And yf thou axed me whiche creatures they be I answere the all and eueryche oon of them by them selfe For and the creatoure of alle thynges be offended all the good creatures shall haue hym in hate thath hath dyspleased hym For as Iob saythe in his twentyest Chapytre The heuens shall shew and lyfte vppe the euyll werkes of the synners and the erthe shall adresse hym agaynst them For oure lord shall call vnto hym the heuen aboue and the erthe be nethe to dyscerne his people And therfore sayth Crysostome vppon the Gospell of Saynte Mathewe There is noo thynge that we shall mowe remedye by answere that daye whenne the heuen and the erthe the sonne and the mone the nyghte and the daye and all the worlde shall bere wytenesse agaynste vs for oure synnes The refore saythe Saynte Gregory If thou axe me who shall accuse the I say to the all the worlde And that the creatures shall not oonly accuse the synners But also shal requyre the creatour of alle thynges to take vengeance on them for theyr synÌ„es To this purpose it is wryten in the book of Sapyence in the fyfthe chapitre He shall arme all creatures to take vengeance on his ennemyes And with hym shall fyght all the worlde agaynste those that haue ben Insensate that is to wyte ayenst synners All creatures seeng him that is maker of all thynges shall chase them to cause tourmentes to be gyuen vppon thoos that haue not be Iuste The fyfthe thynge that shall accuse the synners they shall be myserable persones that haue suffred soo many wronges For thenne they shall accuse thoos that haue done them wrong peyn and tourment At that tyme shall the worde of the ê“phete be verifyed whiche sayth I haue knowen well that our lorde wyll gyue Iugemente for the poore folkes that haue suffered wrong shal auenge the quarell of thoos that be Impotent for he that beholdeth the depe botoms of the sees sytteth aboue all the Cherubyns Seraphyns gooth aboue all the wyndes He is more terryble to be drad in his counselles and wylles than is the sones of men He shall Iuge thenÌ„e poore mennys cause that haue ben coÌ„stant And shall holde ayenst those that haue done them many anguysshes ThenÌ„e shall the fader of Orphans the Iuge of wydewes venge all wronges the pacyence of poore folkes shal not thenne perysshe The subgettes shall also accuse the felones neclygente prelates curates And therfore sayth saynt Bernarde vpon the Cantycles O how cruell oure lord shall be vpon the sones of men Certeyn the wretched synner shal say thenne all for nought to the monteyns Fall ye vpon vs and to the Rockes couer ye vs. They shall come thenÌ„e before the trybunall sete of Ihesu Cryste where shall be herde full greuous accusacions by thoos that haue payd theyr wages and boren theyr dispenses wrongfully theyr synnes shall not be defaced nor hydde of those that fraudelently haue blynded their doctours and confessours The vithyng that shall accuse synners shal be malyce and synne we rede in Iheremye the seconde chapitre Thy malyce shall accuse the thy refusyng shall blame the For the synnes shall thenne be bonden vnto the necke of synners To this purpose seyth Ozee in his xiii chapitre the iniquyte of Effraym is bounde togydre his synnes be not hyd we rede myn iniquytees be trussed leyde in myne necke and as the stolen good taken on the necke of a thef accuseth him semblably synÌ„e shal then accuse the wretched synner It is wryten also in the Prouerbys the fyfthe Chapytre Iniquytees shall take the felone synners there eueryche of them shall be taked and strayned with coordys of theyr synÌ„es And the Prophete seyth The coordys of my synnes haue enuyrouÌ„de goon rounde about me By the whiche coordys I saye also the wycked folkes by deuellys shall be drawen in to helle Certeynly they fall in to theyr nettes be taken by theyr baytes we red of the properte of an Archyn whiche that when he entreth in to a gardey ne he lodeth hym with apples stykynge on his pryckes And when the gardener comes he wold flee but he is thenne so laden that he can not away so he is there taken with all his apples Semblably falleth hit to the synner that is all laden with synnes and at the grete daye of Iugemente he is with them taken and accused wherfore sayth the Psalter Our lorde shall be knowen in makynge his Iugementes handwerkes and the synner shall be taken Vpon the whiche sayth Crysostom Our owne thoughtes specially our werkes shal be afore our eyen shall accuse vs afore god And therfore sayth saynt Bernarde Our werkes and we shall speke togyder saye O myserable synner thou haste made vs we ben thy werkes we wyll not leue the but go with the to thy Iugemente It is red in Ezechiell the .xviii. chapitre Lyke as the Iustice of the right wys man shal be on and for hym Righte soo the felony of the felon shall rest vpon hym The Psalter sayth Here ye all people here and reteyne wel in your ere 's alle ye that dwellen in this worlde wherfore shall I not be dredefull in that euyll day That is to wyce the day of dome whiche shal not oonly be euyll to me But it shall be right euyll to euery synner where vnto he answereth hyÌ„selfe sayeng I shall drede thenne For the Iniquyte of my fete shall enuyron me The seuenth the last thyng that shall accuse synners shall be the tourmentes and Instrumentes of the passyon of Ihesu Cryste And also Ihesu Cryst hymself wherfore sayth saynt Iherom The crosse of Ihesu shall fyght ageynst the. Ihesu Cryst shall shew allegge his wouÌ„des ageyne the. And the trace of the sayd wouÌ„des shall speke ayenst the. The nayles shall complayne on the. As Saynt Austyn sayth in his treate of symboll â–ª ê‘auenture our lord hath kept in his body the trace of tokenes of his wouÌ„des to th entent that atte the day of dome he wyll she we them ageynst synners to theyr reproche And in vaynquyssyng them saye Lo here beholde the man that ye haue crucyfyed See here god and man in whom ye wolde haue noo byleue Loke vppon the wouÌ„des that ye haue made him knowlege the syde that ye haue wounded hurt whiche hath ben opened for you But ye haue not well entred therin Ihesu Cryste also then accusyng the synners shall say as Naum sayd in his thyrde chapitre I shall shewe thy de fautes afore thy face shall shewe to the people thy nakednesse to the reames thy shame Ozee in his seconde Chapitre sayth I shall manyfeste shew thy foly afore the eyen of thy louers that is noo man may drawe the out of my hondes O how desolute howe sorrowfull that the myserable synners shal be in the daye of the grete Iugement For thenne as
differente from the materyall fyre pryncypally in iii. thynges Fyrst in fyrsnesse egrenesse for the power of hit in brennynge is Infynyte wherfore sayth saynt Sebastyane whenne the angell of heuen rowned hym in the ere he sayd that our sensyble fyre is noo more lyke the fyre of helle then the fyre peynted vpon a wall is lyke our materiale fyre Secondely in enduryng For our materyale fyre may be quenched and so may not that It is wryten in Isay in the last chapitre that the fyre for synners shall not be quenched Thyrdly in wastyng for our sensyble materyall fyre may consume and wast all thynges as the philosophre seith but the fyre infernall may not wast nor coÌ„sume neyther the body nor the soules of synÌ„ers by brennynge Iob sayth in his .xx. chapitre of the synners beyng in helle He shall bye ful dere now that he hath done yet he shall not be wasted Iohan crysostom seyth also that oure materyall fyre consumeth all thynge that is leyed in hit but the fyre of helle tourmenteth contynuelly thoos that be therin yet it preserueth them alway in lengthynge theyr paynes Therfore it is sayd that it is not to be quenched not oonly because it can not be put out but that it shall not sease to destroye them that shall come therin For the cause sayth the holy scripture that the synner shal be clothed with corrupcyon not oonly of theyr lyf but in languysshyng and tormentes alway comynge Certaynly noo voyce coude expowne nor noo worde coude expresse the gretenes of the payn nor the feruentnes of that fyre Alas what shal we do therfor there what shal we answere for in helle shall be but gryndyng of tethe yowlyng cryeng wepyng in payn but theÌ„ne penaunce is to late from all partes shall coÌ„forte and helpe be put awaye there shall be noo thyng but augmencacyons of paynes as that fyre of helle is not of nature to druoure no more is it to gyue noo comfortable lyght It is an obscure fyre and the flamme therof tenebrous Secondely helle is called locus inquietus that is to saye a restles place euer enduryng and shall neuer haue ende wherfor it is sayde in this lyfe that there is one place whiche is alwaye styll that is to wyte the centre of the skye Other be somtyme troubled as mene partes of the ayer semblably it maye be proued that the lowest parte is alwayes in trouble without rest And therfore it is called tartarus For after Papy tartarus is as mykell to saye as troubled and obscure Certaynly the vnrest and trybulacoÌ„n cometh there specyally of three thynges Fyrste the varyaunce of paynes as one sayth the weder is troubled when it is nowe medled with reyn now with hayll now with snowe or suche storme whiche as it is sayd be of all those maners in helle as wytenessen prophetes sayeng It shall rayn vpon synners bothe fyre brymstone and the spyrytes of tempest shall gyue them parte of theyr tourmentes Secondly of the mynystres infernall As it is wryten in Iheremye the .xvi. chapitre Those deuylles that ye haue serued nether nyghte nor day shal suffre you in rest Thirdely thenter chauÌ„ged crye as it is wryten in Isaye the .lxv. chapitre ye shall wepe for sorowe by contrycyon of soule howle In trouthe our lord shall answere to all those that so shall howle and crye As it is sayd in Iheremye the .xxx. chapitre Wherfore cryest thou howlest thou nowe by contrycyon sythe thy sorowe is not to be heled I haue punysshed the thê° for thy wycked felonous synnes Thirdely helle is called a place right distempred As Auernus That is as mykell to saye as a thyng withoute a temperauÌ„ce of delyte for the paynes be noo thyng moderated there but contynue in grete excesse of trouth there is therin without mesure excessesyue tenebres whiche be called exteriores as saynt Mathewe sayth in his .xxii. Chapitre we haue example of this in Exodo in the .x. chapitre By the manyable tenebres that were sometyme in Egypte O how mykell shall the tenebres of helle be more greuous than those It is wryten in Iob in the .xx. chapitre All horryble tenebres shall come on hym Ageyne then shall the â—â—â—ners saye As it is sayde in the Psalter They haue cast me in to the lowest lake and in the tenebrous place and in the shadowe of dethe they haue lodged me in the obscure place as dede fro this worlde wherfore my soule is angry with me Semblably it is wryten in the LameÌ„tacyons of Iheremye They haue lodged me with thoos that be sempyternally dede there is therin an excessyfe hete As Iob sayth in his xiiii chapitre The hete is grete therin and the cause is that it breketh not oute but is closed in as the hete in an ouen The Psalter sayth Whenne thou arte an angred thou shalte put the synners in an ouen ful of fyre Also our lord shall torment them with his wrath and fyre shall deuoure them there is there also a right sharpe colde As is wryten in Iob in the sayde chapitre It is sayd the water of snowe is colder thenne all other waters Yet the waters of helle maye not be compared with of chyllyng nor colde And therfor seyth ful genâ—yus in his Pystles There is in helle .ii. pryncypall maner of tormentes that is to wyte by in tollerable colde and by inquencheable hete It is wryten in the xxiiii chapitre of Saynt Mathew There shall be in helle bothe wepyng and colde certeynly the effluccoÌ„n of teeris by wepyng cometh of hete but the inwarde sorowes is caused by colde To this purpose wytnesseth Iob in the sayde xxiiii chapitre The synner ouerpassed with the colde water of snow gothe after in to the grete fyry hetes It is founde also in a lytyll booke of the dedes of Alexander the kyng of Macedone That whenÌ„e he was for clommed with the Isse with the colde of the snowe he wolde goo to the fyre of colys O how myserable and paynful shal this trouble be to thoos that shall not dye nor haue lightnyng in that piyson of helle but be tourmented there Infynytâ—ly Fourthely helle is called a noyfull waylyng place and therfore after Papie it is named Acheron that is as mykell to saye as a place without Ioye lackyng all goodnesse For this cause sayth the Comentator Aueroys in the iiii chapitre of Poetrye That helle hath a contynuell sorow and wepyng without consolacyon In trouth the dampned folkes there beneth haue no comforte in the worlde for the orysons prayers that ben sayd in the chirche mylytant may proufyte them no thyng and from aboue cometh there no helpe to them there falleth on them no myse rycorde wherfore they be in dyspayre of ony grace in tyme comyng knowe certeynly that they with out remedy and not to be quyte out of the pryson and so they rest sempiternally in waylynge in sorowe and in desolacyon It
in his .xiiii. chapitre His glorye shall be lyke an olyfe tree whiche is contynueth grene wynter and somer Of this eternall glorye sayth also Iohan Crysostom in his boke of the Reparacion of the falle of man How grete shall the voluptuoulnesse be how grete shall the Ioye and gladnesse be to the soule to be with Ihesu criste recoâ—â—ned to his proper generacyon and assuredly and vndoubtely to beholde and see our lord The gretenesse nor the quantyte of that Ioyeful blys can not be tolde nor recyted For one reioyseth hym not oonly of that we le and pleaser that he vseth and hath presently in oeure but moche more by cause he maye be sure Those Ioyes pleasers and blys shall neuer admynyshe nor ende Loo who is he that shall be partyner to that Ioye whiche is endeles Certayne it is ordeyned for folkes lordes and other shall reioyse them in the glorye of our lorde that haue folowed his traces in this worlde wherby they shall reygne with hym gloryfyed worshypped and crowned eternally in heuen O my right welbeloued brethern how gretely shall ye reioyse you yf ye be transported vnto that eternall glorye Certayne ye shall saye thenÌ„e in cryeng and syngynge as it is wryten in Isaye the .lxi. chapitre I gladde and Ioyefull shall reioyse me in oure lorde and my soule shall be mery in my god by cause he hath cladde me with the vestyment of saluacyon Of trouthe as it is wryten in Iob the xxii chapitre Thou shalt be habundant thenne in the delectacyon of the moost myghty lorde and shalt lyfte vp thyn eyen towarde god and the lyghte shall shyne in thy wayes Of this lyght is wryten in Ecclesyastyco the .xi. chapitre It is a delectable lyght to see the sonne That is to vnderstonde Ihesu Cryste whiche to knowe and beholde perdurably passeth and surmouÌ„teth all the Ioyes of this worlde is no meruayll for that knowleche and vysyon is the fode glorye and lyfe sempyter nall of the happy sayntes Saynt Iohan sayth in his .xviii. chapitre the eternall lyfe is this to know the sool veray god and Ihesu Cryste whome thou sendest downe in to this erthe for oure redempcyon Now thenne he that maye obteyne and come to that blysfull knowleche after dyuyne lecture to see god face to face that shall be the moost excellente Ioye and a spryngyng of all Ioyefull gladnesses saynte Bernard sayth in his sermon Verayly that is a trewe and a souerayne Ioye whiche is coÌ„ceyued and had not oonly by one creature but also by the creatour and maker of all creatures whiche Ioye thou shalte haue when he shall shewe the his face wherfor the ê“phete de syryngly sayd Lorde I requyre the lete me see thy gracyous face full of all Ioye and gladnesse Alas my delectacyon is prolon ged from me tyll I may haue that grete wele and tyll I maye be drawen vnto god my sauyour I shall shede teeres nyghte and daye Certaynly the vysyon by the whiche our lorde is seen face to face is in the thyrde heuen and yf it myght be sayd it is the paradyse of thousande heuens wherin the fontayne of clere water is seen by the happy lyfe Isaye sayth in his .lx. chapitre Thou shalt see then the face of our lorde and shalte be habundant in delectacyons and Ioyes sempyternally O how good arte thou lorde of Israell to them that haue rightfull hertes whiche wyll gyue them soo grete soo ryche and soo pleasante Ioyes My right dere brethern ye here gladly speke of these delectacyons and Ioyes and take pleaser therin Neuerthelesse ye ought not to be Ignorant to vnderstonde that the blessyd sayntes come neuer to these Ioyes but by grete paynes and labours Saynt Gregory seyth in his Omely The gretenesse of the rewardes gyueth me corage and my labours oughte not to fere me for one maye neuer atteyne to the grete rewardes but by grete labours That noble prechour Saynte Poull in the seconde Pystle to Tymothe the seconde Chapitre sayth How that there shall be none crowned but suche as haue manfully foughted Verely euery man shall receyue his Rewardes whiche shall be after his labours There be dyuerse that wyll not lyue well and yet they desyre to dye well They maye knowe the dethe of sayntes is full precyous in the presens of our lorde they maye knowe also when our lord hath gyuen reste to his soules they shall dwelle in his herytage permanentely by cause they haue be those that alwayes haue folowed hym in resystynge temptacyons Many of you wolde regne with Ihesu Cryste but ye wyll suffre noo thynge for his sake Balaam ariolus was suche one for in consyderynge the castell of the childern of Israhell he entended the hauyng of the eternall beatytude and sayde in hymselfe Dye my soule as Iuste folkes dye and be my laste thynges semblable vnto theyrs he delyted gretely theyr gloryous ende but he grouged to take theyr labours and paynes where by they hadde deserued the glorye eternall O god lorde Ihesu we wolde gladdely regne with the. Neuertheles we wyll not labour nor be partycypable to thy suffrances Thou chaseste myserye and pouerte and we haue taken vs vnto voluptuousnesses and delectacyons Thou hast taken vpon the and suffred bytternesses and sharpenesses to thy body and we haue chosen and folowed oure sensuale pleasyrs Saynte Bernarde sayde The sone of god is borne to whoo 's wyll was graunted alle that myght please hym He chose to be borne in the moost greuous tyme the blessyd lityll babe borne of a poore moder vnnethe hauynge clothes to wrappe and couer it in the crybbe Certeinly Ihesu Cryste whiche neuer is deceyued chace that the moost molested greued his fleshe Loo thenne it is best swettest and moste profytable to chese the bardeste payne in this worlde And who soo euer amonesteth or techeth otherwyse one ought to beware of hym and gyue hym lityll credence It was ones promysed by Isaye a lityll childe that coude repreue the euyll and chese the good The euyl was the voluptuous pleaser of the body the good was the payne and afflyccion therof A trouthe this childe is the sone of god whiche chose thaffliccoÌ„ns and repreued forsoke the voluptuoê° pleasers As sainte Bernard sayd O righte dere childe thou haste chosen from thy begynnyng here corporal affliccions in suffrance hast entred into thy glory whiche was properly thyne owen and we lyuyng in delectacions wolde entre in to that glorie wherin we be but strangers and not dygne to come thyder but by thy grace There agaynst speketh Saynte Austyn sayeng If it haue behoued Ihesu criste lorde and kynge whose name is aboue all names to haue suffred therby hath entred in to his eternall glorie what hope or trust shall we haue to come thyder without suffrance syther we be strangers and can ha ue none entre there but by hym O how folyshe and how hard herted we be truste in reioysyng vs in
of helle And what is a more Ioyefull blysse than celestyall glorye Saynt Bernard sayd in the same sermon These ben the four wheles of the chare wherof the Remembraunce bryngeth maÌ„nes soule to the euerlastyng glorye of paradyse These ben also iiii moeuynges that awake the spiryte of man to the ende that he disprayse alle worldly thynges retorne vnto his creatour maker Lo it is then both coÌ„uenyent proufytable that they be had contynuelly in remembrauÌ„ce therfore sayth the wyse man in the xxviii chapitre of Ecclesiasticê° Bere in thy mynde the last fynall thyng is loke alway perfyghtly vpon them to th entent that they may be surely fixed printed in thy memorie Now syn all this processe princypally soueraynly enforseth hymselfe tenduce euery crature to haue an assured mynde an hole remembrauÌ„ce of these iiii last thynges that they may cordyally be enprynted with in your hertes Therfor it is consonant accordyng yf it so may please that this present treatyse may be entytled and bere the name of the Cordyall ¶ Thus endeth the prologue of this booke named Cordyall Whiche treateth of the four last and fynall thynges that ben to come And here begynneth the fyrste parte of the sayd four last thynges THe fyrst parte of the four last thyÌ„ges wherof the remembraunce withdraweth a man fro synne is deth present or temporell And therfore seyth saynt Bernard in a bok called the Myrour of monkes The most souerayn phylosophye is to thynke all way on deth And he that beryth it in his mynde in what place so euer he go shall neuer synne Saynt Austyn sayth in his boke of exortacyons There is noo thyng that soo well reuoketh and calleth a man from synne as often RemembrauÌ„ce of dethe Certayn it is that thynge whiche causeth a man to be humble to dysprayse hymselfe and to do penaunce ¶ How RemembrauÌ„ce of dethe maketh a man to be humble meke ¶ The fyrst chapitre of the fyrst parte pryncypal I Say that recordyng the RemeÌ„brauÌ„ce of deth maketh a man to be meke humble hym selfe And therfor sayth Saynt Austyn in the book that he made of our lord A man knowyng himselfe to be mortall it shal put from hym all maner of pryde In very trouthe all our other thynges as well good as badde be incerteyne But of deth oonly we maye be well ensured And how be it that the hour therof to vs is hydde and incerteyn Yet alway she is approchyng shal surely come without longe taryeng And to this purpose sayth Ecclesiastics in his .xiiii. chapitre Bere well in remembrance that deth shal not tarye It is also wryten in Thoby that deth hasteth that there may no fleeng â—uayle Also by the comune lawe of nature euery man must paye his mortall trybute Saynt Bernarde sayth in a sermon O wretched man why doost thou not dyspose thy selfe to be redy at all houres thynke that thou arte now dede lyns thou knowest well that necessaryly it behoueth the to dye Remembre wel how thyn eyen shall tourne in thy hede the veynes breke in thy body thyn herte shal deuyde in two partes by the righte sharpe anguysshe and payne of deth Who is he thenne that ought not to drede make hyÌ„selfe humble whan he knoweth certaynely that he must retourne and become erthe Now truly there shall be none excepcyon of persones But al shall passe that waye For as it is wryten in the seconde booke of kynges Whe shall all dye and the erthe shall swolowe vs as it dooth water cast therupon whiche neuer retourneth We rede also that this worde Mors in latyn maye well so be called For it is a bytter morsell vnto all men in soo moche that no creature maye escape it And therfore it is sayd in the boke of dyspraysyng of the worlde Dethe cutteth doun and dystroyeth all thynges create and made in fleshe She bothe beteth doun the hye men lowe for the hath domynacion vpon worldly lyuyng thynges She regneth Imperyally ouer the nobles and dredeth no lyuyng creature for her power is comyn ouer prynces and dukes She taketh aswell the yonge as the olde And whan she smyteth she hath mercy of no creature Alle thynges create in flesshe peryssheth vnder her honde Nor ther be none so stronge but that the beteth them doun without rescuse And ther is no thynge beryng lyfe but that she destroyeth and wasteth it without ony escape And the neyther taketh mede allyaunce ne frendshyp What shall I shore saye euydently dethe spareth no body For neyther poore ne ryche shall mowe escape out of her cheyne Certaynly I vnderstande now that dethe is th ende of all worldely lyuynge thynges And therfore it is wryten in Ietha the Poete That deth taketh away and dooth anyntyse all quycke thynges Lo it is not sayde that the wyse Cathon and the good Socrates ben dede Whiche gyueth example that there is neyther scyence ne doctryne that may preserue one fro the ruynouse darte of deth It is writen in Ecclesiastes in the seconde chapitre Aswell dyeth the wyse man as the fole It is wryten in Isaye in the .xxxiii. chapitre Were are now become the lettred men where ben the prechers of the worde of god Where be they that were wont to teche the childern These questions implyed as moche as to saye they lyue not be goon paste in the comyn course with other dede of this worlde Now by cause Ietha named but only the two afore specyfyed I praye the telle me Where is now Hector of Troye where is become Iulius Cesar where is Alexander the grete where is Iudas Machabeê° where is the myghty Sampson where is Crassus the riche where to the fayre Absolon where is Galyen the physycyen Auycenne his felowe where is the wyse Salomon where is Arystocle the phylosopher where is Virgyle the right experte poete be not all these dede and passed out of this worlde as pylgryms and gestes departed hens in a right short space yes certaynly ther is not one lefte a lyue of them al their Ioyes were but vanytees and are fayled theyr dayes be consumed passed as the Psalter seyth man passed his dayes resemblyng a shadowe one tyme he is hole stroÌ„ge of all his membres on the morow seke leyde in the erthe And as Cathon sayth Our lyfe is gyuen vnto vs to be full of doubte and of fragylyte This appereth also clerely by a phylosophre named Secundus whom theÌ„perour Adryane questyoned with of that beyng thestate of man whiche answered as foloweth Man is subget vnto deth dost of the place where he is a voyager passyng semblably vnto a pece of snowe Also lyke a reed bery and lyke a newe apple by whiche thynge is euydencly shewed how frayle how sleder also how lytyll enduryÌ„ge is the lyfe of a man And not oonly the lyf of poure people But also the lyfe of
but lete hyÌ„ do that that he purposed to do sens he was gyuen vnto hym the forsayd Theodorê° sayd why suffre ye me soo longe to be in this case Thenne sayde his brethern vnto him what is it that thou seest make the fygure of the crosse vpon the. To who me the sayd Theodorus answered with a lamen table crye I wolde feyne blesse me but I can not for I am to hardely prycked and oppressed with the vyolence of this dragon And whenne his brethern herde hym saye soo they fyll flatte to the erthe with wepynge teeres and began agayne theyr prayers and orysons deuoutly for the helpe and Redempcyon of this Theodorus whiche soone after sodeynly began to crye with a lowde voyce sayeng I yelde louyng thankes and grace to god my creatour for now that Dragon whiche sholde haue deuoured me is dryuen and chased away fro me by your gode and deuout prayers and orysons Also Saynte Gregory telleth an example in the fourthe boke of his Dyalogis that how in the partes of Anchone in a monastery called Congolathon be fell somtyme that there was therin a monke whiche was taken for a very holy man meruelously well dysposed towarde god But whenne his bretheren went that he had fasted he was accustomed secretely to ete And whenÌ„e he was at the batayll of deth he called generally for all his bretheren sayeng vnto them I am delyuered nowe vnto a dragon to be deuoured whiche with his tayll hath knytte togydre my fete also my knees putteth his hede in to my mouth draweth my soule oute of my body and after he had sayd those wordes he dyed forth withall It maye seme these wordes be for the condeÌ„pned synners whiche be wryten in Iheremy in the .li. chapitre He hath eten me lyke a dragon This dragon is hydeous grete hath vii hedes .x. hornes in the same as it is wryten in the Apocalyps in the xii chapitre There hath ben a grete batayle in the shye so that saynt Mychyell his angell hath fought with the dragon his angell whiche myght not resyst syth theyr rowmes in heuen coude not be fouÌ„de but were cast downe so that dragon auÌ„cyent serpeÌ„t whiche is called the deuyll sathan enforceth hyÌ„self to make warre vpon the vnyuersall worlde here And for the cause it is red in the same chapitre That harme come to that erthe to the see for the deuyll is descended among you with all his grete furyous anger This deuyl hath a merueylous grete hate vnto all good peple whiche disposeth them to take possessioÌ„ in the towme of heuen from whens he was put out chased in to theterrnall paynes the more that the day of dome approcheth the more teÌ„pteth he more cursedly more forseth hymselfe to do euyll in destroynge of soules O how grete is the wyckednesse the malyce of this deuyll of helle wherof Saynt Bernard talketh in a prose sayeng O howe felonous shall then this tormentours be whiche shall payne tormente synners how terryble shall theyr vengeauÌ„ce be in vengyng vyces wret chednes synnes CerteyÌ„ly theyr cruell malyce is yet augmeÌ„ted in dyuerse maners Fyrste because they be so innumerable of so dyuerse sortes The Psalter seyth why be those so multyplyed that tormenteth me there be many that dresse them a yenst me and as it is wryten in Iob in the .xix. chapitre They haue asseged my tabernacle about me It is wryten in â—itis patruÌ„ That there was a good auncyent man that sawe the duyll enuyronynge the people were as thyke as beys that make hony wherfore it is sayd also in the Psalter They haue coÌ„passed me as beys be cause they be many of grete myght â–ª as Thapostle wytnesseth in his pistle ad the Epheseos in the .vi. chapitre where he calleth them prynces potestates gouernours of the world be cause they be subtyll and myghty to noy soules the Psalter seyth The stronge haue fought my soule This strengthe is vnder stonde by the deuylles It is red also of that streng the in Iob the .xli. chapitre There is noo myght vpon the erthe to be compared with that thou hath done soo that it dredeth noo man saue him that seeth all thynge from aboue is kyng ouer all the childeren of pryde the deuylles shall ernstfully exercyse theyr myght in pryde to the punission of synners them shall cruelly tourmente It is wryten in Ecclesiastico the xxxix chapitre There be spyrytes that be ordeyned to take vengeaunce hath confermed the tormentes in theyr furour enduryngly tyll the consummacoÌ„n of the worlde Iob sayth in his .xvi. chapitre He hath compassed me with his speris hath not spared me but hath hurt my reynes he hath caste my bowell to the erthe gyuen me woundes vppon wouÌ„de this come sholderyng ayenst me lyke agaynd Thirdely the malyce cruelte of the deuyl is coÌ„forted is more greuous be cause they are neuer wery of tormentyng As it is wryten in the boke of Danyell in the .iii. chapitre The mynystres shall not sease in sturynge the fyres of the fourneys to the causynge of paynes Therfore sayd a wyse man that there be tourmentours whiche be more to be lothed then serpentes they be blacke defourmed wyll not be beten downe And they be neuer wery to do harme but newly encreasen theyr malyce al way redy boylyng desyrously to put soules to payne and Incessantly they excersyse theyr cruelte more and more And it is sayde to all synners in Deutronomye in the .xxviii. chapitre Thou shalt serue for thyne enemy whenne oure lorde shall sende the naked vnto hym in honger and thyrste and in alpouerte And thenne shal thysore woundes enereace perpetuelly O howe grete shall the paynes be there to dampned folkes whiche shall laste contynuelly in anguysshe and myserye withoute Intermyssyon lackynge peas or reste It is redde of the synners in Ezechyell in the seuenth Chapitre That whenne they shall fele this Anguysshyous payne they shall desyre and requyre to haue peas but thenne they gete none for they sall haue conturbacyon and sorowe vppon sorowe It is wryten in Thapocalyps the .xiiii. Chapitre That thoos that haue ben beestly shall therfore haue noo rest by day nor nyght ThenÌ„e mowe the synners well saye as it is wryten in Isaye in the xxxviii chapitre I shall not see oure lorde god in the lyuyng londe nor I shall noo more beholde ony man that is inhaby tour of reste Semblable as it is wryten in Ihere mye the .xlv. Chapitre Alas I am vnhappy for oure lorde hath added in me sorowe to sorowe for I can fynde noo Reste Sorowe shall be thenne caste atte his hede and alle Inyquyte shall descende vppon hym Nowe by these thynges aboue sayd it manyfestly appereth how suche as descendet in to helle be punysshed with many dyuerse paynes and therfore me thynketh dere bretheren how
and therin rote myserably Our lorde lokoth vppon the sone of man and beholdeth yf there be ony axinge grace or in good dysposycyon but well away he seeth to fewe Inclyned therto and many dysposed to the contrarye in all synne and wretchednesse where by is to be drad that the myserable tyme of this worlde is nyghe comen whiche Mycheas prophecyed of in his .vii. Chapitre sayeng Holynesse is perysshed in the erthe and amonge the men is there none that is ryght wyse O Remembre well how euery man almoost now a dayes seketh for his owen particuler cause and lucre the shedyng of blode and the wrongynge of other what shall I more saye fewe there be that wyll entende to ony good perfeccyon nor open theyr eyen for theyr saluacoÌ„n so be they blynded in theyr malycyous folye O cursed malyce vnhappy folye wherby the lyfe is voluntarely loste and the dethe wonne the we le despysed and the harme accepted our lorde dyspleased and the fende obeyed Now thenne my right dere brethern and frendes stryke not of your hedes with your owne swerdes as to saye lete not your owen dedes be your destruccion perpetuall Ryse out of synne loke vp and remembre you what oyfference is betwix eternale dampnacyon and perpetuale Ioye and blysse Forsake renounce your synnes and defende you from the fendes power whiche ye may surely do with contrycyon and in axinge helpe and grace of our lorde Iwys it is meruayll that man whiche aboue all erthly thynge is a creature resonable ensueth not the verayorygynall of reason but dysprayseth forsaketh that that is moost proufytable eternally good for that that is mortale and moost harmefull O good lorde what vnhap causeth it and werfore sholde we by oure folye lose tho soules that thou hast bought so dere with thy moost precyous bloode Certaynely the cause is lacke of prudence good counseyll grace and cordyall Remembraunce of the sayde four laste thynges O our Redemptour almyghty and mercyfull Ihesu graunte vs soo thy grace that we may yet surely purueye for our last thynges and soo cordyally frequente the Remembraunce of thy godhede that it cause vs here after to repelle and reuoque oure synnes Resyste our goostely enemye and conforme vs in alle good werkes vnto thy blessyd wyll to the obteynynge fynally with the happy sayntes of thyne eternall glorye To whiche bryng vs the fader and the sone and the holy goost reygnyng in vnyte sempyternally worlde withouten ende AMEN THis boke is thus translated oute of frenshe in to our maternall tonge by the noble and vertuouse lorde Anthonie Erle Ryuyres Lorde Scales and of the Isle of wyght De fensour and dyrectour of the â—uses Apostolyque for oure holy fader the Pope in this Royame of Englonde Vncle and gouernour to my lord prynce of Wales whiche boke was delyuered to me wyllyam Caxton by my sayd noble lord Ryueires on the daye of puryfycacyon of our blessyd lady fallyng the tewsdaye the seconde daye of the moneth of Feuerer In the yere of oure lorde a. M. CCCC and .lxxviii. for to be enprynted and soo multyplyed to goo abrood amonge the people that therby more surely myght be Remembred the four laste thynges vndoubtably comynge And it is to be uoted that sythen the tyme of the grete tribulacoÌ„n and aduersyte of my sayde lorde he hath ben full vertuously occupyed as in goÌ„ynge of pylgremages to Saynt Iames in in Galyce to Rome to Saynte Barthylme we to Saynte Andrewe to Saynt Mathewe in the Royalme of Naples and to Saynte Nycholas de Bar in Puyle and other dyuerse holy places Also he hath procured and goten of our holy fader the Pope a grete and a large Indulgence and grace vnto the chapell of oure lady of the Pyewe by Saynte Stephens atte Westmestre for the relyef and helpe of crysten soules passed out of this traÌ„sytorye worlde whiche grace is of lyke vertue to thindulgence of Scala celi And not withston dyng the grete labours and chargis that he hath hadde in the seruyce of the kynge and of my sayde lorde prynce as well in wales as in England whiche hath be to hym noo lytyll thought and besynes bothe in spyryte and in body as the fruyt therof experymently sheweth yet ouer that tenriche his vertuous dysposycyon he hath pnt hym in deuoyr atte all tymes whenÌ„e he myght haue a leyser whiche was but starmele to translate dyuerse bookes out of frenshe in to englyshe Amonge other passyd thorugh myn honde the booke of the wyse sayenges or dystes of phylosophers and the wyse and holsom prouerbys of xprystene the pyse sette in metre Ouer that hath made dyuerse balades ayenst the seuen dedely synnes Furthermore it semeth that he conceyueth well the mutabylyte and the vnstablenesse of this presente lyfe and that he desyreth with a grete zele and spyrytuell loue our goostly helpe and perpetuell saluacyon And that we shall abhorre and vtterly forsake the abhomynable and dampnable synnes whiche comunely be vsed now a dayes as Pryde periurye terryble sweryng thefte murder and many other Wherfore be toke vppon hym the translatynge of this presente werke named Cordyall trustynge that bothe the reders and the herers there of sholde knowe themselfe herafter the better and amende theyr lyuynge or they departe and lose this tyme of grace to the recouer of theyr saluacyon Whiche Translatynge in my Iugemente is a noble and a merytoryous dede wherfore he is worthy to be gretely commended and also syngulerly Remembred with our good prayers For certaynely as well the reders as the herers well conceyuyng in theyr hertes the forsayde foure laste thynges maye there by gretly be prouoqued and called from synne to the grete and plenteuous mercy of our blyssed sauyour whiche mercy is aboue alle his werkes And noo man beynge contryte and confessed nedeth to fere the obteynynge therof as in the preface of my sayde lordes booke made by hym more playnly it appereth Thenne in obeynge and folowynge my sayde lordes commaundemente In whiche I am bounded soo to doo for the manyfolde benefetes and large rewardes of hym hadde and receyued of me vndeserued I haue putte me in deuoyr taccomplysshe his sayd desyre and com maundemente whome I beseche almyghty god to kepe and mayntene in his vertuous and laudable actes and werkes And sende hym thaccomplyssnemente of his noble and Ioyous delyres and pleasers in this worlde And after this shorte daungerous and transytory lyfe euerlastynge permanence in heuen Amen Whiche werke presente I began the morne aiter the sayd Puryfycacyon of oure blyssed Lady Whiche was the daye of Saynt Blase Bysshop and Martyr And fynysshed on the euen of the Annuncyacyon of oure sayde blessyd Lady fallyng on the wennesdaye the four twenty daye of Marche In the .xix. yere of hynge Edwarde the fourthe ¶ Enprynted atte westmystre Anno vss ¶ RegistruÌ„ quaternon abcdefghiklm Memorare nouissima c. Memorare nouissima c.
we myght haue heuen yf we wolde And Saynte Effran sayth My right dere brotheren and frendes yf we be neclygent in the lytyll space of tyme that we haue nowe we shall haue noo maner of excusacion to allegge for remedye of our synnes Therfore dysprayse not the shortnesse of this tyme But doo penaunce whyle ye haue space here For after it wyll be to late without fruyte And better is to doo penaunce here than Infynytely and worlde without ende to repente hit Nowe haste ye therfore and tary not Lest that ye fynally be shet out with the fyne fatuat and fonned virgyns Saynt Mathewe seyth in his .xxv. chapitre Loo here is the spouse come and thoos that were redy ben entred with hyÌ„ to the weddyng wherup on Saynt Gregory saythe That the palays of the herte myghte well asauoured howe wonderfull was that worde Here is the spouse whiche is come How swete was that worde to them that entred with hym to the weddyng And how bytter was the other worde the yates be shytte closed My dere frende yf thou dyde sauour vnderstonde well all this thynges beheldest them well in thyne hert Certeynly thou woldest renne with all dilygence for to do penauÌ„ce wolde not lese so vnproufytably without fruyte the acceptable tyme dayes of thy helthe for no maner of voluptuoê° playsers or other ydlenesse And as it is wryten in the Apocalips in the .ii. chapitre RemeÌ„bre the fro whens thou arte falle or departed and do penaunce It is red howe in dayes passed it happened in the Abbey of Cleruaulx that an holy man beyng in his prayers herde a voys makyng a pyteous lamentacyon And as he asked who it was a soule answered sayeng I am the soule of a daÌ„pned man complaynyng myne vnhappy cause of condemnacoÌ„n And then he demauÌ„ded hym of his payn whiche answered that of all thynges that causeth moost payn to a daÌ„pned soule was losse of tyme that god hadde ordeyned man by his grace that he in a lytyll tyme myghte haue done penauÌ„ce whiche sholde delyuere hym from the euerlastyng peynes of the gehenne of helle To this purpose sayd Hugo of saynt Dyctour The lackyng of the sighte of our lorde and faylyng of all the goodes of grace that we myght haue hadde sholde surmouÌ„te and be more greuous vnto the thanne all the Infernall tourmentes Lete vs do good werkes whyle we haue tyme lest we saye in repentaunce As is sayd in Iheremyas in the .viii. chapitre That is to wete Heruest is past Somer is fynysshed we be not saued wherfore my frendes I requyre humbly praye you that ye wyll amende your selfe in shorte tyme make you redy in this .x. hour for the euenyng hasteth hym And the rewarder shall come to yelde euery man after his werkes Hit may appere by these examples how RemeÌ„braunce of dethe sholde induce a man to do penauÌ„ce It is red of a felonous a cruell knyght whiche wolde neuer accept nor do ony penauÌ„ce enioyned hym by pope Alexander And at last the pope gaue hyÌ„ his rynge that he sholde here it on his fynger by way of penauÌ„ce And as often as he behelde him to thynke on his dethe And whan he had boren hit a space of tyme with the RemembrauÌ„ce on a day he come ageyn to the pope sayng he was redy to shryue hyÌ„ to fulfyll euery other maner of penaunce that he wolde enioyne hym It is red of an other synner that in lyke wyse wolde do noo penauÌ„ce at last his confessoure enioyned hym that he sholde commaunde his seruaunt to presente hym euery daye atte his table with the fyrste messe a staffe the rynde scorched of sayenge Syr Remembre that necessaryly ye must dye not knowynge where whenne in what maner nor howe And as this was a good whyle contynued because of that RemembrauÌ„ce all that he ete torned hym to grefe and trouble And thenne he called agayne for his confessour sayeng he was redy to do and obey ony penauÌ„ce that he wolde ordeyne For his herte was merueylously broughte in grete trouble by the fere of dethe whiche he was in Loo by these thynges a fore rehersed appereth thenne clerely Inough how RemembrauÌ„ce of deth causeth a man to humble hym selfe to dyspyse all worldly thynges and acceptably take vpon hym to doo penauÌ„ce and consequently to eschewe synnes And therfore my righte dere brethern frendes Remembre you often ye right often that ye shall dye And ye here in your myndes the dethe ye shalte well come by that remeÌ„bryng to moost happy resorte of lyfe That is to wyte the herytage of our lorde Ihesu Cryste ¶ And thus endeth the fyrst parte of this treatyse deuyded in foure ¶ Here begynneth the ê“logue of the seconde partye of the four last thynges THe seconde parte of the foure laste thynges wherof frequentynge the RemembrauÌ„ce reuoketh calleth vs from synÌ„e Is the last and fynall day of Iugement of whiche the RemeÌ„brauÌ„ce draweth vs not onely from the dedely gret synnes but also from the smale venyall And therfore it is redde in Vitis PatruÌ„ in the lyfe of faders That an auncyent man seeng a yong man laugh dyssolutely layd sone we must gyue accoÌ„pte of all our lyfe before heuen erthe why laughest thou so fast As who sayth yf thou knewest how strayte a Rekenyng shal be at the day of dome of all synÌ„es aswel gret as smale Certeynly thou woldest not laughe but rather sorowe complayne Now is here the place to wepe and to put awaye synnes And thoos that now wepe for theyr synnes shall laugh herafter Saynt Gregory sayth in his Omelye That the gladnesse of this tyme present ought to be but suche as therby the bytternesse of the day of Iugemente be not put out of Remembraunce Therfore it is wryten in Ecclesiastes the .xxxviii. chapitre Here my Iugement in RemembrauÌ„ce And also our lord by his ê“phete in the psalter seyth when I shall see or take the tyme. I wyll deme do Iustyce to euery one Iohell sayth in his last chapitre Alle men aryse come togydres in to the vale of Iosephat For there I shall sytte Iuge all maner of peple aboute me Iheremyas in his seconde chapitre sayth that our Lorde sayth I shall amownte with you in Iugement Of this Iugement is wryten in Ozee the fourthe chapitre Ye childern of Israhell here ye the worde of our lord of the fynall Iugemente that perteyneth to oure Lorde vpon thenhabytantes of the erth Sothely this Iugement is gretely to be doubted Therfore sayth the prophete I dred for thy Iugementes It is wryten in the book of Sapyence in the .v. chapytre They that see the grete Iuge shall be horrybly troubled playnynge and waylyng the drede of theyr soules Certeynly in this daye shall all people be troubled they that dwell in the vtterest partye of the worlde shall fere those tokens and sygnes they shall doubte them
not with oute cause For they shall be merueylously horryble Saynt Luke seyth in his xxi chapitre whenne the sone of man shall shewe hymselfe That is to sey The childe of the virgyne marye comynge in a clowde in mageste with a gret puyssauÌ„ce thenne shall the sygnes shewe in the sonne in the mone and in the sâ—erres And on the erthe shall be pressure of people dredynge to be cunfused with the sounde of the wawes of the see Men vnyuersally of all the world shall fall downe for the drede and fere that they shall haue thenne O thou wretched man Remembre of the terryble comynge of this Iuge that is bothe god and man whiche a fore hym hath a brennyng fyre And a stronge tempeste I saye there shall a fyre go afore hym whiche shall flamme holy aboute his enemyes It is wryten to the Hebrues in the tenthe chapytre Ryght terryble is the abydynge of this Iugement And the fere therof whiche shall destroye hys aduersaryes And Malachyas sayth in his iii. chapitre See here the day that shall come flaÌ„mynge lyke a chemenye And thenne it shall brenne all proude men and thoos that haue commytted felonye It is redde in Isaye in the .xlvi. chapitre Here is our lorde that shall come Iuge by fyre And Iohell in his .ii. chapitre sayth He shall haue a fyre before his face deuourynge and behynde hym a brennyng flamme For this cause sayth Malachyas in his thrydde chapitre who shall he be thenne that shall nowe see oure Lorde For he shall be as a fyre glowynge sette to make clene and purge syluer who is thenne he of deuoute corage that shall not drede with alle his herte this Iuge and his comyng And therfor sayth saynt Gregory vpon Ezechyell who may haue the corage but that shal fere and dred the presence of the eternall Iuge when all thyÌ„ges shal come thenne to the syght of euery man all thynges done afore by delectacyon shall be with righte grete drede called to RemembrauÌ„ce Certayn as it is wryten in the Prouerbys in the .xxxviii. chapitre The euyll men thynken not of the Iugement But they that desyren dreden god haue in theyr hertis all good thynges saynt Bernard sayth in a prose truly I drede sore the vysage of the Iuge that shall come to whom noo thyng can be hyd shal noo thyng rest vnpunysshed who shall he be of vs that shall not dred when that Iuge shall come whiche shall haue fyre brennyng before hym to the destruccyon of all synners Certeynly this last Iugemente ought gretly to be dred and for .iii. causes The fyrste the accusementes shal be in many maners whiche all synneis ought greuously to wayle The seconde is the right strayte sentence vpon our gouernaunce that syngulerly shall be made to euery thyng The thyrde is the horryble feerfull abydynge of the Iugement whiche thenne by the Iust Iuge shal be terrybly gyuen These thynges all synners ought tymerously drede whiche by consequens the Remembraunce therof sholde withdrawe man from doynge synne ¶ Here endeth the prologue of the seconde parte ¶ How the Accusacyon that shall be at the daye of dome is to be drad ¶ The fyrst chapitre of the seconde parte THe fyrste thing theÌ„ne where by the fynal Iugement oughte specyally to be drad is the many and dyuerse accusacyons whiche shall be there agaynst all synners wherfore it is to be knowen that we fynde in holy scryptures seuen thynges that accuse synners atte the grete daye of Iugement The fyrste is oure propre conscyence whiche shall argue ageynst the synner not secretely but manyfestely thenne afore all It is wryten in Danyele in the seuenthe chapitre Thy Iugemente is sette and thy bookes be open That is to wete the conscyences whiche thenne be openly vttered In those bokes be conteyned the sciences of lyf or of deth of glory and of confusyon of saluacyon perpetuell or daÌ„pnacyon eternall It is red also in the .xx. chapitre of the Apocalyps That dede men shall be Iuged of the thynges wryten in theyr owne bokes That is to saye in theyr consciences Therfore it is wryten in the Pystle to the Romayns in the seconde chapitre That theyr conscyences shall bere them wyttenesse For as wyttenesse of the euyll conscyence is thaccusacyon the payne and the tourment of synners Right so shal the good coÌ„scyence be helpe and saluacyon to the good creatures The seconde thyng that shal accuse the synners shall be the fendes and the euyll spyrytes whiche falsly trayterously haue procured sturred men to synne And of alle that the synner hathe done they wyll accuse hym as one thef accuseth an other of one felony done by them both It is wryten in the Apocalyps the .xii. chapitre The fende is called the accuser of bretheren And Saynt Austyn say the. They be all before the Iudycyall sete of Ihesu Cryste And there the deuellys shall be redy â–ª whiche shall reherse the wordes of our professyon and shall appose to oure face that we haue done and wherin we haue synned and in what place and what we oughte to haue done and lefte it vndone Truly our aduersary that same fende shall say thenne O righte wyse and Iuste Iuge Deme this man to be myn for his synnes For he wyll not be thyne by grace He is thyne by nature He is myne by his mysery He is thyn by thy passion He is myn by persuasyons He hathe bendysobeysaunte vnto the. He hath ben concentyng vnto me He hath receyued of the that stole of Immortalyte of me this blacke garmente that he wereth of perpetuell deth he that lefte thy lyuere hath taken myn he hath lefte thy Ioye and blysse hath taken my sorowe and payne O thou Iuste Iuge Iuge hym therfore to be myn and that he be condampned with me perpetually Thyse wordes sayd our lorde vnto Saynte Austyne The thyrde thynge that accuseth synners shall be angeles the happy goode spyrytes Certayne it is to be beleued that he that hath gyuen them oure soules to kepe shall requyre to haue Reason of that kepyng And as those that neuer lye nor wyll take vpon them the synne or faute of other muste nedys saye they be not to blame But the gylte is in vs synners whiche wolde not obey nor byleue them Semblably it is not the defaâ—te of the physycyen whiche doth his cure as it ap perteyneth yf he hele not his pacyent whiche is disobeysauÌ„t vnto hym And therfore hit is wryten in Iheremye the one and fyfty chapitre we haue hadde Babylon in cure and yet she is not heled These be the wordes of the Angeles as they wyll saye we haue doone all that was necessary to be done to Babylon to the ende that sholde be cured heled But it is in her defaut that she is not he led This Babylon is to be lykened to maÌ„nes soule The .iiii. thyng that shall accuse synners shall be creatures