hymself that he was so ouercome with the lady Strength ¶ Tho went IhuÌ„s in to the londe of Galyle and there he fouÌ„de other two ladyes of that holy abbaye one hyght Shryfte that other PredycacoÌ„n For there preched Cryste fyrste sayd to the people of the couÌ„tree ¶ Penitemini et confitemini et credite euaÌ„gelio Shryue ye you do ye penauÌ„ce be ye of good byleue the kyngdom of heuen nygheth faste ¶ Thenne went he forth to the see syde there he fouÌ„de Peter Andrewe his brod castynge theyr nettes in to the see to catche fysshe And Cryste sayd to them Come ye folowe me I shal make you fysshers of men And they lefte theyr bote styll in the see went forth with Cryst So they went a lytel ferder fouÌ„de Iohn Iames his broder in an other bote drawyng theyr nettes with Zebede theyr fader for they were fysshers also And Cryste bad theym folowe him they lefte theyr fader al that they hadde in the bote yede with Cryste ¶ On a daye as they yede by the waye Peter sayde to Cryste What shall we haue of the that haue forsake al that we had folowe the thus in pouerte Thenne Cryste fouÌ„de an other lady of that holy abbaye called Largenes Forsoth Cryst sayd ye that haue forsake al that ye had folowe me shal haue an huÌ„dred folde so moche therfore therto lyf wtout ende ¶ ThenÌ„e came he forth on a daye fro the mouÌ„t of Olyuete in to the temple of Ierlm to preche there whyle he was prechynge the Sarrasyns brought hyÌ„ a woman take in auowtry sayd to hym Lo mayster this woman is now take in a spousebreche what shal we now do with her Moyses byddeth in our lawe that we sholde stone suche to deth Cryste knewe theyr falshede that they dyde it to tempte hyÌ„ stowped downe wrote on the grounde with his fynger all theyr synnes so that eche of them myght se how synfull other was And thenne he sayde to them thus Syth it is so that by your lawes this woman shal be stoned to dethe thenne whiche of you all that is without synne caste he on her the fyrste stone Thenne all they were ashamed of themself went out at the doore eche after other lete Cryste stonde allone with the woman Thenne came two ladyes to hym of the abbaye of the holy ghost that were Mercy Pyte Thenne sayd Cryste to that woman Woman where ben thyn enmyes Hath ony man condempned the to deth Lorde she sayd no man I wol not sayd our lorde condempne the. Fare well he sayd be in wyl nomore to do synne Here was grete mercy pyte for the grettest trespasse that she dyde was ayenst hymself ¶ Afterwarde on a daye the SarrasyÌ„s sende theyr dyscyples to Cryst to haue take hym in wordes They asked hym yf they myght by goddes lawe gyue trybute to themperour Cryste knewe theyr malyce wel sayd Ye ypocryt what nede is it to teÌ„pte me Lete me se a peny of your money they shewed hym one ThenÌ„e sayd Cryst whoo 's coyne is this they sayd themperours ThenÌ„e fouÌ„de Cryste a lady of the couent that was called Reason sayde Gyue ye to themperour that longeth to hym to god that longeth to hym that is reason ¶ One daye therÌ„ as Cryste went by the waye by hyÌ„selfe he remembred hym on maÌ„nes soule on the abbaye of the holy ghost thenne he fouÌ„de an other lady of the same house that men calle Gelousye Thenne toke he his dyscyples preuyly went towarde Ierlm sayd to them thê° I haue al thyse xxxij yeres more be about to helpe maÌ„nes soule to kepe vp the abbesse the couent that wente out of thabbaye of the holy ghost I haue fouÌ„de of them .xvi. And now I wol go to Ierlm be bouÌ„de beten hangen drawe I shal deye for loue of maÌ„nes soule to fynde vp the other dele of the holy coueÌ„t This was a grete Ielousy a grete loue ¶ ThenÌ„ went they forth to Ierlm to gader on a tyme as they were at theyr souper togyd Cryst fouÌ„de two ladyes of that abbaye that men calle Curteysy Honeste For Cryst fed there at souper his dyscyples with his owne flesshe and blood Whan he had so done he wysshe theyr fete wiped them At this offyce were foure ladyes Curteysy BuxuÌ„nes Honeste Mekenes ¶ Afterwarde he wente with his discyples in to a lytell towne that hyghte Gethsemany there he toke thre of his men Peter Iames. Iohn bad all the other abyde there styll tyl they came agayn As they went our lorde began to quake drad thenne he sayd to them Here I haue fouÌ„de an other lady of the holy couent that is called Drede I haue he sayd full moche drede ayen that I shall deye Sytte ye downe he sayd wake ye and byd your bedes tyll I come ayen to you Thenne went he forth fro them as ferre as it were a stones caste there he fouÌ„de other two ladyes Medytacyon Oryson ¶ He bethoughte hym on mannes soule that it sholde be lost without ende but yf he deyed therfore how he sholde deye so be harde naylid to the rode tree he was in a grete agony as noo wond was And for drede of deth he swet dropes of blood that fell downe in the grouÌ„de as dropes fall fro an hous euees after reyne Thenne prayed he to his fad sayd Fad yf it may be lete me not deye thus dyspytously netheles he sayd thy wyll be done not myn Thenne came he ayen to his dyscyples fouÌ„de them slepynge thenne he sayd to Peter Mayst thou not one houre wake with me Wake ye he sayd praye that ye fall not in to temptacoÌ„n Thenne went he ayen and fouÌ„de Oryson her syster DeuocoÌ„n sayd My fader syth it may none other be but that I must nedes suffre deth be it as thou woll Thenne came he ayen to his dyscyples fouÌ„de theÌ„ slepynge as he dyde before He went ayen the thyrde tyme prayed as he dyde fyrste fouÌ„de other ladyes of the holy abbay ContemplacoÌ„n Dalyance IubylacoÌ„n Thenne came an angell fro heueÌ„ to comforte hym tolde how mannes soule or the thyrde daye sholde be delyuerd out of helle how by that tyme he sholde fynde vp all the couent of the abbaye of the holy ghost al theyr place made vp ayen better then euer it was Thenne was he mery and glad in his soule though he were kyndely by his manhede agast of his dethe ¶ Thenne came he ayen to his dyscyples bad them ryse vp and go with hym And as they walked a lytell faith they sawe there moche folke comynge with lanternes drawen swerdes staues to take our lorde Iudas Scaryoth went before them
of mercy that is in medytacyon where to thynke on the crosse of Cryste Ihu And in deuocoÌ„n he gyueth wyne that is the welle of teeres of bytternes after that wyne of teeres of swetnes Our lorde Ihu Cryste sendeth them the oyle of comfort of mercy that gyueth the lyght of shewith his heuenly preuytees that he hydeth fro men that ben ful of flesshly lustes that gyue theÌ„ all to worldely wytte in dyuerse degrees that whiche is ryght grete foly ¶ For the apostle Poule sayth ¶ SapieÌ„cia eiê°muÌ„di stulticia eÌ„ apud deuÌ„ That is thus moche to saye that the wysdom of this worlde is foly before god Therfore me thynketh all those that purpose trauaylle to be holde wyse in this worlde that is to gad ryches to gad for grete worshyp of themselfe here for theyr lusty lyuynge more than for the worshyp of god to parte therof there as it nedeth ben ryght nyce foles grete wretches as the apostle vs techeth And to them that be his true seruauntes he gyueth the lyght of loue that they somedele taast fele how swete he is how good But he gyueth it not all fully for no maÌ„ I trowe myghte all fully it fele that for lykynge and Ioye his herte sholde to braste For sayÌ„t Austen doctour tellith example of an holy preest sayth thus that than whan he herde ony thyÌ„ge of god that it lyked hym to here he sholde be rauysshed so with Ioye that he sholde falle lye styll as he were deed And though ony man in that tyme caste fyre on his flesshe he feled it no more than he had be all deed Wherof speketh Iob sayth ¶ Abscondi luceÌ„ in manibz That is to saye god hydeth lyght within his hondes as he that hath a candell lyght betwene his two hondes he may shewe it or hyde whether he woll So doth our lorde Cryst Ihesu to his chosey men his hondes he openeth whan he wol and gladdeth them with heuenly lyght And whaÌ„ he wol he closith his hondes with dreweth his comforte for he woll not that they fele it fully but gyueth them leue to taast in partye to fele how good he is how swete he is as Dauyd sayth in the sawter ¶ Gustate videte qmÌ„ suauis eÌ„ dnÌ„s And yf god sayd to vs by this lykynge that thou hast in this short tyme of me thou mayst taast how swete I am to my chosen in my blysse whan they passe hens And thus he doth to drawe vs fro lust of flesshely worldly loue to flaÌ„me our hertes with loue longynge to haue that Ioye in body soule with hym without ende ¶ A wyse lady Ielousye that is besy both nyght daye to do our lordes wyl shall kepe our Horolege to wake thyse ladyes all cause them swyftely to ryse vp to saye our lordes seruyce This horolege of contemplacyon is to god loue longynge that smyteth sooner than ony other in the herte of Crystys louers that fede theyr soule with good prayers wassheth with swete teeres wipeth it with ghostly comforte as Salomon telleth techeth vs. ¶ Ego dormio et cor meuÌ„ vigilat I slepe he sayth my flesshe to fede my herte is wakynge all in loue all to god longynge ¶ Whan this abbaye was al well set god therin serued a tyraunt came with grete power put in his foure doughters that were all of shrewed maners the fende fad of them all The fyrste doughter pryde the other was enuye the thyrde false demynge the fourth flesshly lust Thyse foure wenchis by couÌ„sell of the deuyll theyr fad came to noye this abbay so nyght daye in soule the worse rest they haue Whan Charyte sawe this myscheyf other ladyes of the house they range anone theyr chapytour bell toke couÌ„sell of this thynge And thenne sayd DyscrecoÌ„n that they praye the holy ghost to come to helpe them with his grace And thenÌ„e they kneled downe sange ¶ Veni creator spiritus Thenne as it is sayd before came our lord Cryst Ihu in to his mod restored this hous better than euer it was before To hym glory worshyp that lyueth without ende ¶ MemoranduÌ„ qd pri o die plasmacione c. We may vnderstonde that there was a fals tyrauÌ„t apostata that is named Sathanas that some tyme was pryour of the order of angels in the blysse of heuen that for pryde raÌ„ne out of his blysful order in to sorowfull horrour of the payne of helle He had soo grete enuy to this abbay of the holy ghost that it was so well with god had so grete a lordshyp He bethought hym how he myght distroye that noble hous how he myght do to make the noble couente of vertues to renne out of theyr order as he ranne out of his He came in lykenes of a adder to thabbaye gate to come in the porter that was called Drede was not there redy For without doubte yf Drede had be there the fende had not come in And Eue sawe that he was there as a grete fole she lete hym come in ThenÌ„e sayd the fende to her why forbad god that ye sholde not ete of the fruyte that growith on the tree that stondeth in myddes of paradyse thenÌ„e sayd Eue yf we ete of it we shall deye Naye sayd he God knowith wel yf ye ete there of ye shal be as goddis knowynge good euyll buthe wolde that ye were not so wyse therfore he forbad ye sholde not ete of that fruyte Eue herde she sholde be so wyse was bothe couetous lykerous sawe the fruytes delycyous to the mouth went to the tree and toke ete therof and gaaf Adam that other dele and he ete therof And in the meane tyme that Adam his wyf ete of the fruyte the fals traytour wich his thre knyghtes That is is to saye Pryde Couetyse Vaynglory wente in this abbaye of the holy ghost bare awaye al the good that there was bare awaye the chartour that god gaaf them to holde theyr place by And therfore Adam ne his wyfe neyther theyr heyres froÌ„ that daye vnto this daye had neuer right to chalenge ayen lordshyp of the blysse of heuen but oonly by goddes mercy And not onely thyse false theues brake the abbaye but also they bare awaye the godes that is they draue awaye dyspytousely out of the abbaye all the noble couent of vertues So that it was .iiij. M.v. C. .xxxiij. yere after that or they myght come ayen al togyder as perfytly as they were before ¶ Whan Adam and his wyfe had eten of the fruyte they behelde eche other thenÌ„e perceyued they fyrst that they were bothe robbed naked were ashamed of theÌ„self And went and toke leues of fygge trees to couer with theyr preuytees for they had no other clothes ThenÌ„e wente they forth to one that was thef
ben wexe al hoores ¶ DnÌ„e inclina celos tuos descende Therfore lorde he sayd bowe downe thy heueÌ„s come downe helpe me to seke the abbesse her couent for I may not fynde them ¶ Thenne sayd Salomon ¶ Circuibo ciuitateÌ„ ê‘ vicos plateas et queraÌ„ queÌ„ diligit aiÌ„a mea I shall goo about the Cyte by wayes by stretes seke the abbesse her couent whom my herte loueth I sought them but I fouÌ„de them not I cryed but none of them wolde answere wyth a worde Thenne I sayd mornynge thus torne ayen thou swete wyghte lete vs loke on the. Thou hast wouÌ„ded myn herte my fayre syster my fayre spouse thou hast wouÌ„did myn hert with the twynkelynge of thyn eyen I haue sought by nyghtes the couent whom my soule loueth I haue sought with all my myght I may not fynde them Thenne sayd he to other maydens that dwelled there besyde I praye you specyally ye maydens of Ierusalem yf ye fynde ony thynge where thabbesse is of thabbaye of the holy ghost her couent that ye woll tell them that I am seke for loue longynge after them Thus kynge Salomon made moch moon then he sayd thê° Lorde god sende downe out of thy holy heueÌ„s thy dere sone that he may be with me trauayle with me helpe me to make ayen the abbaye of the holy ghost in as good poynt as it sholde be But for all that he coude crye goddis sone cam not yet then ¶ Thenne wente Ysaye the prophete sought thabbesse of her couent many dayes longe but he fouÌ„de them not Thenne sayde he thê° Â¶ VtinaÌ„ disruÌ„ peraÌ„ celos et descenderes that is to saye wolde god lorde that thou woldest broke heuens come downe helpe vs to make ayen thabbaye of the holy ghost fynde vp the couent that is gone awaye ¶ Thenne went Ieremy the prophete sought them also but he myght not fynde them therfore made he a ruthfull moon and sayd ¶ Ve michi misere c. Wo to me wretche he sayde that god hath encreaced more sorowe to my sorowe I haue trauaylled wtout ony reste in syghynge sorowynge I maye not fynde that that I seke Helas he sayd the fende hath dryue awaye the maydens in to the erthe defyled theyr kyngdome The maydens be paste awaye in to wretchednes They herde me well how I syghed made moch moon but there was none of theÌ„ that wolde me comforte with a worde Therfore I haue so wepte for sorowe that myn eyen be in poynt to faylle Who shall gyue me water to my heed who shal yeue me a welle of teeres to myn eyen And who shall wepe for the maydens that be thus gone away both day nyghte Thou noble abbesse he sayth to whom may I lyken the to whom may I assemble the thou doughter of Ihrlm the wyse pryouresse to whom I lyken that Thou mayde doughter of Syon thou holy couent he sayth how may I coÌ„forte the me thynke thy sorowe as grete as the see thou noble couent who shall be thyn helpe I can not elles saye sayth Ieremy but the fayrest floure of our garlonde is falle awaye Alas alas welawaye that euer we dyde syÌ„ne ¶ Whan god almyghty herde thê° thyse prophetes with many other good men to make moche moon with heuy chere many huÌ„dred yeres for the destruccyon of the abbaye of the holy ghost he had grete pyte of them that they farid so And that therfore mannes soule was in pryson payne of helle sholde haue be there wtout ende He ordeyned a couÌ„seyle of the holy trynyte in the blysse of heuen of fader sone holy ghost sayd We made maÌ„nes soule to our lykenes toke hym to kepe in his owne conscyence the abbaye of the holy ghost And he of his owne propre foly lete beere awaye out of that abbay all the good that there was the abbesse and her couent ranne awaye out of her order Therfore he was take put in to the pryson of helle and there hath be now M. yere and vi C. more that is grete pyte Therfore it were a good dede to make the abbesse her couent fayre to come ayen in to her order make ayen the abbaye of the holy ghost as well as euer it was to delyuer maÌ„nes soule out of the sory pryson He hath be therin longe tyme haue we pyte on hym He is as one of vs made to our lykenes All the holy trynyte grauÌ„tid it shold be so but it was asked who sholde do the dede It were nede he were suche one that were holde to do it also that he myght do it But no thynge was beholde to delyuer maÌ„nes soule but only man Ne no thyng myghte delyuer hym but onely god Therfore he that sholde do that dede muste be both god man and so myght no thynge be but were one of the thre persones of the trynyte Therfore they ordeyned that the seconde persone that is almyghty goddes sone sholde come in to this worlde be borne of a mayde become man make agayn the abbaye of the holy ghost deye for loue of man on the rood tree so delyuer maÌ„nes soule fro the payne of helle ThenÌ„e were there foure doughters of almyghty god whiche ben Mercy Trou the Ryghtwysnes Peas the whiche herde telle that maÌ„nes soule sholde be delyuered fro helle payne came all foure togyd before god almighty Then sayd Trouth thus to her fader almyghty god lorde she sayd thou hast louid euer well me that am thy doughter Trouth I pray the forsake my not Thou sayd what tyme man ete of the fruyte he sholde deye go to helle Therfore yf thou delyuer man out fro thens thou destroyest me that were no reason For goddes trouth lastith without ende Thenne sayd Mercy ¶ O pater miÌ„arum c. Fader of mercy god of all comforte that comfortest all thynge in angre in wo haue thou mercy on maÌ„nes soule that lyeth bouÌ„de in helle and brynge hym in to blysse For thou sayd thou woldest kepe mercy to hym without ende Therfore sayth thou art true thou shalt haue mercy on maÌ„nes soule Thenne sayd Ryghtwysnes Nay nay it may not be so ¶ Quia iustê° dnÌ„s iusticias dilexit Lorde she sayd thou art ryghtfull louest rightwysnes there fore thou shalt not ryghtfully saue mannes soule For it is ryght reason that he haue that he hath deserued for he hath forsake god that hym forth brought he hath forgete his lorde that made hym of noughte Therfore it is reason that thou haue of hym nother pyte ne mercy for thy ryghtwysnes shal laste in to the worldes ende ¶ Tenne sayd Mercy to Ryghtwysnes Syster be thou styll saye not so for it were not ryght thou knowest well that god sholde forsake me For the mercy of god is aboue
al his werkes the mercy of god was without begynnynge shal be without endynge Therfore yf god forsoke me he sholde forsake both my syster the that were nother ryght ne trouth Therfore she sayd to saue vs all thre god shall haue of maÌ„nes soule both mercy pyte ¶ Thenne sayd Peas to her thyrde syster ¶ Pax dmÌ„ exsuperat oeÌ„m sensuÌ„ The peas of god passeth al maner wytte Though it be so she sayd that trouthe saye ayenst skyll why maÌ„nes soule sholde not be saued ryghtwysnes also an other Neuertheles me thynketh that mercy sayth best that mannes soule sholde be saued For as she soth sayth elles god shold forsake you al thre both Ryghtwysnes Mercy Trouth And I thynke that were grete ruthe And not oonly he sholde forsake you thre but also he sholde forsake me For as longe as maÌ„nes soule is so in helle there shal be dyscorde amoÌ„ge you thre For Ryghtwysnes and Trouth shall wyll to haue hym there styll Mercy shall wyll to haue him out so that peas amonge you shal be forsake Also yf man were soo styll in helle there sholde be dyscorde betwene god man betwene angell man betwene man man so that peas sholde be forsake ouer all whiche were no proustyte Therfore sayd Peas do ye after my couÌ„sell praye we god all to gyder that is prynce of peas that he wol make peas acorde betwene you thre betwene god man betwene angell man betwene man man ordeyne suche a way that he maye kepe vs styll all foure systers ¶ All they thoughte that she sayd best And all prayed god of heuen that he wolde so do And thenne he sayd ¶ Ego cogito cogitaciones pacis et noÌ„ affliccoÌ„es I thynke sayd god thoughtes of peas and not of wyckednes I shall he sayd kepe you stylle alle foure shal saue maÌ„nes soule and brynge hym to blysse ¶ Also he sayd I shall fynde vp thabbesse of thabbaye of the holy ghost make ayen the abbaye the couent all togyder better than euer it was before ¶ Whan thyse systers herde this they were glad Ioyfull ¶ MiÌ„a et veritas obuiaueruÌ„t sibi iusticia et pax osculate suÌ„t Mercy and trouth mette them togyd ryghtwysnes peas ben kyssed and made at one ¶ Tho anone almyghty god the fader sende downe his owne sone in to this worlde to become maÌ„ for vs to seke thabbesse of thabbaye of the holy ghost her holy couent that is to saye Charyte other noble vertues And the fyrste daye that he came he fouÌ„de a lady of that holy abbaye that is called Clennesse For he was coÌ„ceyued without knowlegynge of ony man thorugh the vertue the operacyon of the holy ghost and borne of a pure clene mayden and virgyn that neuer was defyled wyth synne ¶ Thus clennesse he fouÌ„de whan he was in his mods wombe beynge incarnate man by that pure vyrgyn ¶ And that noble lady he kepte with hym there .xxxix. wekes Thenne was he borne of his moder in an olde broken house at Bethleem townes ende layed on an asses mangeer on a lytel heye And there he fouÌ„de an other lady of that abbaye that was Pouerte For his blessid mod had none other shetes for to wynde hym in but toke a keuerchyf of her heed kytte an olde kertyl made of it cloutes wounde our blessyd lord therin for colde And layed hym on a wyspe of heye before an oxe an asse Thyse two ladyes Pouerte CleÌ„nes he lad forth with hym tyll he was .xij. yeres olde ¶ Thenne went he forth with Ioseph his moder to Ierlm to offre there in an Ester daye And whaÌ„ they had offrid were goynge home ayen our lorde Ihu bode styll at Ierusalem thre dayes went in to the temple amonge maysters of the lawe There he fouÌ„de other two ladyes of the holy abbaye that were Wysdom and Ryghtwysnes ¶ Whan Mary Ioseph were come home wyst not where Ihus was become they made moche sorowe for that swete childe went ayen to Ierlm to seke hym Thenne they fouÌ„de hym in the temple syttynge amonge doctors dysputynge of the lawe Thenne sayd his mod to hym Sone what hast thou done thy fader I haue sought the makynge for the moche sorowe Thenne sayd Ihus How is it that ye sought me wytt ye not well that I must be besy about my fads nedes He sende me in to this couÌ„tre to seke vp thabbesse the couent of thabbay of the holy ghost And therfore I went amonge the maysters in to the temple there fouÌ„de I two ladyes of the couent Ryghtwysnes Wysdom and so he â—â—â—de more than all they ThenÌ„e went he home with Ioseph his moder in to Nazareth there he fouÌ„de an other lady that was called BuxuÌ„nes For he that is hyghest lorde was lowest of hert in al thynge buxome to his moder ¶ ThenÌ„e went he forth xvij yeres an half euery daye at his borde he fouÌ„de other two ladyes of that holy abbaye theyr names were TemporauÌ„ce and SobrenÌ„es He lad them with hym in to deserte to seke mo of her felowes And there he fouÌ„de other two ladyes that one hyght PenauÌ„ce her felowe Strength He fouÌ„de there penauÌ„ce ynough for he fasted .xl. dayes xl nyght for loue of maÌ„nes soule without meete drynke thenne he began to hungre ¶ There came the fende to hym that came to Eue in paradyse in to thabbaye of the holy ghost wolde haue ouercome hym in gloteny as he dyde her lad him to an hepe of stones and bad hym yf he were goddes sone he shold make the stones loues ete of theÌ„ ynough Thenne fouÌ„de he there strength thrugh which he withstode myghtly the temptacion of the fende sayd Man lyueth not oonly by brede but by euery worde of goddes mouth Thenne bare the fende hym thens in to IerusaleÌ„ set hym on the pynacle of the temple and wolde haue ouercome hyÌ„ with pryde vaynglory sayd Yf thou be goddes sone skyppe downe take none harme and al men shall prayse the and saye that thou hast done a grete maystry Thenne he withstode also his teÌ„ptacoÌ„n with the vertue of that lady Strength and sayd Thou shalt not teÌ„pte thy lorde god as who sayth it is no nede that I skyppe downe I may go downe well ynough by another waye Thenne he lad hym in to an hyghe hylle shewed hym therÌ„ al the rychesse of the worlde wolde haue ouercome hym in couetyse sayde I shall gyue that all the goodes that thou seest yf thou wolt knele downe worshyp me And there he withstode myghtly with the lady strength sayd Go thy waye Sathanas and torne ayen to helle Men shall worshyp almyghty god hym onÌ„ly serue noo thynge elles Thenne was the fende ashamed of