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THE ANCREN RIWLE
A TREATISE ON THE
RULES AND DUTIES OF MONASTIC LIFE.
EDITKD AND TUAKSLATED
FROM A SEMI-SAXON MS. OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
BY JAMES MORTON, B.D.,
VICAU OF HOLBEACH, PKEBEXDARY OF LINCOLN,
AND CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT HON. EARI, GREY.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY,
MDCCCLIII.
LONDON :
J. B. NICHOLS AND SONS, PRINTERS,
PARLIAMENT- STREET.
//, SOI
(f
[no. lvii.]
si J
COUNCIL
OF
THE CAMDEX SOCIETY
FOR THE YEAH 1852-3.
President,
THE RIGHT HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A.
WILLIAM HENRY BLAAUW, ESQ. M.A. F.S.A.
JOHN BRUCE, ESQ. Treas. S.A. Director.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. V.P.S.A. Treasurer.
C. BURTON COOPER, ESQ. Q.C., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A.
WILLIAM DURRANT COOPER, ESQ. F.S.A.
BOLTON CORNEY, ESQ. M.R.S.L.
WILLIAM RICHARD DRAKE, ESQ. F.S.A.
SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S., Sec. S.A.
EDWARD FOSS, ESQ. F.S.A.
THE REV. JOSEPH HUNTER, F.S.A.
THE REV. LAMBERT B. LARKING, M.A.
PETER LEVESQUE, ESQ. F.S.A.
FREDERIC OUVRY, ESQ. F.S.A.
THE RT. HON. LORD VISCOUNT STRANGFORD, F.R.S. Dir.S.A.
WILLIAM J. THOMS, ESQ. F.S.A., Secretary.
The Council of the Camden Society desire it to be under-
stood that they are not answerable for any opinions or observa-
tions that may appear in the Society's publications ; the Editors of
the several works being alone responsible for the same.
PREFACE.
The Ancren Riwle^ has long been known and appreciated by
many of those who have made the literary antiquities of England,
and the history of its language, the subject of their study and
research ; a class more numerous now, perhaps, than at any former
time. It has often been thought desirable that it should be printed,
in order that the interesting information to be derived from it with
regard to the state of society, the learning and manners, the moral
and religious teaching, and the language of the period in which it
was written, might become more generally accessible than it could be
when contained only in a few copies in MS. deposited in two of our
pubhc libraries. Influenced by such motives, and desirous of
thereby forwarding the objects of the Camden Society, of which he
has the honour of being a member, the Editor has endeavoured, in
the intervals of professional labours and duties, and with such
limited abilities and means of illustration as he possesses, to prepare
it for the press, to which he now commits it, not without fear that
he may sometimes have failed to elucidate the obscurities of its
language, but in the hope that the result of his labour will be
favourably received and candidly judged.
» This is the original and proper title of the work. Regula; Inclusarum is added in the
handwriting commonly used in the seventeenth century. The Latin titles at the head of
some of the sections are taken from the margin of the Oxford MS.
vi PREFACE.
Four different copies of this work are extant. They are described,
but not quite correctly, by the learned H. Wanlej, in his Catalogue
of Ancient Manuscripts in the Anglo-Saxon and other Northern
Languages, appended to Dr. Hickes's Thesaurus Linguarum Septen-
trionalium.
1. The first is a quarto volume written on parchment, belonging
to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and marked ccccii. in
Nasmith's Catalogue of the curious and valuable library of that
institution. It is called Ancren Wisse,*^ and is said by Wanley ^ to
be abridged from a Latin work by Simon of Ghent, bishop of
Salisbury, addressed to his sisters, anchoresses of the order of St.
James."
2. The second is Nero A. xiv. in the Cottonian collection in the
library of the British Museum ; a square volume nearly of the size
of a common octavo, written on parchment. The learned antiquary
Dr. Thomas Smith, in his Catalogue of the MSS. of the Cottonian
Library, published in 1696, describes it as the work of an anony-
mous author, written for the instruction of nuns, and, especially, for
the use of his sisters, who were anchoresses. He adds that there is
the same book in Latin in the library of Magdalen College, Oxford,
with an inscription indicating it to be the work of Simon of Ghent,
bishop of Salisbury, and addressed to his own sisters, anchoresses at
Tarente.*^
* The government or instruction of nuns. ^ Page 149,
" A memorandum on the first page states that it was presented to the church of St.
James at Wigmore, by John Parcel, at the earnest request of Walter Lodele senior, the
Precentor. A curse is imprecated against any person who should alienate the book from
the said church, or should destroy its title.
•• Smith, p. 50; Wanley, p. 228.
PREFACE.
3. Titus D. XVIII. in the same collection ; a square octavo, on
parchment, but imperfect, wanting the first ten or twelve leaves.
4. Cleopatra C. vi. also in the Cottonian Collection; is of the
form and size of an imperial octavo, and written on parchment.
The Latin MS. of the same work, already mentioned, in the
library of Magdalen College, Oxford, is imperfect, the first part
being greatly abridged, and the eighth entirely omitted.
Another MS. copy of the same work in Latin, Vitellius E. vii.
was burned in the fatal conflagration which, in October, 1731,
destroyed or damaged a great number of the valuable j\ISS. of the
Cottonian Library. A copy of the same work in French, Vitellius
F. VII. was at the same time consumed in this disastrous fire.*
The text of this first printed edition is that of Nero A. xiv. It
has been collated with Titus D. xviii. and with Cleopatra C. vi.
The most remarkable variations, which are almost all merely verbal,
are printed at the foot of the page. The Oxford MS. also has been
examined throughout, and whatever illustrations it affords have been
carefully noted.
Smith, whom Wanley, and Mr. Planta, the compiler of the
enlarged Cottonian Catalogue, published in 1802, implicitly follow,
pronounces the Latin the original, and the vernacular text merely a
translation. It does not appear that Smith had any other ground
for tliis assertion than the inscription, or prefatory note, above
mentioned, prefixed to the Oxford MS.^ Wanley rests his opinion
» It is thus described in Smith's CaUlogue : " La Reule de femmes Religieuses et
Recluses; per Simonem de Gandavo, Episcopum Sarisburiensium, in usum sororum
ipsius." p. 103.
•• " Hie incipit proheniium venerabilis Patris magistri Simonis de Gandavo, Episcopi
Sanim, in librum de viu solitaria, quern scripsit sororibus suis anaehoretis apud
Tarente." — MS. Oxon. p. 1.
vm PREFACE.
upon a collation made — he does not say by whom — of the semi-
Saxon with the Latin text of the lost MS. Yitellius E. vii.'^
The Editor is unwillingly compelled to differ in opinion from men
so distinguished for their learning and abilities, and who have
rendered most important services to the literary antiquities of
England. After carefully examining and comparing the text now
printed with the Oxford MS. he believes that he has found evidence
in the work itself which clearly shews that the vernacular text is the
original, and the Latin a translation, in many parts abridged and in
some enlarged, made at a comparatively recent period, when the
language in which the work had been originally written was
becoming obsolete. In particular, there are words in the Latin text
erroneously translated, and some not even translated at all, ap-
parently because the Latin translator did not know how to render
them, which could not have been if the vernacular had not existed
before the Latin text. Thus, in page 88, where rikelot, a magpie,
occurs, and in the corresponding passage of Cleopatra C. vi.
kikelot, we find in the Latin MS. kikelota.^ Li page 96, the
proverbial phrase, " Euer is Jje eie to J?e wude leie," is in the Latin,
" Evere ys the yerje to the wode lyjhe." In page 216 is
"heggen," which is rendered "hagges;'= and " cage, 'Mn page 102,
is '^kagya " in the Latin MS.^^
" " Liber Simonis de Gandavo, Episcopi Sarisburiensis, de vita solitaria sororibus suia
anachoreticis, ex Latino translatus, ut per Imjusee Bibliothecae exemplar Lat. quod inscr.
Vitellius E. 7, (collatione facta) patet evidenter." — Wanley, p. 228.
•j " Ane rikelot }>et cakele'S hire al Jjet heo i-sili'S o'Ser i-here'S." " Kyhelotam ad
fabulandum quicquid videt et audit," — MS. Oxon. fol. 13.
■= " \)eo ilke men seruetS i'Se deofles curt J^et habbe'S i-wiued o h>eos seouen heggen.^''
" Et de quo officio serviunt criminosi in curia diaboli qui lias septem hagges duxerunt in
uxores." — MS. Oxon. fol. 44.
'^ " Hwe'Ser eni totilde ancre uondede euer )>ia, J>ot beketi euer utwaixl aae untowe brid
PREFACE. IX
Of mistranslations which pervert the sense of the original, we find
" urakele/' signifying frail,^ translated vorax? The pronoun liore,
in page 222, their, is translated meretrix.'^ Tale, in page 226,
meaning nionher, is rendered narratio in the Latin version.^ Vren,
in page 286, to say the liours or prayers at stated times of the day, is
translated audire.^ In page 224, Im^boruice, an arbour, or lodging,
is in the Latin herbarium^ Bode, in page 400, an offer, is absurdly
rendered corpus.^ These imperfections in the Latin text are surely
sufficient to warrant the conclusion that it is not the original, but a
translation of the Ancren Riwle. And it is further to be observed
that, in tlie Latin codex, not only is the first part, or book, greatly
abridged, or rather mutilated, but the eighth, or last part, is wholly
ine cage." " Nunquid aliquotiens hoc expertse sunt anachoretaj, vel sanctimoniales
exterius rostrantes, ad modum avis indisciplinataj in kagya exire nitentis."— Fol. 16.
* or wretched, from A.-S. wrfficlic, id.
^ ">et eueriche efter his stat boruwe et tisse urahele worlde so lutol so heo euer mei."
" Religio recta est ut quilibet secundum suum statum accommodet, seu mutuo accipiat a
voraci mundo quanto minus potest cibi vel vestimenti, possessionis, aut cujuscunque rei
mundanse." — Fol. 40 b.
<= " Swuch feste makeS sum oi hore >et wene'5 j'et heo do wel, ase dusie men ■) adotede
do's hire to understonden." " Tale conviviam facit quandoque meretrix. Putat quod
benefacit, sicut stolidse et amantes sibi dant intelligere." — Fol. 46.
<> "He haue'S so monie bustes ful of his letuaries— >e lu'Sere leche of helle. Jjenc her of
the tale of his ampuiles." "Tot habet pixides, maledictus medicus infernalis, plenas
electuariis. Cogitetis hie de narrcUione de ejus ampullis." — Fol. 46 b.
e " Ofte, leoue sustren, ge schulen vren lesse uorte reden more." " Sfepe,cara3 sorores,
debetis minus audire, ut plus legatis." — Fol. 62.
f " Of swuche flures make \>u his herhoruwe wiSinnen J^e suluen." " Ex his fac sibi
herbarium intra semetipsam." — Fol. 62.
e " Nolde a men, uor on of h>eos, giuen al \>et he ouhte ? And alle }>eos )>inges somed,
agean mine &0(^e, ne beo'S nout wur^ a nelde." " Pro uno istorum, numquid daret homo
quicquid haberet ? Et base omnia simul in comparationc ad corpus meum non valent
acum." — Fol. 92.
CAMD. SOC. h
X PREFACE.
omitted, and that intentionally, as we learn from the words of the
translator himself, or his transcriber, at the conclusion of the seventh
part ^ And yet, Wanley asserts that the vernacular text is an
abridgment of the Latin.'' In comparing together the two texts, it
is found, indeed, that there are a few passages in the Latin which
are not in the semi-Saxon ; but, on the other hand, there are a
greater number in the latter which are not in the former. In
general the two agree pretty closely with each other, with the
exception, already noticed, of the mutilation of the first, and the
complete omission of the last part.
It is further asserted by Wanley, who appears to have read only
a few pages at the beginning of the work, that the anchoresses to
whom it is addressed were of the order of St. James ; " an order not
mentioned elsewhere as having existed in England, or even in
Europe. This error may easily have originated from misapprehen-
sion of the following passage : " If any ignorant person ask you of
what order ye are, say that ye are of the order of St. James. If
such answer seem strange and singular to him, ask him what is
order, and where he can find in Scripture religion more plainly
described than in the canonical epistle of St. James ? He saith what
religion is, and right order. ' Pure religion, and without stain, is to
visit and assist widows and orphans, and to keep himself pure and
unstained from the world.' Thus doth St. James describe religion
and order." <! All that can justly be inferred from this passage is,
that the profession of these nuns was to aim at being good Christians,
following the rule of charity, as laid down by St. James ; which
they might do without necessarily attaching themselves to any one
Explicit liber Septimus de Vita Solitaria. Oetavus omuino taceatur."
" Wanley, p. 149. e ii,;^. .1 p 9,
PREFACE. XI
of the existing monastic orders. If a monastic order of St. James
had really existed, and they had belonged to it, their saying so
could not have seemed strange or singular ; but their saying that
they were of an order which had no existence might well excite
surprise, at first, until it was explained.
It is certain that afterwards they were incorporated with the Cis-
tertian order;* but, at the period when this work was written, it
does not appear that they were even under the government of any
spiritual superior, or connected with any other religious community,
although, from the general tenor of this treatise, it may be doubted
whether the author did not exercise some authority or superintend-
ence over them. The whole society consisted only of three ladies,
of good family, with their domestic servants or lay sisters ; and they
appear to have retired from the world for the sake of engaging,
without interruption, in pious exercises and devout meditations. We
learn tliat they were in the bloom of youth when this work was
addressed to them, and that they were three sisters, having the same
father and mother ; ^ but there is no valid reason to believe, with
Smith and Wanley, that they were the Author's own sisters. The
contrary may even fairly be inferred from his uniform silence upon
the subject, especially upon occasions when it would have been
natural to him to allude to it had such consanguinity existed between
them. When he addresses them as his dear sisters, he only uses the
form of speech commonly adopted in convents, where nuns are
usually spoken of as sisters or mothers, and monks as brothers or
fathers.
" Rot. Fin. 50 Hen. HI. m. 8, ap. Dugd. Monast. i. 887, ed. 1655.
" p. 192.
Xll PREFACE.
The house in which these sisters dwelt was at Tarente, in Dorset-
shire, called also Tarrant-Kaines, Kaineston, or Kingston. It was
situated near Crayford-bridge, on the river Stoure, lower down than
Blandford.^ The nunnery being suppressed at an early period, soon
after Henry VIII. quai-relled with the pope, the buildings were
shortly after demolished ; and all traces of them had disappeared long
before 1661, when Dugdale published the second volume of his
Monasticon.^
The original founder was Ralph de Kahaines, whose father,
Ralph, came from Normandy with William the Conqueror. In the
time of Richard I. he built near his mansion-house at Tarente, "a
little monastery for nuns, which his son William increased; and,
among other gifts, gave all the tithe of the bread made in his house,
wherever he might be in his demesne, except the king's bread, and
all the tithe of salt pork, and of cattle killed in his house every
year.'' <=
Richard Poor, who lived about a centviry later than Ralph de
Kahaines, and was successively dean of Salisbury, bishop of Chi-
chester, bishop of Salisbury, and bishop of Durham, is also said to
have been the founder of this religious house, "^ it being customary to
call those persons founders of any religious institution which they
had considerably augmented by their benefactions. Perhaps Bishop
Poor rebuilt or enlarged the house, and auiimented its revenues.
He was a man likely to have done so, being of a pious and generous
disposition, and born at Tarente, where he also died in 1237. Of
this prelate, Matthew Paris speaks in very high terms of commenda-
' Leland's Itin. vi. 51. '' Dugdale. ■= Ibid.
'' Carta R. Hen. Ill, de Protectione, ap. Dugdale, Monast.
PREFACE.
tion, and gives the following account of his death. " Perceiving
that the time was at hand when he must leave this world, he assem-
bled the people and addressed them in a verj impressive and edify-
ing discourse, telling them that he felt that his death was near. On
the morrow, when his illness was increased, he renewed his exhorta-
tions to them, and bade them all farewell, asking their forgiveness if
he had offended any of them. On the third day he sent for his
domestics and retainers, and distributed gifts among them according
to their merit, calmly and deliberately settled his worldly affairs, and
took leave of his friends one by one ; when, it being the hour of
Compline, he joined in the prayers, and, while pronouncing the
verse, ' I will both lay me down in peace and sleep,' he fell asleep in
the Lord."
We learn from Tanner that this monastery was dedicated to the
honour of the blessed Virgin Mary and all Saints. From a charter
of Hemy III. " De Manerio de Husseburn," before referred to, it is
clear that the recluses were of the Cistertian order.
The yearly revenue of the house at the time of the dissolution
amounted to 239^. lis. lOd. The net income was 214Z. 7s. 9d.
Willis says, it was surrendered by the abbess and eighteen nuns.
A pension of 40Z. yearly was still payable to the abbess in 1553,
with smaller pensions to seven of the mms. The common seal of
the community had for its subject a nun on her knees in the attitude
of praying to the Virgin and Child : the legend, " Sigillum Conventus
de Tarent." The editors of Dugdale observe that the impression of
it in red wax is attached to the surrender, dated 30th March, 30th
Hen. VITI. in the Augmentation Office. Hutchins, in his History
of Dorsetshire, says, that tiie armorial bearings of the monastery
were to be seen m one of the windows of Wolveton House, in that
XIV PREFACE.
county; viz. Azure, a cross potence argent, in the first quarter
the Virgin Mary sitting.
After the dissolution, the abbey with the manor of Preston, or
Tarrant Crawford, were granted, for lands in Kent in reversion, to
Thomas Wyatt. They were again granted, in the 38 th of Henry
VIII. to Richard Savage and W. Strange ways, and on the first of
Mary to Nicholas Rokewode.
Concerning Simon of Ghent, the reputed author of the Ancren
Riwle, very little information is now to be found. He was born in
London or Westminster,* and his father was of Flanders ; ^ from
which circumstance it may be inferred that he was called Gandavus —
of Ghent. He was Archdeacon of Oxford in 1284,*^ was consecrated
Bishop of Salisbury in November, 1297, and was one of the bishops
who officiated at the coronation of King Edward II. at Westminster,
on the 21st Sept. 1307.*^ He died May 31st, 1315. He is said to
have been greatly skilled in theology, and to have been the author of
numerous statutes for the government of the church of Salisbury,
which were still in force in the time of James I. He gave permis-
sion to the inhabitants of Salisbury to fortify their city with walls
and ditches. It is also recorded of him that he addressed a long
epistle to Pope Boniface VIII. on the 28th of April, 1302, in which
he complains of the scandals which have arisen in his church, in con-
sequence of the stalls having been given to foreigners.® The belief
that he is the Author of the Ancren Riwle rests solely on the autho-
rity of the anonymous prefatory note, already mentioned, prefixed to
" Godwin, de Proosulibus Anglise Commentarius, p. 347.
>» Fabr. Bibl. Med. et infim. Lat. lib. xiii. p. 532.
■= Reg. Pecham, ap. Tanner, 307, note ^.
•• Thorne, ap. X. Seriptores Twysdeni, col. 2007.
•= MS. Baliol, 199 [Gaines], f. 217. Tanner, p. 307, note h.
PREFACE. XV
the Latin copy of the work in the Hbmry of Magdalen College,
Oxford ; and there are facts and circumstances which render it
extremely doubtful, if not altogether improbable. The language in
which it is written is evidently that of the first quarter of the thir-
teenth century. It does not greatly differ from that of La} anion,
which has been clearly shewn to have been written not later than
1205.* The work itself contains evidence of having been written by
a person of extensive learning and great experience, and therefore of
mature age. But Bishop Simon, who lived until 1315, could not
have been of mature age even in 1250, if we could suppose the work
to have been of so late a date. Wanley, who, in describing the four
different copies of the work, attributes it to Simon of Ghent, had
evidently some doubt upon the subject, for upon one occasion he
speaks of it as merely supposed.^ No other person is anywhere
mentioned as having written it ; but there are circumstances which
render it not improbable that Bishop Poor was the author, and
wrote it for the use of the nuns at the time when he re-established
or enlarged the monastery. He was born at Tarente, and evidently
took great interest in the place. It was the scene of his exemplary
death, and he chose to be buried there. ° His great learning, his
active benevolence, the sanctity of his life, and his tender concern
for the spiritual welfare of his friends and dependents, shewn in the
pious exhortations which he repeatedly addressed to them immedi-
ately before his death, agree well with the lessons of piety and
morality so earnestly and affectionately addressed, in this book, to
the anchoresses of Tarente.
* Preface to La3amon, pp. xviii. xix. •> " Ut putatur." Wanley, p. 247.
•^ "Tharentai, in monialium coenol)io a se constructo voluit tumulari.'" Godwin, p. 740.
A note, liowcver, informs us tliat liis heart only was buried at Tarente, his body at Salisbury.
XVI PREFACE.
Whoever was the author, he must have been a man of great learn-
ing, extensively and intimately conversant with the Holv Scriptures,
and with the theological and ethical hterature of the age in which he
lived. He verv frequently quotes the sacred volume, and also the
works of Jerome, Augustine, Benedict, Gregory, Bernard, Anselm,
and other approved writers. His acquaintance with the Roman
classics may be inferred from his quoting Ovid ^ and Horace.^ As
some of the Latin quotations are not translated, it may perhaps be
inferred that the sisters were not ignorant of that language, without
some knowledge of which, as the services of the church were in
Latin, they could not well "pray with the understanding." *=
The treatise is divided into eight parts or books: L Of Devo-
tional Services. 2. Of the Government of the External Senses in
keeping the Heart. 3. Moral Lessons and Examples. Reasons
for embracing a Monastic Life. 4. Of Temptations, and the Means
of Avoiding and Resisting them. 5. Of Confession. 6. Of Penance
and Amendment. 7. Of Love or Charity. 8. Of Domestic and
Social Duties. In ti'eating of these subjects the Author affords us
many incidental glimpses of the state of society and manners, of the
way of Uving of the recluses, of their di*ess, and their servants, of
whom each sister had one woman to wait on her.
We are especially fui-nished in this work with much information
on the state of religion. We find the doctrine of transubstantiation/
and of purgatory,® the adoration of the virgin Mary,*' and of the
Cross ^ and relics,^ am'icular confession,^ the use of images in
' P- 326. b p. 120. e 1 Corinthians, xiv. 15.
^ pp. 16, 262. * pp. 126, 228, 328. ' p. -38, ct sap
« P- IS. •> Ibid. i p. 298, etseq.
PREFACE, Xvii
religious services/ and, except indulgences, which are not mentioned,
all other usages and practices of the church of Rome at the same period,
fully received. Of saints, we read of the adoration of the Virgin only,
but we can hardly doubt that the invocation of other canonised saints
was likewise practised, since it was in use in England two hundred
years before this period, as we learn from the homilies of JElfric.^ In
all other points the religious belief and practices of the Anglo-Saxon
church at that period appear to have differed little from the primi-
tive, or apostolic church. Transubstantiation is distinctly disavowed
by ^Elfric.^ And there is a prayer in the present work,<^ from
which, if it stood alone, we might reasonabh* infer that the same
doctrine formed no part of the creed of the learned and pious
Author. But, as the doctrine in question appears, from other
passages, to have been received and professed by him, we may con-
clude that this prayer is a relic transmitted from primitive times,
and not yet expunged from the liturgical services of the church.
The Ancren Riwle is written in a plain, unambitious stvle, and
with scarcely any attempt at rhetorical ornament The spelling,
whether from carelessness or want of system, is of an uncommon
and unsettled character, and may be pronounced barbarous and
uncouth. U and i- ai'e used indiscriminately for each other, and
for /. Thus uvel,^ evil, is written vuel ; fiht, fight, is uiht or viht ;
folc is uolc or vole ; fifte is uifte or vifte : t is often substituted for
I?, as in tis, teo, tenne, for pis, Jjeo, ])enne : c and k change places ;
» P. 298, ft seq. " Homilies, vol. ii. p. 262. <= P. 34.
"* Prayers were addressed to God through the intercession of saints and angels even in
the 7th century. See " Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis," published by the Surtees Society
in 1840. See also the Menologium Poetioum, in Hickes's Thesaurus, vol. u pp. 203 20S.
' libel in German. A.-S. yfel.
CAMD. SOC. c
XVlll PRErACE.
thus we have cund or kund, crocke or krocke, i-cnowen or
i-knowen.
The language is semi-Saxon, or Anglo-Saxon somewhat changed ;
and in the first of the various stages through which it had to pass
before it arrived at the copiousness and elegance of the present
English. By the disuse of most of the inflections that mark the
oblique cases of nouns the grammatical structure is rendered more
plain and simple without being less clear and exact. The disuse,
also, for the most part, of genders in the names of things without
life, contributes to the same effect. Yet, as these changes are partial
and incomplete, enough of the more ancient characteristics of the
language is left to justify the inference that the innovations are
recent. Not only is es of the genitive case retained, but we very
often meet with the dative and the accusative in e, and the accusa-
tive in en, as 'pen, the. We also meet occasionally with the genitive
plural in re, from the Saxon ra ; and ne and ene, from ena. Thus,
" aire )?eauwene moder,"* the mother of all virtues ; mu^ene,^ of
mouths; monne, of men." The cases and genders of adjectives are
generally disused, but not always. Thus, " ideles ]70uht.es ;"'' " euer-
iches weis;"'' "of reades monnes blode;"^ "ones cunnes ;"s "ed-
modies monnes bonen."^ The moods and tenses of verbs are little
altered from the older forms, and in many words they are not
changed at all. The infinitive, which in pure Saxon ends invari-
ably in cm, is changed into en, as habben, lielen, from habban, haelan.
" end " in the present participle becomes " mde." In one or two instances
=■ p. 278, 1. 21. b "muSene swetest," p, 102, 1. 25.
<= " monne sorest," p. 382, 1. 18. '" p. 144, 1. 18. « p. 218, 1. 18.
' p. 402, 1. 19. g p. 206, 1. 23. '• p. 246, 1. 23.
PREFACE. XIX
the final n is dropped, as in warnie,* to warn, i-\vurSe,^ to he, windwe,
to winnow.^ Of things being considered as mascuhne or feminine,
we meet with such examples as these : " pot ]?et wallet swu^e nule
he beon ouerladen ?" ^ " pe wombe pot j^et walleb euer of metes,
and more of drunches ; he is so neih neihebur to ]7et fulitowene lim
J7et heo deleiS mid him ];e brune of hire hete." ^
It has long been a prevailing opinion that an immediate and rapid
change in the language of England was effected m consequence of
the Norman invasion. But a careful investigation of the matter will
shew that from a remote period the Anglo-Saxon tongue had been
gradually changing, and becoming more copious and less strict in its
adherence to its ancient grammatical forms and rules. We perceive
a great difference between its more ancient state, as exhibited in the
poem of Beowulf, and the state in which we find it in the works of
King Alfred, and in the homilies of ^Ifric and the Saxon Chronicle.
The earlier pages of the Chronicle itself, commenced in the ninth
century, differ materially from its conclusion in 1154. This pro-
gressive change began long before the Norman invasion. It was a
natural consequence of the frequent intercourse of the Saxons with
their neighbours in Normandy, that many Norman words had been
already introduced into England, so that the Conquest only acce-
lerated in some measure the change previously begun. Similar
changes have been wrought in all languages, with or without the
intervention of foreigners. If we compare Otfrid's Paraphrase of
« pp. 54, 1. 2T; 64, 1. 9, <» pp. 86, 1. 10; 96, 1. 22.
<^ p. 270, e. <• p. 368,1. 21.
« Ibid. 1. 23. Hond, hand, is feminine, p. 148,1. 6; bouh, a branch, is masculine,
p. 150, 1. 6; peintunge, ^aMt<i»ir7, is fem. p. 392, 1. 16; clennesse is fem. p. 398, 1. 9.
Sometimes a uoun is masc. in one place, and fem. in another ; thus, luue, in p. 466, 1. 5,
is fem.; in 1. 12, masc.: figer, afy-tnc, is fem. and neuter, p. 150, 1. 18 and 1. 4.
XX PREFACE.
the Gospels with the Nibelungen Not, and the latter with the modern
German of Wieland or Schiller, we shall see a difference quite as
great as we find between the ancient Saxon poem of Beowulf and the
Ancren Riwle, and again between this and the English of the pre-
sent age. A similar observation may be made with regard to the
French tongue, if we compare the more ancient Fabliaux with the
language of Froissart, and that with the modern French of Fenelon
or Boileau.
The Anglo-Saxons and the Normans in England were, for a con-
siderable time after the Conquest, in a similar position with regard
to language to that of the English and Celtic races in Britain at
present. The native Irish, Welsh, and Gael, although many of them
find it convenient, and often necessary, to understand and speak
English, yet communicate with men of their own race in their native
tongue, which they prefer and cherish, as they do the sentiment of
their nationality. In like manner would the Anglo-Saxons, living
among the Normans, converse with each other in their own language,
and delight in it, as belonging to their race. In the case, however,
of svich mixture of races, wlien there is a considerable disproportion
between the numbers of the one and the other, it usually happens
that the speech of the more numerous race becomes, sooner or later,
the language of the whole nation. This, however, has seldom taken
place without an intermixing and blending together of both lan-
guages in some measure according to their numbers respectively and
the degrees of their civilisation. The English language, as we find
it in the time of Chaucer, had adopted a vast number of Norman-
French words which had not yet been incorporated with it in the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In the metrical chronicle of La3a-
mon. Sir F. Madden, the learned editor of that important work.
PREFACE. XXI
found only 90 French words in 50,000 verses.* This appears an
extraordinary fact, when we consider that the Norman-French had
now been the language of the ruling powers and of the courts of
law for 120 years. In the present work, which is apparently not
much more recent than the older of the two texts of La3amon, and
nearly resembles it in most other points, there is a large infusion of
Norman words, owing, probably to the peculiar subjects treated of in
it, which are theological and moral, in speaking of which, terms
derived from the Latin would readily occur to the mind of a learned
ecclesiastic much conversant with that language, and with the works
on similar subjects written in it.
The learned Dr. Smith above referred to, a competent judge
of the language, says of the Ancren Riwle that it differs little
from the Saxon.^ Wanley calls it Norman-Saxon, and, with
less reason, adds that it is written in a Northern dialect.'^ If
it were so, it must contain many of the peculiarities of the language
spoken in after- times by the descendants of the Danish invaders
whom King Alfred settled in the north-eastern provinces of his
kingdom. These peculiarities are fully detailed by the learned Dr.
Hickes in his valuable Thesaurus Ling. Vett. Septentrionalium,'^ and
of which abundant examples may be seen in the Durham Ritual,
edited for the Surtees Society, in 1840, by the Rev. Joseph
Stevenson, Vicar of Leighton Buzzard. In order to enable the
reader to form his own opinion upon this question, it is necessary
to mention only a very small number of the peculiarities that abound
in this Northern dialect. In the Dano-Saxon, then, i often takes the
" La3amon*s Brut, vol. i. p. xxiii.
^ " Parum a Saxonico abludit." Catalogus Bibl. Cotton, p. 141.
•^ Wanley, Antiq. Lit, Sept. p. 228. ^ P. 88, et seq.
XXll PREFACE.
place where we find e in Anglo-Saxon words ; as in bio^, fiond,
hiora, for beo^, feond, heora. The prefix ge is changed to gi or gie ;
as in giher, gilefde, gitriva, gicvoeme, gislog, for geher, gelefde, &c. ;
a is put for o, as hearte for heorte ; o for e, thus healo, blostmo, for
heale, blostme. In the infinitive mood of verbs, and in many words
ending in en, the final n is omitted ; as in gidoa, gigladia, arisa,
giemonigfaldiga, wosa, for gedon, gegladian, arisan, gemonigfealdan,
wesan ; sawela is put for sawlen ; mec, J^ec, ]?erli, steft, mi^, are put
for me, \q, |7urh, stefn, mid. But none of these, nor any other Scan-
dinavianisms, are to be found in the present work ; unless, indeed,
it may be thought that the three infinitives, warnie, windwe, and
i-wur'Se, that have lost their final n, are northern words. But this
surely would be too slight a foundation for the opinion that the
whole book is in this dialect.
There are circumstances which make it not improbable that the
dialect in which it is written is that which was spoken in the West of
England in the thirteenth century It bears a considerable resem-
blance to the older text of Lajamon,*^ which, from internal evidence,
* The following extract will help the reader to form his own conclusion on this point :
' Her men mai arede
of Ar'Sure J?an king,
hu he twelf jere
seo^en wuneden here
inne gri^ i inne fri^e,
in alle uae3ernesse.
Na man him ne faht wi'5,
no he ne makede nan un-fri'S;
ne miht nauere nan man
bi-J?enchen of blissen,
\>aX weoren in ai l^eode
mare t>an i jsisse.
ne mihte nauere mon cunne
nan swa muchel wunne,
swa wes mid Ar'Sure
1 mid his folke here."
Here man may tell of Arthur the King, how he afterwards dwelt here in peace and in
amity in all fairness. No man fought with him, nor made he any strife; might never any
man bethink of bliss that were greater in any country than in this. Might never man
know any so mickle joy as was with Arthur, and with his folk here f Vol. ii. p. 531.
PREFACE. XXlll
is known to have been written on the banks of the Severn. If
Bishop Poor, who was a native of Tarente, wrote the present work
he would naturally write it in the language of his native district,
which could not be very different from that of Gloucestershire, as
there was no settlement of a multitude of foreigners in that part of
the kingdom to corrupt or change the common speech.
In conclusion, the Editor subjoins an extract from the Cambridge
copy of this work, being the specimen given by Wanley, page 149 :
This an Boc is todealet in eahte lesse Boke. Nu mine leoue
sustren, |;is boc ich todeala on eahte destinctimis, |?set ge cleopied *
dalen, % euch wi^ute monglunge speke"S al bi him sealf of sunder-
liche ]?inges ; 7 ]7ah euchan riht falle^S efter o^er, *? is \e leatere
eauer iteiet to j^e earre.
The earste dale speke"S al of ower seruise.
The o'Ser is hu ge schulen J)urh owr fif wittes witen ower hcorte
|?a3t ordre % religiun % sawle lif is inne. 7 J>is destincimi aren
chapitres fine, as fif stucchen after fif wittes J^e wite"5 ]?e heorte as
wakemen hwer sa ha beo^ trewe. % speke^ of euch hwet sunder
lepes o rawe.
The ]7ridde dale is of anes cunnes fuheles J^e Daui^ i j^e sawter
euene'S him seolf to as he were ancre. 1: hu J^e cumde ^ of ]7e ilke
fuheles beo"? ancren iliche.
The feorSe dale is of fleschliche fondunges. % gastUche ba'Se,
*? comfort ageines ham, "? of hare saluen.
The fifte dale is of schi-ifte.
The seste dale is of penitence.
The seoueSe of schir heorte hwi me ah 7 hwi me schal ihu
crist luuien. % hwet binime'S us his luue, % let us him to luuien.
The eahtuSe dale is al of J?e uttre riwle, earst of mete 1 of
drunch % of o'Sre ]?inges ];gBt falleS ]7er abuten. ]?refter of \e jnnges
* cleopie'5. ** cunde.
XXIV PREFACE.
'pe ge malien underuon H hwet J^inges ge malien witen o"Ser habben.
j^refter of ower cla'Ses 7 of swucche j^inges as ]?er abuten fane's,
]?refter of ower werkes, of doddunge ? of blodletunge. Of ower
meidenes riwle a least hu ge ham schulen leoflich learen.
CONTENTS.
Introduction
Qualifications required in those who make profession
The primitive Hermits followed St. James's Rule
Division of the Treatise into eight parts
Part I. — Of Divine Serv
Morning devotions in private
Adoration of the Cross, and of the Virgin Mary
Canonical hours, anniversaries, commendations
Supplications to the Holy Trinity and to Christ
Prayers for pardon, for benefactors, and the dead
Meditations; prayers at mass; adoration of the cross
Liturgical directions ...
Invocation and worship of the Blessed Virgin. Her joy
Private devotions; graces
PAGE
3
11
13
17
19
21—25
27
29—31
33—35
37
39-43
45
Part II. — On keeping the heart.
Moral influence of the Senses. 1. Of Sight.
The parlour windows to be avoided
Eve's temptation began l)y the eye
Dinah's honour lost from her being seen
David's sin caused by his seeing Bathsheba
The command to cover a pit instanced
Evil consequences of unguarded looks. Warnings
2. Of Speech. Caution to be used in speaking
Eve and the Blessed Virgin contrasted
The presence of a witness required, even at confession
Proper and improper subjects of conversation
Silence commended
Talkativeness blamed
The Virgin Mary spoke little
Spiritual fruits of silence
3. Of Hearing. Evil speaking condemned
Different kinds of evil speaking
Flattery, backbiting
Of Sight, Speech, and Hearing in common
Worldly sights adverse to meditation
Holy anchoresses rewarded in Heaven
Seductive speech condemned
The love of Christ alone to be desired
CAMD. SOC. d
51
53
55
57
59
61—63
65
67
69
71
73
75
'i'i
79
81
83
85
91
93
95
97
99
XXVI
CONTENTS.
The Bride in Canticles
Who those are whom Christ loveth
4. Of Smell ....
Calvary a place of loathsome smells
The patience of Christ a lesson to anchoresses
5. Of Touch or Feeling. Christ's suffering on the cross
The sharpness of his pain. His bitter drink
Meditations on death and judgment enjoined
PAGE
101
103
105
107
109
111
113—115
117
Part III. — Moral lessons and examples. Reasons for embracing a monastic life.
Remedies against anger
Patience of Christ and the saints
Wrongs borne with patience become benefits
The wicked are God's instruments of discipline
False and true anchoresses
A religious house compared to a bird's nest .
The crucifix. Confession
Mortification of the flesh by toil and discipline
The aspirations of the soul impeded by the body
The anchoress compared to an anchor
Eight reasons for watchfulness and diligence
Merit rendered worthless by ostentation
The folly of seeking the world's applause
Merit boasted of perishes like a barked tree .
The meanest most vain. Pedlar and mercer
Solitary meditation. Isaac, Jacob, Jeremiah
John the Baptist. The Blessed Virgin
Holy men and women who loved solitude
Eight reasons for retirement from the world
A true anchoress compared to Queen Esther
A false anchoress to Shemei
Recluses are like criminals fleeing to sanctuary
A sense of frailty necessary to humility
Part IV. — Of Temptations.
Outward and inward temptations
Spiritual benefits of sickness
Man's wickedness; God's chastening rod
Love and obedience better than hard penance
When suffering, meditate on the sufferings of Christ
Afflictions are God's ambassadors
The anchoresses of Tarente three sisters
The pious often most strongly tempted
The seven deadly sins : Pride
Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Covetousness
Greediness, Lechery
Shameful depravity of licentiousness
Sins that proceed from pride and sloth
The proud are the devil's trumpeters
The wrathful man. The sluggard
The covetous man. The glutton .
The foulness of lechery .
121
123
125
127
129—133
135
137
1-39
141
143
145
147
149
151
153
155—157
159—161
163
165
171
173
175
177
181
183
185
187
189
191
193
197
199~
201—203
205
207
209
211
213
215
217
CONTENTS.
XXVI 1
Gradual progress of temptation
Craftiness of the tempter. Legendary tale
Sources of consolation to the tempted
Why God suffers us to be tempted
Saints tempted. Legendary tale .
The conqueror of temptation crowned
Means of resisting temptation
The present a shadow of the future
The efficacy of prayer. Tearful prayers
The power of faith. — Envy; Wrath; Peace and Love
In union is strength : examples. Evils of discord
Tale-bearers. Sloth. Covetousness
Christ's sufferings from poverty and want
Of Gluttony. Of Incontinence. Real presence
Prayers, messengers to Heaven, bring divine help
Faith baffles the subtlety of the tempter
Ishbosheth slain through sloth and carelessness
The remembrance of past sins tempteth
Remedies against vices. Pride. Humility
The humility of Christ .
The remedy of Envy; of Wrath; of Indolence; of Covetousness
Temptations are to be driven away
The wounds of Christ a refuge to the soul
The cross a shield. St. Benedict's remedy
Sin, at first a spark, kindleth a great fire
PAGE
219—221
223—225
227
233
235—237
239
241
243
245—247
249—251
253—255
257—259
261
261—263
265
267—271
273
275
277—279
281
283—289
291
293
295
297
Part V, — Of Confession.
Efficacy of confession ....
Sin not to be palliated or excused
The last judgment ....
Confession must be bitter and sorrowful
Miserable state of the guilty
Sin driveth away our guardian angel
Confession must be plain, complete, and undisguised
Accomplice, place, time, and manner of sin
How often, and why sin has been committed
Sin will at last be shamefully exposed
Confession not to be delayed
It must be humble; with shame, fear, and hope
Sinfulness of presumption, and of despair
Confession must be prudent, truthful, and voluntary
It must be of our own sins only; and premeditated
Cautions with regard to confession
Trivial faults; penance; absolution
301—303
305
307
309
311
313
31.5—317
319
321
323
327
329—333
335
337—339
341—343
345
347
Part VI. — Of Penance.
The elect are of three kinds
1. Good pilgrims; 2. Dead with Christ; 3. Crucified with Christ
Pain and shame are a ladder reaching to Heaven
Elijah's chariot of fire. The flaming sword .
Heavenly joy the reward of earthly suffering
St. Peter; St. Andrew; St. Lawrence; St. Katherine
349
351—353
355
357
359—361
363
XXVlll
CONTENTS.
The foolish, when sick, refuse bitter medicine
Christ stood between us and punishment
Cautions against carnal ease and indulgence
St. Agatha. Legendary miracle
The three Marys, three kinds of bitterness
The way to sweetness is through bitterness
Recluses compared to young trees fenced with thorns
Unjust contempt is to be borne with meekness
Love maketh all things easy
Part VIL — Of Love,
A pure heart essential to love
What God has done to win our love
A parable of the love of Christ
The cross of Christ our shield; his love to our souls
Baptism, tears, and blood, baths to cleanse the soul
What Christ will give for our love
He sheds rays of love from the cross
The widow of Sarepta's two sticks an emblem of the cross
How Chrisfs love is requited
Greek fire, 403. It betokeneth spiritual love
Love bindeth our Lord — is the supreme rule
PAGE
365
367
369
371
373
377
379
381
383
387
389
389—391
393—395
397
399
401
403
405
407
409—411
Part VIII. — Of domestic matters.
Times of holy communion ; food ; and abstinence
Intercourse with the world without improper
Alms, gifts. Keeping of cattle improper
Traffic forbidden. Clothing and discipline
Caution against finery in dress; and against idleness
Epistolary correspondence. Blood-letting
Obedience and modest demeanor enjoined
Forbearance; peace and concord. Graces at meals
Silence; faithfulness; mildness in reproving
Concluding benediction and prayer of the author
Glossarial Index
Corrections and additions
413
415
417
419
421
423
425
427
429
431
433
476
REGULiE INCLUSARUM
PE ANCREN RIWLE.
REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
PE ANCREN RIWLE.
"Recti diligunt te." In Canticis, Sponsa ad Sponsam. Est
Rectum Grammaticura, % Rectum Geometricum, % Rectum Teolo-
gicum ; 1 sunt differencie totidem Regularum. De Recto Theolo-
gico nobis sermo est; cujus Regulse duse sunt: una circa cordis
directionem ; altera versatur circa exteriorem rectificationem.
" Recti diligunt te." Louerd ! sei^ Godes Spuse to hire deore-
wur^e Spus, ]>eo ]>e riht luvie'S \e, \eo ]?et beo-S riht : \&o Jjet libbeiS
efter riwle. And je, mine leoue sustren, habbe'S moni dai iremd on
me ^ efter riwle. Moni cunne riwle beo-5 ; auh tuo beo^S amons alle
\ei ich chulle speken of, ]7urh ower bone, mid Godes helpe. pe on
riwle-S ]?e heorte, ]?e make's hire efne 7 sme'Se, wi^Sute knotte % dolke
of woh inwit % of wreinde ; ^ J^et sei^, " her J7U smiegest ; " o-Ser, " J^is
nis nowt ibet jet al se wel " hit ouhte." peos riwle is euere wi^innen %
rihte'5 ]7e heorte. Et hec est caritas quam describit apostolus, " de
corde puro 1 consciencia bona, % fide non ficta.'^ peos riwle is cherite
" of schir heorte *? cleane inwit, *? trewe bileaue." " Pretende," inquid
Psalmista, " misericordiam tuam scientibus te, per fidem non fictam, *?
justiciam tuam," i. e. uite rectitudinem, " his qui recti sunt corde ; "
qui, scilicet, omnes uoluntates suas dirigunt ad regulam diuine uolun-
tatis :! isti dicuntur boni, autonomatice. Psalmista, " Benefac,
" ioraued me. MS. Cotton. Cleopatra, C. vi. ^ wTeginde. C.
"■■ al se wel as. C
RULES AND DUTIES
OF MONASTIC LIFE.
INTRODUCTION.
"The upright love thee," saith the bride to the bridegroom,
Canticles, i. 4. There is a Law or Rule of Grammar, of Geometry,
and of Theology ; and of each of these sciences there are special rules.
We are to treat of the Theological Law, the rules of which are two :
the one relates to the right conduct of the heart ; the other, to the
regulation of the outward life.
"The upright love thee, O Lord," saith God's bride to her
beloved bridegroom, those who love thee rightly, those are upright ;
those who live by a rule. And ye, my dear sisters, have oftentimes
importuned me for a rule. There are many kinds of rules ; but,
among them all, there are two of which, Avith God's help, I will
speak, by your request. The one rules the heart, and makes it
even and smooth, without knot or wound-mark of evil or accusing
conscience, that saith, "In this thou doest wickedly," or, "This
is not amended yet as well as it ought to be." This rule is
always within you, and directs the heart. And this is that charity
which the Apostle describes, " de corde puro, et conscientia bona
et fide non ficta." This rule is charity " Out of a pure heart, and
of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." " " Continue," saith
the Psalmist, "thy mercy to them that know thee," by faith
unfeigned, " and thy righteousness," that is, rectitude of life, " to
those who are upright in heart," ^ in other words, who regulate all
^ 1 Timothy, i. 5. '' Psalm, xxxvi. ]0,
4 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Domine bonis If rectis corde." Istis dicitur ut glorientur, testi-
monio, videlicet, bone consciencie. " Gloriamini, omnes recti corde,"
quos, scilicet, rectificauit regnla ilia suprema rectificans omnia^ De
qua Augustinus, "Nichil petendum preter regulam magisterii."
Et Apostolus : " Omnes in eadem regula permaneamus." pe o'Ser
riwle is al wi^uten, % riwle^ ye licome 7 licomliche deden; )?et
teche~S al liu me schal beren him wi'Suten, — hu eten, drincken,
werien, liggen, slepen, walkien. Et liec est exercitacio corporis
que, juxta Apostolum, modicum valet, % est quasi regula recta
mechanici, quod geometrico recto continetur; ant ]7eos riwle nis
bute vorto serui ]7e o'Ser. pe o'Ser is ase lefdi : ];eos is ase ]?uften ;
vor al J^et me eauer de^ of j^e o'Ser * wi^uten, nis bute vorto riwlen
be heorte wi'Sinnen,
1 *• ]\u aski je hwat riwle je ancren schullen holden ? Ye schullen
alles weis, mid alle mihte, % mid alle strencSe, wel witen Jje inre, %
J7e uttre vor hire sake, pe im^e is euere iliche : J^e uttre is misliche.
Vor euerich ^ schal holden ]7e uttre efter J^et ]?e licome mei best mid
hire serui j^e inre. Nu ]?eonne is hit so J^et alle ancren muwen wel
holden one riwle ? '^ Quantum ad puritatem cordis, circa quam uer-
satur tota religio : ]7et is, alle muwen 1J owen holden one riwle onont
purete of heorte: ]?et is, cleane, schir inwit, wi^ute wite of sunne
]7et ne beo ]7urh schrift ibet. pis make's |?e leafdi riwle, |?e riwle^
% rihte'S 1, smeSeS ];e heorte "% tet inwit of sunne; vor nout ne
make^ hire woe ^ bute sunne one. Rihten hire 1! sme^en hire is of
euch religiun, 1, of efrich ordre |>e god, % al J^e streng^e. peos riwle
of ordre. C. •> uli an. C.
niagen halden an riwle wel. C.
for nawt ne marre'S hire woh, seragcn -] unefne. C.
RULES AND DUTIES OF MONASTIC LIFE. 5
their wishes by the rule of the divine will ; such persons are rightly
called good. The Psalmist says, " Do good, O Lord, to those that
be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts." * To them it
is said that they may delight, namely, in the witness of a good
conscience. " Be glad in the Lord and rejoice all ye that are
upright in heart," ^ that is, all whom that supreme law hath directed
aright which directs all things rightly. Concerning which Au-
gustine saith, "Nothing must be sought contrary to the rule of
the supreme authority ; " and the Apostle, " Let us all abide by the
same rule." '^ The other rule is all outward, and ruleth the body
and the deeds of the body. It teaches how men should, in all
respects, bear themselves outwardly; how they sliotild eat and drink,
dress, take rest, sleep, and walk. And this is bodily exercise,
which, according to the Apostle, profitcth little,*^ and is, as it were, a
rule of the science of mechanics, which is a branch of geometry ;
and this rule is only to serve the other. The other is as a lady ;
this is as her handmaid; for, whatever men do of the other out-
wardly, is only to direct the heart within.
Do you now ask what rule you anchoresses should observe ? Ye
should by all means, with all your might and all your strength, keep
well the inward rule, and for its sake the outward. The inward
rule is always alike. -The outward is various, because every one
ought so to observe the outward rule as that the body may therewith
best serve the inward. Now then, is it so that all anchoresses may
well observe one rule ? Quantum ad puritatem cordis circa quam
versatur tota religio : that is, all may and ought to observe one rule
concerning purity of heart, that is, a clean unstamed conscience,
without any reproach of sin that is not remedied by confession.
This the lady rule effects, which governs and corrects and smoothes
the heart and the conscience of sin, for nothing maketh it rugged but
sin only. To correct it and smooth it is the good office and the
* Psalm, cxxv, 4. ^ Psalm, xxxii. 11 .
'■' Philippians, iii. 1(5. '' 1 Timothy, iv. 8.
6 REGVLM INCLUSARUM.
is itnaked nout of monnes fundleas, auh is of godes liestes. For ]>[
heo is eiier on "? schal beon, wi^ute monglunge *? wi^ute chaungunge,
? alle owen hire in on euer to holden. Auh alle ne muwe nout holden
one riwle ne ne ]7urven, ne ne owen holden on one wise "Se vtture
riwle. "Quantum, scihcet, ad obseruantias corporales ; " ]>et is ononde
hcomhche lokinges. Be vttre riwle, "Set ich ]7uften cleopede, 1 is
monnes findles, nis for noj^ing elles istald bute forte seruie 'Se inre.
pet make's festen, wakien, kold "i here^ werien, 1 swuche o'Sre
heardschipes ]?et moni flechs mai J^olien, 7 moni ne mai nout. Vor
])i mot ]?eos riwle chaungen hire misliche efter euch ones manere, 15
efter hire efne. Vor sum is strong, sum is unstrong, 7 mei ful wel
beo cwite J paie god mid lesse. Sum is clergesse, 7 sum nis nout 1
mot te more wurchen, 7 an o^er wise siggen hire ures.^ Sum is old
J atelich ^ *? is -Se leasse dred of. Sum is jung J liuelich 1! is neode
]7e betere warde. Vor yi schal efrich ancre habben J>e uttre riwle,
efter schriftes read, 1: hwat se he bit ^ hat hire don in ^ obedience
•Se cnowe^ hire manere "? hire strencSe: he mai ]?e vttre riwle
chaungen, efter wisdom, alse he isih^ )?et te ^ inre mai beon best
iholden.
Non ancre bi mine read ne schal makien professiun, j^et is, bihoten
ase best,*" bute ]?reo ]?inges, j^et is, obedience, chastete, J studestajjel-
uestnesse ; ]}et heo ne schal j^ene stude neuer more chaungen : bute
vor need one, als streng'Se 7 dea'Ses dred, obedience of hire bischope,
ober of hire herre. Vor hwoa se nime'S ymg on bond 1" bihat hit
God alse heste to donne, heo bint hire ]7erto, "? sunege^ deadliche i'Se
bruche, jif heo hit breke'S willes 1: woldes. Gif heo hit ne bihat
nout heo hit mai don ]?auh, 1! leten hwon heo wel wule, alse of mete
» calde T harde, C. ** segen hire bonen. C.
= aid T feble. C. '' hat hire in. C.
' ase he si'S hu he C. ' het is bihaten hcsLe alswa asc hcstc. C.
AVnO ARE FIT TO MAKE PROFESSION. 7
excellent effect of all religion and of every religious order. This
rule is fi'amed not by man's contrivance, but by tlie command of
God. Wherefore, it ever is and shall be the same, without mixture
and without change ; and all men ought ever invariably to observe
it. But all men cannot, nor need they, nor ought they to keep the
outward rule in the same unvaried manner, " quantum, scihcet, ad
observantias corporales," that is to say, in regard to observances that
relate to the body. The external rule, which I called the handmaid,
is of man's contrivance ; nor is it instituted for any thing else but to
serve the internal law. It ordains fasting, watching, enduring cold,
wearing haircloth, and such other hardships as the flesh of many can
bear and many cannot. Wherefore, this rule may be changed and
varied according to every one's state and circumstances. For some
are strong, some are weak, and may very well be excused, and
please God with less ; some are learned, and some are not, and must
work the more, and say tlieir prayers at the stated hours in a different
manner ; some are old and ill favoured, of whom there is less fear ;
some are young and lively, and have need to be more on their guard.
Every anchoress must, therefore, observe the outward rule according
to the advice of her confessor, and do obediently whatever he enjoins
and commands her, who knows her state and her strength. He
may modify the outward rule, as prudence may direct, and as he
sees that the inward rule may thus be best kept.
JVq anchorite, by my advice, shall make profession, that is, vow to
keep any thing as commanded, except three things, that is, obedience,
chastity, and constancy as to her abode ; that she shall never more
change her convent, except only by necessity, as compulsion and
fear of death, obedience to her bishop or superior ; for, whoso
undertaketh any thing, and promises to God to do it as his command,
binds herself thereto, and sinneth mortally in breaking it, if she break
it wilfully and intentionally. If, however, she does not vow it, she
may, nevertheless, do it, and leave it off when she will, as of meat
and drink, abstaining from flesh or fish, and all other such things
relating to dress, and rest, and hours, and prayers. Let her say as
8 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
■? of clruncli, fleschs forgon oj^er visch, ? alle o)?er swuche ]?inges, of
weriunge,^ of liggunge, of vres, of beoden. Sigge so monie, % o
hwuclie wise se heo euer wule. peos 1, swuche oj^re ^ Leo's alle ine
freo wille to donne oJ>er to leten hwon me euer wule, bute heo beon
bihoten. Auh cherite \e,t is luue % edmodnesse, % ]?olemodnesse,
treoweschipe, % holding of "Se tene olde liesten, schrift *? penitence,
]?eos 1; swuclie o]?re )?et beo'b summe of \e olde lawe, summe of "Se
neowe, ne beo'S nout monnes fundles, ne riwle ]7et mon stolde, ah
beo^ Godes hesten, % for \\ eueriche mon ham mot nede liolden,*' % "T
je ouer alle ]>ing ; vor ])eos riwlcS J^e horte, 1, of hire riwlunge is
al mest ]?et ich riwle '^, bute i'Se frum'Se of )?is boc, J i'Se laste ende.
pe J?inges J?et ich write her of 'Se vttre riwle je ham holde'S alse
mine leoue sustren, vre Louerd beo i"Soncked,® 1 schulen ]7urh his
grace, se lengre se betere ; % J»auh nullich nout J?et je bihoten ham
ase heste to holden ; for alse ofte alse je ]?erefter breken eni of ham
hit wolde to swuj^e hurten ower heorte % makien ou so offered ]>et je
muhten sone uallen, }7et God forbeode ou, in desperaunce, Jjet is, in x,
unhope "? in unbileaue forte beon iboruwen. For )?i ]?et ich write ou,
mine leoue sustren, of vttre j^inges i^e ereste dole of ower boc, of
ower seruise, % nomeliche i'Se laste, je ne schulen nout bihoten hit,
auh habbe'S hit on heorte, % do's hit as jjauh je hefden hit bihoten.
(jrif eni unweote acse'S ou of hwat ordre je beon alse sum deS,
alse je telle^ me, ]7e isih^ J>ene gnet 1: swoluweS ];e vlije, onswerie^
*? sigge^ ]?e, je beo'S of seint lames ordre ]?et was Godes apostle, 1 -\r
for his muchele holinesse cleopede Godes broj^er. Gif him J;>unche'S +"
wunder % selku'S of swuch onswere, aske^ him, Hwat beo ordre, 7
hwar he ifinde in holi write religiun openluker descriued % isuteled (
J?en in sein lames canoniel epistle ? He sei^ hwat is religiun % hwuch
is riht ordre : " Religio munda et iramaculata apud Deum '% Patrem
" werunge. C.
'' of hures, of o^re beoden to seggen, J^eos ") pullich o'Sere. C.
'' T for l^i mot vh mon ncodelicli bam bolden. C.
"1 write. C. <• beo bit honked. C. .
RULE TO BE OBSERVED, PURITY AND GODLY LOVE. 9
many, and in such a way, as she pleases. These and such other
things are all in our free choice, to do or to let alone whenever we
choose, unless they are vowed. But charity or love, and meekness
and patience, truthfulness, and keeping the ten old commandments,
confession, and penitence, these and such others, some of which are
of the old law, some of the new, are not of man's invention, nor a
rule established by man, but they are the commandments of God,
and, therefore, every man is bound and obliged to keep them, and
you most of all ; for they govern the heart, and its government is the
main point concerning which I have to give directions in this book,
except in the beginning and in the concluding part of it. As to the
things which I write here concerning the external rule, ye, as my
dear sisters, observe them, our Lord be thanked, and through his
grace ye shall do so, the longer the better ; and yet I would not
have you to make a vow to observe them as a divine command ;
for, as often thereafter as ye might break any of them it would too
much grieve your heart and frighten you, so that you might soon
fall, which God forbid, into despair, that is, into hopelessness and
distrust of your salvation. Therefore, my dear sisters, that which I
shall write to you in the first, and especially in the last part of your
book, concerning your service, you should not vow it, but keep it
in your heart, and perform it as though you had vowed it.
If any ignorant person ask you of what order you are, as you tell
me some do, who strain at the gnat and swallow the fly, answer and
say that ye are of the order of Saint James, Avho was God's Apostle,
and for his great holiness Avas called God's brother. If such
answer seems to him strange and singular, ask him, " What is
order, and where he may find in holy writ religion more plainly
described and manifested than in the canonical epistle of St. James?''
He saith what religion is, and what right order : " Religio munda et
immaculata apud Deum et Patrem haic est, visitare pupillos et
viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc
seculo ; " that is, " Pure religion and without stain is to visit and assist
widows and fatherless children, and to keep himself pure and uii-
CAMD. soc. c
10 REGUL.E INCLUSARUM,
hec est, visitare pupillos 1 vicluas in tribulatione eorum *? immacii-
latum se custodire ab hoc seculo; " ]7et is, cleane religiun J, wiSuten
wem is iseon % helpen widewen % federlease children % from j^e
world witen him cleane 1: unwemmed. pus seint lame descriueS
religiun 7 ordre. pe latere dole of his sawe lirape'S to recluses ; vor
]?er beo'S two dolen to two manere of men ];et beo'S of religiun.
To eij?er limpeS his dole, ase je muwen iheren. Gode religiuse beo'S ^
i ]7e worlde, summe nomeliche prelaz ? treowfe prechures ; J^et habbe^
]7e vorme dole ^ of ]?et seint lame seide. pet beo^, alse he seide, J^e
go's to helpen widewen 1 federlease children, pe soule is widewe
|)et haueS vorloren hire spus, ]?et is, Ihu Crist, wi^ eni heaued
sunne. pe is also federleas ]?et haue^S ]7urh his sunne vorlore J^ene
Yeder ^ of heouene. Gon % iseon swuch "? elnen " ham 1! helpen mid
fode of holi lore, ]?is is riht religiun, he seiS ^ seint lame, pe latere \
Folio 3. dole of his sawe limpe'S to ancren, to ower religiun, alse ich er seide,
]?e witeS ou from ]?e worlde, ouer alle o'Sre religiuse, clene '? un-
wemmed. pus ]?e apostle seint lame descriue^ religiun % ordre ;
nou]7er hwit ne blac ne nemne'S he in his ordre, ase moni ]?et isihS
]?ene gnet 7 swoluweS jje vlije, ]7et is, makeS muchel strencSe ]?er as
is Intel. Powel ]7e erest ancre,® Antonie, °i Arsenic, Makarie "? te
o'Sre, neren heo religiuse If of seint lames ordre ? Also seinte Sare, *?
seinte Sincletice, "? monie ©"Sre swuche weopmen % wummen mid
hore greate maten % hore herde heren,^ neren heo of gode ordre ? ? <
hwi^er hwite o'Ser blake, alse unwise askcS ou, ]?et weneS jjet
order sitte i'Se kurtel o]7er \^e, kuuele, God hit wot ; noj^eleas heo ^
weren wel beo'Se :^ naut tauh onont clodes ^ auh ase Godes spuse +
singeS bi hire suluen, " Nigra sum sed formosa." Ich am blac % tauh
hwit, heo sei^, unseaulich wi'Suten, 1, shene wiSinnen :^ o j^isse wise
answerie^ to ]>eo ]7et aske^ ou of ower ordre, ? hwcSer hwite oj^er
blake f' sigge'S ]?et je beo^ boSe ]?urh j^e grace of God, *? of seint a
* )je arre dale. C. ^ {>ene heje feder. C.
•= gan iseon JjuUich ') frouerin. C. '' swa seK. C.
* ermite. C. ' wi'S hare greate metei "] hare herde hearen. C.
P in J>e curtel, god \v;U; no'Seles ha were wel ba'Se, naut hach ononde cla'Ses. C.
THE PRIMITIVE HERMITS FOLLOWED ST. JAMES's RULE. 11
stained from the world." Thus does St. James describe religion and
order. The latter part of his saying relates to anchorites : for there
are two parts of this description, which relates to two kinds of
religious men ; to each of them his own part applies, as you may
hear. There are in the world good religious men, especially some
prelates and faithful preachers, to whom belongs the former part of
that which St. James said ; who are, as he said, those who go to
assist widows and orphans. The soul is a widow who has lost her
husband, that is, Jesus Christ, by any grievous sin. He is likewise
an orphan who, through his sin, hath lost the Father of Heaven. To
go and visit such, and to comfort and assist them with food of sacred
instruction, this, saitli St. James, is true religion. The latter part
of his saying relates to anchorites, to your religious order, as I said
before, who keep yourselves pure and unspotted from the world,
more than any other religious persons. Thus the Apostle St. James
describes religion and order ; neither white nor black does he speak
of in his order, as many do, who strain at the gnat and swallow the
fly, that is, exert much strength where little is required. Paul,
the first anchorite, Antony and Arsenius, INIacharius, and the rest,
were not they religious persons and of St. James's order ? And St.
Sara, Sincletica, and many other such men and women with their
coarse mattresses and their hard hair-cloths, were not they of a good
order? And whether white or black, as foolish people ask you, who
think that order consists in the kirtle or the cowl, God knoweth ;
nevertheless, they may well wear both, not, however, as to clothes,
but as God's bride singeth of herself, "Nigi'a sum sed formosa."
I am black and yet white, she saith, dark outwardly and bright
within. In this manner answer ye any one who asks you concerning
your order, and, whether white or black, say that ye are both
through the grace of God, and of the order of St. James, which he
wrote, the latter part, " Immaculatum se custodire ab hoc seculo," that
is, what I said before, to keep himself pure and unstained from the
world ; herein is religion, and not in the wide hood, nor in the black,
noi- in the white, nor in the gray cowl. There, hoxA'ever, where
12 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
lames ordre, ]?et lie wi-ot latere, " Immaculatum se custodire ab oc
seculo," ]7et is, ]7et ich er seide, vrom ]?e workle witen him clene %
iinwemmed ^ her imie is rehgimi 7 nout ij>e wide hod, ne i'Se blake,
ne i^e hwite, ne i'Se greje kuuele r' "Ser also moni Leo^ igedered
togederes, Jtereuore mid om'ednesse^ me schal makien strenc^e of
onnesse of clo]?es "? of o'Ser hwat of vttre J^inges, J?et te omiesse
wi'Suten bitocnie ]?e omiesse of o luue 7 of o wil, ]?et heo alle habbe^
imene wi'Sinnen hore abit, |>et is on, y&t euch haue^ swuch ase o'Ser ;
■? also of o^er hwat ajeines ^ ]7et heo habbe'S alle togederes o lune
1, o wil, euch alswuch alse o]?er : ^ loke ]?et heo ne lijen :! ]7us hit is
i kuuent :! auh hwarse wummon line's o'Ser mon bi him one, eremite
cSer ancre, of ]?incges wi'Suten hwarof scandle ne knme r^ nis nout
muche strencSe. HercneS nu Michee, Godes prophete, " Indicabo 1"
tibi homo quid sit bonum 7 quid Dominus requirat a te :^ utique
facere judicium % iusticiam, ? sollicite ambulare cum Domino Deo
tuo," ich chulle schawe ]?e ^ mon sei^S |>e holi Michee, Godes pro- | '
phete, ich chulle scheawe J^e soSliche hwat is God, J, hwuch is reli- \
giun, ? hwuch ordre, "? hwuch holinesse God aske'S of "Se. Loke "Sis, x
vnderstond hit, do wel % dem "Se suluen euer woe, 7 mid dred '% mid
luue go mid God J^i louerd :! ]7er ase ]?eos }?incges beo^S ]?er is riht ^
religiun, J, ]?er is riht ordre ; t don al ]7et o'Ser % leten ]?is nis bute a
trukunge 1! a fals gile :! al ]7et gode religiuse do^ o'Ser wene'S " efter x
\e uttre riwle, al togedere is hereuore ; ^ al nis bute ase a sedole ^ to
timbrin her toward :! al nis bute ase a schelchine to seruien ]>e leafdi'^
to riwlen ^e heorte.
JNu mine leoue sustren, |?eos boc ich to dele on eihte distinctiuns,
]?et je clepie'S dolen, % euerich dole wi^ute moncglunge speke"S al bi
« >erfor anrednesse. C, ^ o'Ser hwet. Ha zeieS. C.
" an luue T an wil, vh an as o'Ser. C. '' ich wile schawe J^e. C.
« werie'S. c. f al hit is herefore. C.
8 al nis buten lome tol. C. ase ase dole >
'' al nis buten an |>uften to seruin Jju lauedi. C.
RULES AND DUTIES OF MONASTIC LIFE. 13
many are gathered together, they should, for the sake of unity, make
a point of sameness of clothes, and of other outward things, that the
outward sameness may denote the sameness of one love and of one
will, which they have in common under their habit, which is one,
which every one has the same as another ; and also of other kind of
properties, that they all united have one love and one will, every
one the same as another. Let them look well that they do not lie.
Thus it is in a convent ; but, wherever a woman liveth, or a man
liveth by himself alone, be he hermit or anchorite, of outward things
whereof scandal cometh not, it is not necessary to take so much care.
Hearken now to Micah, God's prophet, " Indicabo tibi homo quid
sit bonum, et quid Dominus requirat a te ; utique facere judicium
et justitiam, et sollicite ambulare cum Domino Deo tuo." " I will
shew thee, o man," saith the holy Micah, God's prophet, "I will
shew thee truly what is good, and what religion is, and what order,
and what holiness God requires of thee. Mark this, understand it,
do good, and deem thyself ever weak, and with fear and love walk
with God thy Lord. Wherever these things are, there is true
religion, and there is right order ; and to do all the other things and
leave this undone is mere trickery and deceit. All that a good
recluse does or thinks,*^ according to the external rule, is altogether
for this end ; it is only as an uistrument to promote this true
religion ; it is only a slave to help the lady to rule the heart.
-Now, my dear sisters, this book I divide into eight distinctions,
which ye call parts, and each part treats separately, without con-
fusion, of distinct matters, and yet each one falleth in properly after
another, and the latter is always connected with the former.
Keeps herself from doing, v. r.
14 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
liimsulf of sunderliche J>incges *? tauh euch on vailed rilit efter oj^er
If is J7e latere euer iteied to "Se vorme.^
pe vorme dole spoke's al of ower seruise.
pe oj^er is liu je schulen j^urli ower vif wittes witen ower lieorte
bet ordre. If religiun, 7 soule lif is inne. I ]7isse distinctiun beo^ fif
cheapitres alse vif stucchenes efter |>e vif wittes, J?et wite^ J)e lieorte
alse wakemen hwarse heo beoS treowe, If speked of euerich wit
sunderliche areawe.
pe bridde dole is of ones kunnes fuweles J^et Dauid i\>e sauter
efne'S liimsulf to, alse he were ancre r* If hu j^eo kunde of J^eo ilke
fuweles '' beo'S ancreii iliche.
pe veor'Se dole is of fleschliche vondunges If of gostliche bo'Se If
kunfort ajeines ham, '? of hore saluen.
pe vifte dole is of schrift.
pe sixte dole is of penitence.
pe seoue^e dole is of schir lieorte, hwi me ouh, ? hwi me sclial
Ihu Crist luuien :' If hwat binime^ us his luue, "? let us to luuien
him.
pe eihtu^e dole is al of ]7e uttre riwle :! erest of mete 1; of drunc
"? of o'Ser ]7inges ]>et failed ^er abuten ; j^er efter of 'peo j^inges J^et je
muwen underuon ^ *? hwat ]?inges je muwen witen 1 liabben ;
}?erefter, of ower clo'Ses If of swuche ]?inges ase "Ser abuten ualle'S :'
'Ser efter of ower doddunge. If of ower werkes, '? of ower blod
letunge t' ower "^ meidenes riwle a last hu je ham schullen luueliche
leren.
Hwon je erest arise^, blesce^ ou 1: sigge^, " In nomine Patris If
Filii t Sancti Spiritus, Amen ^" J biginne'S anon " Veni Creator
" ant )5ach uch an richt fane's efter J^e o'Ser ~i is j>e latere dale itei3et to \>e arre. C.
b of Hike fu3eles. C.
'^ of ower werkes of doddunge "] of blodletunge; of ower. C.
DIVISION OF THE TREATISE INTO EIGHT PARTS. 15
The first part treats entirely of your religious service.
The next is, how you ought, through your five senses, to keep
your heart, wherein is order, religion, and the life of the soul. In
this part there are five chapters or sections concerning the five
senses, which guard the heart as watchmen when they are faithful,
and which speak concerning each sense separately in order.
The third part is of a certain kind of bird, to which David, in the
Psalter, compares himself, as if he w^ere an anchorite, and how the
nature of those birds resembles that of anchorites.
The fourth part is of fleshly, and also of spiritual temptations, and
of comfort against them, and of their remedies.
The fifth part is of confession.
The sixth part is of penitence.
The seventh part is of a pure heart, why men ought and should
love Jesus Christ, and what deprives us of his love, and hinders us
from loving him.
The eighth part is entirely of the external rule ; first, of meat and
drink and of other thino;s relating thereto ; thereafter, of the things
that ye may receive, and what things ye may keep and possess ; then
of your clothes and of such things as relate thereto ; next of your
tonsure, and of your works, and of your blood-letting ; lastly, the
rule concerning your maids, and how you ought kindly to instruct
them.
PART I.— OF DIVINE SERVICE.
W hen you first arise in the morning bless yourselves with the
sign of the cross and say, " In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen," and begin directly " Creator
Spirit, come," with your eyes and your hands raised up toward
heaven, bending forward on your knees upon the bed, and thus sav
16 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Spiritus :' " mid up aheuinde eien % honden toward heouene, buinde
oknon ^ vor^ward vpo 'Se bed % sigge'S so al ^e imne vt mid te ''
uerset " Emitte Spiritum tuum " 1 te oreisun, " Deus qui corda :^ " "^
]?er efter scheoinde ou *? clo'Sinde, sigge'S Pater Noster 1: Credo, %
seo'Sen " lesu Xte fili Dei viui miserere nostri :! qui de Virgine
dignatus es nasci, miserere nobis/' pis word sigge^ euer vort je
beon al grei'Se ^ ^ J^is word habbe'S muchel on vs 7 i mu'Se euch
time J^et je muwen, sittinde 1 stondinde. ^
Hwon je beo^ al grei^Se sprenge'S ou mid liali water ]>et je \
schulen euer liabben mid ou, "? ]7enche^ o Godes flesclis % on his f
blod ]7et is ouer ^ ]7e heie weouede 1 fane's acneon 'Ser toward mit
J^eos gretunge, " Ave principium nostre creacionis ! Ave precium
nostre redempcionis ! Ave viaticum nostre peregrinacionis ! Ave
premium nostre expectacionis ! "
Tu esto nostnmi gaudium,
Qui es fiiturus premium.
Sit nostra in te gloria,
Per cuncta semper secula.
Mane nobiscum Domine.
Noctem obscuram remoue.
Omne delictum abKie.
Piam medelam tribue.
Gloria tibi Domine,
Qui natus es de uirgine.
Also je schulen don hwon ]?e preost halt hit vp ette messe,^ "? biuore
]7e confiteor hwon je schulen beon ihuseled \' efter J?is ualle"5 acneon
to ower crucifix mid teos vif gretunges.^
" acneon. C. ** ") mid \>q. C. ' corda fidelium. C.
'' J>eose wordes segge^ a^et ge beon grei'Se. C.
^ an vs ") in mu'Se ofte hwenne ge magen sitte ge o'Ser stonden. C.
' abuue. C. ^ hwenne me hald hit up ed )>e messe. C.
•i mid J^ase gretinges in \>e munegunge of J^e vif wunden. C.
PRIVATE DEVOTION IN THE MORNING. 17
the whole hymn to the end, with the versicle, " Send forth thy Holy
Spirit," and the prayer, " God, who didst teach the hearts of thy
faitliful people," &c. After this, putting on your shoes and your
clothes, say the Paternoster and the Creed, and then, " Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God, have mercy on us ! Thou who didst conde-
scend to be born of a virgin, have mercy on us ! " Continue saying
these words until you be quite dressed. Have these words much in
use, and in your mouth as often as ye may, sitting and standing.
When ye are quite dressed, sprinkle yourselves with holy water,
which ye should have always with you, and think upon God's flesh,
and on his blood, which is over the high altar, and fall on your knees
toward it, with this salutation, " Hail, thou author of our creation !
Hail, thou price of our redemption ! Hail, thou who art our support
during our pilgrimage ! Hail, O reward of om* expectation ! "
Be Thou our joy,
VTho art to be our reward.
May our glory be in thee,
Through endless ages.
Abide with us, O Lord.
Remove the dark night.
Wash off all our guilt.
Grant us godly medicine.
Glory be to thee, 0 Lord,
A\nio wert born of a virgin.
Thus shall you do also when the priest elevates it at the mass,
and before the confession, when you are about to receive the host ;
after this, fall on your knees to your crucifix, with these five
greetings : —
CAMD. SOC. D
18 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Folio 4 b. " Adoramus te Christe, % benedicimus tibi qui per sanctam crucem
tuam redemisti mundum. Tuam crucem adoramus Domine :' tuam
gloriosam recolimus passionem :! miserere nostri qui passus es pro
nobis. Salue crux sancta, arbor digna, cujus robur preciosum
mmidi tulit talentum. Salue crux que in corpore Christi dedicata
es, et ex membris ejus tanquam margaritis ornata. O crux, lignum
triumphale mundi ^ uera salus uale, inter ligna nullum tale, fronde,
flore, germine. Medecina Christiana salua sanos, egros sana." And
mit tis ilke worde beate'S on ower breoste.'^ " Quod non ualet vis
humana sit in tuo nomine." Hwo se ne con nout ]?eos fine, sigge 'Se
vormeste^ viue, "Adoramus te, Christe," fif si'Sen kneolinde r' '^ blesci^
ou mid euerichon of "Sees gretunges, 7 mit teos wordes,'' " miserere
nostri qui passus es pro nobis," beateS on ower breoste,* % cusce'S |>e
eorSe icreoiced mid te J'ume.'^ per efter wende'S ou to vre Leafdi
onlicnesse, 1, cneole'S mid fif auez ; a last to ]?e o'Ser onlicnesses,^ 1 to
ower relikes cneole'S, o]?er luteS, nomeliche to ]?eo halewen ]?et je
habbe^ to ]?urh luue iturnd ower weouedes, so muclie J^e raSer ei
is ihalewed.'
per efter anonrilit vre Leafdi vlitsong ^ siggeS o]?isse wise r' jif hit
is werke dei, valle^S to ];er eorbe ; jif hit is halidei buinde sumdel
duneward, "? siggeS Pater Noster % Credo, bo stilliche,'^ '% rihteS ou up
J^er efter, ? sigge^ " Domine, labia mea aperies," % makie^ ^ on ower
mu]7e mit te ]?ume a creoiz, '% et " Deus in adjutorium," a large creoiz
mit ]7e ]7reo vingres vrom abuue ]7e vorheaued dun to ^ J;e breoste
7 vailed to ]7er eor^e jif hit is wei-ke dei, mit te Gloria Patri, o]7er
buwe^S duneward. Eif hit is halidei vort' "sicut erat." pus do^ et
euerich Gloria Patri, "? et te biginnunge of J^e Venite, et tis word,
' heorte. C. '' eareste. C,
"^ -J blescit ou ed uh an ";) wi'S })eose wordes. C.
■* i crucket mid Jjg Jjume. C. * images. C.
' swa muche )>q ra'Sere gef ani is ihaleged. C. e anan vre lauedi vtsong. C.
•» ba stille. C. ' markeS. C.
'' make'5 an cros from he foreheaued to. C. ' o'Set. C.
ADORATION OF THE CROSS AND OF THE VIRGIN. 19
'* We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, who, by thy holy
cross, hast redeemed the world. We adore thy cross, O Lord.
We commemorate thy glorious passion. Pity us, O thou who didst
suffer for us. Hail, O holy Cross, worthy tree, whose precious
wood bore the treasure of the world ! Hail, O Cross, who in the
body of Christ wast dedicated, and with his limbs adorned, as with
pearls. O Cross, wood triumphant over the world. True safety,
hail ! Among woods none such, for leaf, flower, bud. O Christian
medicine, heal, heal the sound and the sick." And with this saying,
beat on your breast, " What human power is unable to do, be done
in thy name." Whoso does not know these five, may say the first
five, " We [adore thee, O Christ," five times, kneeling and blessing
yourselves at every one of these greetings ; and at these words
" have mercy on us, thou who didst suffer for us," beat your breast,
and kiss the earth crossed with the thumb. Thereafter turn to our
Lady's image and kneel, saying the " Ave " five times ; lastly, kneel
or bow to the other images and to your relics, namely, to the saints
to whom 3^ou have, through affection, dedicated your altars, so much
the more readily if any of them are hallowed.**
Lnmediately, thereafter, say our Lady's nocturnal service, in this
wise : if it is a workday, fall to the earth ; if it is a holiday, bowing
somewhat downward, and say the Paternoster and Creed, both in a
low voice, and then stand up and say, " O Lord, open thou my lips,"
and make the sign of the cross on your mouth with the thumb, and
say, " God be our help ; " then a large cross from above the forehead
down to the breast, with the three fingers, and fall to the earth, if it
is a workday, with the Gloria Patri, or bow downward, if it is a
holiday, as far as the words " sicut erat." Thus do at every Gloria
Patri, and at the beginning of the Venite, at this word, " Venite
adoremus," and at Ave Maria, and wheresoever you hear Mary's
name named, and at every Paternoster that occm's in the hours, and in
the Creed, at this word, "natus ex Maria virgine," and at the collect of
» Rendered more sacred by having relics deposited under them.
20 KEGUL^ INCLU8ARUM.
"Venite adoremus," ^ et Aue Maria, 1 liwarso je euer ihere-S
Maries' nome inemned, *? to euerich Pater Noster )?et fane's to ))e
vres, % i'Se Crede et tis word " natus ex Maria uirgine," 7 to ]7e coUecte
Folio 5. of euerich tide, ? to ]>e Letanie, 1; to laste uers of euerich imne,^ 1! et te
laste uers wi^uten on ^ of J^isse salme, " Benedicite omnia opera
Domini Domino," et tisse uerse, " Benedicamus Patrem 1 FiHum cum
Sancto Spiritu ; " and et alle ]7eos ilke, jif hit is werkedei, vailed to
ber eor^e:' jif hit is hahdei, buwe'S sumdel duneward:^ 1; et te
biginnunge of euerich tide, et tisse worde, " Deus in adjutorium,"
makie^ rodentokne, also ich er tauhte ; "? et tis word, " Veni Creator
Spiritus," buwe^ o'Ser kneole^, efter ]>et te dei is ; 1! et tisse worde,
"Memento salutis auctor," vane's euere adun; 1! et tisse worde,
" Nascendo formam sumpseris," cusce^ ]?e eor^e, J. also ine Te Deum,
et tisse worde, "Non horruisti uirginis ventrem," 1! et te messe crede,*"
et tisse worde, " Ex Maria uirgine, et homo factus es."
Euerich on sigge hire vres also heo bane's iwriten ham, T: euerich
tide sunderliche also uor^ also je muwen sigge^ in his time,"^ auh
er to sone ]?en to leate. Eif je ne muwen euer holden J^e rihte time,
vhtsong bi nihte ine winter :/ ine sumer ij^e dawunge :' ]?is winter
schal biginnen ette holi rode dei ine heruest, ■? lesten vort efter
prime i]?e winter erliche ; ipe sumer biuor deies,*' Preciosa ]?er efter.
Eif je habbe^ neode vor eni hih]?e to spekene je muwen siggen
Preciosa biuoren, 1: efter vhtsong anon jif hit so neodeS. Non euer
efter mete, auh hwon je slope's sigge'S non efter mete ^ [slop] ]?e
hwule ]?et sumer lested, bute hwon je veste'S ine winter, biuore
mete r' 1; ine sumer hwon je veste'S, j^e sunedei, efter ^ vor je ete^
twien. Et te one psalme je schulen stonden, jif ^e beo^ eise,^ 1! et te
" Crede ") to ^e Collecte, ed eauer vh tide, ") to J^e latenieste vers of eauer vh imne. C.
^ buten an. " T ed \>e masse. In \>e muchel crede. C.
'' ase for^ as ha mei, "] in his time. C.
"^ I sumer bifor^ maregen. C.
' T hwenne ge slepe'S, efter slep. C.
K aise. C.
CANONICAL HOURS. 21
every service, and at the Litany, and at the last verse of every hymn,
and at the last verse but one of this Psalm, " Bless the Lord, all ye
works of the Lord,^' at this verse, "Let us bless the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; " and at all these, if it is workday, fall
to the earth, if it is holiday, bow somewhat downward. And, at the
beginning of every time of service, at this word, " God be our
helper," make the sign of the cross, as I taught you before ; and at
this word, " Come, O Creator Spirit," bow or kneel, according as the
day is ; and at this word, " Be mindful of us, O author of our
salvation,'^ fall always down ; and at this word, " At thy birth thou
didst take our form," kiss the earth, and also at the Te Deum, at this
word, " Thou didst not abhor the virgin's womb," and at the INIass
Creed,'' at this word, " Of the virgin Mary, and was made man."
-Let every one say her hours as she has written them, and say
every service separately, as far as you can, in its own time, but
rather too soon than too late. If ye cannot always keep to the ricrht
time, say the Noctm-ns by night in the winter ; in the summer, at
daybreak. This winter shall begin at Holy Rood-day in autumn,
and continue on thereafter. Prime shall be said in the winter early ;
in summer before daybreak ; Pretiosa thereafter. If you have need
from any emergency to speak, you may say Pretiosa before, and
immediately after the nocturnal service if necessary. Nones always
after meat ; but when you sleep, say Nones after [sleep] during
summer ; but when you fast in winter, before meat ; and in summer
when you fast, the Sunday, after [meat] ; for you eat twice. x\t
the one Psalm you shall stand, if you are at ease, and at the othei',
sit ; and always rise up at the Gloria Patri and bow ; whoever is
able to stand, let her always stand, in God's name, in honour of our
Lady ; and at all the seven hours say Paternoster and Ave INIaria,
* The Nicene Creed.
22 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
o^er sitten, "? euer et Gloria Patri arisen up ^ "? buwen ^ liwo se mei
stonclen euer on vre Leafdi wurscliipe, stoncle a godes halue, '^ et alle +"
seoue tiden sigge^ Pater Noster 1 Ave Maria, bo biuoren % efter.
Fidelium anime efter euerich tide biuore J^e Pater Noster ; et J?reo
tiden siggeS Credo mit te Pater Noster biuoren Uhtsong % efter
Prime, 1! efter Cumpelie. Vrom ]?et, efter Preciosa, holde^ silence.^
Folio 5 b. Efter euesong anonriht sigge'S ower Placebo eueriche niht hwon
je beo^ eise :! bute jif hit beo holiniht vor j^e feste of nie lescuns ]?et
kume^ amorwen, biuore Cumplie,° oSer efter Uhtsong, siggeS Dirige,
mit Jn'eo psalmes, % mit J»reo lescuns eueriche niht sunderliche. Ine
anniuersaries, ]?et is ine munedawes of ower leoue vreond,*^ sigge^
alle niene, *? ine stude of Gloria Patri, et eueriche psalmes ende,
" Requiem ® eternam dona eis, Domine, % Ivx perpetua luceat eis :! " et
Placebo je muwen sitten vort ^ Magnificat, "? also et Dirige, bute et te
lescuns ^ "? et te Miserere, % from Laudato al vt :' sigge'S a last, ine
stude of Benedicamus, " Requiescant in pace." A morwen, oj^er a niht
efter \q suffragiis of Uhtsong, sigge'S Commendacium, sittinde ]?e
psalmes, 7 kneolinde J^e vreisuns o]7er stondinde. Eif je do's ]7vs
eueriche niht, bute a suneniht one, je do's muchele betere.
Seoue psalmes sigge'S sittinde o^er cneolinde, mit te Letanie. ]?e
viftene psalmes sigge^ o ]7isse wise ^ }>e uormeste vine uor ou sulf,
% for alle J^et ou god do's o]?er unne'S :! ]?e o]?er viue uor ]7e peis of ^
holi churche. pe ]n'idde viue uor alle cristene soulen. Efter J^e 1
uorme viue " Kirieleison, Christe eleison, Kyrieleison." Pater Noster:'
" Saluos fac seruos tuos, % ancillas tuas, Deus mens, sperantes in te.'^
* rungen vp. C.
•^ ed he J?reo tiden segge'S Pater Noster wi'S Crede biforen Vchtsong, -^ et Prime, -j et
Conipelin; from ouJ>er Compelin ©"Ser Preciosa beo iseid holde'S silence. C.
•^ for feste of nige leceons t^e Gome's ine marejjen bifore Compelin. C.
'' and gef hit h\^ ani munedai of ouwer leoue front. C,
<■ sege'S requiem. C. ' sitte'S o^et. C.
s; buten et J>e lescuns J>ear stonden. C.
ANNIVERSARIES — COMMENDATIONS. 23
both before and after ; ridelium Animse after every horn* before the
Paternoster ; at three hours say the Creed, with the Paternoster,
before Nocturns and after Prime, and after the Compline ; from that
time, after Pretiosa, keep silence.
Immediately after vespers say your Placebo every night, when
you are at ease ; but, if it be the eve of a festival of nine lessons
that comes on the morrow, before Complme or after Nocturn, say
Dirige, with three Psalms, and with three lessons every night
separately. On the anniversaries, that is, on the commemoration
days of your dear friends, say all the nine, and, at the end of every
Psalm, instead of Gloria Patri, say " Give them eternal rest, O Lord,
and let continual light shine upon them." At Placebo, you may sit
until the Magnificat, and also at Dirige, except at the lessons, and at
the Miserere, and from Laudate throughout ; at the end, instead of
Benedicamus, say " Requiescant in pace." On the morrow, or at
night, after the suffrages of the nocturnal service, say the Commenda-
tion,^ sitting during Psalms, and kneeling or standing during the
prayers. If ye do thus every evening, Sunday night alone excepted,
ye do so much the better.
With the Litany say seven Psalms, sitting or kneeling ; say the
fifteen Psalms on this wise : the first five for yourself, and for all
who do you good or befriend you ; the next five for the peace of holy
church ; the third five for all Christian souls. After the first five,
" Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord
have mercy upon us." Paternoster. " O my God, save thy servants
and handmaids, who hope in Thee. Let us pray. O God, whose
property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our prayer
for forgiveness, and let Thy compassion and pity absolve us who are
bomid with the chaui of our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
* Prayers for the dead.
24 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Oremus. Deus cui proprium est misereri semper H parcere, suscipe
deprecatlonem nostram, 1; quos delictorum cathena constringit, mise-
ratio tue pietatis absolvat, per Christum Dominmn." Efter \q ojjer
viue also " Kirieleison, Christe eleison, Kirieleison." Pater Noster.
" Domine, fiat pax in virtute tua, 15 liabundancia in turribus tuis.
Oremus. Ecclesie tue Domine preces placatus admitte, ut, de-
structis aduersitatibus universis, secura tibi serviat libertate, per, <^c."
Efter ]?e j^ridde viue, \et je schulen siggen wiSuten Gloria Patri,
"Kirieleison, Christe eleison, Kirieleison. " Pater Noster. "A porta inferi
serue Domine animas eorum. Oremus. Fidelium &c." Seoue psalmes
% teos fiftene psalmes sigge'S abuten undern deies :^ vor abute swuch
time alse me singe's messe in alle holi religiuns, ure Louerd J>olede
pine up o ]?e rode, je owen to beon nomeliche ibeoden ? ibonen ^ %
also vrom Prime vort mid morwen hwon \e preostes of ^e worlde
singe's hore messen.''
Vre leawede bre]?ren sigge^ Jjus hore vres : vor Vhtsong ine
werkedawes, heihte % twenti Pater Nosters:' ine helidawes, forti:^
vor euesonge viftene. Vor eueriche o]?er tide, seouene:^ biuoren
Uhtsong, Pater Noster *? Credo, kneolinde to ]7er eor-Se on werkedei,
% buinde on halidei :! J ]7enne schal siggen, hwo se con, " Domine
labia mea aperies t' Deus in adiutorium meum intende : Gloria Patri,
sicut erat . alleluia 'V 1 ine Leinten, " Laus tibi Domine rex eterne
glorie:^" efter J^e laste, "Kirieleison, Christeleison, Kirieleison." Pater
Noster:^ 1: efter J^e amen, "Per Dominum: benedicamus Domino r^ Deo
gratias f' 7 et alle ]?e o]n'e tiden, also biginnen "? also enden. Bute et
Cumplie, schal biginnen hwo so con, " Conuerte nos, Deus salutaris
noster r'" and et alle ]?e o]?re tiden, " Deus in adiutorium," wiSuten
" Domine labia mea." Eif ei of on wule don ]?us lieo volewe^ her, ase
in o]7re obseruaunces, muchel of ure ordre, "i wel ich hit reade :/ a yisse
wise je muwen, jif je wulleS, siggen ower Paternostres.
» T alswa from Prime o^et midmareSen , hwenne preostes of Jje world singed heore
messen. On Hsso wise ge magen gef ge wulle'S seggen oure Pater Nostras; Almihtin
God Feder, Sune, Hali Gast. C.
THE CANONICAL HOURS OF PRAYER. 25
After tlie next five, say also, " Lord have mercy upon us, Christ
have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us." Paternoster.
" May there be peace in thy strength, and abundance in thy strong-
holds." a O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of thy church, that,
being delivered from all adversities, it may serve thee in security
and freedom, through, &c." After the third five, which you shall
say without Gloria Patri, " Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have
mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us." Pater noster. Say, "Lord
deliver their souls from the gate of hell. Let us pray. " Fidelium,
&:c." Say seven psalms, and those fifteen psalms about undern time,''
for about such time as mass is sung in all religious communities, when
our Lord suffered pain upon the cross, ye ought to be especially in
prayers and supplications, and also from Prime till mid-morrow,
when the secular priests sing their masses.
Our lay brethren say thus their hours : — For Nocturns, on work-
days, eight-and-twenty Paternosters ; on holidays, forty ; for ves-
pers, fifteen ; for every other time, seven ; before Nocturns, Pater-
noster, and Creed, kneeling on the ground on a workday, and
bowing on a holiday ; and then whosoever can shall say, " O Lord,
open tbou my lips. O God, make haste to help me. Glory be to the
Father, &c. Halleluia." And in Lent, " Praise be to thee, O Lord,
eternal King of Glory.'' After the last, "Lord have mercy upon us,
Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us." Pater
noster. And after the Amen, " Through the Lord, let us bless the
Lord ; thanks to God." And at all the other hours, thus begin and
thus end ; but, at Compline, whosoever can shall begin, " Turn us,
O God of our salvation ; " and at all the other hours, " O God, make
speed to save me," omitting " O Lord, open thou my lips." If any
of you will do this, she followeth here, as in other observances, much
" Psalm cxxii. 7. "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces."
'' Nine o'clock in the moriiino'.
CAMD. SOC. E
Folio 6 h.
2G REGULtE inclusahum.
" Almihti God, Feder, <^ Sune, <^ so^fest Holi Gost, also je ]7reo ^
bee's o God, «^ o mihte, o wisdom, <^ o luue, °f tauh is mihte iturnd v
to ]7e in holi write nomeliche, J^u deorewur^e neder ; to ]?e wisdom, i
of ]?ine Sune ; to \q luue, of ]7e Holi Gost ; jif me on, almihti God :' •'
Jjrile me j^reo hodes, J^eos ilke ]>reo ]?inges, mihte vorto seruie ^ J>e,
wisdom vorto queme 'Se, luue ^ wil to don hit, mihte )?et ich muwe
don x' wisdom ]?et ich cunne don, luue ]>et ichulle don al ]?et te is
leouest, also ]7U ert ful of euerich god, also nis no god wone ^ j^er ase
J?reos ]?reo beoS, mihte "^ wisdom <^ luue iveied '^ togederes, J^et tu
jette me ham, holi J^rumnesse Trinite, i];e wurSschipe of J^e. preo i
Paternostres. Credo. Benedicamus Patrem f. Filium cum Spiritu
Sancto, Laudemus, et semper. Oremus : " Omnipotens sempiterne
Deus, qui dedisti famulis tuis, confessione uere fidei, eterne Trinitatis
gloriam agnoscere, <^ in potencia majestatis adorare unitatem, que-
sumus ut ejusdem fidei firmitate ab omnibus semper muniamur
adversis, qui vivis <^ regnas.^' Hwo so hit haueS, oSer sum o'Ser of ]?e
holi j^rumnesse, sigge ]?e wulle.*^ '
Swete Jesu J^in ore ! swete Jesu vor mine sunnen anhonged o be
rode, uor ))eo ilke uif wunden ]7et tu on hire bleddest, hel mine blodi
soule of alle ]7e wunden J^et heo is mide iwunded ® ]7urh mine uif wittes,
i'Se munegunge of ham : ]?et hit so mote beon :! deorwurSe Louerd ;
uif Paternostres. " Omnis terra adoret te Deus, et psallat tibi ;
psalmum dicat nomini tuo Domine." Oremus r' " Juste judex Jesu
" and Jiach is wisdom iturnt to Jje in hall write, nomeliche, j^u deorewur^e Fader, to \>e
wisdom, seli sune, to \>q luue, Hali Gast. ^ef me \>\x an almihti God; hi-ile in Jjreo hades;
neomc"5 jse \>Qn up I'eos ilke hreo binges : mihte for te serui. C.
*• wane. C. '•' ifeget, [imenged] C.
'' hwase hit liaue'S al o'Ser sum, of he hali )>rumnesse, segge wase wulle. C
* is iwunden [is wi^ iwuiidet]. C.
SUPPLICATIONS FOE GRACE, TO THE TRINITY, AND TO CHRIST. 27
of our order, and I earnestly advise it. In this manner jou may
say, if you will, your Paternosters.
" Almighty God, Father, Son, and soothfast Holy Ghost, even as
ye three are one God, and one power, one Avisdom, and one love,
and yet wisdom is especially ascribed to thee in holy writ, thou dear
Father ; to thee wisdom, of thy Son ; to thee love, of the Holy
Ghost. Give me grace. Almighty God ; inspire into me, ye three
persons, these same three things : power to serve thee, wisdom t
please thee, love and will to do it ; power that I may do, wisdor,
that T may know what to do, love that I may be constrained to dc
all tliat is most approved by thee ; as thou art full of every good
thing, as there is no good wanting where the^.c three are, power,
wisdom, and love united together, that tliou grant me them, O holy
Trinity, in the worship of thee.^' Three Paternosters. I Believe.
" Let us bless the Father and the Son, Avith the Holy Ghost ; let
us praise and highly extol him for ever." Let us pray : "Almighty
and everlasting God, who hast given unto thy servants by the con-
fession of the true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal
Trinity, and in the power of the [divine] Majesty to worship the
unity, we beseech thee that in the steadfastness of this faith we may
be defended alwavs from all adversities, who livest and reignest, &c."
Whoso hath this, or any other prayer to the holy Trinity, may say
which he will.
" Sweet Jesus, thy mercy I Sweet Jesus, for my sins suspended on
the cross ; for the sake of the same five womids by which thou didst
thereon bleed, heal my soul, defiled with blood, of all the Avounds
wherewith it is wounded through my five senses, in the remem-
brance of them ; so may it be, dear Lord." FIa'c Paternosters. " Let
all the earth Avorship thee, O God, sing of thee, and praise thy name
Avith a psalm." Let us pray : " O righteous Judge, Jesu Christ."
If thou canst not say this, say some other of the Cruces.^ " O God,
Avho by the precious blood of thy only begotten son Jesus Christ, &c."
■'' Prayers used in the adoration of the cross, and in processions where the cross is
carried.
ludi
28 KEGULJE INCLUSARUM.
Christe;" jif ]7U ne const nout "Sesne seie sQne o^er of "Se creoiz.
Deus qui uuigeniti filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi precioso.
li or 'Se seoue jiftes of 'Se Holi Goste, 'Set icli mote habben ham,
•^ for ]?e seoue tiden ]7et holi chirche singe^S ]?et icli mote delen ine
ham, slepe ich oj^er wakie, «^ for ]7e seoue bonen ij^e Paternoster
ajein ]?e seouen heaued deadliche sunnen, |7et tu wite me wi^ ham
'' ^ bore bruchen,'^ "^ jif me ]7e seouen seli eadinesses Jjet tu hauest,
■" Inn icorene ij»in eadi nome." Seoue Paternostres,
<^ creabuntur, "^ renouabis faciem terrae."
nne cor patet et omnis vokmtas loquitur,
et qu^. secretum, purifica, per infusionen Sancti
Spiritus, cogituu^ ,ordis nostri, ut perfecte te diligere et digne
laudare mereamur, per, &c. Exaudi, quesumus Domine, suppHcum
preces j confitencium tibi parce peccatis : ut pariter nobis indul-
gentiam tribuas benignus <^ pacem, per, &c. Ecclesie tue, quesumus
Domine, preces placatus."
/
Uor ]?e ten hesten \ei ich ibroken habbe, summe cSer alle, and
me sulf toward te hwat se beo of o]?er hwat vntreouhche iteoj^eged,
ibote ^ of )?eos bruchen, vorte seihtni '^ me wi'S ]->q deorewur'Se Louerd.
Ten Paternostres . v. ego dixi, Domine, miserere mei ; sana animam
meam quia peccavi tibi." " Deus cui proprium."
" 1 o "^ wurschipe, Jesu Crist, of }>ine tweolf apostles j;et ich mote
oueral uolewen hore lore '=f \Q.i ich ]?urh hore bonen mote habben \q
lieore stiunden. C '' iteoliedet in bote. C.
sachtni. 0. '' In he. C.
PRAYERS FOR PARDON AND RECONCILIATION WITH GOD. 29
" For the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, that I may have them,
and for the seven times that holy church singeth, that I may
participate in them, whether asleep or awake ; and for the seven
petitions in the Paternoster agamst the seven chief deadly sins,
that thou guard me against them and all their brood, and give
me the seven happy beatitudes which thou, Lord, hast promised
thine elect in thy blessed name." Seven Paternosters, vers. " Send
forth thy spirit and they shall be created, and thou shalt renew the
face of the earth." Let us pray : " O God, to whom every heart is
open, and every wish speaketh, and from whom no secret is liid,
purify, by the infusion of the Holy Spirit, the thoughts of our heart,
that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily praise thee, through,
&c. Hear, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy suppliants,
and forgive the sins of those who confess them to thee ; that likewise
of thy goodness thou mayest grant us thy favour and peace, through,
&c. O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of thy chm-ch."
" Jjecause of the ten commandments, some or all of wliich I have
broken, and in whatever other things I have tithed myself untruly
toward thee, in repair of those breaches, to reconcile myself with
thee, dear Lord." Ten paternosters ; vers. " I have said, O Lord,
have mercy upon me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
O God, wdiose property, &c."
" In honour, O Jesus Christ, of thy twelve apostles, that I may in
all things follow their doctrine, and that, thi-ough their prayers,
30 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
tweolf bowes ^ ]>et blowe'S of cherite, ase seinte Powel witne'S, blisfule
Louerd. Tweolf Paternostres. " Annunciaverunt opera Dei et
sanctitatem ejus." Oremus : " Exaudi nos Deus salutaris noster, et
aj)ostolorum tuorum nos tuere prsesidiis, quorum donasti fideles esse
doctrinis, per — "
-Oalewen J7et je luuie^ best <^ mest in Lore wur^chipe sigge'S
o]7er les, oj^er mo, alse ou bere^ on heorte, <^ tet uerset efterward
mid liore collecte.
" Uor alle ]?eo j^et habbeS eni god ido me, iseid me, oj^er iunned
me, '-^ for alle ]>eo ilke ]?et wurche^ ]ye six werkes of misericorde,''
merciable Louerd." ° Six Paternostres. "Dispersit, dedit pauperibus;
justicia ejus manet in secula seculorum. Retribuere, dignare Doraine,
omnibus nobis bona facientibus propter nomen tuum, vitam eternam."
Hwose wule mei siggen ]?esne psalm : " Ad te levavi," biuoren ]>e
Paternostres, <^ seo]?en, " Kirieleison, Cliristeleison, Kirieleison."
" Uor alle ];e soulen ]?et beo'S forSfaren i^e bileaue of ]?e vour
gospelles ]7et liolde'S al Cristendom up a uour lialues, ]?et tu J>e vour
morjiuen ^ jiue ham inne heouene, milcefule Louerd." Foiu^ Pater-
nostres :! f gif je sigge'S niene, ase jjer beo'S niene, englene ordres,*^
l^et God J^urli his milce j for his merci hije ham ut of pine to liore
velauredden,^ je do]? jet betere :' j- her also sigge^ " De profundis,"
biuore he Paternoster. " Kiriel. Christel. Kiriel. A porta inferi, erue
Domine animas eorum." Oremus: "Fidelimn, Deus, omnium con-
ditor et redemptor, animabus famulorum famularumque [tuarum
remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum : ut indulgentiam quam
semper optaverunt piis supplicationibus consequantur.] "
■' boges. C. ^ milce. C.
<^ milcefule Lauerd. C. '' marej;euen [iiij"' dotes], 0.
' weoredes. C. ' feorrcdne. C
PRAYERS FOR BENEFACTORS, AND FOR THE DEAD. 31
I may have the twelve branches of charity, which blossom, as St.
Paul sheweth, blessed Lord." Twelve Paternosters. " They declared
the works of the Lord and his Holiness." Let us pray : " Hear us,
O God of our Salvation, and keep us safe by the protection of thy
apostles, to whose doctrines thou hast granted us to be faithful,
through, &c."
In the worship of those saints whom ye love best and most, say
less or more as your heart inclines you, and that versicle afterwards,
Avith their collect.
" r or all those who have done me, said of me, or granted me any
good, and for all such as -work the six works of mercv, O merciful
Lord." Six Paternosters. " He hath dispersed, he hath given to the
poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever. Deign, O Lord, to
reward all those who do good to us with eternal life, for thy name^s
sake." Who will may say this psalm, " To thee have I lifted up,"
before the Paternoster ; and then, " Lord have mercy upon me,
Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy."
" For all the souls that have departed in the belief of the four
gospels which support all Christendom on four sides, give them in
heaven the four marriage portions, gracious Lord." Four Paternosters ;
and, if you say nine, as there are nine orders of angels, that God
through his grace and of his mercy may elevate them soon out of
pain to their fellowship, ye do still better ; and here also say " De pro-
fundis" before the Paternoster. " Lord have mercy upon us, Christ
have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us. From the o-ates of
Hell, O Lord, deliver their souls." Let us pray : " O God the
Creator and the Redeemer of all the foithful, grant to the souls
of thy servants remission of all their sins, that they may obtain
the indulgence which they have always desired by their devout
prayers."
32 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Bi deie summe time o]7er bi nihte, |7enche"S <^ gedere'S in owre
heorte alle sike ^ alle sorie, ]?et wo % pouerte J^olie'S, \e pine ]7et
prisuns "bolie^ r' J'et heo ligge'S mid iren heuie iveotered:'* norae-
liche of ^Q Cristene ]?et beo-S ine he]?inesse, summe ine prisune,
summe ine alse muchele "Seudome alse oxe is o]7er asse :! habbe'S
reou]7e of l>eo \ei beo^ ine stronge temptaciuns.'' Alle monne sores
Folio 1h. sette^ in ower ]70uhte, 7 sike^ to vre Louerd J^et he nime jeme 7
liabbe reoube of ham, <^ biholde touward ham mid te eie of his ore :!
<? jif je habbe^ hwule, sigge^ jjesne psalm, " Levavi oculos meos."*"
Paternoster. " Conuertere, Domine, usquequo :! et deprecabilis esto
super seruos tuos/ Pretende, Domine, famulis et famulabus tuis
dexteram celestis auxilii, ut te toto corde perquirant, et que digne
postulant assequantur, per Christum Dominum nostrum."
I J>e messe hwon J^e preost hefS up Godes licome, sigge-S ]7eos
uers stondinde, "Ecce salvs mundi, uerbum Patris :' hostiauera, uiua
caro, deitas integra, verus homo :^" and J>eonne ualle^ adun mid ]?eos
gretunge. " Aue principium nostre creationis :' aue precium nostre
redemptionis :^ aue viaticum nostre peregrinationis :^ tu esto nostrum
gaudium qui es futurus premium. Sit nostra in te gloria, per
cuncta semper secula. Mane nobiscum, Domine r^ noctem obscuram
remove ^ omne delictum ablue :' piam medelam tribue. Gloria tibi,
Domine r^ sed quis est locus in me quo veniat in me Deus mens, qui
fecit celum 7 terram :! itane Domine Deus mens ? est quicquam in
me quod capiat te? quis mihi dabit ut venias in cor meum, et
inebries illud, <^ vinum bonum meum amplector te ? quis mihi es ?
miserere ut loquar ? angusta est domus anime mee quo venias ad
eam ; dilatetur abs te r^ ruinosa est, refice eam :! habet que offendant
oculos tuos fateor et scio :! set quis mundabit eam, aut cui alteri
preter te [clamabo] ? ab occultis meis munda me, Domine, et ab
alienis parce servo tuo r'^ miserere, miserere, miserere mei, Deus,
secundum magnam misericordiam tuam:"^ and so al |?ene psalm vt,
a wffi iren ibunden. C. '' fondunge. C. ' Psalm cxxi. 1.
J xo 13. ' Psalm xix. ]2. f Psalm li. f!.
DEVOUT MEDITATIONS — PRAYERS AT MASS. 33
At some time in the day or the night think upon and call to mind
all who are sick and sorrowful, who suffer affliction and poverty, the
pain which prisoners endure who lie heavily fettered with iron ; think
especially of the Christians who are among the heathen, some in
prison, some in as great thraldom as is an ox or an ass : compassionate
those who are under strong temptations ; take thought of all men's
sorrows, and sigh to our Lord that he may take care of them, and
have compassion, and look upon them with a gracious eye ; and, if
you have leisure, repeat this Psalm, " I have lifted up mine eyes," &c.
Pater noster. " Return, O Lord, how long, and be entreated in
favour of thy servants : " Let us pray. " Stretch forth, O Lord, to
thy servants and to thy handmaids the right hand of thy heavenly
aid, that they may seek thee with all their heart, and obtain Avhat
they worthily ask through Jesus Christ our Lord."
In the mass, when the priest elevates God's body, say these verses,
standing, " Behold the Saviour of the world ; the word of the
Father ; a true sacrifice ; living flesh ; intire Godhead ; very man ;"
and then fall down with this greeting, " Hail ! cause of our creation ;
Hail ! price of our redemption ; Hail ! our support during our
pilgrimage. Be thou our joy, who art about to be our reward.
May our glory be in thee, for ever and ever. Abide with us,
O Lord. Remove our darkness. Wash fi-om us all our guilt.
Grant a holy remedy. Glory be to thee, O Lord. But, is there any
place in me into which my God may come who made heaven and
earth ? Is it so, O Lord my God ? Is there in me any thing which
may contain thee? Wilt thou Indeed come into my heart and
inebriate it ? And do I embrace thee^ my good wine ? What art
thou to me ? Pity me, that I may speak. The house of my soul is
too narrow that thou shouldst come into it. Let it be enlarged by
thee. It is in ruins, repair it. I confess and know that it contains
what is offensive to thine eyes. But who shall cleanse it, or to
whom but thee shall I cry ? Cleanse thou me, O God, from my
secret faults ; and from the sins of others spare thy servant.
Have mercy, have mercy, have mercy upon me, O God, according
CAMD. SOC. F
34 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
mid Gloria Patri, " Christe audi nos," twie. " Kiriel. Christel. Kiriel.
Pater noster t' Credo. Saluum fac seruiim tuum, Deus meus, sperantem
in te. Doce me facere uolmitatem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu.
Domine exaudi oracionem meara. Et clamor meus ad te veiiiat."
Oremus. " Concede, quesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut quem enigmatice
et sub aliena specie cernimus, quo sacramentaliter cibamur in terris,
facie ad faciem eum videamus, [eo] sicuti [est] veraciter '^ realiter frui
mereamur in cells : per eundem."
FoUo 8. lifter J^e messecos, hwon j^e preost sacred, ]7er uorjite^ al J^ene
world, ^ ]?er beo'S al vt of bodi :f |?er in sperclinde luue bicluppeS oure
leofmon ]?et into ower breoste bur is iliht of heouene, <^ holdeS liine
ueste, uort he habbe igranted on ^ al ]>et je euer wulle^.
Abute mid dei hwose mei, -^ liwose ne mei J^eonne, o summe o^er
time, ]?enche o Codes rode alse mucliele ase lieo euer con mest o]?er -\
mai, "^ of his deorewurSe pinen :^ '^ beginne ]?er efter ]?e ilke vif
gretunges 'Set beo'S iwritten ]?eruppe t' ■^ also kneolinde to eurichon,
f blesce'S, ase hit seiS ]>er, "^ beateS ower breoste, '^ makie'S a swuch
bone. " Adoramus te Christe et benedicimus tibi, qui per sanctam
crucem tuam redemisti mundum. Tuam crucem adoramus Domine.
Tuam gloriosam recolimus passionem :* miserere nostri qui passus es
pro nobis. Salue crux sancta, arbor digna, que sola fuisti digna
portare Regem celorum <^ Dominum. Salue crux que in corpore."
" O crux gloriosa! o crux adoranda! o lignum preciosura, f admirabile
signum, per quod "^ diabolus est victus, f mundus Christi sanguine
redemptus ! " AriseS J>eonne j^ biginne^ J^esne antefne. " Salue nos,
Christe:^" and sigge-S stondinde ]?esne psalm, "lubilate," mit te
" hakleS liini hetefeste o'Set he habbe igetted ou. (!.
ADORATION OF THE CROSS. 35
to thy great mercj ; " and so the whole Psahn to the end, with Gloria
Patri ; " O Christ hear us," twice ; " Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us." " Our
Father ; I believe." " O my God, save thy servant, who putteth his
trust in thee. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God.
Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee." Let us
pray : " Grant, we beseech thee. Almighty God, that him whom we
see darkly, and under a different form, on whom we feed sacra-
mentally on earth,* we may see face to face, and may be thought
worthy to enjoy him truly and really, as he is, in heaven, through
the same."
After the kiss of peace in the mass, when the priest consecrates,
forget there all the world, and there be intirely out of the body ;
there in glowing love embrace your beloved [Saviour] who is come
down from heaven into your breast's bower, and hold him fast until
he shall have granted whatever you wish for.
About mid day whoso may, and whoso may not then at some
other time, should think upon God's rood as much and as intently as
ever she can, and of his precious sufferings ; and thereafter begin
the same five salutations which are written above ; and also bowing
the knee at every one, make the cross and bless, as is said there
and beat your breast, and say this kind of prayer, " We adore
thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, who by thy holy cross hast
redeemed the world ; we adore thy cross, O Lord ; we meditate
upon thy glorious passion. Have mercy upon us, O thou who didst
suffer for us ! Hail ! O holy cross ; tree of worth ! Who alone wert
worthy to bear the King and Lord of Heaven. Hail, O cross, which
in body," &c.
" O glorious cross ! O cross worthy of adoration ! O precious wood
and admirable sign, by which both the devil is overcome, and the
world, through the blood of Christ, is redeemed ! " Then rise up
" Qu. Is this ancient prayer consistent with the belief of the real bodily presence of
Christ in the Sacramental bread and wine ?
36 REGULiE INCLUSAEUM.
"gloria," and ]?erefter J>ene antefne :" f sigge'S euer ]7us, " Salua nos
Christe Saluator, per uirtutem sancte crucis, (and blesceS ou ^) qui
saliiastis Petrum in mari, miserere nobis," and beateS on ower breoste,
"^ J^eonne valleS adun, <^ siggeS, " Christe audi nos," twie. " Kiriel.
Christel. Kiriel." Pater noster, V ^'Protector noster aspice Deus <^
respice in faciem Christi tui." Oremus. " Deus qui sanctam crucem
ascendisti, et niundi tenebras illuminasti, quesumus, Domine, tu
corda '^ corpora nostra illuminare dignare :! per Dominum." And eft
biginne'S " Adoramus te Christe," also, ase er, alle vive. pe antefiie,
" Salue nos " ase er. pe psalm, " Ad te leuaui." pene antefne efter
al vt, '^ tenne, also er, ualleS to -Ser eor^e. " Christe audi nos,''
twien. Kiriel. Christel. Kiriel. Pater noster,V'" Protector noster aspice.
Folio 8 h. Deus." Oremus. " Perpetua nos Domine pace custodi quos per
lignum sancte crucis redimere dignatus es, qui uiuis j regnas cum Deo
Patre." pe ]7ridde time riht also, and []?e] feortlie cherre, <^ te vifte
cherre, <^ nout ne chaunge je ^ bute ]?e psalmes <^ te vreisuns. pe
vorme psalm is " lubilate." pe o]>er is "Ad te leuaui." pe jn'idde,
"Qui confidunt." pe veorde, "Domine non est exaltatum." pe
vifte, "Laudate Dominum in Sanctis ejus :' " and in euerichon beo'S
vif vers. pe vreisuns beoS ]?eos. "Deus qui sanctam crucem.
Adesto nobis Domine Deus noster, et quos sancte crucis letari facis
honore, ejus quoque perpetuo defende subsidio."
" Deus qui pro nobis filium tuum crucis patibulum subire uolulsti
ut inimici a nobis expelleres potestatem, concede nobis famulis tuis ut
resurrectionis gratiam consequamur, per eundem. Deus qui uni-
geniti," mid " O beata et intemerata." "Juste judex, Jesu Christe,"
" 1 blcscin hire henne. C. ^ ne cliaungeS. C.
LITURGICAL DIRECTIONS. 37
and begin this anthem, " Save us, O Christ ; " and standing, say this
Psahn, " Jubilate," with the " Gloria," and after that the anthem ;
and say ever thus, " Save us, O Christ our Saviour, by the virtue
of thy holy cross," and make the sign of the cross, " Thou who didst
save Peter on the sea, have mercy upon us : " and beat on your
breast, and then fall down and say twice, " O Christ hear us. Lord
have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have
mercy upon us." Pater noster, Versicle, " Behold, O God, our Pro-
tector, and look upon the face of thy Christ." * Let us pray : " O God,
who didst ascend the holy cross, and hast enlightened the darkness of
this world, we pray thee, O Lord, deign to enlighten our hearts and
bodies : through the Lord." And afterwards begin, " We adore thee,
O Clu'ist," the same as before, all the five. The anthem, " Save us,"
as before ; the Psalm, " To thee have I lifted up ; " afterwards the
whole anthem, and then, as before, fall to the earth ; " O Christ
hear us," twice. " Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy
upon us. Lord have mercy upon us : " Pater noster ; the versicle,
" Behold, O God, our shield." Let us pray : " Keep us, O Lord,
in perpetual peace, whom by the wood of the holy cross thou hast
vouchsafed to redeem, who livest and reignest with God the Father."
Do exactly the same the third time, and the fourth and fifth time,
and change nothing but the Psalms and the prayers. The first is,
" O be joyful ; " the next, " Unto thee have I lifted up ; " the third,
" They that trust ; " the fourth, " Lord, my heart is not haughty.
The fifth, " Praise the Lord in his sanctuary ; " and in each there
are five verses. The prayers are these : " O God, who didst ascend
the holy cross ; " " Be present with us, O Lord our God, and those
whom thou makest to rejoice in the honoiu' of that holy cross, defend
also with its continual help."
" O God, who didst consent that thy son should undergo the painful
cross for us, that thou mightest drive away from us the power of the
enemy, grant to us thy servants that we may obtain the grace of the
resurrection, through the same Lord.^' " O God, who of thy only
" Psalm, Ixxxiv. R. C. Translation.
38 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
and hwo se ne con nout J^eos fif vreisuns, sigge euer enne :! "i liwo se
]?unche^ to longe lete ]?e psalmes.
" Swete lefdi seinte Marie, vor j^eo ilke mucliele blisse |?et tu heue-
dest * wi^inne ]7e ]7eo ilke time ]?et Jesu God, Godes sune, efter the ^ + >/
engles gretunge nom fleschs '^ blod in J?e j of ]?e, vnderuong mine
gretunge mid ten ilke Aue, '^ make me tellen Intel of euericli blisse
vtewi'S, % froure me inewi^ % ernde ^ me ]>e blisse of lieouene :' 1 also
wis ase i^en ilke flesclie ]?et lie nom of ]?e nes neuer sunne, ne i "Sine, 1/
alse me wened,'' efter J^e ilke nimunge, hwat se biuore were, dense
mine soule of flesliche sunnen. "Aue Maria," uort " Dominus tecum."
Magnificat, stondinde. " Aue Maria," al vt vif si Sen, 1 eft ];us. " S wete
lefdi seinte Marie, vor J^e ilke mucliele blisse ]?et tu hefdest ]7oa ]7U
iseie ]7et ilke blissfule beam iboren of "Sine clene bodie to moncunne
hele wiSuten euericli bruclie, mid iliol meidenliod '% meidenes
menske, hel me ]?et am J^urh wil tobroken, ase I drede, hwat se beo of
dede, 7 jif me ine lieouene iseoii J^i blissfule leor 7 biholden hure 7
hure meidenes menske, jif icli nam wur^e for to beoii iblesced in
hore veolauredden. Aue Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Ad
Dominum cum tribularer," stondinde. Aues also er fif si^en.
" Swete lefdi seinte Marie, vor ]?e ilke mucliele blisse ]7et tu hefdest
]?o ])U iseie J^ine deorewurSe sune efter his swete deorwurSe dea^ ^ ^
arisen to blissfale liue, his bodi seoueuold brihture J^ene [Jje] sunne, t^
jif me deien mid him % arisen in him :! worldliche deien % gostliche
libben :! deien in his pinen veolauliche on eor^e, uor te beon ine blisse
his feolawe ine lieouene, uor ]^e illve mucliele blisse ]^et tu heuedest,
lefdi, of his blissfule ariste efter j^iiie muchele seorewe :! efter mine
hefdest. C. i> erende. C.
leue'S. C. "^ efter his derfe dea'S. C.
INVOCATION OF THE BLESSED VIEGIN ; HEK JOYS. 39
begotten Son." With, " O blessed and pure, O righteous Judge, Jesu
Christ." And whoso cannot say these five prayers, should say
always one ; and whoso thinketh them too long may omit the Psalms.
" Sweet lady, Saint Mary, for that same great delight which thou
hadst w'ithin thee, at the very time when Jesus God, the Son of
God, after the salutation of the angel, took flesh and blood in thee
and of thee, receive my salutation with the same ' Ave,' and make
me to think little of every outward delight, and comfort me witliin,
and by thy merits procure for me the joy of heaven ; and as
certainly as in the same flesh that he took of thee there was never
sin, nor in thine, as I believe, after the same conception, whatever
may have been before, cleanse my soul fi'om fleshly sins: Hail,
Mary," and so on to " The Lord is with thee." The Magnificat,
standing. " Hail, Mary," to the end, five times, and then, thus :
" Sweet Lady, St. Mary, for the same great joy that thou hadst
when thou sawest that blissful child, born of thy pure body for the
salvation of mankind, without any use of kinde,'* with whole
vii'ginity and maiden's honour, heal me who through will am broken,
as I fear, whatever I may be as to deed, and grant that I may
in heaven behold thy joyful countenance, and behold her, and her
maiden's honour, if I am not worthy to be blessed in her fellowship.
Hail, Mary ! full of grace ; the Lord is with thee. To the Lord I
cried when I was in trouble," standing. Ave, also, as before, five
times.
" Sweet Lady, Saint INIary, for the same great joy which thou hadst
when thou sawest thy dear Son, after his sweet precious death, arise
to joyful life, his body sevenfold brighter than the sun, grant me
that I may die with him and rise in him ; die to the world, and live
spiritually ; share in his sufferings as his follower on earth, that I
may be his companion in blessedness in heaven ; for the great joy
which thou hadst, O Lady, of his joyful resurrection, after thy great
sorrow ; after my great sorrow in which I ever am here, lead me to
" Qu.? sine omni ruptura ; i.e. macula.
40 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
muclie seoruwe ]?et ich am euer inne here ^ led me to ]nne blisse.
Aue Maria gratia," uort "Dominus tecum. Retribue servo tuo," auez
iiif siSen.
" Swete lefdi seinte Marie, uor ]7e muchele blisse ]?et tu liefdest ]?o
]>u iseie ]nne brilite blissful sune ]?et te Gyus wenden vorto ajn'use-
men, ase ano]?er dea^licli mon, wiSute hope of ariste :! iseie him so
wur^liche ? so mildeliche, an holi ]7ursdei, stien to his blisse into his
riche of heouene r^ jif me worpen mid him al jje world under vet, J,
stien nu heortliche, % liwon ich deie gostliche, a domesdeie al licom-
liche, into 'Se blisse of heouene. Aue Maria. In conuertendo, Aue
Maria," al vt fif si-Sen.
" Swete lefdi, seinte Marie, uor j^e ilke muchele blisse Jjet fulde al
J?e eor^e |)o ]?i swete blisfule sune underueng "Se in his vnimete blisse,
% mid his blisfule ermes sette ])e ine trone 1: queue crune on heaued
Folio 9 h. brihture jjene []?e] sunne : heih heouenliche cwene, underuong so ]?eos
gretunges of me on eorSe Jjet ich mote blisfuliche grete "Se ine
heouene. Aue Maria. Ad te leuaui." Auez fif si^en, and ]?eonne J^et
uerset, " Spiritus sanctus superueniet, 1^ uirtus Altissimi obumbrabit
tibi." Oremus : " Gratiam tuam, quesuinus Domine, mentibus nostris
infunde, ut qui, angelo nunciante, Christi filii tui incarnationem cog-
novimus, per passionem ejus etcrucem, ad resurrectionis ejus gloriam
perducamur, per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum, amen.
Aue regina celorum ; Aue Domina angelorum.
Salue radix sancta [porta,]
Ex qua miindo hix est orta;
Aue virgo gloriosa;
Super omnes speciosa;
Vale, O valde decora,
Et pro nobis semper Cliristum exora."
Verset, "Egredietur uirga de radice Jesse et flos de radice
ejus ascendet. " Oremus. " Deus qui virginalem aulam, 7c.
'/
THE JOYS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 41
thy joy. « HaU, Maiy ! " unto " The Lord is with thee." " Deal
bountifully with thy servant. Hail, Mary ! " five times.
" Sweet Lady, Saint Mary, for the great joy which thou hadst
when thou sawest thy bright blissful Son, whom the Jews thought
to imprison in the stifling tomb, as another mortal man, without hope
of rising again ; sawest him so gloriously and graciously, on Holy
Thursday, ascend up to -his joy into his kingdom of heaven ; grant
to me that I may with him cast all the world under my feet, and
ascend up now in heart and mmd ; and when I die [that I may
ascend] spiritually, and at the judgment day all bodily, into the
blessedness of heaven. Hail, Mary ! When the Lord turned
again the captivity of Sion. Hail, Mary," all out, five times.
" Sweet Lady, Saint Mary, for the same great joy that filled all
the earth, when thy sweet blissful Son received thee into his infinite
bliss, and with his blissful arms placed thee on the throne, and a
queenly crown on thy head brighter than the smi ; O high, heavenly
queen, so receive these salutations from me on earth, that I may
blissfully salute thee in heaven. Hail, Mary, unto thee lift I up.
Hail ! " five times, and then this versicle : " The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee; and the power of the Highest shall overshadow
thee.'^ Let us pray: " We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace
into our hearts, that we, who, by the message of the angel have
known the incarnation of Christ thy Son, may be brought by his
cross and suffering to the glory of his resurrection, through the same
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hail, Queen of Heaven ! Hail
Sovereign of angels ! Hail, O root [of Jesse], gate of heaven !
From which light has risen upon the world. Hail, O glorious
virgin. Beautiful above all. Prevail, O most graceful ! And
ever entreat Christ in our behalf." Versicle, " A rod shall come
forth from the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall grow out of his
root." Let us pray : " O God, who didst not disdain the virgin's
womb, &c. Be glad, O mother of God, unspotted virgin; be
CAMD. SOC. G
42 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Gaude Dei genetrix, uirgo immaculata :^ gaude quod gaudium
ab angelo suscepistif' gaude quod genuisti eterni luminis clari-
tatem:' gaude Mater, gaude sancta Dei genetrix. Uirgo tu
sola Mater innupta. Te laudat omnis filii creatura genetricem
lucis r' sis pro nobis pia interuentrix." V, Ecce uirgo concipiet
% pariet filium. Oremus. Deus qui de beate Marie uirginis
utero verbum tuum, angelo nunciante, suscipere voluisti, &c.
Gaude uirgo, gaude Dei genetrix, et gaude gaudium Maria r^ om-
nium fidelium gaudeat ecclesia in tuis laudibus :' assidua et pia
domina gaudere fac nos tecum ante Dominum. V. Ecce uirgo con-
cipiet." Oremus. " Deus qui salutis eterne, &c. Alma Redemp-
toris mater que peruia celi porta manes, et stella maris :! succurre
cadenti, surgere qui curat populo. Tu quae genuisti, natura mi-
rante, tuum sanctum Genitorem. Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabri-
elis ab ore sumens illud Aue, peccatorum miserere." Her sigge'S
fifti auez, oJ>er an hundred, o^er mo o'Ser les, efter ]7et je habbe^
hwule ^ alast ]7et uerset, " Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum
verbum tuum." Oremus. " O sancta uirgo uirginum quae genuisti
Folio 10. filium triumphatorem Zabuli." Hwo se wule mei a-stunten ]7eruppe ^
anon rihtes efter ]?e uorme ureisun. " Gratiam tuam quesumus
Domine," and siggen J^enne hire tale of auez r^ efter "Se laste psalme,
" Ad te leuaui," % euer biuore ]?e psalme biginnen one aue :' uort ^
Dominus tecum :! % sigge stondinde ]?ene psalm 'J ]?eos psalmes beob
inumene efter ]7e uif lettres of vre lefdi nome :! hwo se nime'S jeme
of "bissse worde Maria, he mei ivinden J^erinne ]?e vorme vif lettres
of "Sees biuore seide psalmes, % alle J>eos vreisuns eorne^ bi 'Seos
fiue, efter hire viue hexte blissen tel in |7e antefiies ° "? tu schal ivin-
den in ham vif gretunges. peo ureisuns ]?et ich nabbe bute imerked
beo^ iwriten oueral, bute one J^e laste. Lete '5 '^ writeu on one scrowe
hwat se ^e ne kunne^ nout.
" mei stutten jsruppe. C. ^ o'&'et cume to. C.
"= hwase nime'5 geme, i al J>is ilke vreisun, efter hire fif heste blissen, eorned bi fiue tele
in he antempnes. C.
'' het ich nabbe inicrkcfl Inite an beo'h" iwriten oiieral wi'fSutcn J'e lesto. C
WORSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 43
glad because thou hast conceived joy from the angel ; be glad
because thou hast brought forth the brightness of light eternal ; be
glad, O mother ; be glad, O holy mother of God. Thou, alone, O
virgin, art a mother without a mate. Every creature praises thee, the
mother of the son of light. Be a gracious mediator in our behalf,"
Versicle, " Behold, a virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son.
Be glad, O virgin ; be glad, O mother of God, and be exceeding
joyful, O Mary. Let the congregation of all the faithful rejoice in
thy praises. Constant and pious lady, make us to be glad with thee
before the Lord." Versicle, " Behold, a virgin shall conceive.'^ Let
us pray : " O God, who for our eternal salvation, &c." " O gracious
mother of the Redeemer, who remainest the gate through which
heaven is entered, and the star of the sea ; succour thy falling people,
who wish to rise. Thou who, whilst nature admu-ed, didst bring
forth thy holy Father, a virgin both before and after, receivmg that
salutation from the lips of Gabriel, pity the sinful." Here say,
" Hail, Mary ! " fifty or a hundred times, more or less, as ye have
leisure. Lastly, this versicle, " Behold the handmaid of the Lord ;
be it unto me according to thy word." Let us pray : " O holy
Virgin of Virgins, who gave birth to thy son the vanquisher of Satan."
Whoso will may stand up immediately after the first prayer. " We
beseech thee, O Lord, grant us thy grace," and then say her
number of " Hail, Maries." After the last psalm, " Unto thee lift I
up," and always before the psalm begin one '' Hail, Mary," as far
as "the Lord is with thee,^' and say the psalm standing. These
psalms are taken after the five letters of our Lady's name. Whoso
pays attention to this word Maria may find in it the first letters of
these five psalms aforesaid, and all those prayers run according to
these five. After her five highest joys comit in the anthems, and
thou shalt find in them five salutations. The prayers which I have
only indicated are written m full, except only the last. Cause to be
written on a scroll what ye do not know by heart.
44 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Al ]?et je euer sigge^S of swucli ^ o'Ser bonen, ase of Pater nostres
If of Auez, on ower owene wise, psalmes t vreisiins : al ich am wel
ipaiecl euericlion sigge 'pet hire best bere^ on heorte r' verslunge of
hire sautere r* reclinge of Enghchs, o'Ser of Freinclis :' holi medita-
ciuns.'* Of ower kneolunge, hwon so je euer muwen ihwulen, biuore
mete o'Ser efter, euer so je more do's, so God ou echo's furore liis
deorewur^e gi'ace :^*^ 1. Joke's also ich bid ou pet je ne beon neuer
idel :f auch wurche^, o'Ser rede's, oSer beo^ i beoden, If in ureisuns r'
*? so doS euer sumhwat pet god muwe ]>erof awakenen t' pe vres of
pe holi goste, jif je ham wulle'S siggen, sigge'S eueriche tide of ham
biuoren ure lefdi tiden. Toward te preostes tiden herkne'S se wel
je muwen. Auh mid him ne schule je nou^er uerslen ne singen
Jjet he hit muwe iheren. Ower graces, stondinde, biuore mete ? efter,
alse ha beo'S iwriten ou^* *? mid te miserere, go's biuoren ower
weouede *? ende'S 'Ser pe graces: bitweone mete, hwo se drinken
wule, sigge benedicite : " potum nostrum filius Dei benedicat. In
nomine Patris J Filii 1; Spiritus Sancti, amen." And blesce^ :' "? a
last sigge^ " adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, qui fecit celum J
teiTam. Sit nomen Domini benedictum ex nvmc et in secula. Bene-
dicamus Domino. Deo gracias." Hwon se je go^ to oure bedde
Folio 10 h. me niht oj^er in euen, ualle^ akneon to 'Ser eor^e "? J^enche'S hwat
je habbe^ i ]?ene dai iwre^^ed ure louerd, 7 eric's him eorne merci
J forgiuenesse. Eif je habbe'S ei god idon, ]7onkeS him of his jeoue,
wi^uten hwam we ne muwen ne wel don ne wel J^enchen t' '% sigge'S
"miserere mei Deus. Kiriel. Christel. Kiriel. Pater noster. Salvas
fac ancillas tuas Deus mens sperantes in te." Oremus. " Deus cui
proprium." And sigge, stondinde, ]?esne vreisim. " Uisita quesumus,
Domine, habitationem istam "? omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe re-
pelle :! angeli tui sancti habitantes in ea nos in pace custodiant, 7 bene-
dictio tua sit super nos semper, per Dominum. And J>enne a last
« Kllich. C. b }>ochtes. C.
<■ hwcnse je magen igemen, ear mete ^ efter, eauer se ge mare doS, so God [echi ouj
forSere his grace. C.
PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. GRACES. 45
Whatever other devotions you use in private, as Paternosters,
Hail Maries, psahns, and prayers, I am quite satisfied that every
one should say that which her heart most inclines her to, a verse of
her psalter, reading of English or French, holy meditations. As to
your kneeling, whenever you have time, before or after meat, the
more you do so, the more doth God add and increase towards you
his precious grace ; and see also, I pray you, that you be never idle,
but work, or read, or be at beads, and in prayer, and thus be always
doing something from which good may come. The hours of the
Holy Ghost, if you wish to say them, say every time of them before
our Lady's times ; to priest's hours listen as well as you can, but you
should neither say the versicles with him nor sing so that he may
hear it. Say your graces before and after meat, as they are written
out for you, standing ; and with the Miserere go before your altar
and finish there the graces. Between meals, when any one wishes
to drink, let her say benedicite, " May the son of God bless
our drink ; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, Amen," and make the sign of the cross ; and at last
say, " Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and
earth. The name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and
for ever. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks to God." Always when
you go to your bed at night or in the evening, fall on your knees to
the earth and think what you have done in the day to displease our
Lord, and cry to him earnestly for mercy and forgiveness. If
you have done any good, thank him for his grace, without which
we can neither do good nor think good, and say " Have mercy on
me, O God. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have
mercy on me. Our Father. My God, save thine handmaids who
hope in thee." Let us pray : " O God, whose property is ever to
have mercy." And say, standing, this prayer, " Visit, we beseech
thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all the wiles of the
enemy. May thy holy angels dwelling in it keep us in peace, and
may thy blessing be upon us for ever, through our Lord,'^ &c.
And finally say, " Christ conquers :' ij< Christ is king :' ij( Christ
46 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
"Christus vincit :! ^ Christus regnat i! ^ Christus imperat :^" >^ and
mid ]?reo creoiz, mid te ]?mne up buue ]7e uorlieaued :^ 1, J>eonne^ "Ecce
crucem Domini t" ^ fugite partes aduerse :! vicit leo de tribu Juda,
radix Dauid. Alleluia." A large creoiz, ase et Deus in adiutorium,
mid " Ecce crucem ■^ Domini :! " and j^eonne vour creoices a uour
halue, mid teos uour efter clauses. " Crux ^ fugat omne malum.
>^ crux est reparatio rerum. Per crucis hujus signum, ^ fugiat
procul omne malignum :! 1: per idem signum l^ saluetur quodque
benignum." A last ou sulf 1; ower bed boSe. " In nomine Patris 7
Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." Ine bedde uor]? ase je muwen,
ne do je no ]nng ne j^enclie^ :f bute slepe'S.
pe ne con o^er uhtsong, o]?er ne mei hit siggen, uor ulitsong sigge
]?ritti Pater nostres, 7 aue Maria efter euerich Pater noster :f 1:
Gloria Patri efter euerich aue Maria. A last schal siggen, hwo se
con. Oremus. " Deus cui proprium est misereri semper. Benedi-
camus Domino r' Deo gratias :! Fidelium anime." Vor euesong
twenti. Uor euerich oj^er tide, sigge uiftene, o J^is like wise "^ auh
et uhtsonge schal siggen hwo se con " Domine labia mea. Deus in
adiutorium." And at al ]7e o]7re tiden :! " Deus in adiutorium :" 7
Folio 11. et compile "conuerte nos Deus:" hwo se is unheite uorkeorue of uht
songe,'^ tene:^ of euerich o'Ser tide uiue, "Se halue dole of euerich one,
jif heo is seccure ; ^ hwo se is ful meseise, of alle beo heo cwite :! 7
nime hire sicnesse nout one ];olemodliche, auch do swu^ gledliche,"^
% al is hire ]7et holi chirche rede's oj^er singed ; ]?auh je owen I
J?enchen of God eueriche time, mest Jtauh in ower tiden, ]?et ower
]70ulites ne beon J^eonne uleotinde:"^ 1 jif je J7urh jemeleaste gluflfe'S ®
of wordes, o'Ser misnime^ uers, nime^ ower uenie dmi et ter eor'Se
mid te honden one :! o^er ualleS adun al uor mucliel misnimungej 1
sclieawe'S ofte ine scrifte ^ ower jemeleaste her abuten.
" hwa se is unheite o'Ser sec, forkerue of uhtsong. MS. Bibl. Cotton. Titus D. xviii.
unhette. C. >> sckere. C.
•^ NeomeS cure secuesse J'olemodliche ";] glcdliche. C. '' fleotinde. C.
•^ J;euilcs glitt'cn. Tit.
• ed si'hriftc. C. i sehrifte. Tit,
PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, IN THE EVENING AND MORNING. 47
rules >Ji " and with three crosses, with the thumb up above the
forehead; and then, behold the Lord's cross >J( Begone, ye ad-
versaries : the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David hath
conquered. Halleluia. A large cross, as at *' Make haste, O God,
to help me," with " Behold the Lord's cross ^ ; " and then four
crosses, on four sides, with these four after-clauses, " The cross iji
drives away every evil, i^ The cross is the restorer of the world.
By the sign of this cross >^ let every thing malignant % away ; and
by the same sign ^ let every thing that is kind and good be
preserved." Finally [bless] yourself and also your bed, " In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
In bed, as far as you can, neither do any tiling nor tliink, but sleep.
They who either cannot, or may not, say the early Matins, may
say, instead, thirty Paternosters, and " Hail, Mary ! " after every
Paternoster, and " Glory be to the Father," after every " Hail,
Mary ! " Finally, whoever can shall say : " Let us pray : O God,
whose property is always to have mercy. Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks to God. The souls of the faithful." For even song say
twenty ; for every other time fifteeri, in this manner : but at early
Matins whoever can, shall say, " O Lord, open thou m}^ lips. Make
haste, O God, to help me ; " and at all the other times, " Make
haste," and at Compline, " Turn us, O God." Whoso is infirm
may cut off ten at early Matins ; at every other time, five, the half
of each, if her sickness is greater. Whoso is very ill, let her be free
from the whole service, and take her sickness not only patiently, but
right gladly, and all is hers '^ that holy church readeth or sinoeth ;
ye ought, however, to think of God at all times, yet most in your
appointed times of devotion, that your thoughts may not then be
wandering ; and if, through heedlessness, you blunder in words, or
mistake a verse, make your venia, falling down to the earth with your
hands only, or if the mistake be great, fall quite down, and often
avow, in confession, your carelessness about this.
■' i. e. sliG shall sliarc in the 1)eiiefit.
48 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
pis is nu iSe uorme dole, J^et ich liabbe ispeken liiderto, of ower
seruise. Hwat se beo nu ^er of ]?eos riwlen her efter. Ich wolde
]}et heo weren of alle, alse heo beo'S of ou^ ]?urh Godes grace
iholden/
" Omni custodia serva cor tnum, quia ex ipso vita procedit." Mid
alle cunne warde, dohter, Bel's Salomon ]?e wise, wite wel ];ine heorte,
uor soule lif is in hire ; jif heo is wel iwust.^ pe heorte wardeins
beo'S *= J>e vif wittes — sih'Se % herunge, spekunge ^ and smellunge, t
eueriches limes uelunge r^ If we wulleS speken of alle, uor hwo se wit
J'eos wel, he deS Salomones heste. He wit wel his heorte 7 his soule
heale. pe heorte is a ful wilde best, and make^ monie wilde lupes,®
as Seint Gregorie ^ sei^S, " nichil corde fugacius." Noting ne ne et-
flihS mon so sone so his owune heorte. David, Godes prophete,
seide ^ et sume time f heo was etstert him. " Cor meum dereliquid
me:^" ]>is min heorte is etflowen^ me, "? eft he blescede him "? seide f
heo was ikumen liom. "Invenit servus tuus cor suum." Louerd, he
sei^S, min heorte is icumen ajein eft : ich hire habbe ifunden. Hwon
so holi mon, 1; so wis, t so war lette hire etsterten, sore mei ano'Ser
of hire fluht carien : t hwar etbrec heo ut urom DaviS ]:»e holi king.
Folio ] 1 b. Godes prophete ? Hwar ? God hit wot, et his eie ]?url, ]?urh a
sih'Se f he iseih ; ]?urh a biholdunge, ase je scuhlen * herefter iheren.
■^ seruise. his riwle her efter muche nede is wel to loke \)et Godd giue ou grace; for
hit spekes of J^e fiue wardains of J>e heorte. Tit.
'' iloked. Tit. •= arn. Tit.
■i smecchinge. Tit. •^ liht lupe. C. Tit. f. Sciut Bcr. C.
f atluppes. Tit. s meanede. Tit.
'' edflode. C. ' schulen. C. T.
MORAL INFLUENCE OF THE SENSES. SIGHT. 49
1 Jiis, now, wlilch I have hitherto spoken, concerning your rehgious
service, is the first part. Whatever may yet remain to be said of
those I'ules, I would that they were as well kept by all, as, through
God's grace, they are kept by you.
PART IL— ON KEEPING THE HEART.
1. Of Sight.
" Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita proccdit."
" With every kind of watchfulness, daughter," saith Solomon the
wise, " guard well thy heart, for in it is the life of the soul, if it is
well governed." The wardens of the heart are the five senses :
sight, hearing, taste,^ smelling, and every member's feeling,'' and we
shall speak of them all; for, whoever guards these well doth
Solomon^s command. He kcepeth well his heart, and the health of
his soul. The heart is a full wild animal, and makes many wild
leaps, as St. Gregory saith, " nihil corde fugacius," nothing escapes
from a man's control so soon as his heart ; David, God's prophet,
said upon a certain occasion, that it had deserted liim, " Cor meum
derelinquit me," ° that is, " My heart forsakes me; " and afterwards
he congratulated himself, and said it was come home, "Invenit
servus tuus cor suum." "^ " Lord," saith lie, " my heart is come
back again : I have found it." When a man so holy, so wise, and
so wary suffered his [licart] to break loose, others may well be sorely
anxious lest it should take flight. And where did it break away from
the holy king David, God's prophet? Where? God knows, at
the window of his eye : througli a sight that he saw : through a be-
holding, as you shall hereafter hear.
* Spekunge, in the original, is probably an error for sniekunge. Seu the various
readings.
'' i. e. touch. = Psalm xl. 12. J 2 Samuel, vii. 27.
CAMD. SOC. H
50 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
Uor];ui, mine leoue sustren, ])e leste f je eiier muweii luuieS
our ]>urles, al beon lieo lutle, ]?e parluris lest *? nerewest.^ pe cloS
in ham beo twouokl : blac cloS ; ]>e creoiz hwit AviSinnen 7 wiSuten.
pe blake clo^ bitockne^ f je beoS blake *? vmwurSe toward ])e
workle wi^uten ; j> te so^e sunne, f is Jesu Crist, haue^ wi^uten
uorkuled ou ; ? so wi^uten ase je beo^ vinseauliche imaked on ]7urh
gleames of his grace, pet hwite creoiz Hmpe'S to ou; uor ]>reo
manere creoices bee's — reade, J blake, t hwite. pe reade limpe'S to
l?eo f beo^S, uor Godes luue, mid hore blodshedunge irudded *?
ireaded, ase J^e martirs weren. pe blake creoiz limped to ])eo •f
makieS iSe workle hore penitence uor lodliche sunnen. pe hwite
creoiz limped to ^ hwit meidenhod, J to clennesse, f is muchel pine
wel uorto holden. Pine is oueral ^ J^urh creoiz idon to understonden.
pus bitockne^ hwit croiz ]7e ward of hwit chastite, f is muchel pine
wel uor to witene. pe blake clo^ also teke'Se ^ bitocnunge, de'S lesse
eile to 'pen eien, t is J^iccure ajein ]?e wind, t wurse to ]>urhseon, *?
halt his heou betere uor winde 1; for oSer hwat. Loke^ ^ te par-
lurs ® beon euer ueste on eueriche halue, 1: eke wel istekene, "? wite'S
];er our eien,^ leste ]>e heorte etfleo 1; wende ut, ase of Dauid, 7 oure
soule secli so sone heo is ute. Ich write muchel uor o^re, f no'Sing
ne etrine'S ^ ou, mine leoue sustren ; vor nabbe je nout J>ene nome,
ne ne schulen habben, J»urh j^e grace of Gode, of totinde ancres, ne
of tollinde lokunges, ne lates, f summe, o^er hwules, weilawei ! un-
kundeliche makieS ; vor ajein kunde hit is, If unmeS swuc ^ wunder,
•f te deade totie,* '? mid cwike worldes men wede wiS sunne.
" }>nrles [■] loket J>at tei] lieon lutle, -) \>e parlures least, ^ eke narswest. C, vvindohes,
al beon ho lutle. I^e parlure windohe beo least •) narewest. Tit.
^ limpe'S aricht to. C. T. <; ihwer. C. eihwer. T.
•^ techen ]>e. C. teke^e. T. e Lokes 1f> te parlurs claS. T.
' wel itachet, ~j geate'S wel )>er owre ehne. T. e p naut ne rluet5. C.
'' selli. T. .suUich. C. ' adotie. T.
THE PARLOUR WINDOWS TO BE AVOIDED. 51
Wherefore, my clear sisters, love yovu' windows as little as
possible ; [and see that they]"* be small, — the parlour's smallest and
narrowest. Let the cloth upon them be twofold ; black cloth ; the
cross white, within and without. The black cloth signifieth that ye
are black, and of no estimation with the world without ; because the
true sun, which is Jesus Christ, has discoloured you outwardly,
and thus externally, as you are not fair to look on, has he made you
through the rays of his grace.'' The white cross properly belongs to
you ; for there are three kinds of crosses — red, black, and white. The
red appertains to those who are, for the love of God, ensanguined and
reddened by the shedding of their blood, as the Martyrs were. The
black cross is proper to those who are doing penance in the world
for foul sins. The white cross is appropriate to white and unstained
maiden purity, which requires much pains well to preserve. Pain
is always to be understood by the cross. Thus the white cross
betokeneth the keeping of pure chastity, which requires much pains
to guard well. The black cloth also teacheth an emblem, doth less
harm to the eyes, is thicker against the wind, more difficult to see
through, and keeps its colour better against the wind and other
things. See that your parlour windows be always fast on every
side, and likewise well shut ; and mind your eyes there, lest your
heart escape and go out like David^s, and your soul fall sick as soon
as it is out. I write more particularly for others, for nothing [here
said] applies to you, my dear sisters, for ye have not the name, nay,
nor shall ye have, through the grace of God, of staring anchorites,
nor of enticing looks and manners, which some, at times, alas !
contrary to the nature of their profession, practice ; for against
nature it is, and a singularh^ strange prodigy, that the dead should
look out, and among living men of the world, consort with sin.
" See V. r. C. ^ See Canticles, i. G.
52 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Foho 12. Me leoue sire, seiS sum inouli reaSe, 7 is hit nu so ouer vuel
uor te toten "^ utward ? ^e hit, leoue suster, vor vuel ^ f ter kume^ ol'
hit, is vuel ouer vuel to euerich ancre, % nomeliche to J>e junge :^ 7 to
ben old TiorSui f heo to ]7e junge jiue^ vuel uorbisiie, 7 scheld to
werien ham mide. Vor, jif ei etwit" ham, ];eonne sigge'S'^ heo
anonriht :! " Mesire, ];eo de"S also ]^eo is ^ betere J^en ich am, *? wot
betere J^en ich wot, hwat heo haueS ^ to doiine." O leoue junge an-
cren, ofte a ful hawur smi~S smeo'Si^ s a ful woe knif, % te wuse ouh
to uolewen wisdom, 1! nout folie,^ 1 an olde ancre mei don wel ^ tu
dest vuele. Auh toten vt wrSuten vuel ne mei nouSer of ou, '% nim
nu jeme hwat vuel beo icumen of totinge ^ nout on vuel ne two, auh
al ]?e vuel, 7 al \q wo ^ nu is 7 euer jete was, 7 euer schal iwur^en,
al com of a sih'Se. pet hit beo so^, lo her ]?e preoue : Lucifer ];urh
]?et he iseih 7 biheold on himsulf his owene ueirness leop into prude,
7 bicom of engel atelich deouel ; 7 of Eue vre aire moder is iwriten
on aire erest in hire neowe ^ injong of hire eie sih'Se, '"' vidit igitur
mulier quod bonum esset lignum ad vescendum, et pulchrum oculis,
aspectuque delectabile, et tulit de fructu ejus 1, comedit, deditque
viro:" •^ is, Eue biheold o ]7en uorbodene eppele, % iseih hine ueir, 7
iieng to deliten ^^ i ]?e biholdunge, 7 turnde ^ hire lust j^er toward, 7
nom % et j^erof, 7 jef hire louerd. Lo hu holi writ speke^, 7 hu i'
inwardliche hit tellcS hu sunegunge bigon : ]7us eode sihSe biuoren,
7 makede wei to vuel lust i 7 com ]?e dea'S J^er efter, -f al monkun
iueleS.'" pes eppel, leoue sustren, bitocne'S alle ]?e \rag f lust falleS
to, 7 delit of sunne. Hwon ]>u biholdest te nion ]>u ert in Eue point : /
jn\ lokest o J^en eppel. Hwoso heuede iseid to Eue ]?eo " heo werp
Foih 12 b. hire eien ]jerone, A! wend te awei ^ ]>u worpest eien o ]:'i deaS t hwat
" lokin. T.
•* jea hit, leue sustren, ful vuel, -] ouer uuel to eauer ouch anker is te vuel. T.
" wites. T. ■* seien. T. <= Ji arn, T.
f ho ahen. s haher smi'S smiSes. T. hager. C.
'' folhe i wisedom, T nawt i folie. T, ' in hire sunno. T. C.
'< (loliten hire. C. ' toe. T. C.
"' al mon cun nu feles. T, " i>a. T,
eve's temptation began by the eye. 53
" JVly dear master," saitli some one, quickly enough, ^'is it, now, so
very evil a thing to look out?" Yea, it is, dear sister, for the
harm that comes of it is evil above evil to every anchorite, and
especially to the young ; and to the old, inasmuch as she sets a bad
example to the young, and gives them a shield wherewith to defend
themselves. For, if any one reprove them, then, they immediately
say, " Sir, she does the same who is better than I am, and knows
better what she ought to do." O dear young recluse, often does a
right skilful smith forge a full weak knife ; the wise ought to imitate
wisdom and not folly ; also, an old recluse may do that well Avhicli
thou doest ill. But to look out without harm, neither of you can do.
And now, observe what evil has come of looking ; not one evil or
two, but all the evil and all the harm that now is, and that ever yet
was, and that ever shall be — all came of a sight. That this is true,
lo, here is the proof: Lucifer, because he saw and beheld in himself
his own beauty, fell into pride, and of an angel became a foul fiend.
And it is written of Eve, the mother of us all, that sin first entered
into her through her eyesight, " Vidit igitur mulier quod bonuni
csset lignum ad vescendum, et pulchrum oculis, aspectuque de-
lectabile, et tulit de fructu ejus et comedit, deditque viro :" that is,
" Eve looked on the forbidden apple, and saw it fair, and began to
take delight in beholding it, and set her desire upon it, and took and
ate of it, and gave of it to her lord." Lo ! how Holy Writ speaks ;
and how, searching deeply into the cause and origin, it tells how sin
began. Thus did sight go before and prepare the way for guilty
desire ; and death followed, to which all mankind is subject. This
apple, dear sisters, betokeneth every thing that excites guilty desire,
and delight in sin. When thou lookest upon a man thou art in
Eve's case ; thou lookest upon the apple. If any one had said to
Eve, when she cast her eyes upon it. Ah, Eve ! turn thee away ;
thou castest thine eyes upon thy death : What would she have an-
swered ? " My dear master, thou art in the wrong. Why dost thou
find fault with me? The a])ple which I look upon is forbidden me
Folio n.
54 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
heuede heo i-onswerede ? Me leoue sire, J?u liauest wouh. Hwarof
kalenges tu me ? ]7e eppel f ich loke on is forbode nie to etene, ?
iiout forto biholden. pus wolde Eue inouli reaSe ^ habben i-on-
swered. O mine leoue sustren, hwat^ Eue haueS monie douhtren
J»e uoluwe'cS liore moder, f onswerie"S o ];isse wise. " Me wenes tu,"
sei^ sum, " f ich chulle leapen on him, ];auh ich loke on him ?" God
hit wot, leoue sustren, more wunder ilomp.*' Eue, |?i moder, leop
efter hire eien :f urom hire eien to ]>& eppel, vrom J^e eppel i parais
adun to J^es eor'Se, vrom ]>es eor^Se to helle, j^er heo lei ine prisune
uour ]7usend jer J moare, heo t hire louerd ^ bo'Se, J, tauhte ® al hire
ofsprung to leapen alle efter hire to dea^e wi^uten ende. Biginnunge
J rote of yis ilke reou'Se was a liht ^ sih'Se. pus, ofte, ase me sei'S,
of Intel wacse^ muchel. HabbeS ]?eonne muchel drede euerich feble
mon t wummon, liwon heo f was riht J^o imaked ^ mid Godes bond en, -^
was ]?urli a sih^e biswiken, 1; ibrouht for S into broid '^ sunne j^et al ►"^
]7e world ouerspredde.
" JEo-ressa est Dina filia Jacob ut videret mulieres aliegenas "^c." A
meiden also het was, Jacobes doubter, hit telleS ine Genesi, eode vt
nor to biholden uncu^e wummen : lo jet ne seib hit nout f heo
biheold wepmen ; auh de'S wummen. And hwat com, wenest tu, of
];et ilke biholdunge ? Heo leas hire meidenhod, J, was imaked hore.
perefter of ];en ilke weren trou^en tobrokene of heie patriarkes, 1; a
muchel buruh uorbernd, f ]>e king '? his sune ? te buruh men '^
isleiene, "? te wummen of ]?ere buruh i-led forS, hire ueader 7 hire
breSren, se noble princes alse heo weren, vtlawes imakede. pus
eode vt hire sihSe : al ]?us ^ ]?e holi Gost lette writen one boc uor to 'y
warnie wummen of hore fol eien : ? nim Jjer of jeme -f J^is vuel ■^
com of Dina ne com nout of f ]>et heo iseih Sichem Emores sune, f
inoh ra'Se. T.
^ as. T. C.
•^ ilimpes. T.
were. T. C.
<= demde. T. C.
f lute. T.
iwraht. T.
h brade. C.
' swuche.
DINAH S HONOUR LOST FROM HER BEING SEEN. OO
to eat, and not to look at." Thus would Eve, quickly enough, have
answered. O my dear sisters, truly Eve hath many daughters who
imitate their mother ; who answer in this manner. But, " Thinkest
thou," saith one, " that I shall leap upon him, though I look at
him ? " God knows, dear sisters, that a greater wonder has
happened. Eve, thy mother, leaped after her eyes to the apple;
from the apple in Paradise down to the earth ; from the earth to hell,
where she lay in prison four thousand years and more, she and her
lord both, and taught all her offspring to leap after her to death
without end. The beginning and the root of this woful calamity
was a light look. Thus, often, as is said, " of little waxeth mickle."
Let, therefore, every feeble man and woman have much dread, when
she who was recently created by the hand of God, was, through a
look, seduced and carried onward to open sin, which overspread the
whole world.
*' r!igressa est Dinah, filia Jacob, ut videret mulieres aliegenas,"
&c. A maiden also there was, Jacob's daughter, it is told in
Genesis, who went out to see the strange women. Now, observe,
it is not said that she beheld men, but it says women. And what,
thinkest thou, came of that beholding ? She lost her maiden honour,
and was made a harlot. Afterwards, for the same cause, were truces
broken by liigli patriarchs, and a great city burned, and the king
and his son, and the men of the city slam, and the women of the city
led away ; her father and her brethren, such noble princes as they
were, made outlaws. To this length went her sight : and the Holy
Spirit has caused the whole to be written in a book, in order to
warn women concerning theii' foolish eyes. And take notice that
this evil which came of Dinah, came not from her seeing Sichem,
the son of Hamor, with whom she sinned, but it came from her
letting him set his eyes upon her ; for that also whicli he did to her
was in the beginning sorely against her will.
56 REGULiE INCLUSAEUM.
heo sunegede mide, anh dude f lieo lette liim leggen eien on hire ;
vor f ecf he dude hire was i^e fruiiTSe ^ sore hire mrSonckes. /
Also Bersabee ]?urh ]?et heo unwreih liire ine Dauies sihSe, heo
makede him sunegen on hire, so holi king ase he was, ? Godes pro- -^
phete : 1: nu cume'S for^ a feble mon, '? halt him ];auh heihliche,'^
xif he bane's enne widne "^ hod 1: one ilokene "^ cope, J wule iseon
Tunge ancren, ? loken nede ® ase ston hu hire hwite ^ like him, f
naue^ nout hire leor uorbernd i^e sunne, '^ sei^ ^ heo mei iseon /
baldeliche holi men ; je nomeliche swuche ase he is, uor his wide ■^
sleuen.s Me sur, q^ derie,^ ne iherest tu^ f Dauid, Godes owune ^
deorling, bi hwam God sulf Bel's, "Inveni virum secundum cor '
meum:" f is, icli habbe ifunden, cwe^ he, enne mon efter mine
heorte ; ]7es f God sulf seide, bi ]7eos deorewur'Se sawe,'^ king 7 pro- ■-
phete ichosen • vt of alle, was ]7us J7urli on eie wurp to one wummon
ase heo weoschs ^ hire, lette vt his heorte 1: forjet him suluen, so f
he dude ]?reo vtnummen heaued sunnen 7 deadliche ; one Bersabee
spus bruche J^e lefdi f he lokede on ; treisun 1: monsleiht on his
treowe knilit Yrie, hire louerd ; ? J»u, a wrecche sunful mon, ert
so swu'Se herdi to kesten kang" eien upon junge wummen. Ee,
mine leoue ° sustren, jif eni is onwil p uorte iseon ou, ne wene ^e ]}er
neuer god, auh ileueS him ]?e lesse. Nullich f no mon iseo ou bute
he habbe leaue speciale of ower meistre ; vor alle ]?eo ];reo sunnen t
f icli spec of last, 7 al f vuel of Dina f icli spec of er, ne com nout
Folio 13 b. for^ui f te wummen lokede cangliche o weopmen, auh dude ]7urh f'
" forme cher. T, "^ ageliclie. C. •= wid. T,
d lokin. T, lolce. C. « neode. T. f white T. C.
s his wide -j his lokene sleue. T.
'• Qu. Mesur [t. c. Messer, Monsieur] qiiiderie? Cidderea^i. Old Fr. a braggart, a
self-confident, conceited fellow. " O presumptuose domine ! " MS. Oxon. Surquedr//,
Pride, presumption. Bailey.
' Me sur, q'de sire ne heres tu. T. Me sire, ne herest j'u. C.
•< sahe. T. sage. C. ' culed. T. icured. C.
"> wesch. T. C. 1 Hn. T. canh. C.
" ]?is jj is nu seid limpes to wimmen; ah ase muche neod is wcpniaii to wite wcl his eh
sih'Se fra wimmenes sih'Se. Nu, mi leoue. T.
P swa anwil. C. ful willes ful. T.
David's sin caused by his seeing bathsheba. 57
Likewise Batlisheba, by unclothing herself in David's sight,
caused him to sin with her, though he was so holy a king and God's
prophet : and now, a feeble man comes forward and esteems himself
highly if he have a wide hood and a close cope, and would see
young anchoresses, and must needs look, as if he were of stone,
how their fairness pleases him, who have not their complexion
sunburnt, and saith that they may look confidently upon holy
men, yea, especially such as he is, because of his wide sieves.
Braggart Sir! hearest thou not tliat David, God's own beloved
servant, of whom God himself saith, " Inveni virum secundum cor
meum ; " that is, " I have found," quoth he, " a man after mine
heart ; " this king and prophet, chosen out of all the people, con-
cerning whom God himself spoke these precious words, Avas thus,
through casting his eye upon a woman as she was bathing, led into
sin, let his heart wander, and forgot himself so far that he committed
three heinous and deadly sins : adultery with Bathsheba, the lady
upon whom he looked, treachery and manslaughter upon his faithful
servant Uriah, her lord ; and thou, a wretched sinful man, art so
presumptuous as to cast froward eyes upon young women. You,
my dear sisters, if any one is desirous to see you, never think
favourably of him, but [rather] believe him the less. I would not
that any man should see you except he have special permission from
your superior; for all the three sins of which I have just now
spoken, and all the evil with regard to Dinah of which I spoke
previously, did not happen because the woman looked frowardly upon
men, but it happened through their uncovering themselves in the
sight of men, and doing that which made them liable to fall into sin.
CAMD. SOC.
58 EEGULiE INCLUSAEUM.
lieo uiiwrien ham ine monne eili sili^e, *? cluden liwar ]nirli heo
muliten uallen into sunnen.
U or]?! was ilioten a Godes half i^en olde lawe f put were euer
iwrien ; ^ "? jif eni unwrie put were, 7 best feolle ]?er inne, he hit
schulde helden ^ ];ene put unwreih.^ pis is a swu^e dredlich word
to wummen f scheawe'S hire to wepmones eien.° Heo is bitocned bi
]>e f unwrie'S ]?ene put. pe put is hire veire neb, t hire hwite swire,
■? hire Hht eie, "? hire bond ^if heo halt for^ in his eihsih^e :^ 7 ^et
beo^ hire word put, buten heo beo 'pe bet biset r^ '^ al jet ^ failed to
hire,*^ hwat so hit euer beo, ];urh hwat muhte sonre ful luue of aqui-
ken,® al vre Louerd cleope^ put. pes put he hat f heo beo euer
ilided J iwrien, leste eni best ualle per inne, 1. druncnie ine sunne.
Best is pe bestliche mon f ne J'enche'S nout of God :' ne ne note^b
nout his wit ase mon ouh to donne, auh secheS uor to uallen i Jfisse
put f ich speke of, ji^ he hine ivint open. Auh pe dom is ful strong
upon ham f unhelie'S J^ene put :^* vor heo schulen jelden f best f is
j^er inne ivallen. Heo is gulti^ of pe bestes dea'Se biuoren vre
Louerd, *? schal uor his soule onswerien a Domesdei, *? jelden pe
bestes lure, hwon heo naueS o^er jeld buten hire suluen.^ Strong
jeld is her mid alle t' J Godes dom is, 1: his lieste, f heo hit jelde
allegate, vor heo unwreih * ]?ene put f hit adrone inne. pu unhelest
]7esne put pn f dest eni J^ing hwarof ]7er mon is fleschliche ivonded of
pe, Jmuh ]m hit nute ^ nout. Di-ed Jjesne dom swuiSe :' 1: jif he is
Folio 14. ivonded so f he sunegie deadliche Jjurh J^e on eni wise, jjauh hit ne
beo nout wi'S pe, bute mid wille touward pe ; o'Ser jif he seche'S to
fulen ^ o sum o'Ser pe vondunge of J^e f ]?urh J^ine dede is awakened,
* ihulet. T. iwrigen. C.
'' p unhulede J^e put T beast fel J^erin, he hit schulde gelden. T.
' to wepmon "] to wimmen "ji swi'Se sone scheawen ham to hwa se wile. T.
^ ■}> feahes ow. T. );>et Ipe fea^e^ hire. C. ' awaenin.
f I'ul grureful ') strong o J^a p unliden ham ^e put. T.
e schuldi. T. witi. C. '' hwen ge ne haue'S geld bote ow seluen. T.
' unluded. T. " ne wite. T. ' fillen. T.
THE COMMAND TO COVER A PIT INSTANCED. 59
r or this reason, it was ordained by God in the old law that a pit
should be always covered ; and if any pit were uncovered, and a
beast fell into it, he that uncovered the pit should make it good.
This is a very terrible word to a woman who exposes herself to the
view of men. She is represented by the person who uncovers the
pit. The pit is her fair face, and her white neck, and her light eye,
and her hand, if she stretch it forth in his sight. And, moreover,
her word is a pit, unless it be the better guarded ; and all that belongs
to her, whatsoever it be, through which sinful love might the sooner
be excited, our Lord calleth a pit. He commands that this pit be
always provided with a lid and covered, lest any beast fall into it and
drown in sin. The beast is any man who, like a beast, thinketh not of
God, and doth not use his reason as a man ought to do ; but seeketh
to fall into this pit that I speak of, if he find it open. But the
judgment upon those who uncover the pit is very severe ; for they
shall make restitution of the value of the beast that is fallen into it.
Slie is guilty of the beast's death, in our Lord's sight; and shall
answer for his soul on Doomsday, and make good the loss of the
beast when she hath nothing wherewith to pay but her own self.
Hard payment it is withal, and God's judgment and his command is,
that she must by all means make restitution, because she uncovered
the pit in which it was drowned. Thou dost micover this pit ;
thou who doest any thing by which the man is carnally tempted of
thee, though thou know" it not. Dread greatly this doom ; and if he
is tempted so that he sin mortally through thee in any way, though
it be not with thee, but with desii-e toward thee, or if he seek to
satiate on some other the temptation of thee, which is awakened
through thy conduct, be fully certain of the doom. Thou slialt
pay the value of the beast for opening the pit ; and, unless thou be
absolved thereof by confession, as is said, thou shalt bear the rod.
60 REGUL.E INCLUSAEUM.
beo al siker of |?e dome : }>u schalt jelclen ■f best vor ]?e puttes open-
unge, "? biite ]7U scliriue ]?e ]?erof, ase mon sei'S ]?u schalt acorien ]7e
rode t* f is acorien his sunne. Hund wule in bHSeliche hwar se he
ivint hit open."^
"Inpudicus oculus impudici cordis est nuncius." — Augustinus.
f ]?e mu^ ne mei uor scheome ]?e Hht eie speke'S hit :' J. is ase erinde-
bere ^ of J^e lihteheorte. Auh nu is sum wummon '^ f nolde uor none
]7inge wihien fulSe to mon t''^ 1: tauh ne rouhte heo neuer J^auh he
]70uhte toward hire, J were of hire itempted.® Auh seint Austin de'S
]?eos two bo'Se in one weie/ wilnen, 7 habe wille uorte beon iwilned.^
Non solum appetere, sed appeti velle criminosum est. Cuueiten '^
mon, o'Ser haben wille uorte beon iwilned of mon :' bo beo'S heaued
sunne. Oculi prima tela sunt adulterii : eien beo^ ]>e earewen J te
ereste armes of lecheries pricches ^ J also ase men weorre^ mid J^reo
kunne wepnen, mid scheotunge, mid speres ord, t mid sweordes egge,
al riht so, mid ]>en ilke wepnen, f is mid scute of eien :' mid spere of
wundinde word :'^ mid sweorde of deadliche hondlunge, weorre'S
lecherie, "peo stinkinde hore, wi^ ]7e lefdi of chastete, ^ is Godes
spuse. Erest heo scheot 'pe earewen of ]?e liht eien, f fleo^S lichtliche
uor'S, ase earewe "^ f is ivi^ered, 1; stikeS i^e heorte. perefter heo
schekeS hire spere, 1: nehleche^ ^ up on hire, *? mid schekinde word
jiue^ speres wunden. Sweordes dunt is adunriht f is ]?e hondlunge :'
vor sweord smit of neih,"^ "? jifS dea^es dunt :' 1 tis is " so^, wei-
FvUo a h. lawei, ful neih idon mid ham f kume'S so neih togederes •f ou^er
o^er hondlie, oSer ouhwar ivele oSer. Hwo se is wise 1 iseli, wi'S
" hund wile in at open dure, J>er man him ne wernes. T.
'' erende beorere. C. ' mon. T.
'' wummon. T. ' ifondet. C.
' T nu de'S [sein] Austin ba Jjeos in ane [cuple]. C.
« igirned. C. icuueitet. T. '' Sii'ni. C.
' wi'S spere-vrandinde word. C. '' fian. T. ttaa. C
' ueolachet. C. nehleache. T, "" smites iieh hoiid. 'i'.
" and hit is so'Ses. T.
EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF UNGUARDED LOOKS. 61
that is, bear the burden of his sin. The dog enters ghidly where he
finds an open door.
St. Austin saith, " An immodest eye is the messenger of an un-
chaste heart. The hght eye spealveth that wliich the mouth may
not for shame, and is as the messenger of the hght heart." And here is
a woman that would not for any thing desire uncleanness with man ;
and yet she never cared though his thoughts inchned toward her
and he were tempted by her. But Saint Austin putteth both these
in one balance — to desire and to wish to be desired. " Xon solum
appetere, sed appeti velle criminosum est." To desire a man, or to
wish to be desired of man, both are capital sins. " Oculi prima
tela sunt adidterii," the eyes are the arrows and the first arms of
lechery's stings ; and, like as men fight with three kinds of weapons,
with shooting, with spear's point, and with sword's edge, just so
with the same weapons, that is, with eye-shot, with spear of
wounding word, with sword of deadly handling, doth lechery, the
foul harlot, fight against the lady. Chastity, who is God's spouse.
First, she shoots the arrows of the light eyes, that ^y lightly forth
like a feathered arrow and stick in the heart ; then she shaketh her
spear, and cometh nigh to her, and with shaking word giveth spear's
wounds; sword^s dint is downright, that is, the handling, for a sword
smites in close fight and giveth a death's stroke ; and this truly is
done, alas ! too close, with them who come so nigh together that the
one may handle or any where feel the other. Whoso is wise and
good let her be on her guard against the shooting, that is, [let her
guard] Avell her eyes ; for all the evil that ever is comes of the eye
arrows. And is not she too forward or too fool-hard}', who holds
her head boldly forth in the open battlements, while men with cross-
bow-bolts without assail the castle ? Surely our foe, the warrior of
hell, shoots, as I ween, more bolts at one anchoress than at seventv and
seven secular ladies. The battlements of the castle are the windows
62 KEGULit: INCLUSARUM.
'pe scliute wite hire, f is wel hire eien t' vor al j^e vuel f euer is
cumcS of 'pen eien arevven. And nis heo to muclie cang,''' o^er to
folherdi, f halt hire heaued baldehche tior'S vt i]?en open kernel, ]?eo
hwile f me mit quarreaus wi'Suten asaile^ ]?ene castel ? Sikerliche
vre vo,^ pe weorreur of lielle, he scheot, ase ich wene, mo cwarreaus
to one ancre J^en to seouene 1: seouenti lefdies*^ i^e worlde. pe
kerneaus of pe castel Leo's hire huses ]7urles. Ne aboutie heo nout
vt et ham, leste heo ]?es deofles quarreaus habbe amidden ];en eien,
er heo lest wene ; vor he assailed efre. Holde hire eien inne, vor
beo heo erest ablend, heo is eS fallen.*^ Ablinde pe lieorte, heo is eS
ouercumen, "? ibrouht sone mid ^ sunne to grunde.
XJeornardus. " Sicut mors per peccatum in orbem, ita per has
fenestras intrat in nientem." Also ase dea'S com, sei^ Bernard, into
pe Avorlde J^urli sunne :' also ]?urh eie J>urles deaS haue^ hire injong •"
into pe soule. Louerd Crist, ase men wolden steken veste euericli
|?url :f uor hwou ? f heo muhten bisteken deaS J^er vte, dea'S of
fleschliche line :! and an ancre nule nout tunen hire eiSurles ajein ^
dea'S of lielle s 7 of soule r^'^ ^ mid gode riht muwen ei'Surles beon •''
ihoten ^ eil^ui-les, vor heo habbe'S idon muchel eil to moni on ancre.
Al Holi Writ is ful of warningge of eie. Dauid seide, "Averts "
oculos meos ne videant uanitatem." Louerd, seiS Dauid, wend awei
mine eien vrom pe worldes dweole, '? hire fantesme : ? Job seide,
Folio 15. "Pepigi fedus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem de virgine." Ich habbe
ivestned, seiS Job, foreward mid min eien, f ich ne mis^enche v.
deale. Hwat,^' seiS he, jjenche'S me mid eien ? God hit wot, he sei'S, ^
ful wel, vor efter pe eie cume'S pe J»ouht^ 1 ter efter pe dede. f
» chang. C. cangun. T. ^ fa. T. C. "•■ men. T, lauedies. C.
'' inwi^, for beo ho iblind, ho is ea'b' falle. T. ^ J?urh. T.
f eiKurl to gain. T. s helle. T.
'■ agein J>e dea'S of saule. C. ' icleped. T. ihaten. C.
^ hu deale hwat. T. hu dele. C.
SCRIPTURE WARNINGS REGARDING THE EYES. 63
of tlieir houses. Let her not look out at them, lest she have the
devil's bolts between her ejes, before she even thinks of it ; for he
is always attacking. Let her keep in her eyes, for if she is once
blinded, she is easily overcome. Blind the heart, she is easily con-
quered, and soon brought to the ground by sin.
-Bernard, " Sicut mors per peccatum in orbem, ita per has
fenestras intrat in mentem." " As death came," saith Bernard,
" into the world through sin, so through eye windows death hath
his entrance into the soul." Lord Christ ! how men would shut fast
every aperture ! Wherefore ? That they might shut out death —
death of carnal life : and will not an anchorite stop up her eye
windows against death of hell and of the soul ? And with good
right may e^-e whidows be called evil windows, for they have done
much evil to many an anchorite.
All Holy Writ is full of warning of eye. David said, " Averte
oculos meos ne videant vanitatem." " Lord," saith David, " turn
away mine eyes from the world's delusions and its vain shew ; " and
Job said, " Pepigi foedus cum oculis meis ut ne cogitarem de
virgine." " I have compacted," saith Job, " a covenant with mine
eyes, that I may not think improperly upon a maid." " What," saith
he, " do men think with eyes ? " " God knows it," saith he, "full well ;
for after the eye comes the thought, and then the deed." Jeremiah
well knew that, who moaned thus, and said, " Oculus mens deprse-
datus est aniraam meani." Alas ! mine eye has robbed all my soul.
When God's prophet made such moan of eves, what kind of moan,
thinkest thou, has come to many a man, or sorrow to many a
woman, of their eyes ? The wise man asks, in his book, M'hether
64 REGUL^E INCLUSARUM.
wiiste wel, Jeremie, f mende'^ him J>us, "? seicle, "oculus mens deprc-
datus est animam meam." " Weilawei, min eie liaue^ irobbed al mine
soule." Hwon Godes prophete makede swnche mone of eien, hwuc
mone wenestn is to moni mon, oSer to moni wummon icumen
seoruwe ^ of bore eien ? pe wise mon askeS in his boc hwe'Ser ei
]7ing herrae'S more wummon J^ene hire eien :f " oculo quid nequius,
totam faciem lacrimare facit, ?c." Al ]?e leor "^ schal ulowen o teares,
he sei'S, vor }?e eie sih^e one. pis is nu inouh of ]:»isse witte iseid et
tisse cherre, to warnie ]?eo seUe :' we schulen J^auli sone her efter
speken herof more.
Spellunge J, smecchunge beo^ ine mu'Se bo'Se, ase sihSe is i^en
eien : auh we schulen leten smecchunge vort ^ tet we speken of ower
mete, J speken nu of spellunge, 1 ter efter of herrunge : of bo imene,
sume cherre, ase go's togederes.
On ah^e erest hwon je schulen to owre parlures ]7urle iwite'S et
ower meiden ^ hwo hit beo f is icumen :f uor swuch hit mei beon f
je schulen asunien^ ou, ? hwon ^e alles moten uor'S, creoise'S ful
jeorne our mu'S, earen, f eien, % te breoste eke :/ ? goS for^ mid
Godes drede, to preoste. On erest, sigge^ confiteor:^ 1 })erefter
benedicite, f he ouh to siggen ^ hercne'S his wordes, "? sitte'S al stille,
f hwon he parted urom ou, ^ he ne cunne ower god, ne ower vuel .
nou^er ^ ne he ne cunne ou nou'Ser blamen ^ ne preisen. Sum is so
wel ilered, o^er se wis iworded, f heo wolde ^ he wuste hit :' 'pe sit
Foi. 15 b. ■? speke'S touward him, % jelt him word ajein word, '? bicume'S ^>
meister, pe schulde beon ancre f' 7 leare^ him f is icumen to leren
hire r* wolde, bi hire tale, sone beon mit te wise icud ' 7 icnowen.
Icnowen heo is wel, vor )7urh f ilke, f heo weneS to beon wis
" mante. T. '' wummon -) sorhe. T.
"= Al l>e neb. T, <> til. T.
* wites at owre seruanz. T. hwiteS ed on i>er meiden. C.
' aseinen. T. asonien. C. e lastin. C. laste. T.
h forwur'Se«. T. ' cuS'Set. T. icu'S'Set. C.
CAUTION TO BE USED IN SPEAKING. 65
any thing doth more harm to a woman than her eyes ? " Oculo quid
nequius? totam faciem lacrimare facit/' &c.'' "All the face shall
flow with tears/' saith he, " for the eye-sight alone." This is now
enough said of this sense, at this time, to warn the good. We
shall, however, soon hereafter speak of it again.
2. Of Speech.
Speaking and tasting are both in the mouth, as sight is in the
eyes ; but we shall let tasting alone until we speak of your food, and
treat, at present, of speaking, and thereafter of hearing, of both in
common, in some measure, as they go together.
First of all, when you have to go to your parlour window, learn
from your maid who it is that is come; for it may be some one
whom you ought to shun ; and, when you must needs go forth,
make the sign of the cross carefully on your mouth, ears, and eyes,
and on your breast also, and go forth in the fear of God to a priest.
Say first, " Confiteor," and then " Benedicite," which he ought to
say ; hear his words and sit quite still, that, when he parteth from
you, he may not know either good or evil of you, nor know any
thing either to praise or to blame in you. Some one is so learned
and ''of such wise speech, that she would have him to know it, who
sits and talks to him and gives him word for word, and becomes a
preceptor who should be an anchoress, and teaches him who is come
to teach her ; and would, by her own account, soon be celebrated
and known among the wise. — Known she is well ; for, from the very
circumstance that she thinketh herself to be reputed wise, he under-
stands that she is a fool ; for she hunteth after praise and catches
'^ Ecclus. xxxi. 15.
CAMD. SOC. ^
66 EEGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
iholden, he understont ■f heo is sot. Vor heo liuiite'S efter pris, 1;
kecche'S lastunge. Vor ette laste, hwon he is aAvend awei :!^ ]?eos
ancre, he wule siggen, is of muchele speche.^ Eiie heold ine parais
longe tale mid te neddre, 7 told hire al f lescun f God hire hefde ^
ilered,'' <^ Adam, of ]?en epple :^ '^ so 'pe ueoiid ];urh hire word, un-
derstond anonriht hire wocnesse, <^ ivond wei touward hire of hire
uorlorenesse. Vre lefdi, Seinte Marie, dude al anoSer wise : ne tolde
heo J>en engle none tale f" auh askede him ]?ing scheortliche f heo ne
ku^e. Ee, mine leoue sustren, uolewe^ ure lefdi '^ nout ]?e kakele ^
Eue. VorJ^i ancre, hwat se heo heo, alse muchel ase heo euer con '^
mei, holde hire stille: nabbe heo nout henne kunde. pe hen hwon
heo bane's ileid, ne con buten kakelen. And hwat bijit heo ]?erof ?
Kume'S J^e coue ^ anonriht <^ reueS hire hire eiren, 7 fret al f of hwat
heo schulde '" uor^ bringen hire cwike briddes : 7 riht also ]>e luSere
coue deouel berb awei norm ]7e kakelinde ancren, 7 uorswoluweS^
al f god f heo istreoned habbeS, f schulden ase briddes beren ham ■''
up touward heouene, jif hit nere icakeled. pe wreche peoddare
more noise he makeS to jeien his sope, J>en a riche mercer al his
deorewur'Se ware. To sum gostliche monne f je beo^ strusti uppen,*^
ase je muwen beon of hit, god is f je asken red, 7 salue ■f ' he teche ^
Folio 16. on to jeines fondunges, j ine schrifte scheawe'S him gif he wule
iheren ower greste, 7 ower lodlukeste sunnen t nor ]7i f him areowe /
ou :^ 7 ]7urh ]?e bireaunesse crie Crist inwarliche merci nor ou, 7
habbe ou ine munde, j in his bonen. Sed multi veniunt ad uos in
uestimentis ouium t' intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces. " Auh wite^
ou 7 bee's ewarre," he sei'S, ure Louerd, " uor monie cumeS to ou
ischrud mid lombes fleose, j bee's wode^ wulues." Worldliche men
ileue^ lut :' religuise jet lesse. Ne wilnie je nout to muchel here
» awei went. T. ifaren. C. ^ of long tale. C.
"= ired hire. T. C. d chakele. C. kakelinde. T.
^ cumes te geape. T. f -j fretes of p ho schulde. T.
s J>e lu'Sere deuel beres awei fram cakelinde aneres, "j forsweolhes. T.
i" t se arn trust on. T. i red, -) bidden him j>. C.
^ nrndde. C. wedde. T.
THE CONDUCT OF EVE, AND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 67
reproach. For, at last, when he is gone away he will say, " This
anchoress is a great talker." Eve, in Paradise, held a long con-
versation with the serpent, and told him all the lesson that God had
tanght her and Adam concerning the apple ; and thus the fiend, by
her talk, understood, at once, her weakness, and found out the way
to ruin her. Our lady. Saint Mary, acted in a quite different
manner. She told the angel no tale, but asked him briefly that
which she wanted to know\ Do you, my dear sisters, imitate our
lady, and not the cackling Eve. Wherefore, let an anchoress,
whatsoever she be, keep silence as much as ever she can and may.
Let her not have the lien's nature. When the hen has laid, she
must needs cackle. And what does she get by it ? Straightway
comes the chough and robs her of her eggs and devours all that of
which she should have brought forth her live birds. And just so the
wicked chough, the devil, beareth away from the cackling anchoresses,
and swalloweth up, all the good they have brought forth, and which
ought, as birds, to bear them up toward heaven, if it had not been
cackled. The poor pedlar makes more noise to cry his soap than a
rich mercer all his valuable wares. Of a spiritual man in whom
you place confidence, as you may do, it is good that you ask counsel,
and that he teach you a safe remedy against temptations ; and in
confession shew him, if he will hear you, 3-our greatest and vilest
sins, that he may pity you, and out of compassion cry internally to
Christ to have mercy upon you, and have you often in his mind and
in his pra^^ers. " Sed multi veniunt ad vos in vestimentis ovium,
intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces." "But be aware and on your
guard," saith our Lord, " for many come to you clothed in lambs'
fleece, and are raging wolves." Believe secular men little, religious
• still less. Desire not too much their acquaintance. Eve spoke
with the serpent without fear. Our lady was afraid of speaking
with Gabriel.
68 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
ku^lecliunge.'' Eue wi^ute drecle spec mit te neddre. Vre lefdi
was of drede of Gabrieles speclie.
Wi^ute witnesse of weopmen o'Ser of Avummon f on nmwe iheren,
ne speke je mid none monne ofte ne longer^ ^ J^auh hit beo of
schrifte, i^en ilke huse, oSer ]>er he muwe iseon touward ou,^ sitte ]?e
Jridde :f bute jif 'pe ilke ]?ridde, o'^er stu[n] de trukie.'^ "jjis nis nout
uor ou, leoue sustren, iseid ne nor o^er swuche :f nowt for ];i ]?e treowe
is misleued/ "^ te sakelease ofte bilowen, uor Avone of witnesse. Me
ileue'S, f vuel sone, <^ te unwreste bh^ehche he^ on J^e gode. Sum
uniseh hwon heo seide ^ heo schrof hire, haue^ ischriuen hire al to
wundre :' uor ]?i owen ]7e gode euer to habben witnesse, uor two an-
cheisuns,® nomehdie, f on is f te ontfule,^ ne muwen hen on heom,
so f ]7e witnesse ne preoue heom ualse : f o^er is, uorte jiuen J7e
o-Sre uorbisne, -^ binime ^ ]?e vuele ancre f ilke uniseli gile ]?et ich of
seide.
U t of chirche ]?urle ^ ne holde je none tale mid none monne :! auh
here's wur'Sschipe J^erto, uor J»e holi sacrament f je iseo'S ]>er ]7urh,i
«^ nime^ o^er hwules ower wummen to 'pe buses ]nirle. peo o^re
Folio 16 h. men <^ wummen to ]>e parlurs ]?urle, speken uor neode :! ne ouwe je
buten et J>eos two |?urles.
Silence euere et te mete :' vor ^if oSre religiuse do^ hit, ase je
wel wute^, je owen biuoren alle r' '^ jif eni haue^ deore gist,^ do
hire meiden ase in hire stude te gladien hire uere,^ <^ heo schal hab-
» cuS'Singe. T. C.
^ allegate, in J?ilke hus beo'5 |>er me mage seo to ow. C. allegate i'Se ilke hus, o'Ser j>
he muhe seo toward ow. T. ^ stunde. T.
•^ mistrowet. T. e ancheisuns [Jjingis]. C.
' ondfule [enuious]. C. e reaue. T. reauiii. C.
'' windohe, T. i J^e ge nome« J'er jjurh. C.
^ deor[lef] geste. C.
' to gladien him feire. T. to gladien hire, T heo [sche] schal habbe leaue to gladien
hire fere. C.
THAT A WITNESS BE PRESENT, EVEN AT CONFESSION. 69
Without a witness, of man or of woman, who may hear jon,
speak not with any man often or long ; and even though it be of
confession, in the same house, or where he may look at you, let
there be a third person present ; except the same third person upon
another occasion should fail thee.'' This is not said in respect of
you, dear sisters, nor of any such [as you ;] — no, but because the
truth is disbelieved, and the innocent often belied, for want of a
witness. Men readily believe the evil, and the wicked gladly utter
falsehoods against the good. Some unhappy creature, when she
said that she was at confession, has confessed herself strangely :
therefore the good ought always to have a witness, for two reasons
especially : the one is, that the envious may not calumniate them, so
that the witness may not be able to prove the accusers false ; the
other is, to give an example to others, and to deprive the evil
anchoress of that unhappy false pretence which I spoke of.
-Hold no conversation with any man out of a church window,
but respect it for the sake of the holy sacrament which ye see
therein, and sometimes take your woman to the window of the
house ; the other men and women to the window of the parlour, to
speak when necessary ; nor ought ye but at these two windows.
Silence always at meals ; for if other religious persons do so,
as you well know, ye ought before all ; and if any one hath a
guest whom she holds dear, she may cause her maid, as in her stead,
to entertain her friend with glad cheer ; and she shall have leave to
open her window once or twice, and make signs to her of gladness
[at seeing her]. The courtesy of some is nevertheless converted
into evil to her. Under the semblance of good, sin is often hidden.
» Here the sense is not very clear. In the Oxford MS. it is " Si tvrtiiis liaberi possit."
70 KEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
ben leaiie to openen hire jjurl enes oSer tvvies, '^ makien sigiies tou-
warcl hire of one glede chere. Summes kurteisie is no'Seleas iturnd
hire to vuele. Vnder semblaunt of god is ofte iheled sunne. Ancre -^
'^ huses lefdi '^ ouli muche to beon bitweonen. Euerich urideie of
"Se yer hokle^ silence, bute jif hit beo duble feste ; "^ teonne holde"S
hit sum o^er dai i^e wike. Ken Aduent, j i"Se Umbridawes,^ wod-
nesdawes, j fridawes :' iSe leinten J^reo dawes,*' ■^ al ]?e swi"Swike ^
uort non of Ester euen. To owr meiden je niuwen }>auh siggen
mid lut wordes, hwat se [je] wulleS :' '-^ jif eni god mon is feorrene >'
iknmen, hercneS his speche, and onswerie^ mid lut wordes to his
askunse.
Muche fol he were J^e muhte, to his owene bihoue, hwe'Ser se he
wolde, grinden greet oSer hwete, jif he grunde ]?e greot '^ ■^ lefde ]>eiie
hwete. " Hwete is holi speche," ase Seint Anselme se\^. Heo grint
greot J^e cheofled. pe two cheoken beo'S J>e two grinstones. pe
tunge is }?e cleppe. Loke^, leoue sustren, f ouwer cheoken ne
grinden neuer bute soule node ; ne our earen ne hercnen ^ neuer bute
soule heale : <=^ nout one our earen, auh ower eie ]?urles tuneS ^ ajein
idel speche r^ •f to ou ne curae no tale, ne ti^inge of J^e worlde.
Ee ne sclmlen uor none J^inge ne warien, ne swerien, bute jif je
siggen witterliche, o'Ser sikerliche, o'Ser o summe swuche w^ise, ne ne
FvUo 17. preehe to none mon :f ne no mon ne aski ou read, ne counsail r' ne ne
telle ou. Reade'S wummen one. Seinte Powel uorbead wummen to
prechen. " Mulieres non permitto docere." Nenne weopmen ne chasti
je : ne ne etwite'S him of his un'Seau :! bute jif he beo oner ku^re,
holi olde ancren muwen don hit summes weis :f auh hit nis nout siker
])ing, ne ne limpe'S nout to J?e junge. Hit is hore meister, f beo'S
* 1 husebonde o'Ser husewif. T. '' ymljri wikes, T.
•^ [iib'e wike]. C. *• swiliende wike. T. swiv/ike. C.
^ J^emachte grinde greot ~J hwete, hwe'b'er se he walde, Jef he greot groiide. C.
' drinkp. T. C. ff sperres. T. 8pare'<5. C.
SUBJECTS OF CONVERSATION ; PROPER AND IMPROPER. 71
An anchoress ought to be very different from the mistress of a
family. Every Friday of the year keep silence, unless it be a
double feast ; and then keep it on some other day in the week. In
Advent and hi the Ember days, Wednesdays and Fridays ; in Lent,
three days ; and all the holy week until noon in Easter eve. To
your maid, however, you may say, in few words, what you please,
and if any good man is come from a distance, listen to his speech,
and answer, in a few words, what he asks.
V ery foolish w^ere he, who, when he might choose for his own
behoof whether he would grind grit ^ or wheat, if he ground the grit
and left the wheat. " Wheat is holy conversation," as St. Anselm
saith. She grinds grit who prates idly. The two cheeks are the
two grindstones ; the tongue is the clapper. Look, dear sisters, that
your cheeks never grind any thing but soul food, nor your ears hear
any thing but soul heal ; and shut not only your ears but your eye
windows against idle conversation ; that neither talk nor tidings of
this world may come to you.
1 ou must not, upon any account, imprecate evil upon any one ;
nor take an oath, except ye be able to speak from clear or certain
knowledge of the fact, or in some such way ; nor are you to preach
to any man; nor must any man ask of you, or give you advice or
counsel. Consult with women only. Str Paul forbade women to
preach, "Mulieres non permitto docere." Rebuke no man, nor
reprove him for his fault ; but, if he be very forward, holv a^ed
anchoresses may do it in some manner ; but it is not a safe thing,
and belongeth not to the young. It is their business who are set over
the rest and have to take charge of them. An anchoress hath only
to take heed to herself and her maidens. Let every one attend to
his own business and not meddle with that which is another's.
Many a man thinketh that he doeth that Avell which he doeth very
" or chaff? imleas, MS. Oxon.
72 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
ouer o'Sre iset, "^ habbe^ ham to witene. Ancre naueS to witene
buten hire^ <^ hire ineidenes. Holde euerich his owene mester, <^
nout ne reame oSres.^ Moni mon wene^ to don wel f he de'S alto
cweade i''^ uor, ase ich er seide, under semblaunt of gode is ofte k
iheled sunne :! j J>urh swuch chastiement haucS sum ancre arered k
bitweonen hire f hire preost, o'Ser a valsinde kuie, oSer a much
weorre.
Seneca seide, " Ad summam [volo] uos esse rariloquos, tuncque
pauciloquos :" f is ]?e ende of jye tale, sei^ Seneke the wise. Ichulle
•f je speken seide <^ ]?eonne buten lutel. Auh moni punt ^ hire word
uorte leten mo vt, as me deS water '^ ter mulne cluse :^ '^ so duden
Jobes freond f weren icumen to urouren him :' seten stille alle
seoueniht. Auh ]>eo [heo] ® hefden alles bigunne uor to spekene :'
]?eone ku^en heo neuere astunten hore cleppe/ Greg. : " Censura
silencii nutritura est verbi." So hit is ine monie, ase seint Gregorie
sei'S :' Silence is wordes fostrild,^ " Juge silencium cogit celestia me-
ditari." Long silence j wel iwust nedcS |7e j^ouhtes up touward ]>er
heouene :' also ase je muwen iseon }?e water, hwon me punt '^ hit, '^
stoppe'S biuoren wel, so ]?et hit ne muwe aduneward, ]?eonne is hit
Folio 17 J. ined ajein uor to climben upward ^' '^ je al ]nsses w^eis punde"S ower
wordes, "^ forstoppeS ouwer ];ouhtes, ase je wulle^ f heo climben <^
hien ^ touward heouene, ^ nout ne uallen aduneward, '^ to uleoten
jeond te world,'' ase de^ muchel cheafle. Auh hwon je nede moten
speken a lutewiht, leseS up ower mu^es flodjeten, ase me de^ et ter
mulne, and leted adun sone.
" hire L,jluen. C. t- hremman, A.S. to hinder, disquiet.
<^ wunder. C. <i puiiides. T.
' H heo. C. f \)a, ne cutJen ha neauer stutten hare cleppen. C. atunten. T.
s fostir mo'Ser, C. h puindes. T. punt. C.
i hechen. C. hehen. T. k ■^ flowen ouer al ^e world. T.
SILENCE COMMENDED.
ill ; for, as I said before, sin is oft concealed under the appearance
of good ; and, by means of such rebukes, an anchorite has raised
between her and her priest, either a treacherous love or a great
quarrel.
Seneca said, " Ad summam [volo] vos esse rariloquos, tuncque
pauciloquos : " " That is the end of the discourse," saith Seneca
the wise. I will that you speak seldom, and then but little. But
many keep in their words to let more out, as men do water at the
mill-dam ; and so did Job's friends that were come to comfort him ;
they sat still full seven nights ; but, wdien they had all begun to
speak, then, they never knew how to stop their importunate tongues.
Gregory : " Censura silencii nutritura est verbi." Thus it is in
many, as Saint Gregory saith, " Silence is the foster-mother of
words, and bringeth forth talk." On the other hand, as he saith,
" Juge silentium cogit coelestia meditari." " Long silence and well kept
urgetli the thoughts up toward heaven ; " just as you may see the
water when men dam it and stop it before a spring, so that it cannot
[flow] downward, then is it forced to climb again upward. In this
manner must all ye check your words, and restrain your thoughts,
as you would wish that they may climb and mount up toward
heaven, and not fall downward and flit over the world, as doth
empty talk. But, when you must needs speak a little, raise the
floodgates of your mouth as men do at the mill, and let them down
quickly.
CAiyiD, soc.
74 REGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
Mo slea'S word J^ene sweord. " Mors et vita in manibus lingue : '*
"lif ^dea-S," seiS Salomon, "is ine tunge lionden."* " Hwose wite^ wel
liis mu^ he wite'S," he sei'S, "his soule." " Siciit urbs patens % absque
murorum ambitu r* sicut, 7c." Greg. " Qui murum silencii non habet,
patet inimici, 7c.'"' "Hwosene wi'Shalt his wordes, sei'S Salomon
]?e wise, he is ase buruh wi'Suten wal, ]7er ase uerd mei in oueral."
pe veond of helle mid his ferd went ]?urh j^e tutel ^ is euer open into
l>e heorte. In vitas patrum hit telle^ f on holi mon seide \eo men ^
preisede ane [of J?e] bre'Sren'^f he hefde iherd ^ weren of muche spechet*
" Boni utique sunt, sed habitatio eorum non habet januam. Qui-
cunque vult intrat, % asinum soluit." Gode, cwe^ he, beo bo^S "^ auh
hore wunnunge naue^ no jet. Hore mu^ maSele^ euer r' % hwose
euer wule mei gon in % leden uorS hore asse :! f is, hore unwise
soule. Uor]?i, sei-S sein lame, " Si quis putat se religiosum esse non
refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, hujus vana est re-
ligio." f is, jif eni wene^ f he beo religius, 7 ne bridled nout his
tunge, his religiun is fals ; he gile^ his heorte. He sei^ swu'Se wel,
"ne bridle's nout his tunge," vor bridel nis nout one iSe horses
mu'Se ; auh sit sum up o ])en eien, 7 sum oSen earen. Vor alle ]?reo
muche neod f heo beon ibridled ; auh i^e mu^e sit tet iren, 7 o'Se
lihte tunge ; vor ]7er is mest neod hold hwon ]?e tunge is o rune, *?
Folio 18. ivollen on to eornen. Vor ofte we ]7enche'S, hwon we uo^S on to
spekene, uorte speken Intel, 7 wel isete wordes :' auh J^e tunge is
sliddri,*^ uor heo wade^ ine wete, 7 slit "^ lichtliche uor^ from lut
word into monie :' 7 teonne, ase Salomon seiS, " in multiloquio non
deest peccatum." Ne mei nout muchel speche, ne aginne hit neuer
so wel, beon wi^uten sunne :' uor urom soS hit slit te uals ^ vt of
god into vuel, 7 from mesure into unimete r' 7 of a drope waxeb a
muche flod, f adrenche-S ]?e soule. Vor mid te fleotinde word, to
" Qui custodit os suum, custodit animam suam. C.
•> patet inimici jaculis ciuitas mentis. T.
<= bre-Sre. C. '' slibbri. T. C.
« slides. T. slidc'S. C.
AGAINST TALKATIVENESS. 75
More slayeth Avorcl than swortl. " ]\Iors et vita in manibus
lingujB. " ^ " Life and death," saith Solomon, " are in the power of
the tongue. He who keepeth well his mouth," saith he, " keepeth his
soul."*' " Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, ita vir qui
non potest in loquendo cohibere spiritum suum." '^ Gregory : " Qui
murum silentii non habet, patet inimici," &c. " He who restrains
not his words," saith Solomon the wise, " is like a city without
walls, into which an army may enter on all sides." The fiend of
hell goes in with his army through the portal,*^ that is ever open,
into the heart. In the Lives of the Fathers, we are told that a holy
man said, when men were praising one of the brethren, of whom he
had heard that they were men of much speech, " Boni utique sunt,
sed habitatio eorum non habet januam ; quicunque vult intrat, et
asinum solvit." " Good," quoth he, " they both are, but their
dwelling hath no gate ; their mouth is always prating ; and whoever
will may go in and lead forth their ass ; " that is, their unwise soul.
" Therefore," saith St. James, " si quis putat se religiosum esse non
refrenans linguam, sed seducens cor suvim, hujus vana est religio."
That is, " If any man thinketh that he is religious, and bridleth not
his tongue, his religion is false ; he deceiveth his heart.." He saith
right well, " bridleth not his tongue ; " for a bridle is not only in
the mouth of the horse, but part of it is upon his eyes, and part of it
on his ears : for it is very necessary that all the three should be
bridled. But the iron is put in the mouth and on the light tongue ;
for there is most need to hold Avhen the tongue is in talk, and has
begun to run. For we often intend, M'hen we begin to speak, to
speak little, and well placed words ; but the tongue is slippery, for
it wadeth in the wet, and slides easil}^ on from few to many words ;
and then, as Solomon saith, " In multiloquio non deest peccatum." ®
Much talking, begin it ever so well, cannot be without sin ; for from
truth it slides into falsehood, out of good into evil, and from
» Prov. xviii. 21. b Ibid. xiii. 3. "= Ibid, xxv, 28.
^ t-uiel Quaere? '' Prov. x. 10.
76 REGUL^ INCLUSAEUM.
fleote'S ];e heorte :^ so f longe 'per efter ne mei heo beon arilit ige-
derecl to gecleres. " Et os nostrum tanto longius est Deo, quanto
mundo proximum t' tanto minus exauditur in prece quanto amplius
inquinatur in locutione." pis beo^S sein Gregories wordes, in his dia-
loge. Ase neih ase ure mu'S is to worldliche speche, ase ueor he is
[urom] God r' hwon we speke^ touward him 1: bit him eni bone. /
Voi']7i is 'pet we jeie^ upon him ofte, J he furse^ ^ him awei urom-
mard ure stefne :' ne nule he nout iheren hire :' vor heo stinke'S to
him al of pe worldes ma^elmige, '^ of hire chefle. Hwose wule wil-
nen f Godes eare beo neih hire tunge, fursie hire urom pe worlde, v
elles heo mei longe jeien er God hire ihere :' auh lie sei'S ];urh Isaie, '^
" Cum extenderitis manus uestras, auertam oculos meos a uobis ; *?
cum multiphcaueritis orationes, non exaudiam uos : " f is, " J^auh je
makien moniuokl ouwer bonen touward me, je f pleie'S mit^ te
workle, nuHch ou nout ilieren :' auli Ic chulle turnen me awei hwon
je habbe^ touward me eien oSer honden."
Ure deorewurSe lefdi, seinte Marie, ]7et ouh to alle wummen
beon uorbisne, was of so lute speche J^et nouhware ine holi write, ne ,
Folio 18 b. ivinde we f heo spec bute uor si'Sen:^" auh for J^e seldspeche hire
wordes weren heuie, 7 hefden much mihte."^ Hire uorme wordes f
we rede's of weren ];o heo onswerede ]7en engle Gabriel, J, ]7eo weren
so mihtie, f mid tet f heo seide, " Ecce ancillam Domini r* fiat milii
secundum uerbum tuum." Et tisse worde Godes sune, *? so^ God ^''
bicom mon:^ *? j^e Louerd, f al pe world ne muhte nout biuon,
bitunde him wiSinnen pe meidenes wombe Marie. Hire o'Sre
wordes weren J'oa heo com *? grette Elizabe^ hire mowe : ® *? hwat
mihte wenest tu was icud ine ]7eos wordes ? Hwat ? pet a child
« firnes. T, ^ ge p moten wi«. T. ge j> pleide'S wi^. C.
*= four si'Sen. C.
•> Bernardus ad Mariani. In sempiterno Dei verbo facti sumus omnes, 'J ecce morimur.
In tuo brevi response reficiendi siimus, ut ad vitam revocemur. Respondc verbum, 1
suscipe verbum, prefer tuum, ~) concipe divinum. T.
' mehe. T. mc'Sgc [kincsvvornan]. C. ■
THE VIRGIN MARY AN EXAMPLE OF LITTLE SPEECH. t 7
moderation into excess ; and from a drop waxeth a great flood, that
droA^ais the soul. For with the flitting word the heart flits away, so
that long time thereafter it cannot rightly collect itself again. " Et
OS nostrum, tanto longius est Deo, quanto mmido proximum ; tanto
minus exauditur in prece, quanto amplius inquinatur in locutione."
These are St. Gregory's words, in his dialogue. As nigh as our
mouth is to worldly speech, so far is it [from] God when we address
him and in treat any favour of liim. For this reason it is that we
often cry to him and he withdraweth himself further from our voice,
and will not listen to it, for it savours to him all of the world's
babbling, and of its trifling talk. She who wishes God's ear to be
nigh her tongue, must retire from the world, else she may cry long
ere God hear her. And he saith by Isaiah, " Cum extenderitis
manus vestras, avertam oculos meos a vobis; et cum multiplica-
veritis orationes, non exaudiam vos." That is, " Though ye multiply
your prayers to me, ye who play with the world, I will not hear
you, but I will turn away when ye stretch out to me eyes or hands."
Our dear lady, St. Mary, who ought to be an example to all
women, was of so little speech that we do not find any where in
Holy Writ that she spake more than four times. But, in com-
pensation for her seldom speaking, her words were weighty, and had
much force. Her first words that we read of w^ere Avhen she answered
the ano-el Gabriel, and they were so powerful that as soon as she
said " Ecce ancillam Domini ; fiat milii secundum verbum tuum ; " *
at this word, the Son of God, and very God, became man ; and the
Lord, whom the whole world could not contain, inclosed himself
within the womb of the maiden Mary. Her next words were spoken
when she came and saluted Elizabeth, her kinswoman. And what
power, thinkest thou, was manifested in those words ? What ?
That a child, which was St. John, began to play in his mother's
womb when they were spoken.^ The third time that she spoke was
at the wedding ; and there, through lier prayer, was water changed
• St. Luke, i. 38. '^ Ibid. i. 41.
78 EEGULiE INCLUSARUM.
bigon nor to pleien tojeienes ham :' f^ was sein Johan, in his moder
wombe. pe j^ridde time f heo spec, ]?et was et te noces,^ 7 ]?er,
J'urh hire bone,*' was water iwend to wine, pe ueorSe time was ]7oa
heo hefde imist hire sune, *? eft hine ivond : ? hu muchel wunder
voluwede ]?eos wordes ! pet God. ahnihti beih him to one monno, to
one smi^e, "i to ane wummone, "? foluwede ham, ase hore, hwuder
so heo euer wolden. Nime'S nu her jeme, 1! leorne'S jeorne herbi
hu seldcene speche haue"S muche strenc^e.
" Uir Hno-osus non dirisi;etur in terra." " Veole iwordede mon sei^
]?e psahnwurhte,*^ ne schal neuer leden riht Hf on eor^e."® Uor]7i he
sei'S elles hwar : " Dixi, custodiam uias meas, ut non dehnquam in
hngna mea :!" ? is as ]?auh he seide, Ic chulle witen mine weies mid
mine tunge warde.^ Wite ich wel mine tunge, ich mei wel holden
J>ene wei toward heouene t' uor ase Isaie sei^, " Cnltus justiciee silen-
cium : " "]7e til^e of rihtwisnesse, ^ is silence." Silence tile^ hire :' t
heo itiled bringe^ for^ soule eche node. Vor heo is undeaSlich, ase
Solomon witne^ :' " Justicia immortalis est." Vordi ueie'S Isaie hope "?
silence bo'Se togederes :' If sei'S f in ham schal stonden gostliche
Foho 19. strenc^e. " In silencio ? spe erit fortitudo uesti'a :" f is, "ine silence 1!
ine hope schal beon ower strenc^e." Nime'S jeme hu wel he sei'S :'
uor hwose is muche stille, '? halt longe silence, heo mei hopien siker-
liche f hwon heo speke'S touward Gode, f he hire wule iheren. Heo .
mei ec hopien ^ heo schal ec singen ]?urh hire scilence sweteliche ine
heouene. pis is nu J>e reisun of J^e veiunge ^ hwi Isaie ueieS hope
1: silence, If kuple'S bo^e togederes. Teke ^ f, he sei^, i J^en ilke
autorite, f ine silence "? ine hope schal beon vre strencSe ine Godes /
seruise, ajein J^es deofles turnes '^ J his fondunges. Auh loke'S ];urh
hwat reisun. Hope is a swete spice wi'Sinne 'pe heorte, pet spetteS
=' '^ o^er. C. '' neoces [bridale]. C.
« bisoene. C. T. '' salmwrihto. T.
* psalm cxl. 11. ' psalm xxxix. 1.
s Teken. T. to eke. C. '' creftes. C.
SPIRITUAL FRUITS OF SILENCE. 79
into wine.* The fourth time was when she had missed her son and
afterwards found him.'' And how great a miracle followed those
words ! That God Almighty howed himself to a man ! to a
carpenter, and to a woman, and followed them, as subject to them,
whither soever they would ! Take heed now, and learn diligently
from this, how great efficacy there is in speaking seldom.
" -Vir linguosus non dirigetur in terra." '^ "A man of many
words," saith the Psalmist, " shall never lead a right life on earth."
Therefore, he saith in another place, *' Dixi, custodiam vias meas,
ut non delinquam in lingua mea," ^ which is as if he said, " I will
keep my ways by keeping my tongue." Keep I well my tongue, I
may Avell hold on in the way toward heaven. For, as Isaiah saith,
" Cultus justitia3 silentium." ® The tillage of righteousness is silence.
Silence tilleth her, and she being tilled bringeth forth eternal food
for the soul. For she is immortal, as Solomon teacheth, " Justitia
immortalis est."*^ Therefore Isaiah joins together hope and silence,
and saith that in them spiritual strength shall consist. " In silentio
et spe erit fortitude vestra : " ^ that is, " In silence and in hope shall
be your strength." Observe how well he saith it ; for whoso is very
quiet and keeps long silence may hope, with confidence, that when
she speaks to God he will hear her. She may also hope that,
through her silence, she shall also sing sweetly in heaven. This,
now, is the reason of the Joining : why Isaiah joineth hope and
silence, and coupleth both together. Moreover, he saith, in the
same passage, that in silence and in hope shall be our strength in
God's service against the wiles and temptations of the devil. And
behold with what reason. Hope is a sweet spice within the heart,
which spits out all the bitter that the body drinketh. And whoever
" St. John, ii. 9. ^ St. Luko, ii. 46.
= Psalm cxl. 11. ^ Psalm xxxix. 1.
e Isaiah, xxxii. 17. ' Wisdom, i. 15, b Isaiah, xxx. 15.
80 REGVJjM inclusarum.
vt al ]>e bitter f tet bodi drinke'S.* Auli hwose cheouwe^ spices,
lieo schal tunen hire mu'S ^ te swote breS 1 te strenc^e )?erof
astunte ^ wiSinnen : auh heo f opened Lire rail's mid muche ma^e-
lunge. 1 breke^ silence, heo spet hope al vt, 1; te swotnesse ]?ero£,
mid worldliche wordes f' J heo leose^ ajein ]7e ueond gostliche
strenc^e. Vor hwat make^ us strong uorte drien derf ine Godes >
seruise, 1; ine uondunges to wrastlen stalewardliche a^ein J»es deofles
swenges ? Hwat, bute hope of heih mede ? Hope halt }>e heorte
i hol,*^ hwat se ]>et vleschs drie, o^er J^olie :' ase me seiS, jif hope
nere, heorte to breke.*^ A Jesu, Jjin ore ! Hu stont ham f beo'S
J^ere ase alle wo 1; weane is, wiSuten hope of vtcume, "? heorte ne
mei bersten ? Vor^i, ase je wulle'S holden wi^innen ou hope, *? te
swote bre'S of hire J^et giue^ j^e soule mihte — mid ma's ituned,
cheowe'S hire wi^innen ouwer heorte :f ne blowe je hire nont ut mid
ma'Selinde muSe, ne mid jeoniinde tuteles. " Non habeatis linguam
vei aures prurientes." Loke^, sei^ sein Jerome, f je nabben jicchinde
nou'Ser tunge ne earen r' •f is to siggen, f ou ne luste nou^er speken
Folio 19 i. ne iheren worldliche speche. Hiderto is iseid of ouwer silence, "? hu
our speche schal beon seldcene. " Contrariorum eadem est disciplina : "
of silence 1; of speche nis bute a lore :/^ J. for Si, ine writunge, heo
eorneS bo'Se togederes. Nu we schullen sumhwat speken of ouwer
herrunge, ajein vuel speche ^' f je J^ertojeines tunen ^ ower earen, 1!
jif hit neod is, tunen ^ ower ei'Surles.
Urom al vuel speche, mine leoue sustren, stopped ower earen, J.
habbeS wlatunge of ]?e muSe ]>et speowe'S ut atter. Vuel speche is
» P swetes al \>e bitter -jp te bodi drinkes. T. swete'5. C.
^ leaue. T. C. <= Hope hades herte hal. T.
^ heorte breke atwa [to burste], C. " an lare. C.
' [stoppc]. C. s weren. T. speren. C.
EVIL SPEAKING NOT TO BE LISTENED TO. 81
clieweth spices should shut her mouth, that the sweet breath and the
strength thereof may stay witliin. But she that openeth her mouth,
with much talking, and breaketh silence, spits out hope entirely, and
the sweetness thereof, with worldly words, and loseth spiritual
strength against the fiend. For what maketh us strong to endure
hardships in God's service, and in temptations to wrestle stoutly
against the assaults of the devil ? What, but hope of high reward ?
Hope keeps the heart sound, whatever the flesh may suffer or
endure ; as it is said, " Were there no hope the heart woidd break.*'
Ah, Jesus, thy mercy ! How stands it with those who are in that
place where dwells all woe and misery, without hope of deliverance,
and yet the heart may not break ? Wherefore, as ye would keep
hope Avithin you, and the sweet breath of her that giveth strength to
the soul — with mouth shut chew her within your heart. Blow her
not out with babbling mouth nor with gaping lips. " Non habcatis
linguam vel aures prurientes." " See," saith St. Jerome, " that ye
have neither itching tono-ue nor ears : " that is to say, that ve neither
desire to speak nor to hear worldly talk. Thus far we have spoken
of your silence, and how your speech shall be infrequent. " Contra-
riorum eadem est disciplina : " of silence and of speech there is but
one precept ; and, therefore, in the writing they run both together.
We shall now speak somewhat of your hearing, against evil speech ;
that ye may shut your ears against it, and, if need be, shut your
eyes.
3. Of Hearing.
Against all evil speech, my dear sisters, stop your ears, and have
a loathing of the mouth that vomiteth out poison. Evil speech is
threefold, — poisonous, foul, idle : idle speech is evil ; foul speech is
worse ; poisonous speech is the worst. All that from which no good
Cometh is idle and needless ; " And of such speech," saith our Lord,
" shall every word be reckoned and account given,^' ^ why the one
» St. Math. xii. .SCi.
CAMD. SOC. M
82 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
]?reouold :' attri, ful, idel. Idel speche is vuel ^ ful speche is wiirse i
attri speche is ]7e wurste. Idel is % unnet al ^ god ne cume^ of r' 7
/ t— i-^^"' of swuclie * speche, sei^ ure Louerd, schal euerich word beon irikened,
1 ijiuen reisun, hwi J^e on hit seide, 7 te oSer hit hercnede r^'' 1: tis is
]?auh ]?e leste vuel of J^e ]n'eo vueles. Hwat ! hu schal me ]?eoniie
jelden reisun of ]?e ]?reo vueles, 7 nomeliche of ]7e wurste ? Hwat !
hu of i]?e wurste, f is, of attri % of ful speche :^ nout one ]?eo ^ hit
spekeS, auli ]?eo ^ hit hercneS ? ' Ful speche is as of lecherie, ? of
oSre fulSen ^ unweaschene muSes spekeS o"Ser hwule.*' pe -^ svvuch
fiil^e spete^ ut '^ in eni ancre eare me schulde dntten ® his muS nout
mid schearpe wordes,^ auh mid herde fustes. Attri speche is eresie
1: J>wertouer leasunge, hacbitunge, J, fikelunge.^ peos bee's ]7e
wurste. Eresie, God beo i'Soncked, ne rixleS nout in Engelond :^
auh leasunge is so vuel ]7ing ■f seint Austin sei"S, J^et for te schilden
J>ine ueder from dea'Se, ne schuldest tu nout lien. God sulf seiS -ji
he is soS :' J, hwat is more ajein so'S ];en is leas % leasunge. " Dia-
bolus mendax est, et pater ejus." pe deouel, hit seib, is leas, "?
Folio 20. leasunges feder. pe ilke J^eonne f sture'S hire tunge ine leasunge,
lieo makeS of hire tunge cradel '^ to ]>es deofles beam, "? rockeS hit
jeorneliche ase nurice. Bacbitunge 7 fikelunge, % eggunge to don
eni vuel, lieo ne beo'S nout monnes speche, auh beo5 ]7es deofles bles,
'% his owene stefne. Eif lieo owen to beon ueor urom alle worldliche
men — hwat? hu ancren owen to hatien ham, 7 schunien f lieo ham
ne ilieren. Iheren, icli sigge r' uor hwose spekeS mid ham, heo is
nowilit ancre. Salomon : " Si mordeat serpens in silencio, nichil minus
eo liabet qui detrahit in occulto." pe neddre, sei"S Salomon, stingo's
al stilliche "^ 7 ]7eo f speke^ bihinden •f heo nolde biuoren, heo nis
nowiht betere. Iherest tu hu Salomon euene^ bacbitare to stinginde
neddre ? So heo is sikerliche.* Heo is neddre kundel r" If J'eo J^et
> Jjulli [suilkj. C. b ilustnede. T. lustede. C.
* speowe'S o'Ser hwiles. C.
'' t>eose beoS all isclirapede ut of ancre riule t' swich ful'Se spit ut. C.
« ditten. T. C. f sneates. C. sneatres. T.
E sykelunge. '• cader. C. ' vvitterliche. T. C
DirFEEENT KINDS OF EA^L SPEECH. 83
spoke it and the other listened to it. And yet, this is the least of
the three evils. What ! How, then, shall men give account of
the three evils, and especially of the worst ? AVhat ! How of the
worst ? that is, of poisonous and of foul speech ; not only they who
speak it, but they who listen to it. Foul speech is of lechery and
of other uncleanness, which unwashen mouths speak at times. Men
should stop the mouth of him who spitteth out such filth in the ears
of any recluse, not with sharp words, but with hard fists. Poisonous
speech is heresy, and direct falsehood, backbiting, and flattery.
These are the worst. Heresy, God be thanked, prevaileth not in
England ; but lying is so evil a thing that St. Austin saith " That
thou shouldest not tell a lie to shield thy father from death." God
himself saith that he is truth ; and what is more against truth than is
lying and falsehood? " Diabolus mendax est, et pater ejus.'^ "The
devil," we are told, " is a liar, and the father of lies.'^ » She, then,
who moveth her tongue in lying, maketli of her tongue a cradle to
the devil's child, and rocketh it diligently as nurse. Backbiting and
flattery, and instigating to do any evil, are not fit for man to speak ;
but they are the devil's blast and his own voice. If these ought to
be far from all secular men, — what ! how ought recluses to hate
and shun them, that they may not hear them? Hear them, 1
say, for she who speaketh with them is no recluse at all.
Solomon : " Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil minus eo habet qui
detrahit in occulto." ^ " The serpent," saith Solomon, " stingeth
quite silently; and she who speaketh behind [another] what she
would not before is not a whit better." Hearest thou how Solomon
eveneth a backbiter to a stinging serpent ? Such she certainly is.
She is of serpents' kindred, and she who speaketh evil behind
[another] beareth poison in her tongue. The flatterer blinds a man, and
puts a prickle in the eyes of him whom he flattereth. The backbiter
often cheweth man's flesh on Friday, and pecketh with his black bill
living carcases ; as he that is the devil's raven of hell ; yet, if he
^ St. John, viii. 44. >> Eccles. x. U.
84 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
speke^ vuel bihinden ber^ atter in hire * tunge. pe vikelare ablent
l^ene mon '^ put him preon in eien, -f he mid vikele^.'' pe bacbitare
cheoweS ofte monnes fleschs ine uridawes, "^ beke'S mid his blake
bile o cwike charoines ase ]?e ]?et is J^es deofles corbin of belle. Let
wolde he teteren -^ pileken,^ mid his bile, roted ^ stinkinde fleshs, as
is reafnes kunde ^ J^et is, jif he uolde siggen non vuel bi non o'Ser
bute bi l^eo ^ rotieS and stinke^ al ine ful 5e of here sunnen, hit were
jet J>e lesse smme :' auh lihted upon cwike fleschs, tetere'S ^ tolime'S
hit :! J>et is, he missei^ bi swuche ]?et is cwic in God. He is to jiuer
reafen,® "^ to bold mid alle. An o'Ser half, nime^ nu jeme of
hwuche two mesteres J^eos two menestraus seme's hore louerde, j^e
deofle of helle. Ful hit is to siggen,^ auh fulre hit is uorte beon hit ;
<jf so hit is allegate. Heo beo^ j^es deofles gongmen,^ <^ beo^
Folio 20 h. wi^uten ende in his gong huse.'^ pes fikelares mester is to wrien, <^
te helien ]?et gong ]?url :! <^ tet he do's as ofte ase he mid his fike-
lunge, "^ mid his preisunge hele^ j wrih^ mon his sunne, uor noSing
ne stinke"S fulre ];enne sunne ^ f he hele^ hit ^ wrih^ ^ so ]7et he hit
nout ne istincke'S. pe bacbitare unhele^ <^ unwrihS hit, "^ opene'S
so J>et ful^e f hit stinke'S wide, pus ha bee's bisie i J^isse fule
mester, <^ ei'Ser raid o^er striue^ her abuten. Swuche ^ men stinke^
of hore stinkinde mester, '^ bringe'S euerich stude o stenh •f heo to-
cume'S. Ure Louerd ischilde ou ^ te bre^ of hore stinkinde Jn'ote
ne neihi ou neuer. OSer speche soileS "^ fuleS r' ac |)eos attre^ J^e
heorte '^ te earen bo^e. pet je J^e bet icnowen ham jif eni curae'S
touward ou, to-lier hore molden.
" iSe. T.
^ fikeles. Greg. : Adulator ei cum quo sermonem conserit, quasi clauum in oeulo
figit, Salomon : Noli esse in conviuiis eorum qui offerunt carnes ad uescendumj^c.
"-■ pilewin. C. picken. T. ^ rotin. T. rote's. C.
•^ ]>& reuen. C. ' nempnen. T. e gangemen, T.
** Ne videatur hec moralitas minus decens. Recolatur in Esdra* quod Melchias edifi-
cauit portam stercoris, "jc. T. ' lides. T. li'Se'S. C.
'' >ulliclie. T, C.
* Nelieniiali, iii. 14.
FLATTERY. BACKBITING. 85
would tear in pieces and pluck with his bill rotten stinking flesh, as
raven's nature is ; that is, if he would not speak evil against any but
those who are corrupt and stink in the filth of their sins, it were
yet the less sin : but he lighteth upon living flesh ; teareth and
dismenibereth it ; that is, he slandereth such as are alive in God.
He is too greedy a raven, and too bold withal. On the other hand,
observe now, of what kind are the two offices in which these two
jugglers serve their lord, the devil of hell. It is a foul thing to
speak of, but fouler to be it, and it is always so. They are the
devil's dirt-men, and wait continually in his privy. The office of
the flatterer is to cover and to conceal the hole of the privy ; and
this he doth as oft as he with his flattery and with his praise
concealeth and covereth from man his sin ; for nothing stinketh
fouler than sin, and he concealeth and covereth it, so that he
doth not smell it. The backbiter discloseth and uncovereth it,
and so openeth that filth that it stinketh widely. Thus, they are
busy in this foul employment, and strive with each other about it.
Such men stink of their stinking trade, and make every place stink
that they come to. May our Lord shield you, that the breath of
their stinking throat may never come nigh you. Other speech
polluteth and defileth ; but this poisoneth the heart and the ears
both. That you may know them the better, Usten to their marks.*
Meld. Evidence, proof, discover//. — BoswoRTii.
86 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Uikelares beo^ ];reo kunnes. pe uorme beo^S vuele iiiouh "^ Jje
o^re ]7auh beo^S wurse r' J^e J^ridde jet beoS aire wurste.^ pe viorme,
jif a mon is god, preise"S bine biuoren himsulf, ? make^ bine, inoub
reSe, jet betere ]?en he beo, ? jif he sei^S wel, o^er Aq^ wel, he hit
heue'S to heie up mid ouerpreisunge "? herunge.'' pe o^er is jif a
mon is vuel, 1 sei'S t de"S so much mis ° p hit beo so open sunne ^
he hit ne raei nonesweis allehmge wiSsiggen : he J^auh, biuoren ]7e
monne sulf make's his vuel lesse. " Nis hit nout nu, he seiS, so ouer
vuel ase me hit make's. Nert tu nout/ i ]?isse J'inge, J^e uorme, ne
]7e laste. pu hauest monie ueren. Let iwurSe gode mon. Ne
gest ® tu nout j^e one. Monie de^ muche wurse." pe J^ridde cumeS
efter, ? is wurst fikelare, ase ich er seide :! vor he preiseS ]?ene vuele,
*? his vuele deden, ase y& ]7e seiS to ]7e knihte ]?et robbeS his poure
men, " A sire ! liwat tu dest wel.^ Uor euere me schal j^ene cheorl
Folio 21. pilken 7 peolien :^ ^ uor he is ase j^e wiSi j^et sprutte'S ut ]?e betere ^
me bine ofte croppe'S.^' pus ]7e ^^ ualse uikelare ablendeS |>eo ]?e
ham hercneS, ase ich er seide, J wrie^ hore ful'Se so ■f beo hit ne
muwen stinken : '? tet is mucliel unselhSe. Vor jif beo hit stunken,
ham wolde wlatien ]7er ajean:^^ 7 so eornen to schrifte, 1! speowen
hit ut ]7er, and schunien hit J'er efter.''
Bacbitares, J?e bite^ o'Sre men bihinden, bee's of two maneres :
auh ]je latere beo^ wurse. pe uorme ^ cumeS al openliche, ? sol's
vuel bi ano'Ser, % speowe'S ut his atter, so muchel so him euer to
* Ve illis qui ponuiit pulvillos, "]c. [Ezech. xiii. 18.] Ve illis qui dicunt bonuiii ma-
lum, ■] malum bonum, ponentes teuebras lucem, et lucem tenebras. [Isaiah, v. 20.] Hoc
saltem detractoribus convenit. T.
*" wi^ ouer muche hereword. T. "^ uuel. T.
'' art tu nawt. T. nart t>u naut. C. ^ gas. T. gost. C.
f Laudatur peceator in desideriis animiE suae, et iniquis benedicitur. T. St. Augustin.
B plokin ~\ pilien. C.
'^ Adulantium lingue alligant homines in peccatis. \>vis jjeose. T. • Jser wi'S.
^ Clemens : Homicidarum duo sunt genera, dicit Petrus, "] eorum parem penam esse
uolumus. Qui corporaliter occidit, "] qui detrahit fratri, ■] qui inuidet. T.
1 arre. C. firste. T.
FLATTERERS: BACKBITERS. 87
1 here are three kinds of flatterers. The first are bad enough ;
yet the second are worse ; but the third are worst of all. The first,
if a man is good, praiseth him in his presence, and, without scruple,
maketh him still better than he is ; and, if he saith or doth well, he
extolleth it too highly with excessive praise and commendation.
The second, if a man is depraved and sins so much in word and
deed, that his sin is so open that he may nowise wholly deny it, yet
he [the flatterer] in the man's own presence extenuates his guilt.
" It is not, now," saith he, " so exceeding bad as it is represented.
Thou art not, in this matter, the first, nor [wilt thou be] * the last.
Thou hast many fellows. Let it be, my good man. Thou goest not
alone. Many do much worse." The third flatterer cometh after,
and is the worse, as I said before, for he praiseth the wicked and his
evil deeds; as he who said to the knight who robbed his poor
vassals, " Ah, sir ! truly thou doest well. For men ought always
to pluck and pillage the churl ; for he is like the willow, which
sprouteth out the better that it is often cropped.'^ Thus doth the
false flatterer blind those who listen to him, as I said before, and
covereth their filth so that it may not stink : and that is a great
calamity. For, if it stunk, he would be disgusted with it, and so
run to confession, and there vomit it out, and shun it thereafter.
Backbiters, who bite other men behind, are of two sorts : but
the latter sort is the worse. The former cometh quite openly, and
speaketh evil of another, and speweth out his venom, as much as
eris," MS. Oxon.
88 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
mu^e cunieS r^ 7 gulche'S » al iit somecl ^ ]?et |)e attri lieorte sent ii]i
to J>e tunge. Ac }>e latere cumeS forS al on o^er wise, 7 is wurse
ueond J>en ]7e o'Ser :' auh under ureondes huckel. WeorpeS adun
]?et heaue^, "? fo'S on ° uor te siken er he owiht sigge :' 1. makcS
drupie chere :' bisaumple'S longe abuten uor te beon ]?e betere ileued.
Auh hwon hit alles cume^ for^ j^eonne is hit jeoluh atter. " Wei-
lawei, *? wolawo," heo ser8, "wo is me ]>et he, o'Ser heo, habbe"S
swuch word ikeiht/ Inouh ich was abuten, auh ne help me® nout
to don her one bote. Eare hit is ]?et ich wuste herof ; auh ]?auh,
burh me ne schulde hit neuer more beon iupped ; ^ auh nu hit is
burh o'Sre so wide ibrouht forth, ich hit ne mei nout wi^saken.
Vuel me sei'S f hit is ; J jet hit is wurse. Seoruhful ich am '? sori
J?et ich hit schal siggen :f auh forsoSe so hit is ^' "? tet is muche seoruwe.
Uor ueole ^ o'Ser Vmg he, o^er heo, is swu'Se to herien, auh nout for
]?isse l>inge, *? wo is me J^ereuore. Ne mei ham no mon werien."
pis beo'5 l»es deofles neddren f Salomon speke'S of. Vre Louerd,
■burli his grace, holde ou our '^ earen urom hore attrie tungen, 7 ne
Folio 21 h. leue ou neuer stinken ]?ene fule put f heo unwreo'S, ase J>e uikelares,
wreo^ 7 helie'S, ase ich er seide :' unwreon hit to ham suluen, }>eo f
hit to limped,' *? helien hit o^re. pet is a muche ]?eau, ? nout to
J>eo f hit schulden smellen, 7 hatien ]7et fulSe. Nu, mine leoue
sustren, urom al vuel speche, f is ]>us J?reouold, idel, ful, 7 attri,
holde'S feor our earen. Me seiS upon ancren, ]?et euerich mest,""
haue-S on olde cwene ' to ueden hire earen ; ane maSehld "* f
ma'Sele'S hire all \>e talen of J»e londe :^" ane rikelot ° ]?et cakeleS hire
al •p heo isihS, o^er ihere'S. So |?et me seiS ine bisawe — " Vrom
mulne 1; from cheping, from smiSe, 7 from ancre huse, me ti'Singe
" culche'S. C. culches. T. *" [togidere]. C.
<= fe'S on. C. biginnes. T. ■• icaht. T. C.
« ne halp hit me. T. C. f [sewid]. C.
s i moni. T. '' lialde ower. C.
' [fallit]. C. '' uch an [al] raest. C.
' an aid cheorl o'Ser cwene. T. " ma'Selere. T.
" tales Jie me tale's ilonde. C. " an kikelot [plot]. C.
THE BACKBITER. 89
ever comes to his mouth, and throweth out, at once, all that the
poisonous heart sends up to the tongue. But the latter proceedeth
in a quite different manner, and is a worse enemy than the other ;
yet, under the cloak of a friend. He casteth down his head^ and
begins to sigh before he says anything, and makes sad cheer, and
moralizes long without coming to the point, that he may be the
better believed. But, when it all comes forth, then is it yellow
poison. " Alas and alas ! " she saith, " wo is me, that he or she
hath got such a reputation. Enough did I try, but it availed me
nothing, to eifect an amendment here. It is long since I knew of it,
but yet it should never have been exposed by me ; but now it is so
widely published by others that I cannot gainsay it. Evil they call
it, and yet it is worse. Grieved and sorry I am that I must say it ;
but indeed it is so ; and that is much sorrow. For many other
things, he, or she, is truly to be commended, but not for tliis, and
grieved I am for it. No man can defend them.^' These are the
devil's serpents which Solomon speaketh of. May our Lord, by his
grace, keep away your ears from their venomous tongues, and never
permit you to smell that foul pit which they uncover, like as the
flatterers cover and hide it, as I said before. Let those Avhom it
behoveth uncover it to themselves and hide it from others. That is
an essential service, and not to those [only] who would hate that
filth as soon as they should smell it. Now, my dear sisters, keep
your ears far from all evil speaking, which is thus threefold, idle,
foul, and venomous. People say of anchoresses that almost every
one hath an old woman to feed her ears ; a prating gossip who tells
her all the tales of the land ; a magpie that chatters to her of every
thing that she sees or hears ; so that it is a common saying, " From
miln and from market, from smithy and from nunnery, men bring
tidings." Christ knows, this is a sad tale ; that a nunnery, which
CAMD. soc.
90 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
bringe'S." pet, wot Crist, ]>h is a sori tale :' ]7et aiicre bus, |?et
schulde beon onlukest stude of* alle, schal beoii iueied ^ to ]?eo ilke
]?reo studen j^et mest is ine of cheafle. Auh ase quite ase je beo'S of
swucb, leoiie sustren, weren alle J^e oSre, lire Loiierd bit v^e.^
Nu ich habbe sunderliclie "^ ispeken of j^eos ]?reo limes — of eien, "?
of mu'Se, 7 of eareii. Of earen is iiii al ]?et leste to ancren bihoue.
Vor leofiich ^ ]nug nis bit nout f ancre bere swucb muS, auli muche
me mei dreden f heo beie ® hire earen summe cberre to swuche
mu^es. Of sib^e, 'i of specbe, "? of berrunge, is iseid sunderliclie,
of euericb on arewe. Ciime we nu eft ajaii '^ speken of alle imene/
De visu et loquela et auditu in communi.^
" Zelatus sum Syon zelo magno." " Vnderstond, ancre," be sev8,
" hwas spuse ]?u ert :' J bu be is gelus of alle Jfine lates. " Ego sum
Deus zelotes ;" in Exodo. "Icb am," bi him suluen, "J^e geluse God."
" Zelatus sum," 7c. t' " Ich am gelus of J^e, Syon, mi leofmon, mid muclie
gelusie." " Aiiris zeli audit omnia," sei^ Salomon ]7e Avise. " Ybi
ihho 22. amor, ibi ociilus :^" wite lf>n fulewel. His earen beo^ euer toward
te, 7 be ihercS and isih'S al 'pet tu dest. His eie euer bihalt te jif
]7U makest ei semblaunt, o^er eni luue lates touward unSeauwes.
" Zelatus sum Sion." Sion, |7et is, scbeauware :! he cleopeS J^e bis
scbeauware :^ 7 so his ]?et non o'Sres. Voi']?ui he sei'S in Canticis,
" Ostende mibi faciem." " Sclieau pi neb to me," be sei^ :' " auh to no
o'Ser. Biliold me, jif jni wult habbe brihte sihSe, wiS J>ine heorte eien.
Bihold inward, J?er icb am, 7 ne seche me nout wi'Suten J^ine heorte.
Icb am woware scbeomeful. Ich iiulle nouware bicluppe mine leof-
mon bute ine stude derne." O swuche wise ure Louerd spekcS to
his spuse. Ne jjunche hire |?eonne neuer wunder jif heo nis
ifeij;et [euenid]. C.
•^ [uuolde]. C.
' sunderlepes. C.
[comeliche] . C.
^ bube. T.
* [togidere]. C
MS. Oxon.
OF SIGHT, SPEECH, AND HEARING. 91
should be the most solitary place of all, should be evened to those
very three places in which there is the most idle discourse. But
would to God, dear sisters, that all the others were as free as ye
are of such folly.
1 have now spoken separately of these three members — of eyes,
of mouth, and of ears. Concerning ears, all that has now been said
is for the behoof of anchoresses ; for it is not a becoming thing that
an anchoress should bear such a mouth ; and it is much to be feared
that she lends her ears sometimes to such mouths. We have now
discoursed separately of sight, of speech, and of hearing, of each in
order. Proceed we now to speak again of them all in common.
Of sight, SPEECH, AND HEAKING IN COMMON.
" il^elatus sum Sion zelo magno." " " Understand, recluse,'^ he
saith, "whose spouse thou art, and how jealous he is of all thy
behaviour." " Ego sum Deus zelotes," ^ in Exodus. " I am," of
himself, "the jealous God." " Zelatus sum,'^ &c. "I am jealous
of thee, O Zion, my beloved, with much jealousy.'' " Auris zeli
audit omnia," ° saith the wise Solomon. " Ubi amor, ibi oculus ; "
know thou right well, his ears are ever inclined to thee, and he
heareth and seetli all that thou doest. His eye ever beholds thee,
if thou makest any shew, or [castest] any loving looks toward vices.
" Zelatus sum Sion." "Sion," that is, " Mirror." He calleth thee
his mirror ; and so [entirely] his that [ye are] none other's.
Wherefore, he saith in the Canticles, " Ostende mihi faciem." *^
" Shew thy face to me," he saith, " but to no other. Look upon me,
if thou wilt have clear sight, with the eyes of thy heart. Look
within, where I am, and seek me not without thy heart. I am a
bashful wooer. I will embrace my love nowhere but in a retired
place." In such wise our Lord speaketh to his spouse. Let her
» Zachariah, viii. 2. ^ Exod. xx. 5. >^
'^ Wisdom, i. 10. '' Song of Solomon, ii. 11. %.
\
92 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
mucbel one, ]>a,nli he hire schunie: 7 so one J?et heo pute euerich
worldlich J^ing 7 euerich worldhch murh^e ut of hire heorte :' vor
heo is Godes chaumbre, 'per noise ne cumeS ^ ine heorte, bute of
summe J>inge f me haue^ o'Ser iseien, o^er iherd, ismeiht, o'Ser
smelled, 7 wiSuten iueled :f % wute^ to so^e J^et euer so ]7e wittes
beo^ more ispreinde ^ utwardes, se heo lesse wendet inwardes r' 7
euer se recluses tote's more utwardes, se heo habbe^ lesse luue *= of
vre Louerd inwardes :! 7 alriht so '^ of ]?e o'Sre wittes. " Qui exteriori
ocvilo negligenter utitur, justo Dei judicio interiori cecatur." Lo hwat
sein Gregorie sei^ — " Hwo se jemeleasliche wite^ hire uttre eien,
]7urli Godes rihtwise dome heo ablindeS in J>e inre eien :^ so ]7et heo
ne mei iseon God mid gostliche sihSe, ne ]?urli swuche sihSe
icnowen. Vor efter ]?et me icnowe^S his muchele godnesse, 7 efter
]jet me ivele'S his swete swotnesse, — efter ]7et me luueS hine more
o'Ser lesse." Vor Si, mine leoue sustren, beoS wiSuten blinde, ase was
Folio 22 h. |7e holie Isaac ^ % Tobie pe gode : 7 God wule, ase he jef ham,
jiuen on liht ^ wiSinnen, him uorto iseonne, 7 icnowen :! 7 ];uruh ]?e
cnoulechuDge, ouer alle ];ing him luuien:^^ 7 J^eonne sclmllen je
iseon hu al pQ world nis nout, % hu hire uroure is fals r' % ]7urh pet
sih^e je schulen iseon alle }>es deofles wieles r! hu he biwrenche^ %
bicherre^ wreches.'^
Ee schulen iseon in ou sulf hwat beo jete to beten of our owene
sunnen. Ee schulen biholden sumetime^ touward te pine of helle,
pet ou agrupie ajean ham,'^ % fleo ];e swu^ere urommard ham. Ee
schulen gostliche iseon ]?e blissen of heuene, uor to ontenden our
heorte to hien touward heom.^ Ee schulen, ase ine scheauware,
iseon ure Lefdi mid hire meidenes, 7 al J^e englene uerd,™ 7 al J^e heie
» nur'S ne hire kime'S. C. '' ibreinde. C. ispreiigde. T.
'■■ leonie. T. C. '' -J alswa. T.
" Jacob. C. Ysaac. T. ' ■] God l^e hwile gef ham geouen of licht. C.
B of alle )>ing to luuien, C. '' wrenches. C.
' sumchere. C. '' \> ou grise vvi'S ham. C. \> ow uggi \vi5 ham. T.
' to hihen ham Jjiderward. T. '" riite. C.
WORLDLY SIGHTS ADVERSE TO SPIRITUAL MEDITATIONS. 93
never wonder, therefore, though he shun her, if she is not much
alone ; and so alone that she exclude every worldly thing, and every
worldly joy from her heart, for it is God's chamber, where disquiet
Cometh not into the heart, except of something that hath been either
seen or heard, tasted or smelled, and felt outwardly. And know
thou for a truth, that always the more the senses are dispersed
outward, the less she turns [her thoughts] inward, and the more
recluses look outward, they have less love of our Lord inwardly ;
and it is just the same with the other senses, " Qui exteriori oculo
negligenter utitur, justo Dei judicio interiori caecatur." Observe
what St. Gregory saith, " She who guardeth carelessly her outward
eyes, by God's righteous judgment groweth blind in the inward
eyes ; so that she cannot see God with spiritual sight, nor by such
sight know him ; for, according as Ave know his great goodness,
and feel his delicious sweetness, we love him more or less."
Wherefore, my dear sisters, be outwardly blind, as was the holy
Isaac and the good Tobias ; and God will give you, as he gave
them, inward light to see him and know him ; and, through this
knowledge, to love him above all things ; and then shall you see
how the whole world is nothing, and how deceitful is its comfort ;
and, through that sight, ye shall see all the wiles of the devil ; how
he cheateth and deceiveth his wretched dupes.
You should look into yourself and see what sins of your own are
yet to amend. You should sometimes consider the pain of hell, that
you may abhor them, and flee the more resolutely from them. You
should look, in spirit, to the blessedness of heaven, in order to
kindle in your heart the desire to hasten thither. You should
behold, as in a mirror, our Lady with her maidens, and all the army
of angels, and all the high heavenly host, and Him above them all
who blesseth them all, and is the crown of them all. This sight,
dear sisters, shall be of more comfort to you than any worldly sight
coidd be. Holy men who have experienced it know well that every
worldly delight is worthless when compared with it. [" To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the] hidden manna," &c. " and a new
94 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
heouenliclie bird,'' 1: him ouer ham alle, -^ blesce^ ham alle, 'i is hore
aire crune." peos sih^e, leoue sustren,^ schal urouren ou more
]7ene miihte eni worldlich sih^e. Holi men wute^ wel J?et habbe^
hit iuonded, ]?et euerich worldhch gledunge is unwurS her ajeines.
"Manna absconditum, ?c. nomen nouum quod nemo scit nisi qui
accipit." "Hit is a derne halewi," seiS sein Johan e\vangehste° in
]?e Apocahpse, — " hit is a derne healewi J?et no mon ne icnowe'S f
naue'S hit ismecched." pis smech, *? tis cnowunge, kumeS of gost-
liche sih'Se, '? of gostliche herunge, '? of gostliche speche, J^et heo
schulen habben, f forgot, for Godes luue, worldKche herunge, "?
eor'Sliche spechen, "? flechshche sih'Sen:^ ? efter j^e sih'Se f is nu
deosc her, je schulen habben, ]?er uppe, J^e brihte sih'Se of Godes
nebscheft ^ ]?et alle glednesse '^ is of, iSe blisse of heouene, muchel
biuoren oSre/ Vor ]?e rihtwise God haue^ so idemed J?et euerich-
ones mede ]?er schal onswerien ajein ]>e swine, J ajein ]>e anui ^ J^et
Folio 23. heo her uor his luue edmodliche J^olieS ^^^ ant for]?ui hit is rilit ?
somlich ^ f ancren Jjcos two morhjiuen '^ habben biuoren oSre, — bet
is swiftnesse, ant leome of a briht sihSe :/ swiftnesse ajeines J^et heo
bee's her so bipenned :/ leome of a briht sih^e, ajeines ]?et heo her
]7eostre'S nu ham suluen, J nulle'S nou'Ser iseon mon, ne of mon been
iseien. Alle ]?eo ine heouene schulen beon ase swifte ase is nu
monnes ]?ouht, J ase is ]?e sunne gleam, J^et smit from east into 'pe
west, ant ase lj>e eie opened ? tuneS t' auh ancren [f ] bitune'S ' her,
schulen beon []?er], jif eni mei, lihture beon ^ ? swifture :' '? ine so
wide scheakeles pleien ine heouene, ase me seiS ine heouene is large
leswe, yet tet bodi schal beon hwar so euer |?e gost wule, in one
hondhwule." pis is nu ]?e one morhjiue ]>et ich seide ]>et ancren
" al I>e halegene hirde. C. alio halelienes hird. T.
** childre. C. "^ godspellere. C.
'' neb. C. T. * gledschipe. C. godnesse. T.
' Vidcmus nunc quasi per speculum in enigmate. T.
e annu. C. ennui. T. ^ Jjolede. C.
' semlich. C. T. •' marechgeuen. C. marhcnjiues. T.
' bisparre'S. C. "> ba. C.
" Greg. Quid est enim quod ncsciunt, ubi scientem omnia sciunt ? T.
HOLY ANCHORESSES REWARDED IN HEAVEN. 95
name which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." * " It is a
secret medicine," saith St. John the EvangeHst, in the Apocalypse ;
" it is a secret medicine which no man knoweth that hath not tasted
it." This taste, and this knowing, cometh of spiritual sight, and of
spiritual hearing, and of spiritual speech, which they ought to
possess who forego, for the love of God, worldly hearing, earthly
speech, and fleshly sights ; and after the sight that now is, which is
dim here, ye shall have, there above, the bright sight of God's
countenance, of which is all joy in the blessedness of heaven, much
more than others. For the righteous God hath so judged that the
meed of every one shall correspond to the toil and the trouble that
slie patiently endureth here for the love of him ; and therefore, it is
riglit and proper that anchoresses should have these two special gifts
more than others, namely, swiftness and clearness of sight ;
swiftness, in requital of her being here so confined ; clearness of
sight, in compensation for her darkening herself here, and being
unwilling either to see or to be seen of man. All who are in
heaven shall be as swift as man's thought now is, and as the sun-
beam that darts from east to west, and as the eye openeth and
shutteth ; but an anchoress shut up here shall [there] be, if any
may, both more light and more swift ; and shall play in heaven in
such wide confines — as it is said that in heaven is large pasture —
that the body shall be wheresoever the spirit will, in an instant.
Now this is the one special gift, whicli I said that anchoresses shall
have more than others. The other special gift is that of sight. All
who are in heaven see all things in God ; but anchoresses, for their
blindfolding here, shall there see and understand more clearly the
hidden mysteries of God and his secret counsels, who care not now
to know about things without, either with ears or with eyes.
* Revelation, ii. ] '
Folio 23 I.
96 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
schulen liabben biuoren o^re. pe o^er morlijiiie is of sili'Se. Alle
]?eo ine lieouene isecS ine God alle ]7ing r' auh ancren schulen briht-
luker, uor liore bliudfallunge her, iseon ant understonden }>er Godes
derne runes, *? his dei'ne domes, ]?et ne kepe^ nu to wuten of ]?inges
wi'Suten, ne mid earen ne mid eien.
V or^i, mine leoue sustren, jif eni mon bit fort iseon on, askeS of
him hwat god |?erof muhte lihten :! vor moni vuel ich iseo |?erinne, %
none biheue :"^ "? jif he is me^leas, ileue^ him ]?e wurse i % jif eni
wur^e^ so wod, ? so awed, ■f he worpe his bond for'S touward ]?e
]?url clo'b,'' swiftliche anonriht, schutte'S al j^et J7url ° to, "? letted bine
iwurden, ? also sone ase eni mon ualle'S into lu'Ser speche, ]?et falle
touward fule liue,*^ tune^ J^et ];url anonriht r' 7 ne answerie je him
nowiht,^ auh wende'S awei, mit tisse uers, ]7et he hit muwe iheren/
"Narraverunt mihi iniqui fabulaciones, sed non ut lex tua:^" ant
go's for^ biuoren ower weouede ^ mit te miserere. Ne chastie je
neuer nenne swuchne mon bute o J)isse wise r' vor, mit te chastie-
ment, he muhte onsvverien so, ? blowen so liSeliche J?et sum sperke
muhte acwikien. No wouhleche nis so culuert ase is o pleinte wis :!
ase hwo se ]?us seide : " Ich nolde, uor te ]7olien dea'Se, ]?enche ful^e
touward te r' auh ich heuede isworen hit, luuien ich mot te,^' 7 nu
me is wo ^ tu hit wost. Auh forgif hit me nu, J^et ich hit habbe
itold te, 7 ]7auh ich schulde iwur'Se wod, ne schalt tu neuer more eft
witen hu me stont." Ant heo hit forjiue'S him, uor he speke"S ]ms
feire, 7 speke'S J^eonne of o'Serwhat. Auh "euer is ]>e eie to \e.
wude leie,' ]?erinne is ]7et ich luuie." Euer is J^e heorte in ]?ere
'^ bigete. C. '' swa wod j? he warpe bond l^e )>urcb \>e cla^. C
■^ windobe. T. <■ luue. C. T.
*■ "] ne speke ne mare bim to. C.
' Declinate a me maligni, "j scrutabor mandata Dei mei. T. s awter. T.
'' bwa is wurse jjene he ^ on slep hit binime'5 me ? Nu me is wa. C. bwa is wurse
\>en me ? Moni slep hit reaues me. Nu. T.
' wodelege; ") he halte bucke climbed heruppe. Twa •;) \>yco, bu feole beo'5 heo ? breo
halpenes makf'S a peni. Amen; -] euer is. C
SEDUCTIVE SrEEClI NOT TO BE LISTENED TO. 97
Wherefore, my dear sisters, if any man requests to see yon, ask
him what good might come of it ; for I see many evils in it, and no
good ; and if he insists immoderately, believe him the less ; and if
any one becometh so mad and so unreasonable that he puts forth
his hand toward the window cloth, shut the window^ quickly and
leave him ; and as soon as any man falls into evil discourse that
tends towards impure life,* close the window directly and give him
no answer at all, but go away with this verse, that he may hear it,
" The wicked have told me foolish tales, but not according to thy
law ; " and go forth before your altar, with the Miserere. Do not
reprove any man of such a character in any way but this, for, with
the reproof, he might answer in such a way and blow so gently that
a spark might be quickened [into a flame]. No seduction is so
perfidious as that which is in a plaintive strain ; as if one spoke thus :
" I would rather suffer death, than indulge an impure thought with
regard to you ; but had I sworn it, I could not help loving }ou ;
and yet I am grieved that you know it. But yet forgive me that I
have told you of it ; and, though T should go mad, thou shalt never
after this know how it is with me." And she forgives him, because
he speaks thus fair, and then they talk of other matters. But,
" the eye is ever towards the sheltering wood, wherein is that I
love." The heart is ever upon what was said before ; and still,
when he is gone, she often revolves such words in her thoughts,
when she ought to attend diligently to something else. He after-
wards seeketh an opportunity to break his promise, and swears that
necessity forces him to do it ; and thus the evil grows, the longer the
» Or impure love. C. T. '' Psalm cxix. 85. Vulgate.
CAMD. SOC. O
98 EEGUL.^ INCLUSAEUM.
uorme speclie "! % jet hwon he is for^e, lieo went ^ in hire ]7uhte ofte
swuche wordes, hwon heo schulcle o^erhwat jeornehche jemen.
He eft seche^ his point vTorte breke uorewarcl, ant swere'S ]?et he
mot necle :^^ ant so waxeS ]7e wo, se lengre se wurse 'I " uor no freond-
schipe nis so vuel ase is fals freondschipe. Ueond ]?et Jjunche'S
f'reond is swike ouer alle swike. Uor]?i, mine leoue sustren, ne jiue
je to none swuche monne non injong to spekene. Vor ase hoh writ
sei'S, "hore speche spret ase cauncre." Auh for alle onsweres,
wende'S ou ant wencheS ^ frommard him. Al so as ich er seide, o
none wise ne mnwe je betere sauuen ou suluen, ant maten, ? ouer-
Foho 24. c^^nien him [betere]. Loke^ nu, hu propreliche ]7e lefdi in Canticis,
Godes deorewur^e spuse, lere"S ou, bi hire sawe, hu je schulen
siggen, "En dilectus mens loquitur mihi, Surge, propera arnica
mea, ?c." Lo, he sei'S, " ich ihere nu mi leofmon speken "! he
cleope^ me t' ich mot gon : " "? je gon anonriht to our derewur'Se
spuse "? leofmon, ant mene^ ou to his earcn '|7et luueliche clepe'S ou
to him mit tecs wordes : " Surge, propera, arnica mea, formosa mea,
columba mea ^ % veni, ostende mihi faciem tuam. Sonet uox tua in
aure mea:'" ]?et is, "aris up; hie jje heoneward; ? cum to me, mi
leofmon, mi kulure, mi schene, mi veire spuse." " Ostende mihi
faciem tuam." " Scheau to me j^i leoue neb 7 ti lufsume leor. Went
te vrom oSre. Sonet uox tua in auribus meis. Seie hwo bane's
misdon J»e. Hwo haueS ihurt te, mi deore. Sing ine min earen ;
vor ]?ui ]7et tu ne wilnest bute uor to iseon mi hwite.^ Ne speke
bute to me. pi stefne is me swete, *? ti hwite schene." Vnde %
subditur, " vox tua dulcis, % facies tua decora." pis bee's nu two
]7inges ]7et beo'S iluued swuSe : swete speche, % schene hwite : hwo
se ham bane's togederes, swuche cheoscS Jesu Crist to leofmon ? to
spuse. Eif ]?u wilt beon swuch, ne scheau ]7u none monne []?i]
^ l>enne wenden. T. ha went. C.
'' mot nede; T swa ich habbe a nede ernde dun in J'e tun : l^ach hit reine arewen, ich
habe a nede erende, •] )>er waxet! Jje wa. C.
"= lokede blind hors "] wudemonnes eehge orn al ut, for nan freonschipe. C.
d wende'S? <^ wlite. T. C.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST ALONE TO BE DESIRED. 99
^vorse ; for no enmity is so bad as false friendship. An enemy who
seems a friend is of all traitors the most treacherous. Wherefore,
my dear sisters, give no such man any access to you to speak with
you ; for, as the Holy Scripture saith, " Their word spreads as
doth a canker." * And instead of any answer, turn your back to
him, and go away. Just as I said before, in no other way may you
better save yourselves, and beat and conquer him. Observe, now,
how rightly the lady in the Canticles, God's beloved spouse, teacheth
you by her words how you shall say, " En dilectus mens loquitur
mihi ; surge, propera amica mea," &c.'' '* Lo," she saitli, " I hear
now my beloved speak ; he calleth me ; I must go : " and go ye,
immediately, to your dear and beloved spouse, and make your
complaint in his ears who affectionately calls you to him with these
words, " Surge, propera," &c. that is, " Arise, hie thee hitherward,
and come to me, my beloved, my dove, my beauteous, my fair
spouse." " Ostende mihi faciem tuam." " Let me see thy dear face,
and thy lovely countenance. Turn away from others. Let thy
voice sound in my ears. Say, who hath offended thee ? Who hath
hurt thee my dear ? Sing in my ears ; since thou desirest only to see
my countenance, speak only to me. Thy voice is sweet to me, and
thy countenance is comely." Whence it is added, " thy voice," &c.
These are now two tilings that are much loved : a sweet voice, and
fair countenance : whoso hath both these, such doth Jesus Christ
choose to be his beloved and his bride. If thou wilt be such, let no
man see thy countenance, nor blithely hear thy speech ; but keep
them both for Christ, for thy beloved spouse, as he bade thee
before ; as thou desirest that thy speech may seem sweet to him,
and thy countenance fair, and to have him to be thy beloved who is
a thousand times brighter than the sun.
=" 2 Timothy, ii. 17. *" Song of Solomon, ii. 1:3, ]J,
100 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
liwite :' ne ne lete bli^eliche iheren yiae speche. Auh tun boSe to
Crist ; to ]>[ deorewurbe spus :' ase he bit ]7eruppe :' ase ]?u wilt ]>et
ti speche Jjunche him swete, '? ti hwite schene, "? habben him to leof-
mon J7et is a ]7usent fold schenre ]7en ]>e sunne.
JUerciie^ nu jeorueliche, mine leoue sustren, al an o^Ser speche, t
frommard tisse vorme. Hercne'S nu hu Jesu Crist speke^ ase o
wre^^e, ? sei^ ase o gi'im hoker, f a scorn to feo ancre J^et schulde
beon his leofmon, *? seche^ J^auh utward gelmige ^ J froure, mid eie
0"Ser mid tunge. In Canticis : " Si ignoras te o pulcra inter mu-
Foiio 24 h. lieres, egi'edere, '^ abi post uestigia gregum tuorum r* t pasce edos
tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum." pis beo^ ]>e wordes: " Eif ]>u.
ne knowest ]7e sulf, |?u ueir bimong wummen, wend ut, *? go efter
gate herden t "? leswe J^ine ticchenes bi heordmonne liulen, of ris 1"
of leaues." pis is a cruel word, J a grim word mid alle, f vre
Louerd sei^ ase a grome *? a scorn to totinde, "? to hercwile, 7 to
babeh'nde, 1: to spekefule ancren. Hit is bilepped 1 bihud r' ac ich
hit vnjRe unuolden. " Nime^ nu gode jeme, jif J^u ne cuovvest nout
)?e sulf," he sei^, ui'e Louerd. pet is, " jif 'pn nost nout hwas spuse
])u ert r' cwene of heouene, jif ]7U ert me treowe ase spuse ouh to
beomie. Eif ]?u Jjis hauest uorjiten, 7 tellest herto Intel, wend ut,
*? go, he sei^." Hwuder ? "Vt of mine heihschipe: vt of mine
muchele menke, '? foluwe heorden of geat," he sei^. Hwat beo^
heorden of geat? pet beo^ flesches lustes, ]>et stinke^S ase do^
geat, biuoren ure Louerd. " Eif ]7U hauest uoi-jiten nu J^i wur^fule
lefdischipe, — go ? folewe J;eos geat :"' ^ is, uoluwe flesches lustes. Nu
kume^ ])er efter ant leswe ]?ine ticchenes :! ]?et is, ase he seide, " Ved
]nne eien mid totunge,^ J tine tunge mid cheuelunge, ];in earen mid
herunge, Yme neose mid smellunge, ]?i vleschs mid softe uelunge."
peos fif wittes, he cleope^ ticchenes t for, also as of a ticchen, J^et
haue^ swete vleschs, kume^ a stinkinde got, o^er a bucke :"= alriht
' utward gelsunge [werldli glokering]. C. " ut totunge. T. C.
' a ful i)ueke. T. C.
EXAMPLE OF THE BRIDE IX CAXTICLES. 101
JMow, hearken attentively, my dear sisters, to a quite different
speech, and contrary to the f(jrmer. Hearken now how Jesus
Christ speaketh as in wrath, and saith, as in angiy derision and in
scorn, to the anchoress that ought to be his beloved, and yet seeketh
outward delights and comforts, with eye or with tongue. In the
Canticles, " Si ignoras te," &c. The words are these : " If thou
knowest not thyself, thou fair among women, go out and go after the
herds of goats, and feed thy kids beside the herdsmen's tents, of boughs
and leaves." This is a cruel word, and an angry word withal,
which our Lord saith in displeasure and scorn to prving, listening,
gossipping, and prating anchoresses. It is wrapped up and con-
cealed, but I will imfold it. " Take good heed, now," saith our Lord,
"if thou knowest not thyself ; that is, if thou knowest not whose
spouse thou art, — queen of heaven, if thou art true to me as a spouse
ought to be. If thou hast forgotten this, and accountest it of little
value — go out, and depart," he saith. Whither ? " Out of my
high place, out of my great honour, and follow the herds of goats,"
saith he. What are herds of goats ? They are the lusts of the
flesh, which stink as a goat, in the presence of our Lord. " If thou
hast now forgotten thy dignity as a lady, — go and follow those goats,
that is, follow the lusts of the flesh. Xow, then, come and feed thy
kids ; " that is, as if he said, " Feed thine eyes with lookmg about,
and thy tongue with prating, thy ears with hearing, thy nose with
smelling, thy flesh with soft feehng." Those five senses he calleth
kids ; for, as from a kid, that hath sweet flesh, cometh a stinking
goat, or a buck : just so, from a young, sweet looking, or a sweet
hearing, or a soft feeling, waxeth a stinking lust, and a foul sin.
Has any peering anchoress ever experienced this, who is always
, thrusting her beak outward, like an untamed bird in a cage ? Has
102 REGUL^E INCLUSARUM.
SO of a jung ^ swete lokunge, o^er of a sweote herunge, oSei" of a
softe uelunge waxe^ a stinkinde lust, and a ful sunne. Hwe^er eni
totilde ancre uondede euer J^is, 'pet beke'S euer utward ase untowe
Folio 25. brid ine cage ? Hwe^er ]?e cat of helle claurede ^ euer toward hire,
t cauhte,'' mid his cleafres, hire heorte heaued ? Ee, so'Ses :f %
drouh al ut, ]?et bodi efter, mid clokes of crokede "^ *? of kene uon-
dunges :' 1; makede hire to leosen bo^e God "? mon, mid brod schome
1! sunne.® Inouh sori lure r' to wroSere hele bekede euer ancre so ut«
" Egredere," he sei^S, o grome. " Go ut ase dude Dina, Jacobes
doubter, to wrother ^ hele : " J^et is to siggen, "bilef me 7 mi cumfort f
is wi'Sinne pe breste, 1; go sech wi'Suten, pe worldes urakele urouren
pet schulen enden ine sor 1! ine seoruwe. Nim j^erto, t lef me hwon
pe so is leouere : vor ne schal tu nonesweis J?eos two ilke cumforz,
min 1! te worldes — pe joie of the holi gost t flesches froure habben
togederes, Cheos nu ];u on of j7eos two r' vor ]?et o'Ser ].'u most leten."
" O pulcra inter mulieres ! " " jif ];u cnowest nout pe sulf, ]?u ueir
bimong wummen, " sei^ ure Louerd — ]?u ueir bimong wummen, auh
bimong engles ]?u meiht don J^erto r^ ]ni schalt siker elles hwar beon
ueir nout one among wummen, auh among engles. " pu, mi deore-
wur^e spuse," sei^ ure Louerd, "schalt tu uoluwen geat a ueld, ]7et
bee's flesches lustes ? " Veld is willes breade. " Schalt tu o J>isse wise
uoluwen geat jeont te ueld? pu scholdest, i ]?ine heorte bur,
bisechen me cosses, ase mi leofmon J^et sei^ to me, iSe luue boc,
"osculetur me osculo oris sui:'^ f is cus me, mi leofmon, mid cosse
of ]7ine mu^e, mu'Sene swetest." pes cos, leoue sustren, is a swet-
nesse '? a delit of heorte, so unimete swote 1, swete, J^et euerich
worldes sauur is bitter ]7er ajeines :' auh ure Louerd mid his cosse
Fol. 25 b. ne cusse'S none soule ]>et luue^ ei j^ing bute him, 1; ]?eo ilke Jnnges,
uor him, f helpe'S to habben him r' 1! tu ]7eonne, Godes spuse, J>et
meiht iheren, her biuoren, hu swetelich ]?i spus speke^, f cleopeiS pe
* lute. C. ** clachte. C. clahte. T.
■= lahte. T. lachte. C. ■* wi'5 crokede crokes.
« sunne, 1 beafdo [bereafde. T.] hire at a clap \>e eor'Se T ee ]>e heueno. C.
' himmerc. C. » Song of Solomon, i. 1.
WHO THOSE ARE WHOM CHRIST LOVETH. 103
the cat of hell ever clutched at her, and caught with his claws her
heart head ? Yes, truly ; and drew out afterwards her whole body,
with hooks of crooked and keen temptations ; and made her to lose
both God and man, with open shame and sin. A grievous enough
loss ! Always to her utter ruin has an anchoress thus peered out.
" Egredei'e," saith he, in anger. " Go out, as did Dinah, Jacob's
daughter, to utter ruin ; " that is to say, " leave me and ray comfort
which is within the breast, and go, seek without the world's vile
gratifications, which shall end in pain and sorrow. Take to it, and
leave me, since thou preferrest it : for thou shalt not by any means
have both these two comforts, mine and the world's — the joy of the
Holy Ghost, and the gratification of the flesh together. Choose now
one of these two ; for thou must quit the other." " O pulchra inter
mulieres ! " " If thou know not thyself, thou fair among women,"
saith our Lord, — thou fair among women ; nay, among angels, thou
might add thereto; thou shalt surely be hereafter fair, not only
among women, but among angels. " Thou, my dear spouse," saith
our Lord, " shalt thou follow goats a-field, which are the lusts of the
flesh ? " Field is the wide range of the will. " Shalt thou in this
wise follow goats over the field? Thou shouldest, in thy heart's
bower, entreat me for kisses, as my beloved one, that saith to me, in
the love book, ' Osculetur me osculo oris sui,' that is, kiss me, my
beloved, with kiss of thy mouth, sweetest of mouths." This kiss,
dear sisters, is a sweetness and a delight of heart, so immeasurably
delicious and sweet, that every savour in the world is bitter when
compared with it: but our Lord, with his kiss, kisseth no soul that
loveth anything but him, and those things, for his sake, that assist
us to obtain him : do thou, therefore, God's spouse^ who might hear
what has been said above, how sweetly thy spouse speaketh, and
calleth thee to him so affectionately, and thereafter how he changes
the strain,^ and speaketh most wrathfully, if thou goest out, — keep
thee in thy chamber : feed not thou thy goat-kids without ; but
^ Literally, praise.
104 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
to him so luueliche, 7 ter after hu he went )?ene lof, *? speke*S swuiS
grimhche, jif ]7U wendest vt, — Hok te i j^ine chaumbre : ne fed tu
nout wi^uten ]?ine gate ticchenes r auh hold wi^innen ]7m hercnung,
J?i speche, t tine sih-Se r^ ant tun ueste hore jeten, ma's, "? eien, ■?
earen t' for nout heo beo^ bilokene inwiS ]?auh our wal, ]>e )7eos
^etes opene'S * buten ajein Godes sonde, 1! huene^ ^ of soule, " omni
custodia serua cor tuum : " " ouer alle ]fing, J^enne," ase Salomon ]>e
\ere8, J ich seide ueor biuoren i'Se frum^e of ]7is tale, mine leoue
sustren, " wite'S wel our heorte." pe heorte is wel iloked jif mu^S '^
eien 1; earen wisliche beo^ ilokene : vor heo, ase ich seide er, beo^S
be heorte wardeins t f jif ]?e wardeins wended ut, ]fe heorte bi'S
biwust vuele." pis bee's nu ]>e J^reo wittes f ich habben ispeken
of. Speke we nu schortliche of ]>e two o'Sre : ]?auh nis nout spell-
unge ]7e muSes wit, ase smecchunge, J?auli heo beon beoSe ine
mu'Se.
4. De Odore.
Smel of neose is ]>e ueor^e of ]>e vif wittes. Of J?isse witte serS
seint Austin, " De odoribus nimis non satago :! cum assunt, non
respuo ; cum absunt, non require." Of smelles, he ser8, ne uond
ich nout mucheles. Eif heo beo^S neih, a Godes halue :' '% jif heo
beo^ feor, me ne recche'S.'^ Vre Louerd, tauh, |>uruh Isaie, Jn-eate'S
ham mid helle stunch f habbe'S delit her ine ulesliche smelles. " Erit
pro suaui odore fetor." per to jeines, heo scliulen habben heouen-
liche smelles, ])et habbeS her swot of iren'^ oSer of heren, ]?et heo
Folio 26. bere^,^ oSer of swoti hateren, o^er of ]?icke eir ^ in hire huse ^ stunch
cSer hwule and strong breS ine neose. x\uch ]?er of beo^ iwar,*
mine leoue sustren, J^et oSer hwile j^e ueond makeS sum }>ing
* wah o^er wal }> \>ea gates opne^. T. wach o5ei- wal, openi ge naut ower geten. C.
b lif. C. "^ he hns beos uuele loked. T.
'' ne forhoj;e ich ham nocht, t t>ach ha beon feor, naut I ne recehe. C.
' of irncs spat. C. p hanen irnes swat her. T. ' weonen. T.
s spatie cla'Ses, o'Ser of Hcke. C. of swati hattre o'Ser of wikke air. T.
'' bus T iiiulede hinges. T. bus i of uuele hinges. C. ' warnede. T.
OF THE SENSE OF SMELL. 105
keep thy hearing, thy speech, and thy sight within ; and shut fast
their gates — mouth, eyes, and ears. For in vain is she shut up
within your wall who openeth those gates, except to God's
messenger, and the soul's consolation. ^ " Omni custodia serva cor
tuum : " above every thing, then, as Solomon exhorteth thee, and as
I said long since, in the beginnmg of this discourse, my dear sisters,
guard well your heart. The heart is well kept, if the mouth, eyes,
and ears are wisely kept. For these, as I said before, are the
wardens of the heart ; and if the wardens go out, the heart is ill-
guarded. These are now the three senses which I have spoken of.
Speak we now briefly of the other two : Speaking, however, is not
a sense of the mouth, as tasting is, though they are both in the
mouth.
4. Of S.mell.
Smell of nose is the fourth of the five senses. Of this sense Saint
Austin saith, "De odoribus nimis non satago : cum adsunt, non
respuo ; cum absunt, non requiro." " About [fragrant] smells,"
saith he, " I do not concern myself much. If they are present, in
God's name, [they are welcome ;] if they are absent, I care Jiot."
Our Lord, however, by Isaiah, threateneth with the stench of hell
those who take delight here in carnal odours. " Erit pro suavi
odore fetor." " On the other hand, they shall smell celestial odours,
who, in this life, had stench and rank smells of sweat from iron or from
hair-cloth which they wore, or from sweaty garments, or foul air in
their houses." ^ But be warned of this, my dear sisters, that some-
times the fiend maketh something to stink that ye ought to use,
because he would have you to avoid it : and, at other times, the
deceiver maketh a sweet smell to come, as if it were from heaven,
•■' The Eucharist.
'■ " E contra coelestes odores sentient illi qui de cilieio, aut fcrro, aut vestimento sudoroso,
seu odore spisso, nunc sustinent pro Christo foctorem.'' MS. Oxon.
CAMD. soc. r
106 REGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
stinken ]?et je schiilden notien, vor ]?i Jjet he wolde J^et je hit
schulden schunien : and oSer hwule ]?e wieLare, of sum derne ]?ing
]>e je ne muwe nout iseon, ase dust of derne sedes, makeS a swote
smel cumen, ase ]7auh hit were of heouene tf vor je schulden wenen
]?et God,^ uor ouwer hoH Hue, sonde ou his grace and his ehie, and
leten wel of ou sulf,'' '^ leapen into prude. Smel j^et cume'S of
Godes half uroure^ Jje heorte more ]?en ]7e neose. peos ant oSre
trufles*^ ]7et he bitrufleS*^ monie men mide, schulen beon ibronht te
nouht mid heale water ant mid ]>e holi rode tockne. Hwose ]70uhte
hu God sulf was i ^isse witte iderued, heo wolde ]7et derf J^uldeliche
];olien. pe munt of Caluarie, |>er ure Louerd hongede, was ]7e
cwalmsteou, J^er leien ofte licomes iroted buuen eorbe "^ stuncken
swu"Se stronge. He, ase he hongede, mulite habben hore bre^, mid
alle his o'Sre wo, amidden his neose. Also he was idoruen® in alle
his o'Sre wittes. In his sihSe, ]>eo he iseih his deorewur'Se^ moder
teares, 'f sein Johannes euangelistes, j te oSre Maries :' j ]?o he
biheold hu his deore deciples fluen alle vrom him, f bileueden him
alle one, ase ureomede, he weop^ himsulf Juries mid his feire eien.
He ];olede al j^uldeliche J^et me hine blindfellede, hwon his eien
weren ]?us ine schendlac iblinfelled, vor to j^iuen ]?e ancre brihte
sih'Se of heouene — j^auh ]ni ]>in eien uor his luue, '^ ine munegunge
herof, blindfellie on eorSe, uorto beren him ueolauredden,'^ nis nout
Folio 26h. muchel wunder. Amid 'pe mu'Se me gurde^ him sume cherre, inoli
re'Se, ase me to beot his cheoken, ■^ spette him a schorn :'^ ant on
ancre is for o word ut of hire witte I Hwon he ]7olede J>uldeliche ]7et
te Giws dutten, ase heo buffeteden him, his deorewurde mu'S mid
hore dreori fustes :^ ^^ ]7U, uor J^e luue of him "^ for |)In owene
muchele biheue, dute Jnnne tutelinde mu'S mit ]?ine lippen. Teke ^
l^et he smeihte "" galle on his tunge, uorto leren ancren ])et heo ne
* het hit were god. C. '' to ou sulf. T. ]>erof •] of ou seolf. C.
•■• tnijlcs. C. -i trule'S. C. ^ iderued. C.
f leoue. 0. e remde. T. '• feorreden.
' smiten. T. "^ o sehanie. T. on hokere. C.
' to eken, C. "' smachte. C.
CALVAKY A PLACE OF LOATHSOME SMELLS. 107
from something: concealed, that \e cannot see, as from the dust of
hidden seeds ; in order that ye maj think that God, on account of
your holy life, sejids you his grace and his comfort, and so think
well of yourselv^es, and become proud. The fragrance that cometh
from God, comforteth the heart rather than the nostrils. These and
other delusions, with which he beguiletli many men, should be
rendered ineffective by holy water, and by the sign of the holy
rood. Any one who reflected how God himself was annoyed in this
sense would patiently bear that annoyance. The hill of Calvary,
Avhere our Lord hanged, was the place of execution, where bodies
often lay rotting on the ground uriburied, and loathsome to the
smell. He, as he hanged, might, amidst all his other sufferings,
have had their putrescent odour in his nostrils. In like manner he
was hurt in all his other senses. In his sight, when he saw the
tears of his dear Mother, and of Saint John the Evangelist, and of
the other INIaries; and when he beheld how all his dear disciples
fled from him and left him alone, as a stranger, he himself wept three
times with his fair eyes. He quite patiently suffered himself to be
blindfolded, that, when his eyes were thus in derision blindfolded,
he mioht o-ive the anchorite a clear sight of heaven. Thouoh thou,
for his love, and in remembrance of this, shut thine eyes on the
things of the earth, to bear him company, it is no great wonder.
Upon one occasion, men with great cruelty hit him on the mouth,
when they struck his cheeks and spit upon him in contempt ; — and
an anchoress is, for a single word, out of her wits ! When he bore
patiently that the Jews, as they buffeted him, closed up his dear
mouth with their accursed flsts, — surely thou, for the love of him,
and for thme own great behoof, might close up thy tattling mouth
with thy lips. Add to this that he tasted gall on his tongue, to
teach anchoresses that they ought never more to grumble on account
of either meat or cbink, be it ever so stale ; if it may be eaten, let
her eat, and devoutly thank God for it ; and if it may not, let her
grieve that she must ask for more palatable food. But rather than
that askino- should give rise to anv offence she ouoht to die, as a
108 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
gruchie neuermore nor none mete, ne uor none drunche, ne beo hit
neuer so unorne :! jif heo hit mei eten, ete ant ]7onke God jeorne :!
ant jif heo ne mei nout, beo sori ^ ■j3 heo mot sechen estfnh'e :! auh er
J7en ]?et biddunge arere eni schaundle, er heo ouh for to deien martir
in hire meseise f' no'Seleas deaS me mot fleon ase uorS ase me mei,
wiSute sunne. Auh me schal er deien J7ene don eni sunne ^ and nis
hit muche sunne te makie ]?et me sigge, " Estful is J)eos ancre, ant
nuTchel is ]?et heo bit ?" j jet is wurse J^et me sigge j^et heo is a
grucchild, '^ ful itowen, dangerus, <^ erueS for te paien.^ Were heo
amidde |?e worlde, heo moste beon sume cherre mid lesse '^ mid
wurse ipaied. Muchel hofleas is ]?et cumen ° into ancre huse, into
Godes prisune, willes "^ woldes, to stude of meseise, vorte sechen eise
j^erinne '^ mesterie, <^ more lefdischipe ]?en heo muhte habben iheued,
inouh re'Se i'Se worlde. penc ancre J^ene hwat tu jjouhtes '^ souhtes
]?o ]7U uorsoke Jjene world i j^ine biclusinge, — biwepen ]7in owene '^
o'Sre nionnes sunnen, j forleosen alle ]?e blissen of ]?isse liue uortc
FvUo 27. bicluppen blisfulliche j^ine blisfule leofmon i^e eche liue of heouene.
In his earen he hefde, J^e heouenliche Louerd, al J?et edwit, j al }>et
upbrud, 1 al ]?e schorn, j alle ]?e scheomen ];et earen muhte iheren ;
ant he sei^ bi him suluen, us for to leren : " Et factus sum sicut
homo non audieus, '^ non habens in ore suo redargutiones." " Ich
heold me al stille," he seiS, " ase dumbe j deaf deS ]?et naue'S non
onswere, J^auh me him misdo o'Ser missigge." pis is ]nne leofmones
sawe, "^ tu seli ancre, ]7et ert his seli '^ spuse,*^ leorne hit jeorne of
him J?et tu hit kunne, ant muwe so^liche siggen.
IV u ich habbe ispeken of ower four wittes, ant of Godes froure :'
hu he l^uruh his wittes vroureS ^ ou, as ofte ase je in oiiwer wittes
ivele^ eni weane.^ Nu hercne^ of J;e vifte, j^et is mest neod elne : ^'
" of bundle. C.
>> '^ ha is grucinde, ■] dangerus, ■] arue'5 forto paigen. C. f> ho is grucchere, -] ful
itohen : dangeruse T tor for to paien. T.
«^ muche hoker is to cumen. C. '' deore. C. ■■ seruant. T.
f frofrcN. C, ' oinc. T. '' need to heren. C.
Christ's patience a lesson to anchoresses. 109
martyr, in her discomfort. Nevertheless, we must avoid death as
far as possible without sin. But we should sooner die than commit
any sin, — and is it not great sin to cause men to say, " This
anchoress is dainty, and she asks much?" And it is still worse if
they may say that she is a grumbler, and undisciplined, domineering,
and difficult to please. If she were living in the world, she would
sometimes have to be content with less and worse. It is very
unreasonable to come into a religious house, into God's prison,
willingly and freely, to a place of discomfort, to seek therein ease
and mastery, and more deference than she might have had, properly
enough, in the world. Think, then, O anchoress, of what thou didst
intend and seek, when thou didst forsake the world, at thy entrance
into the cloister — to weep for thine own and other men's sins, and
renounce all the pleasures of this life, in order to embrace, in the
fulness of joy, thy blessed Bridegroom in the eternal life of heaven.
He, the heavenly Lord, heard with his ears, all the taunts, and the
reproach, and the scorn, and the shame, that ears might hear ; and
he saith of himself, for our instruction, " Et factus sum sicut homo
non audiens, et non ha bens in ore suo redargutiones." * "I held
myself quite still," he saith, " as one dumb and deaf doth that hath
no answer, though men evil intreat and slander him.'' This is thv
Bridegroom's saying ; and do thou, happy anchoress, who art his
happy bride, learn it earnestly of him, that thou mayst know it, and
be able to say it in truth.
1 have now spoken of your four senses, and of the comfort
wherewith Christ comforteth you through his [example when he
suffered in his] senses, as often as you, in your senses, feel any pain,
NoAv attend while I speak of the fifth, which has most need of
comfort : for in it the pain is greatest, that is, in Feeling ; and the
pleasure also, if it so happen.
•^ I'salm xxxviii. 14.
110 llEGUL^ INCLUSAIIUM.
vor 'pe pine is mest Jjerinne :' ]?et is, iue velunge, ^ te licunge also,
jif hit so turne'S.
5. De Tactu.
pe vifte wit is ine velunge. pis ilke o wit is in alle ]>e ob're
wittes, ant jeond '^ al ]ie liconie, ■-^ for'Si hit is neod forte habben ];e
betere warde. Vre Louerd wuste hit ful wel :! "^ forSi he wolde
mest ine j^et wit J^olien wo, vorte urouren us jif we ]7olie^ wo
J^erinne t' •^ forte wenden us urommard ]?e licunge J^et flesches lustes
aske'S :' ant nomeliche ine velunge, more j^en in o'Sre.
Ure Louerd i Jnsse witte nefde nout in one stude, auh liefde
oueral pine :' nout one jeond his bodi,'' auh hefde jet wi^innen in
his seli soule. In hire he hefde ])e stiche "^ of sori j seoruhful pine :'
J seoruhfulnesse made him siken sore, peos stiche was ]7reouold :
]7et, ase j^reo speres smiten him to J^er heorte. pet on was his mo-
deres wop,'^ j ]7e o^res Maries, f fleoweden j melten al of teares.
pet o5er was ]7et his owune deore deciples ne ilefden him nan more,
ne ne heolden him for God r^ vorSi ]7et he ne help him suluen in liis
muchele pine, <^ fluen alle vrom him j bilefden him ase vreomede.^
pe ]?ridde stiche was j^et muchele sor, j ]7et of-]^unchung ^ J^et he
hefde wi^innen him, vor hore uorlorennesse Jjet drowen him to
Folio 27 b. deaSe :' ]?et he iseih, onont ^ ham, al his swine forloren f he swonc
on eor^e. peos ilke J^reo stichen weren in his soule. In his licome,
euerich lim, ase seint Austin sei^, " he ]7olede sundri pine, <^ deijede
jeond al his bodi, ase he ear jeond ^ al his bodi deaSes swot swette : "
ant her sei'S sein Beornard, ]?et " he weop nout one mid his eien, auh
dude mid alle his limen." " Quasi, inquid, membris omnibus fleuisse
videtur." Vor so ful of anguise was Jjet ilke ned * swot ];et com '' of
■' ouer. T. in. C. '' nawt ane on al his bodi. T.
•■■ he hefde sare stiche. G. <" ream. C,
« fremde. 'V. * for'Sinchinge.
« oneucnt. T. '' ouer. T. ' red ? '' lilitc. T. V.
CHRIST sufferp:t) in his body and in his soul. Ill
5. Of Touch or Feeling.
1 he fifth sense is in feeling. This one sense is in all the other
senses, and tln-oughout the whole body, and tlierefore needs to be
the better guarded. Our Lord knew it well, and therefore he
chose to endure most suffering in that sense, to comfort us if we
suffer pain therein ; and to turn us away from the pleasure which
the lusts of the flesh demand; and especially in feeling, more than
in the others.
Our Lord in this sense had pain, not in one place only, but in
all ; not only over all his body, but inwardly, in his blessed soul.
In this he had the sting of sorrow and of grievous pain ; and grief
made him sorely to sigh. This sting was threefold : which, as it were
three spears, smote him to the heart. One was the weeping of his
mother and the other Maries, who flowed and melted all in tears.
Another was that his own beloved disciples no longer believed him,
nor held him for God, because he did not help himself in his great
sufi'ering, and they all fled from him and deserted him as a stranger.
The third sting was the great sorrow and pity that he felt for the
lost condition of those who dragged him to death ; in that he saw, in
regard to them, all his labour lost that he laboured on earth. These
three stings were in his soul. " In his body, in every limb," as
Saint Austin saith, " He suffered sundry pains, and died through all
his body, as before over all his body he sweated the sweat of
death : " " And here," saith Saint Bernard, " he ^vept not with his
eyes only, but with all his limbs." " Quasi, inquit, membris
omnibus flevisse videtur." For so full of anguish was that forced*
sweat that came from his body, in prospect of the excruciating death
that he was to suffer, that it seemed like red blood : " factus est
sudor ejus quasi guttas sanguinis decurrentis in terram." ^ More-
" red ? '' Luke, xxii. 44.
112 KEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
his licome ajein ]>e anguisuse dea'Se f lie schulcle j^olien ]?et hit
J7uhte ^ read blod : " Factus est sudor ejus quasi gutte sanguinis
decurrentis in terram." An o^er half, so largeliche ant so swu^e
vleau ]>et ilke blodi swot of* his blisfule bodie, yet te streames vrnen
adun to ]?er eorSe :' swuc grure he hefde in his monliche vlesche
ajein ]7e stronge deorewur^e ^ pinen |>et he ° schulde drien : j ])et
nes non veorlich wunder :' vor euer so J;et flesch is cwickure, so fe
pine l^erof f ]>et hurt is more ^ sarre. A lutel ihurt i ]?en eie
derue'S more ]?en de^ a muchel i^e hele r^ vor ]7et fleschs is deadure
jjere. Auch euerich momies fleschs is dead fleschs ajein ]?et was
Godes fleschs, ase ])e ]>et was inumen of ]?e tendre meidene t' '^ no
]?ing neuer nes j^erinne ]?et hit muhte adeaden t' auh euer was iliche
cwic of ]>e cwike godhod ]?et wunede ]?erinne :' vorj^i, in his flesche
was the pine more <^ sarre ^ J^en euer eni mon in his flesche J^olede,
Jjet his fleschs were tendrust <^ cwickest of alle vlesches. Lo®
hwuch on asaumple her efter.
Folio 28. A mon uor vuel ]?et he haue"S he ne let him nout blod oSe sike
halue, auh de^ o^e hole half, uorte helen ]>e sike half :^ auli in al ]>e
worlde ]7et was oSe fefre, "-^ o^e berebarde nes ^ among al moncun
oni hole dole ifunden ]?et muhte beon ileten blod, bute Godes bodi
one, l^et lette him blod o^e rode :' ant nout o ]?en earme one, auh
dude o vif halue, uorte helen al moncun of ]7e secnesse ]?et te vlf
wittes hefden awakened. Lo ]7us J^e hole half -^ te cwike dole
drowen |7et vuele blod ut frommard ]?e unhole, "^ helede so }>e sike
half, puruh blode is bitocned sunne ine holi write, pe reisuns
hwui bee's her efter suteliche ^ ischeawede. Auh J^erof nime^ jeme,
mine leoue sustren, J^et ower deorewur'Se spus, ]?e luuewurSe Louerd
1! helinde, of heouene, lesu, Godes sune, ^e weldinde of the worlde,
];eo he was ]nis ileten blod, vnderstonde'S, hwuc was his diete '' J?et
* semde. T. '' devue. T. derfe [harde]. C.
= hit. T. C. •* sar[rejre. C.
* loke. T. ' ■)> was o'Se fmire, ne was. T.
K •) opinlike, C. '' mete. C.
THE SHARPNESS OF CHRIST's PAIN ON THE CROSS. 113
over, so copiously and so rapidly flowed that bloody sweat from his
blessed body that the streams ran down to the ground. Such
horror had he in his human flesh, in contemplation of the severe
precious pains which he was to endure. Nor is that a very great
wonder ; for the more lively the flesh is, the pain and hurt of it is
the more and sorer. A little hurt in the eye givetli more pain than
a great one in the heel, for the flesh is less quick there. And
the flesh of every man is dead flesh compared what the flesh
of God was, as it was taken of the tender maiden ; and nothing was
ever therein that could deaden it ; but it was ever equally alive
with the living Godhead that dwelt in it. Wherefore, the pain in
his flesh was greater and sorer than any man ever suffered in his
flesh ; because his flesh was the most tender and most quick of all
flesh. Consider the example which follows : —
A man, for an illness that he hath, is not let blood in the
diseased but in the Avhole side, in order to heal the diseased side.
But in the wdiole world, which was in a fever and in the berebarde,*
there was not found among all mankind any sound part that might
be let blood, but God's body only, who let himself blood on the
i cross ; and not in the arm only, but in five places, that he might heal
all mankind of the sickness which the five senses had awakened.
Lo ! thus the sound and the quick part drew the evil blood out from
the unsound, and so healed the sick part. By blood is meant sin
in Holy Scripture ; the reasons whereof are plainly shewed in what
» The Editor is unable to give a satisfactory interpretation of Ixrebarde. Mr. Singer,
in the Notes and Queries, [vol. ii. 204,] suggests its derivation from " Berhi. O, F.
Chancre, dartre; a boil, bubo, or tetter, commonly attendant upon pestilential fever." If
this be its true derivation, which appears likely, we may conclude that it means some
kind' of cutaneous eruption. " An efflorescence like the measles is frequently met
with in malignant fevers ; and sometimes black, livid, dun, or greenish spots appear,
which always indicate a high degree of malignity," — Edinb. Practice of Physic and
Surgery. London, 1800, p. 121.
CAMD. SOC. Q
114 REGUL/1<: INCLIJSAHUM.
del, i^en ilke blodletunge ! So baluhful '^ "? so bitter ! )>et Jjeo ilke
Jjet he bledde iiore ne brouhten heo him to presente ne win, ne ale,
ne water :' jet ]70 he seide sicio, ant mende him ase of j^urst,^ o'Se
rode, auh duden bitter galle. Hwar was euer ijiuen to eni blod-
letunge so poure pitaunce ? Ant tauh ne grucchede he nout :' auh
underueng ^ hit edmodhche,'' vorte leren hise ^ ant jet lie dude more
us to vorbisne — he dude his deorewur'Se mil's ]?erto, ? smeihte*^
ant cunnede jjerof, ]?au he hit notien ne muhte. Hwo is, J^eonne,
efter ]>is, 7 ancre hure t hure, ]?et gruccheS jif heo naueS nout o^er
mete o'Ser drunch efter hire eaise ? Ant siker beo hwose euer
FoNo 28 h. grucche"S, heo oflf're'S jet ure Louerd ];eos lu'Sere pitaunce, ase duden
]70 ]7e Gins r' ? is Giwes fere, uorte beoden him, in his Jnirste, }?runc
of sur galle. His ]?urst nis nout buten jirnunge of ure soule hele i'
ant grucchunge of bitter J of sur lieorte is him surre 7 bitture nu
]?ene was ]?eo |>e galle. Ant tu his deorewur Se spuse ^ ne beo ]7u
nout Gius fere ne Gius make uorte birlen him so r' auh ber him
feolauredden, 7 drinc mid him bli'Seliche al ]7et flesch ]?uncclie^ sur
o-Ser bitter :' ]>et is, pine 7 weane, 7 teone, 7 alle meseise r^ 7 he hit
wule jelden ]?e, ase he is ^ treowe felawe, mid healewi of '^ lieouene.
pus was lesu Crist, J7e Almlhti God, in alle his fif wittes derfliche
ipined, ? nomeliche i j^isse laste, ]7et is, ine uelunge. Vor his fleschs
was al cwic ase is }7e tendre eien :' ant je witen J^is wit ]>et is flesches
felunge^ oner alle o^re wittes. Godes honden weren ineiled o'Se
rode, purh ]?eo ilke neiles ich halse ou ancren, nout ou, auh do
" baleful. C. T. •> mende ase he bledde of Jrust. T.
"= undertoc. T. •' mildeliche.
• smachte [fondede]. C. ' deore seruaunte. T.
K as hia. C. ^ in. T.
' and j;t> t;oate I'is wit, p is felinge.
THE BITTER DRINK GIVEN TO JESUS ON THE CK08S. 115
follows. But take notice of this, iny clear sisters, that }Our beloved
Bridegroom, who is so worthy of love, the Lord and Saviour of
Heaven, Jesus, the son of God, the ruler of the world, when he was
thus let blood, think of what sort was his diet that day of the blood-
letting! So baleful, and so bitter! and even those for whom he
bled brouiilit him no wine, nor ale, nor Avater ; even when he said
Sitio, and complained of thirst on the cross, but brought him bitter
gall. Where was ever so poor refreshment given to any one when
let blood? And yet, he found no fault; but received it meekly, to
give a lesson to his peo})le, — and he did yet more for an example to
us, — he put his dear mouth to it, and tasted, and took knowledge of
it, thong] 1 he might not use it. Who is there, then, after this, and
especially what anchoress is there, who miu'murs if she has either
meat or drink not to her taste ? And be assured that whoever she
is that murmurs, she still offereth to our Lord that bitter pittance,
as the Jews then did, and is the Jews' accomplice, to offer him in
his thirst a drink of sour gall. His thirst is nothing but yearning
for the health of our souls ; and the murmuring of a bitter and sour
heart is to him more sour and bitter now than the gall was then.
And thou, his beloved bride, be not the Jews' associate, nor the Jews'
partner, to pour out to him such drink, but bear him company, and
drink with him cheerfully all that seems to the flesh sour or bitter :
that is, pain and hardship, and sorrow, and every discomfort, and he
will repay it to thee, as he is a faithful companion, with the health-
cup of heaven.
Thus was Jesus Christ, the Almighty God, sorely pained in all
his five senses, and particularly in the last, that is, in feeling. For
his fiesh was all as quick as the tender eyes ; and you guard this
sense, that is, bodily feeling, more carefully than all the other senses.
God's hands were nailed to the cross. By those nails I entreat you,
anchoresses — not you but others, for there is no need, my dear sisters
— keep your hands within your windows. For handling or any
touching between a man and an anchoress is a thing so nimatural,
and so lamentable a deed — so shameful, and such a naked sin, and
v\
116 KEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
©■Sre, uor hit nis no neod, mine leoue sustren, liolde^ our honden
wi^innen ouwer j^urles. Vor liondlunge, o'Ser eni velunge bitweone
mon ■? ancre is so unkundelicli J^incg, % so reou'Sful dede, so scheome-
jich ? so naked sunne, % to al }>e world so atelich,^ % so muchel
schaundle, ]?et nis no neod to speken ne to writen ]?er to ^eines :^ vor
al, wi'Suten writunge, ]7e fulSe is to e^cene.^ God hit wot ase me
FoUo 29. were muchele dole leouere J?et ich iseie ou alle jn'eo, mine leoue sus-
tren, wummen me leouest, hongen on a gibet uorte wi^buwen sunne,°
|?en ich iseie on of ou jiuen enne elpi ^ cos to eni mon on eor'Se, so
ase ich mene. Ich am stille of ]?e® more, nout one monglinde
honden, auh puten honden utward, bute hit beo uor neode. pis is
wowunge^ efter Godes grome, ? tollunge of his vuel.^ Hire sulf
biholden hire owune honden liwite,'^ do's herm to moni ancre J^et
bane's ham to ueire, ase J»eo }>et beo^ fbridled. Heo schulden
schreapien euefiche deie ];e eor'Se up of hore putte ];er heo schulden
rotien ine. God hit wot, J?e put de^ muclie god to moni ancre-
Vor, ase Salomon sei S, " Memorare novissima tua, "? in eternum non
peccabis." peo ]?et haue^ euer hire deaS ase biuoren hire eien, J^et
J?e put munege^ hire, jif heo J^enche'S wel, oSe dom of Domesdai,
]>QV ]7e engles schulen cwakien, % of J^e eche ant J^e ateliche pinen of
helle, 7 oueral "? al, o Jesu Cristes passiun, hu he was ipined, ase is
sumdel iseid, in alle his fif wittes, lihtliche nule heo nout uoluwen
flesches likmige, ne efter wittes lustes drawen in toward hire none
heaued sunne, mid hire vif wittes. pis is nu inouh iseid of J^e vif
wittes, ]7et bee's ase wardeins wi'Suten of ^q heorte, Jjet soule lif is
inne, as we seiden J?er uppe a vormest, ' J?er Salomon seide, " Omni
custodia serva cor tuum," 7c. Nu beo^, Crist haue ]7onc, J^e two
dolen ouercumen. Go we nu, mid Godes helpe, up oSe Jn-idde.
" la'b'liche. T. '' e'&ene. C. •" [saklesj, C.
■' anlepi. T. C. <= \>. C. T. f [honting]. C.
B eorre. C. T. '' invite iiondeii. C. T. ' earest. C.
MEDITATING ON DEATH AND JUDGMENT ENJOINED. 117
to all the world so hateful, and so great a scandal, that there is no
need to speak or to write against it ; for, without writing, all the
indecency is too apparent. God knows that I would a great deal
rather see you all three, my dear sisters, women most dear to me,
hang on a gibbet to avoid sin, than see one of you give a single kiss
to any man on earth, in the way I mean. I say nothing of the
greater impropriety — not only mingling hands, but pvitting hands
outward,^ except it be for necessity. This is courting God's anger,
and inviting his displeasure. To look at her own white hands doth
harm to many a recluse that hath them too fair, — as those who are
idle. They should scrape up the earth every day, out of the pit in
which they must rot. God knows the pit doth much good to many
an anchorite. For, as Solomon saith, " Memorare novissima tua, et
in eternum non peccabis." ^ She who hath her death always, in a
manner, before her eyes, of which the pit reminds her, if she meditate
well on the doom of Doomsday, when the angels shall tremble, and
of the eternal and dreadful pams of hell, and, above all, on the
sufferings of Jesus Christ, how he was pained, as has been said
above, in all his five senses, she will not lightly follow the inclina-
tions of the flesh, nor, after the desires of sense, draw upon her any
capital sin, with her five senses. Enough has now been said of the
five senses, which are, as it were, w'ardens outwardly of the heai't,
in which is the life of the soul, as we said above in the beginning,
where Solomon said, " Keep your heart with all diligence," &c.
Now, thanks be to Christ, are the two parts completed. Let us now
proceed, with God's help, to the third.
* i. e. out of parlour window. '' Ecclus. vii. -10.
118
Incipit TERTIA TAKS hujus operis.
Mine leoue sustren, al so ase je wel wite^ our wittes wi^uten,
al so ouer alle ]nng loke^ f je beoii softe wi^innen, *? mild, 7'
FoHu 29 b. edmode,^ — swete J swote iheorted, J J?oleraode ajein word,^ jif me
sei^ on ou mis, ant were ]?et me mis de'S ou, leste je al uorleosen.'^
Ajein bittre ancren Dauid seiS ]?is uers, " Similis factus sum pelli-
cano solitudinis," ?c/^ Icli am ase pellican, lie seiS, |?et wunieS bi
him one. "Proprietas pelicani." Pellican is a leane fowel, so weamod
7 so wreSful ]?et hit slea^ ofte nor grome his owune briddes, hwon
heo teone^ him, ant J^eonne sone J^er efter Jiit bicumeS swube sori,
1 make's swu'Se muche mone, J smit him suluen mid his bile f hit
slouh er his briddes mide, '? drauh^ vt blod of his breoste, 7 mit tet
blod acwike^ eft his isleiene briddes. pis pellican is J>e weamode
ancre. Hire briddes, ]7et beo'S hire gode werkes, ]7et heo ska's ofte
mid bile of schearpe wre'SSe f auh hwon heo so haueS idon, do ase
deS |?e pellican :' of J'unche hit swu'Se sone, J: mid hire owune bile
bekie hire breoste :! |?et is. mid schrifte of hire mu^e J^et heo sune-
gede mide^ 7 slouh hire gode werkes, drawe ® ]?e blod of sunne ut of
hire breoste, ]?et is, of ]?e heorte, j^et soule lif is inne, J so schulen
eft acwikien hire isleiene briddes, 'pet beo^ hire werkes. Blod
bitocneS sunne : vor al so bledinde mon ^ is grislich '^ atelich ine
monnes eihsih^e, al so is J?e sunfule biuore Godes eien. An o^er
half, no mon ne mei juggen blod wel er hit beo cold: al so is of
sunne. peo hwule ]7et te heorte wane's wiSinnen of m-eS'Se, nis
J^er no riht dom, ne no riht gugement :' o^er ]?eo hwule f te lust is
hot toward eni sunne, ne miht tu nout ]?eo hwule demen wel hwat
hit is, ne hwat J)er wule cumen of :' auh let lust ouergon '^ hit te
wule liken. Let ]>et bote acolen ase deS ]?e ]?et wule juggen ^ blod,
? ]>n schalt demen alriht ]>e sunfule, 7 te sunne lodlich ? ful, |;et te
]>uhte ueir r^ ■? so muchel vuel cumen ]?erof ]>et jif ]7U Iiit hefdest
* [mekej. C. '' ageiii word of word. C. agein woli of word. T.
■^ leoste ge aleosen [luede]. C. <• Psalm cii. 6.
' dachge [daschc]. C. dralic. T. f mon islein. C. a mon biblcd. T.
8 iujli. T.
119
PAKT III. — MOIJAL LESSONS AND EXAMPLES. REASONS FOR
EMBRACING A MONASTIC LIFE.
My clear sisters, in like manner as you guard well your senses ex-
ternally, so above all things see that ye be gentle within, and mild and
meek, affectionate and kind-hearted, and patient of am' word —if any
one speaks ill of you — and of any deed, if any one harms you — lest you
lose all. Against testy anchoresses, David sayeth this verse, " Similis
factus sum pellicano solitudinis," &c.'^ "I am like a pelican," he saith,
" that dwelleth alone." The pelican is a lean bird, so peevish and so
wrathful that often, in her anger, she killeth her own young ones
when they molest her, and then, soon after she is very sorry, and
maketh great moan, and smiteth herself with her bill wherewith she
slew her young, and draAveth blood out of her breast, and with the
blood she then quickeneth her slain birds. This pelican is the
peevish recluse. Her birds are her good works, which she often
slayeth with the bill of sharp wrath ; and when she hath so done,
she, as the pelican doth, quickly repents, and with her own bill
pecks her breast ; that is, with confession of her mouth wherewith
she sinned and slew her good works, draweth the blood of sin out of
her breast, that is, of the heart in which is the life of the soul, and
thus shall then quicken her slain birds, which are her works. Blood
betokeneth sin, for as a bleeding man is hideous and frightful in the
sight of man, so is the sinful before the eyes of God. Again, no
man can judge of blood correctly until it be cold: it is the same
with regard to sin. While the heart is inwai'dly boiling with wrath,
there is no just decision, nor any right judgment; or, Avhile the
desire is hot toward any sin, thou art not able to judge rightly either
of its nature or its consequences ; but let the desire pass over and
thou wilt rejoice. Let the heart cool, and, as those do who will
judge of blood, thou wilt rightly judge the sinful, and the sin to be
loathsome and foul which seemed to thee fair ; and that so much
evil comes of it, that if thou hadst done it while the heat lasted thou
wouldest tliink thyself mad for having intended it. This is true of
every sin.
120 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
idon ]>eo hwiile pet te hete * ileste, J>et tu schalt demen ]n suluen
wod, J70 ]?u ]>er touward |70uhtest. pis is of euerich sunne so^.
Folio 30. HWU BLOD IS BITOCNED SUNNE,^ 7 NOMELICHE OF WRE-S^E.
" Impedit ira animum ne possit cernere uerum." Wre^^e hit sei'S,
pe liwule^hit ilest, ablendeS so}>eheorte J?etlieo ne mei so^ iknowen.
" Maga quedam est transformans naturam humanam." Wre^^e is a
uorscliuppild, ase me telle^ ine spelles : vor heo bireaueS 7 binime^
mon his rihte wit, "? chaunge^ al his chere, J, forscliuppe^ him urom
mon into bestes cunde. Wummone wro^ is wuluene r^ t mon wro^
is wulf, ©"Ser leun, o^er vmicorne. pe hwule 'pet euer wre^^e is ine
wummone heorte, ]?auh heo uersahe/ J sigge hire vres, "? hire Pater
nosters, 1; hire Auez, al ne de"S heo bute ]?eote'S :' ^ lieo naue'S bute
ase peo f is iwend te wuluene, i Godes eien :^ H is ase wuluene stefne
in his swete earen. " Ira furor breAns est : " wre^^e is a wodschipe.
Wro'S mon is he wod ? Hu loke^ he, hu speke^ he, hu vare-S his
heorte wi^innen him ? Hwuche beo"S wi'Suten alle his lates ? He
ne icnowe^ nenne mon. Hu is he mon J^eonne? "Est enira homo
animal mansuetum natura." Mon is kundeliche milde :' auh so sone
so he his mildheortnesse vorleose^, he uorleose'S monnes kmide, 7
wre'S'Se, pe uorschuppild, uorschuppe^ him into bestes kunde, ase
ich er seide. Ant hwat jif eni ancre, Jesu Cristes spuse, is fors-
chupped to wuluene — nis ]?et muche seoruwe? Nis ]7er, ]?eonne,
bute vorworpen® sone ]?et ruwe vel abute pe heorte, 7 mid softe
seihtnesse makien hire sme^e *? softe, ase is cundeliche wummone
hude. Vor mid te wuluene uelle, no J^ing ]?et heo de^ nis Gode
licwur'Se ne icweme.
Lo her ajeines wre'SSe monie kunnes remedies, J frouren a
Folio 30 /-. muche vloc, If misliche boten. Eif me mis-sei"S J^e, |?enc f tu ert
* hate heorte. C. ^ Hwi blod hit bitoenes. T. "^ saie. T.
"i dote^. C. " awarpe [elengi awei] . C.
REMEDIES AGAINST AXGER. 121
Why blood betokens sin; and particularly of anger.
" liiipedit ira animuni, ne possit cernere veriim;" that is, "anger,
while it lasts, so bliiideth the heart that it cannot know the truth."
" Maga qua3dam est, transfornmns naturani humanani." '' Anger is
a sorceress," as is said in stories; for it bereaveth and depriveth man
of his right understanding, and changeth his whole countenance,
and transforms him from man into beast's nature. An angry woman
is a she-wolf, and an angry man is a wolf, or a lion, or a unicorn.
As long as anger is in a woman's heart, though she say her versicles,
and her hours, and her paternosters, and her aves, yet she doth
nothing but howl. In every thing she is only as one that is changed
into a she-wolf in the sight of God ; and it is all as the voice of a
wolf in his sweet ears. " Ira furor brevis est." » Anger is a kind
of madness. Is not an angry man mad ? How doth he look ? How
doth he speak ? How foreth his heart within ? Of what kind is all
his outward demeanour ? He regardeth no man. How, then, is he
a man ? " Est enim homo animal mansuetum natura." Man is
gentle by nature ; but as soon as he loseth his gentleness he loseth
man's natui'e, and Anger, the sorceress, transformeth liim into the
nature of a beast, as I said before. And what if any recluse, Jesus
Christ's spouse, is transformed into a she-wolf? Is it not a great
grief? There is, then, nothing to be done but to cast away quickly
the rough skin that is about the heart, and with mild conciliation
make her smooth and soft, as woman's skin is naturally. For, with
the wolf's skin, nothing that she doth is acceptable or pleasing to
God.
Jtlere, now, are many sorts of remedies against anger, and many
comforts and divers helps. If men speak evil of tlice — think that
thou art earth. Do not men tear up the earth? Do they not
tread upon it ? Do they not spit upon the earth ? If they did so to
= Ilor. Epist. i. 2,
CAMD. SOC. R
122 REGULvl-: INCLUSARUM.
eorSe: ne to drauliS me J?e eor^e? ne to tret [me] ]?e eor^e? ne
bispet me ]?e eor Se ? pauh me dude so bi 'pe, me dude |>e eor^e
riht. Eif ])u berkest ajein ];u ert hundes kunnes ^ ant jif ]?u
stingest ajean mid attri wordes, ];u ert neddre kundes,* "? nout
Cristes spuse. pene, dude he so ? " Qui tanquam ovis ductus est
ad occisionem, 1: non aperuit os suum." Efter alle ]?e schendfulo
pinen ]7et he j^olede o^e longe uriuiht,'^ me ledde him amorwen uorte
liongen o waritreo 1: driuen ]?uruh his four limes irene neiles ^ ant
"non more 'pen a schep," ase pe holi writ seiS^ "ne cwe'S° he neuer
a word."
pench jet an o'Ser half :^ hwat is word bute wind? To woe heo
is istrencSed ]?et a windes puf of a word mei auellcn/^ ? aworpen
into sunne :! 1 hwo nule ]?unchen j^eonne wunder of an ancre l>et a
windes puf of a word auelle S ? ^ Eet, an o'Ser half, ne scheawe'S
heo 'f heo is dust, J vnstable ]?inc, j^et mid a Intel wind of a word is
anon to blowen, 1; to bollen. pe ilke puf of his mu^S, jif |7U hit
wurpe under ]>ine vet, hit schulde beren 'pe upward toward J^e blisse
of heouene. Auh nu is muche wunder of ure muchele unmeS-
schipe.^ Understonde'S ]?is word.^ Seint Andreu muhte iSolien
]7et te herde rode hef him touward heouene, ant luueliche biclipte
hire. Seint Lorens also iSolede ])et te gredil hef him upwardes mid
berninde gleden. Seint Stefne pet te stones ]?et me stenede him
mide, *? vnderueng ham gledliche ^' mid hommen ' iuolden, pet is,
cneolinde :' 1, we ne muwe nout i^olien ])et te wind of a word here
Fiiiio^l. US touward heouene:^ auh beob wode ajeines ham ])ct we schulden
]7oncken, ase J^eo ilke pet serueS us of muche seruise, ]>auh hit beo
lio]-e unSenkes. " Impius uiuit pio, uelit nolit impius." Al ]?et pe
unwreste *? te vuele 'Se'S for vuele, al is pe gode to gode, 7 al is to
» cundel. T. C. >• tVinacht. C.
*= quic ne queS. C, T. '' afallen. C. T.
* of anker wind fallet ? T. ' madschipe. T.
s [To settin wordis o bref]. C. '' •] Led for ham i>i sclionden him. C.
' hamiues. T. honden. C.
PATIENCE OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS. 123
thee, tliey did right to the earth. If thou barkest again, thou art of
the nature of a dog. If thou sthigest again with venomous words,
thou art of serpent's nature, and not the spouse of Christ. Think,
did he so ? " Qui tanquani ovis ductus est ad occisionem, et non
aperuit os suum." After all the ignominious })ains that he endured
in the long night preceding his crucifixion, they led him on the
morrow to hang him on the accursed tree ; and drove iron nails
through his four limbs ; " And no more than a sheep," as the Holy
Scripture saith, " spake he a word."
1 hink yet again ; What is a word but wind ? Too feebly is she
strengthened whom a wind's puff of a word may cast down and
throw into sin ; and who, then, would not think it strange of an
anchoress whom a wind s puff of a word casteth down ? And again,
doth she not shew that she is dust, and an unstable thing, who, with
a little wind of a word, is immediately blown up and provoked.
The same puff' of his mouth, if thou cast it under thy feet, would
bear thee upward toward the blessedness of heaven. And now there
is reason to wonder much at our great want of patient endurance.
Understand this saying : Saint Andrew could endure that the
painful cross lifted him up toward heaven ; and lovingly he embraced
it. Saint Lawrence also endured that tlie gridiron lifted him
upwards with burning brands. Saint Stephen endured that the
stones wherewith they stoned him did the same, and he received
them gladly, with bended knees ; that is, kneeling ; and we cannot
endm'e that the wind of a word should bear us toward heaven, but
are mad against tliem whom we ought to thank, as doing us much
service, though it be against their will. " Impius vivit plo, velit
nolit im})ius." All that the base and wicked doth for evil is good
to the good, and is all to his behoof and his advancement toward his
felicity : let him go on to braid a crown for thee, and that gladly.
Think how the good Saint, in the Lives of the Fathers, kissed and
blessed the base hand that had hurt him, and said M'liile he kissed
124 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
his biheue, J timbrunge touward his blisse. Let hine iwurSen, ? tet
gledliche, breiden ]?e ane crune. penc hu }?e gode holi mon, in uitas
patrum, cnste 7 blescede ]?e unwreste bond f hefde ihermed him, "?
seide so inwardhche cussinde hire jeorne :' "I blesced beo euer j^eos
bond, vor heo haueS itimbred me ]?e bliscen of heouene :"' "? tu sigge
also bi J?e bond f mis-deS ])e, ? bi ]>e vaivS also, f out ^ mis-sei^ }>e,
" I blesced beo yi mil's," ]>n seie, " vor J7U makest me leome ]?erof to
timbren, 7 to echen me mine crune. Wei is me uor mine gode, *?
wo is me ]7auh for J»in vuel r! vor ]?u dest me god,^ J hermest ])[ sulf."
Eif ei mon o'Ser ei wummon mis-sei^ o'Ser mis-do's ou, mine leoue
sustren, so je schulen siggen. Auh nu, is muche wunder, jif we
wel biholde^, hu Godes halewen Jjoleden wunden in bore bodie, 1,
we beo^ wode jif a wind blowe'S a Intel touward us, *? te ilke wind
ne wunde'S nout bute 'pe eare one. Vor nou'Ser ne mei J^e wind, ]>et
is ]?et word, ne wunden }>e i j^ine vlesche, ne fulen ]7ine soule Jjauh
hit puffe on J^e, bute jif }>i sulf hit makie. Bernardus : " Quid
irritaris ? quid inflammaris ad verbi flatum, qui nee carnem vul-
nerat, nee inquinat mentem." Wel ]7U meiht understonden "^ ]?et ter
was lutel fur of cherite ]7et leite^ al of ure Loucrdes luue. Lutel
fur was ter j^er of, ]fet a puf acweinte. Vor j^er ase muchel fur is,
kundeliche hit waxe'S mid winde.
Folio 31 b. A jein mis-sawe o'Ser misdede, lo, heranont,*^ remedie J salue.
Alle cunne'S wel |)eos asaumple. A mon |?et leie ine prisune, J
ouhte muche raunsun, l! o none wise ne schulde, ne ne muhte ut,
bute jif hit were vor te hongen, er he hefde al his ransun fulliche
ipaied, — nolde he cunnen god ]?onc ane monne 'pet wurpe ^ up on
him a bigurdel ful of ponewes uorte acwiten ? areimen him mide,
7 alesen him ut of pine, J?auh he wurpe hit ful herde ajein his
heorte? Al ]?et hurt 1 al pet sore were uorjiten ■? forjiuen uor
» eawicht. C. ewt. T. i' frcome. C.
"■ vnclergeten. T. uiulerj;eoten. C. '' lier on eiule. T. her aiiomlcn. C.
« (luste. T. C.
WRONGS BORNE WITH PATIENCE BECOME BENEFITS. 125
it earnestly, and from his heart : " Ever Llcssed be his hand, for it
hath prepared for me the blessedness of heaven ; " and say thou in
like manner of the hand that injures thee, and the mouth also that
sayeth any evil against thee, "Blessed be thy mouth, for thou makest
it an instrument for me wherewith to form and to increase my
crown. Well is me for my good, and yet woe is me for thine evil ;
for thou doest good to me and harm to thyself." Thus shall ye say,
my dear sisters, if any man or any woman wrong you by word or
deed. But now, it is very strange, if we consider well, how
the Saints of God suffered wounds in their bodies ; and we are
distracted if a wind blow a little toward us, and the same wind
hurtcth nothing but the ear only. For the wind, that is, the word,
can neither wound thee in thy flesh, nor defile thy soul, though it
may puff on thee, except thou, thyself, cause it. Bernard : " Quid
irritaris ? quid inflammaris ad verbi flatum, qui nee carnem vulnerat
nee inquinat mentem." Thou mightest well understand that there
was little of the fire of charity which is kindled by the love of our
Lord. There was little of that fire which a puff extinguished. For
where there is much fire it naturally increaseth with wind.
Against wrongful word or deed, lo, here is'^ a remedy and salve for
them. Let every one weigh well this example. A man who lay in
prison and owed a large sum for his ransom, and in no wise could or
might get out, except it were to be hanged, until he had fully paid
his ransom, — would he not give good thanks to a man who threw
upon him a purse full of money wherewith to pay his debt, and set
him free and release him out of painful durance, though he threw
it hard against his heart ? All the hurt and the sore Avould be for-
gotten and forgiven for gladness. Just so are all we here in prison,
and owe to God great debts by reason of our sins, and therefore we
cry to him in the Paternoster, " Et dimitte nobis, debita nostra."
" ocee. MS. Oxon.
126 REGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
glednesse. Al rilit o J^isse wise we beoS alle Ine prisnne her, 7 oweii
God greate dettes of sunnen ^ J for ]n we jeie'S to liim i'Se Pater-
noster, " Et dimitte nobis debita nostra." Lonerd, we siggeS for^if
us lire dettes, al so ase we uorjiue'S to ure detturs. Woiih ]?et me
mis-deS us, o^er of word o'Ser of were — J>et is ure raunsun ]?et we
schulen areimen us mide, 7 acvviten ure dettes touward ure Louerd,
|;et beo^ ure sunnen t' vor wiSute cwitaunce, up of liis prisun nis
non inumen, ];et he ne bi^ anlionged, o^er ine purgatorie, oSer iSe
pine of helle. Ant ure Louerd sulf seiS, " Dimitte, 7 dimittetur
vobis :" " forjif, 7 ichulle forjiue ]>e :"' ? is as ];auh he seide, " J?u ert
andetted touward me swu'Se mid sunnen ^ auh, wultu god foreward,
al pet euer eni mon mis-sei'S j^e, o^er mis-de^ po, ichulle nimen hit
onward ]7e dette J^et tu owest me." Nu J^eonne, ]?auh a word culle
]7e ful herde up o J>ine heorte,^ 7 te J'unche'S a uormest Jpet hit
hurteS ]?ine heorte, J^enc ase })e persun wolde ]?et were ihurt sore
mit te bigurdle, 7 underuong hit gledliche uorte acwiten J^e mide, 7
Folio 32. Jjonke him J>et hit sende j^e, ];auh God ne kunne him neuer J)onc of
his sonde. He herme^ himsulf 7 froemeS ^ ]?e, jif ]?u const hit
understonden.'= Vor ase Dauid sei^ swuSe wel mid alle, " God deS
in his tresor 'peo unwreste 1! te vuele, vorte huren mid ham, ase me
do's mid garsume peo f wel vihteS, ponens in thesauris abissos."
Glosa, crudeles quibus domat milites suos. Eft, an o'Ser halue, be
pellican is a fuel ])et haueti ano^er cunde :* pet is, pet hit is euer
leane. Vor ]?i ase ich er seide, Dauid efnede him ]?erto in ancre
persone, 1! ine ancre ^ stefne. " Similis factus sum pellicano soli-
tudinis." " Ich am a pellican iliche j^et wune'S bi him one :" ? ancre
ouh ]7us to siggen, 7 beon iliche pe pellican anont J^et hit is leane.
" ludit clausa in cubiculo jejunabat omnibus diebus vite sue," 7c.
ludit bitund inne, ase hit telleS in hire boc, ledde swu^e herd lif,
veste,^ 7 werede heare. ludit bitund inne bitocneS ancre bitund,
|>et ouhte leden herd lif, ase dude pe lefdi ludit, efter hire efne, 7
* bieoste. C. '' freoineS. C. frames. T. <= Jiolicn. C. T.
'' ancrcne, T. ' festede.
THE WICKED, GOD's INSTRUMENTS OF DISCIPLINE. 127
We say, "Lord, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.'^
If any wrong is done either by word or deed — that is our ransom,
wherewith we should free ourselves and pay our debts to our Lord —
which are our sins ; for without payment, out of his prison is none
taken, but to be punished either in purgatory, or in the pains of hell.
And our Lord himself says, " Dimitte, et dimittetur vobis : " ^
" Forgive, and I will forgive you ; " as if he had said, " Thou art
deeply indebted to me through sins ; but if thou wilt make a faithful
agreement, I will account whatever any man saith or doth wrong-
fully against you as part of payment of the debt thou owest me."
Now then, though a word strike you full hard upon the heart, and
it seems to you at first that it hurteth thine heart, reflect, as the
prisoner would who nn'ght be hurt by the purse ; and receive it
gladly to pay your debt with it ; and thank him wdio sent it to thee,
though God may never thank him for his sending it. He doth
harm to himself, and good to thee, if thou art able to understand it.
For as David well saith, " God placeth in his treasure-house the
base and the wicked, in order to hire with them, as men do with
money, those who fight wx'll, laying up the depths in store
houses ; " ^ viz. the cruel, by whom he disciplines his soldiers.
Again, the pelican is a bird that hath another nature ; wdiich is,
that she is always lean. Wherefore, as I said before, David com-
pared himself to her in the character and in the voice of a recluse :
" Similis factus sum pelicano solitudinis." " I am like a i)elican
that dwelleth alone : " and a recluse ought thus to say, and to be
like the pelican as to her being lean. " Judit clausa in cubiculo
jejunabat omnibus diebus vitffi suse,"' &c.'^ " Judith, shut up," as
we are told in her book, "led a very hard life, fasted and wore
hair-cloth." Judith shut up betokeneth an anchoress shut up, who
ought to lead a hard life, as did the lady Judith, as far as she
is able, and not like a swine pent up in a sty to fatten and to
increase in size for the stroke of the axe.
" Luke, vi. o7. '' Psalm xxxiii. 7. "^ Juditli, viii. 5, 6.
128 REGULiE INCLUSAKUM.
nout ase swin ipund ine sti uorte iietten, ? forte greaten ajein ])e cul
of 'per eax.
Two cunne aucren beo'S pet ure Louerd speke'S of, t sei^S in pe
gospelle :f of false, "? of treowe. " Vulpes foveas liabent, 1: volucres
celi nidos :" J'et is, " voxes liabbe'S liore holes, J briddes of heouene
bore nestes," pe uoxes, ]?et bcoS J^e valse ancren, ase vox is best
falsest, ]?eos habbeS, he sev8 lire Louerd, here holes inward ter
eor^e, mid eorSliche unSeaiiwes, *? draweS al into hore holes, ];et
heo muwen arepen 1, arechen.^ pus beo'S pe gederinde ancren of
god, i Se gospelle to uoxes iefned.^ pe uox is ec a wrecche urech '^
best, "? fret swu'Se wel mid alle:^*^ 7 te valse ancre drauhS into hire
hole 7 fi'et, ase pe uox de^, bo'Se ges ? henhen, ant habbe'S efter pe
uoxe a simple semblaunt sume cherre, 1 beoS j^auh ful of gile, ?
makie'S ham o^re J>en ha beo'S, ase uox deb :^ ® is ipocrite J wene"b
forte gilen God, ase heo bidweolieS simple men, J. gile^ mest ham
suluen. Eelstre^,^ ase pe uox de^, 1: jelpeS of hore god, hwar se
heo durren *? muwen :' J, chefle"S of idel, "? so swu^e worldlich
iwur^e^, J>et, anont hore nome, ha stmke^, ase pe uox de^ j^er he
ge"S for"S :! vor jif heo do"S vuele me seiS bi ham wurse.
Peos eoden into ancre huse ase dude Saul into hole :! nout ase
Dauid pe gode. Bo^e J?auh heo wenden into hole, Saul "? Dauid,
ase hit telleS ine Regum. Auh Dauid wende [in him for to clensen :'
ach Saul wende] ^ J?ider in vorte don liis fulSe ]?erinne, ase de'S,
among moni mon, sum uniseli ancre, went into hole of ancre huse
vorte bifulen J^ene stude, ? don derneluker ]?erinne flesliche ful^en,
pen heo muhte jif heo were amidde j^e worlde. Uor hwo haue^
more eise te don hire cweadschipes ]7en haue^ pe ualse ancre? pus
" repen ~\ rinen. T. ropin "] rinien. C. >> ifeiget. C,
' free. C. d T fretewil wi Salle. C.
' makes him o'Ser )>en he is, as fox "^ is. T. ' Galstres. T. Galie'S. C.
B supplied from. C.
FALSE ANCHORESSES COMPARED TO FOXES. 129
1 here are two kinds of anchoresses whom our Lord speaketh of,
and mentions in the Gospel ; tlie false and the true. " Yulpes
foveas habent, et volucres coeli nidos : " that is, " Foxes have their
holes, and birds of heaven their nests." The foxes, which are the
false anchoresses, as the fox is the most false of beasts, — " These,"
our Lord saith, '^ have their holes in the earth, with earthly vices,
and draw every thing into their holes that they can catch and steal."
Thus the anchoresses who gather worldly goods are compared by God
in the Gospel to foxes. The fox is also a thievish '^ and ravenous
beast, and devours eagerly withal : and tlie false anchoress draweth
into her hole and devours, as the fox doth, botli geese and hens ; and
hath, like the fox, a somewhat simple appearance, and ^et is full of
guile, and affecteth to be different from what she is, as the fox
doth ; she is a hypocrite, and thinketh to deceive God, as she
imposes upon simple men : and deceiveth most herself She
yelpeth as the fox doth, and boasteth of her merits wheresoever she
dare or may, and chattereth of trifling matters, and becometh so
extremely worldly, that, as to her name, she stinketh, as the fox
doth wherever he goes, for if she doth evil, report makes it worse.
Such persons go into a religious house as Saul went into the
cave; not as the pious David did. Both Saul and David went,
indeed, into the cave, as we are told in the Book of Kings, But
David went in to cleanse himself, and Saul to befoul the place ; as
doth, among many men, an unhappy recluse, who goes into a
religious house to defile the place, and to indulge therein in carnal
uncleanness more secretly than she could do if she were abroad in
the world. For who can with more facility commit wickedness
than the false recluse? Thus went Saul into the cave to defile the
" Wretch, <;r wratch, is still used in this sense in the south of Scothaid. Juinieson does
not notice it.
CAMD. SOC. S
130 REGUL^: INCLUSARUM.
wenrle Saul into hole uort te bidon * J^ene stude ^ auli Dauid wende
bider in one uor to huden him urom Saul ]7et him hatede, f souhte
uorte slenne r' ^2 so de^ ]fe gode ancre. Saul, "pet is pe ueond, hate^
"? hunte'S efter hire r' '? heo deS hire into hire hole, uorte huden hire
vrom his kene clokes. Heo hut^ hire in hire hole, bo'Se vrom
worldlic.he men J worldliche sunnen t' 7 forSi heo is gostliche Dauid :f
bet is, strong to jein J^e ueond, 1! hire lire lufsum to ure Louerdes
eien. Vor al so muchel seiS ]?is word Dauid, on Ebreuwische
Foh'o 33. leodene, as strong tojein ]?e ueond. pe ualse ancre is Saul, efter
]?et his name sei^S :! Saul, abutens, siue abusio. Vor Saul, on
Ebreuwisch, is mis-notinge an Englisch :! ant te valse ancre mis-note-S
ancre nome. Vor heo witeS unwur^liche ancre nome :' J al ]>et heo
euer wurcheS. Auh lj)e gode ancre is ludit, as we er seiden, J^et is
bitund, ase heo was r* 7 also ase heo dude, vesteS 1: wakie'S, swinkeiS
? were'S here.*' Heo is of ]?e briddes ]?et ure Louerd speke^ of,
efter ]>e uoxes :' ]?e mid hore lustes ne holie^ nout aduneward, ase
do's ]>e uoxes, ]>et beo^ false ancren :' auh habbe^ up an heih, ase
briddes of heouene, iset hore nest, ]7et is hore reste. Treowe ancren
bee's briddes bitocncd:^'^ vor heo leaucS Jje eorSe, j^et is, ]>e luue of
alle eorSliche ]?inges, *? ]?uruh jirnunge of heorte to heouenliche
binges, vleo'S upward, touward heouene. Ant tauh heo vleon heie,
mid heih lif? holi, heo holde'S ]7auh J^et heaued lowe ]?uruh milde
edmodnesse, ase brid vleoinde bub's ]?et heaued lowe, ant lete^ al ^
nouht wur^ ]:»et heo wel doS, ? wel wurche^ :' "? siggeS ase ure
Louerd lerede alle his, " Cum omnia bene feceritis, dicite quod servi
inutiles estis :" " Hwon je habbeS al wel idon," he seiS, ure Louerd,
" sigge^ f je bee's unnute ^ J^relles." Fleo^ heie, J holde'S J7auh J^et
heaued euer lowe. pe hwingen J^et here's ham upward, 'pet bee's
gode Jjeauwes pet heo moten sturien into gode werkes, ase brid hwon
hit wule vleon sture'S his hwingen. Auh |?e treowe ancren J'et we
" hifule. T. >> huides. T. >= harde. T. C.
'' i( Icpedc. '1'. " ase. C. ' unneitu. T.
TUUE ANCHOilESSES COMPARED TO BIIIDS. 131
place; but David went in thither only to hide himself from Saul,
who hated hiui and sought to slay him ; and so doth the good
anchoress. Saul, that is, the fiend, hatetli and hunteth after her;
and she retires into her cave, to hide herself from his keen clutches.
She hides herself in her cave, both from worldly men and worldly
sins ; and therefore she is spiritually David ; that is, strong against
the fiend, and her countenance lovely in the sight of our Lord.
For this word, David, in the Hebrew huiuuage, signifies as much as,
strong against the fiend. The false recluse is Saul, according to the
meaning of his name ; Saul, abusing, or abuse. For Saul, in
Hebrew, is abiising in English ; and the false recluse abuseth the
name of anchoress. For she unworthilj^ throweth re[)roach upon
the name of anchoress, and upon all that she doth. But the good
anchoress is Judith, as we said before ; that is, shut up as she was ;
and doth just as she did, fasteth and watcheth, laboureth and
weareth hair-cloth. She is of the nature of the birds, of which our
Lord speaketh after the foxes, which dig not downward with their
lusts, as do the foxes, which are false anclioresses, but, as birds of
heaven which have set up on high their nest ; that is, their rest.
True anchoresses are compared to birds ; for they leave the earth ;
that is, the love of all earthly things ; and, through yearning of
heart after heavenly things, fly upward toward heaven. And,
although they fly high, with high and holy life, yet they hold the
head low, through meek humility, as a bird flying bowetli down its
head, and accounteth all her good deeds and good works nothing-
worth, and saith, as our Lord taught all his followers, "Cum omnia
bene feceritis, dicite quod servi inutiles estis ; " " When ye have done
all well," saith our Lord, " say that ye are unprofitable servants."
Fly high, and yet hold the head always low. The wings that bear
them upwards are, good principles, which they must move unto good
works, as a bird, when it would fly, nioveth its wings. Also, the
true anchoresses, Whom we compare to birds, — yet not we, but God
— spread their wings and make a cross of themselves, as a bird doth
when it flieth ; that is, in the thoughts of the heart, and the niortifi-
132 REGULiE INCLUSAF.UM.
efne^ to brickies ^ iiout we J?auh :! auh cle^ God. Heo spredeS
bore bwiiigen, ant makie'S a creoiz of bam suluen, ase brid deS bwon
bit flibS, ]?et is, ine ]70ubte of heorte, 7 ine bitternesse of flesche,
bereS Godes rode, peo briddes fieoS wel ]?et habbe'S Intel flescb.
Folio 3i> b. ase ]7e pellican baue'S, 7 monle uederen."^ pe steorc ^ uor bis
niucbele flescbe niake^ a semblaunt uorte vleon, 7 beateS ]7e
livs'ingen ^ aub ]?et fette drauli'S euer to ]7er eor'Se. Al ribt so,
flescldicb ancre J^et luue'S '^ flescbes lustes 1: foluwe'S bire eise, ]7e
beuinesse of bire flescbe "? flescbes un^eavv'es binime'S hire bire vlubtr'
7 taub heo makie semblaunt, ? muchel noise mid te bwingen,"^ J7et is,
leten of ase j^auh heo fluwe 7 were an lioli ancre, Hwo se jeorne
bihalt, be lauhwe'S hire to bisemare :! for hire uette euer, ase deS J^e
strorkes,*' J^et beo'S hire lustes, draweS hire to \qy eorSe. peos ne
beo^ nout ilicbe ]7e pellican ];e leane, ne ne vleo^ nout an heib r' aub
beoS eor'S briddes, 7 nesteS o ]?er eorSe. Auh God cleopeS J?e
gode ancren briddes of beouene, ase ich er seide : " Vulpes foveas
liabent, 1. volucres celi nidos " Voxes habbe'S bore holes, ? briddes
of beouene bore nestes. Treowe ancren beo^ aribt briddes of
lieouene ]?et fleo^ an heib, ant sitte^ singinde murie o'Se grene
bowes :! J^et is, ]?enche'S uppand,*^ of |?e blisse of beouene, ]?et neuer
ne valewe'S, auh is euer grene, % sitte^ o J^isse grene, singinde swu'Se
murie :! \et is, Teste's ham inne swuche ]?ouhte, ? habbe^ muruh"Se
of heorte, ase J^eo ]?et singed. Brid J^aub, oSer hwule, vorte sechen
his mete uor |?e vlesches neode, lihte'S adiui to ];er eor'Se :^ aub ]7eo
liwule ]?et hit sit o ]?er eor^e, nis hit neuer siker, auh biwent^ him
ofte, *? bilokeS him euer jeorneUche al abuten. Alriht so, ]7e gode
ancre, ne vleo heo neuer so heie, heo mot lihten oSer hwules adun
Folio 34. to Jjer eor'Se of hire bodie, eten, drinken, slepen, wurchen, speken,
iheren of J^et neodeS to, of eorSliche }>inges. Aub J'eonne, as ]7e
brid deS, heo mot wel biseon hire, J biholden hire on ilchere half,'^
" fele fi'Seron. C. '' strucion. C. ostrice. T.
"^ Hues. T. '* muche mirS wiS wengen. C, muche dune. T.
"■ struciones, C ostriccs. T. ' upward. T.
*■' turncs. T. '' bilokin on eueh halt'. C.
FELICITY OF THE TRUE ANCHORESSES. 133
cation of the flesh, they bear the Lord's cross. Those birds fly well
that have little flesh, as the pelican hath, and many feathers. The
ostrich,'* having much flesh, maketh a pretence to fly, and flaps his
wings, but his feet always draw to the earth. In like manner, the
carnal anchoress, who loveth carnal pleasures, and seeketh her ease,
the heaviness of her flesh and its desires depriveth her of her power
of flying ; and though she make a pretence and much noise with her
wings; that is, make it appear as if she flew, and were a holy
anchoress, whoever looks at her narrowly, laughs her to scorn ; for
her feet, as doth the ostrich's, which are her lusts, draw her to the
earth. Such are not like the meagre pelican, nor do they fly aloft,
but are birds of the earth, and make their nests on the ground. But
God calleth the good anchoresses birds of heaven, as I said before :
" Vulpes foveas habent et volucres coeli nidos." " Foxes have their
holes, and birds of heaven their nests." True anchoresses are
indeed birds of heaven, that fly aloft, and sit on the green boughs
singing merrily ; that is, they meditate enraptured, upon the
blessedness of heaven that never fadeth, but is ever green ; and sit
on this green, singing right merrily ; that is, in such meditation they
rest in peace and have gladness of heart, as those who sing. A
bird, however, some times, alighteth down on the earth, to seek
his food for the need of the flesh ; but while he sits on the ground
he is never secure, and is often turning himself, and always looking
cautiously all around. Even so, the pious recluse, though she fly
ever so high, ^ must at times alight down to the earth in respect of
her body — and eat, drink, sleep, work, speak, and hear, when it is
necessary, of earthly things. But then, as the bird doth, she must
look well to herself, and turn her eyes on every side, lest she be
deceived, and be caught in some of the devil's snares, or hurt in any
way, while she sits so low. " The birds," saith our Lord, " have
nests ; " " volucres coeli habent nidos." A nest is hard on the
■'' In the original it is tho stork, to which the description does not apply. In the two
other MSS. it is the ostrich, the cliaraeter of wliich is accurately described in the text.
'' i.e. in devout meditation.
134 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
]?et heo nouhwar ne misnime, leste heo beo ikeiht ]?uruli summe of
]>e deofles gronen, oSer ihurt summes weis, ]?e hwule f heo sit so
lowe. peos briddes babbe^ nestes, he sei~S, ure Louerd, " Volucres
cell habent nidos." Nest is hei'd,*^ of prikiiide pornes wi'Suten, t
wi'Sinnen nesche 7 softe : t so schal ancre wi^uten ]7olien herd in
hire vlesche, "? prikinde pinen. So wishche^ heo schal ]7auh
swenchen J^et flesch, ]?et heo niuwe sigen, mid te psalmwuruhte,
" Fortitudinem meam ad te custodiam :^" ]7et is, icliulle witen mine
strenc'Se, Louerd, to J^ine bihoue r' 1: for"Si beoS flesches pinen efter
euerich ones efne. pet nest schal beon herd wiSuten 7 softe wi'Sin-
nen, "? te heorte swete. peo J^et beoS of bittere, oSer of herde
heorte, 7 nesche to hore vlesche, heo makie"S frommard hore nest —
softe wiSuten, 7 ]?orni wi'Sinnen. pis beo^ J>e weamode 7 te estfule
ancren, bittre wiSinnen, ase ]?et swete schulde beon, 7 estfule
wi^uten, ase J^et herde schulde beon. peos ine swuche neste
muwen habben herde*' reste hwon heo ham wel bi'Senche^. Vor to
leate heo schulen bringen vor'S briddes of swuche neste :' J^et beo'S
gode werkes, vorte vleon touward heouene. lob cleopeS ]?er ancre
hus nest :/ 1 sei'S ase J^auh he were ancre. " In nidulo meo nioriar :^"
]7et is, ichulle deien imine neste, 7 beon as dead J^erinne :' vor pet is
ancre rihte i 7 wunien uort heo deie ^ J^erinne, J^et is nullich neuer
slakien, ]?e hwule j^et mi soule is imine buke,® to drien herd wiSuten,
al so ase nest is, 7 softe beon wi'Sinnen.
Folio 3ih. Of dumbe bestes 7 of dumbe fueles leorne"S wisdom 7 lore, pe
earn deS in his neste enne deorewur^e jimston J?et hette achate.
Vor non attri J^inc ne mei J?ene ston neihen, ne ]?eo hwule J>et lie is
in his neste hermeii his briddes. pes deorewur^e ston, J>et is lesu
Crist, ase ston treowe 7 ful of alle mihten, ouer alle jimstones. He
is ]?e achate J^et atter of sunne ne neihede neuere. Do liine iSine
neste, ]7et is, i'Sine heorte. penc hwuch pinen he ];oIede on his
» eai-t. C. ^ williclie. T. -^ uuel. T. C.
'' -) wunien ase dca^. C t vvuuien a^'et dead. T. '- iSe biic. T. C.
A RELIGIOUS HOUSE COMPARED TO A BTRU'S NEST. 135
outside with prickinii; thorns, and is delicate and soft within : even
so shall a recluse endure hard and pricking pains in the flesh ;
yet so prudently shall she subdue the flesh by labour, that she may
say with the Psalmist: " Fortitudinem meam ad te custodlam ; "
" that is, I will keep my strength, O Lord, to thy behoof ; " and there-
fore the pains of the flesh are proportioned to eveiy one's case.
The nest sliall be hard without and soft within ; and the heart sweet.
They who are of a bitter or hard heart, and indulgent towards their
flesh, make their nest, on the contrary, soft without and thorny
within. These are the discontented and fastidious anchoresses ;
bitter within, when they ought to be sweet; and delicate without,
when they ought to be hard. These, in such a nest, may have hard
rest, when they consider well. For, from such a nest, they will
too late bring forth young birds, which are good works, that they
may fly toward heaven. Job calleth a religious house a nest ; and
saith, as if he were a recluse : " In nidulo meo moriar ; " that is,
" I shall die in my nest, and be as dead therein ; " for this relates to
anchorites ; and, to dwell therein until she die ; that is, I will never
cease, while my soul is in my body, to endure things hard outwardly,
as the nest is, and to be soft within.
From dumb beasts and birds learn wisdom and knowled'Tc. The
eagle deposits in his nest a precious stone wliich is called agate.
For no poisonous thing may come nigh the stone, nor harm his birds
while it is in his nest. This precious stone is Jesus Christ ; a
faithful stone, and full of all might, above all precious stones. He
is the agate which the poison of sin never approached. Place him
in thy nest ; that is, in thine heart. Think what pains he suffered
in his flesh without, and how gentle and mild he was in his heart
within; and thus sludt thou drive all poison out of thv heart, and
136 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
flcsche wi'Suteii, ? hu swete ho was ilieorted, % liu softe wi'Sinnen :'
■? so ]m sclialt driiie lit euerich atter of J?ine heortc, % bitternesse of
J?ine bodie. Vor ine swuch J^ouhte, ne beo hit neuer so bitter pine
l^et ]>u ]7olest uor ]?e luue of him ]?et dreih more uor J^e, hit schal
];unche ]7e swete. pes ston, ase ich er seide, avleie^ attri J^inges.
Habbe ]7U J>esne ston wi'Sine Yme heorte, \ei is Godes nest/ ne |?er
tn ^ nout dreden |7e attrie neddre of lielle. pine briddes, f beo'5
J^ine gode werkes, beo^ al sker of his atter.
riwo se ne mei habben J?esne ston, ne ne hohlen o none manere,
ne o none wise, i^Se nest of hire heorte, hure 7 hure iSe neste of j^ine
ancre huse, loke ]?et tu habbe his ihche,*^ J^et is J^et crucifix, 7 bihold
ofte ]?eron, 7 ens ]7e wunde studen, ine swete munegunge of ]7e soiSe
wunden ];et he oSe so"Se rode mildehche ^ l^olede. Ee, uor so heo
mei beon ludit, J?et is, hbben herde, ant beon icnowen ofte to God
of his muchele godleic touward hire, ant hire defautes touward him :'
^et heo hit jelt him vuele, ? crie him jeorne ]7erof merci ? ore,® 7
schriuen hire jjerof ilome. peonne is heo ludit, ]?et slouli Oloferne.
Vor ludit, on Ebreu is schrift an Enghs.*^ VorSi sei'S euerich
ancre, to eueriche preoste, confiteor, on aire erest, 7 scliriue^ hire on
Folio 35. ah'e erest 7 ofte, vorte beon ludit 7 slean Oloferne, j^et is ]?es deofles
strencSe. Vor ase muche sei'S |?is word Oloferne, ase stinkinde^
ine helle. Secundum nominis ethiraologiam, Olofernis, " Olens in in-
ferno." Secundum interpretationem, " infirmans vitulum saginatum."
On Ebreuwische ledene, Oloferne is J^e ueond, ]7et makeS net keif 7
to wilde, feble 7 unstrong. Vet keif 7 to wilde is ]:>et fleschs bet
awilige'S ^ so sone hit euer uetteS J?uruh este 7 ]?uruh eise. " In-
crassatus est dilectus meus, et recalcitravit." Mi leof is ivetted, he
sei'S, ure Louerd, 7 smit me mid his hele. Vor al so sone so bet
'^ ^er Godes nest is. T. '' ne jjerf tu. T. ne \>a.ii W. C.
•^ ilienesse. T. '' J'uldeliche. T.
•= ure. T. ' an Engliseh, Y> sleas gastliehe )^e deouel of helle. T.
s strujinde. C. '' wildes. T.
THE CRUCIFIX. CONFESSION. 137
bitterness out of thy body. For in such meditations, however bitter
may be the pain thou sufferest for the love of him who endured
more for tliee, it shall seem sweet to thee. This stone, as I have
already said, drivetli away poisonous things. If thou have this
stone within thine heart, which is God's nest, thou needest not fear the
venomous serpent of hell. Thy young birds, which are thy good
deeds, are quite secure from his venom.
Whosoever cannot have this stone, nor can keep it, in any
manner or way, in the nest of her heart, must see that she have, at
least, its likeness ; that is, the crucifix, in the nest of her monastery,
and contemplate it often, and kiss the places of the wounds, in sweet
remembrance of the real wounds which he meekly suffered on the
real cross. Yea, for thus she may be Judith ; that is, lead an
austere life, and often make acknowledgment to God of his gi'eat
goodness toward her, and her deficiencies toward him, in that she
returned him evil; and cry earnestly for mercy and forgiveness
thereof, and confess frequently. Then is she Judith, who slew
Holofernes. For Judith in Hebrew is confession in English.
Wherefore, every anchoress saith to every priest, " Confiteor," first
of all, and confesseth herself first of all, and often, that she may be
Judith and slay Holofernes ; that is, the devil's strength. For this
word Holofernes signifieth as much as sthiking in hell. " Secundum
nominis etymologiam, Olofernes, olens in inferno. Secundum inter-
pretationem, infirmans vitulum saginatum." In the Hebrew
language, Holofernes is the fiend, who maketh a fat and frolicsome
calf feeble and weak. A fat and frolicsome calf is the flesh, which
groweth wild as soon as it becometh fat through abundance and ease.
" Incrassatus est dilectus mens, et recalcitravit." ^ " My beloved is
grown fat," saith our Lord, " and smote me with his heel." For as
soon as the flesh hath all its will, it immediately kicketh, like a fat
" Deut. xxxii. 15.
CAMD. SOC. T
138 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
flesh haue'S al his wil, hit regibbe'S anon, ase uet keif* % idel. pis
fette keif haue^ ]7e ueondes strenc^e to unstrenc^en, "? forte makien
buwen^ touward sunne: vor so muche sei^ ]?es nome Oloferne.
Auh ancre schal beon ludit, ]7uruh herd lif % so^ schrift, 1, slean, ase
dude ludit, jjene vuele Oloferne, % temien ful wel hire fleschs, so
sone heo iuele^ j^et hit awilege'S to swu^e, mid festen, mid wecchen,
mid heren, mid heuie swinke, mid herde disciplines, wisliche ];auh "%
warliche. "Habete," inquid, " sal in nobis. Item in omni sacrificio
offeretis mihi sal." ]?et is, in euerich sacrifise, he %&jS, ure Louerd,
offre'S me euer salt. Vesten, wecchen 7 o^re swuche ase ich nemde
nu beo^ mine sacrefises. Salt bitocne'S wisdom :! vor salt pue'S
mete wordnesse," '? wisdom jif^ sauur. Al ure deden, % al ]?et we
wurche'S wi'Suten salt, ]?et is, wisdom, al |7uncheS God smechleas.
An o^er half, wiSuten salt fleshs gedere'S wurmes, 1 stinke^ swu'Se
fule, J, forroteS sone. Also wi'Suten wisdom, fleshs, ase wurm,
uoruret ^ hire, 1. wasteS hire suluen, *? foruare'S ^ ase J^ing j^et for-
rote^, % slea^ hire on ende. Auh swuch sacrefise stinke^ to ure
Folio 35 h. Louerd. pauh Jjet fleshs beo ure fo, hit is us ihoten ]7et we holden
hit up. We moten ]?auh don him wo ase hit is ofte wel wurSe :'
auh nout fordon mid alle :! vor hu woe so hit euer beo, beonne is
hit so ikupled, "? so ueste iueied to ure deorewur'Se goste, Godes
owune furme, J^et we muhten sone slean f on mit tet o^er r^^ "? bis is
on of ]7e meste wundres on eor-Se, ]?et tet heixte ]?inc under God, ]?et
is monnes soule, ase seint Austin witne'S, schal beon so ueste iueied
to |?e flesche, J^et nis bute uen '% ful eor'Se, ? ]?uruli ];et ilke limunge
luuien hit so swu^e, ]?et heo uorte cwemen hit in his fule kmide, ge^
ut of hire heie heouenliche cunde, % forte paien liire, wre'S'Set hire
schuppare, f schop hire efter him sulf, ]?et is King 1: Kaiser of heouene
" fat mare. T. forfrete mare. C.
'' Jjis fatte calf haues te feond unstreng^et "] buhet. T.
•^ smech, T. <• forfretes. T. <= forfares. T.
' Aug'. Natura mentis humane, que ad ymaginem Dei creata est, et sine peccato est,
solus Deus major est. T.
THE FLESH TO BE MORTIFIED BY TOIL AND DISCIPLINE. 139
and idle calf. This fat calf the fiend hath power to deprive of
strength, and to incline toward sin : for so much saith this name
Holofernes. But the anchoress shall be Judith by an austere life
and true confession, and shall slay, as did Judith, the wicked
Plolofernes, and tame right well her flesh, as soon as she feeleth that
it is growing too wild, with fasting, with watching, with hair-cloth,
with hard toil, and severe discipline, wisely, however, and cautiously,
" Habete, inquit, sal in vobis. Item in omni sacrificio offeretis mihi
sal ; " ^ that is, " In every sacrifice," saith our Lord, " thou shalt
offer me always salt." Fasting, watching, and other things of that
kind, such as I have just named, are my sacrifices. Salt betokeneth
wisdom : for salt giveth meat soundness, and wisdom giveth savour.
All our works, and all that we do without salt, that is, wisdom,
seemeth to God tasteless. On the other hand, without salt flesh
gathereth worms, and stinketh foully, and soon becomes putrid.
So, without wisdom, the flesh, like a worm, gnaws and destro^'s
itself, and perisheth as a thing wliich becometh putrid, and, at last,
slayeth herself. But such a sacrifice smelleth offensively to our
Lord. Though the flesh be our foe, we are yet commanded to
sustain it. We must, however, afflict it, as it often well deserves ;
but not withal to destroy it ; for, how weak soever it be, still it is
so coupled, and so firmly united, to oui' precious soul, God's own
image, that we might soon kill the one with the other. And this is
one of the greatest wonders on earth, that the highest thing under
God, which is the soul of man, as St. Austin testifieth, should be so
firmly joined to the flesh, which is only mud and dirty earth ; and,
through that joining, love it so dearly, that, to gratify it, in its base
nature, the soul recedes from its sublime and heavenly nature ; and,
to please the flesh, displeaseth its Creator, who made it after his
own likeness, who is King and Ruler of heaven and earth. This is
a wonder above all wonders, and a wonder that excites contempt, —
that a thing so utterly mean, fere nihil, almost nothing, as St. Austin
saith, should seduce into sin a thing so very noble as the soul is ; which
' Leviticus, ii. 13.
140 REGULiE INCLUSAEUM.
J, of eor'Se. pis is wunder oner alle wundres, % liokerliclie wunder,
J7et so unimete louli J^inc — fere nichil — wel neili nout, ase seint
Austin seiS, sclial drawen into sunne so unimete heih ];inc ase is
soule, ]?et seint Austin cleope^ fere summum, ]7et is, wel neili heixt
jjinc wrbuten God one. Auli God nolde nout ]?et lieo leope into
prude, ne ne wilnede nout uorto climben, % feolle, ase dude Lucifer,
— uor he was bute charge — ? teide uor Jnii ane clot of heui eor'Se to
hire, ase me di&S ane cubbel to ];e swine ^ ]7et is to recchinde, % to
ringinde abuten.^ Ant tet is J^et Job seide : " Qui fecisti ventis,"
[id] est spiritibus, " pondus." " Louerd, lie sei^ Job, ]>u hauest imaked
uo'Ser to heui uorte ue'Sren mide Jje soule:'*' ]7et is, ];et heui ulessis,
]>et drawe^ hire aduneward, auh ]?uruh })e heuischipe ^ of hire hit
schal iwurSen ful liht ^ je, lihture ]?en ]?e wind is, % brihture J^en Jje
Folio 36, sunne is, jif hit foluwe'S hire her, 7 ne drawe^ hire nout to swu'Se
into hire lowe kunde, Leoue sustren, uor his luue |7et heo is ihche
to, berets hire menske r' 1: ne lete je nout ]7et lowe fleschs ameistren
hire to swu'Se t' uor heo is her in uncu'SSe, iput in one prisune, %
bitund ase in one cwalm huse, H nis nout eocene of hwuche dignite
heo is, ne hu heih is hire cunde, ne hwuch lieo schal iwur'Sen in hire
owune riche, pet fleshs is her et home^ ase eor'Se, J^et is et eor'Se :!
ant for ]?ui hit is cwointe 7 cwiuer,® ase me sei"S, "J^et coc^ is kene on
his owvme mixenne." pet haue"S to muche meistrie, weilawei ! on
monie :' auh ancre, ase ich habbe iseid, ouh to beon al gostlich jif
heo wule wel uleon, ase brid J>et bane's lutel uleschs 1, monie
ueSeren. Nout one jet tis,^ auh teke^^ }»et heo tome's wel hire
fulitowene fleschs, % stren'Se'S If de'S menske hire wur'Sfule soule.
Teke^ J>is, heo mot jete }>uruh hire uorbisne, 1, }?uruh hire holi
beoden, jiuen o'Sre stren'Se, % upholden ham, ];et heo ne uallen i^e
" \>& reo^er. C.
'' as mon dos J^e custel to the ku, o'ber to J'e beast, p is to raikinde. T.
*^ fotSer to fo^ere wi'S \>q sawles. T. "^ hehscliipe. T.
•^ cointe "j couer, T. cointe ~\ kene. C. ' curre. C.
s Naut ane get is \>m. C. ■" teken. T.
* Teken. T. to eke. C.
THE SOUL IMPEDED BY THE BODY. 141
St. Austin calleth fere summmn ; that is, nearly the highest thing,
God alone excepted. But God was unwilling that it should leap up
into pride, or should desire to climb, and fall as did Lucifer — for He
was without any burden * — and therefore he tied a clod of heavy
earth to the soul, as men tie a cubbel to the swine that is too much
given to rake and range about. And that is what Job said, " Qui
fecisti ventis,'^ id est, spiritibus, " pondus." ^ " Lord," saith Job,
" thou hast made a too heavy weight to give wings to the soul ; "
that is, the heavy flesh which draweth it downward; but through
the nobleness of the soul the flesh shall become full light, yea,
lighter than the wind, and brighter than the sun, if it follow the
soul here, and draw her not too strongly into its own base nature.
Dear sisters, for the love of him whom the soul resembles, honour
her, and suffer not the base flesh to get too much dominion over
her ; for she is here in a strange land, pent in a prison and shut up
as in a dungeon, nor is it easily seen of w^hat dignity she is, nor how
noble is her nature, nor how great she shall be in her own kingdom.
The flesh is here at home, as earth, upon earth ; and therefore, it is
brisk and bold, as it is said, " The cock is brave on his own dung-
hill." Alas ! it hath too much power over many. But an anchoress,
as I have said, ought to be all spiritual, if she wishes to fly well, as a
bird that hath little flesh and many feathers. Not only this, but she
also tameth well her undisciplined flesh, and strengtheneth and doth
honour to her precious soul. Moreover, she must also, by her
example and her devout prayers, give strength to others, and
support them, that they fall not into the filth of sin. And therefore
David, immediately after he had compared an anchoress to the
pelican, compared her to the night bird that is under the eaves.
i. e. such as the flesh. '' Job xxviii. 25.
142 EEGULiE INCLUSARTJM.
dunge ** of sunne. Ant for J?!, Dauid, anon efter ]yet he lieuede
iefned ancre to pellican, he efiiede hire to niht fuel, ]?et is under
euesunge.
" Simihs factus [sum] pelhcano solitudinis : factus sum sicut
nicticorax in domiciho." pe niht fuel i^en euesunge bitocne'S re-
ckises, ]?et wunie^, for yi, under chirche euesunge, 'pet heo under-
ston'Sen J^et heo owun to beon of so hoH Hue j^et al hoH chirche, J^et
is al Cristene uolc, leonie ^ J wreo^ie ° upon ham, J heo holden hire
up mid hore lif holinesse, ant mid hore eadie bonen, ? for ]?i is ancre
icleoped ancre, t under chirche iancred, ase ancre under schipes
borde, uorte holden ]7et schip, J^et uSen '^ ne stormes hit ne ouer-
Folio 36 b. worpen. Al so al holi chirche, j^et is schip icleoped, schal ancren
o'Ser ancre J^et hit so holde, J^et tes deofles puft'es, ]?et beo^S tempta-
ciuns, hit ne ouerworpe. Euerich® haueS ]7is auoreward,^ bo'Se
]?uruh nome of ancre, "? Jjuruh ]>et heo wuneS under ]>e chirche, ase
uorte understipren s hire, jif heo wolde uallen. Eif ha breke^ fore-
ward, loke hwam heo lije,^ J hu, cuntinuelement :' uor heo ne
Etude's ^ neuer ancre wununge r' t hire nome jeieS euer J?is fore-
ward, jet hwon heo slepe"S.
An o'Ser half, J?e nihtfuel uii^ hi nihte, 7 bijit ine ]?eosternesse
his ^ fode :f 1; also schal ancre fleon mid contemplaciun :' pet is, mid
heih ^ t mid holi bonen bi nihte touward heouene, ? bijiten hi nihte
hire soule node. Bi nihte ouh ancre uorte beon waker 1 bisi abuten
gostliche bijete f vor ])m cume^ cinon j^er efter, " Vigilaui et factus
sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto." Vigilaui : ich was waker : sei^S
David, in ancre persone, *? iliche sparewe under rof one. Vigilaui :
ich was waker : vor J7et is ancre rihte, muchel uor to wakien. Ec-
» fulSe. T, b luuie. C. ' healden, T.
•• un^es. T. « Euch ancre. C. f on foreward. C.
s under stipen. C. •> halige. C. ' stut. C.
'' hire. C. 1 wiS hech J>ocht. C.
THE ANCHORESS COMPAKED TO AN ANCHOR. 143
" Similis factus sura pelicano solitudinis : factus sum sicut
nicticorax in domicilio." ^ The night fowl in the eaves betokeneth
recluses who dwell under the eaves of the church, that they may
understand that they ought to be of so holy life that the whole holy
church, that is, all Christian people, may lean and be supported
upon them, and that they may bear her up with their holiness of
life and their pious prayers. And an anchoress is for this reason
called anchoress, and anchored under the church as an anchor under
a ship, to hold the ship so that neither waves nor storms may over-
whelm it. In like manner shall anchoresses, or the anchor, hold the
Holy Church Universal, which is called a ship, so firm, that the
devil's storms, which are temptations, may not overwhelm it. Every
recluse is bound to this by covenant, both by reason of her name of
anchoress, and because she dwelleth under the church, as if to
underprop it, lest it should fall. If she breaketh covenant, let her
consider to whom she is false, and how, continually ; for she giveth
no support to the anchoress's abode ; and her name continually
proclaims this covenant, even when she sleepeth.
Again, the night fowl flieth by night, and seeks his food in the
darkness ; and thus shall the recluse fly with contemplation, that is,
with high and with holy prayers, by night toward heaven, and seek
during the night nourishment for her soul. In the night, the
anchoress ought to be watchful and diligent about spiritual attain-
ments; wherefore, there cometh immediately after, "Vigilavi, et
factus sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto." ^ Vigilavi : I was
watchful, saith David, in the character of an anchorite, and like
a lonely sparrow under a roof. Vigilavi : for this is the duty of
an anchoress — to watch much. Ecclesiasticus ; " Vigilia honestatis
^ Psalm cii. 7. '' Psalm cii. 8.
144 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
clesiasticus : "Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes." No'Sing ne
awelde^ wilde uleschs, ne ne make^S hit tommure ]>en de^ muche
wecche:^ vor wecclie is ine holi write imonie studen ipreised. " Vi-
gilate 7 orate ne intretis in temptacionem." Also ase je mine's nout
fallen into uondunge, he seiS ure Louerd, wakie'S 1 ibidde'S ou, "? tet
schal makien ou stonden. Eft he sei^, "Beatus quern inuenerit
uigilantem." Eadi is, he seiS, J^e ilke ]7et ure Louerd, hwon he
cume'S ivint wakiinde. Ant he himsulf " pernoctauit in oratione :' ''
wakede ine beoden al niht :f J &o he teihte us wecche nout one mid
his lore, auh dude mid his deden.
Folio 37. r!iihte ]?inges nomeliche munege'S "? la'Sie^ us to wakien i sume
gode, 1 beon wurchinde — j^is schorte lif — J^es stronge wei — vre god
])et is ]7unne — vre sunnen ]7et beo'^5 so nionie — deaS ]?et we beo'S
siker of "? unsiker hwonne — J^e sterke dom of domesdei — ? so neruh
mid alle. Dorainus in evangelio : " De onmi verbo ocioso, ?c."
Item " Capillus de capite uestro non peribit:'" id est, cogitatio non
euadet impunita. pis beo^ Godes wordes, ];et euerich idel word
bi'S ]?er ibrouht forS, t ideles J^ouhtes ]?et neren er ibette. Loke nu
hwat beo of unwreste willes 1, suneful werkes. Eet ]7e sexte ]?inc
munege'S us to wakien :' ]?et is J?e seoruwe of helle, ]7er bihold * ]7reo
j^inges — ye untaleliche pinen J^et no tunge ne mei tellen — ]?e eche-
nesse of euerichon, j^et lesteS wiSuten ende — ]7e unimete bitternesse
of euerichon. pe eihtuSe ]>inc is hu muchel is ]?e mede iSe blisse of
heouene, world a buten ende.^ Hwose wake's wel her ane hond
hwule — hwose haueS ^ ]?eos eihte ]?inges ofte in hire heorte, heo
wule scheken of hire slep of vuel slouhSe, iSe stille niht, hwon me
ne isih'S nowiht ]?et lette ]>e bone, pe heorte is ofte so scliir :' uor
no )nnc nis witnesse ]>er of god ]>et we ]?eonne de^ bute God one, t
^ j> bihalt.
'• J>e unimete bitternesse, J^c muchele reounesse of ^e lure of J^e muchele blisse of heo-
uene, world buten ende. C.
' haue'5 her. C,
EIGHT REASONS FOR WATCHFULNESS AND DILIGENCE. 145
tabefacit canies."* Nothing subdueth wild flesh nor maketh it
more tame than much watching ; for watchfuhiess is much praised
in many places of Holy Scripture. " Vigilate et orate ne intretis
in tentationem." ^ Therefore, as ye would not fall into tempta-
tion, saith our Lord, watch and pray, and that shall enable you
to stand. He saith afterwards, " Beatus quern invenerit vigilan-
tem." Blessed, saith he, is he whom our Lord, when he
Cometh, findeth watching. And he himself "pernoctavit in
oratione," passed the whole night in prayer: and thus he taught
us watchfulness, not only by his doctrine but by his actions.
iiight things especially admonish and invite us to be watchlul
and diligent in some good work — the shortness of this life— the
difficulty of our way — the small amount of our merits — the great
number of our sins — the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of
the time — the severe doom of the day of judgment, which is also so
strict. Our Lord saith in the gospel : " De omni verbo otioso," &c.
Item " Capillus de capite vestro non peribit ; " that is, no thought
shall be unpunished. These are God's words : that every idle
word shall be there brought forth, and idle thoughts that were not
previously amended. Consider now Avhat cometh of depraved
affections and sinful works. Again, the seventh '' thing which warns
us to be vigilant is the pains of hell, in which consider three things —
the innmnerable torments which no tongue may tell — the eternity of
each, which lasteth without end — and their vast bitterness. The
eighth thing is the greatness of the reward in the blessedness of
heaven, world without end. Whoso watcheth well here a little
while — whoso hath these eight things in her heart, Avill shake off her
sleep of vicious sloth in the still night, when nothing is to be seen to
hinder prayer. The heart is often at such a season so sincere ; for
there is then no witness of any good that we do but God only, and
" Ecclus, xxxi. 1. •■ Matt. xxvi. 41.
'^ sexte, in the original, is evidently an error.
CAMD. SOC. U
146 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
his engel, ]>et is ine swuclie time bisiliche abuten to eggen us to
gode. Uor ]?er nis nout forloren, ase is bi deie ofte.
HercneS nu, mine leoue sustren, bu bit is ^ to uppen 1: jelpeii of
god dede, "? hu god j^iiic hit is uorte huden ^ god dede, 7 fleon bi
iiibte, ase nibtfuel, J. gederen ine ]?eostemesse, }>et is, ine priuite 't
dernehche, soule node.
" O ratio Hester placuit regi Assuero : " J'et is, Hesteres bone ]:'e
cwene was be kiiige Assuer Hcwur^e '? icvveme. Hester, on Ebrew-
ish, bet is ihud, an English r' '^ is to understonden ]?et bone If cSer
Folio 37 b. god dede ]>et is idon ine hudles, is Assuer icweme, ]?et is king of
heouene :' uor Assuer an Ebreuwish, is eadi an Enghsh : ]?et is ure
Louerd, ]?et is eadi oner alle. Dauid speke^ to ancre ]?et was
iwuned ine hudles wel uorte wurchen, J seo'S'Sen, a sume wise,
uppede hit 7 scheawede.'' " Vt quid auertis faciem ^ tuam, 7 dex-
tram tuam de medio sinu in finem?" pet is, Hwui drawest tu ut
bine rihte bond'' of midden ];ine boseme? "in finem," on ende.
Riht bond is god were :! J bosum is priuite r' "? is as ];auh he seide,
pi riht bond ]?et tu heolde, ancre, iSine boseme, ]7et is, Jn gode were
bet tu hefdest idon priueement, ase ]?inc is derne i boseme, hwui
drawest tu hit ut ? " in finem," an ende :" J^et is, J>et ti mede endie so
sone? — pi mede ]>et were endeleas jif J>i god dede were iholen,
hwui openest tu hit, ? nimest so scheort mede? — hure J;et is agon
in one handbwule ! " Amen, dico uobis, receperunt mercedem
suam." pu hauest iupped ]?i god, he sei'S. ure Louerd:^ sikerhche^
]?u hauest underuon ]7ine mede. Seint Gregorie awundre^ him, *?
seiS ]?et men bee's wode "pet treoweS so vuele : ^ " Magna uerecundia
est grandia agere '? laudibus inhiare : vnde celum mereri potuit,
" is euel. C. ^ heolen. C. <^ gelpes hit I scheawi'S. T,
'< manum. C. T. ^ king hond. C. ' vvitterliche. T. C.
t \>e crochie'S swa uuele. C. t' mangen swa uude. T.
THE MERIT OF GOOD DEEDS LOST BY OSTENTATION. 147
his angel, who is busily employed in inciting us to good. For then,
nothing is lost, as there often is in the day.
Hear now, my dear sisters, how evil it is to be vain and boast of
good deeds, and how good it is to conceal our good works, and to fly
by night, like the night fowl, and to gather in the darkness, that is,
privately and secretly, food for the soul.
" Oratio Hester placuit regi Assuero, " that is, " Esther the
queen's prayer was agreeable and pleasing to king Ahasuerus."
Esther in Hebrew, is hid in English ; and giveth us to understand
that prayer and other good actions done in secret, are pleasing to
Ahasuerus, that is, to the King of Heaven ; for Ahasuerus in
Hebrew, is blessed in English ; which is our Lord, who is blessed
over all. David speaketh to an anchoress that was wont to do good
in secret, and afterwards, in some wise, was vain of it and made it
known. " Ut quid avertis faciem tuam et dextram tuam de medio
sinu in finem ? " ^ That is. Why drawest thou thy right hand
out of the midst of thy bosom, " in finem," that is, finally.^ The
right hand is good works ; and the bosom is privacy, which is
as if he said. The right hand which thou, O anchoress, held in thy
bosom, that is, thy good work that thou hadst done privately, as a
thing is secret in the bosom ; why drawest thou it out ? " in
finem," finally, that is, that thy reward should terminate so
soon. The reward that ]night be endless, if thy good deed were
concealed ; why dost thou discover it, and acceptest so small a
reward ? — a reward that is gone in an instant ! " Amen, dico
vobis, reccperunt mercedem suam." Thou hast made known thy
merit, saith our Lord, verily thou hast received thy reward.
" Psalm Ixxiv. 11. *> for ever. Bouai/ Transluliort..
Folio 38.
148 KEGUL^ INClArSAKUM,
minimum" transitorii favoris querit." Mucliel medscliipe hit is, he
seiS, don wel, ? wihien word ]?erof : don hware |?uruh me bu'S ]?ene
kinedom of heoiiene, 7 sulle^ hit for a windes ^ puf of wordes '^ here-
word r^ of monnes heriunge. Vor]?!, mine leoue sustren, holde^
ouwer riht hond wi'Sinnen ouwer boseme, leste J;e mede endeleas
nime schort ende. We rede^ ine hoh write J?et Moiseses hond,
Godes prophete, so sone he hefde wi^drawen hire ut of his boseme,
bisemede o'Se spitel-vuel, "? J^ulite leprus r' ]>uruh ]?et is bitocne'S \ei
god dede idrawen uor^ nis nout one uorloren ]7uruh J^et uppinge,
auh l^unehe'S jet atelich ^ biuoren Godes eien, ase spitel-vuel is
atehch biuoren monnes sih^e. Lo, a ueorhch ® god word J^et te holi
Job seide : " Reposita est hec spes mea in sinu meo :" I mine
boseme, he sei'S, is al mi hope iholden. Ase Jjauh he seide, Hwat
god so ich do, jif it were ut of mine boseme iupped 7 idrawen uor'S,
al min hope were etslopen ; auh for j^i ]>et ich hit heold, 7 hudde ^ ase
ine boseme, ich hopie to mede. Vor]?i jif eni deS eni god, ne
drawe heo hit nout utward, ne ne jelpe heo nowiht |>erof :' uor mid
a Intel puf, mid a wordes wind, hit mei beon al to weaued.
Ure Louerd i Johel mene^ him swu'Se of ]7eo ]?et forleose^ 1
aspille^ al hore god ]?uruh wilnunge of hereword, J seiS J^eos
wordes : " Decorticauit ficum meam :! nudans, spoliauit eam 1 pro-
jecit: albi facti sunt rami ejus." Alas! sei^S ure Louerd, J^eos ]?et
scheawe'S hire god, heo haue^ bipiled mine figer — irend of al J7e
rinde ^ despoiled ^ hire sterc naked, 7 iworpen awei, 7 te grene
bowes beo^S al uordruwede, 7 forwur'ben to druie hwite rondes. pis
Avord is deosk :! auh nimeS gode jeme hu ich hit wulle ou brihten.
" uimimn. T. '' wuic. C. ^ worldes. T. C.
<• e-Seliche. C. la'Sliche. T. ' a ful. T.
' heole 1 huide. T. » istruped. C.
THE FOLLY OF SEEKING THE WORLD'S APPLAUSE. 149
Saint Gregoiy is amazed, and saith that men are mad who judge so
ill. " Magna verecundia est grandia agere et laiidibus inhiare ;
mide caslum mereri potuit, minimum transitorii favoris qugerit."
It is great madness, saith he, to do well, and to desire praise on
that account : to do that whereby men buy the kingdom of heaven,
and sell it for a vam puff of the world's applause — the praise of men.
Wherefore, my dear sisters, keep your right hand within your
bosom, lest the endless reward be quickly ended. We read in Holy
Scripture that the hand of Moses, God's prophet, as soon as he had
drawn it out of his bosom, seemed to have the hospital malady, and
appeared leprous.** Thereby it is shewn that a good action dragged
before the world is not only lost through that vanity, but appeareth
even loathsome in the sight of God, as the leprosy is loathsome in
the sight of men. Lo, this is a marvellously good saying which
the holy Job said, " Reposita est hasc spes mea in sinu meo." ^ In
my bosom, saith he, is all my hope contamed. As if he had
said, Whatsoever good I do, if it were boasted of and drawn forth
out of my bosom, all my hope were gone from me ; but, because I
held it and hid it, as it were, in my bosom, I hope for reward.
Wherefore, if any of you do any good, let her not draw it outward,
nor let her make any boast of it; for, with a little puff — with a
boastful word, it may be all wafted away.
Our Lord, in Joel, complaineth grievously of those who lose and
destroy, through desire of praise, all the good they have done ; and
saith these words : " Decorticavit ficum meam ; nudans spoliavit
earn et projecit ; albi facti sunt rami ejus." " Alas ! saith our
Lord, they who shew their good deeds have peeled my fig tree;
rent off all the bark ; stripped it stark naked, and cast it away ; and
the green boughs are all withered, and become dry white staves.
This passage is obscure : but take good heed to what I am going to
say to clear it up to you. A fig tree is a kind of tree that beareth
sweet fruit, which are called figs. Then is the fig tree peeled, and
* Exodus, iv. 6. *" Job, xix. 27. "^ Joel, i. 7,
150 regul.t: inclusarum.
Figer is ones kunnes treou ]?et bere^ swete frut, j^et me clepe'S figes.
peonne is ]je figer bipiled, J te rinde irend of, hwonne god dede is
iupped. peonne is |;et lif nte. peonne adeaded J'et treou. Hwonne
]7e rinde is aweie, ne nou^er hit ne here's frut, ne hit ne grene'S
]?erefter ine lufsume leaues, auh adruie^ ]?e howes, t iwur^et hwite
rondes, to none ]?inge betere ]?en to fures fode. pe bouh, hwon he
adeade'S, he hwite^ wi^uten, J adruwe'S wi^innen, 1! worpe-S his
rinde. Al so god dede ]?et wule adeaden forworpe^ hire rinde, ]>et
is, unheleS hire : ]?e rinde, J)et wrih ^ hit, j^et is ]>e treouwes warde,
Folio Z8h. *? wit '' hit ine strenc^e ? ine cwicnesse.'' Al so |7e hehunge is ]7e
god dedes lif, 7 halt hit ine strencSe. Auh hwonne ]?eos rinde is
offe, ]7eonne, ase J^e bouh de'S, hwite'S hit wi'Suten ]7uruh worldlich
hereword, "? adruwe'S wi^innen, "? forleoseS ]?e swetnesse of Godes
grace ]?et makede hit grene "? licwur^e, god for to biholden. For
grene ouer alle heowes froure^ mest eien. Hwon hit is so adruwed,
j?enne nis hit to nout so god ase to ]?e fure of helle. Vor ];e uor-
meste bipiliunge, hwarof al ]>\s vuel com, nis buten of prude : ? nis
hit muche reou^e ]?et te figer |?et schulde, mid hire swete frut, ]?et
is hire god deden, ueden God gostliche, J»ene Louerd of heouene,
schal adruwien rindeleas, ]7uruh ]?et hit is unheled, '? iwur^, buten
ende, helle fures fode ? — ? nis heo uniseli J^et mit te wur'S of heouene
bu'S hire helle ? Vre Louerd sulf i^e gospelle efne^ heouenriche to
gol-hord i'^ ])et hwo se hit ivint, ase he sei^S, hude^ t' " Quem qui
inuenit homo abscondit." Gol-hord is god dede, J»et is to heouene
iefiied : vor me hit bu'S J?er mide :/ 7 tis gol-hord, bute jif hit be ne
betere ihud J iholen, hit is forloren sone. Vor, ase seint Gregorie
sei'S, "Depredari desiderat qui tessaurum publico portat in uia:"
pe |?et here's trcsor openliche in one weie ];et is al ful of ]?eoues t of
robbares, J of reauares, him luste leosen hit ■? beon irobbed. pis
world nis buten a wei to heouene, oSer to helle t' '^ is al biset of helle
muchares,^ |?et robbed al ]?e gold-hordes ];et heo muwen underjiten,
* hules. T. '' wites. C. '^ quicshipe. C.
'' gold-hord. C. T. " helleiio muclicrcs. T, C.
GOOD BOASTED OF PERISHES LIKE A BARKED TREE. 151
the bark rent off, when a good deed is boasted of. Then is the Hfe
gone out. Then is the tree dead. When the bark is gone, it
neither beareth fruit, nor doth it again put forth green and lovely
leaves ; but its boughs are dried, and become white staves ; fit for
nothing better than to be used as fuel. When the bough is dead, it
whiteneth externally, and drieth wuthin, and casteth off its bark.
Even so a good deed that is about to perish casteth off its bark ; that
is, uncovereth itself: the bark which conceals it, which is the
defence of the tree, preserves it in strength and vigour. Just so,
the concealing it is the life of the good deed, and keeps it in strength.
But when this bark is off, then, as the bough doth, it whiteneth
without, through worldly praise, and drieth up within, and loseth
the sweetness of God's grace, which raaketh it green and lovely —
pleasant to behold. For green, above all colours, is most agreeable
to the eyes. When it is so dried, then it is for nothing so fit as for
the fire of hell. For the first peeling, from which all this evil came,
is from nothing but pride. And is it not a great pity that the fig
tree, which, with its sweet fruit, that is, its good deeds, should
spiritually feed God, the Lord of Heaven, should dry up without
bark, on account of its being uncovered, and become without end
food for hell fire ! And is not she unhappy that with the price of
heaven buyeth to herself hell ? Our Lord himself, in the gospel,
compareth the kingdom of heaven to a treasure, which, whosoever
hath found, as he saith, hideth ; " Quern qui invenit homo ab-
scondit." ^ Treasure is a good deed, which is compared to heaven,
for men buy it therewith ; and this treasure, if it be not the better
hid and concealed, is soon lost. For, as Saint Gregory saith, " De-
prgedari desiderat qui thesaurum publico portat in via," He who
carrieth a treasure openly in a way that is all full of thieves and
robbers and plunderers, desireth to lose it and to be robbed. This
world is only a way to heaven or to hell ; and is all beset with
skulking thieves of hell, who rob all tlie treasures that they can
'' Matt. xiii. 44.
152 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
bet mon o^er wummon i ]?isse weie opened. Vor, ase muche war's
is ase J?auli he seide "? jeiede as lie eode, Ich bere gold-hord : Icli
Folio 39. bere gold-hord. Lour hit her r' read gold t hwit seoluer inouh, ?
derewur'Se jimstones.* A sopare, ]?et ne bere^ buten sope % nelden,
rein's J. jeie^ lude ? heie )?et he bere^ :! 1 sl riche mercer go^ for'S
al stille. Vreiiie'S hwat itidde of Ezechie, ]?e gode king, vor ]?ui j^e
he scheawede ];e celles of his aromaz, ? his muchele tresor, 7 his
deorewur'Se j^iiiges. Hit iiis nout for nout iwriten i^e holie gospelle
of ]?e l^reo kinges J>et comen uorto oflPren Jcsu Crist ]7eo deorewur'Se
))reo lokes:''' "procidentes adorauerunt euni, "? apertis," ?c. pet tet
heo "wolden offreii him, heo hit heolden euer iliud, vort tet heo*^
comen biuoren him. poa uormest ^ heo uuwrien J>et present ];et heo
beren. Vor }>ui mine leoue sustren, bi nihte, ase ]7e niht fuel ]7et
ancre is to iefned, beo'S jeorne sturiinde. Niht, ich cleopie priuite.®
peos nihte je muweii habben euerich time of |7e deie :! ]?et a I ]7et
god ]7et je euer do's beo idon ase bi nihte, 7 bi ]?eosteriiesse, ut of
monnes eien, % ut of monnes earen. pus, bi nihte beo fleoinde ant
sechinde ouwer soule heouenliche node, peonne beo je nout one
pellicanus solitudinis, auh beo^ ec nicticorax in doinicilio.
" Uigilaui et factus sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto." Let, is
ancre iefned her to sparuwe ]7et is one under roue, as ancre. Spa-
ruwe is a cheaterinde brid ;' cheatere^ euer ant chinned. And for
];ui |7et moni ancre bane's ]?et ilke uii'Seau, Dauid ne efne^ hire nout
to sparuwe ]7et haue-S fere, auh deS to sparuwe one. " Sicut passer
solitarius in tecto." Ich am, he sei'S, bi ancre, ase speruwe J>et is
Folio 39 h. one. Vor so ouh ancre, hire one in onliche stude, ase heo is, chir-
men 1, cheateren euer hire bonen.^ And understondeS leofliche,
mine leoue sustren,^ ];et ich write of onliche hue, vorte vrouren
ancren, '? ou ouer al o'Sre.
a stanes. T. C.
^ lakes. T.
" a'Sat ha. T.
^ \>A on earst. T.
•^ dearneschipe. C.
f beoden. C.
K childre. T.
THE MEANEST MOST VAIN. PEDLAU AND MERCER. 153
discover, which man or woman open in tliis way. For it is just the
same as if he said and called aloud as he went, " I am carrying a
treasure, I am carrying a treasure : Look, here it is ; red gold and
white silver enough, and precious jewels." A poor pedlar, who
carrieth nothing but soap and needles, shouteth and calleth out loud
and clamourously what he heareth ; and a rich mercer goeth along
quite silently. Inquire what happened to the good King Hezekiah,
because he shewed the store-house of his spices, and his great
treasure, and his precious things.^ It is not without design written
in the Holy Gospel, concerning the three kings who came to offer to
Jesus Christ the three precious gifts, " procidentes adoraveruut eum,
et apertis," ^ &c. That which they wished to offer him they kept always
concealed until they came into his presence. Then first, they un-
covered the present which they bore. Wherefore, my dear sisters,
in the night time, as the night bird is compared to an anchorite, be
diligently stirring. Night I call privacy. This night ye may have
at all times of the day ; so that all the good that you do be done as
it were by night and in darkness, out of the sight and hearing of
men. Thus, in the night, be on the wing, and seeking heavenly
food for your souls. Then you will be not only the pelican in the
wilderness, but also the night raven under the eves.
" Vigilavi et factus sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto." '^ Again,
the anchoress is compared here to a sparrow, that is alone, under
roof, as an anchoress. The sparrow is a chattering bird; it is
always chattering and chirping. And, because many an anchoress
hath the same fLxult, David compareth her not to a sparrow that
hath a mate, but to a solitary sparrow. " Sicut passer solitarius in
tecto." " I am," he speaks as an anchoress, " like a sparrow that is
all alone.'^ For thus ought the anchoress, by herself alone in a lonely
place, as she is, to be always chirping and chattering her prayers.
And, kindly understand, my dear sisters, that I write of solitary life
to comfort anchoresses, and yourselves more especially.
" Isaiah, xxxix. 2. '' Matt. ii. 11. <= Psalm cii. 7.
CAMD. SOC. X
154 REGUL.f: INCLUSARUM.
Hu god hit is forte beon one is bo^e i^en olde lawe, t ec iSe
neowe isutele^ "^ ischeawed. Vor i bo^e me ivint J^et God his derne
runes, 7 his heouenliche priuitez scheawede his leoue freond, J nout
i monne vloc :! auh dude ]7er heo weren one bi ham suluen. And
heo ham sulf also, ase ofte ase heo wolden ]7encchen schirliche * of
God, ant makien clene bonen, ant beon ine heort gosthche iheied
touward heouene :! ant me ivint ]>et heo fluwen monne sturbinge, "?
wenden bi ham one :' % tet God visitede ham t jef ham hore bonen.
Vor \\x\ j^et ich seide ]7et me ivint j^is bo^e i^en olde lawe ? ec i'Se
neowe, ich chulle, of bo two, scheawen uorbisne % preoue.
" Egressus Isaac in agrum ad meditandum," quod ei fuisse cre-
ditur consuetudinarium. Isaac ]?e patriarke uorto ]?enchen deoplice
souhte onlich stude, 1 wende bi him one, ase Genesis telle"S i and so
he imette ]?e eadie Rebecca, J^et is Godes grace. Rebecca interpre-
tatur, " multum dedit."
Et qiiicqtiid liabet meriti prseventrix gratia donat.
[Nil Deus in nobis prater sua dona coronat.]'\
Also ];e eadie lacob, J'e vre Louerd scheawede him his deorewur'Se
nebschaft, °t jef him his blessunge, % turne ° his nome betere, he was
iflowe men, *? was him sulf one r' neuer jet i monne floe ne keihte he
swuche bijete. Bi Moisen 1, bi Helie, Godes deorewur^e vreond is
sutel % e^Scene hwuc baret ? hu dredful lif is euer amons; brunee r' %
hu God his priuitez scheawe^ to ]>eo ]?et beoS priuiment ham one.
Folio 40. Me schal, leoue sustren, tellen ou |>eos storie,*^ nor hit were to long
to writen ham here:' 7 ]?enne schule je al J^is brihtliche mider-
stonden.
" sikerliehe. C. '' Supplied from MS. Oxon,
' wende. C. T. '' storien. C.
ADVANTAGES OF SOLITARY MEDITATION. ISAAC. JACOB. \55
xiow good a thing it is to be alone, is manifested and shewn both
in the Old Testament and also in the New. For in both we find
that God revealed his secret comisels and his heavenlj mysteries to
his dear friends, not in the pi'esence of a multitude, but when they
were by themselves alone. And they, themselves also, as often as
they would meditate solely on God, and pray to him sincerely, and
be spiritually elevated in heart toward heaven — it is always found
that they fled from the strife of men, and went apart by themselves,
and that God visited them and granted their requests. Because I
said that we find this both in the Old Testament and also in the
New, I will, out of both, shew an example and proof.
" Bgressus Isaac in agrum ad meditandum," ^ quod ei fuisse
creditur consuetudinarivim. Isaac the patriarch, that he might
meditate deeply, sought a lonely place, and went apart by himself
alone, as we are told in Genesis, and thus he met the pious Rebecca,
that is, God's grace. Rebecca is, by interpretation, " he gave much,"
From heavenly grace alone man's goodness flows ;
God ci'owns alone the merit he bestows.
Likewise the pious Jacob, when our Lord revealed his dear
countenance to him, and gave him his blessing, and called him by a
better name, had fled from men, and was alone : never in the crowd
of men gat he such gain. From Moses, and from Elias, God's dear
friends, it is clear and manifest what great turmoil, and how
dangerous it is to live always among a multitude ; and how God
reveals his secret counsels to those who are in privacy and solitude.
Those histories, dear sisters, shall be told you, for it would be
tedious to write them here, and then ye shall understand all this
clearly.
'' Clenrsis, xxiv. 63.
156 EEGULiE INCLUSARUM.
" Set % leremias solus sedet." Hit sei-S ]?et te eaclie leremie set
one :' ? set's ]?e reisnn hwi : " Quid commiuatione tua replesti me ? "
Vre Louerd liefde ifuld him of his ]?reatunge. Codes ]?reatunge is
wondre'Se "? weane ine licome ? ine soule, world a buten ende ! pe
bet were * of ]?isse Jjreatunge, ase he was, wel ifulled, nere ]7er non
empti stude i'Se heorte to underuongen flesliche leihtren :! '^ for J?ui
he bed welle of teares to his eien, ]?et heo ne adruweden nanraore
J?en welle. " Quis dabit mihi fontem lacrimarum, ut lugeam inter-
fectos populi mei?" Vor te biweopen isleien uolc — ]7et is, mest al
be world, ];et is gostliche isleien mid deadliche sunnen :^ 7 to his wop
loke^S nu hu he bit onlich stude, ]?e holi prophete. " Quis dabit
mihi diuersorium in solitudine?" — vorte scheawen witterliche J»et
hwo se wulo biweopen hire owene '? o'Sre monnes sunnen, ase ancre
ouh forte don — hwo se wule ivinden et te neruwe domesmon merci
1 ore — o l^ing is ]7et lette^S hire mest, ]>et is, beo wust ^ among men r'
1 "Set tet swu^est auaunce'S 7 furSreS hit, ]?et is onlich stude :! mon
o"Ser wnmmon ei^er beon him one. Eet spekeS leremie of onliche
hue more. " Sedebit solitarius 1, tacebit." Me schal sitten him one,
he sevS, % beon stille. Of ]?isse stilnesse he spoke's J>er biuoren
Intel. " Bonum est prestolari cum silencio salutare Dei." God hit
is ine silence ikepen Godes grace, 1 tet me here godes joc, anon from
\e " juwe'Se i J ];eonne cume^ j^er efter, " Sedebit solitarius J tace-
bit : quia leuabit ^ se supra se.'' Hwo se wule wel don, heo schal
sitten one, 1 holden hire stille, 1 so hebben hire sulf buuen hire
suluen :' ]?et is, mid heie Hue, heie touward heouene ouer hire cunde.
Teko ]>is, hwat o'Ser god cumcS of J?isse onliche sittunge, J»et leremie
Folio 40 J. gpei^eg of, t of J>isse seli stil'Se kume'S anon efter : " Dabit percucienti
se maxillam, 1, saturabitur opprobriis." Heo wule, he sol's, j^e so wule,
ajein be smitare beoden uorS hire cheoken, 1 beon J^uruli fulled mid
livviise were. T. ^ ivvust, C "^ his. T. '' leuaiiit. Vuljj
Jeremiah's longing for solitude. 157
" Ned et Jeremias solus sedet." It is said that the pious Jere-
miah sits in solitude, and the reason why is also told : " Quid com-
minatione tua replesti me ? " ^ The Lord had filled him with his
threats. God's threats are misery and woe in body and in soul, world
without end ! Whosoever were well filled, as he was, with this
threatening, would have no vacant place in his heart in which to
receive carnal mirth ; and therefore, he prayed for a well of tears to
his eyes, that they might never dry up any more than a well :
" Who will give me a fountain of tears to my eyes, that I may weep
for the slain of my people ? " ^ To weep for slain people — that is,
almost all the world, which is spiritually slain with mortal sins.
And observe now how the holy prophet prays for a solitary
place to weep in. " Who will give me in the wilderness a lodging-
place of wayfaring men ?" *= — to shew distinctly, that whoso
would weep for her own and other men's suis, as an anchoress ought
to do — whoso would find with the strict judge mercy and grace —
there is one thing which hinders her most, which is, living and
being noted among men ; and that which most greatly forwards and
assists it, is solitude — that either man or woman be alone. Jeremiah
speaketh yet again of solitary life : " Sedebit solitarius et tacebit : " ^
" He shall sit solitary," saith he, " and be silent." Of this silence he
speaketh a little before : " Bonum est prsestolari cum silentio salutare
Dei ; "' ^ it is good to wait in silence for God's grace, and that a man
bear God's yoke early from his youth : and then followeth : " Sedebit
solitarius et tacebit : quia levabit se supra se." She that would do
well shall sit solitary, and hold her peace ; that is, by a life of
elevated piety, exalt herself toward heaven above her kind. More-
over, the other good that cometh of this solitary sitting, which Jere-
miah speaketh of, and of devout silence, immediately followeth:
" Dabit percutienti se maxillam, et saturabitiu' opprobriis." ^ She,
saith be, who would be so exalted, will offer her cheeks to the
smiter, and shall be filled with reproachful words. Here are, in
* Jeremiah, xv. 17. ^ Jeremiah, ix. 1. c Ibid. ix. 2.
"t Lament. Jcrem. iii. 26. "^ Ibid. 26. f Ibid. 30.
158 REGUL^ INOLUSARUM.
schendfule wordes. Her bee's, in ]7eos wordes, two eadie wordes *
to noten swi^e jeorne, ]7et limpe'S ariht to ancre — Jjolemodnesse, in
J^ere uorme half, *? in J>e latere edmodnesse, of milde 7 of meoke
heorte. Vor ]7olemod is ]?e J^et ]?uldeliclie abere'S wouh |7et me de'S
him f' 7 edmod is Ipe |7et J^olien mei J^et me him missigge. peos ]7et
ich habbe inempned her weren of J>en olde lawe : cume we nu to ]7e
neowe. "Inter natos mulierum non surrexit major Johanne
Baptist."
Seint Johan baptiste, bi hwam ure Louerd sei^S, J^et among
wiuene sunes ne aros neuer betere :' he teihte us openliche bi his
owene deden, J^et onlich stude is boSe siker 1: biheue. Vor, J>auh
Jje engel Gabriel hefde his burde ^ ibocked,*^ ? al were he ifulled of \>e
Holi Goste, anon wi^innen his moder wombe :' '^ a\ were he, ]?uruh
miracle, of barain iboren :f 7 he ine his iborenesse ^ upspende ^ his
feder tunge into prophecie :' vor alle ]?isse, jet ne durste he wunien
among men : so dredful lif he iseili j^er inne :f ]?auh hit nere of
nowiht elles bute of speche one:' ? for]?ui, hwat dude he? Eung of
jeres ase he was, fleih awei into J?er wildernesse, leste he mid speche
fulde his clene lif. Vor so hit is in his ymne :f " antra deserti
Folio 41. teneris sub annis, I'c.^" He hefde, ase hit J^uncheS, iherd Isaie J>et
mende him ? seiSe, " Ve mihi ! quia homo pollutis labiis ego sum."
Wummen wo is me, he seiS, ]?e holi prophete, vor ich am a man
mid suilede lippen :' *? seiS ]?e ancheisun hwi r's " Quia in medio
populi polluta labia habentis ego habito." Ant tet is forj^i, he sei^,
J7et ich wunie among men J^et suiled hore lippen mid misliche
spechen. Lo hu Godes prophete sol's J>et he was isuiled ]?uruh
■> beawes. C. T. •" bur'Se. T. "^ Gebocian. A.S. to write down, foretell.
•* his borne time. C. * unspennede. C T.
' " Antra deserti teneris sub annis
Civium turmas fugiens, petisti
Ne levi saltern maeulare vitam
famine posses." T.
K sei^' hwarforc. C.
JOHN THE BAPTIST SOUGHT SOLITUDE IN THE WILDERNESS. 159
these words, two excellent [moral qualities] * to be carefully ob-
served, which rightly belong to anchoresses. Patience in the former
part ; and in the latter part, meekness — of mild and meek heart.
For he is patient who beareth patiently an injury that is done him ;
and he is meek who can bear to be evil spoken of. Those whom I
have hitherto mentioned were under the old law : come we now to
the new. "Inter natos mulierum non surrexit major Johanne
Baptista." ^
^aint John the Baptist, of whom our Lord saith, that among the
sons of women there never arose a better, taught us openly by his
own actions that solitude is both safe and profitable. For, though
the angel Gabriel had foretold his birtli, and although he was filled
with the Holy Ghost even within his mother's womb ; and was, by
miracle, born of one barren, and at his birth unbomid his father's
tongue to prophesy ; yet, for all this, he durst not dwell among men.
Life appeared to him so dangerous among them ; even if it were on
account of nothing less but of speech alone. And what then did he ?
Young as he was, he fled away into the wilderness, lest he should
defile his pure life with speech. For so it is in his hymn : " Antra
deserti teneris sub annis," &c. He had heard, as it seems, Isaiah
who moaned, and said, " Vae mihi ! quia homo pollutis labiis ego
sum." ° Women, woe is me ! saith the holy prophet, for I am a
man of unclean lips ; and he saith the reason why: " quia in medio
populi polluta labia habentis ego habito." And that is, saith he,
because 1 dwell among men who have sullied their lips with indis-
creet speeches. Lo ! how God's prophet saith that he was sullied by
living among men.*^ It is so indeed. For neither gold, nor silver,
nor iron, nor steel, is ever so bright that it will not draw rust from a
thing that is rusty, if they lay long together. Wherefore Saint
John fled from the society of foul men, lest he should be sullied.
* C. T. " words," in the original. •" Matt. xi. 11.
■-' Isaiah, vi. 5. ^ Ex cohahitatione honiinum. MS. Oxon.
160 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
beo uste ^ among men. So hit is sikerliche. Vor ne beo neuer so
brilit gold, ne seoluer, ne iren, ne stel, 'pet hit ne schal drawen rust
of on pet is irusted, uor hwon pet heo longe hggen togederes.
Vor ]7i fleih sein Johan pe feolauschipe of fule men, leste he were
isuiled. Ant jet, forte scheawen us Jjet me ne mei pe vuele fleon,
bute me fleo pe gode, he fleih his holi kun icoren of ure Louerde, "?
wende into onhche stude i^e wildernesse.^ Ant hwat bijet he ]7er ?
He bijet ]7et he was Godes baptiste — pe muchele heihnesse J?et he
heold, ine fuluhte under his honden, pene Louerd of heouene, ]7et
halt up al J^ene world mid his ones "^ mihte t' ]?er ]?er pe holi }>rum-
nesse scheawude hire al to him :'^ pe veder in his steuene r^ pe Holi
Gost ine kulure heouwer^ pe Sune ine his honden. In onliche
stude ® he bijet ]?eos ]?reo bijeaten ^ — priuilege of preehur, merit of
martirdom, J meidenes mede. peos J^reo maner men liabbeS ine
heouene mid ouer fulle mede — crune upe crune :' ant te eadie Johan
in onliche stude, ]?er ase he was, ]?eos ];reo astaz^ of-earnede
him one.
Ure leoue lefdi, ne ledde heo onlich lif ? Heo nes nohwar ute :'
Folio 41 1, auh was biloken ueste r' vor so we iuinde^. '^Ingressus angelus ad
eam, dixit, Aue, Maria, gracia plena, Dominus tecum." pet is, pe
engel wende in to hire, — ]?eonne heo was inne — in onliche stude, al
hire one. Engel to mon ine J^runge ne scheawude him neuer ofte.
An o'Ser half:^ ]?uruh j^et nouhware ine holi write nis iwriten of hire
speche, bute uor '^ si'Sen, ase is iseid ]7eruppe :! sutel preofunge is }>et
heo was muchel one, pe heold so silence. Hwat seche we o'Sre ?
O god one were inouh forbisne to alle. He wende him sulf one into
onhche stude, 1: feste ];er as he was one i'Se wildernesse r' vorte
scheawen J?erbi J;et among monne ]?rung ne mei non makien rilite
" ifuled I'urli bewiste, T. '' wilderne. C,
■^ anres. T. '' limpe'S al to him. C.
<" lif. C. ' preeminences. C. T.
« meden. C. '' fouwer. C.
THE VIRGIN MARY A LOVER OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE. 161
And further, to shew us that we cannot flee from the bad, without flee-
ing from the good, he fled from his holy kindred, chosen of our Lord,
and went into a sohtary place and dwelt in the wilderness. And what
did he gain there ? He gained that he was God's baptist, the high
honour that he held in baptism, under his hands, the Lord of Heaven,
who upholds the whole world with his might alone ; when the Holy
Trinity was fully revealed to him, the Father by his voice, the Holy
Ghost in the likeness of a dove, the Son in his hands. In solitude
he acquired these three possessions — the privilege of preacher, the
merit of martyrdom, and the reward of virginity. These three
kinds of men have in heaven a superabundant reward, crown upon
crown ; and the blessed John, when he was in solitude, earned for
himself alone these three dignities.
Our dear lady, did not she lead a solitary life? She was no
where abroad, but was shut up fast, for so we find. "Ingressus
angelus ad cam dixit, Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum : " »
that is, the angel went in to her ; she was within then, in solitude, all
alone. An angel has seldom appeared to man in a crowd. On the
other hand, since it is not any where recorded in Holy Scripture
that she spoke, except four times, it is a clear proof that she, who
thus kept silence, was much alone. What more do we require ?
One good example may suffice for all. He went himself alone into
a solitary place, and fasted when He was alone in the wilderness ; to
shew thereby that no one can exercise true penitence amidst the
multitude. There, in solitude, it is said that he hungred, to comfort
anchorites who are in want. There he suffered the fiend to tempt
him many ways ; but he overcame him. Also to shew that the
" Luke, i. 28.
CAMD. SOC. Y
162
REGUL.^ INCLUSAEUM.
Folio 42.
penitence. per in onliclie stucle him liungrede, hit sei'S, uorto
uronren ancre J?et is meseise.^ per he j^olede j^et te ueoncl uondede
him ueole weis :! auh he ouercom hine. Also uorte scheawen ]?et te
ueond fonde^ muchel ]?eo ]?et lede^ onlich Hf, vor onde J?et he haue'S
to ham : auh he is j^er euer ouercumen. Vor ure Louerd sulf stont
]?er bi ]7e ^ uihte, <^ belde^ '^ ham hu heo schulen stonden strongHche
ajein, 7 jiue^ ham of his strenc^e. He, ase hoU writ sei^S, J»et no
muruh'Se, ne noise, ne J^rung of folc ne muhte letten him of his
beoden,"^ ne disturben him of his god, — he Jjauh, no ]?e later, hwon
he wolde beon i beoden, he fleih nout one o'Ser men, auh dude jet
his holi deciples,^ <^ wende one uppon hulles, us to uorbisne, J^et we
schullen turnen bi us sulf, <^ climben mid him on hulles :! J^et is,
J7enchen heie, <^ leauen lowe under us alle eorSliche ]?ouhtes, ]?eo
hwule ]?et we beoS ine beoden. Powel <^ Antonie, Hilariun <^
Benediht, Sincletice <^ Sare, =f o'Sre swuche, monie men <^ wummen
boSe, uondede sikerlich,*^ '^ underjeten so^liche ]?et te bijete of
onliche line was God icweme, as J»eo ];et duden mid God al J?et heo
euer wolden. Seint leronime nu leate seiS bi him suluen, " Quo-
ciens inter homines fui, minus homo recessi." As ofte as ich euer
was, he sei^, among men, ich wende from ham lesse mon J?en ich
er was. Vor ]?i, sei^ ]>& Ecclesiasticus, "Ne oblecteris in turbis:'
assidua est enim commissio :" jjet is, ne J?unche ]?e^ neuer god
among monne ^ floe :! vor J>er is euer sunne. Ne seide \q. stefne of
heouene to Arseinie, " Arseni, fuge homines <^ saluaberis:" Arseni, flih
men <^ tu schal beon iboruwen. Ant eft him com <^ seide, " Arseni,
fuge, tace, quiesce :" ]?et is, Arseni, flih, <^ beo stille, <^ wune stude-
uestliche i sume stude, ut of monne sih^e.
Nu je habbe^ iherd, mine leoue sustren, vorbisne of J^en olde
lawe, -^ ec of ]>e neowe :! hwui je owen onlich llf swu'S to luuien f '=f
» in meseise. C. T.
•^ bealde'S. C. beades.
^ hise apostles. C.
K ne like. C.
^ bi ham iiSe. C,
<• bonen. C. bones. T.
f witterliche. C. T.
'' mounes. T. muche. C.
HOLY MEN AND WOMEN WHO WEEE BENEFITED BY SOLITUDE. 163
fiend tempteth much those who lead a soUtary life, for envy that he
beareth towards them : but he is there always overcome. For our
Lord himself standeth by them in the fight, and emboldeneth them
to resist strongly, and giveth them of his strength. The Saviour
himself, as Holy Scripture saith, whom no mirth, or noise, or multi-
tude of people might hinder him from his prayers, nor disturb him in
his holy meditations, — 3et, nevertheless, when he wished to be much
in prayer, he fled not only other men, but even his holy disciples, and
went up into hills alone : for an example to us, that we should
retire by ourselves and mount up with him upon hills ; that is, to
meditate on heavenly thmgs, and leave low beneath us all earthly
thouglits, while we are engaged in prayer. Paul and Antony,
Hilarion, Benedict, Syncletica, Sara, and many other such pious
men and women both truly experienced and rightly perceived that
what was gained by a solitary life was pleasing to God ; as persons
M'ho obtained from God whatsoever they wished. Saint Jerome
likewise saith of himself, " Quotiens inter homines fui, minus homo
recessi." As often as I have been among men, saith he, I came
from them less man than I was before. Wherefore saith Ecclesi-
asticus, " Ne oblecteris in turbis ; assidua est enim commissio : "
that is. Never take pleasure among a multitude of people : for sin is
ever there. Did not the voice from heaven say to Arsenius,
" Arseni, fuge homines et salvaberis : " Arsenius, flee from men,
and thou shalt be saved. And again he came to him and said,
" Arseni, fuge, tace, quiesce : " that is, Arsenius, flee and be quiet,
and dwell constantly in one place out of the sight of men.
IV ow, ye have heard, my dear sisters, an example out of the Old
Testament, and also out of the New, shewing why ye ought to love
greatly a solitary life ; and now, after these examples, hear the
" Arsenius was preceptor to the Greek emperor Arcadius, A.D. 383. He is said to
have heard these words when in prayer, and anxious about the safety of his soul.
164 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
efter ])e uorbisnes, ihere'S nu reisuns hwui me ouh for to fleon J>ene
world :' eilite reisuns et te leste. Ich ham sigge schortliche. Nime^
J>e ]7e betere jeme.
I . pe iiorme is sikernesse. Eif a wode limi vrne jeont ]?e strete,
nolde ]>e wise bitnnen hire inne sone ? Ant Seint Peter sei'S ]>et ]7e
helle liun renge"S <^ recche'S ^ euer abuten, uort te sechen injong,
soule uorte uorswoluwen r' <^ bit us te beon wakei'e <^ bisie ine holi
beoden, leste he us kecche.'' " Sobrii estote <^ uigilate in oracioni-
bus, quia aduersarius uester, diabolus, tanquam leo rugiens circuit
querens quern deuoret." pis is Seinte Peter's word,'^ ]?et ich er
seide. Vor j^i, beoS ancren wise, J?et habbeS wel bituned ham ajein
]?e helle leun, uorte beon ]?e sikerure.
II. pe oSer reisun is ]7et hwo ]jet bere a deorewur^e licur, o^er
Folio 42 1, a deorewur'Se wete, as is bame, in a feble uetles — healewi in one
bruchele glese, nolde heo gon ut of ]?runge, bute jif heo were fol ?
pis bruchele uetles, J^et is wummone vleschs. Of J^isse bruchele
uetles ]>e apostle sei^, " Habemus thesaurum in istis vasis fictilibus."
pe bame — J^et healewi — J>et is, meidenhod ]7et is J^erinne :' o^er, efter
meidelure, chaste clennesse. pis bruchele uetles"^ is bruchelure
'pene beo eni gles ^ uor beo hit enes to-broken, ibet ne bi 5 hit neuer,
ne ihol ase hit er was, nanmore ]?ene gles. Auh jet hit breke-S mid
lesse ];ene bruchel gles do. Vor gles ne to-breke'S nout bute sum
ymc hit arine.® Auh hit, anonde^ meidelure,^ mei leosen his holi-
nesse mid a stinkinde wil. So uorS hit mei gon, 1 lesten so longe :'
auh |?is manere bruche mei beon ibet eft, allunge ase liit was euer
iholest,^ ]?uruh medicine of schrifte, ? ];uruh bireousunge. Nu ]?e
preoue herof. Sein Johan evangeliste nefde he brude ibrouht hom ?
Nefde he J^o i]7ouht (jif God nefde ilet him), meidenhod uorte uorle-
» rixle'S. " lecche. C. T.
•^ sahe. T, ^ fetles. T.
" rine. C. ruine. T. ' ant hit onefent. T,
8 aut an meidenhod. C. '' al so hal se liit halest wes. C.
REASONS rOR RETIREMENT FROM THE WORLD. 165
reasons why one ought to flee the world : eight reasons at the least.
I mention them briefly : take the more heed.
I . The fii'st is security. If a raging lion were running along the
street, would not a wise person soon shut herself in ? And Saint
Peter saith that the lion of hell rangeth and raketh always about,
seeking an entrance to devour the soul ; and he commands us to be
watchful and busied in holy prayers, lest he catch us. " Sobrii
estote et vigilate in orationibus, quia adversarius vester, diabolus,
tanquam leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret."* This is St.
Peter's advice, as I said before. Therefore be ye wise anchoresses,
who have shut themselves up carefully, agamst the lion of hell, in
order to be the more secure.
II . The second reason is that she who bears a precious liquor or a
precious drink, such as balsam, in a frail vessel — heaJewi ^ in a brittle
glass, would not she go out of the way of a crowd, unless she were
a fool ? This brittle vessel is woman's flesh. Of this brittle vessel
the Apostle saith: "We have this treasure in earthen vessels."*^
The balsam, the healewi, is virginity, which is therein; or, after the loss
of maiden honour, chaste purity. This brittle vessel is more brittle than
any glass ; for, be it once broken, it is never mended, nor whole as it was
before, any more than glass. Moreover, it breaketh more easily than
brittle glass doth. Fpr glass breaketh not unless something strike
against it. But with regard to the loss of virginity, its purity may
be lost by an unchaste wish. So far may it go and last so long :
but this kind of breach may be afterward repaired, and made quite
as whole as ever it was by the remedy of confession and by re-
pentance. Now for the proof of this : Had not St. John the Evange-
list brought home a bride ? Had he not thought, if God had not
a 1 Peter, v. 8.
•> Healewi appears here to be identical with balm or balsam : but it does not always
occur in the same sense. Its strict etymological meaning is " health-cup."
■^ 2 Corinthians, iv. 7.
166 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
osen? Seo^en jmuh, nes he meiden neuer ]>e unliolrer' auli was
meiden biteiht, meiden uorto witene. " Virginem uirgini com-
mendabat."^ Nu, as ich sigge, J»is deorewm-Se healewi i'Sisse
bruchele uetles, ]?et is meidenhod '^ clennesse in oure brucliele
flesche, bruchelure ];en eni gles, ]?et, jif je weren i'Se worldes Jn'unge,
mid a Intel hurlnnge ^ je muhten al nor leosen, ase J^eo wrecches i^e
worlde, J^et hurle'S togederes j to-brekeS hore uetles, "^ schede'S hore
clennesse. Ant forJ>i ure Louerd cleope^ ]his : " In mundo pres-
suram, in me an tern pacem habebitis :^" bileaue^ ];ene world '^ cume'S
Folio 43. to me :! uor ]?er je schulen been ine ]?runge :! auh reste and pels is
in me.
Ill . pe jnidde reisun of Ipe worldes flulite is "pe bijeate of heouehe.
pe lieouene is swuSe lieih :/ liwo se wule bijiten ° hire,^ <^ areachen
l^er to, hire ^ is Intel inouh uorte worpen al ]?ene world under hire
uoten. Vor }>i alle }>e halewen makeden of al ]?e worlde ase ane
stol® to hore uet, uorto arechen j^e heouene. pe apostle seiS, "Yidi
mulierem amictam sole, f luna sub pedibus ejus." pet is Sein
Johannes word euangeliste i^en Apocalipse r' ich iseih, he sei^, ane
wummon ischrud mid te sunne, f ]?ene mone under hire uet. pe
mone waxe'S <=f woneS, <^ nis neuer studeuest t "^ bitocne^ for hi
worldliche ]?inges ];et beo'S, ase J^e mone, euer ine chaunge. pesne
mone mot te wummon holden vmder hire uet :' worldliche hinges to
treden '^ forhowien, 'pe wule ]>e heouene arechen, "^ beon J'er ischrud
mid te so'Se sunne.
IV. pe ueor^e reisun is preoue of noblesce f of largesse. Noble
men "^ gentile ne bereS nout packes, ne ne uareS nout itrussed mid
a "Virginem matrein virgini commeudavit." — MS. Oxon.
'' hurtlinge. T, J>urlunge. C. "^ biwinnen. C.
•' hit. T. ^ scheomel. C. sehamel. T.
REASONS FOR RETIREMENT FROM THE WORLD. 167
prevented him, to relinquish maidenhood ? Yet, afterwards, he was
a maiden not the less pure ; and himself a maiden, a maiden was
given in charge to him to keep.^ " Virginem matrem virgini com-
mendavit." Now, as I say, this precious balsam in this brittle
vessel is virginity and purity in our brittle flesh, more brittle than
any glass ; which, if ye were in the world's crowd, ye might, from a
slight collision, lose entirelj^, like the unhappy people in the world
who jostle against each other and break their vessels and shed their
purity. And, therefore, our Lord thus addresses us : " In mundo
pressuram, in me autem pacem habebitis ; " '' leave the world and
come to me ; for there ye shall be in the crowd ; but rest and peace
are with me.
III. The third reason for fleeing from the world is the obtaining
of heaven. Heaven is exceedingly high ; and it is little enough that
she who wishes to gain it and arrive at it should cast all the world
under her feet. Wherefore, all the saints made all the world, as it
were, a footstool to their feet in order reach up to heaven. The
Apostle saith, " Vidi mulierem amictam sole, et luna sub pedibus
ejus.^^ '^ This is the saying of St. John the Evangelist, in the
Apocalypse ; I saw, saith he, a woman clothed with the sun, and the
moon under her feet. The moon waxeth and waneth, and is never
steadfast ; and is, therefore, a fit emblem of worldly things, which
are, like the moon, ever changing. This moon the woman must
hold under her feet ; she must trample upon and despise worldly
things, who wishes to arrive at heaven, and be clothed there with
the true sun.
IV . The fourth reason is, that it is a proof of nobleness and liberality.
Noblemen and gentlemen do not carry packs, nor go about trussed
with bundles, nor with purses. It belongs to beggars to bear bag
» St. John, xix. 26, 27. ^ Ibid. xvi. 33. <= Revelation, xii. 1.
168 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
trusseaus/ ne mid purses. Hit is beggares ^ rilite uorte beren bagge
on bac :^ j burgeises for to beren purses :f <^ nout Godes spuse, |>et is
lefdi of heouene. Trusseaus, <^ purses, baggen, <^ packes bee's alia
eor^liche weolen, "^ worldliclie renten.
V. pe vifte reisun is, noble men -^ wummen makie'S large relef.
Auh hwo mei makien largere relef ]?ene ]7e cSer ? peo ]?et sei'S mid
Seinte Peter, "Ecce nos reliquimus omnia j secuti sumus te."
Louerd^ for te voluwen J^e we liabbe^ al bileaued. Nis ]?is large
relef? Nis yis muchel loaue ? Mine leoue sustren, kinges <^ kai-
Folioizi. seres habbe'S liore bileoue of oure large relef J^et we habbe^ ileaned.
Louerd, forte uoluwen Jje, sei"S Seinte Peter, we habbe'S al bileaued t'
ase ]?auli he seide, We wulle^S folewen ]>e i^e muchele genterise of
Jjine largesse, pu leauedest to o^re men alle richesses, '^ makedest
relef of al, =f loaue ° so large :' we wulle^ foluwen ];e :' we wulle'S
don al so — bileauen al ase ]?u dudest, «^ foluwen J^e ec on eor'Se, '^
ine ]?et, "^ in o'Serhwat, uorte uoluwen ]7e ec into ]>e blisse of heo-
uene, f J'er jet oueral uoluwen ]7e hwuderward so })u euer wendest,
ase none ne muwen bute one meidenes. "Hii secuntur agnum
quocunque ierit, vtroque scilicet pede r' in integritate cordis et
corporis."
VI. pe sixte reisun is, hwui je habbe'S J^ene world ivlowen — fami-
liaritate : }>et is, uorte beon ^ priue mid ure Louerde. Vor ]nis he
seiS bi Osee, " Ducam te in solitudinem, J ibi loquar ad cor tuum."
Ich chulle leden ]?e, he seiS, ure Louerd, to his leofmon, into onliche
stude :! "? ter ich chulle luueliche speken to ];ine lieorte :' uor me is
lo'S presse. " Ego Dominus : et ciuitatem non ingrediar."
" trusses. C, •» beggilde. C. T. "^ leaue. C. T,
'' Faniiliai'itate : muche cu'Sredne, for to be. T. Desiderium familiaritatis cum
Deo. MS. Oxon.
REASONS FOR RETIREMENT FROM THE WORLD. 169
on back, and to burgesses to bear purses, and not to God's spouse,
who is the lady of heaven. Bundles, purses, bags, and packs are all
earthly wealth and worldly revenues.
V . The fifth reason is, that noble men and women give large alms.
But who may give larger alms than others ? They who say with
St. Peter, " Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et secuti sumus te." ^ Lord,
to follow thee, we have left all things. Is not this large alms ? Is
not this leaving much ? ]\Iy dear sisters, kings and emperors have
their nourishment ^ out of your large alms, which ye have left. Lord,
to follow thee, saith St. Peter, we have left all : as if. he had said.
We will follow thee in the great nobleness of thy liberality. Thou
didst leave to other men all riches, and gavest alms of all, and hast
left so large remains — we will follow thee ; we will do the same —
leave all as thou didst, and follow thee also on earth, both in this
and in other things, that we may follow thee likewise into the
blessedness of heaven, and there still follow thee every where
whithersoever thou goest, as none may but the pure only. " Hii
sequuntur agnum quocunque ierit," ° that is, with both feet— in
purity of heart and of body.
VI. The sixth reason why ye have fled from the world is fellow-
ship ; that is, to be in fellowship with our Lord. For thus he saith by
Hosea, "Ducam te in solitudinem, et ibi loquar ad cor tuum."'^ I
will lead thee, saith our Lord to his beloved, into a solitary place,
and there I will speak affectionately to thine heart ; for I dislike a
crowd. " I am the Lord ; and I will not enter into the city." ®
» St. Matt. xix. 27. '' Bigleofa. A.S. ' Revelations, xiv. 4.
<• Hosea, ii. 14. ^ Hosea, xi. 9.
CAMD. SOC. Z
170 REGULiE INCLUSARUM,
VI r. pe seoue^e reisun is, viorte beon ]?e brihture^ % te brilitluker
iseon ine heouene Godes bi'ihte nebscheft. For je beoS ivlowen J?ene
world, ■? hude^ ou her uor him. Eet ter teken ]7et je beon swifte
ase ]>e sumie gleam ^ uor je beo'S mid lesu Criste bitmid ase ine
sepulcre 7 bibarred, ase he was o'Se deore rode, ase is iseid J^er
uppe.
VIII . Ye eihtu^e reisnn is uorte habben cwike bone f* % loke^ nii
jeorne hwareuore. pe edmode cwene Hester J^e bitocne'S ancre r*
tior hire nome sei'S ase mucliel ase ihud on Englische leodene. Ase
me ret * in hire boc, heo was the kinge Assuer ouer alle icweme :' %
]7nruh hire bone he aredde of deaSe al hire uolc, ]?et was to dea'Se
idemed. pes nome Assuer is ispeled eadi, as is er iseid, % bitocne'S
God : eadi ouer alle. He jetteS Hester '^q cwene, j^et is, ]?e treowe
ancre, J?et is riht Hester, ]?e is riht ihud — he ihereS hire, °l jette'S
hire alle hire bonenr' % scheawe^ ]?uruh ham ]7et muche uolc, J,
monie schulden beon uorloren,^ ]7et beo'S J^uruh ]7er ancre bonen
iboruwen, ase weren ]?uruh Hesteres. Uor hwon ]7et heo beo
Hester, ? holde hire ase Hester dude, Mardocheus doubter. Mar-
docheus spele'S, "amare conterens impudentem :"' ]?et is, bitterliche
to-tredinde j^ene schomelease. Schomeleas is ];e mon o'Ser ]7eo
wummon \ei de'S eni untoweschipe, o'Ser s,q\^, biuoren ancren. Eif
eni ]?auh so do, % heo bj'eke bitterliche his untowe word, o'Ser his fol
deden ^ to-trede ham isigge, anonriht mid unwur'Se tellunge.
peonne is heo Hester, Mardochees doubter, bitterliche te-tredinde
)?ene schomelease. Bitterluker ne betere ne mei heo ham neuer
Folio ii. breken ];en is iteiht j^eruppe, mid, "Narraverunt milii r^" o'Ser mid
tisse uers : " Declinate a me maligni, et scrutabor mandata Dei
mei :"' and wende inward anon touward hire weouede :! % holde hire
et'home, ase dude Hester ]?e ihudde. Semei, as hit tellcS ine
regum, hefde dea^ ofearned : '^ auh he cried merci, 7 Salomon forjef
" red. C. redes. T.
'' "] sauue'S }>urli ham muche folc, moni sohulde beo forloren. O, T.
"^ ofserued. C. T.
A TRUE ANCHORESS COMPARED TO QUEEN ESTHER. 171
VI 1. The seventh reason is, thcat ye may be the brighter, and may
behold more clearly God's bright countenance in heaven ; because ye
have fled from the world, and hide yourselves here for his sake. Yet
more, there ye shall be swift as the sunbeam; because ye are shut up
with Jesus Christ as in a sepulchre, and imprisoned, as he was, on
the precious cross, as was said above.
Vlli. The eighth reason is, that your prayers may be fervent.
And now consider attentively why the meek Queen Esther — who be-
tokeneth anchoress, for her name signifieth as much as hidden in
English speech — as we read in her book, was more pleasino- than all
others to King Ahasuerus ; and through her praj^er he freed from death
all her people, who were doomed to death. Ahasuerus is interpreted
" blessed," as is said before, and betokeneth God, blessed above all.
He granteth to Esther tlie queen, that is, the true anchoress, the rioht
Esther, who is really hidden — he heareth her and granteth all lier
petitions, and shewcth thereby that much and many people would
have been lost who are saved through the prayers of anchoresses, as
they were through Esther's, when they are like Esther, and conduct
themselves as Esther the daughter of Mordecai did. Mordecai
signifieth "amare conterens impudentem," that is, bitterly tramplinor
uj)on the shameless. Shameless is the man or the woman that doth
or saith any thing indecent before an anchoress. Ifj however, any
one do so, and she interrupt bitterly his improper speech, or his
foolish deeds, let her trample upon them, I say, at once, with con-
tempt. Then is she Esther, Mordecai's daughter, bitterly trampling
upon the shameless. More bitterly nor better she cannot interrupt
than is said above,* with the words "The wicked have told me
foolish tales," &c. or with this verse, " Depart from me ye malignant,
and I will search the commandments of my God ;"'' and let her go in-
ward immediately toward her altar, and keep at home, as did Esther
the hidden. Shemei, as we are told in the Book of Kings, had deserved
■■ Page 97. '' Psalm cxix. 115.
172 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
hit him, jjauh ]7uruh swuche uorewarde J?et he heold him et hom ine
Jerusalem, ase he wunede, "? hudde ^ him in his huse t' 1: jif he
ouhwuder wende ut, swuc was ]7et foreward, ]?et he were eft al ful %
to dea^e idemed. He, ];auh, brec foreward ]?uruh his unseluh'Se :!
J his ]?relles etfluwen him ■? etbreken him ut, "? he uoluwe ham 11
wende ut efter ham. Hwat wiltu more ? He was sone iwreied ^ to
Folio 4i b. 1^6 kinge Salomon :' 1 for ]7et foreward was ibroken, he was idemed
to dea'Se. Understonde'S jeorne ]?is, mine leoue sustren : Semei
bitocne^S ]?e utwarde ancre — nout Hester |7e ihudde. Vor Semei
seiS audiens/ j^et is, iherinde, on ure leodene :f J>et is, ]7e ancre ]?et
haue^S asse earen, longe, uorte iheren ueor t' J?et is, axinde efter
ti'Singes.d Semei was in Jerusalem uorte huden hire }?erinne,® pf
he wolde libben. pis word Jerusalem, spele'S sih"Se of peis,^ J
bitocne^ ancre hus :' vor j^erinne ne ]?erf heo iseon bute peis ^ one.
Ne beo neuer Semei, 'pet is, j^e recluse, so swu'Se agult ^ touward |?e
so'Se Salomon, j^et is, ure Louerd. Holde hire et home, ine Jeru-
salem, 'pet heo nowiht ne wute^ of the worldes baret, J Salomon
jetted hire bli^eliche his ore. Auh jif heo entermete'S hire of
Jjinges wi'Suten, more 'pen heo ]?urue,^ ■? hire heorte beo wiSuten,
]?auh, ase a clot of eor^e, ]7et is, J^auh hire licome beo wi^innen pe
uour woawes, heo is iwend mid Semei vt of Jerusalem, al so ase he
dude, efter his J?relles. peos ];relles beo'S hire eSele vif wittes, ]?et
schulden beon et home, '? seruen liore lefdi. peonne heo serue'S wel
pe ancre hore lefdi hwon heo noteS ham alle wel in hire soule neode :
liwomie pe eien is o^e boc, oSer o sum oSer god r' ]>e earen to Godes
wordes :' pe muS to holi beoden. Ant jif heo wit ham vuele, *? let
ham |>uruh jemeleaste, etfleon hire seruise, J foluwen ham utwardes
mid hire heorte — ase hit biualle^ euere mest j^et go ];et wit ut j^e
" wunene 'j dude. T, •> forwreied. T. forwreiset. C.
'^ rumores audiens. MS. Oxon. '' ji hercni'S efter ut runes. C.
' Semeis stude was in Jerusalem, "p he sehulde in huiden him.
f stude of pes. T. sich'Se of gri'5. C.
K gri«. C. '■ forgult. C. 'J'.
' ne wite. T. iiute. C. ■* )5ur5e. C. Jmrte. T.
A WORLDLY ANCHORESS COMPARED TO SHEMEI. 173
death : but he implored mercy, and Solomon forgave him, yet upon
the condition that he should keep at home in Jerusalem where he
dwelt, and liide himself in his house ; and if he went forth any
whither, such was the covenant, that he should then be again guilty,
and condemned to death. He unfortunately, however, brake the
covenant ; for his bond-servants ran away and escaped from him,
and he pursued them and went out after them.^ What wouldest
thou more ? He was soon betrayed to King Solomon, and because
the covenant was broken, he was doomed to death. Understand
this well, my dear sisters : Shemei betokeneth the outward anchoress ;
not Esther the hidden. For Shemei signifieth " audiens," that is,
hearing, in our language; and it means the anchoress who hath
ass's ears, long, to hear from far ; that is, asking after tidings.
Shemei was in Jerusalem, upon condition of hiding himself
therein, if he wished to live. This word, Jerusalem signifieth
" sight of peace," and betokeneth a monastery ; because nothing-
ought to be seen therein but peace only. Never let Shemei, that is,
the recluse, so greatly offend the true Solomon, that is, our Lord.
Let her stay at home in Jerusalem, that she may know nothing of
the turmoil of the world; and Solomon will gladly grant her his
grace. But, if she intermeddle with external things more than she
need, and her heart be without ; though her body, like a clod of
earth, be within the four walls, she is gone forth with Shemei, out
of Jerusalem, just as he did after his bond-servants. Those bond-
servants are her five natural senses, which ought to be at home and
serve their lady. Then she serveth well the anchoress her lady,
when she useth them all rightly for the profit of her soul, when
the eyes are upon the book, or upon some other good work, the
ears attentive to God's words, the mouth in pious prayers. And
if she guard them ill, and let them, through heedlessness, run away
from her service, and follow tliem abroad with her heart — as it most
frequently happens that if the sense go out the heart goeth out after
■' 1 Kings, ii. 36 — 4(3.
174 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
heorte ge^ ut efter — heo breke^ Salomon uoreward, mit te unseli
Semei, and is to dea^e idemed.
Uor]?ui, mine leoue sustren, ne beo je nout Semei, auh bee's
Hester "beo ihudde, % je sclmlen beon iheied i'Se blisse of heouene.
Folio 45. Vor be nome of Hester ne seiS nout one, " abscondita," J>et is, nout
one ilmd, auh de^S j^er teken, " eleuata in populis," ];et is, iheied ine
uolke r' "? so was Hester, ase hire nome cwidde'S ^ — iheied to cwene,
of one poure meidene. I]?isse worde, Hester, beo-S hudunge %
heinesse boSe iueied togederes :! ant nout one heinesse, auh heinesse
of folke, vorte scheawen so-Shche J^et heo ^ l^et hudeiS ham ariht in
hore ancre huse, heo schulen beon ine heouene, ouer o^er kunnes
folke, wur^liche iheied. Bo'Se Hesteres nome *? hire heiunge
preoue-S so^S )?et ich sigge. An o^er half, understonde-S J^et je beo^
in Jerusalem :! % tet je beo^ ivlowen to chirche griSe :^ uor nis non
of ou \et nes sume chere Godes ]?eof. Me awaite^S ou, J^et wute je
ful jeorne, wi'Suten, as me de^ j^eoues ]?et beo"S ibroken to chirche.
Auh holde^ ou ueste inner' nout te bodi one, uor ]?et is ]?et unwurSeste,
auh ower vif wittes, % te heorte ouer alle J^ing, J al J?er ])e soule lif
is.« Vor beo heo bistepped ^ ]7er ute, nis )7er ];eonne buten leden
hire uor^S touward ^ ]>e waritreo of helle. Beo^ of dredde, % ofFeared
of eueriche monne, al so ase ]?e ]?eof is, leste he drawe ou utward,
bet is, biswike ou o sume wise, % awaitie uorte worpen upon ou his
crokes.^ Biseche'S jeorne God, ase ]?eof ]?et is ibroken to chirche,
]?et he wite % wardie ou urom ^ alle |7eo ];et ou awaite^S. Cheatere^
ouwer beoden euere, ase sparuwe de-<S ]?et is one. Vor J^is one is
iseid of onliche Hue, 1 of onliche stude, ]7er me mei beon Hester ]?e
ihudde ^ ut of ]?e worlde :! J don betere ]?ene ine grunge euerich
gostlich bijeate:^ 1 for ]?i efneS Dauid ancre to pelJican, }»et let
onlich lif, ant to sparuwe, ]?et is one.
" cu'Se'5. C. cwi«-5. T. •> j'eo. C, teo. T.
c is inne. T. '' bitrappet. T. bitreppet. C,
<! touward te galhefoi-ke. T, galcforke. C.
' hore clokes. T. hise cleches. C. '■' \vib\ T. C.
ANCHORESSES LIKE CRIMINALS FLEEING TO SANCTUARY. 175
it — she breaketh Solomon's covenant, with the unfortunate Shemei,
and is doomed to death.
>Ylierefore, my dear sisters, be not ye Shemei, but be Esther
the hidden, and ye shall be exalted in the blessedness of heaven.
For the name of Esther signifieth not only " abscondita," that is,
not only hidden, but, moreover, " elevata in populis," that is,
exalted among the people ; and Esther, as her name saith, was so
exalted to be queen from being a poor maiden. In this word Esther,
hiding and highness are both conjoined ; and not highness only, but
highness among people, to shew truly that they who hide themselves
rightly in their monastery, shall be w^orthily exalted m heaven above
other people. Both Esther's name and her exaltation prove what
I say to be true. And now, consider that ye are in Jerusalem ;
and that ye have fled to the sanctuary of the church ; for there is not
one of you who has not, at some time, been a thief against God.
Men are waiting for you, of that be ye well assured, without, as
they do for thieves who have fled for refuge to church. But keep
close within, not only your body, for that is least worthy, but your
five senses, and your heart above all, and that in which is all the
life of the soul. For, if it has stepped without, it has then only to
be led forth toward the gallows-tree of hell. Be in fear and di'ead
of every man, as much as the thief is, lest he draw you without,
that is, deceive you in some way, and lie in wait that he may lay his
clutches upon you. Fervently pray to God, like a thief who has
fled for refuge to the church, to keep and protect you from all those
who He in wait for you. Be always chirping your prayers, as the
sparrow doth that is alone. For this word, alone, is said of solitary
life, and of a solitary place, where one may be Esther the hidden —
out of the world — and acquire, better than in the crowd, every
spiritual good ; and, therefore, David compareth an anchoress to the
pelican, which leads a solitary life, and to the sparrow, that is alone.
176 REGUL^ INCLUSAEUM.
Folio 45 h. Sparuwe bane's jet one kunde ]>et is swn'Se bihene to ancre, J^anb
me bit batie, ]7et is ];et falHnde vuel. Vor mucbe neod is ]?et ancre,
of bobe bue, J, of beie, babbe ]>ei falbnde vuel pet vnel ne sigge
icb nout ]7et me so cleope'S :! aub falbnde vuel icb cleopie licomes
sicnesse, o^er temptacimi of licomes fondunge,^ liwar ]?urnb bire
J?uncbe ]?et beo ualle adnneward of holie beibnesse. Heo wolde
elles awilegen,'' o^er leten to wel of bire suluen, 1 so iwur^en to
nout. pet flescbs wolde awiligen % bicomen to ful itowen touward
bire lefdi, jif bit nere ibeaten :! J makien sic ]?e soule, jif sicnesse ne
temede ]?et bodi mid vuele, ne ]>ene gost mid sunne. Eif nou-Ser of
bore nere sec, ase bit bitune^ ° selde, borbel wolde awakien :! "j^et is,
]?e meste dredful secnesse of alle secnesses, Eif God fonde'S ancre
mid eni vuel wiSuten rf o^er, ]?e ueond wi'Sinnen mid gostlicbe
un^eauwes, ase prude, wreSSe, onde, o'Ser mid flescbes lustes — heo
baue^ ]>et fallinde vuel, ]7et me seiS ];et is sparuwe vuel. God bit
wule, uor]?m J^et beo beo euer edmod ; t mid loub boldunge of bire
suluen, valle to j^er eorSe, leste beo beo prud.
]Vu we burte'S, ^ leoue sustren, to tbe ueor^e dole, ]?et icb seid
scbulde beon of feole uondunges. Vor ]>er beo^S uttre J inre; If
ei^er is moniuold. Salue icb bibet to tecben ou tojeines bam, "?
bote ; ■? bwu bwose baueS bam mei gederen of ]>isse dole froure f
cumfort ajeines bam alle. pet icb, ];urub J^e lore of ]>e Hob Goste,
mote bolden ou voreward, be bit jettie ® me }>urub ower bone.
a secnesse T tfSer flesches fondunges. C. '' awilden. C.
"^ tune'S. C. '' liitte^ [hvvet]. C. hurten. T.
^ getti [graunte].
A SENSE OF FRAILTY NECESSARY TO HUMILITY. 177
The s^iaiTow liatli yet another property which is very good for an
anchoress, although it is hated : that is, the falling sickness. For
it is very necessary that an anchoress of holy and highly pious life
have the falling sickness. I do not mean the sickness which is
commonly so called ; but that wdiich I call falling sickness is an
infirmity of the bod}', or temptation of carnal frailty, by wdiich slie
seems to herself to fall down from her holy and exalted piety. She
would otherwise grow presumptuous, or have too good an opinion
of herself, and so come to nothing. The flesh would rebel and
become too insubordinate towards its mistress, if it were not beaten,
and would make the soul sick, if sickness did not subdue the body
with disease, nor the spirit with sin. If neither of these were sick —
which is seldom the case — pride would awaken, which is the most
dangerous of all sicknesses. If God try an anchoress with any
external evil; or, the enemy within, with spiritual disorders, as
pride, wrath, envy, or with the lusts of the flesh, she hath the
falling sickness, which is said to be the sparrows' infirmity. God
so walls it, in order that she may be always hnmble ; and, with low
estimation of herself, fall to the earth, lest she become proud.
JVow, dear sisters, we hit upon the fourth part, wdiich I said
should be of many temptations. For there are external and internal
trials, and many sorts of each. I promise to teach you a safeguard
against them, and a remedy ; and how any one who hath them may
gather, from this division, comfort and consolation against them all.
That I, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, may keep my engage-
ment to you, may He grant to me through your prayer.
CAMD. soc. 2 A
178 KEGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
[Incipit QuARTA Pars liujns operis, quoe est cle multis
temptationibus exterioribus et interioribus.] ^
Foho 46. J>Jg vvene non of lieie Hue J^et lieo ne beo itemptecl. More \>qo^
be gode ]7et bee's iclumben an heih itempted J^en beon J^e woke : ^ 7
bet is god riht. Vor euer so J>e hul is more ? lierre, so ]7e wind is
more I'eron. Se \q hul is more % herre of holie line 1: of lieie, se \q
Tieondes puffes, ]?et beo^ ];e windes of fondunges, bee's strengure
]7eron ? more. Eif eni ancre is ]?et ne veleS none nondnnges, swu'S
drede hire iSet point, ]7et hco beo oner mnchel 7 oner swu'Se ivonded.
Vor so Seint Gregorie sei^ : " Tunc maxime impugnaris, cum te
impugnari non sentis." Sik mon liaue'S two swu^e dredfule aestaz :
bet on is hwon he ne ivele'S nout his owune sicknesse r^ % for ]>i he
ne seche'S nout leche, ne lechecraft ^ ne ne aske'S none monne red, 7
astorue"<S uerhche er me lest wene. pis is Jje ancre ]7et not nout
hwat is fondunge. To J^eos speke'S ye engel i'Se A})ocalipse, J, sei'S,
" Dicis quod dives sum, "? nullius egeo, ? nescis quod miser es, 7
nudus, ? pauper, *? cecus." pu seist ^et te nis no need medicine :
auh ]>u ert blind iheorted, % ne isihst nout hwu ]?u ert poure % naked
of holinesse, 1! gostliche wrecche. pet o'Ser dredful aestat ]jet te
sike haueS is al urommard Jnsse. pet is hwon he ivelcS so muchel
anguise J^et ne ne mei i'Solien ]7et me hondle his sor, ne ]?et me hine
heale. pet is sum ancre ]?et ivelcS so swu'Se hire uondunges, % is
so sore of-dred of ham, ]7et no gostlich cumfort ne mei hire gledien, ne
makien hire to understonden ]?et lieo muwe 7 schule ]>uruh ham ]?e
betere beon iboruwen. Ee, ne telle'S hit iSe gospelle bi God sulf
bet te Holi Gost ledde ure Louerd into onliche stude to leaden onlich
Foho 46 1. ]jf ffjy ^Q beon itempted of J^e unwine, of helle ? Auh his temptaciun,
|7et ne muhte smiegen,*= was one wi^uten sunne.
MS. O.von. *» wake. T. C. "^ 15 ne mulite ruine liim. T,
PAKT IV. OF TEMP*TATIONS. 179
[Here beginneth the Fourth Part of the work, which is con-
cerning many temptations, external and internal.]
Ldct not any one of remarkably pious life think that she may not
be tempted. The good, who have reached a high degree of virtue,
are more tempted than the frail : and there is good reason for it ;
for the greater and higher the hill is, there is the more wind upon it.
As the hill of holy and pious life is greater and higher, so the fiend's
puffs, which are the winds of temptations, are stronger thereon and
more frequent. If there is any anchoress who feeleth no tempta-
tions, let her dread greatly on that point, lest she should be too
much and too strongly tempted. For so saith St. Gregory : " Tunc
maxime impugnaris, cum te impugnari non sentis.^' A sick man
hath two alarming states. The one is when he doth not feel his own
sickness ; and therefore seeketh not a physician nor medicine, nor
asketh any man's advice, and dieth suddenly before any one ex-
pecteth it. This is the anchoress who does not know what
temptation is. To such the angel speaketh in the Revelation, and
saith : " Dicis quod dives sum, et nullius cgeo ; et nescis quod miser
es, et nudus, et pauper, et caecus." * Thou sayest that thou needest
no medicine ; but thou art blind-hearted, and seest not that thou art
poor and naked of holiness, and spiritually wretched. The other
alarming state which the sick man hath, is quite the opposite of this.
It is when he feeleth so much pain that he cannot bear that any one
should touch his sore, or apply a remedy to it. Tliis is an anchoress
who feeleth her temptations so forcibly, and is so sore afraid of them,
that no spiritual comfort can gladden her, nor make her to under-
stand that she may and shall, through them, be the better saved.
Nay, is it not recorded in the Gospel by God himself, that the Holy
Spirit led our Lord into a solitary place to lead a solitary life, that
he might be tempted of the hellish adversary ? But his temptation,
who might not sin, was alone without sin.
* Revelation, iii. 17.
180 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Understonde'S ]7eonne an aire uormest, leoue sustren, ]?et two
manere temptaciuns — two kunne uondunges — beo^S ^ vttre J. inre ^
7 bo'Se beo'S feoleuold. Vttre uondunge is liwarof clime's likunge
oSer mislikunge, wi^uten o'Ser wi^innen. Mislikunge wiSuten —
ase sicnesse, meseise, scheorae, vnhep, 1 euericli licomliclie derf ]>et
eileS be vlesche. Mislikunge wiSinnen — ase heorte sor, grome, %
wre'S Se. Also onont l^et lieo is ^ likunge wiSuten, ase licomes lieale,
mete, druncli, 7 cloth inouh, % eueriches flesclies eise anont ^ swuche
j^inges. Likunge wi^innen — ase sum uals gledschipe, o'Ser of monne
hereword, oSer jif me is iluued more ]?en ano'Ser, 7 more ioluhned,"
more idon god, o'Ser menske. peos dole of Jjisse temptaciun |7et is
uttre icleoped, is swikelure ]7en ]?e o^er half. Bo^e bee's J^auh o
temptaciun :^ 7 ei^er wi'Sinnen ? wi^uten, boSe of hire two dolen.
Auh lieo is uttre icleoped, uor heo is euer o'Ser of J^ing ^ wiSuten
o^er of J'ing wiSinnen, 7 te uttre ]?ing is ];e uondunge. peos
fondunges cume'S o'Serhules of God, 7 oSerhules of mon :^ fondunge
of God — ase of frendes deaSe, 7 sicnesse on ham, o'Ser o \n sulf :'
pouerte, mishep, 7 oSer swuche i heale also and eise. Fondunge of
nion — ase mislich wouh,® o'Ser of worde o'Ser of werke, o be, o'Ser
o]7ine : alse hereword, o'Ser goddede. peos cumeS also of God, auh
nout ase do's ]?e o^re, wiSuten euerich middel ^ auh mid alle he
uondeS mon hu he him drede 7 luuie. Inre vondunges beoS mis-
Fviioil. liche: un^eauwes, o'Ser lust touward ham :^ o'Ser swikele J^ouhtes,
l^et Jjunche-S ^ J^auh gode. peos inre vondunges kume^S of ]>q ueonde,
o^er of ]7e worlde, 7 o'Serhwule of ure vlesche. To J^e uttre tempta-
ciun is need pacience, }?et is ]?olemodnesse. To ]?e inre is need
wisdom 7 gostlich strenc^e. We schulen nu speken of J»e uttre
vondunge, 7 techen J^e j^et habbetS hire, hu heo muwen, mid Godes
grace, ivinden remedie; J^et is elne, ajeines hire to vrouren ham
suluen.
« is ipinet. T. ^ on euent. T. c ^^j-g jiguet. T.
^ is eauer cwint. C. ^ ase mislicunge of J?ocht. C. ' semen.
TEMPTATIONS OUTWARD AND INWARD. 181
Jvnow then, dear sisters, first of all, that there are two sorts of
temptations — two kinds of trials — external and internal — and both
are manifold. External temptation is that fi'om which come things
pleasing or displeasing — without or within. Displeasing without —
as sickness, want, shame, mishap, and every bodily hurt that is
painful to the flesh. Displeasing within — as grief of heart, anger,
and wrath. Likewise, in regard to what is pleasing without — as
health of body, food, drink, and sufficient clothing, and every thing
of this kind that is agreeable to the flesh. Pleasing without — as
any false joy, either from the praise of men, or if one is more
beloved, more caressed, more benefited, or honoured than another.
The part of this temptation which is called exterior is more
deceiving than the other part. Both are, however, one temptation ;
and each within and without — both of them two parts. And it is
called exterior, because it is always either of a thing without, or of a
thing within; and the exterior thing is the temptation.^ These
temptations come sometimes from God, and sometimes from man.
Temptation from God — as the death of friends, and the sickness of
them, or of thyself, poverty, mishap, and such things, also health
and wealth. Temptation from man — as any kind of wrong, either
by word or deed to thee or thine ; likewise praise, or deed of
kindness. These come also from God, but not as the others do,
without any intermediate cause ; and with all of them he trieth man,
to find how he fears and loves him. Inward temptations are of
various kinds — immoral indulgences, or the desire of them, fraudu-
lent designs which, nevertheless, seem just. These inward tempta-
tions come from the devil, or from the world, and sometimes from
our flesh. To resist the outward temptations, there is need of
patience, that is, of meek resolution. To resist the inward, there is
need of wisdom and spiritual strength. We are now to speak of the
outward temptation, and to teach those who are subject to it how
* " Ambce sunt interius et exterius ; sed vocatur exterius (juia est in re vel de re exteriori;
et res dicitur temptatio." — MS. Oxon.
182 REGULiE INCLUSAKUM.
"Jjeatus uir qui sufFert temptationem f' quoniam cum probatus
fuerit, accipiet coronam vitse quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se."
Eadi is lie oSer lieo, t iseli, ];et haue'S J;olomodnesse in temptaciun ^
vor hwon heo is ipreoued, hit seiS, heo scbal beon ikruned mid te
crune of liue |;et God haue^ bihoteu bis icorene. Hwon beo is
ipreoued bit seiS : a wel ^ is bit iseid t Vor al so preoue'S God bis
icorene ase ]?e goldsmi'S fonde^ ]>et gold iSe fure. pet false gold
vorwur'Se'S ];erimie :' J tet gode gold kumeS ut brihtere. Sicnesse is
a brune, vorte ]?olien bot.'^
Sicnesse J?et God send :' aub nout J»et sum keccbeS "^ jniruh liire
owune dusiscbipe. Vor moni make^ bire sec j^urub bire fol
berdiscbipe :' aub ]ns miscweme'S God. Aub sicnesse ]?et God sent
de^S Jjeos six ];inges — wascbe^ ]?eo sunnen J>et weren er iwroubte :'
warde'S ^ to jein J>eo ]>et weren ® touwardes :' preoue^ pacience i'
bait ine edmodnesse :! % mucbele'S ]7e mede ^ J efne'S ]7ene ]7olemode
to martir. pus is sicnesse soule lecbe/ 1i salue of bire wunden, "?
scbeld, ]?et beo ne keccbe'S mo, ase God seiS ]?et beo scbolde, jif
sicnesse ^ bit ne lette. Sicnesse makeS mon to understonden bwat
Folio 47 b. be is, t to icnowen bim suluen, % ase god meister, bet mon vorte
leornen wel bu militi is god, 7 bu vrakel is j^e worldes blisse. Sic-
nesse is ]7e goldsmi^ J^et i'Se blisse of heouene ouergulde'S ]?ine crune.
So ]?e sicnesse is more, se Jje goldsmi'S is bisegure r' 15 so lengre beo
ilest, se be brilite'S bire swu^ure r' vorte beon martirs efning, J>urub
a wilninde ^ wo. Hwat is more grace to ]?eo j^et befden ofearned J^e
pinen of belle world a buten ende? Nolde me tellen him aire
monne dusigest, ]?et forsoke enne buffet, uor one speres wunde — ane
» for wel. '' — hat; ach nan fur ne clense'5 \>e gold, as hit deS J^e saule. C.
•^ leche'5. C. ekes. T. ^ weornec). C.
* beo'S. C. f saulene heale. C.
K gef nere seelmesse "). C. '' hwilinde. C.
GOOD EFFECTS OF SICKNESS. 183
they may, with God's grace, find a remedy ; namely, self-command,
to support them mider it.
" iJeatus vir qui sufFert tentationem, quoniam cum probatus
fuerit, accipiet coronam vitse, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se." ^
Blessed is he, or she, and happy, who hath patience in temptation ;
for when she is tried, it is said. She shall be crowned with the crown
of life, which God hath promised to his elect. When she is tried,
it is said — and it is well said — For God so trieth his elect, as the
gold in the fire. The false gold perisheth therein, but the good gold
Cometh out brighter. Sickness is a fire which is patiently to be
endured [but no fire so purifieth the gold as it doth the soul] ^
Sickness which God sends ; but not that which some catch
through their own folly. For many make themselves sick through
their fool-hardiness : and this displeaseth God. But the sickness
which God sends doth these six things : it washeth away the sms
that have been formerly committed ; it guardeth against those that
are likely to be committed ; it trieth patience ; preserveth humility ;
increaseth the reward ; and maketh the patient sufferer equal to a
martyr. Thus is sickness the physician of the soul, and heals its
wounds, and protects from receiving more ; as God saitli that it
should, if sickness did not prevent it. Sickness maketh man to
understand what he is, and to know himself; and, like a good master,
it corrects a man, to teach him how powerful God is, and how frail
is the happiness of this world. Sickness is the goldsmith who, in
the blessedness of heaven, gildeth thy crown. The greater the
sickness is, the busier is the goldsmith ; and the longer it lasteth,
the more exceedingly doth he brighten it ; that they may be equal
to martyrs through temporal suffering. What greater favour can
there be to those wdio had deserved the pains of hell world without
end? Would not he be accounted of all men the most foolish, 'who
refused a buffet, instead of a spear's wound — a needle's pricking, for
" St. James, i. 12. ^ T. C.
184 EEGULiE INCLUSAKUM.
nelde prikunge, uor ane bihefdunge — ane beatimge, uorte beon
anhonged ^ on helle waritreo world a buten ende ? God hit wot,
leoue sustren, al ]?et wo of ]?isse worlde iefned to helle aire leste pine,
al nis bute ase bal pleowe.^ Alnis nout so muche ase a Intel Seawes
drope a^ean ]?e brode see, ? alle ]?e worldes wateres. pe ]>et mei
]7eonne etsterten ]7et ilke grislich wo, *? ]?eo atelich° pinen, J?uruh
sicnesse ]?et ageS, ]niruh eni vnel ]?et her is, seliliche mei heo siggen.
An o'Ser half, leorne'S her moninolde uronren a^an Jje nttre
vondunge, ]?et cume'S of monnes vuel : vor ]?eos ]>et ich habbe iseid
of, is of Godes sonde. Hwose ener mis-sei'S ]7e, oSer mis-de'S "pe,
nim jeme "? understond ]>et he is ]7i uile,^ 7 uile'S awei al ]n rust, 1:
al yi ruwe of ]?ine sunnen :'^ 7 he uret^ him suluen, weilawei ! ase ]?e
uile de'S :! auh he make's ]7e smeSe, ant brihte^ ]?ine sonle.
An o^er wise, j^ench ^et ]?et hwose euer herme'S ]>e, o'Ser eni wo
de'S he, scheome, grome, oSer teone — ]?ench }?et he is Godes jerd, H
Foiw 48. tet God bet ]?e mid him, "? chaste^, ase ueder de^ his leoue child,
mid ter jerde. Uor so he sei^ ];et he de'S, ]>uruh sein Johannes
mu^, i'Se Apocalipse: "Ego quos amo arguo et castigo." Ne bet
he nenne mon bute hwamso he luue'S, J halt for his childe, nanmore
l>en ]?u woldest beaten a ureomede ^ child ]>auh hit agulte. Auh, ne
lete he nout wel of ]?et he is Godes jerde. Vor ase ]?e ueder hwon
he bane's inouh ibeaten his child, 7 haueS ituht hit wel, he wprpe'S
be jerd into j^e fure r' uor heo is nouht nanmore :f al so ]?e ueder of
heouene, hwon he haue'S ibeaten wel mid one unwreste monne oSer
wummon his leoue child uor his gode,*^ he worpcS j)e jerd into be
fure of helle r^ J?et is, ]?en unwreste mon. Vor ]>{ he sei^ elles
hwar : " Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam :' " ]?et is, min is be
» a lute beatinge for a hengiiige. T. '' bute a ploge. C.
'^ etieliche. C. atterliche. T. ^ — file, j> lorimers liabben. T.
' of J^i ruch^e sunnen. C. ti ruhe of sunne. T. ' frettes. T.
s fremde. T. " suite. T.
man's wickedness a chastening rod in god's hand. 185
a beheading — a beating, instead of being hanged on the gallows
of hell, world without end ? God knows, dear sisters, all the woe
of this world compared to the very least pain of hell is nothing but
ball-play. It is all not so much as a small drop of dew to the broad
sea and all the waters of the world. She, therefore, who may
escape that fearful state of suffering, and those awful pains, through
a sickness that passeth away, through any evil of the present life,
may call herself happy.
On the other hand, learn now many remedies against the out-
ward temptation, which proceeds from the wickedness of man. For
that of which I have already spoken is of God's sending. Whoso-
ever harmeth thee by word or deed, consider and understand that he
is thy file, and fileth away all thy rust, and all the roughness of thy
sins ; and though he wears himself away, unhappy man ! as the file
doth, yet, he maketh thee smooth and brighteneth thy soul.
Again, reflect, that whosoever harmeth thee, or mflicteth upon
thee any wrong, shame, anger, or suffering — reflect, that he is God's
rod ; and that God, beats thee with him, and chasteneth, as a father
doth his dear child, with the rod. For thus he saith that he doth,
by the mouth of St. John, in the Revelation,'* " As many as I love,
I rebuke and chasten." He beateth no man but him whom he
loveth and accounteth his child, any more than thou w^ouldst beat a
strange child, though it were naughty. But, let him not think well
of himself because he is God's rod. For, as the father, wdien he
hath sufficiently beaten his child, and hath well chastised him,
casteth the rod into the fire, because he is naughty no longer ; so,
the Father of Heaven, when he, by means of a bad man or woman,
hath beaten his dear child for his good, casteth the rod, that is, the
bad man, into the fire of hell. Wherefore, he saith in another place ;
" Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam ; " that is, Mine is vengence, and
I will repay ; as if he had said : Avenge not yourselves, nor bear ill
w'ill, nor curse when any one offends you, but immediately reflect
« iii. 19.
CAMD. SOC. 2 B
186 REGULiE INCLU8ARUM.
wreche, 7 ich cliulde * jelden :' ase ]?auh he seicle, Ne wrekie je nout
ou sulueii, lie ne griicclie je nout, ne ne warien hwon me agulte'S
to ou :' auh ]?enclieS anon J'et lie is ower uederes jerde, 1: J'et lie
wule jelden him jerde seruise. And nis ]?et child fulitowen ]7et
schrepeS^ ajean, "? bit upon Jje jerde? Auh ]7et debonere child
hwon hit is ibeaten, jif ]?e ueder hat hit, cussed ]7e jerd. And je
don al so, mine leoue sustren :' vor so hat owr ueder ou, ]?et ^e
cussen, nout mid muS, auh mid luue of heorte, J^eo ]?et he ou inide
beate^. " Diligite inimicos vestros ^ benefacite hiis qui oderunt
vos :" 7 orate pro persequentibus ? calumniantibus vos." pis is
Godes lieste, j^et him is muchele leouere J^en ]?et tu ete gruttene
bread, o'Ser werie lierde here. Luuie^ ouwer uoamen,'' he sei-S, °i
do's god, jif je muwen, to ]?eo ]?et ou weorre'S :f and jif je elles
ne muwen, bidde'S jeorne uor ]?eo ]?et ou eni vuel ^ do's cSer mis-
sigge'S. Ant, ase J^e apostle lere'S, ne jelde neuer vuel uor god, auh
euer god for vuel, ase dude ure Louerd sulf, 'i alle his haluwen.^
Folio 48 h. Eif je do'S ]?us Godes heste, }>eonne beo je his liendi ^ children J7et
cusse'S ]?e jerden j^et he haueS ou mid iSrosschen. Nu, seiS sum,
o'Serhwule, his soule o^er hire ^ icli cliulle wel luuien, auh his bodi
o none wise : auh 'pet nis nout to siggen. pe soule ant te licome nis
bute o mon, "? bo^e ham itit o ^ dom. Wult tu to-dealen pet God
haue^ isompned ? He uorbeot hit, J ser8, " Quod Deus conjunxit
homo ne separet." Ne wur^e non so wod pet he to-deale J^et J^ing
]7et God bane's isompned.^
penche'S jet Jjisses weis r' ]?et a child, jif hit spume's o suinme
bing, o'Ser hurteS him, me bet ]?et ]?iiig l?et hit hurtcS on, "? ]?et
child is wel ipaied, "? forjited al his hurt, 1: stilled his teares. Vor]7i,
froure'S ou sulf: " Letabitur Justus cum viderit vindictam." God
• min is te wrake, T ich wile. T. '' schindle'5. C. scratte^. T.
« fa men. C. "^ eil. C. T. « hali halhes. T.
f hende. T. « hires. T. "» tidetJan. C.
' ifeiget. C. ifeiet. T.
LOVE AND OBEDIENCE BETTER THAN HARD PENANCE. 187
that lie is your father's rod, and that he will pay him what is due
for his rod-service. And is not that an ill-behaved child that
scratches again and bites tlie rod ? But the good child, when
beaten, if his father bid him, kisseth the rod. And do ye the same,
my dear sisters, for so your Father commandeth you, that ye kiss,
not with mouth, but with heart-love, those whom he beateth you
with. " Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you : and
pray for them that persecute and calumniate you." ^ This is God's
commandment, which is much more acceptable to him than that thou
eat bread made of grit, or wear hard hair-cloth. Love your foemen,
he saith, and do good, if ye have power, to those who fight against
you ; and if you cannot do any thing else, pray earnestly for those
who do or say any evil against you. And, as the Apostle teacheth,
return never evil for good, but alwaj's good for evil, as our Lord
himself did, and all his saints. If ye thus do God's commandment,
then are ye his dutiful children, who kiss the rods, wherewith he
hath thrashen you. Now, some one may perhaps say, his or her
soul I will love well, but by no means his body ; but this is saying
nothing at all. The soul and the body are but one man, and one
doom betides them both. Wilt thou separate what God hath joined
together ? Let no man be so mad as to put asmider that which God
hath joined together.
Reflect again thus ; that if a child stumble against any thing, or
hurt himself, men beat the thing that he hurteth himself upon,
and the child is well pleased, and forgetteth all his hurt, and stoppeth
his tears. Wherefore, take comfort to yourselves ; " The righteous
shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance." '' On the day of Judg-
ment, God will do as if he said, " Daughter, did this person hurt thee ?
Did he cause thee to stumble in wrath, or in grief of heart, in shame,
» St. Luke, vi. 27, 28. ^ Psalm Iviii. 10.
188 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
schal don a domesdei, ase J^auh lie seide, " Doubter,* liurte ]7es ]7e ?
Makede he ];e spurnen ine wreSSe o'Ser ine heorte sor,^ ine scheonie,
o'Ser ine teone ? Loke, douhter, loke liu he hit schal abuggen, ant
J^er je scbulen iseon bunsen ° ham mit tes deofles bettles, ]7et wo
schall ham been aliue.*^ And je schulen beon wel ipaied ]?erof, vor
ower wil 7 Godes wil schal beon so iveied j^et je schulen and wulle^
al |;et he euer wule, % he al }»et je euer wulle^.
Ouer alle o'Ser ]?ouhtes, in alle ower passiuns, J^enche^ euer
inwardliche up o Godes pinen, — ]?et te worldes weldinde wolde, uor
his ]7relles, J^olien swuche schendlakes 7 hokeres :! bufFetes, spot-
lunge, blindfellunge, J?ornene crununge, jjet set him i'Set heaued, so j^et
]>& blodi streames urnen adun :!^ J, bileaueden his swete bodi ibunden
naked to \e herde pilere, ant ibeaten so ]7et tet deorewur'Se ^ blod
Folio 49. orn adun on euerich halue ^ — J^et attri drunc j^et me jef him, J^eo
him ]?urste o rode, If hore hefden sturiunge s upon him, ]7eo on
hokerunge jeieden ^ so lude. Lo ! he her ]?et healede oSre, lo ! hu
he healed nu % helpeS him suluen. Tunic's ];eruppe ]?er icli spec
Im he was ipined in alle his fif wittes :^ 7 efiie^ al ower wo, sicnesse,
*? oSerhwat, % wouh of worde oSer of werke, "? al ];et mon mei
]?olien, ]7ertec al he ]?olede, % je schulen lihtlie iseon hu Intel hit
recche^,' nomeliche, jif je j^enche'S ]?et he was al loSIeas :! J J^et he
J^olede al J^is nout for him suluen, uor he lie agulte iieuer. Eif je
J'olieS wo je habbe'S wurse of-earned :f^' 1 al ]?et je ]7olie'S, al is for
ou suluen.
(joS nu ]7eonne gledluker bi stronge wei, *? biswincfule, touward
|?e muchele feste of heouene, ]?er ase ower giede ureond ower cunie
=> sune. T. '' Dude he J?e spurne ivvra'S'Sen oSer in lierte seir ? T.
•^ buncin. C. berien. T. "i j5 wa beon ^eos liues. T.
■= strunden strenden. C. strundes streamdeu. T.
f i) of bat deorewur'Se bodi }>e — . T. s schakinge. T.
'' gredden. C. T. > reache'S. C.
'' ofserued. C. deseruet. T.
WHEN SUFFERING, THINK OF CHRIST's SUFFERINGS. 189
or in suffering ? Look, daughter, look how he shall pay for it ; and
ye shall see them bounced with the devil's mallets, so that they shall
be weary of life." And ye shall be well pleased with this, for your
will and the will of God shall be in such unison that ye shall wish
whatsoever He wills, and He whatsoever ve wish.
Above all other thoughts, in all your sufferings, reflect always
deeply upon the sufferings of Christ — that the Ruler of the world
was content, for his bond-servants, to endure such ignominy and
contempt — buffets, mocking, blindfolding, crowning with thorns,
which pierced his head so that streams of blood ran down ; and that
they left his sweet body bound naked to the hard pillar, and beaten
so tliat the precious blood ran down on every side ; the poisonous
drink that they gave him when he thirsted, on the cross; the
shaking of their heads at him; who cried out in derision so loud,
" Look here ! he that healed others. Behold now how he healeth
and helpeth himself.^^ Turn back to the place ^ where I spoke of
how he was pained in all his five senses; and compare all your
sorrow, sickness, and other distresses, and wrongs, by word or deed,
and all that man may suffer, with all that Pie suffered, and you will
easily see how little it amounteth to, especially, if you reflect that He
was quite innocent ; and that He endured all this not for himself, for
He did no sin. If ye suffer grief, ye have deserved worse, and all
that ye suffer, is for yourselves.
Cjro ye now, then, along the hard and toilsome way toward the
great feast of heaven, where your glad friend expecteth your coming,
more joyfully than foolish worldly men go by the green way toward
the gallows-tree, and to the death of hell. It is better to go toward
heaven sick, than in health toward hell, and to mirth with want,
than to woe with abundance. Not, however, but that wretched
» Page 115.
190 EEGULiE INCLUSARUM.
ikepe'S, ];enne dusie worldes men go's bi grene weie, touward te
waritreo 1 to deaSe of helle. Betere is forte gon sic touward
lieouene 'pen al hoi touward helle :^ *? to muruh^e mid meseisej pen
to wo mid eise : nout for Jjui ^ wrecche worldliche men bugge'S
deorre helle, j^en je do's heuene. Salomon sei^, " Via impiorum com-
plantata est lapidibus," id est, " duris afflictionibus." O j^ing wute
je to so'Se — J?et a mis- word pet je ]7olieS, o'Ser one deies longunge,
o'Ser a sicnesse of ane stunde — jif me cheape'S on of ]7eos et ou a domes-
dei — J?et is, jif me cheape et ou ]7e mede J^et arise^ j^erof, je nolden
sullen hire uor al pe worldes golde. Uor J^et schal beon owur song
biuoren ure Louerde : " Lastati sumus pro diebus quibus nos humi-
liasti, — annis quibus vidimus mala:'" ]?et is, "Wei is us nu, Louerd,
uor pe dawes |7et tu lowudest us mide oSre monnes wouhwes :' and
wel is us nu, Louerd, for pe ilke jeres J^et we weren sike inne, '^
Folio 49 h. iseien sor 7 seoruwe." Euerich worlich wo is Godes sonde. Heie
monnes messager, me schal heiliche underuongen, "? makien him
glede chere, 1: so muchel pe ra^er, jif he is priue ^ mid te kinge of
heouene. [Et quis erat ita secretarius regis coelestis] " j^eo hwule J^et
he wunede her J^en was pes sondesmon, ]?et is, worldes pine,"^ j^et ne
com neuer urom him uort his lines ende. pes messager J>et ich telle
ou of, hwat telle'S he ou ? He vroure'S ou, o j^isse wise :' God, he
sei'S, as he luued me, he sent me to his leoue ureond. Mi cume t
mi wuniunge, J^aidi hit J^unche attri, hit is J»auh healuwinde. Nere
J7et ]:'ing sulf grislich hwas scheadewe je ne muhte nout for grislich ®
biholden ? Eif J^eo ilke scheadewe were jet so kene, o'Ser so hot,
]7et je hit ne muhten nout wi^uten herme ivelen, hwat wolde je
siggen bi J^et ilke eiffule Jjing ]7et hit of come ? Wute je ]7et to soSe
]7et al pe wo of J^isse worlde, al nis bute ase a scheadewe ajean pe
wo of helle. Ich am pe scheadewe, seiS J^is messager, Jjet is,
worldes pine r' nedlunge je moten underuongen me, oSer J^et gris-
liche wo ]>et ich am of scheadewe. Hwose underuonge'S ^ me gled-
" for H witterliche. C. T. >> wel. T.
<' MS. Oxon. ^ weiie. C. weane. T.
" grisung. C. ' iinderfo'(!i. C. underfos. T.
AFFLICTIONS ARE GOD's AMBASSADORS. 191
worldly men buy hell clearer than ye do heaven. Solomon saith,
" The way of sinners is planted over ^ with stones ; " that is, with
severe afflictions. Of one thing be ye well assured — that a harsh
word that ye bear with patience, or a single day's weariness, or a
sickness of an hour — if any one were to offer to buy one of these
from you at the day of Judgment ; that is, if one were to offer to
buy from you the reward that ariseth from it, ye would not sell it
for all the gold in the world. For this shall be your song before
our Lord : " Lastati sumus pro diebus quibus nos humiliasti — annis
quibus vidimus mala; "^ that is. We are glad now, O Lord, for the
days in which thou didst humble us with the wrongs we suffered
from other men ; and, we are glad now, O Lord, for the years in
wTiich we were sick and saw pain and sorrow. Every worldly
affliction is God's ambassador. Men will receive honourably the
messenger of a man of rank, and make him gladly welcome ; and so
much the more if he is intimately acquainted with the King of
Lleaven. [And who was more intimate with the heavenly King "]
while he dwelt here, than was this ambassador ? — that is, worldly
suffering, which never left him until his life's end. This messenger
that I am speaking of to you — what doth he say to you? He
comforteth you in this manner. As God loved me, saith he, he sent
me to his dear friend. My coming, and my abiding, though it may
seem bitter, is yet salutary. Must not that thing be dreadful, the
shadow of which you could not look upon for dread ? And if the
very shadow were so sharp and so hot, that ye might not feel it
without pain, what would you say of the very awful thing itself!,
from which it comes ? Know ye this for certain, that all the misery
of this world is only as a shadow in comparison with the misery of
hell. I am the shadow, saith this messenger, that is, this world's
suffering : ye must needs receive me, or that dreadful misery of
which I am the shadow. Whoso receiveth me gladly, and maketh
* Ecclcsiastieus, xxi. 10. The more common reading is, complanata, " made plain."
Gr. u)^utki<jfxtvrj.
'' Psalm xc. 15. ••' Supplied from MS. Oxon.
192 REGULiE INCLUSARUM,
liche, 7 make's me ueire chere, mi Louerd seint hire word ]>et heo is
cwite of ]?et ]?ing ]>et ich am of scheadewe. Lo ! ]7us speke'S Godes
messager, T, for yi, sei^ sein Jame, " Omne gaudimn existimate
fratres cum in temptaciones varias incideritis." HokleS liit alle
blisse uorte uallen in misliche of j^eos fondmiges ]7et beo'5 uttre
ihoten t' ant sein Powel seiS, " Omnis disciplina in presenti videtm*
esse non gaudii sed meroris :' postmodum vero fructus," l^c. Alle
J>eo ilke uondunges J^et we beo^ nu i beaten mide :f alle heo J>unche^
Folio 50, wouh,'^ 1: nout wmme :' aiih heo wendeS effcerward to weole and to
eche blisse.
Ee, mine leoue sustren, beo^ J^eo ancren J?et ich iknowe, j^et
habbeS lest neode to uroure ajean ]7eos temptaciuns i' buteoneof
sicnesse. Vor mid more eise, ne mid more menke, not ich non
ancre 'pet habbe al ]?et hire need is |?ene je ]?reo habbeS :' ure
Louerd beo hit iSoncked. Uor je ne Jjenche^ nowiht of mete, ne of
clo^, ne to ou, ne to ouwer meidenes. Euerich of ou haue^ of one
ureond al pet hire is need :' ne ];erf pet meiden sechen nou^er bread,
ne suuel, fur pene et his halle. God hit wot, moni o"Ser wot Intel of
]7isse eise, auh beo'S ful ofte iderued mid wone, "? mid scheome, T,
mid teone. In hire bond jif ]>is cumeS hit mei beon ham uroure.
Ee muwen more dreden pe nesche dole J^eue pe herde of ]?eos
fondunges ]?et is vittre ihoten.'' Vor uein wolde }7e hexte cwemen
ou, jif he muhtC; mid oluhnunge, makien ou fulitowen, jif heo nere
pe hendure.*^ Muche word is of ou hu gentile wmnmen je bee's :'
vor godleic "? for ureoleic ijerned of monie :/ t sustren of one ueder
7 of one moder, ine blostme of ower juwe'Se, uorheten alle worldes
blissen, t bicomen ancren."^
" wop. C. T,
^ Mine leue childre, \>e nesehe dale is to drede swi'Se, as is te harde, of Jjeos fondinges
f> am uttre ihaten ; as is plente of mete, o'Ser of da's, ") of swiclie )?inges. T.
= Olhtninge o'Ser hereword mihte sone make sum of ou fulitohen, gif ge neren i>e
hendere. T.
<* gunge of seres gulden ow, ^ bicomen ancres : forsaken worldes blisses. T.
THE ANCHORESSES, THREE SISTERS, EXPOSED TO FLATTERY, 193
me cheerfully welcome, my Lord sends her word that she is freed
from the tlnng of which I am the shadow. Lo! thus speaketh
God's messenger ; and therefore, saith St. James, " Omne gaudium
existimate fratres, cum in temptationes varias incideritis." ^ Count
it all joy to fall into divers of these temptations that are called out-
ward ; and St. Paul saith, " Omnis disciplina in praesenti videtur
esse non gaudii, sed moeroris; postmodum vero," &c. '' All those
temptations wherewith we are now beaten, seem sorrow and not joy;
but they turn afterwards to prosperity and eternal blessedness.
Ye, my dear sisters, of the anchoresses that I know, are those
who have least need to be fortified against these temptations ; sick-
ness only excepted. For I know not any anchoress that with more
abundance, or more honour, hath all that is necessary to her than ye
three have ; our Lord be thanked for it. For ye take no thought
for food or clothing, neither for yourselves nor for your maidens.
Each of you hath from one friend all that she requireth ; nor need
that maiden seek either bread, or that which is eaten with bread,
further than at his hall. God knoweth many others know little of
this abundance, but are full often distressed with want, and with
shame and suffering. If this comes into their hand, it may be a
comfort to them. Ye have more reason to dread the soft than the
hard part of these temptations, which are called outward. For the
sorcerer would fain cajole you, if he might, and with flattery render
you perverse, if ye'= were less gentle and docile. There is much talk
of you, how gentle women you are ; for your goodness and noble-
ness of mind beloved of many ; and sisters of one father and of one
mother; having, in the bloom of your youth, forsaken all the
pleasures of the world and become anchoresses.
" St. James, :. 2. '' Hebrews, xii. 11.
"^ See note ^, page 192.
CAMD, SOC. 2 C
194 EEGITL^ INCLUSARUM.
Al ];is is strong temptaciun, ? mulite sone binimen ou mucliel of
ower mecle. " Popule mens, qui te beatificant illi te decipiunt : " ]?is
is Godes word Jniruh Isaie. Hwose seiS biuoren ou^ " Wei is Jje
moder }>et ou iber, "? te godre* heale were je euer iboren:^" heo
biswike'S ou, J is ower treitre. peruppe is inouh iseid of figelunge
— ]?isses worldes figelunge — ]7et is plente of worldliche }>inges,
Hwonne ou ne wonted nowiht, ]?eonne ueine^ he mid ou t J^eonne
Folio 50 h. beot he ou cos : ^ anh avo wur^e his cos :' vor hit is Judases cos ]7et
he ou mide cusse'S. Ajean J^eos fondunges bee's iwarre, leoue sus-
tren, hwat se cume wiSuten to uonden ou, mid licunge oSer mid
mislicunge — holde'S euer ower heorte in on wiSinnen, leste ]?e uttre
uondunge kundlie ];e inre.
Pe inre uondunge is twouold :! ase is J^e uttre : uor J^e uttre
uondunge is mislicunge in aduersite, 1: ine prosperite ]?et limpe'S to
sunne. pis ich sigge uor'Si ]?et sum likunge is J, sum mislikunge,
}>et of-earne'S muclie mede :! ase likunge ine Godes luue, "? mislik-
unge uor sunne. "^ Nu, ase ich sigge, ]7e inre uondunge is twouold —
fleschlich 7 gostlichr' flesliche ase of lecherie, ? of glutunie, "? of
slouh^e. Gostliche, ase of prude, % of onde, ? of wreSSe. Wre'SSe
is ]7e inre uondunge, auh ]?et is ]?e uttre uondunge ]?et kundle'S
wreSSe ^ al so as of jiscunge. pus bee's ]?eo inre uondunges be
seouen heaued sunnen 1, here fule kundles. Vlesches fondunge mei
beon iefned to not wunde, 7 gostlich fondunge, J)et is more dred of,
mei beon, uor ]?e peril, icleoped breoste wunde. Auh us ]7uncheS
gretture fleshliche temptaciuns :' uorSi |7et heo bee's e'S fele. pe
o'Sre, ]?auh we habben ham ofte, we nute^ ham nout, 1, beon bauli
greate J grisliche ine Godes brihte eien ^ 1, bee's muche uorSi, to
dreden J>e more. Vor ]?e o'Sre, J7et me iveleS wel, me seche'S leche
*? salue. pe gostliche hurtes ne ]7uncheS nout sore, ne ne salueS
» goder. C. T. '' — l^enne fanehes ho ow; J^enne bedes ho ow cos. T.
•= for Jje uttre is in aduersite ■) in prosperite; t teose cundlen ^je inre : aduersite, mis-
likinge; prosperite, likinge, f> limpes to sunne. T.
TEMPTATIONS OUTWARD AND INWARD. 195
All this is a strong temptation, and might soon deprive you of
much of your reward. " O my people, they that call thee blessed,
the same deceive thee : " ^ this is the word of God by Isaiah. Whoso-
ever saith before you, " Happy is the mother that bare you ; and the
greater blessing is it that ye were born," deceives you, and betrays
you. Enough has been said before of flattering — of this world's
flattering — that is, abundance of worldly things. When ye are in
want of nothing, then he fawneth upon you ; then doth he offer you
a kiss ; but evil betide his kiss ; for. it is Judas's kiss wherewith he
kisseth you. Against these temptations be on your guard, dear
sisters — whatsoever comes from without to tempt you, pleasing or
unpleasing, keep your heart always undisturbed within, lest the
outward give rise to the inward temptation.
Xhe inward temptation, like the outward, is twofold : for the
outward temptation in adversity is displeasure, and in prosperity
[pleasure]'' that tendeth to sin. 1 say this because there is some
pleasure and some displeasure that merits much reward ; as pleasure
in the love of God, and displeasure on account of sin. Now, as I
say, the inward temptation is twofold : carnal and spiritual. Carnal,
as of lechery, gluttony, and sloth. Spii'itual, as of pride, envy, and
wrath. Wrath is the inward temptation ; but that which exciteth
wrath is the outward temptation. It is the same with regard to
covetousness. Thus, the inward temptations are the seven chief
sins and their foul progeny. Carnal temptation may be compared
to a foot v/ound; and spiritual temptation, which is more to be
dreaded, may, because of the danger, be called a breast wound.
But it seemeth to us that carnal temptations are greater, because
they are easily felt. The other we do not notice, although we often
have them, yet they are great and odious in the bright eyes of God ;
and are, for that reason, much more to be dreaded. For the other,
which are sensibly felt, men seek a physician and a remedy. The
spiritual hurts do not appear sore, nor do they heal them with
* Isaiah, iii. 12. Roman Catliolic translation of the Vulgate. •* T.
196 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
ham mid schrifte, iie mid penitence:^ J,^ draweb to eclie deaiS er me
lest wene.
Folio 51. Ixoli men *? lioli wummen beoS of alle uondmiges swu"Sest ofte
itempted ^ 7 ham to goddre heale : vor rSe vihte ajeines ham, heo
bijite^ J>e blisfule kempene crune. Lo, baiili, hwu he meneb ham
bi Jeremie : " Persecutores nostri velociores aquiKs ceH : super
montes persecuti sunt nos : in deserto insidiati sunt nobis." pet is,
vre widerwines beoS svvifture ]?en J^e earnes: up o^e huUes heo
clumben efter us, ? J^er fuhten mid us : ? jet ySq wildernesse heo
aspieden ^ us to slean. Vre widerwines beo^ J^reo : ]7e ueond, ]7e
world, % ure owune vleshs, ase ich er seide. Lihtliche ne mei me
nout o'Serhwule icnowen hwuc of ]7eos J^reo weorre^ him : uor
euerichon helpe'S o'Ser :! ]7auh |;e ueond kundeliche egge"S us to
atternesse, as to prude, to ouerhowe, to onde, 7 to wre^^e, % to hore
attri kundles, ];et beo^S her efter inemmed. pet flesch put ^ pro-
premen touward swetnesse J, touvvard eise, % touward softnesse '.' ant
te world bit mon jiscen*^ worldes weole, 7 wunne, 7 wurschipe, t
o"Ser swuche giuegouen, ]?et bidweolieS kang ^ men to luuien one
scheadewe. peos wi-Serwines, he seiS, uoluweS us on huUes, 1;
awaited us iSe wildernesse, hu heo us muwen hermen. Hul, ]7et is
heih lif :^ }?er ]7es deofles assauz beo^ ofte strengest. Wildernesse,
]?et is onlich lif, of ancre wununge. Vor al so ase ine wildernesse
bee's alle wilcle bestes, J, nulled nout iSolien monnes neihlechunge,
auh fleo^ hwon heo ham ihere^ oSer iseoS : al so schulen ancren,
oner alle o'Sre wummen, beon wilde o )?isse wise :! "? j^eonne beo^
heo ouer alle oSre, leouest to ure Louerde, "? swetest him j^uncheS ham.
Uor of alle flesches, ]?eonne is wilde deores fleschs leouest ? swetest.
Folio 51 1. Ij^isse wildernesse wende ure Louerdes folc, ase Exode telle'S, tou-
ward tet eadie lend of Jerusalem, j^et he ham hefde bihoten : 7 je,
mine leoue sustren, Avended bi ]7en ilke weie toward te heie Jeru-
" ach. C. ^ in ]>^ wildene weiteden. C. '^ sput. C. puttes. T.
•" ma J;iscundc. C. "= cangcs. C. fol. T.
THE PIOUS OFTEN MOST STRONGLY TEMPTED. 197
confession, nor with penitence, and they draw men on to eternal
death before they are in the least aware.
-tloly men and holy women are often tempted with the strongest
of all temptations ; and for their greater good : for in the fight
against them they acquire the blissful crown of victory. Yet
observe how they lament in Jeremiah : " Persecutores nostri
velociores aquilis coeli : super montes persecuti sunt nos : in deserto
insidiati sunt nobis." ^ That is, Our foes are swifter than the
eagles : upon the hills they climbed after us, and there fought with
us: and also in the wilderness they lay in wait to slay us. Our
foes are three : the devil, the world, and our own flesh, as I said
before : nor is it easy, at times, for a man to know which of these
three attacketh him: for every one of them helpeth each other.
Yet the devil naturally inciteth us to malignant vices, as pride,
haughtiness, envy and wrath, and to their pernicious progeny, which
will be hereafter named. The flesh naturally incHnes us to luxury,
ease, and self-indulgence. And the world urges men to covet the
world's wealth, and prosperity, and worship, and other sucli gew-
gaws, and deludeth foolish men to fall in love with a shadow.
These foes, saith he, pursue us on the hills, and lie in wait for us in
the wilderness that they may do us harm. Hill — that is a life of ex-
alted piety ; where the assaults of the devil are often strongest. The
Wilderness is a life of solitude — of monastic seclusion. For, in like
manner as all wild beasts are in the wilderness, and will not suffer
the approach of man, but flee away when they hear or see him, so
should anchoresses, above all other women, be wild in this manner ;
and then they will be above all others deai'est to our Lord, and they
will appear to him most lovely, for of all kinds of flesh that of wild
deer is the choicest and most delicious. In this wilderness journeyed
our Lord's people, as we are told in Exodus, toward the blessed
land of Jerusalem, which he had promised them : and ye, my dear
sisters, are journeying by the same way toward the Jerusalem
* Lamentations, iv. 19.
198 REGUL^ INCLUSATiUM.
salem, to ]?e kinedom J?et he haue^ bihoten his icorene. GO'S, ]?auh,
ful warliche: vor iSisse wildernesse beo^ monie vuele bestes:'^ Hun
of prude, neddre of attri onde, vnicorne of wreSSe, beore of dead
slouh^e, vox of jiscunge, suwe of ^iuernesse, scorpiun mid te teile
of stinkinde lecherie :! J^et is, gohiesse. Her beo'S nu areawe Itold
)je seouen heaued sunnen.
pe Liun of Prude haue'S swu^e monie hweolpes :! '? ich chulle
iiemmen sume. Vana Gloria, hette ]7e vorme : ]7et is, hwose let wel
of ei J'ing ]jet heo de^, 7 wolde habben word ];erof, "? is wel ipaied
jif heo is ipreised, 1, mis-ipaied jif heo iiis itold swuch ase heo wolde.
pe o"Ser hweolp hette Indignatio ^ ];et is, hwose j^unche^ hoker-
lich of out'' ]?et heo isih^ bi o'Sre, o'Ser ihered, o'Ser uorhowe'S
chastiement, oSer lowure '^ lore. pe J^ridde hweolp is Ipocrisis r'
|7et is j7eo J^et make's hire betere ]7en heo beo. pe ueor^e is Pre-
sumptio :! ]?et is ]?eo J^et uimeS more an bond ];en heo mei ouer-
cumen x' oSer entremete'S hire of JMUge J^et to hire ne ualle'S. pe
vifte hweolp hette Inobedience ^ J^et is, J^et child Jjet ne buhS nout
his eldre :' vnderling, his prelat :' paroschian, his preost :! meiden,
hire dame r' euerich lowure his herre. pe sixte hweolp is Loqua-
citas. peo uedeS |?esne hweolp J^et beoS of muchel speche '' jelpe'S,
7 demeS o5re ^ lauhwe^ "^ oSerhwules :' gabbeS, upbreideS, chideS,
vikeleS, sturie^ leihtres. pe seoueSe hweolp is Blasphemie.
pisses hweolpes nurice is J'e ]7et swere^ greate o'Ses, o^er bitterliche
kurse^, o'Ser mis-sei^ bi God, o^er bi his haluwen, uor eni ]?ing }?e
Folio 52. he J'ole'S, isihS, o'Ser {here's, pe cihteo^e hweolp is Impacience.
pesne hweolp fet hwose nis nout ]?olemod a^ean alle wowes, *? in
alle vueles. pe nije^e hweolp is Contumace:^ 7 ]?esne hweolp
fet, hwose is onwil ine ]?ing J^et heo bane's undernumen uorto donne :'
beo hit god, beo hit vuel :! so ]7et non wisure read ne mei bringen
hire ut of hire riote."' Monie o^re ]?er beo^ ]?et cumeS of weole 1 of
" beon unfeale bestes monie. T. '' ani hing. T. C. '^ laheres. T.
•* lihes. T, lige'S. C. ' ne mei briugcn him of liis fol riote T.
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. PRIDE. 199
above — to the kingdom which he hath promised his elect. Go,
however, very cautiously : for in this wilderness there are many
evil beasts — the lion of pride, the serpent of venomous envy, the
unicorn of wrath, the bear of dead sloth, the fox of covetousness,
the swine of greediness, the scorpion with the tail of stinking lechery,
that is, lustfulness. These, now^, are the seven chief sins detailed in
order.
The Lion of Pride hath a great number of whelps ; and I will
name some of them. The first is called Vain Glory ; that is, any
one who has a high opinion of any thing that she doth, and wishes
to have it talked of, and is well pleased if she is praised, and dis-
pleased if she is not commended as much as she wishes to be. The
next whelp is called Indignation ; that is, any one who thinketh
contemptuously of ought that she sees or hears of another, or who
despiseth correction or instruction from an inferior.'' The third
whelp is Hypocrisy ; that is, she who maketh herself seem better
than she is. The fourth is Presumption ; that is, one who taketh in
hand more than she is able to perform ; or meddleth with any thing
which doth not belong to her. The fifth whelp is called Dis-
obedience ; that is, the child that obeys not his parents ; a sub-
ordinate minister, his bishop ; a parishioner, his priest ; a maiden,
her mistress ; every inferior, his superior. The sixth whelp is
Loquacity ; those feed this whelp who are great talkers, who boast,
judge others, lie sometimes, scoflP, upbraid, scold, flatter, excite
laughter. The seventh whelp is Blasphemy ; the nurse of this
whelp is he that sweareth great oaths, or curseth bitterly, or speaketh
irreverently of God, or of his saints, on account of any thing that he
suffereth, seeth, or heareth. The eighth whelp is Liipatience; he
feedeth this whelp who is not patient under all wrongs and all evils.
The ninth whelp is Contumacy ; and this whelp is fed by any one
who is self-willed in the thing that she hath undertaken to do, be it
good or be it evil, so that no wiser counsel is able to turn her from
her purpose.^ There are many other that are derived from wealth
* " Inferioris doctrinam." — MS. Oxon. " A proposito." — Ibid.
200 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
wuiine, of heie kunne, of feire clones, of wit, of wlite, of strencSe ^'
of heie liue waxeS * prude, "? of holi Jjeaiiwes. Monie mo hweolpes
ben ich habbe inempned haueS ]>e Liun of Prude ihweolped : auh
abuten ]>eos, 'penche^ "? astudieS wel swu'Se :' uor ich go lihtliche
ouer, ne do bute nempnie ham. Auh je euerihwar, hwarse ich go
swu'Sest for^, bileaue je ]?e lengure r^^ uor ]>er ich fe^ri on, awur^e'S
tene o'Ser tweolue. Hwose haue^ eni un'Seau of ]feo ]>et ich er
nemde, o'Ser ham iliche, heo haue^ prude sikerliche. Hu se euer
hire kurtel beo ischeaped o^er iseouwed,'' heo is liunes make ]?et ich
habbe ispeken of, J fet his wode hweolpes wi'Sinnen hire breoste.
pe Neddre of attri Onde haue seoue kundles. Ingratitudo :f
besne kundel bret, hwose nis nout icnowen of goddede,*^ auh telle^
lutel ]7erof, oSer uorjite'S mid alle. Goddede ich sigge, nout one
pet mon de'S him, auh J^et God de'S him, o^er haueS idon ©"Ser him,
o^er hire, more ])en heo understonde, jif heo hire wel bi'Souhte. Of
J^isse un^eauwe me nime^ to lutel jeme :' ant is, Jjauh, of alle,
onlo'Sest God, *? mest ajean his grace, ^e oSer kundel is Rancor
Folio 52 b. sine odium t' pet is, hatunge oSer great heorte. pe pet bret ]7esne
kundel, in hire breoste al is attri to Gode, J^et heo euer wurche"S.
pe ]7ridde kundel is Of-]mnchmige of o^res god. pe ueor Se is Gled-
schipe of his vuel : lauhwen o^er gabben, jif him mis-biueolle.^ pe
vifte is Wreiunge. pe sixte Bacbitunge. pe seoue^e Upbrud, o^er
Schornunge. Hwar ase eni of peos was, o'Ser is f ]?er was, oSer is
be kundel, o^er pe olde moder, of pe attri neddre of helle, onde.^
pe Unicorne of Wre^^e J7et here's on his neose ]7ene horn ]?et he
asnese'S mide alle J?eo ]7et ha areachelS, bane's six hweolpes. pe
uormestis Cheaste, o^er Strifr' pe o'Ser is Wodschipe:^ J^e ];ridde is
Schenful ^ Upbrud :! pe veor'Se is Wariunge :' pe uifte is Dunt t' pe
" waxen. T. '' leaues ter lengest.
•^ iheowed. C. iheowet. T. "^ Hs cundel nule icnawen goddede. T.
" mis- times. T. mistime'S. C. ' neddre of onde. T. C.
B schendful. T. C.
THE SERPENT OF EXVY. THE UXICORN OF WRATH. 201
and prosperity, high descent, fine clothes, wit, beauty, strength ;
pride groweth even out of extraordinary piety and pure morals.
Many more whelps than I have named hath the Lion of Pride
whelped ; but think and meditate very seriously upon these, for I
pass lightly over and only name them. But wheresoever I go most
quickly forward, . dwell ye the longei' ; for where I lightly touch
upon one, tliere are ten or t^velve. Whosoever hath any of those
vices which I have named before, or any like them, she certainly
hath pride. In whatsoever fashion her kirtle is shaped or sewed,
she is the lion's companion, of which I have spoken above, and
nourishes his fierce whelps within her breast.
1 he serpent of venomous Envy hath a brood of seven : Ingrati-
tude. He breeds this young one, who doth not acknowledge a
benefit, but depreciates it, or altogether forgetteth it. A benefit, I
say — not only which a man confers, but which God confers or hath
conferred upon him or her, greater than she thinks, and might
understand that it is, if she bethought herself well. Of this vice
men take too little heed, although it is, of all others, one most
hateful to God, and most opposed to his grace. The second-born is
Rancor or odium; that is. Malice or Hatred. Whatsoever she
doeth, who cherisheth this young one in her breast, is displeasing
to God. The third of the brood is Grieving at the good of another.
The fourth is being Glad of his evil : laughing or scoflfing if any
misfortune befall him. The fifth is Exposing faults. The sixth is
Backbiting. The seventh is Upbraiding or contempt. Where-
soever any of these was or is, there w^as or is the offspring or the
old mother of the venomous serpent of hell, Envy.
The unicorn of Wrath, wdiich beareth on his nose the horn with
which he butteth at all whom he reacheth, hath six whelps. The
first is Contention or Strife. The second is Rage. The third is
contumelious Reproach. The fourth is Cursing. The fifth is
Striking. The sixth is Wishing that Evil may happen to a man
himself, or to his friend, or to his possessions.
CAMD. soc. 2 D
202 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
sixte is wil ]?et liim vuele itidde, oSer on him sulf, oSer on his
freond, o^er on his eihte.
pe Bore of heui Slouh'Se haue'S ]?eos hweolpes : Torpor is J^e
norme t' ]>et is wlech heorte :' I'et schulde leiten al o leie ine lune of
ure Louerd. pe o'Ser is Pu^illanimitas r^ ]?et is, to poure iheorted,
J; to herde ^ mid alle, eni heih J)ing to undernimen, ine hope of Godes
helpe, t ine trust of his grace, '? nout of hire strencSe. pe ]?ridde
is, Cordis grauitas : Jjesne hweolp haue'S hwo se wurche^ god, If
deS hit, tauh, mid one deade '? mid one heuie heorte. pe ueorSe
hweolp is Idehiesse :! 'pet is, hwo se stunt mid alle. pe vifte is
Heorte-grucchunge. pe sixte is a dead Seoruwe uor lure of eie
worldliche ]'inge, o^er of freond, o'Ser uor eni unSonc, bute uor
sunne one. pe seoueSe is Eemeleaschipe, o'Ser to siggen, o^er to
don, oSer to biseon biuoren, oSer to Jjenchen efter, o^Ser miswiten ei
Folio 53. ]?ing ]7et heo haueS to witene.'' pe eihteo'Se is Unhope. pes laste
bore hweolp is grimmest of alle :' uor hit to-cheowe'5 '^ to-uret Godes
milde milce, "? his muchel merci, 7 his vnimete grace.
pe Vox of jiscunge haue'S ];eos hweolpes : Tricherie % Gile,
peofSe, Reflac, Wite, 7 Herrure strencSe :' Uals witnesse, o'Ser o"5 1
Simonie t' Gauel r' Oker :f Uestschipe of jeoue, o'Ser of lone ^' Mon-
sleiht, o'Serhwule. peos un^eawes beo^ to uoxe, uor monie reisuns,
iefnede. Two icli chulle siggen : much gile is iSe uoxe, "? so is ine
jiscunge of worldliche bijeate : and on o'Ser reisun is :' Ipe uox
awurie^ al enne floe, ]7auh he ne muwe bute one wrechliche uor-
swoluwen. Al so psceS a jissare J^et moni |7usunt muhten bi-
flutten t"^ auli ]?auh his heorte berste, he ne mei bruken on him sulf
bute one monnes dole. Al ]?et mon oSer wummon wilneS more ]?en
heo mei gnedeliche leden hire lif bi — euerich efter J'et heo is — al is
" arch. C. Vide Jamieson's Diet. Ergh. ^ Jemen. T. C.
■^ an giscere J? GIG'S moni J>usent dalen Ji me muclite her bi flutten. C. a jiscere "^
moni Jjusend mahten biflutten. T. sufficere, MS. Oxon.
THE BEAK OF SLOTH. THE FOX OF COVETOUSNESS. 203
The Bear of heavy Sloth hath these whelps : Torpor is the first ;
that is, a lukewarm heart, which ought to light up into a flame in
the love of our Lord. The next is Pusillanimity ; that is, too faint-
hearted, and too reluctant withal, to undertake any thing arduous
in the hope of help from God, and in confidence of His grace, and
not of her own strength. The third is, Dulness of heart. Who-
soever doeth good, and yet doeth it with a dead and sluggish heart,
hath this whelp. The fourth whelp is Idleness ; that is, any one
who stands still doing no good at all. The fifth is a Grudging,
grumbling heart. The sixth is a deadly Sorrow for the loss of any
Avorldly possession, or of a friend, or for any displeasure, except for
sin only. The seventh is Xegligence, either in saying, or doing, or
providing, or remembering, or taking care of any thing that she
hath to keep. The eighth is Despair. This last bear's whelp is the
fiercest of all, for it gnaweth and wasteth the benignant kindness,
and great mercy, and unlimited grace of God.
The Fox of Covetousness hath these whelps : Treachery and Guile,
Theft, Rapine, Extortion, and Compulsion, False testimony or perjury.
Simony, Tribute, Usury, Unwillingness to give or lend, sometimes
Murder. These vices are, for many reasons, compared to the fox.
I will mention two : there is much guile in the fox, and so is there
in covetousness of worldly possessions ; another reason is, the fox
worrieth all the sheep in a flock, although he can ravenously devour
only one. In like manner a man greedy of wealth, coveteth what
might suffice for many thousands ; but, though his heart should
break, he cannot spend upon himself more than one man's portion.
All that man or woman desireth more than is sufficient for leading
life comfortably, according to their station, is covetousness, and the
root of mortal sin. This is true religion — that every one, accordino-
to his station, should borrow from this frail world as little as
possible of food, clothes, goods, and of all worldly things. Under-
204 KEGUL^ INCLUSAEUM.
jiscunge *? rote of deadlicli sunne. pet is riht religiun, Jjet euerich,
efter his stat, boruwe et tisse urakele worlcle so lutel so lieo euer
mei, of mete, of clo'Se, of eihte, "% of alle worldliche j^inges. Under-
stonde'S ^ wel J^is word ■f icli ou sigge — euerich efter his stat — uor
hit is iue'S'Sred :! ^ |7et is, icharged. Ee moten makien, ]?et wute je,
in monie wordes muche strencSe. penchen longe ]?er abuten, *? bi
J?et like o word, understonden nionie wordes |>et limpeb J^erto r' uor
jif ich scholde writen alle, hwonne come icli to ende ?
pe Suwe of jiuernesse r^ j^et is, Glutunie, haue^ pigges*' ]7us
inemned. To Erliche hette ]?et on ^ ]?et o'Ser to Estliche r^ \ei ]7ridde
to Urechliche :! Jjet feor^e hette to Muchel :! J^et fifte to Ofte :! ine
drunche, more J^en ine mete, pus beo'S J»eos pigges iueruwed. Ich
Foliu 53 I. speke scheortliche of ham :' vior ich nam nout ofdred, mine leoue
sustren, ]?et je ham ueden.
pe Scorpiun of Lecherie :! }?et is, of golnesse, haue"S swuche kundles
]7et in one ^ wel itowune muSe hore summes nome ne sit nout uorto
nemnen ":! uor ]7e nome one muhte hurten alle wel itowune earen, %
fulen alle clene heorten. peo me mei nemnen wel hwas nomen me
icnoweS wel :! J heo beo^, more herm is, to monie al to ku^e, ase
Hordom, Eaubruche,*^ Meidelure, 7 Incest :' 'pet is, bitwhwe sibbe,
vleshliche o^er gostliche :' ]?et is i monie ideled/ On is ful wil
uorte don ]?et ful^e, mid skilles jettunge, J^et is, hwonne ]?e schil 1!
te heorte ne wi^sigge'S nout :' auh likeS wel, 1! jirne^S al pet tet
fleschs to proke^, "? helpen o^er j^ideward, — beon waite ^ J, witnesse
Jjerof ^' hunten J>er efter, mid wouhinge, mid togginge, o'Ser mid eni
tollunge :' mid gigge leihtre, mid hor eien, mid eni lilite lates, mid
jeoue, mid tollinde wordes, o^er mid luue speche, cos, unhende
" Notie'5. C. Noate'S. T.
'' for p for'Ser is to fe'Seren ge. C. for J? word is ife'Sered. T.
<= grises. T. C. '^ in na. T. <: spusebniche. T.
« o feole idealet. T. s weote. T. C.
THE SWINE OF GREEDINESS. THE SCORPION OF LECHERY. 205
stand rightly this word, which I say to you —every one according to
his station — for it is feathered [Hke an arrow, ready to be let fly ;]
that is, charged [with intelligence, as a messenger]. Know ye this,
that ye may make in many words much strength. Think lono-
about it, and by that one word understand man}^' words that relate
thereto ; for if I should write them all, when should I make an end ? *
1 he Swine of Greediness ; that is, Gluttony, hath pigs thus
named : The first is called Too Early ; the second, Too Daintily ;
the third, Too Voraciously ; the fourth. Too Largely ; the fifth. Too
Often, in drink more than in meat. Thus are these pigs farrowed.
I speak of them briefly ; for I am not afraid, my dear sisters, that
ye feed them.
1 he Scorpion of Lechery — that is, of lustfiJness — hath snch a
progeny, that it doth not become a modest mouth to name the
names of some of them ; for the name alone might oftend all modest
ears, and defile all clean hearts. Those may properlj^ be named
whose names are well known ; and they are — the more is the harm —
too well known to many ; as Whoredom, Adultery, Loss of Virginity,
and Licest ; that is, between kindred, carnally or spiritually ; which
is divided into many kinds. One is, impure desire to commit the
uncleanness with the mind's consent ; that is, when the mind and
the heart oppose not, but are well pleased, and yearn after all that
the flesh incites to, and help each other to the same end — to know
and witness it ; to hunt after it ; with wooing, with tugging, or w'ith
any inciting; with giggling laughter; with immodest looks; with light
gestures ; with gifts ; with enticing words ; with love speech ; kiss ;
improper handlings ; which are deadly sins ; loving tide, or time, or
" The sense of this passage is thus briefly given in the Oxford manuscript, " Notate
qure dico; per unuui vcrbum possuut phira intelligi, uec possunt omnia scribi."
206 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
gropunges, j^et bee's .heauecl sunnen ^ hmien tide, o'Ser time, o^er
stucle, uorto kuraen ine swuche keft,^ '? oSer swuclie uorrideles, |7et
me mot forbiiwen '' hwo se nule iSe muchele fulSe uenliclie ualleii :'
ase seint Austin sei^, "Omissis occasionibus que solent aditum
aperire peccatis, potest consciencia esse incolumis." pet is, liwose
wule hire ° inwit witen clene ^ 1; feir, heo mot fleon J>e uorrideles J^et
beoS iwunede ofte to openen ]>et injong "? leten in sunne. Icli ne
der nemen ]?eo unkundeliche kundles of ]?isse deouel scorpiun, attri
" '" "^ ' iteiled. Auh sori mei heo beon 'pet mid fere, oSer wi^uten, bane's
so iued® eni knndel of gohiesse, ]?et ich ne mei speken of uor
scheome, ne ne der uor drede, lest sum leorne more vuel pen heo
con, *? ];erof beo itempted. Auh J^enche euerich of hire owune
awariede cundles ^ in hire golnesse. Uor liwuso hit euer is idon,^
willes 1; wakiinde mid flesches likunge, bute one ine wedlake, hit is
deadlich sunne. Ine juwe'Se me de^ wundres :' gulche hit ut ine
schrifte, utterliche, ase heo hit dude, peo ]?et ivele'S hire schuldi,
oSer heo is idemed, J>uruh pe fule brune,'! to pe eche fur of helle.
pe scorpiunes cundel J^et heo bret in hire boseme, schek hit ut mid
schrifte :' ? slea hit mid dedbote. Inouli is eScene hwu ich habbe
iefned prude to liun, 7 onde to neddre, ? of alle pe o'Sre wi'Suten ]?is
laste, ]?et is, hwu golnesse beo iefned to scorpiun. Auh, lo, her pe
skile ]7erof, sutel ant eocene, Salomon seiS, "Qui apprehendit
mulierem quasi qui apprehendit scorpionem." pe scorpiun is ones
cunnes wurm ]?et haue^ neb, ase me sei^, sumdel iliche ase wummon,
t is neddre bihinden, make^ feir semblaunt, "? fike^ mid te heaued,
J stinge'S mid te telle, pet is lecherie :' J>et is J^es deofles best, ]?et
he let to chepinge '? to euerich gederinge, *? cheape'S hit forto sullen,
1! biswike^ monie Jjuruh J>et heo ne biholde'S nout bute bet feire
heaued. pet heaued is biginninge of golnesses sunnen, "? te
« caft. T. b forhohen. T. "^ his. T. <> hal. T. C.
'^ be wi"5 fet o'Ser wi5 heaued swa uet. C. 'J> bute fere o5er wi'S haue'S swa ifed. T,
' fundles. T. C. s icwenched. T. acwenht. C.
'' bruue cwench. T. C.
SHAMEFUL DEPRAVITY OF LICENTIOUSNESS. 207
place for getting into such harlotry; and other such forerunners,
which she must avoid who would not speedily fall into great un-
cleanness ; as St. Austin saith, " Omissis occasionibus qnse solent
aditum aperire peccatis, potest conscientia esse incolumis ; " that is,
She who would keep her conscience clean and fair, must flee from
the occasions that are wont frequently to open the entrance and let
in sin. I dare not name the unnatural offspring of this diabolical
scorpion with the venomous tail. But sorry may she be who, with
or without a companion, hath so fed any of the progeny of
licentiousness — whicJi I cannot speak of for shame, and dare not for
dread — lest some one should learn more evil than she knoweth, and
be thereby tempted. But let every one reflect upon her own
accursed devices when tempted by concupiscence. For, howsoever it
is done, willingh' and awake, with the satisfaction of the flesh,
except in wedlock only, it is a deadly sin. In youth extraordinary
follies are committed : let her who feeleth herself guilty, belch it all
out in confession, utterly, as she committed it ; otherwise she is
condemned, through that foul flame, to the everlasting fire of hell.
Let her shake out, with confession, the scorpion's brood which she
nourisheth in her breast, and slay it with amendment. It is
sufficiently evident why I have compared pride to a lion, and envy
to a serpent, and so of all the rest, except this last, that is, why
lustfulness is compared to a scorpion. But, now, here is the reason
of it plain and manifest. Solomon saith, " Pie that hath hold of a
woman » is as though he held a scorpion." The scorpion is a kind of
worm that hath a face, as it is said, somewhat like that of a woman,
and is a serpent behind ; putteth on a pleasant countenance, and
fawns upon you with her head, but stingeth with her tail. Such is
lechery, which is the devil's beast, which he leads to market, and
to every place where people are gathered together, and offereth it
for sale, and cheateth many, because they look only at the beautiful
head. The head is the beginning of incontinence, and its delight,
* i.e. a wickeil woman. Ecclesiasticus, xxvi. 7.
208 llEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
licunge, peo hwule ]7et hit ilest, J^et ]?miche'S so swu^e swete. pe
teil, ]?et is, J>e ende ]?erof, ]7et is sor of-]nincliiing J^erof, t stinge'S
her mid atter of bitter bireousinge '^ of dedbote. Ant isehliche
muwun heo siggen ]?et J?ene teil swuch ivinde'S :^ nor ]7et atter age^S.
Auh jif hit ne suweS ^ her, J^e teil "? ]?e attri ende is ])e eche pine of
Foho 54 b. helle. Ant, nis he fol chepmon ];et, hwon he wule buggen hors o'Ser
oxe, jif he nule biholden bute ]?et heaued one? [Jor]n h^yon ]?e
deouel beode'S forS his best, 7 beot hit to sullen, "? bit J?ine soule
]7eruore, he hut euer ]?ene teil, 7 scheawe'S forth Jjet heaued. And
tu, go al abuten, 15 scheau uor^ pen ende ]7er mide, 7 hwu ]?e teil
stinge^S :f 'and swu^e vlih ]7er uromniard, er ]?u beo iattred.
pus, mine leoue sustren, i^e wildernesse ase je go's inne, mid
Godes folke, toward lerusalemes lond, ]7et is, pe riche of heouene,
beo^S swuche bestes, 7 swuche wurmes :' ne not ich none snnne pet
ne mei beon iled to one of ham seouene,'' o^er to hore streones,
Vnsta'Seluest bileaue ajean holi lore, nis hit of prude ? Inobedience
her to ualle^. Sigaldren,'^ 7 false teolunges t' leuunge on ore 7 of
swefnes t' 7 alle wichchecreftes :' niminge of husel ine heaued sunne,
cSer ei o^er sacrament, nis hit pe spece of prude ]?et ich cleopede
presumciun, jif me wot hwuch sunne hit is r' 7 jif me not nout,
]>eonne is hit jemeleste, under accidie, J^et ich cleopede slouhSe :f
pe ]7et ne warne'S oSer of his vuel, oSer of his lure, nis hit slouh
jemeleste, oSer attri onde? Mis-iteo'Seget,*^ etholden cwide, o^er
fundles, o'Ser lone, nis hit jiscunge oSer peohe? Etholden oSres
hure, ouer his rihte terme, nis hit strong reflac? pet is under
jiscunge. O^er jif me jeme^ wurse ei J^ing ileaned o^er biteih to
witene, ],'en he wene J^et hit ouh, nis hit tricherie, oSer jemeleaste of
sloulrSe ? — al so as dusi biheste,® oSer foUiche ipluht trouSe :' 7 longe
beon unbishoped ^' 7 falsliche igon to schrifte :f oSer to longe abiden
suhe'S. C. suhe'Se. T. ^ ham seluen. T.
Sigaldrie. C. '' tihe'Se mis. T. teou'Sen mis. C.
lieaste. T. C,
SINS THAT PROCEED FROM PRIDE, AND SLOTH. 209
wliicli, while it lasts, seemeth so very sweet. The tail, that is, the
end thereof, is sorrowful repentance of it ; and it stingeth her
with the venom of bitter compunction, and penance. And they
may be called happy who find the tail to be such ; for the venom
passeth away. And if it ensuetli not here, the tail and the poisonous
end is the eternal punishment of hell. And, is not he a foolish
purchaser who, when he is about to buy a horse or an ox, will look
only at the head ? Therefore when the devil presenteth his beast,
and ofFereth to sell it, and asketh thy soul in exchange for it, he
always hideth the tail, and sheweth the head to view. But do thou
go all around it, and thus view the end, and how the tail stingeth ;
and quickly flee away from it, ere thou be envenomed.
Thus, my dear sisters, in the wilderness in which ye are journey-
ing with God's j)eople toward Jerusalem's land, that is, the kingdom
of heaven, there are such beasts and such worms ; nor do I know
any sin which may not be traced to one of those seven, or to their
progeny. Unsettled belief in the doctrines of religion — is it not of
pride ? Disobedience belongeth to it. Sorcery, and false reckoning ;
believing in luck, and in dreams, and all witchcraft, receiving the
Eucharist, or any other sacrament, when in deadly sin — is it not that
species of pride which I called presumption, if it is known what
kind of sin it is ? and if it is not known then it is heedlessness, under
the head of Accidia, which I called Sloth. He that doth not fore-
warn another of any evil or loss — is he not guilty of slothful
negligence or malignant envy ? Dishonest tithing, withholding a
legacy, or any thing found, or lent — is it not covetousness or theft ?
Retaining another's wages, when due — is it not downright robbery ?
This is under covetousness. Or, if any one keeps any thing lent,
or committed to his care, worse than he thinks that he ought — is it
not treachery, or slothful negligence ? In like manner an unreason-
able command, or foolishly plighted troth, and being long without
receiving the rite of confirmation, going insincerely to confession, or
delaying too long to teach one's godchild the Lord's Prayer and the
Creed — these, and all similar faults, are related to sloth, which is
CAMD. SOC. 2 E
210 REGUL.f: INCLUSARUM.
Folio 55. uorte techen godcliilde pater noster % credo ? peos, ? alle swuclie,
beo^S iled to slouh^e ^ ];et is J^e ueor'Se moder of ]?e seouen heaued
suimen. peo J^et drone eni drunch, oSer ei J>ing dude hwarSuruh
no childe ne schulde beon of hire istreoned :! o^er |>et istreoned
schulde uorwur Sen, nis Jns strong monsleiht, of golnesse awakened ?
Alle sunnen sunderliclie, bi liore owune nonieliche nonien, ne muhte
no mon rikenen :! anh ine j^eos |?et icli habbe iseid, alle ]>e o^re
beo'S bilokene r^ 1 nis, icli wene, no mon ]7et ne mei understonden
him of his sunnen nonieliche, under summe of j^en ilke imene, j^et
beo'S her iwritene. Of };eos seoue bestes, 7 of hore streones i^e
wildernesse, % of onliche liue, is iseid hiderto, — J^et alle J>e uor^fa-
rinde uonde^ to uordonne. pe Liun of Prude slea^ alle ]7e prude,
? alle ]>eo ]7et beo'S heie, "? ouer heie iheorted. pe attri neddre alle
]7eo ontfule, % alle J?eo Inhere iSoncked.* pe vnicorne alle ];eo
wre'Sfule :! % al so of ]?e oSre areawe. Ase to God heo beoS
isleiene ^ auh heo lebbe'S to J^e ueonde, 1 beo^ alle ine his hirde, %
serue'S him ine his kml, euerichon, of ]>et mester, ]?et him to ualle'5.
pe prude beoS his bemares, drawe^ wind inward of worldlich
hereword, % eft, mid idel jelpe, puffed hit utward, ase }>e bemare
de^, uorte makien noise — lud dream to scheauwen hore horel. Auh
jif heo wel J^ouhten of Godes bemares, 7 of ]>e englene bemen of
heouene, J^et schulen an our ^ halue ]7e worlde, biuoren ]>& grureful
dome grisliche bloawen, AriseS, deade, ariseS ! cumeS to Drihtenes
dome, uorte beon idemed ^ Jjer no prude bemare ne mei beon
Folio 55 b. iboruwen. Eif heo ]?ouhten j^is wel, heo wolden inouh reaSe i'Se
deofles seruise dimluker bemen. Of }»eos bemares seiS Jeremie,
" Onager solitarius, in desiderio anime sue, attraxit ventum amoris."
Of ]?eo ]7et draweS wind inward, uor luue of hereword, sei^ Jeremie,
ase ich er seide.
Summe iuglurs beo^ ]?et ne kunnen seruen of non oSer gleo,
buten makien chores, % wrenchen mis hore urn's, % schulen mid hore
» i'Solitet. T. j) beon malicius T liSere again o'Sere. T. '' foui-. C. T.
THE PEOUD ARE THE DEVIL'S TRUMPETERS. 211
the fourth motlier of the seven deadly sins. She who hath drunk
any potion, or done any thing whereby no child should be conceived
by her, or that when conceived should perish — is not this downright
manslaughter, caused by lust? No man would be able to reckon
up all sins separately by their own special names ; but in those
which I have mentioned all the others are included ; and there is
not, I think, any man who may not understand his own sins
in particular under some of the same general heads that are here
written. Of those seven beasts, and of their offspring in the wilder-
ness, and of a solitary life, we have spoken thus far — which beasts
are endeavouring to destroy all mortals. The Lion of Pride
slayeth all the proud, and all those who are elated and lofty in heart.
The venomous serpent [slayeth] all the envious, and all who have
base malicious thoughts.'' The Unicorn, all the wrathful ; and so of
the others in succession. In respect to God they are slain ; but they
live to the fiend, and are all in his retinue, and serve him in his
court, every one in the office appropriated to him.
T. he proud are his trumpeters ; they draw in the wind of worldly
praise, and then, with vain boasting, puff it out again, as the
trumpeter doth, to make a noise — a loud strain of music to shew
their vain glory. But, if they reflected well upon God's trumpeters,
and upon the trumpets of the angels of heaven, Avhich shall blow
terribly in the four quarters of the world, before the awful judg-
ment. Arise, ye dead, arise ! come to the Lord's judgment, to be
judged ; where no proud trumpeter may be saved, — if they reflected
justly upon this, they would soon enough sound in a lower strain in
the devil's service. Of those trumpeters Jeremiah saith, "A wild
ass accustomed to the wilderness in the desire of his heart snuffeth
up the wind of his love." ^ Of those who draw in wind, for love of
praise, Jeremiah saith this, as I said before.
I here are some Jesters who know of no other means of exciting
mirth but to make wry faces, and distort their mouth, and scowl
" Serpens veneuosus, intei-ficit invidos ct iiigratos. — MS. Oxon. ^ Jeremiah, ii. 24.
212 REGUL^ INCLUSAEUBI.
eien. Of Jjis mestere serueS ]?eo uniselie ontfule i^e deofles kurt,
to bringen o leihtre hore ontfule louerd. Uor jif ei sei^ wel o^er
de^ wel, nonesweis ne muweii heo loken J>iderward mid rilit eie of
gode heorte "i auli wincke"S oSere half, 1 biholde^ o luft "? asquint :
% jif ]7er is out to eadwiten, o^er lodlich,'* J^iderward heo schule^
mid ei^er eien i ? hwon heo ihere^ J^et god, heo sleate^ ^ adun boa
two hore earen i auh j^et lust ajean ]7et vuel is euer wid open,
peonne heo wrenched hore mu^ mis, hwon heo turned god to vuel "^
t jif hit is sumdel vuel, J^uruh more lastunge ^ heo wrencheS hit to
wurse. peos bee's hore owune prophetes forcwiddares. peos
bodie'S biuoren hwu ]?e ateliche ^ deouel schal jet agesten ® ham mid
his grimme grennunge, '% hu heo schulen ham sulf grennen 1 niuelen,
? makien sur semblaunt uor \q. muchele angoise, iSe pine of helle.
Auh for ]7ui heo beo^S J^e lesse te menen, ]?et heo biuorenhond
leorneS hore meister to makien grimme chere.
pe wre"Sfule biuoren |?e ueonde skirme'S mid kniues, "% he is his
knif-worpare, % pleieS mid sweordes, ? here's ham hi J»e scherpe orde
uppen his tunge. Sweord 7 knif ei'Ser beo^ scherpe 7 keoruinde
Folio 56. wordes j^et he worpe'S frommard him, % skirmeS touward o-Sre.
Auh heo bodied hwu ]7e deoflen schulen pleien mid ham, mid hore
scherpe aules, 1 skirmen mid ham abuten, "? dvsten ase enne pilche-
clut, euchon touward o'Ser, ? mid helle sweordes alsnesien*^ ham
J^uruhut, )7et beo^ kene 7 keoruinde, 1 ateliche pinen.
pe slowe li'S % slepe'S i^e deofles berme, ase his deore deorling "i If
te deouel leie'S his Intel adun to his earen, 7 tutele'S him al ]?et he
euer wule. Uor, so hit is sikerliche to hwamso is idel of god :! \q
ueond ma^ele^ jeorne, 1! te idele underuo^ luueliche his lore, pe
]?et is idel 1 jemeleas, he is j^es deofles bermes ^ slep ; auh he schal a
» la'Sliche. T. '^ sclattes. T. sclette'5. C.
■^ leasinge. T. '' atterluche. T.
^ glopnen. T. ' snesen. C. sncasin. T.
8 bearnes. C.
THE WRATHFUL MAN, THE SLUGGARD. 213
with their eyes. This art the unhappy, envious man practise th m
the devil's court, to excite to laughter their envious Lord, For, if
any one saith or doeth well, they cannot, by any means, look that
way with the direct eye of a good heart ; but wink in another
direction, and look on the left hand, and obliquely : and if there is
any thing to blame or dislike, there they scowl with both eyes ; and
when they hear of any good, they hang down both their ears ; but
their desire of evil is ever wide open. Then they distort their
mouth, when they turn good to evil ; and if there is somewhat of
evil, they distort it, and make it worse by detraction. These are
their own prophets — foretelling their own end. They shew before-
hand how the hateful fiend shall strike terror mto them with his
hideous grinning ; and how they shall themselves gnash theii* teeth,
and beat their breasts, w^ith rueful looks for the great anguish of the
pains of hell. But they are the less to be pitied, because they have
learned beforehand their trade of making grim cheer.
Xhe wrathful man fenceth before tlie devil with knives, and he is
his knife-thrower, and playeth with swords, and beareth them upon
his tongue by the sharp point. Sword and knife both are sharp and
cutting words which he casteth forth, and therewith attacks others.
And it forebodes how the devils shall ])lay with them, with their
sharp awls, and skirmish about with them, and toss them like a
pilch- clout ^ every one towards another, and strike them through
with hell-swords,'' which are keen, cutting, and horrible pains.
The sluggard lieth and sleepeth in the devil's bosom, as his dear
darlmg ; and the devil applieth his mouth to his ears, and tells him
whatever he will. For, this is certainly the case with every one
who is not occupied in any thing good : the devil assiduously talks, and
the idle lovingly receive his lessons. He that is idle and careless is
■> "Pilch (pellicea), a woollen or fur garment; also a child's flannel clout." — Coles.
See in Jamieson, " Hippen."
'' " Creagria iufernalibus." — liS. Oxon.
214 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
domesdei grimliche abreiden mid te dredful dreanie of J^e englene
bemen :' 1, ine belle wondrede ateliche ^ awakien. " Surgite, mortui
qui jacetis in sepulcliris: surgite, et venite ad judicium Saluatoris."
pe jiscare is ]7es feondes askeba"Sie,^ "? li^ euer i^en asken, t fare's
abuten asken t bisiliche sture"S him uorte rukelen muchele 7 monie
ruken togedere, 1; blowe^ ]?erinne, t ablent him sulf:' padere'S*' J
make^ j^erinne figures of augrim, ase ]>eos rikenares do^ f habbe'S
muchel uorto rikenen. pis is al }>es Ganges'^ blisse, 7 te ueond
bihalt al ]?is gomen, *? lauhwe'S ]?et he to berste^. Wei understond
euerich wis mon J'is :' ]7et gold '% seoluer boSe, "? euerich eor^lich
eihte, nis buten eor^e If asken, ]?et ablent euerichne mon ]?et bloawe'S
in ham t ^et is, ]?et boluweS '^ him ine ham :' ]?uruh ham ine lieorte
prude r' "? al J^et he rukeleS 7 gedere"S togedere, t ethalt of eni
];inge ]7et nis buten asken, more ]7en hit beo neod, al schal ine helle
Folio 5Qh. iwurSen to him tadden "? neddren, *? bo'Se, ase Tsaie seiS, schulen
beon of wurmes his kurtel ^ t his kuuertur, ];et nolde her ]?e neod-
fule ueden ne schruden. " Subter te sternetur tinea, et operimentum
tuum vermis."
pe jitire glutun is j^es feondes manciple. Uor he stikeS euer iSe
celere, oSer i^e kuchene. His heorte is i^e disches :' his J»ouht is
al i'Se neppe r' his lif i^e tunne :! his soule i'Se crocke. Kume'S for^
biuoren his Louerde bismitted ^ 7 bismeoruwed,^ a dischs ine his one
bond, "% a scoale^ in his o'Ser :! ma^ele^ mid wordes, J wigeleS ase
uordrunken mon ]7et haue^S imunt to uallen :' bihalt his greate
wombe, 1: te ueond lauhwe'S j^et he to berstcS. God ]?reateb ]?eos
bus Iniruh Isaie. " Servi mei comedent, et vos esurietis," 7c. :! "Mine
men," he sei^, " schulen eten, 7 ou schal euer hungren r' 7 je schulen
a wandrelSe echeliche. '' eskebach. C.
"-■ pu'Seres. T. "^ askeba'Ses. T.
•^ boleSeS. C. bolhes. T. ' liwitel. C. T.
s bismu'Seled. C. bismuddet. T. '' bismurlet. T,
' schalc. C. skale. T.
THE COVETOUS MAN. THE GLUTTOX. 215
the devil's bosom-sleeper: but he shall on Doomsday be fearfully
startled with the dreadful sound of the angels' trumpets, and shall
awaken in terrible amazement in hell. " iVrise, ye dead, Avho lie
in graves : arise, and come to the Saviour's Judgment."
1 he covetous man is the devil's ash- gatherer, and lieth always in
the ashes, and goeth about ashes, and busily bestirs himself to heap
up much, and to rake many together, and bloweth therein, and
blindeth himself, poketh, and maketh therein figures of arithmetic,
as those accountants do who have much to reckon up. This is all
the joy of this fool, and the devil seeth all this game, and laugheth
so that he bursteth. Every wise man well understandeth this ; that
both gold and silver, and all earthly goods, are nothing but earth
and ashes, which blind every man that bloweth upon them ; that
is, disquieteth himself for them ; is proud in heart through them ;
and all that he heapeth up and gathereth together, and possesses of
any thing more than is necessary, is nothing but ashes, and in hell it
shall all become toads and adders to him ; and both his ku'tel and
his covering, as Isaiah saith, shall be of worms, who would not
feed nor clothe the needy, " The worm is spread under thee, and
the worms cover thee." '^
The greedy glutton is the devil's purveyor ; for he always haunts
the cellar or the kitchen. His heart is in the dishes; all his
thought is of the tablecloth ; his life is in the tun, his soul in the
pitcher. He cometh into the presence of his Lord besmutted and
besmeared, with a dish in one hand, and a bowl in the other. He
talks much incoherently, and staggereth like a drunken man who
seemeth about to fall, looks at his great belly, and the devil laughs so
that he bursteth. God thus threateneth such persons by Isaiah,
" Servi mei comedent, and vos esurietis," &c. : ^ " My servants shall
eat, but ye shall always hunger ; " and ye shall be food for devils,
world without end ! " How much she hath glorified herself!, and hath
lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her." '^ " Contra
" Isaiah, xiv. 11. '' Isaiah, Ixv. 13. ■= Revelations, xviii. 7.
216 REGUL.E INCLUSAEUM.
beon ueondes fode, world a buten ende ! " " Quantum glorificavit se
et in deliciis fuit, tantum date ei luctum et torraentum." In Apoca-
lipsi : " Contra unum poculum quod miscuit, miscete ei duo." Eif
'pe gulchecuppe * weallinde bres to drincken, J. jeot in his wide ];rote
]>et he aswelte wi^innen. Ajean one, jif liim two. Lo I swucli is
Godes dom ajean J^e jiure, *? ajean 'pe drinckares ^ iSe Apocalipse.
pe lechurs i^e deofles kurt habbe'S ariht hore owune nome. Vor
i'Seos muchele kurz, ]?eo me cleope^ lechurs pet habbe^ so uorloren
scheome J^et ham nis nowiht of scheome, auh seche'S hwu heo
muwen mest uileinie wurchen. pe lechur iSe deofles kurt bifule^
himsulf fulliche, 1: alle his feolawes, "? stinkeS of pet ful^e, 7 paie'S
Folio 57. wel his louerd, mid tet ilke stinkinde bre^, betere ben he schulde
mid eni swote rechles. Ine vitas Patrum hit tone's hwu he stinke'S
to God. pe engel hit scheawede so'Sliche t openliche, ]?et heold his
neose, ];o ]?er com pe prude lechur ridinde, *? nout for ]?et rotede lich
]?et he help pe holi eremite uorto biburien. Of alle pe o'Sre ]?eonne,
habbe'S ]>eos }»et fuluste mester i'Se ueondes kurt bet so hide's ham
suluen :' °i he schal bidon ham 1: pinen ham mid eche stunche iSe
pine "^ of helle.
JN u je habbeS iherd one dole, mine leoue sustren, of J^eo ]:>et me
cleopeS je seoue moder smmen, ■? of hore teames, 7 of hwuche mes-
teres J»eo ilke men serue'S i^e deofles curt. ]?et habbeS iwiued o ]7eos
seouen heggen, 1 hwui heo bee's swu-Se uorto hatien ? to schunien.
Ee beoS ful ueor urom ham, ure Louerd beo iSoncked :/ auh pe fule
bre'S of ];isse laste un'Seawe — J>et is, of lecherie — stincke^ so swu'Se
fule — uor pe ueond hit sowe'S ? to bloawe'S oueral — J?et ich am
sumdel of-dred leste hit leape et sumecherre into owur heorte-
neose. Uor stench stih'S "^ uppard ^' "? je beoS heie iclumben, }>er
° keache cuppe. C. kelche cuppe. T. ^ druncwile. C. drunkensome. T.
<= put. T. C. <i stinkes. T.
THE FOULXESS OF LECHERY. 217
unum poculum quod miscuit miscete ei duo." ^ Give the tosspot
molten brass to drink, and pour it into his wide throat, that he may
die inwardly. /^ Lo ! such is the Judgment of God against the
glutton, and against drunkards, in the Apocalypse.
1 he leclierous have properly their own name in the devil's court.
For, in those great courts, they are called lechers who have so lost
shame, that they are ashamed of nothing, but seek how they may
work the most wickedness. In the devil's court the lecher fbulh'
defileth himself, and all his fellows, and stinketh of that filth, and
pleaseth his lord with that same stinking odour, much better than
he should with any sweet incense. In the Lives of the Fathers, it
is told how offensively he smells before God. The angel shewed
this truly and evidently who, when the proud lecher came riding
by, held his nose, and did not so for the putrid corpse which he
helped the holy hermit to bury. Of all others, therefore, they have
the foulest office in the devil's court who thus befoul themselves;
and he shall befoul them, and punish them with never ending stink
in the torments of hell.
Ye have now heard one part, my dear sisters, of what are called
the seven capital sins, and of their progeny, and of the offices which
the men who have married these seven hags serve in the devil's
court, and why they are greatly to be hated and avoided. Ye are
very far from them, our Lord be thanked ; yet the foul smell of this
last vice — that is, of lechery, stinketh so very offensively — for the
devil soweth and bloweth it every where — that I am somewhat
afraid lest, upon some occasion, it should get into the nose of your
heart. For stench riseth upwards ; and ye have climbed high,
where there is much wind of strong temptations. Our Lord give
you wit and strength well to withstand.
* Revelations, xviii. ().
CAMD. SOC. 2 F
218 REGULJ5 INCLUSARUM.
J?e wind is muchel of stronge tentaciuns. Ure Louercl jiue ou wit
1 streng'Se wel to wi^stonden.
Sum ancre is J^et wene'S J^et heo scliule beon strong! ukest iuonded
i'Se uormeste tweolf mone^ J^et heo bigon ancre lif, 1, iSen 0(Ser
tweolf J^erefter :' 1; liwon heo, efter ueole jer, iuele'S ham so stronge,
heo awundre'S hire swuSe, 1; is of dred leste God habbe hire al
uorjiten 7 forworpen. Nai ! nis hit nout so. I'Se uorme jeres nis
Folio 57 b. hit bute bal-pleouwe r' auli nimeS nu jeme hwu hit farcS, bi uorbisne.
Hwonne a mon bane's neoweliche wif iled horn, he nimcS jeme al
softeHche of hire maneres. pauh he iseo bi hire ei J^ing ]>et him
mispaie, he let j^e jet iwurSen, '? make's hire ueire cheres, J is
vmbe * eueriches weis f^et heo him luuie inwardliche in hire heorte :!
and hwon he nnderstond wel J)et te luue is treouliche iuestned tou-
ward him :f Jjeonne mei he, sikerliche, chasten hire openliche of hire
nn^eawes, ]>et he er uorber ase he ham nout nuste : make's him
swu'Se sterne, 7 went to }>ene grimme toS uorte uonden jete jif he ''
muhte hire luue touward him unuesten. A last, hwon he under-
stont ]?et heo is al wel ituht, — ]>et for none ]?inge ]?et he deS hire,
heo ne luueS bine neuer J^e lesse, auh more J more, jif heo mei,
urom deie to deie :' ];eonne scheawe^ he hire ]?et he liire luueS
sweteliche, 7 deS al ]>et heo wule, ase 'peo ]>et lie luue'S 7 iknowe^,
— Jjeone is al ];et wo iwurSen to wunne. Eif Jesu Crist, ower spus,
deS al so bi ou, mine leoue sustren, ne ]?unche ou no wunder. Yor,
i^e urum^e, nis ]?er bute oluhnunge, uorte drawen in luue :' auh al
so sone ase he euer nnderstont ]>et he beo wel akointed mid ou, he
wule uorberen ou lesse her :' auh efter ^e spreoue, on ende,"^ —
]?eonne is ]>e muchele joie. Al riht o ]ns ilke wise, ]70 he wolde
leden his folc ut of J?eou J^eoudome,*^ vt of Pharaones bond, ut of
Egipte, he dude for ham al ]?et heo euer wolden, miracles feole 7
^ umben. T. G. ^ ha. T. C.
' he wile for beoreii o\v ksse, after j^e preoue on ende. T. spreoue., C. Q. Jjcs
preoue ? '' ut of J^eowedoni. C.
TEMPTATIONS AT FIRST LIGHT, AFTERWARDS STRONGER. 219
An anchoress thinks that she sliall be most strongly tempted in
the first twelve months after she shall have begun her monastic life,
and in the next twelve thereafter ; and when, after many years, she
feels them so strong,' she is greatly amazed, and is afraid lest God
may have quite forgotten her, and cast her off. Nay ! it is not so.
In the first years, it is notliing but ball-play ; but now, observe well,
by a comparison, how it fiireth. When a man hath newly brought
a wife liome, he, with great gentleness, observes her manners.
Tliougli he sees in her an}- thing that he does not approve, yet he
taketh no notice of it, and putteth on a cheerful countenance toward
her, and carefully uses every means to make her love him
affectionately in her heart ; and when he is well assured that her love
is truly fixed upon him, he may then, with safety, openly correct
her faults, which he previously bore with as if he knew them not :
he becometh right stern, and assumes a severe countenance, in order
still to try whether her love toward him might give way. At last
when he perceives that she is completely instructed — that for nothing
that he doth to her she loveth him less, but more and more, if
possible, from day to day, then he sheweth her that he loveth her
sweetly, and doeth whatsoever she desires, as to one whom he loveth
and knoweth — then is all that sorrow become joy. If Jesu Christ,
your S[)Ouse, doth thus to you, my dear sisters, let it not seem
strange to you. For in the beginning it is only courtship, to draw
you into love ; but as soon as he perceives that he is on a footing of
affectionate familiarity with you, he will now have less forbearance
with you; but after the trial — in the end — then is the great joy. Just
in the same way, when he wished to lead his people out of bondage
— out of the power of Pharaoh — out of Egypt, he did for them all
that tliey desired — miracles many and fair. He dried the Red Sea
and made them a free way through it ; and tliey went there dry-
footed where Pharaoh and all their foes were drowned. ^Moreover,
220 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
feire. He adruwede ]?e Reade See, 7 makede liam iireo wei ]?iiruli
hire r^ '? j^er heo eoden drui-uoted, ]7er adreinte Pharao, % liore uoan
alle. Fur^er i^e desert, ]?o he hefde iled ham ueor i'Se wildernesse,
Folio 58. he lette ham J^olien wo inouh — hunger 7 J^urst, '? muchel swine %
muchele weorren 1; monie. On ende he jef ham reste, 1, alle weole
1 wunne :! al hore wil 1; flesches eise 1, este. pus ure Louerd
spare's a uormest y& ^unge "? Jje feble, "? drauh'S ham ut of J^isse
worlde sweteliche H mid liste. Auh so sone so he isihb ham
hearden, he let arisen 7 awakenen weorre, 1! teclieS liam uiliten, 1.
weane uorte jjolien. An ende, efter longe svvinke, he jifb ham
swete reste, her, I sigge, ij?isse worlde, er heo kumen to heouene :! J
]7uncheS J?eonne J>e reste so god efter J^e swinke, ? te muchele eise
efter |?e muchele meoseise J^uncheS so svvu'Se swete.
JNu beo^ iSe saute r, under }>e two tentaciuns ]7et ich erest seide,
]?et beo'S ]7e uttre ? te inre uondunges, ]7et teme^ alle ]7e o"Sre, uour
dolen, ]?us to-deled, — uondunge liht 7 derne — uondunge lilit 7 open-
liche — uondunge stronge 7 derne — uondunge stronge 1, openliche,
ase is her to understonden. " Non timebit ^ a timore nocturno, &c."
Of fondunge liht J derne sei^ Job J>eos wordes : " Lapides excavant
aque, et alluvione paulatim terra consumitur." Lutle dropen
J'urle'S ^ |?ene ulint J^et ofte ualleS ];eron :! 7 lihte derne uondunges
J^et me nis nout iwar of, nailed o'Serhwule one treowe heorte. Of ];e
lihte openliche uondunges, bi hwam he sei'S al so :^ " Lucebit post
eum semita,"' nis nout so muchel dute. Of stronge tentaciun |?et is
]7auh derne, Job mene'S him ? seiS r' " Insidiati sunt mihi et pre-
valuerunt, et non erat qui ferret auxilium : " ]^et is, " Mine uoan
awaiteden me mid tricherie, % mid treisune, *? strenc^eden uppon
me, and nes hwoa me liulpe." " Veniet malum super te, et nescies
Folio 58 h. ortum ejus." Of }?e ucorSe uondunge, }?et is strong % openliche, he
makeS his mone of his foan % sei^, " Quasi rupto muro, et aperta
janua irruerunt super me:^" |;et is, heo wresten'' in uppon me, ase
•' Vulgate, tiinebis. Ed. '' luirtloS. C. *•' ^resteii. C. wiastin. T.
TEMPTATIONS SECRET AND OPEN, LIGHT AND POWERFUL. 221
in the desert, when he had led them far withhi the wilderness, he let
them suflfer distress enough — hunger and thirst, and much toil, and
great and numerous wars. In the end, he gave them rest, and all
wealth and joy — all their desire, with bodily ease and abundance.
Thus our Lord spareth at first the young and feeble, and draweth
them out of this world gently, and with subtlely. But as soon as he
sees them inured to hardships, he lets war arise and be stirred up,
and teacheth them to fight, and to sufter want. In the end, after
long toil, he givetli them sweet rest, here, I say, in this world,
before they go to heaven ; and then the rest soemeth so good after
the labour ; and the great plenty after the great want seemeth so
very sweet.
]Vow, there are in the Psalter, under the two temptations
that I spoke of first, which are the outward and the inward
temptations, which give birth to all the others, four sorts, thus
distinguished : light and secret temptation, light and manifest
temptation, powerful and secret temptation, powerful and man-
ifest temptation, as we are to understand in this passage, " Thou
slialt not be afraid for the terror by night," &c.'' Of light and
secret temptation Job saitli these words : " Lapides excavant aquaj, et
alluvlone paulatim terra consumitur." "^ Small drops wear through
the flint upon which they often fall ; and light secret temptations
which men are not aware of, at times cause a faithful heart to err.
Of the light manifest temptations, of which he saith thus, " A path
shall shine after him,"'' there is not so much cause to fear. Of
powerful temptation, which is yet secret. Job maketh his complaint
and saith : " Insidiati sunt niihi et prajvaluerunt, et non erat qui
ferret auxilium ; " '^ that is, " My foes lay in wait for me with treachery
and treason, and they prevailed against me, and there was none who
helped me." " Evil shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not know
•^ Psiilm xci. r.. '' Job, xiv. 19.
'^^ Job, xli. 23. '' Ibid. xxx. 1:J.
222 REGUL^. INCLUSARUM.
J^auli be wal were to-broken, <f te jeten opene. pe uorme, <^ te
]7ridde uondunge of ];eos foure bee's abnest under ]7er inre. pe
o^er, "^ te ueorSe, ualle^ under ]7e uttre, and beo^S euer mest fles-
liche, J e'S for^i to ivelen. pe o^er two IjeoS gostHcbe — of gost-
^iche un'Seauwes — j beo^S ibud ofte '^ derne hwon heo derue'S mest,
J beo'S muchel uorjjui J^e more to dreden. Moni ]?et ne weneS nout
brede"S in bire breoste sum liunes hweolp, o'Ser sum neddre kundel
]>et for-uret j^e soule. Of swuche Salomon ^ sei^, " Alieni comederunt
robur ejus, et ipse nescivit :"' et alibi, " Traxerunt me et ego non
dolui r* vulneraverunt me et ego nescivi ; " ]?et is, vnliolde uor-ureten
]?e strenc'Se of bis soule, '^ lie hit nout nuste. Eet is mest dred of
hwon ]?e svvike of belle eggeS to one J^inge J>et ];uncheS swu^e god
mid alle, j is ■|7auh soule bone, j wei to deadlich sunne. So he do's
al se ofte ase he ne mei mid openlicli vuel, kuSen his strenc^e. " Noa,
lie sei^e, ne mei nout makien ]?eos to sunegen Jniruh jiuernesse, <^
ichulle don ase ]?e wrastlare de'S — ich chulle wrenchen hire J^ideward
ase heo mest drede^, <^ worpen hire o'Sere half, "^ breden uerliche ^
adun er he lest wene :' " and egge^ hire touward so muchel absti-
nence, 'pet he is pe unstrengre ine Godes seruise, j- let so heard lif,
'^ pine's so hire licome pet te soule steorue'S. He bilialt on o^re |?et
he ne mei nones weis makien vuele'' i^oncked, so lufful f so
Fuiio 59. reouSful is hire heorte. " Ich chulle," he j^encheS, " makien hire to
reou'Sful mid alle t ichulle makien so muchel J?et heo schal luuien
eihte, j ]?enchen pe lesse of God, '-^ leosen hire fame i' <^ put j^eonne
a swuc bone in hire softe heorte : Seinte Marie ! naueS pe mon oSer
]>eo wummon meoseise t' '^ no mon nule don ham no good ? Me
wolde me jif ich bede, f so lielpen ham ^ don elmesse :'" j bringe'S
hire on to gederen j jiuen aire erest pe poure :' J?er efter to oSre
ureond ;' a last makien feste, j iwur'Se'S al worldlich :f uorschuppe'S
of ancre to husewif of belle. God bit wot swuch feste make's sum
of bore :' bet wene^ ]?et heo do wel, ase dusie men <^ adotede do's
bire to u.ulerstonden, ]7et flakere'S ^ hire of freolac, '^h eric's '^ jelpcS
* usee C. ** frculiliclie. T. "^ luJSere. T. C '' faltreS. T. flattered'. C
CRAFTINESS OF THE TEMPTER. 223
the rising thereof." a Of the fourth temptation, which is powerful
and manifest, he maketh his complaint and saith, " Quasi rupto
muro, et aperta janua, irruerunt super me ; " ^ That is, " they have
rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and the gates o]^)en."
The first and the third of these four temptations are, for the most
part, imder the inward class. The second and the fourth fall under
the outward, and are almost always fleshly, and, therefore, easily
felt. The other two are spiritual — concerning spiritual faults — and
are often hidden and secret when they are most hurtful, and are,
therefore, much more to be feared. Many a one who doth not
suspect it, nourisheth in her breast some lion's whelp, or some
viper's brood, that gnaws the soul. Of such Solomon saith, " Alieni
comederunt robur ejus, et ipse nescivit ; " ° and in another place,
" Traxerunt me, et ego non dolui ; vulneraverunt me, et ego
nescivi ; " "^ that is, " Enemies have devoured the strength of his soul,
and he knew it not." Yet there is most reason to fear when the
traitor of hell inciteth to any thing that appears at the same time to
be very good, and yet is the bane of the soul, and the way to deadly
sin. He doth thus whenever he may not shew his power by open
wickedness. No, saith he, " I cannot make this one to sin through
gluttony, but I will do as the wrestler doth ; I will pull her forcibly
aside in the direction she most dreadeth, and cast her on the other
side, and throw her down violently before she is at all aware ; " — and
he incites her to so much abstinence that she is rendered the less
able to endure fatigue in the service of God, and leads so hard a life,
and so torments her body, that her soul dieth. He sees another
whom he cannot by any means make to entertain evil thoughts, so
full of love and compassion is her heart. " I will," he thinketh, " make
her even too compassionate. I will so manage that she shall love
worldly goods, and think less upon God, and lose her reputation;
» Isaiah, xlvii. 11, b Job, xxx. 14. <= Hosea, vii. 9.
•' "They drew me, ami I felt not; they have beaten me, and I knew it not."
Proverbs, xxiii. 35.
224 REGUL^. INCLUSARUM.
of ^ J>e elmesse ]?et heo de'S — hwu wide heo is iknowen, j heo let wcl
J^erof, <^ leaped into horel.^ Sum sei'S inouli rea"Se 'pet heo gedercS
liord :' so J^et hire hus mei beon ibroken <^ heo bo'Se. Lo ! J?us pe
treitre of helle makeS him treovve readesmon. Ne ileue je him
neuer. Dauid cleope'S hine "demoniam meridianum," j^et is, briht
schininde deouel :' ant Seinte Powel cleope'S hine "angelum lucis:^"
|?et is, engel of hht : vor swuch he make's him ofte, j scheawe^ him
to monie. No sih'Se ]?et je iseo'S, ne wakiinde ne slepinde, ne ine
swefne, ne telle je bute dweole :' vor nis hit buten his gile. He
bane's wise men of holie line ^ of heie ofte so bicherd, ase ])e ]>et is
com to in one wildernesse in one wummone liche, ^ seide ]?et heo
was igon a dweole'S," "^ weop ase meoseise ]?ing efter herbaruwe :' j
Folio r>9 b. eft of J>en o'Ser holie monne J?et he makede uorte ileuen ]^et he was
engel, <^ bi his feder ]?et he was ]7e deouel, "^ makede him to slean
his feder. Swu-Se ofte ]?er biuoren he hefde iseid him euer so'S,
uorte biswiken him soriliche on ende. Also of ]?e lioli monne ]7et he
makede kumen hom to dealen his feder cheteH to neodfule f to
ponre, so longe |?et he deadliche sunegude o wummone, '^ feol so
into unhope, '^t deiede ine heaued sunne. Of mon ]?et speke^ mid
ou swuche® talen ihere^ hu je schulen witen on wi^ J'es deofles
wieles, J^et he ou ne biwrenche. Summe of ou ]7et he makede
summe cherre to wenen j^et hit were uikelunge jif heo speke ueire,
<^ jif heo edmodliche mened hire neode, <^ jif heo J^onckede mon of
his god dede :' '^ was more ouerhowe uorto acwenchen cherite, ]?en
uorto don rihtwisnesse. Sum he is abuten to makien so swu'Se
uleon monne uroure, ]?et heo ualle'S ine deadlich sor J^et is accidie f'
o'Ser into deep Jwuht ^ so J>et heo dotie. Sum hate's so sunne ]?et
heo haue^ ouerhowe of o^re pQi falleS, ];et schulde weopen nor hire,
<^ sore dreden of al swuch anont hire suluen :' j siggen ase dude ]?e
holie mon J?et set "^ weop "^ seide, ]70 me tolde him ];et on of his
heue« up. T. C. ^ orhel. T. orsel. C.
o dweole. T, '' t'eh. T. fech. G.
toward ow jjulliche. T.
WILES OF THE DEVIL. LEGENDARY TALES. 225
and he tlien puts such a thought as this into her kind heart : " Holy
Mary ! is not this man, or this woman, in great poverty ; and no
one will do them any good ? They would if 1 were to ask them,
and thus I might help them, and do alms." Thus he leads her on
to collect, and to give first of all to the poor, afterwards to some
friend, and at last to make a feast ; and she grows quite worldly,
and is transformed from an anchoress into a housewife of hell. God
knows that one of them maketh such feasts ; who thinketh that she
is doing good, as foolish and silly people give her to understand,
who flatter her for her liberality, and praise her, and boast of the
alms that she doth ; how widely she is known : and she is well
pleased at this, and leapeth up into pride. Some one will be ready
enough to say that she is gathering a hoard ; so that her house may
be broken into, and she too. Lo ! thus the hellish traitor pretendeth
to be a faithful adviser. Never believe him. David calleth him, " De-
monium raeridianum," that is, " bright shining devil; " and St. Paul,
" Angelum lucis," that is, angel of light : for such he oft pretendeth
to be, and seemeth to many. Account no vision that ye may see,
waking, or sleeping, or in a dream, to be any thing but an illusion ;
for it is only one of his stratagems. He hath often thus deceived
wise men of holy and pious life ; as him whom he came to in the
wilderness in the form of a woman, and said that she had lost her
way, and wept, as in misery, for a hospitable shelter : and again,
of the other holy man whom he made to believe that he was an
angel, and of his own father that he was the de\'il, and made him
kill his father. Upon very many former occasions he had always
told him the truth, that he might deceive him grievously in the end.
Also, of the holy man whom he caused to come home to distribute
his father's goods to the poor and needy, so long that he sinned
mortally with a woman, and fell thus into despair, and died in
deadly sin. Against the devilish wiles of the man who telleth you such
tales, hear how ye should guard yourselves, that he may not deceive
you. Sometimes he has made one of you think that it would be
flattery if she were to speak in a courteous manner, and if she
CAMD. soc. 2 G
226 REGELiE INCLUSAliUM.
bre^ren was iuallen into lieaued sunne :' " Ille liodie, ego eras :'"
"Weilawei! strongliche was he itemted er he so ueolle, — ase he
ueol to dei, al so," que^ he, " ich mei to morwen."
]\u, mine leoue sustren, monie tentaciuns ich habbe inemiied ou,
under ]>e seoue sunnen t' auh nout tauh ])e jnisentfold J^et me is
Folio GO. mide itempted : ne ne muhte, ase ich wene, mide none mu'Se nome-
hche nemen ham. Auh ine J^eo ]?et beo"S her etforen iseid alle J^eo o^re
beo'S bilokene. Lut beo^ i^isse worlde, o^er none mid alle, ]>et ne
beo'S, mid hore sum, o^erhwules itempted. He haue'S so monie
bustes^ful of his letuaries — ]?e Inhere leche of helle — ]?e ]>et for-
sake'S on, he beot ano^er uorS anonriht, '? ]:»et j^ridde, "? tet feorSe :'
t so euer uor'S anonriht, uort he ^ cume uppon swuche |?et me on
cnde underuo : "? he })eonne mid tet, birleS ° him ilome. penc her
of ];e tale of his ampuiles. IhercS nu hwu ich bihet, ajean alle
uondunges, monie kunne urouren, '? mid Godes grace, ];er efter ^e
saluen.
Siker beo of fondunge, J>et hwoso ^ euer stont ine heie liue. pis is
]?e uormeste uroure. Vor, euer so herre tur, so haue'S more wind.
Ee bee's tures ou sulf, mine leoue sustren :' auh ne drede je nout
]?eo hwule J^et je bee's so treouliche J so ueste ilimed mid lim of
* boistes. T. C. '' and swa euer for'5 a'Set he. T.
'■ l)i telle'S. C. '' siker beo of fondinge hwase. T. C.
CONSOLATIONS TO THE TEMPTED. 227
humbly complained of her indigence ; and thanked one for a benefit
conferred : and yet, this was rather an arrogant attempt to put out
the light of charity, than to do what was right.^ He endeavours to
make some one so zealous to flee from the things that make the life
of man agreeable, that she falls into the deadly evil of sloth ; or into
such profound thought that she becomes foolish. Some one has
such a hatred of sin that she looks with proud contempt upon others
who fall, when she ought to weep for them, and fear greatly for
herself, lest she fall into like sin ; and should say, as the holy man
did, who sat and wept, and said, when he was told that one of his
brethren had fallen into mortal sin, " Ille hodie, ego eras." " Alas !
he was strongly tempted before he thus fell — as he fell to day, so,"
quoth he, " I may to-morrow."
JVow, my dear sisters, I have named many temptations to you,
under the seven sins ; but yet not the thousandth part of those with
which we are tempted : nor could they, as I think, by any mouth be
particularly named. But in those which have already been spoken
of all the others are included. There are few persons, or none, in
this world, who are not, at times, tempted with some of them. The
wicked leech of hell hath so many boxes full of his electuaries, that
to him who rejecteth one he offers another directly, and a third, and
a fourth, and so on continually until he come to such a one as he in
the end accepts, and then he plies him with it frequently. Think,
now, of the nvmiber of his phials. Hear now, as I promised,'' many
kinds of comfort against all temptations, and, with God's grace,
thereafter the remedies.
Whosoever leadeth a life of exemplary piety may be certain of
being tempted. This is the first comfort. For the higher the
tower is, it hath always the more wind. Ye yourselves are towers,
my dear sisters, but fear not while ye are so truly and firmly
* " Et tanien foret magis prassumjjtio ad extinguendum caritatem quam sapientia vera."
—MS. Oxou.
** See page 177.
228 REGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
ancre ^ luue euerichon of ou to o'Ser. Vor none deofles pufFe ne
]?urue'' je dreden, biite jif ]?et lim ualse :"= ]?et is to siggen, bute jif
]>e luue bitweonen ou wursie jjuruh }?e ueonde. Al so sone so ei
unlime'S hire, heo bi^ sone iswipt fop's t' bute jif ]>e o'Sre holden
hire, heo bi'S ikest sone adun, ase J)e leste ^ ston is fi'om J^e tures
coppe adun into J>e deope dich of sum suti sunne.
JNu an O'Ser ehie ouh muchel urouren ou, hwon je beo'S itented.
pe tur nis nout asailed, ne J^e castel, ne J^e cite hwon heo beoS
FuiiodOb. biwunnen :^ al so ]7e helle weorrur ne asaileS nenne mid fondunge
'pet he haue^ in his bond t' auh de:^ heo J>et he naue^ nout. Vor^i,
leoue sustren, hwose nis nout asailed, heo mei sore dreden leste heo
beo biwunnen.
pe ]7ridde kunfort is, ]7et ure Louerd sulf, i^e Pater noster, techeS
us to bidden, "Et ne nos inducas in tentationem :^" j^et is, "Louerd,
Feder, ne suffre ]>n nout l>et he ueond allunge lede us into uondunge."
Lo nime^ nu gode jeme. He nule nout pet je bidden |?et je ne
beon nout ifonded, vor j^et is ui*e purgatorie, 7 ure clensing fur, auh
pet we ne beon nout allunge ibrouht J?erin, mid kunscence of heorte
7 mid skiles jettunge,
pe ueorSe uroure is, sikernesse of Godes helpe iSe vihtunge ajein r^
ase Seinte Powel seiS ® — " Fidelis est Deus qui non sinet nos
temptari ultra quam possumus." God, he sei'S, is treowe: nul he
neuer ];olien Jjet te deouel tempti us ouer Jjet he isih'S wel ]>et we
muwen i'Solien :' auh i'Se temptaciun he bane's iset to pe ueonde a
merke, ase J^auh he seide — tempte hire so ueor, auh ne schalt tu gon
no fur^er: 7 so ueor he jiue^ us strenc'Se to wi'Sstonden, 7 te
deouel ne mei nout gon fur'Ser a pricke/ Gregorius : " Diabolus
» anrad. T. *• barf. T. J?urSe. C.
'■ faille. C. '' lowse. T. lousse. C.
'^ witiieS. T. ' ne mei na forScre frau. C.
CONSOLATIONS TO THE TEMPTED. 229
cemented all of you to one another with the hme of sisterly love.
Ye need not fear any devil's blast, except the lime fail ; that is to
say, except your love for each other be impaired through the enemy.
As soon as any of you undoeth her cement, she is soon swept forth ;
if the other do not hold her she is soon cast down, as a loose stone
is from the coping of the tower, down into the deep ditch of some
foul sin.
Here is another encouragement which ought greatly to comfort
you when ye are tempted. The tower is not attacked, nor the
castle, nor the city, after they are taken ; even so the warrior of hell
attacks, with temptation, none Avhom he hath in his hand ; but he
attacketh those whom he hath not. Wherefore, dear sisters, she
who is not attacked may fear much lest she be already taken.
J he third comfort is, that our Lord himself, in the Paternoster,
teacheth us to pray, " Et ne nos inducas in tentationem ; " that is,
" Lord, our Father, suflPer not that the fiend lead us quite into tempta-
tion." Lo! now, take good heed. He wishes not that ye pray that
ye be not tempted, for that is our purgatory, and our purifying fire
— but, that we be not entirely brought into it, with consciousness of
heart and consent of the mind.
1 he fourth comfort is, the assurance of God's assistance in the
contest, as St. Paul saith, " Fidelis est Deus qui non sinet nos
temptari ultra quam possumus." * God, he saith, is faithful : he will
never suffer that the devil tempt us above what he seetli well that
we can bear ; but, in the temptation, he hath placed a mark to the
enemy ; as though he said. Tempt her so far ; but thou shalt go
no further ; and so far he giveth us strength to withstand, and the
devil may not go a jot further. St. Gregory says, " Although the
devil always desires the affliction of the righteous, yet, unless he
* 1 Coriiitliians, x. 13.
230 REGUL^ TNCLUSARUM.
licet afflictionem justorum semper appetat, tamen si a Deo potestatem
non accipiat, formidari igitur non debet, quia nihil nisi permissns
agere valet.'^
And tis is ]?e vifte uronre, ]7et lie ne mei no ]?ing don us bute bi
Godes leaue. And tet was wel ischeauwed, ase J^e Gospel telle'b,
])eo ]>eo deoflen ]?et ure Louerd werp ut of one monne bisouhten ?
seiden : " Si ejicitis nos hinc, mitte nos in porcos r" jif ]>\i driuest us
Folio 61. heonene, do us i^eos swin her :' J he jettede ham. Lo hu heo ne
muhten nout Avi^uten leaue swenchen fule swin. And te swin
anonriht urn en 1; adreinten ham suluen i'Ser see. Seinte Marie ! so
heo stunken '^ to ]?e swin, j^et ham was leoure uorte adrenclien ham
sulf J^en uorte beren ham :^ and on vniseli Godes ilicnesse bere"S ham
in hire breoste, 7 ]ie nimeS neuer jeme. And al ];et vuel ]?et he
euer dude Job, euer he nom leaue J^erof ec et ure Louerde. Loke'S
]7et je kunnen J^e tale ine dialoge :f hu ]>e holi mon was iwuncd to
siggen to ]jes deofles neddre : " Si licentiam accepisti, ego non pro-
hibeo :" jif ]ni hauest leaue, cwe^ he, do stink ^ jif ]n\ meih :' "? he
bead for'S his hond.*^ Auh heo neuede ]?o none leaue, bute one*^ uort
to offeren '^ him, jif bileaue him trukede. Auh hwon God ^ifS him
leaue on his leoue children — liwui is hit, bute nor hore muchele
biheue, ];auh hit ham greue sore ?
pe sixte kunfort is, J^et ure Louerd, hwon he look's }>et we bee's
itented, he plaie'S mid us, ase ]>e moder mid liire junge deorlinge :/
vlili^ from him :' 1; hut hire t' 1: let hit sitten one, '? loken jeorne
abuten, "? cleopien, Dame ! dame ! 7 weopen one hwule :' and ]?eonne
mid ispredde ermes leaped lauhwinde uor^, 7 cluppeiS 7 cusse'S, "?
wipeS his eien. Riht so, ure Louerd let us one iwurSen oSer
hwules, *? wiSdraweS his grace, 1; his cumfort, ^ his elne, }>et we ne
" he stanc. T. lie stong. C. ** sting. T. C.
"^ cheke. T. C. '' nan bote ane. T.
'^ fearen. T.
CONSOLATIONS TO THE TEMPTED. 231
receive power from God, he ought not to be feared, because he can
do nothing unless permitted."
And this is the fifth comfort, that he can do nothing to us but by
God's permission. And this was well shewn, as the Gospel tells,
when the devils which our Lord cast out of a man besought him and
said, " Si ejicitis nos hinc, mitte nos in porcos : " " If thou drive us
hence, send us into this herd of swine :" and he permitted them.
Observe how they might not, without leave, afflict the foul swine.
And the swine immediately ran and drowned themselves in the sea.
Holy Mary ! they so stunk to the swine, that it was better for them
to drown themselves than to bear them ; and an unhappy creature
made after the image of God beareth them in her breast, and
thinketh nothing of it. All the evil that ever he did to Job, he
always obtained permission to do it from our Lord. See that ye
know the story in the dialogue, how the holy man was wont to say
to the devil's serpent, " Si licentiam accepisti, ego non prohibeo."
" If thou hast leave," quoth he, " do sting, if thou mayest ; " and he
offered him his hand. But he had then no permission, except only to
frighten him, if his faith had failed. But when God giveth him
leave against his dear children — why is it, but for their great
advantage, although it may grieve them sore ?
The sixth comfort is, that our Lord, when He suffereth us to bo
tempted, playeth with us, as the mother with her young darling:
she flies from him, and hides herself, and lets him sit alone, and
look anxiously around, and call Dame ! dame ! and weep a while,
and then leapeth forth laughing, with outspread arms, and embraceth
and kisseth him, and wipeth his eyes. In like manner, our Loi'd
sometimes leaveth us alone, and withdraweth His grace. His comfort,
and His support, so that we feel no delight in any good that we do,
nor any satisfaction of heart ; and yet, at that very time, our dear
Father loveth us never the less, but doth it for the great love that he
hath to us. And David understood this well when he said, " Non
232 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
iuincle'S swetnesse in none J^inge ]?et we wel do^, ne sauur of heorte ''
J tauh, i^et ilke point, ne luue'S he us ure leoue ueder neuer ]?e lesce,
aiih he de^ hit for muchel luue ]?et he haue^ to its. Ant tet under-
stod wel Dauid, ]70 he seide, " Non nie derelinquas usquequaque :"'
Folio 61 b. alkinire, cwe^S he Louerd, ne bilef ]ni me nout. Lo, he wolde wel
]7et he bilefde him, auh nout allunge. And six ancheisuns Leo's ^
hwi God, for ure god, wi^drauh^ him o'Serhwules : j^et on is, ]?et
we ne bicumen prude 'J ^ an o^re, ]?et we iknowen ure owune feblesce
1 ure owune muchele unstrenc^e, "? ure owune wocnesse :' % tet is a
swu^e muchel god :^° ase Seint Gregorie &ev^, " Magna est perfectio
sue imperfectionis cognitio :" ]7et is, muchel godnesse hit is uorto
icnowen wel his owune wrecchedom,*^ 7 his wocnesse. Ecclus.
" Intemptatus, qualia scit ? " Hwat wot, he sei^, Salomon, ]?e }?et is
unuonded ? And Seint Austin bere^ Seint Gregorie witnesse, mid
teos wordes, " Melior est animus cui propria est infirmitas nota
quam qui scrutatur celorum vestigia et terrarum fundamenta :" ]?et
is, betere is ]?e ]7et trodde^ wel 7 ofseche'S wel ut his owune feblesce
]7en he ]jet mete's hu heih is ]>e heouene J hu deope is J^e eor'Se.
Hwon two bere^ one bu.rSene 7 te o'Ser bileaueS hit, ]?eonne mei j^e
bet holde'S hit up iuelen hu hit weihS. Al so, leoue suster, ]?e hwule
]?et God bereS mid te J?i tentaciun, nostu neuer liu heui hit is :' %
for^i, et summe chere, he let ];e one, j^et tu understonde ]?in owune
feblesce, 7 cleopie efter his helpe, 7 jeie lude efter him. Eif he is
to longe, hold hit wel up ]?eo hwule, ]?auh hit derue ]?e sore. Vor
hwoso is siker of sukurs ]?et him schal sone kumen, 7 jelt tauh up
his kastel to his wi'Serwines, is swu^e to blamen.*^ penche^ her of
]?e tale, hu ]?e holi mon in his fondunge iseih biwesten ajan him so
muchel uerde of deoflen ]?et he uorleas uor muchele drede Jjc
strencSe of his bileaue uort tet ]7e o'Ser holi mon seide to him,
Folio 62. " Bihold," ewe's [he] bi esten : " plures nobiscum sunt quam cum
notie'S. C, noatiS. T. ^ an is, t we ne pruden. T. C.
virtu. T. '^ wreeehehed. T.
swi'h'e ha is to witen. T.
WHY GOD SUFFERS US TO BE TEMPTED. 233
me derelinquas usquequaque ; " » " Lord," quoth he, " do not thou
utterly forsake me." Observe, he was wilhng that he should forsake
him, but not utterly. And there are six reasons why God, for our
good, sometimes withdraweth himself: one is, that we may not
become proud ; another is, that we may know our own feebleness,
our great infirmity, and ovir weakness; and that is a very great
good, as St. Gregory saith, " Magna est perfectio suae imperfectionis
cognitio ; " that is, " It is great goodness in a man to know well his
own wretchedness and his weakness." Ecclus. " Intemptatus,
qualia scit ? " ^ " What doth he know," saith Solomon, " who hath not
been tried ? " And St. Austin confirmeth the testimony of St.
Gregory, with these Avords, " Melior est animus cui propria est
infirmitas nota quam qui scrutatur coelorum vestigia, et terrarum
fundamenta ; " that is, " Better is he who traceth and searcheth out
well his own weakness, than lie who measureth the height of the
heaven and the depth of the earth." When two persons are carrying
a burden, and one of them letteth it go, he that holdeth it up may
then feel how it weigheth. Even so, dear sister, while God beareth
thy temptation along with thee, thou never knowest how heav}^ it is,
and therefore, upon some occasion, he leaveth thee alone, that thou
mayest understand thine own feebleness, and call for his aid, and
cry loud for him. If he delays too long, hold it well up in the mean
time, though it distress thee sore. For he that is certain that
succour shall soon come to him, and yet yields up his castle to his
enemies, is greatly to blame. Think here of the story, how the holy
man in his temptation saw opposed to him on the west such a large
army of devils, that through great terror he lost the firmness of his
faith, until the other holy man said to him, " Look," quoth he,
" toward the east ; " " Plures vobiscum sunt quam cum illis." °
" We have," quoth he, " more than they ai'e, to help on our side."
The third reason, saith he, is that thou be never quite secure ; for
security begetteth carelessness and presumption, and both these
^ Psalm exix. 8. ^ Ecclesiastieus, xxxiv. 11, <= 2 Kings, vi. 16.
CAMD. SOC. 2 H
234 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
illis." We habbe^j cweS lie, mo ]?en heo beon, to lielpe on ure
halue. pe Jridde aiichesun is,^ he Bel's, ]?et tu ne beo neuer al siker •
vor sikernesse streone'S jemeleaste,'' J ouerhowe :f 1 bo'Se J^eos
streone'S inobedieiice. pe ueor^e ancliesun is, hwi ure Louerd hut
him t' ]7et tu seche him jeornekiker, 1! cleopie *? weope efter him, ase
deS "pet lutel baban ° efter his moder. per efter is 'pe vifte
anchesun : j^et tu his jeincume underuo pe gledluker. pe sixte
anchesun is, pet tu J?erefter J^e wisluker wite him, hwon ]>u hauest
ikeiht him :f t te uestluker holde :' "t sigge mid his leofmone, " Tenui
eum nee dimittam." peos six reisuns beo^S under pe sixte urouren
l^et je muwen habben, mine leoue sustren, ajean uondunges.
pe seoue'Se kunfort is, J^et alle pe haluwen weren worldliche'*
itented. Nim of pe hexte ah'e uormest. Vre Louerd seide to
Seinte Peter, "Ecce Satan expetiuit uos ut cribraret sicut triti-
cum," Jc. " Lo," cwe^ ure Louerd, " Satan is jeorne abuten uorto
ridlen ® pe ut of mine corne ! ^ auh ich habbe bisouht for pe, ]7et ti
bileaue ne trukie ^ allunge." Seinte Powel hefde, ase telle^ he him
sulf, flesches prikiunge. — "Datus est mihi stimulus carnis me»" —
and bed ure Louerd jeorne ]?et he dude hit from him :' and he
nolde, auh seide, " Sufficit tibi gratia mea : nam uirtus in infirmitate
perficitur :^" j^et is, "my grace schal witen pe ]7et tu ne beo ouer-
cumen :f beon strong in inistrencSe.'" pet is muchel mihte. Alle pe
o'Sre beo^S icruned ]?uruh fiht of fondunge. Seinte Sare, nes heo
fulle Jjreattene jer itented of hire vlesche :' auh for'Si J>et heo wuste
Folio 62 0. wel J^et in j^e muchele anguise ai'os j^e muchele mede, nolde heo
neuer enes bisechen ure Louerd ]?et he allunge deliurede hire J^erof :
auh })is was euer hire bone — "Domine, da mihi virtutem resistendi:"
" Louerd," cweS heo, " jif me strenc^e uorto wi^stonden." Efter
]7reottene jer com J^e akursede gost J^et hefde hire itented — blac as a
•■» For \>e Jridde hing is f. T. ^ gemeles. T.
<= lite barn. T. '' wodliche. T. C. multum. MS. Oxoii.
« ridli T. C. f icorene. T. ah electis. MS. Oxon.
s truke. T. C.
now ST. PETER, ST. PAUL, AND ST. SARA AVERE TEMPTED. 235
beget disobedience. The fourth reason why our Lord hideth him-
self is, that thou majest seek him more earnestly, and call, and weep
after him, as the Httle baby doth after his mother. After this is the
fifth reason ; that thou receive him the more joyfully on his return.
The sixth reason is, that thou mayest the more wisely keep, and the
more firmly hold him when thou hast got him, and say with his
beloved, " I held him, and I will not let him go." ^ These six reasons
are under the sixth of the comforts that ye may have, my dear
sisters, against temptations or trials.
Xhe seventh comfort is, that all the saints were tempted like
others in this world. Take this highest of all first. Our Lord said
to St. Peter, " Ecce Satan expetivit vos ut cribrai'et sicut triticum,"
&c.^ " Behold," quoth our Lord, " Satan is earnestly desirous to
sift thee out of mine elect ! but I have besought for thee that thy
faith fail not utterly." St. Paul had, as he himself telleth, pricking
of the flesh. " There was given me a sting of my flesh ; " ° and he
prayed our Lord earnestly that he would remove it from him ; and
he would not, but said, " Sufficit tibi gratia mea ; nam virtus in
infirmitate perficitur -"^ that is, " My grace shall keep thee, that thou
shalt not be overcome : [but] be strong in weakness." This is great
power. All the other saints are crowned on account of their
resisting temptation. Was not St. Sara tempted in her flesh full
thirteen years ? but, because she well knew that in her great
distress the great reward sprung up, she would never beseech our
Lord that he would entirely deliver her from it: but this was always
her prayer, " Domine, da mihi virtutem resistendi." " Lord," quoth
she, " give me strength to resist." After thirteen yeai's came the
acciu-sed spirit who had tempted her — black as a negro — and began
" Song of Solomon, iii. 4. '' Luke, xxxii. 31.
"^ 2 Corinth, xii. 7. '' Ibid. 9.
236 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
bloamon '^ J bigon to greden, Sare, ]?ii hauest ouercuraeii me : *? heo
hiin onswere "? seicle :' J7U liest, cwe^ heo, fule ];ing :f nout ich, auh
haue^ Jesu Crist my Louerd. Lo ! hwu ^e swike ^ woldc makien
hire, a last, leapen into prude. Auh heo was ful wel iwar J^erof, *?
turne al J>e meistrie to Godes strenc^e. Seinte Beneit, 7 Seinte
Antonie, and te o'Sre wel je wuten hu heo weren itented, 1; ]7uruh ]7e
tentaciuns ipreoued to treowe champiuns r' "? so mid rilite ofserueden
kempene crune. Ant tis her efter is ]?e eihteo'Se kunfort :'<= ]>et al so
alse ]>e goldsmi-S clense^ ]?et gold i^e fure, al so de^ God J>e soule
i^e fure of fondunge.
pe nie'Se cumfort is, jif J>e ueonde mid fondunge greue^ l^e sore,
]>u greuest him hwon ]>\i etstondest a ]?usend siSe more '? sarre r' 1!
tet for ]?reo reisuns, nomeliche, J^et on is, fet he uorleose'S, ase
Origenes sei^, his strencS uorte tenten euermore on vuen swuch
manere sunne. pet o^er is, j^et he fur^erluker echeS his j^ine. pet
|?ridde is ]>et he uor-uret his owune heorte of sore grome J of
teone, ]>et he undone his [te^],*^ de^ J^e i'Set tentaciun ]?et tu stonst
ajean :! mucheleS j^ine mede :' J, for pine ]?et he wende uorte drawen
]>e touward, he breide'S 'pe crune of blisse. And nout one ne two,
auh ase ueole si^en ase }>u ouerkumest him, ase ueole crunen :' pet
Folio 63. is to siggen, ase ueole menken ® of misliche muruhSen he grei'Se'S
pe. Uor so setS Seint Beornard : " Quociens uincis, tociens coron-
aberis." The tale ine uitas patrum bereS witnesse ec herof, of pe
deciple ]?et set biuoren his meister, 1! his meister iweard ^ aslepe, mit
tet J^et he lerede him J slepte uort midniht : "? ]?o he awakede, ertu,
cweS he, jet her? Go J slep swiSe.^ pe holi mon, liis meister,
iwear'S eft aslepe sone, ase pe ]?et hefde ]?er biuoren ibeon ine
muchele wecche, 1: iseili enne swu'Se ueirne stude, "? iset for'S ane
trone :' 1; ter on seoue crunen :' 1; com a stefne to him 7 seide :' ]?eos
" bla mon. T. C. >> swoke. C. " elne. T.
<l te'S. T. C. <= mensken. T. C. ' war'5. T. C.
s hwer arlu, que'S he ? Ga slep swi'Se.
THE SAINTS TEMPTED. LEGENDARY TALE. 237
to cry out, " Sara, thou hast conquered me." And she answered
him and said, "Thou Kest," quoth she, "foul thing; not I, but
Jesus Christ my Lord hath done it." Behold ! how the deceiver
wished to make her at last mount up into pride. But she was full
well aware of it, and attributed the victory intirely to the power of
God. Ye know well how St. Benedict, St. Anthony, and the other
saints were tempted, and, through the temptations, proved to be
true champions, and so justly deserved the crown of victory. And
this, in the next place, is the eighth comfort, that in like manner as
the goldsmith purifieth the gold in the fire, even so doth God the
soul in the fire of temptation.
The ninth comfort is, if the fiend with temptation grievetli thee
sore, thou grievest him a thousand times more and sorer when thou
resistest ; and that for three reasons ; namely, one is, that he loseth,
as Origen saith, his power to tempt ever thereafter to such kind of
sin. Another is, that he still further addeth to his own punishment.
The third is, that he frets away his own heart with anger and
vexation, that he, contrary to his intention, placeth thee in a
temptation which thou resistest ; increaseth thy reward ; and instead
of the punishment which he thought to bring thee to, he braideth for
thee the crown of joy. And not one or two, but as many times as
thou overcomest him, so many crowns ; that is to say, he prepareth
for thee as many various kinds of joyful honours. For so saith St.
Bernard, " Quoties vincis, toties coronaberis." The story in the
Lives of the Fathers also beareth witness of this, concerning the
disciple who sat before his master, and his master fell asleep whilst
he was teaching him, and slept until midnight ; and when he awoke,
he said, "Art thou yet here ? Go and sleep directly." The holy man,
his master, soon fell asleep again, as he had been previously in much
watching, and he saw, in a very beautiful place, a throne set forth, and
upon it seven crowns, and a voice came to him and said, "This
throne and these seven crowns thy disciple hath this night earned."
And the holy man aAvaked from sleep, and called him to him.
238 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
sege % teos seoue crunen haue^ J?i diciple ]?eos ilke niht of earned.
And te holi mon abreid :! ? cleoped hine to him : " seie," cweS he, " hu
stod l^e J'eo hwule ]?et ich slepte, '? tu sete biuoren me ? " " Ich |?ouhte,
cwe^ he, ofte ]?et ich wolde awakien ]?e, 1, for'Si Jjet tu sleptest
swote,*^ ich ne muhte uor reou^e :! 1 Jjeonne ]70uht ich gon awei, uor
me luste slepen r^ IJnolde buten leaue." " Hwu ofte," cwe^ he, " ouer-
come J>u J?i ]?ouht ]7us ? " " Seoue si^en," seide he. po understod his
meister wel hwat weren ];eo seoue crunen :! ]7et hit weren J?eo seoue
kunnen bhssen, ]?et his diciple hefde et eueriche cherre ofserued J;et he
wi^seide ]7e ueonde, and ouercom him suluen.
Al J>us, leoue sustren, i^e winstlunge^ of tentaciun, arise^ ]7e
bi;;^eate. "Nemo coronabitur nisi qui legitime certauit:" ne schal
non beon icruned, seiS Seinte Powel, bute hwo se strongliche %
treowliche uihte^ ajean ]?e worlde, % ajean him sulf, % ajan ]7e
unwiht of helle. peo uihte^ treouliche ]7et stondet hu so heo euer
Folio 63 h. beo^ iweorred of ]7eos ]?reo wi'Serwines :! '% nomeliche of j^e ulesche,
hwucli so euer ]7e lust beo :^ J, so hit unme'Sluker '^ is, wumien ^
ajean ]:'e uestluker r' % wiSsigge^ ]?e graunt ]?erof mid unwille
heorte,® ne prokie hit ou neuer so swu^e — ]?eo ];et tus doS, heo beo^S
Jesu Cristes feolawes : uor heo do^S as he dude honginde o'Se rode.
"Cum gustasset acetum noluit bibere r^" ];et is, he smeihte ]?et bittre
druncli % wi'Sdrouh him anon, t nolde hit nout drinken }»auh he
ofSurst were. Heo is, ]7et so de'S, mid God on his rode, Jmuh hire
}>urste in ]?e luste, and te deouel beot hire his healewi to drinken.
Vnderstond % J'enc ]?auh, |7et ter is galle under ^ and, tauh hit beo
swete ane hwule,^ betere is uorto ];olien ]7urst ]?en uorto beon iattred.
Let lust ouergon % hit }>e wule liken, peo hwule ]7et jichinge ilest,
hit l^unche^ god for to gulden :'s auli J>erefter me iveleS hit bitter-
liche smeorten. Weilawei ! and moni on is for muchele liete so
» faste. T. b wrestlunge. C. T.
' mea^luker. T. meadluker. C. "^ wiSere'S. T. wrinnec?. C.
' anwille of herte. T. C. ' beo a pino. T. uoo of win. C.
s gnuddon. T, grinden. C.
THE VICTORIOUS OVER TEMPTATION CROWNED. 239
" Tell me," quoth he, " how was it with thee while I slept, and thou
didst sit before me ? " "I often thought," quoth he, " that I would
awaken thee, and because thou didst sleep sweetly, I could not for
pity ; and then I thought that I would go away, for I had a desire to
sleep, and would not without leave." " How oft," quoth he, " didst
thou overcome thy thought thus ? " " Seven times," said he. Then
understood his master well what were the seven crowns — that they
were the seven kinds of joy which his disciple had merited each
time that he rejected the suggestions of the fiend, and denied
himself.
Even so, dear sisters, in the wrestling with temptation, ariseth
the gain, " Nemo coronabitur nisi qui legitime certavit.'^ ^ No one
shall be crowned, saith St. Paul, except he who fights vigorously
and faithfully against the world, and against himself, and against the
wicked one of hell. She fighteth faithfully who standeth firm, how-
soever she is attacked by these three adversaries, and especially by
the flesh, of what kind soever may be the desire ; and the more
violent it is, fighteth against it the more resolutely ; and refuseth to
consent to it, though with reluctant heart, however strongly it may
incite her.'^ She who doth thus is a follower of Jesus Christ : for
she doth as he did, when he hanged on the cross. " Cum gustasset
acetum noluit bibere ; " '^ that is, he tasted the bitter drink, and
immediately withdrew himself, and would not drink it, thougli he
was thirsty. She is with God on his cross who doth so, although
she thirsteth in the desire, and the devil ofiers her his sweet drink.
Understand, however, and consider that there is gall under it ; and,
though it be sweet for a while, it is better to sufier thirst than to be
poisoned. Let the desire pass over, and you will be glad. While
itching lasts, it seems an agreeable thing to rub ; but afterwards it
is felt painfully to smart. Alas ! many a one, on account of great
» 2 Timothy, ii. 5. ^ Math, xxvii. 34
■^ " Et consensum ncgat, quantumcunque temptetur." — MS. Oxon.
240 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
swu^e of |mrst mid alle j^et teo hwule J^et heo drinke'S J^eiie drunch,
ne beo hit neuer so bitter, ne iuele'S heo hit neuer :f auh gulche^ in
jiuerliche/ 1; ne nimeS neuer jeme. And hwon hit is al ouere,
]?eonne spet heo % scheke'S J^et heaued, t fo^ on uorto niuelen, *?
makien sure t grimme chere :' auh to lete ^ j^eonne. Nout for'Si,
efter vuel, god is penitence : 'pet is ]?et beste J^eonne speowen ° hit ut
anon mid schrifte to pe preoste. For bileaue hit wi'Sinnen, hit wule
breden dea'S. Vor pi, mine leoue sustren, beo^ biuoren iwarre t'
and efter ]?e urouren ]?et beo^S her iwritene, ajean alle uondunges
seche'S ])eos saluen.
Folio 64. Ajan alle tentaciuns, and nomeliche ajean vlesliche, saluen beo'S
*? boten under Godes grace :' holie meditaciuns — inwarde, *? me'S-
lease, 15 anguisuse bonen — '? herdi bileaue :f "? redunge *? festen, "?
wecchen :/ 15 licomliche swinkes t' J froure '^ uorto speken touward te
i'Sen ilke stunde ];et te stent *^ stronge :' and edmodnesse, 7 ]?olemod-
nesse, "? freolac of heorte, 7 alle gode J^eawes, beo'S armes ij^isse
vihte :! 1! onrednesse of luue ouer alle J>e o^re. pe pet his wepnen
worpe'S awei, him luste beon iwunded.
-Holie meditaciuns beo'S biclupped in one uers pet was jare
iteiht/ mine leoue sustren :
" Mors tua, mors Domini; nota culpe, gaudia cell,
Judicii terror, figantur mente fideli.''
pet is, —
pencil ofte mid sor of heorte o Jjine sunnen.
pencil ec of lielle wo -j of lieouericlie wuiinen.
pencil ek of \>m oAvune dea^e -} of Godes rode.
Nim ofte i^ine mode ^ jjeiie grime dom of domesdei.
pench eke hu uals is pes world, -j hwnch beo^ his meden.
pencil ec liwat tu owust God, uor liis god deden.
« glucches in grediliche. T. ■» late. T. C. '^ schawen. C.
"i o'Sres froure. T. C. "= t hire stod. T. ' itacht ow, C. T,
8 in heorte. C.
MEANS TO BE USED IN RESISTING TEMPTATION. 241
lieat, is so very thirsty that while she drinketh the drink, however
bitter it be, she never feeleth it, but swalloweth it greedily, and taketh
no heed. And when it is all over, then she spitteth and shaketh her
head, and begins to beat her breast, and to be grieved and
sorrowful; but it is then too late. Notwithstanding, after sin,
penitence is good: the best thing, then, is to vomit it out im-
mediately in confession to the priest. For, if you leave it within, it
will cause death. Wherefore, my dear sisters, be cautious before-
handi and according to the comforts which are here written, seek
these remedies against all temptations.
Against all, and especially against carnal temptations, the
medecines and remedies are, under God's grace, holy meditations,
inward, incessant, and anxious prayers, and strong faith, and read-
ing, fasting, and watching, and bodily labour, and comfort from
others, spoken to thee in the hour of temptation, and humility,
patience, and openness of heart, and all virtues, are weapons in this
fight, and singleness of love above all others. He who throweth
away his weapons desires to be wounded.
-Holy meditations are comprehended in a verse that was long
since taught you, my dear sisters : —
Mors tua, mors Domini, nota culpte, gaudia coeli,
Jiidicii terror, figantur mente fideli.
That is.
Think oft, with sorrow of heart, of thy sins.
Think also of the pains of hell, and of the joys of heaven.
Think also of thine own death, and of the cross of Christ.
Have oft in thy mind the fearftd doom of the judgment day.
And think how false this Avorld is, and what are its rewards.
Think also what thou owest God for his goodness.
CAMD. SOC. 2 I
242 REGULJi INCLUSARUM.
Euericlion of j^eos wordes wolde liabben longe liwule uorte beon wel
iopened :' auh jif icli hie swu'Se uor^ward^ demeore ^ je J>e lengre.
O word ich sigge efter ower sunnen : ]7et hwonne se je ]?enche'S of
lielle wo 1! of heouericlie wunne r' vnderstonde^ ]7et God wolde a
sume wise sclieawen ham to men iSIsse worlde bi worldhche pineii 1!
worldliche wunnen :' and scheawede ham uor'S ase ]7auh hit were a
scheadewe — uor no likure*^ ne beo^ heo. Ee beo^ oner Jjisse
worldes see, uppen ]?e brugge '^ of heouene. Loire's 'pet je ne beon
Folio 64: b. nout iHche ]>e horse J»et is scheouh, t blenche'S ^ uor one scheadewe
upo J?e heie brugge, 7 fane's adun into J^e watere of ]?e heie brugge.''
To scheowe^ heo beo^ mid alle ]?et fleo'S uor ane peinture, J^et
]?uncheb ham ^ grisHch 1 grureful uorto biholden. Wo and wunne
ij^isse worlde al nis bute ase a scheadewe — al nis bute ase a
peinture.
J\out one holie meditaciuns ase of ure Louerde, t of alle his
werkes, '^ of alle his wordes :/ of '\>e deore lefdi, *? of alle his
haluwen :' auh o^er )>oulites summe cherre ine me'Slease uondunges
habbe'S iholpen — vour kunne nomeliche — to vleschliche asailed :'
dredfule, "% wunderfule, "? gledfule, f seoruhfule, willes wi'Suten
neode areared in J^e heorte :' ase }>enchen hwat tu woldest don jif
])u iseie openliche biuoren J^e stonden, *? jeonien wide uppon ]7e, J»ene
deouel of helle, ase he de'S derneliche ine uondunges : o^er jif me
remde lude fur ! fur ! J>et te chirche bernde ! o'Ser ^if }>u iherdest
Jteoues breken ]?ine woawes. peos "? o'Ser swuche dredfule ];ouhtes.
Wunderfule J; gledfule — ase ^if 'pn iseie Jesu Crist, t iherdest him
asken j^e hwat te were leouest efter J>i sauuaciun, "? J^ine leouest
ureond,'' of j^inge of ]?isse Hue, J^ bede pe uorto cheosen, wiS pen pet
tu wi^stode : o^er jif ]>u iseie so'Sliche al ]?et were ine heouene, "i al
" abide, C. '' sickere. C. " brinke. T.
■^ ne beo nawt J^e skerre hors iliche "p schuntes. T. \>e scheunchinde hors i> scheun-
che«. C, " brinke. T. C.
' To childene. T. C. ^ semes t ham. T, •> frendes. T,
PRESENT JOYS AND SORROWS A SHADOW OF FUTURE. 243
It would require a long wliile to explain fully every one of these
words. But, if I hasten quickly onward, tarry ye the longer. I
say one word in regard to your sins : that when ye think of the
pains of hell and the joys of heaven, ye must understand that
God designed to exhibit them, in some manner, to men in tliis
world, by worldly pains and worldly joys ; and he shewed them as
it were a shadow — for the Hkeness to them is no greater. Ye are
above the sea of this world, upon the bridge of heaven. See that ye be
not like the horse that is shy, and blencheth at a shadow upon the high
bridge, and falleth down into the water from the high bridge. They
are, indeed, too shy who flee through fear of a picture that seemeth
to them ghastly and terrible to behold. AH pain and pleasure in
this world is only like a shadow — it is all only as a picture.
J\ot only holy meditations, as of our Lord, and all his works,
and his words ; of the dear lady, and all his saints ; but other re-
flections also have sometimes helped in innumerable temptations — in
four kinds especially — when assailed with carnal temptations — fearful
and wonderful, joyful and sorrowful thoughts, which arise spon-
taneously in the heart ; as, to think what thou wouldest do if thou
sawest the devil of hell stand openly before thee and gape widely
upon thee, as he doth secretly in temptations : or if some one cried
out loudly, fire ! fire ! the church is in flames ! or if thou heardest
thieves break through thy walls. These, and other like fearful
thoughts. Wonderful and joyful — as if thou sawest Jesus Christ,
and heard him ask thee what were dearest to thee after thy salva-
tion, and that of thy dearest friends, of the things of this life, and
bade thee choose, upon the condition of thy resisting temptation ; or,
if thou actually sawest, when under temptation, all that are in
heaven, and all that are in hell, beholding thee alone; or, if any
one came and told thee that a man very dear to thee were elected
pope by some miracle, as by a voice from heaven ; and other things
of this kind. Wonderful and sorrowful — as if thou wert told that
244 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
pet were Ine lielle,* in ]>e tentacion, biliolden j^e one : o'Ser jif me
come ■? tolde ]>e Jjet a mon }>et were ];e leouest were ichosen to pope,
]7uruh some miracle, ase ]7uruli sum stefne of lieouene :' and alle
o^re swuche. Wunderfule *? seorulifule — ase jif ]?u ilierdest siggen
Folio 65. ]^et a mon J>et were J^e leouest were uerliche adreint, o'Ser imur-
"Sred : ^ o^er ]>et tine sustren weren in liore huse uorberne.'' S wuclie
]?ouhtes ofte, i vlesliclie soulen, wrenched ut sonre vlesliche tenta-
ciuns J>eone summe of ]?e uorme.
Inward, t me'Slease, J: angresfule bonen biwinne"S sone sucurs 1!
help "? ure Louerd ajean flesches fondunges r' *? ne beon heo neuer
so angresfule, ne so fulitowune, ]>e deouel of lielle dute'S liam
swu'Se :f vor teken ]>et heo drawe'S sone adun sucurs ajean him, and
Godes hond of lieouene, do'S him two hermes — binde^ him, t
berne^. Lo ! her preoue of boSe. Pupplius,*^ on lioli mon was in
his bonen, "? com ]?e ueond buuen him vleinde bi ]>e lufte on hih'Se ®
toward ]>e west ende of ]?e worlde, ];uruh Julianes heste ]?e Amperur,
f wear S ibunden uileueste ^ mid te holie monnes beoden, ]?et of- token ^
him ase heo clumben upward touward te lieouene, 'pet he ne mulite
hider ne ]?ider, ten dawes fuUe. Nabbe je ]?is also of Ruffin J^e
deouel, Beliales broSer, in our Englische boc of Seinte Margarete ?
And pe oSer deouel j^et me rede's of ]?et he gredde lude to Seinte
Bartholomeu, J>et muchel was ine beoden, "? seide, " Incendunt me
oraciones tue : " Bartholomeu, wo is me ! uor }?ine bonen uorberne'S
me ! Hwo se iiiei, J>uruli Godes grace, habben teares ine bonen,
heo niei don mid God al }>et heo euer wule. Vor so we rede^S,
" Oratio lenit, lacrima cogit : liec ungit, ilia pungit." Eadie bonen
softe'S 1; paieS ure Louerd :' auh teares do^ him strencSe. Beoden
smurie'S him mid swete oluhnunge :' auh teares prikie'S him, *? ne
" al heuene ware ') helle ware. T. C. •> imur'Sred, ase he j> vvrat Hs boc. C.
<^ forbarnde in hare hus. T. ■• Piplius. T.
■■ T schulde al on hih^e. T. ~) schulde al on sich'Sc. C.
' hctofaste. T. heleueste. C. " ouertoken. T.
THE EFFICACY OP PRAYER. 245
some one very dear to thee were suddenly drowned or murdered ;
or that thy sisters were burned to death in their house. Such
thoughts, in carnal souls, often draw away carnal temptations
sooner than some of the former.
Inward, unintermitted, and fervent prayers soon obtain succour
and help from our Lord against carnal temptations; and, be they
ever so rudely fervent, or so coarse, the devil of hell is much afraid
of them. For, besides that they quickly draw down assistance, and
the hand of God from heaven against him, they do him harm of two
kinds : they bind and they burn him. Behold ! here is proof of
both. Pupplius, a holy man, was in prayer, and the fiend came
flying high above him through the air toward the west end of the
world, by the command of the Emperor Julian, and was bound fast
by the holy man's prayers, which overtook him as they mounted up
toward heaven, so that he could not proceed hither nor thither for
full ten days. Have ye not also this of the devil Ruffinus, Belial's
brother, in our English book of St. Margaret ? ^ And the other
devil of which we read that he cried loudly to St. Bartholomew,
who was much in prayer, and said, " Incendunt me orationes tuse."
Woe am I, Bartholomew, for thy prayers burn me ! He who can,
through God's grace, shed tears in his prayers, may obtain of God
whatever he desires. For so we read, " Oratio lenit ; lacryma
cogit : haec ungit ; ilia pungit." Devout prayers soften and appease
our Lord ; but tears constrain him. Prayers anoint him with sweet
blandishment ; but tears goad him, and never give him peace nor
rest, until he grant them all that they ask. When it happens that
towns or castles are stormed, those that are within pour out scalding
- Bibl. Reg. MS. 17 a, XXVII. fol. 45 b. 47 b.
246 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Folio 65 h. jiue^ him neuer peis ne reste, er J>en he jettie ham al \&t heo aske'S.
Hwon hit so biualleS ]?et me asaile'S buruhwes oSer castles, ]7eo }?et
bee's wi^innen helde'S schaldinde water ut, "? werie'S so \e walles : %
je don al so. Ase ofte ase ]?e ueond asaile'S ouwer castel, "? te soule
buruli, mid inward bonen, worpe^ ut uppon him schaldinde teares r^
\ei Daui sigge bi \q, " Contribulasti capita draconum in aquis." pu
hauest forschalded, he sei'S, ]7e drake heaued mid wallinde watere,
J>et is, mid hote teares. per ase ]7is water is, sikerliche j^e ueond
flih'S, leste heo beo uorschalded. Eft, on oSer uorbisne : kastel J^et
bane's deope dich abuten, % water beo i^e dich — ]?e kastel is wel
kareleas ajean his unwines. Kastel : J^et is eueriche god mon '^ ]?et
te ueond weorre'S. Auh habbe je dope dich of deope edmodnesse 1
wete teares J^erto — je becS strong kastel. pe weorreur of helle mei
longe asailen ou, 7 forleosen al his hwule. Eft, me sei'S, J, BO'S hit
is, a muchel wind ali'S mid a lutel rein :^ "? te sunne ]7er efter schine'S
be schennure. Al so a muchel tentaciun, jjet is ]7es feondes bles,
aualleS mid a softe rein of a lut teares, % te so^e sunne, ]?et is Jesu
Crist, schine^ J^erefter schennure to j^e soule. pus bee's teares
gode, mid inwarde bonen. And jif je understonde'S, ich habbe
iseid of ham her uour muchel efficaces, uor hwui heo bee's swu'Se
uorto luuien. In alle our neoden, sende'S cwicliche anon J^eos
Folio QQ. sonden touward heouene. Vor, ase Salomon seiS, " Oratio humili-
antis [se] penetrat nubes," "^c. ]?et is, \q edmodies monnes bonen
burle'S ]?e weolcne. And ter sei'S Seint Austin, " Magna est uirtus
pure oracionis, que ad Dominum intrat, et mandata peragit, ubi care
pervenire nequid." O muchel is, he sei'S, ]?e mihte of schir % of
clene bone ]jet flih^ up % cumeS in biuoren Almihti God, % de'S ]?e
erinde so wel, ]?et God hat writen o liues hoc al J>et heo sei'S :/ %
Seint Beornard here's witnesse, % seiS }>et ure Louerd ethalt hire
mid him sulf, % sent admi his engel uorte den al J>et heo aske'S.
Mislich ^ [/. nullich] of bonen siggen her nam \l. nan] more.<=
=> mon o'Ser wummon. T. *" nuUi. T. nulle ich. C. <= namare. T. C.
TEARFUL PRAYERS PUT THE FIEND TO FLIGHT. 247
water, and thus defend the walls. Even so do ye. As often as the
foe stormeth your castle and the soul-town, with your mward
prayers cast out upon him scaldmg tears, that David may say of
thee, " Contribulasti capita draconum in aquis." * Thou hast
scalded, saith he, the head of the dragon with boiling water ; that
is, with hot tears. Wherever this water is, the fiend never fails to
run away, lest he should be scalded. Again, another example:
The castle that hath a deep ditch around it, if there be water m the
ditch, the castle is secure against its enemies. Castle : that is, every
good man on whom the fiend maketh war. But if ye have the
deep ditch of deep humility, and the water of tears m it, ye are a
strong castle. The warrior of hell may besiege you long, and lose
all his labour. Again, it is said, and it is true, a great wind is laid
with a little ram; and the sun thereafter shineth the brighter.
Even so, a great temptation, which is the devil's storm, is laid with
a soft rain of a few tears, and the true sun, which is Jesus Christ,
shineth thereafter brighter to the soul. Such is the benefit of tears,
with inward prayers. And, if ye rightly understand it, I have
here mentioned four important effects of them, for which they are
greatly to be loved. In all your necessities send quickly these
four messengers toward heaven. For, as Solomon saith, " Oratio
humiliantis se penetrat nubes," &c. ; ^ that is, the humble man's
prayers pierce through the clouds. And, to the same effect St.
Austin saith, " Magna est virtus purse orationis, qu£e ad Dominum
intrat, et mandata peragit, ubi caro pervenire nequit." O great,
saith he, is the force of sincere and pure prayer, which flieth up and
cometh into the presence of Almighty God, and doth the errand so
well, that God commandeth all that she saith to be written in the
book of life. And St. Bernard beareth witness and saith that our
Lord retains her with himself, and sends down his ansel to do all
that she asketh. Concerning prayers I will here say no more.
* Psalm Ixxiv. 13. ^ Ecclesiasticus, xxxv. 17.
248 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Herdi bileaue bringe'S ]?ene cleouel a vlilite anon-rihtes : % tet
witne'S Seint lame "? SSI'S, "Resistite diabolo et fiigiet a uobis."
Etstonde'S one ajean J7e ueonde, % he de^S him o fluhte. Edstond :
J)m*uh hwat strencSe ? Sehite Peter techeiS : " Cui resistite, fortes
in fide." Stond one ajean him mid stronge bileaue. Bee's herdi of
Godes helpe :! 7 wute^ hu he is woe J^et none strencSe naue'S on us,
buten ]?uruli us suluen. Ne mei he buten scheawe J^e uor^ sum-
hwat of his apeware :' 1 oluhnen, o'Ser ]?reaten Jjet me bugge ]?erof ^
and hwe'Ser so he deS, hokere'S % schorne'S, % lauhwe'S ]?e olde ape
lude to bismare ]7uruh treowe bileaue r' % he halt him ischend, %
do's him o fluhte swu^e. " Sancti per fidem uicerunt : " J^et is, alle
\e holie haluwen ouercumen Jjuruh bileaue j^es deofles rixlunge, ]jet
nis bute sunne. Vor ne rixle^ he ine none bute ];uruh sunne one.
Nime'S nu gode jeme hu alle ]?e seouen dea'Sliche sunnen muwen
beon a-vleied ];uruli treowe bileaue. On erest nu of Prude.
Folio 66 h. Hwo is \Qi halt him muchel % prut hwon he bihalt hu lutel ]?e
muchele Louerd makede him wi'Sinnen one poure meidenes wombe ?
And hwo is ontful ]?et bihalt mid eien of bileaue hu Jesu Crist, nout
for his gode, dude, "? seide, % ]7olede al J»et he ]?olede ? pe ontfule
ne kepten nout \ei me dealede of here gode. And God Almihti jet,
efter al ];et he Jjolede, alihte adun to helle uorto sechen feolawes, %
delen mid ham }»et god J^et he liefde. Lo ! nu, hu urommard beo-S
he ontfule to ure Louerd ! peo ancre ]7et wernde an o'Ser a cwaer
uorto lenen, — ful ueor heo hefde heoneward ^ hire eien of bileaue.
heo'Senward. T.
THE POWER or FAITH. — OF ENVY. 249
Steadfast faith putteth the devil to flight immediately : St. James
confirmeth this, and saith, " Resistite diabolo et fugiet a vobis." *
Only stand firm against the fiend, and he betaketh himself to flight.
Stand firm : through what strength ? St. Peter teaclieth, " Cui
resistite, fortes in fide."'' Stand only against him with strong faith.
Be confident of God's assistance, and learn to know how weak is he
that hath no power over us but through ourselves. He can only
shew thee some of his counterfeit wares, and wheedle or threaten to
induce men to buy them ; and whichever of these he doth, mock
ye and despise and laugh the old ape to utter scorn, through true
faith ; and he will account himself defeated, and betake himself to
flight quickly. " Sancti per fidem vicerunt ; " ° that is, all the holy
saints by faith overcame the power of the devil, which is merely sin.
For he hath power in none but through sin only. Now take good
heed how all the seven deadly sins may be driven away through
steadfast faith. First, now, of Pride.
Who is there that thinks himself great, and is proud, when he
beholds how little the great Lord made himself within the womb
of a poor virgin? And who is envious that beholds, with eyes of
faith, how Jesus Christ, not for his own good, acted, and spoke, and
suffered all that he suffered ? The envious do not like that others
should partake of their good things ; and the Almighty, even after
all that he suffered, went down into hell to seek associates, and to
divide with them the good things that he had ! See, now, how
different are the envious from our Lord ! The anchoress who
refused to lend a book to another had turned away her eyes of faith
very far from him !
' St. James, iv. 7. '' 1 Peter, v. 9. "= Hebrews, xi. 33.
CAMD. SOC. 2 K
250 REGUL.^ INCLUSARUM.
Hwo is ]>et halt wre'S'Se in his heorte, J^et bihalt ]?et God lihte to
eor'Se uorte makien J^reouold seihte — bitweonen mon *? mon :' bi-
tweonen God *? mon :' bitweonen mon J engel ? Auh, efter his
ariste, l>o he com 'i scheawede him, |7is was his gretunge to his deore
deciples, " Pax nobis ! " Seihtnesse beo bitweonen on. Nime'S nu
gode jeme : hwon leof freond went from o^er, J^e laste wordes Jjet
he sei^ — "peo he wule J^et beon best iholden. Vre Louerdes laste
wordes, boa he steih up to J>e heouene 1; bileauede his leoue freond
ine unku'Se J»eode — j^eo weren of swete luue, '? of seihtnesse, " Pacem
relinquo nobis t' pacem meam do nobis :" J^et is, seihtnesse ich do
among on, "? seihtnesse ich bileaue mid on. pis was his driwerie
|?et he bileauede 1; jef ham in his departunge : " In hoc cognoscetis
quod discipuli mei sitis, si dilexionem ad inuicem habueritis." Loke'S
nu jeorne, nor his deoruwur"Se luue, hwuch one merke he leide
uppen his icorene, J>oa he steih into heouene, " In hoc cognoscetis:"
Foho 67. \)[ j,g|; je schulen icnowen, cwe^S he, ]?et je beo'S mine deciples, jif
swete luue 1: seihtnesse is euer bitweonen on. God hit wute — *? he
hit wot — me were leouere ]>et je weren alle o'Se spitel vuel 'pen je
weren ontfule, o'Ser fol T: ful iheorted.^ Vor Jesu Crist is al luue, '?
ine luue he reste"S him, "? haue^ his wuniunge. " In pace factus
est locus ejus: Ibi confregit potentias — arcum, schutum, gladium, et
bellum :" pet is, ine seihtnesse is Godes stude : J hwar se seihtnesse
is "? luue, ]?er he bringe'S to nout al pe deofles strenc^e — J^er he to-
breke'S his bowe, he seiS :' j^et bee's derne uondunges, ];et he
scheote'S of feor :^ 1! his sweord beo'Se — j^et ,beo^ tentaciuns
keoruinde of neih, t kene. Nime^ nu gode jeme, bi monie
uorbisnen, hu god is onrednesse of luue, and onnesse of heorte.
Vor nis j^ing under sunne ]7et me is leouere, ne so leof, J7et je
habben. Nute je wel J^et ter men uihte^ ine ]?eos stronge uerdes,
Jjeo ilke |>et holde'S ham ueste togederes, ]7eo ne muwen beon des-
» o'Ser fel iheorted. T. feolle. C.
OF WRATH. OF PEACE AND LOVE. 251
Who is there that keeps wrath in his heart, who considers that
God came down to the earth to make threefold peace : between man
and man, between God and man, between man and angels ? And,
after his resurrection, when he came and shewed himself to his
beloved disciples, this was his salutation, " Pax vobis ! " Peace be
among you ! Take good heed now to this : when a dear friend goes
away from another, he wishes the last words that he speaks to be
well observed. Our Lord's last words, when he ascended up to
heaven and left his dear friends in a strange land, were of sweet love
and peace, " Pacem relinquo vobis ; pacem meam do vobis ; " * that
is, Peace I send among you, and peace I leave with you. This was
his token of love that he left and gave them at his departure, " In
hoc cognoscetis quod discipuli mei sitis,^ si dilectionem ad invicem
habueritis.^' '^ Now observe diligently, out of his precious love, what
kind of mark he placed upon his elect, when he ascended into
heaven, " In hoc cognoscetis." " By this ye shall know," quoth he,
" that ye are my disciples, if sweet love and peace is ever between
you." May God know this — and he doth know it — I would rather that
ye were all leprous than that ye were envious, or cruel and spiteful.
For Jesus Christ is all love, and in love he abideth and hath his dwell-
ing, " In pace factus est locus ejus : ibi confregit potentias ; arcum,
scutum, gladium et bellum ; " that is. In peace is God's place, and
wherever there is peace and love, there he bringeth to nought all
the power of the devil ; there, he saith, he breaketh his bow ; that
is, secret temptsrtions, which he shooteth from a distance ; and his
sword also, which is temptations that cut close and keen. Now
attend diligently and learn by many examples, how good a thing is
agreement of affection and unity of heart. For there is nothing
under the sun that ye have, which is dearer to me, nor so dear.
Do ye not well know that when men fight in powerful armies, they
* John, xiv. 27. '' estis. Vulgate. <^ John, xiii. '65.
252 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
kumfit ne ouerkumen, o none wise. Al so hit is ine gostliche uihte
ajean J>e deofle. Al his attente ^ is uorte unuestnen ^ heorten "? fort
to binimen luue, ]>et halt men togederes. Vor hwonne luue ali'S,
J^eonne bee's heo isundred t' and te deouel de^ him bitweonen ham
anonriht, "? ska's on eueriche halue. Dumbe bestes habbe'S J?eos
warschipe, Jjet hwon heo beo^ asailed of wulue, o^er of liun, heo
]?runge'S alle togederes, al fe vloc ueste t' % makie^ scheld of ham
suluen euerichon of ham to o^re, 1; bee's sikere J^eo hwule :! *? jif
eni unseli went ut, hit bi^ sone awuried. pe j^ridde uorbisne is, ]?et
ter on geS him one in one sliddrie *= weie, he slit ^ J fane's sone : and
Folio 67 b. ter monie go's togederes *? euerichon halt o^res bond, jif eni no's on
uorte sliden, j^e o'Ser breideS hine up er ]>en he allunge ^ ualle :f 7 jif
]>et heo werge'S, euerichon wreo'Se'S him bi o'Ser/ Vondunge is
sliddrunge : ? J^uruh wergunge beo^S bitocned ]>eo un^eauwes under
slouh'Se, J?et beo^ inemned ]7er uppe. pis is ]>et Seint Gregorie
sei^j "Cum nos nobis per oracionis opem conjungimus, per lubricum
incedentes quasi ad inuicem manus teneamus, ut tan to quisquis
amplius roboretur, qiianto alteri innititur." Al so ine stronge
winde, t ine swifte wateres, ]>e }?et mot ouer waden ouer^ monie,
euerichon halt o'Sres bond, t ]>e ]7et is isundred, he is sone iswipt
for'S, "? forfar^ er me lest wene. To wel we hit wute^ hu ])e wei of
))isse worlde is sliddri :! % hu J^e wind % te streames beo^ stronge.
Muchel need is J^et euerichon holde mid o'Ser, mid bisie bonen ^ and
mid luue hold o'Sres honden. Vor, ase Salomon sei^, " Ve soli !
quia cum ceciderit, non habet subleuantein :" ];et is, wo is him |;et is
euer one, uor hwon he ualle^ he naue^ hwo him areare. Non nis
him one J^et haucS God to uere. And tet is euerich [on] ]7et bane's
BO'S luue in his '' heorte.
Pe seoue^e uorbisne is j^is : jif je riht telle^. Dust 1 greet, ase
je iseo^, hwon hit is isundred, % non ne halt te oSre, a Intel windes
» entente. T. '' tweamen. C. twinnen. T. ■= slibbri. C. T.
<* slides, T. " fule. T.
' gif ^ ani weries, euchan leones him to o'Ser. T. e ^if. T. C. '' hire. T.
IN UNION IS STRENGTH. EXAMPLES. 253
who hold themselves firmly together can in no wise be routed and
overcome. It is just so in the spiritual fight against the devil. All
his endeavour is to disunite hearts, and to take away love, which
keepeth men together. For when love fails, then are they separated ;
and the devil immediately putteth himself between them, and slayeth
on every side. Dumb beasts have the wariness that, when they are
attacked by a wolf, or a lion, the whole flock crowd closely together
and make of themselves a shield to each other, and are secure the
while ; and if any unlucky creatui'e goeth out of the flock, it is quickly
worried. The third example is, that when a man goeth alone in a
slippery path, he soon slides and falls ; and when many go together
and every one has hold of another's hand, if any of them begin to
slide, the next one pulls him up before he quite fall ; and, if they
grow weary, every one is supported by another. (Temptation is
sliding; and by wearying is meant the vices which are already
mentioned under sloth.*) This is what St. Gi'egory saith, " When
we unite together in prayer, we are like persons walking on slippery
ground, who hold each other by the hand for mutual support." In
like manner, in the strong wind, or in the rapid waters, they that
must wade over, if they are many, hold each other's hand, and if any
one is separated, he is soon swept away, and perisheth quickly.
We know too well that the way of this world is slippery, and that
the wind and the streams are sti'ong. Much need is there that
every one should hold by the others with assiduous prayers ; and
with love hold each others' hands. For, as Solomon saith, " Vse soli
quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem ; " ^ that is, Woe to him
that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. He
is not alone who hath God for his companion, and that is every one
who hath true love in his heart.
1 he seventh example is this, if ye count right. Dust and grit,
as ye see, when the particles are separated, and do not adhere to one
another, a little puff" of wind may utterly drive it away and disperse
» Page 203. ^ Ecclesiastes, iv. 10.
254 REGULJi INCLUSARUM.
puf mei al to dreuen hit to noi.it i |?er hit li^ in one clotte ueste ilimed
togederes, J^er hit Kb al stille. An honful jerden beo"S erue^S
forte * breken, J?eo hwule J7et heo beo togederes :' auh euerichon to
dealed ^ from o'Ser lihtkiker to berste^. A treou ]7et wule uallen,
me miderset hit mid on o^er treou, '% hit stont feste : to deale ei^er
Folio 68. urom o'Ser, 7 bo'Se ualle'S. — Nu je habbe^ niene. pus, ine ^ Jjinges
utewi^. Nime^ nu uorbisne hu god is onnesse of heorte, % somred-
nesse of luue J7et halt Jje gode sonied, Jjet non ne mei uorwur^en.
And ]7e ]?et wule i^isse weie habben rihte bileaue he bihalt jeorne,
% understont Jesu Cristes deorewur'Se words '? werkes, ]?et weren
alle ine luue 7 ine swetnesse. Oueral ich wolde |7et ancren leorneden
wel }>is lessunes loare. Vor monie, more herm is, beo'S Sansumes
foxes, ]7et hefden \q. nebbes euerichon iwend frommard o'Ser, and
weren bi ]?e teiles iteied ueste, ase hit telle^ in Judicum. And in
euerich ones teile a blase berninde. Of J^eos foxes ich spec ueor
J>eruppe, auh nout o j^isse wise. Nime'S gode jeme hwat ]7is beo to
siggen. Me turneS ]7et neb bli^eliche touward te J^inge J^et me
luue^, % frommard te ]?inge ]?et me hateS. peo, J^eonne, habbe'S ]7e
nebbes wrongwende euerichon frommard o'Ser, hwon non ne luue'S
o'Ser. Auh bi J;e teiles heo beo^ somed, and habbeS in ham ]?eo
deofles blasen :' ]7et is, J^e brune of golnesse. On an oSer wise teil
bitocne^ ende. In hore ende, heo schulen beon ibunden tosederes,
ase weren Saunsumes foxes bi J?e teiles, ? iset blasen J^erinne :! bet
is, fur of helle.
Al so, ase ]>is ^ is iseid, mine leoue sustren, loke^ ]7et ower leoue
nebbes beon euer iwend somed, mid swete luue, ueir semblaunt, %
mid swete chere — J?et je beon euer mid onnesse of one heorte 1. of
one wille ilimed togederes, ase hit is iwriten bi ure Louerdes deore
deciples : " Multitudinis credencium erat cor unum ? anima una."
Foho 68 h. peo hwule J^et je habbe'S ou in on, offeren ou mei ]7e ueond, jif he
» am tor to, T, '' itwinned. T. to twuned. C.
" of. C. •' Al J^is. T. C.
SAMSON'S FOXES AN EXAMPLE OF DISCORD. 255
it ; when it lies in a clod sticking fast together, then it lietli quite
still. A handful of rods are difficult to break when thej are
together, but each one separately is easily broken. A tree that is
about to fall stands fast when it is under-propped by another tree :
but, separate either from the other, and they both fall. Now ye
have nine examples to this effect, in things external. Take example
then, how good a thing is unity of heart, and agreement of affections,
which keeps the good united, that none may perish. And he who
wishes thus to have a right faith will consider attentively, and
understand Jesus Christ's precious words and works, which were
done in love and kindness. Above all, I would have anchoresses to
learn well the doctrine of this instruction. For many, more is the
harm, are like Samson's foxes, that had their faces every one turned
away from each other, and were tied fast by the tails, as we are told
in Judges.'' And in every one's tail, a brand burning. Of these
foxes I spoke long before,^ but not in this wise. Take good heed
what this meaneth. We turn our faces gladly toward the thing that
we love, and away from the thing that we hate. Those have,
therefore, their faces turned away from each other, when none loveth
another. But they are together by the tails, and have in them the
devil's brand ; that is, the fii'e of lust. In another sense, tail
signifieth end. In their end they shall be bomid together, as
Samson's foxes were by their tails, and brands put therein ; that is,
hell-fire.
According to what has now been said, my dear sisters, see that
your dear faces be always turned to each other with kind affection,
a cheerful countenance, and gentle courtesy ; that ye be always with
unity of heart, and of one will, united together, as it is written of
our Lord's beloved disciples : " The multitude of them that be-
lieved were of one heart and one soul." <= While ye remain united,
the fiend may frighten you, if he is permitted, but not by any means
» Judges, xiv. 4. •» Pages 129, 203. "= Acts, iv. 32.
256 REGUL^ INCLUSAKIIM.
haue^ leaue ":! auh hermen nout mid alle. pet he wot ful wel : %
for Vi he is umbe, deies 7 nihtes, uorte unhmen ou mid wre'S'Se, o'Ser
mid lu'Ser onde :^ and sent nion o'Ser wummon ]7et telle^ to ]7e, % bi
be, o^er * sum suwinde sawe, ]7et te suster ne ouhte nout siggen bi
];e suster. Ich forbeode ou J7et non of ou ne ileue ]?es deofles sondes-
mon. Auh loke"S ]7et euerich [on] of ou icnowe wel liwon he speke^ i'Se
vuele monnes tunge. Euerich[on] noSeleas warnie o^er, ]7uruh ful siker
sondesmon, sweteliche If luueliche, ase hire leoue suster,^ of |;inge
bet heo misnime^, jif heo hit wot to so'Se, % makie so ]7eo j^et bere"S
bet word recorden hit ofte biuoren hire, er heo go ut, hwu heo wule
siggen, ]7et heo ne sigge hit o'Serweis, ne ne clutie nanmore ];erto.
Vor a lute clut mei lodlichen swu^e a muchel ihol peche.*' Hwo se
underuo^ ]?eos luue-salue*^ et hire suster, ]?onke hire jeorne, ? sigge
mid te salmwurhte, " Corripiet me Justus in misericordia ? increpabit
me : oleum autem peccatoris non impinguet caput meum." And
]7erefter mid Salomon, " Meliora sunt uulnera corripientis quam
oscula blandientis." Eif heo ® ne luuede me nolde heo nout warnen
me in misericorde/ Leouere me beo'S hire wunden ]?en uikiinde ^
cosses. pus onswercS euere : and jif hit is o'Serweis Jjen ]7e o'Ser
understont, send hire word ajean ]?erof, luueliche 1 softeliche, and
teo o"Ser ileue hit anonriht. Vor ]7et ich chuUe also, ]?et euerich of
ou ileue o'Ser ase hire suluen. And jif )?e ueond blowe"S bitweonen
Folio 69. OU eni wre'S^e, o'Ser great heorte — Jjet Jesu Crist forbeode — er heo
beo wel iset, nouh non uorte nimen^ Godes flesch ? his blod t' ne
wur^e non so witleas, ne o none weis J7et heo elles ^ biholde j7eron,
ne ne loke mid wre'S'Se touward him jjet lihte to mon on eor'Se of
heouene, uorte makien ]7reouold seihte, ase is J^eruppe iseid. Auh send
beonne ei'Ser o^er word ]7et heo bane's imaked hire,'' ase ]7auh heo
» '^ telles "^ an bi '^ o'Ser. T. to tellen of Jje an to \>q o^er. C.
•^ o'Ser broker. T. = feier mantel. C. pilche ?
^ Ms warninge. C. ' he o'Ser ho. T.
f in mine gulte. C. b fikelinde. T. lufferes. C.
i" nawt ane to nimen. T. C. ' eanes. T. C.
'' hire forgeouere. T.
LISTEN NOT TO TALE-BEARERS. ADMONISH KINDLY. 257
harm you. That he knows full well, and therefore he is busy, days
and nights, to separate you with anger or with base envy ; and. he
sends a man or woman who tells to thee, and of thee, some whispered
rumour which a sister ought not to report of a sister. I forbid that
any of you should believe this devil's messenger. But see that every
one of you have certain knowledge when she speaketh in the evil
man's tongue. Nevertheless, let every one of you, by a trusty
messenger, warn each other sweetly and affectionately, as her dear
sister, of any thing that she doth wrong, if she know it with certainty,
and cause the person who beareth the message repeat it often in her
presence before she go out, in the manner she is going to report it,
that she may not report it otherwise, nor patch any tiling more upon it:
for a small clout may greatly disfigure a large whole garment. Let
her who receiveth this kind and salutary admonition from her sister
gratefully thank her, and say Avith the Psalmist, " Let the righteous
smite me in mercy; and let him reprove me: but let not the oil of
the sinner anoint my head." » And again, with Solomon, " Better
are the wounds of a friend than the deceitful kisses of an enemy." ^
If she loved me not she would not, in pity, warn me. Dearer to
me are her wounds than flattering kisses. Always answer thus : and
if it is otherwise than the other believeth, send her word of it again
kindly arid courteously ; and let the other readily believe it. For
this I desire likewise, that each of you believe one another as herself.
And if the fiend blow up any anger or resentment between you —
which may Jesus Christ forbid — until it is appeased, none ought to
receive God's flesh and his blood ; let no one be so insane, nor in any
way even to behold it, nor to look with anger toward him who came
down from heaven to man on earth to make threefold peace, as
aforesaid. But let each of them send word to the other, that she
hath humbly asked her forgiveness, as if she were present. And
she who thus first gains the love of the other, and procures peace,
and taketh the blame u})on herself, although the other may be more
" Psalm cxli. 5. •" Prov. xxvii. 6.
CAMD. SOC. 2 L
258 REGUL^ I^^XUSARUM.
were biuoren hire, edmocIHche uenie. And ];eo J^et ofdrauh^ ear
]?us luue of o^er, % of ge^ seihtnesse, % niine'S ]?ene gult uppen hire/
})auh ]7eo o'Ser habbe more, heo schal been mi deorewur^e 1! mi
deore suster. Vor heo is riht Godes doubter. He him sulf hit
sei^, " Beati pacifici :' quoniam fihi Dei uocabmitur." pus prude,
and onde, % wreS^e beoS oueral a vleied Invar se so'S luue is, %
treowe bileaue to Godes milde werkes '? lufsume wordes. Go we
nu fur'Sre to ]?en oSre areawe.
Uwo mei beon, uor scheome, slummi ? shiggi If slouh, J>et bihalt
hwu swu^e bisi ure Louerd was on eor'Se ? And efter al J^et o'Ser,
hwu he, i'Sen euentid of his Hue swone oSe herde rode ? OSer men
habbe^ reste, '% SCO'S into chaumbre uor ]?e hhte, % hudeS ham hwon
heo bee's ileten blod on one erm eddre. And he o'Se munt of Cal-
uerie, steih jet herre on rode "^ ne ne swone neuer mon so swu^e,
ne so sore ase he dude J»et ilke dei ];et he bledde, o uif halue, brokes
of ful brode '% deope wunden, al wi^uten eddren^ capitalen ]?et
bledden on his hefde under ]7e ]?ornene ^ krune, and wi'Suten ]>eo ilke
reou^fulle garcen*^ of J^e lu'Sere skurgen, nout one on his schonken,
Folio 69 h. auh jeond al his leofliche licome. Ajean slowe % slepares is swu'Se
openlich his earlich ariste from dea^ to Hue.
A jean jissunge is his muchele pouerte ]7et weox euer uppon him
more and more, Vor, ]?o he was iboren, erest, }»e ]?et wroulite be
eor'Se, he ne uond nout on eor^e so muche place ase his luttle licome
muhte been ileid on. Vor so neruh was J?e stude |?et unnea'Se his
moder % Joseph seten ]?eron r' "? so heo leiden hine up on heih in one
* And hwe'Ser se eauer ofdrahes luue of hire suster, o'Ser of hire brother, ^ ouergas hire
sahte, •] takes te gulte toward hire. T. ^ wi'S )>e eddre. T,
•^ \>Q kene keruende. T. '' garses. T,
THE SLOTHFUL. THE COVETOUS. 259
in fault, she shall be my beloved and dear sister. For she is indeed
a child of God. He himself saith, " Blessed are the peacemakers ;
for they shall be called the children of God." ^ Thus pride, and
hatred, and anger are banished from every place where there is
sincere love and true faith in the merciful works and gracious words
of God. Let us now proceed in order to the other vices.
Of Sloth.
Who can be, for shame, slothful, and sluggish, and slow, that
considers how active and diligent our Lord was on earth? And
after all his other labours, how, in the eventide of his life, he
finished his painful task on the hard cross ? Other men take rest
and retire into their chamber from the light, and hide themselves
when they are let blood on the vein of an arm. But He, on the
hill of Calvary, went up still higher upon the cross ; and no man ever
underwent such great and severe toil as lie did that day when he bled,
in five places, streams from full broad and deep wounds, besides
the great veins that bled in his head, under the crown of thorns ;
and besides the woeful gashes of the dreadful scourges, not only on
his legs, but over all his dear body. His early resurrection from
death to life is very evidently against the indolent and the sleepy.
Of Covetousness.
Against covetousness is his great poverty, which increased upon
him continually, more and more. For, at first, when lie was born,
he who created the earth found not on earth so much space as his
little body might be laid upon. For, so narrow was the place that
his mother and Joseph sat with difiiculty thereon ; and so they laid
Him up on high in a manger wrapped about with clouts, as the
gospel saith, " wrapped him in swaddling clothes." So finely was
" Math. V. y.
260 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
crecclie, mid clutes biwrabled/ ase ]?e gospel sei^, "Pannis enm
inuoluit." pus feire he was ischrud, ];e lieouenliclie sclmppiiide, ];e
l^et schrude^ Jje siinne. Her efter J»e poure lefdi of lieouene uos-
trede J, fedde hine mid hire lutle milke ase meiden deih forte habben.
pis was muchel pouerte: auh more com ]?er efter. Uor hure 1!
hure jet he hefde uode ase ueol to him :! auh ine stude of in, his
cradel herbaruede him.'' Seo'Sen, ase he mende him, nefde he hwar
he muhte resten his heaued : " FiHus hominis non habet ubi caput
suum rechnet." pus poure he was of in. Of mete he was so
needful |7et J?o he hefde in ]}e buruh of lerusalem, a palm sunedei,
al dei ipreched, "% hit neihlechede niht, he lokede al abuten him, hit
sei"S i^e gospelle, jif ei wolde cleopien him to mete, o^er to herbo-
ruwe, 1; nes ]>er non. And so he iwende ut of ];e muchele buruh
into Bethanie, to Marie huse "? Marthe. And ]7er, ase he code bi ]>e
weie mid his deciples, summe cherre heo breken J^e eares bi ]?e weie,
J gniden ]?e cornes ut ° bitweonen hore honden 1; eten uor liungre, *?
weren jet }>ereuore swu'Se ikalenged. Auh aire mest pouerte com
Folio 70. jet herefter. Vor steorc naked he was despuiled o^e rode, po he
mende him of ]>urst, water ne muhte he habben. Eet ]>et mest
wunder was, of al ]>e brode eor^e ne moste he habben a grot, forte
deien uppon. pe rode hefde enne uot o^er lutel more t' 1; tet was
eke uorto echen his pinen. Hwon J?e worldes weldinde wolde beon
]?U3 poure, unbileued he is ]?et \mx&^ to muchel *? jisce'S worldes
weole J, wunne. *
Ajean glutunie is his poure pitaunce, ]?et he hefde o rode. Two
maner men habbe'S neode uorte eten wel, *? forto drinken wel —
swinkinde men, % blod-letene. pe ilke dai ]7et he was boSe ine sore
* iwarbbet. T. biwrabbet. C.
^ in his stude of cradel i> him herbagede. C,
■" ■] guuddcden \>ii curnlcs ut. T.
Christ's sufferings from poverty and want. 261
He, the heavenly Creator, clothed : he that clothed the sun.
Afterwards, the poor lady of heaven fostered and fed him with her
little milk, such as a maiden must have had. This was great
poverty : but more came thereafter. For he had yet, at least, food,
such as fell to him ; and, instead of the inn, his cradle lodged him.
Afterwards, as he himself complained, he had not where he might
rest his head : " Filius hominis non habet ubi caput suum reclinet." ^
Thus was he poor, as to lodging. In regard to meat, he was in such
want that when he had preached in the city of Jerusalem on Palm
Sunday the whole day, and night was drawing nigh, he looked all
around him, it is said in the Gospel, if any one would invite him to
food or to lodging, and there was none. And so he went out of the
great city into Bethany, to the house of Mary and Martha.^ And
once, as he went with his disciples on the way, they broke oflF
the ears of corn by the way, and rubbed out the corn between
their hands and ate for hunger ; and were, moreover, much
blamed for this.*^ But the greatest poverty of all came after-
wards. For he w^as stripped stark naked upon the cross. When
he complained of thirst, he might not have water. But the most
amazing thing was that, of all the broad earth, he was not allowed a
little dust on which to die. The cross had one foot or little more ;
and that was also to increase his sufferings. When the Ruler of
the World volmitarily became thus poor, he is an unbeliever who
loveth, and coveteth too much, thd riches and the pleasures of this
world.
Of Gluttony.
Against gluttony is the poor pittance which he had on the cross.
Two sorts of men have need to eat and to drink well — men who
labour, and men who have been let blood. The very same day
that he . both laboured hard, and was let blood, as I said before, his
pittance on the cross was only a spungc of gall. Consider, now, if
» Math. viii. 20. Luke, ix. 58. '^ Math. x.\x. 17. <■• Math. xii. 1.
262 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
swlnke ? ec ileten blod, ase ich er seide r' nes his pitaunce o rode
bute a sponge of galle. Loke nu hwo grucche, jif lieo J^enche^ wel
heron, of mistrum, o^er leane mel * of unsauure metes, of poure
pitaunce ?
Ajean lecherie is his iborenesse on eor'Se of ]?e clene meidene, "%
al his clene hf |>et he ledde on eor'Se, 1. alle jjet hine uoluwuden.
pus, lo J?e articles, J^et beo'S, ase J?auh me seide, J?e li'Ses of ure
bileaue onont Godes monheade. God wot hwo inwardliche bihalt
ham, % uihte'S ajean ]?e ueonde J^et fonde^ us mid j^eos seouen dead-
liche sunnen. Vor }?i, sei'S Seinte Peter, " Christo in carne passo,
et uos eadem cogitatione armemini." ArmcS ou, he sei^ Seinte Peter,
mid J?ouhte uppon Jesu Crist, ]7et in ure vlesche was ipined. And
Seinte Powel seiS, " Recogitate qualem apud seraetipsum sustinuit
contradiccionem ut non fatigemini." penciled, ]>enche^, sei'S Seinte
Powel, hwon je weorre'S ^ in \q uihte ajeines \q deouel, hwu ure
Louerd sulf wi'Sseide his flesliche wil, % wi'Ssigge^ oure. " Nondum
Folio 10 b. enim usque ad sanguinem restitisti:" jet nabbe je nout wiSstonden
uorte ]7et J^e scliedunge of ower blode, ase he dude of his for ou
ajeines him suluen, onont J'et he was mon, of ure kimde. And jet,
je habbe'S J?et ilke blod, '? tet ilke blisfule bodi ]?et com of ]?e
meidene, % deiede o'Se rode, niht *? dei bi ou. Nis ]?er buten a wal
bitweonen :! % eueriche deie he kumeS forS % scheawe^ him to ou
flesliche % licamliche i'Se messe, biwrien ^ J^auh, in o'Sres like — under
breades heouwe.'^ Vor, in his owune heowe, vre eien ne muhten
nout ]7e brihte sih'Se i'Solien. And so he scheauwe'S him ou, as
]7auh he seide. Lour ! ich her : hwat wulle je ? SiggeS me hwat
were ou leof — hwarof habbe neode. MeneS to me ower neode, and
jif ]7e ueondes ferde, J^et beo^ his tentaciuns, asailcS ou swu'Se,
onswerie^ him % sigge^, " Metati suraus castra juxta lapidem adju-
* of mistune meiil. T. of mistrume mol. C. '' wej-geiS. C. wcrgen. T.
' biwrixlet. T. C. '' furme. T. C.
CHRIST SEEN IN THE FORM OF BREAD IN THE MASS. 263
any one reflects well on this, would she be dissatisfied with the
mistrum/ or the scanty meal of unsavory food, or with the poor
pittance?^
Of Incontinence.
Against lechery is his being born into the world of the pure
virgin, and the whole of his pure life which he, and all who followed
him, led on earth. Thus behold the articles, which are, so to speak,
the very joints of our belief concerning the human nature of Christ,
God knows her who deeply considers them, and fights against the
enemy who tempts us with those seven deadly sins. Wherefore,
saith Saint Peter, " Christo in carne passo, et vos eadem cogitatione
armemini." '^ "Arm yourselves," saith St. Peter, "with thinking
upon Jesus Christ, who suffered in our flesh." And St. Paul saith,
" Recogitate qualem apud semetipsum sustinuit contradictionem ut
non fatigemini." '^ " Think, think," saith St. Paul, " when ye fight
in the battle against the devil, how our Lord denied his fleshly will,
and so deny yours." " Nondum enim usque ad sanguinem restitisti." ®
"Ye have not yet resisted to the shedding of your blood;" as he
did of His for you, against himself, inasmuch as he was man in our
nature. And yet ye have with you, night and day, the same blood
and the same blessed body that came of the maiden and died on the
cross, there is only a wall intervening ; and every day he cometh
forth and sheweth himself to you fleshly and bodily in the mass —
shrouded indeed in another substance, under the form of bread.
For, in his own form, our eyes could not bear the bright vision.
And he sheweth himself to you thus ; as if he said. Behold ! I am
here : what would ye ? Tell me wdiat you greatly desire ; of what
you are in want. Complain to me of your distress: and iftlie army
of the fiend, which is his temptations, strongly assail you, answer
him and say. We are encamped by the stone of help : and the
* gruel ? Perhaps it means a short allowance of food, as in times of scarcity. Mister
need, want. '' " De cibo, seu sapore cibi, aut exili pitaneia." MS. Oxon.
■= 1 Peter, iv. 1. "^ Hebrews, xii. 3. « Ibid. v. 4.
264 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
torii : porro Philistiim uenerunt in Afphec." Ee Louerd, no wunder
nis :^* we bee's ilogged her bi J;e, ]>et ert ston of help, % tvr of
treouwe sucurs, % castel of strencSe, '? te deofles ferde is woddre
nppon us, J»en uppon eni o'Ser. pis ich nime of Regum. Vor J^er
hit telle~S al ]nis, ]?et Isnieles folc ^ com J loggede him bi ]7e stone of
help :! and J?e Philisteus '^ comen into Afech. Philisteus — }>et bee's
unwihtes. Afech — on Ebreuwisch spele^ " neowe wodschipe." So
hit is sikerliche. Hwon mon logge'S him bi ure Louerde, J^eonne on
erest biginne'S ]?e deoflen to weden : and her hit telle^ J^et Israel
wenden sone J^ene rug, and weren uour ]7usunt i"Se uiht ^ soriliche
isleiene. Ne wended je neuer ]?ene rug, mine leoue sustren, auh
Folio 71. wi'S ston do's ]?e ueondes ferde amidde ]7e uorhefde, ase is iseid j^er-
uppe, mid stronge bileaue :! % mid te gode losaphat, sendeS beoden
uor sondesmon anon efter sukurs to ]7e Prince of heouene. In Para-
lipomenon. " In nobis quidem non est tanta fortitudo ut possimus
huic multitudini resistere, que irruit super nos : sed cum ignoramus
quid agere debeamus, hoc solum habemus residuum ® ut oculos nos-
tros dirigamus ad te. Sequitur, hsec dicit Dominus, Nolite timere,
et ne paueatis banc multitudinem : non est enim uestra pugna set
Dei. Tantummodo confidenter state, et videbitis auxilium Domini
super uos. Credite in Domino Deo uestro et securi eritis." pis is
on English : In us nis nout, deorewur^e Louerd, so muchel strencSe
]7et we muhten wi^stonden J>es deofles ferde, j^et is so strong uppon
vs. Auh, hwon we beo^ so bista'Sed 7 so stronge bistonden J»et wo
mid alle nenne read ne cunnen bi us suluen: pis one we muwe
don — hebben up eien % honden to ]7e milsfule Louerd r' ]7U sonde us
sucurs : ]?u to dref ^ ure fon : vor to J>e we lake's ]?us mid te gode
losaphat. Hwon God kume'S biuoren ou and freineS hwat je
wulle^, % in eueriche time hwon je neode habbe'S, scheawe'S so
sweteliche to his swete earen. And jif he sone ne ihere^ ou, jeicS
* ge Luuerd, wunder is. T. C. '' Israel, Godes folc T. — floe. C.
•^ ^Sic. " fluht. T. C.
c residui. T. ' dreaue, T. fallen. C.
PRAYERS, AS MESSENGERS TO HEAVEN, BRING DIVINE HELP. 265
Philistines are come to Aphec."« Yea, Lord! it is no wonder. We
are encamped here beside thee, wlio art the stone of lielp, and tower
of true safety, and castle of strength, and the devil's army is more
enraged against us than against any other. This I take from the
Book of Kings. For there we are told how the people of Israel came
and encamped beside the stone of help; and the Philistines came
into Aphec. Philistines, that is, enemies. Aphec — in Hebrew it
signifieth "new madness." It is truly so. When a man encampeth
beside our Lord, then first the devils beo;in to rage : and here we
are told that the Israelites soon turned their backs, and four thousand
of them were miserably slain in the fight. Never turn ye your
back, my dear sisters, but withstand the fiend's army among the
foremost, as has been said before, with strong faith ; and with the
good Jehoshaphat, send prayers quickly, as your messenger, to the
Prince of Heaven for succour : The Book of Chronicles. " In
nobis quidem non est fortitudo ut possimus huic multitudini resistere,
quae irruit super nos : sed quum ignoramus quid agere debeamus, hoc
solum habemus residuum ut oculos nostros dirigamus ad te." ^ It
is added,° " Hsec dicit Dominus : Nolite timere, et ne paveatis banc
multitudinem : non est enim vestra pugna sed Dei. Tantummodo
confidenter state, et videbitis auxilium Domini super vos, Credite
in Domino Deo vestro, et securi eritis." This is in English : In us
there is not, dear Lord, so much strength that we coidd withstand
this devil's army that is so strong against us. But, when we are
thus circumstanced, and beset with such a force, and that also we
know not of ourselves what counsel to follow, this alone remains for
us — to lift up our eyes and our hands to thee, O merciful Lord ; do
thou send us succour ; do thou put our toes to flight ; for to thee
we thus look, with the good Jehoshaphat. When God cometh
before you, and asketh what you desire, and at every time when ye
have need, declare it thus affectionately to his gracious ears. And,
if he do not soon hear you, cry louder and more importunately, and
■^ 1 Samuel, iv. 1, 2, and vii. 12. ^ 2 Chron. xx. 12. ^- Ibid. v. 15.
CAMD. SOC. 2 M
266 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
ludbre and vnme'Slukei-,'^ and J>reateb |?et je wulle'S i^elden up ])ene
castel bute jif he sende ou ]?e sonre help J, hie J?e swuSere. Auh
wute je hwu ure Louerd onswerede Josaphat J?e gode ? Lo J^us :' o
J^isse wise. "Noh timere," %. ]7us he onswere'S ou, hwon je
cleopie'S efter helpe. " Ne beo je nout offered," he sei'S, '^ ne drede je
ham nowilit, ]?auh heo beon stronge 7 monie. pe uiht is min "? nout
oure. Sulement etstonde^ sikerhche, "? je schulen habben^ mi
FoUniih. sukurs. Habbe'S one to me trusti bileaue, 7 je beoS al sikere,"
Loke^ nu hwuch help is stmisti "? herdi bileaue. Vor al })et help
J7et God bihat, stren'Se uorte stonden wel — al is in hire one. Herdi
bileaue make's ou stonden upriht i' and te deofel nis no'Sinc lo'Sre.
Vor]7ui ]7is is his savve '% his word in lsaise,° " Incuruare ut trans-
eamus :" buh ]>e, he sei'S, aduneward, ]7et ich muwe ouer ]?e. peo
buh^S hire ]7et to his fondiuide beie'S hire heorte. Vor ]?eo hwule
)>et heo stont upriht ne mei he nou^er on hire ne ruken, ne riden.
Lo ! }»e treitre, hwu he seiS, " Incuruare ut transeamus :" buh ]7e, he
sei'S, adun ant let me up. Nullich nout longe riden "^ auh ich chulle
wenden anon ouer awei. He lib's, sei'S Sein Beornard, ne ilef ]?u
nout ]>en treitre. "Non unit transire, sed residere:" nule he nout,
he sei'S, wenden ouer :! auli wule sitten ful ueste. No^eleas sum
was ]7et ilefde him, t ]?ouhte ]>et he scheolde sone adun ase he bihat
euere. Do, he sei^, et tissen*^ one cherre, % schrif J^e ]?erof to morwen.
Bull adun ]?ine heorte :! let me up '^ schend ® me mid schrifte, jif ich
alles wolde riden to longe. Sum was, ase ich er seide, ]7et ileuede
him, ? lette him up, "? he rod on hire boSe [dei] % niht, fulle twenti
jer '% more : J»et is, heo dude one swuche sunne i'Set ilke niht, ]7uruh
his prokiunge, % ]70uhte ]?et heo wolde amorwen schriuen hire J^erof r'
■? dude hit eft 1 eft, '% feol so into ful wune ]?et heo lei 1 rotede
]?erinne so longe ase ich er seide. Ant, jif a miracle nere ];et pufte
adun }?ene deouel ]?et set on hire so ueste, heo hefde iturpled *' mid
* luddre ^ mea'Sleslukere. T. ^ seon. C. seo. T.
' Isaie. C. •* Do, he seis, ^is. T. C.
<= schet. T. ale's. C. * torplet. T.
SUBTLETY OF THE TEMPTER BAFELED BY FAITH, 267
threaten that ye will yield up the castle unless he send you help the
sooner and hasten the more. But do ye know how our Lord
answered Jehoshaphat the good ? Lo ! thus ; in this manner, " Noli
timere," &c. Thus he answereth you when ye call for help. " Be
not afraid," he saith, " fear ye them not, though they be strong and
many. The battle is mine and not yours. Only stand firmly, and
ye shall have my succour. Have only steadfast faith in me and ye
shall be safe." Now, observe, what a powerful help is steadfast and
firm faith. For all the help that God promises — the strength to
stand nobly — consists entirely in this alone. Firm faith maketh you
to stand upright ; and nothing is more hateful to the devil. There-
fore this is his saying and his expression in Isaiah,'^ " Incurvare ut
transeamus : " " Bow down," he saith, " that I may pass over thee."
She boweth herself who inclineth her heart to his tempting. For, while
she stands upright, he may neither back her nor ride her. Look !
how the traitor saitli, " Incurvare ut transeamus :" " bow thee down,"
saith he, " and let me up. 1 do not wish to ride long. But I will go
immediately away over." He lieth, saith St. Bernard, believe thou
not the traitor. " Non vult transire, sed residere : " he will not,
saith he, go over, but will sit full fast. Nevertheless, there was one
who believed him, and thought that he would soon dismount, as he
always promised. " Do it," saith he, " this once, and make con-
fession of it on the morrow. Bow down thine heart; let me up,
and throw me off with confession, if I should, perhaps, wish to ride
too long." There was one, as I said before, who believed him, and
let him up, and he rode her both day and night, full twenty years
and more ; that is, she committed one particular sin, on the same
night, through his instigation, and thought that she Avould, on the
morrow, make confession of it ; but she committed it again and
again, and fell into such an evil habit that she lay and rotted in it
so long, as I before said. And, if it had not been a miracle that
puffed down the devil that sat on her so fast, she had toppled with
■•» Chap. li. 23.
268
REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
him, bo'Se liors "? lode, aclun into lielle grunde. Vor]?ui, mine leoue
sustren, holde^ ou euer efne uprilit ine treowe bileaue. Herdeliche
Folio 72. ileue'S J»et al ]7e deofles strencSe melte'S J^nruh j^e grace of ]?e holi
sacrament, lieixt ouer alle o'Sre, \&t je iseo"S ase ofte ase J)e preost
messe'S % sacred ]?et meidenes beam, Jesu, Godes sune, ]7et licam-
liclie lihte'S oSerliwules to ower in ^ % wi'Sinnen ou edmodliche
nime'S his herboruwe. Deuleset,^ heo beo^ to woke, 7 to unwreste
iheorted ]?et, wi^ swuche goste, herdehche ne uihteS. Ee schulen
habben bileaue ]>et al J^et holi chirclie rede^ ant singe^,^ ant alle
hire sacramenz strenc^e'S ou gostliche, auh non so uorS ase }>is : uor
hit bringeS to nout alle ]7es deofles wieles :' nout one his strencSes %
his stronge '^ turnes, auh deS also his wihtful ^ crokes, 1 his wrench-
fule wicchecreftes, J, alle his jissunges :^® ase lease swefnes, % false
scheauwinges,^ 7 dredfule oflPerunges, J, fikele "? swikele reades, ase
}>auh hit were a Godes halue, *? god for to donne. Vor ];et is his
unwrench, ase icli er seide ]>ei holi men mest dredeS, j^et he
haue^ s monie holi men grimliche bijuled. Hwon he ne mei nout
bringen ]7e to non open vuel he eggeb \q to a jjing ]?et ]7unche'S
god. pu schuldest, he sei^, beon mildre % leten iwurSen J^ine
gost. pu nouhst nout sturien ne trublen ]>ine heorte "? stien
into wre^be. pis he seiS for]?ui ]?et tu ne schuldest nout tuhten,
ne chasten ]>{ meiden uor hire gult "^^ ant bringe'S ^pe into jeme-
leaste, ine stude of edmodnesse. And he eft Bel's riht her to-jeines
— ne let tu, he Bel's, ]7ine meiden no gult to jiues. Eif ]?u wult j^et
heo drede J^e, hold hire neruwe. Rihtwisnesse, he seiS, mot beon
nede sturne ^ and ]7us he lite^ cruelte mid heowe of rihtwisnesse.
Me * mei beon al to rihtwis. Betere is liste ^ ]?en lu'Ser strenc^e.
Folio 72 b. Hwon ]?u hauest longe iwaked, 7 schuldest gon to slepen, Nu hit is
vertu, he seib, uor to wakien, uor hit greue'S ];e. Seie jet, he Bel's,
" Dewleset. T. Crist hit wat. C.
'^ ronlie. T.
" jiscinges. T. j;uluiiges. C.
R haue'5 wi'5. T.
' Ach me. C.
^ — deS. Red o'Ser singe's.
'' wilfule. T. widfule. C.
' seliriuinges. T.
'' gultes, ne J>eawe Jjine servaiiz. T.
^ wis liste. T. C.
ARTFUL SUGGESTIONS OF THE TEMPTER. 269
him, both horse and burden, down into the depth of hell. Where-
fore, my dear sisters, hold yourselves always invariably upright in
true faith. Believe firmly that all the power of the devil melteth
away through the grace of the holy sacrament, which ye see
elevated above all, as oft as the priest saith mass, and consecrateth
that Virgin's child, Jesus, the Son of God, who sometimes descendeth
bodily to your inn, and humbly taketh his lodging within you.
God knoweth, she is too weak, and too evil hearted, who, with the
aid of such a guest, fighteth not bravely. Ye ought to believe truly
that all that the holy church readeth and singeth, and all her
sacraments, give you spiritual strength, but none so much as this ; *
for it bringeth to nought all the wdles of the devil ; not only his
forceful and violent assaults, but his powerful stratagems, his
cunning sorceries, and all his deceits ; ^ as illusory dreams, false
appearances, dreadful alarms, and flattering and deceitful counsels,
as if the thing to be done were good and for the honour of God ; for
that is his wicked artifice, which, as I said before, holy men most
dread, and with which he hath terribly beguiled many holy men.
When he cannot bring thee to any open wickedness, he incites thee
to something which appears good. He saith, " Thou shouldest be
more indulgent, and let thy mind be quiet. Thou oughtest not to
disturb nor vex thine heart, nor rouse it to anger." He saith this,
signifying that thou shouldest not correct nor chastise thy servant ^
for her fault ; and thus he leads thee into carelessness, instead of
mildness. And, at another time, directly contrary to this he saith,
" Permit not thyself to forgive thy servant any fault ; if thou wishest
her to fear thee, keep her strictly. Justice," saith he, " must be
very strict ; " and thus he coloureth cruelty with the hue of justice.
One may be too severely just. Skilful prudence is better than rude
force. When thou hast watched long, and shouldest now go to
sleep, he saith, "It would now be meritorious to watch, since
The sacrament of the mass. '' gulunges. C. appears to be the true reading,
the body ?
270 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
one nocturne. Vor hwui sei^ he so ? bute uor]7ui ];et tu scheoldest
slepen eft, hwon time were uorto wakien. Eft, lie seiS riht ]?er to
jeines. Eif ]>et tu muhtest wel wakien, he deS i]?ine ]?ouhte, oSer
lei's on ]?e heuinesse: wisdom is J^inge best: ich chulle gon nu
slepen % arisen nunon, t don cwicluker J^en nu ];et ich schulde don
nu, — ant so ofte, inouhre^e, ne dest tu hit nout i rihte time. Of ]7is
ilke materie ich spec muchel ];eruppe. Ine swuche manere tenta-
ciuns nis non so wis ne so war, bute jif God ham warnie, ]?et nis
bigiled o^er hwules. Auh |;is heie sacrament, ine lierdi bileaue,
ouer alle cSer "j^inges unwrih'S ^ his wrenches, 1 brake's his strencSes.
Iwis, leoue sustren, hwon je iveleS him neih ou, vor hwon '' |7et je
habben herdi bileaue, nule je buten lauhwen him lude to bismare,
]7et he is so old cang ° ]7et kume'S uorte echen his pine, % breiden ou
crune. So sone so he isilTS ou herdi ■? bolde ine Godes seruise If in
his grace, his mihte melteS J, he full's anon. Auh jif he mei under-
jiten }>et ower bileaue falsie, so ];et ou Jjunche ]?et je muhten beon
allunge iled ouer, je weren swuSe i j^en ilke stunde itemted, here
mide je unstrenc'Se'S, 1 his mihte waxe'S.
We ^ rede's ine Regum j^et Isboset lei % slepte *? sette ane wummon
uorte beon ^eteward ]?et windwede hweate r' J, comen Recabes sunen,
Remon 7 Banaa, % ifunden ]>& wummon astunt of hire windwunge %
Folio 73. iueollen aslepe, 1 wenden in and slowen }>ene uniselie Isboset, ]7et
wuste him so vuele. pe bitocnunge herof is muche need to under-
stonden. Isboset on Ebrewish is "bimased mon" on Englisch. And
nis he witterlich amased % ut of his witte ];et, amidden his unwines
lis him adun to slepen ? pe jeteward — |)et is wittes skile — j^et ouh
forto winden ® hweate, 1 scheaden ]7e eilen % tet chef urom ]^e clene
cornes, ]7et is, ]7uruh bisi warschipe, sundren god from vuele, 1! don
» uuhulcs. T. '' for liwi. T.
<; aid fol. T. aid ganli. C. '' Ue. C.
* windwe, T. C.
THE TEMPTER DRIVEM AWAT BY FAITH. ISH-BOSHETH. 271
watching is painful to thee. Say yet," saith he, "one Noctui'n.'"
Why dotli he say this ? Only that thou shoiaklest sleep afterwards,
when it might be time for thee to watch. Again, he persuadeth
quite the contrary ; and if thou art well able to watch, he bringeth
drowsiness upon thee, or suggesteth such thoughts as these :
" Wisdom is the best thing : I will go to sleep and arise again
presently, and do more quickly than now what I ought now to do,"
— and thus, perhaps, it often happens that thou dost it not in the
right time. On this subject I spoke before at large.^ In temptations
of this kind there is none so wise and guarded, unless God defend
him, that is not sometimes deceived. But this sublime sacrament,
with steadfast faith, more than any thing else, unmasks his artifices,
and breaketh his strongholds. Truly, dear sisters, when ye perceive
him nigh you, while ye have steadfast faith, ye will only laugh him
to scorn, because he is such an old fool, who comes to increase his
own punishment, and plait a crown for you. As soon as he seeth
you valiant and bold in the service of God, and in his grace, his
power melteth away, and quickl}^ he takes to flight. But, if he
should perceive that your faith fails, so that it appears to you that
ye might be quite led astray if ye were, at that hour, strongly
tempted, then is your strength weakened, and his power increaseth.
We read in the Book of Kings ^ that Ish-bosheth lay and slept,
and had set a woman to be keeper of the gate, who winnowed wheat.
And the sons of Rechab, Remmon and Baanah, came and found
that the woman had left off her winnowing and fallen asleep ; and
they went in and slew the unhappy Ish-bosheth, who guarded
himself so ill. It is of importance that the meaning of this be well
imderstood. Ish-bosheth, in Hebrew, signifieth "a man bewildered"
in English. And is not he verily bewildered and out of his wits who.
» Page 145. ''2 Samuel, iv. 5, 6.
The incident here related agrees with the Septuagint, and the Vulgate translation; but
differs from the Hebrew and the authorised English version, in which the winnowing of
wheat is not mentioned.
272 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM,
bene hweate into J>e gernere, J. pufFen ener awei ]?es feones chef Ipet
nis to none ]?inge nouht bute to lielle smur^re. Auh J>e bimasede
Isboset^ lo ! hwu he dude masehche.* He sette one wummon uorto
beon jeteward, ]7et is, feble wardein. Weilawei ! ase monie doS so.
Wummon is ]?e reisun, j^et is, wittes skile hwon hit unstrencSe^, ]>et
schulde beon monhch 1 stalewarde '' 7 kene ine treowe bileaue. pes
jeteward leiS him to slepen so sone so me biginne'S kunsenten to
sunne, 1! let j^ene hist gon inward *? delit waxen. Hwon Recabes
sunen, ]?et beo'S helle bearnes, ivinde^ so unwaker t so nesche ;5ete-
ward, go's in 1 ska's Isboset, ]7et is, 'pene bimased gost pet in one
slepie jemeleaste*' uorjeme'S him suluen. pet nis nout to uorjiten Jjet,
ase holi writ telle'S, heo J>uruh stihten Isboset adun into [];e] ^ schere.
Her sei^ Seint Gregorie :f " In inguinem ferire est uitam mentis
carnis delectatione perforare." pe ueond jjuruh stihS ^ ]?et scher
hwon deht of lecherie }?urle^ pe heorte : 'i Jns nis buten ine slepe of
jemeleaste 1: of slouh^e, ase Seint Gregorie witne'S if " Antiquus
hostis mox ut mentem ociosam invenerit, ad earn sub quibusdam
occasionibus locuturus venit,^ et quaadam ei de gestis prasteritis ad
Folio 73 1, memoriam reducit, audita qusedam verba indecenter resonat." Et
infra, " Putruerunt f^ deteriorataj sunt cicatrices meas. Cicatrix ergo
ad putredinem redit, quum peccati uuhius, quod per poenitenciam sana-
tum est, in delectationem sui animum concutit." pis is pet Enghsch :
hwon pe olde unwine isih^ ure skile slepen, he drauh him in anon
intouward hire, f feolle^ mid hire o slepe,^ [1. speche] penchest tu, he
serS, hwu pe, o'Ser ]?eo, spec of flesches golnesse ? And speke^ J>us,
pe olde swike, touward hire heorte worses ]?et heo iherde jare
fulliche iseide, o^er sih^e ]?et heo iseih, o'Ser hire owen ful'Sen ]?et
heo sumehwiles wrouhte. Al J7is he put for^ biuoren hire heorte
eien, uorte bifulen hire mid ]?ouhte of olde sunnen, hwon he ne mei
mid neowe t' J so he bringe^ ofte ajean into pe adotede soule, J^uruh
licunge, ]?eo ilke sunnen ];et |?uruh reou^fule sore weren jare ibet :'
* masedliche. T. *> stalewurSe. T. sta'Selwur'Se. C.
"^ gemles. T. scheomeles. C. '' i i>e. T. C.
* )>urhwrenches. T. }>urch stikes. C. ' advenit. MS. Oxon. « i speche. T. C.
ISH-BOSHETH SLAIN THROUGH SLOTH AND CARELESSNESS. 273
in the midst of his enemies, heth down to sleep ? The gate-ward
— that is, reason — which ought to winnow the wheat and separate
the refuse and the chaff from the clean grain, that is, by diligent
carefulness to separate the good from the bad, and place the wheat
in the granary, and blow always away the devil's chaff, which is fit
for nothing but to smolder in hell. But the stupid Ish-bosheth,
behold how foolishly he acted. He appointed a woman to be gate-
ward, that is, a feeble warden. Alas! how many do the like!
Woman is reason, that is, the understanding when it grows feeble,
which ought to be manly, steady, and earnest in true faith. This
gate-ward layetli herself down to sleep, as soon as we begin to
consent to sin, and permit the desire to go inward, and the fondness
to increase. When the sons of Recliab, which are tlie children of
hell, find such an unwatchful and indolent gate-ward, they go in
and slay Ish-bosheth, that is, the bewildered spirit, which in a
sleepy carelessness neglecteth himself. It is not to be forgotten that,
as Holy Scripture informs us, they stabbed Ish-bosheth through the
groin. Upon this St. Gregory remarks, " In inguinem ferire est
vitam mentis carnis delectatione perforare." The fiend stabs through
the groin when the fond desire of lechery perforates the heart : and
this is done only in the sleep of carelessness and sloth, as St. Gregory
sheweth, " Antiquus hostis mox ut mentem otiosam invenerit, ad
earn sub quibusdam occasionibus locuturus venit, et quaedam ei de
gestis prasteritis ad memoriam reducit, audita qujedam verba inde-
center resonat." And farther, " Putruerunt et deterioratas sunt
cicatrices mete. Cicatrix ergo ad putredinem redit, quum peccati
vulnus quod per poenitentiam sanatum est, in delectationem sui
animum concutit." This is the English : When the old enemy seeth
that our reason is asleep, he immediately draweth nigh to her, and
falleth into conversation with her ; " Dost thou remember," saith he,
" how this or that one spoke of the lust of the flesh ? " And thus the
old deceiver speaks to her heart words that she heard long ago in-
decently spoken ; or of some sight that she saw ; or of her own
uncleanness which she formerly wrought. All this he places before
CAMD. SOC. 2 N
274 KEGUL^ INCLUSAKUM.
SO J'et heo mei weopen 7 menen ase sori mon, mide ]>e salmwuruhte :
" Putruerunt," ?c. Weilawci mine wunclen ]?et weren ueire ilieled
gedere^ neowe wrusiim/ ? foS on eft uorte rotlen. Iheled wunde
l^eonne bigine^ for to rotien hwonne J^eo sunnen 'pet weren jare ibet
kumeS eft mid likunge to munegunge, J ska's ];eo nnwarre soule.
Gregorius : " Isboset inopinata morte neqnnquam succumberet nisi
ad ingressum mentis mulierem, id est, molleni custodiam depntasset."
Al ]7is unlimp is icumen J?uruh ]?e jetewardes slepe. pet nis nont
iwar ne waker ne nis nout monlich, auh is wummonlich, e^ to ouer-
kesten, beo hit wummon beo hit mon. peonne is al pe strenc^e
efter j^e bileaue, 1 efter pet me haue^S truste to Godes helpe ]?et
euer is neih bute jif bileaue trukie, ase ich her biuoren seide. Heo
FoNo 74, unstrenc'Se'S pe unwhit ^ "? de^ him suluen o fluhte anonrihte. Vor
]m beo^S euer ajean him herdi ase leun ine treowe bileaue :' and
nomeliche i'Se uondunge ]?et Isboset deide uppon, J»et is golnesse.
Lo, hwu jemuwen icnowen pet he is eruh° 7 nnwrest, hwon he smit
]?ideward. Nis he eruh*' chaumpion ]?et skinned touward pe uet?
]?et seche'S so lowe uorte smiten on liis kemp ifere ? And flesches
hist is fotes wunde, ase was feor iseid J^eruppe r^ J tis is J^e reison
hwareuore : al so ase ure vet bereS us, al so ure lustes bereS us ofte
to l^inge ]>et us lust efter. Nu ]?eonne, J?auh ];i foa hurte pe o^e vet,
J>et is to siggen, fonde^ mid flesches lustes, uor so louh wunde ne
dred tu nout to sore, bute jif hit to sw^uS swelle, |;uruh skiles
jettunge, mid to muche delit, up touward pe heorte :' auh drinc
]7eonne atterlo^e,*^ 7 drif J>ene swel ^ ajeanward urommard pe heorte t'
pet is to siggen, J^enc o'Se attrie pinen }>et God suflFrede oSe rode f
pe swell schal setten. Prude, ? onde, 1 wredde, heorte-sor uor
worldliche jjinge, deori uorlonginge, t jiscunge of eihte : j^eos beo'S
heorte wunden t' and J^et of ham vlowe'S jiue'S dea'Ses dunt anon,
buten jif heo beon isalued. Hwon pe ueond smit J^ideward, ]?eonne
hit is iwis forto dreden, and nout for vot wunden.
* wursum. C. '' unwieht. C. <= arch. C,
■^ atterla'Se berien. C. "^ swalm. C.
THE REMEMBRAlSrCE OF PAST SINS TEMPTETII TO SIN. 275
the eyes of her heart, that he may corrupt her with the remembrance
of old sins, when he cainiot with new. And thus he often bringeth
again into the infiituated soul, through desire, the same sins
which through penitential contrition were long since amended, so
that she may weep and lament, as one in sorrow, with the Psalmist,
" Putruerunt," &c. Alas ! my wounds that were so well healed are
gathering new matter, and begin again to fester. A healed wound
begins to fester when the sins that were formerly amended come
again, with desire, into the memory, and slay the unwary soul.
Gregorius saith, Ish-bosheth would not have fiillen by a sudden
death if he had not placed a woman, that is, a timid warder, at the
door of his mind. All this mishap came through the gate-ward's
sleep. That wliich is not wary and watchful is not manly but
womanly — easy to overcome, whether it be man or woman. All
our strength, then, is according to our faith, and according to our
confidence in God's help, which is ever nigh, except our faith give
way, as I said before. Faith weakeneth the enemy and putteth
him to flight innnediately. Wherefore, be always as bold as a lion
against him, witli true faith ; and especially in that temptation by
which Ish-bosheth died, namely, the lust of the flesh. Behold how
vou may know that he is cowardly and weak, when he smites in this
direction. Is not he a cowardly champion who strikes at the feet ?
who seeks to smite his antagonist so low ? Now the lust of the flesh
is a foot wound, as was said long before ; and this is the reason of
it : in like manner as our feet carry us, so our lusts often carry us
to the object of our desires. Now then, although the enemy woimd
thee in the feet, that is to say, tempt thee with carnal pleasures, be
not too much afraid for so low a wound, unless it should swell
greatly, through the mind's consent, with too much delight, up
toward the heart ; and then, drink the antidote, ^ and drive the
swelling away from the heart ; that is to say, think of the bitter
pains that God suffered on the cross, and the swelhng will abate.
Pride, envy, wrath, anxiety about worldly tilings, listless indolence,
" The herb betony, or pcniij-grass. Jios'xorlli.
276 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Jrrudes saliie is edmodnesse : ondes salue, feolauliclie luue t
wre'S'Ses salue, ]?olemodnesse : accidies salue, redunge and misliclie
werkes, and gostlich urouren: jiscunges salue, ouerhowe of eorS-
liche ]?inges : vestschipes salue, ureo heorte. Nu of ]?e uorme. On
aire erest, jif ]>u wilt beon edmod, j^enc euer hwat J?e wonteS of
holinesse J of gostliche J^eawes. penc hwat tu hauest of J^i sulf. pu
ert of two dolen :f of licame, ? of soule, J in eiSer Leo's two J^inges
]>et muwen swu'Se mucliel meoken J^e, jif ]>u liam wel biholdest.
Folio 74 h. I |,ine licame is ful^e J unstrencSe. Nu, kume'S of fe vetles swuch
J^ing ase [is] ]7erinne.* Of ]?ine flesclies vetles liwat cume-S J>erof ?
Kume-S j^erof smel of aromaz, oSer of swote healewi?^ Deale.'^ Of
te druie sprintles here's winberien? And breres bere^S rosen, t
berien, J blostmen ? Mon, ]?i flesch, hwat frut here's hit, in all his
openvmges ? Amidden 'pe meste menkes ^ of j^ine nebbe, ];et is, pet
feirest del bitweonen smech mu'Ses "? neoses smel, ne berest tu two
J>urles, ase j^auh hit weren two priue ]?urles ? Nert tu icumen of
ful slim ? Nert tu mid ful-Se a ifulled ? Ne schalt tu beon wurmes
fode ? Nu a iileih mei eilen ]>e, 7 makien J^e to blenchen. Ea'Se
meiht tu beon prut ! Philosophus : " Sperma es fluidum :' vas
stercorum :' esca uermium." Bihold, holie men ]7et weren sume-
hwules, hwu heo uesten, 1! hwu heo wakeden t' ine hwuche passiun,
7 ine hwuche swinke heo weren :' and so ]7u meiht icnowen J^ine
owune woke unstrencSe. Auh wostu hwat awilege^ monnes feble
eien fet is heie iclumben? pet he bihalt aduneward. Aug. " Sicut
incentium est elationis respectus inferioris, sic cautela est humilitatis
consideratio superioris." Al so ase hwa bihalt to ]>eo pet bee's of
as jjer is in. C, >• swote basrae. C.
Dele. C. Deu le set ? "i menske. C.
KEMEDIES FOll DIFFERENT VICES. PKIDE. 277
and covetousness of wealth, — these are the wounds of the heart, and
that which emanates from them immediately giveth a death blow,
unless it be remedied. When the enemy smiteth in this direction,
then is he truly to be feared, and not for foot wounds.
1 . The remedy of pride is humility ; of envy, love to one another ;
of wrath, patience; of indolence, reading, and various kinds of
work, and spiritual consolation ; the remedy of covetousness is con-
tempt of earthly things ; of avarice, liberality. Now, concerning the
first. First of all, if thou wilt be humble, reflect always on your want
of holiness and spiritual-mindedness. Consider what thou hast of thy-
self. Thou art of two parts — of body and soul, and in each are two
things which may greatly humble thee, if thou rightly apprehendest
them. In thy body is uncleanness and infirmity. Now, there
Cometh out of a vessel such things as it contains. What cometh
out of the vessel of thy flesh ? Doth the smell of spices or of sweet
balsam come thereof? God knoweth. Do dry twigs often bear grapes ?
And do briars [_L thorns]'' bear roses, and berries, and flowers. Man,
what fruit doth thy flesh bear in all its apertures? Amidst the
greatest ornament of thy face ; that is, the fairest part between the
taste of mouth and smell of nose, hast thou not two holes, as if they
were two privy holes ? Art thou not formed of foul slime ? Art
thou not always full of uncleanness? Shalt thou not be food for
worms? Even now, a fly may hurt thee and cause thee to shrink.
Truly thou mayest easily be proud ! " Thou art," saith the philoso-
pher, " of slimy origin, a vessel of filth, food for worms." Look at
the holy men of old ; how they fasted, and how they watched ; how
great were the sufferings and labours they underwent; and thus
thou mightest know thine own weak infii'mity. But knowest thou
what distorteth the weak eyes of a man who has climed up high ?
That he looks downward. Augustin saith, " As the sight of an
inferior is an incentive to pride, so that of a superior is a warning
to humility." For, as he who looks at those who are of humble
station seemeth to himself to be of high station, so do thou look
" Ex spinis flores rosarum. MS. Oxon.
278 REGULJ2 INCLUSAKUM.
lowe liue, ]7et make's liiiii J^unchen J>et lie is of heie liue, auli biliokl
euer upward touward heonenliche men ^et clumben so heie 7 teonne
schalt tu iseon hu lowe J?u stondest. Vesten ane seoueniht to breade
7 to watere r' o'Ser j^reo nilit togederes wakien, — hwu wolde hit un-
Folio 75. strenc^en ]?ine fleschliche strencSe ! pus }>eos two J'inges bihold i
J^ine licame — ful'Se J unstrencSe. I J^ine soule, o'Ser two — sunne 1
ignorance :! }>et is, unwisdom "? unwitenesse. Vor ofte J>er tu wenest
]>et beo god is vuel, 7 soule mur'Sre. Bihold mid wet eien ];ine
scheomefule sunnen : dred jet J^ine woke kunde J^et is e'S aworpen :^
and seie mid te holie monne, ]?et bigon uorte weopen 7 seide, ]70 me
tolde him ]?et on [of] his feren was mid one wummone iuallen ine
flesliche fulSe, " Ille hodie, ego eras :" j^et is, " He to dai, ich to mor-
wen." Ase ];auh he seide : Of al so unstronge cunde ich am ase he
is, 7 al swuch me mei bitiden, bute jif God me holde. pus, lo, ];e
holi mon nefde, of J^en o^re mone ]?et was iuallen ine sunne, non
wunderliche ouerhowe, auh biweop his unhep, ? dredde |>et him al
swuch muhte bitiden. O ]nsse wise makie^ edmod ^ J meokeS our
lieorte. Bernardus: " Superbia est appetitus proprie excellencie :^
humilitas contemptus ejusdem." Al so as prude is wilnungc of wur^-
schipe, riht al so, |?er to jeines, edmodnesse is forkesting of wm-S-
schipe, 1. luue of lute hereword 1: of louhnesse. pes j^eau is aire
J;eauwene moder, J, streoned ham alle. pe J7et is umbe, wi^outen
hire, uorte gederen gode ]?eauwes, he bere^ dust iSe winde, ase
Seint Gregorie witne'S : " Qui sine humilitate uirtutes congregat
quasi qvii in ucnto puluerem portat." pes one bitS iboruwen : ];es
one wi'Sbuwe^ ]?es deofles gronen '' of helle, ase ure Louerd seide to
Seint Antonie J>et iseili al ]?ene world ful of J^es deofles tildunge.*^
" A, Louerd !" cweS he, " hwo mei wi^ ]?eos witen him ]^et he ne beo
mid summe of J?eos ikeiht ? " " One \>e edmode," cwcS ure Louerd.
So Intel ]?ing is edmodnesse 1; so smel ]?et no grone ne mei hire
ctholden. And, lo, muclie wmider : J'auh heo makie hire so lutel, 7
" eadmodie'5. T. C. '• snares. T. gruneii. C. Scoticc, i/irnn, (jyins.
' tyld, to cover. Scot.
THE POWER AND EXCELLENCE OF HUMILITY. 279
always upward to heavenly men, who have climbed on high, and
then thou shalt see how low thou standest. To fast a week on bread
and water, or to watch three nights together, how would it en-
feeble thy bodily strength ? Thus, look at these two things in thy
body, uncleanness and weakness: in thy soul, other two, sin and
ignorance ; that is, folly and want of judgment ; for often that
which thou thinkest to be good is evil and soul-murder. Behold
with wet eyes thy shameful sins. Dread continually thy weak
nature, which is easily overcome, and say, with the holy man who
began to weep and said, when he was told that one of his companions
had fallen with a woman into carnal uncleanness, " Ille hodie, ego
eras ; " that is, " He to day, I to-morrow : "^ as if he had said, I am
of the same infirm nature as he is, and the very same may happen
to me, unless God sustain me. Lo ! thus, the holy man had no
overweening contempt of the other man that was fallen into sin, but
wept his mishap, and dreaded that the very same might befal him-
self. In this manner, keep your heart humble and meek. St.
Bernard says, " Superbia est appetitus propriae excellentia3 ; humili-
tas contemptus ejusdem." As pride is a desire of worship, so, on
the contrary, humility is the rejecting of worship, and the love of
moderate commendation and of meekness. This virtue is the mother
of all virtues, and giveth birth to them all. He who tries, witliout
this, to acquire excellent virtues beareth dust in the wind, as St.
Gregory testifieth, " Qui sine humilitate virtutes congregat, quasi
qui in vento pulverem portat." This virtue alone is saved : this
alone evadeth the snares of the devil of hell, as our Lord said to St.
Antony, who saw all the world full of the devil's hidden traps.
" Ah Lord ! " quoth he, " who may guard himself against these so
that he is not caught with some of them ? " " Only the humble,"
quoth our Lord. So little a thing is humility, and so small, that no
snare may hold it fast. And here is a very wonderful thing : for,
though it make itself so little, and so meek, and so small, yet it is
the strongest thing of all, inasmuch as all spiritual strength comes
" The same story is told in page 226.
280 EEGUL^. INCLUSARUM.
Folio 75 h. SO meoke, 7 so smel, heo is J^auh J^inge strongest, so |?et of hire is
euericli gostlich strencSe. Seint Cassiodore hit witne"S :' " Omnis
fortitude ex humilitate:" auh Salomon sol's Jje reisun hwui t' "Vbi
humihtas ibi sapiencia :" |?er ase edraodnesse is, 'per. he sei^, is Jesu
Crist, |?et is, his Feder wisdom, *? his Feder strencSe. Nu, nis no
wunder ]7eonne, ]>auh strencSe beo per ase he is, ]?uruh grace inne
wuniinde. puruh pe strencSe of edmodnesse he awerp ]?ene wurse *
[l. J»urse] of helle. pe ^cape wrastlare niineS jeme hwat turn his fere
ne cunne nout, |?et he mid wrastle'S :' vor, mid J^en ilke turn he mei
hine unmunlunge aworpen.'' Al so dude ure Louerd. He iseih hu
ueole pe grimme wrastlare of helle breid up on his hupe, J werp,
mid pe haunche turn, into golnesse, ]7et rixle^ i pe lenden. He hef
an heih monie, ? iwende abuten mid ham, 1 sweinde ham J?uruh
prude adun into helle grunde. O, J^ouhte ure Louerd |>et al |?is
biheold, " I schal don pe enne turn ]7et tu ne cuSest neuer, ne ne
meiht neuer cunnen " — j^ene turn of edmodnesse, ]7et is, pe uallinde
turn. And feol urom heouene to ]7er eor^e, J streihte him so bi j^er
eor'Se, J^et te feond wende ]7et he were al eor^lich :' *? was bicherd °
mid tet turn, "? is jete eueriche deie of edmode men 1? wummen ]?et
hine wel cunnen. On o'Ser half, ase Job seide, he ne mei, uor
prude, jet bute biholden heie : " Omne sublime uident oculi ejus."
Holie men ]?et hol^et ^ ham lutte *? of lowe liue, heo beo^ ut of his
sih'Se. pe wilde bor ne mei nout buwen him uorte smiten liwam se
Halle's adun, J J^uruh meoke edmodnesse strecche^ him bi Jjer eorSe.
Folio 76. He is al kareleas of his tuxes, pis nis nout ajean }>et ich habbe
iseid er, j^et me schal stonden euer to-jeines pe deofuel :' uor ]7et
stonding is treowe trust of herdi bileaue uppon Godes strenc^e :' and
his fallinge is edmod cnowunge of "j^in owune wocnesse *? of J^ine
owune unstrencSe. Ne non ne mei stonden so bute jif he J)us falle t'
bet is, bute jif he lete lute tale J unwur^ of him suluen t' biholden
* l^iirse ? \>yvs. gigas, latro, lupus.
'' hodlinges casten. T. hidliugs, Scoticc, lutohservedly.
<■ bilurt. T. bilurd. C. •* holdeS.
CHRIST BY HUMILITY OVERTHROWS THE GIANT OF HELL. 281
from it. St. Cassiodore sheweth this, " All courage is from liu-
mility." And Solomon telleth the reason of it, " Ubi humilitas, ibi
sapiential"* Where there is humility there, saith he, is Jesus
Christ; that is, his Father's wisdom and his Father's strength.
Now it is no wonder, then, that there is strength where he is,
through in-dwelling grace. Through the strength of humility he
overcame the giant of hell. The wary wrestler carefully observes
what stratagem his mate, with whom he wrestles, is ignorant of; for
with that particular stratagem he may overthrow him unawares.
Thus did our Lord. He saw how many the fierce wrestler of
hell caught up on his hip, and threw, with the cast of the thigh, into
lechery, which rules in the loins. He heaved up many, and turned
round with them, and swung them through pride down into the
depth of hell. O I thought our Lord when he beheld all this, " I
shall practise upon thee a sleight that thou never k newest nor ever
could know " — the sleight of humility, which is the falling stratagem.
And he fell from heaven to the earth, and stretched himself in such
a manner on the earth, that the fiend thought that he was all earthly ;
and he was outwitted by that stratagem, and is still every day, by
humble men and women who are well skilled in it. On the other
hand, as Job saith, he may not yet for pride but look high. " His
eyes behold all high things." ^ Holy men who think little of them-
selves and live humbly are out of his sight. The wild boar cannot
stoop to smite him who falleth down, and through meek humility
stretcheth himself on the ground : he is quite secure from his tusks.
This is not contrary to that which I said before, that we ouo-ht
always to stand against the devil. For this standing is faithful
confidence of firm belief in God's power ; and this falling is humble
consciousness of thine own weakness, and of thine own want of
strength ; nor can any man so stand except he thus fall ; that is,
except he think himself of small account and unworthy, and look
always at his blackness and not at his fairness, because the fairness
» Proverbs, xi. 2. " Job, xli. 34,
CAMD. SOC. 2 O
282 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
euer his blake If nout his hwite, uor'Si ]?et hwit awilege^S ]7e eien.
Edmodnesse ne mei neuer beon inouh ipreised: uor ]>et was |;et
lescun ]7et lire Louerd inwardlukest lerede alle his icorene, bo^e mid
werke ? mid worde :' " Discite a me, quia mitis sum "? humilis
corde." In hire he helde^ nout one dropemele,^ auh jeote^
vlowinde wellen of his grace, ase sei'S ]>e sahn-wuruhte :' " Qui
emittis fontes in conuaUibus." I ]?e deales, he sei^, ]7U makest
wellen uorto springen. Auh heorte to-boUen 7 to-swollen, 1, ihouen
on heih ase hul — j^eo heorte ne ethalt none wete of Godes grace. A
bleddre ibollen ful of winde ne duue^ nout into ]?eos deope ^ wateres :f
auh a nelde prikiunge worpe'S al ut J>ene wind. Al so, on e^elich
stiche, o^er on e^elich eche ° make^S uorte understonden hwu Intel
M'lir^ is prude, and hwu egede ]>ing is horel.*^
Ondes salue, ich seide, J^et was feolaulich luue, and god vnnunge :!
t god wil, ]?er ase mihte of dede wonted. So muchel strencSe
haue'S luue 7 god wil j^et hit make^ o'Sres god ure god, ase wel ase
his ]>et hit wurche^. Sulement luue his god : beo wel ipaied ® *?
gled ]?erof, J so ]>n turnest hit to ]?e, '? makest hit ]?in owen. Seint
Gregorie hit witne^ :' " Aliena bona si diligis tua facis." Eif ]?u
hauest onde of o^res god, ]?u attrest ]?e mid helewi, f wundest ]?e
mid salue. pi salue hit is, jif Jm hit luuest, ajean soule hurtes :'
and ]n sti-enc^e ajean ]?e ueond is al J^et god ]>et o'Sre do^, jif ]7U
Folio 76 b. hit wel unnest. Sikerliche ich ileue j^et ne schal flesches fondunge,
nan more "pen gostlich, ameistre Jje neuer jif ]?u ert swete iheorted, f
edmod 7 milde, and luuest so inwardliche alle men 1; wummen, "?
nomeliche ancren, j^ine ^ leoue sustren, J>et tu ert sori of hore vuel, *?
gled of hore god ase of ]?in owune :' vnnen J7et alle J^et luuie^ be
luueden ham ase ]>e, f dude ham uroure ase ]7e. Eif ]?u hauest knif
o^er cloS, mete o'Ser drunch, scrowe o^er quaer, holi monne uroure,
" ane drope in a lim. T. *" Iialesvinde. T. C.
* o'Ser warch. T. '' orhel. T. orehel. C.
* cvveme. T. C. ' bc'Se \nne bre'bVe "j tine. T.
HOW ENVY IS TO BE CURED. 283
dazzles the eyes. Humility can never be sufficiently connnended,
for it was the lesson which our Lord most earnestly taught all his
elect, both by word and work, " Learn of me, for I am meek and
lowly in heart. '^ * Li this [virtue] he poureth not merely drop by
drop, but he poureth in a flowing stream, the fountains of his grace,
as the Psalmist saith, " Qui emittis fontes in convallibus." " In the
dales," saith he, " thou makest fountains to well up." But a heart
inflated, and swollen, and lifted up as a hill — such a heart retains
none of the dew of God's grace, A bladder inflated full of wind
diveth not into those deep waters ; but the pricking of a needle letteth
out all the wind. In like manner a slight stitch or a slight pain
maketh one understand how worthless is pride, and how stupid^
a thing is vanity.
1 1 . The remedy for envy, I said, was love to one another, and doing
them good ; and good will, where the ability to do is wanting. So
great efficacy hath love and good will, that it maketh the good which
it doth to another our own, as well as his. Only love his good ; be
well pleased and glad of it, and thus thou turnest it to thyself, and
makest it thine own. St. Gregory sheweth this : " If thou lovest
the good of another, thou makest it thine own." If thou hast envy
of another's good, thou poisonest thyself with balsam and woundest
thyself with salve. Thy salve it is — if thou lovest it — against the
womids of the soul ; and th}^ strength against the fiend is all the
good that another doeth, if thou art well pleased with it. I firmly
believe that neither carnal nor sjnritual temptation shall ever mastei'
thee if thou art kind-hearted, and humble, and meek, and lovest so
sincerely all men and women, and especially anchoresses, thy dear
sisters, that thou art as sorry for their evil, and glad of their good, as
of thine own : desire that all who love thee love them as well as
thee, and comfort them as well as thee. If thou hast a knife or a
garment, food or drink, scroll or book, the holy man's comfort, or
» Maih. xi. 29. *> Stolida. MS. Oxon.
284 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
o^er eni o'Ser J^ing ];et ham wolcle ureomien, vnnen ]?et tu heuedest
wonte l^erof, wi^ J^en ])et heo hit heueden. And jif eni is ]>et naue'S
nout J?e heorte J)us afeited, mid seoruhfule sikes, boSe bi dele % ec bi
nihte, grede on ure Louerd, and neuer gri^ ne jiue him er he,
]7uruh his grace, habbe hire swuch aturned and imaked.
^alue of wre^Se, ich seide, was ]7olemodnesse :' J^et bane's l^reo
steiren — heie, t herre, '? ah^e heixt, *? nexst ]7e heie heouene. Heih
is ]>e steire jif J>u ];olest for J?ine gulte :' herre ;^if )7U nauest gult :'
aire hexst jif ]>u ■|7olest nor ]>ine god dede. " Nai," set's sura amased
Jjing, " jif ich heuede gult ]?erof, ich nolde neuer menen." Ert tu, 'pet
so seist, ut of J»ine witte ? Is |;e leouere uorte beon Judases feolawe
]?en Jesu Cristes fere ? BoSe heo weren anhonged r' auh Judas for
his gulte, ? Ihu, wi'Suten gulte, nor his muchele godleich was an-
honged o Se rode. HweSeres fere wult tu beon? Mid hweSer
wult tu Jjolien? Of ]?is is J^eruppe ivvriten muchel r' hu he is pi
uile ^ pet misseiS j^e o^er misdeS j^e : and nis ];et iren ^ acursed ]7et
Folio 11. iwurSeS ];e swarture 1, pe ruhure so hit is ofture 1 moreiviled?
Gold and seoluer clense'S ham of hore dros iSe fure. Eif ]7U
gederest dros j^ermne, J>et is ajean kunde. Argentum reprobatum
vocate eos. pe caliz ]?et was imelt iSe fure '? stroncliche iwelled, and
seo'SSen, ]?uruh so monie duntes ? frotunges, to Godes nebbe [biheue°]
so swuSe ueire afeited, wolde he, jif he kuSe speken, awarien his
clensing fur 7 his wuruhte honden? Al J^es world is Goddes
smi'S'Se, uorte smeo^ien his icorene. Wultu |?et God nabbe no fur
in his smiS Se — ne belies — ne homeres ? Fur :' }>et is, scheome %
pine :! pe belies r^ Jjet bee's ]7eo ]7et missiggeS pe r* J^ine homeres r^
]7et beoS ];eo ]?et herme'S pe. penc of ]ns asaumple, [Augustinus]
"Quid gloriatur impius si de ipso flagellum faciat Pater mens?"
* [)?e file fret of l>e irn J^e rust ") tet ragget, •;) makeS hit hwi^ -] smeeJe.] C. Note.
'' or. T. C. [Golt, seluer, stel, ini, t-opper, meslling, breas : al is icleopet or.] C. Note.
■^ [behoof, or use]; written in the margin, in paler ink, j)robably by some one who
disapproved of making images of Christ, nehbe, face, in the text is expuncted, and is
therefore omitted in the translation.
HOW WRATH IS TO BE CURED. 285
any thing that would benefit them, desire that thou hadst it not,
provided that they had it. And if any one hath not her lieart thus
disposed, let her, with sorrowful sighs, cry to our Lord by day and
by night, and never give him peace until he, by his grace, have so
changed and formed her.
III. The remedy of wrath, I said, was patience, which hath three
degrees, high, and higher, and highest of all, and nearest the high
heaven. The degree is high if thou sufFerest patiently for thy own
guilt ; higher if thou art not guilty ; highest of all if thcu sufferest
for the good thou hast done. " Nay," saith some bewildered thing,
"if I were guilty of it, I would never complain." Art thou that
sayest so out of thy wits ? Wouldst thou rather be Judas's fellow
than the companion of Jesus Christ? Both were hanged; but
Judas for his guilt, and Jesus without guilt, was hanged on the cross
for his great goodness. Of which of the two wouldest thou be the
fellow sufferer ? Upon this subject much is already written above,
as how he that saith or doth thee wrong is thy file : ^ and is not that
iron accursed that becometh the blacker and the rougher the oftener
and the more it is filed ? Gold and silver are pui'ified from their
dross in the fire. If tliou gatherest dross therein, it is contrary to
nature. " Reprobate silver call ye them." ^ If the chalice could
speak, which was molten in the fire, and made to boil vehemently,
and then, with much beating and polishing, made into so very
beautiful a form for the service of God, would it curse the purifying-
fire and the hands of its artificer? The whole world is God's
smithy, in which he forgeth his elect. Wouldst thou that God had
no fire in his smithy, nor bellows, nor hammers ? Fire — that is,
shame and pain ; bellows — that is, they who speak evil of thee ;
thy hammers — that is, they wlio do thee harm. Think of this
example. Augustine saith, " Why doth the wicked man boast, if
my Father make of him a scourge ? " AVhen a da}' of redress
* Page 185. '■ Jeremiah, vi. 30.
286 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Hwon dei of rihte is iset, ne de^ he muchel sclieome }?e demare ]7et,
a yis half ]?e iset deie^ breke'S ]>& triws, °i awreke^ him of ]?e, orSer
of him seoluen ? And hwo is pet not wel J?et doniesdei is dei iset
uorte don alle men riht. Hold ]>e triws J^eo hwules. Hwat wouh
so me euer do's ]?e, 'pe rihtwise demare haue^ iset enne dei norte
loken * riht bitweonen ou. Ne do pn nout him scheome, so pet tu
uorhowie wreche of his dome % nime to j^in owune dome. Two
j^inges bee's pet God bane's etholden to him sulf — ]?et bee's, wurS-
schipe *? wreche, ase holi writ witne'S. Hwo so euer on him snlf
nimeS ouSer of ]7eos two, he robbe'S God f reaue'S. " Gloriam
meam alteri non dabo." Item : " Mihi uindictam ^ et ego retri-
buam." Deale. Ert tu so wro'S wiS mon o^er wi'S wummon }>et
Folio 77 b. tu wult, forte wreken pe, reauen God his strencSe ?
Accidies salue is gostlich gledschipe, *? froure of gledful hope,
bviruh redunge, 1; J>m'uh holi ]70uhte, o'Ser of monnes niu^e iseid.
Ofte, leoue sustren, je schulen vren lesse uorte reden more. Redunge
is god bone. Redunge teche^ hu *? hwat me sclial bidden :' and beoden
bijite'S hit efter. Amidde J^e redunge, hwon J^e heorte like^ wel,
]?eonne cume'S up a deuociun, J. tet is wur'S *^ monie bonen. Vor so
sei^ Seint lerome :f " Semper in manu tua sacra sit lectio r^ tenenti
tibi librum sompnus subripiat et cadentem faciem pagina sancta susci-
piat." Holi redunge beo euer i j^ine honden :' slep go uppe pe ase
]>u lokest ]7eron, f pe holie pagine ikepe |?i uallinde neb t'" and so pu
schalt reden J jeorneliche ■? longe. Euerich }>ing me mei, ]?auh,
ouerdon. Best is euer imete.
Ajeines jiscunge. Ich wolde Jjet o'Sre schuneden, ase -^e doS,
gederunge. To much felreolac kundleS hire ofte. Vreo iheorted
Te schulen beo. Anker, of oSer freolac, bane's ibeon o'Serhwules to
free of hire suluen.* Golnesse cume^ of jiuernesse "? of flesches
» to don. T. ^ -S'lV.
= the text has " J^uruh :" " wurS " is substituted as a better reading from T. and C.
HOW INDOLENCE IS TO BE CURED, COVETOUSNESS. 287
is fixed, clotli not he greatly affront the judge, who, before the
appointed day, breaketh the truce and avengeth himself on thee
or on himself ? And who does not know well that Doomsday is a
day appointed in which to do justice to all men ? Meanwhile, keep
the truce. Whatever wrong men do thee, the righteous Judge hath
appointed a day in which to see justice done between you. Do not
thou affront him by despising the vengeance of his judgment, and
taking vengeance according to thy own judgment. There are two
things which God hath reserved to himself^ — worship and vengeance,
as Holy Writ sheweth. Whosoever taketh to himself either of these
two, robbetli God and reaveth from him. " My glory will I not
give to another." ^ Also, " Vengeance is mine, and I will repay ."^
God knoweth ! Ai't thou so enraged against man or w^oman that, to
avenge thyself, thou wilt rob God of his might ?
I V . The remedy fur indolence is spiritual joy, and the consolation
of joy fill hope from reading and from holy meditation, or when spoken
by the mouth of man. Often, dear sisters, ye ought to pray less,
that ye may read more. Reading is good prayer. Reading
teacheth how, and for what, we ought to pray ; and prayer after-
wards obtaineth it. In reading, when the heart feels deliglrt, de-
votion ariseth, and that is worth many pra^-ers. St. Jerome saith,
" Semper in manu tua sacra sit lectio ; tenenti tibi librum somnus
subripiat, et cadentem faciem pagina sancta suscipiat." " Let holy
reading be alwa} s in thy hand. Sleep may fall upon thee as thou
lookest thereon, and the sacred page meet thy droopmg face ; " and
thus long and intently must thou read. Every thing, however, may
be overdone. Moderation is always best.
V . Against covetousness. I could wish that others avoided, as ye
do, gathering. Too nuicli liberality often breedeth it. Free
hearted ye ought to be. But an anchoress, from other's liberality,
hath sometuues been too free of herself. Lechery cometh of
gluttony and of carnal ease ; for, as St, Gregory saith, " Meat and
* Isaiah, xlii. 8. '' Romans, xii. 19,
288 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
else ^' vor ase Seint Gregorie sei^, " Mete *? driincli ouer rihte teme'??
]?reo teames :' lihte wordes, 1 lihte werkes, 'i lecheries lustes." Vre
Louerd beo i'Soncked, ]>et bane's iheled ou of jiuernesse, mine leoue
sustren i aub gobiesse ne bi'S neuer allunge clene acweint of flescbes
fondunge. Aub J>et understonde'S wel, ]?et Jreo degrez Leo's ]7er-
imie, as Seint Beornard witne'S. pe norme is cogitaciun :' ]>e o'Ser
is affectiun :' ]?e |?ridde is kunsence. Cogitaciuns, ]>et Leo's fleoinde
]?oubtes pet ne lesteS nout :' % ]7eos, ase Seint Beornard s,erS, ne
burteS nout ]7e soule \1 aub ]?aub beo bispete^ bire mid bire blake
spotle,^ so ]7et beo nis nout wur'Se |>et Jesu Crist, bire leoftnon, J^et
is al ueir, ne cluppe bire ne cusse er beo beo iwascben. Swucb
ful'Se, ase bit kume'S bbtbcbe, age^ awei bbtbcbe, mid uenies, mid
confiteor, % mid alle god deden. Affectiun is bwon jje ]70ubt ge'S
inward, % ])& debt kume^ up, 7 |7e lust waxe'S. peonne, ase was ]?e
spotle er upon J^e bwite bvide, J?er waxe'S wunde "? deopeS into );e
soule, efter |?et ]?e lust ge^, 1 te debt j^erinne, fur'Sre ? fur'Sre.
peonne is neod forto jeien, " Sana, Domine, animam meam :!"
Louerd bel me, uor icb am iwunded. " Ruben, primogenitus mens.
Folio 78. non crescas :" Ruben, ]7U read ]7eof, Jju blodi debt, ne waxe J?u
neuer ! Kunsence, ]7et is skiles jettunge bwon ]7e debt iSe luste is
igon so oueruorS ]:>et ter nis non wiSsigginge,'" jif ];er were eise uorto
fulfullen ]?e dede.*^ pis is bwon J^e beorte draweS lust into bire, ase
]7ing ]7et were amased, 1, foS ® on ase to winken % forte leten }>ene
ueond iwur'Sen, % lei's bire sulf aduneward, If bub^ bim ase be bit, %
jeieS creaunt, creaunt, ase swowinde. peonne be, kene j^et was er
erub,^ — ]?eonne leaped to J^et stod er ueorrento, % bit dea'Ses bite o
Godes deore spuse. I wis deaSes bite, vor bis teS Leo's attrie, ase
of ane wode dogge. Dauid, i'Se sauter, cleope^ bine dogge. " Erue
a framea Deus animam," ?c.
^ [i> is in hire ahne bodi, large towart lechur, J'urh hire gestninges.] C. Note.
'' speckes. T. speches. C. "fcedant maeulis," MS. Oxon.
■= )5 ter nere na wi'Saake. T. '' to \>e fole dede. T. to fulle l^e dede. C.
'^ feoles. T. ' kurre. T. cueard. C.
THE REMEDY FOR COVETOUSNESS. 289
drink more than enough bringetli forth a threefold progeny ; hght
words, light deeds, and wantonness. Our Lord be thanked, who
hath cured you of gluttony, my dear sisters ; but carnal desires are
never completely extinguished from among the temptations of the
flesh. But know this, that there are three degrees therein, as St.
Bernard testifieth. The first is cogitation ; the second is affection ;
the third is consent. Cogitations are flying thoughts that do not
last ; and these, according to St. Bernard, hurt not the soul ; but
yet, they spit upon her with their black spittle, sb that she is not
worthy to be embraced or kissed by Jesus Christ, her beloved, who
is altogether fair, before she is washen. Such impurity, as it cometh
lightly, goeth away lightly with the help of prayer, confession, and
all good works. Affection is when the thought goeth inward, and
fondness is excited, and the desire increaseth. Then, as was the
little spot at first upon the white hood, there groweth a wound, and
penetrateth deeply into the soul, according as the desire and the
fondness go in further and further. Then there is need to cry,
" Sana, Domine, animam meam ; " " Lord, heal me, for I am
wounded." " Keuben primogenitus meus non crescas ! "'' " Reuben
thou red thief; thou bloody desire ; mayest thou never increase ! "
Consent, that is, the willingness of the mind when the fondness of
the desire is gone so much too far that there is no refusing, if there
were a convenient opportunity to commit the action. This is when
the heart draweth desire into itself, as a bewildered thing, and begins,
as it were, to wink'' and to permit the fiend to do what he pleases,
and layeth herself down and inclineth to him as he bids, and crieth
" I yield, I yield," as if about to faint. Then he becometh bold who
was at first timid. Then he leapeth near, who was at first at a
distance, and bites the bite of death on God's dear spouse. I wis,
the bite of death, for his teeth are venomous as the teeth of a mad
dog. David, in the Psalms, calleth him dog, " Deliver my soul from
the sword, my darling from the power of the dog." "
" Genesis, xlix. 3, 4. •> Qu. to waver? Wancol A. S. wavering, irresolute,
'■ Psalm xxii. 20.
CAMD. SOC. 2 P
290 REGUL^E INCLUSARUM.
Uor yi, mi leoue suster, so sone so J^u euer underjitest ]7et tes
dogge of helle kumeS snakerinde mid his blodie vlien ^ of stinkinde
]70uhtes, ne lie ]?u nout stille, ne ne site nou'Ser uorte loken hwat he
wule don, ne hu ueor he wule gon :' ne ne seie ]?u nout slepinde,
" Ame dogge go herut r^ hwat wultu nu herinne?" pis tolled him
Foho 78 1^. touward J^e. Auh nim anon ]?ene rod stef, mid nemmunge i^ine
mu'Se, % mid ]?e merke i^ine hond, mid ]70uhte i'Sine heorte, "? hot
him ut hetterhche — j^e fule kur dogge — 7 H^ere to him lu^erhche
mid te hoUe rode steue. Eif him stronge bac duntes :' 'pet is to
siggen, rung up "? sture J^e :" hef up on heie eien *? honden touward
heouene : gred ^ efter sukurs. " Deus in adjutorium : Veni Creator :
Exurgat Deus, in nomine tuo : Domine, quid multipheati sunt : Ad te,
Domini, levavi: Levavi oculos meos." Alle ]?e sahnes ouer. Andjifjje
ne cume'S nout sone help, gred luddure mid hote heorte. " Ysquequo,
Domine, obliuisceris me, in finem?" And so, al ]?ene salm ouer.
Pater noster t' Credo :' Aue Maria :' mid halsine bonen o J^ine owune
ledene :f J: smit herdeliche '^ adun ]?ine cneon to j^er eor^e :' T; breid
up ]7ene rode stefj '^ sweng*^ him ajean a uour halue— j^ene helle
dogge. pet nis nout elles bute blesce ])e al abuten mid te eadie rode
tocne. Spit him amidde |?e bearde to hoker "? to schom,® j^et flikere'S
so mit ])e, % fake's mid dogge uawenunge, hwon he uor so liht wurS
— for ]>e licunge of o lust one hond hwule, cheapen ]?ine soule, Godes
deore spuse,^ ]>et he bouhte mid his blode, *? mid his deorwur^e
dea^e o^e deore rode. Euer biliold hire wur^ J^et he paide uor
hire :' IJ dem ]?erefter pris, 7 beo on hire ]>e deorre :' J ne sule ]?u
neuer so e^eliche, his fo J: ym ei^er, his deorewur'Se spuse, J^et cost-
nede him so deore. Vorte makien ]>e deofles hore of hire is reou^e
ouer reou'Se. To unwreste, mid alle, heo is pet mei, uorte hebben
Folio 79. up hire |?reo uingres ouercumen hire fo, *? ne lust uor slou^e. Hef
up, for'Si, mid treowe bileaue J. mid herdie, up ]7ine j^reo uingres, "?
" flehes. T. flegen. C. '' geie. T.
*■■ smerteliche. T. C. '' swench. T.
* schoarne. T. scarn. C. ' bugging. T. C. mercem. MS. Oxon.
TEMPTATION TO BE DRIVEX AWAY. 291
Wherefore, my dear sister, as soon as ever thou perceivest that
this clog of hell coraeth sneaking with his bloody fleas of corrupt
thoughts, lie thou not still, nor yet sit, to see what he will do, or
how far he will go ; and say not to him m a sleepy manner, " Friend
dog, go out hence ; what wouldest thou have here ?" This enticeth
him toward thee. But take up at once the staff of the cross, at the
same time pronouncing the sacred name with thy mouth, with the
sign in thy hand, and with thought in thy heart, command him
sternly to go out — the foul cur dog ; and beat him severely with the
staff of the holy rood. Give him hard back strokes ; that is to say,
rouse up and bestir thyself: lift up your eyes and hands toward
heaven, cry for succour, " Haste thee, O God, to deliver me." ^
" Come Holy Ghost." " Let God arise." ^ " Save me, O God, for thy
name's sake." ° " Lord, how are they increased that trouble me." ^
" To thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul." ^ "I have lifted up
my eyes." ^ All the Psalms through. And if help cometh not to
thee soon, cry louder with fervent heart, " How long wilt thou
forget me, O Lord, for ever ? " ^ And so on through the whole
Psalm : the Lord's Prayer, the Belief, the Salutation of the Virgin
Mary, with deprecatory prayers in thy own language ; and smite
your knees down smartly to the earth, and snatch up the rood staff,
and swinge him again on every side — the hell hound. That is
nothing else than bless thyself all around with the holy sign of the
cross. Spit, in contempt and scorn, upon his beard who thus
dangleth about thee, and flattereth thee with the fawning of a dog,
when, for so small a price — for the momentary gratification of a
desire, he tries to purchase thy soul — God's dear spouse, which he
bought with his blood, and with his precious death on the dear cross.
Look always at her price that he paid for her ; and by that value
her, and hold her the dearer ; and never sell thou so cheaply, either
to his enemy or thine, his beloved spouse that cost hhn so dear. To
'' Psalm iii.
Psalm Ixx.
'' Psalm Ixviii.
'^ Psalm liv.
Psalm XXV,
' Psalm cxxi.
» Psalm xiii,
292 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
inid te liolie rode steaue, pet him is lowest kuggel, leie on ]>g deouel
dogge. Nem ofte Jesu, '^ cleope his passiun to helpe, 1 halse him bi
his pinen, 1! bi his deorewurSe blode, *? bi his dea'Se o rode. Vhh
into his wunden :' creop in ham mid J^ine J^ouhte. pet beo^ al
opene.* Muchel luuede he us j^et lette makien swuche J^urles in
him uorte huden us inne. And mid his deorewurSe blode biblodege
l^ine heorte. "In petram: abscondere fossa humo." Go into ]>e
stone, he seiS, j^e prophete, and hud ]>e r8e doluene eor'Se :' pet is,
iSe wunden of ure Lourdes flesche J^et was ase idoluen mit te dulte ^
neiles, ase lie rSe sautere longe biuoren seide, "Foderunt manus
meas, et pedes meos :^" pet is, heo duluen mine vet J mine honden.
He ne seide nout ]7et heo ]?urleden mine vet 1! mine honden, auh
duluen. Vor efter ]?isse lettre,'' ase vre meistres siggeS, pe neiles
weren so dulte ]7et heo duluen his flesch, *? to breken pe bones, more
]7en ]7urleden, uorte pinen him sarre. He himsulf cleope'S j^e ton-
ward Jjeos wunden : " Veni columba in foraminibus petrse, in
cauernas macerie." Mi kulure, he serS, ure Louerd, kum and hud
pe i'Se |>urles of mine limen, and i'Se holes of mine side. Muchel
luuede he ]7eo kulure, ]7et he swuche holes ^ makede. Loke nu ]?et
tu ]7et he cleopeS kulure, habbe kulure kunde, J;et is wiSuten galle,
and kum to him baldeliche, and make pe scheld of his passiun, and
seie, mid Jeremie : " Dabis scutum cordis, laborem tuum :" J^et is,
];u schalt jiuen me, Louerd, heorte-scheld ajean pe ueonde r' ]7et
Folio 79 1. beoS ]?ine swincfule pinen. pet heo swincfule weren he scheauwede
hit so'Sliche ^ inouh pe he swette ase blodes swotes dropen j^et urnen
adun to ]?er eor'Se. Me schal holden scheld ine vihte, up a buuen
pe heaued, o'Ser ajean pe breoste, and nout drawen hit behinden pe.
And riht al so jif ]?u wult ]?et te holie rode-stef beo ]>i scheld, and
tet Godes stronge passiun falsie J^es deofles wepnen, ne drauh Jju hit
nout efter pe, auh hef hit on heih abuuen ]?in heorte heaued, i'Sine
' breoste eien. Hold hit up ajean J^e ueonde, and scheau hit him
'^ ne beoS ha al opeiie ? C. '' dulle. T. C.
" Literam. MS. Oxon. " Litera, nude, Latina lingua." Du Gauge.
'' hudles. T. C. '^ openlielie. T. witterliclie. C.
THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST A KEFUGE TO THE SOUL. 293
make of her the devil's paramour, is sorrow beyond all sorrow. Too
depraved, withal, is she, who might, by holding up her three fingers,
overcome her foe, and desires it not, through sloth. Hold up, there-
fore, with true and firm faith thy three fingers, and with the holy
rood-staff, which is the cudgel which he loathes most, lay on the
devil-dog. Name Jesus often, and invoke the aid of .his passion, and
implore him by his sufferings, and by his precious blood, and by his
death on the cross. Fly into his wounds ; creep into them with thy
thought. They are all open. He loved us much who permitted
such cavities to be made in him, that we might hide ourselves in
them. And, with his precious blood, ensanguine thine heart. " In-
gredere in petram, et abscondere in fossa humo ; " " Go into the
rock," saith the prophet, " and hide thee in the pit which is dug in
the earth ;" * that is, in the wounds of oiu' Lord's flesh, which was
as if dug into with the blunt nails, as he said long before in the
Psalter, " Foderunt raanus meas et pedes meos ; " ^ that is, they dug
my feet and my hands. He did not say, they pierced my feet
and my hands, but dug. For, according to this Latin, as our
teachers say, the nails were so blunt that they digged his flesh, and
broke the bones rather than pierced them, to torment him the sorer.
He himself calleth thee toward those wounds, " Veni columba in
foraminibus petrge, in cavernas macerise : " '^ " My dove," saith our
Lord, " come and hide thyself in the cavities of my limbs, and in the
holes of my side." Great was his affection for the dove for which he
made such hiding places. See now that thou, whom he calleth
dove, have the nature of a dove, which is without gall, and come to
him boldly, and make his sufferings thy shield, and say with
Jeremiah, " Dabis scutum cordis laborem tuum ; " ^ that is, " Thou
shalt give me, O Lord, a heart-shield against the enemy ; which is
thy laborious sufferings." That they were laborious, he shewed
manifestly enough, when he sweated, as it were drops, the sweat of
* Isaiah, ii. 10. *" Psalm xxii. 16. "^ Canticles, li. 11.
'' Lament, iii. 65. Vulgate translation.
294 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
witterliche. pe sih'Se one J^erof bringe'S him o fliihte :^ vor bo'Se
liim agrise^ ]>er ajean *? scheome'S ut of his witte, efter j^e ilke time
|7et ure Louerd J^er mide brouhte so to grunde his kointe kuluert-
schipe *? his prude strencSe. Eif ])u, j^uruh J^ine jemeleaste, werest
te erest wochche,'^ ■? jiuest ]7e ueonde injoiig to uor'S i'Se urum^e, so
}7et tu ne meiht recoilen him ajanward uor j^ine muchele unstreiic^e,
auh ert ibrouht so uor^ ouer ];et tu ne meiht J^is scheld holden o
J^ine heorte, ne wrenchen pe ]?erunder frommard |>e deofles earewen,
nim ]7e uor'S alast Seinte Beneites salue, ]7auh ne }?erf hit nout beon
so ouerstrong ase his was :! ]>et of 'pe walewing, rug 1! side J wombe
orn al o grure blode : auh hure 1; hure ^ jif jn sulf, hwon pe [_l. he]
strongest stont, one smerte discephne, 7 drauh, ase he dude, j^et
swete hkunge into smeortunge. Ant jif ]7U ]7us dest nout, auh
slepinde werest pe, he wule gon to uor^ upon pe er p\i lest wene,
ant bringen J^e of fule Jjouhte into deht of ful sunne:^'' and so he
Folio 80. bringe"S pe al ouer into skiles jettunge, Jjet is dea'Sliclie sunne, wi'S-
uten pe dede ^' 7 so is ek J^e delit of pe stincginde lust wi'Suten
graunt of J^e werke, so long hit mei ilesten, hwon J^e skile ne uihte"S
no lengre ]7er tojeines. " Nunquam enim judicanda est delectatio
esse morosa dum ratio reluctatur 7 negat ascensum."'^ Vor ];i,
leoue suster, ase ure Louerd lere^ pe, to tred J^e neddre heaiied, J^et
is, pe beginnunge of his f<mdunge : " Beatus qui tenebit 7 allidet
parvulos sues ad petram." Eadi is he, sei^ Dauid, |>et wiShalt
hire ^ on erest, and to breke'S to pe stone pe ereste sturunges hwon
J7et fleschs arise^ ]?eo hwule ]7et heo bee's junge. Vre Louerd is
icleoped ston uor his treounesse. And ek in Canticis : " Capite
nobis uulpes paruulas quse destruunt vineas." Nime'S 7 keccheS us,
leofmon, anon pe junge uoxes. pet beo"b pe erest prokunges J^et
sturie'S ^ pe winjeardes, he sei^S, ure Louerd, j^et beo^ ure soulen,
iinvvreastliche. T. waclichlidie. C.
ah jje hvve'Sere. T. ach Ian luire. C. Sallem. MS. Oxoii.
lust. T. C. •" Sic.
him. T. ' struii'u. T, sUueii. C.
THE CllOSS A SHIELD. ST, BENEDICT'S REMEDY. 295
blood, tliat rail down to the earth. A shield should be held up, in
battle, above the head or against the bi'east, and not dragged behind
thee ; and, in like manner, if thou wish that the holy rood-staff
should be thy shield, and that the Lord's painful sufferings should
foil the devil's weapons, drag it not after thee, but lift it up on high
above the head of thy heart, in the eyes of thy breast. Hold it up
against the enemy, and shew it him distinctly. The mere sight of
it putteth him to flight ; for it both terrifieth him and shameth him
to distraction, since the time when our Lord therewith baffled his
crafty wiles, and his proud strength. If thou, through thy negli-
gence, defendest thyself at first feebly, and givest the enemy entrance
too far in the beginning, so that thou mayest not be able to drive him
back again because of thy great weakness, but art so far overcome
that thou canst not hold this shield upon thy heart, nor shelter
thyself under it from the devil's arrows, take, at last, St. Benedict's
remedy, though it need not be excessively strong as his was, who,
from the wallowing, on back, and side, and belly, ran all over with
gory blood : * but, at least, when the temptation is strongest, give
thyself a smart flagellation, and draw, as he did, the sweet inclina-
tion into smarting. If thou dost not so, but defendest thyself in a
sleepy manner, he will advance upon thee too far, before thou art in
the least aware, and bring thee from foul thoughts to the desire of
foul sin ; and so he bringcth thee completely to give thy mind's
consent, which is mortal sin, without the deed ; and so is likewise
the pleasiire of the stinging desire, without consenting to its effect,
so long as it may last, when the reason no longer contendeth against
it. For the delight in it must never be judged to be wilful though it
continue, as long as the reason strives against it, and refuses its
consent. Wherefore, dear sisters, as our Lord taught thee, trample
upon the serpent's head, that is, the beginning of his temptation,
" Beatus qui tenebit et allidet parvulos suos ad petram." ^ " Blessed
is she," saith David, " who restraineth herself at first, and breaketh
^ See Acta Sanctorum, March 21. ^ Psalm cxxxvii. 9.
296
REGUL^ INCLUSAKUai.
'pet mot miiche tilunge to uorte bereii windberien.** pe deouel is
beorekunnes, and bane's asse kunde: vor be is bibinden strong, and
feble iSe beaue'S, ]?et is, i'Se urum'Se, and so is beore 1: asse. Ne jif
bim neuer injong :f aub tep bim o^e scbulle, uor be is erub ase
beore j^eron :' and bie him so j^eoneward, t ascur bim so scbeome-
Hcbe, so sone so pu undei'jitest bim, pet be bold bim iscbend, and
pet bim agrise wi'5 pe stude j^et tu wunest inne 'J vor be is J^inge
prudest, and bim is scbeome lo"Sest.
Al so, leoue suster, so sone so |7U euer ivelest ]?et ]nn beorte mid
luue ualle tonward eni monne,^ ouermete, anonrihtes beo iwar of j^e
neddre atter, and to-tred bis beaned. pe cwene seide ful so"S ]?et
Folio 80 ft. mid one strea broubte o brune alle bire buses :^*^ J^et mucbel kume'S
of luteL And nim nu jeme bu bit fare^. pe sparke J>et wint up
ne bringe^ nout anonribt J^et bus al o furet''* aub liS 1; keccbe'S
more fur, *? fostre'S bit for'S, *? waxe^ from lesse to more vort ^ al ]7et
bus blasie uor'S er me lest wene. And pe deouel blowe'S to from
]7et bit erest kundle"S t' and mucbel e'S ^ his beli bles euer ase hit
waxe'S. Understond J>is bi j^i suluen. O sibS }?et tu isibst, o^er
on elpi word ]?et tu mis-iberest, jif hit out ^^ sture^S pe, cwench hit
mid teares of watere, *? mid lesu Cristes blode, ];eo bwule ]?et bit nis
buten a sperke, er ])en bit waxe J tende pe so ]>et tu bit ne muwe
acwenchen. Vor so bit biualle'S ofte :/ 1; hit is riht Godes dom, ]?et
hwo ne de'S hwon he mei, he ne schal nout hwon be wolde.
» win beries. T.
•^ wanes. T. eastres. C.
<■ a-Sat. T. o'Set. C.
8 ewt. T. eawet. C.
*= ani mon a wiht. T. — wicht, C.
d o leie. T. C.
' muceles. T. niudle'S. C.
SIN, AT FIRST A SPARK, KINDLETH A GREAT FIRE. 297
against the stone the first emotions when the flesh ariseth, while she
is young. Our Lord is called a stone because of his faithfulness. And
also in the Canticles, " Take us the little foxes that spoil the vines ; "^
these are the first enticements which are felt, which destroy the
vineyards, saith our Lord, which are our souls, that need much
tilling in order to bear grapes. The devil is of the nature of a bear
and of an ass ; for he is strong behind and feeble in the head, that is,
in the beginning, and so is the bear and the ass. Never give him
entrance, but tap him on the scull, for he is weak as a bear in that
part ; and thus hasten him away and hurry him away so shamefully,
as soon as thou perceivest him, that he may hold himself as disgraced,
and dread the place wherein thou dwellest ; for he is the proudest
creature, and shame is most disagreeable to him.
Thus, dear sister, as soon as ever thou feelest thy heart incline
with too much love toward any man, beware immediately of the
venom of the serpent, and trample upon his head. The old woman
spoke very truly, when with a single straw all her houses caught
fire, that "much cometh of little." And now observe how it
happeneth : the spark that goeth up, doth not immediately set the
house all on fire, but lieth and catcheth moi^e fire, and continueth
feeding it, and it groweth from less to more until the whole house
blaze forth before we are in the least aware. And the devil bloweth
upon it from the time that it first kindleth, and always bloweth a
greater blast with his bellows as it increaseth. Understand this
from thyself. If any sight that thou seest, or a single word that
thou hearest amiss, at all move thee, quench it with the water of
tears, and with Jesus Christ's blood, while it is only a spark, before
it increase and inflame thee so that thou mayest never be able to
quench it ; for so it often happens, and it is the just decree of God,
that " he who doth not when he may, shall not when he would."
» Canticles, ii. 15.
CAMD. SOC. 2 Q
298 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Monie kunnes fondunge bee's ine j^isse uorme ^ dole, and misliche
urouren If moniuolde saluen. Vre Louerd jiue ou grace j^et heo
moten ou helpen. Of alle j^eo o^re jjeonne, of sclirift ]>e biheuest of
hire, sclial beon ]?e vifte dole, ase icli bihet jjeruppe. And nime'S
jeme liu euericli dole ualleS into o^er, ase ich er seide. Her
biginne'S ]>e uifte dole.
Of Schrifte.
Of two l^inges nime^ ^eme, of sclirifte, iSe beginnunge. pet
forme ]?ing, of bwuche mihte hit beo. pet o'Ser ]?ing, hwuch hit
schulle beon. pis beo^ nu ase two limes :" and ei'Ser is to-dealed :'
]?e uorme o six stucchenes :' pe o'Ser o sixtene. Nu }>is is of J?e
uorme.
Schrift haue^S monie mihtes. Auh nullich of alle siggen, buten
sixe : ]?reo ajean 'pe deouel, 1! J^reo onont us suluen. Schrift schent
bene deouel *? hacke'S of his heaued, 1: to-dreaue'S his ferde. Schrift
wasche^ us of alle ure fulSen, If jet ^ us alle ure luren, If make's us
FoUoSl. Godes children. And ei^er bane's his j^reo. Preoue we nu alle.
pe erest ]>veo beo^ alle ischeawed ine Judites deden. Judit, "pet is
schrift, ase was jeare iseid, slouh Oloferne, pet is, pe ueond of helle.
Turn beruppe ase we speken of fuwelene cunde, J>et bee's iefned to
ancre. Heo hackede of his heaued, ? seo^Sen com and scheawede
hit to pe buruh preostes. peonne is pe ueond ischend hwonne me
scheaue'S ine schrifte alle his cweadschipes. " Compuncte consci-
entie :' unde in cubiculo ejus abscidit caput ejus." His heaued is
ihacked of, "? he is isleien o'Se monne so sone se he euer is riht sori
nor his sunnen, 7 haue^ schrift on heorte. Auh he is nout pe jet
ischend pe hwule his heaued is ihud, ase dude on erest ludit, er hit
beo ischeawed :' ]?et is, er ]?en pe mu'S ine schrifte do ut pe heaued
" feor'Se. T. C. " Seldes. T.
THE NATURE AND EFFICACY OF CONFESSION. 299
1 here are many kinds of temptation in tliis fourth part, and
various comforts and manifold remedies. May our Lord give you
grace that they may help you ! The fifth part then shall be of
confession, the most necessary of them all, as I promised above.
And observe how every part falleth into another, as I said before.
Here beginneth the fifth part.
PART v.— Of Confession.
C/oncerning confession. To begin, take notice of two things :
first, of what efficacy it is ; secondly, of what kind it should be.
These are two branches ; and each of them is divided : the former
into six parts ; the other into sixteen. Now this is concerning the
former.
Confession hath many powers. I will not, however, speak of
them all ; but only of six : three against the devil, and three con-
cerning ourselves. Confession confoundeth the devil, and hacketh
off his head, and disperseth his forces. Confession washeth us from
all our filthiness, and giveth us back all our losses, and maketh us
children of God. And each of these divisions hath its own three.
Let us now prove all these. The first three are all exemplified in
the history of Judith. L Judith, that is, confession, as was said
before, slew Holofernes, that is, the fiend of hell. Turn back to the
place where we spoke of the nature of fowls, which are compared to
anchoresses.* She hacked off his head, and then came and shewed
it to the priests of the city. Then is the fiend confounded when all
his iniquities are disclosed in confession, " Compunctte conscientiae ;
unde in cubiculo ejus abscidit caput ejus." His head is cut off, and
he is slain in the man as soon as ever he is truly sorry for his sins,
and hath set his heart on confessing them. 2. But he is not yet
confounded while his head is concealed, as Judith did at first, nor
» Page 131.
300 liEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
sunne. And nout one J^e sunne, auh al J7e beginnunge ]7erof, and
al Ipe uorrideles ]?et brouhten in Jje sunne, J^et is ]>e deofles heaued
];et me schal to-dreden anon, ase ich er seide. " Vna mulier Ebrea
fecit confnsionem in domo Regis Nabugodonosor :'" J^eonne vlih his
ferde anon ase dude Judit Olofernes. And his wijeles '% his
wrenches ]?et he us mide asailed, do ham alle o vluhte :' and |?e
buruh is ared J^et heo heueden biset :' J^et is to siggen, ]>e sunfule is
dehured. ludas Makabeus — hwo stod ajean him ? Al so hit tone's
in Judicum ]>et tet folc ]>eo hit askede, efter Josues dea'S, hwo
schulde beon hore due, "? leaden ham in 'pere uerde ? Vre Louerd
onswerede 1 seide, ludas schal gon biuoren ou : I chulle ower foes
lond bitechen in his honden. LokeS nu ful jeorne, hwat tis beo to
Folio 81 J, siggen. losue spele'S hele, ? ludas spele'S schrift, ase ludit.
peonne is Josue dead hwon soule hele is forloren vor * eni deadlich
sunne. pe sunfule is ]?e unwihtes lond, J?et is ure deadlich fo, and
tis lond ure Louerd hat ^ uorto bitechen in Judases honden. Uor
hwon ]7et he go biuoren, schrift, lo lui, is gunfaneur, "? bere'Sher ]>e
banere biuoren alle Godes ferde, ]?et beo'S gode ]?eawes. Schrift
reaueS ]?e ueonde his lond, J^et is, J^e sunfule mon, and al to-dreaue^
Canaan, ]?e ueondes ferde of helle. ludas hit dude licomliche t and
schrift, ]7et he bitocne'S, d&S ]?et ilke gostliche. pis beoti nu ]?reo
|7inges ]?et schrift de^ o J^e deouel. pe o^er ]?reo ]?inges ];et hit de^
on us suluen beoS ]?eos her efter.
Schrift wascheS us of alle ure ful^en : uor so hit is iwriten :
"Omnia confessione lavantur." Glosa super: " Confitebimur tibi
Deus :f confitebimur," ?c. And tet was bitocned ]?et ludit weoscli
hire, 15 despoilede hire of hire widewe schrude, j^et was merke of
seoruwe t' and seoruwe nis bute of sunne one. " Lauit corpus suum,
« \vi6'. T. J>uich. C. *■ bihet. T.
EFJblCA(;Y OF CONFESSION AGAINST THE DEVIL. 301
until it is shewn ; that is, until the mouth in confession put forth the
capital sin. And not only the sin, but the whole beginning thereof,
and the previous circumstances which brought in the sin, which is
the devil's head, which we ought immediately to trample upon, as I
said before. " One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the
house of Kmg Nebuchodonosor ; " ^ then his army immediately flies,
as Judith made that of Holofernes, and his wiles and fraudulent
tricks, w^herewith he assailed us, all take to flight ; and the city
which they had besieged is delivered ; that is to say, the sinner is
delivered. Judas jMaccabeus — who stood against him ? In like
manner, we are told in the Book of Judges, that, after the death of
Joshua, when the people asked, " Who should be their leader, and
go before them in the army ? " Our Lord answered and said,
*' Judah shall go before you : I will deliver the land of your enemies
into his hands." Consider now attentively, what this meaneth.
Joshua meaneth health, and Judah confession, the same as Judith.
Then is Joshua dead when the health of the soul is lost through any
deadly sin. The sinner is the enemy's land, who is our deadly foe,
and this land our Lord promises to deliver into Judah's hands.*"
For when he goeth before, behold now, confession is the standard
bearer, and beareth here the banner before all God's army, which is
good morals. 3. Confession reaveth from the fiend his land, which is
the sinful man, and completely defeateth Canaan, the army of the
fiend of hell. Judah did it bodily ; and confession, which he
betokeneth, doth the same spiritually. Now these are the tlu"ee
things that confession doth against the devil. The other three
things which it doth to ourselves are those which follow.
1. Confession washeth us from all our defilements: for thus it is
written, "Omnia confessione lavantur;" as a comment upon this :
" We will confess to thee, O God, we will confess," &c. and this
was figuratively shewn when Judith washed herself, and stripped off"
the garments of her widowhood, which were a token of sorrow ; and
* Judith, xiv. 18. *" Judges, i, 2.
302 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
*? exuit se uestimentis uiduitatis." Schrift jelt eft al pet god ]>et we
hefden uorloren jjuruli heaued sunne :! 7 bringe^ al ajean, ? jelt al
togederes. loel : " Reddam uobis annos quos comedit locusta,
brucus, rubigo et erugo." pis was bitocned j^uruli j^et ludit
schrudde hire mid helidawene weadeii and makede hire ueir ^ wi^-
"uten, ase schrift de'S us wi'Sinnen, mid alle ]>e ueire urnemenz jjet
bitocne'S blisse. And ure Louerd sei'S, ];uruh Zacharie : " Erunt
sicut fuerunt antequam proiceram eos :'" ]>et is, schrift schal makien
]>ene mon al swuch ase he was biuoren |;et he sunege :' ase clene If
Folio 82, ase ueir 1! ase riche of alle god ]?et limpe'S to ]fe soule. pet j^ridde
l^ing ]7et schrift de'S to us suluen is ]7e frut of ])is o'Ser two, *? ende'S
ham bo'Se — ]}et is, make's us Godes children, pis is bitocned j^erbi
]?et Judas, ine Genesi, biwon of Jacob, Benjamin. Benjamin sei^S
ase muche ase Sune of riht half. ludas, ]>et is, schrift :/ al so ase
ludit :' for bo'Se heo spele'S on an Ebreische ledene. pis gostliche
ludas bijet of lacob his feder, J7et is, ure Louerd, to beon his riht
hondes sune, 1 bruken buten ende ]>e eritage of heouene. Nu we
habbe'S iseid of hwuche mihte schrift is, J hwuche efficaces hit
haue'S, *? inemned sixe. Loke we nu jeorneliche hwuch schrift
schule beon ]>et bereS swuch strencSe :' "% for to scheawen hit bet
dele we nu j^is lim o sixtene stucchenes.
Schrift schal beon wreiful, bitter, mid seoruwe, ihol, naked, ofte
imaked, hiliful, edmod, scheomeful, dredful, 1 hopeful, wis, soS 1
willes "^ owune % studeuest :! biSouht biuoren longe. Her beo^ nu,
ase ]?auh hit were, sixtene stucchenes J^et beoS iueied to schrifte r^
and we schulen siggen of euerichon sum word sunderliche areavve.
* fairhede hire. T. [graiSedeJ line. C.
GOOD EFFECTS OF CONFESSION TO THE PENITENT. 303
there is no sorrow but from sin only, " Lavit corpus suum, et exuit
se vestiinentis viduitatis."* 2. Confession gives us back all the good
that we had lost through mortal sin : it bringeth it all again, and
completely restoreth it. Joel saith, '^ I will restore to you the
years that the locust, the canker-worm, and the mildew, and the
palmer- worm have eaten." ^ This was figuratively shewn in that
Judith clothed herself with holiday garments, and made herself
fair without, as confession maketh us within, with all the goodly
ornaments which are tokens of joy. And our Lord saith in Zechariah,
" They shall be as they were before I had cast them off ; " "^ that is,
confession shall make the man such as he was before he sinned ; as
clean, and as fair, and as rich m all the good that appertaineth to
the soul. 3. The third thing which confession doth to oui'selves is
the fruit of the other two, and which completes them both, that is,
maketh us children of God. This is represented in the Book of
Genesis, when Judah obtained the consent of Jacob to carry
Benjamin with him into Egypt. "^ Benjamm, signifieth Son of the
right hand. Judah, that is, confession ; in like manner as Judith ;
for both have the same meaning in the Hebrew tongue. This
spiritual Judah obtained of Jacob his father, that is, our Lord, to be
the son of his right hand, and to enjoy, without end, the inheritance
of heaven. We have now said how great is the power of confession,
and what effects it hath, and we have mentioned six. Let us now
consider attentively what sort of confession that must be which ])ro-
duceth such good effects ; and to shew it the better, divide we now
this part into sixteen particulars.
Confession shall be accusatory, bitter and sorrowful, full,
candid, frequent, speedy, humble, with shame, anxious, hopeful,
prudent, true, voluntary, spontaneous, steadfast, and premeditated.
These now are, as it were, sixteen particulars, which belong to con-
fession ; and we shall say a word of each of them separately in order.
"■ Judith, X. 3. '' Joel, ii. 25.
' Genesis, xliii. 13. '^ Zechariah, x. 6.
304 REGUL^ INCLU8ARUM.
Schrift schal beon wreiful. Mori schal wreien him suhien ine
schrifte, % nout werien * him ne siggen, Ich hit dude jjuruh o^re 'J
Ich was ined ^ ]7erto r^ ]>e ueond hit makede me to don. pus Eue
and Adam wereden ham. Adam J7uruh Eue ^ and Eue ]7uruh ]7e
neddre. pe ueond ne mei neden nenne mon to don sunne, J^auh he
eggi J>erto. Auh ful wel he is ipaied '^ hwon eni sei'S ]?et he him
makede uorto sunegen, ase ];auh he heuede strencSe, ]?et haue'S
Folio 82 h. ^lone mid alle, buten jjuruh us suluen. Auh me ouh forto siggen :^
Min owune unwrestschipe hit dude :! and willes 1: woldes Ich beih
to ]>Q deofle. Eif ]?u witest eni ]?ing J^ine sunne bute ]?i suluen, ]?u
ne schriuest ]?e nout '' and jif ]?u seist ]?et ]?in unstrenc^e ne muhte
nout elles, ]7U wrenchest ]?ine sunne o God, ];et makede ]?e swuch
J?et tu, bi l^ine tale, wiSstonden ne muhtes. Wreie we us suluen :!
vor lo ! hwat sol's Seinte Powel ? " Si nos ipsos dijudicaremus, non
utique judicaremur :'" ]?et is, jif we wrei'S wel her, "1 denied her us
suluen, we schulen beon cwite of wreiunge ette muchele dome, per
ase Seint Aunselme &QY& ]?eos ilke dredfule wordes, " Hinc erunt
accusantia peccata x' inde, terrens justicia :! subtus, patens horridum
chaos inferni :! desuper, iratus Judex r' intus, urens conscientia :!
foris, ardens mundus. Uix Justus saluabitur. Peccator sic depre-
hensus, in quam partem se premet?" Ifc. O J?e one halue, a domes-
dei schulen ure swarte sunnen bicleopen us stroncliche of ure soule
mur'Sre ^ and on o^er half stont rihtwisnesse, J^et no reou^e nis
mide, dredful '? grureful uorto biholden. Abuuen us, j^e eorre
Demare :^ vor ase softe as he is her, ase herd he bi'S ]7er :' and ase
mild ase he is nu her, ase sturne he bi^ J»er — lomb her 1, liun ber,
ase |7e prophete witne^ ^ "Leo rugiet i' quis non timebit?" pe Hun
schal \qv greden, he sei^, hwo is ]?et ne schal beon ofered ? Her we
cleopie'b him lomb ase ofte ase we singed, " Agnus Dei qui tollis
peccata mundi." Nu, ase Ich seide, we schulen iseon buuen us ]?en
ilke eorre Demare, ]?et is, ec witnesse, 1 wot alle ure gultes.
Bineo'Sen us, jeoniinde wide ]7e wide preote of helle :' wi^innen us
» escusen. T. ^ i-Srat. T. <^ he letes of. T.
SIN NOT TO BE PALLIATED OR EXCUSED. 305
1. Confession shall be accusatory. In confession a man ought to
accuse himself, and not defend himself and say, " I did it through
the fault of others : I was forced to do it : the devil compelled me to do
it." Thus did Eve and Adam defend themselves. Adam through Eve,
and Eve through the serpent. The devil cannot compel any man to
commit sin, although he instigates him thereto. But he is very well
pleased when any one saith that he made him to sin, as though he had
power, who really hath none, except through ourselves. But we
ought to say, " My own wickedness did it ; and willingly and wil-
fully I yielded to the devil." If thou blamest any thing but thyself
for thy sin, thou dost not confess thyself; and if thou sayest that
thy weakness was unable to do otherwise, thou throwest the blame
of thy sin upon God, who made thee such that, by thine own
account, thou hadst not power to resist. Let us accuse ourselves :
for lo ! what saith St. Paul ? " Si nos ipsos dijudicaremus, non
utique judicaremur ; ^' ^ that is, "if we accuse and judge ourselves
well here, we shall be freed from accusing at the great judgment."
Concerning this St. Anselm saith these terrible words, " On this side
will stand accusing sins ; on the other, the dreadful judgment seat ;
above, the angry Judge ; beneath, the yawning horrid pit of hell ;
within, a gnawing conscience ; without, a burning Avorld. Scarcely
shall the righteous be saved. Where shall the sinner, thus detected,
hide himself?" On Doomsday our black sins on the one side
shall sternly accuse us of our soul-nmrder ; on the other side stands
Justice, with whom there is no pity, dreadful and terrible to behold ;
above us the angry Judge, for as soft as he is here so hard he is
there ; and as mild as he is now here so stern he is there ; a lamb
here and a lion there, as the Prophet testifieth, " Leo rugiet ; quis
non timebit ? " "^ " The lion shall roar," saith he, " who is he that
shall not be afraid." '^ Here we call him Lamb as oft as we sing,
" Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world." Now, as
I said, we shall see above us the same angry Judge, who is also the
» 1 Corinth, xi. 31. i> Amos, iii. 8. ' St. John, i. 29,
CAMD. SOC. 2 II
306 REGUL^ INCLITSARUM.
suluen, ure owune conscience, ]?et is, ure inwit, uorkuliinde * hire
Folio 83. suluen mid J^e fure of sunne ^ wi^uten us, al ]7ene world leitende of
swarte leite up into weolcne. pe sorie sunfule J»us biset, hwu schal
him J^eonne stonden? To hwuche of ]?eos foure mei he him
bivvenden ? Nis ]>ev ]7eonne bute ]>et herde word,^ ]>et grisliche word
t grureful ouer alle, " Ite maledicti in ignem eternum," 1c. GO'S
je awariede ut of mine eihsih^e into ])Q eche fure ]?et was igrei^ed
to J7e ueonde and to his engles. Ee uorbuvven "^ minne dom J7et ich
demde mon to, ]7et was iset forto libben ine swincke 7 in seoruwe on
eor'Se i/ and je schulen nu, uor'Si, habben ]?es deofles dom, 1: bernen
mid him rSe eche fui'e of helle. Mid tisse schulen ]7e uorlorene
worpen a swuch jeor ^ ]?et heouene 1 eor^e muwen beoSe grisliche
agrisen. Vor'Si Seint Austin lere'S ® us leofliche, " Ascendat homo
tribunal mentis sue, si illud cogitat quod oportet eum exiberi ante
tribunal Christi. Adsit accusatrix cogitatio r' testis conscientia :! car-
nifex timor:'" )?et is, penc, mon, of domesdeie, 7 deme her him
suluen ]?us, o J>isse wise : let skile sitten ase demare upon \e dom
stol ^ kume J^er efter uor'S his J^ouht :! ]70uhtes munegunge wreie
him, ? bicleope him of misliche sunnen. O, belami, J^is ]7U dudest ]?er,
7 ]?is ]?er, 1 tis ]>er, J. o J^isse wise. His inwit beo iknowen ];erof, %
here him witnesse :! " So'S hit is, soS hit is r^ ]?is, 1 muchele more."
Kume uor^ ]?er efter ferlac, jmruh ]7e demai'es heste, ];et hetterliche
hat, "Nim "? bind him heteueste, uor he is dea^es wur^e:^ and bind
him so euerich lim \e he bane's niide isuneged, ];et he ne muwe mid
ham sune^Tcn nan more." Fearlac haue^ ibunden him hwon he ne
der, uor fearlac, sturien him touward sunne. Eet nis nout \q
FoUo 83 b. demare, ]7et is, skil, ipaied ]?au he beo ibunden 7 holde him wi'Suten
sunne, bute jif he abugge j^e sunne \et he wrouhte :! and cleope'S
for'S pine *? seoruwe, *? hat \Qi seoruwe ]7reosche him wi^inne \e
heorte mid sore bireousunge :! so ]?et him suwie 1 pinie j^et flesch
forswiSande. T. for cwe^inde. C. for-cwellende !-•
heren l^at harde word, \> waword. T. C ■' forhoheden. T.
gur. T. jei. C. « reade'5. C.
THE LAST JUDGMENT. 307
witness, and knows all our guilt ; beneath us, yawning wide, the
wide throat of hell ; within ourselves our own conscience, that is,
our mind, reproaching itself with the fire of remorse for sin ; with-
out us, all the world blazing in black flame up to the welkin. The
unhappy sinner being thus beset, how shall it then stand with him ?
To which of these four can he turn ? There is nothing then but
that severe sentence — that awful, and above all terrible sentence,
" Ite maledicti in ignem eternum," &c.'* *' Go, ye accursed, out of
my eye-sight, into the eternal fire that was prepared for the devil
and his angels. Ye disobeyed my statutes which I ordained for
man, who was appointed to live in toil and in sorrow on earth ; and
ye shall now, therefore, have the devil's doom, and burn with him
in the everlasting fire of hell." Then shall the lost utter such waiHng
that both heaven and earth may fearfully shudder. Wherefore St.
Austin affectionately teacheth us, " Ascendat homo tribunal mentis
suae, si illud cogitat quod oportet eum exhiberi ante tribunal Christi.
Adsit accusatrix cogitatio, testis conscientia, carnifex timor;'"^ that
is, Let man think of Doomsday, and judge himself here, in this
wise : let reason sit as judge upon the judgment seat ; let his
thought then come forth ; let his thoughts bring to his remembrance,
accuse him, and charge him with divers sins, " O, good friend, thou
didst this, and this, and this, in such a place, and in this manner."
Let his conscience acknowledge it, and bear him witness ; " true it is,
true it is, this and much more." After this, let Fear come forth, by
the judge's command, who sternly orders, " Take him and bind him
fast, for he is worthy of death ; and bind him so in every limb with
which he hath sinned that he may sin with them no more." Fear
hath bound him, when he dare not, for fear, make any movement
toward sin. Yet is not the judge, that is, reason, satisfied, though
he is bound and keeps himself from sin, unless he pay the penalty
for the sin he has done ; and he calleth forth pain and sorrow, and
commands sorrow to scourge him within the heart with sore re-
» Math. XXV. 41. *> Glossa in 1 Corintli. xi.
308 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
wi"Suten mid festen, 1 mid o^er flescliliche sores. Hwo se o ]>isse
wise, biuoren ]>e muchele dome, deme'S her him suluen, eadi is he If
iseli. Vor, ase ]>e prophete sei'S, "Non iudicabit Deus bis in id
ipsmn." " Niile nout ure Louerd," he sei'S, ]?e propliete, " ])et o man
beo uor one j^inge twien idemed." Hit nis nout ine Godes kurt ase
hit is i'Se schire, 'per ase ]fe |?et nicke'S wel mei beon iboruwen :' and
|?e fule ]7et is icnowen [is idemed ?].* Biuore God is o'Serweis. " Si
tu accusas, Deus excusat :f et uice uersa." Eif ]7U wreiest ]fe wel
her, God wule unwreien J^e ]>er, and skeren mid alle, et te neruwe
dome r^ uor hwon J^et tu deme ]?e, ase ich iteiht habbe.
Schrift schal beon bitter, ajean ]>et te sunne |>uhte sume chere
swete. Judit ]?et spele^ schrift, ase ich ofte habbe iseid, was
Merarihtes doubter :' "? Judas, j^et is ec schrift, wiuede o Thamar.
Merariht % Thamar bo'Se heo speHe'S bitternesse o Ebreu. Nime^
nu jeorne ^eme of ]>e bitocnunge. Ich hit sigge scheortHche :!
bitter, sor, 7 schrift. pet on mot kumen of ]7et o'Ser, ase ludit dude
of Merariht, and bo^e heo moten beon iueied somed, ase Judit *?
Thamar [weren] :' uor nou^er wi'Suten o^er nis nout wur'S, o'Ser luteh
Fares ? Zaram ne temcS heo neuer. Uour ]?inges, jif me [l. mon]
J)enche^ J^et heaued sunne dude him, muwen makien him to
Folio 84. seoruwen, '? bittren his heorte. Lo ! j^is is 'pe uorme. Eif a mon
heuede uorloren, in one time of pe deie, his fader and his moder, his
bre'Sren and his sustren, and al his kun eke, and alle his freond pet
he euer hefde weren istoruen uerliche in one deie, nolde he ouer alle
men seoruhful beon % sori, alse he eaSe mulite? God hit wot, he
mei beon vniliche ^ seoruhfulure pet haueS, mid deadliche sunne,
gostliche isleien God wiSinnen '^ his soule. Vor he naue^ nout one
uorloren J>ene swete Ueder of heouen J. Seinte Marie his moder, o"Ser
holi chirche, hwon he of hire naue^ more*^ ne lesce, and alle pe
engles of heouene, and alle pe haluwen® ]7et weren him er uor
" ibi qui negat poterit liburari; et damnari qui fatetur. MS. Oxon.
^ vnimeteliche. T, "^ inwi'S. T. C.
'' ne mare. T. C, ^ alle hali halhes. T. lialegeii. C.
CONFESSION MUST BE BITTER AND SORROWFUL. 309
pentance, so that he sigh and punish the flesh outwardly with fasting,
and with other bodily pains. He who thus judgeth himself here,
before the great judgment, is blessed and happy. For, as the
prophet saith, " Non judicabit Deus bis in id ipsum." " Our Lord,"
saith the prophet, " will not suffer a man to be judged for one thing
twice." It is not in God's court as it is in that of the shii'e, where
they who deny well may be acquitted ; and the fool who is detected*^
is condemned. Before God it is otherwise, " Si tu te accusas, Deus
excusat; et vice versa." If thou accusest thyself well here, God
will excuse thee there, and clear thee also, at the strict judgment —
because thou judgest thyself, as I have taught above.
II. Confession shall be bitter, inasmuch as the sin, at one time,
was thought sweet. Judith, which signifieth confession, as I have
often remarked, was the daughter of Merari ; ^ and Judah, which is
also confession, wived with Tamar.^ Merari and Tamar both
signify bitterness in Hebrew. Now, pay earnest attention to the
signification. I mention it briefly : bitterness, sorrow, and con-
fession. The one may come from the other, as Judith did from
Merari, and both may be joined together, as were Judith and
Tamar ; for either without the other is worth little or nothing.
Pharez and Zarah '^ never bring forth offspring. There are four
things that mortal sin has done to him which, if a man reflect, may
make him sorrowful, and embitter his heart. Lo, now, tliis is the
first : If a man had lost, in a single hour of the day, his father and
mother, his brothers and sisters, and also all his kindred, and if all
his friends that he ever had had died suddenly in a smgle day,
would he not be sorrowful and grieved more than all other men, as
he well might ? God knoweth he may be, without comparison, more
sorrowful who, by mortal sin, has slain God within his soul. For
he hath not only lost the sweet Father of heaven, and Saint Mary
his Mother, or Holy Church — since he hath nothing more or less
from her — and all the angels of heaven, and all the saints, which
" or, " who confesses.'' '' Judith, viii. 1.
'^ (Tcnesis, xxxviii. "* Ibid, xxxviii. 2'J, 30.
310 EEGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
bre'Sren *? for sustren, and for ureond. Ase to him, lieo Leo's deade.
Ase onont him is, he haue'S isleien ham alle, and haue^S ]>ev ase heo
lime's euer, lo'Snesse * of ham alle, ase Jeremie witne^ :' " Omnes
amici ejus spreverunt earn :^" ]>et is, alle J?et him luueden, jeieden
spi him on, and hatie'S him alle. Eet more, his children alle, so
sone so he sunegede deadliche, deiden alle clerie t' ]>et Leo's his god
werkes, ]>et beo^ forloren alle. Eet, uppen al ]?is ilke, he is him
sulf al biwrixled, "? bicumen, of Godes cliild, ]?es deofles beam of
helle, atelich forto iseon t' ase God sulf setS i'Se gospel, " Vos ex
patre diabolo estis." penc euerich of his owune stat ]>et he is, o'Ser
was, inne, and he mei iseon hwareuore he ouh te siken sore. Vor^i,
sei^ Jeremie, " Luctum unlgeniti fac tibi planctum amarum." Make
bitter mon ase wif de'S uor her childe ]>et naue'S buten him one, and
isih'S hit biuoren hire uerliche astoruen. Nu ]>e o^er ]>et ich bihet :'
Folio 84 J. a mon ])et were idemed uor a lu^er mur^re to beon forbernd al
cwic, o'Ser scheomeliche anhonged — hu wolde his heorte stonden?
Me, [/. Ne ?] ]?u uniselie sunfule ! }70 ]?u, ]?uruh deadliche sunne,
mur'Sredest Godes spuse, ]?et is, ]>i soule — ]70 }?u were idemed for
to beon anhonged o berninde waritreo i'Se eche pine of helle — ]>o ]>u
makedest foreward mid ]?e deouel of ]?i dea^, t seidest in Isaie, mid
]}e uorlorene, " Pepigimiis cum morte fedus, et cum inferno pactum
iniuimus : " ]>et is, we habbe^ trou'Se ipluht dea'Se, 7 foreward
istefned mid helle :' vor ]?is is ]?es feondes cheffare :' he jiue'S J?e
sunne, and tu jiuest him ]?ine soule, 1: ti bodi eke, to weane If to
wondrede, ^ world a buten ende. Nu }?e J^ridde scheortliche. penc
hu a mon ]?et hefde al ]?ene world awold, 7 liefde, uor his cwead-
schipe, uorloren al on one stunde, hwu he wolde murnen *? sori
iwur^en ! peonne owustu uorte beon an hundred siSe soriure, J^et,
)7uruh on heaued sunne, uorlure ];e riche of heouene, and forlure ure
Louerd ]fet is an hundred si^e, je a ];usent si^e betere ]?en is al j^es
world— eorSe bo^e % heouene. "Que enim conuentio Christi ad
Belial?" Nu jet 'pe ueor-Se. Eif J»e king heuede biteiht his leoue
* laiSSc. T. C. * woudre'Sc. '1'. woutrede. C
MISERABLE STATE OF THE GUILTY. 311
were formerly as brethren, and sisters, and friends to him. They
are dead, as relates to hun. He hath slain them all, and is there,
where they live for ever, abhorred of them all, as Jeremiah
witnesseth, " Omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam ; " * that is, all
they who loved him cried spit on him, and they all hate him.
Moreover, all his children, as soon as he sinned mortally, died every
one ; which are his good woi'ks, which are all lost. And, in addi-
tion to all this, he is himself completely changed, and from being a
child of God is become a child of the devil of hell, frightful to look
upon ; as God himself saith in the Gospel, " Ye are of your father
the devil." ^ Let every one reflect upon his own state in which he
is, or was, and he may see wherefore he ought to sigh sore. There-
fore Jeremiah saith, " Luctum unigeniti fac tibi planctum amarum." '^
Make bitter moan as a woman doth for her child, that hath but him
alone, and seeth him before her suddenly cut oft' by death. Now
the second example which I promised is this : If a man were con-
demned for a horrid murder to be burned alive, or disgracefully
hanged, what would be the state of his heart? Nay, but, thou
mihappy sinner ! when thou by mortal sin didst murder God's
spouse, that is, thy soul — when thou wert condemned to be hanged
on a burning gallows-tree in the everlasting torments of hell — when
thou madest a covenant with the devil concerning thy death, and
saidest with the lost ones in Isaiah, " Pepigimus cum morte foedus,
et cum inferno pactum inivimus ; " ^ that is, " We have plighted
troth with death, and established a covenant with hell ; " for this is
the devil's bargain; he giveth thee sin, and thou givest him thy
soul, and thy body too, to suffer woe and misery world without end.
Now, briefly, the thu'd example. Think how a man who had the
whole world under his dominion, and had, by his wickedness, lost it
all in one hour, would mourn and be grieved ? Then oughtest thou
to be a hundred times more grieved, who, by one mortal sin, hast
lost the kingdom of heaven, and hast lost our Lord, who is an
* Lament, i. 2. '' St. John, viii. 44.
•^ Jeremiah, vi. 26. '' Isaiah, xxvii. 15.
312 REGUL^ INCLUSAKUM.
deore sune one of his knihtes forte witene, '% un^eode ledden uor'S
pis child in his warde, so |?et tet child sulf weorrede uppon his feder
mid te un'Seode, nolde J>e kniht beon sori % scheomen ful sore ? We
beo^ alle Godes sunen j^e kinges of heouene, j^et haueS biteiht ure
euerichon enne engel ine warde. Sori is he, on his wise, hwon
Folio 85. Unicode lede'S us for'S, 1, hwon we ure Gode Ueder weorrcS mid
sunne. Beo we sorie ]7et we euer schulden wre'S^en swuch feder,
7 sweamen^ swuchne wardein, \et wit "? were^ us euer wi'S \e
unseiene'' [unseinede] gostes t^'' uor elles vuele us stode. Auh we
schunche'S ^ hine ueor awei hwon we do^S deadliche sunne ? fulSe :!
and \q deouel leaped to so sone so he us furse'S. Holde we him
neih us mid smelle of swete werkes t* and do we us ine his warde.
Wat Crist ure euerichon to so gentil wardein here's to lutel menske,
J. kunnen him to lutel ]?onc of his seruise. peos J, monie o^re
reisuns bee's hwui mon mei beon bitterliche sori uor his sunnen, ?
weopen ful sore :! and wel is him J^et so mei r' uor wop is soule hele.
Vre Louerd deS touward us ase me de^S to vuel dettur : he nimeS
lesse ]7en we owen him, % is j^auh wel ipaied. We owen him blod
for blode :' and ure blod ]?auh ajean his blode ]?et he shedde for us
were ful unefne chaunge. Auh wostu hwat me deS jet?® Me
nime'S et vuel dettur oten uor hweate :! and ure Louerd nime^ et
us ure teares ajean his blode, '? is wel ipaied. He weop o^e rode, H
o Lazre, 1 o Jerusalem :^ uor o^re monne sunnen. Eif we weopeS
for ure owune hit is nout muchel wunder. Weope we cwe^ ye holi
mon in " Uitas Patrum," "j^o me hefde longe ijeied on him efter
sarmun. "Lete we," cweS he, "teares, leste ure owune teares
uorseo'Sen us ine helle ! "
sweame. T. sweme. C. ^ unsehene. T. unseinede. C.
hostihus. MS. Oxon. •• schutten. T. sehuchte'8. C.
decides. T. jedde'c?. C.
SIN DRIVETH AWAY OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL. 313
hundred times — yea, a thousand times, better than all this world —
both earth and heaven. " For what concord hath Christ with
Belial ? " * Now again, the fourth example. If the king had
given his beloved son in charge to a knight to guard, and enemies
took away this child, his ward, so that the child himself made war
upon his father along with the enemies, would not the knight be
grieved and sorely ashamed? We all are the sons of God, the
King of Heaven, who hath given each of us in charge to an angel to
guard. Sorry is he, as angels are sorry, when enemies lead us
away, and when we make war against our heavenly Father, by sin.
Let us be sorry that we ever should displease such a Father, and
disgrace such a guardian who constantly watches over and protects
us from invisible [unblest] spirits, for otherwise we should stand in
evil plight. But, when we commit deadly and foul sin, we con-
temptuously drive him far away, and the devil leapeth in as soon as
he is gone from us. Let us hold him nigh us with the sweet smell
of good works, and let us put ourselves in his keeping. Christ
knoweth that every one of us pay too little honour to so kind a
guardian, and feel too little gratitude for his service. For these and
many other reasons, a man may bitterly grieve for his sins, and
weep full sore ; and well it is with him whoso may, for weeping is
health to the soul. Our Lord doth to us as men do to a bad
debtor ; he accepteth less than we owe him, and yet is well satisfied.
We owe him blood for blood ; and moreover our blood in return for
his blood which he shed for us, were a very imequal exchange. But
knowest thou what men often do ? We accept from a bad debtor
oats instead of wheat ; and our Lord accepteth from us our tears
instead of his blood, and is well satisfied. He wept upon the cross,
and for Lazarus, and for Jerusalem — for other men's sins. If we
weep for our OAvn, it is no great wonder. " Weep we," quoth the
holy man, in the Lives of the Fathers, when he had been long time
entreated for a sermon, " shed we tears," said he, " lest our tears
seethe us in hell."
» 2 Corinth, vi. 15.
CAMD. SOC. 2 S
314
REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
Folio 85 I.
Foil
^clirift schal beon iliol : ]?et is, iseid al to one monne, ut of child-
hode. pe poure w id ewe hwon heo wule clensen hire hus, heo
gedere'S al ];et greste ^ on one licape alrerest,^ J. scliuue'S J^eonne hit
ut •:! Jjer efter heo kume'S ajean eft, % heaped eft togederes al ];et
was er bileaued, % schuue^ hit ut efter ^ ]7erefter o ]?e smele duste :!
jif hit dusted swu'Se, heo vlaske'S water ]?eron, *? swope'S hit ut
awei efter al ]7et o'Ser. Al so schal ]?e j^et schriue^ him, efter ]7e
greate, schuuen ut ])et smele :^° and jif dust of lilite J'ouhtes windeS
up to swu^e, flaskie teares on ham 'J f ne schulen heo nout ]?eonne
ablenden J^e heorte eien. Hwose heleS out,*^ he naue^ iseid nout.
Uor hwon ^ he beo ]?e skerre, auh is iliche 'pen monne ]?et haue^ on
him monie wunden deadliche, J, scheawe^ j^e leche alle bute one, J
let helen alle bute one, ]?et he deie^ upon/ He is eke iliche men in
one schipe ]?et haue'S monie ]7urles, |?er ]?et water ]?rest in, 1! heo
dutten alle buten on, ]?uruh hwam heo adrencheS alle clene. Me
telle^ of J7e holie monne j^et lei on his dea'S vuele, *? was lo'S forte
siggen one sunnen of his childhode, and his abbod bed allegate pet
he scholde siggen. And he answerede "? seide pet hit wes ^ [I. nes]
neod, for^i ]7et he was Intel child J^eoa he hit dude. UnneaSe, J>auh
a last, ]?uruh ]7en abbodes gropunge,'' he hit seide, J deide sone J7er-
efter. Efter his dea'Se, he com one niht, and scheawede him to his
abbode, ine snou hwite clo'Ses,^ ase pe |?et was iboruwun :" % seide
];et sikerliche jif he nefde iseid utterliche jjet ilke ]?ing ]?et he dude
ine childhode, he were idemed among pe uorlorene. Also of on
o'^er mon ]7et was wel neih idemed for'Si |?et he nedde one cherre
enne mon uorte drincken, "? deide unschriuen ];erof. Also of one
lefdi uor'Si ];et heo hefde ileaned one wummone to one wake on of
hore weaden. Auh hwoso haue^ jeorne isouht alle pe hurnen of
greatest. T.
smalere. T. smelre. C.
for hvvi. T. J>arfore. C.
nes na. T. nere na. C.
wedes. T, schrudes. C.
'' aire earest. C.
^ Hwase leines ani \>'ms,. T.
' — upon, as he schulde on alle. T. C.
'' ropinge. T. reping [liidding]. C.
EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF INCOMPLETE CONFESSION. 315
111. Confession shall be complete, that is, all said to one man,
from childhood. When the poor widow would cleanse her house, she
gathercth into a heap, first of all, all the largest sweepings, and then
shoveleth it out ; after this she cometh again and heapetli together
all that was left before, and shoveleth it out also ; again, upon the
small dust, if it is very dusty, she sprinkleth water, and sweepeth it
quite away after all the rest. In like manner must he that con-
fesseth himself, after the great sins, shovel out the small, and if the
dust of light thoughts fly up too much, sprinkle tears on them,
and they will not, then, blind the eyes of the heart. Whoso hideth
ought hath told nought ; for, be he ever so faultless, yet he is like
the man who hath upon him many deadly wounds, and sheweth
them all but one to the physician, and lets them all be heiiled but
one, of which he dies. He is also like men in a ship that hath
many leaks, into which the water makes its way in, and they stop
them all but one, by means of which they are every one of them
drowned. We are told of a holy man who lay in his death-sickness,
and was unwilling to confess a particular sin of his childhood, and
his abbot urged him by all means to confess it. He answered and
said that it was not necessary, because he was a little child when
he did it. Reluctantly, however, at last, through the searching
exhortations of the abbot, he told it, and died soon thereafter. After
his death, he came one night and appeared to his abbot in snow-
white garments, as one who was saved ; and said that if he had not
fully confessed that particular thing which he did in childhood, he
should certainly have been condemned among those who are lost.
We are told also of another man who was well nigh condemned
because he once compelled a man to drink, and died unshriven of it.
Likewise, of a lady because she had lent one of her garments to a
woman to go to a wake. But if any one hath searched diligently all
the recesses of his heart, and can discover nothing more, if there
yet lurketh any thing unobserved, it is, I hope, thrust out with the
rest, since there was no negligence about it; and if he had been
316 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
his heorte t ne con of-sechen ^ more ut, jif ]>er out etlute^, hit is,
ich hopie, i"Se schrifte ischuuen ut mid ten o'Sre, hwon ]>ei' ne h^ no
jemeleaste abuten, and he wolde vein jif he ku"Se siggen more. Si
conscientia desit, pena satisfacit. Augustinus.
Schrift jet schal been naked i ]?et is, nakedhche imaked, and
nout bisaumpled feire, ne hendeliche ismoked:''' auh ]?e wordes
schulen beon ischeawede efter ]>e werkes. pet is tocne of hatunge
}?et men tukeS to wundre ]?et ]?ing ]>et me hateS swuSe. Eif ]?u
hatest ]?ine sunne, hwui spekes tu menskehche bi hire ? Hwi hudest
]>u hire "^ ful'Sen ? Spec hire scheome schendfuhche, 7 tuc hire ^ al to
wundre, al so ase ]?u wel wult schenden j^ene sckucke.^ Me Sire,
J>eo wummon sei'S, Ich habbe iheued leofmon :' o^er, Ich habbe
ibeon fol of me suluen. pis nis nout naked schrift. Ne biclute ]?u
hit nowiht. Do awei J>e totages, pet beo'S J^e circumstaunces.
Vnwrih ]>e % seie. Sire, Godes ore *? tin ! Ich am a ful stod mere :f
a stinckinde hore. Eif ]?ine uo enne fulne ^ nome, and bicleope ]nne
sunne steornaked t' ]>et is, ne hele ]>u nowiht ^ of al ]>et lib per abuten.
pauh to fule ne mei siggen. Me ne J^erf nout nemmen ]?e fule dede
bi his owune fule nome. Inouh hit is to siggen so J'et pe schrift
feder witterliche understonde hwat tu wulle menen, Abuten sunne
ligge^ six Jjinges J^et hit belief :' o Latin, circumstances r" on Eng-
lisch, heo muwen beon ihoten totagges : persone, stude, time,
manere, tale, cause.
"ersone, pe ]>et dude ]>eo sunne, oSer mid liwam me dude hire.
Folio 86 b. Unwreon, t sigge :' " Sire, Ich am a wummon, and schulde mid
rihte beon more scheomeful uorte habben ispeken ase ich spec, ©"Ser
idon ase ich dude l' and for'Si mi sunne is more pen of one weop-
monne, uor hit bicom me wurse. Ich am on ancre, a nunne, a
" ne ne con rungen. T. rungge. C. ^ ismacked. C.
" his. T. C. ^ hit. T. C. « schucke. T. C. scucca, A.-S. diabolus.
' ful. T. C. e ne lein >u ^ing. T.
CONFESSION MUST BE PLAIN AND UNDISGUISED. 317
conscious of more guilt, lie would willingly have confessed it. " Si
conscientia desit, poena satisfacit." Augustine.
IV. Confession must also be candid, that is, made without any
concealment, and not palliated by comparisons, nor gently touched
upon. But the words should be spoken plainly according to the deeds.
It is a sign of hatred when men reprehend severely a thing that is
greatly hated. If thou hatest thy sin, Avhy dost thou speak of it in
gentle terms ? Why dost thou hide its foulness ? Speak out its
shame reproachfully, and rebuke it very sharply, if thou wouldst
indeed confound the deviL " Sir," saith the woman, " I have had a
lover ; " or, " I have been foolish concerning myself." This is not
plain confession. Put no cloak over it. Take away the accessories,
that is, the circumstances. Uncover thyself and say, " Sir, the
mercy of God, and thine ! I am a foul stud mare : a stinking whore."
Give thy enemy a foul name, and call thy sin by its name with-
out disguise, that is, conceal thou nothing at all that is connected
with it. Yet what is too foul may not be spoken. The foul deed
need not be named by its own foul name. It is sufficient to speak
of it in such a manner that the father confessor may clearly under-
stand what thou wouldst express. There lieth about sin six things
which conceal it ; in Latin, circumstances ; in English, they may be
called adjuncts : person, place, time, manner, number, cause.
"erson — she that committed the sin, or with whom it was com-
mitted. Lay it open, and say, " Sir, I am a woman, and ought
rightly to have been more modest than to speak as I have spoken,
or to do as I have done ; and therefore my sin is greater than if a
man had done it, for it became me worse. I am an anchoress, a
nun, a wedded wife, a maiden, a woman in whom such confidence is
put, and one that had before been burnt with the same thing, and
ought to have been more on my guard. Sir, it was with such a
man ; " and then name him — " a monk, a priest, or clerk, and of
318 REGUL^ INCLUSAllUM.
wif iweclded, a meiden, a wiimmon J»et me ileue'S so wel, and ]7et
liabbe er ibeoii ibernd mid shwuche ]?incge, % ouhte ]?e betere uorte
beon iwarned. Sire, hit was mid swuche monne :^ " % nemmen
]7eonne — " munuch, preost, o^er clerk, and of ]?et hodc, * iwedded
mon, a loSleas J>ing, a wummon ase Ich am." pis is nu of persone.
Also of ];e stude : " Sire, ]7us ich plelede, o'Ser spec ine
chirche :^ eode oSe pleouwe ine chircheie r'^ biheold hit, % oiSe
wrastlinge '^ % o'Ser fol gomenes :! spec Jjus o'Ser pleiede biuoren
worldliche men :! biuoren religiuse :! in ancre huse, 1 et o'Ser |7urle
|7en ich schulde ^ % neih holi |?inge. Ich custe him \qy :! ich liond-
lede *^ him ine swuche stude :! o'Ser mi sulf ine chirche I j^ouhte ]7us :!
biheold him ette weouede."''
Of ]?e time al so: "Sire, Ich was of swuche elde j^et ich ouhte
wel uorte habben iwust me wisluker. Sire, Ich hit dude inne
leinten, ine uestendawes, holidawes :! hwon o^re weren et chirche.
Sire, Ich was sone ouerkumen i and ]7ereuore ];e sunne is more ]?en
jif ich hefde ibeon akest mid strencSe, '^ mid monie swengcs. Sire,
Ich was ];e beginnunge hwi swucli J'ing hefde uor'Sjong :! \nv\x\\ |?et
I com ine swuche stude, % ine swuche time. Ich bi^ouhte me I'ul
wel, er J?en ich hit euer dude, hu vuel hit were uorto don, % dude
Folio 87. hit no \e later."
pe manere siggen al so :! ]?et is, ]?e ueor'Se totagge. " Sire, j^eos
sunne I dude ]?us, % o J>isse wise r! ]7us I leornede hire erest r^ % ]nis
I com erest ]?erinne :^ J, \\xs, I dude hit forSward t' "? o }>us monie
wisen f }»us fuUiche -^ ])us scheomeliche. pus I souhte delit ^ hwu
I mest muhte paien mine lustes brune;" 1: sechen alle ]?e wisen.
■' ordre. T. C. ^ code in ring i chirche Jeard. T.
<: bilicold oiSe wrastliiig, o'Scr me self wrastlede. T.
"i felde. T. * atte weolde as he oiTrede. T.
ACCOMPLICE, PLACE, TIME, AND MANNER TO BE CONFESSED. 319
such an order, a married man, an innocent creature, a woman, as I
am." Tlius far as to the person.
Also concerning the place : " Sir, I played or spoke thus in the
church ; went to the play in the churchyard ; looked on at this,
or at the wrestling, and other foolish sports ; spoke thus, or played,
in the presence of secular men, or of religious men, in a house of
anchorites, and at a different window than I ought ; and near some-
thing sacred ; I kissed him there ; I touched him with my hand in
such a place ; or being alone in the church I thought thus ; I looked
upon him at the altar.''
In like manner as to the time : " Sir, I was of such an age that I
ought indeed to have kept myself more wisely. Sir, I did it in
Lent, during the fast days, the holidays, when others were at
church. Sir, I was soon overcome, and therefore the sin is greater
than if I had been overcome by force, and by much violence. Sir,
it was my fault, at first, that this thing went forward, through my
coming into such a place, and at such a time. Before I ever did it,
I reflected well how evil it were to do it, and did it nevertheless."
The manner likewise must be told, which is the fourth circum-
stance : " Sir, this sin I did thus, and in this mamier ; thus I first
learned it, and thus I came first into it, and thus I went on to do it ;
and in so many ways ; so fully, so shamefully ; thus I sought
pleasure ; how I might give the most satisfaction to my inflamed
desires ; " and search out all the ways.
320 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Tale is ]?e vifte totagge — tellen al, hu ofte hit is idon. " Sire, Ich
habbe J^is ];us ofte idon :! iwuned for to speken ]7us, % hercnen
swuche spechen, If j^enchen swuche ]?ouhtes f' vorjemed ]7inges %
forpten ^ lauliwen, eten, drinken, lesse o^er more ]>en neod were.*
Ich habbe ibeon ]?us ofte wro'S, seo'S^en ich was ischriuen nexst :!^
t for swuche |;inge :! 1 ]ms longe hit ileste. pus ofte I seide leas :'
|7us ofte '? ]?is ■? tis. Ich habbe idou ];is ]nis feole siSen, 'i o ]>as feole
wiseii, *? to |>us feole."
Cause is "pe sixte totagge. Cause is, hwi ]ni hit dudest, o'Ser
hulpe ]>erto, oSer j^uruh hwon hit bigon. " Sire, Ich hit dude uor
delit :! 1 for vuel luue :! % for bijeate :! vor fearlac, vor flatterunge.
Sire, Ich hit dude uor vuel, "j^auh |7er ne come non vuel of. Sire,
mi liht onswere, o^er mine liht lates, tulde him erest upon me. Sire,
of ]?isse word com o^er ^ of ]?isse dede, wre'S^e % vuele wordes.
Sire, J>e ancheisun is j^is hwi ]7et vuel ileste'S jet. pus woe was
min heorte." Euerich, efter pet he is, sigge j^e totagges, — mon ase
limpe'S to him :! wummon ]7et hire rine^ : vor her nabbe ich none
iseid, bute uorte raunegen mon o'Ser wummon of J^eo J»et to ham
Folio 87 h. ualle^, ]?uruh ];eo ]?et beo^ her to dreuedliche iseide. pus, of ]7eos
six wrieles despoile ]?ine sunne. Make hire sterc naked i ]?ine
schrifte, ase leremie lere^, "Effimde sicut aquam cor tuum."
" Sched ut," he sei'S, leremie, " ase water J^ine heorte." Vor, jif eoli
schet ut of one vetles,*^ jet j^er wule bileauen inne sumhwat of ]7e
likur ^ and jif milk schet, |?et heou wule bileauen :^ and jif win
schet, \e smel bileaueS ^ auh water ge^ altogedere ut somed. Al
so sched J'ine heorte :! \ei is, al |?et vuel pet is i pine heorte. And
Tif pu ne dest nout, lo ! hu grurefulliche God sulf preate^ pe puruh
Naum pe prophete, "Ecce ego ad te, dicit Dominus, ostendam in
gentibus nuditatem tuani et regnis ignominiam tuam :' et projiciam
super te abhominationes tuas." pu noldest nout unwreon pe to pe
a askeS. C. '' last ischriuen. C.
<= schedes of a fat. T. sched of an vet, C.
HOW OFTEN, AND WHY SIN HAS BEEN COMMITTED. 321
JN umber is tlie fifth cii'cumstance — to tell the whole, how often it
has been done : " Sir, I have done this so often ; been accustomed to
speak thus, and to listen to such speeches, and to think such
thoughts, to neglect and forget things ; to laugh, eat, drink, less
or more than was needful. I have been so often angry since I last
confessed, and for such a thing, and it lasted so long. I have so
often spoken falsely, so often, and this, and this. I have done this
so many times, and in so many waj-s, and to so many persons."
Clause is the sixth circumstance. Cause is, why thou didst it, or
helped to do it, or through what means it began : " Sir, I did it for
pleasure, and for guilty love, and for gain, through fear, through
flattery. Sir, I did it for evil, though no evil came of it. Sir, my
light answer, or my light behaviour enticed him toward me. Sir,
of this word came another; of this action, anger and evil words.
Sir, the reason why the evil still continues is this : my heart was so
weak." Let every one, according to what he is, tell the circum-
stances— man, as relates to him ; woman, as it concerns her : for I
have not said any thing here, but to remind man or woman of that
Avhicli happeneth to them, by what is here said in a desultory
manner. Thus strip thy sin of these six coverings. Make it stark
naked in thy confession, as Jeremiah teacheth, " Efltunde sicut
aquam cortuum."* "Pour out," saith Jeremiah, "thy heart as
w^ater." For, if oil be poured out of a vessel, yet there will be left
in it somewhat of the liquor ; and if milk be poured out, the colour
will remain ; and if wine be poiu'ed, the smell remaineth ; but water
goetli completely out at once. In such a manner, pour out thine
heart ; that is, all the evil that is in thine heart. And, if thou dost
not, behold how terribly God threateneth thee by the prophet
Nahum, " Behold, I am against thee," saith the Lord, " and I will
shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
And I will cast abominations upon thee." ^ Thou wouldest not un-
» Lamentations, ii. 19. '' Nahum, iii. 5, 6.
CAMD. SOC. 2 T
322 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
preoste, ine sclirifte :' % Ich chulle scheawen al nakedliche to alle
uolcke ]?ine cweadscliipes, % to alle kinedomes ];ine scheomeful
sunneii — to J^e kinedome of eor"Se, "? to ])e kinedome of heouene, % to
J?e kinedome of lielle :! t trussen al J>i scliendfulnesse o jnne owiine
necke, ase me do's o J>e ]?eoue J>et me let forte demen r^ 1. so, mid al
]?et schendlac, J>u schalt trussen ? al torplen into lielle. " O ! " sei^
Seint Beornard, "quid confusionis, quid ignominie erit qviando
dissipatis foliis % dispersis, universa nudabitur turpitudo, sanies
apparebit." " O ! " he Bel's, Seint Beornard, " hwuch schendlac 1 hwuch
seoruwe ]?er bi^ hwon alle j^e leaues schulen beon to-warpled, 7 al
J>et fule wrusum scheaweS him, 7 wringeS ut ^ biuoren al l»e wide
worlde " — eor^e ware % heouene ware — nout one of werkes, auli of
idelnesses of wordes *? of J>oulites ];et ne bee's her ibet, ase Seint
Aunseame witneS, " Omne tempus impensum requiretur a nobis
Folio 88. qualiter sit expensum." Euerich tide % euerich time schal beon J^er
irikened, hwu hit was her ispened. " Quando dissipatis foliis," Jc.
" Hwon alle ];e leaues," he seiS, Seint Beornard, " schulen beon to-
warpled." He hefde iseien, ase me ]?unche'S, hwu Adam "? Eue, |7oa
heo hefden i^e urum'Se isuneged, gederen leaues *? makeden wrieles
of ham to hore schendfule limes t' and ]7us do's jet monie efter ham :
" Declinantes cor suum in uerba malicie ad excusandas excusationes
in peccatis."
Schrift schal beon ofte imaked. Vor^i is iSe sautere, " Confite-
biniur tibi Deus." And ure Louerd sulf seide to his deciples,
"Eamus in ludeam iterum." "Go we eft," cweS he, "into ludee."
Judee spele^ schrift r' 7 so we iuinde'S ]?et he wende ofte ut of
Galilee into ludee. Galilee spele'S hweol, uorte leren us ]?et we of
]?e worldes torpelnesse, % of sunne hweol, ofte gon to schrifte. Vor
J'et is ]7et sacrament efter weouedes sacrament, J, efter sacrament of
fuluht, ]7et ]?e deouel is lowest :! ase he bane's to holie men himsulf,
sore his un^onkes ibeon hit, iknowen. Wule a weob beon, et one
'^ al he ful'Se sclieawes him ") wringes ut tat wirsuni. T.
SIN WILL AT LAST BE SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED. 323
cloak thyself to the priest in confession, and I will shew quite
nakedlj thj wickedness to all people, and thy shameful sins to all
kingdoms — to the kingdom of earth, and to the kingdom of heaven,
and to the kingdom of hell ; and I will bind up all th j vileness upon
thine own neck, as is done to a thief when he is brought to be
judged ; and thus, with all that ignominy packed upon thee, thou
shalt be hurled headlon^j into hell. " O ! " saitli St. Bernard,
"quid confusionis, quid ignominijfi erit, quando dissipatis foliis et
dispersis, universa nudabitur turpitudo, sanies apparebit." " O ! "
saith St. Bernard, "what disgrace and what sorrow there will be
when all the leaves shall be shaken off, and all that foul corruption
is exposed and wrung out before all the wide world," — the dwellers
in earth and dwellers in heaven — not only of works, but of idle
words and thoughts that are not amended here, as St. Anselm
witnesseth, "■ Omne tempus impensum requiretur a nobis qualiter sit
expensum." " Every tide and every time shall be there reckoned,
in what manner it was here spent." " Quando dissipatis foliis." &c.
" When all the leaves," saith St. Bernard, " shall be shaken off."
He had seen, as it seems, how Adam and Eve, when they had
in the beginning sinned, gathered leaves and made of them cover-
ings to their unseemly members ; and thus do many still, after them,
" turning their hearts aside to words of craftiness, to justify them-
selves in their sins."
V . Confession ought to be made often. Wherefore we find in the
Psalter, "We will confess to thee, O God ; "^ and our Lord himself
said to his disciples, " Eamus in Judaeam iterum."^ " Go we again,"
said he, " into Judea." Judea means confession ; and so we find
that he went often out of Galilee into Judea, Galilee signifieth
Avheel, to teach us that we should often retire from tlie whirl of
worldly things, and the wheel of sin, and go to confession. For that
is the sacrament which, next after the sacrament of the altar, and
that of baptism, is most hateful to the devil; as he hath himself
" Psalm Ixxv. i. '' John, xi. 7.
324 regultE inclusarum.
clierre, mid one watere wel ibleched "I o^er a sol clo^ liwit iwaschen ?
pu wascliest ];ine lionden in one elpi deie twies o'Ser Juries ^. % nult
nont ]7ine soule, Jesu Cristes spuse ? Vor euere so lieo is hwitture,
so ]7e ful^e is schenre *? more upon hire bute jif heo beo iwaschen.
Nult tu nout, to Godes cluppunge, ofte umbe seoueniht waschen hire
enes. Confiteor, 7 hahwater, % beoden^ % hohe ]?ouhtes, blessunges,
kneolunges, % euerich god word, % euerich god were wasche^ smele
sunnen r^'^ }7et me ne mei alle siggen i auh euere is schrift J^et
heaued of alle.
Folio 88 1. Schrift schal beon on hih-^e imaked. Eif sunne bitime'S bi nihte
— anonriht, o'Ser a morwen "I and jif heo bitime^ bi deie — er j^en
me slepe. Hwo is J^et dnrste slepen Jjeo hwule ]>et his deadlich fo
heolde on itowen sweord ouer his heaued? pe J?et napped upon
helle brerde, he torple^ ofte al in er he lest wene. Hwose is
iuallen amidden \q, berninde fure, nis he more j^en a-medjif he li^*?
bi'Senche'S him hwonne he wule arisen? A wummon ]?et haue^
forloren hire nelde, o^er a sutare his el, he seclie^ hine anonriht, %
to-went euerich strea uort he beo ifunden : and God forloren uor
sunne schal liggen vinsouht fulle seoue dawes.
" C/ircumdederunt me canes multi." " Monie hundes," sei^ Dauid,
"habbe'S biset me." Hwon gredie hundes stondeS biuoren be borde,
nis hit need jerde ? Ase ofte ase eni kecclie^ touward J>e % binime'S
]7e l^ine mete, nultu ase ofte smiten ? Elles heo wolden kecchen of
]?e al ]7et tu hefdest. And ]ni do al so |?eonne. Nim \q jerde of
j^ine tunge, 7 ase ofte ase j^e hund of helle kecche'S ei god from }>e,
smit him anonriht mid te jerde of tunge schrifte i and smit hine so
lu'Serliche ]?et him loSie to snecchen eft to J>e. pe dunt of alle
duntes is him dunte loSest. pe hund J^et fret le^er, o'Ser awurie'S
eihte me beate'S him anonriht, Jiet he understonde uor hwuche ]?inge
" " Crux, aqua, confiteor, oratio, corpus in ara,
Tunsio, cum flexu faciunt venialia remitti." MS. Oxen,
CONFESSION TO BE FREQUENT, AND AVITHOUT DELAY. 325
acknowledged to holy men, sorely against his will though it be.
Can a web be well bleached, or a dirty cloth washed white, at one
turn with a single watering ? Thou washest thy hands two or
three times in a single day ; and wilt thou not wash thy soul, Jesus
Christ's spouse ? For the whiter it is, the impurity upon it is
always the more apparent and the greater, if it is not washen.
Often thou wilt not wash it, for the embrace of God, once a week.
Confession, holy water, prayers, and holy meditations, benedictions,
kneelings, and every good word and w^ork wash small sins, though
we may not say all sins, but confession is always the head of all.
VI. Confesssion ought to be made speedily. If sin occurs by
night, immediately, or in the morning ; and if it occurs by day, before
we sleep. Who W'ould dare to sleep wdiile his mortal foe holds a drawn
sword over his head ? He who slumbereth upon the brink of hell,
often rolleth headlong into it, before he is at all aware. When any
one has fallen amid the burning fire, is he not more than mad, if he
Heth and considereth when he shall arise ? A woman who hath lost
her needle, or a shoemaker his awl, seeketh it immediately, and
turns over every straw until it be found ; and God, when lost by
sin, shall lie unsought full seven days !
" Circumdederunt me canes multi." * " Many dogs," saith
David, "have beset me." When greedy dogs stand before the
board, is there not need of a rod? As oft as any of them snatch
toward thee, and taketh from thee thy food, wilt thou not as often
smite ? Else it would snatch from thee all that thou hadst. Do
thou so then. Take the rod of thy tongue, and as oft as the dog of
hell snatcheth any good from thee, smite him immediately with the
rod of tongue-shrift, and smite him so rudely, that he shall be loath
afterwards to snatch at thee. Of all striking this is the blow which
is most hateful to him. Men beat immediately the dog that gnaweth
leather, or worrieth sheep, that he may understand for what he is
» Psalm xxii. 1(3.
326 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
lie is ibeaten, and ]?eonne ne cler he nout eft don ]>et ilke. Al so,
beat mid ]?ine tunge ine schrifte ]?ene hund of helle anonrilit :' J ho
Folio 89. wule beon afered uorte don ]>e eft swuche }?ucke. Hwo is J>et J^et is
so muche fol }»et sei^ bi ]7e liunde ]?et fret le'Ser, " Abid for to-morwen :
ne beat tu hine nout jet/^ Auh anonriht, " Beat, beat, beat anon-
rihtes." Nis j^ing i ]?isse worlde j^et sraeorte'S him so sore ase him
do'S swuch beatunge. Nie J^inges beo^ ]7et ouhten hien touward
schrifte. pe pine, ]7et okere"S euere : vor snnne is Jjes deofles feih
]}et he jiue^ to gauel, "? to okere of pine :^ "? euer so J>e mon HS
lengre in his sunne so J^e gauel waxeS more of pine ine purga-
torie, ©"Ser her, o^er ine helle. " Ex usuris et iniquitate redimet
animas eorum." pet o'Ser J^ing is ]?e muchele 1; ]>e reou^fule lure
]>et he uorleose'S :f ]>et no J'ing J^et he eaer do's nis Gode licwurSe
ne icweme. Jeremie. "Alieni comederunt robur ejus." pet
)?ridde J^ing is dea'S, — ]7et he not * hwe'Ser he schulle ]7et ilke daie
uerliche asteoruen. Ecclus. " Fill, ne tardes conuerti ad Dominum :'
nescis enim," Jc. pet feor'Se ]nng is secnesse : J^et he ne mei wel
]7enchen bute euer on^ of his secnesse, ne speken ase he schulde,
bute gronen uor his eche, ° and grunten uor his stiche more J>en uor
his sunnen. Ecclus. " Confiteberis et uiues." pet fifte j^ing is
muche scheome J^et hit is, efter val, to liggen so longe — and hure J:
hure,"^ under J»e schucke : " Surge qui dermis." pet sixte j;ing is 'pe
wunde ]?et euer wurse'S an bond, "? strengre is forte helen. " Prin-
cipiis obsta, sero medicina paratur." pet seoue^e ping is vuel
wune t' ]>et bitocne^ bi Lazre j^et stone so long he hefde ileien i ]?er
eor'Se :f on liwam ure Louerd weop,® ase pe Gospel telle^, and gris-
batede, and meingde his blod/ ? gredde ^ lude upon him. peos four
Folio 89 i, ]?inges he dude ear he hine arerede, uorte scheawen hu strong hit is to
arisen of vuel wune, pe ]?et rote's in his sunne."' Seinte Marie merci !
» ne wot. '' ane. T. "= warche. T.
^ to lie longe — "5 hxire. T. to ligge se longe ■] hure. C.
^ remde. T. ' his Mod, is probably interpolated.
s -J resede "3 mengde him seluen •] geide. T. C.
^ Si potria dire che il salvatore piangesse per quella ohe Lazaro siguificava, che era il
pcccatore invecchiato nel peccato. — Vil-ier/as Legendario.
REASONS FOR NOT DELAYING CONFESSION. 327
beaten, and then he dare not again do the same. In hke manner
beat thoii the dog of hell immediately, with thy tongue in confession,
and he will be afraid to do thee again such a spiteful trick. Who
is so great a fool as to say of the dog that gnaws leather, " Stay till
to-morrow: beat him not yet." But at once, "Beat, beat, beat,
immediately." There is nothing in this world, that maketh him
smart so sore, as doth such beating. There are nine things that
ought to urge us to confess quickl3^ The punishment, that is
always increasing with usury. For sin is the devil's money, which
he giveth upon interest, and upon usury of punishment, and the
longer the man lieth in his sin, the increase of punishment in
purgatory, here, or in hell, waxeth always more. " He shall redeem
their souls from usuries and iniquity." ^ The second thing is the great
and lamentable loss that he loseth, that nothing he ever doth is
worthy of the approbation of God, nor pleasing to him. Jeremiah,
" Strangers have devoured his strength." ^ The third thing is
death — that he knoweth not whether he shall not die suddenly that
very day. Ecclus. " Fili, ne tardes convcrti ad Dominum ; nescis
enim," &c.*' " Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it
not from day to day. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in
the time of vengeance he will destroy thee." The fourth thing is
sickness : he that is sick cannot easily fix his thoughts on anything
but his sickness, nor speak as he ought, but groan and cry out for
his pain and suffering more than for his sins. " Thou shalt confess
and live." ^ The fifth thing is, the great shame that it is, after a
fall, to lie so long ; and especially under the devil. " Arise thou that
sleepest." ® The sixth thing is, that the wound is now always getting
worse through delay, and is more difficult to heal. " Resist evil in
the beginning, lest the remedy should be administered when too
late."^ The seventh thing is evil habit; which is betokened by
Lazarus, who had lain so lon2; in the earth that he stank ; over whom
» Psalm Ixxii. 14. Vulgate. ** Hosea, vii. 9. « Ecclus. v. 7.
■' Ecclus. xvii. 26. " Ephesians, v. 14. ' Ovid's Remedy of Love.
328 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
J?e Lazre stone of four dawes, liu stincke^ ]>e sunfule J?eonne of four
jer, o'Ser of flue? "Quam difficile surgit quern moles male consue-
tudinis premit ! " " O Deus ! " sei^ Seint Austin, " liu eruedliche '^ he
arise'S 'pet under wune of sunne haueS ileien longe." pet eihteo'be
ymg is ]7et Seint Gregorie sei^, " Peccatum quod per penitentiam
non diluitur mox suo pondere ad aliud traliit : " J?et is^ ]>e sunne J?et
nis nout ^ ibet drawe'S anon ano'Ser, "? |)erefter ]?e ]?ridde t' "i so
euerich on kundle^ more 1^ wurse kundles ]?en ]>e sulue moder. So
me deoppre wade's into ]?e ueondes leie uenne,'' so me kume'S later
up. pe nie^e reisun is J?is : so me ear biginne'S her uorte don his
penitence, so he haueS lesse uorte beten i'Se pine of purgatorie. pis
beo^ nu nie reisuns, J monie moa J^er beo^, hwi schrift ouh forte
beon imaked euer on Inline.
Schrift schal beon'' edmod, ase was ]?e Pupplicanes, *? nout ase
was J>e Pharisewus J^et tolde his god deden, and scheawude uorS j^et
ihole, ]:»o he schulde unwrien his wunden t" and for^i he iwende awei
unhealed, ase ure Louerd sulf telle'S, ut of ]>e temple. Edmodnesse
is iliche ]7eos kointe harloz ° ]>et scheawe^ for^ hore gutefestre ^ 1!
hore vlowinde cweisen J^et heo puteS euer uor^ :f and jif j^e cweise
Folio 90. is atelicli ^ heo scheaweS hire openluker ine riche monne eien, uor
heo schulden habben reou'Se of ham, J, jiuen ham god J>e ra'Ser.
Heo hudet eke hore ihole clo'Ses, '? do's an aire vuemeste ^ on vite-
rokes al to torene. Al riht, o }>isse wise, edmodnesse eadiliche
» armliche. T. C. ^ nis sone. T. C.
"^ wades Ke deoueles lei mure. T. "^ all to beon. T. C.
' cwointe herloz. T. ^ gute feastre. T.
s aterliclie. T. ^ uuemaste. T. uueward [werres]. C.
CONFESSION MUST BE HUMBLE AS THE PUBLICAN'S. 329
our Lord wept, as we are told in the Gospel, and gnashed his
teeth,^ and moaned, and cried aloud upon him. These four things
he did before he raised him, to shew how difficult it is for a man to
arise from an evil habit, who lies putrifying in his sin. Saint Mary
have mercy ! When Lazarus stank after four days, how, then, must
the sinful stink, after four or five years ? " Quam difficile surgit
quem moles maliB consuetudinis premit ! " " O God ! " saitli St.
Austin, " with what difficulty doth he arise who hath Iain long
under the habit of sin." The eighth thin<2; is that which Saint
Gregory saith, " Peccatum quod per penitentiam non diluitur mox
suo pondere ad aliud trahit ; " that is, the sin that is not amended
by penitence soon draws on another, and thereafter a third, and so
on, every one giveth birth to another and a worse progeny than the
mother herself. Thus the deeper men wade into the devil's muddy
fen they are the longer in getting out of it. The ninth reason is
this : the sooner a man begins here to do his penance, he hath the
less to amend in the pain of purgatory. Now these are nine
reasons, and there are many more, on account of which confession
ought to be made quickly.
VII. Confession ought to be humble, as the publican's was, and not
as the Pharisee's who recounted his good deeds, and shewed openly
that which was whole, when he ought to have uncovered his wounds ;
and therefore he departed from the temple unhealed, as our Lord him-
self telleth. Humility may be compared to those crafty varlets who
expose their dropping ulcers and their running sores, which they always
put forth; and if the sore is hideous they shew it the more openly in the
sight of the rich, that they may pity them, and give them alms the
more readily. They likewise conceal their whole clothes, and put on
smock-frocks over them, all torn. Just in this manner, humility haj)pily
and humbly beguileth our Lord, and obtaineth good things from
him; begging with pious knavery,*^ she always concealeth her
good things and sheweth her poverty, and weeping and groaning,
* Grist-bitan. A.-S. eve^pijxricraro, John, xi. 33, teas moved, felt pttJ/.
*> Trutannisatione. MS. Oxon. Truand, Fr. a sturdy beggar.
CAMD. SOC. 2 U
330 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
bigile'S ure Louerd, ? edniodliche. 1! bijit of his gode :^ mid iseli
truwandise heo hut euer hire god, ■? scheawe"S forS hire pouerte, 1
put forS hire cancre, weopinde ? groninde, biuoren Godes eien ^' 1:
halse'S me'SleasHche bi his deorewurSe '^ passiun, 1! bi his deorewur'Se
blode ":! bi his fif wunden r' bi his moder teares r^ bi ]?eo tittes ^ \et
lie sec ]>Q mile J?et hine uedde •:! uor alle his haluwene kiue :! uor ]?e
deore driwerie J^et he haue-S to his deore spuse, }?et is, to l^e cleane
soule, uor his dea'S o rode uor liire to bijitene. Mid ]7us onwille
halsunge, weope'S ? gret "^ efter sume helpe to J?e wrecche meoseise,
uorte lecnen mid |je seke, % forte healen mide hire cancre :! 7 hake's
ure Louerd so r' ■? he ne mei uor reouSe wernen liire, ne sweamen
hire heorte mid wernunge, nomeliche so ase he is so unimete large
]?et him nis no J?ing leouere J>en J^et he muwe ivinden aucheisun
uorto jiuene. Auh hwoso jelpeS of his gode, ase do's ine schrifte
]?eos prude, hwat neod is ham to jelpen ? Moni haue^ ane swuche
manere to siggen hire sunnen, J^et hit is wur^ a derne jelpunge "?
huntunge efter hereword of more holinesse.
Schrift auh for to beon scheomeful. Bi ]7en ];et tet folc of Israel
wende ]7uruhut J'e reade see :! }>et was read % bitter, is bitocned ]7et
we moten ]?uruh rudi scheome passen to ]?e heouene, 1 ]?uruh bitter
Folio 90 h. penitence :! ]7et is, ine BO'S schrifte. Wat Crist hit is god riht l^et us
scheome biuoren monne, ]?et forjeten scheome ]70 we duden }?e dede
7 te sunne biuoren Godes sih'Se. " Nam omnia nuda sunt et aperta
oculis ejus ad quem nobis sermo :" "Vor al J'et euer is. al is naked,"
sei^ Seinte Powel, " 7 open to his eien wi'S hwam we schulen rikenen
alle ure deden." Scheome is ];e meste del, ase Seint Austin sei^, of
ure penitence r^ " Verecundia pars est magna penitencie." And
Seint Bernard sei^ j^et no deoruwurSe jimston ne delite'S mon so
muchel uorto biholden ase de^ godes eie ]?e rude of monnes nebbe
]?et sei^ ariht his sunnen. Vnderstand wel J^is word. Schrift is a
sacrament J^et liaue^ one ilicnesse wi^uten of J?en J^inge ]7et hit
» derue. T, '' pappes. T. '■' ropes. T. rope'5. C.
SHAME MUST BE FELT IN CONFESSING. 331
exposeth her rankling sore in the sight of God ; and, without ceasing,
beseecheth him by his precious sufferings, and by his precious
blood, by his five wounds, by his mother's tears, by the paps from
which he sucked the milk that fed him, for the love of all his saints,
for the kind affection which he hath to his dear spouse, that is, to
the pure soul, and by his death on the cross for her redemption.
Thus doth she, with earnest adjuration, weep and cry for help to the
wretched sufferer, wherewith to administer medichie to the sick,
and to heal her festering sore ; and thus she adjureth our Lord ;
and he cannot, for pity, refuse her, nor grieve her heart with
a refusal, since he is so exceedingly bountiful that there is nothing
more agreeable to him than to find an occasion to give. But, when
any one boasteth of his goodness, as the proud do in confession, what
need is there to help ^ them ? JMany have such a way of speaking
of then: sins, that it is equivalent to a covert boasting and hunting
after the praise of greater sanctity.
VIII. Confession must be made with shame. By the passing of
the people of Israel through the Red Sea, which was red and bitter, it
is signified that we must go to heaven through red shame and bitter
penitence, that is, in true confession. Christ knoweth that it is
very just that we should be ashamed before man, who forgot shame
when we did the deed and the sin in the sight of God, " Nam onuiia
nuda sunt et aperta oculis ejus ad quern nobis sermo.'^ "For all
that ever exists, is naked," saith St. Paul, "and open to His eyes to
whom we must give an account of all our doings." Shame is the
greatest part of our penance, as St. Austin saith, " Verecundia
pars est magna penitenti^." And St. Bernard saith that the sight
of no precious jewel giveth so much delight to man, as the blushing
of a man's face who truly confesseth his sins delighteth the eye of
God. Understand rightly this matter. Confession is a sacrament,
a The original gelpen is evidently a mistake of the transcriber, for helpen. Qure
necessitas eos juvandi ? MS. Oxon.
332 EEGULiE INCLUSARUM.
wurclie'S wi'Sinnen :! ase hit is ine fuluhte. pe wassunke ine fululite
wi'Suten bitocne'S ]>e wasscliuiige of ]?e soule wi^innen. Al so is of
schrifte. pe cwike rude of ]^e nebbe make's to understonden ]?et te
soule ]?et was bloc, % nefde bute dead heou, haue^ ikeiht cwic heou,
% is iruded feire.
Schrift schal beon dredful r' J^et tu sigge, mid Jeremie,'* " Quo-
tiens confessus fui, uideor milii non esse confessus :" " Ase ofte ase
icli am ischriuen euer me JjuuclieS me unscliriuen." Vor euer is
sum of ];e circumstances ^ forjiten. Vor^i, seiS Sein Austin, " Ve
laudabili hominum uite, si remota misericordia discutias cam :" J)et
is, " pe beste mon of al ]?isse worlde jif ure Louerd demde him al
efter rihtwisnesse % nout efter merci, wo scholde him iwurSen : " Sed
misericordia superexaltat judicium : " " Auh his merci touward us
weie'S euer more ]7en J^et rihte nearuwe."
Folio 91. Schrift schal beon hopeful. Hwoso sei'S al |7et he con, 7 de^ al
]7et he mei, God ne bit nan more. Auh hope *? dred schulen euer
beon imeind *= togederes. pis forte bitocnen was ihoten i ]7en olde
lawe jjet no mon ne scholde twinnen J'e two grindstones : ^ ]7e
neo'Sere J^et li^ stille, % here's heui charge bitocne^ ferlac, J^et teie^
mon from sunne, % is iheuegeg ® her mid herde uorte beon cwite of
herdre. pe vuere ston bitocne^ hope J»et eorne^ *" 1: sture'S hire
euer ine gode werkes, mid trust of muchele mede. peos two no mon
ne to-dele urom o'Ser. Vor, ase Seint Gregorie sol's : " Spes sine
timore luxuriat in presumtionem :! timer sine spe degenerat in de-
sperationem :" " Dred wi^uten hope make^S mon unti'usten t' and hope
wiSute dred make^ ouertrusten." peos two un'Seawes, untrust and
ouertrust, beoS ]?es deofles tristren, j^er ]^et wrecche best selden
etsterte'S. Tristre is \ev me sit s mid j^e greahundes forte kepen J^e
" Jerome. T. C. ^ totagges. T. C.
" ifeiet. T. ^ grindelstanes. T. C.
•= ilieueget. T. iheueged. C. ' ~i turnes. T.
K mon luttes T.
I CONFESSION MUST BE WITH FEAR AND WITH HOPE. 333
which hath an outward resemblance of the effect which it worketh
within, as it is in baptism. Tlie outward washing in baptism
betokeneth the washino; of the soul within. It is the same with
regard to confession. The lively red of the countenance tells that
the soul, which was livid, and had nothing but the hue of death,
hath got the hue of life, and is beautifully reddened.
IX. Confession ought to be made with such anxious fear that thou
mayest say with Jeremiah [St. Jerome], " Quoties confessus fui,
videor mihi non esse confessus :" " Whenever I have confessed, it
always seems to me as if I had not confessed." For some of the
circumstances are always forgotten. Wherefore, said St. Austin,
" Va3 laudabili hominum vittB, si remota misericordia discutias
cam ;" that is, " The best man of all this world, if our Lord judged
him according to strict justice, and not according to mercy, should
be in a woful condition." " Sed misericordia superexaltat judicium." ^
" But his mercy toward us always outweigheth his strict judgment."
X . Confession must be hopeful. When a man saith all that he
knoweth, and doth all that he can, God requires no more of him.
But hope and fear should always be mingled together. To intimate
tliis, it was commanded in the old law that no man should separate
the two grindstones : '^ The nether, that lietli still, and beareth a heavy
load, betokeneth fear, which draweth man from sin, and is loaded
here with hard things, that it may be free from harder. The upper
stone betokeneth hope, which runneth, and is always actively
employed in good works, trusting to receive a great reward. Let
no man separate these two from each other. For, as St. Gregory
saith, " Spes sine timore luxuriat in prgesumptionem ; timor sine
spe degenerat in desperationem :" " Fear without hope maketh a
man to despair ; and hope without fear maketh him presumptuous."
These two sins, despair and presumption, are the devil's tristres, '^
where the unhappy beast seldom escapeth. A tristre is where
'' St. James, ii. 13. *> Deuteronomy, xxiv. 6.
^' Trisia, a station or post in hunting.- Bailey.
334 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM,
hearde, o'Ser tillen ^ ]?e nettes ajean ham. Touward on of J?eos two
is al ]7et he sleateS :' vor ]?er beo^S his nettes, 1: per beo'S his grea-
hundes, untrust '? ouertrust, igedered togederes :' and beoS of alle
sunnen next }>e jete of helle. Mid dred wi'Sute hope, ]>et is mid
untrust, was Keimes ^ schrift, 1; Judases t' and for^i heo uoruerden
wi^[uten] hope, ]?et is [mid vntrust]. WiSute dred, mid ouertrust,
is ]?es vnisehes sawe ° ]?et Dauid seiS, i ]fe sauter, " Secundum mul-
titudinem ire sue non requiret."*^ Nis nout, ewe^ he, God so grim
ase je him uore makie^. " No \" he sei^, Dauid, juihe,® and sei^
J»enne hwareuore : " Propter quid irritauit impius Deum ? Dixit
enim in corde suo, Non requiret," Ah'e uormest he cleope^ }>e
ouertrusti, unbileued. pe unbileuede — mid hwon gremeS he God
Folio 91 b. Ahnihti? "Mid hwon?" he sei'S, "mid tet }?et he seiS,^ |;et he nule
nout so neruhhche demen ase je sigge'S." ^ " Eui sikerhche, auh he
wule." pus ];eos two unSeawes beo'S two grimme robbares :' vor ]7e
on, l^et is ouertrust, binime^ ^^ God his rihte dom 7 his rihtwisnesse :'
J?e o^er, J^et is untrust, binimeS him his milce. And so heo beo^
umbe uorte uordon God sulf :' vor God ne muhte nout beon wi'Suten
rihtwisnesse ne wibuten milce. Nu, J>eonne, hwuche unSeauwes
beo'S efnunge to ]^eos J>et wulle'S acwellen God, on hore fule wise !
Eif ]?u ert to trusti, "? boldest God to nesche uorto awreken sunne t'
sunne hke^ him, bi ]?ine tale. Auh bihold hu he awrec him of his
heih engel ]?et J?ouhte of one prude t' 1 hu he awrec him of Adam
uor ]>e bite of one epple r" and hu [he] biseinte ^ Sodome 7 Gomorre,
men "? wummen 1: children,'^ % alle )?e nomecu'Se buruhwes, al ane
muchele schire, adun into helle grunde, J>er ase is nu J^e reade ^ see,
\Qt nowiht cwikes [nis] *" inne r' 1 hu he ine Noes flode adreinte al
]7ene world, bute eilite i ]?en arche :! hu he ine his owune uolc
=" tildes. T. tilde'5. C. <> Caymes. T. C.
•^ wi'S hope wi'Suten dred; "^ is, wi'S ouertrust is tis unselies sake, T.
•^ quajret. Vulgate. e ^goj jje. T. geihe. C.
' wi'S f> he seis, as he seis, Nule he. T. s fortelle'5. T.
^ reaues. T. reaueS. C. > bisenete. T. C.
'' were, T wif, •] wenehel. T. C. ' deade. C. ■" nis. T. C.
PRESUMPTION AND DESPAIR DEADLY SINS. 335
men wait with the greyhounds to intercept the game, or to jn^epare
• the nets for them."^ All that he driveth is toward one of these
two [points] ; ^ for there are his nets, and there his greyhomids.
Despair and Presumption, are met together, and of all sins they
are nearest the gate of hell. With fear, and without hope, that
is, with despair, was the confession of Cain and of Judas ; and
therefore, they died without hope, that is, in despair. Without fear,
with presumption, is that unhappy person's saying, of whom
David saith in the Psalter, " Secundum multitudinem iree su£e non
requiret.^' " According to the multitude of his wrath he will not
seek him." '^ God is not so angry, saith he, as ye pretend that
he is. " No ! " saith David, " Yea ! " and then saith wherefore.
" Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God ? for he hath said in
his heart. He will not require it." ^ First of all he calleth the pre-
sumptuous wicked. The wicked, wherewith provoketh he God
Almighty? " Wherewith? " saith he, "with this, that he saith, He
will not judge so strictly, as ye say." " Yea, surely, but he will.^'
Thus, these two sins are two fierce robbers ; for the one, that is,
presumption, taketh away from God his righteous judgment and his
justice ; the other, that is, despair, taketh away from him his mercy.
And thus they both are endeavouring to destroy God himself; for
God could not exist without justice, nor without mercy. Now
then, what sins are worthy of being compared to these which
would, in their corrupt manner, kill God ? If thou art too con-
fident, and accountest God too mild to inflict vengeance upon sin,
according to thy account he is pleased with sin. But consider how
he avenged upon his archangel that thought of pride alone, aiid how
he avenged himself upon Adam for the bite of an apple, and how he
sunk Sodom and Gomorrah, men, women, and children, and all the
famous cities, an entire region of great extent, down to the abyss of
hell, where the Dead Sea now is, in which there is nothing that
" Vide Dii Gauge, in voc. Trista.
*> See Coles's Eng. Diet. Slete; in Bailey, Sleet.
•^ Psalm X. 4. English R. C. translation of the Vulgate. '' Ibid, verse 13.
336 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
Israel, his deorling, hu grimmeliche lie awrec him, ase ofte ase heo
agulten. Dathan and Abiron, Chore and his feren •:! ];e o^re also
];et he slouh bi monie ^ ]?usendes ofte, uor hore grucchunge. An
o'Ser half, loke, jif J7U hauest untrust of his vnimete milce, hu liht-
liche and hu sone Seinte Peter }>et ^ hefde uorsaken him, and let for
ane cwene worde, was mid him iseihtned "i and hwu |>e ]?eof o \^
rode, ]?et hefde euer iliued vuele, in one sterthwule hefde of him
milce, "^ mid one ueire speche. Vor ]7i, bitweonen J'eos two, untrust
'? ouertrust, hope % dred beon "^ euer iveied togcderes.
Folio 92. Schrift jet schal beon wis, ? to wise monne imaked, of unku'Se
sunnen ^ and nout to junge preostes — junge i sigge of witte — ne
to sot olde. Bigin uormest et prude, % sech alle \q bowes J?erof, ase
heo beo^ j^er uppe iwritene, hwuc falle to j^e. perefter al so of
onde :^ 1! go so adunewardes bi reawe % bi reawe, uor tu kume to J?e
laste, % drauh togedere al |7ene team under \q. moder.
Schrift ouh forte beon so'S. Ne lih |m nout o \\ sulf i vor, ase
Seint Austin sei^, " Qui causa humilitatis mentitur fit quod prius
ipse non fuit, id est, peccator." pe J^et lihS on him sulf ]7uruh to
muchel edmodnesse, he is imaked sunful, ]7auh he er nere. Seint
Gregorie sei^ pauh, " Bonarum mentium est culpam agnoscere, ubi
culpa non est." Kunde of gode heorte is to beon olFeared of sunne,
]?er ase non nis ofte r^ o^er weien swu^er his sunne summechere \qx\
he ]7urfte. Weien hit to Intel is ase vuel, o'Ser wurse. pe middel
weie of mesure is euer guldene. Drede we us euer: vor ofte we
wene'S to don a Intel vuel, % do's one greate sunne :! % ofte we wene^
wel to donne % do^S al to cweade. Sigge we euer ]7eonne mid Seint
» feole. T. C. b after t lie. T. C.
•= ouer eode at him his milce. T. of code ed him milee. C.
^ schulen beo. T.
CONFESSION MUST BE PRUDENT AND TRUTHFUL. 337
hath Hfe ; and how, in Noah's flood, he drowned all the world but
eight persons who were in the ark ; how severely he avenged himself
upon his own beloved people Israel, as often as they were guUty.
Dathan and Abiram, Korah and his companions, and others whom,
in like manner, he slew, often in many thousands, for their murmur-
ing. On the other hand, if thou hast despair of his unbounded
mercy, consider how easily and how soon Saint Peter, who had
forsaken him, and that for a word spoken by a maid-servant, was
reconciled to him ; and how the thief on the cross, who had always
lived in sin, obtained mercy of him in an instant, by one candid
speech. Wherefore, between these two, despair and presumption,
let hope and fear be always joined together.
X I . Confession of secret sins ought also to be always prudent, and
made to a prudent man, and not to young priests, I mean young of
wit, nor yet to foolish old men. Begin with pride, and examine all
the branches thereof, as they are written above, which apply to thee.
Thereafter, of envy, in like manner ; and thus proceed downward,
from one to another, until thou comest to the last, and di'aw
together the whole progeny under the mother.
XII . Confession ought to be truthful. Do not lie concerning thy-
self, for, as St. Austin saitli, " Qui causa humilitatis mentitur fit quod
prius ipse non fuit, id est peccator." " He who lieth concerning
himself, through too much humility, becomes sinful thougli he were
not so before." St. Gregory saith, however, " Bonarum mentium
est culpam agnoscere, ubi culpa non est." It is the nature of a good
heart to be afraid of sin, often where there is none, or to ponder his
sin somewhat more than he need. To ponder it too little is as bad,
or worse. The middle way is always the golden mean. Let us
always fear ; for, often we think to do a little harm, and we commit a
great sin; and often we think to do good, and we do much evil.
Say we always, then, with St. Anselm, " Even our good is, in a
manner, so tainted with evil that it cannot please God, or rather
must displease him," St. Paul saith, *' I know that in me, that is,
CAMD. soc. 2 X
338 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
Aunselme, " Etiam bonum nostrum ita est aliquo modo corruptum
nt possit non placere Deo, aut certe displicere." Paulus "i " Scio
quod non est in me, hoc est, in carne mea, bonum." No god in us
nis of us : vre god is Godes "l auh ure sunne is of us, % ure owune.
" Godis ^ god, hwon ich hit do," cwe^S he, Seint Aunselme, " so, o
summe wise, min vuel hit forgnawe^ :'^ o'Ser ich hit do ungledUche ;'
o'Ser to er "i o'Ser to leate ^. o'Ser lete wel J^erof. pauh no mon hit
nute :' o^er wolde ]?et ei hit wuste i o^er jemeleasliche do hit X
o'ber to unwishche, to muchel, o^er to luteh pus euer sum vuel
FoUo 92 h. mongleS him mit mine gode, j^et Godes grace jiue'S me, ]?et hit mei
Intel liken God, and " misliken ofte." Seinte Marie ! hwon j^e holi
mon seide ]?us bi him suluen, hwu muwe we hit so'Sliche siggen bi
us wrecches !
Schrift ouh to beon willes -! ]?et is, willeliche, iureined,"^ and nout
idrawen of J7e, ase ]?auh hit were \\\\ un'Sonckes. pe hwule J>et tu
const siggen out,® seie al unasked. Me ne schal asken none bute
uor neode one "l vor of \% axunge mei uallen vuel -I bute jif ]?e
axunge beo J^e wisre. On o^er half, moni mon abit ^ to schriuen
him uort );e nede tippe. Auh ofte him lieS J»e wrench,^ " pet he ne
mei hwon he wule, ]?e nolde hwule ]7et he mulite." Nan more kang-
schipe*^ nis J^en setten God terme :^ ase ]?auli grace were his, to
nimen up o grace j^erinne iSe terme ase he him sulf sette. Nai,
belami, nai ! pe terme is ine Godes honden "i and nout i J7ine
baundune.^ Hwon God boot ^ j^e, reche'S for'S mid bo'Se honden "l vor
wi'Sdrawe he his hond, \m mei loken efter, jif vuel o'Ser oSer ]?ing
net ^ J?e to schrifte. Lo ! hwat seiiS Seint Austin? " Coacta servitia
Deo non placent : " " Seruises inedde ne cwemeS nout ure Louerde."
» Godes. T. C. >> forgneies. T. forgneied. C, ' o«er. T.
^ freinet. T. vnfreined. C. The latter is doubtless the genuine reading, and it is
adopted in the translation. ^ oht. T. eut. C. ' abides. T,
sf lihen hise wrenches. T. 1 ge'S J^e wrench. C.
'' madschipe, T. kanhschipe. C. ' bandun. C. '' bedes. T.
' iieodes. T. nod. C.
CONFESSION MUST BE FREE AND VOLUNTARY. 339
in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing/' ^ No good that is in us is of
ourselves : our good is God's ; but our sin is of ourselves, and is
our own. " When 1 do God's good," saith St. Anselm, " my own
evil, somehow, so corrodes it that I do it either without pleasure, or
too soon, or too late, or I think highly of it. If no man should
know it, I either wish that some one might know it, or I do it
negligently, or too inconsiderately, too abundantly, or too sparingly.
Thus is some evil always mingled with my good, which the grace of
God giveth me, so that it can please God little, and may often
displease him." St. Mary ! when the holy man spoke thus of him-
self, how truly may we unhappy sinners say the same of ourselves !
XIII. Confession ought to be voluntary, that is, willingly, un-
asked, and not drawn out of thee, as if it were against thy will. When
thou hast any thing to confess, say all, unasked. We are not to
put any questions, iniless it be quite necessary ; for evil may come
of questioning, unless it be done the more wisely. On the other
hand, many a one puts off' confession until he is in the last extremity.
But the proverb, " He may not when he would, who would not
when he might," often applieth to him. There is no greater
absurdity than to set a time to God, as if grace were one's own, and a
man could take grace to himself at whatever time he set. Nay, my
friend, nay ! The time is in God's hand, and not at thy discretion.
When God offers, reach forth with both hands ; for, if he withdraw
his hand, thou mayest afterwards wait long. Should sickness, or any
other cause drive thee to confession, behold ! what saith St.
Austin? "Coacta servitia Deo non placent:" "Forced services please
not our Lord." But yet, " Better is clay than nay." ^ Before is
^ Rom. vii. 18. •
^ The Editor is not quite sure that he has rightly translated this passage. It is
evidently proverbial. In the MS. Oxon. it is " Melius est tunc quam nunquam." bo
signifying either then or cku/. If the reading of the MS. T. be adopted, it might be
translated " Better is one than none," or, perhaps, " Better is yea than nay."
340 REGULJE INCLU8ARUM.
pauh, no pe later, " Betere is ]>o ^ ]?ene no." Betere is er ]?en to
lete. " Nunquam sera est penitencia, si tamen uera." Nis neuere
to lete penitence, J?et is soSliclie imaked, lie set's him suluen. Auh
betere is, ase Dauid sei"S, " Refloruit caro mea et ex uoluntate mea
confitebor ei :"' ]?et is, " Mi vlescli is iflured "? bicumen al neowe, uor
ich chulle schriuen me, 'i lierien God willes," Wei sei^ he, " is
iflured ^" vorte bitochen wilschrift r' vor J^e eor'Se al unnet, 1; ]>e
treou also, opene'S ham 'l bringcS for^ misliche flares. Edmodnesse,
t abstinence, kulure unloSnesse, 7 o'Ser swuch uertuz bee's feire ine
Folio 93. Godes eien, *? swote smellinde flures ine Godes neose. In Canticis,
" Flores apparuernnt in terra nostra." Of ham, J^et is, of swuche
flures make ]>\i his herboruwe wi'Sinnen ];e suluen :' vor his delices,
he seiS, bee's forto wunien }>er. " Et delicie mee cum filiis homi-
num." In libro sapiencie.
Schrift ouh forte beon owune. No mon ne schal ine schrifte
wreien buten him suluen, ase uor'S ase he mei. pis ich sigge uorSi
J?et swuch cas, and swuch auenture bitime^ to summe monne ]?et
he ne mai nout fulliche ne allunge wreien him suluen bute jif he
wreie o'Sre. Auh, bi nome, no ]?e later, ne nemne he nout J>en ilke,
]7auh ]7e schrift-feder wute to so^e touward hwam hit turne. Auh,
]7us ]7U meiht siggen — a munuch, o'Ser a preost :' and nout Willam
ne Water, }>auh j^er ne beon non o^er.
Schrift schal beon studeuest forte holden |)e penitence, 11 bileauen
he sunne. pet tu sigge to ]?e preoste, " Ich habbe studeuestliche ine
l;onke, J ine heorte uorte bileauen peos sunne J don ]?e penitence."
pe preost ne schal nout asken ]7e jif ];u wult }>eonne uor^more, uor-
hoten bine sunne. Inouh hit is ]?et tu hit hauest on heorte treoulich
to donne, ])uruh Godes grace :' t jif }»u uallest eft ];erinne, J>et tu
wult anonriht arisen J^uruh Godes helpe, '? kumen ajean to schrifte.
^ o, T.
OUR OWN SINS ONLY TO BE CONFESSED. 341
better than too late. " Nunquam sera est poenitentia, si tamen
vera.'^ " True repentance," saith he, " is never too late." But it is
better, as David saith, " Refloruit caro mea, et ex voluntate mea
confitebor ei," that is, "My flesh hath flourished again, and is
altogether renewed ; for I will make my confession, and praise God
with my heart." He saith well, " has flourished," to signify
voluntary confession; for the earth quite unconstrained, and the
trees likewise, open themselves and bring forth various flowers.
Humihty, abstinence, dove-like meekness, and other such virtues
are fair flowers in the eyes of God, and sweet smelling in his nostrils.
Thus, in Canticles, " Flores apparuerunt in terra nostra : " ^ " The
flowers have appeared in our land." Of these, that is, of such
flowers, make thou his bower in thy heart ; for he saith his delight
is to dwell there : " Et deliciae mess cum filiis liominum." ^ " My
delioht is with the sons of men."
XIV. Confession ought to be our own. In confession, no man must
expose any one but himself, as far as possible. I say this because
such a case and such an accurrence may happen to a man that he
may not be able fully and entirely to confess himself without ex-
posing another. But, yet, let him not mention the name of such a
one, even though the father confessor should well know to whom it
refers. But thou mightest say thus : a monk, or a priest, and not
William nor Walter, although there be no other.
XV. Confession must be made with a firm purpose to do the
penance, and to leave off the sin. Thou must say to the priest, " I am
firmly resolved, in my mind and heart, to leave off" this sin, and to do
the i)enance." The priest ought not to ask thee if thou wilt then fm-ther-
more vow to leave off thy sin. It is enough that thou hast it in thy
heart faithfully to do it, through God's grace, and if thou fallest
afterwards hito it, that thou wilt immediately arise, through God's
^ Song of Soluiuou, ii. 12. '' Proverbs, viii. 31.
342 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
" Yade et ampllus noli peccare." " Go," cwe^ ure Louerd, " % liaue
ine wille jjet tu nult nan more sunegen." Lo ! ]?us ne askede he non
o'Ser sikernesse.
Schrift ouh forto beon bi^oulit biuoren longe. Of fif ]?inges, mid
yvae. ]70uhte, gedere }>ine smmen. Of al Jnn elde, of childhode, of
juwe'Sehode ; gedere al togederes. per efter gedere ]>e studen j^et
Folio 93 h. tu wmiedest inne ^' % ]?encli jeorne liwat ]?u dudest in euerich stude
sunderliche, % in eueriche elde. per efter secli al ut, % to-trodde
]?ine sunnen, bi ]?ine vif wittes ^ J>er efter bi alle \e limes ]7et * tu
hauest mide isuneged :! % ine hwuclie Jju liauest mest isuneged, o'Ser
oftest : a last sunderliche, bi davves and bi tiden.
Nu je habbe^ alle iheued, ase icli understonde, j^e sixtene stuc-
clienes J^et ich bihet to dealen :! ? alle ich habbe to-broken ham ou,
mine leoue sustren, ase me deS to children, |?et muhten wiSuten
brokene breade deien of hungre. Auh me is, ]?et wute je, moni
crume etfallen. Seche'S '% gedere^ ham t uor heo bee's soule uode.
Swuch schrift, ]?et haue^ ]7us |?eos sixtene stucchenes, haueS J^eo ilke
muchele mihten ]?et ich erest spec of :^ J^reo ajean ]7e deofle, t |?reo
ajean us suluen, deorewur'Se ouer alle gold hordes, 1 ouer alle
jimstones ^ of ynde.
Mine leoue sustren, ]>eos fifte dole, }>et is of schrifte, limpe'S to
alle men iliche. Vor^i ne awundri je nout ]?et ich touward ou
nomeliche nabbe nout ispeken i j^isse dole. Habbe^, J>auh, to ower
bihoue, J>esne lutle laste ende, of alle kudde "? kuSe " sunnen :! ase of
prude r^ of great heorte ^ o^er of heih heorte ;' of onde :^ of wre^S Se :!
of slouh-Se :^ of jemeleaste :! of idele wordes :" of vntowune }>ouhtes :^
of sum idel herunge :! of sum uals gledunge :^ o^er of heui murn-
unge r^ of ipocrisie :' of mete, t of drunche, to muchel o^er to
" i hwiieh. T. C. ^ Sinimes. T. C. <• of alle ciiSe.
CONFESSION MUST BE PUEMEDITATED. 343
help, and come again to confession. " Vade et amplius noli
peccare." * " Go," saith onr Lord, " and resolve that thou wilt no
more sin/' Lo ! thus he asked no other security.
A. V 1 . Confession ought to be long premeditated. By reflecting
upon five things, recollect thy sins. Of every age of thy life, of child-
hood, of youth ; bring them all into remembrance. Thereafter
recollect the places in which thou dwelledst, and think earnestly what
thou didst in each place separately, and at every age. Thereafter,
seek and trace out all thy sins in thy five senses, then in all the
members wherewith thou hast sinned, and in which thou hast
sinned most or often est : lastly, on particular days and times.
You have now had, as I think, all the sixteen parts, into which I
promised to divide the subject, and I have broken them all to you,
my dear sisters, as is done to children, who might die of hunger if
they had not their bread broken ; and, as ye know, many a crumb
hath fallen from me. Seek and gather them up, for they are food
for the soul. Such confession, that hath these sixteen parts, hath
those same great powers of which I spoke first ; three against the
devil, and three against ourselves, more precious than all treasures
of gold, and than all jewels of India.
My dear sisters, this fifth part, which is of confession, belongeth
to all men alike. Wherefore do not wonder that I have not spoken
to you in a particular manner in this part. Take, however, to yom'
behoof this short and concluding summary of all mentioned and
known sins, as of pride, of ambition, or of presumption, of envy, of
wrath, of sloth, of carelessness, of idle words, of immoral thoughts,
of any idle hearing, of any false joy, or of heavy mourning, of
hypocrisy, of meat and of drink, too much or too little, of grumbling,
" St. John, viii. 11.
344 REGUL.^ INCLUSARU3f.
lutel ^ of grucchuiige :! of grime chore :! of silence ibroken :! of
sitten to longe et ]7urle :' of vres misseide :! wi^uten jeme of heorte r'
Folio 94. o^er in untime ^ of sum uals word :! of sware :! of pleie ^ of schorn ^
leihtre r' of sheden crumen, o'Ser ale :! o^er leten J^inges muwlen
o^er rusten, o^er uorrotien :! clo'Ses unseouwed i bireined ^ o'Ser
unwaschen :! ibroken nep ° o^er disch ^ o^er biseon jemeleasliche
eni ping ]?et me mide uare^, o'Ser ouhte to jemen :! o'Ser of keorf-
unge, o^er of liurtunge, Jjuruh unbiseinesse.*^ Of alle J^e Jnnges in
]7isse riwle ]>et beo^S misjemed '^ — of alle swuche j^inges schriue hire
enes a wike ette leste :! vor nis non so lutel ];ing of j^eos J^et ]7e
deouel naue^ enbreued ^ on his rolle. Auh schrift screapeS hit of,
and make^ him uorte leosen muchel of his hwule. Auh al ]?et
schrift ne schreape^ nout of — al he wule a domesdei reden ful reade-
liche ^ uorte bicleopien ]7e mide. O word ne schal ]>er wonten. Nu
}7eonne ich reade uorto jiuen him ]7et leste ]>et we euer muwen to
writen :! vor no mester nis him leouere. And hwat se writ beo^S
umbe uorte schreapien hit of clenliche. Mid none ]7inge ne muwe
je ouerkumen ne maten him betere. To eueriche preoste mei ancre
schriuen hire of swuche openliche ^ sunnen ]?et to alle men bmalleS :!
auh ful trusti % ful siker heo schal beon of ];e preostes godnesse *
bet heo allunge scheaweS to hu hire stent abuten vleschliche tenta-
ciuns, jif heo ham haue^ :! o^er jif heo is mid ham ^ i vended :! bute
jif hit beo ine dea'Ses dute. pus "j^auh me ]?uncheS ]?et heo mei
siggen : " Sire, vlesches fondunge ]?et ich habbe, o'Ser habbe ilieued,
go's to uor^ upe me, ]?uruh mine feblesce.^ Ich am of dred leste I
Folio 94 I. go driuinde o'Serhwules to swu^e uorSward upe fole Jwuhtes, and
fule umbestunde :! ase J^auh ich huntede efter likunge. Ich muhte,
l^uruh Godes strencSe, scheken ham ofte of me, jif ich were cwic-
" inschake. T. ischake. C. •> birainet. T.
<^ scale. T. "* uiibisehenesse. T.
« misnuniene. T. C. ' breves. T. ambreued. C.
g rekene T rede ful witterliche. T. *> uttcrliehe. T. C.
' godleic. T. C. '' is swa. T.
' Jmrch min l^afunge. C.
CAUTIONS WITH REGARD TO CONFESSION. 345
of morose countenance, of silence broken, of sitting too long at the
parlour window, of hours ill said, or without attention of heart, or at a
wrong time ; of any false word, or oath ; of play, of scornful laughter,
of dropping crumbs, or spilling ale, or letting thing grow mouldy, or
rusty, or rotten ; clothes not sewed, wet with rain, or unwashen ; a cup
or a dish broken, or any thing carelessly looked after which Ave are
usmg,* or which we ought to take care of; or of cutting, or of da-
maging, through heedlessness. Of all the things in this rule which
are neglected, let her confess once a week at least, for there is none
of these things so small that the devil hath not written in his roll.
But confession eraseth it, and maketh him to lose much of his
labour. And all that confession doth not erase he will read full
readily on the day of judgment, in order to accuse thee with it ; a
single word shall not be wanting. Now, therefore, I advise that we
give him the least to write we ever can ; for no employment is more
gratifying to him. And whatever is written be careful to erase it
cleanly. With nothing may ye overcome nor defeat him better.
An anchoress may confess to any priest such open sins as all men
are liable to fall into ; but she must be well assm-ed and confident of
the integrity of -the priest to whom she sheweth unreservedly how it
stands with her in regard to carnal temptations, if she hath them, or
if she is tempted with them, except it be under the fear of death. I
am of opinion, however, that she may say in this manner, " Sir,
carnal temptations which I have, or have had, prevail over me too
much, on account of my weakness. I am afraid lest I should
go driving on sometimes much too far upon foolish, and, at times,
foul thoughts, as if I were hunting after pleasure. I might, through
God's powerful help, often shake them off me, if I were promptly
and stoutly to exert myself. I am sorely afraid lest the pleasure in
the thought should often continue too long, so that it might well nigh
attain the consent of the mind." I dare not [recommend] that she
should confess more fully concerning this to young priests, but to
" literal/// " which we go with : " a beast of burden may be meant.
CAMD. SOC. 2 Y
346 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
liche ■? stalewardliche umbe. Ich am offered sore leste ]?e delit in
he l^ouhte leste to longs ofte, so ]?et hit kume neih skiles jettunge."
Ich ne der nout 'pet heo deopluker * schriue hire to junge preostes
her abuten. Auh to hire owune schrift feder, o'Ser to summe o'Sre
lif-holie monne : ;^if heo mei hine habben, kulle al ut ]?et is i'Se
krocke :!^ }>er heo schal speowen al ut j^et wunder :' ]?er, mid fule
wordes, ]?et ful^e, efter J^et hit is, tukie alto wundre :' so j^et heo
drede ]>et heo hiirte his earen ]?et hercne'S hire sunnen. And jif
eni ancre is J)et not nout of swuch J»inges, ]?onke jeorne Jesu Crist,
■? holde hire ine drede. pe deouel nis nout dead jet :/ ]>et wute heo,
Jjauh he slepe.
Lihte gultes bete^S ]7us anonriht,'' bi ou suluen :' and j^auh sigge'S
ham ine schrifte hwon je j^enche'S of ham ase je speke'S mid preoste.
Vor ]?e leste of alle, so sone je underjite'S hit, ualleS biuoren ower
weoued a creoix to |>er ^ eor'Se, *? sigge^, " Mea culpa : " Ich agulte t'
Louerd, merci ! pe preost ne ]7erf uor none gulte, bute jif hit beo
]>e grettre, leggen o'Ser schrift on ou J7en ];et lif ]>et je lede'S efter
l^isse riwle. Auh, efter ]>e absoluciun he schal siggen, " Al J>et god
]?et tu euer dest, "? al J^et vuel j^et tu euer J^olest uorjje luue of Jesu
Crist, wi'Sinnen J^ine ancre wowes, — al ich on iunne J^e,® If al ich
Folio 95. legge uppe J>e ine remission of J^eos, '? in remission, ? in uorjiuenesse
of alle ]>ine sunnen." And ]7eonne sum Intel hwat he mei leggen on
J?e, o^er on ou, ase enne salm, o^er two Pater nostres, ten Ave
Marias, o^er tvveolue. Disciplines echen to, jif him so bi'Sunche'S.*
Efter |>e circumstances ^ "pet beo'S iwriten J^er uppe, he schal ]>e
sunne demen more o'Ser lesse. O sunne uorjiuelich mei beon ful
deadlich, ]?uruh sum vuel circumstaunces ^ J>et li'S j^er abuten.
° deopluker ne witterlieher. T. C. *" culle al \>e pot ut. T. C
'■ anan. T. '' o cros dun to J>e. T.
' eniunge he. T. angeonni J>e. C. ' eche to gif him like. T.
s totagges. T. C.
TRIVIAL FAULTS ; PENANCE ; ABSOLUTION. 347
her own father confessor, or to some other man of holy hfe. If she
may have him, let her pour all out that is in the crock ; there, let her
vomit out all that perilous stuff ; there, with words foul as its own
filth, let her censure it, so vehemently, that she may be afraid lest
she offend the ears of him who heareth her sins. And, if there is
any anchoress who is ignorant of such things, let her heartily thank
Jesus Christ, and let her continue in fear. The devil is not yet
dead ; let her know that, though he may be asleep.
Trivial faults correct thus, immediately, yourselves ; and yet,
mention them to the priest, when ye think of them in confession.
For the very least of them, as soon as ye are conscious of it, fall
down in the form of a cross to the earth before your altar, and say,
" Mea culpa : " I am guilty ; Lord, have mercy. The priest need
not for any fault, unless it be the greater, impose any other penance
upon you than the life which ye lead according to this rule. But
after the absolution, he shall say, " The merit of all the good thou
mayest have done, and all the evil thou mayest have suffered for the
love of Jesus Christ, within thy monastic walls, I grant thee, and I
apply it all to thee, towards the remission of these, and towards the
remission and forgiveness of all thy sins." And then he may
impose some small thing upon thee, or upon you, as a Psalm', or two
Paternosters, ten or twelve Ave Marys. He may add flagellations
too, if he think fit. According to the circumstances, which are
written above, he shall judge the sin to be greater or less. One
venial sin may be very deadly, through some evil circumstance that
is joined with it.
348 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Efter sclirifte, hit failed to speken of Penitence, ]>et is dedbote :/
7 so we liabbe^ injong, ut of ]7isse vifte dole, into ]>e sixte dole.
Al is penitence, t tet strong penitence, j^et je euer drie'S, mine
leoue sustren, and [al] J?et je euer do's of god, J al ]>et je ]?olie'S.
Al is ou uor martirdom ine so derful ^ ordre :f vor je beo'S niht %
dei upe Godes rode. Bli'Se muwe [je] euer beon jjerof. Vor ase
Seinte Povvel sei'S : " Si compatimur, et conregnabimus." Ase je
schotte'S mid him of his pine on eor'Se, also je schulen scotten mid
him of his blisse ine heouene. Vor'Si sei^ Seinte Powel, " Mihi
absit gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri Jesu Cristi." Al ure blisse
mot beon in Jesu Cristes rode. pis word nomeliche limpe'S to
ancren, hwas blisse auh forto beon allunge ine Godes rode. Ich
chulle biginnen of lierre, 1; lihten so J^erto. NimeS nu god jeme,
vor hit is almest Seint Beornardes Sentence.
preo manere of Godes icorene beo'S on eor'Se. pe one muwe
beon iefned to gode pilegrimes :! ]?e o'Ser to deade :' Jje ]?ridde to
ihongede, mid hore gode wille, o Jesu Cristes rode, pe uorme beo'S
gode :' ]?e o'Sre betere r^ ]>e ]7ridde bee's best of alle.
Folio 95 b. I o ]>e uorme gi'ede'S Seinte Peter inwardliche, and sei^, " Obsecro
uos tamque aduenas '? peregrinos ut abstineatis uos a carnalibus
desideriis, que militant aduersus animam." " Ich halsie ou,"he sei'S,'
Seinte Peter, " alse unku'Se ^ 7 pilegrimes, ]>et ^e wi'bholden ou from *'
vlesliche lustes, ]?et weorre^ ajean pQ soule." pe gode pilegrim halt
euer his rihte wei uor^ward t' ]7auh he iseo o^ere ihere idele
gomenes ? wundres bi J>e weie, he ne etstont ^ nout ase foles do's,
" swa derf. T. C. *> el'Seodi. T. J^eodi [outlondische men]. C.
<■■ wis. T. "^ wiSstoiides. T.
THE ELECT ON EARTH ARE OF THREE KINDS. 349
After confession, it is proper to speak of penance, that is, amends-
deed, and thus we have a way out of this fifth part into the sixth
part.
PART VL— Of Penance.
All that ye endure, my dear sisters, and all the good you ever
do, and all that you suffer is penance, and that, strong penance. It
is all like martyrdom to you in so strict an order, for ye are night
and day upon our Lord's cross. Glad may ye ever be thereof.
For, as St. Paul saith, " Si compatimur, et conregnabimus." ^ As
ye share with him in his suffering on earth, ye shall also share with
him in his blessedness in heaven. " Wherefore," St. Paul saith,
" God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ." '' All our joy must be in the cross of Jesus Christ.
This saying belongs especially to anchoresses, whose joy ought to be
wholly in our Lord's cross. 1 will begin from a higher point, and
so come down to this part of the subject. Now pay good attention,
for it is nearly all from the Sentences '^ of St. Bernard.
The elect of God on earth are of three kinds : one kind mav be
compared to good pilgrims, another to the dead, the third to men
suspended voluntarily upon the cross of Jesus Christ. The first are
good, the second are better, the third are best of all.
To the first St. Peter crieth earnestly and saith, " Obsecro vos
tanquam advenas et peregrinos ut abstineatis a carnalibus desideriis,
quEe militant adversus animam." '^ "I beseech you," saith St.
Peter, " as strangers and pilgrims, that ye abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul." The good pilgrim holds always on his
way straight forward; although he see or hear idle sports and
wonders by the way, he doth not stop as fools do, but holds on his
» 2 Timothy, ii. 12. ^ Galatians, vi. 14.
•^ Liber Scntentiaruui. '' 1 Peter, ii. 11.
350 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
auh halt for^ his rule *? hieS toward his giste f' ne he ne here's no
garsum bute gnedehche his spense, ne clones nou^er, hute one |>eo
|7et he haue^ need to. * pis beo'S hohe men, ]7et ]?auh heo been i^e
worlde heo beo"S ]7erinne ase pilegrimes, % go^ mid gode hflode tou-
ward ]?e riche of heouene, 1: sigge^ mid ]?e apostle, " Non habemus
hie manentem ciuitatem, sed futuram inquirimus r^" ]7et is, " Nabbe we
none wununge her, auh we seche-S o^er wunmige," and beo^ bi ]?e
leste Jjet heo euer muwen r' ne heo nabbed, ne ne holde"S none tale
of none worldliche uroure, J?auh heo beon ine worldliche weie, ase
ich seide er, of pilegrimes, auh habbe^ hore heorte euer touward
heouene. And owen wel uorte habben :! vor o^re pilegrimes go's
mid swinke uorte sechen one holie monnes bones, ase Sein James
o'Ser Sein Giles :! auh ]?eo pilegrimes ]?et go's touward heouene,
heo go's forte beon isonted, % forte iuinden God sulf 1 alle his holie
halewen libbinde ine blisse, % schulen libben mid ham ine wunne
euer wi^uten ende. Heo iuinde-S, iwis, Sein Julianes in, \ei weiuer-
inde men jeorne seche'S.
Folio QQ. ^^ beo'S J?eos gode ^ auh jet beo'S J^e o^re betere. Vor aile-
gate, ase ich er seide, pilegrimes al gon heo euer forSward, ne ne
bikumen nout buruhmen i^e worldes buruh r^ ham J'unche^ ]7auh
summechere god of J>et heo iseo'S bi J^e weie, % etstonde^ ^ sum del,
Jjauh heo ne don mid alle :! "% moni ]jing ham ualle^ to hwar ];uruh
heo beo'S ilette, so j^et, more herm is, sum kume^ lete hom % sum
neuermore. Whoa is };eonne skerre, % more ut of be worlde J>en
beo^ pilegrimes ? — J>et is to siggen, ]7en J>eo men j^et habbe'S world-
lich J>ing % ne luie^ hit nout, auh jiue^ hit ase hit kume^ ham, %
go's untrussed lihte ase pilegrimes touward heouene. Whoa beo'S
betere ]>en J^eos? God hit wot, J^eo beo'S betere J^et J^e apostle
speke'S to, 1; sei'S in his pistle, " Mortui estis, et uita uestra
abscondita est cum Christo in Deo ^ cum autem apparuerit uita
uestra, tunc et uos apparebitis cum eo in gloria." Ee beo'S deade, %
" hiui to nedes. T. '' stutte'5. C.
T. GOOD PILGRIMS. 11. DEAD WITH CHRIST. 351
route, and hasteneth toward his inn where he is to lodge; neither
doth he carry any treasure with him but barely for his expenses,
nor garments either, except one which he needeth. These are holy
men who, though they are in the world, are not in it as pilgrims,
and by leading a good life go toward the kingdom of heaven, and
say, with the Apostle, " Non habemus hie manentem civitatem, sed
futuram inquirimus : " ^ that is, " We have no dwelling-place here,
but we seek another dwelling-place ;" and they are satisfied with the
smallest accommodation possible, and neither have, nor make any
account of any worldly pleasure, though they are in their journey
through the world, as I said above of pilgrims, but they have their
heart always heaven-ward. And they ought well to have it, for
other pilgrims go with toil to seek a holy man's bones, as of St.
James, or St. Giles, but these pilgrims \^'ho go toward heaven go to
be sainted, and to find God himself, and all his holy saints living in
blessedness, and to live with them for ever in endless joy. Surely
they find St. Julian's inn, which w^ayfaring men diligently seek.
IVow these are good, but the next are still better. For, although,
as I said before, all pilgrims go ever forward, and do not become
citizens in the world's city, yet they are sometimes delighted with the
things they see by the way, and stand still a while, though not
altogether, and many things happen to them whereby they are
hindered, so that — the more is the harm — some come home late,
some never. Who then are safer and more out of the world than
pilgrims are ? that is to say, than those men who have worldly things
and love them not, but give them away as they come to them, and
go unburdened and light, as pilgrims, toward heaven. Who are
better than they ? God knoweth ! they ai'e better to whom the
Apostle saith in his epistle, " Mortui estis, et vestra vita abscondita
cum Christo in Deo ; cum autem apparuerit vita vestra, tunc et vos
apparebitis cum eo in gloria:"^ "Ye are dead, and your life is hid
* Heb. xiii. 14. '' Colossians, iii, 3, 4.
352 REGUL^: INCLUSARUM.
ower lif is ihud mid Criste. Hwon he J^et is ower lif dawe^ ?
springers ase ]?e dawmige efter nihtes Jjeosternesse, '? je scliulen
springen mid him, schem-e ]?en ]?e sunne into eche bhsse ]>et nu bee's
bus deade. Here liflode is herre :' uor pilegrim eile^ monihwat.
pe dead nis * nout of, ]7auh he Hgge unburied 7 rotie buuen eor'Se.
Preise him, laste him, do him scheome, seie him scheome :' al him
is ihche leof. pis is a seH dea'S ]?et make^ 'pus cwic mon o^er
wmnmon ut of Ipe worlde. Auh sikerhche, hwose is pns dead in
hire suluen, God liue"S in hire heorte r' vor J>is is pet pe apostle sei'S,
" Viuo ego, iam non ego, uiuit autem in me Christus.'^ " Ich hbbe,"
sei^S pe apostle t" " nout ich, auh Crist hue's in me :" and is ase ]7auli
he seide, " Worldliche speche, worldliche sih'Se, J. euerich worldlich
Folio 96 h. |?ing iuinde^ me dead :! auh ]?et J^et limpe'S to Crist ]7et ich iseo, "?
ihere, and wurche ine cwicnesse. pus is euerich religius mon %
wummon dead to pe world, J. cwic ine Criste. pis is on heih steire :'
auh jet is on herre :f and hwo stod euer Jjerinne ? God hit wot, he
]7et seide, " Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri
Jesu Christi, per quem mihi mundus crucifixus est et ego mundo."
pis is };et ich seide J^eruppe :' " Crist me ischilde uorto habben eni
blisse i )?isse worlde, but ine Jesu Cristes rode, my Louerd, J;uruh
hwam pe world is me unwur'S, 1, ich am unwur'S to him, as weri ^
bet is anhonged." A Louerd, heie stod he ]7et spec o J?isse wise !
And l^is is ancre steire, J^et heo ]7us sigge, " Mihi absit gloriari," ?c.
I none J^inge ne blisse ich me bute ine Godes rode, — ]7et ich ]?olie wo, J
am itold unwur^, ase God was o rode. , Loke^, leoue sustren, hu J^eos
steire is herre ]7en eni beo of pe o'Sre. pe pilegrim i'Se worldes
weie, J^auh he go uor^ward touward pe hom of heouene, he isih^ 1!
ihere'S o'Serhwule unnut, 7 speke^ umbe hwule ^ wreS^et him uor
wowes :! 1! monie ]?inges muwen letten him of his jurneie. pe deade
nis ^ nan more of scheome J^en of menke :"^ of herd ]?en of nesche :^
vor he ne iuele'S nou'Ser :! and for'Si he ne oferne'S nou'Ser wo ne
wunne. Auh pe ]?et is o rode *? bane's blisse j^erof, he wended
" ne wis. ** wari. T. '^ menske. T. C.
TIT. CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. 353
with Clirlst. When he that is your life appeareth and springeth as
the dawn after the darkness of the night, ye also shall spring with
him, brighter than the sun, into eternal blessedness, who now are
thus dead." Their course of life is nobler, for a pilgrim is subject to
manifold evils. Though tlie dead lie unburied, and rot upon the
ground, he is unconscious of it. Praise him, blame him, put him to
shame by deed or word, all is equally agreeable to him. It is a
happy death which thus removeth a man or a woman out of the
world, while they are alive. And surely, she who is thus dead in
herself, God liveth in her heart, for this is that which the Apostle
saith, "Vivo ego, jam non ego, vivit autem in me Christus.'^'' " I
live," saith the Apostle, " not I, but Christ liveth in me ; " which is
as if he said. Worldly speech, worldly sight, and every worldly
thing findeth me dead ; but whatsoever relates to Christ, that I see,
and hear, and do as one who lives. Thus is every religious man
and woman dead to the world, and alive in Chi-ist. This is a high
degree ; but there is one still higher ; and who stood ever in that ?
God knows he who said, " But God forbid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ; by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world." ^ This is what I said
above, Christ shield me from having any delight in this world, but
in Jesus Christ's cross, my Lord, through whom the world is
worthless to me, and I am worthless to it, as a man that is crucified.
Ah, Lord ! how high did he stand who spoke in this wise ? And
this is the anchoress's degree, who should say thus, God forbid that
I should glory, &c. In nothing let me delight but in God's cross,
that I sufl:er wrono; and am accounted worthless, as God was on the
cross. Observe, dear sisters, how this degree is higher than any of
the others are. The pilgrim in the world's way, though he is going
forward toward the home of heaven, seeth and heareth sometimes
vain things, and sometimes speaketh them. He is provoked to
anger by wrongs, and many things may hinder him from pursuing
" Galatians, ii. 20. " Ibid. vi. 14.
CAMD. SOC. 2 Z
354 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
scheome to menke,^ % wo into wunne, 7 ofearne^ ^ for'Si liure ouer
hure. pis beoS ]?eo |?et neuer ne beoS glede iheorted bute hwon
heo ]7olieb sum wo, oSer sum scheome mid Jesu on his rode r' vor
J?is is ]7e meste seluh'Se on eorSe hwose mei, uor Godes luue, habben
scheome % teone. pus loke, riht ancren ne bee's nout one pile-
grimes, ne jet nout one deade, auh beo"S of ]?eos j^ridde. Vor al
hore blisse is uorte beon anhonged soriliche % scheomeHche mid lesu
on his rode. peos muwe bli'Se singen mid hoH chirche, "Nos
oportet gloriari in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi," ]7et is, ase ich
Foho 97. gj. seide, hwat se beo of o^re : heo habbe'S hore bhsse sum ine
vlesches hkunge, sum i^e worldes dweole, sum in o^res vuel :^ auh
we mote nede blescien us ine Jesu Cristes rode — j^et is, ine scheome
"? ine wo J^et he dreih on rode. Moni wolde sumes weis ]7ohen
vlesches herdschipes, J, beon itold unwur'S, auh none scheome ne
mihte he J^olien. He nis bute halflunge upo Godes rode, jif he nis
igrei'Sed uorte ]7olien ham boSe.
" Uilitas et asperitas.'^ Vilte and asprete, J^eos two [J^inges]
scheome and pine, ase Seint Bernard sei'S, bee's J^e two leddre stalen
J7et beoS upriht to }>e heouene, and bitweonen J^eos stalen bee's be
tindes ivestned of alle gode j^eawes, bi hwuche '^ me climbe'S to be
blisse of heouene. And for'Si ]?et Dauid hefde J^eos two stalen of
];isse leddre, ]7auh he king were, he clomb upward ■? seide baldeliche
to ure Louerd, " Vide humilitatem meam et laborem meum, et
dimitte vniuersa delicta mea." " Bihold," ewe's he, " and isih mine
edmodnesse % mi swine, J. forgif me mine sunnen alle togederes.'^
Note's wel peos two wordes }>et Dauid ueieS somed — swine and
edmodnesse : swine ine pine % ine wo, ine sor % ine seoruw ;
" gomen. T. '' ofserues. T. c swucche. T.
PAIN AND SHAME A LADDER REACHING TO HEAVEN. 355
his journey. The dead are no more conscious of reproach than of
honour, of hard than of soft ; for he feeleth neither, and therefore he
earns neither sorrow nor joy. But he that is on the cross, and hath
dehght in it, turneth reproach to honour, and sorrow into joy, and
earnetli, therefore, a double reward. Such are they who are never
glad-hearted except when they are suffering some grief or some
reproach with Jesus on his cross ; for this is the greatest happiness
on earth when any one can, for the love of God, bear reproach and
pain. Thus observe, that true anchoresses are not merely pilgrims,
nor yet merely dead, but they are of the third class. For all their
delight is to be suspended painfully and ignominiously with Jesus on
his cross. They may sing gladly with the holy Church,* " It be-
hoves us to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ; " that is, as I
said before, whatever may bo the case with others : they place their
happiness, some in carnal pleasures, some in the deceitful vanities of
the world, some in the evil that befalls others ; but we must glory in
the cross of Jesus Christ, that is, in the ignominy and pain that he
endured on the cross. Many might be willing to suffer in some
measure bodily hardships, and to be meanly accounted of, but not
to endure ignominy. He is only in part upon God's cross who is
not ready to endure them both.
" Vilitas et asperitas," comtempt and ill usage ; these two things,
ignominy and pain, as St. Bernard saith, are the two arms of the
ladder which reach up to heaven, and between those arms are fixed
the staves [or steps] of all the virtues by which men climb up to
the blessedness of heaven. And because David had the two arms of
this ladder, though he was king, he climbed upward, and said boldly
to our Lord, " Vide humilitatem meam et laborem meum, et dimitte
unlversa delicta mea." ^ " Behold," said he, " and see my humility
and my labour, and forgive me all my sins." Mark well these two
woi'ds which David joineth together — labour and humility : labour,
in pain and grief, in anxiety and sorrow ; humility, against the
" At the feast of tlic Invention of the Cross. ^ I'sahn xxv. It^.
356 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
edmodnesse ajean wouh of scheome ]7et mon drih^ yet is told
unwur'S. " Bo'Se )7eos bihold in me," cwe^ Dauid, Godes deorling,
" Icli liabbe ]?eos two leddre stalen." " Dimitte vniuersa delicta mea."
Bilef, cwe^ he, bihinde me, "? worp awei urom me alle mine gultes,
Folio 97 b. j^et ich beo ilihted of hore heuinesse, lihtliche muwe stien up to J>er
heouene bi ]?isse leddre stalen.
peos* two J^inges, wo and scheome iueied togederes, beo'S Elies
hweoles }?et weren furene, ase hit telle^, and beren him up to Parais,
]7er he liue^ jut. Fur is hot 1, read. Bi ]>e hete is understonden
euerich wo j^et eile^ flesche. Scheome is understonden bi j^e reade :f
auh wel mei don. Heo beoS her hweolinde ase hweoles ]?et ouer-
turne'S sone, and ne leste^ none hwule. pis ilke is eke bitocned bi
cherubines sweorde biuoren J»e jeten of Parais, ]?et was of lai ^ 1!
hweolinde 1 turninde abuten. Ne kume'S non into Parais bute
]7uruh ]?isse leitinde sweorde, )?et was hot *? read : and in Elies
furene hweoles t' ]?et is, ]?uruh sor 7 scheome, ]>et ouerturne^ liht-
liche % age^ sone. And nes Godes rode ]?uruh his deorewur'Se
blode iruded 1; ireaded, vorte scheawen on him sulf ];et pine "?
seoruwe H sor schulen mid scheome beon iheouwed ? Nis hit iwriten
bi him sulf, " Factus est obediens Patri usque ad mortem, mortem
autem crucis r^" }»et is, he was buhsum to his Feder, nout one to
dea'Se, auh to dea'Se of rode, puruh |7et J^et he sei^ erest, "to
dea'Se," is pine to understonden :' and ];uruh }>et ]?et he ]>er effcer
sei^, " to dea'Se o rode," is schendlac bitocned r' vor swuch was
Godes dea^ o rode — pinful ? schendful ouer alle oSre. Hwose euer
deie^ ine God, 7 o Godes rode, '|?eos two he mot j^olien — scheome
uor him, "? pine. Scheome ich telle uorte beon euer her itold
unwur'S, and beggen ase on harlot, jif hit need is, his liueneS, and beon
o^res beodemon, ase je beo^, leoue sustren, '? |?olie^ ofte daunger of
swuche o'Serhwule ]>et muhte beon ower ]?reL pet is eadie scheome
Folio 98. J'Gt ich of talie.'^ Pine ne truke^ ou nout ine j^eos ilke two J^inges
» beos ilke. T, i' lohe. T. lei. C. "^ spekie. T.
Elijah's chariot of fire, the flaming sword. 357
unjust ignominy which a man endures who is despised. " Behold
in me both of these/' saith David the beloved of God, " I have these
two arms of the ladder.'^ " Dimitte universa delicta mea : " Leave
behind me, saith he, and cast away from me all my oftences, that
I may be lightened of their weight, and may mount up lightly to
heaven by the arms of this ladder.
1 hose two things, grief and ignominy, joined together, are
Elijah's wheels that were of fire, as we are told,^ and bore him up
to Paradise, where he still liveth. Fire is hot and red. By the heat
is meant every pain that hurts the flesh. Ignominy is meant by the
redness ; and it well may be so. They are here rolling like
wheels that revolve quickly, and soon pass away. The same is also
signified by the sword of the cherubim before the gates of Paradise,
which was of flame and revolving and turning about. None come
into Paradise but through this flaming sword, which was hot and
red; and in Elijah's chariot of fire, that is, through pain and
ignominy, which turn round lightly and quickly pass away. And
was not God's cross coloured and reddened by his precious blood, to
shew in himself that pain and sorrow and anguish should be stained
with ignominy ? Is it not written of himself, " Factus est obediens
Patri usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis ? " '' that is, " He was
obedient to his Father, not only to death, but to death on the cross."
In that he saith first " to death," pain is to be understood ; and in that
he subjoins, " to death on the cross," ignominy is meant ; for such was
God's death on the cross — i)ainful and ignominious above all others.
Whosoever dieth in God and on God's cross must suffer these two
things for him — ignominy and pain. I account it ignominy to be
always reckoned contemptible, and to beg one's food, if need be, like
a vagabond, and to be another's bedesman, as ye are, dear sisters,
and often bear the arrogance of such as might be your bond-servants.
That of which I am speaking is blessed ignominy. Pain is not
» 2 Kings, ii. 11. '* Philippiaiis, ii. 8.
358 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
J7et al penitence is ine. Blescie'S ou 7 gledie^, uor ajean J^eos two,
ou beo"S twouold bliscen ijerked — ajean sclieome, menske ^' 1; ajean
pine, delit % reste wi'Suten ende. Isaie, "In terra sua," inquid,
"dupliciapossidebunt." "He scliulen,"sei'S Isaie, "inhere owunelonde
welden twouold blisse ajean twouold wo ]?et heo her drie'S." Super
epistolam lac. " Mali nichil habent in celo : boni nichil in terra," vor
also ase J>e vuele nabbed no lot ine heouene, ne ]?e gode nabbed no
lot in eor'Se, in hore owune londe heo schulen welden blisse i
twouold cunne mede ajean twouold seoruwe. Ase ]?auh he seide :!
" Ne J>unche ham no ueorlich ]>auli heo her Jjolien ase in unku^e
londe, % in unku^e earde, bitwhen un'Seode, scheome bo^e J,
seoruwe ; uor so deS moni gentil mon J>et is unku^ in unku^e
londe." Me schal ute swinken, and et horn me schal resten. And
nis he a kang^ knit j^et secheS reste i^e uihte, 1 eise iSe place?
" Militia est uita hominis su.per terram : " al ]?is lif her is ase uilit,
ase Job witne'S r' auh efter ]?isse uihte her, jif we wel uihte^, menke
'% reste abit^ us et horn, in ure owune londe, ]7et is heoueriche.
LokeS uu hu witterliche ure Louerd sulf hit witne'S, " Cum sederit
Filius hominis in sede majestatis, sedebitis et uos judicantes." B.
" In sedibus quies imperturbata :! in juditio honoris eminentia com-
mendatur : " " Hwon ich sitte uorto demen," sei^ ure Louerd, " je
schulen sitten mid me, and demen mid me al ]7ene world J>et schal
beon idemed, kinges and kaisers, knihtes and clerkes.'^ I J?e sette, is
reste *? eise bitocned, ajean J>e swinke ]7et is her t and iSe menske of
\e, dome J^et heo schulen demen is heihschipe menskeful oner al
understonden, ajean scheome 7 louhschipe ]?et heo her uor Godes
luue mildeliche Jjolie^.*'
Folio 98 b. ]\is }7er nu J>eonne buten ];olien gledliche ^ uor bi God sulf is
iwriten, "quod per penam ignominiose passionis peruenit ad glo-
riam resurrectionis," ]?et is " j^uruh schendfule pine he com to glorie
" vvicke. T. clianli. C ^ abides. T. i^ Jjoleden. T. C.
EARTHLY PAIN AND SHAME REQUITED WITH HEAVENLY JOY. 359
wanting in these two things, in which all penitence consists. Be
happy and glad, for in requital of these two, twofold joys are
prepared for you — in requital of ignominy, honour ; and in requital
of pain, happiness and rest without end. Isaiah saith, " In terra
sua duplicia possidebunt." ^ " They shall in their own land possess
d<mble joy for the double sorrow that they endure here." Upon the
Epistle of St. James, " INIali nihil habent in cselo : boni nihil habent
in terra." For, as the bad have no lot in heaven, nor have the
good any lot on earth, in their own land they shall enjoy happiness
■ — two kinds of reward for twofold sorrow. As if he had said,
" Think it \\6 marvel though they suffer here as in a strange land, and
in a strange soil, among foreigners, both shame and sorrow ; for so
doth many a nobleman who is a stranger in a foreign land." IMen
must endure toil abroad, and enjoy rest at home. And is not he a
foolish knight who seeketh rest in the combat, and repose in the
lists ? " Militia est vita hominis super terram : " '^ all this life here
on earth is as a fight, as Job witnesseth ; but after this fight here, if
we fight well, honour and repose await us at home, in our own land,
which is the kingdom of heaven. Observe, now, with what certainty
our ■ Lord himself saith, " Cum sederit Filius hominis in sede
majestatis, sedebitis et vos judicantes."'^ St. Bernard, "In sedibus
quies imperturbata ; in judicio honoris eminentia commendatur : "
" When I sit to judge," saith our Lord, " ye shall sit with me, and
judge with me all the world, which shall be judged, kings and
emperors, knights and clerks." By the sitting, rest and ease is
signified, in opposition to the toil that is in this world, and by the
honour of the judgment which they shall judge is to be understood
the most honourable dignity, in opposition to the shame and humilia-
tion wliich they patiently endure here for the love of God.
Now, then, there is nothing for us but to suffer gladly ; for it is
written of God himself, " quod per pcenam ignominiosae passionis
pervenit ad gloriam resurrectionis ; " that is, " through ignominious
» Isaiah, Ixi. 7. " Job, vii. 1. ••■ St. Matt. xix. 28.
360 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
of blissfule ariste." Nis no selku'S, |?eonne, jif we wrecche sunfule
]7olien her pinen, jif we wulle^ a domesdei blissfuliche arisen f' and
J>et we muwen ]?uruh his grace jif we wel wulle^. " Quoniara si
complantati fuerimus simihtudini mortis ejus, simihter et resurrec-
tionis erimns." pis is Seinte Poules sawe j^et sei^ euer so wel.
Eif we beo^ i-imped to ]?e ihknesse of Godes dea'Se, we schulen
beon i-imped to J^e iliknesse of his ariste. pet is to siggen, jif we
hbbe'S ine scheome "? ine pine uor his luue, ine hwuche two he deide,
we schulen beon iliche him in his blissful ariste — ure bodi briht ase
his is, world wi'Suten ende, ase Seinte Powel witne'S, " Saluatorera
expectamus qui reformabit corpus humilitatis nostre configuratum
corpori claritatis sue." Let o'Sre atiffen'^ hore bodi ];et eorne'S
biuoren hond :^ and abide we ure helind ])et schal atiffen ure ^ efter
his owune. " Si compatimur, conregnabimus." Eif we J'olie^ mid
him, we schulen bliscen mid him. Nis ]?is god fore ward ? Wat
Crist, nis he neuer god feolawe, ne treowe, j^et nule scotten iSe lure
ase eft i'Se bijeate. Glosa : " Illis solis prodest sanguis Christi qui
voluptates deserunt et corpus affligunt." God schedde his blod for
alle men, auh ham one hit is wur^ |?et fleo^ flesches likunke J pine^
ham suluen. And is 'pet eni wunder ? Nis God ure lieaued,' and
we alle his limes? And nis euerich lim sor mid seoruwe of pe
Folio 99, heaued ? His lim, ];eonne, nis he nout ]?et naue^ eche under so
sor ekinde heaued.*' Hwon ];et heaued swet wel, pet lim J>et ne
swet nout, nis hit vuel tokne ? He |?et [is] ure heaued swette blodes
swot uor ure secnesse, J for to turnen us of pet lond vuel ]7et alle
londes leien on, J ligge'S jet monie. pet lim, J^eonne, ]>et ne swet
nout ine swincfule pine uor his luue, God hit wot,*^ hit bileaue^ in
his secnesse :! and nis ]?er buten uorkeoruen hit, j^auh hit sor |?unche
God :' uor betere is finker ofFe ]7en he eke euer.® Cweme'S he nu
wel God ]?et ]ms bilimeb him of him sulf, ];uruh ]?et ];et he nule
" acemen. T. C. '' acemen ures. T.
'^ 'f> naues vvarche vnder swa sare warchende heaued. T.
'' Deuleset. T. C. * J'en hit eauer warche. T.
SUFFERING THE WAY TO GLORY. 361
pain he came to the gloiy of a hlessed resurrection." It is no
marvel, thei-efore, if we wretched sinners suffer pains here, if we
woukl arise joyfully at the day of judgment ; and this we may do,
through His grace, if we earnestly desire it, " Quoniam si com-
plantati fuerimus siniilitudini mortis ejus, similiter et resurrectionis
erimus."^ This is St. Paul's saying, who speaketh always so well.
" If we be planted to the likeness of God's death, we shall be planted
to the likeness of his resurrection ; " that is to say, if we live in
ignominy and pain through love of him, in which two he died, we
shall be like him in his joyful resurrection — our body bright as his
is, world without end, as St. Paul testifieth, " We look for the
Saviour, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned
like unto his glorious body." ^ Let others adorn their body who
run on beforehand; and let us wait for our Saviour, who shall
adorn ours after the fashion of his own. " Si compatimur, conreg-
nabimus." " If we suffer with him, we shall be in bliss with him.
Is not this a good covenant ? Christ knows he is not a good nor a
trusty partner who will not take part in the loss, as well as after-
wards in the profit. Gloss : " Illis solis prodest sanguis Christi qui
voluptates deserunt et corpus affligunt." God shed his blood for all
men, but it is efficacious to them only who abstain from carnal
pleasure, and mortify themselves. And is that any wonder ? Is
not God our head, and all we his members, and is not every member
pained when the head is in pain ? His member, then, he is not who
hath no ache under such a painfully aching head. When the head
sweats well, is it not an evil sign of the member that doth not sweat ?
He Avho is our head did sweat the sweat of blood for our sickness, and
to heal us of that epidemic disease in which all lands lay, and in which
many are still lying. That member, therefore, which doth not
sweat in laborious suffering for love of him, God knows, remaineth
in its sickness ; and there is nothing to be done but to cut it off,
though it seem painful to God ; for a finger off is better than one
" Romans, vi. 5. '' Pliilippians, iii. 20, 21. •= 2 Timothy, ii. 12.
CAMD. SOC. .1 A
362 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
sweten? "Oportebat Christum pati % sic intrare in gloriam suam."
Seinte Marie nierci ! hit moste so beon, hit sei"S, Crist j^ohen pine 7
passiun, *? so habben injong into his riche. Lo, cleale hwat he seiS, —
" so habben injong into his riche." So, and non oSerweis ! And
we, wrecche sunfule, wulle'S mid eise stien to heouene j^et is so heih
buuen us, % so swu^e muche wurS ! And me ne mei nout, wi^uten
swink a Intel kot areren, ne nout two ]7ongede^ scheon habben,
wi'Suten buggunge.'^ O'Ser we beo"S kanges,° ];et wene'S mid liht-
leapes ^ buggen eche blisse, o'Ser ]>e holi halewen J>et bouhten hit so
deore. Nes Seinte Peter t Seinte Andreu, ];ereuore, istreiht o rode,
and Seint Lorenz o'Se gredil:^ and lo^lease^ raeidenes \e tittes
ikoruen of, and to-hwi^ered o hweoles, If hefdes bikoruen ? Auh ure
sotschipe is sutel :! and heo weren ihche jjeos jeape children )?et
habbe'S riche uederes, ];et, willes H woldes, tetere^ hore clo'Ses forto
habben neowe. Vre olde kurtel is |7et fleschs ]7et we of Adam ure
Folio 99 b. olde ueder habbe'S. pene neowe we schulen under uongen of God,
ure riche ueder, in ]?e ariste of domesdeie, hwon ure vlesches schal
blikien schenre J'en ]7e sunne, uor'Si j^et hit is nu totoren her mid
wondrede "? mid weane. Of J^eo ];et tetere'S hore kurtel o J?isse wise,
sei'S Isaie, " Deferetur munus Domino exercituum a populo dimisso ^
et dilacerato, a populo terribili." "A uolk to limed and totoren, a
uolk ferlich," he sei'S, Isaie, " schal makien of himsulf to ui'e Louerd
present." Uolk to-limed ^ '% to-toren mid stronge liflode If mid herde
he cleope^ folc ferlich. Uor J^e ueond is aifuruht and oflPered of
swuche i! and for"Si J^et Job was swuch lie mende of him, 7 seide,
" Pellem pro pelle et uniuersa," "^c. : ]7et is, " He wule jiuen uel uor
uelle, J^et olde uor |;e neowe." And is ase |;auh he seide, " Ne geine'S
me nout to assailen him, uor he is of ]7e te-tore '^ uolke, j^et to-tereS
his olde kurtel. If to-rendcS ]7e olde pilche of his deadliche uelle." '
» ^wongede. T. •> bune. T. C.
■= am cangede. T. beo'5 changes. C. ^ lihte scheapes. T.
« [saldese.] C. f diuulso. T. C.
e to-laimet. C, '' tome. T, to-torne, C.
' fleseh. T. fcl. C.
ST. PETER, ST. ANDEEW, ST. LAWRENCE, ST. KATHERINE. 3G3
always aching. Now, doth he please God who thus dismembers
him of himself, because he is unwilling to sweat? " Oportebat
Christum pati, et sic intrare in gloriam suam." ^ St. IMarj have
mercy ! It was necessary, we are told, that Christ should endure
pain and suffering, and thus have entrance into his kingdom. Ob-
serve well ^ what he saith, " thus have entrance into his kingdom."
Thus, and no otherwise ! And we wretched simiers, would mount
up with ease to heaven, which is so high above us, and of such
excellent worth I And yet we cannot, without labour, erect a little
cottage ; nor obtain a pair of shoes with thongs without buying
them ! Either we, who think that we may buy everlasting joy for a
mere trifle, are fools, or the blessed saints are, who bought it so dear.
Were not St. Peter and St. Andrew, for that cause, extended on
the cross, and St. Lawrence on the gridiron ; and had not innocent
maidens their paps cut offj and were whirled on wheels, and beheaded ?
But our folly is evident ; and they were like those artful children of
rich parents who purposely tear their clothes that they may have
new ones. Our old kirtle is the flesh, which we have from Adam,
our old father ; we shall receive the new from God, our rich
Father, in the resurrection on the day of judgment, when om' flesh
shall shine brigliter than the sun, because it is now torn here with
tribulation and distress. Of them who tear their kirtle in this
manner, Isaiah saith, " Deferetur munus Domino exercituum a
populo dimisso et dilacerato, a populo terribili." *= "A people dis-
membered and torn, a terrible people," saith Isaiah, " shall make of
themselves a gift to our Lord." A people dismembered and torn
with a hard and austere life he calleth a terrible people. For the
fiend is afraid and terrified of such ; and because Job was such he
complained of him and said, " Pellem pro pelle," &c. ^ that is, " He
will give skin for skin, the old for the new." As if he had said, " I
shall gain nothing by attacking him, for he is one of the torn people,
* St. Luke, xxiv. 46.
'' deale ? tela, well; J'cauliee, id. This obscure word occurs in pp. 276, 286, where
it is translated a.s if it wei'e an abbreviation of Deu le set, DUu, le sdit. Deulesst occurs
pp. '268, and 360, note "^. *-" Isaiah, xviii. 7. ** Job, ii. 4.
364 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Vor ]?et fel is undea"Slich |>et i^e neowe ariste schal schinen seoue-
uolcl brihtre J?en 'pe sunne. Eise J. flesches este bee's ]?es feondes
merken. Hwon he isih^ ]?eos merken ine monne, o'Ser ine wummon,
he wot |>et te kastel is his, and ge'S baldeliche in ]>er he isih'S iriht
up swuche baneres ase me de'S ine castle. Auh, i^Sen itorene uolke
he misse'S his merken, and isih^S in ham iriht up Godes banere :! ]>et
is, herdschipe of line :/ and ]>e ueond haue^S muche drede ];erof ase
Isaie witne'S.
" Me leoue Sire," sei^ siim, " and is hit nu wisdom mon to don so
wo him suluen ? " And tu jeld me onsware : Of two men, hwe^er is
wisnre? Heo beoS boSe seke :^ J»e on uorge^ al J?et he kiued of
Folio 100. metes "? of drunches, J, drinke'S bitter sabraz uorto akoueren his
heale :" ])e oSer uokiwe^ al his wil, 7 fede'S ^ his lustes ajean his
secness, "? forleoseS J'et lif sone. Hwe'Ser is wissm-e of ]?eos two ?
Hwe^er is betere his owune ureond? Hweder luue'S him sulf
more ? And hwo is ])et nis sec of sunne ? God, for ure secnesse,
drone attri drnnch o rode :' and we mine's nout bittres biten buten ^
for us suluen ? Ne mei hit nout so beon. Nis ])er noAviht ]7erof.
Sikerliche his feoleware mot mid pine of his flesche uoluwen his
pinen. Ne wene non mid este stien to J^e steoren.
" Nu, Sire," sei'5 sum eft, " and wule God so wrakefuliche awreken
him upon sunne ? " Ee, mon, oSer wummon. Uor loke nu hu he
hit hate^ swuSe. Hm'u wolde nu a mon beaten J^et }>ing sulf hwar
se he ifunde hit ];et for J^e muchele hatunge ]?erof beote he schea-
dewe, % al J^et heuede ]7erto eni ilicnesse? God, Feder Almihti,
hwu boot he bitterliche his deorewur'Se sune, Jesu Crist ure Louerd,
l^et neuer nede *= sune, bute one j^et he ber vleschs iliche ure vlesche,
]>et is ful of sunne. And we schulen beon ispareded '' j^et bere'S on
" forces. T. forde'6". C. ^ boteu biten ?
••■ neuede, ne hauede ? "* isp.iret. T. ispared. C.
THE FOOLISH SICK REFUSE BITTER MEDICINE. 365
Avlio tears his old kirtle, and rendetli the old cloak of his mortal
skin." For that skin is immortal which in the new resurrection shall
shine seven times brighter than the sun. Ease and carnal enjoy-
ment are the devil's marks. When he sees these marks in man or
woman he knows that the castle is his, and goeth boldly in where he
sees such banners erected as are usual in a castle. But, in the torn
people, he misseth his marks, and among them he seeth God's
banner erected, which is a hard life, which the devil is much afraid
of, as Isaiah testifieth.
" My dear sir," some one may say, " is it wisdom now for man
or woman thus to afflict themselves ? " Do thou also answer me
this : Of two men, both of whom are sick, which is the wiser ? The
one abstains from all the things that he desires, both meat and drink,
and drinketh bitter sabraz,* in order to recover his health ; the
other followeth all his inclinations, and feedeth his lusts, contrary to
his sickness, and soon loseth his life. Whether of these two is
wiser? Which is the better friend to himself? Which of them
loveth himself more ? And who is there that is not sick of sin ?
For our sickness, God drank a poisonous drink upon the cross.
And will not we taste any bitter remedy for ourselves ? "^ It must
not be so. It is not so. His follower must surely follow him in his
sufferings, with bodily pain. Let no one think that he can ascend
to the stars with luxurious ease.
" INow, sir," some one saith again, " and will God avenge himself
so severely upon sin ? " Yes, O man, or woman, for consider now
how greatly he hateth it. How would a man beat the thing itself
if he found it, who for his great hatred of it beat the shadow, and
every thing that had any resemblance to it ? How bitterly did God
the Father iVlmighty beat his dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who
never did any sin, but merely because he bore flesh like our flesh,
that is full of sin ? xind shall we be spared who bear upon us his
Son's death — the weapons that slew him, which were our sins ?
» See remarks on this word by Albert Way, Esq. in Notes and Queries, vol. ii. p. 170,
and by S. W, Singer, Esq. p. 20-1.
» Et nos nolumus aliquid amarum gusture pro nobismot ipsis ? MS. Oxon.
366 REGULJ5 INCLUSARUM.
US his sune dea'S — ]>e wepnen ]?et slowen him, ]7et weren ure suniien ?
And he ];et neuede nout of sunne, bute scheadewe one, he was i^e
ilke scheadewe so scheomeHche ituked, and so seoruhfuhche ipined,
\>et er ]>en hit com J?erto, uor J7e j^reatunge one ];erof, he bed liis
Feder ore. " Tristis est aniina mea usque ad mortem. Pater, si
possibile est, transeat a me cahx iste." " Sore," cweb he, ure Louerd,
*^ me gruUe'S ^ ajean mine pine. Mi Ueder, jif hit mei nu beon, spare
Foho 100 b. ijiQ et tisse time r^ ]^i wille, ]?auh, '? nout min, euer beon ifulled." '^
His deorewurSe Qeder uor^i ne uorber him nout, auh leide on him
so bitterhche ]?et he bigon to greden, mid reouSfule stefne, " Eloy,
Eloy, lama zabatani," Mi God, mi God, mi deorewurSe Ueder,
hauest tu al uorworpen me, J>in onlepi sune, ]7et beatest me };us
herde ? Uor al ]?is ne lette he nout :' auh beot him so longe "? so
swu'Se grimliche |?et he sterf o rode. " Disciplina pacis nostre super
eum," seiS Isaye : ];us ure beatunge ueol upon him :' uor he dude
him sulf bitweonen us % his Feder, pet ]?rette us forto smiten t' aso
]?e moder ]7et is reouSful de'S hire bitweonen hire cliilde 1; pe wro'be
sturne ueder, hwon he wule beaten, pus dude ure Louerd Jesu
Crist. Ikept on him deaSes dunt, uorte schilden us ]>er mide :'
igraced beo his milce ! Hwar se muchel dunt is, hit puheS up °
ajean o ]?eo ].»et "per neih stondeS. Sikerliche, hwose is neih him J'et
ikepte J>e heuie duntes, hit wule pulten ^ on him, J: nule he him neuer
menen ^ uor "j^et is ]>e preoue |7et he stout neih him i' and ];e pultunge
is ful liht to J^olien uor his luue ]?et underueng so heuie duntes us
forto buruwen from j^es deofles botte i'Se pine of helle.
Eet, sei'S ^ moni mon, " Hvvat is God ]?e betere }>auh ich pinie me uor
his luue ? " Leoue mon, oSer wummon, God ];unche'S god of ure
god. Vre god is jif we doS j^et we owen. Nim jeme of ]7is
asaumple. A mon ]?ct were ueor iuaren, f me come J, tolde him bet
his deore spuse murnede so swuSe efter him ]?et lieo wiSuten him
» grises. T. •» ifor'Set. T. C. >■ hit bultes. T.
'' bulen. T. bulten. C. ^ g^j g^,jj._ j
CHRIST STOOD BETWEEN US AND PUNISHMENT. 367
And he who had no sin, but only the shadow of it, was in that
shadow so ignominiously punished, and so wofully tormented, that,
before it came to this, when it was only threatening him, he prayed
for mercy from his Father. " Tristis est anima mea usque ad
mortem. Pater, si possibile est, transeat a me calix iste." * "I feel
great horror," saith our Lord, " at the prospect of my sufferings.
My Father, if now it be possible, spare me at this time ; nevertheless
Thy will and not mine be ever fulfilled." His dear Father did not
on that account forbear, but laid on him so bitterly that he began to
cry with a sorrowftil voice, " Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani," ^ My
God, my God, my dear Father ! hast thou altogether cast me off?
me thine only Son, that thou beatest me thus severely? Yet, for
all this, he left not off, but beat him so long and so very fiercely that
he died on the cross. " Disciplina pacis nostras super eum,'^ saith
Isaiah : '^ thus our beating fell upon him, for he placed himself
between us and his Father, who was threatening to smite us, as the
mother who is full of pity placeth herself between her child and
the angry stern father when he is about to beat him. Thus did our
Lord Jesus Christ. He met the death-blow himself, to shield us
thereby, thanked be his mercy I Where a great blow is given, it
reboundeth again, upon those wdio stand nigh. Truly, whosoever
is nigh him who met the heavy blows, they will rebound upon him,
and he will never complain ; because this is the proof that he stands
nigh him ; and the rebounding stroke is very easy to bear out of love
to him who received such heavy blows to protect us from the devil's
staff in the pains of hell.
Still, saith many a one, " What is God profited though I afilict
myself for his love ? " Dear man, or woman, God is pleased with
our good. Our good is that we do what we ought. Pay attention
to this example. If a man had travelled a long way, and some one
came and told him that his dear wife was grieving so much for him
that she had no pleasure in any thing without him, but for thinking
•■> Math. xxvi. 38, 39. ^ Ibid, xxvii. 46. ' Isaiah, liii. 5.
368 EEGULiE INCLUSAKUM.
Folio 101. nefde no delit i none ]?inge, auh were, for j^oulite of his luue, lene %
vuele ilieowcd:'^ nolde him liken betere ];en ]?auh me seide him ]:»et
heo gleowede "? gomede, % wedde mid o'Ser men, 1 liuede in delices ?
Al so, ure Louerd, \ei is J^e soule spus, jjet isih^ al ];et heo do's,
]7auh he heie sitte, he is ful wel ipaied j^et heo murne'S efter him r' %
he wule hien toward hire mucheles ]7e swu^ere mid jeoue of his
grace :^ o^er uechchen hire alhmge to him to glorie buten ende.
JNe gropie hire non to softehche, hire snluen to bicherren. Ne
schal heo, nor hire hue, witen hire clone, ne holden hire ariht ine
chastete wi^uten two ];inges, ase Seint Aldret ^ wrot to his suster.
pet on is pinunge*' ine vlessche, mid festen, mid wechchen, mid
disciplines, mid herd weriunge, herd leouwe,"^ mid vuel, mid muchele
swinkes. pet o'Ser |?ing is heorte j^eauwes, deuociun, reoufulnesse,
merci, pite of heorte, luue, edmodnesse, % o'Sre swuche uertuz.
" Me Sire," ]7u onswerest me, " sulle'S God his grace ? Nis grace
wil-jeoue ?" Mine leoue sustren, ]?auh clennesse ne beo nout buine ed ®
God, auh beo'S jeouen of grace, vngraciiise stonde'S j^er to-jeines,
and makie^ ham unwur^e to holden so heih ]>ing J^et nulled swink ^
]7ereuore bli^eliche J>olien. Bitweonen delices, "? eise, 7 flessches
este, hwo was euer chaste ? Hwo ber ^ euer fur wiSinnen hire ]jet
heo ne bernde? Pot ]?et wallcS swu'Se, nule he beon ouerladen,
©"Ser kold water iworpen j^erinne and brondes wi^drawene ? pe
worabe pot ]?et wallet euer of metes, and more of drunches, he is so
neih neihebur to ];et fulitowene lim ];et heo delcS mid him ]?e brune
Folio 101 1, of hire hete. Auh, monie ancren, more herm is, beo'S so vlesshwise,
% so ouerswu^e of-dred leste liore heaued aeke,^^ 1 leste hore licome
feblie to swu^e, and witeS so hore heale ];et ];e gost unstrenc'Se'S %
scene's ine sunne ":' and ]?eo ];et schulden one lecnen hore soule mid
" lielhewet. T. el iheowed. C. ^ Ailreade. T. Ailret. C.
•^ pinsunge. C. *' lehe. T. leoune. C.
■^ bimeded. T. buiae. C. ' swinken. T.
« bredde. T, C. " warche. T.
CAUTIONS AGAINST CARNAL EASE AND INDULGENCE. 369
of his love was become lean and pallid ; would it not please him
better than if it were told him that she was merry and sportive, and
had wedded another man, and was living in pleasure ? Even so
our Lord, who is the soul's husband, and seeth all that she doth,
though he sits on high, is full well pleased that she longeth for him,
and will hasten to her so much the sooner, with the gift of his grace,
or he will go and bring her to him once for all, to glory without end.
Let not any one handle herself too gently, lest she deceive her-
self. She will not be able, for her life, to keep herself pure, nor to
maintain herself aright in chastity without two things, as Saint
Ailred wrote to his sister. The one is, giving pain to the flesh by
fasting, by watching, by flagellations, by wearing coarse garments,
by a hard bed, with sickness, with much labour. The other thing
is the moral qualities of the heart, as devotion, compassion, mercy,
pity, charity, humility, and other virtues of this kind. " Sir," thou
answerest me, " doth God sell his grace? Is not grace a free gift ? "
My dear sisters, although purity is not bought of God, but is given
freely, ingratitute resistcth it, and renders those unworthy to
possess so excellent a thing who will not cheerfully submit to
labour for it. Amidst pleasures and ease, and carnal abundance,
who was ever chaste ? Who ever carried fire within her that did
not burn ? Shall not a pot that boileth rapidly be emptied of some
of the water, or have cold water cast into it, and the burning fuel
withdrawn ? The pot of the belly that is always boiling with food,
and especially with drink, is so nigh a neighbour to that ill-dis-
ciplined member that it imparts to it the fire of its heat. Yet many
anchoresses, more is the harm, are of such fleshly wisdom, and so
exceedingly afraid lest their head ache, and lest their body should
be too much enfeebled, and are so careful of their health, that the
spirit is weakened and sickeneth in sin, and they who ought alone to
heal their soifl, with contrition of heart and mortification of the flesh,
become physicians and healers of the body. Did Saint Agatha so ?
CAMD. SOC. 3 B
370
EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
heorte bireousunge J flesshes pinunge, uorwur-Se^ fisiciens 7 Hcomes
leche.* Dude Seint Agace so? ]7et onswerede *? seide to ure
Louerdes sonde J^et brouhte hire salue norto lielen hire titles,'' "Me-
dicinam carnalem corpori nunquam exhibui:"'' J^et is, " Flessliche
medicine ne dude ich me neuere." And nabbe je iherd tellen of ]>e
l^reo holi men, bute pe on was iwuned, uor his kolde mawe uorto
nutten bote spices, 1; was ornure of mete "? of drunche ];en ])e twei
o'ore, ]?eo, ]?aiih heo weren seke, ne nomen heo neuer jeme hwat was
hoi, hwat was unhol te eten ne to drincken, auh nomen euer uor^-
riht hwatse God ham sende, ne makeden heo neuer strenc^e of
gingiuere ne of gedewal,'^ ne of clou de gilofre. A dei ase heo J>reo
weren iuollen o slepe, 1; lei bitweonen ]?eos two, ]7e ]?ridde ]>et ich
spec of er, so com ]>e Cwene of Heouene 1: two meidenes mid hire,
pe on ber ase J^auh hit were a letuarie :' ]?e o^er ber enne sticke of
gode gold. Vre Lefdi nome mid te sticke % dude i^e ones mu^e
]7erof, and |7e meidenes eoden furSre to ]>e midleste. " Nai," cwe-S
ure Lefdi, "he is his owune leche :! go^S ouer to j^e J'ridde.'^ Stod
on holi mon neorrento,® 1; biheold al pis ilke. Hwon sec mon bane's
et bond ]?ing ]?et him wule don god, he mei hit wel notien :' auh
Folio 102, forto been so angresful J^erefter nis nout God icweme :' and ancreful
nomliche uor swuch religiun nis nout God icweme. God '? his
deciples speken of soule lechekreft :' ^ 1; Ypocras 1; Galien of licomes
hele. pe one J»et was best ilered of Jesu Cristes deciples sei^ Jjet
flesshes wisdom is dea^ of 'pe soule : " Prudentia carnis mors."
"Procul odoramus helium," ase Job sei^. So we drede^ flesches
vuel ofte er |?en hit kume. pet soule vuel kumeS up, "? we J?olien
pe soule vuel, uorte etsterten vlesches vuel, ase ]?auh hit were betere
to ]?olien golnesse brune ];en heaued eche, o^er grucchunge of one
mis-itowene wombe. And hweSer is betere, ine secnesse uorte beon
Godes freo child, ]7en i flesches heale uorte beon ];rel under sunne ?
° leches. T. ^ pappes. T. •" adhibui. C.
'' Sedewal. T. zeduale. C. Nardus Celtiea. ' of feor. T. C.
' Icehecraft. T. C.
ST. AGATHA. A LP:GEJ4DARY MIRACLE. 371
who answered and said to our Lord's messenger who brought her
salve to heal her breasts, " Medicinam carnalem corpori nunquam
exhibui?" That is, " Flesh! j medicine I never applied to myself." And
have ye never heard the story of the three holy men, of whom one
was wont, for his cold stomach, to use hot spices, and was more
interested about meat and drink than the other two, who, even if
they were sick, took no heed of what was wholesome and what was
unwholesome to eat or to drink, but always took directly whatever
God sent them, nor ever made much ado about ginger, or valerian,
or cloves ? One day, when the three were fallen asleep, and the
third, of whom I spoke above, lay between these two, the Queen of
Heaven came, and two maidens with her, one of whom bare what
seemed an electuary, the other bare a spoon of good gold. Our Lady
took some of it with the spoon, and put it into the mouth of one, and
the maidens passed on to the middlemost. "Nay," said our Lady, "he is
his own physician, go over to the third." A holy man stood not far
off and beheld all this.^ When a sick man hath at hand any thing
that will do him good, he may piously use it ; but to be so anxious
about it is not pleasing to God, and especially for one of such a
religious profession to be anxious is not pleasing to God. God and
his disciples speak of the art of healing the soul ; Hippocrates and
Galen of the health of the body. He who was the most learned of
the disciples of Jesus Christ, saith that the wisdom of the flesh is the
death of the soul, " Prudentia carnis mors." ^ " We smell the battle
afar off,'^ as Job saith.° Thus we often dread a bodily disease
before it come. The soul disease attacks us and we bear it, to escape
from the bodily disease, as if it were better to endure the fire of lust
than headache, or the grumbling of a disordered stomach. And
which of these two is better, in sickness to be a free child of God,
than in bodily health to be a bond-servant under sin ? And I do
" " David Frys, of Brantam, may believe this storie, whoe hath al read it. St. Bernard
on his creed." JVole on the margin of the MS.
^ Koiuans, viii. 6. " xx.^iix. 25.
372 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
And yis ne sigge ich nout so J'et wisdom t mesure ne beon ouer al
iloked, J>e moder is a[nd] nurrice of alle gode |»eauwes. Auh we
cleopie'S ^ ofte wisdom l^et nis iion. Uor soS wisdom is don euere
soule liele biuoren flesches hele :' and liwon me ne mei nout bo^e
holden somed, clieosen er licomes hurt J^en, J'uruli to stronge uon-
dunges, soule ]?rowunge. Nicodemus brouhte uorte smurien mid
ure Louerd an hundred weien of mirre 7 of aloes, hit sei'S, ]>et beo'S
bittre spices and bitocne^ bittre swinkes, "^ flesches pinunge.^ Hun-
dred is ful tel, 1; noteS perfectiun, |7et is, ful dede :' uorte scheawen
]fet me schal fuldon flesches pine ase uor'S ase euere efne mei ]?olien.
Bi ]7e weie is bitocned mesure 1! wisdom, — J^et euerich mon weie
hwat he muwe don :' and ne beo nout so ouer swu'Se agest ° |>et je
Folio 102 b. uorjemen J^et bodi :' ne eft, so tendre of ]?e bodie ]7et hit iwurSe
untowen, "? makie |7ene gost ]7eowe. Nu is al l^is mest iseid of
bitternesse wi^uten. Sigge we nu sumhwat of bitternesse wi'S-
innen ^ vor, of J^eos two bitternesses awakene'S swetnesse, her jet i
l^isse world, and nout one ine heouene.
Ase ich seide riht nu ]fet Nicodemus brouhte smuriles uorte
smurien mide ure Louerd, al riht so ])e J^reo Maries brouhten deore-
wur'Se aromaz uorte smurien mide his bodi. Nime'S nu gode jeme,
mine leoue sustren. peos ]?reo Maries bitocne'S ]?reo bitternesses :'
vor Jjesnome Marie speleS bitternesse, ase deS Mararaht *? Merariht,
]7et ich spec er of j^eruppe. pe uormeste bitternesse is bireousunge
1; dedbote uor sunne, hwon ]?e sunfule is iturnd erest to ure Louerd.
pet is to understonden bi ]>e ereste Marie, Marie Magdalene t' and
bi gode rilite, uor heo, ine muchele bireousunge 7 ine muchele bitter-
nesse of heorte, bilefde hire sunnen '? turnde to ure Louerd, Auh
for'?5i ]7et sum muhte J^undi to muchel bitternesse uallen into unhope,
Magdalene, ]7et speleS tures heinesse, is to Marie iefned:'*^ J7uruh
" callen. T. '' pinsinges. T. pinsunges, C.
" ieast. T. C. •' ifeiet. T. iveiet. C.
THE THREE MARYS THREE KINDS OF BITTERNESS. 373
not say this as if wisdom and discretion were not always joined.
Wisdom is the mother and the nnrse of all virtues ; but we often
call that wisdom which is not wisdom. For it is true wisdom to
prefer the health of the soul to that of the body ; and when we
cannot have them both together, to choose bodily hurt rather than,
by too powerful temptations, the destruction of the soul. We are
told that Nicodemus brought for the anointing of our Lord an
hundred pounds of myrrh and of aloes,"* which are bitter spices, and
betoken toilsome labour, and mortification of the flesh. A hundred
is a complete number and denotes perfection, that is, a complete
work, to signify that we ought to perfect the mortification of the
flesh as far as may reasonably be endured. By the weight is
signified discretion and wisdom — that every man should weigh with
wisdom what he is able to do, and not be so exceedingly spiritual as
to neglect the body, nor, on the other hand, so indulgent to the body
that it might become disorderly, and make the spirit its servant.
Now most of what has just been said is concerning external bitter-
ness. Let us now say something of bitterness internal ; for, of these
two bitternesses ariseth sweetness, even in this world, and not in
heaven only.
As I said just now that Nicodemus brought ointments wdierewith
to anoint our Lord, even so, the three Marys brought precious
spices wherewith to anoint his body. Take good heed now, my
dear sisters : these three Marys denote three bitternesses ; for this
name, Mary, meaneth bitterness, as do Mararaht and Merariht, of
which I have already spoken.'' The first bitterness is remorse and
making amends for sin, when the sinner is first converted to our Lord.
This is to be understood by the first Mary, Mary Magdalene ; and
with good reason, for she, in great remorse and in great bitterness of
heart, left ofiP her sins and turned to our Lord. But because some
through too much bitterness might fall into despair, Magdalene, which
signifieth the height of a tower, is likened [/.joined] to Mary, by which
' St. John, xix. o9. " Tage 309.
374 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
hwat Is bitocned hope of heih merci J, of heouene blisse. pe o^er
bitternesse is bitternesse in wrastlunge, J. in wragelunge ajean
uonclunges :' and ]?eos bitternesse is bitocned bi ]?e o^er Marie,
Marie Jacobi r' uor Jacob spele^ wrastlare. peos wrastlunge is ful
bitter to monie ])et beo^ ful uor^ i^e weie touward heouene :' for 'pe
jet fondunges, ]?et beoS ]7e deofles swenges, wagge"S oSer hwules, 1!
moten wresten ajean mid stronge wragelunge.*^ Vor, ase Seint
Folio 103. Austin sei^, "Pharao contemptus surgit in scandalum." peo hwule
'pet euer Israeles folc was in Egipte under Pharaones liond, ne ledde
he neuer uerde J^eron. Auh ]?o hit fleih urom him, po, mid al his
strencSe wende he j^erefter. Uor"Si is euer bitter uiht neod ajean
Pharaon, ]?et is, ajean pe deouel. Vor, ase sei'S Ezechiel, " San-
guinem fugies, et sanguis persequitur te." ^ Vlih sunne ? sunne wule
euer uoluwen efter pe. Inouh is iseid ];erupe hu pe gode nis neuer
siker of alle uondunges. So sone so he bane's ouerkumen }>et on,
ikepe anonriht an oSer. pe }>ridde bitternesse is ine longunge tou-
ward heouene, '? in pe anui ^ of J»isse worlde, hwon eni is so heie ];et
he haue^S heorte reste onont un^eawes weorre, J is ase ine heouene
jetes, ? launches bitter alle worldliche j^inges. And }>eos bitternesse
is understonden bi Marie Salome_, pe ]7ridde Marie. Vor Salome spele'S
peis :! and ]?eo jet ]?et habbe'S peis 1; reste of cleane inwit, heo
habbeS in hore heorte bitternesse of ]?Isse line, J^et ethalt ham vu'om
blisse ]7et ham longeS to urom God ]?et heo luuie^. pus, lo ! in
eueriche stat rixle^ bitternesse: erest, iSe biiiinnuno-e, hwon me
seihtneS mid God :' i uor-Sjong of gode line :' and i^e last ende.
Hwo is, };eonne, o Godes half, j^et wilne^ i J?isse worlde eise
o'Ser este ?
Auh nime'S nu her jeme, mine leoue sustren, hwu, efter bitter-
ness kume^ swotnesse. Bitterness buS '^ hit :' uor, ase pe gospel sei^,
" wiglinge. T. wraggunge. C.
'' cum sanguinem oderis, sanguis persequetur te. Vulg.
"^ ende. T. anriu. C. '^ Itigcte. T.
AFTER BITTERNESS COMETH SWEETNESS. 375
is signified hope of great mercy, and of the joy of heaven. The
second bitterness is in wresthng and strugghng against temptations,
and this bitterness is denoted by the other Mary, Mary the mother
of Jacob ; * for Jacob meaneth wrestler. This wresthng is very
bitter to many who are well advanced in the way to heaven, because
they still sometimes waver in temptations, which are the devil's
casts, against which they must wrestle with vigorous efforts. For,
as St. Austin saith, Pharaoh when despised was roused to punish
the affront. As long as the people of Israel were in Egypt in
subjection to Pharaoh, he never led an army against them. But
when they fled from him, then he pursued them with all his forces.
Wherefore it is necessary always to fight bitterly against Pharaoh,
that is, against the devil. For, as Ezekiel saith,^ " Thou shalt flee
from blood, and blood shall pursue thee." Flee from sin, and sin
will always follow after thee. It has been sufficiently shewn above
how the good man is never safe from all temptations. As soon as
he hath overcome one, he immediately meets witli another. The
third bitterness consists in longing for heaven, and weariness of this
world, when one is of such exalted piety that his heart is at rest
with regard to the war against vice, and he is, as it were, in the
gates of heaven, and all worldly things seem bitter to him. And
this bitterness is to be understood by Mary Salome, the third Mary.
For Salome signifieth peace, and they who have peace and the
repose of a pure conscience, have in their heart bitterness of this
life, which detains them from blessediiess which they long for, and
from God whom tliey love. Thus we see that in every state
bitterness prevails : first, in the beginning, when we are reconciled
to God — in the progress of a good life — and in the last end. Who,
then, is on God's side who desireth in this world ease or abundance ?
But now, observe here, my dear sisters, how after bitterness
cometh sweetness. Bitterness buyeth it, for, as the Gospel saith,
those three Marys bought sweet-smelling spices, to anoint our Lord
» [James.] St. Luke, xxiv. 10. '' xxxv. 6.
376 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
■jjeos }?reo Maries bouhten swote smellinde aromaz uorto smurien
Folio 103 i. micle ure Louercl. puruh aromaz, J>et beoS swote, is understonden
swotnesse of deuot heorte. peos ]?reo Maries bugge'S hit, J>et is,
]7uruh bitternesse me kume^ to swotnesse. Bi ]?isse nome, Marie,
nimeS euer bitternesse. puruh Marie bone % bisocne was water,
ette noces, iwent to wine r' |>et is to understonden, Jjuruh bone of
bitternesse \et me her drie^ for God, ]7e heorte, Jjet was wateri,
sraecchles,*^ and ne uelede no sauur of God, nanmore ]?en of water,
]?eo schal beon iwend to wine ^ ]?et is, |>eo heorte schal iuinden
smech ine him swete ouer alle wines. Uor'Sui sei^ ]?e wise, " Usque
in tempus sustinebit paciens, et postea reditio jocunditatis :"' ]?et is,
]7e ]>o]emode ]7ohe bitter one hwule r^ uor he schal sone j^erefter
habben jeld of bhsse. And Anne in Tobie seiS bi ure Louerd,
" Quia post tempestatem tranquillum facit, et post lacrimacionem et
fletum, exultacionem infundit:" J^et is, iblesced beo ]ni, Louerd, ]7et
makest stille efter storme :! % efter wopie wateres jeklest bU'S
muruh'Ses. Salomon : " Esuriens etiam amarum pro dulci sumet :"
jif ]?u ert of hungred efter ]7e swete, ]?u most erest sikerliche biten
o^e bittre. In Canticis : " Ibo milii ad montem mirre et ad colles,"
?c. Ich chulle gon, heo sei'S, Godes deore spuse, to recheles hulle,
bi ]?e dune of mirre. Lo ! hwuch is ]7e wei to recheles swotnesse ?
By mirre of bitternesse. And eft, i^et ilke luue boc : " Que est ista
que ascendit per desertum sicut uirgula fumi ex aromatibus, mirre et
thuris?" Aromaz is imaked of mirre, '?of reches [/. rechles]. And
mirre he set biuoren, *? recheles kume'S efter : " Ex aromatibus, mirre
et thuris." Nu, mene'S hire sum, *? seiS J»et heo ne mei habben swot-
nesse :! ne ne of God, ne swetnesse wi'Sinnen. Ne wundrie heo hire
Folio 104. nowiht, jif heo nis nout Marie i vor heo hit mot buggen mid bitter-
nesse wi^uten ;' auh nout mid eueriche bitternesse x' uor sum ge^
frommard God, ase euerich worldlich sor |?et nis for J^e soule heale.
Vor^i, i'Se gospelle, of ];e J^reo Maries is iwriten J^isses weis ^ " Vt
uenientes ungerent Jesum — non autem recedentes." peos breo
Maries, hit sei'S, J^et is, J^eos bitternesses weren kuininde uorto
* smelles. T.
THE WAY TO SWEETNESS THROUGH BITTERNESS. 377
with. By spices, which are sweet, is to be understood the sweet-
ness of a devout heart. Those three Marys buy it, that is, through
bitterness we arrive at sweetness. By this name, Mary, always under-
stand bitterness. Through Mary's request and entreaty at the
marriage, water was changed to wine, which is thus to be under-
stood, that, through the prayer of bitterness that we suffer here for
God, the heart, which was watery, tasteless, and felt no oavour of
God, no more than of water, shall then be changed to wine, that is,
that heart shall find a taste in him sweet above all wines. Wherefore,
saith the wise man, " Usque in tempus sustinebit patiens, et postea
reditio jucunditatis ; "'^ that is, "The patient man bears that which
is bitter for a while, because he shall soon afterwards have a return
of joy." And Anna, in Tobias, saith of our Lord, "Quia post
tempestatem tranquillum facit, et post lacrymationem et fletum
exultationem infundit ; " ^ that is, " Blessed be thou, O Lord, who
makest a calm after a storm, and after weeping and tears bestowest "
mirth and joy." Solomon saith, " Esuriens etiam amarum pro
dulci sumet." ^ " If thou hungerest after the sweet, thou must first,
surely, eat of the bitter." In the Canticles, " Ibo mihi ad montem
myrrhse et ad collem thuris." ® "I will go," saith God's dear spouse,
" to the hill of frankincense by the mountain of myrrh." Observe :
Which is the way to the sweetness of frankincense ? By the myrrh
of bitterness. And again in the same love-book : " Who is she that
goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices, of
myrrh and frankincense ? " ^ Aromatic spices are composed of myrrh,
and of frankincense. And myrrh he placeth before, and frank-
incense Cometh after : " Of aromatical spices, myrrh and frank-
incense." Now, some one complaineth that she cannot have sweet-
ness— neither of God nor sweetness within. Let her not wonder, if
she is not Mary ; for she must buy it with bitterness without ; but
not with every bitterness, for some causeth to go away from God,
» Ecclus. i. 23. '' Tobit. hi. 22. Vulgate.
■= heldest ? pourest in. •• Prov. xxvii. 7.
« Song of Solomon, iv 5. ' Song of Solomon, ill. 6. R. C. version.
CAMD. SOC. 3 C
378 REGUL^ INCLUSAKUM.
smurien ure Louerd. peo bee's kuminde uorte smurien ure Louerd
'pet me ]?oleS for his luue. He strecche^ him touward us ase J^ing
pet is ismured, and make^ him nesshe *? softe uorto hondlen. And
nes he him sulf rechis i^Se meidenes wombe? peos two J^inges
limpe'S to ancre ^ neruh^e J; bitternesse. Yor wombe is neruh
wununge per ure Louerd was reclus. And tis word, Marie, ase is
ofte iseid, speleS bitternesse. Eif je, j^eonne, ine nerewe stude
J^oKe'S bitternesse, ^e beoS his feolawes — reclus, ase he was ine
Marie wombe. peonne, je, ine nerewe stude, J)olie'S bitternesse ase
he dude in Marie wombe, hwon je beoS ibunden wi^innen uour
large wowes, and he in a neruh kader * — ineiled o rode — and ine
stonene ]?ruh biclused heteueste. Marie wome *? ]?eos J>ruh weren
his ancrcs buses :f and in nou^er nes he worldlich mon :' auh was
ase lat of pe worlde, uorte scheawen ancren ]7et heo ne schulen mid
pe worlde no J^ing habben imene. " Ee," ]?u onswerest me 1; seist,
" auh ure Louerd wende ut of bo'Se." Ee wend tu also ut of bo
l^ine ancre buses, ase he dude, wi^ute bruclie, % bilef ham bo'Se
ihole. pet schal beon hwon pe gost iwent ut on ende, wiSute bruche
Folio 104 6. "? wi^ute wem, of his two buses, pet on is pe licame t' ]?et o'Ser is
}7et uttre hus, ]7et is ase pe uttre wal abute pe kastle.
Al |?et ich habbe iseid of flesshes pinunge nis nout uor ou, mine
leoue sustren, J?et o'Serhwules J^olie'S more j^en ich wolde :' auh is
for sum ]>et schal reden ]>is inouh reaSe, ]>et gropie'S hire to softe
no'Seleas. Eunge impen me bigurt mid ]7ornes, leste bestes ureten
ham )7eo hwule ]?et heo beo^S meruwe. Ee beo^ junge impen iset
in Godes orcharde. ponies beo^ pe heardschipes |?et ich habbe
ispeken of:' and ou is neod ]?et je be(m biset mid ham abuten, j^et
" cradpl. T.
RECLUSES ARE LIKE YOUNG TEEES FENCED WITH THOKNS. 379
as every worldly pain which is not for the health of the soul.
Wherefore, in the Gospel it is written of the three Marys in this
manner. " That coming, they might anoint Jesus, but not going.''
These three Marys, it is said, that is, these bitternesses, were coming
to anoint our Lord. Those sufferings are coming to anoint our Lord
which we endure for his sake. He stretcheth himself toward us as a
thing that is anointed, and maketh himself tender and soft to handle.
And was he not himself shut up in the maiden's womb ? These two
things belong to an anchoress, narrowness and bitterness. For a
womb is a narrow dwelling, where our Lord was shut up. And
this word Mary, as has often been said, signifieth bitterness. If ye,
then, in a narrow place endure bitterness, ye are like him — shut up,
as he was in Mary's womb. Then, do ye, in a narrow place, endure
bitterness, as he did in Mary's womb, when ye are confined within
four large walls, and he in a narrow cradle — nailed to the cross —
and in a tomb of stone closely confined. Mary's womb and this
tomb were his anchorite houses, and in neither was he a man of this
world, but, as it were, out of the world, to shew anchoresses that
they ought to have nothing in connn(»n with the world. "Nay,"
thou answerest me and say est, " but our Lord went out of both."
Nay, go thou also out of both thine anchoress houses, as he did,
without breaking out, and leave them both whole. That shall be
when the spirit goeth out at last, without breach and without
blemish, from his two houses. The one is the body, the other is the
external house, which is as the outward wall about the castle.
All that I have said concerning the mortification of the flesh is not
for you, my dear sisters, who, upon some occasions, suffer more than
I could wish, but it is for some one who will give this advice readily
enough, who nevertheless handleth herself too softly. Men fence
round with thorns young trees, lest beasts should gnaw them while
they are tender. Ye are young trees planted in God's orchard.
Thorns are the hardships which I have spoken of, and it is necessary
380 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
te best of helle, hwon he snakere^ toward ou uorto biten on ou,
hurte him o^e herdschipe,* "? schunche ajeinw'ardes. Mid al J?is
herdschipe, beo'S glede jif lute word is of ou, 1 jif je beo'S
unwur^e :^ uor ]7orn is scherp "? unwur^. Mid ]7eos two beo'S
igurde, Ee nowen nout uunen J»et eni vuel word kome of ou :! uor
schandle is heaued sunne :^ auh je owen uorte unnen J^et no word
ne konie of ou, nanmore ]?en of deade. And beo'S bh^e on heorte
jif je IjolicS daunger of Sluri, ]>q kokes knaue, J>et wasshe^ J7e
disshes i^e kuchene. peonne beo je dunes iheied up to J)e heouene :!
vor lo ! hwu speke'S ]7e lefdi i^et swete luue boc : " Venit dilectus
mens saHens in montibus, transiliens colles." " Mi leof kume'S," he
sei'S, " leapinde o'Se dunes ouerleapinde hulles." Dunes bitocne^ J^eo
Ipei ledeS hexst hf :^ hulles beoS j^e lowure. Nu, seiS heo ]7et hire
leof leape'S o'Se hulles ^^ \et is, to- tret ham, t to-fule'S ham, *? jjole-S
J?et me to-tret ham, 1 tuke^ ham alto wundre ^ scheawe'S in ham
Folio 105. liis owune treden }>et me trodde him in ham, 7 iuinde hwu he was
to-treden, ase his treoden scheawe^. pis beo^ ]?e heie dunes, ase \e
munt of Mungiue, % ]7e dunes of Armenie. peo hulles \Qi beo^
lowure, J^eo, ase |?e lefdi sei^, hire sulf ° ouerleape^, ne strusteS ^ heo
so wel on ham, uor hore feblesce :! uor ne muhte heo nout i'Solien
swuche to-tredunge, and ]>ereuore heo ouerleapeS ham, % forbere'S
ham, % forbuwe'S ® ham uort J^et heo beon iwaxen herre, urom hulles
to dunes. His schedewe hure *? hure ^ ouerge^ and wri'S ham be
hwule ]7et he leaped ouer ham r' J^et is, sum ilicnesse he lei^ on ham
of his line on eor^e, ase j^auh hit were his schedewe. Auh ]>e
dunes underuo^ ]?e treden^ of him suluen, and scheawe^ in hore
Hue hwuch his liflode was — hwu "? hwar he eode — i hwuche uilte —
i hwuche wo he ledde his lif on eor^e. Swuch dune was |?e gode
Povv^el, ]?et seide r' " Dejicimur, sed non perimus, mortificationem
Jesu in corpore nostro circumferentes, ut et uita Jesu in corporibus
» seharpschipe. T. C. •• dunes. T. C. « Qu. himsulf ?
<* trustes. T. trust. C, • forhuhes. T, < lanhure. C.
P trod PS. T.
UNJUST CONTEMPT TO BE ENDURED WITH MEEKNESS. 381
for you that ye be fenced around with them, that the beast of hell,
when he comes sneaking towards you to bite you, may hurt himself
upon the hardness, and slink away from you. With all this hard-
ness, be glad if ye are little spoken of, and if ye are disesteemed, for
a thorn is sharp and disesteemed. With these two things be ye
encompassed. Ye ought not to let any evil word proceed from you,
for scandal is a mortal sin ; and ye ought to let no evil word proceed
from you any more than from the dead. And be glad in your
heart if ye suffer insolence from Slurry, the cook's boy, who
washeth dishes in the kitchen. Then are ye mountains exalted to
heaven ; for consider how the lady speaketh in that sweet love-book,
" Venit dilectus meus saliens in montibus, transiliens colles." "
" My love cometh," she saith, '• leaping on the mountains, leaping
over the hills." Mountains betoken those that lead the highest life,
hills are the lower. Now, she saith that her love leapeth on the
hills [mountains], that is, treadeth upon them, and defileth them,
and suffereth them to be trodden upon, and chastises them sharply :
sheweth in them the footmarks upon his own person, in which men
trode upon him, and they find how he was trodden upon, as the
footmarks upon him shew. These are the high mountains, like the
mountain of Montjoye and the mountains of Armenia. The hills,
which are lower, which as the lady saith herself [himself] over-
leapeth, and doth not trust in them so much, on account of their
weakness ; because they could not bear to be so trodden upon, and
therefoi'e she [he] overleapeth them, and hath patience with them,
and avoideth them until they be waxen higher, from hills to
mountains. His shadow, however, passeth over and covereth them
while he leapeth over them, that is, he layeth upon them some
resemblance of his life on earth, as if it were his shadow. But the
mountains receive the footmarks of himself, and exhibit in their life
what manner of life he led — how and where he went — in how abject
» Song of Solomon, ii. 8. " The voice of my beloved I behold he cometh leaping upon
the mountains, !<kipping over the hills." R. C. translation.
382 EEGULiE INCLUSAKUM.
nostris manifestetur." Alle wo, ewe's Seinte Powel, *? alle scheome
we ]7olie^. Auh ]>et is ure iseluh^e jjet we beoren in ure bodie
Jesu Cristes deacllicnesse, ]?et hit sutelie in us hwuch was his lif on
eor^e. Got hit wot ! ]>eo ];et ]?us do^ heo preoue'S hore luue tou-
ward ure Louerde. "Luuest tu me? Cu^ hit, uor hiue wule
scheawen hire mid uttre werkes." Gregorius t' "Probatio dilec-
tionis exhibitio est operis." Ne beo neuer ]?ing so lierd ]?et luue ne
make's nesshe, J, softe, 1 swete. "Amor omnia reddit facilia."
Hwat ]7ohe^ men 1! wummen uor uals luue ! and more wolden
]?olien ! And hwat is more wunder J?et siker luue, 1 trewe ? swete
Folio 105 h. ouer alle o'Sre luuen, ne mei ameistren us so uor^ ase de^ ]?e luue
sunne ! Nout for^i, ich wot swulne ]>et bereS bo^e togedere heui
brunie and here, ibunden mid iren ]7e middel j^auh, and ermes mid
brode ]7icke bendes, so ]7et tet swote J^erof is strong passiun, uorto
]?o]ien :^ * nested, wake's, swinke'S :! and, Crist hit wot, he mane's
him, *? sei^ J^et hit ne greue'S him nout t and bid me ofte techen
him sum J^ing mid hwat he mulite his licome deruen. Deu le set :f
jet he weop'S on me, monne'' sorest, 7 sei^ ]?et God haue'S al
uorjiten him, uor^i 'pet he ne sent him none muchele secnesse. Al
]>et euer is bitter, uor ure Louerdes luue, al him ]7unche'S swete.
God hit wot, ]?et make^ luue :' u.or, ase he sei^ me ofte, uor none
J^ing ]7et God muhte don vuele bi him, ]7auli he mid ]?e forlorene
wurpe him into helle, ne muhte he, him J^unche'S, luuien him J»e
lesse. And jif eni mon ei '^ swucli I'ing ortroweS bi him, he is more
mat * |7en J>eJ?e of inumen mid J^eof^e. Ich wot ec swuche wummon
]7et ]7ole^ lute lesse. Auh, nis ]7er bute ]7onken God of his strencSe
]7et he jiueS ham. And iknowe we ure owune wocnesse edmodliche r^
and luuie we hore god, 7 so hit is ure. Vor, ase Seint Gregorie
sei'S, " Luue is of so muchele strenc'Se ]?et heo make^ oSres god,
wi'Suten swinke ure owune god." Nu, me ]?unche'S J>et we beo^
ikumen into ])e seoue^e dole, ]?et is al of luue ]?et make's schir
heorte.
" ita quod passio est sudorem lioruni tolerare. MS. Oxoii.
'' wiiienc. T. •= oht. T. eut. C. '' mad, C
LOVE MAKETH ALL THINGS EASY. EXAMPLE. 383
a condition — and in what pain he led his life on earth. Such a
mountain was the good Paul, who said, " We are cast down, but we
perish not ; always bearing about in our body the mortification of
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our
bodies."'* "We suft'er," saith St. Paul, "all pain and all shame."
But it is our happiness that we bear in oiu' body the likeness of
Jesus Christ's death, that it may be shewn in us of what nature was
his life on earth. God knoweth ! they that act thus prove their love
towards our Lord. " Lovest thou me ? Shew it ; for love will shew
itself by outward acts." St. Gregory saith, " The proof of love is the
manifestation of its effect." Nothing is ever so hard that love doth
not make tender, and soft, and sweet. " Love maketh all things
easy." What do men and women endure for false love ! and would
endure more ! And what is more to be wondered at is, that the
love which is faithful and true, and sweeter than any other love may
not overmaster us so much as doth sinful love I Yet, I know a man
who wearetli at the same time both a heavy cuirass and haircloth,
bound with iron about the middle too, and his arms with broad and
thick bands, so tJiat to bear the sweat of it is severe suffering ; he
fasteth, he watcheth, he laboureth, and, Christ knoweth, he com-
plaineth and saith that it doth not oppress him, and often asks me
to teach him something wherewith he might give his body pain.
God knoweth, yet he, the most sorrowful of men, weepeth to me and
saith that God hath quite forgotten him, because he sendeth him no
great sickness. Whatever is bitter seems sweet to him for our
Lord's sake. God knoweth, love doth this, because, as he often
saith to me, he could never love God the less for any evil thing that
He might do to him, even were he to cast him into hell with those
who perish. And if any man confidently believe any such thing of
him, he is more confounded than a thief taken with his theft. I
know also a woman of like mind who suffereth little less. And what
remains but to thank God for the strength that he giveth them ?
" 2 Corinth, iv. 9, 10. R. C. Translation of Vulgate.
384 REGULJ^. INCLUSARITM.
Her beginne'S J?e seoue^e dole.
Of Luue.
Seint Powel witne'S ]7et alle uttre herdschipes, *?! alle vlesslies
Folio 106. pinunge, t alle licomes swinkes, al is ase nout ajean luue, )?et
schireS "^ brihte^ ]?e lieorte. " Exercitatio corporis ad modicum
ualet ^ pietas autem ualet ad omnia :" J^et is, " Licomliche bisischipe
is to lutel wur'S ^ auh swote 1 schir heorte is god to alle ]7inges.''
" Si tradidero corpus meum ita ut ardeam : si lingwis hominum
loquar et angelorum r' et si distribuero omnes facultates meas in
cibos pauperum, caritatem autem non habeam, nichil mihi prodest.^'
" pauli ich ku'Se," he sei'S, "alle monne ledene 7 englene:' and J>auli ich
dude o mine bodie alle ]7e pinen, % alle J^e passiuns J7et bodi muhte
bolien :' and ]?auh ich jefde poure men al Jjet ich hefde :! but jif
ich hefde luue ]?er mide to God "? to alle men, in him 1:. for him, al
were aspilled f vor, ase ]?e holi abbod Moises seide, " Al l?et wo J, al
|>et herschipe ]?et we ]?olie^ of flesche, ? al ]7e god ]?et we euer do^,
alle swuche ]7inges ne beo^ buten ase lomen uorte tilien mide j^e
heorte. EJif eax ne kurue, ne j^e spade* ne dulue, ne J?e suluh^ ne
erede, hwo kepte ham uorte holden ?" Al so ase no mon ne luue^
lomen uor ham suluen, auh de^ for J>e J>inges ]7et me wurche'S mid
ham, riht al so, no vlesshes derf nis forte luuien bute uor^i ]7et God
be ra'Ser loke jndeward mid his grace, and makie ]?e heorte schir 1!
of brihte sih^e :^ ]?et non ne mei habben mid monglunge of un-
"Seauwes, ne mid eor^lich luue of worldliche Jjinges :^ uor ]7is mong
> spitel staf. T. sputel stef. C. *> ploh. T.
EXCELLENCE OF LOVE, OH CHARITY. 385
And let us humbly acknowledge our own weakness, and love their
merit, and thus it becomes our own. " For,'^ as St. Gregory saith,
" love is of so great power that it maketh the merit of others our
own without labour." I think we are now come to the seventh part,
which is all of love, which maketh a pure heart. Here beginneth
PART VII.— Of Love.
St. Paul witnesseth that all outward hardships, and all pains of
the flesh, and all bodily labours, are as nothing when compared with
love, which purifieth and brighteneth the heart, " Exercitatio
corporis ad modicum valet ; pietas autem valet ad omnia ; " * that is,
" Bodily diligence is of little profit ; but a sweet and clean heart is
profitable to all things." " Si tradidero corpus meum ita ut ardeam ;
si Unguis hominum loquar et angelorum ; et si distribuero omnes
facultates mens in cibos pauperum, caritatem autem non habeam,
nihil mihi prodest." ^ " Though I know,^' saith he, " all the tongues of
men and angels ; and though I inflicted upon my body all the pains,
and all the sufferings that a body could endure ; and though I gave
poor men all that I had ; unless I had therewith love to God and to
all men, in him and for him, it were all lost." For, as the holy abbot
Moyses saith, " All the pain and all the hardships that we suffer in
the flesh, and all the good we do — all such things are but as tools
with which to cultivate the heart. If the axe did not cut, nor the
spade delve, nor the ploughshare plough, who would care to have
them ? " In like manner, as no man loveth tools for themselves, but
for the things which are done with them, so, no pain of the flesh is
to be loved, unless on this account, that God may the sooner
regard this with his grace, and make the heart pure and of clear
sight ; which none can have with an intermixture of vices, nor with
earthly affection towards the things of the world ; for this mixing so
« 1 Timothy, iv. 8. " 1 Corintli. xiii. 1, 3,
ca:md. soc. 3 d
386 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
woreS ^ so ^e eien of ]7e heorte |?et heo ne mei iknowen God, ne
gleclien of his sih'Se, " Schir lieorte," ase Seint Bernard Bel's,
" make^ two j^inges t' J^et tu, al j^et jju dest, do hit oSer uor luue
Folio 106 &. one of God, o^er uor o'Sres god, 7 for his biheue." Haue, in al ]7et
tu dest, on of ]?eos two ententes, o'Ser bo togederes :' uor ]>e latere
ualle^ into ])e uorme. Haue euer schir heorte |?us, 1: do al ]?et tu
wilt. Haue wori ^ heorte *? al ])e sit vuele. " Omnia munda mun-
dis, coinquinatis uero nichil est mundum." Apostolus. St Augus-
tinus :' " Habe caritatem et fac quicquid uis t' uoluntate, uidelicet,
rationis." Vor^i, mine leoue sustren, ouer alle ]?ing beoS bisie uorte
habben schir heorte. Hwat is schir heorte ? Ich hit habbe iseid
er : ]>et is, J^et je no ]?ing ne wilnen, ne ne luuien bute God one, and
j7eo ilke ];inges, uor God, ]?et helped ou touward him. Uor God,
ich sigge, luuien ham, 7 nout for ham suluen — ase mete, "? do's, and
mon o'Ser wummon |?et je beo'S of igoded. Uor, ase Seint Austin
sei^, *? spekeS )7us to ure Louerd, "Minus te amat qui preter te
aliquid amat quod non propter te amat :" ]>et is, " Louerd, lesse heo
luuieS ]?e ]7et luuieS out bute 'pe, bute jif heo luuien hit for ]?e."
Schirnesse of heorte is Godes luue one. 1 }>issen is al "pe strencSe
of alle religiuns, and J^e ende of alle ordres. " Plenitudo legis est
dilectio." " Luue fulle'S ]?e lawe," he seiS, Seinte Powel. " Quicquid
precipitur in sola caritate solidatur." " Alle Godes hesten," ase
Seint Gregorie Bel's, "bee's Ine luue iroted." Luue one schal beon
Held ine Seinte Miheles weie. peo |?et mest luuie^, peo schullen
beon mest iblisced t' nout ]?eo J?et lede^ herdest lif ^ uor luue ouer-
wel^ hit. Luue is heouene stiward, uor hire muchele ureoschipe,''
uor heo ne ethalt no )?ing, auli heo jiue'S al ])et heo haue^, *? ec hire
suluen :' elles GO'S ne kepte nout of al |;et hire were.
Folio 107. Cjrod haue'S of-gon ure luue on alle kunne wisen. He haue^
niuchel Idon us, "? more bihoten. Muchel jeoue of-drawe^ luue :'
^ Ms luue weorre'S. C. '' weari. T, •" freolaic. T. freolec C.
A PURE HEART ESSENTIAL TO LOVE. 387
distorts the eyes of the heart that it cannot know God, nor be glad
at his sight. " A pure heart," as St. Bernard saith, " doth two
things, it maketh thee to do whatever thou doest, either for the love
of God only, or for the good or benefit of another." In all that thou
doest, have one of these two intents, or both together, for the latter
coincides with the former. Keep thy heart always thus pure, and
do all that thou wilt. Have a perverse heart, and every thing is
evil with thee. The apostle saith, " Unto the pure all things are
pure, but unto them that are defiled is nothing pure." * And St.
Austin, " Have charity and do whatsoever thou wilt, that is, by the
will of reason." Wherefore, my dear sisters, endeavour, above all
things, to have a pure heart. What is a pure heart ? 1 have told
you before : it is that ye neither desire nor love any thing but God
only, and those things, for God, that assist you to come to him. I
say ye are to love them for God, and not for themselves — as food
and clothing, and man or woman from whom ye receive benefits ;
for, as St. Austin saith, and speaketh thus to our Lord, " Minus te
amat qui pra3ter te aliquid amat quod non propter te amat : " that is,
" Lord, she loveth thee less who lovetli any thing but thee, unless she
love it for thee." Pureness of heart is the love of God only. In
this is the whole strength of all religious professions, and the end of
all religious orders. " Plenitude legis est dilectio." ^ " Love ful-
fiUeth the law," saith St. Paul. " Quicquid prtecipitur in sola
caritate solidatur." " All God's commands," as St. Gregory saith,
" are rooted in love." Love alone shall be laid in St. Michael's
balance. They who love most shall be most blessed, not they who
lead the most austere life, for love outweigheth this. Love is
heaven's steward, on account of her great liberality, for she retains
nothing for herself, but giveth all that she hath, and even herself,
otherwise God would not esteem any of the things that were hers.
God hath deserved our love in every way. He hath done much
for us, and hath promised more. A great gift attacts love, and he
■<■ Titus, i. 15. *' Romans, xiii. 10.
388 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
me mucliel jef he us. Al ];ene world he jef us in Adam ure
Ueder r' and al J^et is i"Se worlde he werp under ure wet — bestes "it
fueles, ear we weren uorgulte. " Omnia subjecisti sub pedibus ejus,
oues et boues uniuersas, insuper et pecora campi, volucres celi et
pisces maris," '^c. And jet al ]>et is, ase is J^eruppe iseid, seme's ]?e
gode, to ];e sonle biheue r' jete pe vuele serue^S eorS, seea, 7 sunne
[viz. sol]. Eet he dude more: he jef us nout one of his, auh dude
al him suluen. So heih jeoue nes neuer ijiuen to so louwe
wrecches. Apostolus : " Christus dilexit ecclesiam et dedit semet-
ipsum pro ea." Seinte Powel sei^, " Crist luuede so his leofmon J^et
he jef for hire ]>e pris of him suluen." Nirae'S god jeme, mine leoue
sustren, uor hwi we ouh him to luuien. Brest, ase a mon '\>et
wowe'S* — ase a king j^et luuede one lefdi of feorrene londe, and
sende hire his sondesmen biforen, ]>et weren ]>e patriarkes 7 J^e pro-
phetes of Ipe Okie Testament, mid lettres isealed. A last he com
him suluen, and brouhte ]>et gospel ase lettres iopened, and wrot mid
his owune blode saluz to his leofmon, of luue gretunge uorte wowen
hire mide, "? forte welden hire luue. Herto ualle'S a tale, and on
iwrien ^ uorbisne.
A lefdi was j^et was mid hire uoan ° biset al abuten, and hire lond
al destrued, t heo al poure, wi^innen one eor'Sene castle. On mihti
kinges luue was ]7auh biturnd upon hire, so vnimete swu^e ]>et he
uor wouhlecchunge ^ sende hire his sonden, on efter o'Ser, and ofte
somed monie i' 7 sende hire beaubelet ^ bo^e ueole *? feire, and
I'oUo 107 i. sukurs of liuene'S, "? help of his heie bird to holden hire castel. Heo
underueng al ase on unrecheleas ]?ing }>et was so herd iheorted ]7et
hire luue ne mihte he neuer beon J?e neorre. Hwat wult tu more ?
He com himsulf a last, and scheawede hire his feire neb, ase ];e ]?et
was of alle men ueirest to biholden, and spec swu'Se sweteliche 7 so
>■■ wohes. T. •> Imlet. T.
' fan. T. C, ■' wohlac. T. woclilec. C.
^ bcawbelcz. T. beaubelez. C.
AVHAT GOD HAS DONE TO GAIN OUll LOVE. 389
gave us much. He gave us the whole world in our father Adam.
And all that is in the world he cast under our feet — beasts and
fowls, before we had sinned. " Thou hast put all things under his
feet : all sheep and oxen, moreover the beasts also of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea," Szc.^ And besides,
as has been already said, all that is serveth the good, to the profit of
the soul : moreover, the earth, the sea, and the sun serve the evil.
He did yet more : he gave us not only of his own things, but he
gave us himself. So noble a gift was never given to such abject
wretches. The apostle St. Paul saith, " Christus dilexit ecclesiam
et dedit semetipsum pro ea." ^ " Christ so loved his spouse that he
gave for her the price of himself." Observe carefully, my dear
sisters, why we ought to love him. First, as a man that wooeth —
as a king that loved a lady of a distant land, and sent before him his
ambassadors to her, which were the patriarchs and the pi'ophets of
the Old Testament, with sealed letters. At last he came himself,
and brought the Gospel, as letters opened, and wrote with his own
blood salvation to his beloved as a love greeting, to woo her with,
and to obtain her love. To this belongs a tale, and a lesson under
the cover of a similitude.
There was a lady who was besieged by her foes within an earthen
castle, and her land all destroyed, and herself quite poor. The love
of a powerful king was, however, fixed upon her with such bound-
less affection, that to solicit her love he sent his ambassadors, one
after another, and often many together, and sent her jewels both
many and fair, and supplies of victuals, and the aid of his noble
army to keej) her castle. She received them all as a careless
creature, that was so hard-hearted that he could never get any
nearer to her love. What wouldest thou more ? He came himself
at last and shewed her his fair face, as one who was of all men the
most beautiful to behold ; and spoke most sweetly, and such pleasant
" Psalm viii. *■ Epliesiaus, v, 25.
390 REGULJE INCLUSARUM.
murie wordes j^et lieo muhten J^e deade arearen iirom dea'Se to Hue.
And wroulite ueole wuiidres, and dude ueole meistries biuoren hire
eihsih^e "! % sclieawede hire his mihten ^. tolde hire of his kinedome "i
and bead for to makien hire cwene of al ]?et he ouhte. Al }>is ne
help nout. Nes ]>is wunderh'ch hoker ? Vor heo nes neuer wur^e
uorte beon his schelchine.* Auh so, ]7uruh his debonerte, luue hefde
ouerkumen hine j^et he seide on ende, " Dame, \\\. ert iweorred, % J^ine
uon beo^ so stronge j^et tu ne meiht nonesweis, wi'Suten sukurs of
me, etfleon hore honden, )7et heo ne don J»e to scheomefule dea'S.
Ich chulle uor \q luue of J>e nimen ]?is fiht upon me, and aredden \q, of
ham ]?et scheche^ ]7ine dea'S. Ich wot J^auh for so'Se J^et ich schal
bitweonen ham underuongen ^ dea'Ses wunde i and ich hit wulle
heorteliche uorto of-gon "^ J^ine heorte. Nu, J^eonne, biseche ich J^e,
uor ]?e luue ]?et ich ku'Se ]?e, J^et tu luuie me, hure '% hure,*^ efter ]?en
ilke dead dealSe, hwon ]>u noldes hues." pes king dude al ]>us :
aredde hire of alle hire uon, and was himsulf to wundre ituked, and
isleien on ende. puruh miracle, ]7auh, he aros from dea^e to line.
Nere j^eos ilke lefdi of vuele kunnes kunde, jif heo ouer alle Jiing ne
luue him her efter?
Folio 108. pes king is lesu Crist, Godes sune, J^et al o J^isse wise wowude
ure soule, ]?et ]?e deoflen heueden biset. And he, ase noble wo ware
efter monie messagers, % feole god deden, com uorto preouen his
luue, and scheawede ]7uruh knihtschipe J)et he was luue-wurde i ase
weren sumewhule knihtes iwuned for to donne. He dude him ine
turnement, % hefde uor his leofmonnes luue, his schelde ine uihte,
ase kene kniht, on eueriche half i-J^urled. pis scheld j>et wreih his
Godhed was his leoue licome J^et was ispred o rode, brod ase scheld
buuen in his i-streiht earmes, and neruli bineo^en, ase J^e on uot,
efter j^et me wene'S, sete upon |7e oSer uote. pet J>is scheld naue'S ®
■» tuftin. T. C. •> nime. T. neome. C.
•^ ouerga. T. edgan. C. ^ Lure. T. lanhure. C.
^ efter moiincd wenc. T.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO MANKIND SHEWN IN A PARABLE. 391
words, that they miglit have raised the dead from death to Hfe.
And he wrought many miracles, and did many wondrous works
before her eyes, and shewed her his power, told her of his kingdom,
and offered to make her queen of all that belonged to him. All
this availed nothino;. Was not this disdain a marvellous thino; ?
For she was never worthy to be his scullion. But, through his
goodness and gentleness, love so overmastered him that he at last
said, " Lady, thou art attacked, and thy enemies are so strong that,
without help of me, thou canst not by any means escape their hands,
so that they may not put thee to a shameful death. I will, for the
love of thee, take upon me this fight, and deliver thee from those
who seek thy death, yet I know assuredly that among them I shall
receive a mortal wound, and I will gladly receive it to win thy
heart. Now then, I beseech thee, for the love that I shew thee, that
thou love me, at least after being thus done to death, since thou
wouldst not in my life-time." This king did so in every point.
He delivered her from aU her enemies, and was himself grievously
maltreated, and at last slain. But, by a miracle, he arose from
death to life. Would not this lady be of a most perverse nature, if
she did not love him, after this, above all things ?
This king is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who in this manner
wooed our soul, which the devils had besieged. And he, as a noble
wooer, after many messengers, and many good deeds, came to prove
his love, and shewed by his knightly prowess that he was worthy of
love, as knights were sometimes wont to do. He engaged in a
tournament, and had, for his lady's love, his shield every where
pierced in battle, like a valorous knight. This shield which covered
his godhead was his dear body, that was extended on the cross,
broad as a shield above, in his outstretched arms, and narrow be-
neath, because, as men suppose, the one foot was placed upon the
other foot. That this shield had no sides is to signify that his
disciples, who ought to have stood by him and be his sides, all fled
Folio 108 6.
392 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
none siden is forto bitocnen ];et his deciples, j^et schulden stonden bi
him, and i-beon liis siden, vluwen alle urom him J, bilefden him ase
ureomede :^ ase ]?e gospel sei'S, " Rehcto eo, omnes fugerunt." pis
scheld is i-jiuen us ajean alle temptaciuns, ase Jeremie witne'S :!
" Dabis scutum cordis, laborem tuum," 7 Psalmista, " Scuto bone
uoluntatis tue coronasti nos," pis scheld ne schilt us nout one urom
alle vueles f auh de^ jet more :' hit krune'S us in heouene. " Scuto
bone uoluntatis tue," Louerd, he sol's, Dauid, mid |>e scheld of J?ine
gode wille. Vor, willes he J'olede al j^et he |7olede. Ysaias.
"Oblatus est quia uoluit." Me, Louerd, J>u seist, hwarto? Ne
muhte he mid lesse gref habben ared us ?^ Ee siker,^ ful lihtliche :'
auh he nolde. Hwareuore ? Vorte binimen us euerich bitellunge
aTcan him of ure luue, ]?et he so deore bouhte. Me buS lihtliche a
bino- bet me luue'S Intel. He bouhte us mid his heorte blode :'
deorre pris nes neuer, uorte of-drawen of us ure luue touward him
]?et kostnede him so deorre. Ine schelde beo^ j^reo ]?inges, ]?et treo,
and ]>et le'Ser, 1 ]>e peintange.'^ Al so was i^isse schelde — J^et treo
of "be rode, 1: j^et le'Ser of Godes licome, and ]?e peintunge of J?e
reade blode ]>et heowede hire so ueire. Eft, ]?e J>ridde reisun.
Efter kene knihtes dea'Se me honge'S heie ine chirche his scheld on
his munegunge. Al so is ]?is scheld, J^et is, J^et crucifix iset ine
chirche, ine swuche stude ]?et me hit sonest iseo, vorto ]?enclien ]7erbi
o Jesu Cristes knihtschipe J^et he dude o rode. His leofmon biholde
beron hu he bouhte hire luue and lette ]7urlen his scheld :/ ]7et is,
lette openen his side uorte scheawen hire his heorte, and forto
scheawen hire openliche hwu inwardliche he luuede hire, and forto
of-drawen hire heorte.
Uour heaued luuen me iuint i^isse worlde — bitweonen gode
iueren l?e uormeste is :' bitweonen mon "? wummon ]>e o'Ser is :f
bitweonen wif 1: hire child ]7e j^ridde is :! bitweonen licome 1: soule.
■1 irud us fram helle. T. '' S«se I wis. T. Ses I wis. C.
' litinge. T.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST OUR SHIELD. 393
from him and forsook him as an alien, as the Gospel saith, " They
all forsook him and fled."* This shield is given us against all
temptations, as Jeremiah testifieth, " Thou shall give them a buckler
of heart, thy labour." ^ And the Psalmist, " Thou hast cro^Yned us
as with a shield of thy good will.'' *= This shield defends us not
only from all evils, but doth yet more, it crowneth us in heaven,
" Scuto bona} voluntatis tuae." " O Lord," saith David, " with the
shield of thy good will." For, willingly did he suffer all that he
suffered. Isaiah saith, " He was offered because it was his own
will." d But, " O Lord," thou sayest, " why ? " Could he not have
delivered us with less trouble? Yes, indeed, full easily, but he
would not. Wherefore ? To take away from us every excuse for
not loving him who redeemed us at so dear a price. Men buy for
an easy price a thing for wliich they care little. He bought us with
his heart's blood, a dearer price there never was, that he might draw
out of us our love toward hiin which cost him so dear. There are
three things in a shield, the wood, the leather, and the painting.
So was there in this shield ; the wood of the cross, the leather of
God's body, and the painting of the red blood which stained it so
fully. Again, the third reason. After the death of a valiant knight,
men hang up his shield high in the church, to his memory. So is
this shield, that is the crucifix, set up in the church, in such a place
in which it may be soonest seen, thereby to remind us of Jesus
Christ's knighthood, which he practised on the cross. His spouse
beholdeth thereon how he bought her love, and let his shield be
pierced, that is, let his side be opened to shew her his heart, and to
shew her openly how deeply he loved her, and to draw her heart to
him.
Four principal kinds of love are found in this world. The first
is between virtuous friends ; the second is between man and woman ;
the third, between a woman and her child ; [the fourth,] between
" Matt. xxvi. 56. *" Lament, iii. 65. Trans, of Vulgate.
■^ Psalm V. 13. Tr. of Vulgate. '' Isaiah, liii. 7. Vulgate.
CAMD. SOC. 3 E
394 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
peo luue ]7et Jesu Crist bane's to his cleore leofmon ouerge'S ham
alle uoure, % passe'S ham alle. Ne telle'S me him god feolawe ]?et
leib his wed ine Giwerie uorto acwiten ut his fere ? God Almihti
leide himsulf uor us ine Giwerie, and dude his deorewur'Se bodi
uorto acwiten ut liis leofmon of Giwene honden. Neuer uere swuch
Fo??'o 109. fordede'* ne dude uor his owune uere. Muchel bine is ofte
bitweonen mon ? wummon. Auh J^aub beo were iwedded liira beo
muhte i-wur^en so unwrest, t so longe beo muhte viorhoren hire
mid o'Ser men, J^et, tauh beo wolde kumen ajean, he ne kepte hire
nout. And for'Si Crist luue^ more :! uor J^aub ]7e soule bis spuse
uorborie hire mid j^e ueond of belle, under heaued sunne ueole jeres
% dawes, his merci is hire euer jeruh liwonse beo wule kumen to him
"% bileauen ^ j^ene deouel. Al Jjis he sei^ himsulf ]?uruh Jeremie,
" Si dimiserit uir uxorem suam," 1'c. " Tu autem fornicata es cum
multis amatoribus, tamen reuertere ad me dicit Dominus." Eet be
sei'S, al dei, " pu ]?et bauest so unwrestelicbe idon, biturn ]?e and cum
ajean ^ wilkuine schaltu been me." " Immo, et occurrit prodigo
uenienti." Eet be eorne'S, hit sei^, ajean hire jan-kume, and
worpe^ earmes anon abuten hire sweore. Hwat is more milce?
Eet her is gledfulure wunder : Ne beo neuer his leofmon uorhored
mid so monie de^licbe sunnen, so sone so beo kume^ ajean to him,
be make^ hire neouwe meiden. Vor, ase Seint Austin sei"S, " So
muchel is bitweonen Godes neihlecbunge *? monnes to wummon ]>et
monnes neihlecbunge make'S of meiden wif, and God make^ of wif
mei'Sen." "Restituit," inquid Job, "in integrum." Gode werkes ?
treowe bileaue, j^eos two |;inges beo^ meidebod ine soule. Nu of ]?e
]?ridde luue : Child ]?et heued swuclie vuel j^et him bihouede he's of
blode er hit were ibeled, muchel kmede J^e mober hit ]?et wolde him
l^is he's makien. pis dude ure Louerd us j^et weren so sike of
forXdede. C. " leaten. T.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO HIS SPOUSE, THE SOUL. 395
body and soul. The love which Jesus Christ hath to his dear
spouse surpasseth them all four, and excel leth them all. Do not
men account him a good friend who layeth his pledge in Jewry to
release his companion? God Almighty laid himself in Jewry for
us, and gaye up his precious body to release his spouse out of the
hands of the Jews. Neyer did friend give such a surety for his own
friend. There is much love often between man and woman. But,
although she were married to him, she might become so depraved,
and might so long be unfaithful to him with other men, that though
she were willing to return to him, he would not receive her. And
therefore Christ loveth more ; for though the soul, his spouse, should
be unfaithful to him with the fiend of hell, in mortal sin many years
and days, his mercy is ever ready for her, whensoever she will come
to him, and renounce the devil. All this he saith himself by
Jeremiah, " If a man put away his wife and she go from him, and
become another man's, shall he return unto her again ? But thou
hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet return again to me
saith the Lord." '^ He still saith all the day, " Thou who hast done
so wickedly, turn thee and come again, welcome shalt thou be to
me." " Immo, et occurrit prodigo venienti." He even runneth to
meet her returning, and immediately throweth his arms about her
neck. What greater mercy can there be? Yet here is a more
joyful wonder. Though his spouse were polluted with so many
deadly sins, as soon as she cometli to him again, he maketh her
again a virgin. " For," as St. Austin saith, " so great a difference
is there between God's communion with the soul, and man's with
woman, that man's communion maketh of a maiden a wife, and God
maketh of a wife a maiden." " He hath given me again," saith
Job, " all that I had before." These two things, good works and
true faith, are maidenhood in the soul. Now, concerning the third
kind of love : If a child had a disease of such a nature, that a bath
of blood were required for him before he could be healed, that
» Jeremiah, iii. 1.
396 KEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
siiiine, J so isuled "per mide ]7et no j^ing ne muhten helen us ne
Folio 109 b. clensen us bute his blod one :! uor so he hit wolde :' his luue makede
us beS ]>erof r^ iblesced beo he euere ! preo be'Ses he grei'Sede to
his deore leofmon uorto wasshen hire in ham so hwit "? so ueir bet
heo were wur'Se his clene cluppunges. pet crest be^S is fuhiht. pet
oSer beo^ teares, inre o^er uttre, efter Ipe uorme be^, jif heo hke
filled, pet J^ridde be^ is Jesu Cristes blod \>et halewe'S ^ horS ]?eos
oSre, ase Seint Johan sei'S i'Se Apocahpse, " Qui dilexit nos et lauit
nos in sanguine suo :"' J^et is, he luucS us more pen eni moder de'b
hire child. He hit sol's himsulf |?uruh Isaie: "Nunquid potest
mater obliuisci filii uteri sui ? " ?c. " Mei moder uorjiten hire child ? "
he sei^, " and tauh heo do, ich ne mei pe uorjiten neuer : " and sol's pe
reisun efter, hwareuore, " In manibus meis descripsi te." " Ich
habbe," he sei^, " depeint pe i^ minehonden." So he dude mid reade
blode up o'Se rode. Mon knut his kurtel "^ uorte habben |?ouht of
one )>inge :' auh ure Louerd, uor he nolde neuer uorjiten us, he
dude merke of ]?urlunge ine bo two his honden. Nu of pe ueor'Se
luue. pe soule luue'S Jjet bodi swu-Se mid alle :' *? J^et is e'Scene i'Se
twinnunge :! vor, leoue ureond beo'S sorie hwon heo schulen twinnen.
Auh ure Louerd willeliche to-tweamede ^ his soule uroni his bodie
vorto ueien ure bo^e togederes, world a buten ende, i'Se blisse of
heouene. pus, lo ! Jesu Cristes luue touward his deore spuse, J^et
is, lioli chirche, oSer pe cleane soule, passed alle, t ouerkume'S pe
uour meste luuen j^et me ivint on eor'Se ! Mid al ];isse luue jet he
wOwe^ hire o J^isse wise.
Fviio 110. pi luue, he sol's, urre Louerd, o'Ser heo is forto jiuen allunge,
oSer heo is forto sullen, oSer heo is forto reauen 1 to nimen mid
=■ haldeS. C. '' iiuviS. 'I'.
<^ girdel. T. gurdel. C. '' to-twinnede. T. to-t\veinde. (J.
BATHS TO CLEANSE THE SOUL, BAPTISM, TEARS, AND BLOOD. 397
mother must love him greatly who would make this bath for him
[with her own blood]. Our Lord did this for us who were so sick
with sin, and so defiled with it, that nothing could heal us or cleanse
us but his blood only ; for so he would have it ; his love made us a
bath thereof; blessed may he be for ever ! He prepared three baths
for his dear spouse, in which to wash herself so white and so fair that
she might be worthy of his pure embraces. The first bath is baptism ;
the second is tears, inward and outward, after the nature of the first
bath, if she defile herself [with sin] ; the third bath is the blood of
Jesus Christ, that sanctifieth both the other two, as St. John saitli
in the Apocalypse, " Who loved us and washed us in his own
blood ; " ^ that is^ he loved us more than any mother doth her child.
He saith this himself by Isaiah, " Nunquid potest mater oblivisci
filii uteri sui ? " &c.'' " Can a mother forget her child ? " he saith,
" and though she do, I can never forget thee : " and he then telleth
the reason why, " In manibus meis descripsi te." '^ "I have painted
thee," saith he, " in my hands." He did so with red blood upon the
cross. A man ties a knot upon his belt, that he may be reminded
of any thing ; but our Lord, that he might never forget us, made a
mark of piercing in both his hands. Now concerning the fourth
love. The soul loveth the body very greatly, and that is easily
seen in their separation ; for dear friends are sorry when they must
separate. But our Lord, of his own accord, separated his soul from
his body, that he might join our body and soul together, world
without end, in the blessedness of heaven. Thus, behold how the
love of Jesus Christ toward his dear spouse, that is, holy church, or
the pure soul, surpasseth and excelleth the four greatest loves that
are found on earth ! With all this love he still wooeth her in this
manner.
Xliy love, saith our Lord, is either to be altogether freely
given, or it is to be sold, or it is to be stolen and taken by force. If
it is to be given, where couldst thou bestow it better than upon me ?
=» Revel, i. 5. '' Isaiah, xlix. 15, "^ Verse 16.
398 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
strencSe. Eif heo is forto jiuen, hwar meiht tu biteon * hire betere
|;en upon me ? Nam ich J>inge ueirest ? Nam ich kinge richest ?
Nam ich heixst i-kunned? Nam ich weolie^ wisest? Nam ich
monne hendest? Nam ich raonne ureoest? Vor so me sei"S bi
large monne j^et he ne con nout etholden. pet he haue^ |7e honden,
ase mine beo^, i'Surled. Nam ich ah'e ];inge swotest % swetest?
pus, alle \q reisuns hwui me ouh forto jiuen luue ]7U meiht i-vinden
in me :! nomeliche, jif J?u luuest chaste clennesse :! vor non ne mei
kiuen me bute heo holden hire. Eif J>i hiue nis nout forto puen,
auh wult allegate j^et me bugge hire rl do seie hwui.'' O^er mid
o'Ser luue, o'Ser mid sumhwat elles ? Me sulle'S wel luue uor luue :'
and so me ouh forto sullen luue, "? for none ]?inge elles. Eif
l^in luue is so to sullen, ich habbe ibouht hire mid luue ouer
alle o^re. Vor, of J>e uour meste luuen ich habbe ikud toward
J>e ]7e meste of ham alle. And jif ]>\x seist |7et tu nult nout leten
j^eron so liht cheap ^ auh wultu jet more t' nem hwat hit schule
beon. Sete feor o -Sine luue. pu ne schalt siggen so muchel J>et
ich nulle jiuen ];e, uor J>ine luue, muchele more. Wultu kastles
and kinedomes? Wultu welden al j^ene world? Ich chulle don
j?e betere t' ich chulle makien J^e, mid al ]?is, cwene of heouene.
pu schalt beon seoueuold brihtre J7en ]7e sunne :! non vuel ne schal
/'o/iio lio/>. hermien ];e r' no ];ing ne schal sweamen ]>&:! no wunne ne schal
wonten \q "i al \\ wille schal beon i-wrouht in heouene 7 in
eor^e r' je, and jet ine helle. Ne schal neuer heorte ];enchen swuch
seluh^e, J>et ich nulle jiuen more uor |?ine luue, vnimeteliche and
vnendliche more — al Kresules weole :! and Absalones schene wlite,
]?et ase ofte ase me euesede him me solde his euesunge — ]>eo her be
me kerf of — uor two hundred sides '^ of seolure :' Asaeles swiftschipe,
]7et strof wi^ heortes ouervrn r^*^ Samsones strenc^e, j;et slouh a
|?usend of his fon al et one time, % one, bute uere "i Cesares ureo-
schipe i Alisaundres hereword ^ Moiseses heale. Nolde a mon, uor
on of ]?eos, jiuen al j^et he ouhte ? And alle j^eos ]?inges somed,
"^ [settin.J C. "^ weore. T. • ' hu. C.
"* sohillinges. C. *■ of-urn. T.
WPIAT THINGS CHRIST WILL GIVE US FOR OUR LOVE, 399
Am not I the fairest thing? Am not I the richest king? Am not
I of the noblest birth ? Am not I the wisest of the wealthy ? ^ Am not
I the most courteous of men ? Am not I the most liberal of men ?
For it is commonly said of a liberal man that he cannot withhold
any thing — that he hath his hands, as mine are, perforated. Am
not I of all things the sweetest and most gentle? Thus, thou
mayest find in me all the reasons for which love ought to be given,
especially if thou lovest chaste purity ; for no one can love me except
she retain that. If thy love is not to be given, but thou wilt by all
means that it be bought, do say how. Either with other love, or
with somewhat else ? Love is rightly sold for love ; and so love
ought to be sold, and for nothing else. If thy love is thus to be
sold, I have bought it with love that surpasseth all other love. For,
of the four principal kinds of love I have manifested toward thee the
chiefest of them all. And if thou sayest that thou wilt not set so
light a value upon it, but thoil wilt have yet more, name what it
shall be. Set a price upon thy love. Thou shalt not say so much
that I will not give thee for thy love much more. Wouldest thou
have castles and kingdoms ? Wouldest thou govern the whole
world? I will do better for thee. In addition to all this, I will
make thee queen of heaven. Thou shalt be sevenfold brighter than
the sun ; no disease shall harm thee ; nothing shall vex thee ; no joy
shall be wanting to thee ; all thy will shall be done in heaven and in
earth ; yea, and even in hell. Heart shall never think of such great
felicity, that I will not give more for thy love, immeasurably and
infinitely more^ — all the wealth of Croesus ; and the fair beauty
of Absalom, who, as often as his hair was polled the clippings were
sold — the hair that was cut off — for two hundred shekels of silver ;
the swiftness of Asahel, who strove in speed with a hart; the
strength of Samson, who slew a thousand of his enemies at one time,
and alone, without a companion ; Cgesar's liberality ; Alexander's
renown ; the dignity ^ of Moses. Would not a man, for one of
» Qu. " of men." vveor, A.-S. a man. '' " Sanctitas." MS. Oxou.
400 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
ajean mine bode, ne bee's nout wui-S a nelde. And, jif ]m ert so
swu'Se onwil,-'' *? so nt of }>ine witte ])et tu, j^uruli nout to uorleosen,
uorsakest swuch bijeate mid alle kunnes seluh'Se, lo ! ich holde her
hetel sweord ouer )jin heaued, uor to dealen lif ? soule, and to
bisenchen bo two into J?e fur of belle, uorto beon per deofles bore,
schendfulliche ? seorubfulliche world wi^Suten ende. Onswere nu t'
It were pe, jif ]^u konst, ajean me :' o'Ser jette me j^ine luue ]>et ich
Tirne so swu'Se :' nout for mine, auh for ]?in owune muchele biheue.
L/o! ]?us ure Louerd wowe^: nis heo to herd i-heorted j^et a
swuch woware ne mei turnen hire luue to him :' and nomeliche jif
heo benche'S ]>eos j^reo ]?inges — hwat he is :! and hwat heo is r' 7
Foh'o in. liAvu muchel is ]?e luue of so heih ase he is touward so louh ase heo
is. Yor'Si, sei^ ]?e psalm-wuruhte, " Non est qui se abschondat a
calore ejus :" nis non pet muwe etlutien ^ J^et heo ne mot him luuien.
pe so'Se sunne i^e undertid was for^i istien on heih o^e heie rode
uorto spreden ouer al bote luue gleames :' ]?us neodful he was, t is
uort *= tisse deie, to ontenden his luue in his leoues heorte, and sei'S
i^Se gospelle, " Ignem ueni mittere in terram, et quid volo nisi ut
ardeat?" Ich com, he sei^, uorto bringen fur into eor^Se, J>et is,
berninde luue into eor'Sliche heorten, "? hwat jirne ich elles but pet
hit blasie ? Wlech luue ^ is him lo-S, ase he sei'S ]7uruh Sein Johan
I'Se ApoQalipse, " Vtinam frigidus esses aut calidus :/ sed quia
tepidus es, incipiam te euomere de ore meo." Ich wolde, he sei^ to
his leofmon, "j^et tu were, i mine luue, o'Ser allunge cold, o'Ser hot
mid alle :! auh for^i pet tu ert ase wlech ® bitweonen two, nou'Ser
cold ne hot, pn makest me uorto wlatien :' and ich chulle speouwen
pe ut, bute jif )?u i-wur^Se hattre.
vvod. T. anwil. C. '' [auuey sculkin.] C.
a'Set. T. "^ heorte. T. ^ wleaoli. T.
CHRIST STIEDS RAYS OF LOVE FROM THE CROSS. 401
these, give all that he possessed? And all these things together,
compared with my offer, are not worth a needle. And, if thou art
so obstinately self-willed and void of understanding, that thou,
without losing any thing, refusest such gain, with every kind of
felicity, Lo ! I hold here a sharp sword over thy head, to divide
life and soul, and to plunge both into the fire of hell, to be there the
devil's paramour, disgracefully and sorrowfully, world without end.
Now answer me, and defend thyself against me if thou canst, or
grant me thy love, which I so earnestly desire, not for my own, but
for thy own great behoof.
Lo ! thus doth our Lord woo : and is not she too hard-hearted
that such a wooer cannot turn her love to him, and especially if she
reflect upon these three things : what he is, and what she is, and
how great is the love of one so exalted as he is toward one so low
as she is. Wherefore, the Psalmist saith, " Non est qui se abscondat
a calore ejus." ^ " There is no one who may withdraw herself so
that she may not love him." The true sun in the morning tide
ascended up on the high cross for the purpose of diffusing the warm
rays of his love over all ; so earnestly solicitous was he, and is to
this day, to kindle his love in the heart of his beloved ; and he saith
in the Gospel, " Ignem veni mittere in terram, et quid volo nisi ut
ardeat ? " '' I came, saith he, to bring fire into the earth, that
is, burning love into earthly hearts, and what else do I desire but
that it blaze ? Lukewarm love is loathsome to him, as he saith by
St. John in the Apocalypse, " Utinam frigidus esses aut calidus ; sed
quia tepid us es, incipiam te evomere de ore meo." '^ I would,
saith he to his beloved, that thou wert, in my love, either
altogether cold, or hot withal ; but because thou art as if lukewarm,
between the two, neither cold nor hot, thou makest me to loathe,
and I will vomit thee out, except thou become hotter.
^ Psalm xix. 6. '' St. Luke, xii. 49. <^ Revel, iii. 15.
CAMD. SOC. 3 F
402 KEGUL.E INOLUSARUM.
JN u je habbe'S i-hercl, mine leoue sustren, hu, 1; for hwi, God is
swu'Se to luuien. And, forto ontenden ou wel, gedere'S wiide j^erto,
mid ]?e poure wummon of Sarepte, J^e buruh, j^et spele'S ontendunge :
" En, inquid, coUigo duo ligna." " Louerd," ewe's heo to Elie, J>e holie
propliete, " lo ! icli geder twotreon." peos two treon bitocne'S ]?et o
treou ]?et stod upriht, and tet o'Ser ek ]?et eode j^wartouer, of J^e
deore rode. Of ];eos two treon je schulen ontenden fur of luue
Folio 111 h. wi'Sinnen ower heorte. BIseoS ofte touward. liam. penche^ jif je
ne owen ea'Se to luuien j^ene king of blisse ]?et to-spret so touward
ou his ermes, and buh^S ase uorto beoden cos aduneward his heaued.
Sikerliche ich sigge hit, ])et jif J?e so^e EKe, ]>et is, God Ahnihti,
i-uint ou J>eos two treon bisiliche gederinde, he wule gistnen mid ou,
and moniuolden in ou his deorewur^e grace :! ase EHe dude j^e
poure wummone, Kuene'S and gistnede mid hire ]?et he iuond J^e two
treon gederinde i Sarepte.
vjTrickischs fur ^ is imaked of reades monnes blode r^ and tet ne mei
no'Sing bute migge, and sond, and eisil, ase me sei^, acwenchen.
pis Grickische fur is ]>e luue of ure Lourde :! and ^e hit schulen
makien of reades monnes blode, ]?et is, Jesu Crist i-readed mid his
owune blode o'Se rode. And was in-read ^ kundeliche also, ase me
weneS. pis blod, for ou i-sched upo ]>e herde two treon, schal
makien ou Sarepciens :' ]7et is, ontenden ou mid tis Grickische fure,
]>et, ase Salomon sei^S, none wateres, ]?et beo^ worldliche tempta-
ciuns ne tribulaciuns, nou^er inre ne uttre, ne muwen ]?eos luue
acwenchen. Nu, nis J?er, ]?eonne, on ende, buten witen ou warliche
» Greek fire " seems to be a composition belonging to the Arabian chemistry ; and was
very much used in the wars of the middle ages, both by sea and land. It was a sort of
wild-fire, said to be inextinguishable by water, and chiefly used for burning ships, against
which it was thrown in pots or phials by the hand. Anna Comnena has given an account
of its ingredients, which were bitumen, sulphur, and naphtha. It is called feu gregois in
the French chronicles and romances," — Warton's Hist, of English Poetry, vol, i. p. 169.
Ed, 1824,
^ rubeus, MS. Oxon.
THE WIDOAV OF SAREPTA's TWO STICKS. GREEK FIRE. 403
My dear sisters, ye liave now heard how, and for what reason,
God is greatly to be loved. To kindle this love in you rightly,
gather wood for that purpose, with the poor woman of Sarepta, the
town the name whereof signifieth kindling, " En, inquit, coUigo duo
ligna." ^ " Lord," saith she to Elijah the holy prophet, " behold I
am gathering two sticks." These two sticks betoken that one stick
which stood upright, and that other also of the precious cross, which
went athwart it. With these two sticks ye ought to kindle the fire
of love within your hearts. Look often upon them. Think whether
ye ought not joyfully to love the King of Grlory, who so stretches out
his arms toward you, and bows down his head as if to offer you a
kiss. Of a truth I say unto you that if the true Elijah, which is
God Almighty, find you diligently gathering those two sticks, he
will make his abode with you, and multiply in you his precious
grace ; as Elijah did to the poor woman whom he found gathering-
two sticks at Sarepta, who supplied her with food, and became her
guest.
Oreek fire is made of the blood of a red man, and it is said that
nothing can quench it but urine, and sand, and vinegar. This
Greek fire is the love of our Lord, and ye shall make it of the blood
of a red man, which is, Jesus Christ reddened with his own blood
on the cross. And he was ruddy also naturally, as it is beheved.
This blood, shed for you on the painful two sticks, shall make you
Sareptians; that is, inflame you with this Greek fire, that, as
Solomon saith,'' no waters, which are worldly temptations, nor
tribulations, neither internal nor external, can quench this love.
Now, then, nothing remains, but to keep yourselves cautiously from
every thing that quenches it, namely urine, and sand, and vinegar.
Urine is stench of sin. On sand nothing good groweth, and it
betokeueth idleness ; and idleness cooleth and quencheth this fire.
Be always active and alive to good works, and this will warm you
" 1 Kings, xvii. 12. '' Canticles, viii. 7,
404 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
urom alle ]7eo ]?ing Jjet hit acwenche'S, J?et beo^ niigge, 1 sond, %
eisil. Migge is stench of sumie. O sond ne growe'S no god, and
bitocne^ idel :! and idel acoalde'S % acwencheS ]7is fur. Sturie^ ou
euer cwicliche ine Gode werkes, 1; J)et schal beaten ou % ontenden
Folio 112. ]«s fur ajean ];e brune of sunne. Vor, al so as on neil driueS ut
|?en o'Serne, al so ]7e brune of Godes biue driueS brune of ful luue
ut of Jje heorte. pet ]7ridde )7ing is eisil :! ]?et is sur lieorte, of ni^ %
of onde. Vnderstonde'S ]?is word, po ]>eo ni^fule Giws ofFreden
ure Louerde ]7is sure present o rode, |?o seide he ]?et reou'Sfule word,
" Consummatum est ! " Cwe^ he, " Neuer er nu nes ich ful pined :^ "
nout ]?uruh ]?et eisil, auh j^uruh hore ontfule ni'S, |?et tet eisil bitoc-
nede, ]?et heo him makeden ^ drincken. And is iliclie ase J^auh a mon
|?et heuede longe i-swunken and failede efter his sore swinke, a last,
of his hure. Al so, ure Louerd, more |;en two and ]?ritti jer, tiled
efter hore luue, and, for all his sore swinke, ne wilnede he no ];ing
bute luue to hure :^ auh he iSen ende of al his liue, ]?et was ase i^en
euentid, hwon me jelt werc-men hore deies hure, loke hwu heo
gulden him ! uor piment of swete huni luue, eisil of sur ni^, and galle
of bitter onde. O ! cwe^ ure Louerd ]>o, " Consummatum est ! "
Al mi swine on eor^e, % al mi pine o rode ne sweame'S, ne ne
derue^ me nowiht ajean j^is — j^et ich J^us biteo ^ al ];et ich idon habbe.
pis eisil ]?et je beode'S me — J?is sure hure, ]7uruh fulled mine pine,
pis eisil of sur heorte, and of bitter J>onc " ouer alle o'Ser ]?inges
acwenche^ Grickischs fur "^ ]7et is, J^e luue of ure Louerd :! and
hwose hit bereS ine breoste touward mon, o'Ser touward wummon,
Foiio 112 J., lieo is Giwes make. Heo ofFre^ jet God J^is eisil, and ]?uruh fulled,
onont hire, Godes pine o rode. Mon worpe'S Grickischs fur upon
his fomen, % so me ouerkiime'S ham i and je schulen don al so,
hwon God areare'S ou of eni uo eni weorre. Salomon teche'S ou
hwu je hit schulen weorpen. " Si esurierit inimicus, ciba ilium :! si
sitierit, potum da : sic enim carbones ardentes congeres super caput
ejus." pet is, jif ]?i uo is offingred, jif him uode : and jif he is of
" dulfii. T. bude. C. ^ bite. C. "^ [mede.] C.
Christ's toil for our love .- how requited. 405
and kindle this fire in opposition to the flame of sin. For, as one
nail driveth out another, so doth the flame of the love of God drive
the fire of foul desire out of the heart. The third thing is vinegar,
that is, a heart sour with malice and hatred. Understand this
saying : when the malicious Jews offered om' Lord this sour present
on the cross, then said he that sorrowful word, " It is finished ! "
" Never till now,'' said he, " were my sufferings complete ; " not
through the vinegar, but through their hateful mahce, which that
vinegar betokened, which they made him drink. And this is as if a
man who had laboured long, and, after his painful toil, had been at
last disappointed of his hire. Thus, our Lord, more than two-and-
thirty years, toiled for their love, and for all his painful labour
desired nothing but love as hire ; yet, at the end of his life, which
was, as it were, in the evening, when men pay workmen their
day's hire, behold how they paid him ! instead of balm of sweet
honey-love, vinegar of sour malice, and gall of bitter hatred. Oh,
said our Lord then, " It is finished ! "• All my toil on earth, and all
my pain on the cross, does not at all grieve nor distress me in com-
parison of this — that for this I have done all that I have done.
This vinegar that ye offer me, this sour requital, completeth
my sufferings. This vinegar of a sour heart and of bitter thanks,
more than all other things, quencheth Greek fire, that is, the
love of our Lord ; and she who beareth it in her breast toward man
or toward woman is the Jew's mate. She is still offering to God
this vinegar, and completing, for her part, his sufferings on the cross.
Men cast Greek fire upon their foemen, and thus conquer them ;
and ye should do the same when God raiseth up any war against
you from any enemy. Solomon teacheth you how ye ought to
throw it, " Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba ilium ; si sitierit, potum
da : sic enim carbones ardentes congeres super caput ejus." * That
is, " If thy foe is hungry, give him food ; and if he is athirst, give
him to drink ; " which meaneth that if, after having done thee harm,
" I'rov. XXV. 21, 22.
406 REGUL^ INCLUSAEUM.
J7urst, jif him drincken : J>et is to understonden, jif he efter j^ine
herme haue^ hunger o^er J^urst, jif him node of ]?ine beoden ]?et
God do him ore i and jif him drunch of teares. Weop for his
sunnen. pus ]?u schalt, sei^ Salomon, rukelen on his heaued bearn-
inde gleden. pet is to siggen, J>us ]?u schalt ontenden his heorte
uorto luuien \q r^ vor heorte is, ine hoHe write, bi heaued under-
stonden. O swuche wise wule God siggen a domesdei "i " Hwi
luuedest ]7ene mon o'Ser j^eowummon?" "Sire, uor heo luueden
me." " Ee," he wule siggen, " ]?u julde ]?et tu ouhtest : her
nabbe ich * nout mucheles to jelden ]7e." Auh, jif ];u meih ^ on-
swerien % siggen :l " Sire, ich luuede ham for j^ine luue '^ — ]7eo luue
he ouh J»e i uor heo ° was i-jiuen him, 1! he hire ^ wule ;^elden ]?e.
Migge, ase ich er seide, j^et acwenche'S Grickishe fur, is stinck-
inde ulesshes luue, ]7et acwenche'S gostlich luue j^et Grickishe fur
bitocne'S. Hwat fleschs was on eor'Se so swete % so holie
ase Jesu Cristes fleschs. And, ]?auh he seide, himsulf, to his
FoUijWZ. deorewur'Se deciples, "Nisi ego abiero Paracletus non ueniet ad
uos : " ];et is, bute jif ich parti urom ou, \q Holi Gost, "j^et is,
min and mines Federes luue, ne mei nout kumen to ou "! auh
hwon ich beo urom ou, ich chulle senden hine ou. Hwon Jesu
Cristes owune deciples, ]7eo hwile ]?et heo ideschsliche luuede
hine, neih ham, uor-eoden |>e swetnesse of jje Holi Goste, "? ne
muhten nout habben bo'Se togederes — DemeS ou suluen, nis he wod,
o^er heo, ]?et luue'S to swu'Se hire owene ulesslis, o^er eni mon
ulesshliche, so J?et heo jirne to swu'Se his sili^e o'Ser his speche ?
Ne ];unche hire neuer wunder ]?auli hire wontie J^e Holi Gostes
froure. Cheose, nu, euerichon of eor^liche elne "% of heouenlich, to
hwe'Ser heo wule holden "l uor ]?et o^er heo mot forleten "! vor,
i ]>isse tweire monglunge, ne mei heo neuermore habben schirnesse
of heorte "i ]7et is, ase we seiden er, J'et god and ]?e strencSe of alle
religiuns, 7 in euerich ordre. Luue make's hire schir and gri'Sful
and cleane. Luue haue^ orie meistrie biuoren alle o'Sre ]>inges r'
••I lie ah I. T. '' luaht. T. maclit. C.
<: hit. T. C. •' hit. T. C.
GREEK FIRE BETOKENETH SPIRITUAL LOVE. 407
he is hungry or thirsty, give him the food of thy prayers that God
may have mercy upon him; and give him the drink of tears.
Weep for his sins. Thus thou shalt, saitli Solomon, heap on
his head burning coals : that is to say, thus thou shalt enkindle
his heart that he shall love thee ; for, in Holy Scripture, by head
we are to imderstand heart. In this manner will God say, in the
day of judgment, " Why lovedst thou that man or that woman?"
" Lord, because they loved me." " Yea," he will say, " thou didst
pay what thou owedst : in this case I have not much to repay thee."
But, if thou canst answer and say, *' Lord, I loved them for thy
sake ; " he owes thee that love, because it was given to him, and he
will repay it thee.
Urine, which, as I said before, quencheth Greek fire, is stinking-
carnal love that quencheth spiritual love, which Greek fire be-
tokeneth. What flesh on earth was so sweet and so holy as that of
Jesus Christ? And yet, he said himself to his dear disciples, " Nisi
ego abiero Paracletus non veniet ad vos : " that is, " Unless I
depart fi'om you, the Holy Ghost, which is mine and my Father's
love, cannot come to you ; but, when I am gone firom you, I will
send him unto you." Since Jesus Christ's own disciples, while they
loved him in the flesh, being nigh him, did not possess the sweet-
ness of the Holy Ghost, and could not have both together — judge
yourselves, is not he or she mad who loveth too much her own flesh,
or any man carnally, so that she desire too fondly to see him, or to
speak with him ? Let her never wonder though she have not the
consolation of the Holy Spirit. Let every one choose now between
earthly and heavenly comfort, to which of the two she will keep ;
for she must relinquish one of them, because in the mingling of
these two she can never have pureness of heart ; which is, as we said
before, the goodness and the strength of all professions, and of every
religious order. Love maketh her sincere, and peaceful, and pure.
Love hath the superiority over all other things, for all the things
that she toucheth she turns to her, and maketh them all her own.
" Whatsoever place your foot shall tread upon," that is to say, the
408 REGUL^ TNCLUSARUM.
vor alle ]>e j?inges J?et heo arine^, alle lieo turne'S to Lire :' and alle
heo make's hire owene. " Queracunque locum calcauerit pes uester "
— pes uidelicet amoris — "uester erit." Deore wolde moni mon
buggen a swuch ]7ing ]?et al ]?et lie arinede J>ere-mide, al were his
owene. And, ne seide ich er jjeruppe, one ]niruli ]?et tu luuest J^et
god ]?et is in on o'Ser monne — mid 'pe rinunge of ]nne luue — J^u
makest, wi'S[uten] o'Ser swincke, his god J^in owene god, ase Seint
Gregorie witne^ ? Loke nu, hwu muche god j^eo ontfule uorleose'S.
Folio 113/^. Strik*^ yme luue to lesu Criste, 1; ]?u hauest i-wunnen hira. Rin''
him mid ase muchele luue ase ]7U hauest summe mon sume cherre,*^
and he is ]?in, uorto don al J?et ]?u wilnest. Auh hwo June's ]?ing J
lotto's ^ hit uor lesse J»en hit is wur'S ? Nis God betere uneuenliche
[vniliche] J?en al J>et is i^e worlde ? Cherite — ]?et is cherte of leoue
Ymge J. of deore. Vndeore he make^ God, 1; to unwur'S mid alle,
Jjet for eni worldliche luue his luue trukie : ^ vor no ];>ing ne con
luuien ariht bute he one. So ouerswu'Se he luucS luue ]?et he
make's hire his efning :' and jet ich der siggen more — lie make^
hire his meister, 1: de^ al ]?et heo hat, ase J^auh he moste nede. Mei
ich preouen ou J'is? Ee, ich [inei] sikerliche, ]7uruh his owene
wordes. Vor |;us he spoke's to Moyses, ]?et monne most him
luuede, in Numeri; "Dimisi juxta uerbum tuum." Non dicit
"preces." " Ich heuede imunt," cweS he to Moyses, " uorto awreken
mine wre'S'Se o ]?isse uolke, auh ]7U seist |?et ich ne schal nout : J^i
word beo iuor'Sed." Me sol's ]?et luue binde^. Sikerliche, luue bint
so ure Louerd ]>et he ne mei don no ]?ing bute |?uruli luue ^ leaue. Nu
preoue ];>erof :' uor hit ]?unche'S wmider. " Domine, non est qui con-
surgat et teneat te :" Ysaye. " Louerd, wultu smiten ?" set's Isaiah.
" Welawei! Jju meiht wel :' uor nis nonjjet te holde." AseJ^auh he
seide, jif eni luuede ];e ariht, he mulite holden pe, "? wearnen ];e to
smiten. In Genesi, ad Loth : " Fcstina," Jc. " non potero ibi facere
" strech. T. streche. C. ^ Run. T.
■^ sum mon o'Ser wummon sum char. T. •* leaues. T. leaue'5, C.
* manges. T. f luues. T. C.
LOVE BINDETH OUR LORD. 409
foot of love, " shall be yours." ^ Many a man would buy at a great
price a thing of such a nature that whatever he touched with it
became his own. And, said I not before, that merely by loving the
good that is in another man — with the touching of thy love — thou
makest, without other labour, his good thy own good, as St. Gregory
sheweth ? Consider now, how much good the envious lose. Extend
thy love to Jesus Christ, and thou hast gained him. Touch him
with as much love as thou, sometimes, hast for some man, and he is
thine, to do all that thou desirest. But who loveth a thing, and yet
parteth with it for less than it is worth? Is not God incomparably
better than all that is in the world ? Charity — that is the love of a
thing which is dear and precious. He hath little love to God, and feels
not how precious he is, who, for any worldly love, bartereth his
love ; because nothing can love rightly but he alone. So exceedingly
doth he delight in love that he maketh her his equal, and I dare
to say still more— he maketh her his master, and doth whatever she
commands, as if he must needs do it. Can I prove this ? Yes,
indeed I can, from his own words. For thus he speaketh to Moses,
the man who loved him most, in the Book of Numbers ; ^ " I have
pardoned according to thy word ; " ,lie saith not " according to thy
prayers.^' " I had intended," said he to Moses, " to wreak my anger
upon this people, but thou sayest that I must not : be it according to
thy word." It is said that love bindeth. In truth, love so bindeth
our Lord that he can do nothing but by the permission of love.
Now, [I] prove it, for it seems wonderful : " Lord, there is none that
riseth up and taketh hold of thee." Isaiah.*^ "Lord, wilt thou
smite?" saith Isaiah, "ah! thou well mayest ; for there is none that
may hold thee." As if he said, " If any one loved thee truly, he
might hold thee, and hinder thee from smiting." In Genesis,"^ to
Lot, " Make haste, &c. for I cannot do any thing till thou go out
from thence : " that is, when our Lord would have destroyed
» Deuteronomy, xi. 24. '' xiv. 20.
"= Isaiah, Ixiv. 7. '' (renesis, xix. 22.
CAMD. SOC. 3 G
410 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
quicquam donee egressus fueris illinc :" ]>et is, Jjo ure Louerd wolde
Folio 114. bisenchen Sodome ]>er Loth his freond wunede inne, " Hie ^ ]>e,"
ewe's ure Louerd, " utward :f uor ]>e hwule j^et tu ert among ham, ne
mei ich nowiht don ham." Nes |;es mid luue i-bunden? Hwat
wultu more ? Luue is his chaumberHng, 7 his kunsiler, % his spuse
J^et he ne mei nout hehen wi'S, and tolled hire al j^et he |;enche^.
In Genesi: "Num celare potero Abraham quse gesturus sum?"
" Mei ich," ewe's ure Louerd, " hehen Abraham j^ing J)et ich j^enche
uorto donne?" Nei, ewe's he, o none wise. Ne con ]>es kiuien
ariht,'' J>et J>us spoke's, and ]7us de^ to alle men ]>et him inwardhche
i-leue^ t luuie^ ? peo bhsse ]>et he jerked '^ ham, al so ase heo is
unefenhch to alle worldes blissen, al so heo is untalelich to alle
worldliche tungen. Ysaias : " Oculus non vidit, Deus, absque te,"
[^c.] Ee habbe'S of ]7eos blissen i-writen on cSer stude,"^ mine leoue
sustren. peos luue is J>e riwle |?et rihte'S ]?e heorte. " Confitebor
tibi in direetione," id est in regulatione, " cordis." Exprobatio
malorum : " generatio quee non direxit cor suum :f et non est cre-
ditus." pis is j^e lefdi riwle. Alle |7e o'Sre seme's hire :f and one
uor hire sake me ham ouh forto luuien. Lutel strencSe ich makie
of ham, vor hwon \>et ]?eos beon deoruwur'Sliehe i-wust.® Habbe'S
ham, pauh, scheortliche, i'Se eihteo'Se dole.^
Biuoren. on erest, ich seide ]>et je ne schulen nout, ase unwise,
bihoten uorto holden none of ]>eo uttre riwlen. pet ilke ich sigge
jete :f ne non ne write ich ham, buten ou one. Ich sigge yis for'Si
Folio Hi I. ]?et o'Sre ancren ne sigge nout J^et ich, ];uruli mine meistrie, makie
" wend. T. Hich. C. ^ treoweliclie. T.
<" grei-Sed. C. "^ elleshwer. T. « i-loket. T.
' Habeatis tamen illas in octava parte. — Explicit Liber septinius de vita Solitaria.
Octavus omnino taceatur. MS. Oxon.
LOVE IS THE SUPBEME RULE. 411
Sodom, wherein Lot his friend dwelt, our Lord said, " Hasten thee
away out, for while thou art among them, nothing can be done to
them." Was not this being bound with love? What wouldest
thou more ? Love is his chamberlain, his counsellor, and his bride,
from whom he can conceal nothing, but telleth her all his thoughts.
In Genesis, " Num celare potero Abraham quas gesturus sum ? " *
" Can I," said our Lord, " hide from Abraham the thing that I
purpose to do ? " No, said he, in no wise. Doth not he know how
to love rightly who thus speaketh, and thus doth to all men who in
their hearts believe and love him ? As the joy which he is pre-
paring for them is not to be compared to all worldly joys, so is it
not to be described by all worldly tongues. Isaiah, " Neither hath
the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him
that waiteth for him." ^ Concerning those joys ye have something
written in another place, my dear sisters. This love is the rule
which regulates the heart. " I will praise thee with uprightness of
heart : " ° that is, in the regulation of my heart. The reproach of
the wicked is, that they are " a generation that set not their heart
aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God." ^ This rule is
the lady or mistress. All the others serve her, and for her sake
alone they ought to be loved. I make little account of them pro-
vided this be worthily kept. Ye have them briefly, however, in the
eighth part.
PART VIII.— Of Domestic Matters.
I said before, at the commencement, that ye ought not, like un-
wise people, to promise to keep any of the external rules. I say the
same still ; nor do I write them for any but you alone. I say
this in order that other anchoresses may not say that I, by my own
* Genesis, xviii. 17. *■ Ixiv. 4.
"^ Psalm cxix. 7. '' Psalm Ixxviii. 8.
412 REGUL^ INCLUSAEUM.
ham neowe riwlen. Ne bidde ich nout ]>et lieo holdeii ham :' and
je jet moten cliaungen ham, hwonse je euer willed, J^eos for betere.
Ajean l^inges J^et beo^ biuoren, of ham is lutel strencSe.
Of sih^e and of speche, and of |7e o'Sre wittes is inouh i-seid. Nu
is ]>eos laste dole, ase ich biliet ou on erest, to-deled and i-sundred o
lutle seoue stucchenes.
Me let lesse deinte to ]?inge ]?et me haue^ ofte :f and for'Si ne
schule je beon, bute ase ure leawude bre^ren beoS, i-huseled wi'S-
innen tweolf mone'S, bute viftene si'Sen — a mide-winteres dei r'
condelmesse dei t' tweolfte dei t' a sunedei midwei bitweonen |7et and
ester, o'Ser ure lefdi dei, jif he is neih ]7ene sunendei, uor 'pe heih-
nesse :' ester dei :' J^ene ]7ridde sunendei ]>erefter :! holi ];ursdei r'
hwitesunedei :' and sumersdei t' seinte Marie dei Magdaleine r^ ]>e
assumciun r' ]>e natiuite :' seinte Mihaeles dei t' aire halewune dei :f
seinte Andrewes dei. And ajean alle j^eos dawes, loke"S ]7et je
beon clenliche i-schriuen and nimeS disceplines r' neuer J^auh of none
monne, buten of ou suluen. And forgo'S enne dei our pitaunce.
And pf out limpe'S misliche ]?et je beon nout i-huseled i ]?eos i-sette
termes, je muwen akoueren hit ]>ene nexte sunendei ]7erefter :' oiSer
jif ])e o'Ser terme is neih, abiden uort J^eonne.
Ee schulen eten urom ester uort J^et ]>e holi rode dei, J^e latere.
Folio 115. ]7et is ine heruest, eueriche deie twie, bute uridawes and umbridawes
and joing dawes, and uigiles. I ]?eos dawes, ne in ]?e aduent ne
schulen 5e[eten] nout hwit, bvite jif neode hit makie. pet o"Ser
halue jer je schulen uesten, al bute sunendawes one.
Ee ne schulen eten vleschs ne seim buten ine muchele secnesse :'
o^er hwoso is euer feble ete^ potage bli^eliche :' and wunie'S ou to
lutel drunch. No'Seleas, leoue sustren, ower mete and ower drunch
haucS i]7uht me lesse ]7en ich wolde. Ne ueste je nenne dei to
bread J to watere, bute je habben leaue. Sum ancre make^ hire
TIMES OF HOLY COMMUNION, FOOD AND ABSTINENCE. 413
authority, make new rules for them. Nor do I command that they
observe them, and ye may even change them, whenever ye will, for
better ones. In regard to things of this kind that have been in use
before, it matters little.
Of sight, and of speech, and of the other senses enough was said.
Now this last part, as I promised you at the commencement, is
divided and separated into seven small sections.
Men esteem a thing as less dainty when they have it often, and
therefore ye should be, as lay brethren are, partakers of the holy
communion only fifteen times a-year : at Mid-winter ; Candlemas ;
Twelfth-day; on Sunday half-way between that and Easter, or our
Lady's day, if it is near the Sunday, because of its being a holiday;
Easter-day; the third Sunday thereafter ; Holy Thursday ; Whitsunday ;
and Midsummer day ; St. Mary Magdalen's day ; the Assumption ;
the Nativity;'^ St. Michael's day; All Saints' day; St. Andrew's day.
And before all these days, see that ye make a full confession and
undergo discipline ; but never from any man, only from yourselves.
And forego your pittance for one day. And if any thing happens
out of the usual order, so that ye may not have received the
sacrament at these set times, ye may make up for it the Sunday
next following, or if the other set time is near, ye may wait till then.
Ye shall eat twice every day from Easter until the Holyrood
day, the later ,^ which is in harvest, excej)t on Fridays, and Ember
days, and procession days and vigils. In those days, and in the
Advent, ye shall not eat any thing white, except necessity require it.
The other half year ye shall fast always, except only on Sundays.
Ye shall eat no flesh nor lard except in great sickness ; or whoso-
ever is infirm may eat potage without scruple ; and accustom your-
* The Nativity of the Virgin Mai^, Sept. 8.
'' The Exaltation of the Cross, Sept. 14, called the later, to distinguish it from the
Invention of the Cross, May 3.
414 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
bord mid hire gistes wi'Suten. pet is to muche ureondscliipe, uor, of
alle ordres ]?eonne is hit unkuindelukest * % mest ajean ancre ordre,
]?et is al dead to j^e worlde. Me haue^ i-herd ofte siggen ];et deade
men speken mid cwike men :! auh ]?et heo eten mid cwike men ne
uond ich neuer jete. Ne makie je none gistninges :! ne ne tulle je
to \q jete none unku'Se harloz r^ ];auh ]?er nere non oSer vuel of
bute bore me'Slease mu'S, hit wolde oSer hwule letten heouenliche
]70uhtes.
Hit ne limped nout to ancre of oSer monne elmesse uorto makien
hire large. Nolde me lauhwen ane beggare lude to bisemare J7et
bede ^ men to feste ? Marie % Marthe, boSe heo weren sustren :'
auh bore lif sundrede. Ee ancren habbe^ i-numen ou to Marie
Folio llbh, dole, Jjet ure Louerd sulf herede. "Maria optimam partem elegit."
" Marthe, Marthe," cwe^ he, " ])u ert ine muchele baret. Marie
bane's i-chosen'' betere, and ne schal hire no'Sing binimen hire dole."
Husewifschipe is Marthe dole :! and Marie dole is stilnesse and reste
of alle worldes noise r' \Qt noting ne lette hire uorto i-heren Godes
stefne. And loke'S hwat God seiS — ]?et no'Sing ne schal binimen ou
];eos dole. Marthe haue^S hire mester :! lete^ hire i-wur^en, and
sitte ^e mid Marie ston-stille ed Godes fet, and hercne^ him one.
IMarthe mester is uorto ueden 7 schruden poure men, ase huselefdi.
Marie ne ouh nout uorto entremeten hire ]?erof :^ and jif ei blame^S
hire, God sulf oueral were'S hire j^erof, ase holi writ witne'S. An
o'Ser half, non ancre ne ouh forto nimen bute gnedeliche ^ \ei hire
to needed. Hwarof J^eonne mei heo makien hire large? Heo
schal libben bi elmesse ase neruhliche ^ ase heo euer mei :! and nout
» tiiicumelukest. T. C. ^ laSede. T. C.
■^ i-uore. C. '' mcSfuUiylic. C.
INTERCOURSE WITH THE WORLD WITHOUT IMPROPER. 415
selves to little drink. Nevertheless, dear sisters, jour meat and
your drink have seemed to me less than I would have it. Fast no
day upon bread and water, except ye have leave. There are
anchoresses who make their meals with their friends outside the
convent. That is too much friendship, because, of all orders, then is
it most ungenial, and most contrary to the order of an anchoress,
who is quite dead to the world. We have often heard it said that
dead men speak with living men ; but that they eat with living men,
I have never yet fomid. Make ye no banquetmgs, nor encourage
any strange vagabond fellows to come to the gate ; though no
other evil come of it but their immoderate talking, it might some-
times prevent heavenly thoughts.
It is not fit that an anchoress should be liberal of other men's
alms. Would we not laugh loud to scorn a beggar who should
invite men to a feast? Mary and Martha were two sisters, but
their lives were different. Ye anchorites have taken to yourselves
Mary^s part, whom our Lord himself commended. " ^lary, hath
chosen the best part. Martha, Martha," said he, " thou art much
cumbered. Mary hath chosen better, and nothing shall take her
part from her." * Housewifery is Martha's ]jart, and Mary's part is
quietness and rest from all the world's din, that nothing may hinder
her from hearing the voice of God. And observe what God saith,
" that nothing shall take away this part from you." Martha hath
her office ; let her alone, and sit ye with Mary stone-still at God's
feet, and listen to him alone. Martha's office is to feed and clothe
poor men, as the mistress of a house. Mary ought not to inter-
meddle in it, and if any one blame her, God himself supreme
defendeth her for it, as holy writ beareth witness. On the other
hand, an anchoress ought to take sparingly only that which is
necessary for her. Whereof, then, may she make herself liberal ?
She must live upon alms, as frugally as ever she can, and not gather
* Luke, X. 42.
416 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
gederen uorto jiuen hit eft. Heo nis nout husewif:^ auh is a
chirche ancre. Eif heo mei sparien eni poure schreaden,^ sende ham
al dernehche ut of hire woanes.^ Vnder semblaunt of gode is ofte
i-heled sunne. And hwu schulen ° J^eos riche ancren J'et bee's eor^e
tihen, o'Ser habbe'S rentes i-sette, don to poure neiheboures derne-
hche hore ehnesse? Ne wihien** nout forto habben word of one
Folio 116. harge ancre :^ ne uorto jiuen muchel ne beo non ]^e grediure uorto
habben more, peo ® gredinesse rote of hire bitternesse r' alle beo'5
Jte bowes bittre ])et of hire springe^. Bidden hit, uorto jiuen hit
nis nout ancre rihte. Of ancre kurtesie, and of ancre largesse, is
i-kumen ofte sunne % scheome on ende.
tVummen'^ % children ]?et habbe'S i-swunken uor ou, hwatse je
sparie'S on ou makieS ham to etene, — nenne mon biuoren ou, bute
jif he habbe neode :! ne la'Se je to drinken ^ nout. Ne jirne ich };et
me telle ou hendi ancren. Et gode ureond nime^ al \ei je habbe'S
neode hvvon heo beode^ hit ou i! auh, for none bode, ne nime je
nout wi^uten neode, leste je kecchen }>ene nome of gederinde
ancren.^ Of mon j^et je misleue^ * ne nime je nouSer lesse ne more —
nout so much ]7et beo a rote gingiure. Muchel neode schal driuen
ou uorte bidden out r' ])auh, edmodliche scheawe'S to ower leoueste
ureond ower meseise.
Ee, mine leoue sustren, ne schulen habben no best, bute kat one.
Ancre ]7et haue^ eihte }»uncheS bet husewif, ase Marthe M^as, |?en
ancre :! ne none wise ne mei heo beon Marie, mid gri^fulnesse of
heorte. Vor ]?eonne mot heo J^enchen of ]?e kues foddre, and of
» schiue. T. schraden. C. '' wanes. T. C.
•^ And swa schuden. T. hu schule. C. ^ wilne. T. wilni. C.
= Beo. T. C. ' Wepmen. T.
K [Ne nane ne eoten biuoren ow bute bi ower nieistres read -j bi his leaue.] C.
•> [I hwer \>ah "] euer genii's ow "^ nan from ow ne parti wi'S scandle: ne wrali, ne
mispaiet, ase for'S as ge mahen wi^ riht, wi'Sute sunne.] C.
' [>urh his fol semblaunt, o'Ser bi his wake wordes.] C.
ALMS-GIVING — RECEIVING GIFTS. NOT TO KEEP CATTLE. 417
that she may give it away afterwards. She is not a housewife, but
a church anchoress. If she can spare any fragments for the poor,
let her send them quite privately out of her dwelling. Sin is oft
concealed under the semblance of goodness. And how shall those
rich anchoresses that are tillers of the ground, or have fixed rents,
do their alms privately to poor neighbours ? Desire not to have the
reputation of bountiful anchoresses, nor, in order to give much, be
too eager to possess more. Greediness is the root of bitterness : all
the boughs that spring fi'om it are bitter. To beg in order to give
away is not the part of an anchoress. From the courtesy of an
anchoress, and from her liberality, sin and shame have often come in
the end.
J^lake women and children who have laboured for you to eat
whatever food you can spare from your own meals ; but let no man
eat in your presence, except he be in great need ; nor invite him to
drink any thing. Nor do I desire that ye should be told that ye
are courteous anchoresses. From a good friend take whatever ye
have need of when she offereth it to you ; but for no invitation take
any thing without need, lest ye get the name of gathering anchoresses.
Of a man whom ye distrust, receive ye neither less nor more — not
so much as a race of ginger. It must be great need that shall drive
you to ask any thing ; yet humbly shew your distress to your
dearest friend.
1 e shall not possess any beast, my dear sisters, except only a cat.
An anchoress that hath cattle appears as Martha was, a better
housewife than anclioress ; nor can she in any wise be Mary, with
peacefulness of heart. For then she must think of the cow's fodder,
and of the herdsman's hire, flatter the heyward,^ defend herself
when her cattle is shut up in the pinfold, and moreover pay the
damage. Christ knoweth, it is an odious thing when people in the
» " The heyward was the keeper of cattle in a common field, who prevented trespass on
the cultivated ground." Note, in Promptorium Parvulorum, by Albert Way, Esq,
CAMD. SOC. 3 H
418 REGULiE INCLUSARUM.
heorde-monne huire, olulmen J^ene heiward, warien hwon me punt *
hire, *? jeldeii, j^auh, ]?e liermes. Wat Crist, ]?is is lodlicli J^ing
Folio 116 b.}iyvon me make^ mone in tune of ancre eihte. pauli, jif eni mot
nede habben ku, loke |7et heo none monne ne eilie, ne ne hermie :! ne
]?et hire ]?ouht ne beo nout ];eron i-uestned. Ancre ne ouh nout to
habben no ]?ing ]7et drawe utward liire heorte. None chefFare ne
driue je. Ancre j^et is cheapild, heo cheapen hire soule ]>e ehepmon of
helle.^ Ne wite je nout in oure huse of o^Ser monnes l^inges, ne
eihte, ne clo'Ses :' ne nout ne underuo je ];e chirche uestimenz, ne ]?ene
cahz, bute jif strencSe hit makie, o^er muchel eie :' vor of swuche
witunge is i-kumen muchel vuel oftesi^en. Wi'Sinnen ower woanes °
ne lete je nenne mon slepen. Eif muchel neode mid alle make^
breken ower bus, ]>e hwule ]?et hit euer is i-broken, loke ]?et je
habben ]7erinne mid ou one wumraon of clone hue deies H nihtes.
Uor'Si l7et no mon ne i-sihS ou, ne je i-seo^ nenne mon, wel mei
don "^ of ower clones, beon heo hwite, beon heo blake t' bute ]>et heo
beon unorne "? warme, 1; wel i-wrouhte — uelles wel i-tauwed :' %
habbe^ ase monie ase ou to-neode^, to bedde and eke to rugge.
IVexst fleshe ne schal mon werien no linene clo^, bute jif hit beo
of herde and of greate heorden. Stamin habbe hwose wule :' and
hwose wule mei beon buten.® Ee schulen liggen in on heater, and
Folio U7. i-gurd/ Ne here je non iren,^ ne here, ne irspiles ^ felles r' ne ne
beate ou * J)er mide, ne mid schurge i-leSered ne i-leaded :/^ ne mid
holie,^ ne mid breres ne ne biblodge" hire sulf wi'Suten schriftes "
* puindes. T.
'' [hing, Jjauh, "p ha wurche'S ha mei wel, J'urh hire meistres read, for hire neode sullen,
J^ah swa derneliche as ha mei, for misliche monne wordes.] C.
'^ wahes. T. wanes. C. '' duhen. T.
^ wi^uten. T. ' hatter -j gurd. T. hetter -) i-gurd. C,
B Ne were nan irn. T. Ne beore nan iren. C.
•" yleslipes. T. ylespilles. C. ' hire. T. ^ ne wi'S schurge ileadet. T.
' holin. T. '" blodeke. T. » schirches. T.
TKAFFIC FORBIDDEN. OF CLOTHING AND DISCIPLINE, 419
town complain of anchoresses' cattle. If, however, any one must
needs have a cow, let her take care that she neither annoy nor harm
any one, and that her own thoughts be not fixed thereon. An
anchoress ought not to have any thing that draweth her heart out-
ward. Carry ye on no traffic. An anchoress that is a buyer and
seller selleth her soul to the chapman of hell. Do not take charge
of other men's property in your house, nor of their cattle, nor their
clothes, neither receive under your care the church vestments, nor
the chalice, unless force compel you, or great fear, for oftentimes
much harm has come from such care-taking. Let no man sleep
within yom' walls. If, however, great necessity should cause your
house to be used, see that, as long as it is used, ye have therein with
you a woman of unspotted life day and night.
Because no man seeth you, nor do ye see any man, ye may be
well content with your clothes, be they white, be they black ; only
see that they be plain, and warm, and well made — skins well tawed ;
and have as many as you need, for bed and also for back.
J\ext your flesh ye shall wear no flaxen cloth, except it be of hards
and of coarse canvass. Whoso will may have a stamin,'^ and whoso
will may be without it. Ye shall sleep in a garment and girt.
Wear no iron, nor haircloth, nor hedgehog-skins ; ^ and do not beat
yourselves therewith, nor with a scourge of leather thongs, nor
leaded ; and do not with holly nor with briars cause yourselves to
* Stamin, a shirt made of woollen and linen, used instead of a penitentiary hair shirt. —
Fosbrooke.
•» ylespilles, as it is in C, is probably the true reading, from igil, A.-S. a hedge-hog,
and pile, i.e. poll, Fr. hair, fur. We learn from the following passage that the skin of
the hedge-hog was used as an instrument of discipline : —
Hericius, Herinaceus, Gall. Herisson. Histor. Monast. Villariensis, lib. iii. apud
Marten, torn. iii. anecdot, col, 1361, ' Pelles videlicet hericii,, quibus usque ad largam
effusionem sanguinis seipsura cicdebat, et urticarum aculeos quibus sese involvebat." —
Du Can^o.
420 EEGULiE INCLUSARUM.
leaue :! ne ne nime, et enes, to ueole disceplines. Ower schone beon
greate and warme. Ine sumer je habbe^ leaue uorto gon and sitten
baruot :! and hosen wi'Suten uaumpez :! and ligge ine bam hwoso
like'S. Sum wummon inouhrea'Se ware's ]7e brech of heare ful wel
i-knotted, and ];e strapeles adun to hire uet, i-laced ful ueste. Eif
je muwen beon wimpel-leas, beob bi warme keppen * and ]?eruppon
blake ^ ueiles. Hwose wule beon i-seien, ]?auh heo atiffe ° hire nis
nout muchel wunder "^ auli to Godes eien heo is lufsumere, J?et is,
uor J>e luue of him, untiffed wiSuten. Ring, ne broche nabbe je "^
ne gurdel i-menbred,*^ ne glouen, ne no swuch Jjing J?et ou ne deih ®
forto habben/
lliuer me is leouere so je don gretture werkes, Ne makie none
purses, uorte ureonden ou mide :!^ ne blodbendes of seolke "s!^ auh
schepie"S, and seouwe'S, and amende'S chirche clones, and poure
monne clones.* No j^ing*^ ne sclmle je jiuen wi'Suten schriftes
leaue. HelpeS mid ower owune swinke, so uor'S so je muwen, to
* [Ancren, sume sungiS in hare wimlunge na lesse J?ene lefdi. Sum seiS \> hit limped
to ene wummon eundeliche forte were wimpel. Nai : wimpel ne hefde, nou'Ser ne
nemned hali write; ah wriheles of heuet : Ad. Corinth. " Mulier uelet caput suum."
Wummon, sei'S )>& Apostel, schal wrihen hire heauet. Wrihen, he seiS, naut winiplin.
Wrihen ha schal liire scheome, as sunfule Eue dohter; imunegunge of \>q sune'}>shede us
erst alle, "] naut drah '^ wriheles to tiffung "j te prude. Eft wule Seint Panel "^ wumon wreo
i chirche hire neb gette, leste vuel l^oht arise J)urh hire on sih^e, ■;) hoc est propter angelos.
Hwi, J?enne, \>vl chirche ancre, al beo j^u i-wimplet, openest t>ah \>i neb to weopmones
ehe ? Te gemes \>q. \>e isist men, speke'S Seinte Panel. Ah, gef ei Jjing wriheJS )>i neb
from monnes ehe — beo hit wah, beo hit cla'S iSi parlures J^url, wel mei duhen ancre of
o'Ser wimlumpe.] C. '' [olSer hwite o'Ser] blake. C.
e atiffen. T. atifi. C. '' i-membret. T. C.
« deah, T. i-burS. C,
* [UnderstondelS 'J5 of alle J^eose J^inges nis nan best ne forbot; for alle ha beo'5 of J^e
uttere riwle, "^ is lute strenc^e of. For hwon ■^ te inre beo wel i-wist, as ic seide iiSe
frum'Se, "] mei beon i-changet hwerse euer ei neod o'Ser eni skile hit aske'S, efter ^ ha mei,
iise huften, best seruin \>& leafdi riwle.] C.
s [bute to heo '^ owermeistre geued ow his leaue.] C.
'' [ne laz bute leaue.] C. ' hettren. C.
'* nan swut Hng. C,
CAUTION AGAINST FINERY AND IDLENESS. 42 j
bleed without leave of your confessor ; and do not, at one time, use
too many flagellations. Let your shoes be thick and warm. In
summer ye are at liberty to go and to sit barefoot, and to wear hose
without vamps, and whoso liketh may lie in them. A woman may
well enough wear drawers of haircloth very well tied, with the
strapples ^ reaching down to her feet, laced tightly. If ye would
dispense with wimples, have warm capes,'' and over them black veils.
She who wishes to be seen, it is no great wonder though she adorn
herself; but, in the eyes of God, she is more lovely who is unadorned
outwardly for his sake. Have neither ring, nor broach, nor orna-
mented girdle, nor gloves, nor any such thing that is not proper for
you to have."
I am always the more gratified, the coarser the works are that ye
do. Make no purses, to gain friends therewith, nor blodbendes of
silk ; but sha[)e, and sew, and mend church vestments, and poor
people's clothes. Ye shall give nothing away without leave from
your father confessor. Assist with your own labour, as far as ye
are able, to clothe yourselves and your domestics, as St. Jerome
teacheth. Be never idle ; for the fiend immediately offers his work
to her who is not diligent in God's work ; and he begiuneth directly
* Strapples, the legs of the drawers ?
^ Anchoresses err in their head-dress no less than ladies. They say that it belongs
naturally to a woman to wear a wimple. Nay : the Holy Scriptures neither had, nor do
they speak of wimple; but of coverings for the head. The apostle saith to the Corinthians,
"A woman shall cover her head." Cover, he saith, not wimple. She shall cover her
shame as a sinful daughter of Eve, in memory of the sin that first hurt us all; and not
convert the covering into finery and pride. Again St. Paul desires further that a woman
cover her face in church, lest evil thoughts should arise merely from seeing her, and this
is, "because of the angels." Why, then, dost thou, an anchoress, although thou art
wimpled, shew thy face in sight of men ? Take heed. Thou seest men, St. Paul saith.
But if any thing conceal thy face from men's sight — be it a wall, be it the parlour window-
cloth, — ii recluse may well dispense with other wimpling.
"^ Observe that none of all these things is commanded or forbidden; for they are all of
the external rule, which is of little consequence. For when the inward is well kept, as
I said at first, and that may be altered wherever need or any reason require it, so as that
it may, as a domestic, best serve the lady rule.
422 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
schruden ou suluen ^ and ]}eo ]?et ou serue'S, ase Seint Jerome lere^.
Ne beo je neuer ^ idel ^ uor anonrihtes ]?e ueond beot ^ hire his
were ]?et ine Godes werke ne wurche^ t'^ and he tutele^ anonrihtes
touward hire. Uor, J^eo hwule J^et he isih'S hire bisi, ]7enche^ ]7us : ^
vor nout ich scliulde nu kumen neih hire :' ne mei heo nout i-hwulen
uorto hercnen mine lore/ Of idehiesse awakene'S muchel flesshes
fondunge. " Iniquitas Sodome saturitas panis et ocium :" ]>et is, al
Sodomes cweadschipe com of idelnesse *? of ful wombe. Iren ]?et h'S
stille gedere^ sone rust ^ and water ]?et ne sture^ nout readhche ^
stinke'S. Ancre ne schal nout forwur^en scolmeistre, ne turnen
hire ancre hus to childrene scole. Hire meiden mei, j^auh, techen ^
sum Intel meiden, j^et were dute of forto leornen among gromes t'
auh ancre ne ouh forto jemen bute God one/
Ee ne schulen senden lettres, ne underuon lettrcs, ne writen buten
leaue. Ee schulen been i-dodded four ^ s'rSen iSe jere, uorto lihten
ower heaued r'^ and ase ofte i-leten blod :' and oftere jif need is :' and
hwoso mei been ]?er wi^uten, ich hit mei wel i-'Solien. Hwon je
beo^ i-leten blod, je ne schulen don no ]^ing, J^eo ]?reo dawes, ]?et
ou greue :' auh talke'S mid oner meidenes and mid ]?eaufule talen
schurte'S ou to-gederes. Ee muwen don so ofte hwon ou J^unche'S
heuie, oSer beo"S uor sume worldliche ];inge sorie o^er seke. So
wisliche wite^ ou in our blod-letunge r' and holde'S ou ine swuche
reste j^et je longe J^erefter muwen ine Godes seruise ]?e monluker
swinken :/ and also hwon je i-uele^ eni secnesse :! vor muchel sot-
"■ [■] feden sef neod is.] C. '' [allunge.] C.
<= bedes. T. *• swinkes. T. C.
^ he, )?e swike, J^enches tus. T. he t'enche'S J^us. C.
' ne mai ho nawt geme to lustnen mi lare. T.
e ra'Sliche. T. •' mei learen. C.
' [Jjah, bi hire meistres read, ha mei sum rilitcn ~j lielpe to leren.j C.
^ fiftene. T.
' [o'Ser gef ge vvulleS i-schaiien, hwase wule ievcset. Ali ha mot oftere weschcii ~i
kemben hire holuet.] C.
EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE. BLOOD-LETTING. 423
to talk to her. For, while he seeth her busy, he thinketh thus : It
would avail nothing if I were now to accost her, nor would she take
time to listen to my teaching. From idleness ariseth much tempta-
tion of the flesh, " Iniquitas Sodomte saturitas panis et otium : "
that is, " All the wickedness of Sodom came of idleness, and of a
full belly." Iron that lietli still soon gathereth rust ; and water that
is not stirred soon stinketh. An anchoress must not become a
schoolmistress, nor turn her anchoress-house into a school for
children. Her maiden may, however, teach any little girl con-
cerning whom it might be doubtful whether she should learn among
boys, but an anchoress ought to give her thoughts to God only.
Ye shall not send, nor receive, nor write letters without leave.
Ye shall have your hair cut four times a-year to disburden your
head ; and be let blood as oft, and oftener if it is necessary ; but if any
one can dispense with this, I may well suffer it. When ye are let
blood, ye ought to do nothing that may be irksome to you for three
days ; but talk with your maidens, and divert yourselves together with
instructive tales. Ye may often do so when ye feel dispirited, or are
grieved about some worldly matter, or sick. Thus wisely take care
of yourselves when you are let blood, and keep yourselves in such
rest that long thereafter ye may labour the more vigorously in God's
service, and also when ye feel any sickness, for it is great folly, for
the sake of one day, to lose ten or twelve. Wash yourselves where-
soever it is necessary, as often as ye please.
424 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Folio 118. schipe hit is uorto uorleosen, uor one deie, tene o^er tweolue.
Wasche'S ou hwarse je liabbe'S neode, ase ofte ase je wulle^.
Ancre j^et naiie^ nout neih bond hire uode, beo^ bisie two wum-
men r' one ]?et bileaue euer et hom, on o^er J7et wende ut hwon hit
is neod ":! and ]?eo beo ful unorne, o'Ser of feir elde 1/ and bi }7e weie
ase heo ge^S go singinde hire beoden :^ ne ne holde heo nout non tale
mid mon ne mid vvummon :! ne ne sitte ne ne stonde, bute ];et leste
Jjet heo mei, er ]?en heo kume horn. Nouhvvuder elles ne go heo bute
];ider ase me sent hire. Wi^ute leaue ne ete heo ne ne drinke ute.
pe o^er beo euer inne, ne wi^ute ]?e jeate ne go heo wi^Sute leaue.
BoSe beon obedient to hore dame in alle ]?inges, bute ine sunne one.
No }>ing nabben heo J^et hore dame hit nute r' ne ne underuon no J>ing,
ne ne jiuen wi^uten hire leaue. Nenne mon ne leten heo in :! ne J^e
jungre ne speke mid none monne bute leaue :! ne ne go nout ut of
tune widuten siker uere :! ne ne ligge ute. Eif heo ne con o boke,
sigge bi Paternostres and bi auez hire vres :! and wurche J^et me hat
hire widuten grucchunge. Habbe euer hire earen opene touward
hire dame. Nou^er of ]?e wummen ne beren urom hore dame, ne
ne bringed to hire none idele talen, ne neowe ti^inges ^ ne bitweonen
hamsulf ne singen :! ne ne speken none worldliclie spechen :! ne
Folio 118 6. lauhwen, ne ne pleien so ]7et ei mon J^et hit iseie muhte hit to vuel
turnen. Ouer alle j^hig leasunge and lu'Sere wordes hatien. Hore
her beo i-koruen ^ hore heued do's sitte lowe. EiSer ligge one.
Hore liesmel beo heie istihd :^* al wiSute broche. No mon ne i-seo
ham unweawed,'' ne open heaued.° Louh lokunge habben. Heo ne
schulen cussen nenne mon, ne uor luue cluppen ne ku'S ne unku'S ^
ne wasshen hore heaued :! ne loken ueste o none monne :! ne toggen*^
mid him, ne pleien. Hore weaden beon of swuche scheape, J, alle
» Hare cop beo hecje i-sticched. C. '' unlepped. C.
•= [Inwid \>e wanes ha muhe werie scapeloris hwen mantel ham heuege'S; vte, gan
i-mantlet; J>e heaued i-hudeket.] C.
•^ toggle. T. toggi. C.
OBEDIENCE AND MODEST DEMEANOUR ENJOINED, 425
When an anchoress hath not her food at hand, let two women be
employed, one who stays always at home, another who goes out
when necessary ; and let her be very plain, or of sufficient age ; and,
by the way, as she goeth let her go singing her prayers; and hold no
conversation with man or with woman ; nor sit, nor stand, except the
least possible, until she come home. Let her go nowhere else, but
to the place whither she is sent. Without leave, let her neither eat
nor drink abroad. Let the other be always within, and never go
out of the gate without leave. Let both be obedient to their dame
in all things, sin only excepted. Let them possess nothing unknown
to their mistress, nor accept nor give any thing without her
permission. They must not let any man in ; nor must the younger
speak with any man without leave ; nor go out of town ^ without a
trusty companion, nor sleep out. If she cannot read her hours in a
book, let her say them with Paternosters and Ave Marias ; and do
the work that she is commanded to do, without grudging. Let her
have her ears always open to her mistress. Let neither of the
women either carry to her mistress or bring from her any idle tales,
or new tidings, nor sing to one another, nor speak any worldly
speeches, nor laugh, nor play, so that any man who saw it might
turn it to evil. Above all things, they ought to hate lying and
ribaldry. Let their hair be cut short, their headcloth sit low. Let
each lie alone. Let their hesmel be high pointed : none to wear a
broach. Let no man see them unveiled, nor without a hood. Let
them look low. They ought not to kiss, nor lovingly embrace any
man, neither of their acquaintance nor a stranger, nor to wash their
head, nor to look fixedly on any man, nor to romp nor frolic with
him. Their garments should be of such a shape and all their attire
such that it may be easily seen to what [life] they are dedicated.
Let them observe cautiously their manners, so that nobody may find
fault with them, neither in the house nor out of the house. Let
» tune, signifies not only town, but also a 2^lace enclosed or fenced round.
CAMD. SOC. 3 I
426 REGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
hore aturn swuch j^et hit beo eScene hwarto lieo beo^ i-turnde.
Hore lates loken warliche, ]?et iion ne edwite ham ne ine huse, ne ut
of huse. On alle wise uorberen to wre^^en hore dame t and ase
ofte ase heo hit do^, er heo drinken o^er eten, makien hore uenie
akneon adun to ]?er eorSe biuoren hire, J sigge " Mea culpa : " and
underuon ];e penitence pet heo lei^ upon hire, lutende hire louwe.
pe ancre neuer more J»er efter ]?ene ilke gult ne upbreide hire, uor
none wre^Se, bute jif heo eft sone ualle i^et ilke :' auh do hit
allunge ut of hire heorte. And jif eni strif arise'S bitweonen ]?e
wummen, ]>e ancre makie eiSer of ham to makien o'Ser venie akneon
to Jjer eor^e, and eiSer rihte up o^er, It kussen ham on ende :' and
ye ancre legge on ei'Ser sum penitence :" more upon ]?e ilke ]7et
Folio 119. gretluker bane's agult. pis is o J>ing, wute je wel to so^, ]?et is
God leouest — seihnesse 1; some ^ — '? J^e ueonde lowest :' and for^i he
is euer umbe to arearen sume wre^^e.^ Nu isih'S J^e deouel wel ]>et
hwon ]7et fur is wel o brune, *? me wule ]7et hit go ut, me sundre'S
]?e brondes :' and he de^ al so onond ^ ];et ilke. Luue is Jesu Cristes
fur ]?et he wule ]?et blasie in vre heorte ^ and |;e deouel ^ blowe'S
forto puffen hit ut :! and hwon his blowinge ne geine^ nout, |jeonne
bringe'S he up sum luSer word, o'Ser sum nouhtunge hwar j^uruh
heo to-hurte'S ® ei^er urommard o'Ser :' and J^e Holi Gostes fur
acwenche^, hwon j^e brondes, ]7uruh wre'S'Se, beoS i-sundred. And
for^i, holden ham ine luue ueste to-gederes, and ne beo ham nout
of hwon ]>e ueond blowe t' and nomeliche, jif monie beoS i-ueied
somed,*' and wel mid luue ontende.
pauh ]?e ancre on hire meidenes uor openliche gultes legge peni-
tence, neuer J^e later to ]>e preoste schriuen ham ofte r' auh euer
]7auh mid leaue. And jif heo ne kunnen nout ]>e mete graces, siggen
in hore stude Pater noster 7 Aue Maria biuoren mete, and efter
mete also, 7 Credo moare :' and siggen )7us on ende, " Veder J Sune "?
» sachtnesse i sonientale. T. ^ laSSe. T. C.
■■ he dos bond to bet ilke. T. <• swike. T. sweoke. C.
« he bringes up sum word, o'Ser sum ©"Ser hwat, hwer )>urh ho to hurren. T.
* i-fest to-gedere. T.
FORBEARANCE, PEACE AND CONCORD ; GRACES AT MEALf>. 427
them, hy all means, forbear to vex their mistress ; and, whenever
they do so, let them before they either eat or drink make obeisance
on their knees bending to the earth before her and say, " Mea
culpa ; " and accept the penance that she layeth upon them, bowing
low. And let not the anchoress ever again thereafter upbraid her
with the same fault, when vexed, except she soon afterwards fall
into the same, but drive it entirely out of her heart. And if any
strife ariseth between the women, let the anchoress cause them to
make obeisance to each other kneeling to the earth, and the one to
raise up the other, and finally to kiss each other; and let the
anchoress impose some penance on both, but more upon her who is
most in fault. Be ye well assured, this is a thing most pleasing to
Grod — peace and concord — and most hateful to the fiend ; and there-
fore, he is always endeavouring to stir up some strife. Now the
devil seeth well that when the fire is fairly blazing, and men wish it
to go out, they separate the brands : and he doth, in regard to this,
just the same thing. Love is Jesus Christ's fire, which he would
have to burn in our hearts, and the devil bloweth that he may puff
it out ; and when his blowing is of no avail, he then bringeth up
some insulting word, or some other mark of contempt, whereby they
are repelled from each other, and the flame of the Holy Spirit is
quenched, when the brands, through anger, are sundered. And
therefore, keep them firmly united in love, and be not away from
them when the fiend may blow ; and especially, if there be many
joined together, and well kindled with love.
Though the anchoress impose penance on her maidens for open
faults, let them nevertheless confess often to the priest ; but always,
however, with permission. And if they cannot say the graces at
meals, let them say, instead of them. Paternoster and Ave Maria,
before and also after meat, and the Creed over and above ; and in
conclusion say thus, " May the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one
God Almighty, give our mistress his grace, always more and more,
and grant to her and us both to have a good ending, and reward all
who do us good, and be merciful to the souls of them who have
428 EEGUL^ INCLUSARUM.
Holi Gost ?, on Almihti God, he jiue ure dame his grace, so lengre
so more :! 1 leue hire ■? us bo^e nimen god endinge :! % forjelde alia
\Qt us god do's, % milce hore soulen ]7et us god i-don habbe^ — hore
soulen J, alle cristene soulen. Amen." Bitweonen mele ne gruselie *
Folio 119 6. je nout nou'Ser frut, ne o'Serhwat r' ne ne drinken wi'Suten leaue r^
auh l^e leaue beo liht in alle |?eo |;inges J^er nis sunne. Ette mete
no word, o'Ser lut, % ]?eo beon stille.'' Al so efter ]?e ancre cumplie
uort mid-morwen *^ ne don no }>ing, ne ne siggen, hware ]7uruh hire
silence muwe beon i-sturbed. Non ancre seruant ne ouhte, mid
rihte, uorto asken i-sette huire, bute mete % clo^ }>et heo mei vlutten*^
bi, 1 Godes milce. Ne misleue non god, hwat so bitide, of ]?e ancre,
J^et he hire trukie.® pe meidenes wrSuten, jif heo serueb J;e ancre
al so ase heo owen, hore hure schal beon \e eche blisse of heouene.
Hwoso haue'S eie hope touward so heie hure, gledliche wule heo
seruen, % lihtliche alle wo and alle teone J>olien. Mid else ne mid
este ne kume'S me nout to ]?er heouene.^
Ee ancren owen }?is lutle laste stucchen reden to our wummen
eueriche wike enes, uort ]7et heo hit kunnen. And muche neod is
ou beo'Se ]?et je nimen to ham gode jeme :! vor je muwen muchel
)?uruh ham beon i-goded, and i-wursed^ on o^er halue. Eif heo
sunege"S ]7uruh ower jemeleaste, je schulen beon bicleoped ]7erof
biuoren ]?e heie demare :!^ and for^i, ase ou is muche neod, % ham
is jete more, jeorneliche teche^ ham to holden hore riulen, bo'Se
uor ou 1 for ham suluen r' li'Seliche ]?auh, 1 luueliche :! uor swuch
ouh wummone lore to beon — luuelich 7 liSe, and seldliwonne sturne.
Bo^e hit is riht ]7et heo ou dreden 1, luuien :^ auh \qv beo more euer
of luue ]7en of drede. peonne schal hit wel uaren. Me schal helden
eoli and win beo'Se ine wunden, eftere godere ^ lore :! auh more of ]>q
softe eolie ]?en of \q. bitinde wine r! ]?et is, more of li^e wordes Jjen
of suwinde i^ vor Jjerof kume^ ];inge best — ]?et is luue-eie. Liht-
" gruse. T. gruuesi. C. •• "] ta stille. T. ~] \>eo stille. C.
"^ a'Set prime. T. C. "• flutte. T. C.
• [feale.] C. ' ne hue's mon nawt blisse. T. C.
» wursnet. T. *• denie. T. dom. C.
' Goiles. T. C. '' suliieiide. T. sturne. C.
SILENCE; FAITHFULNESS; MILDNESS IN REPROVING. 429
done us good — to the souls of them and of all Christians. Amen."
Between meals, do not munch either fruit or any thing else ; and
drink not without leave ; but let the leave be easily granted in all
those matters where there is no sin. At meat let there be no
talking, or little, and then be still. Also, neither do nor say any
thing after the anchoress compline, until prime next morning,
whereby her silence might be disturbed. No servant of an
anchoress ought, properly, to ask stated wages, except food and
clothing, with which, and with God's mercy, she may do well
enough. Let her not disbelieve any good of the anchoress, whatever
betide, as that she may deceive her. The maidens out of doors,
if they serve the anchoress in such a manner as they ought, shall
have their reward in the eternal blessedness of heaven. AVhoso hath
any hope of so high a reward will gladly serve, and easily endure all
grief and all pain. With ease and abundance men do not arrive at
heaven.
Ye anchoresses ought to read these little concluding parts to your
women once every week until they know it well. And it is very
necessary for you both that ye take much care of them, for ye may
be much benefited by them ; and, on the other hand, made worse.
If they sin through your negligence, ye shall be called to give account
of it before the Supreme Judge ; and therefore, it is very necessary for
you, and still more for them, that ye diligently teach them to keep their
rule, both for your sake and for themselves ; in a gentle manner, how-
ever, and affectionately ; for such ought the instructing of women to
be — aftectionate and gentle, and seldom stern. It is right that they
should both fear and love you ; but that there should be always more
of love than of fear. Then it shall go well. Both wine and oil
should be poured into the wounds, according to divine instruction ;
but more of the soft oil than of the biting wine ; that is, more of
gentle than of vehement words ; for thereof cometh that which is best
— love-fear. Mildly and kindly forgive them their faults when they
acknowledge them and promise amendment.
430 REGUL.E INCLUSARUM.
liche % sweteliche uorjiue^ ham hore gultes hwon lieo liain i-knoweS
and bihote'S bote,
kSe uorS ase je muwen of druncli and of mete and of do's, and of
o^er J»inges ]?et neode of flesclie aske^, bee's large touward ham,
]7auh je J7e neruwure beon and te herdure to ou suhien :' vor so deS
he \q wel blowe^ — went ]?e neruwe ende of J^e home to his owune
muSe, ? utward ]?ene wide. And je don al so, ase je wuUe'S ]7et
ower beoden bemen 7 dreamen wel ine Drihtenes ^ earen ^ and nout
one to ower ones,'' auh to alle uolkes heale r^ ase ure Louerd leue,
Jjuruh ]?e grace of himsulf, ]7et hit so mote beon. Amen !
O ]?isse boo rede's eueriche deie hwon je beoS eise — eueriche
deie lesse o'Ser more. Uor ich hopie j^et hit schal beon ou, jif se je
rede's ofte, swu'Se bihevie j^uruh Godes grace :^ and elles ich heuede
vuele bitowen muchel of mine hwule. God hit wot,° me were
leouere uorto don me touward Rome ]?en uorto biginnen hit eft forto
donne. And jif je iuinde^ J'et je do^ al so ase je redeS, JjonkeS
Fulio 120. God jeorne :^ and jif je ne do's nout, biddeS Godes ore, and bee's
umbe ])er abuten J^et je hit bet hoi holden,*^ efter ower mihte.
Veder and Sune and Holi Gost, and on Almihti God, he wite ® ou
in his warde ! He gledie ou, and froure ou, mine leoue sustren !
and, for al |7et je uor him drie^ and suffre'S, he ne jiue ou neuer
lesse huire |?en al-togedere him suluen ! He beo euer i-heied from
worlde to worlde, euer on ecchenesse ! Amen.
Ase ofte ase je reade'S out ^ o J^isse boc, grete^ ])e lefdi mid one
Aue Marie, uor him \et maked J^eos riwle, and for him ]7et hire
wrot and swonc^ her abuten. Inouh me^ful ich am, ]7et bidde so
lutel.
^ [Godes.] C. '' anres. T.
c Deu le set. T. C. "^ betere halden. T. halden. C.
' Clodd wite. T. C. ' oht. T. eawet. C.
B swanc. T. swong. C.
THE author's concluding BENEDICTION AND PRAYEK. 431
As far as ye can, in regard to drink, and food, and clothing, and
other things which the wants of the flesh require, be hberal to them,
though ye be the more strict and severe to yourselves ; for so doth
he that bloweth well : He turneth the narrow end of the horn to his
own mouth, and the wide end outward. And do ye the like, as ye
would that your prayers may resound like a trumpet, and make a
sweet noise in the ears of the Lord ; and not to your own salvation
only, but to that of all people ; which may our Lord grant through
the grace of himself, that so it may be. Amen.
In this iDook read every day, when ye are at leisure — every day,
less or more ; for I hope that, if ye read it often, it wull be very
beneficial to you, through the grace of God, or else I shall have ill
employed much of my time. God knows, it would be more agree-
able to me to set out on a journey to Rome, than to begin to do it
again. And, if ye find that ye do according to what ye read, thank
God earnestly ; and if ye do not, pray for the grace of God, and
diligently endeavour that ye may keep it better, in every point,
according to your ability. May the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Ghost, the one Almighty God, keep you under his protection !
May he give you joy and comfort, my dear sisters, and for all that
ye endure and suffer for him may he never give you a less reward
than his entire self. May he be ever exalted from world to world,
for ever and ever. Amen.
As often as ye read any thing in this book, greet the Lady with an
Ave Mary for him who made this rule, and for him who wrote it,
and took pains about it. Moderate enough I am, who ask so little.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
ABBREVIATIONS.
A.S. Anglo-Saxon. — Teut. Teutonic. — Isl. Islandic. — G. German. — O.G. Old German.— Fr.
French. — O.Fr. Old French. — D. Dutch.— Svv. Swedish.— So. Scotish.—Lat. Latin. —
Ital. Italian P.E. Provincial Englisli.— O.E. Old English.— Ch. Chaucer.— Lag. The glos-
sary to LAgAMON's Brut, by Sir F. Madden. — id. the same. — q.v. quod vide. — v. vide. —
g. genitive case. — sub. subjunctive mood. — imp. imperative mood. — pr. present tense. — im.
imperfect tense. — p. perfect tense. — pr.p. present participle. — p.p. perfect participle. — pi.
plural. — s. singular. — adj. adjective. — adv. adverb. — sup. superlative degree, — com. comparative
degree. — 1. lege. — i.e. id est. — n. noun. — v. r. various reading. — Words beginning with the
participial prefix i will generally be found under the letter next following. The numbers refer
to the pages where the words occur. A point of interrogation (?) marks any doubtful meaning
or derivation.
a, 396, /or ever, aye; A.S. a, aa. |
abere^, 158, heartth; A.S. aberan.
abit, 338, 358, alidea, awaits.
ablende'S, 86, pr. hl.indeth; imp. ablinde, pp.
ablend, 62 ; A.S. blindan.
aboutie, 62, look out.
abbod, 314, oMot.
abreiden, 214, abreid, 238; A.S. abregdan, to
awake, startle.
abuggen, 188, pr. sub. abugge, 306; A.S. abyc-
gan, to 'paijfor.
abuten, 234, 344, about.
accidie, 208, indolence.
acemen, 360 a. A.S. cweman ? to j^lease.
achate, 134, agate.
acolen, 118, pr. acoalde'5, 404; A.S. acolian, to
cool.
acorien, 60, to hear, pro alterius crimine puniri;
MS. Oxon. " acorede, sorrowed, acorye, cor-
rected.^' Hearne's Glossary to Robert of
Gloucester.
acneon, oknon, 16, akneon, 44, oft knees, kneel-
ing; A.S. cneow, knee,
CAMD. SOC. 3 K
acwellen, 334, kill; A.S. acwellan.
aewenchen, to quench, 224, 296, pr. acwenche^,
426 ; p. acweinte, 124, 288, quenched; A.S.
acwencan, id.
acwikien, pr. acwike'S, 118, 96; A.S. acwician
to qvicken.
acwiten 124, 394, to free, release; Fr. acquitter.
acse'S, 8, askcth; A.S. acsian.
adeaden 112, 150, to deaden, pr. adeade'5, 150;
A.S. adeadan.
adotede, 222, 272, silly, doting, infatuated,
adotie, 50, i. D. doten, Fr. radoter.
adrenchen, 230, to drown, he drowned; pr.
adrenche-5, 74, 314; p. adreinte, 220, 334,
pp. 244; A.S. adrencan, to drown.
adruwien, 150 to dry, dry tip; pr. adruwe'5,
adruwie'S; p.adruwede, 220; adruweden, 156,
p.p. adrawed, 150 ; A.S. adruvvian, to dry
up.
adunriht 60, downright; A.S. adun, down, riht,
rigid.
sestat, sestaz, 178 v. astaz.
afallen, 122, d. cast down.
434
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
afeited, 284, affected, inclined, formed; O.Fr.
afaiter.
affruht, m2, frightened; A.S. frihtan.
ageliche, 56, b. aufully; A.S. ege, awe.
agest, 372, sjnritual; A.S. gast, siririt.
agesten, 212, to frighten; A.S. egesian, id.
age'S, 184, 208, 288, 356, passeth auwj; A.S.
agangan.
aginne, pr. sub. 74, begin; A.S. aginnan.
agrisen, 306, to dread greatly, pr. agrise'S, 294,
it terrijieth, pr. sub. agrise, 296 ; A.S. agrisan,
id.
agrupie, 92, pr. sub. be filled with horror; A.S.
oga; MS. Oxon, terrentes; Sc. groo, to shudder.
agulte'S, 186, pr. offendeth; pr. sub. agulte, 184,
188, 346, 426, \ffeml; p. agullen, 336, were
guilty, offended; A.S. agyltan, gylt,
akest, 318, overcome.
akointed, 218, acquainted,
akoueren, 364, 412, to recover; A.S. acofran, id.
akursede, 234, accursed; A.S. cursian, to curse.
aleosen, 118, a. to lose; A.S. leosan, id.
allegate, 58, 314, 398, by all means, 84, alivays,
68 b, at all events, 350, althotigh; MS. Oxon.
licet.
alesen, 124, to release; A.S. alysan, id.
alihte, 248, alighted, descended; A.S. alihtan, to
come down.
ali-S, 246, 252, allayeth; A.S. alecgan, to lay.
alles, 64, at all events.
allelunge, 86, allunge, 164, 228, 232, 234, 270,
340, 344, 348, ^^H, altogether, wholly, entirely;
A.S. allunga.
aire, 94, 136, 234, 314, of all; A.S. al. gen. pi.
alra.
alrerest, 2>\i, first of all.
alriht, A.S. 92, 1(^0, just, quite so.
alsnesien, 212, to pierce, strike; A.S, asnEesan,id.
alto wundre, 380, strangely, sharply.
amased, 270, 284, 288, bewildered, infatuated.
ameistren, 140, 282, 382, to master, govern,
subdue; O.Fr. maistrer.
amed, 324, mad; A.S. gemsed, id.
amendeS, 420, mend; Fr. amender, to mend.
amidden, 106, 270, amid; A.S. midlest, id.
amorwen, 122, on the morrow; A.S. on morgan,
id.
ampuiles, 226, p>l»-ia'ls; O.Fr. ampoule,
anan, 346, c. immediateli/, anon,
ancheisun, anchesun, 68, 158, 232. 234, 320,
330, reason, cause, blame; O.Fr. enehaison.
i-anered, 142, anchored; Fr. ancrer.
anere-huse, 88, nunnery; A.S. ancer-hus.
andetted, 126, indebted; Fr. endette.
angeonni, 346, e. pr. A.S. uniian, to grant.
angresful, ancreful, 370, 244, anrcious, fervent,
earnest; A.S. ange, troidde ; G. angstig.
anguisuse, 112, 240, anxious, painful; O.Fr.
angoissous.
anhonged, 126, 284, 310, 352, 354, hanged,
crucified, punished; A S. anhon, to hang.
anonde, 164, in regard to; Sc. anent.
anonriht, anonrihtes, 18, 226, 248, 252, 326,
immediately,
anui, O.Fr. 94, 374, annu, 94, g. 374, b. trouble,
vexation , weariness.
anrad, 228, a. A.S. anrsed, one-minded,
anres, g. 160, c. one^s,
anwille, 238, e. stubborn; A.S. anvvil, id.
apeware, 248, counterfeit ware; A.S. apa, an ape.
aquiken, 58,to quicken, rouse, excite; A.S.aewician.
arch^202, a. unwilling; A.S. earg, idle, inert, G.
arg, Sc. ergh, id.
arche, 334, an ark; A.S. arc. id.
arechen, 128, 166, to reach, attain, grasp, pr.
areache'S, 200, A.S. aroecan, id.
arearen, 398, 426, to raise., stir up, erect, pr.
areare^, 104 ; p. arerede, 326 ; pr. sub. arere,
108 ; areare, 252 ; p.p. arered, 72 ; areared,
242 ; A.S. arseran.
areawe, 198, 258, 302; arewe, 90, in a row,
in order, in succession ; A.S. hryg, bach, ridge.
aredden, 2>Qi), to rescue, deliver; p. aredde, 170;
p.p. ared, 392, 300, delivered; A.S. areddan.
areimen, 124, to enlarge; A.S. ryman; G.
raumen.
areowe, QQ, pr. sub. have pity; A.S. hreowan, to
irity.
arepen, 128, to snatch; A.S. gereafan; Lat.
arripere.
arewen, A.S. 98, b. arrows.
ariht, 132, 410, truly, indeed,
arine'5, 408, pr. toucheth; p. arinede, 408, pr.
sub. arine, 164; A.S. ahrynan, to touch, hit,
strike against.
arista, 38, 250, 360, resurrection; A.S. arist.
aros, p. 234, arose; A.S. arisan.
armliclie, 328, a; A.S. earmlie, wretched, poor.
aroinaz, 152, 276, 372, 376, spices; Fr. aromates.
arre, 10, a. 86, l./orwier.
arueS, 108, b. difficult; A.S. earfeS.
asauniple, 112, 284, example; Fr. example,
aseur, 296, imp. drive away; MS. Oxon, abige;
Sc. scour, shore; A.S. ascyrian, to divide,
aseinan, asonien, 64, f. v. asunien.
askebatJie, 214, askeba^es, 2\i, A. ash gatherer,
cujus officium est cineres congregare; A.S.
asca, asee, dust, ashes.
asken, 214, ashes.
asnese'S, 200, butteth; A.S. asnsesan.
GLOSSAHIAL IKUEX,
435
aspieden, 196, lay in icait; O.Fr. espier.
aspille'5, 148, pr. pi. destroy, pp. aspilled, 384;
A.S. spillan, to spoil, lose,
asquint, 212, ashince.
assailen, 362, to assail, attack; pr. assaileS, 246;
pp. asailed, 242; O.Fr, assailler,
assauz, 196, assaults. '
astaz, 160, states, dignities. O.Fr. estat.
asteoruen, 326, to die; pr. astorue'S, 178; pp.
astoruen, 310; A.S. steorfan, to die.
astudieS, 200, imp.; A.S. astudian, to meditate.
a/-stunten, 42, to stand; A.S. astandan.
astunteu, 72, to sto}}, stint, stay; pr, sub. astuiite,
80; pp. astunt, 270; A.S. astintan, to stop.
asunien, 64, to skua; A.S. ascunian.
asvvelte, pr. sub. 216, die; A.S. asweltan, to «?'ie.
atelich, 6, 52, 116, 118, 148, 184, 310, ateliehe,
212,328, hatefxU,foul, loathsome, ugly, corrupt;
A S. atelic.
attente, 252, endeavour, n.
alter, 80; A.S. attor, poison.
atterlo'Se, 274, antidote.
atterluche, 212, d, malignant.
atternesse, 196, maiigiiiti/.
atiffen, 360, 420, c, to adorn; pr. sub. atiffe,
420, atifi, 120, c ; A.S. atifran, to paint 1
i-attred, 208, 238, envenomed, pioisoned.
attrest, 2%2, poisonest, attre'S, 84, poisoneth.
attri, 82, 134, 188, 190, 364, attrie, 274, 288,
jjoisonous, venomous, bitter.
atlupes, 48, f. Iea2}s away; A.S. hleapan, to leap.
aturn, 426, attire; Fr. atourner.
aturned, 284, changed, conrirtcd.
aualletli, 246, is laid, assuaged; A.S. afeallan, to
fall.
auelien, 122, to cause to fall; A.S. af3elan,to/eW.
auenture, 340, occurrence.
augrim, 214, arithmetic.
aules, 212, a^vls; AS. sel, an awl.
auoreward, 142, covenant; A.S. foreward.
autonouiatice, 1, prroperly or rightly named.
a-vleied, 248, 258, driven aioay, banished, av-
leie'S, 136, driceth away; A.S. afligan.
awaitie, pr. sub. 174, lie in trait; O.Fr. aguetter;
Ital. aguatare.
awakien, 238, to awaJcen; A.S. awacian.
awarien, 284, to curse, pp. awariede, 206, 306,
accursed; A.S. awyrian.
awed, A.S. 96, ^l,nreasonable, mad.
awelde^, 144, subdueth, awold, subjected; A.S.
wealdan, to rale, govern .
awilege'8, 276, 282, distorteth, dazsleth; MS.
Oxon. disgregat; A.S. awylian ? to roll.
awiligen, 176, to grow wild, rebel; awilige'S, 136,
IZ'6, groweth u-dd , frolicsome; A.S. awildan.
aworpen, 122, 278, to cast, throw, overcome; p.
avverp, overthrew ; A.S. aworpan.
awreken, ^^i, AQ^, to inflict vengeance; awi-eke'S,
286, avengeth; p. awrec, 334, avenged.
avvundre6, pr. 146, 218, imp. awundri, 342; A.S.
wundrian, to wonder, to be amazed,.
awuried, 252, irorried; awurieS, 202, 324, wor-
rieth; G. wurgen.
awurSe'S, 200, pr, there are; A.S. aweorSaii, to
be, become.
ageanward, 274, away from.
ageines, \2, goods, propeity; A.S. agan,to possess,
own.
ajeines, 14, against; A.S. ongean, id.
axinde, pr. p. 172, axunge, n. 338, asking; A.S.
aesian, to ask.
a'Sat, 152, c. a^et, 134, d, until.
a^rusemen, 40, to imprison; A.S. a'Srjsemian, id.
baban, 234, baby.
babelinde, Idd, gossi2)2>ing; Fr. babiller.
bac, AS. 290, back.
bacbitare, 84, backbiter.
baldeliche,62,292,354,364,('Wr%,- A.S.baldlice.
bal-pleowe, 218, ball-play; A.S. plega, jj/ay.
baluhfiil, 114, balefnl; A.S. bealu, evil.
baine, 164, basme, 276, b. balm, balsam; Fr.
baunie.
banere, 300, banner.
baret, 172, 154, 414, turmoil, cumber, bustle:
O.Fr. barat.
baruot, 420, barefoot.
baundune, 338, discretion; O.Fr. bandon.
ba'Se, 10, g. both.
bead, v. beoden.
bealdeS, 162, c. beldeS, 162, emboldeneth; A.S.
beald, bold.
beam, A.S. 82, a child; pi. bearnes, 272.
beaten, 364, to beat; p. beot, 366 ; im. sub. beote,
364; imp, beate, 418; pp. i-beaten; A.S.
beatan, id.
beatunge, 366, a beating.
beaubelet, 388, beaubelez,ye((e;^.s, trinkets, baubles.
bed, bede, v. bidden,
beggen, 356, to beg.
beggilde, 168, h,ofa beggar.
beie'S, beih, v. buwen.
beke'5, 84, 102, peckeS, pr. sub. bekie; Fr.
bequeter, to peck.
belami, O.Fr. 306, 2,2>?,, friend.
bell, 296, belies, 284, bellows; A.S. bajlig.
bemare, 210, a trumpeter.
bemen, 214, 430, to sound a trumpjet, sounding,
resounding; A.S. byman.
436
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
bendes, 382, bands.
Benediht, 162, Benedict,
beodemon, 356, a bedesman, one who begs or
prays for the benefit of others.
beoden,"ll4:,156,402, to offer, present; pr.beode^,
208; beot, 194, 208, 238, 422; p. bead, 230,
390; A.S. beodan, v. bidden,
beoden, 8, 140, 162, 264, 406, 424, prayers.
beon, AS. 416, to be; pr. beo'S, biS, 252; pp.
i-beon.
beore, 198, a bear.
heore-kunnes, 296, of bear's kind.
beouste, 162, consorting with; MS. Oxen, coha-
bitatio ; beo wust ? Sc. " he is in a good buist,''''
he is in a good situation, tvhere he lives in ease
and abundance; A.S. bewitan.
berebarde, 112, a disease ?
beren, 230, 256, to bear, carry, suffer; pr. bereS,
332; ber'5, 84; p.ber, 368, carried; bere^^ 382,
iveareth [as in ¥v. p)orter'\; A.S. beran.
berien, 274, d. berries.
berkest, 122, A.S. beorean, to bark.
berme, 212, lap), bosom.
bernen, 306, to burn; im. sub. bernde, 242,
368; pr. p. berninde, 122, 310; A.S. byrnan.
best, A.S. 416, beast.
bestliche, 58, like a beast.
bet, 416, 430, better.
beten, 92, to amend, correct, groiv better; imp.
bete'S, pp. ibet, 322, ibette, 144; A.S. betan.
be«, 394, 396, a bath.
bettles, 188, mallets; A.S. bytl; S.C. bittill, a
beetle.
bewiste, 160. a, v. beouste.
bi-barred, 170, imprisoned; Fr. barre.
bi-bled, 118, e. bleeding,
bi-blodege,292, bi-blodge, il%,s2)rinkle ivith blood.
biburien, 216, to bury; A.S. bebyrgean.
bieherren, 368, to deceive, outwit; pr, bicherre'S,
. deceiveth, 92 ; pp. bickerd, 224, 280 ; A.S.
beeyrran, id.
bieleopien, 244, to accuse, to call to account;
pr. sub. bicleope, 306; pp. bicleoped, 428;
A.S. clypian, to call.
bicluppe, 90, to embrace; imp bickippe^, 34; p.
biclipte, 122; pp. bielupped, 240, comjjre-
hended; A.S. beclyppan.
bielused, 378, conined; biclusinge, 108, shut-
ting in; A.S. beclysan.
biclute, 316, clout, patch; A.S. clut.
bicom, 316, became.
bidden, 228, 286, 416, to ask, offer, bid, command,
pray, pray for; pr. bit, 156, 164, 196, 288,
bidde, 412, bids; imp. ilnddeS, 144; bidde'S,
430; im. sub. bede, 222, 242, 414; bade, p.
bed, 156, 234, Z^^, prayed ; A.S. beodan,
biddan, ge-biddan, id.
biddunge, 108, asking.
bidon, 130, 216, to befoul.
bidweolie'S, 128, 196, deceiveth; A.S. dvvolian,
to deceive, err.
biflutten, 102, 102, a, to suffice ; MS. Oxon. suffi-
cere; A.S. fullan ? befyllan ? to fill.
bifor'S, 20, e. before the.
bifulen, 128, 130, a. 272, 216, to defile, pollute,
corrupt ; A.S. befulan.
bigile'S,pr. 330, pp. bigiled, 270; A.S. begalian,
to beguile.
bigurdel, 12i, purse, 126; A.S. bigyrdel, id.
bigurt, 378, pr. begird, fence round; A.S. be-
gyrdan, id.
bigeate, 166, 174, 202, 238, 320, 360, 400,
bigete, 96, a, \b\, gain, profit, advantage; pi.
bigeaten, 160.
bigiten, 142, 166, 339, to get, gain, obtain; pr.
bigit, 66, 142 ; bigite'S, 196, 286; p. biget,
160, 302 ; A.S. begitan, to get, redeem.
biguled, 268, beguiled; A.S. begalian, to enchant.
bihalt, 214, 222, 2i8, 258, beholds; A.S. beheal-
dan.
bihaten, 6, f. bihoten, 6. 410, to vow, promise,
command, call; pr. bihat, 6; bihote'S, 430; p.
bihet, 176, 226, 298, 310, 342, 412; pp.
bihoten, 182, 196, 198; A.S. behatan, beha-
tian, id.
bihefdunge, 184, beheading; A.S. beheafdung.
biheste, 208, a command.
biheue, 106, 124, 158, 176, 230, 386, 400, 430,
behoof, pirofit, advantageous; biheuest, 298,
most serviceable; A.S. behefe, id.
bihoue, 70, 90, 134, 342, v. biheue,
bihouede, 394, it behoved, wets necessary ; A.S. be-
hofan.
bihud, 100, concealed; A.S. behyd, hydan.
bikumen, 350, pr. pi. iecoHie; p.p. bicumen, 340.
bile, AS. 84, 118, beak, bill,
hilemie, faith, belief; A.S. leafan, to believe.
bileaue, 424, may remain, bileaue'S, 360, re-
maineth ; A.S. belifan, to remain.
bileauen, 340, to leave, leave off, forsake; pr.
bileaue'S, 232; sub. pr. bileaue, 240; p.
bileaued, 250; bilefde, 372, 232; bilefden,392;
bileueden, 106; pp. bileaued, 168, 314;
i-leaued, 168; imp. bileaue'S, 166; bilef, 102,
232, 356; A.S. la;fan, to leave.
bileoue, 16S, food; A.S. bigleofa, id.
bilepped, 100, lapped, u-rapped up.
bilimeS, 360, disiiiembereth ; A.S. lim, a limb.
biloke^, 132, looketh, bilokin, 132, h. to look ;
A.S. locian, id.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
437
biloken, 160, bilokene, 104, 210, 226, «/i«Y «^j,
included; A.S. belucan, id.
bilowen, Q%, falsely accused; A.S. belogen, h'elied.
bimased, 270, beicildered,
bilurd, bilurt, 280, c, deceived; A.S. belyrted,id.
bineoSen, 304, 390, beneath; A.S. beneoSan, id.
binimen, 194, 414, to deprive, take awaii, pr,
binimeS, 120, 132, 324; A.S. beniman,'id.
bint, G, 408, hindeth ; A.S. bindan, to hind.
bipenned, 94, confined; A.S. pyndan, to shut in.
bipiled, \A^?>, jieeled ; Fr. peler, bipiliunge, 150,
peelinr/.
bireafde, 102, e, bereaved; pr. bireauecS, 120 ;
A.S. bereafian.
bireined, 344, wet with rain; A.S.renian, to rain.
bireaunesse, 66, compassion ; A.S. berywan, to be
sorry.
bireousunge, 164, 20S, B06,Z68,Z7 2, repentance,
compunction, contrition; A.S. bereowsung.
birlen, 114, to 2)ovr ozit, j)l>J '<'*'/' drink-; pr.
birle'S, 226 ; A.S. birlian, id.; Sc. to birl, id.
bisaumple'5, 88, p.p. bisaumpled, 316, moralize,
excuse, palliate.
bisawe, 88, common saying, proverb; A.S. sscgan,
to say.
bisechen, 234, to beseech; bisouht, 234 ; bisouh-
ten, 230 ; A.S. gesecan.
bisemare, 132, 248, 270, 414, scorn, disgrace,
contempt; A.S. bismer.
bisemede, 148, seemed: Fr. sembler.
bisenchen, 400, to sink , pp. bisencte, sunk ; A.S.
besencan.
biseon, A.S. 132, 202, 344, to look to,look after ;
■ pr. biseo'S.
biset, 58, 300, 306, 378, 390, beset, besieged,
guarded, fenced ; A.S. besettan.
bisie, 84, 252, 386, bisi, 142, 258, assiduous,
busy; A.S. bisig.
bisegure, 182, busier ; bisischipe, 384, activity,
diligence.
bisiliche, 146, busily.
bismeoruwed, 214, besmeared; A.S. smeoni,
grease.
bismitted, 214, bismuddet, bismu"5eled, 214, g.
besmutted ; A.S. be.smitan, to soil.
bismurlet, 214, h. v. bismeoruwed.
bisocne, 78, c. 376, request, intreaty,p)rayer ; A.S.
gesecan.
bisparre'5, 94, 1. v. sperren.
bista'Sed, 264, circumstanced, situated; Sc. bested.
bisteken, 62, v. steken.
bistepped, 174, stepj^ed; A.S. bestsepan, to step.
bistonden, 264, beset.
bispeteS, 288, pr. bespitteth; bispet, 122, S2nt upo7i;
A.S. spajtan, to spit.
biswdken, 224, to deceive, betray, seduce; pr.
biswikeS, 194, 208; sub. pr. bisvvike, 174;
pp. biswiken; A.S. beswican, id,
biswincfule, 188, toilsome.
bit, V. bidden,
bitechen, 300, to deliver up, give in charge, in-
trust; pp. biteiht, 166, 310, biteih, 20S; A.S.
betaecan.
bitellunge, 392, excuse; A.S. teallan.
biten, 364, 376, 380, to bite, taste; pr. bit, 166 ;
A S. bitan.
biteon, 398, to commit, bestow, employ, pr. sub.
biteo, 404, Lag.; A.S. betaecan.
bitiden, 278, betide, befall, MS. Oxon. allocare.
bitime'S, 324, 340, kajjjyeneth ; A.S. getimian.
bitochen, 340, to signify, denote ; pr. bitocne^,
170, 300, 326; p.p. bitocned, 300, 374; sub.pr,
bitocnie; A.S. getaenian.
bitocnunge, 308, signification.
bitowen, 430, employed, v. biteon.
bitrappet, bitreppet, 174, d, stepped ; G. treppe ?
a stair, stejis.
bitrufle'S, 106, beguUeth; O.Fr. trufler, medire,
mentir.
bitune'S, 176, appears to be an error in the MS.
for bitimeS, in MS. Oxon. accidit, betideth.
bitterliche, 364, bilttrl./ ; A.S. biterlice.
bituned, 164, bitund, 76, 126, 140, 170, bitune«,
94 , an error for bituned, shut «^j, shut in ; A. S.
betynan.
biturn,394, imp. turn; p.p. biturnd, 388, turned;
A.S. betyrnan.
betweonen, 366, bitwhwe, 204, bitwlien, 358,
hefti-fcH, among; A.S. betwynan.
biS, 252, is.
bi'SeneheS, 324, thinks, meditates ; pp. be^ouht,
342, sub. p. bi'Souhte, A.S. be'Sencan.
bi'SuncheS, 346, secmeth good.
biualleS, 296, 344; A.S. befeallan, to befal,hapipen.
biuon, 76, to contain ; A.S. befon, id.
biuoren, 190, 240, hfore.
biwenden, 306, to turn; pr. biwent, 132; AS.
bewendan, id.
biwepen, 108, 156, to veep, lament; p. biweoj),
278 ; A.S. bewepan, id.
biwesten, 232, in the west.
biwrabbet, 260, a, biwrabled, 260, suathed ;
MS. Oxon. involutus.
bivvrenche'S, 92, sub. pr. biwrenclie, 224 ; A.S.
bewrencan, to cheat.
hbKTiexi,26'2, covered, hidden; A.S.wrigan, tocover.
biwTixled, 310 ; biwrixlet, 262, e, transformed;
A.S. wrixlian, to change, t7-ansform,
biwunnen, 228, won, taken.
hiwust, lOi, guarded ; A.S. bewitan.
438
GLOSSAKIAL INDEX.
blac, A.S. 234, blake, 282, blacl:
blase, 254, brand.
blasie, 296, 400, 426, blaze; A.S. blajse.
ibleched, 324, bleached; A.S. bliiecan.
bledde, 258, bled; A.S. bledan.
bleddre, 282, bladder; A.S. blsedr.
blenchen, 276, to shrink, start aside; pr. blenched,
242,
bles, 82, 242, 296, a blast, storm ; A.S. blsest.
bliscen, 360, blescien, 354, to rejoice, glory, be
happy; imp. blesce, 290, blescie'5, 358; A.S.
blissian.
blikien, 362, shine ; A.S. blikan.
blisse, 192,_/oii/; A.S. blis.
blindfellede, 106, blindfolded; AS. blind-feal-
dan.
blindt'ellunge, 188, blindfolding.
bli'Se, 348, blithe, glad.
bliSeliche, 68, 100, 412, blithely, gladly; A.S.
bli'Selice.
bloamon, 236, negro.
bloawen, 210, to blow; blowe'S, 256, lloweth
up ; A.S. blawan, id.
bloc, 332, livid, 2Kde ; A.S. blsece.
blodbendes, 420 .»
blodeke, 418, ra, draw blood; A.S. blodgeotan,
to shed blood.
blod-letene, 260, bleeded ; blodletunge, 114,
blood-letting
blostme, 192, bloom, blossom ; pi. blostmen, 276 ;
A.S. blostma.
i-boeked, recorded, foretold ; A.S. gebocod, id, ;
gebocian, to record.
bo, 396, boa, 212, both.
boc, A.S. 172, 376, a book.
bode, 400, an offer.
bodied, 212, to declare, foretell ; A.S. bodian.
boistes, O.Fr. 226, a. boxes.
boluwe'S, 214, boleSe'S, bolhes, 214, e, disqwieteth,
vexeth; A.S. bolgan, belgan, indignari.
bone, 222, bane, ruin; A.S. bana.
bone, 1, 170, 376, a prayer, request, boon; pi.
bonen, 142, 152, 170 ; A.S, ben, bene, « j;e^4-
tio7i.
i-boren, 158, born; A.S. beran, to bear.
i-borenesse, 158, time of birth, being born.
i-boruvven, 8, 162, i-boruwun, 314, saved, re-
deemed; A.S. geborgen.
bote, 88, 430, amendment, remedy; pi. botcn,
120, 364, b. A.S. bot.
botte, 366, a staff; A.S. batt.
bouh, bowe, 150, bough, branch, pi. bowes, 336,
416; A.S. boga, boh.
breade, 102, breadth, extent; A.S. braid,
brech, 420, drai'-ers; A.S. broc, pi. bnec.
breden, 222, to thrust forcibly; MS. Oxon. ^j>-o-
sternere.
bref, 122, g. a writing.
breid up, 280, catch hold of, throw v,p; breide^
up, 252; Sc. to braid up, to toss, or carry the
head high, as a high-mettled horse does. —
Jamieson.
breiden, to braid, j^l'-'-'U 124, 270, pr. breideS,
236 ; A.S. bredan.
i-breinde, 92, b, sptread out, dispersed; A.S.
gebredan.
breken, 418, to use, be used; pp. i-broken; A.S.
bruean, id.
breoste, 230, the breast,
breres, 276, breares, 418, briars,
brerde, 324, brink; A.S. brerd.
bret, 200, breeds; A.S. bredan, to breed.
brihteS, 384, brighteneth; A.S. beorhtian.
brihtliohe, 154, clearly; A.S. brihtliee.
briddes, G6, birds; A.S. bird, brid.
broche, 420, a broach.
brod, 102, ojjen; A.S. brad,
brokes, 258, streams; A.S. broea, rimdus.
brondes, 368, 426, brands, fuel; A.S. brand,
ibroulit, 144, brought; p, brouhten, 114 ; A.S.
bringan, to bring,
bruch, 164, bruche, 6, 378, breach, breaking;
A.S. bryce.
bruchele, com. bruchelure, 164, brittle; A.S.
brecan, to break.
brugge, 242, a bridge.
bruken, 202, 302, to use, enjoy ; A.S. bruean.
bruch, 38, use,fruits, pi. bruchen, 28; A.S. broee.
brude, 164, a bride; A.S. bryd.
brune, 104, 182, 206, 254, 268, fire, flame;
o brune, 296, 426, on fire.
brunie, 382, a cuirass; A.S. byrna;Teut. brunia.
buc, 134, e. body. v. buke.
buffeteden, li)6, gace blows; O.Fr. buffe, a blow.
buggen, 208, 362, 376, to buy; pr. bu«, 148,
150, 374, bugge'5, 190 ; p'. bouhten, 376 ;
pr. sub. bugge, 248, 398; p.p. i-bouht, 398 ;
A.S. byegan.
buggung, 362, bune, 362, b. buying.
buhsum, 356, obedient; A.S. bocsam; Ct. boug-
sam, buxom,
buine, 368, bought; MS. Oxon. nmnditia non
ematur.
buke, 132, 134, body; Sc, bouk ; A,S, buce, the
belly; pi. buken, Lag. ; Germ, bauch; Isl,
biikr ; Sw. buk.
bulen, bulten, 366, d, bultes, c. rebounds, bolts.
i-bunden, 254, 310, bound.
bunsen, 188, buncin, 188, e, to beat, punch; in
the Lancashire dialect, jjwws.
GLOSSAHIAL I^TDEX.
439
buwen, to botp, incline, bend, yield; pr. buh'S,
130, 198, 288, 402, beie«, 266, p, beih, 78,
304; imp. buh ; pr. p. buinde; A.S. bu-
gan, id.
bur, A.S. 34, 102, hover.
burde, 158, burSe, 158, b, birth; A.S. gebyrd.
buruh, 54, 246, 300, a cily, town; pi. buruhwes,
246; A.S. burh.
buruhmen, 350, citizens.
buruwen, 336, protect, give security or bail; A.S.
borgian.
bustes, 225, boxes; A.S. buxa pi.; O.Fr. boistes.
bute, 140, 230, 398, 412; buten, 238,418, vnth-
out, except, only.
buuen, 156, 244, 304, 362, 390, above.
caft, V. keft.
cader, 82, h, a cradle.
cakele'S, 88. v. kakelen.
caliz, 284, 418, chalice; Lat. calix.
cang, 62, 270; kang, 56, 196, 358; canh, 56, n;
can gun, cbang, 62, a; cbanh, 358, a, foolish,
fo7-n'ard, rash, inconsiderate; pi. canges, 196, d.
'214; kanges, 362.
cangede, /oo^/«A y changes, 362, e. fools.
cangliche, 56. froirardly; kangschipe, 338,
kanhsehipe, 338, h. folly, absurdity; G- kuhn,
hold; O.G. kuin, wanton.
cancre, 330, eauncre, 98, a ranJcling sore; Lat.
cancer.
c&\\e9,,\b'i, cellars, storehouses; A.S. cellas; O.Fr.
celles.
charoines, iA:, flesh, carrion; O.Fr. caroigne.
chasten, 218, 268, to chastise, correct, rehtike; pr.
chaste'S, 184; imp. chasti, 70; O.Fr. chastier.
chaumberling, 410, chamberlain.
cheafle, 72, 90, chefle, 76, cheuelunge, 100, idle
or trifling tall.
chette'5, 128, cheofle^, chattereth, talketh idly;
A.S. ceaf, chaff; ceafl, the jaw or clieek. To
chaff, is still used in Lincolnshire in the same
sense.
cheape'S, pr. 190, 290, 418 ; pr. sub. cheape ;
A.S. ceapian, to buy or sell, to cheajpen.
cheapild, 418, a trafficker.
cheaste, 200, strife, contention; A.S. ceast, id.
cheateren, 152, to chatter; pr. cheatere'5, 152,
pr. p. cheaterinde, 152.
chef, 270, 272, chaff; A.S. ceaf, id.
cheffare, 310, 418', bargaining, traffic; A.S. ceap
cheoken, 70, 106, 156, cheeks; A.S. ceoea.
cheorl, S6, « churl ; A.S. ceorl ; So. carle,
cheosen, 370, to choose; imp. cheose, 406; pp.
i-phosen; A.S. eeosan.
cheouwe'S, 80, 84, cheveth; A.S. ceowan.
cheping, 88, 206, a market ; A.S. ceapung.
chepmon, 418, chapman.
chetel, 224, chattels, goods.
chere, 344, a face, countenance, wry face; pi.
cheres, 210.
cherite, cherte, 408, Fr. charite, love, charity.
cherre, 36, 84, 324, a time, a turn; summe-
cherre, sometimes ; one cherre, 3*14, once ; A.S,
cyrre, cerre.
childene, 242, f. childish, like children.
chirche, 418, 420, church ; chircheie, 318, church-
yard; MS. Oxon. cimeterium; A.S. cyricea.
chirmen, 150, to chirp; pr. chirme^, 150; A.S.
cyrman ; Sc. to chirm.
chulde, 186, i. e. ich schulde, I should.
chuUe, 1, 12, 256, ich wule.
claurede, 102, clachte, clahte, 102, b. seized,
clutched. V. cleafres.
cleafres, 102, claws, cliuers,'v. r. cleures;
Ich habbe bile stef an stronge,
An gode cliuers, scharpe an longe.
Oirl and Nightingale, 270.
cleches, 176, d. v. clokes.
clene, 154, clean, jrure; A.S. clcene.
clengi, 120, d; A..S. cla?nsian, to cleanse.
clennesse, YQ'^, pturity; A.S. elaennes.
clense'5, 236, purifieth; clensing, 228, purifying.
cleopien, 26i). to call, invite; pr. cleope'S, 58, 102,
132, 306, clepe'S, 98; pi. cleopie'S. 372; p.
cleopede, 208; p. sub. cleopie; A.S. cleopan.
cleppe, 70, clapper; A.S. clappan, to clap.
cleppe, 72, noisy and unreasonable talking; A.S.
cleopan.
clokes, 102, 130, 176, d, Itooks, clutches; Sc. cleiks.
climben, 140, 162, to climb, mount up); pr.
climbeS, 354; im. pi. clumben, 244; p. clomb,
354; p.p. i-clumben, 216, 276; A.S. climban.
clou de gilofre, 370, cloves.
clotte, 254, a clod.
clo^inde, 16, pr. p. clothing; A.S. cla"5, cloth.
cluppen, 424, to embrace; pr. eluppeb", 230; pr.
sub. cluppe, 288 ; A.S, clyppan.
cluppunge, 324, an embrace; pi. cluppunges,
396.
clut, 256, a clout, a piatch; pi. clutes, 260, clouts;
A.S. clut.
clutie, 256, pr. sub. may patch,
cneoleS, 18,imp. ^•«('c/; cneolinde, 122, kneelijig.
cnoulechunge, 92, knowledge.
i-cnowen, 232, 250, 276, toknov: ; pr. i-cnowe'S,
20i, knoiceth; pp. i-cnowen, 64, Z-wotrwy A.S.
cnavvan, to knotv.
cnowunge, 280, knoicing, consciousness.
con, 18, 24, 206, knows, is able; A.S. cunnan.
440
GLOSSAPJAL INDEX.
cop, 424, a, cope, 56, a ccq^, a cope; A.S. cop,
casppe.
coppe, 228, coping; A.S. cop, top.
corbin, 84, a raven; Fr. corbeau ; So, corby,
i-coren, 160, i-corene, 28, 160, 182, 198, 234,
282, 348, elect, chosen; i-cured, 56, b. ; p.
cure ; p.p. gecoren ; A.S. ceosan, to choose.
cos V. cus.
cos, cosse, 102, \^i,akiss; pi, cosses, 102, 256,
V. kussen.
costnede, 290, cost; G. kosten, to cost.
coue, 66, chough; A.S. ceo; Isl. kofa.
couer, 140, e. valiant, v. cwiuer.
cradel, 82, 260, a cradle; A.S. cradel.
i-craued, 2, a, ashed, craved; A.S. crafian, to era ve.
creaunt, 288, cravent, an acknovAedgment of
defeat,
crecche, 260, manger; Fr. creche,
creoiz, 18, creoix, 346, a cross; a creoix, in form
of a cross.
i-creoiced, IS, having made the sign of the cross.
creop, 292, imp. creep; AS. creopan.
crie, 186, imp. cry; Fr. crier.
crochie'S, 146, g. ?
crocke, 214, a jii^cher, a pot; A.S, crocca.
crokes, 102, d. 174, 268, hooks, clutches, strata-
gems; Fr. croc, a hook.
croppe'S,86,pr.j(jrwwe,cro;;5; D. krappen, to cutoff,
i-crucket, 18, d. crossed.
crume, 342, crumb
crune, 196, a crovni; i-cruned, 234, crowned.
cubbel, 140, a cobble ?
cueard, 288, f. a coward; Fr. couard.
cul, 128, a stroke.
cuUe, 126, pr. sub. strike.
culche'S, culches, 88, a. v. gulche'S.
culed, 66, 1. culled, chosen.
culuert, O^Fr. perfidious.
cumpelie, 22, 24, 428, compline.
cunde, 120, 126, 140, 156, kind, sort, nature;
A.S. cynd, cund.
eunne, 358, kind, sort, kindred; A S. cynne.
cunnen, 280, to know; p. cunnede, 114 ; cu'Sest,
280 ; kuSen, 72 ; pr. sub. cuiine, 280 ; kunne,
108 ; pp. icud, 64 ; cu'5'5et, i-cu^5et, 64, i. ;
A.S. cunnan, to know.
curnles, 260, grains of corn,
cus V. kussen.
custel, 140, b. a clog?
cu'S V. ku'S.
cu'Sredne, 170, a. intimacy.
cu'S'Singe, 68, a. acquaintance, intimacy.
cuueiten, 60, to desire, covet; pp. i-cuueited, 60,
g ; Fr. convoiter.
cwaer, 248, a hook.
cwakien, 116, to quake; AS. cwacian.
cwalm huse, liO, prison; A.S. cwealm, death.
cwalmsteou, 106,2}lace of execution; A.S. cweahn-
stow.
cweade, 72, 336, evil, filth, wickedness ; A.S.
cwead.
cweadschipe, 310, 422, wickechies, iniquity; pi.
cweadschipes, 128, 322, 298.
cweise, 328, a sore, wound; A.S. cwysan, to crush,
bruise; Swed. qvasa, to wound.
cwemen, 138, 192, to please, gratify, pr.
cweme'S, 338, 360; A.S. cweman.
ieweme, 120, 146, B70, pleasing; A.S.gecweme.
cwene, A.S. 88, 170, 296, 336, a woman, an old
woman, a queen.
cwe'5, 122, 234, 338, spoke, said; A.S. cwiSan,
to spieak, sai/.
cwic, AS. 112, 310; cwike, 170, 332, n. cwikes,
alive, living, lively, fervent; com. cwickure,
112, more sensitive.
cwicUche, 246, cpdckly, actively ; com. cwicluker.
cwide, A.S. 208, a legacy.
cwidde'S, 147, saith; A.S. ewiddigan, to sp)ea,k.
cwint, cwoint, v. kointe.
cwitaunce, V26, p)ayment; Fr. quittance,
cwite, 6, 46, 192, freed, excused, acquitted; Fr.
quite,
cwiuer, 140, hold, valiant; O.Fr. cuivers, cruel.
dachge, dasche, 118, b. dash, strike 1
dangerus, 108, domineering; O.Fr. dangereux,
dedaigne^ix.
daunger, 356, 380, arrogance, insolence, dange-
rium, id. Du Cange.
dawes, 190, 342, 394, days; A.S, dah, dag, a day.
dawe'S, 352, dairneth.
dawunge, 20, daini; A.S. dagung.
deale, 276, 286, 362, dele, 276, c. ?
dealen, v. delen.
deales, 282, dales.
dearneschipe, 152, e. privacy.
deadlicness, 382, likeness of death.
debonere, O.Fr. 186, kind, good, amiable.
debonerte, 390, kindness, cheerfulness.
dedbote; 206, 348, 372, penance, amendment;
AS. dted, deed, bote, betan, to amend,
de'Sliche, 394, deadly.
deien, 38, 342, to die; p. deijede, 110, deieden,
310.
deih, 260, 420, ought,must; A.S. digian, dugan.
deinte, 412, dainty; O.Fr. dain.
del, 276, a piart, share.
delen, 28, 38, 248, dealen, 224, 400, to divide,
share, impart ; pr. dele^, 368 ; p. dealede,
GL08SARIAL INDEX.
441
248; imp. Jele, 302; pp. i-deled, 204; A.S.
daelan, id.
delices, Fr. 368, pleasures.
delit, 102, 272, 288, delight, fondness, desire;
O.Fr. delit, yoi'e, ^^amV,
demare, 286, 428, 306, a judge.
demen, 118, 120, 346, io judge; pr. deme'5, 304;
p. demde, 306, 332; pr. sub, deme, 306; imp.
dem, 290; pp. i-demed, 170, 314, condemned;
A.S. deman.
demeore, 242, imp. tarn/; Fr. demeurer.
deofle, Si, devil; pi. deoflen, 232; A.S. deofl.
deopeS, 288, peneirateth.
deopliche, 154, deeply; A.S. deoplice.
deores, 196, deer''s.
deore, 392, 408; deorre, 392, dear; com. deorre,
190, 392, dearer.
deorling, A.S. 56, 336, deorlinge, 230, darling;
AS. derling.
deoruwurSe, 38, 112, 250, precious.
deoruwur^liche, 410, u-orthibj.
deosc, 24, deosk, 148, dim, obscure; A.S. J>eostre,
ohsimre
depeint, 396, painted.
der, 306, 346, dare.
derf, 80, 106, 180, ZM, pain, hardship; A.S.
daru, hurt.
derfe, 38, d. 112, c painful.
derfliche, painfuXlg, sorely.
derful, 348, strict, hard; A.S. deorfan.
derne, 90, 94, 96, 154, 220, 250, 330, secret,
hidden, unseen, retired; A.S. dearnunga,
secretly.
derneliche, 146, 282, 416, privately, secretly,
invisibly.
derneluker, 128, more secretly.
deruen, 382, to inflict 2Min, distress; pr. derue'S,
112, 223, 404; pr. sub. derue, 232; pp.
i-doruen, 106, i-derued, 106, 192, Mirt; A.S.
deorfan.
despuiled, 260, spoiled, strippted.
dettes, 126, debts; dettur, 312, a debtor.
deu le set, 268, 382; dewleset, 258, a.
dich, 246, ditch; A.S. die.
diete, 112, diet.
dimluker, 210, less distinctly, less loudly.
discepline, 29 i, flagellation.
disches, 214, dishes.
ditten, 82, e. stoj) up; A.S. dyttan; Be. to ditt,
id.
doddunge, 14, 14, c. tonsure.
i-dodded, 422, cropped, shorn, clipped.
dole, 10, 112, 116, 342, 414, part, division,
deal; pi. dolen, 10, 276; A.S. dsel.
dolk, 1, a scar, wound-tnark; A.S. dolg.
CAMD. SOC. 3
doluene, i-doluene, 292, delved, dug into; A.S.
delfan, to dig.
dom, A.S. 118, 306, doom, judgment; pi. domes,
decrees, counsels.
domesdei, 188, doomsday, day of judgment.
domesmon, 156, judge.
dom-stol, 306, seat ofjudgmeiit.
don, A.S. 16, 128, 148, to do; pr. do, 200,
do'5, 426, dest, 124, deS, 174, 184, 236, 248;
p. dude, 102, 110, 314, 370, dudest, 306,
duden, .330; p p. i-don, 316, 320.
idoTuen, 106, Joined; A.S. gedyrfed, deorfan.
doteS, 120, c. Dut. doten, to dote.
dotie, 224, dotes, becomes foolish, v. adotede.
douht*r, 258, daughter; A.S. dohter.
drake, 246, a dragon.
drauh'5, 118, 122, draweth, teareth, i. e. with tlie
plough; A.S. draeg^, dragan, id.
drawen, 160, to draw; p. drouh, 102, drowen,
110, 112, drew, dragged; A.S. drog, drogon.
dreame, 210, 214, sound; A.S. dream, melody.
dreamen, 430, to utter sweet sounds.
dreaue, 264, f. drive, 7-out, imp.
drede, 428, dread; A.S. drsed.
dreden, to dread; pr. drede^, 222 ; pr. sub.
dreden, 428.
dredful, 302, with fear; dredliche, 58, ten-ible.
dreori, 106, 274, dull, listless, dreary; A.S.
dreorig ; MS. Oxon. funestus.
drien, 80, 112, 134, to endure, safer; pr. drie'S,
348, 358, 376,430; drih'5, 356"'; p. dreih, 136,
354; pr. sub. drie, 80; A.S. dreogan; Sc.
dree, id.
drif, 274, imp. drive; pr. driuest, 230; pr. p.
driuende, 244, driving.
drihtenes, 430, the Lord''s.
drinken, 238, to drink; pr. drinke'5; p. drone,
3d4; drinkares, 216, drunkards.
driwerie, 250, 330, a love-token, affection, gal-
lantry.
dropmele, 282; A.S. drop-maslum, by drops.
druie, 276, dry.
drunche, 342, drink; pi. drunehes, 364 ; drunch,
114, 238, a d'dnk.
druncnie, pr. sub. should drown; p. adronc,
drowned; A.S. adrencan.
druncwile, drunkensome, 216, d, a drunkard.
drupie, 88, sad, melancholy; Dut. droevig.
due, 300, leader.
dulte, 292, dulle, 292, c blunt.
dulue, 384, im. sub. did. delve; p. duluen, 292,
delved.
dune, 376, mountain, pi. dunes, 380; A.S. dun.
dunt, 60, 200, 274, 284, 366, a blow, dint,
stroke; pi. duntes, 284; A.S. dynt, id.
442
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
durren, 128, pr. sub. dare.
dusi, 208, dusie, 190, 222, foolish; A.S, dysig,
dusig, id.
dusigest, 182, mostfoolisli; dusischipe, 1S2, foil//.
dvsten, 212, to toss.
duste'S, 314, is dusty.
dute, 220, 344, douht, fear; dute'S, 244,
doidilcth, fearetk.
dutten, 82, to stoi) mjj; p. pi. dutten, 106, 314;
imp. dute, 106; A.S. dytan; He. ditt, id.
duue'S, 282, diveth; A.S. dippan, id.
dweole, 62, 204, 354, error, delusion; A.S.
dwola, id.
a-dweole'S, 224, o-dweole, 224, c. having lost
one''s way; A.S. dwolian, to err.
eadi, 28, 146, 308, eadie, 142, 154, 156, 244,
356, Messed, pious, good, haiypy, A.S. eadig.
eadiliclie, 328, ha-ppily; A.S. eadiglic.
eadinesse, 28, blessedness,
eadmodie'S, 278, a, imp. make hmrMe.
eadwiten, 212, to blame, find fault, twit,
eaise, 114, satisfaction, taste; O.Fr. aaise.
eanes, 256. i, once.
ear, 268, 388, before; arre, 14, a. former;
eareste, 48, b, erest, 3S0, 388, /»■«<•
earde, 358, earth, soil, land,
earen, 90, ears.
earewen, 60, 294, arrows; A.S. arewe.
earm, 112, arm; pi. earmes, 394; A.S. earm.
earnes, A.S. 196, eagles.
eart, 134, a. hard.
eastres, 296, e.
eaubruche, 204, adultery; A.S. sewbrece.
ea'S, 62, d. ea^e, 276, 402, easy, easily.
eax, A.S. 128, 384, axe.
ec, 230, ever, always; A.S. eca. *
ec, 168, 236, 240, also; A.S. eac.
eche, 282, 326, 360, 370, aeke, 348, ache,2Min;
A.S. ece, ace.
eche, 108,116, 196, 208, 216, 362,428, eternal;
A.S. ece, eca, id.
echen, 124, 260, 270, 346, to increase, add to;
pr. eehe'S, 44, 236; pr. sub. echi; A.S. ecan,
eacan.
echenesse, 144, 430, eternity; A.S. ecenys, id.
ecbge, 98, c. axe ?
ed, 368, at, from.
eddre, 258, a vein.
edmode, 118, 158, 302, meek, humhle, gentle;
A.S. eadmod.
edmodie, humble, " ]>e edmodies monnes bonen |
J>urle'5 )»e weolcne," 246-
edmodliche, 94, 114, meekly, humbly, jjatiently;
A.S. eadmodlice.
edmodnesse, 8, 158,246, 268, meekness, humility ;
A.S. eadmodnes.
edwit, A.S. 108, re^woach, blame, taunts.
edwite, pr, sub. 426, find fault -with; A.S.
edwitan.
edgan, 390, c. to viin i
efne, 1, 372, even, level, equal, reasonable; A.S.
sefen.
efne, 12Q,poiver, ability.
efne'5, pr. 132, 182, compareth; p. efnede, 126,
142 ; pp. i-efned, 142, 150, 298, 348, 372; A.S.
sefen, equal.
efning, 408, efnunge, 334, an equal, equal.
after, 126, after, according to.
egede, 282, stupid; MS. Oxon. stolida.
eggen, 146, to incite, instigate; pr. egge'S, 168,
196, 222; pr. sub. eggi; A.S. eggian, id.
eggunge, 82, instigating , egging.
ei, 64, 202, 382, eie, 202, 428, eni, 202, 382,
any; A.S. eni.
eie, 62, the eye; pi. eien, 64; A.S. eag.
eie, fear, terror; A.S. ege.
eift'ule, 190, awful; A.S. ege-ful.
eihte, 202, 204, 214, 222, 274, 324, 416, pro-
perty, p>ossessions , goods, wealth, sheep, cattle;
A.S. sebt.
eihteo'Se, 236, eighth.
eil, 62, eile, 50, evil, harm; pi. eilen, 270,
tporthless refuse; A.S. egle, yfel.
eilen, 276, to hurt, cause ^min, suffer; pr. eile^,
180, 352, 356; pr. sub. eilie; A.S. adlian, to
ail.
eil-^urles, 62, evil-^rinclows.
eiren, 66, eggs; A.S. seg, an egg; pi. tegeru;
Germ, ey; pi. eyer.
eise, 20, 108, 128, 180, 192, 288, 430, ease,
abundance, leisure, easy, at leisure; Fr. aise,
aise.
eisih^e, 118, 306, eye-sight.
eisil, 402, vinegar.
ei'Surles, 62, 80, eyes; A.S. eag-'Syrl, eye-windov;.
ek, eke, 240, also, v. ec.
eke, 360, pr. sub. ache; ekinde, 360, aching.
el, 324, an av}l; A.S. sele.
elde, 342, 318, old age, age.
elles, A.S. 256, otherwise, not as it should be,im-
properly.
elmesse, 222, 224, 414, a^m^; A.S. aslmesse.
elne, 106, 108, 180, 228, 230, 406, comfort, en-
couragement, suppiort; A.S. ellen.
elnen, 10, to comfort; A.S. elnian.
elpi, 116, 296, 324, single; A.S. ajlpig.
elSeodi, J>eodi, 348, h. foreigners; A.S. ell'Seodig.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
443
embreued, 344, recorded.
empti, 156, empty, vacant; A.S. semtig.
endeleas, A.S. 146, e7idless.
enden, 102, to end; pr. sub. endie, 146, sho%(kl
terminate; A.S. endian.
enes, 70, 234, 344, 428, once; A.S. ssne, id.
engles, 102, angels; g. pi. englene, 30, 92, 384;
A.S. engel,
enigmatice, 34, mysteriously.
eniunge, 346, e. v. angeonni.
enne, 236, a, one.
ennui, 94, g. annoyance, trouble; O.Fr. anoi, id.
entremeten, 414, to intermeddle; pr. entermete'S,
172, 174, entremete'S, 198; O.Fr. entre-
metre, id.
code, 52, 152, 260, 318; pi. eoden, 128, 220,
370, went; p. of gon, to go; A.S. gan; p.
code, id.
eoli, 320, 428, oil; A.S. tel.
eorne, 44, earnestly; A.S. georne.
eornen, 74, 86, to rtin; pr. eorne^, 42, 80, 332,
360; p. urnen, 112, 188, ran; A.S. yrnan,
id.
eorre, A.S. 116, f. 304, angry; A.S. yrrc, id.
eor^ene, 388, earthen.
eor'Se-tilien, 414, tillers of the ground.
eppele, 52, apjile; A.S. aeppel.
er, 370, before, rather.
erede, 384, ploiced.
erende, 38, b. ernde, 38; imp. earn, frocv^re;
A.S. sernian.
eresie, 82, heresy.
ereste, 8, erest,"220, 258, 2^i, first; A.S. oere,
serest.
erinde, 246, errand, message.
erinde-bere, 60, messenger; A.S. serend, beran.
erliche, 20, 204, early ; A.S. asrlice.
erm, 258, an arm; pi. ermes, 402 ; A.S. earm.
eniedliche, 328, with difficulty; A.S. erte'5.
erue'S, 108, 254, difficidt; A.S. erfe^, id.
eruh, 274, 288, 296, u-eaJc, timid; A.S. earh.
ertu, 236, art thou.
escusen, 304, a. to excuse.
eskebach, 214, b.; v. askeba'Sie.
este, 220, 364, 368, abundance, self-indulgence,
luxury; A.S. est, id.
esten, 232, the east.
estful, A.S. 108, 134, dainty, fastidious; com.
estfulre, 108.
estliche, 204, daintily, fastidiously.
et, 416, at, from; ette, 304, 376, at the.
etbreken, 172, to break loose; p. etbrec, 48; A.S.
brecan, to break.
etene, 416, to eat; A.S. etan, id.
etfleon, 390, to escape, flee away; pr. etflihS;
pr. sub. etfleo, 50; p.p. etflowen, 48; etfluwen,
172; A.S. setfleon, id.
etforen, 226, before.
etholden, 208, 278, 398, to retain, withhold; pr.
ethalt, 246,282,374,386; p.p. etholden; A.S.
healdan, to hold.
etlutien, 400, to withdraw, lurk, hide; pr. etIute'S,
316; A.S. lutian.id.
etrineS, 50, toucheth, applieth to; A.S. sethrinan.
etslopen, p.p. 148, gone, glided away; A.S.
slipan, aslupan.
etsterten, 184, 370, to escape; pr. etsterted, 332;
p.p. etstert, 48; A.S. sttert, start, steort, the
rump, taAl; O.G. sterzen; D. steerten, to run
away.
etstondest, 236; etstonde'S, 350; etstont, 348; pr.
etstonde^, 248, 266; imp. A.S. ajtstandan, to
stand still, stop, resist.
euchon, 212, each.
euene?5, 82, compareth.
euentid, 404, eventide.
euere, eauer, ever; euerich, efrieh, euerichne, 4,
214, every.
euerichon, 252, each one.
euesede, 398; p. clipped, croppied; p.p. i-eveset,
422, 1.; A.S. efsian, to shave, to cut off hair.
euesunge, 398, ccipjnugs, 142, eaves. [Thatched
roofs are clipped, or shorn at the eaves.]
e'S, A.S. 62, 194, 274, easy, easily.
e'Scene, 116, 140, 154, 206, 396, apparent, mani-
fest, easily hiozvn, or seen; e'Ssene, 116, a.;
A.S. ea^, easy; cennan, to know; ge-seon, to
see.
e'Sele, 172, native; A.S. relSel, country.
eSelich, 282, slight; e'Seliche, 148, d. 290, easily,
cheaply.
etwited, 70, imp. rep>rove; pr. sub. etwit, 52;
A.S. setwitan, to reprove, chide.
ewarre, 66, aware.
ewt, eawicht, 124, a. any.
faille, pr. sub. 228, a. fail; p. failede, was dis-
appointed.
fairhede, 302, a. adorned, beautified.
falsie, 270, fail; 292. cause to fail.
faltretS, 222, c.flattereth,
fanehes, 194, h.faw7is; A.S. fsegnian, to flatter.
fantesme, 62, vai7i shew; O.Fr. fantosme.
fare's, 214, 218, goeth,fareth; A.S. faran.
feale, 428, e. fail.
fearlae, 320, "ferlac, 306, 322, /ear; A.S. foer, id.
feahes, feage'S, 58, d. belongs; p.p. i-feiget, 90, a.
128, h. joined; A.S. fegan, to Join.
feblesce, 232, ^SO, feebleness.
444
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
fefre, 112, fever; A.S. fefer.
fell, fech, 224, d. feih, 326, cattle, goods, money;
A.S. feoh, id.
feir, 2Q&,fair,2nire.
fel, 250, a cruel,
felde, 318, d./e?«.
fele, 132, a. feole, 320, many.
feolauliche, 276, veolauliche, 38, social.
feolauredden, 114, veolauredden, 38, company;
A.S. folgian, to follow.
ie(Aa.\\Q,2i^, a companion, follower ; pi. feolawes,
238.
feoles, 288, e. feoUe'S, 272, pr. fulleth; p. feolle,
140,/e^;,- A.S. feallan, to fall.
feoleuold, 180, manifold.
feoleware, 364, a follower; A.S. folgere.
feones, 27 2, fiends.
feor, 104, 250,/ar,- feor, 398, afixedj^rice; O.Fr.
feur; Sc. fiar, id.
feorreden, 108, h. a comiuiny.
feorredne, 30, f. fellowship); A.S. fera, a com-
panion.
feorrene, 70, 388, distant, from a distance; A.S.
feorran.
ferde, 264, 296, an army.
fere, 114, 152, 206, 284, 362, ?,^i, a companion,
friend, comrade; pi. feren, 278, 336; A.S.
fera.
ferlich, 362, terrible.
feste, 222, a feast; O.Fr. feste; Lat. festum.
festen, 6, 240, 308, to fast, fasting; p. feste, 160,
vests, 126, festede, 126, e. ; A.S. ftestan, to fast.
fet, 198, 200, pr. feedeth; p. fedde, 260 ; imp.
fed, 104; A.S. fedan, to feed.
fa's, V. fo«.
feSeren, to feather \_as an arroiv'\; p.p. ife'Sered,
204, b., i-ue«'5ered, 204; A.S. fy«er, fa^'Ser,
a feather, fy'Sered.
fe'Sri on, 200, to go on lightly, to glide along.
figelunge, I'd i, flattering.
figer, 148, a fig tree; figes, 8bQ,figs.
fikele,2QS,faic7iing, flattering, crafty; A.S. ficol.
fikelare, 86, vikelare, 84, 86, a flatterer; pi.
fikelares, 84, uikelares, 86.
fikelunge, 82, U, flattering.
fikeles, 84, b. vikele'5, 84, 198, flattereth; pr.p.
ftkeVmde, flattering.
tike's, 206, 220, fawneth,caresseth; pr.p. uikiinde,
256.
finker, 360, a finger; A.S. fineer.
times, 76, a. ivithdratcs; A.S. firra,, farther ?
ti'Seron, 132, a. ue'Seron, l'i2, feathers.
fleehes, 6, flesch, 196, Hesches, g. 180, fleschs,
\\2, flesh; A.S. flesc. id.
tieon, 146, flleogan, A.S. to fly, flee; vleon, 130,
132,134; pr. tieo'S, 132, 360, flih«, 132, 230,
vleo«, 130, vlilvS, 230; p. fleih, 374, tiuwen,
154, tluen, 106, vluwen, 392 ; pr. sub. vleo, 132 ;
im. sub. fluwe, 132; imp. fleo«, 130, vlih, 208,
292, 374 ; pr.p. tleoinde, 1 52, 288, vleinde, 244,
vleoinde', 130; p.p. iflowe, 154, ivlowen, 168.
fleose, 66, a fleece.
fleotinde, 74, lli, floating., flitting; A.S. tleotan.
tleovveden, WO, flowed; A.S. tleowan, to flow.
tlikere'S, 290, flickereth,fluttereth, dangleth; A.S.
tiiccerian.
tloc, A.S. 154, 162, vloe, 154, a flock, company.
tlod-^eten, 72, flood-gates.
fluhte, 248, 29i, flight.
iflured, SiO, flourished.
tlutte, 428, d.; A.S. tleotan, to float, keep above
vmter.
foan, 220, fon, 2Qi, foes.
foddre, ilQ, fodder.
fode, 150, 2lQ,food.
fol, 164, 316, fole. Mi, foolish; fol, 250 [appa-
rently an error for fel, cruel.
fo-men, lOi, foe-men.
fonde'S, 162, 182, tempteth, trieth; p.p. i-fonded,
228, temi^ted; fondunde, 266 [probably an
error ioriondvinge'\,tempting, temptation; A.S.
fandian, to tempit, try.
fondunge, 232, 234, temptation; pi. fondunges,
180.
forbeode, 8, 256, pr. sub.; A.S. forbeodan, to
forbid.
forbernd, 310, p p.; A.S. forbsernan, to burn.
forbuwen, 206, to avoid; pr. forbuwe'5, 380;
A.S. forbugan.
forcwiddares, 212, foretellers.
forcwi'Sinde, 306, a. 7'ep>roving; A.S. forcwe^an,
to rebuke.
forde'S, forces, 364, a. A.S, fyrSrian, to further,
support.
fordede, 394, for^dede, 394, a. a surety; A.S.
for'Sdon, to put forth.
foreward, A.S. 126, 310, 360, an agreement, co-
venant.
forfares, 138, e. foruareS, 138. forfar«, 252,
di(th,2}erisheth; p.p. for'Sfaren; A.S. for'Sfaran,
to die, dejmrt.
forfrete, forfretes, 138, a. 138, d. foruret, 222;
A.S. fretan, to fret, gnatv.
forgelde, 428, pr. sub. reward.
forgeouere, 256, k. one who forgives.
forgiten, 320, to forget; pr. forgite'S, 186; p.
•forgeten, 330; p.p. uorgiten, 124; A.S. for-
gitan.
forgiueS, 2Q, forgiveth; imp. forgif, 96; p.p. for-
giuen, \2A, forgiven.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
445
forgon, 8, to forego, quit, abstain from; pr. for-
ge's, 94, 112; A.S. forgan.
forgnawe^, 338, corrodes; A.S- gnagan, to gnaw.
forgult, 174, b. guilty; A.S. forgyltan, to become
guilt 11,
forhowien, 166, to desjnse; pr. sub. forhoge; A.S.
forhogian, id.
forhuhes, 380, e. [appears to be an error for
forbuhes, passes &;y.]
foridled, 116, of idle habit; A.S. idel.
forkesting, 278, rejecting.
forleosen, 108, 246, to lose, renounce; pr. for-
leose'S, 148, 364; p forlure, uorlure, 310;
p.p. forloren, 146, 300, forlorene, 382, lost
souls; A.S. forleosan, id.
forletan, 406, to 7-elinquish; A.S. forlMtan, id.
forrote'S, 138, becometh putrid; A.S. forrotian, to
rot.
forsake^, 226, rejectcth; A.S. forsaean, to for-
sake.
forsehalded, 246, scalded.
forschuppeS, 120, transformeth ; A.S. forsceoppan.
forstoppe'5, 72, imp. restrain, check.
forswiSande, 306, a; A.S. forswi^e, vehemently.
for'Ser, 204, b./M}-</iCT-?
for'Sinchinge, 110, f. ^)i<y, regret.
for'Si, for'Sui, 56, 234, because, wherefore; A.S.
for \>y.
forworpc'S, 150, casteth off.
forwreied, 172, d. discovered, betrayed.
forwur'Sen, 422, to become, degenerate into, pr.
forwur'Se'S, 64, h. p.p. forwur'Sen; A.S. for-
wur'San, to become nothing, to jwrish.
fostre'S, 296, nourisheth; A.S. fostrian, to nourish.
fostrild, 72, fostir-moder, 72, g. a nurse.
fo^ on, 88, 240, feS on, begins; A.S. anfon, to
begin.
foure, 112, g. a fever.
frames, 126, b. dcth good to.
frechliclie, 222, a ; A.S. freclice, dangerously.
freine'5, 264, asketh, p.p. frcinet, 338, d. asked;
A.S. fregnan, to inquire.
fremde, 110, e. a stranger; So. fremd, strange,
foreign.
free, 370, /rce, noble.
freome, 124, b. freomeS, 126, b. froerae'S, 186,
doth good; A.S. fremman, to benefit.
freolae, 222, 240, 286, candour, liberality.
fretewil, 128, d. ravenous; A.S. fretal.
fret, 128, 324, Z2Q, gnaws, devours; A.S. fretan.
frinaeht, 122, b. v. uriniht.
frofre'S, 108, f. comforteth; A.S. frofrian, to
comfort.
frommard, 112, 294, 376, ilQ, away from.
frotuugea, 284, rubbing, polishing; Fr. frotter.
froure, 38, 100, 286, 406, 430, pi. frouren, 120,
consolation, comfort; A.S. frofer.
frouren, to comfort; pr. froure'S, 150; imp.
froure'S, 186; A.S. frofrian, id.
frum'Se, 8, 56, 104, beginning; A.S. frym'S.
fuel, 126, a fowl, pi. fueles, 388 ; A.S. fugel.
full ten, 196, fought,
ful, 344, 372, /m«, complete.
ful, A.S. 118, 276, fule, 216, 236, 334, 344,
foul, corrupt; fulre, 8i, fouler.
fulen, 124, to defile;. -pr. fule'5, 396 ; p. fulde,
158 ; A.S. fulian, id.
fuUiche, 124, 216, 272, 318, foully, indecently.
fulliche, 124, UO, fully.
fulne, 316, /oif/,- fuluste, 216, foulest.
ifuld, 156, ifuUed, 276, filled; A.S. fyllan, to fill.
fuldon, 372, to complete, j^erfect.
fulitowen, 108, 140, 176, 186, 244, 368, ful-
itogen, 108, b. undisciplined, unruly, rude,
ill-instructed; A.S. ful, getogen, teon, to draw
out, form, instruct.
ful«e, 82, 128, 142, a. 272, 276, fulSen, 316,
filth, uncleanliness.
fuluht, A.S. baptism, 160, 322, 330, 396.
fundles, findles, fundleas, 6, 8, 206, f. 208, any-
thing found, invention; A.S. findan, to find.
fur, 124, 150, 206„228, 356, 368, fure, 236,
fire; g. fures, furene, S56,fire, fiery; A.S. fyr.
fur, 192, fur'Ser, 22S, further; A.S. feor,/rtr.
furme, 138,/o*»i, image.
furselS, 76, 312, removeth, withdraweth ; A.S.
fyrsian.
furSerluker, 236, still further .
fur'SreS, 156, assists, furthers; A.S. fjTdrian.
fustes, 82, \Q6, fists; A.S. fyst.
fuwelene, g. pi. 298, of fowls.
gabben, 200, to scoff; pr. gabbe'S, 198 ; A.S.
gabban, id.
galie'S, 128, f. yells, yelps; A.S. giellan, to yell,
shriek, " give tongue," Lag.
galeforke, galheforke, 174, e. : A.S. galga, a
gallon's, gibbet.
galle, 106, 238, gall; A.S. gealla, id.
galstres, 128, f. v. gelstre'S.
ganh, 270, c. a fool, v. cang.
gan-kume, 394, return.
garcen, 258, garses, 258, d. gashes; O.Fr.
garser, to cut, scarify ; gaarce, scarification ;
P. Parv.
gare, 88, 240, 272, geare, 298, formerly, long
ago, before, of yore; A.S. geara.
garsume, 126, 350, riches, treasure; A.S. gacr-
suma, id.
446
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
gate-herden, 100, herds of goats; A.S. gset, gat,
a goat.
gauel, 202, 326, tribute, rent, increase, tax; A.S.
gafol, id.
ge, 136, yea.
geape, 6Q, e, greedy, hungry; Isl. gypa ; Sc.
yap, id.
geape, 280, 362, wary, crafty; A.S. geap, id.
geat, 100, 102, goats; A.S. gset, geat, a goat.
geate, 424, gate; A.S. geat, id.
geate'5, 50, f. imp. ivatch, keep watch; O.Fr.
gueter, id.
geddes, gedde'S, 312, e. yet doth.
gederen, 146, 222, to gather, collect; pr. gedere'S,
138; imp. gedere, 342; p.p. i-gedered, 76;
pr.p. gederinde, 128; A.S. gaderian, id.
gederunge, 370, gathering.
gedewal, 370, valerian, Nardus Celtica.
gelus, jealo2is ; gelusie, 90, Jealousy ; O.Fr.
gelosie, id.
gei, gur, 306, wailing.
geien, 66, 288, to cry, call, proclaim; pr. geie'S,
12, b. 126, 142; p. geiede, 152, geieden,
188, 310; imp. geie, 232; geie«, 264; p.p.
i-geied.
geincume, 234, return.
geine'S, 362, 426, availHh, profit eth ; O.Fr.
gaigner.
geld, 58, 376, return, repayment.
gelden, 58, 58, b. 186, 266, 406, 418, to repay,
malce good, yield iip, restore ; pr. gelt, 232,
302 , imp. geld, 364 ; p. guide, 406 ; gulden,
404 ; A.S. gyldan, id.
gelpe, 210, boasting.
gelpen, 146, 330, to boast; pr. gelpes, 148, c. ;
gelpe«, 222, 330; pr. sub. gelpe, 148; A.S.
gilpan, id.
gelpunge, 330, boast.
gelstre-S, 128, yelpeth, v. galie'S.
gelsunge, 100, a. luxury; A.S. gelsa.
gelunge, 100, delight; O.Germ. geling.
geme, 32, 78, 344, care, heed, attention, devotion.
gemeleaschipe, 202, negligence.
gemeleasliche, 92, negligenthi.
gemeleaste, 46, 172, 208, 234, 268, 428, neg-
ligence, carelessness; A.S. gemeleaslice.
gemen, 98, 344, to mind, oMend to; pp. i-gemen,
44, c; A.S. geman, id.; Sc. to gome,
genterise, 188, nobleness; O.Fr. gentieu.
geoluh, 88, yellmo; A.S. geolu.
geond, 72, 102, 110, 258, over.
geonien, 242, to yawn, gape; pr. p. geoniinde,
80, 304; A.S. geonian, id.
geoi he, geihe, 334, e. yea; A.S. gea, id.
geor, 306, wailing, shrieMng.
georne, 108, 124, 158, 234, 342, 430, earnestly,
affectionately; A.S. georne.
georneluker, 234, more intently.
georniliche, 98, 100, 132, 286, 428, diligently,
intently, cautiously; A.S. geornlice.
geote'5, 282, ^:»02M"e<A; imp, geot, 216,^30 !tr; A.S.
geotan, to pour.
geoue, 202, 368, gift; A.S. gifan, to give.
ger, 218, 412, a year; pi. geres, 190, 218.
gerd, 184, 186, 324, a rod; pi. gerden, 254;
A.S. gerd, id.
gerkeS, 4:10, preparetJi; i-gerked, ^5S, pire'pared;
A.S. gearcian, to prepare.
gernere, 272, a garner.
geruh, 394, ready; A.S. gearuw.
ges, 128, geese.
geste, 68, k, guest.
get, 74, gete, 334, gate; pi, geten, 104, 222,
gates, 104.
gete ward, 270, gate-lceeper.
get, 298, gette'S, 170, granteth; pr. sub. gettie,
176, 246; p. gettede, 230; imp. gette, 400;
A.S. geatan, to grant, permit.
gettunge, 204, 228, 288, 294, 346, consent, per-
mission,
gibet, Fr. 116, a gibbet.
gichinge, 238, an itching; gicchinde, 80, pr, p,
itching; A.S. gicenes, id.
gif, 294, if
gigge, 204, giggling; A.S. geagl, id.
gile, 128, 202, guile, deceit; O.Fr. gile, giler.
gilen, 128, to deceive; pr. gileS, 74, 128.
gimston, 134, 330, a ptrecioits stone, a jewel;
pi. gimsBtones, 152, 330, 342.
gingiure, 2i1{>, 4:\Q, ginger.
girne, 400, 416, girneti, pr. 204, girne, pr. sub.
406, p.p. igirned, 60, g. 192; A.S. gyrnan,
to yearn, desire.
girnunge, 114, 139, a yearning, desiring; A.S.
gyrning.
giscare, 214, gissare, 202, a covetous person.
giscen, 196, to covet; pr. gisce-S, 202, 260; A.S,
gytsian, id.
giseunge, 194,204,208,274,286, gissunge, 258,
covetousness ; pi. gissunges, 268; A.S. gytsung,
gist, A.S. 68, a guest, friend, a giver or receiver
of hospitality ; pi. gistes, 414.
giste, 350, a lodging; O.Fr. giste.
gistnen, 402, to lodge; p. gistnede, 402 ; A.S.
gystigan.
gistninges, 288, a, ili,banq;uetings, hospitalities.
giuen, 68, 398, 416, giuene, 330, to give; pr.
glue's, 80; giuest, 294; p. gef, 92, 92, f.;
p. sub. gefde, 384; imp. gif, 294, 404; p.p.
i-giuen, 82; A.S. gifan, id.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
447
giuer, 84, giure, lli, greedy; A.S. gifr.
giuerliche, 240, greedily.
giuernesse, 198, 204, 286, greedine.ix ; A.S.
gifernes.
giuegouen, I^Q, gewgaws; A.S. gegaf, trifles.
Giws, 106, Jens.
gladien, 68, gledien, 178, 386, to cheer, gladden;
imp. gledie'S, 358 ; pr. sub. gledie, 430 ;
A.S. gladian.
gleam, 170, a heara, ray of liglit.
gled, 232, glede, 188, Z?>(i,glad.
gledful. 242, 2S6, joyful.
gledfulure, 394, more joyful.
gledliche, 124, 126, gladly.
gledluker, 188, more joyfully.
glednesse, 126, gladness.
gledschipe, 180, 286, joyfulness.
gledunge, 94, 342, Joy; A.S. glaed.
gleden, 122, 406, brands, burmng-coals; A.S.
gled ; So. glede.
gleo, 210, mirth; gleowede, was merry, singing;
A.S. gleowian, to he merry, to sing.
glese, gles, IQi, glass; A.S. glses.
gliffen, 46, e. to hesitate, he afraid; Sc. gliff,
fnght.
glokering, 100, a. mirthful pastimei A.S. gleo,
mirth.
glopnen, 212, e. to affright; Sc. to gliff; Isl.
glupiia, tristari, animum demittere.
glouen, 420, gloves; Isl. glofi, a glove.
glucches, 240, a. giilps; Sc. glock, id.
gluffe'5, 46, blunder? O. Germ, glypfen, ces-
2ntare; Isl. glop, incuria.
glutun, 21i, glutton; Fr. glouton.
gnedeliche, 202, 350, 414, barely; A.S. gnedelice,
sparingly.
gniden, 238, gnuddon, 238, g. to riih; p. gniden,
260 ; gnudeden, 260, c ; A.S. gnidan, id.
goc, 15G, yoke; A.S. geoc.
i-goded, 386, 428, benefited; A.S. godian, to do
good.
godera lore, 428, divine instriiction; godre, 194,
better; comp. of god, good; A.S. godera.
godleic, 136, 192, 2S4:, goodness; A.S. godlec.
godspellere, 94, c. evangelist.
golnesse, 198, 204, 206, 254, 274, 370, lust,
lasciviousness ; A.S. galnes, id.
going-dawes, 4:12, procession days.
golhord, 150, 152, a. treasure; A.S. gold-
hord.
gomede, 368, jested, sported; A.S. gamenian, to
joke, he merry.
gomen, 214, game, sport; pi. gomenes, 318, 348 ;
A.S. gamen.
gon, 10, 290, to go; pr. gas, gost, 86, e. ; gest,
86 ; go-5, 10, 350 ; ge'5, 376 ; imp. go«, 188;
A.S. gan.
gong-huse, 84, a privy; A.S. geng, gong-men,
dirt-men; Sc. geng, ordure.
gost, 368, goste, 138, soul, spirit.
gostlich, 194, spiritual.
i-graeed, 366, thanhed,
greate, 10, 194, Ali, great, thicJc, coarse; gretture,
194, greater; A.S. great,
greaten, 128, to grow large.
greatluker, 426, more greatly.
greden,236, 304, 366, to cry, roar; pr. gret, 330;
p gredde, 244, 326; imp. gred, 290, grede,
284; A.S. grsedan, to cry, complain, call upon.
grediure, A\Q, greedier; ^reilme&se, greediness.
gredil, 122, 362, a gridiron.
grege, 12, gray.
grei'Se, 16, 16, d. ready, dressed; A.S. geraid.
grei^e'5, 256, pr. prepareth; p. greiSede, 396;
graiSede, 302, a.; grei'Sed, 410, c. ; p.p.
i-grei5ed, 354, 306 ; A.S. gersedian.
gremeS, 334, provoheth.
grene^, \i)Q , putteth forth leaves.
grennen, 212, to grin; A.S. grennian.
grennunge, A.S. 2\2, grinning.
greot, A.S. 70, 252, grit, sand.
greste, A.S. 66, 314, greatest.
grete^, 430, imp. greet ; A.S. gretan, to greet,
salute; gretunge, A.S. 250, greeting.
greue, 422 1 pr. sub. may trouble, annoy.
grices, 204, c. 2>^i/«-
Grikiscbs, 402, Greek, Grecian.
grim, A.S. 100, 234, grimme, 212, 240,334,344,
angry, fierce, cruel, morose, sad; grimmest,
202,fiercest.
grimme to'5, 218, a severe countenance.
grimliche, 104, 268, 336, 366, wrathfully, ter-
ribly; A.S. grimlic, crxLclly.
grises, 366, a. dreads, feels horror.
grisliche, 118, 184, 190, 194, 210, 242, grisly,
ghastly, fearfully ; A.S. grislic.
grisbatede, 326, gnashed his teeth ; A.S. grist
bitan, id.
grisung, 190, e. fear, dread.
griS, A.S. 172, h. 174, 28i, peace; chirche-griSe,
an asylum, sanctuary.
griSful, 4:06, pieaceful.
griSfulnesse, peacefulness, tranquillity.
grome, 100, 102, 116, 118, 180, 236, wrath,
displeasure; A.S. grama, id.
gromes, 422, hoys, young men.
grone, 278, a snare; pi. gronen, 134, 270 ; A.S.
grin, girn ; Sc. girn, id.
gronen, 336, to groan; pr. p. groninde, 330 ;
A.S. granian ; Sc. to grane, id.
448
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
gropie^, 378, pr. handleth; pr, sub. gropie, 368,
handle; A.S. grapian, to handle.
gropunge, 314, handling, searching; pi. gro-
punges, 206,
grot, 260, grit, earth, dust.
grucche'S, 114, grumbleth; pr. sub. grucohe,
262, grucchie, 108, grudge, gritmhle, hear
resentment; p. grucchede, 114; pr. p. grucinde,
108, a.; imp. grucche, 186; O.Fr. grocer, id.
grucchild, 108, grucchere, IDS, b. a grumbler.
grucchunge, 202, 336, 370, 344, 424, murmur-
ing, grumbling .
grulle^, 366, horrifieth; A.S. grillan.
grunde, 268, 280, 334, abyss, depth, bottom.
grunen, 278, b. snares.
grunten, 336, to grunt like a hog; G. gruntzen.
grure, 112, dread, horror; A.S. gryre.
grure, 294, gorg.
grureful, 210, 242, 304, terrible, an-ful.
grurefulliche, 2i2Q, terribly, aivfully; A.S. gryrelic.
gruselie, 428, gruse, gruuesi, 428, a. mwnchi
gruttene, 186, of grout; A.S. grut, grout,
gugement, 118, sentence; O. Fr. jucement.
guihe, 334, yea; A.S. gea, id.
gulclie'S, 88, pr. vomiteth; imp. gulche, 206 ; [at
page 240 guleheS means swalloireth.]
gulchecuppe, 216, a drunkard, toss-pot.
guldene, 336, golden.
gult, 284, 426, gulte, 184, h. M6, guilt, a fault;
pi. gultes, 346, 426,
gulunges, 268, e. wiles, deceits, gtdle.
ganianewc, ZOO, standard-bearer; O.Fr. gonfanier.
gunge, 70, yoitng.
gungre, 424, younger.
i-gurd, 380, ^^1%, girt.
gurde, 106, struck; A.S. gyrd, a rod.
gurdei, 420, girdle; A.S. gyrdel.
Jus, ges, 392, b. yes.
gut, 356, yet; A.S. get.
gute-f'eastre, 328, f. ; A.S. gyte, a dropping;
Eng. to fester; A.S. geotan, to shed, 2^our
out; O.Fr. goutent, drop by drop, flestre,
putrijied.
Suvve^e, 156, 192, 206, youth; A.S. geogu'S.
guwe'Sehode, 342, yoidh.
habben, 10, to have; pr. habbe^, 2, 104, 188,
216, habbe, 220, 320, hauest, 236, haue'S, 186;
p. hefde, 124, 196, 224, 234, hefdest, heuedest,
38, hefden, 112; pr. sub. habbe, 192; p. sub.
hefde, 384; p.p. i-lieued, 108; A.S. habban,id.
hacke'5, 298, hackcth; A.S. hacean, to hark.
hades, 80, c. holds.
haher, hager, 52, g. clever; Isl. hagr. id, v. hawur.
halewen, 124, 166, 362, saints.
haluwene, 330, gen. pi. of saints.
halewe'5, 396, p. sanctifieth; p.p. i-halewed, 18 ;
i-haleged, 18, f. ; A.S. halgian; to hallow.
half, A.S. 106, a part, side.
halflunge, 354, in piart.
halhes, 186, e. saints.
halp, 88, 6. helped; A.S. helpan, to help.
halt, 348, holds.
halue, 252, 412, half, side, 2)art.
halse, 114, halsie, 348, halse'5, 330, pr. intreats,
beseeches; imp. halse, 292 ; A.S. halsian, to
beseech, implore,
halsunge, 330, intreaty.
ham, 194, thein.
hammes, 122, 1. knees.
hamsuluen, 88, themselves.
handwhule, 146, a moment, an instant,
harlot, 356, a rogue, varlet, vagabond; pi. harlo^,
328,414; herloj, 328, e.
hat, pr. 6, 186, 246, 306, 408, 424, commands,
orders; imp. hot, 290; pp. ihoten, 138, 332,
commanded; Q2,\Q2,2>1Q, called; A.S. hatan,
to call, to command.
hatien, 32, 88, 216, to hate; pr. hate'S,224, 316,
hatest, 316, hatie^, 310; pr. sub. hatie, 176;
A.S. hatian, to hate, to become hot.
hate, 118, e. bote, 246, hot; hatre, 400, hotter.
hatunge, 200, 316, 364, hating, hatred.
haunehe, 280, haunch.
hawur, 52, clever; Isl. hagr, id.
healden, 142, c. holden, 176, to hold; pr holde'S,
130; p. heold, 108, 148, 172, heolden, 152;
pr. sub. holde, 88, 152, 172; imp. holdelS,
148, 192; p.p. i-holden, 148, 250; A.S,
healden.
heale, 70, 180, 194, 330, 364, 370, 430, health,
blessing, salvation; A.S. hsel, health.
heale, 398, dignity; A.S. heah, high, noble, or
holiness; A.S. hselig, holy.
heale -water, 106, holy-water.
healewi, 94, 114, 164, 238, 276, 282, health-
cup), medicine, balsam, sweet-drink; A.S. hael,
health, wegi, a cup.
healuwinde, 190, healing; A.S. haelinde.
hearden, 220, to harden, become strong, inured to
hcLrdshiiis; A.S. heardian, id.
heare, 126, here, ISO, haircloth; pi. hearen, 10 f.
heren, 10; A.S. hteren, id., ha;r, hair,
beaten, 404, to warm.
heater, 418, better, hatter, 418, f. a garment,
clothing; pi. hateren, 104, hattre, 104, g,
hettren, 420, i. ; A.S. hsetero, haetron, id.
heaued, 10, 130, the head, chief; hefden, 188,
heads; A.S. heafod.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
449
hebben, 156, 264, 290, to lift, heave, raise up;
imp. hef. 290; p.p. i-houen,282; A.S. hebban.
hechen, heben,72, 1. to mount up, rise; hsehuen,
haeh^en, Lag.; A.S. bean, to raise, exalt.
bege, 10, b, hecse, 42i, a, high,
heggen, 216, hags; A.S. hoeges, a hag, witch.
hebscbipe, 140, d. beiscbipe, 100, 358, high state,
dignity; A.S. beab, high, noble.
beie, 86, heih, 400, high, exalted; A.S. beab.
i-beieJ, 154, 174, 380, 430, elevated, exalted.
beiblicbe, 56, beilicbe, Vd^, honour ably, highly ;
A.S. bealic.
beibnesse, 412, highness.
beixte, 138, 140, highest.
beibte, 24, eight; A.S. eabta.
beiward, 418, heyvard, towii''s herdsman.
belden, 428, to pour; pr. belde^, 246, 282.
bele, 112, the heel; A.S. bel.
bele, 300, 312, health, medicine.
helen, 112, 326, 368, bealen, 330, to heal; p.
belede, 112; pr. sub. beale, 178; imp. bel, 288;
pp. ibeled, 288, 392, 394; A.S. bselan, to heal.
beleueste, 244, f. apparently an error, v. bete-
faste.
helbewet, el i-bewed, 368, a. of a pale, or sallow
comjdexion; A.S. yfel, beowed.
belidawene, 302, gen. pi. of holidays.
helien, 84, 410, to hide, conceal; pr. heleS, 314 ;
belief', 316 ; bules, 150, a. ; imp. bele, 316 ;
p.p. i-bolen, 146. i-beled, 70, 72; bulet, 388,
b. ; A.S. belian, lielan, id.
belinde, 112, 360, the Saviour, the healer; A.S.
bajlend.
beliunge, 150, a concealing.
belpen, 204, 222, to help; pr. helped, 196; p.
help, 88, balp, 88, e. bulpe, 220, 320; pp.
i-bolpen, 242; A.S. helpan, id.
bendeliebe, ^\Q, gently, delicately.
bendi, 186, 416, courteous, dutiful, gentle ; comp.
bendure, 192; sup. bendest, 398; bende, Cb.
id.
benben, 128, hens.
beolen, 146, b. to conceal.
beonene, 230, hence.
beoneward, 248, turned away, averse.
heorde-monne, 100, 41 8, herdsmen''s; A.S. heord,
a herd.
beorden, 418, canvas; Sc. barden.
heorte-peauwes, 368, moral virtues.
beortes, 398, harts.
beorte, 418, the heart.
beo'Senward, 248, a. away from.
beouene, 94, 142, 242, heaven.
beouenricbe, 150, heoueriche, 242, 358, king-
dom of heaven.
beou, 320, 332, beouwe, 160, 262, colour, form;
pi. beowes, ] 50 ; A.S. biwe.
beowede, 392, ibeouwed, 356, stained, coloured;
A.S. gebiwod, id.
ber, 236, here.
her, 398, 424, hair; A.S. hrer, ber.
here, 130, 382, 418, haircloth; pi. beren, 10,
138; A.S. hera.
i-heren, 78, to hear; pr. i-bere'S, 90, 170, 198,
226, 264; pr. sub, ibere, 348; pr.p. i-berinde,
172; p.p. iherd, 92; -i.S. geberan, to hear.
beranont, 124, heranonden, 124, d. in resjJect of
th is.
berbaruede, 260, berbajede, 260, b. lodged.
berbaruwe, 224, 340, lodging; O.Fr. berbergerie.
herenen, 320, 422, to hearken; pr. herene"S, 82,
86; p, bercnede; A.S. heorcnian,
here wile, 100, a listener.
herd, 368, 418, hard, hards; A.S. heordan,
heordas, cloth made of tow; Sc. hardan, id.
berde, 332, 352, hard; herdure, 430, harder.
berdeliche, 290, smartly.
berdi, 240, 248,>V«i, steadfast.
herdsehipe, 380, berschipe, 384, hardness, hard-
ship); Sc. bership, id.
berien, 88, 340, to j5?m«e; pr. herie'5, 222;
p. berede, 414; A.S. berian, id.
herinne, 288, herein.
herre, 6, 178, 198, 258,348, 380, lord, superior,
higher; A.S. byrra.
herrure, 202, masterful.
berut, 290, hereout.
bereword, 86, b. 148, 180, 278,330, Z^^, praise,
applau.se, renown.
beriunge, US, praise.
herrunge, 64, 80, hearing.
hermen, 196, 256, bermien, 398, to harm; pr.
hermest, 124, bermeS, 184, 284, i-bermed,
124; A.S. hearmian.
herme, 190, harm, damage, pi. hermes, 418.
besmel, 424, a collar, or opening for the bead to
pass through, at the top of a garment made in
the form of a shirt or blouse; Isl. hals-mal.
" foramen superne vesiis pro exserendo capite,''''
— Haldorson.
heste, 8, 58, 186, 306, a command; pi. bestes, 6,
hesten, S, 386; A.S. hffis, baese, a command.
Hester, 170, Esther.
bete, 238, 368, heat; A.S. bsete, id.
hetefaste, 244, f. hetefeste, 34, a. beteueste, 306,
3 78, ,/ir7)i and fast, firmly.
betel, 400, sharp; A.S. betele.
hette, 134, 198, 204, is named.
betterlicbe, 288, 290, 306, 308, steryily, impe-
riously.
CAMD. SOC.
3 M
450
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
iheuegeg, i.e. iheueged, loaded; A.S. hetigan, to
make heavy.
heuege'5, 424, c. is hurdensome; p.p. i-heueged,
i-heueget, 332, e.
heui, 342, heavy.
heuischipe, 140 [1. hehscliipe] q.v.
lieue'5, 86, extoUeih; A.S. heafian.
hexte, 42, 380, highest; A.S. heah, herre, hext.
hexte, 192, sorcerer; Germ, hexe; A.S. hseges.
hien, 72, mount tip; imp. hige, 30; A.S. heah,
hih, hiffh.
hien, 92, 326, 368, hihen, 92, 1. to hasten, make
haste, urge; pr. hie'S, 350; pr. sub. hie, 266;
imp. hie, 98, 296; A.S. higan, id.
hihful, 302, S2}eedi/, rpiici:; A.S. higan, to hasten.
hih'Se, 20, 324, haste, speed, emergency ; A.S.
higS.
himmere, 102, f. ? [I. grimmere?]
hine, 86, him; hire, her; hise, 114, his.
hird, 94, 210, 388, famil//, company, army;
A.S. hired.
hitte'S, 176, d. hit upon, come to.
hod, 56, hode, 318, /woc^, order; pi. hodes, 8, 26,
persons, co?iditions; A S. hod, had, hood, state,
degree, dignity.
hodlings, 280, b. unobserved; Sc. hidlings.
liofleas, 108, inconsiderate, absurd; MS. Oxon.
ridicidum; Isl, hof, modtis, meditim; A.S.
leas, less.
hoker, 100, 290, 390, derision, contempit, dis-
dain; pi. hokeres, 188; A.S. hocer, id.
hokereS, 248, imp. mock.
hokerlich, 198, contemptuously.
hokerliche, 140, ridiculous.
hokerunge, 188, derision.
hoi, 430, hole, 112, all, xvhole, wholly; A.S.
hal, id.
hoi, 190, 370, in health, ivholesome; A.S. heel, id.
iholden, 250, kepit, observed.
holi, 48, 160, holie, 350, holy.
holie, 418, holly.
holie'S, 130, diggeth; A.S. holian, to dig through.
holiniht, 22, the eve of a festival
i-holpen, 242, helped.
hommen, 122, hams; A.S. ham, the back i)art of
the knee.
homeres, 284, hammers; A.S. hamer.
hondlen, 378, to hande; p. hondlede, 318; pr.
sub. hondle, 178; A.S. handlian.
honful, 254, handful.
hondhwule, 94, 144, 290, an instant, a very
little ivhile.
hoiigede, 106, p. hanged; p.p. ihongede, 348.
hopien, 78, to hope; pr. hopie, 148, 430; A.S.
hopian.
hord, A.S. 224, a hoard, treasure; pi. hordes,
342.
hore, 290, 400, a whore; A.S. hure.
hordom, 204, whoredom; A.S. huredom.
horel, 176, 210, 224, 282,jmcZe; Fr. orgueil.
hors, 208, horses, g. 74.
hosen, 420, stockings; A.S. hosa.
hot, 190, hot.
hu, 402, how.
huckel, 88, a cloak; A.S. hacela.
hude, 120, skin; A.S. hyde; MS. Oxon. pellis.
hude, 288, a hood.
i-hudeket, 424, e. hooded.
huden, 130, 146, 292, to hide; pr. hude'S, 258;
hut, 130, 208, 230; huides, 130, b. hudet,
328 ; p. hudde, 148 ; imp. hud, 292; pp.
ihud, 146, 174, i-hudde, 172; A.S. hydan, id.
hudles, 146, 292, d. hiding places; ine hudles,
sec7-etly.
hudunge, 174, concealment.
huire, 418, 428, 430, hure, 208, 354, 404, 428,
hire, wages, recompense; A.S. hyre.
hul, A.S. 178, 282, a hill; pi. hulles, 196,
hulen, 100, huts, tents; A.S. hule, a den, cabin.
hulpe, 320, helped.
hund, A.S. 324, a dog; pi. hundes, 122, 324.
hungre, 260, hunger.
hungren, 214, to hunger; p. hungrede, 162,
hungered; A.S. hungrian.
hunten, 204, to hunt; p. huntede, 344, hunted;
A.S. huntian.
hupe, 280, hip; A.S. hup, hipe.
hure, T hure, 114, 136, 260, 294, 326, 380, 390,
at least, however, espiecially.
hure, 38, her; A.S. hire,
huren, 126, to hire.
hurle'6', 166, pr. jostle; hurlunge, 166, hurtlinge,
166, c. jostling.
hurtle's, 220, a. hurten. Lag. hurtelen, Chauc.
to dash against.
hurnen, 3l4, corners, nooks, recesses; A.S. hyrne.
hurren, 426, e. to repel, alienate; A.S. hvvyrfani'
hurten, 8, to hurt, grieve, dash against, hit upon;
pr. hurte'S, 176, 186; pr. sub. hurte, 346;
p.p. i-hurt, 98, 126; O.P'r. hurter.
hurtes, 282, wounds; A.S. hyrt, icounded.
hurtunge, 344, damaging; A.S. hyrt, hurt.
husel, A.S. 208, the host, consecrated bread.
i-huseled, 16, 412, having partaken of the holy
sacrament of the Eucharist.
huselefdi, 414, husewif, 416, the mistress of a
house, house-wife.
hwaniso, 184, whoinsoerer.
hwar'Surh, 210, ivhereby.
hwarto, 392, /cd* what end.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
451
hwatse, 370, 416, ichatever.
hweate, 270, 312, hwete, 70, tckeat ; A.S.
hwsete.
hwederes, 284, of which, gen.
hweol, 322, a wheel; pi. hweoles, 356; A.S.
hweol, hweogul.
hweolinde, 356, rolling.
liweolp, 198, a tchelp; pi. hweolpes, 198, n:hel2)i!.
hwilinde, 182, h. teniporari/.
hwingen, 130, 132, wings; A.S. gehwing.
hwite, 98, 100, white, cowntenance; hwitture,
whiter , fairer ; A.S. hwit.
hwite^, 150, whiten eth.
hwoa, 220, who.
hwonne, 144, when.
hwonse, 412, whenever.
hwu, 256, how.
hwuc, 112, 196, of what sort, which; A.S. hwylc.
hwui, 148, 398, why.
hwuderward, 168, to what place soever.
hwule, 246, 356, 430, time; pi. hwules, 132;
A.S. hwile.
i-hwulen, 44, 422, to have time, to take time.
ibet, 272, amended.
iborenesse, 262, birth.
i-cud, V. cunnen.
icweme, 162, 2>2Q, 2ileasing.
idel, 404, idleness; pi. idelnesses, 322.
i-for^et, 366, b. advanced, fulfil led; A.S. gefor-
'5ian, V forde'8.
i-funden, 48, p.p. found.
igast, 372, c. in the spirit.
ihol, 256, 32S, whole; A.S. hal.
ilchere, 132, every; A.S. oelcera.
ileue'5, 66, imp. belies; pr. sub. ileue, 256;
p. ilefden, 110 ; A.S geleafan, to believe.
iliche, 112, 342, equalli/.
illche, 126, 136, 140, 'like, likeness; A.S. gelic,
id.
ilicnesse, 136, c. 230, 330, 360, an image, like-
ness; A.S. gelicnes.
ilke, 68, same.
i-logged, 264, lodged.
i-loked, ^12, joined.
i-lokene, 56, c?o«e, adj . ; A.S. locen, an inclostire.
ilonie, 136, 2"^^, frequently; A.S. gelonia, id.
ilond, in the laud.
i-meind, 832, mingled; A.S. mengan, to mingle.
imene, 12, 64, 90, 378, in covimon, together;
A.S. gemsene.
imete, 286, moderaie; A.S gemet.
i-mette, 154, c. met; A.S. metan, to meet.
i-niist, 78, missed.
impen, 378, plants ; i-imped, 360, graffed,
planted; A.S. impan.
i-munt, 214, 308, intended, 2)roposed, aimed at,
seemed; A.S. myntan, to 2^ropiose, shew; Sc. to
mint, a word still in common use in the south
of Scotland. See Jamieson.
i-murJSred, 244, murdered.
in, 260, an inn.
ine, 230, in the.
i-neiled, 114, 373, nailed; A.S. nasglian, to
nail.
inne-wuniinde, 280, in-dwelling.
ingong, 52, 98, 164, 206, 362, entrance; A.S.
ingang.
inouh, 160, 220, 340, enovgh, sufficient; A.S.
genog.
inouhre'Se, 106, 108, 270, 420, readily enough,
well en<Tugh, perhaj)."! ; A.S. genog, enough,
T?eSe, readily.
inre, 92, 396, inward.
inschake, ischake, 344, a. A.S. sceaccan,<o shake.
intouward, 272, toward.
inwardliche, 282, sincerely.
inwardlukest, 282, tnost earnestly.
in-read, 402, ruddy; A.S. rsed, red.
in wit, A.S. 1, 206, 306, 374, conscie7ire.
joie, 218, Joy.
ipocrite, 128, a hypocrite.
i-put, HO,2)e7it, confined [1. ipunf ?].
i-remd, 1, asked frequently; A.S. hreman, to cry
out; Sc. ryme, to re2)eat often the same words.
irspiles, 418 ? v. ylespiles.
iseii, 308, 330, ha2)2^y, blessed; A S. geswlig.
i-tachet, 50, i. fastened; Fr. attache,
i-teiled, 206, having a tail.
iSeos, in these; i'Ser, in the, fern,
juggen, 118, jugi, 118, d. to judge.
juglurs, 2\0, jesters.
Isboset, Ishbosheth, 270.
iwar, 104, 274, 296, iwarre, 194, 240, aware,
wary, cautious, warned; A.S. warian.
iwis, 270, 274, truly.
kader, 378, a cradle.
kaiser, 138, an emperor, Ccesar; pi. kaisers, 358.
ikalenged, 260, blamed; Fr. chalaiiger.
kakele, 66, chakele, QQ, d. a cackler, chatterer.
kakelen, 66, to cackle; pr. cakele'S, 88; pr.p.
kakelinde, 66 ; pp. i-cakeled, 66 ; Dut. kake-
len, id.
kareleas, 246, secrtre, safe. *"
kat, 416, a cat.
keache-euppe, 216, a. a drunkard; A.S. ceao,
(( 2n^eh(r, cuppe, a c%tp, v. gulche-cuppe.
452
GLOSSAEIAL INDEX.
kecche^, 66, 182, 324, pr. snatdieth, catcheth ;
pr. sub. kecche, 164; imp. kecche'S, 294 ; Dut.
ketsen, to snatch.
keft, 206, caft, 206, a. harlotry; A.S. eeafes, a
harlot.
keihte, 154, p. caught; p.p. ikeilit, 83, 134, 234,
278, 332 ; V. kecche'S.
kelche-cuppe, 216, a. a drunhard; A.S. c£elic,
a ffohlet; v. keache-euppe.
keniben, 422, 1. to comb; A.S. csemban.
Keimes, 334, Cain's.
kempene-crune, 196, 236, crown of victor)/; A.S.
kempena, gen. pi. of cempa, a soldier, icarrior.
kemp-ifere, an ctntaijonist in fight,
kene, 130, 140, 190, 272, 390, keen, brave, sharp,
eager, earnest; A.S. can.
keorfunge, 344, cutting; A.S. ceorfan, id.
kerf, 398, p. cut; pr. sub. kurue,*384; p.p.
i-koruen, 362, 424 ; bikoruen, 62 ; pr.p.
keoruinde, 250, cutting, carving.
kepen, 332, i-kepen, 156, to wait for, intercei^t,
meet, care for; pr. ikepe'S, 190; p. ikept, 366;
kepten, 348; pr. sub. ikepe, 374, 286; im.
sub. kepte, 384, 394; A.S. cepan; Sc. kepp,
to meet, to catch anything that is thrown.
keppen, 420, capes, hoods; A.S. coeppe.
kernel, kerneans, 62, battlements; O.Fr. erenelx,
id.
kesten, 56, to cast; p.p. ikest, 228; Isl. at kasta,
to cast.
kikelot [piot], 88, o. a magpiie, v. rikelot.
kime'S, 92, a. cometh.
kinedome, 322, Jdngdom.
knaue, 380, a hoy; A.S. cnafa.
knif, 284, a knife; pi. kniues, 212 ; A.S. cnif.
knihte, 86, knit, 358, a knight; A.S. eniht.
knotte, 1, a knot; A.S. enotta.
i-knotted, v. knut.
iknowen, known, 306, conscious, 232, may knoiv.
knut, 396, pr. ties a knot; p.p. i-knotted, tied,
knitted; A.S. cnyttan.
kointe, 294, 328, ewointe, 140, 328, e. cwint,
180, d. crafty, brisk, engaging; O.Fr. coint,
gracieux, affable, ruse.
kostnede, 392, cost; O.Fr. coster,
kot, 362, a cottage.
krocke, 346, v. croeke.
krune'S, 392, pr. crowneth.
ku, 418, a cow; g. kues, 416; A.S. cu.
kuchene, 214, 380, a kitchen.
kuggel, 292, a cudgel.
kuluertschipe, 284, wiliness, hypocrisy; O.Fr.
culvert, perfide.
kulle, 846, jjojfj-; A.S. cyU, bottle, fAigon. This
word appears to be another form of keel, in the
song at the end of the fifth act of Love's
Labour's Lost,
kulure, 98, 160, 292, 340, a dove; A.S. culufre,
culfra.
kum, come.
kumen, 394, to come; pr. kume'S, 350; pr. sub.
kume, 424, kome, 380; imp. kum, 292; p.p.
i-kumen, 418 ; A.S. cuman, id.
kunde, 66, 84, 120, 140, 262, nature; kundes,
122, V. cund.
kundel, 82, 122, a. 200, 206, pi. kundles, 194,
196, 200, 206, 328, cundles, 206, kindred,
lineage, p)rogeny; pi. cundlen, 194, c.
kundeliche, 120, 124, '[m,naiurally.
kundleS, pr. 194, 286, 328, begetteth, kindleth,
breedeth; pr. sub. kundlie, 194.
kunne, 200, kun, 308, kindred, lineage, kind;
pi. kunnes, 120, cunnes, 86, 122; A.S. cyn.
i-kunned, 398, born, descended; A.S. cennan.
kunscence, 228, kunsence, 288, consciousness,
consent.
kunsenten, 272, to consent.
kunsiler, 410, a cou7isellor,
kuple'S, 78, pr. coujAeth ; p.p. i-kupled ; Fr.
coupler,
kur, 290, a cur, dog.
kurre, 288, f. a coward; O.Fr. cueard, a coward;
Eng. to cower ?
kurseS, 198, pr. curseth; A.S. cursian.
kurt, 210, 216, a court; pi. kurz, 216; Ital. corte.
kurtel, 10, 200, 362, 396, a kirtle; A.S. cyrtel.
kussen, 426, to kiss; pr. eusse'5, 102, 230; pi.
186; pr. sub. cusse, 288; p. custe, 124; imp.
cus, 102, 136; pr.p. cussinde, 124.
ku'Sen, 222, to make knoion, shew, manifest; pr.
kuSe, 390; p. ku'Se, 66; im. sub. ku'Se, 284;
imp. cu'5, 382; p.p. i-kud, 398, kudde, 342;
A.S. cy'San, to make known, shew; Sc. to kythe,
id.
ku'Se, 204, 342, adj. knotvji; com. ku'Sre, 70,
more familiar, forward.
kutilechunge, 68, acquaintance.
kiiuole, 10, 12, a cowl; A.S. cufle; Lat. euculla.
kuuent, 12, « convent.
kuuertur, 214, a covering.
i-laced, 420, laced; Fr. lacer.
lachte, lahte, 102, e. caught, took; A.S. Icehte,
loeccan, to seise, take; Lag. laec, took.
laheres, 198, c. lowers, brings doicn.
lakes, 152, b. gifts; A.S. lac, Isec, a gift, offering.
lai, 356, flame; A.S. leg; Sc. lowe.
lanhure, 294, b. 390, d. at least; A.S. la, behold,
an, one, huru, at least.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
453
large, Fr. 398, 411, liberal.
largesse, Fr. 166, 416, liberality.
lastin, 64, g. to hlame, slander; imp. laste, 352,
64, g. ; Isl. last, calumny, detraction.
lastunge, 66, 212, reproach, blame; G. laster-
unge, slander.
lates, 50, 90, 120, 204, 320, 426, manners, holes,
gestures, demeanor; Isl. heii, gestus; Sc. laits, id.
la'Se, 416, la'Sie^, 144, imp. invite; im. sub. la-
•Sede, 414, b.; A.S. laSian, to invite.
laSliche, 114, k. 148, d. 212, a. odious, loath-
some; A.S. la^lie.
la'5"Se, 310, a. 426, b. abhorrence, dislike, evil;
A.S. la«.
lauhwen, 270, 320, 414, 424, to laugh; pr.
lauhwe«, 132, 198, pr.p. lauhwinde, 230;
A.S. hlihan, id.
laz, 420, h. lace 1
Headed, 418, leaded; A.S. Ised, lead.
leafdi, 4, a lady; A.S. hlffifdig, id.
leans, 262, lean; A.S. hlsene, id.
i-leaned, 208, 314, lent; A.S. tenan, to lend.
leapen, 236, to leap, spring up; pr. leaped, 224;
p. leop, 52; im. sub. leope, 140; pr. sub.
leape, 216; A.S. hleapan, to leap.
leare'S, v. leren.
leas, 54, lost; v. leosen.
leas, 82, 320, a lie.
lease, 268,/«/«e, illusory; A.S. leas, id.
leasunge, 82, 424, lying , falsehood; A.S. leasung.
leate, 164, 338, late, lastly; A.S. lajte.
leaten, 394, b. to leave, let go; A.S. laetan, id.
leaues, leaue'5, pr. leaveth; A.S. lasfan, to leave.
leawede, 24, leawude, 412, secular, lay, laical;
A.S. leawed.
lebbe«, 210, live.
lecche, 164, b. catchethi v. lachte.
leche, 178, 182, 314, a physician; A.S. Isece.
lecheeraft, 178, 370, the art of healing; A.S.
Ifficcrffil't.
lecnen, 330, 368, to heal, cure; A.S. laecnian.
leddre, 136, a ladder; A.S. hlsedre.
i-led, 210, related to; A.S. gehleo^, in harmony
u-ith t
leden, 136, 302, 384, leodene, 130, 170, sp>eech,
language; A S. loeden.
lede'5, 162, 346, leadeth; A.S. laidan, to lead.
lef, 102, imp. leave; A.S. liefan, to leave.
lefdi, 176, lady; pi. lefdies, 62, lefdisehipe, 108.
leggen, 346, to lay; pr. legge, 346, lei's, 270,
288; p. leide, 366; imp. leie, 292; p.p. i-Ieid,
66, 258, 386; A.S. leegan, id.
leien, 106, leie, 124, p. lay; licgan, to ly.
leie, 96, 323, sheltered, low, marshy; A.S. lac,
luh; Sc. lee, lew, lown.
leie, 202, 296, d. leite, 306, flame; A.S. leg;
Sc. lowe.
leihtre, 212, 344, leihtren, 156, leihtres, 198,
laughter; A.S. hleahtor.
leinten, 70, 318, lent; A.S. lencten.
leiten, 202, to light up; leitende; 306, 356, Haz-
ing, flaming; A.S. leohtan, to lighten.
lenden, 2?>0, loins; Isl. lend; Ct. lende; So. lends,
lene, 368, lean; A.S. hlaene.
lenen, 248, to lend; A.S. Itenan.
leodene, v. leden.
leof, 250, 352, dear, agreeable.
leoflich, 90, 152, 258, lovely, dear, kindly; A.S.
leoflic.
Ieofmon,90, 108, lofmon, 288, leof, 380, a lover,
beloved; A.S. leof.
leome, 94, 92, c. light; A.S. leoma,
leome, 124, v. lome.
leones, 252, f. leans; pr. sub. leonie, 142; A.S.
hlynian, to lean.
leor, 64, 98, face, countenance, complexion; A.S.
hleor, id.
leorneden, 254, p. learned; imp. leome, 108;
A.S. leornian, to lea.rn.
leosen, 102, to lose; p. leas; A.S. leosan, id.
leoue, dear; leouere, 230, 430, dearer, more de-
sirable; leouest, 242, 416, dearest,
leouwe, 368, a couch, bed; A.S. leag.
leprus, 148, leprotis.
leren, 64, 108, 114, to learn, teach; pr. leare'S,
64; im. lerede, 236; p. levede, 130; p.p.
i-lered, 64, 66; A.S. Iffiran, id.
lesce, 232, 308, less; A.S. Itess.
lescuns, 22, lessons.
leste, lest.
leste, 90, serves, is serviceable; A.S. laestan; G.
leisten.
i-Iest, 120, i-leste'S, 320, pr. lasteth; p. i-leste,
320; A.S. laestan, to last, perform.
leswe, A.S. 94, meadow, pasture.
leswe, 100, imp. feed; A.S. laeswian, id.
let, 174, leadeth.
leten, 6, 8, 12, 102, 268, 424, to let, permit, leave
of, omit, cause; pr. let, 112; p. lette, 112, 366;
imp. lete'S,42; p.p. 112, 258, 422; A.S. liEtan.
leten, 106, 176, 398, to esteem, value, judge; pr.
letetS, 130, let, 198,224, 412; pr. sub. lete,
338; A.S. loetan.
le'Ser, A.S. 324, 392, leather; i-le^ered, 418,
pirovided icith leather.
letten, 164, 352, 414, to prevent, hinder; pr. let,
14, letteS, 156; pr. sub. lette, 182; p.p. i-lette,
A.S. lettan, id.
letuarie, 370, an electuary; pi. letuaries, 226.
leue, 430, pr. suh, grant, permit.
454
GLOSSARIAL INDP:X.
1-leuen, 224, to believe ; pr. i-leue'S, 66, 318; imp.
i-lef, 266, i-leue'5, 56, 268 ; pr. Bub. i-leue,
224, 256; p. i-lefde, i-leuede, 266; A.S.
gelyfan, id.
leun, 120, 164, liun, 164, a lion.
leuunge, 208, believing.
libben, 38, 136, 350, 414, to live; pr. libbe'S, 360;
pr.p. libbinde, 350; A.S. libban, id.
lich, 216, a dead bod)/, corpse; A.S. lie.
licome, 4, 156, 258, licame, 378, the body; pi.
licomes, 106; A.S. lichama.
licomliche, 240, 300, licamliche, 262, bodily;
A.S. lichamlie.
licunge, A.S. 110, 112, ideasure, desire.
Hour, 166, liqiior.
licvvurSe, 120, 146, 150, 326, acceptable, merit-
ing love, or approbation; A.S. licwyrS.
lides, lideS, 84, i. covers with a lid; p.p. i-lided, 58.
lif-holie, 346, of holy life.
liflode, 350, 352, 362,^380, course of life.
liggen, 4, 160, 418, to lie down, to recline; pr.
ligge'S, 316, 360; pr. sub. ligge, 424; imp.
lie, 290; A.S. licgan, id.
lij;en, 12, lien, 68, 82, to lie, sj^eak falsely; pr.
liest, 236, lie^, 68; pr. sub. lige, 142; A.S.
ligan, leogan.
liht, A.S. 220, 350, 428, Hffht, not heavy, easy .•
com. lihture, 94.
lihteii, 96, 132, 422, to alight, arrive, disburden;
pr. lihteS, 268; p. lihte, 112, a,; p.p. i-lihted,
356: A.S. lihtan, alihtan.
lihtliche, 392, 428, 430, libtlie, 188, lightly,
easily, mildly; com. lilitluker, 254.
lihtleapes, 362, trifles; MS. Oxon. vili pretio.
like, 262, body, substance, semblance; com. likure,
more like.
liken, to be glad; pr, like"?!, 246, is delighted;
A.S. lician.
likunge, 344, likunke, %^^ , pleasure, desire.
lim, A.S. 360, a limb, member, branch; pi. limen,
110, 292, limes, 90, 122. 298, 342.
lim, AS. 226, lime, mortar.
i-limed, 226, 254, cemented; limunge, 138, /oi»-
ing, union.
limped, 10, 50, 70. 158, 194, 302, 320, 342, 348,
352, 378, 412, 414, belongeth, apjplieth, con-
cerneth, relateth, happeneth; A.S. limpian, id.
1-lomp, 54, has happened; A.S. gelimpan, to
happien.
lippen, A.S. 106, 158, lips.
lire, 130, complexion, countenance; A.S. hieor;
Sc. lire, id.
liste, 220, 268, art, sldll, subtlety.
lite'S, 268, coloureth; Isl. lita, to colour ; Sc. lit,
dye, litster, a dyer.
li-S, 254, lieth.
litS, lie«, 270, layeth, 338, applieth.
li'Se, 428, gentle, mild; A.S. li'S, id.
liSes, 262, joints, limbs, articles; A.S. li'S, lie's, id.
litinge, 392, c. colouring, painting.
li«eliche, 96, 428, gently, softly; A.S. li'Selice.
li'Sere, 290, imp. beat; A.S. libera, a sling made
of leather; P.E. to leather; Sc. id. to beat.
Hue, 152, 390, life; A.S. lit",
lines, 390, life-time.
Hues, 132, c. [1. luues, loveth.^
liuene'S, 104, 356, 388,/oofZ, nourishment; A.S.
lifene, livelihood.
liuene'S, 402 [1. liuened], provided food.
loaue, 1 68, wha.t is left.
lode, 268, a load, burden; A.S. hlad, id.
lodliche, 50, 118, 418, foul, odiotis, hateful;
A.S. ladlic, id.
lodlichen, 256, to disfigure.
lodlukeste, 66, most vile, hei^ious.
lof, A.S. 104, piraise.
lobe, 356, h. flame.
loken, 286, 338, 424, to look, wait for, observe,
see to; p. lokede, 98, c. ; imp. loke, 354 ; p.p.
i-lokene, 104; A.S. locian, to look.
lokes, 152, gifts; A.S. lac, a gift.
lokunge, 102, 124, looking, observing; pi. lok-
inges, 6, 50, observances.
lomb, 304, a lamb; lombes, 66, Iambus; A.S.
lamb, id.
lome, 12, g. an instrument, tool, loom; pi. lomen,
384; A.S. loma.
lond-vuel, 360, epidemic disease.
lone, 202, 208, a loan; AS. Isene.
longunge, A.S. 190, treariness.
lore, A.S. 80, 198. 428, loare, 254, learning,
instruction, doctrine.
lorimers, 184, d. armoiirers.
lo'S, 168, 314, disagreeable, hateful, umnlling;
lo'Sest, 324, most hateful; A.S. la's.
lo'Sie, 324, p. sub. may loathe; A.S. lae^San.
lo^re, 266, more hateful.
lo'Sest, 296, 322, 324, 426, most hateful.
lo'Sleas, 188, 318, 362, ijinocent; A.S. la'Sleas.
loSnesse, 310, loathing; A.S. la'Sian.
louh, 400, lov^; louhnesse, 21%, meekness, humility.
louhschipe, 350, humiliation.
lour, 152, 262, lo ! behold,do only look; A.S. lo,
behold, huru, only.
lousse, lowse, 228, d. loose; Sc. louss, id.
lowudest, 190, didst humble; D. leeghen, to
humble.
lowure, 198, 380, inferior.
hid, 210, lude, 152, 414, loud; A.S. hlud, lud,
luddure, 290, lud&-e, louder.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
455
lufferes, 256, g. lovers,
lufful, 222, full of love; A.S. lufe, love.
lufsum, 98, 130, 258, lovely, kind, endeariiKj.
lufte, 212, 244, the sky, air; A.S. lyft; Sc. lift,
id.
lupes, 48, leaps, n.; A.S. hlyp, hleap.
lure, 58, 102, 202, 208, loss; pi. luren, 298;
A.S. lore, lyre,
luste, 238, it pleased; me luste, / desired; A.S.
lustan, to loish, desire.
lustnen, 422, f. to listen; p. lustede, i-lustnede,
82, b.; A.S. hlystan, gehlystan.
hit, 66, 70, 246, 428, lute, 102, a. 280, 380,
lutle, 342, 428, lutel, 74, 156, luttle, 258,
little, few; A.S. lyt, lytel.
lutes, 332, g. stoops; lute'S, imp. hoiv down;
lutende, 426, bowing; A.S. lutan; Sc. to loot,
id.
lutewiht, 72, little; A.S. lyt, wiht, a thing.
lu'Ser, 256, lu«ere, 66, 114, 226, 258, 424, evil,
had, wicked, base; A.S. ly'Sre, id.
lu'Serliche, 290, 324, badly, u-ickedly, severely;
A.S. lu^erlice, id.
luue, love; A.S. lufe,
luue-eie, 428, reverence, love-fear; A.S. ege,
fear.
luuien, 206, to love; pr. luuest, 282, luuie'S, 350,
370; p. luuede, 292; pr. sub. luuie; p.p.
i-luued; A.S. lufian, id.
luueliche, A28, affectionate, amiable.
luuewur'Se, worthy of love.
madschipe, 122, f. onadjiess.
make, 104, 114, 200, mate, match, comrade,
equal; A.S. maca; Sc. maik.
makien, 6, 192, to make; pr. make^, 224; p.
makede, 224 ; pr. sub. makie, 224 ; p.p.
i-maked, 328, 340.
manciple, 214, a j^wrveyor.
mangen, 146,g. manges, 408, e.; A.S.mangian?
to trade, traffic, deal.
maregeuen, 30, d. morning gifts, marriage por-
tion.
maseliche, 272, stupidly.
maten, 98, 344, to conquer, check-mate, defeat;
O.Fr. mater, matir.
mat, 382, confounded; O.Fr. mat, abattu.
maten, 10, mattresses; A.S. meatta.
maSeleS, 74, 88, 212, 214, pr, talketh; A.S.
ma'Selian, to speak, harangue.
ma'Selinde, 86, pr. p. prating, babbling.
maSelere, 88, m. ma'Selild, 88, a prating,
talkative person.
maSelunge, 76, 80, talk, idle talking.
mawe, 370, stomach; A.S. maga.
me, 222, 254, we, one, men [used with an imper-
sonal verb],
meadluker, mea^luker, 238, c. mea'Sleasluker,
266, a. more imptortunately.
meal, 262, A.S. masl, a meal.
meaned, 48, g. v. menen.
mehe, me'Sge, 76, e. a kinsicoman, v. mowe.
mede, 80, 146, a retoard; pi. meden, 160, g. ;
A.S. med.
medschipe, 148, madness.
meidehod, 392, meidenhod, 164, virginity; A.S.
mcedenhad.
meidelure, 164, 204, loss of maiden honour;
A.S. mffiden, lore,
mei, 74, 88, meih, 230, may; meihte, 22i, might.
meister, 236, a master; O.Fr. maistre, id.
meistrie, 140, 236, 406, mesterie, 108, mastery;
victory; pi. meistres, 390, brave deeds; O.Fr.
maistrie. See also mester.
melten, 110 [1. raelteden], p. melted; pr.
melte-S, 268; p.p. i-melt, 284; AS. meltan.
i-membred, 420, ornamented? chequered?
menen, 274, 284, to moan, lament, complaiii;
pr. mene'S,98, 148, 196, 220, 376; p. mened,
224; mende, 64,114, 158,260,362; meanede,
48, g.; mante, 64,a. ; meingde, 326; mengde,
326, f . ; A.S. mseuan, to moan, bemoan.
menen, 316, to mean; pr. mene, 116; A.S.
menan, msnan.
menestraus, 84, jugglers ; O.Fr. menestreel,
minstrel, juggler.
menke, 100, 140,180,192, 276,352, menske,
38, 312, 358, honour, grace, dignity; pi.
menken, 236; A.S. mennesc.
menskeful, 358, honourable.
menskeliche, 316, gently, humanely; A.S. men-
nislice.
meoke, 158, meek, humble.
meoken, 276, to make meek, or humble; imp.
meoke^, 278.
meoseise, v. meseise.
mercer, Fr. 152, a merchant, mercer.
merke, 228, a mark; pi. merken, 364; A.S.
mearc, id.
meruwe, 378, tender; A.S. mearu, id.
meseise, 46, 108, 114, 162, 190, 416, meoseise,
220, 330, distress, trouble, discomfort, want,
•poverty; O.Fr. mesaise, id.
messecos, 34, kiss of peace at the mass.
messe'S, 268, saith mass; A.S. mgessian.
mest, 318, 396, meste, 330, most, greatest.
mester, 72, 210, 344, 414, meister, 70, 212,
mestere, 212, pi. niesteres, 84, 216, office, em-
456
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
ploijment, htisiness, art, trade; O.Fr. mester,
id.
mestling, 284, b. mixed metal i
metei, 10, f. mattresses.
meters, 232, measureth; A.S. metan.
me'Sful, 430, moderate.
nie'SfuUiche, 414, d. moderately.
me'Slease, 96, 242, 244, 414, immoderate, im-
2}ortunate, unintermitted, without measure ;
A.S. mse'5, measure, laes, less.
me'SleasIiche, illimitahly, unweariedly .
mid, with.
midleste, 370, in the midst.
mid-maregen, 24, a. niid-morwen, 428, tlie hour
of ])rime, or six o''clock in the morning.
migge, 402, 406, torine.
milite, 234, power; pi. mihtes, 298.
niilce, 30, 202, 334, 336, 428, mercy, kindness;
A.S. mildse, miltse.
milcefule, 30, milsfule, 264, merciful.
mildelielie, 114, d. 136, 358, meekly, 'patiently.
min, 266, mine.
mirS, 132, d.
mirre, 372, myrrh.
miscweme'S, 182, displeaseth.
misde'5, 284, pr. wrongeth, offendeth; pr. sub.
misdo, 108; p.p. misdon, 98.
misgemed, 344, neglected.
mis-iherest, 296, hearest amiss.
mis-iteo'Seget, 208, having been dishoriest in tith-
ing.
mis-itovvene, 370, disordered, unridy.
inisleue'5, 416, pr. pi. disbelieve; imp. misleue,
• 428; p.p. misleued, 416.
misliche, 4, 158, 180, 236, 306, 340, 412, va-
rious, diverse, indiscreet; A.S. mislic, unlike,
various.
misliken, 338, to displease.
mislikunge, 180, displeasing.
misnime'S, 46, pr. pi. mistake; s. 256; pr. sub.
misnime, 134; p.p. misnumeno ; A.S. niman,
to take.
mis-note'S, 130, ahuseth; mis-notinge, abusing;
A.S. notian, to use.
mis-paie, pr. sub. displease; p.p. mis-i-paied, 198.
mis-sawe, 124, an injurious word.
mis-sei^, 34, 284, mis-sigge'S, 284, pr. speaketh
evil, slandereth; pr. sub. mis-sigge, 108, 158;
p.p. mis-seid, 344.
misse'5, 364, misseth; A.S. missian.
mistrowet, 68, d. mistrusted.
mistrum-mel, 262, mistune meal, 262, a. gruel.
mis-witen, 202, to neglect a trust or charge.
mixenne, 140, dunghill; A.S. mixen.
mo, 234, more.
moare, 54, 426, more, moreover, besides; A.S.
mare,
molden, 84, marks, descnption; A.S. meld,
mone, 64, 418, moaning, complaint.
mone^, 218, month.
mong, 384, monglunge, 6, 384, mingling; A.S.
gemengan, to mingle.
mongle'5, 338, mingleth.
monie, 200, many.
monglinde, 116, mingling.
moniuold, 176, moniuolde, 298, manifold.
moniuolden, 402, to multiply; A.S. manig-
fyldian.
monlich, 272, manly, vigorously ; monluker, 422,
more vigorously.
monihwat, 352, many ways.
monne, 384, of men, g. pi.
monsleibt, 46, 210, manslaughter; A.S. slagan,
to slay.
morgiuen, morbgiuen, 94, morhgiue, 96, morn-
ing-gifts, spiecial gifts, a marriage-portion;
A.S. morgan-gifu.
mot, A.S. 98, 348, moten, 298, 330, may,
must.
mowe, 76, kinswoman; A.S. meS.
muchele, adj, 38, 40, great; mucheles, adv. 368,
much; A.S. mycel.
mucheletS, 182, 236, 296, muccles, 296, f. en-
largeih, increaseth; A.S. myclian, id.
muchares, 150,mucheres, 150, &. skulking thieves;
m'lche, to hide one''s self out of the way. Cole,
Diet,
mudle^, 296, f. apparently an error, for muchele'S,
q. V.
muhte. 354, 394, muhten, 262, might.
munde, 66, mind; A.S. niynd.
munedawes, 22, commemoration days ; A.S.
munan, to remember.
munegen, 320, to remind, admonish; pr. munege'S,
144, 116; A.S. myngian.
munegunge, 16, h. 26, 106, 136, 274, 306, 392,
commemoration,remembrance, admonition; A.S.
mynegunge.
niunuch, 318, 340, a monk.
mure, 328, c. mere, a fen.
murie, 132, 390, merry, merrily; A.S. myrig.
murnen, 310, to mozirn; im. nmrnede, 366; A.S.
murnan, id.
muruh'Se, 132, 190, rnirth, gladness; pi. muruh-
^en, 236, muruh'Ses, Z76,joys; A.S. myrS,
mur'Sre, 278, murder,
murSredest, 310, didst murder; A.S. myr'Srian.
muiS, 64, mouth; mu^ene, 102, of mouths; A.S.
mu'5, mouth,
muwe,348,muwen, 4, may; A.S. magan, to &<; aife.
GLOSSARTAL INDEX.
457
muwlen, 344, to groto moiddy; p.p. mulede,
104, h.; Sc. nioule, Ch. to grow mouldy.
nabbe'S, 358, ne habbe'5, pr. have not; pr. sub.
nabbe, 284, 342, ne habbe.
naiimore, 150, 380, no more.
nappe's, 2>2i,sleepeth; AS. hnappian, to slumber.
Halle's, 222, 228, 308, ne bane's, hath not;
nauest, 224, ne bauest.
neb, A.S. 58, 90, 98, 206, 286, 358, nebbe, 276,
330, /ace; pi. nebbes, 254.
nebsehaft, 154, nebscbeft, 94, 170, countenance;
A.S. neh, fare.
neehleche^, 60, nechleacbe, neolachet, 60, 1.
cometh near; p. nechlechede, 260, drew nigh;
A S. nea-lEeccan.
ned, 110, ad^. forced.
neddre, 66, 82, a serpent; pi. neddren, 214;
A.S. nedre, naiddre
nede, ne beuede, 364, had not; nefde, 314,
ne hcfde, id.
nede-tippe, 338, extreme need; D. tip, end, point.
neden, 304, to compel, force ; pr. nede'S, 72; p.
nedde, 314; pr. sub. net, 338; p.p. ined, 72,
304; i-nedde, 338; A.S. nedan, id.
nedlunge, 190, necessarily; A.S. nedlunga.
neih, 60, 312, adj. near; A.S. neah.
neilien, 134, to come nigh, a-pproacii ; p. neihede,
134; pr. sub. neihi, 84; A.S. neah, near.
neihlechunge, 196, 394, approach, nearness.
neiles, 114, nails; A.S noegel.
nelde, 184, 282, 324, 400, a needle; pi. nelden,
152.
nempnen, 84, f. nemmen, 318, to name; p.
nemde, 200; pr. sub. nempnie, 200; nemne,
340; p.p. i-nenipned, 158, 200; A.S. neninan,
to name.
nemmunge, 290, naming.
nenne, 96, none.
neode, 68, 108, 110, 314, need; pi. neoden, 246.
neorre, 388, nearer.
neorrento, 370, near to.
neo'Sere, 232, nether.
neose, 104, 200, 276, a nose; A.S. nese.
nep, 344, neppe, 214, a cup; A.S. nseppe.
nere, 336, 390, ne were, neren, 10, ne weren,
were not.
nert, 86, 276, ne ert, art not; neuede, 230, ne
beuede.
neruh, 144, 258, 378, neruwe, 156, 268, 378,
430, nearuwe, 352, narrow, strict; neruwure,
430, narrower; nerewest, 50, narrowest; A.S.
nearew.
nerulVv^e, 378, narrowness.
CAMD. SOC. 3 N
neruhlice, 334, Hi, frugally, strictly.
nes, 112, 220, 356, ne wes, icas not
nescbe, 134, 192, 272, 334, 353, nesshe, 378,
soft, mild, tender, indolent; A.S. nesc.
nested, 132, make nests; A.S. nistian, id.
nieke'S, 308, deny; Lat. negare ? negat, MS. Oxon .
nie, 326, nige, 20, b. ni7ie.
nie'Se, 236, nige'Se, 198, ninth.
niht-fuel, 142. night-lird.
nimunge, 38, 208. conceptio7i, talcing, receiving.
ninien, to take; pr, nime'5, 6, 230; pr. sub. nime,
148; imp. nim, 324, nime'S, 78, 164, 376; p.
nam, nom, 230; p.p. i-numen, 42, 112, 382,
414; A.S. niman.
nis, 352, ne wis, knows not.
nis, 4, 376, ne is, is not.
til's, 404, malice.
ni^fule, 404, malicious.
niuelen, 212, 240, to look gloomy 1 A.S. niowul,
depressed, or, to heat with fhejist? Sc. to nevel,
strike with the fist.
noblesce, O.Fr. 166, nobleness.
noees, Fr. 78, nuptials.
nocturne, 270, the early morning prayers at 3
o^clock, called in A.S. uhtsang,
nob war, 134, nouwhare, 160, nou'here.
nolde, 96, ne wolde.
noldes, 390. ne woldes.
nomecu'Se, 'i'6A, famous, renowned.
noineliche, 282, especially, namely.
nonesweis, 86, 102, 212, nowise, by no means.
nost, 100, ne west, nostu, 232, ne west tu, know-
est thou not f
not, 326, 346, ne wot, knoweth not.
noten, 158, to note, observe well; imp, noati^,
notie'S, 232, a.; Fr. noter.
notien, 106, 114, 370, to- use; pr. note'S, 172;
A.S. notian, id.
nouh, 256, ne oub, ouglit not; pi. nowen, 380,
ne owen, ought not,
noubtunge, 426, disparagement, contempt; AS.
noht.
nou'Ser, 350, neither.
noSeleas, 266, 378, nereHheless.
no'Sinc, 266, nothing.
nowiht, 144, 216, 316, nothing.
nu, A.S. 114, now.
nule, 308, ne wule, nulle'S, 364, ne wulle'S, ivill
not.
nullich, 8, 56, 134, ne wule Ich, I will not.
nunon, 210, presently.
nurice, 198, a nurse.
nurS, 92, a. ne yr^S; A.S. yrh'S,/«aJ-,- " nur^' ne
hire kinie'S,"/'^^'^ cometh not to her.
nuste, 218, 222, ne wuste, knew not.
458
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
nute, 330, 424, ne wute, nuteS, 194, ne wute'5,
do not notice.
nutten, 370, to use; A.S. neotan, to enjoy, vse.
O, 186, one.
o, oji, o luft, 212, on the left, a sinistris, MS,
Oxon. o'Se, o'Ser, o'Sen, on the.
of-drawen, 392, to draw from; pr. of-drawe'S,
386, of-drahes, 258, a. of-drauh'S, 258.
of-dred, 218, afraid.
of-earnen, to merit, earn; pr. of-earne^, 194,
354; p. of-earnede, 160 , p.p. of-earned, 170,
182, 238; A.S. earnian.
offeren, 230, 254, to frighten; offered, 8, 266,
304, 336, afraid.
offerunges, 268, alarms; A.S. afseran, to terrify.
offingred, iOi, hungry; A.S. of-hingrian, to hun-
ger.
of-gon, 390, to deserve, seeh, win; pr. of-ge^,
258 ; p.p. of-gon, 386; A.S. of-gan, to go off,
require.
of-seche'S, 232, seeheth out, searcheth.
of-serued, 172, b. 238, of-serueden, 236, deserved.
ofte-si'Sen, 418, oftenti7nes; A.S. oft-si^.
of-Jjunchen, to repent; pr. sub. of-hunche, 118;
A.S. of-j>incan.
of-Kinchung, 110, 200, 206, grieving, repenting.
of-Jjurst, 238, 240, thirsty; A.S. of-)>yrst.
of- token, 24^, orertooJc.
ofture, 284, oftener.
of-urn, 398, e. S2)eed; A.S. of-urnan, to run off.
oker, 202, okere, 326, usury; A.S. wooer, id.
okere'5, 326, increaseth; A.S.eaea, wocer, usury.
oluhnen, 284, 416, to flatter, wheedle, caress;
p.p. i-oluhned, 180; A.S. olsecan, id.
olulinunge, 192, 218, 244, olhtninge, 192, c.
flattery, blandishment, coaxing; A.S. olsecung,
id.
on, 308, 356, an, one; one, 152, 232, 278, 366,
408, alone, only.
on, 2Q, grace, favour; A.S. unne, favoiir, permis-
sion, unnan, to grant, bestow; Isl. unan, favour.
onde, 104, 194, 196, 256, 274, g. ondes, 276,
282, e7ivy, hatred.
onefent, 164; f. the same as ononde; So. anent,
sometimes written on-event.
oni, 1 12, any,
on-iunne, 346, / grant; A.S. ge-unnan, to give,
grant, an-ge-unnan ? whence also an-geonni,
346, e.
onlepi, 366, v. anlepi.
onlicnesse, 18, an image; A.S. anlicnes.
onlich, 152, 156, 196, lonely; A.S. fenlic.
onlo'Sest, 200, 7nost hateful.
onlukest, 90, solitary; A.S. anlaga, alo7ie,s(in\\c;
MS. Oxon. solitarius.
ononde, 6, 426, onont, 298, 374, as to, concern-
ing; So. anent.
onnesse, 12, sameness; A.S. annys.
onswerien, 94, 96, to ansioer; pr. onswerie'S, 54;
imp. onsware, 400, answerie, 56, answer; p.p.
i-onswsrede, 54.
onrednesse, 12, 240, 250, unanimity, singleness
of mind.
ontenden, 92, 400, 402, 406, to kindle, inflame;
p.p. ontende, 426; A.S. ontendan, id.
ontendunge, 402, kindling.
ontfule, 212, 248, 408, envious.
onwil, onwille, 56, 198, 330, 400, desirous, earn-
est, wilful, self-willed; A.S. anwil, obstinate.
openluker, 8, more plainly; A.S. open, plain,
clear.
openen, 206, to op)en; pr. opene'S, 340; p.p.
i-opened, 242, 388, explained, opened; A.S.
openian, id.
ore, 26, 32, 80, 136, 316, 406, 430, grace, mercy,
pardon, favour; A.S. ar, aar, favour, piower,
riches. Weber, Met. Romances, derives it
from Fr. heur, in the sense of bonheur. It
appears to be used in tliis sense, p. 208.
ord, A.S. 60, orde, 212, the edge, or 2^oint of a
weapon, a corner.
orn, 98, c. ran, 294; A.S. yrnan, to run.
orne, 108, g. ; in the text rendered weane, jj«?'«,
wa7it,
ornure, 370, 'more cai-eful; A.S. georn, id.
ortrowe'S, 382, confidently believe; A.S. ofer,
treowian.
ostrice, 132, b. an ost7ich.
oten, 312, oats; A.S. aten.
o'Ses, 198, oaths.
o'b'erhwat, 96, 168, something else; A.S. o'Ser,
other.
o^'erhale, o'Serhwule, o^erhwules, 180, 232,
268, 356, 378, at times, at a7iy time, some-
ti7nes.
o'Serne, 404, other.
ou, 174, yoti.
oueral, 168, 372, 414, sup7-e7ne, everywhe7-e.
ouercumen, 198, to perform, accomplish, 116;
p.p. pe7fo7~7ned.
ouerdon, 286, to overdo.
ouergon, 238, to pniss away, over, to surpass,
gain; pr. ouerge'S, 380, 394, ouergas, 258, a.
ouerga, 390, e. for of-gon in the text.
ouergulde'5, 182, gildeth; A.S. ofergildan.
ouerhowe, 196, 224, 234, 276, haughtiness, dis-
dai7i, p7'es7tm.ptio7i,
ouerkesten, 274, to ovei-thro7i'.
GLOSSAUIAL INDEX.
4o9
ouerladen, 368, partly emptied ; A.S. ofeiv
hladan, to draw out loater, to empty.
ouermete, 296, immoderatvl y .
ouerspredde, 54, oversj)read.
ouerswu"Se, 368, 408, exceedingly.
ouertrust, iwesum^ption.
ouertrusti, 334, presumptuous.
ouertrusten, 332, to he too confident.
oueruortS, 288, gone too far.
ouerurn, 398, speed; A.S. oferjrnan, to run over,
out-run.
ouerturne'5, 356, revolve.
ouerworpen, 142, overwhelm; A.S. oferweorpan.
ouerweiS, 3S6, outweighs; A.S. ofer, over, wegan,
to tveigh.
ouh, 152, 156, 398, ouhte, 256, ouhtest, 406,
ought; pi. owen, 68, ouhten, 326; A.S. agan,
to otre.
ouhwar, 60, anywhere; A.S. ow-hwaer.
ouhwider, 172, any v)hither.
ouhte, 1, 390, ought, owned, j)ossessed; A.S.
agan, to owe, possess.
our, 104, ouvver, 106, ower, 64, owur, 190, your.
out, 198, 212, 296, 338, 416, anything.
owune, 302, 340, o/ie's oton.
packes, 166, ^jac^-*'; D. pak, a pack.
paien, 108, 318, paigeii, to please, satisfy, pay;
pr. paieS, 216; p. paide, 290; pr. sub. paie,
6; p.p. i-paied, 44, 124, 186, 198, 282, 290;
O.Fr. paer.
Parais, 66, ZoQ, paradise.
parlurs, 68, parlour^s.
parti, 406, pr. sub. dejiart; Fr. parte, id.
pa'Seret?, 2\i, poketh; probably of the same origin
as D. poteren, to poke, search. Perhaps it is
from A.S. pe^Sian, to tread, make a path.
This, in some measure, corresponds with the
MS. Oxon. where it is, " se in eis balneat, eos
palpat, et planat."
peche, 256 [pilehe.^], a garment.
peintunge, 392, j)aintiii.g.
peinture, 242, a picture.
peis, O.Fr. 166, ]72,^5eact'.
pellican, 118, a pelican.
peoddare, 66, a pedlar; Sc. pedder, pether, tra-
velling merchant. Jamieson derives it from
pedarius; in Du Cange, " nudis ambulans
pedibus;" but this is rather the description of
a Romish pilgrim. Forby, with greater pro-
bability, derives it from ped, in the Norfolk
dialect, a covered pannier, used for carrying
wares to market.
peolien, 86, to pillage, peel; A.S. puUian ? to pull.
pigges, 204, pigs.
picken, 84, c. to pick.
pilche-clout, 212, v. note a in p. 212.
pilche, 362, a cloak, or mantle of fur; A.S. pylca.
pileken, 84, pilken, 86, to pluck'i A.S. pluccian,
id.
pilien, 86, g. v. peolien.
pilewin, 84, c. v. peolien.
piment, 404, balsam.
pine, A.S. 114, 306, 358, ^am; pi. pinen, 360,
pinful, 356, painfid.
pinen, 216, to punish; pr. pine^, 360, pr. sub.
pinie, 306, torment, inflict pain; p.p. i-pined,
114, 262, 366; A.S. pinan, gepined.
pinunge, A.S. 368, 372, piain, pining, giving
jmin.
pinsunge, 368, c. pinsinges, pinsunges, 372, b.
pain, pains.
piot, 88, o. magpie; Sc. pyot.
pistle, 350, epistle.
pitaunce, 114, 260, 412, a pittance, food of a
choicer kind, used in religious houses as an
indulgence, on holidays and special occasions;
Lat. pietancia.
place, 358, lists, inclosed place tchere tournaments
are held.
pleien, 94, 212, 424, to play; pr. pleieS, 212,
plaie'5, 230; p. pleiede, 318; A.S. plegian, id.
pleie, 344, pleowe, 184, pleouwe, 318, ploge,
184, h. 2ilay; A.S. plega, id.
ploh, 384, b. a pilough.
plokin, pilien, 86, g. pluck, jnllage.
i-pluht, 208, 310, plighted; A.S. plihtan.
ponewes, 12i, pence.
Povvel, 162, Paul.
prechur, 160, a preacher; Fr. precheur.
i-preised, 144, ^;rawec?; Isl. pris, piraise; Ct.
preisen, to praise.
preon, 84, a prickle, a pin; Isl. prion, id.
prelaz, \0, prelates.
preost, 318, 340, priest; pi. preostes, 346.
preouen, 390, 408, to prove; p.p. i-preoued, 236;
O.Fr. prover, id.; A.S. profian, id.
preofunge, 160, proof.
pricches, 60, stings.
pricke, 228, a point, jot; A.S. pricca, id.
^rWi^^,24:i,-^v, pricketh, goadeth; pr.p. prikinde,
134, pricking, inciting; A.S. priccian, id.
prickiunge, 234, 282, pricking, stinging, stimu-
lating.
pris, 392, jjrice.
to-proke'5, 204, pr. inciteth to; pr. sub. prukie,
incite; A.S. priccian; Sc. to prog, to incite.
prokiunge, 266, incitemerit, instigation; pi. pro-
kunges, 294.
460
GLOSSAKIAL INDEX.
prude, 140, 194, 2^0, pride.
pruden, 232, b. to become proud.
prut, 248, 276, proud.
prudest, 296, pi-ovdest.
psalm -wuruhte, 78, 134, 400, /wa^ww's^.
puf, 254, a puff; pi. puffes, 178.
puffen, 272, 426, to jmff, hlow; pr. puffed, 210;
p. pufte, 266; pr. sub. puffe, 124.
pulten, 366, to r,bour.d, pulte'5, 366.
pultunge, 366, a rehoivnding.
punde-S, 72, punt, 72, 418, puinde, 72, d. 418, a.
pr. shutteth m^>, iinpoumleth ; p.p. i-pund, 128,
p)ent up; A.S. pyndan.
purgatorie, 126, 228.
purses, 168, 420, Fr. bourse, a 'purse.
put, 58, 116, 196, putte, 116, a well, pit; A.S.
pytt, id.
puten, 116, to put; pr. sub. pute, 92.
pu'Seres, 214, c. D. poteren, to stir ujj.
quaer, 282, a hook.
quarreaus, 62, bolts [quarrels'] shot from a cross-
bow; Fr. carreaux.
queme, 26, p)lease; A.S. eweman, to please.
quic, ne que'S, 122, c. moved not, nor spoke.
quieshipe, 150, quickness.
quiderie, 56, presumption, self-conceit; O.Fr.
cuidereau.
ragget, 284, a. ragged, rottgh, jagged; A.S.
hraeod.
raikinde, 140, b. raking, straining; A.S.riecende?
ra'Ser, 190, rather.
ra'Sliche, 422, g. quickly; A.S. hra^e, id.
read, 6, 198, advice, counsel; pi. reade, 268,
counsels; A.S. rsed.
reade, 24, pr. advise; A.S. rsedan.
readesmon, 224, an adviser.
read, 112, 152, 288, red.
i-readed, 356, 402, reddened.
rea'Se, 224, readili/; A.S. hrse^e, id.
readiliche, 344, readliche, 422, readily, quickly;
A.S. readlice.
realen,a raven; gen. reafnes, 84; A.S. rsefen,id.
ream, 110, d. A.S. bream, waiUng.
reame, 72, imp. hinder, interrupt; A.S. hrem-
man, id.
reauares, 150, robbers; A.S. reafre, id.
reauen, 396, reaue, reauin, 68, g. to rob, steal;
pr. reaueti, 286, 300, reaues, 96, h.; A.S.
reafian, id.
reawe, 336, row.
reached, 188, reached, 188, i. pr. reacheth; imp.
reche'5, 338; A.S. rteccean.
reccheS, 104, p. rouhte, 60, recked, cared for;
recche, 104, d. reck, care for; A.S. reccan, id.
recche'S, 164, raketh, rangeth about; pr. p. rec-
chinde, 140; Isl. reika, vagari.
rechles, 216, 376, reches, 376,/rawi'mce?i«6; A.S.
recels, id.
reelus, 378, shut up; Fr. reclus.
recoilen, 294, to drive back; Fr. reculer, id.
recorden, 256, to repeat, recite; Fr. recorder.
red, A.S. 66, 178, advice, counsel.
redeu, 244, 286, 344, 428, to read; pr. redeb',
244, 268, reade-S, 430, "ret, 170; imp. redeS,
430; p.p. i-red, 66, c.; A.S. redan, id.
redunge, 240, 286, reading.
reHac, 202, 208, rapine, robbery.
regibbeth, 138, kicketh; O.Fr. regibeir, to kick.
rein, 246, rain.
reine, 98, b. pr. sub. rain; A.S. renian, to rain.
relef, 168, alms, relief; O.Fr. relief, id.
rem'5, 152, calleth, crieth; p. remde, 106, g.
242, 326, d. cried out, lamented; p.p. i-remd,
1, importuned; A.S. hreman, to cry, weep,
renge'S, 164, goeth about, rangeth ?
i-rend, 148, 150, rent, torn; A.S. rendan, to
rend.
Tenten,lQ8,re7its, revenues; A.S. rent; Fr. rente,
rent.
reoufulnesse, 368, compassion.
reounesse, 144, b. regret, grief, sorroto; A.S.
hreownes.
reo'b'er, 140, a. an ox; A.S. hreo'Sor.
reou'Se, 54, 150, 238, 290, 304, piity, grief,
calamity; A.S. hreowan, to repent, grieve.
reou'Sfule, 116, 222, 326, compassionate, lament-
able.
repen, ropin, 128, a. to catch hold of, steal; A.S.
rypan, to pluck, pick, pull.
reping, roping, 314, h. searching, extorting, draw-
ing out.
resede, 326, g. was in a passion, violent; A.S.
rese, violence.
reuen, 84, e. a raven.
ricbe, 40, 208, 362, a ki^igdom,; A.S. rice.
riden, 216, to ride; pr. p. ridinde, 216, riding.
ridlen, 234, ridli, 234, e. to riddle, sift.
rihte, 286, 332, judgment, 348, right, straight,
adj.
rihtet5, 1, 410, directeth; p.p. i-riht, 364, set up;
A.S. rihtan, to direct, make straight.
rihtwise, 286, righteous.
rihtwisnesse, 304, yVsiice; A.S. rihtwisnes.
rikelot, 88, a. viugpie.
rikenares, 214, accountants.
rikenen, 210, 330, to give account, to reckon;
A.S. reccean.
GLOSSAKIAL INDEX.
461
rimen, 128, c.
rinde, 148, 150, the rind, lark; A.S. rind, id.
rindleas, 150, without hark.
rinen, 128, c. to touch, lay hold of; pr. rineS,
320; imp. rin, 408; A.S. hrinan, id.
rinunge, 408, touching; A.S. hrinung.
ring, A.S. 420, a ring.
ringinde, 140, ranging, roving; A.S. ring, a
circle ?
riote, 198, route, way. purpose ? Fr. route ?
ris, 100, twigs, boughs; A.S. hris.
riwle, 1, 410, pi. riwlen, 410, a rule.
riwle'5, 1, ruleth.
rixIcS, 80, 164, a. 248, 374, ruleth, governeth;
A.S. rixian.
rixlunge, 248, rule, dominion.
robbares, 334, robbers.
robbetJ, 286, robbeth; p.p. i-robbed, 150, robbed.
rode, 26, the cross.
roden-takne, 20, the sign of the o'oss; A.S. rod-
tacon.
rode-stef, the holyrood, cross
rondes, 148, 150, stores; Sc. rungs; P.E. rungs,
the round steps of a ladder. Holloway's Diet,
ronke, 268, e. rank, strong, j^roud; A.S. ranc.
ropes, rope's, 330, c. crieth; D, roepen, to cry, call.
rote, 204, 416, a root.
i-roted, 386, rooted.
rotien, 116, 274, to rot, fester; p. rotede, 256;
pr. sub. rotie, 352; p.p. i-roted, 106, roted, 84,
rotede, 216, rotin, roteS, 84, d. ; A.S. rotian, id,
roue, 152, a. roof; A.S. rof, id.
rouhte, 60, v. recche^.
i-rud, 392, a., freed; A.S. hreddan, to free, rid.
rude, rudi, 330, ruddy, blushing.
i-ruded, 50, 332, 356, reddened; A.S. readian,
to redden.
ruchge, rube, 1 82, e. rough; ruhure, 284, rougher.
rug, 264, 294, rugge, 418, the back; A.S. hryg.
mine, 178, b. synonymous with rinen, q. v.
ruken, 266, to get on the back, to mount.
ruken, 214, to rake together.
rukelcn, 214, 406, to heap up; pr. ruckele'S,
214; A.S. hreac, a rick, heap; Sc. to rickle.
rune, 74, talk, mystery, council; pi. runes, 96,
154; A.S. run, id.
rungen, rungge, 316, a. to tvring; A.S. wringan.
rungen up, 22, a. to stand up); rung up, 290,
rouse thyself.
rusten, 344, to rust; i-rusted, 160, rusted; A.S.
rustian, id.
rute, 350, road, way, route; Fr. route,
rute, 99, m. company, host, army, rout. Milton,
Comus, 542.
ruwe, 120, 184, rough, roughness; A.S. hruh, id.
sacretS, 268, consecrateth; Fr. sacrer.
sabraz, 364, a medicinal drink.
sahe, sage, 56, k. 164, c. a saying, word; A.S.
sagu, id.
saie, V. siggen.
sakelease, 68, sakles, 116, b. 362, e. innocent,
A.S. saeleas, quiet, jieaceable; Sc. sacless,
saikless, id.
saluz, 388, salvation; Fr. salut, id.
salm, 290, a, psalm.
SalmwTirhte, 256, Psc.lmist.
sarre, 112, 236, 292, sorer; A.S. sar, sore.
salue, 282, a remedy; pi. saluen, 226, 240.
salue, 370, ointment.
i-salued, 274, remedied.
saulene, 182, f. of souls.
sauuaciun, 242, salvation.
sauuen, 98, to save.
sauur, 102, 138, 232, Z76,savour, delight; O.Fr.
savor,
sauter, 220, 292, 334, the psalter.
sawe, 98, 108, 256, 360, a saying, speech, rumour;
A.S. sagu, id.
scale. 334, c. v. scoale.
scapeloris, 424, c. scapulanes.
schaldinde, 246, scalding.
schale, skale, 214, i. a howl.
schamel, 166, f. a stool, footstool, bench; A.S.
scaniul, id.
schandle, 380, schaundle, 108, evil speaking.
scharne, 106, k. scorn.
scharpscliipe, 380, a. sharimess; A.S. sceaxi,sharp.
scheaden, 270, to separate; A.S. sceadan, id.
.scheadewe, 242, 364, 366, a shadoiv; A.S.
sceaduw, id.
scheakeles, 94, shackles, limits; A.S. sceacul, a
shackle.
scheape, 424, shape, n.
scheapes, 362, d. skills.
scheapien, to shape; imp. schepie'S, 420; p.p.
i-scheaped, 200; A.S. sceapan, gesceapan, to
shape.
scheawen, 154, to shew; pr. scheawe'S, 154, 344,
sheweth, revealeth; p. scheawede, 154, 250;
imp. scheau, 90, 98, 292; p.p. i-scheawed,
112, 154, 230; A.S. sceawian, to shew.
scheauware, 90, a mirror; A.S. sceawere.
scheauvvinges, 268, appearances; A.S. sceawung,
a sight.
scheche'5, 390, seeketh; A.S. gesecan.
scheden, 344, to drop), sjnll, shed, pour; pr.
schede'5, 166; p. shede, 420, a.; pr. sub.
schet, 320, be jjotired out; imp. sched, 320,
schet, 266, d. 420; p.p. i-sched, 402; A.S.
scedan, to shed.
462
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
seliedunge, 262, shedding, n.
scheken, 344, to shake; pr. schekeS, 60, 240;
pr. p. schekinde. 60; A.S. sceacan, id.
schelchine, 12, 390, a slave, drudge, scidlion;
A.S. sceale, a servant,
schelde, 252, 392, a shield.
schenden. 816, to shame, confound, defeat, destroy,
pr. schent, 298 ; imp. schend, 266 ; p.p.
i-schend, 248, 296, 298; A.S. scendan, id.
schendful, 112, 158, 200, g. 322, 356, shameful,
ignontinio'us, re^n'oachfid.
schendfuliche, 316, 400, 7-eproachfidlij, disgrace-
fully.
schendfulnesse, 322, vileness.
scliendlae, 106, 322, 356, schendlakes, 188,
disgrace, infamy, ignominy, derision.
schene, 98, 398, fair, beautiful, bright; conip.
schennure, 246, sehenre, lOO, 324, 352, 362;
A.S. scinan, to shine, seean, shone; G. schon.
scheomel, 166, f. a stool, footstool; A.S. seamel.
scheome, 60, scheomen, 108, shame.
scheomen, 312, to be ashamed; A.S. sceomian, id.
.sclieomeful, 302, bashfid, ashamed.
scheomeleas, 170, shameless; A.S. sceamleas, id.
scheomeliche, 366, ignominiously .
scheon, 362, shoes; A.S. sceon; Sc. shoon.
scheoinde, 16, shoeing, futting on shoes; A.S.
sceoian, to shoe.
seheortliche, 308, 410, briefly; sceortlic, id.
scheote'S, 150, scheot, 60, pr. shoots; scheotunge,
60, shooting, n.; scute, 60, schute, 62, shot, n.;
A.S. sceotan, to shoot.
scheouh. 2i2'shy; G. scheu, id.
scher, 272, the groin, secret parts; A.S. scaru,
id.
selieunelie'5, schuntes, 242, d. shies, shrinks;
scheunchinde, 2i2,d. shying, shrinking; A.S.
scunian, to sh^tn.
schil, 204, the mind, v. skile.
schilden, 82, 366, to shield, defend; pr. schilt,
392: pr. sub. i-schilde, 84; A.S. scyldan, id.
schillings, 398, d. shillings.
schindle'5, 186, b. spurneth; A.S. scendan ? to
spurn.
schine'5, 246, pr. shvneth; pr.p. schininde, 224;
A.S. scinan.
schir, 1, 144, 246, 382, clear, piure, sheer, sincere;
A.S. seir, id.
schire, 308, a shire, county, region; A.S. scire, id.
schire'S, ^H, pnrifieth,
sehirliche, ^jiM'e/y, 154, solely.
schirnesse, 386, 406, jtureness.
schirches, 418, n. of the church, v. eliirche.
schiue, 416, a. a slice, piece; Isl. skil'a ; Sc.
slave, id.
scholde, 332, shoidd.
schone, 420, shoes.
schonken, 258, legs; A.S. scanca, the shank.
schop, 138, made, created; A.S. sceapan, to make.
schorn, 106, 108, 344, scorn, scornful ; D.
scheme, id.
schemed, 248, scorneth.
scliornunge, 200, scorning.
schrapien, 116, 344, to scrajie, erase, scratch; pr.
schrepe^, 186, 344; p.p. i-schrapede, 82, d.;
screopan, id.
schreaden, 416, schraden, 416, a. shreds, frag-
ments; A.S. screade, a shred.
schrift, A.S. 4, 298, 300, 302, 303, 304, 308, 314,
confession, a confessor; g. sehriftes, 6, 418.
schrift-feder, 316, 340, a father confessor.
schriuen, 340, 344, 426, to confess, receive con-
fession; pr. schriue^, 314; p. schrof, 68;
pr. sub. schriue, 344; imp. schrif, 266; p.p.
i-schriuen, 332, 412; A.S. scrifan, id.
schriuinges, 268, f. acts of confession.
schrude, 300, a garment; A.S. scrud.
schruden. 214, 412, 414, to clothe; pr. schrude'S,
260; p. schrudde, 302; p.p. i-schrud, 66,
166, 260; A.S. scrydan,id.
schuchteth, schutten, 312, d. get rid, shut of;
A.S. sceadan ? v. schuncheS.
schucke, 316, 326, the devil; A.S. scucca, id.
schuldi, 206, guilty.
sehule'S, 212, scowleth.
sehuUe, 296, skull.
schunche'5, 312, pr. pi drive away; pr. sub.
sehunche, 380, slink away; Sc. to shank away,
to send aioay peremptorily any one whom it is
desirous to get rid of; A.S. sceanea, the shank,
legs 1
schuntes, d, v. 242, scheunehe^.
schunien, 82, 86, to shun, avoid; p. schuneden,
286; pr. sub. schunie, 92; A.S. scunian, id.
schuppare, 138, schuppinde, 200, the Creator;
A.S. sceapan, to create.
schurge, 418, a scourge; Fr. escourgee, id.
schurte'5, 422, imp. divert; Sc. to shurt; G.
scherzen, id.
schutte'S, 96, imp. shut; A.S. scyttan.
schuue'S, 314, pr. shoveth, shoveleth; p.p. i-
schuuen, 316; A.S. sceofan, to shove, thrmt,
sckucke [1. schucke], the devil; A.S. scucca.
sclattes, slette^', 212, b. hang down, as a dog its
ears,
scoale, 214, schale, skale, 214, i. a bowl.
scotten, 348, 360, to share; pr. schotteS, 348;
A.S. sceotan, to expertd money in common.
scragen, 4, d. scraggy, lean, skin and hone,
rugged.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
463
scratte^, 186, b. scratcheth; P.E. to scrat, to
scrcqie together,
scrowe, 42, 284, a scroll, booh.
i-sealed, 388, sealed.
sec, 330, sucked.
sec, 176, 370, seke, 370, sich; com. seccure, 46,
more sich; A.S. seoc, id.
sechen, 164, 318, 350, to seeh; pr. seche'S, 274,
324. 358; p. souhte, 130, 318; pr. sub. seche,
234; imp. s. seeh, 102; pi. seche'S, 342; pr. p.
sechinde, 152; p.p. i-souht, 314; A.S. secan,
to seeh.
secli, 50, pr. sub. fall sich; A.S. sseclian, to
sicken.
secnesse, 112, 360, sichnese; A.S. seocnes, id.
scene's, 368, sickeneth.
sedole? 12.
see, 230, a lake, sea; G. see, a lah^
sege, 238, a throne.
seihte, 250, 256, seihtness, 25, 120, seihness,
426, 2}eace.
seihtni, 28 [1. seihtnien], to he reconciled, at peace;
pr. seihtne^, 374; p.p. i-seihtned, 336; A.S.
sehtian, to reconcile.
seim, 412, lard.
seke, 330, 364, sich.
selcu'Se, 8, 360, stranje, uncommon; A.S. seld-
cu^, seldom hnoicn.
seldcene, 78, 80, seldom, rarely hajypeninf/; A.S.
seld, seldom, ceniian, to bring forth,
.selde, 72, seldom,
seldhwonne, 428, seldom,
seldspeche, 76, taciturnity.
sell, 64, 108, 352, i-seli,' 50, 182, blessed, good,
happi/; A.S. selig, id.
seUliche, 184, hapipy.
seluh^e, 354, 398, i-seluh'Se, 282, happtiaess;
A.S. gessel'Se, id. '
semblaunt, 90, 128, 416, aj>pearance, shew; Ft,
semblant.
semen, 180, f. seem; semde, 112, b. seemed.
senden, 422, to send; pr. .sent, 246, 256, seint,
192; pr. sub. sends, 416; imp. sende'S,
246.
seolk, 420, silh; A.S. seolc.
seoluer, 152, seolure, 398, silver.
i-seon, 92, 188, i-seonne, 92, to see; pr. i-seo'S,
196, isih^, 6, 422, isihst, 178; p. i-seib, 166,
272, i-seien, 190; pr. sub. i-seo, 348, 352;
p. sub. i-seie, 242; p.p. i-seien, 92; A.S. ge-
seon, id.
seoruwe, 190, 354, sorroiv; A.S. sorg, sorh, id.
seoruwen, 308, to be sorry,
seoruhful, 110, sorrowftl, conip. seoruhfulure,
308; A.S. sorhful.
seoruhfuUiche, 400, sorrowfully; A.S. sorhlice.
seoSb'en, 146, 284, since, afterwards; A.S.
seo'5'San .
seoue, 236, 324, seven; seoue'Se, 382, seventh.
seouvven, to sew; imp. seou-we'S, 420 ; p.p.
i-seouwed, 200; A.S. siowian, id.
seruie, 6 [1. seruien], to serve; pr. serue'S, 422.
sette, 358, a sitting, seat.
setten, 274, to set, plant, settle, siibside; pr.
setteS, 32; p. sette, 270; p.p. i-set, 254, 378;
i-sette, 412, 416, 428; A.S. settan, id.
sewid, 88, f. shewed; A.S. sceawian, to shew,
shede, 420, a. lost, injured; Sc. skaithed; A.S.
seea'San, to hurt.
shene, 10, bright; A.S. scinan, to shine.
shwuche, 318, such.
sibbe, 204, hindred, related by blood; Sc. sib;
A.S. sib, id.
sic, 176, sik, 178, sich.
sides, 398, shekels.
siden, A.S. 392, sides.
sigaldren, 208, sigaldrie, 208, c. sorcery, divina-
tion; MS. Oxon. sortilegia.
i-sigge, 172, ich sigge, I say.
siggen, 24, 346, 426, to say, recite; pr. sigge'S,
22, 24, sei^\ 182, 358, 376, 382, 408, seist,
408; p. seide, 72, 224, 352; pr. sub. sigge,
8, 20, 120, saie, 120, b.; imp. sigge'S, 18,
262, 346, seie, 238, 352; pp. i-seid, 182,
274, 374; A.S. seggan, id.
sihSe, 52, 90, 94, pi. sihSen, 94, sight; A.S.
gesiht, id.
i-sih^, 8, sighs, strains; A.S. sican, to sob, sigh,
sike^, 32, sikes, 284, pi. n. sighs; A.S. siccet.w
sigh.
sike, 32, 112, 394, sick; A.S. seoc.
siker, 60, 102, 158, 256, 266, 424, safe, sure,
trusty, surely; Sc. sicker; Gr. sicher,
sikerliche, 352, 364, surely, securely.
sikernesse, 342, security.
sikerure, 164, more secure.
singen, 44, 424, to sing; pr. singe's; pr. p.
singinde, 424.
sitten, 22, 266, 358, to sit; pr. sit, 332; p. sete,
238; pi. seten, 258; pr. sub. site, 290, sitte,
358; A.S. sittan, id.
si«en, A.S. 18, 76, 160, 236, times.
sker, 136, clear, free, secure; com. skerre, 314,
350; A.S. scir, j:)Mr«.
skeren, 308, to acquit, free, clear.
skerre, 242, d. shy, startled, frightened; Sc.
skairy, a shairy horse, one that easily takes
fright; E. to scare,
skil, 306, skile, 206, 228, 270, 272, 306, schil,
204, reason, the mind; g. skiles, 204, 288,
464
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
294, 346, skiles gettunge, the mind''s consent;
Sw. skal, reason, arffumenl.
skirmen, 212, to skirmish, fence, strike; pr. skir-
me'S, 212; MS. Oxon. impungit; Fr. escrinier,
to fence, tilt.
skulkin, 400, b. to shilk, slink away.
skurgen, 258, scourges.
slakien, \^i, to slacken, cease, become remiss; A.S.
slacian, id.
sleate'5, 212, 334, sleeteth, aims at, hangs clown
his ears, like a dog in pursuit of game,
slean, 138, slenne, 130, to slay; pr. slea'5, 118,
210, 252, slayeth; p. slouh', 118, 136, 298,
336; pi. slowen, 270, 366, slew; imp. slea,
206, sle'S, 266, e. ; p.p. isleiene, 118, 156;
A.S. slean, slagan, to slay.
slepen, 238, 270, 272, to sleej); pr. slepe«, 212;
p. slepte, 270, sleptest, 238; pr. p. slepinde,
224,
slep, 212, a sleeper.
slepie, 272, slee^oy.
sleuen, 56, sleeves; A.S. slief, sleeve.
slibbri, 74, e. slippery; A.S. slipur, id.
sliddri, 74, 252, slippery; A.S. slidan, to slide.
sliddrunge, 252, sliding, slippery.
sliden, 252,<o sZt'cZe; •pr.&Wt, slides; A.S. slidan, id.
slim, 276, slime.
slouh^e, 144, 194, 252, sloth; A.S. slaw, slow.
slowe, 212, a. sluggard; slouh, 258, sloio, in-
dolent.
sluggi, 258, sluggish.
slummi, 258, slothful, lazy ; A.S. slimig, inuddy.
smeeh, 94, 276, 376, taste; A.S. sniaec, id.
smecchen, 324, to taste; p. smeihte, 106, 114,
238, smaehte, 114, e.; p.p. i-smeeched, 92,
94; A.S. smoecean, to taste.
smecchunge, 64, 104, tasting.
smechleas, 138, 376, tasteless.
smel, smele, 314, 324, small; A.S. smsel, id.
smel, 104, 106, smell; pi. smelles, 104.
smellen, to smell; pr. p. smellinde, 340.
smeorten, 238, to smart; pr. smeorte'S, 326; A.S.
smeortan.
smeortunge, 294, smarting.
smeo'Sien, 284, to work as a smith; pr. smeo'Se^,
52, smiSes, 52, g, ; A.S. smi^ian, id.
sme'Se, 1, smooth.
sme'Sen, 4, to make smooth; smeSe^, 4, 184,
maketh smooth; A.S. smet?ian.
smitare, 156, smiter; A.S. smitan, to strike.
smiten, 366, 408, to smite, strike, dart; pr. smit,
94; A.S. smitan.
smi5, 78, a carpenter, smith; A.S. smitan.
smi'S^e, 284, smithy.
i-smoked, 316, tasted, touched ; A.S. smajcan.
smurien, 372, 378, to anoint ; pr. smurie^, 244;
A.S. smyrian, id.
smuriles, 372, ointments; A.S. smyrels, id.
smurSre, 272, smoulder, smoke ; A.S. smoran.
snakere'5, 380, pr. cometh in a sneaking and
hypocritical manner; pr. p. snakerinde, 290;
A.S. snican, to sneak, creep; snaca, a snake.
sneasin, snesen, 212, f. to strike through, pierce;
A.S. snas, a sjnf.
sneates, sneatres, 82, f. good advice; A.S. snoter,
wise, prudent.
snecelien, 324, to snatch.
sol, 324, /o«f^, dirty; A.S. sol, soil, filth.
some, 426, concord; A.S. som, id.
somed, 88, 264, 308, 372, 388, together, at the
same time, nnited.
somentale, 426, a. concord; A.S. somen, somed,
together, tgle, speech.
somlich, 94, semlieh, 94, i. seemly, proper; Gr.
ziemlich, id.
isompned, \%^, joined; A.S. somnian,<o assemble.
somrednesse, 254, concord, unanimity ; A.S.
samrade, id,
sond, 402, sand; A.S. sand, id.
sonde, 104, 126, 184, 190, 272, 368, a mes-
senger, anything sent, a sending; pi. sonden,
246, 388.
sondesraon, 190, 256, a messenger, ambassador;
pi. sondesmen, 388.
sone, 422, soon; A.S. sona, id. com. sonre, 58,
266, sooner.
i-sonted. 350, sainted, made saints; O.Fr. saintir,
id.
sopare, 152, a seller of soap, a pedlar.
sope, soapi; A.S. sape; Sc. sape, saip.
sor, 354, 376, pai7i, anxiety; A.S. sorg.
sore, 272, sorrow, contrition.
sori, 282, sorie, 384, sorry, unhappy; com.
soriure, 310, sup. sorest, 382, most sorrouful.
soriliche, 224, 354, painfully; A.S. sarlice,
swarliee.
sot, Z^a, foolish.
so-S, A.S. 138, 302, true; so«es, 102, adv. truly.
softest, A.S. 26, ever true.
so'Sliche, 12, 240, 242, truly, really, certainly;
A.^. so'Slice, id.
sotschipe, 362, ^22, folly; A.S. sotscipe.
sparien, 416, to spare; p.p. i-spared, i-sparet,
364, d. i-spareded [1. i-spared], 364; A.S.
sparian, id.
spat, 104, e. a spot, stain.
spatie, 104, g. stained, spotted; A.S. spsetan, to
split.
speches, speckes, 288, b. specks; A.S. specca, «
speck.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
465
speche, 82, 98, 100, speech i sjiea king.
speken, 72, 74, 98, to sjieal:; pr. speke^, 82, 88,
100; p. spec, 78, 272; p.p. i-spoken; pr. sub.
speke, 104; A.S. specan, id.
spekeful, 100, 2}i'cd{n(/; A.S. spsecan, to speak,
spele'5, 170, 300, 284, 372, sjieaketh, meaneth;
A.S. spellian, to speak, tell, relate.
spelles, 120, stories; A.S. spell, a story, tale,
spellunge, A.S. 64, 104, discourse, speaking,
spense, 350, exjxnse.
speowen, 240, 346, to vomit, pr. speowe'S; A.S.
speowian, id.
sperclinde, 34, gloiving; A.S. spserc, a spark.
speren, 80, g. to spar; pr. spared, sperres, 70, g.
shntteth, sparreth; A.S. sparran, to shut.
spet, 240, spette'5, 78, sjritteth; p. spette, 106;
imp. spi, 310, spit; A.S. spittan, to spit.
spitel staf, sputel stef, 384, a. spade ?
spitel vuel, 148, leprosy.
sprenge'S, 16, imp. spHnkle; p.p. i-spreinde, 92,
i-sprengde, 92, b. spread, dispersed; A.S.
sprengan, to sprinkle, disperse.
spreoue, 248, trial,'proof.
spret, 98, spreads; p.p. i-spredde, 230, i-spred,
390, extended, spread; A.S. sprsedan, to spread,.
sprintles, 276, twigs; M.S. Oxon. raniusculi.
sprutte^, 86, sprozUeth; A.S. sprytan.
spotle, 288, spittle.
spotlunge, 188, spitting; A.S. spatlung, id.
spurnen, 188, ?o stoJHJ^e; pr. spurneS, 186; A.S.
spurnan, id.
spuse, 98, a spouse, hnde; Fr. epouse.
spuse-bruche, 56, adultery.
sput, 196, b. speeds, urges ^ A.S. spedan; G.
spuden, sputen, to sp)eed.
i-stald, 6, instituted, established; A.S. sta'Selian,
to establish.
stalen, 354, arms, or sides of a ladder; A.S.
Stffilg.
stalewarde, 272, stout, firm, steady; A.S. stal-
ferh'Se, id.
stalewardliche, 80, 344, stoutly, firmly, reso-
lutely.
stamin, 418, a kind of shirt.
Stat, 204, state, condition.
sta'Selwur'Se, 272, b. steady.
steaue, 292, a staff; A.S.stoef.
stefne, 76, 82, 120, 126, 162, 236, 366, 414, a
voice; A.S. stefn, id.
istefned, 310, established; A.S. stefnian.
steire, 284, 352, ste}), degree; A.S. stasger.
steken, bisteken, 62, to shut; p.p. i-stekene, 50;
Sc. to steek, id.
stel, 160, steel; A.S. style.
stenede, 122, storied.
CAMD. SOC.
stenh, 84, stunch, 104, 216, a stench; A.S.
stenc.
steorc, 132, a. stork [1. struccion, ostrice, 132, b.] ;
A.S. store, a stork, struta, an ostrich.
steorc-naked, 260, stark naked; A.S. sterc, stearc,
stark.
steorue'S, 222, pr. dieth; p. sterf, 360, 366; p.p.
i-storuen, 308, a-storuen, 310; A.S. steorfan,
to die.
Sterne, 218, sturne, 366, stern; A.S. stearn.
stert-hwule, 336, an instant, the last fleeting
moments; A.S. steort, stert, the tail, extreme
23oint, hwile, time, horula.
steuene, 160, a voice; AS. stefn.
stiche, 110, 282, 326, 370, a stitch, sharp pain;
A.S. stiee.
i-stieched, 424, a. A.S. gesticeed, stuck, pierced.
sticke, 370, spoon; A.S. sticca.
stien, 40, 356, 362, 364, to ascend; pr. stih'S,
p. steih, 250; p.p. i-stien, 400; A.S. stigan,
to ascend.
istihd, 424, raweci [^iei-ce(£.' A.S. stician]; A.S.
stigan, to ascend.
stilrS, 272, stabs; stihten, 272, stabbed; A.S.
stician, to stab, stick.
stike'S, 214, hccunteth.
stille, A.S. 116, silent.
stilled, 186, A.S. stillan, to still.
stilliche, 82, silently; A S. stillice.
stil'Se, 156, sileiice; A.S. stillan, to still.
stinge-5, 82, 208, pr. stingeth; imp. stink, 230,
sting, 230, b.; pr. p. stinginde, 82, stinc-
ginde, 294; A.S. stingan, to sting.
stinken, 86, to stink, give forth or smell an odour
of am/ kind; pr. stinkeS, 84; p. stone, 326,
s'tong,' stank, 230; pi. stunken, 230; pr. sub.
i-stinckeS ; im. sub. stunken, 86 ; pr. p.
stinkinde, 84, 164,216; A.S. stenean, to smell.
stiward, 386, a steward.
stod-mere, 316, stud-mare, brood-mare.
stol, 166, stool; A.S. stol.
stolde, 8, established; A.S. sta'Selian, to settle.
stonden, 266, to stand; pr. stonst, 236, «tont,
266, stonde'S, 366; p. stod, 352, 370; A.S.
standan, id.
stonene, 378, of stone.
storien, 154, d. histories.
strapeles, 420, drawers?
strea, 295, 324, straw; A.S. streaw.
streamden, 188, e. streamed, flowed ; A.S.
streamian.
streccheS, 378, pr. stretcheth, extendeth; p.
streihte, 280; imp. strik, 408; p.p. i-streiht,
362, 390; A.S. strecean, to stretch.
strenden [1. stremden], 188, e. streamed, flowed.
3 0
466
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
strenc'Ses, 270, stront/holds.
strengest, 280, strongest,
stiengre, 326, more difficult.
stren'b'e'S, 140, sti engtheueth.
stren'Se, 140, sti'enc^e, 280, strength.
streones, 208, 210, 234, j;(i-Oi^eji,y; A.S. strynan,
to beget, procreate.
streone'5, 234, 278, hegetteth, conceiveth, giceth
birth; p.p. i-streoned, QQ, 210; A.S. streonan,
strynan, to beget.
strete, 104, street, road; A.S. strsct.
strik, 408, stretch, extend, v. strecche'5.
strof, 398, strove.
stronge, 112, 362, strict, severe, austere; A.S.
strong, streng.
stronglukest, 218, most strongly.
struccion, 132, b. an ostrich.
strueS, 294, f. destroyeth; pi. struien; A.S.
strudan, to ravage.
struginde, 136, g, being racked, tormented i A.S.
sti'eccan, to stretch.
strunden, strundes, 188, e. streams; A.S. strand ?
i-struped, 148, g. strip'ped, 2}eeled; D. stroopen,
to peel.
struste'S [1. trusted"], 380, trusteth; A.S. trywian,
to trust.
strusti [1. trusti], 66,266, confiding.
sturie'S [1. struie'S], 294, destroy.
stucchenes, 14, 298, 342, 412, sections, parts;
A.S. stye, ii piece.
studefest, 302, studeuest, 340, steadfast; A.S.
stsedfsest,
stude, 4, 68, 250, 316, 410, a jjtece; pi. studen,
136, 144, 342,^?a«5; ine stude, -iswfeac?; A.S.
styde, a 'place.
studeuestliche, 162, constantly.
studesta'Selfestnesse, 6, steadfast continuance in a
place.
stude'5, 142, stut, 142, i. steadieth, giveth sup-
port to.
stunche, 216, v. stenh.
stunde, 68, 190, 240, 310, an hour, time; A.S.
stuiid, id.
stunt, 202, stands still; A.S. stynt, standeth.
stunten, stutten, 72, f. to stop, stint, restrain;
A.S. stintan, id.
sturbinge, 154, tumult, disturbance; A.S. styrian.
i-sturbed, 428, disturbed.
sturien, 130, 268, 306, 422, to move, be moved,
bestir, disturb; pr. sture'S, 82, 296, sturieS,
198, 332,404; imp. sture, 290; pr.p. sturi-
inde, 152; A.S. styran, styrian, id.
sturiunge, 188, a shaking, moving; pi, sturiunges,
294, emotions.
sturiie, 268, 304, 366, 428, stern; A.S. stearne.
stutten, 42, a, 72, f. to stop, check, stand; pr.
stutte'5, 350, b.
succurs, 244, sukurs, 386, aid, help.
sufl're, 328, imp. suffer.
suhe^, suhe^e, 208, a. ensueth.
suhiende, 428, k, sounding, loud; Sc. sough, a
sound, as that made by the wind, a rumour.
suilede, 158, i-suiled, 160, i-suled, 396, soiled,
p>olluted; A.S. sylian, to soil, defile.
sulement, Fr. 266, only.
sullen, 148, 190, 396, 398, to sell; pr. sulle^S,
398; p. solde, 398; imp. sale, 290; A.S.
sylian, to sell.
sulue, 328, self; A.S. sylf, seolf.
suluh, 384, a plough; AS. sulh, id.
sumdel, 18, 116, 212, 216, someivhat, somewhere;
A.S. sum, dsel.
sumehwule, 390, sometimes.
summechere, 216, 336, 408, someu'hut, some-
time.
sunderlepes, 90, c. separately; A.S. synderlyp,
peculiar.
sunderliche, 90, 302, separately; A.S. sunder,
separate.
sundren, 270, to separate, diff'er; pr. sundre'S,
426; p. sundrede, 414; p.p. i-sundred, 252,
412; A.S. syndrian, id. ; Sc. to synder.
sune, 426, son.
sunegen, 304, 306, to commit sin; pr. sunegest,
1, sunegeS, 428; p. sunegede, 118, sunegude,
224; pr. sub. sunegie, 58, sunege, 302; p.p.
i-suneged, 306; A.S. syngian, id,
sunegunge, 52, sinning.
sunendei, 412, Sunday.
sunne, 118, 302, 312, sin; pi. sunnen, 304;
A.S. synne.
surre, so'urer; A.S. sur, sour.
sutare, 324, shoemaker; A.S. sutere; Sc. sutar.
sutel, 154, 208, 362, manifest; A.S. sutol.
suteliche, 112, jjlainly; A.S. swutelice.
sutelie, 154, 382, pr. sub. may be manifest; p.p.
i-suteled, 8, 154; A.S. sutelian, to make clear,
manifest.
suti, 228, base, foul; MS. Oxon. turpis; A.S.
soot, soot.
suuel, 192; A.S. sufel, opsonium.
suwe, 204, a- swine; A.S. sugu.
suwe'5, 208, ensueth; MS. Oxon. sequatur.
suwie, 306, sigh; A.S. seofian, to sigh.
suwinde, 256, secretly u-kisp)ered; A.S. swugian,
to be silent; Sc. sough, a 'whisper, rumour.
suwinde, 428, vehement; A.S. swogende, sound-
ing, raging.
swalm, 274, e. infiammatioji; A.S. swtelan, to
burn.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
467
swar, sware, 344, svearing; A.S. swerian, to
sicear,
swarte, 304, 306, hlack; swarture, 284, Uacker;
A.S. sweart, id.
swat, 104, e. sweat; swati, 104, g. sweati/; A.S.
swatig, id.
sweamen, 312, 330, 398, to grieve, rex, dkpleasc;
pr. sweameb", 404, sweame, sweme, 312, s&.
swefne, 224, a dream; swefnes, 268, dreams;
A.S. swefn, a dream.
sweinde, 280, swung; A.S. swengan, to stcing.
swel, 274, inflammation, v. swalm.
swenchen, 134, 230, to svinge, beat, afflict; imp.
sweng, 290, swench, 290, d.; A.S. swencan,
swingan, id.
swenges, 80, 318, ^'t-^, costs, violent efforts, temp-
tations; A.S. swing, a scourge, ichip,
sweore, 392, the neck; A.S. sweora, id.
swerien, 70, to sicear; pr. swere'S, 98, 198; p.p.
i-sworen, 96; A.S. swerian, id
swet, pr. sweateth, p. swette, 110, 360; A.S.
swfEtan, to sweat.
swete, 312, sweet, v. swote.
sweteliche, 264, 430, kindh/, gentbj.
swiftschipe, 398, swiftness.
swihende, 70, d. v. swiSwike,
swike, 98, 222, 236, 272, a traitor, deceiver,
cheat; A.S. svviea, id,
swikele, 180, 268, fraudident, deceitful; com.
swikelure, 180, more deceitful.
swine, A.S. 94, 110, 220, swWke, 306, swinke,
220, 382, pi. swinkes, 240; labour, toil.
swinken, to labour; pr. swinke^, 130, 382 ;
p. swonc, 110, 258, 430, swane, swong, 230 g.;
pr. p. swinkinde, 260; p.p. i-swunken, 404,
416; A.S. swinean, id.
swincfule, 292, 360, toilsome.
i-swipt, 228, 252, swejH; A.S. swapan, to stceejK
swire, 58, the neck; A.S swira.
swi^e, A.S. 236, quickly, very, greatly.
swi'Swike, 70, swihende wike, swiwike, 70, d.
the holy week, the great week; A.S. swi'S, great,
weoc, week.
swoke, 236, b. a traitor, deceiver, v. swike.
swope'S, 314, sweepeth.
i-sworen, 96, sworn; A.S. gesworen, id.
swot, 110, 360, sweat; swoti, 104, sweaty; A.S.
swat, sweat.
swote, 80, 116, swete, 116, 238, sweet; swote,
238, sweetly; A.S. swot, swet, id,
swotnesse, 80, 92, siveetness; A.S. swetnes.
swowinde, 288, swooning, fainting; A.S. aswu-
nan, to swoon.
swuc, 112, swuch, 312, swuclie, 84, 188, 208,
such; A.S. swulc, id.
swuchne, 96, 312, such, of such kind, qu.? swuch
kunne.
swulne, 382, such, such a one.
swii'Se, iZO,very, greatli/, strongly, quickhi; com.
swu«ere, 92, 266, 336, swivSure, 182.'
sykelunge, 82, g. manife.stly an error for filie-
lunge, q.v.
tadden, 214, toads; A.S. taden, id.
tale, A.S. 64, 66, 68, 104, 280, 316, 424, talk,
conversation, account, estimation, a tale; pi.
224, tales,
tale, 316, number, v. tel
talie, 356, pr. speaA-; A.S. talian, to speak, com-
pttte.
tauh, 394, though.
i-tawed, 418, tawed; A.S. tawian, to taw, ]}re-
pare, or dress leather.
team, A.S. 336, offspring, progemi; pi, teames,
216, 288.
techen, 210, 422, to teach; pr. teehe'S, 220, 428,
tekeSe, 50; p. tauhte, 54, teihte, 158; p.p.
i-teiht, 170, 308; A.S. tiiecan, to teach.
i-teied, 14, 254, tied, connected; A.S. tian, to
tie.
tele's, 332, draweth; A.S. teon, to pull, draw.
teile, 198, 254, a tail; i-teiled, 206, having a
tail; A.S. tiegel, a tail.
teken, 78, g. 170, 174, to add; imp. teke, 78,
106, 140, 156, add,, \>ev teken, moreover; A.S.
to-eacan, to join, add to.
tcl, 372, mrmber, n.
tellen, 154, to tell, number, account, estimate; pr.
telle, 356, tellest, 100," telle-S, 154, 170, 200,
234, 252, 254, 256, 356; imp. tel, 42, tele,
42, c; p.p. told, 356, i-told, 198,352,354;
A.S. tellan, id.
tellunge, 170, accou7d, estimation, reckoning;
pi. teolunges, 208.
temien, 138, to tame, subdue; p. sub. temede,
176; A.S. temian, id.
temen, to generate, give birth to, bring forth;
pr. temeS, 220, 288, 308; A.S. teruan, id.
tempti, 228, pr. sub. tempt; imp. tempte, 228;
p.p. i-tented, 228, 230, 234; Fr. tenter, to
tempt, try.
tende, 296, pr. .sub. kindle; A.S. tendan, to
kindle.
tendre, Fr. 112, tender; sup. tendrust, 112.
teo, 256, the.
teone, 114, 184, 188, 192, 236, 428, imin,
vexation, suffering, wrong, reproach; A.S.
teona, id.
468
GLOS8AR1AL INDEX.
teoneS, 118, pr. pi. molest, ancjer; A.S. teonan,
to molest, anger.
teonne, 278, then,
i-teoi^eged, 2S, tithed, paid tithes; A.S. teo^ian,
to tithe.
tep, 296, imp, tap, hit, imt; Fr. taper, to tap,
tet, 88, 236, that.
te-teren, 84, to tear in pieces; pr. tetere^, 362;
A.S. to-teran, id.
te'5, 236, 288, teeth, v. to«.
J^afunge, 334, 1. consent; A.S. J>afian, to consent.
|>ase, 16, h. these.
J^auh, 6, 418, though, although, however; A.S.
beh, fieah, id.
he, pron. thee.
i>e, jf>en, \>ene, the.
J>eau, 88, 278, virtue, henefit; pi. )>eawes, 158, a.
200, 240, 276, 300, virtues, morals, good
deeds; g. pi. }>eawene, 278; A.S. Jjeaw, id.
|>eaufule, 422, moral, edifi/i7ig.
t^eawe, 184, deiv; A.S. deaw, id.
Jjenchen, 204, to think; pr. t>enche'5, 192; p.
J'ouhte, 266; imp. J?enc, 184, henche^, 186,
200; p.p. i-}>ouht, 164, thought; A.S. J>enean,
id.
\>eo, 114, 230, J?eoa, 314, then, when, the, that,
then; A.S. ha, then, until, when, as.
}>eode, 250, a people, couutrij; A.S. J>eod.
t^eof, A.S. 174, a thief; pi, ]>eoues, 174, 292.
heofte, 208, >eof6e, 202, 382, theft; A.S.
JjeofS.
J?eonne, 240, then.
J>eoneward, 294, thence away.
l^eos, these.
heosternesse, 142, 146, 352, darkness; A.S.
tjeosternys, id.
Jjeostre'5, 9'i,darkeneth; A.S. J>eostrian, to darken,
Jjeote'S, 120, houieth; A.S. J?eotan, to howl, to
blow a horn; Sc. to toot.
J>eoiidome, 32, 218, bondage, thraldom; A.S.
heudom, id.
]>eowe, AS. 372, a servant, bond-servant.
her, 160, the7-e, where, when, the, to the, that, to
that; A.S. J'ser, id.
J>erbi, 302, therebtf.
herf, 192, 294, 316,346, n&edeth; A.S. Kirfian,
to need.
Jjereuore, 362, therfore,for that cause,
Jjsrinne, 352, therein, in that.
J>ertee, 188, add thereto; A.S. I^erto ece.
teruppe, 100, 160, 270, 352, 372, cibove, before,
heretofore.
J>es, this, of the, of this.
J?esne, 136, 342, this one, this pecidiar,
Jjet, 274, that, which, the, that vjhich.
Hcke, 382, thick, 104, 104, g.foul, close, airless;
A.S. He.
Hdeward, 222, 384, thitherward.
hilke, 68, b. the same; A.S. J>ylc, |>set ylca, id.
Hne, thine.
K 114, 218, 236, 260, 328, 374, ]>oa, 78, 322,
then, 'when; A.S. Jja, id.
\>o, A.S. 340, clay, earth; G. thon, id.
i-^ohtet, 210, a. disposed in mind.
]>olien, 6, 126, c. 134, 158, 220, 238, 284,
i-J>olien, 122, 228, to endure, suffer, bear; pr.
holie'5, 188, 190, 384, J>olest, 284; p. holede,
122, 188, 248; pr. sub. holie, 352, i-jjolede,
122; A.S. l?olian, ge'Solian, id.
holemode, 118, 158, patient; A.S. holemod.
Jjolemodnesse, 8, 158, 284, imtience; A.S. hole-
modnes.
Jjonc, A.S. 404, thanks.
Jionc, A.S. 222, a thoiight, wish, mind.
i-honcked, 222, disposed in mind.
honcken, 122, to thank; pr. sub. honke, 256;
imp. )>onke^, 430; A.S. )>aneian, to thank.
Jpoiigede, 362, having thongs; A.S. hwong, a
thong.
J>orne9, 134, thorns; g. pi. hornene, of thorns;
Jjorni, thorny; A.S. ]>ovn.
H'eate^, 320, pr. threateneth ; p. t>rette, 366;
imp. hreate'S, 266, threaten; p.p. i-hrat, com-
pelled, by threats; A S. }>reatian, to threaten,
compel.
I'reattene, hreottene, 234, thirteen; A.S. t>reottyne,
id.
hreatunge, A.S. 156, 366, threatening.
}>rel, 356, 370, a thrall, bond-servant; pi. }>relles,
130,172; A.S. Ktel, id.
hreosche, 306, pr. sub. beat, scourge: p.p. i-J?ros-
chen, 186; A.S. J'rescian, to thrash.
J>reote, 304, throat; A.S. hrote, id.
J'reouold, 250, threefold; A.S.'J^reofeald, id.
Jrest, 314, pr. rusheth,forceth away; pi. Jjresten,
220, b.; A.S. J^ristian, to act boldly.
j?ridde, 116, third.
hries, 324, thrice.
hrile, 26, v. hurlen.
hrowunge, A.S. 372, agony, death-struggle.
hruh, A.S. 378, a trough, stone coffin; Sc.
throueh.
J'rune, 114 [1. drune], a drink; A.S. drinc.
^rumnesse, 8, 160, the holy Trinity; A.S. Jrynes.
Irunge, 154, 160, a throng; A.S. J^rang.
J'runge'S, 252, pr. pi. throng, crowd; A.S. J>ringan,
to press, crowd.
Jjucke, 326, a malicious trick ; G. tUeke, id.
huften, 4, 6, 12, h. 420, f. huftin, 390, a. a hatid-
maid, servant; A.S. Jjywen, id.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
469
Jjuhte, seemed, v. J^unchen.
]>uhte, n. 98, thought, mind; A.S. J»encan, to think.
Jjuldeliche, 106, 158, patiently; A.S. )>yldelic,
patient.
J^ullich, 8, b. the like; A.S. J'yllic, id.
t>ume, 18, the thumb; A.S. J^uma, id.
I^unchen, 122, 278, Jjunche, 136, to seem; pr.
punches, 38, 98, 100, 114, 122, 126, 138,
148, 158, 192, 222, 238, 242, 268, 374, 416;
p. )?uhte, 112, 118, 148; pr. sub. bunche, 98,
100, 176; imp. J^unclie, 162, 358; A.S. Hncan,
Jjyncan, to apj^ear, seem.
Jjunne, 144, thin, small; A.S. \>yn.
t>urfte, 336, v. J^uruen.
Jjurhseon, 50, to see through.
Jjurl, J^urle, 48, 344, a window; pi. J>urles, 50,
116, 292, windows, cavities; A.S. }>yrl, id.
l^urlen, 392, to pierce, perforate, thirl; pr. jpurle^,
220, 246, 272; p. pi. burleden, 292; imp.
}>rile, 26; p.p. i-J^urled, 390, 398; A.S.>yrlian,
to bore, 'pierce, perforate.
)>urlunge, 166, c. 396, a piiercing, jieiietrating ;
A.S. byrelunge, id.
hurse, 2?>Q,a giant, the devil; A.S. J?yrs, a giant,
hohgohlin.
fjurst, 114, thirst.
j>urste, 188, thirsted; A.S. J^yrstan, to thirst.
t>ur'Se, Jjurte, 172, k. various readings of >urve,
V. huruen.
)5uruen, 6, to need, want; p. |>urfte, 336; pr. sub.
Jjurue, 172, 228; A.S. ^earfan, id.
huruh, 302, 400, lij, through; A.S, l^urh, id.;
Lincolnshire dialect, thurf.
t^uruhut, 330, through, quite through.
]>usendes, 336, thoitsands.
Jjwartouer, 402, })wertouer, 82, across, directly
contrary, contumacious; A.S. Jjweor, contrary,
perverse.
Jjyrs, A.S. 280, a. a giant, spectre.
ticchenes, 100, kids; A.S. ticcenes, id.
i-tidde, 152, happened, 202, may happen; A.S.
getidan, to happen.
tide, 20, 22, time, season of prayer; pi. tiden,
342; A.S. tid, time; G. geit, id.
tiffung, 420, Si. finery in dress.
tihe'Se mis, teou'Sen mis, 208, d. pay tithes im-
properly.
tildes, tilde'S, 334, ^.prepare, v. tillen.
tillen, 334, tilien, 384, to till, prepare, cidtivate,
toil; pr. tile'S, 78 ; p. tiled, 404 ; p.p. i-tiled,
78; A.S. tilian, id.
til'Se, 78, tillage, cultivation.
tilunge, 296, tilling, culture.
tildunge, 278, a pitfall, hidden trap; A.S. tyld-
syle, a booth, tent; So. to tyld, to cover.
timbrin, 12, to build up, prepare, promote; p.p.
i-timbred; A.S. timbrian, to build.
timbrunge, A.S. 124, building up, advancement,
tindes, 354, staves; A.S. tindas, tines.
tine, 104, Hne, thine.
tisse, 20, this; A.S. bis.
i-tit, 186, happens, betides, v. i-tidde.
tiSinge, 88, ti'Singes, 172, 424, tidings; A.S.
tidan, to happen.
tittes, 330, 362, 368, pajis; A.S. tit, titt, id.
to, 120, too.
to-beot, 106, struck.
to-berste'S, 254, breaketh; A.S. to-berstan, to
break, burst.
to-blowen, 122, bloivn up; A.S. blawan, to
blow.
to-bollen, 122, 282, i-bollen, 122, inflated, excited,
dispileased; A.S. bolgen; p.p. of belgan, to be
angry, displeased; bolne, to swell. Ch.
to-breaketS, 164, breaketh; to-broken, 164, 342,
broken; A.S. to-brecan, to break,
toe, 52, 1. dreto; A.S. teon, to p>ull, draw.
to-cheowe'5, 202, cheivelh; A.S. to-ceowan, to
chew.
tocne, 106, 316, a sign, token; A.S. tacen, id.
to-dealen, 186, to divide, separate; pr. sub.
to-deale,186; imp. to-deale, 254, to-dele, 332;
p.p. to-dealed, 254, 298, to-deled, 220, 412;
A.S. to-dielan, id.
to-dreuen, 254, to drive away, disperse; pr.
to-dreaue'S, 298; imp. to-dref, 264; A.S. to-
drcefan, to disperse.
to-dreuedliche, 320, desidtorily.
to-fule-S, 380, defileth; A.S. in\,foid.
togederes, 354, together; A.S. togsedere, id.
to-geines, 268, 368, against,
toggen, 424, to tag, romp, toy; A.S. teogan, teon.
togging, 204, tugging; A.S. togung, id.
toggle, toggi, 424, d. tug, v. toggen.
to-giues, 2Q?>, forgive; A.S. to-gifan, to give to.
to-tagge, 318, 320, circumstance; pi. to-tagges,
316, 320, 332, b.
to-hurte^, i2Q, strike against, are repelled; O.Fr.
hurter.
to-hwiSered, 362, whirled about, racked, broken.
tol, A.S. 12. g. a tool, instrument.
told, i-told, V. tellen.
to-lime'5, 84, dismembereth; p.p. to-limed, 362;
A.S. lim, a limb.
tolled, 290, enticeth; p. tulde, 320; imp. tulle,
414; pr. p. tollinde, 50; Ch. l\i\\,allure; P.E.
tole; Isl. tulka. id.
tollunge, 116, 204, an enticing, inviting, courting.
tommure, 144, more tame.
to-neode'S, 418, is needed.
470
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
tor, 254, a. com. very tough; A.S. toh, tough,
i-torene, 364, torn.
to-rende'5, 362, rendeth; A.S. rendan, to rend.
torpelnesse, 322, ivhirl, instahiliti/.
torplen, 322, to fall down headlong, tO][)pl(; pr.
torple'5, 324; p.p. torplet, 266, e,, i-turpled,
266.
to-spret, 402, spread out; A.S. to-sprffidde.
to-swollen, 282, swo^few; A.S. to-swellan, to swell
out.
to-tere'5, tetere^, pr. teareth; p.p. to-torene, 328,
362, tetore, 362, torn; A.S. to-teran, to tear
in 'pieces,
toten, 52, to look out, to peer; pr. tote'5, 92;
pr. sub. totie; pr. p. totinde, 50, 100.
to'5, 218, a tooth.
totilde, 102, 'peering, prying .
totinge, 52, totunge, 100, looking about, prying.
to-treden, 166, to trample tipon, tread upon;
pr. to-tret, 122, 380; imp. to-tred, 294; p.p.
to-treden, 380; pr. p. to-tredinde, 170; A.S.
tredan, to tread.
to-tredunge, 380, a trampling upon.
to-trodde, 342, imp. trace out.
to-tweamde, 396, p. divided, separated; A.S.
to-twteman, to separate.
to-twuned, 254, b. p.p. divided.
to-uleoten, 72, pr. sub. pi. flit, float; pr. p.
uleotinde, 46; A.S. fleotan, to float.
i-towen, 324, drawn; i-towune, 204, formed,
disciplined, taught, modest; A.S. teon, to draw,
draw out, form, teach, discipline.
to-uor'S, 294, too far.
to uret, 202, gnaweth, corrodeth.
to-warpled, 322, cast doiv7i, shaken off; A.S. to-
werpan, to cast down.
to-weaued, 148, wafted away; A.S. wafian ? to
fluctuate. '
to-went, 324, turneth over; A.S. to-wendan, to
turn over.
to-wundre, 390, grievously.
treden, treoden, SSO, foot-prints.
treitre, 194, a betrayer; Pr. traitre.
treo, 392, treou, 254, 402, a tree, stick, wood;
pi. treon; A.S. treow, id.
treowe, 128, true.
treouliche, truly, faithfully.
treounesse, 294, truth, faithfulness.
treoweschipe, 8, truthfulness.
tristre, 332, tristren, 332, stations, tvhere men
watch to intercept game in hunting.
triws, 286, a truce; pi. trou'Sen, 54,
troddo'S, 232, traceth; A.S. trod, a track.
trodde, 380, trod.
trodes, 380, q, foot-marks.
trou'Se, 310, troth.
trublen, 268, to disturb; G. truben, to trouble.
trufles, 106, delusions; O.Fr. trufle, ruse, trom-
perie.
trugles, 106, c. delusions; probably from A.S.
trucian, to deceive.
truke'S, 356, pr. faileth, deceiveth; p. trukede,
230; pr. sub. trukie, 68, 234, 274, 428; A.S.
trucian, to fail, deceive, truck.
trule'S, 106, d begidleth.
trusseaus, 166, bundles; Fr. trousseaux, id.
trussen, 322, to hind in bundles, to pack; p.p.
itrussed, 166, trussed; Fr. trousser, id.
trnkie, 408, pr. sub. truck, barter; A.S. trucian;
Fr. troquer, id.
trusti, 334, confident,
truwandise, 330, sturdy or fraudulent begging;
O.Fr. truandie, imp}Osture, fraud.
tuliten, 268, to chastise, correct, discipline; pr.
tukeS, 316, 380; pr. sub. tukie, 346; imp.
tuc, 316; p.p. i-tuht, 184, 218, i-tuked, 366,
390; A.S. tucian, to punish, chastise.
tulle, tulde, v. tolled,
tunen, 62, 80, to shut, stop up, fence round;
pr. tune^, 94, 96, bitune'5, 94; imp. tun, 104;
A.S. tynan, id.; P.E. toon, to stop up.
tune, 418, a town; A.S. tun, id.
tunge, 78, the tongue; tungen, 410, tongues;
A.S. tunga, the tongiie.
tunne, A.S. 214, a tun.
tur, A.S. 226, 228, a tower; gen. tures, 372;
pi. tures, 228.
turn, 280, a stratagem, trick; pi. turnes, 78,
wiles; Fr. tour, a trick,
turnement, 390,
turnes, 132, g. turneth; pr. sub. turne, 340;
p.p. i-turnd, 8, 26, 372, 426, i-turnt, 26, a.;
pr. p. turninde, 356; A.S. tyrnan, to turn,
refer.
i-turpled, 266, v. torplen,
tus, 238, thus.
tutel, 212, the mouth, lips; pi. tuteles, 80.
tutele'S, 212, 422, talketh, tattleth, telleth; pr. p.
tutelinde, 106, tattling, twattling.
tuxes, 280, tusks; A.S, tux, tusc, a tusk,
tweamen, 252, b. to divide, sepiarate; A.S,
twseman, id.
twie, 36, 412, tvveien, 20, 308, twies, 70, 324,
ticice; A.S, tuwa, id,
tweire, 406, gen. of two; A.S. twegra, id.
twinnen, 252, b. 332, 396, to divide, separate:
p.p. i-tvvinned, 254, b.; A.S. twa, t%oo.
twinnunge, 396, separation.
tyld, 278, c, a hidden snare; Sc. to tyld, to
cover.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
471
val, 326, a fall.
valewe'S, 132, fadetk; A.S. fealwian, to (/row
yellow.
uallen, 372, to fall, to cause to fall; pr. uallest,
340, ualle«, 96, 198, 220, 298, 320, 350,
falle'S, 348; p. ueol, 226, 260, 366, feol, 280;
pr. sub. ueolle, 226, falle, 280, 336, ualle,
252; p.p. i-ueollen, 270, i-uallen, 58, 226,
i-uoUen, 370; pr. p. uallinde, 280, 286; A.S.
feallan, id.
uallest, ^iO , fallent; p. ueol, 366, fell.
vals, 344, valse, false, loO, false.
ualse, 228, pr. sub. fail, j)n)ve treacherous ;
pr. p. valsinde, 72.
vare^, 120, uare'S, 166, 344, fareth, goeth; p.p.
i-uaren, 366; A.S, faran, to (jo.
uaumpez, 420, vamjjs.
uawenunge, 2'i)Q,fawitiny.
uch, 14, a. uh, 4, b. 8, c. each.
ue, 270, d. we.
uechchen, 368, to fetch, bring; A.S. feccaii, id.
ueden, 414, to feed; pr. uede'S, 198; pr. sub.
ueden, 150; imp. ved, 100; p.p. i-ued, 206;
A.S. fedan, id.
uederen, 122, feathers; A.S. fa3'5er, a feather.
ueien, 396, to Join; pr. ueie'S, 78; p.p. i-ueied,
26, 90, 138, 302, 308, 336, joined; A.S.
fegan, id.
ueiles, 420, veils.
uein, 192, fai?i; faegen, id.
ueirne, 236, fair, beautiful; A.S. faeger, id.
veiunge, 1^, joining.
uel, 102, uelle, 120, a skin; pi. ueiles, felles,
418; A.S. M, a skin.
ueld, 102, a ^eld, an open country, pasture;
. A.S. fold, id.
i-uelen, 232, to feel; pr. veleS, i-vele^, 178,
J'eeleth; pr. sub. i-vele, 60; p.p. i-veled, 92,
felt; A.S. felan, to feel.
veiunge, 110, 114, 116, feeling.
ueng, 52, began, took.
uenie, venie, 46, 258, 426, humble supplication,
obeisance, pardon; pi. uenies, 426; Lat. venia,
pardon.
uenne, 328, /ew, mud.
uenliche, 206, fen-like, as in mud. It is very
probable that tlie word ought to be written
uerliche, quickly, speedily; A.S. ferlice, id.
ueole, 162, 388, many; A.S. feola, id.
veolauliche, 38, as a folloiver, socially; A.S.
folgian, to follow.
veolauredden, 38, 106, fellowship), society, com-
pany.
ueond, 66, 130, 162, 214, g. feondes, 214, an
enemy, the enemy, fiend; A.S. feond, id.
ueor, 216, 220, /ar.
veorlich, uerlich, 112, 148, 178, 222, 310, 326,
358, strange, marvellous, suddenly, marvel-
lously; A.S. fearlie, sudden.
ueorrento, 228,/a/' aivay, distant.
i-veotered, 32, fettered; A.S. gefeterian, to fetter.
uerd, 74, 92, 232, 374, ferd, 74, an army; pi.
uerdes, 250; A.S. feord, t'yrd, an army.
uere, 252, n companion, associate; pi. ueren, 86,
i-ueren, 392; A.S. fera, id.
i-ueruwed, 204, farrowed; A.S. fearb, a little
■pig, a litter.
uerslen, 44, to say versicles, to join in -prayer;
pr. sub. uersalie, 120; O.Fr. verseiller, id.
uesten, 412, to fast; pr. veste-S, 20, 130; pi.
uesten, 276; p. veste, 126, 130; A.S. faestan,
id.
uesten-dawes, 31^, fast-days.
uestimenz, 418, vestments.
uestluker, 234, 238, com. more firmly.
i-uestned, 218, 354, 418, fixed, fastened; A.S.
gefsestnian, to fasten.
uestschipe, 202, 276, holding fast , parsimony.
uet, 136, fat; A.S. fait.
vet, 166, 274, uoten, 166, feet, v. uot.
ue'Sren, 140, to give wings to.
i-ueS5ered, 204, i-vi'Sered, 60, feathered; A.S.
gefy'Sered, id.
uederen, liO, feathers; A.S.fsetSer, a feather.
uette'S, 136, fatteneth; p.p. i-vetted, grown fat;
A.S. foettiaii, toj'atten.
uettles, 164, 276, vetles, 320, a vessel; A.S.
fsetels, id.
uggi, 92, k. pr. sub. dread greatly; A.S. oga,
dread, great fear.
vhtsong, 18, 20, the nocturno.1 prayers.
vif, uif, 112, 258, >"w.
uigiles, 412, evening prayers, vigils.
uihte, 162, 196, 358, afight; A.S. fyht, id.
uihte'S, 358, ^t. fighteth.
vikelare, 84, 86, a flatterer.
vikele'S, 198, pr. pi. flatter; pr. p. uikiinde,
flattering.
uikelunge, 224, flattery.
uile, 184, 284, a file; A.S. feol, id.
uileS, 184, Tpr.fileth; p.p. i-viled, 28i, filed.
uileuest, 2i4:, fast.
uilte, 380, meanness; Fr. vilete, id.
uingres, 290, fingers.
i-uinden, 156, 350, 398, to find; pr. i-uinde'5,
232; p. i-vond, 66, 78, uond, 258; p. sub,
i-vint, 150; A.S. gefindan, to find,
viterokes, 328, smock-frocks; A.S. hwit, white,
roc, an outer garment.
vlaske^, 31i, flasheth, poureth; imp. flaskie, 314.
472
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
vleau, 112, floiced,
uleih, 276, a fly; A.S. flig, id.
vleon, uleon, vlihS, v. fleon.
uleoten, 72, to flit, float, v. to-uleoten.
vlesehe, 180, 234, flesh.
ulesliche, 104, 240, 244, carnal, fleshly; A.S.
flaDslic, id.
y\es,fi\\viisQ, fleshly-wise,
ulessis, 140, flesh.
vlien, 290, fleas.
vlige, 8, lO", a fly. A.S. flig, id.
vliiite, 248, flight.
uliliS, 142, V. fleon.
ulint, 220, flint.
vloc, 120, a flock; A.S. flocc.
vlowinde, 282, 328, flowing, running.
vlulit, 132, flight.
vlutten bi, 428, wherewith to keep above water, to
suffice, make comfortalle, v. biflutten.
vmbe, 218, umbe, 256, 324, 334, 344, busy,
intent, endeavouring, concerned.
unibestunde, 344, at times, now and then.
umbridawes, 412, umber-days.
unbileaue, unbelief; A.S. ungeleafa.
unbileued, 234, 260, ^inbelieving.
unbishoped, 208, 7iot having received the rite of
conflrm.ation.
unbiseiness, 344, heedlessness.
uncumelukest, 414, a. most unbecoming.
uncu'Se, 54, 140, strange, unknown, uncouth;
A.S. uncu^, id.
undeere, 408, disesteemed; A.S. undeor, id.
underueng, v. underuongen.
undergiten, 150, 270, to jierceive, U7iderstand,
find; pr. undei-gitest, 290, 296, underjite'S,
346; p. undergeten; A.S. undergitan, id.
vnderling, 198, stdiordinate.
undern, 24, morning service, at nine o''clock.
undernimen, 262, to undertake; p.p. under-
numen, 198, undertaken.
underset, 254, pr. underprop.
understipren, 142, understipen, 142, g. to under-
prop; A.S. stipere, a pillar, prop.
undertid, 400, the time of the undern, or morning
service.
undertoe, 114, c. undertooh.
underuongen, 190, 362, underuon, 14, 422, to
accept, receive; pr. underuonge'S, 190, un-
deruo-S, 212, 256, 280; p. underueng, 114,
122, 388; pr. sub. underuo, 226; imp. un-
derueng, 38; underuo, 418; p.p. underuon,
146; A.S. underfangen, underfon, id.
unefenlich, 410, uneuenliche, 408, not to be com-
pared, incomparably.
unefne, 312, uneven, unequal.
vnendliche, 398, infinitely.
unfeale, 198, a. rude, savage; A.S. unfaele,
treacherous, v:,icked; Sc. \xvdQ^, rough, uncivil.
unuonded, 232, itntried.
ungledliche, 338, joylessly.
vngraciuse, 368, ingratitude.
unhealed, 328, id.
unheleS, 150, unhelicS, 58, unhules, 270, a.
pr. uncovereth; p. unhulede, 58, b.; p.p. un-
heled, 150; A.S. unlielan, to uncover.
unheite, 46, 46, a. unwell, infirm [1. unheile ?]
unhende, 204, improper, unbecoming.
vnliep, 180, 278, mishap); Isl. van, want, happ,
good fortune; Sc. wanhap, id.
vnholde, 222, enemies.
unhole, 112, 370, unsound, umvholesome ; A.S.
unhal, sick.
unholre, 166, less sound, less pure.
unhope, 8, 202, 224, 372, despair; A.S. wana,
want, hopa, hope; Sc. wanhope, id.
unicorne, 120.
uniliche, uniquely, solely.
unimete, 40, 102, 140, 144, 202, 330, 336, 388,
immeasurably, unbounded, incalculable; A.S.
ungemset, immense, immeasurable.
uninieteliehe, 398, immensely.
uniseli, 68, 128, 150, 250, 270, 310, g. uniselies,
334, unJuqjpt/; A.S. unsaslig, id.
unku'Se, 250, 336, 348, 358, 414, strange, un-
known, uncommon .
unkundeliclie, 50, 116, unnatural, inconsistent,
unbecoming; A.S. ungeeyndelic, id.
unkuindlukest, 414, most unbecoming, uncon-
genial.
unlepped, 424, b. unwrapped, uncovered, open.
unliden, 58, f. pr. pi. to uncover, unlid; p. pi.
unluded, 58, i.
unlimen, 256, to unfasten, disunite; pr. unlime'5,
228; A.S. lime, cement, mortar, lime.
unlimp, 274, evil, misfortune.
unlo"5nesse, 340, innocence, meekness; A.S. la^,
harm, evil.
unluded, v. unliden.
unme'S, 50, immense; com. unme^luker, 238,
266, immoderately, importunately; A.S. un-
msete, immoderate.
unme'Sschipe, 122, weakness, want of self-re-
straint.
unmunlunge, 280, unawares, unexpectedly; A.S.
unmyndlinga, id.
unnea'8e, 258, 314, with difficulty, reluctantly;
A.S. unea'Se, id.
unneite, 130, f. useless, unprofitable; A.S. unnet,
useless.
vnnen, 284, 380, to grant, permit, desire; pr.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
473
unnest, 282, unne'5, 22; pr. sub. v^e, 90;
p.p. i-unned; A.S. unnan, id.
unnunge, 282, a giving, bestowing, cherishing.
unnet, A.S. 82, unnute, 130, 352, vain, useless,
uiiprojitahle ; A.S. nyt, iiseful.
unnet, 340, unconstrained, spontaneously; A.S.
nedan, to compel.
unorne, A.S. 108, 418, 424, plain, coarse.
unrechleas, 388, indifferent, heedless; A.S. rece,
reck, care.
unsauure, 262, unsavoury.
unsehriuen, 314, 332, unconfessed , without having
confessed.
unseaulich, 10, obscure, unseemly.
unseiene, 312, unsehene, 312, b. invisible; A.S.
seon, to see.
unseinede, 312, 312, b. unblest; A.S. segnian,
to hi ess.
unseli, 174, 262, luckless, unhappy, v. uniseli.
unseluh'Se, 86, 172, misfortune; A.S. unsaslh^e,
id.
unseouwed, 344, unsewed; A.S. siwian, to sew.
unsiker, 144, uncertain.
unsouht, 324, unsought.
vnsta^eliiest, 208, unsettled, unstable; A.S. un-
sta'Solftest, id.
unspennede, 158, d. unyoked, unbound; A.S.
span nan, to join, to yoke.
unstrenc'Se, 232, weakness, in^rmity.
unstrenc'Sen, 138, to %oeakeit, grow weak; pr,
unstrenc'SelS, 270, 368; A.S. unstreng, weak.
unstronge, 278, infirm, weak; com. unstrengre,
weaker.
untaleliche, 144, 410, indescribable, innumerable;
A.S. tellan, to tell, to number; P.E. untellable.
un'Ses, 142, d. waves; A.S. y'5, a wave; v. u'Sen.
un«eau, 70, 152, 200, un'Seawe, 200, 374, a
fault, sin, vice; pi. un'Seawes, 132, 176, 252,
332; A.S. un«eau, id.
un'Seode, 312, 358, aliens, foreigners, enemies;
A.S. J)eod, a people, country.
untifFed, 420, unadorned, v atiffen.
un"Sonc, 202, unpleasantness; A. un^anc, id.
un'Sonc, 236, un'Sonckes, 338, uniSenkes, 122,
undesignedly, unwillingly; A.S. j^encan, to
think.
untime, 344, xmseasonableness ; A.S. untima,
id.
untowe, 102, 170, untowen, 372, untowune,
342, impiroper, indecent, immoral; A.S. unge-
togen, rude.
untowesehipe, 170, impropriety, indecency.
untrust, 332, despair.
untrusten, 332, to despair.
nntrussed, 350, unbv.rdened.
CAMD. SOC.
unuesten, 218, unuestnen, 252, to unfasten, dis-
unite.
unuonded, 232, untried untempted.
unwaker, 272, unwatchful.
unwarre, 274, unwary.
unweawed, 424, unveiled; A.S. wsefels, a veil,
covering, w»fan, to cover.
unvvemmed, A.S. 10, unstained.
unweote, 8, ignorant, unwise; A.S. unwita, id.
unwiht, 238, unwhit [I. unwiht], 274, a7i enemy,
' the fend; pi. unwihtes, 264, 300.
unwille, 238, reluctant; A.S. unwillan, id.; Sc.
unwilly.
unwine, A.S. 178, 272, an enemy, adversary;
pi. unwines, 246, 270.
unwisdom, 27 S, folly.
unwitenesse, 278, imprudence.
unwreien, 308, unwrien, 328, to uncover, 7in-
mask; pr. unwrieS, 58, unwrih'S, 84, 270,
unwreo'5, 88; pi. unwrien, 152, unwreon, 88;
p. unwreih, 56, 58, unwrien, 58; imp. unwTih,
unwreon, 316; A.S. unwreon, unwrigan, id.
unwrie, 58, adj. o^jem, ztncovered.
unwrench, 268, wicked artifice; A.S. unwnenc,
id.
unwreste, 68, 122, 124, 126, 144, 184, 268, 274,
290, 394, base, wicked, depraved, weak; A.S.
unwraest, id.
unwisliche, 338, unwisely.
unwreastliche, 294, a. unwTestliche, 394, icick-
edly, feebly.
unwrestschipe, 304, weakness, wickedness.
unwurtS, A.S. 94, 280, 352, 368, 380, 408,
worthless, valueless, disesteemed.
vo, 62, uo, 404, a foe; pi. uoan, 220, 338.
uoamen, 186, 220,/o««ie)4.
node, 142, 260, 342, 406, fode, 142,/oorf; A.S.
foda, id.
uolke, 308, uolcke, 322, uolc, \5Q, folk, people;
A.S. folc.
uoluwen, 52, 102, to follow; pr. uoluwe^, 364;
p. voluwede, foluwede, 78, uoluweden, 262;
imp. folewe, 100; A.S. folgian, to follow.
uonden, 194, to tempt, try; p. uondede, 102,
162, experienced, tempted, tried; p.p. i-vonded,
58, 94, 178; A.S. fandian, to try, search,
tempt.
uondunge, 252, temptation; uondunges, 372,
temptations.
uorbeot, \?>Q , forbids.
uorberen, 218, to have piatience, forbear, bear
loith; p. uorber, 218, 366.
uorberne'5, 244, pr. burneth, consumeth; p.p.
uorbernd, 54, 56, uorberne, 244; A.S. t'or-
heaman, to burn up.
3 r
474
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
uorbisne, 52, 68, 76, 140, 154, an example; pi.
uorbisnes, 164; A.S. bisn, id.
uorbuvven, 306, p. pi. disobeyed, declined; A.S.
forbugan, to decline.
uordon, 210, 334, to destroy; A.S. fordon, id.
uordrunken, 214, drunken; A.S. fordrencan, to
make drunk.
uordruwede, 148, withered; A.S. fordruwian, to
dry up.
uore, for.
uorge^, 364, pr. forgoes, gives ^ip; p. uor-eoden,
406, gave up, did not possess; imp. forgot,
412; A.S. forgan, to forego.
uoreward, 98, 172, foreward, 172, a promise,
engagement.
uorgemen, , to neglect; pr. uorgeme'S, 272;
pi. uorgemen; p.p. uorsemed; A.S. forgyman,
id.
uorgiten, 272, to forget; pr. uorgite'S, 200; imp.
uorsite'S. 34; pp. uorgiten, 100, 124, 320,
382; A.S. forgitan, to forget.
uorgiuelich, 346, j^ardonable, venial.
uorgulte, 388, guilty.
uorhoten, 340, to renounce, leave off; p.p. uorhe-
ten, 192, forsaken [derived from A.S. for, a
negative, like ver in German, and AS. hatan,
to comma7id~\.
uorhoren, 394, to commit whoredom; pr. sub.
uorhorie, 394; p.p. uorhored, 394.
uorhowien, , to despise; pr. uorhowelS, 198.
uorliwou, 62, wherefore, why.
uorkeoruen, 360, to cut off; pr. sub. uorkeorue,
46; A.S. for-ceorfan, id.
uorkuled, 50, discoloured; MS. Oxon. decolo-
ravit.
uorkuliinde, 306, tormenting ? A.S. acwellan, to
kill.
uorleosen, 166, 424, to lose; pr. uorleose^, 120,
236, 326, 408; pi. uorleosen, 118; p. uorleas,
232; p.p. vorloren, 10, 310; A.S. forleosan, id.
uorlorenesse, 66, 110, rtdn, lost state; A.S. for-
lorenes, id.
uorlonginge, 274, langiior, listlessness.
vorme, 10, former.
uorrideles, 206, 300, pirerursors, fore-riders.
uorrotien, 344, to rot.
uorseo'Sen, 312, pr. pi. seethe,
uorschalded, 246, scalded.
uorscbuppild, 120, one who transforms, a sorceress.
uorschuppe'S, 222, is transformed, 120, tra7is-
forms.
uorswoluwen, 164, to swallow up, devour; pr.
uorswoIuwe'S ; A.S. forsvvelgan, id.
vort, 22, 24, 236, 296, 300, 400, until, unto.
vorte, vorto, to, in order to.
uor^, 2iii, far, forth.
uor^farinde, 210, mortal, perishing .
uor'Smore, ^iQ , firthermore.
i-uor'Sed, 408, done.
uor'Sgong, 318, procedure.
vor'Sui, 90, wherefore.
uor'Sriht, ^70, forthwith, directly.
uor'Svvard, 242, omoard.
uoruerden, 334, died; A.S. forfaran, to go away,
to die.
uoruret, 138, 236, gnaws, corrodes; A.S. fretan,
to gnaw.
uorworpen, 120, to throw off, cast away; p.p.
uorvvorpen, 366; A.S. forweorpan, id.
uorwur'Sen, 210, 254, to perish; pr. uorwur'Se^,
182, 370.
uostrede, 260, nourished.
uot, 194, 390, the fool; pi. net, 122, 166, 388,
uoten, 166; A.S. fot, id.
uoSon, 74, pr. pi. begin.
uo'Ser, 140, a weight; A.S. fo^er, id.
voxes, 128, uoxes, 204,/o.rfs.
upbrud, 108, 200, upbraiding; A.S. up-gebre-
dan, to upbraid.
uppard, 216, u^nvards.
uppen, 146, to be vain, piiffed up, to raise up,
bring into notice; p. uppede, 146; p.p. i-upped,
88, 146, 148, 150; A.S. uppian, to rise iip, to
be raised up.
uppinge, 148,^WfZe, vanity.
upspende, 1 58, unyoked, loosened, v. unspennede.
vrakel, 1^2, frail 1 Fr. fragile, v. wrakele.
vre, 52, our.
urech, 128, ravenous; A.S. free, id.
urechliche, 204, voraciously.
vreine^, 152, imp. ask, inquire; p.p. i-ureined,
338, asked; A.S. fregnan, to ask.
vreisons, 36, prayers.
ureo, 220, 21 Q, free, generous; sup. ureoest, 398,
noblest.
ureoleic, 192, nobleness; A.S. freolic, id.
ureomede, 106, 184, 392, a stranger, an alien;
A.S. fremed; Sc. fremd.
ureomien, 234, to benefit, be of use; A.S. fremian,
id.
ureoschipe, 386, 398, liberality.
uret, 184, pr. gnaws, wears away, vexes; pi.
ureten, 378; A.S. fretan, id.
vres, 6, 344, hours, set times of prayer; vren,
286, to pray.
ure^Se, 118, nn-ath.
uridawes, 412, Fridays.
uriniht, 122, the night before Good Friday.
vrnen, 112, 188, 230, 292, p. pi. orn, 294, p. s.
ran; vrne, 164, im. sub; A.S. yrnan, to run.
GLOSSAEIAL INDEX.
475
urommard, 92, 248, away from, different from;
A.S. fram, /rom.
uroure, 92, 224, 350, comfort, convenience; A.S.
frofer, id.
urouren, 72, 94, to comfort; pr. vroure'5, 108;
A.S. frofrian, id.
urum'Se, 218, 224, 294, 296, 322, a beginning;
A.S. fryni'5, id.
urre [1. ure], 396, our.
ut, 112, ute, 150, out.
utewi'S, 254, outicard.
ut-nummen, special, exceeding; A.S. ut-niman,
to take out, except,
v'Se, 90, V. unnen.
ii'Sen, 142, vaves; A.S. y^, a wave., flood.
ut runes, 172, d. tidings, news; A.S. run, a con-
versation, a council, mystery.
ut-totunge, 100, b. looking out.
uttre, 4, 396, utture, 6, outer, outboard.
utterliche, 206, 314, utterly, fully, outwardly.
ut wardes, 172, owtwttrtZ* \nt,out, ward, the guard,
or harrier ?]
vuel, 52, 112, 354, 368, 370, 394, evil, sickness,
misfortune; A.S. yfel, id.
vuemest, 328, uumaste, 328, h. uppermost; A.S.
ufemost, id.
uueward, 328, h. upper.
uuolde, 90, b. would.
waclichliche, 294, a. weakly, feebly; A.S. wac-
lice, weakly, foolishly.
wacse^, 54, waxe'5, 98, 288, waxeth; p. weox,
258; imp. waxe, 288; p.p. i-waxen, 380;
A.S. weaxan, to icax, grow.
waden, 252, to wade.
wagge'S, 374, pr. pi. zvaver, cause to waver; A.S.
wagian, to wag.
waite, 204, conscious; A.S. witan, to know.
waker, 142, 164, watchfal; A.S. wacor, id.
wakien, 4, 144, 278, to wake, he vigilant; pr.
wake^, ; p. wakeden, 276; imp. wakie^,
144; pr. p. wakiind, 144, 244.
walewing, 294, wallowing, rolling oneself; A.S.
walwian, to rvallow,
wal, 262, a icall.
■walle'5, 118, 368, boileth; pr.p. wallinde, 246,
boiling; A.S. weallan, to boil.
wanes, 296, c. walls; G. wand, a wall.
war, 270, wary, guarded.
i-war, 104, aware, warned; i-warre, 240, cautious.
i-warbbet, 260, a. wrapped about, swathed; A.S.
hweai-fian ? to wind round.
warclie, 326, b. 368, h. pain, ache; A.S, waerc, id.
wards, 312, 430, keeping, •protection; A.S.
weard, id.
wardein, 312, a guardian.
warde'S, H2,-^r. guardeth; pr. sub. wardie, 174,
guard; A.S. weardian, to guard.
ware, 244, a. 322, inhabitants, i^eople; i^..S.
waru, id.
warien, 70, to curse; imp. pi. warien, 186; A.S.
werian, id; Sc. warrie.
warien, 418, to defend; A.S. warian, to beware,
ward off'.
waritreo, 122, 174, 190, 310, Me accursed tree, the
gallows-tree; A.S. werig,ac«H'5edI, treowe, <}•««.
wariunge, 200, a cursing.
warlielie, 138, 198, 402, 426, cautiously; A.S.
ware, caution.
warsehipe, 252, 270, wariness, carefulness.
wasche'S, 324, pr. washeth; waschest, 324; p.
weosch, 300 ; imp. wasche^, 424 ; p.p.
i-waselien, 288, 324; A.S. waescan, to u-ash.
wase, 26, d. whoso.
wasschunge, wassunke, 332, a washing; A.S.
wsescing, id.
waste'5, 138, wasteth, destroyeth; O.Fr. guasteir,
to waste.
■wat, 312, 330, knoweth, wot.
wa-word, 306, b. tvord of woe, woful word.
weaden, 302, 314, 424, garments, weeds, clothes;
A.S. wsed, a garment.
weallinde, 216, wallinde, 246, molten, boiling;
p.p. i- welled, made to boil; A.S. weallan, to boil.
weamode, A.S. 118, 134, peevish, sulle7i, discon-
tented.
wean, 80, 108, 114, 156, 310, 320, 362, want,
distress, p)ain; A.S. wana, ?(■««<.
i-weard, i-wear'S, 236, v. i-wur5en.
wearnen, 408, warnie, 54, 64, to warn; pr.
warne'S, 208; p. warnede, 104, i. ; imp. warnie,
256; p.p. i- warned, 318; A.S. warnian, id.
wecche, 144, 236, loatching, watchfulness.
wecchen, 138, 368, to watch, watching; A.S.
weccean, to watch.
wed, 394, a pledge, pawn.
wede, 50, pr. sub. wed, consort; im. wedde, 368;
p.p. i- wedded, 394; A.S. weddian, to make a
contract, to wed.
weden, 264, to grow mad, to rage; A.S. wedan, id.
wedlake, 206, wedlock.
weie, 350, a way; pi. weis, 4, ways, means;
A.S. weg, a way.
weie, 60, 386, balance, weight; A.S. wsege, a
balance.
weien, 372, u-eight; A.S. wseg, id.
weien, 336, to weigh, ponder; pr. weie®, 78,
332, weih®, 232; A.S. wegan, to carry, toeigh.
476
GLOSSAEIAL INDEX.
■weilawei, 50, 60, 274, welawei, 408, alas! well
away !
weiteden, 196, a. waited, lay in wait.
wei-uerinde, 350, travdling, wayfaring.
welden, 358, 388, 398, to conquer, possess, govern;
pc. p. weldinde, 112, 188, 260, tvinning, pos-
sessing, governing; A.S. wealdan, to govern.
welle, 156, a io ell, fountain, spring; pi. wellen,
282; A.S. well, id.
wem, A.S. 10, 378, a stain, hlemish.
wenchel, 334, k. « maid, young woman; A.S.
wencle, id.
wenche'S [1. wende'S, imp. go], 98, v. wenden.
wenden, 110, to turn, change, go; pr. wendet,
92, went, 98, 104, 218, 250, 430; p. wende,
160, wint, 296, i- wende, 260, 280; pr. sub,
wende, 50, 424; imp. wende'S, 18, 96; p.p.
i-wend, 78, 120, 254, 376, i-went, 376; A.S.
wendan, to go, turn, be turned.
wenen, 106, to thinh, ween; pr. wene, 62, 210,
wene'5, 10, 64, 128, 218, 222, wenes, 54; p.
wende, 236, 280; pi. wenden, 40; pr. sub.
wene, 222; imp. wene, 178; A.S. wenan, id.
wengen, 132, d. wings.
weob, 322, a web.
weofde, 316, e. an altar.
weolcne, 246, 306, the sty, loelkin; A.S. wolcen, id.
weole, 192, 196, 198, 398, wealth, prosperity;
A.S. wela, id.
weolie, 398, wealthy; A.S. weolig, id.
weopen, 274, 312, to weep; pr. weope'S, 330,
weop'S, 382; p. weop, 106, 312; pr. sub.
weope, 234; imp. weop, 406; pr. p. weopinde,
330; A.S. wepan, id.
weopmon, 316, a man; pi. weopmen, 10, 54, 68,
A.S. wsepman, id., wifman, a tooman.
weore, 398, b. a man; A.S. wer, weor, id.
weoredes, 30, e. a host, a company; A.S. weorod,
a multitude, a host.
weorpen, 404, weorpe'S, 88, v. worpen.
weorre, 72, 404, war, strife; A.S. wser, id.; Sc.
weir,
weorren, , to make war, attack, fight; pr.
weorre«, 60, 186, 196, 246, 262, 348; p.p.
i-weorred, 390, engaged in war; A.S. wser, ivar.
weorreur, 246, a warrior.
weosch, 300, p. ^cashed; weoschs, 66; im. was
washing; A.S. ^yeocs, washed, v/aesca,n, to wash.
weote, 294, g. consciotis; A.S. witan, to knoiv.
weouede, 16, 96, 170, 172, 318, 346, an altar;
A.S. weobed, id.
weox, 258, v. wacse'S.
wepnen, 60, 240, 366, iceapons; A.S. wsepen, a
weapon.
were, A.S. 324, work; werc-men, 404, wo7'kmen.
wergeS, 252, 262, b. wearieth; pi. wergen, 262, b.
weary; A.S. werian, to groio weary.
wergunge, 252, wearying.
weri, 352, a man; A.S. wer, id.
werien, 52, 18, 304, to defend, excuse, guard,
sto2); pr. werie'S, 246, werest, 294, were'S, 312,
414; p. wereden, 304; pr. sub. weren, 80, g. ;
imp. were, 400; A.S. werian, id.
werien, 4, 6, 418, to wear, put on; A.S. weran,
werian, werigean, id.
weriunge, 8, 368, werunge, 8, a. wearing.
wernen, 330, to forbid, refuse, pirevent, tvarn;
pr. weorne'5, 182, d., wernes, 60, a; p. wernde,
248; pr. sub. warnie, 270; A.S. ^N'yrnan, id.
wernunge, 330, a refusal.
werrest, 328, h. worst; A.S. wyrrest, id.
wete, 164, a. drink, liquor, water; A.S. wa3ta, id.
wicchecreftes, 208, 268, witchcrafts; A.S. wicce-
cra3ft, icitchcraft.
wicke, 358, a. weak? loichedl A.S. wac, weak;
wick, evil, had, v. Sir F. Madden's Glossary
to William and the Werewolf. Wic; G. weich,
soft, weak.
widful, wilfule, 168, d., v. r. wihtful, q. v.
widne, 56. ivide; A.S. wide, id.
wielare, 106, a deceiver, conjurer; A.S. wigelere,
a conjuror,
wieles, 92, 224, 268, wiles, delusions; A.S. wige-
lung, incantation.
wif, 392, a woman.
wigeles, 300, wiles.
wigele'S, 21 i,staggereth; A.S. wice\ia,n, to stagger.
wiglinge, 374, a. fighting, struggling; A.S. wig,
warfare.
wihtful, 268, piowerful; A.S. wihtfull, heavy;
Sc. wicht, valiant.
wike, 344, 428, a week; A.S. wic, id.
wikke, 104, g.foul, bad, v. wicke.
wildene, 196, a. wilderne, 160, b. a wilderness;
A.S. wild, wild.
wildes, 136, h. grotveth wild, wanton.
wil-geone, 368, a free gift.
wilkume, 394, welcome.
willeliche, 328, 396, voluntarily.
willes, 206, 302, 340, 392, willingly, cheerfully,
gladly; willes and woldes, purposely, de-
signedly.
willesful, 56, p. desirous.
williche, 134, b. voluntarily, if it is not an error
for wisliche, q. v.
wilnen, 60, 148, 386, to desire; pr. wilne'S, 202,
374; p. wilnede, 140, 404; imp. wilnie, 66;
p.p. i-wilned, 60; A.S. wilnian, id.
wilninde [1. hwilinde, v. r.], 182, temporal;
A.S. hwil, a while, time. .
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
477
wilnunge, 148, 278, desire,
wilschrift, 340, voluntary confession.
•wiltu, 196, 398, vAlt thou.
wimlunge, 420, a. a sort of head-dress.
wimpel, 420, a wimple, a muffler.
wimpel-leas, 420, ivithout wiinple.
win, 428, wine.
win-beries, 296, a. wind-berien, 296, grapes.
winden, 270, windwe, 270, e. to winnow; pr.
wint, 296, winde'S, Z\i, jlieth up like chaff;
im. windwede, 270, winnowed; A.S. wind-
wian, id.
windwunge, 270, winnowing, n.
wingeardes, 294, vineyards; A.S. win-eard, a
vineyard.
winken, 288, to winJc; AS. wincian, id. But
in this place its meaning perhaps is, to waver,
to he irresolute; A.S. waned, ^instable, waver-
ing; Sc. wankill, id.; P.E, wankly, frail,
weak.
winstlunge, 238, wrestling; A.S. winnan, to con-
tend, strive.
wipe's, 230, wipeth.
wirsum, 322, a. v. wursum.
wis, A.S. 64, 214, loise, 2>rudent; comp. wisure,
198.
wise, 312, 318, wis, 96, a way, manner; pi.
wisen, 318; A.S. wise, id.
wisliche, 104, 134, 138, 422, wisely, prudently;
A.S. wislice, id.
wisluker, 234, 318, more wisely.
wisure, 198, 338, tviser.
wite, A.S. 4, 202, hlame, reproach, a fine, extortion.
witen, 4, 10, 14, 72, 202, 206, 208, 234, 312,
368, to guard, keep, take charge of; pr. wite^,
10, 14; p. wuste, 270; pr. sub. wite, 28, 174,
430; imp. wite, 418, wite'S, 422; p.p. i-wust,
48,72, 318,410.
witen, to know; pr. wot, 54, wat, 330, west, 96,
wute'5, 236; p. wuste, 110, 234; pr. sub. wute,
250; imp. wite, 90, i-wite'5, 64, wute, 174,
190, 204, 340, 346, 426, wute«, 92, 248; p.p.
wust, 156, i-wust, 156, b. ; A.S. wissian,
witan, to hiow.
witest, 304, hlamest; A.S. witan, to blame, re-
proach.
wi'5, A.S. 224, 278, against.
wiSbuwen, 116, to avoid; pr. wi^buwe^, 278,
e%Kideth.
wi^ere^, 238, d. flghteth against, resisteth; A.S,
wi^erian, id.
wi'Serwines, 196, 232, 238, adversaries, enemies;
A.S. wi'Serwine, an adversary.
wi'Sholden, 348, pr. pi. withhold.
wi'Si, 86, a loillow; A.S. wiSig, id.
wi'S }>en, 284, upon condition.
wi^sahe, 288, e. refusal.
wi'Ssaken, 88, to gainsay ; A.S, wi'Ssacan, id".
wi'Sseide, 238, v, wi'Ssiggen.
wi'Ssiggen, 86, to gainsay, deny; pr. wi^sigge'5,
204, 238; imp. wi'Ssiggen, 262; p. wiSseide,
238, 262; A.S. wi-Ssceggan, id.
wi'Ssigginge, 288, refusing, denying.
witne'S, 248, 276, 282, 384, testifieth, saith.
witte, sense, wit, mind, 64, 106; pi. wittes, 14,
174; A.S. Witt, id.
witterliche, 70, 156, 1G2, f. 294, 316, 358, verily,
with certainty, surely, distinctly; A.S. witodlice,
truly, verily, evidently.
witleas, 256, witless, insane.
witunge, 418, keeping, n.
wiuede, 308, took to wife, iwiued, 216, p.p.
wedded.
wiuene, 158, 382, a,, g. pi, of women; A,S, wif,
a woman.
wlatien, 86, 400, to loathe, nauseate; A.S. wlsetian,
id.
wlatunge, 80, loathing; A.S. wlsetung, id,
wlech, 202, 400, wleach, 400, e. lukewarm; A,S,
wisee, id,
wlite, 98, e, 200, 398, beauty; A.S, wlite, id,
wo, 190, 220, 364, distress, harm, pain.
woanes, 416, 418, a dwelling, abode; A,S, wu-
nian, to dwell.
woawes, 172, 242, walls.
woe, 4, woke, 178, weak, infirm; A,S. wac, weak.
wocliche, 29^, feebly.
wocnesse, 66, 232, 280, weakness; A.S. wacnys,
id,
wod, 96, 120, 406, wode, 66, 164, mad, raging;
A,S, wod, id.
wod-lege, 96, i. sheltering wood; A.S. wod, a
wood, hleo, shade, shelter.
wodliche, 234, d. madly, strongly.
woddre, 264, more enraged.
wodschipe, 120, 200, madness.
wohes, 388, a. wooeth.
wohlae, 388, d. vjooing.
wolawo, 88, alas I well away I
wolden, 62, wolde, 64, would.
woldes, 304, wilfully.
wondrede, 214, 310, 362, wondre'Se, 156,310, b.
wontrede, 310, b. tribidation, misery, amaze-
ment, fear of evil; A.S, wan, dread, wandian,
he afraid.
wone, 8, 26, 68, viant, wanting; A,S, wana,
want.
wane's, 166, waneth; A.S, wanian, to wane, de-
crease.
wonten, 344, 398, to want, to be wanting; pr.
478
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
wonte'5, 194, 282; pr. sub. wontie, 406; A.S.
wona, ivanting, deficient.
wop, A.S. 110, 156, 312, weeping, n. wopie,
376, iveejnng, adj.
word, A.S. 88, 198, reputation, word, saying,
praise.
i-wordede, 78, worded, talkative.
wordnesse, 124, soundness; A.S. weor^, worth,
value.
wori, 386, jyerverse.
woretS, 386, distorteth; A.S. worian, to embroil,
err.
worldliche, 234, in a worldly vaanner.
worpare, 212, one who throws, or darts.
worpen, 40, 166, 306, weorpen, 404, to cast,
throio; pr. worpest, 52, worpe'S, 240, 246,
282, 392, 404, weorpe'S, 88; p. werp, 52,
^230, 280; pr. sub. worpe, 96; p. sub. wurpe,
122, 382 ; imp. worp. 356 ; p.p. i-worpen,
368, wurp, 56; A.S. weorpan, to throiv, cast.
wostu, i. e. wotest tu, 276, 312, knowest thou?
wouh, 126, 158, 180, 188,192,286, 356, wrong,
wickedness, grief; pi. wouhwes, 190, wowes,
198, 352, ivrongs; A.S. woh, wog, wrong,
error, depravity.
wouhinge, 204, wooing.
wouhleche, 96, seduction.
wouhlecchunge, 388, wooing, courtshii).
wowes, 346, 378, tcalls; A.S. wall, weall, a wall.
woware, 90, 390, 400, a wooer; A.S. wogere, id.
wowe^, 388, 396, pr. wooeth; p. wowude, 390,
wooed; A.S. wogau, to woo, marry.
wowunge, 116, wooing, courting, n.
wragelunge, 374, wraggunge, 374, a. struggling,
resisting; A.S. wraxlung, wrestling.
wrakele, 102, 204, wretched, miserable; A.S.
wraec, id,
wrakefulliche, 364, vengefully; A.S. wracu, re-
venge.
wrastlare, 222, 280, 374, a wrestler; A.S. wrax-
lere, id.
wrastle'5, 280, wres<^efA; A.S. wTSiyMan, to wrestle.
wrastin, 220, b. to rush, v. wresten in.
wrastlunge, 374, wrestlunge, 238, b. wrestling,
resisting.
wrecche, 56, 178, 330, wretched, miserable; A.S.
wrecce, id.
wrecchedom, 282, wretchedness.
wreche, 186, 286, revenge; A.S. wracu, wrsec,
wraicu, id.
wrecches, 92, 388, wretches.
wreo'Se'S, 252, pr. supporteth; pr. sub. wreo'Sie,
142; A.S. wreo'Sian, to stipport.
wreien, 304, 340, to accuse, expose, betray; p.
wreih, 390; pr. sub, wreie, 306, 340; p.p.
i-wreied, 172; pr.p. wreginde, 2, b., wreinde,
2; A.S. wregan, to accuse.
wreifule, 302, 304, accusatory.
wreiunge, 200, 304, exposing.
wreken, 286, to avenge; imp. wrekie, 186; A.S.
wraecan, id.
wrench, 338, a turn, trick, artifice, stratagem;
pi. wrenches, 270, 300 [wrenches, 92, h. 1.
wrecches]; A.S. wrenc, a trick, fraud.
wrenchen, 222, 294, to wrench, twist, throw,
shrink; pr. wrenchest, 304, wrenche'5, 212,
244, wrenchen mis, to distort.
wrenchfule, 268, artful.
wresten, 374, to wrestle; A.S. wrtestan, to writhe,
twist.
wresten in, 220, to rush in, force a way; A.S.
inrsesan, to riish on, hrses, a gushing.
wre'S'Sen, 312, 426, to vex, dis2)lease, offend; pr.
wre«'5et, 138, 352; p.p. i-wre'S'Sed, 44; A.S.
wrse'S, wrath, anger.
wre^JSe, 118, 426, wrath, anger, displeasure.
wrieles, 320, 322, wriheles, 420, a. coverings;
A.S. wrigyls, a garment.
wrien, 84, to cover, hide, conceal; pr. wrih'S, 84,
wrie-S, 86, wreo'5, 88, wri'S, 380, wrih, 150 ;
p. wreih, 390; p.p. i-wrien, 58, 388; A.S.
wrigan, wreon, id.
wringers, 322, is wrung; A.S. wringan, to wring.
wrinne^, 238, d. striveth, fighteth.
write, pr. 410, p. wrot, 388, p.p. i-written, 210,
410, written.
wrongwende, 254, turned wrong, averse.
wro-S, 286, 320, angry.
wro^ere-hele, 100, 102, wro^er-hele, 102, ruin,
destruction.
wrusum, 322, wursum, 274, purulent matter
from a sore.
wude, 96, 402, a wood, wood, fuel; A.S. wudu.
wuic, 148, b. weak ; A.S. wac, id.
wule, 156, wulle^, 168, pr. will.
wulf, 120, wulue, 252, a wolf; wuluene, 120, a
she wolf, wolfish; A.S. wulf, id.
wummonlich, 274, womanly.
wunden, 60, 124, 292, wounds.
wunden, 124, to wound; pr. wundeS, 124; p.
wundede;p.p. i-wunded, 240, woMwrfecJ; pr.p.
wundinde, 60, wounding.
wunder, 72, c. 346, evil.
wundrie, 376, imp. wonder.
wune, 266, 326, custom, wont.
wunien, 134, 134, d. 158, 340, to dwell, inhabit;
pr. wunie, 158, wune'S, 126, wunie'S, 142; p.
wunede, 112, 172, 190, 410, wunedest, 342;
imp. wune, 162; p.p. i-wuned; A.S. wunian,
to dwell; Sc. to wun, id.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
479
i-wuned, 146, 206, 230, 320, 370, 390, accus-
tomed, wont; imp. wunieS, 412.
wuniunge, 190, 250, wunnunge, 142, a dwelling,
abiding.
wunne, 192, 196, 200, 354, 398,>j/, prosijerity;
pi. wunnen, 240.
wunnen. 238, pr. pi. fight ; p.p. i-wunnen,
gained, won; A.S. winnan, to win, obtain by
labour, fight.
wunnunge, 74, 142, 196, 350, a habitation;
A.S. wunnung; Sc. a winning, id.
wurchen, 6, to wo'fl; to do; pr. wurche^, 44,
130, 138; p. wrouhte, 258, 272, 390; pr. sub.
wurche, 352, 424; p.p. i-wrouhte, 418; pr.p.
wurchinde, 144; A.S. wyrcan, id.
wurnies, 138, 208, vjorins, maggots, serpents;
A.S. wyrm, a ivorm,, a serjient.
wurse'S, 326, ])t. groweth worse; pr. sub. wursie,
228; p.p. i-wursed, 428, wursnet, 428, g. ;
A.S. wyrsian, to grow worse.
wursum, 274, a. v. WTusum.
wur^, 150, wur^e, 138, value, -price, 7oorth; A.S.
wyrth, id.
i-wurlSen, 52, 96, 128, 140, 214, 218, 414,
i-wur^, 150, i-wur'Se, 86, 96, to he, to become,
be made; pr. i-wurSe'S, 128, i-wur^et; p.
i-weard, 236, warS, 236, f. wear's, 244; pr.
sub. i-wurSe, 372; A.S. geweor^'an, id.
wurSfule, 140, precious; A.S. wur^^uU, worthy,
honourable.
wur'Sliche, 174, worthili/; A.S. wur'Slice, id.
wur'Sschipe, 278, wonM}), honour; A.S. wur'S-
scipe, id.
wuruhte, 284, a maker, an artificer.
yleslipes, ylespilles, 418, h. hedgehog^s shins:
A.S. igil, eil, yl. a hedgehog; Sc. lap, a cover-
ing; Fr. i)oi\, fur, skin.
COEEECTIONS AND ADDITIONS.
Page
line
for
«
read
8
note b.
pullich
}>ullich.
38
9
wened
weneS.
59
27
thee
that.
66
26
ewarre
iwarre : also in Gloss. Index.
71
19
except, &c.
but ye may say, Assuredly, certainly,
96
11
i-\vurden
i-wurSen.
107
31
stale
plain.
112
note b.
devue
derue.
148
8
bitocne^
bitocned.
187
21
add
He forbids it, and saith, Let, &c.
198
12
i-hered
i-here^.
212
8
wrenched
wrenched.
25
lutel
tutel.
214
6
padere'S
pa'Sere'S.
215
23
tablecloth
cup.
218
17
instructed
corrected.
241
4
beat, &c.
frown, look displeased and angry.
245
12
high
in haste.
274
27
wredde
wreS'Se.
275
31
swelling
inflammation.
277
28
climed
climbed.
288
note c.
wi'Ssake
wi^sahe.
299
4
necessary.
serviceable.
304
32
preote
J>reote.
313
12
disgrace
offend.
99
18
pay
pays.
19
feel
feels.
330
29
godes
Godes.
337
10
in an instant
at the last moment.
328
note h.
werres
werrcst.
341
18
accurrence
occurrence.
344
4
sheden
seheden.
369
18
ingratitute
ingratitude.
385
15
know
knew.
424
note c.
inwid
inwi'S.
448
A S. healden
A.S. healdan.
WESTMINSTEB :
PRINTED BY .JOHN BOWYER NICHOLS AND SONS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET.
THE
CAMDEN m..^ms.M SOCIETY,
FOR THE PUBLICATION OF
EARLY HISTORICAL AND LITERARY REMAINS.
At a General Meeting of the Camden Society held at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Great Queen Street, Lincohi's Inn Fields, on Monday, the
2nd of May, 1858,
The Lord BRAYBROOKE, the President, in the chair,
The President having opened the business of the Meeting,
The Secretary read the Report of the Council agreed upon at their
meeting of the 20th of April, whereupon it was
Resolved, That the Report of the Council be received and adopted,
and that the Thanks of the Society be given to the Director and Council
for their services, to the Local Secretaries, to the Editors of the Publica-
tions of the past year, and to Sir Harry Verney for the liberality with
which he has placed his Papers at the service of the Society.
The Secretary then read the Report of the Auditors, agreed upon at
their Meeting of the 20th of April, whereupon it was
Resolved. That the said Report be received and adopted, and that the
Thanks of the Society be given to the Auditors for their services.
Thanks having been voted to the Treasurer and to the Secretary, the
2 ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF 1853.
Meeting proceeded to the election of a President and Council for the year
next ensuing; when,
The Right Hon. Lord Braybrooke, F.S.A.
was elected President; and
William Henry Blaauw, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
John Bruce, Esq. Treas. S.A.
John Payne Collier, Esq. V.P.S.A.
William Durrant Cooper, Esq. F.S.A.
Bolton Corney, Esq. M.R.S.L.
Peter Cunningham, Esq. F.S.A.
Sir Henry Ellis, K.H. F.R.S. Sec. S.A.
Edward Foss, Esq, F.S.A.
The Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A.
The Rev. Lambert B. Larking, M.A.
Sir Frederick Madden, K.H. F.R.S.
Frederick Ouvry, Esq. F.S.A.
The Lord Viscount Strangford, G.C.B. F.R.S. Director S.A.
William John Thoms, Esq. F.S.A. and
Sir Charles G. Young, F.S.A. Garter.
were elected as the Council ; and
Robert W. Blencowe, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
James Crosby, Esq. F.S.A. and
William Salt, Esq. F.S A.
were elected Auditors of the Society for the ensuing year.
Thanks were then voted to the President for the warm interest
always taken by him in the proceedings of the Society, and for his kind
and able conduct in the Chair.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS, 1853.
At a Meeting of the Council of the Camden Society held at No. 25,
Parliament Street, Westminster, on Wednesday the 13th May, 1853, the
Council having proceeded to the Election of Officers, —
John Bruce, Esq. was elected Director ; John Payne Collier,
Esq. Treasurer ; and William J. Thoms, Esq. Secretary, for the Year
next ensuinff.
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL
OF
THE CAMDEN SOCIETY,
ELECTED 3rd MAY, 1852.
The Council of the Camden Society, elected on the 3rd of May,
1852, have pleasure in referring to the Report of the Auditors as a proof
that the condition of the Society has not deteriorated during their year
of office.
The Council have to regret the deaths during the past year of the
following Members : —
John Barnard, Esq. Thomas Ponton, Esq.
Rev. Thomas Dyer, M.A. James Yeeles Row, Esq.
William Empson, Esq. Mrs. Saunders.
John Forster, Esq. The Earl of Shrewsbury.
John Palmer, Esq.
The publications of the past year have been —
I. The Camden Miscellany, Volume the Second, containing — 1. Account
of the Expenses of John of Brabant and Henry and Thomas of Lancaster, 1292-3 :
edited by Joseph Burtt, Esq. 2. Household Account of the Princess Elizabeth,
1551-2: edited by the Lord Viscount Strangford. 3. The Request and Suite
of a Truehearted Englishman, written by William Cholmeley, 1553: edited by
William J. Thoms, Esq. 4. Discovery of the Jesuits' College at Clerkenwell in
March 1627-8: edited by John Gough Nichols, Esq. 5. Trelawny Papers :
edited by William Durrant Cooper, Esq ; — and 6. Autobiography of William
Taswell, D.D. : edited by George Percy Elliott, Esq.
The satisfaction which this volume has given to the Members gene-
rally, from its varied character and the useful illustration afforded by the
several documents contained in it to the history of the different periods
to which they respectively relate, has determined the Council to endeavour
to produce another volume of similar character at no very distant period.
4 REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1853.
II. Letters and Papers of the Verney Family down to the end of the year 1639.
Printed from the original IMSS. in the possession of Sir Harry Verney, Bart. Edited
by John Bruce, Esq.
This volume has been so recently completed that it is probably not
yet in the hands of all the Members. It will, it is confidently hoped, be
found a valuable addition to our materials for the history of the important
times to which it is brought down. The Society will doubtless remember
that this is not the first volume which the Camden Society owes to the
liberal manner in which Sir Harry Verney has placed his collections at
their service ; and will probably think it right to mark, by a special vote,
their recognition of his liberality, and their hope of a further contribution
from his collections.
The third publication for the past year will be —
III. Regulae Inclusarum : The Anci'en Rewle : A Treatise on the Rules and Duties
of Monastic Life, in the Anglo-Saxon Dialect of the 13th Century. Edited by the
Rev. James Morton, B.D., Prebendary of Lincoln. (Nearly ready.)
The Council have also to announce that the Editor of the Letters of
Lady BriUiana Harley authorises them to say that the first volume for the
year now commencing is so far advanced at press that its publication may
be looked for in the course of a few weeks.
The following works have been added to the List of Suggested Publica-
tions during the past year : —
I. The Poor Man's Mirror, A Wickliffite Tract written by Bishop Pecock. To be
edited from a MS. in Archbishop Tenison's Library by the Rev. Philip Hale
Hale, B.A.
II. Privy Purse Expenses of King William the Third. To be edited by J. Y.
Akerman, Esq., Sec. S. A.
III. An historical Narrative of the two Howses' of Parliament, and either of them,
their Committees and Agents', violent Proceedings against Sir Roger Twysden : their
imprisoning his person, sequestering his estate, cutting down his Woods or Tymber,
to his almost undoing and forcing him in the end to a composition for his own. From
the original in the possession of the Rev. Lambert B. Larking, M.A.
IV. The Ancient Divisions, Measurements, Customs, &c. of Wales. Written in
1637 by Robert Lloyd of the Pixe Office, at the request of Owen Wynne. To be
edited by George Hillier, Esq.
V. Extent of the Estates of the Hospitalers in England. Taken under the direc-
tion of Prior Philip de Thame, a.d. 1338; from the original in the Public Library
at Malta. To be edited by the Rev. Lambert B. Larking, M.A.
VI. Narrative of the Services of M. Dumont Bostaquet in Ireland. To be edited
by The Rev. James Henthokn Todd, D.D.
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1853. 5
It will be in the recollection of the Society that a Memorial was
presented to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury in April, 1848,
praying that steps might be adopted to give facilities to literary men to
make researches among the registered Wills in the Prerogative Office,
Doctors' Commons, and that His Grace informed the President and
Council in reply, that he had no control whatever over the fees taken in
that department. The recent appointment of a Commission to inquire
into the Law and Jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical and other Courts in
relation to Matters Testamentary, seemed to the Council to afford an
opportunity of bringing the subject again under the notice of those who
might be able to suggest a remedy for the inconvenience complained of.
Accordingly, on the 28th of January last, the President and Council ad-
dressed to those Commissioners a Memorial, of which the following is a
copy :—
To the Right Honourable and Honourable the Commissioners appointed by
Her Majesty to inquire into the Law and Jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical
and other Courts in relation to Matters Testamentary.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
We, the undersigned, being the President and Council of the Camden Society, for
the Publication of Early Historical and Literary Remains, beg to submit to your con-
sideration a copy of a Memorial presented on the 13th April, 1848, by the President
and then Council of this Society, to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, pray-
ing that such changes might be made in the regulations of the Prerogative Office as
might assimilate its practice to that of the Public Record Office, so far as regards
the inspection of the books of entry of ancient Wills, or that such other remedy might
be applied to the inconveniences stated in that Memorial as to his Grace might seem tit.
In reply to that Memorial his Grace was pleased to inform the Memorialists that
he had no control whatever over the fees taken in the Prerogative Office.
The Memorialists had not adopted the course of applying to his Grace the Arch-
bishop until they had in vain endeavoured to obtain from the authorities of the Pre-
rogative Office, Messrs. Dyneley, Iggulden, and Gostling, some modification of their
rules in favour of literary inquirers. The answer of his Grace the Archbishop left
them, therefore, without present remedy.
The grievance complained of continues entirely unaltered up to the present time.
In all other public i-epositories to which in the course of our inquiries we have had
occasion to apply, we have found a genei'al and predominant feeling of the national
importance of the cultivation of literature, and especially of that branch of it which
relates to the past history of our own country. Every one seems heartily willing to
promote historical inquiries. The Public Record Offices are now opened to persons
engaged in literary pursuits by arrangements of the most satisfactory and liberal
character. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury gives permission to literary
men to search such of the early registers of his sec as are in his own possession at
Lambeth. Access is given to the registers of the Bishop of London ; and throughout
the kingdom private persons having in their possession historical documents are
6 REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1853.
almost without exception not only willing but anxious to assist our inquiries. The
authorities of the Prerogative Office in Doctors' Commons, perhaps, stand alone in
their total want of sympathy with literature, and in their exclusion of literary
inquirers by stringent rules, harshly, and in some instances even offensively, enforced.
We have the honour to be,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and very humble ""i-vants,
(Signed) Braybrooke, President.
John Bruce, Director. W. H. Blaauw.
C. PuRTON Cooper. W. Durrant Coc
J. Payne Collier, Treas. Bolton Corney.
W. R. Drake. Henry Ellis.
Edwd. Foss. Lambert B. Larking.
Peter Levesque. Fredk. Ouvry.
Strangford, William J. Thoms, Secy.
25, Parliament Street, Westminster,
January, 1853.
The Commissioners have acknowledged the receipt of this Memorial,
and the Council hope that the step they have taken will meet with the
approval of this Meeting, as an evidence of their anxiety to use the influ-
ence of the Camden Society for the promotion of historical investigation,
and will also lead to some remedy for the great grievances to which literary
men are at present subjected in the office of the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury.
(Signed) John Bruce, Director.
William J. Thoms, Secretary.
-/
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
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(Sept., 1886, 20,000)
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
not to be rc„ewed/to be 4chS Z^^-^'^'^'ho-Ae.
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