede me wyth the And our lorde coÌ„fortyng her sayd I praye the my dere moder take not heuily my goinge fro the for I goo to the fader for thy best it is spedful that thou dwelest here yet awhile to coÌ„ferme hem thall shal truly byleue in me And after I shall come take the with me in euerlastyng blisse And thenÌ„e she sayd My swete sone thy wyll be dâ—ne for not onÌ„ly I am redy to abide at thy will but also to suffre deth for tho soules yâ— thou suffredest deth fore But euer I beseche the haue minde on me And thenÌ„e our lord coÌ„forted morouer her
be hidde they publysshed it in the eeres of the peple openly And soo as the kynge wolde it was for the tyme hydde But after by the ordynauÌ„ce of god publysshed knowen to that ende that the kynges mekenesse therby as hidde shold be preued And netheles therwyth by open knowyng of yâ— grete myracle yâ— faith of true byleuinge men shold be coÌ„fermed streÌ„ghthid to worship of our lorde JhuÌ„ that of his special grace werchith suche myracles and merueyles in that blessed sacrament of his precyous body in specyall comfortynge of true lyuers and more feruent stiringe to his loue AMEN ¶ Also accordynge to the selfe purpoos I fynde wrytynge in the longe lyfe of saynt Hughe bisshop of Lyncolne and firste monke of thorder of charterhous and pryour of wytham The whiche lyfe wrote a chappellayn of his and monke of the selfe order that herde and sawe that he wrote And amonge other in this manere sentence sayenge It befell vpon a satirdaye the forsayd bysshop saynt Hughe dwellynge at a maneer of his called Bukedene as he sange a masse of our lady after his comyn custome in that daye there herde his masse wyth other a deuoute clerke that was sent to hym by specyal reuelacoÌ„n of god wherof there is wryten a fayr processe touchyng another matere the whiche we passen ouer here And as to our purpoos what tyme it was comÌ„ to the sactynge as the bysshop helde vp goddys body in forme of biede there appered to the syghte of the forsayd clerke bitwyx the prestes holy hondes our lorde god bodily in lykenes of a passyng fayr lityll childe Of the whiche syghte he that sawe it Inwardly coÌ„puncte as noo wonder was hiely styred in to feruent deuocoÌ„n coÌ„tynued all the tyme of yâ— masse in swete teres deuout prayers tyll it came to that place where thoost sholde be lyft vp aboue the chalyce be departed in thre at the whiche tyme he efte sawe the self lykenes the forsayd JhuÌ„ goddis sone of heueÌ„ of fryng hymself in sa crefise to the fader for manÌ„es hele saua coÌ„n After the masse was full ended the selfe clerke spekynge wyth the holy bisshap in preuyte tolde hym fyrst the reuelacy on before named And after yâ— fayr vision of goddis bodi here declared therwyth at thâ—de wyth shedyng teres in this maner coÌ„cludynge sayd thê° I sawe my holy fader with myn vn worthy eyen that blessed syght the whiche it is noo doubt but that ye seeÌ„ it also moche more clerly for lenger nere motÌ„ worthily And therwyth bothe the bysshop he wyth swete teeres comynyng ghostly a grete whyle togider after at the counseyle of the bysshop and biddyng for to kepe the forsayd vysion preuy the clerke became a religyoê° man and after holy liuynge here went to blysse euerlastynge Amen Touchynge the seconde cause of myracles merueyles shewed ii causa mitacâ—o rum in this blessed sacrameÌ„t of goddis body that is to saye for to coÌ„uerte hem that ben of mysbileue in to yâ— true byleue Fuste we rede in the life of saynt gregory the pope worthy doctour in this maner sentence ¶ There was a matrone of Rome the whiche euery sondaye offred to saynt gregory certain loues of brede wherof was made goddis body And vpon a sondaye whan saynt gregory wolde haue comuned the forsayd woman wyth one of hem that was coÌ„seâ—rate made god dis body sayeng after the comyn vse of holy chirche in thyse wordes The body of our lorde JhuÌ„ cryste kepe the in to euerlastyng lyf She brake out in to a dissolute laughter thenÌ„e saynt gregory wythdrewe the sacrament fro her and kept it to the ende of the masse And after before the peple he asked the matrone why she lough And thenÌ„e she said by cause that thou callest goddis body the brede that I haue made wyth my hondes And thenÌ„e saynt gregory fell doune in to his prayers to god for the mysbyleue of the womaÌ„ And after that he rose vp he fonde the sacrament torned in to lyknes of a finger in flesshe blode where thrugh the woman was fro her misbyleue torned in to the true And soo after with the self sacrament by prayer of saynt gregory torned in to the lykenes of brede as it was beforÌ„ she was comuned and more styfly set in true bileue of this blessed sacrament And also other thruâ— her to the worshippÌ„ of the highe gracyous auctour wercher herof our lorde Jhesus cryste Amen To this self purpoos accordynge also I fynde wryten in the forsayd life of saynt hughe that vpon a tyme as saynt hughe goynge thrugh fraunce was Inned for the tyme in a towne that was called Joye there came to hym the parysshe preeste of the towne the whiche was an olde man a reuerent in syight and wonder lene for grete penauÌ„ce doynge for his synnes as it was supposed And wherof it folowith after in processe the whiche I take as in short wordes to our purpose and yâ— self preest tolde of hymself in this maner Whan I was yonge he sayd I was made preest but neyther yeres ne maners accordynge to that worthy degree thrugh temptacoÌ„n stirynge of the fende I felle in to a grete dedely synÌ„e In the whiche sinne I contynued without contrycoÌ„n confessyon that is horrible to here Soo as I was pollute in body soule and ghostly blynde seke in the fayth I vsed boldly to synge my masse and dradde not to treate receyue that worthy sacrament of crystis precyous flesshe blood And vpon a daye as I was at my masse in tyme of the consecracoÌ„n felle to my myude yâ— grete horryble synÌ„e the whyche I had solonge tyme contynued in And amonge other wretched thoughtes of my blynde herte I thought in this maner Lorde whether that precyous body in flesshe blode of my lorde JhuÌ„ that is called the bryghtnes of euerlastynge lyfe and ghostly myrrour of the godhe de wythout weÌ„me is now made treated receyued verely of me soo foule and abhomynable synÌ„er And so hauyng suche vnthrifty thoughtes whan it came to the tyme of the fraccy on and as the vse is I had broken thoost in two Anone fresshe blode ranne oute therof and that parte that I helde in my honde was torned in to flesshe and ouer al wete wyth the reed blode And therwyth I seenge this was al astonyed abasshed and well nyghe out of my wytt and soo as for loste the couÌ„seyle of all reason All that I helde in my honde I lete fall doune in to the chalyce There was thenÌ„e to see yet now is a wonderfull myracle that is to saye wyne torned openly to mannes syghte in to blode and brede in to flesshe declarynge expressely the forme the sothnes of that blessed sacrament Ferdermore he sayd whan I sawe this maner of lykenes abide styll wythout ony tornynge or chauÌ„gynge I durst nomore touche
that there maye noo true angel teche the contrary of the bileue of holy chirche And therforÌ„ he that soo dooth is an angell of sathanas and not of god As ben all the fals lollardes the whiche haue neyther true drede nor perfyte loue of oure lord JhuÌ„ And therfore they fele not the ghostly swetnes of this heuenly mete of his precyous body ne the likynge mynde of his merueylles shewed in that blessed sacramente â–ª But we that thorugh grace stonden in true byleue as holy chyrche hath taught vs in this souerayne holyest sacrament wyth goostly lykynge of sowle Haue we not oonly in mynde the grete merueylles and myghty myracles wryten and preched of that holy Sacrament in dyuerse maners shewed as it is beforsayd But also consider we how that our lorde JhuÌ„s of his vnspeable goodnes shewed to mankynde he yeueth hym self to vs euery daye bodily in that precious sacrament as in a conclusion and moost specyall mynde of all his blessed lyf to souerayne comforte helpe of our wretchid lyfe the whyche is full of temptacoÌ„ns and ouersette wyth many enmyes Wherfore it is spedfull to vs contynuelly to crye after helpe of the sonerayne vertue of this blessed sacrament by the wordes that holy chyrche syngeth in the ympne of this sacrament thus O thou helful oost that openest the door of heueÌ„ the bataylles of our enmyes oppressen ouerseten vs wherfore yeue vs strengthe of wythstondynge and brynge vs thy helpe to her ouercomyng Also to wythstondynge of temptacoÌ„ns and ouercomyng of vices to getynge of vertues and encreace of feruent affeccoÌ„ns of our lorde JhuÌ„ as for a full ende of all his blessed lyfe before wryten ¶ Enprynted by wynkin the worth ¶ Here folowyth a shorte deuoute prayer to JhuÌ„ cryst his body in the sacrament of the aulter the whiche oweth to be sayd in presence of that holy sacrament at the masse with inwarde deuocoÌ„n HEyle holyest body of our lorde Jhesu cryste that art now soothfastly conteyned here in this moost excellent sacrament I knowlege the my lorde god wyth my mouth I loue the wyth all my herte and I desyre the wyth all the Inwarde affeccyon of my soule I beseche the swete JhuÌ„ that thou vochesauf of thy souerayne goodnes this daye soo benygnely gracyously to vysite my sike soule desiryng to receyue the goostly our heelfull sacrifyce well of all grace soo that I may wyth gladnesse fynde medecyne heele in body soule by vertue of thy blessed presence Beholde not lorde JhuÌ„ to my wickydnesse manyfolde neclygences and my grete vnkyndnes but rather to thy souerayne mercy endles godenes Sothly thou arte that holy lambe wythout weÌ„me of synÌ„e that this day is offred to the euerlastinge fader of heuen for the redempcoÌ„n of al the worlde O thou swettest manÌ„a angels mete â–ª O thou moost likynge ghostly drynke brynge in to my Inwarde mouth that hony swete taast of thy helfull presence Byadie in me the feruour of thy charyte Quenche in me all maner vyces Shede in to me the plentee of vertues Encreace in me the yeftes of graces And yeue me heele of body soule to thy plesynge My god I biseche the that thou wolt soo gracyously bowe the and fro thy hye heuen now come doune to me yâ— I knytted Joyned to the be made one spiryte wyth the O yâ— worshypfull sacrament I byseche the that al myn enmyes be put awaye fro me by the strengthe of the and all my synnes foryeue and all wyckidnes be excluded by the blessid presence of the Good purpose lorde yeue thou me My maners thou correcte amende And al my werkes dedes thou dispose in thy wyll My wytte vnderstondyng by the swete JhuÌ„ be made here clere wyth a newe lyghte of grace Myne affeccoÌ„n be enflaÌ„med wyth the fyre of thy loue and myne hope coÌ„forted strengthed wyth this blessid sacrament soo that my lyf here profyte euer in amendynge to better And at last fro this wretchid worlde wyth a blessed departyng that I maye come wyth the to lyf euerlastyng JhuÌ„ lorde by vertue grace of thy lyfe blessed wythout endynge Amen amen Amen ¶ JhuÌ„ lorde thy blessid lyfe helpe comforte our wretchid lyfe AMEN ¶ Explicit Speclm vite xpÌ„i cuÌ„ â–ª â—tiliâ—â—ime tractatu breue de sacramento corporis xpÌ„i oracoÌ„ne eidâ—â—â— sacramenti ImpressuÌ„ westmonasterii Anno dnÌ„i M. Câ—â—â— â–ª â—xxxxiiii