¶ Here begynneth a matere spekynge of a place that is namid the abbaye of the holy ghost that shall be fouÌ„ded or grouÌ„ded in a clene conscyence in whiche abbaye shall dwelle .xxix. ladyes ghostly IN this abbaye Charyte shall be Abbesse Wysdome Pryouresse Mekenes suppryouresse And thyse ben in the Couent Pouertee Clennesse TemperauÌ„ce Sobernesse Penaunce Buxumnesse Confession Ryghtwysnes Predycacyon Strength Pacyence Symplenes Mercy Largenesse Reason Pyte Medytacyon Oryson DeuocoÌ„n ContemplacoÌ„n Chastyte Aubylacyon Honeste Curteysy Drede and Gelousy ¶ The fader of heuen is fouÌ„der of this abbaye the sone gouernour the holy ghost vysytour But though ony abbay haue neuer so good a fouÌ„der gouernour visytour but it haue also good chartours wherby it may holde his londe rent fredom Perauenture eyther by happe it shall be euyll serued or elles suffre moche dysease of enmyes Therfore I woll reherce the chartours wherin I wol saye whan where and of whom this abbaye was fyrste fouÌ„ded or grouÌ„ded And thenne woll I saye how it was fyrst made afterwarde wtin short tyme destroyed in what manere how longe tyme or it were made ayen as it was before And how almyghty god hath put his foure doughters in this holy abbay ayenst the foure doughters of the fende whom the holy ghost chaced awaye for they were so fowle ¶ Sciant presentes futuri c. Knowe they that ben here they that ben to come that I almyghty god in trynyte fader sone holy ghost haue gyue grauÌ„ted with my worde confermed to Adam the fore fader of man to Eue his wyfe to theyr heyres a lytel precyous place that is callid Conscyence that lyeth in theyr soules bytwene a place that is called Sinderesis that styred a man to goodnes grutcheth ayenst euyll in that other halfe Whose ende lyeth fast by the grace of god thrugh whiche euery man may doo well yf he woll And that other ende lyeth in Ioye yf the soule be clene out of synne ¶ This holy place almighty god gaf to Adam forsayd to Eue and to ther heyres clenly dyght without ony weÌ„me In the whiche god made a noble house of religyon that is called the abbaye of the holy ghost In to whiche abbaye he put many goostly ladyes that is to saye good vertues Wherin he made charyte abbesse wysdom pryouresse mekenesse suppryouresse He walled this abbaye aboute with strength that no wycked thought sholde haue entrid in that hous yf Adam his wyfe hadde wolde themselfe He gaaf them lordshyp of al the worlde to maynten this holy house so ferforth that all the fysshes in the see and all the byrdes of thayre and beestes of the erthe sholde haue ben buxome to hym to his wyfe and to theyr heyres after them euer yf Adam his wyf had kept them fro synne in to theyr endynge daye ¶ HabenduÌ„ tenenduÌ„ c. To haue to holde this forsayd place to the forsayd Adam and to Eue to theyr heyres freely in peas without lette of ony man euer And therwith Ioye blysse that neuer shal haue ende for the seruyce custome that longeth therof to the chyef lorde of the fee. And that was no more than to withstonde the temptacoÌ„n of the fende and of his wyfe And that lasted not of bothe not a myle waye space And almyghty god sholde haue warrantyd to Adam to Eue to theyr heyres that noble place to haue dwelled euermore in more Ioye than ony tongue may telle ¶ Also that they ne her heyres sholde neuer haue suffred wo ne sholde they neuer haue deyed but whan almighty god wolde he sholde haue take hym vp in body soule to the blysse of heuen there to haue lyued without ende yf Adam his wyf had kept them fro synne as I sayd one daye to th ende ¶ Hijs teslibz c. Of this bereth wytnes angell man heuen erth sonne monesterres and all creatures ¶ DatuÌ„ apud paradysuÌ„ c. Yeuen at paradyse the fyrst daye that man was made ¶ Anno regni c. In the yere of the regnynge of almyghty god kyng of kynges whose kyngdom neuer beganne neuer shall haue ende ¶ Many men there be that wolde be in relygyon but they may not for dyuerse causes Therfore they that may not be in bodyly relygyon they may be in ghostly relygyon yf they woll that is fouÌ„ded in a place that is called Conscyence But fyrste the place muste be clensed with grace of the holy ghost Two maydeÌ„s that be called Loue Ryghtwysnes shall cast awaye fro conscyence all maner of fylth ThenÌ„e shal Mekenesse Pouerte make the fouÌ„dement therof put awaye all worldely thought that is though men haue worldely goodes set they not theyr loue there vpon thenne may they well be called men poore in spyryte to whom Cryst gyueth his blessynge ¶ This abbay must also be set vpon a ryuer that is the ryuer of teeres on whiche ryuer was Mawdeleyne fouÌ„ded in sorowynge for her synnes therforÌ„ the grace of god heuenly ryches came all to her wyl ¶ ThenÌ„e shal BuxuÌ„nesse mercy rere vp the walles in to heygth make them stronge with almesdedes geuynge gladly to poore men after thy state is thus saith Thobi ¶ Si multuÌ„ tibi fuerit habuÌ„danter tribue si tibi sic exiguuÌ„ paruÌ„ iÌ„ê‘tire stude This is thus moche to meane Yf thou be ryche hauynge plentee of worldly godes gyue plenteuously therof Yf thou be poore be of good wyll to gyue gladly of suche thynge as thou hast For saynt Poule sayth ¶ HilareÌ„ datoreÌ„ diligit deê° That is to saye god loueth the glad gyuer Thê° shall we buylde our hous in heuen with the loue of god of our euen crysten ¶ Thenne shall Pacyence strength reyse vp all the pylars vndset them with botraces that no wynde of wordes of angre ne of tempest of persecucoÌ„n ne of temptacoÌ„n may cast them downe ¶ Thenne we must make our cloystre in this maner that shall kepe vs ghostly out of al worldly thoughts syghtes that is kepe we our eyen fro all euyll syghtes our eeres fro euyll herynge our mouth fro euyll spekynge fro swerynge fro lyenge our hertes fro all euyll thoughtes And yf we kepe thus this foure corners we shall buylde well our cloystre ¶ A mayde the hyght Confessyon shall make our chaptour hous Predycacyon the fraytour Oryson the oratory Contemplacyon the dortour And yf thyse shal be reysed vp to the worshyp of god they must stonde out fro worldly noyse fro worldly besynesse angre ¶ ContemplacoÌ„n is not ellis but a deuoute herte with a breÌ„nynge loue to god to taste somdele of the blysse that is ordeyned for his chosen in heuen ¶ Pyte shal be our fermour DeuocoÌ„n cellerer holy Medytacyon shall be garnetour Whan all thyse offycers ben made the holy ghost is warden
with god fader fouÌ„der with god the sone wysdom of the fad The worthy lady Charyte shal be abbesse of this hous for all this other offycers shall obeye to Charyte ¶ Vnde oiÌ„a vraÌ„ in caritate fiaÌ„t All thynge that ye do saye or thynke be they done in the loue of god ¶ Alas yf I durste saye full many be in relygyon but fewe be relygyous that do the byddynge of Poul to obeye to charyte therfore lese they moche tyme also ther mede ¶ Now shall the worthy lady Wysedom be our Pryouresse ¶ Nam prior oiÌ„m est sapiencia The good lady Mekenesse that alwaye loueth herselfe shall be our suppryouresse This abbay is of god blessyd that hath thyse gouernours for all be blessyd that holde them in theyr scole For they that kepe Charyte Wysedom Mekenesse the thre persones in trynyte shall gyue them heuen to mede That soule is grete hye in heuen that hath thyse thre within herself Charyte Wysdom Mekenesse ¶ DyscrecoÌ„n shal be tresorer Oryson shal be chauÌ„tour ¶ NaÌ„ oroÌ„ sacrificiuÌ„ deo hoÌ„i solaciuÌ„ diabolo tormentuÌ„ ¶ The fende sayd to Bertilmew our lordes apostle thy orysons brenne me ¶ Saint Bernarde sayth whaÌ„ we praye in good lyfe our good angel dauÌ„cith maketh therof a present to the fad of heuen thenÌ„e our lorde coÌ„mauÌ„deth hym to wryte them in the booke of lyfe ¶ Saynt Austen telleth the IubylacoÌ„n orysons felowe is a Ioye conceyued in teeres with a ghostly loue that may not be shewed in all ne hyde in all As it doth by them that hertly loue that gyue almesse coÌ„tynue in theyr prayers where soo they ben theyr hertes synge mornynge songes of loue whan they longe inwardly with armes of loue to clyppe with ghostly mouth to kysse they loue somtyme so hertly that they lacke wordes so theyr loue rauyssheth theyr hertes that they wote not somtyme what they doo ¶ Deuocyon is Celerer that kepeth all the wynes bothe whyte redde That ben all the worthy thankynges the whiche we all owe to do to god for the endeles goodnes that he hath done dooth and woll do to vs yf we woll ourself This goodnes that he hath do was whan we all sholde haue ben loste thrugh synne of Adam be in helle without ende had not he of grete goodnes pyte become man for our sake lyuyng here many wynters in grete penauÌ„ce passyon at the laste naylled on a crosse with a spere tonge to the herte deyed and all for loue of vs to brynge vs out of payne ¶ The goodnes that he doth to vs now is whyle we ben here in body in soule yeuynge vs al that we nede both bodyly and ghostly Bodyly as mete drynke clothynge Ghostly as good thoughtes good wordes good dedes And therto to them that ben good he graunteth a shelde of his grace mynde of his passyon to kepe them fro the fende And to theym that ben wycked combred with synne he gyueth space tyme to torne therfro to amende yf they wol For thê° he sayth hymselfe ¶ Nolo morteÌ„ pctoÌ„ris sed magis vt ê¯uertat et viuat This is to saye I woll not the dethe of the synfull man but that he torne lyue And ther to he graunteth mercy forgyuenesse yf they woll it aske ¶ The goodnes that he woll doo to vs yf we woll dwelle abyde styll in his seruyce that is in good vertues In herynge seenge spekynge goynge handlynge in all other dedes werkynge shall be to this In tyme of dethe whan body soule shall departe atweyne the deuyl appere in his owne lykenesse before vs to make vs agast yf he may to brynge vs in to mysbyleue god wolde sende his owne angell all our gode dedes that euer we here wrought wryten to shew vs comforte vs dryue awaye the deuyll lede our soules to blysse The whiche blysse our lorde grauÌ„teth gyueth to all his chosen true seruauÌ„t whan he sayth thus ¶ Venite bnÌ„dicti patris mei ê‘cipite regnuÌ„ qd vobis ê‘atuÌ„ est ab origine mundi ¶ PenauÌ„ce shall be Keruer the ryght well can make many good meetes sufferynge many bytter sorowes for synne to make the soule mery and glad with god that before was â—lenge for she had hym offended ¶ TemperauÌ„ce shall serue in the fraytour loke all aboute that mesure be had ouer all that none haue to moche ne to lytell neyther of etynge drynkynge ne of slepynge ¶ Sobernes must nedes rede at the borde the lyfe of holy faders what lyfe they lyued here in erthe to take of them example to do as they dyde therby to wynne the mede that they haue ¶ Pyte must be the PytauÌ„cer that dooth that good that she may ¶ Mercy must be Almener that gyueth to all no thynge can holde to herself ¶ The lady Drede Porter that kepeth the cloystre of the hert that chacyth awaye all wycked vyces called in good vertues closeth the gates of the cloystre that none euyl come not in to the herte the eyen the mouth the eeres ne in to other places by the fyue wyttes ¶ Honeste is maystresse to teche nouyces curteysy how thei shall haue them in ther dedes both to god aÌ„nd to man ¶ Curteysy is Hostlere to calle in noble gyft and Symplenes shall be her felowe that she be not to lyberall ¶ Reason shall be Purueour that there be no defaute ¶ BouÌ„te shal be Fermerer the seke men to serue Her felawe shall be Largenesse to gyue eueryche that he nedeth ¶ Medytacyon Garnetour for to gadre corne togyder that men haue theyr sustenaunce ¶ MedytacoÌ„n is thought in god of his werkes of his wordes of his creatures of his paynes that he loued vs with For oft a good thought is better than many Indeuowte prayers ¶ Therof speketh the holy bysshop Denys sayth Whan the herte is caught with the loue of god he may not saye the worde that he thynketh in herte The garner is aboue the cellar So medytacoÌ„n ouer deuocoÌ„n MedytacoÌ„n garnetour deuocyon cellerer pyte shall be pytauÌ„cer ¶ Herof speketh the prophete Dauid sayth ¶ A fructu frumeÌ„ti vini olei multiplicati suÌ„t Of frute of whete of wyne of oyle ben they multeplyed God behoteth to his chosen thyse thre thynges Serue ye to me he sayth I shal gyue you plente of whete of wyne of oyle Plente of whete is thê° to thynke on the crosse Inwardly on Cryste Ihu that dyed theron that is to saye medytacyon Plente of wyne is welle of teeres for to wepe well is good deuocoÌ„n Plente of oyle is good dylectacoÌ„n in Cryst Ihesu that is our beste comforte Oyle gyueth sauoure to meetes lyght also to laÌ„pes Ryght so whan men beseche hertly god of mercy he sendeth theym a ghostly Ioye The oyle of comfort
all and came to Cryste kyssed hym And Cryste sayd to hym Iudas frende shalt thou betraye goddes sone with a cosse ¶ ThenÌ„e the Iewes toke Cryste bouÌ„de hym as a theyf ful harde and sore There he fouÌ„de an other lady of that same hous and she was named Pacyence ¶ Peter sawe that out with a swerde and smote of a boyes eere that was one of the bysshops men ThenÌ„e sayd Cryste to Peter Put vp thy swerde agayne Trowest thou not that I myght praye my fader yf I wolde he myght sende me mo than twelue legyons of angels All this he sayd I woll suffre with good wyll for loue of mannes soule ¶ Thenne the false Iewes ladde forth Ihu Cryste to Cayphas the bysshop His dyscyples sawe that ranne awaye for drede euerychone lefte hym there alone ¶ Thenne came many shrewes and made playnt to the bysshop on our lorde ThenÌ„e sayd Cayphas to our lorde What sayst thou to thyse coÌ„playnt trespasses that thyse men shewe ayenst the ¶ Cryste fouÌ„de there an other lady that is called Symplenesse For he answered not to hym with one worde ¶ ThenÌ„e the bysshop asked hym where he had preched what he had taught and sayd Thenne sayde Cryste What demaundest thou me Enquyre of them that herde me preche what I sayd to them Tho toke the Iewes our lorde Ihu put of his clothes and bouÌ„de hym to a pylar of stone And made scourges with knottes of lede sharpe pryckes in thendes and with them bete his precyous body tyll it ranne all on blood Thenne they dyde on hym a streyght sylken clothe that cleuid fast to the flesshe whan the blood was drye Thenne they set a garlonde on his heed of longe sharpe thornes bete it harde downe with staues for they wolde not prycke theyr fyngers And toke hym a rede in his honde and kneled downe sayd in scorne Hayle kyng of Iewes Whan they had so done they strypte of that cote of sylke for it cleuyd fast to the body they drewe awaye therwith moche of the skynne and flesshe also Whan they sawe that the shrewes were well pleasyd bleryd on hym and spyt on hym And there fouÌ„de Cryste an other lady of the abbaye that hyght Mekenes ¶ Tho the false Iewes made Cryste to bere his owne crosse on his backe towarde the mouÌ„t of Caluary tyll he was in poynt to falle downe for feblynesse Whan they sawe that they wolde not that he deyed tyll he had be hanged for grete malyce hate that they had to hym They made an other man to bere the crosse tyll they came to the place where Cry sholde be nayled on And euer as he wente the good lady Mekenes went with him Trowe ye not that his moder hadde thenne moche sorowe whan she sawe her sone goo soo towarde his deth Forsoth it was a pyteous syght who that had it seen ¶ Whan they cam to Caluary they cast downe there the crosse layed our lorde alonge theron made markes holes where his hondes and fete were nayled to ThenÌ„e they toke a blont rough raggid nayle droue with an hamour thrugh his honde to the crosse And for anguysshe therof all his body drewe there towarde they wolde haue nayled that other honde to the crosse it was to short to the hole that they had made by half a fote more yet wolde they make noo newe holes but toke ropes tyed to his honde drewe it tyll it was mete to the hole And in the drawynge all the Ioyntes of his armes brake asondre Whan they wolde haue nayled his fete to the crosse al his body was so shronke vp togyder for peyne that it was to short for the hole that they had made by a large fote ThenÌ„e toke they ropes tyed to his fete drewe hym downe harde lore tyll they were mete therfore they brake in that drawynge al the Ioyntes of his lyndes knees of his fete also Thenne they toke suche an other raggyd rough nayle and draue it thrugh both his fete with an hamour atones in to the harde tree whyle he was thê° nayled on the crosse came many ladyes of the holy abbaye Pouerte BuxuÌ„nes PenauÌ„ce Symplenes Pacyence Mekenes to se how he dide ThenÌ„e sayd Cryst to them yf ye had your abbesse thenÌ„e had ye euerychone ¶ Whan the Iewes had nayled hym on the crosse as men do cloth on a teyntour they lyfte vp the crosse fro the grouÌ„de to set it faste in the morteys that was made for the same purpoos And in theyr grete enuyous malyce the cursed Iewes lyft it vp as hygh as they myght with strengthe of men lete it falle downe sodenly in to the morteys In the fallynge all the synewes of his body all the veynes all the Ioyntes brake euery one I trowe there was penauÌ„ce ynough ¶ The lady Pouerte was there all redy for he hanged all naked as he was born of his moder on the crosse for mannes soule And whyle he haÌ„gid therÌ„ with his blody wouÌ„des al to hurlyd all to rente He fouÌ„de the abbesse of the abbaye of the holy ghost that is callid Charyte the whiche sayd ¶ MaioreÌ„ caritateÌ„ nemo heÌ„t quam vt aiÌ„am suaÌ„ ponat quis ê“ amicis suis. More loue charyte may noo man haue than to gyue his lyf for his freÌ„des as Cryst dyde for maÌ„nes soule ¶ Whan Cryst had fouÌ„de the holy abbesse Charyte all her couent he was full glad in his herte all though he felte moche wo of bodyly payne withoutforth ThenÌ„e asked he a drynke to make with all thyse ladyes mery And welcomed theÌ„ sayd Scicio I thurste Thenne the false Iewes made to him a drynke of eysell gall tempred togyder with myrre put it to his mouth vppon a spounge Whan our lorde had smellid the taste therof he wolde no more therof but he sayd thus ¶ ConsummatuÌ„ est That is to saye I haue done all my fads message that he bad me doo on erthe For I haue fouÌ„de vp the abbesse al the couent of the abbaye of the holy ghost made ayen thabbay better than euer it was Now he sayd I woll go to Adam to my frendes delyuer theÌ„ out of helle lede them ayen to the blysse of paradyse that neuer shall cesse ¶ Whan he had sayd thê° he gaaf vp the ghost and deyed in flesshe hangynge on the crosse all to russhyd all to rent so vnneth ony lyÌ„me henge by other bitwene two theuis for grete loue that he had to saue maÌ„nes soule ThenÌ„e ghostly in his godhede he went downe to helle toke out Adam Eue. Abell Seth other Noe Abraham Iacob Ysaac Ioseph Moyses kyng Dauyd Patryarkes and prophetes all his frendes he toke with hym lad them with thabbesse the couente of the holy ghost to the blysse of heuen And there almyghty god ordenyd that his four doughters Mercy and Trouth Ryghtwysnes and Peas sholde dwelle in thabbay of the holy ghost And then he coÌ„mauÌ„ded hymself that Mercy Trouth sholde be Charytees chapeleyns goo about with her whyther that she went He bad also that Ryghtwysnes sholde be with Wysdom for she was pryouresse Peas with Mekenesse that was suppryouresse He ordeyned that thyse thre ladyes sholde haue theyr chapeleyns for they were moost of worshyp ¶ Thenne he sayd he that woll kepe fayr wel thyse holy vertues he shall fynde in this worlde by holy medytacoÌ„n by good conuersacoÌ„n by noble coÌ„templacoÌ„n moche Ioye myrth both in body soule And afterwarde whan he is deed he shall haue to his mede the kyngdom of heuen that is to laye more Ioye blysse than ony eye may se or eere here or tonge telle or herte thynke Almyghty god for his grete mercy gyue vs grace socour to kepe fayr well this abbaye that is our conscyence all the hole couent that is to laye good vertues in thought in worde in dede that we may come to the blysse that god boughte vs to Amen ¶ Now frendes bretheren in Cryste Ihu that coueyte crystenly to lyue in Crystis religyon Kepe ye well your abbesse Charyte in herte and all thyse other noble vertues before reherced And yf it soo befalle the ony lyÌ„me of the deuyll bodyly or ghostly be abowte to take from you this lady Charyte rynge ye your Chaptour belle of your in wyt And calle ye to your counsell Reason DyscrecoÌ„n Pacyence Peas And go ye forth to Oryson crye ye in soule to the holy ghost And in wardly praye him that he come defende charyte That he thrugh his gracyous helpe kepe you fro euyll chauÌ„ce And he that made vs all with blysse vs auauÌ„ce Amen ¶ Enprynted at Westmestre by Wynken de worde
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
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