offered vpon the crosse for our redemption And so don you receyue the same that the prest in the masse dothe receyue at the aulter and he none other neyther more or lesse than you do but that he doth there consecrate receyue in bothe the fourmes because he doth there represent the persone of Christe and doth there ministre make that oblacion sacrifice offerynge not for hym selfe alone but for all Christianes as Christe dyd Not witstondyng yf the same preste shulde an other tyme out of masse be communed houseled as you be he shuld receyue as you do and none other than you do ¶ And thus I pray you be content for this mater and forthwith after your communioÌ„ do not you as many do renne forthe make haste vnto brekefaste or dyner or vnto bodyly recreacioÌ„ but rather gyue some thankes vnto our lord as becommeth a good Christian ¶ A prayer to be sayd immediately after your communioÌ„ and houselynge IN moost huÌ„ble Ex missale moost lowly and most harty louynge maner / with moost due reuerence I thanke the good lorde moost holy father eterne euerlastynge God that by the bountye of thy mercyfull grace woldest vouchsafe thus to refresshe and fede me with the brede of lyfe the holy sacred body precyous blode of thy sonne our lorde god sauyour Iesu Christe And I beseche thyne infinite pyteouse goodnes that this most high and holy sacrament of our saluacion that I most vnworthy wretche and moost vyle caytife haue nowe receyued come neuer hereafter in iudgement condempnacion vnto me for myne euyll merites deseruynges but rather good lorde it may come vnto the profyte and comforte of my body and vnto the saluacion and helthe of my soule vnto the lyfe euerlastyng Amen ¶ An other prayer for the same tyme. MOost swete lord sauyour Iesu I beseche thy grace for the vertue in the honour of thy moost holy body and blessyd blode whiche althoughe moche vnworthy I haue here now receyued graunt and gyue me the inwarde swetenes of thy charitie / who le vnfayned loue of all good persoÌ„s spirituall myght and strengthe in all temptacions purity of harte clennes of coÌ„science and in all my conuersacyon of lyfe suche Christiane disciplyne / good maners / behauyours as may auoyd all actyue sklaunder occasion gyueÌ„ And also to be vnto all ê‘sons exaÌ„ple of good edificacioÌ„ So that by thy gracyouse guydynge and gouernaunce I maye go forwarde and increace in thy religion with perseuerant constancy accordynge vnto that state degre that thou good lord haste called me vnto Amen ¶ A deuoute prayer / moche vsed vnto this sacrament with the Englysshe after the Latine ¶ The Antheme O Sacrum conuiuium in quo Christus sumitur recolitur memoria passionis eius mens inpletur gracia Et future glorie nobis pignus datur Alleluia ¶ That is to meane O Meruelouse solempne and holy sacred feest in that whiche feest our lord and sauiour Christe is receyued The memory and remembraunce of his passion is renewed called vnto mynde Our soule / harte / and mynde is replete and fulfylled with grace and comfort And the pledge and ernest token of the glory ande euerlastynge ioye blysse to come is vnto vs gyueÌ„ and delyuered ¶ Alleluya ¶ This Ebrew worde Alleluya of foure sillables in sowne and speakynge is as moche to meane as though you sayd in Englyssh All you people that ben here presente laude prayse your creatour and maker ¶ The versicle âšœ Panem de celo prestitisti eis Thou hast gyueÌ„ good lord vnto thy people this breade frome heuyn ¶ The responde or answere âšœ Omne delectamentum in se habentem Alleluya And this breade hathe in it selfe all delectament and pleasure ¶ Oremus âšœ Praye we or lett vs praye ¶ The collecte DEus qui nobis sub sacramento mirabili passionis tue memoriaÌ„ reliquisti tribue quesumus ita nos corporis sanguinis tui sacra misteria venerari vt redemptionis tue fructum in nobis iugiter sentiamus / qui viuis et regnas deus Per omnia secula seculorum Amen ¶ That is to meane GOod lorde sauyour Iesu the vnder this meruelous sacrament hast left vnto vs the memory remembraunce of thy passion Graunt vnto vs we beseche the so to honour worshyppe the holy sacred misteryes of thy blessyd bodye blode that we therby may coÌ„tynually vnderstande perceyue and fele in vs / the fruite / effecte / the profyte / and auayle of thy redemptyon lorde / that lyuest and reignest with god the father / in the vnitie of the holy ghost very selfe same essenciall god by all worldes of worldes Amen ¶ A lesson for your masse tyme whan you be not communed or houseled YOu muste nowe remembre that as is sayd before euery preste in the masse dothe represent and vse the person / and offyce of Christe / and doth in the same masse make oblacioÌ„ and offer the holy sacrament / not for hym selfe alone / but also for all faythfull Chrystians And therfor euery deuoute louer of Christ in clene lyue / couetynge / desyrynge / and wysshynge with feruoure of hart and mynde / to receyue there with the preste in euery masse the same sacramente shall doutles receyue a greate effecte and vertue therof Wherfore it may be for you moche meritoryous / profytable so in the masse tyme / and specially towarde the Agnus to prepare / ordeyne / and dyspose your selfe / with affectioÌ„ of hart / with desyre deuocioÌ„ of mynd with the charyte loue of all your whole soule vnto your lorde sauyour as thoughe you shuld at the same masse be actually coÌ„muned and houseled with the preste ¶ A prayer for the same purpose O Moost swete lord and sauyour Iesu Oratio doctoris Nydar pro communione spirituali thou knowest wel that I moche do couete and with all my harte / haue greate desyre now to receyue this blessed sacrament And wolde to god that accordyng vnto my wysshe and desyre I were vnto thy pleasure in thy syght so well disposed in my soule that now at this tyme / and euery day And if it myght coÌ„uenieÌ„tly be many tymes in the day I myght be able worthely to receyue it But lord Thou knowest what I am thou dost se and beholde my hart / my hole desyre of mynde soule / is openly sprade and knoweÌ„ before thy face / yet good lord I beseche the gracyous bountie and infinite goodnes graunt me this one peticyon / that is / that I maye nowe at this tyme / and in euery masse receyue spiritually in to my soule / some effecte vertue of this maruelouse misterie And so to be parteyner of the same / that my hart maye perceyue fele the swetenes of thy godly preseÌ„ce And that my soule all enflamed fyered with desyre and deuocion / may
nowe wholy fully to recouÌ„te and reherce is vnto me for theyr multitude iÌ„possyble Wherfore with moost humble and lowly hart moost harty and desyrous wyll of perfecte contricion I vtterly forsake theÌ„ all And althoughe nothynge of my deseruynge yet good lorde for the honour of thy precious blode the merytes of thy bytter passion and most cruell most paynfull most shamefull deth I instaÌ„tly requyre aske craue moost mekely lowly beseche thy gracious benignity goodnes of mercy forgiuenes And that from hensforthe I maye haue thy grace lorde in whole fayth stronge hope perfecte charite / to fle auoyd and forsake all synne And in all my thoughtes wordes dedes / maners / contenauÌ„ces / behauiours / to ordre my selfe in vertue vnto the pleasure honoure of thy grace the welthe and saluacioÌ„ of my soule and vnto the edificacioÌ„ of all Christians And herunto I beseche our lady saynt Mary thy holy mother euer virgin / all the blessed company of heuen / and all faythfull persones to praye for me Amen ¶ All these partes of the masse yf you may conueniently shulde be herde standynge That is to saye / the office the kyrie Gloria in excelsis and specially the gospell with due reuerence at this worde Iesus The preface also the Pater noster sancte IohnÌ„s Gospell ¶ At the fyrst collectes pystle Myne owne good lorde and moost swete sauyour Iesu I beseche thy goodnes to put away ferre frome me all iniquities and wyckednes / and of thy mercyfull louynge kyndenes kendle in my hart the flamynge fyre of thy ferueÌ„t loue Be not swete lord displeased with me ne kepe in mynd or remembrauÌ„ce the multitude of myne offences For I do not presume good lord to make prayer peticion here before thy godly presence of any goodnes / ryghtwysenes or any deseruyng of my selfe but onely of full hope and trust of thy myseracion mercyfull pytye Take frome me swete lorde this harde and stony hart / and gyue me lord for it a newe hart full of compunction and due contricion And gyue me a stomacke kynde louyng that maye dredfully loue the and louyngly drede the that maye delyte take pleasure in the lorde alone / and wylfully folowe the. And at the laste may ouertake and catche the / fast holde the fully possede the. And fynally in eterne blysse to se the / and fully to inioye the. Amen ¶ After the pystle MOost swete sauyoure and louynge lord Iesu / I beseche thy benignity for the anguysshe of thy holy harte in all thy labours / passioÌ„s / and paynes for me susteyned and suffred And for the effusion and shedyng of thy moost holy sacred blode and for the vertue of thy moost innocent precyouse dethe For the mystery also of this holy sacrament thy blessyd body and moost holy sacred bloode / in the immolacion / offerynge / and sacrifice wherof I moste vyle synner am present moost vnworthy wretche do approche And fynally I beseche the lord for thyne owne selfe haue pytye and mercye vpon me that am I knowe well the moost myserable wretche moost synfull caytyfe vpon erth Purify thou good lorde than / and clense my harte soule froÌ„ all vnlaufull affections So that in this tyme all tymes I maye duely and worthely do the seruice Graunte me good lorde very contricion of all my synnes / the grace also of true coÌ„punction / the fountayn of fruitfull teares / pure deuocion clere clene conscience / the coÌ„tinuall memory and mynd of thy bytter passion precyous dethe And of thy moost coÌ„fortable loue perpetuall feruor and desyre Amen ¶ After the gospell O Moost benigne mercyfull louer of maÌ„kynde my swete lord Iesu / I beseche thy grace for the dolorous painfull smertyng of all thy woundes grauÌ„t me the grace of pacience in all aduersyty and to dispise sett at naught the loue of this world and all the goodes and pleasurs therof and to be coÌ„tent with a necessary and meane liuinge And to kepe firmely and constantly by due perseueraunce vnto my laste ende this state and degree that thou haste put me in And to folowe alway by due obedience thy forther callynges dayly to increase profyte in vertue / and euer to haue contynually the feruent desyre of myne owne cuntrey heuenly home Graunt me forther good lord in all the coÌ„uersacion of my lyfe to haue and kepe due discipline good maner / christian behauyoure vnto the auoydyng euer of thy displeasure of the sclaunder occasion / offence of my neyghbour And so to haue groundely in my hart and soule very and vnfayned mekenes / true faythfull kyndenes and meritorious pacience vnto the pleasure and honour of thy grace / the welth of my soule and vnto the edificacion of all persones Amen ¶ In the tyme of the eleuacioÌ„ THe great clerck holy saynt Thomas of Aquine dothe set forth this prayer folowyng as very conuenient to be sayd in this tyme of the eleuacion âšœ Tu rex glorie Christe Tu patris sempiternus es filius And so forth as you haue at matyns The englyshe wherof we haue here sett forth with the latyne / for the increase of your deuocion âšœ Tu rex glorie Christe That is to meane I beleue / confesse / and knowledge that thou good lord Iesu christe my sauyour / beynge here vnder the fourme of brede wyne art the kynge of glory / very god âšœ Tu patris sempiternus es filiê° And that thou good lorde Iesu art the essenciall / eterne and euerlastyng sonne of the father of heuen celestiall âšœ Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem noÌ„ horruisti virginis vterum I beleue that thou good lord disposynge / and by determinacioÌ„ concludyng to take the nature of maÌ„ / and so to redeme and delyuer hym frome the bondage of synne dydeste not abhorre ne disdayne the flesshly wombe of the virgyn âšœ Tu deuicto mortis aculeo aperuisti credentibus regna celorum I beleue that thou good lorde the siynge darte of deth vaynquysshed and ouercomen dydest open vnto all thy faythfull people the realme and kyngdome of heuen âšœ Tu ad dexteram dei sedes in gloria patris I beleue that thou good lord that art here ê‘sent in this holy sacrameÌ„t doste syt remayne and rest in the glory of thy father vpoÌ„ the ryght hande of god or thus syttest and doste remayne rest in glory vpoÌ„ the ryght hande of god thy father âšœ Iudex crederis esse veÌ„turus I byleue that all faythfull peopell done beleue that thou shalt come agayne to iudge all the worlde âšœ Te ergo quesumus tuis famulis subueni quos precioso sanguine redemisti Therfore good lord we beseche the / helpe and socoure thy seruantes whom thou hast redemed and bought with thy precious blode âšœ Eterna fac cum sanctis tuis gloria munerari We beseche the also good
¶ A dialoge or coÌ„municacion bytwene the curate or ghostly father the parochiane or ghostly chyld For a due preparacion vnto howselynge âšœ ¶ The werke for housholders with the golden pystle and Alphabete or a crosrowe called and A. B. C. INRI ¶ Vnto the deuoute reders in our lorde god moste swete sauyour Iesu Rychard whytford your pore bedeman of Syon Salutacyon WHere in a lytle werke the of late we send forth at the requeste of deuoute persones vnto housholders we dyd sette forthe / a breue and short forme of confessyon / heryng and perceyuyng that the sayde werke was thankfully and charitably receyued supposynge that so deuoute receyuers ben well exercised / and haue profyted therin we haue nowe here for your fourthere increase of vertue put forth vnto you a nother lesson howe / when you ben disposed mynded to receyue the holy sacrament of the aulter you shuld prepare ordre make your selfe redy spiritually apparele your selfe therunto For I acerteyne you ther is no ê‘sone in this worlde can tell you with how greate reuerence howe depe deuotion howe lowe and meke harte / with howe reuerente drede howe pure and cleane conscience with howe well adornate garnyshed appereled soule with howe firme stedfast fayth with howe hyghe stronge hope with howe ardente feruent in flamyng and burnyng charite any true Christian shulde accede approyche go vnto that honorable meruelouse and moste hyghe mystery where doubtles is presente the very naturall body / and soule flesshe blode of our lord sauyoure Iesu very god / very man in one ê‘sone very christ his humanytie and his diuinite The blessed trinite father sone holy ghost also our blessed lady saynte Mary with in numerable multitude and nowmbre / of gloryouse aungels and holy sayntes ben ther also present all how be it inuisible doyng therunto that holy sacrement due honour reuerence / and obeysaunce Hit is therfore muche conuenient / and necessarie that due and diligeÌ„t preparation / shulde be made therunto when so euer hit be receyued Not withstoÌ„dynge I do not requyre ne moue you to rede and recounte all that here is wryten / at euery tyme yet were it good so to do if you haue tyme but that hit maye lyke you to rede hit ones ouer and then to marke out suche places as beste done lyke you / and vse theÌ„ or parte of them as you haue tyme and leyser and thus fare you well in our Lorde who blesse you all Amen ¶ A dialoge or communicacion bytwene the curate or ghostly father and the parochiane or ghostly chylde For a due preparacion vnto how selyng ¶ The ghostly chylde Syr I thanke you for the charitable labours you toke with me wheÌ„ I was last with you And I haue accordynge vnto your coÌ„maundement called my houshold together and taught theym the same lesson that you then and before tyme. haue taught me And for the more suerty I haue caused all your sayd lessons to be set forth in prynt that other persones may haue as we haue edificacion therby ¶ The ghostly father ¶ Good ghostly chylde I am ryght glad of your so deuout mynde and good wyll to profet in vertue our lorde be praysed And I shal be glad as my duety to conforte you therin nowe that you haue a good fundation grownd therunto by that forme and maner of lyuyng and also if you by fraylte offende and fall therfrome by the remedy of the holy sacrament of confessyon I shall shewe you an ordre and a good waye or meane how you shuld prepare and make your selfe redy vnto the holy sacrameÌ„t of the aulter when you shall be communed or howseled For saynt Poule commauÌ„ded his disciples to proue i. Cor. xi and examen well them selfe in conscience byfore they shulde approyche or go vnto this holy sacrament For who so euer sayth he do receyue it vnworthely doth receyue hit vnto his owne iudgement and condempnation And our sauyour hym selfe dothe shewe howe this holy sacrament shulde euer be ministred in the memorie and remembraunce of hym Luc. xxii Saynt Paule also how oft so euer you receyue the sacrament saythe he so oftymes shuld you represent and shewe the deth of Christ i. Cor. xi vnto the tyme he come vnto the last iudgement By these sayde auctorites confirmed by our mother the holy church with many holy doctours doth appere that two thynges shal be conuenient necessary vnto euery persone that shall receyue this holy sacramente That is to saye Fyrste due serche of conscience so that no maner of synne vnto knoweledge and remembrauÌ„ce remayne or be left therin The seconde that the persones so clered in conscieÌ„ce / shuld ordre appoynte them selfe vnto some maner of memorie by meditacyon or contemplacion / of our lorde / and sauyour Iesu / and of the actes of our saluation I wold therfore aduyse all maner of persons / that wheÌ„ they wyll accede approych vnto this holy mistery they fyrst be confessed if they coÌ„ueniently can haue a ghostly father / for although they know not theyr conscience charged with any mortall or deedly synne yet shall the approbacion of theyr ghostly father be vnto theym both confortable / and also suerty And for this parte / the forme of confession that we sett forthe in the other werke for housholders may serue you / hit is but lytle / and of lytle pryce / so maye the rather be ioyned hervnto and both bownden to gether and you more redely maye haue at hande that is referred froÌ„ the tone vnto the tother For the seconde parte that is meditation / muche necessarie for you at this tyme I wolde counseyle you the of destinate harte appoynted and wylfull purpose you shulde fyrste geder yourselfe vnto your selfe that is to say your soule harte mynde and wyll in as muche as you may with all force and diligence holly clerely from all cures cares charges and busynes of the worlde and frome all bodyly maters and all cogitatioÌ„s and thoughtes that by any meanes myght lett you hynder you in this exercise and so to compell your spirite to labor alone herin And then coÌ„mend your selfe wholy vnto our lorde thus In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meuÌ„ redemisti me domine deus veritatis That is to saye âšœ good lorde god / I commende / byquethe / render / gyue / and bytake my spirite / my harte / my mynde / and soule / wholly vnto thy haÌ„des power and gouernaunce For thou good lorde the very god of trouthe haste redemed bought me And those persones that bene lerned maye saye this ympne The fyrst verse VEni creator spiritus mentes tuoruÌ„ visita imple superna gratia qÌ„ tu creasti pectora âšœ That is to meane Come vnto vs good lord god holy ghost creatour and maker of all the worlde with the father and the sone Visite and
necessarye for the mylde persone to be poore in spirite so is it lykewyse necessarye for the persone that mourneth for our lord to be bothe poore and myld And therfore this beatitude may be well referred vnto the thyrde consyderacion which was of the bountie of our lorde god whiche bountie dothe apperteyne vnto the holy ghost the thyrde persone and conclusion or knot of the holy trinite The rewarde of this beatitude and degree of perfection is set forth thus âšœ QuoniaÌ„ ipsi consolabuntur That is for they shall be conforted and haue consolacion Consolacion is a coÌ„fort had of other persons specially in wordes wherby the waylynge person is releued of his sorowe and put in good hope of ioy ease or pleasure Whiche consolacion these maner of mourners shall haue in two maners One in this worlde by the assuraunce of clene conscience voyde of all despayre And after in blysse eterne amoÌ„ge the holy citizens sayntes of heuyn Amen ¶ Of the fourth beatitude of perfecte lyuyng THe fourth beatitude state of perfectioÌ„ is in the gospell âšœ Beati q i esuriuÌ„t et sitiuÌ„t iusticiaÌ„ Blessed be those persons that done hunger thurst iustice That is to meane those persones that feruently don couet desyre iustice ben blessed Iustice is a vertu that doth render gyue to euery person that is ryght he worthy to haue That is vnto god loue drede vnto the parentes and souerayns honour obedience vnto the neyghboure that is frende beneficiall thankes and kyndnes and vnto the enemye that noyeth pacience sufferance and euery persone vnto him selfe due gard and kepynge of the soule due correction of the body / vnto bothe the continuall exercise of vertue good maners and holy conuersacioÌ„ This beatitude may be referred vnto the fourth consyderacioÌ„ whiche was of the werke of iustificacion For the persone of suche hunger thurst ferueÌ„t desyre of iustice shal be sure to be iustyfyed That is / to be made by iustice apte and mete for the heuenly blysse The rewarde of the whiche beatitude doth folowe accordyng âšœ Quoniam ipsi saturabuntur That is for they shall be saturate satiate full fed habundantly contented fulfylled here in this lyfe by the visitacion ordenauÌ„ce / and comfort of our lord Psal xvi And after as the prophete saythe whan his glory shall appere in ioye blysse euerlastynge Amen ¶ Of the fyfte beatitude and state of perfecte lyuynge THe fyfte beatitude state of perfection is âšœ Beati misericordes Eccle. xxx d That is the persons mercifull ben blessed Mercifull I say vnto them selfe / by due reformacion of them selfe Mercyfull vnto the neyghbour by due releuing of misery / and this beatitude maye be referred vnto the .v. coÌ„sideracion which was of the werke or benefite of remuneracioÌ„ or rewarde For as a great gyfte is worse and more than loste vpon the vnkynde person that doth forget it so is it well speÌ„t vpon the kynde that doth remembre it / duely doth thankes therfore And the greatest thanke that can be gyuen vnto our lorde is to be mercifull / and to releue hym in his / for so dothe he accepte that is done for his sake Math. xxv And therfore the rewarde dothe folowe QuoniaÌ„ ipsi misericordiam coÌ„sequeÌ„tur For they shall optayne get mercy here in this lyfe of all theyr synnes / after be rewarded ferre more and aboue theyr deseruynge / more thaÌ„ they loked for / or than they coulde by any meane requyre or desyre / inioye eterne euerlastynge Amen ¶ The syxte beatitude or state of perfecte lyfe THe .vi. beatitude is âšœ Beati muÌ„do corde That is / those persoÌ„s that ben of clene herte beÌ„ blessed That is to meane / such as don kepe theyr coÌ„scieÌ„ce clene vndefowled / or vnspotted / the soule wtout synne For suche persoÌ„s don here lyue the lyfe of auÌ„gels therfore this beatitude or state may be referred vnto the .vi. coÌ„sideracioÌ„ / whiche was of the werke of glorificacioÌ„ And the rewarde is QuoniaÌ„ ipsi deuÌ„ videbuÌ„t For they shall se god The clene hart clere coÌ„scieÌ„ce doeth see god here in this lyfe by whole and full fourmed fayth / by stroÌ„ge hope ferueÌ„t charite / and he doeth se him self by due discusse by diligeÌ„t examinacioÌ„ and serche by due custody and garde of him self And he doth se his neyghbour by loue kyndenes / mercy / pyte i. Cor. xiii And after this lyfe he shal se our lord / face to face as he is with hym be glorified in soule body / world without ende Amen ¶ Of the seuenth beatitude or state of perfecte lyuynge THe seuenth beatitude state of perfection / is âšœ Beati pacifici Blessed be the peacefull That is to meane that suche persons as don make peace / ben blessed Our lorde and sauiour made peace betwyxt god man / he was very peace of hym selfe / and he made also peace bytwene man man Those persons thaÌ„ that done make peace bytwyxte god and theÌ„ self by penaunce due recoÌ„siliacioÌ„ that don make and kepe peace in theÌ„ selfe by due orderyng of the body vnto the soule and bytwyxte them and theyr neyghbours / by the exercyse of pacience / and betwyxte neyghboure neyghbour by charitable kyndenes neyghbourly loue Those I say be of this beatitude / and theyr reward foloweth QmÌ„ filii dei vocabuÌ„tur For they shall be called the chyldreÌ„ of god And this beatitude maye be referred vnto the .vii. consyderacion / whiche was of the werke benefite of fruicion For in that they be the chyldren of god they ben heyres and coheneritours vnto our sauyour and therby shal haue the possession of all heuyn the full fruicion of the deitie godhede to vse at pleasure reioice inioye the same in blysse euerlastynge Amen ¶ Of the .viii. beatitude or blessed state of perfect lyuynge THe eyght beatitude is âšœ Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iusticiam That is those persones that don suffer ê‘secucioÌ„ for iustice ben blessed It is a great perfection as before is sayd feruently to desyre and to loue iustice but to fuffre trouble to bere daunger for iustice is ferre more perfection For alway to suffre euyll is of more perfection thaÌ„ is to do good I meane to suffre euyll for iustice and for the loue of god for els many ê‘sons may suffre payne euyll by theyr own deseruynge and agaynst theyr wyll And many do suffre take greate payne labour to do euyll And these ben not blessyd but rather the contrary The reward of this beatitude doth folow QmÌ„ ipsorum est regnuÌ„ celoruÌ„ That is for the kyngdome of heuyn is theyrs or dothe apperteyn vnto them This rewarde is two tymes named / assigned / or appoynted in these states or beatitudes that is to say fyrst last And therfore may coÌ„ueniently
I may nowe at this tyme receyue this holy sacrifice of thy blessed body and blode with puryte of hart clenenes of conscience with the gracious fountayne of deuout swete teares with desyre drede with honour and reuerence / with mekenes of harte / and feruour of loue / with spirituall gladnes and heuenly ioy And yf it may please thy goodnes lorde let me be somwhat reysed vp in spirite I dare not say vnto the very felynge and perceyuynge but vnto some maner lytle smake or taste of the swetenes of thy godly mooste pleasaunt presence and vnto the deuocion of thy holy aungels and sayntes that here be now presente about the same / and that I maye with them fynally be there present where now they be Amen O Moost gentyll lorde mercyfull sauyour Iesu / I beseche the for this holy mystery of thy blessed body and blode wherwith we vnworthy wretches ben dayly fed in thy churche and dayly wasshed clensed sanctified and made hole / and so parteyners of thy moost hygh diuinity and godhed Graunt me lord and gyue me the precious garment of innocency with suche garnysshe of other garmētes therunto accordyng as best may please thy grace Wherwith apparelled / bawned / dressed I may as in my nupciall and weddynge clothyng in good and clene cōscience approche vnto thy presence So that this celestiall heuenly sacrament ryceyued may be vnto me helth and saluacion of soule and body / vnto lyue euerlastynge Amen GOod swete mayster moste hyghly lerned / and best expert phisicion lord Iesu my sauyour I beseche thy gentyll harte to cure and hele my infyrme / feble / syke hart frome all maner of langoures / diseases / and sykenesses / Palate is the rofe of the mouthe and so to refourme and season the palate of my soule and mynd that I neuer sauer fele ne taste any maner of swetenes but onely thy selfe For thou good lord arte the moost swete sauored bred / the moost white / pleasaunte and most noble and beste nourisshynge bread / the bread of all breades / the bread paynmayne of pleasure the bread of all fortitude and strength / the bread of all vnderstandynge and knowledge / the bread of all grace good wyll / the bread of lyfe that hast in thy selfe all maner of delectament and pleasure / gyuest lyfe vnto the world And of thy moost excellent charity doste euer contynually refresshe and fede vs with thyne owne selfe yet in thy selfe doste nothyng waste / minushe / ne faynte / or fayle Let my hart good lord therfore fede vpon the / spiritually eate and drynke the / be so fed of the / that my soule may be fully saciat and fylled of the swete sauyour and taste of the sauory swetenes of thy diuine presence GOod swete lorde / I beseche the come thy selfe / entre in to my hart make clene myne inward partes from all inquinamētes / and filthynes of mynd and of spirite Entre good lord into my soule / make me whole frome all synfull diseases Sanctifye clēse me now and at al tymes vnto thy selfe for thy selfe Be thou good lord thy selfe both the phisicion the medicin / the salue and the surgeon the helth and conseruaciō of both my body soule Put awaye from me good lord all the crafty assayles and the sleyghty wyles of myne enimies that they haue nothynge to do with me but that thou lord alone may occupy me wholly vnto thy selfe so that nothyng els haue any tyme power ouer me but that I alwaye preserued and defended by this blessyd sacramēt may go forth contynue profyte perseuerantly in the pathe and way of my profession / thy holy christiā religion with due obseruaūce reguler disciplines christiā maners and all due catholyke obedience perteynyng vnto the same And that I neuer consent ne lene vnto any of them that ben contrarious thereunto Amen Ex cano ne miss GOod blessyd lorde father omnipotent eterne euerlastynge god I moost entierly beseche thy goodnes to graunt me grace so worthely now to receyue this holy sacred body and blessyd blode of my swete sauyour Iesu Christe that I may therby deserue to haue full remission and forgyuenes of all my synnes and to be replete and fulfylled with thy holy spirit and to haue thy peace For thou alone art my lord thou only my god / and non other thou lorde the entiere and inward loue of my hart / the true quietude and sure rest of my mynde the whole desyre of my soule Whose gloryouse impery and gouernaunce remayneth perfectly abydeth cōtynueth and indureth for euermore world without ende Amen MI swete lord god Ex eodē father of heuyn the fountayne well and spryng of all bountie goodnes / that moued of thy moost pyteouse mercy woldest vouchesafe that thyn owne sonne our sauiour Iesu Christe shulde descende and come down for vs for our sake vnto this wretched worlde / and here take flesshe and bloode of the blessyd virgyn his mother Mary and therin for vs to susteyne suffre and bere our myseryes moost bytter passyon intollerable and greuous payns and moost cruell and mooste shamefull dethe I beseche the lord graūt me that grace that I may dayly worshype the gloryfy the / and with all the intēt and wyll of my hart I may laude prayse the. And that thou good lord neuer leue ne forsake me / thy pore and wretched seruaunt but of thy depe and great mercy thou clerely forgyue and forget all my synnes So that in clene hart and chast body I may be able to serue the alone / my lorde eterne / euerlastyng / lyuynge / and very God omnipotent Amen Myne owne swete lorde sauyour Iesu very essenciall sonne of almyghty God / that of thy profound depe mercy by the wyll of thy eterne father by the workynge of the holy ghost haste by thy passion and deth quyckened and redemed the world I beseche moost lowly thy holy grace / in the honour of this thy holy sacred body blessed blode whiche I vnworthy wretche presume to receyue for the welthe of my soule that thou wilt vouchsafe to perdō my boldenes and to delyuer me quyte from all iniquities / offenses / all maner of euyls whereby in any tymes I haue or may any tyme hereafter offend or displease thy gracious goodnes And thou good lord make me euer obedient vnto thy wyll and commaundement And that thou neuer suffre me swete lorde to be perpetually departed from the my swete lord sauyour Iesu Christe that with the father with the holy ghoste lyueste and reygnest very selfe same essenciall god / world without ende Amen O Souerayn lorde sauyour Iesu / although I most vnworthy wretche now here do accede presume approche vnto this worthy sacrament of thy mooste precyous body and bloode yet I beseche thy
thou shalt by that exercise obteyne moost ghostly pacience and meritoryous profyt ¶ Labour Iob. v. b Iudith v. ii Duo xiiii d Eccle. xxxiii d LAbour here muste by our lyfe For maÌ„ sayth scripture is born to labour the byrde to flye By labour payne penaunce by many tribulacions haue all faythfull persons passed this lyfe And by them onely / we muste entre the kyngedome of heuen and contrary ydlenes / ease and pleasure in honour and delycacy dothe teache a man moch myscheffe and euyll and bryngeth him at the last vnto the pyt of perdycyon ¶ Mercy MOche is the mercy of our lorde / shewed vnto maÌ„ in many sondry wyse / among all other specially vnto them that haue the spiryte of pouerte / that is to saye / a determynate wyll and mynde to be pore for the loue of god And be voyde as well of all honours and hyghe rowme and degree as of ryches worldely goodes / for pouerte bryngeth a persone vnto me kenes / and the other bryngethe hym by intycement and suggestioÌ„ of the enemy to clymbe on hyght / to the intent and ende that he may fall farre and be sore hurte Take and accounte pouerte therfore as a greate gyfte of the mercy of god who so euer duly doth gyue thaÌ„kes for the lytle gyftes shall mercyfully deserue to haue great gyftes ¶ Noyance NEuer shulde a very christiane noye or hurt / ne yet despyse any persone / but rather sythe by the gospell we be bouÌ„de to loue our enemyes Luc. vi â— we muste be sory for the noyaunce / hurt and trouble of any person / coÌ„fort them in all we may / or els shall we be accounted as dysdeyners of other persones / extollynge or exaltynge and preferrynge our selfe ¶ Oblacyon OFfre thy hart wholly vnto our lord For that oblacyon is vnto hym acceptable and pleasaunte âšœ Da mihi cor tuuÌ„ sufficit mihi Gyue vnto me saythe he thyne harte / that suffyseth / contenteth and is ynoughe for me Spende therfore thy tyme with hym in his seruice / and iudge and thynke nothynge more precyous then tyme / wherin we maye here meryte deserue to be where our tresure is / our hart shuld be that is in blysse Offre theÌ„ thy selfe for his sake vnto all persones / gentle / kynde and curteys And asmoche as maye be conuenient coÌ„penable / referrynge euer applyenge all that is good vnto our lord / and in all thynges folowe couÌ„seyle with delyberacioÌ„ ¶ Pleasure POndre and weye in euery thynge the pleasure of our lord / that is to meane / that in euery werke or dede we shulde fyrste consydre / and weye in conscience whether that dede shulde please hym or no / and than neuer for fauour ne fere to do contrary vnto the conscience And yf any doubte be in conscience we must then leue the werks for the tyme and resorte haue recourse other vnto holy scrypture / or els vnto the determinacyoÌ„ of the church / or at the leste vnto sure / wyse and lerned counseyle specially of our prelate or curate And neuer shulde we truste syngulerly vnto our selfe / ne leyne vnto our owne wyttes / we shulde accustome our selfe to seme dumbe rather than to speake to be more gladde to lerne then to teache to be reformed then to reforme / to byde secrete as an vnknowen persone rather than to shewe our selfe and appere outwarde after our owne propre estymacyon and of deceyueable opynyon ¶ Quyetude QVyetude rest of mynd is a great forderer of all maner of vertues we shulde therfore study to queÌ„ch all yre to represse all hasty passioÌ„s as well iÌ„ wordes signes tokens countenauÌ„ce behauyoure as in outwarde dedes And neuer shuld we take vpon vs to iudge or to be busy or to medle with other folkes maters specially that nothynge done apperteyne or byloÌ„g vnto vs. For the coÌ„mune ê“uerbe is Ecclesi vi a In lytyll medlyng is moch rest So thaÌ„ we shuld neuer gyue occasion of vnreste but rather study by ientle wordes to appese euery occasioÌ„ gyueÌ„ for a swete and ientle worde saythe the wyse man slaketh yre and multiplyeth and makethe frendes / yet shulde we not vtterly flye and avoyde occasyon of vnreste gyuen vnto vs / as rebuke persecucyon and suche other troubles but rather shulde we ordre our selfe vnto pacience for so without synne to folowe the commune maner and to auoyde all syngularite shall we best edify and buylde loue and charite come vnto perfectioÌ„ and of all thynges vnto quyetude of mynde auayleth moch the clennes of coÌ„science For if we do wel our duety in due tyme our coÌ„science shal be the more lyght our hart careles mery and we so quyete in mynde ¶ Rekenynge REturning oftymes and hauyng recourse vnto the inward parties of our hart we shuld at the lest ones in the day recount and make rekenyng with our lord and coÌ„sydre how we spend the tyme that by the temptacion of the enemy / and by our owne fraylte and neglygency specially in leauynge open our dores wyndowes that is to saye our senses and wyttes we royle not about ne wander or walke amonge the vayne pleasures and varyaunt desyres of the worlde And that we suffre not suche ghestes to entre by our sayde wyndowes dores into the chambre of our mynde that shuld noye vs by ryght loth without vyolence and extreme laboure to departe To byde therefor with our lorde in the secrecye of sylence and in precyse contynence of our sayde wyttes is a great surety and redynes for our sayd dayly rekenynge and accompte The Enlysshe prouerbe saythe Ofte rekenynge holdeth longe fellowsheppe ¶ Sobryete SObryete or sobrenes is proprely a due temperaunce in meate and drynke and oftymes it is taken for a moderacion a due meane discrecyoÌ„ in all other thynges therfore it is necessary for all christians specyally religyous persoÌ„es that must by theyr ordynauÌ„ce euer take in fedyng rather som what to lytle thaÌ„ any thynge to moche also to be moderate in aray prouydent ware and wyse in wordes honest in maners and all behauyoure sadde and charytable in conseyle Strong in aduersyte dredefull in prosperyte meke lowly pacyent in contuinely rebukes vpbraydes in sorowe deiectyon despectes cherefull and tractable And in all workes sobre dyscrete and moderate ¶ Tymorouse Tymorate / or as communely is sayde tymorouse is as moch to say as dredefull ferefull to offend Iob the symple dredefull persone / Iob. ix b. and of hygh perfectyon was not withstandynge in all his werkes dredefull How moche more than shuld it become or byseme vs that ben frayle persones to be dredefull / and euer in fere to offend our lord in the lest neglygeÌ„cy / offence or defaut / and neuer to presume vpoÌ„ any good dede ne yet to despeyre for any euyll or synfull dede Prouer. xix c
¶ Imprynted by me IohnÌ„ Waylande / at LoÌ„don within the Temple barre / at the sygne of the blewe Earlande An. M.D.xxxvii ¶ The werke for housholders nowe newly corrected and set forthe into a dyaloge betwene the housholder and his housholde / by a professed brother of Syon Rycharde Whytford with an addicyon of pollecye for housholdynge / set forth also by the same brother INRI ¶ Certayne small werkes of a brothers of Syon Rycharde Whytforde ⧠The contentes of this boke FIrst a dyaloge and coÌ„municacyon betwene the housholder and his housholde ¶ An other dyaloge betwene the curate and his ghostly chylde ¶ Two maners of alphabetes / crosroes / called A. b. c. ¶ A dayly exercyse and experyeÌ„ce of deth / all duely corrected by the selfe auctour and nowe prynted trewely ⧠The sayd auctour requyred me instantly that I shulde nat prynte nor ioyne any other werkes vnto his Specially of vncertayne auctours For of late he founde a werke ioyned in the same volume with his werkes / and bought and taken for his werke / and was nat his But was put there in stede of a werke of his That before was named amonge the contentes of his boke And yet his werke lefte out / as is contayned in this preface here vnto the reders ⧠Vnto the deuout reders Rycharde Whytforde a professed brother of Syon / gretyng in our sauyour Iesu euerlastynge I Suppose and thynke verely good deuout reders / that whan you rede these pore symple werkes some of you that haue had mynde to rede them / wyll nowe meruayle to se and perceyue that these ben the same werkes that went forthe before and nothynge chaunged in substaunce / but onely the tytle and some fewe thynges added Some other wyll paraduenture iudge or feare in me ambicyon that I wold seme to make many werkes / and yet dyd sende forthe but the same newely chaunged or disguysed To satisfye therfore your deuoute myndes with the trothe in trewe coÌ„scyence / there is none such cause But yet causes there ben dyuers appartaynynge bothe vnto you me One cause is that I trust verely you haue them here in a more perfecte lettre than you had before And also more truely prynted For of a suretye the tother letter was moche vicyous and faultye / that in some places that myght seme vnto my neglygencye And also in the same volume or boke / is one of my workes left out / whiche werke is nombred amonge the contentes of the same volume and boke And in stede of my werke is an other heretyke or heretycall werke set in place / and the whole boke solde for my werke / whiche thynge is the most chefe cause of the sayd mutacyon or chaunge For that thynge dothe nat onely put me vnto infamye and sclaunder but also dothe put all the reders in ieopardye of conscyence to be infecte and also in the daunger of the kynges lawes for the manyfolde erronyous opynyons that ben contayned in the same boke Nowe iudge you deuout reders whether these causes ben nat reasonable for the sayd mutacyon and chaunge I praye you therfore of your charyte take all vnto the beste And by my poore aduyse / rede nat those bokes that go forth without named auctours For doubtles many of them that seme very deuout and good werkes ben full of heresyes And your olde englysshe poete sayeth There is no poyson so peryllous of sharpnes as that is that hathe of sugre a swetnes I wolde gladly the welth and nat the ieopardye of your soules our lord god most swete sauyour Iesu my iudge / who kepe you and sende you the increase of grace AmeÌ„ ¶ A Dialoge or coÌ„munycacion bytwene the housholder and his housholde The spekers ¶ Fyrst speketh the housholder than speketh one of the housholde for all the residue The housholder GOod chylderne frendes I had of late couÌ„sell to call you all to gether And for the discharge of my conscience to shewe vnto you a forme of lyuynge fyrst therfore lett vs coÌ„sydre that all we bene mortall as well the ryche as the poore the yonge as the olde there is no difference none excepte all must nedes dye And thoughe we lyue very loÌ„ge yet shall we dye shortly for the lengest lyfe of this worlde is very shorte And yet haue we no certayne ne yet coÌ„iecture of knowlege whaÌ„ / where / howe or in what state we shall departe this lyfe And sure we bene that as we bene founde at that tyme so shall we be takeÌ„ and without respite or delay forthwith shall we be presented and brought before the hyghe iudge that can nat be deceyued to make a counte of all our lyfe past where no man of lawe may speke for vs ne any excuse may serue vs. Our owne conscyence shall there speke and tell playne trouthe wtout craft or dissymulacion and in a momente a twynclynge of an eye shall clerly confesse all our hole lyfe and euery wryncle and parte therof whiche confessioÌ„ if our lyfe were good shal be vnto our great honour comforte reioysynge ioye euerlastynge And contrary if it were euyl it shal be vnto our great shame rebuke vnto our endles sorowe payne and wo euerlastynge We haue nede therfore to be well ware howe we spende our tyme howe we passe this lyfe or rather howe this lyfe passeth vs. And moche shall it auayl and profyte vnto the helth of our soules ofte tymes for to remembre our laste ende The wyse maÌ„ sayth Ecclesi vii ✿ In omnibus operibê° tuis memorare nouissima tua c. In all thy werkes sayth he remeÌ„bre thyne endynge daye what thynges shall come vnto the at thy laste ende and thou shalte neuer do synne ne coÌ„tynue euerlastyngly therin ¶ One of the houshold Syr we all byseche you than that you wyll shewe teche vs that forme meane our waye that you speke of ¶ The houshold The fyrste poynte therfore of a good ChristiaÌ„ is to entende and purpose with good harte constaunte mynde to auoyde synne and dyligently to study howe to fle and beware of the occasyons therof And than to appoynte hym selfe vnto some custumable course of good ê“fytable exercyse Psalmo xxxiii ✿ Diuerte a malo fac bonuÌ„ saythe the prophete Tourne awaye thy face thy harte wyll mynde froÌ„ all euyll and appoynte thy selfe to worke good werkes ¶ The ê‘sone of the houshold Syr hyt is sone sayd Fle euyll do good But I pray you shew vs forther howe to do so ¶ The houshold For a fourme therfore howe to folowe the same by coÌ„tinuaunce I shall shewe you my poore aduyse I speke vnto you good symple and deuoute soules that wolde fayne lyue well your selfe also coÌ„forte all other vnto the same Fyrst than eueryche begynne with your selfe And as sone as you do awake in the mornynge to aryse for all daye Fyrst sodeynly tourne your mynde and remembrauÌ„ce vnto
/ that the persone hath perfyte faythe and byleue in god / and vnto god ¶ The seconde article Saynte Andrew ¶ Et in Iesum Christum filiuÌ„ eius vnicum dominum nostrum ✿ And I also byleue perfytely vpon our lorde Iesu Christe his onely begoteÌ„ sone that is to say the only begoten sone of the sayd father ¶ The thyrde article Saynte Iohan. ¶ Qui coÌ„ceptus est de spuÌ„ sctoÌ„ natê° ex maria virgine ✿ And also I byleue perfytly the our sayd lorde Iesu was conceyued of the holy ghost borne of our lady saynt Mary she remaynyng abydyng euer euer a virgine ¶ The fourth article ¶ Passus sub pontio Pilato / crucifixus mortuus et sepultus Saynte Iames the more ✿ And also I perfytly byleue that our sayde lorde Iesu dyd suffre his passion was crucified deed and buried vnder the power and iugement of a man called by propre name Poncius / and by his seconde or surename Pylate ¶ The fyfth artycle ¶ Descendit ad inferna Saynte thomas of Inde tertia die resurrexit a mortuis ✿ And I byleue perfytely also / that our sayd lorde Iesu after his sayde passyon and dethe / descended and wente downe vnto the lowe places of hell / and brought forthe froÌ„ thense our fyrste father Adam and all that were there with hym / and that vpoÌ„ the thyrde day after his deth he dyde aryse from deth / and all the bondes therof vnto lyfe euerlastynge ¶ The syxth artycle Saynte Iames / the lesse ¶ Ascendit ad celos sedet ad dexteram dei patris oiÌ„potentis ✿ And also I byleue perfytly that our sayd lorde Iesu dyd ascende and slye vp vnto the hyghest heuens and ther doth syt vpon the ryght hande of god the father oiÌ„potent and almyghty ¶ The seuenth article Saynte Philipe ¶ Inde veÌ„turus est iudicare viuos et mortuos And I also ê‘fytely byleue that he wyll come theÌ„se agayne in to this worlde to iuge all persones quycke and deed ¶ The .viii. article Saynte Bartelmewe ¶ Credo in spiritum sanctum ✿ I byleue perfytly also vpoÌ„ the holy ghost the spirite of the father and of the sone with them both the same selfe god ¶ The .ix. article Saynte Mathewe ¶ Sanctam ecclesiam catholicaÌ„ ✿ I also byleue that the church of Christe is and was / and euer more shal be holy faythfull / therefore I do gyue fayth and credeÌ„ce vnto the same and vnto the determinacions therof ¶ The .x. article ¶ Sanctorum communionem Saynte Symon remissioneÌ„ peccatorum ✿ I byleue also the communioÌ„ of sayntes that is to say / I byleue that all the workes and good dedes of all good holy persones / ben and shal be coÌ„mune so that euery faythfull Christian hath shall haue part with other And also I byleue the remisson of synnes that is to say / that all maner of synnes may and shal be forgyuen / if forgyuenes be duely desyred and axed ¶ The .xi. article ¶ Carnis resurrectionem Saynte Iude called also saint Tadeus ✿ I also byleue the resurrection of our flesshe / that is to saye / I byleue that all maner of persones shall aryse at the daye of dome in soule body with the same flesshe blode and bones that they were borne with and dyed with ¶ The .xii. article Saynte Mathie ¶ Et vitam eternam Amen †And I also byleue euerlastyng lyfe that is to say that after the generall resurrection all maner of persones / as well good as euyll dampned or saued / shall coÌ„tynue in lyfe euerlastynge eyther in ioye or payne neuer departe therfroÌ„ This worde Amen is declared before in the ende of the Pater noster ¶ This maner of the Pater noster Aue and Crede I wold haue vsed rede vpoÌ„ the boke at euery mele / or at the leeste ones a day with a lowde voyce as I sayde that all the persones presente may here it And yet forther I wolde aduyse counseyle all other housholders to se as I do knowe / and proue / that euery persone in theyr house / all that ben vnder theyr gouernaunce and charge can say the same and therfore they muste take the laboure to here them theym selfe and wher nede is to teche them For many that ben aged and can not say wyll be abasshed to lerne it openly and yet if they here it dayly redde after the maner shewed before they shall by vse and custome lerne it very well And some other persones there bene that can saye ryght well / both vpon the boke and without but yet amonge them some bene dullardes and slouthfull and seme negligente and careles / and so done they not saye it but in tyme forgete it / as in maner they hade neuer lerned it I pray you therfore good deuoute housholders do as I do take the payne to here them your selfe at the leeste ones a weke let none escape you / olde nor yong It shall byleue me be vnto you a great discharge of conscience and not without merite greate rewarde And charge them straytly vnder payne of punysshement / that they say it euery day thre tymes at the leest / that is to saye / in the mornynge / at none or myddaye / at nyght Than must you teche them to knowe by ordre the preceptes or coÌ„maundementes of god the names of the .vii. priÌ„cipall synnes of theyr .v. wyttes as thus The coÌ„maundementes of god ben .x. in noÌ„bre The fyrst The fyrst that we shall haue no straunge ne other godes but one alone and hym to loue honoure drede aboue all thynges The .ii. The seconde we may not take the name of god in vayne therfore we may not vse to swere The thyrde The .iii. we must kepe our holy day with close mynde vnto god reuerende deuocion and therfore we may do no bodely or worldly labours for lucre therin .iiii. The fourth we muste with reuerende and due lowly maner do honoure vnto our parentes that is to say vnto our fathers and mothers and we shall haue by the promyse of god longe lyfe therfore .v. The .v. we shall not slee or kyll any persone neyther in dede nor yet in wyll or mynde nor yet may we hate any persone in harte For who so euer so doth i. Ioh. iii. is an homicide and maÌ„sleer .vi. The .vi. we maye do no lechery .vii. The .vii. we may do no thefte .viii. The .viii. we may bere no false wytnes ne make any lye or lesynge .ix. The .ix. we may not coueyte or desyre any wedded or maried persone .x. And the .x. we may not coueyte ne desyre any other mannes goodes These bene the .x. coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes gyueÌ„ coÌ„mauÌ„ded by almyghty god / gyueÌ„ ben deuyded in two partes as two tables or bokes Exod. xx The fyrste
shewed laste before / that is to say vnto periury or forsweryng Mendarium vnto false wytnes For eueryche of these doughters / is worse than the mother For the lyer careth lytell to bere false wytnes / and euery lyer is coÌ„munely a swerer / for els the lye shuld not be coloured / dubbed and paynted sufficieÌ„tly to seme true specially in a defaute whereof the lyer wolde fayne be excused for drede of punysshemeÌ„t or rebuke or whaÌ„ a mater shulde by that lye come to passe / be broughte aboute vnto effecte for profyte auauntage flatery or pleasure For whaÌ„ the lyer doth coueyte moste subtelly to deceyue fayne and gladly wold be byleued thaÌ„ doth the lyer most lyberally lasshe out othes sparethe for no cost as they say but whaÌ„ suche a persone doth swere most thaÌ„ wyll a wyse persone byleue hym leste And by this doth appere that the commune besy swerers bene suspecte to be lyers For the lyer is combred so in conscience that he supposeth and thynketh he can not be byleued without he swere many othes and great othes Beware therfore of lyers For coÌ„mune lyers bene communely theues or pyckers vnclene lyuers And to say the trouth the lyer is 〈◊〉 disposed vnto all maner â—â—â—ces bycause that all lyers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chylder of the deuyll For the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the fyrste lyer and eue◠〈◊〉 coÌ„tynue a lyer And as the gâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 saythe he is the father of all 〈◊〉 Nowe ponder and wey goâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—uoute christiaÌ„s I pray you if you were requyred whether you wold be coÌ„tente to kepe in your coÌ„pany a thefe or pyker a persone that shuld enforce and laboure to corrupte your wyues / or your doughters / or yet suche a persone that were seruauÌ„t or chylde vnto your deedly foo or enemy I thinke you wyl say nay you wold kepe no suche Than say I beware of the lyer / for all commune lyers ben the deuyls chyldren and done folowe theyr father the deuyl whose properte and naturall disposicion is to lye I cane well graunte that you â—â—â—gyue and pardon them that done 〈◊〉 pyke or do lechery for ones 〈◊〉 â—â—vyse and labour and loke for 〈◊〉 â—â—ery and amendement but in 〈◊〉 â—yse can I graunte that you 〈◊〉 on the lyers but euyn forth◠〈◊〉 you wolde cure the sodeyne 〈◊〉 â—lence so correcte punysshe that lye Wherfor I haue set out here a pÌ„ty lesson whiche I pray you teche your chyldreÌ„ euery chylde the cometh iÌ„ to your coÌ„pany you shall I trust do moch good therby ¶ If I lye backebyte or stele If I curse scorne moke or swere If I chyde fyght stryue or threte Than am I worthy to be bete Good mother or maystres myne If in any of these nyne I trespas to your knowynge With a newe rodde and a fyne Erly naked / before I dyne Amende me with a scourgynge ¶ And than I pray you fulfyll perfourme theyr peticioÌ„ request thynke it not cruelly / but mercifully done For the wyse man sayth Prouerb xiii d who spareth the roode hateth the chylde And in a nother place Eccle vii c If thou haue chyldren sayth he correcte them betyme / hold theÌ„ vnd whyle they bene yong your dayly practyse dothe shewe vnto you / that if you powder your flesshe whyle it is new and swete / it wyll contynue good meate but if it smell befor it be powdred all the salte you haue shall neuer make it seasonable Powder your chyldreÌ„ therfore betyme and than you loue them shall haue conforte of them I dyd appoynte the correction before vnto the mother or maystres for communely they done take the laboure of that mynistery and seruyce Notwithstandynge there may be sayd father or maister the staffe or fote of the ryme be all one But who so euer do the correctioÌ„ wheder it be in lasshes or in wordes let it be done with the charite of our lorde / with a myld and softe spirite that euer it be done for the reformacioÌ„ of the persone / rather than for the reuengynge of the defaute therfore shulde you neuer do any maner of correction whyle you be vexed chafed troubled wroth or angry for any cause but rather for that tyme deferre the correction a nother tyme by good delyberacyon take the persones on parte / or if the trespas be openly knoweÌ„ than do it openly that all the lokers thervpon may be warned therby and gyue theÌ„ a good lesson before the correctioÌ„ / and tell them you do the correctioÌ„ agaynst your mynde compelled thervnto by conscieÌ„ce and requyre them to put you nomore vnto suche labour payne For if thou do say you you muste suffre parte of the payne with me / and therfore you shall nowe haue experience and proue what payne it is to vs bothe And than paye truely and afterwarde forthwith forgyue them clerly and gentelly / so that they do nomore so And in doynge thus correction / you may edyfye refourme the persones / also meryte haue thanke of our lorde Where if coÌ„trary you chyde brawle curse and with vngoodly wordes rebuke or stryke with hastynes to reueÌ„ge your owne cause or appetyte / you shall rendre the persones more stubbourne styffe harted and engendre in them an hatered toward you And also not only lose your meryte but also deserue payne and the punysshemeÌ„t of god where the other correction done by sobrenes shall cause the persoÌ„es to haue you in a reuereÌ„de drede and also to loue you here afterward to blysse you and pray for you I pray you therfore wynne deserue both theyr blyssynge and prayer / and also the blyssyng and rewarde of our lord But bycause that communly all persones done vse to swere some othe / in affirmynge or denyinge / that is in saynge ye as grauntyng or nay as denyinge whiche be seldome sayd nakedly by them selfe without some addicioÌ„ therfore I wold haue you in auoydyng of all vayne othes to teache your chyldren to make theyr addicioÌ„s vnder this fourme ye father nay father ye mother / nay mother ye brother / nay brother ye syster / nay syster ye syr / nay syr ye dame / nay dame or vnto the states maister / maistres / and so forth of all suche coÌ„mune termes / as graundfather graundmother godfather godmother vncle aunte cosyn / and suche lyke / wtout any other addicion or any of these founde othes as by cocke pye by my hode of grene suche other For Christe sayth in the gospell vnto his disciples Math. v Swere not you at all sayth he in any wyse that is to meane vnlawfully or in vayne And the prophete sayth Psalmo lxii âšœ Laudabuntur oeÌ„s qui iuraÌ„t in eo quia obstructuÌ„ est os loquentium iniqua That is those persones that done lawfully swere in god shal be praysed haue rewarde therfore the mouthe of euyll spekers shal be stopped