nature departe with her thy grete mercy And in that stedfast fayth bylyue that I haue of thyn endles myght / by the whiche the daye of the generall resurreccion is comen / thou shalt not oonly reyse the bodyes / that thou hast alredy formed / that now be deed / also all thoo that are to be born shall yet be by the created it wyll please the to here my right hūble request prayer / hauyng pyte of my goost longe syn deed / of my soule soo moche vnhappy defoyled spotted with the fylth of synne / in lykewyse of myn abhomynable bodye whiche I haue so moche dysguysed made foule / that I may nomore lyue / bycause namely that I haue not had in the stedfast belyue Alas syre pardōne me by penaūce my synne whiche is double / aswell bycause of the brekyng of thy cōmaūdementes / as of dysperacōn / quyckenyng my contrycion / cōmaunde syre that this lanterne be kyndled with thy fyre / to th ende that takyng trust of thy mercy Indulgence duryng the other parte of the tyme that thou shall gyue me grace to lyue in this worlde I may curyously dylygently kepe as I ought to do thy worthy cōmaūdementes / without to departe from thy drede by all the dayes of my lyfe I may serue the deuoutly And on the sayd Resurreccōn nyght of our lorde sayng these wordes with grete shedyng of teeres he arose from his oryson for to see yf the sayd lanterne sholde be kyndled / so he toke of the syde frō the sayd cawdron but he foūde it in suche astate as when he dyde put it there wherfore yet ayen layeng flatte his vysage to the erthe he prayed god sayng O my lorde my god I wote well that thou hast ordeyned that I sholde fyght ayenst the deuyll to th ende / I myght be crowned / but I haue not be stedfast ne constaūt in asmoche that for the delectacōns of the flesshe I haue chosen to be tormented in helle Syre please the to pardōne me I confesse yet ayen to thy dyuyne bounte my fylthe wyckednesse / not oonly byfore the same I confesse it / but also byfore thy holy sayntes blessyd angels / theym I sholde confesse byfore all men / yf I trowed not to sclaūder or moeue them to shame in my persone My god haue mercy vpon me wyll quycken me to th ende that I may lerne the other And in this maner prayng thre tymes the deuoute Relygyouse penytent / he was of god exalted herde / had veray knoweloge therof by that he rose cam to his lanterne whiche he foūde brennynge full bryght / wherfore reioysshyng hym selfe he was comforted with a hope / wondred full sore of the grete grace the god had done to hym pardōnyng vnto hȳ so benyngly his synne / fullyng his desyre after his petycōn sayd I yelde vnto the graces my lord and my god / of that it hath pleaseth that in this presente world to haue mercy of me poore synnar Indygne of thy grete mysery cordye I gyuyng to all synners by this newe token confyance trust of the self mercy forgyuyng the myserable soules that thou hast created for to come to thy glorye In this maner perseueryng this holy man in his confessyon yeldyng graces thankes vnto our lord / the daye came that he toke so grete reioysshyng / that he forgate hym selfe to take his repast fode corporall And all the dayes of his lyfe he kepte besyly the lyght of the sayd lanterne puttȳg oyle therto when it neded takyng good hede that it sholde not go out / from hens forth the holy goost enhabyted in hȳ / by the helpe of whiche he profyted soo / that he was reputed holden for an holy man of grete renōmee / to whō a lytyll afore his decesse was shewed the daye that he sholde departe out of this world to the royalme of heuē ¶ An other treatyse foloweth / wherin is conteyned that folke of Relygyon ought not to possesse nothyng / begynneth in latyn Frater quidā c A Yonge man somtyme desyrynge to be a Relygyouse / forsoke the worlde and gaaf thou that he had to the poore / except some small goodes that he reserued to hȳselfe for his helpe after came vnto saynt Anthonye requyryng hȳ that he wolde receyue him to the astate of Relygyon Saynt Anthony knowyng that whiche is sayd / sayd vnto hȳ Yf thou wylt that I shall receyue the to be a monke / thou must go to the next cyte here by / that thou bye flesshe / this done that shall make fast the sayd flesshe to thy flesshe naked / then thou shall come to me ayen in that astate / thenne I shall do that thou desyreth of me The yong man desyryng sore for to do that Saynt Anthonye hadde charged hym wente and bought flesshe and fastned it atte his bare flesshe / as he hadde ordeyned hym to doo And gooyng ayen towarde hym the dogges and the byrdes folowed hym whiche by grydynes and glotony to ete of the sayd flesshe rented and knawed his owne skynne in dyuerse places of his bodye And thus he retourned to Saynt Anthonye whiche seeyng his skynne thus tourne and gnawen / he sayd to hym that in lykewyse are tourne and gnawen by the fende of helle and by his temptacyons / they that forsakyng the worlde wyll withholde and possesse theyr moneye or other temporall goodes ¶ The abbot Danyell reherced of the holy fader Arsenye / that a grete offycer Romayne came ones to hym / and brought hym the testamente of a Senatour whiche was of kynne to the sayd Arsenyen / and that by this testamente hadde made hym his heyre leuynge vnto hym many fayre herytages and grete lyuelode The holy fader Arsenye takynge this testamente wolde haue broken it and rented in peces / the whiche thynge seeyng the sayd offycer / dyde caste hym selfe doune byfore hym / besechyng hym that he sholde not doo soo / bycause that yf he hadde not conne exhybe and shewe the same ayen there as it apperteyned / he sholde haue lost his hede ¶ Thenne the holy fader Arsenye toke it agayne to hym / saynge thus Euery bodye knoweth well that I am deed longe tyme agoo afore hym that hath made this testamente / the whiche is but late decessed / and how maye he thenne haue made me his heyre / by the whiche wordes he vnderstode for to saye / that from the tyme that he gaaf hymself to be a monke or Relygyouse he dyde holde hȳ for deed as to the worlde / that he ought neuer to haue nor appropre to hȳ selfe ony thyng worldly or temporall The sayd holy fader Arsenye was ones syke in Sychye / had grete nede of a lytyll moneye for to releue hȳ from his sykenesse So was he constrayned to
the houre of dethe / the seconde when his soule sholde be presentes afore god for to be Iuged / the .iij. what the sentence sholde be that sholde be cast vpon hym And therfore the good archebysshop Theophyle when he was atte the poynte of dethe he sayd of saynt Arseny / that he was well happy in soo moche that he contynuelly had this houre byfore the eyen of his entendement ¶ The abbot Iames sayd / that lyke as the lanterne lyghtneth the place whiche is obscure derke In lykewyse the drede of god lyghteneth a man when he hath it within hym ¶ Some brethern asked of the abbot Machary how he coude be so drye of so poore of bodye / wherat he answered that when men take a staffe in theyr hande with it they rake styre the brondes that be a fyre the same staffe barneth consumeth awaye fynably In lyke wyse who soeuer shall haue in him the drede of god it shall consume the flesshe of a man awaye vnto the bones ¶ The holy faders dwellyng in the moÌ„tayn of Nitrye sente toward the abbot Machary that was in Sychye prayng hyÌ„ that he wolde come to see them / yf he came not to them / they were purposed for to go to him / bycause that they desyred for to see by afore his dethe And when he was come to the montayn where they dwelled / they togydre asked hym some consolacoÌ„n spyrytuall TheÌ„ne he sayd vnto them that they sholde wepe weyle ouer theyr synnes / to th ende that they sholde not defâ—ende in to helle where men wepe weyle euerlastyngly And they all togydre at ones began to wepe besought by that he wold pray god for them ¶ The abbot Pastor gooyng thrugh Egstpt lawe a woman vpon a graue / the whiche bette herself wept so sore that it semed yf all the Ioyes of the worlde had come to her that she sholde not reioyse herself for it So in lykewyse oughte to doo euer a Relygyouse in this world An other tyme he passed thrugh the parties of Dyolche with the abbot Nub / they fouÌ„de a woman that wepte bytterly for the deth of her husbande / of her sone of her brother Thenne sayd the abbot Pastor to the abbot Nub I belyue stedfastly that no man but yf he slee all concupyscence of the flesshe / but he haue as grete contrycoÌ„n as this woman / he is not worthy to be a Relygyouse And this he sayd bycause that all her thought was sette vpon wepyng And thus we ought to do for our synnes ¶ A brother axed somtyme the sayd Pastor some good conseyll for his saluacoÌ„n And he conscylled hyÌ„ that he sholde do as Abraham dyde when he entred in the londe of promysson / the whiche made a tombe / whiche sygnyfyed wepynges and sorowynge ¶ The archebâ—sshop Athanasy prayed ones the abbot Pambo that he sholde come doÌ„ne from his hermytage for to see hyÌ„ in the cyte of Alexandrye The whiche coÌ„myng doÌ„ne to it mette with a coÌ„mon woman / when he sawe her he began to wepe Athanasy asked hym what moeued hyÌ„ to do so / wherat he answered the two thynges moeued it The fyrst bycause he sawe that the woman daÌ„pned herself the seconde bycause he toke not somoche of payn to please god as she dyde for to please the worlde ¶ The abbot Syluayn beynge ones with his Relygyouses / was rauysshed gostly / so that he fell doÌ„ne that face to the erthe after that he had be there a longe whyle he rose vp ayen wepyng full sore Soo axed hyÌ„ his relygyouses what hyÌ„ eyled fo to wepe thus / but he answered them nothyÌ„g / euer he wept / they neuerthelesse prayed hyÌ„ somoche that they constrayned hyÌ„ by huÌ„ble Requestes to telle them that the they desyred to wyt of hyÌ„ / in effect he shewed vnto them / that he had be rauysshed born afore god holdyng his Iugement / where he sawe many relygyouses that were condeÌ„pned to the euerlastyng payne of helle / many seculer men that were taken receyued for to go to the royalme of heuen / wherof the poore abbot wept euer bytterly / for this cause he becam so solytary / that he wolde not go out of his celle / yf he was somtyme coÌ„strayned to go out of it / he couered his hede with a hode / saynge that it was no nede for to see this lyght temporall where no goodnesse was ¶ A man worthy of holy memory named Synclyeyce / sayd that they the tourne themself from synne vnto vertue / haue grete payn atte begynnyÌ„g to leue theyr euyll lyfe / but at the last they shall haue Ioye vnable to be tolde / euyn so as they the kyndlen a fyre haue atte begynnyng grete akyng of hede with blowyng / at theyr eyen with the smoke or euer the fyre be kyndled Also we must haue many euylles for to kyndle within vs the fyre of the loue of god ¶ The abbot Ypericius sayd that a monke ought to watche daye nyght in oryson / in waylyng in coÌ„punccoÌ„n / to th ende that thrugh this meane he haue the mercy of Ihesu cryste ¶ Many Relygyouses seculers cam togyder to the abbot Felix / be dyuerse tymes prayed hyÌ„ that he wolde gyue theÌ„ som gode doctryne for theyr saluacoÌ„n / but neuertheles he wold not / but only sayd vnto theÌ„ / now haue I no tonge for to spek ¶ The brethern heryng this answere were sore abasshed bycause he wold not teche them Then he sayd to theÌ„ / somtyme that Relygyouses requyred for to be taught of the aeged / they dyde that the was coÌ„mauÌ„ded vnto theÌ„ / wherfor our lord gaaf to the sayd olde faders tonge speche for to lerne them / bycause that the dyscyples now doo nomore nothyng of that is coÌ„mauÌ„ded vnto them / god hath taken from the aeged that worde of veray doctryne / for there is nomore no body that doth this that the olde faders coÌ„mauÌ„de These wordes herde they all togyder began to wepe syghe askyng mercy / that the sayd abbot wolde praye for them ¶ A holy fader sayd when our lord shall come to that daye of dome / yf it were possyble that the soules that then shal be brought to theyr bodyes / myght be departed ayen all that worlde sholde then deye of the drede terrour the euery one shall haue atte thou sayd daye / therfor we ought well to wepe in this world do penauÌ„ce to th ende that at the same ferfull daye we may yelde good acomptes vnto our lord ¶ A broder axed a holy fader wherof cam that he was harde herted that he fered not god The holy fader answered to hyÌ„ that he sholde haue drede of god / yf he wolde rebuke his soule saynge My soule thynke vpon thy lyfe / for thou shal be broughte byfore the myght of
begynnyng in latyn Districtis Caplm C.xxxiiij ¶ Of a woman that forbare wronges of her sone in lawe / and begynnyth in latyn vergente Caplm C.xxxv. ¶ Of saynt IohnÌ„ saynt Sophronyon / whiche begynneth in latyn Ad voluÌ„tate igil c. Caplm C.xxxvi ¶ A sermon made by the forsayd holy Patryarke ayenst the herers of folke foloweth begynneth in latyn Si vero alicubâ— c. Caplm C.xxxvij ¶ Of the childe Orphenym the whiche was made â—â—che / begynneth in latyn Audicus c. Caplm C.xxxviij ¶ Of a begyler that borowed chyâ—ty pounde of golde of the holy Patryarke begynneth in latyn Impretermisse Caplm C xxxix ¶ Of â—habbot Vytalyon / begynneth in latyn Seneâ— quidem magnus c. Caplm C.xl. ¶ Of a begger whiche in askyÌ„g an al messe of the sayd Patryarke spake grete worden ayenst hym begynneth in latyn Precipiens Caplm C. â—lt ¶ Of the questyons that the holy Patryarke made vnto the poore people begynnyng in latyn Si vero et cetera Caplm C.xlij. ¶ Of a prynce the hated another prynce begynnyng MaliciaÌ„ Caplm C.xliij ¶ How the holy Patryarke constrayned by his humylyte the proude to be meke / begyÌ„neth Suê‘buÌ„ auteÌ„ Caplm C.xliiij ¶ A sermon that the holy Patryarke made to yâ—ue ensaÌ„ple of mekenes / begynneth Et hec Caplm C.xlv ¶ How he corrected by fayre wordes swete langage theym that went out of the chirche after that the gospell was sayd begynneth in latyn Mittam autem Caplm C.xlvi ¶ How he forbadde the folke sholde not speke in the chirche / begynneth in lalatyn Loqui auteÌ„ c. Caplm C.xlvij ¶ How he ordeyned two ordres of relygyouses / buylded theyÌ„ .ij. chirches / one in the name of our lady / the other of saynt Iohan / begynneth in latyn Volens auteÌ„ c. Caplm C.xlviij ¶ How men ought to eschewe the coÌ„pany of heretykes / begynneth in latyn Et hoc beatus Caplm C.xlix ¶ How the holy Patryarke Iuged nor coÌ„depned neuer no bodye / begynneth in latyn EuÌ„ oibus Caplm C.l. ¶ Of two clerkes that made shone / begynneth in latyn Duobus clericis c Caplm C.li. ¶ How the holy Patryarke was called of god for to decesse out of this worlde find begynnyth in latyn Et quidem Caplm C.lij. ¶ The fourme of his Testament foloweth begynneth in latyn Adueniente Caplm C.liij. ¶ Of the woman that gaaf her synne in wrytynge to saynt Iohan the Patryarke / begynnyth in latyn Aluid auteÌ„ Caplm C.liiij ¶ How the deth of the forsayd holy Patryarke Iohan was shewed to a relylygyous named Sauyn / begyÌ„neth in latyn EadeÌ„ eni die Caplm C.lvi. ¶ Of a nother vysyon that a Cytezyn of Alexandrye had / touchyÌ„g the deth of this holy Patryarke Iohan the Almoner / begynneth CuÌ„ auteÌ„ Caplm C.lvi. ¶ How out of his sepulcre flowed and ranne oyle / And begynneth in latyn / Hymnodia c. Caplm C.lvij ¶ Of the lyfe of saynt Eugene / whose feest is halowed the daye after the feest of the Natyuyte of our sauyour Ihesu cryste / begynneth in latyn In septimo igit c. Caplm C.lviij ¶ Of saynt Basylle bysshop of Capadore / begynneth in latyn Basilliê° itaque c. Caplm C.lix ¶ How Eubole was crystened in the fluÌ„me Iordan / begynneth in latyn Apprehendentes auteÌ„ c. Caplm C.lx. ¶ How sayÌ„t Basylle beyng a bysshop coÌ„posed the masse / in coÌ„posyng of whiche he sawe god his apostles / begynnyng CoÌ„uenientes c. Caplm C.lxi. ¶ Of an Ebrewe man that sawe a childe bytwene the hoÌ„des of saynt Basylle whan he deuyded the bodye of our lorde begynneth in latyn Diuino quideÌ„ c Caplm C.lxij ¶ Of one that forsoke god / gaaf a wrytynge therof sealed with his owne honde / begynneth in latyn Illudius auteÌ„ Caplm C.lxiij ¶ Of a womaÌ„ to whom her synnes were forgyuen by the prayer of saynt Basylle / begynneth in latyn Mulier quidam c. Caplm C.lxiiij ¶ Of Ioseph the Hebrewe / whiche hystorye is annexed to the sayd chapytre ¶ Of the holy fader Effrem / begynneth in latyn Fratres enarracioneÌ„ volo facere c. Caplm C.lxv. ¶ Here foloweth the declaracyon of thynges conteyned in the seconde partye of this present volume / the whiche is deuyded in some smale treaties / chapitres demauÌ„des / quodlybeths / as herafter shall appere ¶ Fyrst is the prologue of saynt Iherom by hyÌ„ made vpon the seconde partye or chapytre / begynnyng Vere munnduÌ„ c ¶ Dyuerse exhortacoÌ„ns here folowen whiche begynne in latyn QuideÌ„ sanctorum senior c. ¶ Other exortacyons folowen for to acquyre the vertue of pacyence humylyte begynnyng in latyn DicebaÌ„t sancti seniores c. ¶ Here after consequently foloweth a lytyll boke or treatyse conteynyng many InstruccoÌ„ns for folke of Relygyon other contemplatyue / how they owe to behaue them selfe the one with the other / to profyte in Relygyon / whiche begynneth in latyn Interrogauit c. ¶ An other lytyll treatyse whiche techeth to fynde the reste of conscyence / And begynneth in latyn Dixit abbas Anthonius ¶ An other treatyse techyng how men ought to styre them to compunccyon / and begynneth in latyn Dicebant de abbate Arsenio ¶ An other treatyse foloweth of contynence sobrence ayenst glotonye and other vyces And begynneth in latyn Fratres aliqui c. ¶ A nother treatyse ayenst fornycacyon ¶ An other treatyse foloweth / wherin is conteyned that folke of Relygyon ought not to possesse nothyng / begynneth in latyn Frater quidaÌ„ c. ¶ An other lytyl treatyse herafter consequently foloweth of the vertue of force of pacyence / it begynneth in latyn Sanctus abbas Anthonius c. ¶ An other lytyll treatyse conteynyng that nothyng sholde be doon for exaltacyon or vayne glorye ¶ An other lytyl treatyse techyng how no man ought to Iuge ony other ¶ An other treatyse foloweth here shewynge how one ought to haue dyscrecyon ¶ An other lytyll treatyse foloweth here after techyng how a man ought to lyue sobrely / And begynneth in latyn frater quidam ¶ An other treatyse how one ought to praye without Intermyssyon and without cessyng / begynneth in latyn Diceâ—ant de abbate ¶ An other lytyll treatyse conteynyng how a man ought to doo mercy And begynneth in latyn Preceperunt aliquando ¶ An other lytyll treatyse of obeyssauÌ„â—e or obedyence ¶ An other lytyll treatyse encytynge the people vnto the ryght necessarye vertue of humylyte and mekenesse And begynneth in latyn Abbas Anthonius ¶ Of the vertue of pacyence ¶ An other bystowe foloweth of Contemplacyon ¶ Here after foloweth the seconde chapytre of contemplacyon ¶ An other treatyse where in ben recyted and reherced the sygnes and myracles whiche were doon by the holy faders ¶ The boke of the good conuersacoÌ„n of dyuerse holy faders ¶ Here begynnen seuen chapytres / the
hath be mayntened as it is now by the holy deuoute relygy onses whyche daye nyghte praye for the vnyuersall helthe / But as it is so that the thynges right good ben ofte in lytyll quantytee right dyffycile / Neuertheles al they were in the same â—â— condycoÌ„us / For they were in grete multytude and also they were perfyte of ryight holy lyfe / Some were nygh dwellers by citees and other places in champestres / And other garnisshed wyth vertues were separate dysperded in the desertes / And as the excersice of men of armes of some prynce is one they were vnyed in charytee in theyr tyguryes orcelles / And stedfastly armyd with prayer berynge the shelde of faythe for souerayne defence were redi apparaylled to fyghte agaynste the aduersaryes of our fragylytee / By whyche they tooke by assaulte the reame of heuen / All generalli were aoumed and arayed with vertues swete and peasyble / But alle were togydre alyed and bounde wyth the bonde of charyte And for Ialousye and desyre for to gete vertues they led dide dyuerse batayles For euery man laboured and toke payne that one to be more swete and softe or more benigne than the other / That one to be more peasyble and that other right pacyente / Yf ony were more wyse than thother / Of soo moche he rendred hymselfe more humble / and seruaunte of alle the other In suche wise as he semyd to be moost ygnoraunte / And soo moche sayth saynt Iherom that god hath done to me suche grace to see their conuersacyon I shall sette my payne after that god shall gyue me the mynde for to recounte by wrytynge theyr fayre laudable manere of lyuynge / To the ende that they whiche haue not seen corporally theym maye knowe theyr holy conuersacyon and good werkes / By the whyche they maye ensyewe and lede suche a lyfe lyke to theym / And fynably maye gete by very pacyence tryumphe and vyctorye in this worlde And in the reame of heuen glory perdurable / Amen / ¶ Of saynt IohnÌ„ the Heremyte the fyrst chapytre / whiche begynnyth in latyn Primum igitur / THe noble and blessyd Doctou saynt Iherom Recountyth of saynt IohnÌ„ of Egypte The whiche was an holy Heremyte and an examplayre of alle vertues dwellynge in the partyes of Thebaydes in an Heremytage sette in an hyghe roche nygh to the cytee of Lyto / To whyche Heremytage myghte noo man goo but in grete payne and laboure / The chyrche of that Heremytage was closed and shette / And therin was the sayde Heremyte soo longe tyme. that fro his lx yere of age tyl he was lxxx yere olde that noo persone entred in to that chyrche tyll saynt Iherom vysited hym / Neuerthelesse to theym that came thyther for to vysyte hym he spake to theym thorugh a wyndowe oonly in confortynge theym / And gyuynge to theym spyrytuell refeccyon / He was neuer seen of woman in the sayd Heremytage / There were but fewe men that sawe hym / and that not alwaye / But att certayn houres dayes He suffred wel that a lityll how 's was made wythout his monastery for to lodge reste theym that came fro ferre regyons countrees for to see hym / And he hyÌ„selfe allone with in his monasterye ocupyed hym daye nyght without ony Intermyssion with alle his thoughte myghte to denowte oâ—yson prayer / And he was soo agreable to god that not allonely he had the scyence of thynges presente but also of thynges to come / And soo hadd he the yefte of prophecie as well in the prouyÌ„ces cytees nyghe by and also in ferre countrees in whyche he had neuer be To the emperour Theodosâ—en he shewed ofte tymes of his fortunes that he sholde haue of his aduersaryes / how he sholde haue vyctorye of some tyrauÌ„â—es his enmyes ¶ In a time it happed that the Ethyopyens nyght a cyte namyd Cyrene the whyche is the fyrst of the parties The baydes in the countree of Ethyopye hadd assyeged a knyghte Romayne the whyche had loste many of his peple in bataylle some slayne some take and broughte in capryuyte The sayde knyghte had lytyll peple· grete multytude of enmyes feryng for that cause to assaylle the Ethyopyens / â—ame to the sayd holy Heremyte for to couÌ„seyle what he shold doo / The why the ordeyned to hym day of batayle ayenst his enmyes / sayenge to hym that yf he soo dyde he sholde opteyne vyctorye and haue domynacoÌ„n of his enmyes / As well of theyr bodyes as of theyr goodes / And soo it happed to the sayde knighte ¶ Another knyght of Rome excercisyng the offyce of a Trybune came to the sayd Heremyte prayeng him that he and his wyffe myghte speke with hym To whom he answerd that his wyffe myghte in noo wyse speke wyth hym / And that syth he hadde be Heremyte neuer woman had seen him ne spake wyth him / The sayde knyghte abode styll in his prayers / In swerynge yf she sawe him not that she were in daungeour of dethe / And whanÌ„e the sayde Heremyte considered his Inportunytee and also her faythe sayd to hym / Goâ— to thy wyffe and saye to her that in this nyghte she shall see me But that she come not hyther / But in her bedde and in her howse I shall speke to her / Thenne wente the sayd Romayne / and consyderynge in his herte the doubtous answere of the sayde Heremyte shewed it to his wife / The whiche of the Incertayntee of that answere was strongely greuyd and ennoyed / But in the same nyghte she slepynge sawe a vysyon of a man spekynge to her whyche sayde to her thyse wordes / O woman of grete faythe for to satysfye thy desyre and wyll I am come hither for to speke to the / Neuerthelesse I admonest and warne the. that frohens fourth thou desyre not to see the bodyly vysage of the seruauntes of god / But allone haue thou desyre for to haue coÌ„templacyon in thyne herte of theyr vertues in good maners / The spyryte onely gyuyth lyfe And the flesshe prouffy tyth in noo thynge / I am not hid come to the as Iuste ne prophete lyke as thou wenest of me but for the fayth of thy Husbonde and of the / I haue prayed vnto almyghty god for to gyue to the helthe of all thy sykenesse and maladyes· thou shalt be hoole and guarysshed / And thou and thy husbonde and your housholde shall be blessyd of god / And be not vnkynde of the benefaytes that god hath gyue to you / But drede ye hym frohenforth / And demauÌ„de not of hym but the sustentacyon of your lyfe wythoute ony other rychesse / Lete it suffyse to the that thou haste seen me in slepynge / And in tyme comynge herafter desyre not to see my body / Thenne whan this woman was awaked she· recounted alle the caas to her husbonde In exposynge to hym very
is made in the worlde / And whanne be hadde taken for to susteyne nature / He retourned to prayer for to Rendre and gyue thankynges to our souerayn lorde god / ¶ To whyche Heremyte many reuelacyons of thynges to come were shewed / But after he fell in to vayne glory for his demerytes / And became slowe and neclygent in his prayers / And prayed not to god soo moche deuowtely as he had ben accustomyd / ¶ And as he was ennoyed to contynue his prayers He therby ranne in to slowthe and Infamye and in to lecherous thoughtes / And neuertheles he soo beynge made his prayers as he was accustomyd to doo / And entrynge in to his Caue he founde brede as tofore / The whyche was not soo fayre but fusty and spotted Thenne he admerueylled and was heuy and sory / By cause this brede was not lyke ne soo good as it had ben byfore / And the thyrde daye after he beynge maculate by vayne thoughtes / supposed verily in his mynde to haue seen the ymage of a yonge woman ¶ And thenne hym semyd that he embracyd and also kyssyd her In makynge fowle attowchynges / ¶ Thys notwythstondyng / the daye folowyng he retourned in to hys prayers / But SAynt Iherom saythe that he saw a nother holy man moche honourable nyghe vnto the regyon of Thebayde namyd Hor / whyche was fader and abbot of many monasteryes And was foure score and ten yeres of aege / Hauynge a longe berde and white heere 's and Ioyous after the Iugemente of his face / And to th ende that the brethern dwellynge in the Foreste had none occasion for to goo ferre for to seche their bodily necessytees / He planted in places nighe the monasteryes trees berynge fruyte In whyche places tofore he dwelled there hadd neuer tree be planted / And yf he was moche besye for theyr refeccyons corporell / Moche more wythout comparison had he more affeccyon vnto the spyrytuell refeccyon / It is sayd that charytee begynnyth at hymself / He ete not of that whiche his brethern ete / For oonly he vsyd rootes and herbes for his mete and for his drynke oonly clere water / yf he fonde it in ocupyenge hymselfe al day and nyghte in fastynges and prayers / ¶ Whanne he was come to maturytee and rypenesse of his aâ—ge / An aungell apperyd to hym in a vysyon sayenge to hym / Many men to the obeissaunte shall bileue the / Grete multytude of peple as thousandes shall be saued by the And after the angell sayd to him that in tyme to come he sholde haue domynacyon vpon as many men as he had conuerted / And that he sholde drede no manere thynge / For all that he sholde demaunde of god he sholde opteyne / ¶ Whan the holy man had herde alle thys· he wente in to a â—elle the whyche he hadd made for hymselfe / And there he vsyd for his sustentacyon but coole wortes after that he hadd longe fasted And notwythstondyng that he ne cowde rede ne wryte / Neuerthelesse his brethern whom he vysyted in places adiacent and nyghe to his Hermytage presented to hym a booke / In whyche as he had knowen all by herte he radde lyightly / He had puyssaunce vpon the deuylles in chacynge theym oute of the bodyes of men / And by vertue of his prayers he guarysshyd and heelyd theym / ¶ Many other Hermytes and relygyous men came to him / Amonge whiche saynt Iherom came whom he receyued benyngly and prayed hym that he myghte wasshe his fete lyke as he had be acustomyd to doo to his ghestis His custome was neuer to receyue hys refeccyon corporall tyll that he had receyued his maker / ¶ On a tyme amoÌ„ge other after that he hadde receyuyd his creatour saynt Iherom aryued / He exorted his brethern and saynt Iherom to take theyr refeccyon corporell / In whyche refeccyon he spake of god and of his werkes wythout to speke of ony vanytees lyke as we doo After the refeccyon take he recounted many hystoryes of holy Heremytes / And fyrst of an holy man whyche was thre yere coÌ„tynuelly wythoute etynge of ony mete / of this worlde / but from thre dayes to thre dayes an aungel broughte to him heuenly meete / Of whyche oonly he was susteyned and fedde wythoute takynge of ony other thynge / ¶ After this he recounted to theim a nother historye / In sayenge that he had seen soo holy an Heremyte To whom the cruel deuylles came in lykenesse of angels bryngynge a charyott aâ—urned and arayed as for a grete lorde / In whyche charyott was one of the deuylles habyl lyd lyke a kynge the whyche sayde to him / Come now hither good man thy penaunce is accomplysshed / There is now nomore to doo but thou adoure worshyp me / To the ende that I enhaunce the in this charyott lyke as Hely was / But the good Relygious Heron thynkynge was admerueyled / sayde to hymselfe / Eeuery daye I adoure my god / And now he woll praye that I adoure hym / He knowyth well that I serue hym day nyght wyth all my power / I byleue that this is not my god / And therfore he said to the same deuyl I haue my kynge whom contynuelly I adoure / Wherfore I byleue that thou art not my lorde souerayne / Thenne the deuylles sawe his constaunce humylyte wente all awaye confused / Saynt Iherom sayth notwythstondynge the holy man Hor in recountynge this hystorye applyed it to be happed to a nother persone than to hym / Neuertheles the brethern affermyd the same Hor. to be it hymselfe / But by his grete humylyte he atrybuted his perfeccoÌ„n to a nother / Whan ony men came for to dwell with hyÌ„ / he was soo pyteuouse of them that he callyd his brederrn and dyde theym for to make an hous for theym There some made mortere other made tyles / And by cause his brethern seenge his charytee enioyed theym to be wyth hym / He dyde not as some done in thise dayes whiche demaunde grete quantite of money for to receyue some relygyous in theyr hous but he delyuerde to them at his dyspence and his brethern hous and vtensyles / ¶ On a tyme it happed that one of his brethern a stonge lyer came to hym the whyche had rente his robe / to the ende that the good abbot sholde see hym nakyd for to haue one newe / ThenÌ„e the holy maÌ„ knowyng by Inspyracyon his Inyquite falsenes repreued hym tofore alle his brethern / And neuer after durste he lye tofore hym / And for fynall conclusyon he was of soo grete vertues me rytes· that from all partyes came to hyÌ„ holy and deuoute relygious men for the excellence of his vertuous lyfe In whyche oughte to take ensample alle men of Relygion / ¶ Of saynt AmÌ„on abbot of thre thousande monkes / And begynnyth in latyn Vidimus autem / Caplm iii. REcyteth saynt Iherom of
an other holy fader dwellyng in the sayd regyon of Thebayde the whiche was abbott fader of thre thousande relygious persones of merueylous abstinence called Thebenesiens He coÌ„maunded to the relygiouses to here the vestyment large of whiche they couerd theyr heede and was called Scapulari and to haue an other vestyment whyche was callyd Frocke whyche in lykewyse couerde their face whan they sholde sytt at table to the ende the one sholde not repreue that other if ony ete more or lesse / Those relygiouses helde soo grete scylence in drynkynge etyng that it cowde not be knowe that yf ony persone were in the place where they toke alwaye theyr refeccoÌ„n / And notwythstondynge that they were in grete multytude / they were so secrete in then werkes that the one knewe not the abstineÌ„ce of that other / Neuertheles they were more abstynent of the metes sette tofore theym than to haue affeccyon to ete ne to drynke wythout to make of their bely theyr god / ¶ Herupon we oughte to consydre that it is more grete abstynence to see mete and lytyll to ete of it than to be wythoute meâ—e not desyre it / In lyke wyse they that ben now relygious oughte to rule theim in sobrenes in abstynence in eschewynge enuye regnynge in cloystre / Also theyr abbot oughte to restrayne theim / And hyÌ„selfe oughte fyrste to refreyne hymselfe for to yeue ensample to his relygiouses ¶ Of saynt Benon abbot ledynge an angelles lyfe begynnynge Vidimus alium Caplm iiii SAynt Iherom recountyth after this that he his felowes sawe an other abbot auncyent the whyche surmouÌ„ted all men in swetnesse and humylyte namyd Benon of whom his bredern witnessed that he had neuer sworne ne made lesynge / Also a thynge whiche is moche to be merueyled / He had neuer be angry ayenst ony persone lyuynge ne neuer had spoke ydle worde / His lyfe was soo peasyble of soo grete humylytee that he was lyuynge as aungels lyffe / And as saynt Iherom writeth whan he his felowes requyred him to haue of hym some wordes edyficatyff for the soule wyth grete dyffyculte myght they gete of hyÌ„ some shorte wordes whiche he recyted to theym of the vertue of Clemence swetnesse / ¶ On a tyme he was required of the labourers of the couÌ„tree there by his monastery to praye god that it pleased hym to chace awaye a beeste the whyche destroyed all theyr labours / Anone he came to the place where as that beeste was / And coÌ„maunded hym in the name of god to departe and go fro thens / And that he sholde neuer after do harme to the graynes of that couÌ„tree / And Incontynent like as he had be chacyd awaye by an aungell of heâ—uen he fledde awaye / And neuer after he retorned in to that countree / ¶ Here vpon ought to be noted that scylence is good for to eschewe many sinnes / And pryncypally vnto relygyous persones and to abbottes / ¶ Of the cyte of Exirynque· in the whiche dwellyd neuer heretyke / begynnynge Vidimus autem Caplm v. SAynt Iherom sayth after as he and his felowes came in to the cytee of Exirynque in the Regyon of Thebayde / wpyche is a cyte full of vertuous men that noo man maye recounte / And there were so mani relygious wythin and wythouth the none myghte nombre / And so many monasteryes that they exceded the houses And there were founde xii Couentes wythoute other places of deuocyon the whiche frequented in certayn dayes in suche wyse we fonde that there ne was gate tour ne soo lytyll a place in the cyte but there was therin an Oratory of relygiouses monkes syngynge nyghte and daye hympnes praysynge to Ihesu Cryste / There was founde in the towne neuer Heretyke ne Paynym All the towne was soo full of Oratories that there was noo dyfference in prayenge aswell in the stretes as in the chyrche / For alle were as one chyrche one Oratory / All the cyteyzyns were good Crysten catholyke men / For the pryÌ„cypall maysters gouernours of the sayd cyte by all the yates of the cyte had also founded Oratoryes to the ende that whan pilgryms or strauÌ„ge folke came thyder the. relygiouses beynge in them sholde receyue theym admynystre to theim theyr necessytees / Ferdermore sayde saynt Iherom that he cowde not recyte yt. whiche was done to him to his felowes whan thei entred in to that cytee For they camÌ„ to hem lyke as they had ben angels doyng to theim grete honour right humain seruyce He sayth also that they demauÌ„ded of the bysshop of that place the nombre of the relygiouses of the cyte also of the virgynes The bysshop answerd that there were x. M. men / xx M. virgynes in the cite religyous religiouses of whom it was inpossible to recouÌ„te thonour seruyce that they wolde doo to pilgiyms passyng therby / For in lykewyse as saynt Ierom writyth thei rent their mantels vestyments for to lede theym by force in to theyr howses / for to refresshe theim / In the cytee were peple full of dyuers vertues there some in wordes other in abstinences· thother in sygnes myracles / Alas now ben there fewe cytees whiche studye to make monasteryes but eueryche enforcyth hym to dystroy theim It is grete profyte in a cite to pray god for to haue ther in many chirches / ¶ Of saynt Theon whythe was xxx yere wythout spekynge / and begynÌ„yth vidimus et alium / Caplm vi SAynt Iherom sayth that he sawe a nother man named Theon nye to the sayd cyte in the waye whyche lyeth towarde the desert the why â—he was an holy man bad be eÌ„closed xxx yere in his hermytage wythout spekynge to ony man of the worlde / He was so ful of vertues that he was reputed in the cyte for a prophete / And whan the malades seke peple camÌ„ thider fro straunge regyons vexed traueyled of dyuers maladyes he onÌ„ly layd his honde vpon their heedes and of what maldy they were seke anone they recouerd her helthe / He was of soo fayr manere soo swete a vysage· of so Ioyous reuerence so ful of al grace that he semed to be an angel / Some euyll theues entred in to his hermytage / supposyng for to haue fonde there some money / But incoÌ„tynent as the holy man putt hyÌ„selfe in prayer the theues abode at yate arestyd as they had be bouÌ„de wyth cordes On the morn many persones came to hym as they had ben acustomyd· wold haue brente those theues / ThenÌ„e the holy man was constreyned to speke onÌ„ly sayd to them / My frendes lete thise meÌ„ goo without doyng to theim ony harmÌ„ For els I sholde lese the grace the god hathe gyue to me to guarysshe hele the seke peple they durst not ayensay hym wherfor god suffred the the theues went theyr waye wythout ony harme / the whiche
heede of al synÌ„e ye shall resyste all vyces / for who resystith the herde he may lyghtly resyst gainsay the meÌ„bres / Wyth this he exhorted hem to vaynquisshe eche other / in surmouÌ„tyng eueryche his broder in vertues / For he say de the eueryche ought to desire to be more perfyte than his neyzbour also he sayd that the man is more perfyte in vertues that is not subdued ne vaynquysshed by worldly teÌ„ptacoÌ„ns for to resyst the sinnes fowle wylles is the begynÌ„yng of the yeftes of god / And after he sayd to hem yf ony of you do ony myracle / therefor he ouÈte not to glorifye hyÌ„self ne to repute hyÌ„ more worthi than his felowes / Also he ouÈte not shew to the peple the god hath gyue to hyÌ„ suche grace For otherwyse he seduceth deceyuyth hyÌ„selfe lesith his reward / yf the sayd holy man had excellent grace in doctryne yet more grete had he in operacoÌ„ns Al that he demauÌ„ded of god was to him acorded grauÌ„ted wyth this many reuelacoÌ„ns were shewed to him ¶ Amonge the whiche of one of his felowes wyth whom he had longe tyme vsyd his lyf was shewed to hym that he was in heuen in the sete of thapostles in lyke glori A nother tyme he prayeÌ„g for hyÌ„self to god that it wolde pleyse hym tabrdge his dayes to brynge hym in to the reame of heuen God shewed to him that he sholde be yet a lytyll tyme in the world for to be an exaÌ„ple of vertues to many other hermytes whiche by him shold be enformyd in holy coÌ„uersacoÌ„n as it was shewed to hym so it happed / For after that came to hym many hermytes fro dyuers places couÌ„trees whiche ensewyd hym in doctryne in vertues in suche wyse the many renounced the world for to folowe him made a monastery in the sayd mouÌ„tain wher as they lad a lyfe comyn / And those religyoê° men wer clene of body of soule notwythstondyng that they were in Egypt where as habounded synÌ„e malyce Yet were they vertuoê° reputed as angels / And therby is verefyed the sayeng of thapostles sayeng that where as habouÌ„dith synÌ„e there also habouÌ„deth grace Now ouÈt to be noted that thabycauÌ„ts of the sayde Egipte by theyr grete ydolatry worshiped the oxen by cause they laboured the feldes by whiche they lyued / also they worshypped the water of the ryuer of Nyle by cause it watred aroused the regyons of Egypte / In lyke wyse they adoured the erth as the moost fertyle of all other the dogges also apes dyuerse herbes / And the reyson whi moued heÌ„ so to doo was by cause they sayde that the dyuers ocupacoÌ„ns that they had somÌ„ to ere the londe other to nouryssh her dogges apes other to plante herbes / so of other operacoÌ„ns had be cause that they in besines had be lett empesshed that they went not wyth Pharao were not drowned wyth hym whan he entred in to the reed see wenynge to haue persecuted the chyldner of Israel whyche had happened to them yf they had not be taryed by the moyen of the sayd operacoÌ„ns / And for asmoche as that hadd be cause of her preseruacoÌ„n helth they worshypped hem as godes / After this the afore is writen of the doctryne of the holi man now resteth to-see of his werkes operacoÌ„ns ¶ ThenÌ„e it is to be noted that amonge his other werkes he saw in a temple of a cyte nyghe by his hermytage an ydolle· whyche soÌ„tyme was by prestes other peple born in processyon for to obteyne vberte habuÌ„dance of rayne / The whiche thyng seenge the holy man moued wyth pyte made his prayed to god for to take this foule creauÌ„ce mysbyleue fro theim His prayer soo made they their ydoll abode all vnmouable in suche wyse that they myght not moue ne go froward ne backeward / And were there all that day with out departyng frothens / in suffrynge susteynynge the brenÌ„ynge of the sonÌ„e / ThenÌ„e the preestes sayd that the orysons prayers of the holy cristen man that dwelled there by theyr cyte namyd Apolonyus was cause that they myght not moeuene depart thens / And yf they were not loâ—ourd by him they sholde longe tyme tary abyde there / And thenÌ„e some of theim sayd that it myght well be trouthe by cause that thenÌ„e he passed forthe by Neuerthelesse they brought many oxen wenynge for to moue thydoll but they cowde not make hym for to depart fro the place fynably they sent to the holy man promysed hy that yf he wolde delyuer theim fro the payne in whyche they were they shold renouÌ„ce theyr goddes byleue in IhuÌ„ cryst / ThenÌ„e camÌ„ the holy man to theim made his prayer the whyche made they were all delyuerd fro theyr trybulacoÌ„n / And for this miracle some of theim abode wyth hyÌ„ in his hermytage other went in diuerse places shewyng publysshynge this myracle by cause wherof they coÌ„uerted heÌ„ to the crysten fayth / And anone but ryght fewe dwelled in that regron / but they were coÌ„uerted to the fayth ¶ A nother myracle worthy to be remembred dyde the sayd holy man as here folowyth / Two townes on a tyme had war one ayenst a nother bi cause of the bouÌ„des lymytes of theyr londes of whyche that one was crysten that other paynym / By cause of this dyuysion were assembled of that one part that other man / men of warre The whyche thyÌ„ge seenge the holy man was moued by charyte enforced hym tacorde appese them togider / ThenÌ„e one whiche was namyd for cheif of the sayd paynyms / cause of the warr sayd that neuer he wolde acorde vnto the deth / The holy man answerde thenÌ„e be it soo in suche wyse as the demauÌ„dest / None shall deye but thyself thou shalt haue sepulture suche as aperteyneth to the / For thou shalt be buryed in the belyes of bestes byrdes so it befell / For he was fouÌ„de dede alone vpon therth all detrenched deuoured with bestes· all thother wer abasshed how the worde of the holy maÌ„ was soo verytable / And for that cause they began to drede the god of the holy man were alle coÌ„uerted to the crysten fayth leuynge their ydolatrye / ¶ Now shal we speke of a nother myracle whiche he dyde at the begynÌ„ynge whan he rendred hyÌ„selfe in to a cauern or caue wyth certayne bredern / In an holy daye of Ester he beynge at the table wyth his bredern after the seruyce acoÌ„plisshed in stede of delycate mete he hadd a lytyll drie brede wortes of chool made with a lytyll salte onÌ„ly / And the seenge the homan sayd / yf we ben the true seruauÌ„tes of god haue very fayth we shall opteyne bi our prayers / that whiche we desyre to ete in this holy soleÌ„pnyte / TheÌ„ne the
bredern by humylite answerd that he alone as the moost worthy vertuous shold make the prayer / so he dyde at theyr request in prayeng deuoutly / His oryson accoÌ„plysshed after that they had answerd Amen / came sodeÌ„ly to thate of their hermitage men vnknowe / as it semyd of strange couÌ„tree charged wyth all metes that they myghte desyre / There some had apples of dyuers sortes· raysyns nottes figges in grete habuÌ„dance / thother had hony tofore the tyme that it cowde be made naturelly / mylke grete quantyte with hoote brede good And whan thei had presented their yeâ—tes incontynent they went a way as yf they had be sent fro some grete lorde ¶ Here ought to be noted that suche thynges were none in Egipte also they that broughte theim were also vnknowe / were not of the mayntene ne of the langage of the couÌ„tree / Wherfore it maye surely be byleuyd that it was a very myracle / Whan the sayd relygious men had ete suffycyently they rendred thaÌ„king to god / kept the residue whiche endured for theyr refeccyon fro that daye of ester tyll the feest of pentcost / It is no synÌ„e thenÌ„e to ete delycate metes / whan it is take sobrely / And by that one is not moeued to synÌ„e / It happed afterward the one of his bredern prayed hyÌ„ to make a request to god that it wold plese hym to gyue to hym very humylytee / by cause he was proude wythout clemence / The holy man anone made his prayer deuoutly for hym incontynent he was so huÌ„ble meke that all his bredern merueyiled In the tyme it happed that there was grete famine huÌ„gre in the parties of Thebayde so grete that they wyst not what to ete Some wyth theyr wyues came to the holy man / For they knewe wel that oftymes by the grace of god wyth out mete the relygious were fedd susteyned / And whan the holy man saw heÌ„ he doubted no thyng / but had confydeÌ„ce in god whiche had ynough for to nourysshe theim / Now there he had thre baskettes with brede / whiche was suffisauÌ„t for the bodily sustentacoÌ„n of the religyous men there onely for one daye / Whiche baskets brede he dide do sett in the myddes amonge theim / the benedyccoÌ„n made by the grace of god they lyued by the sayd brede / by the space of four monethes all they that by the constreynt of the famyne were come thyder / An other tyme he dide a lyke myracle / on the oyles in whete / in multeplyenge aboue the therth had brought forth / The deuyll seeng this sayd to him I wene perfytly that thou art Helyas or thapostle of god / the holy man answerde / Wherfore sayst thou suche wordes / thapostles prophetes were not they men as we ben / the whiche haue lefte vs in theyr place we nest thou not the god was wyth theim and now he is wyth vs. he is shall be almyghty yf god be good wherfore art thou euyll lete vs remembre the thynges tofore wrytt / how they ben worthy of grete remeÌ„brauÌ„ce the whiche ben verefied by the wytnesse of the holy man / TheÌ„ne restith now to write of the miracles of the sayd holy man / whiche saynt Ierom sawe / ¶ On a tyme in the presence of the sayd saynt Ierom. the holy maÌ„ dyde doo brynge to the table the baskettes full of brede / But whan he had distrybuted sette it vppon the table / And that euery man had take his refeccyon the sayd baskettes were agayn fyllyd and full as they were byfore / ¶ A nother tyme the relygious bredern walkyd for to see the sayde holy man Amonge whom was saynt Iherom / And thre dayes tofore the sayd bredern came to the place where as the holy man was the sayd holi man shewed to bis bredern relygyous that the bredern were comyng fro Iherusalem in to theyr hous / wha they knewe theyr approchyng· they came ayenst theym in syngynge some byfore and some after / And in lyke wyse dyde the holy man the whiche also wasshed theyr fete and dyde to theim many other seruyces lyke as they were accustomed ¶ And saynt Iherom sayth that they neuer ete tyll that they had receyued theyr maker And after theyr reâ—â—â—â— take / some went in to desert / the other abode in wakyng / and ocupyeng theymself al the nyght in holy scrypture And notwithstondyng that they were out of worldly Ioy. yet had they more eâ—â—ltacon / than ony man lyuynge in the worlde / For where as is Ioye in to scyence there is alwaye Ioye / ¶ Neuer was there ony of theym heuy ne sorowfull / The holy man sayd to theim ofte it is of necessytee yf ye he Iuste ryghtfull that ye be alwaye Ioyous / Lete the paynims layd he wepe and the hethen men synners / Also knowe ye for certayne that they the loue worldly thinges reioyce theim in getynge londes possessyons / We thenÌ„e that gete and haue hope to haue the glorye eternall ought alwaye to be Ioyous / For the glorye goodnesse that we entende to haue shal be wythout ende / And they that entende the worldly thynges is but of lytyll endurynge / Wherfore we oughte to be more Ioyous than they that ben worldly Thus counseylith the appostle that sayth that we oughte to reioyce vs contynuelly in giuyng thankynges to god wyth all our thoughte / ¶ He gaaf also counseylle that yf ony brother relygyous gooth to see one that other / He oughte not oonly to praye hym to abyde tarye / But to constreyne him / Lyke as Abraham in receyuynge the pylgryms Constrayned theym by charyte to soiourne in his house / ¶ He coÌ„mauÌ„ded also to his bredern to receyue theyr maker / to the ende that they sholde not wythdrawe theym fro the grace of god / For in soo doynge they sholde contynuelly remembre the passyon of Ihesu Cryste In lyke wyse he coÌ„maunded theym expressely to faste the Wenesdaye by cause that the same daye Iudas machyned the dethe of Ihesu Cryste / And in lyke wyse the Frydaye / For that daye he receyued dethe passion / ¶ The holy man blamed moche the heremytes whiche had longe heer berde and yâ—ons on theyr neckes / For he sayd that they dyde not that but for the glory of the worlde / And also the coÌ„mauÌ„demente of god is that fastynge prayer be done pryuely / For god oonly oughte to knowe the good dedes that we done / ¶ And after saynt Iherom his felowes toke his benedyccyon / And he delyuered to theym some of his burdern for to conduyce theym thorugh the desertes / ¶ Of saynt Ammon thermyte / whyche slew a dragon conuerted the theues and begynnyth in latyn ¶ Que an diuimê° / Caplm viii SAynt Iherom wrytyth that he his felowes came to a place / where as dwellid saynt
dnÌ„i Et erit tanquaÌ„ lignuÌ„ / The whiche verses by hyÌ„ considred said that they suffysid to bryÌ„ge a man to euerlastyng lyf / After that he had be thre dayes wyth theym he went in to an hermitage whan he was in desert he ete noo thyng but rotes kept right dyligently the vertues whiche the prestes had delyuerd yeue to hyÌ„ not onÌ„ly in wordes· but also by effect operacoÌ„ns / And after this he retourned to theim whiche were moche abasshed how sodenly he was become so vertuoê° in ledyng soo harde strayte a lyf / they constreyned hyÌ„ for to dwell emonge theim / ThenÌ„e he wyllyng not to dysobey soiournod wyth theim a weke· that whiche passed he retorned in to desert / And was there vii· yere in grete abstynence in kepyng holy scrypture / ete no thyng but brede / that on the son daye / Whiche brede was mynystred to hym by grace diuyne / For whan he rose fro prayer he fonde the brede alle redy wythout bryngyng of ony persone / His refeccoÌ„n take he ete nomore tyl the nexte sonday folowyng After longe tyme he retorned fro desert / many were by him coÌ„uerted to penauÌ„ce Emong whoÌ„ a yonge man camÌ„ to hym for to be his dyscyple / ThenÌ„e clad hyÌ„ the holy man with thabyte of hermytes whiche was of the skyuÌ„e of a ghote / after enfourmyd him wyth the rules of heremytes Hrewith he had grete besynesse to bury the dede bodyes yf ony had passed out of this worlde / WhaÌ„ the childe that was his discyple saw his spirytuel fader thê° bury the dede men in clothyng theim honestli ThenÌ„e sayd he I wolde well that my fader shold clothe me thus whan I wer deed And the holy man sayd to him so shal I doo shall yeue to the asmoche as that shal saye it suffyseth / After a lytyll tyme the childe deyed was buried with his fayr fader / And whan he had wrapped him in fayr vestyments he demauÌ„ded him yf it suffised / The chylde that was tho deed answerd tofore al them that were presence there ye / that he had ynouz that his promyse was acoÌ„plysshed / ThenÌ„e all they that were present were moche admerueylled / After that the chylde was buryed the holy fader retorned in to his hermitage / whä he had be long tyme there he came ayen to vysyte his bredern in cominge it was shewed to hyÌ„ that one of hem was in deyeng And by cause it was late he hasted hyÌ„ for to see him at leest or he deyed for he was ferre fro the place where the seke man laye / that dyde he considering that our lord sayth / that we ouÈt to walke whyle we haue light For who that walketh in lyght / that is to say in instyce he offeÌ„dyth not god / therfore by cause the the sonÌ„e decluâ—ed theuynge came on He coÌ„masided to the sonÌ„e in the name of god that he shold cary yeue his lyghte vnto the time that he were comÌ„ vnto the place where the seke man was / And anone the sonÌ„e taried abode vnto the tyme that he was come / ThenÌ„e the bredern were abasshed demauÌ„ded at his comynge frowhens proceded the tarienge of the sonÌ„e / And he answerd ne remeÌ„bre ye not that our loâ—ue sayth / that who someuer hath somoche fayth as the greyne of mustard / of whiche of one grayne come procede infynyte greynes c· Anone the bredern vnderstoden that it was by his merytes that the sonne had be fixed in his syege and trone / And whan he was entred to to the place where as the seke man was / for whom he had so hasted for to come he fonde hym deed / And incontynente the holy man Mucyns kyssed hym in demauÌ„dyng him / Answere to me my broder / Whether haddest thou leuer â—e deed wyth IhuÌ„ Cryst or to come lyue agayn in this worlde / And the bâ—odder answerde / Alas my fader wherfore demaundest thou me this questyon / Thou knowest wel that it is of necessite that I be wyth my god / For. for to be in the worlde nys but myserye / Fader hermyte sayd he thenne to hym / Now goo thy waye thenÌ„e my sone / and praye for me ThenÌ„e the broder layd hym downe agayn in the bedde as he had slepte / Of whyche thynge they that were present were moche abasshed / For they knewe well that he was a man of God of holy lyfe / And this done the holy fader cladde the corps like as he was acustomyd to burye theym that were deed / walked all the nighte in prayers / And after the sayd holy man went to vysite a nother broder that laye on deyenge / And by cause that this broder doubted to be reproued of his lyfe tofore god / Prayed the holy man that he wolde gete of god that his dayes myghte be proloÌ„ged / to th eÌ„de that he myght ameÌ„de his lyfe / the holy fader answerd / What hast that do al thâ— lyf / Hast thou had no space to do penauÌ„ce thou woldest neuer lasse thy synÌ„es but alway haste augmented heÌ„ notwythstoÌ„dyng sayd the holy maÌ„ iâ— thou wylt promyse cameÌ„de thy coÌ„scyence satysfye for thy synÌ„es we shal praye god for ye. they put beÌ„ al to prayer anone after the holy maÌ„ had prayed the lyfe of the broder to be proloÌ„ged thre yere ThenÌ„e the holy man reysed hym out of his bed the frere beyng al hole went wyth him in to deserte / And whaÌ„ the iii. yeres were acoÌ„plysshed he brouÈt hyÌ„ ayen in the place where he had take hyÌ„ ledyng moâ—e the lyfe of an angel than of a man Wherof all the bredern were admerueyled that he was becomÌ„ in so perfyte lyf / After that the freres wer asseÌ„bled he beyng in the myddes amonge hem / the holy man began to preche of the penauÌ„ce coÌ„uersacoÌ„n of the sayd broder al the nyght And in makyÌ„g the sayd sermon lyke as the broder had be a slepe / he rendred gaue vp his spiryte vnto the holy sayntes to heuen his body was buryed / And after the seruyce done the holy man retorned in to deserte / in goynge thyder oftymes he passed the ryuer of Nyle / whyche is a ryuer merueylously grete depe / yet he neuer entred therin depper than to his knees whiche is a thynge moche merueylous / Another tyme the deuyll preseÌ„ted to hym tresours infinyte whyche he said that thei had be loÌ„ging to kyÌ„g Pharao were hyd in therth / The holy man Mucyns answerd to hyÌ„ / the and thi money be in perdicoÌ„n perpetuel / Oftymes he entred in to the hous of the bredern there where al the dores were shytt closed / whaÌ„ he wold in a moment he made a grete way And as saynt copret recouÌ„ted of the holy men tofore sayd one of
dyuyne operacions / In whiche gardyne he had palme trees· apple trees many other trees that he told them that he had planted there And sayd saynt Coprett that he had doo this to thensaÌ„ple of the labourers his neighbours whiche were acustomed to come fetche of the duste pouldre drye erthe in the places where as the holy faders dwelled / sewe / threwe abrode the same erthe vpon theyr londe / Byleuynge fermly that it shold be therby the more fertile habuÌ„dant / He sayd ferdermore that it shold be grete shame to the holy faders there dwellyng yf the labourers sholde haue in theim gretter fayth thanÌ„e they seeng that the same fayth was in theim by the holy faders confermyd / ¶ Of saynt Helye whyche begynnyth ¶ Vidimê° aliuÌ„ senem / Caplm xii SAynt Iherom saith that he his felowes sawe a nother holy fader namyd Helye nye a cite namyd Anthinos· whiche was Metropolytane in the partyes of Thebayde / this holy fader was of â—hage of an C. x. yere or there aboute / Whiche in vertue holy lyf semyd to be egall to Helye the prophete / This holy man was moche solitary for he was bi the space of lxx yere in a deserte soo horryble that it maye not well be wryten / And there be was in passynge his lyf solytary in suche wise not where the peple of the worlde dwellyd / The waye was so harde sharpe that they that came thyder myghte not passe it / the place where he lay was so terryble that noo man myght beholde it wtoute horrour / And whan it came soo that his membres began to tremble for aâ—ge he vsed for his mete a lytyll brede oyle olyue moche sobrely ¶ But in his yongthe he had fasted many tymes aâ—â— hoole weke wythout ony etynge / Theâ— was neuer man sawe hym goo oute of his hermytage like as other heremytes wytnessen / He had that yeâ—re of god that all they that went to hym· retorned neuer wythout to haue that whiche they demauÌ„ded / And also he helyd guarisshed heÌ„ of all sekenesse maladyes / at last finysshed in glory eternall his daye / ¶ Of saynt Pithiryon whiche begynnyth ¶ RedeuÌ„tes / Caplm xiii IN suche wise as saynt Iherom his felowes retorned fro the hayde they sawe a mouÌ„tayne / vnto the whyche noo man myght goo without grete diffyculte payne / In the sayd mouÌ„tayne were dyuerse heremyte of whom saynt Pithyrion was fader abbot the whiche had be dyscyple of saynt Anthonye / And after had dwellyd with saynt Amon. of whom is afâ—â—r wryten / ¶ This same saynt Pythiryon was of soo grete vertue / aswell in helpyng the seke peple as in fyghtyng resystynge the deuylles / Whiche hadd dowble the vertues of the sayd two faders / That is to wyte of the sayd saynte Anthonye of whom we shall speke herafter and of the forsayd saynt Amon of whom he had be successiuely dyscyple ¶ Saynt Iherosme was enseyned taught of the sayd saynt Pythiryon how he myght resyste eschewe the teÌ„ptacoÌ„ns of the deuyll of hell / ¶ Who some euer woll haue domynacoÌ„n puyssauÌ„ce vpon the deuylles hym behouyth fyrst that he resyste ayenst his synnes passyons / And whan we shall haue take a waye one vyce or one synne fro our soule / the deuyll that tempteth a man of the sayde synne Incontynent shall departe fro the body where it hath ben His lyfe was moche strayte / For two tymes in a weke he ete but onely / Ne dranke but a lytyll browet made with meele wythout to take ony other refeccoÌ„n in what aege he was / But our lorde whiche knewe the Right grete and synguler deuocyon that he had in hym and to his seruyce gaaf to hym aboue nature strengthe and courage to bere susteyne those ryght strayte and merueillous penaunces / ¶ Of saynt Eulogyon whyche begynnyth in latyn ¶ Vidimus et alium Caplm xiiii AFter this spekith saynt Iherom sayenge / that he sawe an other holy fader namyd Eulogyon / ¶ The whyche amonge other graces that he had he knewe al the thoughtes good euyll of all theym that in his presence came to the aulter for to receyue theyr maker or creatour / ¶ Soo it happed on a tyme that some relygiouses wolde receyue theyr sauyour / But the holy man kepte theym fro it sayenge to one of theym thyse wordes / O myschaunte man arte thou soo folysshe to come for to receyue thy god And thou haddest this nyghte wyll for to acomplysshe the synne of Fornycacyon / And he sayde to that other / thou haste sayde in thyne herte that it is no more daungeour to admynystre hymselfe to the table of Ihesu Cryste in dedely synne than in the astate of grace / And that is alle one beynge good and euyll / And after he sayde to a nother / Thou haste sayd in thyself that the sacramente of the awter maye not Iustefye the / ¶ And thenne sente theym agayne for to doo penaunce / Reputyng theym vnworthy to receyue the sacrament of the awter / ¶ Here vpon oughte the preestes to take ensample whan they prepare and make theym redy to saye masse / And also alle other creatures that gone purpoos to receyue the holy sacrament of the awter / ¶ Of saynt Appellen· and begynnyth in latyn ¶ Vidimus aliuÌ„ presbiteruÌ„ / Caplm xv SAynt Appellen was a forgeur of â—ren / And that whiche was necessary to the bredern he forgyd it to theym / ¶ On a nyght as he was forgynge the deuyll came to hym to lykenesse of a fayr woman and brought him werke for to forge / Thenne the holy man toke out of his furnays a baâ—â—e of yren and caste it in to her vysage Thenne the deuill made soo terryble a crye that all the bredern were awaked / therof he had suche a yefte of god / that frothan forthou he myghte take in his bare honde wythout to be brente the yren alle hote hrennynge reed ¶ And whan saynt Iherom his felowes came to hym he receyued theym benygnely and tolde to theym of the maners lyfe of some of his bredern / ¶ And fyrste of one namyd IohnÌ„ the whyche was moche olde auncyen surmountyng the other in holynesse of lyfe and of good maners / And tolde to theym that at the begynnyng that the sayd IohnÌ„ came in to deserte He was thre yere vnder a toche in oryson prayer wythout lyenge on the grounde ¶ The sayd IohnÌ„ slepte not but lenynge / And ete not but on the Sondaye / On whyche day the preste admynystred to hym the holy sacrament of the awter of whyche he lyuyd onely / ¶ On a daye the deuyll wenynge to dysceyue hym transfigured hymselfe to the semblaunce of a preest / And came tofore hym the houre acustomyd In faynynge to gyue to hym the
holy lawe / And also for to conferme thoos that ben here presente / And to brynge theym oute of the heresye of this Heretyke ¶ Incontynent thyse wordes sayde He called the deed man by the name that he hadd in hys lyfe / The whyche anone answerd and rose / ¶ And after that the brethern vnwounde his couerynge He shewed him all lyuyng to thoos that were there presente / The Heretyke this seenge was moche admerueyled / And fledde a way for drede of al the bredern / Whiche chaced hym oute of the countreye / ¶ Therfore oughte noo man dyspute the faythe agaynst the Heretykes but yf he be Inspyred and taughte of god / By the helpe of whom he maye by myracles more than by reasons verytably preue that whyche he woll mayntene / ¶ Of the vertues of that other saynt Machayre of Alexandrye / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Alius vero saÌ„ctus c· Caplm .xxix. SAynt Machaire of AlexaÌ„drye souerayn more than all thother louyd solytude He enquyred curiously of the moost ferre hermitages tyll that he was at the ferthest place of al the deserte / Where he fonde al plentenousnes habuÌ„dance of dyuers fruytes all other good thynges / ¶ There were .ii. bredern to whom he prayed that they shold bryge of the other hermytes thyder by cause the place was moche fertyle habuÌ„dant / The same bredern dreding / not wythout cause theym the they shold brynge to be deceyued wyth teÌ„ptacions of the deuyll by cause that in the same deserte there were many deuylles horryble monstres / And answerde to hym that they myghte not be broughte thyder / but that they shold be in dangeour to be begyled deceyued in comynge / ThenÌ„e the holy fader retorned to his bredern / To whom he shewed thyse thynges whyche he had seen / And by this cause they were moeuyd for to goo wyth hym for to see that same deserte· ¶ The aeged ailcyent men consideryng the dauÌ„geours of the sayd temptacoÌ„ns couÌ„seyled the yonge men that they sholde not goo thyder For the place after theyr oppynyon mighte more be cause to deceyue hem thaÌ„ to moeue theym to deuocoÌ„n And more ouer the holy fader sayd to theym that the places is full of delyces yf we vsyd theym / What hope oughte we to haue of the other worlde / Whan we in this worlde shall lyue at our playsure / The yonge bredern herynge thise wordes fayr remonstrauÌ„ces anone concluded not for to goo thyder / The place thenÌ„e wherin as dwellyd the holy fader Machair was called Sycheon to whyche place was nother waye ne path / And was as ferre from the monasteryes of Nytrye aboute ii· Iourneyes / They had but lytyll water yet it was noyous bitter to dryÌ„ke / ¶ On a tyme was presented to hym a clustre of grapes / the whyche Incontynent by charyte he sente to one of his bredern whyche was seke he gaue it to a nother And that man gaaf it a nother he to a nother / And fro hond to honde it was soo ofte yeuen the fynably it came agayn to hym fro whom it fyrste was departed / And saynt Machair knowyÌ„ge their grete loue that they had togyder for to conferme our fayth saynt Iherom rehercith of the sayd saynt Machaire the he herde saye of the mouthe of the sayd saynt Machaire / that the deuyll came to hyÌ„ on a nyght sayeng / Machair aryse yu. and go we where as the bredern ben asseÌ„bled in prayer / incoÌ„tynent by the grace of god he knew that it was the â—â—yll and answerd to hym / O lyar enâ—â—e of trouth answere to me presently â—â—at haste thou to doo wyth the congregaâ—â— of the holy bredern / The deuyll answeâ— to hyÌ„ / Knowest thou not well that thasseÌ„ 〈◊〉 of relygyous people ne theyr dedes 〈◊〉 neuer made but that we deuylles ben â—â—ed therto come thou shalt see our deâ—â— / ThenÌ„e saynt Machaire put hyÌ„ to â—â—yer / in prayenge god that he wold leteâ—â—n know yf his worde were true in â—â—ynent he sawe lyke lytyl blacke chylâ—â— goo flee by all the partyes of the chirâ—â— / Now was the custome there suche that 〈◊〉 alone sayd the psalmes the other â—â—d· or they answerd / He sawe thenÌ„e yeâ—â—â—e chyldern blacke as ethyopiens whiâ—â—â— deceyned mocked al the bredern In â—he wise whan they towched some biâ—yen anone they were a slepe And yf â—â—â—y towched theim on the mouth they â—â—yd to syÌ„ge Tofor some thei shewed â—â—â—m in lyknes of a woman / and in efâ—â—â— bi dyuers scornes many bredern were â—â—â—eyued in suche wyse that some myghte â—â—t abide in the chirche / To other bredern â—â—y sprange vpon their sholds by can they had none affeccoÌ„n ne thyÌ„ kynge 〈◊〉 their prayers / this seeng saynt maâ—aire made his prayer to god sayenge â—â—y god aryse thou and chace a way the fenâ—â—s to th ende that they appyere not tofore 〈◊〉 face / ne tofore my bredern for our souâ—â— ben all full of theyr socrnes lyke as â—â—w I apperceyue / His orison made he â—â—lled the one after that other al the bredern / â—â—fore whom he had seen the deuylles / â—â—ed them yf in makyng their orrsons â—â—â—i had ben in wyll to doo ony werkes â—â—orell lyke as the holy man had seen / â—â—ey ansuerde ye / ThenÌ„e the holy man knewe that the vayn thoughtes that they had came of the scornyÌ„ges of the deuyll And to this purpoos sayth saynt Iherom that whan the thoughte of the man is wel sett in the loue of god it neuer takith ony fantasye whiche is greuoê° to hym or cause of synÌ„e / ¶ A nother thyÌ„ge more merueylouê° of the said saynt Machaire sayth saynt Iherom / That is to wyte that whan ony of his bredern came to receyue the holy sacrament of thawter / Yf they were not clene in theyr coÌ„scyences it semyd to the sayd holy fader / that the body of oure lorde retorned to thawter But whan the good men came for to receyue theyr sauyour the deuyllis incoÌ„tynent retorned bacwarde ferre ¶ On a nother tyme the same saynt Machayire that other Machaire his broder of whom is to fore spoken put theim in a boot for to go vysite one of theyr bredern with theym were some noble offycers / called trybunes right puyssaunt ryche / hauyng with theym many chyldern grete noÌ„bre of horses Innumerable quaÌ„tyte of syluer wyth other good / Whan one of theym sawe theim in the bote cladde with pore cloâ—hes he sayd to theim / Alas bredern that ye ben happy / whiche thê° despyse the world in it soo despysyng were so vyle poore clothes / Verily it apperyth that ye mocke yourself of theim of the worlde ThenÌ„e the one ansuerde to hyÌ„ truely thou sayst wel for they that folowe god by vertues mocke theymself / But the contrary we haue pyte
to be stylle / ¶ Thenne he toke a lytyll mete / And retourned by the waye that he came / Desyrynge syngulerly to see the holy Heremyte Poul Doubtynge also that he sholde rendre his soule to god in his absence / ¶ And after fynably he wente wyth soo grete dylygence as was to him possyble / and in suche wyse as that he had not walked but thre houres / ¶ WhanÌ„e he sawe 〈◊〉 â—â—ule of saynt Poul amonge the an 〈◊〉 Appostles / Prophetes and marters pure clene and white as snowe borne vpp in to heuen / And Incontynente he felle downe to the erthe / And couered his heed wyth sonde in sayenge / ¶ Wherfor Poul leuest thou me / Helas wherfore goost thou wythoute sayenge to me a dieu / or farewell / Helas I haue ouerlate knowen the / And ouer soone thou goost / Now haue I loste alle comforte Helas if I had not seen the ne knowen I shold not now haue the harme ne euyll that I haue / ¶ O man of god make thy requeste now in that hye place / where as the angels haue borne the to / that I maye by very faythe goo soone and folowe the / ¶ After that he had well egrely wepte waylled he was and founde hymself also lyghte as a byrde or a fowle fleenge and not wythout cause / For he beynge arryued at the hermytage of saynt Poul / He fonde hym knelynge on his knees vnmoeuable his hede beynge lyft vp on hyghe and his hoÌ„des Ioyned in suche wyse as saynt Anthonye had supposyd as he had ben yet alyue / But by cause he drewe noo brethe he wyste well he was deed / He was abowte to burye hym in sayenge psalmes and ympnes / lyke as thenne was the custome to burye the faders of Egypte / He supposyd to haue putt hym in to the erthe / But he founde neyther pykeys ne shouel for to make a pytt or graue / Wherof his heuynesse was encreaced consyderyng that he myght not lyghtly make it / For it was foure Iourneyes vnto his monastery / And of that other parte he thought in hymself that withoute pykâ—oys and shouel he myghteâ—e doo noo thynge / ¶ He beynge 〈◊〉 malencolye concluded in hymself byde there tyll he sholde deye nyghe to the layd body ¶ And thus thynkynge came two lyons sodaynly whyche made saynt Anthonye sore aferde / But he anone retorned towarde god by deuowte orison / And anone was assured and had noo more fere ne drede / ¶ And he behelde the lyons whyche began to waylle and lamente by the corps of saynt Poul / Lyke as they had had vnderstondynge resonable / And after theyr wayllynges / they made a depe pytte of the lengthe of the holy saynt Poul / The whyche made they came to saynt Anthonye / and lycked his hondes and fete Lyke as they had axyd his benedyccyon for theyr rewarde that they had there done / ¶ Thenne saynt Anthonye in praysynge god sayd / O my lorde my god wythout the prouydence of whom one oonly leef of the tree fallyth not to the grounde / Gyue to thyse lyons that whyche thou knowest that ought to be gyuen to them / ¶ And after blessyd theym wyth the sygne of the Crosse to the ende that they sholde goo theyr waye / And after whan they were departed he putt the body in the erthe the beste wyse he myghte / And on the morne came agayne / And as his heyre brought his robe of leeues / the whyche he ware or Eester daye and Whytsondaye oonly / ¶ Vpon this matere for to excyte theym that haue soo moche payne for to hope and to assemble bi neclygent wayes townes castelles lordshippes and other temporell godes in soo grete quantyte and the whyche some tyme begge in the ende of theyr dayes / Saynt Iherom knowynge the holy lyfe of the sayde gloryous saynt Poul / whyche neuer hadde suffraunce ne Indygence makyth to theym suche an exhortacyon / ¶ Thynke thou prowe man that drynkest and etest in vessellis of golde and syluer and gayely made fayr and ryche wyth precyouse stones / Thynke that to the deuowte and holy man Whyche hadd not but oonly one Robe of leues of Palme was heuen opened And to the prowde is hells made redy ¶ Thynke in lyke wyse of thy sepulture composyd of stones of marble or of syluer gylce / Or that is couered with veluet with whiche thou mayst be brente / ¶ Helas the holy man hadd not but a lytyll of erthe / Helas ye worldly men deporte or forbere you / And take not so moche payne to gadre and hepe richesses / ¶ Alas how is a man soo moche a foole for to burye a nother in clothe of golde or of sylke / For Incontynent and as soone as a man whiche hathe lyued euyll and synfully is out of this worlde / He is but in wepynges and in waylynges / ¶ The sepulcre of golde ne the dothe of parement maye not raunsonÌ„e hym fro the paynes that he suffreth / ¶ Alas poore prowde man wolt thou deye in thy pryde that desyrest to be buryed soo costle we / ¶ Fro whens comyth this folye / Whan thou haste be ambycyous in thy lyfe and that hath be made to the soo many vayne honours / Thou desyrest yet that they yet sholde be made to thy careyne after thy deth / ¶ And ofte perauenture some haue fayre and ryche sepulture of whom the soule suffreth harde payne / ¶ Here folowyth the lyfe of saynt Anthonye Abbot / Whyche fyrste was broughte in to wrytynge and sente by saynt Anathase to the bysshopp of Alexandrye / And after by saynt Enagrion preest translated out of Greke in to latyn and put it to this present boke whiche is made of holy faders / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Igitur Anthonius c. Caplm .xxxvi. SAynt Anthonye born in Egipte was come of ryght noble pareÌ„tes as was of noblesse of lignage as of holy conuersacyon / He was nourysshed soo solytaryly that he knewe noo man of the world / but onÌ„ly his frendes ¶ Whan he was a lytyll grete that is to wyte in his Infancye he wolde not goo play with lytyll chyldern but he went in to the chyrche herynge the seruyce of god / And notwythstondynge that the chyldren of ryche houses had a custome to be delicyously nourysshed with dyuers metes / Neuerthelesse saynt Anthonye desyred them neuer / but was coÌ„tent wyth suche as men gaaf to hym / ¶ After the deth of his frendes he abode faderles in thage of .xix. or .xx. yere with hyÌ„ dwelled his syster whom he gouerned taught in gode dedes werkes thê° passyÌ„g the tyme· vi moÌ„thes hauÌ„ting the chirche he thouÈt how thapostles left all theyr substaunce and goodes for to folowe theyr swete lorde and mayster Ihesu Cryste / ¶ On a tyme he beynge in the chyrche herde one rede a gospell / Whyche made mencyon how our lord sayd to a Ryche man
Notwythstondynge that he hadd dwelled in deserte His fame renommee was soo grete in Yytalye in Spayn and in Fraūce that none was lyke / ¶ And in hym hathe be verefyed the worde of our blessyd Sauyour and Redemer Ihesu Criste / Sayenge that he that mekyth hym shall be exalted / As he hath be thorugh alle the worlde / In whyche in dyuerse partyes and regyons ben yet done myracles withoute nombre to the praysynge and exaltacyon of his gloryous name / As well vpon the bodyes of mankynde / As vppon the brute beestes and vnresonable / In suche wyse that emonge alle the other gloryous sayntes / He is ryghte deuoutly adoured and prayed vnto / ¶ Lete vs thenne praye hym deuowtly that it playse hym to praye to god for vs myserable synnars / to that that his worthy playsure be to gyue vs ferme constaunt wyll and affeccyon to dyspyse by his ensample this present worlde in suche manere / that fynably we may obteyne the reame of heuen / ¶ Thus endyth the lyfe of the blessyd saynt Anthonye And after folowyth the lyfe of saynt Hylaryon Heremyte / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Hilarion ortus Caplm .xxvii. SAynt Hylaryon was borne in the countree of Palestyne in a towne namyd Thabatha fyue myle fro a cyte called Gasa or ther abowtes / ¶ He was as a Rose flourysshynge emonge the thornes / For his fader was a Paynem and serued thydollis / But Hylaryon serued god ¶ His fader sente hym in to Alexandrye for to lerne the science of Gramaire / In the whyche he was suffysauntly Instructe after his yonge aege / But that more is of valewe he lerned the very scyence of the faythe of Cryste / ¶ For he byleuyd in Ihesu Cryste / ¶ He beynge a scoler fledde all vyces and synnes despysyng generally alle the vanytees of the worlde / And occupyed hymself oonly to serue god and holy chyrche / ¶ Whan̄e he herde the renōmee of saynt Anthonye / whyche was strongely spradde in alle Egypte / He wente to see hym / And he beinge there arryued / chaunged his habyte / And was there .ij. monethes wyth hym in contemplacōn and Ioyeng the grete humylytee of saynt Anthonye / ¶ And as he receyued humaynly the brethern that wolde be Relygyous wyth hym / In lyke wyse as he was hymselfe harde and sharpe to correcte theim soo he was redy to admonest theym ¶ He was sobre in metes / And he was neuer syke for what someuer abstynence he dyde / ¶ Whanne the holy fader Hylaryon had seen his holy conuersacyon / He retorned wyth some Relygyouses in to the house of his fader / Whom he founde and his nyece also deed and departed oute of this worlde / ¶ And in contynent as towched of the holy ghoste· he distrybuted his parte of theyr godes to poore folke / and reserued no thȳge for hymselfe / In consyderynge the scrypture that sayth / That he whyche renoucyth not alle that he possessyth maye not be dyscyple of Ihesu Cryste ¶ And how well that he was not but fyftene yeres olde / ¶ Neuerthelesse he wente alle naked abowte seuen myles ferre from the forsayde cytee of Gaza in to a place full of theues And whan his frendes told hym the peryll / to whiche he wente to / ¶ He ansuered that he that wold eschew the dethe perdurable oughte to dyspyse the dethe naturell / ¶ Alle men merueylled of his life con / syderynge his aege / whyche was yet so tendre / And neuerthelesse endured somothe payne / ¶ His clothynge was oonly of a sacke and a mantell of pellycon whyche saynt Anthonye had gyuen to hym / ¶ The deuyll seenge the lyffe of this childe by cause he myght not calle hym agayne to the worlde / Tormented hym strongly to the ende to ouercome hym and brynge hym vnder his rule / ¶ He bete hym wyth fystes on his breste sayenge to him / ¶ Lytyll Asse I shall well kepe the from gooynge backe / Thou shalte not haue oonly barley breede for to ete / but shalt deye for hūgre and thurste / ¶ In Somer I shall make the to haue colde / And I shal put the in suche astate that thou shalte not remembre but for to ete and drynke wythoute to thynke on god / ¶ The holy chylde ete not in thre or four dayes but a lityll herbes and fygges ¶ Yet for to augmente encreace hys penaunce in fastynge he laboured the erthe / And made fyscellis wouen wyth Rede and Ionkes / In consyderynge that he that takyth noo payne to labour is not worthy to ete / ¶ On a nyghte he herde many dyuerse voyces lyke the voyces of a chylde / the bletynge of shepe / the lowynge of oxen the clamour of wymmen the crye of lions and many other dyuerse voyces / ¶ And all this dyde the deuyll whyche supposed to haue broughte hym out of his wytte by the feere of the herynge / And after by his eyen / ¶ And he anone knelyd downe and markyd his forhede wyth the sygne of the Crosse / And after he lokyd on that one syde that other / wenynge to haue seen the beestes and the other thynges / Wherof he had herde the voys / And Incontynent he sawe theym in a carte whiche horses drewe rennynge as they hadde ben wood / ¶ Thenne he began̄e to crye and calle the name of Ihesu / And anone the erthe opened / ¶ And alle the companye soo cryenge and howlynge sonke downe in to the pytte of helle / ¶ Thenne beganne he to saye thyse wordes wreten in the Cantycle of the cursyd Pharao whyche sayth thus / ¶ The horse the man that was vpon hym / God hathe throwen theym in the see / The deuylles goon in the lykenesse of horse chariottes / But we shall be borne in the name of our lorde / The enmyes of hell enuyous of our Redempcyon present to vs soo many of dyuers and cursyd temptacyons / that wyth grete payne it is possyble to recyte theym / ¶ Often tymes whanne the blessyd chylde Hylary on slepte / The deuyll in lykenesse of a woman all naked shewed hym to him ¶ Whanne he ete he presented to hym the remembraunce of dyuerse metes / ¶ Some tyme whanne he was in prayer he passed byfore hym lyke a wulffe howlynge / A nother tyme lyke a foxe / A nother tyme lyke a bataylle of men armed In suche wyse that one lete him selfe falle tofore hym in demaundyng hym sepulture / ¶ On a tyme as he laye flatte vpon the grounde makynge his prayers to god / came the deuyll behynde hym / Whyche smote hym on the heles and on the backe and on the heede sayeng / Aryse thou Hylaryon / Wherfore slepest thou / ¶ But not for alle that he moeuyd hym noo thynge / He was soo moche rauysshyd in his prayers / ¶ From that tyme as he was syxtene yeres olde he withdrewe hym
Anthonye seenge his Imbesilyte and symplenesse / commaunded that he sholde holde his peas and departe Incontynente ¶ Soo he departed by obedyence wyth oute to answere ony thynge / ¶ And whanne saynt Anthonye sawe that he was soo humble and obeyssaunt / ¶ He was moche admerueylled / ¶ And after he coÌ„maunded hym that he sholde speke / And that he sholde saye wherfore he spake not / ¶ To whom he answered that he hadde soo done by cause he hadde soo commaunded hym / THenne saynt Anthonye was moche Ioyeouse and gladde of hyâ— ansuere ¶ And yet agayne he admonested hym tabyde alwaye and peâ—ceuere in obedyence / ¶ And ofte tymes he commaunded hym to doo thynges agaynst reason / ¶ As to drawe water oute of a depe pytte alle daye a longe / And to caste it on the erthe / And sometyme to vnsowe his gowne / And after to sowe it agayne / And soo of many other thynges / ¶ But in all he was moche obeyssaunte and lowely / ¶ And by that manere he came to perfeccyon / ¶ And therfore sayde saynt Anthonye Who some euer woll be perfyte / He oughte not to be mayster ne obeye to hys owne wyll / ben they resonable or none ¶ For oure Sauyoure sayth that tofore alle thyuges / one oughte to renounce his owne wyll / ¶ And wyth that he sayth in a nother place / ¶ I am not descended and comen in to this worlde for to doo and fulfylle myn wyll but the wyll of hym that hath sente me / That is my god almyghty / ¶ Neuerthelesse the wyll of the sone was neuer contrary to the wyll of the fader / ¶ Also he that was Doctour of obedyence whan he hadde done his wyll he hadd not be Inobedyente / ¶ Alas thenne syth that god wolde not vse his owne wyll / But was somoche obedyente / ¶ Wherfore ben not we obedyente to hym / Wythoute to obeye to our sensualyte / In leuynge all thinges contrary to equyte and reason / ¶ The vertue of obedyence is more agreable to god thanne ony sacrefyces ¶ For this vertue god shewed moo greter myracles for saynt Poule than for saynt Anthonye / ¶ From alle Regyons came seke folkes to hym / for to recouuer helthe / ¶ The whyche thynge saynt Anthonye seenge And dredynge that he sholde be ouermoche lette / For that cause he made him to goo in a nother secrete place / Where as he myghte not be founde / To the ende that saynt Anthonye sholde receyue theym that sholde come / ¶ And yf ony fayllyd to recouere theyr helthe by the prayers of saynt Anthonye / He sente theym to saynt Poul / And anone they were hoole and guarysshed / ¶ Emonge other there came one to the whyche was madde and soo ferre from himselfe / That by the reason of his maladye he bote alle theym that came to hym / ¶ Saynt Poul beganne to praye to god / And commauÌ„ded the deuyll whyche tourmented hym / that he sholde departe oute of his body ¶ But by cause the deuyll departed not wente not oonly Incontynent after he had commaunded hym / ¶ Saynt Poul beganne to speke to god as lytyll chyldern done / sayenge / ¶ Truely my god / I shal not ete this daye / yf thou heele not this seke man / ¶ And anone he was heelyd / ¶ Alle the myracles that he dyde god hadde graunted to hym the power for the grete obedyence that was in hym / ¶ Thenne oughte euery persone to enforce him to be obedyent to god in obseruynge and kepynge his coÌ„maundementes / ¶ Thus endeth the lyfe of saynt Poule the symple Heremyte ¶ Here folowith the lyfe of saynt Paula or Paulyne / And begynnynth in latyn ¶ Si cuncta corporis mei membra c. Caplm .xl. SAynt Iherom sayth / Yf alle my membres were torned in to tongues / And alle they longen thynge worthy of praysynge / Yet cowde they not saye suffysauntly of the venerable saynt Saynt Paula / She was noble of parentes / but moche more noble of holynesse of lyfe / Ryche of patrymonye / But more ryche for as moche as she had renounced and forsaken the goodes of this worlde ¶ All the dayes of her lyfe she complayned to god sayenge / ¶ Alas poore synnar what shall I doo My life is lengthed I dwelle ouer longe in this corruptible worlde in whyche is no thynge but synne and fylthe / ¶ And for asmoche as she sayd her selfe a pylgryme in this worlde Often she desyred dethe / and to be wyth Ihesu Cryste / ¶ The moost parte of her tyme she was lyke by the grete abstynences that she made / ¶ Neuerthelesse armyd wyth pacyence she sayde / I chastyse my body and putt it in seruytude / To the ende that by myselfe I be not repreuyd / Whanne I repreue other / ¶ And in this grete pacyence she sawe heuen open for to receyue her / And sayde / ¶ Who shall gyue to me wynges that I maye flee and reste myselfe in Paradyce / ¶ She loued alle the tyme of her lyfe the sure astate of pouertee / ¶ For whanne she deyed she was more pore than they whom she gaaf her almesse / ¶ Her fader was called Topocius / The whyche was of the lygnage of Agamenon / Whyche ten yeres duringe helde siege tofore Troye the graunte / And att laste by hym it was destroyed ¶ Her moder was namyd Basylle extracte of the lygnage of Scypyons Grekes / ¶ This whyche saynt Iherom â—eeâ—tyh and spekith of No thynge for that he woll saye that the man ne the woman â—en to be praysed for asmoche as they ben comen of grete parentele and lygnage in worldly honour ¶ But for asmoche as whanne some ben come of hyghe byrthe and of grete place / And they dyspyse the Rychesses of this worlde / They shewe theymself in soo dooynge to be of the very lygnage of Ihesu Cryste / And to haue towarde hym greâ—ter loue / thenne to theym whyche haue noughte or lytyll thynge in value ¶ And say that they renounce and forsake alle / ¶ As some done whyche putt theym selfe in to Relygyon for to haue prouysion suretee of theyr lyuyng ¶ Wythoute to haue Regarde to oure sauyour Ihesu Cryste / Sayenge that who that shall leue alle for the loue of god He shall haue an hundred tymes more in the ende / That is to saye the Reame of heuen / The whyche is true in saynt Paulyne / ¶ For for the cytee of Rome whyche she lefte wyth all rychesses and vaynglorie of the same cyte / ¶ She is right merueyllous renommed as emonge many precyous stones the moost precious and in excellent vertue shynynge / ¶ Lyke as the sonne gyueth gretter lyght thanne the mone / in lyke wyse saynt Paula emonge al holy wymmen moost excellently she shynyth / ¶ She fleenge and eschewynge the glory of this worlde / ¶ And
therfore it is to be noted that after the deth of her husbonde Toxocius / She dystrybuted and dealed that one halfe of his godes vnto the poore people / Of whyche some were nourisshed and other clothed And other after theyr dethe buryed / ¶ And whanne a poore body was susteyned and holpen of a nother thanne of her / Anone she was sory as though she hadd loste moche good / ¶ Whan she had longe tyme ladde suche holy lyfe / She wolde not endure and suffre the praysynge of the worlde ¶ For by the occasyon of that she was of noble lygnage many lordes came to vysyte her / ¶ Thenne she beganne to dyspyse the honoure temporall / In desyrynge to goo to deserte for to doo penaunce / ¶ In that tyme it happed that the bysshoppis of the Eest and of the Weste came to Rome for the decension and stryfe of some chyrches ¶ Emonge whom saynt Paula sawe a notable a good man namyd Paulyn Bysshop of Anthyoche / ¶ And a nother namyd Epysanus bysshopp of the cytee of Salamonye in Cypres / The whyche cyte now is called Constance ¶ And the sayd Epifanus was lodged in her howse ¶ And for the grete vertues of the same Bysshoppis she was enflammed wyth loue of god more thanne tofore / ¶ And concluded in herselfe to leue her house in suche manere / That for chyldren ne for the noblesse of her howsene for possessyons that she had she myght neuer be wythdrawen from her holy purpoos / ¶ And after that the Wynter was passed The same Bysshopps putt theym to the see for to retorne to their chirches ¶ Thenne she wente wyth theym for to goo to the hermytages of saynt Anthonye and of saynt Paule Heremytes ¶ After that she hadde saylled by the see / She descended atte a Porte namyd Fratre / And there came to her alle her parentes and frendes / ¶ And that was more pietoê° came thider her childer whyles they arryued and came a londe The shyppes beyng thenne redy for to saylle and take the see / her chyldren were atte Ryuage or hauen / ¶ The lytyll Toxocius helde vpp his hondes to hys moder saynt Paula / And her doughter Ruffine whiche was redy to be maried wepte and prayed her that she wolde tarie abyde tyll the weddynge were done / But the good lady garnisshed with ferme constaunce helde vp her hondes and eyen vnto heuen / In hauynge more grete pyte on her soule thanne of her chyldren / ¶ To whom she shewed noo more affeccyon / thanne yf they hadde not ben her chyldren / Ne she theyr moder / ¶ Now oughte it here to be noted that Nature oughte to be strongely moeuyd to pytee and compassyon whanue she sawe her chyldren thus strongely wepe after her ¶ But neuerthelesse she was constaunt and stedfaste and retourned not / ¶ Alas there is noo martyrdom more sharpe than to departe from frendes / ¶ Alas is this not a werke agaynst nature To leue forsake and abandonne thus her children Ye maye well thynke that she hadd grete faythe / and synguler loue to god / ¶ And it maye well be byleuyd that she was soo wyse and prudente that she louyd theym of a feruente loue well ordeyned / ¶ For tofore or she departed she hadde gyuen to theym alle her good / ¶ Alas she was dysheryted in this worlde for to make her ryche in a nother worlde / ¶ The shyppe thenne sessyd not to saylle for ony prayer that her chyldren made / ¶ But by cause she myghte not see theim wythoute some heuynesse she torned her eyen from theym / and from the Rynage or cooste where as they were / ¶ In effecte the shyppe saylled soo scire that after many dayes they airyued and came a londe in thyles of Pounce / ¶ And by cause the wynde was not grete but ouer calme amonge the stony see and many peryllous passages Of whiche that one was namyd Cylla / A nother Carthdis An other Adriaticus whyche ben daungeours in the see for the rockes that ben there / They descended and came a londe And in goinge a londe she felte her membres soo wery and ouermoche trauaylled as she sholde haue deyed ¶ There she toke a lytyll refecedcoÌ„n for to comfort her / ¶ After that she had be in Citharee in Rhodes and in other many yles She came in to the yle of Cypre / In whyche place she soiourned bi the space of ten dayes wyth the sayd Bysshopp Epyfanius / ¶ Thenne whanne she hadde vysited alle the monasteryes there she toke the see and came on londe in Scylence ¶ After she came in to Anthyoche there she was a lytyll tyme wyth the bysshopp Paulyne / ¶ Alas the good lady whyche woned to be borne wyth .x. Emuches had not in walkynge all thyse wayes and other here tofore declared but a poore Asle Vpon whiche she sate ¶ And she vysited not oonly the holy places in the yles tofore declared but also she was in theym of Syrye of Fenyce / ¶ How well that of theym saynt Iherom makyth noo mencyon / ¶ For he hath wreten oonly that whyche hathe be founde in holy hystoryes / ¶ After that she had passed Iherico Romayn and Colugne / She entred in to a lytyll towne namyd Sarepta bytwene Thyrye and Syrye / ¶ And by cause she wente abowte alle that londe it were a longe thynge to recounte what she dyde in that vyage / ¶ Fynably she came in to Iherusalem the whiche cytee hath thre names / That is to wyte Iehus Salem and Iherusalem / Whan she was comen thider / The pryncypall of the cytee / hauynge the offyce of Proconsull made to be arayed for her a lytyll place like an hermitage / ¶ But tofore er she soiourned there she wente to vysite the holy places / and to worshipp the holy Crosse wheron oure lorde was crucyfyed for the Redempcyon of man kynde / ¶ Now thynke we how many teeres she lete there thenne falle whanne she byhelde by a merueyllouse câ—mpunccyon / As yf oure lorde had yet ben there / ¶ In lyke wyse she came to the Sepulture / whyche was not wythout kyssynge and worshyppynge deuououtly / ¶ After in to the mount of Syon / whiche Dauyd reedefied / where she sawe the pyler bysprente wyth the precyous blood of our lorde / To the whyche he hadd be bounden for to be beten byfore Pylate / ¶ There also she sawe in the place in whyche after the prophecye of Ioel. the holy ghoste descended vppon syxe score persones / ¶ After she wente to Betheleem / And on the ryghte syde of the waye she taryed to see the Sepulcre of Rachel in the place where Beniamyn was borne / ¶ After she came in to the place where oure lorde was borne in the stable / Where she beganne to be in contemplacyon / And remembred how the chylde was layed and wrapped in lytyll
/ ¶ She recounted theym to saynt Iherom / ¶ The whyche in spekynge to the sayde Heretyke and in enfourmynge hym other questyons confounded his in this manere / ¶ Fyrst saynt Iherom demaunded hym yf he byleuyd the Resurrexcōn generall / ¶ The Heretyke ansuered Ye / sowe oughte to byleue / ¶ For it is an artycle of the faythe / ¶ Secondly he demaunded yf the same body that deyed sholde ryse agayne / ¶ He ansuered Ye For it is also trouth / ¶ Thyrdly he demaunded yf the bodyes sholde aryse in the sexe or kynde in the whyche they sholde be deed / That is to wite yf the man shall aryse in the lykenesse of a man / And also in like wise the woman in lykenesse of a woman / ¶ To this demaunde or question the Heretyke ansuered nought / ¶ Saynt Iherom sayde after to him / ¶ Syth that thou wolt not ansuere I shall saye to the by manere of ansuere / ¶ That yf a man ryse not in lykenesse of a man / And a woman in lykenesse of a woman / Thenne it sholde not be Resurreccyon of theym that deyed The whiche Resurrexcyon thou grauntest to be / And also it is true / ¶ We haue prouff herof by oure lorde Ihesu Cryste / The whyche whanne he was arysen shewed his woūdes whyche he hadde receyued in the Crosse / ¶ And also whanne saynt Thomas towched him in his worthy side / ¶ Sayd not oure lorde to his dyscyples / Beholde and see my woundes / To the ende that certaynly ye byleue that I am he that hathe be crucyfyed ¶ Thenne that syth oure lorde after his Resurrexcyon was seen and towched / And that his discyples herde him speke / ¶ It aperyth cleerly thy his membres that he arose in lykenesse of a man and not of a woman / ¶ For by his membres it apperyth that he hadd a body / ¶ By cause that the body is not wythoute membres ne the membres also wythout body / ¶ Therfore it muste conclude that the men shall aryse as men / And wymmen as wymmen / ¶ As towchinge the conclusyon that the Heretyke made in sayenge That maryages oughte to be made in heuen / ¶ Saynt Iherom ansuered that there sholde be none / ¶ For oure lorde saythe that after the Resurreccyon generall shall neuer be maryage made / ¶ And by this the scrypture sayth that there shall none be maryed / And yf it be argued to be wryten that we shall be lyke to good aungellis the Proposycyon oughte to be vnderstonde that we shall be sēblable or lyke to theym in conuersacyon and blessydnesse / As is promysyd to vs. Not by nature / ¶ Saynt Iohan Baptist tofore that he was byheded was called an aungell But for that he hadde not the nature of aungellis / ¶ The symylytude or lylenesses of aungellis is oonly promysed in holynesse of lyfe / ¶ But the nature not for that shal be chaunged / ¶ Yf ony argued in sayenge that god ete after his Resurreccyon Thenne we shall ete after that we were reysed / ¶ The argumente is not prouffytable / ¶ For that whyche was done was for the approbacyon and veryfyenge of the sayyd Resurrexcyon / ¶ He also whanne he hadde Reysyd the sayde good Lazare / Whyche hadde be deed foure dayes ete wyth hym / ¶ Also the doughter of the Synagoge anone after that god hadde reysed Commaunded that mete sholde be gyuen to her / To the ende that they that sawe thise and herde of thise reysinges sholde ne myght not saye that they were bodyes fantastyke / But were very bodyes whyche hadd ben deed and reysed agayne / ¶ As towchynge the question of the chylde vexed of the deuyll whyche had not synned / ¶ And also in what aege we shall aryse / ¶ Saynt Iherom fyrste sayth that the Iugementes of god aren as a grete swolowe / ¶ His scyence is also to vs vnknowen / ¶ Neuer man knewe what god hathe in his entendemente and purpoos / ¶ Secondly ought to be noted with saynt Iherom / That a man whanne he is ten or twenty or thyrty Or a hūdred yere olde is none other than whā he is but two or thre or foure yere olde ¶ And neuerthelesse after the tradycyons and sayenges of the chyrche and the doctryne of saynt Poul / we shal ryse in the aege of perfeccyon In whyche oure lorde aroos fro thyrty to two and thyrty yeres / ¶ And in whyche aege was Adam fourmyd after that the Iewes wytnesse / ¶ In retournynge thenne to saynt Paula / And for to speke of her entendemente sayth saynt Iherom that ofte she kepte and obserued the commaundement that sayth Andi israhel ettace That is to saye ¶ Man here and bestylle / For the good lady Paula was well lyghte to here / And slowe to speke / ¶ She was curyous and besie to haue bokes of holy scrypture / And radde theym gladly / ¶ And for better to prouffyte in theym / She constrayned saynt Iherom to expowne to her the olde Testamente and the newe / ¶ But whanne for ony doubtes he differred to expowne to her certayne proposycyons / Sayenge to her that he cowde not expowne theym / She wolde not byleue hym / ¶ But by contynuell Interrogacyons and desyres she constrayned him to expowne theym after the Sentence moost apparent or lykely and after trouthe and good sens / ¶ Her vnderstondynge was soo grete that she lerned of saynt Iherom the Ebrewe tongue / In suche wyse that she songe the psalmes of the Psaulter in Ebrewe tongue / And songe noo more in latyn / ¶ After that we haue recyted of her holy lyfe conuersacōn that is to saye of her gloryous departing oute of this worlde ¶ Whanne the good lady saynt Paula felte that she had no more hete but a lytyll in her stomack / ¶ She beganne to saye thyse wordes that folowe in wepynge and wayllynge bytterly ¶ O my god I haue desyred the beaultee of thy heuen and glory / ¶ O lorde that thy Tabernacles and dwellynge places ben fayre shynynge / O lorde god I haue more desire to be in thy hous that is in the chyrche than to dwelle with them of the worlde ¶ Anone after she cessed to speke saynt Iherom seeng that she ansuerd not to ony thyng that he demaunded or asked of her / ¶ He asked why she ansuered not / ¶ And yf she hadde in her herte ony heuynesse or gryef / ¶ The goode lady ansuered in Greke / Naye / but she sawe alle Ioyousete and gladnesse / ¶ After she spake noo more / But sygned her wyth the sygne of the Crosse / ¶ There were dyuerse bysshoppis as well of Iherusalem as of other places And wyth theim were grete nombre of preestes and Innumerable companyes of vyrgynes and Relygyouses / ¶ In presence of whom she herde oure lorde / whiche callyd her sayenge / ¶ Come to me my
spowse my culuer or douue / ¶ For the wynter and the Rayne ben passed / ¶ To whom she answered / ¶ The flowres ben on the erthe / The tyme of Harueste is come / I byleue to see the goodes of oure lorde in the londe of lyuynge people / ¶ And in thus sayenge she rendred to god her blessyd soule / ¶ But in soo dooynge the people beynge presente were not moeuyd to wepynge ne wayllynge / lyke as men of the worlde now a dayes done for theyr parentes and frendes / Whom they haue soone forgoten / ¶ But the bysshoppis sette honde on the Byer / The other herynge lampes and tapres· And other syngynge deuowte Ympnes and Psalmes in the mydle of the chyrche / And in the sepulture of oure lorde where oure sauyour Ihesu Cryste was buryed / ¶ Alle the people of the cytees of Palestyne came to her Entyerement / ¶ And soo many of Relygyouses men and wymmen were there / that it was merueyllouse to see and behold· ¶ And in effecte yf ony defaylled there that hadde not ben atte theyr laste seruyce They were reputed and holden as Sacryleges / ¶ The Wydowes and poore Wydowes to the example of Dorcade sheweden there the vestymentes whyche the good lady saynt Paula hadde made / ¶ And generally alle poore persones cryeden after her / As after theyr mode ¶ Lete vs thynke thenne we myserable synnars / ¶ And pryncypally they that amasse and possesse grete Ryches tresours / ¶ How the good lady Paula abandouned and forsoke alle her tresour for to gyue for goddis sake / ¶ He las what cowde one more yeue / She reteyned and kepte noo thynge for herselfe / ¶ Thynke marchauntes what marchaundyses she made / Whanne she chaunged alle her golde and her syluer in to thynges Incommutable / ¶ She forsoke alle for to haue alle And she wolde be ryght poore for to be Ryche / ¶ Saynt Iherom after this adressyd his wordes to the doughter of saynt Paula whyche was moche deuowte / ¶ For she folowed the good vertuouse maners of her holy moder / ¶ O Eustochium Reioyce thyselfe my doughter / For I know that thou haste but lytyll good in this worlde / But thou oughtest to enioye the for thyn holy moder / ¶ Whyche by longe martyrdome is crowned in the glory of heuen ¶ She hathe spared to the grete Rychesses / ¶ For thou shalte haue by successyon thy god whiche is more Ryche Tresour thanne alle the golde in the worlde / ¶ Thus in Bethleem where god was born deyed gloryously the good saynt Paula / ¶ Of whom the gloryous soule flewe in to heuen in to euerlastynge glory and blysse / ¶ The whyche graunte to vs the eternall god in one essence and thre in persones / By the merytes and prayers of the gloryous sayntes saynt Paula and saynt Iherom her singuler and moost specyall frende in this worlde and in the other / Amen / ¶ Thus endeth the lyfe of the ryght deuoute holy woman saynt Paula / ¶ Here folowyth the lyfe ' of saynt Pelage / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Quid factū est c / Caplm .xli. AMonge you that woll knowe that god oure maker woll not lese a Cristen man / How grete a synnar that he be / ¶ Herke and ofte rede the lyfe of saynt Pelage / And ye shall knowe yf ye woll retorne to god our Maker by penaunce that ye shall haue remyssyon / And in the ende foryeuenesse of youre synnes / ¶ Thenne sȳnais ye oughte to reioyce yourselfe of that ye here / ¶ For it is alle ayde and comforte that comyth to you And also cause of lamentacyon / ¶ An holy bysshop of Anthyoche for certayne cause callyd togyder for certayne causes althe bysshoppis nyghe abowte him / whiche came to him to the nombre of eyghte ¶ Emonge whom was an holy bisshopp callyd Nonnus / that was a Religyous man of the monastery of The benesyens / ¶ And bi cause that he was of right holy lyf He was violently and by stronge honde rauisshed from his abbaye and electe bysshopp / ¶ The whiche Bysshoppis assembled were commaunded by the sayde saynt Nonnus and his seruytours / And they sholde assemble in the chyrche of saynt Iulyan the marter / ¶ And to the regarde of other they were put in howses nighe the chyrche / ¶ They beynge there prayed the sayde holy Bisshopp Nonnus that he sholde saye to theym some thyng for the helthe and comforte of their soules ¶ The whiche thynge he graunted to theym benygnely / ¶ And desyrynge sore to prouffyte hymselfe and theym also ¶ Beganne to enduce theym and teche theym after the doctryne of oure Redemer Ihesu Cryst / ¶ On a tyme emonge thother as he preched to them of the holy Gospell / ¶ He sawe passe tofore hym vpon a lytyll mulet the moost excellent Iougleresse or Daunceresse that was in the cytee of Anthyoche soo rychely and worldly ornate and arayed / That vppon her was seen noo thynge but golde and syluer and ryche pyerrerye / ¶ And wyth that she hadde a Coler of golde aboute her necke / and also was accompanyed wyth seruauntes and chambryeres in lyke wyse arayed / ¶ In passynge thus in the waye she fylled the ayre wyth merueyllouse swete odours and sauours / ¶ Whanne the Bysshopps sawe her soo passe consyderynge the beaute of her / torned the yr eyen to the erthe / To the ende that they sholde not by her commyse or thȳke ony dedely synne / ¶ Saynt Nonnus behelde her ryght affectuously and after demaūded the other Bysshoppis yf they hadde ony desectacyon o◠playsaunce in the beaute of the sayde fayre woman / The whyche answered noo thynge / ¶ Thenne the sayde Nonnus beganne to wepe and waylle In suche wyse that his bosome was full of teeres / ¶ And yet agayne he demaunded theym yf they reioyced not theym in beholdynge of the same woman ¶ And lyke as afore they answered not / ¶ Thenne he sayde to theym / Truely I haue strongly delyted me And her beaute hath merueyllously playsed me / For god hathe ordeyned her to sette her tofore his seete whyche is merueyllous whanne he shall Iudge vs. and theym of oure Bysshopryche / ¶ And yet he sayd to his felowes the Bysshoppes / My ryght well bylouyd frendes Thynke how ofte she hathe kembed wasshed made fayre herself for to playse her amourouse or loues whyche thys daye ben / And tomorn shall not be / ¶ She appoynted herself soo honestly that there fayllyd not a pynne as towchynge to the world / ¶ And yf she for to playse the worlde takith so moche besynesse ¶ Alas we that haue god oure fader god kynge of heuen and of erthe what shall we doo / ¶ And who shall gyue to vs the heuenly goodes whyche maye not be estemyd nor thoughte / ¶ What shall we doo / Truely we oughte to haue
souerayne cure and besinesse to be alwaye arayed made fayre wyth clennesse of herte and of pure conscyence ¶ And in lyke wyse oughte we for to wake for to fynde the wayes and meanes by the whiche we maye playse him in dooynge to hym seruyse aggreable / ¶ Thise thinges sayde saynt Nonnus toke his deaken by the honde and wente in to the howse / Whyche was ordeyned for theym to be lodged in / ¶ After he wythdrewe hym in to his chambre In whyche he fell downe to the groūde / in wepynge and smytynge his breste and beganne to saye / ¶ O my god that knowest the thynges hidde I may not hyde how that by the deceyuable a rayment and dyshoneste clothinge of a synfull woman / The beaute of my soule hathe be maculate and defoyllyd / In what manere o my god shall I mowe praye to the / ¶ Or how shall I mowe Iustyfye me tofore the / ¶ Thou knoweste alle my thoughte / Maledyccyos or cursydnesse shall come to me For I offre to the sacrefyse And also make fewle my soule b◠synne / The synful woman thinkyth on no thyng but to playse the worlde / ¶ And I haue promysed to the faythe and loyaulte / And haue not kepte it to the ¶ O my lorde god I am oute of thy grace / ¶ Alas I haue noo more hope of my good werkes but onely in thy mercy / ¶ By the whiche I hope and entende my saluacyon ¶ The good saynt Nonnus abode by longe space of tyme in suche heuynesse ¶ And the Sondaye folowynge after that he hadde sayde his Houres wyth his Deaken / ¶ He recounted and shewed to hym a dreme / ¶ But he cowde not erpowne it / ¶ This dreme was of a blacke douue fowle of moche fylthe / ¶ The whyche as it semyd to saynt Nonnus that in syngynge his masse it came to the corner of the awter ¶ And after came fleenge alle abowte hym / And gaaf soo grete a stenche / That he myghte not abyde to fele it / ¶ And after that he hadd songe the masse in comynge oute of the chyrche / The same douue came agayne fleenge aboute as she dyde tofore In gyuynge to hym so grete a stenche that he myghte not endure to smelle it / ¶ Thenne he raughte his honde vppon the same douue soo dylygently that he tooke it / And threwe it in a vessell ful of water / In whiche she lefte all her ordures and fylthes ¶ And flewh a waye also whyte as a Swanne / And soo vanysshed from his eyen / ¶ And alle this sayde the holy man that he hadde seen in his slepe / ¶ Thyse thynges thus sayde they tweyne wente in to the grete chyrche where as the Bysshopp was / Whom they salewed / ¶ Whanne the Gospell of the grete masse was sayde / The bysshopp commaunded to saynt Nonnus that he sholde goo preche / And make a sermon to the people / Anone he went in to the prechynge stole / Introducynge and enfourmynge the people beyng there at the sayde chyrche in the faythe of god / ¶ And syngulerly preched of his grete Iugement to come / And of the glorye of heuen / ¶ And by his fayr Introduccyons and exhortacions was the people moeued to penannce and to contrycōn / In suche wyse that alle began to waylle and wepe for the horrour grete dysplaysaunce that they hadd of theyr synnes / ¶ Now it happed that this synfull woman Pelage whyche had passed fore by and arayed as afore is sayde came to this sermon / The whyche herynge the wordes of the ryghte good holy man / And notwytstondyng that she neuer hadde serued god but alle onely the worlde ¶ She hadde soo grete contrycyon and soo bytter dysplaysaunce of the enormyte of her synnes that she foūdred alle in teeres In suche wyse that she semyd that she mystrusted the mercy of god / And hadd none other countenaunce but contynuelly to waylle and wepe / ¶ Neuerthelesse she commaūded to tweyne of her chyldren that were at that tyme wyth her that they sholde abyde in the chyrche / And take good hede whyther the holy man wente where that she myghte fynde hym / ¶ The chyldren dyde soo· and folowed the holy man vnto the chyrche of saynt Iulian the martyr / And after came and tolde it to theyr moder / ¶ And thenne she wrote to hym a lettre in substaunce / ¶ To the right Reuerende holy man dyscyple of Ihū cryst thou holy man haste prechyd that thy god is soo moche and lowe meked hymselfe that he hathe taken mankynde pryncypally for to saue the synnars and Plublicans ¶ And he whom the aungellis dare not beholde hath wylled to conuerse and dwelle wyth the synnars in this worlde / ¶ O my ryghte dere lorde I haue ofte herde sayde of the / That thy holynesse is moche grete / And that thou ledest a ryght perfyghte lyffe / ¶ And how well that thou haste not seen hym thy sayde god wyth thy bodyly eyen the whyche shewed hymselfe to the Samarytane / Neuerthelesse thou seruest hym / Dredeste worshyppest soueraynly As the Crysten people publisshen and sayen / Therfore I byseche the that thou woll not dyspyse me / Notwythstondynge that I be a synfull woman / And that it maye playse the to teche and enfourme me in suche wyse that I maye perfyghtly knowe myn euerlastynge god / Wythoute whom I maye haue noo pardon / ne remyssyon of my synnes / ¶ The whyche letter seen by saynt Nonne he wrote to her agayne in thys manere / ¶ O woman what some euer thou be / Thou arte knowen of god / The whyche also knowyth thy wylle / I pray the that thou tempte not myn humylytee in folyly prasynge me / For I am a synfull man / and vnworthy seruytour and Seruaunte of god / ¶ But yf thou haue wyll to se me / And by me knowe and receyue oure good faythe / ¶ There ben in this cytee other Bysshoppis notable prelates with whom thou shalte see me / ¶ For it is noo thynge leyffull that thou allone sholde speke to me / ¶ Whan the poore synfull woman hadde seen this lettre / ¶ She Incontynent departed and wente in to the chirche of saynt Iulian / ¶ In the whyche were present all the bysshoppis / ¶ And she dide to saynt Nonnus to haue knowlege of her comynge / ¶ Whyche Incontynent assembled and broughte togyder the sayd bysshoppis / ¶ And that done made her to come to hym / ¶ Anone she felle downe to the fete of the holy Bysshopp saynt Nonne sayenge / ¶ I praye the my lorde that it playse the in folowyng thyne doctryne to stratche vpon me thy mercy / and make me a Crysten woman / ¶ I am the see of synne and the swolow of wyckydnesse whiche asketh and requyreth to be baptysed / ¶ Saynt Nonnus made her to stonde vpp / And sayde to her / My frende
the holy Decretes ben suche that a publike and comin synful woman oughte not be baptysed / Yf she gyue not pledge neuer to retorne to her synne ¶ This ansuere herde she felle downe agayne to his fete / In wasshynge theym wyth her teeres and wypynge theym wyth her heere / and sayd to hym / ¶ O Nonnus I praye humbly to the god that my synnes wyckydnesse be to the Imputed yf thou dyfferre to baptyse me / ¶ And also I pray wyth this that thou neuer haue parte ne porcyon wyth the sayntes in heuen / yf thou make me not now Crysten / ¶ And ferder more that thou be constrayned to forsake his lawe / And adoure and worshyp the ydollis / yf thou espouse and wedde me not this day vnto hym / by the ryghte holy sacrament of baptym ¶ Then̄e alle the bysshoppis and other that were there sayden that they hadde neuer seen ony synfull woman haue more bytter dysplaysaunce of her synnes / ¶ Thenne they sente the Deaken of saynt Nonne vnto the Bisshopp of the cytee / For to recyte and shewe to hym this caas / ¶ To the ende that he shold sende one of the Abbesses whyche were to hym subgette / for to enfourme and comforte this sayde poore synfull woman / ¶ The Bysshopp herynge thyse thynges was moche Ioyefull and glad ¶ And sente thyder saynt Romayne the abbesse whiche was chief in vertu and dygnytee / ¶ Whyche founde the sayde synfull woman wepynge in grete habundaunce and plentee of teeres at the fete of the holy man saynt Nonnus / ¶ Whiche vnneth myghte make her to aryse / ¶ But neuerthelesse she sayde to her / ¶ My doughter aryse vpp and confesse and vtter alle thy synnes / To the ende that thou be baptysed / ¶ Thenne she answered / Ha madame yf I sholde well examyne and serche my conscyence / I sholde fynde that I neuer haue done ony good ¶ But haue gyuen and habandonned me to alle maledyccyon and wyckednesse / ¶ And knowe that my synnes ben more grette in nombre thanne the grauell of the see / ¶ But I truste in god / and hauynge confiaunce in the / he shall efface and putte awaye alle my fylthes of synne ¶ Then̄e the holy man saynt Nonnus asked what her name was / To whyche she ansuered I am namyd Pelage / ¶ How well they of Anthyoche call me Margaryte by cause of the pyerrye or nyce and dyssolute and wanten ornements and raymentes of whyche late I arrayed myn vyle and detestable caroyne / ¶ In makynge of the same openly and maddely the werke and boutye of the deuyll of helle / ¶ Anone after saynt Nonne baptysed her ¶ And namyd her by her name Pelage / ¶ And after mynystred vnto her the body of our lorde And that done he lefte her in the gouernaunce of saynt Romayne / And gaaf to her his benedyccyon / ¶ After saynt Nonne sayde to saynt Iherom / My frende brother we oughte this daye to reioyce vs / And to ete oylle and drynke wyth spyrytuell gladnesse· more thanne we haue ben accustomed and vsed In takinge consolacyon and comforte of the helthe of this synfull woman / And so concluded to dyne togyder / ¶ And thus as they toke theyr refeccyon They herde the deuyll crye at theyr gate lyke vnto the voyce of a man sayeng / ¶ O maledyccyon / O maledyccyon / Wherfore is that I suffre soo moche of this olde man here / ¶ Suffysed not it ynough that he hathe conuerted thyrty thousande Sarrasyns to the Crysten faythe / ¶ And in lyke wyse the noble and grete cyte Helyopolis the whyche adoured and worshipped me and alle they that conuersed and dwellyd in it / And syth hath take a waye from me myn hope / I shall nomore endure his machinacions / Acursyd be the daye that tholde man was borne / ¶ Suche wordes or semblable in substaunce cryed the deuyll tofore the yate / yet agayne in adressynge his wordes to saynt Pelage said to her ¶ Ha mi damoysel thou makest to me the payn that I suffre endure / Thou Resemblest to Iudas that solde his mayster whyche was one of the nombre of his dyscyples / ¶ Thou haste in lyke wyse solde me to thys olde man Nonus / ¶ Thenne saynt Nonne sayde to her / That she sholde blesse her wyth the sygne of the holy Crosse / whiche she dyde / ¶ And Incontynent and wythoute taryenge the deuyll vanysshed away ¶ Two dayes after she sleped wyth saynt Romayne The deuyll apperyd to her and awoke her / ¶ And after sayde to her / My frende Margarete what thynge haue I done to the / I haue enryched the wyth golde and syluer / And haue done to the alle that whyche thou haste demaunded o◠desired of me / ¶ Wherfor doost thou to me soo grete dyshonoure to become Crysten / ¶ Thenne she blessyd her and sayde to the deuyll / My god whyche hathe preserued me from the deuomynge of thyne horryble teeth hathe sette me in his heuenly chambre / ¶ And yet I hope that he shall fyghte for me agaynst the / Whyche demaundest and desyrest noo thynge but myn perdycyon / ¶ And after the deuyll came noo more to her / ¶ The thyrde daye after that she was baptysed she sente for her sone / to whom she sayde / That he sholde goo in to her Garderobe / and to put in writynge alle that she hadde / As well golde and syluer and other goodes / ¶ And that he sholde brynge all to her / wythoute to leue ony thynge / The whyche chylde dyde soo / ¶ After she wente for saynt Nonne for her ghostly moder / ¶ And whan he was come she sayd to hym / My lorde and frende loo here the Rychesse of whyche Sathan hathe enryched me / ¶ Now I putte theym in to thy power and dyscrecion / ¶ And I aske neuer ony thynge But the Rychesse of Ihesu Cryste / ¶ The sayde saynt Nonne callyd the eldeste of theym that kepte the chyrche / And delyuered to hym alle the same Richesses In sayenge to hym / I commaunde the in the honoure of the Trynyte of heuen that thou neuer entree in to this chyrche / Tyll that thou haste dystrybuted alle thyse goodes· As well to poore wydowes and orphelyns As to the suffretous poore and nedy / To the ende that the goodes goten by synne be made tresoure of Iustyce / ¶ Wyth this the holy man cursyd excomyned alle theym that sholde do◠the contrarye and theyr houses / yf they receyued and kepte ony thynge / ¶ After she called alle her chyldren and sayde to theym / ¶ My chyldren I praye you to departe you from this worlde to the ende that as we haue ben togyder / we maye be in lyke wyse togyder in heuen ¶ For here ye maye gete noo thynge· but synne and wyckydnesse / ¶ The eyghte daye after her baptysynge /
she prayed the blessyd lady that she wolde be alwaye helpynge atte her nede / And soo wente from the cytee / ¶ And in gooynge she founde a man whyche gaaf to her .iii. pens with whyche she bought her thre loues of brede / ¶ And after askyd of hym that solde the brede whyche was the waye to goo to flom Iourdan / ¶ And whanÌ„e she knewe the gate by whiche she sholde goo / Alle the daye she wente wepynge and waylynge / ¶ And from the houre of Tyerce vnto the houre of Syxte and abowte the sonne gooynge downe She wente and arryued atte a chyrche of saynt Iohan Baptyste by the sayde flom Iourdan / In to whiche chyrche she entred for to make her prayers· The whyche accomplysshed she descended in to the flode aforsayd wisshe her face her body wyth the holy water of the sayd flom Iourdan ¶ And after that she had admynistred the holy sacrament of th aulter she ete halfe a loof the same nyghte she lay all nakyd vpon the erthe / ¶ On the morn she made her prayer to the glorioê° virgyn Mary / prayeng her that she wolde adresse her for to goo where as sholde be good for her helthe ¶ Fynably she was come to the place where as Zozimas hadde founde her / ¶ And as she sayde she hadde ben there fourty yere / ¶ Zozimas ferthermore demaunded questioned of her what thynge she had eten / ¶ She answered two looues and an halfe of brede / Whyche were bycomen as harde as stones as soone as she was passed ouer the flom Iourdan / ¶ Zozimas sayd to her / Haste thou thê° passed thy lyfe soo longe tyme wythoute payne or sykenesse / ¶ She ansueryd My fader I dare not telle the the perylles that I haue endured / ¶ Zozimas sayde Leue noo thynge but saye alle / ¶ Truely my fader sayd she I haue be seuentene yere that I hadde contynuelly desyre to ete and drynke suche mete / as I ete in the worlde / ¶ And by cause I myghte not haue it· I was in soo grete heuynesse that I myghte not endure it / ¶ In lyke wyse the flesshely thoughtes and deuyllyssh songes came to my mynde / By the whyche I was gretely tormented / ¶ But Incontynent I wepte and smote my breste in sayenge to fore myne eyen the promyse that I hadd made to god and to the blessyd vyrgyne Marye / ¶ Whanne I departed from the chyrche of Iherusalem / Pryncypally I came for socour to the holy vyrgyne Marye ¶ And in wepynge and lamentynge I prayed her to haue consolacyon comforte / ¶ Towchynge the flesshely temptacyons that came soo moche tofore me that I can not expresse ne telle ¶ For they made me soo enflamÌ„ed of my fyrste synne that I myghte not bere it / ¶ But whan I was in thyse passyons I fell downe to the erthe for to wepe and waylle abundantly / ¶ And in soo dooynge I knewe spyrytuelly that the blessyd vyrgyn Marye whyche had holpen me came for to socoure me / And I neuer lyfte vppe myne eyen from the erthe tyll I was out of thise cursyd thoughtes / In hauynge alwaye myn herte to our lady Tresorye of grace comfortresse of desolate / ¶ And the very adresseresse of theym that ben out of the waye / ¶ Zozimas after demauÌ„ded of her â—aste thou had noo mete ne clothing The holy Egypcyen ansuered / I haue eten the two loues and an halfe as I haue tolde / ¶ And the resydue of the tyme I haue ete herbes of the deserte ¶ By cause that my clothynge was all to torne in pyeces I haue lefte theym and am alle nakyd / ¶ Lete vs thynke here how many alte racoÌ„ns as well by raynes and grete coldes as by extreme hetes of the sonne that she endured / ¶ Thynke we also how many carnall temptacyons she threwe fro her / Whyche ben somoche dyffycyle to ouercome to theym that haue ben accustomed therin more thanne ony other temptacoÌ„n / ¶ After she sayd to Zozimas / Alas my frende I am nourysshed and cladde onÌ„ly wyth the worde of my god whyche hath done to me so many graces / The whyche sayth that one lyueth not oonly by brede but also by his worde whiche quykenyth more than the bodily mete / ¶ Zozimas herynge that she spake of holy Scrypture sayde to her ¶ Moder haste thou lerned the bokes of Moyses / The Psaulter and other holy scrypture / ¶ She thenne smylynge sayde to hym Fader byleue me certaynly that syth I passyd the flom Iourdan I sawe neuer man lyuynge but the. ne other beest of the worlde / ¶ I neuer lerned booke Ne neuer herde the Psaulter radde ne songen / ¶ But the worde of god whyche hathe soo grete vertue hathe enformyd myn entendement / ¶ And thys suffiseth to the. that I haue tolde to the ¶ And from hens forthe praye for me poore synfull lecherous woman / ¶ And whanne she hadde sayde thyse wordes / Zozimas kneled downe on his knees and beganne to saye / ¶ Blessed be the oonly god that dooth thynges so merueylous and in soo many persones ¶ Blessyd be thou my god whyche haste shewed to me the goodes that thou doost to theym that dreden the. and kepe alle thy commaundementes / ¶ Verely my god thou leuest neuer theym that sechen for to serue the / ¶ The good woman suffred hym not to lye on the erthe / ¶ But prayed hym that he wold neuer shewe that she had sayde to man lyuynge / ¶ And after sayd to him / My fader goo now forth on thy waye in peas / ¶ And wythin a yere herafter I shall come agayne shewe me to the / Yf god gyue vs the grace ¶ Wyth thys I praye the to doo that whyche I shall ordeyne / ¶ By cause that in your monasterye whanne ye make your holy fastynges whyche is called Lente / You re custome is to goo in to Deserte eche by hymself for to kepe his fastynge ¶ Whan that tyme shall come thou shalt not goo oute of the chyrche but kepe the monasterye / ¶ Zozimas was more abasshyd thanne tofore of that she knewe the rule of the monasterye / and began to crye ¶ O my god glorye be gyuen to the / I know that thou gyuest more grace with oute comparyson to theym that serue the truely thanne they demaunde or aske / ¶ The holy Egypcyen reprysed his worde and sayde / Fader herken / ¶ For whanne thou woldest departe from the monastery Thou shalte not mowe ¶ But the holy Thursdaye of Cene. thou shalt take the precious body of oure lorde Ihesu Cryste and his precyous blood in lyke wyse in an holy vessel and shalte come to me on that other syde of flom Iourdan withoute to passe ouer / ¶ And thenne by the grace and mercy of my god and of thyne I shall receyue hym benygnely / ¶ For I neuer receyued hym syth
I knowe that I shal not lyue longe And that god hathe holpen me to fyghte agaynste the deuyll vnto now / It restyth oonly that I gyue the consolacyon of thy doughter Eufrosyne / ¶ Byleue surely that I am she / And therfore be constaunt and myghty wythoute in ony wyse to angre the ¶ And this that I shewe to the. ne shewe ne declare it to ony man lyuynge / ¶ But thou allone tofore that I be putt in the erthe shall wasshe me To the ende that noo man knowe that I am a woman / ¶ I haue promysed many londes and possessyons to the chyrche here wythin / ¶ And therfore thou shalte accomplysshe and fulfyll my promyse It is a place of grete deuocyon / ¶ Praye for me I commaunde the to god and my body and my soule / ¶ And in sayenge thyse wordes she rendred and gaaf her spiryte to god ¶ Whanne Pafunce the fader of the good lady hadde herde thyse wordes / seenge that she was thenne deed fell doune to the erthe as deed / ¶ After this ranne Agapytus and he seenge that Smaradyn was deed And Pafunce fallen downe to the erthe casted water in to the vysage of Pafunce In sayenge / ¶ What eylest thou my lorde and frende Aryse vppe / ¶ Pafunce ansuered Alas that I deye not ryght here / This daye haue I seen thynges enarrable / ¶ After he roos vp and fell vppon the face of his doughter wysshe her wyth his teeres / ¶ And whan̄e he hadde longe waylled and wepte vppon the body / He sayde wyth an hyghe voyce ¶ Alas my swete doughter why haddeste not thou more sooner shewed and manyfested thyselfe to me To the ende that I hadde deyed gladly with that ¶ Vnhappynesse is comen to me syth that· thou haste hydde thyselfe soo longe from me ¶ Alas how haste thou vaynquysshed and putt vnder thy fete the aduersytees of this worlde And now thou arte in eternall glorye / ¶ Agapyton that herynge wente to the Abbot and shewed hym alle the caas / ¶ Whanne the Abbot was comen / In lyke wyse he began to wepe wyth Pafunce in sayenge / ¶ O Eufrosyne spowse of Ihesu Cryste / The tyme is comen that thou oughtest to remembre thy brethern / ¶ Praye for vs. to the ende that we maye come to the porte of helthe / ¶ Alle the bredern there assembled and seenge this myracle gloryfyed worshypped god in sayeng ¶ Honour and praysynge be to god of heuen and of erthe / Whyche that makyth not oonly to men merueyllouse thynges but also to wymmen / ¶ And thus as alle were there assembled for to burye the corps / A brother whyche hadde but one eye kyssed her And Incontynent he sawe clerly wyth that other eye / ¶ Her fader dystrybuted and dealed al his possessyons and lyuelood to the sayde chirche and monastery And rendred and became hymself Relygyous in the same place and monasterye / Where as he lyued ten yeres after / And after hys dethe fynably was buryed bi saynt Eufrosyne his oonly doughter and sauyd in heuen / ¶ To the whrche by theyr intercessyons and prayers it maye playse god that we maye all come atte the ende of oure dayes / ¶ The whyche graunte vs the fader sone and holy ghost / Amen / ¶ Thus endyth the lyfe of the gloryous saynt Eufrosyne / ¶ Of saynt Frontynyan Whyche begynnyth in latyn ¶ Quomam sepe desideratis / Caplm .xlv. ¶ Those ben the condycyons of theim that lyuen in the worlde / ¶ Lete vs demaunde and aske fyrste the Reame of heuen / ¶ And lete vs doo after Iustyce ¶ And by this moyen alle good thynges shall come to vs / ¶ After that euer yche of theym after his power entended to prayer the beste wyse they myghte ¶ But the good fader prayed not onely for hymselfe but for alle the other ¶ Longe tyme after that they hadde lyued in the sayde Deserte / The enmye of nature whyche is alwaye enuyouse / Pryncypally of theym whyche done penaunce / Tempted theym· and assayled wyth many assaultes / In suche wyse that he made theym alle to murmure and to grutche agaynst theyr Abbot / And sayde that one to that other / Wherfore is it that oure Abbot hathe made vs to come in to this Deserte / ¶ They that ben in townes and castellis shall haue as well heuen as we Soo that they done good werkes ¶ And we slee ourselfe here by fastynges And by abstynence we deyen for hungre / ¶ And thus the moost parte of theim were mouyd to retourne to the worlde / ¶ This knowynge saynt Frontinyan came to theym and sayde / Wherfore alye my bredern come ye hyther with me for to murmure and grutche agaynste god / Knowe ye not well by holy scrypture that a Iuste man shall neuer deye for hungre / ¶ And yf he haue not for to ete God shall sende hym some by his aungell Lyke as he hathe doon to many of whom we rede / ¶ Thynke that god hathe alwaye his eye vppon the deuowte soules / Thynke also how god nouryssheth the rauen̄s wythin theye neest whanne the fader ne the moder woll not nourysshe them by cause they ben whyte / ¶ Whanne they ben fyrste hayghte or borne / ¶ My brethern haue ye alwaye the loue of god in youre hertes And I assure certefye you for trouthe that ye shall neuer haue defaulte of mete ne of drynke / ¶ And yf it soo happened / whyche I byleue shall neuer come that ye sholde haue hungre or thurste / And whan̄e it soo were / Thenne myghte ye haue cause to accuse god of the wordes that he hathe sayde in the gospell / thus sayenge to hym / ¶ O god we haue kepte thy commaundementes And haue byleuyd that thou haste sayde that is to wyte that thou shalte nourysshe thy seruauntes wyth heuenly mete / We haue had in the hope neuertheles thou haste lefte vs / But I praye you alle ne murmure ne grutche noo more thus in likewyse as oure faders auncyente dyde in Deserte whanne they were delyuered from the honde of kynge Pharao / ¶ Abyde ye and tarye a whyle And ye shall knowe how god pourneyth to theym that dredyth hym and louyth hym ¶ After thyse wordes of saynt Frontynyan alle they ceaseden theyr murmuracyons and grutchynges / ¶ And of that they hadde soo done they were moche sorowfull and dysplaysaunte / ¶ On a nyghte after that they had soo ben corrected / An aungell apperyd to a Ryche man / ¶ And sayde thus to hym / ¶ Thou man that lyuest in grete delyces worldly playsures and hauinge habundaunce of goodes and the poore seruauntes of god ben in Deserte whyche haue grete hungre / ¶ I aduertyse and counseylle the that thou aryse vppe And that thou sende theym some mete for to ete / ¶ Or ellis thou shalte renne in to the Indygnacyon of
as well by mouÌ„taynes and valeyes as by many other dangerouse places without guydynge of ony lyuynge persone / ¶ And thus alle allone am I comen hyther / ¶ Saynt Machaire wenynge that she was his wife / Toke her swetely by the honde and ladde her in to his caue / ¶ But the deuyll contynuelly wepte / Wherfore the holy man was the more redy to byleue that it hadde ben his wyfe / And wepte semblably and in lykewyse wyth her / ¶ After theyr lamentacyons and wepynges the holy man tooke akehornes herbes and wolde haue made her to ete wenynge that she shelâ—e cesse her sorowe / ¶ Now the holy man Machaire vnderstode not the cautelles and dysceytes of the deuyll / The whiche atte begynnynge were ouer subtyll and straunge for to be vnderstonde ¶ And soo they deuyseden longe wyth in the sayde caue that one syttynge by that other / ¶ And in spekynge togyder the forsayde woman towchyd his hondes by manere of flaterye As now many done for to moeue the men to vs â—â—â—ouse and fowle synne of lecherye / ¶ And in thus dooynge the poore man without to blesse hym ne comauÌ„dynge him to god fell a slepe / As yf he hadde be traueylled of many labours / ¶ Now it happed in slepynge by th art or subtyltee and shrewdenesse of the deuyll / That he dremyd to be wyth hys wyfe and to haue her companye in suche wyse that whanne he awoke he founde hymselfe alle dyscoueryd and ponished oâ— defoylled / as he hadde flesshly done wyth his wyfe / ¶ Thenne knewe he that it was the deuyll By cause that after he hadde slepte he sawe ne apperceyued her noo more / ¶ Thenne he beganne to lamente and make sorowe and make many exclamacyons and cryes to god In requyrynge hym humbly of pardonne and mercy / ¶ Now it is to be noted that the two lions whyche he hadde founde in his caue whanne he there fyrste arryued After he hadde done this synne forsoken hym and departed fro hym The whyche thynge by hym knowen And for the grete dysplaysaunce that he hadde for his synnes He put him agayne to prayer Prayenge god that he wolde enseygne and shewe hym / what suffysaunt penaunce he oughte to doo / And that it wolde playse hym to sende agayne to hym his two lyons / ¶ And Incontynente after by the wyll of god whyche herde his requeste and petycyon wolde reduce and brynge hym to the waye of heâ—the The sayde lions retourned / and beganne promptely to make a fosse or a pytte of the largenesse depnesse suffysaunt to the comyn stature of a man ¶ The holy man that seenge / thoughte that god wolde that he sholde doo his penaunce in the sayd pytte / ¶ And commaunded the lyons that they sholde couere hym in the same / And so they dyde / ¶ He beynge in the sayd pytte by the space of thre yere / Happed that by the grete InundacoÌ„n and flowynge of waters the whyche descended there the sayd caue was broken And a parte fell vppon his heed in suche wyse that by the moyen of the sayde rumpure and brekynge where as he hadde not seen noo lyghte in thre yere He sawe the sonne clerely shyne and gyuynge lyghte / ¶ Thenne he tooke the herbes whyche he founde besyde hym and ete of theym / ¶ The lyons after came agayne And they seenge the caue broken and dysconuerte They dyffeated the pytte / and brought hym oute alle hoole wythoute ony gryef or brusure / ¶ Thenne he came oute of the fosse or pytte / And rendred than kynges of that he hadde lyued soo longe wythoute seenge of sonne ne mone And also wythoute to haue ony harme of his body he was delyuered from the same caue / ¶ And knelyd downe to the grounde and was fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes wythoute moeuynge hyÌ„selfe Lyke as he hadde he Inmobyle in gloryfyenge the name of god / ¶ The sayde fourty dayes passyd He came agayne in to his caue ¶ And there he sawe foure aungellis whyche shone soo merueyllously that alle the caue was enlumyned ¶ And in the myddle of theym was our lorde and Redemer Ihesus Cryste in fourme of a man Holdynge in his honde a rodde of golde / made a sowne so strongly resownyng lyke the voys of ten men / ¶ The same noble companye songen longe / ¶ And whanne theyr songe was accomplysshed and fulfyllyd / Thre voyces togyder ansuered Amen ¶ And Incontynent oure Sauyour Ihesu Cryst wyth his aungellis whiche acompanied him vanysshed awaye and wente in to heuen / ¶ And after in a voys descended a douue wythin the sayde caue / And Incontynente was herde a noyce romblynge as thundre / and also lyghtnynges Innumerable / ¶ He herde also many voyces from heuen whyche songenâ— Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus deus / c ThenÌ„e the holy man herynge and seenge the sayde woundres was alle taken in a traunce and rauysshed in spyryte And felle downe to the erthe On whyche he was ryght dayes wythoute moeuynge honde ne fote / The whyche passyd he awoke / ¶ And thenne he knewe that god hadde sanctefyed and halowed that place / And giuen there his benedyccyon and blessynge / And thenne he recuâ—ned in to the sayd caue and praysed the name of god / in gyuyng to hym thankynges and louynges of his vysytacyon And that his grace hadde made hym worthy to haue his companye / ¶ Atte the tyme of the same vysyon He was in the aege of fourty yere And hadde dwellyd but seuen yeres in the sayd caue ¶ Whanne he hadd recounted and tolde alle thyse thynges to the thre Relygyous pylgrymes / That is to wyte Theophyle Sergius and Thimus / ¶ He Instructe and shewed to theym the maner how they myghte voyde the cursyd temptacoÌ„n and decepcyon of the deuyll of helle / In sayenge to theym that they sholden remembre and haue in mynde alwaye how the deuyll hadd dysceyued hym subtylly / ¶ And after he admonested and desyred them to abyde wyth him Or yf it playsed to theym not to abyde there that they sholde retourne in to theyr monasterye / ¶ Alle thyse consydered by the thre Relygyouses / they were moche abasshed and fell downe to the erthe in gloryfyenge the name of god / Whyche oonly dooth soo many merueyllous thynges / ¶ And also they rendred to hym thankynges of that he hadde broughte theim to the knowlege of the holy man / ¶ Theyr oryson fynysshed they prayed to the glorious saynt Machaire that he wolde praye for theym to the Sauâ—our of the worlde / That he wolde saue and kepe theym in retournynge in theyr abbaye / To the ende that by all the monasteryes where as they sholde goo They myghte also well recite and tell that whyche they hadde seen / For to ercyte and moeue alle Relygyous men to lyue vertuously / ¶ For they byleuyd fâ—â—mely that god hadd broughte theym to the sayde
enfourme me in thyne holy lawe ¶ And fynably wyll gyue to me the glorye eternall / ¶ And from thens forth on Pastumyen besyed hym in deuowte comtemplacyons / Alwaye awaytinge that the angell of god sholde come agayne to him ¶ But that notwithstondynge he wente agayne to his crafte / whyche was as tofore is sayde to make cordes of Ionâ—es / ¶ And fynably the aungell apperyd to hym and sayde / Pastumyen wolt thou that I lede the to a preest / Whyche shal baptyse the in the name of the fader of the sone and of the holy ghoste / To whom he ansuered that it was the grettest Ioye that myghte come to hym / And that he desyred none other thynge ¶ Anone the aungell tooke him by the heere 's / and bare hym vnto a place where as was an an holy man named Prisce / To whom the Aungell commaunded that he sholde enseygne and teche hym the faythe and lawe / And to lyue as a good Crysten / ¶ The holy fader seenge the grete bryghtnesse of the aungell Sodaynly he was abasshed in suche wyse that he felle downe for fere / But the aungell releuyd hym and comforted hym sayenge ¶ Be not aferde / for I am the seruaunte of god as thou arte / ¶ And in sayenge thise wordes the aungell chaunged his fourme vnto the semblaunce or lickenesse of a man clad wyth whyte and of a playsaunt face / ¶ After agayne he sayde to hym / Doubte the noo thynge / I come to the for to shewe to the fro god / That it is his playsure that thou take to the this goode man Pastumyen / And that thou enfourme hym in the faythe of holy chyrche To the ende that he maye deserue the glorye eternall / ¶ And Incontinente the aungell departed / ¶ Saynt Prysce thenne toke Pastumien And enfourmyd hym in the faythe / And to faste and to doo other vertuous werkes / ¶ After he baptysed hym and this done he made a prayer vnto oure lorde sayenge thus ¶ O sone of god I yelde to the humbly thaÌ„kynges of thys that it hathe playsed the. by thyne holy ghoste to reconcyle me to god thy fader And thou haste redemyd me from eternall dethe / The whyche dethe suffren perpetuelly alle they that byleue not in thy name / Alas I knowlege now that alle thynges the lasse oughte to obeye the gretter And the symple to theym that ben wyse / ¶ The seconde commaundement that ye oughte / for to kepe is subieccyon To the ende that in reuerent drede ye maye serue god wyth a chaste herte pure and clene / ¶ The thirde is that ye oughte to lyue sobrely and Iustly in hauynge compassyon on youre soules and of others / ¶ The fourth that ye oughte to chastyse youre bodyes by fastynges and abstynence after your possybylyte / For to the spyryte desyrynge to gete vertue it is a synguler delectacoÌ„n and playsaunce to be and enhabyte in a body lene by penaunce / ¶ The fyfthe is for to be ofte in oryryson and prayer in ensâ—ewyng the doctryne of the appostle whyche commaundyth vs to praye god wythoute ceassynge / For after his doctryne alle they that contynuelly faste and pray to god Lyghtly they putt vnder by the vertue of the faythe alle the cautels and subteltees of the deuyll of helle / And causyth also to resyste and wythstonde alle vyces and synnes / ¶ Fyrst and pryncypally to pryde / For of that synne proceden alle euylles And euery daye as one seeth by experyence / Pryde is the orygynall roote of al synnes / ¶ By pryde ben the aungellys caste downe in to helle / By cause that Adam desyrynge to knowe the good euyll ete of the fruyte forboden in transgressynge and brekynge the commaundement of god / ¶ By this concupiscence he deseruyd and bounde him and alle his posterytee and ofsprynge vnto the dethe eternall / Wherof we hadde neuer be quyte yf the blessyd sone of god by his grete mercy and by his worthy dethe and passyon hadde not quyted redemed vs / ¶ The vertue opposyte and coÌ„trary to pryde is Humylytee roote of alle good / And the begynnyng and getâ—nge of al vertues wythoute the whyche was neuer none ne neuer shall persone be perfyghte / ¶ And the cause that most moeuyd oure blessyd Sauyoure to take oure humanyte in the wombe of the vyrgyne of the Intemerate and moost clene and ryght blessyd vyrgyne Marye that was her humylytee For in soo doynge is wryten in the Cantycle / God hathe beholden the humylytee and mekenes of his hondmayde Quâ—a respexte humilitatem ancille sue c ¶ After the holy man Pastumien commaunded theym that they sholde haue charytee fraternall togyder in hauyng perfyghte faythe / Sayenge that the princypall Rule and mooste grettest charge that Religyouses oughte to haue is for to haue one wyth a nother perfyghte loue and charytee / Wythoute the whiche none Relygyouses in the cloystre maye not well gouerne theymselfe / ¶ Whan many brethern ben togyder wythoute loue eche entendyth to his synguler prouffyte / And soo theyr comynte is deuyded / ¶ Soo euery reame and other gouernement of multytude and of subgettes yf it be deuyded wythoute doubte it is desolacyon / ¶ Alas now the mooste parte of Relygyouses in this present tyme enteÌ„de to be Abbottes Pryours and to offyces Desyrynge to be oute from theyr brethern / ¶ Lyke as the byrde sechyth but to escape oute of the cage / ¶ And who sholde demaunde or wyte the reason wherfore I trowe that there sholde be defaulte to haue loue wyth theyr brethern / ¶ For by cause that thei ben ouermoche replenysshyd and fulfyllyd wyth the dampned vyce of Pryde they can not be compatyble and felyshypped wyth the other / But woll be alone ¶ A lorde god well is chaunged the tyme that the holy faders fledd in to deserte sedynge there a solytary lyfe for to renounce and leue the worlde / and to lede a lyfe contemplatyf / ¶ And as it is sayde the Relygyouses whanne they be closyd in an abbay where as they haue ben put for to be oute of the worlde / They thynke on none other synne but to opteyne and gete pryeryes and other benefyces / Whether it be by synne or no synne to the ende to retorne agayne to the worlde / For the whyche thynges all deuocyon is loste / ¶ Perauenture yf the Pryours were vnyed and onyd wyth the abbayes / And that suche Relygyouses had none occasyon for to departe with oute lycence / It sholde be better and lightlyer for theyr helthe / thanne for to seke theyr lodges from vyllage to vyllage / ¶ It hath be seen in tyme passed that the chyldren of kynges for to serue god haue renouÌ„ced and vtterly forsaken all theyr rychesses / ¶ But now whan there ben many in a noble house / they ben made Abbottes tofore that they ben relygyouses ¶ Noo
thynge for deuocyon But to the ende for to enryche theym wyth goodes and rychesses of the chyrche for to lyue atte theyr playsure God knowyth what shall be the ende ANd folowynge thenne the doctryne and tethynge that Pastumyen gaaf to his Religyouses ¶ He commaunded theym ferthermore to loue not oonly the one that other But to loue god pryncypally wyth all theyr herte / That was the fyrste commaundement that god gaaf to Moyses in the moutayne of Synay / ¶ But wyth the same commaundement must be Ioyned the lone that we oughte to haue that one wyth a nother / ¶ Whanne alle Relygyouses louen eche other / and god pryncypally and fyrste / Yet muste they haue the vertue of obedyence / ¶ Loue wythoute obedyence is noo thynge ¶ For lyke as the grasse lettyth the corne to fructefye and encreace / In lyke wyse who that is in obedient and fastyth and prayeth / bryngyth fourth noo fruyte for fawte of obedyence / ¶ After he commaunded theym to excercyse the nyghtes in prayers / ¶ For by nyghte the deuyll makyth moo lettynges to deuowte persones thanne he dooth in the daye Lyke as the Gospel saythe / ¶ Who woll doo euyll Hatyth lyghte / ¶ And to this purpoos sayth the Gospell Awake awake For ye know not the howre whanne the theyf of the soules woll come / ¶ He commaunded theym also that they sholde wryte in a Table of theyr conscyences all the commaundementes of god / And that ofte they sholde laye the clothe for to take refeccyon spyrytuell in sauourynge and etynge the ten loues composyd of the ten commaundementes of the fayth ¶ The twelue artycles of the lawe / And the werkes of mercy / ¶ More ouer he sayde / O ye my brethern / whyche desyre to be very obedyent and charytable to loue eche other / byleue ye after the sentence of Baruth the prophete whyche sayth / that ye ben now the felowes of god / ¶ And in a nother place the holy scrypture sayth well happy â—en the peasyble For they ben the sones of god / ¶ Now they that ben peasyble ben obedyent and charytable / ¶ They thene that shall desyre in this corruptyble world to enioye the fruytes of heuen / He muste renounce and forsake his propre wyll in hauynge perfyghâ—e charyte / ¶ After he coÌ„maunded theym yf they hadde amonge theym ony dyscencyon or debate / that Incontynente it sholde be appeasyd / For god oure lorde dwellyth ne abydeth but in one place of peas / ¶ And the contrarye where as is dyssencyon the deuyll regnyth ¶ And ferthermore he deffended them that they neuer sholde be angry ne wrothe ne to theyr brethern ne to straungeres / ¶ And that for ony gayne of the worlde that they myghte gete They sholde not oâ—cupye theym wyth temporell thynges But oonly in werkes spyrytuell By the whyche they myghte lyghtely gete the herytage of the Reame of heuen / ¶ And whanne ony temptacyons sholde come to theym the whyche with grete payne the ymyghte eschewe / ¶ He admonested theym to torne to god / In lyf tynge theyr hondes to heuen And sayenge ¶ O my god I pray the that it playse the to helpe me / And to enforce my poore freyltee to the ende that I maye vaynquysshe and surmounte my mortall enemye / ¶ And he sayde that anone after oure prayer made to god Comen his aungellis to oure ayde for to comforte vs / ¶ And for to proue thys thynge to be true He tolde thenÌ„e to theym that on a tyme. he beynge on a mountayne came tofore hym a grete companye of deuyllis in lyckenesse of men humayne And bi cause that by the will of god he knewe well that they were deuylles / He all resoluyd / And wythoute hauynge ony drede kneled downe on the erthe in prayenge god that it wolde playse hym to make the same deuylles to departe / ¶ And Incontynent they vanysshed awaye as a fume or a smoke tofore the wynde / ¶ Many other temptacions the deuylles made to hym But god delyuered hym alwaye by the deuowte prayers that he made / ¶ Therfore in concludynge he sayde to his Relygyouses / My chyldren be ye ferme and stable in the faythe in resystynge the deuylles temptacyons / And that ye ben clymynge by feruente charyte to the loue of god / The whyche in soo dooenge he shall to you be alwaye a protectour / And by his helpe ye maye gete the reame of heuen / ¶ Thus endyth the storye of the ryght holy man Pastumyen ¶ Here folowyth of saynt Onuffryen Heremyte / And begynnyth in latyn Beate memorie paphoncius et cetera / Caplm .l. SAynt Phaphunce hauynge desyre for to vysyte alle the Relygyouses that weren in the hermytages for to accomplysshe the helth of his body more lyghtly his waye bare wyth him a lityll water and brede / ¶ And whanne he hadde walked by the space of foure dayes his vytaylle faylled him / And became all confusyd and halfe deed By cause he was soo feble that he hadde neytheyr foote ne legge that myghte susteyne hym / by cause he had neyther to ete ne to drynke / ¶ But neuerthelesse he was by the helpe of god made alle hoole and guarysshed / And hadde as moche strength as though he hadde well eten and dronken / ¶ And thenne beganne to walke agayne And contynued soo foure dayes without mete and drynke ¶ The sayd foure dayes passed / by cause he felte hymselfe feble / He was constrayned to lye downe on the erthe as he hadde be deed / ¶ And he lyenge on the erthe Sodaynly sawe by hym a man in merueyllous glory ferdfull and terryble in shynynge / Worthy of prasynge in beawte / Longe of corpulence and right clere of regarde / Whom Paphunce seenge hadde grete fere but anone after he comforted hym / ¶ For in approchyng towched his lyppes and his houdes / And restored and gauf to hym strengthe / ¶ And Incontynent aroos vpp and walkyd seuentene dayes after tyll he came to a place where as god wolde brynge hym ¶ To whyche place he came and saw a man as he rested hauynge his face terryble all coueryd wyth heer lyke as a brute beest / ¶ And fro the raynes downe alowe he hadde a vestement of leues and of herbes / ¶ Whanne Paphunce sawe thys man soo deformyd / He was sore abasshyd / And not wythoute cause / ¶ For he hadde neuer seen suche lyckenesse of man ne of woman and wyst not what to doo But fledde in to a mountayne whyche was nyghe to that place And there hydde hym vnder the braunches of the trees / He was soo sore aferde / ¶ And there he beganne to syghe merueyllously ¶ Knowynge that by cause of his aege and abstynence he myghte goo noo ferther / ¶ This man seenge that Paphunce was fledde tofore him / and that he was aferde came nyghe to hym And callynge and cryenge with an hyghe
hym they sente messengers thorugh alle the â—â—untrer / Whyche soughte hym by the space of ryghtene dayes / ¶ And att lasâ—e some of theym in retornynge entred in to this lytyll house / Where they founde him on his knees prayenge to oure lorde ¶ Whanne the holy man sawe theym by hym And they beholdynge hym he sayde to theim / ¶ Wherfore be holde ye me soo / Prayse ye wyth me the name of god / Whyche hathe delyuered me from the ordure and fylth and wickydnesse of the worlde / Praye ye hym for me that he woll gyue me myghte strengthe for to bere the faytes of penaunce whyche I haue begonne / ¶ After he prayed theym that they wolde doo to him none empesshement ne lettynge And that noo more they shold come for to vysyte hym there / ¶ Thenne tooke they theyr leue and wente theyr waye / And Incontynent the holy man stopped all the holes and openynges of hys lytyll house excepte a lytyll wyndowe whyche he stopped not to the ende that by the same he myghte receyue his sustentacyon bodyly / ¶ And fro than forthou he dwellyd there longe· excercysynge hymself wyth vertuous werkes and lyuynge in clenuesse and chastyte In deuowte fastynges orisons lamentacoÌ„ns and wepynges in alle humylyte / ¶ His renoÌ„me beganne to growe and to sprede thorugh alle the countree / By whyche many deuowte persones came contynuelly and wythout cessynge there as he was As well for to haue of hym consolacyon in theyr sorowes and aduersytees as to be Instructe and taughte in doctryne example of good lyfe / ¶ Now god had gyuen to hym suche a grace that alle the wordes that he spake were soo merueyllously agreable to theym that herde hym / ¶ And lyghted theim as the rayes of the sonne lyghte the worlde / ¶ Twelue yere after his coÌ„uersacyon to god deyed his fader moder / Whyche lefte to hym golde and syluer a merueylous quantyte of the whiche he beyng aduertised sent anone Incontynent to one his famylyer frende that he sholde dystrybute it for goddis sake to pore orphanes and to other symple myserable persones To the ende that the thoughte that he myghte haue therof sholde not empesshe ne lette hym in his deuocyons orysons and contemplacyons ¶ He was aduertysed that it was soo done Wherof he was gretely comforted as he that after grete traueylle / founde hymselfe in reste and peasyble tranquyllyte / ¶ He appetyted not oonly to flee the worlde But also the goodes of fortune / ¶ And for alle erthely goodes he hadde but one robe or gowne Cours and vnthryfty clothe full of grete heer Wyth a lytyll dysshe in whyche he ete and dranke / And a lytyl pay lett wheron he laye ¶ His custome was to loue as moche the poore as the Ryche / And the vylayne / as the noble / ¶ And generally in alle the estates of the worlde he louyd asmoche one as a nother / ¶ Yf he corrected ony he dyde it not wyth rude wordes / But in grete benygnytee and swetnes ¶ Alle they that herde hym speke or so kyd on hym / Alwaye more and more they desyred to see hym / ¶ Neuer chauÌ„ged he the Rule that he hadde begonne ¶ And was continuelly by the space of fyfty yere wythoute to haue ony reporte to the worlde / ¶ Right nyghe to the cyte where he hadde be nourysshyd there was a towne where as dwellyd paynems and SarrasyÌ„s / Vnto whom had ben sente many Deakens and preestes by some souerayne Bysshops for to coÌ„uerte theym vnto the Crysten faythe / But alle they were retorned wythoute to haue done ony fruyte / ¶ For the sayde Paynyms weren obstynate in theyr ydolatrye / ¶ And it happed that the pryÌ„cypall of the sayde Bysshops beynge wyth his clerkes hadde knowlege of the holy man Abraham / ¶ And sayde to theym that it was nedefull to sende hyÌ„ in to the sayde towne For by his pacyence and holy lyfe he myghte coâ—uerte theym / ¶ The same Bysshopp thenne desyrynge to encreace oure holy faythe accompanyed wyth his clerkes came in to the lytyll house of this holy man / ¶ And whanne he was there arryâ—â—d / he salewed hym After he admonesteâ— and desyred hym to goo in to the sayde towne sayenge / ¶ O my frende I knowe that thou arte agreable to god whyche neuer refusyth to the noo thynge that thou of hym demaundest / ¶ Also thou knoweste ynough the Paynems dwellynge in this nexte towne And how we can not fynde manere to conuerte theym ¶ Wherfore it byhouyth that thou goo for to admonest and styre theym â—â—ke as god shall enseygne and 〈◊〉 the. ¶ The holy man was moche â—â—â—â—bled of the offyce that the bysshopp â—â—de gyue to hym And ansuered to hym ¶ O my lorde I pray that the thou 〈◊〉 suffre me to bywepe my wyckidnesse that I departe not from here ¶ I weâ—e well sayde the bisshopp that thou â—â—ste lefte the worlde and renounced alle erthely goodes for the blysse of heuen ¶ But neuerthelesse yf thou haddest al the vertues of the worlde and thou haue none obedyence they sholde noâ—â—â—ge prouffyte the / ¶ The holy man ansuered to hym / Alas my lorde I and 〈◊〉 other thynge but a deed bounde What thynkeste thou to be my lyfe / Wherfore sayste thou soo moche good of me / ¶ Thenne sayde to hym the bysshopp I saye the to be seruaunt of god Whyche sechest in this place where thou arte in but thy helthe oonly / But thou goo where I woll sende the. Thou shalt be cause of the helthe of Infenite persones by the grace that god shall gyue to the ¶ Ne thinke not oonly to doo thyn helthe / But also that whyche bylongyth to thy neyghbours / And thenne shalte thou haue very charyte / ¶ And by this moyen thou shalte gete more grete meryte anenste god In so moche as thou shalt bryng wyth the many soules in to heuen / ¶ The holy man herynge the bysshop And desyrynge as very obedyente to coÌ„ferme hym to his good playsure ansuered to hym that he was alle redy to go where as it sholde playse hym / ¶ Wherfor the bysshopp seenge his ryght good wyll layed his honde vppon his heed / and constytuted hym a preest / And after he broughte hym to the sayd towne ¶ And in entrynge in the whiche he sayd / O my god ryght pyteuous I byseche the. that it maye playse the to beholde my grete pouertee Freelte Imbecyllyte and the debylyte of myn ygnorauÌ„ce / ¶ Enlarge vppon me thy grace And that now thou helpe me to gloryfye thy holy name ¶ Whanne he was arryued there seenge theyr folysshe ydolatrye / He moeuyd with pyte beganne to waylle and wepe In makynge his prayer to god inlthys manere / O my god whiche arte oonly wythout synne Now I prayse the that it playse the to haue mercy on thise myserable synnars / ¶ Helas my
Charyte Prudence and other ¶ And for to enduce to gete theym he lyued wyth theym lyke an aungell In makynge to theym dyuerse predicacyons the whiche he contynued an hole yere / ¶ And after that he knewe theym confermed in the fayth / ¶ One tyme amonge the other he beynge atte houre of mydnyghte in contemplacyon Made vnto oure Sauyour Ihesu cryste suche a prayer sayenge O thou Illumyner of alle the worlde whiche haste enlumyned this lityll people and haste losyd them from the bondes of the deuyll in gyuynge to theim scyence for to knowe the / I humbly requyre the my god that thou wolt kepe theim vnto the ende holdynge theim in thyne holy fayth To the ende that they maye doo suche thynge alway that maye be to the agreable And to me also by thy mercy it be not imputed that I departe from them ¶ For my lord god thou knowest that doo it to th ende that I be not wythdrawen from dooenge penaunce ¶ His orison accomplysshed and made an ende He made thre tymes the sygne of the Crosse vppon the sayde towne And departed thens ¶ And wente in to a place where as noo body dwellyd / ¶ On the morne the Inhabytauntes dwellers of the sayde towne came in to his chirche like as they were acustomed But they fonde hym not Wherof they were moche sorowfull and angry And wente wepynge and wayllynge sechinge him / ¶ And wenynge to fynde him soughte him in many places / But thei cowde not after he was departed fynde hym ¶ After worde of his departynge came to the bysshopp Wherof he was as moche dysplaysaunt as they were / ¶ And for as moche as shepe wythout Pastoure ben in daunger of the wulfe / He wolde not leue theym wythout a coÌ„duytour and guyde / ¶ Soo came he hymselfe in to the sayde towne for to comforte theim ¶ And after that the sayde bisshopp hadde the moost sonyngly that he cowde comforted theym ¶ He choos some of the moost notable men amonge theim whom he constytuted in holy ordres makyng some of theym preestes and some deakens ¶ And yf they hadde ony trybulacoÌ„ns or empesshements in theyr consâ—yences They wente to the sayde men soo â—aâ—â—ed / ¶ The holy man Abraham whanne he knewe how the bysshopp hadde gyuen to theym socours for theyr helthe / He rendred thankynges to god / In louynge and gloryfyenge his name And helde hym close in a lytyll hous There prayenge and thankinge god in grete Ioye and cruâ—tacyon ¶ O man of grete perfeccoÌ„n In what manere maye ony man prayse thy charyte and thy grete constaunce Whanne for the helthe of thyn neyghbours thou haste endured soo many euilles And neuerthelesse thou haste not lefte to make thy prayers and saye thyne orysons accustomyd ¶ Thou haste not varyed for alle theyr menaces and tormentes But haste perseuered vnto the ende / ¶ O charytable man whiche haste put thy body in daunger of thyne enmyes for to make to theim helthe ¶ Well mayste thou be felowe to saynt Stephen the fyrste martyr whiche prayed to god for theym that martâ—rd hyÌ„ ¶ The enmye of alle good men seeng the conuersacion of the holy man and also that for tribulacyons he cessed not from his good purpoos But alway he puryfied hymselfe as golde in the frâ—nays Came to assaylle him on a tyme atte mydnyghte as he was in his prayer And concluded to tempte hym by suche temptacyons That he sholde noo more be in wyldernesse But sholde retorne in to the worlde ¶ Thenne came the deuyll sodaynly wyth a grete lyghte clere as the sonne Wherwyth he enlumyned alle the lityll hous / ¶ And in the lyghte was a voys whiche sayde / ¶ O holy man Abraham thou shalte be well happy For in alle thy werkes thou haste be true And haste alle done after my wyll / ¶ The holy man knewe that it was the deuyll Ansuerâ—d with an hyghe voys ¶ Goo hens thou wicked and peruerted admynystrer of malice Comest thou now hither for to teÌ„pte me wyth vayne glorye / ¶ I knowleche that I am a grete synnar / ¶ And thou weneste that I repute myself Iust ¶ Awaye and goo cursyd spyryte in to the vttrest derkenesse / In to whyche thou arte condempned / ¶ By the grace of my blessyd god I shall noo thynge fere thy falaces / and dysceytful mockynges and lesynges / ¶ The name of Ihesu Cryste whom I honour and loue shall be my deffence and walle agaynst the. whanne thou shalte come for to assayle me / ¶ And Incontynente the deuyll departed / ¶ The deuyll came agayn and broughte wyth hym a clubbe for to breke downe his lytyll hous ¶ And whan he had made open that one syde / The deuyll sayd faynynge that he had with him many euill knaues To whom he sayde / Come hyther my frendes haste you lete vs entree in· And slee this papelart / ¶ The holy man beganne to saye O my god alle folke haue enuyronned me But thy name be praysed by whiche I shall ouercome theym And shall brynge vnder my fete alle myne enmyes / And Incontynent the deuyll vanisshed awaye / ¶ A lytyll whyle after the deuyll retournyd / And putt fyre in to a lytyll matte on whyche he knelyd makyÌ„ge his prayers ¶ And whanne he sawe the fyre withoute feer he quenchyd it sayenge / ¶ I shall by the myghte of god walke vppon aspydes and venymouse beestes / And trede vnder my fete the lyon and the dragon and alle the power of myne enmye / ¶ For my god shal gyue to me alwaye ayde and strengthe for to fyghte agaynst the / ¶ Sathanas seenge that he was condempned of the holy man cryeed wyth an hygh voyce sayenge / ¶ I shall vaynquysshe the. and make the to deye and euyll dethe / For I shall fynde soo many cautelles and discepcyons that thou shalte not cunue endure theym / ¶ It happed on a daye lyke as the holy man sholde ete / The deuyll transformed hym in to the fourme and shappe of a lytyll childe / ¶ And entred in to the lytyll house / And supposyd to haue torned the plater vpp sodoune / ¶ The holy man toke hym by the honde and helde hym faste tyll he hadde taken his refeccyon / ¶ Anone after the deuyll went his waye / ¶ And a lytyll while after retourned and broughte a candelstyk vnder whiche was a candell lyghte And presented tofore the holy man / whyche tooke his refeccyon / ¶ And the deuyll syngyÌ„ge sayd / Well happy ben the walkers of this worlde that walken wythoute spotte of synne / ¶ And sange soo many verses of the psalme that begynnyth Beati immaculati i via qui ambulant in lege dnÌ„i But the holy man ansuered noo thynge· tyll that he hadd taken his refeccyon / ¶ And whanne he hadde taken his refeccyon he armyd wyth constaunce spake to the deuyll sayenge thyse wordes / ¶ Thou hounde
Infamyd ryght myserable and lyar of alle lyars / syth that thou knoweste theym that ben happy humble seruauntes of god Wherfore ye ueste thou to theym heuynesse and lettynges that they may not doo theyr penaunces suche as they desyred / ¶ The deuyll ansuered that the cause wherfore he trowbled the seruauntes of god / was to th ende that they sholde leue theyr gode conuersacyons and abandonne and gyue theym to synne / ¶ ThenÌ„e the holy man sayde to hym / Thynkeste thou spyrite Infamyd that they that ben ferme in the loue of IhuÌ„ Cryst may be deceyued by thy suggestions Thou deceyuest none but theym that ben vnhappy And ben contente to doo thy wyll / And that worse is they done payne to synne mortally / ¶ Thou knowest whan the seruauntes of god ben assaylled of the / That by one prayer that they make to god thou arte constrayned to flee / And Incontynent as the holy man hadd sayd thyse wordes / The deuyll fledde awaye as a raye or beme of the sonne ¶ Yet agayne fyue dayes after came the deuyll And made in the ayre a noyse / as he hadde hadd a grete multytude of people / That one sayeng to that other ¶ Lete vs goo and throw Abraham into a dyche and putte hym to dethe / ¶ The good holy man whanne he herde thyse wordes sayede / ¶ The enmyes of god haue gone rounde abowte me as flyes or bees and ben enforcyd agaynst me as fyre in thornes ¶ Alle be done in the name of god our lorde Ihesu Cryste / For by the puyssaunce dyuyne I shall vaynquysshe the cursyd deuyll / ¶ After that the enmye had herde thyse wordes of the sayde good holy man / He beganne to crye sayenge / Helas Helas I knowe noo more by what manere ne by what moyen the to dysceyue I knowe now that I am dysceyued / Neuerthelesse I shall neuer departe fro the vnto the tyme thou rendre thyself to be my subgette / ¶ Thenne the holy man ansuered to hym Maledyccyon come to the / Glory be gyuen vnto god and noo thynge vnto the / ¶ Thou knoweste that our sauyoure and redemptour Ihesus gyuethe to alle his true seruauntes strength to fyght agaynst the. and knowlege of thy dysceyuable temptacyons and mockynges for to kepe them from thy mortall and dampnable grynnes ¶ By many assawtes was assailed the holy man Abraham of the deuyll oure enmye But of what some euer temptacyon that he was tempted wyth He neuer fered ne doubted / but hadde alwaye stedfaste faythe / ¶ And of soo moche more as he was tempted vexid and traueylled of the deuyll / Of soo moche more he augmented his charytee towarde god / Wherfore fro day to day encrecyd his grace / ¶ And by that lyghtly by the helpe of god he suppedyted and put vnder fote the deuyll / ¶ Whanne the holy man apperceyued that the tresoure of grace was to hym ottroyed and gyuen He took thre precyous stones / Of whyche the fyrste was Faythe The seconde Hope / And the thirde Charyte To the ende that by thyse thre the other vertues mighte be decorate and made fayre / ¶ His charyte was soo grete that it stratched not oonly to good men / For whom he prayed affectuously / to the ende that the deuyll sholde not greue ne noye theym / But also he desired the conuersyon of the euyll peple in prayenge in lyke wyse for theym And in wepynge grete habundauÌ„ce of teeres / ¶ To the ende that god wolde dyuerte theym from theyr euyll lyfe / and tourne theym to the waye of helthe / ¶ He neuer laughed / And neuer after his conuersion wysshe his feete ne his hondes· ne his vysage / Estemynge euery daye that he sholde deye / ¶ He had his vysage not lyke the floure that neuer dryeth / ¶ And in seenge hym by his vysage· he sholde be Iuged to be a vessell full of alle vertues· ¶ Alwaye he was Ioyeous wythoute heuynesse / ¶ And for that cause atte houre of his dethe he was Iuged neuer to haue doo penaunce soo moche was his visage fayte and rodye / ¶ And that more is in fyfty yere he chaunged not his garment of hayre / Whiche he toke and hadde worne syth he beganne to doo penaunce fyrste / By the whyche thynges it apperyd euydently that he was strongely the frende of god / ¶ A nother myracle dide the holy man Abraham in his olde aege / He hadde a cosyn germayn / Whiche departed oute of this worlde and deyed leuynge after hym a doughter seuen yere of aege / ¶ The frendes of the sayde chylde secuge that she had neyther fader ne moder / broughte her to the holy man / where as she was enclosyd nyghe by to a wyndowe whyche was on the syde of his lytyll house And by the same wyndowe he taughte to her the Psaulter other holy scryptures / ¶ And there in soo dooyng and sayenge Ympnes and psalmes they were longe togyder / In suche wyse / that in alle abstynences the yonge mayde ensyewed her vncle Abraham / The whiche seeng the good way and wyll by her begon / He deuowtely wythoute cessynge prayed god for her / To the ende that he wolde gyue to her suche grace that she neuer solde retourne to the worlde And that her thoughte sholde haue none affeccyon to worldly thynges / ¶ For he hadde therof grete doubte by cause that her fader hadde lefte to her grete plentee of goodes temporell / ¶ The whyche goodes Abraham seenge her grete prudence and perfeccyon made theym to be dystrybuted to the pore people / In prayeng god that the deuylles by theyr subtyll suggestyons myghte haue noo power to chaunge her from her good purpoos / ¶ Soo contynued longe tyme the goode mayde in the rule that her vncle had gyuen to her / ¶ And she hadde in her soo grete constaunce that in twenty yeres he founde not her varyable / But obeyssaunte as a yonge lambe or shepe / ¶ Durynge this tyme. the deuyll whiche slepyth not ymagyned many subtyll meanes by whyche he myghte dysceyue theym / ¶ And by cause he cow â—e in noo wyse come to his entente / He dyde do begyle and disceyued her by a myserable Relygyous / The whyche were ofte to vysite the sayd good man Abraham Faynynge soo to doo for the saluacyon of his soule / ¶ But the cursyd Relygyous man tempted of the deuyll vnder the shadow of deuocion He wente for to defoyle the sayd vyrgyn / And soo longe he contynued by the space of a yere that he drewe her oute of her Oratorye / ¶ And by cause that in suche caas the lasse to knowe and expresse is beste and mooste honeste / It suffyseth to wryte that the poore doughter was defoylled / ¶ And that after the synne commysed and done / she became soo sorowfull and desolate that vneth maye be expressyd and wryten her
also yf thou be otherwyse dysposyd / I wyll not kepe the by force ¶ The rule of the very Relygyouses is for to forsake alle togyder the worlde and to flee all worldly conuersacyons / ¶ And therfore he that wolde saye my fader my moder arn my blode I ought to loue them / He must take hede to saynt Poul that sayth / WhosoÌ„euer that shal be ouercom by the flesshe he shal be seruaunt to the flesshe / And in effecte euery body becomyth thrall vnto hym of whom he letyth hymselfe to be broughte vnder fote / ¶ His moder seenge that she myghte not speke with hyÌ„ purposed to dwell wyth the virgynes that had theyr place nyghe the sayde monastery where her sone was a Relygouse Hopynge by goddis grace that she sholde see hym amonge the other Relygyouses / And also that in this dooynge she sholde purchase some mede to the saluacyon of her soule / durynge the tyme that she were in the monastery wyth the sayde vyrgynes / ¶ And by this that is sayde apperyth openly / that to kepe some tyme Rygoure in the worshypp of Ihesu Cryste and not for noo praysyng ne vaynglory is ofte cause of grete goodes to theim agaynst the whiche men ben Rigorouse How be it that for a shorte space of tyme it semyth theym that men haue offended theym / ¶ Of many reprouyd Relygyouses / To the chapytre begynnynge in latyn ¶ Igitur sicut / Caplm lxxxiii AAfter that we haue seen of the maners and vertues of many vertuouse and holi Freres consequently we shall see the necligence of some reprouyd Relygyouses that folowen after theyr flesshely appetyte oute of al good rule / The whyche gaaf grete malencolyes to saynt Pachomyen / By cause that for noo manere of monycyon ne warnynges that he made to theym they wolde not retorne theym / Wherby the holy man was wonderfully sorowful and heuy / ¶ And complaynynge hym to god he sayd / ¶ O my god that haste lordshypp ouer alle the worlde / Thou commaundest vs to loue oure euyn crysten / And therfore my god that knowest my wyll and the secrete of my conscyence / I praye the that thou wolt not dispyse my oryson The whyche ofte I haue made vnto the for thyse wretchydfull Relygyouses to the ende that thou haue of theym pyte and mercy in gyuynge to theym thy drede reuerently / And grace to knowe thy dyuyne puyssaunce for to obeye and serue the / Hauynge in the onÌ„ly wythout ony other the stedfaste hope of theyr saluacoÌ„n / ¶ Truely my soule is feblyd and tourmented soo moche and all my wâ—ttes trowblyd of theyr abhomynable lyuynge and Innyquyte / ¶ The holy man seenge they wold not amende theym / He made yet agayne prayers vnto god for theym / And after gaaf to theym certayn smale easy rules to lerne theym to honour praye god / To the entente that lytyll and lytyll they myghte accustome theym to doo well / And amende theyr lyfe / ¶ Ferdermore seenge that they coude not accoÌ„plisshe theyr delectacyons and playsures wythstondynge the contynuell denyenge of saynt Pachomyen / That suffred theym neuer goo oute of the monastery for to playse theyr wyckyd wylles / They for loke the monastery and ensyewed the deuyll theyr lorde and mayster / ¶ And after that the other Relgyouses were more desyroê° in the loue of god thanne afore / ¶ For thus as the corne whanne it is weded from the euyll herbes groweth and multyplyeth the better / ¶ In lyke wyse whanne in a felyshypp of folke peasyble are some vycyouse men / It is of necessyte to throwe theym oute from the other / ¶ And by this it is seen that to a man gyuen to the worlde auayllyth hym not to be a Relygyous / For his professyon shall doo hym noo prouffyte yf he be neclygente to kepe the Rules of his Relygyon / ¶ In lyke wyse a prayer prouffyteth not that is made for theym that ben aslepe in theyr synnes yf they helpe not to awake theymself / ¶ How Relygyouses of other monasteryes comynge to vysyte the monastery of saynt Pachomien were not receyued in to the sayd place amonge the dwellers / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Confessor c. Caplm lxxxiiii THere was a preest named Denys that was Confessour Prouysor and admynystratour of of the chyrche of the Centyryens / And well byloued of the holy man Pachomyen / ¶ The whyche Denys knowynge and aperceyuynge that this holy man defferred and putt of for to gadre wythin his monasterye wyth hys brethern the Relygyouses that camen to hym from other monasterys / But made theyr necessytees to be admynystred to theym by theymselfe and wythoute the gates of his monastery / Reproued hym sharply in sayenge to hym / That he dyde not well to doo soo / ¶ The holy man tooke and resceyued benygnely his correcyon / And answeryd to hym ¶ My brother and frende god knowyth my wyll and myn entencyon / And also he knowyth wel how I desyre the saluacyon of alle soules / And none I wolde despyse ne prouoke to wrathe / ¶ I knowe also that god hath sayde in hys gospell / That thys that men shall doo to the leest of his seruauntes / He shall take it in lyke wyse as it were doon to hymselfe / ¶ And therfore wyte it that I doo not soo for to contempne theym ne dyspyse theym / But oonly by cause that I knowe some Relygyouses in my chyrche soo symple that they sholde not conne putte dyfference bytwene theyr ryght honde and lyfte honde / ¶ And yet some other there ben also that bere not the habyte of relygyon / Wherfore me semyth good and nedeful that they that ben comyng to vs from other places be receyued honestly in a nother house by ours / ¶ And whaÌ„ they woll come to the chyrche to serue god they maye come there wyth vs / And after the seruyce dyuyne doon to retourne in to theyr lodges / for to doo there theyr secrete Oracyons or other vertuouse werkes after theyr deuocyon ¶ The preest hering his answere was contente of hym / And wente agayne awaye all recomforted and wyth gode counseylle / ¶ How the gowne of saynt Pachomyen heelyd folke of the blody Flux / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Mulier et cetera Caplm lxxxiiii IN the cyte of the Centiryens a woman had hadd suffred by a longe space a syckenesse callyd the blody Flux / Soo came she to the good preest aboue namyd / And by cause he was famylier frende of saynt Pachomyen· Prayed hym humbly that it wolde playse hym to sende for the holy man Pachomyen that was in his chaÌ„bre sayeng that he had certayn necessary thynges to telle hym / ¶ Saynt Pachomyen came to the sendynge of the sayd preest / And whan he was comÌ„ with in the chirche he made his prayer after he salued the good preest Denys / as they spake
whyche he was clothyd / It was done as he coÌ„mauÌ„ded / And Incontynent in the presence of theym all he made the vestyments to be brenned And after he made the corps to be borne to the graue wythout ony syngynge of ony psalmodye / ¶ The relygiouses also the frendes of the deed seeng his coÌ„maundement to be contrary to theyr custome were sore abasshed / And notwythstondyng his coÌ„mauÌ„dement they prayed hyÌ„ that he wold suffre the sayd relygiouses to saye the orysons psalmodies in suche caas acustomed / To the whiche peticoÌ„n the holi man wold not consent / Wherof the frendes seenge his wyll blamyd hym askynge hym wherof the foly came / Theâ— after sayd the relygiouses / What is that man but he oughte to haue pite on a deed body / though it were his enmye What woll theÌ„ne doo Pachomien a beest vnresonable wold not be soo vnkynde / What maye men saye / that it were to vs a grete repreyf yf we dyde this that he sayth / Wold god that we hadd neuer come here / that Pachomyen had neuer be relygyous we sholde not haue had suche a shame so sayd they to him ayen We pray the fayr fader that it woll playse the to consent the men synge ouer this corps as it is of custome / The holy man answerd Certes my bredern ye thynke not but to the thyÌ„ges visible / I consydre thynuysible / the worshyp that ye wold doo to hyÌ„ sholde soner be to hyÌ„ more cause of tormeÌ„te laboure than other helpe or reste / thyniurye that ye saye I woll doo to hym shal be cause of his sauacoÌ„n / Wherfor I wol not procure ne assent that men make honour to the body that is all redy deed but to his soule whiche is Inmortall God that is foÌ„tayne of al sapyeÌ„ce / sayth in his gospel Who soeuer shal synÌ„e ayenst the holy ghost· he shal neuer haue remyssion in this worlde nor in the other / By this is gyue vs to vnderstonde that there be some synÌ„es of the whiche men haue pardon after the deth thrugh the prayers of other / therfor I pray you that ye do as I haue told you / For god is almyghty to take hyÌ„ in to the felycyte eternall at oure prayers without his presence / And thê° they made hyÌ„ to be buryed in a mouÌ„tayn there they were wont to bery ¶ How the holy man Pachomien saw the angels bere awaye the soule of a relygyous in to paradys / begynnyth in latyn ¶ Moratê° eÌ„ / Caplm lxxxxi IN the sayd cyte of Panos in the monasteries abowte by the coÌ„maundement of the bysshop of the sayd cyte duryng the space of ii yere dwellyd saynt Pachomyen acompanyed of two relygyous / Hangyng the whyche tyme he taughte the peple excytynge the folke to drede god to fight ayenst the deuyll by vertuous werkes / ¶ In this meane whyle was shewed to hym that a relygyous of one of hys monasteryes was take wyth a greuoê° sykenesse and was askynge after hys laste blessinge / And Incontynent he came to theym that had brought hyÌ„ thise tydynges / toke his way wyth theym for to goo vysite this poore relygious / ¶ Whan he was come thre myle nye the monastery / he herde in the ayre a songe moche melodyous / And heuynge his sighte toward heuen he sawe the soule of the sayd relygyous borne by the angels in a carte coÌ„passed wyth a merueyllous lighte / The felowes of the holy man that herde noo thynge seeng that he had his vysage towarde the Eest / had fyxed his sight soo longe thyderwarde askyd him why he taryed soo longe in one place / Sayenge to hym that he sholde come fourth a pace as goodly as he myghte / to th ende he sholde socour the poore pacyent / Wherat he answerd we shall doe noo thynge there / For I see his soule wyth thangels that bere it in to heuen / ¶ The whyche wordes sayde â—â—re of the sayd felyshipp went to the sayd monastery and enquyred the houre of the dethe of the sayd relygyous / And by his InquysicoÌ„n / he fonde that the same relygious was deceased in the same hour that the same holy man had said it / ¶ How some wer brent by fire dyuyne by cause they letted the buyldynge of a monastery· begynÌ„yth in latyn ¶ SaÌ„ctus ergo / Caplm lxxxxii THe holy man Pachomyen acoÌ„panyed of some of his relygyouses went towarde the said bisshop of Panos that receyued hym honourably makynge grete soleÌ„pnyte of hys comyng / And after many deuoute wordes sayd bitwene theim the bysshop gaue him certayn grounde places for to buylde monasteryes after his good dyscrecoÌ„n / He began to buylde one rounde aboute the whiche he caused to be made a grete wall to th eÌ„tent the men shold not entre in it lightly / So happed that some wyckyd shrewes tempted by then mye of helle came to this place / wenynge to breke that that was begon / But the angell of god sodaynly enbracyd them wyth fyre dyuyne wasted theym as small as asshes / And after this the freres builded there at theyr wyll And no man was not syth soo hardy that durst lette theym in makynge theyr edifyces ¶ The holy man after they were achieued ordeyned there relygyouses to the whyche he preposed gaaf for abbot the holy man Samuell· that was right wise meke recicatyf / But neuerthelesse by cause that the sayde monasteryes were buylded in the feldes the holy fader wolde dwelle there tyll that he cowde knowe / that ther that he had ordened for to dwell there were somwhat dysposed to receyue the grace of our lorde IhuÌ„ cryste / ¶ Of the Inquysâ—cyons of a philosophre / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Interea / Caplm lxxxxiii HAngynge this tyme was a philosophre in the sayd cyte of Panos that wolde enquire wyte of the conuersacoÌ„n of the religyouses / So he saw some to that whiche he sayd Call me your fader abbot I wâ—ll apose dyspute wyth hym of some necessary thynges / ¶ The holy man seenge that it was a philosophre he wold not goo but sente to hym Cornylle Theodore his relygyouses / To whom he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that they shold answer prudeÌ„tly to his questyons answers / Whan they were come to the phylosophre he began to say Ye haue grete rendmee are wyse and prudent / And soo ye kepe besily the rules of your relygyon / therfore I woll appose you of that ye rede euery daye Wherat Theodore answerde hyÌ„ / Now saye what thou wolt / ¶ ThenÌ„e the philosophre askyd hym yf he had scyence ynough for to answer to the questyons that he sholde aske hym / And Theodore sayd vnto him that he sholde declare that whiche semyd hym good / ¶ The phylosophre askyd him Who was that neuer was bornÌ„ yet he deyed / Who was that was bornÌ„ yet
trauers letted theym soo that they cowde not depart fro the botomÌ„ of the sayd valey / Some forcyd theim to clymÌ„e vp but anone they fell doune ayen to the lowest parte of the valeye / Some other wepte byneth / And some came vpp the whiche gaue thankes to god of the peryll that they were passyd / ¶ And therfore the holy man thought that there shold be some relygiouses blynde / that whiche sholde not knowe theyr astate / The other sholde bere the habyte of relygyon but they sholde not doo the werkes that longe therto· namly they that sholde haue the rule ouer theym sholde not knowe theimself / Wherof shold folowe grete scismes diuysions in the chyrche / ¶ ThenÌ„ saynt Pachomyen full sory in grete heuynesse made his callyng vnto god / saeng O my god almyghty yf thise thinges happe to come soo / Why hast thou grauÌ„ted that soo many torments shold be edefied done / ¶ Alas yf the prelates ben euyll what shall the relygiouses doo that shall be in theyr gouernaunce / Truely whan a blyÌ„de ledith the other they fall in the pitte bothe atones ¶ Alas that I am well vnhappy I haue well laboured in vayn / My god alas remeÌ„bre the of the labours that I haue take in buildyÌ„ge soo many monasteries to thonour reuerence of thy holy faythe / ¶ Thou knowest that syth the tyme that I receyuyd thabite of relygyon I haue meked me afore the· ¶ And sayeng thises wordes he herde a voys that sayd to hym / Pachomyen prayse not thiself for thou hast nede of the grace of god not onely thiself but also al his creatures / Anone he caste hymselfe to the grouÌ„de / and made to god this requeste / ¶ O mi god almyghty I beseche the that thy mede fulnesse come downe now vpon me to th eÌ„de that I liue distourne not away fro me thy medefull face / For thy trouthe mercy hath euer receyued me mekely / I knowe syre that all thynges resen fall but yf they be holde vp with thyn ayde defence / ¶ And in sayeng this oryson descended vpon him a multytude of angels amonge whom was a chylde crowned with thornes / seeng this vysion / The holy man Pachomyen was lyft vp by the sayd angels well hyghe fro the grouÌ„de in to thayre / the sayd to hym / Pachomyen by cause that thou hast axed the medfulnesse of god mekely thou shalt haue it euyn now / Beholde the very redemer Ihesu cryst· that hath be sent in to this world crucifyed for the sauacyon of mankynde / berynge in his heed a crowne of thornes / ¶ ThenÌ„ sayd the holy man o my god haue I not crucyfyed the / And god swetely answerde to him / Naye not thyself but thy parentes Neuertheles comfort thiself / For thy posterytee shall abyde vnto th ende of the worlde / All they that after the shall come soo that they lyue in deuowte abstynence shall be delyuerde of the paynes of helle / And all they that folowe the shall folowe herafter shal shyne in the lyghte euerlastyng / And the sayd our lorde ascended agayn to heuen compassed wyth soo grete a bryghtnesse that noo tonge mighte telle / ¶ An exhortacoÌ„n for to wythstonde the deuyll / Begynnyth in latyn ¶ TuÌ„c pachomius c. Caplm lxxxxvii THe holy fader after this gadred his bredern and made togyder a seruyse well solempne / ¶ And after the endynge of the same they came all abowte hym for to here his holy prechynge / ¶ Soo he exhorted them for to batayle wyth all theyr strengthe vertues ayenst the deuyll soo courageously that they sholde not be ouercome Shewynge to theym that they that duringe theyr lyfe had be slouthfull neclygent sholde neuer haue but wepynge wayllynges / ¶ After he sayd to theym My chyldren lete vs not lese our dayes in vayne but in eschewyng the dangeroê° vice of ydlenesse lete vs labour seke vertues for to saue our soules / I telle you plainly thise wordes / For yf ye knewe the rewardes that ye shall haue in heuen yf ye ouercome the deuill / And to the contrary the grete tormentes that ye shall suffre in helle if ye be ouercome of him ye sholde neuer cease nother daye ne nyghte but forge armours· speres sheeldes / And euer ye sholde be armyd dysposyd to goo to the felde of bataylle ayenst hym / ¶ Torne your dayes thenÌ„e better better meke yourself to th ende that whan your soules shall depart fro the body that thennâ—ye haue noo cause to accuse it / ¶ What profyteth to a maÌ„ to reyse hyÌ„self by vaynglory syth that we ben but asshes / ¶ Alas why are we proude / I wold fayne wyte syth that we be but erthe asshes / fro whens may comÌ„ our pryde / ¶ Wepe we my bredern wepe we our grete synnes durynge the tyme that we haue space tyme to doo soo / ¶ Alas lete vs consydre the short tyme that we haue here to abyde / And kepe ourself besily in wythstondyng the teÌ„ptacoÌ„ns of the deuill in suche wyse that we haue the Ioye whiche is wythout ende / ¶ The deuyll watchyth contynuelly for to take vs by stelth / Watche we theÌ„ne lyke as he dooth / to the ende that he sleeth vs not by treyson / ¶ Lete vs all â—â—ye haue afore our â—yen our last day whiche is the deth we shall neuer do synÌ„e / ¶ For who shall thynke well vpoÌ„ thise thynges he shall haue the hert meke the thought pure clene And soo shall dispyse pryde vaynglory HauyÌ„ge awaye from his thoughte the curyosytee of the erthly thynges that are perysshyng corruptyble / ¶ Chastyse we thenÌ„e our flesshe by fastynges abstynences / And constrayne our sensualyte to obeye in all thynges to reason in restreynynge our inordynat wylles in suche maner that we ben not enclyned ne redy to doo euyll but besy to lyue vertuosly / wythout to trespace one onÌ„ly mynute / but that it be done to the seruyce of god To th ende that after the shorte paynes wretchydnesse of this worlde we maye haue the Ioyes vnspekable / To that whyche for to come lete vs put our eyen to teeres wayllynges in watchyng euer more in good werkes / ¶ For yf we doo otherwyse / certaynly we shall haue paynes wythout noÌ„bre / ¶ But we woll thynke well to it we shall be the teÌ„ple euerlastyng of god in vs shall dwell the holy ghoste wherby the deuyll shall not gyue vs so many assawtes / but that we shall be more stronger than he / For we shall haue good defence that is the kyÌ„ges of kynges the whyche suffreth neuer the Iuste to perysshe / ¶ After that he had coÌ„forted his relygiouses he made a lytyll oryson / prayeng god that he wolde conferme theym in peas kepe theim in his worthi grace / And
be Crysten / He thenÌ„e consyderynge her good wyll and ferynge to offende god / Yf by his neclygence she had not contynued in her holy purpoos Hopyng also that the deuyll sholde not dysceyue hym by her Had taken on his way wyth her and had born her felyshypp vnto the cyte of Alexandrye / Where he had existned her and sought a place for to haue her in to relygyon / And this doynge they asked theyr breede thorugh the cyte / The holy Patryarke seenge the holy affeccoÌ„n that he had to the soule of the good mayde begâ—â— for to crye / ¶ Alas how many good seruauntes of god 〈◊〉 is the worlde vnknowen / ¶ And after he gaaf hym aâ— hundred pens / But the relygyous wolde none take / Sayeng that it was not that he soughte / ¶ And that all relygyouses that ben of good fayth haue noo nede of syluer / ¶ And yf that they haue nede / Men maye well saye that they haue noo fayth / ¶ Thenne the Patryarke bowed his knees byfore hym and recommended hym to god / ¶ And after loued maintened and lodged the relygyouses more tenderly than he hadd done afore / ¶ And after for the grete affeccyon and feruent loue that he had to them dide buylde an hospytall without the cyte of Alexandrye that he namyd the hospytall of Relygyouses / ¶ How the holy Patriarke vysited the 〈◊〉 in â—ourynge to theyr dethe warde ¶ And of hym that was broughte pryâ—â—â—er in Perse / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Mortalitate et cetera Caplm C.xxix A Grete dethe happed in Alexandrye in the holy Patriarkes dayes / Durynge the whiche dethe / For to purchace gretter mede / And also for to shewe a token of mekenesse to all other / He wente and vysyted the lyke / and helped to wynde them whan they were decessed / ¶ And often for to haue a contynuell mynde of dethe / He â—â—syd they re eyen after that they were deed / ¶ And after made deuowte prayes and orysons for the helthe of theyr poore soules / ¶ And for to shewe that prayers and orysons that ben doone deuowtely profyten to the deed / Here after is rehercyd a fayre hystory of a maÌ„ the whyche was taken and broughte prysoner in to Perse / And was putt in a pryson that is callyd Lethe / Whyche is as moche for to saye as Forgetynge Or to be putt oute of Remembraunce ¶ Some that fledde from thens for to goo in to Ethypre / Passed by the howse of the frendes of the sayd prysonere / And they were questyoned yf they had not mette nor seen theyr kynnesman / ¶ Wherat they answeryd that wych theyr owne hondes they hadd buryed hym / ¶ Alwayes it was not the same / But it was a nother that was well lyke hym / ¶ And for to certefye the better that it was he they namyd the monyth and also the daye that he deyed ¶ The sayd frendes bi cause they wende thise mennes sayenges to be true dyde do make thre seruyses euery yere for theyr sayde kynnesman / ¶ That is to wyte one att the feeste of the Epyphanye that we calle Tweluyfthdaye / the other vpon the holy Sondaye that is Trynyte Sondaye And the thyrde at the feeste of Pentecost otherwyse called Wytsondaye ¶ It happed that foure yere after the sayd prysoner came ayen To whom his frendes rehercyd tolde hym / That by cause men had reported to them that he was deed they made for him vpon thise dayes and euery yere the sayd seruyses / ¶ The whyche thyng by hym herde of theym / He affermyd to theym for a trouthe / That he beynge wythin the sayde pryson / euery yere and the same dayes came to hym a man alle in whyte that loosyd hym his chaynes wherwyth he was bounde And preseruyd hym from theym that kepte him / And after went beryng hys chaynes att his necke wythout the knowlege of ony man / ¶ Wherfore he concluded that oryson prouffytyth moche to the prysoners vpon the Turkes and Sarrasyns / And pryncypally to theim that ben deed / ¶ Of hym that prayed for his sone and for his shyppe that was vpon the see / by cause it sholde not perysshe / And begynnyth in latyn / ¶ Quod in actibus aplorum / Caplm C.xxx SVche a nother thynge we rede of the holy Patriarke in the boke of the dedes of thapostles· that many deuowte crystens seenge the grete coÌ„passion that he had toward the poore solde moche of theyr goodes broughte the money therof to the holy man for to be dreased by hyÌ„ to the poore / ¶ Amonge the other was one that had onÌ„ly but .vii. pouÌ„de of golde an halfe / that whiche somÌ„e he brought to the sayd holy man sayenge that it was all the golde that he had in his possessoÌ„n / ¶ And as he toke him this golde He sayd that he had onÌ„ly a sone of .xv. yere of aege the whyche wyth a shyppe was gone in to Affryque ¶ And bi cause he was in grete thoughte malencolye of that he came not ayen soo soone as he was acustomyd besoughte hym that he wold pray god that he wolde saue hym his sone brynge his shyppe ayen to port salw / the holy Patryarke was merueylled of the goodnes and· kindnesse of this marchaunt that had gyue all his golde att oâ—â— almesse / ¶ Soo toke he soone the sayd golde and put it vnder a table halowed prayenge god deuoutly for the helthe of his sone of his shippe / ¶ Thirty dayes after came tydynges that hys sone was dysceased but thre dayes after the sayd tydynges his shyppe came and also his sone that neuertheles was drowned in comyng wythin the hauen the goodes wythin the shyppe lost / there abode oonly but one lytyll boote / All this befall was reported to the sayde holy Patryarke And how the fader was more sory onÌ„ly for the deth of his sone than for the losse of his goodes / the holy man consideryng his grete sorow durste not make hym come afore hym / ¶ But neuertheles he sent hym worde that he shold take his Infortune in pacyence bi cause our lorde made no thynge wythout a cause all be it that we knowe not the same or wyll not knowe it / And therfor he leuyth neuer those that do ony good but rather whan they suffre ony aduersitees or trybulacoÌ„ns yf they retourne to hym soone or late they ben coÌ„forted / ¶ Soone after the good marchaunte sawe in his dreme a man lyke vnto the holy Patryarke the sayd to hyÌ„ / My broder why trowblest thou thiself takest soo moche heuynesse / Hast not the prayed me that thy sone mighte be sauyd / Certaynly thy prayer is harde for surely yf he lyued he were in daungeâ—ur to be dampned for the euylles that he sholde haue done / ¶ I ensure the yf iâ— had not be by the gyfte that thou beste doone to me /
to me as to a synÌ„ar that by the temptacoÌ„n of the deuyll that arte cruell rude to thy chyldern or seruauntes I praye the ceasse thy wrathe / so that it ne haue no place wythin that / God hath not gyue vnto vs chyldren for to noye theim but for to serue vs. or for to cherysshe nourisshe theym of the godes that he hath lent vs / I put a question vnto the / what whing hast thou in thy body fote honde or soule more than thy seruaunt hath / Is he not lyke vnto the in all thynges / Thou ought to knowe that we ben all formed made at thymage of IhuÌ„ Cryst / Thy seruauÌ„tes thenÌ„e are men as thou art Herke after saynt Poul that sayth / ¶ Ye al that are crystned haue IhuÌ„ Cryste in to youre possessyon / be it Iewe or Crysten free or bonde / We ne are but one in IhuÌ„ Cryst / ThenÌ„e syth we ben egall in IhuÌ„ Cryst that oure Sauyour by his grete humylytee hath take our nature / he techith vs that we sholde flee pryde ayeÌ„st our seruauÌ„tes / There is but one god of heuen that beholdyth onÌ„ly the meke dystroyeth the proude ¶ God hath made the heuens thenâ— the see all that is in it for the man for the woman / And soo hath he also worshypped man in takynge our manly flesshe / ¶ Thou art thenÌ„e well acursed the ceassest not to smyte vpon thy seruauntest / ThauÌ„gels fere man / thou doost dyspyse hym / God hath be crucyfyed for man and that doost noo thynge but tormentest crucyfyest thy seruantes that ben men I aske of the / Woldest that well at euery tyme that thou doost euyll that god sholde take vengauÌ„ce of the / I byleue naye / ¶ Euery day in sayeng thy Pater noster thou prayest god that he pardonÌ„e the thy synÌ„es as the pardonÌ„est to other netheles thou doost the contrary / So oughte â— to dowte the lyke as thou desyrest wyllest take vengauÌ„ce of thy seruaâ—â—â—t or enmye god beholdyng thy prayer toke of the rygorous vengaunce / ¶ Of the chylde Orphenym the whyche was made ryche / And begynnyth in laâ—in ¶ Audiens cetera Caplm C.xxxviii SOmtyme in Alexandrye was an Almoner the whyche had one onÌ„ly sone / The fader seenge his ende to drawe nygh made his sone to be called sayd vnto hym / My chylde by cause that I shall dey I woll make the well to haue knowlege of alle that I am worthe / ¶ Wyte it for trouthe that of all goodes ryches I haue but x.li of golde / And therfore chose whether thou woll be myn heyre or elles that the blessid moder of god be the same / The childe had leuer that the Tresoresse moder of Orphanes shold be his faders heyre than he hymself and suffred that al sholde be yeue for goddis sake / ¶ The fader soo deceased the childe contynuelly nyghte daye kept hyÌ„self in the chyrche of the blessid moder of god makyÌ„g to her deuowte prayers orysons / Of the whyche thynge the holy Patryarke had knowlege / that neuertheles made couÌ„tenance as he had knowen no thynge / ¶ Wythin short tyme after he made to be called a Notary to whom he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to take an olde skynne of parchemyn therin to wryte a Testament for in the name of one namyd The ophente / And that he sholde afferme by the Testament that the fader of the sayd childe the sayd Patryarke were bredern germayn / Chargynge morouer the sayde Notary to shewe the chylde of the same shewynge to hym the sayd Testament for to the entent he shold gyue hym courage boldnesse to aske of the sayde Patryarke ayde socours / The whiche thyng the sayd Notary dyde in contynent but neuerthelesse the chylde durste not goo to hym ¶ Soo sente he twyes for hym / And fynably came towarde hym toke kyssed hym sayeng Thou arte welcome my neuewe And made to be knowen that he was of his kyn / ¶ And whan he was grete he gaue hym an hous and alle thynges that to hym were nedefull / And maryed hym honestly / ¶ Wherby it apperyth that god leuyth neuer those that haue theyr hope in hym / ¶ Of a begyler that borowed thyrty pounde of golde of the holy Patryarke And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Inpretermisse / Caplm C.xxxix TRouthe it is that the forsayde holy Patryarke had this good lawdable custome that men neuer went heuely abasshed from hym ¶ Soo it happed that a begyler Papelarde borowed of hyÌ„ xx.li of golde / This holy man vnware that he was of thylke nyce haskers / begylets licorous false butters the begyle deceyue the worlde lente hym gladly wythout ony spekynge therayenst / ¶ Soo departed this Papelaide from byfore hym mockyÌ„ge sayeng that he had lent hym no thyÌ„ge / The Iustycers prayed the holy Patryarke that he wolde suffre hym to be had in to pryson / ¶ But the sayd holy man sayd to theym / Frendes be mercyfull as god our fader that makyth the sonÌ„e to shyne aswell ouer the badd as ouer the good to rayne asmoche ouer the Iust as ourâ— the vertrue / forbadd them to doo vnto hyÌ„ ony harme / Wherof they angred theymself ayenst the holy man sayenge / Truely it noo right that suche a knawe shal haue thus your money better it were to gyue to the poore / ¶ ThenÌ„e he answerd vnto theym / Ye shal doo two euylles / The fyrst is that ye shal be holden impacyent in our harmes and to other ye shall be ensample of impacyence / And thother euyll shall be that in this doynge ye shall be dysâ— beyeng vnto god that sayth / Yf ony take the money or thy substauÌ„ce fro the / aske it neuer ayen ¶ Of that other parte saynt Poul sayth / Why do we not endure forbere more pacyently wronge dysceyte or wyles / It is a good dede almeses to gyue to theym that aske do And better bestowed it is to theim that aske noo thynge / But it is a souerayn goodnes to gyue our gowne to theim that from vs take awaye our mantell / And who that dooth thus he is of an angelles and of the nature of god / ¶ God commaudeth vs that we soâ—ur euer our euyn crysten of that we truly haue goten / And not of that we haue wonne and goten to the hurte of other wrongfully / ¶ Of the Abbott Vitalyon / And begynÌ„yth in latin ¶ Senex quidem maâ—nua c· Caplm C.xl. AN olde abbot named Vitalion of thage of .lx yere that dwellyd wyth a nother holy abbot / that hyghte Serydon had herde shewed many good propretees of the goode Patryarke IohnÌ„ / of his holy lyf / So wolde be assaye yf he mighte make hyÌ„ to falle in synne and namely yf he were soo constauÌ„t that he neuer condempned ony persone / ¶ Thenne
good purpoos / ¶ But in gooynge by the way the one wyth the other / Hopynge this holy man to haue her in to some monastery of relygyouse wymÌ„en / walked togyder so longe that they came to a chyrche at the entree of whyche they fonde a moche fayre chylde that laye on the grouÌ„de / ¶ The whiche this Porphyre moeuyd of pyte compassyon toke bare bytwyx her armes and sith nourisshed hym in the sayde abbots monastery / that whyche soone after made this Porphire a woman of religyon and made her to be callyd Pelage / ¶ Afore that sheâ— was relygyous she beynge yet in the sayd abbots monasteri MarchauÌ„tes came thyder of the cyte of Thyre that well knewe the sayde Pelage / And seenge that she had a chylde sayd to her / ¶ Haa dâ—me ye haue broughte forthe a fayr chylde to the abbot / ¶ Many other dyspytes the sayd to her and to the abbot also / Vi. or vii yere after that the childe was grete the abbot knewe by the wyll of god that in short time he shold deye / for this cause he gaaf to vnderstoÌ„de vnto this Pelage that he must nedes for certain causes go vnto the sayd cyte of Thyr / so coÌ„maunded her to make redy herself thyderwarde wyth hym and that she sholde take her chylde wyth her / ¶ Pelage that wolde not dysobeye hym toke the childe they thre togyder went in to the sayd towne / ¶ And whan they were came thider the abbot laye Incontynent syke in his bed / ¶ ThenÌ„e were tydynges shewed thrugh the cyte how the abbot that hadde ladde awaye Porphyre the â—â—â—yn woman was at poynt of dethe And anone went and vysited hym more than a hundred persones in nombre ¶ In presence of whom and also of Pelage and of the yonge chylde / The abbot callyd after cooles quycke glowyng / ¶ And Incontynent that they were broughte to him / He putt theym vppon his gowne / and sayd this / My bredren byleue that like as god kept somtyme byfore Moyses the busshe brennynge wythout to be apayred nor brente / And as att this presente houre he kepeth my gowne from harme of thise cooles glowynge / ¶ Thus for very certane I tell you that I neuer knewe the synne of this woman· wherof I am accused / Shewynge to theym beynge present the same woman and the chylde / ¶ All they were merueylled and gloryfyed god of the myracle / ¶ And anone after that the holy abbot had taken awaye the false oppynyon that they of Thyr had ouer hym he bytoke his goost in the hondes of our lorde / ¶ For this cause the holy Patryarke for said deffended that folke sholde not gyue noo sentence ouer the yonge man that had broughte the woman of Relygyon oute of her monastery as it is aboue sayde / ¶ More ouer sayd the holy Patryarke that how well men seen ofte the synners perfourme the synne of fornycacyon / Neuerthelesse men ought not to dyspyse theym nor reporte synnars / ¶ For men knowe not what secrete penauÌ„ce they haue done for to decerue the grace / ¶ And in like wise this he sayd of all other synnars / ¶ Suche ben playsauntly clothed and well arayed that who soo sholde take his vesture from his backe dame Penaunce vnder his clothes sholde be fouÌ„de / ¶ Of two Clerkes that made shone begynnyth in latyn ¶ Duobus clericis c· Caplm C.li. DVrynge the tyme that the forsayde holy Patryarke dwellyd in Alexandrie two clerkes were there that made shone for to gete theyr liuyng ¶ Th one had many chyldern to fede / And beside this he nouryshed his fader his moder / ¶ And how be it that he was constrayned to werke contynuelli for cause of the grete charge that he bare / Neuertheles he serued god dayely and herde masse sayenge many prayers and orysons / But that other hadde his thoughte all sette vpon his werke / ¶ And not oonly the dayes that were suffred and assygned to doo lawfully all manere of hondwerke But also he wroughte vpon the sondayes / vppon all other solempne dayes wherin is for boden that noo manere of hondwerke shold be vsyd / And namely thrugh the grete luste that he sett to his werke for lucre of money he slouthed the seruyce of god and herde neuer masse / ¶ But what soeuer payne that he toke he mighte not liue nor mayntene hyÌ„self Where by he fel in enuye agaynst his felow And askyd hym how it myght be that he was richer than he· seenge the grete charge that he had and also that he wrought not soo moche as he dyde / Thys other desyrynge to styre his felowe towarde god and to serue hym sayd vnto hym / That he had founde a tresour in the grounde / wherof he was become ryche / And that yf he wolde kepe hym felyshypp and goo wyth hym he sholde gyue hym parte of that he shold fynde / Where vnto he was agreed / Promysynge to here hym coÌ„panye and to goo wyth hym where some euer he wolde lede hym / ¶ Vnder shadowe of whyche promyse the seruaunt of god sette hym many dayes for goo here masse / And soo moche he vsyd hym therin / that he cowde not leue but that he went euery day to the chyrche for to here masse and serue god / And afterwarde he wexed so ryche that lyÈtly wythout nede he had from that tyme forthon to lyue more honestly wythout comparyson than he dyde afore / ¶ Wherby it apperyth that we ought fyrste to seke the reame of heuen / And god shall socour vs in our dedes / ¶ The holy Patryarke forsayde whan he knewe how this good faythfull hadd conuerted his felowe to serue god / By cause also hym thoughte he was worthi to be a preest for was he â—â—tred ynouÈ of good maners / he ordened hym to the holy order of preesthode / ¶ How the holy Patriarke was called of god for to decesse out of this worlde And begynnyth in latin ¶ Et quidem Caplm C.lii IT happed bi the suffraunce yf god that Alexandrye was subdued of theim of Perse by force of armes / The whiche aduersytee serâ—ge this holy man / and consyderynge the godly counseyle whiche is written in holy scrypture sayenge / ¶ Yf one â—egyoâ— is contrary / Goo to a nother / He made his purpoos to retourne in to Ethyper in the cyte where he was borne / ¶ The whiche thynge knowynge the Patryâ—s Niceta requyred hyÌ„ besyly that he sholde goo to the cheyf cyte of the citees for to exhorte the emperours to lyue vertuously / ¶ The holy Patryarke that neuer refusyd noo thynge that was leyfful good to noo maner of persone / coÌ„sented for to goo wyth the sayd Patryce / The shippes were Incontynent made redy and they toke the see / ¶ It happed by the wyll of god that the shyppe wherin were thise Patryarke Patrice was in
was buryed / And there she kepte herselfe thre dayes wythoute ony mete or drynke / Makyng there wayllynges wythoute nombre and wepynges / Hauynge alwayes an hope that the holy Patryarke sholde lete her vnderstonde some tydynges of her synne / ¶ She often sayd vnto hym / Alas holy Patryarke I hadd soo grete an hope of thy lyfe the whyche I byleue not to be ended ¶ For god and his chyrche wytnessen vnto vs. that the Iuste lyue euerlastyngly / And therfore I byleue that thou arte not deed / But rather arte more lyuynge as to the euerlastynge lyfe· than thou were afore in this worlde / ¶ Alas my frende I ne requyre of the none other thynge / but oonly that thou wolte lete me wyte where my scrowe is become that I toke the / ¶ O my souerayne god that sayd to the woman Cananâ—e That thorugh her faythe she was sauyd / ¶ Syth that I haue in the stedfaste byleue that thou mayst make me att thys tyme acertayned of my scrowe / I byseche the / that thou woll be playsed I to haue it agayne / ¶ One a daye she sayenge suche wordes / ¶ The holy Patryarke acompanyed wyth two bysshops wyth the whyche he was entered aroos oute of his gaue· and sayde to the sayd woman / ¶ O poore nedy woman why leuest thou not in rest theym that ben here wyth me / Thou hast wepte soo moche that we ben all bedewed wyth thy teeres / And wyth this he toke her agayne her scrowe / And askyd her yf she knewe it / The whyche wordes sayd he and the sayde two holy bisshops layed theymselfe downe agayne wythin theyr tombes / ¶ And the sayde woman openyd her letter And founde therin wryten the wordes that here folowe ¶ For the loue of Iohan my seruaunte thy synne is enrased oute / ¶ O what is he that cowde or myghte reherce the power of our lorde the whiche is soo mercyfull and louely bothe to men and wymmen / And that soo freely grauntyth and dooth the wyll of all those that drede hym / And that wyth goode herte sekith hym / Whyche gloryfyeth theym that loue hym / And by myracle magnyfyeth theym / ¶ The holy Patryarke forsayd was not onÌ„ly gloryfyed in one place but in all countrees of the Eest partyes / And now saynt Iherom makyth vs to knowe hym ferdermore in thyse partyes of the Weste / ¶ How the dethe of the forsayd holy Patryarke Iohan was shewed to a relygyouse namyd Sauyn / And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Eadem enim die c / Caplm C.lv. THe daye that this holy Patryarke deyed / a Relygyous man namyd Sauyn beynge in Alexandrye sawe by the wyll of god the holy Patryarke Iohan / The whyche accompanyed wyth a grete nombre of clerkes was ladde by one of theym tofore an emperour in his palays / After he sawe hym come out of the gate / ¶ The whyche vysyon bytokened the departynge of his body from the soule Whan he was out of the gate came to hym a fayre lady a yonge mayde shynynge bryghter than the sonne / Hauynge on her heed a crowne of Olyue tree· The whiche toke him anone by the honde and ladde him forthe / ¶ Bi this visyon the good relygyouse man ymagyned that the holy Patryarke was passynge oute of this worlde at that houre vnto euerlastynge glory And this he gaaf to knowe vnto dyuers persons It happed thenÌ„e that oute of Chypre came many marchauÌ„tes in to AlexaÌ„drye To whom was askid after the hour of the Patryarkes forsayd dethe / And by theyr answere was cleerly knowe that the sayd vysyon was true / And that at the same hour that as the Relygyouse man had shewed it the sayd holy Patryarke was deed / Gyuyng stedfast fayth by this that sayd is to this vysion and namly for cause of the mayde that ladde hym by the honde / For they Iudged that is was Almese / that afore tyme in this worlde had shewed herselfe to this holy Patryarke forsayd in lykenesse of a mayde / And had promysyd hym as here afore is sayd / That yf he wolde loue her / she sholde present hym byfore the souerayne emperour that is our blessed Sauyour Redemer Ihesu Cryste / ¶ Of a nother vysion that a Citeyzyn of AlexaÌ„drie had touchyÌ„ge the deth of this holy Patryarke IohnÌ„ the Almoner / begynÌ„yth ¶ CuÌ„ auteÌ„ / Caplm C.lvi. ANd not onÌ„ly by cause of the visyon of the forsayd religyoê° / but also for a nother vysion that happed to a pore man feryng god whyche dwelled in Alexandrye the enhabytauÌ„tes of the same cyte byleuyd the Almese Mercy had presented the forsayd holy Patryarke vnto god / This good pore man that same nyghte that the holy Patryarke IohnÌ„ deyed sawe by spirytuell vysyon all the poore folke of the cyte of Alexandrye / Aswell children faderlees and moderlees as wymÌ„en and other what so euer persone in grete noÌ„bre / Beryng in theyr hondes brauÌ„ches of Olyue tree the whyche wente to the seruyce and Dirige of the holy Patriarke / ¶ Wherfore it was cleerly shewed Almese dede presented hym afore god / as it is sayd aboue / ¶ How out of his sepulcre flowed and ranne oyle· And begynnyth in latyn ¶ Hymnodia c· Caplm C.lvii YF we had of the gloryfycacion of the holy Patryarke none other reason to shewe but the same that here folowith / Yet ought we onely to be certayne withoute ony doubtfull demynge that he is of the nombre of sayntes / ¶ After that this holy body was enteryd buryed our Redemer wyllyng to shew the worthynes of hym· coÌ„maunded that out of his graue sholde flowe and renne oyle of whose swetnes swete smelling sauour by syÌ„guler grace were the folke beynge present fulfylled namely all the sike folke that were enoynted therwyth receyuyd fully theyr helthe ayen / And not oonly this myracle happed in the londe of Chypre aforsayd to the worshyp of the sayde holy Patryarke / But also in dyuers other to the ende that we that see how they haue contynued and lyued holyly in this worlde· sett and applye our courages to ensewe theym in theyr dooynges / ¶ We shall praye mekely the gode saynt IohnÌ„ the Almoner that it wolde playse hym of his large mekenesse for to spare for vs after oure mortall lyfe the tresours that neuer shall haue ende that he hath spared for hyÌ„self thrugh his grete almese other grete werkes so that we ensewe the same maye be wyth hyÌ„ fedde in the glory of heuen / Amen / ¶ Here begynnyth the lyfe of saynt Eugene / whose feest is halowed the day after the feest of the Natiuyte of our sauyour IhuÌ„ Cryste / And begyynyth in latin ¶ In septimo igitur et cetera Caplm C.lviii SOmtyme an Emperour of the Romayns namyd Chomodrê° for to rule gouerne the cytee of Alexandrye the londe of Egypte vnder the lordshyp of Rome sent in to
Basylle thou doost me grete wroÌ„ge / for this synnar is come to me not I to hym / He hath forsake his Creatour in my presence / therof he hath gyue to me his writynge wyth his honde wryten for a wytnesse of the same / the whyche wrytyng I goo present byfore the euerlastyÌ„g Iuge / ¶ Saynt Basylle thenÌ„e sayd to the deuyll / Blessyd be god / My people shall neuer ceasse to praye / nor shal not brynge downe theyr hondes whiche are heued vpward to heuen tyll that thou haste gyuen ayen the sayd wrytynge vnto this poore synnar / ¶ Alle this noble assemble made after more deuowte prayers than afore had done / And ceassed not tyll that the sayde wrytynge was taken in to the hondes of the sayde holy man / The whyche after the receyuynge of it he yelded graces vnto god / And sayd to the synÌ„aâ— byfore all the peple that was there / ¶ My broder knowest not thou this letter / He answerde ye / And that it was wryten with his owne honde / ¶ ThenÌ„e saynt Basille brake it in peces and brought him to the chirche for to make Confessyon / Whyche thynge done he Receyued his Creatour / And after sente-hym home agayn vnto his his wyfe / The whiche of his grete grace she thanked deuowtly our lorde / ¶ Of a woman to whom her sinÌ„es were forgyuen by the prayer of saynt Basylle / And begynÌ„yth in latyn ¶ Mulier quidaÌ„ c. Caplm C.lxiiii A Woman ryche noble full of the vanitees of the world· vsed euyll of her facultees / For she was prodyge lecherous / Soo that in all maner of her dedes she was vnagreable to god / And as a sowe dooth laye herself in a fowle putdel soo was thys woman wrapped in all fylthe vncleÌ„nesse of flesshe ¶ And somtyme by a syÌ„guler grace that god gaaf her she alone to herself made knowlege of the grete multytude of her synnes and in wepynge sayd to god / Alas my Redemer I that am a poore synnar how shall I make satysfaccoÌ„n towardes the of my synnes / I oughte for to be the temple of the holy ghost / And by my synnes I haue defoylled hurte my soule / I am the moost vnhappy of all the worlde / I byleue not that euer ony woman syn her Crystendom dyde soo synÌ„e gretely / and soo abhomynable as I haue done ¶ Alacke how shall I mow be in certayn that god woll receyue my penaunce ¶ And whan she had well bethoughte herselfe vpon her byfall / God Inspyred her to thyÌ„ke vpon the grete euylles and synnes that she had sinned and done syn her yongthe vnto her olde aege And theym she broughte in mynde wrote in a rolle / And this done / she sealed theym vnder leed / And after purposed whan saynt Basylle sholde come to the chirche for to syÌ„ge masse that she sholde delyuer he Rolle vnto hym / ¶ The whyche thynge she dyde soo in cryenge wych an hyghe voys / ¶ O holy man and seruauÌ„te of god haue pyte of me moost wretched of all other synnars / ¶ Saynt Basylle askyd her the cause of her wayllynge / and she answered / Alas my lorde I haue wryten in this Rolle all my mysdedes and wyckydnesse / I byseche the that thou wolt not loke vpon theim / But vouchesauf to doo soo moche for me by thy prayers towarde god / That they maye be forgyuen to me / ¶ I wote wel that he that hathe gyuen me vnderstondynge and wyll for to knowe theim / shall enhaunse the prayer that thou shalt make for me in this byfalfe / ¶ Therfore I byseche the socour me now at my grete nede / ¶ The holy man toke the rolle of her / And heued his hondes vp towarde heuen sayenge / ¶ O my god it aperteynyth thy dygnytee for to doo that this poore synfull woman askith / thou mayste putt and enrase oute wythin a moment alle the synnes of the worlde / ¶ I byseche the mekely for her / All oure synnes are in a certayne nombre byfore thy mageste / ¶ But thy mercy is wythoute ende / ¶ His prayer thus done / he sette the Rolle vpon the awter / And there the holy man abode prayenge god a daye and a nyghte contynuelly / ¶ The nexte morowe he called vnto hym the sayd woman in presence of some clerkes and sayd to her / ¶ WomaÌ„ thou knowest well that thy synne can not be pardonned· but by the power of god the whyche answerde / ¶ Holy fader I by leue that that thou sayst / And therfor I by seche mekely that it woll playse the to be myn helper towarde him ¶ ThenÌ„e the rolle was opened at openynge of it· It was founde that all her synÌ„es were to her foryeuen except do grete synÌ„e whiche was not enrased nor putt oute ¶ The pore woman was sore heuy dyscoÌ„forted felle to the fete of the holy maÌ„ cried / O maÌ„ of god haue pite vppon me and lyke as thou haste prayed for all my synes Yet ayen pray for me towarde god that this synÌ„e maye be also pardonÌ„ed to me / ¶ Saynt Basylle began to wepe sayde to the woman / My frende stonde vpp I haue as grete nede of pardonÌ„e as thiself / For I am a synÌ„er / He that hath put out thyn other syÌ„nes may emase the same whyche is lefte behynde / And therfore yf in tyme comynge thou kepe the coÌ„maundements of god He shall not only forgyue the this lyue / But wythall he shall gyue the the lyf eternall in euerlasting blysse / Thou shall goo in to the Hermytage where a man is namyd Effrem to whom thou shalt take thy rolle And Ieâ—â—st in god that by his prayers thou shalt be delyuerd of the same synne and shalt haue of it a full absolucoÌ„n to the saluacoÌ„n of thy soule / ¶ The woman walked solonge thrugh the wyldernesse that she fonde the holy man Effrem Soo begane she to knocke att his doâ—e cryenge ¶ O holy man of god haue pite of me / Effrem that bi the knowlege of god knewe the cause why she was come answerde vnto her / ¶ Woman goo thou thâ— way for I am a synnar as the arte / Wherby I haue nede of the mercy of god as thou hast / The woman thenÌ„e cast to hym her rolle sayeng / O holy fader the bisshop Basylle sendeth me to the. gyuynge to me a hope that thurgh thy prayers the greetest of my synnes shall be foryeuen vnto me ¶ Effrem sayd vnto her / Naye my doughter naye / He that by his prayers hathe gote remyssyon of thin other synÌ„es may yet do that the same synÌ„e for that whiche thou comest toward me shall be pardonÌ„ed vnto the / ¶ Torne ayen lyghtly towarde him to the ende that thou mayst speke wyth hym byfore his deth / The woman retorned anone / But whaÌ„ she entred in Cezaree the
in the thyrde fourth partes consequently folowynge / and all togyder translated from Latyn in to Frensshe out of the bookes that therof haue be made by the right deuote approued doctour in holy chirche saynt Ierome And fyrste the prologue begynneth in latyn Vere munduÌ„ c. WHat is he that doubteth / but that the worlde is kepte and preserued by the meryte of sayntes / and amonge other by thoos of whome the lyfe is wryten in this presence volume / the whiche haue fled all concupyscence in all haue forsaken the worlde Reputynge as for nought alle that is in it And for to withdrawe therfrom fully theyr affeccyons and them to tourne vnto god wolde enhabyte dwelle in wodes deserte Some in â—aues / and other in roches hyghe montayns / without to haue hadde ony care or besynesse of theyr mete or of theyr drynke And as hauyng theyr oonly coÌ„fydence in the medefulnes of god / they haue gone without syluer / without brede and without ony other mete in to solytary places where as no persone hauÌ„ted nor no goodes grewe there but herbes wylde fruyte O thyng wouÌ„derfull They neuer had honger ne thurst but haue be susteyned fedde oonly of the grace and mercy of our lorde Soo ought we well to loue our god whan his wyll is that thrugh theyr merytes we may be asswaged of our euylles by theyr supplycacyons wherby we obteyne the remyssyon of our synnes ¶ Ye that rede this presente booke take noo hede to the langage rude and yll ornated / but oonly to the substaunce whiche is frutefull The dyuyne scyence Requyreth not to be fulfylled with sophistycacyons nor proposycyons ornate or polyshed / but oonly of matere of trouthe Somtyme ornatynge of wordes maketh the proposycion to be withdrawen fro the trouthe The holy lyues and deuote conuersacyons of the worshypfull Patryarkes and prophetes / as Abraham Ysaac· and Iacob Moyses Hely and Iohan ben reduced and shewed by wrytynge / not oonly to the ende that they shall be gloryfyed here / For they are gloryfyed of god in heuen right hyghely but also to th ende that by theyr vertuous werkes we maye take doctryne of trouth and ensample of good lyfe ¶ Dyuerse exhortacyons here folowen whiche begynne in latyn QuideÌ„ sanctorum senior c. SOme Relygyouses persones questyoned one of the holy faders of Egypt why he dyde so grete abstynence Wherunto he answered in this maner My childern it is of necessyte that we hate all the reste of this present lyfe and all bodely delectacoÌ„ns and repleccyon of bely / without to Requyre ony honours to be done vnto vs of men / and our lorde Ihesu cryst shall gyue vs honours celestyall / lyfe with reste eternall / and gloryous gladnesse with his angels This holy man sayd that mete and drynke are to man behouyng of necessyte / but not withstandynge men ought not to take theym but for to susteyne the body and not to the full bely as moche as it coude well take Slepe in lykewyse behoueth kyndely vnto man / but also we ought not to slepe as moche as the bodye desyreth / the reason why is / bycause whan we slepe as moche as nature appetyte is / the bodye therby wexeth slowthfull wherby he is not so redy for to werke And to the contrarye watchyng yeldeth the thought the wytte of man more subtyll and more clene And therfore sayd the holy faders that watchyng in good werkes well ordeyned Illumyneth the thought And the watchynges super flu and Inordynat bryng forth franesye and madnesse and greue the hede and the body full fore Semblablyyre behoueth vnto man not agaynst some other for to moeue his passyons / but for to be angry agaynst hym selfe and his synnes / to the ende that more easely he maye put them from hym in amendyng of his lyfe ¶ Therfore when we see our neyghbours or other doo ony thyng agaynst the coÌ„maundemente of god / we ought to angre oure selfe agaynst theym for theyr synnes / and suche sharply to correcte in all dylygence to th ende that after theyr correccion and amendement they may be saued and come to euerlastyng blysse ¶ A nother holy fader beyng in the myddes of the desertes lyuyng there in meruayllous abstynence as Inpossible to be borne / was enquyred and questioned of some of them that sore meruaylled of his perseueraunce / and how he myght endure in a place soo drye and barayne the grete penaunces that he bare there Where at he answered that the pouerte that he suffred in this worlde was not one houre of the paynes of helle ¶ And more he sayd that it was behofull to vs for soo lytell a tyme as we haue to abyde in this mortall lyfe to do penaunce and resyste agaynst the desyre of the flesshe / to th ende that we maye haue the recompense that neuer shall fayle / that is the glorye eternall ¶ God in dyuerse maners gyueth socours and ayde to them that for the worshyp of hym doon and accomplysshe thynges that be aboue nature And to this purpose men fynde that some tyme was a holy fader in Egypte / the whiche by his holy conuersacyon was wounderfully enuyed of the deuylles that oftentymes greuously bete hym ¶ And one daye amonge other they tourmented hym soo sore that on the morowe by the houre of pryme he fouÌ„de hym selfe soo vnable by feblenes of his bodye / that hym semed he was come to his last daye / aswell by cause of the gryef that they hadde doon vnto hym / as also by cause he had fasted to longe / but notwithstandyng he dysposed hym to faste vnto the houre of certe ¶ Soone after atte the same houre to hym selfe he sayd that he sholde cary vnto the houre of seâ—te / alwayes he deyed for honger ¶ Consequently when seâ—te approched / he purposed to fast vnto the houre of none And thus by many dayes he toke vpon hym suche penaunces ¶ One daye as he trowed to haue taken his repast he sawe a grete smoke come out of the baskete wherin he layde his brede / and the whiche smoke went out atte the wyndowe of his lytyll â—elle Soo purposed he to hym selfe that he sholde not ete that daye / and by these abstynences was the sayd holy fader soo confeâ—ned in the fayth / that he was two dayes without honger ne thrust ¶ And by meane of whiche abstynences and the helpe of god he restrayned and brought vnder feet the temptacyons of lecherye and glotonye ¶ On a tyme certayne brethern went oute of theyr monasterye for to vysyte the holy hermytes in the deserte And as god ledde them they arryued in the lytyll house of the good holy fader for sayd / of whome they were right souyngly receyued And bycause that he sawe that the sayd brethern were wery he made them ete before the houre acustomed them presented of suche goodes as he hadde ¶ Comyng towarde euen and
He made on a tyme his prayer vnto god that in a certayn tyme he myght haue no lust for to slepe / to the ende that nyght daye he sholde watche for to fyght ayenst the deuyls tyll that he had acomplysshed that whiche Dauyd sayth in his psalme ¶ Neuer sayth he in spekynge of the deuyls I shall not ceasse tyll they be ouercome The whiche Requeste god grauÌ„ted him ¶ And this holy Pachomyen sayd / that the deuyls haue no myght ouer vs / so that we wyll resyst to theyr teÌ„ptacoÌ„ns / by meane of that grace of god whiche we ought to calle vpon ¶ He sayd also that many tymes he had herde the deuyls when they recouÌ„ted theyr coÌ„trouersyes togydre / how on a tyme one of them sayd these wordes I gyue oftentymes wouÌ„derful lettynges grete temptacoÌ„ns vnto an hermyte / but as so soone that I haue gyue hym one assawte / he casteth hyÌ„self doÌ„ne to the erthe prayeth god / wherfore I am coÌ„strayned to flee awaye all coÌ„fuse ¶ An other sayd I holde a nother in my puyssauÌ„ce whiche fulfylleth folysshly all the wycked thoughtes that I sette hyÌ„ afore I make hym often to chyde to braule to make noyse with his neyghbours I yelde hyÌ„ slouthfull to the seruyce of god ¶ And therfore the holy man Pachomyen sayde to his brethern I pray you my children / that ye be alwayes redy to calle vpoÌ„ the grace of the holy gâ—ost when ony temptacoÌ„n shall come vpon you / be awaytyng in oryson / as the postle gyueth couÌ„seyll / watche curyously in doynge of the same With this he warned them to haue euer in theyr mynde the name of IhuÌ„s And after that he had in trute taught them thus / they went ayene to theyr houses / neuer they spake wordes in vayne the one to the other / but alwayes of the holy scrypture / pryncypally of those thynges that moeued theÌ„ to prayer / and to loue drede god ¶ Oure lorde gaf a synguler gyfte of grace to one of that olde holy faders / for he sawe wonderfull thynges whiche his brethern myght not see Whan the sayd brethern dysputed togyder of the holy scriptures / he sawe the angels that assysted about them And to the contrary when they deuysed of vayne thynges / he sawe the deuyls in lykenes of hegges playng amoÌ„ge them / toke plesure in theyr wordes And his custome was atte ony tyme that he sawe suche vysyon that he withdrawe hymselfe in to his chambre / there he wepte full pyteously / consyderynge the myseryes wretchydnesse in whiche the deuyll putteth vs thrugh his subtyltees / decepcoÌ„ns malycyouse temptacoÌ„ns And after he went ayen to his brethern / whiche he exorted to flee vayne wordes / also folysshe thoughtes / in shewyng vnto them / that by the same we slee in vs the grace of god / renne in to his Indygnacyon / of all the court of paradyse ¶ Morouer he sayd that he was certayn that as soone incontyneÌ„t that we profer or within our thougâ—te purpose for to do ony thyng dyshonest our good angell departed from vs / and Incontynent the hadde angell taketh possessyon of our soule ¶ After he warned them that they sholde not speke euermoche / sayeng that in habondauÌ„ce of wordes / men maye not eschewe synne / also the spyryte is therby more weeke toÌ„ withstonde ayenst the wycked teÌ„ptacoÌ„ns ¶ In the palays of Theodosiê° them perour was an holy man named Arsenye that had two children / one was called Archadiê° / thother Honoriê° / the whiche were by the sayd emperour holden ouer the font stone The good Arsenyen after that he had in his herte besyly consydered the estate of this worlde the vanytees of the same / he forsoke all went to that deserte of Sychye for to vse there the remenauÌ„t of his lyfe in beyng allone / to be departed from the worshypes of the worlde He beyng yet in the worlde he was clothed moost precyously of all other that were in the palays seruyng that emperour And when he was in the sayd deserie / he was that man among the other that more pouerly fouly was arayed Vpon a tyme wenyng to be in his chaÌ„bre with many of his brethern / he herde a voyce that sayd to hyÌ„ Arsenye come out of thy chambre / I shall shewe that the vayne werkyÌ„ges of men The whiche voyce by hyÌ„ herde / hym semed that he lept out of his habytacoÌ„n / incontyneÌ„te he sawe a grete Ethyopyen that hewe wood gadred it in a hepe / after that he had gadred moche of it / he trowed to haue lyfte it vpon his backe / but he coude not / because there was to moche of it Yet agayne he hewe more therof sette it vpon the other ¶ Syn after he sawe an other Ethyopyen that toke water out of a pouÌ„de putte it in to a vessell whiche was so full of holes that it myght not holde no water whiche was sypylled and wente out atte the holes ¶ After he was brought atte an other parte where he sawe a grete buyldyng lyke a Temple / before the whiche were two men vpon two horses eyther of them bare a long perche vpon theyr sholders / and bothe togydre attones wolde haue entred in the sayd Temple / but they myght not passe / withstaÌ„dyng the lettynge of the sayde perches that they bare ouerthward when they wolde haue passed thrughe the gate And nother of them wolde not meke hym selfe to the other / but eyther of them wolde be the fyrst that sholde entre ¶ The whiche vysyons were to hyÌ„ by the sayd voyce expowned in the maner that foloweth Fyrst they that bare the perches ouerthward / betokened thoo that haue charge of relygyouses as abbottes an other / the whiche in theyr offyces wexe proude wyll not humble hyÌ„self the one towarde the other / in despysynge the worde of god that sayth ¶ My childern lerne of me / for I am humble and swete in herte / and by this meane ye shall fynde the saluacyon of your soules ¶ This proude folke by theyr pryde abyden out of the chirche / come not in / that is to saye / that they haue no parte in paradyse ¶ He that assembled the wood in a hepe / sygnefyeth those that do many synnes / when they trowe for to retourne to do penauÌ„ce / they be so sore laden that they can not aplye themselfe to do ony good / but be therto slouthfull neclygent / wherby coÌ„tynuelly they gader Ioyne syÌ„ne vpon syÌ„ne / fynably they be daÌ„pned because that they wyll not leue theyr euyll customes ¶ That other the toke the water out a pouÌ„de put it in a vessell full of holles / betokened those that do some good but neuerthelesse they do more of euyll than of good / wherby they lese theyr meryte
that lyke as the fysshe deyeth incoÌ„tynent that men take out of the water also peryssheth the relygyouse when he is out of his cloystre ¶ A brother asked to the abbot Poemen yf he sholde do bester his saluacyon in kepyng hym selfe all alone in his hermytage or some other solytary place / than to dwell among coÌ„panye ¶ The whiche abbot answered vnto hym / that a man whiche of himselfe wyll be corrected maye well dwelle euery where / but he that by pryde wyll enhaunse hymselfe can not abyde in no place / for it is wryten / he that thynketh hymself to be worth ony thyng where he is nought / he dysceyueth hyÌ„self ¶ In lykewyse who that boosteth hym of some good dede / yf he dooth it / he leseth his mede ¶ A broder of Egypt came ones to the abbot Zenon in Syrye / the whiche accused hyÌ„self of many synÌ„es The sayd abbot heryÌ„g his wordes was sore merueyled sayeng / the egypcyens hyddeÌ„ theyr â—tues shewe the vyces whiche they haue not / but the syryeÌ„s grekes auauÌ„ce them self of vertues that are not in them hyd theyr owne synnes ¶ An olde holy fader sayd / that he that is sore praysed worshyped of the worlde leseth the meryte of his soule / by suche praysyÌ„ges he falleth in vayne glory And he that is scorned of the worlde shall haue grete rewarde of god ¶ Yet sayd he more that lyke as it is Impossyble that the herbe the sede sholde come kyndely bothe attones / also it is Impossyble to haue the glorye of this worlde and the Ioye of heuen togyder ¶ Item al thus as a tresour whiche is knowen mynusheth wexeth lytyll / so dothe the vertu when it is knowen by hym that dothe it ¶ Item as the waxe fleteth afore the fyre / so the soule in this worlde y praysed takyng therat her reioycyng leseth her fayrenesse ¶ Whan the thynkynge of pryde or vayne glorye befyghteth vs by demyng that we be good / we ought to seke in oure conscyences yf we haue kepte all the coÌ„maundementes of god and loued our enemyes ¶ Yf we haue not be gladde when oure aduersaryes haue hadde losse of goodes / whether we haue ben wrote of theyr getynges Thenne shall we see that we dyde neuer noo good ¶ And by the same we shall eschewe this folysshe presumpcyon to trowe to be good ¶ A holy fader after he was come for to see his felowe he sayd vnto hyÌ„ Brother I am all redy deed in the worlde ¶ His felawe answered vnto him My frende trust on thy selfe tyll that tyme that thy soule shall departe out of thy bodye / for yf thou art deed / the deuyll therfore is not so / the whiche hath without noÌ„bre craftes subtyl for to deceyue vs ¶ An other holy fader was that had lyued fyfty yere without brede ete noo thyng but rotys dranke a lytyll water ¶ He sayd ones to his felawes My brethern I thanke god of that he gyueth my grace that I can eschewe fornycacyon / vayne glorye / and auaryce The abbot Abraham herynge these wordes came vnto hym / asked hym yf by auenture he fouÌ„de a woman in his celle whether he myght well kepe hym to thynke that she were there He answered nay / but he sholde neuer consent to haue hyr coÌ„panye ¶ Thenne sayd Abraham / fornycacoÌ„n is not deed yet in the but oonly it is bouÌ„de by the wyll of god for it is possyble that thou myght synne in it ¶ In lykewyse he questyoned hyÌ„ of couetyse / askynge to hym yf he seeyng some golde among some stones sholde mowe kepe hyÌ„ from thynkyng that it were golde / so answerd he nay / but he sholde not haue apetyt to take it Thyrdly he asked hyÌ„ yf two men / of whiche the one hated hyÌ„ / the other loued hyÌ„ / came to his house / whether he sholde receyue them y lyke He answered nay / but he sholde coÌ„strayne his wyll for to do as good chere to the one as to the other ¶ And what by these questyons / as by his answeres / the holy fader Abraham shewed hym clerely / that our passyons be neuer deed / but oonly are bounden For vnto the laste artycle of the dethe we all are in puyssaunce to do synne / wherfore we ought not to prayse oure selfe ¶ An olde hermyte dwelled in a desert wounderfull lowe / with hym hauÌ„ted full ofte a seculer man for to serue him that had a childe whiche in certayn tyme fell syk / that whiche thyng seeyng his fader he prayed the sayd holy man that he wolde go vnto his house for to see his childer to th ende that by his prayers he might be made hole This holy hermyte graunted hyÌ„ his request wente with hyÌ„ / when they came nyghe the sayd house / the fader of the childe coÌ„maunded that men sholde come ayenst the holy man with lampes torches The hermyte seyng the grete honour that men dyde vnto hym / he vnclothed hymselfe all naked began for to wasshe his clothes in a water ¶ Thenne the fader of the childe sayd to them that came ayenst him Tourne ayen home tourne ayen I see well that oure holy man hath loste his entendement After he asked hym the cause why in the presence of soo many folke he had done so grete a folye / saynge that they sholde wene that he were from his wytte and full of the deuyll ¶ Thenne answered the hermyte that none other thyng he wolde not here ¶ A grete lorde that was Iuge of the prouynce where dwelled the abbot Moyses wolde goo see hym When Moyses knewe it / he fledde awaye / as by hap he mette with the sayd lord by the waye whiche asked hym where dwelled the abbot Moyses He answered him / why he sought aboute for to see a fole and a wycked heretyke ¶ The Iuge thenne wente ayen to the chirche sayd to the clerkes how he had mette an hermyte that had sayd vnto hym that the abbot Moyses was but an heretyke Thenne the clerkes asked hym what maner a man it was that he had seen He sayd it was a man grete blacke sore olde and clothed with fowle habytes ¶ Thenne they knewe that it was he wherof the Iuge was sore on angred wente his waye for dyspyte ¶ The abbot Sysoyns dwellynge in the moâ—tayne where saynt Anthonye was buryed / a good man acompanyed with a childe of his wente there for to see hym for to receyue his blessynge ¶ It happed by the wyll of god that his childe deyed by the waye / wherof neuertheles the fader angred not hym selfe / but takyng his Infortune pacyently / he bare his childe deed to the celle or lytyll house of the sayd abbot And as he cam in he fouÌ„de him in his prayers So dyd he sprede afore his fete his sayd childe / he hym selfe kneled
wente towarde hym / and made him to ete ayenst his wylle And after they sayd to hym that he was sorye and dyspleasaunt because that he had eten ayenst his wylle ¶ He answered that the contrarye was trouth / that is to saye / that he had trybulacion whan he dyde his owne wylle ¶ The abbot Paphonce had of custome that he dranke neuer no wyne It happed one daye as he trauaylled by the waye that he was mette with theues / of whiche the pryncypall knewe hym And because he knewe well his custome to drynke no wyne / seeyng that he was wery of the waye / he toke a cruse full of wyne a glauye in his hande / and sayd vnto hym / that yf he dranke not / he sholde slee him ¶ Thenne the holy man knowyng that this thynge came of the wyll of god / that it sholde be the cause of the conuersyon of the sayd theef of his felawes / he toke the wyne dranke it ¶ Thenne the sayd theef prayed hym that he wolde pardoÌ„ne hym that he had so constrayned hym To whome he answered I haue my trust in god / that because thou hast gyuen me drynke / thou shalt haue forgyuenesse of thy synnes paradyse atte thyn endyng And theÌ„ne the theef sayd to him And fro this houre forthon my selfe trustynge in the mercy of god I promyse the that I shall neuer do noo harme vnto no bodye / and by this meanes was the sayd theef and his felawes tourned vnto god ward and lyued after honestly ¶ Two hermytes were somtyme where of one was older than the other So requyryng the olde to the yong / that he wolde be content that they sholde do both togydre theyr resydence / that whiche thynge the yonge wolde not graunt / but excusyng hymselfe sayd / that it was not his caas for to dwell with hym / because he was to grete a synner The olde whiche was a man of right holy lyfe / heryng this answere / he had it not agreable For how well that the other relygyouse was yong / neuerthelesse this olde hermyte coude not byleue after that he ledde a lyfe solytarye / but that he was of good lyfe / without spotte of synne / fynably after many word is / they were contente for to dwell togydre one weke / when the seueÌ„ nyght was past / the olde Requyred asked of the yonge / how he hadde gouerned hym selfe that weke He answered to hym that because that he was compelled by necessyte to yssue out of his owne celle / he was falle in grete temptacoÌ„n of synne ¶ Thenne sayd there ayenst the olde hermyte / askyng yf he wolde do therof penaunce / wherat the yonge andswerd ye Thenne the olde moeued with a feruente charyte and knowyng his ferme stedfastnesse / sayd to hym / that he was content to make bere vpon hymselfe the halfe of his penauÌ„ce And for so moche sholde they haue nede for to dwell the one with the other / whiche they dyde so vnto the houre of theyr decesse ¶ An ancyente holy fader sayd / that whosoeuer desyreth for to be saued / he ought curyously to see that he doo not to an other / that whiche he wolde not be doon vnto And how well that som doo to hym ony harme shame or Iniurye / he ought not therfore to do the same to an other ¶ And this maner of lyuynge is suffysaunt ynough to euerychone for to haue his soule therby saued ¶ Two holy faders brethern germayn / one called Poemen the other Nub to his name dwelled in the desertes / lyued there a moche solytary lyfe relygyouse Theyr moder affectuelly desyryÌ„g to see them / because that after that they were departed fro the worlde / she had not seen them / she wente herselfe towarde them for to see and vysyte them And how well that she made all dylygence for to speke with them / neuertheles she coude not fynde the maner to haue leyser therunto / fynably she dyd so moche that she fouÌ„de herselfe ones before the entree of theyr chappell / in grete lameÌ„tacoÌ„ns teeres she trowed to haue made them speke with her / but they wolde not / doubtyng that they sholde haply haue renne in to some synne by the meane And as they had open the dore of theyr ceâ—le or habytacyon for to goo to theyr sayd chappell / when they apperceyued theyr moder they shett theyr dore ayen vpon them Theyr moder this seeyng that they wolde not speke to her / began for to wepe atte theyr dore with grete habondauÌ„ce of teres And thus as they deuysed them takyng couÌ„seyll theyr aduyse togydre / what thyng they oughte to do for to contente her / she toke her selfe for to crye weyle more than she dyde afore So came to her thenne the holy fader Poemen / without to open the dore he asked her / why she that all redy was olde / made suche complayntes whiche myght be to her moche greuable She herynge vnderstandyng that it was one of her chyldern that to her spake she answered as she had spoken vnto bothe of them Alas my childern I beweyle wepe for to speke with you / because the syngulerly I desyre to see you Alas why do ye refuse me your presence / what dauÌ„ger is ther yf I see you / am I not your moder / haue not I nourysshed you with this pappes myn I haue wayted so longe for to see you that vnder this hope I am come vnto so olde aege / that I am all dysabled of my membres / for grete desyre that I haue to see you myn entreylles are all troubled sore moeued Thenne the holy fader Poemen asked her whiche of both she had leuer other to see them in this worlde / or ellys fynably in the glorye of heuen / wherat she answered that she sholde be well contente not to see them in this worlde / so that she myght be sure that she sholde see them after theyr dethe in heuen ¶ After this answere / the sayd Poemen sayd vnto her / that yf she myghte withstande her affeccyon and not see them in this worlde For certayne she sholde see them shortly in the other worlde ¶ Thenne she herynge the wordes of her sone / sayd to hym Syth that thou promysesse me for certayne / that I shall see you in paradyse I loke nomore for to see you here And thenne she went her waye well appayde and gladde ¶ A yonge Relygyouse named Iohan the lefte of the nacion of the Thebayens was in seruyce with an holy fader by the space of .xij. yere / whiche olde fader was called Amon duryng the sayd tyme greued with a contynuall syknesse / whiche caused hym that he was soo wayward / that he neuer gaaf fayr langage nor good to his sayd seruauÌ„t Iohan / wherby he sholde be plyaunt and gladde to serue hym
parfyte in the drede of god ¶ And they beynge in this ymagynacyon they sawe his face wounderfully and more bryght than it was a fore ¶ Thenne sayd he to them / see see my brethern our lorde cometh And saynge these wordes he gaaf vp his gooste in the handes of god ¶ The holy fader Arsenyen was in his tyme so vertuous so moche enflaÌ„med with the loue of Ihesu cryst / that the moost parte of the tyme contemplyeng his worthy deth passyon / he wepte bewaylled / so that by coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce of wepynge awaye the habondauÌ„ce of teeres from his eyen all the herys of the lyddes of the eyen fell of neuer grewe ayen / when he sholde deye he ordeyned to his dyscyples that they sholde not do none almose nor ony charytable dede for hyÌ„ / sayeng that yf he had hymselfe done some he shold fynde it bycause that these his dyscyples were troubled of that they sawe the houre of his deth drawe nygh / he sayd vnto them My childern the houre of my deth is not yet come / when it shall be nyghe I shall not be styll / but alwayes I praye you / that yf ye dese to sorn ony parte of my body / ye shall therof gyue acompte afore god in his Iugemente / where I shal accuse you therof yf ye do so ¶ Thenne they asked hym what they sholde do with his bodye / for they wyst nothyng of wyndyng of deed folke ¶ So answered he thenne to them Ye shall bynde my feet togydre with a corde theÌ„ne ye shall drawe me vnto the top of the montayn where men haue of custome to bury that other ¶ After he toke hyÌ„self to wepe as he was wonte to do all the tyme of his lyf ¶ And where the holy faders beyng about hyÌ„ sawe hyÌ„ wepe so sore / they asked hym / what moeued hym for to do so / yf he had ony drede or feer To whome he answerd / the truly he doubted moche our lorde as he alwayes had done / namely syth that he was made Relygyouse The holy abbot Poemen seeyng hym after his deth sayd suche wordes of hym O holy fader Arsenyen / thou art well happy that thou hast wept so moche in these worlde / for certaynly he that not haue wept here / shal be coÌ„strayned to wepe in the other worlde And it is Impossyble that a man maye be forborn other for to wepe here with his wyll for to decerne the Ioye euerlastyÌ„g / or to wepe by coÌ„straynte in the tormentes of helle for the punycoÌ„n of his syÌ„nes ¶ Of this holy fader Arsenyen folde the holy fader abbot Danyell that how be it that he was gretly lettred experte in that knowloge of holy scrypture / neuerthelesse feryn to renne in to vayn glorye / he wolde neuer argue therof / nor also wryte no maner of pystles / but yf he was coÌ„strayned by grete necessite for to do so / when he fouÌ„de hyÌ„self in the couent of that coÌ„pany of holy faders he stode always behyÌ„de a pyler yf ony was there / to th ende that he shold not haue occasioÌ„ to loke nor speke vnto ony ê‘sone / also because no bodye sholde see nor spek to hyÌ„ His beholdyÌ„g was al lyke to an angell / he had his herys whyt as Iacob had / also arayed as he was / longe beâ—teful of bodye / how be it always that he was sore lene drye / yet came his herde doÌ„ne to the bely of hyÌ„ / so was he bowyng foreward bycause of his grete age / he deyed when he was come to his four score .xv. yere ¶ He hadde dwelled .xl. yere in that palays of the noble Theodosyen whiche was fader to Honorius Archadins ¶ After that he dwelled in a place called Troyn vpon Babylony towarde the cyte of Nemphis / thre yere in Alexandrye ¶ After he retourned ayen to Troyn forsayd where he dwelled other two yeres / there he yelded his goost to god as he that was fulfylled with veray fayth with the grace of the holy goost ¶ Saynt Athanasy bysshop of AlexaÌ„drye sent worde ones to the abbot Pambon that he sholde come see hym The whiche obeyng to his request went there with some of his Relygyouses And in coÌ„myng toward the sayd Athanasy whiche seeyng some seculers that were in theyr waye putte not them selfe in purpose for to doo nor shewe to them due Reuerence / he sayd to them Aryse vp my frendes salue these good Relygyouses to the ende that they shall gyue you theyr blessynges / certaynely they spake often with god / theyr worde is holy And in sayeng these wordes / he sawe in the strete a poore syÌ„ner a comon woman whiche was curyously arayed ¶ So began be to wepe when he sawe her / wherfore it was asked of hym by theym presente what thynge moeued by for to wepe To the whiche beynge present â—e answered two thynges whiche I see cause me to do so One is the losse of that poore woman / the other is that I take not so grete thought nor care to please god / as she dothe to please the synners dyshonest men ¶ It is fouÌ„de wryten of an olde holy fader that when he had Intencyon to do penauÌ„ce of some synne wherof he was desceyued his sensualyte sayd to hyÌ„ that he sholde deferre it to an other daye that he sholde alwayes come tyme ynoughe for to repente hym of it â—e answered that he sholde not lâ—ue for to do redely his penauÌ„ce / for it ought for to be done hastly / bycause that we be not in surte that we shall lyue do daye more And after when he sholde haue done his purpose god sholde do thenne or the next daye his pleasure of hym ¶ An other of the holy faders shewed of a bysshop that whiche bycause he had herde telle the two of his subgettes were auoutrers / he prayed our lord that he wolde gyuen certayn knowloge yf they were as fowle bespotted as folke sayd / vpon a daye then after that he had songe masse / his subgett coÌ„myng to the aulter for to receyue there the precyous bodye of our lorde / he knewe by dyuyne inspyracyon whether theyr thoughtes were good or badde / namely he knewe the synners by theyr faces that were black as coles / theyr eyen reed as blood And the other that were clene puryfyed of theyr synnes he knewe also by theyr vysages vestymentes that shewed to be whyte / to all the whiche Indyfferently be admynystred the holy sacramente of the aulter And this done the faces of some of them semed him as bryght as the sonne gyuyng a lyght soueraynly And the faces of the other semed as they had be esprysed with a dredefull flame But in gyuyng the sayd sacramente to the two aduoutrers of whiche is touched aboue / he apperceyued that one of them had the
place of his hermytage An other tyme he founde hym selfe with some of his bretheren in a place where grewe moche rede / whiche by force of wynde moeued sore here and there betyng eche other soo that they made grete noyse ¶ Soo demaunded he to his brethern wherof grewe that noyse that he herde in that place The whiche answered and sayd / that it was the wynde that made thus the rede to bete the one ayenst the other ¶ Thenne he sayde vnto them Now my brethern consydere how moche harde athynge it is to lyue in peas and tranquylyte in this worlde Yf ye were in a place where ye sholde here all oonly a byrde synge / ye sholde not haue your corages nor entendementes with rest / how sholde you haue them thenne peasyble among the noyse and tempest of this rede seen the grete and wonderfull noyse that they make bycause of the wynde that maketh them this to smyte eche other And some sayd that the celle or dwellynge of this forsayd holy fader Arsenyen stode .xxx. myle fro the place where the sayd rede were ¶ From whiche dwellynge he wente but lytyll out / but by some Relygyouses were admynystred vnto hym his nedes and necessytees ¶ Morouer it is founde wryten of hym that when the place in Sychye where in the holy faders dyde dwelle was them lefte / and he hym selfe comyng out of the same he began to wepe sayeng that the worlde hadde loste Rome / and the Relygyouse hermytes Sychye ¶ Some brethern goynge out of Alexandrye in to the partyes of Thebayde for to bye there some flaxe / bycause that the holy fader Arsenyen dwelled that tyme in the sayde partyes of Thebayde / concluded togydre / syth that they hadde occasyon to goo nyghe the place where he dwelled / that they sholde goo see and vysyte hym And they dyde soo ¶ And after that his dyscyple hadde tolde hym that they were come towarde hym / he charged hym that he sholde aske them the cause and occasyon wherfore they came there ¶ Soo broughte he vnto hym worde agayne that the cause and occasyon of theyr coÌ„mynge was suche as aboue is sayd ¶ The good holy fader Arsenyen herynge this answere / sayd in this maner ¶ Certaynly syth that they be not come here for me / but oonly for theyr owne affayres I wyll not that they see me ¶ And therfore thou shall goo to Receyue them and shall serue them as well as thou mayst ¶ And this done and acomplysshed / thou shalte take leue of them saynge thus vnto them / that I sholde not go to them for bycause of my grete wekenesse and feblenesse ¶ An other brother desyryng for to see the sayd holy fader Arsenyen transported hymselfe vnto his celle knocked atte the dore for to haue gone in ¶ The holy fader made hyÌ„ openyng wenyng to hym that it had be his dyscyple / but all incontynente that he sawe it was not he / he casted hymselfe donne to the erthe / the whiche thyng seeyng the Relygyouse he was sore abasshed / prayde hym humbly that he wolde aryse / whiche he wolde not / but sayd / that he sholde not aryse tyll that the sayd Relygyouse were gone agayne fro thens / the whiche neuerthelesse prayed and requyred hym many tymes that he wolde aryse / but he wolde neuer graunte nor consente therto vnto the tyme that he were departed and gone ¶ Sometyme the deuyls of helle came to hym and made hym endure many trybulacyons and aduersytees within his celle ¶ And vpon a tyme among other the brethern that were wont to bryng hym suche thynges as he hadde nede of came there and herde this holy fader that cryed and sayd to our lorde Alas my god my fader creatour and Redemer leue me not And where it is so that I haue not yet done ony good that be worthy to be presented afore the. I beseche the humbly as moche as I can / that after thy grete mercy and benygnyte / it wyll please the atte the leste to grauÌ„te vnto me that I maye vndertake the begynnynges of good lyuyng ¶ The sayd holy fader Arsenyen questyoned and asked ones a symple brother of the londe of Egypte / askynge of hym how he feled hym selfe in his cogytacyons and thoughtes The whiche thynge seeyng a brother that was of vnderstandyng more redy than was the other sayd thus to hym Fayre fader I merueylle me of thy selfe that art so expert not oonly in greke tonge / but also in latyn tonge / how thou aposest questyoned this brother Rustyke in askynge of his thoughtes cogytacyons / wherat he answered I knowe well that I haue studyed and lerned suffysauntely as to the worlde bothe the latyn tonge and the greke / but yet haue I not conne take nor lerne the ABC of this Rustyke ¶ Some olde holy faders tolde that ones some persones gaue and sente vnto the brothern hermytes of Sychye a quantyte of dates And bycause there was but a fewe / they dyde not sende none of them to the fader Arsenyen / doubtyng that he sholde take it an wronge or a mocke to haue sente hym so lytyll a gyfte ¶ And when he was shewed herof / he wolde not goo out of his celle for to goo to the dole with the other brethern as it was acustomed to be doo / but sayd to them Ye haue excomunycated me my brothern / to th ende that ye sholde not gyue me the charyte that god hath sent vnto you / of the whiche I haue not be worthy to haue had my parte ¶ They all thenne vnderstandynge these wordes were wonderfully edyfyed of his humylyte So sente they vnto hyÌ„ by one of them whiche was a preest his parte of the sayde dates / brought hym with hyÌ„ Ioyfull in the coÌ„panâ—e of the other for to take vp the sayd dole ¶ And some sayd that he was so secrete in his dedes and operacyons / that men coude neuer perceyue ne knowe the maner of the conuersacyon of his lyfe ¶ He dwellynge in the partyes of Egypte bycause he suffred bare there greuously the nedes of the folke that towarde hym came for to vysyte see him / he purposed for to gyue vp leue his celle or lytyll house without to bere awaye with him ony thyng that was in it ¶ And thus came he to his dyscyples wherof one was named Paranytas / the other AlexaÌ„der the thyrde Zoyle Soo sayd this holy fader Arsenyen to Alexander Aryse Alexander dyspose thy selfe for to rowe ¶ To Zoyle he sayd / come with me vnto the flode seke a bote for me to go in to Alexandrye take also an ore with thy brother to rowe ouer Zoyle was wrothe of these wordes helde his peas And thus were they departed one from the other Alwayes he wente all alone vnto about the partyes of Alexandrye where he ley syke of a gryuous
weke euery man by hymselfe alone without to speke the one to the other / they dyde soo And it happed this hangyng that the abbot Nub sawe within the sayd temple the stature of an Ydole / euery mornyng the sayd abbot Nub rose casted stones atte hit / syn atte euen he Requyred her pardon / the whiche thynge he contynued all the same weke And when the satyrdaye cam that made an ende of that weke / these holy faders coÌ„myng agayne togydre / the abbot Poemen demauÌ„ded of the abbot Nub why he had all that weke beten thus that selfe Ydole / sayng to hym / that he meruaylled moche / how he that was a dyscrete man full of veray fayth had done so namely of that he asked her pardon after that he had beten her / wherat the holy fader Nub answered that he had done that for the edyfycacyon of hymselfe of them all / sayeng thus Haue ye not seen how this Ydole whan I haue beten her she hath not grutched nor sayd nothyng there ayenst / in no wyse she hath not angred her selfe And agayne when I haue besought her pardon / she hath not exalted or praysed her selfe for it Certaynly it is trouthe sayd the abbot Poemen ¶ Now my brethern sayd the abbot Nub I shall tell you / it semet me that we seuen yf we dwelled togydre / we sholde doo moche more fruyte / than yf we were parted the one fro the other / but it is nedefull that this Ydole be sette tofore our eyen for an exemple / in suche wyse / that yf the one of vs is in ony wyse wronged / he myght not be angry for it / also yf men aske hym pardon that he booste nor prayse hymselfe therof And yf ye wyll not do so I say after myn aduyse that it is best that euery of vs goo dwell by hymselfe alone where he shall seme hyÌ„ moost good ¶ The other heryng his wordes layed them selfe donne to the erthe afore hym promysed that they sholde do so And by this meanes they dwelled togydre by many yeres in grete humylyte pacyence ¶ They toke theyr reste duryng four houres oonly By other four houres they songe psalmes / duryng other four houres they laboured / after vnto none tyme they gadred pared palmes leues / this done they gadred some herbes and made them redy for theyr mete to lyue there vpon ¶ Men fynde also that seuen other hermytes right aprouyd men dwelled soÌ„tyme in an hermytage nyghe the marches of the sarrasyns / had theyr celles habytacoÌ„ns y sette not one ferre fro the other / but also they were wouÌ„derfully Ioyned knytte togydre by the bouÌ„de of charyte The one of them was called Peter that other Stephen / the .iij Iohan / the .iiij. George / the fyfthe Theodore / the .vi. Felix / the .vij. Laurence This hermytes theÌ„ne dwellyng in a place wylde barayne / as inhabytable to men / had of custome that they coÌ„â—noued togydre ones in a wyke for to see eche other And for to do this vpon the satyrdaye euer aboute the houre of none eyther of them departed oute of his owne place for to come vnto the place comon where they sholde fynde eche other / euery man brought there with hyÌ„ of suche as he had / the one brought some nuttes / the other some letues / an other some fygges / the other brought other fruytes and herbes couenable for theyr lyuyng / coÌ„monly pryncypally they eche none other thyng And as for brede oyle drynke yf they had at som season ony / that was ouer aboue theyr customable pytauÌ„ce / for they susteyned theyr owne bodyes oonly of the fruytes herbes aboue sayd And in that place where they were was fouÌ„de no water they dranke none other thyng but of the dew that felle donne from the heuens whiche in grete habondauÌ„ce fell vpon the herbes The whiche dewe the holy hermytes goyng in the mornyng thrughe the wood toke it vp dranke it ¶ And as to the regarde of theyr vesture / theyr clothes were made of leuys palmes togydre weued And when they dyde fynde them selfe atte place where they sholde coÌ„mone togydre euery satyrdaye as before is sayd / they all toke ther theyr repast wherof they gaue graces thankes vnto our lord god This done / vnto the houre of euynsonge tyme they talked deuysed togydre of holy scryptures without to speke of ony fables or vayne wordes nother of the cure of besynesse of the worlde / nor of the shewynges or dedes of the erthely thynges / but besely they spake talked of the right desyrable royalme of paradyse / of the blysse that is to come / of the vnspekable glorye of the Iuste / of the horryble paynes whiche is ordeyned for synners / of the rest of the gloryouse sayntes whiche all redy reioyce them selfe in the blessyd setes of heuen And remembryng these thynges in theyr myndes / they gaaf grete sobbynges out of theyr herter / wept with grete plenteuousnesse of teeres And after this that duryng all the nyght they had songe deuoute songes vnto our lorde / the sondaye folowyng about the houre of none they sette theyr deuyses talkynges at an ende for all that wyke that was next comyng / eueryche of them went ayen in to his owne celle or lytyll house where they beyng alone were ocupyde both daye nyght to the seruyce of god ¶ They thenne in this maner of lyuyng settyng theyr corages affeccions / the sarrasyns in grete multytude raÌ„ne ouer the deserte fouÌ„de them there hunted them out / yet not contente with this they hange them by the fete doynge to them grete wronges shamefull dyspytes ¶ And fynably they beyng thus hanged / the sarrasyns made a fyre of herbes grene bytter vnder them / wherof they were so cruelly tourmented / that of the bytternesse of the smoke / they lost the lyght of theyr eyen And after that in this maner other moche cruell / they had thus scorged tourmented them / they forsoke lefte them as halfe deed ¶ The abbot Poemen was questyoned by a Relygyouse askyng hym what be tokenen the wordes that our lord sayth in the gospell whiche are suche ¶ Noo greter loue can haue noo man / than he alone that lyeth his soule for his frende ¶ How sayd the brother maye this thyng be done ¶ To the whiche askyng the sayd holy fader Poemen answered Yf ony man is wronged of his neyghbour to whome he maye answere in lykewyse ylle agayne and yet he dothe not soo / but where he is moeued of corage to do soo / he fyghteth ayenst hym selfe refraynyng his anger in suche wyse that he dothe to hyÌ„ nother gryffe nor harme be that soo dothe leyth his soule for his frende ¶ The abbot
heryng the noyse of the rede / as he wolde haue sayd / that a man that desyreth for to do the saluacyon of his soule / can not be to moche withdrawen parted from the charges besynesse of the worlde / whiche are to hym of more lettyng / the more that he delyteth hym to lyue solytaryly ¶ Men fynde that his cellle was departed ferre from all habytacoÌ„ns of folke .xxxij. myle or there about / wente not out often / but he had folke that admynystred vnto him his necessytees ¶ And some holy fader sayd somtyme that the londe of Sychye was destroyed that no bodye dwelled there / the sayd holy fader sayd these wordes The worlde hath lost Rome / the Relygyouses Sychye ¶ The sayd abbot makynge a whyle his abydyng in a place called Canap / a holy matrone an olde virgyne born of Rome the cyte whiche was moche riche / dredyng god / desyrynge hertely to see the sayd holy fader Arsenyen / and came in to Alexandrye towarde the archebysshop Theophyle / and besought hym that he wolde be the meane towarde the sayd holy fader / that his pleasyr were to graunte that she sholde see hym And the sayd Theophyle seeynge the grete affeccyon of the sayd Matrone wente towarde the sayd holy fader Arsenyen / made vnto hym the sayd Request / to the whiche he wolde not consente ¶ So came Theophyle agayne made his report to the matrone / whiche not contente therwithall / made all thynges redy for her selfe to goo there sayeng I byleue haue this stedfaste trust in god / that he shall suffre me to see hym / for all be it that in our cyte of Rome be many holy men that maye comforte me / neuerthelesse for his grete fame I haue purposed for to vnder take this vyage to th ende that I maye see hym ¶ So laboured she so moche by her Iourneyes / that she came to the place where he dwelled ¶ And it happed as our lorde wolde suffre it / that for to haue by her leyser to see the sayd holy fader / she fouÌ„de hym walkyng without his celle She thenne layed herself IncoÌ„tynent to his fete / but neuertheles he toke her vp agayne anone by grete dyspyte / beholdyng vpon her â—yerlly he sayd vnto her ¶ Now yf thou wylt see me in the face beholde me thenne ynoughe here I am ¶ She heryng his rygorouse wordes / was so sore ashamed / that she wyst not what she sholde answere namely she was not too bolde that she durst loke hym in his vysage ¶ And to her sayd agayne Arsenyen / My ymagynacyon is that syth that the woldest see me / thou haste herde speke of my werkes what neded the for to vndertake so grete awaye for to see me / the whiche that hast herde saye of me myght haue suffysed the Knowest not the well that thou art a woman / that it apperteyneth not to thyn astate that the sholdest go from thy place for to go in a strange place I byleue that thou art come hether to th ende that the mayste to telle to the women of Rome Incontynente as that shall come there ayen / that thou hast seen me / to thentente that by the meane the waye be founde in the see for to make the women to come towarde me ¶ Thenne she sayd vnto hym I promyse the holy fader / that yf it please god that I maye retourne to Rome ayen I shall not tell that I haue ben here / nor I shall not be the cause that ony bodye shall come to that / but I praye the that it wyll please the for to praye for me / with this to haue alwayes remeÌ„braunce of me ¶ Wherat he answered I praye god that he wyll put the soone out of my thought She heryng these thynges wente awaye from hym alle wrothe sory And Incontynent that she was come ayen to Alexandrye the cyte because of the grete sorowe heuynesse that she had / a sykenesse toke her with a sharpe fyuer The whiche thynge was tolde vnto the holy archebysshop Theophyle So came he towarde her for to comforte her ¶ And he askynge what she eyled / she answered to hym Alas my lord wolde god that I hadde not come here At my departyng from that holy fader I prayed hym that he wolde woushesauf to haue me in mynde And he hath answered me / that he prayed god / that he wolde take awaye from hym the Remembraunce of me The whiche answere hathe angred troubled me so sore that I am in dauÌ„ger for to deye ¶ Thenne sayd to her Theophyle / knowest not that that the art a woman / that by woman the deuyll tempteth the holy men For this cause the holy man hath gyuen the this answere But neuerthelesse thou ought not thynke but that he wyll praye god besyly for thy soule The good Matrone thenne heryng these wordes ceassed anone her wrath / in grete Ioye gladnesse retourned ayen to the cyte of Rome ¶ The abbot Euagrius sayd that he that wyll kepe hym that he shall not falle in trybulacoÌ„n / to kepe his goost with rest / ought nought to haue dyuerse affeccoÌ„ns towarde many folke ¶ A brother cam in to Sychye towarde the abbot Moyses / to whom vysytyng hym he requyred hyÌ„ that he wolde telle hym some good worde edyfycatyue for to bere it in his mynde to the ende that he sholde haue remembrauÌ„ce of hym So answered vnto hym Moyses / that he sholde go kepe hyÌ„ within his celle / it sholde lerne hym all thynges that be good ¶ The sayd Moyses sayd / that the man that fleeth the companye of men / is lyke a grape of Reysyns rype and swete / but he that seketh theyr felysshyp acompanyeth with them / is lyke vnto the grape that is sowre and bytter ¶ The abbot Nyle sayd that the man that loueth to lyue solytaryly / yeldeth hymselfe soo stedfast to denye withstande ayenst the arowes / that is to wyt ayenst the temptacyons of the fende / that they sholde not touche nor entre in hym / but he that hauntyth comynyth with the men is oftentymes dauÌ„gerously wounded ¶ The abbot pastor sayd / that to apply his thought vnto dyuerse thynges / is the begynnyng of all euylles / more ouer he sayd / that to flee from the temporall thynges was a good a sure lyue Certaynly when a man dresse hym self nyghe a place where men fyght bodely / he is lyke hym whiche is vpon a depe water / to th ende that at suche an houre as his aduersary shal seme good he maye take hym make hym for to falle vnto the botom But yf he partyth hym selfe gooth ferre from the bodely thynges / he is lyke hym that is ferre from the welle / when the fende wyll cast hym from aboue to benethe / for to do this
he wyll drawe hym vyolently nyghe to the sayd welle / god preserued hym therfrom and gyueth hym socours ayde ¶ The abbot Sysoyns had a dyscyple the sayd ones vnto hyÌ„ Fayre fader that thou art alredy olde / that thou hast dyscrecoÌ„n wytte for to withsaye ayenst the temptacoÌ„ns of the worlde / me semeth that thou myght well hauÌ„te a sytyll thrugh the worlde / to whom the holy fader answered / that he wolde well do so / yf he coude brynge hyÌ„ in a place where noo women were The dyscyple hyryng this answere sayd vnto hyÌ„ ayen / that he wyst of no place but the women were there / but only in the solytary places Now ledde me there thenne sayd the holy fader ¶ An olde matrone whiche was an abbesse sayd that many Relygyouses beyng in the montayn / that is to wyt in solytary places / are perysshed there / bycause that they had set theyr thought affeccoÌ„ns vnto thyngis of the worlde / that it is better for to be amonge many one to lede there wylfully a solytary lyfe / than for to be aboue apply his thought to multyplycacoÌ„n of temporall thynges ¶ An olde holy fader sayd / that a monke ought euer to bye rest in suche maner that he dyspyseth it yf he see the ony bodely hurte cometh to hyÌ„ therby ¶ An aeged holy fader shewed that thre grete clerkes moche studyouse gaue theÌ„ selfe to Relygyon / one of whiche chose toke in hyÌ„self this affeccoÌ„n that he wolde pease bryng all persones atte one whiche he myght knowe the ought euyll wyll one to an other or that had ony mater of plee or debate the one ayenst the other The seconde thought / that he wolde vysyte the bedred the syke And the thyrde went enhabyted hyÌ„self in a solytary place The fyrst thenne besyeng hyÌ„self in his entrepryse / fouÌ„de so many noyses dyfferences / debates questyons to be moeued amonge the men that it sholde not haue ben possyble to hym for to pease all Wherfor he fulfylled with noyaunce gryse with it / bycause he coude not satysfye his deliberacoÌ„n / â—am for to see the seconde / the whiche also he fouÌ„de sore wery noyouse / that he myght not serue all the syke folke the poore nedy for the grete multytude that he fouÌ„de of them euery where So these two purposed for to go see the thirde whiche was gone for to lyue solytaryly in the desert And when they were come toward hyÌ„ after that they had made knowlege of broderhode vnto eche other / the tweyne reherced vnto the thyrde theyr grete trybulacoÌ„ns prayeng hyÌ„ that he wolde declare vnto them what thyng be dyde how he profyted in his hermytage To the whiche ouesâ—yon he dyde not answere redely But after that he had kepe hyÌ„self styll a lytyll / he toke water in a vessell sayd to them / beholde a lytyll this water that is trouble And they began to loke vpon / whyse they loked soo / the water began to wexe clere by it selfe Thenne sayd he vnto them when he sawe that it was fayre clene / loke how sodeynly this water is puryfyed by it selfe Thenne they beholden within it they knewe theyr owne vysages therin as it had be in a glasse Thenne he tolde them that in lykewyse he that acompanyed amonge the worlde with grete payne he may knowe there his owne fawtes bycause of the grete troubles that be in the worlde / but when he withdraweth hymselfe in to a solytarye place / than maye he knowe lyghtly his synnes ¶ Here foloweth the treatyse techynge how men ought to styre them to compunccyon / and begynneth in latyn Dicebant de abbate Arsenio THe abbot Arsenye / as some tolde / all the tyme of his lyue syttyng and abydyng within his celle / labouryng werkyng with his handes / had euer in his bosom a hande keuerchyef for to wype withall the teeres that contynuelly ranne out of his eyen / in sorowyng for his synnes for drede of god of the paynes of helle whiche he had euer in his mynde ¶ A brother Requyred the abbot Ammon that he wolde telle hyÌ„ some good worde helthfull / to whom he answered Go to thy celle thynke vpon thy befalle / as the euyll doers doo / that for theyr mysdedes be kept in pryson then questyoned they that come towarde them askyng where the Iuge is / when he shall come / waytyng after the gryuouse punycyon of theyr synnes they wepe weyle ouer theym ¶ In lykewyse the Relygyouse ought euer to be supecte / â—hyde within his soule / saynge Ha me wretched / how shall I dare fynde me afore the grete Iugement of our lorde Ihesu cryst for to yelde hym accomptes reason of my deffautes And yf thou thynkest in thy selfe so / thou shalt may be saued thrugh this meane ¶ The abbot Euagrius sayd / when thou art within thy celle gadre thy spyrytes within thy selfe remembre the of the daye of dethe / thenne thou shalt see the mortyfycacoÌ„n of thy bodye Thynke also vpon the mortall werres of this worlde / be sorowfull for it Haue in hatred the vanytees of this worlde / be temperate curyouse / to th ende thou may euer dwelle in one maner rest / be not syke of the sykenesse of synne Remembre the of them that be in helle / thynke in thy selfe how theyr soules ben in that place / in what bytter heuynesse / in what horryble weylyng / in what drede in what batayll / in what waytynge of sorowe / that without withdrawyng of paynes they be in Infynyte teeres Be thou also Remembryng of the last resurreccoÌ„n / ymagyne the horryble Ingement of god with the wonderfull coÌ„fusyon that the synners shall suffre in the presence of god the fader / of Ihesu cryste his sone / before the angels / archangels postles / afore all the men of the worlde / with this consydere the tourmentes the fyre euerlastyng where they shall be condempned / the remors Inmortall of theyr conscyences / the derkenesse of helle / aboue all thyng the gryndyng of tethe / the paynes the tormentes that be there After coÌ„syder brynge in to the mynde the welth felycytees that be promysed vnto the Iuste / the trust that they shall haue in god the fader his sone before the angels / archangels potestates / before the coÌ„pany of all the heuenly courte And in lywyse the gyftes of grace / the Ioyes the rest wherin they shal be / the recordacoÌ„n remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the whiche thynges / that is to wyt the euyls atte do syde / the godes atte the other syde / thou must haue in thy selfe wepyng bytterly ¶ The abbot Helye sayd that in all seasons he fered thre thynges that ben to come / the fyrst was
called togydre for to gader rede palme / amonge whiche there was one that by fyn force of grete abstynences was sore feble syke / and beganne to coughe spue castyng out of his mouthe some fleemes / and thus doynge he happed to spue vnknowyng vpon one of his brethern whiche therfore was moeued in corage to telle hym that he sholde leue his spuynge vpon hym / but neuerthelesse constraynynge hym selfe to withstande ayenst his sodayn wylle he toke with his handes that that the other had spued vpon hym / and ete it and sayd to hym selfe / telle not to thy brother nothyng that maye make him to falle in to heuynesse / but rather ete that wherat thou hast horrour and abhomynacyon ¶ Here foloweth a nother treatyse ayenst fornycacyon THe abbot Anthonye sayd that he supposed the bodye of euery man to haue his naturell moeuyng togydre spred in hym selfe The whiche naturell moeuyng can not werke ayenst the wyll of that herte / but oonly it is sygnyfyed in the bodye of man as a moeuyng Impassyble There is yet an other moeuyng comyng of the fode of the bodye whiche is Refeccyon of metes drynkes / by helpe of whiche that hete of that blood causeth this selfe blood to werke And to this purpose sayd the postle Beware that ye make not yourselfe dronke of wyn that moeueth a man to lechery And our lorde ayen coÌ„mauÌ„dyng to his postles sayd vnto them Kepe you that your hertes be not greuyd / that is to saye I made heuy by synne thrugh glotony dronkenshyp ¶ Morouer the sayd abbot Anthonye sayd / that there is yet do other moeuyng to those that in conuersacoÌ„n fyght ayenst vyces / the whiche moeuyng cometh procedeth of the watchynges of the enuye of the deuyls And thus it is to be noted that we haue .iij. moeuynges corporall One whiche is naturell / that seconde whiche cometh of repleccion of metes / the thyrde of the subgeccion of the deuyls of helle ¶ The abbot Geronces otherwyse called Petrense sayd / that many are teÌ„pted of corporall delectacoÌ„ns / how be it that they synne not bodely in asmoche that they fulfyll not effectuelly suche delectacions / alwayes they synne in thought / as those that kepe by constrayte theyr virgynyte / in theyr corage corrupte the same in soo moche / that yf it were not by some drede seruyll the refrayneth them / they sholde soone be redye for to performe that dysordynate aptyt of theyr corage And therfor sayd the sayd holy fader to his Relygyouses My right welbeloued brethern It is a good thyng profytable to do that the scrypture sayth / that is to wyt / euery one to kepe his herte by curyouse kepyng / in castyng from him selfe by feruent charyte all dysceytes temptacyons of the deuyll ¶ The abbot Cassyan sayd that he had herde the abbot Moyses saye / that it was a thyng good profytable not to hyde or kepe clos his thought / namely that it was necessary to open sâ—ewe them vnto the auncyent holy faders spyrytuell y fylled with wysdom dyscrecoÌ„n / and not oonly to thoo that be called olde for theyr grete age For many one consyderyng the grete age of some faders / not takynge hede yf they were wyse or dyscrete / haue shewed vnto them theyr cogytacyons thoughtes hopynge to haue therof some assuagyng / the whiche haue be deceyued / for why / bycause that these olde faders were not well lerned / the shewers in stede of comforte and consolacyon / are come fynally to the laste dyspeyre ¶ A Relygyouse there was that sette all his cure besynesse to vse lyue holyly And where he was sore tempted of the synne of fornycacyon / he came vnto an olde fader to whom he declared his temptacyons The whiche heryng this Relygyouse / and bycause he was not well experte / was wonderfully moeued ayenst hym / saynge to hym that he was myschaunt wretched / not worthy for to were the habyte of a Relygyouse / in as moche that he receyued in his corage suche thoughtes teptacyons ¶ The poore brother heryng his wordes mystrust hym selfe lefte his celle toke on his waye for to Retourne to lede his lyfe among wordly folke ¶ But it happed by the wyll of god that he was mette of Appollo the abbot whiche seeyng hyÌ„ thus sore troubled sorowfull questyoned hyÌ„ sayng My sone I see well that thou are troubled in thy corage / telle me I praye that what is the cause of thy heuynesse soo grete The Relygyouse acte the fyrst for the grete confusyon that he had taken att his herte answered hym nothyng / but after that he had be prayed ones ayen of the sayd holy abbot for to declare vnto hym his befall He shewed it vnto hym saynge Alas my lord it is trouthe / that I haue founde my selfe sore tempted troubled of the synne of fornycacyon / wherof I haue dyscouered me vnto suche an holy fader / hopynge that he sholde haue gyue me soâ— gooâ— remedye to the easyng of my conscyence / but his wordes haue putte me from all hope of saluacyon / wherfore all dysperate I retourne to dwelle in the worlde amonge the seculer folke ¶ Thenne the good fader Appollo heryng his wordes called hym / as a good goostly fader leche spyrytuall / began to praye hym to desyre hym moche affectuelly saynge vnto hym My childe I praye the here me speke Meruaylle nor dyspere not thy selfe / certaynly it is trouth that in the aege conuersacyon where I am presently I fynde my selfe moche troubled sore traueylled with suche folysshe thoughtes / be not therfore of corage more feble for cause of suche temptacyons / the whiche be not oonly ouercome by the power of mankynde / but pryncypally by the mercy of god And atte this houre I praye the grauÌ„t me one thyng It is that hauyng trust of the mercy of god / thou wyll Retourne ayen in to thyn owne celle / the whiche thyng he dyde full redyly And syn Appollo the abbot departyng from hym / went vnto the celle of the forsayd olde fader to whome the sayd Relygyouse had shewed his thoughtes temptacyons wherof he had brought hym in dysperacyon And he beyng nyght by it / he prayed god humbly in grete habondauÌ„ce of teeres / saynge Lorde god that for the profyte of thy seruauntes / sendest to them nedefull temptacyons I beseche the right humbly that it wyll please the to tourne in this aeged fader the batayll temptacoÌ„n that this yonge brother suffreth / to th ende that in his presente olde aege he lerne by veraye experyence / that whiche he coude not â—erue by longe processe of tyme / that by this meane he may haue compassyon of thoos that he trowbled with suche temptacoÌ„ns The whiche oryson fynysshed by the sayd holy fader Appollo / he sawe a
trowbled in his corage And as soone as the daye was come / he toke his waye in soo grete dylygence that he came to the hermytage of that other Relygyouse of whome the deuyls made theyr boost / the whiche he founde moche sorowfull and heuy ¶ Soo dyde he shewe ryght well to hym that that was happed vnto hym of his water / and how dyuerse tymes it was spylled by it selfe when he wende for to haue dronke of the same Askynge of hym what myght be the cause that it soo happed ¶ Thenne the other Relygyouse sayd vnto hym ¶ O my brother thou art welcome syth it hath please the for to come hether for to shewe vnto me thyne Inconuenyences ¶ Truly brother myn I haue well more nede of thy good counseylle and comforte / than thou hast of myn For but late agoo / I am fallen in the synne of fornycacyon ¶ Thenne answered to hym his felawe Veryly my brother I haue wel knowen therof this nyght ¶ Alas and how answered that other ¶ Certaynely sayd he in slepynge within the Temple of ydolles / whiche lyeth by the waye hetherwarde bytwene thyn lodgys and myn I haue herde the deuyls that spaken of the and were wonderfull gladde of the same synne / in whiche they haue the ouerthrawen And anone the poore broder sayd vnto hym as by dysperacyon ¶ Ha my brother I am nomore worthy to be nor acompanye whith the holy hermytes Relygyouses of the hermytages / certaynly I wyll now goo presentely for to vse wretchydly my lyfe with the folke of the worlde ¶ Thenne the good relygyouse requyred hym by good charyte that he sholde not abyde in that foly / drawyng his trust aback from the grete mercy of god / but sholde take a good corage and purpose hym selfe for to lyue euer a Relygyouse lyfe / lyuyng so lytaryly in the desertes / as he was wonte to do in tyme passed / that he sholde forsake leue that cursed woman / for it was thrugh the entytynge of the deuyll that she was come there These wordes herde / the poore Relygyouse repented hym of his synne by veray contrycyon grete penauÌ„ce whiche he contynued longe / vnto the tyme that he founde hym selfe better than he was / in rest of conscyence ¶ An aeged holy fader sayd / that thre thynges / that is to wyte / to putte hym selfe from the besynesse solycytudes / to be transyble to thynke in his herto vpon his synnes engendre in a Relygyouse the vertue of charyte ¶ An other Relygyouse moeued a questyon to an aeged holy fader askyng hyÌ„ Yf it happeth that a Relygyouse falleth in to some synne / soo that the other Relygyouses be therby sklauÌ„dred / what remedye shall they soke vpon the same Answeryng to the whiche questyon / the sayd holy fader folde the hystorye that folâ—weth saynge Atte a monasterye in Egypte dwelled a dyaken well famed rendured / in whom tyme happeth that a man of courte / by a Iuge hauyng power of the londe was banysshed or in suche wyse trowbled that he was constrayned to withdrawe hyÌ„self / whiche with all his meny came to the monastery where the sayd dyaken dwelled / this courtire in the sayd monastery soiournyng / the sayd dyaken atte the sayd instygacoÌ„n entycyng of the deuyll coÌ„mysed the synne of fornycacoÌ„n and adulterye with this courtyers wyfe / wherof grete sclauÌ„der coÌ„fusyon moeued among the relygyouses there / wherfore he moeued by grete shame contrycoÌ„n / wente secretly vnto an olde fader declared to hyÌ„ his befall / prayng hym that he wold gyue hym couÌ„sell to helpe hym that he myght aryse from his greuous synne And talkyng togyder / the olde fader ledde hym in to a secrete celle that he had ferre within the deserte / the whiche celle seeyng this dyaken / he prayed the sayd holy fader / that he sholde burye hym quycke therin / that he sholde neuer telle to no bodye where he was So entred he within this dwellyng that was derke obscure / there he made an harde a vertuouse penauÌ„ce by a longe a grete space of tyme / duryng the whiche happed in the londe of Egypte a grete dreought scarsenesse bycause that the water of Nub that was theÌ„ne veray small myght not wete the countree as she had acustomed / Wherfore the people began to make deuoute prayers / letanyes and orysons prayng our lorde that he wolde haue pyte of them and to sende them some water for the mayntenynge of theyr poore lyues And in makyng thyse sayde prayers It was shewed vnto an holy hermyte by the wyll of god / that the water of the sayd flood sholde not were nor growe vnto the tyme that the dyaken whiche was hydde within the celle of the sayd holy fader in the desertes of Egypt / sholde come for to praye with the other for to haue the sayd water The whiche Reuelacyon this holy fader Incontynente shewed to all the other faders / whiche anone wente towarde the sayd dyaken brought hym out of the sayd celle And syn after sett hymselfe to prayers and orysons with them / soone after the sayd water grewe encreaced in so grete habondauÌ„ce that the derthe ceassed / wherby they had goodes suffysaunt And they that had be afore sklauÌ„dred and shamed by hym / were well praysed syn of hym for his grete and harde penaunce / wherof they praysed and gloryfyed the name of god ¶ Two brethern Relygyouse wente ones to a cyte whiche was nyghe theyr hermytage for to selle there theyr werke that they had made for to gete theyr lyuyng And when they were come to the sayd cyte / after that they were departed the one fro the other for to spede more soone theyr dedes / one of them fulfylled the synne of fornycacoÌ„n His brother came soone ayen towarde hym / tolde hym that they sholde retorne to theyr celles / wherat the poore synner answerd / that he sholde not retourne thyther / why sayd the other / bycause I am not worthy to be there ony more / bycause that syn that thou departed from me I haue folyshly dampnbly done the wretched synne of fornycacoÌ„n ¶ Thenne his brother desyryng to wynne his soule kepe from dampnacyon / sayd to hym in this wyse In good sothe my brother / as moche is happed vnto me syn I lefte the / and therfore we shall not dyspere our selfe / but we shall Retourne ayen to our celles for to wepe there ouer our synnes and do penauÌ„ce / and god thrugh his mercy shall forgyue vs our trespasses And incontynent that they were gone ayen / they shewed vnto the auncyent faders that / that was happed vnto them / they gaue them suche penaunces as they semed good ¶ In this dede is well to be consydered the grete charyte of the broder that had not synned / but for to gyue his broder
relygyous man answerde that he had be there .vi. yere I meruayll sayd the deuyll / how it may be that thus longe tyme I haue not knowen that thou were my neyghbour / but within four dayes hytherward that to me is comen in myne ymagynacion / that ther was some holy man dwellyng nyghe by me And so I concluded to serche to come to that for to deuyse talke with the for the helth of my soule And this I telle to the my brother / that we prouffyte nothyng holdyng vs in our celles caues For we lyue as bestes / receyue not the body of our lord Ihesu cryst / wherfor I doubte fere strongly but that we be astraūged from hȳ that so longe absteyne vs fro the holy sacrament But I shall tell the what I thynke my broder Ther is from hens about a two myle a monasterye / wherin ben many prestes whom we may go see euery weke ones / or in .xv. dayes / there we shal receyue the worthy body of our lord Ihū cryst / the doon we maye retourne in to our celles This deuyllysshe suasyon was agreable to the relygyous yongman And the sondaye comen / the deuyll came ayen to hȳ sayeng that they sholde go to the sayd monastery / that it was tyme to departe / so they wente forth And in gooyng the fonde a relygyous man of the sayd monasterye After that the yong man had made his prayer in that place / he arose lokyng about hȳ he fonde not hȳ that was come with hȳ / the whiche was vanysshed awaye And thought in hȳself that he was goon out of the monastery for some necessyte / he abode for hȳ longe seeyng that he cam not / he wente makyng dylygence to fynde hȳ And after enquyred of the monkes after hym in askyng theym / yf they had seen ony olde fader comen in to the chirche / the whiche relygyous men answerd to hȳ that they had seen none but hȳ oonly Thenne the yong religyous man knewe well that it was the deuyll / began to saye in hym selfe Loo by what subtylte malyce the deuyll hath made me to go out of my cell / but neuertheles I sette not moche therby For I am comen hyther for to do accomplysshe a good werke / that is to wyte for to receyue the precyous body of my sauyour Ihesu cryste / whom I shall receyue yf it please hym / and after retourne in to my celle The masse sayd done in the sayd monasterye And after that he had receyued the holy sacrament / the sayd yong man wolde haue retourned in to his celle / but thabbot reteyned wolde not suffre hym to go / tyll that he had taken his refeccyon And whiche refeccyon taken graces sayd to god / he toke leue of the sayd abbot of his relygyous monkes for to go in to his celle And in retournyng the deuyl cam to hȳ ayen in the forme lykenesse of a yong seculer man And by a maner fayned for to come to his dampnable Intency on began to beholde hym ententyuely from the toppe of the hede vnto his fete And sayeng these wordes that the yong Relygyous man myght well here Is this he that hath so longe be sought or is it he not And in sayeng these wordes / he contynuelly behelde more ententyfly than he dyde before For whiche cause the brother seeyng that / sayd to hym what moeued the thus to beholde me To whome the deuyll answered I byleue fayr fader that ye knowe me not / wherof I am not sore abasshed ne admeruaylled / for ye can not well knowe me / seen the longe tyme that ye sawe me / neuerthelesse I knowe you well / for I am next neyghbour to your hous And ferthermore he named his fader his moder / a syster that he had by theyr names / theyr seruaūtes also in sayng to hȳ / was not your fader called thus your moder by this name / your syster in this wyse / and thus theyr seruytoues My frende I assure you / that your moder syster deyed thre yere agoon And your fader departed out of this worlde but late And he hath ordeyned you his heyre made you his excecutour for to dyspose well his goodes for the helth of his soule / he coude not leue ne sette they in a better hade than in yours whiche be an holy man / that haue gyuen ouer forsaken the worlde all worldly goodes for to walke folowe the waye of Ihesu cryste / hopyng that for the grete loue charyte / that ye haue to hym / ye shall be bely dylygent for to dystrybute gyue in almesse by good type dyscrecōn his goodes to the poore nedy seruaūtes of god And for this cause he ordeyned the one sholde come to you for to do for his sake this request / in folowyng the sayd ordynaūce many messagers haue ben in dyuerse places for to fynde you / but they coude not here of you / so it is happed that in comȳg in to these parties / for certayn thȳges I haue foūde you here Wherfor moeued of charite cōpassion consyderyg the grete trust that your fader hath in you I haue be moeued to telle it you / therfore tarye not / but for to fulfyll the wyll testament of your fader / go to his hous / selle all that he hath / for to dele dystrybute to poore peple after his holy deuocōn To who me the relygyous yong man answerd / that it was not to hȳ necessary to retorne to the worlde / that he wolde not go thyder And therupon the deuyll replyed ayen sayeng to hym / that yf by his neclygence / the goodes of his fader were lost dysperpled without to be gyuen to the poore people as he had ordeyned / he sholde therfor gyue a rekenyng ones to fore god And forthermore he sayd to hym these wordes / what harme say I yf I exhorte admoneste the that thou come as a gode trewe dyspēsatour dystrybutour to the poore people the goodes of thy fader lyke as he trusted to the that his goodes sholde not haue ben meschyeuously wasted consumed by vycyous persones See what charge mayst the renne in by thyn estymacōn in so doyng Thou knowest that thou mayst in this thyng gete grete meryte for the helth of thy soule And whan thou shalt haue that doon / thou shalt mowe retourne ayen in to thy celle Fynably this yong Relygyous man was by the deuyll in suche wyse deceyued begyled / that he was contente to go home to the hous of his fader / for to doo and fulfyll that whiche the deuyll had sayd to hym And in dede he departed from his hermytage / and with the deuyll he cam in to the cyte / in whiche he was
haue sayd thought is a thyng humayne / but in coÌ„mauÌ„dyng to gyue the potage thou haste done a thynge dyuyne Thenne sayd to hym thabbot Sysoy yf god gloryfye not a man / his glorye shall neuer be stable ¶ The abbot Amenas sayd to the abbot Sysoy that he sholde applye hyÌ„ to rede the scryptures / to th ende to lerne to aorne make fayr his wordes / for to be redy answere to all askynges that sholde be made to hyÌ„ Sysoy sayd that it was no nede to rede for to make his wordes fayre / but a man ought vertuously pourueye hym of holynesse in his wordes / by clennes of conscyence / as who wolde say / that a man that lyueth vertuously can not speke euyll ne ylle ¶ The abbot Symeon beyng in desertes A Iuge of a prouynce came for to see hym And in comyng he fonde the sayd Symeon / whiche by the ayde and helpe of his gyrdell was cloÌ„men on a palmyer for to make it clene And asked hym not knowyng that it was he Where was the olde fader Symeon that dwelled there solytaryly And he answered that there was noman there solytary / the whiche answere herde by the Iuge / he departed ¶ An other tyme cam an other Iuge for to see hyÌ„ / of whiche thyng his dyscyples were aduertysed / cam sayeng to hyÌ„ Fayr fader make you redy / for here cometh a grete man for to see you for to haue your blessyng To whom the holy fader Symeon answered Now well well I shal make me redy / wente toke an olde sacke wherwith he couered his hede his sholdres / holdyng in his hande brede chese sette hyÌ„ doun ete at the dore of his celle as he had ete no mete thre dayes byfore The Iuge his people arryued there seeyng his coÌ„tynauÌ„ce sette nothyng by hym And retourned sayeng as by mocquery / is this the monke solytary of whome we haue herde saye so many thynges ¶ Saynt Syncletyce that in lyke wyse that as a tresour that is publysshed and shewed is ofte mynysshed and dyspendyd In lyke wyse euery vertue after that it is publysshed / lyghtly is put awaye and fynysshed And all in lyke wyse as waxe whiche is nygh the fyre is molten In lyke wyse the soule whiche is praysed becometh vayne / leseth the rygour of vertue He sayd furthermore that all in lyke wyse as it is Impossyble a thyng to be in one tyme bothe herbe seed So it is Impossyble that they that haue glorye mondayn delyte theym therin maken ony fruyte for to haue the heuenly glorye ¶ In a hye fest halowed among the relygyouses of the hermytages / in the whiche they had a custome to take theyr refeccoÌ„n in the chirche One relygyous man among the other called one of the seruauÌ„t in sayeng that he ete no boyled mete / but oonly brede salt / the whiche thyng herde by the sayd seruauÌ„t / he called an other in sayeng to hyÌ„ openly with an hye voys Bryng some salt to this broder here / for he eteth none other thyng And one of the olde faders heryng the arose vp cam to the Relygyous that aâ—ed for salte / sayd to hyÌ„ that it had be more expedyent to haue eten flesshe in his celle than to haue herde the wordes that had be sayd of hyÌ„ to fore so many relygyous people / as who sholde saye that he ought to be ashamed / to haue herde recyted of hym after his owne worde that he ete noo thyng but brede salte For yf he had be vertuoê° none ought to apperceyue it ¶ On a tyme vnto an aged fader were come som strauÌ„gers / to whom for theyr refeccoÌ„n he had do make good potage it happed that the same tyme came to hyÌ„ a broder moche abstynent / that ete no brede / they syttyng atte table begoÌ„ne to ete / he brought chiches for hyÌ„selfe ete theym in the coÌ„pany of the other / after that they were rysen fro the table / an aged fader called secretly the broder sayd to hyÌ„ / Broder whan thou shalt come herafter to fore ony men / kepe the well fro shewynge to hyÌ„ / or from letyng hyÌ„ apperceyue thyn abstynence or coÌ„uersacoÌ„n / yf thou wylte do ony strayt abstynence / kepe that in thy celle go not out The sayd relygyous heryng these wordes / enclyned to theym / determyned to lyue lyke to the other / to ete suche mete as sholde be brought in to the company of other relygyous folke ¶ An other holy fader sayd that the humayne ê“uydence takath awaye cutteth from hym all fattenesse yeldeth hym drye ¶ An other olde fader sayd yf thou wylt holsomly lyue / it behoueth the in fleeyng the worlde to flee fro the men in mockyng the sayd worlde the men that ben therin / to repute fayne thyself to be a fooll ¶ An other lytyl treatyse rechyng how noman ought to Iuge ony other A Relygyous monke beyng vnder the charge and congregacyon of the abbot Helye happed on a tyme a temptacoÌ„n or a cause for the whiche he was putte out of the congregacyon And he wente vp to a montayne vnto the holy abbot saynt Anthonye And after that he had abyden by a certayne tyme / he sente hym ayen to the congregacoÌ„n from whens he was departed / but incontynent that his felawes sawe hym / they put hym out ayen / wherfore yet efte ones he retourned vnto the sayd fader Anthonye layeng to hym that they wolde not receyue hym And for that cause the holy fader sente to theym suche a parable A shyppe hath be in daunger for to be perysshed in the see / where she hath left the charge that she bare / and with grete labour payne she hath be brought vnto londe / ye thenne my brethern wyll ye drowne and do perysshe the shyppe that hath be delyuered They knowynge by these wordes / that the sayd holy abbot Anthonye had sente hym ayen to theym / and anone agreably they receyued hym ¶ A relygyous monke had coÌ„mysed a synne / for the whiche he was constrayned by a preste to auoyde out of the chirche The abbot Besaryon at that tyme beyng present arose vp and wente also out / sayeng to hym that he was a synner / as was the sayd Relygyous monke ¶ The abbot Ysaac dwelled in the desertes of Thebayde / and sawe on a tyme amonge the other in the congregacyon of the relygyouses / among whom he sawe one that was culpable of a synne / for the whiche he Iuged the sayd relygyous And in retornyng in to his hermytage / wenyng to entre in to his celle / he fonde thangall of god whiche letted hyÌ„ to entre / sayeng that he wolde not suffre hyÌ„ to entre in And the sayd abbot asked of hyÌ„ the cause And he answered hyÌ„ / that god
his tyme delycatly nourysshed / was dylygent to sende to hyÌ„ suche good as god had sent to hyÌ„ / or had brought to the chirche And as he had dwelled ben resydent in Sychye by the space of .xxv. yere he becam a maÌ„ conteÌ„platyf dyscrete well rendermed TheÌ„ne it happed that one of the relygyouses of Egypt among other well famed / heryng the renoÌ„meâ— of the sayd relygyouses cam for to see hym hopyng to see hyÌ„ right harde sharpe lyfe The whiche in entryng in to his celle / humbly salewed hyÌ„ / after theyr prayers made lyke as was theyr custome / they rested satte togyder / the relygyoê° of Egypt seeyng hyÌ„ cladde with vestyment more softe better than were the other relygyouses / hyÌ„selfe had but a matte of Ionkes / an hyde or skyn vpon hyÌ„ a lytyll quysshon of grasse vnder his hede / his fete bare with smale hosen / he was in hyÌ„selfe astonyed / bycause that the other relygyouses of the place had not be accustomed in suche wyse to lyue but haddeÌ„ alwaye done born / as yet bare more sharpe rigoroê° abstyneÌ„ce The relygyoê° Romayn hauyng the grace of conteÌ„placoÌ„n preuydence knewe thestymacoÌ„n that the relygyoê° of egypt had of hyÌ„ / sayd to his seruauÌ„t that he shold make redy some maner mete well dressed for to feste the holy fader that was come thyder / the whiche seruauÌ„t in obeyng his mayster set on the fyre a fewe coole word that he had / whaÌ„ they were soden hour coÌ„petent was comeÌ„ for to take theyr refeccoÌ„n / they toke suffycyently ynough dronken wyn / theÌ„ne the sayd Romayn was pourueyed for to susteyne his body whiche was enfebled by sekenes / the euen comeÌ„ they psalmodyed .xij. psalmes / after they slept / at mydnyght in lyke wyse they psalmodyed / the relygyous of egypt arysyng erly in the mornyng takyng his leue of the relygyous Romayn sayd to hyÌ„ My fader to god I coÌ„mauÌ„de the / so departed not well edefyed of the sayd Romayn / as he was a lytyll which drawen / the sayd romayn wyllyng to take awaye fro the relygyoê° egypcyen the synystre opynyon the he had of hyÌ„ sent for hyÌ„ ayen by his seruauÌ„t / whaÌ„ he was retorned / he receyued hyÌ„ in grete Ioye After he asked hyÌ„ of what ê“uynce he was of what cyte / to whom he aÌ„swered that he was of the ê“uynce of egypt / but he had be in no cyte / after he axed hyÌ„ of what craft he was before he was relygyous in what place he dwelled / he answered that he kept the feldes kept resydeÌ„â—e there / he axed hyÌ„ also where he slepte / he aÌ„swered in the feldes / he axed more vpon what bedde he laye / wherto he aÌ„swered / where sholde I take a bedde whaÌ„ I was in the feldes / as who sayth he had none to lye on / he axed theÌ„ne how he slept / he aÌ„swered vpon the bare erth / yet he axed what mete he ete what wyn he draÌ„ke / he aÌ„swered as tofore / what mete dryÌ„ke sholde a maÌ„ fynde in the feldes / how lyuest thou thenne sayd the Romayn The egypcyen sayd I ete drye brede and yf I ete ony shalte thyng I dranke water / theÌ„ne sayd the Romaym the this was a grete labour / yet he axed of hyÌ„ yf he had ony bayne wherin he myght wasshe hyÌ„ / he sayd nay / but whan he wolde wasshe hyÌ„ it was in a ryuer whaÌ„ he wolde And after that the olde Romayn had knowen of the sayd relygyous of egypt / all the thynges aforsayd / aswell the maner of his fyrst lyuyÌ„g as of his labour / wyllyÌ„g to ê“uffyte with hyÌ„ / tolde to hyÌ„ the lyfe the he lyued the tyme that he was seculer / in sayeng thê° My broder I wyl wel notefye to you how I myserable synner whom thou seest am born in the grete renoÌ„med cyte of rome / in the same haue had a grete name in the palays of themperour The whiche wordes heryng thegypcien was in his herte touched with grete coÌ„punccoÌ„n / coÌ„syderyng that the lyfe that he ladde was moche dyfferent from that whiche he had ladde byfore / with grete cure besyues he herde the other thynges that he sayd that whiche also sayd to hyÌ„ that he had had in Rome grete magnyfyke rychesses as well in houses suÌ„ptuouses as other possessyons reuenues / golde syluer Infenyte moeuable goodes / in coÌ„tynuyng habouÌ„dyng in the sayd goodes was comen had yolden hyÌ„selfe in that lytyll celle in the solytary place where he was Furthermore he sayd to hyÌ„ / that he had had beddes apparaylled â—orned with golde / garnysshed with ryche couertures / for the whiche god had gyueÌ„ to hyÌ„ this lytyl couche of Ionkes whiche that he had / the hyde or skynne wherupn he rested But in stede of his robes vestymeÌ„â— whiche were wont to be ryche right precyous / he vsed poore symple habylemeÌ„t wherwith he was clad In his dyners bankettes he dyspended coÌ„sumed grete soÌ„mes of moneye / in stede of theÌ„ he vsed herbes cooles / dranke a lytyll cuppe of wyn he had also a grete sequely rowte of worldly galauÌ„t seruauÌ„tis / in stede of whom our lord had enspyred one oonly of his seruauÌ„tes to mynystre serue hyÌ„ / in stede of soleÌ„pne baynes in whiche he had be accustomed to bayne in / he weesshe his feet in a lytyll water / also vsed smale hosen / for to support a lytyll the maladye that he had in his legges / And furthermore in stede of floyâ— harpes / melodyoê° InstrumeÌ„â—â— / delycyoâ—s songes of musyke / in whiche he moche delyted in his dyuers baÌ„ketâ— / he psalmodyed on the daye .xij. psalmes / in the nyght in lyke wyse as so moche / for penauÌ„ce of his synnes passed / he toke but lytyll rest / whiche he reputed to be vnprouffytable seruyce to god / whan he had sayd all these thyÌ„ges / he prayed humbly the relygyous egypcyen / that seen his Infyrmyte maladye / that in hyÌ„ he sholde not be slauÌ„dred The egypcyen heryng these thynges and consyderyng his lyfe celle after the sayd holy fader romayn / began to saye Alas to me my serable wretche where shall I bycome / whan I beholde my lyfe / thy lyfe thou holy maÌ„ I fynde it moche gretly dyfferente / for in leuyng the trybulacoÌ„ns grete labours that I bere endure in the worlde I am come to come solytary in relygyon / where I haue fouÌ„de more rest than trauayll / I haue now that I had not tofore / that is to wyte a peasyble casy lyfe without ony greuauÌ„ce But thou romayn thy selfe by propre wyll hast forsaken
We haue here to note what and how we ought to thynke ¶ An abbot named Ypericiê° sayd thus Alle thy thought be alwaye in god desyryng the heuenly blysse / shortly thou shalt haue it Furthermore the same holy man sayd that the lyfe of a monke ought to be lyke to the lyfe of an angell without ony catche or spotte of dedely synne ¶ Thabbot Orsesius to vs reherceth that yf a man kepe not his herte from euyl abhomynable thought / put in forgetyng all the good that hath be sayd of hyÌ„ And sayd after yf the enemye of helle fynde ony place in the / incontynent he surmouÌ„teth that / for as the lampe lyghteth shyneth / whan it hath suffysauÌ„t of oyle mynystred in to it / yf it faylle haue none / the lyght quencheth gooth out In lyke wyse our herte by the fyre of charyte prouffyteth / without the same fyre / it may do no fructuous werke And furthermore yf a mows come for to ete the oyle she fele the bete of the fyre / she cometh no ner / but yf the fyre be queÌ„chyd in maner that it haue none hete / she shall caste the lampe doun breke it In lyke wyse is it of our herte / for whan the fyre of charyte departeth from vs / the holy goost gooth his waye / thenne cometh the enemye whiche assaylleth vs / in peruertyng all our good purpose destroyeth the vertue of our soule by actuall synne But yf we lyue after god to our power / it happe that we falle in ony synne God reduceth vs to remeÌ„brauÌ„ce the paynes of helle / by the holy goost bryngeth vs ayen to the ryght way of penauÌ„ce / that whiche may not be helth full without the spyrytuell helpe of god ¶ Two olde faders spake on a tyme togydre / of whom that one sayd to that other I am now deed in the worlde As who wolde saye that he had so mortefyed his bodye by sharpe harde abstynences / that he had none occasyon to coÌ„myse ony grete synnes And that other sayd / haue no grete truste in thy selfe / for all is incertayne duryng this lyfe / therfor oughtest to be constauÌ„t vygorous ayenst the temptacoÌ„ns of the fende of helle / the seeth alwaye wayteth for to deceyue vs. The maner after whiche a relygyoê° man ought to lyue is suche A deuoute man ought alwaye at euen to thynke how he hath lyued the daye / what goodes he hath done / how he hath loued thanked god / what synnes he had coÌ„mysed in wepyng way lyng in askyng god pardoÌ„ne mercy And yf he do thus he may saye the he is a very Relygyous And in this maner lyued an abbot named Arsenye ¶ For to do vs to vnderstonde that there is nothyng more precyous than the tyme sayd an olde man that he that hath lost golde or syluer or other worldly rychesse / may oftymes recouere it / but he the leseth the tyme may neuer recouer it / for the tyme passed cometh neuer agayne ¶ An holy man sayd the in lyke wyse as the knyght gooyng to batayll thyÌ„ken syngulerly on theyÌ„ / the huÌ„ter thynketh not but on his pray Alle in lyke wyse ought it to be of a relygyoê° man / for he ought fyrst syngulerly thynke on his fayth conscyence without to be ouer besy to knowe what other do ¶ An holy man sayd the lyke as we see the knyghtes that ben in an armee nygh by the prynce / ben better kepte / that they may not be assaylled but with grete dyffyculte In lyke wyse is it of vs / for yf we be nygh vnto our capytayn the kyng of heuen / the fende our enmye shal not dar assaylle vs / for it is wryteÌ„ Approuche ye vnto me by deuoute oryson / I shall approuche vnto you by thynfuly on of my grace But some ther ben the approuche not / but vylaynesly withdrawe them And ther ben ofte taken of the aduersaryes whiche throweÌ„ theyÌ„ doun in the ende make theym to deye ¶ A broder sayd somtyme to an holy man that he had noo batayll in his herte The holy man that heryng answered to hym / that be lykened to a castell the whiche hath four yates all open / all they that wyll entre / entre in to it / assaylle it as theym seme good For all thy fyue wyttes ben werkes to the to the temptacyons of the deuyll And yf thou haddest a yate in thy castell well shette / thou sholdest knowe anone the bataylles that ben without whiche asked not but to take by assault thy poore soule / yf we saye that we haue no synne / we deceyue our selfe trouth is not in vs. It is founde by wrytyng of a relygyoê° / that whiche whan he had offended / abode not to repente hym tyll on the morn / but dyde the same daye penauÌ„ce sayeng This same daye I shall repente me / to morn the wyll of god be doon ¶ An holy man sayd / yf we be not sobre without forth in conuersacoÌ„n wordes It is not possyble that we be Iuste ryghtfull withinforth ¶ The holy faders whiche had the eye of vnderstondyng enlumyned with dyuyne grace / knowyng clerely the fallaces of the fende our enemy / therfor they sayd that Sathan had thre puyssauÌ„ces pryncypall among other vpon men The fyrst is that he maketh to forgete the syÌ„nes the seconde is neclygence slouth / the thyrde is couetyse And these thynges procede the one of the other / for yf a man forgeteth his synnes he is neclygent / thus neclygence procedeth of forgetyng of neclygence cometh concupyscence / the whiche reiected / a man shall neuer falle in synne / but he shal be preserued by the helpe of god The moost necessary thyng among the other / is to kepe scylence be styll in folowyng the doctryne of an olde fader the sayd Take hede as moche as thou mayst to scylence / thynke on no vayne thynges / but take hede to thy thoughtes with the drede of god yf thou thus do / thou shalt eschewe escape the grynnes of the fende our enemye ¶ An holy man sayd to an other relygyous The deuyll is thyn enemye / thou art in maner of an hous / vpon whiche he cesseth not to caste by temptacoÌ„n all the ordures fylthes of synne that he can fynde for to fylle thy hous the dyches of the same / to th ende that he may entre lyghtly / but thou oughtest lytyll lytyll to reiecte cast out those ordures fylthes so moche that the house of thy conscyence be clene For yf thou reckest not for to purge it / he shall put therin so moche that thou shall not cuÌ„ne entre But yf thou purge by very confessyon / thy hous shall be clene / god shall lodge therin / thus the
that obedyence is more gretter vertue than abstynence / charyte / pouerte / suche so obedyent ben very confessours yf they deye in this maner ¶ A seculer man whiche was of Thebes moeued of the holy goost / cam to thabbot Sysoys sayeng that he desyred wolde be a monke / prayed that he myght be receyued in to his monastery the holy man asked hȳ yf he had ony thyng in the worlde The seculer answered that he had a sone / thēne sayd to hym thabbot temptyng hym in his obeyssaūce / go cast hym in to the water / or ellys thou shalt not be a relygyous man Thenne the same man went forthe for to do the cōmaūdement of the abbot / the whiche after he had seen his prompte obedyence / sende hym worde by a brother that he sholde not doo it And as the brother cam to hym / he fonde hym on the brynge of the ryuer / and he asked what he dyde there I do sayd he that whiche my abbot hath cōmaūded me For he sayd to me that I shold cast my sone in to the water Thenne sayd to hym the brother that thabbot had sente to hym worde that he sholde ceasse And so he ceassed and was receyued in to that monastery wherin he lyued ryght holyly We haue a lyke exāple of Abraham / to whom for to see his obeyssaūce / god cōmaunded to slee Ysaac his sone / the whiche thynge he wolde haue do / yf the angell had not reteyned the stroke of his swerde ¶ Saynt Syncletyce sayd that obeyssaūce is more to prayse than contynence For to contynence is somwhat anneyed arrogaūce / but very obeyssaūce is foūded in all humylyte The same saynt Syncletyce sayd / it behoueth to vs to gouerne our soule with grete dyscrecōn And yf we be with some other / we ought not to doo after our desyre / but after theyr wyll / prouyded that they be well ruled For as people bānysshed exyled out of theyr contrees / we haue gyuen ouer lefte for thonour of god / to this ende we ben separate departed from the worlde And this ought to be vnderstonden of the relygyous people that haue renoūced the worlde and theyr propre wyll For it behoueth theȳ to doo after the wyll of theyr prelate And therfore sayd the sayd saynt Syncletyce Lete vs seche no thyng more of the place / fro whiche we be departed / we haue in the worlde vayne glorye / habondaūce of goodes / but here with grete dyffyculte haue we brede / lyke as she wolde saye It behoueth in relygyon to endure many Indygences for the honour of god ¶ Thabbot Ypericius sayd that thoffyce of a monke is obeyssaunce For a man that is obedyent shall obteyne of god all that whiche he shall demaūde ¶ Our sauyour redemer Ihesu cryst by the vertue of obeyssaūce is come vnto the crosse For the chirche syngeth of hȳ / that he is made obedyent vnto the deth of the crosse / for to redeme vs fro the paynes of helle Thus thenne may be sayd / that among all other vertues a relygyous persone ought pryncypaly to haue the vertue of obedyence ¶ The holy faders sayden that / yf a man haue affyaunce to a nother / he submytted hym in his subieccyon / he ought to do all that whiche that other shall cōmaūde hym / so that it be a thyng Iuste honest For in so doyng he shal not renne in to the yre ne Indygnacōn of god ¶ The holy aeged men sayden the god volde that we sholde obeye to holy scryptures For in theym is conteyned the maner fourme to lyue do vertuos operacōns And also we ought to obeye to our souerayne prelates ¶ A brother of Sychye wyllyng to go to heruest / in the season whan the corn and graynes be gadred in cam to an holy man and sayd to hym Fader saye to me what I ought to doo ¶ The holy fader answered Yf I tell the what thou sholdest doo / wylte thou doo it The brother sayd ye fader I shall obeye all thy commaundementes ¶ Thenne sayd the holy man / yf thou wylt byleue me / go and renounce this werke of haruest / and after come ayen to me and I shall saye what thou shalt doo Thus the brother byleuyng his counseyll forsoke the werke of haruest and came agayne to the holy fader And the holy fader sayd to hym / goo and faste fyfty dayes in thy celle / and ete but ones on the daye oonly brede and salte And whan that thou shalt haue doon that I shall saye to the afterwarde what thou shalt do ¶ The brother departed with all humylyte and drede and dyde his penaunce And the fyfty dayes passed / he cam agayne to the holy fader / whiche sayd to hym all the maner how he ought to lyue in his celle In shewyng to hym his defaultes ¶ And forthwith the sayd brother departed and wente in to his celle And fylle doun to the erthe where he contynuelly be wepte his synnes thre dayes and thre nyghtes But the fende our enemye desyryng to make hym to falle in to the synne of vayne glorye reduyced to his mynde / how he hadde surmounted his passyons / to the ende that he sholde gloryfye in hym selfe / and that he sholde saye in hym selfe / that he was ryghtfull and Iuste But for to take awaye this temptacyon he thought on his synnes the whiche he had commysed / and sayd Helas where ben alle the grete and terryble synnes / that I haue doon And thus eschewed the fyrste temptacyon ¶ Furthermore thenemye seeyng that he myght not haue hym by vayne glorye / beganne to tempte hym with Impacyence / in bryngyng to fore his mynde all the euylles / and synnes that he hadde doon / to th ende that he sholde falle in despayre And for to eschewe that / the brother in this temptacyon sayd I byleue that god is all mercyfull / wherfore I haue good and stedfaste hope / that he shall pardonne me / And in this wyse he ouercome the seconde temptacyon ¶ Thenne after the fendes as all enraged appyered vysybly to hym saynge / we ben vaynquysshed and ouercomen of the. ¶ Thenne the brother asked and demaunded theym wherof / And they answered / yf we tempte the ony thynge with vayne glorye / thou humblest thy selfe all that thou mayst in reducyng to fore thyn eyen thy grete and euyll synnes And yf we tempte the for to putte thy selfe in despayre anone thou ouercomest vs / and enhaūceste thy selfe by hope / whiche thou haste in the ryght grete mercy of god / and thus we be alwaye vaynquysshed ¶ The holy faders sayden that god demaunded noo thyng of man but obedyence ¶ An holy man beeyng moche solytarye hadde a fermour whiche dwelled in a ferme of his And the fermour delyuered to hym that whiche was necessary ¶ On a tyme it happed that vytaylles
rewle is the pryncypall among people of deuocoÌ„n ¶ To this purpose sayd an other holy fader that of so moche that the vertue of a man is more praysed / of soo moche more he ought to humble hymselfe Moo persones ben saued that haue not be honoured in this worlde / than of other that haue ben constytued in honour worldly fauour ¶ A brother demauÌ„ded of an holy fader yf it were necessary to be in contynuell contrycoÌ„n penauÌ„ce To whom he answered / ye / And therof he gaaf hym an example of Ihesus sone of Naue / the whiche beyng in contemplacyon deououte oryson laye vpon therthe / god appered to hym / and not whan he was out of his contemplacyons ¶ An other demauÌ„ded of an holy fader fro whens it proceded that he was so ofte trauaylled of deuylles To whom he answered that it was bycause that he had lost his armours spyrytuell / that is to wyte humylyte / pacyence / pouerte / and suffryng of Iniuryes For the sende taketh his aduersary more soone whan he fyndeth hym without wepen than whan he kepeth hym armed ¶ An other brother asked in lyke wyse of an holy fader / yf a man cam to hym for to haue comfort or consolacyon in his temptacoÌ„ns / or aske couÌ„seyll to resyste his synnes / yf he ought to refuse it to hym / sayeng that he sholde go without to recouÌ„te to hym his vyces synnes / or yf he ought to saye to hym / that in tyme to come he sholde kepe hyÌ„ from suche operacoÌ„ns ¶ The holy fader fyrst answered that he ought not to refuse to here his proposycoÌ„ns ¶ Secondely he ought not saye in rebukyng hym that he sholde eschewe his synnes by suche maner suche / to the ende that yf in tyme comyng hym selfe fylle in suche temptacoÌ„ns / he were worthy of more grete reprobacoÌ„n bycause he dyde not the whiche he couÌ„seylled But it sholde be good to be stylle saye nought For by scylence he shold shewe good ensample ynough to correcte hym selfe of the synnes by hym coÌ„mysed ¶ An holy man for to yeue an answer to an other whiche asked hym what was humylyte / he sayd the humylyte is to forgyue pardoÌ„ne our enemyes the wronges Iniuryes whiche they had done to vs / to fore er they aske forgyuenesse ¶ An other holy fader sayd that he had neuer wylled to chauÌ„ge his â—â—dre ne desyred to be of more strayt ne lasse / but he had be all his lyfe all fouÌ„ded in prayer and oryson / vnto that it pleased god to calle hym in to his Royalme in departyng by deth the soule out of his bodye ¶ An other sayd that none ought to blame hym that doth to hym wronge or repreef / but oonly ought to saye that for his synnes god sendeth hym this trybulacoÌ„n And therfore sayd an holy fader / that very humylyte is to do well to theym that do to vs euyll And whan one demauÌ„ded hym by what moyen he myght come to suche vertue He answered that in kepyng his tongue / and in leuyng the worlde ¶ An other good ensample for to shewe the forme of humylyte A pylgrym walkyng fouÌ„de on a tyme in a monasterye a grete nombre of relygyoê° men the whiche after the seruyce was doon his oryson accoÌ„plysshed / folowed the brethern of the sayd monasterye / sette hym selfe atte table wenyng to dyne with theym / as he had be of the hous a Relygyous man The brethern moche abasshed of the hardynes of this pylgrym And bycause it was not theyr custome to receyue Relygyous strauÌ„gers / they huÌ„ted or chaced hym out of theyr couente The same pylgrym mekely wente his waye without to angre hym selfe ne gaynsayeng After the sayd brethern had remorse of conscyence / were sory dyspleasauÌ„t of that they had put hym out of theyr companye / without to haue gyuen to hym his refeccyon / wherfore incontynent they called hym agayne And whan he was comen agayne they asked hym what thought he had had in his corage / thenne whan they had dryuen hym out of theyr couent / after had called hym agayne To whom he answered / that he had none other thought / but that he had ben reputed semblable to an honde / the whiche whan he is menaced thretened he fleeth awaye / whan he is called agayne / anone he cometh agayne Gyuyng theym to vnderstonde by his wordes / that in lyke wyse ought to doo all they that wyll haue veray humylyte all to suffre without murmure ¶ Some brethern of Thebayde ladde a demonyake to an holy fader / to the ende that by his prayers / he myght be delyuered of the possessyon of the deuyll The whiche holy fader as constrayned by theyr requestes sayd to the deuyll that he sholde departe out of the bodye of the same man The deuyll answered I goo but fyrst say to me / what men ben they that in scrypture ben reputed ghotes / and whiche ben they that be semblable to lambes The holy fader knowyng that by the ghotes ben sygnefyed the lecherous people / also by the lambes the holy deuoute persones fulfylled with humylyte Answered to hym that the ghotes were suche people as he was hymselfe / but the lambes that is to saye the good / god oonly knoweth theym The deuyll by his answere fouÌ„ded in humylyte / by the whiche the holy fader reputed hym selfe to be a grete synner / was constrayned to go out of the bodye of the sayd demonyake / sayeng that he myght no lenger endure the presence of a man full of so grete humylyte ¶ The holy faders sayden that we be tempted with pryde or vayne glorye / wherfor we ought to humble vs. For god knowyng our fraylte socoureth vs incontynent by grace / but whan we take glorye / wenyng to resyste it of our selfe / he suffreth vs to falle in dyuerse maners of wyckednes trybulacoÌ„ns in speryte ¶ The deuyll for to deceyue an hermyte appered to hym in fourme of an auÌ„gell And whan thermyte sawe hym / anone he closed his eyen to th ende that in no wyse he wolde see hym Thenne the deuyll asked wherfore he opened not his eyen / seen that he was sente from god for to comforte hym The sayd hermyte answered mekely these wordes Thou that sayst the to be an Angell / take hede to whom thou spekest I byleue that yf thou be an angell of god / thou oughtest not to adresse the to me but to an other The deuyll seeyng his humylyte and constauÌ„ce Incontynent departed thens It behoueth fyrste to proue the spyrytes / that is to wyte yf they ben of god or not / to fore that thou gyue fayth to theyr wordes And for so moche sayden the holy faders that in all apparycyons / yet whan they shall be of god / euery persone ought to humble hym selfe in sayeng Alas my god I that am a
of the worlde tam to port saâ—lewe / that is in heuen ¶ Thabbot Macharye of the regyon of Sychye sayd / whan ye shall see the celle of a relygyous sette in a place full of ghotes / knowe ye thenne that Sychye shall be nygh his ende And whan ye shall see it nygh vnto the trees / it shall be at begynnyng But yf ye see the childern to fore the celle / flee ye thens / take your vestymentes ¶ The abbot Moyses sayd to his brethern / yf we kepe the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of god I promyse you that our enemyes shall not assaylle vs / but yf we despyse his coÌ„mauÌ„dementes / knowe ye for certayne that god shall suffre that our enemyes shall destroy our habytacoÌ„n and dwellyng And this is consonauÌ„t to the comyn sayeng / yf god be with vs / who is he that may greue vs / as who sayth they that kepe the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of god / ben by hym kepte preserued fro euyll ¶ Thabbot Moyses beyng in his celle sayd to his brethern / my frendes this daye our enemyes the Barbaryns shal come hyther for to put vs to deth / and therfore flee we for to eschewe the deth Thenne the brethern sayden to hym And thou holy fader shall thou not flee To whom he answered nay sayeng that he had longe tyme abyden that daye / to th ende that the worde of god were accomplysshed That is to wyte / that all they that smyte with swerde / with the swerde shall deye Thenne the brethern sayden to hym / syth that thou wylt abyde we wyll abyde / and deye with the. To whom the holy man replyed in this wyse I haue no cause ne occasyon to goo awaye / but eche of you see how constauÌ„t he is for to endure the deth And thus as he spacke the enemyes cam slewe theym all / except oonly one / whiche was not constauÌ„t ne stedfast in the fayth But for fere that he had he hydde hym vnder a matte of Ionkes And he beyng there sawe the angell of god bryngyng seuen crownes / of whiche he crowned thabbot fyrst / after eche of the sixe brethern / thus were they veraye martres ¶ Marke the dyscyple of Syluanus sayd to his mayster wyllyng to goo in to Syrye Fader yf it please the / abyde thre dayes to th ende that I conucye the And so caryed the holy man vnto the thyrde daye / and that daye comen / his clerke deyed ¶ Thabbot Iohan whiche had be baÌ„nysshed of one named Marcyen / cam on a tyme to thabbot Pastor for to aske of the hardenes of a mannes herte / whom seeyng Pastor began to speke sayd to hym / the nature of the water is to be loft swete / and the nature of the stone is to be harde of grete resystence / yet alwaye is it seen that the dropes of water that falleth vpon the stone / fynably atte laste it perceth it / not of the vyolence caused of the water / but by the contynuell droppyng of the sayd water vpon the same stone And so it is sayd he of the worde of god For it is swete lofte And our herte is harde obstynate Not for as moche / yf one hereth it ofte in feruent deuocoÌ„n / it maketh in our herte whiche is harde as a stone an hole of the drede of god It is wryten by the psalmyst That lyke as the herte desyreth to the fontayne of clere water clene whan he is moche wery / all in lyke wyse our soule coueyteth and desyreth to come to god / whiche is the water of lyfe by grace ¶ A brother demauÌ„ded of thabbot Pastor / what the scrypture sygnefyeth sayng that a man sholde not do euyl for euyl To whom the holy man answereth / that may be do in four maners Fyrste in thought Secondely in beholdynge Thyrdely in worde Fourthly in operacoÌ„n ontward in dede Thus theÌ„ne yf thou thynke not euyll to an other / beholde hym not dyspytously / yf thou beholde hym not by Ire ne by despyte / thou shalt not speke euyll of hym And yf the speke not euyll of hym / thou shalt do no outwarde werke ne thynge that not gryeue ne ennoye hym Thus it is sayde atte begynnyng / that one ought to resyste put remedye to the pryncyples or begynnyng And this is consonauÌ„t to the worde of god where he sayth / loue ye your enemyes / and do ye good to theym that hate you / also do ye none euyll for euyll / but good fyr euyll ¶ An holy man named Basyle sayd that in a monastery of wyÌ„men / was a vugyne that fayned her selfe demonyake out of her mynde / in soo moche that all the other fledde / wolde not ete ne felashyp with her And this woman wolde so lyue bycause she wolde be in the kechyne / do all that ther was necessarye for the other systres / all that whiche was to do in the monastery coÌ„cernyng the housholde And she dyde all this for to haue the more payne labour Consyderyng that whiche out lord sayth in holy scrypture / yf ony of you sayth he / repute hym selfe wyse in this worlde It behoueth hym fyrst to correcte hym selfe / repute hym selfe a fooll to fore that he be wyse ¶ And in an other place is sayd that the wysedom of this worlde / is but foly towarde god And this virgyne was all bare hede seruynge all the other systres in theyr affayres / with grete payne myght ony see her ete / she satte neuer at table / and dranke of the wasshyng of pottes where in the wyne had be / she dyde neuer wronge ne dyspleasyr to ony other for ony thyng / she neuer grutched ne spacke to persone / and oftymes bycause she spacke not / she was beten Iniuryed of the other systres / but she endured suffred all for the loue honour of god And bycause she wolde not suffre the good to be oppressyd of the euyll God shewed to a good holy man whos name was Pyterius the lyfe of this holy woman / so herde this holy man a voys sayeng to hym Pyterius whiche reputest thy selfe a moche holy man / yf thou wylt see a woman more Iuste than thou / go in to the monastery of Tabenesyens where as be many holy relygyous wyÌ„men / her whom thou shalt see crowned on the hede / knowe thou that she is better than yu. For in fyghtyng euery daye ayenst a grete peple / her herte departeth not fro my loue / but thou that dwelleste all alone / somtyme thou hast not the vertue for to resyste the temptacoÌ„ns The holy fader herde this reuelacoÌ„n / departed incontynent / cam in to that monastery / prayed his brethern / whiche had the charge of the relygyous wymmen / that they wolde suffre hym to entre in to the monasterye with theym The brethern seeyng the
sayd fader holy good lyfe also strongly aged made hym to entre in without ony suspeccoÌ„n And in beholdyng the Relygyous wyÌ„men / sawe none that had a crowne on her hede Thenne he sayd to theym me semeth that ther lacketh here one systre of you They sayd to hym that ther was yet one all folysshe kept the kechyne / sayeng furthermore / that she somtyme was tormented with the fende whiche greued her sore This wordes so sayd / the holy fader prayed that he myght see her Thenne anone they wente to fette her / but she wolde not come / vnto the tyme that it was sayd to her that the holy man Pyterius was there within whiche had grete desyre to see her And incontynent as she herde hym named she wente to hym / for he was gretely renoÌ„med in that regyon She beyng comen to fore the holy abbot Pyterius / he fyll flat doun to her feet sayeng My frende I praye the gyue to me thy blessyng / she in lyke wyse fylle doun to the feet of the holy abbot askynge also his blessyng The other systres seeyng this thyng were gretely admeruaylled / sayden to hym Alas holy fader desyre not to aske the blessynge of this woman / for she is folysshe out of her wytte Thenne answered the holy fader / ye ben all foles / this virgyne is wyse she is my NoÌ„ne yours he named her so / bycause they named in lyke wyse the deuoute virgynes in the regyon And I praye to god sayd the holy fader / that at the daye of Iugement that I may be also worthy capable of the felycyte euerlastyng as she / the whiche thynge herde / alle the other systres fylle doun to her fete / confessyd that they had synned in dyuerse maners vnto her Some for they had throwen the wasshyng of the dysshes vpon her / other oftymes and without cause had beten her / other in mockyng her had fylled her nose with mustarde And generally all the other confessyd that they had doon to her meruayllous Iniuryes wherof they all demauÌ„ded of her pardoÌ„ne forgyuenes And thenne the holy man departed And from thenne forthon the systres had in grete reuerence the sayd holy virgyne meruayllously But a lytyll tyme after / bycause that she myght not endure the louyng praysyng of the worlde / she wente secretely out of the monasterye / neuer after herde they ony thyng of her ¶ Here after folowed the seconde chapytre of contemplacyon A Yong broder named Zacharye wente to his abbot named Syluanus for to speke to hyym / but he founde hym Incontemplacyon hauyng his hondes lyfte vp to heuen And he seeyng that he shette the dore / wente his waye After he cam ayen at the hour of sexte / and at the hour of none And fynably he cam at ten of the clocke at nyght / knocked atte dore entred in / he founde hym that he rested Neuertheles he asked of hym saynge Helas fader what haste thou had this daye / whan I was comen hyther to the The whiche answered that he was seke Thenne the brother fylle doun ate his feet sayd to hym Fader yf thou saye not to me what thou hast had I shal not leue the to goo Thenne sayd the holy man I haue be rauysshed to heuen haue seen the glorye of god / haue be deteyned ther vnto this hour ¶ Some of the olde faders sayden that as they spake of the holy scryptures wordes edyfycatyf / they sawe thangels enioye prayse god And after that they began to speke of worldely thynges vnprouffytable / they sawe foull hogges swyne stynkyng come in the myddes among theyÌ„ whiche made theym all foule After whan they began to speke agayne of god / they sawe agayn the angelles semblably as they dyde to fore That is to saye that god is with theym that speke of god / the deuyll with theym that speken of dyshoneste thynges ¶ An holy man sayd the one may synne in four maners Fyrst in euyll thought Secondely in consentynge to the same thought Thyrdely in spekynge euyll of an other Fourthly in doyng by werke outwarde that whiche he had in his euyll thought And in al these thynges is not the wrath taken awaye / but as he sayth at the begynnyng I shall not punysshe somtyme for the thre synnes / whiche ben thought / spekyng / consentyng / but the fourth / that is to saye / whan with theym the werke shall be doon I shall punysshe theym ¶ An holy man of Sychye in makynge his celle / he was on a tyme mery Ioyous And whan the fouÌ„dement was made / he cessed not tyll the resydue was achyeued It happed on a tyme that in repayryng he began to wepe The brethern asked hym why he wept And he answered theym / that he had a grete cause of heuynes / for it had be shewed to hym / that that place sholde be desolate destroyed And sayd also I haue seen the fyre ones in Sychye / the whiche hath be quenched / I sawe it also the seconde tyme / it was also quenched / but the thyrde tyme I haue seen a meruaylloê° so grete a fyre that hath brente all Sychye myght not be quenched / therfore I haue cause to be sorowfulll ¶ An holy man sayd it is wryten in the psalmyst The Iuste shall flourysshe / as the palme of the foreste of Lybane And by this it is shewed that the good werkes shall haue for theyr salayre swete fruyt / ryghtfull / noble / for in the palme is a parte swete whyte / lyke wyse is in the herte of the rightfull man for he is swete by mercy pyte / whyte by IllumynacoÌ„n of fayth And he is stronge to resyste ayenst the temptacoÌ„n of the fende of helle ¶ The good sunamyte receyued Helyzee the prophete in to hyr hous / not that she had ony carnell affeccoÌ„n towarde hym / for she was holy Iuste / but she receyued hym as a gheste ¶ Morally by this sunamyte is sygnefyed the soule / by Helyzee the holy ghoost Thus thenne as oftymes as our soule is withdrawen and separate from worldely thynges seculer in adressyng it to god / so oft the holy ghoost cometh anone for to lodge hym in the soule / thenne the soule whiche tofore was bareyn of good werkes may brynge forth good holy werkes ¶ An other holy man sayd that in lyke wyse as we see a swyne whiche is all foule may not lyfte his eyen towarde heueÌ„ but alwaye loked dounwarde / so in lyke wyse is the soule of a lecherous man / that whiche deteyned by his right foule desyre couetyse may not thynke but on erthly thynges / ne lyfte vp the eye of coÌ„templacoÌ„n for to knowe in what astate he is / but he hath
/ that in wynter we fele no colde / ne in somer none hete And thenne I sayd to theym My frendes I praye you pardonne me / for I saye to you surely I am not yet a very monke ¶ Thabbot Sysoy was on a tyme in the mountayne of the holy fader Anthonye / and bycause that his seruaunt cam not / he was there by the space of ten monethes without seeyng of ony persone After the .x. monethes he walked in the deserte sawe there an hunter / to whom he demauÌ„ded fro whens he cam and how longe he had be there To whom he answered / veryly fayr fader I haue ben here .xi. monethes / I neuer sawe persone but the. Thenne he retourned in to his celle knockyng his breste sayeng Alas Sysoy / thou wendest to haue doon grete penaunce / for to be resydent .x. monethes without to yssue or to go out of thy celle / but thou hast not do so moche as that seculer / whiche for to hunte hath ben .xi. monethes in this deserte ¶ The same selfe Sysoy whan he was in his celle / he shytte alwaye his dore / and whan the daye of his deth was comen / the holy faders that were aboute hym sawe his vysage shynyng as the sonne he sayd / soo see here thabbot Anthonye that cometh And soone after he sayd / loo see the prophetes whiche comen in a grete multytude And thenne they sawe his vysage more shynynge than to fore And thenne he began to saye / loo here is the legyon of thappostles whiche comen to comforte me Thenne after his vysage becam more clerer the halfe than it was And anone he semed to theym that were assystent that be spake to some other than hem selfe / but they sawe not to whom he spake They thenne demaunded to whom he spake And he answered / loo here ben the angellys whichâ— be comen for to fetche me And I prâ—ye theym that they wyll suffre me a whyle to do my penaunce for my synnes Thenne sayden the holy faders Alas thou hast not wherof to do penaunce And he answered My frendes I knowe not / yf euer I dyde penaunce to god agreable And thenne they knewe that he was parfyght And yet agayn his vâ—age became more clerer than the sonnâ— / thenne be sayd to theym Behold my brethern / loo here is god whichâ— cometh accoÌ„panyed with his angellyâ— Thenne herde they a voys whiche sayd Bere ye to heuen the vessell of dyleccoÌ„n of this hermytage / that is named Sysoy And Incontynent he rendred vppe his soule And there came a merueyllous clerenesse in his celle / and an odoure so swete / that eueryche of them meruaylled The holy faders sayden that thabbot named Or neuer lyed / ne sware / ne cursed ony bodye / and that he neuer sayd worde that myght engendre ony sclaunder in his neyghbour The same sayd to his dyscyple / beware that thou speke not in this celle ony euyll worde / that myght enduce the to do euyll ¶ Two holy men walked on a tyme thrugh the desertes of Sychye And in walkyng they herde a voys of a persone whiche was in a fosse or caue / wherfore they began to serche and seke / where they myght entre in to it / there as they herde the voys And whan they had founden it / they entred in and fouÌ„de there an holy virgyne moche auncyent olde / whiche was strongely seke Thenne they sayd to her / good womaÌ„ how art thou comen hyther / and who is he that here admynystred to the thy necessytees Thenne she answered to theym My frendes / it is .xxxviij. yere passed syth I cam in to this caue and haue serued god and lyued with rotes Syth whiche tyme I neuer sawe other men than you that ben here by the wyl of god / and to th ende that ye burye me And that sayd / she deyed Incontynent Thenne these two holy faders gaaf praysyng to god / and buryed her bodye after they departed thens ¶ It is recounted of an hermyte whiche was clothed with a sacke and walked thre dayes longe by thermytage Atte th ende wherof he cam to a stone and mounted vpon it / but by nethe he sawe grene grasse / and a man whiche ete and fedde hym as a brute beste / he thenne wente doun secretely and toke hym But anone as this man sawe hyÌ„ selfe taken / he began to moeue strogle in suche wyse that he escaped and fledde from hym That seeyng the brother began to crye ranne after hym sayeng Abyde me tarye fayr fader / for I folowe the for the honour of god Thenne the brother toke of his Robe and threwe it from hym / and ranne after this holy man That seeyng the holy fader / abode hym surely in sayeng these wordes Syth that thou haste renounced the goodes of the worlde here where we be in castyng awaye thy vestyment I shall abyde Thus the broder cam asked couÌ„seyll of the holy man / and he sayd to hym Eschewe the men be peasyble without ouermoche spekyng / and thou shalt be saued Lyke a Relygyous ought to flee worldly thynges / so ought he to kepe scylence and be stylle whan it is tyme. ¶ An holy hermyte dwelled some tyme with some brethern that were in the hermytage named Raython / where as there were .lxx. trees of palme / whiche is the place where as Moyses arryued whan he fledde out of Egypte / with the people of Israell To whiche brethern one tyme amonge the other / the same hermyte reherced this that foloweth / in sayeng On a tyme I wente by thermytages / desyrynge to fynde some good seruaunte to god / and in walkyng four dayes four nyghtes / the whiche dayes passed I fouÌ„de an hole / in lokyng therin I sawe a man within / whom I called to the ende that he sholde come out / that I myght sale we hym / but he reâ—eued not / wherby I knowe that he was deed And thenne noo thyng dredyng I entred in / and toke his scapulary / anone he fyll to pouldre Thenne somwhat doubtyng I went thrugh the deserte and cam to an other fosse / in the whiche dwelled an holy man / as I well knewe afterwarde / wherof I was glad And wenyng that ther had be therin some man I asked yf there were ony man within / but there was no persone And thenne I wente out in sayeng to myself / that some man dwelled there / wherfor he hopyng that soone he sholde come / and I concluded to abyde tarye And the nyght comyng on I sawe comyng ayenst me wylde oxen / after whome cam the holy man that dwelled there / the whiche was soo naked / that he had no partye of his bodye that was couered / but oonly his preuy membres / whiche were couered with his here I thenne approchyng to hym he fylle doun in prayer /
seeyng the brethern and knowyng brought hym ayen to theyr monastery / but they bouÌ„de hym bothe handes feet / for otherwyse coude they not cheuysshe with hym And he had this payne this trauayll by the space of two yere hole / for as moche as he had wylled to renouÌ„ce his hermytage But after two yere passed by the good prayers and deuoute orysons of holy men he was all hole and guarysshed / and syth retourned in to his sayd hermytage / corrected hyÌ„selfe / in gyuyng to other example of good lyfe ¶ Here foloweth the maner of thabyte and vestement of the relygyous Egypcyens / begynnyng in lathn Sunt preterea c. Caplm .xv. THer be some vestymentis amoÌ„ge the gypcyens the whiche ben more for to obserue the forme of the rule than for to kepe the bodye Fyrste they were coules daye nyght / to th ende that by the same they shewe theyr humylyte and symplesse ¶ Furthermore the Relygyouses of the same place / haue cutte shertys of lynnen clothe vnto the bottokes and no ferther / to th ende that therby they shewe that they haue cutte of and lefte all the operacyons of this worlde After they haue a lytyll mantell that couereth oonly theyr necke and theyr sholdres / whiche is called maforte in our langage / and to theyrs also That other abyllement is skyn of a ghoot that is called mellote / the whiche habyte sygnefyeth that all vyces ought to be mortefyed in theym / that they ought to be soueraynly vertuoê° They neuer haue shoes / but yf it be a lytyll in wynter whan it is colde vehemently / or whan they be seke / or whan it is ouer hoot / as at none / in whiche hour the grouÌ„de is so chauffed that it brenneth the toucheth it And how well that theyr rule holdeth not in / yet neuertheles whan they come to doo the dyuyne seruyce / they take of alway theyr shoes thynkyng on that whiche was sayd to Moyses / do of thy shoes / for the place whiche thou standest on / is holy erthe and sacred to god ¶ Of the maner reguler to praye god among the same brethern And how they haue renouÌ„ced the worlde begynnyng in latyn Itaque Caplm .xvi. THorugh all Egypte thorugh all Thebayda where as ther be monasteryes of Relygyous brethern they haue a maner facyon reguler for to praye god as well on euenyng as on mornyng And it byhoueth that they haue partyghtly renouÌ„ced the worlde For a brother shall neuer be receyued / yf he haue not fyrst renounced all the goodes of the worlde And they the rendre theym in to the relygyon / what someuer age they be of / ben coÌ„strayned to obeye in suche wyse that they become meke humble as lytyll childern / and they ought not to thynke on theyr age the whiche they haue lost as to the worlde in euyl lyuyng / but they must be subgettes to the leste Thus in all Egypt as well in the seruyce of the daye as of the nyght / the relygyouses syngen .xij. psalmes / after the .xij. psalmes .ij. lessons / one of the newe testament / that other of the olde / the whiche vsage they kepe all Indyfferently For as moche as it hath not be ordeyned of men as the other vsages / but it hath be Instytuted establysshed by the angellys / whiche haue appered vnto the olde faders ¶ Here foloweth the place in whiche the holy faders sawe an angell synge xij psalmes / begyÌ„nyng in latyn Iam cuÌ„ c. Caplm .xvij. IN the begynnyng of the fayth were but fewe crysten men how well that they that were crysten were well Iuste and good / the whiche had had taken theyr rule maner of lyuyng of the successours of thappostles of our sauyour Ihesu cryste / separated theym fro the worlde wente in to the deserte in places solytaryes / to th ende that they sholde shewe to theyr successours the maner of theyr seruyce / they cam on a tyme all to gydre for to ordeyne dyspose theyr sayd seruyce to th ende that none sholde be deceyued For to fore this InstytucoÌ„n euery man serued god after his deuocyon / had none vsage determyned Thenne they cam all to gydre for to make this Instytucyon And some of theym ordeyned that ther sholde be sayd fyfty psalmes Other Instytuted .lx. psalmes / some other sayd that it was not ynough / and thus they myght not accorde togydre And they abode there longe / tyll a certayne daye atte hour of euensonge ther was an aungell in the forme of a relygyous man / the whiche aroos and began a psalme sange .xij. psalmes and atte ende of eche psalme he sayd alleluya And whan he had doon he departed incontynent fro theyr presence And by that was determyned the sayd questyon For the holy faders knewe that it was an angell And thefore they ordeyned thrugh all theyr Relygyons the nombre of .xij. psalmes / to be kepte perpetuelly in theyr seruyce / as well by daye as by nyght And they kepe yet now the maner and forme of these orysons And whan theyr psalme is achyeued ended / they begynne not hastely that other / but they Inclyne theym doun to the grouÌ„de in prayeng to god And after they aryse in contemplacoÌ„n But they saye that whan they be seyd on theyr couche / the deuyll tempteth theym to slepe / as it hath be seen by experyence / that some for to reste theym more than for to praye lye doun on the grounde / longe abyde there ¶ What dyscrecyon nature ought to be kepte in oryson prayer / begynnyÌ„g in latyn CuÌ„ igitur Caplm xviij THe brethern aforsayd whan they come to seruyce they be as peasyble / that ther shall be herde nothyng / but the voys of hym that psalmodyeth / to th ende to kepe the better lyghtlyer scylence And they slepe not / but entende dylygently to theyr prayers and orysons And they be short ynough in theyr prayers / to the ende that they be not lette by spyttyng rechyng or coughyng And theyr comyn sayeng is / that a short prayer perceth the heuens / and ther sholde we as all achaffed put out tere with our teeth the fende the whiche ennoyeth vs alwaye / pryncypally whan he seeth vs makynge prayers to god ayenst hym For the whiche cause these brethern saye that it byhoueth to be short and bryef in theyr prayers And more auaylle .x. verses of a psalme well sayd or songen with good affeccyon / than to saye as many psalmes without ony deuocyon and it is trouthe ¶ Of theyr handy werke / and wherfore pryme / tyerce / sexte / none / the other hours ben songen in the chirche begynnyng Ita namque Caplm .xix. THese brethern ben so dylygent to theyr bodely werke after theyr seruyce doon / that they leue not to thynke on god How well that
that is our wyll / by the whiche he beteth our tree / that is to saye our soule Thenne yf we refuse to hym the helue / he maye not hewe doun with his axe the tree of our soule ¶ How a man may mortefye the vyces OO brother demaūded of thabbot Moyses / how a man myghte mortefye hȳselfe To whom the holy man sayd Yf a man repute not hȳself to haue be thre yere in his sepulture / he may not be veryly mortefyed in this worlde whiche hath two thȳges / that one is that he hate the rest of his bodye / the seconde that he loue no vayne glorye ¶ An holy man sayd that a relygyous man that is occupyed in good operacōn may not be surmoūted of the fende For whan the deuyll cometh fyndeth hym besy in good werkes / he departeth Incontynent / but yf he excercyse ony euyll werke / he is persecuted ofte of the fende / maketh hym to do werse yet yf he may ¶ Here foloweth of perseueraunce THabbot Anthonye sayd that yf a monke labour / soone after resteth without to contynue thenne agayne laboureth / thenne agayne leueth his labour / he is not very perseueraūt For perseueraūce must be contynued vnto the ende Also the scrypture sayth he that shall perseuere vnto the ende / he shall be saued ¶ Here foloweth of the payne labour of the olde holy faders AN holy man sayd that a man ought alwaye to labour vntyl that he hath wōne Ihesu cryste by grace For he that shall haue goten hȳ ones shall neuer retche of the daūger of the fendes of helle / alway a man oughte contynuelly labour to th ende that in thynkyng on the payne he kepte hȳselfe that he drede to lose his rewarde / for god for this cause wolde that the childern of Israell were in captyuyte in deserte by the space of .xl. yere in suffryng there grete payne to th ende that in hauyng remembraūce of theyr payne they sholde not forgete god by synne Here foloweth exhortacōn of doctryne A Man on a tyme demaūded of thabbot Permenyon / how an obstynat man myght lerne the worde of god To whom he answerd that the nature of the water is to be softe the nature of the stone is to be herde / yet alwaye by contynuacyon not by force yf the water falle vpon the stone it maketh there a concauyte And all in lyke wyse it is of the worde of god / for it is swete softe / our herte is harde / but yf one here it ofte / thynke on it affectuously / the drede of god shall come to the soule / whiche was fyrst enharded / shall make it to relynte in to an hole or concauyte whiche shall be replenysshed fylled of grace ¶ How curyosyte ought to be eschewed AN holy man sayd that a good relygyous persone ought not to demaunde how that one lyueth / ne how lyueth that other / to the ende that by the answeres that he sholde here / he be not withdrawen fro holy prayer And therfor to be more sure / he ought to be stylle saye nothyng ¶ A brother demaūded of his abbot / yf ony come in to my celle / that to me recoūteth vayne wordes vnprouffytable / ought I to saye to hym / that he be stylle The holy man answered Ne saye to hym nothyng / for thou mayst not kepe hȳ fro spekyng / ne thy selfe some tyme. And therfor we ought not to repreue our neyghbour of a vyce / in whiche we falle after Thenne sayd the brother / what ought thenne to be doon The holy man answered / yf we wyll do well / we ought to gyue good example to our neyghbour / for the good example is of more grete effecte / than ben the wordes ¶ How one ought teschewe noyse AN holy man sayd / yf ony speke with the / eyther of scrypture or of ony other mater / thou oughtest neuer to stryue with hym / But and yf he saye well / accorde ye to hym / and yf he saye euyll / saye to hym Ye knowe and can better than ye saye In folowynge the Appostle whiche sayth Stryue not with wordes And yf thou thus doo thou shalt eschewe hate / shalt gete parfyght humylyte And yf thou abyde in thyn opynyon in defendyng thy wordes / thou shalt mowe engendre sklaundre Some tyme also by ouermoche praysyng an other foloweth noyse / of the whiche moeuyng thou oughtest soueraynly to kepe the. For ther myght to the come soo grete Inconuenyente / that thou sholdest neuer be in peas nor in reste Wherfore it auylleth more to be styll in resystyng his euyll thought to reyse hȳselfe dylygently in the drede of god for to praye as well on euenyng as on mornyng / yf thou so do thou shall not fere ne drede the temptacōn of the fende ¶ How one ought to kepe scylence SAynt Anthony sayd to his dyscyple / yf thou desyre to haue scylence / thou owest not for that / to esteme that thou be for that cause the more vertuous / but in kepyng it / thou oughtest to repute thy selfe vnworthy to speke ¶ A brother sayd to thabbot Sysoy that he desyred to saue his soule / but he wolde knowe the maner how he myght do it Thenne thabbot answered to hym / how may we saue our soules / whan our tongue alwaye speketh As who sayth / he that is not styll kepeth not scylence may not be saued ¶ An other broder asked yf it neded alwaye to be stylle / to whom was answered / that ye / atte leste vnto that he were asked For yf a man be stylle / he shall be in peas ouer all whersomeuer he be in kepyng alwaye scylence / the whiche to kepe is none other thyng but to make a defycyle pylgrymage ¶ An holy fader sayd that the pylgrymage that is made for the honour of god is good / so that he kepe scylence ¶ Here is made mencōn of the medytacōns of .xij. deuoute hermytes TWelue holy faders hermytes deuoute and solytarye were togydre as brethern touchynh the pryncypall thoughtes and cogytacōns spyrytuell that they had herde in theyr celles habytacōns for to lyue vertuously to resyste the temptacōns of the deuyll Thenne sayd the fyrst whiche was moost oldest I haue enforced my selfe with all my power to resyste the operacōns exterior or outwarde / contrary to my helthe / hauyng remembraūce of the psalmyste sayeng Lete vs breke the bondes of our enemyes / and caste we abacke behynde vs all theyr temptacōns And I haue edefyed in my thought / as a walle bytwene my soule the bodely operacōns / to th ende that I see theym not For all in lyke wyse as he that is within the walle seeth not hym that is without All in lyke wyse ought not a man to see ne to beholde his outwarde werkes / to th ende that he gloryfye not hym selfe
rede of the abbot Moyses that durynge all his lyfe or there about he ete but brede / yet he laboured wrought faste The space of .vi. yere he prayed euery nyght deuoutly without leyeng doun of his bodye / without to close his eyen / but yf it were by grete constraynt whiche made hym a lytyll to close theym And he wente about to the celles of the relygyouses / bare to theyÌ„ water how well that it was ferre fro the cloystre ¶ Of the contynence of the syght Caplm .iiij. THe vertue of contynence consysteth not oonly in absteynynge from mete / but also in absteynyng hym selfe to see beholde worldly thynges concupyscyble To this purpose we rede of thabbot Pyor whiche departed fro the hous of his fader wente in to an hermytage ê“mysyng that he wolde neuer see persone of his frendes But his syster meruayllously desyryng to see hyÌ„ / prayed to the bysshop of the dyocyse wherin he dwelled / that he wolde wryte to the holy faders of thermytage that they wolde sende to hyr the sayd Pyor to th ende that she myght see hyÌ„ The whiche thyng doon the holy faders coÌ„mauÌ„ded Pyor that he sholde go see his syster / to th ende that he wolde be obeyssauÌ„t he departed wente with an other man / whan he was come in to the hous of his syster / she made to hyÌ„ grete chere / sawe hyÌ„ all at her ease / after he retourned in to his hermytage / whan he was comen agayne bycause he had thurst he made an hole in the erthe by his hermytage where he fouÌ„de water moche bytter / of the whiche he draÌ„ke / vsed it vnto th ende of his dayes / how be it that it was moche bytter / after ther myght noman dwelle in the place there ¶ An other tyme thabbot Moyses and his moÌ„kes made a pyt where they fouÌ„de no water So appyered to theym about the hour of myddaye thabbot Pyor the whiche descended in to the pytte smytyng thre tymes in therthe / incontynent the water sprang vp / after he vanysshed awaye And therfor my broder thou hast seen herde that the contynence of the syght is necessarye Thou haste also herde how this abbot Pyor was neuer dyssobeyssauÌ„t to his kynne / but for tobeye to his superyors he went to his syster / yet he sawe her not / for he closed his eyen for to kepe his fyrst promesse And therfore I praye the to folowe this holy man / be not curyoê° to goo see thy parentes or frendes / to th ende that in seeyng behynde the / that is to the worlde / the whiche thou hast forsaken renouÌ„ced / thou be not by leuyng thy teeres and prayers tourned in to a roche of salt / that is to saye in to a deed ymage or statue / as was the wyfe of Loth / the whiche bycause she loked behynde her / she was in lyke wyse tourned And to this ende remembre of the gospell sayeng / that he that putteth his honde to the plough of penaunce And loketh behynde hym / that is to saye to worldly thynges / is nothyng couenable to the kyngdom of god ¶ Of contynence of speche Caplm .v. I Admoneste the also that in thy worde and speche thou be sobre / to the ende that thou mayst saye with the psalmyste I haue sayd that I haue kepte my wayes / to the ende that I synne not in my tongue I haue sette warde in my mouthe doubtyng that I sholde speke euyll Haue remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the syster of Moyses / the whiche for as moche as she spake euyll of hyr brother / she becam lazare / and was seuen dayes out of her hous / the whiche passed she was guarysshed by the merytes of hyr sayd brother / of the whom she hadde spoken euyll We ought not to applye our tongue to speke euyll of our neyghbour For we sholde not abuse it ouer folyly / seen that it was gyuen to vs pryncypally to prayse god and his sayntes And we ought to haue remembraunce that all detractours shall be pryued fro the Royame of heuen and the companye of ryghtfull men And for as moche to the ende that we be not pryued fro thens / eschewe we detraccyon / and kepe we vs that we bachyte not our neyghbours / the whiche we ought to loue as our selfe / fro spekyng wordes vnprouffytable For the gospell sayth that men shall rendre acomptes at the daye of dome of all ydell wordes that we shall haue sayd We saye a worde to be ydell / whan it prouffyteth not to hym that sayeth it / ne also to hyÌ„ that hereth it / kepe the thenne to saye wordes excytyng to laughyng dysordynat / but enforce the to saye to the people suche thyng as shall excyte theym to the prouffyte helth of theyr soules And lete alwaye thy worde be resonable prouffytable It is recouÌ„teth of two wyse men that one named Theo / the other Ammon / the whiche Theo was the moost grete clerke of thegypcyens / he helde hyÌ„ stylle spake not to ony persone in xxx yere That other was neuer angry / ne sware / ne sayd ony vayne worde whiche caused ony heuynes to ony man And in the tyme of these two holy men / ther was an other named Helyas whiche dwelled in an hermytage by the space of an hondred ten yere in fastyng alwaye without to speke moche to ony persone Therfor take hede what cautele and what prudence thou oughtest to haue in thy wordes / by the example of the holy men aforsayd And to the ende that this vertue please the / herkene what sayth Zacharye / whiche herupon asked of thabbot Moyses whiche sayd to hym / that ther was nothyng better than to saye nothyng be stylle in tyme place / and in th ende he was saued bycause he kepte scylence dylygently Thenne to th ende that thou may be saued loue and kepe scylence I haue redde also of a deuoute man / the whiche to th ende that he myght kepe scylence bare contynuelly in his mouth a stone Thenne I praye the affectuously that thou kepe scylence / for Infenyte goodes ben lost for the synne of the tongue ¶ How vyle clothyng ought to be desyred Caplm .vi. MY frende wyte that contynence in clothyng is moche necessarye Ther be moche people that wene that desyrous ambycyon to haue precyous Robes be noo synne / but they deceyue theym selfe / for yf it were not synne / god hadde neuer praysed Saynt Iohan Baptyste for his clothyng whiche was vyle For he sayd to the people that wente for to see hym what is that ye haue seen / haue ye seen a man cladde with precyous Robes As who sayth / nay / for they that vse and be cladde with precyous Robes / ben in the palayses and houses of kynges and prynces temporell / and not in desertes Saynt Iohan thenne
was not cladde with precyous clothyng For suche people soo clothed serue not god / but to temporell lordes / he was cladde with skynnes of Camellys oonly And therfor yf he that was saynctefyed of god in the wombe of his moder / and was so moche loued of god and was a very prophete more than a prophete hath be cladde with the skynne of a Camele / we that be myserable synners oughte to be contente with vyle vestementes without to desyre other / eueryche after his astate Yet furthermore saynt Peter in his epystle defendeth precyous clothyng / but yf it be to please the worlde TheÌ„ne we ought not to seche theyÌ„ / but rather we ought to seche vertuous clothynge for our soule / and not for our bodye / the whiche clothyng is charyte / fayth / humylyte / bounte / and benygnyte / for of these vertues our soule ought to be garnysshed for to lyue perpetuelly with god And how well that our bodye be aorned with golde and syluer or with precyous vesture Alway it ne is but duste and fylthe / and therfore we ought not to demaunde the eases of our bodye For yf we nourysshe it after his appetyte / we nourysshe our enemye with vs / by cause that a man hath noo gretter enemye than his bodye / the whiche draweth his soule to synne yf he maye Therfore eche persone ought to holde it subgette and to chastyse it by thexample of saynt Poul whiche sayth I chastyse my bodye / and rendre it to seruytude ¶ How alle thynges ought to be doon by reason mesure Caplm .vij. OVre body ought to be chastysed by wakyÌ„ges by dyuerse other maners / to the ende that it drawe not our soule to synne / but neuerthelesse it must be doon in suche maner / that in chastysyng it / he leue not to do good werkes / for he that wolde make lene put his bodye to afflyccoÌ„n in suche wyse that he may not contynue in vertuous werkes he sholde not be wyse ne dyscrete And thou oughtest to vnderstonde that the vertues of scylence / nakednes / abstynence / chastysyng of his bodye ought to be doon with dyscrecyon / the whiche is a souerayne vertue / without the whiche none operacoÌ„n is vayllable / where she shall be / it shal be merytorye / by defaulte of dyscrecoÌ„n the operacoÌ„n is not prouffytable / wherfor we may saye that dyscrecoÌ„n is moder of the other vertues And therfor I admoneste the that thou take dyscrecoÌ„n in al thy werkes / to the ende that thou falle not on that one syde ne on that other Of this vertue of dyscrecoÌ„n thou hast in the lyfe of faders called in latyn Vitas patâ—uÌ„ for thabbot Anthonye sayth / that there be some that make lene theyr bodyes / but for that they do it not dyscretly they ben well ferre fro the Royame of god ¶ Of the we le of conpunccoÌ„n whiche pryncypally cometh for a man to mortefye hym selfe Caplm .viij. BVt for as moche as in all operacyon is requyred conpunccyon It byhoueth fyrste to knowe the dyffynycyon of it Thenne I trowe that very mortyfycacyon may not be goten by ony persone without conpunccyon And therfore I praye the that in all thy werkes / be it in kepynge abstynence / or that thou louest to be euyll clothed / or that thou wylâ— wake / or doo ony other helthfull werke / that thou doo it all to the honour of god / yf thou wepe for thy synnes / there shall ensyewe therof conpunccyon and dyspleasaunce / but thou oweste to doo it in suche wyse that noo persone be sklaundred / but rather edefyed in to good / haue thenne conpunccoÌ„n and heuynes in thyn operacoÌ„ns / to th ende that thou mayst saye with the psalmyste Lorde god I offre to the my sacrefyce all full of the marghe of conpunccyon Thenne oughtest thou to knowe that he offreth sacrefyce to god the whiche gyueth hym selfe alle ouer to god / the whiche thyng apperteyneth proprely to relygyous people / to theyÌ„ of theyr vocacyon By the marghe of whiche sacrefyce / we vnderstonde the conpunccyon / dyspleasaunce contrycyon at the herte of hym that sacrefyceth to god Thenne sacrefyce without marghe is operacoÌ„n without conâ—â—ycoÌ„n The psalmyst speketh of this marghe in a place sayeng thus Thy sacrefyce be made fatte of the fattenes of contrycoÌ„n / whiche we calle marghe The vertue of conpunccoÌ„n is moche grete For in the lyfe of faders is wryten of an holy man the whiche sayd / that to vs it were ryght necessarye to wepe incessauntly The whiche cam agayne after that he was deed sayd to his brethern in wepyng bytterly bycause they wolde not wepe MaledyccoÌ„n be to you Maledyccyon be to you And by cause we may see here what is to vs necessarye duryng this lyfe alwaye to wepe / to the ende that after our deth in this worlde we descende not in to the tourmentes of helle / the whiche thyng we ought gladly do / consyderyng that this lyfe mortalle is myserable and transytorye / but that other shall neuer haue ende / in the whiche the Iuste persones shall haue Ioye perpetuelly with the auÌ„gellys And the myserable synners shall be tourmented by the deuylles with the dampned in helle perpetuelly without remyssyon For it is wryten that in helle is noo redempcoÌ„n that is to theym that by theyr demerytes and deseruynges be dampned And therfore yf we maye not wepe as ofte as we wolde / lete vs persyste and coÌ„tynue in deuoute prayer For it is in the puyssaunce of our lorde to gyue to vs habondaunce of teeres And to this purpose is conteyned in the lyfe of faders an example of a relygyous man whiche complayned to an holy man sayeng My soule desyreth to haue teres and to wepe / lyke as the other olde faders haue wepte / but it can not haue it To whom the holy man answered Thou oughtest to persyste in prayer / for thou mayste not obteyne soo soone that whiche thou demaundeste / knoweste thou not well that the childeren of Israell were by the space of fourty yere in deserte tofore they myght come in to the londe of promyssyon The teres theÌ„ne ben the londe of promyssyon / to the whiche yf thou mayst come / thou shalt nomore drede th assaultes temptacyons of the enemye of helle It is reherced of thabbot Arsenius / that had alwaye tofore his eyen a clothe to wype awaye the teres that yssued out contynuelly So thenne ought we by example dyspose vs to wepynges wayllynges / yf he and the other holy faders whiche were so Iuste / mortefyed theym selfe in this maner / by moche more greter reason we synners ought to wepe in thynkyng on the deth and on the terryble daye of Iugement of god And for this cause sayth Amon to one of his brethern / we ought to be as the theef in the pryson / the whiche awayteth none
of halfe an hour / ¶ And after he approchyd nere to hym / And layed his ceâ—e to his vysage for to knowe yf he were deed or a lyue / ¶ But he felte noo thinge but an odoure soo swete that all the place was replenysshyd wyth all / ¶ ThenÌ„e knewe he wel that he was departed out of this worlde / ¶ Thenne Incontynent he beganne to kysse hym his eyen hys berde Wepynge bytterly and sayde Helas my lorde and my mayster Wherfore leuest thou me / Who shall be he that shall gyue to me doctryne as thou hast doon ¶ What shall I saye to the malades and seke people that shall come hyther to haue helthe / ¶ Helas now I see the. and tomorne I shall lese the / ¶ After many lamentacyons the good Anthony slepte / And as he slepte he beâ—de a voyce that sayde / Anthony I shal not leue the here in this place ne in the mountayne in whyche I am Illumyâ—ed wyth the grace of god / ¶ Thou shalte goo secretely in to Anthyoche / to the ende that the people moeue theym not / And shalt telle the tydynges of my dethe / ¶ For now I am departed lyke as it hathe playsed to my Redemer / ¶ Thou shalte neuer cesse to pray god in this place here / And he shall rewarde the in heuen / ¶ Whanne Anthony was awaked he merueylled moche sayenge ¶ O my lorde and mayster remembre thou me in the glorye in whyche thou arte now ¶ After he kissed his fete and layed his hondes vppon his eyen sayenge / ¶ My lorde I praye the gyue to me thy blessynge / ¶ And beganne agayn to wepe sayenge / Helas for to haue myÌ„de of the. What pyece of a Relique shal I take of thy body / ¶ And soo sayeng the body beganne to moeue Wherfore he was affrayed that he durste not towche it / ¶ And bi cause none sholde knowe therof / He sente secretely one of hys brethern to the Bysshop of Anthyoche The whyche accompanyed wyth two other Bisshoppis and also wyth Ardahoruis Prynce of the chyualrye of Anthyoche transported theym thyder and dyde laye the holy corps tofore the aulter of his chyrche / ¶ And thystorye sayth that the byrdes fledden abowte the place where as he was makynge grete cryes and chaterynge in manere of wepinge and waylynges / ¶ The people also and the beestes assembled in soo grete nombre that they were estemyd well atte seuen thousande demeanynge for his dethe a merueyllouse heuynesse / ¶ The mountaynes the feldes trees and also herbes of the places nighe by suffreden for his dethe / ¶ For ouer alle there abowte they were enuyronned wyth a derke clowde testefyenge and wytnessynge the bytternesse that they hadde ¶ Also the good Anthonye abode seuen houres the aungell of god shynynge as a lyghtnynge And his clothes whyte as snowe Wyth whom were seuen auncyent faders whiche longe tyme were by the corps / But what they dyde ne sayd knoweth none Lyke as sayth saynt Iherom / ¶ Durynge the tyme that the body was in the chyrche The Patryarke of Anthyoche wolde haue taken of his berde By cause he knewe that he was a man of holy lyfe But Incontynent thonde wyth whyche he wolde haue towched it waxyd drye / But after by the prayers of theym that were presente and by the euydente myracle he was heelyd / ¶ ThenÌ„ sware he that neyther man ne woman sholde towche it / ¶ Thyse thynges thus done in grete solempnyte torches and tapres beynge lyghte / The body was borne to Anthioche / ¶ But whan he was withdrawen fiue myle to a place callyd Mere. myghte neuer man make hym departe from that place / ¶ There was a man that hadde be fourty yere deyf and dombe and began to crye / Ha seruaunte of god thou arte ryght welcome / Thy comynge hath yeuen to me heryng and spekynge / ¶ I promyse the yf I lyue long· that alway I shall serue the wyth body and soule / ¶ After he aroos and tooke one of the beestes that ladde the corps of the holy man / And anone he was helyd / The cause of the accydente of this deyf and dombe man was this / ¶ He hadde ben amerous of a fayre yonge woman maryed the whyche he had strongely solycited for to haue her company To the whyche he cowde not come / ¶ And after it happed that she deyed whyche dethe came to the knowlege of this man all enraged for her loue / ¶ And after that she was buryed he wente to her sepulture and there deffoyled her And forthwyth he was deyf dombe lame / and soo abode in the same place duryng fourty yere / ¶ All the cyteyzyns of Anthioche came in grete tryumphe and mete wyth the body and bare it in to the grete chyrche / ¶ And there in the chyrche whiche is namyd Penytence in the whiche after his buryenge to the exaltacoÌ„n of his gloryous name ben shewed done Infenyte myracles / And more merueylous than theâ— that haue be done in his lyfe / ¶ Many prynces lordes haue layed oute of theyr tresours to the layd chyrche for to haue of hym some relyke But none myghte â—e had be cause of the othe that the bysshopp made / that his body sholde neuer be towchyd ¶ Of saynt Symeon byleue ye stedfastly that who someuer for the honour of god of hym shall haue the lyfe of hyÌ„ by wrytynge and shall rede it deuowtly and seruynge hym wyth good deuocyon He shall be rewarded for his merytes in the celestyall glorye ¶ To the whiche by his Intâ—essions lete vs prayes almyghty god that we maye obteyne / Amen / ¶ Of saynt Eufraxe vyrgyn / Whyche begynnyth in latyn ¶ In diebus theodoâ—u / Caplm .xlvii. IN the tyme that regned Theodocyen the Iust emperour of the Romayns There was at Rome a Senatoure namyd Antigonius the whiche had a doughter namyd Eufrare / ¶ The sayd Antigonius was a man soo prudent and of soo godâ— counseylle that he gouerned after the lawe of the Romayns all the countree of â—â—â—ye / ¶ He was soo moche humayn that he had compassion of eche persone and admynystred to the poore all theyâ— necessytees / ¶ The emperour louyd hym not oonly by cause he was his kysnesman· but also by cause he was of right good prouffytable couÌ„seylle / ¶ He hâ— bounded in rychesse goodes temporal asmoche as ony man of the cyte / And he had a wyfe descended of the propre very lygnage of Emperours the whiche also was called Eufraxe a woman Iuste mercyful and garnysshyd with alle other vertues / ¶ Antigonius after thenne certayne tyme that god had sente hym his fayre doughter Eufraxe Thynkynge the saluacyon of his soule / Deuysed wyth his wyfe Eufraxe of holy wordes deuowte / ¶ And emong alle other he sayde to her / ¶ Eufraxe my syster and loue thou knoweste that this lyfe is
transitory and maye no lenger dure thanne foure score yere / Thou knoweste also that the worldly rychesses and the vanytee of this worlde arn noo thynge but a lytyll wynde / ¶ But the rychesses of heuen ben alwaye durable perpetuel / ¶ Now my syster thou oughtest to knowe that all they that louen dysordynatly the honoures of thys worlde ben pryued from the goodes of heuen / ¶ And ofte the rychesse worldly possessyons ben cause of the confusyon and vtterly dystruccyon of theim that haue theym / ¶ His wyfe herynge thyse wordes sayd to hym / What playsyth that that we doo / CoÌ„maunde thy good playsure and I shall accomplysshe it ¶ For thy wyll is myne That whyche thou wolte I woll / ¶ Antigonius ansueryd We haue a doughter god be thankyd / And we oughte to be contente that one wyth that other wythout to haue affectyon to lyue emonge the voluptuosytees of this worlde / ¶ Thenne his wyfe lyfted vpp her hondes to heuen in sayenge / O my lorde loue blessyd be our lorde that hath made the worthy to knowe thyne helthe / ¶ Truely my loue I haue many tymes prayed god / that he wolde humble the. and torne thyne entendemente to wyll to flee thy flesshely coÌ„cupyscences worldly / But I neuer durste declare to the ony thynge therof for the grete fere gode loue that I had to the / ¶ And for asmoche as thy wyll is suche / Lete vs departe of our temporell goodes to the ende that they be not cause to make vs descende in to helle / ¶ Other holsom reasons the lady gaaf to Antigonius her husbond the whiche herof praysynge thankynge god with all his herte Dystrybuted the gretest parte of his goodes to the poore people / ¶ And after lyued not but one yere wyth his good lyfe holy vertuouse in perfyghte deuocyon· chastytee contynence / ¶ Of his dethe was moche sorowfull the emperour whyche was of hys kynÌ„e and also alle the Romayns for the grete vertues that were in hym / And also for the pyte that they hadd of his wyfe Eufraxe whiche had not bâ— but .ij. iij monethes wyth hym / ¶ After that he was buryed the good lady Eufraxe toke her doughter also namyd Eufraxe And presented her to the Emperour to her frendes sayenge ¶ O souerayne emperour and ye alle my lordes frendes I put in to your hondes this poore Orphelyne Humbly you supplyenge that in fauoure contemplacyon of the gode very loue that ye had to her fader Antigonius it wolde playse you to doo her to be Instructe and taughte in gode maners vertues And to be to her gode faders conduytours / ¶ The lordes herynge this pyteuous requeste were in contynent moeuyd to wepynge waylynge / ¶ And a lytyll after that they had resprysed theyr spyrytes the emperour desyred counseylled the good lady that she sholde consente to the maryage of her fayr doughter / of one of the Senatours the rychest of alle the other / ¶ To the whyche she accorded / And the sayde doughter receyued ernest of the maryage / ¶ But after by cause that the sayde doughter atte that tyme that the sayde Maryage was treated / was but fyue yere olde / And that the senatoure was greuyd to abyde tyll that she were suffysaunte of aege for to accomplysshe the sayde maryage / ¶ He concluded to demaunde the moder to his wyfe / ¶ And for to come to his entencyon / He sente notable ladyes to the Emperesse for to labour that the moder wolde take to husbonde the sayde Senatour / The whyche thynge the sayde Emperesse and the sayde ladyes supposyd to haue made and accomplysshed it ¶ But the good lady wydowe wolde neuer in that maner leue her â—eâ—e to here it / But repreâ—yd theym angrely In shewynge to theym the grete Inconuenyent in whyche they wolde brynge her That is to wyte in desyrynge her to leue the way of helthe for to take the worldely waye for to brynge her to eternal dampnacyon / And emonge other wordes she sayde to the emperesse / ¶ A madame to what thynge woll ye Induce me Alas whanne I was wyth my husbonde that was I kepte chastytee And ye labour to me that I sholde folowe the amorouse wymmen I shall neuer doo it / ¶ The emperour induertysed of the enterpryse of his wyfe was euyll contentent wyth her sayenge thyse wordes ¶ Come hyther my wyfe ye be wel presumptuous to woll breke the maryage whyche hath be soo honestely begonne ¶ Ne knowe ye not that oure cosyn kynnes woman Eufraxe woll lede a solytary lyfe / ¶ Haue ye now forgoten the loue that ye had to her husbonde whan he lyued / Woll ye now doo hym Iniurye / ¶ Alas yf ye haue louyd hym whyle he lyned ye oughte after his deth to loue his wyfe whyche is soo good and Iuste / ¶ The emperesse herynge thyse wordes was soo moche trowbled that she was two houres wythoute spekynge and semyd to be deed / ¶ The good Eufraxe knowynge thyse tydynges / was in lyke wyse wrothe Doubtynge that it sholde be layed to her that she sholde be cause of the dyscencyon of the emperoure of his wyfe in suche wyse that she myghte be in daunger of deth ¶ And in waylynge wepynge she sayd to her doughter ¶ Lete vs goo in to Egypte my dere doughter we haue there many londes and possessyons whyche I shall leue vnto the. For alle that I haue is thyne / And soo they wente in to the londe of Egypte / ¶ They â—eynge there arryued vysyted her londes possessyons And fynably came in to the partyes of Thebayde where they dyde many almesses to the monasteries relygyons / ¶ And emonge all other they came to a Relygyon of wymmen in a towne wherin were an hundred thâ—â—ty monasteryes of relygyouses / ¶ There some ete no apples ne fygges ne draÌ„ke no wyne The other ete noo oyle ne other lycour Other fasted an hole day Other wysshe noo fete / And whanne ony spake to theym they were abasshyd ¶ They laye on the erthe and ware euery daye the heyt / ¶ And yf by aduenture one of theym were syke / there was noo medycyne gyuen to her ¶ But the sykenesse that she hadde was reputed for a benedyccoÌ„n of god ¶ They wente neuer out of the monasterye but they hadde a Portiere the whyche gaaf ansuere to alle theym that came thyder / Eufraxe knowynge the honeste and deuowte conuersacyon of the sayde Relygyouses vysyted theym ofte And gaue them lyght to the chyrche for to doo the seruyce of god / ¶ On one daye emonge the other Eufraxe spake to thabbesse and to the pryÌ„cypallis of the monasterye And sayde to theym / My good ladyes I woll yeue to you twenty or thyrty pouÌ„de of golde of reuenue for and to the ende that it wolde playse you
poore synner am not worthy to be vysyteth of thyne Angell in this corruptyble worlde ¶ To this purpose is founden of an aged fader / whan the deuyll appyered to hym makyng to hym dyuerse assaultes / the whiche he suffred pacyently in dyspysyng theyr temptacōns One of the sayd deuylles seeyng hymselfe ouer comen / appyered to hym in fourme of our sauyour sayeng Fayr fader opene thyn eyen for I am Ihesu cryste To whom he answered humbly As touchyng to me I wyll not see Ihesu cryst in this worlde / for I am not worthy / yf it pleaseth hym of his grace I shall see hym in that other worlde And with his answere the deuyll vanysshed awaye ¶ A lyke answere gaaf to the deuylles an other holy fader to whom they demaūded yf he wolde see Ihesu cryste in sayeng to theym Goo ye cursed deuylles where as it is gyuen you to be Haue I not my god whiche coūseylleth me sayeng / thou man synner yf ony come to the and saye / here or there is Ihesu cryste / gyue ther to no consente ne answere to theyr wordes / for they be alle Illusyons decepcōns ¶ A brother hermyte for to haue reuelacōn of a doubte that he had of the holy scrypture fasted .lxx. wekes / and ete not but ones in the weke After the sayd tyme seeyng the god had made to hym no reuelacōn he departed fro his chambre / and purposed to go demaunde his brother the solucyon of his questyon God knowyng his humylyte / incontynent sente to hym an Angell whiche sayd to hym Brother I notefye to the that the fastyng that thou hast made / hath not rendred the so moche agreable to god For to knowe the dyffyculte that thou pretendest to knowe / for by thy merytes / thou wendest to constrayne god to shewe it to the. But for as moche as thou hast humbled thy selfe / to wylle aske of thy felowe I am sent fro god to notefye to the the same Thenne he declared it to hym / and after the angell departed fro hym / by the whiche example it appyreth that with out humylyte we maye not obteyne of god ony grace what someuer penaūce we doo ¶ An other doctryne for of folke astate constytued in dygnyte The same holy faders wytnessen that euery man hauyng domynacyon and preemynence vpon other / yf he cōmaūde a thyng to his subgettes / so that it be by humylyte / and for thonour of god / in all thynges she shall be obeyed But yf he cōmaūde theym by arrogaūce / as to repute hym selfe worthy to be obeyed / with out to haue regarde that it be for the honour of god and without humylyte drede of god / he shall not suffre that suche lordes be obeyed of theyr subgettes And by this is knowen whan ony operacōns ben to be done yf they be foūded in charyte of good persones or euyll ¶ And therfore sayd an holy fader I hadde leuer be ouercomen in mekyng my selfe / than to vaynquysshe by my pryde ¶ And an other sayd that neuer ought one despyse his seruaunte with whom he is / for none knoweth yf he haue the spyryte of god / eyther that we haue it that despyse hym ¶ An hermyte demaunded of an holy fader / yf he sawe ony of his brethern do euyll synne dedely / yf he ought to repreue hym The holy fader answerde to hym / that yf in the company were more older than he / he ought to be stylle And by that moyen he sholde haue peas For in as moche as he holdeth hym selfe lasse than other / ther is lasse enuye / also he is more sure in his conscyence The brother replyked agayne sayeng / that he myght not bere the detryment of his broder seeyng hym synne as who sholde saye nature constrayned hym to repreue hym ¶ The holy fader answered to hym / that he myght well ones repreue hym correcte hym brotherly without more And yf by aduenture his speryte myght not be appeased he sholde retourne to god by deuoute oryson whiche sholde comforte hym ¶ Furthermore he sayd that the very seruaunt of god ought alwaye to leue his wyll / to remytte hym selfe to god in obseruyng contynuelly scylence / whiche is veray humylyte ¶ And to this purpose demaunded an hermyte of an holy fader / what was the fruyte of a man mortall / in whiche he ought to gete meryte mede ¶ To whom he answered that it was humylyte For of so moche is he the more enhaūsed in perfeccyon ¶ And therfore an holy fader sayd / that whan a man asked pardon / forgyuenes of an other of the euyll that he hath doon to hym / yf he do it by humylyte / the deuylles whiche haue tempted hym to do the euyll / incontynent departen from hym ¶ An holy fader for to teche men to eschewe vayne glorye sayd suche a parable as foloweth That is to wyte / that he that maketh oyle / couere not the eyen of the hors that tourned the mylle / he wolde not goo / but sholde tarye to doo his werke ¶ In lyke wyse also / a man that is penytente / ought not to see his operacōns vertuous / to th ende that in consyderyng theym he prayse hymself and be proude For fynably he sholde lese therby his labour and meryte And for that cause in certayn dayes the holy faders reduseden to gydre to remembraunce all theyr foule cogytacyons / to th ende that by theȳ they made a veyle to couere the vertuous werkes that they made Therfore euery man that accuseth hym selfe in veray humylyte shall neuer be dampned yf he gete the mercy of our redemer ¶ And thus for to doo an holy fader desyred more to be taught without comparyson / than to teche / to th ende of hym selfe he sholde esteme ygnoraunce and symplenesse And the same holy fader sayd / that no man ought to teche ne preche / but yf he haue aege / maners / and scyence Otherwyse he shall be reputed all his lyfe a fooll vnworthy to be amonge theym that be wyse ¶ A brother demaunded of an holy fader / what thyng was humylyte To whom he answered that it was a yefte of god / the whiche is had in dooyng penaunce bodely / in reputyng hymself a synner / to yelde hym selfe subgette to all theym with whom he conuerseth ¶ Thenne he demaundeth and asked hym what it was to saye to be subgette to men And he answered / that it was to take hede to his synnes / and not to knowe the synnes of his neyghbour / to praye cōtynuelly that god gyue mercy to synners ¶ An other requyred an holy fader that he wolde saye to hym one worde how he myght be saued He answered to hȳ that yf he myght endure all wronges that were doon to hym it is a vertue aboue all other / by the whiche he myght gete his helthe And for this