gladly to the nede of their affliccoÌ„ns Vpon this brauÌ„che makyth the shrikeowle hir neest that is of suche nature that she drawith hir about suche places as dede bodyes ben beried And whaÌ„ ony is nere his deth she felith it aferre cryeth lowde by grete pyte sorowe This byrde signefyeth the coÌ„pascion of the soule that shold put her in grete dyligence aboute hem that beÌ„ in sinne for to conuerte hem brynge hem ayen in the way of saluacion And whan she perceyueth ony that aprocheth to the deth of y e sowle bi dedely synÌ„e theÌ„ne sholde she crie by grete lamentacoÌ„n to god with teres wyth orysons Vpon thys brauÌ„che growyth the floure of glane this glane growyth aboute waters By this water is vnderstonde they that ReÌ„ne in dedely synne aboute whom sholde growe charite gyue attendauÌ„ce to the compascyonat soule VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che was mouÌ„ted dauid that sayd Lord for this that the synÌ„ers haue not kepte your lawes I haue cast this grete habuÌ„dance of teres Vpon thys brauÌ„che was thereime mouÌ„ted the ê“phete y t said who shal gyue water to my hede a for this y t he thought water myghte drye and fayle sayde hÌ„e after and to myne eyen welles of teres that I myght wepe the wretchydnesse of my peple He thoughte teres that neuer sholde sease Suche teres shold hÌ„aue the soule y t wyll mouÌ„t vpon the appultree of comteÌ„placoÌ„n as an holy fader was theron wel mouÌ„ted that sayd who is seke in all holy chyrche eyther in body or in soule but that I be trowblid sory wyth hem ¶ The thyrde brauÌ„che of thappultree is temporell affliccoÌ„n whan she putteth hirself in grete afflicte by penauÌ„ce also that she suffreth Ioyefully with a peasible hert all aduersitees for the loue of our lorde VpoÌ„ brauÌ„che makith the swan her nest that is of suche naturÌ„ that whan she shall deye she singyth This signefyeth the soule that hathe Ioye in trybulacion VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che were mouÌ„ted thappostles of whom meÌ„ say the apostles had grete Ioye whan they went out of the couÌ„sâ—yles of the Iewes pharesees where thei were beten for this that they thoughte theym worthy to suffre shame for the name of oure lorde Ihesu cryste Vpon thys brauche grewe the floure of the lelye wherof the spowse sayth in the Cantycles ¶ Thus as the lelye is amonge the thornes thus is my loue amoÌ„ge the chylderne of the worlde ¶ Whanne the flowre of the lelye is amonge the thornes they prycke hir and she pryckyth hem not but rather yeldeth good odour by true pacyence Thus oughte the holy soule to doo She oughte not answere by sharpe wordes but rather oughte to yelde good odour by true pacyence to all theym that done hyr ony offence soo that she maye saye wyth saynt poul we ben of good odour to god in al places· But they that yelden euyll for euyll and ben redy to answere by signes and by wordes And wyll not forgete one worde that folke saye to theym or doo ony wronge nor wyll not forgyue all suche folkes ben not of the appyl tree of coÌ„templacyon ¶ The fourth brauÌ„che of contemplacyon is compunccoÌ„n CompuÌ„ccyon is whan the soule is sore mouyd and prycked wyth the traueyâ—es of our lorde Ihesu cryst so that she forgeteth all other payne traueyle that maye come to hyr For as men wyll and maye more ease â—y dryue oute a wedge or a pyn of tree that is myssette by a nother In like wyse whan the soule is meuyd pryckyd wyth trybulacyon It oughte to remembre how hyr souerayn sauyour loue was for her perced nayled on the crosse And this sharpnesse sorow sholde put away all other payne sorowe froÌ„ hir â—ert VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che makith hir neest a byrde whiche is callid harpia that hath the seÌ„blauÌ„ce of a manÌ„es visage hir nature is to slee the fyrst man she fyndeth theÌ„ne gooth she to some water where she beholdeth hirself seeth that she hath slayn hir owne liknes thenÌ„ makyth she a full grete sorowe alwaye that euer she sawe ony man This signefyeth y e soule that slew cryst by hir synÌ„e whose seÌ„blauÌ„ce is in hir for to his seÌ„blauÌ„ce was she created And whan she remeÌ„breth how IhÌ„u was dede for our synnes thenÌ„e ought â— she to make grete sorow lamentacoÌ„n Thus as the turtle dooth whaÌ„ she hath loste her felaw she come to the place where he deyed fynde feders or ony other signe she makyth grete sorowe Thus oughte the soule to doo that hath lost IhÌ„u cryst hir good lorde loue she ought to doo thus as dide the doughter of a kyng that abode orphelin And men took awaye hyr enheritaunce Thenne was there the sone of a myghty kyng that had soo grete pyte of hyr that he toke this yoÌ„ge lady to his wyf and conqueryd agayne hyr herytage and deyed in the bataylle Thenne this yonge lady took the armes of the knyghte that for hyr was dede· And behelde theim euery day wepyng vpoÌ„ tharmes made merueyllous grete sorowe The doughter of the kyng that abode orphelin lost hir heritage this was the soule that was doughter of adam that was a ryght noble man whan he was in paradys But he lost his enherytauÌ„ce whan he was dryuen thens by his synne And thenne had the sone of god greate pyte for the sowle that was thus dysheryted and dyscended fro paradyce to marye hir this same daye of maryage was made whan he Ioyned his deyte to our humanite fro that day fought for vs xxxij yeer an halfe at the laste deyed for vs in the batayle of the crosse Wherfore we oughte well to doo thus as this yonge lady dyde alway to haue his deth in remembrauÌ„ce wyth grete compascoÌ„n often to beholde his armes This is hys crosse his spere his nayles all y e Instrumentes of his passion and wepe euery daye for this that our lorde souerayn loue was dede for vs. ¶ Vpon this brauÌ„che growith the rose that signefyeth marterdom spuÌ„elly tho that be thus touched prycked forgeten lightly alle worldli troubles and may wel saey â— am wouÌ„ded bi charite for this is the tru way of charyte For as wel content is the very charitable with hem that blame hem· as them that prayse hem For the soule that is verely confermed in god ne is not ouerthroeÌ„ by aduersite ne a reysid bi ê“sperite The v. brauÌ„che of coÌ„templacoÌ„n is abidyng whaÌ„ y e sowle is of soo grete desire that she abydeth our lorde in desiryng ¶ VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che were mouÌ„ted y e ê“phetes of tholde tyme that somoche desired the comyng of our lord whaÌ„ they sayd come lord tary not a nother sayd yf he make taryeng abyde we him for he shal com tary not longe VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che was mouÌ„ted dauyd whaÌ„ he sayd beholde we abyde we our lorde after
dedely enemyes y t had dystroyed the substauÌ„ce of all hyr londe and she all poore was beseged in an olde castell wyth hym rounde abowte thys castell was weyke and made of full febyll mater Neuertelesse ther was a ryche kynge and of grete power y t marueylously loued her wyth suche far neuce that often he sente hys messeÌ„gers on to her sente her mani fair Iowellys good socours wherwyth she myghth be susteyned and good helpe of hys noble meny to defende hyr hyr castell And she receyued alle these thynge as a vyleyne y t vnuethys cowde yelde hym a gramercy for alle these grete welys so rude harde was hyr herte how be it had not the bounte and the pyte of thys noble kynge bene she had be vtterly loste dystroyed for he was so supprysed wyth hyr loue that at y e laste he cam him self to the rofe of the tour and shewed hyr his fayre visage whiche was most fayr of alle other to beholde and spake to hÌ„yr soo swete wordys delycious y t they myght haue quikned a body half dede Ther dyd he mani marueyles and shewed grete mastryes and befor hyr eyen preued parte of hys power and tolde of hys rychÌ„esse and offrid to make hir quene of all y t he hade to gif hir all his reme with thys that she wolde gyf hym hyr loue wythoute more But thys was in veyne for hyr lone wolde she not promyse hym A was not thys a grete abusion of thys bestly wretche that was not worthy to serue vndyr his fete yte of hys debonarite pyte hadde so veynquysht him be fo rs of loue y t at y e laste he seide A madam I se well ie be gretly greued wyth your enemyes that be soo ner you and so fers stronge that ye may in no wyse escape ther handis but they wyll put you to euele and sorowfull deth but ye haue helpe wherfor I wyl for your loue entyrprise this bataile vppon them to dysconÌ„fyte your enemyes how be it I knowe well y t I shall receyue amonge them full harde dedely wouÌ„dys but wyth my good wyll I shall take them tho wynne your herte And now I pray you full petonsly wepyng for the grete loue that I shall shewe you that at the leste ye wyll loue me aftyr my peynfull deth syth in my lyf ye wyll not loue me thanne in thys maner entyrd thys kynge in to this batayle and dystounfyted alle hyr enemyes delyuered hyr from them that purposed hyr deth and was hym self wounded so sore and greuously that he dyed but by miracle roos he frodeth to lyue was not thys lady ouyr vnnaturell and moche to be blamed if she loued not hym ouyr all other Thys same kynge is the swete IhuÌ„s y t in thys maner hath loue to our sowles that fendes hadde beseged and he as a nobleÌ„ sauyour sente hyr many massengers many grete bounteys doone to her and fynalle cam hym self for to preue hys loue and shewed well be cheualrye that he was worthi to be be loued wherof seyth saynte barnarde ¶ Nonne dei filius cum esset 〈◊〉 sinu patris a regalibus sedibus pro anima tua descendit vt eaÌ„ liberâ—ret a potestate dyaboli quam cuÌ„ audisset peccatoruÌ„ finibus irretica iamque demonibus trateÌ„dam vt morte perpetua daÌ„pnaretur fleuit super illa qui se flere nesciebat nec solum fleuit sed ecia occidi pertulit vnde versus Aspice mortalis per te datur hostia talis Ne se you not ryght dere freendes seyth saynte Barnarde that IhuÌ„ cryste the sone of god how that he beynge in the bosom of hys father descended fro that ryall sete in the heuenly empyre for the loue he hadde to your sowle to delyuer hyr fro y e power of the fende whanne he harde how she was beseged and wyth the bondys of synne enbrased and wythoute taryenge sholde haue be deliuered to the fende to the preson of helle and was condempned to pardurable deth And he be grete pyte and compassyoun wepte full tenderly for her in asmoche as she nother cowde wepe nor helpe hyr self and yete he wepe not only but offryd hym self to dye for hyr relefe Beholde now mortall wretchys who suffrid deth for your lyf thys dyd the swete Ihesus the kynge of heuene to wynne your loue as knyghte were wone to do som tyme he cam to the tourney and for the loue of his loue whiche is iour sowle bar his shyld on alle partys of the bathayle as A valyaunte knyght and A hardy Hys shylde that couered the godhede was hys blessed body that was spred vppon the harde crosse ther appered he as A shylde in hys armys wyth hys handys streyned and persed and hys feete nayled down as summe men sey the tone vppon the tother And wher thys shylde had no syde syngnyfyeth y t hys dyscyplys that sholde haue be shilde to his sydis fledde alle from hym as he seyth in the gospell· ¶ Relicto eo omnes fugerunt They be alle fledde lefte hym all for fere of deth Thys shylde is geuyn vs for our dyffense ayenste alle euelis and alle temptaconÌ„ as saynte Ierome seyth ¶ Dabit stictuÌ„ cordis in laborem tuuÌ„ Lord jhesu cryste thanked be ye ye haue geuyn vs a shylde for our hertes whiche is y e thoughte of your peynfull trauayle wherof seyth saynte Barnard ¶ Quid taÌ„ efficax ad curanduÌ„ vulnera nec noÌ„ ad purganduÌ„ mentis quaÌ„ cristi vulneruÌ„ sedula meditacio what thynge is so spedfull to hele and purge y e spyrytuall woundys as ententyf medytaconÌ„ of y e sorowfull woundys of our swete lorde jhuÌ„ cryste dauid seyth wyth thys shylde be eÌ„uyronÌ„ed alle they that loueÌ„ hym And serue hym nyght and day Scito circuÌ„dabit te veritas eius non timebis a timore nocturno Ne drede we nat y e fere of y e nyght for thys is the trowth the sone of god enuyroundyth vs wyth hys shylde where sum euyr we be and it more be his good wyll with hys shylde he hath crowned vs. as dauid seyth for wyth hys good wyll suffyrd he all thys as Isaee seyth ¶ Oblatus est quia ipse voluit Now wyll ye sey paraueÌ„ture wherfor suffyrd he these marueylous grete peynes myght he nolightlyer redeme vs fro helle A yis yis myght he wyth moche les yf it had pleased hym but he wolde not so wherfor but to shewe vs how moche he loued vs and to gyf vs ensample to loue hym for suche as men loue lytyll they lette it lyghtli go and if they haue it not they aske not theraftyr also the more peyne and harme that a man suffryth for hys frende the more hys he to be beloued wherof saynte bernarde seyth ¶ Amplius michi vilis esse non debeo quia tantum deo placuit anima mea vt mori pro
outrageousli y t hys tendyr skyn all to brake y e precious blode ran downe his bodi leggis bi stremis on to his feete in suche wise was he there turmented that many yeres after men myghte see the peler all blody wherof he sayth by the prophete Isaye Corpus meuÌ„ dedi ê‘cucientibus et genas meas velleÌ„tibus faciem meaÌ„ noÌ„ auerti ab increpantibus et conspuentibus iÌ„ me IGaf my tender body to turmentis strokes my face I turned not fro those folkis that spyte on me shamefully blamed me In suche maner suche traueyle made he thys bayne to saue hys loue our soule from alle swellynge of the syknesse of thys spirituell dropsye And yet was our sowles stylle encombred wyth peyne of the hede that is a full sore sikenesse ¶ Cui capud iÌ„firmum cetera membra dolent A who y t is seke in hys hede all other partyes of hys body compleyne And therefore y e good Ihesu saw the hede of his loue so seke that she was all aÌ„guished enraged wherbi she cowde not knoue god nor serue hym he had soo grete pyte compasion therof that hymself suffryd wylfully that thyse mortall enemyes wounde to geder a grete crowne of thornys longe sharpe thykke y e prikked so wofulli his blessid hede bete wyth a gret staf vpon y e crowne y t made his pÌ„cious blod to reÌ„ doune iÌ„ many places on hys forhed as it is sayth in y e gospell ¶ Plectentes coronam de spinis posueruÌ„t suê‘ caput eiê° acceperuÌ„t aruÌ„dineÌ„ et percusserunt In suche maner suffrid the swete amiable IhuÌ„ hys tendyr hede to blede for to saue the hede of hys syke loue our sowle for whom he suffryd in hys holi hede as saintis sain A M. wouÌ„des thus siath he iÌ„ Iob· ¶ CoÌ„scidit me vulnê° suê‘ vulnus The harde crowne kittith me wounde vpon wouÌ„de saint bernarde seith QuaÌ„ suanissimuÌ„ eÌ„ seruitalÌ„ michi bone Ihesu corona illa capitis tui A swete Ihesu this crowne of your hede is to me full dere Now fayr frende remeÌ„bre yow whaÌ„ne ye will slepe and your hede is layd so eseli vpon softe pelowys how peynfull was the crowne of thorne vopn the hed of the blessid IhuÌ„ your spowse that shedde so grete plente of blood to hlpe your sowle Now yette was there a nother syknesse wherof our wretched sowle languysht whyche was stryken wyth the dedely letarge these letarges ben opellaconÌ„s in the veynes and in the senewys enterlased preuyly that maketh a man slumboryng alwey redy to slepe tyll he be dede And in y e same maner were our sowlys sore stryken wyth y e spuÌ„all letarge wherby she nother myght nor cowde helpe hyr self but abyde stylle alwey in mortall neclygence vnto y e tyme y t hyt shold dyscende in helle But how dyd theÌ„n our swete lorde loue IhuÌ„ cryst wite for trewthe that he wyl fully suffyrd to be let blood on veynys senewys of all partyes of hym for to baine the wretched sowle of man And how was he let blood he suffyrd that thyse fowle vyleyne Iewys tooke hym wyth full gret dysdeyne hynge hym all naked vpon the crosse and persed thrugh hys fayr hand ys and fete wyth full grete myghty nayles wherof hym self seyth by dauid ¶ Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos dinumerauerunt omnia ossa mea ¶ They haue thyrled my handys my fete and nombyrd alle my bonys Alas what sorow they dyde hym so gret that y e stremis of blood ran from al ê‘ties of hys blessed body wyth so greâ—e spede that hys loue myght be baynet therwyth bothe wythowte and wythynne But than myghte oure lord Ihesu cryst sey to hys loue our sowle my dere loue now be ye ferre in dette by reson ouyr alle thyngys to loue me Alas yette loue ye me nod I haue so often shed my â—lode to bayne purge yow from all siknesses from all fylthys yette for all thys wyll ye not loue me yette fayr loue now shall I make yow a gifte of amore speciall loue wherby ye shold in no maner denye me your loue I shall gyue yow the holy blood of my harte to bayne your harte in so that ye may alwey loue me TheÌ„n cam a stronge blynde knyght wyth a longe sharpe spere strake hym so iustly thâ—ugh the syde that he persed hys amâ—rus harte forthwyth ran oute gret plente of blood watyr ran full faste down vpon hys body wherof he seyth in the booke of loue ¶ Vulnerasti cor meum soror me a sponsa vulnerasti cor meum ¶ now haue ye woundyd my harte fayr suftyr and spowse now haue ye wouÌ„dyd my harte what can ye axe me ony more of loue Now I prey yow for my sake that ye will leue your synne so that ye may loue me the more swetly wherof sayth saynt bernarde ¶ NoÌ„ne pro te vulneratus sum nonÌ„e pro te satis afflictus sum desine amodo peccare quia peccata magis grauant me eciam vulnera peccati quam vulnus lateris mei Now say me my loue that I loue so moche thinke ye not that I am wounded and tormented ynough for you wherby ye ought to loue me Now leue your synnes thenne frohens forth For the wouÌ„de of your synne greuyth me more than dyde the wouÌ„de of my side A my dere frende put we vs vtterli in deuour to loue ihesu Cryst our swete loue spowse that suffryd so grete payne to wasshe vs in his precyous blood from all morall syknes wherof our soules languysshid And elles be we to ferre vnnaturell NOw see we the thyrde loue that is betwene the sowle the body There is a ful grete loue betwene the soule the lody And that appereth well for they ben in grete torment payne whan they shall departe For the gretter loue that is betwene frendes the greter paine is at theyr departyng And there was neuyr body that soo moche louyd soule nor soule body as dyde the body of Ihesu cryst his soule and his soule his body whyche was noo merueylle For there neuer was nor neuer shal be suche a body and soule Ioyned togyder And yet for al that he suffred wel that his soule departed from his body for to adioyne our pour soules to his wythout ende in his celestyall reygne And by what deth departed his glorious soule fro hys blessid body It was by the moost cruell deth shamfull and dyshoneste that they cowde deuyse amonge theym to Iuge hym to A what sorowful pyte was of this deth of Ihesu cryst It was soo cruel that many a day and often he playned hym to his disciples before his dethe And sayth in the gospell ¶ Ecce ascendimus IherosolimaÌ„ cÌ„ Loo my dere brethern we shal goo in to Iherusalem And the sone of mary shall be
delyuerde by treason to the bysshops and maysters of the lawe And they shall condempne hym to deye right cruelly And how cruelly he shal be delyuered to Iewes to mocke to bete and crucifye and the thyrde daye shall aryse from dethe to lyf And what merueylle was this yf he playnid hym of this dethe· For his flesshe was alway as in languour paine ayenst his dethe as he sayth by dauyd ¶ Estimabam me quasi mortuū super terram I take my self as a man dede vpon the erthe And this was well preuid for it is not founde that euer he lough ones in all his lyf but often tymes weptte he full pytously As whā he sawe the sepulture of Lazare that was dede and beryed whyche was a lytyll before his passyon And he behelde full pytously vpon the body of Lazare ¶ Fremuit inquid sp̄u et turbauit seipsum et lacrimatus est Ihesus He tremblyd in his spiryte and trowblyd hymselfe and began to wepe Men saye that he is as a dede man that will not answere whan men eyther doo or saye hym ony harme In suche manere was it of Ihesu cryst as hymself sayth by Dauid the prophete ¶ Ego autem tanquam surdus non audiebam et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum ¶ For trouth whan men myssay me I goo forth as a deef man that heryth not and as a dombpe man that openyth not his mouth ¶ Of this cruell dethe had he soo grete fere trowble that the nyghte before he suffred his passōn he toke saint peter saint Iames. and saynt Iohan wyth hym And preuely before theim thre he began so grete lamentacyon that it was merueylle and lokyd soo pytously And playned hym soo sorowfully sayeng ¶ Tristis est anima mea vsque ad mortem sustinete hic vigilate mecum Fayr dere bretherne sayd he my soule is heuy torwade y e dethe abyde here wyth me and wake wyth me For I am in full grete trowble fere And thenne he wythdrewe him fro theim as ferre as one myght caste a stone and felle downe to the erthe and playnyd hym full pitously to his fader in heuen and said ¶ Abba pater cui onmia possibilia sūt trāsfer calicem hunc a me Fayr lorde god my right dere fader to whom alle thyng is possible I pray you that ye wyll remeue this harde deth fro me Neuertheles not as I wylle But as ye will your will be done I am redy to obey it and to take this deth for the sauacyon of man̄ys soule ¶ Spiritus quidem promptus est caro autem infirma Truly my spirite is redy to suffre this cruell deth but my flesshe is full trowbles ferfull ¶ Fiat volūtas tua Your wyll be doon fayr swete fader And on y e morow was he Iuged to the moost harde dethe that ony man cowde Iuge this was to be crucifyed And thenne pylate sayd to the felon Iewes Quid faciā de illo qui dicitur xp̄s illi dixerūt crucifige eū Pilate said to the Iewes what wyll ye that I doo of him that mē calle cryst they said crucifye him Alas what sorowe was this how they yelded hym shrewdly his seruyse for all the weles and boūtees that he had done to theym they toke hym crucifyed hym to petously And yet for all his payn he cryed to his fader mercy And sayd ¶ Pater ignosce illis quia nesciūt quid faciunt A swete fader perdon̄e theym of all this harme they do to me for they knowe not what they doo A god mercy what merueyllous mekenes and swete pite was this in hym He sayd not fayr fader venge me on thyse felon folkes that slee me wythout desert and crye soo highly Crucyfie him crucyfie hym But he sayd pardon̄ theym my deth fayre swete fader ¶ Hec mutacio dextere excelci This was a wonderful chaunge that alwaye ayenst harme he dyde good Swete Ihesu yet ouer thyse mortall paynes that he suffryd in his woofull body he had in his cōpassionable soule thremaner of anguyssles of full egyr and bytter sorowe that made hym to sighe merueyllously wyth grete tribulacion ¶ Thyse thre anguisshes henge in his holi soule as thre sharpe speres that smote him alwaye to the herte The fyrste anguysshe was for the sorowe that his blessid moder and the other thre maryes made that were soo wete wyth theyr sorowfull teeres The seconde anguisshe was for his disciples refused him and byleued not in hym nor helde hym not for god For this that he wold not helpe hymselfe to escape· And fledde all from hym and left hym al straunge Wherof he sayth by the prophete dauyd ¶ Qui videbant me foras fugierunt a me obliuioni datus sū tanquam mortuus a corde My discyples that sawe me taken they fledde fro me· and I was putt in foryetyng amonge hem as yf I were dede The thyrde anguysshe was the grete sorowe that he had for thyse felon tyrauntes that put hym to dethe to see howe he loste his longe traueylle for the sauacyon of theyr soules and how he had vtterly loste theym And he sayth ¶ Non veni vocare iustos sed peccatores ad penitenciam I cam not in erthe to calle the rightfull but the synners to penaunce And he sawe well that they had the hertes soo harde that they wolde neuer doo penaūce And amonge all thoos synnars at that tyme he wan but the theef that was hāged on the right syde of hym whyche cryed hym mercy· And more sorowe and more compascyon had he of the losse of Iudas his traytour and of the other felons than of his owne proper deth As he sayth by dauyd ¶ Zelus domus tue comedit me et alibi Tabescere me fecit zelus meus quia oblitisunt verba tua inimici mei Fayr swete fader the grete desire that I haue to the sauacyon of your peple werith me sore wyth sorowe and anguysshe And after he sayth my right grete Ielousie makyth me all wery in my spiryte for this that myne enmyes haue forgoten your commaundementes And at the last whā he felte his cruel deth approche· his pour soule had full grete trowble Thenne sighed he wyth cheueryng thenne cryed he wyth pyteous playntes thenne wepte his languysshyng eyen as sayth saynt powle ¶ Cum clamore valido et lacrimis offerens exauditusest pro sua reuerencia With grete crye and teeres he suffryd his soule departe with harde deth for the loue of his dere belouyd mannes soule ¶ But what was his crye the moost sorowful that euer was herde ¶ Clamauit voce magna Eloy Eloy lamazabatani hoc est deus meus deus meus vt quid de reliquisti me MY swete fader my god my god why haue ye forsaken me· lete me suffre so cruel deth for the folke that gyue me no thankes for all the harmes that I haue shall suffre for there loue ¶ Alas what grete woo
may be to all the worlde whan Ihesu sholde deye wepyng soo pyteously so sorowfully playninge for suche as toke nomore hede of his harde passion that he suffred for theym noo more than yf he neuer had become man A nother reason was there as he playned hym wepte full pyteously for that soo fewe folke sholde be soo dere bought wherof saynt gregorye sayth ¶ Si respicio facieÌ„ cristi in cruce pendentis primis michi occurrit quod fleuit orans Sêª quare fleuisti bone IhÌ„u quare fleuisti cum pocius esset gaudenduÌ„ maxime tunc cum operabaris salutem in medio terre affligens peccata nostra cruce daÌ„pnans diaboluÌ„ Saluans miseros fleuit igitur qr quia cuÌ„ passio sua sufficeret redempcioni oiÌ„m profuit redempcioni paucorum ¶ Whan I beholde the face of Ihesu cryst hangynge vpon the crosse Fyrst it renÌ„eth in my mynde that he in prayeÌ„g wept But whi wept ye swete Ihesu why wept ye where rather it sholde be Ioyed specyally whan he brought helth in the myddes of the erth fyxed our synnes on the crosse daÌ„pnyng the deuyll sauynge wretches But for this wept he that his passion was sufficyent ynoughÌ„ to the redempcyon of all folkes shold prouffyte allonely to the redempcoÌ„n of soo fewe For full fewe ben in all the worlde of Religyous or seculer or ony other maner of folkes of holy chyrche or other that a right louyth the kynge of glory the swete Ihesu criste as they ought wherof sayth saynt poul ¶ Omnes que sua sunt querunt non que Ihesu cristi All folkes seke eÌ„tentyfly the prouffyte of theyr bodyes and not the loue that they owe to Ihesu cryste And our lorde hymself sayth ¶ Putas ne filius hominis inueniet fidem super terrain Wene ye that that Ihesu the sone of mary founde fayth or charyte in erthe for sothe full scarsely Now dere frende remembre ye how yourselfe hath louyd ful pourly our gode lorde and loue Ihesu cryst And how our neighbours of this worlde beÌ„ now corrupted with many maner of synÌ„es And how the deth of our swete lorde spouse y e sone of god was harde cruell ThenÌ„e oughte we well to wepe togider wyth Ihesu cryst and crye hym mercy wherof saynt Bernarde saith ¶ Tria sunt preciosa vnguenta scilicêª flere pro peccatis proptiis pro peccatis proximi pro compassione passionis cristi Thre precyous oynementes ben th one is precyous the other more precious the thyrd rihÌ„t precyous The precyous is to wepe for our synnes The more precyous is to wepe for the synnes of our neyghbours The right precyous is to wepe for the compascyon of the cruell deth of IhÌ„u cryst wherof sayth saynt Bernarde O bone Ihesu si tam dulce est gaudere de te A Ihesu yf it be soo swete to wepe wyth you how it shal be swete to be Ioyous wyth you and after he sayth ¶ O bone Ihesu cito lacrimas inuenit soluitur in gemitum qui tui sensum habet doloris O good Ihesu full soone mighte he fynde teeres grete mater of sighynges that had ony felinge vnderstondyng of your sorowes paynes And after of the peteous playntes that ye made And whan ye cryed wyth hyhe voys to your fader ¶ In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum In to thy hondes fayr swete fader I yelde my spiryte for the loue of my dere loue mannes soule to delyuer from helle ¶ Et inclinato capite emisit spirituÌ„ And enclyned his blessid hede yelded his gloryous spyrite A fayr frende thynke on hym that was soo benygne to thyse harde tormeÌ„tes wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ O bone Ihesu benigne cuÌ„ hominibus conuersatus es quam magna hominibus largitus es quam dura pro hominibus passus es quaÌ„ dura verba duriora verbera durissima crucis tormeÌ„ta passus es O good Ihesu how benygne thou were conuersaunt wyth men how grete thynges thou hast gyuen man how harde paynes thou hast suffryd for maÌ„ as harde wordes harde betynges and right cruel and mortall tormentes that blessid be thou moost mercyfull Ihesu For neuer man suffred so harde deth as he suffred for our soules to make vs parteners of all y e ioyes of heuen And he suffred not oonly this cruell and harde dethe but also the moost fowle shamfull deth that they myght put him to And all this suffred he for the loue of mannes soule For what shame was this that Iudas this traytour marchaunt solde him to y e felon Iewes to slee as men doo an oxe or a cowe And yet for a wretchid pryce for thyrty pens For Iudas scaryot sayd to the Iewes ¶ Quid vultis michi dare et ego eum vobis tradam at illi constitueruÌ„t ei triginta argenteos What wylle ye gyue me and I shall delyuer you hym And establisshyd to gyue for hym thyrty pens of syluer And he brought the Iewes the same nyghte to the place where oure lorde Ihesu cryst was And whan he came he sayd Aue rabi Heyle mayster and kyst hym And our lorde sayd to hym full pyteously ¶ Amice ad quid venisti Frende wherfore come ye ThenÌ„e came after the Iewes and toke our lorde full rudely And ful sore bounde him as yf he had be an arrante theef And ledde hym in y e cytee before his mortall enmyes Wherof hymselfe playned hym to theym that ledde hym and sayd ¶ Tanquam ad latronem existis cum gladiis fustibus comprehendere me cotidie apud vos eram docens in templo et non me tenuistis A Why doo ye me so grete vilanye that ye come wyth swerdes and wepens forto take me as I were a thef and euery daye I haue be byfore you in the temple· and ye took me not wherfore doo ye this to me now ¶ But for all that they lefte him not but drwe hym forth before cayphas where the cruel Iewes accused hym of felonye and treyson· And he was broughte forth thus as a lambe wherof he sayd ¶ Ego quasi agnus mansuetus qui portatur ad victimam I suffre all togider the vilaynous wordes reproches as a meke lambe with out resisteÌ„ce that men beryth to slee But Cayfas theyr mayster took so grete disdeyne for this that IhÌ„u wold not answer y t he said to him in scornÌ„ Where ben your dyscyples what folke ben they howe haue ye taughte theim And Ihesu answered I am acustomed to speke openly and alwaye to teche folke in the synagoge and the temple there as the Iewes came and in secrete places as here is I shall speke lityll And what aske ye me· aske them that haue herde what I haue sayd And vneth had he ended his wordes but there starte forth a felon ribawde that stroke hym ful cruelly in his fayr vysage wyth his hard honde And sayd full egrely before all folkes ¶
illusum spictis linidum plagis confixum clauis A man behelde the sone of the virgyn marye foylid wyth fowle spittynges all blody of his woundes and percyd wyth nayles Take hede of the kyng of angels beyng on the crosse pale to the deth fowle in flesshÌ„ passe bi this And take kepe whaÌ„ ye see the fygure how he is a man mekely bowynge a man smyten wyth shamfull deth A man lyke vnto a mesell A man of al sorowes apperynge on his body and all wrapt in sorowe And yet whan he was past all the anguysshÌ„ payn and shame that he myght suffre in his lyf for the loue of his loue maÌ„nes soule they dyde hym after hys deth the grettest shame they cowde thynke For they wold not bery hiÌ„ amonge other Iewes but wythoute the towne as a man that were acursed And his blessid soule descended in to helle for to destroye the mortall enmyes of his loue mannes soule And to fetche theym oute that longe had abyden hym there ¶ Now for goddis sake lete vs remembre well how moche we are bounden to loue that swete Ihesu cryst that so many manere of shames suffryd to put vs in honoure And that he suffred soo shamfull deth to conferme our sowles in the freedom of perdurable lyf For of al the peynes that ben in this worlde shame is the grettest For we maye fynde many of crysten folke that wyll suffre hardnes of lyffe as fastyng lyeng harde colde hungre thurst and diseases for the loue of god But to be holden vyle dyspysid for the loue of god vneth shall ye fynde ony For the wretchid hert desireth alway to be honoured and praysid And by this we may well know that he louyd vs and louith vs enteerly that so many shames dispytes suffred for y e loue of vs. ¶ The same that is the very perfyte honoure and of hym cometh all honours that blessid be he of al creatures that vs soo moche hath louyd and louyth that gracyous lorde the moost true and hertely louer ¶ Now haue we spokeÌ„ grete parte of his harde deth and of the shame that men dyde hym wherby ye maye here that neuer man deyed of soo paynfull and vyle a deth wherof he pleyneth hym by the prophete dauyd sayenge ¶ Defeccio tenuit me pro peccatoribus derelinqentibus legem tuam FAyr swete fader full gret defawteÌ„ me holdeth for synners y t haue leste your lawe Now for trouthe their was neuyr man had more of pouerte defawte than he had in his hende and thys sheweth seynte barnarde that seyth ¶ Lignum defuit capiti terra pedi vestimentum corpori potus ori amicus consolacioni· ¶ Alas what defawte was thys the tre failed to hys hede the erthe failed to hys feete clothyng fayled to hys body euery frende failed to hys conforte Now beholde more veryly of thys gret defawte that the tree fayled to his hede for the crosse where he hinge was withoute hed for whan he was so wery hys hede greued hym that was so sore betyn brosed wyth many grete strokes â–ª that vnethe hys necke myght bere hyt hyt was so astoned wyth peyne whan he had so grete nede to reste hys wofull hede he founde not so moche ease that he had ony place to lene hyt to he was streyned so hye vpon the crosse that hys hed might towche no parte therof A what vnmesurable peynes and sorowes he had there founde he an ouyr hard and sharpe pelow for the hede of so noble and gret a kynge as he was O good lorde whan we fele ony gret peyne or febilnesse in our hedis we wyl haue softe pelowys vndir our harde hedys and some woman or some maÌ„ to hold hit for taswage the peine but he had nother the ton nor y e tothyr but skornars as hym self seyth be Ierom the prophete ¶ Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo canticuÌ„ eorum tota die I Am made in derysyon in mockage of all my people thier eueriday songe The tothâ—r gret defawte that erthe fayled to hys fete and not to them only but to all hys body that was so cruelly peyned that he was seke on to the deth in al the large worlde had he not so moche of place as he myght put oon fote on erthe to reste hys wofull body that was all to betin and brosed but hynge in y e eyre tered wyth gret nayles· full petously Alas their ys not so vyle a sarazin ne so fowle a mesell ne so poure a wretche but that they myght fynde some place or house wher they myght take some reste or ease in ther syknesse A swete IhuÌ„ cryste wherfor wold ye be in so gret dyssese ouyr all other of the wolrde Trewly for loue so moche had bouÌ„den hym in suche wyse y t he raught not of all the dysesys he had for the foruent loue he hade to mannys sowle Now se here the thyrde defawte that was Clothynge to hys fayr body as he seyth by Iob ¶ Nudê° egressê° sum de vtero matris mee nudus reuertar illuc· ¶ All nakyd I am come fro my moders wombe and all nakyd I shall retorne out of this worlde For the felon Iewes had robbed hym of his clothes departed them amonge them as he pleyneth him by dauid the prophete ¶ Considerauerunt et inspexeruÌ„t me deuiserunt vestimenta mea et super vestem meam miserunt sorteÌ„ ¶ Thise Iewes haue considered beholden me and haue deuyded my clothynge to theym cast lottes theron whiche of theyrs it sholde be And the swete Ihesu wolde not stryue ayenst theym but wyth good wylle gaaf theym for theyr seruyce al that he had of erthly thyng whyche was noo more but oonly his clothes so pour was he at that tyme for thus saith saynt bernard ¶ Quando fuisti pauperior tunc fuisti largior O bone Ihesu WhaÌ„ thou were moost pour thenne were thou moost large for thenÌ„e gauest thou to the theef the kyngdome of heuen to saynt IohÌ„n euangelist thy moder to thy fader thy spyryte and to vs thy flesshe to ete thy blode to drynke And thou gauest thy clothynge to thy crucyfyers in suche wyse that thouÌ„ abodeste all nakyd on hye vpon the patyble A good lorde god mercy the moost stronge theef of the worlde that were Iuged to be hanged yet sholde he haue to couer hym a poure gowne or a pour sherte But Ihesu the kyng of glory had nother gonne nor sherte to couer him where he hynge openly before al folke wherof he playneth hym by dauyd ¶ FactuÌ„ est cor meum tanquam cera liquescens in medio ventris mei My herte is becomen alle softe meltyng as it were waxe in my body Alas we pour wretches what Ioye maye we haue of oure honour that is come of none other thynge but of the shame of Ihesu cryst What gladnesse may we haue of ease that is
com of the dysese of the swete IhÌ„u cryst How may we gloryfye vs of our ryches that cometh of the pouerte of Ihesu crist ¶ What delyte maye we haue of our fredom that is all comen of the bondes eÌ„prysonement of our lorde ihesu cryst It neuer pleysed him that he shold suffre bere on his body all the harme payne that we haue soo moche deseruyd wythout we ben parteners wyth hym in some maner of penaunce sorowe For trouth soo shal we doo yf we wylle be parteners of his Ioye For he is not wortâ—â— to be partener to the wynnyng that will not be partener to the losse wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Videntes angustias dnÌ„i nostri IhÌ„u cristi leuiter portauimê° nrÌ„as ¶ Yf we saw thanguysshes that our lord Ihesu crist suffred for vs we sholde bere ours the more lyghtly And yf we wylle not be of his lyuerey in compassion it is noo reason we sholde be of his lyuerey in consolacyon ¶ See ye now the fourth defawte that Ihesu cryste had that was drynke fayllid hym to his mouth Two maner of meÌ„ haue grete nede of drynke A maÌ„ that hath moche traueiled and a man that hath moche bledde And both thise thynges were in our lorde Ihesu cryste that daye For neuer may was so wery of paynfull traueylle wooful seruyce as he was wherof hym selfe sayth by Ysaye the prophete ¶ Seruice me fecistis in pectiÌ„s nostris et laborem michi prebuistê in iniquitatibus nostris ¶ Ye make me serue in youre fowle synnes to giue my labour in your Iniquyte And after he sayth ¶ Ysaye Laboraui sustinens I haue traueylled in suffrynge For I haue suffred al the harmes that men wolde doo me for the loue of mannes soule And yf ye wylle ye maye fynde wreten that in that labour he traueylled soo moche that the blood ranne fro his teÌ„der bodi forto crye for mercy to his fader for his loue mannes sowle that was condempned to perpetuel pryson As he sayth by Iherom ¶ Laboraui rogans I haue sore traueylled in prayeng for your soules thyse were harde labours ¶ The seconde cause to say he was lete blood It was not of one veyne nor of two but he bledde ouer al his body In soo many places· that it was grete dyfficulte to nomber the woundes of the amyable body of Ihesu cryste that plenteuously bledde· But whan we ben lete blood vpon a lityll veyne on oure armes we kepe vs all stylle cloos in a chamber that none ayer come in to hurte vs. And haue alle thynges ordeyned to our comforte ¶ A good lorde al otherwyse weÌ„te it at your paynful bledyng that was so cruelly drawen oute of the towne wythout ony mercy or pyte and by the shamfull tyrauntes hanged vpon the Crosse agaynst that brennyng sonne streyned as streyte as· a parchemyn skynne to drye And by thyse paynfull wouÌ„des labours he had grete thurste whiche was noo merueylle And thenne he pleyned hym peteously sayd ¶ Scicio I haue thurst what thenne They gaaf him noo ypocras nor wyne ne yet fair water But they gaaf hym eysel and galle medled togyder ¶ Alas what drynke was thys to be gyuen at soo grete a nede ¶ Cum gustasset noluit bibere sed dixit consuÌ„matum est WHan he had taasted he wold not drynke but sayd all is fulfylled Thenne myght he wel haue sait alas now am I outrageously seruyd y t for al the companye that I haue had wyth them and for all the honoures that I haue shewed to theym they yelde me now thus shrewedly my seruyse that in soo grete disease as I am now in and in soo grete defawte they wylle not gyue me a lityl water to drynke Now am I outrageously seruyd For truly this same dyde more harme than many other of the paynes that he suffryd· And noo merueyle for he had longe laboured for to teche theym for to saue their soules â–ª and to drawe theyr loue towarde hym And for all this grete loue yet at the laste they dyde hym this grete vilanye Wherof he pleyneth hym by Iherom the prophete sayeng ¶ Recordare paupertatis trangressionis mee absinthij fellis Fayre frende remembre you of the pouertee that I suffred for you And remembre of the grete disptes that was done to me· whaÌ„ they gaaf me to drynke so euyll a drynke for your loue wherof sayth saynt bernarde ¶ Sitiui saluteÌ„ vestram I haue thurst sayd our lorde and not oonly for drynke but oonly for your sauacyon O good lorde mercy who had euer in hym soo ferme loue as he whan he was in soo paynfull caas that he felte the feuers of his harde deth pricke soo sore his pyteuous soule Yet sayd he not alas the harde crosse destroyeth my seke body But he sayd I haue grete thurste that my loue may be deliuerde from helle He sayde not how thyse thornes rase myn wooful hede Nor alas how my hoÌ„des fete ben broken perced wyth grete nayles Nor alas that I sholde suffre soo many grete paynes wythout deserte But he sayd I haue desire that my loue were sauyd â–ª as saynt bernarde sayth ¶ TantuÌ„ me dilexisti o bone IhÌ„u quod inmemor fuisti doloris noÌ„ inmemor mee salutis dixisti scicoÌ„ non dixisti doleo Soo moche thou hast louyd me o good IhÌ„u that y u hast not remembryd thy sorowe yet thou haddest y e remembraunce of my saluacoÌ„n whaÌ„ thou saydest I thurst after your saluacyon and sayd not I haue grete sorowe for my paynes But all otherwyse toke it the felon Iewes and therfore they dyde him suche a noye that thei most bytter eysell and galle gaaf hym to drynke ¶ The fifth defaute that was ful grete was whan euery frende fayled to his comforte soo as hymself pleyneth hym by dauyd ¶ Singulariter sum ego donec transeam I am lefte allone wythoute comforte tyll that I be passed oute of this mortall lyf Wherof he sayth by ysaye ¶ Circumspexi et non erat auxiliator I behelde all about me and there is none that of ony thynge helpeth me or wyll comforte me And syth sayth he by ysaye ¶ Torcular calcaui solus non erat de gentibus vir mecum I haue troden in the vylayn pressours all alone and of all the folkes in the worlde I haue not one man wyth me Wherof sayth ysaye ¶ Quare ergo est rubium indumentum tuum et vestimenta tua sicut calcancium in torculari ¶ But fayre lorde god wherfore was thenne thy vestyment soo rede as they that haue pressed wyne at the pressour Ye for trouth the vestyment that he was clothyd in was his clene skyn that was alle redde of his blessed blode as he had pressid redde wyne all alone with out comforte and wythout helpe ¶ But fayr frende ye wolde saye perauenture that allone wythoute comforte was he not For he had his dere moder
of Isaye was accomplysshyd in hym ¶ Vidimus eum et non erat ei species neque decor WE sawe hym and in hym was nother beaute nor honour it was soo chauÌ„ged by betyng and spyttynges and castynge of myre and other fylth vpon hym by thyse cursyd people Trueli this was to me a greuous torment to see me thus sorowfully dysceyued from hym that I had borne and nouryshyd and now to be lefte allone wyche encreased me wyth sorowe vpon sorowe so that my voyce failed me whan I wold speke there took me suche a sorow that closed my hert soo that I cowde noo thynge doo but snobbe sighe whan I sawe in deyenge the same that deyed for loue that my soule louyd And thenne behelde he me and sawe that I wepte and wolde haue comforted me But in noo maner I coude receyue noo comforte And thenne I wepte in seenge and sayd in wepyng Alas fayre sone why graunte ye me not to dey for you· Alas what shall I now doo my dere sone deyeth wherfore deyeth not his sorowfull moder wyth hym A fayr sone my oonly loue leue not after you But take me wyth you soo that ye deye not thus allone but lete vs deye togyder suffre your woofull moder to be slayn wyth you O ye wretched deth ne spare me not for now your comyng sholde pleyse me slee me wyth my swete sone that is al my Ioye and all my comforte and the lyf of my soule Now my dere sone doo soo moche that I may dey with you syth I haue borne you to thys cruell dethe Alas take kepe now of your sorowfull moder and here my prayer Receyue me wyth you in your passion in suche wyse that we that haue liuyd in one flesshe loued of one loue maye deye of one deth A ye cruel men wherfore spâ—re ye me sith ye crucyfie my childe crucyfie me wyth hym or make me deye of some other deth I rekke not what it be soo that I deye with my sone Alas my swete chylde sholde ye deye thus allone Now see I my lyfe deye and my helth perysshe All my hope is taken oute of therth Wherfore lyueth the sorowfull moder after the sone Take the moder and put hyr to dethe wyth hyr sone syth ye spare not the sone spare not the moder A Dethe thy cruelte now to me sholde be grete Ioye yf I myghte deye wyth my sone IhÌ„us A woo is me the deth that I desire soo moche departeth fro me A my dere chylde it is moche better for me to deye than to lyue a dedely lyffe ¶ O dere sone o blessid swete sone receyue the prayers of your sorowfull moder And be not harde to her that hath be alwaye soo benygne to all other Truly it is accordynge that the sone sholde here his sorowfull moder soo dyscomforted Now swete child receyue your moder wyth you on your crosse that I maye lyue alwaye wyth you after your deth For truely there sholde noo thyng be to me soo Ioyfull as to deye wyth you vpon the crosse Nor no thynge maye be to me more paynfull than to lyue after your dethe· ¶ A fayre swete chylde the very true sone of god haue pyte on your sorowfull moder For ye be my fader and my moder Ye be my husbonde ye be my sone ye be all the Ioye and comforte I haue in thys worlde And now am I Orphelin of fader wydowe of husbonde dyscomforted of chylde Thyse cruell Iewes haue taken all from me ¶ A fayr swete sone what shal I doo frohens forth Fair lorde what shall befalle on me My dere chylde where shall I fynde conforte Most specyall frende and alle my loue where shall I fynde helpe couÌ„seyle ¶ Fayr swete sone I knowe well that ye may doo what that ye will But yf it pleyse you not that I dey now wyth you I beseche you that ye wylle leue me some gracyous comforte ¶ The voys of our lorde to his blessyd moder answeryng there where he hyng so paynfully on the crosse And tornyd his eyen full pytefully towarde saynt IohÌ„n theuangelyst and sayd to his moder Woman see there your sone And saynt Iohan was thenne there present full pyteously and contynuelly wepyng ¶ Ac si diceret O maria dulcissima mollis ad flenduÌ„ mollis ad dolenduÌ„ tu scis qr quia ad hoc rem veni ad hoc de te carneÌ„ suÌ„psi vt per crucis patibuluÌ„ saluareÌ„ genus huÌ„anum ¶ As yf he had sayd O moost swete marye beyng soo redy to coÌ„passion and wepyng and soo redy to pyteous sorowe ye knowe wel that for this I came and for this I took flesshe of the. that bi the patyble of the crosse I sholde redeme mankynde How otherwyse sholde be the scryptures accomplysshyd wherby ye knowe well that it behoueth me to suffre dethe for the sauacyon of mankynde And the thyrde daye I shall aryse agayne and appere to the and to my dyscyples Now sease ye your wepynges and your sorowes fayr swete moder· syth that I goo now to my fader· where I shall receyue the glorye of my paternall maieste ¶ Ye oughte to make Ioye wyth me be gladde of this that I shall fynde the shepe that hath erred soo longe and be loste For oonly one shall dey by whom the worlde shal be sauyd And this that pleyseth to god my fader â— how sholde it dyspleyse you my swete moder· Wherfore I praye you wepe nomore nor make noo more thise sorowfull complayntes For I shall not leue nor forgete you But am and shal be wyth you alway with oute ende For though I am not after the flesshe obeysaunte to the dethe yet after my dyuinyte I am and shall be alway Inmortal and vnsuffrynge of payne WEll knowe ye fayre swete moder frowhens I came Wherfore be ye thenÌ„e so sorowful though I ascende there frowhens I descended It is tyme that I retourne to hym that sende me hyther And there maye not ye come now but surely ye shal come after And in the meane tyme Iohan that is your neuewe shall be in stede of your sone shal take kepe of you be your true coÌ„fort theÌ„ne behelde our lord saynt iohÌ„n and sayd to hiÌ„ See here thy moder I recommende hyr vnto the and praye the fayre swete frende serue hyr and take good kepe of hyr For I delyuer hyr vnto thy kepynge Receyue thy moder Iohan and not as thy moder wythout more But receyue hyr more gladly for this that she is my moder Truely fewe wordes spake our lorde But whan thise two that herde hym thê° swetli speke thei sesed not of wepiÌ„g But sorowes martred theym in suche wyse that they cowde not speke one worde Thyse two blessyd vyrgyns herynge our lorde thus speke wyth hole voys And sawe hym drawe nere to his dethe they cowde not answer one word but were as haâ—f dede fayâ—linge bothe theyr spirytes voyce They wepte full bytterly
not a man gyue all worldly goodes for one of thyse graces And all thise togyder in comparison of the soule is as noo thyng Wherfore yf ye be soo enraged so frowarde that ye refuse so grete agayn as I offre you Then̄e take hede to the thyrde that I wylle haue it by force or at your peryll For I holde redy the swerde of cruell vengaūce ouer you to slee yow wyth cruell deth and departe body soule and put theym to perdycōn to confoūde them both in helle for to be tormēted wyth fendes sorowfully anguysshously contynuelly wythout ēde Answer now yf ye wyll defende you agaynst me yf ye can or maye or els graūt me your loue y t I desire wyth so grete Ielousie with so feruent hert not for my wele but for yours Now take good hede to thise wordes of Ihesu cryst Is not she of ouer harde herte that to suche a sauyour wylle not graunt hyr loue Yf she remēbred wel thyse thre thynges what he is and how grete is the loue of soo hye a lorde as he is and soo vyle soo symple as she is she sholde doo hir deuour to loue hym though she sholde a hūdred tymes suffre dethe for the loue of hym wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Quomodo ē istud sine modo a nobis deus amari meruit qui prior nos dilexit tantus tantū gratis tantillos tales miseros IN what manere is this· aboue al maner that can be deuysed by al erthly wyttes that our lorde Ihesu cryst deseruyd to be belouyd for that he louyd vs fyrst loueth vs somoche wythoute our deserte whiche is soo symple suche wretches as we ben And as saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Omne tempus in quo de deo non cogitas hoc te perdidisse computa All the tyme in whiche ye thynke not on god reken it as lost For therfore be we called crysten to serue cryste and to remembre of his sorowful paynes that he suffryd for our loue And surely yf we wyll not often thinke on his paynes we shal receyue ouer greuous vengaunce And to vs shall be rekenyd the dethe of our lorde Ihesu cryst wherof saynt bernarde pleyneth him in sayenge ¶ Quamdiu vixero ero me mor laboris quē cristus sustinuit in predicando fatigacionū in discurrendo temptacionū in ieiunando vigiliarū in orando lacrimarū in compaciendo c. As longe as I shal be in this lif I shall remembre me full pyteously of the greuous labours that our lorde Ih̄u criste suffryd in prechyng and of the werynesse in his gooynge aboute of his temptacyons in fastyng of his watche in praier and of the teres that he wept by compassion I shall remembre also his sorowes his dispisyng with shamful spittynges and the harde strokes that they layd vpon hym the felon repreues that he suffryd And the grete nayles and al thyse other passions that he suffryd for me ¶ And yf I doo it not there shall be cast on me to my confusion the In̄ocent blood that ihesu cryst shed vpon the erthe for me Doo we thenne doo we bi the coūseyle of saynt bernarde and by the counseylle of kynge dauyd that sayth in the sawter ¶ Sepcies in die laudem dixi tibi Fayr lorde god seuen tymes in the day I yelde to the thankynges praysynges for our benefactours benefaytes And for this reason ben vij houres of the of the day cōmaunded to say in holy chyrche in remembraunce of the pascyon of our lorde Ihesu cryst For this that at euery houre suffryd he soo moche shame Thise vij houres ben callyd compline matynes pryme tyerce myddy noone vespres Whan ye say or here cōpline thynke full ententyfly howe at that our Iudas betrayed hym solde hym for xxx pens soo good chepe was neuer seen solde nor bought soo delicyous precyous flesshe And well maye this tyme be callid complyne for this that oure lorde wolde soone after passe from this paynful lyf The whiche deth was purposed of the felon Iewes that he shold not escape For it was of hym as of a man condempned to deye for theft and is delyuerd to his execucōn of whom men sayen though he be yet liuynge he is as a dede man for cause he is Iuged to the deth This thefte wherfore Ihesu cryst was condēpnyd was not for golde nor siluer but for an apple that was full bytter as we haue harde that adam stale in paradice where he dyde sacrelage wherby he was acursid oute of holy chirche payned in this mortall lyf sorowfully ixC yeres more tormēted in hungre thurst in grete labour anguysshe and sith deyed of righte paynfull deth And his soule decended vnto the horrible paynes of helle and lay there bounde in prison derknesse xl̄C yeres more soo that he al his lignage that deyed wente thyder to the tyme that our lorde Ihesus cryst shedde his precyous blood on the holy crosse This ought ye to thīke whā ye say or here complin haue full grete fere of our lorde whom ye haue soo often offended whan he took so grete greuous vengaūce of adam that he had made wyth his owne hondes for one apple that was of noo value y t he took agaynst his cōmaundemēte And therfore at that hour yelde w◠culpable to god within our hertes· and to the preste with our mouth And yf ye maye thenne haue in mynde al that ye haue doon that day ayenst the commaūdement of god ◠of al that ye haue euyll spokē wyth your mouth and wyth your eyen euyll beholden ofte of all y t we can thynke that daye we haue doon agaynst the wyll of our creatour and deuoutly require merci pardon And this hour was concluded felonously the dethe of Ih̄u cryst for our synnes And haue very hope that we shal haue this y t we desire yf we repent ourself truly and be well confessyd so that oure axynge be resonable For this sayth our lorde in the gospell ¶ Pette et accipietis REquyre and ye shall receyue after this complyne He sayd to his thre dyscyples full pyteously fayr brethern abyde and wake here whyle I make my prayers to my fader Thenne fylle he downe to the erthe and prayed thre tymes his fader that yf it miight be his passion were put from hym And thenne appered an angell to hym conforted him wherof ye ought to thynke that as longe as he was in his prayer he swet droppes of blood In the meane tyme slepte his discyples but hymself had noo wyll to slepe to the tyme that he deyed on the crosse and then̄e rested he in the sepulture vnto the daye of his Resurrexcion thenne awaked he thus as a man slepyng hastly awaketh thus soone sooner awoke he fro deth wherof dauyd the prophete sayth ¶ Excitatus est tanquam dormi ens dn̄s At matynes yelde we