rest O swete rest of the mother the sonne togyther my swete chylde O my God hononre prayse be vnto the only so that euery creature maye se how it hath pleased the to call me a mother lesse than nothynge The more that the thynge is straunge and harde to be done the more ought thy goodnesse to haue prayse for it And also I fynde my selfe more bounde vnto the than euer I ded for thys that it pleaseth the to haue retayned me for thy syster I am syster vnto the but so naughty a syster that better it were for me that I were without the name for I forgate the honoure of adopcyon in so noble a kyndred also thy so good brotherly behauer towardes me I with pryde ded ryse agaynst the and not remembrynge my faultes but goynge a straye from the ded agree with my brother Aaron beynge in wyll to geue iudgment agaynst thy workes Priuely I grudged agaynst the also whych thynge causeth me to haue a great remorce in my conscyence Alas ryght bountyfull God brother and true Moses whych doist all with goodnesse and Iustyce I haue estemed thy workes to be euen synne beynge so bolde to speake euyn rashely saynge Wherfor hast thu marryed a straunge woman Thu gyuest vs a lawe and ponnyshemente if we do not fulfyll it And thu woldest not be bounde to it forbyddynge vs the thynge whych thu thy selfe doist For thu doist forbyd vs to kylle anye man and thu doist kylle and sparist non of thre thousande whych thu causydest to be flayne Also God gaue vs in commâ—undemente by the that we shulde not marry the doughter of a straunger Yet thu to kest thy wyfe amonge them Alas my dere brother with a great meany of soche wordes whom I knowe to be folyshe with Aaron whych is my owne wytte I imbrayded the Wherof I dore pente For the lyuely voyce of God rebukyngly toke me vp before I wente out of the place What woldest thu than of my synne Alas my brother thu woldest not haue me ponnyshed but rather woldest my saluacyon and helthe in askynge for me thys great benefyght that it shulde please God to mytygate hys iudgemente The whych thynge thu couldest not obtayne For I became a lazar so that whan any body shulde loke vpoÌ„ me they myght wele se that I had not bene wyse And so was I put on t from the tentes and tabernacles of the people bycause that a sycke bodye maye infecte theÌ„ whych be in helthe Oh a sowle can not haue a greatter PoÌ„nyshement than to be bannyshed our of the cumpanye of them whych are holye and good But what dedyst thu seynge my repentaunce Thu prouydedyst that my penaunce was sone at an ende and with trne loue dedyst make meanes for me wherupon I ded returne O what a brother wolde instede to ponnyshe hys folysh syster so naturally cleaue vnto her For iniurye grudge great offeÌ„ce thu geuyst her grace loue in recoÌ„peÌ„ce Alas my brother how excedynge is thys thy loue Moch more is it than brotherhode is bounde to geue to so poore wretched a woman as I am I haue done the euyll and thu geuyst me good for it I am thyne and thu sayest thu arte myne EueÌ„ so I am and wyll be so for euer I feare nomore the great folyshenesse of Aaron for nomaÌ„ maye separat me froÌ„ the. Now that we are brother syster togyther I care very lytle for all other men Thy landes are myne owne inherytaunce Lete vs than kepe if it please the but one howsholde Syth it haue pleased the to humble thy selfe so moche as to ioyne thy hart with myne in makynge thy selfe a leuely maÌ„ I do ryght hartely thaÌ„ke the And as to do it as I ought it lyeth not in my small power Take my meanynge than and excuse my ignoraunce seynge I am of so great a kyndred as to be thy syster O my God I haue good cause to loue to prayse to serue the vnfaynedly and not to feare nor to desyre any thynge saue the only Kepe me wele than for I aske noÌ„ other brother nor frynde If anye father haue had anye pytie vpon hys chylde If anye mother haue take anye care for her sonne If anye brother haue hyd the synne of hys syster it is thu I neuer sawe or els it was kepte woÌ„ders secrete that euer husbande wolde througly for gyue hys wyfe after she had hym ones offended and ded returne vnto hym There haue bene ynough of theÌ„ whych for to aueÌ„ge their wronges haue caused the iudges to put them to deathe Other beholdynge their synnes ded not spare their owne haÌ„des sodenly to kylle them Other also seynge their faultes to apere ded sende theÌ„ home agayne to their owne fryndes Some perceyuynge their euyll dysposycyons haue shut them vp faste in a pryson Now breuely to conclude vpon their dyuerse complexyons The ende of their pretence is ponnyshment and the least harme that euer I coulde perceyue in poÌ„nyshynge theÌ„â— is thys that they wolde neuer se theÌ„ agayne Thu shuldest rather make the skye to turne thaÌ„ so to forsake thy wyfe for her mysdoynge Wherfor my God I can fynde nomaÌ„ to be coÌ„pared vnto the. For of loue thu arte the perfect example Now my God more than eueâ— I ded I confesse that I haue broken my othe and promyse Alas thu haddyst chosen me for thy wyfe and dedyst set me vp in great state honoure For what greatter honoure maye one haue than to be in the place of thy wyfe whych swetely taketh her rest so nere the. Of all thy goodes quene mastres and lady and also in suretie both of body and sowle Of great fauoure is it that I so vyle a creature am so ennoblyshed by the. Now to speake it breuely I haue more better than any man mortall can desyre Wherfor my harte hath cause to sygh alwayes and with habundaunce of teares myne eyes to come out of my heade My mouthe can not make to many exclamacyons For there is neyther newe nor auncyent writynges that can shewe so pytiefull a case as the same is whych I wyll tell now Shall or dare I tell it Maye I pronounce it without shame Alas yea For my confusyon is it not to shewe the great loue of my husbaÌ„de Therfor I care not if for hys worshyp I do declare my faulte O my sauer whych dyed was crucyfyed on the crosse for my synnes Thys dede is not suche as a father to leaue hys sonne or as a chylde to offeÌ„de hys mother or els as a syster to grudge chyde Alaâ— thys is worse For the offence is greatter where more loue knowledge is For the more famylyaryte we haue with God the more benefytes we receyue of hym the greatter is our offeÌ„ce whan we with hym dyssemble Specyally that I shuld so do whych am called hys spouse
remorse of my synnes Thu hast not put me backe with thy haÌ„de but with both thy armes and with a swete and maÌ„ly harte thu dedyst mete with me by the waye and not ones reprouynge my faultes enbrasydest me I coulde not se in beholdynge thy couÌ„tenaunce that euer thu dedyst ones perceyue myne offence For thu hast done as moche for me as though I had beue good and honest For thu dedyst hyde my faulte from euery body in geuynge me agayne the parte of thy bedde and also in shewynge that the multitude of my synnes are so hyddeÌ„ ouercome by thy great vyctorye that thu wylte neuer remembre theÌ„ So that now thu seyst nothynge in me but the graces gyftes and vertues whych it hath pleased thy fre goodnesse to gyue mâ— O charyte most precyouse I do se wele that thy goodnesse doth consume my lewdenesse maketh me a newe godly and bewtyfull creature The euyll that was myne thu hast destroyed and made me so perfyght a creature that all the good whych a husbande can do vnto hys wyfe thu hast done it to me in geuynge me a faythfull Hope in thy promyses Now haue I through thy good grace recouered the place of thy wyfe O happye desyered place gracyouse bedde trone ryght honourable sâ—ate of peace rest from all warre hygh steppe of honoure separate from the earthe Soâ—st thu receyue thys vnworthy creature geuynge her the scepture and crowne of thy empyre and gloryouse realme who ded euer heare speake of suche a storye as to rayse vp one so hygh whych of her selfe was nothynge maketh of great value that of it selfe was naught Alas what is thys for I castynge myne eyes on hygh ded se thy goodnesse so vnknowne grace loue so incompreheÌ„syble that my syght is wonderfull Than am I constrayned to loke downe in so lokynge downewarde I do se what I am and what I was wyllynge to be Alas I do se in it the lewdenesse darkenesse and extreme depenesse of my euyll My deathe whych by haÌ„blenesse closeth myne eye The admyrable goodnesse of the the vnspeakcable euyll whych is in me Thy ryght hyghnes pure maiestie my ryght fragyle and mortall nature Thy gyftes goodes beatytude my malyce great vnkyndnesse O how good thu arte vnto me and how vnkynde am I to the Thys that thu wylte and thys that I pursue Whych thynges consydered causeth me to maruele how it pleasyth the to ioyne thy selfe to me seynge there is no comparyson betwene vs both Thu arte my God and I am thy worke thu my creator and I thy creature Now to speake breuely though I can not defyne what it is to be of the yet knowe I my selfe to be the least thynge that may be compared vnto the. O loue thu madyst thys agrementâ— whan thu dedyst ioyne lyfe aud deathe togyther But the vnyon hath made alyue deathe Lyfe dyenge and lyfe without ende haue made one deathe a lyfe Deathe hath geuen vnto lyfe a guyckenesse Through suche deathe I beynge dead receyued lyfe and by deathe I am ranyshed with hym whych is alyue I lyue in the and as for me of my selfe I am dead And as coÌ„cernynge the bodyly deathe it is nothynge els vnto me but a coÌ„mynge out of pryson Deathe is lyfe vnto me For through deathe I am alyue Thys mortall lyfe fylleth me full of care and sorowe and deathe yeldeth me content O what a goodly thynge it is to dye whych causeth my sowle to lyue In delyuerynge her froÌ„ thys mortall deathe it exeÌ„pteth her froÌ„ the deathe myserable matcheth her with a most myghty louer vnlesse she thus dyeth she laÌ„guyssheth alwayes Is not thaÌ„ the sowle blameles whych wolde fayne dye for to haue suche lyfe Yes trulye she ought to call deathe her wel beloued frynde O swete deathe plesaunt sorowe myghty keye delyuerynge from all wyckednesse Those whych trusted in the o lorde and in thy deathe were mortyfyed because they ded trust in the and in thy passyon For with a swete slepe thu dedyst put them oute of that deathe whych causeth manye to lamente O how happye is the same slepe vnto hym whych whan he awaketh doth fynde through thy deathe the lyfe euerlastynge For the deathe is no other thynge to a christen man but a lyberte or delyueraunce from hys mortall bande And the deathe whych is fearfull to the wycked is plesaunt and acceptable to them that are good Than is deathe through thy deathe destroyed Therfor my God if I were ryghtly taught I shulde call the deathe lyfe and thys lyfe deathe ende of laboure and begynnynge of euerlastynge ioye For I knowe that the loÌ„ge lyfe doth lett me from thy syght O deathe come and breake the same obstacle of lyfe Or els loue do a myracle now syth that I can not yet se my spouse Transfourme me with hym both bodye sowle and than shall I the better tarry for the cummynge of deathe Lete me dye that I maye lyue with hym For there is noÌ„ that can helpe me onles it be thu only O my sauer through faythe I am planted and ioyned with the. O what vnyon is thys syth that through faythe I am sure of the. And I maye call the father brother sonne and husbande O what giftes thu dost gyue by the goodenesse of those names O my father what paternyte O my brother what fraternyte O my chylde what dylectyon O my spouse what coniunctyon is thys Father full of humylyte Brother hauynge our symylytude SoÌ„ne engendered through faythe loue Husbande louynge and releuynge in allextrâ—myte But whom doist thu loue Alas is is she whom thu hast with drawen from the snare wherin through malyce she was bounde and put her in place name and offyce of a doughter syster mother and wyfe O my sauer the same is a great sauoure of swetnesse ryght plesauÌ„t and dylectable whan a man after the hearynge of thy worde shall call the without feare hys father brother chylde spouse I in hearynge that worde do perceyue my selfe to be called there thy mother syster doughter spouse Alas the sowle whych doth fynde suche swetnesse maye consume and burne for loue Is there any loue onles it be thys bnt it hath some euyll condycyon Is there anye pleasure to be herto estemed Is there any honoure buâ— maye be accompted shame to thys compared Yea is there any profyte equall to thys More ouer to conclude it breuely Is there any thynge that I coulde more ernestly loue Alas no. For he that vnfaynedly loueth God reputeth all these thynges worldly of lesse value than the dâ—Ì„ge hylle Pleasure profyte honoure of thys worlde are all but vayne tryfles vnto hym whych hath founde God Suche loue is so profytable honourable abundaunt that I dare saye she only suffyseth the harte of a godly man and yeldeth hym so content that he neuer desyreth or
and come hytherwarde my dylectable spouse Therfor shal I saye with louynge fayth thu arte myne and I am thyne Thu dost call me thy loue fayre spouse If it be so suche hast thu made me Alas doth it please the to gyue me suche names They are truly able to breake a mannys harte and cause it to burne through loue vnspeakeable whan he thynketh vpon the honoure that thu dost vnto hym whych is moche greatter than he hath deserued A mother a mother Alas but of what chylde is it Truly of suche a sonne that my harte doth breake for loue My God my sonne O Iesus what speache thys is mother daughter O happy kynrede O what swetnesse doth proceade out of that paternyte But what doughterly and reuerent feare ought I to haue towardes hym my father yea my creatour my protctour and sauer To be thy syster alas here is a great loue Now dost thu breake my harte iÌ„ the myddest to make rowme for the same so swete a brother So that no other name be writeÌ„ in the same but only my brother Iesus the sonne of God Non other man wyll I geue place to for all the scourgynge and beaâ—ynge that they caÌ„ do vnto me Reape my harte then my brother and frynde lete not thy enemy entre in to it O my father chylde brother and spouse with haÌ„des ioyned humbly vpon my knees I yelde the thankes and prayses that it pleaseth the to turne thy face towardes me conuertynge my harte and coueryng me with suche grace that thu dost se nomore my euyls synnes So we le hast thu hydden them that it semeth thu hast put theÌ„ in forgetfulnesse Yea also they seme to be forgoten of me whych haue coÌ„mytted them For fayth and loue causeth me to forget them puttynge wholly my trust in the alone Than my father in whom lyeth vnfayned loue wherof can I haue feare in my harte I confesse that I haue done all the euyll that one creature can do and that of my selfe I am nought Also that I haue offended the as the prodygall chylde ded folowynge the folysh trade of the fleshe wherewith I haue spente all my substauÌ„ce and the habundauÌ„ce of goodes whych I had receyued of the. For pouerte had wetheryd me awaye euen as heye and yelded my sprete dead for hunger sea kynge to eate the releafe of swyne But I Founde very lytle sauoureâ— in suche meates Than I seynge my lyfe to be so myserable I ded returne vnto the my father agayne sayenge Alas I haue synned in heauen and before the. I am not worthy I tell it before euerybodye to be called thy chylde But O bountyfull father do no worse to me than to one of thy howsholde seruauntes Alas what loue and Zele is thys for thu woldest not tarry my commynge and prayer but stretchynge out thy haÌ„d receyuedyst me whan I ded thynke that thu woldest not loke vpon me And in stede to haue ponnyshed thu dedyst assure me of my saluacyon Where is he theÌ„ that shall ponnysh me whan my father shall denye hym my synne There is no indge that can condeÌ„pne anye creature vnlesse God hymselfe wolde dampne hym I feare not the want of goodnesseâ— syth I haue my God for my father My enemye shall do me no harme for my father shall take all hys strength awaye If I owe anye thynge he shall paye it all for me If I haue deserued death he as a kynge shall pardoÌ„ me delyuer me froÌ„ pryson haÌ„gynge But here is the worst What maner of mother haue I bene For after that I by fayth had receyued the name of a true mother I became very rude vnto the by cause that after I had conceyued and brought the fourth I left reason And beynge subiect to my wyll not takynge heede vnto the I fell a slepe and gaue place to my great enemye The whych iÌ„ the nyght of ignoraunce I beynge a sleape ded steale the from me craftely and in thy place she ded put her chylde whych was dead So ded I lefâ— the whych is an harde sorowe and remorce for me Now haue I lost the by myne owe faulte my sonne bycause I toke no hede to kepe the. Sensualyte my neyghbour I beynge in my beastly sleape ded steale the from me gaue me an other chylde whych had no lyfe in hym named synne whom I wyll not haue for I do vtterly forsake hym She affirmed that he was myne owne but I knewe hym to be hers For as sone as I came to the lyght of grace whych thu haddest gyueÌ„ me thaÌ„ I knewe my glory to be changed whan I sawe the dead chylde not to be myne For the same whych was alyue whom she had taken awaye was myne owne Betwene Iesus synne is the chaunge so apparant But here is a straunge thynge Thys olde woman causeth me to kepe hym whych is dead whom she reporteth to be myne and so she wyll maynteyne O SalomoÌ„ a full true iudge thu hast hearde thys lamentable processe and ordayned to coÌ„tent the partyes that the chylde shulde be deuyded in two partes The false woman agreyth it shulde be so But I remembrynge hym to be myne owne sonne was rather contente to lese hym than to se hys bodye parted in two peces For true and pefyght loue is neuer contente with one halfe of that iâ— doth loue I had rather to wepe for my whole losse than to recouer but one halfe My mynde coulde not be satysfyed if I had recouered one halfe without lyfe Alas gyue her rather the chylde whych is alyue Better it is for me to dye than to se Iesus Christ dyuyded But O my lorde thu dedyst loke better to it than I. For thu seynge the anguysh that I ded suffer how I ded rather forsake my ryght than to beholde snche cruelnesse Thu saydest thys is the true mother and so caused them to gyue me my chylde agayne for whom my harte was so sorowfull O swete Iesus I founde the after to haue proued me if I ded loue the. Yea I whych had lost the yet dedyst thu returne vnto me Alas dost thu vouche saue to come agayne to her whych beynge lett with synne coulde not kepe the my swete chylde my sonne my helper my norysher of whome I am aâ—ryght humble creature Do not permytt that euer I do leaue the agayne for I do repent my selfe of the tyme passed Now come my sensualyte with synnes of all qualytees for thu hast no power to make me receyue the chylde whych is dead The same that I haue is stronge ynough for to defende me he shall not permyt that thu take hym awaye from me He is alredy more stronge than anye man is Therfor I maye sleape and take rest neare hym For all thynges wele consydered he shall kepe me moche better than I coulde hym Then as I thynke I maye take
of christyanyte bewtyfyeth hym most of all By noÌ„ other wayes haue the Apostles and Martyrs obtayned a noble report than by the valeaunt force of pure doctryne and fayth A geÌ„tyll hart sayth Seneca or a stomake that ys noble moueth prouoketh and sturreth only to thynges honest No man whych hath a noble wytte delyteth in thynges of small value moch lesse in matters of fylthynesse or supperstycyon Chefely apperteyneth it to men and women of syncere Nobylyte to regarde the pure doctryne and faythe vnto soch hath God promysed in the scriptures habundaunce of teÌ„porall thynges longe lyfe fortunate chyldren a kyngedome durable with soch other Deut. 28. A most worthy conquerour is Gedeon noted in the scriptures for destroyenge false relygyoÌ„ rennynge the kyngedome of faythe Iudi. vj. So is kynge Asa for remouynge the male stues from the prelates abhorrynge marryage for puttynge downe ydolles whych hys forefathers maynteyned 3. Reg. 15 So is kynge Iosaphat for beynge couragyouse in the wayes of God and for puttynge downe the hyll aulters their sacrifices .2 parali 17. So is kynge Iehu for sleynge the ydolatrouse Prestes and for breakynge and burnynge their great God Baal and for makynge a Iakes of their holy churche 4. Reg. 10 So is kynge Ezechias for cleÌ„synge the house of the lorde from all fylthynesse afore hys tyme therin occupyed 2. Parali 29. and for breakynge downe the brasen serpent and ydolatrouse ymages with their aulters and sanctuaryes 4. Reg. 18 So is kynge Iosias for suppressynge relygyouse persones and aulterprestes for coÌ„sumynge their iewels ornameÌ„tes for ouerthrowynge their buggery chambers in the howse of the lorde 4. Reg. 23. Thys noble kiÌ„ge also destroyed all theyr carued ymages he strewed the dust of theÌ„ vpon their graues that had offered to them and brent the prestes bones vpoÌ„ their aulters restorynge agayne the lawes of the lorde .2 parali 34. Iesus Syrach reporteth of hym fynally that he whollye dyrected hys hart to the lorde toke awaye all abhomynacyons of the vngodly Eccle. 49 Besydes that is spoken of kynge Dauid and kynge Salemon Not I only but many thousandes more whych wyll not from hens fourth bowe any more to Baal are in full perfyght hope that all these most hyghly notable and pryncely actes wyll reuyue lyuely florysh in your most noble and worthy brother kynge Edwarde the sixt Most excellent godly are hys begynnynges reported of the very foren nacyoÌ„s callynge hym for hys vertuouse lerned and godly prudent youthes sake the seconde Iosias Those hys wonderfull pryncyples in the eyes of the worlde and no lesse gloryouse afore God thus beynge to hys honoure that eternall lyuynge God contynue and prospere to the ende that he maye haue of them as had these vorthy kinges afore rehearced a ryght noble and famouse report Nobylyte sought by wycked enterpryses and obtayned by the same as in many afore our dayes and in some now of late is not els but a publyque and notable infamye and in the ende eternall daÌ„pnacyon Nobylyte wonne by the ernest sekynge of Gods hygh honour is soch a precyouse crowne of glory as wyll neuer perysh here nor yet in the worlde to come Cam after a worldly maner or amoÌ„ge the 〈…〉 sort is holden noble for slayinge his brother Iudas of the prelates for he receyued of theÌ„ a noble rewarde for betrayenge Christ Herode of the Iewes for murtherynge the innoceÌ„tes And what is there more worthy reproche dyshonour and shame than are these execrable factes The nature of true Nobylyte as I haue sayd afore is not to ryse of vyce but of vertu though many men there seke it Of the most excelleÌ„t kinde of Nobylyte is he sure most vertuouse and lerned lady whych truly beleueth and seketh to do the wyll of the eternall father for therby is he brought forewarde and promoted into that heauenly kyndred IoaÌ„ 1. By that meanes becometh he the deare brother syster mother of Christ Math. 12. a cytizen of heauen with the Apostles and Prophetes Ephe. 2. yea the chylde of adopcyon and heyre togyther with Christ in the heaueÌ„ly inherytaunce Roma 8. No soch chyldren left Socrates behynde hym neyther yet Demosthenes Plato nor Cicero with all their plesauÌ„t wysdome and eloqueÌ„ce No soch heretage coulde great Alexander the Macedoneane byqueth to hys posteryte neyther yet noble Charles Artoure nor Dauid Of thys Nobylyte haue I no doubt lady most faythfully studyouse but that yow are with many other noble women maydeÌ„s more in thys blessed age If questyon were axtme how I knowe it my answere wolde be thys By your godly frute as the fertyle tre is non other wyse than therby knowne luce vi I receyued your noble boke ryght frutefully of yow translated out of the frenche tunge into Englysh I receyued also your golden sentences out of the sacred scriptures with no lesse grace than lernynge in foure noble laÌ„guages Latyne Greke Frenche Italyane most ornately fynely purely writteÌ„ with your owne hande Wonderfully ioyouse were the lerned men of our cytie Murseus Buscoducius Bomelius Lithodius ImaÌ„nus as I shewed vnto them the seyd sentences in beholdynge as they than reported so moch vertu faythe scyence experyeÌ„ce of laÌ„guages letters specyally in noble youth femynyte Through whych occasyon there be of theÌ„ I knowe that cannot witholde their lerned handes froÌ„ the publyshynge therof to the hygh prayse of God the geuer neyther yet from wrytynge to your worthy grace for studyouse contynuaunce in the same Your seyd seÌ„teÌ„ces they saye farre passeth the Apohthegmes of Plutarchus the Aphorismes of Theognis the Stratagemes of Isocrates the graue golden couÌ„sels of Cato the manyfolde morals of Iohan Goldeston the great allegoryser with soche other lyke Your first written clauses in .iiij. speches latyne frenche Italyane out of the xiij Psalme of noble Dauid meÌ„cyoneth that the vnfaythfull reckeneth folyshly in their hartes there is no God WherupoÌ„ so corrupt they are in their vayne coniectures and so abhomynable in their dayly doynges that not one of their generacyoÌ„ is godly By thys do your grace vnto vs sygnyfye that the baren doctryne good workes without fayth of the hypocrytes whych in their vncoÌ„maunded latyne ceremonyes serue their â—ellyes not Christ in gredyly deuourynge the patrymony of poor wydowes orphanes are both execrable in themselues and abhomynable afore God for though those paynted sepulchres haue the name of the lorde in their mouthes greatly boast the good workes of the lawe yet knowe they not what belongeth to hys true honoure but hate in their wycked hartes both hys gloryouse name and worde The true doctryne of faythe and the feare of God wyll that wycked sort whome thys psalme wryngeth not heare but styll tormeÌ„t the conscyences of myserable wretched ydyotes for aduauntage of Masses
so far fourth as I can perceyue I haue no hope of socour but through the grace of God that I can not deserue whych maye rayse euery one from deathe By hys bryghtnesse he geueth lyght to darkenesse And hys power examynynge my faulte doth breake all the vayle of ignoraunce and geueth me clere vnderstādynge not only that thys cometh of me but also what thynge abydeth in me Where I am and wherfor I do laboure Who he is whom I haue offended to whom I ded obeye so seldome Therfor it is cōuenyent that my pryde be suppressyd And humbly with wepynge harte I do confesse that I am moch lesse thā nothynge before my byrth myer after a dungehyll a body prompte to all euyll not wyllynge other stodye also subiect to care sorowe and payne A short lyfe and th ende vncertayne The whych vndre synne by Adam is solde and by the lawe iudged to be damnyd For I had neuer the power to obserue one only cōmaundemente of God I do fele the strength of synne in me therfor is my synne no whyt the lesse to be hydden And the more he is dyssembled outwardly so moche the more he encreasyth within the harte That whych God wyll I can not wyll and what he wolde not I ofte tymes desyre to perfourme Whych thynge doth constrayne me by importable sorowe to Wyshe th ende of thys myserable bodye through desyred death bycause of my werye ragynge life Who shall be he than that shall delyuer and recouer suche good for me Alas it can not be a mortall man for hys power and strength is not suche but it shall be the only good grace of the almyghty God whych is neuer slacke to preuent vs with hys mercye O what a master is that with our deseruynge any goodnesse of hym I serued hym slouthfully and without ceasynge offended hym euery daye yet is he not slacke in helpynge me He doth se the euyll that I haue what and how moche it is and that of my selfe I can do nothynge that good is but with hart and body so enclyned am I to the contrarye that I feale no strength in me onles it be for to do euyll He doth not tarry tyll I humbly praye hym or that seynge my helle dāpnacyon I do crye vpō hym For with hys sprete he maketh a waylynge in my harte greatter than I can declare whych asketh the gyfte wherof the vertu is vnknowen to my lytele power And thys the same vnknowne syghte doth brynge me a newe desyre shewynge the good that I haue lost by my synne gyuē me agayne through hys grace boūtye that whych hath ouercomē all synne O my lorde what grace and goodnesse is thys whych doth put out so manye synnes Now maye we se that thu art full of all godly loue to make me of a synner thy seruaūt chyelde Alas my God I ded not seke the but I fled rāne awaye frō the. And here beneth thu camyst to me whych am nothynge but a worme of the earthe all naked What do I saye worme I do hym wrōge that am so naughtye swarme so full of pryde deceyte malyce treason The promyse whych my fryndes made whā I was baptysed is such that I alwayes through faythe in thy passyō shuld fele the mortyfycacyō of my fleshe dwelle alwayes with the ī the crosse where thu wert fast nayled as I beleue and yelded death dead as I also shuld yelde all synne Thys haue I often tymes taken downe agayne vntyed and set at large I haue broken denyed and falsyfyed my promyse through pryde I haue lyft vp my wyll in suche a maner that through slouth my dewtye towardes the was forgoten And that moche more is as wele the profyte or value of thy promyse whych I had of the in the daye of my baptysme as also thy sauynge loue and promyses folowynge I haue all alyke neglected What shall I saye more Albeit that often tymes thu perceyuynge me wretched and vnhappye hast geuē me so many warnynges in fayth and in sacramētes admonyshynge me by preachynges and confortynge me by the recayuynge of thy worthye bodye and sacred bloude promysynge also to put me in the nombre of them that are now adourned with perfyght innocencye Yet haue I all these hygh benefyghtes throwne into forgetfullnesse Often tymes haue I with the broken couenaunte Aud partly for that my poore sowle was to moche fed with euyll breade or dāpnable doctryne of hypocrytes I despysed such socoure and ghostly physyck in Gods worde as wolde haue holpe me And if I had bene wyllynge to loke for it yet knewe I at that tyme no teachers cōuenyent For there is neyther man saynte nor Angell for whome the harte of a synner without thy sprete wyll change Alas good Iesus thu beholdynge my blyndenesse and that at my neade I coulde haue no socour of men dedyst open the waye of my saluacyon O how great is the goodnesse and how inestymable the swetnesse whych thu hast shewed therin Is there any father so naturall to the daughter or brother to the syster whych wolde euer haue done as he hath done For he came into the helle to socour my sowle where agaynst hys wyll she was intendynge to haue peryshed because she ded not loue Alas swete lorde thn hast loued her yea to the very outshedynge of thy most precyouse bloude O charyte feruent and incōparable Not slacke art thu in loue that so louest euery synner yea and also thyne enemyes not only in forgeuynge their offences but also in geuynge thy selfe for their saluacyon lybertie and delyueraunce to the death crosse trauayle payne and sufferaunce Whan I cast in mynde what shnlde be the occasyō of thy loue towardes me I can se nothynge els but a loue wonderfull whych moueth th◠to geue me that I can not deserue Than my God as farre fourth as I can se I ought to geue no thākes for my saluacyon but only vnto the to whome I owe the prayse ther of as to hym whych is my sauyour creatoure What a thynge is it that thu hast done so moche for me Thu art not only contented to haue forgyuen me my synnes but also hast gyuē vnto me the ryght fortunate gifte of grace For it shulde snffyse me I cōmynge out of suche a daunger to be lyke a straunger vsed But thu dost handle my sowle if I durst so saye it as a mother daughter syster and wyfe I lorde I am the trespaser whych am not worthy to come nere the dore of thy ryght hygh place to aske breade where thy dwellynge is O what grace is thys that so sodenly thu vouchesauyst to drawe my sowle in to suche hyghnesse that she felyth herselfe ruler of my bodye She poore ignoraunte and lame doth fynde her selfe wyth the ryche wyse and stronge because thu hast written in her harte the roote of thy sprete
holy wordeâ— geuynge her true fayth for to receyue it Whych thynge made her to conceyue thy sonne in beleuynge hym to be man God sauyour and also the true remytter of synnes Therfor dost thu assure her that she is mother to thy sonne of whom thu art the only faither And farthermore O my father here is a great loue for thu art not wery of wele doynge syth that thy sonne full of dyuynyte hath taken the bodye of a man ded myngle hymselfe with our ashes whych thynge a man can not vnderstaÌ„de vnlesse he hath a true faythe It hath pleased the to put hym so neare vs that he ded ioyne hymselfe vnto our fleshe Than we seynge hym to be called man we are bolde to call hym syster and brother Now the sowle whych maye saye of her selfe that she is the syster of God ought to haue her harte assured After thys dost thu declare with greate loue how her creacyon is only of the good wyll whych it pleaseth the alwayes to haue towardes her geuynge assuraunce that before her first daye or tyme of beynge prouyded for her thu bestowedest thy loue on her how through loue thu hast made her as alone of power thu cannyst wele do it and also how thu dedyst put her within thys body not for to sleape with slouth but that both of them shulde haue non other exercyse but only to thynke how to do some seruyce vnto the Than the truthe maketh her to feale that there is in the true paternyte O what honoure what swetnesse and what glory hath the sowle whych doth alwayes remeÌ„ber that she is thy daughter in callynge the fayther she doth thy commaundement What is there more Is that all No It doth please the to gyue her an other name to call her thy wyfe that she agayne do call the husbande declarynge how thu hast frely manyfested the marryage of her By the baptysme thu hast made a promes to gyue her thy goodes and ryches and thu agayne to take her synnes for she hath nothynge els by herytage of her first father Adam All her treasures that she hath of nature arâ— nothynge els but synnes whych thu 〈◊〉 tyed vpon the and payed all her 〈◊〉 debte with thy goodes andâ— landes Thu hast made her so ryche and with so great a ioynter endued her that she knowynge her selfe to be thy woyd wyfe doth beleue to be quytt of all that she oweth estemynge very lytel that she hath here beneth She forsaketh her olde father all the goodes that he gyueth for her husbandes sake Surely o my God my sowle is sore hurte to be fedde with suche good and agayne releued in leauynge the pleasure of thys worlde for that whych is eternall where peace is without warre I maruayle that she thys remembrynge doth not lese her witt couÌ„tenaunce and speache Father father alas what ought I to thynke Shall my sprete be so bolde as to take vpon hym to call the father Yea and also onr Father for so hast thu taught in the Pater noster But to call the daughter hast thu so sayd I besyche the tell me Alas yea whan with great swetnesse thu saydest daughter lend me thy harte O my God in stede of lendynge he is ready to geue hym selfe wholly vnto the 〈◊〉 hym than do not permyt that 〈◊〉 creature put hym from the so that for euer with faythfull stedefastnesse he maye loue the with a daughterly loue Now my lorde if thu be my father maye I thynke that I can be thy mother In dede I cannot wele preceyue how I shulde conceyue the that createdyst me But thu dedyst in thys matter satisfye my doubte whan in preachynge and in sreatchynge fourth thy haÌ„des dedyst saye Those that shall do the wyll of my father they are my bretherne also my syster and mother I beleue than that hearynge readynge the wordes whych thu hast taught vttered by thy holy prophetes the same also whych through thy true preachers thu dost dayly declare vnto meÌ„ in beleuynge it and stedefastly desyerynge to fulfyll I coÌ„ceyue the beare the by loue Therfor without aÌ„ye feare wyll I take vpoÌ„ me the name of a mother What mother of God O swete vyrgyne Marye I besyche the. be not angry that I take vp suche a tytle I do neyther stele nor vsurpe any thynge vpon thy pryuylege For thu only hast aboue all womeÌ„ receyued of hym so great honoure that nomaÌ„ can in hym selfe comprehende how he hath bene wyllynge to take in the our fleshe For thu arte mother and pefyght vyrgyne before and after and in hys holy byrth In thy blessyd wombe thu dedyst beare hym and norysh hym Thu dedyst folowe hym in hys trybulacyons and also in hys teachynges Now breuely to conclude Thu hast with God founde suche grace as the enemye through mâ—lyce and deceyteâ— had caused Adam hys posteryte to lose By Eue and hym we had lost it by thy sonne hath it bene yelded vnto vs agayne Therfor hast thu bene ryghteously called full of grace For thu lackedyst neyther grace nor vertu sith that he whych is the best amonge them that be good also the sprynge of all goodnesse and power whych hath created in the so pure innoceÌ„cye that thu arte the example of all uertues hath buylded in the hys dwellynge temple Be through loue ded conforme hymselfe with the and thu arte transfourmed in hym Therfor if any man shulde thynke to geueÌ„ the greatter prayse than God hymselfe hath done it were a fule blasphemye For there is no suche prayse as is the same whych commeth from God Thu also hast had faythe so fyrme and coÌ„staunt that by grace she had the power to make the godly Wherfor I wyll not take vpon me to geue the greatter prayse than the hououre whych thy souerayne lorde hath geuen vnto the. For thu arte hys corporall mother and also thruogh fayth hys spyrytuall mother And I folowynge thy fayth with humblenesse am hys spirytuall mother also Alas my God the brotherlynesse that thu hast towardes me throngh thy humblenesse in callynge me syster is great Dedyst thu euer saye iÌ„ it any thynge asore Alas yea For thu hast broken the kyndred of my olde father callynge me doughter by adopcyon Well than seynge that we haue both but one father I wyll not feare to call the my brother For so hast thu reported it by Salomon in hys bellet saynge My syster and spouse thu hast wounded my harte with the swete loke of one of thyne eyes and with one cheyne of thy necke Alas my brother I wyshe for no thynge els but that in woâ—Ì„dynge the I myght fynde my selfe wounded with thy loue To that wolde I geue ouer my selfe And lyke wyse thu dost call me wyfe in that place shewynge largely that thu loâ—yst me saynge by these wordes amorouse Aryse my dere doue