lorde make cause vs to be rewarded with thy holy sayntes in eterne euerlastynge glory and ioy âšœ Saluum fac populum tuuÌ„ domine / et benedic hereditati tue et rege eos et extolle illos vsque ineternum We beseche the good lorde make thy people saued soules gyue blessynge to thyne heneretaunce And rule good lord and gouerne theÌ„ And excolle inhaunce magnifye good lord and make them honorable vnto the ende of the world âšœ Per singulos dies bnÌ„dicimê° te / et laudamus nomeÌ„ tuuÌ„ in sclm in seculum seculi We done god lord blysse honour the euery day by day / done laude and prayse thy holy name from tyme to tyme / and from age vnto age for euermore âšœ Dignare domine die isto sine peccato nos custodire Vouchesafe good lord to kepe vs this day / and all our lyfe tyme from synne and trespas âšœ Miserere nrÌ„i dnÌ„e miserere nrÌ„i Haue mercye good lorde vpon vs / haue mercye âšœ Fiat miÌ„a tua dnÌ„e super nos / quemadmoduÌ„ sperauimus in te Let thy mercye / lorde / lyght on vs / as we haue had euer perfecte hope and trust in the. âšœ In te domine speraui / non confundar in eternum I haue alway hoped and perfectely trusted inwardly in the. I beseche the lorde I neuer be coÌ„founded disapoynted ne deceyued Thus endeth that swete prayer / your Te deum ¶ Prayers vnto the ende of masse O Moost benigne lord sauyour moost hyghest preste very Bysshope Iesu Christe / that woldest vouchesafe to offre thyne owne selfe most pure lambe / most immaculate / moost clene and vnspotted hoost in sacrifice vnto the father of heuyn vpon the aultre of the crosse for vs wretched synners And also that woldest gyue leue with vs perpetually thyne owne very flesshe for our spirituall fode and thyne owne precyous blode for our spirituall drynke / I beseche the for the sake of all thy sorowfull woundes for the effusion and shedynge of thy moost precyous blode for the vertue of thy most innocent deth and moost specially for that excellent meruelouse and vnspekeable charity thou had vnto vs wherby thou woldest vouchsafe to washe vs fylthy vnworthy wrethes in thyne owne holy sacred blode I beseche the haue mercy pytie on me forgyue me all my synnes neglygences all offences don eyther by coÌ„mission or omissioÌ„ that is to meane all suche offeÌ„ces as I dyd myght not laufully nor shulde haue don / also all that I myght or shuld haue don / dyd not And sythe good lord amonge all thyne other great mercyfull benefytes thou woldest vouchsafe onely of thy liberall goodnes without any deseruynge of me to call me vnworthy wrethe to the grace of thy fayth and to be one of thy sorte now also forther to receyue me this mistery holy sacrameÌ„t I beseche the lord teache me inspyre my soule to order me selfe thereunto with suche reuereÌ„ce drede and with suche feruour deuocion with suche loue charyte as may be acceptable to thy grace shall come or byseme my state and degre so increace in vertue by the receyuing herof in the same degre as maye be also to the edificacioÌ„ of all persons And I beseche the suffre me neuer to dout of this holy sacrameÌ„t but euermore to ê‘ceyue vnderstande holde beleue thynke speke after the true fayth of thy catholyke church Let good lord thy holy spirite come vnto me and entre into my hart there without wordes or noyse secretly speke vnto my soule / to instructe tell and teache me the very truthe of all that hyghe mystery / for I know well it is very ê“funde hyghe / excepte thy graciouse doctrine ferre aboue my capacite vnderstandyng Wherfore swete sauyour Iesu I now here fully and wholy without any forther discusse or reasonynge moost lowly submyt my selfe vnto thy mercy Besechynge the same / that I may with clene harte and pure coÌ„scieÌ„ce accede approche although vnworthy theruÌ„to And that thou good lord for the swetenes of thy holy harte woldeste vouchesafe to delyuer my synfull soule from all doubt and daunger of synne / and to mundify / purge / and clense my frayle mynde frome all vayne / all vnclene / all noyouse and vnfruitfull cogitacions and thoughtes And to conforte and strenght my faynt and feble hart with the grace of constancy and perseuerauÌ„ce / so that my soule may be made in thy loue and charity the worthy habitacle dwellyng place of thyne hyghe maiesty not onely now at this tyme but also in all tymes vnto the ende of my lyfe And after euer vnto the ende of the worlde Amen O Mooste swete louer of all mankynde lorde and sauyour Iesu / I beseche the for all the whole vertue of thy bytter passioÌ„ / put away from me the spirite of elacion and pryde of enuy and detraction of yre wrathe malyce impacience and of all other morbes diseases and pestilences of the soule And plante good lorde and grounde in my hart and mynd very true mekenes / charity and pacience innocency and the loue of pouerty / due temperaunce / pure chastity / with all suche other vertues / medicynes / and preseruatyues vnto the soule Mortifie good lord and sle in me all libidinouse and vnclene mocions / all carnall desyres and inordinate affectioÌ„s And kyndle lorde and quyken in me the feruour and loue of all vertues and of the perpetuall excercyse and workynge of them / with constant perseueraunce / so that in this tyme and all tymes in body and soule purifyed cleÌ„sed I may worthely receyue this holy sacrament Vnto the high mistery whereof I knowe well do so coÌ„fesse / graunt / knowledge here before thy gloryous face I am vnworthy very moch vnworthy most vnworthy Not only for my great habominable synnes many many neglygences but also for great dulnes wante of deuocion But not witstandyng I know as well agayne so do I beleue in harte and mynde so do knowledge in mouth worde / that thou my lorde god art omnipoteÌ„t almyghty so mayst therfor by thy power infinite if it so please thy grace make me worthy and acceptable For thou alone good lord mayste canst iustifye a synner and of the vyle fylthy wretche make a clene and pleasant person Therfore gracious lord I beseche thy worthy maiesty for thyne almyghty power whiche I firmly stedfastly beleue and for thyne infinite endles wysedom whiche I boldly coÌ„fesse for thyne excellent bounty goodnes wherin I fully hope trust And for all these togyther as one frame me make me worthy and acceptable vnto thy godly presence and grauÌ„t me thyne vnworthy lewde wretched seruauÌ„t of all my synnes very true coÌ„tricioÌ„ due coÌ„punction pure deuocioÌ„ and the feruent flame of thy loue / that
mercyful goodenes it neuer be vnto me condempnacion and iudgement but vnto the profyte and auayle of the eterne and euerlastyng saluacion and helthe of both my soule body Amen O Moost benygne louynge lorde how vyle how wretched and vnworthy am I to receyue so worthy a lorde so royall a prynce so myghty a kynge so noble an Emperour into so pore a coysshe not worthy to be called an house so ferre out of good garnysshe and due apparell Surely moche and very moche and moost vnworthy am I thereunto But gracious lord I beseche thy goodnes that perfectly hast create and made all this worlde of nought with payne infinyte repayred our mortalyte Create and make now in me a newe hart and repayre or rather new frame agayne and facion my hous adorne / appareyll garnylshe / and dresse or fornisshe it so as best may become or beseme thy maiesty / and best maye please thy gentyll hart And of thy moost large and lyberall bouÌ„tye vouchsafe good lord to receyue my wyll mynde / intent / and desyre whiche as here before thy goodly presence I affirme confesse is to receyue the worthely accordynge vnto thy wyll and pleasure / vnto the whiche I wholly yelde / recoÌ„mende / betake my selfe harte / mynd / and wyll / soule body Not onely nowe for this present tyme but also for all tymes for euermore Amen ¶ A lytle before your coÌ„mumon / a prayer O Lyuely flesshe and blood of my louynge lorde Iesu / the reuyuer quyckener of my dethe O precyouse foode immortall / the nouryssher standerde of my lyfe O very matter of my beatitude blessednes O fulfyller and whole contentacion of all my desyres I beseche thy goodnes so worke in me thy grace that by the receyuynge of this glorious sacramente I may be transformed chaunged in to the lord thy selfe / and that I may lyue in the / repause rest in the / loue the lorde alone / and that I maye thynke vpon the alone / thou alone to be sole obiecte spirituall of all my wyttes / the is to say / that I may haue no maner of delectacion nor pleasure to herkeÌ„ or here any thynge but onely the. Nor any thynge to se or beholde but the alone Nothynge to smell but onely thy spirite / nothynge to taste but onely thy swetenes ne euer any thyng to touch with pleasure but the lord alone Be thou good lord alone the whole boke of all my study lernynge and the table of all my fode or fedynge The bed also or the couche of all my rest slepynge And be thou good lord the closet arcke chest coffer casket of all my Iuels treasure ryches Let good lord all my who le fayth beleue be in the alone All my full hope truste in the onely And in the also alone all myne affectioÌ„ loue desyre In the lorde the ê‘fecte tranquilyte rest of all my hart mynd And fynally good lord let the whole traÌ„sformacioÌ„ full exchaunge of bothe my soule bodye be all in the. Se the the more often here by thy grace I receyue the in this blessyd sacramente the more fully and surely I maye in euerlastyng blysse possede and wholy inioye the my swete lorde Iesu that with god the father with the holy ghost dost lyue reigne very god for euermore Amen âšœ Domine secundum actum meum noli me iudicare c. Good lorde do not iudge me after or accordynge vnto myne acte workynge or dede For nothynge haue I done worthy and acceptable in thy coÌ„specte and syght And therfore I most lowly beseche thy maiestye that thou lorde god woldest put away myne iniquite and wyckednes Wasshe and clense me lorde god from hensfort from myne vnryghtwysnes and all defautes make me clene frome all my synne trespas For I haue trespassed and synned vnto the good lord alone And therfor as I sayd byfore I beseche thy maiesty that thou very God wylt put awaye myne iniquite and wyckednes / supply lord all thynges that myght by any meanes promote me vnto this holy mystery Amen HAyle very god very man / and blessyd euer must thou be Ex canone moost holy flesshe sacred blod of Christe my sauyour Iesu / vnto me aboue all thinges moost hygh swetenes / moost delectable pleasure and mooste syngular comfort Be good lord vnto me both gyde and way / fode / and lyfe vnto the remedy of euerlastyng lyfe AmeÌ„ âšœ In nomine patris / et filii âšœ / et spiritus sancti Amen And so receyue our lorde âšœ TAke good hede howe ye take in the hoste For many done full rudely behaue them selfe therin Some done catche the hoost snatche it out of the prestes hande with theyr tethe hastely and so gnaw chewe it as coÌ„mune meat but do not you so Come therunto reuerently and dredefully and with sobrenes Whan the preeste dothe put the hooste into your mouthe open it well and take the hooste vpoÌ„ your tonge and holde it styll a whyle and than it wyll relent / so you may fold it in your mouthe with your tongue and receyue it down with as litle brusur of your tethe as you conueniently maye And yf by chaunce the hooste do stycke and cleue vnto the roufe of your mouth be not troubled therwith but take pacience and fuffre a lytle whyle thaÌ„ may you lyghtely remoue it with your tongue / without any daunger Than with good deliberacion take the chales drynke after the custome whiche custume is in many places to staÌ„d vp to drynke whiche thynge surely I do prayse very moche for that is done in signe and token that no reuerence shuld be done nor gyueÌ„ vnto the drynke for it is no parte of the sacrament And it is not requyred that you shuld drynke any thynge at all thereunto for that drynke is taken onely to brynge downe the hooste wholy and clene into the stomake and therefore it forseth not what lycour you drynke but that the custume is for the honour of the sacrament to drynke wyne For the loue of our lord good deuoute christians I beseche you take no hede vnto these new heretykes that done moue the symple people to requyre to haue to receyue the sacrament in bothe fourmes kyndnes that is to saye / of bread and wyne as the prest doth But good people I praye you beleue stedfastly that in the last parte that you maye perceyue of the hooste sacred is the very quycke body soule of our sauyour Iesu god and man And a quycke body you knowe well is not without both quyck flesshe quyck blode so that in receyuynge that sacred hoost or any part thereof you verely receyue both the body soule / all the quycke flesshe and all the quyck blode of our sauyour Iesu and the very selfe same flesshe and blode that was
comforde the myndes of thy people Replenyshe and fulfyll with thy moste hyghe grace those hartes and soules that thou thy selfe haste create and made The secoÌ„de verse ¶ Qui paracletus diceris donuÌ„ dei altissimi fons viuus ignis charitas et spiritualis vnctio âšœ Come thou holy spirite That arte called and named the essenciall comforde and comforter of all Christians The gyft and rewarde of mooste hygh god The quykke and lyuely founteyn / and well of lyfe The mystike fyre that is the charite diuine And the spiritual vnction and medicine of all synners The .iii. verse ¶ Tu septiformis munere dex tre dei tu digitus Tu rite promisso patris / sermone ditaÌ„s guttura That is âšœ Come holy spirite that vnto vs by thy gracious .vii. gyftes art seuenfold bouÌ„tuous beneficiall for thou good lord art the fynger of the ryght hand of god âšœ Shewynge vnto vs the ryght way of all prosperite saluacioÌ„ and goodnes makynge our speche ryche and pleÌ„tuous orderly to speke thy holy worde by the vertue of our sauyoure Iesu the essenciall word / or speche of the father of heuen promysed vnto vs. The .iiii verse ¶ Accende lumen sensibê° Infunde amoreÌ„ cordibê° Infirmanti corporis virtute firmans ê‘petim That is âšœ Good lord holy ghost we beseche the acceÌ„de kyndle gyue lyght vnto our senses vnto our wyttes our felynge ê‘ceyuyng vndstandyng Infunde good lord ministre shede and powre downe thy loue vnto our hartes And by vertue and ghostly strength make thou firme constant and stable perpetually and contynually the infirme feble and frayle disposicions of our bodye The .v. verse ¶ HosteÌ„ repellas longius pa cemque dones protinus ductore sic te preuio vitemus omne noxium That is âšœ Come good lorde holy ghost And put froÌ„ vs ferre away our ghostly enemye forthwith gyue vs contynuall peace That so by the our lodesman gyde we maye eschue auoyde all that shuld vnto vs be noyouse or synfull The .vi. verse ¶ Per te sciamus da patrem noscamus atque filium te vtriu que spiritum credamê° omni tempore That is âšœ Come good lorde holy ghoste and graunt vs that by the / and thy meane we may know the father of heuen / and also in lykewyse we maye knowe his essenciall sone and that we maye at all tymes bylyue that thou art the holy spirite of them both and the same selfe god The .vii. verse ¶ Sit laus patri cuÌ„ filio / sancto simul paracleto / nobisque mutat filius charisma sancti spiritus That is âšœ Laude and prayse be vnto the father with the sone and with theÌ„ both vnto the holy ghost And we beseche and pray that the sone accordynge vnto his promyse wolde vouchsafe to sende vnto vs the grace of the holy ghost AmeÌ„ The versicle âšœ Emitte spiritum tuuÌ„ et creaabuntur That is âšœ Sende downe good lord thy spirite and all thy people shall be newly framed refreshed The answere ¶ Et reneuabis faciem terre That is âšœ And so good lord shalt thou renewe and comforde the face countenaunce and behauyoure of every faythfull persone The prayer ¶ The collect oration or prayer DEus cui omne cor patet et omnis voluÌ„tas loquitur / et quem nulluÌ„ latet secretuÌ„ purifica per infusionem sancti spiritus cogitationes cordis nrÌ„i vt te perfecte diligere et digne laudare mereamur Per Christum dominum nostrum Amen âšœ That is to meane Good lord god vnto whome euery harte is open and knowen / euery wyll doth specke and shewe what is thought and vnto whom no secrete or couÌ„sell is hyd or vnknowen we beseche the / purifie and clense by the infusion of thy holy spirite all the cogitacions and thoughtes of our hart that so we maye deserue perfectly to loue the and duely and worthely to laude and prayse the and this we done axe and desyre / by the meane and in the name of Chrste our lord mayster Amen ¶ An other collect oracioÌ„ or prayer to be sayd forthwith vnder one ende ACtiones nostras quesumê° domine aspiraÌ„do preueni et adiuuando prosequere vt cuncta nostra operatio et a te semper incipiat / et per te cepta finiatur Per Christum dominuÌ„ nostrum Amen That is to meane âšœ We beseche the good lorde that the grace of thy holy spirite may go before all our werkes and the helpe and coÌ„forte of the same grace maye also folowe and performe the same so that all our operacion workyng may of the alway begynne and so begon may by the be finished / performed / by the good lord I meane Christ our mayster Amen Or if you haue but small or shorte tyme you maye saye these two verses with the sayd versycle / collectes or without at your pleasure ¶ The fyrst verse REx Christe clementissime / tu corda nostra posside vt tibi laudes debitas reddamus oiÌ„ tempore That is âšœ Good lord and sauyour Christe / most gentell and curteyse kynge we byseche the take receyue our hartes into thy possession gouernaunce So that we maye in euery tyme or at all tymes render and yelde vnto the due laudes and prayse ¶ The seconde verse ¶ Sit laus patri cum filio c. as you haue before both in latin Englyshe These thynges thus spede then go forthe with youre interpryse mater of meditacion For saynte Augustyne saythe that meditacion dothe ingender / Augusti de spiritu et anima cap. l. and brynge forthe science or knoweledge science dothe bryng forthe compunction and compunction bryngeth forthe deuocion / deuocion dothe make prayer perfecte All these thaÌ„ by ordre be very necessary good / and conueniente for this purpose Fyrst than bygyn with meditacion This terme meditacion is as muche to say or to meane as a bysy muche vsed cogitacion or thought when the mynd is applyed and doth labour curiously / wysely / diligently / groundly to serche out bryng to lyght those thynges that be obscure darke hard to perceyue or vnderstond so to bryng vnto knowledge or remembrauÌ„ce suche thynges as ben hyd out of knowledge or out of mynd If we than wyll opteyne haue grace worthely to accede approyche vnto this holy mystery of communion lett vs fyrste exercise our hartes and myndes in good and fruytfull meditacion For the holy spirite of god saythe scrypture doth auoyde fle frome fayned and peynted holynes and dothe withdrawe hym selfe frome those cogitacioÌ„s thoughtes that ben without vnderstoÌ„dynge good reason auctoryte ¶ The ghostly chylde Syr wherwith or iÌ„ what maner of meditacions wolde you we shuld exercise our myndes specially agayn or byfore suche tyme of houselynge ¶ The ghostly father I thynke that vnto them that haue short tyme
consideracioÌ„ And agayne lokyng vpon your selfe / and coÌ„syderyng in how great sorowe and woo / sighyng / and sobbynge you dwell here in the vale of myserye / lackyng his godly presence you shall approche go vnto this sacrament as a person in depe coÌ„sumpcion for sorowe vnto the meate of mercy / the fode of all helth and saluacion and the very restoratiue of all recouery comforte Now laste of all yf you loke vpon the surety and certaynty of all these thynges as in your last consyderacion And agayne yf you beholde and se well your selfe you shall perceyue you haue ben euer incoÌ„stant euer flyttynge and neuer in one state abydyng that shall moue you than to goo vnto this holy house and lodgyng of our lorde as a vagabunde and prodigall or vnthryfty chylde vnto the house home of his father / there mercy asked and opteyned contynually to dwell and byde amonge the seruauÌ„tes of that house / where voyd of all euyll is abuÌ„daunce and plenty of all maner of thynges that be good with sure surety coÌ„staÌ„t certaynty of the same so to ê‘seuer and indure without minushyng or mutacioÌ„ world wtout ende whiche he grauÌ„t vs that made and bought vs. Amen ¶ Thus haue you eyght consyderacions for the knowledge of your selfe after and accordynge vnto the thre eyghtes that wente before and this eyght to be the fourth eyght And this is the same science / arte / craft / or cunnynge that I sayd is ingendred and brought forthe by medytacion And â–ª these foure eyghtes may be signified by the foure flodes of paradise Gene. ii whiche done water all the worlde For as saynt Austin sayth of this science cometh compunction Vbi supra whiche coÌ„punctioÌ„ sayth he is whaÌ„ the harte by consyderacion or of the consyderacion of hys owne euyll synne is touched pricked with inward sorow De summo bono And saynte ysodore sayth that the compunction of the harte is a mekenes of the mynde with teares wepyng whiche doth sprynge and aryse of the recorde remembrauÌ„ce of synnes with drede CoÌ„punction This terme compunctioÌ„ is as moche to say as a ioyned pricking or strykyng Whan so euer than a person knowynge hym selfe by the science before shewed doth remembre any of his offeÌ„ces and felynge his hart coÌ„science pricked and grudged therwith / doth with inwarde sorowe remors knocke vpoÌ„ the brest lyfte vp the handes eyes or syght wepe or sygh that is compunction and doth include contricion And this compunctioÌ„ as ye may well ê‘ceyue is begotten and brought forth of the sayd science And dothe as sayth saynte Austin byget chylde and brynge forth deuocion whiche deuocion sayth he is âšœ Pius et humilis affectus in deum humilis De spiritu et anima ex conscientia infirmitatis proprie Pius ex consideracione diuine clementie That is to saye Deuotion Deuocion is a religious faythfull and meke affection inwardly and perfectely vnto god And that affection saythe he is meke and lowly by the conscience and full knowledge of our propre infirmity feblenes And it is deuoute relygious faythfull by the consyderacion of the benynge piteouse and mercyfull geÌ„tylnes of our lord If you wold know what this terme affectioÌ„ is here to meane Affecte or affection Saynt Austin sayth it is a certeyn / free / wylfull lyberall / and swete or pleasaunt inclinacion leanynge of the mynd vnto our lord god And nothynge saythe he dothe so moche inclyne moue and styre almyghty god vnto pytye and mercy as doth the pure and clene affection desyre of mynde De modo oraÌ„di âšœ Deuocion than as saynte Hughe sayth de sancto Victore is whan the mynde of a persone is affrayde of his greate and many synnes And than mystrustynge vtterly hys owne vertue / power / strength dothe tourne hym selfe vnto our lorde god / and so moche the more feruentely doth aske and beseche his helpe and socoure as he perceyueth and seeth well there is no helpe without hym wherin he myght haue confidence trust Vt supÌ„ So concludeth saynt Austin / that deuocioÌ„ doth make the prayer perfecte Prayer For prayer saythe he is nothyng els but a deuocioÌ„ of mynd / and conuersion and tournynge of the hart mynde inwardely and perfectely vnto god by a deuoute religiouse and meke affection coÌ„forted holden vp sayth the sayd saynt Hugh with fayth / hope / and charity Prayer than Ibidem without deuocioÌ„ is vnperfect lytle worthe And deuocioÌ„ as is sayd is had goten of compunction / and compunction of science and science of meditacion So that vnto this purpose that is to saye the due receyuynge of the sacrameÌ„t of the aulter all these fyue be as we sayde good necessarye Not so as often we haue sayd that any person is bouÌ„den vnto all of necessity but of coÌ„ueniency And therfor as we haue before set forth vnto your election and choyce dyuers meditacioÌ„s so haue we in lyke maner done of prayers gadered out of dyuers auncient auctours Whan ye haue than thus sumwhat appareled and disposed your self vnto this iourney by these .iiii. that is / meditacion / selfe knowledge compunction / and deuocion than fall vnto prayer vocall or meÌ„tall or both at your pleasure That is to meane / that you maye at wyll speke and rede these prayers or onely thynke them in your hart mynde or both say and thynke ¶ The ghostly chylde Syr / which is best of these thre wayes ¶ The ghostly father Surely to say or rede alone without thought is lytle worthe To thynke alone is very good but bothe is beste ¶ Here don folow many prayers but do you as is sayd rede them ones ouer and chose at wyll Fyrste than I wolde aduyse you to appoynte your selfe to here one whole masse / if ye may coÌ„uenyently before your communion whan so euer you ben disposed thereunto and than to rede or say this that folowed before or sone after the Confiteor / whiche is a maner of confession Not so to be taken as though it were myght be sufficient for any greuous synnes without sacramentall confession as we sayd before yf it may be had but that it maye be vaylable for lyght offenses the more excite and styre vp your mynd in that you vnderstaÌ„d and perceyue well what you saye or thynke ¶ Before or at the begynnyng of masse O Good lorde god and moost swete sauiour Iesu I moost myserable wretche of the worlde / here before thy diuine and godly presence playnely do confesse and openly knowledge that in all my lewde lyfe hytherto myspent by many miserable wretched ways of synne I haue offended thy graciouse goodenes as well in the brekyng of thy preceptes coÌ„maundementes as in commission of all the seuen pryncipall synnes misused my fyue wyttes not fulfilled the .vii. werks of mercy Whiche synnes offences here
nowe wholy fully to recouÌ„te and reherce is vnto me for theyr multitude iÌ„possyble Wherfore with moost humble and lowly hart moost harty and desyrous wyll of perfecte contricion I vtterly forsake theÌ„ all And althoughe nothynge of my deseruynge yet good lorde for the honour of thy precious blode the merytes of thy bytter passion and most cruell most paynfull most shamefull deth I instaÌ„tly requyre aske craue moost mekely lowly beseche thy gracious benignity goodnes of mercy forgiuenes And that from hensforthe I maye haue thy grace lorde in whole fayth stronge hope perfecte charite / to fle auoyd and forsake all synne And in all my thoughtes wordes dedes / maners / contenauÌ„ces / behauiours / to ordre my selfe in vertue vnto the pleasure honoure of thy grace the welthe and saluacioÌ„ of my soule and vnto the edificacioÌ„ of all Christians And herunto I beseche our lady saynt Mary thy holy mother euer virgin / all the blessed company of heuen / and all faythfull persones to praye for me Amen ¶ All these partes of the masse yf you may conueniently shulde be herde standynge That is to saye / the office the kyrie Gloria in excelsis and specially the gospell with due reuerence at this worde Iesus The preface also the Pater noster sancte IohnÌ„s Gospell ¶ At the fyrst collectes pystle Myne owne good lorde and moost swete sauyour Iesu I beseche thy goodnes to put away ferre frome me all iniquities and wyckednes / and of thy mercyfull louynge kyndenes kendle in my hart the flamynge fyre of thy ferueÌ„t loue Be not swete lord displeased with me ne kepe in mynd or remembrauÌ„ce the multitude of myne offences For I do not presume good lord to make prayer peticion here before thy godly presence of any goodnes / ryghtwysenes or any deseruyng of my selfe but onely of full hope and trust of thy myseracion mercyfull pytye Take frome me swete lorde this harde and stony hart / and gyue me lord for it a newe hart full of compunction and due contricion And gyue me a stomacke kynde louyng that maye dredfully loue the and louyngly drede the that maye delyte take pleasure in the lorde alone / and wylfully folowe the. And at the laste may ouertake and catche the / fast holde the fully possede the. And fynally in eterne blysse to se the / and fully to inioye the. Amen ¶ After the pystle MOost swete sauyoure and louynge lord Iesu / I beseche thy benignity for the anguysshe of thy holy harte in all thy labours / passioÌ„s / and paynes for me susteyned and suffred And for the effusion and shedyng of thy moost holy sacred blode and for the vertue of thy moost innocent precyouse dethe For the mystery also of this holy sacrament thy blessyd body and moost holy sacred bloode / in the immolacion / offerynge / and sacrifice wherof I moste vyle synner am present moost vnworthy wretche do approche And fynally I beseche the lord for thyne owne selfe haue pytye and mercye vpon me that am I knowe well the moost myserable wretche moost synfull caytyfe vpon erth Purify thou good lorde than / and clense my harte soule froÌ„ all vnlaufull affections So that in this tyme all tymes I maye duely and worthely do the seruice Graunte me good lorde very contricion of all my synnes / the grace also of true coÌ„punction / the fountayn of fruitfull teares / pure deuocion clere clene conscience / the coÌ„tinuall memory and mynd of thy bytter passion precyous dethe And of thy moost coÌ„fortable loue perpetuall feruor and desyre Amen ¶ After the gospell O Moost benigne mercyfull louer of maÌ„kynde my swete lord Iesu / I beseche thy grace for the dolorous painfull smertyng of all thy woundes grauÌ„t me the grace of pacience in all aduersyty and to dispise sett at naught the loue of this world and all the goodes and pleasurs therof and to be coÌ„tent with a necessary and meane liuinge And to kepe firmely and constantly by due perseueraunce vnto my laste ende this state and degree that thou haste put me in And to folowe alway by due obedience thy forther callynges dayly to increase profyte in vertue / and euer to haue contynually the feruent desyre of myne owne cuntrey heuenly home Graunt me forther good lord in all the coÌ„uersacion of my lyfe to haue and kepe due discipline good maner / christian behauyoure vnto the auoydyng euer of thy displeasure of the sclaunder occasion / offence of my neyghbour And so to haue groundely in my hart and soule very and vnfayned mekenes / true faythfull kyndenes and meritorious pacience vnto the pleasure and honour of thy grace / the welth of my soule and vnto the edificacion of all persones Amen ¶ In the tyme of the eleuacioÌ„ THe great clerck holy saynt Thomas of Aquine dothe set forth this prayer folowyng as very conuenient to be sayd in this tyme of the eleuacion âšœ Tu rex glorie Christe Tu patris sempiternus es filius And so forth as you haue at matyns The englyshe wherof we haue here sett forth with the latyne / for the increase of your deuocion âšœ Tu rex glorie Christe That is to meane I beleue / confesse / and knowledge that thou good lord Iesu christe my sauyour / beynge here vnder the fourme of brede wyne art the kynge of glory / very god âšœ Tu patris sempiternus es filiê° And that thou good lorde Iesu art the essenciall / eterne and euerlastyng sonne of the father of heuen celestiall âšœ Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem noÌ„ horruisti virginis vterum I beleue that thou good lord disposynge / and by determinacioÌ„ concludyng to take the nature of maÌ„ / and so to redeme and delyuer hym frome the bondage of synne dydeste not abhorre ne disdayne the flesshly wombe of the virgyn âšœ Tu deuicto mortis aculeo aperuisti credentibus regna celorum I beleue that thou good lorde the siynge darte of deth vaynquysshed and ouercomen dydest open vnto all thy faythfull people the realme and kyngdome of heuen âšœ Tu ad dexteram dei sedes in gloria patris I beleue that thou good lord that art here ê‘sent in this holy sacrameÌ„t doste syt remayne and rest in the glory of thy father vpoÌ„ the ryght hande of god or thus syttest and doste remayne rest in glory vpoÌ„ the ryght hande of god thy father âšœ Iudex crederis esse veÌ„turus I byleue that all faythfull peopell done beleue that thou shalt come agayne to iudge all the worlde âšœ Te ergo quesumus tuis famulis subueni quos precioso sanguine redemisti Therfore good lord we beseche the / helpe and socoure thy seruantes whom thou hast redemed and bought with thy precious blode âšœ Eterna fac cum sanctis tuis gloria munerari We beseche the also good
I may nowe at this tyme receyue this holy sacrifice of thy blessed body and blode with puryte of hart clenenes of conscience with the gracious fountayne of deuout swete teares with desyre drede with honour and reuerence / with mekenes of harte / and feruour of loue / with spirituall gladnes and heuenly ioy And yf it may please thy goodnes lorde let me be somwhat reysed vp in spirite I dare not say vnto the very felynge and perceyuynge but vnto some maner lytle smake or taste of the swetenes of thy godly mooste pleasaunt presence and vnto the deuocion of thy holy aungels and sayntes that here be now presente about the same / and that I maye with them fynally be there present where now they be Amen O Moost gentyll lorde mercyfull sauyour Iesu / I beseche the for this holy mystery of thy blessed body and blode wherwith we vnworthy wretches ben dayly fed in thy churche and dayly wasshed clensed sanctified and made hole / and so parteyners of thy moost hygh diuinity and godhed Graunt me lord and gyue me the precious garment of innocency with suche garnysshe of other garmētes therunto accordyng as best may please thy grace Wherwith apparelled / bawned / dressed I may as in my nupciall and weddynge clothyng in good and clene cōscience approche vnto thy presence So that this celestiall heuenly sacrament ryceyued may be vnto me helth and saluacion of soule and body / vnto lyue euerlastynge Amen GOod swete mayster moste hyghly lerned / and best expert phisicion lord Iesu my sauyour I beseche thy gentyll harte to cure and hele my infyrme / feble / syke hart frome all maner of langoures / diseases / and sykenesses / Palate is the rofe of the mouthe and so to refourme and season the palate of my soule and mynd that I neuer sauer fele ne taste any maner of swetenes but onely thy selfe For thou good lord arte the moost swete sauored bred / the moost white / pleasaunte and most noble and beste nourisshynge bread / the bread of all breades / the bread paynmayne of pleasure the bread of all fortitude and strength / the bread of all vnderstandynge and knowledge / the bread of all grace good wyll / the bread of lyfe that hast in thy selfe all maner of delectament and pleasure / gyuest lyfe vnto the world And of thy moost excellent charity doste euer contynually refresshe and fede vs with thyne owne selfe yet in thy selfe doste nothyng waste / minushe / ne faynte / or fayle Let my hart good lord therfore fede vpon the / spiritually eate and drynke the / be so fed of the / that my soule may be fully saciat and fylled of the swete sauyour and taste of the sauory swetenes of thy diuine presence GOod swete lorde / I beseche the come thy selfe / entre in to my hart make clene myne inward partes from all inquinamētes / and filthynes of mynd and of spirite Entre good lord into my soule / make me whole frome all synfull diseases Sanctifye clēse me now and at al tymes vnto thy selfe for thy selfe Be thou good lord thy selfe both the phisicion the medicin / the salue and the surgeon the helth and conseruaciō of both my body soule Put awaye from me good lord all the crafty assayles and the sleyghty wyles of myne enimies that they haue nothynge to do with me but that thou lord alone may occupy me wholly vnto thy selfe so that nothyng els haue any tyme power ouer me but that I alwaye preserued and defended by this blessyd sacramēt may go forth contynue profyte perseuerantly in the pathe and way of my profession / thy holy christiā religion with due obseruaūce reguler disciplines christiā maners and all due catholyke obedience perteynyng vnto the same And that I neuer consent ne lene vnto any of them that ben contrarious thereunto Amen Ex cano ne miss GOod blessyd lorde father omnipotent eterne euerlastynge god I moost entierly beseche thy goodnes to graunt me grace so worthely now to receyue this holy sacred body and blessyd blode of my swete sauyour Iesu Christe that I may therby deserue to haue full remission and forgyuenes of all my synnes and to be replete and fulfylled with thy holy spirit and to haue thy peace For thou alone art my lord thou only my god / and non other thou lorde the entiere and inward loue of my hart / the true quietude and sure rest of my mynde the whole desyre of my soule Whose gloryouse impery and gouernaunce remayneth perfectly abydeth cōtynueth and indureth for euermore world without ende Amen MI swete lord god Ex eodē father of heuyn the fountayne well and spryng of all bountie goodnes / that moued of thy moost pyteouse mercy woldest vouchesafe that thyn owne sonne our sauiour Iesu Christe shulde descende and come down for vs for our sake vnto this wretched worlde / and here take flesshe and bloode of the blessyd virgyn his mother Mary and therin for vs to susteyne suffre and bere our myseryes moost bytter passyon intollerable and greuous payns and moost cruell and mooste shamefull dethe I beseche the lord graūt me that grace that I may dayly worshype the gloryfy the / and with all the intēt and wyll of my hart I may laude prayse the. And that thou good lord neuer leue ne forsake me / thy pore and wretched seruaunt but of thy depe and great mercy thou clerely forgyue and forget all my synnes So that in clene hart and chast body I may be able to serue the alone / my lorde eterne / euerlastyng / lyuynge / and very God omnipotent Amen Myne owne swete lorde sauyour Iesu very essenciall sonne of almyghty God / that of thy profound depe mercy by the wyll of thy eterne father by the workynge of the holy ghost haste by thy passion and deth quyckened and redemed the world I beseche moost lowly thy holy grace / in the honour of this thy holy sacred body blessed blode whiche I vnworthy wretche presume to receyue for the welthe of my soule that thou wilt vouchsafe to perdō my boldenes and to delyuer me quyte from all iniquities / offenses / all maner of euyls whereby in any tymes I haue or may any tyme hereafter offend or displease thy gracious goodnes And thou good lord make me euer obedient vnto thy wyll and commaundement And that thou neuer suffre me swete lorde to be perpetually departed from the my swete lord sauyour Iesu Christe that with the father with the holy ghoste lyueste and reygnest very selfe same essenciall god / world without ende Amen O Souerayn lorde sauyour Iesu / although I most vnworthy wretche now here do accede presume approche vnto this worthy sacrament of thy mooste precyous body and bloode yet I beseche thy
offered vpon the crosse for our redemption And so don you receyue the same that the prest in the masse dothe receyue at the aulter and he none other neyther more or lesse than you do but that he doth there consecrate receyue in bothe the fourmes because he doth there represent the persone of Christe and doth there ministre make that oblacion sacrifice offerynge not for hym selfe alone but for all Christianes as Christe dyd Not witstondyng yf the same preste shulde an other tyme out of masse be communed houseled as you be he shuld receyue as you do and none other than you do ¶ And thus I pray you be content for this mater and forthwith after your communioÌ„ do not you as many do renne forthe make haste vnto brekefaste or dyner or vnto bodyly recreacioÌ„ but rather gyue some thankes vnto our lord as becommeth a good Christian ¶ A prayer to be sayd immediately after your communioÌ„ and houselynge IN moost huÌ„ble Ex missale moost lowly and most harty louynge maner / with moost due reuerence I thanke the good lorde moost holy father eterne euerlastynge God that by the bountye of thy mercyfull grace woldest vouchsafe thus to refresshe and fede me with the brede of lyfe the holy sacred body precyous blode of thy sonne our lorde god sauyour Iesu Christe And I beseche thyne infinite pyteouse goodnes that this most high and holy sacrament of our saluacion that I most vnworthy wretche and moost vyle caytife haue nowe receyued come neuer hereafter in iudgement condempnacion vnto me for myne euyll merites deseruynges but rather good lorde it may come vnto the profyte and comforte of my body and vnto the saluacion and helthe of my soule vnto the lyfe euerlastyng Amen ¶ An other prayer for the same tyme. MOost swete lord sauyour Iesu I beseche thy grace for the vertue in the honour of thy moost holy body and blessyd blode whiche althoughe moche vnworthy I haue here now receyued graunt and gyue me the inwarde swetenes of thy charitie / who le vnfayned loue of all good persoÌ„s spirituall myght and strengthe in all temptacions purity of harte clennes of coÌ„science and in all my conuersacyon of lyfe suche Christiane disciplyne / good maners / behauyours as may auoyd all actyue sklaunder occasion gyueÌ„ And also to be vnto all ê‘sons exaÌ„ple of good edificacioÌ„ So that by thy gracyouse guydynge and gouernaunce I maye go forwarde and increace in thy religion with perseuerant constancy accordynge vnto that state degre that thou good lord haste called me vnto Amen ¶ A deuoute prayer / moche vsed vnto this sacrament with the Englysshe after the Latine ¶ The Antheme O Sacrum conuiuium in quo Christus sumitur recolitur memoria passionis eius mens inpletur gracia Et future glorie nobis pignus datur Alleluia ¶ That is to meane O Meruelouse solempne and holy sacred feest in that whiche feest our lord and sauiour Christe is receyued The memory and remembraunce of his passion is renewed called vnto mynde Our soule / harte / and mynde is replete and fulfylled with grace and comfort And the pledge and ernest token of the glory ande euerlastynge ioye blysse to come is vnto vs gyueÌ„ and delyuered ¶ Alleluya ¶ This Ebrew worde Alleluya of foure sillables in sowne and speakynge is as moche to meane as though you sayd in Englyssh All you people that ben here presente laude prayse your creatour and maker ¶ The versicle âšœ Panem de celo prestitisti eis Thou hast gyueÌ„ good lord vnto thy people this breade frome heuyn ¶ The responde or answere âšœ Omne delectamentum in se habentem Alleluya And this breade hathe in it selfe all delectament and pleasure ¶ Oremus âšœ Praye we or lett vs praye ¶ The collecte DEus qui nobis sub sacramento mirabili passionis tue memoriaÌ„ reliquisti tribue quesumus ita nos corporis sanguinis tui sacra misteria venerari vt redemptionis tue fructum in nobis iugiter sentiamus / qui viuis et regnas deus Per omnia secula seculorum Amen ¶ That is to meane GOod lorde sauyour Iesu the vnder this meruelous sacrament hast left vnto vs the memory remembraunce of thy passion Graunt vnto vs we beseche the so to honour worshyppe the holy sacred misteryes of thy blessyd bodye blode that we therby may coÌ„tynually vnderstande perceyue and fele in vs / the fruite / effecte / the profyte / and auayle of thy redemptyon lorde / that lyuest and reignest with god the father / in the vnitie of the holy ghost very selfe same essenciall god by all worldes of worldes Amen ¶ A lesson for your masse tyme whan you be not communed or houseled YOu muste nowe remembre that as is sayd before euery preste in the masse dothe represent and vse the person / and offyce of Christe / and doth in the same masse make oblacioÌ„ and offer the holy sacrament / not for hym selfe alone / but also for all faythfull Chrystians And therfor euery deuoute louer of Christ in clene lyue / couetynge / desyrynge / and wysshynge with feruoure of hart and mynde / to receyue there with the preste in euery masse the same sacramente shall doutles receyue a greate effecte and vertue therof Wherfore it may be for you moche meritoryous / profytable so in the masse tyme / and specially towarde the Agnus to prepare / ordeyne / and dyspose your selfe / with affectioÌ„ of hart / with desyre deuocioÌ„ of mynd with the charyte loue of all your whole soule vnto your lorde sauyour as thoughe you shuld at the same masse be actually coÌ„muned and houseled with the preste ¶ A prayer for the same purpose O Moost swete lord and sauyour Iesu Oratio doctoris Nydar pro communione spirituali thou knowest wel that I moche do couete and with all my harte / haue greate desyre now to receyue this blessed sacrament And wolde to god that accordyng vnto my wysshe and desyre I were vnto thy pleasure in thy syght so well disposed in my soule that now at this tyme / and euery day And if it myght coÌ„uenieÌ„tly be many tymes in the day I myght be able worthely to receyue it But lord Thou knowest what I am thou dost se and beholde my hart / my hole desyre of mynde soule / is openly sprade and knoweÌ„ before thy face / yet good lord I beseche the gracyous bountie and infinite goodnes graunt me this one peticyon / that is / that I maye nowe at this tyme / and in euery masse receyue spiritually in to my soule / some effecte vertue of this maruelouse misterie And so to be parteyner of the same / that my hart maye perceyue fele the swetenes of thy godly preseÌ„ce And that my soule all enflamed fyered with desyre and deuocion / may
than I say these thynges may greatlye moue you to haue your selfe in good a wayte / study howe ye may auoyde the tone and and obtayne the tother Remembryng specyally howe great a losse it is to lose heuen / and howe vncoÌ„fortable gaynes to wynne hell / howe sone and how lyghtly eyther of them may be goten or lost WhaÌ„ any thyng than of aduersyte / hurt or displeasure fortune or fall vnto you / thynke than or ymagyne that if you were in hell / you shuld haue the same displeasure many worse And so to auoyde those you shall here the better suffre / and for our lorde the more pacyentlye bere all these that nowe be present or may come hereafter And iÌ„ lyke maner / if any good prosperyte or pleasure happe or come vnto you thynke then that if you were in heuen / you shulde haue that pleasure many more excellent ioyes And so for the feruent desyre of those ioyes / you shall set lytell by any worldly comfort or pleasure A good contemplacyon therfore maye it be vnto you in feestes of holy sayntes you may in one englysshe Martyloge breuely se the lyues of many sayntes for euery day in the yere to thynke recorde howe great paynes they suffred here for the loue of our lorde / and howe short they were / howe sone passed / and then agayne howe merueylous rewarde they had therfore in ioye and blysse euerlastyng So the troubles and tormentes of good persons ben sone and shortly gone and ended And the ioyes and pleasures of synfull persones done soone fade and flye for euer The good persons for theyr troubles suffred here vppon erthe / done gette and wynne eterne and euerlastynge glorye Whiche the euyll synfull ê‘sons done lose And contrary these euyll and synfull ê‘sones / for theyr ioye and pleasures here / done obteyne by exchauÌ„ge eterne and euerlastynge shame and rebuke / with payne wo vnspeable Whan so euer that you ben disposed to sluggysshnes or to be drowsye / remysse in prayer or dull in deuocyon / than take this lytell werke / or some other good treatyse and rede therin / and euer note wel the contentes therof and also what is ment therby And yf you be nat therby delyuered or eased therof / than shyfte vnto some other werke or occupacyon so that euer ye auoyde ydlenes and all vayne pastymes / which in dede ben lose tymes And then remeÌ„bre that those that nowe byde in payne eyther in hell or yet in any other place conuenyent / for suche tymes so passed or loste / had leuer than all the world / haue such tyme to redeme theyr paynes by / as you may haue if you wyl Tyme than vnto al persons well occupyed / is very precyous and dere Beware well therfore howe you speÌ„de it or passe it For you can neuer reuoke it nor call it backe / if the tyme passe you by trouble and vexacyoÌ„ / thynke they ben happy and gracyous that ben past this wretched lyfe / and nowe in blysse / for they shall neuer haue any suche mysery And whan you fele a confort or consolacyon spirytual / thanke god therof / and thinke the dampned soules shall neuer haue any suche pleasure And thus let this be for your exercyse in the daye tyme. At nyght whan you go to rest / first make a count with your selfe remembre howe you haue spende or passed the day and tyme that was gyuen you to be vsed in vertue / and how that you haue bestowed your thoughtes / your wordes your werkes And if you fynde no great thynge amysse gyue the whole laude and prayse vnto our lorde god And if you perceyue contrarye / that you haue mispended any parte therof / be sory therfore beseche our lorde of mercye forgyuenes / and promyse and verely purpose to make amendes the nexte day And if you haue oportunite therupon / it shal be full conuenient for you to be coÌ„fessed on the nexte morowe And specyally if the mater / done / sayde / or thought by delyberate consent / do greuouslye wey and worke with a grudge in your conscyence / than wolde I aduyse you neuer to eate nor drynke / tyll you be dyscharged therof / if you may conuenyentlye get a ghostly father Nowe for a conclusyon of this werke put before you / as by case or ymagynacyon .ii. large cyties / one full of trouble / turmoyle and myserye and let that be hell The other cytie full of ioye gladnes confort and pleasure / and let that be heuen Loke wel on theÌ„ bothe for in bothe be many dwellers great companye Then cast and thynke within your selfe what thynge here myght so please you / that you shulde chuse the worse cytye or what thynge shulde displease you on the other party / wherby you shoulde withdrawe your selfe from the vertue that myghte conuey and brynge you vnto the other cytye And whan you haue studyed well hereupon can nothynge fynde / I dare well assure you if you kepe well the preceptes and couÌ„seyles of this lytell lesson / you shall fynde the ryght waye / for the holy ghoste wyll instructe and teche you where you be nat suffycyeÌ„t of your selfe / so you endeuoyre and gyue dilygence to bere awaye and to folowe that here is taught Rede it euery weke ones or twyse / or oftener if you wyll And where you profyt gyue thankes laude prayse vnto our lorde god most sswete sauyour Iesu Chryste who sende you his mercy grace AmeÌ„ ⧠We haue prynted this golden pystle agayne / bycause the other before is nat of the traÌ„slacyon nor edicyon of this auctor ⧠This was brought vnto me in englysshe of an olde translacyon / rughe and rude and requyred to amende it I beseche you to take all vnto the best / and praye for the olde wretched brother of Syon Rycharde Whytforde âšœ The ghostly chylde ♣ Syr I haue nowe done as you commaunded and all is in prynt ⧠The ghostly father YOu haue done well chylde god rewarde you But nowe shall you haue yet an other lesson most profytable for you that is / to make you prest and redy to dye and departe this lyfe And howe you shall nat feare deth / but haue a dayly exercyse and experyence therof as foloweth hereafter âšœ Imprynted by me IohnÌ„ Waylande / at London within the Temple barre / at the sygne of the blewe Garlande Anno. M.D.xxxvii ¶ A dayly exercyse and experyence of dethe / gathered and set forth by a brother of Syon Rycharde Whytforde ⧠Vnto the deuout reders IN our lorde god moost swete sauyour Iesu salutacyon This lytle tretie or draght of deth dyd I wryte more then .xx. yeres a go / at the request of the reuereÌ„de Mother Dame Elizabeth Gybs / whome Iesu perdon / theÌ„ Abbes of Syon And by the oft callyng vpon / and remembraunce of certeyne of hyr deuout systers And
displeasure may remayne ne folow but vnto them that well hope / shal wel happe / what tyme so euer they go But yet ben they most happye / and gracyouse that in state of saluacyon done dye and departe this lyfe in theyr youthe / and strength For vnto them immedyately after theyr deth must nedely folowe one of these twayne that is that they must go streyght way vnto heuyn or els vnto payne If they go vnto payne / than the soner they dye / the shorter tyme they lyue the lesse there and the shorter tyme shall be theyr payne And ouer that they shall haue the greattest comforde that any creature may haue beyng out of heuyn For the whiche comforde to be had any faythfull person wold be glad to suffre any maner of most cruell horryble payne or passyon that is to say surety of saluacyon SaÌ„ctus Thoma iiii sent di xv q. .iii. ar l. For all the soules beynge in payne ben coÌ„munely sure certayne of theyr saluacyon that whaÌ„ theyr penaunce is paste and theyr synnes purged / they knowe for certente they shal go into heuen vnto euerlastynge ioy and comfort But remembre that I sayde / they ben communely sure certayne of saluacyon For it may be that some one or fewe soules haue nat that knowledge / but that god for some specyall offence / and for a speciall payne punysshement therof doth hyde kepe that knowledge from them as we haue in the reuelacyons of our holy mother saynte Byrget And that payne is more alone thaÌ„ all the paynes of the other soules For that sure knowledge of saluacyon Live vi c. xxxix r. is vnto them a synguler confort in all paynes and dothe cause them to suffre the paynes with good wyll in the charyte of our lorde glad to suffre moche more at his gracyous wyll and pleasure If those that departe this lyfe go streyght vnto heuyn than ben they ferre more happye that from the miseryes of this wretched worlde they be come vnto the pleasaunt possession of so great vnspekeable ioye For you may be sure it is an excellente ioye to be there in companye with the pure virgynes the holy confessours / the gloryous martyrs / diuyne apostles sage patryarches / bryght shynynge aungels / and the virgyn mother our blessyd Lady and all these to se and beholde with our reuerende lord and souerayne sauyour Iesu Chryst / And all before the presence of the blessyd Trinyte / father son holy ghost there prayenge all for vs and lowly besechinge the hygh mageste eterne euerlasting god For al maÌ„kynd I thiÌ„ke verely beleue that any faithful christiane wold be glad to expire suffre dethe euery day newely / if it were possible oftimes in the day so he were sure that he therby myght atteyne come vnto the pleasure / why thaÌ„ nowe I speke with stomake why for shame shuld we as cowardes or chyldren fere drede deth specially sith deth is nothiÌ„g but like vnto a slepe For the old philosophours said that slepe was a very ymage of deth as one maÌ„ may knowe an other by his ymage althogh he had neuer se ne hiÌ„ before ii Mac. xii IohaÌ„ xi Iob. so may we know what deth is by the ymage which is slepe so is it called also iÌ„ scripture iÌ„ diuers places our sauiour him selfe said the lazarê° slept whaÌ„ he was ded / deth also is called a shadow / but your ê‘ceyue wel se that folkes beÌ„ nat afrayde of a shadow nor yet of step nother For oftimes we slepe with our feare or drede and without any payne or grefe / but rather with desyre and pleasure / why shulde we than feare deth syth we so euydeÌ„tly done se perceyue by the ymage howe lytle dethe is to be drede / let vs therfore put awaye this opinyonatyue feare and drede of dethe / and syth it dothe dayly approche wayte for vs let vs agayne with glad mynde and redye good wyll abyde and wayte for it and haue therof a thurst and a desyre / rather than any feare or drede howe be it of a suretye dethe is than lest feared and most desyred whan the lyfe of the persone / may at the tyme of deth be of sure and vnfayned godly frendes / conforted with the true testymonye and prayse of vertue / wherfore good deuoute chrystynes althoughe your reason lernynge be nat sufficyent to cause or to perswade you / vtterly to dispyse deth / yet let your well spente lyfe clere conscyence perfourme and so satisfie you that you be perswaded and verely beleue as a trothe euydent and opyn vnto you / that to lyue lenger were more miserye / that your lyfe hath be verey longe or rather ouerlonge If it had pleased our lorde before and erste to haue called you Thus now good Chrystianes let vs without any care of deth leaue the carnall mournynge and waylynge therof / vnto our suruyuyng frendes / that with lamentacyon / and shal inteere and burye our bodyes And let vs take an other maner of care and dilygence / to prepare apparell and to order our selfe vnto that thynge that we knowe well no persone shall auoyde nor escape / byleuynge and trustyng verely that he that made vs of nought / and whan we were lost wold so derely bye vs agayne / wyll nat suffre vs to dye But rather as I sayd before to chaunge this wretched lyfe for an other more precyous and ioyful / onely to be desyred All this hytherto haue I sayde to the intente that you shulde exyle exclude and put away ferre from you the commune feare full fantasye of the odious opinyon of deth / and somwhat to ingendre and bylde in you a contrarye opinyon A couetous desyre to be with our lorde Amen ⧠Nowe shall folowe the seconde parte of this interpryse / of the dayly exercyse and experyence of deth ⧠Of the exercyse and experyence of dethe The seconde parte of this interpryse FIrst you must knowe what is exercyse / and what is experynce / howe by them you may come vnto the knowledge of deth An exercyse than is an acte dede an vse of workynge or laborynge Than done you exercyse vertue Defini of exercice whan you put it vnto vse and workyng therof the exercyse of deth / is the acte and vse of the workyng therof Defini of experyence 1. Meth. Experyence is a knowledge that without any maister or techer is founde out and gotyn by exercyse and vse Ibidem And by many experyences sayeth Aristotle arte / crafte or connynge is ingendred and gotyn so the experieÌ„ce as he sayth doth apê‘tayne by long proprely vnto singulare ê‘sones art craft or coÌ„nyng vnto al ê‘soÌ„es And although that artcraft or connyng that is called speculatyue may be had by lerning of a techer or by dylygent studye / yet this arte or craft
almyghty god and than vse by cōtynuall custome to make a crosse with your thōbe vpon your foreheed or front in sayng of these wordes In nomine patris and than an other crosse vpon your mouthe with these wordes Et filii And the thyrde crosse vpon your breste / saynge Et spūs sancti Amen And if your deuotion be therto ye maye agayne make one hole crosse from your heed vnto your fete from the lefte shulder to the ryght sayng all together In no mine patris filii et spūs sancti Amen That is to meane I do blesse and marke my selfe with thē cognisaunce badge of Christe in the name of the father and in the name of the sone and in the name of the holy ghost that is to saye the holy Trinite .iii. persons and one God Than saye or thynke after this forme Good lorde god my maker redemer here nowe in thy presence I do for this tyme for all the tyme of my hole lyfe byqueth and betake or rather do frely gyue my selfe soule and body with all my harte and mynde vnto the good lorde and vnto thy handes to be thy bonde seruaunte for euer accordynge vnto the promyse made in my baptysme at the font stone And here nowe I do ratyfye and newly confyrme the same and do fully consente in harte mynde therto neuer here after by the helpe of thy grace to contrary the same but to cōtynue in thy lawes good lorde vnto the ende of my lyfe But where thou knowest good lorde the I am a frayle persone infyrme feble weyke of my selfe prone redy ī thought Genesis ▪ viii worde and dede vnto euyll from the begynnynge of my lyfe hytherto I beseche the good lorde god and father of all puysaunce power of all myght strēght that thou wilt defende me from all myne enemyes and gyue me spirituall strenght and power that I may / in the / vaynquysshe and ouercome fle auoyde all suche fraylte lyght maners or disposicions as shuld be cōtrary to thy wyll and pleasure that accordynge vnto this wyll of the spirite whiche thy goodnes hath now frely gyuē vnto me I may destroye the wyll of the flesshe so contynue vnto the ende of my lyfe And yet good lorde where thou knowest also that I am but rude and vnlerned wtout wytte wysdome and due knowlege of the and thy lawes all ignoraūt and as an ydiote or foole in all good and spirituall vnderstandyng I byseche the good lorde god that art the essentiall sone of god the father and vnto whome is appropriate all wytte wisdome all science / connynge and knowlege and all ryght perceyuynge vnderstandynge / that thou wylte graunte me the due knowlege of thy selfe by ryght true fayth and the knowlege of all thy benefytes gyftes done to me and all mankynde / grace dewly to thanke the for them And also due knowlege of myne owne selfe of the state and condiciō of my lyfe and cōuersaciō and specially of my wretchednes with due contricion for all my synnes And knowlege also of thy lawes wyll pleasure / so that by no maner of ygnoraunce or mysvnderstandyng I do at any tyme in werke or dede / or in worde or thought any thynge contrary vnto the same And thyrdly good lorde where thou knoweste also that I am ofte tymes obstinate of mynde froward euyll wylled / stubburne of stomake vnkynde of harte / dull / neglygent and slouthfull in all maner of goodnes I beseche the good lord god holy ghost / that arte the spirite and wyll of the father / of the sone and with thē the same selfe essenciall god vnto whome is appropriate and specially appoynted / all boūte / all goodnes / all grace and good wyll that thou woldest voyche saffe to gyue me the grace of good wyll so that I neuer do / saye / ne thynke that shulde be contrary to thy wyll And hauynge vnto the euer a reuerēde drede I may loue the for thy selfe all other in the lorde and for the / so that accordynge vnto the spirituall strength and knowlege that thou hast gyuen me I may apply my wyll hooly vnto thy wyll / so that I haue no wyll propre vnto my selfe but the my wyll be all thy wyll bothe as moche as maye be possyble one wyll And so I maye here in this life ordre my loue and come vnto suche perfection of feruent charyte that by the grace I may attayne vnto the fruiciō of euerlastynge charyte in thy ioyfull presence Amē And good lorde god father of heuē I beseche the take receyue me thus vnto thy grace and haue mercy and pyte vpō me and all thy people And thou lorde God blyssed sone of god the father and sauyour and redemer of the worlde / haue pytie and mercy vpon me and vpō all Christen people And louyng lorde god holy ghost and blessed spirite of god / haue mercy pyte vpō me and alī the worlde Holy and blessed Trinite one selfe same essenciall god / haue pyte mercy vpon me and all myne / vpon all thy creatures Amen And than ones agayne blesse the with In nomine patris as before and thā go forth vnto your busynes where ye wyll Let this be for your mornynge exercise And though you that haue greate thynges to do wolde thynke this prayer and mornynge exercise ouer longe because of your busynes I acerteyne you if it ones were by vse goten redy and incorporate and prynted in the harte and mynde it wolde sone be sayd or thought / and the persone shulde I byleue haue grace to spede the better in other thynges and nothyng forthynke of the spēdynge of the tyme but rather accounte it for greate gaynes in so moche that we purpose to set forth in the ende a lōger exercise for them that haue longer tyme to spēde but nowe we shall go forth herin After the sayd morowe exercise I truste you wyll be well occupied vpon your appoynted course of occupacion For that was our counseyle in the begynnynge that ye shulde appoynte your selfe by a cōtynuall course vnto some certayne occupacion that may be profytable euer to auoyde ydlenes the mother and nourse of all synne and euyll And euer beware of suche occupacions as ben called communly pastymes that is to saye all maner of vnlawfull games / suche disportes as done drawe people rather to vyce thā to vertue whiche more properly maye be called lose tymes than pastymes Math. xii c For syth / by the affyrmaciō of our sauyoure we shall make accoumpte of euery ydle worde / it muste nedes followe that we shall make a more strayte rekenynge of euery ydle or euyll werke Let therfore your sayd appoynted occupacion be alwaye good vertuouse and profytable Syth thā ye must nedes make a rekenynge of euery werke worde and thought for none of these cā be hyd or kept
preuy frō your audytour me thynketh it shulde be a greate suretye for you to make euery day ones your sayd accoūte by your selfe The cōmune prouerbe is that ofte rekenynge holdeth lōg fellawshype I wold aduyse you therfore to spēde some tyme ther vpō at nyght after all your occupaciōs before your bed there knele downe ther begynne to remēbre wheder ye wēte what ye dyd īmediatly after your morowe exercise in what company ye were what was there your behauiour and demanour ī werke worde or thought and so go forth vnto euery place / tyme cōpany as brekefaste / dyner / soupper / or drynkynge / where you fynde or perceyue any thyng that was good / vertuous / and profytable / ascribe and apply that vnto our lorde god gyue vnto him all the glory laude prayse therof / for he alone is the gyuer of all goodnes / so ouer passe that thynge lyghtly And where ye remēbre of any speciall thynge done / sayd / or thought amysse / stycke byde thervpō / bulte it as they say tourne it vp so downe / try the weyght daunger therof with all the maner and circumstaunce of the same So may ye knowe the quātytie therof that is to say howe greate a synne or howe lyttell it is / howe be it none offence cane be lyttell that doth offēde god surely euery synne is offence done vnto god although it seme to be done vnto mā For as the loue of god doth begyn̄e at the loue of the neyghbour For he the loueth nat his neyghbour i. Ioh. ii whō he may se with his bodyly eye or syght sayth saynt Iohn̄ howe may he loue god whome he cā nat so se so in lyke maner the offence of the neyghbour is forth with the offence of god Consyder therfore vnto whome the trespas is done so that consyderacion with the other qualyties and quantyties of the synne shall bryng you vnto a basshemēt therof and to be sory therfore or at the leest to wyll or wysshe that ye had nat so done Thā mekely crye god mercy / and aske hym forgyuenes therof with very pourpose and mynde to be confessyd therof at due tyme and to take and do penaunce therfore And I dare assure you that this maner of accoumpte rekenynge though your synne were neuer so greate shall saue you frō the ieopardy of dānaciō / which is no lytell grace goodnes of God Thanke hym than lowly therfore and so blesse your selfe as you dyd in the morning / and your bedde also / go therevnto and so cōmytte your selfe all hole body and soule vnto the protection / custody and kepyng of our lorde who gyue you good nyght and good reste Amen It shall be ryght well also that ye cal vpon suche holy sayntes as you haue speciall deuocion vnto vnder this fourme or some other lyke Blessed lady Mary mother of god alway vgin I beseche the pray for me for all Christians Holy angell of god what so euer thou be that arte deputed and appoynted vnto my custody I submyttynge me with most lowly obedience beseche the to pray for me for all the worlde Saynt Michaell saynt Gabriell saynt Raphaell with all holy angels archāgels I beseche you pray for me for all people Saynt Iohn̄ baptyste and all holy patriarkes and prophetes I beseche you pray for me for all christendome Saynt Peter saynte Paule saynte Iohn̄ the euangeliste and all holy apostles euāgelistes I beseche you pray for me for all the worlde and you also all disciples of our lorde and holy Innocentes Saynte Stephan and all holy martyres Saynte Augustine / and all holy confessours / all religious persones and heremites Saynt Katheryne / saynt Margarete saynte Barbara and all holy virgines I beseche you praye for me / and for all persones And fynally all you holy sayntes of heuē of euery degre and state where you be I beseche you all in generall / and eueryche in speciall / praye for me all mākynde Here may you brynge in the patrones of your churches or dioces and suche as you haue as I sayd synguler deuotion vnto And here an ende as vnto your selfe ¶ The persone for the housholde Syr / this werke is good for religious persones / and for suche persones as bene solytary and done lye alone by thē selfe / but we done lye .ii. or .iii. somtyme together / and yet in one chambre dyuers beddes so many in company / if we shulde vse these thynges in p̄sence of our fellowes some wold laugh vs to scorne moke vs. ¶ The housholder O bone Iesu O good lorde Iesu what here I nowe I dar well say there bene but fewe persones in Englande but they wolde byde some daunger or rebuke for pleasure of theyr kynge or prynce and many for theyr mayster or maistres or theyr soueraynes and some for theyr frendes and fellowes specially where great gaynes shulde growe therby vnto thē selfe And for the pleasure of God our father and of our swete sauyoure Iesu our brother shulde we be abasshed to take daūger bere a poore mocke or scorne that neuer shall woūde our flesshe ne yet tere our skyn̄e for the pleasure of our pereles prynce kynge of kynges / lorde of all lordes Fye for shame that any christian shulde be so cowardous Ventre vpon it go forth withall In .ix. dayes as they saye the daūger shal be past / fere nothinge Euery begynnyng is harde and of greate diffyculte Omne principium difficile Labor īprobus oīa vincit But īportune labour doth vayn quysshe ouercome all thynges I tell you this dayly exercise by custome and vse shall seme very shorte and swete profytable and pleasaunt Rede it or here it ouer ones or twyse at the leest before you caste it awaye How be it we thynke it nat sufficiēt nor ynough for vs to lyue well our selfe but the all other christians also lyue the better for vs and by our example specially those that we haue ī charge gouernaunce that is to saye our chylder and seruaūtes And me semeth it shuld also be a good pastyme and moche meritorious for you that cane rede to gather your felowes about you on the holy day specially the yonge sorte and rede to them this pore lesson For therin be suche thynges as bothe you and they bene bounde to knowe or can say that is the Pater noster the Aue maria and the Crede / with suche other thynges as done folowe I wold therfore you shuld begynne with them by tyme in youth as sone as they cā speke For it is an olde saynge Quod noua testa capit inueterata sapit The pot or vessell shall euer sauour or smell of the thynge wherew t it is fyrste seasoned And your englysshe prouerbe saythe / that the yong cocke croweth as he doth here and lerne of the olde
shewed laste before / that is to say vnto periury or forsweryng Mendarium vnto false wytnes For eueryche of these doughters / is worse than the mother For the lyer careth lytell to bere false wytnes / and euery lyer is coÌ„munely a swerer / for els the lye shuld not be coloured / dubbed and paynted sufficieÌ„tly to seme true specially in a defaute whereof the lyer wolde fayne be excused for drede of punysshemeÌ„t or rebuke or whaÌ„ a mater shulde by that lye come to passe / be broughte aboute vnto effecte for profyte auauntage flatery or pleasure For whaÌ„ the lyer doth coueyte moste subtelly to deceyue fayne and gladly wold be byleued thaÌ„ doth the lyer most lyberally lasshe out othes sparethe for no cost as they say but whaÌ„ suche a persone doth swere most thaÌ„ wyll a wyse persone byleue hym leste And by this doth appere that the commune besy swerers bene suspecte to be lyers For the lyer is combred so in conscience that he supposeth and thynketh he can not be byleued without he swere many othes and great othes Beware therfore of lyers For coÌ„mune lyers bene communely theues or pyckers vnclene lyuers And to say the trouth the lyer is 〈◊〉 disposed vnto all maner â—â—â—ces bycause that all lyers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chylder of the deuyll For the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the fyrste lyer and eue◠〈◊〉 coÌ„tynue a lyer And as the gâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 saythe he is the father of all 〈◊〉 Nowe ponder and wey goâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—uoute christiaÌ„s I pray you if you were requyred whether you wold be coÌ„tente to kepe in your coÌ„pany a thefe or pyker a persone that shuld enforce and laboure to corrupte your wyues / or your doughters / or yet suche a persone that were seruauÌ„t or chylde vnto your deedly foo or enemy I thinke you wyl say nay you wold kepe no suche Than say I beware of the lyer / for all commune lyers ben the deuyls chyldren and done folowe theyr father the deuyl whose properte and naturall disposicion is to lye I cane well graunte that you â—â—â—gyue and pardon them that done 〈◊〉 pyke or do lechery for ones 〈◊〉 â—â—vyse and labour and loke for 〈◊〉 â—â—ery and amendement but in 〈◊〉 â—yse can I graunte that you 〈◊〉 on the lyers but euyn forth◠〈◊〉 you wolde cure the sodeyne 〈◊〉 â—lence so correcte punysshe that lye Wherfor I haue set out here a pÌ„ty lesson whiche I pray you teche your chyldreÌ„ euery chylde the cometh iÌ„ to your coÌ„pany you shall I trust do moch good therby ¶ If I lye backebyte or stele If I curse scorne moke or swere If I chyde fyght stryue or threte Than am I worthy to be bete Good mother or maystres myne If in any of these nyne I trespas to your knowynge With a newe rodde and a fyne Erly naked / before I dyne Amende me with a scourgynge ¶ And than I pray you fulfyll perfourme theyr peticioÌ„ request thynke it not cruelly / but mercifully done For the wyse man sayth Prouerb xiii d who spareth the roode hateth the chylde And in a nother place Eccle vii c If thou haue chyldren sayth he correcte them betyme / hold theÌ„ vnd whyle they bene yong your dayly practyse dothe shewe vnto you / that if you powder your flesshe whyle it is new and swete / it wyll contynue good meate but if it smell befor it be powdred all the salte you haue shall neuer make it seasonable Powder your chyldreÌ„ therfore betyme and than you loue them shall haue conforte of them I dyd appoynte the correction before vnto the mother or maystres for communely they done take the laboure of that mynistery and seruyce Notwithstandynge there may be sayd father or maister the staffe or fote of the ryme be all one But who so euer do the correctioÌ„ wheder it be in lasshes or in wordes let it be done with the charite of our lorde / with a myld and softe spirite that euer it be done for the reformacioÌ„ of the persone / rather than for the reuengynge of the defaute therfore shulde you neuer do any maner of correction whyle you be vexed chafed troubled wroth or angry for any cause but rather for that tyme deferre the correction a nother tyme by good delyberacyon take the persones on parte / or if the trespas be openly knoweÌ„ than do it openly that all the lokers thervpon may be warned therby and gyue theÌ„ a good lesson before the correctioÌ„ / and tell them you do the correctioÌ„ agaynst your mynde compelled thervnto by conscieÌ„ce and requyre them to put you nomore vnto suche labour payne For if thou do say you you muste suffre parte of the payne with me / and therfore you shall nowe haue experience and proue what payne it is to vs bothe And than paye truely and afterwarde forthwith forgyue them clerly and gentelly / so that they do nomore so And in doynge thus correction / you may edyfye refourme the persones / also meryte haue thanke of our lorde Where if coÌ„trary you chyde brawle curse and with vngoodly wordes rebuke or stryke with hastynes to reueÌ„ge your owne cause or appetyte / you shall rendre the persones more stubbourne styffe harted and engendre in them an hatered toward you And also not only lose your meryte but also deserue payne and the punysshemeÌ„t of god where the other correction done by sobrenes shall cause the persoÌ„es to haue you in a reuereÌ„de drede and also to loue you here afterward to blysse you and pray for you I pray you therfore wynne deserue both theyr blyssynge and prayer / and also the blyssyng and rewarde of our lord But bycause that communly all persones done vse to swere some othe / in affirmynge or denyinge / that is in saynge ye as grauntyng or nay as denyinge whiche be seldome sayd nakedly by them selfe without some addicioÌ„ therfore I wold haue you in auoydyng of all vayne othes to teache your chyldren to make theyr addicioÌ„s vnder this fourme ye father nay father ye mother / nay mother ye brother / nay brother ye syster / nay syster ye syr / nay syr ye dame / nay dame or vnto the states maister / maistres / and so forth of all suche coÌ„mune termes / as graundfather graundmother godfather godmother vncle aunte cosyn / and suche lyke / wtout any other addicion or any of these founde othes as by cocke pye by my hode of grene suche other For Christe sayth in the gospell vnto his disciples Math. v Swere not you at all sayth he in any wyse that is to meane vnlawfully or in vayne And the prophete sayth Psalmo lxii âšœ Laudabuntur oeÌ„s qui iuraÌ„t in eo quia obstructuÌ„ est os loquentium iniqua That is those persones that done lawfully swere in god shal be praysed haue rewarde therfore the mouthe of euyll spekers shal be stopped