tempted of the enemy we shold not wonder though we wretches ben ofte sythes tempted for not oonly he was tempted in these thre tymes But also as saint Bernard saith in other dyuer se tymes as the Apostle saith that he was tempted in all maner temptacyou that longeth to the infirmyte of man wythoute synÌ„e Ferthermore whan the enemy was fully ouercome gone away angels comen serueden and mynystreden hym Meditacio â—â—uoâ—â— But now here take we good hede â–ª and beholde we inwardly oure lorde Jhesu etynge alone and the AuÌ„gels aboute hym thynke we deuoutely by ymagynacion tho thynges that folowen herafter For they ben ful faire and styrynge to deuocoÌ„n And so fyrste we maye aske â–ª what maner of mete it was that the Aungels serueden hym of after that longe fast â–ª Herof speketh not holy wrytte wherfore we maye here ymagyne by reason ordeyne this worldly feest as vs lyketh not by errour affermynge but deuoutly ymagynynge and supposyng and that after the comyn kynde of the manhede For yt we take hede and speke of his myghte after the godhede there is no question For it is no doubte that he myght make what hym lyst â–ª And also haue of tho that ben weren made at his owne wille But we shall not fynde that he vsed this myght and this power for hym self or for his disciples in her bodyly nede But for the peple to shewe his godhede we reden that at two tymes he fedde hem myraculously in grete multitude of a fewe loues and fysshes but of his disciples is wryten that in his owne presence they plucked eeres of corne eten hem for honger as it shal folowe herafter ¶ Also what tyme he hym self was wery of the way and satte vpon the welle spekynge with the womaÌ„ Samarytane we rede not that he made mete for to ete but that he sende his disciples in to the Cyte to begge her mete so it was not lyckly that in thys tyme after his fast bodily honger he purueyed his mete by miracle fythen in thys tyme he shewed oonly his manhede and also there was no peple â–ª therfore to wyrche myracle to her edificacion as comynly he dide but oonly Aungels were there present And sythen in that hylle was noo dwellynge of men ne mete redy dyÈt we shall suppose that AuÌ„gels broughten him manÌ„es mete all redy dyghte fro another place as it befelle to the prophete Danyel ¶ For as holy wrytte telleth what tyme Danyel was put in the pytte of lyons and Abacuk a nother prophete bare mete to his repars in the felde goddes Aungel took hym vp by the here of his hede bare hym fro thenâ— in to babylonye to Danyel for to be fedde wyth that mete And after anone he was borne ageyne ¶ And so in that manere lete vs ymagyne here with ghostly myrth as it were rehetynge oure lorde â–ª Jhesu at his mete and also hauynge in specyally his dere moder thynke we deuoutly in this manere what tyme sathanas was reproued as a fals temptour and vtterly dryuen away holy Aungels in grete multitude comeÌ„ to oure lord Jhesu after his vyctory and fallynge downe to yâ— erthe deuoutely honoured hym and salued hym as theyr lord and Almyghty god And oure lord benyngly and swettely to ok hem vp enclynyng to hem with his hede as hit were knowlechyng hym self veray man and in that somwhat lasse lowed fro AuÌ„gels And thenÌ„e speken the AuÌ„gels saydeÌ„ thus Oure worthy lord ye haue longe fasted And it is now youre tyme to ete what is youre wille that we ordeyne for you And thenÌ„e he said goo forth to my dere moder what maner of mete she hath redy brynge to me For there is none bodyly mete so lykynge to me as that is of hir dyghtynge And anone two of theim goynge forth sodeynly were before hir â–ª and with grete reuerence gretynge hir of hir sone behalfe tolde their message And so of that symple mete yâ— she had ordeyned to hir self Joseph the Aungels token with a loof and a to wel and other necessaryes and broughten hit to Jhesu And perauenture there with a few smale fysshes that oure lady had ordeyned thenÌ„e as god wold so therwyth the Aungels comynge spradden the towel vpon the grounde leiden brede theron and myldly stoden sayden graces with oure lord Jhesu â–ª abydynge his blessyng tyl he was sette ¶ Now take go Vide solitarie â—t resluse od entente here specially thou that arte solytary and haue in mynde why thou etest thy mete alone as withoute manÌ„es teliship the maner of this mete And how lowely oure lorde Jhesê° sytteth downe to his mete on the bare grouÌ„de For there had he neyther bancquerre ne quysshen and take hede how N curteysly and how sobirly he taketh his mete notwithstondynge his honger after his longe fast The angels serueden hym as her lord perauenture one of brede another wyne another dyÈt fysshes some songen in the stede of mynstrelsy that swete songe of heuen and soo they reheteden and couÌ„forted her lord as it longen to them with mykel Joye medled with coÌ„passion This teliship hast thou though thou see hem not whan thou etest allone in thy celle yf thou be in charite and specyally when thou hast thy herte to god as ye owe to haue after the byddynge of the apostle the whiche saith to vs that whether we eten or drynken or ony other thynge doo all we shall doo in the name of oure lord the whyche name Jhesus we shall algate blysse and thanke hym in herte haue we mykel haue we lytyl haue we good haue we badde and soo ete oure mete though we ben alone as though we seene bodyly the blessyd Aungels that ben presente ghostly And here with hauynge inward compassion of oure lorde Jhesu and beholdynge in mynde hym that is Almyghty god souerayne lorde and maker of alle the worlde that yeueth mete to alle flesshely creatures soo meked and in maner neded to bodyly mete and therewith etynge as another erthely man mykel owe we to loue hym thanke hym and wyth a gladde wylle take penaunce and suffre dysease for hym that soo moche hath suffred for vs ¶ Ferthermore as to the processe when our lord Jhesus had eten and sayd grace that is to saye thanketh the fader in his maÌ„hede of that bodily refeccion He badde the AuÌ„gels bere ageyn to his moder that was lefte tellyng hir that he shold in shorte tyme come to hir ageyne And whan they hadden doo as he badde were come ageyne that was in ful shorte tyme. he spake to all the Aungels that weren there and said God ageyne to my fader and youre blysse and recoÌ„mendeth me to hym and to all the Courte of heuen For yet it behoueth me to doo my pylgremage here in erth a whyle a none therwyth they fallyng downe to the erthe deuoutely askynge his
maudleyn other sayeng thus to hem Be not your herte troubled and drede ye not for I shalle not leue you desolate as faderlees For I shal goo come euer be wyth you And at the last he badde hem goo in to the mouÌ„te of olyuete for theÌ„s he wolde stie vp and soo passed at that tyme awaye fro heÌ„ And anone right his moder all other wythout taryenge yeden in to the forsayd mount yâ— is fro Jhrlm aboute a myle and therÌ„ anone our lorde apered to hem Loo here we haue on this daye two aperynges ThenÌ„e clippyd he kyssed his moder takynge leue and she again warde clippyd kysse hym full tenderly And the dyscyples maudleyne and other fallynge downe to the grouÌ„de and wepynge kisseden his fete deuoutly and he takynge hem vp kyssed all his apostles benygnely Now take hede Inwardly of hem and of all that here ben done And therwyth beholde the holy faders there beynge Inuysible how gladly and reuereÌ„tly they beholden Inwardly blessen her by whom they haue receyued soo grete a benefyce of her sauacy on They beholden tho worthy chaÌ„pyons leders of goddis oost the whiche amonge all other peple our lorde JhuÌ„s specyally hath chosen for to conquere all the worlde ¶ At yâ— last whan all the mysteryes were complete fulfylled our lorde NoÌ„ processuÌ„ asceÌ„cionis Jhesê° began to be lyfte vp fro hem and to stye vp by his owne vertue And thenne our lady and all other fellen downe to the erthe worshyppynge hym And our lady sayd My blessed sone Jhesu thynke on me And therwith she might not with holde her fro wepyuge by cause of his gooynge Neuertheles she was full Joyefull that she sawe her sone soo gloryously stye vp to heuen Also the discyples this seenge sayden Lorde we haue forsaken all worldes goodes for the haue mynde on vs And soo he hauynge his hondes lyfte vp and blessyng heÌ„ wyth a bryghte Joyefull face Crowned worthily as a kyng gloryously arrayed styenge vp to heuen and sayd Be stedfaste and werchyth manfully For I shall euer be wyth you And soo our lorde Jhesus all gloryous whyte and rudye shinynge and â–ª Joyefull ledynge wyth hym that noble multitude and gooynge before and shewynge the waye to hem in dede fulfylled thenne that the prophetes had sayd longe before of his ascencoÌ„n And they also wyth vnspeable Joye folowyng hym songen merely the psalmes ympnes of his louyuge as perteyned to that blisfull tyme of her delyuerauÌ„ce fro all sorow and entre in to all blysse wythout ende And in that tyme the archangel mychael prouoste of paradise gooyng bofore tolde the blessed court of heuen that our lorde JhuÌ„s was comyng vpstyenge And anone all the blessed spirytes after her orders yeden ayen her lorde none lefte behynde metynge wyth hym and worshippyuge â–ª hym wyth all the reuerence that they cowde ladde hym wyth hympnes songes of Joye that maye not be spoken nor thought And soo metynge togyder the holy faders and the blessed spirytes and syngen alleluya and moost Joyefull songes wyth reuerence before hym maden a grete soleÌ„pnyte a worshipful feest ye lord who myght tell what fest yâ— was in what Joye they hadden whan they mett togider And whan they had done due reuerence to our lorde and fulfylled her mery songes that perteynen to his gloryoê° ascencoÌ„n they torned hem eche to other bothe the blessed spirytes the holy princeps apâ—oâ— faders reioycynge syngyuge And fyrste the holy spirytes in this manere sayenge ye prynces of peple be welcome Joyeful we ben of your comyng All ye are now here gadred and wonderfully lyft vp wyth your god Alleluya Therfore make myrth and syngeth now to hym â–ª that so gloryously styed vp princeps pplâ—â—â— aboue heuen heuen Alleluya And the holy faders Joyefully ansuerde To you prynces of goddis peple alieluya â–ª Our kepers helpers alleluya Joye pees be euer alleluya Syngyth makyth myrth also to our god kyng and sauyour Alleluya alla alleluya And ferdermore all togyder songen and sayden in doâ—â— dnÌ„â—le Now we go merely in to the hous of oure lorde alleluya and that worshipfull cyte of god that shall receyue vs all togyder alleluya In ympnes and songes of Joye myrthe Alleluya alleluya Loo here was moche myrthe and Joye All they songen and soueraynly Joyeden as the prophete dauyd sayth God styeth in to heuen in moost wonderfully Joye of the appostles ascendâ—â— dâ—â—in in bilacoÌ„ne that sawe hym that tyme And in voyce of trompe That is in voyce of angels that apered thenne and spake to the appostles Sothly our lorde Jhesus styed vp thenne openly to the comforte of his moder And the appostles as longe as her bodily syghte wolde suffyse to see hym And after a briyght clowde took him fro her eyen And anone in a moment that is in an vnperceyuable shorte tyme. he was wyth all his angels and the forsayd faders in the hyghest heuen O lorde what Joye was thenne to see that blessed lorde soo gloryous vp styenge Sothly I trowe who soo myghte haue seen that as the appostles dyden and therwyth herde that Joyfull songe of angels holy soules wyth hym vp styenge for that passynge Joye of his soule sholde haue be departed fro the body and goon vp to heuen also wyth hem and noo wonder wherfoâ— our lorde knowyng the Infyrmyte of mankynde in bodily lyfe here wolde shewe some of his blysse to his moder other discyples In as moche as they myghte bere that was in that blisfull vpstyeng of hym and hydde â—ro hem that they myghte not bere soo in flesshly lyuynge And therfore also he sent to hem u. angels in manÌ„es lickenes that they sholde not ouer moche be traueyled in yâ— stondyng lokynge vp after hym in to heuen â–ª For they were soo rauysshed by that blysfull syght of hym that they hadden foryete hemself And also he sent than gels to coÌ„forte hem in that they herde the angels wytnesse accordynge wyth hem of thascencoÌ„n of our lorde And whan the angels had bidden hem that they sholde noo lenger loke after JhuÌ„s bodily presence in that forme that they sawe him thenÌ„e stye vp in to that tyme that he sholde come in that self forme bodily to deme all quycke dede But that they sholde torne a yen in to the cyte and there abyde the holy ghost as he had sayde heÌ„ before ThenÌ„e our lady prayed mekely the angels to recoÌ„mende B her to her blessed sone And thenÌ„e louely enclynyng to her gladly token her biddyng And also the appostles and maudleyne recoÌ„mended hem in the self maner And after the angels passyng fro hem they torned agayne in to the cyte as they were bydden to mouÌ„t syon there abidyng the holy ghost of our lorde JhuÌ„ Now goo we vp bi deuoute conteÌ„placoÌ„n to N B our lorde JhuÌ„ beholdyng in ymagynacoÌ„n
and of his kingdome shal be none ende This hous of Jacob is ghostly holy chirche in yâ— whiche JhuÌ„s shall reygne in trewe soules fyrst ouercomyng synnes the deuylle here in erthe by grace And after in heuen in blysse withouten ende Here may thou say with saynt Bernard 〈…〉 desyrynge in the kiÌ„gdome of JhuÌ„ thus come my lord Jesu and putte aweye al sclauÌ„ders of â—ynne fro thy reame that is my soule soo that thou maye reygne therein as the oweth to do For couetyse cometh chalengeth his reame in me â–ª Presumpcyon coueyteth to be my lorde Pryde wolde be my quene lechery saith I wol regne De traccion enuy wrath and glotony stryuen whiche of hem shal pricipally regne in me and I in as mykel as I waâ—e ageynstonde hem But thou my lord Jhesu destroye hem in thy vertue and take thou thy reame and thy kyngdome in me For I haue no trewe kyng but thy my lord Jhesu And whan the Aungel hadde tolde these condicions and the worthynes of this blessid child the â—â—s to that meke mayden mary that was chosen to his mo â–ª der Than she spake fyrste to the Aungel nought dredyng of his wordes ne of hyr coÌ„ceyuyng ne knoulechyng ne forsakyng the praysynges before said of his gretynge but wyllynge to be more certyfyed playnly of that she drede most that was that she sholde not lese hir maydenhede asked of the AuÌ„gel the maner of hyr conceyuynge in these wordes how and of what maner shal this be done syth I knowe no man flesshely And I haue made a vowe to kepe me chaste to my lord god withoute faylle and I shalle neuer dele wyth man flesshly And than the aungel answerd and said to hir it shal be done by the wyrchynges of yâ— holy ghost that shal lyghten in to yâ— in a synguler maner thoruÈ his vertu that is alther hygest thou shalt coÌ„ceyue sauyng thy maidenhede therfore that holy thyng that shall be borne of the shal be named godes sone in coÌ„forte ferthermore here of the aungel said Loo Elizabeth thy cosyn that is olde was bareyne hath coÌ„ceyued a child now six monethes apassed for ther shal no thyng be imposible to god Now take here good hede haue in mynde how fyrst all the holy Trynyte is there abydinge a fynal answer asseÌ„t of his blessyd vyrgyne Mary takyng hede and be holdyng lykyngly hir shamefast seÌ„blaunce hir sadde maners Bernarâ— hir wyse wordes And ferthermore how all the blessyd spyrytes of heuen al the ryghtwys lyuynge men in erthe alle the choseÌ„ soules that were that tyme in helle as Adam Abraham Dauyd all other desyreden hyr assente in the which stode the sauacion of all mankynde And also how the auÌ„gel gabriel stoÌ„dynge with reuerence before his lady enclynyng and with mylde semblaunce abydeth the answer of hys mesage And on that other syde take hede how mary stant sadly with drede mekenes in grete auysement hauyng no pryde ne veyne glorye For al the hyhe praysynge before said But tho souerayne yeftes of grace that she hath herde yeuen to hir that neuer were yeue to creature before all she aretid only to the grace of god lerne thou than by ensaÌ„ple of hir to be shamefaste vertuously meke for withouten these two vertues maydeÌ„ Bernarâ— hede or vyrgynyte is but lytyl worthe For as Saynte Bernarde saith vyrgynyte is a fayre vertue but mekenes is mor necessary For thou may be sauf wythoute the fyrst but withoute the other that is mekenes thou maye not In soo moche that I dar hardly saye that withoute mekenes the vyrgynite of mary had not be plesynge to god For but Mary had be meke the holy ghost had not rested vpon hir sayth saynte Bernard At the last as the ende of the gospel seith the mylde maydeÌ„ mary when she had herde wysely vnderstonde the Aungels wordes by good auysement yaf hir assente in thys maner as it is writen in her reuelacoÌ„ns she knelyd doun with souerain deuocion holdyng vp bothe hir handes and lyftyng vp her eyen to heuen sayd these wordes Loo here the handmayden the seruaunt of my lord â–ª be it done to me fulfilled after thy word And so in these meke and lowe wordes of Mary at the ende thou hast ensample of grete mekenes as thou haddest in hyr sylence at the begynnyng loo she is chosen godes moder and of the Aungel cleped ful of grace and she named 〈…〉 hyr self his hand mayden And noo wonder for as saynt Bernard saith Mekenes is euer wonte to be felâ—w with the grace 〈…〉 of god But this mekenes was not lytyl For as he sayth It is not mykel to prayse mekenes in abieccion but it is a grete vertue seldome sene mekenes in worship Also sone than as she yaf hir answer goddes sone entrid in to hir wombe thorugh worchyng of the holy ghost was made maÌ„ in very flesshe blod taken of her body and not as other chyldren conceyued borne by kynde ben shapen membre after membre and after the soule shedde in to the body but anone at the fyrste instaunce was full shapen in all membres and all hole man in body and soule but neuertheles ful lytyl in quantyte For after he weâ—ed more more kyndely as other chyldren done Soo that at the fyrste he was ful parfyghte God man al 's wyse and as myghty as he is now And whan thys was done Gabriel knelyng doune with our lady and sone after with hyr rysyng vp tooke curtoisli his leue of hir with a deuoute lowe bowynge to the erthe and so vanisshed away fro hir with a swift flyghte and toke his wey to heuen agein tellynge certyfyenge the holy courte of heuene hys message fulfylled And that that was done in erthe and than was there a newe Joye and a newe feste â–ª and full mykel myrthe and solempnyte Afterward our lady fulfylled enflaÌ„med with the holy ghost in the loue of god more brennynge than she was before felyng that she had conceyued knelyd doune and thanked god of that grete yefte mekely besechynge hym and deuoutly prayenge that he wold sende hir grace and teche hir so that al that were after to come and to be done aboute hys blessyd sone that she myght fulfylle hem doo hem wythout defaulte And thus mykel touchynge the Gospel and the processe of the incarnacyon of Jhesu Cryste ¶ Of the feste of the annuÌ„ciacion And of tho thynges that befelle that daye NOw take good hede vnderstoÌ„de how worthy thys feste thys soleÌ„pnyte is And haue therfore a ghostly myrthe make a speciall feste in thy soule thaÌ„kynge god inwardly For suche was neuer herd before for this is the soÌ„lempnite of al the holy Trynyte the Fader sone and holy ghoost by whome this souereyn dede of Incarnacyon was wroughte and fulfylled as it is said before Thys also
lady to syte on a suppoylle to leene to and so that the lady of al the worlde in that symple aray besyde the cratche hauynge hir mylde mode and hir louely eyen wyth hir inwarde affeccion vpon hir der worth swete childe But in thys poure symple worldly arraye what ghostly Rychesse and inward comforte Joye she had may no tonge telle wherfore yf ye wylle fele the true Joye comforte of Jhesu we must with hym and â–ª with his moder loue pouerte mekenes and bodily penaunce as he Primum de pauper â—ate gaf vs ensample of all these here in thys byrth and first comynge in to thys world For of the fyrste that is pouerte saynt Bernard in a sermon of the natyuite of our lord tellyng how she was borne to coÌ„forte of mankynde seith in thys maner Goddes sone coÌ„forteth his peple wolt thou knowe his people that is of whome speketh Dauid in the Sauter and seith Lord to the is bilefte the poure peple And he hym self sayth in the Gospel woo to you Ryche men that haueÌ„ youre comforte here How shold he comforte hem that hauen here Nota bent her owne coÌ„forte wherfor Crystes Innocence childhode coÌ„forteth not Janglers grete spekers Crystes wepyng teres comforteth not dysolute laughers His symple clothyng conforteth not hem that gone in proude clothynge his trable racke comforteth not hem that louen firste setes and worldly worshyppes And also the AuÌ„gels in Cristes Natiuite appierynge to the wakyng sheepherdes comforten none other but poure traueyllers and to hem telleÌ„ they the Joye of newe lyghte not to the Ryche men that haueÌ„ her Joye comfort here Also as to the seconde we may see at this byrthe bothe in Criste and in his moder parfyte mekenes For thei were not S 〈…〉 squeymoê° of the stable ne of the bestes ne of heye other suche abiecte symplenes But this vertue of mekenes bothe 〈…〉 oure lord our lady kepten parfytely in al their dedes commended it soueraynly to vs. wherfore be we aboute with all oure myght to gete this vertue knowyng that without it is no sauacion For there is noo werke or dede of vs that maye please god with pryde Also as to the thyrdde we maye see in hem bothe and namely in the child Jhesu not a lytyl bodyly penauÌ„ce Of the whiche saint bernard sayth thus Goddes sone T 〈…〉 Câ—rpets lie 〈…〉 Bernard see 〈◊〉 〈…〉 whan he wold be borne that had in his owne free will to chese what tyme he wold take therto he chese that tyme that was moost noious harde as the colde wynter namely to a yonge childe a poure womaÌ„s sone yâ— scarscely had clothes to wrappe hym in a racke as for a cradel to leye hym in yet though ther was so mykel nede I fynde no mynde of furrys or pilches And sytheÌ„ Cryste that is no begyler chace that is most hard to fleshe sothely that is best moost prouffytable rather to be chosen and who soo techeth or byddeth other he is as a fals deceyuour to be fledde forsaken All thys sayth saint â–ª Bernard and thus moche of these vertues at thys tyme Go we now ferthermor to speke of the forsayde blessyd natyuyte of Cryst what tyme that oure lord was so borne the grete company of Aungels that there were honoryng worshyppyng her lord god wente anone to the sheepherdes that were there besyde about a myle fro Bethleem tellyng hem the â–ª byrthe of her sauyour and also the place therof by one of them appierynge wtyh grete lyght perauenture Gabriel that was special messager of this werke And therwyth al that multitude of AuÌ„gels token vp that newe Joyeful songe sayeng as the gospel telleth in these wordes Joye wythoute ende aboue in alther hyhest heuen to God and in erthe pees to alle men that ben of good wyll And so with that Joyeful songe my kel myrth they wenten vp in to heuene tellyng their other â—e lawes these newe Joyeful tydynges of their lordes blessyd byrthe wherof all the Courte of heuene Joyeful glad morÌ„ than tong can telle or herte thynke makyng a solempne feste and deuoutly thankyng the fader Almyghty god â–ª as we may deuoutly thinke ymagine comeÌ„ al after by ordre to see that louely face of goddes sone theyr lorde with grete reuerence worshyppynge hym his blessyd moder Here to accordynge speketh the apostel saynt Paule in his pystle Ad Hebreos sa yenge that when the fader of heuene brought his fyrste goteÌ„ sone in to this worlde he badde that all the AuÌ„gels of God shold worshyppe hym Also the herdmen after the AuÌ„gels we ren passid fro them camen worshyppiden this child tellyng openly what they herden of the Aungels his dere moder as she that was soueraynly wyse wytty took good hede of all that was done kepte pryuely in hyr herte al the wordes that were spoken of her blessyd sone Thus mykel and in thys maner we maye haue in comteÌ„placyon touchyng the processe of the blessyd Natyuyte of our lord Jhesus And ferthermore touchyng the solempuyte of thys feste and thys hyhe daye we shold haue in mynde that thys daye is borne the kyng of blysse and the sone of Almyghty god lorde of all lordes and maker and gouenour of all the world whos name is cleped specially prynce of pees for by hym was made that grete endeles pees that is told before the IncarnacoÌ„n wherfor this daye the Angels songen that Joyeful songe Gloria in excel sis deo as it is sayd before this day as holy chirche syngeth in the masse after the prophecye of ysaye A child is borne to vs that is lyke to vs in his manhede and a sone is yeuen to vs that is euen to the fader of heuen in his godhede Also thys day the sone of ryghtwysnes that was fyrste vnder cloude spred de openly his beames of mercy the lyghte of his grace in al the world And so this day was sene that blessid newe syÈt that neuer ere was sene in erthe that is to say god almyÈty in maÌ„nes lykenes This day also befell tho two kyndes that passen all kynde al menÌ„es wytte the whiche may al only be coÌ„ceyued thorugh trwe byleue that is to saye that god is borne a maydeÌ„ without sorowe or blemysshyng of hir maydenhede hath borne a childe wherfore thys day had she that seconde souerayn Joye in felyng done in dede that she yaf feyth to spoken before behyÈt of the angel of hir conceyuyng so to al maÌ„kynd this day is of grete Joye a grete fest both of god almyghty of his blessid moder mary as it is sayd before in the feste of the IncarnacoÌ„n for all the skylles that there were said beganÌ„e here more playnly fulfylled Joyne that to this than it wylle shewe pleynly In token also and in wytnesse of this
abiecte in her owne herte ben not eleuate by pryde as in their owne syght but neuertheles they wold not be holdeÌ„ suche in other menes syÈte ne maye not suffre to be despysed or scorned of other And also they wold not that theyr vnworthynes and their defaultes were knoweÌ„ of other leest they were despysed repreâ—ed of theym But thus dide not thys daye that chylde Jhs lord aboue al other for he wold that his lowenes abieccoÌ„n were knowen seen to his to other that not to symple fewe but to grete many that is to say to kynges lordes theyr meyne many fele And also that is more to wonder in suche caas tyme in the whiche by reason it was mykel to drede that is to saye leest they comynge fro so fer fyndynge hym that they soughteÌ„ kynge of Jewes And whome they troweden almyghty god lyggynge in so symple arraye so grete abieccion by that symple syght supposynge them deceyued Nota holden them self as fooles sholden goo awaye withoute deuocionÌ„ and byleue ¶ But not for thy the mayster of mekenes and louer of symplenesse lefte not to fulfylle the perfeccion therof yeuynge to vs ensample that we shold not go fro the grouÌ„d of true mekenes by coloure of ony semelynes prouffyte or good but that we shold lerne to wylle for to appiere and be seen symple abiecte in the syghte of other that vertue of parfyte mekenes he grauÌ„te vs thorough hys grace that soo wolde meke hym for our sake oure blessid lorde Jhesus Amen DE mora dnÌ„i apud presepe continetur in proximo capitulo excepta meditacioÌ„e de ministerio suo solicitudine circa pueruÌ„ Jhesum de quibus poterit quis feliciter meditari ¶ Of the puryfycacion of our lady saynte Marye Capitulum Nonum AFter the tyme the kynges had performed her offryng were gone home ageyne in to they re owne Countre as it is sayd yet stode that worthy lady of all the worlde in that symple herburgh wyth hyr blessyd sone Jhesu and hyr husband that holy olde man Joseph at the racke pacieÌ„tly abydyng vnto the xl day ordeyned by the lawe puryfycacyon as she were another woman of the peple defouled thorugh synne and as the chylde Jhs were a poore man not god â—edy to kepe the obseruauÌ„ce of the lawe But why hope we that they dyden thus Sothely for ensaÌ„ple to vs shewyng the true way of obedyeÌ„ce And for they wold noo synguler prerogatyf they kepten the comyn lawe as other dyde but thus done not many that lyuen in comyn coÌ„gregacoÌ„n the whiche desyre to haue special prerogatyues and therby wylle be seen more worshipful than other synguler aboue other but thys suffreth not true mekenes whaÌ„ the xl dayes were comeÌ„ of hir puryficacoÌ„n after the lawe thenÌ„e weÌ„te our lady wyth her sone Jhesê° Joseph and took the waye fro Bethlehem in to Jhe rusaleÌ„ that is aboute v. or vi myle there to present the chylde and offre hym to god in the Temple after that hit is wryteÌ„ in the lawe of god Now lete vs here goo wyth hem by deuout conteÌ„placoÌ„n helpe we to bere that blessid byrthen the childe Jhesus in oure soule by deuocoÌ„n and take we inwardly Contemplacio good entente to all that ben here sayde and done For they ben ful deuoute In thys maner thenne they herynge bringyng the chylde Jhesus into Jherusalem the lord of the temple in to the Temple of god at the entre therof they boughteÌ„ two turteles or els two douue byrdes to offre for hym as the maner was for pooer folke And therfore the gospel speketh not of a lambe that was the comyn offryng of ryche men in token that they weren with the poorest folke And here with that ryght wyse man Symeon lad in spiryte by the holy ghoost came in to the temple to see that he had longe tyme desired cryst goddes sone after the byhest answere of the holy goost and anone as he came and had the sight of hym knowynge hym by spyryte of ê“phecye he knelyd downe deuoutely honoured and worsipped him as he was in his moders armes borne and the chylde blessyd hym and lokyng vpoÌ„ his moder bowed toward hym in tokeÌ„ that he wold goo wyth hym soo the mod vnderstondynge the chyldes wylle therof woÌ„dryng tooke hym to Symeon and he with grete Joye and reuerence clippyng hym in his armes rose vp blessyng god sayeng with gladde spirite Lorde I thanke the for now thou letest thy seruauÌ„t after thy worde in pees For why I haue sene wyth myn eyen thy blessyd sone our sauyour And after warde he prophecyed of his passion and of the sorowe ther of that sholde as a swerde perce wounde the moders herte Herewyth also that worthy wydow Anne the prophetesse came to theim in to the teÌ„ple worshippyng the childe she prophecied of hem also and spake of redempcoÌ„n that was to come by hym to mankynde And the moder wondryng of alle thyse wordes kepte theim by good entent pryuely in her hert And thenne the child Jhesus stretchynge hys armes to warde his moder was bytaken hyr ageyne Afterward they yeden in maner of processyon toward the aulter wyth the chyld theâ— whyche processoÌ„n is preseÌ„ted thys day in al holy chirche with light brennyng to goddes worship And thenÌ„e they wente in thys maner Fyrste to two worshipful olde men Joseph simeon gone before Joyeful eyther holdyng other by the handes And wyth grete myrthe syngynge sayeng Lord god we haue receyued thys daye thy grete mercy in myddes of thy teÌ„ple And therfore after thy grete name so by thy louynge and thy worship in to the ferdest ende of al the worlde After them folowed the blessyd moder mayden mary beryng the kyng S 〈…〉 of heuen Jhs and wyth hyr on that one syde goth that worshpful wydowe Anne wyth grete reuerence and vnspecable Joye louynge and praysyng god Thys is a solempne worshipful procession of so fewe persones but grete thynges be tokenyng and represeÌ„tynge For there ben or al states of maÌ„kynde some that is to saye of men and wymÌ„en olde yonge maydens and wydowes Ferthermore when they were come to the aulter of the temple the moder wyth reuereÌ„ce knelyng doune offryd hyr swete sone to the fader of heuen sayenge in this maner Taketh now hyhest fader youre dere sone whom I offre here to you after the byddynge of youre lawe For he is fyrst borne of his moder But god fader I beseche you that ye yeue hym to me ageyne ¶ And thenÌ„e she rysyng vp lyfte Nota ablâ— nonâ— Jhesâ—â— hym on the aulter O lord god what offryng is this Sothly there was neuer none sythen suche another fro the begynÌ„yng of the world ne shal neuer after in to the ende Now take we here good hede how yâ— chyld Jhesus sitte vpon the
aulter as it were another chyld of the comyn peple wyth that louely face and sadde chere he loketh and beholdeth vpon hys dere moder other that there were presente pacyently mekely a bydynge what they wold doo wyth hym and therwyth were brought the prestys of th Temple and the child lord of al the world was bouÈt ageyne as a seruauÌ„t for v. pens that wereÌ„ cleped sycles a maner of money after the lawe as other and when Joseph had payed that money for hym the moder our lady took ageyne wyth ful gladde wille hir blessid sone and after she took the forsaid birdes of Jhoseph knelyng doune lyftyng vp deuoutly her eyen in to heuen holdyng them in hir handes offred them sayenge thus Almyghty mercyful fader of heuen vnderfonge ye thys lytel yefte offrynge and the fyrste yefte that your lytil child thys day presenteth to your hâ—he mageste of his symple pouerte And there with the child thesus puttyng hys hondes to the byrdes lyftynge his eyen vp to heuen spake not but sheweth couÌ„tenaunce of his offrynge with the moder and soo they leyden them vpon the Aulter Now here takynge hede what they ben that thus offren that is to saye the moder and the sone Trowe we whether that of fryng though it were lytil myght be forsake Nay god forbede â–ª But we shal fully trowe that this was by AuÌ„gels presented vp in to the. Courte of heuen And therof fader of heuen ful gladly accepted so that the blessyd coÌ„pany of heuen there thorugh was reioyced and gladed After thys was done soo the lawe fully kept as it is seid in all that that longed to the child from his byrthe in to this tyme our lady wyth hir blessyd sone and hir spouse Joseph took the way fro that Cyte of Jerusalem homeward in to nazareth But by the waye she visyted her cosyn Elyzabeth desyrynge also to see hir sone that she loued specially And what tyme they metten to gyder â—oÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—isi None â—â—â—cibeth eâ— liâ—ahaÌ„niâ— Jo they madeÌ„ grete Joie and namely Elyzabeth whan she sawe that blessyd syÈt of the childe by vertue of whome in hir fyrste coÌ„cepcion Joâ—n in hir wombe reioiced she also replenisshed with the holy ghoost Also the children Jhesus Joâ—n whaÌ„ they were broughte to geder they kysyden other louely with lawghyng chere and makynge moche myrthe to gyder But Johan as vnderstondynge his lord â–ª had hym alwey in countenaunce as with reuerence to hir And what tyme they had rested them there certeyne dayes oure lady with hir child and Joseph wenten forth in their waye toward Nazareth as to hir home and reste But yet befelle no reste to them as it shall shewe after Now yf we take good entente to the forsayd processe and how longe tyme they haue leyn oute of they re owne hous in so grete pouerte and symplenes by reason we shold be styred to compassoÌ„n and to leren by ensample of them mekenesse pouerte and buxomnesse that were openly shewed in her symple dwellyng in her poure offrynge and in the lawe kepynge And ferthermore as wordly men maken bodyly myrthe in thys tyme fro the Natyuyte in to Noâ—â—â—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 domini 〈◊〉 〈…〉 otam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feste of purificacion that is called candelmasse soo shold eche deuonte soule in thys tyme specyally with deuocion and ghostly myrthe in soule worshippe and honoure that blessid childe Jhesus and his moder Mary vysytynge hem by contemplacion and some deuoute prayer atte lest ones on the daye as they seene in spiryte our lady with hyr chylde lyggynge at the racke hauynge therwyth in mynde the mekenesse the pouerte and the buxomnesse of hem as hit it is sayd and louynge hem and kepynge hem vertuously in dede Amen And thus endeth the fyrste parte of this book in contemplacion for the monedaye ¶ Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesu in to Egypte Capitulum Decimum WHan our lady and hir childe Jhesus were toward Nazareth as it is said before not knowyng yet the pryuy couÌ„ceylle of god herof that Herode the kynge purposed to slee the child Jhesus the Aungel of god a piered to Joseph in his slepe byddynge that he shold flee in to Epypte with the childe his moder For Herode wolde seche the childe to slee hym And anone Joseph wakyng of his slepe cleped oure lady and told hyr these hard tydynges and she in haste took vp hir dere sone and began to goo For she was ful â—ore agaste of this word and she wold not as she myÈt be sene neclygeÌ„t in the kepyng of hym wherfor anon in that nyght they tokeÌ„ the wey toward Egypte and so fledde that grete lord the pursute of his seruauÌ„t ye more propirly the deuyls seruaunt trauayllynge with hym his yonge tendyr moder and that old man Jhseph by a noyoê° wey and hard and dyuerse that was not inhabited and also a wey that is long that is to say after the comyn sayeÌ„ge the space of xii or xv dayes Jorney of a comyn currour ê‘aueÌ„ture to them hit was trauayle of two monethes or more and that wey as it is said was bi that deserte in the whiche the children of Israel lad oute of Egypte dwel leden xl yere Lord how dide they there of her lyuelode or wher rested they and were herberowed in the nyghtes For in that waye fouÌ„de they ful seldome ony hous Here ought we to haue inwardly coÌ„passion of hem not be loth or thynke trauellous to doo penauÌ„ce for our self sythen other took soo grete and so ofte trauaylle for vs namely they that were so noble and soo worthy Also in thys processe yf we take good heede we may see many good ensamples and notable doctrynes to vs Fyrste yf we take good hede how oure lord Jhesus tooke Quaâ—noâ— nobiliâ— Primum Paciencia inter prospera et aâ— pera in his owne persone somtyme prosperite and welthe somtyme Aduersyte woo we sholde not be styred to InpacieÌ„ce what tyme that hit befalle to vs in the same maner but in tyme of temptacion and discomfort abyde with pacieÌ„ce the tyme of prosperite of comforte and soo ageynwarde on that other syde And yf thou wylt see ensaÌ„ple herof in Jhesu Loo first in his byrthe he was magnified of the herdmen as god and honoured and worshipped of them as god with grete Joye And soone after he was circuÌ„cysed as a synful symple man wyth sorowe ¶ After the kynges comynge to hym worshipped hym soueraynly bothe in theyr persones grete yeftes and yet dwellyd he stylle in that stable amonge bestes in pouerte wepynge as another child of a symple man After he was preseÌ„ted in the Temple with Joye grete thynges were prophecyed of him as of god Almyghty and now he is boden of the Aungel to flee fro Herode in to Egypte as he were a poure man withoute myghte And so ferthermore in al his lyf prosperite and
soules that the fader hath made vnto his lyckenes maye be saued Thenne I wolde not deye and the soules ben not agayn boughte wherfore my faders wyll be fultylled And thenÌ„e sayd the angel to hym be thenÌ„e now of good comfort my lorde and werchyth maÌ„fully For it is semely to him that is in hygh degree to do grete thynges and worthy and to hym that is a manfull man to suffre harde thynges â–ª For tho thynges that ben harde and paynfull shall soone passe thoo thynges that ben Joyefull and gloryous shall come after the fader sayth that he is and shall be euer wyth you and that he shall kepe your dere moder and your discyples att your wyll And shall yelde hem sauf agayne to you And soo the goode meke lorde toke benygnely this manere of comfort and that of his creature considerynge hymself after the kynde of man lasse in worthinesse than angels for the time of dedely lyfe in this worlde and so he was soroufull as man And so he was comforted of the angels wordes as man and soo he toke hys leue of hym prayenge hym to recoÌ„mende hym to the fader all the court of heuen And thenÌ„e this thyrde tyme he rose vp fro his prayer all his body blody whom thou mayst beholde wyth Inwarde coÌ„passion how he wypeth his body Or elles perauenture wasshith hym pryuely in the ryuer And soo gretely pyned in his body and that is reuerently to be had in soroufull coÌ„passion For wythout grete bytternesse of sorowe this myghte not befalle to hym Neuertheles doctours wyse clerkes sayen that our lorde IhuÌ„s prayed the fader in this maner not onÌ„ly for drede of his passion but also for the grete pite mercy that he had of his fyrst peple the Jewes sorowyng that they sholde be lost by occasion of his deth For they shold not haue slayn hym namly sithen he was of her kynÌ„e was also conteyned wryten in her lawe as cryst to come And ther wyth shewed hem so many grete benefyces wherforÌ„ he prayed the fader to this entent thus My fader yf it maye be wyth the hele the sauacoÌ„n of Jewes that the multytude of other folke be torned to bileue I forfake the passion the deth But if it be nedefull that the Jewes be blynded in her malyce so that other folke maye haue syght in true bileue not my wyll but thyne be fulfylled done that is to saye after the fyrste maner of wyll in hym as it is sayd before After this he came to his disciples and said to hem Now slepeth resteth for they had slept a lityl before there Sothly he is a gode herde for he was full wakely and besy vpon the kepynge of that lytyll flocke his byloued discyples O true loue he loued hem in to the vtterest that in soo grete anguyssh soo bitter agonye was soo besy to procure her hele her reste ThenÌ„e sawe our lorde after his aduersaryes comyng wyth torches armes and yet he wolde not wake his discyples tyll they came nygh hem And thenÌ„e he sayd to hem it suffyseth now ye haue slepte ynough Loo he that shall bitraye me is nyghe at honde And therwith came that wycked iudas the fals tratour and worst marchaut before hem and bodily kyssed that InÌ„ocent lambe his lorde IhuÌ„s For as it is writen in the maner of custome that oure lord vsed of his grete benygnyte was what tyme his discyples were sent forth at her comynge agayn for to receyne heÌ„ in louely kysse And therfore that traytour went before kyssed hym as who sayth I am not come with thise armed meÌ„ but in maner as here beforÌ„ I was wont at myn ayen cominge sayd Heyle mayster O very traytour take now good hede to our lorde IhuÌ„ how pacyeÌ„tly benyngly he receyueth that fals feyned clyppynge traytours kysse of that vnlely dyscyple whose fete he wysshe a lytyll before of his souerayne me kenesse and fedde hym with that highe precious mete of his owne blessid body thrugh his vnspekable charytee And also beholde how pacyently he suffreth hymself to be taken bounden smyteÌ„ and woodly lad forth as though he were a theyf or a wycked dooer and in all maner vnmyghty to helpe him self And also take hede how he hath in warde sorowe coÌ„paâ—sion of his disciples fleeÌ„ge fro hym errynge And also thâ—â— mayst see here grete sorowe of heÌ„ how ayenst her wyll brâ—â—â— elte of manÌ„es drede they gone fro hym makynge grete â—â—â—â—nynge and wyth hyghe sighynge as faderles chyldern not â—itynge what to doo And yet was her sorowe moche more seeng her mayster lorde soo vilaynsly ferde wyth And the hell boundes drawyng him as a beest to sacrefyce and him as a meke laÌ„be without resistence folowynge Now ferdermore beholde how he is ladde of thoos vylest wretches fro that ryuer vp towarde the cyte of Ihrlm And that hastely wyth grete pyâ—ne hauynge his hondes bounden behynde hym as a theyf gâ—â—de aboue his cote but not curyously And his mantel drawen fro hym and goyng bare hede and stoupinge for the grete haast and traueylle thaâ— they made hym to haue And whan be was broughte before the prynces of prestes the scrybes and the aldermen that were thenne gadred abydynge his comynge gladde were they thenÌ„e examynynge hym apposyng sothly in many questions and procuryng fals wytnesse ayenst him and spittyng on his holy face and hydynge his eyen they buffeted hym scornyng sayeÌ„ge Prophetise now telle vs who smote the laste And soo in many maners they vexed and tormented hym and he in all shewed hyghe pacyence wherfore here we owe to haue Inwarde coÌ„passoÌ„n of all that he suffred soo for vs At laste the grete maysters wenten her waye put tynge him in to a manere of prison there vnder a lofte there they bouÌ„den hym to a stonen pyler as men saye that haue seen it And also there they left wyth hym some armed men to kepe hym for more sykernesse the whiche all that nyght vexed hym in scornynges shrewde wordes abredginge hym reprouynge in thise maner wordes as we resonably maye suppose wenest thou to be better wyser than our prynces and maysters of the lawe what vn wytte foly was that in the to reprehende hem thou sholdest not haue ben so hardy ones for to haue opende thy mouth ayenst hem but now sheweth thy lewde wytte For now thou stondeste as it besemyth to suche as thou art without doubte Thou arte worthy the dethe and therforÌ„ thou shalt haue it And so al that night now one now a nother by wordes dedes scorned hym reproued hym Take hede also on that other syde of our lorde JhuÌ„s as shamfast pacyently in scylence holdynge his pees to all that they putteÌ„ vpon hym castynge downe towarde the erthe his chere as though he were gylty taken in blame and here haue we inwardly coÌ„passion O lorde ihuÌ„
of heuenly thinges by lykenes of erthly thynges how he wyth all that forsayd worthy blysful multytude of holy soules openynge heuen yates that were beforÌ„ that tyme spered ayenst mankynde as a worthy conquerour Joyefully entred and gladly before the forsayd fader Fader I thaÌ„ke the that thou hast yeuen me the vycto ry of all oure enmyes and aduersaryes And loo fader here I present to the our frendes that were holden in thraldome And for asmoche as I haue behight to my brethern discyples the whyche I haue left in the worlde to sende to hem the holy ghost I praye the fader fulfyll my byhest and I recoÌ„mende hem also to the ThenÌ„e the fader takynge hym vp made him sytte on his right honde and said My blessed sone al power dome I haue yeuen to the. and therforÌ„ of that thou askedest dyspose and doo as the lyketh After that all the holy faders blessed spirytes the whiche had in worshping of the holy trynyte fall doune lowely wyth all reuerence risynge vp began agayn to synge her songes of myrthe and vnspekable Jore before the trone of god For sithen moyses the chyldern of Israhel songen in thankyng louynge of god whan they were passed the reed see and her enmyes therin drowned And also the selfe tyme mary aarons syster with other wymÌ„en her folowing in tym panes and other melodye dauÌ„sen songen to goddis louyng Also dauyd wyth his peple ledynge the arke of god in to Jherusalem â–ª harped daunsed for Joye before the arke and chauÌ„ters songen and in other dyuers myntralsye they honoured worshipped god And also saynt Johan sayth in the apocalip se that he herde a voys in heuen of an huÌ„dred fourty and four thousande harpes harpyng and syngynge a newe songe bifore the throne and the seet of the very lambe Jhesu Moche more we resonably trowe that now in this Joyefule tyme whan JhuÌ„s wyth his company passed all sorowe and al his aduersaryes were so gracyously ouercome And he that was tokened by the arke JhuÌ„s was soo gracyously come in to the cyte of heuenly Jherusalem All that blessed felyship of spirytes and soules wythoute nomber songen and maden Joye myrthe that noo tonge maye telle ne herte thynke Soothly now in that blessed cytee of heuenly Jherusalem is songeu herde that souerayn songe of Joye after the prophecy of thobie by all the stretes therof is songen Alleluya that is as moche NoÌ„ excel lenciaÌ„ festi asceÌ„ci oiÌ„s suâ— a lia festa to saye as louynge be to our lorde Neuer from the begynÌ„yng was there soo soleÌ„pne soo Joyefull a feest ne neuer peraueÌ„ sure shall be But at the laste after the daye of dome whaÌ„ all the chosen soules shall be preseÌ„ted there wyth her bodies gloryfyed And therfore as I sayd at begynÌ„ynge of this chapyter This soleÌ„pnyte all thynges considred passeth all other Take Incarnacio hede of eche of hem and see whether it be soo that I saye Fyrste the Incarnacyon of our lorde JhuÌ„ is a solempne feest worthy For that was the begynÌ„ynge of all our good oure Natiuitas sauacoÌ„n But that was our Joye and not his for he was closed thenÌ„e in his moders wombe Also the natyuyte is a soleÌ„pne and hyghe feest and worthy myrthe to be made therin but that is also as on our syde For as on his syde we owen to haue compassoÌ„n of hym that was for vs borne in soo grete pouertee Hardenesse of weder and other abieccoÌ„n Also as to vs Passio his passion is a grete feest thrugh the whiche we ben broughte oute of the feudes thraldome And all oure synnes ben for yeue and done away And as saynt gregory saith It had not auaylled vs to be borne but it had also profyted vs for to be boughte Neuertheles for the grete tormentes of hym and that hardest and moost despytous dethe that he suffred for our Redempcyon Resurreccio and byenge there was noo matere of Joye but rather of sorowe bothe to hym in that paynfull suffrynge and to vs for our synfull deseruynge Ferdermore yet the resurreccoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu is a gloryous solempne and a Joyful feest bothe for hym and for vs for thenne was his body gloryfied and all payne sorow passed and we iustyfied haue an ernest and ensample wythout doubte of our laste vprysynge in body soule And therfore of this worshipfull Joyful Hec eÌ„ dies quaÌ„ fecit dnÌ„s daye specyall syngeth holy chirche by the wordes of the prophete dauyd This is the day of our lorde made be we mery therin gladde And as augustyn sayth in a sermon This day is holyest of all other but that maye be vnderstonde of all other before that day For this of the ascencoÌ„n by reason is gretter holyer â–ª and that touchynge thre partyes That is to say our lorde hymself the blessed spirytes in heuen mankynde in erthe For as to the fyrste though our lorde had thenÌ„e gloryously in body soule vprysen fro dethe to lyf euerlastyng neuertheles he was bodily yet as a pilgryme in erthe fro his owne kynde herytage reame Also as to the seconde yet saye not yâ— angels her felishyp encreased by season takynge of mankynde wyth hem in blysse And as aneÌ„st the thyrde yet was closed shytte the yate of heuenly paradyse and yet were not the holy faders soules presented to the fader of heuen the whiche all thre were coÌ„plete and fulfylled in his holy ascencoÌ„n And yf we take good hede we maye see that all that god wroughte dyde he dyde for to come to this ende And wythout this all his werkes had ben as Inperfite For lo heuen erthe and all that is made in hem is made for man And man for to haue the blysse of heuen And therto myghte noo man come after â—â—opâ—â—â— he had synned in to this daye were he neuer soo gode and rightwys And soo we maye see how worthy this holy daye is yet more ouer this feest of penthcoste is hyghe holy â–ª And worthily holy chirche makyth it solempne For thenne was yeuen therto that hyghe worthiest yefte that is the holy ghost AscencoÌ„ But this is to vs and not to hym But this ascencyon daye is properly the moost solempne feest of oure lorde Jhesu For FmÌ„ JhuÌ„ this daye fyrste in his manhede he beganne to sytte on the taders ryght honde in blysse And toke ful reste of his pylgrymage before All this is properly the feest of all the blessed spyrytes AscencoÌ„ in heuen For this daye they had a newe Joye of her lorde whom they sawe neuer before there in his manhede â–ª And also AscencoÌ„ FmÌ„ angelo for this daye beganne fyrste to be restored the fallyng downe of her felowes And that in soo greate a multytude and nombre of blessyd soules of patryarkes
and prophetes â–ª And all the holy soules that this daye entred fyrst in to that blessid cyte of heuenly Jhrlm her kynde herytage aboue wherfore sy then we maken soleÌ„pne the feest of one saynt that is passyd out of this world to heuen Moche more we owen to doo of soo many thousandes and yet passingly of hym that is saint Ascencio FmÌ„ dnÌ„e of all sayntes Also this is specialli the fest of our lady for as moche as this daye she sawe her blessed sone JhuÌ„ very god man soo gloryously crowned as kynge steye vp to heuen ¶ yet this daye is properly our feest For this daye was first our kynde exalted lyft vp oboue the heueÌ„s And also for but yf cryst had so styen vp yâ— worthy yeft of the holy ghost wherof we make soleÌ„pnyte we myghte not haue receyued to hys disciples â—t is spedful to you that I goo vp to the fader for but yf I goo fro you the holy ghost comforter shall not comÌ„ to you â–ª And therfore saith saynt bernarde in a sermon of this feest of thascencoÌ„n in the coÌ„fermacoÌ„n of my forsayd sentence that this gloryous feest of thascencion of our lorde JhuÌ„ is an ende a fulfillyng of all other solempnytees festes and blessed conclusion of all the Journeye of our lorde JhuÌ„ his manhede ¶ Thus maye we openly see that this daye this feest is moche hygh solempne of all other and that soule that loued truely our lorde JhuÌ„ shold this day be more rauysshed to heuen and more ghostly Joye haue in herte than in ony daye of the yere For thus sayd our lorde JhuÌ„s to his discyples yf ye loued me soothly ye sholde be gladde Joyefull for that I goo to the fader â–ª wherforÌ„ I leue that I sayd truly before that was in heuen neuer a daye soo Joyefull and so solempne as this daye And soo this daye and this solempnyte lasted in to the daye of penthecoste wherof we maye deuoutly ymagyne and haue medytacoÌ„n in this maner The ascencoÌ„n of our lorde was at the serte hour For before he ete wyth his discyples at tyerce ThenÌ„e may we thê° ymagyne yâ— those x-dayes fro yâ— hour that he ascended into the hour of the holy ghost sending the ix â–ª orders of angels wyth the holy faders and soules that he toke vp wyth hym made him x. festes he ayen warde reward ded hem specyally in some synguler comfort euery daye and soo though all that were thenÌ„e in heueÌ„ generally were of his ascencoÌ„n Joyefull and made soo mery a feest that noo tonge can telle Neuertheles the fyrst daye fro the hour of his ascencoÌ„n in to the sexte of the next daye folowynge angels maden her feest Te seconde day in the self maner maden her feest ar chaÌ„gels the thirde day virtutes the fourth daye potestates the fyfth day pryncipatus the sexte day domynacoÌ„nes the seueÌ„th day thrones the eyght daye cherubyn the ninthe day seraphin And soo thise nyne orders of angels coÌ„tynued her festes in to the sexte hour of the vigyll of penthcost And fro thens in to tyerce of the daye folowyng â–ª that is the sondaye of penthcost the holy faders wyth her felyshyp made her feest to JhuÌ„s blessed be he wythout ende Amen ¶ Of the sendyng doune of the holy ghost Caplm lxiii AFter that oure Lorde Jhesus was goone vppÌ„ to his blysse And the angels had bydden the dyscyples to tourne agayn in to the cyte as it was sayde next before they wyth his blessed moder worshippinge him kissyng deuoutely the steppes of his fete wherÌ„ he last towched the erthe as the gospell of Luke tellyth they wente agayn in to Jherusalem with grete Joye there they abyden the comynge of yâ— holy ghost contynuelly in deuout prayers louynge god and blessinge our lorde And whan the tenth daye was come fro his AscencoÌ„n thenÌ„e was the fyfthy daye of his resurreccoÌ„n our lord JhuÌ„s Joynynge the fygure of tholde testament with the new For asmoche as the tyme of grace was in that daye come he sayd to the fader thus My fader hauith now in mynde the byhest that I made to my brethern of the holy ghost And the fader ansuerd My dere sone I am wel apaid of that byhest and now it is tyme that it be fulfilled And morouer he sayd to yâ— holy ghost we pray the that thou goo doune to our discyples And that thou fylle hem of thy grace comforte hem strength hem teche hem and yeue hem habuÌ„daunce of vertues Joye And anone the holy ghost came doune wyth a wonderfull noyse N in brenÌ„ynge tonges vpon an huÌ„dred twenty discyples gadred that tyme togider and fyllid hem wyth all Joye vertues grace â–ª By vertue wherof the discypled strengthed taughte lyghted and enflaÌ„med yeden after by all parties of the world and made it subget to hem in grete partye This is a worthi feest and amonge other a swete louely feest For this is the feest of hym that is loue properly as saynt Gregory sayth that the holy ghost is loue wherfore he that loueth god sholde in this feest specially be enflaÌ„med with loue or at the leest with a brennynge desire to loue But this woll not be with flesshly or wordly loue medled as saynt bernard saith in a sermon bernarde of the ascencoÌ„n in this maner sentence He erryth gretly who soo he is that weneth for to medle togyder that heuenly Joye wyth thise bytter asshes of flesshly likynge Or that swete ghostly baume wyth this venym or those gracious yeftes of the holy ghost wyth thise lynkynge lustes And noo wonder For as the self bernarde sayth Thapostles for the tyme that they hadden his bodily presence wyth hem â–ª for the loue that they hadden to his body though it was holy good yet for that tyme they were vnable to receyue perfytly yâ— holy ghost as he sayd hymself But yf I goo fro you the holy ghost shall not Nisiego abiero come to you Moche more thenÌ„e he that is knytte wyth loue to rotten mucke or to a stynkyng carrayn is in al maner vnable to that clenÌ„est swetest loue of the holy ghost For there is none accorde knyttynge togyder of sothfastnes vanyte of lighte and derkenes of the spiryte and the flesshe of fyre colde water But thou perauenture that felest not the swetnesse comforte of that ghostly likynge and loue sayst to me wyth out comforte of loue likynge I maye not be â–ª what shall I not doo thenÌ„e whyle I fele not that ghostly loue Saynt bernarde ansuereth thus sayth to the Forsake fyrst fully truly all vayne worldes comforte and all flesshly loue lykynge abyde awhyle in deuoute prayers as the appostles dyden abydynge the holy ghost wherof they knewe noo certayne tyme And thou shalt fele wythin shorte tyme. that he shall come comforte the better than thou cowdest before knowe or thinke and in
nother soule was delyuerde out of payne by vertue of that blessed sacrament offred for it al the dayes of a weke And here may we see openly preyf of yâ— passynge profyte vertue of specyall masses done songen both for the quycke and the dede For as the self saynt gregory sayith the holy sacred oost syngulerly souerainly helpyth to vn bynde our soules fro synne and moost pryncipally pleiseth yâ— kyng of heuen and makyth hym soft to vs whan he comith to deme vs soo that it be offred wyth teeres of compuÌ„ccoÌ„n clennes of herte For he that in hymself rysynge fro deth shal neuer deye yet by this blessed oost for vs suffreth in his mystetery For as oft as we offre to hym thoost of his passion soo oft we maken newe to vs his passoÌ„n to our vndindyng fro synne Thus our lorde JhuÌ„s full of mercy and shedyng to vs soueraynly his endlesse mercy in makynge yeuynge of this moost precyous ghostly mete of his blessed body werchith in dyuers maners as it is sayd his merueyles myracles openly shewed in this excellent sacrament And yet contynueth pryuely wonderfully therÌ„ he vouchesauf in hem that by true bileue loue dreden hym But this loue drede wanten many grete clerkes the whiche leuen somoche vpon her owne kindly reason and the prynciples of the phylosophie that is mannes wysdome grounded oonly in kyndly reason of man that they wol not leue the true faith taught by holy chirche of this blessed sacrament And therefore they fele not the sothfast coÌ„fortable effecte of the merueyles myracles before sayd Neyther open ne preuy to wchynge this holy sacrament wherfore moche folke ben deceiued in that party that rather yeueÌ„ credence to that a grete clerke techith acordyng to kyndly reason than to that holy chirche techith herof onÌ„ly in byleue aboue reason For there maye noo man sooner erre in bileue of the sacramentes of holy chirche and specyally in this hyghe wonderfull sacrament of cryst precyous flessh blood than may grete clerkes but they haue grace of true mekenes and loue drede wherby they leue their owne wytt kindly reason and submytte heÌ„ lowely by true byleue doctryne of holy chyrche That grace grauÌ„t vs god specially of his grete mercy in thyse laste dayes that ben as it semyth nyghe to the comynge of antcryst his discyples the whiche shall pryncipally fouÌ„de to destroye the true fayth of this blessed sacrament and that by grete clergy of manÌ„es cuÌ„nynge and by merueyles myracles werchynge as saynt gregory in his morales vpon that worde of cryst in the gospel spekynge of antecryst his discyples sayth in this sentence There shall ryse vp fals crysten men fals prophetes and they shal shew and werke grete sygnes wonders In somoche that they that ben goddis chosen folke yf it maye be shall be brought in to errour Sothly sayth saynt gregory Now oure true marters â–ª werchen merueylles what tyme they suffren tormentes paynes But thenÌ„e that is to saye at the comyng of antcryst his discyples whan they yeuen tormentes paynes they shal also therwith werche miracles Lete vs thenne thinke and haue in mynde what temptacyons of mannes thought that shall be whanne the meke marter submyttith his body to tormentes And neuertheles the tormentour before his eyen werchyth myracles whoo 's vertue shall thenÌ„e be soo sadly grounded in byseue that he ne shall be meued in his thoughte what tyme he seeth that he yâ— tormenteth also therwyth by sygnes merueylles openly shyneth For thenÌ„e shal antecryst be highe in worship by merueilous werchyng and harde sharpe by cruelte of tormentyng Thise ben the wordes of that holy doctour saint gregori and many moo spekynges of the wonderfull myghte of antcryst his discyples and the grete temptacoÌ„n that shall be that tyme to crysten men And it is lykely by reason that as the mooste coÌ„fort of our cristen byleue stant in this moost excellent sacrament of crystes body Soo antcryst his discyples shall princypally werke in to destruccoÌ„n Fyrst of the tru bylene of this blessed sacrament in the forsayd two maners That is to say by clergye euydence of worldes cuÌ„nyng acordyng to naturell reason And by many merueyles myracles werchyng in false decepcoÌ„n And of the fyrste maner werchyng we haue seen in our dayes how the discyples of Antecryst that ben called lollardes haue made moche descencyon diuysion in holy chirche And put mani men in to errour of this blessed sacrameÌ„t by the fals doctryne of her mayster The whiche thrugh his grete clergye cuÌ„nynge of phylosophye was deceyued in that he yaue more credâ—ce to the doctryne of Arystotle that stant onely in naturell reyson of man thanne he dyde to the doctryne of holy chyrche the true doctours therof touchynge this precyous sacrament For Arystotle techyth as kyndely reason accordeth that the accydentes of brede or wyne That is to say the colour the sauour and soo forth of other may not be but in substauÌ„ce of brede or wyne after her kynde But the doctryne of holy chirche is yâ— in this blessed sacrament by specyal myracle of god aboue kynde yâ— colour the sauonr other accydentes of brede wyne ben there wythout her kyndly subâ—ecte that is to say without the substauÌ„ce of brede â–ª wine that was before the consecracoÌ„n And for asmoche as this doctryne of holy chirche is ayeÌ„st the prynciples of philosophye that is naturell scyence therfore the mayster of lollardes reproued it and scorned and so he errith himself and made many other to erre touchyng the bileue of this holiest sacrament the whiche yeuen more credence to hym for the opinyon of his grete clergye than to the true doctryne of holy chyrche And thus yet in our dayes hath antcryst wrought in the fyrst maner befor sayd by this fals mayster of lollardes and many other of his discyples in to destruccoÌ„n of true cristen byleue touchyng this blessed sacrament of cristis body many other poyntes ayenste holy chirche wythout the seconde maner that is to say werchynge of merueylles myracles For and antecriste had had in hem soo grete power that they had wyth her reasons also wroughte merueylles and myracles it had be lykely that holy chirche and true byleue specially of this blessed sacrament in grete party had be destroyed for the vnstablenes of the moost party of the peple notwithstondyng the grete merueyles myracles many and ofte that our lorde hath shewed herbefore in this holy sacrament as it is sayd to strength vs and stable vs in the true byleue that holy chirche hath taught vs toâ— â–ª of In the whiche byleue by reason we shold be soo sadly 〈◊〉 that after the sentence of the apostle poul though there came doun an angel from heuen and taughte the contrary we sholde not yeue credence to hym but holde hym as cursed But sooth it is
be vnderstonde that of the blessyd lyf of oure lord Jhesu criste wryten in the Gospel she chace certeyne partyes moost deuoute in the whiche she sette her meditacoÌ„n and hyr thought nyghte day with a clene and holy herte And whan she hadde so fully all the maner of his lif ouergone she byganne ageyn And soo wyth a lykynge and swete taste ghoostly shewyng in that maner the gospel of crist she sette and bare it euer in the pryuete of hyr breste In the same maner I counceyll that thou doo For amonge alle ghoostly exercyses I leue that this is moost necesary and moost proffytable and that may Nota tri◠〈…〉 de â—i 〈◊〉 〈…〉 brynge the to the hyhest degre of good lyuynge that stant specially in parfyghte despysynge of the world in pacience suffrynge of Aduersytees and in encrees and getyng of vertues For sothely thou shalt neuer fynde where man may soo parfyghtely be taughte fyrste for to stable his herte ageynste vanitees deceyuable lykynges of the world also to strengthe hym among tribulacions and aduersytees and ferthermore to be kepte tro vyces and to getyng or vertues as in the blessyd lyf of our lord Jesu cryst the whyche was euer wythoute defaulte mooste parfyghte Fyrste I saye that besy medytacyon Primum and custommable of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu stableth the soule and the herte ageynste vanytees and deceyuable lykynges of the worlde thys is shewed openly in the blessyd vyrgyne Exampluz de â—â—aâ—a cecilia Cecylle before named whenÌ„e she fylled so fully her herte of the lyf of cryst that vanytees of the world myghten not entre in to her For in alle the grete pompe of weddyng where so many vanytees ben vsed whan the Organs blewen and songen she sette her herte stably in God sayenge prayenge Lord be my herte and my body clene and not defyled Secundum soo that I be not confounded Also as to the Secound wherof haue martirs her strenght ageynst dyuerse Bernard de martirâ—bus tormentys But as saynt Bernard sayth in that they setten all her herte deuocyon in the passyon the wouÌ„des of criste For what tyme the martyr stant wyth all the body to rente And neuertheles he his gladde and Joyful in all hys payne where trowest is than his sowle and his herte sothely in the woundes of Jhesu ye the woundes not closed but open and wyde to entre in ellis he sholde fele the harde payne not mowe bere the payne and the sorowe but sone faylle and denye god And not only martirs but also confessours vyrgynes and all that lyuen ryghwysely despysynge the worlde in many trybulacyons Infyrmytees and dedes of penaunce both kepyng pacyeÌ„ce And also more ouer therwyth ben ioyeful and gladde in soule as we mowen sene alway and why so but for her hertes ben more proprely in crystes body by deuoute medytacoÌ„ns of hys blessyd lyf than in her owne bodyes And as to the. thyrdde poynte that it kepeth fro vyces Tercium dysposeth souereynly to geting of vertues preuethe wel in that perfeccion of all vertues is founde in cristes lyf For where shalt thou fynde so open ensample and doctrin of souerayne charyte of parfyte pouerte of profunde meknes of pacience and other vertues as in the blessyd lyf of Jhesu cryste Herfore sayth saynt Bernard that he trauayleth in Bernard super canâ—er xxâ— â–ª vaine aboute the getynge of vertues who so hopeth to fynde hem ou where but in the lord of vertues whoo 's lyf is the Myroure of TemperauÌ„ce and all other vertues Loo here grete comforte and ghoostly prouffyte in deuoute coÌ„templacyon of crystes blessyd body wherfore thou that coueytest to fele truly the fruyte of thys booke thou muste wyth alle thy thoughte all thyn entente in that manere make the in thy soule presente to tho thynges that ben here wreten sayde or done of oure lorde Jhesu And that besely lykyngly and abydyngly as though thou herdest hym wyth thy bodyly ere 's or N see them wyth thyn eyen doun puttynge awaye for the tyme and leuyg al other occupacyons and besynesses And though it so be that the begynnyng of the mater of thys booke that is the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryst be at hys Incarnacyon Neuertheles we mowen fyrst deuontly ymagyne and thynge soÌ„me thynges done before touchyng god and hys aungellys in heuen and also as anentes the blessyd vyrgyne our lady sainte marie in erthe of the whyche is to begynne ¶ And for as moche as thys booke is deuyded departed in seuen partyes after seuen dayes of the weke euery daye one partye or somme therof to be hadde in coÌ„templacyon of hem that hauen therto desyre and deuocoÌ„n Therfore at the mone daye as the fyrste weke daye of the weke begynneth thys ghoostly werke tellynge fyrste of the deuoute instaunce and desyre of holy aungellis in heuen for man restorynge and hys saluacyon to styre man amoÌ„ge other that daye specyally to worshyppe hem as holy Chyrche the same daye maketh specyally mynde of hem ¶ Also not onely the mater of thys booke is pertynent and prouffytable to be hadde in contemplacion the forsayd day is to them that wyll and mowe but also it longeth to the tymes of the yere as in aduent to rede deuoutly haue in mynde fro the begynnynge vnto the Natiuyte of oure lord Jhesus And therof after in that holy feste of Crystmasse and so forth of other maters as holy chirche maketh mynde of hem in tyme of the yere and amonge other who so redeth or hereth thys book felynge ony ghostly swetnesse or grace there thurgh praye he for charyte specyally for the auctour and the drawer out therof as it is wreton here in Englisshe to the prouffyte of symple and deuoute soules as it was sayd before and thus endeth the. prohemye and after foloweth the contemplacyon for mondaye in the fyrste party And the fyrst chapytre ¶ Die lune ¶ Incipit Prima pars ¶ A deuoute meditacyon of the grete counseylle in heuene for the restorynge of man and hys sauacion Capitulum I. Et prima pars Capitulo primo AFter the Tyme that man was exyled oute of the hyghe Cyte of heuene by the rightwys dome of almyghty god souerayne kynge therof for hys trespas and his synne and soo wretchydly lay in pryson and was holden in the bandes of that tyrauÌ„t the deuylle of helle that none myghte come ageyne to that blessyd Cyte the space of Fyue thousande yere and more All the blessyd spyrytes of heuene desyringe the restoryng of her companye that was falle doune wyth lucyfer hadden grete compsyon of soo longe meschyef of man that was made to her restorynge and prayden ofte for his restoryng But specialli and wyth more instaunce whan the tyme of grace was come what tyme as we may deuoutly ymagyne all the blessyd companye of aungels gadred to gydre wyth one wyll and souereyne
deuocyon fellen doune prostrate to fore the Trone N. â— of Almyghty god kynge of heuen and Gabriel to whome as Seynte Bernard saith was made speciall reuelacion of Crystes IncarnacoÌ„n in her owne name sayd in thys maner 〈…〉 ¶ Almyghty lord hit lyked to youre hyghe mageste of your endles goodnes to make of nouÈt that noble and resonable creature man for oure comforte and oure goodnes that of hym shold be made the restoryng of oure fals companye Lucifer hys felawes that felle doune fro vs by Apostasye soo that he sholde dwelle here in thys blessyd place wyth vs louynge and worshyppyng yow wythouten ende But loo go od lord now all thei perysshen and none is saued And in so many thousand yere passed we sene none of hem all here Oure enemyes hauen the vyctorye of hem oure partye is not restored but the pryson of helle contynuelly fylled wher to lord be they borne to grete meschyef For though it be doune after your ryÈtwysnes Neuertheles lord it is now tyme of mercy haue in mynde that ye made hem after youre owne lykenes And though her fornfaders folyly wrechydly breken youre mauÌ„dement Neuertheles youre mercy is aboue al thynge wherfore all their eyen ben set vpon as the seruauÌ„tes on the lordes handes tyll ye haue mercy helpe hem wyth a spedeful heleful remedy Seqiut de coÌ„tencoÌ„e iÌ„ter miÌ„am veritatem ¶ HEre wyth beganne a maner of altercacion and disputacion bytuene the foure kynges deughters that is to saye Marcy and sothfastnes pees and ryght wysnesse Of the whiche foure mercy and pees accordyng to the Aungels prayer for sayde were fauourable to mannes restorynge But that other two systers soth Be 〈…〉 in sâ—r â–ª de An 〈…〉 fastnes and right wysnes ageyne sayden ¶ As saynte Bernarde by deuout me ditacion maketh herof a processe faire longe but for to take therof shortly as to our purpos at this tyme soÌ„what in other maner in other wordes we may ymagyne thynke thê° Fyrst mercy pees knelyng to fore her fader kyng of heuen by yâ— ê“phetes wordes Dauid said thus Lord shalt thou cast a Nunquid in â—â—â—â—num pâ—â—â—ciâ—â— de uâ— way fro the maÌ„ withouteÌ„ ende â–ª or hast thou foryeteÌ„ to do mercy And this oft they reherceden than said our lord lete clepe forth your other two systers the whyche ye sene redy ayenste you lete vs see also what they wol saye here to they were Miserâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 corâ—â—◠〈…〉 sâ—â— oâ—â— M 〈…〉 n◠〈…〉 cleped comen al to gyder mercy began said in this wyse My fader of mercy it was youre wyl euer withouten ende a moÌ„ge your other douÈters my systers to yeue me that prerogatyue aboue al other werkes that only I shold specially regne here wyth you in heuen but also that the erthe shold be replenyshed wyth me to soo moche vertu that who so wold truly besely aske my helpe in ony meschyef or nede he shold wythout fayl finde your socour helpe thoruÈ the meditacoÌ„n of me But now lo my dere fader that worthi partie of erthe your noble creature man in hys grete wretchydnesse myschyef so longe tyme lyggyng cryeth coÌ„tinuelly asketh after my helpe now time is comen in the whyche but yf ye helpe hym saue hym I lese my name Here ayenst that other sister â—eriâ—â—â— P 〈…〉 i 〈◊〉 bâ—râ—oâ— tuoru 〈…〉 â—e 〈…〉 sothfastnes sayd ye knowe wel my fader sothfast god that I am begynnyng of your wordes after ye made man in so grete worthynes that ye wedded me to him in that coÌ„dycyon that what tyme he breke your heste he al that come of hym shold lese her blessyd lyf be daÌ„pned done to deth wherfore he forsoke me betoke hym to your enmy myn the fader of lesyng witnes my syster riÈtwysnes I perysshe lese my name but he haue deth that he hath deseruyd thaÌ„ spake riÈtwys Jusâ—iâ—iâ— Jusâ—iâ—i◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—e â—â—tâ—â— nes RyÈtwis lord thou hast made me gouernour of thi dome lastyng wythoute ende my sister trouth techer of thy lawe al thouÈ it so be that our sister mercy be styred of pyte a good zele for mannes sauacyon neuertheles in that she wolde saue hym that hath so gretely forfetyd ageinst yow vs also Ca. i. withouten dewe satisfaccion she wolde destroye vs both hir susteren that is to say trouthe ryghtwysnes fordo our name Paâ— Here with yâ— fourth syster came forth that is to saye pees â—irite sovirly blamyng hir susters for her contrarious wordes her stryt said to hem thus knowe ye not wel sisters that In pace â—actuâ—â—sâ—â—ocuâ—â—â—â—â— our fader hath ordeyned made his place only there as I am I may not abyde ne dwelle there as is stryf disseÌ„cion and that is not semely but fully ageynst kynde to be amoÌ„ges vertues wherfor but ye cease of stryf be acorded I must forsake yow my fader also lo here is agrete coÌ„trauersy bytwene the se four douÈters of our lorde so grete reasons that it was not sene how that in mannes sauacion mercy sothfastnes â–ª pees ryÈtwysnes myght fully be kepte accorded than bad Pater oÌ„nâ—â—udicuim de diâ—â—iâ—iâ— the fader of heuen that for as moche as he had coÌ„mytted ye uen all his dome to his dere sone souerayne wysedome kyng euerlastyng with him in one godhede yâ— these four douÈters shold go to hym he to termyne this question yeue a dome ther on And than the kynge souerayne wysedome wrote yâ— seÌ„teâ—â—e the dome in thys maner toke it to hys chauÌ„celer Reson to rede it in his name sayenge in these wordes This doughter sothfastnes saith that she peryssheth leseth hyr name but man haue the deth that he hath deserued with hyr acordeth hir lister riÈtwysnes on yâ— other syde mercy sayth that she perissheth leseth hir name but man haue mercy be saued with hir accordeth her fourth sister pees wherfor to accorde all these to gyder for a fynal dome in this mater lete be made a good deth of man so yâ— one be founden wydâ—uten Judicium â—egis synne yâ— may wyl innoceÌ„tly for charyte suffre deth for maÌ„ than haue they all yâ— they asken For than may not dethe lenger holde hym that is without synÌ„e or trespas And so he shal perse hym makynge in hym a hole a wey thorugh the whyche man may passe and be saued ¶ In this sentence and dome all the Courte of heuen wondrynge and commeÌ„ding the souerayne wysdom assented wel here to but ferthermore askeden amonge them self where that one myght be fouÌ„den that shold fulfille and doo this dede of charyte And than mercy toke with her reson and sought among all yâ— ordres of augels in heuene to see whether ony of hem