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•{•I 


COLL  CHRIST! 
BIB,  MAJ. 
TOKONTON 


LIBRARY  OF  EARLY  ENGLISH  WRITERS 

EDITED  BY 

C.  HORSTMAN 

VOL.  I. 


YORKSHIRE  WRITERS 

RICHARD  ROLLE  OF  HAMPOLE 

AN  ENGLISH  FATHER  OF  THE  CHURCH 

AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS 


EDITED  BY 

C.   HORSTMAN 

LATE    PROFESSOR    IN    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    BERLIN 


COLL  CHRISTI  Ri«t 
BIB.  MAJ. 
TOROKTON 


LONDON 

SWAN   SONNENSCHEIN  &   C°. 
NEW  YORK :  MACMILLAN  &  CO. 


23550 


In  England's  fatherland,  Germany,  two  different  principles  are  represented  by 
two  different  tribes.  With  the  Saxon  the  male ,  with  the  Frank  the  female  pre 
dominates.  The  Frank,  after  coming  to  the  years  of  maturity,  yields  to  the  "trieb", 
to  "kind",  loses  his  self-assertion  and  strikes  arms  before  his  female  "complement", 
who  henceforth  takes  him  in  hand,  rules  him  and  shapes  his  destiny  after  her 
ideal ;  so  he  is  stopped  in  his  progress  to  individuality. 

The  Saxon  yields  not;  he  is  naturally  chaste,  repugnant  to  the  "trieb",  as  to 
every  power  that  tends  to  disturb  his  equilibrium  and  to  endanger  his  independence. 
Independence,  is  to  him  existence.  Interference,  invasion  on  his  status  quo,  from 
within  or  without,  calls  forth  his  resistance;  and  his  resisting  power  is  immense. 
When  nature  does  conquer  him ,  he  Subdues  his  womankind ,  and  is  the  master. 
He  is  essentially  individual,  self,  self-asserting,  self-relying,  self-possessed,  cool 
and  collected  in  the  storm  of  passion  as  in  the  brunt  of  battle. 

The  Frank,  in  his  contact  with  kind,  is  gregarious,  sociah  the  Saxon  solitary 
and  shy;  he  segregates  from  the  mass  and  builds  his  homestead  away  from  the 
crowd,  and  his  home  is  his  world.  So  the  Saxon  develops  a  strong  individuality, 
while  the  Frank  disappears  in  the  kind. 

But  the  Frank's  kindness  to  kind,  is  rewarded  by  nature's  kindness  to  him,  in 
the  "benigna  naturae  vena"  of  expression.  His  placid  mind,  relieved  from  internal 
conflicts,  becomes  expressive,  eloquent,  easy  of  word,  facile  of  form,  artistic;  it 
can  dwell  on  its  conceptions,  shape  and  model  them  in  ease,  and  stay  till  the 
last  finish  is  attained;  he  possesses  eminently  the  sense  of  form  and  beauty.  The 
Saxon,  kept  from  satisfaction,  is  in  perpetual  unrest,  perpetually  consumed  by  the 
"trieb"  which  he  resists;  a  prey  to  confused  feelings  and  conceits  which  throng 
upon  him  and  rapidly  succeed  each  other ;  of  unbound  imagination ;  his  mind  is 
too  full,  too  embarrassed  to  find  expression,  to  sift,  arrange  and  lay  clear  its 
conceptions;  too  restless  to  follow  and  develop  a  particular  object  till  it  is  pro 
perly  brought  out  and  perfected.  His  ideas,  born  in  the  immediate  truth  of  his 
own  sensation  and  experience,  are  right  enough ;  he  is  an  original  thinker  and  a 
man  of  heart,  and  has  plenty  of  common  sense ;  his  difficulty  lies  in  the  forming. 

It  is  a  pity  that  one  half  of  mankind  cannot  realise  how  the  other  half  feels 
and  thinks. 

The  Frank  has  colonized  France,  the  Saxon  England,  and  so  the  two  different 
principles  are  repeated  in  the  two  nations.  It  is  true  that  in  England  the  Saxon 
heaviness  has  been  partly  relieved  by  the  immigration  of  the  Normans  ;  but  the 
groundwork  of  the  nation  remains  Saxon  ,  and  its  most  valuable  qualities ,  indivi 
duality,  independence,  force  of  will,  tenacity  of  purpose,  sense  of  truth  and  right, 
character,  are  Saxon  inheritance.  In  insular  England,  the  individual  principle  of 
the  Sax9n  may  even  be  said  to  have  found  its  full,  its  excessive  development. 
It  mastered  the  King,  the  Church,  as  all  the  powers  hostile  to  the  free  move 
ment  of  the  individual ,  and  English  history  is  the  continual  realization  of  this 
principle. 


VI  Introduction. 

On  the  other  side,  we  find  the  same  difficulty  of  form.  The  first  Anglo-Saxon 
poet,  Caedmon,  found  expression,  as  Beda  tells  us,  only  by  a  miracle.1  Beowulf, 
and  indeed  the  whole  Anglo-Saxon  poetry,  are  epics  stopped  in  their  very  beginn 
ing,  before  being  perfected  and  fully  built  out.  Short  picturesque  epithets  take 
the  place  of  the  Homeric  simile;  variations,  repetitions  of  synonymic  phrases, 
obstruct  the  progress.  These  poems  breathe  deep  and  passionate  feeling  and 
immediate  truth,  but  the  formal  principle  is  undeveloped.  The  Norman  Conquest 
has  not  materially  altered  these  conditions,  though  it  introduced  French  forms 
and  patterns.  In  the  main,  English  literature  of  medieval,  and  even  of  modern 
times,  remains  individual,  drawing  from  individual  experience,  expressing  indivi 
dual  feeling  and  thought,  but  the  formal  development  is  neglected  and  lags  behind ; 
while,  on  the  contrary,  French  authors  cultivate  the  form  for  form's  sake,  from 
an  innate  sense  of  form,  and  try  to  reproduce  the  classic  ideal,  though  often  at 
the  expense  of  individual  truth.  Scarcely  ever,  even  in  its  noblest  authors,  can 
English  literature  be  said  to  have  attained  classic  perfection.  Saxon  individualism 
and  Saxon  unrest  seem  to  be  incompatible  with  perfect  harmony  of  form. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  Anglo-Saxon  poetry  is  almost  exclusively  confined 
to  the  North  of  England,  to  the  ancient  Kingdom  of  Northumbria ,  which ,  after 
its  conversion  by  St.  Paulinus,  became  the  centre  of  learning  and  litterature  under 
the  Kings  Edwin,  Oswin ,  Oswy.  Here,  in  674,  Benedict  Biscop  founded  the 
monasteries  of  Wearmouth  and  Yarrow,  where  Beda  (d.  735)  wrote;  in  the  school 
of  York,  founded  by  Beda's  friend  Egbert,  Alcuin  taught;  at  Whitby,  under 
abbess  Hilda,  lived  Caedmon  the  poet ;  and  Cynewulf  was  a  Northumbrian.  So  — 
although  the  existing  Anglo-Saxon  remains  are  extant  only  in  southern  (Wessex) 
transcriptions  —  it  is  more  than  probable  that  they  originated  in  the  north.  These 
parts  had  been  colonized  by  the  Angles,  a  tribe  akin  to  the  Saxons,  but  possessed, 
it  seems,  of  greater  repose  and  greater  faculty  of  expression;  perhaps,  also,  the 
mountainous  character  of  the  country  .helped  to  relieve  the  mind.  The  South,  at 
that  time,  had  only  a  short  period  of  literary  activity  under  King  Alfred,  who 
translated  several  Latin  works  into  Anglo-Saxon  (Wessex)  prose ;  and  it  was  prob 
ably  in  his  reign  that  Beowulf  and  the  other  epics  were  transcribed  into  the 
dialect  of  Wessex. 

And  again,  when  after  centuries  of  darkness ,  of  struggles  between  conflicting 
elements,  the  new  state  of  things  after  the  Norman  Conquest  had  been  sufficiently 
consolidated  to  make  room  for  a  revival  of  learning  and  literature,  it  is  the  North 
that  leads.  The  intellectual  and  spiritual  movement  of  the  14th  century,  which 
centred  at  Oxford  (Merton  College],  and  may  well  be  called  the  Merton  College 
movement,  is  headed  by  Northerners.  This  movement  started  with  the  new 
scholastic  system  of  Duns  Scotus,  then  turned  to  mysticism  under  Richard  Rolle 
and  Walter  Hylton,  and  ended  in  Wicliffe's  religious  reform.  All  these  men  were 
Northerners,  who  studied  or  taught  at  Oxford.  And  the  English  literature  of  the 
first  half  of  the  century  is  almost  exclusively  confined  to  the  North. 

The  Oxford  movement  took  up  and  developed,  in  the  English  spirit,  the  great 
questions  which  had  hitherto  occupied  Paris.  From  the  IIth  century  the  intellec 
tual  and  spiritual  life  of  the  Continent  had  been  bound  up  with  scholasticism  and 
mysticism,  the  two  spheres  in  which  the  medieval  head  and  heart  operated  separa 
tely,  not  on  a  common  philosophic  principle ,  but  on  the  basis  of  the  Christian 
dogma. 

Scholasticism  attempted  to  apply  the  precepts  of  logic  and  metaphysics,  as 
found  in  Aristotle,  to  the  explanation  of  the  Christian  dogma,  to  reproduce^, 
so  to  say,  by  reason  and  philosophy,  and  to  form  the  whole  mass  of  doctrine 
into  a  well  connected  and  harmonious  system ;  its  aim  was  to  reconcile  faith  and 
reason,  theology  and  philosophy,  but  it  ultimately  rested  on  the  dogma  and 
authority  of  the  Church.  It  sprang  up  in  the  schools,  where  logic  had  become 
the  dominant  discipline  from  the  fact  that  the  only  writings  of  antiquity  then 


i  A  similar  story  is  related   of  Duns   Scotus ;  R.  Rolle  professes   to  have  found  the  gift  of 
song  in  the  mystic  ecstasis. 


Introduction.  VII 

known  were  Boetius'  translations  of  some  of  the  logical  works  of  Aristotle  (Cate- 
goriae,  and  De  Interpretatione),  and  Porphyry's  Isagoge  in  Aristotelis  categorias; 
and  its  progress  was  dependent  on  the  matter  introduced  from  Aristotle  ,  whose 
authority  was  paramount  until  the  revival  of  Plato  at  the  Florentine  Academy 
supplied  a  fresh  stream  of  ideas.  The  first  who  set  forth  clearly  the  principle  of 
scholasticism  —  fides  quaerens  intellectum  —  ,  and  who  successfully  employed  it, 
was  St.  Anselm  (1033 — 1109).  The  first  who  comprehended  the  whole  Christian 
dogma  in  a  system  on  the  principles  of  logic,  was  Petrus  Lombardus  (d.  1160), 
whose  "4  libri  sententiarum"  at  once  became  the  great  text-book  at  the  universi 
ties  and  was  expounded  in  innumerable  commentaries  by  subsequent  schoolmen. 
He,  and  the  "Sententiarii",  made  only  a  moderate  use  of  dialectics,  as  a  means 
by  which  to  define  more  precisely  the  doctrines  of  the  Church ,  or  to  solve  such 
contradictions  as  might  occur  in  the  statements  of  the  authorities ;  but  at  the  same 
time  a  more  daring  schoolman,  Abelard  (1079 — 1142),  did  not  hesitate  to  investi 
gate  the  nature  of  revealed  truth  by  the  principles  of  logic,  while,  on  the  other 
hand,  St.  Bernard  and  the  "biblical"  divines  refused  altogether  to  admit  human 
reasoning  in  matters  of  faith,  and  contended  against  the  dialecticians.  The  school 
men  of  this  time  were  generally  "realists"  and  believed  in  the  real  or  objective 
existence  of  the  general  ideas  or  "universals",  a  view  which  had  the  approval  of 
the  Church  and  was  indeed  the  only  one  on  which  scholasticism  could  stand ; 
while  nominalism  —  the  doctrine  that  the  universals  were  merely  the  product  of 
the  human  reason,  nothing  but  forms  of  reasoning,  voces,  nomina  —  was  indeed 
revived  by  Roscelin,  but  had  as  yet  few  adepts,  though  ultimately  it  led  to  the 
dissolution  of  scholasticism.  A  new  period  of  scholasticism  began  when,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  13th  century,  Aristotle's  complete  Organon,  and  soon  afterwards 
his  Metaphysics,  Physics  and  Ethics,  became  known  in  Latin  translations  from 
the  Arabs  in  Spain,  together  with  his  Arabian  and  Jewish  commentators  (Avicenna, 
Averroes,  Avicebron,  Maimonides;.  The  newly  founded  mendicant  orders,  the 
Dominicans  and  Franciscans,  embraced  his  philosophy,  taught  it  universally  in  their 
schools  and  expounded  it  in  their  writings.  The  old  questions  of  the  relation  of 
reason  and  faith  &c.  were  now  more  deeply  put,  and  new  questions  arose  —  whether 
theology  was  a  science  or  not,  whether  a  theoretical  or  practical  science ;  of  the 
subject-matter  of  metaphysics  ,  of  the  "principium  individuationis"  ,  unity  of  form 
or  plurality  of  forms  &c.  The  first  who  expounded  and  exploited  the  complete 
Aristotle,  was  Alexander  of  Hales  (d.  1245),  an  Englishman  of  Gloucestershire,  the 
first  Franciscan  who  taught  at  Paris.  But  the  great  luminaries  of  the  age  were 
two  Dominicans,  Albertus  Magnus  (1193—1280),  a  man  of  enormous  erudition, 
and  his  pupil  Thomas  Aquinas  '1226—74,  the  most  constructive  and  speculative 
of  the  schoolmen  ,  whose  "Summa  theologiae"  is  the  most  complete  and  perfect 
attempt  to  harmonize  the  teaching  of  Aristotle  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Church, 
and  the  culminating  point  in  the  history  of  scholasticism.  The  final  development 
of  scholasticism  belongs  to  England. 

Mysticism ,  on  the  other  hand ,  embodied  a  theology  of  feeling  and  immediate 
illumination,  which  attached  very  little  importance  to  intellectual  effort,  and 
laid  much  more  weight  on  purification  of  the  heart  and  ascetic  morality.  The 
mystics  believed  in  a  direct  and  immediate  communion  with  God,  ^  attainable  by 
"contemplation"  or  "contemplative  life",  which,  by  way  of  purification  and  illumi 
nation,  by  means  of  prayer  and  meditation,  in  the  stage  of  perfection  led  to  the 
ecstasis  fexcessus)  wherein  the  mind,  in  the  raptures  of  love,  is  lifted  to  the  vision 
of  God  and  to  the  perception  of  the  heavenly  glory  —  an  anticipation  of  the  life 
to  come.  Such  is  mysticism  in  the  Catholic  sense1,  which  made  the  mystic 


»  Cf.  Corderius  Isagoge  in  Dion.  Areop.  (Migne  Series  Graeca  3,001.97):  Theologia  mystica 
est  sapientia  experimentalis,  Dei  affectiva,  divinitus  infusa,  quae  mentem  ab  omni  mordmat 
puram,    per  actus  supernaturales  fidei,  spei  et  caritatis  cum  Deo  intime  conjungit.     A  compl 
theory  of  contemplation,  in  extracts  from  St.  Bernard,  R.  Rolle,  Walter  Hilton  &c.  is  containec 
in  Speculum  Spiritualium.  Paris  1510,  the  work  of  an  Englishman  who  refuses  to  give  his  name; 
among  the  extracts  from  R.  Rolle  is  one  from  the  Form  of  living   (Some   er  begylde  with  oure- 
mikell  abitinens  &c.,  see  p.  6),  from  a  southern  Ms.,  in  lib.  II  cap.  16. 


VIII  Introduction. 

process  wholly  dependent  on  grace ,  and  by  carefully  guarding  the  notion  of 
personality  excluded  the  strange  pantheistic  speculations  so  characteristic  of  mysti 
cism.  Thus  mysticism  is  mainly  the  theory  of  "contemplation"  and  its  stages  of 
purification,  illumination,  and  perfection  (contemplation  proper).  Its  hearth  was 
the  monasteries  and  the  cells  of  the  hermits.  As  scholasticism  to  Aristotle ,  so 
mysticism  goes  back  to  Plato  and  Neoplatonism  (Plotinus).  The  great  coryphaeus 
of  the  mystics  was  the  pseudo-Dionysius  the  Areopagite,  probably  an  Alexandrian 
theologian  of  the  5th  century,  whose  writings  (de  celesti  hierarchia,  de  ecclesiastica 
hierarchia,  de  divinis  nominibus,  de  mystica  theologia)  contain  a  great  speculative 
system  which  builds  the  Christian  doctrine  on  a  Neoplatonic  substructure.  God 
is,  to  him,  the  centre  towards  which  all  tend,  and  at  the  same  time  the  all- 
embracing  circumference  within  which  all  are  included ;  from  him  stream  con 
stantly  forth,  like  rays  of  the  visible  sun,  divine  emanations  (the  "hierarchies"), 
gradually  becoming  more  symbolic  and  corporeal  as  they  descend,  and  the  higher 
orders  purifying  and  illuminating  the  lower ;  man  is  unable  to  know  the  real 
nature  of  God  by  reason  and  affirmation,  yet  he  may  be  drawn  near  to  Him  in 
the  mystic  communion  of  a  loving  faith,  if  he  abstract  his  mind  from  all  visible 
things  and  proceed  by  negation1.  In  the  Western  Church,  St.  Augustine,  less 
speculative  but  more  practical,  and  following  up  the  ways  and  means  of  individual 
salvation  from  a  psychological  basis,  developed  the  doctrines  of  sin  and  grace, 
of  penitence  and  repentance,  of  grace  and  free-will,  of  the  human  soul  and  its 
three  powers  (memoria,  intellectus,  voluntas)  as  a  likeness  of  the  Trinity,  of  a 
loving  faith  by  which  it  is  reunited  with  its  archetype  —  which  afterwards  formed 
the  favourite  topics  of  the  mystics.  Dionysius  became  first  known  to  the  West 
when  the  Emperor  Michael  the  Stammerer  sent  a  copy  of  his  writings  to  Lewis 
the  Meek  in  824 ,  and  was  all  the  more  favourably  received  when  Hilduin  of 
St.  Denys  identified  him  with  the  apostle  and  first  bishop  of  France.  The  great 
scholar  John  Erigena  translated  his  writings  into  Latin  by  the  command  of  Charles 
the  Bald  (860),  and  was  himself  so  captivated  with  this  new  system  that  he  ac 
commodated  his  own  philosophy  to  its  precepts,  or  rather  explained  its  principles 
by  the  rules  of  his  philosophy.  Erigena's  speculative  system  (De  divisione  naturae), 
though  starting  from  the  supposition  of  the  unity  of  philosophy  and  theology,  ends 
in  pure  pantheism,  theology  becoming  quite  absorbed  by  philosophy. 

The  classic  time  of  orthodox  mysticism  began  with  the  revival  of  Church-discipline, 
piety  and  learning  consequent  on  the  reforms  introduced  by  Gregory  VII.  The  new 
state-formations  of  Germanic  origin  were  then  in  their  first  bloom.  A  new  religious 
fervour,  a  high-strung  lyric  tone  characterized  the  time.  New  monastic  orders 
aimed  at  greater  austerity  of  life.  Visions,  revelations,  prophecies  became  frequent, 
and  not  least  among  women,  as  in  the  case  of  the  German  prophetesses  Hilde- 
gardis  of  Bingen  and  Elizabeth  of  Schoenau.  Scholastic  and  mystic  theology 
sprang  up  at  the  same  time ,  and ,  despite  St.  Bernard's  opposition  to  the  dia 
lecticians  ,  soon  went  hand  in  hand  on  the  common  ground  of  Christian  faith, 
aiding  one  another  and  profiting  by  one  ^another.  The  mystic  doctors  did  not 
raise  new  speculative  systems ;  their  theory  was  simply  that  of  contemplation, 
which  they  tried  to  develop  on  a  psychological  basis  and  to  substantiate  with  the 
help  of  the  scholastic  method ;  their  theology  was  that  of  St.  Augustine.  But 
while  scholasticism  became  more  and  more  involved  in  intricate,  subtle,  theoretical 
questions,  mysticism  gradually  absorbed  the  whole  sphere  of  practical,  moral, 
and  popular  theology.  As  their  "contemplation"  was  practically  identical  with  the 
course  of  a  pious ,  devotional  and  saintly  life ,  most  of  the  mystics  were  moral 
writers,  inculcating  internal  holiness  and  the  regulation  of  life.  Many  of  them 
were  also  poets,  and  effused  their  religious  fervour  in  hymns  and  songs.  The 
mystics  generally  expressed  themselves  beautifully  and  in  a  manner  suited  to  move 
the  soul,  though  frequently  without  method  or  discrimination.  They  made  frequent 
use  of  allegory  and  parable,  and  of  illustrations  from  nature  or  life.  In  the 
explanation  of  the  Scriptures  they  employed  the  allegorical  interpretation ,  which 


Cf.  Smith  &  Wace  Dictionary  of  Christian  Biography,  s.  v.  Dionysius. 


Introduction.  IX 

sees  behind  the  obvious,  literal  sense  a  hidden  or  mystic  meaning,  conveying 
spiritual  lessons1.  Most  of  them  had  a  distinctly  popular  character,  and  wrote 
for  the  edification  of  the  illiterate.  Among  the  mystics  of  the  I2*h  century  was 
St.  Bernard  (1091 — 1153),  a  man  remarkably  austere  in  his  mode  of  living  and 
wholly  absorbed  in  practical  religion,  of  bold,  thrilling  and  irresistible  eloquence, 
but  bound  up  in  the  old  traditional  ways  and  strongly  opposed  to  Abelard's 
novelties;  yet  he  demanded  a  fuller,  deeper  grasp  of  religion,  and  found  it  in 
mystic  contemplation.  He  was  one  of  the  greatest  of  Latin  hymn-writers.  The 
two  Victorines  (so  called  from  the  monastery  of  St.  Victor  at  Paris)  Hugo  of 
St.  Victor  (1097 — 1141)  and  Richard  of  St.  Victor  (d.  1173),  represent  the  alliance 
of  mysticism  and  scholasticism.  Hugo ,  probably  a  Saxon  by  birth ,  must  be 
regarded  as  the  real  founder  of  medieval  mysticism,  St.  Bernard  being  dependent 
on  him  for  the  essential  features  of  his  mystic  views.  His  mystical  writings  (De 
Area  mystica,  De  Area  morali,  de  Vanitate  mundi)  belong  to  his  earlier  life,  while 
his  later  works  give  an  outline  of  his  general  theological  views  and  are  only 
occasionally  coloured  by  mysticism.  His  pupil,  Richard,  a  Scotchman,  is  more 
uniformly  a  mystic  writer.  His  most  famous  work  is  "Benjamin  sive  de  gratia 
contemplationis",  in  which  he  gives  the  psychological  theory  of  "contemplatio"  as 
an  intuition,  an  immediate  vision  of  the  divine  ;  distinguished  from  "cogitatio",  the 
common  reasoning,  and  "meditatio",  the  pondering  on  a  single  subject.  The 
poetical  mysticism  of  the  school  is  represented  by  Adam  of  St.  Victor  (d.  1192). 
In  the  13th  century  the  alliance  between  scholasticism  and  mysticism  continued, 
and  while  Albertus  Magnus  and  Aquinas  were  imbued  with  mystic  elements,  Bona- 
ventura  (1221 — 74!,  a  Franciscan,  the  greatest  of  the  mystics,  was  also  a  philo 
sopher  and  ranks  high  among  the  scholastics.  He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
writers  of  the  middle  ages ,  on  account  of  the  comprehensiveness  of  his  views, 
the  ease  and  clearness  of  his  reasoning,  the  warmth  of  his  religious  feeling,  and 
the  practical  tendency  of  his  ethics.  The  calm  repose  of  his  character  and  the 
sweet  mysticism  of  his  writings  have  procured  for  him  the  title  of  "Doctor  Sera- 
phicus".  He  combined  the  practical,  poetical,  and  popular  elements  which  had 
gradually  become  embodied  in  mysticism. 

At  the  same  time  mysticism  led  to  many  strange  aberrations.  In  the  writings 
of  Joachim  of  Flora  it  assumed  an  apocalyptic  character;  he  taught  that  the  reigns 
of  the  Father  and  the  Son  would  shortly  be  followed  by  that  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
These  views  were  adopted  by  the  "Spirituals"  (a  section  of  the  Franciscans  which 
proclaimed  the  strict  observance  of  St.  Francis'  precept  of  poverty;  and  gave  rise 
to  the  idea  of  an  everlasting  gospel  which  should  supersede  both  the  Old  and 
the  New  Testament.  Others,  by  going  back  to  Dionysius  and  Erigena,  were  led 
to  pantheistic  doctrines  and  started  new  and  dangerous  sects ;  so  David  of  Dinanto 
and  Amalric  of  Bena,  who  are  generally  considered  as  the  founders  of  the 
"Brethren  and  Sisters  of  the  Free  Spirit",  a  sect  which  taught  that  the  true  sons 
of  God  were  brought  into  the  most  perfect  freedom  from  the  law.  In  the  14th 
century,  mysticism  took  a  new  departure  in  Germany,  in  the  Rhine  regions,  not 
without  the  influence  of  the  doctrines  of  the  last-named  sect:  Here  "Meister 
Eckardt  1260 — 1329),  a  Provincial  of  the  Dominican  order  at  Strassburg,  the 
profoundest  thinker  of  his  time,  founded  a  new  speculative  system  on  mystic 
principles,  which  closely  resembles  the  systems  of  Erigena  and  Dionysius,  and  is 
mainly  a  mystic  pantheism.  To  him,  "God  is  the  being,  and  outside  of  him 
there  is  nothing  but  illusion  and  deception;  in  its  true  existence  every  creature 
is  not  only  a  revelation  of  God,  but  a  part  of  him,  and  the  true  object  of  human 
life  must  consequently  be  to  strip  it  of  all  illusions  and  deceptions  and  to  return 
into  the  one  great  being,  God"2.  Among  his  followers  were  Tauler  (1290 — 1301), 

1  The  allegorical  interpretation,  first  introduced  by  Philo  as  a  means  to  reconcile  the  Mosaic 
revelation  with  the  Greek  philosophy,  was  adopted  by  the  Alexandrian  theologians  as  the  highest 
principle   of  biblical  exegesis ,    and  through  St.  Augustine  transplanted   to  the  Western 

In    the    middle    ages   four    senses   were   found    in   Scripture:    historical,  allegorical,   moral,  and 
analogical;  e.  g.\  Jerusalem  is  literally  the  city  so  named,  allegoncally  the  Church,  morally  tn 
believing  soul,  analogically  the  heavenly  Jerusalem;   cf.  p.  435- 

2  Cf.  Religious  Encyclopaedia  ed.  Schaff,  New  York,  s.  v.  Eckhart. 


X  Introduction. 

the  great  mystical  preacher,  who  was  of  a  practical  rather  than  speculative  turn 
of  mind  and  laboured  to  benefit  the  laity;  and  Henry  Suso  (1300 — 1365],  who 
represents  the  poetical  mysticism  of  the  time,  in  all  its  loveliness,  and  whose 
"Book  of  the  Eternal  Wisdom"  (1338),  in  an  extract  under  the  title  "Horologium 
Sapientiae"  (by  R.  Rolle?),  became  such  a  favourite  in  England.  From  the  Rhine- 
region  the  movement  spread  into  the  Netherlands,  where  Gerhard  Groot  formed 
the  community  of  the  Brethren  of  Common  Life  ,  to  which  Thomas  a  Kempis 
belonged.  The  German  mystics,  in  regarding  inner  discipline,  the  moral  per 
fecting  of  man's  nature,  as  supreme,  above  the  punctilious  observance  of  churchly 
ordinances,  and  in  accentuating  the  self-sufficiency  of  the  individual  soul  to  attain 
of  itself  to  immediate  communion  with  God,  were  rather  inclined  to  undervalue 
the  exterior  hierarchical  order  of  the  Church,  and  so  helped  to  prepare  the 
way  for  the  German  Reformation.  The  English  mystics  form  the  link  between 
the  orthodox  and  the  German  mystics. 

In  England,  Oxford  had,  especially  after  the  foundation  of  Merton  College 
(1274),  become  the  centre  of  national  learning,  and  the  rival  of  Paris.  Scholastic 
theology  had  indeed  been  transplanted  to  England  at  an  early  date,  but  not 
without  some  opposition.  John  of  Salisbury  (d.  1180)  had  raised  objection  to 
the  dialectic  subtleties,  which  he  considered  wanting  in  taste  and  simplicity  and  of 
no  practical  value ;  he  had  accentuated  the  limits  of  human  knowledge,  and  pointed 
to  the  study  of  ethics,  physics  and  metaphysics  as  equally  important.  The  same 
opinions  were  expressed  by  Robert  Grosseteste  (d.  1253),  a  man  equally  well 
versed  in  ancient  languages,  in  mathematics  and  in  natural  science.  Oxford  was 
the  only  university  of  the  time  where  mathematics  and  natural  science  found  equal 
favour  with  dialectics.  Independent  opinion  became  still  more  pronounced  when 
the  Franciscans  began  to  teach  at  Oxford  (their  first  teacher  was  Adam  de  Morisco). 
The  members  of  this  order ,  from  their  greater  contact  with  the  people ,  were 
naturally  more  practical  and  less  speculative  than  the  Dominicans,  and  had  on 
several  points  (as  in  the  question  of  matter  and  form,  whose  dualism  they  denied) 
formed  their  own  theories.  A  Franciscan  was  Roger  Bacon  (1214 — 94),  the 
"Doctor  mirabilis"  of  the  schools,  who,  disgusted  with  the  meagre  and  jejune 
method  of  philosophizing  derived  from  Aristotle,  tried  to  extend  the  boundaries 
of  human  knowledge,  studied  perspective,  improved  the  calendar,  made  burning- 
glasses,  a  telescope,  and  gunpowder.  His  greatness  lies  in  the  marvellous  breadth 
of  his  learning.  In  philosophy,  he  raised  the  banner  of  experience,  and  in  the 
question  of  the  universals  he  maintained  that  the  only  real  existence  was  the 
individual  thing  and  that  the  universal  was  merely  a  "convenientia  respectu  alterius". 
All  this  helps  to  explain  the  peculiar  development  of  scholasticism  under  Duns 
Scotus  (d.  1308),  a  Franciscan,  the  great  antagonist  of  Thomas  Aquinas.  With 
him,  scholasticism  enters  its  third  and  last  stage.  His  difference  from  Aquinas  is 
mainly  the  result  of  his  Saxon  individuality,  brought  to  bear  on  the  scholastic 
system.  Thomas  had  a  natural  bent  towards  generalization,  Duns  a  vivid  sense 
of  individuality ;  Thomas  was  speculative,  constructive,  Duns,  critical  —  his  strength 
is  the  negative  destruction  of  error  rather  than  the  positive  construction  of  truth1. 
In  their  ideas  of  God,  Thomas  emphasizes  universality,  totality,  necessity;  Duns, 
singularity,  personality,  freedom,  and  he  accentuates  the  distinction  between  the 
persons  of  the  Trinity.  As  a  critic,  he  brings  the  subtleties  of  his  logic  to  bear 
on  the  apparatus  of  proofs  by  which  Thomas  had  built  up  his  system  of  theology, 
until  no  other  basis  for  truth  remains  than  the  absolute  will  of  God  and  the 
voluntary  submission  of  man;  but  this  basis,  the  truth  of  the  divine  revelation 
and  the  authority  of  the  Church,  he  never  doubts.  In  fact,  there  is  for  him  no 
knowledge  apart  from  the  Christian  teaching.  Theology,  he  holds,  rests  on  faith 
only ,  and  faith  is  not  speculative  but  practical  —  an  act  of  will ;  will  is  the 
moving  power  of  intellect,  not  intellect  of  will ;  and  the  will  of  man  receives  its 
contents  through  voluntary  submission  to  the  external  authority  of  the  Church. 
So  Duns  dissolved  that  unity  between  faith  and  science ,  between  theology  and 


1  Cf.  Religious  Encyclopaedia  ed.  Schaff,  s.  v.  Duns  Scotus. 


Introduction.  XI 

philosophy ,  which  was  the  pride  of  scholasticism ,  and  in  its  stead  he  places  a 
positivism  which  rested  solely  on  authority,  on  commandment.  Duns  Scotus,  with 
his  perverse  subtlety,  marks  the  turning  point  in  the  history  of  scholasticism. 
The  next  time  is  filled  up  with  the  disputes  between  the  Scotists  and  Thomists, 
in  which  took  part  Richard  Middleton  'd.  1300),  Walter  Burleigh  (d.  1337), 
John  Baconthorp  (d.  1346)  and  others.  The  final  dissolution  of  scholasticism  is 
connected  with  the  adoption  of  nominalism  by  William  Occam  (d.  1349),  a  pupil 
of  Duns.  Realism  was  the  bond  between  theology  and  philosophy:  as  soon  as 
the  doctrine  that  the  universal  was  merely  a  product  of  the  human  reason  — 
"conceptus  mentis  significans  univoce  plura  singularia"  -  -  became  prevalent  and 
was  carried  through  in  the  system,  scholasticism  ceased  to  have  a  reason  for  its 
existence,  and  theology  and  philosophy  were  sundered.  From  that  time  theology 
reigned  alone,  but  it  ceased  to  be  a  science,  and  became  a  mere  commandment ; 
while  the  doctrine  that  only  the  individual  thing  exists  and  knowledge  is  attainable 
only  by  intuition  and  experience,  laid  the  foundation  for  that  method  of  experi 
ment  and  induction  which  gave  birth  to  modern  science.  So  nominalism,  naturally, 
led  to  the  invention  of  a  double  truth,  to  the  axiom  that  something  can  be  true 
in  philosophy  though  it  is  false  in  religion,  and  vice  versa. 

The  history  of  mysticism  in  England  is  not  yet  sufficiently  known,  most  of  the 
writers  still  being  in  MS.  So  much,  however,  is  certain  that  it  had  many  adepts, 
and  that  the  deep  and  passionate  feeling  peculiar  to  the  English  mind  was 
favourable  to  it.  Nowhere  had  Christianity  been  embraced  with  greater  warmth 
than  in  England,  and  nowhere  was  there  a  more  fertile  soil  for  mysticism.  In 
deed,  one  of  the  founders  of  medieval  mysticism,  Richard  of  St.  Victor,  was  a 
Scotchman;  and  the  influence  of  St.  Bernard  and  the  Victorines  is  perceptible 
not  only  in  Latin  writers  like  Ailred  of  Rievaux  (d.  1166),  the  author  of  the 
Informatio  Ailredi  ad  sororem  suam  inclusam,  Speculum  caritatis,  De  spiritual! 
amicitia,  but  the  first  growth  of  English  literature,  the  Ancren  Riwle  and  the 
lyric  poetry  of  the  West,  is  due  to  that  influence.  The  intensity  of  religious 
feeling  in  England  is  proved  by  the  rapid  increase  of  monasteries,  especially  of 
the  new  (more  ascetic)  orders,  the  Cluniacenses,  Cistercians  &c ;  only  from  William 
the  Conqueror  to  John  Lackland  156  new  monasteries  arose,  and  Yorkshire  alone, 
at  a  later  date,  had  14  great  abbeys,  60  priories,  30  friaries,  13  cells,  and  20 
collegiate  churches;  so  that  the  Church  was  near  being  absorbed  by  the  mona 
stery,  and  religion  became  synonymous  with  monastic  life.  And,  at  the  same 
time ,  anchoretical  life ,  once  the  sole  form  of  monasticism  in  Egypt  and  Syria, 
but  since  replaced  by  the  cenobite  life  of  convents,  survived  in  England  and  had 
many  followers.  These  anchorites  or  hermits  retired  from  the  world  into  solitude, 
and  lived  in  caves  or  cells ,  that  they  might  give  themselves  up  to  a  life  of 
solitary  but  holy  contemplation1;  they  were  generally  neither  monks  nor  priests, 


i  Cf.  R.  Rolle  Incendium  Amoris:  Docti  sunt  quidam  divinitus  pro  Christo  solitudinem  appetere 
et  singulare  propositum  tenere  :  qui  statim  ut  uberius  ac  devotius  deo  serviant ,  relicto  habitu 
communi  seculi  transitoria  quaeque  despiciunt  et  temporalia  abiciunt,  mentis  sublimitate  tran- 
scendunt,  sola  eterna  gaudia  desiderant,  devotion!  et  contemplationi  vacant  et  ad  amandum 
Chiistum  totum  temporis  sui  studium  occupare  non  cessant.  Quorum  plerique,  etsi  inter  homines 
remoti  commorentur,  a  celestibus  tamen  desideriis  non  titubant,  quia  illorum  mentes  ab  ipsorum 
conversations  longe  distant.  Recti  itaque  solitarii  singulare  propositum  habent,  in  caritate  dei  et 
proximi  vivunt,  laudem  temporalem  despiciunt,  visus  hominum  pro  posse  fugiunt,  omnes  digniores 
se  putant,  continue  devotioni  mentes  suas  praebent,  otium  odiunt,  carnalibus  voluptatibus  viri- 
liter  resistunt,  celestia  sapiunt  et  ardenter  quaerunt,  terrena  non  cupiunt  sed  relinquunt,  suavi- 
tate  orationum  delectantur.  Quidam  eortim  veram  eternae  resurrectionis  dulcedinem  sentiunt, 
immo  et  casti  corde  et  corpore  intemerato,  mentis  oculo  celestes  cives  et  deum  speculantur. 
Quia  prius  per  amarum  poculum  penitentiae  magnum  laborem  amaverunt,  iam  supernae  con- 
templationis  amore  succensi  soli  deo  vacare  et  regnum  Christi  expectare  meruerunt.  Magna 
igitur  est  vita  solitaria,  si  magnifice  agatur.  Nam  et  b.  Maglorius  qui  fuit  miraculis  plenus  et  a 
pueritia  visitatione  angelica  gavisus,  cum  iuxta  propheciam  praedecessoris  eius,  b.  sc.  Samp- 
sonis,  fuisset  factus  archiepiscopus  et  ecclesiam  dei  laudabihter  rexisset ,  visitante  eum  angelo 
monitus  est  ut  archiepiscopatu  diraisso  vitam  eligeret  heremiticam ;  et  in  fine  vitae  significants 
est  ei  transitus  eius.  Similiter  b.  Cuthbertus  ab  episcopatu  ad  anachoriticam  vitam  transivit. 
Si  ergo  ad  maius  merirum  assequendum  tales  viri  sic  fecerunt:  quis  sanae  mentis  audebit  ali- 
quem  statum  in  ecclesia  vitae  solitariae  praeferre?  In  hac  enim  nullis  exterioribus  rebus  se 
occupant,  sed  solummodo  libere  supernae  contemplationi,  ut  et  in  amore  Christi  iugiter  ferveant 


XII  Introduction. 

although  the  Trullan  council  (692)  had  ordained  that  a  person  wishing  to  become 
an  anchorite  should  first  go  through  a  kind  of  noviciate  in  a  monastery,  and 
Charlemagne  wished  to  have  all  hermits  sent  to  the  monasteries.  Of  a  similar 
kind  were  the  recluses  or  incluses  of  the  monasteries,  monks  or  nuns  who  were, 
at  their  own  request,  solemnly  sealed  up  in  their  cells,  there  to  die  —  a  privi 
lege  only  accorded  to  those  of  tried  and  extraordinary  virtue,  and  by  express 
permission  of  the  abbot.  The  hermits  were  nowhere  more  frequent  than  in  the 
North.  Here  St.  Cuthbert  (d.  687),  having  been  bishop  of  Lindisfarne  for  12 
years,  had  resigned  his  office  and  settled  as  an  hermit  in  one  of  the  small  islands 
of  Fame,  and  St.  Guthlac  (d.  714),  in  his  24th  year  suddenly  experiencing  a 
change  of  heart,  had  given  up  his  wild  life  of  a  warrior  and  adopted  that  of  an 
hermit,  at  Crowland;  and  here,  at  a  later  date,  we  find  St.  Henry  (d.  1127)  the 
hermit  of  the  isle  of  Cocket  which  is  said  to  have  then  been  full  of  hermits, 
St.  Godrick  of  Finchal  (d.  1159),  St.  Bartholomew  of  the  isle  of  Fame  (d.  c.  1180), 
and,  in  the  13th  century,  St.  Robert  of  Knaresborough.  The  authors  of  that 
time  frequently  recommend  heremitical  life  as  more  meritorious  than  monastic  life1. 
The  cells  of  the  hermits,  and  the  monasteries,  were  the  seat  of  holy  contempla 
tion,  of  a  life  which,  by  way  of  purification  through  ascetic  exercises,  compunc 
tion  and  humiliation ,  aspired  to  the  ecstatic  union  with  God ,  to  a  love  of  God 
so  intimate  that  the  soul,  losing  itself  altogether,  was  transformed  into  him.  But 
mysticism  in  England  was  merely  experimental,  practical,  not  speculative;  it  has 
not  produced  any  speculative  system  in  the  manner  of  Dionysius,  Erigena,  Eckardt. 
Indeed  English  individualism  with  its  anti-speculative  tendencies,  which  was  respon 
sible  for  the  peculiar  development  of  scholasticism,  was  hostile  to  any  such  system. 
Philosophy ,  in  the  German  or  Greek  sense ,  has  never  existed  in  England ;  the 
English  mind  is  naturally  disposed  to  reduce  the  claims  of  philosophy,  and  in  the 
same  measure  to  enlarge  the  scope  of  theology ;  it  wants  a  revealed  truth,  a 
given  authority,  a  personal  God,  a  commandment,  to  be  religiously  at  rest,  and 
all  theories  that  tend  to  mix  up  things  human  and  divine,  and  to  bridge  over  the 
gulf  between  the  two,  have  been  unpopular.  The  English  mystics  carefully  kept 
within  the  pale  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  their  theory  is  simply  that  of  contem 
plation  within  the  lines  marked  out  by  the  Victorines ;  the  only  gain  they  brought 
lies  in  a  more  minute  examination  of  the  phases  and  sensations  in  the  mystic 
process;  so  R.  Rolle  describes  the  successive  stages  of  "calor",  "canor",  "dulcor", 
felt  after  the  doors  of  heaven  were  first  opened  to  him  in  the  ecstasis.  But  the 
chief  conquests  of  the  English  mystics  lay  on  the  side  of  practical ,  moral ,  and 
popular  theology,  and  gradually  they  —  even  more  than  Bonaventura  —  absorbed 
the  ^vhole  sphere  of  religion.  They  taught  the  way  Godward ,  the  way  of  per 
fection,  the  ruling  of  life;  and  at  the  same  time  they  undertook  the  edification 


et  mundi  solicitudines  perfecte  postponant;  unde  et  intra  se  sonus  celicus  resonat,  melosque 
cifluum  solitarium  iocundat  a  quo  inter  multos  tumultus  positum  distrahit,  et  non  pure  cogi- 
tare  vel  prare  sinit  .  .  Perfectus  enim  solitarius  in  divino  amore  vehementer  ardet ,  et  dum 
;upra  se  in  excessum  mentis  per  contemplationem  rapitur,  usque  ad  canorum  iubilum  et  sonum 
cehcum  gaudens  sublevatur. 

Cf.  Petrus  Blesensis  Vita  S.  Guthlaci :  Sane  inter  eos  qui  convertuntur  ad  cor,  cenobitarum 

lulto   est   secunor,   status  yero    anachoritarum  longe  perfectior.     In  cenobio ,  quia  ibi  vita 

mis  est  e'  conversatio  socialis ,    maximum   invenitur  contra   omnia   nequitiae  temptamenta 

urn.     Habet  cenobita  bonum  obedientiae,  censuram  silentii,  pacem  animae,  contemplationis 

num,  consihum  m  haesitatione,   in  temptatione  remedium,  et  efficax  in  omnibus  beneficium 

:mae.     Ibi    virtutum    scola   est,    modestiae    usus,   morum   regularitas ,    fraternitatis    affectio, 

commumcatio  ,    disciplmae   vigor,    vinculum   caritatis ,    et   mutua   obsequela.     Porro   in 

)litudme,  licet  sit  temptationum  pugna  suspectior,  corona  tamen  est  gloriosior,  et  fructus  vitae 

r;   dum  se  ipsum  perdit  ut  Christum  lucrifaciat,   se   odit   ut   Christum   diligat ,    mortuus  a 

mo,  factusque  sibi  tamquam  vas   perditum ;    deficiens   a  seipso  ut  crescat  in  Christum,  ut 

rens,   unus   sit  spintus   cum   eo;   ut   in   desideriis   animae   suae    liquescentis   affectione 

ti   psallat   et   dicat:    Quid   michi  est  in  celo,  et  a  te  quid  volui  super  terram?    defecit  caro 


•gite     salvate   animas   vestras ,    et   eritis    in   deserto   sicut  humiles  miricae.     Idem  etiam  de  se 
>edebam  solitarius  quia  amaritudine  replesti  me.     (Ms.  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin  B  2.  7). 


Introduction.  XIII 

and  instruction  of  the  people,  of  the  poor  and  illiterate,  taught  them  the  elements 
of  the  faith,  the  commandments,  the  sacraments  &c.,  and  took  hold  of  the  pulpit ; 
or  they  instructed  the  parish-priests  how  and  in  what  to  teach  the  people ,  how 
to  use  the  sacraments  &c. ,  and  made  model-sermons,  festivals,  legendaries,  for 
their  use.  The  sermon,  the  homily,  the  epistle,  the  religious  tract  became  the 
mouth-piece  of  the  mystics.  This  development  of  mysticism  was  due  chiefly  to 
the  influence  of  Bonaventura.  He  was  a  great  favourite  in  England,  and  the  very 
fact  that  he  had  been  nominated  to  (but  declined)  the  archbishopric  of  York  by 
Clement  IV.  in  1265,  seems  to  have  contributed  to  his  popularity  in  that  diocese. 
A  follower  of  him,  forming  the  link  between  him  and  R.  Rolle,  was  John  Hoveden, 
chaplain  to  Queen  Eleanor ,  and  one  of  the  first  prebendaries  of  the  collegiate 
church  of  Howden  or  Hoveden  in  Yorkshire  (founded  in  1266),  where  he  died  — 
about  1275  —  and  was  honoured  as  a  saint.  He  was  known  as  an  astrologer 
and  poet.  His  poems,  which  are  all  contained  in  MS.  Nero  CIX  (other  MSS.  are 
Harl.  985,  Laud  368,  Lamb.  410'  are  wonderfully  pathetic,  and  quite  in  the  style 
of  Bonaventura;  the  chief  is  "Philomela  sive  meditatio  de  nativitate,  passione  et 
resurrectione  Jesu  Christi" ,  nearly  4000  w. ,  in  rhyming  couplets  (ed.  by  Peter 
Caesar,  Ghent  1516,  by  Bosquier,  Luxemb.  1603,  under  the  title  "Joannis  Houdemii 
Angli . .  Christiados  libri  sex  J,  an  imitation  of  a  poem  of  the  same  title  commonly 
ascribed  to  Bonaventura  (beg.  Philomela  praevia  temporis  amoeni) ;  his  other 
poems  are  Meditatio  de  nativitate  et  passione  Christi  vocata  Canticum  divini 
amoris,  Quindecim  gaudia  virginis,  Meditatio  vocata  cantica  quinquaginta,  Laus  de 
Domino  Salvatore  vel  meditatio  que  Cythara  vocatur ,  Quinquaginta  salutationes 
virginis,  Laus  de  b.  virgine  que  Viola  vocatur,  Lira  extollens  virginem  gloriosam ; 
in  prose  he  wrote  Practica  Chilindri  (ed.  Chaucer  Soc.  ,  and  Speculum  Laicorum. 
But  what  brought  mysticism  to  the  front  and  made  it  gradually  the  sole  exponent 
of  the  religious  tendencies  of  the  day,  was  the  excessive  development  of  scholasti 
cism  in  the  hands  of  Duns  Scotus.  The  very  excess  of  ingenuity ,  subtlety ,  and 
definition ,  which  distinguished  the  English  schoolman ,  could  not  but  call  forth 
the  re-action  of  the  heart,  which  usually  appears  whenever  the  formula,  the 
definition,  stifles  the  free  flow  of  spiritual  life.  The  more  simple  and  pious  minds, 
disgusted  with  the  dry  formalism  and  the  sterility  of  the  schools,  went  over  to 
mysticism ,  which  gained  ground  in  the  same  measure  as  scholasticism  lost  it. 
From  that  time  scholasticism  and  mysticism ,  which  had  hitherto  been  united, 
appear  antagonistic.  The  final  dissolution  of  the  former ,  which  followed  soon 
after  Scotus,  left  mysticism  the  sole  occupant  of  the  field  of  religion.  This  new 
departure  of  mysticism  is  embodied  in  Richard  Rolle,  who  represents  the  protest 
of  the  heart  against  the  subtleties  of  Duns  Scotus'.  He  in  his  19th  year,  finding 
it  impossible  to  realize  his  religious  ideal  in  the  ways  then  taught  at  Oxford,  left 
the  university  to  embrace  anchoretical  life  and  give  himself  entirely  up  to  holy 
contemplation.  Contemplative  life  is  to  him  the  highest  state  of  existence ,  and 
while  St.  Bernhard  ranks  it  between  the  lower  and  higher  stages  of  active  life, 
it  transcends,  to  him,  all  active  life;  the  contemplative  cannot  sin,  not  even  err, 
because  God  would  not  allow  it.  He  is  quite  as  excessive  on  the  side  of  feeling 
as  Duns  Scotus  on  that  of  intellect ;  indeed  he  is  all  feeling,  enthusiasm,  inspira 
tion,  unrestrained  by  reasoning  or  any  exterior  rule;  without  method  or  discrimi- 


i  R.  Rolle's  antagonism  against  the  philosophers  appears  in  many  passages  of  his  writings; 
e.  g.  in  his  Incendium  Amoris,  Prologus  :  Istum  ergo  librum  offero  intuendum  non  philosophis, 
non  mundi  sapientibus ,  non  magnis  theologis ,  infinitis  quaestionibus  implicatis :  sed  rudibus  et 
indoctis,  magis  deum  diligere  quam  multa  scire  conantibus.  Non  enim  disputando,  sed  agendo 
scietur  ars  amandi.  Arbitror  autem  ea  quae  hie  continentur ,  ab  istis  quaestionariis  et  in  pmni 
scientist  summis  sed  in  amore  Christi  inferioribus ,  non  posse  intellig:,  unde  nee  eis  scribere 
decrevi,  nisi  postpositis  et  oblitis  cunctis  quae  ad  mundum  pertinent ,  solis  conditoris  desideriis 
inardescant  mancipari.  Primo  quidem  ut  omnem  terrenam  dignitatem  fugiant,  omnem  ostenta- 
tionem  scientiae  et  vanam  gloriam  odiant,  ac  deinde  altissimae  paupertati  se  conformantes 
prando  et  meditando  divinae  dilectioni  higher  assistant.  Sic  nimirum  apparebit  eis  interius 
igniculus  quidam  caritatis  increatae  et  componens  cor  eorum  ad  capiendum  calorem  quo  cuncta 
caligo  consummatur,  elevabitque  eos  in  ardorem  amabilem  et  amenissimum  ut  temporalia  tran- 
scendant  et  thronum  teneant  internae  tranquillitatis.  Quo  enim  sapientiores  sunt,  eo  de  iure 
aptiores  essent  ad  amandum  si  se  vere  spernerent  et  ab  aliis  sperni  gauderent. 


XIV  Introduction. 

nation.  He  is  the  English  Bonaventura,  and  his  writings  cover  nearly  the  same 
ground  of  mystic ,  moral  and  popular  theology  as  those  of  that  great  writer ; 
but  he  lacks  the  moderation  and  classic  repose  of  his  model.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  prolific  and  influential  authors  of  the  time,  and  all  the  theological  writers 
of  the  century,  Walter  Hilton,  John  Mirkus,  even  Wicliffe,  have  passed  through  his 
school.  But  his  chief  claim  to  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  English  literature 
rests  on  the  fact  that,  though  still  partially  writing  in  Latin,  he  was  the  first  who 
to  any  great  extent  employed  his  mother-tongue.  The  same  fact  is  connected 
with  the  German  mystics,  of  whom  David  of  Augsburg  (d.  1272)  first  used  the 
German  vernacular.  Whether  the  Germans  followed  the  English  example  or  vice 
versa,  or  whether  both  came  independently  to  the  same  result,  it  is  impossible  to 
decide;  but  in  both  cases  it  was  the  mystics  who  set  the  example. 

(To  be  continued). 


RICHARD  ROLLE  DE   HAMPOLE. 


Epistels  <fcc,  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. { 

i.  f'e  forme  of  liuyng. 

The  following  tract,  »Forma  viuendi«  in  Ms.  Dd.  V.  64,  »Pe  fourme  of 
parfit  liuyngw  in  Ms.  Vernon,  is  preserved  in  3  northern  Mss. :  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64 
(14th  cent.),  Rawlinson  C  285  fol.  40,  Harl.  1022,  fol.  49,  and,  divided  into 
separate  parts,  in  Arund.  507  (by  a  Durham  scribe);  besides  in  a  great  many 
southern  transcriptions  of  the  14*  and  15^  cent.:  Mss.  Laud  210,  Univers.  Coll 
Oxf.  97  fol.  266  (Suffolk  Dialect),  Bocll.  938  fol.  209  (under  the  title  »Pe  pricke 
of  loue«)  ,  Ashmol.  152.4,  Rawl.  A  389,  Vernon,  and  Simeon  (Addit.  22,223) 
Lansdowne  455,  Cambr.  Ff  V.  40  fol.  97,  Ff  V.  45  (breaks  off  with  the  2nd  fol.), 
li  VI.  55  (imperfect  at  the  beginning,  it  begins  in  Cap.  X:  lastis  coroun  of  ouer- 
comers),  li  IV,  9  ("translate  oute  of  Northern  tunge  into  Suthern  ,  that  it  schulde 
be  bettir  be  vnderstondyn  of  men  of  be  selve  countreye«).  Parts  are  found  separate  in 
various  Mss.  Some  passages  were  used  in  Pe  pore  Caytif  in  Ms.  Bodl.  938.  The  tract 
appears  to  have  spread  all  over  England.  The  best  Ms.,  and,  in  dialect,  nearest  to  the 
original,  is  Ms.  Dd  V.  64,  whose  language  nearly  resembles  that  of  Ms.  Thornton. 
Ms.  Vernon  (c.  1380,,  which  in  so  many  of  its  pieces  offers  a  very  good  text 
in  this  tract  stands  nearly  lowest  in  the  list.  A  fragment,  in  one  leaf,  of  a  similar 
Latin  text,  is  preserved  in  Ms.  Harl.  106,  fol.  I ;  cf.  p.  5.  —  In  Ms.  Dd  V.  64,  Vernon 
and  others  the  tract  is  dedicated  to  Margaret,  an  anchoress,  Richard  Rolle's 
beloved  disciple ,  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285,  however,  to  one  Cecil  (see  the  end)  ;  in 
some  Mss.  the  name  is  omitted.  In  Ms.  Dd  V.  64  the  text  is  divided  into  12  Chapters, 
while  most  of  the  Mss.  have  no  such  division.  The  tract  is  written  in  a  sort  of 
rythmical,  cadenced  prose,  so  that  frequent  alliterative  verses  can  easily  be  made 
out;  it  would,  however,  be  fruitless  to  attempt  transcribing  it  into  verse.  The 
same  kind  of  style  is  found  in  most  other  tracts  of  Richard  Rolle,  and  in  Dan 
John  Gaytryge's  Sermon  in  Ms.  Thornton  (ed.  Perry  Relig.  pieces  in  Prose  and 
Verse),  which  in  Ms.  Harl.  1022  and  Cambr.  Trin.  Coll.  B  10.  12  is  written  in  verse. 

Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64  f.  101.2  Ms  Rawl   c  285  f.  40. 

Incipit  forma  uiuendi  scripta  a  beato 
Ricardo  heremita  ad  Margaretam  ana- 
choritam,  suam  dilectam  discipulam. 
Cap.  lm. 

(JL)N   ilk    a   synful  man  or    woman,  IN  like  a  synful  man  or  wowman 

pat    es   bunden   in    dedly    syn,    er   thre  pat  es  bunden  in  deedly  synne,  er  thre 

wrechednes:    be   wylk   brynges    bam 'to  wrytchednes,   be  whylk  brynges  bann*  to 

be   dede  of  hell.  //  Pe  first  es :  defaute  j)e  deed  of  helle.  «|   Pe  first  es,  defaut  of 

of  gastly  strenghtl:  bat  bai  er  sa  wayke'  gaastly  strengthe:   Pat  pai  er  so  wayke 

1  Words  underlined  in  the  Ms.  1  Ms.  bam. 

For  comparison's  sake,  I  also  give  the  first  part  of 

Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  47. 

(1)N  ilk  a  synful  man  or  woman  pat  es  bondon^  in  dedly  synne  es  thre 
wretchednes,  be  qwilk  brynges  bam  to  bo  dede  of  helle.  Po  fyrst  es,  defaut 
of  gastle  strenghe:  Pat  bei  are  swa  wayke  with-innen  in  beir  hert  bat  bei  may 

1  In  the  same  Ms.  precede  3  Latin  tracts  by  R.  Rolle :  De  Emendatione  vitae  fol.  i— 16,  Expositio 
oratioms  dommicae,  Liber  de  Incendio  Amons,  fol.  17—100.  The  Ms.  contains  only  works  of  R.  Rolle. 
1  he  dashes  on  g,  t,  11  in  Ms.  Dd,  on  11,  d,  t  in  Rawl.,   and  on  11,  g,  h,  ht  in  Harl.,  have  not  been 
reproduced.   Ms.  Dd.  follows  a  comprehensive  system  of  punctuation. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

with-iw  pair  hert,  pat  pai  may  nouther 
stand 'agaynes  pe  fandynges  of  pe  fende, 
ne  pai  may  lyft  pair  will 'to  ^erne  pe 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

wyth-In  in  pair  hert,  bat  pai  may  nou- 
ther  stand  agayn  fandyngs  of  be  fynd, 
ne  bay  may  lift  bair?  wille  to  yherne  be 


lofe   of  god,    and    folow  bar-till.  //   A       lufe  of  gode  and  folwe  {)are-tille.  U 


secund  es :  vse  of  fltschly  desyres:  —  for 
bai  haue  na  will  ne  myght  to  stand,  bai 
fall  in  lustes -&likynges  of  pis  worlde ; 
and  for  bai  thynk  bam  swete,  f>ai 
dwell  i»  bam  still,  many  tyll  j)aire 
lyues  ende  :  &  sa  {)ai  corn  to  be  thrid 
wrechednes.  //  £e  thred  lurechednes 
es :  chattngyng  of  lastand  gode' for  a 
passande  delite.  Als  swa1  say,  bai  gif 
ioy  endles -for  a  litell  ioy  of  |)is  lyfe. 
If  f)ai  will  torn  bam,  &  ryse  till  pen 
ance,  god  will  ordeyne  pair  wonyng* 
with  awngels'&  with  haly  men.  Bot 
for  bai  chese  be  vile  syn  of  pis  world, 
&  hase  mare  delite  'in  pe  fylth  of 
paire  flesch,  pan  in  pe  fairhede  of 
heuen,  pai  lose  bath  pe  worlde  & 
heuen.  For  he  pat  hase  noght  Ih?ju 
Criste,  he  tynes  all  pat  he  has,  &  all 
pat  he  es,  &  all  pat  he  myght  gete. 
He  ne  es  worthy  pe  lyfe,  ne  to  be 
fedde'wztA  swynes  mete.  All  creaturs 
sal  be  styrde  in  his  vengaunce'at  pe 
day  of  dome.  //  Piere  wrechednes  pat 
I  haue  of  talde,  er  noght  anely  in 
worldly  men  or  women,  pat  vses  gluttry 
or  litcheri,  &  ober  apert  synnes :  bot 
pai  er  alswa'm  other  pat  semes  in 
penance  •&  in  gode  lyfe.  For  pe  deuyll, 
r.  wha. 


tothir  es,  vs  of  flesshely  desyres:  —  for 
pay  hafe  na  wille  ne  myght  to  stand, 
pay  fall  in  lustes  and  lykyngs  of  pis 
werld  ;  and  for  paim  thynke  paim  swete, 
pay  dwelle  in  paim  stille,  many  til  pair? 
lifs  end :  ande  swa  pai  com  to  pe  thrid 
wrytchednes.  1J  Pe  thride  wrytchednes 
es  schangeyng  of  lastand  gode  for  a 
passand  delyte;  als  wha  say  pai  gife 
loi  endles  for  a  litil  loi  of  bis  life. 
H  If  pai  will  turne  paim  and  ryse  til 
penauwce,  god  wil  ordaynge  paim 
wonynge  with  angels  and  haly  men. 
Bot  for  pai  chese  be  wyle  synne  of 
pis  werld,  and  has  mar?  delyte  in  be 
filth  of  pair*  flesshe  pan  in  pe  fayrhede 
of  heeun,  pai  loose  bath  be  werld  and 
heeuen :  for  he  pat  has  nogth  Ihesu 
Cryst,  he  tynes  al  pat  he  has,  and  al 
pat  he  es,  and  al  pat  he  mygth  gete; 
he  ne  es  nogth  worthi  be  life,  ne  to  be 
fede  wyth  swynes  meet.  Alle  creatures 
sal  be  sterde  in  his  wengeauwce  in  be 
day  of  dome.  ^[  Pir  wrytchednes  pat  I 
hafe  of  tald,  er  nogth  anely  in  werldisshe 
men  and  womene  pat  vses  glotory  or 
lytchery  and  other  appert  synnes,  bot 
pai  er  alswa  in  sorh  pat  semes  in 
penauwce  and  in  gud  life.  For  pe 


nauther  stande  agayn  fandynges  of  be  fende,  ne  bei  may  lyft  beir  wille  to  7,ern 
po  luf  of  god  &  folow  p?r-til.  f  Pe  top?r  is,  vse  of  fleschly  desyres:  for  pei 
naue  na  wil  ne  myght  to  stande,  pei  falle  in  lykynges  &  lustes  of  pis  worlde  ; 
^[  And  for  pei  thynk  bam  swete,  pei  dwell  in  pam  still,  many  til  tyr  lyues  ende  : 
&  so  pei  come  to  po  thrid  wretchednes.  ^  Pe  thrid  wretchednes  es  chaungyng  of 
lastand  gode  for  a  passawd  delit  :  als  qwa  say  bei  gyf  endles  Ioy  for  a  litel  Ioy 
here.  ^  If  pei  wil  turne  pam  &  ryse  to  penaunce,  god  wil  orden  p^  wonyng? 


angels  &  haly  men:  Bot  for  pei  chese  po  vyle  syn  of  bis  worlde  &  has 
mar?  delit  in  bo  fylth  of  bo  flesch  ben  in  bo  fayrhede  of  heuew,  bei  lose  bath 
bo  worlde  &  heuew;  For  he  bat  has  noght  Ihesu  O/st,  he  loses  al  bat  he  has, 
&  alle  bat  he  es,  &  alle  pat  he  may  gete;  For  he  is  not  worthe  lyf,  ne  to  be 
fed  wztA  swynes  mete,  f  Alle  creat«ms  sal  be  styrde  in  hys  vengance  in  bo  day 
of  dome.  J>air(!)  wretchednes  pat  I  haue  of  tolde,  er  noght  anely  in  worldys  mew 
&  wymmew  pat  vses  glotory  &  letchory  &  op??'  ap?rt  synnes,  bot  bei  are  als-sa 
in  suwme  bat  seme  in  penauwce  &  in  gode  lyf:  for  po  deuel,  enemy  to  al 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

brtt  es  eniny  till  all  man  kynde,  when 
he  sees  a  man  or  a  woman,  ymang  a 
thousand,  turne  haly  to  god,  and  for 
sake  all  be  vanytees  &  ryches  bat  men 
bat  lufes  bis  worlde l  couaytise,  &  sekes 
|>e  loy  lastand:  2a  thousand  wiles  he 
has -on  what  maner  he  may  desayue 
foam.  And  when  he  may  noght  bryng 
foam  in  till  swylk  synnes 'foe  why  Ik 
myght  gar  all  men  wonder  on  bam  "bat 
knew  bam,  he  begyles  many  swa  prz- 
uely,  bat  bai  kan  noght  oft-syth  fele 
be  trap  bat  has  taken  baime. 

Somwe  he  takes  with  errour,  bat 
he  puttes  bam  yn.  //  Som  wyth  singulcre 
ivitt:  when  he  gars  baime  wene'bat 
be  thyng  bat  bai  sai3  or  do  es  best; 
and  for-bi  bai  wyll  na  counsell  haue' 
of  ofoer  bat  es  better  &  conander  ben 
bai :  &  bis  es  a  foule  stynkand  pryde, 
for  he  wolde  sett  his  witt' before  all 
ober.  //  Some  be  deuell  deceyues  thurgh 
vayne  glory,  bat  es  ydil  ioy :  When 
any  has  pryde  •&  delyte  in  barn-self,  of 
be  penance  bat  bai  suffer,  of  gode 
dedes  bat  bai  do,  of  any  vertu  bat 
bai  haue ;  es  glad  when  men  loues4 
{)am ,  sari  when  men  lackes  bam ; 
haues  envy  to  bam  bat  es  spokyn  mare 
gode  of 'ban  of  bam.  J*ai  halde  bair 
self  so  gloriouse,  &  swa  fer  passand  be 
lyf'bat  ober  men  ledes,  bat  bai  thynk 
bat  nane  suld  reprehend  paw,  in  any 

l  Ms.  worldes.  *  Here  begins  the  Latin  text 
in  Harl.  106  fol.  i.  3  al.  think. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

deeuel  bat  es  enemy  to  al  man  kynd, 
whene  he  sese  a  man  or  a  woman 
amange  a  thousand  turne  bairn  haaly 
vnto  god  and  forsake  all  vanytese  and 
rytchesce  bat  men  bat  lufs  bis  werld 
couaytes,  and  seke  be  loi  lastand,  a 
thousant  wyles  he  has  on  what  maner 
he  may  deceyf  foazm.  And  when  he 
may  nogth  bryng  bairn  in  til  swylk 
synnes  be  whylk  mygth  ger  all  men 
wonder  on  bairn,  he  bygiles  many  so 
pryuely,  bat  bai  can  nogth  oft-sythes 
fele  be  trap  bat  has  taken  bairn.  Som 
he  takes  wyth  errour  bat  he  puttes 
bairn  In.  Som  wyth  synguler  witte, 
when  he  gers  bairn  wen  bat  be  thyng 
bat  bai  thynk  or  do  es  best;  and  for-[bi] 
bai  wyl  na  counsayl  haue  of  other  bat 
er  better  and  conander  ban  bai — and 
bis  es  a  foul  stynkand  pryde:  for  he 
wald  nogth  ells  sette  his  witte  bifore 
all  other.  Som  foe  deeuel  deceyfs  thurgth 
vayne  glory,  f)at  es  Idel  Ioy;  when 
any  has  pryd  and  delite  in  foam-self  of 
be  penance  bat  bai  suffre,  of  gud  dedis 
j)at  bai  do,  of  any  vertu  bat  bai  haue ; 
er  glad  when  men  loues  bairn,  sary 
when  men  lakkes  ])aim,  has  envye  to 
bairn  bat  er  spoken  mare  gud  of  pan 
of  bairn ;  bai  hald  baim-self  so  gloryous 
and  so  fer  passand  be  lif  bat  other 
men  ledis,  bat  bairn  thynk  bat  na  man 
suld  reprehend  bairn  in  na  thyng  bat 


man-kynde  qwen  he  seese  a  maw  or  womaw  I-mange  a  thousande  turne  j)aw 
halle  to  god  &  forsake  alle  bo  vanites  &  bo  ryches  bat  men  bat  lufs  bis  worlde 
coueytes,  &  sekes  bo  Ioy  lastande,  a  thousande  wiles  he  has  on  qwat  man^r  he 
may  desayue  foaw.  Ande  qwew  he  may  not  bryng  foaw  in  swilk  synnes  be  qwilk 
he(!)  myght  gare  all  men  wondwr  on  haw  bat  knew  baw,  he  bygiles  many  swa 
przuely  bat  bei  caw  not  oft-syth  fele  be  trayne  bat  he  has  takew  bam  wzt£. 
^1  Sum  he  takes  w/tA  errowr  bat  he  puttys  foaw  in.  Sum  witA  singuler*  wit,  qwen 
he  gers  foaw  wene  bat  bo  thyng  bat  bei  say  or  do  es  best ;  And  for-bi  bei  wil 
no  cowseyl  hafe  of  ofo^r  bat  es  bettwr  &  conandwf  ban  bei — and  bis  es  a  foule 
stynkand  pride,  for  he  wil  set  hys  witte  be-fore  alle  ob^r.  Suwme  bo  deuel 
desayues  thurgh  vayn  glory,  bat  es  ydel  Ioy ;  qwen  any  has  pride  &  delit  in 
bam-selfe,  of  bo  penance  pat  J)ei  suffre,  of  gode  dedes  bat  bei  do,  of  any  \er\.\\ 
bat  bei  hafe;  Es  glad  qwew  men  loues  bam,  sary  qwew  men  lakkes  bam,  has 
enuy  to  bam  bat  es  spoken  mar<>  gode  of  pan  of  bam ;  bei  hald  \>er  self  swa 
glorius  &  swa  far  passande  pe  lyff  bat  ofxr  men  ledes,  bat  baw  thynke  bat  na 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

thyng  pat  f)ai  do  or  say ;  an  dispises 
synfull  men  &  oper  pe  whilk  will  not 
do  als  pai  byd  pam.  How  may  pow 
fynd  a  synfuller  wretche  pan  swilk  ane? 
And  sa  mykell  es  he  pe  wer,  pat  he 
wate  noght  pat  he  es  yll,  &  es  halden 
&  honord  of  men  als  wyse  &  hali.  // 
Some  er  deceyued  with  ouer-mykell  lust 
Sf  likyng  in  mete  8?  drynk:  When  pai 
passe  mesure  &  com  \n  till  outrage,  & 
has  delyte  pareiw ;  and  wenes  pat  pai 
syfi  noght,  and  forpi  pai  amend  pam 
noght ;  and  swa  pai  destruye  virtues 
of  saule.  //  Some  er  begylde  with  cure- 
mikett  abstinens  of  mete  &  drynk  & 
slepe.  Pat  es  of  pe  temptacion  of  pe 
deuell,  for  to  gar  pam  fall  in  myddes 
pair  werk,  swa  pat  pai  bryng  it  till 
nane  endyng ,  als  J^ai  suld  haue  done 
if  pai  had  knawne  skyll  &  halden 
discrecion  :  &  swa  fjai  tyne  paire  merit 
for  paire  frawerdnes.  //  Pis  gylder  layes 
cure  enmy  to  take  vs  with,  when  we 
begyn  to  hate  wyckednes,  &  turne  vs 
till  god.  Pen  many  begynnes  pe  thyng 
pat  pai  may  neuer-mare  bryng  till 
ende;  pen  pai  wene  pat  pai  may  do 
what  so  pair  hert  es  sett  on.  Bot  oft 
pai  fall  or  pai  come  ymyd  gate;  and 
pat  thyng  pat  pai  wend  war  for  pam, 
es  lettyng  till  pam.  For  we  haue  a 
lange  way  till  heuen,  and  als  many 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

pay  do  or  say,  and  dyspyses  synfull 
men  &  othir  pe  whilk  wil  nogth  do  als 
pai  bid  paim.  How  may  pou  fynd  a 
synfuller  wreche  pan  swylke  ane?  and 
so  mekell  es  he  pe  wers  pat  he  wat 
nogth  pat  he  es  ille,  and  es  halden 
and  honourd  of  men  als  wys  and  haly. 
Som  er  deceyfd  with  ouer-mykell  lust 
and  lykyng  in  meet  and  drynke,  when 
pai  passe  mesur  and  com  in  til  outrage, 
and  has  delyte  par-Inne,  and  wenes  pat 
pai  synne  nogth  ...  and  so  pai  distroy 
vertus  of  sawle.  Som  er  bigylled  with 
oumnykel  abstynence  of  meet  and  drynk 
and  slep.  Pat  es  of  temptacyon  of  pe 
deeuel,  for  to  ger  paim  fall  in  myddes 
pair  werk,  swa  pat  pai  bryng  it  til 
nane  enddynge,  als  pai  suld  haue  don 
If  pai  had  knawen  skyl  and  halden 
discrecyouw,  and  swa  pai  tyne  pair<? 
meryte  for  pahv  frawardenes.  Pis  gilder 
lays  OUTS  enemy  to  tak  vs  with  whene 
we  bygyne  to  hat  wyckednes  and  turne 
vs  til  god.  Pan  many  bygynnys  pe 
thynge  pat  pay  may  neumnar*  bryng 
til  end;  pan  pai  wen  pat  pai  may  do 
what  so  pair?  hert  es  set  opon.  Bot 
oft  pai  fall  ar  pai  com  In-myddys  pe 
gate,  and  pat  thyng  pat  pai  wene  es 
for  paim,  es  lettywg  til  paim.  For  we 
haue  a  lange  way  til  heeuene,  and  als 
many  gud  dedis  als  we  do,  als  many 


maw  suld  reprehende  paw  in  any  thyng  pat  pei  do  or  say,  &  dyspyses  synful 
mew  &  op*r  po  qwilk  wil  not  do  als  pei  byd  pam.  How  may  pou  fynde  a 
fouler  wretche  pan  swylke  ane?  &  so  mykel  es  he  po  wern?  pat  he  wote  noght 
pat  he  es  ille,  and  es  haldew  &  honowrde  of  men  als  wyse  &  haly.  /  Suwme  ere 
disceyued  wz'tfc  ou^-mykel  lust  &  lykyng  in  mete  &  in  drinke,  qwew  pei  passe 
mesow  &  commen  in  to  vtrage  &  has  delite  parin  &  wenes  pat  pay  synne  noght 
&  for-pi  amende  pei  pam  noght,  &  so  pei  destroy  vertous  of  saule.  %  Suwme 
are  begyled  wz'tA  ou^f-mykel  abstinence  of  mete  &  of  drynke  &  slepe:  Pat  es  a 
te«ptac«m  of  po  deuel  for  to  gare  paw  fayle  ymiddes  per  warke,  so  pat  pei 
brynge  it  til  no  endyng  als  pei  sulde  haue  done  if  pei  had  knowen  skylle  & 
haldew  dyscreczbn,  &  so  pei  tyne  \>er  meryt  for  \>er  frawardenes.  Pis  snare  lays 
our  enmy  to  take  vs  wit,  qwew  we  begynne  to  hate  wikkednes  &  turnes  vs  to 
god.  Pew  many  begynnes  po  thyng  pat  pei  may  neu^r-mar^  ende :  Pen  pei 
wene  pat  pei  may  do  qwat  so  fyr  h^te  es  set  on:  Bot  oft-syth  pei  falle  or  pei 
come  ymyd  po  gate,  and  pat  thyng  pat  pei  wende  ware  for  pam,  es  lettyng  to 
pam.  For  we  haue  a  lawge  way  tyl  heuew,  and  als  many  gode  dedes  os  we  do, 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

gode  dedys  [als]  we  do,  als  many  prayers 
als  we  make,  &  als  many  gode  thoghtes 
als  we  thynk,  in  trouth  &  hope  & 
charite:  als  many  paces  ga  we  till 
heuen-ward.  Pan  if  we  make  vs  sa 
wayke  £  so  febyll,  pat  we  may  nouther 
\vyrk  ne  pray  als  we  suld  do,  ne  thynk : 
Er  we  noght  gretly  at  blame,  pat  fayles 
when  we  had  maste  nede  to  be  stal- 
worth?  And  wele  I  wate,  it  es  noght 
goddys  will  pat  we  sa  do.  For  pe 
ptophete  says:  »Lorde,  I  sail  kepe  my 
strengh  to  pe« :  so  pat  he  myght  susten 
goddys  seruys  till  his  dede-day,  and 
noght  i«  a  litill  &  in  a  schorl  tyme 
waste  it  &  pan  lygge  wanand  &  granand 
be  pe  wall.  And  it  es  mykel  mare 
peryll  pan  men  wenes.  For  saynt 
Jerome  says,  pat  he  makys  of  rauyn 
offerand  pat  outragely  tourmentis  his 
body  in  oure-lytel  mete  or  slepe.  And 
saynt  Bernarde  sais  :  »Fastyng  &  wakyng 
lettes  noght  gastly  godes,  bot  helpes,  if 
pai  be  done  with  discretion ;  with-outen 
pat,  pai  er  vices «.  For-pi,  it  es  noght 
gode  to  pyne  vs  so  mykell,  &  sithen 
haue  vnthank  for  oure  dede.  //  Pare 
hase  bene  many,  £  er,  pat  wenes  pat 
it  es  noght  all  pat  pai  do,  bot  if  pai 
be  in  sa  mikell  abstinence  &  fastyng 
pat  all  men  speke  of  pam  pat  knawes 
pam.  Bot  oft-sythes  it  befalles  pat  ay 


Ms.  Rawl.  C.  285. 

prayers    als    we    make,    and    als    many 
gud    thoghtes    als    we   thynk   in    trouth 
and  hoop  and l  charyte,  als  many  paases 
ga  we  til  heeuen-ward.    Pan  If  we  make 
vs   so   wayke    &   so    feble    pat   we  may 
nothin?   wirk   ne   pray   als   we    suld   do, 
ne  thynk,  er  we  nogth  gretely  at  blame, 
pat   faylles  when  we   had  mast  nede  to 
be    stalward?     And    wele   I   wat    pat  it 
es    nogth    goddis   wille    pat  we    so   do: 
For    pe    propheie    says:    »Lord,    I    sal 
kype   my  strength    til  pe«  :    swa  pat  he 
mygth    sustayne    goddis   smiyse   til   his 
deed-day ;     Nogth    in    a   litel   and   in    a 
schort  tyme   waast   it   and  sithene  ligge 
wanand    and    granand    by    pe    wagthe. 
And   it   es    mykell  maiv  peril    pan   men 
wenes :    For   saynt   lerome  says    pat  he 
makes  of  Rauyne  offerand  pat  outrage 
ously    tourmentis   his   body    in    ouerlitel 
meet  or  slep.    And  saynt   Bernard  says : 
»Fastyng  ne  wakyng  lettis  nogth  gaastly 
guddes,   bot  helpis,  if  pai  be  don  wz't/j 
discrecyouw ;     wyth-owten    pat ,    er  pai 
vices. «    For-pi  it  es  nogth  gud  to  pyne 
vs  so  mykele  and  sithen  haue  vnthanke 
for    our*    dede.      Par*    has    ben    many, 
and   er,    pat   wenes  pat    it  es  nogth  all 
pat  [pai]2  do  bot  if  pai  be  in  so  mykell 
abstynence    and   fastyng   pat  |)ay   make 
all    men    at   spek   of   ba/m    pat  knawes 
paim.    Bot  oft-sithes  it  byfalles  pat  ay 
i  Ms.  ad'  =  awd  (so  frequently).        2  om. 


als  many  prayers  als  we  make,  als  many  gode  thoghtes  als  we  thynke  in  trouth 
&  in  hope  &  in  charite,  als  many  pases  go  we  to  heuew-warde :  Paw  if  we  make 
vs  so  wayke  &  so  febul  pat  we  may  nouth  wirke  ne  pray  als  we  suld  do,  ne 
$it  thynke,  er  we  not  gretly  to  blame,  bat  fayles  qwew  we  had  mast  nede  to  be 
stalworth?  And  wele  wote  I  pat  it  is  not  goddys  wille  pat  we  so  do:  for  J)o 
profet  says:  »Lord,  I  sal  kepe  my  strengh  to  pe«,  so  pat  he  myght  sustane 
goddes  smiys  tyl  hys  dede-day,  Noght  in  a  lytel  &  in  a  schort  tyme  wast  it,  & 
sythew  lyg  wainande  &  gronande  be  po  wagh.  And  it  is  mykel  man?  perell  for 
soth  pan  men  wenes:  For  sent  lerome  says  pat  he  makes  of  rauew  hys  offrande 
pat  outragesly  tormentes  hys  body,  In  ou^f-lytel  mete  or  slepe.  And  sent  Barnarde 
says:  »Fastyng,  wakyng  lettis  not  gastle  godes,  bot  helpes,  if  pei  be  done  wrtA 
dyscreczon;  wttf-outen  pat  pel  an?  vices.«  For-pi  it  es  not  gode  to  pyne  vs  swa 
mekel  &  sythew  hak  vnthank  for  our  dede.  Par  has  ben  &  ar<?  bat  wenew  pat 
it  es  noght  all  pat  pei  do  bot  if  pei  be  in  so  mykel  abstinence  &  fastyng  pat 
pei  make  al  men  to  wondwr  on  pam  pat  kcawes  *^m:  Bot  oft-sythe  it  be-falles 


8 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

be  mare  ioy  &  wondwryng  {)ai  haue 
wz't/fc-outen  of  be  louyng1  of  men,  ay 
be  les  ioy  })ai  haue  with-in,  of  {)e  luf 
of  god.  At  my  dome,  bai  sulde  pay 
Ihesu  Criste  mikell  mare  if  bai  toke  for 
his  loue,  in  thankyng  &  louyng  of 
hym,  forto  sustan  par  body  in  his  ser- 
uyse,  and  to  halde  bam  fra  mikell  speche 
of  men,  what  so  god  send  for  be  tyme 
and  be  stede,  &  gaf  bam  sithen  enterely 
&  p^fitely  to  be  luf  &  be  louyng  of 
pat  lorde  Ihtf.ru  Criste,  bat  will  stal- 
worthly  be  lufed,  &  lastandly  be  serued; 
so  pat  baire  halynes  war  mare  sene  in 
goddes  egh,  ben  in  mans.  For  ay  be 
better  p0u  ert  &  be  les  speche  p0u  has 
of  men,  be  mare  es  pi  ioy  before 
god.  //  Ha,  what  it  es  mykell,  to  be 
worth!  louyng,  and  be  noght  loued ! 
And  what  wrechednes  it  es,  to  haue 
be  name  &  be  habet  of  halynes,  &  be 
noght  so,  bot  couer  pride,  Ire,  or  enuy, 
vnder  pe  clathes  of  Criste  barnhede ! 
A  foule  thyng  it  es  to  hafe  lykyng  & 
delite  in  mens  wordes,  pat  can  na 
mare  deme  what  we  er  in  oure  saule, 
ben  bai  wate  what  we  thynk.  For 
oft-sithe  bai  say  bat  he  or  scho  es  in  be 
hegher  degre,  bat  es  in  be  lawer;  and 
bat  pai  say  es  in  be  lawer,  es  in  be 
hegher.  For-pi,  I  halde  it  bot  wodnes 
to  be  gladder  or  sarier,  whepir  bai  say 
gude  or  ill.  If  we  be  aboutewarde  to 
1  =  praising. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

be  mare  Ioy  and  wonderyng  bat  bai 
haue  with-owtene  of  be  loouynge  of 
men,  ay  be  lesse  Ioy  bai  haue  with- 
Inne  of  be  luf  of  gode.  At  my  dom, 
pay  suld  pay  Ihesu  Cmt  mykel  mare 
if  pai  tok  for  his  luf  and  in  thankyng 
and  loouynge  of  hym,  for  to  sustayne 
pairtf  bodys  in  his  smiyse  and  to  hald 
bairn  fra  mykele  speche  of  men,  what 
so  god  sent  paim  for  pe  tyme  and  be 
steed ,  and  gayfe  bairn  sithen  entierly 
and  parfytely  til  pe  luf  &  pe  loouynge 
of  our  lourd  Ihesu  Cryst,  pat  wile 
stalwardly  be  lufd,  and  lastandly  be 
serued ;  swa  pat  pair*?  halynes  war  mure 
sene  in  goddis  eghe  pan  in  mannes 
eghe.  For  ay  pe  better  pat  pou  ert 
and  pe  lesse  speche  pou  has  of  men, 
pe  mare  es  pi  Ioy  bifor  god.  Ha,  what 
it  es  mykell  to  be  worthy  loouynge  and 
be  nogth  loued !  And  what  wrytchednes 
it  es  to  haf  be  name *  &  be  habyte  of 
halynes,  &  be  nogth  swa,  bot  turne  to'2 
pryd,  Ire  and  envye  vnder  pe  clathes 
of  Crystes  barnhed !  A  foul  lytchery  it 
es  to  haue  likyng  and  delite  in  mens 
wordes,  pat  can  no  mar£  deme  whate 
we  er  in  our  saul  pan  pai  wate  what 
we  thynke.  For  oft-sithes  pai  say  pat 
he  or  scho  es  in  hegher^  degre,  pat  es 
in  pe  lagher;  and  pat  pay  say  es  in 
pe  lagher^,  es  in  pe  hegher^.  For-pi 
I  hald  it  bot  wodnes  to  be  gladder  or 
i  =  na/me?  2  r.  couer. 


bat  ay  bo  mar^  wondwryng  pei  haue  wz't/^oute  of  louyng  of  me«,  bo  lesse  ioy 
pei  hafe  wzt^-in  of  po  luf  of  god.  At  my  dome  pei  suld  pay  Ihesu  Cmt  more 
if  pei  toke  for  is  luf  &  in  thankynge  &  louyng  of  hym,  for  to  susten  her  body 
in  hys  smiice  £  to  halde  bam  fro  mykel  spech  of  men,  qwat  sa  god  sender  [-es  added] 
pa/w  for  po  tyme  &  po  stede,  &  gaf  pam  sythen  entierly  &  p^rfitely  to  po 
smiyse  &  po  loouyng  of  Ihesu  Cmt,  pat  wil  be  stalworthly  lufud  &  lastandly 
smied ;  so  pat  per  halynes  war  mar£  sene  in  goddes  eghe  paw  in  mawnes  egh. 
For  ay  po  better  pat  pou  ert  &  po  lesse  speche  pou  has  of  mew,  po  more  es  bi 
Ioy  before  god.  2^a,  qwat  it  es  to  haue  bo  name  &  a-byte  of  halynes  &  be 
noght  swa,  bot  couerd(!)  pride,  Ire  or  enuy  vndur  po  clapes  of  Cnstes  barnehede! 
A  foule  litchory  it  is  to  hafe  lykynge  &  delit  in  mannes  wordes  pat  can  no  martf 
deme  qwat  [we]  are  in  our^  saule  pan  pei  wate  qwat  we  thynke :  For  oft-syth  bei 


say  bat  he  or  sche  es  in  bo  lagher  degre  bat  es  in  bo  heyer  degre,  &  bam  bat 
bay  say  are  in  bo  heyer,  bei  ar<?  in  bo  lagher.  For-f)i  I  hald  it  bot  wodenes  to 
be  gladder  or  sarear  qwether  bei  say  gode  or  ille.  If  we  be  aboutward  to  hyde 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

hyde  vs  fra  speche  and  louyng  of  bis 
worlde,  god  wyll  schew  vs  till  hys 
louyng,  &  oure  loy.  For  bat  es  his 
ioy  when  we  er  strenghfull  to  stande 
agaynes  be  pryue  &  be  aperte  fandyng 
of  pe  deuell,  &  sekes  na  thyng  hot  pe 
honoure  &  pe  louyng  of  hym,  and  bat 
we  rnyght  enterely  loue  hym.  And  pat 
aght  to  be  oure  desyre,  oure  prayer  & 
oure  entent,  nyght  &  day,  pat  pe  fyre 
of  hys  lufe  kyndell  oure  hert,  &  pe 
swetnes  of  hys  grace  be  oure  comforth 
&  oure  solace,  in  wele  and  wo.  //  tow 
hase  now  herd  a  party,  how  pe  fende 
deceyues,  wyth  hys  sotell  craft  es  & 
whaynt,  men  &  women.  And  if  b0u 
will  do  be  gode  cownsel,  &  folow  haly 
lare,"  als  I  hope  pat  b<?u  will :  b<m  sail 
destroy  his  trappes,  &  bryn  in  be  fyre 
of  luf  all  be  bandes  bat  he  walde 
bynd  be  with,  &  all  his  malys  sail 
turne  be  til  ioy,  &  hym  till  mare  sorow./ 
God  suffers  hym  to  tempe  gode  men 
for  baire  profete,  pat  hai  may  be  be 
hegher  crownde,  when  bai  thurgh  his 
helpe  hase  ouercomne  sa  cruell  an 
enmy,  bat  oft-sythes  both  in  body  & 
in  saule  cowfowndes  many  men.  /'/  In 
thre  maners  be  deuell  has  power  to  be 

1  in  a  man.     On   a   maner :    hurtande  pe 
godes    bat    pai    haue    of  kynde,    als   in 
dorn  men,   &  in  other,  blemysand  pair 

2  thoght.     On    a   nother   maner :    revande 


Ms.  Rawl.  C.  285. 

saryer,  whether  pai  say  gud  or  ille.  If 
we  be  oboutward  to  hid  vs  fra  speche 
and  loouynge  of  be  werld,  god  wil 
schewe  vs  til  his  loouyng,  and  our  Ioy. 
For  bat  es  his  Ioy  when  we  ar  strenth- 
full  for  to  stand  agayne  be  pryue  and 
be  appert  fandyngs  of  be  deeuele,  and 
sekes  na  thyng  bot  pe  loouynge  and 
pe  honours  of  hym,  and  pat  [we]  mogth 
entierly  lufe  hym.  And  pat  agth  to 
be  our  desire ,  our  prayer  and  our 
entent,  nygth  and  day.  pat  pe  fyre  of 
luf  kyndell  in  our  hert,  and  be  swetenes 
of  his  grace  be  our  comfort  and  our 
solace,  in  wele  and  in  wa.  U  Pou  has 
herd  now  a  party  how  pe  fend  deceyfs 
with  his  sutell  castes  vn-quaynt  men 
and  wowmen:  and  if  bou  wil  do  gud 
counsaylle  and  folow  haly  lare,  als  I 
hop  pat  pou  wil,  pou  sal  distroy  his 
trappis,  and  brynn  in  be  fyre  of  lufe. 
Alle  be  bandes  bat  he  wil  bynd  f)e 
with,  and  alle  his  malice  sal  turne  |)e 
til  Ioy,  and  hym  to  mare  sorow.  God 
suffirs  hym  for  to  tempe  gud  men  for 
bair*  profyte,  bat  bai  may  be  be  hegher 
coround  when  bai  haf  thurgth  his  helpe 
ouer-comen  so  cruel  ane  enemy,  bat 
oft-sithes  bath  in  body  and  in  saul 
confoundes  many  a  man.  ^f  In  thre 
maners  be  deeuel  has  power  to  be  in 
a  man :  ^f  On  a  maner,  hortand  be 
gudes  bat  bai  haue  of  kynd,  als  in  dom 


vs  fro  langelynge  &  louyng  of  bo  worlde,  god  wil  schew  vs  til  hys  loueyng  & 
our  Ioy  :  for  bat  es  hys  Ioy  qwew  we  are  stalworth  to  stawde  agayn  bo  przuey  & 
bo  ap*rt  fandynges  of  bo  deuel  &  sekes  na  thyng  bot  bo  louyng  &  bo  honour 
of  hym,  £  bat  we  myght  enterly  luf  hym.  &  bat  aghe  to  be  our  desyre,  our 
praer  &  our  entewt  nyght  &  day,  bat  bo  fyre  of  luf  kendell  our  herte,  &  po 
swetnes  of  hys  grace  be  our  comforth  &  our  solace  in  wele  &  in  wa.  ^f  Pou  has 
now  hard  a  party  how  bo  fende  desceyues  wzt/*  hys  sutel  craftes  vnqwaynt  men 
&  wywmen.  And  bou  wil  do  gode  conseyle  &  folow  haly  lare  als  I  hope  bat 
bou  wil,  bou  sal  dystroy  hys  trappes  &  brynne  yn  bo  fyre  of  luf  alle  bo  bandes 
fat  he  wil  bynde  be  wM,  &  alle  hys  malice  sal  twrne  be  til  Ioy  &  hym  [til]  mar* 
sorow.  God  suffres  hym  for  to  temp*  gode  mew  for  ber  profete,  bat  bei  may 
be  heyer  crowned  qwew  bei  haue  thurgh  hys  helpe  ou^rcowmen  so  cruele  an 
enmy,  bat  oft-syth  both  in  body  &  in  saule  confundes  many  men.  fl  In  thre 
manures  be  deuel  has  power  to  be  in  a  maw:  On  o  man^r,  hurtande  bo  godes 
bat  he  has  of  kynde,  als  in  domb  mew,  &  ob*r  blemysshande  bair  thoght.  On  a 


10 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

be  godes  whilk  bai  haue  of  grace;  and 
so  he  es  in  synfull  men  f)e  whilk  he 
hase  cleceyued  thurgh  delyte  of  be 
worlde  &  of  j)air  flesche ,  and  ledes 
3  bam  with  hym  till  hell.  On  be  third 
maner,  he  tourmentes  a  mans  body,  als 
we  rede  bat  he  has  done  70£.  Bot 
wytt  bou  wele:  if  he  begyle  be  noght 
with-in,  be  thar  noght  drede  what  he 
may  do  be  with-outen ;  for  he  may  do 
na  mare,  ban  god  gyfs  hym  leue  for 
to  do. 

Capm.  2m. 

(IT1  )Or  bat  b<?u  has  forsakyn  be 
solace  &  be  ioy  of  bis  world,  &  taken 
be  to  solitary  lyf,  for  gods  luf  to  suffer 
tribulacion  &  anguys  here,  &  sithen 
com  to  bat  blys  bat  neuer-mare  blynnes: 
I  trowe  treuly  bat  be  comforth  of 
IhesM  Criste,  &  be  swetnes  of  his  loue, 
\\iih  be  fire  of  be  haly  gast,  bat  purges 
all  syn,  sail  be  in  be,  &  with  be,  ledand 
be,  &  lerand  be  /  how  b0u  sail  thynk, 
how  f)0u  sail  pray,  what  b<?u  sail  wyrk; 
so  bat  in  a  few  sjers  b<m  sail  haue 
mare  delyte,  to  be  by  bi  nane,  &  speke 
till  bi  luf  &  to  bi  spows  Ih^u  Crist, 
bat  hegh  es  i;z  heuen,  ban  if  b0u  war 
lady  here  of  a  thowsand  worldes.  Men 
wenes  bat  we  er  in  pyne,  &  in  penance 
grete1:  bot  we  haue  mare  ioy  &  mare 

1  al.  om. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

men,  and  in  other,  blemyssand  bairc 
thogth.  ^[  On  a  nother  maner,  reeffand 
be  gudys  be  whilk  bai  haue  of  grace: 
and  swa  es  sene  in  synfull  men  whaz'm 
he  has  deceyfd  thurgth  delyte  of  be 
werld  and  of  bair  flesshe,  and  led  with 
hym  til  helle.  ^  On  be  thred  maner, 
tourmentand  a  mans  body,  als  we  red 
bat  he  was  in  lob.  Bot  wyte  bou 
wele  :  If  he  bygile  be  nogth  with-Inne, 
be  thar  nogth  dred  what  he  may  do 
be  with-owtene.  For  he  may  do  no 
marc  ban  god  gifs  hym  leue  to  do. 
*[[  Bot  for  bou  has  forsakene  be  solace 
and  be  Ioy  of  bis  werld  and  taan  be  vnto 
solitary  life,  for  goddis  lufe  to  suffirc 
tribulaciouw  and  anguys  here  and  sithen 
to  com  to  be  rest  and  endlesse  Ioy  in 
heeuene,  I  trowe  stedfastly  bat  be 
comfort  of  Ihesu  Cryst  and  swetenes  of 
his  luf,  with  be  fyre  of  be  haly  gast 
bat  purges  all  synne,  sal  be  in1  be 
and  with1  be,  ledand  be  and  lerand  be 
how  bou  sal  thynk,  how  bou  sal  pray, 
what  bou  sal  wyrke ;  swa  bat  in  faa 
yheris  bou  sal  haue  marc  delyte  to  be 
by  bine  ane  and  spek  til  pi  luf  and 
bi  spouse  Ihesu  Cryst,  ban  If  bou  war 
leeuedy  of  a  thousant  werldis.  ^[  Men 
wenes  bat  we  er  in  pyne  and  in 
penance :  bot  we  haue  marc  Ioy  and 
i  in  and  with  are  marked  to  be  transp. 


nob^r  mamr,  reueande  bo  godes  bo  qwilk  bei  haue  of  grace:  &  so  he  es  in 
synful  men  qwam  he  has  desceyued  thurgh  delit  of  bo  worlde  &  of  ber  flesch  & 
so  ledes  bam  forth  wzt/z  hym  to  helle.  On  bo  thrid  maner,  tourmentawde  a  mans 
body,  als  we  rede  bat  he  was  in  lobe.  Bot  wit  bou  wele,  if  he  begile  be  noght 
wzt^-in,  the  thar  noght  drede  qwat  he  may  do  wzt/S-outen.  For  he  may  do  no 
marc  ben  god  gyfs  hym  leue  for  to  do. 

JT1  Or  bat  bou  has  forsakew  bo  Ioy  &  solace  of  bis  worlde  &  taken  be  to 
solitarc  lyffe,  for  goddys  luf  to  suffre  trc'bulacz'on  &  anguis  herc  &  sythew  come 
to  bo  rest  &  Ioy  in  heuew,  I  trow  stedfastly  bat  bo  cowforth  of  Ihesu  Crz'st  &  bo 
swetnes  of  hys  luf  with  bo  fyre  of  bo  haly  gast  bat  purges  alle  synne  sal  be  in 
be  &  wz'tfc  be,  ledand  &  lereande  be  how  bou  sal  thynke,  how  bou  sal  pray, 
qwat  bou  sal  wirk ;  swa  bat  in  a  faa  ^eres  bou  sal  haue  marc  delite  to  be  by 
bin  ane  &  speke  til  bi  luf  &  bi  spouse  Ih^u  Cn'ste,  benne  if  bou  wore  lady  of 
a  thousand  worldes.  fl  Men  wenes  bat  we  are  in  pyne  &  in  penance:  bot  we 
haue  mare  Ioy  &  mar*  varray  delite  in  a  day  ban  bei  in  bo  worlde  has  in  alle 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


1 1 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

verray   delyte    in   a.   day,'  pan  pai  haue 
in    pe    worlde   all    par    lyue.   /    Pai    se 
cure  body,  hot  pai  se  noght  oure  hert, 
whare  oure  solace   es.     If  pai  saw  pat, 
many  of  pam  wold   forsake  all  pat  pai 
haue,  forto  folow  vs.    For-pi  be    corn- 
ford  ,    £    stalworth,    and   drede  na  noye 
ne  angwysch  :  bot  fest  all  thyne  entent 
in  Ihesu,   bat  hi  lyf  be  gode  &l  wheme; 
and   loke  bat  pere   be    na  thyng   in  be 
bat   suld   be    mys-payand  till  hym,  bat 
bou  ne  sone  amend  itt.  /  1*6  state   bat 
bou   ert   in,    bat   es   solitude,    es   maste 
abyll   of  all   othyr  til  reuelacion  of  be 
haly   gaste.      For   when  saynt  lone  was 
in  be  yle  of  Pathmos,  ban  god  schewed 
hym  his  pryuytees.  /  Pe  godenes  of  god 
it  es,  bat  he  cowfortes  bam  wondyrfully 
bat   has   na    comforth  of  be  worlde,    if 
bai  gyf  pair  hert  enterly  till  hym ,  and 
couayts  noght   ne   sekes  bot  hym :    ben 
he  gyues  hym-self  till  baime,  in  swetnes 
&   delyte,    in  byrnyng  of  luf,    &  in  ioy 
&   melody,    &   dwelles  ay  with  bam,  in 
thaire    saule,    sa    pat    be    cowforth    of 
hym  departes  neuer   fra  bam.    /   And  if 
bai    any    tym    begyn    till    crre,    thurgh 
ignorance    or    freelte :    sone    he    wysses 
bam  |)e  right  way;  &  all  bat  bai  haue 
nede    of,    he    leres    bam.  //   Naman   till 
swylk    reuelacion   £   grace    on    be   first 
day  may  kom :    bot   thurgh  lang  trauell 
£  bysines  to  loue  Ihesu  Criste,  als  bou 
i  al.  to. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

mare  verray  delyte    in    a   day   ban    bay 
haf  in  be    werld   all  bair*  life,     Pai  se 
our   body,    bot   bai   se    nogth    our   hert 
whartf    oure    solace    es.      If    bai    sagth 
bat,  many  of  bairn  wald  forsake  all  bat 
bai   haf,    forto    folwe   vs.      For-bi    be 
comforted   and  stalward,    and  drede    na 
noy  ne  anguys,  bot  fest  all  bine  entent 
in  Ihesu,  bat  bi  lif  be  gode  to  queme ; 
and    at    bar^    be    na   thyng    in    be    bat 
suld    be    mys-payand    til    hym    bat    ne 
bou    son    amend    it.      Pe    stat    bat    bou 
ert  Ine,    bat   es    solitude,    es    mast  able 
of  all  other  til  reuelacyouw   of  be  haly 
gast.     For  when  saynt  lohfi   was  in  pe 
He  of  Pathmos,  pan  god  schewed  hym 
his  preuetese.     Pe  gudnes  of  god  it  es 
pat  he  comfortes  paim   wondirfully  pat 
has   na    comfort    of    pe    werld ,     If   pai 
gif    pair     hertis    entierly    til    hym    and 
couaytes  and  nogth  sekes  bot  hym :   pan 
he    gifs   hym-self    to    paim    in    swetnes 
and  delite,    in    brynnyng   of  luf,  and  in 
Ioy    and    melody,    and    dwellis    ay    with 
paim   in    pain?  saule,    swa  pat  pe  com 
fort   of  hym   departis    neu^r   fra    paim. 
If    bai    bygyne    ogth    to    here1  thurgth 
ignorauwce  or  freyllyte,  son  he  schewes 
bairn   be    rygth   way ;    and    all    bat  bai 
haue   ned    of,    he   leris    baz'm.     Na  man 
comes  til   swylke  reuelacion  and  grace 
on     be     first     day,     bot     thurgth    lang 
trauaylle  &  besynes  to  lufe  Ihesu  Crist, 


i  r.  erre. 

ber  lyfe;  pei  se  our  body  bot  pei  se  not  our  hart,  qware  alle  our  delite  es.  If  pei 
saw  bat,  many  of  paw  walde  forsake  alle  bat  bai  haue,  ffor  to  folow  vs.  Fpr-bi  be 
comforted  &  stalworth,  &  drede  na  noye  ne  anguys,  bot  fest  alle  pin  entent  in  Ihesu 
pat  pi  lyfe  be  god  to  qweme,  &  bat  ber  be  na  thyng  in  be  bat  sulde  be  myspayande 
til  hym  f>at  [ne]  bou  sone  amend  it.  Pou  bat  art  in  bat  degr*  bat  es  solitude,  is  mast 
abel  of  alle  ojW  to  reuelaczon  of  bo  haly  gast.  ^1  For  qwen  sent  Ion  was  in  foo 
yle  of  Pathmos,  ben  god  schewed  hym  hys  priuetes.  Pe  godenes  of  god  is  so  mykel 
bat  he  comforts  [)am  wonderfully  pas  pat  has  na  comforth  of  bo  worlde,  if  pei  gyffr 
her  herte  enterly  til  hym  &  couaytes  noght  ne  sekes  bot  hym.  Pan  he  gyfs  hym 
selfe  to  bam  in  swetnes  &  delit,  in  brennyng  of  luf  &  in  Ioy,  £  dwelles  ay  w*W 
t>am  in  her  saule,  so  bat  bat  comforth  of  hym  partes  neuer  fra  bam.  And  if 
j)ei  oght  begynne  to  erre  thurgh  ignorance  of  frelte,  sone  he  schewes  bam  po 
ryght  way;  &  alle  bat  pei  haue  nede  of  he  leres  bam,  £  ledes  pam  in  luf.  Ne 
ma«  cowmes  to  swilk  reuelacion  &  grace  On  pe  fyrst  day,  bot  thurgh  lange 
bysynes  &(!)  to  luf  Ihesu  Crist,  als  bou  sal  her*  aftwrwarde.  Noght  for-pi  pam  he 


12 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

sail  here  afterward.  /  Noght-for-pi,  pan 
he  suffers  pam  to  be  temped  on  sere 
maners,  both  wakand  &  slepand.  For 
ay  pe  ma  temptacions,  &  pe  greuoser, 
pai  stande  agayne,  &  ouer-comes :  pe 
mare  sail  pai  ioy  in  his  luf,  when  pai 

i1  er  passed.  //  Wakand  pai  er  vmwhile 
tempyd  wyth  foule  thoghtys,  vile  lustes, 
wicked  delites;  wztfc  pryde,  Ire,  enuy, 
despaire,  pf£suwpcion,  &  oper  many. 
Bot  paire  remedy  sail  be :  Prayer, 
Gretyng ,  Fastyng ,  Wakyng.  //  tire 
thynges,  if  pai  be  done  with  discrecion, 
pai  put  a-way  syn  &  filth  fra  pe  saule, 
&  makes  it  clene,  to  receyue  pe  luf  of 
Ihesu  Criste,  pat  may  noght  be  loued, 

2  bot  in  clennes.  //  Also,  vmwhile  pe 
fende  tempes  men  &  women,  pat  er 
solitary  by  pam  ane,  on  a  qwaynt 
maner  &  a  sotell :  He  transfigurs  hym 
i;z  pe  lyknes  of  an  awngel  of  lyght, 
&  apers  till  pam,  and  sayes  pat  he 
es2  ane  of  goddes  awngels,  comen  to 
cowforth  pam ;  &  swa  he  deceyues 
foles.  Bot  pai  pat  er  wys,  &  wil  not 
tyte  trow  till  all  spirites,  bot  askes 
cownsel  of  conand  men:  he  may  not 
begyle  pam.  Als  I  fynd  writen  of  a 
reclues,  pat  was  a  gude  woman ;  til  pe 
whilk  pe  ill  awngell  oft-sythes  aperde 
in  pe  forme  of  a  gode  awngel,  and 
sayd  pat  he  was  comen  to  bryng  hir 

1  The  numbers  are  on  margin  of  the  Ms. 

2  tat  he  es  on  erasure. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

als  pou  sal  here  afterward.  Noglh-for- 
pi  pan  he  suffirs  pa/m  to  be  temped 
on  sere  maners,  bath  slepand  and 
wakand.  For  ay  pe  ma  temptacions 
and  pe  greuouser  at  pay  stand  agayne 
and  ouer-comes,  pe  mare  sal  pain? 
Ioy  be  in  his  luf  when  pai  er  passed. 
*([  Wakand  pai  er  vmwhil  temped  with 
foul  thoghtis,  vile  lustes,  wikked  delites ; 
with  pryd,  Ire,  Envye,  Despayre,  Pre- 
sumpcyon,  and  other  many.  Bot  paire 
remedy  sal  be  prayer,  gretyng,  fastyng, 
wakyng.  Pir  thynges,  if  pai  may1  be 
don  with  discreciouw,  pai  putte  away 
synne  &  filthe  fra  pe  saul,  and  makis 
it  clene  for  to  resayfe  pe  luf  of  Ihesu 
Cryst,  pat  may  nogth  be  lufd  bot  in 
clennes.  *|f  Alswa  vmwhil  pe  fend  tempis 
men  and  wowmen  pat  er  solitary  by 
paim  ane,  on  a  quaynt  maner  and  a 
sutelle:  he  transfigures  hym  in  lickenes 
of  ane  aungell  of  ligth,  and  apperis  til 
paz'm  and  says  pat  he  es  ane  of  god 
aungells  cowmen  to  comfort  paim;  and 
swa  he  deceyfs  foles.  Bot  paim  pat  er 
wis  and  wil  nogth  tyde  trowe  til  all 
spirytes ,  bot  askes  counsayl  of  conand 
men,  he  may  nogth  bygile  paim.  Als 
I  fynd  wrytene  of  a  recluse,  pat  was  a 
gud  woman;  til  whaim  pe  ille  aungelle 
oft-sithes  appered  in  pe  fourme  of  a 
gud  aungell,  and  sayd  pat  he  was  co- 
i  overlined,  al.  om. 


suffres  to  be  tempte  on  sere  manures,  bath  wakande  &  slepande.  ^f  For  ay  po 
ma  temptaczons  &  greuusser  pat  pei  stande  agayn  &  outcomes  paw,  po  mare 
sal  per  Ioy  be  qwen  pei  are  passud.  Wakande  pei  are  vmqwile  temped  wz'tA 
foule  thoghtes,  vyle  lustes,  wykkud  delites,  wz'tfc  pride,  Ire,  enuy,  dyspare,  pre 
sumption  &  oper  many.  Bot  per  remedy  sal  be  Prayer,  Gretyng,  Fastyng,  Wakyng: 
thir  thynges  if  pei  be  done  with  discrecz'on,  may  put  away  synne  fra  po  saule 
&  mak  it  clene  to  resceyue  po  luf  of  Ihesu  Oz'st,  pat  may  not  be  lufud  bot  in 
clennes.  *{[  Also  po  fende  tempes  men  &  wowmew  in  a  qwaynte  maner  &  a  sutel : 
he  transfigures  hym  in  a  angel  of  lyght  &  apperes  to  pam  &  says  pat  he  es  ane 
of  goddys  angels  comew  to  comforth  paw:  &  so  he  deceyues  foles;  bot  pei  pat 
are  wyse  &  wil  not  tyte  trow  til  alle  spirites,  bot  askes  coTzseyl  of  kunnande 
men,  he  may  noght  begyle  paw.  Als  I  fynde  of  a  recluse  pat  was  a  gode 
woman:  to  po  qwilk  po  yuel  angell  oft-syth  apperede  in  po  forme  of  a  gode 
awgel  &  sayde  pat  he  was  comew  to  bryng  hir  to  heuew.  Qwarfor  scho  was  ryght 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

to    heuen.      Wharfore    scho    was    right 
glad    &    ioyful.      Bot    neuer- be -latter, 
scho  talde    it  til   hir  schry ft- fader ;    and 
he,  als  wyse  man  and  war,  gaf  hir  bis 
counsell:  /  »When  he  comes,  he  sayde, 
byd   hym   bat  he    schew    be   cure  lady 
saynt  Mary.     Whew  he  has1    done  swa: 
say    Aue    maria«.      Scho    dyd    sa.       Pe 
fende  sayde :  /  »Pou  has  na  nede  to  se 
hyr;  my  presence  suffyse  to  pe«.    And 
scho  sayde,    on  all   man^r  scho  suld  se 
hyr.     He   saw  pat  hym   behoued  outher 
do    hir    wyll,    or    scho   walde    despyse 
hym:      Als    tyte    he    broght    forth    be 
fayrest2  woman  bat  myght  be,  als  to  hyr 
syght,    &   schewed   til   hyr.      And   scho 
sett  hir   on    hir    knees    &    sayde:    Aue 
maria.     And   als  tyte   all  vanyst  away; 
&   for  scham  neuer  sithen   come  he  at 
hir.  /   Pis  I  say  not,  for  I  hope  pat  he 
sal  haue  leue  to  tempe  be  on  bis  maner; 
bot  for  I  will  bat    bou  be   war,    if  any 
wyk3  temptacions  befall  pe,  slepand  or 
wakand,    pat   \>o\\    trow   not   oure-tyte, 
3  til  p<m  knaw  be  soth.  //  Mare  priuilyer 
he    transfigurs   \\yrn    in  be  forme  of  an 
awngel  of  lyght— bat    comonli  al  men 
ar    temped    with:     when    he    hydes    ill 
vnder   be  liknes    of  gode.     And  pat  es 
i  in    twa    manures:   /  Ane   es,    when   he 
egges   vs    til   oure-mykel  ees   &  rest   of 
body,  and  softnes  til  oure  flesche,  vndir 
i  he  has  on  erasure.    2  al.  f.  body  of. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

men  to  bryng  hir  til  heeuen.     Wharfor 
scho  was  rygth  glade  and  loyfull.    Bote 
neeu?r-pe-latter    scho    taald    it    til    hir 
schrythfader:  and  he,  als  wys  man  and 
quaynt ,    gayf  hir  bis  counsayl :    »When 
he  comes«,  he  sayd  ,  »bid  hym  bat  he 
schew  be  our  lauedy  saynt  Mary.    When 
he  has  don  swa,   say  Aue  maria «.    Scho 
did  swa.     Pe  feend  sayd:  »Pou  has  na 
ned  to  se  hir :    Mi  presence  suffice  vnto 
|>e«.     And    [scho]    sayd,    on    all   maner 
scho   suld   sahir.     He   sagth    pat  hym 
behoued  outhir  do  hir  wil  or  scho  wald 
dispyse   hym:    als    tite   he   brogth  forth 
be   fayrest   body  of  woman   bat  n\ygth 
be  als  to  hir  sygth,    and   schewed  it  til 
hir.     And   scho    sete    hir   on    hir   knese 
and    sayd   Aue    maria:    And   als   tite   al 
waynysht  away,   and  for  schame  neeu^r 
sithen  com  he  at  hir.     I»is  say  I  nogth 
for   I   hoppe    pat    he    sal    haue    leue   to 
tempe  pe  on  pis  maner;    bot   for  I  wil 
bat    bou  be  war,    if  any  swylke  temp- 
taciouws    bifalle  be  slepand  or  wakand, 
bat    bou   trow   nogth   ouer-tite    til   bou 
knaw    be    sogth.    H    Mare    pryuely    he 
transfigures  hym  in  be  fourme    of  aun- 
gell    of    ligth — pat    commonly    all   men 
er    tempid    with :    when    he    hidis    ille 
vndire  pe  lickenes  of  gud;    and    pat  es 
in  twa  maners.  U  Ane  es  when  he  egges 
vs  til  ouer-mykel  eese  and  rest  of  body, 


swylk . 

glad  &  Ioyful,  bot  neu*r-bo-latt«r  scho  talde  it  til  hir  schryft-fadwr,  &  he  als  wyse 
man  &  gode  gaf  hir  bis  cowsel:  »Qwe«  he  comes«,  he  sayde,  »byd  hym  bat  he 
schew  be  our  lady.  Qwen  he  has  done  so,  say  Aue  maria «.  Als  he  bad,  so 
scho  did.  Po  fende  sayd:  »Pou  has  no  nede  to  se  hir:  My  presence  suffice  to 
be«.  And  scho  sayde,  on  alle  man<r  scho  sulde  se  hir.  He  sagh  pat  o\>er  hym 
behoued  do  hir  wille,  or  scho  wald  dispice  hym :  als  tite  he  broght  forth  po 
fayrest  body  of  womaw  bat  myght  be  als  to  hir  syght,  &  schewde  it  to  hir.  & 
scho  set  hir  on  knese  &  sayde  Aue  maria :  &  als-tit  al  vanyst  away,  and  for 
schame  neu*r  sythen  come  he  at  hir  more  so.  Pis  I  say  noght  [for]  I  hope  pat 
he  sal  haue  leue  to  temp*  pe  on  pis  maner,  bot  I  wil  pat  pou  be  ay  war  it  any 
swylk  temptacions  befall  pe  slepand  or  wakand,  pat  pou  trow  not  ou*r-sone  to 
bam  to  bou  know  a  soth.  Mare  pr/ueler  he  transfigures  hym  in  an  angel  ot 
lyght— pat  commute  all  men  are  temped  witA:  qwen  he  hydes  hylle  vnder  po 
lyknes  of  gode.  And  pat  es  in  to  manges:  one  es  qwew  he  egges  vs  to  ouer- 
mykel  ese  &  rest  of  body  &  softhede  to  our  flesch..  vndwr  nede  to  susten  our 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.   Cambr.  Dd  V.  64, 

ne[d]e  *  to  susteyne  oure  kynde.  For 
swilk  thoghtes  he  puttes  in  vs  :  bot  if 
we  etc  wele,  &  drynk  wele,  &  slepe 
wele,  &  lygge  soft  &  sytt  warme:  we 
may  not  serue  god,  ne  last  in  pe 
trauell  pat  we  haue  begonw.  Bot  he 
thynkes  to  bryng  vs  till  ouer-mykel 

2  lust.  //  Another  es,  when  vnder  pe  lyk- 
nes  of  gastly  gode  he  entices  vs  til 
scharp2  £  oure-mikel  penance,  forto 
destroye  oure  self;  and  says  pus: 
»]*ou  wate  wele  pat  he  pat  suffers 
mast  penance  for  goddes  lufe,  he  sail 
haue  maste  mede.  Forpi  ete  litell, 
and  febyl  mete,  &  drynk  lesse,  pe 
thynnest  drynk  es  gode  ynogh  till  pe. 
Recke  noght  of  slepe  ;  were  pe  hayre, 
&  pe  habirion.  All  thyng  pat  es 
affliccion  for  pi  flesche,  do  it :  so  pat 
pare  be  nane,  pat  may  passe  pe  in 
penance «.  /  He  pat  says  pe  pus,  es 
aboute  to  sla  pe  wzt^  oure-mykel  ab 
stinence,  als  he  pat  sayde  pe  toper,  to 
sla  pe  wzt/£  oure-lytell.  Forpi,  if  we 
will  be  right  disposed,  vs  behoues  sett 
vs  in  a  gude  mene,  &  pat  we  may 
destroy  oure  vices,  &  halde  oure  flesche 
vnder,  /  and  neuer-pe-latter  pat  it  be 
stal worth  in  pe  seruyse  of  Ihesu  Criste.  // 

4  Als-swa,    oure   enmy   will   noght    suffer 
vs    to    be   in   rest   when    we  slepe:    bot 
pan  he  es  aboute  to  begyle  vs  in  many 
1  Ms.  nethe.     2  al.  asper. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

and  softnes  til  our  flesshe  vndirneethen , 
to  sustayne  our  kynd.  For  swylke 
thoghtes  he  puttis  in  vs:  bot  if  we  eet 
wele  and  drynk  wele  awd  slepe  wele 
and  ligge  soft  and  site  warme,  we  may 
nogth  smie  god  ne  last  in  pe  trauaylle 
pat  we  haf  bygune.  Bot  he  thynkis  to 
bryng  vs  til  ouer-mykel  lust,  ^f  A  nother 
es  when  he  hidis  ille  vndir  lickenes  of 
gastely  gud :  he  entyces  vs  til  asper  and  1 
ouer^-mykel  penauwce,  forto  distroy  our 
self,  and  says  pus:  wfcou  wat  wele  pat 
he  pat  suffirs  maast  penaunce  for  goddis 
luf,  he  sal  haue  maast  mede.  For-pi  eet 
litell  and  feble  meet,  and  drynk  lesse, 
pe  thynnest  drynke  es  gud  Inogthe  til  pe. 
Recke  nogth  of  slep.  Weer  pe  hayer,  pe 
haubergeouw.  All  thyng  pat  es  afflic- 
tyouw  til  pi  flesshe,  do  it ;  swa  pat  pan? 
be  nane  pat  may  passe  pe  in  penau^ce  «. 
He  pat  says  pe  pus,  he  es  aboute  to 
sla  pe  with  ouer-mykele  penauTzce  & 
abstynence,  als  he  pat  sayd  pe  tother, 
to  sla  pe  with  ou^r-lytele.  For-pi,  if 
we  wil  be  rygth  dispoosed,  vs  bihoues 
to  sete  vs  in  a  gud  meyne,  and  pat 
we  may  distroy  our  vyces  and  hald  our 
flesshe  vndir,  and  neeu^f-pe-latter  pat 
it  be  stalward  in  pe  smryse  of  Ihesu 
Cryst.  ^[  Alswa  our  enemy  wil  nogth 
suffir  vs  to  be  in  rest  when  we  slep  : 
bot  pan  he  [es]  aboute  to  bygyle  vs  in 
i  Ms.  asperand. 


kynde ;  For  swylk  thoghtes  he  puttes :  bot  we  ete  wele  &  drink  wele  &  slepe 
wele  &  lyg  soft  &  sit  warme,  we  may  not  smie  god  ne  last  in  po  trauel  pat  we 
haue  bygunnew  —  bot  he  thynkes  to  brynge  vs  to  ouer-mykel  lust,  and  so  vse  vs 
in  vyses.  Anop^f  es  pat  vndur  po  lyknes  of  gastle  gode  he  entices  vs  to  asper 
&  ou^-mykel  penance  for  to  dystroy  owf-selue,  &  says  pus:  wfou  wate  wele  pat 
he  or  scho  pat  suffers  mast  penance  for  goddes  luf,  he  sal  haue  mast  mede. 
For-thy  ete  litel,  of  po  feblest  mete,  &  drinke  lesse,  po  thynnest  drinke  es  gode 
y-nogh  for  pe.  Rek  pou  noght  of  slep^ ;  were  po  hayr£,  po  hawberion^ ;  alle 
thyng  pat  es  affliccz'on  for  pi  flesche,  do  it,  swa  pat  per  be  nane  pat  may  passe 
pe  in  penance.«  He  pat  says  pe  pus,  he  es  aboutwarde  to  be-gyle  pe  &  slo  pe 
w/t#  ou^-mykel  penance  &  abstinence,  als  he  pat  sayde  po  top*r  to  slo  pe  wz't/z 
ouer-liiel.  For-pi  if  we  be  ryght  dysposed,  vs  behoues  set  vs  in  a  gode  mene, 
&  pat  we  dystroy  our  vices  &  halde  our  flesch  vndur,  &  neu^r-po-lattur  pat  it 
be  stalworth  in  smiys  of  Ihmi  Cryst.  Also  our  enmy  wil  noght  lat  vs  be  in  rest 
qwen  we  be  in  slepe,  bot  panne  he  es  about  to  begyle  vs  on  many 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

1  maners.  //  Vmwhile,  vthh  vggly  ymages : 
forto  make  vs   radde ,  &  make   vs  lathe 

2  vrilh   cure   state;    Vmwhile,    vfiih    faire 
ymages ,    fayre    syghtes    £    bat     semes 
confortabell :    forto    make    vs    glad    in 
vayne,  and  gar  vs  wene  bat  we  er  better 

3  ban   we  er.     Vmwhile,    tels    vs    bat  we 
er  haly  &  gode:    forto   bryng  vs  in  till 
pryde  ;    [Vmwhile,   sais  bat  we  er  wicked 
&  synful :  for  to  ger  vs  falle  in  to  dis- 
paire].1     Bot   he    pat  es    ordiner   of   all 
thyng,  suffers   noght  bat  oure  slepe  be 
w*tA-owten   mede   til   vs,    if  we   dresse 
oure    lyfe   till   his    will.     And  wyt   bow 
wele,     bou     syns     noght     slepand :      if 
p0u    be    euermare   wakande    wzt^-outen 
outrage  of  mete  &  drynk,   £  w/t/j-outen 
ill    thoghtes.  //  Bot   many  ane    be  deuel 
hase  deceyued  thurgh  dremes,  when  he 
haues  gart  bam  sett  pair  hert  on  ham.  / 
For  he   hase    schewed  }>am   som  sothe, 
&  sethyn  begylt  bam  w/t/*  ane  pat  was 
fals.     For-bi    says    be    wyse    man    bat 
many  besynes  folowes  dremes;    an    bai 
fell    bat    hoped    in    bam.  /    \Vhar-fore, 
bat    b<?u   be   not    begylde   with  bam ,    I 
will  bat  b0u  witt  fat  per  er  sex  maners 

i  2  of  dremes.     Twa  er    |>at    na    man  ,  haiy 
ne    ober,    may    eschape;    bai    er:  //  If 
bair  wambe  be  oure-tome,  or  oure-full ; 
1  om.  in  Dd. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

many  maners:  vmwhyle  with  vgly 
Images,  forto  make  vs  rad  and  ger  vs 
lath  with  our  state ;  vmwhile  with  fayre 
Images,  fayre  syghtes,  and  bat  at  semes 
comfortable,  forto  make  vs  glad  in 
vayne,  and  ger  vs  wene  bat  we  er 
better  ban  we  en? ;  vmwhile  telle  vs  |)at 
we  er  haly  and  gud,  for  to  bryng  vs 
in  to  pryde ;  vmwhyle  say  bat  we  er 
wycked  and  synfull,  for  to  ger  vs  falle 
in  to  despayr^.  Bot  he  bat  es  ordayner 
of  all  thyng,  sufnrs  nogth  bat  ouiv 
slepe  be  with-owtene  mede  til  vs,  if 
we  adresce  our  life  til  his  wille. 
^f1  And  wite  pou  wele,  pou  synnes 
nogth  sleppand,  if  bou  be  euer-mare 
wakand  with-owtene  outrage  of  mete  and 
drynke,  and  w*t/;-outene  ille  thoghtes. 
Bot  many  has  be  deeuelle  deceyfd 
thurgth  dreemes,  when  he  has  gert 
baym  sette  bair  hert  on  bairn :  For 
he  has  schewed  bairn  som  sogth  and 
siihen  bigiled  bairn  vthh  ane  bat  was 
fals.  For-pi  says  be  wys  man  bat  many 
bysenes  folowes  dreemes,  and  bai  fel 
bat  hoped  in  paim.  \Vhar^-foor,  pat  pou 
be  noth  bigyled  w;t^  bairn,  I  wile  bat 
[pou]  witte  pat  it  er  sex  maners  of 
dremes.  Twa  er  pat  na  man  haly  ne 
other  may  etchape,  pat  es :  if  f)air 
wambes  be  ouer-tom  or  ouer-full,  pan 
i  on  margin  :  De  sompniis. 


vmqwile  with  vggly  ymages,  to  ger  vs  lath  w*tA  our  state,  vmqwile  \viJi  fayre 
ymages,  to  ger  vs  wene  bat  we  are  bettwr  ban  we  are,  &  thurgh  bo  fayr*  syghtes 
gare  vs  loy  en  vayn  &  wene  bat  we  are  qware  we  are  noght;  ^[  vmqwile  telle  vs 
fat  we  art  hale  &  gode,  for  to  bryng  vs  in  to  pride;  vmqwile  say  pat  we  an? 
wykkud  £  synful,  for  to  gar  vs  falle  in  dyspayre.  Bot  he  pat  es  ordenowr  of 
alle  thyng,  suffres  vs  noght  to  be  temped  hardwr  ban  we  myght  agayn  stande,  Ne 
sjit  bat  our  slep*  be  noght  til  vs  w*t/fc-outen  mede,  If  we  adresse  our  lyff  to  hys 
wylle.  And  wit  tou  wele,  bou  synnes  noght  slepande,  yf  pou  be  euer-mare 
wakande  w/'tA-outew  outrage  of  mete  &  drynke  &  wz'tA-outen  yuel  thoghtes; 
bot  many  has  bo  deuel  deceyued  thurgh  dremes  qwen  he  has  gart  baw  set  fyer 
\\ertes  apow  bam.  For  he  has  schewed  bam  suwme  soth,  &  sythew  begyled  bam 
wz't/i  ane  bat  was  fals;  for-thy  says  f)o  wysemaw  bat  many  bysynes  folowes 
dremes,  &  bei  fell  bat  hoped  in  pam.  Qwarfor,  pat  pou  be  noght  begyled  w/U 
bam,  I  wil  bat  bou  wit  bat  \>er  are  sex  manges  of  dremes:  two  are  pat  no 
man  haly  no  o\>er  may  eschape;  bay  are  if  bar  wowbe  be  ou^r-tome  or  ouer- 
full,  banne  many  vanites  in  ser*  manors  befallcs  baw  slepande.  ^[  Pe  thryd  es  of 


i6 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 
pan  many   vanitees   in   seer  maners  be- 

3  falles  })am  slepande.  //  Pe  thryd  es,  of 

4  illusyons  of  cure  enmy.  //  Pe    ferth  es, 
of  thoght  before,  and  illusion  folouand.  / 

5  And   be   fyft  ,   thorow  be  reuelacion  of 
be   hali   gast,    bat   es  done  on  many  a 

6  mzner.    /  Pe   sext    es,    of  thoghtes  be 
fore    bat  falles  to    Criste    or  hali   kyrk, 
reuelacion  comand  after.  /  In  pus  many 
maners  touches  be  ymage  of  dremes  men 
when  bai  slepe.    Bot  sa  mykell  we  sail 
latlyer  gyf  fayth  till  any  dreme,   pat  we 
may  not  sone  wyt  whilk  es  soth,   whilk 
es  fals  ;    whilk  es  of  cure  enmy  ,    whilk 
es  of  pe  hali  gaste.  /  For  whare  many 
dremes  er,   par£  er  many  vanitees.     And 
many  bai  may  make  to  err<?  :  for  bai  hegh 
vnwhaynt   men  ,    &  swa    deceyues  bam. 


(1)  Knawe  pat  pi  lyfe  es  gyuen  to 
pe  seruyce  of  god.  Pan  es  it  schame 
til  pe,  bot  if  bou  be  als  gode,  or  better, 
wztA-iw  in  bi  sawle,  als  f)0u  ert  semand 
at  be  syght  of  men.  Turne  for-bi  bi 
thoghtes  p^rfitely  till  god,  als  it  semes 
bat  f)0u  hase  done  pi  body.  For  I 
will  not  bat  b0u  wene  pat  all  er  hali 
f)at  hase  pe  abet  of  halynes,  &  er  noght 
ocupyed  vthh  pe  worlde;  /  Ne  pat  all 
er  ill  pat  melles  paw  with  erthly  by- 
sines.  //  Bot  bai  er  anly  hali,  what 
state  or  degre  bai  be  in,  be  whilk 
despises  all  erthly  thyng,  bat  es  at  say, 
lufs  it  noght,  &  byrnes  in  be  luf  of 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

many  vanytese  in  sere  maners  byfalles 
bairn  slepand.  Pe  thryd  es  of  illu 
syons  of  our  enemy.  Pe  fierth  es  of 
thogth  byfoor  awd  illusyon  folwand.  Pe 
fyft  thurgth  reuelacyon<?  of  be  haly  gast, 
bat  es  don  on  many  maners.  Pe  sext 
es  of  thoghtes  byfoor  bat  falles  to  Cryst 
or  haly  kyrke,  reuelacion  command 
efter.  In  bus  many  maners  touches  be 
Images  of  dreemes  men  when  bai  slep. 
Bot  swa  mekyle  we  sal  be  latlyer  gyf 
fayth  til  any  dreeme  bat  we  may  nogth 
sone  wit  whylke  es  soth,  why  Ike  es 
fals ;  whilke  es  of  our  enemy,  whylke 
es  of  be  haly  gast.  For  whar  so  many 
dreemes  er,  bar  er  many  vanytese,  and 
many  bai  may  make  to  erre  :  For  bai 
hegth  vnquaynt  men  and  swa  deceyfs 
bairn,  ^f  [I]  Knaw  bat  pi  lif  semes  gyfuen 
til  pe  smiyce  of  god :  pan  es  it  schame 
til  pe  bot  if  bou  be  als  gud  or  better 
wzt^-Ine  bi  saule  als  bou  ert  semand 
at  be  sigth  of  men.  U  Turne  for-bi  bi 
thoghtes  parfytely  til  god,  als  it  semes 
als  bou  has  don  pi  body.  For  I  wil 
nogth  bat  bou  wene  bat  all  er  haly 
bat  has  be  habyte  of  halynes  and  er 
nogth  occupied  with  be  werld,  ne  bat 
all  er  ille  bat  melles  bairn  \\ith  erthely 
bisenes;  bot  bay  er  anly  haly,  what 
staate  or  degre  so  bai  be  Inne,  be 
whilke  despises  all  erthely  thyng,  bat 
es  at  say,  lufs  it  nogth,  and  brynnes  in 


illusions  of  our  enmy.  Pe  ferth  es  of  thoght  before  &  illusions  folouande.  &  bo 
fyft  es  thurgh  reuelac/on  of  bo  haly  gast,  f)at  es  done  on  many  manges.  Po  sext 
es  of  thoghtes  before  bat  falles  til  haly  kyrke  or  [Crist],  reuelaczon  comande  afiw. 
In  bus  many  manges  touches  bo  ymages  dremes  of  men  qwen  bei  slep^.  Bot 
so  mykel  we  sal  gyf  fayth  til  paw  po  latlyer  pat  we  may  not  sone  wit  qwilk  es 
soth,  qwilk  es  fals ;  qwilk  es  of  our  enmy,  qwilk  es  of  po  halygast ;  for  qwere 
so  many  dremes  are ,  par  are  many  vanites,  &  many  pai  may  make  to  erre,  for 
pei  heghe  vnwhayne  men  &  so  deceyues  pam. 

I  know  pat  pi  lyff  semes  gyffen  to  god  &  til  po  smiys  of  hyw.  Pan  es  it 
schame  to  pe  bot  if  bou  be  als  gode  or  bettw  wz't^-in  \n  bi  saule  als  bou  art 
semand e  at  bo  syght  of  men.  Turne  forth  pi  thoghtes  perhtely  to  god  als  it 
semes  pat  pou  has  done  pi  body:  fore  I  wil  not  pat  pou  wene  pat  al  are  haly 
pat  has  po  habit  of  halynes  &  are  not  occupied  wz't/z  po  worlde,  Ne  pat  alle  are 
ille  pat  melles  pam  vfiih  erthly  bysines.  Bot  bei  are  anely  haly,  qwat  state  or 
degre  bei  be  in,  bo  qwilk  dyspises  alle  erthly  thynge,  pat  es  at  say  lufs  it  noght, 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

Ihesu  Criste,  &  al  pair  desires  er  sett 
til  pe  ioy  of  heuen,  &  hates  al  synw, 
&  ceses  noght  of  gode  werkys,  and 
feles  a  swetnes  in  pair*  hert  of  pe 
lufe  with-outen  ende :  /  and  neuer- 
j)e-latter  pai  thynk  j)am-self  vylest  of 
all,  &  haldes  pam  wretchedest,  leste, 
&  lawest.  /  Pis  es  hali  mens  lyf :  folow 
it,  &  be  haly.  /  And  if  f>0u  will  be  \n 
mede  w/tA  apostels,  thynk  noght  what 
pou  for-soke,  hot  what  pern  despyses.  / 
For  als  mykell  j)ai  forsake  pat  foloues 
Ihesu  Criste,  in  wilfull  pouert,  &  in 
mekenes,  &  in  charite,  &  in  paciens, 
als  pai  may  couayte  pat  folows  hym 
noght.  And  thynk  with  how  mykel,  & 
how  gude  will  bou  pr^sentes  pi  vowes 
be-fore  hym :  for  till  pat  he  hase  hys 
egh ;  /  and  if  f)0u  with  gret  desyre 
offer  pi  praiers,  w/tA  grete  feruoure 
couayte  to  se  hym,  and  seke  na  erthly 
cowforth,  bot  be  sauoure  of  heuen,  &  in 
cowtewplacion  perof  haue  pi  delyte.  // 
Wond«rfulli  IhesM  wirkes  in  hys  louers : 
pe  whilk  he  reues  fra  pe  lust  of  flesch 
&  of  blode,  thorow  tender  lufe.  He 
makes  paw  to  will  na  erthly  thyng,  & 
dose  pam  ryse  in  to  pe  solace  of  hym, 
&  to  forgete  vanytees  &  fleschely  lufe 
of  pe  worlde,  &  to  drede  na  sorow 
pat  may  fall;  /  To  lathe  with  ouer- 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

pe  luf  of  Ihesu  Cryst,  and  all  pair^ 
desyres  er  sette  til  pe  loyes  of  heeuene, 
and  haates  all  synne,  and  ceeses  nogth 
of  gud  werkes,  and  feles  a  swetenes  in 
pain;  hert  of1  life  w/tA-outene  end ;  and 
neuer^-pe-latt^r  pai  thynke  paim-self 
vylest  of  all ,  and  haldes  paim-self 
wrytchedest,  last  a«d  laghest.  Pis  es 
halynese  of  lyfe.  Folow  it  and  be  haly ! 
and  if  pou  wil  be  in  mede  wztA  appo- 
stells,  thynke  nogth  what  pou  forsakes 
bot  what  pou  despises.  For  als  mykell 
pai  forsake  pat  folowes  Ihesu  Cryst  in 
wilfull  poueert ,  and  in  mekenes,  awd 
in  charyte,  and  in  pacyence2,  als  pay 
may  couayte  pat  fohves  hym  nogth.  And 
thynke  wz'tA  how  mekyle  and  how  gud 
wile  pou  presentes  pi  wowes  byfor  hym 
— ffor  til  pat  he  has  his  egthe.  And  if 
pou  with  grete  desyre  offre  pi  prayers 
and  w/tA  grete  feruoure  couayte  to  se 
hym,  and  sekes  na  erthly  comfort  bot  be 
saueour  of  heeuene,  and  in  contempla- 
cyon  pair^-of  haue  pi  delyte.  Wondir- 
fully  Ihesu  wirkis  in  his  lufers,  pe  whilke 
he  reeues  fra  pe  lust  of  flesshe  and  blod 
thurgth  tendir  lufe ;  he  makis  paim  to 
haf  wil  to  na  erthly  thyng,  and  dose 
paim  ryse  in  to3  solace  of  hym,  and  to 
for-gete  vanytese  and  flesshely  luf  of  pe 
werld,  and  to  dreede  na  sorow  pat  may 

i  orig.  of  |>e;  fee  is  erased.        *  Ms.  pacyente. 

3  overl. 


&  brynnes  in  luf  of  Ihesu  Crist,  &  alle  per  desyres  are  set  to  bo  loyes  of  heuew, 
&  hates  all  synne,  &  seses  noght  of  gode  werk«j,  &  feles  a  swetnes  in  per  herte 
of  po  lyfe  w*tA-oute  ende;  and  neuer-bo-l&ttur  pam  thynke  pam-selfe  po  vylest 
of  alle  &  haldes  pam  po  mast  wretches  &  lawest  of  alle  oher.  Pis  is  haly  mens 
lyf.  Folow  it  &  be  haly  :  &  if  pou  wil  be  in  mede  w/tA  apostels,  Thynk  noght 
qwat  pou  forsakes  bot  qwat  pou  despyces — For  als  mykel  pei  forsake  pat  folows 
Ihesu  Crist  in  wilful  pou^rte  &  in  mekenes  &  in  charite  &  paciens  als  pei  may 
couet  pat  folowes  hym  noght.  And  thynk  with  how  gode  wille  pou  presentes  pi 
body(!)  to  hym— ffor  to  pat  he  has  hys  egh;  and  if  |>ou  wi'tA  grete  desyre  offer 
vp*  pi  prayers,  witA  grete  feruo«r  of  luf  coueyt  to  se  hym,  &  seke  na  erthle  com- 
forth  bot  po  sauo«r  of  heuen,  and  in  contemplac/on  pm>f  hafe  pi  delite.  Wond*r- 
fully  Ih^u  wirkw*  in  hys  lufars,  bo  qwilk  he  reues  thurgh  tendur  luf  fra  po  lust 
of  flesch  &  blode  &  makes  bam  to  wil  na  erthly  thyng,  &  dose  pam  to  ryse  to 
solace  of  hym,  and  to  fforgete  vanite  &  fleschly  luf  of  po  worlde,  &  to  grutche 
with  na  sorow  pat  may  falle,  to  lath  w/tA  ou^r-mykel  bodyle  eese;  to  suffer  for 


i8 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

mykel  bodili  ees.  To  suffer  for  his  luf, 
bam  thynk  it  ioy  ;  and  to  be  solitary 
bai  haue  grete  cowforth  :  bat  bai  be 
noght  lettyd  of  bat  deuocyon.  //  Now 
may  p#u  se  pat  many  er  war  pan  pai 
seme,  &  many  er  better  ban  bai  seme, 
&  namely  amang  base  bat  hase  be 
habett  of  halynes.  /  For-bi  afforce  be, 
in  all  bat  bow  may,  bat  b^u  be  noght 
wer  ban  b<?u  semes.  /  And  if  fyflu  will 
do  als  I  lere  be  i«  bis  schort  forme  of 
lyuyng  ,  I  hope,  thorou  be  grace  of 
god,  bat  if  men  halde  be  gude,  b<?u 
sail  be  wele  better. 

Capm.  IHIm. 


be  begynnyng,  turne  be  en- 
terely  to  bi  lorde  Ihesu  Criste.  /  Pat 
turnyng  till  Ihesn  es  noght  els  ,  bot 
turnyng  fra  all  be  couaytyse  &  be  lik- 
yng  &  be  occupacions  &  bisynes  of 
worldly  thynges  &  of  fleschly  lust  and 
vayne  luf:  swa  bat  bi  thoght,  bat  was 
ay  donward,  modeland  in  be  erth, 
whils  b0u  was  in  be  worlde,  now  be 
ay  vpwarde  als  fire,  sekand  be  heghest 
place  in  heuen,  right  til  pi  spows,  bare 
he  syttes  in  hys  blys.  Til  hym  b0u 
ert  turned,  when  his  grace  illumyns  bi 
hert  ;  &  forsakes  all  vices,  &  cowformes 
it  til  virtues  &  gude  thewes,  &  til  all 
maner  of  debonerte  &  mekenes.  /  And 
bat  p0u  may  last  &  wax  in  gudenes 
bat  f)0u  hase  begon,  wztft-owten  slawnes 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

fall,  to  laghte  wz'tA  ouer^-mykele  bodily 
eese.  To  suffre  for  his  luf,  bairn  thynke 
it  ioy ;  and  to  be  solutary  bay  haue 
grete  comfort,  bat  pai  be  nogth  letted 
in  pair*?  deuocyon^.  ^f  Now  may  pou  se 
bat  many  er  werre  ban  pay  seme,  and 
many  er  better  ban  .  bai  seme ;  and 
naamly  amang  baa  bat  has  be  habyte 
of  halynes.  For--pi  afforce  be  in  all 
bat  bou  may  bat  pou  be  nogth  were 
ban  bou  semes :  and  if  bou  wil  do  als 
I  lere  be  in  bis  schort  fourme  of  lyfyng, 
I  hop  thurgth  be  grace  of  god  bat  if 
men  hald  be  gude,  bou  sale  be  wele  better. 

J\.T  be  bigynnyng  turn  be  en- 
tierly  to  bi  louerd  Ihesu  Oz'st.  tat 
turnyng  til  Ihesu  es  nogth  ells  bot 
turnnyng  fra  all  be  couaytese  and  be 
lykyng1  and  occupacyons  and  be  byse- 
nese  of  be  werld  and  of  flesshely  lust 
and  vayne  luf;  swa  bat  bi  thogth  bat 
was  ay  dounward  moldand  in  be  erth 
whiles  bou  was  in  be  werld,  now  be 
ay  vpward  als  fyre,  sekand  be  heghest 
place  in  heeuene,  rygth  til  pi  spouse  par^ 
he  sittes  in  his  blisse.  Til  hym  bou  ert 
turned  when  his  grace  illumyns  bi  hert, 
so  bat  it  forsakes  al  vices  and  confourmes 
it  til  vertus  and  gud  thewys  and  til  all 
maner  of  debonerte  and  mekenes.  And 
bat  pou  may  last  ami  wax  in  gudnesse 
bat  pou  has  bygune,  with-outene  slaw- 

i  Orig.  lykyngs,  s  erased. 


hys  luf  bam  thynk  swete,  and  to  be  solitary  bei  haue  grete  delitite(l)  &  Ioy  with 
grete  cowfort,  bat  pei  be  not  lettud  in  per  deuoczon.  Now  may  bou  se  bat  many 
are  warre  ban  bei  seme,  &  many  ar£  bettwf  ban  bei  seme,  &  namely  ymong  paw 
bat  has  habite  of  halynes.  For-bi  aforce  be  in  alle  bat  bou  may  pat  bou  be 
noght  warr^  ban  bou  semes.  And  if  bou  wil  do  als  I  sal  ler^  be  In  bis  schort 
forme  of  lyfyng,  I  hop<?  thurgh  po  grace  of  god  pat  if  any  hald  pe  gode,  pou 
sal  be  wele  better 

From  here  I  only  give  the  various  readings  of  Ms.  Harl. : 

po.  enterly.  lord,  till  Ihesu  om.  n.  elles  to  say.  fro.  pe  om.  couetyse.  pe  om. 
pe  om.  bysynes  of  bo  worldes  thyng.  fl.  luff<?  &  v.  spech.  so.  ay  om.  don- 
warde  modeland.  vppewarde.  to.  pou  twrne  pe.  enlumynes  pi  hart  &  forsakes. 
to  v^rtuse  &  gode  thewes.  &  to.  at  inst.  of  bat.  last  &  om.  begunnon^. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

&  sarynes  &  irkyng  of  pi  lyf:  /I  Fowre 
thyngs  sail  f)0u  haue  in  pi  thoght,  til 
f)0u  be  in  p^rfyte  lufe — For  when  p0u 
ert  cowmen  par-till,  pi  ioy  &  desyre 

1  will  ay  be  byrnand  in  Criste.     Ane  es: 
pe  mesur  of  pz  lyf  here,  fat  sa   schort 
es  fat  vnnethis    es    it   oght.   /   For   we 
lyue   bot   in   a   poynt — pat   es   be   leste 
thyng    pat    may   be.    /     And,    sothely, 
oure    lyfe    es    les    pan   a   poynt,    if  we 
liken   it   to    pe    lyfe    pat    lastes    ay.    // 

2  Another  es :   vncertente  of  owre  endyng. 
For   we    wate   neuer  when    we  sal  dye, 
ne    whar<?   we    sal    dye,    ne  how  we  sal 
dye,   ne  whider  we  sal  ga  when  we  er 
dede.     &   pat   god  wil    pat   pis  be  vn- 
certayn   til   vs :    for   he  will   pat  we  be 

3  ay  redy  to  dye.   //    Pe  thyrd  es :  pat  we 
sail  answer  before  J>e   ryghtwys  luge   of 
all    pe    tyme    pat    we    haue    bene   here, 
how    we   haue   lyued,    what   oure  occu- 
paciouw    hase   bene   and    why,   &    what 
gnde    we   myght   haue   done    when    we 
haue  bene  ydel.     For-pi  sayde  J>e  pro- 
phete:    »He   hase    cakle  be  tyme  agayn 
me«,     pat    ilk    day    he    hase    lent    vs 
here  forto  despende  in  gude  vse,  and  in 
penance,    &    in   gods    seruys.    /   If  we 
waste    it   in   erthly   lufe   &  in    vanitees, 
ful     greuosly     mon    we    be    demed    & 
punyst — ffor    pat    es    ane   of   pe    maste 
sorow    pat    may  be:    bot  we   afforce  vs 
manly  in  pe  lufe  of  god,  &  do  gude  til 
all  pat  we  may,  whil  oure  schort  tyme 
lastes.      And    ilk    tyme    pat   we    thynk 
not   on    god,    we    may  cownt    it  als  be 

4  thyng  pat  we  haue  tynt.     The  ferth  es : 

1  The  rest  of  this  Chapter  is  found  separate 
in  Ms.  Hurl.  1706  f.  ii4(,Fourprofitablethinges'), 
and  was  ed.  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  1509  (in  The 
remedy  ayenst  the  troubles  of  temptacyons). 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

nes  and  sarynes  and  irkynge1  of  pi  lif  :2 
^f  Four  thyngs  sal  pou  haue  in  pi  thogth 
til  pou  be  in  parfite  luf— For  when  pou 
ert  comen  par-til,  pi  Ioy  and  pi  desyre 
wil  ay  be  brynnand  in  Cryst.  ^[  Ane  es  : 
mesun?  of  pi  life  here,  pat  so  schort 
es  pat  vnneethes  es  it  ogth.  For  we 
life  bot  in  a  poynt,  bat  es  be  lest 
thyng  pat  may  be,  and  sothely,  our 
life  es  lese  pan  a  poynt  if  we  lickyn 
it  to  pe  lif  pat  lastes  ay.  f  Another 
es :  Vncertaynte  of  our  endyng.  For 
we  whate  neuer^  when  we  sal  dye  ne 
how  we  sal  dye,  ne  whare,  ne  whidir 
we  sail  ga  when  we  er  deed  ;  and  pat 
god  wil  pat  pis  be  [vnlc^rtayne  til  vs, 
for  he  wil  bat  we  be  ay  redy  to  dye. 
^f  J*e  thrid  es :  pat  we  sal  answer*? 
by-for  be  rygthwys  luge  of  all  be 
tyme  pat  we  haue  here,  how  we  haf 
lifde,  what  our  occupacyons  haf  bene 
and  why ,  and  what  gud  we  mygth 
haf  done  when  we  haf  ben  Idele. 
For-pi  sayd  pe  pr^phete :  »He  has 
called  be  tyme  agayne  me « —  pat  es 
ylke  day  pat  he  has  lent  vs  here  for 
to  dispend  in  gud  vse  and  in  penance 
and  in  goddis  s^ruyce.  If  we  waast 
it  in  erthly  luf  and  vanytese,  ful  grief- 
ously  mon  we  be  demed  and  punyst. 
For-pi  [)at  es  ane  of  pe  maast  sorowe 
pat  may  be,  Bot  if  we  afforce  vs  manly 
in  be  luf  of  god  and  do  gud  til  al 
pat  we  may  to-whyles  our  schort 
tyme  lastes.  And  ylk  a  tyme  pat  we 
thynke  nogth  on  god  we  may  account  it 
als  be  thyng  pat  we  haue  tynt.  5J  £e 

1  orig.  irkeynge. 

2  on  the  margin :  4  ha<5enda  in  meworia. 


sarenes.  thynges.  hafe.  to  pou.  art.  &  pi.  brennande.  bo  mesur.  so.  vnethes 
is.  Forsothe  pis  lyfe  is  bot  a  poynt.  bat  es — poynt  om.  lykkew.  vncertente.  no 
qware  we  sal  dye  ne  how  we  sal  dye.  go.  are.  g.wil  pat  dede  be  certeyn  £ 
our  tyme  vncerteyn  to  vs.  thrid.  es  om.  lugge.  bene  om.  lyfed.  occupac/on 
has  ben  &  qwy  it  has  ben.  bo  profet.  es  om.  pat  om.  for  om.,  to  spende.  wast, 
erthle.  &  in  vanites.  Fnlgreuousle.  punysched.  For-pi.  if  om.  namely  inst.  of 
manly,  to  om.,  qwiles.  ilk,  a  om.  not.  acount.  als  tyme  pat.  pe  ferth  thyng  es. 


20 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

pat  we  thynk  how  mykell  pe  ioy  es  pat 
pai  haue  pe  whilk  lastes  zn  goddes  lufe 
til  pair  endyng.  For  bai  sal  be  brether 
&  felaws  wz't^  awngels  &  haly  men, 
lufand  &  thankand,1  louand  &  seand,  pe 
kyng  of  ioy,  \n  be  fayrhede  &  in  be 
schynyng  of  his  maieste.  Pe  whilk 
syght  sail  be  mede  &  mete,  &  al  delytes 
bat  any  creature  may  thynk,  &  mare 
ban  any  may  tell,  till  all  hys  louers, 
wz'U-outen  ende.  /  It  es  mikel  lightar 
to  com  to  bat  blys,  ban  for  to  tell  it.  / 
Als-swa  thynk'1  what  pyne  fy  what 
sorow  and  tormentyng  pai  sail  haue 
be  whilk  lufs  noght  god  oner  all  other 
thynges  bat  man  sees  in  bis  world, 
bot  files  pare  bodi  &  bair  sawle  i»  lust 
&  letchery  of  bis  lyfe,  In  pryde  & 
couayties ,  &  oper  synnes :  pai  sail 
byrne  in  be  fyre  of  hell,  wz't/z  be 
deuell  wham  bai  serued,  als  lang  as 
god  es  i«  heuen  with  his  seruandes: 
bat  es  euer-mare. 

Capm.  Vm. 

(1)  Wyll  pat  pou  be  ay  clymbande 
till  Ih&m-warde  ,  &  ekand  bi  luf  &  bi 
seruys  in  hym :  noght  als  foles  doos : 
pai  begyn  in  pe  heyest  degre,  &  corns 
downe  till  pe  lawest.  I  say  noght,  for 
I  will  pat  if  ptfu  haue  begune  vnskyl- 
full  abstinence,  bat  p0u  halde  it:  bot 
for  many  bat  was  byrnand  at  be  be- 
gynnyng  &  abyll  til  be  luf  of  Ih*m 
Criste,  for  owre-mykel  penans  bai  haue 
lettyd  barn-self,  &  made  bam  sa  febel 
bat  bai  may  noght  lufe  god  as  bai 
sulde.  In  be  whilk  luf  bat  bow  wax 
ay  mare  &  mare ,  es  my  couaytyng  & 

i  al.  hafand.     2  Mr.  thynk  on. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

fierth  es  bat  we  thynke  how  mykel  be 
Ioy  es  pat  pai  haue  pe  whilk  lastis 
in  goddis  luf  til  pair  endyng:  for 
pai  sal  be  brethire  and  felaghs  with 
aungels  and  haly  men,  lufand  and 
hafand,  loouand  and  seand  be  kyng 
of  Ioy  in  be  fayrehed  and  schynyng 
of  his  maieste ;  be  whilke  sygth  sal 
be  mast  mede  and  delyte  bat  any 
creatur  may  thynke,  and  mare  ban 
any  man  may  telle,  til  al  his  lufers 
withouten  end.  It  es  mykell  lyghter 
to  com  to  bat  blysse  ban  to  telle 
it.  Alswa  thynke  what  sorow  and 
what  payne  and  tourment  bay  sal 
haue  be  whi[l]k  lufs  nogth  god  ouer  all 
other  thynges  bat  man  sees  in  bis 
werld,  bot  files  baire  saules  in  lust 
and  lycchery  of  bis  lif,  In  pryd  and 
couaytes  and  other  synnes :  pai  salle 
brynne  in  be  fyre  of  helle  with  be 
deeuele  wham  bai  haue  smied,  als 
lang  als  god  es  in  heeuen  with  his 
s^fgeantis,  bat  es  eeuer-mare.  ^f  I 
wil  bou  be  ay  clymband  til  Ihesu- 
ward  and  ekand  bi  luf  and  pi  smiyse 
in  hym:  Nogth  als  foles  dose  pat 
bygynnes  at  be  heghest  degre  and 
comes  doun  til  be  lagthest.  I  say 
nogth  for  I  wil  if  bat  bou  haue  by- 
gune  vnskylwys  abstynence,  bat  bou 
hald  it,  bot  for  many  bat  war  bryn- 
nande  at  be  bygynnyng  and  able  to 
be  luf  of  Ihesu  Cryst,  ffor  ouer-mykele 
penance  pai  haue  alledgede1  bairn-self, 
and  made  bairn  so  feble  pat  pai  mygth 
nogth  luf  god  als  pai  suld.  In  whilk 
luf  pat  pou  wax  ay  mare  and  mare  es 
my  couatywg  and  myne  amonestyng. 
i  al.  lettyd. 


lastis.  to  bar.  felaws.  hafand  om.  lowande.  &  in  bo  sch.  mast  om.  mede 
&  mete  &  alle  delites.  man  om.  luffars.  lyghter.  ban  it  es  to  telle.  f  Als-so 
thynk  qwhat  payne  &  sorow  with  diu^rse  townnentes.  f)o  qwhilke  loued.  men  seese. 
worlde.  bair  body  &  beir  saule  in  lustes  of  letchory.  coueytyse.  bryrnie.  haue  om. 
als  lange  os.  smaundes.  bat  b^u.  to.  bei  begynne  in  bo  heyest  d.  to  bo  lawest. 
not.  bat  if  bou.  begumioni  vnskylwyse.  bat  om.  are  brennande.  abul  to. 
lettyd.  so  febul.  may.  als.  be  om.  be  inst.  of  wax.  bates,  couetyng.  &  myn. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


4  m 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

amonestyng.  I  halde  be  neuer  of  be 
lesse  meryt  yf  p<m  be  noght  iw  swa 
mykel  abstinence  ;  bot  if  f)0u  sett  al 
bi  thoght  how  b0u  may  luf  bi  spouse 
Ihesu  Criste,  man?  ban  f)0u  has  done, 
ban  dar  I  say  bat  bi  mede  es  waxand, 
&  noght  wanande. 
Capitulum  sextum.  l 

(W)Harfore,  bat  b0u  be  ryght  dis 
posed,  bath  for  bi  saule  &  fai  body, 
b0u  sail  vnderstande  fowre  thynges  :  / 

1  Pe  fyrst   thyng   es  :    what  thyng  fyles  a 

2  man.   /   Pe    tob*r    thyng:     what   makys 

*:/£«£.  /  Pe  thyrd  :  w  Aa/  haldes  hym 
clennes.  /  Pe  ferth  :  ?£/Aa/  thyng 
draives  hym  for  to  ordayne  his  will  all 
I  at  goddes  will.  //  For  be  fyrst:  wyt  b0u 
bat  we  synne  i«  thre  thynges,  bat 
makes  vs  folowe  2:  bat  es  wyth  7*<r/,  and 
mouth,  &  dede.  //  A  synnes  of  pe  hert, 
er  bir:  111  thoght.  ill  delyte.  assent 
till  synne.  desyre  of  ill.  wikked  will. 
Ill  suspecion.  vndeuocion.  If  b^u  lat 
bi  hert  any  tyme  be  ydell,  WftA-outen 
occupacion  of  be  lufe,  of  be  louyng 
of  god.  Ill  drede.  ill  lufe.  errour. 
fleschely  affecciouw  till  bi  frendes  or 
till  other  bat  bou  lufes.  loy  \n  any 
mens  ill-fare,  whethir  bai  be  enmy  or 
nane.  despyte  of  pure  /  or  of  synfull 
men.  to  honor  ryche  men  for  baire 
rytches.  /  vnconabyll  ioy  of  any  worldes 
vanite.  /  sorow  of  be  worlde.  /  vnthol- 
modnes.  p^rplexite,  /'  pat  es  dowt  what 
es  to  do  /  &  what  noght  —  /  for  ilk  a 
man  aght  for  to  be  syker  what  he  sail 
do  &  what  he  sail  leue.  /  obstinacion  in 

1  Separately  in  Ms.  Arund.  507,  f.  36. 

2  r.  fowle. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

U  I  hald  be  neeu*r  of  be  lesse  meryte  if 
bou  be  nogth  in  so  mykele  abstynence ; 
Bot  if  bou  sette  al  bi  thogth  how  bou 
may  luf  bi  spouse  Ihesu  Cryst  mar£ 
pan  bou  has  donne,  pan  dar  I  say  bat 
bi  mede  es  waxand  awd  nogth  wanande. 


Wharefor,  bat  bou  be  rygth  despoosed 
bath  for  bi  saul  and  bi  body,  bou  sal 
vndirstand  four  thyngs.1  U  Pe  first  es, 
what  thyng  files  a  man.  ^[  Pe  tother, 
what  thynge  makis  hym  clene.  H  Pe 
third,  what  haldis  hym  in  clennes.  ^[  Pe 
fierth,  what  thyng  drawes  [him]  for  to 
ordayne  his  wile  al  at  goddis  wile. 
U  For  be  first,  wite  bou  bat  we  synne 
in  [thre]  thynges  bat  makis  vs  foul,  bat  es 
with  hert,  wit  A  mouth,  and  dede.  H2  Pe 
synnes  of  be  hert  er  bir :  Ille  thogth. 
Hie  delyte.  Assent  til  synne.  Desire 
of  ille.  Wikked  wile.  Ille  suspeccyou;/. 
Vndeuocyouw.  If  pou  lat  pi  hert  any 
tyme  be  Idell,  with-outen  occupacioun* 
of  be  luf  and  be  loouyng  of  god.  He 
drede,  He  luf.  Errour.  Flesshly  affec- 
ciouw  til  frendis  or  til  other  bat  bou 
lufs.  Ioy  of  any  mans  Ille-fare,  whethir 
bai  be  enemyse  or  nane.  Despite  of 
pourtf  or  of  synfull  men.  To  honours 
Ryche  men  for  pair  rychesse.  Vnconable 
Ioy  of  any  wordis3  of  vanyte.  Sorow 
of  other  mens  wele-fare.  Vnthool- 
modenes.  P^rplexite,  pat  es  doute 
whate  es  at  do,  what  nogth — For  ilke 
a  man  agth  for  [to]  be  sekir  what  he 
sal  do  and  what  he  sal  leeue.  Obsty- 

1  On  the  margin:  4  bene  dispommt  hominem. 

2  o.  m.  peccata  cordis.     3  r.  worldis,  om.  of. 


of  lesse.  of  so.  most  luf.  waneande.  dysposed  bath  in  saule  &  body, 
thyng  om.  bo  tob«-,  qwat  thyng.  makes,  be  thryd  qwhat  thynghaldes.  drawes 
hym.  orden.  goddes.  11  And  I  answer  to  bo  fyrst  &  say  bat  synne  fyles  a  maw 
and  wittou  at  we  syn  in  thr*  thynges  bat  m.  v.  f.  before  god.  &  mouth  &  dede. 
bo.  are  bise.  Ille  thoghtes.  Ill  delites,  Assentys  to  s.  bi  thoght  of  {n  h^te. 
of  bo  luf  of  god  &  loouyng  of  hym.  Ill  luf  om.  to  bi  frendes.  to.  lofes. 
in  any  mens.  enmy  or  none.  pore,  per  ryches.  Vnconabul.  any  worldes  v. 
Sorow  (corr.:  scorne)  of  ho  worlde.  at  do.  &  om.  a  man  om.  aw  to  be  syker. 


22 


Richard  Rolle  s  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

ill.  /  noy  to  do  gude.  /  anger   to  serue 
god.  /  sorow  pat  he  dyd  na  mare  ill,  / 
or  pat  he  dyd  noght   pat  luste  /  or  pat 
will  of  his  flesche  /  pe  whilk  he  myght 
haue    done.  /  vnstabylnes    of    thoght.  / 
pyne  of  penance.  /  ypocrisy.  /   Me   to 
plees  to !  men,  /  drede  to  dysplees  pam.  / 
schame  of  gude  dede,  /  ioy  of  ill  dede.  / 
Synguler   witt.     couaytyse    of   honoure, 
or    of  dignite,    or   to    be   halden    better 
pan   other,    or  rycher,    or  fayrer,    or   to 
be  mare  dred.    vayne  glory  of  any  godes 
of    kynde,    or   of  happe,     or    of  grace. 
Schame  wz't/z  pore  frendes,  pryde  of  pi  1 
riche    kynne,    or   of  gentyl — for  all  we 
er    ilike    fre    be-for   gods   face,     bot    if 
owre  dedes   make  any    better   or    wers 
pan    other,     despyte    of  gude    counsell, 
&  of  gude  techynge.  //  A  synnes  of  pe 
mowthe,    er    thir:    To  swere  oft-syth.   / 
forsweryng.     sclaunder    of   Criste    /    or 
of  any   of  his   halows.  /  To  neven  his 
name    wz't/z-outen   reverence.   agayn-sai- 
yng2,    and  strife,   agayne  sothfastnes.  / 
grotchyng  agayns  god,  /  for  any  angwys, 
or  noy,   or  tribulaciou/z   /    pat  may  be 
fall    \n    erth.   /  to    say    goddes    seruys 
vndeuowtly  /  &  wz't/z-outen  reu^ence.  / 
Bakbityng.  /   flateryng.  /  lesyng.  /  mis- 
saiyng.  /  wariyng.  /  defamyng.    /   flyt- 
yng.  /  manasyng.  /  sawyng  of  discorde.  / 
treson.   /   fals  wytnes.    /    ill  cownsell.  / 
hethyng.    /   vnboxumnes   with   worde.  / 
to  turne  gude  dedes  to  ill,  /  for  to  gar 
pam   be    halden   ill    pat   dose    pam —  / 
We  aght  to  lappe  oure  neghboure  dedes 
i»  pe  beste,    noght  in  be  warst.   /   ex- 
cityng  of  any  man  till  ire.  /  to  rep?rhende 
in  a  nother  /  pat   he  dose  hyw-self.   / 
1  al.  om.     2  a  overlined. 


Ms.  Harl.  C  285. 

nacyon  in  ille.  Noy  to  do  gud.  Angr<? 
to  smie  god.  Sorow  pat  he  did  na 
mar*  ille,  or  pat  he  did  nogth  pat  lust 
or  pat  wile  of  his  flesshe  pe  whilke  he 
mygth  haue  don.  Vnstablenesse  of 
thogth.  Pyne  of  penance.  Ipocrysy. 
Luf  to  pleese  men,  Drede  to  despleese 
paim.  Schame  of  gud  dede,  Ioy  of  ille 
dede.  Synguler  wite.  Couaytice  of 
honours  or  of  dignyte,  or  to  be  hal- 
dene  better  pan  other,  or  rycher  or 
fayrer,  or  to  be  mar^  drede.  Vayne 
glorye  of  any  guddw  of  kynde,  or 
of  happ,  or  grace.  Schame  of  pouer 
freyndis,  Pryde  of  ryche  kyne  or  of 
gentil  —  for  all  we  er  ilyke  fre  by  for 
goddis  face,  bot  if  our  dedis  make  any 
better  or  wers  pan  other.  Dispite  of 
gude  counsayll  and  of  gude  teechynge. 
i^T  Pe  synnes  of  pe  mouthe  er  pir :  To 
sweer  oft-sythes.  Forsweeryng.  Sklaun- 
deryng  of  Cryst  or  of  any  of  his  halwes. 
To  neeuen  his  name  with-outene  re- 
u^ence.  Gaynesayng  and  Stryf  agayne 
Suthfastnes.  Grucchyng  agaynes  god 
for  any  angwys  or  noy  or  trybulacyouw 
pat  may  bifale  in  erth.  To  say  goddis 
smiyse  vndeuoutely  and  with-outene 
reu^rence.  Backbytyng.  Flateryng. 
Leghyng.  Myssayng.  Werying.  De- 
ffamyng.  Flytyng.  Manasyng.  Sawyng 
of  Discorde.  Treeson.  Fals  wittenese. 
Ille  Counsayll.  Heethyng.  Vnboux- 
somnes.  Wz't/fc  word  to  turne  gud  dede 
to  ille,  ffor  to  ger  paim  be  haldene  He 
pat  duse  paim — Vs  agth  to  lapp  our 
negthbur  dedis  in  be  best,  nogth  in  pe 
werst.  Excytyng  of  any  man  til  Ire. 
To  reprehend  in  a  nother  pat  he  dose 
1  on  margin:  peccata  oris. 


s.  pat  he  nad  mar^  ille.  vnstabulnes.  dysplese.  honour  or  of  ryches  or  of 
dygnite.  to  om.  or  rycher  om.  to  om.  godes.  or  of  grace,  wz't/z  pore  frendes.  pi  om. 
gentel.  are  ylyke.  goddes.  dedes.  one  paw.  er  thir  om.  oft-syth.  For  sw. 
is  slawnder  of  Crist,  pat  es  to  neuew  h.  n. ;  or-halows  om.  reuerans.  Gay[n]say?zg. 
Grotchyng.  anguis.  pat  befalles.  vndeuotly.  Lesyng.  Wareyng.  Dyffamyng. 
Saghyng.  wz't/;  innoyes.  gode  dede.  genr.  dose,  we  aghe  to  lape.  to  In?,  in  om. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

vayne  speche.   /   mykel  speche.   /   fowle 
speche.  /  to    speke   ydell    wordes    /    or 
wordes    pat    er  na    nede.     /     rusyng.    / 
polysyng    of    wordes.    /    defendyng    of 
synne.  /  criyng  of1  laghter.  /  movve  mak- 
yng   on    any    man.    /    to    syng    seculere 
sanges  &  lufe  pam.  /  to  prayse  ill  dedes.  / 
to  syng  mare  for  louyng  of  men  pan  of 
god.  //  Pe  synnes  of  dede,  er  pir:   Glo- 
tony.  /  letchery.  /  drunkynhede.  /  symony./ 
wytchecraft./  brekyn[g]  of  pe  haly  dayes./ 
sacrileghe.  /  to  receyue  goddes  body  in 
dedely    synw.    /    brekyng    of    vowes.    / 
apostasy.  /  dissoluciou«  in  goddes   ser- 
uys.  /  to  gyf  ensawmpyl  of  il  dede.     to 
hurt   any  man   in   his   body  /  or  in  his 
godes  /  or  in  hys  fame.  /  theft.  /  rauyn.  / 
vsur.  /  desayte.  /  sellyng  of  ryghtwysnes.  / 
to   herken   ill.  /  to    gyf  to  herlotes.  /  to 
withhalde    necessaries   fra  pi  body,  /  or 
to  gyf  it  to  owtrage.  /  to  begyn  a  thyng 
pat  es  abowen  oure  myght.  /  custom  to 
syn.  /   fallyng  oft  to1  syn.  /  fenyng   of 
mare  gude  pan  we  haue,   /  for  to  seme 
halyer  /  or  conander  /    or  wiser  /  j)an 
we  er.  /  to  halde  j>e  office  pat  we  suffice 
noght    till,    or    pat    pat   may    noght   be 
halden  with-outen  syn.  /  to  lede  karols.  / 
to   bryng   vp   new   gyse.  /  to  be  rebell 
agayne  hys  souerayns.  /  to  defoule  pam 
pat   er   lesse.   /  To   syn  in  syght,   /  in 
heryng,  /  in  smelly  ng,  /  in  towchyng,  / 
in  handelyng,/  In  swellyng;  /  In  gyftes,  / 
In    wayes,   /  sygnes,   /  bydynges,    writ- 
ynges.    /  To   receyue    |)e   circumstance, 
pat  er :  Tyme,  /  stede,  /  maner,  /  nowm- 
ber,   /  person,  /  dwellyng,  /   conyng,    / 
i  al.  in. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

hym-self.    Vayne  speche,  Mikel  speche, 
fole  spefchje1.  To  spe[k]e2  Idele  wordis 
or   wordes    pat    er    na    nede.      Rosyng. 
Polysyng    of    worddes.      Defendyng    of 
synne.     Crying  in  Laghter.    Mow  mak- 
yng    on   any    mane.      To    syng    seculer 
sanges    awd   luf   paim.     To    prayse   ille 
dedis.      To    syng    mare    to    loouyng   of 
men  pan  of  god.  5J3  Pe  synnes  of  dede 
er  pir:    Glotony.     Litcheiy.      Drunken- 
hed.    Symony.    Wytchecraft.     Breekyng 
of  pe  haly  days.    Sacrilege.    To  receyfe 
goddis  body  in  dedly  synne.    Breekyng 
of  wowes.     Apostasy.      Dissolucyon    in 
goddis    scruyse.      To    gif   ensampile    of 
ile  dedes.    To  hurt  any  man  in  his  body, 
or  in  his  guddis,   or  in  his  fame.    Theft. 
Rauyne.     Vsur^.     Deceyte.     Sellyng  of 
rygthwysenes.     To  herken   ille.    To  gif 
to    herlot^.      To    withhald    necessaryse 
fra    hi    body,    or  to  gif  it  outrage.     To 
bygyne    a    thyng    pat    es    abouene    our 
mygth.     Couslom    to    syn.     Fallyng   oft 
in  synne.    Fenyng  of  mare  gud  pane  we 
haue,     ffor  to  seme  halier,  or  conander, 
or  wyser  pan  we  er.    To  hald  pe  office 
pat  we  suffice  nogth  tille,  or  pat  may4 
nogth  be  haldene  with-outene  syne.    To 
lede  Carols.     To   bryng  vp   new  gyses. 
To    be    Rebelle    to  his  soutraynes.     To 
defoule    paim    pat   er   lesse.     To  synne 
in   sygth,    In   heryng,    In  smellyng,  In 
touchyng,  In  handdellyng,  In  schewyng; 
In    giftw,    in    ways,    signes,    bydynges, 
wrytynges.  To  Receyf  pe  Circumstance, 
pat   er   Tyme,    Stede,    Maner,  Nombre, 
P^rsone,   Dwellyng,     Conyng,5  Eld:  pir 

i  Ms.  speke.      2  Ms.  speche.     «  on  margin : 
peccata  opms.     «  Ms.  we  may.     5  Ms.  Comyng. 


foule  sp.  Rosyng.  Polyshyng.  of  synne  om.  in  1.  for  louyng.  of  po  dede 
are  thyse.  Letchery.  Dronkenhede.  voues.  ensaumpel.  dedes.  gode.  Kyg 
wysenesse.  necessaries  fro  po  b.  loom,  is  ou^r  myght.  Custome.  eft  in.  teynyng. 
holyer.  cownander  ban  we  are  or  wyser.  pe  om.  not  suffice  to.  or— karol>  om. 
gyse.  to  h.  suffraynes.  es  lesse  pan  he.  handelyng,  In  swoloynge.  wayes,  In  signes, 
In  tokens,  byddynges.  wrytynges  om.  po  c/rcumstances,  pat  es  to  say  po  tyme, 
po  st.,  po  m.,  pe  n.,  po  p.,  po  d.,  po  kuwnyng,  po  elde. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

elde :  /  }>ir  makes  pe  syn  mare  or  lesse. 
to  couayte  to  syn  or  he  be  temped,  to 
cowstreyne  hym  till  syn.  //  Other  many 
syns  par  er  of  omission,  pat  es,  of  leuyng 
of  gude  vndone :  when  men  leues  pe 
gude  pat  pai  suld  do :  Noght  thynkand 
on  god,  /  ne  dredand,  /  ne  louand  hym,  / 
ne  thankand  hym  of  his  benefices.  /  to 
do  noght  all  pat  he  doos  for  goddes 
lufe.  /  to  sorow  noght  for  hys  syn  as 
he  sulde  do.  /  to  dispoos  hym  noght  to 
receyue  grace.  /  And  if  he  haue  taken 
grace,  to  vse  it  noght  als  hym  aght,  / 
ne  to  kepe  it  noght.  /  to  *  turne  noght  at 
pe  inspiracion  of  god.  /  to  conform  e 
noght  his  will  to  gods  will,  to  gyf 
noght  entent  till  his  prayers,  /  bot  rabill 
on,  /  &  rek  neuer  bot  pai  be  sayde.  / 
to  do  necligently  pat  he  es  bownden 
till,  thorow  a  vowe,  /  or  comawnded,  / 
or  es  enioynde  \n  penance.  /  to  draw 
on  lengh  pat  es  at  do  sone.  /  hauand 
na  ioy  of  his  neghbur  prophet  als  of 
his  awne;  noght  sorowand  for  his  ill 
fare.  /  stawdand  noght  agayne  tempta.- 
cions.  /  forgifand  noght  pam  pat  base 
done  hym  harme.  /  kepand  noght 
trouth  to  his  neghbur,  als  he  walde 
pat  he  dyd  till  hy m ;  /  and  yheldand 
hym  noght  a  gude  dede  for  a  nother, 
if  he  may.  /  Amendand  noght  pam  pat 
synnes  be-fore  his  ene.  /  peesand  noght 
stryues.  /  lerand  noght  pam  pat  er  noght 
conand.  /  cowfortand  noght  pam  pat  er 
\n  sorow  /  or  in  sekenes  /  or  in  pouert  / 
or  in  penance  /  or  in  pryson.  /  fir 
synnes ,  &  many  other,  makes  men 
i  Ms.  tu. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

makis  pe  synne  mare  or  lesse.  To 
couayte  to  syne  ar  he  be  temped.  To 
constreyne  hym1  to  synne.  ^f  2  Other 
many  synnes  er  par  of  omyssyouw,  pat 
es  of  leeuyng  of  gud  vndone :  When 
men  leeues  pe  gud  pat  pai  suld  do ; 
nogth  thynkand  on  gode,  ne  dredand, 
ne  lufande  hym,  ne  thankand  hym  of 
his  benefyces.  To  do  nogth  al  pat  he 
dose  for  goddis  luf.  To  sorow  nogth 
for  his  synne  als  he  suld  do.  To  dispose 
hym  nogth  to  receyf  grace,  And  if  he 
haf  taken  grace,  to  vse  it  nogth  als  hym 
agth,  ne  to  kype  it  nogth.  To  turne 
nogth  at  pe  Inspiracioun  of  gode.  To  con- 
forme3  nogth  his  wile  to  goddis  wile.  To 
gif  nogth  entent  til  his  prayers,  bot  rable 
on  and  reke  neu^f  bot  at  pai  be  sayd. 
To  do  necligently  pat  he  es  halden  til 
thurgth  a  vowe  or  comandement ,  or  es 
enioynt  in  penance.  To  drawe  on 
lenth  at  es  at  do  son.  Hafand  na 
ioy  of  his  neighbur  profyte  als  of 
his  awene,  Sorowand  nogth  for  his  ille- 
far^.  Standand  nogth  agayne  tempta- 
cions.  Forgifand  nogth  paim  pat  haf 
don  hym  harme.  Kepand  nogth  trouth 
to  his  negthbur  as  he  wald  he  dede  to 
hym,  awd  yheldand  hym  nogth  a  gud 
deide  for  another  if  he  may.  Amendand 
nogth  paim  pat  synnes  bi-for  his  eghen. 
Peesand  nogth  stn'fes.  Lerand  nogth 
paim  pat  er  vnconand.  Confortand 
nogth  paim  pat  er  in  sorow,  or  in 
sekenes,  or  in  pouert,  or  in  penance,  or 
in  pryson.  Pir  synnes,  and  many  other, 
makes  men  foule. —  ^[  Pe  thynges  pat 

1  overlined.     2  on  margin:  peccata  omissionis. 
3  Ms.  conferme. 


po  mare  or  po  lesse.  couet.  are.  he  om.  tempud.  ar^  per,  synnes  of  o., 
pat  is  to  leue  gode  vndone;  when — gude  om.  men  inst.of  pai.  Noght  th.  on  god 
ne  doande  po  loouyng  to  god  ne  dredande  god  ne  lufande  hym.  benefice,  sake, 
als.  has  taken,  as.  ne  kep^.  ate  i.  cowforme.  gyf  not.  bot  rebell  &  rekkes  neu^ 
how  pei  be  sayde.  is  halden.  be  a  vowe  or  be  a  cowmandement.  es  om.  enioyned. 
lengh.  pat  es  to.  profet.  his  aghe.  Sorowand  noght  of.  ham  pat  has.  trewth. 
als.  pat  he  did  wz'tfc  hym.  &  ^eldawde  noght  hym.  pam  om. ;  pat  he  synnes; 
before  his  ene  om.  Peffand.  stryf.  pam  pat  er  om.  vncownande.  are  soroful.  pise. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

2  foule. —  //  Pe  thynges  p&t  clenses  vs  of 
-pat  filth,  er  thre,  agaynes  {)ase  thre 

1  maners  of  synnes.  //  Pe  fyrst  es :   sorow 
of  hert:  agayne  be  syn  of  thoght.    Ant 
it*    behoues    be    p^rfite:     bat   p0u  will 
neuer   syn   mare.      And   bat   b0u    haue 
sorow   of  all    bi    synnes.     And    bat  all 
ioy  &  solace,  bot  of  god  &  in  god,  be 

2  put    out    of    bi    hert.   /    Pe    toper    es: 
schryft   of   mouth:    agayn    be    syn    of 
mouth.     And  bat  salle  be  hasty,    witA- 
outen     delaying.      Naked,     w*tA-outen 
excusyng.     Hale,   w*tA-owten  partyng: 
Als  forto  tell  a  syn  till  a  preste,  &  a  nother 
till  another.    Say  all  pat  bow  wate    till 
ane:  or  els  bi  schryft  es  noght  worth.  // 

3  Pe  third  es  :    satisfaction :  Pat  has  thre 
partyes :  Fastyng,  Prayer,  &  Almos-dede. 
Noght   anly   to   gif   pore   men   mete   & 
drynk  :  bot  for  to  forgyf  bam  bat  dose 
be  wrange,  &  prai  for  pam;  /  and  en- 
forme   bam   how   bai  sail  do  bat  er  in 

3  poynt  to  perisch. —  //  For  be  thyrd 
thyng,  f><m  sail  wyt  J5a/  dennes  behoues 
be  keped  in  hert,  $  in  mouth,  $  m 

1  werk.   I    Clennes   of  hert,    thre  thynges 
a  kepes:    Ane  es,   waker  thoght  &  stabel 
b  of  god.     A  nother  es,    bisynes  to  kepe 

bi    fyue    wittes;    sa    bat  all    be   wyked 

styryngs   of   bam   be   closed   out  of   be 

c  flesche.  /    Pe    third,   honest  occupacion 

2  and    pn?phetabyll.  //  Atswa,  dennes  of 
a  mouth,  kepes  thre  thynges :  Ane  es,  pat 

bow  vmthynk  be  before,  or  pou  speke. 

b  A   nother  es,   pat  b0u  be  not  of  mikel 

speche,  but  of  litel;   &  nawly  ay  til  bi 

hert  be  stabeld  in  be  luf  of  Ihmi  Cryst: 

i  al.  J>at? 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

clenses  vs  of  bat  fi[l]th  er  thre,  Agaynes 
base  thre  maners  of  synnes.  U  Pe  first 
es  Sorow  of  hert,  agayne  be  syne  of 
thogth;  and  bat  be-houes  be  so  parfite 
pat  pou  be  in  ful  wile  neuer  to  syne 
mar^;  and  at  bou  haf  sorow  of  alle  bi 
synnes;  and  at  al  ioy  and  solace,  bot 
of  god  and  in  god,  be  pute  out  of  pi 
hert.  ^f  Pe  tother  es  Schrift  of  mouth, 
agayne  pe  synne  of  mouthe ;  and  pat 
sal  be  hasty  with-outene  delayinge, 
nakede  wi'tA-outene  excusyng,  and  en- 
tier  with-outen  partyng:  als  for  to  tell 
a  synne  til  a  prest  and  another  til 
another.  Say  all  pat  pou  wat  til  ane 
or  al  es  nogth  worth.  ^  Pe  thride  es 
Satisfaccyoun  ;  pat  has  thre  partis :  Fast 
yng,  Prayer,  and  Almus-dede.  Nogth 
anly  to  gif  poueer  men  mete  and  drynke, 
bot  for  to  forgif  bairn  bat  dose  be 
wrange,  and  praye  for  paim,  and  en- 
fourme  paim  how  pai  suld  do  pat  er 
in  poynt  to  perisse.  —  If  For  pe  thrid 
thywge,  pou  sal  witte  pat  clennes  bi- 
houes  be  kepide  In  hert,  and  in  mouth, 
and  in  werke.  Clennes  of  hert  thre 
thynges  kepis:1  Ane  es  waker  thogth 
a»d  stable  of  gode.  Another  es  bisenes 
to  kipe  be  fyue  wites,  swa  bat  all  be 
wicked  stirynge  be  closede  out  of  bi 
flesshe.  Pe  thrid  es  honest  occupacyoun 
and  profitable.  ^  Also  clennes  of  mouth 
kepis  thre  thynges:2  Ane  es  at  pou 
vmthynke  pe  bifoor  ar  pou  spek^.  An 
other,  bat  bou  be  nogth  of  mykele 
speche  bot  of  litele,  and  namly  ay  til 
bi  hert  be  stabled  in  be  luf  of  Ihesu, 

1  o.  m.  Tr/a  seruawt  mundiciaw  cordw. 

2  o.  m.  Trz'a  muwdiciaw  oris. 


thyng.  fylth.  are.  pew  thre.  agaynes.  &  bat.  so  om.,  be  in  ful  om.,  to  om. 
more.  &  bat.  all  om.  &  bat.  i.  &  s.  be  put  out  of  hys  herie  bot  onely  of  god; 
and  in  god  om.  Pe  secunde.  agaynes  bo  sywnes.  and  pat  salle  be  om.  delayng. 
nakyd.  &  hole,  and  om.  til  one  or  all  pi  scryft  es.  thryd.  pfl;tys.  a Imou 
dede.  not.  pore,  and  prai  for  pam  om.  sal  do.  are.  perysch.  wete.  kepud. 
Ane  es  stabul  thoght  in  god  (waker  om.).  kep*  pi.  so.  wykkud  sterynges  o 
pam.  thrid  es.  profitabul.  bat  bou.  ar.  es  om.  stabulde.  god  Jh«u. 


26 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.   64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

swa  pat  pe  thynk  pat  fxm  lokes  ay  on 
hym,  whether  p0u  speke  or  noght.  Bot 
swilk  a  grace  may  p0u  noght  haue  in  pe 
fyrst  day  ;  hot  wz'U  lang  trauell,  &  grete 
bysines  to  lof  hym  wz't/z  custom,  so 
pat  pe  egh  of  pi  hert  be  ay  vpwarde, 

c  sail  p0u  [com  par-till.  /  Pe  thyrd :  pat 
p#u  for  nathyng,  ne  for  na  mekenes, 
lye  on  any  man.  For  ilk  a  lee  es  syn, 
&  il ,  &  noght  goddes  will.  The  thar 
noght  tell  all  pe  soth  ay,  bot  if  pow 
will.  Bot  al  lees  hate.  Yf  f)0u  say  a 
thyng  of  pi  self  pat  semes  pi  louyng: 
&  pou  say  it  to  pe  louyng  of  god  and 
help  of  other,  p0u  dos  noght  vnwisely, 
for  pou  spekes  sothfastnes.  Bot  if  p<?u 
will  haue  oght  pryue :  tel  it  til  nane 
bot  swylk  ane,  pat  p0u  be  syker  pat  it 
sulde  noght  be  schewed  bot  anly  til  pe 
louyng  of  god,  of  wham  es  all  gudenes, 
&  pat  makes  son!  better  pan  oper,  and 
gifes  pam  special  grace,  noght  anely 
for  pam-self,  bot  alswa  for  pam  pat 
wil  do  wele  after  paire  ensawmpell.  // 

3    Clennes    of  werk,    thre    thynges    keps : 

a  Ane  es,  a  by  si  thoght  of  dede — For  pe 
wyse  man  says:  »Vmbethynk  pe  of  pi 
last  endyng:  and  p#u  sail  noght  syn.« 

b  Another:  fle  fra  ill  felyschypp,  pat  gyfs 
mare  ensawmpel  to  luf  pe  worlde  pan 
god,  erth  pan  heuen,  filth  of  body  pan 

c  clennes  of  saule.  //  Pe  third  es :  tem 
perance  8f  discrecion  z'n  mete  fy  drynk : 
pat  it  be  nowther  til  owtrage,  ne  beneth 
skilwys  sustinance  for  pi  body.  For 
both  comes  til  an  ende :  owtrage,  & 
ouer-mykel  fastyng:  for  nowther  es  gods 
will  —  &  pat  many  wil  noght  wene,  for 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

swa  pat  pe  thynk  pat  pou  lokes  ay  on 
hym  whether  pou  speke  or  nogth.  Bot 
swylke  a  grace  may  pou  nogth  haue  on  pe 
first  day,  bot  with  lang  trauayl  and  grete 
bisynes  to  luf  and  with  costome,  swa  pat 
pe  eghe  of  pi  hert  be  ay  vpward :  pan 
sal  pou  come  par-til.  Pe  thrid,  pat  pou 
for  na  thyng  ne  for  na  mekenes  legthe  on 
any  mane — for  ilke  a  leghe  es  synne  and 
ille  and  nogth  at  goddis  wile.  Pe  thar 
nogth  telle  al  pe  south  ay  bot  if  pou  wil ; 
bot  al  leghes  hate.  If  pou  say  athyng 
of  pi  self  pat  semes  pi  loouyng,  and 
pou  say  it  to  pe  loouyng  of  god  and 
help  of  o\)er,  pou  duse  nogth  vnwysely, 
for  pou  spekes  southfastnes.  Bot  if  pou 
wil  haue  any  preue  loouyng  l,  tele  it  til 
nane  bot  swilk  ane  pat  pou  be  sekir 
pat  it  sal  nogth  be  schewed  bot  anely 
to  pe  loouynge  of  gode  of  wham  es  all 
gudnese,  and  pat  makes  sum  better  pan 
other ,  and  gifs  paim  special  graces, 
nogth  anely  for  paim-self  bot  alswa 
for  paim  pat  wile  do  wele,  til  paire  en- 
sampil.  ^[  Clennes  of  werk2  thre  thynges 
kepis  :  Ane  es  assiduele  thogth  of  pi  dede 
— for  pe  wyseman  says  :  »Vmbethynke 
pe  of  pi  last  endynge  and  pou  sal  noth 
syn«.  Another :  fle  fra  ille  felischipe 
pat  gifs  mar£  ensampile  to  luf  pe  werld 
pan  god,  pe  erth  pan  heeuene,  filthe  of 
bodye  pan  clennes  of  saul.  ^[  Pe  thrid  es 
temperance  and  discrecion  in  mette  and 
drynke,  pat  it  be  nother  till  outrage,  ne  by- 
neethen  skylwys  sustynance  of  pe  body. 
For  bath  comes  til  ane  endyng:  outrage 
and  ouer-mykele  fastyng  —  For  nother 
es  goddis  wile ;  and  pat  wil  many  nogth 
1  al.  om.  2  o.  m.  Tria.  opetis. 


so.  on.  trauel  &  bysynes  of  Ihmi  &  vttih  custome  of  po  egh  of.  so  sal.  thrid 
es.  for — ne  om.  legh.  legh.  and  il  om.  at.  po  soth.  bot  hate  alle  leghes.  for 
po  louyng.  dose,  any  priuey ;  loouyng  om.  war^  siker.  sulde  not.  onely  to.  paw 
inst.  of  som.  grace,  also,  for  pair  ensampell.  wark.  kepes.  assiduele  th.  of  po  dede. 
vmthynke.  And  anop^r  es.  fro.  felaschip^.  lof.  Erth,  pe  om.  penne.  &  in  d. 
to  outrage,  be-neth.  of  body.  both,  endyng.  is.  And  many  wil  (pat  om).. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

noght  bat  man  may  say.  /  Yf  p0u  take 
sustenance  of  swilk  gude  als  god  sendys 
for   f)e    tyme   &    pe   day,  what  it  be,  I 
owt-take    na  maner  of  mete  pat  cristen 
men    vses,     vfiih    discrecion   &    mesur : 
p0u  dose  vvele,  for  sa  dyd  Criste  \\ym- 
self,  &  hys  apostels.  /  Yf  p0u  leue  many 
metes   pat   men    has ;    noght    dispysand 
pe  mete    pat   god  has  made  til  mawnes 
helpe,    hot   for  pe  thynk  pat    pmi  hase 
na  nede  parof:    p0u  dose  wele,    If  j)0u 
se  pat  pow  ert  stalworth  to  serue  god, 
&  pat  it  brekes  noght  pi  stomake.    For 
if  p0u  haue   broken   it  w;'t^   our^-mikel 
abstynence,  the  es  reft  appetyte  of  mete; 
and  oft  sal  p0u  be  in  qwathes,   als  p0u 
war    redy    to    gyf    pe    gast.      And    w*'t 
|)0u   wele,    p0u  synned  in  pat   dede.  // 
And  p0u  may  not  wilt  sone  whethir  pi 
abstinence    be    agayne  be,   or   viilh   pe. 
For  pe  tyme  p<m  ert  ^ong ,    I  rede  pat 
p0u   etc  &  drynk,  better  &  war,    als  it 
comes,   pat  p<?u  be  noght  be-gylt.    And 
after-warde ,     when     p0u     has     proued 
many    thynges,    &   oner-  cowmen   many 
tewptacions,  &  knawes  betUr  pi-self  & 
god  pan  p<m  dyd:    pan,    if  p0u  se  pat 
it  be  at  do,   p0u  mai  take  til  mare  ab 
stinence.    And  whils  p0u  may  do  pryue 
penance  ,    pat    al    men  thar  noght  wyt. 
Ryghtwysnes  es  noght  al  i»  fastyng,  ne 
in    etyng:    Bot  p0u  ert  ryghtwys,  if  all 
ilyke  be  to  be  despyte  £  louyng,  pouert 
&   rytches,    hunger  &  nede,  als  delytes 
&    dayntes.      If    j)0u    take    pir    \wtA   a 
lowyng  of  god:   I  halde  pe  blyssed,  & 
hee   before  Ihwu.     Men    pat   comes    til 
be,    pai  luf   pe  for  pai  se  pi  grete  ab- 
stinews,  &  for  pai  se   pe  enclosed :   Bot 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

wene,  ffor  nogth  pat  man  may  say.    If 
pou   take  sustynance  of  swylke  gud  als 
god  sendes  for  pe  tyme  and  pe  day,  what 
it  be,  I  out-tak  [na]  *  maner  of  mete  pat 
crystend  men  vses — with  discrecyon  and 
mesun?,  pou  duse  wele ;  ffor  so  did  Cryst 
hym-self  and  his  Apostels.    If  pou  leeue 
many  metes  pat  men  has  ;  nogth  dispisand 
pe  met  pat  god  has  mad  til  mans  help, 
bot  for  be  thynke  f)at  pou  has  na  nede 
parof,  pou  duse  wele,  If  pou  se  pat  pou 
ert  stalward  to  smie  god  awd  at  it  bree- 
kes  nogth  pi  stomake.    For  if  pou  haue 
broken  pat  \vi\.h  ouer-mykel  abstynence, 
pe  es  reft  appityte  of  mete,  and  oft  sal 
pou  be  in  qwaythes,    als  pou  war  redy 
to   gif   pe    gaste.     And    wite    pou    wele 
pou    synned    in    pat    dede.      And    pou 
may   nogth    wite    son    whether    pi    ab 
stynence   be   agayne   or  with  be.     For- 
pi,    to-while  pou  ert  yhung,    I  red  pat 
pou  etc  awd  drynke  better  and  wan?2  als 
it    comes,    pat   pou   be    nogth   bygyled. 
And  afward,   when  pou  has  proued  many 
thynges  and  ouer-comen  many  tempta- 
cyons  and  knawys  |)i-self  and  god  better 
pan  pou    dose   now:  pan,  if  pou  se  at 
it  be  at  do,    pou  may  take  be  til  mare 
abstynence.      And    whils    pou    may    do 
pryue  penance,  pat  all  men  thar  nogth 
wite.    Rygthwy[s]nes  es  nother  in  Fast- 
ywg  ne  in  eetynge  :  Bot  pou  ert  rygth- 
wys  If  al  he-like3  be  to  be  Dispite  and 
Loouyng,  Poeuert  and  Rychesse,  Hunger 
and    nede   als   delites    and   dayntes.     If 
pou    tak  pir  with  a  loouyng  of  god,  I 
hald  pe  blyssed  and  hegh   byfor  Ihesu. 
Men    pat   comes    til  pe,    pai  luf  pe  for 
pai  se  pi  grete  abstynence  and  for  pai 
i  om.        2  Ms.  mar.        3  r.  i-lyke. 


men.  yf  pou  take  po  sustinance  for  po  tyme  &  po  day  of  swilk  gode  os 
god  sendes  pe  qwat  so  eu*r  it  be.  no  m'sten.  dos.  so.  lefe.  for  mawnes  h. 
fat  om.  ne  nede.  dose,  art  stalworth.  &  pa/,  not.  pat.  qwathes.  redy  om.  to 
s;elde  po  gast.  &  wittou.  agayw  pe  For-thi  qwhiles.  art  ^onge.  drenke. 
better  &  wer*.  aft«rwarde.  profet.  pi-self  &  god  bettwr.  dose  now.  pat  it. 
|>e  om.  and  po  qwiles.  ythar  not  w.  is  nother  in.  art.  If  all  be  to  pe  Ilyk 
d.  &  1.,  Pouert  als  Ryches.  byse.  a  om.  blyssud.  hygh.  to  be.  bei  loue. 


28 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

I  may  not  loue  pe  so  lyghtly,  for  oght 
pat  I  se  pe  do  withowten :  hot  if  pi 
wil  be  conformed  enterely  to  goddes 
will.  And  sett  noght  by  par  louyng 
ne  par  lackyng,  and  gyf  p0u  neuer  tale 
if  pai  speke  lesse  gode  of  pe  pan  pai 
dyd :  bot  pat  p0u  be  byrnander  in 
goddes  luf  pan  p<?u  was.  For  a  thyng 
warne  I  pe :  I  hope  pat  god  has  na 
perfyte  seruand  in  erth  w/t^-outen 
ennemyes  of  som  men — For  anely  wret- 
4  chednes  has  na  enmy.  //  Forto  draw  vs 
Jto.t  we  conforme  oure  will  till  goddes 

1  will:    er    thre    thynges.      Ane    es,    en- 
sawmpel   of  haly  men  |&  haly  wymen, 
pe    whilk    war   ententife,    nyght  &  day, 
to  serue  god  &  drede  hym,   and  luf  hym. 
And  we  folow  pam  in  erth,  we  mon  be  with 

2  pam  in  heuen.    Another  es,   pe  godenes 
of   oure  lorde,    pat  despises   nane,     bot 
gladly    receyues  all  pat    comes    till  hys 
mercy;   &  he  es    hamlyer  to   pam   pan 
brother    or   syster,    or    any    frende    pat 
pai   maste   luf,    or   maste   treystes    on.  / 

3  Pe    thyrd  es  :    pe  wonderfull  ioy   of   pe 
kyngdom    of  heuen,    pat   es   mare    pan 
tong  may   tell,   or   hert   mai  thynk,   or 
egh    may  se,    or   ere   may   here.     It  es 
swa   mykel,   pat,   als   in   hel   myght  na 
thyng  lyue   for   mykel  pyne,  bot  at  pe 
myght    of   god    suffers    paw    noght    to 
dye :    swa   pe  ioy  in  pe  syght  of  Ihtf.ru 
in  his  godhede  es  swa  mykel,    pat  pai 
inond    dye    for    ioy,    if   it    ne   war   his 
godenes ,    pat    will    pat    his    lou^rs    be 
lyuand  ay  in  blys :    als  his  ryghtwysnes 
wil  pat  al  pat  lufed  hym  noght,  be  ay 
lyuand  in  fyre,    pat  es  horribel  till  any 
man    at   thynk ,    loke  pen  what  it  es  to 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

se  pe  enclosed :  bot  I  may  nogth  looue 
pe  so  ligthly,  for  ogth  pat  I  se  pe  do 
with-outene,  bot  if  pi  wile  be  con- 
fourmed  entierly  to  goddis  wile.  And  set 
nogth  by  pair  loouyng  ne  pair^  lackyng, 
And  gif  pou  neeu^f  tale  if  pai  spek 
lesse  gud  of  pe  pan  pai  dide  :  Bot  pat 
pou  pe  brynnander  in  goddis  luf  pan 
pou  was.  For  of  a  thyng  I  warne  pe : 
I  hop  pat  god  has  na  parfyte  smiaunt 
in  erth  with-outene  enemys  of  sum  men — 
For  anely  wrycchedenes  has  nane  enemy. 
^f  For  to  draw  vs  pat  we  confourme 
our  wile  til  goddis  wile,  par  er  thre 
thyngs :  *  ^[  Ane  es  ensampil  of  haly  men 
awd  haly  women,  pe  whilk  war  ententife 
nygth  a«d  day  to  s^rue  gode  and  drede 
hym  and  luf  hym;  and  if  we  folow 
paim  in  erth,  we  moun  be  \\iih  paim 
in  heeuene.  ^[  Anop^r  es  pe  gudnes  of 
our  lord  pat  despises  nane ,  bot  gladly 
receyfs  all  pat  come  til  his  m^rcy,  and 
es  hamelier  to  paim  pan  brop^r  or 
sister  or  any  frende  pat  pai  maast  luf 
or  maast  traystes  on.  U  Pe  thrid  es : 
Pe  woundirfull  ioy  of  pe  kyngdome  of 
heeuene,  pat  es  mare  pan  tung  may 
telle  or  hert  may  thynke  or  eghe  may 
se  or  eer  may  heer.  It  es  so  mykell 
pat,  als  in  hell  mygth  na  thyng  lyue 
for  mykel  pyne  bot  at  pe  mygth  of 
god  suffirs  paim  nogth  to  dye,  swa  pe 
Ioy  in  pe  sygth  of  Ihesu  in  his  gud- 
hede  es  so  mykell  pat  pai  mond  die 
for  Ioy,  If  it  ne  war  his  gudnes  pat 
wile  pat  his  lufars  be  lifand  ay  in  blysse, 
als  his  rygthwysnes  wile  pat  all  pat 
lufe  hym  nogth ,  be  ay  lifand  in  fyre, 
pat  es  horrible  til  any  man  at  thynke, 

1  o.  m.  Trza  conformant  ho;«z'»es   voluwtati 
dei. 


loue  pe  om.  enterly.  sette.  ne  be  per  lakkyng.  pen.  bot  pan  pou  be 
brennandwr.  of  o  thyng  warn  I.  no.  parfyte  om.  smiande.  in  erth  om. 
enmyte.  sum  man.  none.  to.  \>er  are.  thynges.  holy  m.  &  wywmew.  was.  and  luf 
hym  om.  And  yf.  mon.  receyues.  comes,  he  om.  til  paw.  mast  loue.  trzstes. 
tunge.  or  egh  may  se  om.  or  here  m.  hen?,  so.  lyfftf.  bot  pat  po  m.  suffres. 
so.  godhede.  so.  sulde  dyghe.  lufars.  lifand  om.  lufed.  lyfande.  horrybull. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  287. 

Lok  pan  what  [it]  es  to  feele  !  Bot  pai  pat 
wile  nogth  thynk  it  and  drede  it  Now, 
pai  sal  suffre  it,  eeumnare.  *[f  Now  has 
pou  herd  how  pou  may  dispoose  pi 
life  and  rewle  it  to  goddis  wile.  Bot 
I  wate  wele  pat  pou  desires  to  here 
sum  speciale  poynt  of  pe  luf  of  Ihesu 
Cryst,  and  of  Contemplatif  lif  pe  whilke 
pou  has  takene  pe  'til  at  mens  sigth. 
Als  I  haue  grace  and  conyng  I  wile 
lere  pe. 

AMORE  LANG  UEO.  fir  twa  wordis 

er   wrytene    in    pe   bok    of  luf,     or   pe 
sange  of  sanges — For  he  pat  mykel  lufs, 
hym   list  oft    syng    of  his   luf,    ffor   ioy 
pat    he    or   scho    has  when    pai  thynke 
on  pat  at  pai  luf,  namely  if  pair*  lufer 
be  trewe  and  lufand.  And  es  til  pe  Inglis- 
she  of  pis  twa  wordis:    I   languysshe 
for  lu  f.    Sere  men  in  erth  has  sere  giftw 
and  graces  of  god:   Bot  pe  special  gift 
of  pase    pat  ledis  solitary  life,    es  forto 
luf    Ihesu    Cryst.     Pou    says    me:    »A11 
men  lufs  hym  pat  haldes  his  comaunde- 
mentfr .«     South  it  es ;   bot  all  pat  kepis 
his  bedyng,   kipis   nogth    als  his  coun- 
sayll;   and  all  pat  dos  his  counsayll,  es 
nogth   als    ful-filled    of   be    swetenes  of 
his  lufe  ne  files  nogth  pe  fire  of  bryn- 
nand   luf   of  hert.     For-pi  pe  diuersite 
of  luf    makes    pe   diuersyte   of  halynes 
and    of   mede    in    heeuen.      Pe    Angels 
pat   er    brynnandest    in    luf,    er    nerrest 
gode.    Alswa  men  or  women  pat  maast 
haf  of  goddis  luf,   whethir  pai  do  pen- 
aunce  or  nane,  pai  sal  be  in  pe  hegthest 
degre    in    heeuene;    pai    pat  lufs    hym 
lesse,    In  pe   lagther  order.     If  pou  luf 

i  Title  in  Vernon :  Secunda  pars  libri, 

de  amore  langueo. 

harde.     til.     wate.     of  pe  luf  om.     kuwnyng. 

thyse  two  wordes  are  w.  in  po  boke  of  luf  pat  es  cald  po  sang  of  luf  or 
ho  s.  of  s.  lufs.  oft-syth.  pat  pat.  per  lufer.  &  pis  es  po  Inglys  of.  languis. 
gyfts.  of  pa  bat  ledes.  bot  al  mew.  kepes.  byddynges:  also  om.  co«sayles. 
kepes  hys  co»sayls  er.  also  om.  fulfyldc.  be  om.  feles.  brenaande.  f>o 
dkuratei.  and  om.  In  heuew  pe  a.  an?  brennandest.  are.  nerest.  Also. 
&  wymmew.  has.  be  in  p.  or  in  none,  po  heyghest.  lufs. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

fele.  Bot  pai  pat  will  not  thynk  it  & 
drede  it  now,  pai  sal  suffer  it  euer- 
mare.  Now  hase  pow  herd  how  p0u 
may  dispose  pi  lyfe,  and  rewle  it  to 
goddes  will.  Bot  I  vate  wele  pat  p<m 
desyres  to  here  some  special  poynt 
of  pe  luf  of  Ihesu  Criste,  &  of  con- 
templatyf  lyfe,  pe  whilk  p0u  hase  taken 
be  till  at  mens  syght.  Als  I  haue  grace 
&  kownyng,  I  will  lere  pe. 
Cam.  Vllm. 

A)More  langueo.    /   Pir  twa  wordes 
er   wryten    in    pe   boke  of  lufe,    pat  es 
kalled   pe  sang   of  lufe,    or  pe  sang  of 
sanges.  /  For  he  pat  mykel  lufes,  hym 
lyst  oft  sywg  of  his  luf,  for  Ioy  pat  he 
or    scho    hase   when    pai   thynk    on  pat 
pat    pai   lufe,    namely  if   pair  louer   be 
trew  &  lufand.  /  And  pis  es  pe  Inglisch 
of  thies  twa  wordes:    »I   languysch  for 
lufe«.  //  Sere  men  in  erth  has  sere  gyftes 
&  graces  of  god :  bot  be  special  gift  of 
pas  pat  ledes  solitary  lyf,  es  for  to  lufe 
Ihmi  Cr/ste.  /  Pow  says  me:    »all  men 
lufes   hym    pat    haldes    his    comawnde- 
mentes.«    Soth  it  es.     Bot  all   men  pat 
kepes  hys  byddyngs,    kepes   noght  also 
hys    cownsayle.      And    all    pot   dos   his 
cownsell,    er   noght   also    fulfyld    of  pe 
swetnes    of  his  lufe,    ne  feles  noght  pe 
fyre  of  byrnand  luf  of  hert.  /  Forpi,  pe 
diuersite  of  lufe,   makes  pe   diuersite  of 
halynes    &    of    mede.   /    In    heuen,    be 
awngels    pat    er    byrnandest  in  lufe,    er 
nerrest  god.1  /  Also  men  &  women  pat 
maste  has   of  goddes  lufe,  whether  pai 
do  penance  or  nane:   pai  sail  be  in  be 
heghest  degre    in   heuen ;    pai  pat  lufes 
i  Cf.  p.  50. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

hym  lesse,  in  pe  lawer  order.  If  p0u 
lufe  hym  mykel :  mykel  ioy  &  swetnes 
&  byrnyng  f)0u  feles  in  his  lufe,  pat  es 
bi  comforth  &  strengh,  nyght  &  day.  / 
If  bi  lufe  be  not  byrnand  in  hym : 
litel  es  bi  delyte.  For  hym  may  naman 
fele  in  ioy  &  swetnes,  bot  if  bai  be 
clene,  &  fylled  wzt#  his  lufe :  and  bar- 
till  sal  b0u  com  vfhh  grete  trauayle  in 
praier  &  thynkyng :  hauand  swilk  medi- 
tacions  bat  er  al  in  be  lufe  &  in  be 
louyng  of  god.  //  And  when  bou  ert  at 
bi  mete:  loue  ay  god  in  bi  thoght,  at 
ilk  a  morsel,  &  say  bus  in  bi  hert : 
1  Loued  be  pou  keyng,  fy  thanked  be  pou 
keyng,  fy  blyssed  be  pou  keyng,  Ihesu 
all  my  ioyng,  of  all  pi  giftes  gude:  pat 
for  me  spy  It  pi  bhtde ,  8f  died  on  pe 
rude%\  pou  gyf  me  grace  to  syng,  pe 
sang  of  pi  louyng.  /  And  thynk  it  noght 
anely  whils  b0u  etes :  bot  bath  before 
&  after,  ay  bot  when  b#u  prayes  or 
spekes.  Or  if  p<?u  haue  other  thoghtes 
bat  f)0u  has  mare  swetnes  in  &  deuocion, 
ban  in  base  bat  I  lere  be:  b#u  may 
thynk  [bam].  For  I  hope  pat  god  will  do 
swilk  thoghtes  in  bi  hert,  als  he  es 
payde  of,  &  als  f)0u  ert  ordaynde  for.  / 
When  h0u  prayes,  loke  noght  how  mykel 
f)0u  says,  bot  how  wele :  bat  be  lofe 
of  hi  hert  be  ay  vpwarde,  &  thy  thoght 
on  pat  b0u  sayes,  als  mykel  als  bow 
may.  /  If  h<?u  be  in  prayers  &  medita- 
cions  al  be  day :  I  wate  wele  bat  bou 
mon  wax  gretely  in  be  lufe  of  Ihmi 

i  Same   verse  in   Lay-Folks1  Mass-Book  ed. 
Simmons.        2  Ms.  rude,  o  overlined. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

hym  mykell,  mykel  Ioy  and  swetnes 
bou  felis  in  his  luf  bat  es  hi  comfort 
and  bi  strength  bath  nygth  and  day ; 
If  bi  luf  be  nogth  brynnand  in  hym, 
litele  es  hi  delite.  For  hym  may  na 
man  fele  in  Ioy  and  swetnes1  but  If  he 
be  clenne  and  fillid  with  his  luf.  And 
bar-til  saltow  come  with  gret  trauayll 
in  prayer  and  thankyng2,  hafand  swylke 
meditaciouws  bat  er  all  in  be  luf  and 
pe  loouyng  of  god.  And  when  bou  ert 
at  hi  meet,  looue  ay  god  in  bi  thogth 
at  ylke  a  morsell,  and  say  bus  in  bi 
hert:  »Looued  be  bou  kyng,  and 
thanked  be  bou  kyng,  and  blyssed  be 
bou  kyng,  Ihesu  all  my  ioying,  of 
all  bi  giftw  gude ,  bat  for  me  spylt  pi 
blode,  and  dyede  on  be  rode,  Pou  gif 
me  grace  to  syng  be  sang  of  hi  loou- 
yng.«  And  thynk  it  nogth  anely  whils 
bou  eettis,  bot  bath  bifoor  a;zd  after, 
ay  bot  when  bou  prayes  or  spekes;  or 
if  pou  haue  other  thoghtes  bat  bou  has 
mare  swetnes  and  deuocyon  In  ban  in 
base  bat  I  lere  be,  bou  may  thynk 
bairn.  For  I  hop  pat  god  wile  do 
swylke  thoghtes  in  pi  hert  als  he  es 
payed  of,  and  als  pou  ert  ordaynede. 
For  when  pou  prays,  loke  nogth  how 
mykell  pou  says,  bot  how  wele ;  pat  be 
luf  of  bi  hert  be  ay  vpward  and  pi 
thogth  on  bat  bou  says  als  mykel  als 
bou  may.  If  bou  be  in  prayers  and 
meditacyons  al  pe  day,  I  wate  wele  pat 
pou  mon  wax  gretly  in  be  luf  of  Ihesu 

1  Ms.  swestnes.        2  r.  thynkyng. 


bo  lawer.  m.  Ioy  &  brynnyng  &  swetnes  bou  fyndes  in  hys  luf  &  fels  hym 
bat  es  bi  c.  and  bi  Ioy  and  bi  strenth.  bath  om.  bei  be.  barto  sal  b<m  c.  thurgh. 
t.  &  prayer  &  thynkyng.  haueande.  an?.  in2  om.  art.  Loouyd.  thankyd  ...  my 
kyng.  loyng.  gode.  blode.  rode.  I»o  song  of  hi  1.,  My  lof  to  be  ay  spryng 
WftA-outen  any  feynyng.  not  a.  at  pi  mete  bot  both.  Or  om.  mar?  delit  in 
&  sw.  in  deuocion  ban  in  bat  bat.  th.  haw.  as,  is.  For  qwen.  art  ordeynt. 
prayes.  prayes  inst.  of  says,  bot  how  wele  it  is  sayde.  pe  egh  of.  as  pou. 
wote.  mone.  in  bo  lust  of  po  luf  of. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

Cryste,    &    mikel    fele    of   delyte,     and 
within  schort  tyme. 


Capitulum 

i  nr 

(  1  )Hre  degrees  of  lufe  I  sal  tell 
{DC  :  for  I  walde  pat  p<m  moght  wyn 
to  be  heest.  The  fyrst  degre  es  called 
insuperabel.  /  Pe  secund,  Insep-xtabel.  / 

1  Pe  thyrd  es  ,    syngulere.      Pi  luf  es  In- 
supztabel:    when   na  thyng   bat  es  con 
trary  til  gods  lufe  ,    ouer-comes  it  :    bot 
es  stalworth  ,  agayns   al   fandyngs  ;    and 
stabel,    whether    f)0u    be    in    ese    or   in 
angwys,   or  i«  hele  or  \n  sekenes  ;    swa 
bat    be    thynk    bat   bow   walde    noght, 
for  all  be  worlde  to  haue  it  with-owten 
ende,    wreth  god   any   tyme;    /    and  be 
war  leuer,    if  outher  sulde  be,  to  suffer 
al  be   pyne  &  waa    bat   myght  com  til 
any  creature,  or  b0u  wald  do  be  thyng 
bat  suld  mys-  pay  hym.  /  On  bis  maner 
sal  bi  lufe  be  Insuperabel,  bat  na  thyng 
may    downe    bryng    bot    spryngand    on 
heght.2  /  Blyssed  es  he   or  scho  bat  es 
irc  bis    degre:    bot  ^itt  er  bai  blyssedar 
bat    myght  halde    bis  degre,  &  wyn   in 

2  til  be  toper,  bat  es  Inseparabel.  //  In- 
sep&rabel  es    bi    lufe:    when   al  bi  hert, 
&  bi  thoght,   &  bi  myght,  es  swa  haly, 
swa  enterely,  and  swa  perfytely  festend, 
sett,  &  stabeld  \n  Ihe.ru  Cryste:    bat  bi 
thoght  comes  neuer  of  hym,  neuer  de- 
party  d  fra  hym,  outaken  slepyng;  /  and 
als  sone  als  p0u  wackens  ,   bi  hert  es  on 
hym,    sayand  :    Aue    maria,    or    Gloria 
tibi  domine,  or  Pa/er  nosier,    or  Mise- 

1  Similar  text,  though  differing  in  words, 
in  Ms.  Bodl.  938  fol.  188  Desire  of  \\\es\\  (bis 
is  be  X.  mater  of  be  pore  caitif);;  and  in  No.  3 
The  commandement  &c.  2  cf.  p.  79,  v.  n. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

Cryst  and  mykel  fele  of  delite,  and 
with-Ine  schort  tyme.  T!1  Thre  degrees 
of  luf  I  sal  telle  be:  For  I  wil  bat  bou 
mygth  wynne  to  be  hegthest.  ^j  Pe  fyrst 
degre  es  called  Insuperable.  ^[  Pe  secund 
Inseparable.  U  Pe  third  Singuler.  ^j  Pi 
luf  es  insuperable  when  na  thyng  pat 
es  contrary  til  goddis  luf  ouer-comes  it, 
bot  es  stalward  agayne  all  fandyngs, 
awd  stable ,  whether  bou  be  in  eese  or 
in  [anguys,  or  in  heele  or  in  sekenes; 
swa  bat  |)e  thynke  bat  bou  wald  nogth 
for  all  be  werld,  to  haue  it  with-outene 
ende,  wreth  god  ane  tyme,  and  be  war 
leeuer,  if  other  suld  be,  to  suffre  al  be 
pyne  and  be  wa  bat  mygth  come  til 
any  creature,  or  pou  wald  do  be  thyng 
bat  suld  mys-pay  hym.  On  pis  maner 
sal  bi  luf  be  Insuperable,  bat  na  thyng 
may  doun  bryng  bot  sprz'ngand  on  hegth. 
Blyssed  es  he  or  scho  pat  es  in  pis 
degree!  Bot  yhete  war  bay  blysseder 
bat  mygth  hald  bis  degre  and  wynne 
in  til  be  tothyr,  bat  es  Inseparable. 
^f  Inseparable  es  pi  luf  whenn  all  {n 
hert  and  bi  thogth  and  bi  mygth  es  so 
haly,  so  entierly  a;zd  so  parfytely  fest- 
ewd,  sete  and  stablede  in  Ihesu  Crz'st, 
bat  bi  thogth  comes  neeuer  of  hym, 
neeuer  departyd  fra  hym,  out-taken 
slepynge:  And  als  son  als  pou  wakkenes, 
bi  hert  es  on  hym,  sayand  Aue  Maria, 
or  Gloria  tibi  domine,  or  Pater 
nos  ter ,  or  Miserere  mei  deus  If  bou 
i  on  margin  :  Tres  gradus  amoris. 


fele  delite  (of  om.).  and  om.  degrese.  luff.  wil.  myght.  til  be  heighest. 
is.  thrid  es.  is  c.  to.  stalworth  agayn.  stabul.  or 2  om.  bo  worlde.  any 
tyme.  were  leuer.  ober.  suffur.  al  [)e  om.  be  om.  ar.  wolde.  insuperabul. 
ne  thyng  may  bryng  it  done  bot  ay  sp.  on  hyght.  Blessud.  ^it  war.  blessuder. 
&  come,  po  toper,  inseparabul.  swa  halyly  so  enterly  &  so.  festned.  stabuld. 
outakuw  slepawde.  alsone.  wakens.  sayand  pater  noster  or  Aue  maria  or 
Gloria  ....  or  Miserere  . . 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

rere  mei  deus  if  p0u  haue  bene  temped 
\n  pi  slepe ;  or  thynkand  on l  his  lufe,  & 
his  louyng,  als  pou  dyd  wakand.  When 
p<?u  may  na  tyme  forgete  hym,  what  sa 
p0u  dose  or  says :  pan  es  pi  lufe  In- 
separabel.  /  Ful  mykel  grace  haue  pai  pat 
es  in  pis  degre  of  lufe.  /  And  me  thynk, 
p0u  pat  hase  noght  els  at  do  hot  forto  lufe 
god,  may  com  partill  if  any  may  gete  it. 

//  Pe  thyrd  degre  es  heest,  &  maste 
ferly  to  wyn :  Pat  es  calde  Synguler, 
for  it  hase  na  pere.  /  Singuler  lufe 
es :  when  all  comforth  &  solace  es 
closed  owt  of  pi  hert,  hot  of  Ihesu 
Cryste  al-ane.  Other  ioy  lyst  it  noght. 
/  For  pe  swetnes  of  hym  in  pis  degre 
es  swa  cozwfortand,  &  lastand  in  his 
lufe,  sa  byrnand  &  gladand,  pat  he 
or  scho  pat  es  in  pis  degre,  mai  als 
wele  fele  pe  fyre  of  lufe  byrnand  in 
paire  saule,  als  p0u  may  fele  pi  fynger 
byrn,  if  p0u  putt  it  in  pe  fyre.  Bot 
pat  fire,  if  it  be  hate,  es  swa  delitabell 
&  wondyrful,  pat  I  kan  noght  tell  it. 
Pan  pi  sawle  ,es  Ihesu  lufand,  /  Ihesu 
thynkand,  /  Ih&m  desirand,  anly  in  pe 
couayties  of  hym  anedande,^  /  til  hyw 
syngand,  /  of  hym  byrnand,  /  in  hym 
restand.  Pan  pe  sange  of  louyng  &  of 
lufe  es  cowmen.  /  Pan  pi  thoght  turnes 
In  til  sang  &  in  til  melody.  //  Pan  pe 
behoues  syng  pe  psalmes,  pat  pou  be 
fore  sayde.  Pan  p0u  mon  be  lang  a- 
bowte  few  psalmes.  /  Pan  pe  wil  thynk 
pe  deed  swettar  pan  hony,  for  pan  p0u 
ert  ful  syker,  to  se  hym  pat  p0u  lufes. 
[Pan  may  pou  hardyly  say :  »I  languysch 
for  lufe.«j 3  Pan  may  p0u  say :  »/  slepe :  8f 

1  al.  om.     2  —  spirans.     3  om.  in  Dd. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

haue  bene  temped  in  pi  slepe,  or  thynk 
and  his  luf  and  his  loouyng  als  pou 
did  wakand.  When  pou  may  na  tyme 
forgete  hym,  what  so  pou  duse  or 
says,  pan  es  pi  luf  Inseparable.  Ful 
mykele  grace  haue  pay  pat  er  in  pis 
degre  of  luf!  And  me  thynk  pat  pou 
pat  has  nogth  ells  at  do  [but]  forto  luf 
god,  may  come  par-til,  if  any  may  it 
gete.  \  Pe  thred  degre  es  hegthest,  and 
maast  ferly  to  wynne :  Pat  es  Called 
singuler,  ffor  pat1  has  na  pier.  Singuler 
luf'2  es  when  all  Comforth  and  solace 
es  closed  out  of  pe  hert  bot  of  Ihesu. 
Cryst  anely.  Other  delyte  ne  other 
Ioy  list  it  nogth.  For  pe  swetnes  of 
hym  in  pis  degre  es  swa  comfortand 
and  lastand  in  his  luf,  swa  brynnand 
awd  gladand,  pat  he  or  scho  pat  es  in 
pis  degre,  may  als  wele  fele  pe  fyre 
of  luf  brynnand  in  pair  saule,  als  pou 
may  feile  pi  fynger  brynne  if  pou  pute 
it  in  pe  fyre.  Bot  pat  fyn?,  if  it  be 
hate,  es  so  delytable  awd  wondirfull 
pat  I  can  nogth  telle  it.  Pan  pe  saul  es 
Ihesu  lufand,  Ihesu  thynkand,  Ihmidesy- 
rand,  anely  in  couaytes  of  hym  hangand,  til 
hym  sygthand,  of  hym  brennand,  in  hym 
restand.  Pan  pe  sang  of  loouyng  and 
of  luf  es  comen.  Pan  pi  thogth  turnys 
in  to  sang  and  melody.  Pan  pe  bi- 
houes  syng  be  psalmes  pat  pou  byfore 
sayd.  Pan  pou  mon  be  lang  about  fa 
psalmes.  Pan  pe  wil  thynke  pe  deide 
swettar  pan  hony,  ffor  pan  pou  ert 
ful  sekyr  to  se  hym  pat  pou  lufs.  Pan 
may  pou  hardyly  say:  »I  languysshe 
for  luf. «  Pan  may  pou  say  :  »Islepandmy 
i  al.  it.  2  Ms.  lif. 


on  om.  haf  pei.  are.  pat  pou  pat.  not  elles  to  do  bot.  p^to.  gete  it. 
pe  thride  d.  es  singuler^  for  it  is  hyest  &  mast  ferly  to  wynne  to,  &  has  no  peenr, 
for- pi  it  hat  so.  comfort,  po  h^'t.  onely.  Olper  delite  ne  op^r  Ioy  lyst  it  none, 
swa  om.  in  om;  hys  luf  es  so  brennand.  degre  of  luf.  per  saule.  fele. 
brenne.  po  fyre.  fire  om.  it  es  so.  not.  po  s.  couetyse.  dwellande.  syghawde. 
pan  po  sang  of  Ioy  &  of  luf.  it  twmes  in  til  s.  &  in  til.  po  salmes.  mone.  fa. 
pan  wil  pe  thynke  pe  syker  of  luf,  for  panne  p0u  art  ful  syker.  pan  pou  may 
say  hardely  I  languis  for  luff;  pan  may  j)ou  say. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


33 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

my  hert  wakes.*  //  In  he  first  degr£  men 
may  say  »I  languysch  for  lufea  or  »me 
langes  in  lufe,«  &  in  he  tober  degre 
alswa,  /  ffor  languysyng  es,  when  men 
fayles  for  sekenes,  and  bai  hat  er  in 
hire  twa  degrees,  fayles  fra  al  |)e  couay- 
ties  of  his  worlde  &  fra  lust  &  lyk- 
yng  of  synful  lyfe,  &  settes  hair  entent 
£  hair  hert  to  he  lufe  of  god  —  for- 
bi  bai  may  say:  »/  languysch  for  lufe\« 
and  mykel  mare  hat  er  in  |>e  secund 
degre,  ban  in  he  fyrst.  Bot  he  sawle 
j)dtt  es  in  he  thyrd  degre,  es  als  byrn- 
and  fyre ,  and  as  he  nyghttyngale, 
hat  lufes  sang  &  melody,  &  fayles  for 
mykel  lufe ;  swa  hat  he  saule  es  [anely] 1 
cowforted  in  louyng  &  lufyng  of  god, 
and  til  he  dede  com,  es  syngand 
gastly  til  7^esw,  and  in  Zhesu,  and 
.Mes«,  noght  (bodyly)  cryand  wyth  mouth 
— of  hat  maner  of  syn(gyng  sp)eke 
I  noght,  for  hat  sang  hase  bath  g(ude 
&)  ill;  and  his  maner  of  sang  hase 
nane  bot  if  hai  be  in  his  thyrd  degre 
of  lufe :  til  he  whilk  degre  is  es  \m- 
possibel  to  com  bot  in  a  grete  multi 
tude  of  lufe.  /  For-fai,  if  h<m  will  wytt 
whatkyn  ioy  hat  sang  has,  I  say  be, 
hat  naman  wate  bot  he  or  scho  hat 
feles  it,  hat  has  it,  &  hat  loues  god, 
syngand  harwyth.  A  thyng  tel  I  he: 
it  es  of  heuen,  &  god  gyfes  it  til  wham 
he  wil :  bot  noght  with-outen  grete 
grace  comand  be-fore.  \Vha  hase  it, 
hym  thynk  al  he  sang  &  al  be  myn- 
stralcy  of  erth  noght  bot  sorow  &  wa, 
hartil.  /  In  souerayne  rest  sal  hai  be 
hat  may  gete  it.  Gangrels,  and  lan- 
gelers,  &  Kepers  of  comers  and  gangars 
l  Ms.  swa  mykel. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

hert  wakes. «  In  he  fyrst  degre  men  may 
say  »I  languysshe  for  luf«  or  »me 
langes  for  luf«,  and  in  be  tother degre 
alswa:  for  languyssyng  es,  when  men 
falles  *•  for  sekenes ,  and  ha  hat  er  in 
his  twa  degrees,  falles  fra  all  couaytese 
of  his  werld  and  fra  lust  and  lyk- 
yng  of  synfull  lif,  and  settis  hair  en- 
tent  and  hair  hert  til  he  luf  of  god; 
for- hi  may  bay  say:  »Ilanguysshe  for 
luf« —  and  mykel  man?  hat  er  in  he 
secund  degre  [ban] 2  in  he  fyrst.  ^[  Bot 
he  saul  hat  es  in  he  thred  degre,  es 
als  brynnand  fyre,  awd  als  be  nygthgale 
hat  lufs  sang  and  melody  and  falles 
for  mykele  luf.  Swa  hat  be  saul  es 
anely  comforted  in  loouyng  and  lufyng 
of  god,  and  til  be  dede  come,  es  syn 
gand  gaastly  til  Ihwu,  and  in  Ih^u, 
and  Ihwu,  nogth  bodyiy  cryand  with 
he  mouth — of  hat  maner  of  syngyng 
speke  I  nogth,  ffor  pat  sang  has  (bath 
gud  awd  ille  ;  and  pis  maner  of  sang  has 
nane  bot  if  hai  be  in  his  thred  degre 
of  luf:  til  he  whilke  degre  it  es  In- 
possible  to  cu;«  bot  in  a  gret  multitude 
of  luf.  For-hi,  if  bou  wil  wite  what- 
kyns  ioy  hat  sang  has,  I  say  be  bat 
na  man  wate  bote  he  or  scho  hat  felis 
it,  hat  has  it,  and  hat  looues  god  syn 
gand  har-with.  Ane  thyng  telle  I  he: 
It  es  of  heeuene,  and  god  gifs  it  til 
whame  he  wille,  bot  nogth  with-outene 
gret  graces  comand  bifore.  Wha  so  has 
it,  hym  thynk  all  he  sang  and  be  myn- 
stralcy  of  erth  nogth  bot  sorow  and 
waa  bar-til.  In  souirayne  rest  sal 
hai  be  hat  mon  get  it.  Gangrels  and 
langlers  and  kepers  of  comers  and 
1  r.  failes.  2  Ms.  and. 


languys.  or  me  languysch  in  luf.  degre  om.  also,  fayles.  &  hei  hat  are  in  ho. 
fayles.  all  couetys.  worlde.  fro.  settys.  to  ho  luf.  hei  may.  languys.  And  om.  are. 
han  in  ho  fyrst.  thryd.  es  als  brywnande  in  luf  als  a  brennand  fyr^.  als  bo  nyght- 
gale.  fayles.  so  bat  saule  (ho  erased),  is  anely  cowfortet  in.  louyng  &  loouyng;  of 
god  om.  gastle.  &  of  Ihmi,  Noght  bodyle  c.  wz'tA  bo.  none.  To  ho  qwilk.  Impossibul. 
come.  wete.  qwatkyn.  feles  it  &  has  it.  lufs.  O  thyng.  is.  gyf*.  to  qwa/rc. 
graces,  qwa-sa.  hymom.  a!2  om.  of  bo  erth.  wo  f>ir-til.  may  om.  comars.  gangers. 


34 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

arely  &  late,  nyght  &  day,  or  any 
bat  es  takked  *  wztfc  any  syn  wilfully  & 
wittandly,  or  bat  has  delyte  in  any 
erthly  thyng  :  bai  er  als  far  bar-fra  als 
es  fra  heuen  to  erth.  /  In  be  fyrst  de- 
gre  er  many;  In  be  to{)er  degre  er  ful 
faa:  bot  in  be  thyrde  degre  vnnethes 
er  any:  for  ay  be  mar^  bat  be  perfec- 
cion  es,  be  faer  folowers  it  has.  In  be 
fyrst  degre,  er  men2  lickend  to  pe 
sternes;  In  pe  toper:  till  pe  mone  ;  In 
pe  thyrd:  til  pe  sonne.  For-bi  says 
saynt  Paule  :  »Other  of  pe  sonne,  other 
of  pe  mone,  other  of  pe  sternes  ;«  /  swa 
it  es  of  pe  lufers  of  god.  /  In  pis  third 
degre,  if  p#u  may  wyn  par-till,  p0u 
sail  witt  of  mare  ioy  pan  I  haue  talde 
pe  (sjijtt.  //  And  ymang  other  affeccions 
&  sanges,  bou  (may  in  pi)  langyng  syng 
pis  in  pi  hert  /  til  pi  lorde  Ihesu,  (whew) 
p<m  couaytes  hys  comyng,  &  pi  gangyng: 
3>When  will  pow  com  to  comforth  me, 
and  bryng  me  owt  of  care,  /  8f  gyf  me 
pe  pat  I  may  se  ,  hauand  euer-mare? 
I  Pi  lufe  es  ay  swettest,  of  al  pat  euer 
war:  /  My  hert  when  sal  it  brest?  for 
lufe  pan  languyst  I  naniare.  j  For 
lufe  my  thoght  has  fest,  fy  I  am  fayne 
to  fare.  //  /  stand  m  still  mowrnyng  of  al 
lufelyest  of  lare  ;  .  .  4  es  lufe  langyng,  // 
It  drawes  me  til  my  day:  Pe  band  of 
swete  byrnyng,  for  it  haldes  me  ay  Fra 
place  8f  fra  plaiyng,  til  pat  I  get  may 
Pe  syght  of  my  swetyng,  pat  wendes 
neuer  away,  In  welth  bees  oure  wakyng, 
wyth-owten  noy  or  nyght:  My  lufe  es 
in  lastyng,  $  langes  to  pat  syght. 


i)  r.  tagild.        2  Ms.  many. 
Cantus    amoris.     Cf.   p.  60. 
wanting?  the  text  is  corrupted. 


3  on  margin: 
some    words 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

gangers  arely  and  lat,  nygth  a»d  day, 
or  any  pat  taglede  es  with  any  synne 
wylfully  and  wetandly,  or  pat  has  delite 
in  any  erthly  thyng :  pay  er  als  fer 
bar-fra  als  es  fra  heeuen  til  erth.  ^f  In 
pe  fyrst  degre  er  many ;  In  pe  tob^r 
degre  er  ful  faa :  bot  in  pe  thred  degre 
vnnethes  er  any — for  ay  pe  martf  at  pe 
p^rfeccyone  es,  pe  fouer  folowers  it 
has.  In  pe  fyrst  degre  er  men  lykened 
til  be  sternes ;  In  pe  tothir  degre  til  pe 
mon:  and  in  pe  thred  degre  til  be 
sonne.  For-pi  says  sayne  Paul :  »Othir 
es1  of  be  sonne,  Othir  of  be  mone, 
othir  of  be  sternes.«  Swa  es  it  of  pe 
lufers  of  god.  In  pis  thred  degre,  if 
bou  may  wynne  bare-til,  bou  sal  wite 
of  mare  Ioy  ban  I  haf  taled  be  yhete. 
And  amang  othir  affeccyons  awd  sanges 
bou  may  in  bi  langyng  syng  bis  in  pi 
hert  til  bi  louerd  Ihtf.ru,  whene  bou 
couaytes  his  comyng  and  bi  gangynge  : 
^[  »When  wil  bou  come  to  comfort  me 
and  bryng  me  out  of  care,  And  gif 
me  be  bat  I  may  se,  hafand  eeuermare? 
ti  luf  es  ay  swetest  of  all  bat  euer 
ware.  My  hert  whene  sal  it  brest?  for 
luf  ban  languyst  I  no  mare.  For  luf  my 
thogth  has  fest,  awd2  I  am  fayne  to  fare.  I 
stand  in  stil  mowrnyng  of  ane,  be  luflyest  of 
lare ;  es  luflangyng.  It  drawes  me  til  my  day, 
be  band  of  swete  brynnyng,  For  it  haldes 
me  ay  fra  place  awd  fra  playng,  Til  bat  I 
gete  may  be  sygth  of  my  swettyng,  Pat 
wendys  neeu^r  away,  In  welth  beese  our 
wakynge,  with-outen  noy  or  nygth,  My  luf 
es  in  lastyng,  And  langes  vnto  bat  sigth.« 
i  al.  es  be  brightnes.  2  Ms.  ad. 


erly.  ar  takkyd.  wyttandly  or  wilfully,  are.  far  b^r-fro.  fro.  til.  are.  ful 
fone.  bat  om.  bo  foar  comes  bar-to,  an:  m^n  lyknyd  to  foo  st.  tober  degre.  and 
om.  thrid  degre.  bo  surcne.  seint  Poule.  Ob^r  es  bo  bryghtnes  of.  or.  or. 
so  es  it.  bo  lufars.  more,  haue  tolde  be  ;ite.  Imang.  lorde.  ganyng.  &  conforth. 
hauande  be  e.  languys  it.  in  stille  m.  of  alle-luflyest  of  lare  /  Of  luf  fandyng 
it  d.  of  swete  lufynge.  Fro.  gete  it  m.  wendes.  bes.  noy.  or.  langes  to. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


35 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64.  Ms>  Rawl    c  ^ 
Capitulum  nonum. 

j  ,T  ,-,  .  If  P°u  Wl1  be  wele  with  god  and  haf 
F  bou  wil  be    wele   with  god,  &  grace  to  rewel  bi  lif  and  com  til  be  ioy  of 
haue  grace  to  rewle  |>i   lyf,    &   com   til  luf>  bis  name  of  Ihesu  fcst  it  go  ^  J 
fie  ioy  of  luf:  bis  name  I  REST,  fest  it  hert  bat  it  come  neeuer  out  of  bi  thogth 
swa  fast  i«  f>i  hert,  bat  it  com  neuer  owt  And  when  bou  spekis  til  hym  and  says 
ofbithoght.Andwhenbouspekestilhym  Ihesu    thurgth    coustome,    it   sal   be    in 
&  says  Itesu  thurgh  custom,  it  sal  be  in  bine  eer  Toy,    in    pi    mouth   hony    and 
bi  ere  ioy,  in  pi  mouth  hony,  &  in  bi  hert  in  {,i  hert   melody:    For    be    sal   thynk 
melody:  For  be  sail  thynk  ioy  to  here  bat  ioy  to  heer  bat  name  be  neeuend    ^ 
namebeneuend,swetnestospekeit,myrth  tenes    to    spek    it,   Mirth   a«d   sang   to 
&  sang  to  thynk  it.  /  If  pou  thynk  Ihesu  thynke    it.      If    bou     thynk    on    Ihesu 
co«tynuly,  &  halde  it  stabely,  it  purges  contynuelly     and     haldes      it      stabilly 
piSyn,/&kyndelsbi   hert;  /it   clari-  it     purges      bi     synne ,      and     kyndels 
fies    bi  sawle ;   /  it   remoues    anger,  /  &  bi     hert.      It     claryfies      bi     saul        It 
dose    away    slawnes.    /  It    woundes    in  remOues  anger,  a«d  duse  away  slawnes 
lufe,  /  &  fulfilles    of  charite.  /  It    chaces  jt    woundes    in    luf,    Fulfilles    of    char- 
be    deuel,  /  &    puttes    oute    drede.  /  It  yte.    It   chaces   pe  deeuel.     It  puttes  out 
opens  heuen  /  &  makes  a   co«templatif  drede.     It  opens  heeuene  awd   makis  a 
Haue   in   mynde    Ih*ru:    for  al  Contemplatif  man.    Haf  in  memor  Ihmi  • 

55      /TTi   ^  P,T  °Wte    ^  **  f°r  dl  Vices  and  fanto™    ^    Puttes    fra 

louer.     And  haylce  oft  Mary,    bath  day  hp    ,    ,          .     ,    , 

and  nyght.     Mikel    lufe   &  Toy   sal    b.u  ^       ^     ^    hayls  °ft   M^C'    bath 

fele,   if  jL  wil  do    aftyr    bis   lare.  /  fe  ^  *"?  ^     Mikel  luf  «d  Io^  sal 

thare  noght  couayte  gretely  many  bokes:  ^°U  ™*  If  ^    wil   d°    after  ^s  l™' 

halde  lufe  in  hert,  &  in  werke,  and  b<m  ^    COUayte    Sretely    many 

hasealbotwemaysayorwryte-.forfulnes  hald  luf  in   hert  and   in   wcrk> 

of  be  law    es  charite;  in  bat  hynges  all.  &nd  b°U  sal  haue  a11  bat   we   may    say 

Capm.  x«>.  or    wry te :     for   fulnes    of  be    lagthe  es. 

(B;0t    now    may     b<m    ask   me  &  Charyte ;  In  ^at  hynges  a11-  t  Bot  now 

say:  »I>^u  spekes  sa   mykel  of  lufe:   tel  may  ^ou  aske  me  and  say  :  ^ou  spekis 

I  2  me  /  What  es  lufe,  An[^whar  es  lufe,  so  mykel  of  luf-'    2Telle   me  what   luf 

3  /  And   how    I    sal    lufe    god  vcrrayly,  es>  awd  whar  il  es>  and  h°w  I  sal  lufe 

4  /  And  how  pzt  I  may  knaw  pzt  I  lufe  g°d  veraly,  a/zd  how  I  may  knawe  pat 

5  hym,  I  And  m  what  state  I  may  maste  !    luf    ^ym,    and  In    what    state   I  may 
lufe  hym.«   /    Pir   er  hard    questyons  to  maast  luf  hym.«    t>ir  er  hard  qwestyons 
lere,  til  a  febyll  man  &  a  fleschly  als  I  to  lere  to  a   feble    man   awd   a    flesshly 
am.     Bot  neuer-be-latter  bar-fore    I  sal  als    I  am.     Bot    neeu^-be-latter    bare- 

10TherSame  P1155^6  separately  in  Ms.  Rawl.  1  o.  m. :  de  nomine  Ihesu.     *  o    m    Quiwque 

A  389;  cf.  p.  71.  questioner  de  Amore. 

rewle.     to  bo  Ioy.     name  Ihesn.    so.    thurgh  custome.    in  bi  neres.    &  in.     thynk 

Ihwu  (on  om.).    hald.     stably,    kendels  pi  hart  w*'t/fc  fyre  of  luf,    &  it  cl.    remows 
angers,     dos.     it  wondes    bo   herte   in   luf,  f.  it.     it   chases  bo  deul  &  puttys  out 

pryde    &    drede.      heuew-^ates.      haue    in  memour.      puttys   out  &  wysses  &  ledes 
pe    lufar.     and    on    Mary   (hayls   oft   om.).     &  faou  has   alle.        "  T      ' 


u       *»j.t*ijf       ^iid  y  13      iJJL      will.     .         *X      UUU      1 

hynges   alle  &  pat  es  luf  to  god  &  to  bi  neghburgh, 

JJOt  bou  may  now.     qwat  luf  es,    &  qware  it  es, 
Are.     ler*  til.     febul.     as.     sal  I. 


of  bo  law.     in  bat 
&    how    bat.     know,     bise 
3* 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

noght  lette  pat  I  ne  sail  schew  my 
wytt,  £  als  me  thynk  pat  it  may  be. 
For  I  hope  in  pe  helpe  of  Ih^u,  pat 
es  wel  of  lufe,  &  pees,  and  swetnes.  / 
ipe  Fyrst  askyng  es:  What  es  lufe? 
And  I  answer:  Luf  es  a  byrnand  ^er- 
nyng  in  god,  w/'tA  a  wonderfull  delyte 
&  sykernes.  God  es  lyght,  &  byrnyng. 
Lyght  clarifies  oure  skyll,  byrnyng 
kyndels  oure  couayties,  pat  we  desyre 
noght  bot  hym.  Lufe  es  a  lyf,  copu- 
land  to-gedyr  pe  lufand  &  pe  lufed:  / 
For  mekenes  makes  vs  swete  to  god, 
Purete  ioynes  vs  tyll  god,  Lufe  mase 
vs  ane  with  god;  luf  es  fayrhede 
of  al  vertues.  Luf  es  thyng  thurgh 
pe  whilk  god  lufes  vs,  £  we  god, 
£  ilk  ane  of  vs  other.  Lufe  es 
desyre  of  pe  hert,  ay  thynkand  til 
pat  pat  it  lufes;  and  when  it  hase 
pat  it  lufes,  pan  it  ioyes  £  na  thyng 
may  make  it  sary.  [Luf  es  ?ernyng 
Imelle  twa,  with  lastandnes  of  thoghtes] 2. 
Lufe  es  a  st[i]ryng  of  pe  saule  for  to  luf 
god  for  hym-self,  £  all  other  thyng  for 
god ;  pe  whilk  lufe,  when  it  es  ordaynde 
in  god,  it  dose  away  all  inordinate  lufe 
in  any  thyng  pat  es  noght  gude.  Bot 
al  dedely  syn  es  mordynate  lufe  in  a 
thyng  pat  es  noght:  pan  lufe  puttes 
out  al  dedely  syn.  Luf  es  a  vertu,  pat 
es  rightest  affection  of  man  saule.  Trowth 
may  be  wzt^-outen  lufe:  bot  it  may 
noght  helpe  with-outen  it.  Lufe  es 
p^fection  of  letters,  vertu  of  prophecy, 
frute  of  trowth,  help3  of  sacramentes, 
stablyng  of  witt  and  conyng ;  Rytches 
of  pure  men,  lyfe  of  dyand  men.  Se 
i  Cf.  poem  on  p.  76.  2  om.  in  Dd.  3  al.  hele. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

foore  sal  I  nogth  leue  pat  I  ne  sal 
schew  my  witte  and  als  me  thynke  pat 
it  may  be :  For  I  hop  in  pe  help  of 
Ihesu,  pat  es  welle  of  luf  and  pees  of 
swetenes.  ^f  PE  fyrst  askyng  es :  What 
es  luf?1  And  I  answer:  luf  es  brennand 
yhernyng  In  god  with  a  woundirful 
delite  and  sikyrnes.  God  es  lygth  and 
brynnyng.  Ligth  clarifies  our  skylle, 
and  brynnyng  kyndeles  our*  couaytese, 
pat  we  desire  nogth  bot  hym.  Luf  es 
a  lif  coupland  to-gider  pe  lufand  and 
pe  lufed:  For  mekenes  makys  vs  swet 
to  god,  Purete  Ioynes  vs  til  god,  luf  makes 
vs  ane  with  god.  Luf  es  fayrest  of  all  ver- 
tus.  Luf  es  thynge  thurgthpe  whilke  god 
lufs  vs,  and  we  god ;  awd  ylk  ane  of  vs 
other .  Luf  es  desire  of  pe  hert,  ay  thynk 
and  til  pat  it  lufs ;  and  when  it  has  pat  it 
lufs,  panitloyese,  and  na  thyng  may  mak 
it  sary.  Luf  es  yhernyng  Imelle  twa, 
with  lastandnes  of  thoghtes.  Luf  es  a 
stiryng  of  pe  saul  for  to  luf  god  for 
hym-self,  and  all  other  thyng  for  god; 
pe  whylk  luf  when  it  es  ordayned  in 
god,  it  dose  away  all  vnordayned  luf 
in  any  thyng  pat  es  nogth  gud.  Bot 
all  dedely  [syn]2  es  vnordayned  luf  in 
a  thyng  pat  es  nogth:  pan  luf  puttes 
out  all  dedly  synne.  Luf  es  a  vertu, 
pat  es  pe  rygth  affeccyouw  of  a  mans 
saul.  Trouthe  nogth  (!)  may  be  with-outen 
luf,  bot  it  may  help  wzt^-outen  it. 
Luf  es  p^rfeccyoun  of  letters,  vertue  of 
pr0phetye,  fruyte  of  trouthe,  heel  of 
sacramentis,  stablyng  of  wite  and  co- 
nywg,  Rychesce  of  pou^r  men,  Lif  of 
diand  men.  U  Se  how  god  luf  es3!  If  we 
i  o.  m.  Quid  e.^  amor.  2  Om. ;  luf  over- 
"  lined.  3  Ms.  lufs. 


not  let.  &  pees  &.  is.  a  brennand  ^ernyng.  delite  &  swetnes  &  sekernes. 
Brennyng  kyndels,  and  om.  couaytyse.  luf  inst.  of  desyre;  na  thyng  bot  god. 
coupland.  &  po  lufud.  makes,  til.  Porte,  to.  makw.  fayrehed.  a  thyng.  £  we 
luf  god.  &  om.  ilkan.  a  desyre.  to  pat  pat.  it  lufes  om.,  pan  om. ;  na  thyng 
may  make  it  sary,  bot  it  Ioyes  h^rtly.  a  ^ernyng.  two.  steryng.  po  soule.  is 
ordend.  vnordend.  god.  syn  om.  is  vnordend  luf.  noght  god.  puttys.  po 
rychest  af.  of  maw  s.  noght  om.  not  help*  w.  luf.  a  -p^fecczon.  profecy. 
hele.  stabulyng.  Ryches.  pore,  dyghand. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


37 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

how  gude  lufe  es.  If  we  suffer  to  be 
slayne ;  If  we  gyf  al  bat  we  haue,  til 
beggar  staf;  If  we  kan  als  mykel  als 
al  men  kan  in.  erth:  til  al  bis  with- 
outen  lufe  es  noght  bot  sorow  ordande 
&  torment.  /  If  b<?u  will  aske  how  gode 
es  he  or  scho :  ask  how  mykel  lufes  he 
or  scho:  &  bat  kan  na  man  tel  —  / 
For  I  hald  it  bot  foly  to  deme  a  mans 
hert,  bat  nane  knawes  bot  god.  Lufe 
es  a  ryghtwis  turnyng  fra  al  ert[h]ly 
thynges,  &  es  ioynd  til  god,  w*'t/*-outen 
departyng,  and  kyndelde  with  be  fire 
of  be  haly  gaste ;  fer  fra  fylyng,  fer 
fra  corrupcion,  oblyst  till  na  vice  of  bis 
lyfe.  Hegh  aboven  all  fleschely  lustes, 
ay  redy  &  gredy  til  contemplacion  of 
god.  In  all  thynges  noght  ouercomen.  / 
fe  sowme  of  al  gude  affectyons.  Hele 
of  gude  maners ,  ende  of  comawnde- 
mentes  of  god;  dede  of  synnes,  lyf  of 
vertues.  Vertu,  whils  feghtyng  lastes ; 
crowne  of  ouercomers.  Mirynes  til 
haly  thoghtes.  With-outen  bat,  na  man 
may  pay  god;  with  bat,  na  man 
synnes  :  For  if  we  luf  god  in  al  oure 
hert,  bar  es  na  thyng  in  vs,  thurgh  be 
whilk  we  serue  to  syn.  Verray  luf 
clenses  be  saule,  &  delyuers  it  fra  be 
pyne  of  hell,  &  of  be  foule  seruys  of 
syn,  &  of  be  vgly  felyschip  of  be  deu- 
els ;  and  of  be  fendes  son  makes  god 
son,  &  parcener  1  of  be  heritage  of  heuen. 
/  We  sail  afforce  [vs]  at  cleth  vs  in  lufe 
als  be  yren  or  be  cole  dose  in  be  fyre ; 
als  be  ayer  dose  in  be  son ;  als  be 
woll  dose  in  be  hewe.  /  £e  cole  swa 
clethes  it  in  be  fyre,  bat  al  es  fyre.  [Pe 
ay  re  swa  clethes  it  in  be  son  bat  al  es 
1  Ms.  parcenel. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

suffre  to  be  slayne ;  If  we  gif  all  bat 
we  haf,  til  beggar  stafe ;  If  we  can  als 
mykel  als  men  may  cun  in  erth :  til  all 
bis  with-outene  lufe,  es  nogth  bot  so- 
row  ordayned  and  tourment.  ^f  If  bou 
wil  ask  howe  gud  he  es  or  scho,  ask 
how  mykel  lufs  he  or  scho :  a«d  bat 
can  na  man  telle — Forbi*  I  hald  it  bot 
foly  to  deme  of  a  mans  hert,  bat  nane 
knawys  bot  god.  Luf  es  a  rygthwys 
twmyng  fra  all  erthly  thynges,  a»d  es 
loynt  til  god,  with-outene  departyng, 
and  kyndeled  with  be  fier  of  be  haly 
gast;  fer  fra  filyng,  fer  fra  Corupcyoun, 
obliged  til  na  vice  of  bis  lif,  Hegth 
aboun  all  flesshely  lustes.  Ay  redy 
and  gredy  til  Contemplacyoun  of  god. 
In  all  thynges  vnouercomwene.  £e  soun2 
of  all  gud  affeccyons.  Heel  of  gud  ma 
ners.  End  of  be  comandementis  of 
god.  Dede  of  synnes.  Lif  of  vertus. 
Vertu  whils  fightyng  lastes.  Coroun  of 
ouercomers.  Armes  til  haly  thoghtes. 
With-outene  pat,  na  man  may  pay  god ; 
with  bat,  na  man  synnes — For  if  we 
luf  god  in  all  our  hert,  bar  es  na 
thyng  in  vs  thurgth  be  whilke  we 
smie  to  synne.  Verray  luf  clenses  be 
saul,  awd  delyuers  it  fra  be  payne  of 
hell,  and  of  be  foule  smiyse  of  synne, 
and  of  be  vgly  felishiptf  of  deeuels ; 
and  of  be  fendes  sone  makis  goddis 
sone,  a«d  partyner  of  be  herytage  of 
heeuen.  We  sal  afforce  vs  to  cleeth  vs 
in  luf  als  be  Iren  or  be  cool  dose  in 
be  fyer,  Als  be  ayr*  duse  in  be  son, 
Als  be  wolle  duse  in  be  hewe.  fce 
cool  swa  cleethes  it  in  be  fyre  bat  all 
es  fyre.  te  ayre  swa  cleethes  it  in  be 
1  r.  For.  2  =  soume. 


luf  es.  suffur.  til  bo  beggar  staf.  may  kuw.  Tyl  do  al  bis  w.  1.  ordent. 
towrmentzj.  es  he.  no.  tel  be.  For;  hi  om.  it  for  foly.  of  a.  loyned  to. 
kyndelet.  he  om.  fynr.  far.  felywg.  ferre.  oblyched.  hygh  abouew.  vn-ou^comen. 
soume.  manures,  of  be.  qwiles.  Croune.  armes.  hart,  til  bo  qwilk.  til  synne. 
Varray.  vggly.  be  om.  goddys.  partiner  in  blysse  of  heuew.  vs  to.  als  yrne 
(be  om.).  po  sunne.  dose  in  bo  hewe  bat  it  es  alle  elykkyd.  so  clobes.  bat 
it  es  f.  be  aer  so  clobes.  bo  suwne. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

ligth].  l  And  be  woll  swa  substancialy 
takes  be  hewe,  bat  it  es  lik  it.  /  In  bis 
maner  sail  a  trewe  lufar  of  Ih^ru  Criste 
do :  his  hert  sal  swa  byrne  in  lufe,  bat  it 
sal  be  turned  in  til  fyre  of  lufe,  &  be 
als  it  war  al  fire ;  and  he  sal  sa  schyne 
in  vertues,  bat  in  na  parte  of  hym  he 
2  be  myrke  in  vices.  //  £e  tother  askyng 
es:  Whare  es  luf  el  And  I  answer: 
lufe  es  in  be  hert,  &  in  be  will 
of  mane;  noght  in  hys  hand,  ne  in 
his  mouth,  bat  es  at  say,  noght  in 
hys  wark:  hot  in  his  sawle.  /  For 
many  spekes  gode  fy  dose  gode,  &2 
lufes  noght  god:  als  ypocrites,  be 
whilk  suffers  grete  penance  &  semes 
haly  at  mens  syght :  Bot  for  bai  seke 
louyng  &  honoure  of  men,  &  fauoure, 
pai  haue  lost  bar  mede,  &  in  be  syght 
of  god  er  be  deuel  sons,  &  rauysand 
wlues.  Bot  if  a  man  gyf  almose-dede, 
&  take  hym  til  pouert,  &  do  penance, 
it  es  a  signe  bat  he  lufes  god:  bot 
barfore  lufes  he  hym  noght,  bot  when 
he  forsakes  be  worlde  anly  for  goddes 
lufe,  &  settes  al  his  thoght  on  god,  & 
lufes  al  men  als  hym-self;  and  al  pe 
gude  dedes  bat  he  may  do,  he  dose 
bam  in  entent  forto  pay  Ihmi  Criste, 
&  to  cum  til  pe  rest  of  heuen.  /  fan 
he  lufes  god :  &  pat  luf  es  in  his  saule, 
and  sa  his  dedes  schewes  wzt/^-outen. 
If  p<m  speke  be  gude  &  do  pe  gude, 
men  supposes  pat  p<?u  lufes  god:  for- 
thi  loke  wele  pat  pi  thoght  be  in  god, 
or  elles  bou  dampnes  bi-selfe,  &  de- 
ceyues  be  men.  /  Na  thyng  bat  I  do 
wztfc-owten,  proues  pat  I  lufe  god.  / 
1  om.  in  Dd.  2  Ms.  &  many. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

sone  bat  all  es  ligth.  And  be  wolle  so 
substauncyaly  takes  be  hewe  bat  it  es 
like  it.  In  bis  maner  sal  a  trew  lufer 
of  Ihwu  Cryst  do  :  his  hert  sal  so  brene 
in  lufe  bat  it  sal  be  twmyd  in  til  fyer 
of  luf  and  be  als  it  war  all  fyre ;  and 
sail  swa  schyne  in  vertus  bat  in  na  part 
of  hym  he  be  myrke  in  vices. — ^j  te 
tother  askynge  es :  Whar  es  luf?  And 
I  answer :  luf  es  in  be  hert  and  in  be 
wile  of  a  man,  nogth  in  his  hand  ne 
in  his  mouth,  bat  es  at  say:  nogth  in 
his  werke,  bot  in  his  saul.  For  many 
spekes  gud  and  duse  gud,  and  lufs 
nogth  god :  Als  Ipocrytes,  pe  whilk 
suffres  grete  penance  and  semes  haly 
to  mens  sygth :  Bot  for  pay  seke * 
loouyng  and  honour  of  men  and  fa- 
uour,  pai  haf  lost  pair  mede  and  in  pe 
sygth  of  god  er  pe  deeuels  sons  and 
Rauyschand  wolfes.  Bot  if  a  man  gif 
almus-dede  and  takys  hym  til  poouert 
and  duse  penance,  it  es  a  syng2  pat  he 
lufs  god,  bot  pare-foore  lufs  he  hym 
nogth.  Bot  when  he  forsakis  pe  werld 
anely  for  goddis  luf  and  settis  all  his 
thogth  on  god  and  lufs  all  men  als 
hym-self,  and  all  pe  gud  dedes  pat  he 
may  do,  he  dose  paim  in  entent  for  to 
pay  Ihmi  Crist  and  to  come  til  pe 
rest  of  heeuen:  ban  he  lufs  god,  and 
bat  luf  es  in  his  saul,  and  swa  his  de- 
dis  schewes  with-outen.  If  bou  spek 
be  gud  and  do  be  gud,  men  supposes 
pat  bou  lufs  god :  Forbi  lok  wele 
bat  pi  thogth  be  in  god,  or  ells  bou 
dampnes  pi-self  and  deceyfs  pe  men. 
Na  thyng  pat  I  do  with-outen  prooues 

1  Ms.  speke.       -  =  sign. 


pat  it  es  al  1.  so.  al  elyke  po  hew.  iouer.  so  brenne.  als  in  til  fyre.  wore 
al  fyre  of  luf.  he  sal  om.  swa.  he  may  be.  And  om.  in  a  mans  hert.  of 
mane  om.  werk.  many  om.  at  mens  s.  honur  &  louyng.  are  bo  deuel  s.  wolwes. 
almesdede.  take,  to  pou^te.  do.  syne,  b^rfor.  forsakes  bo  warlde.  &  purges 
hys  herie  clene  of  alle  synne  &  alle  hys  thoght  besettys  in  god.  in  pat  entent 
bat  he  may  pay.  to  po  ryst.  so.  schew.  dose,  wil  suppose,  lufe.  deceyues. 
profes.  luf  god  wztA-Inne. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


39 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

For  a  wicked  man  myght  do  als  mykel 

penance  in  body,  als  mykel  wake   and 

faste,  als  I  do.     How  may  I  ban  wene 

bat  I  lufe,  or  halde  me  better,   for  bat 

bat  ilk  a  man  may  do?  Certes,  mi  hert, 

whethir  it  lufe  my  god  or  noght,    wate 

na    man    bot   god,    for    noght   bat   bai 

may  se  me  do.  Wharfore  luf  es  in  will 

verraily,  noght  in  warke  bot  in  *  a  signe 

of  lufe.     For  he  bat  says  he  lufes  god, 

&    wil   noght   do    in   dede    bat   in  hym 

es    to    schew    lufe :     say    hym   bat   he 

lyghes.     Lufe  wil  noght  be   ydel :  it  es 

wirkand    som    gude    euer-mare.     If    it 

sesse  of  wirkyng:    wit  b^u  bat    it  keles 

3  &  wytes  away.  //  £e  thirde  askyng  es: 

»How  sal  I  verray  li  lufe  god?«  I  answer: 

/  Verray  lufe  es:    to  lufe  hym  in  al  bi 

myght,  stahvortly;  In  al  hi  hert,  wysely; 

In  al  bi  sawle,    deuowtcly   $  swetely.  / 

i  Stalivortly  may  na  man  lufe   hym,    bot 

he  be  stalworth.     He  es  stalworth    bat 

es  meke,  for  al  gastly  strengh  comes  of 

mekenes; — on    whame   restes    be    haly 

gaste  ?  in  a  meke  sawle.    Mekenes  gou- 

ernes  vs  &  kepes  vs  in    al    oure  temp- 

tacions,  swa  bat  bai  ouercom  vs  noght. 

Bot    be   deuel    deceyues    many    bat    er 

meke   thorow   tribulacions ,  &  reproues, 

&  bakebitynges.     Bot  if  p<m    be    wrath 

for  any    anguys   of  bis  worlcle,    or   for 

any  worde  bat  men  says  of  be,  or   for 

oght    bat    men    says    til   be :    b0u    ert 

noght  meke,  ne  b0u  may  swa  lufe  god 

stalwortly.     For  luf  es  stalworth  als  be 

dede,     bat    slaes    al    lyuand    thyng    in 

i  r.  als? 


Ms.  Harl.  C  285. 

bat  I  luf  god:  For  a  wykked  man 
mygth  do  als  mykel  penance  in  body, 
als  mykel  wak  and  fast  als  I  do.  How 
may  I  bane  wene  bat  I  luf,  or  hald 
me  better,  ffor  bat  at  ylk  a  man  may 
do?  Ceertis,  my  hert,  whethir  I  luf  my 
god  or  nogth,  wate  na  mane  bot  god, 
for  nogth  bat  bai  may  se  me  do. 
Whaar-foor  luf  es  in  wile  verrayly, 
nogth  in  werke,  bot  als  synge  of  luf. 
For  he  bat  says  he  lufs  god  and  wil 
nogth  do  in  dede  bat  in  hym  es  to 
schew  luf,  say  hym  he  leghes !  Luf 
wil  nogth  be  Idele :  It  es  wirkand  some 
gud  eeu^-mare.  If  it  cees  of  wirkyng, 
wite  bou  wele  it  kelis  a«d  wytes  away. — 
^|  I*E  third  askyng  es :  »How  sal  I  ver 
rayly  luf  god?«  I  answer:  verray  lufes, 
to  lufe  hym  in  all  bi  mygth  stalwardiy ; 
In  all  bi  hert  wysely ;  In  all  bi  saul 
deuoutely  and  swetly.  ^f  Stalwardiy  may 
na  man  luf  hym  bot  If  he  be  stalward. 
He  es  stalward  fjat  es  meke  :  For  all  gast- 
ely  strenth  comes  of  mekenes — on  whame 
restis  be  haly  gast  ?  in  a  meke  saul.  Mekenes 
gou^rnes  vs  and  kepis  vs  in  all  our  tempt- 
acyons,  swa  bat  bai  ouer-come  vs  nogth. 
Bot  be  deeuel  deceyfs  many  bat  er  meke 
thurgth  tribulacyons  a«d  reproefs  and 
backbytynges.  Bot  if  bou  be  wrathe  for 
any  anguys  of  bis  werld,  or  for  any 
word  bat  men  says  of  be,  or  for  ogth 
bat  men  says  til  be,  bou  ne  ert  nogth 
meke,  ne  bou  ne  may  nogth  so  luf  god 
stalwardiy.  For  luf  es  stalward  als  be 
dede,  bat  slaas  al  lifand  thyng  in  erth  ; 


wykkyd.  penance  als  I  do  of  body,  als  I  do  om.  bettwr  ban  an  ojw  for  bat  bat. 
Sertys  my  h^rte  wate  &  na  man  elles  bot  god  qwebw  it  lufs  god  or  noght.  may  om. 
v^rrayle  &  noght.  wark.  bot  a  takenyng  of  luf.  not.  bat  he  lyes.  not.  ay 
wyrkande  sum  gode  warke  e.  warkyng.  wittou  bat  it  keles.  bo  thryd.  &  I  a. 
wit/i .  stalworthly,  in.  deuotly.  Stalwarthly.  If  om.  stalworth.  he  es  stalworth  om. 
gastle.  bot  on  bo  meke  s.  &  ledes  vs  &  alle  our  t.  outcomes,  so  bat  bai  cast 
vs  noght  doune.  deceyues.  bat  er  meke  om.  tn'bulac/on*,  &  reprofes  pa//z  qwilk 
are  halden  meke,  &  thurgh  bakbytyng.  warlde,  bou  lufs  not  god,  or.  may  say 
to  be,  or.  dose  to  be.  bou  art  not.  ne  bou  may  noght  serve  god  so  stalworthly  ne 
luf  hym  lastandely.  als  dede  bat  spares  no  erthly  thyng  to  sla  it,  &  it  is  harde. 


4o 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

erth;  and  hard  als  hell,  pat  spares 
noght  till  pam  pat  er  dede.  And  he 
pat  lufes  god  p<?ffitely,  he  greues  hym 
noght,  what  schame  or  angwys  pat  he 
suffers,  hot  he  hase  delyte,  &  couaytes 
pat  he  war  worthy  forto  suffer  torment 
&  payne  for  Crystes  lufe;  and  he  hase 
ioy  pat  men  reproues  hym  &  spekes  ill 
of  hym.  Als  a  dede  man,  what-sa 
men  dos  or  sayes,  he  answers  noght: 
Ryght  swa,  wha  sa  lufes  god  pwfitely, 
pai  er  not  stirred  for  any  worde  pat 
man  may  say.  For  he  or  scho  kan 
noght  lufe  pat  may  noght  surfer  payne 
&  anger  for  pair  frendes  lufe.  For 
wha  sa  lufes ,  pai  haue  na  [pyne] . l 
Prowde  men  or  women  lufes  noght 
stalworthly:  for  pai  er  swa  wayke,  pat 
pai  fall  at  ilk  a  styryng  of  pe  wynde, 
pat  es  temptacion.  /  Pai  seke  heghar 
stede  pan  Cryste:  for  pai  wil  haue  pair 
wil  done,  whethir  it  be  wftfc  right  or 
with  wrang:  and  Cryst  will  nathyng 
be  done  bot  wele,  &  with-outen  harme 
of  othir  men.  /  Bot  wha  sa  es  verrayly 
meke,  pai  wil  noght  haue  pair  wil  in 
pis  worlde,  bot2  pat  pai  may  haue  it 
in  pe  toper  plenarly.  In  na  thyng  may 
men  sonar  oum:om  pe  deuel,  pan  in 
Mekenes,'  pat  he  mykel  hates.  /  For 
he  may  wake  &  faste,  &  suffer  pyne, 
mare  pan  any  other  creature  may :  Bot 
mekenes  &  lufe  may  he  noght  haue. 
2  II  Alswa  pe  behoues  luf god  wysely:  and 
pat  may  p0u  noght  do  bot  if  p<?u  be 
wyse.  /  Pou  ert  wyse:  when  fxm  ert 
pore,  with-owten  couaytyse  of  pis  world, 
1  Ms.  pryde.  2  #/.  om> 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

and  hard  als  hell,  pat  spares  nogth  to 
paim  pat  er  dede.  Parefoor  he  pat 
Ms  god  parfytely,  he  ne  griefs  hym 
nogth,  what  schame  or  anguys  so  he 
suffirs,  bot  he  has  delyte  and  couaytes 
pat*  he  war  worthy  for  to  suffre  tour- 
ment  and  payne  for  Oz'stis  lufe,  and  he 
has  Ioy  pat  men  reproues  hym  and 
speke  ille  of  hym.  Als  a  dede  man, 
what  so  men  dose  or  says,  answers 
nogth:  swa  wha  so  lufs  god  parfytely, 
pai  er  nogth  stirid  for  na  word  pat  man 
may  say.  For  he  or  scho  can  nogth 
luf  pat  may  nogth  suffre  payne  and 
angre  for  pain?  frendys  luf :  For  wha  so 
lufs,  pai  haf  na  pyne.  Proud  man  or 
woman  lufs  nogth  stalwardly  :  For  pai 
er  so  wayke  pat  pai  fal  at  ylke  stir- 
ynge  of  pe  wynd,  pat  es  temptacyoun. 
Pai  seke  hegther  stede  pan  Cryst:  For 
pai  wile  haf  pair*?  wile  done  whethir  it 
be  with  rygth  or  with  wrange,  and 
Cryst  wil  na  thyng  be  done  bote  wele 
and  with-outene  harme  of  othir  men. 
Bot  wha  so  es  verrayly  meke,  pai  wile 
nogth  haue  pair^  wile  in  pis  werld, 
pat  pai  may  haf  it  in  pe  tothir  plenerly. 
In  na  thyng  may  men  soner  ouer-come 
pe  deeuel  pan  in  meknes,  pat  he  mykele 
haatis:  For  he  may  waak  and  fast  and 
suffre  pyne,  mare  pan  any  other  crea 
ture  may,  bot  mekenes  and  luf  may  he 
nogth  haue.  «f[  Alswa  pe  bihoues  luf 
god  wysely.  And  pat  may  pou  nogth 
do,  bot  if  pou  be  wys.  Pou  ert  wys, 
when  pou  ert  pouer,  with-outen  couay- 
tese  of  pis  werld,  and  despyses  pi-self 
i  Ms.  J>e. 


til.  are.  And  perfitle.  ne  om.  greues.  pat  he  suffurs.  delyte  &  Ioy  £ 
couetys  pat.  wore,  for  om.  to  suffurs  tourment?.  for  Ih^u  Cr/'st;  lufe  om. 
reprofe.  speke.  he  om.  Ryght  swa  pei  pat  lufs.  pai  om.  styrde.  any. 
can  not,  may  overlined.  can  not  suffyr  a  worde  for  par  frendes  luf.  qwo  so. 
pei  suffur  no  p.  A  prowdemaw,  man  or  w.  stalworthly.  are  so.  pei  falle.  ylk 
a  steryng  of  po  w.  of  temptacz'on.  heygK.  qwo  so  is  vm-aly.  wil  not.  bot  om. 
plenerly.  sunner.  po  deule.  wz't^  m.  &  pat  he.  Also.  art.  pore  om.  worlde. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

&  dispyses  pi-selfe,  for  pe  lufe  of 
Ihttu  Cryste ;  /  and  dispewdes  al  pi 
witte  &  al  pi  myght  in  hys  seruys.  // 
For  sum  pat  semes  wysest,  er  maste 
foles,  for  al  par  wysdom  pai  spyll  in 
couayties,  &  bisynes  abowte  be  world.  / 
If  p0u  saw  a  man  haue  pmnouse  stanes, 
pat  he  myght  by  a  kyngdom  wyth;  if 
he  gaf  pam  for  an  appyl,  als  a  barne 
wil  do:  ryghtwysly  moght  p0u  say  pat 
he  war  noght  wyse,  bot  a  grete  fole.  / 
Als  swa,  if  we  wyl:  ~ue  haue  pwnouse 
stanes:  Pouert,  &  penance,  and  gastly 
trauayle:  with  be  whilk  we  may  by  be 
kyngdom  of  heuen.  /  For  if  p0u  lufe 
ponert ,  &  dispyse  riches,  &  delytes  of 
pis  worlde,  &  halde  pi-self  vyle  &  pure, 
&  thynk  pat  f)0u  hase  noght  of  pi  self 
bot  syn:  for  pis  pouert  p0u  sail  haue 
rytches  w/t^-outen  ende.  /  And  if  p0u 
haue  sorowe  for  pi  synnes,  &  for  p0u 
ert  swa  lang  in  exile,  owte  of  pi  con- 
tre,  &  forsakes  pe  solace  of  pis  lyfe: 
p0u  sal  haue  for  pis  sorow,  pe  ioy  of 
heuen.  And  if  f)0u  be  in  trauayle,  & 
punysche  pi  body,  skilwisly  &  wisely, 
in  wakyns,  fastyngs,  &  in  prayers,  & 
meditacions,  &  suffer  hete,  &  calde, 
hunger  &  thyrst,  mys-es  &  anguys,  for 
pe  lufe  of  Ihtf.ru  Cryste:  for  pis  trauel 
p<m  sal  com  till  reste  pat  lastes  ay,  & 
syt  in  a  setel  of  ioy,  w/'tA  aungels. 
But  som  er  pat  lufes  noght  wysely, 
like  til  barnes,  pat  lufes  mare  an  appel 
pan  a  castel.  Swa  dose  many ;  pai  gyf 
pe  ioy  of  heuen  for  a  litel  delyte  of 
par  flesche,  pat  es  noght  worth  a 
plowme.  Now  may  pow  se  pat  wha 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

for  pe  luf  of  Ihesu.  Crist,  and  dispendys 
all  pi  wite  awd  pi  mygth  in  his  smiyse. 
For  some  pat  semes  wysest  er  maast 
foles,  ffor  all  paiiv  wysdom  pai  spyll 
in  couaytese  and  bysenes  about  pe  werld. 
^[  If  pou  sagth  a  man  haue  pr^cyous 
stanes  pat  he  mygth  by  a  kyngdome 
with ;  If  he  gaf  paim  for  ane  appyl  als 
a  barne  wil  do,  rygthly  mot  pou  say 
pat  he  war  nogth  wys,  bot  a  grete  fole. 
\Vhar-foor,  if  we  wile,  we  haf  pr^cyous 
stanes:  pouert,  awd  penance,  awd  gastly 
trauayle,  with  be  whilk  we  may  bye 
pe  kyngdom  of  heeuen.  For  if  bat 
pou  luf  pouert  awd1  despise  rychesce 
awd  delyces  of  pis  werld  awd  haldis  pi- 
self  vyle  awd  pouer  awd  thynkes  pat 
pou  has  nogth  of  pi  self  bot  synne : 
ffor  pis  pouert  pou  sal  haf  rychesce 
with-outen  ende.  And  if  pou  haf  sorow 
for  hi  synnes  awd  for  pou  ert  so  lang 
in  exile  out  of  pi  cuntre.  awd  forsakes 
pe  solace  of  pis  lif,  pou  sal  haf  for 
pis  sorow  pe  Ioy  of  heeuen.  And  if 
[pou]  be  in  trauayl  awd  punysches  pi 
body  skylwysly  awd  wysely  in  wakynges 
and  fastynges  and  in  prayers  awd 
meditacyons,  awd  suffirs  hete  awd  cald, 
hunger  awd  threst,  Mysays  and  angwys, 
for  pe  luf  of  Ihmt  Cryst,  for  pis 
trauayle  pou  sal  come  til  pe  rest  pat 
lastes  ay,  awd  sitte  in  a  setill  of  ioy 
with  aungels.  Bot  some  er  pat  lufs 
nogth  wysely,  lyke  til  barnes  pat 
lufs  man;  ane  appyl  pan  a  castel ;  swa 
dose  many :  pai  gif  pe  Ioy  of  heeuen 
for  a  litil  delite  of  pair*  flesshe,  pat  es 
nogth  worth  a  ploune.  fl  Now  may  pou 
i  Ms.  ad. 


dysposes.  alle  pi  wit  in  hys  smiyce  &  all  pi  myght  in  hys  luf.  seme,  are 
most.  For  alle  \)er  wit  pei  spende  about  po  bysynes  of  po  worlde.  saw.  bye. 
a  nappul  as.  ryght  myght.  pat  om.  wertf  not.  fule.  Also,  wil  haue,  we  om. 
&  om.  &  gastle  trauel.  po  kyngedome.  if  pat.  dyspice  rytches.  delites. 
worlde.  halde.  pore,  thynke.  pi-seluew.  ryches.  And  if — heuen  om.  punysch. 
wakyng  &  trauayle,  in  fastyng  &  p.  suffur.  kolde.  thryst.  mysese.  trauel. 
to  rest  pat  is  ay.  setyl.  Bot  sum  ar*  pat  ar?  noght  wyse,  1.  vnto.  so.  not. 
plumbe.  qwo. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

sa  will  lufe  wysely,  hym  behoues  lufe 
lastand  thyng  lastandly;  &  passand 
thyng,  passandly  :  swa  pat  his  hert  be 
sette  £  festend  in  nathyng  bot  in  god.  // 
And  if  p<?u  will  luf  Ihesu  verraly,  pow 
sal  noght  anly  lufe  hym  stalwortly  & 
3  wysely:  bot  also  deuowtly  fy  swetely. 
Swete  lufe  es:  when  pi  body  es  chaste, 
&  pi  thoght  clene.  Deuowte  luf  es: 
when  p<?u  offers  pi  prayers  &  pi  thogh- 
tes  til  god  with  gastly  ioy,  &  byrnand 
hert  in  be  hete  of  pe  haly  gaste,  swa 
pat  pe  thynk  pat  pi  saule  es  als  it 
war  drunken  for  delyte  &  solace  of  pe 
swetnes  of  Ihesu. ,  /  and  pi  hert  con- 
ceyues  sa  mykel  of  goddes  helpe,  pat 
pe  thynk  pat  pow  may  neuer  be  fra 
hym  departyd  ;  and  pan  p0u  comes  in 
til  swilk  rest  &  pees  in  sawle,  &  quiete, 
wztA-owten  thoghtes  of  vanitese  [or]  of 
vices,  als  p0u  war  in  sylence  &  slepe,  & 
sette  in  Noe  schyppe,  pat  na  thyng  may 
lette  pe  of  deuocion  &  byrnyng  of  swete 
lufe.  /  Fra  p<?u  haue  getyn  pis  lufe : 
all  pi  lyf,  til  dede  come,  es  ioy  & 
cowforth ,  and 1  verrayli  Oz'stes  lufer, 
and  he  restes  in  pe.  whas  stede  es 
4  maked  in  pees.  /  fe  ferth  askyng  was : 
how  pou  moght  knaw  pat  pou  war  in 
lufe  fy  charite.  /  I  answer  :  pat  na  man 
wate  in  erth  pat  pai  er  in  charite  :  bot 
if  it  be  thorow  any  pmielege  or  special 
grace  pat  god  hase  gifen  til  any  man 
or  woman;  pat  al  other  may  noght 
take  ensawmpel  by.  Haly  men  &  women 
trowes  pat  pai  haue  trowth,  &  hope, 
&  charite  :  &  in  pat  dose  als  wele  als 
pai  may,  &  hopes  certaynly  pat  pai 
1  r.  and  J>ou  es. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

se  pat  wha  so  wil  luf  wysely,  hym 
bihoues  luf  lastand  thyng  lastandly, 
Passand  thynge  passandly ;  swa  pat  his 
hert  be  sette  and  festend  in  na  thyng 
bot  in  god.  ^[  And  if  pou  wil  luf  Ihesu 
verrayly,  pou  sal  nogth  anely  luf  hym 
stalwardly  and  wysely,  bot  alswa  de- 
uoutely  and  swetly.  ^[  Swete  luf  es, 
when  pi  body  es  chast  and  pi  thogth 
clenne.  ^[  Deuoute  luf  es,  when  pou 
offers  pi  prayers  and  pi  thoghtes  til 
god  with  gastly  Ioy  and  brynnand 
hert  in  pe  hete  of  be  haly  gast,  swa 
pat  pe  thynk  pat  pi  saul  es  als  it  war 
drunken  for  delyte  and  solace  of  pe 
swetnes  of  Ihesu ,  and  pi  hert  conceyfs 
so  mykel  of  goddis  help  pat  pe  thynke 
pou  may  neeuer  be  fra  hym  departyde ; 
and  pou  comes  in  til  swylke  rest  and 
pees  in  saul  and  quyete,  with-outen 
thoghtes  of  vanytesce  or  of  vyces,  als 
pou  war  in  silence  and  slepe,  and  sette 
in  Noe  schipe,  pat  na  thyng  may  lette  [pe] 
of  deuocyoun  and  brynnyng  of  swet  luf. 
Fra  pou  haf  getyn  pis  luf,  al  pi  lif,  til 
dede  come,  es  Ioy  and  confort  als  verray 
Chryst  lufer,  and  he  restis  in  pe  whase 
steed  es  maked  in  pees. — ^[  J>E  fierth 
askyng  was:  How  pou  mot  knaw 
pat  pou  war  in  luf  and  charyte.  I 
answer  pat  na  man  whate  in  erth  pat 
pai  er  in  charyte ,  bot  if  it  be  thurgth 
any  priuelage  of  speciale  grace  pat  god 
has  gifen  til  any  man  or  woman,  pat 
all  othir  may  nogth  take  ensampyl  bye. 
Haly  men  and  women  troues  pat  pai 
haf  trouth  and  hop  and  charite,  and 
in  pat  duse  als  wele  als  pai  may,  and 


£  passand.  so.  &  festend  om.  vm-aly.  stalworthly.  als  deuotle  als  swet- 
ely.  Deuotluf.  to  god.  gastle.  brennande.  halegast.  so.  dronken.  po  s. 
cowceyues.  pat  pou  may  n.  be  departyd  fra  hym.  &  pen  pou.  pees  &  rest, 
vanites  or.  let  pe  of  d.  &  swete  luf  in  brynnyng  in  Ihf.ru.  haue  geten.  lyue. 
&  verray  m'stes.  restes.  ferth.  myght.  and  I  a.  are.  thurgh.  pn'uylege  or. 
not.  ensaumple.  wowmen.  haue.  dos.  hope  certanly. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


43 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  54. 

sal  be  safe; — bai  wate  it  not  als  tyte : 
for  if  bai  wiste,  bair  merit  war  be 
lesse.  And  Salomon  says  bat  it  er 
rightwys  men  &  wyse  men,  and  bair 
warkes  er  in  goddes  hand.  And  noght- 
for-f)i  [a]  man  wate  noght  whethir  he  be 
worthi  hateredyn  or  lufe,  bot  al  es 
reserved  vncertayne  til  a  nother  worlde. 
Neuer-be-latter ,  if  any  had  grace  bat 
he  moght  wyn  til  be  thirde  degre  of 
lufe,  bat  es  called  syngulere\  he  sulde 
knaw  bat  he  war  in  lufe.  Bot  in  bat 
maner  his  knawyng  es,  bat  he  moght 
neuer  bere  hym  be  hegher,  ne  be  in 
be  lesse  bisynes  to  lufe  god ;  bot  sa 
mykel  be  mare,  bat  he  es  siker  of 
lufe,  wil  *  he  be  bisy  to  lufe  hym  and 
drede  hym,  bat  hase  made  hym  swilk 
&  done  bat  godenes  til  hym ;  and  he 
bat  es  swa  hee ,  he  wil  noght  halde 
hym-self  worthier,  ban  be  synfullest 
man  bat  gaas  on  erth.  //  Als-swa, 
Seuen  expmmentes  er  bat  a  man  be 

1  in    charite.    /    £e    fyrst    es:    when    al 
couatise   of  ertly  thyng  es   slokkend   in 
hym.  /  For  whare  sa  couaityse  es:  bare 
es  na  lufe  of  Cryste.  /  tan,  if  he  haue 
na    couaytyse :    signe    es    bat  he    hase 

2  lufe.  //  te  secunde  es:  byrnand  ^ernyng 
of  heuen.     For    when   men  hase    feled 
oght  of  bat  sauoure,   be  mare  bai  haue, 
be  mare  bai  couayte ;  &  he   bat   noght 
hase  feled :    noght  he   desires.     For-bi, 
when  any  es   swa   mykel  gyfen   til    be 
luf  bar-of,    bat  he  kan  fynd  na   ioy   in 
bis   lyfe:    taken   he  hase   bat   he  es  in 

3  charite.  //  £e  thyrd  es  :  if  his  tung  be 
chawngyd,  bat  was  [wone]2  to  speke  of  be 

i  al.  wald.     2  om. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

hoopes  c^rtaynly  bat  bai  sal  be  saaf; 
bai  wate  it  nogth  als  tyte :  ffor  if  bai 
wyste,  bair*  meryte  war  be  lesse.  And 
Salamon  says  bat  it  er  rygthwys  men 
a«d  wys  men,  and  bair*  werkis  er  in 
goddis  hand.  And  nogth-for-bi  a  man 
wat  nogth  whethir*  [he]  be  worthy 
hatred  or  luf :  Bot  al  es  reseerued 
vncertayne  til  anothir  werld.  Neeu^r- 
be-lattfr  if  any  had  grace  bat  he  mygth 
wynne  til  be  thred  degre  of  luf,  bat  I 
called  Singulen?,  he  suld  knawe  bat  he 
war  in  luf.  Bot  in  bat  maner  his 
knawyng  es  bat  he  mygth  neeu*r  beer 
hym  be  hegther  ne  be  in  be  lesse  bisynes 
to  luf  god,  bot  swa  mykel  be  mare  bat 
he  es  sekir  of  luf,  wald  he  be  bisy  to 
luf  hym  awd  drede  hym  bat  has  mad 
swylke  bisynes  (!},  awd1  done  bat  gudnes. 
And  knawe2  bat  he  es  so  hegthe,  he 
wald  nogth  hald  hym-self  worthyer  ban 
be  synfullest  man  bat  gas  on  erthe. 
^  Alswa  seeuene  experymentis  eer  bat  a 
man  be  in  charyte.  te  first  es,  when 
all  couaytese  of  erthly  thyng  es  sleckend 
in  hym.  For  whar  so  couaytyse  es, 
bar*  es  na  luf  of  Cryst.  tan  if  he  haf 
na  couaytyse,  sygne3  es  bat  he  has 
luf.  Pe  secund  es,  brynnand  yhernyng 
of  heeuene.  For  when  men  has  felid 
ogth  of  bat  sauour,  be  mare  bai  haf 
be  mare  bai  couayte,  awd  he  bat  nogth 
has  felid  nogth  he  desyres.  For-bi  when 
any  es  so  mykel  gifen  til  be  luf  barof 
bat  he  can  fynd  na  Ioy  in  bis  lif,  Taken 
he  has  bat  he  es  in  Charyte.  £e  thred 
es :  If  his  tung  be  chaunged,  bat  was 
wone  to  speke  of  be  erth,  and  now 
i  Ms.  ad.  -  T.  Jiaw?  3  Ms.  syngne, 
n  expunged. 


safe,  noght.  ber  mede  wer*  bo  1.  it  an?  r.  mew  &  wymmew  &  wysemew. 
ber  warkwj.  not-for-thy  a.  hateredon*.  warlde.  bat  om.  myght.  into  bo  thryd. 
lufe  om.  I  calde.  know,  myght.  bere.  bo  heygrl.  so.  syker.  besy.  wald. 
so  made  hyw  &  done  bat  godenes  for  hym.  knawe  bat  om.  he  bat.  hygK. 
wil  not.  Also,  ar*  to  wit  bat.  coueytys.  slokkend.  so.  couetyse.  has.  syne, 
brewnand  ^ernynge.  feled  oght.  couet.  noght  desyres.  gyfen  so  mykel.  no  Ioy. 
has  charite.  thryd.  is  tonge.  chaungyd.  wont,  and  om. 


44 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 
erth  :    now  spekes  of  god,  &  of  pe  lyf 

4  pat  lastes  ay.  //  Pe  feerth  es :    exercise 
of  gastly   pnrfet.     Als,    if    any   man    or 
woman    gyf    pam    enterely    to    goddes 
seruyes,     &    entermetes    pam    of    nane 

5  erthly  bisynes.  //  Pe    fift    es:    when   pe 
thyng    pat    es   hard   in   it-selfe,    semes 
lyght  forto   do;    pe    whilk    luf    makes. 
For  ah  Austyne1  says:  »Lufreden  es  pat 
bryngs    pe    thywg   pat   es   fare2,    nere- 
hande,     and      i^zpossibel     til     possibel 

6  apertly.«    //    Pe  sext    es:    hardynes    of 
thoght  to  suffer  all  anguyses  and  noyes 
pat  comes — wzt#-owten  pis,  al  pe   op^r 
suffices  noght.  /  For  it  sal  noght  make 
a   ryghtwys   man    sary:    what    sa    falles 
hym.      For    he    pat    es    ryghtwys,    he 
hates    noght   bot  syn,    he    lufes    noght 
bot  god,   for  god,  he  dredes  noght  bot 
to   wreth   god.  //  Pe   seuent  es:    delit- 
abilite  in  sawle,   when  he  es  in  tribul- 
acion ,    and    makes    louyng    to    god   in 
ilk    anger    pat    he     suffers.     And     pis 
schewes  wele  pat  he   lufes   god:    when 
na  sorow  may  bryng  hym  downe.  /  For 
many    lufes    god   whils   pai    er   in    ese: 
and  in  aduwsite   pai   grotche,    &  falles 
in  swa  mykel  sarynes,  pat  vnneth  may 
any     man     cowforth     pam;     and     swa 
sclawnder  pai  god,  flytand   &  feghtand 
agayne  his  domes.   And  pat  es  a  caytif 
louyng    pat    any    welth    of    pe    worlde 
makes;    bot   pat   louyng    es    of    mykel 
pryce,    pat  na   violence   of  sorow    may 

5  do  a-way.  //   pe   fifte    askyng   was:  In 

what  state  men  may  maste  lufe  god.     I 

answer:  In  wilk3  state  sa  it  be  pat  men 

er  in  maste  rest,  of  body   &    sawle,    & 

i]  al.  Cassiodor.     2  Ms.  faire.     3  Ms.  swilk. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

spekes   of  god  and   of  pe  lif  pat  lastes 

ay.     Pe  fierth  es,    excercyse  of  gaastly 

pwfyte,    als  if  any  man  or  woman  gifs 

paim    entierly    til    goddis    smiyse    and 

entirmetis   paim  of  nane  erthly  bisynes. 

Pe  fift  es,   when  pe  thinges  pat  er  hard 

in   paim-self,  semes  ligth  forto  do.     Pat 

luf    makes.       For    als    Calcid^i    says: 

Lufreden    es     pe     thyng    pat     brynges 

nerehand  inpossible   til  possible   mygth 

appeertly.      Pe     sext    es,     hardynes    of 

thogth  to  suffre  all  angwysses  and  noyse 

pat  comes — with-outene  pis,  all  petothir 

ne    suffyces    nogth.     For    it    sal    nogth 

make   a  rygthwys    man    sary    what    so 

bifalles  hym.    For  he   pat  es  Rygthwys, 

he  haatis  nogth  bot  synne,  he  lufs  nogth 

bot  god,  he  dredis  nogth  bot  to  wrethe 

god.    Pe  seuent  es,  delytablete  in  saul; 

when  he  es  in  tribulacyouw   and  makis 

loouyng     to    god     in    ylk     ane     angre 

pat  he  suffres.     And    pis  schewys  wele 

pat  he  lufs  god  when  na  waa  may  bryng 

hym  doun.     For  many  looues  god  whiles 

pai   er  in  eese,    and    in    aduersyte   pai 

grucche  and  in  til  so  mykel  sarynes  pai 

falle  pat  vnnethes  may  any  man  comfort 

paim,  and  swa  sk[l]aunder  pai  god,  flitand 

and  figthtand  agaynes  hys  domes.    And 

pat  es  a  caytif  loouyng   pat  any  welth 

of  pe  werld   makes !     Bot   pat  loouyng 

es  of  mykel   prys    pat  na    vyolence    of 

sorowe  may  do  a-way. — PE  fift  askyng 

was:   In  what  state  men  may  maast  luf 

god.     I  answer :    In    whilke    state  so  it 

be  pat   men   er  in  maast  rest   of  body 

3  r.  Cassi[o]dor. 


gyf  pam.  to.  entmnetes.  na.  po  thynges.  are.  pam-selfe.  pat  1. 
makus.  For  Salads  says,  pe  thyng  om.  pat  brynges  be  far  thyng  ner*  &  im- 
possibul  to  p.  myght  to  apertly.  hardnes.  suffur.  anguys  &  noyes.  ne  om.  suffice, 
ryght  wysemaw.  befalles.  hates,  bot  god  &  for  god.  dredes.  for  to  w.  g.,  he  has 
na  loy  bot  in  god  &  alle  hys  hop?  es  to  kome  til  god.  delitabilite.  ilkan  angur. 
suffers,  schewes.  lofs.  no  woo,  don*,  lufs.  grutche  &  falles  into  so  mykel  sarenes. 
so  slawnder.  feghtande  agaynes.  is.  louyng.  worlde.  pryse.  no.  &  I  a.  and 
saul  om. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


45 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

leest  occupied  -with  any  nedes  or  bis- 
ynes  of  pis  worlde.  For  be  thoght  of 
pe  lufe  of  Ihwu  Criste,  &  of  be  ioy 
pat  lastes  ay,  sekes  rest  wyth-owten, 
pat  it  be  noght  lettyd  with  comers  & 
gangers,  and  occupacion  of  worldely 
thynges ;  and  it  sekes  with-in  grete 
sylence  fra  be  noyes  of  couayties,  &  of 
vanitees,  &  of  ertly  thoghtes.  And 
namely  al  bat  lufes  cowtemplatyfe  lyf, 
pai  seke  rest  in  body  &  in  saule.  For 
a  grete  doctor  says  pat  pai  er  goddes 
trone  pat  dwelles  still  in  a  stede,  and 
er  noght  abowte  rennand :  bot  in  swetneS 
of  Cristes  lufe  er  stabyld.  And  I  haue 
lufed  for  to  sytt:  for  na  penance,  ne 
for  na  fantasy,  pat  I  wild  men  spak  of 
me,  ne  for  na  swylk  thyng :  bot  anly 
for  I  knew  pat  I  loued  god  mare,  & 
langar  lasted  wztA-in  pe l  comforth  of 
lufe:  pan  gangand,  or  standand,  or 
kneleand.  /  For  sittand  am  I  in  maste 
rest,  &  my  hert  maste  vpwarde.  Bot 
par-fore  p^rauenture  es  it  noght  pe  best 
til  a  nother  at  sitte ,  als  I  did  &  wil 
do  til  my  dede :  bot  if  he  war  disposed 
als  I  was,  in  his  sawle. 

(O)Euen  gyftes  of  be  hali  gaste  er 
in  men  &  wymen  pat  er  ordaynd  til 
pe  ioy  of  heuen  and  ledes  paire  life 
in  pis  worlde  rightwisly.  pies  pai  er: 
/  WysdoWi ,  /  Vnderstandyng,  /  Cown- 
sayle,  /  Strengh,  /  Connyng,  /  Pyte,  ! 
&  pe  Drede  of  god.  /  Begynne  we  at 
I  Counsel,  for  parof  es  maste  nede  at 
be  begynnyng  of  owre  werkes,  bat  vs 
myslike  noght  afterwarde.  With  pier 
seuen  gyftes  pe  haly  gaste  towches 
sere  men  serely.  Cownsel  es,  doyng 
i  al.  with  me.  2  This  chapter,  om.  in  Ms. 
Rawl.  and  the  other  Mss.,  occurs  as  a  separate 
piece  in  Ms.  Thornton  and  Arund.  507. 

lest  es  o.  nedes.  po  worlde.  po  day.  lastes.  sekes.  not.  occupac/ons  of 
wardly  th.  noyse.  coueytyse.  vanites.  of  om.  lufs.  trone.  lufud.  walde. 
pat  I  knewe.  lufud.  langer  lastyd.  w*tA  me.  comforth.  parauntwr  es  it.  pe 
om.  at  sit.  haf  done.  til.  Cap.  XI  om. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

and  saul,  and  leest  occupyed  with  any 
nedis  or  bisynes  of  pis  werld.  For  pe 
thogth  of  pe  luf  of  Ihesu  Cryst  awd  of  pe 
day  pat  lastis  ay,  sekis  rest  with-outen, 
pat  it  be  nogth  lettid  with  comers  a«d 
gangers  awd  occupacyon  of  werldisshe 
thynges ;  and  it  sekis  with-Inne  gret 
silence  fra  be  noyse  of  couaytise  and 
of  vanytese  awd  erthly  thoghtes.  And 
namely  all  pat  luf  contemplatife  lif,  pai 
seke  rest  in  body  and  in  saul.  For  a 
gret  doctor  says  pat  pai  er  goddis  throne 
pat  dwellis  stille  in  a  stede  and  er  nogth 
about  rennand,  bot  in  swettenes  of 
Crystis  luf  er  stablede.  ^f  And  I  haf 
lufd  forto  sytte,  for  na  penance,  ne  for 
na  fantasy  pat  I  wald  men  spake  of 
me,  ne  for  na  swilke  thyng,  bot  anely 
for  I  knewe  pat  I  lufd  god  mare  and 
lengar  lasted  with  me  comfort  of  lufe, 
pan  gangand  or  standand  or  kneland. 
For  sittand  am  I  in  mast  rest,  and  my 
hert  mast  vpward.  Bot  parfor  parauenture 
it  es  nogth  pe  best  til  anothir  to  sitte 
als  I  haf  done  awd  wil  do  to  my  dede, 
bot  if  he  war  disposed  als  I  was  in  his 
saul. 


46 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

away  of  worldes  rytches,  &  of  delytes, 
&  of  al  thynges  bat  man  may  be 
ta[gild]l  wzt/6  in  thoght  or  dede ;  /  and 
bar-wzlfc  be  drawne  ircwardely  til  co«- 

2  templacion  of  god.  /   Vnderstandyng  es, 
to  knaw  what  es  forto  do,   &   what   for 
to  leue;    and    pat  pat  sal  be    gifen,    to 
gif  it  til  bam  pat  hase  nede,    noght  til 

3  other    pat    hase   na   myster.   /   Wysdom 
es,  forgetyng  of  ertly  thynges,    &  thyn- 
kyng    of  heuen,    wz't/fc   discrecion   in   al 
mens  dedes.  In  pis  gyft  schynes  cowtem- 
placion,  pat  es,  a[ls]2  saynt  Austyn  says, 
A  gastely   dede   of  fleschly    affections, 
thorow    be    ioy    of    a   raysed  thoght.   / 

4  Strengh     es,     lastyng     to     fulfill     gude 
purpose,  pat  it  be  noght  left,   for  wele 

5  ne  for   wa.  /  Pyte    es.    bat    a    man   be 
mylde;   &  agayne-say  noght  haly  writte, 
when  it  smytes  his  synnes,   whethir   he 
vnderstand  it  or  noght;    Bot    in    al    his 
myght   purge   he   be   vilete  of    syn,    in 

6  hym    &    in     other.  /   Connyng    es    pat 
makes    a     man     in    gude    hope    noght 
rusand    hym    of    his    rightwisnes,     bot 
sorowand    of    his    syn;    and   pat    man 
geder  erthly  godes  anely  to  be  honoure 
of  god,   and  prow  til   other   men,    mare 

7  ban  til  his   self.  /  A  drede  of  god  es, 
pat    we    turne    noght   agayne   til   oure 
syn    thorou    any  il   eggyng.    &    pan  es 
drede  p^rfyte  in  vs,    &  haly:    when  we 
drede  to  wreth  god  in  be  leste  syn  bat 
we  may  knaw,     and  flees  it  as   venym. 

Capm.   Xllm. 

(  i.  )Wa  lyues  bar  er  bat  cristen 
men  lyfes.  Ane  es  called  Actyue  lyfe: 
for  it  es  in  mare  bodili  warke.  Ano 
ther,  cowtemplatyue  lyfe :  for  it  es  in 
mare  swetnes  gastely.  Actife  lyfe  es 
mykel  owteward,  &  in  mare  trauel  & 
1  Ms.  tacit,  on  erasure.  2  Ms.  at.  3  In  \  er- 
non,  this  part  has  a  special  title:  de  vita  con- 
templatiua  etactiua ;  in  Ar.  507  it  occurs  separate. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 


1  wa  lifs  er  pat  cn'sten  men  lifs : 
Ane  es  called  actife  lif:  for  it  es  [in] 
mare  werke  bodely.  Anothir  Contemplatif 
lif:  for  it  es  in  mare  swetnes  gastly. 
f  Actif  lif  es  mykel  outward,  and  in 
mare  trauaylle  and  in  mare  perille, 


Two 

gastle. 


lyfes    p^    ar£.     lyfs  in.    in  mar^  warke  bodyle.     A.  es  called  c.    lif  om. 
outwart.     traueyl  &  mar^  in  peril  of  temptaczons.    warlde. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


47 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

in  mare  peryle ,  for  pe  tewptacions  pat 
er  in  pe  worlde.  Cowtemplatyfe  lyfe 
es  mykel  inwarde ,  and  for-pi  it  es 
lastandar,  &  sykerar,  restfuller,  delita- 
biler,  luflyer,  &  mare  medeful.  For  it 
hase  ioy  in  goddes  lufe,  &  sauowre  in 
pe  lyf  pat  lastes  ay,  in  pis  present 
tyme,  if  it  be  right  ledde.  And  pat 
felyng  of  ioy  in  pe  lufe  of  Ihttu, 
passes  al  other  merites  in  erth.  For 
it  es  swa  harde  to  com  to,  for  pe 
freelte  of  oure  flesch,  and  pe  many 
temptacions  pat  we  er  vmsett  with, 
pat  lettes  vs  nyght  &  day :  al  other 
thynges  er  lyght  at  com  to,  in  regarde 
parof;  for  pat  may  na  man  deserue, 
bot  anely  it  es  gifen  of  goddes  godene.s, 
til  pam  pat  verrayli  gifes  pam  to  co»- 
templacion  &  til  quiete  for  Cristes  luf. 
//  Til  men  or  wymen  bat  takes  pam 

1  til  actife  lyfe  ,  twa  thynges  falles.  Ane : 
for    to    ordayne    {)air    meyne    in    drede 
&  in    be    lufe    of   god  and    fynd    pam 
pair*    necessaries,    and    pam-self    kepe 
enterely     be    comandementes     of    god, 
Doand  til  par  neghbur  als  pai    wil  pat 

2  bai    do    til    bam.     Another  es,   pat  bai 
do    at    bar  power    be   seuen    werkes  of 
mercy,    /    Pe    whilk    es :    to    fede    be 
hungry.     To    gyf   be    thristi    a    drynk. 
To    cleth    be    naked.     To    herbar    hym 
bat    hase    na   howsyng.      To    viset    be 
seke.      To    cowforth    bam    pat     er    in 
Prysouw.      And     to    graue    dede    men. 
Al    bat   mai   &  hase1)    cost,    bai  may 
noght  be  qwyt  w/tA  ane  or  twa  of  pir, 
bot    pam    behoues    do    pam    al,    if    pai 
wil   haue    be    benyson    on    domes- day, 

i  Ms.  hase  &  mai. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

for  temptacyons  pat  er  in  be  werld. 
^f  Contemplatif  lif  es  mykel  inward, 
and  for-[bi]  it  es  lastander  and  sikerer, 
restfuler,  delitabler,  luflyer  awd  mare 
medfull.  For1  it  has  Ioy  in  goddis 
luf,  awd  sauour  in  be  lif  bat  lastes  ay, 
in  bis  present  tyme  if  it  be  rygth  ledde. 
And  bat  felyng  of  Ioy  in  be  luf  of  Ihesu 
passes  all  othir  merytes  in  erthe.  For 
it  es  so  hard  to  cum  tille,  ffor  be  freyllte 
of  our  flesshe  and  be  many  temptacyons 
bat  we  er  vmsette  with,  bat  lettis  vs 
nygth  awd  day:  All  othir  thynges  er 
ligth  at  come  to  in  reward  bar*of.  For 
bat  may  na  man  deserue :  Bot  anely  it 
er  gifen  of  goddis  gudnes  til  bairn  pat  ver- 
rayly  gifs  bairn  til  Contemplacyon*  and  til 
quyete  for  O/'stis  luf.  Til  men  or  women 
pat  takis  paim  til  actif  lif,  Twa  thynges 
falles :  Ane,  forto  ordayne  pair*  menyhe 
in  drede  and  in  luf  of  god  a»d  fynd 
paim  paire  necessaryes,  and  paim-self 
kepe  entierly  pe  comaundementw  of  god, 
doand  with  pair*  neigthbur  als  bai 
wil  bat  bai  do  til  bairn,  ^f  Anothir  es 
bat  bai  do  at  pair*  power  pe  seuene 
werkys  of  mercy  ;  be  whilke  es  :  to  fede  be 
hungry,  To  gif  be  thresty  a  drynke, 
To  cleth  be  naakcd,  To  herber  hym 
bat  has  na  housyng,  To  vysete  be  seke, 
To  comfort  bairn  bat  er  in  preson,  and 
to  graue  dede  men.  All  pa  pat2  may, 
and  has  cost,  pai  may  nogth  be  quyte 
with  ane  or  twa  of  pir,  bot  paim 
bihoues  to  do  bairn  all,  If  bai  wil  haf 
be  beneson  on  domes-day  bat  Ih*Ju 
i  Ms.  For-J)i.  2  overlined. 


&  for-pi.  lastander.  sykerer.  &  delytabuler.  for  it.  is  so.  come  to.  frelte. 
tamptacions  pat  lettys  vs  nyght  &  day  pe  qwilk  we  ar*  vmset  w*tA.  to  come  to, 
regard,  no.  For  it  es  gyffew.  to  pam  f)at  gyfs  pam  v*n-ayle  to  c.  To.  wymmen. 
to.  ordeyne  heir  mene  in  bo  d.  &  in  f>o  1.  to  kepe.  d.  w«t*.  to  paw. 


takes, 


are.     bo  thrysty  drynke.    clabe.    h*rber.    To  comfort  om.;  &  baw.    to  graue  om.; 
and  bo  d.  m.     pa  om.     not.    wi'tA  one  ne  wit*  two  of  thyse.     bem.     to  om. 


48 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

bat  Ihmt  sal  til  al  gyf  bat  dose  {)am. 
Or  els  may  bai  drede  be  malysouw 
bat  al  mon  haue  bat  wil  noght  do 
bam,  when  bai  had  godes,  to  do 
baw  wyth.  //  Contemplatife  lyf  hase  twa 
partyes :  A  lower  &  a  heer.  Pe  lower 
party  es  meditacion,  of  haly  wrytyng, 
bat  es  goddes  wordes,  and  in  other 
gude  thoghtes  &  swete  bat  men  hase 
of  be  grace  of  god,  abowt  f)e  lufe  of 
Ihesn  Criste ;  and  also  in  louyng  of 
god  in  psalmes  &  ympnes,  or  in  pray 
ers.  //  £e  hegher  party  of  cowtewplacion 
es  behaldyng,  &  ^ernyng,  of  be  thynges 
of  heuen,  £  ioy  in  be  haly  gaste ;  bat 
men  hase  oft,  and l  if  it  be  swa  bat 
bai  be  noght  prayand  w/t/z  be  mowth, 
bot  anely  thynkand  of  god,  &  of  be 
fairehede  of  aungels,  &  haly  sawles. 
£an  may  I  say  bat  cowtemplacion  es 
a  wonderful  ioy  of  goddes  luf,  be 
whilk  ioy  es  louyng  of  god,  bat  may 
noght  be  talde ,  &  bat  wonderful 
louyng  es  in  be  saule;  /  and  for 
abundance  of  ioy  &  swettenes  it  as- 
cendes  in  til  be  mouth:  swa  bat  be 
hert  &  be  tonge  acordes  in  ane,  and 
body  &  sawle  ioyes  in  god  lyuand.  // 
A  man  or  woman  bat  es  ordaynd  til 
cowtemplatife  lyfe,  first  god  enspires 
bam  to  forsake  bis  worlde,  and  al  be 
vanite  &  be  couayties  and  be  vile  luste 
barof.  Sythen  he  ledes  bam  by  bar 
ane,  &  spekes  til  ^ar  hert:  and  als  be 
pwphete  says,  He  gifes  bam  at  sowke 
be  swetnes  of  be  begynnyng  of  lufe  ; 
and  ban  he  settes  bam  in  will  to  gyf 
bam  haly  to  prayers  &  meditacions  & 
teres.  Sithen,  when  bai  haue  sufferd 
i  al.  al-if. 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

Cn'st  sal  til  all  gif  bat  duse  bairn.  Or 
elles  may  bai  dred  be  malysoun^  bat 
all  mon  haue  bat  wil  nogth  do  bairn 
when  bai  had  guddes  to  do  bairn  with. 
^[  Contemplatyf  lif  has  twa  party  s,  a 
lagther  and  a  hegther.  te  lagher  partye 
es  medytacyon^  of  haly  wrytyng  —  bat 
es  godis  wordis  —  and  in  othir  gude 
thoghtes  and1  swete  bat  men  has  of  be 
grace  of  god  obout  be  luf  of  Ihesu  Cryst; 
and  alswa  in  loouyng  of  god  in 
psalmes  and  ympnes,  or  in  prayers. 
^[  Pe  hegther  party  of  Contemplacyoun<? 
es  bihaldyng  and  yhernyng  of  be  thynges 
of  heeuene,  and  Ioy  in  be  haly  gast; 
bat  men  has  of  grace  2  ,  and  if  it  be 
swa  bat  bai  be  nogth  prayand  with  be 
mouthe  bot  anely  thynkand  on  god 
and  of  be  fayrehed  of  angells  and  haly 
sauls.  Pan  may  I  say  bat  Contemplacyontf 
es  a  woundirfull  Ioy  of  goddis  luf,  be 
whilke  Ioy  es  loouyng  of  gode  bat  may 
nogth  be  tald,  and  bat  woundirful 
loouyng  es  in  be  saul.  And  for  aboun- 
dauwce  of  ioy  and  swetnes  it  ascendis 
in  til  be  mouthe,  swa  bat  be  hert  and 
be  tung  accord  in  ane,  and  body  and 
saul  loyse  in  god  lifand.  ^[  A  man  or 
woman  bat  es  ordand  til  Countemplatif 
life,  fyrst  god  enspires  bairn  to  forsake 
bis  werld  and  all  be  vanyte  and  be 
couaytise  and  be  vyle  lust  bar^-of. 
Sithen  he  leddis  bairn  by  bair^  ane  and 
spekis  til  bair<?  hert  :  and  als  be  pr^phete 
says,  he  gifs  bairn  at  souke  be  swetnes 
of  be  bygynnyng  of  luf;  and  ban  he 
settis  bairn  in  wille  to  gif  bairn  haally 
to  prayers  and  meditacyons  and  teeris. 
Sithen  when  bai  haf  suffred  many 


Ms.  ad.      2 


ofte. 


Ihesu  cr/st.  gyf  till  alle.  qwew  he  lent  baw  godes.  to  partys.  lagher.  heygft. 
of  goddes  wordes.  abowt — Criste  om.  &  also,  in  1.  of  god  om.  or  y.  heyher. 
garnyng.  has  oft  (inst.  of  of  grace)  al  yf.  it  be  swa  bat  om.  th.  of  god. 
ascendys.  so  bat  be  ye  &  bo  tunge  acordes  in  til  ane.  Ioyes.  or  a  w.  ordend 
to  contemplaczon  or  to  contemplatyf  lyf.  worlde.  be^  om.  &  bo  couetyse  bwDf 
&  bo  vyle  luf.  ledes.  be  \ser  one,  spekes.  gyfs.  at  souke  om.  (room  left), 
settys.  haly.  suffred. 


The  Form  of  Perfect  Living. 


49 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

many  temptacions,  &  [pe]  foule  noyes  of 
thoghtes  pat  er  ydel,  &  of  vanitees  pe 
whilk  \vil  comber  f)am  pat  can  noght 
destroy  pam,  er  passand  a-\vay :  he 
gars  paw  geder  til  pam  pair  hert  & 
fest  anely  in  hym:  and  opens  til  pe 
egh  of  pair  sawls  pe  ^ates  of  heuen : 
swa  pat  pe  ilk  egh  lokes  in  til  heuen; 
and  pan  pe  fire  of  lufe  verrali  Hgges 
in  pair  hert,  &  byrnes  parin,  &  makes 
[it]  clene  of  al  erthly  filth:  &  sithen 
forward  pai  er  cowtemplatife  men,  & 
rauyst  in  lufe.  For  cowtewplacion  es 
a  syght:  &  pai  se  in  til  heuen  \vhk 
par  gastly  egh.  Bot  f)0u  sal  witt  pat 
naman  hase  p^rfite  syght  of  heuen 
whils  pai  er  lifand  bodili  here.  Bot 
als  sone  als  pai  dye:  pai  er  broght 
before  god  and  sese  hyw  face  til  face, 
&  egh  til  egh :  and  wones  \viih  hyw 
w/t/J-outen  ende.  For  hym  pai  soght, 
&  hym  pai  couayted,  and  hym  pai 
lufed,  in  al  par  myght.  // 

Loo,  Margarete,  I  haue  schortly 
sayde  pe  pe  forme  of  lyuyng :  and  how 
p0u  may  com  til  perfection,  and  to 
lufe  hym  pat  p0u  hase  taken  pe  til. 
If  it  do  pe  gude,  and  profit  til  pe : 
thank  god,  &  pray  for  me.  te  grace 
of  Ihmi  Criste  be  with  pe,  &  kepe  pe. 
Amew. 

Explicit  forma  viuendi. 


Ms.  Harl.  C  285. 

temptacyons,  and  pe  foul  noys  of 
thoghtes  pat  er  Idell,  and  of  vanytyse, 
pe  whilke  wile  combre  paim  pat  can 
nogth  distroye  paim,  es  passand  away, 
he  gers  paim  gader  til  paim  pain:  hertz's 
and  fest  paim  haally  in  hym  :  and  opens 
til  pe  egth  of  pair<?  saul  pe  yhates  of 
heeuen,  swa  pat  pat  ylke  egthe  lukes 
in  til  heeuen.  And  pan  pe  stye  *  of  luf 
verrayly  ligges  in  pain?  hert  and  brynnes 
pare-Inne,  awd  makis  it  clenne  of  erthly 
fylth;  and  sithen-forthward  pai  er 
Contemplatife  men  and  rauyshed  in  luf. 
For  Contemplacyoun*  es  a  sygth :  pai 
se  in  til  heeuen  with  pain,'  gastly  egthe. 
Bot  pou  sal  wyte  pat  na  man. has  parfite 
sigth  of  heeuen  whils  pai  er  lifand  bodyly 
here;  bot  als  sone  als  pai  dye,  pai  er 
brogth  by  fore  god  awd  seese  hym  face 
til  face  and  eghe  til  eghe,  and  wonnes 
with  hym  with-outen  end.  For  hym 
pai  sogth  and  hym  pai  couayted  and 
hym  pai  lufd  in  all  paire  mygth. 

Lo,  Cecil,  I  haf  schortly  sayd  [pe] 
pe  fourme  of  lufyng2,  and  how  pou  may 
come  til  p^rfeccyoun^  and  to  luf  hym 
pat  pou  has  taken  pe  til.  If  it  do  [)e 
gud  and  profyte,  thanke  god,  and  pray 
for  me.  te  grace  of  Ihesu  Cryst  be 
with  pe  and  kepe  pe.  Amen. 

i  al.  fyr.        2  r.  lifyng. 


&  po.  noyes.  an?  ydel  &  vayn  (&  of  v.  om.).  comber,  not.  are  passande. 
gars,  gedur  to-gedwr  \>er  h<rte  til  paw  &  set  it  in  hym  (haally  om.).  opuns. 
egh.  ^ate.  so.  pat  ilk.  may  loke.  po  fyn?.  lygges  vmaly.  brennes.  makes, 
it  om.  of  alle  e.  f.  forwarde.  rauyscht.  &  pei  se.  gastle  egh.  qwiles.  bodyle. 
alsone.  sese.  to  f.  to  e.  wones.  couetyd.  loued.  al  om.  Margarete  om.  pe 
om.  louyng.  to.  pr0fet.  til  pe  om. 


2.     Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat. 

This  tract  is  extant  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64  fol.  22  (after  »Forma  viuendi«);  in  Ms.  Rawl. 
A  389,  twice:  fol.  77,  and  fol.  95^,  the  latter  text— which  follows  immediately 
upon  »Pe  fourme  of  liuyng«  without  special  title  and  without  being  clearly 
distinguished  as  a  separate  tract — being  a  southern  transcription,  while  pe  former 
retains  most  of  the  northern  forms;  and  in  Ms.  Vernon,  where,  as  in  the  2n 
text  of  Ms.  Rawl.,  it  immediately  joins  the  »Form  of  parfyt  liuynge«  without 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


being  distinguished  as  a  separate  tract.  The  2nd  text  in  Rawl.  is  not  taken  from 
the  Ist;  the  Vernon  text  is  derived  from  the  2nd  text  of  Rawl.  Ms.  Arund.  507 
fol.  40  contains  an  abridged  and  imperfect  text. 


Ms.  Dd  V.  64,  fol.  122. 

(JLL}Go  dormio  $•  cor  meum  uigilat. 
P0U1  pat  lyste  lufe,  herken  &  here  of 
luf.  In  pe  sang  of  luf  it  es  writen : 
»I  slepe  &  my  hert  wakes. «  Mykel 
lufe  he  schewes  pat  neuer  is  irk  to 
lufe,  bot  ay,  standand,  sittand,  gangand 
or  wirkand,  es  ay  his  lufe  thynkand, 
and  oft-syth  parof  es  dremande.  For- 
pi  pat  I  lufe,  I  wow  pe,  pat  I  myght 
haue  pe  als  I  walde,  noght  to  me  bot 
to  my  lorde.  I  wil  be-com  pat  mess- 
anger  to  bryng  pe  to  hys  bed,  pat  hase 
made  pe  &  boght  pe,  Criste  pe  keyng 
son  of  heuen :  for  he  wil  wz't/fc  pe 
dwelle.  If  p0u  will  lufe  hym,  he  askes 
pe  namare  bot  pi  lufe.  And  my  dere 
syster  \n  Criste,  my  wil  pou  dose  if 
f)0u  lufe  hym.  Criste  couaytes  ...  noght 
els  bot  at  p0u  do  his  wil,  and  enforce 
pe,  day  &  nyght,  pat  p0u  leue  al 
fleschly  lufe,  and  al  lykyng  pat  lettes 
pe  til  lofe  Ihesu.  Crist  v^raly.  For  ay 
whils  pi  hert  es  heldand  til  lufe  any 
bodely  thyng,  p0u  may  not  p^fitely 
be  coupuld  w/tA  god.  /  In  [heuen]2  er 
neyn  orders  of  aungels,  pat  er  cowtened 
\n  thre  lerarchies.  /  Pe  lawest  lerarchi 
cowtenes  Aungels,  Archaungels,  &  Ver- 
tues.  /  Pe  mydel  lerarchi  contenes 
Principates,  Potestates,  &  Dominacions. 
Pe  heest  lerarchi,  pat  neest  est3  god, 
cowtenes  Thronos,  Cherubyn,  &  Seraphyn. 
Pe  lawest  es  aungels,  be  heest  es  sera- 
phyn.  /  And  pat  order  pat  leste  es 
bryght,  es  seuen-sythe  sa  bryght  als 
pe  son  es.  [And  als  pou  sees  pe  son] 4 
bryghtar  pan  a  kandele,  pe  kandel 
bryghtar  pan  pe  mone,  pe  mone  bryghtar 
pan  a  sterne :  /  also  er  pe  orders  \n 

1  Ms.  bai,  corr.      2  Ms.  wham.      3  r.  es  to. 
4  om. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389,  fol.  77. 

Jigo  dormio  &  cor  meum  vigilat. 
Pe  pat  lyste  luf,  held  pine  ere  and  here 
of  luf.  In  pe  sang  of  luf  I  fynde  it 
writen  pat  I  haue  sett  at  pe  begynnynge 
of  my  wrytynge  :  »I  slepe  and  my  hert 
wakes. «  Mykell  luf  he  shewes  pat  neu^re 
is  irke  to  luf,  bot  ay,  standande,  sittande,1 
gangande  or  any  other  dede  doande  es 
ay  his  luf  thynkand,  and  oft-sithe  per- 
of  dremand.  For-pi  pat  I  luf  pe,  I  wogh 
pe,  pat  I  myght  haue  pe  as  I  wilde, 
noght  tille  me  bot  till  my  lard.  I  wille 
be  comer  and2  messager  to  bryng  pe 
till  his  bed  pat  has  made  pe  and  boght 
pe,  Criste  pe  kynges  son  of  heuen ; 
for  he  will  wed  pe  if  pou  wille  luf  hym ; 
he  askes  pe  na  mare  bot  pi  luf.  And 
my  wille  pou  dose,  if  pou  luf  hym. 
Crist  couaytes  pi  fairehede  in  saule, 
pat3  pou  gyf  hym  halely  pi  hert :  and  I 
preche  noght  ellys  bot  pat  pou  do  his 
will,  and  afforce  pe  day  &  nyght  to  lefe 
alle  fleschely  luf  and  al  likyng  pat  lettus 
pe  to  luf  Ihesu  Crist  verrayly ;  for  I- 
whils  pi  hert  is  heldande  to  luf  of  any 
bodyly  thyng,  pou  may  not  parfitly  be 
cupilde4  wit  god.  ^[  In  heuen  er  IX. 
ordirs  of  aungels,  pat  are  conte[n]yd  in 
thre  lerarchies :  pe  lagheste  lerarchy 
contenys  aungels,  archangels,  vertu^.  Pe 
myddes  lerarchi  contenys:  Potestates, 
Pn'ncipatus,  D0wznaczones.  Pe  heghest 
lerarchi,  pat  next  is  til  god,  cowtenys : 
Tronys,  Cherubyn,  and  Saraphyn.  Pe 
laghest  ordir  is  Aungels,  be  heghest 
Seraphyn.  And  pat  ordir  pat  lest  is 
bryght,  is  seuen  sa  bryght  as  is  pis 
son.  And  as  pou  sees  pe  son  bryghter 
pan  pe  candel,  pe  candel  bryghter  pan 
pe  mone,  pe  mone  bryghter  pan  pe 
stemys,  alswa  are  pe  orders  of  aungels 

1  Ms.  sistande.      2  RZ  become,  V.  bi-come  a. 
3  R2  &  bat.       <  Ms.  cuipilde. 


Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

heuen  ilkane  bryghtar  ban  other,  fra 
aungels  to  seraphyn.  Pis  I  say  to 
kyndel  bi  hert  for  to  couayte  be  feli- 
chip  of  aungels.  For  al  bat  er  gude  & 
haly,  when  pai  passe  owt  of  pis  worlde, 
sal  be  taken  in  til  pies  orders :  Som 
in  til  be  lawest — pat  hase  lufed  mykel ; 
Som  in  til  pe  mydelmest — bat  hase 
lufed  mar^;  Oper  in  til  pe  heest — pat 
maste  lufed  god  &  brynandest  es  in 
hys  lufe.  Seraphyw  es  at  say  »brynand  :« 
Til  be  whilk  order  pai  er  receyued  pat 
leest  couaytes  in  pis  worlde,  &  maste 
swetnes  feles  in  god,  &  brynandest 
hertes  hase  in  his  lufe.  //  Til  be  I  write 
[pis] *  specialy,  for  I  hope  mare  godenes 
in  pe  pan  in  a  nother,  and  [patj *  p0u  wil 
gyf  pi  thoght  to  fulfil  in  dede  pat  p0u 
seys2  es  maste  pr<?phetabel  for  pi  sawle, 
and  pat  lyf  gif  pe  til  [in]  pe  whilk 
pow  may  halyest  offer  pi  hert  to  Ihesu 
Criste,  &  leste  be  in  bisynes  of  pis 
worlde.  For  if  pow  stabil  pi  lufe,  & 
be  byrnande  whils  p0u  lyfes  here  :  vriih- 
owten  dowte,  pi  settel  es  ordaynde 
ful  hegh  in  heuen,  &  ioyful  before 
goddes  face,  amang  his  haly  aungels. 
For  in  pe  self  degre,  par3  prowde 
deuels  fel  downe  fra,  er  meke  men 
and  wymen,  Criste  dowves,  sett,  to 
haue  rest  &  ioy  wzU-owten  ende,  for 
a  litel  schort  penance  &  trauel  pat  pai 
haue  sufferd  for  goddes  lufe.  /  Pe 
thynk  [now]1  p^rauenture  hard  to  gife  pi 
hert  fra  al  erthly  thynges,  fra  al  ydel 
speche  &  vayne,  £  fra  al  fleschly  lufe, 
&  to  be  al-ane,  to  walk4  &  pray  & 
thynk  of  be  ioy  of  heuen,  &  of  be 
passyon  of  Ihwu  Criste,  and  to  ymagyn 
pe  payne  of  hell  pat  es  ordande  for 
synful  man.  Bot  wyterly,  fra  p<?u  be 
vsed  barin,  be  wil  thynk  it  lyghter,  & 
swetter,  pan  p0u  dyd  any  erthly  thyng 
or  solace.  Als  sone  als  pi  hert  es 
towched  wz't^t  pe  swetnes  of  heven,  be 
1  om.  2  Ms.  says.  8  Ms.  beir.  *  r.  wak. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

in  heuen  ilkane  brighter  ban  other,  fra 
aungels  tille  Seraphyn.  Pis  I  say  to 
kyndel  pi  hert  to  couayte  pe  felaw- 
schyp<?  of  aungels:  for  alle  pat  are 
gode  and  haly,  when  pei  passe  of  pis 
werld,  salle  be  takyn  in  till  pire  orders 
som  til  pe  lawest :  pat  has  lufed  god 
mykel ;  som  to  pe  myddes :  pat  has 
loued  god  mare;  other  til  pe  heghest: 
pat  mast  lufes  god  and  brennandest  er 
in  is  lufe.  /  Seraphyn  is  at  saye  »bryn- 
nande« :  tille  whilke  ordir  pai  er  re- 
ceyfede  pat  leste  couaytes  in  pis  werld, 
and  mast  swetnes  felys  in  god,  and 
brennandfcst]1  hertis  han  in  lufe.  ^[  Tille 
be  I  wryte  bis  specialy,  for  I  hope  in 
pe  mare  gudnes  pan  in  any  other,  [&]  2 
pat  p0u  wille  gyf  pi  thoght  to  ful- 
fille  in  dede  pat  pou  sees  is  profitable 
to  pi  saule,  and  pat  lyf  gyf  pe  tille  in 
pe  whilke  pou  may  halelyeste  offer  pi 
hert  tille  Ilur.ru  Cryst  and  leste  be  in 
bysynes  of  pis  werld.  For  if  pou  wille 
stabilly  luf  god  &  brennawdly  whiles 
pou  lyfes  here,  with-outen  doute  pi 
setyll  es  ordaned  for  pe  ful  hegh  and 
ioyfull  before  be  face  of  god  y manges 
haly  aungels.  For  in  be  self  degres3  pare 
proude  deuyls  felle  downe  er  meke  men 
and  wymwen,  Cristes  doufys,  sett  in,  to 
haf  rest  and  ioye  with-outen  ende,  for 
a  littul  schort  penaunce  &  trauaile  pat 
pei  hafe  suffrede  for  goddes  luf.  ^[  Pe 
thynke  now  p^rauenture  harde  to  gyf  pi 
hert  fra  alle  erthly  thynge,  fraydil  speche, 
fra  al  fleschely  luf,  and  ga  by  pine  ane 
to  wake  &  pray  and  binke  pe  ioye  of 
heuen,  &  to  haue  compassion  of  pe 
passion  of  Ihmi  Crist,  and  to  ymagyn 
pe  pyne  of  helle  pat  is  ordeyned  for 
synfulmen.  Bot  witterly,  fra  pat  pou 
be  vsed  perin,  be  wil  binke  it  lighter 
&  swetter  pen  euer  pe  did  any  erthly 
solace.  /  Also  sone  as  pi  hert  is  toched 
wit  pe  swetnes  of  heuew,  be  wil  litel 
i  Ms.  brennand.  2  om.  3  al,  degre. 
4* 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

wil  lytel  lyst  pe  myrth  of  pis  worlde; 
and  when  f)0u  feles  ioy  in  Criste  lufe, 
f)e  wil  lathe  witA  pe  ioy  &  pe  corn- 
forth  of  pis  worlde  &  erthly  gamen.  / 
For  al  melody,  &  al  riches  &  delites 
pat  al  men  in  f>is  world  kan  ordayne 
or  thynk,  sownes  bot  noy  and  anger  til 
a  mans  hert  pat  verraly  es  byrnand  in 
pe  lufe  of  god:  For  he  hase  myrth  & 
ioy  &  melody  in  aungels  sang,  als  pmi 
may  wele  wyt.  //  If  f>0u  leue  al  thyng 
pat  pi  fleschly  lufe  list,  for  |>e  lufe  of 
god,  and  haue  na  thoght  on  syb 
frendes,  bot  forsake  al  for  goddes  lufe, 
&  anely  gyf  pi  hert  to  coueyte  goddes 
lufe  &  pay  hym ;  mare  ioy  sal  p0u 
haue  &  fynd  in  hym  pan  I  can  on 
thynk,  how  myght  [I]1  pan  w[r]yt2  it? 
I  wate  neuer  if  any  man  be  in  swilk 
lufe:  For  ay  pe  hegher  be  lyfe  es,  pe 
fewer  folowers  it  hase  here,  ffor  many 
thynges  drawes  man  fra  goddes  lufe, 
pat  pow  may  here  and  se ;  and  god 
cowfortes  his  lufers  mare  pan  pai  wene 
pat  lufes  hym  noght.  For 3  pof  we 
seme  in  penance  with-owten,  we  sal 
haue  mykel  ioy  with-in,  if  we  ordayne 
vs  wysely  to  goddes  seruyce,  &  sett  in 
hym  al  owre  thoght  es,  &  forsake  al 
vanyte  of  pis  worlde.  //  Gyf  pien  entent 
til  vnderstand  pis  wrytyng :  and  if  p<?u 
haue  sett  al  pi  desyre  til  lufe  god, 
here  pies  thre  degrees  of  lufe,  sa  pat 
p0u  may  rise  fra  ane  til  a  nother,  to 
p<m  be  in  pe  heest.  /  For  I  wil 
noght  layne  fra  pe  pat  I  hope  may 
I  turne  pe  til  halynes.  //  £e  fyrst  degre 
of  lufe  es  when  a  man  haldes  pe  ten 
cowmandementes,  and  kepes  hym  fra 
pe  seuen  dedely  synnes,  &  es  stabyl 
in  pe  trowth  of  hali  kyrke;  and  when 
a  man  wil  noght,  for  any  erthly  thyng, 
wreth  god,  bot  trewly  standes  in  his 
seruyce,  &  lastes  parin  til  his  lyues 

i  Ms.  fcou.      2  Ms.  wyt.      3  Ms.  For-tf. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

liste  pe  myrth  of  pis  werlde  ;  and  when 
pou  felys  ioye  in  Oz'stes  luf,  pe  wil 
lathe  wit  pe  ioye  &  pe  comford  of 
erthly  gawmyn.  For  alle  pe  melodye, 
alle  pe  ryches,  alle  pe  delites  pat  alle 
pe  men  in  pis  world  kan  ordeyne  or 
thynke,  semes  &  es  bot  noy  &  angyr^ 
til  a  maraiys  herte  pat  verrayly  is  brennand 
in  pe  luf  of  god,  for  he  has  myrth  & 
melodic  of  aungel  sange,  as  pou  may 
wel  wyit.  If  pou  lefe  alle  thynge  pat 
pe  liste  fleschely,  &  haue  na  thowght 
of  pi  syb  frendys,  bot  for-sake  alle  for 
goddes  luf,  and  anely  gyf  pi  herte  to 
couayte  goddes  luf  and  to  paye  him, 
mare  ioye  pou  schal  fynde  in  hym  pan 
I  kan  thynke— howe  myght  I  pan  wryte 
hit?  I  wat  neuer1  if  many  men  be  in 
swilke  luf;  for  ay  pe  hegher  pat  p£2  lyfe 
es,  pe  faer  folowers  it  has  here,  for 
many  thynges  drawes  men  fra  goddes 
luf,  pat  pou  may  here  &  see ;  [and]  3  god 
comfortes  his  lufers  mare  pan  pei  wene 
pat  lufes  hym  noght.  For  of4  we  seme 
in  penance  wit-outen,  we  salle  haue  ful 
mykel  ioye  within,  if  we  ordeyne  vs 
wysely  to  goddes  seruys  and  set  in  hym 
alle  oure  thoghtes  &  forsake  vanite. 
^f  Gyf  alle  pine  entente  to  vnderstonde 
pis  wrytyng:  [&]  if  pou  haue  set  pi  desire 
to  luf  god,  here  pere  thre  degres  of 
luf,  swa  pat  pou  may  ryse  fra  ane  til 
a  nother,  tille  pou  be  at  pe  hegheste; 
for  I  ne  wil  not  hil  fra  pe  pat  I  hope 
ma  torne  pe  tille  halynes.  ^f  pe  first 
degre  of  luf  es  when  a  man  haldes  pe 
ten  cowmaundementes,  and  kepes  hz'm5 
fra  pe  seuen  dedly  synnes,  and  is  stabul 
in  pe  trouthe  of  haly  kirke ;  and  when 
a  man  wille  noght  for  any  erthly  thynge 
wreth  god,  bot  trewly  standes  in  his 
seruice  and  lastes  pare-in  tille  his  lyfes 

i  Ms.  nauer.     2  Ms.  fci.     3  Ms.  feat.     4  =  fcof. 
5  Ms.  hem. 


Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat. 


53 


Ms.  Cambr.  D  V.  64. 

ende.  Pis  degre  of  lufe  behoues  ilk 
man  haue  {)at  wil  be  safe.  For  naman 
may  com  til  heuen  bot  if  he  lufe  god 
&  his  neghbor,  witA-owten  pride,  Ire, 
envy,  or  bakbityng,  &  with-owten  al  other 
venem//j  synne  :  glotony,  lichery,  &  co- 
uayties.  For  pies  vices  slaes  be  saule  & 
makes  it  to  depart  fra  god,  . . .  wzt/j-owten 
wham  na  creature  may  lyf.  For  als  a 
man  pusonde  of  a  swete  morcell  takes 
venome  pat  slase  his  body,  sa  dose  a 
synful  wreche  in  likyng  and  luste  of  hys 
flesch :  destrues  his  sawle,  &  brynges 
it  to  dede  with-owten  end.  /  Men  thynk 
it  swete  to  synne :  bot  paire  mede,  pat 
es  ordand  for  pam.  es  bitterer  pan 
pe  gall,  sowrar  pan  pe  atter,  war  pan 
al  pe  waa  pat  we  may  here  se  or 
fele. 

^f  *[Al  perisches  &  passes  pat  we  with 
eghe  see].2  It  wanes  in  to  wrech- 
ednes,  pe  welth  of  pis  worlde.  Robes 
&  ritches  rotes  in  dike.  Prowde  payn- 
tyng  slakes  in  to  sorow.  Delites  & 
drewryse  stynk  sal  ful  sone.  Pair  golde 
&  paire  tresoure  drawes  pam  til  dede, 
Al  pe  wikked  of  pis  worlde,  drawes  til 
a  dale,  l>at  pai  may  se  par*  sorowyng 
whare  waa  es  euer  stabel.  Bot  he 
may  syng  of  solace  pat  lufea73  Ihesu 
Criste :  Pe  wretchesse  fra  wele  falles  in 
to  hell. — Bot  when  pou  hase4  wele  leued 
in  pe  ten  comandementes  of  god  & 
styfly  put  pe5  fra  al  dedely  synnes, 
&  payes  god  in  pat  degre :  vmbe- 
thynk  pe  pat  p#u  wil  plese  god  mare 
&  do  better  w/'t/fc  pi  sawle,  &  becom 
2  pfrfyte  :  pan  enters  pou  in  to  pe  top^r 
degre  of  lufe,  pat  es,  to  forsake  al  pe 
worlde,  pi  fader  &  pi  moder  &  al  pi 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

ende.  f|  Pis  degree  of  lufe  by-houes  ilke 
man  haue  pat  wille  be  safe ;  for  na  man 
maye  come  tille  heuen  bot  if  he  luf  god 
and  his  neghbur  with-outen  pryde,  ire 
and  any  bakbytyng,  and  with-outen  alle 
other  wewnymouse  synnes  as  slawnes, 
glotery,  and  lichery,  and  couaytys  :  for 
pere  vices  slaes  pe  saule  &  makes  hit 
to  depart  fra  god  pat  es  lyfe  of  pe 
saule ;  and  when  a  wreched  man  or 
wowmon  es  departed  fra  god,  we  saye 
he  is  ded,  for  he  is  slayne  fra  god  with- 
outen  wham  na  creature  may  lyf.  Als 
a  maw  poysunde  in  a  swete  morsell  takes 
venym  pat  slas  his  body,  swa  dos  a 
synful  wreche  in  likyng  and  lust, 
destroyes  his  saule  and  brynges  hit  tille 
dede  with-outen  ende.  Men  pinke  hit 
swete  to  synne,  bot  paire  hire  pat  is 
ordayned  for  paim,  es  bitterer  & l  galle, 
sowrcr  pan  atter,  wers  pan  alle  pe 
wa  pat  man  can  thynk  in  erthe. 
^|  Alle  perisches  &  passes  pat  we  with 
eghe  see.  Hit  wanys  in  till  wrechedhede 
pe  wele  of  pis  worlde.  Robys  &  riches 
rotes  in  pe  dyche.  Pryde  &  payntynge 
slake  salle  in  sorowe.  Delytes  and 
drorys  stynke  sail  ful  sone.  Paire  gold 
&  paire  tresoure  drawes  paim  til  dede; 
Alle  pe  wykked  of  pis  werlde  dryues 
til  a  dale,  Pat  pai  may  see  paire 
sorowywge  pare  wa  es  alle  pe  rabel. 
Bot  he  may  synge  of  solas  pat  lufed 
Ih^u  Cryst,  When  alle  pe  wreches  fra 
wele  falles  in  tille  helle.—  f  Bot  when 
pou  has  wel  lyfed  in  pe  cowmaundementes 
of  god  and  styffely  keped  pe  fra  alle 
dedly  synnes,  and  payde  tille  Criste  in 
pat  degre  :  vmthynke  pe  pat  pou  wil 
mare  luf  god,  &  do  better  with  pi  saule, 
and  bycome  parfite:  &  pan  enters  pou 
in  tille  pe  tother  degre  of  luf,  pat  es  : 
to  forsake  alle  pe  worlde  and  pi  fader 
and  pi  moder  &  alle  pi  kyn  &  folowe 


1  The  following  are  alliterative  lines.     2  Om. 
inDd.     aMs.lufes.     *  Ms.  Jai  haue.     *Ms.})am. 


r.  Jian. 


54 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

kyn,  &  folow  Criste  in  pouerte.  In  pis 
degre  pou  sal  stody  how  clene  p<ni  [may]1 
be  in  hert,  &  how  chaste  in  body,  and 
gife  pe  til  mekenes,  suffryng,  &  bux- 
uwnes,  &  loke  how  fayre  pou  may 
make  pi  saule  in  vertues,  &  hate  al 
vices  :  so  pat  pi  lyf  be  gastly,  &  noght 
fleschly.  Neuer-mare  speke  euyl  of  pi 
neghbor,  ne  gyf  any  euel  worde  for  a 
nother,  bot  al  pat  men  says,  euel  or 
gude,  suffer  it  mekeli  in  pi  hert,  wz'U- 
owten  styrryng  of  wreth:  &  pan  sal 
p0u  be  in  rest,  with-in  &  with-owte, 
and  so  lyghtly  sal  pc>u  com  to  pe 
gastly  lyfe,  pat  p0u  sal  fynde  swettar 
pan  any  erthly  thyng.  //  P^'fite  life  & 
gastly  es,  to  despise  pe  worlde  &  couete 
pe  ioy  of  heuen,  &  destroy  thorow 
goddes  grace  al  wicked  desyres  of  pe 
flesch.  And  forgete  pe  solace  &  pe 
lykyng  of  pi  kynredyn,  &  lufe  [pam] 
noght  bot  in  god ; — whethir  pai  dy  or  lyfe, 
or  be  pore  or  riche,  [hale]  1  or  seke,  or2 
in  wa  or  in  hele3,  thank  pmi  ay  god, 
&  blisse  hym  in  al  [his]4  werkis.  For 
his  domes  er  so  pryue,  pat  na  creature 
may  comprehend  pam ;  //  and  oft-sithes 
som  haues  par  likyng  &  pair  wil3  in 
pis  worlde,  &  hell  in  pe  tojw :  &  som 
men  er  in  pyne  &  p^secucion  & 
anguysch  in  pis  lyfe,  &  hase  heuen  to 
pair  mede.  For-pi,  if  pi  frendes  be 
ay  in  paire  ese,  and  hele,  &  welth  of 
pis  worlde,  p<?u  and  pai  bath  may 
haue  pe  mare  drede,  pat  pai  lose 
noght  pe  ioy  of  heuen  with-outen  ende. 
/  If  pai  be  in  penance  &  sekenes,  or 
if  pai  lyf  rightwisly,  pai  may  trayste 
to  com  til  pe  blysse.  /  For-pi  in  pis 
degre  of  lufe  p0u  sal  be  fulfilde  with 
pe  grace  of  pe  haly  gaste  pat  p<m  sal 
noght  haue  na  sorow  ne  grutchyng  bot 
for  gastly  thyng,  als  for  pi  synnes  & 
other  mennes,  &  after  pe  lufe  of  Ihmt 
Criste,  &  in  thynkyng  of  his  passyon. 
And  I  wil  pat  p0u  haue  it5  mykel  in 
1  om.  Zal.om.  3  al.  wele.  *Ms.  t>i-  5  r.  tat? 


Ms.  Rawl.  A.  389. 

Crist  in  pouerte.  ^[  In  pis  degree  pou 
schalle  stody  ho  we  clene  pou  may  be  in 
herte,  and  howe  chaste  in  body,  and  gyf 
pe  tille  mekenes,  suffryng  &  bosuwnes, 
and  loke  how  faire  pou  may  make  pi 
saule  in  vertuese,  and  hate  alle  vices : 
swapatpi  lyfe  be  gastely,  noght  fleschely; 
neuer-mare  spekand  ille  of  pine  neghbur, 
ny  gyf  ane  ille  word  for  a  nother,  bot 
alle  pat  men  says,  ille  or  gode,  suffir 
hit  debonerly  in  pi  hert,  with-outen 
sjtirryng  of  wreth:  and  pan  schal  pou 
be  in  reste  within1,  and  lightly  come  in 
to  gastely  lyfe,  pat  pou  salle  fynde 
swetter  pan  any  erthely  thyng.  ^[  Parfite 
lyfe  and  gastely  es ,  to  despise  pe  erth, 
couayte  pe  ioye  of  heuen,  and  destroye 
thurgh  goddes  grace  alle  wikked  desires 
of  pe  flesche.  And  forgete  pe  solace  and 
likyng  of  pi  kynredyne,  and  luf  paim 
noght  bot  in  god;  whethire  pa  dye  or 
lyf,  be  pore  or  ryche,  be  hale  or  seke, 
in  wa  or  in  wele,  thank  pou  ay  god, 
and  bles  hym  in  alle  his  werkes :  for 
his  domes  are  so  pnue,  pat  na  creature 
may  comprehende  paim ;  and  oftsith 
sum  men  has  paire  likyng  and  paire 
wele  in  pis  world,  and  hell  in  pe 
tother:  and  sum  men  es  in  pyne  & 
p^rsecuciouw  &  anguys  in  pis  lyfe,  and 
has  heuen  til  paire  mede.  For-thy,  if 
pi  frendes  be  ay  in  es  and  hele  &  in 
welth  of  pis  werlde,  pou  &  pai  bathe 
maye  pe  mare  drede,  pat  [pai]2  lose 
noght  pe  ioie  with-outen  ende.  If  pai 
be  in  penaunce,  in  sekenes,  or  if  pei 
lyf  ryghtwysly,  pai  may  trayste  in  god 
to  come  to  his  blisse.  For-pi  in  pis 
degree  of  luf  pou  salle  sa  by  filde  in 
grace  of  pe  haly  gast  pat  pou  sal 
noght  haue  sorowe  ne  gratyng3  bot  for 
gastely  thynge,  and  for  pi  synnes  and 
other  mennys,  and  aftir  pe  luf  of  Ihwu 
OVst,  and  in  thynkyng  of  his  passiouw — 
and  pat  I  wille  pat  pou  hafe  mykel 
i  R2\v.  &  withoute.  2Ms.yhe.  3Ra  Vwepyng. 


Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat. 


55 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

mynde,  for  it  wyll  kyndel  bi  hert  to 
sett  at  noght  al  be  gudes  of  bis  worlde, 
&  be  ioy  barof,  &  to  desyre  byrnandly 
be  lyght  of  heuen,  vfhh  aungels  & 
halowes.  /  And  when1  bi  hert  es  haly 
ordande  to  be  sendee  of  god,  &  al 
worldly  thoghtes  put  oute:  {)an  ivil  {)e 
liste  stele  by  be  al-ane,  to  thynk  on 
Criste,  &  to  be  \n  mykel  praying.  For 
thorow  gode  thoghtes  &  hali  prayers, 
bi  hert  sal  be  made  byrnand  in  be  lufe 
of  Ihesu  Criste,  &  j)an  sal  bow  fele  swet- 
nes  &  gastely  ioy  bath  in  praying  & 
i»  thynkyng.  /  And  when  p<m  ert  by  pe 
al-ane,  gyf  be  mykel  to  say  pe  psalmes 
of  be  psauter,  and  Pater  vaster,  &  Aue 
maria ;  &  take  na  tent  pat  b0u  say  many, 
bot  pat  p0u  say  bam  wele,  vfiih  al  pe 
deuocion  pat  bow  may,  liftand  vp  pi 
thoght  til  heuen.  /  Better  it  es  to  say 
seuen  psalmes  wyth  desyre  of  Crystes 
lufe,  hauand  pi  hert  of2  pi  praying, 
pan  seuen  hundreth  thowsand3,  suffrand 
pi  thoght  passe  in  vanitees  of  bodyli 
thynges.  What  gude  hopes  p0u  may 
come  parof,  if  p0u  lat  pi  tonge  blaber 
on  be  boke,  &  pi  hert  ren  abowte 
in  sere  stedes  in  be  worlde?  /  For-pi, 
sett  pi  thoght  in  Criste  &  he  sal  rewle 
it  til  hym,  &  halde  be4  fra  pe  venome 
of  pe  worldly  bisynesse.  /  And  I  pray 
be,  als  f)0u  couaytes  to  be  goddes 
lufer,  bat  p<m  lufe  bis  name  IHESU,  and 
thynk  it  in  pi  hert,  sa  bat  ptm  forget 
it  neuer,  whare  so  f)0u  be.  And  sothe- 
ly  I  say  be  bat  p<m  sal  fynd  mykel 
ioy  &  cow  forth  parin ;  /  and  for  be 
lufe,  pat  pou  lufes  Ihesu  so  tenderly  & 
so  specialy,  p0u  sal  be  fulfild  of 
grace  in  erth,  &  be  Criste  dere  seru- 
ande  in  heuen.  For  na  thyng  pays 
god  swa  mykel  als  verray  lufe  of  pis 
nam  Ihmi.  If  pou  luf  it  ryght  &  last- 
andely,  &  neuer  let  for  na  thyng  pat 
men  may  do  or  say,  p0u  sal  be 
receyued  in  til  a  heghar  lyfe  ban 
1  Here  ends  Ms.  Ar.  507.  2<i/.on.  *al.om.  *  al.  it. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

mynde  of,  for  hit  will  kyndel  bi  hert 
to  set  at  noght  alle  be  gudes  of  pis 
werlde  and  alle  pe  ioye,  &  to  desire 
brennandly  be  light  of  heuen  with 
aungels  and  haloghys.  ^[  And  when  bi 
hert  is  ordayned  halely  to  be  seruice 
of  god,  &  alle  werldes  thoght  is  putt 
oute :  ban  wille  be  liste  stele  be  bi 
nane,  to  thynk  of  Crist  and  to  be  in 
mykel  prayng  ;  for  thorow  gode  thoghtes 
and  haly  prayers  bi  hert  salle  be  made 
brennande  in  jie  luf  of  Ihesu  Crist,  and 
ban  salle  pou  fele  swetnes  and  gastely 
ioye  bathe  in  prayinge  and  in  thynkyng. 
And  when  bou  arte  be  bi  nane,  gyf  be 
mikel  to  say  be  psalmes  of  pe  sawter, 
and  Pater  noster  and  aues;  and  take 
not  tent  pat  pou  say  many,  bot  bat  bou 
say  horn  wele,  and  in  alle  be  deuociouw 
bat  bou  may,  lyftande  vp  thy  thoght 
til  heuen.  Bettir  hit  is  to  say  seuen 
psalmes  in  desyre  of  Cristes  luf,  hafand 
pi  hert  on  pi  praying,  pan  seuen 
hundred,  suffrande  pi  thoght  to  pas  in 
vanitees  of  bodily  thynge.  \Vhat  gode 
hopes  bou  may  com  perof  if  bou  lat 
bi  tonge  blabir  on  be  boke,  and  bi  hert 
ryn  aboute  in  sere  stedes  in  be  werld, 
whare  hit  will1?  For-thy  set  bi  thoght 
in  Crist  and  he  salle  refe2  it  tille  hym 
and  halde  hit  fra  be  venym  of  werldes 
bysynes.  And  I  pray  pe,  as  pou  couaytes 
to  be  goddes  lufer,  bat  bou  lufe  bis 
name  Ihesu,  and  thynk  hit  in  bi  herte, 
swa  bat  bou  forgete  hit  neuer,  wharsom 
bou  be :  and  wittily  I  hete  be  bou 
salle  fynde  mykelle  ioye  &  comfort  bmn, 
and  for  be  luf  bat  bou  lufes  Ihesu  sa 
tendirly  and  sa  specialy,  pou  salle  be 
filde  full  of  grace  in  erth,  and  be  Cristes 
der<?  may  den  &  spouse  3  in  heuen.  For 
na  thynge  sa  mekill  pays  god  as  verray 
luf  of  his  name  Ihesu.  If  pou  lufe  hit 
ryght  and  lastandly,  &  neuer  let  for  na 
thynge  pat  men  may  saye  or  do,  pou 
salle  be  raysed  in  tille  a  hegher  lyfe 
i  wh.  hit  will  om.  in  R2.  2  RZ  rule.  3  so  Rg. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

b<?u  can  couete.  His  godenes  es  sa 
mykel,  partf  we  inwardely  aske  hym 
ane,  he  wil  gyf  fyfe ;  so  wele  payde  es 
he  when  we  wil  sett  al  cure  hert  to 
lufe  hym.  //  In  pis  degre  of  lufe  f)0u 
sal  ouercome  pi  enmyse:  pe  worlde, 
pe  deuel,  &  pi  flesche.  Bot  neuer-pe- 
la.iter  p0u  sal  euer  haue  feghtyng  whils 
pou  lyfes ;  til  f)0u  dye  pe  behoues  to 
be  bysy  to  stande,  pat  pou  fal  noght 
in  til *  delites,  ne  in  euel  thoghtes,  ne  in 
euel  wordes,  ne  in  euel  warke :  For-pi,  grete 
aght  pi  ^ernyng  be  pat  p<?u  lufe  Criste  ver- 
rayly.  Pi  flesche  sal  pou  ouer-com  w*tA 
haldyng  of  pi  mayden-hede,  for  goddes 
lufe  anely ;  or,  if  p<?u  be  na  mayden, 
thorow  chaste  lyuyng  &  resonabel  in 
thoght  &  dede,  &  thorow  discrete  ab 
stinence.  /  Pe  worlde  p0u  sal  oum:om 
thorow  couaytyng  of  Cristes  lufe,  & 
thynkyng  on  pis  swete  name  Ihesus,  & 
desyre  til  heuen.  /  For  als  sone  als  p#u 
feles  sauour  in  Ihesu,  pe  wil  thynk 
al  pe  worlde  noght  bot  vanyte,  &  noy 
for  men  sawles.  /  tow  will  noght 
couayte  pan  to  be  riche,  to  haue  many 
mantels  &  fayre,  many  kyrtels  &  drew- 
ryse,  bot  al  pmi  wil  sett  at  noght  & 
despise  it  als  noght  it  ware,  &  take  na 
mare  pan  pe  nedes.2  /  Pe  wil  thynk 
twa  mantels  or  ane  Inogh ;  pow  pat 
hase  fyue  or  sex,  gyf  some  til  Criste, 
pat  gase  naked  in  a  pore  wede,  and 
halde  noght  all:  for  pern  wate  noght  if 
pow  lif  til  pai  be  half  gane.  /  Pe  deuell 
es  outcome,  when  f)0u  standes  stabely 
agaynes  al  his  fandyngys,  in  sothefast 
charite  &  mekenes.  //  I  wil  pat  pow 
neuer  be  ydel,  bot  ay  owther  speke  of 
god,  or  wirke  som  notabil  warke,  or 
thynk  on  hym  principaly,  pat  pi  thoght 
i  al.  ill.  2  Cf.  p.  66. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

pan  pou  can  couayte.  His  godenes  es 
sa  mekill  pat  pare  we  inwardly  aske 
hym  of  ane,  he  wille  gyf  vs  thre  :  sa 
wele  payed  he  es  when  we  set  alle  cure 
hert  to  luf  hym.  ^[  In  pis  degre  of  luf 
pou  salle  ouercom  pi  thre  enmys :  pe 
werld,  pe  deuel,  and  pi  flesche; — bot 
neutfr-pe-latter  pou  schal  hafe  ay  fightyng 
whils  pou  lyfes,  and  ay  til  pou  dye  by- 
houes  be  be  bysy  to  stande  &  to  falle 
noght  in  ille  delyte  ne  in  ille  thoght  or 
in  ille  worde  or  in  ille  werkw  :  for-pi 
grete  augh  pi  gernynge  to  be  pat  pou 
luf  Crist  verraily.  Pi  flesche  salle  pou 
ouer-com  thurgh  ^haldyng  of  pi  mayden- 
hede  for  goddes  luf  anely,  or,  if  pou 
be  na  maydun,  thurgh  chast  lyfynge 
in  thoght  and  in  dede,  and  thurgh 
discrete  abstinence  and  resonable  seruyse. 
Pe  werld  salle  pou  ouer-com.  porow 
couaytyng  of  Cristes  luf,  &  thynkynge 
of  his  swete  name,  and  desire  til  heuen ; 
for  als  son  as  pou  feles  sauowr  in  Ihmi, 
pe  wille  thynke  alle  pe  werlde  noght 
bot  vanite  and  noye  for  mennys  saules. 
Pou  wil  noght  couayte  pan  to  be  ryche, 
to  haue  many  mantils  and  faire,  many 
kirtils,  many  dreurise,  bot  alle  pou  wil 
set  at  noght  and  despise  alle,  and  take 
na  mare  pan  pe  nedes.  Pe  wille  thynke 
twa  mantils  or  ane  Inogh,  pat  *  no  we 
has  fyfe  or  sex ;  for-pi  gyf  som  til 
Crist  pat  gas  naked  and  pore,  and  hald 
noght  til  pe  alle:  pat  wate  noght  pi2 
lyfe  tille  pay  be  halfe  gane.  /  Pe  deuyl 
is  ouercowmen  when  pou  standis  stabilly 
agayns  alle  his  fandynges,  in  sothfaste 
charite  ande  mekenes.  And3  thynke  on 
me  pat  I  be  noght  forgetew  in  pi  prayeres, 
pat  is  aboute-warde  pat  pou  were  dere 
with  Criste,  whas  mercy  me  nedys.  I 
wille  pat  pou  be  neuer  Id  el,  [bot]4  be 
ay  other  spekand  of  god,  or  wirkand 
some  notabul  warke,  or  thynkand  in 
hym  and  principally,  pat  pi  thoght  be 

1  Rg  J)enne  J)ou  J)at;  for-J)i  om.    2  R2  if  JJQU. 

3  R2  &  t>en.     *  Ms.  for. 


Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat. 


57 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

be    ay    hauand    hym   in   mynde.     And 
thynk  oft  on  his  passyon  : 

(Meditatio  de  passione  Cristi.1} 
7  2My  keyng  bat  water  grette,  and 
blode  swette;  sythen  ful  sare  bette, 
so  bat  hys  blode  hym  wette,  when 
bair  scowrges  mette.  /  Ful  fast  bai 
gan  hym  dyng,  and  at  be  pyler 
swyng,  &  his  fayre  face  defowlyng(!) 
\ri\h  spittyng.  /  te  thorne  crowhes  be 
keyng,  ful  sare  es  bat  prickyng.  Alas 
my  ioy  and  my  swetyng  es  demed  to 
hyng  1  /  Nayled  was  his  handes,  nay  led 
was  hys  fete,  &  thyrled  was  hys  syde 
so  semely  &  so  swete.  /3  Naked  es  his 
whit  breste,  &  rede  es  his  blody  syde; 
wan  was  his  fayre  hew,  his  wowndes 
depe  &  wyde.  In  fyue  stedes  of  his 
flesch  be  blode  gan  downe  glyde,  als 
stremes  of  be  strande,  hys  pyne  es 
noght  to  hyde.  /  I*is  to  see  es  grete 
pyte,  how  he  es  demed  to  be  dede, 
and  nayled  on  be  rode-tre,  be  bryght 
aungels  brede.  /  Dryuen  he  was  to 
dole  bat  es  owre  gastly  gude,  and  als- 
so  in  be  blys  of  heuen  es  al  be  aungels 
fude.  A  wonder  it  es  to  se,  wha  sa 
vnderstude,  how  god  of  mageste  was 
dyand  on  be  rude.  /  Bot  suth  ban  es 
it  sayde  bat  lufe  ledes  be  ryng ;  bat 
hym  sa  law  hase  layde,  bot  lufe  it 
was  na  thyng.  /  Ihesu,  receyue  my  hert, 
&  to  bi  lufe  me  bryng :  al  my  desyre 
b<?u  ert,  bot4  I  couete  bi  comyng.  / 
tow  make  me  clene  of  synne,  &  lat  vs 
neuer  twyn ;  kyndel  me  fire  with-in, 
bat  I  bi  lufe  may  wyn,  and  se  bi  face 
Ilv.ru  in" ioy  bat  neuer  sal  blyn.  /  Ihmi, 
my  saule  b0u  mend,  bi  lufe  in  to  me 
send,  bat  I  may  with  be  lend,  in  ioy 
with-owten  end.  /  In  lufe  bow  wownde 
my  thoght,  and  lyft  my  hert  to  be: 

i  On  the   margin.        2  Cf.  poems  on   p.  75, 
76,  79.      3  Cf.  p.  76  v.  37.      «  al.  om. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

ay  hafand   hym   in  mynde.     And  thynk 
oft  bis  of  his  passiouw  : 

(Meditaclo  de  passioned) 
^[  My  kynge  be  watur  grett,  and 
be  blod  he  swett;  sithen  full  sare 
him  bett,  so  bat  his  blode  hym  wett, 
when  baire  scourges  mett.  Ful  faste 
bai  gun  hym  dynge,  and  at  be  piler 
swynge,  his  faire  face  fouled2  with 
spittyng.  te  thorne  coronys  be  kynge, 
fulle  sare  es  bat  prykkyng.  alias  my 
ioye  and  my  swetyng,  es  demed  for  to 
hynge !  Nayled  was  his  hende  and 
nayled  was  his  fete,  &  thirled  es  his 
syde  sa  semely  &  sa  swete.  Naked  his 
white  brest,  and  red  his  blody  syde; 
wan  was  his  faire  hewe,  his  woiwdes  depe 
&  wyde.  In  fyfe  stedys  of  his  flesche  be 
blode  gan  downe  glyde,  as  be  streme 
dos  of  be  strande,  bis3  pyne  es  noght 
to  hyde.  To  thynke  es  gret  pite,  how 
demed  es  tille  be  dede,  and  nayled  on 
be  tre,  be  bryght  aungels  brede.  Uryuen 
he  is  til  dole  bat  is  oure  gastly  gode,  and 
fouled  as  a  fole,  in  heuen  be  haloghys 
fode.  A  wondir  hit  is  to  se,  wha-som 
vndurstode,  how  god  of  mageste  was 
dyande  on  be  rode.  Bot  sothe  ban  is 
[it]  saide  bat  luf  ledes  be  rynge;  bat 
him  sa  laughe  has  laide ,  bot  luf  hit 
was  no  thynge.  Ih^u,  resayue  my 
hert,  and  til  bi  luf  me  brynge:  alle  my 
desir  pou  art,  I  couaite  bi  comynge. 
tou  make  me  clene  of  synne,  and  lat 
vs  neuer  twyn ,  kyndel  me  fyre  wz'tfc- 
inne,  bat  I  bi  luf  may  wynne,  and  se 
bi  face  Ihesu  in  blys  bat  neuer  may 
blynne.  Ihesu,  my  saule  bou  mende, 
bi  luf  in  to  me 

Here  a  leaf  is   wanting  in  the  Ms.;    I   supply 

the   gap   from 
Ms.  Vernon  (=  2nd  text  in  Rawl.) 

[sende,     bat   I    may    wzb    be   lende,  in 

ioye    w/b-outen    ende.      In     loue     bou 

wende  my  bou^t,    and    lyfte   myn  herte 

i  On  the  margin.      2  =  R2  V.      3  i.  his. 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  iu  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

my  sawle  p0u  dere  base  boght,  pi 
lufer  make  it  to  be.  te  I  couete,  bis 
worlde  noght,  &  for  it  I  fle;  p0u  ert 
pat  I  haue  sogbt:  pi  face  when  may 
I  see?  /  tow  make  my  sawle  cleiv, 
for  lufe  chawnges  my  chere :  how  lang 
sal  I  be  here?  [when  mai  I  negh  be 
nere,  bi  melody  to  here,]1  /  Oft  to 
her*  sang,  bat  es  lastand  so  lang?  Pou 
be  my  lufyng,  bat  I  [bi]  lufe  may  syng. 

// If   p0u   wil   thynk    bis    ilk    day, 

p0u  sal  fynde  swetnes  pat  sal  draw 
bi  hert  vp,  bat  sal  gar  be  fal  in 
gretyng,  &  in  grete  langyng  til  Ihesu ; 
&  bi  thoght  sal  al  be  on  Ihesu,  and  so 
be  receyued2  abouen  all  erthly  thyng, 
abouen  be  firmament  &  be  sternes,  so 
bat  be  egh  of  bi  hert  mai  loke  in 
til  heuen3.  And  ban  enters  bow  m  to 
3  be  thirde  clegre  of  lufe.  /  In  be  whilk 
pou  sal  haue  grete  delyte  &  cowforth  : 
if  bow  may  get  grace  to  com  partill. 
For  I  say  noght  bat  p<?u  or  a  nother 
pat  redes  bis,  sal  do  it  all:  for  it  es 
at  goddes  will  to  chese  wham  he  will, 
to  do  bat  here  es  sayde,  Or  els  a 
nother  thyng  on  a  nother  maner,  als 
he  gifes  men  grace  til  haue  paire  hele. 
For  sere  men  takes  seer  grace  of  oure 
lorde  Ihtf.ni  Criste:  and  al  sal  be  sett 
in  be  ioy  of  heuen,  bat  endes  in 
charite.  Wha  sa  es  in  bis  degre,  wis 
dom  he  hase  &  discrecion,  to  luf  at 
goddes  will,  tis  degre  es  called  con- 
templatife  lyfe ;  bat  lufes  to  be  anely, 
w/'tfc-owten  ryngyng  or  dyn,  or  syngyng 
or  criyng.  /  At  be  begynnyng,  when 
p0u  comes  partil,  bi  gastly  egh  es 
taken  vp  in  til  be  blysse  of  heuen,  & 
bar  lyghtned  with  grace  &  kyndelde 
wz't/j  fyre  of  Cristes  lufe ,  sa  bat  p<?u 
sal  v^rraly  fele  be  bernyng  of  lufe  in  pi 
hert,  euer  mare  &  mare ;  liftand  pi  thoght 
to  god  and  feland  lufe,  ioy  &  swetnes, 
1  om.;  cf.  p. 82,  v.3i.  2  r.  raysed.  3Cf.p.49. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

to  pe ;  pe  soule  pat  p0u  hast  bou^t, 
bi-fore  be  make  hit  be.  bute  i  coueite 
be1,  bis  world  for  pe  i  fle;  p0u  art 
pat  i  haue  sou^t,  pi  face  whon  mi^t 
i  se  ?  //  ]?0u  make  my  soule  clere  : 
pi  loue  chaungep  my  chere ;  how  longe 
schal  i  ben  here?  whon  mai  i  nei^he 
pe  nere,  pi  melodye  to  here,  Ofte  to 
here  pe  song,  pat  is  lastyng  so  long? 
wolt  p<?u  beo  my  louyng,  bat  I  pi 

loue  mai  syng. ^f    ^if  p0u  wolt 

penke  pis  eum  dai,  pou  schalt  fynde 
p^rin  gret  swetnesses2,  pat  schal  drawen 
pw  herte  vp  and  make  pe  falle  in  to 
wepmg,  and  gret  louiwg  haue  to  Ihesu  ; 
and  pi  pou^t  schal  be  raft  from  alle 
eorpliche  pwges,  and  aboue  pe  sky 
and  pe  sterres,  so  pat  pe  e^e  of  pin 
herte  may  loke  in  to  heuene.  And 
pemie  entrest  p<?u  in  to  pe  pridde 
degre  of  loue.  ^  In  pe  w^uche  p<m 
schalt  beo  in  gret  delyte  and  cuwfort, 
^if  p0u  mai^t  gete  grace  to  come  ptfrto. 
For  i  sei  not  pat  p0u  or  eny  opwr 
schal  don  hit  al,  for  pat  is  in  godes 
wille,  pat  schewep  to  don  pat  her  is 
seid,  or  opwr  pmg  of  o^ur  manere,  as 
he  sjiueb  mon  grace  to  heore  hele. 
For  diuerse  men  takeb  diu^rse  ^iftes  of 
vr  lord  Ih^m  Crist,  and  al  schal  be 
set  in  be  ioye  of  heuene  bat  endep  in 
charite.  Whose  is  in  bis  degre,  wisdam 
he  hap  and  discrecion  to  iouen  at 
godes  wille.  ^[  Pis  degre  of  loue  is 
called  Contewplatyf  loue,  pat  louep  to 
ben  onlich ,  from  ryngyng  and  dune, 
syngywg  and  crying.  At  pe  bigywnyng, 
whon  p^u  comest  p^rto,  pi  gostli  e^e 
is  taken  vp  in  to  pe  blisse  of  heuene, 
and  is  ilumyned  w/p  grace  and  cundlet 
wz'p  pe  fuir  of  Cristes  loue,  so  pat  p0u 
schalt  haue  v^rreiliche  pe  brewnynge 
of  loue  in  £in  herte  eumnore  lastyng, 
and  bi  bou^t  eu^rmore  vpward  to  god, 
felyng  pe  loue  of  ioye,  and  so  muche 
i  Rg  But  l)e  I  coueite  nou^t.  2  Rz  swetnes. 


Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat. 


59 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  6  4 

so  mykel,  pat  na  sekenes,  anguys  ne 
schame  ne  penance  may  greue  pe,  bot 
al  pi  lyf  sal  turne  in  tyl  ioy;  &  pan 
for  *  heghnesse  of  pi  hert  [f>i]2  prayers 
turnes  in  til  ioyful  sange,  and  pi  thogh- 
tes  to  melody.  /  tan  es  Ih«u  al  pi 
desyre,  al  pi  delyte,  al  pi  ioy, 
al  pi  solace,  al  pi  cowforth;  al 
I  wate  pat  on  hym  euer  be  pi  sang, 
In  hym  all  pi  rest.  //  ten  may  bow 
say :  »I  slepe  and  my  hert  wakes.  Wha 
sail  tyll  my  lewman  say  [pat]  for  hys 
lufe  me  langes  ay?«  //  All  pat  lufes 
vanytees  and  specials  of  pis  warlde, 
and  settes  paire  hert/j  on  any  other 
thynges  pan  of  god,  in  tyll  pis  degre 
pai  may  noght  come,  ne  in  tyll  [be]  other 
degre  of  lufe  before  neuynd.  And  par- 
fore  all  worldely  solace  be  be-houes 
forsake,  bat  pi  hert  be  heldande  til  na 
lufe  of  any  creature,  ne  til  na  bysynes 
in  erth:  pat  p<?u  may  be  in  sylence,  be 
ay  stabilly  &  stalwortly  \vith  pi  hert  in 
goddes  lufe  &  hys  drede.  Owre  lorde 
gyfes  noght  to  men  fairehede,  ritchesse 
&  delytes,  for  to  sette  paire  hertes  on  & 
dispend  bam  in  synne :  bot  for  pai  sulde 
knaw  hym,  &  lufe  hym,  &  thank  hym 
of  al  hys  gyftes.  £e  mare  es  paire  schame, 
if  pai  wreth  hym,  pat  hase  gyfen  bam 
gyftes  in  body  &  in  saule.  /  For-pi,  if 
we  couayte  to  fie  pe  payne  of  purga 
tory,  vs  be-houes  restreyne  vs  pwfitely 
fra  pe  lust  &  pe  likyng  &  al  pe  il 
delytes  &  wikked  drede  of  pis  worlde  ; 
and  pat  worldely  sorow  be  noght  in 
vs :  Bot  pat  we  halde  owre  hope  faste 
in  lhes\i  Cn'ste,  &  stande  manly  agaynes 
al  tewptacions. 

i  Ms.  &  tar-fore.        2  Ms.  in. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

swetnes  bat  no  seknesse,  ne  schame, 
ne  anguissche,  ne  penauwce  pat  schal1 
greue  be  :  Bote  al  pi  loue  schal  tut  ne 
to  ioye.  And  pemie  for  hihnesse 
of  pin  herte  pi  preyers  schal  twme 
in  to  ioyful  song,  and  pi  pou;tes  in  to 
melodic.  ^|  Pemie  Ihesu  schal  beo  al 
pi  desyre,  al  pi  delyte,  al  pi  ioye,  al 
pi  solace,  al  pi  cmwfort,  so  bat  of 
him  wol  ben  euermore  pi  song,  and 
in  him  al  pi  rest.  %  pewne  mai^t  f)0u 
seye  :  »I  slepe  and  myn  herte  wakej). 
^f  Ho  schal  to  my  lewmon  say  bat  for 
his  loue  me  longep  ay?«  ^|  Alle  {>at 
louen  vanytes  and  specials  of  pis  world 
and  setten  heore  hertes  on  eny  opwr 
fnng  pen  on  god,  in  to  pis  degre 
mowe  pei  not  comen,  Ne  in  to  pat 
obur  degre  of  loue  pat  bi-fore  is 
nempned.  ^f  And  berfore  alle  worldes 
solace  hem2  bihouej)  forsake,  bat  heor3 
herte  beo  not  bouwynde  to  no  loue 
of  eny  creature,  ne  to  no  bisynesse  of 
eorpe :  U  pat  pei4  mowe  eumj  be  in 
silewce,  stablich  and  stal\vor|)elich  \\i[i 
herte  and  moupe  loue  god.  ^f  Vre 
lord  ^euef)  not  to  men  and  wywmen 
feirnesse,  richesse  and  dilytes  forte 
sette  heore  hertes  holliche  on  hem,  & 
dispende5  hem  in  synne,  bute  for  pei 
scholde  knowe  him  &  loue  him  &  bonke 
him  of  alle  his  sjiftes.  And  before  |)e 
more  is  heore  scheme,  ^if  pei  wrabben 
hiw  pat  hab  i^iuen  hem  mony  ^iftes  in 
bodi  or  in  soule.  ^JFor-pi,  ^if  we 
coueyten  to  fleo  |)e  peyne  of  helle, 
pwrgatori,  vs  bihoueb  reste  vs  parfyt- 
liche  in  parfyt  loue  frow  be  lustwj  & 
be  lykynges  &  frow  be  vuel  dilytes  & 
be  wikked  drede  of  pis  world;  and 
pot  worldes  serwe  be  not  in  vs,  but 
bat  we  holde  euere  vr  herte  faste  on 
Ihesu  Crist  &  stonde  monlich  a^einw^ 
temptaciuws. 

i  R2  shal  may;  Jiat  om.       2  r.  J>e.       3  r.  \>l. 
4  r.  J)ou.       5  Ms.  dispendej). 


6o 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

(Can[tus]  amo[ris}}^ 
/  Now  I  wryte  a  sang  of  lufe, 
pat  p<?u  sal  delyte  in  when  pow  ert 
lufand  Ihtfju  Criste.  //2  My  sange  es  in 
sy^/yng,3  my  lyfe  es  in  langynge,  til  I 
pe  se  my  keyng,  so  fayre  in  pi  schyn- 
yng,  /  So  fayre  in  pi  fayrehede :  in  til 
pi  lyght  me  lede,  and  in  pi  lufe  me 
fede :  In  lufe  make  me  to  spede,  pat 
p<m  be  euer  my  mede.  /4  When  wil  p<m 
come,  Ihesu  my  ioy,  &  couer  me  of 
kare,  &  gyf  me  pe  pat  I  may  se,  lif- 
and 5  euer-mare  ?  Al  my  coueytyng 
war  cowmen,  if  I  myght  til  pe  fare; 
I  wil  na  thyng  hot  anely  pe,  pat  all 
my  will  ware.  /  Ihtfju  my  sauyoure, 
Ihesu  my  cowfortoure,  of  al  my  fayrnes 
flowre,  my  helpe  &  my  sokourtf :  when 
may  I  se  pi  towrtf?  /  When  wil  p#u 
me  kail?  me  langes  to  pi  hall,  to  se 
pe  pan  al :  pi  luf  lat  it  not  fal,  my 
hert  payntes  pe  pall ;  pat  steds  vs  in 
stal.  /  Now  wax  I  pale  &  wan,  for  luf 
of  my  lemmaw :  Ih&m  bath  god  &  man, 
pi  luf  p0u  lerd  me  pan,  when  I  to  pe 
fast  ran:  for-pi  now  I  lufe  kan.  /  I 
sytt  &  syng  of  luf-langyng,  pat  in  my 
breste  es  bredde.  Ihesu,  Ihesu,  Ihtf.m, 
when  6  war  I  to  pe  ledde?  Full  wele  I 
wate,  p0u  sees  my  state:  in  lufe  my 
thoght  es  stedde ;  When  I  pe  se  & 
dwels  wz't/z  pe,  pan  am  I  fylde  & 
fedde.  /  Ih^u  pi  lufe  es  fest,  &  me 
to  lufe  thynk  best:  my  hert  when  may 
it  brest,  to  com  to  pe  my  rest?  / 
Ihtf.ru,  Ihesu,  Ihesu,  til  pe  it  es  pat  I 
morne :  for-[pi],  my  lyfe  &  my  lyuyng, 
when6  may  I  hethen  torne?  /  Ihesu  my 
dere  &  my  drewry,  delyte  ert  f)0u  to 
syng :  Ihesu  my  myrth  &  melody,  when 
will  pow  com  my  keyng  ?  Ihesu  my 
hele  &  my  hony,  my  whart  &  my 
cowfortyng :  Ihmi,  I  couayte  for  to 

1  On  the  margin.      2  Cf.  the  poems  p.  75,  34, 
78,  80.     3  ht  in  syhtyng  on  erasure.     *  Cf.  p.  34. 
5  Ms.  lif  and.      6  al  whi  ne. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

JN  ou  i  write  a  song  of  loue,  pat 
p0u  schalt  delyte  in  whow  f)0u 
art  louyng  Ih.tf.rn  Oz'st.  ^f  My  song  is 
in  syngyng  (R.  sittyng),  Mi  lyf  is  in 
longing,  to  pe  (R.  pat)  i  seo  my 
derlyng  so  feir  in  his  schyning,  So  feir 
in  his  (R.  pi)  feirhede :  in  to  pi  li^t  p0u 
me  lede,  And  wip  pi  loue  p<?u  me  fede, 
In  loue  mak  me  to  spede,  And  p0u 
beo  euere  my  mede.  //  Whonne  wolt 
p0u  come,  Ihtf.ru  my  ioye,  &  keutfre  me 
of  sore  *,  And  ^eue  me  pe  pat  i  may  se 
&  haue  for  eutfr-more?  Al  my  coueit- 
ing  were  comen,  ^if  i  mi^te  to  pe 
fare;  I  wol  no  ping  but  only  pe,  pat 
al  my  weolnes  (R.  wilnes)  ware.  Ihesu 
my  saueour,  Ihtf.m  my  cuwfortour,  Of 
alle  feirhede  pe  flour,  Myn  help  and 
my  socour:  Whon  may  i  se  pe  in  pi 
tour?  I]  Whon  wolt  pou  me  calle  ?  Me 
longep  to  pin  halle,  To  seo  pe  &  hem 
alle  :  ti  loue  let  hit  not  falle  ...  If  Now 
wax  I  pale  &  won,  For  loue  of  my  jlew- 
mon.  Ihesu  bope  god  and  mon,  Pi 
loue  (R.  lore)  pou  lered  me  pon,  Whon 
i  faste  to  pe  ron:  For-pi  nou  loue  i 
con.  ^[1  sitte  and  synge  of  loue-long- 
ynge,  pat  in  myn  herte  is  bred.  Ihwu, 
Ihtf su,  Ihtfju,  whi  neore 2  i  to  pe  led  ? 
For3  wel  I  wot  p0u  seost  my  stat,  in 
loue  my  pou^t  is  sted;  Whon  i  seo  pe4, 
and  dwelle  wz'p  pe,] 

Ms.  Rawl.  continues: 

pan  am  I  fade  and  fed.  Ihesu  pi  luf  es 
feste,  and  me  to  luf  thynke  beste:  my 
hert  when  may  hit  brest,  til  com  to  pe 
my  reste?  Ihtf.m,  Ihesu,  Ihtfju,  tille  pe  es 
pat  I  mourne;  For-pi,  my  life  and  my 
lyfynge,  why  ne  may  I  hythen  tourne? 
Ihesu  my  dere  and  my  drewry,  delite  art 
pou  to  synge ;  lhtf.ru  my  myrth  my  melodic, 
when  wille  pou  com  my  kynge?  Ihtfju  my 
hele  and  my  hony,  my  whert,  my  com- 

i  R2  care.        2  R2  whi  ne  were.        3  R2  ful. 
*  R2  be  se. 


The  commandment  of  love  to  God. 


61 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

dy,  when  it  es  pi  payng.  /  Langyng 
es  in  me  lent,  pat  my  lufe  hase  me 
sent;  al  wa  es  fra  me  went,  sen  p«t 
my  hert  es  brent  /  In  Criste  lufe  sa 
swete,  p0t  neuer  I  wil  lete,  hot  euer 
to  luf  I  hete.-  for  lufe  my  bale  may 
bete  /  And  til  hys  blis  me  bryng,  & 
gyf  me  my  ^ernyng,  Ihesu  my  lufe  my 
swetyng.  /  Langyng  es  in  me  lyght, 
pat  byndes  me  day  &  nyght,  til  I  it 
hafe  in  syght,  his  face  sa  fayre  & 
bryght.  /  Ihfsu  my  hope  my  hele,  my 
ioy  euer-ilk  a  dele  :  pi  luf  lat  it  noght 
kele,  bat  I  pi  luf  may  fele,  &  won 
•with  pe  in  wele.  /  Ihesu  w*tA  pe  I 
byg  and  belde,  leuer  me  war  to  dy : 
pan  al  pis  worlde  to  welde  &  hafe  it 
in  maystry.  /  When  wil  p0u  rew  on 
me,  Ihesu  pat  I  myght  with  pe  be,  to 
lufe  &  lok  on  pe?  /  My  setell  ordayne 
for  me  &  sett  p0u  me  par-in:  for  pen 
mon  we  neuer  twyn,  /  And  I  pi  lufe 
sal  syng  thorow  syght  of  pi  schynyng, 
in  heuen  wzbfc-owten  endyng.  AmeN. 

Explicit  tractatus  Ricardi  heremite 
de  Hampole  scriptus  cuidam  moniali 
de  ^edyngham. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

fortynge:  Ihwu,  I  couaite  for  to  dye, 
when  it  is  pi  payinge.  Langynge  es  in 
me  lente,  pat  my  luf  has  me  sent;  alle 
wa  fra  me  es  went,  sen  pat  my  hert  es 
brent  1]  In  Cristes  luf  sa  swete,  pat 
neuer  I  wille  lete,  bot  euer  to  luf  I 
hete:  for  luf  my  bale  may  bete  /  and 
til  my  blys  me  brynge,  and  gyf  me  my 
^ernynge,  Ihesu  my  luf  swetyng.  Lang 
ynge  es  in  me  light,  pat  byndes  me 
day  &  nyght,  til  I  hit  hafe  in  sight, 
his  face  so  fayn?  an  bryght.  Ihesu  my 
hope  &  hele,  my  loie  euer-ilka  dele, 
pi  luf  lat  it  noght  kele,  |)at  I  pi  lufe 
may  fele,  and  won  wit  pe  in  wele. 
Ihesu  with  pe  I  bygge  and  belde,  leuer 
me  ware  to  dye,  pan  al  pis  worlde  to 
welde  and  hafe  it  in  maystry.  When 
wil  pou  rewe  on  me,  Ihesu  pat  I 
myght  with  pe  be,  to  luf  and  loke  on 
pe?  my  setill  ordayne  for  me,  and  sett 
pou  me  {)are-in:  for  fian  we  neuer 
twynne,  and  I  |)i  luf  salle  synge, 
thurgh  syght  in  pi  schynyng,  In  heuen 
wit-outen  endyng.  amen.1 

i  RZ  V  add :  Explicit  quoddam  notabile  Ricardi 
Rolle  heremite. 


e  commawndement  &c. 


This  piece  is  extant  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64  fol.  129  and,  in  southern  transcriptions, 
in  Ms.  Rawl.  A  389  fol.  81,  in  Mss.  Vernon,  Cambr.  li  VI.  40  (»In  pis  treatise  we 
are  tau^t  how  we  schul  loue  god  on  al  wyse«),  Ff  V.  40  fol.  87  (with  the  title 
De  diuinis  mandatis  tractatus),  Dd  V.  55  (beginning  wanting,  fol.  81  begins:  [god]nes. 
Be  boner  and  meke  til  alle  men).  Ms.  Rawl.  is  a  faithful  copy;  Ms.  Vernon  is 
badly  altered,  and  curtailed  by  wholesale  omissions ;  it  is  not  derived  from  Rawl. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64,  fol.  129. 

(r )E  comawndement  of  god  es  pat 
we  lufe  oure  lorde,  In  al  cure  hert, 
In  all  oure  saute,  In  al  cure  thoght. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389,  fol.  81. 

^[  Richard  hermit. 

J?e  cowmaundement  of  god  is  pat 
we  lufe  oure  lord  in  al  oure  hert,  in 
al  oure  sowle,  in  al  oure  thoght.  In 


62 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

//  In  al  oure  hert,  pat  es,  in  al  cure 
vnderstandyng,  wz'U-owten  erryng.  // 
In  al  owre  sawle,  pat  es,  in  al  oure 
will,  wzt^-owten  gaynsaiyng.  //  In  al 
oure  thoght,  pat  es:  pat  we  thynk  on 
hym  w\t\\-ozvten  forgetyng.  In  {)is  maner 
es  venray  Me  &  trew;  pat  es  werk  of 
mans  will.  /  For  lufe  es  a  wilful  stiryng 
of  owre  thoght  in  til  god:  sa  pat  it 
receyue  na  thyng  pat  es  agaynes  f)e 
lufe  of  Thesu  Crist ;  and  par-wztfc,  pat 
it  be  lastand  in  swetnes  of  deuocion: 
and  pis  es  pe  perfection  of  pis  lyfe.  / 
Til  pe  whilk  al  dedely  syn  es  con 
trary  &  enniy,  hot  noght  venyall  syn.  / 
For  venial  syn  dose  noght  away  charite  : 
bot  anly  lettes  pe  vsce  &  pe  byrnyng 
parof.  For-pi,  all  pat  wil  lufe  god 
p^rfitely,  paim  behoves  noght  al-anly 
fle  al  dedly  synnes,  bot  alsa,  als  niykel 
als  pai  may,  all  venial  syn,  in  thoght, 
and  worde,  &.  dede.  And  namly,  to  be 
of  lytel  speche.  And  pat  sylens  be  in 
occupacion  of  gode  thoghtes,  it  helpes 
gretely  to  goddes  lufe.  /  For  langelers 
&  bakbyters,  pat  appayres  other  mens 
lyfe  with  wikked  wordes,  and  all  pat 
roses  par  awne  state  before  all  other, 
or  pat  despises  any  state  in  pe  whilke 
a  man  may  be  safe:  pai  haue  na  mare 
syght  of  pe  lufe  of  god  in  paire  sawle, 
pen  pe  egh  of  a  bak  has  of  be  sonne. 
/  For  vayne  speche  &  ill  wordes,  erl 
syngne  of  a  vayne  hert  &  ill, 
pat  es  wzt^-owten  grace  of  god.  And 
he  pat  spekes  ay  pe  gode,  &  haldes 
ilk  a  man  better  pan  hyw-selfe:  he 
schewes  wele  pat  he  es  stabel  in  gode- 
nes  in  hys  hert,  &  ful  of  charite  til 
god  &  til  his  neghbor.  //  And  pat  p0u 
may  wynne  til  pe  swetnes  of  goddes 
lufe,  I  sett  here  thre  degres  of  lufe, 
in  pe  whilk  p<m  be  ay  waxand.  //  2Pe 
fyrst  degre  es  called  Insupvcabel,  /  pe 

i  On  erasure.       2  Cf.  p.  31.     Similar  text  in 
Bodl.  938  fol.  188. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

al  oure  hert,  pat  is  in  al  oure  vndir- 
stondyng  with-outen  erryng.  In  al  oure 
sowle,  pat  is  in  al  oure  wille  with-outen 
geynsaiyng.  In  al  oure  thoght,  pat  is,  pat 
we  thynk  on  hym  with-outen  forgetyng. 
In  pis  manure  is  verray  luf  &  trewe, 
pat  is  werke  of  monnes  wille.  For  luf 
is  a  wilful  stiryng  of  oure  thoght  in  to 
god :  so  pat  it  receyue  no  thyng  pat  is 
a^eyns  pe  luf  of  Ih&ra  Crist,  and  pare- 
with  pat  it  be  lastyng  in  swetnes  of 
deuocion:  and  pis  is  pe  pMeccion 
of  pis  lif.  To  pe  whiche  al  dedly 
synne  is  contrary  &  enemy,  bot  not 
venial  synne :  for  venial  synne  doth 
not  awey  charite,  bot  onli  letteth  pe 
ois  and  pe  brennyng  pare-of.  Pare- 
fore  alle  pat  wil  luf  god  partly, 
paim  behouith  not  onli  fle  alle  dedly 
synnes,  bot  also,  als  michel  als  pai 
may,  al  veniale  synne,  in  thoght,  and 
word,1  and  dede;  and  namely  to  be 
of  littul  speche — and  pat  silence  be 
in  occupacion  of  gode  thoghtes,  It 
helpes  gretly  to  goddes  luf.  For  ianglers 
and  bakbiters  pat  apeireth  othir  mennes 
lif  with  wicked  wordes,  and  alle  pat 
louen  pairtf  owene  state  by-foren  alle 
othere,  or  pat  despiseth  any  state  in  pe 
whiche  a  man  may  be  sauf :  thai  haue 
no  more  sight  of  be  luf  of  god  in  paire 
sowle  pen  pe  egh  of  a  backe  hath  of 
be  sonne.  For  veyn  speche  and  ille 
wordes  arne  signe  of  a  veyne  hert  & 
ille  pat  is  with-outen  pe  grace  of  god. 
And  he  pat  speketh  ay  pe  gode,  and 
holdes  iche  mon  better  pen  him-self: 
he  schewith  wele  pat  he  is  stable  in 
godnesse  in  his  hert,  &  ful  of  charite 
to  god  and  his  neghbur.  ^f  And  pat 
pou  may  come  to  pe  swetnesse  of  goddes 
luf,  I  sette  here  thre  degrees  of  luf,  in 
pe  whiche  pou  be  waxing.  ^[  be  first 
degre  is  cleped  Insuperable,  pe  tother 

*  Ms.  worth. 


The  commandment  of  love  to  God. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

secunde  Insepaxabel,  /  pe  thyrd  finguler. 
1 1  £i  luf  es  Insuperabel ':  when  na 
thyng  may  ouer-come  hit,  pat  es,  now- 
ther  wele  ne  waa,  ese  ne  anguys,  lust 
of  flesch  ne  likyng  of  pis  worlde;  bot 
ay  it  lastes  in  gode  thoght,  if  it  wer 
tewped  gretely,  &  it  hates  all  syn:  sa 
pat  na  thyng  may  slokken  bat  lufe.  // 
I>i  lufe  65  Inseparabel:  when  al  bi 
thoghtes  &  bi  willes  er  gederd  to-geder 
&  festend  haly  in  Ihesu.  Criste,  swa  bat 
f)0u  may  na  tyme  forgete  hym,  bot  ay 
f)0u  thynkes  on  hym.  And  for-bi  it  es 
called  Insepcrabel:  for  it  may  noght  be 
departed  fra  be  thoght  of  Ihesu  Criste. 
//  ti  luf  es  singuler:  when  al  pi  delyte 
es  in  Ihesu  Cryste,  &  in  nane  other 
thyng  fyndes  ioy  &  cowforth.  In  bis 
degre  es  lufe  stal worth  as  dede,  & 
hard  as  hell.  For  als  dede  slas  al 
lyuand  thyng  in  bis  worlde,  sa  perfite 
lufe  slas  in  a  mans  sawle  all  fleschly 
desyres  and  erthly  couaytise.  And  als 
hell  spares  noght  til  dede  men,  bot 
tormentes  al  bat  cowmes  bartill,  alswa 
a  man  bat  es  in  bis  degre  of  lufe, 
noght  anly  he  forsakes  be  wretched 
solace  of  bis  lyf,  bot  alswa  he  couaytes 
to  sofer  pynes  for  goddes  lufe.  /  tarfore 
if  be  lyst  lufe  any  thyng,  lufe  Ihmi 
Criste,  bat  es  be  fayrest,  richest,  & 
wysest ;  whas  lufe  lastes  in  ioy  endles. 
//  For  al  erthly  lufe  es  passand,  & 
wytes  sone  away  . . .  /  If  b0u  be  couetose 
after  gode :  luf  hym,  &  p<m  sal  haue 
al  gode.  Desyre  hym  trewly,  and  be 
sal  wante  na  thyng.  If  delites  like  be : 
lufe  hym,  for  he  gyfes  delites  til  hys 
louers  bat  neuer  may  perisch :  —  bot  al 
be  delytes  of  pis  world,  er  faynt  and 
fals,  &  fayland  in  maste  nede ;  pai 
bygyn  in  swettnes,  &  pair  endyng  es 
bitterer  ban  be  gall.  If  bcm  kan  noght 
lyf  w/tA-owten  felichip:  lyft  pi  thoght 
til  heuen,  bat  b0u  may  fynd  cowforth 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

Inseparable,  be  thridde  Singuler.  Thi 
luf  is  insuperable,  when  no  thing  may 
ouer-com  it,  bat  is,  nouther  wele  ne 
wo,  ese  ne  anguys,  luf  of  flesch  ne 
likyng  of  bis  world ;  bot  ay  it  lasteth 
in  god,  bogh  it  were  tempted  gretly, 
and  hit  hateth  al  synne,  so  pat  no 
thyng  may  slakne  pat  luf.  1j  Thi  luf 
is  inseparable,  when  alle  thi  thoghtes 
and  alle  thi  willes  are  gaderd  to-gedir 
&  festned  holly  in  Ihesu  Crist,  so  fiat 
bou  may  notyme  forgete  hym,  bot  ay 
bou  thynkest  on  hym;  and  berfon?  it 
is  cleped  inseparable,  for  it  may  not  be 
departed  fro  thoght  of  Ihmi  Crist. 
^[  That  *  luf  is  singuler,  when  al  be  *  delit 
is  in  Ihesu  Crist,  and  in  non  other  thing 
fynde  ioye  or  comfort.  In  pis  degre  is 
luf  stalworthe  als  ded,  and  hard  als 
helle:  for  als  ded  slees  al  lyuyng 
thing  in  pis  world,  so  parfit  luf  sleth 
in  a  monnes  sowle  alle  fleschely  desires 
and  erthly  couaytise.  2And  als  helle 
spareth  not  to  ded  menne,  bot  tormenteth 
alle  bat  cometh  perto,  so  a  mon  [)at 
is  in  bis  degre  of  luf,  not  only  he  for- 
sakith  be  wreched  solace  of  bis  lif,  bot 
also  coueiteth  to  suffre  pynes  for  godes 
luf.2  tare-fore  if  pe  list  luf  any  thing, 
luf  Ih*ru  Crist,  pat  is  fairest,  richest  & 
wisest,  whos  luf  lasteth  in  ioye  endeles  ; 
for  al  erthly  luf  is  passing  and  witeth 
sone  a-wey;  noht  pat  falleth  berto  is 
dwellyng,  bot  pyne  pat  it  desented.3  If 
bou  be  coueitottf  aftur  gude  :  luf  him 
and  bou  hast  al  gude ;  desire  hym  trewly 
&  be  schal  wonte  no  thyng.  If  delites4 
like  the  :  lufe  him,  for  he  ?eueth  delites 
to  his  lufers  bat  neuer  may  pmsch  :  bot 
alle  be  delices  of  bis  world  are  feynt 
and  fals  and  failyng  in  most  nede;  / 
thai  bygynne  in  swetnesse  and  bair 
endyng  is  bitterer  ben  galle.  If  bou 
kan  not  lyfe  with-outen  felashipe  :  lift 
pi  thoght  to  heuen,  pat  pou  may  fele 

i  r.  fr.      2.2  om.  in  Vern.      *  V.  pyne  &  wo. 

*  Ms.  delices? 


64 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

with  aungels  &  halows,   pe    whilke  wil 

helpe  pe  til  god,  &  noght   lett   pe,  als 

pi  fleschly    frendes    dos.  /  Restreyn    pi 

will  a  while,   fra  al  lust  and   lykyng  of 

syn,    &   p0u    sail  haue  efterwarde  al  pi 

will:  For  it  sal  be  clensed  &   made    sa 

fre,   pat  pe  lyst  do    na   thyng   hot    pat 

pat   es   payng   of1    god.      If    pe    lyste 

speke:   forbere  it   at  pe  begynnyng    for 

goddes    lufe:    For    when    pi   hert  feles 

delyte    \n    Criste,     pe    wil   not   liste  to 

speke  ne  iangell  bot  of  Criste.    If  pow 

may  not  dreghe  to  syt  by  pi  nane :  vse 

pe    stalworthly    in   hys    lufe,    &   he  sal 

sa  stabyly  sett  pe,  pat  al  pe   solace  of 

pis   worlde   sal   noght   remove  pe,    for 

pe    will    noght      list    parof.    //    When 

pow    ert   be    pi-self,    be    ay,     till   slepe 

come,     owther    in    prayer    or  in   gode 

meditaciouw.     And  ordane2   pi   prayng 

&  pi  wakyng  &  pi   fastyng,    pat    it   be 

in      discrecion,    noght    ouer-mykel    na 

ouer-litel:      Bot    thynk    ay    pat   of  all 

thyng   maste    coueytes    god   pe   lufe    of 

mans    hert.     And    for-pi   seke   mare   to 

lufe    hym,     pan  to     do     any    penance. 

For  vnskylful  penance  es  litel  worth  or 

noght :  Bot  lufe  es  ay  pe  best,  whether 

p0u    do    penance    mykel    or   lytel.     Be 

abowtwarde  in  pi  myght,    pat   p0u  war 

swa    mwardly    gyuen    til    pe     lufe    of 

Ihesu.    Criste,    pat   for    gastly    ioy  of  pi 

sawle    na    thyng    pat   men   may    do    or 

say,  make  pe  sary ;    swa   pat   pi  thoght 

wzt^-in   be    fed    anly   in  pe  swetnes  of 

Cristes    lufe;     &    noght    in    delyte     of 

erthly  ese ;   ne  in  louyng  of  men,   when 

pai   begyn    to    speke    gode    of  pe,    in 

ydel  ioy.     Trayst    in    god,    pat   he  wil 

gif  til  pe  pat  p0u  prayse  hym  skilfully. 

//  Skylful    prayer    es    til    cristen   mans 

sawle:  to  seke  &  aske,  nyght  &  day,  pe 

lufe   of  Ihmi   Criste,    pat   it  may    lufe 

hym  verraly,  feland  cowforth    &    delyte 

in  hym;   owt   kastyng  worldes  thoghtes 

i  V.  to  fce  p.  of.        2  Ms.  ordand. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

comfort  with  aungels  and  halewes,  pe 
whiche  wil  helpe  pe  to  god,  &  not  lette  pe 
als  pi  fleschely  frendes  doth.  /  Restreyne 
pi  wille  a  while  fro  al  lust  and  likyng 
of  synne  and  pou  schalt  haue  afterward 
al  thi  wille  :  for  hit  shal  be  clensed  & 
made  so  fre,  pat  pe  wil  lust  to  do  no 
thyng  bot  pat  is  paiyng  to  god.  If  pe 
lust  speke  :  for-bere  it  at  pe  bygynnyng 
for  goddes  luf:  for  when  pi  hert  feleth 
delit  in  Crist,  the  wil  not  lust  speke  ne 
iangle  bot  of  Crist.  If  pou  may  not 
dreghe  to  sitte  bi  thyn  one:  oise  the 
stalworthly  in  his  luf  and  he  shal 
so  stabli  sette  pe,  pat  al  pe  solace 
of  pis  worlde  shal  not  mowe  remewe 
pe,  for  the  wil  not  luste  pare-of.  / 
When  pou  art  bi  thi-self,  be  ay, 
to  slep  come,  outhir  in  prayer  or  in 
gode  meditaciouw.  /  And  ordeyne  pi 
wakyng  and  pi  praying  and  pi  fasting, 
pat  it  be  in  discreciouw,  not  ouer- 
mychel  ne  ouer-litel:  bot  thynke  ay 
pat  of  alle  thinges  most  quemeth  god 
luf  of  monnys  hert.  /  And  pare-fore 
seche  more  to  luf  hym  pen  to  do  any 
penance ;  1  for  vnskilful  penance  is  litul 
worth  or  noght,  bot  luf  is  ay  pe  best, 
whether  pou  do  penance1  mychel  or 
litel.  ^[  Be  aboutewarde  in  al  pi  myght 
pat  pou  were  so  inwardly  ^euen  to  pe 
luf  of  Ihttu  Crist  pat  for  gostli  ioye  of 
pi  sowle  nouht  pat  men  may  say  or  do 
made  pe  sory,  so  pat  pi  thoght  withinne 
be  fed  only  in  pe  swetnesse  of  Cristes 
luf,  not  in  delit  of  erthly  ease,  ne  in 
louyng  of  men,  if  pai  be-gan  to  speke 
gude  of  the,  ne  in  idel  ioye.  /  Trust 
in  god,  pat  he  wil  ^eue  to  the  things 
pat  pou  prayes  hym  skillefully.  Skylful 
prayer  is  to  cristen  mennes  sowle  to 
seche  and  aske  nyght  and  day  pe  luf 
of  Ihesu  Crist,  pat  it  may  luf  him  v*rrali, 
feling  comfort  &  delit  in  him,  oute- 
kasting  worldes  thoghtes  and  luel 
i-i  om.  in  V. 


The  commandment  of  love  to  God. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

&  il  bysynes.  /  And  sykir  be  b<?u,  if 
b0u  couayte  his  •  lufe  trewly  &  lastandly, 
swa  bat  na  lufe  of  bi  flesche,  ne 
angers  of  be  worlde,  ne  speche  ne 
hatreden  of  men,  draw  be  agayne,  & 
caste  be  noght  in  bisynes  of  bodily 
thyng :  b^u  sal  haue  his  lufe,  &  fynd 
and  fele  bat  it  es  delitabeler  in  a 
nowre,  ban  al  be  welthe  bat  we  here 
se  may,  til  domesday.  //  And  if  f)0u 
fayle  £  fall  for  temptacions,  or  for 
angers,  or  for  ouer-mykel  luf  of  pi 
frendes :  it  es  na  wonder  if  he  halde 
fra  be  thyng  pat  bow  couaytes  noght 
trewly.  //  He  says  pzf  he  lufes  pam 
fat  lufes  hym ;  and :  pat  fiat  arely 
•wakes  til  hym,  sal  fynde  hym.  //  Pow 
ert  arely  wakand  oft-sythe,  why  pan 
fyndes  b<m  hym  noght?  Certes,  if  p<?u 
seke  hym  ryght,  p0u  sail  fynde  hym. 
Bot  ay  whiles  b0u  sekes  erthly  ioy:  if 
p0u  wake  neuer  sa  arely,  Criste  may 
f)0u  noght  fynde :  for  he  es  noght 
funden  in  pair  lande  pat  lyues  in 
fleschly  lustes.  Hys  moder,  when  he 
was  willed  fra  hyr,  scho  soght  hym 
gretand,  arely  and  late,  ymang  his 
kynredyn  &  hirs :  bot  scho  fand  hym 
noght,  for  al  hyr  sekyng,  til  at  be 
laste  scho  come  in  til  be  tempyl,  & 
pare  scho  fand  hym  syttand  ymange 
be  maysters,  herand  and  answerand. 
Swa  behoues  be  do,  if  b0u  wil  fynd 
hym:  seke  hym  inwardly,  in  trouth,  &. 
hope,  £  charite  of  haly  kyrk ;  castand 
owt  al  syn,  hatand  it  in  al  pi  hert: 
for  pat  haldes  hym  fra  be,  &  lettes  be 
bat  b0u  may  noght  fynd  hym.  //  Pe 
herdes  bat  hym  soght:  fand  hym 
lyand  in  a  krybbe,  by-twyx  twa  bestes — 
bat  J)0u  knawes.1  //  If  p0u  seke  hym 
verraly:  be  behoues  ga  in  be  way  of 
pouert,  and  noght  of  riches.  //  Pe 
sterne  led  be  thre  keynges  in  til  Bed- 
lem:  bar  bai  fand  Criste  swedeld  in 
1  r.  knawe  : 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

bisines.  /  And  siker  be  bou,  if  bou 
coueite  his  luf  trewli  £  lastyngli,  so  bat 
no  lust  of  pi  flesche,  ne  angrynge  of 
be  world ,  ne  speche  ne  hatereden  of 
men ,  drawe  a^eyn  &  cast  be  not  in 
bisinesse  of  bodili  thynges :  bou  shalt 
haue  his  luf,  and  fynde  and  fele  bat 
hit  is  delitabler  in  an  oure  ban  alle  foe 
welthe  bat  we  here  see,  may  be  to 
domes-day.  And  if  bou  faille  and  falle 
for  temptacions ,  or  for  angres ,  or 
for  ouer-myche  luf  of  pi  frendes:  it  es 
no  wonder  if  he  holde  fro  pe  thing  pat 
foou  coueitest  not  trewly.  He  sayth  pat 
he  lufes  thaim  pat  lufes  him  ;  and,  foei 
pat  erly  waketh  to  him  schal  *  fynde 
him.  Pou  art  erely  wakyng  oftesyth, 
whi  f)an  fyndes  pou  him  not?  Certes 
if  pou  seche  hym  ryght,  pou  schalt 
fynde  him ;  bot  whiles  pou  sechest 
ertheli  ioye,  pogh  pou  wake  neuer  so 
erli,  Crist  may  pou  not  fynde:  for  he 
is  not  founden  in  foaire  londe  pat  lifes 
in  flescheli  lustes.  ^f  His  moder,  when 
he  was  willed  fro  hire,  soght  wepyng 
erely  &  late  amonge  his  kynreden  and 
hires :  Bot  sche  fonde  him  not  for  alle 
her  schetyng2  and  her  sorowyng ,  to  at 
be  laste  sche  come  in  to  pe  temple, 
and  foere  sche  fonde  hym  sittyng  among 
pe  maistres,  heryng  and  onsweryng. 
So  behoueth  pe  do,  if  pou  wilt  fynde 
hym :  seche  inwardly,  in  trouthe  &  hope 
and  charite  of  holichirche,  castyng  oute 
al  synne  and  hathing  it  in  al  pi  herte : 
for  pat  holdeth  hym  fro  pe,  and  letteth 
be  bat  bou  may  not  fynde  hym.  ^[  Pe 
herdemen3  bat  soght,  fonde  him  liggyng 
in  a  crybbe,  bi-twene  two  bestes;  bat 
bou  knowe,  if  bou  seche  hym  verraly, 
be  be-houeth  go  in  foe  way  of  pouert, 
and  not  of  richesse.  ^[  Pe  sterre  led  be 
thre  kynges  in  to  Bethleem :  bere  bei 
i  Ms.  schald.  2  r.  sechyng.  3  Ms.  herdemon. 

5 


66 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

clowtes  sympely,  as  a  pore  barne.  Parby 
vnderstand:  whils  p<w  ert  in  pryde  & 
vanyte,  p<m  fyndes  hym  noght.  How 
may  pmi  for  schame,  pat  es  bot  seru- 
and,  wzt&  many  clathes  &  riche  folow 
pi  spowse  &  pi  lorde,  pat  yhede  in  a 
kyrtel:  and  f)0u  trayles  als  mykel  be- 
hynd  be,  as  al  pat  he  had  on?  // 
For-pi  I  rede  pat  p0u  parte  wztfc  hym, 
ar  p0u  and  he  mete:  pat  he  reprove 
pe  noght  of  outrage ;  for  he  wil  pat 
pow  haue  pat  f)0u  hase  mister  of,  & 
na  mare.  He  sayde  til  his  discipyls 
pat  pai  sulde  noght  haue  als  many 
clathes  as  twa  myght  be  sustend  wzt/fc ; 
forto  traueyle  pare-abowte,  es  owtrage 
bisynes,  pat  he  forbedes.  //  fe  lufe  of 
IhesM  Criste  es  ful  dere  tresure,  ful 
delytabyl  ioy,  &  ful  syker  to  trayst  man 
on.  For-pi,  he  wil  not  gyf  it  to  folys, 
pat  kan  noght  hald  it  &  kepe  it  tend 
erly  :  Bot  til  paim  he  gese1  it  pe  whilk 
nowther  for  wele  ne  for  wa  wil  lat  it 
passe  fra  pam,  bot  are  pai  wil  dye 
or  pai  wolde  wrath  Ihesu  Criste.  /  And 
na  wyse  man  dose  precyous  lycor  in 
a  stynkand  vessell,  bot  in  a  clene.  Als 
Criste  dose  noght  his  lufe  in  a  foule 
hert  in  syn,  £  bownden  in  wile2  lust 
of  flesche,  bot  in  a  hert  pat  es  fayre 
and  clene  in  vertues.  Noght-for-pi,  a 
fowle  vessel  may  be  made  sa  clene, 
pat  a  ful  dere  thyng  sauely  may  be 
done  parin.  And  Ih*m  Criste  oft- 
sythes  purges  many  synfull  mans  sawle, 
&  makes  it  abyl  thurgh  his  grace  to 
receyue  pe  delitabel  swetnes  of  hys 
luf,  &  to  be  his  wonnyng-stede  in 
halynes ;  and  ay  be  clennar  it  waxes  :  pe 
mare  ioy  &  solace  of  heuen  Criste 
settes  parin.  For-pi,  at  pe  fyrst  tyme 
when  a  man  es  turned  to  god :  he  may 
not  fele  pat  swete  lycor,  til  he  haue 
bene  wele  vsed  in  goddes  seruys,  & 
his  hert  be  purged  thorow  prayers  & 
i  =  gifes.  2  =  vile. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

fonde  Crist  in  swethil-cloutes  simpli, 
as  a  poure  childe.  Parby  vnderstonde 
pat  whiles  pou  art  in  pryde  and  vanite, 
pou  fyndest  him  not.  !How  may  pou 
for  schame,  pat  art  bot  seruant,  with 
mony  clothes  &  riche  folewe  pi  spouse 
and  pi  lord,  pat  went  in  on  kirtil :  & 
pou  trailest  as  myche  bihynde  pe,  as 
al  pat  he  had  on?  fanr-fore  I  rede 
pat  pou  part  with  hym  er  pou  &  he 
mete,  pat  he  reproue  pe  not  of  outrage  ; 
for  he  wil  pat  pou  haue  pat  pou  hast 
myster  of,  and  nomore.  He  said  to  his 
disciples  pat  pei  schulde  not  haue  als 
mony  clothes  als  two  moght  be  susteined 
wz't/z — for  to  trauaile  pare-aboute,  is 
outrageous  besenesse,  pat  he  forbedeth1. 
^|  The  luf  of  Ih«u  Crist  is  ful  dere 
tresor,  ful  delitable  ioy,  and  ful  siker 
to  trust  men  on2,  fare-fore  he  wil  not 
^eue  hit  to  foles,  pat  can  not  holde  hit 
and  kepen  it  tenderly:  bot  to  thaim  he 
^efeth  it  pe  whiche  nouther  for  wele 
ne  for  wo  wil  let  it  passe  fro  thaim,  bot 
pei  wil  die  er  pei  wolde  wrathe  Ihesu 
Crist.  /  And  no  wysmon  dos  precious 
licour  in  a  stynkyng  vessell,  bot  in  a 
clene.  Also  Crist  dos  not  his  luf  in  a 
foule  hert(e)  3  in  synne,  and  bonden  in 
vil  lust  of  flesshe:  bot  in  an  herte  pat 
is  faire  and  clene  in  virtues.  Neuer- 
pe-latter  a  foule  vessel  may  be  maked 
so  clene,  pat  ful  dere  thyng  sauely  may 
be  don  pere-in.  And  Ihmi  Crist  ofte- 
sithes  purgeth  mony  synful  monnes 
soule,  &  maketh  it  able  thurgh  his  grace 
to  resceyue  be  delitable  swetnesse  of 
his  luf,  and  to  be  his  wonyngstede  in 
holynesse ;  and  ay  be  clenner  it  waxeth, 
pe  more  ioy  &  solace  of  heuen(e)  Crist 
setteth  pare-in,  farefore  at  pe  first 
tyme  when  a  mon  is  turned  to  god,  he 
may  not  fele  pat  swete  licour  til  he 
haue  ben  wel  oised  in  goddes  seruice 
and  his  herte  be  purged  thurgh  prayers 
1-1  om.  in  V.  2  V.  a  mon  to  tr.  on.  3  herte 
on  the  margin. 


The  commandment  of  love  to  God. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

penance  &  gode  thoghtes  in  god.  For 
he  pat  es  slaw  in  goddes  seruyce,  may 
noght  be  byrnand  in  lufe,  bot  if  he  do 
al  his  myght,  &  trauell  nyght  &  day, 
to  fulfill  goddes  will.  And  when  pat 
blyssed  lufe  es  in  a  mans  hert:  it  will 
not  suffer  hym  be  ydel,  bot  ay  it 
stirres  hym  to  do  som  gode  bat  myght 
be  lykand  til  god,  as  in  praying,  or  in 
wirkyng  pn?fitabel  thynges,  or  in  spek- 
yng  of  Cristes  passyon;  and  principally 
in  thoght,  pat  pe  mynde  of  Ihwu 
Criste  passe  noght  fra  his  thoght.  For 
if  p0u  lufe  hym  trewly :  j)0u  wil  glad 
pe  in  hym,  &  noght  in  other  thyng ; 
and  p0u  [wil] l  thynk  on  hym,  kastand 
away  al  other  thoghtes.  Bot  if  p0u 
be  fals  &  take  o\*cr  pan  hym,  &  delyte 
pe  in  erthly  thyng,  agaynes  his  wille : 
wit  p0u  wele,  he  will  forsake  pe  as 
p0u  hase  done  hyme,  and  dampne  pe 
for  pi  synne.  //  \Vharfore,  pat  p<m 
may  lufe  hym  trewly,  vnderstand  pat 
his  lufe  es  pnmed  \n  thre  thynges : 
In  thynkyng,  In  spekyng,  In  wirkyng. 
Chaunge  pi  thoght  fra  pe  worlde,  & 
kast  it  haly  on  hym:  &  ihe  sail  nor- 
ysche  pe.  Chaunge  pi  mowth  fra  vn- 
nayte  &  warldes  speche,  &  speke  of 
hym:  &  he  sail  comforth  pe.  Chaunge 
pi  hend  fra  pe  warkes  of  vanitese,  & 
lyft  pam  in  his  name,  &  wyrke  anly 
for  hys  lufe :  &  he  sail  receyue  pe.  Do 
pus:  &  pan  lufes  f)0u  trewly,  and  gase 
in  pe  way  of  p^rfitenes.  /  Delyte  pe  sa 
in  hym,  pat  pi  hert  receyue  nowther 
worldes  ioy,  ne  worldes  so  row ;  and 
drede  no  anguys  ne  noy  pat  may  be- 
falle  bodyly  on  be  or  on  any  of  pi 
frendes:  bot  betake  all  in  til  goddes 
will,  &  thank  hym  ay,  of  all  hys  sandes  : 
swa  p£t  p(?u  may  haue  rest  &  sauowre 
i»  hys  lufe.  For  if  pi  hert  owther  be 
ledde  with  worldes  drede,  or  worldes 
solace,  p0u  ert  full  fer  fra  be  swetnes 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

&  penance  &  gode  thoghtes  in  god; 
for  he  pat  is  slowe  in  goddes  seruice, 
may  not  be  brennyng  in  luf,  bot  if  he 
do  al  his  myght  and  trauaile  nyght  and 
day  to  fulfille  goddes  wille.  And  when 
pat  blissed  luf  is  in  a  monnes  herte,  it 
wil  not  suffre  hym  to  be  idel,  bot  ay 
it  stireth  hym  to  do  som  gode  pat  myght 
be  likyng  to  god,  as  in  praying,  or  in 
worching  profitable  thinge,  or  in  spekyng 
of  Ihwu  Crist;  ^nd  principally  in  thoght, 
pat  pe  mynde  of  Ihesu  Crist  passe  not 
fro  his  thoght  *.  For  if  pou  lufe  hym 
trewly,  pou  wil(/)2  glade  pe  in  him  and 
not  in  other  thyng,  /  and  pou  wilt 
thynk  on  him,  castyng  awey  alle  othir 
thoghtes.  /  Bot  if  bou  be  fals  &  take 
othir  pen  him  and  delite  pe  in  erthely 
thyng  a^eins  his  wille :  witte  pou 
wele  he  wil  forsake  be  as  pou  hast 
don  hym,  &  dampne  (be) 3  for  pi 
synne.  /  Wharfore,  *bat  pou  may  luf 
hym  treweli,  vndirstonde  pat  his  luf  is 
pmied  in  thre  thynges :  In  thynkyng, 
in  spekyng,  in  worchyng  1.  /  Change 
pi  thoght  fro  be  world  and  cast 
hit  holli  on  hym,  and  he  schal 
norisshe  pe.  /  Change  pi  mouth  fro 
vnprofitable  &  wordli  speche  (&  speke)3 
of  hym,  and  he  schal  comfort  the.  / 
Change  pine  honden  fro  werkw  of 
vanites  and  lift  bairn  in  his  nome  and 
worche  only  for  his  luf,  and  he  schal 
resceyue  pe1.  Do  pus  and  pou  lufes 
him  trewly  and  pou  gost  in  pe  wey  of 
parfitenesse.  Delite  pe  so  in  hym  pat  pi 
hert  resceyue  nouther  worldes  ioy  ne 
worldes  sorowe ;  and  drede  not  anguyse 
or  noy  pat  may  be-falle  bodili  on  the 
or  on  any  of  bi  frendes,  bot  betake  al 
in  to  goddes  will,  and  thanke  him  ay 
of  all  his  sondes:  so  bat  bou  haue  rest 
and  sauour  in  his  luf;  tfor  if  bi  herte 
outher  be  led  with  worledes  drede,  or 
worldes  solace,  pou  art  ful  far  fro  pe 
l~l  om.  in  V.  2  wilt  on  the  margin.  3  on 
the  margin. 

5* 


68 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

of  Cristes   lufe.  /  And    loke    wele    pat 
p0u  seme  not  ane  wzt^-owten,    and   be 
a    nother    wyth-in,   als  ypocrites   dose, 
pe  whilk  er  like  til  a   sepulker  pat    es 
paynted  richely  wzt^-owten,  &   wyth-in 
rotes    stynkand     banes.      If    p0u    haue 
delyte    in    pe    name   of  religion:    loke 
pat  p0u  haue  mare  delyte   in    pe   dede 
pat    falles    til    religion.      Thyne    abett 
says  pat  p<m   hase   forsaken  pe   world, 
pat  p0u   ert  gyuen   till  goddes    seruys, 
pat   p<m    delyte  [s]    pe   noght   in    erthly 
thyng:    lok  pan    pat  it   be    in   pi  hert, 
als    it    semes    in    men    syght — For    na 
thyng  may  make  pe  religious  bot    ver- 
tues  &  clennes  of  sawle  in  charite.  /  If 
pi  body   be   cled   wyth-owten    as    pine 
order    wille,    loke     pat     pi     sawle    be 
noght    naked    with-in — pat    pine  order 
forbedes:     Bot  naked  be   pi    sawle   fra 
all  vices,  &  warme  happed  in  lufe   and 
mekenes.     Drede  pe  domes  of  god,    sa 
pat  p0u   wrath   hym  noght.     Stabel   pi 
thoght  in  hys   lufe,    &  helld  owt  of  pe 
al  synnes.     Kast  away  slawnes,  vse  pe 
manly    in     godenes;1     be     deboner    & 
meke   til   al  men,    lat   na    thyng  bryng 
pe    til    Ire    or    envy ;    dyght    pi   sawle 
fayre    &    make   par-in    a    towre  of  lufe 
til    goddes    son,    and    gar    pi  will  be 
couaytous   to   receyue  hym,    als    gladly 
as  p0u  walde  be  at  pe  commyng   of  a 
thyng  pat  p0u  lufed  mast  of  al   thyng. 
Wasche  pi  thoght  clene  wyth  lufe-teres 
&  brennand  ^ernyng,    pat  he   fynd    na 
thyng    fowle    in    pe :     for   his    ioy    es 
pat    p0u    be    fayre    &    lufsom    in    his 
eghen.     Fayrehede  of  pi  sawle,  pat  he 
couaytes,    es    pat    f>0u    be    chaste   and 
meke,  mylde  and   sufferand,    neuer    irk 
to  do  his  wille,   ay  hatand  all  wykked- 
nes.     In  al  pat  p0u  dose,    thynk   ay  to 
com    to    pe   syght   of  his  fairehede,    & 
sett    al    pine     entent    parin     pat    pow 

i    From    here    in    Ms.   Dd  V.   55    (northern 
dial.),  after  Hilton's  »Scala  Perfections «. 


Ms.  Ravvl.  A  389. 

swetnesse  of  Crist^ 1  luf'1.  And  loke  wele 
pat  pou  seme  not  on  withouten  and  be 
an  other    withinne,    as    ypocrites    doth, 
pe  whiche  are  like  to  a  sepulcre  pat  is 
peynted  richely   with-outen,    and    with 
inne    roteth    stynkyng    bones.     If    pou 
haue    delit    in    pe     [name    of    religion, 
loke     pat    pou    haue    more    delyte    in 
pe]2  dede  pat  falleth   to  religion,     tin 
habit   saith   pat   pou   hast  forsaken    pe 
world,    pat   pou   art    ^efen    to   goddes 
seruice,  pat  pou  delites  pe  not  in  erthely 
thyng:    loke    penne    pat    it    be    in    pi 
hert(e)  as  hit  semeth  in  mennes  sight — for 
nothping    may   make    pe    religious    bot 
virtues  and  clennesse  of  soule  in  charite. 
If  thi    bodi    be    clothed  with-outen   as 
pin  order  wil,  loke  pat  pi  soule  be  not 
naked  withinne — pat  pin  order  forbedeth : 
bot   naked  be   thi  soule  fro  alle  vices, 
and  warme   happed   in   luf  £  mekenes. 
3  Drede   pe  domes  of  god,    so  pat  pou 
wretthe  him  not ;  stabil  pi  thoght  in  his 
luf,    and    held   oute  of  pe  alle  synnes; 
cast  awey  slowenesse,    oise  pe  monli  in 
godenes,   /   be   deboner    ande   meke   to 
alle  men,    lete    no    thing    brynge  pe  to 
ire    or  enuy(e) ;    dight    thi   soule  faire, 
make  pare-inne  a  trone  of  luf  to  goddes 
son,  and  make  pi  wille  be  coueitous  to 
receyue  hym   as   gladli  as  pou  woldest 
be  at   pe   comyng  of  a  thyng   pat  pou 
lufed  most  of  alle  thyng3.     Wasshe   pi 
thoght  clene  with  luf-teres  and4  brennyng 
desiryng,    pat    he    fynde   no  thyng  foul 
in  pe  :    for  his   ioy  is  pat  pou  be  faire 
&  lufesom  in  his  eghen.  /  Fairehede  of 
pi  soule   pat  he  coueit^,5    is  pat   pou 
be   chast   &   meke,    mylde   &  suffrynge, 
neudr  irk  to  do  his  will,   ay  hatyng  alle 
wrychednesse.    In  al  pat  pou  dost  think 
ai  to  come  to  pe  sight  of  his  fairehed, 
&  sette    alle    pin    entent   pare-inne  pat 
pou  may  come  pare-to  at  thin  endyng — 

i   7)  by  another  hand.      2  Om.      *-'  om.  in  V. 
4-4  om.  in  V.      *  eth  added. 


The  commandment  of  love  to  God. 


6g 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

may  com  par-til  at  f)ine  endyng — for 
pat  aght  to  be  pe  ende  of  al  oure 
traueyle ,  pat  we  euermare,  whils  we 
lyue  here,  desyre  pat  syght,  in  all  cure 
hert,  &  pat  we  thynk  ay  lang  par-till. 
//  Als-sa  festen  in  pi  hert  pe  mynd  of 
his  passyon  £  of  his  woundes:  grete 
delyte  and  swetnes  sal  pou  fele,  if  pou 
halde  pi  thoght  in  mynde  of  pe  pyne 
pat  Cryst  sufferd  for  pe.  /  If  pou 
traueyle  right  in  hys  lufe,  &  desyre 
hym  brennandly  :  all  temptacyons  & 
dredes  of  ill  pou  sail  ouercom,  & 
deful  vnder  pi  fote,  thorow  his  grace. 
/  For  al  pat  he  sees  in  gode  will  to 
luf  hym,  he  helpes  pam  agaynes  all 
par  enmys,  and  rayses  par  thoght 
abouen  all  erthly  thyng,  swa  pat  pai 
may  haue  sauoure  &  solace  in  pe 
swetnes  of  heuen.  //  Purches  pe  pe 
welle  of  gretyng,  &  cees  noght  till  pou 
haue  hym.  For  in  pe  hert  whare 
teres  sprynges,  par  wil  pe  fyre  of  pe 
haly  gaste  be  kyndelde :  and  sythen 
pe  fyre  of  lufe,  pat  sal  byrn  in  pi 
hert,  wil  bryn  til  noght  al  pe  rust  of 
syn,  &  purge  pi  sawle  of  al  fylth,  als 
clene  as  pe  golde  pat  es  proued  in  pe 
fournes.  I  wate  na  thyng  pat  swa  in 
wardly  sal  take  pi  hert  to  couayte 
goddes  lufe  and  to  desyre  pe  ioy  of 
heuen  &  to  despyse  pe  vanitees  of  pis 
worlde,  as  stedfast  thynkyng  of  pe 
myscheues  &  greuous  woundes  [&]  of 
pe  dede  of  Ihesu  Criste.  It  wil  rayse 
pi  thoght  abouen  erthly  lykyng,  & 
make  pi  hert  brennand  in  Cristes  lufe, 
&  pur[ch]es l  in  pi  sawle  delitabelte  and 
sauoure  of  heuen.  //  Bot  per-aunter  pou 
will  say :  »I  may  noght  despyse  pe 
worlde,  I  may  not  fynd  it  in  my  hert  to 
pyne  my  body,  £  me  behoues  lufe  my 
fleschly  frendes,  and  take  ese  when  it 
comes. «  If  pou  be  temped  w*tfc  swilk 
thoghtes,  I  pray  pe  pat  pou  vmbethynk 
1  Ms.  purges. 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

for  pat  oweth  to  be  ende  of  al  oure 
trauail  pat  we  euermore,  while  we  life 
her?,  desire  pat  sight  in  alle  oure  hert, 
and  pat  vs  ay  thynk  longe  par-to. 
^|  Also  festne  in  thin  herte  pe  mynde 
of  his  passion*  £  of  is  woundes :  gret 
delit  and  swetnes  schal  pou  fele,  if 
pou  holde  pi  thoght  in  mynde  of  pe 
pyne  pat  Crist  suffred  for  pe.  1  If 
pou  trauaill  ryght  in  his  luf,  and 
desire  him  brennyngli:  alle  temptacions 
£  drede-r  of  euel1  pou  salt  ouercome 
and  defoule  vnder  pi  fete  thurghe  his 
gnzce;  for  alle  pat  he  seeth  in  gode 
wille  to  luf  him,  he  helpeth  thaim 
azjeins  alle  thaire  enemys,  and  reiseth 
pair  thoght  abouen  erthely  thynge, 
so  pat  thei  may  haue  sauour  of  pe 
swetnesse  of  heuen.  Purchace  the  pe 
welle  of  wepyng,  and  cese  not  til  pat 
pow  haue  hym4:  for  in  pe  hert  where 
teres  spryngen,  per  wil  pe  fire  of 
pe  holigost  be  kynclelet:  and  sithen 
pe  fae  of  luf,  pat  schal  brenne  in 
pi  herte,  wil  brynge  to  noght  al  pe 
rust  of  synne,  and  purge  pi  soule 
of  al  filthe,  als  clene  as  pe  gold  pat 
is  proued  in  pe  fourneys.  f  I  wote 
no  thinge  pat  so  inwardly  schal 
take  pi  herte  to  coueit  goddes  luf  / 
and  to  desir*  pe  ioy  and  to  despise  pe 
vanites  of  pis  world,  as  stedfast  thynkyng 
of  pe  mysese  &  greuous  woundes  and 
of  pe  deth  of  Ihesu  Crist :  it  wil  reise 
pi  thoght  abouen  ertheli  likyng  /  and 
make  thin  herte  brennyng  in  Cristes 
luf,  and  purchace  in  to  pi  soule  delitablete 
and  sauour  of  heuene.  /  Bot  p^r-aunter 
pou  wilt  say:  »I  may  not  despise  pe 
worlde,  I  may  not  fynde  it  in  my  hert 
to  punysshe  my  bodi,  and  me  behoueth 
luf  my  flessheli  frendes,  and  take  ease 
when  it  comes.w  If  pou  be  tempted 
with  suche  thoghtes,  I  pray  pat  pou  be- 
thynk  be,  fro  pe  bigynnyng  of  pis 
i  By  another  hand. 


7o 


Richard  Rolle's  Epistles  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 


Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64. 

pe,  fra  pe  begynnyng  of  {)is  worlde, 
whare  pe  worldes  louers  er  now,  & 
whare  pe  louers  er  of  god.  Certes, 
pai  war  men  &  wymen  as  we  er,  and 
ete  &  drank  &  logh:  and  pe  wreches 
pat  lofed  pis  worlde  toke  ese  til  |)air 
body  &  lyued  as  paw  lyst,  in  likyng 
of  f)air  wikked  will,  &  led  pair  dayes 
i«  lust  £  delyces  :  &  in  a  poynt  pai 
fel  in  til  hell.  /  Now  may  J)0u  see  pat 
pai  wer  foles,  &  fowle  glotons,  pat  i;z 
a  few  2;eres  wasted  endles  ioy,  pat  was 
ordand  for  pa#z  if  pai  walde  haue 
done  penance  for  pair  synnes.  l?ou. 
sese  pat  al  pe  ryches  of  pis  world,  & 
delytes  vanys  a-way  and  cowmes  til 
noght.  Sothely,  swa  dose  al  pe  lofers 
par-of :  For  nathyng  may  stande  stabely 
on  a  fals  gronde.  Pair  bodys  er  gyn1 
til  wormes  in  erth,  &  pair  sawles  til 
pe  deuels  of  hell.  Bot  all  pat  for- 
soke  2  pe  pompe  £  pe  vanite  of  pis  lyfe, 
&  stode  stalworthly  agaynes  all  temp- 
tacions,  and  ended  in  pe  lufe  of  god  : 
pai  ar  now  in  ioy,  £  hase  pe  erytage 
of  heuen,  par  to  won  wz't^-owten  end, 
restand  in  pe  delyces  of  goddes  syght. 
For  here  pai  soght  na  mare  rest  ne  ese 
til  pair  body,  pen  pai  had  nede  of. 
//  A  thyng  I  rede  pe:  pat  p0u  forgete 
noght  pis3  name  IELESU4,  bot  thynk  it  in 
pi  hert,  nyght  &  day,  as  pi  speciall,  &  pi 
dere  tresowre.  Lufe  it  mare  pan  pi  lyfe, 
rute  it  in  pi  mynde.  Lufe  Ihmi,  for  he 
made  pe,  and  boght  pe  ful  dere.  Gyf 
pi  hert  till  hym:  for  it  es  his  dette. 
For-pi  set  pi  lufe  on  hys  name  Ih^ju, 
pat  es  »hele«.  //  Per  may  na  ill  thyng  haue 
dwellyng  in  pe  hert  par  Ih^u  es  halden 
in  mynde  trewly :  For  it  chaces  deuels, 
&  destroyes  temptacions ,  and  puttes 
a-way  wykked  dredes  &  vices,  &  clenses 
pe  thoght.  Wha  sa  lofes  it  verraly,  es 
full  of  goddes  grace  &  vertues  ;  in 
gastly  cowforth  in  pis  lyfe,  £  when 

1  =  gyuen.        2  MS.  forsakes.        3  Ms.  his. 

4  Cf.  p.  35;  55- 


Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

worlde,  where  pe  worldes  luferes  are 
now,  /  and  where  pe  lufers  are  of  god. 
Certes,  pai  were  men  and  wemen  as  we 
are,  &  ete  and  dronk  and  loghe  :  /  and 
pe  wrecches  pat  lufed  pis  world  toke 
ese  to  pair  body,  and  lifed  as  paim 
luste  in  likyng  of  paire  wicked  wille, 
and  ledde  pair  daies  in  lust  and  delices  : 
and  in  a  pointe  pai  felle  to  helle.  *Now 
may  pou  see  pat  pai  were  foles  and 
foule  glotons,  pat  in  a  fewe  ^eres  wasted 
endles  ioye  pat  was  ordeynt  for  tham  if 
pai  wold  han  don  penance  for  thaire 
synnes.  //  Pou  seest  pat  al  pe  riches 
and  delite  of  pis  worlde  vanisseth  awey 
and  cometh  to  noght.  Sothli,  so  doth 
alle  pain?  lufers:  for  no  thyng  may 
stonde  stabli  on  a  fals  gronde.  Pair 
bodies  are  ^euen  to  wormes  in  erthe, 
and  paire  soules  to  pe  deuelles  in  helle.  / 
Bot  alle  pat  forsoke  pe  pompe  and  pe 
vanite  of  pis  lif,  and  stode  stalworthly 
a^eins  alle  temptaciones,  /  and  ended 
in  pe  luf  of  god  :  pai  are  now  in  ioye 
and  haue  pe  heritage  of  heuen,  pere  to 
won  with-outen  ende,  restyng  in  pe 
delices  of  goddes  sight;  for  her^  pei 
soght  no  more  rest  ne  ese  to  pair  body 
pen  thai  had  nede  of.  //  O  thynge  I 
rede  the :  pat  pou  forgete  not  pis  nome 
Ihesu,  bot  thenk  hit  in  pi  hert  nyght 
and  day,  as  pi  special  and  as  pi  dere 
tresour.  Luf  hit  more  pan  pi  lif,  rote 
it  in  pi  mynde.  Luf  Ih<?.ra,  for  he  made 
pe,  and  boght  pe  ful  dere.  ^ef  pi  hert 
to  hym  :  for  it  is  his  dette.  2  Perform  set 
pi  luf  on  his  nome  Ihesu,  pat  is  hele.  // 
Pertf  may  non  euel  thing  haue  duelling 
in  pat  hert(e)  per  Ihtf.ru  is  trewly  holden 
in  mynde :  for  it  chaceth  deuelles,  it 
destruyeth  temptacions,  it  putteth  awey 
wicked  dredes  and  vices,  and  clenseth 
pe  thoght.  Who  so  loueth  hit  vtfrraily, 
is  ful  of  goddes  grace  and  virtues,  in 
gostli  comfort  in  pis  lif,  and  when  pai 

1  The  text  in  V.  is  here  confused.        2  rest 
om.  in  V. 


Cantica  divini  amoris.  71 

Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64.  Ms.  Rawl.  A  389. 

pai  dye  pai  er  taken  vp  in  til  pe  orders  die,    pai   are   taken  vp    in  to  pe  ordre 

of  awngels,    to   se    hym    in   endles    ioy  of  aungels,    to    se    him    in    endles  ioye 

pat  pai  haue  lufed.     Amen.  bat  bai  haue  lufed.     Deo  gracias. 

Explicit    tractatus    Ricardi    Hampole  (Then   follows    in    the    same   Ms.:    If 

scriptus  cuidam  sorori  de  Hampole.  bou   wilt  be   wele  with  god   and  haue 

grace  to  re  wele  pi  lif  right  &  come 
to  be  Ioye  of  luf,  Pis  name — so  far 
only,  rest  torn  out.  Cf.  p.  35.) 


4.    Poems  of  Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64,  fol.  134-142. 

Hie  incipiunt  cantus  compassionis  Christi  &  consolacionis  eterni(!, 


I.       2(V)Nkynde  man,   gif  kepe  til  me 
and  loke  what  payne  I  suffer  for  pe. 
Synful  man,  on  pe  I  cry, 
alanly  for  pi  lufe  I  dy. 

5  Behalde  pe  blode  fra  me  downe  rennes, 
noght  for  my  gylt,  bot  for  pi  synnes. 
My  hende,  my  fete,  wi'tA  nayles  er  fest, 
syns  &  vayns  al  to-brest. 
fce  blode  owt  of  my  hert-rote, 

10  loke  it  falles  downe  to  my  fote. 
Of  al  pe  payne  bat  I  suffer  sare, 
w/tA-in  my  hert  it  greues  me  mare 
Pe  vnkyndenes  bat  I  fynd  in  pe, 
pat  for  pi  lufe  pus  hynged3  on  tre. 

15  Alas,  why  lufes  pou  me  noght: 
and  I  pi  lufe  sa  dere  hase  boght? 

II.  JLo  lewman  swete,    now  may  pou  se 
pat  I  haue  lost  my  lyf  for  pe: 
What  myght  I  do  be  mare? 
For-pi  I  pray  pe  speciali 
5  pat   pou  forsake  ill  company, 
pat  woundes  me  so  sare, 


20 


Bot  pou  me  lufe,  pou  dose  me  wrang, 

sen  I  haue  loued  be  lang. 

Twa  &  thyrty  ^ere  &  mare 

I  was  for  be  in  trauel  sare, 

With  hungyr,  thirst,  hete  &  calde; 

For  bi  lufe  bath  boght  &  salde, 

Pyned,  nayled  &  done  on  tre: 

All,  man,  for  be  lufe  of  be. 

Lufe  bou  me,  als  pe  wele  aw,  25 

And  fra  syn  pou  be  draw. 

I  gyf  be  my  body  wr'tA  woundes  sare, 

And  bare-to  sail  I  gyf  be  mare: 

Ouer  all  bis  I-wysse, 

In  erth  mi  grace,  in  heuen  my  blysse.  30 

Ihesus.     Amen. 


And  take  myne  armes  pryuely, 
&  do  bam  in  pi  tresory, 

In  what  stede  sa  pou  dwelles. 
And  swete  le/wman,  forget  pow  noght 
pat  I  pi  lufe  sa  dere  haue  boght,          10 

And  I  aske  be  noght  elles. 


i  The 

of  the  sa 


first  4  pieces  are  written  as  prose,  the  first  3  in  a  continuous  strain  as  one      Other • songs 
me  kind  precede  p.  30,  34,  56,  59,  and  will  be  found  in  Ms.  Ihornton.    The  beauty,  the 


.    . 
melody  of  these  lines  has  never 


oy  o  .  _  ,    , 

*  The  first   poem  exists  also  in  Ms.  Vernon  among  the  prose ; .it _  seems  to  have   furnished  the 


23  ana  n.     24 
28  I  wol.     29  7,it  I-wis 
•  r.  hynges. 


72  Richard  Rolle's  Poems  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 

III.  IVly  trewest  tresowre  sa  trayturly  taken1, 
Sa  bytterly  bondyn  wyth  bytand  bandes ; 
How  sone  of  bi  seruandes  was  b<?u  forsaken, 
And  lathly  for  my  lufe  hurld  wzt/z  bair  handes. 

5         My  well  of  my  wele  sa  wrangwysly  wryed, 
Sa  pulled  owt  of  preson  to  Pylate  at  pmne; 
Paire  dulles  &  baire  dyntes  ful  drerely  bmi  dreed2, 
When  bai  schot  in  bi  syght  bath  slauer  &  slyme. 

My  hope  of  my  hele  sa  hyed  to  be  hanged, 
10     Sa  charged  wz't#  bi  crosce  &  corond  w/t/fc  thorne ; 
Ful  sare  to  bi  hert  bi  steppes  pa  stanged, 
Me  thynk  bi  bak  burd  breke,  it  bendes  for-borne. 

My  salue  of  my  sare  sa  saryful  in  syght, 
Sa  naked  and  nayled,   bi  ryg  on  be  rode 
15     Ful  hydusly  hyngand;  bai  heued  be  on  hyght, 

Pai  lete  be  stab  in  be  stane,  all  stekked  bat  bar  stode. 

My  dere-worthy3  derlyng  sa  dolefully  dyght, 
Sa  straytly  vpryght  streyned  on  be  rode: 
For  bi  mykel  mekenes,  bi  mercy  bi  myght, 
20     Pow  bete  al  my  bales  wz't/z  bote  of  bi  blode. 

My  fender  of  my  fose  sa  fonden  in  be  felde, 
Sa  lufly  lyghtand  at  be  euensang-tyde ; 
Pi  moder  and  hir  men^he  vnlaced  bi  scheld, 
All  weped  bat  bar  were,    bi  woundes  was    sa  wyde. 

25         My  pereles  prynce,  als  pure  I  be  pray : 

P£*  mynde  of  bis  myrows  bou  lat  me  noght  mysse : 

Bot  wynd  vp  my  wylle  to  won  wyth  be  ay, 

Pat  b0u  be  beryd  in  my  brest,  &  bryng  me  to  blysse.    AmeN. 

IV.  (JL)H#n,  als  bow  me  made  &  boght, 

b(?u  be  my  lufe  &  all  my  thoght, 
and  help  bat  I  war  to  be  broght: 
w/tA-owten  be  may  I  do  noght. 

Thesu,  als  b<m  may  do  bi  wille,    and  nathyn[g]  es  bat  be  may  lette 
Wftfc  bi  grace  my  hert  fulfill,  my  lufe  &  my  lykyng   in  be  sette. 

Ihtf.ru,  at  bi  wille  I  pray  bat  I  mote  be ; 
All  my  hert  fulfill  vtiih  p^rfyte  lufe  to  be. 
Pat  I  haue  done  ill,   Ihmt  forgyf  bow  me : 
And  suffer  me  neuer  to  spill,  Ihmi  for  pi  pyte.    Amen. 


1  Ms.  was  taken.        2  =  dryed.        3  Ms.  worthly.        •»  Ms. 


When  Adam  &c. 


73 


V.  //  On  foure  maners  may  a  man  wyt  if  he  be  owte  of  dedely  syn.  /  Ane  es,  if 
he  here  deuowtly  pe  worde  of  god.  Pe  secund,  if  he  fynd  hym  redy  to  gode 
werkes.  te  thyrd,  if  he  be  in  purpose  to  abstene  hym  fra  syn.  Pe  ferth,  if  he 
haue  sorow  for  hys  synnes  pat  he  hase  done. 

VI. 

1  (W)hen  Adam  delf  &  Eue  span,  spir,  if  p0u  wil  spede, 
Whartf  was  pan  be  pn'de  of  man,  pet  now  m^nres  his  mede? 
Of  erth  &  slame,  als  was  Adaw,  maked  to  noyes  &  nede, 
Ar  we  als  he  maked  to  be,   whil  we  pis  lyf  sal  lede. 
5     With  I  &  E,  born  ar  we,  als  Salomon  vs  hyght, 

To  trauel  here,  whils  we  ar  fere,  als  fouls  to  be  flight. 

In  worlde  we  ware  kast  for  to  kare,  to  \ve  be  broght  to  wende 
Til  wele  or  wa,  an  of  pa  twa,  to  won  w/tA-outen  ende. 
For-pi  whils  p0u  may  helpe  pe  now,   amend  be  &  haf  mynde 
10     \Vhen  p0u  sal  ga,  he  bese  pi  fa,  pat  are  was  here  pi  frende. 
W/tA  E  &  I,  I  rede  for-pi,   f)0u  thynk  apon  pies  thre: 
What  we  ar,  &  what  we  ware,  &  what  we  sal  be. 

War  p0u  als  wyse  praysed  in  pryce,  als  was  Salomon, 
Fayrer  fode,  of  bone  &  blode,  pen  was  Absalon, 
15     Strengthy  &  st^rag,  to  wreke  pi  wrang,  als  ever  was  Sampson: 
P<m  ne  myght  a  day,  na  mare  pen  pai,  dede  withstand  allon. 
With  I  &  E,  dede  to  be  sal  com  als  I  pe  kenne, 
P0u  ne  wate,  in  what  state,  how,  ne  whare,  ne  when. 

Of  erth  aght,  pat  pe  was  raght,   p<m  sal  not  haue,  I  hete, 
2O     Bot  seuen  fote,   per-in  to  rote,   &  pi  wyndyng-schete. 

For-pi  gyf,  whils  p<?u  may  lyf,  or  all  gase  pat  p0u  gete, 
Pi  gast  fra  god,   pi  godes  olod,  pi  flesch  fowled  vndwr  fete. 
With  I  &  E,  syker  pow  be  pat  pi  secutowrs 
Of  be  ne  wil  rek,  bot  skelk  &  skek  ful  boldly  in  pi  bowrs. 

25         Of  welth  &  witt,  bis  sal  be  hitt,   in  world  pet  p<m  her*  wroght, 
Rekken  b<m  mon,  &  ^elde  reson  of  thyng  pat  p0u  here  thoght. 
May  no  fals  help  in  pis  case,  ne  cownsel  getes  pmi  noght , 
Gyft  ne  grace  nane  pare  gase,  bot  brok  als  pou  hase  boght. 
With  I  &  E,  pe  boke  biddes  be,  man,  be  ware  of  pi  werkes: 

30    Terme  of  pe  ^ere  hase  p<m  nan  here,  pi  mede  bese  b*r  pi  merkes. 

What  may  pis  be  pat  I  here  se,   be  fayrehede  of  pi  face? 
IH  ble  sa  bryght,   pi  mayn  pi  myght,  pi  mowth  pat  miri  mas(e)? 
Al  mon  als  was  to  powder  passe,  to  dede  when  pow  gase : 
A  grysely  geste  bese  ban  bi  breste  in  armes  til  enbrase ; 
35     Wit  A  I  &  E,  syker  p<?u  be,  bare  es  nane,  I  pe  hete, 

Of  al  pi  kyth,  wald  slepe  pe  with,  a  nyght  vnder  schete. 


i  The  same  poem,  with  2  additional  stanzas,  in  extant  in  Ms.  Thornton,  ed.  Perry,  Relig.  pieces 
in  prose  and  verse.     The  ideas  are  taken  from  S.  Edmund's  Speculum. 


Richard  Rolle's  Poems  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 

VII. 

(«r\.)ll  sywnes  sal  f)0u  hate,  thorow  castyng  of  skylle, 
And  z;herne  to  gang  in  be  gate  bat  es  wzt^-owten  ille. 
Tumbyl  noght  fra  be  state  bat  f)0u  hase  tane  be  tille : 
It  ledes  til  f)e  kynges  ^hate,  bar^  b0u  may  layke  pi  fille. 

5         Here  if  b<?u  ptinysch  be,  welth  sail  {)ow  wynne; 
Na  wonder  it  es  if  f)0u  be  in  sorow  for  bi  synne. 
Somwe  says  {)ai  may  se,  &  blynd  ar  wyth-Inne  : 
And  if  bai  now  be  sett  fre,  dede  sail  bam  twynne. 

Dede  dynges  al  sa  sare,  bat  nane  may  [hym]1  defende, 
10     And  makes  many  ill  to  fare,  when  f)ai  not  wende. 

I  wate  nane  bat  he  will  spare,  w/t/£  all  will  he  lende : 
For-bi  of  syn  make  be  bare,   f)0u  knawes  not  bi  ende. 

Now  may  we  qwake  trewbiland,  for  drede  to  law  ly: 
Pe  beme  blawes  at  owre  hand,  be  dome  es  fast  by; 
15     te  keyng  comes  with  hys  hoste,  to  fell  his  enmy, 
And  al  be  prowde  wyth  bair  boste,  he  demes  to  dy. 

Me  thynkes  it  rynges  in  mi  ner^ :  »dede  ryse,  to  be  demedU 
Bot  hym  be  deuel  may  noght  dere,  bat  her£  hase  Oz'ste  qwemed. 
Al  be  wikked  in  bat  were  til  hel-fire  es  flemed, 
20     £e  keyng  hym-self  schot  be  spere,  for  hym  it  best  semed. 

fat  day  owre  ioy  sal  be-gyn,  bat  here  suffers  pyne, 
Owre  flesch  wytt  of  mykel  wyn,  &  bryght  as  son  schyne; 
Owre  setels  heuen  ar  with-in — me  lyst  sytt  in  myne. 
Lufe  Criste  &  hate  syn,  &  sa  pur[ch]es2  be  bine. 

VIII. 

(JVl)Ercy  es  maste  in  my  mynde,  for  mm:y  es  bat  I  mast  prayse. 
Mercy  es  cwrtayse  &  kynde,  fra  al  mischeues  he  mai  me  rayse. 
Alias,  sa  lang  I  haue  bene  blynd,  &  walked  will  al-wayse: 
Mercy  walde  I  fayne  fynd,  to  lede  me  in  my  last  dayse. 
5     Mercy,  lede  me  at  be  last,  when  I  owt  of  bis  world  sal  wende: 
To  be  cryand  I  trayst  fast  bat  b0u  saue  me  fra  be  fende. 

Mercy  es  trew  as  any  stele,  when  it  es  ryght  vp  soght ; 
Wha-sa  will  mercy  fele,  seke  it,  for  it  fayles  noght. 
Mm:y  es  syght  of  al  my  hele,  p^rfore  I  haue  it  mast  in  thoght; 
10    Mercy  likes  me  sa  wele,  for  thorogh  mercy  was  I  boght. 

Ine  wate  what  I  may  do'or  say  til  mercy,   bat  es  ay  sa  gode  : 
f0u  graunte  m^cy  bat  mm:y  may,  bat  es  my  solace  &  my  fode. 

Mm:y  walde  I  fayne  honowre,  it  es  sa  swete  vnto  my  syght; 
It  lyes  in  my  creatoure,  bat  made  vs  of  his  awen  myght. 

om.        2  Ms.  purges. 


Jhesu  god  son  £c. 

15     Mercy  es  al  my  socoure,  til  lede  me  to  be  land  of  lyght, 

And  bring  me  til  be  rial  toure,  what*  I  mai  se  mi  god  sa  brygh(t). 
God  of  al,  lorde  &  keyng,  I  pray  be  Ihesu,  be  my  frende, 
Sa  pat  I  may  pi  nwcy  syng  in  pi  blys  wzt^-owten  ende. 


es  sa  hegh  a  poynt,  par  may  na  syn  it  suppryse. 
20     To  pi  mercy  es  my  hert  noynt,  for  p<?r-in  al  my  likyng  lyse: 
Lord,  lat  it  noght  be  aloynt,  when  p0u  sal  sett  pi  gret  assyse; 
W/'tA  pi  mm:y  my  sawle  anoynt,  when  I  sal  come  to  pi  lugise. 
Til  pe  luge  sal  I  com,  bot  I  wate  noght  my  day  : 
Mercy  es  bath  al  &  som,  par-in  I  trayst  &  after  pray. 

IX. 

1(l)Hwu  god  son,  lord  of  mageste, 
Send  wil  to  my  hert  anly  to  couayte  be  ; 
Reue  me  lykyng  of  pis  land,  my  lufe  bat  j)0u  may  be  ; 
Take  my  hert  in  till  pi  hand,   sett  me  in  stabylte. 

5         Ihesu  be  mayden  son,   pat  wyth  pi  blode  me  boght, 

Thyrl  my  sawule  wyth  pi  spere,   pat  mykel  luf  \n  men  hase  wroght. 
Me  langes,  lede  me  to  pi  lyght,  &  festen  in  pe  al  my  thoght, 
In  pi  swetnes  fyll  my  hert,   my  wa  make  wane  till  noght. 

Ihesu  my  god,  Ihf.ru  my  keyng,   forsake  noght  my  desyre, 
IO     My  thoght  make  it  to  be  meke,  I  hate  bath  prycle  and  Ire: 
pi  wil  es  my  ^hernyng;  of  lufe  p0u  kyndel  be  fyre, 
Pat  I  in  swet  louyng  vtiik  aungels  take  my  hyre. 

Wounde  my  hert  with-in,  &  welde  it  at  pi  wille  : 
On  blysse,  pat  neuer  sal  blyn,  p0u  gar  me  fest  m*2  skylle; 
15     Pat  I  pi  lufe  may  wyn,  of  grace  my  thoght  p0u  fylle, 
And  make  me  clene  of  syn,   |)at  I  may  come  pe  tylle. 

Rote  it  in  my  hert,  be  memor  of  pi  pyne  : 
In  sekenes  &  in  qwert  pi  lufe  be  euer  myne  ; 
My  ioy  es  al  of  be  :  my  sawle  take  it  as  pine  ; 
20     My  lufe  ay  waxand  be,  sa  pat  it  neuer  dwyne. 

3  My  sang  es  in  syghyng,  whil  I  dwel  in  pis  way  ; 
My  lyfe  es  in  langyng,   pat  byndes  me  nyght  &  day, 
Til  I  com  til  my  kyng,   pat  I  won  wzt^  hym  may, 
And  se  his  fayre  schynyng,  £  lyfe  bat  lastes  ay. 

25         *  Langyng  es  in  me  lent,   for  lufe  bat  I  ne  kan  lete; 
My  lufe  it  hase  me  schent,   pat  ilk  a  bale  may  bete. 
Sen  bat  my  hert  was  brent  in  Cryste  lufe  sa  swete, 
Al  wa  fra  me  es  went  :  &  we  sal  neuer  mete  ! 


The  first  vv.  are  written  as  prose.        2  Ms.  me.        3  Cf.  p.  60.        *  Cf.  p.  61. 


y 6  Richard  Rolle's  Poems  in  Ms.  Dd.  V.  64. 

1 1  sytt  &  syng  of  lufe-langyng,  bat  in  my  hert  es  bred : 
30     Ihesu  my  keyng  &  my  ioyng,  whyne  war  I  to  be  led? 
Ful  wele  I  wate  in  al  my  state,  in  ioy  I  sulde  be  fed : 
Ihmi  me  bryng  til  bi  wonyng,  for  blode  bat  b^u  base  sched. 

2Demed  he  was  to  hyng,  be  faire  aungels  fode : 
Ful  sare  bai  gan  "hym  swyng,  when  bat  he  bunden  stode, 
35     His  bak  was  in  betyng,  &  spylt  hys  blissed  blode, 

l>e  thorn  corond  be  keyng,  bat  nayled  was  on  be  rode. 

2Whyte  was  his  naked  breste,  &  rede  his  blody  syde, 
Wan  was  his  faire  face,  his  woundes  depe  &  wyde; 
t*e  iewbis  wald  not  wande  to  pyne  hym  in  bat  tyde  : 
40     Als  streme  dose  of  be  strande,  his  blode  gan  downe  glyde. 

Blynded  was  his  faire  ene,  his  flesch  blody  for-bette; 
His  lufsuw  lyf  was  layde  ful  low,  &  saryful  vmbesette. 
Dede  &  lyf  began  to  stryf  wheber  myght  maystn?  mare, 
When  aungels  brede  was  dawpned  to  dede  to  safe  our*  sauls  sar<?. 

45         Lyf  was  slayne  &  rase  agayne,  in  fair^-hede  may  we  fare; 
And  dede  es  broght  til  litel  or  noght,  &  kasten  in  endles  kar<?. 
On  hym  bat  be  boght,  hafe  al  pi  thoght,  &  lede  be  in  his  lare; 
Gyf  al  bi  hert  til  Crist  bi  qwert,  £  lufe  hym  euer-mare. 

X. 

3(L)Uf4  es  lyf  bat  lastes  ay,  bar  it  in  Criste  es  feste, 
For  wele  ne  wa  it  chaunge  may,  als  wry  tew  has  mew  wyseste. 
Pe  nyght  it  towmes  in  til  be  day,  bi  trauel  in  tyll  reste; 
If  p0u  wil  luf  bus  as  I  say,  p#u  may  be  wyth  be  beste. 

5         Lufe  es  thoght,  wyth  grete  desyre,  of  a  fayre  louyng ; 
Lufe  I  lyken  til  a  fyre  bat  sloken  may  na  thyng; 
Lufe  vs  clenses  of  our*?  syn,  lufe  vs  bote  sail  bryng  ; 
Lufe  be  keynges  hert  may  wyn,  lufe  of  ioy  may  syng. 

£e  settel  of  lufe  es  lyft  hee,  for  in  til  heuen  it  ranne; 
10     Me  thynk  in  erth  it  es  sle,  bat  makes  men  pale  and  wanne. 
Pe  bede  of  blysse  it  gase  ful  nee,  I  tel  be  as  I  kanne ; 
l>of  vs  thynk  be  way  be  dregh;  luf  copuls  god  &  manne. 

Lufe  es  hatter  pen  be  cole,  lufe  may  nane  be-swyke; 
Pe  flawme  of  lufe  wha  myght  it  thole,  if  it  war  ay  I-lyke? 
15     Luf  vs  cowfortes  &  mase  in  qwart,  &  lyftes  tyl  heuen-ryke  ; 
Luf  rauysches  Cryste  in  tyl  owr  hert,  I  wate  na  lust  it  lyke. 

Lere  to  luf,  if  p0u  wyl  lyfe  when  b<?u  sail  hethen  fare. 
All  bi  thoght  til  hym  b<m  gyf,   bat  may  be  kepe  fra  kare ; 
Loke  pi  hert  fra  hyw  noght  twyn,  if  p<m  in  wandreth  ware, 
20     Sa  p0u  may  hym  welde  &  wyn  and  luf  hym  euer-mare. 

i  Cf.  p.  60.        2  Cf.  p.  57.        3  Cf.  p.  36:  What  is  lufe?        *  Ms.  Lyf. 


What  is  love? 

Ihesu  bat  me  lyfe  base  lent,  In  til  fri  lufe  me  bryng, 
Take  til  be  al  myne  entent,  bat  bow  be  my  2;hernyng. 
Wa  fra  me  away  war  went  &  cowne  war  my  couaytyng. 
If  bat  my  sawle  had  herd  &  hent  be  sang  of  bi  louyng. 

25         fci  lufe  es  ay  lastand,   fra  bat  we  may  it  fele: 

fare-in  make  me  byrnand,   bat  na  thyng  gar  it  kele. 
My  thoght  take  in  to  fai  hand,   &  stabyl  it  ylk  a  dele, 
Pat  I  be  noght  heldand  to  luf  bis  worldes  wele. 

If  I  lufe  any  erthly  thyng  bat  payes  to  my  wyll, 
30     &  settes  my  ioy  &  my  lykyng  when  it  may  com  me  tyll, 
I  mai  drede  of  partyng,  pat  wyll  be  hate  and  yll: 
For  al  my  welth  es  bot  wepyng,  when  pyne  mi  saule  sal  spyll. 

te  ioy  bat  men  hase  sene,  es  lyckend  tyl  be  haye, 
Pat  now  es  fay  re  &  grene,  and  now  wytes  awaye. 
35     Swylk  es  pis  worlde,  I  wene,  &  bees  till  domes-daye, 
All  in  trauel  &  tene,   fle  bat  na  man  it  maye. 

If  p0u  luf  in  all  bi  thoght,  and  hate  be  fylth  of  syn, 
And  gyf  hym  pi  sawle  pat  it  boght,   bat  he  be  dwell  wzt/j-in  : 
Als  Crist  bi  sawle  hase  soght  &  ber-of  walde  noght  blyn, 
40     Sa  b0u  sal  to  blys  be  broght,  &  heuen  won  with-in. 

te  kynd  of  luf  es  pis,   par  it  es  trayst  and  trew  : 
To  stand  styll  in  stabylnes,  &  chaunge  it  for  na  new. 
t*e  lyfe  bat  lufe  myght  fynd  or  euer  in  hert  it  knew, 
Fra  kare  it  tornes  bat  kyend,  &  lendes  in  myrth  &  glew. 

45         For  now,  lufe  bow,  I  rede,  Cryste,  as  I  be  tell : 

And  with  aungels  take  bi  stede — bat  ioy  loke  f)0u  noght  sell! 
In  erth  bow  hate,  I  rede,   all  bat  bi  lufe  may  fell: 
For  luf  es  stalworth  as  be  dede,  luf  es  hard  as  hell.1 

Luf  es  a  lyght  byrthen,  lufe  gladdes  ^ong  and  aide, 
50     Lufe  es  wM-owten  pyne,  als  lofers  hase  me  talde ; 

Lufe  es  a  gastly  wynne,  bat  makes  men  bygge  &  balde, 
Of  lufe  sal  he  na  thyng2  tyne  bat  hit  in  hert  will  halde. 

Lufe  es  be  swettest  thyng  bat  man  in  erth  hase  tane, 
Lufe  es  goddes  derlyng,  lufe  byndes  blode  £  bane. 
55     In  lufe  be  owre  lykyng,  Ine  wate  na  better  wane, 
For  me  &  my  lufyng  lufe  makes  bath  be  ane. 

Bot  fleschly  lufe  sal  fare  as  dose  be  flowre  in  may, 
And  lastand  be  na  mare  ban  ane  houre  of  a  day, 
And  sythen  syghe  ful  sare  bar  lust,   bar  pryde,   bar  play, 
60     When  bai  er  casten  in  kare,  til  pyne  bat  lastes  ay. 


77 


1  Cf.  p.  39;  63.        -  T.  noght. 


Richard  Rolle's  Poems  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 

When  bair  bodys  lyse  in  syn,  bair  sawls  mai  qwake  &  drede : 
For  vp  sal  ryse  al  men  and  answer  for  pair  dede ; 
If  bai  be  fonden  in  syn,  als  now  bair  lyfe  bai  lede, 
Pai  sal  sytt  hel  with-in,  &  myrknes  hafe  to  mede. 

65         Riche  men  bair  handes^-  sal  wryng,  &  wicked  werkes  sal  by 
In  flawme  of  fyre  bath  knyght  &  keyng,  wz'tfc  sorow  schamfully. 
If  bou  wil  lufe,  ban  may  bou  syng  til  Cryst  in  melody, 
Pe  lufe  of  hym  ouercoms  al  thyng,  barto  bou  traiste  trewly. 

Sygh  &  sob,  bath  day  &  nyght,  for  ane  sa  fayre  of  hew. 
70     Par  es  na  thyng  my  hert  mai  light,  bot  lufe,  bat  es  ay  new. 
Wha  sa  had  hym  in  his  syght,   or  in  his  hert  hym  knew, 
His  mournyng  turned  til  ioy  ful  bryght,  his  sang  in  til  glew.2 

In  myrth  he  lyfes,  nyght  &  day,  bat  lufes  bat  swete  chylde : 
It  es  Ihesu,  forsoth  I  say,  of  all  mekest  &  mylde. 
75     Wreth  fra  hym  walde  al  a-way,  bof  he  wer  neuer  sa  wylde; 

He  bat  in  hert  lufed  hym,  bat  day  fra  euel  he  wil  hym  schylde. 

Of  Ihesu  mast  lyst  me  speke,  pat  al  my  bale  may  bete. 
Me  thynk  my  hert  may  al  to-breke,  when  I  thynk  on  bat  swete. 
In  lufe  lacyd  he  hase  my  thoght,  bat  I  sal  neuer  forgete : 
80     Ful  der*  me  thynk  he  hase  me  boght,  with  blodi  hende  &  fete. 

For  luf  my  hert  es  bowne  to  brest,  when  I  bat  faire  behalde. 
Lufe  es  fair  bare  it  es  fest,  bat  neuer  will  be  calde. 
Lufe  vs  reues  be  nyght  rest,  in  grace  it  makes  vs  balde; 
Of  al  warkes  luf  es  be  best,  als  haly  men  me  talde. 

85         Na  wonder  gyf  I  syghand  be  &  sithen  in  sorow  be  sette  : 
Ihmi  was  nayled  apon  be  tre,  &  al  blody  for-bette;3 
To  thynk  on  hym  es  grete  pyte,  how  tenderly  he  grette — 
Pis  hase  he  sufferde,  man,  for  be,  if  bat  bou  syn  wyll  lette. 

Par*  es  na  tonge  in  erth  may  tell  of  lufe  be  swetnesse ; 
90     Pat  stedfastly  in  lufe  kan  dwell,  his  ioy  es  endlesse. 

God  schylde  bat  he  sulde  til  hell  bat  lufes  &  langand  es, 

Or  euer  his  enmys  sulde  hym  qwell,  or  make  his  luf  be  lesse ! 

Ihesu  es  lufe  bat  lastes  ay:  til  hym  es  owre  langyng; 
Ihesu  be  nyght  tumes  to  be  day4,  be  dawyng  in  til  spryng. 
95     Ihesu,  thynk  on  vs,  now  &  ay:  for  pe  we  halde  our*  keyng; 

Ihesu,  gyf  vs   grace,  as  bou  wel  may,  to  luf  pe  wz't/$-owten  endyng. 

XL 

(Jri)Eyle  Ih*.m,  my  creatowre,  of  sorowyng  medicyne. 
Heyle  Ih*ju,  mi  saueowre,  pat  for  me  sufferd  pyne. 
Heyle  Ihesu,  helpe  &  sokowre :  my  lufe  be  ay  bine. 
Heyle  Ihmi,  be  blyssed  flowr*  of  bi  moder  virgyne. 

i  on  erasure :  r.  hend.        2  Cf.  v.  44.        3  Cf.  p.  76  v.  42 ;  p.  57.        *  Cf.  v.  3. 


All  vanitese  forsake  &c. 

5         Heyle  Thesu,  leder  to  lyght:  In  saule  p0u  ert  ful  swete, 
Pi  luf  schynes  day  &  nyght,  bat  strenghes  me  in  bis  strete. 
Lene  me  langyng  to  bi  sight,   &  gif  me  grace  til  grete  : 
For  b0u  IhesM,  hase  bat  myght,  bat  al  my  bale  may  bete. 

Ihwu,   bi  grace  my  hert  enspyre,   bat  me  til  blis  mai  bryng, 
10     On  be  I  sett  al  my  desyre,   b<m  ert  my  luf-langyng. 

1*1  luf  es  byrnand  als  be  fyre,  bat  euer  on  he  wil  spryng. 
Far  fro  me  put  pride  &  Ire,  for  pa//;  I  luf  na-thyng. 

Heile  Ihesu,  price  of  my  prayer,  lorde  of  mageste: 
P0u  art  ioy  bat  lastes  ay,  all  delyte  b<m  art  to  se. 
15     Gyf  me  grace,  als  f)0u  wel  may,   bi  lufer  for  to  be: 
My  langyng  wendes  neuer  a-way,  til  bat  I  com  til  be. 

Ihmi  to  lufe  ay  be  me  lefe,  bat  es  my  gastly  gode. 
Alias,  my  god  es  als  a  thefe  nayled  til  be  rode  ! 
Hys  tender  vayns  begyns  to  brest,  al  rewnes  of  blode, 
20     Handes  &  fete  w/tA  nayles  er1  fest  :  bat  chawnges  mi  mode. 

Ihesu  mi  keyng  es  me  ful  dere,   bat  vfith  his  blode  me  boght, 
Of  spittyng  spred  es  al  bat  clere,  to  dede  vfiik  betyng  broght. 
For  me  he  tholed  bies  payns  sere,  be  whilk  wreche  he  wroght: 
For-bi  bai  sitt  my  hert  ful  nere,  bat  I  forgete  bam  noght. 


25         Ihtvu,  fortune  of  ilk  a  fyght,   b0u  graunt  me  grace  to  spede, 
Pat  I  may  lufe  foe  ryght,  &  haue  be  to  my  mede. 
Pi  luf  es  fast  in  ilk  a  fandyng,  &  euer  at  al  owre  nede. 
Als  thurgh  bi  grace  art  my  s;hernyng,  In  til  bi  lyght  me  lede.2 

XII.3 

lr\.)ll  vanitese  forsake,  if  b<?u  his  lufe  will  fele; 
Pi  hert  til  hy/w  b<m  take,  he  kan  it  kepe  sa  wele. 
Pe  myrth  na  man  may  make,  of  god  es  ilk  a  dele. 
Pi  thoght  lat  it  noght  qwake,   pi  lufe  lat  it  not  kele. 

5         Of  synne  be  bitfemes,  j><m  fle  ay  fast  berfra  ; 
Pis  worldes  wikkednes,  let  it  noght  with  be  ga. 
bis  erthly  bisynes,  bat  wirkes  men  sa  wa, 
Pi  lufe  it  wyll  make  lesse,  if  b0u  it  with  be  ta. 

All  we  lufe  sum  thyng,  bat  knawyng  hase  of  skyll, 
10     And  haues  ber-in  likyng,  when  it  mai  com  vs  tyll. 
For-bi  do  Crystes  biddyng,  &  lufe  hym  as  he  wyll: 
And  wx'tA  lufe  bat  hase  na  endyng  bi  hert  he  wil  fulfyll. 

Pai  bat  lufes  fleschly,  er  lickend  til  be  swyne  : 
In  fylth  bai  lat  bairn  ly:  baire  fairehed  wil  bai  tyne. 
1  5     Pair  luf  partes  porely,  &  putted  es  to  pyne  : 

Swetter  es  luf  gastly,  bat  never-mare  wil  dwyne. 

1  Ms.  ert.         2  Cf.  p.  60.         3  The  same  poem  is  in  Ms.  Thornton  fol.  222  joined  to  N.  XIV. 


20 


Richard  Rolle's  Poems  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 

If  fxm  luf,  whils  bat  b<m  may,  be  keyng  of  maieste, 
ti  wa  wendes  a-way,  b  i  tele  hyes  to  ^e> 
t>e  nyght  turnes  i»  til  day,  bi  ioy  sail  euer  be  ;— 
When  fxm  ert  as  I  {)e  say,  I  pray  pe  thynk  on  me. 

Owre  hedes  sal  we  sett  to-gydyr  in  heuen  to  dwell, 
For  bare  be  gode  ar  mett,  |>at  Cryste  haldes  fra  hell. 
When  we  owr*  syiines  haue  grett,  pen  tythans  may  we  t 
tat  we  fra  fer  haues  fett  pe  lufe  fxrt  nane  may  fell. 

25         te  world,  cast  it  be-hynd,  &  say:  »Ih«u  my  swete, 
Fast  in  pi  lufe  me  bynd,  &  gyf  me  grace  to  grete, 
To  lufe  pe  ouer  al  thyng:  for  ay  to  lufe  I  hete, 
tat  I  |>i  lufe  may  fynd,  bat  wele  my  bale  may  bete. 

iWyth  lufe  wounde  me  wzU-in,  &  til  |>i  lyght  me  lede; 

30     fxm  make  me  clene  of  syrcne,  hat  I  be  ded  noght  drede. 
Als  fxm  to  saue  man-kyn,  sufferd  pi  sydes  blede, 
Gyf  me  wytt  to  wyn  be  syght  of  be  to  mede.« 

His  luf  es  trayst  &  trew,  wha  sa  hym  lufand  ware  ; 
Sen  fyrst  bat  I  it  knew,  hit  keped  me  fra  kare; 
-5     I  fand  it  euer  new  to  lere  me  goddes  lare  : 

And  now  thar  me  not  rew  bat  I  haue  sufferd  sare. 

In  lufe  bi  hert  b<m  hye,  &  fande  to  fell  be  fende: 
ti  dayes  sal  be  vndregh,  bat  be  na  sorow  schende  ; 
When  be  dede  neghes  negh  &  bou  sail  hethen  wende, 
40     tou  sal  hym  se  wyth  hegh,  and  com  til  Cryste  bi 

2Aforce  be  forto  fest  in  Cryst  bi  couaytyng, 
And  chese  hym  for  be  best,  he  es  bi  weddyd  keyng. 
For  ioy  bi  hert  burd  brest  to  haue  swylk  a  swetyng  ; 
Of  al  I  hald  it  werst  to  luf  another  thyng. 

45         His  lufe  es  lyf  of  all  bat  wele  lyuand  may  be: 
t<ra  sted  hym  in  bi  stal»,  lat  hym  noght  fra  be  fle. 
Fnl  sone  he  wil  be  call,-bi  setell  es  made  for  be- 
And  haue  be  in  his  hall,  euer  his  face  to  se. 

frs  mede  for  be  I  say,  bat  b*u  kyndel  bi  thoght 

50     And  make  be  lufe  verray,  in  hym  bat  be  hase  wroght. 
For  al  bat  lufe  hym  may,  &  bai  bar-of  will  noght, 
Tyl  pyne  turnes  bar  play—  paw-self  hase  it  soght. 

Syn  bat  es  sa  sowre,  gyf  it  in  be  na  gyrth: 
Of  lufe  take  be  flowre,  bat  b0u  may  layke  be  wyth— 
55     Swetter  es  pat  sauowre  {)an  any  felde  or  freth. 

Sett  hym  in  bi  sokowre  bat  lennes  be  lym  &  lyth. 

i  Cf.  p.  75,  v,  13.        2  The  rest  is  wanting  in  Ms.  Thornton.        »  Cf.  P-  60. 


Gastly  gladnes  &. — Thy  ioy  be  ilk  £. 

Take  Ihesu  in  foi  thynkyng,  his  lufe  he  will  be  send ; 
Pi  lufe  &  bi  lykyng,  in  hym  {)0u  lat  it  lend. 
And  vse  be  in  praiyng,   bar-in  b0u  may  be  mend: 
60     Swa  bat  bow  hafe  bi  keyng  in  ioy  with-owten  endyng. 


XIII. 


(G 


r,Astly  gladnes  in  Ihesu  &  ioy  in  hert  with  swetnes  in  sawle  of  be 
sauor  of  heuen  in  hope  es  helth  in  til  heie.  And  my  lyfe  lendes  in  luf,  and 
lyghtsuwnes  vnlappes  my  thoght.  I  drede  noght  bat  me  may  wyrk  wa,  sa  mykel 
I  wate  of  wele.  It  war  na  wonder  if  dede  war  dere,  bat  I  myght  se  hym  bat 
I  seke.  Bot  now  it  es  lenthed  fra  me,  &  me  behoues  lyf  here,  til  he  wil  me 
lese.  Lyst  &  lere  of  bis  lare,  &  be  sal  noght  myslike.  Lufe  makes  me  to 
melle,  &  ioy  gars  me  iangell.  Loke  bow  lede  fai  lyf  in  lyghtsuwnes,  &  heuynes 
helde  it  a-way.  Sarynes  lat  it  noght  sytt  wyth  foe:  bot  in  gladnes  of  god  euer- 
mare  make  pow  bi  gle.  AmeN. 

Expliciunt  cantica  diuini  amoris  secundum  Ricardum  Hampole. 

XIV.  1 
Item  secundum  eundem  Ricardum. 

(  1  )Hy  ioy  be  ilk  a  dele  to  serue  j)i  god  to  pay: 
For  al  bis  worldes  wele,  f)0u  sees  wytes  a-way. 
Pow  fande  his  lufe  to  fele,  bat  last  with  be  will  ay : 
And  pi  kare  sal  kele,   pi  pyne  turne  [ie  to  play. 

5         In  Cryst  \)ou  cast  pi  thoght,  p0u  hate  all  wreth  and  pryde, 
And  thynk  how  he  be  boght.  with  woundes  depe  &  wyde. 
XVhen  bou  hyw-self  hase  soght,  wele  be  sal  be-tyde ; 
Of  ryches  rek  be  noght,  fra  hell  bot  he  be  hyde. 

Do  als  I  be  rede,  lyftand  vp  pi  hert, 

10     And  say  til  hym  was  dede:  »Cryste,  myne  hele  p0u  ert!« 
Syn  synkes  as  lede,  &  fer  downe  fals  fra  qwert: 
Parfore  stabyl  bi  stede  bar  smytyng  may  noght  smert. 

In  Cryste  knyt  bi  solace,  hys  lufe  chawnge  bi  chere; 
With  ioy  fo0u  take  his  trace,  &  seke  to  sytt  hym  nere, 
15     Ever  sekand  his  face;   b<?u  make  bi  sawle  clere: 
He  ordans  hegh  bi  place,  yf  p0u  his  lufe  will  lere. 

P0u  kepe  his  byddynges  ten,  hald  be  fra  dedely  synne, 
Forsake  be  ioy  of  men,   bat  f)0u  his  lufe  may  wynne : 
Pi  hert  of  hym  sal  bren  w*tA  lufe  bat  neuer  sal  twynne, 
20     Langyng  he  wil  be  len  heuen  to  won  with-Inne. 


1  The  same  poem  is  extant  in  Ms.  Thornton,  fol.  222,  with  3  additional  stanzas,  and  followed 
by  N.  XII,  so  that  the  two  form  one  poem. 


g2  Richard  Rolle's  Poems  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 

Pmi  thynk  on  hys  mekenes,  how  pore  he  was  borne; 
Behalde  his  blody  flesch  es  prikked  wit  thorne: 
Pi  lufe  lat  it  noght  lesse,  he  saued  bat  was  forlorne. 
To  serue  hym  in  swetnes  all  haue  we  sworne. 

25  If  b<m  be  in  fandyng,  of  lufe  bou  hase  grete  nede, 
To  stedde  [be]  in  stallyng,  &  gyf  be  grace  to  spede. 
Pow  dwell  ay  with  pi  kyng,  [&]  in  hys  lufe  be  fede. 
For  lityll  haue  I  cownyng  to  tel  of  his  fairhede.,. 

Bot  luf  hym  at  bi  myght,   whils  b<m  ert  lyuand  here, 
30     And  loke  vnto  bi  syght  bat  nane  be  be  so  dere. 

Say  to  hym  bath  day  &  nyght:  »when  mai  I  negh  be  nere? 
Bryng  me  to  bi  lyght,  bi  melodi  to  here."1 

In  bat  lyfe  be  stedde  bat  b<m  be  ay  lyuand, 
And  gyf  hym  lufe  to  wedde,  $at  bou  with  hym  wil  stand. 
35     loy  in  bi  brest  es  bredde  when  bou  ert  hym  lufand: 
Pi  sawle  ban  hase  he  fedde  in  swete  lufe  brennand. 

Al  vanites  forsake  if  bou  hys  lufe  wil  fele,  &c.,  ut  supra.    (In  red.} 
(See  p.  79,  XII.) 


5.     A  grete  clerk2  &c. 
Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  64,  fol.  142*. 

(A)  Crete  clerk  bat  men  cals  Ricard  of  Saynt  Victor,  settes  in  a  buke,  pat 
he  makes  of  cowtemplacioun,  thre  wyrkyngs  of  cristen  mans  saule,  bat  er  bere : 
Thoght  Thynkyng,  And  contemplacioun.  And  bat  a  man  may  witerly  knaw 
ilkane  by  ^aim-self,  He  telles  qwat  differens  es  by-twyx  bam  thre.  He  says  bat 
thoght  es  wyth-owten  trauayl  &  wyth-owten  froyte,  And  thynkyng  es  wyth  trauayle 
&  wyth  froyte.  Pou  sal  wyt  bat  thynkyng  3  and  meditacioun  er  bath  ane. 
templacioun  es  w^-outen  grete  trauel,  bot  wyth  grete  froyt.  And  bou  bat  desyres 

gretely  to  com  to  cowtemplacioun,  me  thynk  bat  be  nedes  gretely.* 

(Rest  wanting,  the  following  leaves  are  torn  out.) 

i  Cf   p    57         ^  Cf.   Ms.    Harl.    1022,    which   contains   a   translation   of  Rich,    of   S.   Victor's 
Beniam'inminor.        3  Ms.  thyngyng.        *  .  .  des  gretely  is  catchword. 


Eichard  Kolle's  Meditatio  de  Passione  Domini, 

These  Meditations  are  given  here  from  2  texts,  none  of  which,  however,  retains 
the  original  (northern)  dialect.  The  i«t  text  was  ed.  before  by  Ullmann  in  Engf 
Studien  VII,  415.  The  Is*  text  is  older  (14^  cent.),  the  2™*  more  complete  but 
spoils  the  rhythms  Ms.  LI.  besides  contains,  fol.  1—200,  Will,  of  Nassinqton's  trans 
lation  of  Waldeby's  Speculum  vite,  in  verse,  which  in  this  Ms.  is  falsely  attributed 
to  Richard  Rolle ;  (beg.  Almy^ty  god  in  trmite  In  whom  is  only  persones  three1. 

i.     Ms.  Cambr.  LI  I.  8,  fol.  201. 

OWete  lord  Ih^u  Cryst,  I  tAanke  be  and  ?elde  be  graces  of  bat  swete  pray  ere 
and  of  bat  holy  orysouw  bat  bou  madest    beforn    be  holy  passyouw  for  vs  on  be 
mownt  of  Olyuete.  Y  beseche  be,  swete  lord,  bat  bou  hen?  my  prayere.  f  Adoramus 
te  Christe  &  benedicimus  tibi.    Pater  noster.    Aue  maria.  ^[  Swete  lord  Ihesu  Cryst, 
y  thanke  be  and  I  jjelde  be  graces  of  bat  mychel  ferdenesse  bo.t  bou  haddyst  for 
vs  whan    bou    become    so    ful    of  angwysch    bat    an    aungel    of   heuene    cam    to 
confortyn  be,  wenne  bou    swattest    blod    for   angwysche.     I  preye  be,    lord,    and 
byseche  be   for   bi  swete  mercy,    bat  bou  be  myn    help  in  al  myn  angwysch  and 
my  fondynges,    and  send  me,    lord,    be  aungel   of  red  and  of  confort  in  alle  my 
nedys  :   bat  I  my^te  turne  thorow  bat  swet  owt  of  al  sekenesse  of  soule  in  to  lyf 
of  hele  of  body(!).  Adoramus  &  c.  f  Pater.  Aue.  ^[  Swete  Ihwu,  I  thanke  be  and  I 
?elde    be    graces    of  pynes    and    angwysches    and    schames  and  felonyes  pat  men 
dyden  be  al  vritA  tresouw  :    men  bowndyn    be  os  a   thef,    w/t^-owten    mercy    and 
pyte.  ^f  Lord,  I  thanke  be  of  bo  swete  and  pytows  pasys  pat  bow  ^ede  for  ovfre 
loue  toward  bin  owne  peyne  and  bin  owne  deth.     I  prey  be,  lord,  and  byseke  be 
bat  bou  vnbynde  vs  of  bondys  of  alle  ownr  synnys,  os  bou  sufifred  to  be  bownde 
for  owr<?  loue.    «[    Adoramus.    f    Pater.     Aue.    %   I  thanke  be,  swete  lord  Ihwu 
Cryst,  of  be  pynus   and  of  be  schamwj  pat    bou  suffryd  before  be  byschopwj  and 
maystres  of  be   lawe,    and  of  bine  enemys  of2  buffetys  and  of  neckedyntes,  and 
of  many  obzr  schamwj  bat  bou  suffred.  f   And  among    obere  I  thanks  be ,  lord, 
of  bat  lokynge  bat  bou   lokyd  to  bi  decyple  bat  be  hadde  forsakyn,  seynt  Petyr : 
bou  lokyd  to  hym  w*tA  sy^t  of  mercy  when    bou  wer<?   in  bi  most  angwysch  and 
in  bi  most  peyne ;  opynly  bou  schewyd  per^  be  loue  and  be  charyte  bat  bou  hadde 
to  vs3,   bat  schame   no    peyne  ne  no  thyng  may  drawe  bin  herte   fro  vs,    in  also 
mykel  os  in  be  is.    ^[    Swete  lord  ful  of  mercy  and  of  pyte,    pen?  we  thorow  bi 
blessyd  lokyng  may  turne  to  bi  grace  and  repent  vs  of  owr*  trespas  and  of  owr* 
mysdede,     so    bat  we    may    come   w/t/fc  seynt  Petyr  to  bi   mercy.     ^[    Adoramus. 
^f  Pater.  ^[  Aue.  %  I  thank*  be,  swete  lord  Ihwu  Cryst,  of  alle  peynes  and  tormentys  / 

1  The  first  part  is  much  abridged;  the  Ms.  frequently  corrupted.         2  to  be  om.?        3  Cf.  2id 
t«xt,  which  gives  the  better  reading. 

6* 


*4 


Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 


and  scornynges  and  sclawndrynges  &  schamys    bat  men  dyde  &  seyde   to  he  bat 

ny?t  in  hat  harde  pn'souw  pat  pei  helde  pe  Inne.     Lord,  I  pray   pe  and   beseke 

be  bat  pou    ^eue    me    sofferynge     and    strenkethe   for    to    wzt^-stande  stedefastely 

a?eynes  alle  pe  assaylynges  &  fondynges  of  my  foos  and  of  myn  enemys   gostely 

and  bodyly.     Adoramus.  f  Pater,  f  Aue.  «[  Lord  Ihwu  Cryst,  I  thanke  be  of  alle 

be  peynes    and  schanww  bat  bou  soffred  beforn  Pylate,  and  of  alle  pi  pases  and  pi 

steppys  bat  bou  ^edyst  for  me  in  al  bat  sorewe,   now  hyderward  now  piderward, 

now  byfon?  on  and  now  byfore  anchor.    I  thanke  l  &  beseche  be,  lord,  for  alle  beise 

peynes  and  bese  schamw*  and  beise  greuawnces  &  be  pases   pat  bou    ^ede  benne 

in  bat  ilke  tyme    for    be  loue  of  vs,   bat  bou    drawe    and   ry^te    owr<?   gatys  and 

owr<?  steppys  to  be-ward  &  to  bi  seruyce.  ^  Adoramus.  f  Pater,  f  Aue.  f  Swete 

lord  Jhesu  Cryst,  I  thanke  be  of  peynes  bat  bou  soffred  for  vs,   and  for  be  swete 

blod  bat  bou  bledde  for  vs,  whan  bou   wen?    so    son?   betyn  and  bownden  to  be 

pyler,  bat  ?yt  it  is  sene  be  blood  on  be  pyler.     I  prey  be  and  byseke  be  as  my 

der<?  lord,  bat  swete  blood  bat  bou  bledde  so  largely  for  me,  may  be  ful  remyssyouw 

for  my  soule.  f  Adoramus.  f  Pater,  f  Aue.    f  Swete  lord  Ihwu  Cryst,    I  thanke 

he  of  be  peynes  and  schamys  bat  bou  thorow  bi  swete  wylle  soffred  for  vs  whan 

bou  wen?  clad  in  purpn?  for  to  schame  be,   and    be    corowne  w*t£   thornys  for  to 

pyne  wzU  pi  swete  hed ,    and  pei   on2   knelyng    on    skorn  callyd    be,  lord,  kyng 

and   mayster,    and  wzt/z  al  bat  on  bi  swete  face   spytted   so   fouly,    and  so   fouly 

engleymede    pi    fayr*  face  vrM  be  foule  styngynge  spyttynge  of  be  foule  cursyd 

lues,  &  bofetede  &  smyten  and   betyn   on    hi  swete  hed  w/t#   Inne(l);    and   of  bi 

bytter<?  woundes  I  thanke  be,    of  bi  peynes  and  of  pi  swete    blood    bat  ran  douw 

&  stremyd  fro    bi   blessyd  face.     I  pnzye    and    byseche   be,     der*   lord,     bat  bou 

defende  vs  fro  synne,  and  fro  schame  bat  we  han  deseruyd  for  synne.  f  Adoramus. 

^[  Pater,  f  Aue.  f  Swete  lord  Ihesu  Cryst,    I  thank    be  bat  bou  wer<?  so  by-bled 

panne,    so  crownyd  vrith  thornys  before   alle  be  folc,  and  bi  swete  face  so  spytted 

&  so  beclemyd  wz'tA  be  fowle  &  be  styngynge  spyttynge  of  hew  corsede  mouthes. 

Pan  wen:  bou  on  eche  a  syde  forcryed  and  hyed»  to  stronge  deth,   and  to  foule  deth 

of  hangynge  demyd,  blessyd  and  thankyd  be  bou.    I  beseche  be,  den?  lord,  bat  bou 

for  bi  mychel  mercy  gyue  me  grace  and  wysdom  my-self  for  to  lugge  and  deme, 

to  sauaczon  of  my  soule.  f  Adoramus.     Pater,  f  Aue.  ^  Swete  lord  Ih^u  Cryst> 

I  thanke  be  of  peynes  and  of  scharmw  pat  pou  soffrede  so  swetely  &  so  gladly,  now 

for  to  drawe  be,  now  for  to  putte  be  so  schamely,  now  for  to  smyte  be,  now  for 

to  bete  be  so  sor*  &  so  felly ;  and  for  to  her*  bine  owne  rode  on  hi  swete  nakede 

bac,  as  it  wer<?  a  thef  bat  ban?  hys  owne  galewys  for  to  be  hangyd  onne  hym-selue 

at  be  mownt  of  Caluarye,  ber<?   men  hedyd  wyckede  men  and  theuys   whebwr  he 

wer<?  bef  or4  mansleen?:  and  ber^  bou  soffryd  hem  to  do  be  on  be  cros.  f  5Der^ 

lord  Ihwu  mercy,  bat  welle  art  of  mercy ,  why  wyl  not  myn  herte  breste  and  cleue 

in-two?    whou   schal  it   euer<?    laste,    whan   it   rennyth    in    myn  herte  at  bi  kyrtel- 

chaungynge  whou  woo  bou  wer£  begon  :    whan  be  fals    Herode    let  tak   it  of   be, 

bat  clemyd  faste  wz'tfc  be  blood  of  bat  harde  scowrgynge  to  be  flesch  of  bi  body 

bat  sor^  was  betyn  and  rowyd,    and  rent  pi  sely  skyn;  pe  kyrtel  clemyd  per^-to, 

and  dryed  was  per^-to;    pi  flesch  was  so  tender,    so    seek  and  so   soor,    pat   bei 

drow  it  of  hi  body  pytously  and  harde,    ne  hadde  bei  no  reward  whow  soor*  be 

i  r.  pray.          2  pm.  on.          3  r.  hued?  4  Ms.  of.  5  Here  begin  the  rhythms,   mostly 

(alliterative)  long  lines. 


I.  in  Ms.   Cambr.  LI  i.   8.  85 

bystood  be  stryppynge :  for  faer*-wzt/j  folewyd  somme  of  he  pecys  of  bledderys 
and  of  he  rent  skyn.  Pan  was  hi  seke  body,  pr*cyous  lord,  al  reufully  rowed 
and  bled,  pe  stem  stood  of  pi  body  &  rekyd  al-abowte,  he  dew-dropys  pat  bawne 
roos  per*-wztfc  it  is  to  thenke.  ^[  A,  lord,  I  [sel1  hi  rede  blod  rewne  be  hi  chekys, 
stremys  after  yche  a  strook ,  byforn  &  behynde.  Pe  skyn  of  fain  bed  hi 
crowne  hath  al  to-rente,  eche  a  thorn  pot  per*  is  sytteth  to  pi  brayn-panne. 
Alas  pat  I  schal  lyue  and  se  my  gracyous  lord  so  soffr*nge  and  so  meke,  pat 
neuer*  trespasyd,  so  schamely  bedyijt !  pe  grucchynge  &  pe  gronynge,  pe  sorwe  & 
pe  syschynge,  pe  rewthe  of  hys  cher*,  I  wolde  wer*  my  deth.  Pe  crowne  of  al 
blysse,  pat  crownes  alle  blessede,  &  kyng  is  of  alle  kynges,  &  lord  is  of  lordys, 
is  of  helle-houndys  crowned  wit/i  thornys ;  he  worchype  of  heuene  despyced  and 
defouled ;  he  hat  schop  pe  sowne  &  al  hat  is  ou^t,  of  al  pe  gode  in  erpe  bat 
al  is  of  hys  gyfte,  he  hadde  not  wer*-Inne  hys  heed  he  my^te  hyde ,  but  is  so 
porely  become,  vs  to  make  ryche,  hat  al  nakyd  he  goth,  in  sy^t  of  alle  be  folk. 
^[  A,  lord,  pi  sorwe,  why  wer*  it  not  my  deth?  now  bei  lede  pe  forthe,  nakyd 
os  a  worm,  pe  twnnentoures  abowtyn  he,  &  armede  kny^tes.  Pe  prees  of  pe 
peple  was  wonderly  strong;  pei  hurled  pe  and  haryed  pe  so  schamefully,  bei 
spurned  be  wz't/z  her*  feet  os  b0u  hadde  ben  a  clogge.  I  se  in  my  soule  how 
reufully  hou  gost,  hi  body  is  so  blody,  so  rowed  and  so  bledderyd,  hi  crowne  is 
so  kene  hat  sytteth  on  hi  hed;  hi  heer*  meuyth  w/tA  |>e  wynde  clemyd  vrit/i  he 
blood ;  hi  louely  face  so  wan  &  so  bolnyd  w/t/j  bofetynge  and  wit/i  betynge, 
with  spytty;/ge  witA  spowtynge,  pe  blood  ran  ber*-w*tA,  hat  grysyth  in  my  syijt; 
so  lothly  and  so  wlatsome  he  lues  han  be  mad,  pat  a  mysel  art  b0u  lycker*  pan 
a  clene  man.  Pe  cros  is  so  heuy,  so  hye,  and  so  stark,  pat  pei  hangyd  on  pi 
bar*  bac,  trossyd  so  harde.  ^[  A,  lord,  he  gronyng  b«t  p<w  made,  so  sor*  and  so 
harde  it  sat  to  |)e  bon.  Pi  body  is  so  seek,  so  febyl  and  so  wery,  what  wz'tft  gret 
fasrynge  before  hat  b#u  wer*  take,  and  al  ny^t  wooke  w/tA-owten  ony  reste;  \vith 
betynge  w»tA  bofetynge  so  fer  ou«r-take,  bat  al  stowpynge  b0u  gost,  &  grym 
is  pi  cher*.  he  flesch  her*  be  cros  sytteth  is  al  rowed,  he  bleynes  and  he  bledderys 
are  wawne  and  bloo ;  be  peyne  of  pat  byrden  sytteth  he  so  sor^,  bat  iche  foot 
hat  b0u  gost  it  styngyth  to  pin  herte.  P«j  in  |)is  gronynge  and  in  his  mychel 
pyne,  fa0u  gost  owt  of  lerusale^  toward  hi  deth.  Pe  cyte  is  so  noble,  he  pupyl 
is  so  mychel,  he  folk  comyth  rennynge  owt  of  iche  a  strete,  hanne  stondyth 
vp  he  folk,  and  he  [f.  203]  grete  reke ,  hat  wonder  men  may  hat  ber*- 
onne  thynke.  Wz'tA  SAvyche  a  p^cessyouw  of  worldely  wondrynge,  was  neuer*  no 
thcf  to  pe  deth  lad.  Sowme  her^  wer^  of  he  comown  peple  pat  sysched  son?  and 
grette  for  pi  wo,  hat  wysten  he  so  turmentyd*  and  bat  i/3  was  for  envye,  for  he 
pn'nces  and  he  byschopys  pat  ladden  he  lawe,  hei  dyden  he  to  he  deth  for  hi  soth 
sawes,  whan  b^u  of  her^  erroures  wolde  hem  repreue.  Pei  knewe  it  was  owtrage 
and  wrong  pat  p<m  soffrede,  and  folwyd  pe  wepyng  and  syschyng  sor^.  P^u  han 
seyde  thyng  hat  after  fel :  b<m  bad  hem  wepe  for  hem-selue,  and  for  |)e  grete 
vengeaunce  bat  scholde  falle  for  hi  deth  on  hem  and  vp-on  her*  chyldren,  and 
vpon  al  he  cyte,  hat  sythen  was  fordon  &  for  he  vengeaunce  of  her*  owne  gylt 
chasyd  owt  of  her*  place,  f  A,  lord,  pe  sorewe  pat  fel  to  pi  herte,  whan  b0u 
on  pi  modwr  caste  pine  eyen.  Pou  saw  hyr*  folewe  after  among  he  gret  prees, 


Ms.  saw.        "  on  erasure.        3  Ms.  is. 


g5  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

os  a  wowman  owt  of  hyr*-selue  hyr*  handys  sche  wrong,  wepynge  and  syschynge 
hyr*  armys  he1  caste,    pe  water  of   hyre    eyen  dropped    at   hyr*   feet;  he   fel   in 
clede  swowne   ofter  pan  onys,    for  sorewe  of  pe  peynes  pat  to  hyr*  herte  smyten. 
Pe  sorewe  bat  he  made  and  pe  mykel   dool  agreggyd   many-fold   alle    pin  ober* 
peynes.     So  whan  heo  wyste  pat  it  so  was,  pan  was  hyr*  wel  wers,  and  p0u  al 
so  for  hyr*  wepj/rf;  so   a/<w25jour*  sorewe  eyther  for  op*r  waxenge  manyfold  with 
hepynge  sorewys.     I>e  loue  of  ?owr«  hertys  pat  ouer   alle    oper*  loues  was  wyth- 
owte  make  brennyng  kene,   made  ?ow  to  brenne  eyther  for  op*r  wtti  vnlyk*  sorewe 
to  ony  oper  woo ;    as  pe  loue  was  makeles,  so  pe  sorewe  was  perelees,  it  stykyd 
at  ?owr*   hertys   os   it  wew   deth.   f  A,  lady,  mercy,    why    went    b<m    so    bolde 
among    so    manye    kene    foos    to    folewe    so  ny?     how  was    it   pat   arwenesse    of 
wo/wmankynde  or  maydenhed  schamynge  ne  hadde  pe  w*tfc-drawyn?  for  it  was  not 
semely  to  pe  to  folewe  swych  a  rowte,    so  vyle  and  so  schamefully,   so  grysly  to 
see!    But  p0u  ne  hadde  no  reward  to  no  mannys  drede,  ne  to  nou;t  ellys  pat  pe 
schulde  lette,  but  as  owt  of  pi-self  for  dool  and  for  sorewe  of  3  pi  sonys  passyouw 
was  al  pin  herte  set.     ^owr*  loue  was  so  kene  eythyr  to  other,   and  so  brennynge 
hot,  pi  *  syschengys  wen?  so  fer  fet,  pe  dool   of  ?ownt  cher*  was  dedly  woo.     Pe 
loue  and  pe  sorewe  pat  styked  in  pi  breest,  refte  pe  pe  reckyng  of  bodyly  drede 
and  of  worldes   schame    and    alle  maner  of  lettynges,    pat  os  owt    of   pi-selue    pi 
sorwe  hath  pe  mad*    f    A,    lady,     for  pat   sorewe  pat    b<?u    soffryd    of  pi    sonys 
passyouw— for    pat  schulde  haue    bien    myn    owne,    for  I  it  hadde    deseruyd    and 
manye  werse ,    I  was    cause  per^-offe    and   he  gylteles :    os  pe  dere  woundes    wer* 
myn  owne  ry^t,  gete  me  for  pi  mercy  on  of  hem  alle,   a  pn'kke  at  myn  herte  of 
pat  ilke  peyne,  a  drope  of  pat  rewthe  to  folewe  hym  w/t/*.    ^yf  al  pat  wo  is  my 
ry^t,  gete  me  of  myn  owne,  ne  be  p<ra  not  so  wrongful  to  wztA-holde  al.  / 
a!5  pi  woo  be  pe  leef,  ne  art  pou  nou?t  swythe  large?     parte  with  pe  poor*   pat 
lytel  hath  or  non;  gyf  me  of  pi  sykynges  pat  sykes/2  so  sor*,  pat  I  may  syke  with 
pe,   pat  began    pat    woo.     I  aske  not,    der*    lady,    kastelys    no    towrys    ne    op*r 
worldys  wele,  pe  sonne  nor  pe  mone  ne  pe  bry?t  sterrys,  but  woundys  of  reuth< 
is  al  my   desyr,    peyne   a«d   cowpassyou»    of  my  lord  Ihwu  Cryst.     WersteS  and 
vnworthyest  of  alle  mennys   haldyng,    I  haue    appetyte    to    peyne,    to   beseke  my 
lord*  a  drope  of  hys  reed  blod  to  make  blody  my  soule,  a  drope  of  pat  water  to 
waschyn  it  wzt/L   1   A,  lady,  for  pat  mercy,  pat  mod«r  art  of  mercy,  socour*  c 
al  sorewe  and  bote  of  alle  bale,  modwr  mad  of  wrecchys  and  of  [al]  wooful :  herken 
to  pis  wrecche  &  vysyt  [p]y6  chyld:   soue  in  myn  herte,  pat  is  hard  os  ston,  a  sparcle 
of  cowpassyouw  of  pat  der*  passyouw,  a  wounde  of  pat  reuthe  to  souple  it  wftfc. 
f  A,  lord,  pat  peyne  pat  lyther  lues  so  cruel  &  so  kene  at  pe  mownt  of  Caluarye 
w/^-owten  ony  mercy  pynyd  be  wft*.    Pei  cast  be  cros  doun  flat  on  pe  grounde, 
and  with  stronge  ropys  knyt  to  pine  handys  and  to  pi  feet,  &  layde  pe  foenr-onne; 
bei  drow  and  streynyd  be  strey^te  on  brede  and  on  lenkthe  by  handys  and  by  feet 
and  dryue  In  be  nayles,  fyrst  in  be  ton  hand,  and  drow  harde,  and  after  dryue  bat 
ober.    Pe  nayles  wer*  blonte  at  be  poynt,  for  bei  schulde  breste  be  skyn  &  be  flesch ; 
bei  gr^uyd  bine  handys  &  pi  feet  al  with  pe  blonte  nayles;,    for   pe  mor*  peyne. 
f  Foderunt  manus  meas  $  pedes  meos.  ^  7Gloryouse  lord  so  doolfully  dy#e,  so  rew- 
fully  streynyd  vP-ry7,t  on  pe  [rode]  8 :  for  pi  mykel  mekenesse,  pi  mercy  pi  mi^t, 

i  =  sche.        2  on  erasure.        3  r.  On?        ^r.  t>i?        *  =  although.        6  Ms.  my.       *  Cf.  p.  72 
v.  17.        8  Ms.  cros. 


I.  iii  Ms.  Cambr.  LI  I.  8.  37 

b0u  bete  al  my  bale  vfitfi  bote  of  bi  blood.  ^[  A,  lord,  be  pyte  pat  I  now  se :  pi 
woundys  in  pi  streynynge  reche  so  wyde,  pi  lymes  and  pi  nayles(!)  are  so  tendr^.    P0u 
lyst  rowyd  and  reed  streyned  on  pe  cros,   be  kene  crowne  on  bin  hed  bat  sytteth 
be  so  sore,  pi  face  is  so  bolnyd  bat  fyrst   was    so    fair^ ;    bi  synwes  &   bi  bonys 
styrten  owt  so  starke,   bat  bi  bonys  may  be  nowmbryd ;    be    stremys    of  bi  reede 
blood  rennyn  as  be  flood,    |)i    woundys    are    for-bled    and    grysly    on  to  se.     Pe 
sorewe    bat   bi    modwr  makyth  encresuth  bi  woo.    ^f    A,  lord  kyng  of  my^t,    bat 
leuyn  woldust    bi    my^t  &  os    vnmy^ty    become  my  wrongys  to  ry^te :    what  is  it 
bat  I  speke  &  bete  be  wynd?     I  speke    of    pe   felyng  of  pe  &  fynde  I  no  taste, 
I   blondr*    in    my    wyrkyng    os    maw    pat  is  blynd ,    I  studye  in  my  thou^tes  and 
bei  wyrken  al  wast :  it  is  tokenyng  of  my  deth,  and  fylthe  of  my  synne,   bat  slayn 
hath  my  sowle  &  stoke  is  benr-Inne,  and  stoppyth  al  pe  sauoun?,   pat  I  may  nou'^t 
the  fele,   pat   so  schamely  haue    ben  bi    tretour*  vntrnve  ;    it  my^t  be  a   przsouw, 
gloryouse  lord,    to  pi  godhed ;    pe  stynke  of  my  schame,    pe  sorwe   of  my  soule, 
pe  fylthe  of  my  mouthe ,    gyf  I  lykke    pen'-onne  it  fylyth  pi  name :  so  may  I  no 
maner^  pe  swetnesse  of  the1  taste,   pat  I  fiaue  lost1  thorow  synne  to  han  lykyng  of 
swyche  comfort — for  I  blondr^  gladly  in  lustys  of  many  dyuerse  blamys.    But  p<ni 
gloryouse  lord,    f)0u  quykenyst  be  dede,  &  turnyd   hast  p0u  manyfold  and  brou^t 
hew  to  heuenly  mede :   be  blynde-born  b0u  Iy5;ted,  in  book  os  i  rede  :  it  betokenyth 
gostely    werkys,    it  is  no    drede.     Qwz'kne  me,    lord  Ih^u  O/st,    &  gyf  me  grace 
bat  I  may  fele   som  of  be  sauowre  of  gostely  swetnesse;  lene  me  of  bine  [Ijy^t2, 
bat  I  may  som-what  sy^t  haue    in   soule   my  thryste  to  kele.     But  wel  I  wot   bis 
|)at  I  haue  rad,   bat  who-so    ^ernyth   and   sekyth    a-ry^te :    bou  he  fele  be  nou^t, 
he  hath  bat  he  wot  nou^t,   pi  loue  of  godhede3; — it  hath  vsl  dy^t  bis  speche;  and 
swyche  obenr :  pat  3;ef  a  man  no  sauown?  fynde,   thenk  hym-self  owt  castynge4,  and 
rebukynge  and  reuylynge  &  seyng  hys  weykenesse  and  sjeldyng  hym-self  vnworthy 
deuoc;on    to    haue    or    ony    swyche  specialte  of  oun:  lord  god,    whan  so  euer^  he 
may    no   deuoc/on  fynde  :    pewne  he  schal    gete  sonnest    pe  gyfte    of   hys  grace. 
^[  Penne  per^  went  after  pe  cros  many  lues  ynowe    and   reysyd    it  vp  and  lyft  it 
vpon  hy,  wz't/j  al  be  my^t  bat  bei  hadde,    and  squat  it  harde  in  to  be  pyt  of  pe 
hyl  pat  made  was  })erfor^ :    pi  woundes  borsten  and   ronnyn  son?   owt,    bat    alto- 
schakyd  hangyd  bi  body,  wo  was  be  bygon !   ^[  Lord,   vroo1  was  be  banne,   whan 
be  son?  woundys  of  pi  feet  and  of  pine    hondys    bat  wen,'    byfon?   alle  men  most 
tendr^,   bat5  ban?  al  pe  wey^te  of  bine  blessyd   body  bat  was  so  fair^  and  large. 
Pat    sore    &    bat    sorewe    bi    modwr   byheld ,    pat    so    louely   was    and    so    meke 
and    so    mylde :     he    fel    doun     often-sythe    and    syschyng    among,     pe    sorewe 
stoke    hyn?  in  pe  brest  as  it  wer*  deth ;    hyn?  hed   heo  heng  douw  dolfully,    hyr^ 
handys  sche  wrong,    be  terys  wenr  ful  ryue  bat  sche  benr  grette.     Pe  syschynges 
and  be  sorewes  pat  sche  per^r  made,    was    ekyng  of  pi  woo,   and  made  it  many- 
fold.     Pe  place  was  so  wlatsome  and  gronyng  stede,   pe  stynk  of   pe  careynes  in 
pi  nose  smot.     So  was    f)0u  pyned    in  pi   fyue  wyttes,    to  hele  w*tA  our^  trespas 
pat  we  per^-wztA  han  wrou^t.    ^[    Agayn  pat  we  trespaste   -with   own?   sy^t,    pou6 
wolde  of  be  lues  be  blynfeld.   ^[  Agaynes  be  synne  of  owr*  nose-smellynges,    pe 
smellyng  of  pe  careynes  as  p^u  hengycl  on  pe  rode  smot  in  pi  nose,   pat  was  to 
pe  ful  greuows.    %  Agayn  owr^  tastynge,    p<7U   tasted   of  pe  galle:   so  poor^  was 

1  on  erasure.        2  Ms.  sy^t.        »  by  a  later  hand  corr.  to :   l>e  loue  of  1)1  g.        *  r.  castyn  ;  cf. 
2nd  text.        s  om.  in  2nd  text.        6  Ms.  J)«t  t>ou. 


gg  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

p0u  mad  of  bi  grete  bledynge.    f  Agayn  leccherous  heryng  bat  we  be  with  han 
greuyd,    b<ni   wolde   w*t£    bine   erys    her*   myche  wrong:    whan   men    accused    be 
falsly  of  synne,    callynge    at   bi   corownynge    in  scorn    and  hatrede  &  sayde  »heyl 
be  {><m  kyng«  and  spytted  in  bi  face ;   pe  heryng  of  be  foule  cry  whan  bei  cried 
alle  »do    hym  on    be  rode,    be  cros    schal   be   hys  dom«;     and   also   whanne   bei 
sayde  »he  couthe  others  men  saue:  lat  hym  saue  hym-self  now,  ^yf  he  can«.    [By]  be 
herynge  of  beise  &  of  ober*  wordys  wyckedly  b^u  *  wolde  in  bat  swete  wyt  for  vs 
be  pyned.  ^f  Agayn  be  synne  of  felyng  and  of  euele  gatys,    wen?  bi  handys  and 
bi  feet  w*U  harde   nayles    thyrlyd,    and    fro    be  hed  to  be    feet,    wztA    coronynge 
and  scourgynge,  wzt/z  bofetynge  and  betynge,  wztA  spornynge  and  puttynge,  wzt£ 
harde  cordys   knyttynge,    and  on  be  cros  streynynge,    f)0u  wolde,    gloryous   lord, 
for  me  harde  be  pyned.  /  £er*  honges    b<?u    so   poor*  and  so  woo-bygon,    bat  of 
al  bis  worldys  gode,   bat  was  al  bine  owne,   b<m  haddest  not  but  a  por*  cloth  to 
kyuer*  wzt/z   bi  lymes  pr/'uye.    £<m  pat  art  of  kynges  kyng  and  lord  of  lordys— 
helle  and  heuene  and  al  bis  world  is  al  bin  owne — f)0u  wolde  in  tyme  of  bi  deth 
for  me  be  so  poor*,   bat  erthe  hadde  pou  not  so  myche  bat  b<m  my^te  dye  onne : 
but    on    be    harde   rode   hangynge   in    be    eyr<?,    per*    was    bi    deth-bed    delfully 
dy^t:    be   rode   hadde  a  fote  of  erthe  or  ellys   lytel   more   bat  it  stod   vpon,    and 
pat  was  to  bi  payne !    f   By    pe   it  was  reufully  sayd,    gloryouse   lord,    bat  foxes 
han  her^  dennys,  and  fo[wl]us2  han  her*  nestes,  but  p<m  hadde  not  at  bi  deth  no 
thyng  bin   hed  to   reste  onne.     Ihesu,    why  wen?   it   nou^t   my  deth   be    dool   and 
be  sorewe,  whan  I  thenk  in  my  thou^t  whou  reufully  p<m  spake  whan  p<m  sayde: 
>»Alle  ?e  pat  passyth  be  be  way,  abydeth  and  byholdyth  ^yf  euer*  ony  peyne  pat 
euere  soffred  any  man,    or  ony  wordely   woo,    be  lyk  pe   sorwe   pat   I   soffr*   for 
synful  mannys  sake.cc     Nay,  lord,   nay,   pen?  was  neuer*  non  so  hard3,    for  it    was 
makeles;  of  alle  peynys  pat   euer*   wer*,    so  hard  was  neuur  fowndyn.      And  ^yt 
seydys  p0u,  lord,   so  swetely  and  so  mekely :  ^[   Vinea  mea  electa,  ego  te  plantaui: 
pat  is  :    »My  der*  vyn^erd«,    seydust  f)0u,   pat  is,    my  deiY  chosen ,    »haue  I  nou^t 
my-self  be  plauntyd?  why   art   p0u    so   bytter?«    f    Papule  metis,   quid  fed   tibi: 
pat  is:    »My  swete,  what  haue  I  pe  don?    haue  I  be  wratthyd,    bat  b<m  dost  me 
bis  woo?    haue  I  not    ^euyn  be  al  my  self,    and    al  bat  euere  b0u  hast,    and  lyf 
wz't/6-owten   ende   ?ef  b^u   it  wyl   take,    my  body  to    bi   foode,    and   to    deth    on 
rode,  and  hysjt  be  al  my-selue  in  heuene  to  bi  mede?  haue  I  wz't/z  my  gode  dede 
hyrtyd  be  so  sore,  or  \\iih  my  swete  dawntynge  greuyd  bin  herte?«  f  Lord,  b^u 
besowte  bi  fadwr  in  heuene  for  be  foule  traytourys,  be  tyrauntys,   be  tormentours, 
bat  he  schulde  forgyue  hem  bi  deth,     and    al   bat   bei   trespasyd;     and    seyde  pe 
wrecchys  wyst  not  what  pei  dyde.     And  also  to  pe  thef  pat  hangyd  be  pi  syde, 
pat  euer*  sythen  he  cowde  hadde  vsyd  thefte  :    pat  he   schulde  be    in  blysse  wM 
be  bat  ilke  day.     P<?u  sette4  nou;t  for-bi  bat  he  schulde  haue  for  hys  synne  long 
peyne,  but  at  be  fyrst  askynge  bat  he  be  mercy  crauede,    and   knew    be   forgod, 
and  hys  owne  trespas,    als  sone   p0u   ^af  hym  be   grawnt   of  grace  &  of  mercy, 
wz'U-owten  ony  lenger^  delayng   in    blysse   for  to  be.    f    Lord,  for  bi  mercy,  bat 
welle  art  of  mercy,  say  to  me  bat  am  bi  thef  bat  b0u  to  hym  sayde — for  I  haue 
stole  p?  gode  dedys,  and  vsyd  mys   pi   grace,  pe  wyttzw  and  pe  virtues   pat  pou 
to  me  hast  lent.     P<?u   pat  were   so   gracyous    and   so    curteys    and   so   mylde  to 


Ms.  l)<m  !><m.        2  Ms.  foxus.        8  so  hard  overlined.        *  r.  seide. 


I.  in  Ms.  Cambr.   LI   I.  8.  89 

grawnte  hym  bat  grace  in  bi  most  woo :  now  bou  art  in  blysse  ben:  nou^t  is 
bat  be  greuyth,  but  own?  mysdedys  are  bat  be  lettyth,  ne  be  b0u  nou^t  daungerows 
nor  straunge  for  to  cnzue,  but  manyfold  mor*  gracyows  be— for  seldom  seth  [men] 
ony  man  bat1  ne  is  mor<?  gracyous  whan  hym  best  lykyth,  benne  in  hys  most  woo.  — 
«[[  A,  lord,  bi  modwr  was  woo,  and  b<?u  for  hyre  also  woo,  whan  sche  schulde 
be  forgo,  and  b0u  bi  leue  toke,  bytaw^te  hyr*  to  seynt  lohan,  in  stede  of  be  to 
seruyn  hyr<?  &  to  comforten  os  hyre  sone ;  in  tokenynge  b<ni  seyde :  »Wowman, 
loo  her*  bi  sone«,  and  to  lohan :  »loo  her*  bi  mod//r.«  £0u  betook  mayde  maycle 
to  kepe;  bi  wysdom  wolde  not  bi  modur  leue  by  hyn?  one,  but  bat  ben?  wer^  on 
to  hyr*  in  stede  of  comfort  assygned^.  *[  A,  lady,  woo  was  be  banne  whan  {1011 
w*tA  bine  herys  herde  bat  word!  bat  sorewe  my^te  han  bien  bi  deth,  of  |)at 
leue  takynge  and  of  bi  sonys  woo.  £e  terys  of  bin  eyen  ronnen  ful  faste,  hi 
syschynges  and  bi  sorewys  to  bin  herte  sat  ful  ny,  bou  fel  douw  swounyd  wzt//. 
al  bi  lymes  loose;  bine  armys  fel  be  by,  bin  hed  douw  hangede,  bi  rody2  wex 
al  wan,  bi  face  dec!  pale:  be  swerd  of  bi  sonys  woo  thorow-strook  bin  \\erie. 
«[  Animam  tuam  pertransibit  gladius,  bat  is  :  »be  swerd  schal  glyde  thorow  bine 
herte.«  *|  A,  lady,  bat  sorewe  may  no  tunge  telle  bat  b<?u  ber^  soffryd  at  bat 
ilke  chawngynge:  whan  f)0u  in  bi  sonys  stede,  bi  flesche  and  bi  blood,  schulde 
anober  felow  take:  for  almygty  god  a  dedly  man,  decyple  for  be  mayster,  lohan 
for  Ihesu  Cryst ;  bat  chawnge  to  be  was  so  dolful  os  a  throw  of  bi  deth.  Lady, 
why  hadde  I  nou^t  benne  bien  by  be  and  herd  bat  b0u  herde,  and  sen  bat  ilke 
sy^t,  and  of  bi  mykel  sorewe  hadde  take  my  part,  ^yf  I  my^te  in  cas  han  sleckyd 
pi  woo? — for  mew  seyn  swyche  a  word:  bat  [it]  is  often  solace  to  haue  in  peyne 
companye.  —  ^f  Lord,  bmi  cryed  aftyr  bat  so  dolfully  on  be  rode  and  sayde  bat 
be  thrysted — os  lytel  womlwr  was.  tenne  was  to  |)e  byrled  eysyle  and  galle,  of 
hem  bat  b<m  bine  herte-blood  wolde  blede  for*:,  ^f  A,  lord,  b<ni  it  took  and 
tastyd  ber^-offe;  for  b^u  wolde  for  vs  in  iche  a  wyt  be  pyned.  tat  thryst  was 
twofold :  in  body  and  in  soule ;  b0u  thryst  w/'tA  a  gret  ^ernynge  aftwr  beir^ 
amendement  bat  dyden  be  to  be  deth,  and  also  for  be  soulys  bat  banne  wen?  in 
helle,  bat  hadde  \n  her^  3lyues  kepyd  pi  lawys.  Blessyd  is  bat  ilke  man,  gloriows 
lord  swete  Ihesu,  bat  ony  thyng  in  hys  lyue  may  soffren  for  bi  sake  of  bodyly 
peyne  or  any  worldys  schame,  or  ony  fleschely  lustys  gostely  or  bodyli  for  be 
loue  of  bi  name  holly  forsake,  or  may  in  any  poynt  folewe  pe  here  wyth  be3 
schadowe  of  bi  cros,  bat  is  scharpe  lyuynge.  *[  A,  lord,  be  reuthe,  be  dedly  dool, 
bat  in  manys  herte  owi;te  to  synke  whan  bat  men  thywken  on  bat  word  bat  bou 
on  be  rode  sayde,  &  made  to  bi  fadyr  so  reufully  bi  mone :  ^[  Eloy,  Eloy, 
Lamagabdtani :  bat  is:  »My  god,  my  der^  god,  why  hastow  al  forsakyn  me,  bat 
no  thyng  b<m  me  sparyst?«  ^f  Gloryous  lord,  bin  manhede  was  for  vs  al  forsakyn, 
so  vyle  deth  and  pyneful  soffred  neuer*  man.  fi  godhede  it  wolde  for  synful 
mannys  sake,  w:t/*-owten  ony  sparynge  bat  be  was  so  be-gon ;  neuer^  martyrdom 
ne  bodyly  peyne  lyk  bin.  £i  manhed  was  so  tendur  bobe  bodyly  and  gostely: 
and  be  peyne  neuwr-be-lesse  ouer  alle  peynes.  te  dignyte  so  excellent,  be 
faderys  sone  of  heuene:  by-twene  two  theuys  b0u  hengyd  on  be  cros,  and  bat  in 
myddes  be  world* ,  hit  was  no  prme  schame ;  os  of  alle  theuys  pe  cheueteyn  in 
myddys  hem  b0u  hengyd,  al  nakyd,  bi  skyn  to-drawe  and  ilke  a  lyth  from  ober, 

»  Ms.  l>at  he.          2  r.  rode.         3-3  written  on  erasure,  and  schadowe  —  lyuynge  added  on  the 
margin. 


QO  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

be  kene    crowne   on   bin   hed  f><zt  b<m  was  crownyd  wz't/z.     Pi  woundys    wer*    so 
grysly    and    so    wyde    drawyn,    be    blod    f)at  bow    bledde    was    delful  to  se.     Pe 
sorewe  of  bine  modz/r  was  to  be  mor*  pyne  banne  al  f)i  bodyly  woo  ;   bat  passyd 
alle  be  to{)*r:    be   losse    of  her*?    soulys    bat   pyned   be    soo.    f    Lord,    pi  mykyl 
mercy  may  non  herte  thenkyn,    ne  bat  endeles   loue  &  louely  reuthe   bat    b0u  on 
be  guode  settyst  bat  folewzU  bi  wylle  :    whan  bi  sorwe  was  soo  mykyl  for*  hem 
bat  wer<?  bi  foos.    f  Lord,  I  wele  in  my  thou^t  be  rode  foot  take  in  my  arrays, 
flat  os  b<m  lay  ben?  vpon  be  grounde,  w/t/;2  be  stynk  of  be  dede  mennys  bonys  bat 
lay  ber^  so  wlatsom  vndur  bi  nose ;  no  thyng^  schal  me  banne  greue  ne  chawnge 
myn  herte,   so  p&t  gret  comforte  it*  schal    to  me  be  wz't/z  lykande  thou;t.  I  wyl  not 
vpward  castyn  an  eye  to  se  ba/3  gloryouse  sy;t,   bi  woundys  to  byholde :  for  I  am, 
gloryouse  lord,  manyfold  gylty  and  cause  ber^-offe,   os  vnworthy  bat  sy^t  to  se.  f  I 
wolde  amoTzg  be  dede,    bat  lyn  styngynge   fouly ,    lay  me   flat  on  be  grounde ,    & 
neberer<?  ^yf  I  my^te,   be  v*rtu  and  be  grace  to  kepe  of  pi  blood ;   bennes  wyl  I  not 
ryse  ne  non  gate  flytte,   tyl  I  be  wz't/z  bi  pr^cyous  blood  bycome  al  reed,  tyl  I  be 
markyd  per^-wz't/z    os  on  of  bine  owne,    &  my  soule  softyd  in  bat  swete  bath  :  so 
may  it  falle,   gloryouse  lord,   bat  myn  herd  harte  may  opene  per^-wz't/z,  bat  is  now 
hard  os  ston,  bycomen  al  nesche  and  quyckenen  in  bi  felyng.    ^[  Lord,    bi  swete 
passyown   reysyd  pe  dede    of  hen?    grauys    and    bei   walkyd   abowte,    hyt  openyd 
helle-^atys,  be  erthe  tremblyd  j>ew-w*tA,  be  [sonne]4  lost  hys  ly^t :  and  my  sory  herte, 
pat  is  of  be  deuelys    kynde,    harder*    ban    be   stonys    bat    clouyn   at   bi    deth,    it 
may  not  of  bi  passyouw  a  lytel  poynt  fele ,  ne  I  ryse  not  vti\h  pe  dede  in  reuthe 
bere-offe,    ne  I  cleue    not  as  be  temple,    ne    os    pe    erthe   tremble,    ne    opene  pe 
closyng   pat  is  so   harde   speryd.    ^    Myl  lord,    is  now    pe   malyce   of  my    lyther 
herte  /  mor*  pan  is  pe  vertu  of  pi  pr^cyouse   deth,    pat  wrou^te  swyche  wondrys 
and  many  on  mo,    and  be  mynde    pen?-offe   styreth   not  myn  herte?     Whe,  lord, 
a  drope  of  pi    blood  to  droppe  on  my  soule    in  mynde  of  pi  passyoun  may  hele 
al  my  sow,  souple  and  softe  in  pi  grace  [it]  pat  is  so  hard*,  and  so  dyen(!)  whan 
pi  wylle  is.   /   I  wot  wel,  myn   herte,    gloryouse  lord,    is  not  worthy  come  to  pe 
pat   f>0u    pew-Inne   ly?te ;  it  is  nou^t  of  be  dygnite  of  bin  holy  sepulcw  pat  pou 
wew  [inne]   in  manhed  closyd :    but  to  helle,  lord,   pern  ly^ted^  to  vysyten  and  to 
ry^te :  and  in  bat  ilke  maner*  I  aske  bin  comynge.    I  knowe  wel,  gloryouse  lord, 
bat  i  was  neuen?  worbi  to    be  bi  mod«r  felowe,    to  stonde   at  bi   passyoun  wh/i 
hyr^  and  w*tA  lohan  :    but,    lord,    in  bat    entente    ?yf  I   may  not  be  ber*  for  my 
grete  vnworthynesse  to  sen  bat  selly  sy?t,  I  holde  me  worthy  for  my  gret  trespas 
to  hange  be  pi  syde  os  pe  thef  hangyd.     So,    lord,    ?yf  I  may  not  as  worthy  be 
ber*,   I  aske  os  f>e  gylty  be  part  of  pi  deth:  bat  pou  I  be  not  worthy  bat  myn  herte 
be  ly^ted,  my  nede  and  my  wyckednesse  askyth  bat  b<m  it  ry;te6.  f  Come  banne 
at  bi  wylle,    heuenelyche  leche,    and   ly^ten   me  sone  os  b<m   my  nede  knowyst; 
a  sparkle  of  pi  passyoun,  of  loue  and  of  reuthe,  kyndele  in  myn  herte  to  quycnen 
it  wztA:    so  pat  al  brennyng  in  loue  onur  al   thynge,    al  pe  world  I  may  forgete, 
and  bape  me  in  pi  blood,     fan  schal  I  blesse    pe    tyme  pat  I  fele  me  so  styred 
[to  be]  7  of  bi  grace,  bat  al  wordely  wele  and  fleschely  lykywg  ageyn  be  thou;t  of  bi 
deth  lykyth  me  nou?t.   f  Whe,  lord,  b™  bytawte  in  to  bi  faderys   handys   at  be 
poynt  of  pi  deth  pi  gloryouse  gost,  and  sayde  :  f  Pater,  in  manus  tuas  &c.,   bat 

i  Ms.  for  l>i  sorewe  was  so  mykyl,  crossed  out  here.        2  overl.        3  on  erasure.        4  Ms.  erfce. 
5  r.  lyx,te.        6  r.  to  be  ry^ted.        7  om. 


I.  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Ll  i.  8.  gi 

is :  »Fad«r,  in  bine  handys  I  betake  my  soule.«  And  in  trewe  tokenynge  of  oure 
soule-hele,  bat  al  was  fulfylled  in  bi  blysse  of  bi  blood,  b0u  saydest  at  be 
laste :  f  Consnmmatum  est,  f  bat  is  :  »A1  is  endyd.«  tanne  fel  douw  bine  bed, 
and  be  gost  went  owt.  fce  erbe  banne  tremblede,  be  sonne  lost  hys  ly#  1 :  bat  al 
raerk  was  be  wed«r  os  it  hadde  ben  ny^t ;  be  dede  rysyn,  in  wytnesse  of  be 
godhede  to  knowe ;  be  tewple  banne  clef,  be  stonys  alto-roof.  \V*tA  a  scharpe 
spere  bine  herte  bei  stroke  :  he  blood  and  be  watwr  pere-offe  went  owt.  f  !>us 
glon'ose  lord,  it  styreth  in  myne  mynde:  I  se  pz  blood  laue  owt  of  handys  and 
of  feet,  bi  sydes  thyrled  wiU  be  spere,  bi  woundes  dryed  and  al  to-ran,  pi  body 
al  be-bled,  bi  chyn  hangyd  douw,  &  {)i  teth  bare;  be  whyte  of  fain  eyen  is  cast 
vp-ward,  pi  skyn  bat  was  so  louely  is  become  al  pale,  be  crowne  in  bin  hed 
grysyth  in  my  sy^t,  be  heer  is  clemyd  wz't/z  be  blod  and  blowitA  al  a-bowte. 
!>e  mynde  of  hat  mater  I  wolde  were  my  deth.  f  Lord,  I  se  pi  moclwr  stande 
be  bi  syde,  sche  sobbyth  and  sykyth  and  falleth  douw ;  Ioh<zn  on  pe  topir  half 
is  so  ful  of  sorewe ;  bei  wryngyn  her*  hondys  and  make  myche  dooi.  Whan 
bei  lokyd  vpward,  pe  sy^te  of  be  rode  stykyth  to  here  hertys  as  it  were  be  deth. 
£ei  falle  douw2  wepynge  and  gronynge  ful  sore — and  I  am  enchesouw  of  al  bat 
iche  woo!  ^|  Lady,  for  bi  mercy,  sythen  I  deseruyd  al  pat  ^ow  byfel,  and  al  is 
my  ry^t:  grawnte  me  of  pi  grace  a  sy^t3  of  bi  sorewe,  a  poynt  of  pi  peyne  to 
playe  me  witA  :  pat  I  may  in  a  poynt  som-what  fele,  and  a  part  of  pi  sorewe,  fiat 
I  haue  al  mad.  ^[  A,  lord,  bei  cast  loot  on  hi  elopes,  os  pe  boke  sayde  longe 
before:  an[d]  lefte  be  nakyd  by-twene  two  theuys — so  foule  os  pi  deth  was  soffred 
neuere  man.  tanne  began  be  folc  to  flocke  toward  pe  towne  fro  be  mownt  of 
Caluarye,  on  be  rode  here  pou  hengede.  £at  sy^t  is  so  wonderful,  bei  wawe  so 
thykke,  eche  man  to  hys  owne  horn,  by  eche  a  way.  I'an  was  bou  in  j)i  godhede 
ful  smertely  at  helle,  to  glade  he  soulys  bat  kepten  pi  comynge.  £e  blysse  and 
be  gladynge,  be  myrthe  and  be  lykynge,  hat  bei  banne  hadde,  wit//  tonge  no 
man  may  telle.  lVu  openyd  helle-^atys,  lord  thorou  bi  mysjt,  and  took  owt  of 
peyne  manye  pat  were  here :  Adam  and  Eue,  and  alle  hat  he  were  leue,  bat  had 
in  here  lyues  kept  pi  lawys.  Lord,  aftwr  pat  loseph  ab*  Aramathye  tok  leue  at 
Pylate  to  take  be  douw,  os  it  were  tyme  of  euynsonge,  wi'tA  help  of  Nychodemttt, 
of  bi  modwr  and  of  lohan,  bat  stood  here  sorewfully.  tei  toke  of  he  rode  bi 
blessyd  body,  bei  ry^ttyd  owt  bine  arrays  hat  were  bycome  starke,  and  strekyd 
hem  douw  after  bi  sydes.  tei  bare  be  to  be  place  bat  b<m  were  beryed  Inne  ; 
|>ei  weschen  of  be  cold  blod  and  made  foe  clene,  layde  be  in  be  monument  bat 
was  newe,  bat  loseph  hadde  ordeynyd  for  hym-selue;  bei  onoynte  j)e  wit/* 
oynement  bat  smellyd  swete.  I»e  sorwe  bat  bi  modwr  hadde,  is  sorwe  to  here. 
f  Lady,  be  terys  bat  b^u  here  grette,  hi  brest  and  fai  chekys  mad  al  wat«r&! 
bou  fel  douw  to  hys  feet,  and  kyssed  hem  ful  swete,  and  euere  os  p<m  kyssyd 
sore  b0u  grete.  %  £enne  was  bere  warde  set  of  armede  kny^tes,  to  kepe  pe 
monument  tyl  pe  thrydde  day.  &c.  Amen.  Ih^u. 

f  Explicit  quedam  Meditacio  Ricardi  Heremite  de  Hampole  de  passione  domini : 
Qui   obiit   anno    domini  M.CCC0  xl°  vill°.  &c. 


»  Ms.  sy/,t.        2  Ms.  done?        a  =  sigh.        *  Ms.  ob.        »  r.  wete. 


Q2  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

2.  Ms.  Cambr.  Addit.  3042  (Ms.  Brent  Eley  Library,  Nr.  6). 

Here  bigymiep  deuoute  meditacioims  of  f)e  passiouw  of  Crist  whiche  werew 
compilid  of  Richard  Rolle  shermyte  of  Hampol,  pat  diede  in  pe  ?eer£  of  cure 
lord  M.CCC.  &  xlix 


Lord  {)at  madist  me  of  nou?t,  I  biseche  bee  to  ?eue  me  grace  to  seme  p<? 
wip  al  myn  herte,  wzp  al  my  my?t,  wip  al  my  strenkpe,  wzp  al  my  kuwnynge, 
wip  al  myn  entencioim,  wip  al  myn  vndirstondmge,  wip  alle  pe  my?tis  of  my 
soule,  wip  al  my  pou?t,  wip  al  my  speche,  wip  alle  my  wittis  ,  wip  alle  my 
werkis,  wip  al  myn  ocupaciouw,  wip  al  my  bisynes,  &  wzp  al  my  reste. 

Lord  pat  madist  me  lich  to  pee,  I  biseche  pee  to  ?eue  me  grace  to  loue  pee 
wip  al  my  soule,  wzp  al  my  loue,  wip  al  my  wil,  wip  al  my  lust,  wip  al  my 
likinge,  wip  al  my  mynde,  wzp  al  my  wische,  wip  al  my  deuociou^,  wip  al  my 
longiwge,  wip  amendiwge  of  my  liif  wzp  al  my  disirynge,  wip  lastinge  \n  goodnes, 
wip  cowtriciouw  &  confessiouw  to  pee  &  penauwce  for  my  sywnes. 

Lord  pat  madist  me  &  alle  my  lymes,  I  biseche  pee,  ?eue  me  grace  to  serue 
pee  wip  alle  my  lymes,  &  alle  to  be  ocupied  in  pi  seruice,  &  euere  bowinge  to 
pi  biddingis,  euere  redi  to  meue  or  to  reste  at  pi  wille,  euere  lame  to  dedis  of 
sywne,  &  euere  freisch  &  redi  to  pi  biddwgis. 

Lord  pat  madist  me  &  hast  ?ouen  me  manye  ?iftis,  gostly,  bodili  and  wordli, 
I  biseche  pee,  grauwte  me  grace  to  vsen  hew  alle  in  pi  seruice  &  to  p^t  eende 
to  whiche  pou  ?aue  hew  to  me,  pat  I  euere  worschipe  pee  \n  pi  ?iftis;  & 
grauwte  me  grace  euere  to  mekew  me  in  pi  ?iftis,  to  holde  me  apaied  wip  pi 
?iftis,  &  neuere  to  be  presumptuous  ne  proud  of  pi  ^iftis,  but  euere  to  knouleche 
me  for  sich  as  I  am,  a  sinful  wrecche. 

Lord  pat  ali?tist  fro  heuene  to  erpe  for  loue  of  mankynde,  from  so  hi^  to 
so  low,  /  from  so  hi?  lordschip  to  so  low  pouert,  /  frow  so  hi^  noblei  to  so 
lowe  myscheef,  /  from  so  hi^  wele  to  so  low^  wo,  /  from  so  hi^  blis  to  so  low? 
peyne,  /  from  so  hi?  myrpe  to  so  low?  sorewe,  /  from  so  likinge  a  liif  to  so 
peyneful  a  deep  :  /  Now,  lord,  for  al  pat  loue  pat  pou  schewidist  to  mankinde 
in  pm  incarnaczon  &  in  pi  passiouw  ,  I  biseche  pee  of  merci  and  help.  / 

Swete  Ihttu,  I  panke  pee,  lord,  wip  al  myn  herte,  for  pou  profredist  pee  to  pat 
place  vrhere  pou  wistist  pi  deep  ordeyned,  &  I  panke  f>£,  lord,  for  pere  pou 
schewedist  weel  pat  pou  were  willi  to  die  for  vs  ;  &  so  I  bileeue,  lord,  pat  pou 
chees  pe  day  &  pe  tyme  whawne  pou  woldist  die,  &  euery  poynt  of  pi  passioun 
was  doon  at  pin  ordinauwce  ;  &  I  bileeue,  lord,  pat  pou  leftist  pi  soule  whawne 
pou  woldist,  &  whawne  pou  woldist  pou  took  it  a?en.  Now  here,  swete  Ihesu, 
I  biseche  pee,  grau/zte  me  grace  to  profre  me  to  pee  wip  hool  wil,  in  sorewe 
of  herte  for  my  sywnes,  &  criynge  merci  in  wil  to  amende  me,  i«  schrift  to 
pee  &  penauwce  for  my  synnes,  in  contynuau^te  of  good  lyuynge,  in  hool  loue 
to  pee  pat  madist  me  :  &  grauwte  me  to  turne  to  pee  bi  often  schrifte,  in  ech 
tribulaciouw,  in  ech  tewptaciouw  of  man,  fleisch,  world,  or  enemy  :  &  grauwte 
me  grace  pat  ech  pou?t  of  me,  word,  or  werk,  schewe  pat  I  am  turned  to  pee: 


2.  in  Ms.   Cambr.  Addit.  3042.  93 

£  ^eue  me  grace  fayn  to  turne  to  be  dedis  wifo  ful  wil  foat  foou  hast  ordeyned 
for  me.  /  Swete  lord,  I  biseche  bee,  foou  heere  my  pmer.  Pater  noster  Et  ne 
nos  /  set  libera  nos  a  malo.  Adoramus  te  Christe  &  benedicimus  tibi,  Quia  per 
sanctam  crucem  tuam  re[de]misti  mundum.  /  Oremus  : 

JL/Omine  Ihesu  Christe  fili  l  dei  uiui  ,  pone  passionem  ,  cmcem  & 
mortem  tuam  inter  iudicium  tuum  et  animas  nostras  mine  &  in  hora  mortis 
nostre:  &  largire2  digneris  uiuis  misericordiam  et  gratiam,  defunctis  ueniam 
&  requiem,  ecclesieque  regnis3  pacem  et  misericordiam,  £  nobis  peccatoribus 
uitam,  leticiam,  et  gloriam  sempiternam:  Qui  uiuis  et  regnas  deus,  Per  omnia 
secula  seculorum.  Amen. 


Ihesu,  I  panke  pee  wip  al  myn  herte  &  kuwnynge  of  {)at  swete  pmer 
&  of  pat  holy  orisouw  pat  pou  madist  bifore  pi  passiouw  so  holi  upon  pe  mouwt 
of  olyuete,  /  £  lord,  I  panke  pee,  for  here  pou  tau^tist  us  to  pme,  whawne  pou 
seidist:  »fadir,  not  myn,  but  pi  wille  be  fulfild«—  /  for  |)i  wil!,  lord  Ih^u, 
&  pi  fadris  wil,  ben  al  oo  will.  /  Panne  pou  praedist  not  for  j)ee,  but  for  us  / 
to  teche  us,  pat  han  oftew  cowtrarious  willis  to  pe  fadir  of  heuene,  for  to  leue 
cure  wil,  &:  to  pme  pat  pe  fadris  wil  in  us  be  fulfild.  /  Now  here,  swete  lliesu, 
I  biseche  be  pat  I  be  euere  redi  at  pi  wille,  £  not  at  myn,  but  whawne  my 
wille  ncordif)  to  pin  pat  is  my  ioie;  and4  grauwte  me  grace  euere  to  seche  what 
is  pi  wille,  £  so  to  turne  to  pee.  Pater  noster.  Et  ne  nos.  Adoramus  te. 
D  omine. 

OWete  lord  Ihesu,  I  panke  pee  as  I  can  of  al  foe  drede  £  anguisch  jwt  {)ou 
suffridist  for  us  whawne  an  auwgil  of  heuene  come  to  couwforte  foee,  &  whawne 
pou  swettist  blood  for  anguisch.  /  Here,  swete  Ihesu,  I  biseche  pee  for  j)i  swete 
merci,  pat  pou  be  myn  help  &  couwfort  in  al  my  temptaciouw,  anguisch,  or 
tribulaciou«  ;  pat  I  mowe  turne  poru^  pi  swete  couwfort  out  of  al  myscheef  of 
soule  &  of  bodi  /  in  to  helpe  of  \ert\i  &  of  meeknes.  Pater  noster. 

OWete  Ihmi,  I  panke  p<?  for  pe  disese  pat  pou  haddist  whawne  ludas 
bitnude  pee  :  &  pou  toldist  it  him  biforen  &  warnedist  him  faire  ,  &  perfore  pat 
was  oon  of  pe  grettist  synnes  foat  eut're  was.  /  Now,  lord  Ihwu,  I  biseche  pee, 
scheelde  me  fro  grete  sywnes,  as  out'rhope,  wanhope,  &  alle  maner  synnes  a^ens 
kynde,  &  ^eue  me  grace  to  penke  ech  sywne  greet  foat  iw  ony  maner  wise  my^te 
greue  p^,  Ihesu.  Pater  noster. 

OWete  Ihesu,  I  panke  foe  for  al  be  disesis  foat  foou  suffridist  whawne  foou 
were  taken  of  foe  iewis  :  /  for  suwme  pulliden  pee,  suwme  schouen  pee,  drowen 
pee,  dispisiden  pee,  scorneden  pee,  toggiden  &  teere  pee:  &  swete  Ih^u,  I 
panke  pee  for  al  pat  mekenes  pat  pou  schewedist  p^re,  whawne  pou  letist  hem 
doon  as  pei  wolden.  /  Now,  swete  Ihesu,  I  biseche  pee  to  take  me  to  be  & 
make  me  al  pin  :  &  if  I  fle  to  ony  sywne  of  foe  world,  of  foe  fleisch  or  of  foe 
feend,  swete  Ih^u  fecche  me  soone  hoom  a^en,  as  a  lord  doob  his  bonde- 
maw,  &  dryue  me  wifo  tribulaciouw  soone  to  penauwce.  /  Swete  Ih^ru,  in  pee  is 
al  souereyn  medicyn,  &  I,  lord,  am  al  siik  in  sywnes  :  Perfore,  swete  Ihesu,  take 
me  to  pee  &  sette  me  vndir  pi  cure,  &  come  neer  to  me  wifo  grace,  as  be 

1  Ms.  filii.         2  r.  largiri.         3  =  ecclesie  regnisque.         4  overlined. 


Q  .  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion. 

Samaritan  dide,  &  hilde  in  to  my  woiwdis  oile  of  merci  and  wyn  of  couwfort, 
and  brynge  me  in  to  be  stable  of  charite,  &  eu^e  holde  me  vndir  bi  cure.  / 
^it,  lord  swete  Ihmi,  bis  liif  is  ful  of  temptaciouns  and  enemyes,  £  b^e  is  no 
socour  but  in  pee,  swete  Ihmi  :  banne,  swete  Ihmi,  take  me  to  bee  wib-ymie 
bi  Touernauwce  and  schildinge,  &  lat  neumj  bin  hondwerk  be  for-loren.  /  <[  ^ 
swete  Ihmi,  bou  art  al  good,  &  to  bee  longib  al  loue  :  /  Pa/me  take  to  bee 
myw  herte  hoolli,  bat  al  my  loue  be  on  bee  bat  al  bou^ist;  so  bat  myn  herte 
neu^e  turne  fro  be  for  no  temptaciouw,  but  euere  cleue  fast  upon  bee,  for  to  loue 
bee  swete  Ihmi,  moost  needful,  moost  meedful,  &  moost  spadeful.  Fater  noster. 
Et  ne  nos. 

Swete  Ihmi,  I  ?elde  to  bee  bankmgis  &  gracis  for  bat  tresouw  &  schames 
bat  bou  haddist  whawne  bei  bondew  bee  to  a  beef,  f  Now,  swete  Ihmi,  I 
biseche  bee,  bynde  me  to  b<>,  so  bat  neu<r  temptaciouw  ne  tribulaciouw  parte 
us  a-sundir;  /  binde  me  to  bee,  swete  Ihmi,  in  bileeue,  hope,  &  charite.  /  In 
bileeue  fastne  me  to  bee,  swete  Ihmi,  bat  neuwe  noon  errour  ne  eresie  turne 
me  fro  my  bileeue;  &  grau^te  me  swete  Ihmi,  bat  my  bileeue  be  in  mesure, 
not  to  large:  bileeuynge  bat  schulde  not  be  bileeued ;  /  ne  to  streite  :  leuynge 
bat  schulde  be  bileeued;  /  &,  swete  Ihmi,  make  me  bileeue  in  alle  be  sacra- 
mewtis  of  holi  chirche  &  in  alle  be  ordinau^cis,  &  in  trist  to  god  of  al  my 
sauaciouw.  f  Swete  Ihmi,  binde  me  to  bee  in  hope :  so  pat  al  myn  hope  & 
trist  be  oonli  in  bee;  /  late  neu^e  myn  hope  be  to  streite:  lest  I  falle  in 
wanhope;  /  ne  to  large:  lest  I  rise  in  to  oiwrhope;  /  and  grauwte  me  grace, 
swete  Ihmi,  to  continue  in  good  werkis  in  bi  seruice  wib  discresiouw,  bat  1 
mai  skilfulli  hope  &  triste  in  pee.  /  f  Swete  Ih^u ,  binde  me  to  f>*  in 

charite:    bat    al   my   loue    be   hole   to    bee,   in  wil,  word,   &  werk,  &  lete  me 
piwg  loue  but  b«.    or  for  bee;  &  lete  me  loue  aftw  bin  heeste  frend  &   1 
grauwte  me  grace' bat  noon  vnskilful  wrabbe,  ne  hate,  ne  .enuie,   breke   be   1 
of  my  charite;  &  grau^te  me,  lord,  to  loue  bee  euere  lengir  be  betere,    be  more 
ktwnyngli,    be    more   bisili,    be    more    stidfastli,    &    grau^te    me   to  loue  bat 
louest,  &  hate  bat  bou  hatist.     Pater  noster. 

Swete  Ih«u,  I  Decide    to    b^    bankmgis   &  gracis  for  alle  be   steppis    &   pacis 
bat  bou  ?edist  toward  bin  owne  peyne  &  bin  owne  deeb.     I  biseche   bee,  swete 
Ih«u,    bat    bou    rule    alle    my    goinges,    and    alle    be   affecciou^s  o: 
Pater  noster. 

Swete  Ih«u,  I  banke  bee  for  alle  be   schames,    anguischis,    &    felonyes,   bat 
bou  suffridist   biforew  Annas  &  Caifas,    Pilat   &  Eroud,  /  &  nameli   I  banke 
swete  Ihmi,  for  bat  merciful  lokinge,  bat  bou  turnynge    a?en   biheld    upon   semt 
Petir  bi  disciple    bat   forsook    bee  /  &    ?it    i»    myche    anguische    bou    schewedist 
bi  loue  ope^li  to  him,   so  pat  neip^  schame  ne  peine  myfr]  1  drawe  bin  herte 
hi^    /  Now,  swete  Ihmi,  turne  fcin  i;e  of  merci  toward  us    synful,    so   bat   boru 
bi  merci  and  grace  we  mouw  repente  of  oure  trespas  &  mys-dedis  wft*  seint  Petir. 
Pater  noster. 

Swete  Ihmi    I  banke  b*  for  bat  meke  &  stille  stowdinge  afore«  Pilat  &2  alle 
be    false    accusacioniw    of    be    iewi^^Now^here,    swete    Ihmi,  I  biseche  bee, 
i  Ms.  myn.        2  r.  in. 


2.  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Addit.  3042.  95 

grau>/te  me  grace  feibfully  to  haue  mynde  in  ech  temptacioiw  bat  I  stonde 
bifore  bee  my  domismaw ;  &  grau«te  me  grace  to  suffre  pacientli  accusaciouws, 
snybbingis  &  yuel  wordis  of  foos  for  bi  loue ;  /  &  grauwte  me  to  knouleche  ech 
man  for  befcre  ban  me,  &  to  meke  me  eucre  &  holde  me  lowe ;  /  &  swete  Ihmi, 
whawne  I  schal  be  demed,  haue  merci  on  me  /  &  lete  bi  meeknes  &  |)at  doom 
bat  bou  vnskilfulli  suffridist,  excuse  me  fro  bat  doom  bat  I  skilfulli  schulde  haue. 
Pater  noster.  Et  ne  nos. 

OWete  Ihmi,  I  jjelde  bee  bankingis  for  al  bat  schame  &  anguisch  j)at  jiou 
suffridist  whamie  bei  spittew  in  bi  face,  /  in  bat  swete  myrrour  &  bodili  blis  of 
heuene,  upow  which  auwgels  &  seintis  haue  deinte  to  loke.  /  Now,  swete  Ihmi, 
^eue  me  grace  to  haue  most  deinte  inwardli  to  loke  &  jienke  upon  bat  blissid 
face;  /  and,  swete  Ihmi,  restore  be  liknes  of  bi  face  in  my  soule  bat  foule 
sywnes  han  fadid ;  /  &,  leue  lord,  lete  me  neu^-e  haue  likiwge  in  |>e  face  of 
sywne  in  temptacioun,  &  grauwte  me  grace  neuere  to  assente  to  lust  of  sy/me  ;  & 
Jjeue  me  grace  to  worschipe  pee  in  ech  creature ;  &  lete  me  neu^re  haue  pride 
of  chere  of  my  face,  ne  lust  to  sywne  for  semblauwt  of  ony  o|)irs  face  ;  a;/d, 
swete  Ihcju,  grauwte  me  to  se  bi  blisful  face  in  heuene,  amen.  Pater  noster. 
Et  ne  nos. 

OWete  Ihf.ru,  I  ^elde  bee  bawkingis  as  1  can  of  alle  yuel  wordis,  sclauwdris, 
scornis,  mowis,  &  schames,  bat  be  iewis  seidew  to  bee  in  al  be  time  of  |)i 
precious  passiouw ;  &  of  alle  pe  housis  and  prisouws  |)at  pei  heelden  |)ee  y;/ne 
whawne  bou  were  drawew  &  haried  [now]  to  Annas  and  Caifas,  now  to  Eroud  c\: 
Pilat,  &  closid  wifa-y«ne  in  her  placis.  /  Now,  swete  Ihesu,  here  I  biseche  j)ee, 
grauwte  me  suffringe  &  strenkbe  to  stonde  stidfastli  &  pacientli  to  suffre  wordis 
of  dispite  &  rebukinge  for  pi  loue,  &  neu^re  to  grucche  for  tribulaciou;/  ne  angir 
ne  siiknes  of  bi  sonde;  &  grauwte  me,  swete  Ihesu,  stifli  to  stonde  in  alle  |)e 
assailiwgis  &  temptaciouws  of  my  foos,  goostli  and  bodili.  Pater  noster. 
Aue  maria. 

OWete  Ihmi,  I  banke  b^  for  alle  be  steppis  &  pacis  bat  Jiou  ^edist  hidir- 
ward  &  bidirward  in  tyme  of  bi  passiouw.  &  I  biseche  bee,  grauwte  me  grace  in 
alle  my  weies  &  gatis  bat  bei  be  ordeyned  to  bi  worschip  &  to  saluaciouw  of 
my  soule;  /  &  grauwte  me  grace  wilfulli  to  go  to  pi  seruice,  &  spare  for  no  peyne 
ne  penauwce ;  &  make  me  loth  to  meue,  swete  Ihwu,  to  ony  lust  aijens  |)i  wille. 
Pater  noster.  Et  ne  nos. 

OWete  Ihesu,  I  Decide  bee  bankingis  for  bat  dispiteous  blindfelling  bat  be 
iewis  diden  to  bee.  &  here  I  pr^ie  bee,  swete  lord  Ihwu ,  scheelde  me  fro 
blindfelliwg  of  sywne,  in  custuw,  in  long  vnschrift,  in  ouerhope  in  wanhope,  in 
latinge  to  myche  bi  my-silf;  &  schelde  me  fro;/*  pwpetuel  blindfelliwg  of  damp- 
naciouw,  &  excludiwge  fro  be  blisful  si^t  of  bi  glorious  face;  &  grauwte  me 
cleerli  to  se  in  to  be  face  of  my  conscience;  /  &  sjeue  me  grace,  swete  Ihesu,  to 
kepe  myne  i?en  from  alle  yuele  si^tis  bat  eggew  to  sywne;  &  grauwte  me  to 
se  bi  blissid  presence  endelesli.  Pater  noster. 

OWete  Ihmi,  I  banke  bf  eumnore  for  bat  schame  &  schenschip  pat  pou 
suffridist  in  bi  buffetinge :  /  for  manye  a  soor  strook  b<?u  suffridist  bawne,  / 


Q6  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

for    ech    of  hem    stroof  to    smyte   bifore  opm..  /  Now,   swete  Ih«u,   grauwte  me 
here  wilfulli  to  suffre  disese  &  tribulacioun  for  |>i  sake,  &  neiwre  to  grucche  for 
siiknessis   ne    for  wrongis    of    man,  but  euere  to  franke  god  of  al  his  sonde;   / 
graimte  me,  lord  Ihmi,  to  be  p[yn]edel  for  my  symies  or  I  die,  &  continuel  herte 
lord,  pat  to  pme;  /  &  wha»ne  it  comep,  lord,  ;eue  me  pacience,  & 
to  panke  pee  of  pi  sonde.     Pater  noster. 

Swete  Thesu,  I  ?eelde  pee  gracis  &  pankmgis  for  al  pat  sore  &  long  &  egre 
peyne    pat    pou    suffridist  for  us,  &  for  al  pat  precious    blood    pat   pou   t 
whattne  pou  were  bouwden  fast  to  a  piler  and  scourgid  ful  sore;-for   pat  was  a 
bittir  peyne:  /  for  be  scourgers  weren  chosen  men  awd  stalworpe,  &   will 
pee,   &  it  was  longe  or  pei  were;/  weri ;  /  &  pe  scourgis  weren  mad  ful 
&  smerte:  so  pat  al  pi  bodi  was  but  wouwdis,  &  manye  woumlis  in  oo  wou; 
for  be  knottis  smiten  so  ofte  in  oo  place,  &  at  ech  strok  smoot  deppir.    &  p 
swete  Ihcsu,  a  large  &  a  plenteuous  schewinge  of  pi  loue  !  /  *a»ne  was  fri  bodi 
to  heuene :   for  as  heuene  is  ful  of  sterris,  so  is  pi  bodi  ful  of  woimdis.  / 
bi  woimdis  be*   betere    pan   sterris  :    for    sterris   schinen   not  but   bi  ny?tis,    « 
woundis   ben   ful   of  wrtu   ny?t  &  day;  /   alle  pe  sterris  bi  ny?te  ne  li;ten  but 
litil,  &  o  cloude  may  hide  hem  alle:  /  but  oon  of  pi  wouwdis,  swete  Ihmi,  was 
&  is  Inouz  to  do  awey  cloudis  of  sy*ne,  &  to  clere  be  conscience   of  alle 
me*.   /   here,    swete   Ihesu,    I  biseche    pee  pat  pise   wou*dis  be  my  medicaciou« 
for  ech  disese  of  soule.  /  Also,  swete  Ih^u,   be  sterris  be*  cause  in  erpe 
pmg   pat   is   grene,    or   growip  ,    or   berip    fruy?t:    /   now,  swete  Ihmi,  make  me 
grene  in  my  bileeue,  growinge  in  grace,  &  berime  fruy?t  of  gode  werkis.  /  I 
sterris    ben    cause    of  mynes    of  metals  &  of  precious    stonys :   /   now,    swet< 
Ihesu,  make  me  tou?  as  metal  a^ens  temptaciouws ,  &  precious   as  perre   i»  t. 
hi;  degre  of  charite.    Pater  noster.      Et  ne  nos  inducas. 

ANd   ?it,    lord   swete    Ihmi,    pi   bodi    is   lijk  a  nett:   /  for  as  a  nett  is  ful  of 
holis,    so  is    pi   bodi   ful    of  wouwdis.  /   Here,    swete  lord  Ihesu t  I  bisecl 
catche  me  in  pe  nett  of  pi  scourginge,  pat  al  myn  herte    &  loue    be  to   pee;    c 
drawe  me  evere   to    pee   &   wip   pee    as    a   net   drawip    fisch,    til  I   come   1 
bank    of  deep :    pat   neu<re    temptaciou*,  tribulaciou*  ne  p^spmte  pul 
bee  •  /  and    as    a    net   drawip   fisch   to  londe,  so,  swete  Ihwu,  brynge  me 
blis.    /   Catche  me,    lord,    in  pe    net    of   holi    chirche;  &   kepe   me,  lord,  pat  ] 
neu.re  breke   out  of  pe   bondis  of  charite.  /  Cacche  me,  lord  swete  Ih*m,  in  } 
net,     pat    neu.re    sy*ne    haue    me    out    of    pe    cloce    of    virtues. 
Et  ne. 

Z,It,  swete    Ihesu,    pi    body    is  lijk    a    dufhous  :  /  for   as  a    dufhous  is  ful  of 
dowue    holis,    so    is    pi    bodi    ful    of  woimdis :  /  &    as    a  dowue  pursued  of  an 
hauke      if    sche    mai    a-reche   to    an  hole  of  hir  hous,  sche  is  sikir  I-now;  :  so, 
swete   Thtsu,    in   temptaciou»    pi    wouwdis    ben  best  refute,  f  Now,  swete 
I  biseche  pee  in  ech  temptaciouw  grau^te  me  gmce  of  su;«  hole  of  pi  wouwdis 
&  likinge  to  abide  in  mynde  of  pi  passiou*.  /  Also,   swete  Ihesu,  pi   bodi  is  h 
an  hony-comb:  for  pat  is  ech  weies  ful   of   cellis,    &  ech   celle    ful   . 

i  to  be  on  the  margin,  poriede  (?)  on  erasure. 


2.  in  Ms.   Cambr.  Addit.  3042.  Q- 

pat  it  may  not  be  touchid  wipoutew  ^eldinge  of  swetnes:  /  so,  swete  Ihmi,  pi 
bodi  is  ful  of  cellis  of  deuociouw,  bat  it  may  not  be  touchid  of  a  clene  soule 
wipoute  swetnes  &  likiwge.  /  Now,  swete  Ihesu,  grauwte  me  grace  to  touche  bee 
wip  criynge  merci  for  my  sywnes,  wip  desiris  to  gostly  contemplaciouw,  wip 
amewdinge  of  my  lijf  &  contynuauwce  in  goodnes,  in  stodie  to  fulfille  bin  heestis, 
&  delicat  abidinge  in  mynde  of  thi  passiouw.  Pater  noster.  Kt  ne. 

IVlOre  ^it,  swete  Ihesu,  pi  bodi  is  lijk  a  book  wn'ten  wip  reed  enke  :  so  is 
pi  bodi  al  writew  wip  rede  wouwdis.  /  Now,  swete  Ihmi,  grauwte  me  grace  often 
to  rede  upow  pis  book,  &  sumwhat  to  vndirstonde  be  swetnes  of  bat  writinge, 
&  to  haue  likiwge  in  stodious  abidinge  of  patrediwge;  & '^eue  me  grace  suwwhat 
to  cowseyue  of  pat  paries  loue  of  Ihesu  Crist,  &  to  lerne  bi  pat  ensaumple  to  loue 
god  asjenward  as  I  schulde;  /  and,  swete  Ihesu,  grauwte  me  pat  stodie  in  ech  tide 
of  be  day,  &  grauwte  me  grace  pat  I  may  haue  upon  pis  book  matyns,  pryme, 
houris,  euesong  &  complin,  my  meditaciouw,  my  speche,  &  my  dnliauwce. 
Pater  noster.  Kt  ne  nos. 

OWete  Ihesu,  ^it  pi  bodi  is  lijk  to  a  mede  ful  of  swete  rlouris  &  holsuw 
herbis :  /  so  is  bi  bodi  ful  of  wouwdis,  swete  saueringe  to  a  deuout  soule ,  & 
holsum  as  eerbis  to  ech  sinful  maw.  /  Now,  swete  Ihmi,  I  biseche  {ice,  grauwte 
me  swete  sauour  of  merci,  &  be  holsuw  reseite  of  grace.  Pater  noster. 

OWete  Ihmi,  I  Decide  bee  bawkingis  of  alle  pe  peynes  &  schames  {)at  pou 
suffridist  poru  pi  swete  wille  for  us  whawne  pou  were  clopid  in  pwrpur  for  to 
schame  pee  ,  &  [peij1  crowned  pin  heed  wip  pomes  for  to  preue  pi  swete  suffraimce 
&  pacience ,  /  and  pawne  pel  fellen  on  knees  &  scorneden  pee  &  calliden  pee  lord 
&  maistir,  &  spitten  in  pi  face  &  buffetiden  pee,  &  as  myche  schame  as  pel  coude 
seiden  to  pee.  /  Here,  swete  Ihesu,  I  biseche  bee  for  alle  be  schameful  turnes 
bat  we  haue  wrou^t,  for^eue  us  al  pat  schame  &  peyne  pat  we  haue  discerned  bi 
cure  sywne;  &  grauwte  us  grace  to  worschipe  pee  in  as  many  wise  &  as  hertili, 
as  be  iewis  schameden  bee  in  bi  passiouw;  /  and,  swete  Ih^u,  grauwte  us  grace 
of  sich  clobinge  &  aray  as  moost  plesip  pee,  &  neum;  to  desire  disgisynge  ne 
pride  of  atire ;  /  and,  swete  Ihwu,  grauwte  me  grace  to  bere  myn  heed  lowe,  & 
neu^re  to  schewe  pmle  in  semblauwt  ne  chere ;  /  &,  swete  Ih«u,  grauwte  me 
grace  to  kepe  my  fyue  wittis  to  pe  worschip  of  pee,  &  grauwte  me  grace  neumj 
to  desire  state  ne  degre  forp<r  pan  pou  hast  ordeyned  for  me.  Pater  noster. 
Et  ne  nos. 

OWete  Ihesu,  I  panke  pee  w/p  al  myn  herte  for  al  pat  blood  pat  pou  so 
plenteuousli  bleddist  in  pi  crownynge  biforew  al  bat  folk,  whawne  pi  swete  face 
was  al  blood,  /  and  on  ech  side  pou  were  forcried  &  dispisid  &  hastid  to  pat 
strowg  and  foule  deep,  &  deemed  so  wrongfulli  perto,  /  blessid  &  bankid  be 
pou,  swete  Ihmi  &  worbi  to  be  loued  of  alle  creaturis.  Here,  swete  Ihesu, 
I  biseche  bee,  waische  my  soule  wib  bat  blood,  &  anoynte  &  depeynte  my 
soule  &  my  mynde  wip  pat  precious  blood;  &  grauwte  me  grace  for  bi  mychel 
nurci  to  iuge  my-silf  wiseli  &  deme,  to  saluaciouw  of  my  soule.  Pater  noster. 


g  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

Swete  Ihttu,  I  z^eelde  pee  pankingis  for  alle  pe  peynes  and  schameful  turnes 
pat  pou  suffridist  whawne  pou  bere  pin  owne  cros  &    iugement   upon    pm    nakid 
bak:  /  for  pei  drowen  pee  &  pulliden  pee  so  felli  pat  greet  rupe    was   to  se,  / 
&  pMo,  swete  Ih«u,  pei  puttew  pee,  smyten  pee  so    schamefulli,    as   it   were   a 
peef  pat  bare  his  owne  galowis.  /  A,  dere  lord  swete  Ihesu,  pat  pou   were  wo- 
bigoon    whwrae    at    pe    biddinge    of  Eroud   pi   kirtil   was  taken  from  pee,  pat 
cleuede  so  faste  to  pi  bodi  wip  blood  of  pi   scourginge  whawne  pou  were  racid 
and  rent  &  beten  so  sore  and  so  longe   til    al    pin   vtier  blood    was  bled  and  pi 
skin    vnnepe    hangide    to-gidere.    /    twine    wharcne     pei    drowen    of    pe    cloop 
pat    cleuede  to  pi    skyn    wip    drie   blood,    and  pou  so    tendre,    and  in  z.ong  and 
freisch  age-    b[ei]i  took   no    reward    how   sore    it   greuede   pee   pat    dispiteuous 
strepinge,  whanne  manie  a  pece  of  pi  tendre  skyn   folowide.    /    twine  was  rupe 
to  se  pi  bodi  al  stremed  of  blood.  /         f  A,  lord  swete  tt«u,  me   pinkip   I 
pi    reed    blood    rewne    doun   bi    pi   chekis,    stremynge   aftir   ech    strook    of 
crownynge    bifore  and  bihinde  and  on  ech  side.  /  te  skyn    of  pin   heed    ponies 
al  to-renden,   ech  porn  sittib  to  pe    bram-pwine.  /  Alas,    swete    Ih«u,  how   may 
a  cristen    soule   se   his  lord   suffre   so  myche  peyne,  pat  neiwre  trespasside 
-rintinge  &  gronywge,  pi  sorewinge  &  sizynge,   pe  rupe  of  pi  chere   p^sip   myn 
herte.  /  te    crowne    of  al  blis,    pat   crownep   al  blissid,  be  ki*g  of  alle  kingis, 
be  lord  of  alle  lordis,  pe  empmmr  of  helle,  is  now  hound  crowned  wip  pomes, 
/  be  worschip  of  heuene  is  dispisid  &  defoulid;  /  he  pat  schope  surcne  and  alle 
creaturis     &    al    pmg    is    of  his  zift,   he  hap  nott  wh^re  he  mai  hide  his  heed,  / 
and  he  'is    so   pore   pat  he   goop    al  nakid  in  pe  sizt  of  al  folk.  /  Here,  swet< 
Ih«u,  I   biseche    bee,    zeue   me  grace  to  bere  wip  pee  pe  cros  of  Penau«ce 
pi  loue  &  my  syrnies,  &  lete  me  bere  it  to  my  deep-tyme  as  pou    didist,    &  I 
me  neiwre  be  grucchinge  for  pat  I  suffre  for  pi  loue;   and  zeue  me  grace    to    c 
penauwce  in  pis  lijf  for  my  sy^nes,  &  grauwte    me   my   purgatorie  here;    &  zeue 
me     grace     to     suffre     esili    wordis     of    dispite     for     pi     loue. 
Kt  ne  nos. 

Swete  Ih«u,  I  Decide    pee    bwikingis   for   al   pat   angir  and  sorewe  pat  pou 
suffridist  whawne  pou  bere  pi   cros   toward   pi   deep.  /  &   me  penkip,  lord,  I 
how    pei    leden    pee    forp    nakid    as   a   worm,  turmewtours  aboute  pee  &  arn 
knyztis     pe    pwce    of   pe   peple   wondir  miche,    pei  harien  bee  schamefulli,  pei 
spurnen   pee  wip   her   feet  as    pou  weere  a  dogge.  /  A,  pis  is  a  ruful  sizt! 
heed  is  ful  of  pornis,   pin  heer  is  ful  of  blood,  pi  face  is  al  wan,   bi    lokmge 
morninge,  bi  cheekis  and  heed  al  bolned  wip  buffetis,  bi  visage  al  be-soihd  wip 
spotil-  /  pe  iewis  han  so  biseie  bee  bat  pou  art  likir  a  mesel  pan  a  clene  maw./ 
te  cros  heuy  &  huge,  &  so  hard  trust  upon  pi  bak,  bat  p<m  art  cruyschid  t 
&  schrinkist   per-vndir.    f    A,    swete   Ihwu,    pou  gronedist   ful    harde   whanne  i 
sat  so  sore  to  pi  nakid  bodi,  pat  is    so    sijke,    so    ful    frauzt    of  peynes,  so  f« 
so    weri      what    for   longe    and   greet   fastinge    bifore,    what  wip  wakmge  al  nyzt 
biforew  wipoutew  reste,  what  wib  betinge  &  buffetinge    a*d    schameful   wordis 
dedis  bifore.  /  te  fleisch  b^re  be  cros  sittith  is  skinles  &  ouer-rumie  wzp  b 
rowis    /  te  peyne  of  pat  birpen  greuep  pee  so  sore,  pat  ech  foot  pat  pou  goo 


Ms.  l>ou. 


2.  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Addit.  3042.  no 

stingib  to  bin  herte.  ^[  Pus  pou  goost,  swete  Ihwu,  [out  ofl  *•  lerusalem  toward 
pi  deep,  /  al  pe  peple  cometh  &  folewib  and  goulib  upon  pee  &  wondrip  ; 
wip  sich  a  processioun  was  neu^re  peef  led  to  his  deefo!  /  Here,  swete  Ihmt,  I 
prae  pee,  grauwte  me  grace  to  folewe  p<?  in  mynde  of  pi  passiouw,  &  in 
suffringe  sumwhat  for  pi  loue,  and  in  hauinge  compassiouw  of  pee.  Pater 
noster. 


Ihesu,  what  sorewe  fel  to  pin  herte  whawne  pou  castist  pin  i'^e 
toward  pi  modir  so  dere  !  /  pou  si^  hir  folewe  amowg  pe  greet  prees  as  a  wow- 
man  out  of  hir-silf.  Now  sche  wrong  hir  hondis,  wepinge  &  siijynge,  /  now 
sche  castip  hir  armes  abrood,  the  watir  of  hir  i^en  droppide  at  hir  feet,  /  sche 
fel  in  deed  swouw  ofte-sipis  for  peynes  and  sorowis.  /  Hir  sorewe,  swete  Ih«u, 
and  hir  dool  a-greggide  greetli  &  manyefold  alle  pine  op^re  peynes  ;  /  and 
whawne  sche  knewe  pat  hir  sorewe  greuede  pee  so  soore,  pawne  was  sche  weel 
worse  :  /  and  so  sorewe  of  eip^r  of  ^ou  for  op^re  wexib  manye-foold  ;  /  pe  hi^ 
loue  of  %oure  hertis  eipir  to  op^ne,  pat  was  paries  brewninge,  kindeli  made 
sorewe  eip<r  for  op^re  vnlike  to  ony  opir  sorewe  or  wo  on  erpe,  /  for  as 
loue  was  makeles  ,  so  was  5joure  sorewe  peerles,  /  it  stikib  at  sjoure  hertis  as  itt 
were  deep.  ^[  A,  ladi,  mercy,  how  were  pou  so  bold  amowg  so  manye  kene 
foos  to  folewe  him  so  ny^?/how  was  it  pat  foe  arownes  of  wowmans  kinde,  or 
schamynge  of  maidenheed,  ne  hadde  wipdrawe  pee?  and  it  was  not  semeli  to 
pee  to  folewe  sich  a  route  !  /  Bwt  pou  haddist  no  reward  to  mawnis  drede  ,  ne 
to  nou^t  ellis  pat  schulde  lette  pee,  /  for  pou  were  out  of  pi-silf  for  sorewe  of 
pin  owne  sone.  /  Pi  si^his  weren  so  fer  fet,  pi  brest  so  ful  of  dole  and  sorewe, 
pi  cheer  so  dreri  for  deedli  wo,  pat  it  bire[ftCj2  pe  reckinge  of  bodili  wo  or 
drede  and  of  wordli  schame  &  of  alle  maner  lettingis.  /  Now,  ladi,  pat  peyne  & 
passioun  schulde  haue  be  myn  :  for  I  hadde  deserued  it  &  [was]  cause  perof.  / 
IVrfore,  swete  ladi,  as  po  peynes  &  woundis  were  my«  owne  wip  ri^t,  gete  me 
of  pi  merci  oon  of  hem  alle  ,  pat  it  may  abide  as  a  pricke  at  myn  herte  ;  / 
gete  me,  swete  lady,  a  drope  of  pat  rube  pat  pou  haddist,  to  folewe  him  wib 
as  pou  didist.  /  Al  pat  wo  is  myn  bi  rijrt:  sette  me  on3  myn  owne,  /  be  pou  not 
so  dauwgerous  to  wipholde  al.  Pou^  al  pi  wo  be  pee  leef,  p<?u  art  ful  large: 
pan  parte  wip  be  pore  pat  litil  hap,  and  ;jeue  me  of  pi  si^yngis  pat  si^hist  so 
sore,  &  lete  me  si^e  wip  pee,  sipen  I  bigan  al  pat  wo.  /  I  axe,  dereworpe  ladi, 
noupir  castels  ne  townes  ne  noon  opir  worldis  wele,  ne  sumie  ne  moone  ne 
noone  of  pe  bodies  of  heuene,  ne  no  piwg:  but  wou«dis  of  rube,  of  peyne  and 
of  cuwpassiouw  of  swete  Ihmi  my  lordis  passioun  is  al  my  desire.  /  I  haue 
apetite  to  peyne,  &  I  biseche  my  lord  a  drope  of  his  rede  blood  to  make  my 
soule  blodi,  /  or  ellis  a  drope  of  his  watir  to  waische  wib  my  soule.  /  A,  modir 
of  wrecchis  &  of  alle  woful,  visite  my  sike  soule  &  sette  in  myn  herte  pi  sone 
wip  hise  wouwdis  ;  /  sende  a  sparcle  of  cumpassioun  in  to  myn  herte  pat  is 
hard  as  stoon,  /  a  drope  of  pat  passioun  to  souplen  it  wip.  Pater  noster. 

OWete  Ihmi,  I  panke  \>e  wib  al  myn  herte  for  al  pat  peyne  pat  pou 
suffridist  wha«ne  pe  cros  was  cast  doun  on  pe  grounde,  &  pe[i]  leidew  pee  flat 
peron,  &  wib  cordis  drowen  pin  hondis  &  feet  to  pe  holis,  &  nailiden  fast  pat 


Ms.  in  to.        2  Ms.  bireckinge  inst.  of  birefte.         3  LI.  gete  me  of. 

7* 


BIB.MAJ 


JQO  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

oon  hond,  £  streyned  bat  obir  to  bat  oher  hole,  /  and  bamie,  swete  Ihesu,  bei 
drowen  al  bi  bodi  douw  til  bi  feet  rau^ten  to  the  holis;  /  and  be  nailis,  lord, 
weren  blunte,  for  bei  schuldew  tere  bi  skyn  /  £  bruse  bi  fleisch.  /  Now,  swete 
Ih«u,  me  binkib  I  se  bi  bodi  on  be  rode,  al  bled,  and  streyned  bat  be  ioyntis 
twimien;  bi  woundis  now  openew,  pe  skyn  al  to-drawen  recchib  so  brode  pat 
merueile  is  it  halt;  bin  heed  crowned  wib  bornis,  bi  bodi  al  ful  of  wouwdis, 
nailis  in  bin  hondis  £  feet  so  tendre,  £  in  bi  synewis,  here  as  is  moost  peinful 
felinge ;  /  bere  is  no  leninge  to  bin  heed,  bi  bodi  is  streyned  as  a  parchemyw- 
skyn  upon  pe  harowe;  /  pi  face  is  al  bolned  bat  first  was  so  fair;  /  {n  iointis 
vndoon ;  /  p<?u  hongist  and  stondist  on  nailis ;  /  stremes  of  blood  rewnen  doun  bi 
be  rode;  /  be  si^t  of  bi  modir  encresib  bi  peyne.  /  A,  lord  swete  Ihesu,  pat 
woldist  vnmy^ti  bicome  to  make  me  my^ti  £  mende  my  synne,  /  1  speke,  lord, 
of  pi  passioun  and  of  hi^  deuocioun  £  I  fynde  no  swetnes,  but  speke  as  a  iay 
£  noot  what  I  meene;  /  I  studie  in  pi  passioun  £  I  fynde  noo  taast:  /  my 
sywnes  be;*  so  manye  a.nd  so  wickid  pat  bei  han  schit  out  deuociouw  £  ban 
stoppid  al  be  sauowr  of  swetnes  fro  my  soule,  /  £  before  I  speke  £  blundere 
forb  as  a  blinde  creature,  £  speke  wipouten  wisdom  or  kumiynge  of  so  deuoute 
mater.  /  Pater  noster. 

Bvt  bou,  swete  Ihesu,  bat  quikenest  be  dede,  £  turnest  to  good  lijf  fro  deep 
of  sywne :  so  quike  me,  lord  swete  Ihesu,  £  $eue  me  grace  to  fele  sum  of  pat 
swete  sauour  £  goostli  deuociouw ;  /  sende  me,  lord,  be  li^t  of  grace,  to  haue 
sum  ynsi^t  in  soule.  ^[  But,  lord,  I  woot  weel  bat  who  so  desirib  bee  ari^t : 
bou^  he  fele  nou^t,  he  hab  bat  he  woot  nou^t,  be  loue  of  bi  godhede ;  /  £  if 
a  man  may  no  feruour  fynde :  benke  hiw-silf  feble  £  outcast,  arcd  holde  hiw-silf 
vnworbi  to  haue  deuociouw  or  ony  sich  specialte  of  oure  lord  god :  /  £  so  he 
schal  gete  sumiest  be  sjift  of  his  grace.  Pater  noster. 

Swete  Ihesu,  bamie  be  iewis  heuew  up  be  cros  and  maden  it  to  falle  sore 
in  to  be  hole  bat  was  maad  fxrfore,  £  brast  bi  wouwdis  £  al  to-schoke  bi  bodi 
bat  hangide  so  sore.  /  Lord  swete  Ihesu,  wo  was  bee  bamie,  whawne  bi  sore 
wouttdis  of  hondis  £  feet  bare  al  be  peis  of  pi  bodi !  /  Swete  Ihesu ,  bamie  bi 
modir  was  wo  Inow  bat  si$  bis,  /  sche  si^ede  £  wrong  hir  hondis,  sche  weep 
teris  Inowe :  /  £  al  pat,  lord,  was  eki«g  of  bi  wo.  f  And  bat  place  was  so 
wlatsom  wip  stinche  of  diuers  careines,  pat  it  lobide  ony  man  to  nei?e  ny^.  / 
£  bus  weren  alle  bi  fyue  wittis  ocupied  wip  peynes :  to  bote  pe  trespace  of' 
oure  fyue  wittis.  <[f  In  si^t  bou  were  blindfeld,  for  bou  si^  bi  modir  so  wo,  and 
for  pou  si^  hem  bi  foes  bat  weren  moost  holden  to  be  bi  frendis,  as  be  iewis. 
^f  In  bi  smellinge,  wib  stink  of  careynes  bat  were  so  manye:  for  bou  were  doon 
to  be  deeb  in  be  foulist  place  of  lerusalem,  pere  alle  pe  careynes  of  pe  toun 
weren  cast  out;  /  and  pat  smyl,  swete  Ihmi,  was  ful  greuous  in  pi  nose,  f  In 
bi  taast,  lord,  greuede  bee  be  galle  aftir  brist— for,  swete  Ihesu,  plente  of  peyne 
is  cause  of  brist  £  of  drienes— £  [gal]  *  is  bittir  in  taast :  /  £  be  iewis  ^eue«  bee 
\>erio  eisil,  to  echin  bi  bittir  taast.  f  In  heeringe,  swete  Ih^u,  bou  were  greued 
wib  false  accusingis,  £  scornes,  whawne  bei  seiden  »heil  king«  £  spitten  in  pi 
face ;  wif)  heeringe  of  foul  cri,  whawne  bei  crieden  to  hange  bee  swete  Ihesu  on 

i  Ms.  J)at. 


2.  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Addit.  3042.  IOI 

be  rode,  /  and  whawne  bei  crieden  »he  coude  obere  men  saue  :  now  lete  him 
saue  hiw-silf  if  he  can«.  ^[  In  felinge,  swete  Ihesu,  bou  were  peined  in  bi 
bindinge  and  hariynge,  buffetinge,  blindfelliwg,  scourginge,  crowniwge,  \n  beriwge 
of  be  cros,  in  drawiwge  of  cordis  on  be  cros,  in  nailinge  of  bi  feet  &  hondis 
on  be  cros.  /  bere  hewg  faou  so  pore,  swete  Ih^yu,  &  so  wobigoon,  so  bat  of  al 
good  on  erbe  bou  ne  haddist  but  a  litil  cloob  to  hilen  wib  |)i  lendis  :  /  and  ^it 
bou  art  kiwg  of  kiwgis  £  lord  of  lordis,  &  heuene  £  erbe  &  helle  is  bin.  /  & 
5jit,  lord,  bou  woldist  be  so  pore  bat  tyme,  bat  bou  ne  haddist  noon  erfie  to  die 
upon,  but  on  the  cros  in  be  eir.  /  £  b^rfore,  swete  Ihmi,  of  bee  was  seid :  / 
»Foxis  ha;/  dewnys  and  briddis  han  nestis  :  but  bou  at  |)i  deeb-tyme  ne  hast  not 
to  reste  bin  heed  upon.«  %  A,  swete  Ihesu,  bat  was  a  ruful  word  whawne  [icu 
seidist :  /  «Alle  ^e  bat  passen  bi  he  weie,  abidib  and  biholdij)  if  ber  is  ony  sorewe 
lijk  to  my  sorewe,  bat  I  suffre  for  maw.«  /  £  ^it,  swete  Iht-.ru,  bou  pmedist  to 
j)i  fadir  to  for^eue  hem  be  gilt  of  bi  deep — so  miche  is  bi  merci.  /  And,  sweic 
Ihesu,  not-wzpstoowdinge  al  bi  greet  peyne,  srit  bou  tendist  to  he  peef  upon  j)i 
riijthond  whawne  he  axkide  merci,  &  grauwtidist  hi/«  beUve  j)an  he  askide.  / 
Pawne,  swete  Ih^u,  now  bou  art  in  blis,  &  not  in  peyne :  be  not  now  to 
dauwgerus  ne  strauwge  of  pi  mm:i — for  ceeldew  is  a  man  more  gracious  in  wo 
ban  in  blis.  /  A,  lord,  wo  were  bou  for  bi  modir,  whawne  bou  took  bi  leue 
of  hir  and  woldist  die,  &  bi-took  hir  to  seint  loon  to  kepe  &  to  counforte.  / 
Here,  swete  Ihmi,  I  biseche  bee  bat  am  ful  of  sywnes :  now  lord  in  blis  haue 
merci  on  me,  &  grauwte  me  grace,  whawne  it  is  bi  wille,  to  be  wih  {)ee  in 
paradice.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria.  Kt  ne. 

OWete  ladi  maiden  &  modir,  wo  was  bee  bigoow  whawne  Crist  hadde  take 
his  leue  at  bee  &  bitook  pee  to  loon:  pat  sorewe  my^te  haue  be  bi  dee|),  in  bat 
leue  takinge.  /  I*e  teeris  of  bin  i^en  ruwnen  doun  ful  faste,  si^ingis  &  sorewingis 
saten  ful  nyjr  bw  herte ;  /  bou  fel  douw  in  swouw,  bin  heed  hangid  douw,  bin 
armes  fellen  douw  bi  bi  sidis,  /  pi  colour  wax  al  wan,  bi  face  wax  al  pale:  /  be 
swerd  of  bi  sones  deeb  smoot  boru^  fain  herte.  tat  chauwginge,  ladi,  whawne 
j)ou  haddist  loon  for  O/st,  w^s  ful  doleful  as  a  farowe  of  deeb  to  bin  herte.  / 
A,  swete  ladi,  whi  hadde  I  not  bew  bi  pee,  &  herd  bat  bou  herdist,  £  seen  bat 
si3jt  wib  bee,  &  of  bat  myche  sorewe  haue  take  my  part :  if  I  rny^te  in  caas 
haue  slakid  pi  wo/ — for  men  seien  it  is  solace  to  haue  cuwpanie  in  peyne.  /  Now, 
swete  Ihtvu,  sippe  I  my^te  not  be  faere  at  bi  deeb,  so  grauwte  me  grace  to 
haue  brtt  deeb  continuely  in  mynde,  in  deuociouw  &  in  daliauwce ;  &  grauwte  me 
mynde  of  bi  deb  often,  &  to  amende  my  lijf  &  to  haue  sorewe  iw  herte  for  my 
mysdedis.  Pater  noster. 

OWete  Ihc'^u,  faawne  criedist  bou  dolefulli  on  be  rode  and  seidist  pou  were 
aprist:  &  pat  was  no  wondir,  for  peine  is  pristlewe ;  &  pei,  lord,  jrauen  pee  eisil 
and  galle.  /  Swete  Ih^u,  hat  was  no  pristis  kelinge,  but  ekiwge.  /  A,  swete  Ihmi, 
bei  ^auen  bee  poisoun  to  kele  pi  prist  wip:  &  pou  ^aue  hew  pin  herte  blood  to 
quenche  her  sywnes,  &  to  hele  her  soulis.  /  But,  swete  Ihesu,  bi  brist  was 
manye-fold :  in  bodi  for  peyne,  &  in  soule  pou  bristidist  amendement  of  her 
sywnes  bat  diden  bee  to  deeb,  /  and  bou  bristidist  deliuerauwce  of  soulis  in  helle 
bat  here  in  lijf  hadde  kept  pi  lawis.  ^f  Here,  swete  Ihesu,  I  biseche  bee,  ^eue 
me  grace  to  suffre  hungir  &  burst  for  fai  loue,  &  to  wibstonde  lustis  &  tempt- 


I02  Richard  Rolle's  Meditations  on  the  Passion, 

aciouws  of  ech  fouwdinge  of  fleisch,  be  world,  or  be  fend;  /  &  ?eue  me  grace 
in  suffrauwce,  to  folewe  be  schadewe  of  bi  cros,  &  to  briste  aftir  bi  seruice,  bi 
loue,  bi  presence  to  myn  herte,  in  desire  &  williwge  of  pi  charite.  Paternoster. 
Aue  maria  gracia.  Et  ne  nos. 

Swete  Ihwu,  I  hanke  bee  wzb  al  my  soule  for  hat  doleful  word  bat  {)ou 
seidist  an  hi$  to  {)i  fadir  aforew  bi  deeth :  /  »dere  god,  whi  hast  bou  forsake 
me,  hat  no-biwg  bou  sparist  me?«  /  Swete  Ihmi,  pi  manhede  for  us  was  al 
forsaken,  so  foule  deeb  and  so  peynful  suffride  neuwe  man.  /  IVre  is  no  bodili 
peyne  pat  is  lich  pin:  /  pi  manhode  was  tendre;  pi  dignete  excellent:  be  fadris 
sone  of  heuene  hangib  bitwene  two  beues ;  &  amyddis  the  world:  for  alle  men 
schuldew  wite ;  /  and  on  pe  hi^  holy-day  whawne  alle  men  comen  to  pat  citee  :  / 
and  so  it  was  no  praiy  schame.  /  bou  hangist  al  nakid,  pi  skin  al  to-rent,  ech 
lith  from  opmi  wib  cordis  drawen,  crowned  wib  bornes,  wouwdis  wide,  manye 
&  griseli.  /  Pe  sorewe  of  bi  modir  was  to  bee  more  peyne  ban  al  bin  otyr  wo.  / 
lo,  be  los  of  mamiys  soule:  bat  peyned  bee  so  sore.  /  Swete  Ihwu,  bi  mychil 
merci,  bin  eendles  loue  and  rube  may  no  maw  telle  ne  bibenke,  siben  hou 
suffridist  so  sore  for  hew  bat  werew  bi  foos.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 
Et  ne. 

Swete  Ihmi,  I  wole  in  my  bou^t  leie  me  flat  on  be  erbe,  &  neberer  if  y 
mai,  for  I  am  cause  &  gilti  of  |>at  peinful  deeb;  /  I  wole  take  be  rode  foot  in 
myn  armes,  flat  on  be  grouwde,  as  bou  lay  swete  Ihmi,  among  bo  stinkinge  dede 
bonys  bat  laien  b<?re  wlatsumli  to  se :  no  bmg  schal  it  greuen  me,  but  it  schal  be 
loue  &  likiwge  to  me ;  /  so  myche  bat  I  wole  not  upward  caste  myn  i^en  to  bat 
glorious  si;t  of  bi  wouwdis,  /  for  I  bat  am  cause  of  hem  alle,  am  vnworbi  to  lokew 
on  hew.  /  tus  wole  I  lie  to  kepe  of  bi  blood,  swete  Ihmi:  from  bens  wole  I  not 
flitte,  til  I  be  wib  bi  p^cious  blood  bicomen  al  reed,  /  til  I  be  markid  w/b  bi 
precious  blood  as  oon  of  piw  owne,  &  my  soule  softid  in  bat  swete  bab  :  /  and  so 
may  falle,  swete  Ihwu,  bat  myn  hard  herte  it  may  opene,  pat  now  is  hard  as  stoon 
to  bicome  neische,  /  pat  deed  was  bi  sywne  to  quikene  towardus  pee  bi  vMu. 
«{[  Swete  Ihwu,  bi  p^cious  passiouw  reiside  dede  men  out  of  her  gnzues,  /  it  openede 
heuene,  it  braste  helle-?atis,  erbe  tremblide  berwib,  be  suwne  lost  his  li^t:  &  my 
sori  herte  of  be  fendis  kynde  is  hardir  ban  stones :  for  bei  cleuedew  in  bi  passiouw, 
&  myn  herte  may  not  fele  of  bi  passiouw  a  litil  point,  ne  rise  wip  pe  dede  in  rupe 
p^of.  «|[  Now  is  pe  malice  of  my  wickid  herte  more  pan  pi  p^cious  dep, 
pat  wrouz,te  siche  wondris  &  manye-foold  more ,  &  pe  mynde  pm>f  stirib  not  my 
soule?  /  Bwt,  swete  Ih^u,  a  drope  of  pi  blood  droppid  on  my  soule  in  mywde 
of  pi  passiouw,  mai  souplew  &  softe  my  soule,  pat  is  so  hard,  to  melte  bi  bi 
grace.  /  I  woot  weel,  swete  ITaesa,  bat  myn  herte  is  not  worbi  bat  b<?u  schuldist 
come  b^rto  &  b<re-ywne  ali^te ;  /  I  ne  aske  it  not  of  dignite  of  hi  sepulture :  but 
swete  Ihesu,  pou  ali^tist  in  to  helle  to  visite  p^re  and  to  ri^ten  be  holi  soulis  of 
oure  holi  fadris :  &  in  b^t  lijk  maner  I  axe  bi  comynge  to  my  soule.  /  Swete 
Ihesu,  I  knowe  weel  also  bat  I  was  neu^re  worbi  to  be  hi  modris  felow,  to 
stonde  at  hi  passiouw  wib  hir  &  wib  loon :  /  but,  swete  Ih.tf.yu,  if  I  may  not  be 
tyre  in  bat  mzner  for  my  greet  vnworbines,  I  holde  me  worbi  for  my  greet 
trespace  to  honge  bi  pi  side  as  oon  of  be  beues.  «[f  And  so,  swete  Ihmi,  if  I 
may  not  as  worbi  be  \>ere,  I  aske  itt  as  gilti  to  haue  part  of  bi  deeb  :  /  &  so, 


2.  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Addit.  3042.  103 

pou?  I  be  not  worpi  in  herte  to  be  li^tid :  my  nede,  lord,  &  my  wickidnes 
askip  to  be  ri;tid.  /  Come  pawne,  swete  Ih«u,  at  pi  wille,  &  li^te  in  to  my 
soule  as  p0u  for  best  knowist  a  sparcle  of  loue,  a  rube  of  bi  passioim  to  kindle 
In  myn  herte,  &  quike  me  perwip  pat  I  were  brewnynge  in  bi  loue  ou*r  al  bmg  ; 
&  babe  me  in  bi  blood,  so  bat  I  for^ete  al  wordli  wele  &  fleischli  liki[n]gis. 
tawne  mai  I  blisse  f)e  tyme  bat  I  fele  me  stirid  to  be  of  bi  grace  :  so  bat  none 
obir  wele  ne  like  me,  but  oonly  bi  deeb.  Pater  noster.  / 

Swete  Ihesu,  bawne  bou  seidist :  »Fadir,  in  to  bin  hondis  I  bitake  my  spirit.«  / 
Here,  swete  Ihtsu,  I  biseche  pee,  haue  &  holde  in  bin  hondis  euere  my  soule: 
bat  it  neu^re  wz'p  hool  pwrpos  desire  fulli  ony  piwg  but  bee  or  for  bee;  /  and 
lete  neut're  wele  ne  wo  turne  my  soule  out  of  bi  gou<rrnauwce ;  &  at  my  laste 
eende,  swete  Ihttu,  resceyue  my  soule  in  to  piw  hondis,  bat  no  fend  ne  lette  me 
fro  pi  blis.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 

S\Vete  Ihwu,  bawne  seidist  b<m  last:  »A1  is  endid:«  /  paw  fel  bin  heed  clou;;, 
bi  goost  passide  from  \>e ;  be  erpe  tremblide,  be  suwne  lost  his  li^t,  dede  mew 
risen  out  of  her  graues,  be  temple  to-cleef,  stones  al  to-bursten : — |)o  werew 
witnessis  of  bi  godhede.  Swete  Ihesu,  bawne  be  scharp  spere  prrside  bi  side:  & 
blood  &  watir  ran  out.  /  A,  swete  Ihwu,  bawne  were  tyre  fyue  grete  flodis  of 
blood:  iw  hondis,  foot1,  and  side.  /  fci  chin  hangip  on  bi  brest,  be  white  of  bin 
i^en  is  cast  upward,  pi  lippis  schrinken,  pi  white  teep  schewew,  pi  loueli  face  is 
bicomew  al  pale,  pin  heer  eloped  al  w*'p  blood.  /  fce  mynde  of  bis  mater  I 
wolde  were  my  deeb.  /  A,  swete  Ih^u,  bawne  was  bi  modir  ful  wo  :  /  now  sche 
lokide  upon  pin  heed  &  on  pe  crowne,  /  now  on  pi  face,  now  on  f)in  hondis 
wip  pe  nailis,  now  on  pe  wouwde  upon  pi  side,  now  on  thi  feet  nailid  on  be 
rode,  now  upon  pi  bodi  scourgid :  /  &  at  eu^ry  place  sche  fond  a  newe  sorewe ;  / 
sche  weep,  sche  wrowg  hir  hondis,  /  sche  si^ede,  sche  sobbide :  sche  f alii {>  douw. 
loon  upon  pe  opt'r  half,  is  ful  of  sorewe.  /  fce  si^t  of  be  crucifix  stikip  in  her- 
hertis  as  it  were  her  deb.  /  Now,  swete  ladi,  for  bi  merci,  si|ie«  bat  I  am  cause 
of  al  bat  wo  &  peyne,  grauwte  me  of  pi  grace  a  point  of  pi  peyne,  a  si^t  of  pi 
sorewe,  to  si^en  &  sorewen  wip  pee:  pat  I  mowe  sumwhat  fele,  pat  al  haue 
maad;  /  graunte  me,  swete  ladi,  to  haue  &  to  holde  pis  passiouw  in  mynde  as 
hertili  &  as  studiousli  in  al  my  lijf,  as  pou,  ladi,  &  loon,  hadde  it  in  mynde 
whawne  pe  peple  werew  goon  &  ^e  abiden  bi  be  rode  foot.  Amen.  Pater 
noster.  Et  ne  nos  in.  Adoramus  te  Christe.  Quia  per  sanctam  crucem. 
Domine  Ihesu  Christe. 


T.  feet.        2  Ms.  hir. 


Prose  Treatises  of  Ms.  Eawl.  C  285,  fol.  57bff. 

In  giving  the  prose  treatises  of  Mss.  Rawl.  C  285,  Amnd.  507,  and  Harl.  1022, 
which  treatises,  though  mixed  up  with  authentic  works  of  R.  Rolle ,  and  written 
in  the  northern  dialect,  do  not  bear  the  author's  name,  I  am  well  aware  that 
some  of  them  are  of  later  origin,  and  composed  by  one  or  other  of  Rolle's 
numerous  followers  (amongst  whom  we  find  the  names  of  John  Gaytryge, 
William  Nassington,  and  especially  Walter  Hilton);  yet  the  majority,  no  doubt, 
must  be  attributed  to  R.  Rolle,  the  author  of  other  »little  bits«  of  the  same  kind 
in  Ms.  Thornton.  In  a  first  edition  it  seems  preferable  simply  to  bring  out  the 
contents  of  the  Mss.,  in  the  order  therein  maintained,  than  to  make  selections  or 
draw  too  narrow  lines.  It  should  be  understood  that  R.  Rolle's  genius  is  essentially 
lyric,  ejaculatory ,  he  is  a  »Gelegenheitsdichter«  in  the  better  sense  of  the  word ; 
hence  the  many  "little  bits«  in  verse  and  prose  which  either  bear  his  name  or 
must  be  ascribed  to  him ;  while  his  larger  works  have  so  loose  a  composition 
that  they  resolve  themselves  into  a  series  of  »little  bits«. 

Ms.  Rawl.  C  285,  4°,  vellum,  118  foil.,  written  in  the  beginning  of  the  15th 
century,  contains :  Walter  Hilton's  Scale  of  perfection  Book  I  fol.  I — 39,  followed 
by  a  short  poem  and  Quotations  from  Bonaventura,  R.  Rolle  &c. ;  then,  f.  40 — 57b, 
R.  Rolle's  The  form  of  living  (ed.  p.  i),  after  which,  f.  57b — 73,  the  collection  of 
prose  treatises  given  below;  and  lastly  Book  II  of  W.  Hilton's  Scale  of  perfection. 
The  same  set  of  prose  treatises,  in  the  same  order,  but  in  a  southern  transcription, 
is  extant  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Ff  V.  40.  Of  these  12  pieces,  N.  8  (on  the  ten  Command 
ments)  occurs  in  Dan  Gaytryge's  Sermon  (ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces);  N.  n  and  12, 
written  by  another  hand,  are  in  the  style  of  W.  Hilton ;  the  rest  can  safely  be 
ascribed  to  R.  Rolle,  so  certainly  N.  10,  which  is  written  in  his  best  style,  in 
his  peculiar  rythmical  prose;  N.  3  forms  Cap.  9  of  The  form  of  living,  cf.  p.  35. 

i .    Be  whate  takynes  f)ou  sal  knaw  if  {)ou  luf  f)in  ennemy, 
and  what  ensampyl  Ipou  sal  tak  of  Ozst  forto   luf  hym. 

And  if  pou  be  nogth  styrd  agaynes  be  p^rsone  be  angre  or  felle  cheer 
outward  ne  be  na  pryue  haat  in  pi  hert  for  to  despyse  hym  or  deme  hym 
or  forto  sette  hym  at  nogth,  £  be  mare  schame  &  vilany  he  dos  to  pe  in 
word  or  in  dide,  pe  mare  pete  or  compassion  pou  has  of  hym  as  pou  wald 
of  a  man  pat  war  out  of  his  mynd,  and  pou  thynkis  pou  can  nogth  fynd  in 
pi  hert  forto  hate  hym,  for  luf  es  swa  gud  (f.  58)  in  it-self,  bot  pray  for  hym 
and  helpe  hym  and  desire  his  amendywg,  nogth  anly  with  pi  mygth  als  ypocrytes 
can  doe,  bot  pi  affeccyon  of  luf  in  pi  hert:  pan  has  pou  parfyte  charyte  to  hi 
eeuenr/sten.  fcis  charyte  had  saynt  Sthephane  parfytely  when  he  prayde  for  paim 
pat  stanyd  hym  to  dede.  Pis  charyte  consayld  Crist  til  all  pat  wald  be  hys  parfite 
folowers,  when  he  sayd  pz*.r:  Diligite  inimicos  vestros ,  benefacite  hijs  qui  oderunt 
vos,  orate  pro  persequentibtts  fy  calumpniantibus  vos:  »Lufis  your1  enemys  &  dose 
gud  to  paim  bat  hat  ^ou,  prayes  for  paim  bat  pursues  &  sclaundres  a;ow«.  And 
fiarfor,  if  pou  wil  folow  Crist,  be  lik  til  hym  in  craft:  Lere  for  to  luf  pi  enemys 

1  Ms.  yours. 


Epistles.  !O5 

awd  synfull  men — ffor  all  bes  er  bi  euencrysten.  Loke  awd  by-thynke  be  how 
Crist  lufd  ludas  whilke  was  bath  his  bodely  enemy  awd  a  synfull  kaytif;  how 
gudly  Crist  was  to  hym,  how  benygne,  how  curtayse  &  how  lagthly  to  hym  bat 
he  knew  dampnabile,  and  neeu£r-[)e-lesse  he  chesed  hym  to  his  appostel  awd  sent 
hym  to  preche  with  other  apostilis ;  he  gaf  hym  power  to  wyrke  myracles,  he 
schewyd  to  hym  be  same  gud  cher<?  in  word^  awd  in  dede,  als  with  his  prt'cious 
body ,  &  prechede  hym  als  he  dede  to  be  tothir  apostls ;  he  weryd  hym  nogth 
opynly  ne  myssayd  ne  dispised  hym  ne  spak  neeu^r  ille  of  hym — and  ^it  |)of  he 
had  done  all  pis ,  he  had  sayd  bot  south !  And  ouer-mare ,  when  ludas  toke 
hym,  he  kyssid  hym  &  callid  hym  his  frend.  All  bis  charite  schewid  Oz'st  to 
ludas,  wilke  he  knew  for  dampnable,  In  no  manerf  of  fenyng  ne  flat^ryng  1 ,  bot  in 
southfastnes  of  gud  luf  &  clene  charyte.  For  bof  it  war  south  bat  ludas  was 
vnworthy  to  haf  any  gift  of  god  or  any  syngne  of  luf,  for  his  wykednes,  neeu^'- 
be-lesse  it  was  worthi  awd  skyllfull  bat  our  lord  suld  schew  als  he  es.  He  es 
luf  and  gudnes ,  and  for-bi  it  fallis  to  hym  to  schew  luf  awd  guclncs  til  all  his 
creaturs,  als  he  did  to  ludas.  Folow  efar  su/w-whate  if  bou  may!  for  bof  |)ou 
be  stoken  in  a  house  with  bi  body,  neeu^rbeles  in  bi  hert,  whan'  jie  sted  of  luf 
es,  bou  sal  mow  haf  part  of  swilk  a  luf  to  pi  euencr/sten  as  I  spek  of.  \Vha-so 
wenes  pan  hym-self  to  be  a  parfite  folower  of  Ilu'-m  Cn'stis  techyng  &  his  lifyng 
as  sum  men  wenes  bat  bai  be,  in  als  mykel  as  he  preches  &  techys  &  es  pouer 
of  werldly  gud  as  Crist  was ;  &  can  nogth  folow  Cn'st  in  his  luf  &  charyte  for  to 
lufe  his  euene-cn'sten  ,  ylke  a  man,  gud  awd  ille,  frendes  and  faces  with-outene 
fenyng,  flaUryng,  disp[isjynge  in  hert,  angr/nes  &  malencoliw^  reprouynge :  southly, 
he  bigilis  hym-self;  be  nerrer  |)at  he  wenys  for  to  be,  be  ferrer  he  is.  For  Cryst 
sayd  to  |)aim  bat  wald  be  his  folowers  bus :  Hoc  est  preceptum  nieum  vt  diligatis 
inuiceni,  sicut  dilexi  vos :  "fcis  es  my  bedynge  bat  '^e  luf  to-gedir  as  I  luf  >;ow ; 
ffor  if  7,e  luf  as  I  lufdt?  ban  er  ^e  my  discipiles«.  He  bat  es  meke  suthfastly  or 
wald  be  meke.  can  luf  his  euen-cmtene,  &  nan  bot  he. 

2.  What  thyng  helpes  mast  a  mans  knawyng  and  gettis 
hym  [)at  hym  wantes,  &  mast  distroys  syne  in  hym. 

And  bat  bou  may  do  be  better  and  be  mare  redcly,  if  f)ou  bc  bis>'  for 
to  sette  bi  hert  mast  opon  a  thyng:  and  bat  thyng  es  nogth  ellis  bot  a  gastly 
desire  to  god:  ffor  to  pleise  hym,  for  to  luf  hym,  for  to  knaw  hym,  for  to  se 
hym,  and  forto  haf  hym  by  grace  here  in  a  litell  felyng,  awd  in  be  blisse  of 
heeuene  with  a  full  beyng.  tis  desire  if  bou  kepe  it,  sail  wele  telle  be  whilke 
es  syn  awd  wilke  nogth,  whilk  es  gud  awd  whilke  es  better  gude ;  and  if  bou 
wile  fest  bi  (f.  59)  thogth  bar-to,  it  sal  ken  be  all  bat  be  nedis,  and  it  sal  gette 
be  all  f)at  be  wantes.  And  barfor  when  [)ou  sal  ryse  agayns  be  gronde  of 
syn  in  gen^rale  or  ellis  agayne  any  speciale  syne,  hynge  fast  apon  bis  desire,  and 
sete  be  poynt  of  j)i  thogth  mare  opon  god  wham  |)ou  desires,  pan  opon  be  syn 
be  whilke  [bou]  reproues.  For  if  bou  do  swa,  ban  feghtes  god  for  be,  and  he 
sal  destrue  syn  in  be.  fcou  sal  mekyl  soner  com  til  bi  purpose  if  bou  do  swa, 
ban  if  |)ou  lefe  bi  meke  desire  to  god  pryncypaly  awd  wile  set  bi  hert  anly 

1  Me.  flat^rryng. 


IO6  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

agaynes  pe  styryng  of  syne,  als  pof  {)ou  wald  destnie  it  be  mastery  of  pi-self. 
Pou  sal  neeuw  swa  bryng  it  aboute.  Bot  doe  as  I  hafe  sayd,  &  bett^'  if  pou 
may,  and  I  hope  by  pe  grace  of  god  Ihmi  pou  sal  make  pe  deeuell  aschamyde, 
&  all  swylk  \vyked  stiryngs  pou  sal  breke  away,  pat  pai  sal  nogth  mykel  den?  pe. 

3.     (On  the  name  of  lesus). 

If  pou  wille  be  wele  with  god  and  haf  grace  to  rewyle  pi  lif  rygth  and  com 
to  pe  ioy  of  luf :  pis  name  Thesus  fest  it  sa  fast  in  pi  hert  pat  it  come  neeiur 
owt  of  pi  thogth.  And  when  pou  spekis  til  hym  and  says  »Ihmi«  thurgth  costome  : 
It  sal  be  in  pi  heer  ioy,  in  pi  mouth  hony,  in  pi  hert  melody;  ffor  pe  sal 
thynke  ioy  to  here  pat  name  be  neeuend,  swetnes  to  speke  it,  myrgth  &  sang  to 
thynke  it.  If  pou  thynke  Ihmi  contynuely  and  hald  stably:  It  purges  pi  syne  awd 
kyndeles  pi  hert,  it  claryfis  pi  sawle ,  remoues  angers,  dos  away  slawnes.  It 
wondis  in  luf,  ffumllis  of  Charyte ;  it  chases  pe  deeuell  &  puttis  out  drede,  it 
opyns  heeuene  and  makis  a  contemplatif  man.  Haf  in  memorie  Ihmt,  for  all  vyces 
&  fantoms  it  puttis  fra  pe  Infer.2  If  pou  wil  noth  deceyue  ne  be  deceyfd^ ;  If  pou 
wile  be  wys  and  nogth  vnwys ;  If  pou  wile  stand  &  nogth  fall:  thynke  on  pis 
name  Jhmi  contynuly.  It  destruys  all  vices  and  vanytes.  It  sawes  charyte  & 
vertus  in  pe  saul,  and  ^ettes  in  sauour  of  heeuene  and  fulnes  of  goddis  grace  in 
erthe.  Wha  so  lufs  pis  name  Ihesus  with-outene  forgettyng,  dies  in  woundirfull 
melody,  and  es  taken  with  angels  &  brogth  bifor  hym  pat  he  lufd.  Pis  name 
Ihesus  es  abouene  all  names:  to  whilke  all  knees  kneels,  of  heeuen  &  erthe  & 
helle.  ^[  Etc  and  drynke,  slepe  &  wake,  speke  &  hald  silence,  pray  &  thynke, 
wyrke,  and  all  pat  pou  dos  doe  it,  in  pe  name  of  Ihmi,  Saynt  Paul  bedis.  Gode 
blisse  you  &  kepe  you  and  gif  you  gud  p^rseu^ance,  thurgthe  pe  vertu  of  pis 
loyfull  name  Ihrni.  Amen. 

4.     (Sentences  from  Gregory). 

Gregor:  Ottr  lord  til  his  chosin  makis  pe  day  scharpe:  pat  pai  delite  nogth  in  pe 
gate  and  forgete  pe  Ioy  of  heeuen.  If  temptacyoun  pute  vs  nogth,  we  suld  trow 
pat  we  war  of  suw  vertu.  Rygth-wysmen  in  als  mykell  mare  verrayly  eer  kasten 
out  of  pe  luf3  of  syne,  In  how  mykell  pai  er  mare  greuosely  tounnentyde.  /  In 
als  mykell  ert  pou  mad  mar^  vile  to  god,  In  how  mykell  pat  pe  semes  mare 
precyous  to  pi-self.  Pe  ner  pou  ert  to  god,  pat  pe  thynke  pi-self  vnworpi.  /  It 
es  mare  gloriows  to  ouer-come  beand  stil,  pan  answerand  to  haf  victorie.  /  Pe 
mynd  son  scrythes4  in  to  wers,  If  it  be  nogth  kepid  stratly  vndir  strayte  kypynge.  / 
It  es  gret  comfort  in  suffrynge  of  yuele  to  thynke  on  god  we  haf  had ;  pe  memory 
of  gode:  [salp  temper  pe  payne  of  pe  schourge,  &  pe  tourment  of  pe  schour[g]e6 
byte  pe  gladnes  of  gode. 

5.  How  ane  Ankares  sal  haf7  hir  to  J)aim  {)at  comes  to  hir. 

IN  ow  pou  says  pat  pou  may  noght  kepe  pe  fra  vanytese  of  heryng ,  ffor  diu^rse 
men  werldly  and  othir  comes  oft  (f.  60)  for  to  speke  with  pe  and  tellis  pe  talis, 

i  On  the  margin :  non  hie.  Half  this  piece  occurred  as  Cap.  9  of  the  Form  of  liuyng  p.  35, 
and  separately,  in  Ms.  Rawl.  A  389,  after  be  Commandment  &c.,  see  p.  71.  2  The  rest  occurs 
only  in  this  Ms.,  but  cf.  Ms.  Thornton  p.  188.  3  Ms.  baf,  Ff.  lofe.  *  Ff.  slydyd,  on  erasure. 
5  om. ;  Ff.  tempred.  6  Ms.  schoure ;  cf.  Greg.  Moral.  Ill,  9.  7  Ms.  hal. 


An  Epistle.     Visitation  of  the  dying.  1 07 

snm-tyme  of  vanyte.  And  vnto  pis  I  say  pat  pat  cowmyng  &  comunyng  with  pi 
eeuenecn'stene  es  nogth  mykell  agaynes  pe,  hot  helpis  pe  sum-tyme,  if  p0u  wirke 
wisely ;  ffor  pou  may  assay  pare-be  pe  mesure  [pi]  of  charyte  to  pi  eeuene-w'stene, 
whethir  it  be  mykel  or  litil.  t'ou  ert  bonden  als  ylke  a  man  &  womane  es  to  luf 
pi  eeuenecn'stene  prywcypaly  in  pi  hert,  awd  als-swa  in  dede  for  to  schew  hym 
takynyngs  of  luf  awd  charyte  as  reson  askis ,  in  pi  mygth  &  pi  knawynge.  Now 
sythen  it  es  swa  pat  pou  aw  nogth  gaa  oute  of  pi  howse  for  to  seke *  occasyone 
how  pou  mygth  pn?nte  pi  euencmtene  be  dedis  of  mercy,  be-cause  bat  pou  ert 
enclosed :  neeutr-pe-lesse  pou  ert  bonden  forto  luf  jiaim  all  in  pi  hert ,  awd  to 
paim  pat  cowmes  to  pe,  forto  schewe  paim  takynyngs  of  luf  southfastly.  And 
parfore  wha-so  wile  speke  w«tA  pe,  whate  pat  he  be,  in  whate  degre  he  be:  & 
pou  knawys  nogth  what  he  es,  ne  why  he  comes,  be  sone  redy  vfit/i  a  gud  wile 
forto  wite  whate  es  his  wille ;  be  nogth  dayngerows  ne  suffre  hym  lang  to  abyd 
pe,  bot  loke  how  redy  &  howe  glade  pou  waldt'  be  If  ane  angele  of  heeuene 
wald<?  come  &  spek  wi'tA  be— swa  redy  &  swa  bouxum  be  pou  in  wile  forto  speke 
with  pi  eeuencmtene  whene  he  comes  to  pe ;  ffor  pou  wate  nogth  whate  he 
is  ne  whi  he  comes,  ne  whate  nede  he  has  of  pe,  ne  pou  of  hym,  to  pou  haf 
assayd.  Awd  other2  pou  be  in  prayer  or  in  deuocyon^r  pat  pe  thynke  lath  for  to 
breke  of,  ffor  pe  thynk  pou  suld  nogth  lefe  god  for  na  mans  speche  :  me  thynke 
nogth  swa3  in  pis  case!  ffor  if  pou  be  wyse,  pou  sail  nogth  leuc  god  bot  pou 
sal  fynd  hym  &  haf  hym  &4  se  hyjw  in  pi  neuewcn'stene  als  welc  as  \n  prayer, 
bot  on  a  nothir  maner  pou  sal  haf  hym4.  If  pou  couth  wele  luf  pi  eeuewcrzstene, 
it  suld  nogth  hyndre  pe  forto  spek  with  hym  discretely.  Discrescyon  sal  pou 
haue  in  pis  maner,  as  me  thynk:  Wha-sa  comes  to  pe,  aske  hym  mekly  what 
he  wile:  and  if  he  come  forto  telle  pe  his  dissese  awd  forto  be  comfort  of  pi 
speche,  heer  hym  gladely  awd  suffre  hym  say  whate  he  wile  for  eese  of  his 
awene  hert;  awd  whene  he  has  done,  comfort  hym  if  pou  can  gladely  &  charyt- 
ablely,  and  sone  breke  of;  and  pan  after  if  pat  he  wald  fall  in  til  ydell  talis  o[f]5 
vanytes  or  othir  menes  dedis,  a[n]ssuer6  hym  bot  litell  ne  fede  hym  nogth  in  his 
speche,  &  he  sal  sone  be  hirke  &  sone  tak  his  leue.  Awd  if  he  be  a  nothir  pat 
comes  forto  ken  pe,  als  a  man  of  haly  kyrke :  heer  hym  lawly  -wit/t  reu^rence  for 
his  ord^r,  awd  if  his  speche  comfort  pe,  aske  of  hym ;  &  make  pe  nogth  forto  kene 
hym.  It  fallis  noth  to  pe  forto  ken  a  prest,  bot  in  nede.  If  his  speche  comfort 
be  nogth,  a[n]ssuerfi  litill  awd  he  wile  son  take  his  lef.  If  it  be  anothir  man  pat 
comes  forto  gif  pe  his  almos  or  ellis  for  to  here  pe  speke  or  for  [to]  be  kennyd  of 
be:  speke  gudely,  gladly,  &  mekely  to  paim  all.  Rcprouc  na  man1  of  his  defautes: 
it  fallis  nogth  to  pe.  And  schortly  for  to  say:  als  mykele**  as  pou  consayuys  pat 
pou  suld  prafite  to  pi  eeuenem'stene  namely  gastly,  if  pou  can  may  pou  say,  & 
he  wile  take  it;  and  of  all  [o]thir9  thyngs  kepe  silence  als  mykel  as  pou  may:  and 
pou  sal  in  a  schort  tyme  haf  bot  litil  prese  pat  sal  lete  pe ;  and  pus  me  thynke. 

6.     (St.  Anselmi  Admonitio  morienti 10). 

Saynt  Ancelyne"  ersbiscop  of  Canty [r]bery  says:  I'at  a  seke  man  languyssand  to 
be  dede,  sulde  (f.  61)  of  his  prest  pus  be  askide,  and  pus  he  answer.  "Brothir,  es  pou 

i  Ms.  speke.  2  r.  ther?  3  overl.  *-<  added  under  the  line.  5  Ms.  or.  6  Ms.  assuer. 
»  o.  m.  Thynke  on  bis,  in  red.  *  Ms.  mykels.  9  Ms.  thir.  »°  Cf.  Anselmi  Opp.,  Migne 
158,  686.  n  r.  Anselme. 


IO8  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

glade  pat  pou  sal  in  crysten  trouth  dye?«  He  answer,  7,a 1  »Forthynkis  pe  JDat?« 

^a.  /  »Has  pou  wile  to  amend  pe  if  pou  haf  spase  of  lif?«  He  sal  answer,  ^a. 
»Trowys  pou  pat  Ihesvi  Cryst,  goddis  son,  was  borne  of  pe  virgyne  Marye  and  for 
pe  dyede  on  gude  fryday?«  Answer  he,  7}a.  >/rhanke[s] 2  pou  hym  for  thir  benefyces?« 
Answer  he,  ^a.  »Trowys  pou  pat  pou  may  nogth  be  safe  bot  be  his  dede?«  Say 
he,  ^a.  »For  als  lang  as  pi  saule  es  yn  be,  sete  all  pi  trayst  in  pat  dede  allane, 
haf  and  tf^yst  in  no  othir  thynge  ;  vmlappe  pe  all  in  pis  dede.  Thynk  nogth  on 
pi  wyfe  ne  of  pi  childer  ne  rychesce,  bot  allane  of  be  passione  of  Ihmi  Cryst. 
And  if  our  lord  god  wile  deme  with  pe,  say :  ,lord ,  I  sete  pe  dede  of  our  lord? 
Ihesn  Crist  by-twyx  me  and  my  wikked  dedis,  and  his  meryte  I  offer  for  be  meryte 
pat  I  suld  hafe  &  has  nogth'.  And  say  eftsons:  ,lord,  I  sete  pe  dede  of  our 
lord  Thesn  cn'st  [b]etwyx  me  a;zd  pi  wrythV  Pan  sal  he  say  thrys :  In  manus  tuas 
dominc  &c.,  and  clerkly  answerand  acordandely :  and  pan  he  dyes  sikirly.  ^f  When 
a  seke  man  sal  be  en-vntyd,  pe  Crucifix  suld  be  brogth  and  he  suld?  enowryn 
it  In  be  wyrschipe  of  Ih?.ra  Crz'st,  pat  bogth  hym  -with  many  hard  paynes  and 
schedyn[g]e3  of  his  pr?cious  blod  &  for  [hym]4  dyed  on  pe  crosse.  Amen. 

7.      (Sentences). 

It  -was  a  saul  and  askyd  dennes  of  saul  of  our  lorde.  And  he  sayd  to  hir: 
>;Whate-sa  pou  dose,  luke  I  be  pi  cause.  Gif  pe  eghe  of  pi  saul  vnto  me,  and 
be  aned  vnto  me.  Luk  nogth  efter  ylke  a  mans  wile  to  do  it,  bot  Ink  whilke 
es  myne  &  do  pat.  Deme  nane  of  my  creators  bodyly  ne  gastly.w  A  thogth  of 
a  vertu  es  a  dyke  befor  pe  eghene  of  pe  rygthwys  domes-man:  ffor  when  a 
man  vnthynkis  hym  of  pat  gud  he  has  done,  he  hegys  hyw-self  in  hym,  and 
pan  he  fallis  agaynes  pe  maker  of  mekenese.  Our  lord  Ihestts  sayd  to  his 
discipilis  pis  wordis:  »Whene  7,e  haf  downe  alle  wele,  says  pat  ^e  er  vnprofytable 
seruandes«.  Ame;/. 

8.      (Of  the  ten  Commandments). 

(From  John  Gaytryge's  Sermon5;  cf.  R.  Rolle's  article  p.  195). 
A  ncdefull  thynge  to  knaw  god  all-mygthty ,  er  pe  tene  Comandementis  pat 
god  has  gifen  vs.  Of  pe  whilke  tene  pe  thre  pat  er  first  aw  vs  haly  to  hald 
onence  our?  god,  and  pe  seeuene  pat  er  eft?r,  onence  our?  eeuenm'stene.  /  Pe  first 
Comaundement  charges  vs  pat  we  leue  ne  lowte  ne6  fals  goddis:  and  in  pis 
comaundement  er  forbodyne  vs  alkyii  Mysbileues  and  all  maumentrysce,  all  fals 
enchauntementzV  [&]  all  so[r]c?;-is,  all  fals  charmes  &  all  wycchecraftes,  &  all  fals 
comurisons  and  all  wiccked  crafts  pat  men  of  mysbileue  trayst  opone  or  hopes 
any  helpe  In  withoutene  god  all-myghty.  A'  tothir  Comandment  bedis  vs  nogth 
take  in  Idellchype  ne  in  vayne  pe  name  of  our?  gode,  so  pat  we  trowe  nogth 
in  his  name  bot  pat  es  stedfast;  pat  we  say  nogth  In  his  name  bot  at  es  south- 
fast;  pat  we  swere  nogth  be  his  name  bot  wirchipfully,  and  pat  we  neuene  nogth 
his  name  bot  it  be  houely7.  Pe  thryd  Comaundement  es  pat  we  hald  &  halow 
our  haly-day,  pe  sofinday,  &  all  other  pat  fallis  to  pe  ^er?  pat  er  ordayned  to 
halowe  thorow  haly-kyrke ;  in  whilke  days  all  folke  lered  £  lawed  aw  to  gif  paim 

i  Ans.  adds:  Fateris  te  tarn  male  vixisse  ut  meritis  tuis  poena  eterna  debeatur?  R.  Fateor. 
2  Ms.  Thanke.  3  Ms.  schedynde.  *  Ms.  })e ;  Ff.  be  &  me.  *  This  Sermon  occurs  in  Mss. 
Arund.  507,  Harl.  1022,  Thornton,  Cambr.  Trin.  Coll.  B  10.  York;  ed.  in  Perry  Rehg.  pieces  in 
prose  and  verse;  Ms.  Ar.  507  has  slight  additions  from  R.  Rolle.  (i  r.  na.  7  Ms.  hon^rly. 


John  Gaytryge:)  Of  the  ten  Commandments.  IOO 

gudely  to  goddis  smiyse,  to  here  awd  to  say  it  eft^r  bairt'  state  es  in  wirchipe 
of  god  all-mygthty  and  of  his  gud  halowes ;  nogth  pan  forto  tent  to  tary  with  ]pe 
werldt?,  ne  life  in  lykyng  ne  luste  pat  pe  flesshe  yher«nys,  bot  gudly  to  st'me  god  in 
clennes  of  life.  Pe  forth  biddes  vs  [do]  wirschipe  to  fader  andmoder,  nogth  [anly] 
to  flesshely  fader  &  modtv  pat  gettes  &  fosters  vs  forth  in  be  werld^,  bot  to  our 
gastly  fader  pat  has  hede  of  vs  &  teches  vs  to  lif  to  hele  of  our*  sauls,  &  to 
our*  gastly  moder  pat  es  halykyrke,  (f.  62]  to  be  bouxsowm  pare-to  awd  saue  pe 
rygth  of  it,  for  it  es  moder  of  all  |)at  crz'stenly  lifs ;  and  [als]-swa  til  ilke  a  man  bat 
wirschipful  es  forto  do  worchipe  eft*r  it  es.  PC  fift  bedis  vs  pat  we  sal  sla  na 
man,  pat  es  at  say,  bodely,  ne  gastely  nowthirt';  ffor  als  many  we  slain  pat1  we 
may  as  we  sclaunder  or  bakbit/j  or  falsly  defames  or  fandes  to  confound  [)aim 
pat  nogth  smiyse,  or  withdrawes  lyuelade  fra  paim  pat  nede  haues,  If  we  be  of 
hafyng  forto  helpe  paim.  A  sext  Comaundement  forbidis  vs  to  syn  or  for  to 
foly  flesshly  with  any  woman,  oith^r-  sybbed  or  fre/mned,  weddid  or  vnweddide, 
or  any  flesshly  knawyng  or  dide  haf  \\ith  any,  othir  ban  pe  sacrament  of  mattr- 
mone  excuse,  &  pe  law  &  pe  lare  of  haly  kyrke  teches.  A  seitcut  Comaunde 
ment  biddis  vs  pat  we  sal  nogth  stele:  In  pe  whilke  es  forbydene  vs  all  robbyng 
&  reuyng,  all  wrangwys  takyng  or  w:t^-haldyng  or  hydyng  or  helyng  of  other 
men  guckl/'j  agaynes  pairf  \ville3  pat  has  rygth  to  |)aim.  A  aghtcnti  biddis  vs 
bat  we  sal  bere  na  fals  wittenese  ogayne  our^  eeuene-cn'sten :  In  whilke  es  for- 
biden  vs  all  man^r  of  lesyng,  fals  conspiracy  &  forsweryng,  whathurgth4  omv 
euencn'sten  may  lesse  pain1  catell,  fayth  [or]  favour,  fame  or  any  thynge,  whethir 
it  be  in  gastly  or  bodely  guddw.  A  neyend  Comaundement  es  |)at  we  '^ern[e]a 
nogth  our  neigthbur  house:  In  whilke  es  forbidene  vs  all  wrangwysse  couaytes 
of  land  or  of  lith  or  ogth  els  pat  may  nogth  be  liftted  ne  raysede  fra  |)c  ground* 
als  thyng  {)at  es  stedfast  &  may  nogth  be  sterede.  A  tcnend  &  pe  last  is 
pat  we  ^erne  nogth  pe  wif  of  our  neighbur  ne  of  our  eeuenecmtene,  ner>  be 
maydene  ne  his  knaue  ne  his  ox  nor  his  asse :  In  whilke  es  forbidene  vs  to  jjerne 
or  to  take  any  thyng  pat  may  be  sterede  o[f]7  other  men  gud,  als  Robes  and 
Rychesce  or  other  Catil,  bat  we  haf  na  gud  titil  ne  na  rygth  to  5  ffor  wnat  tnyng 
sa  we  gete  or  takw  on  other  wys,  we  may  nogth  be  assoiled  of  pe  trespas  bot 
if  we  make  a-sseth  in  bat !  we  may  to  paim  pat  we  haf  harmed  withhaldand 
pair  guddis.  Awd  in  case  pat  we  haf  thurgth  fals  athes,  als  in  assyses  or  other 
enquestis,  wyttandly  or  wylfully  gert  our  eeuenecrz'sten  lesse  pair£  Patt'rmoigne 
or  pairf  heritage ,  or  falsly  be  dissesed  of  land  or  of  lithe ,  or  fals  deuorce  be 
made ,  or  any  man  be  dampned ;  of8  all  we  do  |)at  we  may  vnto  be  party,  ^it 
may  we  nogth  be  assoild  of  be  trespas,  bot  of  omv  biscope  or  of  hym  pat  has 
his  power — ffor  swylke  case  es  ryuely  reserued  til  hym-self.  ||  Pis  tene  Comaun- 
dement/j  pat  er  befor  rekennede,  er  vnbilouked9  in  twa  of  pe  gospell:  A  fane 
es,  pat  we  luf  god  ouer  all  thyngs ;  pe  tothir,  pat  we  luf  our  eeuencn'stene  als 
we  do  our^-selfe.  For  god  aw  vs  to  luf  haly  with  hert,  with  all  our  mygth,  [with] 
all  our  thogth,  \vit/i  worde  &  -with  deide.  Our  eeuenecmtene  alswa  aw  vs  to  luf 
vnto  pat  ylke  gud  [)at  we  luf  our-self,  pat  es  at  say 10,  welefare  in  body  &  in  saule, 
awd  come  to  pat  ylke  blysse  bat  we  thynke  till.  Tyll  pe  whilke  blysse  brynge 
vs  Ihesus  Cryst  goddis  sowne  of  heeuene,  eeu<r-mar£  w*'t//  hym  to  dwell.  Amen. 


1  al.  pat  at.        2  Ms.  orther.        3  al.  witt  &  w.        *  al.  wharthurgh.        5  Ms.  y.crnyng.       8  overl. 
T  Ms.  Or.        »  =  J30f.         9  al.  vmbylowked.        10  al.  tiat  Jiay. 


no 


Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285 


9.      (Points  best  pleasing  to  God). 

rrill  j£  offe  fir  poyntis  lere,  pat  our  lorde  es  leue  and  dere :  How  pat 
man  couaytis  whilke  es  our  lord  maast  likynges.  tan  sayd  our£  lord  til  pat 
man  in  pe  erth  leuand:  »Till  pe  poiier  almos  downe,  whils  pou  lifs  oft  &  sone : 
pat  payes  me  mare,  pan  pou  gaf  grete  hilles  of  gold  after  pi  dede  be  any-kin  lar<?. 
like  ter<?  of  pi  neghe  for  my  passion,  awd  for  pi  synnes  pat  (f.  63)  pou  has  done  :  pat 
pays  me,  mare  and  pou  mouth  in  als  mykel  sorowe  be,  pat  pou  mouth  grete  als 
mykel  water  als  war£  in  pe  see,  for  erthly  guddes  and  erthli  thynge.  Off  pe  seke 


i  Another  version,  reduced  into  simple  prose, 
Ms.  Vernon. 

Jriit  was  an  holi  mon  and  bi-sou^te 
god  sende  him  grace  such  vertues  for 
to  vse  bat  weore  best  to  lyf  and  to 
soule.  I?enne  apeered  vr  lord  Ihesus 
godes  sone  to  him  and  seide:  //  »^if  pin 
herte  to  me  and  pin  almz^  to  pe  pore 
mon  for  pe  loue  of  me:  and  hit  schal 
lyke  me  betere  pen  pauh  pou  ^iue  al 
pe  gold  of  pis  world  aftur  pi  day.  // 
Weop  a  ter  wip  pin  ei^e,  penk  on  my 
passion:  and  hit  schal  lyke  me  bettere 
pen  pow  weope  as  muche  watur  as  is 
in  pe  see  for  anger  and  for  teone  of 
los  of  worldes  catel.  //  Forbere  a  wikked 
\vord  of  pin  euen-cristen:  and  hit  schal 
lyke  rne  bettere  pen  pou  beote  pi-self 
wip  as  mony  roddes  as  grouwep  on  an 
acre  of  londe.  //  Keep  pe  out  of  dedly 
synne  wip  al  pi  mi^t:  and  hit  schal 
lyke  me  bettre  pen  pou  founde  Ni^ene 
knihtes  werryng  vppon  Sara^ynes,  euer- 
more  liggyng  aboute  my  sepulcre.  // 
Haue  reupe  and  pite  of  pin  euencristne : 
and  hit  schal  lyke  me  bettre  pen  pou 
faste  fourti  wynter  preo  dayes  in  pe 
wike  to  bred  and  to  watur.  //  Visyte 
pe  pore  and  pe  seke,  spekyng  alle 
goodnes :  and  hit  schal  lyke  me  bettre 
pew  pou  go  bare-foot  to  be  wei  rennyng 
blod  ona  pi  feete.  //  Do  no  wrong  to 
no  mon,  noubur  harm  ne  schome:  and 
hit  schal  lyke  me  bettre  pen  pow  eueri 
day  maade  a  newe  church e.  //  Tel  to 
me  al  pi  wille,  and  leeue  pat  I  am  al- 
mihti  al  goodnesse  to  fulnlle:  and  hit 
schal  lyke  me  bettere  pen  pou  preyed 
my  moder  and  al  pe  halewes  of  heuene 

a  r.  be  r.  bl.  of? 


is  extant  in  Ms.  Vernon  and  Harl.  1704,  f.  48^. 

Harl.  1704. 

It  was  an  holy  man  besought  god 
to  send  hym  grace  to  teche  socft  vertues 
for  to  vse  that  were  best  to  lyf  and  to 
soule.  /  »Yef  thyn  hert  to  me  and  a 
peny  to  the  pore  for  the  loue  of  me  : 
and  it  shall  like  me  better  paw  bou 
yeue  all  the  good  of  pis  world  after 
thy  day.  /  Veppe  a  tere  with  thyn  eye 
penkyng  on  my  passions:  &  it  shall  like 
me  better  paw  p<?u  wepte  also  mocu 
water  as  is  in  the  see  for  ang^r  or  for 
tene  of  los  of  worldis  Catell.  /  For-bere 
a  wicked  word  fro  thyn  euen-Cristen : 
&  it  shall  like  me  better  paw  pou  bete 
thy-self  -with  ail-so  monye  Roddis  as 
growen  in  an  acre  londe.  /  Kepe  the 
oute  of  synne  wzt//  all  th*a  myght :  and 
it  shall  like  me  better  paw  p0u  fynd  IX 
knyghtes  werryng  vppon  the  Sare^ens, 
eutfr-more  lying  aboute  my  sepulcre: 
paw  pou  for  to  lie  in  synne.  /  Haue 
rewth  and  pite  on  thy  euen-Cristen^:  & 
it  shal  like  me  better  paw  p0u  fastid 
xl11  wynter  in  dayes  in  the  woke  bred 
and  water.  /  Visite  the  pore  and  the 
sike,  spekyng  all  goodnesse:  and  it  shall 
like  me  better  pan  pou  goo  barefote 
that  pe  waye  renne  blod  after  thy  feet.  / 
Do  no  wrong  to  no  man£,  nether  harme 
ne  shame :  and  it  shal  like  me  better 
pen  pou  eu^ryday  make  a  newe  Chyrcft.  / 
Tell  to  me  all  thy  will,  and  beleue  wele 
that  I  am  al-myghti  god  and  all  good 
nesse  to  fulfill:  and  it  shal  like  me 
better  pen  my  moder  &  all  alowen* 

a  Ms.  the. 


(R.  Rolle:)   Points  best  pleasing  to  God. 


Ill 


Harl.  1704. 

praydene  for  the.  /  Loue  me  for  me :  and 
it  shall  like  me  better  j)aw  p<m  make  a 
piler  Rechyng  vp  to  heven,  stiking  full 
of  Rasomvs  all  pi  body  to  Rendyn 


haf   pete  awd   passion1:  pat   paies   me   mare,    and   pou  war  with  als  many  stauys 

dongyne    als   men  mouth    bar,    In    a    hundreth    woddis    grouand    and   wele   mar^. 

Constreyne  pi  foule  hert  awd  pi  wikkyd  wille,  and  take  mekely  with-In  pe  clennese, 
1  r.  compassion. 

Ms.  Vernon. 

to   preye   for   pe.    //    Loue   me   wi{)  al 

pin  herte,  to  haue  my   blisse :    and   hit 

schal  lyke  me  bettere  pen  pou  made  a 

piler  rechyng  vp  to  heuene,   stikyng  ful 

of  rasours   al   pi   bodi    to   rendew  on.« 

(Follows : Vnkuinde  mon  ^ifkep  to  me  &c.,       Ms.  Harl.  continues  in  the  same  strain: 

see  p.  71).  Flee  prrile  and  doute  of  detha,   take 

pe  better  for  hope  of  mede:  the  blisse 
of  heven  shalt  |)0u  not  misse,  s^k  p#u 
wilt  kepe  the  cowmaundementrV  of  Crist.  / 
Thou  most  forsake  pr/'de  and  all  wickid 
willis,  yef  f>0u  wilt  kepe  |)e  co/»maunde- 
mentis  of  Crist.  //  I  besecfi  the ,  leue 
brother,  take  to  jie  loue  &  Charite,  yef 
thou  wilt  to  heven  flee.  //  Here  p0u 
might  lere  the  cowmaundementis  x ;  ne 
be  f)0u  neut'r  so  gret  Clerke ,  pou  hast 
gret  nede  for  to  lerne  hem.  //  Haue  god 
in  worship.  Take  not  his  name  in  Idel- 
ship.  /  Hold  wele  pi  Holidaye.  Fader 
and  moder  worship  aye.  /  Loke  that  p0u 
nought  stele,  Ne  no  fals  wetenesse  thou 
ne  bere.  /  Loke  f)ou  ne  sle  non  mam'. 
Do  no  foil  by  no  woman*'.  /  Desire  not 
thy  neygbours  wyff,  Ne  nothing  that 
p<rto  light.  /  He  that  will  kepe  these 
cowmaundement/j  he  shal  never  die.  // 
Leue  frende,  I  beseche  the,  the  vn. 
dedely  synnes  that  pcm  flee,  /  yf  jxm  wilt 
in  heven  be.  /  Who  so  is  taken  pmn  / 
in  hell  shalbe  his  wonnyng.  //  Pride  / 
Wrath  /  Envye,  /  Slouth  /  Glotenye,  / 
Lecherie  /  Couetise.  /  He  that  is  taken 
pdrin,  sore  may  hym  agrise.  //  Man,  take 
Comfort  to  the,  beholde  and  se  the 
virtues  seuynt',  that  will  bring  the  to 
heuyn^ :  //  Mekenesse,  Pacience,  Charite  / 
Besinesse,  Mesure,  Chastite  /  Largesse 
to  hem  that  haue  nede  to  the.  /  He  that 
will  kepe  these  vertuesse  seuen :  in  heven 
shal  be  his  dwellyng,  with  ourf  lord 
heven  kyng.  AmeN. 
*  r.  dede.  b  Ms.  se. 


112  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

pees,  reson^  and  skylle,  and  pute  away  pe  foule  syne  pat  of  pi  hert  wille  come: 
ffor  forsakyng  of  prene  wille  and  opyne  es  partite  religione:  and  paies  god  mare, 
and  pou  fasted  fourschore  yhere  water  and  brede  and  ilke  a  day  pi  bodily  flesshe 
in  blod  gert  fare.  Swetely  snffre  frawardtf  wordis  for  my  sake,  and  when  pij  hert 
es  mast  gret  late  nogth  with-schape1,  and  in  pees  kepe  pus  pi  saule:  pis  paies 
me  mare ,  pan  pou  sougth  fourschore  myle  pi  fete  and  schankes  sa  bare ,  pat 
breres  and  stanes  paim  so  retted2  pat  pe  blod  rane  ee\\er  ay-whare,  and  men  by 
bat  trase  of  blod  mouth  fynd  whare  pou  ware.  Loue  pi  neigthbur  and  pi  eeuen- 
m'stene,  and  speke  paim  pe  gud  and  par^-til  eeu^r-lastyne  3,  and  wille  paim  pe 
gude,  and  turne  paim  hale  to  gude:  and  pat  paies  our  lord  mare  pat  died  opon 
pe  rode,  and  we  and  our  spirit  hilke  a  day  In  til  heeuene  fley,  southly  to  say. 
Breke  pi  slape  and  wake  -with  oryson,  prayand  wz't/z  gud  deuocyone:  for  pat  es 
me  mare  payand,  and  pou  toke  twell  armed  knyghtes,  and  sent  paim  in  til  pe  haly 
land,  on  sarsines  to  feigth.  What  (pou  wile)4  hafe,  fyrst  of  me  pouitcrafe:  and 
pat  paie(s  me,  mare  a)nd  my  mod^r  and  all  halowys  pray  for  pe.  Loue  me 
(oner  all  pinjgis  sou^raynly,  and  pi  hert  to  me  gif  all  haly:  and  pat  paies  me 
mare  likand  to  my  wille,  and  pou  Mountid  vp  clymmand  on  a  hille,  mill  of  sharpe 
rasours  kerwand  pe  sare,  pat  pi  flesshe  fra  pe  banys  hynged  ay-whare. «  Amen. 
iThe  rest  of  fol.  64**  is  filled  up  with  6  Notae  variae  in  Latin,  prose  and  verse, 
partly  from  St.  Bernard,  see  p.  128,  note). 

10.      (Meditation  on  the  Passion;  and  of  three  arrows 
on  doomsday.) 

This  piece,  which  is  certainly  a  work  of  Rich.  Rolle,  is  also  extant  in  Ms. 
Arund.  507  f.  48,  under  the  title  Meditacio  de  passione  Ihesu  Christi,  in  the 
midst  of  other  works  of  R.  Rolle.  Neither  Ms.  can  claim  priority;  Ms.  Rawl., 
however,  has  more  rhymes.  (A  later  treatise  on  the  theme  of  the  3  arrows,  some 
times  ascribed  to  Wicliff,  is  contained  in  many  southern  Mss. :  Univ.  Coll.  Oxf.  97, 
Simeon,  Douce  13,  Ff  II.  38,  Ff  V.  45). 

fAT64'  Ms.  Arundel  507,  fol.  48.' 

l\l  ow  open  pi  hert  wyde  to    thynke 

Meditacio  de  passione  Ihesu  Christi. 
on  base  paynes  pat  Cryst  for  pe  thoo- 

lede,  and  thynke  paim  in  pi  hert  rygth  v_/ppyn  pi  hert  -with  sighings  sart?  til 

als    he    paim    thoolede  ,    How    pai   his  pink  on  pe  pynes  pat  Ihesus  Crist  suffred, 

lufly  face  all  with  spyttyng  fyeled,  How  &  sette    paim   in   pi  saule :    bi  orders  / 

pai  buffetted  be  fayrest  face  of  al  man-  as   he   paim  tholid :   How   pai   his  hali 

kynde.     How  pai  his   swete  hend   wz't/z  face  wz't/fc  spittyng<?  filid,  How  pai  buffet- 

coordis    band    so    fast,    pat    of   all    pe  tid  pe  fairest  face  of  al  mankynde  ;  How 

fyngers  be   blod  oute  brast.     How   pai  pai  w/t/z  cordis  bande  his  fain?  handes, 

bette    hym   w/'t/z    knotty    skourges,    pat  so  pat  oute  of  alle  his  fyngres  be  blode 

neeu^  did  amisse   with   word*?  ne    with  oute    brast ;    How    pai   betid   hi-w    w/'tfc 

deid.     How    all  sayd  vfith  a  voyce  and  knottid  scourgis ;  How  alle  w/t/z  a  voice 

on  Pylate    cryed,  pat    he    suld    dye    als  cried  »do  hi;;z  on  croice,    /   pat  he  die 

schameful  dede  als  eener  any  di[e]d.   ^[  als  schameful  dead:  as  eau^  any  deied«, 

Yhete    thynke    how    he    was   streekede  How  he   was  strekid  on    pe  croice  pat 

i  r.  withtake?  2  —  ratted,  tore.  3  Ms.  lastynd?  r.  listyn?  «  A  hole  in  the  Ms.;  I 
supply  from  Ms.  Ff  V.  40.  5  The  Ms.  has  dashes  on  k,  t,  f,  g,  h,  which  of  course  mean  e\ 
but  that  point  is  quite  insignificant;  I  is  written  .i.. 


(R.  Rolle:)  Meditation  on  the  Passion;  and  of  3  arrows  on  Doomsday, 


Ms.  Rawl. 

opon  pe  croyce  pat  layd  was  on  pe 
erthe,  and  draghene  out  -with  rapis, 
to  mak  fote  a«d  hand*?  accoord  to  pe 
boores  pat  mad  war  In  pe  tree.  So 
fer  he  was  draghen  on  pe  croyce  pat 
he  on  lay,  pat  all  his  baanes  men 
mygth  telle,  als  haly  wrytte  tellis.  And 
to  pe  tree  he  on  lay,  pai  fest  hym  w/'t/* 
Irene  nayles.  ^[  Thynk  after  how  his 
body  was  lift  vp  with  pe  croyce  awd 
smyten  in  pe  erth ,  als  men  duse  vfttA 
a  staake  of  tree  to  make  it  fast  in  pe 
erth  to  stande  ;  with  pat  swete  body  bat 
hanged  was  pare-on.  ^[  At  pis  smytyng 
in  to  pe  erthe  all  his  vaynes  brast,  pat 
of  all  his  lyms  pe  blod  out  stremede. 
I>is  greued  hym  sorest  [of]  all  his  paynes, 
outakyne  our  vnkyndenes,  pat  ylke  a 
day  newys  his  payn.  «[  Thynke  after 
how  a  knygth  l  bifoor  hym  kneelede  and 
sayd  to  hym  on  schorne :  »Haylle  be 
pou,  kyng  offe  lewys!  t»at  so  many 
helpis,  now  pe  nedes  to  help  pi-self. 
Lat  now  se  whate  pou  may  do  I  Come 
now  doune  fro  pe  croyce  pat  pou  ert 
to  naylled,  a«d  we  sal  trowe  with-outen 
moor  pou  ert  goddis  son  of  heeuene«. 
^f  Thynke  on  pat  scharpe  coroun  of 
thorne  pai  [had]  corouned  hym  with,  pat 
made  his  lufly  face  streeme  all  on  blod. 
And  of  pat  bitter  aysel  menged  with 
galle,  pai  gaf  hym  to  drynke  whene  he 
pleyned  hym  of  threst,  als  he  pat  mykel 
had  blede.  Bot  wite  pou  wele,  hym 
thrested  nogth  after  pyement  ne  wyne, 
ne  after  othir  likour  pat  men  nootes  for 
threst,  bot  anely  after  be  luf  of  man, 
pat  he  so  dere  bogth.  Thynke  ban 
when  pou  ogth  agaynes  hym  duse,  pou 
bedis  hym  gall  at  drynk,  als  be  lewys 
dide.  ^[  Thynke  on  his  careful  mod*r, 
and  of  his  Cosyne  lohn ,  pat  stod  by 
hym  nere  and  sagth  all  bat  he  thoolede. 
Na  speche  of  man  may  telle  what  sorow 
pai  had  pat  stound !  ^  Thynke  on  pase 
wordes  he  to  his  mod*r  sayd  whilles  he 
1  r.  knygthes. 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

was  laid  on  pe  erth,  /  &  drawyn  oute 
w/t//  rapis:  til  make  handes  &  fete 
acorde  til  pe  holes  /  pat  war*  made 
in  pe  tree.  So  straite  he  was  dra(w)en 
oute  on  pe  croice :  pat  men  might  telle 
alle  his  banes;  &  to  pat  croice  was  he 
festenid  w*tfc  irnen  nailes.  Thinks  after 
how  is  bodi  was  liftid  vp  wz'tfc  be  croice  / 
&  smyten  oft  \n  be  erth:  als  men  dose 
a  stake  of  tree  til  make  it  fast  til  stand  : 
w/tfc  pat  swete  bodi  lifand  pat  hinged 
p*ron.  At  pis  smytyng*  m  pe  erth: 
alle  his  vaynes  brast ,  bat  oute  of  alle 
his  swete  lymes:  be  blode  oute  stremid. 
fis  greuid  him  sarest  of  alle  op*r  paynes : 
oute-take  our*  vnkyndenesse ,  bat  ilk 
daie  newes  his  pyne.  Thynk  after 
how  knightis  to  him  knelid:  &  said  to 
him  in  scorne:  »Haile,  kyngj  of  lues! 
tou  pat  mani  helpis:  pou  nedes  now 
helpe  pe  self*;  come  downe  fra  pe 
croice  /  pou  art  nailid  to:  &  we  sal 
trow  pat  pou  art  goddis  sone  of  heuen«. 
Think  on  pe  scharpe  corone  of  thornis, 
pat  made  his  loueli  face:  til  streme  al 
on  blode;  &  of  be  bitter  aysill  myngkl 
w*tfc  galle,  pai  gaf*  him  to  drink  /  when 
he  pleynid  him  of  thrist  /  als  he  pat 
mikil  had  bledde.  Bot  witte  pou  wele, 
him  thrist/J  noght  after  pyment  ne  wyne  / 
ne  after  op*r  liquore:  bot  aneli  after 
be  luf*  of  man  /  pat  he  so  der*  bogfit. 
think  ben  /  when  bou  dose  ani  thing* 
agayn  his  wille :  pou  dose  as  pe  lues 
did  /  birles  him  galle  to  drink*,  as  a 
vnkinde  wrechc.  Think*  on  his  careful 
moder,  &  on  sayn  lohan  his  der*  cosyn, 
bat  stode  bi  him  &  sagfi  al  pat  he 
tholid;  na  tong*  mai  telle:  how  sari 
pai  war*  pat  tyme.  Think*  on  pe  wordes 
he  spake  til  his  moder  hangand  on  pe 


8 


Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 


Ms.  Rawl. 

hanged  on  pe  rode:    »Woman,  lo  here 
pi  son!«;   he  sayd  to  hys  Cosyn  lohn : 
»lo  here  pi  mod^'  dere!    Pou  serae  hir 
wztfc  all  {)i  mygth!«  Whate  thynges  l  com 
fra  hir  hert  when  scho  herd  pir  wordis, 
whene   mans    son  for   goddis   sone,  pe 
dysciple  for  pe  mayster,  pe  s^maunt  for 
pe  lord2,  was  gifen  hire  to   yheme !    «[ 
Thynke  how   pat  blyssed  body   nakede 
and  pale,  hanged  on  pe  rode   so  bette 
with  skourges  pat  noth  left  on  hym  hale. 
And  yhete   so   potierly   he  was    stedde 
pat  he  had  na  place  his  heeued  on  for 
to  rest;  and  als  naked  als  he  hangede, 
glide    he    nane    had   hym   with   for   to 
hide ,    bot  his   moder  courchife  knetted 
obout  his  lyms.   ^[  Thynke   how  ful  he 
was   of  mercy  whils  he  hanged  on  pe 
rod,  pat  forgaf  pe  thef  his   synnes  pat 
hanged  by  his  syde,    pat  myssayd  hym 
a  whyle  befoore,  als  pe  gospell  tellis; 
awd  higth  hym  pat  he  suld  be  pat  day 
In  paradyse  vtith  hym.  (f.  65).  f  Thynke 
pan  on  pe  wordes  pat  Bernard?  to  Ih&m 
sayd:  »A,  god,  my  loouerd,  swete  Ihesu, 
whate  hafs  pou  don  pat  pou  so  blodye 
hanges    on   pe   rode,    pat   neeu^r    dide 
amysse  bot  ecu^r  dide  pe  gude?  Sackles 
pai  do  pe  to  pe  dede,  woo  es  me  so :  ffor 
I  am  gylty  of  pi  dede,  for-[pi]3  pai  suld 
me  sla  and  late  hym  passe  wzt^-outen 
harme,    pat  no    cheesoun    es    of  dede. 
For-pi,    yhe  wrytches   pat  wrange  has 
done,   takis   me  for   hym  awd  duse  me 
to    dede:    for   I   am  pe    synfull  pat  ille 
hafs  wrogth,  thurgth  pat  I   haf  folwed 
p[e]4  fendes  rede;  ffor-pi  lat  pis  Inno 
cent   passe   pat  neeu^  man    couth   say 
ille  by,    bot  til  all  has  done   pe  gude, 
for-pi  I  pray  150 w  I  may  for  hym  dye«. 
^[  And  z;ite  thynk  Inwardly  on  pe  word 
he  sayd  befoor  he  yhelded  pe   gaast, 
pat  es  pat  he  to  pe  synfull  man   cryes 
and  says :   Consummatum  est,  »A1  es  ful- 
filled« ;  pat  es :  »I  am  fulfilled  of  sorowe, 
1  r.  sichynges.  2Cf.  p.  89.   3  Ms.  for.  *  Ms.  l>at. 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

rode:  »woman:  lo  hen?  pi  sone«;  til 
sayn  lohan  his  cosyn :  »lo  her?  pi  moder 
der^:  pou  s^me  hir^  vtith  al  pi  might".  / 
What  sighinges  come  til  hire  hert  /  when 
sche  herd  pis  wordes:  when  mawnes 
sone  for  goddis  sone  /  pe  disciple  for 
pe  maister  /  pe  s^niant  for  pe  lorde: 
was  gifen  hir£  to  ^eme.  Thinks  on  pat 
blissid  bodi  nakid  8c  pale  hinged  on  pe 
rode  /  so  ryuen  with  scourges:  pat 
noght  left  hale.  And  ?itte  so  ponerli 
was  he  stad  in  pat  stour^:  pat  he  had 
noght  to  rest  his  heuid  on ;  &  als  nakid 
as  he  was  borne — bot  his  moder  couer- 
chiefc  was  knit  aboute  his  lymes.  Thinks 
how  ful  he  was  of  m^c(i)  ^it  whil  he 
hinged  on  rode  /  pat  forgafc  pe  theefe 
his  synnes  pat  hinged  biside  him:  bat 
missaid  him  a  while  bifore  ;  &  hight  him 
he  suld  pat  daie  be  wz'tfc  him  in  para 
dise.  When  pou  art  vmbithought  of 
alle  (f.  47)  (be)  pynes  pat  Ihesus  suffred 
for  pe:  thinks  in  pi  saule  /  pat  pou 
standis  bi  (him)  in  pat  place  &  sees 
what  pai  him  do  ;  speke  pen  to  pi  lorde 
pe  wor(des)  of  sayn  B^mard^:  »God  mi 
lorde ,  swete  Ihrni,  /  what  haues  pou 
(do)ne :  pat  pou  so  blodi  hinges  on  rode  / 
pat  neau^  did  iuel :  bot  eauer  did  gode?  / 
Sakles  pai  do  pe  til  deade ,  wa  is  me 
h erf ore  /  for  i  am  gilti  of  pi  deade; 
&  agayn  lawe  &  reson  it  is :  til  sla  him 
pat  neau^r  did  misse,  &  lat  him  passe 
free:  pat  did  pe  harme.  For-pi,  ^e 
wreches(!)  lues,  (ta)kes  me,  for  i  am  pe 
synful  pat  yuel  has  done  &  folowid  pe 
fendis  rede.  I  prai  ^Ow  /  latis  pis 
Innocent  passe:  &  dose  me  til  deade, 
for  i  haue  tfrspassid«.  Thinks  alswa 
inwardli  /  how  he  said  on  pe  rode 
bifore  he  ^elde  pe  gaste — for  it  mai 
ster?  pe  til  haue  sorugft  of  pi  synnes 
&  rue  on  his  deade  pat  was  so  pynid 
for  pe ,  &  swa  wreke  his  deade  on  pe 
selfe;  /  pat  pus  on  pe  rode  cried:  Con 
summatum  est:  pat  is:  »al  is  fulfillid«, 


(R.  Rolle:)  Meditation  on  the  Passion;  and  of  3  arrows  on  Doomsday, 


Ms.  Rawl. 

bath  in  body  awd  in  saul«.  In  body, 
bat  all  was  pyned,  for  fra  be  schuf  of 
be  hele  was  nogth  left  hale.  In  saul 
was  he  pyned,  als  be  pr^phete  says: 
thurgth  our  vnkyndnes  bat  kyd  hym  na 
thanke  for  his  gud  dide,  and  duse  bat 
in  vs  es  ilke  a  day  to  new  his  payne ; 
and  pat  ouer-passis  all  his  payne  bat 
he  bifoor  thooled,  ffor-bi  he  says  at 
his  end  »I  am  fulfilled  of  sorow  «.  ^f 
Thynke  ban,  afttr  bir  wordes  war  sayde 
he  bogthed  doun  with  his  heeued  awd 
sayd  at  all  mygth  here:  »In  to  pi 
handes,  loouerdt'  my  fader,  my  gast  I 
yheld«.  f|  Thynk  on  base  wonderes  pat 
fele  bat  tyme :  how  creatures  bat  na 
wirte  had  forthogth  of  his  dede,  awd 
mad  sorow  on  baire  manen?,  awd  kid 
at  bai  felid  his  dede  ful  sare.  re  sone 
withdrogh  hym  and  wex  myrke ;  be 
hardt'  stane  all  to-raaf,  bat  all  be  erth 
qwoke ;  be  touwbes  of  dede  men  alto- 
raafe  bat  mad  war  of  stane,  and  be  ded 
bat  in  bairn  war  lokene,  qwyckened  to 
lif,  awd  witenest  bat  he  was  southfast 
god  bat  be  lewys  did  to  be  dede.  ^[ 
And  thynke  yhete  Inwardly  on  base 
sorowes  bat  his  moder  had,  bat  folwed 
hym  in  all  bat  tyme  rigth  vnto  be  dede, 
awd  als  carefnll  mod^r  eeu^r  biheld<?  al 
bat  bay  did  hir  child.  Was  neeucrr  na 
martir^  bat  thooled  so  mykel  payne  als 
scho  dide !  for  in  pat  party  all  raartires 
war  pyned  pat  deedly  er  of  kynde :  bot 
goddis  mod<r  was  pyned  in  saul  pat 
neeu^r  mygth  dye ;  for  all  pat  hir  son 
thooled,  stake  thurgth  hir  hert.  His 
paynes  left  hym  at  be  dede,  bay  mygth 
griefe  hym  no  mare :  bot  in  hir  saul 
all  bai  left,  for-bi  hir  paynes  war  maare; 
for  scho  yherned  for  sorow  to  dye,  bot 
na  sorow  mygth  hir  sla.  tan  was  be 
word*?  fulfilled*?  of  Symeon*?,  bat  to  hir 
sayd:  »re  swerd  of  sorow  sal  stycke 
thurgth  bi  hert«.  f  Thynke  ban  whate 
he  es  bat  alle  has  thoolede,  and  how 
vnworthy  bai  war  to  luf  wham  he  dyed 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

as  if  he  said :  »I  am  fulfillid  of  sorugH  : 
bathe  \n  bodi  &  saule«.  In  bodi:  for 
al  was  pynid  /  fra  be  croune  of  be 
heuid  til  be  sole  of  be  fote.  Insaule: 
thorugh"  ourt'  vnkyndnesse,  bat  kithis 
him  na  thanks  for  his  gode  dede:  bot 
dose  bat  in  vs  is:  euer  til  (n)ew  his 
payne ;  &  pat  owrpassis  alle  his  paynes 
pat  he  bifore  tholid,  for-bi  he  said  at 
his  ende:  »I  am  fulfillid  of  sorugfi«.  & 
at  bis  worde  :  he  loutid  downe  his  heuid 
/  &  said  til  his  fader :  «In  til  bi  handes : 
mi  saule  i  jrelde«.  Think  ben  on  be 
wondris  bat  ben  felle :  how  creatures 
bat  na  witte  had:  rued  on  his  deade. 
re  sone  withdrew  his  brightnesse  £ 
bicome  al  mirk*?,  £  schewid  so:  bat  it 
rued  Cn'stes  deade ;  be  harde  roche  rafc ; 
be  ertft  qwoqe;  be  grates  openid  /  £ 
be  deade  men  pat  ware  in  j)aim  /  rase 
to  life,  £  wittenesid  pat  he  was  sothe- 
fast  god:  pat  be  lues  did  til  deade,  / 
witA  sighings  £  teres.  Als  i  rede  bou 
bink  on  be  stingand  sorughs  of  his 
moder,  bat  was  w*tA  him  ai  til  be 
deade  /  &  bihild  al  bat  f)ai  did  vrith 
hire  child.  Neau^r  tholid  martir  so 
mikil  /  as  sche  tholid !  for  martirs  ware 
pynid  in  bodi,  &  goddis  modir:  in  saule, 
bat  mai  noght  deie;  for  alle  be  pynes 
pat  hnv  sonne  tholid:  thorugh-stikid 
hir<?  saule,  &  sche  ^ernid  for  sorugh  til 
deie :  &  na  sorugft  might  hir^  sla.  ren 
was  fulfillid  pe  worde  of  Simeon :  Tuam 
ipsius  animam  pertransibit  gladius ,  bat 
is:  "te  swerd  of  sorugh  sal  thorugfi- 
stike  bi  saule«.  Think  als  inwardli 
what  he  is  bat  bus  tholid,  &  how  vn- 
worthi  bai  wart'  to  lufe  /  for  whaim  he 
8* 


116 


Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 


Ms.  Rawl. 

foor.  If  pou  pir  stirynges  oft  haf  in 
mynde  what-so-eevur  pou  be,  it  agth 
to  meke  pi  hert  in  lufe  and  make  pe 
synnes  to  fle.  ^f  Thynke  aft*r  with  whate 
deuocyon*  he  was  taken  doune  of  pe 
rode.  How  pe  thre  Maryes  his  body 
digth,  and  layd  hym  in  a  tounbe  new 
made  of  stane.  ^|  Thynke  after  of  his 


vp-rysynge:  how  brygth,  how  fayre  bat 
body  raas  pat  be  lewys  made  so  lay- 
thely  in  pat  entent  forto  hafe  for-done 
hym  for  eeu*r:  and  nowe  he  lifs  all- 
myghty  god,  kyng  corouned  in  heeuene, 
and  sal  deme  paim  at  his  wile  pat  hym 
demed  to  dede.  *f  Thynke  what  loy  his 
discyples  had  whene  pai  sagh  hym  risen 
a«d  haf  Maystery  of  pe  dede;  pan  pai 
war  so  drunken  (f.  66)  In  pe  luf  of  hym 
pat  pai  war  prest  forto  dye  for  hym,  pat 
befor  forsoke  hym  and  swore  pai  knew 
hym  nogth.  To  tell  of  pe  loy  pat  his 
moder  had,  es  na  timg  pat  may  it  telle  ! . . . 
Thynke  pan,  if  we  kepe  vs  fra  synne 
our  life,  of1  we  synfull  haf  bene  of 
neeu*f  so  lange  tyme ,  and  we  wille 
sare  forthynke  and  schrife  of  pat  we 
haf  myse-done  and  neeu*r  turne  agayne, 
we  may  chalenge  als  rigth  ayrers2  to 
dwele  with  hym  In  blisse  wzt£-outene 
ende.  ^f  And  thynke  pan  on  pe  dred- 
ful  day  of  dome:  whene  god  allmyghty 
sail  come  all  cmtene  sauls  forto  deme 
a»d  gif  til  ylke  ane  after  pai  haf  s*niede, 
ille  or  gude.  And  als  gladfull  als  his 
come  sal  be  vnto  his  chosyn  childer, 
als  g[r]ymly  and  als  agthful  sal  it  be  til 
base  wryckched  caytifs  pat  has  led  pair* 
1  =  l>of,  or  r.  or  if?.  2  r.  ayres. 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

deied  ;  ffor  if  pou  haue  oft  in  mynde 
pis  steryngs  :  pai  hald  pi  hert  in  luf*  & 
makis  pe  to  flee  synne.  Thinks  after 
wz't/z  what  deuoczon  he  was  taken  downe 
of  pe  rode;  how  pe  .ill.  Maries  dight 
"him  wzt#  oignementis  &  faldid  his  bodi 
in  white  clathe  &  laid  him  in  toumbe 
of  stane.  Think*  after  of  his  wendyng* 
til  helle  ;  /  what  comforts  pai  had  :  pat 
abade  so  lang*  his  (co)myng*  par*  in 
so  mirk*  stede  ;  what  sorugft  &  drede  / 
sighing  &  gn(as)ting*  pe  wode  fendes  of 
helle  had  pat  tyme  ;  how  he  bande 
Sathan  so  pat  he  might  neau*r  harme 
ne  fande  pe  folk*  aft*r  /  as  bifore.  After 
of  (his)  vprisyng:  /  how  bright  /  how 
fair*  he  rase  in  bodi  :  bat  be  lues  so 
laitheli  di(ght)  in  pat  entente  /  for 
til  haue  fordone  pe  mynde  of  him  for 
eau*7",  &  now  he  lifes  al-mighti  god 
&  kyng  coronid  in  heuen,  &  sal  deme 
paiw  at  (his)  wille.  Thinks  what  ioie 
alle  his  disciples  had:  when  pai  saw 
him  risyn  /  &  haue  pe  maistri  of  deade  ; 
bifore:  pai  deniid  him  &  sa(id)  pai 
knew  him  noght;  bot  pen  bairn  for- 
thought  pat  pai  had  missaide,  &  luffied 
him  as  pair*  lorde  ;  &  war*  so  fulfillid 
of  his  luf*:  pat  pai  ware  redi  til  die  for 
him  I  &  qwite  him  deade  for  deade. 
Til  telle  what  ioie  his  (mo)der  had  /  when 
sche  sagh  him  risen  til  lif*  :  na  man  mai 
telle.  Think*  af(ter)  how  he  steie  til 
heuen  wz't&  our*  manhede,  &  sette  it  on 
pe  right  hand  of  al-mighti  god  his 
fader  ;  &  swa  festenid  our*  kynd  in  him  : 
pat  pai  sal  neu(er)  twyn;  &  thorugK  pis 
alliaunce  /  if  we  kepe  vs  fra  synne  /  or 
forth(inke)  &  schryue  vs  of  pat  we  haue 
misdone  /  &  turne  na  mar*  agayn  :  we 
m(ay)  chalange  as  haires  /  til  dwelle  in 

his  blisse.     Think*  bat   he  sal  come  & 
r 


. 
deme    al   mankynde   /   &    gif*    ilk   man 

aft*?'  he  has  wroght  ;  &  als  gl(ad)ful  as 
is   come   is   to    pe    gode  :    als    auful   & 


,. 
nidicil 


(R.  Rolle:)  Meditation  on  the  Passion;  and  of  3  arrows  on  Doomsday, 


Ms.  Rawl. 

lif  in  lust  awd  likynges  of  bair*  flesshe 
awd  in  dedely  synne,  awd  waldf  nogth 
amend  |)aim  hot  ended  bar*-Inne.  Til 
base  god  sal  say:  ^  Congregabo  super 
eos  mala :  Et  sagittas  meas  complebo 
in  eis :  »And  I  sal  schote«,  says  god, 
»thre  scharpe  arows  at  baim,  bat  sal 
smyte  baim  bat  bai  sal  neeu*r  couer*«. 
^|  £e  first  arow  es  when  he  sal  bide 
baim  rise  &  come  til  he  dome,  when 
he  sal  say :  Surgite  mortiti  8f  vcnite  ad 
indicium.  Thurgth  be  mygth  of  bis 
word  all  bat  deed  eer  sal  qwycken  to 
life,  and  toumbes  of  marble  and  of 
brasse  sal  al  to-ryne,  to  lat  out  be  bodys 
bat  In  bairn  war  lokyne.  I*is  es  be 
arowe  bat  be  haly  man  eeu*r  ilike  felid 
smert  hym  ful  sare,  and  sayd:  Sine  comme- 
dam  sine  bibam  sine  aliquid  aliud  faciam, 
semper  michi  videtur  quod  ilia  vox  terri- 
bilis  intonat  in  auribus  meis :  Surgite 
mortui  8f  venite  ad  indicium — bis  word 
com  neu*r  fra  his  hert.  Sen  bis  haly 
man  had  swilk  dred  of  bir*  wordis,  me 
thynk  it  war  nedfull  to  be  synfull  to 
haf  bairn  in  mynde ,  to  make  bairn 
affered  bat  bai  fall  in  no  syne.  For  als 
Salamon  says :  Sicut  fremitus  leonis,  ita 
ira  del.  fcan  bis  [es]  be  kynd  of  be 
lyoun  bat  he  feris  all  beestes  w/tA  his 
romying  awd  makes  baim  so  hertles  for 
drede  bat  bai  dar  nowr *  flee  ;  bot  bogh 
his  noyse  be  hidouse  til  all  bestes,  yhet 
it  comfortis  his  awene  whelpis  and 
whyckenes  baim  to  life.  Rigth  so  sal 
Ihmi  Cr/st  beer  hym  at  be  day  of  dome 
til  all  bat  haf  lifd  in  syne  and  wald 
mak  na  endyng  of  bair*  ille  life ;  at 
bis  Callyng  bai  sal  be  so  feride  awd  so 
vnmyghty  of  bain?  self  bat  bai  sal  nogth 
mow  stire  baim  on  na  syde,  bot  bar*2 
bihoues  baim  to  take  als  j)ai  haf  smiede, 
ille  or  gud.  And  als  he  sal  be  wrothe- 
full  vnto  base  weryed  wrycches :  so  to 
his  awen  child*r  bat  her*  has  wrogth 
his  wille ,  lufely  he  sal  be  a«d  wynly 
1  r.  nowar.  •  Ms.  l>aire. 


Ms.  Arund.   507. 

grisly  sal  it  be  to  be  ille.  For  god  thretis 
be  yuel  w/tA  .111.  arowes  /  &  sais:  m 
Congregabo  super  eos  mala  Sf  sag.  HlA  com. 
in  eis,  bat  is :  »I  sal  hepe  on  baim  al- 
kyns  yuel  &  wa ,  &  mi  .  in .  sharpe 
arowes  sal  i  in  baim  feste :  bat  sal 
wounde  be  s^injful  /  bat  he  sal  neu*r 
couer«.  A*  first  arow  is :  when  he  sal 
bidde  b(aim)  rise  &  come  til  bain,' 
dome  /  w/tA  bis  wordes:  Surgite  mortui : 
venite  ad  iudicium,  bat  is:  »rise  ^e  bat 
ar^  deade,  &  comes  til  ^oun*  dome«. 
Thorugh  might  of  bir  wordes:  alle  bat 
war£  deade  sal  quikyn.  ris  is  b'e)  arowe 
bat  sayn  lerome  said  by  :  Sine  comedam 
situ  bibam,  semper  -vi(detur)  michi  quod 
ilia  vox  terribilis  insonet  auribus  meis 
^Surgite  mortui,  venite  ad  iudiciztm«, 
bat  is :  »Whejvr  i  etc  or  drynk<?  /  or 
what  ellis  i  do :  ever  me  thinks  |ns 
dredeful  wordes  rynges  in  mine  eres  : 
Rise  7fe  bat  ar^  deade,  &  comes  til  ^our^ 
dome«.  Sen  bis  hali  man  dredid  bis 
wordes :  nede  is  a  synful  man  til  drede 
bai;w,  so  bat  he  falle  in  na  synne.  For 
Salomon  sais  :  Sicut  fremitus  leonis :  ita 
ira  eius ;  bat  is  :  »be  wreke  of  be  domes- 
man  at  his  comyngt' :  is  as  romiing^  of 
a  lion«.  /  te  Hones  kynd  is  til  f(ere) 
alle  bestes  wz'tA  his  romiing^ ,  &  ^itte 
dar  bai  noght  flee;  &  bofc  bis  noice 
be  dredeful  til  alle  bestes :  ^itte  com 
fortis  it  his  awen  whelpis  &  quykins 
paim  til  lite.  Swa  sal  Ihmi  Cmt  at  be 
straite  dome  do  til  alle  bestli  men  bat 
has  liuid  in  synne  &  wold  (f.  44)  make  na 
endyng*  of  [>air<?  ille;  at  bis  calling* 
bai  sal  be  so  f(erid)  &  so  vnmighti, 
bat  on  na  half*  sal  bai  flee,  bot  bai  sal 
dwelle  (&)  take  as  bai  haue  s*ruid.  &  as 
he  sal  be  wrathful  to  be  wreches,  so 
sal  he  be  loueli  til  his  aune  childr*  bat 
has  wroght  his  wille  her*:  for  bai  sal 
i  r.  m.  (meas). 


n8 


Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 


Ms.  Rawl. 

on  to  loke;  pai  sal  waken  wz't^1  ioy  at 
his  callyng  and  to  his  blisse  wend,  ecus?' 
to  be  [bar]  with-outen  end.  Bot  be 
synfull  wricches  sal  seke  hooles  bairn 
Inne  forto  hid ,  bat  pai  se  nogth  his 
dredful  face  bat  feres  bairn  out  of  pairs 
witte ;  als  Isaye  be  prcphete  says: 
Introibunt  in  speluncis^  petrarum  et  in 
voragines  terre  a  facie  formidinis  domini, 
cunt  surrexerit  percutere  terram.  Of  bis 
Cowmyng  spekis  saynt  Ancelyne  and 
says:  »On  be  ta  half  on  be  day  of  dome 
sal  our  laythly  synnes  be-call  vs  of  be 
slaghter  of  our  saul.  On  be  tobsr  half 
sal  rigthwy[s]nese  stand,  bat  no  pyte  es 
with.  How  sal  be  synful  fars  pan?  for  flee 
may  he  nogth,  ne  hid  hym  may  he 
nogth  ,  bot  pars  bihoues  hym  stand  to 
tak  als  he  has  ssmed.  tan  sal  bai  bat 
now  er  so  kene  bat  harmes  all  bat  o- 
boute  bairn  dwellis,  be  als  (f.  67}  Cowardis 
and  hertles  bath  in  word*?  awd  in  dede ; 
bai  sal  be  so  stade  bat  bai  sal  wille 
crepe  in  a  moushool  or  in  a  pitte 
stynke  it  neeusr  so  ille«.  ^[  Pe  tothir 
arowe  es  bat  sal  smert  bairn  ful  sare : 
when  god  sal  reyne  bairn  of  al  bat  bai 
haf  done  sen  bai  war  borne,  bat  fell  to 
syne.  Pan  sal  be  domes-man  schew 
his  woundes  til  al  man  folke,  bat  bai 
may  southely  se  what  he  vngilty  for 
bairs  synnes  tholede,  and  on  bis  maners 
he  sal  bairn  areyne:  »Of  be  erth  I  be 
toke  and  made  be  wz't#  my  hends,  and 
in  paradise  pat  lufely  stede  I  be  stalled 
bore  to  lende :  wz't/z-outen  cars  bar  to 
haf  bene  and  dwellid,  had  bou  bouxoms 
bene,  and  had  nogth  broken  be  for 
wards  bat  was  mad^  vs  bi-twene.  Bot 
sen  bou  my  biddyng  wz't^stod  and 
leeued  me  for  my  foo :  for-bi  my  rigth- 
wysnes  dampnes  pe  to  hele  bars  to  be 
in  sorow  &  wo.  And  when  I  sagth  bat 
bou  ille  ferid  so,  pyte  me  stird  to  rew 
on  be,  bhof  bou  nogth  ssruede  ;  I  ligth 
doune  in  til  be  erth  and  toke  be  kynd 
1  Ms.  eeu^r  viith.  *  r.  speluncas.  3  Ms.  mas. 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

wakyn  wzt/fc  ioie  at  his  callings  /  &  wend 
wz't^  him  til  dwelle  \n  blisse.  Bot  be 
synful  wreches  sal  seke  til  hide  bairn 
bat  bai  see  noght  his  dredeful  face  / 
bat  flais  paim  oute  of  pairs  wi(tte) ;  as 
Ysaie  sais :  Introibunt  in  cauernas  petra- 
rum  Sf  voragines  terre  /  a  facie  (for)mi- 
dinis  domini:  cum  surrexerit  percutere 
terram,  bat  is:  w^e  weried  synful  sal 
crepe  \n  to  pe  creuys  of  be  stane:  & 
\n  holis  \n  be  erth ,  for  to  hide  bairn 
fra  be  wrekeful  face  of  god  /  when  he 
risis  til  smyte  be  ertn>,  bat  is,  when 
he  sal  come  to  deme  erthli  men.  Of 
bis  comyngs  spekis  sa(yn)  Anselme  & 
sais :  »On  a  halfs  sal  ours  synnes  bittsrli 
bicalle  vs  of  be  slaghtsr  of  ours  saule. 
On  an  opsr  halfs  sal  stand  rightwisenesse, 
bat  na  pitee  is  v?hh.  Abouen  vs  /  pe 
wrekeful  domesman  /  pat  als  soft  as  he 
is  hers:  als  wrathful  he  is  pars;  mild 
hers:  storne  bars;  &  he  is  bathe  domes 
man,  &  wittenesse,  bat  wate  alle  ours 
giltis«.  //  Pat  ofer  aro(w)  is :  when  god 
sal  bairn  areyn  of  al  bat  bai  haue  mis- 
done  ,  sethen  bai  wars  borne ;  &  be 
domesman  sal  schew  his  woundis  til  alle 
men  /  bat  bai  mai  see  sotheli  bat  he 
vngiltli  tholid  for  pairs  synnes,  &  wz't# 
pis  word(es)  he  sal  paiw  areyne :  »Of  be 
erth  i  be  toke  /  &  \fiih  mi  handes  be 
made,  In  paradise  pat  loueli  stede  wz't/z- 
oute  kars  til  haue  duellid  /  if  pou  had 
bien  buxom  to  me  &  kepid  mi  comand- 
ments;  bot  sone  pou  brake  it,  &  left 
me :  for  mine  enemy ;  for-bi  rightwise 
nesse  dawzpnid  pe  til  helle,  pars  to  be 
n  sorugR  &  waa.  When  i  sagh  after 
pine  iuel  fare :  i  had  pite  on  pe  /  pof 
pou  nane  deseruid;  I  lightid  til  erth  & 
toke  pe  kyn  of  pe;  whars  i  was  sare 


(R.  Rolle :)  Meditation  on  the  Passion ;   and  of  3  arrows  on  Doomsday.    1 1  g 


Ms.  Rawl. 

of  be ,  whar^-In  I  mygth  for  J)i  gilt 
sare  pyned  be.  In  j)at  kynd  I  toke 
many  a  dispyte,  I  tholed  vilany  in  word 
awd  dede,  awd  for  be  was  bogth  &  said*? ; 
affter  ludas  had  said  me,  be  lewys 
buffeted  me  awd  spittid  in  my  face,  a«d 
•wit/i  scharpe  thornes  pay  corouned  me, 
and  wztA  knotty  skourges  bai  bete  me — 
al  bus  for  pe  was  I  digth.  tis  agth 
taf  mad  pe  rew  on  me,  had  p0u  bene 
kynd.  And^  in  my  threst  pai  gaf  me 
aysell  menged  \vit/t  bitter  gall ;  and  for 
be  pus  was  I  threlled  bath  fote  &  hand 
awd  naylled  on  be  tre,  awd  opend  my 
syd  w/'tA  a  spere  to  make  my  hert  bledde 
for  be.  I  forgate  my  self  for  me  list 
luf  pe :  ffor  on  pe  was  all  my  thogth ; 
all  pis  haf  I  done  for  pe,  a«d  bou  als 
ane  vnkynd  wryche  hafs  sette  it  at  nogth. 
*Now  vndirstand  pou  vnkynd  man,  lift 
vp  pi  heeued  &  loke  to  me,  bihald  my 
syd,  fote2  &  hand,  how  I  am  digth  for 
be.  J>us  am  I  digth  nogth  for  my  gylt 
bot  to  heele  bi  wondis  bat  war  so  sar*, 
and  })i  gilt  on  me  I  toke  bat  bou  suld 
luf  me  |)e  mare.  For  suth  I  ne  wate 
qwate  I  mygth  haf  done  mare  ban  I 
haf  done  for  be :  ffor-bi  be  bihoues 
now  nedely  schewe  qwat  bou  has  thoo- 
led  or  done  for  me.  For  now  rigth- 
wysnes  wil  bat  ilke  ane  haf  als  bai  haf 
smiede,  outhhv  to  dwel  in  payne  or  in 
blysse,  for  eeu^r  and  ay«.  How  sal  ban 
be  wricched  fare  when  he  sal  be  bus 
areynede  of  be  domes-man,  and  all  his 
synnes  openly  knawene  awd  schewed  to 
all  mens  sigth?  For  nogth  may  pare 
be  hid,  bot  bat  at  here  es  fordone  w/t/z 
scryft  of  mouth ;  for  als  be  haly  man 
lob  says:  Reuelabunt  celt  iniquitatem, 
et  terra  consurget  aduersus  eum.  And 
yhete  be  apostel  says:  Testimonium 
reddet  illis  consciencia  illorum ,  pat  es : 
»I*air£  awen  Inwite  sal  ber*  wittenes 
agaynes  bairn  «.  Who  may  better  bere 
wittenes  agaynes  man,  ban  he  bat  eeu<r 
dwellis  vfit/i  man,  bat  sese  &  knawes 
all  his  werkzV?  bat  es  mans  Inwite,  bat 
1  Cf.  poem  p.  71.  2  r.  fete. 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

pinid  &  despisid,  &  toke  for  pe  mikil 
vil(a)nie  in  dede  &  worde.  And  after 
ludas  had  salde  me:  pe  lues  toke  me, 
&  buffet  me  &  spittid  in  mi  face ; 
scharpe  thornis  pai  coronid  me, 
knottid  scourgis  pai  dang  me ;  so  laitheli 
pai  dight  me:  bat  i  was  like  a  mesell 
til  loke  on.  Al  f)is  aght  haue  gart  pe 
haue  pite  on  me  /  if  pou  had  bien 
kynde.  In  mi  thrist  bai  gaf  me  to 
drinks  aysill  myngid  witA  bitter  galle; 
bai  thirlid  mi  fete  &  handes:  &  nailid 
me  to  be  rode,  &  hopenid  mi  side  w/tA 
a  sper^:  &  made  mi  hert  til  blede.  I 
forgate  me  selfc:  for  on  be  was  al  mi 
thoght;  &  jjitte  bou  as  an  vnkind  :  settis 
al  at  noght.  Now  bou  vnkyndman 
vnderstand  &  loke  to  me ,  &  bihald  mi 
side  /  fete  &  handes  /  how  waful  i 
am  made  for  be,  &  to  hele  bi  wondes  ; 
&  for-bi  |)ou  suld  haue  louid  me  be 
mar^ ;  (for  i)  ne  wate  what  i  might 
haue  done  for  be :  mar£  ben  i  haue 
do(ne).  For-pi  nedli  bihoues  be  til 
schew :  what  bou  haues  done  or  tho(li)d 
for  me  ;  ffor  now  mi  rightwisnes  wil : 
bat  i  schape  til  ilk  man  his  mede  / 
to  dwelle  in  pyne  or  in  ioie  for  eau^r  / 
after  he  has  smiid«.  How  sal  pen  pe 
waried  synful  far^  /  when  he  is  pus 
reyned  of  pe  wrathful  domesman  /  & 
alle  his  synnes  schewid  til  alle  men? 
for  noght  mai  par^  be  hid :  bot  bat  was 
fordone  her£  vrit/i  schrifte;  for  hali  lob 
sais:  Reuelabunt  cell  iniquitatem  eius,  fy 
terra  consurget  aduersus  eum ,  bat  is : 
»heuen  sal  schew  be  wikednesse  of  be 
synful,  &  erth  sal  rise  &  stand  agayn 
hiw  &  ber<?  witnes  of  his  werkis«.  And 
^itte  be  apwtle  sais:  Testimonium 
reddet  illis:  consciencia  eorum ,  pat  is: 
»pain?  inwitte  sal  ber*  witnes  agayn 
be  synful",  fra  be  whilk^  man  mai  noght 


120 


Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  €285 


Ms.  Rawl. 

nogth  may  by  hide  fra.  And  yhete  his 
ille  werkes  sal  wend  with  hym  to  be 
dredful  dome,  &  stawd  by  hym  all  on 
rawe,  to  his  schame  and  to  all  man  folk, 
and  bus  bitterly  sal  with  hym  flyte  bat 
al  be  werlde  may  here :  »We«,  sal  bai 
say,  »er  base  werkis  bat  bou  with 
wrange  has  wrogth,  In  dispyte  of  bi 
gud  loord^  bat  bou  for  vs  sette  at  nogth ; 
for  bou  wrogth  vs  agaynes  (f.  68)  his 
wille  bat  schede  his  hert-blod  for  be, 
for-bi  we  er  now  gedired  alle  to-gider 
als  witenes  agayne  be;  for  bou  wald 
nogth  amend  be  qwils  bou  mygth.  Now 
be  forthynkes  bat  eeuer  bou  synned: 
bot,  sory  wriche,  alto  lat,  for  bou  had 
no  likyng  bot  in  vs ;  and  for-bi  we  now 
sal  be  with  be  in  pyne  w/tA-outene 
ende,  to  eke  bi  payne«.  f  fe  threde 
arowe  pat  he  sal  schote,  sal  be  when 
he  sal  say  bat  saynt  Mathew  says  in  be 
gospell:  Ite  mahdicti  in  ignem  eternum. 
I»e  haly  man  says:  »Sare  &  blody  er 
base  eghen  bat  for  smoke  &  hete  sal 
grete  ma  teris  ban  dropes  of  water  er  in 
be  se«.  Pou  may  ban  aske:  »Sen  bai 
sal  gret  so  mykel  water,  why  sleckis 
it  nogth  be  fyre  bat  bairn  so  hat  bryn- 
nes«?  Pane  answers  saynt  Anstyne  awd 
says  bat  »so  wodly  it  brynnes  eeuer  Hike 
&  so  stalward*  it  es  in  be  kynd  bat  if 
all  be  water  of  all  bis  werlde  ouer- 
flwed  it,  it  mygth  nogth  slecke  it,  ne 
yhet  litelle  kele  it;  bot  teres  makes  it 
mare  wodly  to  brynne  als  oyll  casten 
in  be  fyre«.  Mynde  of  bis  wordis  had 
be  haly  fader  bat  to  his  disciples  sayd 
&fter  bai  had  lange  on  hym  cryed  to 
say  bairn  sum  gud  word ;  ban  sayd  he : 
»My  dere  child^r,  leer  we  to  wepe  for 
our  synnes,  pat  we  wepe  nogth  for 
eeuww.  What  sorow,  qwat  dred  hopes 
bou  be  weryed  wrycches  sal  hafe  whene 
god  sal  say:  Ite  mahdicti  in  ignem 
eternum.  When  be  weryed  wryches  heres 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

hide.  And  ^itte  his  iuel  werkes  sal 
stand  bi  him  at  be  dredful  dome,  & 
bitterli  flite  with  him  &  sai:  »We  an? 
be  werkis  bat  bou  wreche  has  wroght 
\n  despite  of  pi  gode  lorde;  for  bou 
wroght  vs  agayn  his  wille:  bat  schad 
his  hert-blode  for  be.  Now  forthinkis 
be  bat  eauer  bou  synnid:  bot,  sari 
wreche,  /  al  to  late;  &  b^rfore  sal  we 
dwel  with  be  w/tA-outen  ende:  for  til 
eke  bi  pyne«.  //  Pe  .///.  arow  sal  he 
schote:  when  he  sais  bis  wordes:  Ite 
mahdicti  in  ignem  eternum,  bat  is :  »ga 
ge  waried,  in  til  endeles  fim<.  £e  hali 
man  sais:  »Pe  inee  of  ba  bat  ar*  in 
bat  fire  &  smoke :  sal  grete  ma  teres  / 
ben  water  is  iw  be  brade  see«.  Pis  fir<?, 
as  saynt  Austin  sais,  brennis  so  wodeli 
&  eauer  ilike  /  &  so  stalword  is  in  his 
kynd :  bat  bof  alle  bis  werldis  waters  it 
al  ouwflowid:  it  might  noght  bis  fir  2 
slokyn  nor  kele  it  a  litil.  Pis  fin?  makis 
ai  smoke,  bat  makis  be  wreches  til 
wepe;  &  pahvr  teres  strynthis  be  firf 
barf:  as  oil  wold  if  it  war^  castiri  in 
bis  fir<?  here.  Pe  hali  man  had  mynd 
of  bis  teres,  bat  said  til  his  disciples  / 
when  bai  had  lang<?  wed  on  him  til 
sai  baim  some  gode  worde:  »Mi  dere 
,  he  saide,  wepe  we  here:  so  bat 
teres  seche  vs  noght  in  helle«. 
When  be  waried  heris  &  wate  bat  bai 
are  dawpnid ,  &  wate  her  is  na  gayn- 
chare  ne  m^rci  to  fynd:  ben  he  sais  be 
wordes  of  lob :  »I>e  dai  mote  pens  bat 
i  was  borne  inne  /  &  be  night  bat  i 
was  cowceyuid  inne !  When  *  had  i 
bien  dead  in  mi  moders  wambe?  alias 
bat  sari  while  bat  ezuer  i  was  borne! 
Wharto  sette  mi  moder  me  on  hhv  kne, 
&  wesch"  me,  &  rokkid  me,  &  fed  me  on 
hir^  breste?  alias  be  while,  so  mikil 
trauail  sche  lost  /  bat  norist  me  a  brande 
til  smore  in  helle-fuv«.  When  bis  waful 
worde  Ite  mahdicti  &c.  is  said,  be 
i  =  whi  ne. 


(R,  Rolle:)  Meditation  on  the  Passion;  and  of  3  arrows  on  Doomsday. 


Ms.  Rawl. 

and  knawes  pat  pai  er  dampned  and 
pat  pare  es  na  gayne-calle  mercy  to 
craue,  pan  sal  pai  say  pe  vfordis  of  lob  : 
»f  e  day  mot  perysshe  pat  I  in  borne 
was,  and  pe  nygth  in  pe  whilke  I  con- 
sayued  was !  Alias  pat  sorye  while  pat 
I  borne  was,  pat  I  ne  had  bene  dede 
in  my  moder  wambe !  Whare-to  noryst 
my  modir  me  and  sette  me  on  hire 
knese  and  fed  me  of  hir  brest?  Alias 
pat  while !  so  mykele  trayuelle  scho 
lost,  and  noryst  of  me  a  brand  to 
smore  in  hell-fyer£«.  When  pis  of  goddis 
mouth  es  sayd,  pan  sal  pe  gude  be 
twynnede  fra  ylle,  pat  pai  sal  neeiur- 
mare  mete,  fan  sal  pe  foule  deeuells 
dryfe  pase  wrytches  in  til  hell  als  wod 
lyouns,  w/t//-outen  end  panr  forto  dwele. 
fan  sal  pay  wery  pe  tyme  pat  pai 
eeiur  ylle  wrogth ;  ffor  all  pat  paim  may 
pyne  sal  pai  redy  fynd.  For  pe  fendes 
pat  paim  sail  pyne  sal  neeu^r  wery  be, 
bot  eevur  Ilyke  freke  to  wirke  |)aim  all 
waa:  and  yhet  na  payne  sa[l]  mow  paim 
sla.  Nedderes,  snakis,  tadis  and  other 
venemous  beestis,  ma  {)an  I  can  neeuene, 
sal  lif  in  pat  fyre  als  fysshes  duse  in 
pe  flode,  to  pyne  pase  wrytches.  And 
yhet,  for  threst  at  pai  sal  haue,  pai 
sal  seke  |)e  neddir,  ffor  threst  pe 
venywm  out  to  souke,  for  pe  hate  fyre 
at  pai  er  In.  fare  sal  na  thyng  be  herd 
bot  yhellyng  and  Crying  and  grettyng. 
And  ligth  es  pare  nane ,  for  smoke  it 
for-duse.  fan  wald  pai  be  fayne,  and 
pyne  wald  paim  slaa.  Bot  goddis  childir, 
j)at  here  haf  done  his  wille,  with  aungells 
sal  be  lede  tile  heeuene,  In  loy  and 
blysse  to  dwelle  eeu^r  without ene  ende. 
To  pe  whilk  loy  he  brynge  vs  pat 
bogth  vs.  Amen.  Amen.  Amen. 


Ms.  Arund.  507. 

latheli  deuels  sal  geder  pe  iuel  fra  pe 
gode,  &  as  wode  lions:  draw  paiw  til 
helle  /  eauer  partf  to  be  in  al  pe  pynes 
pat  mai  be  on  thoght.  For  pe  fendes 
pat  sal  paiw  pyne:  sal  neauer  be  weri, 
bot  eauet  ilik  fresche,  til  wirki?  paim  waa ; 
&  pir  sari  wreches  /  na  pyne  mai  sla 
paiw.  Neddres  /  snakis  &  tades  &  optr 
venemouse  bestes  sal  life  in  pat  hate 
fire  /  as  fistl  in  water:  til  pyne  pa 
wreches ;  &  for  (f.  45)  thrist  pat  pai 
haue:  pfaij1  sal  souke  pe  venym  oute  of 
pe  neddr^s  heuid(es.  fare)  sal  noght  be 
herd  /  bot  Celling*'  &  gretyng  &  gnaistingj 
of  tethe.  (Light)  is  par?  nane  for  smoke, 
bot  so  mikel  m^rknesse:  pat  men  mai 
it  g'rape,.  /  Bot  goddis  awen  childn?  pat 
haues  done  hen?  his  wille  :  sal  be  ledde 
w(ith)  angels  til  pe  blisse  of  heuen  / 
par£  til  be  in  ioie  /  eau<r  w*t/j-outen 
ende.  Svo)  grete  is  pat  ioie,  as  pe 
apostle  tellis :  pat  na  hert  mai  it  thinks  / 
ne  iee  it  (se).  If  man  might  be  in  pat 
ioie  /  halfc  an  hour*  &  felid  pat  heuewli 
likyngt'  /  &  ware  broght  agayn  til  pis 
middel  erth  :  so  strange  payne  it  war^ 
t(il)  him  til  \ife  henr-inne,  /  pat,  of  al 
pe  welth  of  pis  werld  wan?  at  his  wille, 
he  wold  his  bodi  wan?  dalte  \n  a  thou 
sand  pecis  /  til  wynne  pat  ioie  a(gayn) 
pat  he  come  fra.  //  Think*?,  pou  was  vtith 
\hesvi  Cn'st  in  alle  his  paynes,  &  pat 
p0u  stode  so  nere  him  in  al  his  passion- 
tyme  &  al  pe  hardnes  pat  was  done  til 
him :  &  be  awondird  pat  so  gr^te  a  lord 
wold  thole  swilktf  hardnesse:  &  falle 
p(ou)  doune  to  pe  erth  ,  as  gilti  of  his 
deade,  &  thank  hiw  of  pe  woundes  pat 
he  for  pe  tholid  /  &  haue  hiw  eauer  in 
mynde.  Thinks  noght  of  alle  pis  to- 
geder  at  ane  tyme  /  as  pai  stand  in 
ordr£ ,  for  kolyng^  of  deuoc/on :  bot 
n(ow)  on  ane  /  now  on  ane  o\>er  /  as 
pou  felis  pat  god  pe  steris  /  thorugh 
his  der^  g'race) .  //  f  us  mani  woundes 
suffird  god  for  man  kynde :  ffyue  thou- 
sa(nd)  &  foun?  hundretft  &  sexti  &  fiftene. 
And  if  pou  sai  ilk  dai  of  pe  (^)ere 
fiftene:  pou  sal  sai  als  many  pater 
in  pe  hale 
>  Ms.  \tat. 


122  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

ii.     (Against  Boasting  and  Pride). 

VJreuous  es  pe  vice  of  bostyngs  &  pride,  and  full  perilous  it  es ,  ffor  it  castes 
doun  saules  fra  be  heygthnes  of  psrfeccyons;  and  parfor  I  wille  ^e  wante  first 
pat  vice  of  all  opere.  ^[  Bot  pis  vice  has  twa  spices:  ^f  It  falles  to  some  alstite 
in  bygynnynge  of  bairs  tz/mynge  to  god,  qwene  bai  hafe  done  a  litil  whate  (f.  69) 
to  god  in  fastyngs  or  in  gret  bodely  penaunce  doynge  or  in  mekelle  almus  gyfyngs ; 
pai  suld  pan  feele  mekyly  of  baim-selfe,  as  if  pai  had  done  rygth  nogth  or  cells 
bat  pai  had  castene  away  pat  pay  hafe  gifene  in  alnmr :  ^[  pai  do  nogth  sa,  bot 
be  contrary,  ffor  pai  fele  of  paim-selfe  pat  pai  er  better  bane  ober,  &  hegher 
in  grace  pane  pai  er  be  whylke  pai  gafe  alnmy  to ;  pis  es  pryde.  ^[  Anoper  spice 
es  pis :  whene  a  mane  es  cowmene  to  hegth  psrfeccione  &  arettis  it  nogth  mekely 
to  pe  grace  of  gode  bot  to  his  aghene  tnzyuell  and  to  his  aghene  stody,  &  sa 
sekes  he  ioy  withoutene  of  men  &  leefes  verray  ioy  within  of  god.  ^[  Wharsfore, 
my  dere  sons,  on  all  wise  flee  ^e  be  vice  of  bost  and  pryde:  bat  7,e  fall  nogth 
Omni  in  be  lake  pat  pe  feend  fell  in  for  his  pride.  ^[  For-pi  mekyll  bysynes  es  for 
se'riuT*0  sete  aboute  &  thoghtes,  &  abotite  kypyng  of  pi  hert.  ^[  Be  war  pat  na  couetyse 
cor  ne  wykked  luste  ne  vayne  yhernywg  ne  ogth  pat  es  agayne  pe  wille  of  god, 
festene  rote  in  pi  hert :  ^f  ffor  why,  of  swylke  manure  of  rotis  cowtynualy  sprynges 
out  braunches  of  vayne  ioy  &  vnpr0fytabyll  thoghtes  &  fleschly  desyres ,  &  pay  er 
pane  sa  presand  &  sa  gredy  pat  whils  we  pray  &  standes  in  pe  sigth  of  god  for 
to  offere  ours  prayers  &  onre  gud  thoghtes  to  god  for  heel  of  our  saules ,  pai 
sese  nogth  for  to  tary  vs  anely,  bot  alswa  bai  refe  fra  vs  our-selfe,  our  mynde 
&  our1  thogth ,  als  prisoners;  bat  whene  we  seme  standand  in  prayer  -with 
our  body ,  neu^e-beles  we  stray  out  wzt#  ours  felyngs  &  our  thogth  &  er  led 
avaye  with  sere  thyngss  als  falls  in  our  thoghtes.  ^[  And  par-for  he  pat  wenes 
pat  he  has  forsakene  pe  werlds  &  pe  werkes  of  pe  feende,  It  suffice  nogth  anly 
in  pat,  pat  he  leefe  his  possessions  &  his  landes  &  his1  werldly  ryches  &  all 
werldly  p^fehtes  pat  ere  wzt/z-outene  hyw-selfe,  ^[  bot  if  he  also  forsake  his 
aghene  vice  &  cast  fra  hym  his  vayne  fleschly  wills  pat  are  wztfc-in  hym,  festynd 
to  hym  by  corruptions  of  kynde,  &  are  waxene  vp  wz'U  hym  fra  his  yhouthed. 
£is  it  ar<?  of  be  whylke  saynt  Paule  says  $us :  ^  »Vayne  yhernywgs  &  noyous,  pat 
gers  men  synke  in  endles  dede«.  ^f  For  whi,  he  pat  forsakys  pis  [werld]  2,  he  forsakys 
pe  feende  wz'tA  all  his  werkz'-r.  ^f  fe  feend  of  hym-selfe  may  nogth  dere  vs,  bot 
thurgth  occaciouwe  of  syne  &  a  gate  of  wikkyd  wille  in  our-selfe  he  entres  & 
crepis  in  prmely  in  to  our  h^tes ;  ^[  ffor  als  virtus  ar  of  god,  rigth  sa  are  vices 
of  pe  feende,  ^[  and  parfor  if  vices  festyne  rotes  in  our  hertzV,  sothly  whilke 
tyme  pe  feend  cowmes  pat  es  pairs  prnice,  pai  gyf  sted  to  hym  as  to  pairs  aghen 
lords,  &  ledis  hym  to  pe  saule  as  to  his  aghene  possessione.  ^[  And  parfor  swylke 
hertz'*  may  neusr  hafe  pes  ne  trew  rest,  bot  bay  are  trobled  ay  &  drouyd,  &  ay 
ferred  &  vnstable  in  bairn,  &  now  bai  are  liftid  vp  in  to  vayne  gladenese  &  now 
pay  artf  castyne  doitne  sodaynly  in  to  vnpn?fytable  sarynes ;  ^j  ffor  whi,  bai  hafe 
wz't^-in  bai/;z  a  wykked  ost ,  pat  es  be  feend  wonnand  in  bairn ;  to  hym  pai 
gaife  leefe  thurgth  lust/V  &  passiouws  of  syne  for  to  entre  in  paim.  ^[  Rygth  on 
be  contrary  wise  a  mane  pat  sothfastly  has  forsakene  pe  luf  of  pe  werld :  pat  es 
he  pat  has  schorne  &  cutte  avaye  all  vices  fra  his  hert  &  leues  na  entre  to  pe 
1  expunged.  2  om. 


(W.  Hilton?)  Against  Boasting  and  Pride.  123 

fende  thurgth  schrewed  wils  for  to  come  in  to  hym;  bat  flees  all  prtd,  brekes 
doune  wrethe  &  malencoly,  hates  all  maner  of  lesyng/V,  vggis  v?itk  enuy,  &  noth 
anely  wile  nogth  bakbite,  bot  he  wil  nogth  suffre  hym-selfe  feele  anes  or  supos 
any  euele  of  his  eeuene-cn'stene,  and  haldes  be  grace  &  be  comfort  of  his  euene- 
m'stene  als  his  aghene,  &  pair*  disees  arettis  to  his  aghene  desese.  tat  kepis 
bis  &  op*r  vertous  like  to  bis,  he  stoppis  out  be  feend  £  openes  a  place  in  his 
saule  to  be  haly  gast:  be  whilke,  whene  he  es  entred  in,  he  lightenes  be  saule 
&  thurgth  his  blyssed  presence  comfortes ;  &  whils  he  es  ofte  wonnand  par^-in, 
it  es  ay  ioy,  gladenes  &  gastly  myrth,  ay  luf  &  charite,  paciens,  gudenes,  &  clennes, 
chastite  &  ofvr  \ertous  bat  ar^  be  fruyte  of  be  haly  gast.  *j  And  pat  es  pat  omv 
lord  says  in  be  gospele :  ^[  »A  gud  tre  may  nogth  make  badde  fruyte,  ne  an 
euele  tree  may  nogth  bryng  forth  gud  fruyte.  Whate  bat  be  tree  es,  be  be 
fruyte  it  es  kna\vene«.  ^[  fan:  er  some  bat  semes  as  pai  had  forsakene  be  werld,  Contra 
bot  bai  hafe  na  cure  ne  bysenes  aboute  be  clensyng  of  bain?  conscience,  €(j  ne  yt^°c"t~ 
bai  hafe  na  tr<zuele  to  cutte  avay  vices  &  fleschly  passiouws  fra  |)ain-  saule,  &  Lollar- 
for 1  to  aray  pain'  saule  in  gud  thewes  &  in  \ertous ;  pai  haf  na  heigh  bar^-to, 
bot  all  pain?  stody  es  outward  for  to  seme  haly  to  be  sygth  of  be  werld ;  &  pai 
er  besy  for1  to  visete  haly  men  &  wyse  men  &  see  bairn,  &  for  to  hen:  of  paim 
some  gud  wordis  of  edification*.1 :  pat  pai  mygth  preche  &  telle  pe  same  wordis  pat 
pai  (f.  70)  haue  herd  to  op^r  men  w*t//  auauntyngj  awd  vayne  glory  of  pai///,  pat  bai 
can  sai  sa  wele.  And  prrchaunce  some  of  paim  when  bai  hafe  herd  or  rede  a 
litele  of  haly  write  or  has  gettyne  a  litele  cuwnyngj  of  techyng  of  haly  faders, 
alstite  bai  make  baiw-self  doctowrs  &  wille  teche  op*r  men,  nogth  pat  pai  hafe 
fulfilled  in  werkes,  bot  bat  bai  haf  htt'd  £  sene  in  bokes ,  ^j  and  sa  bai  p/'^some 
of  pair*  aghene  connynge  £  despice  op^r  pat  er  synfull ;  &  pai  couete  state  or 
prelacy,  pat  pai  mygth  teche  all  men :  *J[  nogth  knawand  pis  pat  it  es  lesse  de- 
faute  to  hym  pat  schynes  in  vt'rtoues  £  oiur-passis  in  conyngj  and  yhit  he  dan? 
nogth  teche,  pan  it  es  to  hym  pat  es  ou^r-layde  viii/i  passions  £  vices  &  he 
p^somes  wilfully  to  teche  op<r  men  of  vertoues.  ^[  Sa  it  semes  pat  pe  state  of 
prrlacy  or  of  suffereynte,  it  es  nogth  for  to  fley  vterly,  ne  it  es  na  gates  for  to 
aske  ne  to  couete :  bot  all  our^  werkes  £  all  our  bysenes  es  for  to  gif  hen'-to 
bat  vices  may  be  ripid  out  of  our^  saules,  £  \crious  mygth  be  gettyne  in.  ^[  fe 
tob<?r  es  for  to  leeue  to  be  dome  of  god  whayme  he  wille  take  to  sowraynte  & 
goumiauwce,  &  whame  nogth ;  for  he  es  nogth  worthi  bat  prefers  hym-self 
forth  p^rto,  bot  he  bat  god  chesis  &  takis.  ^[  te  werke  of  a  parfite  s^ruaund  of  Opus 
god  es  pis:  pat  he  may  offer  a  clene  praier  to  god,  hauand  na  thyng  blameworhthi,  p^^fti 
ne  nane  vnclennes,  in  his  conscience,  fan  may  he  pray  frely,  as  our  lord  sais  entis 
in  be  gospell :  ^|  »When  ^e  stand  for  to  pray,  fforgifes  your  breth^r  all  bat  bat 
bai  haf  done  agaynes  ^ou ;  ffor  if  ^e  forgif  it  nogth,  youn?  fad^r  in  heeuene  wile 
nogth  forgyfe  ^ou.«  ^[  Andt'  parfor,  if  we  \fi\Ji  a  clene  hert  may  stand  be-fore  our 
lord^,  &  fre  made  be  grace  fra  alle  vice  &  passiouns  of  be  saule  befor  neuende, 
pan  at  arst  may  we  see  god,  als  mykele  as  it  es  possible  for  to  se  hym  her* :  ffor 
»clene  of  h^rt  sal  se  god«  ;  %  and  ban  whene  we  pray,  we  sal  sete  pe  egth  of 
our  saule  in  hym  &  se  hytn  pat  es  vnseable,  nogth  viitk  bodely  egth,  bot  in 
thogth ;  nogth  w/tA  lukyng  of  fleschly  egth ,  bot  be  be  vnd^rstandenge  of  be 
saule  illumyned  thurgh  grace,  ^f  Luke  bat  a  mane  wene  nogth  bat  he  may  hym- 
1  expunged. 


12A  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

selfe  se  pe  blyssed  substance  of  f)e  godhed  as  it  es ;  ne  bat  a  man  paynte  hym 
ane  ymage  for  any  schape  of  godhede ;  ffor  whi,  par?  es  na  bodely  schappe  of 
pe  blyssed  traiite.  Our  blyssed  vnseable  god  may  be  p^rseyued  alanle  be  inly 
vnd^rstandyng ,  &  he  may  be  felid  &  touched  &  halsid  anely  thurgh  a  gastly 
affeccion? ;  bot  he  mai  nogth  fully  be  comprehendid,  ne  tellid  be  tonge,  ne  discried 
be  lyknes.  He  passes  alle  fleschly  felyng  &  ymaginaciomze.  And  parfor  it  be- 
houes  vs  with  all  manure  of  reu^rence  &  w/t&  lufly  drede  come  to  pe  presence 
of  god  in  our  prayers,  and  in  alle  our  gastly  werkes,  and  sa  praite  in  hym  be 
gastly  byhaldyng  of  our?  saule  pat  what  manure  of  schynyng?  or  brygthnes, 
light  or  fayrhede  pat  a  saule  may  thynke  or  ymagyne,  pat  he  feele  ay  god 
abouene  pis,  pat  may  nogth  be  sene.  |  £at  may  pe  saule  wele  feele  if  it  be 
clene,  as  it  es  befor  sayde,  pat  it  be  nogth  occupid  ne  ou?rlayd  -with  fleschly 
lustes.  And  par?for  it  nedis  paim  pat  forsakis  pe  werld  &  makis  paim  to  folwe 
Crist,  fforto  gif  pair?  trayuell,  as  it  es  befor  sayd,  pat  pai  mygth  folfile  pat 
Dauid  sais  pz^ :  *[[  »Cese  7,e,  &  seese  pat  I  am  god.«  ^[  And  pan,  if  ^e  come  to 
pis  knawyng?  of  god  pz«  wz't/&  clennes  of  h?rt :  aft?r  pat  it  es  possible  to  a  saule 
to  receife  pe  knawyng  of  pe  sacrement  of  god  &  of  heuenly  praietese;  &  pe 
clenn?r  pat  pe  saul  es,  pe  ma  thyngs  god  schewys  hym ;  ffor  he  tellis  to  hym 
pan  his  preuetese  for  he  es  mad  godis  frend,  as  pai  war?  to  pe  whilke  our? 
lord  sais  pus :  »Now  I  tell  7,ou  noth  s?ruaundz'.r,  bot  frenddes,  ffor  whi  I  make 
knawene  vnto  ^ou  all  pat  I  hafe  herd  of  my  fad?r«.  &  pan  what-sa  he  askw  of 
god,  as  to  a  dere  frend  it  es  granttid;  yha  &  ou?r-mare  pe  haly  aung?lls  &  all 
blyssed  spyretz-y  lufes  swylke  a  saule ,  ffor  it  es  sette  in  luf  &  partite  charite  sa 
stedfastly  pat  »nop?r  dede  ne  life  ne  aungels  ne  prznces  ne  powers  ne  na  oth?r 
creatowrres  may  depart  it  fra  pat  es  in  Crist  Ihmi«,  as  saynt  Paule  sayd.  ^[  And 
parfor,  dere  brether,  sen  ^e  haue  chosyne  pe  life  of  p?rfeccion?  for  to  plese 
god  &  for  to  come  to  his  lufe,  f  hike  first  bisely  pat  ?e  be  mad  strange  &  ferre 
fra  vice  of  przd  &  of  bostyng,  &  fra  all  pe  vice  of  pe  saul,  &  fra  all  fleschly 
delites.  ^[  Fleschly  delites  I  cal  nogth  anely  daynteth  metes  pat  men  of  pis  werld 
takes  for  lust:  bot  I  cal  dayntes  all  thyngs  pat  es  takene  of  couetese  &  fleschly 
yhernyng?;  al  if  it  be  vile  in  it-selfe  &  of  litele  prz'se,  as  bred  &  water;  if  it  be 
takene  for  luste  &  noth  for  nede  of  body,  bot  for  to  make  a-seth  to  pe  fleschly 
yernyng,  it  es  arettid  as  fleschly  delites.  It  nedis  to  a  saule  parfor  vse  it-self 
how  it  may  be  fere  fra  syne;  sa  says  our  lord,  pus:  »Entres  by  pe  narow  gate  : 
ffor  wyde  &  brade  es  pe  way  pat  ledis  to  losyng:  ^f  Strayte  &  narowe  es  it  pat 
ledis  to  life«.  Large  es  pe  way  of  pe  saule  when  it  makes  a-seth  to  any  fleschly 
desire  &  folowes  it.  ^[  Bot  strayte  es  pe  way  when  it  feghtes  &  agayn-standes  ylka 
fleschly  desire  &  ylka  vicious  steryng^.  It  helpis  mekell  to  (f.  71)  a  saule  forto  gette 
pis  p^rfecciouw :  pryue  dwellyng  &  anely  conu£rsacion£ ;  for  it  fallis  oft  thurgth 
comuTsacion<?  of  men  &  cowynge  &  gayngtf  of  brether?  &  spekynge,  a  man  es 
mad  mare  louse  in  abstinence  &  in  contenance  *  &  in  kepyng^  of  his  hert ;  &  swa 
sume-tyme  thurgh  occacione  a  man  falls  in  custome  &  in  vse  of  fleschly  delites; 
&  sa  er  parfite  men  some-tyme  drawene  doune  fra  pair?  p<?rfeccion?.  For-pi  said 
Dauid  pw.y:  »I  flyed  &  lengthed  me  &  dwelled  in  anely  stede,  &  layd2  hym  pat 
saued  me  fra  scorne  of  pe  spyrite«.  Deo  gracias  amen. 


1  r.  continence.        2  =  laited;  exspectabam  Ps.  54,  8. 


Sayings  of  Fathers.  125 

12.     (Sayings  of  Fathers).1 

1  ray  god  pat  he  wil  gif  to  pe  cowpungc/on  &  wepywg  in  pi  hert,  vrith  me- 
kenes,  &  ay  hike  on  pi  nawene  synnes,  &  deme  nogth  oth^r,  hot  be  vnd^loute 
to  all ;  ne  haf  na  hamely  frenschipp^  with  wymen,  ne  wttk  heritiks,  ne  w/t/z  child^r. 
5f  Cntte  away  fra  pe  ou^r-mykell  triste,  &  hald^  pi  tonge,  &  abstene  be  fra  wyne; 
&  whate  a  man  spekes  to  pe,  stryue  nogth  agayne  hym  for  na  cause,  bot,  if  he 
say  wele,  ac(c)o(o)rd2  vrith  hym;  If  he  say  euyll,  say  to  hym  pus:  wBroth^r,  pou 
wate  pat  pou  says«,  bot  stryue  nogth  vftt/t  hym:  &  ban  sal  pi  saul  be  restfull 
&  in  pees  of  quiete  conu^rsaciouwe.  Amen. 

^  Saynt  Agathon  said  pat  wztA-outene  kepyng  a  man  sal  nogth  come  to  \er- 
toue.  ^f  A  haly  fader  sayd:  »Haf  mynd  of  pi  last  forthgayng  &  forgette  nogth 
pe  endeles  dome:  &  \>er  sal  na  syne  rest  in  pi  saule«.  ^[  Atova  he  said  pus: 
»For  als  mekill  as  our  thoth  es  letted  &  drawen  doun  fra  contemplacionc'  &  sigth 
of  god,  par^for  ere  we  ou^fcomene  &  lede  away  as  caytefs  vfit/i  maystry  of 
fleschly  passiouws«.  ^[  Saynt  Sincletica  said  \>us :  »A11  wille  we  de  safe,  bot  for 
our  necgligewce  &  our  slawnes  we  fal  &  fales  fra  saluacion^:  tarfor  life  we 
sobirly,  wakirly,  &  besely;  ffor  whi,  be  be  wy[n]do[u]es3  of  our<?  fyue  wittes,  nyl 
we  sa  wile  we,  thefes  comes  in.  How  may  it  be  ells,  bot  a  house  sail  nedis  be 
blake  &  soty  w*t^-in,  If  smoke  syncce  in  ay  fra  w/t^-outene  at  pe  wyndouse  pat 
er  na  tyme  stokyne?  Rigth  sa  it  es  of  our*  saule,  &  p^rfore  it  nedis  to  be  outf 
all  armyd  w/t/f-in  and  w;'t£-outene  agaynes  our<?  gastly  ennemys,  for  pai  come  & 
prases  on  vs  fra  w/t/2-outene  at  ourtf  bodely  wittes,  &  bai  stirte  &  ryses  wzt/z-in 
vs  be  ymaginacione  of  vayne  thoghtes«.  ^[  Saynt  Arseyne  says  pus:  »As  na  man 
may  hurte  hym  ne  harme  hym  pat  es  contenuelly  beside  f)e  kynge  in  his  pre 
sence:  rigth  sa  may  Sathanas  nogth  hurte  ne  harme  vs  if  omv  saule  clefe 
stabely  to  god  in  behaldyngt*  of  hym ;  ffor  it  es  wrytene  fyus :  ,  Neigh  7fe  to  me 
and  I  sal  negh  to  ^ow.'  Bot  for  als  mekil  as  we  oft-sithes  liftes  vp  our-self  to 
pride  &  has  vayne  ioy  in  our  hert/V,  p^rfor  grace  god  withdrawes  &  our  enmy 
ligthly  rauysches  our^  wykked  saule  to  syne  &  drawes  [it]  doune  in  to  schamefull 
passions  of  lych^/y  &  of  fleschly  vnclennes«.  ^[  Saynt  Machary*  was  askid  \)us : 
»how  sal  a  man  pray?«  &  he  aunswerd^  pus:  »It  nedis  nogth  to  spek  mekil 
w*'t>&  voce  in  prayyng;  bot  lift  vp  pi  bert  to  god,  &  oft  streke  vp  pi  handes  to 
hym  &  say  pus:  ,Lord,  as  pou  wille  &  as  pou  wate,  haf  m^rcy  on  me!'  ^[  And 
if  fightyng  of  tewptaciontf  prese  in  to  pi  saule,  say  as  Dauid  did,  pis  word*? : 
Deus,  in  adiutoriuw  meuw  intende:  ,God,  helpe  me'.  And  for  he  wate  qwat 
es  spedfull  til  vs,  p^rfor  he  sal  do  wi'tA  vs  his  m^rcy.«  ^[  A  fader  said  pus:  »If  a 
brob^r  falle  in  any  defaute,  late  hym  pray  fast,  ffor  assiduell  prayer  sone  correct^ 
a  saule. «  ^f  Alswa  he  said  pus:  »As  it  es  inpossible  pat  a  mane  see  his  face  in 
drouye  water,  rigth  swa  a  saul,  bot  it  be  clennsed  fra  vnclene  &  strange  thoght/J, 
may  nogth  contewplatifely  pray  god.«  *[  Saynt  Agathon  said  pus:  »A  parfite  ser- 
uaund  of  god  sal  nogth  suffr*  his  conscience  accuse  hym-self  in  na  thyng:  awd 
pan  es  it  clene  conscience."  ^[  A  broper  sayd  to  a  fad^r  pus:  »I  desire  for  to 
kepe  my  h^rt.«  &  he  answerd  pus:  »How  may  we  kepe  our  hert  if  our  tonge 


1  Similar  collections  of  sayings  are   not   unfrequent;   some  more  are  extant  in  Ms.  Bodl.  938, 
Laud  210;  cf.  p.  106.        2  some  letters  are  erased.        *  Ms.  wysdomes.        4  Ms.  Mathary. 


126  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285. 

haf  ay  pe  yhate  opyne?«  ^[  A  haly  fader  said  pus:  »I  suffred  never  thogth  rest 
in  my  hert  pat  greft/1  gode.«  ^  Alswa  he  sayd  pus:  »As  knyghtzV  of  pe  emp<<rour<?, 
when  pay  stand  by-for  hym,  pay  suld  luke  on  nop^f  syde,  nother  on  pe  rygth 
ne  on  pe  lefte :  rigth  swa  goddes  smiaund^  when  he  standes  in  pe  sigth  of  god 
&  his  entent  es  alle  tyme  sette  in  pe  dred  of  god,  par*  es  na  thyng  pat  may 
hurte  &  outcome  hym  be  malice  of  his  adu£rsaries.«  ^[  A  fader  said  pus:  wte 
life  of  a  paffit  s^maund  of  god  aw  to  be  mad  efter  pe  folowyng  of  aungels: 
Rigth  as  in  aungels  es  na  syne ,  rigth  swa  in  hym  suld  na  syne  endure,  bot  it 
suld  as  tit  be  brynte  &  waschid  thurgth  pe  grace  of  pe  haly  gast,  as  stykkes 
in  pe  nen-.ct  ^  Alswa  he  said  fyus:  »I  hope,  bot  if  a  man  kepe  his  hert, 
he  sal  be  forgetill  and?  rekles  of  all  pat  he  heris ;  ffor  whi:  when  pe  enimy 
fyndzV  a  rekles  hert  vnkepid  &  nogth  tentyd  to,  als  fast  he  by  gyles  it  vond^r  slely, 
&  nogth  sodaynly,  bot  sokandly2.«  ^f  A  fader  sayd  bus:  »Sathanas  has  thre  snarres 
pat  gas  bifor  all  ofyer  (f.  72)  synnes  in  a  saule :  pe  first  es  forgetyng,  pe  secound 
es  rekleshed  &  n^clegence,  pe  thrid  es  luste  or  concupiscence ;  fforgetyng  genders, 
neclegence,  &  of  n^clegence  es  concupiscence  caused,  &  fra  Concupiscence,  when 
it  es  s^niyd,  falls  a  man  in  to  werke  of  all  synes.  ^arefore  make  we  first  pe 
hert  sobin?,  pat  it  cast  away  forgetyng :  &  pan  sal  it  noth  falle  in  rekleshed ;  and 
if  it  be  nogth  rekles,  it  sal  wele  eschew  &  flee  luste:  awd  if  he  may  eschewe 
luste  &  fleschly  lykyng^s  with  pe  help  of  goddw  grace,  he  sal  never  fall  in  euyl 
werke.«  ^[  Saynt  Ion  sayd  pus:  »If  a  kynge  wil  take  a  cyte,  he  stoppis  first  pe 
water,  pat  pe  vitayles  may  nogth  come  to  pe  cyte.  Rigth  swa  it  es  if  a  man 
trauayll  hym-self  in  fastyng  &  in  hunger:  fe  passions  of  gloteny  sal  pmscR,  £ 
his  enmys  pat  p^rswys  hym  sal  feble.«  ^[  A  broper  said  pus:  »I  am  frele  &  pe 
passions  of  lich^y  ou^rledis  me:  what  may  I  doo?«  A  haly  fader  answerd  pus: 
»At  pe  bygywnyng  when  pe  steryng  comes  &  pou  feele  pe  feend  speke  in  pi 
hert  of  lichery,  answer  hym  nogth  be  flitand  wordzV,  bot  ryse  vp  &  pray  god 
with  mekenese  &  with  repentance,  sayand  pus:  ,  Ihwu  goddzV  sone,  hafe  m^rcy 
on  me',  &  stynte  nogth.«  ^  A  brother  asked  a  fader:  »how  sal  I  doo?«  &  he 
answerd  pus :  »If  pou  wil  fynd  rist  in  pis  werld  &  in  pat  ofyer,  say  ylke  a  day : 
,Whate  am  I?',  &  deme  nane«.  ^[  A  brother  askid  a  fader  how  he  suld  wone  in  his 
congregations.  And  he  answerd^  pus:  »Rigth  as  on  pe  first  day  when  pou  comes 
in,  as  meke  &  as  deuote,  as  sobire  &  as  paciente,  rigth  swa  be  all  pe  days  of 
pi  lyfe  with  paiimr ;  &  tak  na  triste  to  pe  of  pi  life:  ffor  whi,  pan?  es  na  werse 
passione  to  pi  saule  pan  trist  in  pi  life  &  fals  sekyrnes ,  ffor  whi,  it  es  modir  & 
bryng^  forth  of  all  ofyer  passions. «  ^[  A  brother  said  [to]  a  fad^r  pus:  »how  may  I 
be  safe?«  &  he  answerd^  pus:  »If  pou  wille  be  safe:  when  pou  gase  to  any 
man,  speke  not  fyrst  til  he  aske  pe.«  ^f  Saynt  Machary  sayd  pus:  »If  we  vmbe- 
thynke  vs  of  euyls  pat  has  bene  layd  apon  vs  of  men,  pan  cutte  we  away  fra 
our  mynd  v^toue  to  thynke  of  god.  Bot  if  we  thynke  of  euylls  pat  feendes 
doose  to  vs ,  pan  sal  we  eschap  alle  temptaciouws.«  ^  A  brother  asked  Pastor 
pus:  »If  I  see  a  gud  thyng,  sal  I  tell  it  als  fast?«  He  answerd  pus:  »Wha  sa 
answers  or  he  be  askyd,  he  doose  foly ;  parfor  if  pou  be  askid,  answer,  ellis 
be  stile !«  ^f  A  fader  sayd  pus:  »It  nedis  a  saul  pat  wil  comi^rsen  aft^  pe  wil 
of  Cmte,  for  to  lere  trewly3  p^t  he  can  nogth,  &  for  to  konne  appsrtily  pat  he 
cane;  &  if  he  wille  nogth  doo  bath  whene  he  may  in  tyme,  he  es  gastly  wode.« 
1  Ms.  grefe?  2  jSokingly:  suckingly,  gently*;  Halliwell.  3  Ms.  trowly. 


Sayings  of  Fathers.  127 


^[  Alswa  :  »pe  bygywnyng  of  departyng  fra  god  es  when  a  man  yrkes  &  heuys 
leryng  &  heryng  of  goddzV  word  :  ffor  when  he  has  not  appetite  for  to  her*  pat 
pe  saul  desires  &  huwgres,  how  lufs  he  god?«  ^f  A  fader  said  pus:  pat  hyw 
thogth  na  thyng  better  in  pis  life  pan  a  man  ay  blame  hym-selfe  &  repr*hend 
in  all  his  werkes  wztA-outene  cesyng.  *([  Saynt  Ion  said  p«j:  »Mekenes  es  pe 
yhat  to  heuene-ward*,  &  our  forne  faders  assaid  be  many  tr/bulacions  of  me- 
kenes  entred  in  to  be  cyte  of  god.«  ^[  A  fader  said  pus:  »A  man  pat  neghes  to 
god  thurgth  grace,  pe  mar*  clerely  sal  he  see  &  feele  hym-self  a  synn*r;  ffor 
Ysaye  pe  pn?phete,  when  he  saw1  god,  pan  cryed  he  &  sayd  hym-self  a  wreche 
&  vnclene.«  *[  A  fader  said  pus:  »Whene2  a  thogth  of  pryde  or  of  vayne-glory 
touchis  pe,  for  to  entre  into  pine  h*rt,  raunsake  wele  pi  conscience  if  pou  haf 
kepid  wele  all  pe  bedyngs  of  god  ,  If  p0u  luf  pi  enmys,  If  pou  be  glade  in  |)i 
enmys  wele-fare,  If  pou  be  sary  in  his  lessyng,  If  pou  knaw  £  fele  pi-self  a 
synn*r,  a  s*ruaund  vnprofitable  to  pi  lord  god,  &  werst  of  all  synn*rs  ;  &  if  f)<m 
feele  of  pi-self  pat  p0u  has  not  7}\i  amendid  alle  pi  defautes  in  pe.  For  witte 
pou  wele  pat  swylke  man*r  of  thynkyng*  sail  loese  alle  steryng*s  of  pr;'de.« 
^[  Alswa  he  sayd  pus:  »If  pou  fall  in  to  syne  thurgth  temptaciont*  of  pine  enmy, 
blame  never  na  opir  man  for  pi  tewptaciouwe  bot  anely  pi-selfe,  sayand  pus: 
,ffor  myne  awene  preue  syns  pis  tewptacion*  be-fele  me.'«  <[  Saynt  Pastor  sayd 
pus:  pat  a  mane  sal  honte  gastly  w/t/t-outene  sekyng  mekenes  &  dred  of  god, 
not  as  he  drawes  in  &  blawes  oute  wynde  at  his  nese-thrills.  ^[  A  broper  askid 
a  fadtr:  »how  sal  I  wone  in  a  place?*,  awd  he  answerd  pus:  »Haf  whayntise 
with  pe,  pat  pou  be  ay  as  a  straung*r,  &  suffre  nogth  pi  thogth  haf  maystry3  ou*r 
pe  whar*-sa  pou  be:  &  pou  sal  haf  ryst.o  ^]  Alsiva  he  sayd  pus:  »If  a  man  kepe 
wele  his  ordre  £  his  rewle,  he  sail  nogth  be  troblyd.«  *[  A  broker  sayd  to  a 
fad*r  pus:  »I  see  my-self  pat  my  mynd  es  bente  vp  to  god.«  And  he  answerd 
pus:  »It  es  grete  thyng  pat,  pat  pi  thogth  be  wr'tA  god:  bot  bis  es  a  gretejY]  thyng, 
for  to  se  pi-self  vnd*r  alle  creatours  —  pat  es  mekenes  ;  £  bodely  trauayll  helpes 
mekyll  a  saule  f)t*>to.«  ^f  Saynt  Sincletica  sayd  pus:  »As  it  es  inpossible  a  schype 
to  be  made  w*'tA-outene  (f.  73)  scharp  tole,  rigth  sa  es  it  inpossible  a  man  to  be 
sauf  wzt/i-outene  dred  &  mekenes.  «  ^[  A  fader  was  askid  what  es  mekenes.  And 
he  answerdt'  pus:  "If  pou  forgife  pi  broths  pat  tnrspas  agaynes  pe  or  pat  he 
aske  forgifnes,  pou  ert  meke  ;  awd  alswa  mekenes  es  :  if  pou  doo  gud  to  paim 
pat  dose  pe  harme.  &  if  a  saule  nogth  come  to  pis  p^rfecciouwe,  pan  es  it  gud 
pat  he  flee  &  kepe  silence.  «  ^[  A  fader  sayd  bus:  »Qwen  we  er  traueld^  thurgth 
temptaciouws,  pan  er  we  mekyd  ;  ffor  our  lordt'  seand  our  freelte,  helpis  &  defendis  vs, 
ffor  pan  we  crye  to  hym  for  helpe.  Bot  whene  we  hafe  ioy  in  our  selfe,  pan  iakis 
he  away  his  pr^teccion*  fra  vs,  &  pan  pmsche  we.«  \  Alswa  he  sayd  pus:  »Me 
had  leu^r  be  outrcowmene  vfiih  mekenes  ,  pan  for  to  outcome  prid.  fe  heele 
of  mane  es  pis,  &  pat  god  ask^'j  of  mane,  pat  a  man  caste  all  his  synns  befor  god 
as  if  he  wald  offre  paim  to  god,  &  late  god  do  whate  he  wille.«  ^[  A  fader  was 
askyd  what  he  said  of  paim  pat  said  pai  saw1  aungks.  &  he  answerd*  pus: 
»He  es  blyssed  pat  seese  ay  his  awene  syne.a  ^[  A  broper  had  pis  condicion* 
pat  when  any  man  dide  hym  any  schame  or  discs  in  word*  or  in  werke,  sa 
mekel  mare  he  lufd*  hym,  &  ran  to  hym  sayand*  pus:  »  Swylke  maner  men  pat 


Ms.  swa.        i  Ms.  wwene.        *  Ms.  maystry,  y  overl. 


128  Collection  of  prose  treatises  in  Ms.  Rawl.   C  285. 

wille  repmie,  schame  &  scorne  ober  &  tell  paim  pe  soth,  are  sette  in  conggre- 
gaczon  for-cause  of  correcciouwe,  &  sa  pai  prophete  til  ober,  of1  all  pai  hurte 
paiw-selfe.  Bot  pai  pat  flateres  &  blysses  men,  pay  confound  paire  sauls;  for 
pe  pwphete  says  pus:  , My  pupill,  pai  dyssayue  15011  pat  says  pat  ^e  er  blyssyde.V 
^f  Saynt  A[n]tton  sayd:  »If  we  may  \vyne  our  brober  fra  syne,  pane  wyne  we  god  ; 
&  If  we  sclaundre  our  brother,  we  syne  in  Oz'ste.«  ^f  2 A  fader  says  pus:  wfcare 
es  na  thynge  better  pan  lufe  ne  mare,  pat  a  man  wille  for  lufe  gife  his  awene 
life  for  his  broker:  &  pat  es  fulfillid  on  pis  man^r.  If  a  broker  here  a  heuy 
wordtf  of  another  brothers  vnwysely  sayd :  If  he  stryfe  vftt/i  hym-selfe  for  to 
suffre  it  paciently,  pat  he  disese  nogth  his  broker  agayne,  pofe  he  mygth  do  it; 
or  ells,  if  he  take  harme  in  any  thyng  of  his  brofw:  If  he  ^eld  agayne  ay  gud 
wordes,  gude  chenr,  gude  werkes  to  his  broker  pat  dysesid  hym,  In  charite  nogth 
feynand:  sothly  he  gifs  his  life  &  his  saule  for  his  brothers  Amen.  Ihesus. 


i  =  fcof.        2  Cf.  Vit.  Patr.  ed.  Migne  p.  974. 

3  On  fol.  64*,  and  73*",  the  Ms.  contains  the  following  Latin  Notes a: 

(1)  Multa  bona  referuntur  hits  gut  in  ecclesia  sunt  presentes  in  hora  eleiiacionis  corporis  Christi 
in  altari.    Primum  est  quod  cibaria  necessaria  eodem  die  eis  conceduntur.    Secundum,  quod 
vana  colloquia  eis  dtmittuntur.    Tercium,  quod  iurimenta(?)  oblita  delentur.    Quartum,  quod 
lumen  oculorum  eo  die  non  amittent.     V"m,  quod  si  eo  die  decesserit,  pro  communicato  habe- 
bitur.    Sextum,  quod  mortem  subitaneam  non  incurret.     Septimum ,    quod  quamdiu  vivet* 
non  senescit.     Octauum,  quod  omnes  passus  eundo  &  redeundo   ad  ecclesiam  numerabuntur 
&  remunerabuntur.    IX  m  est  quod  in  eleuacione  corporis  Christi  omnes  maligni  spirts 

fugabuntur  a  quocumque  instante. 

(2)  (Secundum  Bernard.)     O  anima ,   recognosce  quanta   beneficia  deus  tibi  largitus  est,  scilicet 
generalia,  specialia,  &  smg[u]laria ;  ac  eciam,  quantam  misericordiam  tecum  fecerit  &  quam 
tociens;  &   quam   eius   beneficium    minquam   tibi   defuisse   cognoscas.     Et   in   hoc  perpende 
quantum  eum  diligeris. 

(3)  (Secundum  Barnard.)    Securum  ad  deum  habemus  ingressum,  vbi  -mater  orat  filium,  jfilius 
e xorat  patrem  ;  mater  ostendit  filio  pectus  &  vbera,  jfilius  patri  latus  &  wlnera.     Certe  non 
potest  oracio  esse  repulsa,  vbi  tot  occurrunt  caritatis  indicia. 

(4)  Quinque  dona  spectancia  ad  quinque  sensus  in  patria  scilicet  in  celo:    i&.  Armonia  omnium 
angelorum,  suauis  auditui.     ii».  Fragor  omnium  aromatum  fumigans  olfactui.     iii«.  Pulcri- 
tudo  admirabilis  obiecta  visui.     iiii».  Dulcedo  incomparabilis  influens  gustum.    v».  Suauitas 
inestimabilis  obiecta  tactui.      Vita  autem  ibi  est  sine  morte,  luuentus  sine  senectute. 

(5)  Si  tibi  deficiant  medici,  me  did  tibi  fiant 

hec  tria:  mens  leta,  labor,  &  moderata  dieta. 

Ira  frequens,  dolor  assiduus,  mens  cunc(ta)  reuoluens, 

vitam  consumunt,  hec  tria  Jine  (ca)rerentl 

(6)  Qui  faciendo  moram  prandendi  distulit  horam, 
Aiit  male  prandebit  aut  sedis  honore  carebit. 

On  fol.  73b  : 

(i.)  Ora  vigilanter,  s[cilicet]  -voce  &  pronunciacione  verborum.  Conjidenter,  .s.  vt  videatur  a 
dec  &  ab  omnibus  angelis.  Eliganter  ,s.  &  uultu  &  gestu  corporis. 

(2.)  Bene  de  reprobis  dicitur:  -slnuolute  sunt  Semite  gressuum  eoruma.  Esse  quippe  humiles ,  set 
tamen  sine  despectu  ;  esse  contenti  propriis,  [set]  sine  necessitate  ,•  esse  casti,  set  sine  macera- 
cione  corporis  ,•  esse  pacientes,  set  sine  contumiliis,  volunt. 

(3.)  Quidam  requisiuit  a  beato  A[n]ttonio  per  que  posset  saluari.  Cui  respondit:  Labor,  humilitas 
&  oracio  sine  cessacione  possident  Christum.  Omnes  enim  sancti  a  principio  vsque  ad  finem 
per  hec  tria  saluantur.  Nam  requies,  &  -voluntas,  &  iustificacio  propria,  impedimenta  sunt 
anime  ,•  omnes  enim  per  ea  periunt. 

(4.)  Tria  sunt  que  ducunt  homines  ad  celestia  regna:  Cogitacio  sancta,  optimum  verbum ,  opus 
perfectum.  Similiter  tria  que  ducunt  homines  ad  profundum  infernum:  .i.  cogitacio  im- 
munda,  verbum  alienum,  opus  prauum.  Tria  sunt  que  retinent  homines  in  bono  opere  & 
refrenant  ab  omri  malo:  Amor  dei,  Timor  gehenne ,  Desiderium  regni  celorum.  Tria  sunt 
•martiria  sine  effusione  sanguinis:  i.  abstinencia  in  habundancia-,  largitas  in  paupertate, 
castitas  in  iuuentute.  Tria  sunt  que  non  remittitntur  hie  neque  in  futriro:  Qui  blasphemat 
deum,  &  desperat  de  misericordia  eius,  &  qui  non  credunt  in  resurreccione. 

(5.)  In  pugna  Christi  prius  contra  gulam  agitur:  Qrda  nisi  prius  hec  refrenetur,  frustra  contra 
alia  vicia  laboratur.  Et  alibi:  quod  diabolus  letatur(?)  de  gula,  non  temptat  de  libidine. 

(6.)  lusta  sunt  cunta  que  patimur ,    Et   valde   iniustum   est  si  de  iusta  passione   murmuramus. 


Qui  murmurat  de  periculo  temptacionis ,  murmurat  de  premio  probacionis. 
(7.)  Fluat  stilla  de  mamilla  gloriose  virginis,  (%.)Delictis  pasta,  caro  nescit  viz 


Que  calorem  &  ardorem  extingat  libidinis, 

Vix  venit  ad  veniam  qui  nescit  amare  Mariam. 
Inueniet  veniam  veniens  venerando  Mariam. 


uere  casta. 


Luxuriat  raro  non  bene  pasta  caro. 
(g.)Ibi  namque  est  cogitacio  tua  vbi  est  affeccio  tua. 
Ibi  est  cor  tuum  vbi  est  desiderium. 


a  Same  notes  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Ff  V.  40,  fol.  129.        *>  Ms.  videt. 


Quotation  from  R.  Rolle.  J2Q 

The  same  Ms.  Rawl.  contains,  after   W.  Hilton's  Scala 
perfectionis ;  the  2  following  pieces^: 

f.  39.  i.     (A  poem). 

Pai  pat  withoutene  lawe  dos  syne:  Withoutene  lawe  sal  perys  par^-in: 
For  at  pat  dredfull  dome  sothly:   Sal  like  a  man  haf  pat  he  is  worthy. 
Pat  day  sal  na  mane  be  excused :  Of  na  thynge  pat  he  has  her*  vsyd ; 
Pe  synfull  sa  na  mercy  haue:  Ne  na  thynge  pat  day  may  pam  safe. 
Pai  sal  haue  nan  for  pam  to  plete:  Ne  pam  to  consell  ne  pam  to  rede, 
Ne  na  halowe  sal  for  pam  pray — :   Pis  may  be  cald  a  dredral  day ! 
Full  wa  sail  synfull  man  be:  For  grete  redowre  pat  he  sal  see, 
And  to  hell  pyne  putt  for  ay.:   Pis  may  be  cald  a  dredfull  day: 
Pe  day  of  grete  delyuerance:   Pe  day  of  wreke  &  of  wengeaunce, 
Pe  day  of  wreth  &  wrychednesse :   Pe  day  of  bale  &  bittcmes, 
Pe  day  of  playnt  &  accusynge :   Pe  day  of  answere  &  hard  reknynge, 
Pe  day  of  dred  &  of  tremlynge:   Pe  day  of  gretynge  &  of  granyng, 
Pe  day  of  cryinge  &  dulfull  dyne:   Pe  day  of  bale  pat  nemr  sal  blyne, 
Pe  day  of  flaynge  &  grete  affray:   Pe  day  of  partyng  fra  god  for  ay. 

Mortis  vcl  vite  breuis  cst  vox  ite  venite; 

Aspera  vox  ite,  vox  est  iocunda  venite.      Deo  gracias  Ihesus.  Maria.  lohannes. 

Passio  domini  nostri  Ihesu  Cristi  8fc.     Humilitas.     Caritas.     Obcdicncia.    Labor. 

2.     (Quotations  from  Bonaventura,  R.  Rolle  &c.) 
f.  39b.       Bone-Auentur^. 

»v_xontinuel  meditac/one  of  be  passione  of  Cryste  sail  rewle  a  man  in  spekynge, 
in  thynkynge,  in  wyrkynge,  and  rayse  hym  into  gastly  felynge ,  awd  to   couete  to 


1  The  same  2  pieces  are  extant  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  55,  evidently  copied  from  the  above  : 
fol.  92b. 

l.PAy  pat  w/t^outen  lawe  dos  synne,  \\W*outy«  lawe  sal  peris  p^r-iwne: 
ffor  at  pat  d[r]edeful  dome  sothely,  Sal  ilke  a  maw  hafe  pat  he  is  wwrthy. 
Pat  day  sal  na  man  be  excusede:   Of  na  thywge  pat  he  has  here  vsed. 
Pe  synful  sa  na  mercy  haue,  Ne  na  thywge  pat  day  may  pam  safe. 
Pay  sal  haue  non  for  pam  to  plete,  Ne  paw  to  concill  ne  paw  to  rede, 
Ne  na  halowe  sal  for  pam  pray — pis  may  be  called  a  dredeful  day! 
Ful  wa  sal  synful  man  be  For  grete  reddoure  pat  he  sal  see, 
And  to  helle  pyne  put  for  ay — pis  may  be  called  a  dredeful  day! 
Pe  day  of  grete  delyuerance,  be  day  of  wreke  &  of  vengeaunce, 
Pe  day  of  wrethe  &  of  wraihednes,   pe  day  of  bale  £  bitt^rnes, 
Pe  day  of  playnt  &  accusynge,  pe  day  of  answer  &  hared  rekkenywge, 
Pe  day  of  drede  &  of  tranelynge,   pe  day  of  g^tynge  &  of  graiynge, 
Pe  day  of  cryinge  &  dulful  dyne,   pe  day  of  bale  pat  neu<r  sal  blynne, 
Pe  day  of  flayinge  &  grete  affraye,   be  day  of  parthynge  fra  god  for  ay. 

fol.  93.     Bone-Aventwre. 

*•    ML^Ontynuel  meditacion  of  be  passyon  of  Criste  sal  rewle  a  man  in  spekynge, 
in  thynkynge,    in  wyrkynge,    and  rayse   hym   into    gastly  felynge,  &  to  couete  to 


Ms.  Rawl.  C  285  (and  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55). 

be  haldene  vile  and  to  be  dispysede.  His  ded  gyfs  vs  lyfe,  his  wond/j  helys  vs, 
his  blod  weschese  &  makes  vs  qwyte ,  be  openynge  of  his  syde  wz'tfc  be  spen?  is 
til  vs  entre  to  ioyne  our  hert  to  his  hert.  And  forthy  I  wile  ay  dwell  in  pe 
wondys  of  hys  handes  a[n]d  of  his  fete  and  of  his  syde  continuely,  &  par*  speke  til 
his  herte,  and  aske  qwate  I  wile  haue.  ton  man,  trow  pat  I  say.  If  pou  oftsyth 
afforce  pe  to  entre  into  O/'ste  thurgth  his  strayte  wondys:  pou  sail  nogth  anely 
fynd  ryste  in  saule,  bot  alswa  pi  body  sal  fynde  wonderfull  swetenese.  Forthy  I 
wylle  clethe  me  in  be  wondes  &  be  passione  &  pe  reproues  of  Ihesu  Cryste  als 
in  a  clethynge,  and  pan  his  passione  in  als  mekyll  as  me  nedys,  sail  feght  for  me 
agayne  pe  flesche,  pe  werld,  &  pe  fend,  &  all  myn  ennemys.  It  war  inpossibile 
brtt  if  I  war  wele  tnznsfourmed  in  to  Crist  cr«cyfyede,  bat  Ine  suld  be  his  hayer^ 
in  heuene.  For-bi  drede  be,  be  passione  is  sofferayne  refuyte  to  eschew  all  euyls, 
£  to  purchase  all  godes.  It  is  paradyse  of  delyces.  It  rayses  our  thogth  abouew 
Bernard  all  erdly  lykynge,  and  anely  to  ioy  in  Ihmi  Cryste«.  Saywt  Bernard*  says:  »Whate 
es  swa  spedfull  to  hele  pe  wondes  of  pe  conscience  &  to  dense  pe  sygth  of  pe 
mynd,  als  assyduell  thogth  of  Cryste  wondys  ?« 

Ric.        Ricfltt/1:  »Pe  passione  of  Ihesu  Criste  confondes  pe  fend.    It  destruys  his  dysaytes 

herm.  &  hjs  g^ers.     jt  siokkens  fleschly  temptaciouws.     It  clarifyse  pe  mynd  to  couete 

anly  Ihmi  Criste  lufe.     Festen   in  pi  hert  pe  mynd   of  his  passione:   I  wate  na 

thynge  pat  swa  inwardly  sal  take  pi  hert  to  couete  goddys  lufe,  and  to  desire  pe 

ioy  of  heuen,    &   to    despice  vanites    of  pis  werld,    as  stedfaste  thynkynge  of  pe 


be  halden  vile  &  to  be  dispised.  Hys  dede  gyfes  vs  lyfe,  hys  woundys  helis  vs, 
hys  blode  weschys  vs  &  makes  vs  qwyte ,  be  openynge  of  hys  syde  w/t/£  pe 
spere  is  till  vs  entre  to  Ioyne  oure  herte  to  hys  herte.  And  forthy  I  well  dwelle 
in  pe  woundys  of  hys  handys  and  of  hys  fete  and  of  his  side  contynuly,  &  par 
speke  til  hys  herte,  &  aske  qwat  I  wil  haue.  £0u  man,  trowe  pat  I  say:  If  pou 
oftsythe  afforse  pe  to  entre  in  to  Criste  thorow  hys  strayte  woundys,  pou  sal 
[noght]  onely  fynde  riste  in  saule,  bot  alswa  pi  body  sal  fynde  wondyrfulle  swetenes. 
Forthi  I  wille  clethe  me  in  be  woundes  &  be  passyon  &  pe  reproues  of  Ihmi 
Criste  as  in  a  clethynge ,  and  pan  hys  passyon,  in  als  mykel  as  me  nedis ,  sal 
fey^te  for  me  agayn  pe  flesche,  pe  werlde,  &  pe  fende,  &  alle  myn  ennemyes. 
It  ware  inpossible  pat  if  I  ware  wele  transformyd  in  to  [Crist]  crucify eda,  pat  Ine 
sulde  be  hys  ayer  in  heuen.  For-bi  drede  be ;  passio  is  sufferayne  refute  to  eschew 
alle  yuilis  &  to  purchase  alle  gudes.  It  is  paradyse  of  delices.  It  rayses  oure 
thou^te  abouew  alle  ertheli  lykynge,  &  anely  to  loye  in  Ihmt  Criste«.  /  Seynt 
BernardBernarde  says:  »Qwat  isb  so  spedeful  to  hele  pe  woundys  of  pe  conscience  &  to 
Ric.  dense  pe  sy^the  of  pe  mynde,  as  assyduell  thou^the  of  Criste  woundys ?«  Ricai'd 
net' hermet* :  »I*e  passyon  of  Ilv.ni  Criste0  woundes  pe  fende,  it  distroyes  his  dissaytis 
&  hys  gyldirs,  it  siokkens  fleschely  temptacions.  It  clarifies  pe  mynde  to  couete 
anly  Ihmi  Criste  lufe.  Festen  in  pin  herte  pe  mynde  of  hys  passyon :  I  wate  na 
thynge  pat  swa  inwardly  sal  take  pin  herte  to  coued  goddis  lufe ,  and  to  desyre 
pe  loye  of  heuen,  &  to  dispyse  vanytes  of  pis  werlde,  as  stedefaste  thywkkynge 

1  Cf.  R.  Rolle's  Emendatio  peccatoris :  Hec  enim  recordacio  slue  meditacio  (passionis)  dia- 
bolum  confundit  et  machinas  eius  destruit,  carnales  temptaciones  extinguit  et  animum  ad  amorem 
Christi  incendlt,  mentem  subleuat  et  clarificat  atque  clarificando  purgat. 

a  Ms.  crucifyed  crucified.        b  Ms.  it  is.        c  Ms.  cristes. 


Quotation  from  R.  Rolle.  j-., 

myschefe  &  be  wondes,  &  of  be  ded  of  Ihesn  Crist.  It  wile  rayse  bi  thogth  abouew 
erdly  likynge,  &  make  bi  hert  brynnand  in  Crystw  lufe,  &  purchase  in  till  bi  saule 
delitabilite  &  sauour<?  of  heuen^.« 

^/Thorowe  be  passione  &  be  wondys  of  Ihmi  Criste  we  haue  prtrfite  inherdynge 
to  gode.«  Bone-Auentur*  says  til  our  lauedy  saynt  Mary:  »Leuedy,  it  is  vnpossibile 
to  inter  in  to  be  wondys  of  bi  sone  &  nogth  inter  in  to  bi  hert:  for  f>*2  wondys 
er  sete  to  be  ay  in  bi  hert,  as  be  erres  of  be  wondes  sal  eu^rmar*  be  in  be  body 
of  bi  sone.  Leuedy,  it  is  swete  to  hen-  speke  of  be,  &  swetter  to  thynke  on  be : 
bot  allerswettest  to  inter  in  to  bi  hert,  thorow  bi  son  wondys. « 


of  be  myschefe  &  be  woundes  &  of  be  dede  of  Ihmi  Criste.  It  wyl  rayse  |>i 
thou?te  abouen  erthely  lykynge,  &  make  pi  hert  bry«nande  in  Cristw*  luffe,  & 
purchase  in  til  pi  saule  delitabilite  &  sauowr  of  heuen.«  )>Thorowe  be  passyow 
&  pe  woundis  of  Ih^u  Criste  we  hafe  parfyte  in-herdynge  to  god.«  Bone-Auewtwre 
says  til  oure  lady  Seynt  Mari:  »levedi,  it  is  vnpossible  to  enter  in  to  be  woundys 
of  bi  sone  &  nou^t  enter  in  to  bi  herte:  for  \>e  woundys  er  set  to  be  ay  in  pi 
h^rte,  as  be  erres  of  be  wou«des  sal  eu^rmore  be  in  be  bodi  of  bi  sone.  Levedi, 
it  is  swete  to  here  speke  of  be,  &  swetter  to  thynke  on  be:  bot  alther  swetteste 
to  enter  in  to  bi  hert  thorowe  bi  sone  woundys«.  Ihesus  Amen. 

»  A  name  reading  like  Vicsio  (in  Dd:  Vision),  is  on  the  margin.        2  Ms.  K 
*  Ms.  crisU? 


Treatises  of  Ms,  Arundel  507. 

Ms  Arund.  507,  small  fol.,  mostly  paper,  in  100  foil.,  was  written  c.  1400  by 
a  Durham  scribe,  perhaps  Richard  de  Segbrok,  monk  of  Durham  1.  Some  leaves 
are  wrongly  bound,  fol.  48  ought  to  be  44;  47 '•  45;  44—6:  46—48.  The  Ms. 
contains,  amongst  a  variety  of  Latin,  and  some  French,  writings  (excerpts^  from 
S.  Augustin,  Bonaventura,  loh.  Metensis,  Anselm,  Beniamin  minor,  prayers,  epistles, 
bulls,  verses  &c.),  the  following  in  English: 

fol.  36—8  »Four  thinges  nedis  man  til  knowe«   =   Cap.  6   of  the  Forme  of 

liuyng,  abridged,  but  with  some  additions. 
»     40  (R.  Rolle's)  »Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat«,  imperfect  at  the  end,  and 

abridged  (verses  om.). 

»     41—3  On   grace,    and    de   libero    arbitrio ,    printed   below;    same   text   m 
Ms.  Thornton;  at  the  end: 

The  VII  giftes   of  the   haly  gast  =  Form  of  livyng  Cap.   n,    and  Ms. 
Thornton. 
«     43*>  and  48  »Twa  liues   are    pat   cmtin   men   Hues  inne«  = 

Cap.   12;  abr. 

»     48  »Thre  thinges  are  nedeful«,  ed.  below. 
»     48,  47,  44,  45  »Oppyn    pi  hert«,    ed.  p.   113,  with  the  text  of  Ms.  Rawl. 

C  285  ;  in  Ar.  it  bears  the  title :  Meditacio  de  passione  Ihesu  Christi. 
«     45,  46,  49  »In  ilk  a  synful  man«  &c.  =  Form  of  liv.  Cap.   1—4;  abr.  ^ 
(»     49^  »Cum  infeliciter  florerema,   a  chapter  of  R.  Rolle's  De  incendio  amons,. 
»     50—54  Tractatus  domini  lohannis  de  Caterig^  monachi  Ebor.  (this  is  Dan 
Gaytryge's  Sermon  or  transl.  of  Thoresby's  Cathechism. ;  other  Mss. :  Thorn 
ton  (ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces),  Harl.  1022,    Ms.  York,  Cambr.     Trin.  Coll.  B 
10.   12;  Ms.  Ar.  has  slight  additions.) 
„      54b_66a  »Three  thinges  are  nederak  ed.  below;  partly  extant,  but  in  different 

order  and  arrangement,  in  Ms.  Thornton. 

R  Rolle's  name  does  not  occur  in  the  Ms.,  not  even  with  those  pieces  that  bear 
his  name  in  the  other  Mss.  So  there  is  little  difficulty  in  ascribing  to  him 
the  pieces  printed  below,  which  are  mixed  up  with  works  of  his,  and  exhibit  the 
same  peculiarities  of  style,  the  same  laxity  of  plan,  the  same  beauty  of  detail, 
the  rythmical  prose,  the  figurative  language.  It  must  however  be  understood 
that,  as  in  »Ego  dormio «  and  in  the  parts  of  the  Form  of  living,  the  scribe 
evidently  abridged  the  original,  as  will  be  seen  by  comparing  the  texts  of  Ms. 
Thornton. 

i.     (De  gracia).2 

fol.  41. 

.i.     Three  degree^  of  grace :  are.    fe  first :  god  gifs  til  alle  creatures  /  til  vphald 
paim  with,  &  pis  is  callid  goddis  help  /  freli  gyuen  til  alle  creatures ;  &  wM-outen 

1  The  Ms.,  fol.   oa,   contains   a   note   de   pecuniis,    vasis,   vestibus   &c.     Ricardi   de   Segbrok 
mon.  Dunelm.,   dated   die   ascens.    1396,    and,   fol.  93,   a  bull   of  Boniface  IX   directed  to  Ric. 
Segbrok  mon.  Dunelm.,    Gilbert  Elwet  and  Matilda  his  wife,    loh.  Ayre ,   Emma  de  Chestre ,  & 
Alicia,  relict  of  Rob.  Couper,  and  licensing  them  to  transfer  their  oblations  to  certain  enure 

of  Rome,  dated  Romae,  VII  Id.  Nov.  (1389—90).  . 

2  The  Ms.  has  dashes   on  k,  f,  t,  11,  g,  h.     I  is  written  a.  or  .1. .     The  margin   of  the  leaves 
has  oft  been   torn,    so   that   many  words  have  disappeared.     I  partly  retain  the  punctuatio: 
the  Ms. 


On  grace.  i^$ 

bis  gift*  of  grace :  cr*atures  mai  noght  do  nor  last  in  bair*  kynde ;  for  als  water  is 
made  hate  thorugh  fir*  /  &  bicomes  calde  agayn  /  if  be  fir*  be  withdrawen :  swa, 
als  saynt  Austyn  sais,  alle  cr*atur*s  /  als  bai  ar*  of  noght  made:  als  pai  worthe 
til  noght  in  a  littil  tyme  /  bot  god  baim  vphalde  w/t&  pis  grace  thorugh  whilk* 
pai  ar*.  For-bi  sais  be  apostill:  Gratia  dei  sum:  id  quod  sum,  bat  is:  »thorugh 
goddis  grace  i  am:  bat  i  am«.  Als  if  he  said:  »bat  i  lif*  /  bat  i  fele  /  bat  i 
speke  or  her*  or  see  /  &  al  pat  i  am :  al  bis  i  haue  aneli  thorugh  goddis  grace«. 
//  te  second  degree  of  grace  is  mar*  speciale,  bat  god  gyues  freli  til  ilk*  man  .ii. 
bat  is  gode  &  skilful  cr*atur*.  &  bis  grace  standis  eu*r  atte  ^ates  of  our*  hertes : 
&  knokkys  on  our*  free-wille  /  &  biddis  /  lat  him  inne.  iMs  sais  god  bat  he  dose, 
Ego  sto  ad  ostium  pulsans,  bat  is :  »I  stand  atte  be  dore  of  bi  hert*  &  knokkis  / 
lat  me  inne«.  And  bis  grace  is  gynen  freli  til  man:  or  he  it  deserue.  Make 
ben  ilk*  man  him  worthi  &  redi  til  resceyue  bis  gift*  of  be  hali  gast:  bat  eu*r 
steres  til  gode  marnies  free-wille  /  &  callis  it  fra  ille.  Twa  thinges  ar*  nedeful : 
til  hele  of  mannes  saule.  I*e  first  is  bis  grace  bat  i  speke  of*;  bat  ob*r:  is  manes 
free-wille  acordant  b*r-tille.  And  witA-oute  bir*  twa:  na  man  mai  do,  thorugh 
ought  bat  in  him  is:  bat  suld  helpe  him  til  hele  of  his  saule;  for  noib*r  free- 
wille  wzt/z-oute  bis  grace  sterand,  nor  bis  grace  w/t/^-oute  free-wille  assentand: 
mai  do  ought  bat  paies  god.  And  for-bi  sais  saynt  Austyn :  Qui  fecit  te  sine  te  : 
non  iustificabit  te  sine  te,  bat  is:  »he  bat  made  be  w*t/*-outen  be:  wil  noght 
make  be  rightwise  /  bot  if  bou  help  b*rto«.  And  pof  fie  free-wille  of  man  mai 
noght  make  be  grace  of  god  in  man :  ner*-pe-lesse  /  do  man  pat  in  him  is  /  & 
graithe  him  swa,  bat  he  be  redy  &  abill  /  til  resceyue  be  grace  when  it  comes.  / 
If  bou  war*  in  a  merk*  house  /  on  day,  &  doris  £  wyndowes  war*  stoken :  if  bou 
wold  noght  late  be  sonne  come  inne  /  wha  war*  til  blame  /  if  be  house  war* 
mirk*?  Als  swa,  wyte  nane  bot  bi-self*:  if  bi  grace  be  lesse.  For  saynt  Anselme 
sais:  »Man  wantis  noght  bis  grace:  for  god  gifs  it  him ;  bot  he  haues  it  noght: 
for  he  makis  him  noght  redy  til  resceyue  bis  grace  als  he  suld«.  God  is  na 
chynche  of  his  grace:  for  he  haues  ynogh  b*rof* — for  bof*  he  dele  it  neu*r  so 
ferr*  /  ne  to  so  mony:  he  haues  neu*r  be  lesse;  for  him  wantes  noght  bot  clene 
vessels:  til  do  his  grace  inne.  iVrfor  sais  saynt  Austyn:  Deus  ingenti  libertate 
atque  vbertate :  replet  omnes  creaturas,  i.  secundum  capacitatem  earum,  bat  is:  «God 
thorugh  his  gr*te  fredome  of  his  mykel  grace :  fulfilles  all  cr*atures  /  aft*r  bat  bai 
ar*  abill  til  resceyue  his  grace«.  If  man  oppenyd  his  hert  til  bis  grace  /  when 
god  sendis  it  til  him :  he  wold  schew  it  in  werk* ;  for  be  apostle  when  he  had 
won  it:  said:  Gratia  eius  in  me  vacua  non  fuit,  pat  is:  »pe  grace  pat  god  haues 
gyuen  me:  is  noght  vnnayt  in  me« — for  he  notid  it  eu*r  in  werk*.  /  We  felaschip 
vfiih  god  of  his  grace :  as  marchandis  dose  to-gyder ;  for  god  settis  his  grace : 
agayn  our*  werk*;  bot  for  his  grace  &  his  dede):  he  wil  noght  bot  our*  louyng* 
&  thankyng*,  &  he  wil  bat  be  man:  haue  al  be  prowe  pat  mai  rise  b*rof*. 
Bot  pa  fandes  til  reue  god  his  parte :  bat  wold  be  loued  of  men  for  bair*  gode 
dede.  Agayn  baim  sais  god :  Gloriam  meam  alteri  non  dabo,  bat  is :  »Louyng*  & 
worschip  pat  til  me  fallis:  i  wil  gif*  til  nane  ob*r«. 

Pow  sal  vnderstand  /  bat  fre-wille  of  man:  is  frely  til  tome  til  gode  or  DC 
til  ille.  Thre  statis  are  of  man:  bifore  synne;  after  mawnes  synne;  &  after  manar1b;^i< 
is  confermyd,  bat  is  after  man  is  departid  oute  of  pis  dedli  lif*:  &  comen  til 


134  (R-  Rome's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

bat  ioie  /  bat  nener  sal  ende.  In  be  first  state  /  bifore  man  synned:  was  mawnes 
wille  so  free  /  bat  he  might  synne  &  noght  synne;  in  his  free  wille  it  was:  til 
do  wele  or  ille.  In  f)e  last  state  bat  is  ^wfermid:  sal  man  noght  mow  synne.  In 
be  second  state  /  in  be  whilk?  he  mai  synne  /  &  mai  noght  hot  he  synne  :  mawnes 
wille  is  free  til  ille  /  til  it  be  strynthid  w/t/z  grace;  &  when  grace  ledis  be  wille: 
ben  is  it  free  til  wirk^  be  gode.  Bifore  man  synned:  na  lettyng  had  he  til  do  be 
gode,  nor  na  nedyng^  til  do  be  ille;  bot  now  has  synne  copild  w/tA  our£  flesft 
a  brodde  /  bat  saynt  Paule  callis  Legem  farms,-  bat  is,  »be  lagft  of  be  flesh"  «: 
bat  it  e-y1  maister  of  be  flesh  /  swa  bat  it  withstandis  goddis  lagft  in  al  bat  it 
mai.  £is  lettis  oun?  wille  til  assent  til  be  gode:  &  sterns  it  to  be  ille;  bat  it  mai 
noght  wirk^  be  gode:  bot  if  grace  help  &  vse  him  oute  of  synne.  /  Ilk  a  man 
or  he  synne:  haues  a  free  wille  til  do  gode  or  ille;  bot  when  he  is  bonden  to 
be  fende  thorugh"  werkys  of  synne  :  he  mai  thorugh  na  might  of  him-selfe  /  come 
oute  of  his  bandes,  &  ben  he  far<?s  as  a  schippe  bat  in  tempest  had  lost  al  pat 
suld  helpe  it  /  &  is  casten  fra  wawe  til  wawe:  whider  tewpest  dryues  (f.  42)  it. 
Right  swa  a  man  bat  wantis  goddis  grace  /  fra  he  be  fallyn  in  dedly  synne:  he 
dose  noght  bat  he  walde,  bot  ai  wayues  fra  hand  til  hand:  at  be  fendes  wille; 
£  bot  god  gif  him  grace  til  rise  oute  of  his  synne:  he  sal  be  in  synne  til 
his  Hues  ende,  &  after:  be  lost  bodi  &  saule  /  &  dawpned  til  endles  pyne. 
If  ^e  folk  or  ^e  cowmune  chese  bairn  a  kyng^  /  &  he  be  confermid  in  his 
kyngdome  :  be  he  neu^r  so  ille  to  bairn  /  bai  mai  noght  do  him  doune,  bot  it  be 
thorugh  ober:  bat  haues  mar<?  powers  pen  he;  &  swa  bihoues  bairn  sufftr:  do  he 
bairn  newr  so  mykel  ille*  Right  swa,  man  or  he  synne  :  haues  a  free  wille  til 
chese  wether  he  wil  be  vnder  god  or  be  fende  ;  &  when  he  chesis  wzt&  his  wille 
for  to  smie  be  fende  :  he  mai  noght  after  when  he  wold  /  come  oute  of  his 
bandis.2  And  b^rfore  werldli  men  bat  ar<?  bonden  in  synne  /  sais  til  ba  bat  con- 
seils  bairn  til  amend  bair  life:  »fayn  we  wold  rise:  bot  we  mai  noght«.  No  / 
bai  mai  noght  thorugh  might  of  bairn-self^;  bot  thorugh  goddis  grace  helpand: 
bai  mai.  //  £e  thrid  grace  is  maste  special:  for  it  is  gyuen  aneli  til  pa:  bat 

ia  resceyues  be  second  grace,  &  with  bain?  free  wille:  fillis  it  in  dede,  &  mai  sai 
as  saynt  Paule  said  :  Gratia  dei  :  in  me  vacua  non  fuit,  bat  is:  »  goddis  grace:  was 
noght  vnnayt  in  me«.  And  saynt  Austyn  sais:  »god  w/t/z  vs  wirkand:  fulfillis  bat 
he  thorugh  grace  sterand  /  bigan  in  vs«.  For  noub^r  wz't^-outen  him  helpand:  mai 
we  do  gode  til  vs  selfc  /  nor  paie  til  him  ;  as  god  sais  hiw-selfc  :  Sine  me  :  nichil 
potestis  facere,  bat  is:  »wz't/£-outen  help  of  mi  grace:  ^e  mai  noght  do«.  Goddis 
grace  sterand  gase  bifore  gode  wille:  &  steres  it  til  do  be  gode  /  &  leue  be  ille. 

Quid        VJTrace   when  he   comes  first  til  visite  mawnes  saule:   he  wakyns  him  as  of  a 

openf-  slomeryng^  /  &  spires  at  him  wzt/z  .ill.  scharp  wordes  /&sais3:  »Whar£  art  bou? 

tur,   Whethen  comes  bou?  &  Whider  sal  bou?«     First  he  sais:  »Whar^  art  bou?«  as  if 

quando 

visitat  he  said:  »vmbithink  be  /  vnhappi  wreche:    how   foule  bou  art  castyn  doune  /  & 

nem.   what  pml  bou  art  inne.     For  for  bi  synne:  bou  art  fallyn  in  til  bi  enemy  handes: 

bat  ou^r  alle  thyng<?  couaitis  til  wirk<?  be  waa;    &  noght  mai  deliuer^  be   oute  of 

bi  faes  handes:   bot  almighti  god  /  bi  gode  lau^rd  /  bat  bou  haues  forsaken«.  /  After 

he  sais:  »Whethen  comes  bou?«   as  if  he   said:    »bou  wreche  /  bihald  how  bou 


•. 


1  Ms.  esi.        2  Ms.  bandes  ?        3  A  similar  passage  in  nearly  the  same  words  occurs  in  Milicia 
Christi  (Ms.  Arund.  286  f.  36). 


On  grace.  I?c 

haues  wastid  al  bi  lif*  in  synne;  bou  comes  fra  be  fendes  tau*me.  Whar*  ar* 
alle  be  godes  bat  god  base  be  gyuen  /  til  help  be  wit/i  /  &  worschip  him?  Sarili 
bou  haues  bairn  loste.  t>i  lau*rd  made  be  riche:  &  bou  art  bicomen  a  pou^r 
wrecae«.  After  he  spires:  »Whider  wendes  pou?«  »\Vaful  wreche  /  pou  wendes  to 
pat  waful  dome:  pat  god  denies  wreches  to;  for  as  pou  haues  smiid:  sal  pou  be 
demec.  Swa  aural  sal  pou  see  god  ban?:  bat  pou  sal  for  ferde  /  be  oute  of  pi 
witte,  &  til  be  montayns  &  hilles  pou  sal  crie  vritA  a  gn'sli  noice ,  &  prai  bairn 
til  fa'.le  on  pe  &  hide  pe:  pat  pou  noght1  on  him  see.  Waful  wreche,  pou  wendes 
til  helle:  if  pou  do  forth  /  as  pou  haues  biguwne;  wharf  bou  sal  fynde  fir*  so  hate  Pene 
&  so  wodeli:  bat  al  be  water  in  be  see,  pof  it  ranne  thomgli  it,  might  noght  inferm 
slokyn  a  sparks  p*rof*.  &  for  pou  stynkes  here  til  god  /  for  pi  foule  synnes:  pou 
sal  fele  par?  stynk*  ai-lastand;  &  for  bou  loued  her*  mirknes  /  &  ai  til  be  i« 
synne :  par*  sal  bou  fele  sa  thik*  mirknesse  /  pat  bou  mai  it  grape ;  &  for  pou 
restid  be  her*  iw  synne  agayn  goddis  wille:  par*  sal  bou  grete  ma  teres  /  ben 
motes  are  in  be  sonne.  tou  sal  suffr*  payne  ai  after  payne  /  ai  til  new  pi  waa«.  // 
When  goddis  grace  haues  stered  man  &  wakenid  him  w/tA  pis  three  /  &  haues 
made  him  til  knawe  be  p*ril  pat  he  is  inne :  pen  he  conceyues  a  ferdenesse  of 
goddes  aural  dome;  &  par*-thorugfi  he  bigynnes  til  forthink*:  bat  euer  he  did 
ille,  &  couaitis  til  amend  him  thorugfi  goddis  grace  /  bat  sterns  him  til  flee  be 
ille,  &  gif  him  til  be  gode ;  &  ben  comes  grace  folowand  til  helpe  be  gode  wille 
of  man :  to  fulfil  it  in  dede.  For  pof*  man  haue  a  gode  wille  til  do  be  gode  / 
thorugfi  grace  bifore-sterand  be  gode  wille:  ^it  mai  he  noght  do  in  dede  w/t//- 
oute  goddis  grace  folowand  &  helpand.  &  pis  be  ap^/le  affermes  bi  hiw-self*: 
par*  he  says:  Non  autem  ego:  set  gracia  dei  mecum,  bat  is:  »pe  gode  bat  i  do 
is  noght:  hot  goddis  grace  dose  it  wzt/*  me«,  als  if  he  said:  »na  gode  mai  i 
do:  bot  if  goddis  grace  me  helpe «.  Gode  wille  is  als  hand-maiden  til  grace:  to 
wirk*  al  hir*  wille.  Goddis  grace  whan?  it  is:  wil  noght  be  vnnayt,  bot  eu*r 
wirkand  /  &  waxand  ai  manr  &  mart':  til  mikel  be  mede.  For-bi  do  we  as  be 
apw/le  vs  redis:  Hortamur  vos  fratres:  ne  in  vacuum  gradani  dei  rec[ipiatis],  pat  is: 
»I  prai  ^ow  &  biddes  $ow  as  mi  brether  in  god,  bat  ^ec  resceyue  noght  goddis 
grace  in  vayne«.  He  resceyues  goddis  grace  in  vayne:  bat  notis  it  noght  in 
gode  /  when  god  sendis  it  til  him;  &  b^rfore  p^rcase:  he  sal  neu^r  after  wynne 
berto.  /I  Ysidore  telles  of  a  litel  flie:  pat  is  cald  Saura,  &  pis  file  bitakenes  grace  Musca 
bifore-sterand.  be  kynde  of  bis  flie:  is  til  be  enemi  til  alle  wormes  of  venyme;  Saura 
swa  bat  whaw  he  sees  ani  worme  to-ward  man  til  stang  him  bar*  he  slepes  in 
wildernes :  he  flies  bifore  to  be  man  &  lightis  opon  his  face  /  &  bites  him  a  litell ;  & 
panr-thorugfi  he  ;f.  43)  wakys:  or  pe  beste  come  til  stang*  him.  Bi  pis  Saura:  is 
vnderstanden  grace  pat  god  sendis  til  man :  agayn  be  fandynges  of  f)e  fende  /  bat 
stanges  oft  venemously ;  it  cn'es  apon  he:  as  be  apostle  sais  in  pis  wordes:  Siirge 
qui  dormis,  $  exurge  a  mortuis:  8f  illuminabit  te  Chris tus,  pat  is:  »Rise 
bat  slepis  in  synne,  wakyn  &  rise  fra  pi  deade :  &  Crist  sal  help  be  thorugft  his 
worthi  grace«.  Bot  be  vnkynd  dose  agayn  bis  grace  /  &  fordose  it:  als  Virgil  did 
w/'tA  bis  litell  flie:  bat  sauid  him  fra  be  deade.  He  lai  at  slepe:  &  a  neddn?  come 
til  hiw-ward  /  til  stang  him,  bot  bis  flie  Saura  flied  bifore  &  lightid  on  his  forheuid 
&  przkkid  him  a  litell,  &  par*-w/tA  he  wakenid:  als  be  neddn?  come;  bot  bis 
Virgil  in  his  wakenyng*  /  he  felid  his  forheuid  smerte:  &  smate  hiw-selfc  in  be 
3  r.  moght  noght. 


136  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

fronte  /  &  swa  he  slogfr  be  flie ;  &  bus  he  qwitte  him  his  smiice:  bat  sauid  his 
life.  For-f)i  /  fordo  bou  noght  goddis  grace  /  when  it  comes  to  be :  til  warne  be 
of  hi  harme  /  &  ster*  be  til  gode.  Fayn  aght  man  to  be  of  goddis  grace:  when 
god  sendis  it  til  him,  &  til  3  erne  ful  warli:  so  riche  a  gift*;  for  grace  is  erlis  of 
pat  lastand  ioie:  hat  is  to  come;  as  he  apostle  says:  Gratia  dei :  vita  eterna,  hat 
is:  »goddis  grace  is  as  help  &  waie:  to  f)e  lastand  lif*«.  For-bi  he  settis  grace 
bifore  as  waie  hat  ledis  til  lastand  ioie;  &  als  a  wedde  if  we  kepe  it  wele:  til 
make  in  vs  sikernesse  of  endelesse  ioie;  as  be  apwfle  sais:  Qui  dedit  pignus 
spiritum  suum  in  corporibus  nostris,  hat  is:  »god  has  gyuen  til  vs  be  hali  east*  / 
as  wedde  of  be  endeles  ioie«.  Hald  we  ben  bis  heuenli  wedde:  &  note  we  it 
wele  \n  werk*;  for  wele  is  vs  in  bis  life:  if  goddis  grace  vslede;  &  when  grace 
vs  leuis:  we  faile  of  hat  wele.  For-bi  /  fordo  we  in  vs  thorugfi  help  of  grace:  al 
hat  is  agayn  grace  /  be  it  lesse  or  mar* :  hat  our*  skille  sais  is  agayn  goddis  \rille, 
hat  is,  al  hat  synne  is :  or  mai  ster*  to  synne ;  &  haue  we  forthynkyng*  in  hert*  / 
schrift*  in  mouthe  /  &  gaynstandyng* :  with  wille  til  neau*r  turne  agayne. 

2.      (The  7  gifts  of  the  holy  gost).1 

fc 

Sptritus  &re  ^e  ' VI1 '  glftes  of  ^e  hali  Sast :  Wysdom,  Vnderstandyng*,  Consail,  Strentft, 

Sancti  Conyng*,  Pite,  Drede  of  god.  Pir  ordeyne  man  til  lede  his  life  rightwisli  in  bis 
werld.  Bigyn  we  at  consail :  for  herof  is  mast  mister.  Consail  /  is  doyng  a-wai :  of 
werld  riches  &  delices  /  &  of  al  thing*  hat  man  mai  be  tagild  vfith  in  thought  or 
dede;  &  stering*  inwardli  til  contemplation  of  god.  /Vnderstandyng*  is:  til  kn awe 
what  is  for  to  do:  &  what  is  for  to  leue;  &  to  gife  pat  sal  be  gyuen:  til  be  nedy  / 
noght  til  ba  hat  haues  na  nede.  /  Wisdom:  is  forgetyng*  of  erthli  thinges  & 
thinkyng*  of  heuen  /  with  discrecz'on  in  alle  our*  dedes;  in  bis  gift*:  schynes  con 
templation,  hat  is  as  saynt  Austyn  sais,  a  gasteli  dede  of  affeccz'ons:  thorugft  be 
ioie  of  a  raisid  thought.  /  Strynth :  is  lastyng*  to  fulfil  gode  pwrpos  bat  it  be 
noght  left  /  for  wele  ne  waa.  /  Pyte :  is  bat  a  man  be  mylde,  &  gayne-sai  noght 
hali  writte:  when  it  smytis  his  synnes  /  whether  he  vnderstand  it  or  noght;  bot 
in  al  his  might:  purge  he  be  vilete  of  synne  /  in  him  &  in  oher.  /  Conyng*:  makis 
a  man  noght  rosand  hi#z  of  his  rightwisenesse  /  bot  sorowand  for  his  synne  ;  & 
bat  he  gedir  erthli  godes  /  aneli  til  be  honour  of  god  &  prow  til  op*r  men  as 
til  him-selfe.  /  Drede:  is  bat  we  turne  noght  agayn  til  our*  synne;  &  ben  is 
drede  p*rfite  in  vs:  when  we  drede  til  wrath"  god  in  pe  leste  synne  bat  we  can 
knawe,  &  flees  it  as  venyme. 

Oa2 
fol.  48.  O  • 

1  hre  thinges  ar*  nedeful:  til  mykel  mannes  mede  with.  Pe  first:  bat  he  be 
in  honeste  werk*:  w/U-oute  losyng*  of  his  tyme  /  bat  is  schort*;  &  despend 
noght  pe  tyme  in  idelnesse:  bat  god  haues  gyuen  him  til  s*rue  him  inne:  & 
geder*  tr*sore  of  grace  /  til  bie  heuen  w»tA.  Noght  aneli  our*  tyme  is  schort* : 
bot  alswa  our*  elde  flees  as  be  wiseman  sais:  Nostra  etas  volat.  And  saynt 
Gregor  sais:  »our*  life  is  like  a  man  in  a  schippe:  sitte  he  /  stand  he  /  slepe 
he  /  wake  he:  eau*r  is  he  biderward  /  as  be  schip  dryues  vrith  be  strinth  of  be 


1  Same  piece 

2  This  is  the 


occurs  m  Form  of  living _(Ms.  Dd.  V.  64)  Cap.  n,  and,  separately,  in  Ms.  Thornton, 
biginning  of  the  following  treatise,  but  not  crossed  out  in  the  Ms. 


On  daily  work.  j?^ 

weder.  Swa  we  in  pis  schort*  lif*  /  what-so  we  do:  we  dryue  ai  til  our*  ende. 
Als,  our*  enemy,  pat  is  pe  deade :  folows  vs  atte  pe  bak  with  a  scharp  spere,  as 
Senek  sais:  Vitafugit:  8f  mors  sequitur.  And  saynt  Austyn  sais,  pat  »lif*  is  bot 
a  swift  rennyng*  to  be  dead«.  For-pi  is  it  noght  to  telle  bi  how  lang*  a  man 
lifes:  bot  how  wele.  //  Pe  second  is:  pat  he  do  his  werk*  with  a  fredome  of 
hert  &  spirite  /  in  stede  &  tyme  pat  til  ilk*  werk*  fallis.  //  Pe  .in.  is:  pat  his 
\tter  beryng*  whar*-so  he  comes  /  be  so  honeste  &  fair*:  bat  louyng*  be  to 
god  /  &  steryng*  of  gode  /  til  alle  bat  bairn  sees;  for  swa  biddes  be  apostle : 
Omnia  in  vobis  honeste  8f  secundum  ordinem  ftant,  pat  is :  » Pat  ^ee  do :  honestli 
be  it  done  &  in  ordre«. 

3b.     (Our  daily  work], 

fol.  54^  (a  mirror  of  discipline).1 

1  [hjree  thinges  ar*  nedeful  til  ilk  man:  til  mikil  his  mede  /  purgh  goddis 
grace  helpand:  pat  him  sal  lede.  Pe  first:  pat  man  be  in  honest  werk*/  with- 
oute  losyng  of  his  tyme.  /  Pe  .II.  :  pat  he  his  werk  do  with  a  fredome  of  spirite, 
in  stede  &  in  tyme  /  als  til  ilk  werk  fallis.  /  Pe  .ill. :  pat  his  vtt*r  beryng  whar*-so 
he  comes  /  be  so  honest  &  fair*:  bat  louyng  be  to  god  /  &  steryng  of  gode  /  til 
alle  bat  him  sees,  as  be  apostle  biddis :  Omnia  in  vobis  honeste  /  Sf  secundum 
ordinem  fiant,  pat  is:  »Pat  ^e  do:  honestli,  &  in  ordr*  be  it  done«. 

[Prim a  pars  libri}. 

[l.j  x\tte  Pe  first:  man  sal  loke  f)at  he  tyne  noght  his  schort  tyme,  nor  wrang 
dispend  it,  nor  in  idelnesse :  lat  it  ou*r-passe.  God  has  lent  man  pis  tyme:  to 
s*me  god  in,  &  to  geder*  with  gode  werkes  grace:  til  bi  heuen  wit/i.  Noght 
aneli  pis  schorte  tyme  flees  fra  vs :  bot  al-swa  our*  elde  /  as  be  wisemaw  sais  : 
Nostra  etas  volat.  And  saynt  Gregor  sais:  »our*  lif  is  lik*  a  man  in  a  schip;  sit 
he  /  stand  he  /  slepe  he  /  wake  he :  eu*r  he  is  piderward  \)cr  pe  schip  dryues  /  with 
strynth  of  pe  weder«.  Swa  we  in  pis  schorte  tyme,  what  so  we  do  :  we  dryue 
eu*r  til  our*  ende«.  And  our*  enemy  /  |)e  dead  /  folows  vs  ai  at  pe  bak:  with 
a  scharp  sper*  til  stike  vs  thorugh;  ffor-pi  sais  Senek*:  Vitafugit,  mors  sequitur. 
And  saynt  Austyn  sais :  Nichil  aliud  est  vita :  quam  velox  cursus  ad  mortem.  For- 
pi  is  noght  to  tell  bi  /  how  lang  man  lifs :  bot  how  wele.  ^it  pis  schorte  lif* 
is  vnc*rtayn:  how  lang*  it  sal  last;  ffor-pi  sais  lob:  Nescio  quamdiu  suasistam, 
Sf  si  post  modicum  tollat  me  factor  mcus.  And  saynt  Gregor  sais:  »I  ne  wate  be 
tyme  i  sal  dwell,  ne  when  i  sal  be  taken  heyn  &  led  to  pe  dome«.  And  saynt 
lerom  sais:  »na  thing  so  mikil  bigilis  man:  as  pat  he  knowis  noght  pe  tyme  of 
his  lif*  /  pat  to  him  is  vnc*rtayn«.  &  ^it  hightis  he  hi/w-self  lang  lif*:  as  he  might 
at  his  will  /  dryue  dead  obak*.  Pus  was  be  riche  man  deceyuid  of  wham  be 
gospel  spekis  of  saynt  Luk*  xvi°.  For-pi  biddis  be  psalme:  Diuicie  si  afjluant: 
nolite  cor  apponere.  For  riches  failis  &  lastis  noght  with  man:  bot  glidis  awai  as 
fantouw.  Bot  when  men  has  geti«  godes  to-gedir  /  with  right  or  wrang*  /  &  pou*r 
mewnis  malisons:  pen  sodaynli  bai  ga  fra  pair*  godes  /  or  ellis  pe  godes  fra  \)a.im. 

1  The  same  treatise  is  partly  extant  in  Ms.'  Thornton ,  though  in  a  different  order  and 
arrangement.  It  is  of  the  same  kind  as  Bonaventura's  Speculum  disciplinae  ad  novitios,  De 
profectu  Religiosorum,  De  institutione  Novitiorum,  Regula  Novitiorum  (Opp.  XII),  and  similar 
works  of  Hugo  de  St.  Victore,  St.  Bernhard  &c. ;  but  is  not  written  for  monastic  life.  Many  a 
sentence  can  be  traced  to  Bonaventura. 


138  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

And  hali  writte  sais :  Mtindus  transibit:  fy  concupiscencia  eius.  A  man  bat  is 
fallin  \n  be  water  /  &  thorugli  strinht  of  be  water  is  borne  fortR  &  reft  be  gronde : 
if  he  mai  gete  ani  thing  bat  has  gode  festenyng^  /  as  rote  or  stake :  he  mai 
lete  be  water  to  bertf  him  fortR;  bot  bi  pat  thing  bat  fletis  as  he  dose:  mai  he 
noght  festyn  hiw.  &  sotheli,  wil  we  nil  we,  \n  bis  lif1  as  \n  a  water  /  wz't/z  be 
godis  of  bis  werld  /  eau^r  ar£  we  passand,  &  noght  is  \n  bis  werld  to  festyn  vs 
bi:  bat  we  ne  sal  pas;  ffor  be  wis  man  sais:  Omnes  morimur,  8f  quasi  aqua  dilabi- 
mur  in  terrain.  And  lob  sais:  Ego  opulentus  quondam,  repente  contritus  sum,  & 
ecce  hues  amid  mei  transierunt,  &  semitam  qttam  non  reuertor  ambulo ;  and  is  as  if 
he  said  :  »  Riches^2  &  frendes  had  i  mani,  bot  (t.  55)  pai  all  might  noght  lete :  bat 
me  ne  bihouid  wende  forth"  /  wzt/z-oute  agayn-come«.  And  bi  w/%ilk  pase  man  sal 
wende:  be  pr0ph£/e  schewis:  Oninis  caro  fenum,  $  omnis  gloria  eius:  quasi  flos 
agri,  »Mawms  flesh  /  is  as  hay,  &  al  his  ioi  &  noblay :  as  be  flowr  of  be  medow«. 

Exem-  3Hay:  first  is  grene  gresse,  &  sone  after:  bringes  forth  flomvs ;  &  a  while  after:  be 
plum.  flour<,s  dries  &  fallis;  after:  is  it  mowen  doune  wz't/z  be  sithe,  &  dried  &  led  to 
house  /  to  bestes  fode.  Pus  it  fallis  bi  man ;  \n  his  childhede  :  he  sprz'ngis  &  waxis 
as  dose  be  gres;  after  /  he  waxis  to  man  &  floris  \n  fairenes  &  strinth  &  wite  & 
hafyng  of  godes ;  after  /  he  drawis  til  elde,  &  ben  failis  his  flouris,  pat  ar£  /  his  v^rtuz;, 
fairehede  /  strinth  /  wite  &  ob^r  v^rtu^;  after  /  he  is  striken  downe  wz't/z  be  sithe  of 
deade,  after  led  to  house  to  bestes  fode,  pat  is,  duluen  \n  erth  to  fede  wormes. 
For-pi  sais  be  hali  man:  Cum  moritur  homo:  habitabit  serpentes  8f  bestias.  Man 
.  dead  /  is  so  wlatsome  to  be  werld:  bat  he  mai  nogh1  lat  him  be  \n  his  hous  .in. 
daies  to-gider,  bot  ben;s  him  oute :  bat  he  harme  nane  with  stinks.  /  For-bi  is  it 
now  tyme  for  to  wirk^:  ffor  \n  be  tyme  to  come:  is  na  tyme  to  swynktf,  bot  to 
receyue  mede :  for  ar^-done  dede.  And  bis  affermes  be  angel  wzt£  athe  &  sais : 
lurauit  enim  angehts  /  quod  non  erit  tempus  amplius.  Do  we  pen  as  be  apostle 

Notadesais:    Dum  tempus  habemus,   operemur  bonum  ad  omnes.     And  as  be  apostle  redis 

0(done~vs:  he  did  hiw-selfe:  for  ira  be  first  hour*  of  be  daie:  vn-to  be  fift:  he  trauaild  w/t/z 
Pauli  his  handes  /  til  wyn  his  fode ;  &  fra  be  fift  to  be  tende]:  he  pr^chid  to  pe  folk^ ; 
fra  pe  x.  til  euen:  he  smiid  pe  pou^r  &  pilgrz'mes  wz'tfc  swilk  gode  as  he  had; 
bi  night:  was  he  praiand;  &  pus  spend  he  his  tyme.  //  In  .in.  manors  /  man 
tynes  his  tyme :  In  idelnes,  or  \n  werks  pat  na  gode  comes  of,  or  \n  gode  werks 
bot  noght  ordeynd  as  bai  suld  be.  Agayn  idelnes:  sais  Sal<wzon:  Multam  mali- 

iQc.inm.ciam  dociiit  ociositas.  And  hali  write  sais:  Qui  sectatur  ocium:  stultissimus  est. 
A  greie  fole  he  is:  bat  forberis  noght  be  thing  bat  hi;;z  harmis;  Mar^  fole  he  is : 
for  he  wynnis  him  na  mede;  Mast  fole  he  is:  for  he  wynnis  him  payne.  For-bi 
god  blamis  be  idel:  &  sais:  Quid  hie  statis  tota  die  ociosi?  Idelschip  wastis  be 
godis  bat  ar£  war^  geten,  &  tillis  be  fend  til  hows;  for  als  thorugh  gode  werkis 
be  fend  is  lettid  til  entrtf  mawnis  herte:  so  idelnes  drawis  him  \n  b^to.  And 
Senek^  sais:  »he  lifs  noght  to  him-selfe:  bat  lifs  to  his  wambe  &  to  eise  of  his 
flesli  in  al  bat  he  mai«.  For  lob  sais:  Homo  ad  laborem  natus  est.  To  trauail 
was  man  bonden  /  after  he  had  synnid :  thorugh  goddis  biddings  /  bat  to  him  said : 
In  sudore  v[uttus]  t[ui]  ves[ceris]pa[ne]  tuo,  donee  reuertaris  in  terrain  de  qua  assump- 
tus  es :  quia  de  terra  es :  Sf  in  terrain  ibis,  Pou  sal  trauail  stalwordli  &  noght  fayntli, 
for  he  biddis  be  trauail  /  »wz't£  swete  of  pi  face,  ay  til  p<?u  torne  to  be  ertft«,  bat 
is,  al  bi  lite-tyme,  /  bat  bmi  lose  na  tyme  \n  idelnes.  Idelnes  smitis  a  man  as 
i  overl.  2  se  added.  3  Cf.  p.  77  v.  33. 


On  work:  Use  your  time  profitably.  J-JQ 

he  war<>  in  paralsi,  &  makis  his  lymes  drie  /  pat  he  mai  noght  wirkt'.  For-pi 
sais  pe  psalmwrighte :  Manus  habent  8f  non  pal[pabunt],  pe[dcs]  habent  fy  non 
amb[ulabunt],  os  habent  8f  non  lo[quentur ],  oculos  h[abent]  8f  non  v[idebunt],  aures 
h[abent]  8f  non  audient;  ffor  pair<?  lymes  ar£  so  bonden  in  syn :  pat  to  all  gode  / 
are  pai  as  deade;  &  to  il:  art'  pai  light.  Idelnesse  is  norice  til  all  vices,  &  makis 
man  rekles  to  do:  bat  he  is  halden  to  do.  And  when  be  fend  fyndis  man  idel:  he 
puttis  in  his  hert  /  foule  thoughtis  of  fleshli  filth",  or  opt'r  folys  pat  mai  brmg  him 
to  syn ;  after  he  eggis  him  til  do  baiw  \n  dede.  &  bus  he  dose  agayn  be  apostles 
biddyng,  bat  is:  Nolite  dare  locum  diabolo,  /  Pe  idel  man  makis  hiw  vnwhorthi  to 
dwell  in  ani  stede  /  bot  hell.  In  heuen  mai  he  noght  dwell:  for  heuen  is  ful  mede 
to  pa  /  bat  hen?  spendis  partf  tyme  in  werkis  bat  bai  hope  ar£  Or/ste  to  paie.  In 
pwrgatorie  mai  na  idel  dwell :  for  |)ar<?  art?  aneli  be  gode  pwrgid  /  in  bat  clensand 
fire  I  til  bai  be  als  klene  of  syn:  as  when  bai  cr/stend  war<?;  for-bi  sais  be  psalm- 
wright:  In  labore  homimtm  non  sunt:  8f  cum  h[ominibtis]  non  flag[dlabuntur].  Grete 
schame  is  to  be  idel  in  pis  tyme  of  grace :  in  be  whilk  we  an?  hired  to  wirkc",  & 
if  we  wirk  as  vs  ago":  grrte  mede  vs  abidis.  God  gifs  vs  ensample  to  wirk:  bi 
hiw-selfc,  as  pe  aposfle  witnes  f)<?r  he  sais :  Exinaniuit  setnetipsum :  for[mam]  ser[ui] 
ac[cipiens];  in  similitudinem  hominum factus  /  §  habitu  inuentus  vt  homo;  humiliauit 
s  erne  tip  sum  faclus  obedi[cns]  vsque  ad  m[ortem],  m[ortem]  autem  cru[cis]:  propter  quod 
$  deus  ex[altauit]  il[lum]  $•  dedit  il[li]  notnen  quod  est  s[uper]  o[mne]  nomen,  vt  in 
no  [mine]  Ihcsu:  omne  ge[nu]  fl[ectatur]  ce[lestium]  t[errcstrium]  8f  inf[ernorum],  $• 
omnis  lingua  con[fiteatur]  quia  dominus  Jesus  Christus  in  g[loria]  est  dci  patris. 
Ou^r-proude  pen  &  ou^r-delicate  is  be  s^niant  /  pat  in  batail  wil  rest  /  &  sees  his 
laumi  /  of  his  enemys  assailid  &  iuel  woundid.  /  Alswa  vs  agh  to  wirk  in  |)is  tyme 
of  grace :  for  we  an?  goddis  boght  thrallis  /  wz't/z  be  pr/ce  of  his  deorworthi  blode  : 
to  wirk  in  his  wyne-^erde.  &  ^it  he  hightis  vs  mede:  if  we  do  wz't/*  gode  will  / 
bat  we  thorugft  dette  agh  for  to  do.  Til  his  prz'ue  frendis  bifore  [)e  tyme  of  grace: 
god  hight  bot  erthli  godis  /  if  |)ai  wele  did ;  til  vs :  be  blisse  of  heuew  /  if  we 
wele  do.  &  if  he  hight  ani  of  his  pr/ue  frendis  pe  blisse  of  heuew  :  it  was  lang 
aftrr  or  bai  might  come  b^rto ,  for  |)ai  went  to  hell  &  abade  ban?  /  some  a 
thousand  ^er£,  some  twa,  some  thre  :  or  bai  til  heuen  come ;  bot  now  mai  men 
in  a  littil  while  wyn  heuen,  as  if  ani  deie:  sone  after  he  is  cr/stend,  or  if  he  hafe 
done  ful  penance  for  his  misdede,  or  be  martird  for  goddis  lute.  The  tyme  of 
soper  pat  be  gospel  of  saynt  Luk<?  spekis  of  /  to  pe  whilk  god  bad  his  s^ruanty 
kail  all  bat  war«?  bidden:  is  be  tyme  of  grace  /  bat  is  now,  in  be  whilk  al  is 
redi ;  so  bat  |vr  is  noght  els  to  do :  bot  wash  /  &  ga  to  mete,  bat  is,  dense  baiw 
2  of  all  bain?  synnes  bat  bai  haft'  done  /  sen  bai  wan?  borne.  //  What  losyng  of 
tyme  it  is:  to  trauail  aboute  thinges  bat  na  profit  comes  of!  /  Man  agh  to  trauail 
aneli  to  be  worschip  of  god:  &  his  saule-hele.  Thou  sal  noght  deme  be  man 
has  lang  lifid  /  bof  he  gang  w/tA  a  state  stoupand  /  &  be  grai-harid:  bot  deme 
him  so  halde  /  as  he  has  wele  lifid.  For-bi  answerid  Barlaham  til  losaphath  his 
disciple  when  he  askid  him  how  aide  he  was :  »I  am,  quod  he,  of  xlv  5{er£«. 
»Maister,  quod  losaphath,  me  thinks  pou  art  of  .lx.  ijen?  &  mar£«.  Pan  said  (f.  $6) 
Barlaham:  »Sen  I  was  borne:  hase  bien  lx.  ^er^s;  bot  bas  ^er^s  bat  i  spendid 
in  idelnes  &  syn  /  or  i  toke  me  to  pis  lift:  I  hald  as  '^eres  of  dede.  Bot  all 
pas  I  tell  ^eres  of  lift:  pat  i  hafr  s<?ruid  Ihmi  Crist  mi  lauml  in  /  thorugK  his 
den'worthi  grace«.  /  Wha-so  wald  vmthink  him  /  what  tyme  stelis  fra  him  in  lang 


140  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

etyng  &  drynkyng  /  in  outrage  &  vnnayt  werkis  /  idel  speche  /  idel  thought  & 
foule  /  vnnayt  bourdis  /  &  otyr  vanitees  ])at  men  delitis  baiw  in:  he  mai  sotheli 
vnderstand  /  bat  {)of  he  be  aide  of  ^eris:  bat  litill  tyme  he  has  lifid  /  of  be  man<?r 
he  suld  haf  lifed;  for  he  lifid  noght  til  his  profit  /  ne  wan  hi;;/  mede  /  bot  per- 
aunter  payn  /  for  losyng  of  tyme. 

//  Nota  If  Wonder  it  war?  bat  man  bat  gifs  hiw-  to  bisynes  of  be  werld  /  mar£  ben 
nedis:  had  na  lettyng  in  praier,  in  rest  of  hert,  in  sothefastnes  of  worde,  in 
pirfeecsone  of  gode  werks,  in  luf  to  god  &  all  crzsten  men.  For-pi  hali  men 
bifore  bis  tyme  bat  knew  pir  lettyngs:  pai  fled  be  werld  wzt&  all  be  vanitees  /  as 
it  had  bien  cursid,  for  baiw  thoght  bat  bai  might  noght  lede  rightwise  life  bmn ; 
&  f)«rfore  bai  went  in  to  wildernesse  /  whar^  bai  trowid  to  smie  god  to  paie. 
For-bi  sais  Senek^ :  Auarior  redeo  8f  crudelior  8f  inhumanior:  quia  inter  homines  fui. 

3  genera     «[  Thre  manors  of  occupaczons   are,   as   ser£  Tangling  &  mikil,  Raykyng  aboute, 

cionum. Mikil  trauailing  aboute  werldli  thinges.  ^[  Agayn  mikil  Tangling:  sais  Salomon: 
Qui  dimittit  aquam:  caput  est  iurgii.  »Lat  pe  water  oute«:  is  lat  be  tongtf  flete 
oute  in  Tangling^.  Bot  to  be  knowyng  of  god  /  ne  of  him-selfe  mai  nane  come : 
bat  latis  his  hert  flete  oute  /  vfiih  mikil  vnnaite  speche  ;  for  he  makis  waie  to  pe 
fende  in  him-selfe.  I^rfore  Salomon  likyns  slike  til  a  Cite  wztA-outew  wall : 
Sicut  vrbs  sine  mitrorum  ambitu:  ita  vir  qui  non  potest  cohibere  spiritum  in  lo- 
quendo.  And  for  so  mikil  lettyng  of  gode  /  is  in  mikil  speche:  pe  Phiiosophir 
byndis  his  discipib  -with  silence  /  pahv  first  fyue  7,ere.  Alswa,  abbot  Agathon 
bar?  .in.  ^ertf  a  stane  in  his  mouth"  /  to  lere  to  hald  him  still.  ^[  Agayn  pas  bat 
coxier  raikis  aboute  to  fede  bair£  wittis  -with  vanitees  and  lustis:  is  be  leryng  of 
be  angel  /  how  he  lerde  be  hali  Abbots  Arsenic  &  said:  ^Arseni  /  flee  be  werld 
&  his  ^ernyngs,  hald  be  in  reste,  bridil  pi  tongi« :  bat  it  flete  noght  oute  in 
langlyng^  /  ne  idel  speche.  /  Whan?  bir  .ill.  an?:  is  waie  to  gode  /  &  with- 
drawyng<?  fra  iuel.  It  tellis  of  an  Abbot  bat  fulli  .xx.  ^er^  sat  in  his  scole :  & 
neuer  lift  vp  his  heued  to  see  pe  scole-rouf.  ^f  Agayn  pas  bat  trauails  ouw-mikil 
aboute  werldli  godes:  sais  Salomon  bus:  Vana  est  spes  eorum  j  §  labor  eorum 
sine  fructu :  Quia  nichil  auferunt  secum  /  de  vniuerso  labore  suo.  l*is  is  ilk  dai 
sene:  bi  be  deade  /  bat  vtith  baiw  beris  /  be  bai  neu^r  so  riche :  bot  a 
3  wyndyng  (cl)athe.  ^[  Pe  thrid  man^r  of  men  ar^  /  bat  has  likyng  til  do  gode, 
bot  for  bai  do  it  noght  in  be  man^r  bai  suld  do  it  in :  bai  lose  bairtf  mede ;  for 
ar£  pair*?  entent  fallis2  in  ani  gode  dede:  be  mede  bat  to  be  gode  werk?  suld 
falle:  failis.  And  bat  mai  be  on  .iiii.  Manors.  First  /  for  be  wik[i]dnes  of  be 
wirkand ;  as  be  offrand  of  Caym,  bat  bof  he  offird  to  god  of  be  frute  bat  him 
newid:  god  wold  noght  loke  fwto ;  bot  to  be  offrand  of  Abel  his  brob^r  god 

Gregor.  lokid.  I^rfor  sais  saynt  Gregor:  »bi  be  hert/J3  wille  of  him  bat  offirs :  is  be  gift 
receyuid  of  god  /  or  repnmid ;  &  god  was  noght  paied  of  Abel  for  pe  offrand, 
bot  he  was  paied  of  pe  offrand  for  Abel,  bat  in  al  his  werk:  was  trew  &  gode; 
bot  to  Caym  &  his  offrand  god  wold  noght  loke :  for  he  bat  made  be  offrand  / 
mispaied  god  gf^teli«.  And  whi  our£  offrand  /  or  what  we  do  pat  gode  is  in 
kynde  /  mispaies  god:  pe  prophete  sais:  Cum  multiplicaueritis  oraciones :  non 
exaudiam,  quia  manus  vestre  /  sanguine  plene  sunf.  //  t*e  .ii.  pat  reuis  man  mede 
for  his  gode  dede:  is  vanite  /  bat  steris  man  to  do  be  gode:  for  he  wald  be 


o.  m. :  ffuge,  quiesce,  tace.         3  Th.  for  J)are  whare  gud  e.  fayles.        3  Ms.  herte. 


On  daily  work:  Use  your  time  appropriately.  141 

praisid.     For  vayn  glorie  mase  of  gode:    yuel;  als,  if  almesdede  /  pat  is  gode  in 
kynde  /  be  done  for  praisyng:    it  wynnis  hot  syfi.  //  fce  .iii.   pat  reuis   mede    fra 
gode  dede :    is   rosyng  of  him  pat  dose  pe  gode  dede ;    as    pe   phariseyn  did,    of 
whaiw  god  said  to  pe  folk  pat  stode   bifore  him:    »Sotheli  pis  man  has  lost  his 
mede  for  al  his  gode  dede«.     Nedeful  for-pi  it  is  /  pat  man  do  pe  gode  he  mai 
&  ne  pride  him  noght  perof  in  thoght  nor  in  worde ;  for  he  has  noght  pe  doyng 
of  gode  dede :   of  hiw-self*,  nor  of  his  deseruyng*.  //  te  .iiii.  [pat]  reuis  man  his 
mede   fra   his   gode   dede:    when   he    dose   it   in    pat    entent  /  for  to    be    halden 
better  ben  oper,  or  to  lesse  gode  dede  of  oper,  or  for  to  fordo  it  in  pat  he  mai. 
Bi  slike  tellis  saynt  Gregor  a  tale  \n  pe  dialoges:   tat  on  a  tyme  /  pe  hali  bischop  Gregor. 
Fortunate    chasid    pe   fend   oute   of  a  man  in  an    euenyng*,    &  pe  fend  when   he 
was  chasid  oute:  put  him  in  liknes  of  a  pilgrim  /  &  went  thorugft   pe   cite    pan- 
be  bischop  dwellid  /  wepand  &  ^elland  as  a  po\\er  wreche,  as  he  pat  was  wil  of 
his  h*rberi  j>at  night ;  &  pus  cried  he :    »Lo  what  %our  bischop  has  done  to  me : 
pat  ^ee  hald  so  gode!    he  come  to  be  hous  par  i  had  tane   my  h^rberi:    &  put 
me  oute  w*tA  force ;    &  now  als  a  pou*r  wrecfi :    of  herberi  am   i   wil ;    outral  I 
seke  herberi:  &  nane  wil  on  me  rwe«.    A  man  of  pat  cite  pat  pis  herd:  toke  him  in  N£[™- 
to  hous  /  cS:  set  him  bi  pe  fir*  &  esid  hiw  on  his  wise.     When  be  man  had  spird 
at  him  of  ferr*  thinges  /  as  men  dose  at  pilgnmes:    pe  fend  stert  to   |>e  child  in 
pe  credil  /  &  wrathe  pe  nek  in  twa  /  &  kast  it  in  pe    fire:    &  vanyst  a-wai.     Of 
pis  spekis  saynt  Gregor  &  sais :  »Mani  semes  gode  dedes  /  &  ar*  noght  gode,  for 
pai  ar*  noght  done  wit  A  a  gode  wille.     And  pis  man  herberied  be  pilgr/me  /  for 
na  pite  he  had  of  him :  bot  for  he  spake  yuel  of  pe  bischop ;   &  pat  he  suld  be 
halden  better  &  of  mar*  pite  /  pen  pe  bischop «.  //  7,ite  gode  dede  is  lost:  if  man 
be  it  cou(ete)  to  haue  of  man :  riches  /  or  state  /  or  honors  /  or  ani  werldis  gode.  t 
7,it  thomg(h)  syn  nland:  gode  dede  is  lost;  &  hereto  acordis  hali  writ  /  pat  sais: 
Qui  in  vno  peccauit:  multa  bona  perdit,   pat  is:   »he  pat  in  a  thing  deadli  sywnes  : 
mani  god;is)  he  tynis«  /  bot  he  amend  him  w*tA  schrift   /  &  do  penance  Jvrfore. 

(f.  57.j    [Secunda  pars  libri.} 

[.]  re  second  parti  of  pis  boke :  techis  man  til  do  his  gode  wer(k  with)  a 
fredome  of  spirit*,  in  stede  &  in  tyme  /  as  til  ilk  werk  fallis,  noght)  be-nedid 
perto,  nor  do  [it]  w/tA  anger,  ne  w*tA  a  deade  hert*.  For  hali  writ  says:  Hillarem 
datorem  diligit  deus,  »God  lufs  pa  /  bat  ought  gifs  him  w;tA  a  glad  hert«.  &  nameli 
pa  werks  pat  fallis  to  goddis  louyng^  /  &  hele  to  mawnis  saule,  as  praiers  &  hali 
thoughtis  /  &  clere  mynde  of  god  /  &  of  gode  dedis ;  thir  &  oper  slike  /  wil  haue 
litil  rest:  if  pai  wele  sal  be.  //  Praier  is  a  sacrifice  bat  mikil  paies  god:  if  it  be 
made  o  pe  man*r  it  agh  to  be;  for-bi  god  askis  it  of  vs  /  as  dette,  par  he  pus  sais: 
Gentes  creauit  deus  in  laudem  8f  gloriam  suam,  Et:  sacrificium  laudis  ho[norificabit] 
me.  And  pe  apw/le:  Oportet  semper  orare  fy  nunquam  deficere.  For-|)i  bihoues  man 
eau^  to  prai  &  neau^r  faile.  He  is  eau*r  praiand:  bat  is  ai  gode  doand.  ^ 
nameli  men  of  religion  an?  halden  to  worschip  god  wftA  praier,  &  men  of  hali 
kirk*  /  for  pai  lift  bi  almes  &  tendis— for  al  be  werld  trauails  to  bring  pa.im  to 
hand  pat  paiw  nedis,  so  pat  pai  mai  smie  god  w/tA  rest  &  w*'tfc  pair*  hali  bedis 
make  saghtlyng  bitwix  god  &  man.  And  alswa  maydens  &  wydows:  bat  has  avowid 
chaste;  all  bir  bifore  oper  ar*  halden  to  prai.  /  He  pat  wil  pai  god  w»tA  praier: 
offir  it  to  god  w/tA  a  free  wil  &  louand  hert;  &  graith  him  bifore  as  Salmon 


142  (R.  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

redes:  Ante  oracionem:  prepara  animam  t[uam],  8f  noli  esse  qttasi  homo  temp  tans  deum. 
He  teawptis  god:  pat  ^ernis  noght  to  wyn  pat  he  for  praies,  or  despaires  to  spede 
&  pat  makis  syn  &  yuel  life:  pat  man  thinkis  noght  to  leue.  Bi  slike  sais 
®-uid  mirum  si  tarde  a  domino  exaudimur:  cum  precipientem  dominum 
tarde  aut  nullo  modo  audimus?  Et  Ysidorus:  Non  potest  habere  certain  fiduciam 
precum ;  qui  adhuc  in  preceptis  dei  pigritat,  8f  quern  recordacio  peccandi  delectat.  // 
Wha  s(a)  wil  spede  of  his  praier:  do  pe  gode  he  mai,  flee  syn,  call  his  hert  fra 
pe  werld.  &  hald  it  at  hame  /  as  pe  gospel  techis:  Cum  oraueris:  infra  in  cu[biculum] 
t[uum]  8f  clauso  os[tio]  ora  p[atrem]  t[uum].  »Entw,  he  sais,  pi  bed«,  pat  is,  call  pi 
hert  hame,  »&  pen  steke  pi  dore«,  pat  is,  hald  pi  wittis  in  pe:  pat  nane  wend  oute. 
For  it  is  hot  folie  to  prai  god  com  to  vs  nedeful  wreches  &  pou^re  /  to  dele  vs  almis 
of  his  deorworthi  grace  /  &  noght  abide  his  come,  bot  twrne  him  pe  bak. 
Saynt  Isidore  sais  pe  saule  is  to  dense  of  pe  teche  of  syn,  &  pe  hert  to  with 
draw  ira  tariing  of  pe  werld:  pat  pe  praier  wzbfc-oute  lettyng^  mai  rise  to  god. 
For  ferr*  is  pat  man  ira  god  /  prai  he  neau^r  so  mikil :  pat  praiand  is  taried  wz'U 
werldli  thoughtis;  for-pi  sais  pe  psalm..:  Vacate,  fy  videte  quoniam  ego  sum. 
Pis  aght  to  ster<?  vs  to  prai  wzt&  a  (gret)  drede  &  avisement :  for  we  speke  wz'U 
al-mighti  god  /  when  we  (er  bot)  vnworthi  wreches.  For  so  did  Abraham,  goddis 
prme  frende ,  pat  s(aide) :  Loquar  ad  dominum  meum  /  cum  sim  puluis  fy  cinis  ? 
And  Ysidore  sais:  »W(e  mon)  prai  wzt/fc  sighings  &  teris  &  bitter  mynde  of  our<? 
grz'mli  synes,  &  of  (be)  mani  pynes  &  bitter  /  we  sal  for  paim  thole,  bot  we 
vs  amend  (&)  on  vs  rwe«.  ^f  Alswa  pe  praiand  sal  hope  to  spede  of  pat  he  for 
praies,  (for  Crist  him) -self  sais:  Omnia  possibilia  sunt  credenti ;  for-pi  we  sal 
prai  til  god  (as  til  oure  fa)der,  &  hope  c^rtaynli  to  spede  at  our*  fader  /  of  pat  we 
him  (pray,  if  we  lu)f  him  as  our^  fader,  &  kynd  to  him  be.  For  he  sais  to  all 
his he  sais:  Si  quid  petieritis  patrem  in  n[omine]  m[eo],  dabit  vobis. 

Oex  thinges  (a)r^  to  wite  in  pfaier:  ffirst:  how  man  sal  graith  hi(m)  bifore.  l*e 
.ii. :  wham  he  sal  prai.  £e  .iii. :  for  wham  he  sal  prai.  fe  .iiii. :  what  he  sal 
aske  in  pnzier.  fe  .v. :  what  lettis  praier.  I*e  .vi. :  what  might  &  wrtu  praier  is 

1  of.     Pe  first:  is   writen    bifore,    &  bigynnes  at  Ante  oracionem  prepara  a[nimam] 

2  t[uam]  &  lastis  h(id)er.  //  The  .ii.,  to  wham  pou  sal  prai:  Sothli  /  bifore  alle  oper: 
to  god  al-mighti ;   as  pe  prophete  biddis :  Subditus  esto  domino  fy  ora  eum.     And  \n 
pe  gospel  god  sais  :   Dominum  deum  tuum  adorabis.    Halughs  we  honour  &  prai, 
noght  as  gifars  of  godenessis :  bot  as  goddis  frendis  /  to  help  vs  to  wyn  [of]  him  pat 
we  after  prai.     For-pi  in  al   ourtf  hert  \n  gode  bileue,  &  c^rtayn  hope,    &  p^-fite 

3  charite:  oure  Izuerd  god  is  to    lufr.    //   Pe   .iii.,    for  wham  men  sal  prai:    a  grete 
clerks  vndose.     Ilk  crz'sten  man  /  is  a  quyk  lym  of  hali  kirk :   for-pi  is  he  halden 
to  prai  for  all,  bot  speciali  for  men  of  hali  kirk,    as    be   pape,    cardinals,    &  bi- 
schops,  &  all  pat  haues  cur<?  of  mamies  saule;  alswa,  for  our£  faas  &  frendes ;  & 
all  pat  ar^  in  deadli  syn:  pat  pai  thorugfi  grace  mai  rise;  for  all  pat  ar£  in  pur- 
gatorie  :   pat  goddis  immn  abidis;   &  sithen  for  all  pat  mister  has  /  quyk  &  deade. 
And  sayn  Gregor  sais  pat  soner  he  sal  be  herd  &  of  his  praier  sped:  pat  for  all 
praies.  &  saynt  Ambrose :   Sz  pro  omnibus  roges :  pro  te  omnes  rogabunt.    And  saynt 
lerom:  »Nede  byndis  man  til  prai  for  hiw-selfc,  bot  charite  of  brotherhede  steris  til 

4  prai  for  all;  &  charite  steris  mar<?  god  til  her*:   pen  nedefulnes«.  //  Pe  .iiii.,  what 

i  From  here  cf.  text  in  Ms.  Thornton. 


On  daily  work:  how  and  why  to  pray. 

men  sal  ask  in  praier:  Ortis  /  grace  in  pis  life,  &  endles  ioi  in  pat  oper ;  for  pus 
techis  god  vs  &  sais :  Primum  querite  r[egnum]  del  $  ius[ticiam]  eius,  fy  hec  o[mnia] 
ad[icientur]  vobis.  God  is  dettowr  to  paiw  pat  ar£  rightwise :  to  fynd  paiw  pat  paiw 
nedis  of  erthli  godis;  for  rightwisenes  mase  of  men:  goddis  childr?,  &  pe  fader 
thorugft  kynde :  is  halden  to  fynd  his  childr^.  Erthli  godis  are  noght  to  ask  in 
praier,  for  pai  haue  done  harnie  to  mani;  for-pi  sais  Sal<?won:  Vsquequo  stulti  /  ea 
que  sibi  sunt  noxia  cupiunt?  P<?rfor  ilk  man  aske  of  god  w/tfc  drede:  pat  he  askis, 
&  prai  his  lauml  /  if  he  see  pat  his  praier  be  nedeful  &  skilful :  pat  he  it  fulfill ; 
&  if  it  ne  be  nedeful  ne  skilful:  pat  he  it  withdrawe;  for  what  mai  help  &  what 
(mai)  harme:  wate  better  be  leche  pen  pe  seke.  Bot  ane  of  pir  twa  (sal)  we  traist 
at  haue  thorugfi  praier:  oiper  pat  we  for  prai:  or  pat  pat  better  (is)  for  vs.  //  Pe 
5  .v.,  what  lettis  our*  praier  to  be  herd  of  god:  Se(x  pm)ges.  Pe  first  is,  syn  of 

1  pe  praiand;  as  god  sais  thorugh  pe  prophete:  (Ctim)  muliiplicaueritis  oraciones:  uon 
exaudiam,  manus  enim  v[estre]  s[anguine]  p[lene]  s[unt],     Et  Dauid:  (Iniqui)tatem 
si  as[pexi]  in  corde  m[eo],   non   ex[audiet]  dominus.    Et  prophets:   Pcccata  nostra 
absconderunt  (faciem)  eius  anobis.     Et  euangelium:  Scimus  quoniam  peccatores  non 

2  ex[audit]  dominus.  /  Pe  .ii.  is,  pe  (vn)worthines  of  pas  pat  men  praies  fore ;  &:  pat 
defendis  god  to  prai  for  (paim)  thorugrl  pe  prophete:  Noli  orare  pro  populo  isto, 
ncque  assumas  pro  eis  (laudcm  8f)  oracionem :  quia  non  cxatidiam.    It  tellis  \n  lif  of 
hali  faders  pat  (ane  pat  wa)s  bonden  in  syn:  come  to  be  hali  Abbot  saynt  Anyone) 
(f.  58)  &  said :    »hali  fader,  haf  mmn   on   me  ,    &  prai  for  me«  ;    /    to  whai/w  pe 
abbot  said:    »I  wil  haf  na  m^rci  on  be:  bot  p0u  help  pe  selfc  &  leue  pi  syn«.  / 

3  Pe  .in.  is,  foule  thoughtis  &  idel,   pat  lettis  vs  to  think  on  oun?  praier.     Of  slike 
fals  praiand  sais  god  thorugh  pe   prophete :    Populus   istc   labiis  me   honorat ,    cor 
autem   eius   longe   est   a    me.     It    is    grrte    wikidnes   of  vs  vnworthi  wreches  /  pat 
when  we  speke  w*'tA  praier   til   almighti  god,    &   we   als   vnwitti  /  herknes   noght 
what   we   sai.      Sotheli  gr^te  despite  we  do  to  god  /  when   we   prai  him  til  hert' 
ourtf  praier  /  &  we  wil  noght  her?  it  vs-self,  bot,   pat  wers  is:  in  foule  thoughtis 
and  idel  /   wastis    our<?  tyme.     Abraham   when   he  made   sacrz'(fi)se  to  god:    foulis 
lightid  p^r-on  /  &  wold  haf  filde  it,    &  he  chasid  pe  foules  awai,   pat  nane  durst 

4  it  negfi:  to  al  be  tyme  war*  passid  /  &  pe  sacr/fice    made.    Do  we  swa  wftA  ^is 
fleand  thoughtis:   pat  filis   pe  sacr/fice    of  our?  praier.     Pis  sacr/fice  is    ful  queme 
to  god:    when  it  comes  of  a  clene  &  a  louand  hert.     God  biddis:     »send  to  me 
praier :     &    I    sal    send  to    be    grace ;     &    what    sa    p0u    to    me    dose :     I   forget 
it   noght«.    /    Pe  .iiii.   pot    lettis    our^    praier    to    be    herd:    is    hardnes   of  hert. 
&    pat    is    on    .ii.    manors:     first    hardnes    of    hert    agayn    pe    pou^r,    &    p^rbi 
be  prophete  sais:    Qui  opturat  aures  s[uas]  ad  clamor  em  paupcris :  clamabit  8f  ipsc 
Sf  non  exaudietur.     Pat    op<rr  is  hardnes  of  paim    pat  wil  noght   forgifj   to    paiw 
pat  has  misdone  pai/« ;  to  slike  Sal^won  sais :  Rellnque  proximo  tuo   nocenti  tc,  8f 
tune  deprecanti  tibi :  peccata  soluuntur.    &  in  pe  gospel  god  sais:     Cum  stabitis  ad 
orandum:  dimittite  si  quid  habetis  aduersum  aliqucm,  vt  pater  vestcr  qui  in  celis  est 

5  dimittat  vobis  p[eccata]  v[estra].  /  Pe  .v.   pat  lettis  ourt'  praier  to  be  herd :  is  littil 
ijernyng  after  be   thing   men  praies   fore  ;    &  saynt  Austyn  sais :     Vt  ex   toto  corde 
desidcretur  /  hoc  seruat  tibi   dcus;    quod  non  vult  tibi  cito   dare,    vt  discas  magna 
magne  desiderare.     And  saynt  Gregor  sais:   »if  we  witA  mouthe  prai  after  pe  blisse 

6  of  heuen  /  &  noght  s;erne  it  w*'t&  hert:    criand  we  are  still«.  /  Pe  .vi.   pat  lettis 
our^  praier :   is  foule  speche  &  idel  /  pat  we  file  ourtf  lippis  wz't/* ;   for  if  pou  gif 


144  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

a  grete  lord  drink  in  a  slutti  cup:  war^  pe  drink  nen?  sa  gode,  him  wold  wlat 
|>«p-<wrtft,  &  bid  do  it  awai  /  thrist  hiw  new  sa  saw;  sa  god  dos  with  pe  praier 
pat  comes  of  a  foule  moutfe:  he  latis  noght  herbi  /  bot  twmes  hiw  p^rfra.  For- 
pi  sais  sayn  Gregor:  Os  nostrum  a  deo  tanto  minus  auditur  in  prece :  quanto  plus 
6  polhiitur  stulta  loqudone.  //  (Pe  vi.  what  might  &  vsrtu.  praier  is  of)  *.  Men 
pat  waw  bifore  pis  tyme,  pat  held  palw  in  sothefastnes  /  &  noght  idel  spake  : 
wan  of  god  what  so  pai  pfaied.  &  pat  was  schewid  til  a  hali  hermite  pat  hight 

Narra- Fl or entius2,  pat  waned  in  wildernes  vnknowen  fro.  men.  Sa  mikil  vmnyn  was 
aboute  pis  hermite  stede:  pat  nane  durst  come  pider  /  bi  a  fer  wai.  A  deken 
was  in  pat  land  pat  of  pis  hermite  herd  &  come  at  pe  last  to  pe  place  whar<? 
pe  hemnite  was  duelland;  bot  sa  mikil  vmnyn  he  sagfi  p^r  aboute:  bathe  durste 
come  na  ner,  bot  cried  after  help  for  ferde.  Pe  hali  man  come  oute  to  wite 
what  it  was  pat  cried,  &  he  sagft  a  man  standand  par?  /  &  he  spend  what  he 
wold.  &  pe  deken  said:  »hali  fader,  I  haf  soght  pe  of  fer,  &  now  I  haf  founden 
pe :  I  haf  ioi  inogR  /  might  I  com  to  pe;  bot  I  mai  noght  for  pis  venemouse 
bestes  pat  hew  aw  so  mani«.  When  pe  hali  man  pis  herd:  he  fel  downe  on 
knees  &  pfaied  god  /  he  wold  fordo  pas  wormes.  &  als  sone  /  a  grz'sli  storme 
rase  with  a  thoner :  &  slogR  all  pe  wormes.  Pen  said  pe  hermite  til  ouw  lau^rd : 
»lau<?nl  /  pis  bestis  liggis  hew  sa  thik  /  pat  I  ne  mai  come  til  him  j  ne  he  to 
me:  bot  we  be  envenemode  of  pai#z.  Lo  lauml  /  pai  lig  hew  dead  /  bot  wha 
sal  lift  })aim  away  1 «  At  pis  worde :  mani  foulis  come  &  bare  paiw  all  away 
clene.  Hew-of  spekis  saynt  Gregor^  &  sais:  »For-pi  pat  goddis  smiant^  /  with- 
draw  paiw  ira  pe  werld  &  his  werkis :  vnnayte  kan  pai  noght  speke ;  sa  pai 
bynd  paiw  to  silence :  pat  pai  dar  na  worde  say  /  bot  it  be  leryng^  til  ober  / 
or  louyng  to  god.  &  p^ore  /  when  pai  ought  askid  god:  he  grantid  paiw 
Nota  alsone.  Bot  we  waful  wreches  pat  with  pe  werld  delis  /  pat  al  dai  chaters  as 
pies,  now  lies,  now  wries,  now  yuel  spekis,  now  flitis,  now  bakbitis,  now  sweris 
grete  athes :  pir  filis  ouw  pnzier  &  lettis  it  to  be  herd ;  for  als  fer  is  our^  mouth 
pnriand  /  ira  god:  as  it  is  ner^  pe  werld  /  wftfc  idel  speche«.  /  Praier  is  so  might- 
ful  /  if  he  haf  his  right:  pat  he  maistirs  pe  fend  &  lettis  him  til  do  his  will. 

Narra-  For  so  it  did  pe  fende  pat  luliane  pe  Emp^four  comandid  to  wende  to  pe  vttr^ 
side  of  pe  werld  /  to  bryng  him  tithandis  /  how  it  was  par^.  When  he  had 
flowen  ten  iournes  piderward  /  he  come  ouer  pe  place  pat  Publius  pe  hermite 
dwellid  in:  pat  praiand  was  pat  tyme.  &  his  praier  ou^rtoke  pe  fende  &  held  him 
par£  fast  /  fulli  ten  daies  —  for  al  pat  tyme :  pe  hermite  was  in  praier ;  &  when  he 
cessid :  pe  fend  tumid  agayn,  for  he  might  na  ferrer  wende,  for  praier  him  lettid3. 
When  pou  has  gederid  hame  pi  hert  /  with  his  wittis ,  &  has  fordone  pas 
thinges  pat  might  let  pe  to  prai ,  &  won  til  deuocz'on  pat  god  to  pe  sendis 
thorugh  his  demvorthi  grace:  quykli  rise  of  pi  bed  at  pe  bel  ryngyng^.  4&  if 
na  bel  be  par^:  cok  be  pi  bel;  if  par^  be  noip^r  cok  ne  bel:  goddis  luf  wakyn 
pe,  for  pat  paies  mast  to  god.  And  gelusye  in  luf  rotid:  wakens  bifore  bathe 
cok  &  bel,  &  has  waschen  hir£  face :  with  swete  luf-teris,  &  hirtf  saule  wz'tA-inne 
has  ioie  in  god  with  deuocz'on  &  likyng  &  morneyng  to  him,  &  with  oher  heuenli 
gladdyngs:  pat  god  to  his  lofars  sendis.  Sely  artf  pa  bifore  oher:  pat  luf  wakens, 
for  mani  gladdyngw5  pai  haf  /  when  optff  fast  slepis ;  for  pai  fynd  bifore  paiw  / 

1  so  on  the  margin.  2  Cf.  Gregor  Dial.  III.  15.  3  Cf.  Vit.  Patr.,  ed.  Migne  p.  1003. 

«  Cf.  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.        5  Ms.  gladdyngs. 


On  daily  work:  morning-prayer  &c.  I^e 

pat  gladdis  all  /  rise  pai  neau*r  so  sone;  for  god  hi;«-self  pus  sais:  Qui  mane 
vigilauerint  ad  me:  inuenient  me,  »he  pat  erli  wakyns  to  me:  he  sal  fynde  me,  to 
speke  -with  him,  (f.  59)  &  glad  him  with  me,  &  haf  me  at  his  willea.  Be  pen  ai  waker ; 
&  rise  quikli  &  thank  hertli  pi  gode  louml :  for  pe  rest  pou  had,  for  pe  ^emyng 
of  angels.  Sen  a  knyght  has  grete  likyng  to  be  cald  to  come  speke  wzt^  pe 
kyng<?  /  when  he  knowis  it  is  for  his  grete  profit :  with  grete[r]  skil  goddis  knight  / 
pat  is  ilk  crzsten  man  /  at  pe  callyng  of  his  lauml  god  agh  redi  to  be,  pat 
callis  him  for  his  mikil  prow,  &  for  na  thing  ellis.  Soberli  pou  rise  with  a  glad 
cher*,  &  think  pou  hens  god  call  pe  with  pis  wordis :  Surge  prop[er]a  arnica  mea, 
formosa  mea,  8f  veni;  ostende  michi  faciem  tuam,  sonet  vox  tua  in  auribus  meis, 
pat  is:  »Rise  mi  leefc,  mi  fair*  thing*,  &  schew  me  pi  face;  I  ^erne  pat  pe  voice 
of  pi  praier  /  ring  in  mi  ner*«.  //  l  Think  i«  pi  risyng:  how  mani  men  pat 

night  /  p*rist  \n  lif*,  &  some  in  saule,    /    &   some  in  bodi  &  saule ;    some  brent, 
some  drounyd,  some  sodanli  dead  /  w/tfc-oute  repentance  or  schrift:  &  par?  saulis 
drawyn  with  fendes  til  hell;  some  fallyn  in  deadli  syn,  as  lucheri,  glotonie,  thift, 
couaitise,    manslaght*r  &  op*r  ser*  synnes.     And  of  alle   pis  perils  pi  gode  god 
has  delyu*rid  pe  /  of  his    godenes   &   noght   of  pi  dessert.     What  has  pou  done 
to  god  /  pat  he  suld  ^eme  pe  so  /  &  suffr*  so    mani  op*r  be  lost*?   &  p*r-aun- 
ter*  pou  has  done  wers  /  pen   pai  haf  done.     If  pou  wele  loke   what  god  dose 
to  f>e  /  pof  pou  noght  haf  s^ruid:    pou  mai  fynd   pat  god  is   als  bisy  til  do  pi 
prow:    as    he  had  noght  ellis  to  do,  &  as  he  had  al  pis  werld  forgetyn:   £  aneli 
thoght  on  pe.  //  When  pou  has  pus  thoght:  lift  vp  pi  hert  to  god  &  sai: 
J»I  thank   pe,    demvorthi   lorde,    with  al  mi  hert:    pat  me  so  vnworthi  wreche  /  Oracio 
pus  has  ^emid  pis  night,    &  tholid  me  with  life  &  hele  /  pus  abide  pis  daie.     I'XTeT 
thank    pe,    lorde,    of  pis   gr*te   gode    &   mani  op*r:    pat  pou  has  done  to  me  /  (n°2ej 
sa  vnkynde  &  vnworthi  wreche,   of  all  o|vr;   pat  pou  swilk  kyndnes  schewis  to  me  /vespera 
agayn   mine   yuel  dedis«.     And  put  pe  &  all  pi  frendes:   in  goddis  handes,  &  sai 
pus:    »In  pi  der*-worthi  handes,  mi  lorde,  I  ^elde  mi  saule  &  mi  bodi,  &  all  mi 
frendis  /    sib  &  fremmed    /    &  all    pat  me  gode  has  done  bodili  or  gastli,  &  all 
pot  cr/'stendome   has   tane :    bat   pou   for   pe   lufc   of  pi   moder    pat  denr-worthi 
maiden  /  &  pe  bisekyng  of  all  pi  halughs :  ^eme  vs  pis  dai,   or  pis  night,  fra  all 
perils  of  bodi  &  saule,  &  fra  all  deadli  synnes,  fra  fandyng  of  pe  fende,   &  sodane 
deade,  &  fra  pe  paynes  of  hell,  &  make  vs  paiw  to  drede.    tou  halugh  owe  hertis 
with  pe  g^ace  of  pi  hali  gast,  &  make  vs  her^  eau^r  what  so  we  do,   pat  we  do 
pi  will;   pat  we  neau^r  twynne  fra  pe:  dert'  lorde,  amen«. 

When  pou  has  pus  done :  wende  to  pe  kirk  or  oratori ;  &  if  pou  mai  wyn  to  nane : 
pi  chambr^  make  pi  kirk.  In  pe  kirk  is  mast  deuocron  til  prai,  for  par£  is  god  in 
pe  oxAer  /  til  her^  pat  till  him  pfaies,  &  grante  paiw  pot  pai  ask:  or  pat  better 
is ;  &  in  presence  of  halows,  &  in  worschip  of  kirkis  pat  ar<?  halughid ;  Mynd  of 
angels  pat  par*  ar^  to  smie  pair^  lorde  &  pe — for  pair^  office  is  /  to  receyue  pi 
praier:  &  ber^  it  to  god  &  bn'ng  pe  grace  fra  him,  as  sayn  Bernard  sais.  Rise 
pen  q«/kli  at  goddis  calle  &  put  fra  pe  al  heuynes ,  &  answers  pi  lorde  with  pe 
wordis  pat  Samuel  said  to  god  pat  callid  him  be  night:  Loquere  dominc,  quia 
audit  scruus  tuus. 

For    .viii.  thinges   aght    vs    to  wake    &    eau*r  be  doand   gode:    pis   schorte    liff ;  Motiua 
pe  straite  wai  we  haf  to  ga;    our<?  gode  dedes   pat  are  so   faa;   our*  synnes  p^toperan_ 
1  Cf.  St.  Edmund's  Speculum. 

10 


146  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

are  so  many ;  deade  bat  we  are  siker  of  &  wate  noght  when ;  be  straite  dome  of 
domesdai  /  &  so  hard,  for  ilk  idel  thoght  sal  bar^  be  schewid,  ben  sal  ilk  foule 
worde  &  synftil  werk  be  greteli  chargid,  for  god  sais :  De  omni  verbo  ocioso  fyc., 
£  saynt  Anselm :  Quid  fades  in  ilia  die  quando  exigettir  a  te  omne  tempus  till 
impensum  :  qualiter  a  te  sit  expensum  /  vsque  ad  minimam  cogitadonem,  fe  .vii. 
thing  is,  be  sfrvzng  pyne  of  hell;  be  .viii.  is,  be  ioie  of  heuen. 

A.fier  bi  vprisyng^:  prai  for  be  saulis  pat  ar*  i»  pyne  of  p^fgatorie,  &  think  pou 
heris  paiwz  cry  on  be:  be  wordes  of  lob:  Miseremini  met,  miseremini  mei  vos  [saltern] 
a[mid]  mei :  quia  m[anus]  d[omini]  te[tigit]  me,  &  help  paiw  wztA  De  profundis,  Sf 
Absolue.  After:  bou  grete  our£  leuedi  wz't/z  Sa/#£  regina:  on  bi  knees.  Wend  ben 
to  be  kirk;  &  bid  bi  vayn  thoghtis  &  bisynes  of  be  werld:  hald  baiw  b^  oute,  & 
sai  to  bi  saule  at  bi  mcomyng :  Intra  in  gau[dium]  domini  tul,  vt  audias  *  vo[cem] 
eius:  8f  vi[deas]  templum  eius.  Hali  kirk,?  is  entr^  and  ^ate  of  heuen.  After:  fal 
doune  bifore  be  croice,  &  anour£  him  bat  for  be  was  done  on  be  croice,  & 
say:  Adoramus  te  Christe  fy  bene[didmus]  tibi,  quia  per  sanctam  crucem  t[uam] 
re[demisti]  m[undum].  And  haf  ben,  or  b<?u  vp  rise,  \n  mynde  /  how  hate  luf 
"him  brents:  pat  deied  for  be  on  be  crosse.  After:  bigyn  bi  matyns;  bot  first: 
crosse  bi  lippis  &  sai:  Doming,  labia  m[ea]  a[peries],  bat  is:  »lorde  /  oppen 
mi  lippis :  pat  al  night  has  bien  stoken  ira  louyng  of  be ;  &  I  mai  noght  oppyn 
bai#z :  bot  be>u  me  help«.  And  ben  sai:  Deus  in  adiutorium;  wzt&  bis  wordes: 
^ette  oute  bi  herte  bifore  god  /  &  sai:  »lord  /  als  mi  domesman  /  bifore  be  I 
stand :  bmi  wreke  me  of  mi  faas :  bat  lettis  me  to  smie  be,  &  bai  assaile  me 
keneli,  so  bat  I  be  sone  omr-comen:  bot  b^u  me  help«.  And  at  Gloria  patri: 
bowe  doune  &  sai  wz't/z  bi  hert:  »lord,  of  bi  blissyng  I  biseke  be«.  Torn  be 
ben  to  be  angels  bat  aboute  standis  til  bi  comfort  &  helpe  &  als  bi  wardeyns 
til  kepe  be  ira  bi  faas:  &  bus  til  baiw  say:  Venite  exult  emus  domino.  After: 
cast  bin  iee  on  suw-what:  &  hald  it  b^-on  til2  bou  makis  bi  p^ aiers :  for  pis 
helpis  mikil  /  til  stabelyng  of  be  hert;  &  paynt  par*  bi  lord:  as  he  was  on  be 
croice ;  think  on  his  fete  &  handes  bat  war^  nailid  to  be  tree,  &  on  be  wide 
wounde  \n  his  side,  thorugK  be  whilk :  wai  is  made  to  be  /  til  wyn  til  his  hert^ ; 
thank  bi  lorde  b^of:  &  luf  him  b^rfore;  for  ban?  bai  fynde  tresoz/^  of  lufe :  bat 
bider  mai  wyn.  Think  bou  sees  his  woundes  (f.  60)  stremand3  of  blode:  &  falland 
downe  on  be  ertR,  &  fal  b<?u  downe  &  lik  vp  bat  blode  /  sweteli  wz't^  teres  kis- 
sand  be  erth ;  wz'U  mynde  of  bat  riche  tresowr  bat  for  bi  synnes  was  sched :  & 
sai  bus  wz't^  hert:  »Whi  liggis  bis  blode  her^  as  lost  /  &  I  periscK  for  thrist? 
Whi  drink  I  noght  of  pis  riche  pymerct  /  pat  mi  lorde  to  me  birlis,  /  &  cole  mi 
tong£,  /  &  her£  what  god  to  me  spekis  :  Qui  sitit :  veniat  fy  bibat.  Gustabis  Sf 
•videbis  quam*  suauis  est  dominus,  quam  dulcis,  quam  mitts,  quam  misericors«.  / 
W/t/^  slike  meditacz'ons  angels  comes  to  pe  saule:  &  god  is  par£  /  &  sais  til  his 
lufar:  Quid  vis  vt  fadam  tibi1^  &  bou  answer:  »Lau^rd:  it  is  inogK  to  me  synful 
wreche  &  oute-cast  of  bi  folk5  /  bat  bou,  lorde,  o-fer  /  wil  loke  to  me,  &  suffn? 
me,  lorde,  so  synful  wreche :  to  loue  be  &  luf  be  if  I  couthe,  for  so  me  wele 
aght«.  If  bou  mai  wyn  to  slike  thinkyngs  \n  bi  pnziers:  pou  sal  haue  slike 
gladdyngs  /  bat  it  sal  be  a  payn  to  pe  to  think  oght  ellis.  Sayn  Bernard  /  for 
be  likyng  bat  he  had  \n  slike  steryngs:  gerned  bat  matyns  tyme  might  haue 


1  Ms.  videas.        2  =  whil.        3  r  overlined.        *  Ms.  quonzam.        5  r»  flok? 


On  daily  work:  matins.  I47 

lastid  til  domesdai.  Think,  per  bou  standis  or  knelis  in  praier,  pat  bou  sees 
Ih<?ju  Crist  come  with  angels  &  hali  halnghs  on  ilk  a  side  /  &  angels  berand 
bifore  him  lepis  ful  of  relif*  pat  is  left  of  be  fest  of  halughs  bat  duellis  with 
god  iw  heuen  /  bat  god  bad  gedir  vp  to  help  be  pou^r  \vith  /  pat  it  be  noght 
lost,  I>is  relif:  is  mete  til  vs  pou*r  wrechis  /  pat  suld  p*risch  for  defaute:  bot 
god  on  vs  rued.  Think  pou  heres  god  cri :  »Wha  so  has  nede  of  mete:  pnt 
forth  pe  hand  &  haf*«.  And  loute  pou  with  pi  heued  to  god  /  &  mene  pi  Pou*rt 
to  hint  &  sai:  Non  est  in  domo  mea  pants,  &  sai  als:  »lorde  /  so  lang  meteles 
haf  I  bien:  I  die  for  hunger,  bot  p<m  on  me  rue;  &  noght  mai  hald  mi  lif:  bot 
mete  bat  bou  delis*.  Ster*  pi-self*  in  slike  myndes  &  oper  bat  mai  kyndel  pi 
deuoc/on  &  raise  it  to  him,  ay  til  pe  think  pou  heris  him  sai  to  be :  Z>*Ya/a  os 
t[uum]  $  im[plebo]  Mud.  And  ben  sal  bou  thorugh  goddis  grace  :  fele  som  dele  of 
bat  heuewli  fode  /  bat  all  halughs  fedis ;  bat  bou  mai  with  likyng*:  syngt-  be 
maiden  sang*/  bat  is  goddis  moder:  Magnificat  anima  mea  dominum,  $  exultauit 
sfriritus]  m[eus]  in  deo  s[alutari]  m[eo].  /  When  god  sendis  be  slike  likyngs 
thorugh  his  grace:  torne  be  kyndli  to  be  angels  bat  bifore  pe  standis,  &  to 
paim  sai:  »I  prai  ?ow  als  mi  kep*rs  bat  god  has  to  me  send:  bat  ;e  thank 
^our*  gode  lorde  for  me«.  And  turne  be  ben  to  be  aut*r,  par*  god  sotheli  is: 
&  sai:  Vert  doniine  /  magna  est  misericordia  tua  super  me,  bat  is:  »sothli  lorde  / 
mikil  is  be  m*rci :  pat  bou  to  me  schewis«.  W/tfc  slike  luf-steryngs :  god  comes 
to  his  lufars ;  &  bidis  noght  to  be  praier  be  made  :  bot  pressis  in  /  in  be  middes 
&  softis  be  languisand  saule :  with  a  dewyngt'  of  heuenly  swetenes ;  &  teres  & 
sihings  ar*  messang*rs  of  goddis  come.  Cely  an-  pai  bat  bus  murnys  &  languys 
to  god,  for  bai  sal  neau*r  twyn  fra  god,  bot  haf  him  ay  at  pair*  will. 

Jlow  god  comes  to  his  lofars,  Sf  how  he  some-tyme  /ra  paim  partis.  God 
when  he  comes  to  his  lufars:  he  gifs  bairn  to  taste  how  swete  he  is ;  &  ar^ 
bai  mai  fulli  fele:  he  fra  p&im  wendis,  &  als  an  Egle  he  spredis  his  wengis 
&  aboue  baiw  risis  /  als  if  he  said:  »som  dele  mai  ^e  fele:  how  swete  I  am; 
bot  if  ^e  wil  fele  bis  swetenes  to  be  full:  flies  vp  aft^r  me,  &  lift  jrour*  hertis 
vp  to  me  /  par  I  am  sittand  on  mi  fader  right  hand:  &  pan?  sal  ^e  be  fulfillid 
in  ioie  of  me«.  God  comes  til  his  lufars:  til  comfort*  faaiw;  he  partis  fra  baiw : 
for  bai  suld  be  mar*  meke  palm,  &  bat  bai  suld  noght  ou<?r-mikil  pride  paiw 
of  be  gladdyng  bat  bai  haf  of  his  come ;  for  if  bi  spouse  watt  ai  \\ith  be  :  bou 
wold  late  ou^r-wele  of  be  selfc  &  despice  ober;  &,  if  he  war*  ai  vtMi  be:  b^u 
wold  ret*  it  to  kynde  /  &  noght  to  grace.  For-bi  thorugR  his  grace:  he  comes 
when  he  wil  /  &  to  whaim  he  wil,  &  departis  when  he  wil;  so  pat  his  lang 
duellyng  make  him  noght  mar*  vnworthi ,  bot  after  his  departyng^:  be  be  mar* 
^ernid  &  soght  vrith  geluse  luf  &  sighinges  &  teres.  Bot  be  war  p<m  goddis 
lufar  /  pof  pi  spouse  withdraw  him  fra  pe  for  a  while:  he  sees  all  pi  dedes, 
&  pou  mai  na  thing  fra  him  hide ;  &  if  he  wite  p<m  luf  ani  bot  him  /  bot  if  it 
be  for  be  luf  of  him  /  or  if  bou  make  ani  luf-semblant  til  ob*r  ben  him :  als 
sone  he  partis  fra  pe.  Gelouse  is  pi  spouse  /  delicate  /  nobill  &  riche,  seuen 
sithe  brighter  ben  be  son;  in  fairenes  &  might:  all  ob*r  he  passis ;  &  what  so 
he  wil:  is  done  /  in  heuen  in^  erth  &  in  hell.  If  he  see  ani  teche  of  filth  /  in 
him  pat  his  lefe  suld  be:  he  twmis  him  fra  him  sone,  for  vnclenes  mai  he  nane 

i  Ms.  &. 


10' 


148  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

see.  For-bi  be  bou  chaste  /  shameful  &  milde  of  hert;  &  with  luf-langyng : 
z;erne  him  oner  al  thing.  And  when  god  wz'U-drawis  f)is  heuenli  likyns1  &  swetenes 
ira  |)e  /  als  some-tyme  nedis  in  bis  deadli  lif :  gif  be  noght  til  fleshli  lustis  ne 
likyngs  of  be  werld :  bot  to  praier  &  meditacz'ons  /  redyng  of  hali  writ  /  or  honest 
wirkyng;  &  eau?r  b0u  mowme  aft?r  bi  lefe :  as  ^ong  child  bat  his  moder  missis. 
For  ba  bat  after  slike  knowyng  of  god  /  &  tastyng  of  his  swetenes  /  twmis  him 
be  bak  &  gifs  bairn  to  syn:  has  na  defense  agayns  god  of  bair?  syn.  Ane  vnhappy 
chaunce  &  careful  it  is  to  lefe  be  felaschip  of  god  &  his  angels  &  halugfts :  & 
s?nie  be  fend  &  folow  his  rede  /  with  lustis  &  likyngs  &  werkis  of  syn ;  bat  hert 
bat  was  halughid  thorugh  be  hali  gast  goddis  tewple  to  be  /  bat  was  raisid  her* 
ouer  his  kynd  for  to  haf?  with  god  heuenli  likyngs  &  mirthis:  al-sone  with  foule 
thoughtis  make  it  laith  &  foule ;  pas  eres  bat  herd  bis  wordis  bat  to  nane  is 
lefesom  to  speke :  oppyn  baiw  to  her?  bakbityng[s]  &  lesyngs  &  ob?r  idel  speche ; 
pas  ien  bat  right  now  was  baptised  with  teres:  oppyn  foaiw  to  see  vanitees;  bat 
tong?  bat  right  now  spake  (f.  61)  to  god  with  praier:  al-sone  after  with  bat  tong 
wary  /  forswer?  /  bakbite  &  speke  foule  wordes.  Prai  we  to  god  for  his  godenes : 

Bernard  he  kepe  vs  fra  bir  vnthewes.  Of  goddis  comyng  mai  men  wit:  bi  bis  bat  sayn 
Bernard  sais:  »When  bmi  art  sterid  of  man  w/t#-oute  /  or  wz't^-in  of  spirite  /for 
to  's;eme  rightwisenes  &  stand  before,  for  to  be  meke  &  tholemode,  to  luf  bi 
brob?r  in  god,  to  be  buxom  to  bi  ou?rlyngs ,  to  luf  chastite  &  clenes  in  bodi  & 
saule:  takenyng  it  is  /  bat  al-mighti  god  comes  to  visite  bi  saule«.  If  b<?u  take 
godeli  chastying  of  bi  frende  for  bi  syn  /  or  wordes  bat  steris  be  to  virtues  & 
gode  thewes:  bis  make  way  &  takenyng  of  goddis  comyng?.  £an  if  b0u  put 
fra  be  slawnes  &  heuynes  /  &  with  a  luf-^ernyng?  likis  slike  wordes:  ben  der?- 
worthi  god  bi  lorde  hastis  him  to  be;  for  be  ^ernyng?  god  has  to  be:  kyndels 
bi  ?ernyngs  til  haf  likyng  in  slike  wordes,  &  makis  be  bitt?rli  to  forthink  bi  syn: 
&  amend  bi  lif.  For  at  his  income:  he  wakkyns  be  saule  /  steris  it  &  softis  it 
&  waschis  hir?  wondes  with  wyne :  &  softis  baiw  with  oile;  bat  is,  steris  it  to 
forthink  bittMi  bat  it  has  misdone,  &  softis  it  with  hope  of  merci  &  forgifnes  of 
synnis.  He  ryuis  synnis  vp  bi  be  rotis :  as  gardens  dos  be  iuel  wedis,  &  ympis 
gode  trees  &  sawis  gode  sede:  bar?  be  wedis  grewe.  So  dos  god  bat  is  callid 
gardens  /  whil  he  is  in  mawnis  saule:  he  ryuis  vp  synnes  bi  be  rotis,  &  ympis 
in  bat  saule  virtues  &  gode  thewis ;  bat  was  drie:  he  dewis  it  with  grace;  bat 
blak  was  &  mirk?:  he  makis  it  white ;  bat  bonder  was:  helousis;  bat  calde  was : 
Signa  he  makis  warme  with  luf?.  Si  bir  steryngs  mai  b<m  knowe  bi  lordis  come:  bi 

tusdll  steryng  of  bi  hert?,  fordoyng  of  vices,  wzWrawyng  of  lustis ,    amendyng  of  lif?, 

in  cor  forthinkyng?  of  misdede,  bigyning  of  a  new  man  in  gode  /  ilk  dai  mar?  &  mar?. 

115  And  bi  bis  mai  b<m  wite:  when  he  fra  be  wendis:  bi  gladdyng  wanis,  slaw  bou 

waxis  &  dri  &  heuy  as  a  stane,  luf  in  be  colis :    as  a  pot  bat  had  wellid  /  &  be 

fir*  war?  drawen  kerfra.    Bot  ben  nedis    be  saule  to  morne  sar?  /  ai  til  he  come 

Contra  agayn.     If  foule  thoughtis  egge  be  to  leue  bi  gode  god:  sai  bus:    Cuius  est ymago 

tac?on"es  ^  4*  suprascriptio  ? ;  if  he  sai,    Cesaris,   bat  is,   be  prmce  of  bis  werld,   bat  is  be 

malas   fen(j  of  ^gH :    saj   to  hiw :  » Wend  agayn   b^?u   foule   fende   with   bi   fals  monee  / 

ber?  it  agayn  with  be  to  hell ;  for  mi  zjatis  ar?  stokyn  /  &  mi  lorde  duellis  her?-in, 

DeSalu-for-bi  haf  I  na  tome  to  dele  with  be«.  //  Think  on  bat  hali  gretyng  bat 
i6  Gabriel  made  to  bat  maiden  Mari  in  Nazareth,  how  ioiful  she  was  in  bodi  & 

1  r.  likyngs. 


On  daily  work:  meditacions  at  matins  &c. 

saule  in   bat  tyme;    she  was  thorugft   bat  grrtyng  wz'tA  assent:  fulfillid  of 

bat  sche  wan  might  &  power :  in  heuen  &  erth  &  hell ;  &  on  hire :  hingis  al  bis 

werldis  hele  /  &   restoring    of   bas    bat  fell.     Think  on  be  birth  of  hire  childe  / 

how  she   bar*  him   wzt^-oute    sorugft  &  site  /  bat  all  ob^r  wymen   has  kyndli  in 

tyme  of  birth ;    &  sche  clene  maiden  after.    Think  when   he  borne  was :    bai  laid 

him  in  a  crib  bifore  an  ox  &  an  asse  /  ob*r  credil  had  he  nane.     Was  her  nane 

to  smie  him  of  light  w/'tfc  torches  /  as  men  dose  bifore  grrte  lordis ;  for-bi  come 

a  tee  ira  heuew  bat  lightid   be   howse  he  was  in  /   &  Bethleem;   &  angels  come 

ira   heuen  /  to    syng    be   child   o   slepe  /  wz't^    a   meri    steuyn.     Think  how  .in. 

kynges  come  ira  fenv  landis  thorugft  wissyng  of  a  steme  &  offird  hiw  gold,  rekils, 

&   minr;    think  how   sweteli   be  child  on  bairn   smylid,    &  w/tfc   his  loueli   ien: 

sweteli  on  baiw  lokid.     Think  how  poreli  his  moder  was  clad  /  when  be  kynges 

bifore  hir*   knelid,    for    on   hir   sche   had   bot   a  white  smokf  as    bis  clerkis   sais, 

mar*  til  hill  hir  w*t^:    ben   to    schewing    of  przde.     Think  how  his  moder  comeDeveste 

w/tfc  him   to    be   tewple  /  to   make    be   offring   of  clensyng*  /  &  bowid   to    fulfill 

be  lawe :   as  bai  sinful  wer*.     Think   be  aide  preste  Symeon  toke  be  child  in  his 

armes    &   blissid    god ;    for    bar*  he   sagft   thorugft   steryng  of  be    hali  gaste :     be 

salueowr  of  al  bis  werld  bitwene  his  handes,  &  praied  pat   he   might  passe   oute 

of  pis  werld :  »for  mine  ien   sees  /   pat   be  folk   sal   saue«.     Think  of  bat  sorugft 

his  moder  had  when  sche  missid  him  &  soght  him  .Hi.    dales,    &  ben  fande  him 

sittand   amang*   be   maisters,    herand    &    sperand   of  poyntis   of   be   lawe.     Think 

how  he  come  to  be  cr/stenid  of  sayn  lone;  how  be  hali  gast*  light    bar  on  him 

in   liknes   of  a  dowue ,    be   fader   bar  vrith  voice  recordid:    bat  he  was  his  son. 

Think  how   he    halowid   wedlaik   in  architr/clynes  howse,    &    bar*,    to  schew  bat 

he  was  al-mighti  god:    chaungid  water  in  to  wyne.     In   wildernes   how   he   fastid 

xl.  daies  wztAouten  mete ;  how  he  outcome  be  fende  bat  fandid  him  with  three : 

w*t/*  glotonie  ,    &  couaitise  ,    &  vayne  glorie.     &  of  be  wonder  /  men  had   of  his 

pr*chingt»,  for  all  be  wordes  he  to  baiw  spake:  war*  ful  of  grace.     How  he  helid 

be  seke,  raisid  be  deade,  gaf  blynd  be  sight,   be  dumbe  speche,   be  mesels  hale : 

•wit/i  touching  of  his  handes;   and  mani  ob*r  sekenes  bat  vn curable  war*  of  kynde: 

he  helid  thorugft  might  of  his  worde,    for  he  might   mar*    ben   kynde.     How  he 

as  wery  for  mikil  gangyng<".    rest   him  at  be  well,    &  ban?  he  bad  gif  him  water 

to  drink  /  for  him  thristid  sar*.  Sethen  oppyn    pi  hert^  w*tA  sar<?  sighinges  / 

&  think  on  be  passion  &  pynes  b^zt  Ihesus  Crist  suffrid  /  as  bai  ar£  writen  bifore 

in   be  .xviii.  lefe.1 

lie  mai  god  biseke  of  grace  /  &  sikerli  traist  to  spede:  pat  her*-  steris  him 
in  gode  werkis,  &  vriih  deuocion  &  likyngs:  poudirs  baiw  so,  bat  bai  mai  be 
sauori  til  his  der*  lorde.  /  Werkis  of  penance  /  as  fastyng,  wakyng^,  hard 
weryng^ ,  forberyng  of  fleshli  lustes,  praier,  almose-dede,  &  ojw  slike  as  we  do 
w/t&  deuoc/on  &  likyngs  in  god:  bihoues  be  swa  bat  bai  be  done  vritA  a  glad 
hert  &  -wit/i  a  fredome  of  spirit.  Deuocion:  is  a  worthi  drurie  /  bat  godDeuocio 

sendis  to   be  hert  to   glad  it   w/'tfc;  bot  vnworthi  is  he  til  haf  bis  gift:   bat  wilqu 
make  na  duellyng-stede  in   his  hert  /  til   it.     We  seke   pat  abouen  vs  is  /  wz'tA 
our*   bileue ,    bot   it   sauowrs   vs  noght  /  for  we  are  so  full  of  erth :   bat  we  haue 
lost  our*  tast.     Whi  felis  so  mani  men  be  steryngs  bat  be  fend  forgis  /  &  tholis 

i  sc.  in  the  Meditations  on  the  Passion,  ed.  p.  130,  which  in  the  Ms.  begins  on  the  i8th  leaf 
preceding  this. 


150  (R.  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

his  enemis  sa  oft  him  ou*r-cast?  I  see  bat  noght  makis  bis:  hot  wantyng  of  grace. 
Amang  all  ober,  I  trowe  we  grate  god  mast:  for  we  wil  noght  swynk  (f.  62)  to  wyn 
bis  grace  of  god ;  and  god  hightis  bis  grace  til  all  bat  wil  seke  it ,  [with]  *  bat 

Bernard  bair*  vessel  be  clene  &  voide  til  resceyue  it  in.  Bot  sayn  B*rnard  sais :  ȣat  hert 
bat  chargeid  is  w/tA  couaitise  of  be  werld:  deuoczon  ne  likyng  in  god  /  mai  it 
nane  hafe;  ffor  sothefastnes  &  vanite,  lastand  thing  &  failand,  gastli  thing  [& 
bodili:  na  mai  noght  be  to-geder  na  whilecc.  Sa  worthi  thing  is  be  comforts  of 
god:  bat  it  wil  noght  rest  in  bat  breste  /  bar*  ob*r  comfort  is.  Sa  delicious 
is  be  likyng  in  him:  bat  wftfc  nane  ober  likyng  mai  it  acorde.  Wha-so  ^ernis 
ober  comfort  to  glad  him  wz't/z:  he  witnes  agayn  him-selfe  /  bat  goddis  grace 
he  wz'U-standis ;  bot  it  honest  comfort  be  /  be  tymes  to  glad  his  kynd  wz't/z,  bat 
he  mai  bar-thorugh:  better  s*rue  god. 
Ad  After-  bou  has  spendid  bi  tyme  in  praiers,  &  hali  thoughtis,  &  gode  werkis : 

tionem.  'in  goddis  hali  drede  /  graith  be  to  be  mete  /  to  strinth  bi  kynd:  bat  wold  ellis 
faile.  And  in  bis  entent  sal  ilk  crz'sten  man  /  his  bodi  klethe  &  fede:  bat  it 
mai  be  better  s*rue  his  lorde  /  in  what  so  he  dose.  /  Wz'tA  morneing  bou  sal 
wende  to  bi  mete ;  sobirnes  &  mesur* :  bou  3  erne  in  bi  mete-while ;  &  after  mete : 
bi?u  make  louyng  to  bi  lorde  bat  be  has  fedde,  &  als  bifore  mete,  &  for  alle  be 
gode  dedis  bat  he  to  be  has  done.  /  First  or  bou  ga  to  mete:  bou  sal  morne  / 
as  hali  lob  did  /  bat  bus  sais :  Antequam  comedam :  suspiro,  bat  is :  » bifore  I  ete : 
I  sigh ;  for  mi  kynd  is  made  waike  &  feble  for  Adam  syn,  &  ilk  dai  nedes  bodili 
mete  /  til  vphald  pe  kynd  /  bat  ellis  wold  faile  in  a  litel  stounde«.  And  as  it 
tellis  in  be  life  of  hali  faders:  Isidore  bat  hali  man  /  when  he  hete :  he  wepid 
sar*  &  said:  »Me  schamis  wz't#  me  self*,  for  I  life  wz't£  bestli  mete  /  as  op*r 
bestis  dose  bat  na  skill  has  of  kynde,  &  I  goddis  skilful  cr*atur*  /  made  like  to 
hi#z-self,  bat  suld  hafe  dwellid  in  paradise  /  &  bar*  hafe  bien  fed  wz't/fc  heuenli 
fode«.  When  bou  fyndis  delite  or  sauowr  in  mete  or  drynk* :  think  on  be  heuenli 
fode  bat  fedis  all  halughs  /  bat  all  likyngs  ou*r-passis,  &  we  be  neau*r  fulfillid: 
or  we  p*rof  fele.  Men  of  religione  heris  lessons  of  hali  mewnis  lyues  at  pair* 
mete,  so  bat  as  be  bodi  is  fed  wz't/z  bodili  fode:  so  pe  saule  be  fed  vfiih  hali 
wordis.  Mamies  bodi  is  as  a  fornace  brennand  /  &  nameli  of  be  z;ong*;  & 
delicious  &  hate  metis  &  drynkis :  makis  bis  fire  to  brenne  hatter ;  ffor-pi  sais 
saynt  Ion:  »Plente  in  ^outhhede:  is  double  fir*«.  For-pi  /  al  bat  in  be  flesh 
kyndels  syn:  is  to  flee.  I*e  wise  man  sais:  »If  ban  wil  abate  be  flawme:  abate 
be  brandis«.  And  saynt  Ion:  » flesh  mete  &  wyne:  ar*  kyndelyng  of  licherous 
steryngs«.  And  saynt  Austyn:  »$e  flesh  is  as  a  wild  colt  /  bat  is  to  teme  vrith 
bridel  &  hung^r«.  &  Salomon:  »Wand  &  birden:  fallis  to  be  asse«  /  bat  bitakenes 
our*  flesh.  /  Wiseli  suld  man  note  of  be  mete  /  bat  bifore  him  comes,  &  take  of 
baiw  sa  in  mesur*:  bat  bai  him  noght  gmiid,  bot  bat  he  thorugh  bai^z:  s*rue 
god  be  better.  For-bi  biddis  sayn  Ion:  »ay  w^en  bou  etis:  ay  bat  bon  hunger; 
pat  aft*r  mete :  bou  rede  &  prai  &  s*rue  god  be  better«.  Hali  men  /  pat  bifore 
vs  has  bien  /  notid  store  mete  &  scharpe ,  mar*  til  abate  hunger:  pen  for  ani 
lust.  Some  lifd  bi  grace 2,  some  bi  rotis,  some  bi  spices  &  h*rbis  &  frute  bat  be 
erth  bar*;  &  in  what  so  bai  ete:  bai  fordid  al  sauowr  bat  might  ster*  to  lust. 
Als  sayn  German  menged  askis  in  his  brede ,  bat  na  likyng  suld  he  haue  in  his 
mete-while.  Ob*r  saus  ben  hunger:  toke  bai  nane.  Saynt  Gregor  sais:  wbrede 
1  Ms.  for  whi.  -  =  grass. 


On  daily  work :  rules  at  meal-times,  evensong  &c.  151 

made  of  branne  &  water*  /  vrhh  cale  or  op^r  symple  potage :  is  gode  fode  to  be 
wele-taght  wambe,  vritk  saus  of  goddis  luf  /  if  he  it  haue  b<?r-wz'U ;  wzt^-outen 
bis  saus:  has  na  sustenance  sauowr  /  bat  man  notis«.  Some  ete  na  mete  /  bifore 
be  night;  some:  bot  ilk  ob^r  dai;  some:  fastid  .Hi.  daies  to-gedir.  Machari 
fastid  al  be  lentyn-tide:  bot  be  sonendaies;  and  ete  noght  bot  rawe  leues.  Some 
toke  na  kepe  whafn]1  bai  ete  /  ne  what  bai  ete,  flesh  ne  fish,  al  sauorid  bai;;* 
ilike;  so  bat  after:  bai  ne  wist  what  bai  ete.  Some  when  bai  war*  sette  to  be 
mete  &  mete  before  baiw  broght:  bai  forgate  til  ete;  for  so  bai  spendid  be  dai 
&  benight  \n  hali  speche:  bat  bai  thoght  of  noght  ellis,  to  be  vndir2-tide  of  be 
second  dai  /  bat  bair^  brether  come  to  baiw  &  askid  whi  bai  wold  noght  ete ;  & 
ben  first :  thoght  bai  of  mete,  &  bai  ete  ben  as  baiw  gode  thought  /  in  goddis  hali 
drede.  When  b<m  art  set  to  bi  mete:  make  bifore  be  a  crosse  on  be  borde 

witA  .v.  cromes,  to  stew  be  to  think  on  hi/w:  bat  for  be  deied  on  crosse;  & 
think,  »her£  liggis  his  heued:  bat  corond  was  wzt/J  thornes;  bartf  his  handes  / 
bar£  his  fete:  bat  nailid  was  fulfast;  f)ar<?  was  his  swete  side  bat  oppenid  was 
w/'t/J  be  spew,  fra  whilk  come  bathe  blode  and  water  /  to  hele  mi  wari  woundes«. 
When  b<m  has  so  done  /  if  bou  mai  so  forthe:  take  parte  of  pi  brede  &  of  bi 
soule  &  lai  it  be  it  ane,  &  sai  bus  stilli  in  bi  hert  to  god  bi  lorde:  »Lorde:  what 
wil  b<?u  gif  me  for  bis  pitaunce  /  I  to  be  make?  how  mani  teres  /  how  mani 
luf-^ernyngs  &  langyngs  to  be?  how  mani  cowfortes  of  be  hali  gast,  how  mani 
steryngs  to  gode,  how  mani  lokyns  to  me  with  bi  loueli  ien?  lord,  wil  b<m  for 
bis  mete  bat  be  pou<?r  hungri  sal  haue  for  be  /  gif  me  be  luf  of  be?«  When 
b<m  has  etyn  bat  be  gode  think :  loue  bi  lord  bat  be  has  fed.  After  mete :  honest 
b0u  bee,  and  s;eme  be  fra  mikil  speche  &  idel  gamens  ,  &  hald  pi  wittis  inward 
vnder  goddis  drede.  Semeli  it  is  to  man  /  &  to  god  it  pais:  bat  his  beryng  be 
m&re  honest  &  atewpre  /  after  mete  ben  bifore ;  bat  na  takenyng  of  outrage :  be 
in  hiw  sene;  bat  be  flesh  /  better  mai  smie  be  saule  in  redyng  /  praiing  &  ofcer 
gastli  werkis:  bat  mai  helpe  to  gode.  //  £ine  euen-sang?:  sai  w*t//  pe  deuoczon  Ad  ves- 

bat  god  pe  sendis  /  in  kirk  or  oratori  or  whar*  j)0u  mai  best  sai  /  ira  noice  & 
thrang  of  be  werld.  After  /  if  be  nede :  ga  soupe,  &  schort  be  bi  soup<?r-tyme ; 
so  in  mesun-  b<m  take  mete  &  drink:  bat  it  be  na  charge  ne  gmiance  to  bi 
kynde  /  ne  lettyng  (f.  63)  to  s<rrue  bi  lorde,  or  in  tyme  of  rest:  reue  be  bi  slepe,  or 
vrith  foule  fandyngt'  in  bi  slepe:  be  fende  be  file,  as  he  dose  oft  vfith  ba  bat 
vrith  a  ful  wambe  gas  to  bed.  Ilk  man  ete  as  sayn  Ion  sais,  » after  he  is  of 
strenth,  &  of  elde,  &  after  his  bodi  is  man?  or  lesse,  or  hale  or  seke;  take  bat 
hi/«  nedis  to  sustenance  of  his  kynde:  &  noght  as  lust  askis«.  After  souper:  ga 
to  be  kirk  /  or  to  ob^r  stede  /  whan?  b<m  mai  be  mast  in  rest  /  &  bar*  sai  bi 
complyn,  for  in  bis  tyme  as  saynt  Ambrose  sais:  »foules  in  bain?  lede 3  loues  bain? 
lord,  &  thankis  hiw  in  bain?  kynde:  for  be  godes  he  has  baiw  done«.  Kal  b^u 
ben  on  bi  god  &  sai:  Conuerte  nos  deus  sa[lutaris]  nosier,  as  if  he4  said:  »lord,  I  haf 
bien  bis  dai  taried  vrit/i  be  werld,  bat  has  mikel  lettid  me  to  smie  be;  thorugh 
fandywg  of  be  fend  &  mi  flesh,  oft  bis  dai  I  haf  done  mis;  for-bi,  lord,  twme 
me  now  fra  be  werld  /  &  fra  all  bat  mai  me  let  til  loue  be  vfiih  pur<?  hert  & 
all  mi  wittis,  so  bat  bai  be  entendant  to  be:  to  wirk  bi  will«.  And  sai  forth 
ben  bi  Complyn,  &  after:  op*r  praiers  vfiih  deuoc;'on  bat  god  be  sendis.  And 
after  /  or  b<m  ga  to  bed:  hald  a  chapeter  vtith  pi  hert,  &  ask  it  in  what  thing 
i  Ms.  what.  2  =  vndern.  3  r.  leden  =  language?  *  r.  als  wha? 


152  (E.  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

Notadeit  is  better  pen  it  was.  Has  pou  schryuen  pe  7,it  of  pat  syn  pat  pou  pen  &  par* 
of  pa  wordes  pat  pou  par*  spake?  of  pat  iuel  will  /  pou  was  pen  in?  of  pat 
u  ^^  did  /  &  said  to  hiw?  of  £at  handelyng*,  of  pat  lakkyng*,  of 
pat  foule  thought,  of  pat  thing  p<?u  left  vndone  pou  suld  haf  done?  &  art  p<m  iw 
will  to  leue  swilk  vnthewis?  What  fandyngs  withstode  pou  pis  day?  in  what  art 
p0u  mekar  pen  p0u  was?  i»  what  man?  chaste,  mar*  sober,  mar*  suffrand ,  mar* 
atempr*,  mar*  lufand  god  in  pi  brep*r,  or  mar*  likyng  has  in  god  pen  pou  had? 
(ir.LeftPjLefe1  pat  syn  pat  pou  thorugfi  custume:  so  oft  fallis  in?  &  op*r  mani  vnthewis 
pou  has  done  &  paied  pe  fende  with :  &  gmiid  pi  gode  god,  &  has  forbarrid  pe 
of  grace  pat  suld  helpe  pe?  And  pen  with  a  forthinkyng*  of  pas  synnes  pat 
bitis  bine  inwit:  knok  on  pi  breste  &  sai  a  Pater  noster,  with  Aue  Maria,  on  pi 
knees;  and  sone  on  pe  morne :  p0u  schryue  pe  of  pas  synnes.  And  if  pou  pus 
do :  I  hope  pe  fend  sal  be  afferd  /  pe  for  to  fande ;  for  pou  art  vnder  goddis 
warde :  whil  pou  pus  pe  beris.  After  pis  rekeny^g  whar-thorugh  pi  saule  is  raisid 
in  a  celi  hope  to  pe  fader  of  merci  &  pi  flesfi  waxes  heuy:  ga  to  pi  rest;  for  if 
pou  let  pi  flesh"  of  pe  nedefulnes  &  trouail  it  oute  of  might:  faynteli  wil  it  help 
pe  /  or  let  wz'U-all.  And  or  pou  ga  to  rest:  biteche  pe  &  al  pi  frendes  in  til 
goddes  handej  /  pat  for  vs  war?  nailid  to  pe  tree,  &  biseke  him  for  his  merci: 
he  ^eme  pe  ira  all  perils  of  bodi  &  saule ,  &  arme  pe  with  pe  takenywg  of  pe 
crosse;  for  whan?  pe  fend  sees  pis  merk*:  sone  he  flees.  Of  pis  merk  is  writen 
De  vir-  in  pe  life  of  saynt  Edmund,  pat  as  he  went  an  tyme  al  ane :  a  child  aperd  to 
crucls  hlw  Pat  was  wonder  fair*,  /  &  said:  »Hayle,  mi  frende:  wham  I  luf  in  god«. 
ost^isa Saynt  Edmw^d  was  awondred  of  pis  grrtyng.  &  pe  child  said  to  him:  »Knawes 
mundo  pon  me  noght?«  &  saynt  Edmund  said  to  pe  child:  »How  suld  I  know  pe?  /  I 
saw  pe  neu^r  are«.  Pen  pe  child  said:  »When  pou  lerde  in  pe  scole:  I  sate  ai 
bi  pi  side ;  &  eiw  sithen  I  haf  bien  w/t&  pe :  whar^-so  pou  has  duellid ;  for  so 
mi  lord  has  festenid  pe  -with  me :  pat  I  might  neu^r  part  ira  pe  /  slike  is  mi 
lordis  will.  Bot  bihald  in  mi  fronts:  &  rede  what  pon  sees  par^«.  He  lokid  as 
he  him  bade  /  &  wz't/z  heuewli  letters:  pis  .mi.  wordes  /  he  sagH  par^  writen: 
Ihesus  najarenus,  Rex  iudeorum.  ten  said  pe  child:  »pis  is  mi  lordis  name  /  pat 
pou  sees  pus  writen.  Pis  name  I  wil  pon  haf  in  mynde  /  &  prente  it  in  pi  saule; 
&  croice  pi  front*  vretA  pis  name :  or  pou  ga  to  slepe :  &  ira  drecchings  of  pe 
fend:  it  sal  pe  ?eme  pat  night,  &  ira  sodayn  dede ;  &  all  pas  pat  bi  night: 
croicis  paim  perwith«.  &  when  he  had  pis  wordes  spoken:  he  vanist  awai.  / 
Ber*  some  hali  thoughtis  w/t/z  pe  to  bed  /  &  sai  pi  praiers  /  til  slepe  fal  on  pe. 
Til  hafe  soft  slepe  &  swete:  sowrayn  helpe  is  mesun?  &  sobernes  of  mete  & 
drink:  with  mynde  of  goddis  law  &  hali  writ*;  as  god  thorugfi  pe  prophet e  sals: 
Custodi  legem  meam  8f  consilium  meum:  8f  si  dormieris,  non  timebis;  quiesces :  fy 
suauis  erif  sompnus  tuus.  And  euer  as  pou  wakyns :  lift  pi  hert  to  god  /  w*tfc 
som  hali  thought,  &  rise  &  prai  to  pi  lorde  /  pat  he  grante  relesse  of  paynes  / 
to  pe  dead,  &  grace  to  pe  quyk  /  &  lif  witk-outen  ende.  If  fandyng  of  licheri 
ster*  pe  in  bed:  think  pat  pi  gode  lord  /  for  pe  hyngis  on  rode;  think  on  his 
.v.  wondes  /  pat  stremid  downe  of  blode ;  think  pat  his  bed :  was  be  hard  knotti 
tree,  &  in  stede  of  a  cod:  he  had  a  croune  of  thornis.  And  sai  pen  with 
sighing  sar*:  til  cole  pi  lust:  »Mi  der*-worthi  lord  /  for  me  hinged  on  rode  / 
&  I  lig  in  pis  soft  bed  /  &  weltris  me  in  syn:  as  a  foule  swyne  /  pat  loues  bot 
filth«.  Rise  pen  tide:  &  halde  with  praiers  &  loue-sighings  &  teris. 


On  daily  work.  je-j 

Of  .iii.  poyntis  be  warn?.  £e  first  /  bat  |)as  deuoc/ons  bat  $013.  has  thorugh  grace 
sterand  :  be  noght  knowyn  of  ober]  hide  baiw  in  bat  b<?u  mai:  vfitk  will  &  dede, 
for  drede  of  vayn-glorie.  /  be  .ii :  bat  bou  think  noght  it  is  in  bi  might  /  slike 
deuoc/ons  &  steryngs  til  haue  /  ai  when  bou  wil;  bot  aneli  thonigft  goddis  grace  / 
when  he  wil  bairn  send,  fe  .iii.:  bat  ban  late  noght  ou^r-wele  of  b^i-self  for 
slike  steryngs,  ne  think  b<?rfore  b<m  art  den?  wz'tA  god;  ne  deme  nane  ober  man? 
vnworthi :  bat  dose  noght  as  bou  dose ;  bot  when  bou  has  all  wele  done :  think 
sotheli  bi  be-selfc  /  &  grant  it  with  worde:  »it  is  noght  worth,  lord,  bat  I  do: 
for  I  am  bot  an  vnnaite  thrall«.  If  bou  wil  tyne  na  mede :  deme  nane  ob^r, 
bot  hald  be-self  mast  vnworthi;  for  if  bou  fast  /  or  prai  man?  ben  an  ober,  per- 
case  an  op^r  passis  be  in  mekenes  &  suffrance  &  lufyng.  I^rfore  /  think  of  bat 
be  wantys  /  &  noght  aneli  of  bat  bou  haues.  Noght-for-bi  /  god  wil  bou  think 
on  bas  graces  &  godes  he  has  be  done :  to  ster*  be  til  knowe  be  endettid  til 
him  for  bairn  /  &  smie  him  &  luf  him  be  mar<? ;  or  if  bou  in  angir  be :  til  glad  be 
w/t/;.  Some-while  it  fallis  /  bat  he  is  better  in  goddis  dome  (f.  64)  bat  man  demes 
iuel:  ben  some  bat  man  demes  gode.  Mani  an?  honest  wzt/z-oute:  &  vnclene 
•witk-in ;  Some  werldli  &  dissolute :  &  hali  w/t/j-in  /  as  goddis  prme  frendes.  And 
some  beris  bairn  in  mawnis  sight  /  as  angels,  &  in  goddis  sight  bai  stynk  as 
synful  wrechis ;  And  some  semes  synful  til  mawnes  dome :  &  ar<?  ful  den'  til  god 
almighti,  for  bahr  indrtf  beryng?:  is  heuenli  in  goddis  bright  sight.  I^rfore 
deme  we  nane  ober:  bot  vs-selfc.  And  prai  we  for  vs-selfr  &  all  ober  til  Ih«u 
Crist  Mari  son  /  bat  for  vs  was  nailid  on  rode,  bat  wha-so  is  bonden  in  dedli 
syn:  he  louse  bairn;  &  ba  bat  are  in  gode  lifo:  he  grant  bairn  end  bmn. 

Twa  message  arf  comen  to  be:  to  tell  be  tithandis.  tat  ane  hat  »Drede«, 
bat  comes  fra  hell  to  warne  be  of  bi  harmc;  bat  ober:  hat  »Hope«,  pat  comes 
fra  heuen  til  tell  be  of  blis  bou  sal  haue  /  if  b0u  wele  do.  Drede  sais  he  sagh 
in  hell  so  mani  synful  be  pyned  /  bat  if  all  be  wittes  of  men  wan?  in  an:  ne 
might  he  ba.im  tell;  »of  glotones,  licheowrs,  robbeowrs,  theues;  Riche  men  \vh/t 
b&ire  s^ruant^ :  bat  be  pou^r  harmed ;  Domesmen  bat  wold  noght  deme :  bot  it 
war^  for  mede;  Countowrs2  bat  be  wrangc'  bi  baire  sotilte  mayntiend ;  Demest^rs 
bat  leal  men  dawpnid :  &  delyumd  stark^  theues  ;  Werkmen  pat  falsli  swynkis : 
&  takis  ful  hir^;  Tilmen  bat  falsli  tendis;  Prelates  bat  has  cur^  of  mawnes  saulis : 
bat  noib^r  chastis  ne  techis  bairn ;  Of  all  lede  of  men  bat  wrangli  has  wroght: 
bare  I  sagh  bat  ilkan  bitt^rli  it  boght.  For  bare  I  sagh  defaute  of  al  godenes, 
&  plente  of  pyne  &  sorugft,  3as:  hate  fire  ai  brennand,  brinstane  stynkand,  gredi 
deuels  as  dragons :  wide  gapand ,  hunger  &  thrist  for  eau^r  lastand ,  nedders  & 
tadis:  on  pe  synful  gnawand.  Slike  sorugh  &  Celling  &  gnaystyng  of  tethe  I  herd 
bare :  bat  nertf  for  ferid :  I  lost  mi  wit.  Slike  mirknes  bar  was :  bat  I  might  it 
grape ;  &  sa  bitter  was  pe  smoke :  |)at  it  made  pe  waful  wrechis  til  grete  glowand 
teres ;  &  bitterli  I  herd  bairn  banne  be  tyme:  bai  war^  borne  in.  Now  bai  ^erne 
til  deie:  &  bai  mai  noght  deie;  dead  bat  bai  some-tyme  hatid:  had  bai  now 
leu^r  /  ben  all  be  gode  of  bis  werld.  And  b^rfore  I  warne  be  /  bot  b0u  amend 
be  of  bi  synnes  /  with  scrift  &  penance  /  &  haue  a  stedfast  will  to  leue  bairn 
for  eu*r:  a  sege  I  sagh  in  helle  made  for  be  of  brinnand  fin?,  whan?  deuels  be 
sal  pyne  /  eu^r  w/t/zouten  ende«.  //  tat  ober  message  pat  hat  »Hope«:  sais  he 

1  e  on  erasure.        2  Ms.  comtowrs?        3  Here  alliterative  lines. 


154  (R-  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Amndel  507, 

is  comen  ira  heuew  til  tell  pe  of  pat  vntelland  mikil  ioie:  pat  goddis  frendis 
weldis;  »to  tell  berof  as  it  is:  mai  nane  erthli  man  speke,  pof  his  tong<?  war^ 
of  stele.  For  f)ar£  is  a  gracious  felawschipe  of  all  goddis  frendis,  ordirs  of  angels 
&  of  hali  halughs,  &  almighti  god  abouen:  pat  gladdis  pai;;z  all.  Of  all  godenes 
I  sagR  plente:  fairenes  &  riches  pat  ai  lastis,  honour  and  power  pat  neu^r  sal 
faile,  wisdome  &  luf  /  &  ai-lastand  ioie.  Par£  I  herd  melodi  &  sang£  of  angels 
bright.  So  worthi  is  pat  ioie  /  &  so  g^te  w/tA-al,  pat  wha-so  might  taste  of 
it  a  cely  drope:  he  suld  be  so  rauyst  in  likmg  of  god  /  &  slike  ^ernyng  he  suld 
haue  /  pider  to  wyn:  pat  al  pe  ioie  of  pis  werld  /  war£  to  him  payne.  Wzt/fc 
sa  gn?te  a  luf?  he  suld  be  ou^ftane  in  ^ernyngg  to  wyn  to  pat  blisse :  pat  be 
a  hundreth  sithes  it  suld  mar£  ster<?  him  to  luf  verta.%  &  flee  syn  /  pen  ani  drede 
he  might  haue  of  pe  payne  of  hell.  And  I  say  pe  for  sothe  /  if  pou  wil  leue 
syn  &  do  goddis  biddyngs  &  luf  him  as  pe  agh :  a  riche  sege  &  a  fain?  /  god  to 
pe  has  made,  whar^-in  p<m  sal  dwell  wz'tfc  him  /  wz't^-outen  ende«.  — 

_       Tercia  pars  libri. 

[ill.]  Pe  thrid  parti  &  pe  last  of  pis  boke :  techis  a  man  to  ber<?  him  sa  /  whar^-so 
he  comes,  &  what-so  he  dose:  pat  it  be  louyng  to  god  &  ensample  of  gode  / 
til  all  pat  hiw  sees ;  for  pe  zpostie  redis  pus :  Omnia  in  vobis  honeste  fy  secun- 
dum  ordinem  fiant,  pat  is:  »al  pat  7,e  do:  honesti  &  ordeynli  /  loke  pat  5;e  it  do«. 
Pen  at  pe  first  /  ilk  a  goddis  lufar  loke  pat  he  noght  ^erne  to  mangil  him  wz't/z 
pe  werld  /  pat  taris  &  desceyuis :  all  pat  wz't^  it  delis ,  &  lettis  paiw  of  mani 
godis :  pat  pai  might  do.  And  pa  men  pat  wil  nouther 1  reste  bot  ai  raikis 
aboute :  pain?  ien  sees  mani  thinges  pat  pe  iee  sendis  to  pe  herte ;  &  pein  come 
pai  noght  lightli  /  aftef  pai  are  par<?  inprintid.  Sayn  Bmiard  pleynis  him  of  pe 
harmes  pat  he  felid  in  pe  werld  /  whils  he  was  perin ,  &  sais :  Mundus  circum- 
cinxit  me  fy  obsedit,  pat  is:  »Pe  werld  has  bisegid  me  on  ilk  a  side,  &  thorugh 
pe  ^atis  of  mi  .v.  wittes:  he  to  me  shotis  /  &  woundes  me  ful  sar£,  &  thorugh 
ssensuspe  woundes  /  dead  pressis  in:  to  sla  mi  sari  saule.  Mine  ien  lokes :  &  mi  thought 
chaungees,  &  kyndels  me  in  syn.  Mine  eris  heris  :  &  mi  hert  bowes  perto.  I  smell 
wz't#  mi  nese :  &  it  likis  mi  thought.  "With  mi  mouth  I  speke :  &  in  mi  speche 
I  like,  or  ober  bigilis.  &  wz'tA  a  litil  ou*r-soft  felyng:  licheri  kyndels  in  mi  flesh". 
&  pe  fende  mi  faa,  pat  I  mai  noght  see:  standis  euer  agayns  me  /  w/t/fc  his 
bowe  bente«.  For-pi  /  if  nede  ster?  man  to  wende  in  to  pe  werld  /  par^  so 
mani  steryngs  ar£  to  syn:  vtith  grete  drede  he  sal  wende  /  as  in  to  a  batail  to 
fight  wz't$  his  faas.  It  nedis  he  be  wele  armid  agayn  pe  arowis  of  his  faa2:  pat 
thrali  to  him  shotis ;  &  pe  mar£  he  mai  him  drede :  for  he  mai  noght  him  see ; 
vfhh  caltrappis  &  gildirs :  pe  wai  is  ful  sette.  For-pi  /  arme  him  vtith  goddis 
hali  drede :  pat  oute  sal  wende.  God  warnid  his  disciples  to  be  warn  in  be 
werld  /  when  he  pus  said:  »Sotheli  pe  werld  sal  withstand  ^ow  /  wz'tfc  sertf 
fandyngs«.  For-pi  /  if  p^u  sal  nedis  wende  oute  for  pine  awne  profit  or  op^fis: 
colow^  noght  pi  wendyng  wzt/^  na  fals  hewe  /  to  feyne  pe  an  encheson  to  dali 
wz'U  pe  werld  /  for  likyng  or  biet^,  or  to  be  knowen  wz'U  lordis  bifore  oher... 
&  p^fore  pai  make  contenance  -with  worde  &  feyne  in  pat  pai  mai :  to  be  haldyn 
hali  of  all  pat  paiw  sees;  or  puttis  paiw  to  daliance  of  pe  werld:  mar^  pen 
nedis,  as  to  biyng  /  or  sellyng  /  or  langling  of  werldli  thinges.  And  all  pair^ 
bering  /  swa  acordis  to  pe  werld :  pat  pai  make  sothe  /  pat  Dauid  sais : 

1  r.  naure,  nowhere.        2  Ms.  faas. 


On  daily  work :   outward  bearing.  I  e  c 

Commix ti  sunt  inter  gentes:  8f  (f.  65)  didicertmt  opera  eorum,  bat  is:  »bai  meng? 
bai#z  w/t/z  be  folk  of  be  werld  /  bat  has  na  knowyng  of  god;  &  slike  werkis  as 
bai  see  baiw  do:  slike  bai  wirk<?«.  I^rfore  when  bou  nedis  to  ga  forthe:  croice 
be  -with  be  hali  name  oi  IHASU  Mari  son  bat  deied  on  be  rode,  for  ben  art  bou 
martf  siker:  whider-so  bou  ga;  as  saynt  Austyn  said  til  his  brethir:  when  bai 
forth  wente.  And  saynt  Ion  sais :  »Whider-so  bou  ga  /  &  what-so  bou  dose :  bi 
forheued  &  bi  breste  bou  merk  w/t/j  be  croice;  for  it  is  na  merk:  be  fend  so 
mikil  dredis«.  Loke  bine  vttir  klathing  /  noibtr  be  ou<r-laitK  ne  ou^r-curious  / 
\n  schap  nor  \n  hu.  Hald  bi  lymes  \n  bairtf  office :  bat  bai  art'  made  to ,  ne  cast 
noght  bine  ien  ou^r-al  as  a  barne;  nisfi  noght  bi  handes:  ne  lepe  noght  with 
bi  fete.  When  be  hert  of  man  is  oute  of  warde :  be  lymes  somdele  failes  \n 
bair^  office.  And  as  pou  ordayns  bine  vtter  beryng  \n  outeyng:  als  loke  bou  be 
w*t/j-in  /  denote,  &  nameli  \n  praying  /  &  louyng  of  bi  lorde.  If  bou  mai  noght 
\n  outeyng  rest  whil  bou  makis  bi  praiers:  ga  pe  softer.  Mani  thinges  lettis  be 
trauailand  to  prai :  werynes  of  lymes,  men  bat  he  metis  bat  vriih  hiw  spekis;  be 
.v.  wittis  ben  fletis  oute  of  warde  /  £  ben  kelis  be  deuoc/on  of  be  praiand. 
When  pou  has  said  bi  praiers  walkand  bat  bou  art  halden  to  sai :  lift  vp  pi  hert 
to  god  &  prai  hi/w  iw  bi  thought  i«  a  cell  mynde ;  think  on  be  godes  god  has 
be  done  /  &  sal  do  if  b<m  hiw  tnili  Sifme ;  think  on  his  biddyngs :  &  do  baiw 
\n  dede  aftrr  bi  might ;  for  so  god  biddis  ])art'  he  bus  sais :  Erunt  verba  hec  que 
precipio  tibi  /  in  corde  tuo,  8f  cnarrabis  ea  filiis,  Sf  mcditaberis  ea  /  sedens  in  domo 
fua,  fy  ambttlans  in  itinerc,  dor  miens  8f  consurgens.  Or  in  trauailing:  tell  fair^  talis 
to  bi  felawes,  or  su/w-what  of  hali  write,  bat  mai  soft  ijoun?  wai  &  glad  ^ow  \n 
god.  And  sai  suw-tyme  be  .vii.  psalmes  for  be  qw/'k  &  be  dead,  bat  god  gif 
grace  to  be  qutke:  &  rest  to  be  dead.  /  When  b0u  comes  to  be  toune  til  ese 
bi  bodi :  seke  bider  bar^  bou  mai  mast  honestli  duell  for  bine  state,  &  \n  mast 
pece,  &  ban?  bou  mai  mast  profit  til  be-selfe  &  til  o|vr.  Flesh  lust  &  vanite: 
till  be  to  na  stede ;  bot  sper*  whar^  ani  is  bat  mast  lufis  god :  &  {)ider  b<ni  draw. 
Seke  noght  whar^  bou  mai  best  be  fed :  for  bar^  p<r-auentunr  ar^  mani  sterings 
to  syn.  Herbery  be  -with  na  woman :  bot  if  bou  knowe  baiw  for  gode  /  of  lang 
tyme.  When  bou  art  comen  to  be  house  bou  sal  rest  in :  hald  |)i  wittis  \n  bair^ 
warde  in  goddis  hali  drede,  so  bat  bine  vtter  bering  be  so  rulid  w*'t/j  grace:  bat 
bou  mai  ster£  to  gode  /  all  bat  be  sees,  &  fordo  thorugR  goddis  grace:  m^rknes 
of  syn ;  &  so  fulfill  goddis  teching :  bat  bus  sais :  Sic  luceat  lux  v[estra]  c[oram]  Euan- 
h[otninibus]  vt  vi[deant]  o[pera]  u[estra  b[ona]  8f  g[lorificent]  p[atrem]  v[estrum]  qui 
in  celis  est.  And  sayn  Gregor:  Ncque  valde  laudabile  est  /  esse  bonum  cum  bonis,  Gregor 
set  bonum  esse  cum  malis ;  sicut  cnim  grauioris  culpe  est  /  inter  bonos  bonum  non 
esse:  sic  immensi  preconii  est  /  bonum  inter  malos  extitisse.  Kepe  wele  bine  ien 
when  bou  art  comen  to  herbiri :  fra  all  thing  bat  mai  kyndel  syn  ;  &  make  fore- 
ward  wz'tA  bine  ien  /  as  lob  did,  bat  said:  Pepigi  fedus  cum  oculis  meis:  ne 
cogitarem  de  virgine.  After  sight:  comes  thought,  &  jvr-after:  dede.  (f.  66)  & 
p^rfore  said  be  proph^/e  leremie :  Oculus  meus  depredatus  est  animam  meam.  When 
so  hali  proph^/e  menid  hiw  of  his  ieesight :  sar^  mai  an  op^r  hiw  pleyn  /  pat  oft 
synnes  bmWt^.  Augus[tinus] :  Inpudicus  oculus :  inpudici  cordis  estnuncius.  Gregor: 
Non  licet  respici:  quod  non  licet  concupisci.  Dauid:  Auerte  oculos  m[eos]  ne 
vi[deant]  •ua[nitatem'].  Loke  alswa  bat  bou  here  na  thing:  bat  mai  ster*  to  syn, 
as  licherous  wordes,  bakbityng,  fals  domes,  gr^te  athis,  threpyng,  stryuiwg,  &  ob^r 


156  (R.  Rolle's)  Treatises  in  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

slike  vnthewes.  Alswa  /  at  pi  mete :  ordeynli  p0u  pe  ber^,  &  hald  be  \n  mesur^ ; 
&  seke  oiler  na  dayntees,  hot  of  cowmune  metis  be  paied.  /  Avise  be  in  spe- 
kyngi? :  to  whaim,  what,  when,  how,  of  whaim,  &  whar£ ;  &  so  ordeynli  p<?u  pe 
hafe :  pat  p0u  be  noght  like  til  op^  werldis  men ,  bot  fulfil  be  xpostle  worde : 
Nolite  conformant  htiic  seculo ,  quia  vestra  conuersacio  in  celis  est.  I*of  our<?  bodi 
be  \n  pis  werld  as  a  clot£  of  erth:  it  nedis  ourtf  spirit  pat  is  boght  vriih  be 
der^-worthi  blode  of  god  almighti  /  be  with  mynde  &  will  \n  heuen,  noght  soil 
hiw  her£  w/t/j  syn  as  swyne  dose  \n  be  dike.  And  what-so  p0u  dose  /  &  whartf- 
so  p0u  comes:  do  as  pe  apostle  teches:  Omnibus  prebe  te  exemplum  bonorum 
operum;  for  thorugh  gode  ensample:  god  is  worschipd  &  lotted,  men  are  helpid 
&  lerid  /  &  strynthid  \n  pair^  bileue.  Haue  £ow  so  /  bat  men  bat  duellis  vtitk 
^ow:  mai  sai  bi  ^ow  /  bat  was  said  bi  pe  apostles  Paule  and  Barnabe:  Dii  si 
miles  facti  hominibus :  descenderunt  ad  nos,  bat  is :  »goddis  \n  liknes  of  men :  are 
comen  downe  til  vs«.  Deo  gracias. 

The  same  Ms.  contains  the  following  little  scraps  in 
prose  and  verse: 

1.  f.  36**.  (at  the  bottom  of  the  Sins  of  mouth,  from  the  »Form  of  living«) : 
Nota.   For  als  mykil  as  mamies  saule  es  made  euer  to  life :  for-pi  es  man  halden 

to  smie  god  &  lufe  god  /  e\\er  wz'tA-outen  ende.  And  for  bis  bande  bat  byndes 
man  to  smie  god  /  es  endeles:  to  do  b^'-agayn  wz't£  deadly  synne  /  es  trespas 
endeles;  &  sen  be  trespas  es  endeles:  pe  payne  pat  p^rto  falles  /  es  endeles. 

Item.  Ourtf  euil  dedes  are  our^  awne  as  our^  propre  catell;  bot  be  gode  when  we 
it  do :  es  oddes.  ^en,  thorugh  pe  rightwisenes  of  god  /  we  ar?  more  worthi  til 
haue  payne  for  our£  euil  dedes :  pen  any  mede  of  god  /  for  any  gode  pat  we  doo. 

2.  fol.  10.    iSynful  man  loke  vp  &  see,  how  reufulli  I  hyng  on  rode, 

And  of  my  penauwce  haue  pitee  wz't&  sorughful  herte  &  drery  mode. 
Alle  pis,  man,  I  sufferd  for  pe,  my  flesR  bee  ryuen,  forbled  my  blode: 
Lift  vp  pi  herte,  pou  calle  on  me,  forsake  pi  synne,  haue  m^cy  gode. 

3.  f.  76b.     (in  a  number  of  miscellaneous  verses): 

When  be  hee  begiwnis  til  t«me, 
&  be  fote  beginnis  to  spume, 
&  pe  bak  makes  be  bowe, 
&  be  mouthe  makes  be  mowe: 
p£fby  may  p<?u  see  sone 
pat  he  sail  go  to  pe  dome. 

Mors  tua,  mors  domini,  nota  culpe,  gaudia  celi, 
ludicii  terror,  figantur  mente  fideli. 

Thynk  oft  -with  sar^  hart  of  pi  foule  sinnes, 
Thynk  oft  of  helle  waa,  of  heuenriche  wywnes, 
Thynk  of  pi  aune  dede,  of  goddis  dede  on  rode, 
Pe  grywme  dome  of  domysday  haue  pou  oft  \n  mode; 
Thynk  how  fals  is  pis  warlde  &  what  is  his  mede, 
Thynk  what  p0u  hauste  god  for  his  gode  dede. 

1  Cf.  poem  on  p.  71. 


Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.  1022. 

Ms.  Harl.  1022,  written  c.  1420 — 30,  a  few  years  earlier  than  the  Thornton 
Ms.,  contains:  a  set  of  Narrationes  Legendariae  in  Latin,  amongst  which  two  in 
English,  fol.  ib;  Walter  Hilton's  Scala  perfectionis  fol.  16 — 46;  R.  Rolle's  Form 
of  living  fol.  47 — 61,  followed  by  some  verses  to  St.  Mary1,  and  his  tract  on 
the  name  of  lesus  "Oleum  effusum«  fol.  62,  which  will  be  given  with  the  text 
of  Ms.  Thornton;  then  the  piece  »About  bo  mayden«  (a  transl.  from  Bonaventura) 
fol.  64  printed  below;  a  poem  »Thurgh  grace  growand«  fol.  65b-  Dan  loh.  de 
Gaysteke  (al.  Gaytryge,  Cateterigej's  translation  of  Archb.  Thoresby's  Cathechism 
fol.  66,  which  translation  is  dated  1357,  and  here  written  as  verse;  Richard  de 
St.  Victore's  Beniamin  minor  in  English  fol.  74 — 80,  and  the  2  pieces  »\Vythdragh 
pi  poght't  and  »Thre  pont>;«  printed  below,  fol.  8ob — 81 ;  lastly  a  Latin  Tractatus 
de  vtilitate  dominice  orationis  (by  Richard  Rolle)  fol.  82 — 97,  imperfect  at  the  end. 
The  pieces  printed  below  do  not  bear  the  author's  name ;  the  smaller  bits  suggest 
R.  Rolle ;  the  translation  of  Beniamin  minor  is  certainly  old  and  prior  to  Walter 
Hilton. 

fol.   ib. 

2/^~* 

V^esarius  tels  pat  a  pr^st  pat  had  cure  of  sawle,  sagh  a  womaw  clade  in  sere 

clethyngs,  &  hade  a  long  tayle  pat  scho  drogh  after  here :  \n  pe  qwilk  he  sagh 
a  multitude  of  blake  fendes,  makand  be  [mawe  vfiih  per*  mowth ,  playand  vfiih 
hende ,  &  os  fyshes  w*t/*-in  be  nete  lepande.  &  he  bade  here  stand  still ;  & 
sythen  he  cald  be  folke ,  &  ^wiurede  pe  fendes  pat  pai  sulde  note  flee ;  &  he 
praede  to  gode  bat  pe  ffolk  mote  se  bam.  &  so  pai  dyde.  l*en  bat  wowmane 
sagh  pat  pe  fendes  desewede  her*  boro  pryde  of  clethyngs:  scho  ^ode  horn  & 
chawngyd  her*  clothes ;  &  fro  pat  tyme  scho  was  ensawmp(ul)  of  meknes. 

In  libro  de  dono  timoris:  A  holy  woman  in  France  rawiste  in  spret  sagh  a 
Cownteyse,  to  wome  scho  was  full  homle,  be  drane  to  hell  w/tA  deuls;  be  wilk 
Cowntes  made  dull  &  cryde:  »Wo  es  me!  wo  es  me,  wrech!  for  I  was  chaste 
enogh,  abstinent  &  almesfull;  &  for  others  yng<?  I  ame  note  dawpned,  pew  for 
sere  a-tyre,  bat  I  lufude  ouenr-mekill,  &  I  left  not  wew  I  [was]  beden«. 


i  These  verses  are: 

Quene  of  parage:  paradyse  repayred  I-wysse, 
Lyth  of  linage  :  lere  me  of  heuenly  blysse, 
For  bat  es  wage:  pat  lastet  &  neu^r  may  misse. 

Lady  loynge  :  reioyce  vs  loyles  abydynge, 
pat  of  al  thynge:  comfortyng  is  &  refreschyng^. 

Pray  bou  our  kynge:  he  kep^  vs  \n  heuew  a  wonyng^.     Amew.      Oretnus: 
Mary  so  milde,  Grace  to  vs  hylde,  I  ^&n  for 


For  luf  of  pi  childe  >  pot  prayew  be  now:   W/'tA  blysse  b<?u  vs  bylde,  ^^e 

Here  bo  wylde  Fro  sywne  p^ni  vs  schilde,) 

2  Cf.  Caesarius  Heisterbacensis  Dialogus  Miraculorum  ed.  Strange  1851,  V.  7,  p.  287. 


158  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.  1022. 

2.     De  Sancta  Maria 

a  translation  of  Bonaventitra  Meditationes  vitae  Christi  Cap.  Ill  (Opp.  Paris  1868, 
fol.  64.  torn.  XII,  p.  513). 

x\bout  po  mayden  of  qwam  oure  lord  Ihesu  Crist  toke  flescR  &  blode,  we  may 
vmthynke  vs  of  hir  lyfe.  Of  qwilk  p0u  sal  wit  pat  qwew  sche  was  thr<?  %ere  aide,  hir 
fadwr  &  hir  modur  offerd  hir  in  po  temple,  &  par  scho  dwelled  in  pat  degr^  vnto 
fourtene  -^ere.  &  qwat  scho  did  pare,  we  may  wite  be  reuelac/ons  pat  scho  schewde 

1  The  same  piece  exists  in  Ms.  Bodl.  938  f.  262 : 

Here  bigynnep  pe  reule  of  pe  lijf  of  cure  lady. 

,r\.boute  pe  glorious  maiden  of  whow  oure  lord  Ihesu  Crist  toke  fleisch  and 
blood,  we  may  bipenke  vs  of  hir  lif.  /  Of  whiche  pou  schalt  wite  pat  when  sche 
was  pre  ^eer  olde,  sche  was  offrid  in  to  pe  temple  of  hir  fadir  &  hir  rnodir,  / 
&  fyere  sche  duellid  in  pat  degre  in  to  pe  fourtenep  ^eer.  /  And  what  sche  did 
psre  we  may  wite  bi  reuelacions  pat  sche  schewid  to  a  deuoute  seruante  of  hirs, 
and  men  trowip  it  was  seynt  Elizabeth,  of  whom  we  synge  ofa  solempnely.  /  In 
whiche  reuelacions  among  ofyere  aren  contenyd  pees  pat  folwew.  «f  Sche  seide : 
»When  my  fadir  &  my  modir  leftew  me  in  pe  temple ,  i  sette  in  rayne  herte  to 
haue  god  to  my  fadir,  &  pou^t  it  deuoutly,  and  ofte-tyme  y  pou^t(!)  what  y  my^t 
do  to  goddis  liking ,  so  pat  he  wolde  vouche-saaf  to  gif  me  his  grace ;  /  and  i 
made  to  teche  me  pe  lawe  of  my  god.  /  And  of  alle  pe  comauwdementis  of 
goddis  lawe,  pre  y  kepid  namely  in  myn<?  herte  /  pat  is :  pou  schalt  loue  pi  lord 
god  wip  al  pins  herte,  &  wip  al  pi  soule,  wz/>  al  pi  pou^t,  &  vrip  alle  pi 
strengpis.  /  And,  pou  schalt  loue  pi  nei^bore  as  pi-silf.  /  And,  p0u  schalt  hate 
pm  enemy,  pat  is  sywne.  /  Pees,  sche  seide,  y  kepid  in  my  soule,  and  I  sette 
me  forto  gedir  alle  pe  virtues  pat  are  contenyd  in  hem ;  and  so  I  wol  teche 
pee.  /  Forsope  pat  soule  hap  no  parfit  vertu :  pat  louip  not  god  wip  al  his 
herte.  /  And  of  pis  loue  comep  al  fulnes  of  grace ;  /  and  after  pat  pis  fulnes  is 
comen,  it  duellip  not  stille  in  pe  soule,  but  flowip  as  watir,  when?(!)  it  hatip  hise 
enemys,  pat  are  vices  &  synnes.  /  1?  erf  or  he  pat  wol  haue  grace  lastingli  in  his 
possessions,  hiw  bihouip  to  ordeyne  his  herte  to  loue,  &  to  haterede.  /  $  erf  or  I 
wol  pat  pou  do  as  I  did.  /  I  ros  alle  tymes  at  mydny^t,  and  wente  bifor  pe 
auter  of  pe  tewple,  /  and  wip  as  myche  desire ,  as  myche  wille  &  as  grete 
affeccion^  as  I  koupe  &  my^t  I  askid  grace  of  god  almi^ty  to  kepe  pe  pre  co- 
mauwdementz;,  &  alle  ofyere  comauwdement^  of  pe  lawe :  /  &  so  stondiwg  befor 

1  pe   auter ,   I  made   seuew  pmeris   to   oure  lord  god,  whiche  are  pees :  *§  First  I 
askid  grace  pat  I  myzjt  fulfille  pe  comauwdement^ b  of  louynge,  pat  is,  to  loue  him 

2  in  al  royne  herte  &c.  as  it  is  seid  before.  /  ^f  In  pe  secound  pmer  I  askid  grace 
pat  I  my^t  loue  my  nei^bore  after  pe  wille  &  plesau^ce  of  hiw,  and  pat  he  wolde 

3  make  me  to  loue  alle  pinges  pflt  he  louid.  ^[  In  pe  pridde  pmer  I  askid  pat  he 

4  wolde  make  me  to  hate  alle  pinges  pat  he  hatid.  ^[  In  pe  fourpe  preier  I  askid 
"him  mekenes,  pacience,  debon^ftee,  &  alle  ofyere  virtues   bi  whiche  I  schulde  be 

5  maad  glorious  before  his  si^t.  ^[  In  pe  fiuep  pmer  I  askid  p#t  he  wolde  make  me 
se   pat   tyme   in   pe   whiche   pe   holy  \irgyne   schulde   be  born  pat  schulde  bere 
goddis  sone  ;   /  and  I  askid  pat  he  wolde  kepe  myn^  i^en  pat  I  my^t  se  hir,  my 
tuwge  pat  I  myjrt  preise  hir,  my  handis  pat  I  my^t  serue  hir,  my  feet  pat  I  my^t 
go  to  hir  seruise,  my  knees  pat  I  my^t  worschip  hir  &  goddis  sone  in  hir  barme. 

a  r.  oft?        b  r.  comaundement. 


Bonaventura  The  rule  of  the  life  of  Our  Lady.  jeg 

to  a  deuout  smiande  of  hyrs,  men  trow  it  was  seint  Elizabeth,  qwas  fest  we  syng 
solemply.  In  qwilk  reuelac/ons  emang  ofyer  [er]1  contened  ben?  bat  folows.  / 
Scho  sayd :  »Qwe«  my  fadwr  &  my  modur  left  me  in  bo  temple,  I  set  in  my  hert 
to  haue  god  to  my  fadwr:  &  thoght  deuoutle  &  oft-tymes  qwat  thyng  I  mygfit 
i  Ms.  scho. 

6  ^[  In   be  sixte   I  askid    grace    to    be   obedient   to   be   comauwdement^  &   to   be 

7  ordenauwce  of  be  byschop<?  of  be  tewple.  ^[  In  be  seuenip  pmer  I  askid  pat  he 
wolde  kepe  be  te/;/ple  &  al  his  peple  to  his  seruice«.    &  pen  seynt  Elizabeth,  when 
sche   hade   herde   bees   wordis,  seide:    /   »A,  swete  lady,  ne  were  [^e]  not  ful  of 
grace  &  of  virtues  ?«  /  ]?e«  be  blessid  virgyns  answerid:  /  »Wite  pou  forsope  pat 
I  helde  me  gilty  &  most  vile  &  vnworbi,   boruz  be  grace  of  god,  as  pern  doist  bi- 
self ;  and  fvrfor  I  askid  of  him  grace  &  virtues".     And  oner  pat :  »pou  trowist  bat 
al  be  grace  bat  I  had,   bat  I  hade  it  \vip-outen  trauel:  but  it  is  not  so.  /  For  I 
sey  bee  sopli  bat  i  had  no  grace  ne  ^ifte  ne  vertu  of  god:  wipouten  grete  trauel 
&  contynuel  prayng,    brewnywg  desire,    depe  deuocion^,  many  colde  teeris,  mekil 
affections,  eu<?rmore  bewkand  &  seiand  &  worchand  binges  bat  werew  plesinge  to 
hiw  as  i  koube  &  my^t ;    outakew  be   grace    of  halwing,   bat  I  was  halwid  in  my 
modirs  wombe«.  /  And  ou<?r  bat  sche  seide :  »Wite  bou  forsobe  bat  no  grace  comeb 
\n  to  a  soule,  but   bi   grete  prnynge  &  punyschiwg  of  body ;  /  and   after   pat  we 
haue  J^iuew  to  god  al  pat  we  may  pou^  it  be  but  litel :    he  wol  come  in  to  cure 
soulis,  briwgyng  wib  hi/w  so  he^e  ^iftis  bat  it  semeb  be  soule  to  faile  in  hiw-self 
&  lese  his  mynde,  and  hab  foqeten  what  he  did  or  seide  any  bing  before  plesing 
to  god;    /  and  also  he  semip  to  his  owne  si^t  more  vile  and  more  worpi  dispit, 
pew  eu^re  he  was.n  /  Hiderto  lasjip  fe  reuelacione. 

^  And  seynt  lerom  writip  of  hir  lif  on  pis  wise  &  seip  :  /  »pat  blessid  virgyn 
ordenyd  to  hir  bis  reule,  bat  fro  be  mornyng  to  vndern  sche  ^af  hir  to  pmers,  / 
and  fro  vndern  to  none  sche  ocupied  hir  in  weving  werkt'a,  and  fro  none  after 
ward  sche  went  not  fro  pmer  to  pe  angel  apperid  to  hir  of  whos  hand  sche  was 
wont  to  take  hir  [mete].  /  And  so  sche  praied  better  &  better  in  pmynge  & 
worching*?  &  in  be  loue  of  god ;  &  in  alle  vigilies  &  holy  wakiwgis,  sche  schulde 
be  fouwdew  be  firste,  /  In  be  wisdom  of  be  lawe  of  god  best  lend,  In  mekenes 
most  meke,  In  psalmes  of  Dauip  moost  likands,  /  In  charite  moost  gracious,  In 
clennes  moost  clene,  &  in  alle  virtues  moost  parfit.  /  Sche  was  stidfast  &  vwmou- 
able,  when  sche  profitid  in  to  better  &  better.  /  Noma«  herd  hir  nemre  wrob.  / 
Eu^ry  word  of  hir  was  so  ful  of  oure  lord,  bat  god  was  knowen  in  hir  speche.  / 
Sche  duellid  eu^r  in  pmer  and  lernyng  of  pe  lawe  of  god.  /  And  sche  was  besy 
aboute  hir  felawis,  bat  noon  schulde  be  proude  ne  mysberynge  a^ens  ob^re. 
Wiboutew  ceessing  sche  blessid  god;  /  and  for  sche  schulde  not  be  taken  away 
fro  be  louyng*  of  god  in  hailsing*  of  hir:  what  man  bat  hailsid  hir,  sche  j^af 
pankiwg  to  god  for  bat  hailsing.  /  And  of  hir  come  it  first  bat  holy  men  when 
bei  bew  hailsid:  bei  ^iue«  louynge  to  god.  /  And  of  be  mete  bat  sche  toke  of 
be  angels  hand  sche  was  fedde ;  /  and  eu^ry  day  an  angel  was  seen  speke  to  hir, 
&  was  buxow  to  hir  as  [to]  his  derlyng<?.«  Hiderto  lerom. 

^[  In  be  fourtenip  ^eer  pat  blessid  virgyn  was  weddid  to  loseph  by  reuelacione 
of  god,  &  went  a^en  in  to  Nazareth ;  /  and  in  what  maner  it  was  don,  men  may 
fynde  in  be  legende  of  hir  Natiuitee.  Salue  regina.  Deo  gracias. 

a  Ms.  werk/f  ? 


!6o  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.  1022. 

do  to  goddys  lykyng ,  so  pat  he  walde  vouch-saue  to  gyf  me  hys  grace ,  and  I 
gert  teche  me  po  law  of  my  god.  &  of  alle  po  cowmandemewtij  of  goddis  law  pre1 
I  kepyd  namely  in  my  hert,  pat  es  :  ,pou  sal  luf  {)i  lord2  god  w*t£  alle  pi  hsrt, 
vriih  al  pi  saule,  &  w*U  alle  pi  thoght,  &  witA  alle  f>i  strenghes*.  /  'Also:  ,f)ou 
sal  luf  fri  neghbur  as  Jri-selfe*.  /  Also:  ,pmi  sal  hate  pin  enmy,  pat  es  synne'. 
fes,  scho  sayde,  I  kepud  in  my  saule,  &  I  set  me  for  to  gedwr  alle  vsrtus  pat 
are  cowteynd  [in  pamj;  &  sa  I  wil  teche  pe.  Forsoth,  pat  saule  has  na  parfite  vsrtu 
pat  lufs  noght  [god]  wztA  alle  his  herie.  And  of  pis  luf  comes  a[l]  fulnes  of  grace. 
&  aftur  pat  at  pis  fulnes  is  comen,  it  dwelles  noght  stil  in  po  saule,  hot  flowes  as 
watwr,  [warnep  it  hates  hys  enmys,  pat  er  vices  &  synnes.  /  Psrfor  he  pat  wille  haf 
grace  standandly  in  hys  possessions,  hym  behoues  orden  his  hsrt  to  luf,  &  hatredons. 
fsrfor  I  wil  pat  pou  do  as  I  did.  I  rase  alle  tymes  at  mydnyght,  &  went  before 
po  auter  of  po  tewple,  &  wz'U  as  mykel  desire,  as  mykel  wille,  &  als  grete 
affection  as  I  myght  &  couth",  I  asked  grace  of  alle-myghty  [god]  ;o  kepe  pa  thre 
comawdementes  of  po  lawe :  &  swa  standand  befor  po  autsr  I  made  seuew 
prayers  til  ours  lorde,  po  qwilk  ere  per*.  Fyrst  I  asked  grace  pat  I  myght  fulfille 
pe  cowmandemewt  of  lufyng,  pat  es :  to  luf  hym  wzt£  alle  my  hsrt  &  forthwrmore, 
os  is  sayde  before.  /  In  po  secunde  prayer  I  askyd  grace  pat  I  myght  luf  my 
neghbur  eftur  pe  wille  &  plesyng  of  hym,  &  pat  he  walde  make  me  to  luf  alle 
thynges  pat  he  lufed.  /  In  po  thrid  prayer  I  asked  pat  he  wald  make  me  to  hate 
al  thyng  pat  he  hates.  /  In  po  fertft  prayer  I  askud  mekenes,  pacience,  debonwrte 
&  myldenes,  &  alle  virtues  be  po  qwilk  I  suld  be  made  gracious  before  hys 
syght.  /  In  po  fyft  prayer  I  asked  pat  he  wald  make  me  [se]  pat  tyme  in  po  qwilk 
pat  haly  virgyn  sulde  be  borne  pat  suld  bers  gaddys  sons ;  &  I  askyd  pat  he  wald 
kepe  myne  eghen  pat  I  mygRt  see  hir,  myw  eres  pat  I  myght  hers  hir,  my  tunge 
pat  I  myght  looue  hir,  my  hende  pat  I  myght  serf  hir,  my  fete  pat  I  myght 
gang  to  hir  ssruyce,  [my]  kneese  pat  I  myght  worschep*  goddis  sons  in  hir 
arme.  /  In  po  sext  I  asked  grace  to  be  obedient  to  po  cowmandementes  &  ordynance 
[of]4  po  byschops  of  po  temple.  /  In  po  seuent  prayer  I  asked  pat  he  walde 
kepe  po  temple  &  alle  his  pepul  to  hys  ssruyce«.  Paw  Crzstes  hand-mayden, 
qwew  scho  had  hard  pere  thynges,  sayde :  »O  swete  lady,  ne  were  ^e  not&  ful  of 
grace  &  of  vsrtus?«  fan  po  blyssud  virgyne  answerd:  »Wzt  [for  soth]6  pat  I  held  me 
gylte,  &  most  vile,  &  vnworthy  po  grace  of  god,  als  pou  dos  pi-selfe,  &  psrfore 
I  asked  of  hym  grace  &  vsrtu^«.  And  ouer  pat:  wfcou  trowes  pat  alle  pe^  grace  pat 
I  had,  pat  I  had  it  wz'U-outew  trauayle;  bot  it  is  not  so.  For  I  say  pe  pat  I 
had  na  grace  ne  gyft  ne  vsrtu  of  god  w/t4-oute»  grete  trauayle,  cowtinuele  prayer, 
brynnyng  desire,  depe  deuoc/on,  many  teres,  &  mykel  towrmentyng;  eusrmars 
thywkand,  sayande,  &  wyrkande  thynges  pat  wers  plesand  to  hym  als  I  couth  & 
myght — outakew  po  grace  of  halowyng,  pat  I  was  halowed  in  my  modwr  wombe«. 
And  oner  pat  scho  sayd:  »Wit  tou  for  soth  pat  na  grace  comes  in  to  any  saule  bot  be 
prayer  &  punysschyng  of  body  ;  &  aftwr  pat  we  haue  gyffew  til  god  alle  pat  we  may 
pof  it  be  bot  litel,  he  wil  come  in  to  our  saule,  bringand  w/tA  hym  sa  hye  gyftes, 
pat  it  semes  po  saule  to  fayl  in  it-selfe,  &  loses  hys  mynde  &  has  forgetew  pat  he 
did  or  sayde  any  thyng  before  plesande  to  god;  &  also  he  semes  til  hys  aghew 
sight  mars  foul  &  mars  worthy  dispite,  paw  eusr  he  was.«  ffedur  lastes  reuelacions. 

i  Ms.  ter.        2  Ms.  ]>i  lord  l>i  lord.        3  Ms.  qwar^  erased ;  Bon.  nisi.        *  Ms.  to.        5  overlined. 
6  Ms.  w/t4  confort. 


(Bonaventura)  The  rule  of  the  life  of  Our  Lady.  l6l 

Oent  lerome  writes  of  hir  life  on  bis  wyse.  He  says,  »pat  blyssud  v/rgyn 
ordend  to  hir  pis  rewle ,  pat  fro  mornyng  to  vndron  scho  gaf  hir  to  prayers, 
&  fro  vndron  to  none  scho  occupyed  hir  with"  weuyng  wark,  &  eftwnvarde  fro 
none  scho  went  noght  fra  prayer  til  po  aungel  appered  til  hir  of  qwase  hande 
scho  was  wont  to  take  hir  mete,  &  so  scho  profited  bettwr  &  bettwf  in  wirkyng 
&  in  po  luf  of  god.  And  it  was  swa  pat  in  haly  wakynges  scho  suld  be  funden 
fyrst,  in  po  wysedome  of  po  lawe  of  god  best  lered,  In  mekenesse  most  meke, 
In  po  psalmes  of  Dauid  most  likande,  In  charite  most  gracious,  In  clewnes  mast 
clene,  &  in  alle  v*rtu  most  p*rfite.  Scho  was  stedfast  &  vnremuabul,  qwen  scho 
profit  in  bettwr  &  bettwr.  Na  man  saw  or  harde  hir  ever  wrath.  Ilk  worde  of 
hir  was  so  ful  of  grace,  pat  god  was  knawew  in  hir  spech.  Scho  lasted  eumnore 
in  prayer  &  leringe  of  po  lawe  of  god.  &  scho  was  bysy  about  hir  felause,  pat 
nane  suld  do  wrang  ne  be  proude  agayn  op*r.  &  scho  blyssud  god  w/t^-outew 
sesyng;  and  for  scho  suld  noght  be  takun  fro  po  louyng  of  god  in  haylsyng 
of  hir  :  qwat  maw  so  haylsed  hir,  scho  gaf  thankynges  to  god  for  pat  haylsyng. 
And  of  hir  come  fyrst  pat  holy  men  qwen  pei  are  haylsed  pei  gyf  louyng  to 
god.  &  of  po  mete  pat  scho  toke  of  po  aungel  hand  scho  was  fed  ilk  day;  am/ 
angel.? l  was  sene  to  speke  til  hir,  &  were  buxom*  til  hir  als  hir  derlinges«.  Hedwc- 
to  of  lerome.  —  &  in  po  fourtende  '^er*  pat  blyssud  virgyn  was  [spoused]2  to  loseph 
be  pe  reuelaczon  of  god,  &  went  agayn  vnto  Na^aret — in  qwat  man*r  it  was 
don*,  pou  may  fynde  in  po  legende  of  hir  natiuite. 3 


1  orig.  an  angel ;  Bon.  angelus.        2  om. 

3  This  piece  is  followed,  fol.  65^,  by  the  following  poem  in  long  lines  (2  verses  in  one) 


Thurgh  grace  growand  in  god  almyght, 

Mekle  maked  for  to  spring, 
A  song  ful  soth  &  ful  of  lyght 

Our  conscience  consels  for  to  syng. 
5  Folk  pat  is  faythful  &  loth  for  to  fayle 

tei  fall  to  pis  song  both  grete  &  smalle, 
For  paim  think  it  wil  a-vayle : 

tei  sayn  oft-syth  »In  one  is  alle.« 

Off  one  1  syng  &  wil  not  spar*, 
10       tat  made  al  thyng  both  most  &  losta  : 
For  of  our  bales  he  makwj  vs  bar*: 

F&dur  &  son*  &  holygost. 
In  hyw  es  alle  &  alle  he  is, 

God  &  man  he  es  to  be-calle. 
15  Wysemen  thynken  ful  wele  of  pis 
&  eu*rmore  sayn  »In  one  es  alle.« 

Almyghty  god,  almyghty  sone, 
Almyghty  are  po  p*rsones  thre ; 

W/t//oute  begynnyng  o  god  in  trone, 
20       W;t//outen  qwaw  no  thyng  may  be. 
»  r.  lest? 


He  come  don*  to  Mary  pat  may, 
&-  made  vs  fre  per  we  wer*  thralle, 

To  suffur  pyne  os  I  pe  say: 

&  pus  I  proue  »I[n]  one  is  alle.« 

And  sythen  he  hang  apon  po  rode,          25 

"VWtA  vfondus  wyde  v/ondur  ffelle 
tata  gart  hym  [gifj  po  gost  so  gode — 

to  passion*  vs  prefers  forb  to  telle; 
And  suffred  more  pan  I  mayc  say, 

For  we  suld  stand  &  noght  falle  30 

&  be  his  serua.ndus  both   nygfrt  &  day, 

&  pus  vs  thynke  »In  one  es  alle.« 

Trayst  in  po  tn'nite  pat  al  thyng  can, 

&  noght  in  gold,  for  pat  wil  wayst — 
For  gold  makus  many  a  man  35 

In  gode  or  euel  to  haue  no  tast. 
Trayst  not  trewle  bot  in  one — 

Qwen  ald  is  gone,  he  abide  schalle, 
tat  al  thyng  made  os  seyt  sewt  lone. 

Qwarfor  me  thynk  »In  one  is  alle.«      40 

»  l)e  spere  expunged,  bat  overlined ;  gif  om. 
b  orig.  b«j.        c  kan  expunged,   may  overl. 
d  thyng  crossed  out. 

II 


1 62  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.   1022. 

fol.  74.  3.    (Beniamin  Minor.} 

This  is  a  free  and  abridged  translation1  of  Richard  de  S.  Victore  »De  prae- 
paratione  animi  ad  contemplationem  dictus  Beniamin  minor«  (also  titled  »De  studio 
Sapientiae  et  eius  commendatione«,  so  in  Ms.  Cambr.  Gg.  I.  32),  ed.  Migne  196 
col.  1—64.  Other  Mss.  of  the  Engl.  translation  are:  Ms.  Cambr.  li  VI.  39, 
fol.  120 — 131,  i4*h  cent.  (»A  book  |)at  Richard  of  Seynt  Victore  made  up  pe 
historic  of  loseph  and  of  his  XII  sones  &  is  called  Beniamyn«),  Cambr.  Kk  VI. 
26  (»A  tretyse  of  pe  stodye  of  Wysdome  pat  men  clepen  Beniamin «),  Cambr.  Ff 
VI.  33  (»The  boke  of  the  XII  patriarkys«),  Arund.  286  (»De  XII  filiis  Iacob«) ;  all, 
southern  transcriptions.  It  was  ed.  by  Pepwell  1521  (»Here  foloweth  a  veray 
deuoute  treatyse  (named  Benyamyn)  of  the  myghtes  and  vertues  of  mannes  soule  / 
&  of  the  way  to  true  contemplacyon  /  compyled  by  a  noble  &  famous  doctoure 
a  maw  of  grete  holynes  £  deuocyon  named  Rycharde  of  saynt  Vyctor). 

A  gret  clerk  pat  man  cals  Richarde  of  Saynt  Victor?,  in  a  bok  pat  he  mas 
of  pe  stude  of  wisdom,  says  pat  two  myghttes  are  in  a  mans  saule,  gyfyne  of  pe 
fader?  of  hewen  of  whome  all  gude  comes:  ^f  pe  ton  is  reson,  ^[  pe  tother  is 
affectzon:  thorow  reson  we  knawe,  ^[  and  thorow  affeccz'on  we  lufe.  Of  reson 
sprynges  ryghtwise  cowsales  &  gastele  wittes,  ^f  of  affecc/on  sprywges  hole  desires 
&  ordaynde  felynges.  ^[  And  ryght  os  Rachel  &  Lya  wor  both  wyfes  to  lacob,  ryghtso 
mans  saule  for  lyght  of  knawyng  in  pe  reson,  &  swetnes  of  luf  in  pe  affeccz'on,  is 
sposed  vnto  god.  ^f  Be  lacob?  is  god  vndurstznden,  ^[  be  Rachel  is  vndwstawdew 
reson,  ^f  be  Lya  aff?ccz'on.  ^[  Ayther?  of  pes  wyfs  toke  pame  a  mayden :  Rachel  tok 
Bala,  f  and  Lya  tok  ^elpha.  ^|  Bala  was  a  gret  iangler?,  and  ^elfa  was  ay  dronkon 
and  thryste.  Be  Bala  is  vnd^stawdew  ymaginaczon,  pe  wilk  is  s?nvande  to 
reson,  os  Bala  to  Rachell;  be  Z^elfa  is  vndwfstandew  sensualite,  pe  wilk  is  smi- 
ande  to  aff?ccz'on,  os  ^elfa  was  to  Lya.  *[f  And  in  so  mekill  are  pes  maydens 
nedfull  to  par  laydes,  pat  wzifc-outon  pam  all  pis  warlde  moghtnot  s?nve  pam 
to  pay:  ffor  wy,  wztft-outow  ymaginacz'on  reson  may  noght  knaw,  ^[  and  wzt#- 
outow  sensualite  aff?cczon  may  noght  fele.  fi  And  ^ite  ymaginaczon  cryse  so 
vnconandle2  in  pe  erse  of  our?  hert,  pat  for  oght  pat  reson  here  lady  may  do, 
^f  ^ite  scho  may  not  still  her? :  &  p?rfor  oft-tymes  wen  we  pray,  so  mone  sere  fan 
tasies  of  ill  thogthes  cryse  in  our?  hertes,  pat  o  no  wise  we  may  be  our?  oghon 
myghtes  dryf  pam  away,  ^f  Ande  fyus  is  it  wele  pnrwede  pat  Bala  is  a  foule 
iangler?.  ^[  Ande  also  sewsualite  is  ewer?mor?  thryste,  pat  all  at  aff?ccz'on,  her? 
lady,  may  forthe3,  may  not  sclokkune  here  thryst.  f  fe  drynk  pat  scho 
desires  is  pe  luf  of  fleshle,  kyndle,  &  warldle  delites ,  of  pe  wilk  ay  pe  more 

Helle  is  hedus  on  to  se,  If  we  wele  do,  wele  schal  vs  be, 

&  vgle  to  neuen  to  any  wygKt:  Os  holy  men  vs  has  kende.  50 

tarfor  pray  we  po  tn'nite  Loue  we  pen  po  tn'nite, 

Pat  we  be  neu«r  pedir  dygRt.  fcat  made  po  blysse  pat  neu?r  sal  ende. 

45  For  pat  had  bene  our  ful  ryght,  He  bring  vs  pen  vnto  hys  blysse 

Qware  pyne  is  bitter  os  is  po   galle,  &  hery  vs  hye  in  to  hys  halle, 

Nad  Ih?ju  died  pat  comele  knygRt:  Po  hole  tn'nite  he  graunt  pisse,  55 

&  pw^  we  pr0fe  »In  one  is  alle.«  &  alle  pat  trowes  »In  one  is  alle.« 

i  Perhaps  made  from  an  abridged  Latin  text,  such  as  that  in  Ms.  Arund.  507  f.  24.  The  Engl. 
text  besides  abridging,  introduces  new  matter.  It  is  very  old,  and  certainly  prior  to  W.  Hilton. 
2  Ed.  inconuenyently;  Lat.  cum  tanta  importunitate.  3  Ms.  fele,  expunged;  fortne  < 

margin ;  al.  fele. 


Rich,  of  St.  Victor's  Benjamin  minor,  englished.  ifa? 

scho  drynkes  be  sarre  scho  thrystes,  ffor  wy,  forto  fill  pe  appetyt  of  pe  sensu- 
alite,  all  pis  warlde  may  note  suffyse:  and  p*Hbre  is  ite  pat  oft-tymes  wen  we 
praye  or  thynk  o  god  or  gastle  gudes,  we  walde  fayn  feill  pe  swetnes  of  luf  in 
our*  sawle  &  ^ite  may  we  note,  so  ar*  we  besy  to  fede  pe  owcupiscens  of  our* 
sensualite — for  eu*nnore  it  is  gredele  askande,  and  we  haf  a  fleshle  o?wpassion 
perof.  U  And  pus  is  it  wele  p*0wede  pate  2^elfa  is  ay  dronkune  &  preste.  And  os 
Lya  cowsewed  of  lacob  &  broght  forth  seuen  childer1,  51  and  Rachel  cowsewed 
of  lacob  &  broght  forth  two  childer*,  ^[  [&] 2  ^elfa  cowseuede  &  broght  forth  two 
child*?-,  ^  and  Bala  cowseued  of  lacob  &  broght  forth  two  childer* :  ^  rightso 
affecczon  cowsewes  poro  grace  of  gode  &  brynges  forth  sewen  v*rtu^,  [os 
sensualite  conseues  poro  grace  of  god  &  brynges  forth  two  vertu^]2,  ^f  also 
pe  reson  porou  pe  grace  of  gode  cowsaues  &  brynges  forth  two  vertuYj,  ^[  and 
os  ymaginaczon  cowseuese  poro  pe  grace  of  gode  £  brywges  forth  two  veriu^  or 
two  behaldynges.  ^[  And  he  names  of  pes  childer  and  pes  v^rtu^  sail  be  knawne 
by  pis  fygur*  pat  felouse: 

^f  Hosband  lacob  :  Gode        Sons  of  lacob  of  Lya  ar*     Sons  of  lacob  of  2^elfa  are 

Wyf  Rachel:   Reson  pes  sewew:  Ruben:  Dred        pes:       Gad:     Abstinens. 

MaydynBala: Ynrnginaczow       ofpayne.    Symeon:  Soro        Assert':  Paciens. 

Wyf  Lya:  Affecczon  of  syne.    Leuy:  Hop  o[f]      Sons  of  lacob   of  Rachel- 

Mayden  >^elfa:  Se«sualite        forgifnes.    ludas:  Luf  of       resow:  losep :  Discrec/ow. 

ryghtwisnes.       Ysachanr:        Beniamin.-Cowtemplacz'on. 

loy  of  iwwarde   swetnes.      Sons  of  lacob  of  Bala-ima- 

^abulon :      Hatreden      of       giwac/on  :  Dan :  Syght  of 

syne.      Dyna :    Ordaynde        payn  at  come.  Neptalyw : 

schame.  Sight  of  ioy  at  come. 

^f  Her*  it  is  schewed  of  lacob  &  is  wyfes,  par*  maydens,  &  par*  childer*. 
^[  Her*  it  is  to  schewe  o  wate  maner*  pai  wer*  geten,  &  in  wate  ordur*.  ^f  First 
of  pe  childer  of  Lya,  for  we  rede  pat  cho  ^wsewede  first.  ^[  te  sons  of  lacob 
of  Lya  are  notels  bot  ordaynd  arT*co'ons  or  felynges  in  a  mans  saule,  for  wy, 
if  pai  wore  vnordaynd,  pew  wer*  pai  note  is  sonse.  ^[  £e  sewen  childer*  of  Lya 
ar*  sewen  v*rtu^,  for  v*rtu  is  not  els  bot  a  ordaynde  &  a  mesurde  felyng  of  a 
mans  saule.  pen  is  mans  felyng  in  saule  ordaynde  wen  it  is  of  pat  yng3  pat  it 
suld  be ;  pen  is  it  mesurde  wen  it  is  so  mekill  os  it  sulde.  €(f  Pes  felynges  in  a  mans 
saule  may  be  now  ordaynde  &  now  vnordaynde,  now  mesurde  &  now  vnmesurcle: 
^f  bot  wen  pai  are  mesurde  &  ordaynde,  pen  are  pe[i]  calde  pe  sons  of  lacob. 

^  Her*  it  is  to  say  how  drede  sprynges  in  a  mans  affVccz'on. 

PC  first  child  bat  Lya  cowsewed  of  Iac,ob  is  Ruben,  pat  is  drede,  and  forpi 
it  is  wretew  in  pe  psalme :  »begywnyng  of  wisdom  drede  of  oure  lorde.«  ^[  Pis 
is  pe  first  feld  v*rtu  in  a  maws  aff*cc/on,  wz't/i-outon  pe  wilk  non  other*  may  be 
hade.  ^[  And  pMbr  woso  desyres  to  haf  sclyk  a  son ,  hym  be-hose  besile  &  oft 
behald  be  eweles  pat  he  has  don ;  ^f  he  sail  on  o  parie  ynk  pe  gretnes  of  is  gilt, 
and  on  a  nother  party  pe  power  of  pe  domesman.  Of  sclyk  a  co«sid*rac/o« 
spryiwjges  drede,  pat  is  at  say  he  pat  Rubew,  pat  porou  reght  is  cald  »pe  sone 
of  syght«.  ^[  For  wet*rle  is  he  blywde  pat  sese  not  pe  paynes  pat  are  to  cowme, 
and  dredes  not  to  syne.  ^[  And  wele  is  Rubew  calde  son  of  syght :  ffor  wen  he 

1  sonse  expunged.        2  om.        3  =  J)ing;  cf.  noyng,  ynk,  forynk,  erfore,  am. 

II* 


164 


Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.   1022. 


was  borne,  is  modern  sayde:  ^[  »Gode  has  sen  my  meknes«,  &  mans  saule  in  slik 
consideration  of  is  old  synes  &  f)e  power  of  his  domesmaw,  begynes  {)en  trule  to 
se  gode  be  felyng  of  drede,  &  also  to  be  sen  of  gode  be  rewardyng  of  pyte. 

^[  Here  it  is  to  say  howe  sorowe  spryngese. 

Wyles  Ruben  waxes,  [Symeon  is  borne,  for  after*  dred  it  nedes  pat  soro 
come  sone.  For  ay  pe  mor  man  dredes  pe  paynes  pat  he  has  deserwede ,  [be] 
bytterlier  he  sorose  pe1  syne  pat  he  has  done.  ^[  Lya  in  be  byrth  of  Symeow  say  a7: 
»our*  lorde  has  harde  me  ben  hade  in  despit«,  ^[  and  forpi  is  Symeon  [cald] 
»heryng«2:  For  a  maw  wen  he  bitterle  sorose  &  dispyse  is  olde  syne,  he  begywnes 
to  be  herde  of  gode,  ^[  and  also  to  here  pis  blissed  sentence  of  godes  oghon 
mowth :  ^[  »Blissed  be  pai  pat  sorou,  for  pai  sail  be  «wforde.«  For  in  wat 
^our*3  a  syner*  sorows  &  twrnes  fro  is  syne,  he  sail  be  sauf,  pis  witnes  hole 
wryte.  And  also  be  Rubew  is  he  mekede,  &  be  Symeon  is  he  owu*rtede4  &  has 
compuncioun  of  ters;  ^[  bot  os  Dauid  witnes  in  be  psalme:  »Hert  conirii  &  meked 
god  salnot  despise«,  &  wzt^-outow  doute  slik  soro  is  trew  cowforth. 

[^[  Here  is  to  say  of  hop.]5 

Jt)ot  i  pray  pe  wat  comfortti  may  be  to  po  pat  trule  dredes  &  bitterle  sorose  f)*r 
olde  synes,  oght  bot  a  trew  hope  of  forgyfnes?  £e  wilk  is  pe  pryd  son  of  lacob, 
pat  is  Leuy,  pe  wilk  is  calde  in  pe  store  »a  doyng-to«6;  for  wen  pe  first  two  childer, 
drede  &  sorou,  ar*  gifyne  of  gode  to  a  mans  saule,  wz't^-outow  doute  be  pryde,  pat 
is  hope,  sail  not  be  delaide,  bot  he  sail  be  don  to,  os  be  store  wittnes  of  Leuy 
pat  wen  is  two  brether  Ruben  &  Semeon  wer*  gyffen  to  pare  moder  Lya,  he  pis 
Leuy  was  done  to.  ^f  Take  kepe  o  pis  pat  he  was  don  to,  &  not  gyfen:  ^f  and 
forpi  is  it  sayde,  pat  amaw  sail  not  presume  of  hop  of  forgifnes  befor-tym  pat 
his  hert  be  mekede  in  drede  &  £<?#u*rtede4  ine  sorowe — wzt^-outow  pes  two  hope 
is  presumption,  &  were  per  two  are,  hop  is  do«  to.  *j[  And  pwj  after*  sorow  sone 
comes  owzforth,  [os]7  Dauid  tels  in  pe  psalme  pat  »after  pe  mekelnes  of  my  sorow 
in  my  hert,  he  says  to  our*  lorde,  [by]8  cowforth.es  haue  gladed  [my]9  saule«. 
^[  And  p*rfor  is  it  pat  pe  holygost  is  cald  para.cl.itus,  pat  is  awforther*,  for  he 
vochessaufe  to  comforth  a  sorefull  gost. 
^[  Here  is  to  say  of  [luffVj.M 

Jr  ro  now  forth  begywnes  a  man*r  of  homelenes  forto  grofe  be-twyx  god  & 
manes  saul,  &  also  a  man^r  of  kyndlyng  of  luf,  in  so  mekill  pat  oft-tymes  he 
feles  hyw  not  only  be  viset  of  gode  &  comford  in  is  comyng,  ^[  bot  oft-tymes 
al-so  he  feles  hym  fild  vtiih  anuwspekabull  ioy.  I*is  homlenese  &  kyndlyng  of 
lufe  first  feld  Lya  wen,  after  pat  Leuy  was  borne,  scho  cryde  &  saide  wz't/fc  a 
gret  ioy  :  ^[  »Now  sail  my  hosband  be  coupuld  to  me.«  Pe  trew  spose  of  our* 
saule  is  gode,  ^[  and  bew  are  we  {rule  cupuld  to  gode,  wen  we  dragh  ner*  hym 
be  sothfast  luf:  &  reght  os  after  hop  comes  luf,  so  after  Leuy  comes  ludas,  pe 
ferth  son.  Lya  in  is  birth  crz'de  &  sayd:  ^[  wNowe  sail  i  schryf  to  our*  lorde«, 
&  p*rfor  in  pe  stori  is  ludas  calde  «schryft«  ll :  ^  also  man  saule  in  pis  degre  of 
luf  offers  it  clerle  to  gode  and  says :  »now  sail  i  scryf  to  our*  lorde» ;  for  befor 
pis  felyng  of  luf  in  a  mans  saule  all  pat  he  dose  is  don  more  for  agh  pew  for 

1  Ms.  J>«t-  2  =  exauditio.  3  Ms.  oure,  h  overlined.  4  al.  contrite,  Lat.  conteritur. 

5  Title  om.  here,  but  follows  at  the  end.  6  =  additio.  7  Ms.  and.  8  Ms.  bat  is.  9  Ms. 
is.  10  Ms.  hop.  n  Lat.  confitens. 


Rich,  of  St.  Victor's  Benjamin  minor,  englished.  165 

luf,  ^[  hot  in  bis  state  a  mans  saule  feles  gode  so  swet,  so  mercifull,  so  gud, 
so  cwrtas,  tru  &  kynd ,  so  fathfull,  so  lufle  &  so  homle,  bat  bare  lefes  no  yng 
in  hym,  ^[  might,  wytte,  kunyng  or  will,  batyn*  he  offers  it  clerle,  frele,  and 
homele  to  hym.  ^f  Pis  schryft  is  not  onle  of  syne,  hot  of  be  gudnes  of  gode:  gret 
tokunyng  of  lufe  is  ^[  wen  a  man  tels  to  gode  bat  he  is  gode;  of  pis  schryft 
spekes  Dauid  in  {)e  sautere  &  says:  »mas  it  knawn  to  gode,  for  he  is  gwdeV  — 
^[  Nowe  haf  we  sayde  of  pe  faure  sonse  of  Lya,  ^[  and  aft^r  pes  scho  laft 
beryng  of  childer  till  a  nothertf  tyme.  And  so  a  mans  saule  wenes  pat  it  suffice 
to  it,  wew  it  feles  pat  it  lufs  [he  trew  godes]3.  4&  so  it  is  to  saluac/on,  bot  not 
to  p^ffecc/on.  ^  For  it  fals  to  a  p<rfite  saule  [both]5  to  be  enflawmede  \vith  be  fire 
of  luf  in  be  afivcc:o«,  &  also  to  be  illumynde  w»tA  lyght  of  knawyng  in  be  reson4. 

^f  Here  is  to  say  of  [doubull  syght  in  ymaginacion] 6. 

Pus  wen  ludas  was  borne,  bat  so  to  say,  luf  &  desire  of  vnsen  trew  gudes 
is  rysand  £  waxand  in  a  maws  aflEVcc/'on :  ben  cowates  Rachell  to  bere  some 
childere,  bat  is  to  say,  ben  cowat^  reson  to  knaw  bo  ynges  at  be  affccc/on 
feles.  ^[  For  [os]  ite  fals  to  Lya-affVccj'on  forto  luf,  so  it  fals  to  Rachel-reson  to 
knawe.  Of  Lya-aff^cczow  sprynges  ordand  &  mesurde  felynges,  ^[  and  of  Rachel- 
reson  sprynges  reght  conyng  £  cleen  vnderstandyng.  &  be  more  bat  ludas 
waxhes,  bat  is  to  say  luf,  ^[  so  mekill  more  desires  Rachil  beryng  of  childere,  bat 
is  to  say,  reson  stodys  after  knawyng.  ^f  Bot  wo  is  he  bat  wotnot  how  harde 
it  is  &  nerhand  vnpossibull  to  a  fleshle  saule  be  wilk  is  ijitte  rude  in  gastele 
studys,  for  to  ryse  in  knawyng  of  vnseabull  ynges,  &  forto  sete  be  egh  of 
contemplation  in  gastle  ynges?  ^[  Forwy,  a  saule  bat  is  ?it  ruyde  &  fleshle,  knaws 
not  5jitt  bot  bodele  ynges,  £  no  yng  comes  ^itt  to  be  mynde  bot  seabull  ynges. 
&  neu^rbelese  ^ite  it  lokes  inwarde  os  it  may,  &  bat  at  it  maynot  sjite  s<?7  clerle 
be  gastle  knawyng,  it  thynkes  be  ymagiwaoon.  £  bis  is  be  cause  wy  Rachel 
hade8  first  childer  of  her  maydyn,  ben  of  her-self:  and  so  it  is  bat  all- 
if  a  mans  saule  maynot  j;it  gete  be  lyght  of  gostle  knawyng  in  be  reson,  ^it  it 
ynk  it  swete  to  hald  be  mynde  of  gode  £  gastele  ynges  in  ymaginac/on.  Os  be 
Rachel  is  vnderstand  reson,  so  be  her  maydyn  Bala  is  vndw^tane  ymaginac;o«. 
^[  And  fxrfor  reson  schewes  bat  it  is  more  prvfetabull  forto  ynk  on  gastele 
ynges  wat  so  pa  be,  ^e  if  it  be  in  kyndelyng  of  cure  desire  w*tA  some  fa[i]re 
ymaginacion,  pen  it  is  forto  ynk  of  vanites  &  desewabull  ynges  of  be  warlde. 
And  forbi  of  Bala  wer  borne  pes  two :  f  Dan  &  Neptalym.  Dan  is  to  say  syght 
of  paynes  to  come,  and  Neptalym  syght  of  ioy  to  come,  ^f  £es  two  childer  are 
full  nedfull  &  spedfull  to  a  werkand  saule  :  pe  tone,  to  putt  don  ill  sugestions 
of  synes9,  be  syght  of  payne  bat  is  to  come;  *[  so  it  fals  to  be  tother  brother 
Neptalym  for  to  rays  vppe  oun?  willes  in  werkyng  of  gude  &  in  kyndelyng  of 
holy  desires,  be  syght  of  ioye  bat  is  to  come.  ^[  And  b^rfor  holy  men  wen  bai 
are  sterde  to  vnlefull  ynges  be  inrysyng  of  any  foule  boght :  als  oft  bai  setew 10 
befor  b^r  mynde  be  paynes  pat  are  to  come,  ^f  and  so  bai  sclokn^w 10  bare  temp- 
tacz'on  in  pe  begynnyng  or  it  come  to  any  foule  delite  in  bare  saule ;  and  als  ofte 


i  r.  l>atne,  cf.  ityne  p.  182.  2  Ms.  gode,  u  overlined.  3  Ms.  to  clens  it  clene  to  gode. 

«-«  added.  »  Ms.  for,  on  erasure.  «  Ms.  luffe.  1  Ms.  so.  »  lacob  overl.  in  red,  after 
hade.  9  Ar.  &c.  add  here:  &  be  tober  to  reyson  up  cure  wylle  in  worchynge  of  goode  &  in 
kyndelynge  of  oure  desyre;  .for  as  it  fallil>  to  L)an  to  put  doune  yuel  suggestions  of  synne  &c. 
(added  to  fill  up  a  supposed  gap?)  10  n  in  sete«,  en  in  sclekn^»  are  corrections.) 


1 66  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.   1022. 

os  par*  deuoc/on  &  fter  lykyng  in  gode  &  in  gastle  ynges  seses  and  waxes  cold 
— als  oft-tymes  in  pis  lyf  it  fales  for  corupczon  of  f)e  flesh  &  mone  other  skilles : 
als  oft  pai  set  befor  par*  mynde  pe  ioy  pat  is  to  come,  &  so  pai  kyndel[s]i  p*r 
will  vfii/i  holy  desir*,  &  distrose  p*r  temptaczow  in  pe  begynnyng  or  it  come  to  any 
hirkyng  or  hewenes  of  sclauth.  And  forpi  [pat]  wzU  Dan  we  dawpne  mone2  vnlefull 
poghtes,  p*rfor  is  he  wel  calde  in  pe  stori  »dome«,  and  also  is  fader  lacob  sayd 
of  hym  fyus:  »Dan  sail  deme  his  folk«.  3&  also  it  is  sayde  in  pe  stori  wen  Bala 
broght  forth  Dan,  f  Rachel  sayde :  »our*  lorde  has  demed  me,«  pat  is  to  say,  our* 
lorde  has  euend  me  wzt£  my  sisters  Lya:  ^f  and  $us  says  reson,  wen  pe 
ymaginaczow  has  getyn  pe  syght  of  payne  pat  is  to  come,  pat  our*  lorde  has 
ewende  her  wzb£  her  sister  aff*cczon;  ^f  and  fyus  scho  say[s]e4,  for  scho  ha[s]e5 
syght  of  payne  in  her  ymaginaczon,  off  pe  wilk  scho  hade  drede  &  sorow  in 
hen?  felyng.  f  And  pen  after  come  Neptalym,  pat  is  to  say  syght  of  [Ioye]6  pat 
is  to  come:  and  in  his  byrth  spak  Rachel  &  sayde:  »I  am  made  lik  to  my 
sisters  Lya,«  &  forpi  is  Neptalyw  cald  in  pe  stori  N»lyknes«.  f  And  p^  says  reson 
pat  scho  is  made  lik  to  hir  sister  aSeccion ,  ffor  wer*  scho  hade  getyn  hope  & 
luf  of  ioy  to  come  in  her  felyng,  scho  ha[s]e5  getyn  syght  of  ioy  to  come  in  her* 
ymaginaczon  3.  ^  lacob  sayd  of  Neptalyme  pat  he  was  »a  herte  sende  oute,  gyfand 
speches  of  farehede«.  f  So  it  is  pat  wen  we  ymagyw  of  pe  ioys  of  hewen,  we  say 
pat  por  is  fair*  in  hewen;  ful7  wo^durfulle  kyndyls  Neptalyw  our*  saule  wftA  holy 
desyr*,  als  oft  os  we  ymagyw  of  pe  worthines  &  pe  farehed  of  pe  iocs  of  hewen. 

f  Her*  it  is  to  say  of  doubull  [vertu  in  sensualite]  8. 

VV  en  Lya  sagh  pat  Rachel  her*  sist*^  made  gret  ioy  of  pes  two  basterdese 
born  of  Bala  her  maydyne,  ^  scho  cald  forth  her*  madyne  ^elfa,  to  pute  to 
hir*  hosband  lacob  :  pat  scho  moght  mak  ioy  w/tA  her*  sist*r,  hafand  other  two 
bastardes  getyn  of  here  mayden  ^elfa.  ^[  And  fyus  it  is  senile  in  a  mans  saule 
forto  be,  pat  fro  pe  tyme  pat  reson  has  refrened  pe  gret  ianglyng  of  ymagina- 
c/on  £  has  puttude  her*  to  be  vndurloute  to  gode,  &  so  to  ber  some  frute  in 
helpyng  of  her*  knawyng,  reghtso  pat  pe  aff*cc/on  refrene  pe  lust  &  pe  pryste 
of  pe  sensualite  &  mak  here  to  be  vndurlout  to  gode,  &  so  to  ber*  some  frut 
in  helpyng  of  her*  felyng.  «j[  Bot  wat  frut  may  scho  bere,  oght  bot  pat  scho 
[lerne  to]9  lyf  a-temp*fely  in  eyse  ynges,  and  paciewtly  in  vneyse  ynges?  ^f  pes 
are  pe  childer  of  Z^elfa,  Gad  &  Asser* :  Gad  is  abstinews,  Asser*  is  paciercs.  Gad 
is  titter  borne,  &  Asser*  latter,  ^  ffor  first  it  nedes  pat  we  be  a-te/wperde  in  our*- 
self  vriih  discret  abstinenc*,  pat  aft*?-10  we  ber*  outward  deseys  in  strenght  of 
paciews.  ^[  I*es  ar*  pe  childer  pat  ^elfa  broght  forth  in  sorow,  for  in  abstinews 

6  paciens   pe    sensualite  es    [punyst    in  pe   flesch;    bot  pat   at   es   sorow  to   pe 
sensualite]  9  torne[s]  ^  to  mekill  cowforthed  &  blise  to  pe  affecc/on:    and  p*rfor  it 
is  pat  wen  Gade  was  borne,  Lya  cride  &  saide  :    »happelec,  &  forpi   is  Gad  cald 
»happenes«  or  »selenes«;   ^  and  so  it  is  wele  sayd  pat  abstinens  in   pe   sensualite 
is  selines  in  pe  affecc/on,  ^f  ffor  why  ay  pe  lesse  pat  pe  sewsualite   is   delited  in 
here  luste,  pe  more  svvetnes  feles  pe    aff*cczon    in   here    lufe.  ^f  Also    aft*r  we» 
Asser  was  borne,  Lya  sayd  :  »pis  sail  be  for  my  blyse«,  &  forpi  was  Asser  calde 
in  pe  stori  »blyssed«;  and  so  it   is   wele    sayde    pat    paciews   in   pe   sensualite   is 

1  Ms.  kyndeld.          2  al.  om.          3-3  added.          *  Ms.  sayde.          5  Ms.  hade.  «  Ms.  pese. 

7  al.  for.      8  Ms.  syght  in  ymaginacz'on.       9  om. ;  so  Ar.  &c.       10  al.  &  after  t»at.       X1  Ms.  torned. 


Rich,  of  St.  Victor's  Benjamin  minor,   englished.  1 6*7 

blise  in  be  aftVcc/on,  ^[  ffor  wy  ay  be  more  deseys  bat  be  sensualite  suffurs,    be 
mor*  blisede  is  be  saule  in  be   affVcczon.  ^[  And  b«j  be  abstinens   &  paciens   we 
salnot  only  vndwrstawd  a-tewperaunce  in  mete  &  drynk^  &  suffuryng  of  outwarde 
tribulac/on,    ^[  bot   also    of  all    man^f   fleshle,    kyndle,    and  warldle  delite,  &  all 
manertf  dyseys  bodele  or  gastele,  wz'U-ine  or  w/tA-outon,  resonabull  or   vnreson- 
abull,   bat    be    any  of  ourt?  wittes  tourment^  or  delites  be  sensualite.     On  bis  wis 
bers  be  sensualite  frut  in  help  of  affVcczon,  hen?  layde.     Mikell  pese  &  rest  is  in 
bat  saule  pat  nothen?  is  dronkune  in  be  lu[st] l  of  be  sewsualite,  ne  grutche[s]2  in 
be  payne  barof ;  be  first  of  bes  is  getyn  be  Gade,  &  be  later  be  Asser.       ^[  Here 
it  is  to  wite  bat  firste  was  Rachel   maydyn  putte   to  be    husbande   or  be    madyn 
of  Lya :  and  for  bis  skill,    for   trule,    bot    be   iangelyng    of  ymagiwaczon,    bat   is 
to  say  be  iw-rewnyng  of  vayn  thoghtes,    be    ferst   refrende,    w/'tfc-outow    doute  be 
lust   of  be    sensualite   maynote   be  atempmie ;  &   btrfor  wo-so   will  abstene  hym 
fro  fleshle  &  warldele  luste,  hym    behose    first    seldome    or   neuer   ynk  any   wayn 
thoght.    ^f  And   also   nevur  in   bis   lyf  may  a   maw  p^rfitle    despyse   be   eyse    of 
be    flesh   &   noght   drede    be    dyseyse ,    bot  if  he  haf  bisele   behalden    be    medes 
&  paynes  bat  are  to  come.  ^[  Bot  her^  it  is  to  wite  how  w/t/j  bes  fawer   sons  of 
bes  two  maydens  be  cite  of  our*  cowsciens   is   kepude    wonderfule   fro    all  tewp- 
taczon.    For  ilk  tewptac/on  auther*  it  ryses  w/tfc-ine  be    poght,  or  els   w^.outon 
be    some    of    oun?    fife    wittes.   ^[  Bot    w/t^-ine    sail    Dan  »deme«   &    dampne    ill 
boghtes  be  drede  of  payne,  ^f  ande  w;t/*-outon  sail  Gade  putt  agayne  fals  delites 
be  vse  of  abstinens;  Dan  wakes  w*t/j-in,   &  Gad  w*t/*-outow.    And  also  par^  other 
two  brether*?  helpys  pame  full  mekill:  ^[  Neptalyw   makis    pes    within   wit/*    Dan, 
and    Assert    bydes    Gad    haf    no    drede    of  is    enmyse.     Dan   flays    be  hert  w*tA 
vgsomnes  of  hell,    ^f  and  Neptaly/w  cherisj^3  it  w*t//  hetynges   of  hewenle   blys. 
^[  Also  Assert  helpes  is  brother  w/tfc-owton,  so  bat  borou  bam  both  be  cite  wall 
is  not  brokune:  Gad  haldes  oute  eys,  &  Asser*  pwrsewes  diseys.    Asser  sone  de- 
sawes  is  enmy  wen  he  brynges  to  mynde  be  paciews  of  is  fader (!)4  &  pe  hetyng  of 
Neptalyw,  &  b«j  oft-tyms  ay  be  moe  ewmys  bat  he  has,  foe   more   mafcr  he   has 
of  ou^rcowmyng.  &  b^rfor  it  is  bat  wen  he  has  owercowmuwe  his  enmys,  bat  is  to 
say  be  adu^rsites  of  be  warld,  sone  he  twmes  hym  to  hys  brother*?  Gad,  to  help  to 
stroy  his  enmyse:  &  wztA-outow  fayle  fro  he  be  cowmon,  sone  bai  turne  bak  &  flene. 
^  $ere  enmys  of  Gade  are  fleshle  delites:    bot  trwle  fro    be   tyme  bat  a  man  haf 
pacience  in  be  payne  of  his  abstinence,  fals  delite  fyndes  no  wonyng-place  in  hym. 

How  ioy  of  iwwarde  swetnes  rises  in  a  maws  saul. 

PUS  wen  be  emnyse  fleyse,  &  be  cite  of  conscience  is  made  pesebule,  bew 
begynnes  a  man  to  prof  wat  »be  hegh  peise  of  gode  is  bat  passes  all  mans  witte« : 
f  and  forpi  it  is  pat  Lya  left  beryng  ofe  childer^  vnto  bis  tyme  bat  Gad  &  Aser 
wor  borne  of  77elfa  her  maydyn.  For  trwle  bot  if  it  be  so  bat  a  maw  haf  refrende 
be  luste  of  is  fife  wittes  in  is  sensualite  be  abstinence  &  paciews,  he  sail  neu<?r 
feile  inwarde  swetnes  &  trew  ioy  in  gode  &  gastele  ynges  in  pe  affecc/on.  fis 
is  Isachar*?  be  fifte  sone  of  Lya,  be  wilk  in  stori  is  cald  »mede«,  ffor  [bis]  ioy  is  5 
pe  taste  of  be  blise  of  hewen,  be  wilk  is  ewdles  meyde  of  a  deuote  saule, 
bygywnande  her^.  f  Lya  in  be  byrth  of  bis  childe  sayd :  »god  has  gyfyn  me 

i  Ms.  luf.        «  Ms.  crutched.        »  Ms.  cheris«e«,  ses  overl.        «  al.  Lat. :  dum  partem  (!)  quara 
tuetur  alta  patientia  rupe  munitam  conspicit.        *  Ms.  ffor  ioy  pat  is  in ;  tat,  in,  overl. 


1  68  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.   1022. 

mede  ,  ffor-{ri  bat  i  haf  gifyw  my  maydyn  to  my  hosband  in  beryng  of  childer«  : 
^[  and  so  it  is  bat  [if]  *  we  gere  our*  sewsualite  here  frute  in  abstenyng  it  fro  all 
maner  of  fleshle,  kyndle,  &  warld[l]e  delyte,  and  in  frutfull  suffuryng  of  all 
fleshle  &  warldle  diseyse,  ^[  fforbi  our*  lorde  of  is  gret  mercy  gyfes  vs  ioy  of 
vnspekabull  &  inwarde  swetnes  in  our*  aff*ccz'on,  in  erls  of  be  sowerayne  ioy  & 
be  mede  of  be  kyngdam  of  hewen.  «|"  lacob  sayd  of  Isachar*  bat  he  was  »a 
strang  asse  dwelland  be-twyx  be  termes«:  and  so  it  is  bat  a  maw  in  bis  stat,  & 
bat  feles  be  erles  of  ay-lastand  ioy  in  his  affecczon,  is  os  a  nasse,  strang,  & 
dwelland  be-tweyn  be  termes,  ^f  Forbi  bat,  be  he  newer  so  filede  in  gastele 
gladnes  &  ioy  in  gode,  ?itt  for  corupc/on  of  be  fleshe  in  bis  dedle  lyf  hym 
behose  ber*  be  charge  of  be  dedle  body,  os  hunger,  bryst,  sclep  &  colde  & 
other  mone,  for  be  wilk  he  is  lykynde  to  a  nasse  os  in  body:  ^f  Bot  [os]  in  saule 
he  is  strong  for  to  stroy  alle  be  passions  &  be  lust?  of  be  flesh  be  pacience  & 
abstinence  in  be  sewsualite,  and  be  habundaws  of  gastle  ioy  &  swetnes  in  be 
aff^c/on.  f  And  also  a  saule  in  bis  state  is  dewelland  be-twex  be  termes  of 
dedely  lyf  &  vndedle.  He  bat  dwels  be-twyx  termes,  has  nerhand  forsakene 
dedlenes  bot  not  fulle,  &  has  nerhande  getew  vndedlenes  bot  not  fully  :  ^[  For 
wiles  hym  nedes  be  gudes  of  bis  warld  os  met  &  drynk  &  clethyng,  os  fals  to 
ilk  a  maw  bat  lyffes,  ^itt  is  a  foyte  in  bis  dedely  lyf;  &  for  gret  habuwdaws  of 
gastele  ioy  and  swetnes  in  gode  bat  he  fels  not  selden  bot  ofte,  he  has  his 
other*  fote  in  be  vndedle  lyfe.  I>«j  i  trow  bat  saynt  Paule  ferde2  wen  he  sayde: 
»Wo  sail  delyuer  me  of  bis  dedle  body?«  &  wen  he  sayde  \>us  :  »I  cowet  to  be 
losede  &  to  be  wzt/6  Oz'ste.w  ^  Ande  fyus  dose  be  saule  bat  feles  Isachar*  in  is 
aff*cczon,  bat  is  to  say  be  ioy  of  inwarde  swetnes  be  wilk  is  vndurstanden  be 
Isachar*  :  it  enforses  it  to  forsak  bis  wreched  lyf,  bot  it  maynot  ;  it  cowates  to  enter 
be  blissed  lyf,  bot  it  maynot  :  it  dos  bat  it  may  &  ?itt  it  dwells  be-twyx  be  termes. 
^f  How  hatr*dy«  of  syn  rysis  in  mans 


Ande  erfore  is  it  bat  after  Isachar*  ^abulon  is  borne,  be  wilk  is  to  say 
hatredyn  of  syne,  f  And  here  it  is  to  say  &  witt  wy  bat  hatredyne  of  syne  is 
nermor*  feld  in  a  mans  aff*cc/on  or  be  tyme  bat  gastele  ioy  of  inwarde  swetnes 
be  feld  in  be  affVcczon,  &  bis  is  be  skill:  ^[  ffor  or  bis  tyme  was  newer*  be  tru 
cause  of  hatredyne  felde  in  be  aff*ccz'on.  3For  be  felyng  of  gastle  ioy  teches 
a  man  wat  syne  harmes  be  saule,  and  all  oiler  bat  be  harme  in  be  saule  is  felede 
mekill  or  lytyll,  bare-aft*r  is  be  hatereden  mesurd  mor*  or  less  vnto  be  harmande3. 
U  Bot  when  a  saule  be  grace  of  gode  &  long  trauele  is  comon  to  felyng  of 
gastle  ioy  in  god,  bat4  it  fels  bat  syne  has  ben  be  cause  of  be  delayyng  b*rof; 
^f  and  als  wen  he  feles  bat  he  maynot  last  allway  in  be  felywg  of  gastle  ioy  for 
corupczon  of  be  flesh  of  be  wilk  corupczon  syn  is  be  cause  :  pew  he  ryses  wz'tfc  a 
strong  felyng  of  hateredyne  agayn  alle  syne  &  be  kynde  of  syne.  Pis  felyng  taght 
Dauid  vs  to  hafe  wen?  he  says:  f  »Bes  wroth  &  wille  ^e  not  syne«,  [bat  is:  bes 
wroth  with  syne,  bot  not]5,  vriih  be  kynde;  ^[  ffor  kynde  sters  to  be  deyde  bot  not 
to  [syne]  6.  ^[  And  her*  it  is  to  witte  bat  bis  wrath  is  not  conirare  to  charite,  ^[  bot 
charite  teches  how  it  sail  be  hade  both  in  a  maws  self  &  in  is  ewen-cmte[n]  :  f  For 
a  man  suld  not  hat  syne  so  bat  he  distroy6  his  kynd,  [bot  so  bat  he  distroy  be 

1  om.  ;  al.  for  })at.  2  overl.  ;  al.  felte.  3-3  an  interpolation  ?  *  al.  J>an.  5  om.  ;  so  Ar.  &c, 
6  Ms.  not  toye;  al.  syne.  i  overlined;  originally  droye. 


Rich,  of  St.  Victor's  Benjamin  minor,  englished.  1 69 

syne  &  pe  appetyte  of  syne  in  his  kynde]1;  *[  and  als  anentes  our^  ewen-m'sten,  vs 
ogh  to  hate  syne  in  hym,  &  to  luf  hym ;  and  of  pis  hateredyn  spekes  Dauid  in  pe 
psalme  &  says:  »wzU  perfyte  hateredyn  i  hatede  pame«,  &  in  another  psalme  he 
says  pat  »he  had  in  hatredyn  all  wykked  ways«.  l*us  is  it  wile  pruwede  [wy]2  or  pat 
^abulow  was  borne,  ludas  &  Isachar*  wor  both  borne:  ^f  For  bot  if  a  maw  haf 
had  charite  &  gastle  ioy  in  is  felyng  first,  he  may  on  no  wise  feile  pis  p^rfyt 
hateredyn  in  his  affrccz'on;  for  ludas,  pat  is  charite,  teches  vs  how  we  sail  hate 
syne  in  our^-self  &  in  our^  brethere ,  and  Isachanr,  pat  is  gastele  felyng  of  ioy 
in  gode,  teches  vs  whi  we  sail  hate  syne  in  our^-self  £  in  oun?  brethere;  ludas, 
i.  charite3,  bydes  vs  hate  syne  &  luf  pe  kynde,  ande  Isachare  i.  gastle  felywg4, 
stroy  syne  &  sawe  pe  kynde.  &  p«j  it  fales  forto  be  pat  pe  kynde  may  be  made 
strong  in  gode  &  gostle  ynges  be  p^rfyte  hatredyn  &  stroyng  of  syne.  And  herfor 
in  pe  stori  is  ^abulon  calde  »a  dwellyng-stede  of  strenght«,  and  Lya  in  his 
birth  seyd  :  »My  hosband  sail  now  dwell  wz'bfc  me.«  ^f  And  so  it  is  pat  gode,  pe 
trew  hosba«d  of  our*  saule,  is  dwelland  in  pat  saule,  strenthand  it  in  pe  affecczon 
wit/i  gastele  ioy  and  swetnes  in  his  luf,  pat  trauels  bysyle  to  distroy  syne  in  pame5- 
self  and  in  other  be  p^rfyte  hateredyn  of  be  syne  &  all  pe  kynde  of  syne.  And 
pus  is  it  at  say  how  ^abulon  is  borne. 

^[  How  ordend  schame  ryses  in  a  mans  sawle. 

JDot  all-pof  pat  a  saule  poro  grace  feile  in  it  p^rfite  hateredyne  of  syne,  wether 
it  ^it  may  lyf  w/t/2-outow  syne?  nay,  sekerle,  &  forpi  no  man  presume  of  hym- 
self,  syne  pe  apustull  says  fyus  pat  »if  we  say  we  haf  no  syne,  we  deceyf  our*- 
self,  &  sothfastnes  is  not  in  vs«;  ^[  and  also  saynt  Austyn  says  pat  he  dar^  say 
\>er  is  non  lyfand  w/tA-outon  syne,  ^f  And  i  pray  pe,  wo  is  pat  pat  synes  note  in 
ignorance?  7,e  &  oft-syth  it  fals  pat  gode  suffurs  poo  men  to6  fall  grewosle  be 
be  wilk  he  has  ordaynd  other  mews  errours  to  be  regthede,  pat  pai  may  lerne 
be  fyer  oghon  fallyng  hou  m^rcyfull  pai  sail  be  in  amewdment  of  other.  &  for 
pi  pat  oft-tymes  men  fals  grewosle  in  pe  same  synes  pat  pai  moste  hate,  p^rfor 
of  hateredyn  of  syn  springes  ordeynd  scham  in  a  maws  saule,  &  so  it  is  pat  after 
7,abulon  was  Dyna  borne.  Os  be  ^abulon  pe7  hatredyn  of  syne,  so  be  Dyna  we 
vnd«rstande  orden[d]  scham  for  sywe.  ^j  Bot  witt  will:  he  pat  feild  nere  ^abulon, 
felde  neu^r  ?itt  Dyna.  ^  111  mew  haue  a  man<r  of  scham,  bot  it  is  not  pis  ordeynd 
scham  ,  for  whi,  &  pai  hade  p^rfytte  scham  of  syne,  pai  suldnote  so  customabull 
do  it  -with  will  &  awysment;  ^[  bot  pai  schame  more  vfiih  a  foule  cloth  o  par^ 
body,  pew  w*t£  a  foule  poght  in  tyer  saule.  Bot  wat  so  po8  be  pat  wenys  po  has 
getyn  Dyna,  ynk  wether*  pe  wald  schame  als  mekill  &  a  foul  thoght  wer^  in  pi 
hert,  os  pe  wald  &  po  wore  [mad  to] 9  stand  naked  befor  pe  kyng  &  al  is  rewme ; 
&  sikerly,  witte  po  wele  pat  po  has  not  ^itt  getyn  ordeynde  schame  in  pi  felyng, 
if  so  be  pat  po  haf  les  schame  w*'t/*  pi  foule  herte  pew  vritti  pi  foule  body,  & 
if  pou  piwk7  mor^  schame  wi'tfc  pi  foule  body  in  syght  of  men  pen  w/bfc  pi  foule 
hart  in  syght  of  pe  kyng  of  hewen  &  of  all  his  angels  &  pe  holey  santes  of 
hewene. — ^[  Lo ,  now  is  it  sayde  of  pe  sewen  childer  of  Lya  be  pe  wilk  ar* 
vndurstane  sewew  maners  of  affVccz'ons  in  a  mans  saule;  pe  wilk  may  be  now 
ordaynde  &  no  we  vnordynde,  now  mesurde  &  now  vnmesurde,  bot  wen  pai  are 

»  om. ;  so  Ar.  &c.  2  om. ;  al.  t>at  or.  3  i.  charite  overlined.  4  i.  g.  f.  overlined. 

5  al,  hym.        6  overlined.         7  al,  om.        8  =  bou.        9  so  Ar.  &c. 


170  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.   1022. 

ordaynde  &  mesurd,  pen  are  f)ai  vertu?};  &  wew  bai  are  vnordend  &  vnmesurde, 
ben  are  {)ai  vicej.1  ^[  ^us  behose  a  maw  haf  warnes  bat  bai  be  not  onle  ordende, 
bot  also  mesurde.  £ew  ar^  bai  ordend  wen  bai  ar^  of  bat  yng  bat  bai  suld  be, 
&  pen  ar£  bai  vnordend  wen  bai  ar^  of  bat  yng  bat  bai  suld  not  be ;  &  ben 
ar^  bai  mesurde  wew  bai  are  so  mekill  os  bai  suld  be,  ^[  ben  ar£  bai  vnmesurde 
wen  bai  ar£  mor£  bew  pa  suld  be.  ^[  Forwhi,  ou^/rnekill  drede  brynges  dispare, 
&  oumnekill  soro  kestes  a  maw  in  bitternes  &  hewenes  of  kynde  ^[  ffor  be  wilk 
he  is  vnabull  to  resawe  gostle  cowforth;  &  oumnekill  hope  is  pr^suwpcion,  & 
vtragese  luf  is  bot  flat£?yng  &  fagyng,  &  vtragese  gladnes  is  dissoluczow  & 
wantonnes,  &  vn-atewp^re  hatredyn  of  syne  is  wodnes;  &  on  bis  man^r,  if  bai  be 
vnordende  &  vnmesurde,  pen  are  [bai]  tamed  in  to  vices,  &  ben  lose  bai  be  nam 
of  vertu^  &  maynot  be  acowntude  wz't/z  be  sons  of  lacob,  pat  is  to  say  God — for 
be  lacob  is  vndurstane  god,  &  so  it  is  schewed  in  be  figure  befor. 

Her£  it  is  to  say  of  be  two  sons  of  Rachel:  loseph  &  Beniamyn. 

Pus  it  semes  bat  be  vertn  of  discrec/ow  is  fulnedefull  to  be  hade,  vretfc  be 
wilk  all  others  virtus  may  be  kepude  &  gouernde — for  withouton  it  all  others  virtus 
ar*  t«med  to  vices.  ^  fces  is  loseph,  pat  is  latborne  childe,  bo[t]  ^itt  is  fader^ 
lufs  hym  more  ben  bam  all:  Forwy  truly  wz't^outow  discrec/on  may  nawther 
gudnes  be  getyn  ne  keppude,  &  forbi  no  wonder  of2  bat  vertu.  be  synglerle  lufde. 
^[  Bot  wat  wondwr  is  of  bis  vertu  be  late  getyn,  wen  we  maynot  wyne  to  no 
p^rfeccz'on.  of  discretion  withouton  mekill  vse  &  mone  trawels  of  pes  othere 
affVcc/ons  command  before?  ^f  For  first  be-hose  vs  be  hused  in  ilk  a  uertu  be 
barn-self  &  gete  be  profe  of  am  all  serele,  or  we  may  haf  ful  kuwyng  of  am  all 
or  eles  cune  deme  sufficientle  of  am  allj;  &  wen  we  vse  vs  besile  in  pes  felynges 
&  behaldy[n]ges  befor-sayde,  oft-tymes  we  fall  &  oft-tymes  we  ryse,  pen  be  our<?  oft 
fallyng  may  we  ler^  how  mekill  warnes  vs  behose  haf  in  be  getyng  &  kepyng 
of  bes  virtus:  &  pus  homwill  be  lang  vse  a  saule  is  lede  iwto  full  discm:z'on, 
&  bew  it  may  ioy  in  be  byrth  of  loseph.  &  befor  bis  vertu  be  ^wsewed  in  a  mans 
saule,  all  bat  bes  other  v^tus  dos  it  is  wz't^outon  discrecz'on ,  &  forbi  in  als 
mekill  os  a  man  presumes  &  enstresses  3  hym  in  any  of  bes  felywges  beforsayd  ou^r 
his  myght  &  oute  of  mesur^,  in  so  mekill  be  fouler^  he  fals  &  fales  of  his4  purpose ; 
&  buffer  it  is  pat  after  am  all  &  last  is  Dyna  borne,  for  oft  after  a  sodeyn  fal 
comes  sone  schame.  ^[  And  pus  after  mone  fallynges  &  failynges,  &  schame  foloande, 
a  man  lers  be  be  prof  pare  is  noyng  bett^  ben  to5  be  rewlede  be  counsell,  be 
wilk  is  be  redist  geytyng  of  discreczon.  ^f  Forwy  he  pat  dus  all  yng  vfith 
cowsaile,  hyw  sail  newer^  forynk  it — ffor6  better  liste  ben  lyther^  strenght.  ^[  And 
her^  is  be  opon  skill  wy  pat  nawther  Lya  ne  ^elfa  ne  Bala  moght  ber^  swilk  a 
child,  bot  onle  Rachel,  ffor  os  it  is  sayd  before  bat  of  reson  comen7  reght 
cowsailes  be  wilk  is  verray  discrecz'on,  vndwrstande  be  loseph  be  first  sone  of 
Rachel ;  &  pen  at  be  first  bryng  we  forth  loseph  in  our^  reson  wen  all  pat  we 
are  sterde  to  do,  we  do  it  be  cowsaile.  ^[  fis  loseph  sail  not  onle  knaw  wate 
synes  we  an?  most  sterde  to,  bot  also  he  sail  knaw  be  wakenes  of  oun:  kynde, 
&  after  pat  ayther^8  askes  so  sail  he  do  remedy,  &  sek  cowsaile  at  wissen?  pen  he 

i  s  overl.  2  =  liof.  3  al.  enforces.  4  Ms.  of  his  of  is.  5  overlined.  6  Ed. :  for 
better  is  a  slyghe  man  than  a  stronge,  ye  &  better  is  lyst  than  lyther  strengthe  (ye— str.  om.  in 
Ar.),  and  a  slyghe  man  speketh  of  vyctoryes.  7  overl. ;  al.  springe^)  r.  consaile.  8  Ms. 

ather^,  y  overl. 


Rich,  of  St.  Victor's  Benjamin  minor,  englished.  I  y  I 

&  do  after  bam,  els  is  he  not  Joseph  lacob  sone  borne  of  Rachel.  ^[  And  also  [be] 
pis  ilk  Joseph  is  a  maw  noght  onle  lernede  to  ethchew  deseyt^  of  our^  enmys,  bot 
als  oft1  a  man  is  lede  be  hym  to  p<?rfite  knawyng  of  hym-self:  &  all  aft^r  pat 
a  man  knaws  hym-self  parafter  he  pr^fetes  in  knawyng  of  gocle  of  wome  he  is  be 
ymage  &  lyknes ,  &  jvrfor  it  is  bat  Sifter  loseph  is  Beniamyn  born.  For  os  be 
Joseph  discrec/ow,  so  be  Beniamyn  we  vndwrslawd  <:0wtemplaczon.  &  both  wer^  pai 
borne  of  a  modern  &  getyn  of  a  faden?,  ^f  ffor  boru  be  grace  of  gode  lyghtand 
oure  reson  come  we  to  be  p^rfit  knawyng  of  our^-self,  &  of  gode,  pat  is  to  say  aft^r 
pat  it  may  be  in  bis  lyf.  Bot  lang  after  loseph  is  Beniamyne  borne,  ffor  why, 
trwle  bot  if  so  be  bat  we  huss  vs  besile  &  lange  in  gostle  trawels  vrttA  wilk  we 
are  lernede  to  knaw  our^-self,  ^f  we  may  not  be  raysed  into  be  knawyng 
&  cowtewplacz'on  of  gode.  He  dose  for  noght  bat  lyftes  vp  his  egh  to  be  sight 
of  gode,  bat  is  not  s;itt  abull  to  se  hy;w-self.  For  first  a  maw  suld  lerne  hym  to 
knaw  vnseabull  ynges  of  is  oghen  spirit,  or  he  pr^sumude  for  to  knawe  be 
vnseabull  ynges  of  [be]  spirit  of  gode;  and  he  bat  knaws  not  ^itt  hym-self  &  wenes 
pot  he  has  getyn  somdel  knawyng  of  be  vnseabull  ynges  of  gode,  i  doute  it 
noght  patyn  he  is  deceyfd';  &  forpi  i  rede  bat  a  maw  sek  [first]  besile  fovto  knaw 
hym-self,  be  wilk  is  made  to  be  ymage  of  gode  os  in  saule.  &  witt  bo  wele  bat 
he  bat  desirs  forto  se  gode,  hym  behose  clens  his  saule,  be  wilk  is  os  a  myroun?2 
in  be  wilk  all  yngis  are  clerle  sen  wen  it  is  clene;  &  wen  be  myrour^2  is  foule, 
pew  may  bo  se  noyng  clerle  pt'rin:  &  reghtso  of  be3  saule  wen  it  is  foule,  nather 
pou  knaus  pi-self  ne  gode.  ^[  And  wen  be  candell  brennes,  pen  may  po4  se  pi- 
self  £  be  candell  be  be  lyght  \>erof,  &  others  ynges.  ^f  Reghtso  wew  bi  saule 
brewnes  iw  be  luf  of  gode,  bat  is  wen  ho  feles  r^wtinule  bi  hert  desire  be  luf  of 
god,  bew  be  be  lyght  of  his  grace  bat  he  sendes  in  bi  reson,  bo  may  se  both 
pin  oghon  vnworthines  &  godes  gret  gudnes.  &  forbi  clens  bi  myroun?2  &  beyde  bi 
candell  to  be  fir^.  ^[  And  bew,  wen  pi  myroure  is  clensed  &  bi  candell  lyghted, 
&  it  so  be  pat  pou  weterle  be-hald  b^rto,  pen  begywnes  a  maneri  of  clerte  of  be 
lyght  of  gode  forto  schyn  in  pi  saule,  &  a  man^r  of  a  sone-beme  bat  is  gostele 
to  apertf  to  pi  gostle  syght,  poro  be  wilk  be  egh  of  bi  saule  is  opunde  to  behald 
god  &  gostle  ynges,  hewew  &  heuenle  ynges,  &  all  man^r  gostle  ynges; — bot  bis 
syght  is  bot  be  tymes,  wen  god  will  woches-sawf  forto  gifit  vnto  a  wyrkande 
saule,  wils  it  is  in  batell  of  bis  dedle  lyf ;  bot  attter  pis  lif  sail  it  be  ay  lastand. 
I*is  lyght  schone  in  Dauid  saule  whils  he  sayd  bus  in  be  psalme :  »^[  Lorde,  pe 
lyght  of  pi  face  is  marked  apon  vs :  po  has  gyfyn  faynnes  w/tA-ine  my  hert«. 
pe  light  of  godes  face  is  be  schynyng  of  is  grace,  pat  reformes  in  hus  is  ymage 
pat  has  ben  defoulede  w/t/j  be  merknes  of  syne.  &  fxrfor  a  saule  pat  brewnes  in 
desyr<?  of  pis  sight,  if  it  hope  forto  hafe  pat  at  it  desires,  witt  it  wele  pat  it  has 
cowsawed  Beniamyn.  &  pMor  what  is  more  helfull  ben  swetnes  of  pis  syght,  or 
wat  softer  yng  may  be  felede?  Sikerle,  none,  &  pat  wot  Rachell  full  well, 
^f  forwhy,  pe  reson  s[e]ys5  pat  in  comparison  of  pis  swetnes  all  other  swetnes  are 
sowr  &  bitter  os  gall  forbi  hony.  Newer^peles  ^itt  may  a  man  newer^  come  to 
sclik  a  grace  be  is  oghon  scleght,  forwhy  it  is  a  gyft  of  gode  w/tA-outon  deserte 
of  man.  ^[  Bot  w/tA-outon  doute,  of6  it  be  not  desert  of  man,  ?jt  nomaw  may  tak 
swilk  grace  wrtfc-outon  gret  stody  &  brennaln]de  desire  comande  befor;  &  bat  wot 


»  Ms.  als  oft  os ;  al.  but  also  a  man  is  ofte.       2  y  in  myroure  on  erasure.       3  al.  fci.      4  over- 
lined.        5  Ms.  says.        c  =  t>of. 


172  Treatises  of  Ms.  Harl.   1022. 

Rachel  fulwill,  &  forpi  scho  mwltiplys  her<?  stody,  &  [whettes  her  desyre]1  hekand 
desyre  vnto  desire :  so  pat  at  pe  last  in  gret  habuwdaws  of  brenande  desire  & 
sorou  of  pe  delayng  of  here  desyre  ^f  Beniamy[n]  is  borne,  £  is  moder  Rachel 
deyse,  forwhy,  wat  tyme  pat  a  saule  is  rawyste  abowf  it-self  be  habuwdans  of 
desires  &  in  a  gret  mwltitud  of  luf ,  so  pat  it  is  enflawmed  w/t^  f)e  light  of  pe 
godhede,  sekerle  f)endeyse  all  mans  reson.  ^f  2And  p<?rfor,  wat-so  he  be  pat  desires 
to  come  to  cowtewplac/'on  of  god,  lete  hym  ler?  for  to  gedir?  samen  pe  myght^ 
of  his  sawlej,  &  lete  hym  study  forto  refreyne  he  outpassyng  of  is  mynde,  & 
schape  hym  forto  wone  with  hym-self  os  a  kyng  in  is  reme  to  wome  pat  non 
of  his  sugetes  wor*  contrari2.  £en  salto  [vise  pe]3  in  pis  maner:  4call  samen  pi 
poghtes  &  pi  desires  &  niak  of  pam  a  kirk,  &  lerne  pe  p^rin  to  luf  onle  pis 
worde  IHESU5,  so  pat  all  pi  desire  &  pi  thoght  be  set  onle  to  luf  Ihesu,  &  pat 
vnseshandle  os  it  may  be  here;  so  pat  po  fu[l]fyll  pat  is  sayd  in  pe  psalme : 
»lorde,  i  sail  bles  pe  \n  kirkes«,  pat  is  in  thoght  &  desire  of  pe  luf  of  Ihesu.  & 
pen  in  pis  kyrk  ofe  poghtes  &  desires,  &  in  pis  onhede  of  stodes  &  of  pe  wil[les] 6, 
loke  pat  all  pi  poghte  &  pi  desires  &  all  pi  studes  &  all  pi  willes  be  onle  sette 
in  pe  luf  &  pe  lofyng  of  Ihesu,  vfith-outon  forgetyng  als  [fer]  forth  os  po  may  be 
grace  &  os  pi  frelte  will  suffure,  eweremore  mekand  pe  to  praere  &  to  cowseil, 
pacientle  abydand  pe  wille  of  our?  lorde,  vnto  pe  tyme  pat  pi  mynd  be  rawyste 
abouf  it-self  to  be  fed  wz'tA  pe  far?  fode  of  angels  in  behaldyng  of  gode  &  gostele 
ynges ;  so  pat  it  be  fulfild  in  pe  pat  is  wretyne  in  pe  psalme :  ^[  Ibi  Beniamyn 
adohscentulus  in  mentis  excessu,  pat  is :  »Beniamyne  pe  z;ong  childe  in  rauyshyng 
of  mynde  of  Ihesu.«  ....  Ihesu.  ....  Ihesu.  ....  Mercy  Ihesu,  grauwt  Mercy,  Ihesu. 


foi  sob  come  without  break  the  2  following  pieces: 

4'  W  ythdragh  pi  poght  fro  pi  gude  dedys  &  fro  pine  ill  dedys,  and  ynk  po 
arte  ewere  in  pe  syght  of  gode  &  in  is  pr^sens,  ^e  reght  os  po  art  present  to  pi-self; 
and  wz't^  all  pi  poght  onle  offers  pi  body  &  pi  saule  mekle  to  pe  mercy  of  Ihesu, 
os  tratur^  to  is  lorde,  lastandle  cn'ande  in  hertle  mynde :  »Lhesu  mercy,  Ihesu.  mercy, 
Ihesu.  mercy«. 
fol.  81. 

5'  1  hre  pontj  per^  are  pat  kepen  vs  fro  mone  sotell  deset^  of  pe  foule  fende 
pat  mone  gostle  mew  begils  porou  pmvay  pont^  of  pryde  pat  mysrewle  per^  witte ; 
wilk  ar£  pes :  Meknes,  mercy,  &  drede.  Meknes  is  a  clothyng  of  all  colorse, 
for  he  enforses  hym  os  fore  pe  tym  to  acorde  hytn  to  all  cowdicions,  for  so  may 
he  best  passe  to  hald  is  oghon  kynde.  Mercy  is  likende  to  whyte,  for  he  clenB 
&  wesese 7  away  pe  vgsome  filth  of  syne.  Drede  has  colore  of  rede,  for  it  is  moste 
ferdfull  of  all  others  colores.  Pes  pre  an?  calde  pe  lefra  of  our?  lorde,  pat  he 
cleths  his  childer  ine  or  pai  may  cowme  to  hym ;  for  pe  gospell  byddes  :  woso 
lakse  pis  lyfray,  kest  hym  into  hell.  Bot  meknes  is  a  seker  sarke  pat  vnder  & 
neghtes  vs  ogh  to  be  :  and  sothle  wo  so  lakes  pis  sark,  gostle  clethyngzV  ket^  he 
none,  whi[l]k  are  vert\i%  to  vndurstande.  ^erfor  meknes  ogh  neght  to  be,  &  pen 
mm:y  abofe  on  pat :  for  meke  hert^  pat  bolne  for  woo,  are  cowforthed  full 
mekill,  mm;y  to  call. 

1  om.;  so  Ar.  &c.  2-2  al.  Ar.  &c.  3  Ms.  £en  salto  witt  so  J)at  J>ou  be  wise ;  J>at  overl. 

*  Ms.  &  call,  &  overl.        »  The    address    to    the  name  of  lesus  is  a  characteristic  of  the  works 
of  R.  Rolle.        e  Ms.  wilk.         1  =  wesches. 


Treatises  of  Ms,  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55. 

In  several  Mss. ,  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55,  FfV.  40,  the  Epistle  »Pe  commawndement« 
&c.  (ed.  p.  6 1  ff.)  is  followed  by  the  3  pieces  printed  below,  which  consequently 
have  mostly  been  ascribed  to  R.  Rolle.  »Propyr  wille«  is  besides  extant  in  Ms. 
Cambr.  Ff  VI.  31  in  southern  transcription;  that  »of  Angels'  song«,  in  Ms.  Thorn 
ton  (ed.  Perry  Prose  treatises  of  R.  Rolle,  E.  E.  T.  S.  1864),  and  in  an  old  print 
by  Henry  Pep  well  1521,  who  however  ascribes  it  to  Walter  Hylton  (»Here  foloweth 
a  deuoute  treatyse  compyled  by  Mayster  Walter  Hylton,  of  the  songe  of  aungelles«). 
The  style  and  manner  of  these  pieces  is  so  different  from  the  other  writings  of 
R.  Rolle  that  the  authorship  of  W.  Hylton  becomes  more  than  probable.  I  insert 
them,  however,  here  to  show  at  once  the  difference  between  the  two  great  writers: 
the  one  all  poetry,  heart,  inspiration,  the  other  (who  goes  by  »trouthe  principally", 
and  not  by  »feeling«,  see  end  of  Angels'  Song)  a  prosaist,  logician,  strongly  putting 
his  arguments  in  easy  and  well  built  periods,  but  without  a  spark  of  feeling. 

Ms.  Dd  V.  55,  4°,  93  foil.,  written  c.  1400,  by  a  northern  scribe,  contains: 
W.  Hilton's  Scala  perfectionis  book  I  to  Cap.  88,  fol.  I — 81,  after  which  several 
leaves  are  lost  with  the  end  of  Scala  perf.,  and  the  beginning  of  R.  Rolle's  »Pe 
commandement"  &c. ;  after  the  latter  piece  follow  the  3  treatises  printed  below, 
and  the  poem  and  Quotations  from  Bonaventura  and  R.  Rolle,  given  p.  128  with 
Ms.  Rawl.  C  285.! 

i.     Propyr  wille. 

1  Ropyr  wille  pat  is  forsakyn  &  made  cowmen,  pan  is  it  acordant  wyht  goddis 
wylle ,  and  alle  gode  mens  wille ,  and  principaly  over  alle  thynge  till  our  suf- 
frayne[s]  wil  to  whame  we  ere  suget  made  ry^t  als  vn-to  god,  als  be  reule  of 
religion  askys.  Pis  comen  wille  is  sothefastly  called  be  maste  precious  offerande 
&  pe  maste  dere  presande  pat  may  be  gyfen  vn-to  god ;  and  parefor  it  is 
callyd  erthely  heuen,  for  qwy  it  herbers  god.  It  is  goddis  tempill ,  it  is  be 
chosen  chambyr  of  Ihttu,  it  is  pe  hamely  howse  of  pe  haly  gaste.  It  is  be  kyn- 
dome  of  pe  fadyr,  it  is  be  herytage  of  pe  sone,  it  is  be  possessyone  of  pe  haly 
gaste.  Pe  fadyr  als  his  kyngdome  rewlis  it,  pe  sone  as  his  heritage  goumis  it, 
pe  haligast  as  hys  awen  counceyls  it.  [It]  beris  likenes  of  pe  trinite :  of  pe  faydyr 
in  fayrenes,  of  pe  sone  in  mekenes,  of  pe  haligast  in  gudenes.  Pis  comone 
wille  has  Clerete  of  be  fadyr,  Obedyens  of  pe  sone,  Conforth  of  pe  haligaste.  Pe 
fadyr  makes  hym  my^ti,  be  sone  makes  hym  wytti,  be  haligast  makes  hym  eyse ; 
swa  pat  alle  hys  ennemyes  bodyly  &  gastly  ly^tly  it  ouyrcomes.  Pe  my^t  pat  is 
gyfen  of  pe  fadyr.  Pe  witte  pat  is  gyfen  of  pe  sone.  It  is  swa  porfyte  pat  alle 


i  Ms.  Cambr.  Ff.  V.  40,  8°,  129  foil.,  15^  cent.,  contains  in  a  southern  transcription:  W.  Hilton's 
Epistle  on  mixed  life;  a  translation  of  R.  Rollers  De  emendacione  vitae;  W.  Hilton's  Scale  of 
perfection;  R.  Rolle's  »l>e  commaundmentc  &c. ;  the  pieces  given  above  from  Dd.  V.  55,  including 
the  poem  and  Quotations;  the  12  minor  treatises  of  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285  ed.  p.  104  ff.,  followed  by 
the  Notac  variae  of  Ms.  Rawl. 


Treatises  of  Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55. 

be  wytte  of  bis  werlde  can  nouz;t  teche  it:  for  qwy,  gastly  wytte  and  vndyr- 
standynge  is  tau^te  of  god  be  felyng,  and  naman  may  make  a  feler  in  gastly 
wytte  bot  god  bat  is  be  gyfer.  £e  techyng  of  god  is  gyfen,  and  bat  gyfynge 
causyth  felynge.  And  in  bis  felynge  is  fully  knawen  be  difference  of  base  men 
bat  ere  tau^t  of  god — as  base  bat  gyfe  bam  to  parfyte  lyuynge,  and  base  bat 
er  tau^t  of  men — as  base  bat  gyfes  bam  to  comyn  lyfe.  For  alle  bat  clerkys  may 
lere  of  erthely  men  in  body  be  heryng  or  seyng,  goddis  clerkys,  qwilke  ere  callyd 
parfyte  men,  has  it  in  felynge  &  tastyng.  Swa  bat  goddis  clerkys,  qwylys  bay 
meke  bam  vndyr  hys  wande,  ere  neuyr  begylyd.  For  heryng  &  seynge  alle  bay 
begylis ,  bot  meke  tastynge  &  felynge  may  not  begyle.  It  is  be  crafte  of  clergy 
lered  on  be  boke  be  men  to  cnn  see  writ  wreten  &  here  it  spoken :  and  goddis 
clerkys  has  in  felynge  bat  bai  hatte  in  heryng,  and  alswa  in  tastynge  bat  bay 
haue  in  spekynge ;  &  is  gyfen  of  be  haligast,  &  settes  bam  in  reste ;  swa  bat 
contrarius  dedes  does  bam  na  disese,  for  it  does  bam  comforte  to  be  agayn-sayde  . . . 
And  be  cause  of  bat  payne  is  propyr  wylle,  qwilke  is  called  helle,  for  fendys 
dwellys  berin ;  for  na  creature  pyn^  be  consciens  bot  fendes ,  to  qwam  we 
gyfe  leue  anly  thorow  pride.  Qwa-swa  herbers  propyr  wille  &  haldys  hym  at 
hame,  he  mone  be  dampned  as  traytour  in  be  dredeful  daye  of  dome  of  god. 
As  be  ensaimple  7}e  may  see  in  lawe  of  be  lande:  As  if  a  man  wilfully  resette 
be  kynges  felon,  or  mayntens  hys  traytour  in  hys  awen  kyngdome,  he  is  traytour 
or  felon,  and  be  be  lawe  he  sal  be  dampned.  On  be  same  maner  be  lawe  of 
god  dampnes  propyr  wylle :  for  he  was  hys  bane  and  cause  of  hys  dede.  /ropyr 
wille  desyred  hym,  accused  hym,  denied  hym,  dampned  hym,  &  did  hym  to  dede. 
For  qwyles  ludas  had  comyn  wylle,  na  man  did  he  dere:  bot  qwen  hys  wille 
was  made  propyr,  pan  was  his  dede  dy^th.  ferfor  be  bane  of  god  is  callid 
pn>pyr  wylle.  And  qwa  swa  lufes  it,  hates  god,  ffor-sakand  helpe  of  alle-holy 
kyrke  and  be  vertus  of  heuen,  alswa  be  gyftes  of  be  haligaste ,  and  alle  be 
blyssed  company  pat  in  heuew  es ,  and  mas  offerand  of  hym-selfe  to  be  fende 
of  helle.  For  qwa  sa  settes  hym-selfe  bodili  here  in  propyr  wille,  hys  sete  is 
made  gastly  in  helle  wz't^  be  fendis  ;  ffor  interynge  of  propyr  wil  gyfes  seysynge 
of  helle,  and  is  kyndely  calde  Lucifer  bedde.  Bot  some  men  ere  fouly  bygylled 
of  bis  propyr  wylle  and  desayuyd  as  in  smal  thynges,  pat  it  sal  not  dere.  l*ese 
men  ere  blyndyd  with  pride,  pat  bay  may  nou^t  see  howe  bayr  conscyence  es 
pynde  for  comen  wilis  gane ;  for  na  thynge  bot  pn?pyr  wyl  is  noriser  of  pride, 
qwilke  is  be  maste  preciouse  homage  and  be  derest  desire  bat  Lucifer  lykes. 
Meke  men  byndys  bam  vnto  comyn  will  be  counceyl  thorowe  be  haligaste:  and 
bat  is  obedience,  bat  maste  payes  god,  for  obedience  is  be  tresoure  of  be  trinite, 
bat  trewly  kepes  heuenly  gyftes:  for  be  gyftes  of  heuen  ere  neuyrmare  gyfen 
bot  til  obedyente  wylles.  And  it  is  sorow  to  see  or  wite  howe  dedly  bay  ere 
encombyrde :  ffor  if  bai  wene  bayr  wylle  be  knawen  bot  anly  to  bam-selfe,  it 
cryande  forsakes  god,  bat  alle  heuew  heris.  And  alswa  it  is  called  an  outhorn 
of  helle :  for  it  rayses  a  thowsande  of  fendes ;  for  if  it  may  be  sayde  bat  bay 
haue  loye  in  bayr  kynde,  obyr  loye  of  vs  haue  bai  none  bot  of  propyr  wylle ; 
ffor  be  oure  propyr  wylle  pay  dwelle  in  vs,  &  be  na  thynge  ellis.  And  bis 
myschefe  fallis  tille  alle  bay  bat  forsakys  counceyl  &  wyll  nou^t  lene  barto, 
wylke  conceyl  may  be  called  be  ordenaunce  and  be  thechynge  of  discrete  men. 
fe  ensaimple  gaf  Ihmi  goddis  sone  of  heuen,  pat  bande  hym  so  thorowe  mekenes 


(W.  Hilton:)    Of  Angels'  Song.  jyc 

vn-to  comen  wylle  for  be  saluacion  of  alle  mankynde,  so  fully,  so  trewly,  so 
straytly,  pat  fra  pe  begynnyng  of  hys  paynftil  passyon  vn-to  pe  laste  poynt  of 
hys  dede  neuyr  he  blenked  anes  to  hys  owen  wylle.  For  he  was  swa  obedient 
vn-til  alle  pe  wylles  pat  desired  to  be  safe,  &  namely  to  hys  fadyr  wylle  pat 
walde  it  sulde  be  so ,  pat  he  .  .  nou^t  agayns  payr  wyll  pat  accused  hym  to  pe 
dede,  he  saide  nou^t  agayns  pam  pat  demed  hym  to  pe  dede,  ne  he  did  nou^t 
agayns  pam  pat  did  hym  to  pe  dede.  Bot  mekely  be  hys  chere  and  hys  coun- 
tenaunce  moghe  alle  men  see ,  alswa  be  mekenes  of  hys  eyesy^t  pe  qwylke 
chaunged  neuyr,  for  his  beryng  in  hys  paynys  was  euyr  swa  meke,  pat  he  made 
na  scheuyng  as  hym  yrked,  bot  as  hym  had  felid  na  payn;  swa  was  he  fre  of 
wylle  &  comen  to  alle.  Sen  he  dyd  pus,  do  we  so,  for  he  has  in  pis  kende 
vs  oure  awen  nede.  And  qwa  sa  takes  nou^t  pis  nede,  pay  sal  dwele  ay  in  nede. 
Ihmi  helpe  fra  pat  place  pat  euyrmore  nede  has.  Amen.  Amen.  Amen. 

2.     (Of  Angels'  song.)1 

Ms.  Dd  V.  55. 

•t  ow  ^ernys  ptrauentur  gretely  for  to  haue  more  knawynge  &  wyssynge  pan 
pou  has  of  aungels  sange  and  heuenly  sown,  qwat  it  is,  &  on  qwat  wyse  it  is 
pmieyued  &  felid  in  a  manns  soule,  and  how  a  man  may  be  sekyr  pat  [it]  is 
trowe  &  noujjt  feyned,  and  how  it  is  made  be  pe  presence  of  pe  gude  aungel 
&  nou^t  be  pe  inputtynge  of  pe  ille  aungel.  fes  thynges  pou  wolde  wyte  of  me. 
Bot  sothely  I  can  nou^t  telle  pe  for  sekyr  sothenes  of  pis  mater.  Neuyr-pe- 
latter  sumqwat  as  me  thynke  sal  I  schewe  pe  in  a  schort  worde.  //  Wyte  pou 
wele  pat  po  ende  £  pe  sou^rante  of  p^rfeccions  standis  in  a  verray  oned  of  god 
£  man  saule  be  parfite  charite.  £is  oned  pan  is  v^rraly  made  qwen  pe  my^tes 
of  pe  saule  ere  reformed  be  be  grace  to  pe  dygnite  &  pe  state  of  pe  fyrst  con- 
dicione,  pat  is  qwen  pe  mynde  is  stabild  sadly,  w»'tA-outyn  chaungeynge  and 
vagacion,  in  god  &  gastly  thynges,  and  qwen  be  reson  is  cherit2  fra  alle  werdly 
&  fleschely  behaldynge[s]  and  fra  alle  bodili  ymagynacions ,  fygures  &  fantasy es 

i  The  same  treatise  occurs  in  Ms.  Thornton  fol.  219**  (ed.  Perry  Prose  tr.  of  R.  Rolle  p.  14), 
and  in  an  early  ed.  by  H.  Pepwell  1521*.  *  al.  clerit. 


Ms.  Thornton  fol.  aigb. 

l_yere  ffrende,  wit  p#u  wele  pat  pe  ende  and  pe  soutraynte  of  p^rfeccione 
standes  in  a  verray  anehede  of  godd*  and  of  manes  saule  by  p^rfyte  charyte.  tis 
Ende  pan  es  verrayly  made  whene  pe  myghtes  of  pe  saule  er  refourmede  by  grace 
to  pe  dignyte  and  pe  state  of  pe  firste  condicione,  pat  es  whene  pe  mynde  es  stab- 
lede  sadely  with-owtten<?  chaungynge  and  vagacyone  in  godd*  and  gastely  thynges, 
and  when  the  resone  es  cleryde  fra  all  worldly  &  fleschely  behaldynges  and  Ima- 
gy[na]cyones,  fygwrs  and  fantasyes  of  creatures  and  es  illumenede  wz'tfc  grace  for  to 

»  Henry  Pepwell's  text  (ed.  1521)  begins:  Dere  brother  in  Cryste  I  haue  vnderstandynge  by 
thyne  owne  speche  /  and  also  by  tellynge  of  another  man  bat  thou  yernest  and  desyrest  gretely 
for  to  haue  more  knowledge  and  vnderstandynge  then  thou  hast  of  aungelles  songe  /  and  heuenly 
sowne  /  what  it  is  /  and  on  what  wyse  it  is  perceyued  &  felte  in  a  mannes  soule  /  &  howe  a 
man  may  be  syker  that  it  is  trewe  /  and  not  fayned  /  &  howe  it  is  made  by  the  presence  of  the 
good  aungell  /  and  not  by  the  in-puttynge  of  be  euyll  aungell.  These  thynges  thou  woldest 
wete  of  me  /  but  sothly  I  can  not  telle  the  for  a  suretye  the  sothfastnesse  of  this  matter  /  neuer- 
theles  somwhat  as  me  thynketh  I  shall  shewe  the  in  a  shorte  worde.  ^f  Wete  thou  well  that  the 
ende  of  the  soueraynte  of  perfeccyon  standeth  in  veray  onehede  of  god  &c. 


I  76  Treatises  of  Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55. 

of  creatures  &  is  illumyned  be  grace  to  be-hald  god  and  gastly  thynges ,  and 
qwen  be  wylle  &  pe  affeccion  is  purified  &  clensed  fra  alle  fleschely,  kyndely, 
and  werldly  loue1  &  is  inflaumed  -with  brennand  lufe  of  pe  haligast.  £is 
wondyrful  oned  may  nou^t  be  fulfilled  porfitely,  contynuelly,  holyly  in  pis  lyfe, 
for  corrupcion  of  be  flesche ,  bot  anly  in  pe  blis  of  heuen.  Neuyr-pe-lesse  be 
nerre  pat  a  saule  in  pis  pr^sente  lyfe  may  come  to  pis  oned,  pe  mare  parfit  it 
is,  for  pe  mar  pat  it  is  reformed  be  grace  to  be  ymage  and  pe  lykenes  of  hys 
creatour  here ;  on  pis  man^r-wyse  pe  more  loye  &  blysse  sal  it  haue  in  heuen. 
Oure  lorde  is  ane  endeles  beyng  w/t^-outyn  chaungeynge,  alle-myghyed  vtiih- 
outyn  fallynge ,  sou^ayn  wysdome,  lyght,  sothenes  wzt^-outen  errour  or  myrkenes ; 
sowryne  godenes,  loue  &  pes  &  swettenes ;  pan  pe  mare  pat  a  saule  is  oned, 
festened,  conformed  &  loyned  to  oure  lorde,  pe  mare  stabil  &  my^ti  it  is,  be 
mare  wyse  &  clere,  gude  &  pesible,  lufende  &  mare  vertuose  it  is,  &  so  it  is 
mare  parfyt.  For  a  saule  bat  has  be  grace  of  Ihtf.ni  &  lange  travayle  of  bodili 
&  gastly  exc^rcyse  ouyrcomen  &  distroyed  concupiscenci^  &  passyons  and  vnskylfull 
steryngys  wzt&-inne  hym-selfe  &  w/tfc-outyn  in  pe  sensualyte,  &  is  cled  alle  in 
vertus,  [as]  2  in  mekenes  &  myldenes,  in  pacience  &  softenes,  in  gastly  strenthe  and 
ry^twysnes,  in  contynuaunce ,  in  wysdome,  in  trouthe,  hope  &  charite,  pan  is  it 
made  parfyte  as  it  may  be  in  pis  lyfe.  Mykyll  confort  it  receyues  of  oure  lorde, 
nou^t  anly  inwardly  in  hys  awen  pmie  substaunce,  be  vertu  of  be  oned  to  owre 
lorde  pat  lys  in  knawynge  &  lufynge  of  god,  in  ly^t  &  gastly  brennynge  of  hym, 
i  Ms.  &  loue.  2  MS.  and. 


be-halde  godde  and  gastely  thynges,  and  when^  be  will  and  pe  affeccyontf  es  pury- 
fiede  and  clensede  fra  all  fleschely  lustes,  kyndely  and  werldly  lufe  and  es  en- 
flawmede  w/tA  brennande  lufe  of  be  haly  gaste.  Bot  pis  wondirfull  anehede  may 
noghte  be  fulfillede  p^rfytely,  cowtenually,  ne  hally  in  bis  lyfe  for  corrupcyontf  of 
pe  flesche ,  bot  anely  in  be  blysse  of  heuentf.  Neu^-pe-lattere  be  nerre  bat  a 
saule  in  pis  presents  lyfe  may  come  to  pis  anehede,  pe  mare  per&te  it  es,  ffor 
pat  it  es  refo^mede  by  grace  till  pe  ymage  and  pe  lyknes  of  his  creatowre  here, 
one  pis  manere-wyse  pe  more  ioy  and  blysse  sail  it  hafe  in  heuentf.  Our^  lorde 
godd  es  ane  Endles  beynge  wzt/z-owtten^  chaungynge,  all-myghtty  wzt^-owttentf  fayl- 
ynge,  sou^rayne  wysdome,  lyghte,  so[th]fastenes  wzt#-owtten£  errour  or  myrknes, 
sou^rayne  gudnes,  lufe,  pees  and  swetnes :  pan  pe  mare  pat  a  saule  es  anehede 1, 
festened,  cowfozmnede  &  ioynede  to  oure  lorde  godd,  pe  mare  stabill  it  es  £ 
myghty,  pe  mare  wysse  &  clere,  gude,  peyseble,  luffande,  and  mare  vertuous,  and 
so  it  es  mare  perfrte.  For  a  saule  pat  haues  by  grace  of  Ihmi  and  lange  tra- 
uayle  of  bodyly  &  gastely  excercyse  ou^'cowmentf  and  dystroyede  concupyscens  and 
passiouws  and  vnskyllwyse  styrrynges  wz't£-in  it-selfe  and  wz't^-owttentf  in  pe  sen- 
sualite,  and  es  clede  in  vertus  as  in  mekenes  and  myldnes,  in  pacyence ,  in 
sothefastnes,  in  gastely  strengRe,  and  ryghtewisenes,  in  cowtynence,  in  wysdoim, 
in  trouthe,  hope,  and  charyte,  pan  es  it  made  p^rfite  als  it  may  be  in  pis  lyfe. 
Mekill  comforthe  it  reschayues  of  our?  lorde,  no^te  anely  inwardly  in  his  preue 
substance,  be  be  vertu  of  be  anehede  to  oure  lorde  bat  lyes  in  knaweynge  and 
and  lufynge  of  goddtf,  in  lyghte  of  gastely  brynwynge  of  hymtf,  in  transfownnynge 
1  r.  anede. 


(W.  Hilton:)  Of  Angels'  Song.  j^ 

in  transformynge  of  be  saule  in  be  godhede ,  hot  also  many  obir  confortys, 
sauoures,  swetnes  &  wondyrfull  felyngys  on  sere  maners,  eftyr  cure  lorde  vouche- 
safe  to  visite  his  creatures  here  in  erthe,  and  eftyr  be  saule  porfittilyi  wayxit  in 
charite.  Some  saule  be  vertu  of  charite  bat  god  gyfs  it  es  so  clensed,  {)at  alle 
creatures,  and  alle  bat  he  heris,  or  sees,  or  felis  be  any  of  hys  wyttis,  turnys  hym 
to  conforte  and  gladnes,  &  be  sensualite  reseyues  new  sauoure  &  swetenes  in  alle 
creatures,  and  ry^t  [as  before]2  be  lykynges  in  be  sensualyte  were  fleschely,  vayn, 
and  vicious  for  [be]  payne  of  be  original  synne,  ry^t  so  now  [bay  ere]3  made  gastly 
&  clene  w/'tfc-outyn  bytternes  &  bytynge  of  conscience.  And  bis  is  be  gudenes  of 
cure  lorde,  bat  sythen  be  saule  is  punysched  in  be  sensualyte,  &  be  flesche  is  par- 
[ce]ner4  of  [be]  payne,  bat  eftyrwarde  be  saule  be  conforte  in  [hir]  sensualite,  &  be 
flesche  be  felawe  of  loye  &  confort  \fi\Ji  be  saule,  nou^t  fleschely,  bot  gastly,  as  he 
was  felawe  in  tribulacion  &  peyne.  £is  is  be  fredom  &  be  lordechype,  be  dyignite 
&  be  wyrchype  pat  a  mans  saule  has  ouyr  alle  creatures — be  qwilke  dygnite  he 
may  recoup  be  grace  here — bat  ilke  a  creature  sauowr  to  hym  as  it  is,  and  bat 
is  qwen  be  grace  he  sees,  he  heris,  he  felis,  anly  god  in  alle  creatures.  On 
bis  man^r-wyse  a  saule  is  made  gastly  in  be  sensualyte  be  habundance  of  charite 
bat  is  in  be  substaunce  of  be  saule.  [Also]5  oure  lorde  conforte[s]6  a  saule  be  aungels 
sange.  Qwat  bat  sange  is,  it  may  nou^t  be  discried  be  na  bodily  lykenesse,  for 
it  is  gastly  and  abouen  almaner  of  ymagynacion  &  reson.  It  may  be  felid  &  per- 
ceyued  in  a  saule,  bot  it  may  not  be  schewed.  Neuyr-be-latfcr  I  speke  perof  to 

i  Ed.  profyteth  &.         -  Ms.  for  as.         3  Ms.  it  is.         *  Ms.  p^rseyuer.        5  Ms.  as.        «  Ms. 
conforted. 

of  be  saule  in  be  godhede,  bot  also  in  many  ofyer  comforthes,  &  sauoz/rs, 
swettnes,  and  wondirfull  felynges  one  sere  maners,  aftir  our*  lorde  vouches-safe 
to  vesete  his  creators  here  in  erthe,  and  eftyre  be  saule  pr^fytes  and  waxes  in 
charyte.  Some  saule  by  vertue  of  charyte  {)at  godd*  gyfles  it  es  so  clensede,  bat 
all  creaturs  in1  all  bat  he  heris,  or  sese,  or  felis  by  any  of  his  wittes  turnes  hym* 
till  comforthe  and  gladnes,  and  be  sensualite  receyues  newe  sauow  and  swetnes 
in  all  creaturs,  and  righte  als  before  be  lykynges  in  be  sensualite  ware  fleschely, 
vayne,  and  vecyous  for  be  payne  of  be  orygynalle  synn*,  righte  so  nowe  bay  ere 
made  gastely,  and  clene,  w/tfc-owtten*  bitt*mes  and  bytynge  of  cowcyence.  And 
b/s  es  be  gudnes  of  our*  lorde,  bat  sen  be  saule  es  puneschede  in  the  sensualite, 
and  be  flesche  es  p*rtynere  of  be  payne,  that  eftirwarde  be  saule  be  cowforthede 
in  hir  sensualite,  and  be  flesche  be  felawe  of  be  ioye  and  comforthe  vrit/i  be 
saule,  noghte  fleschely,  bot  gastely,  als  he  was  felawe  in  tribulacione  and  payne. 
Pis  es  be  fredom*  &  be  lordchipe,  dygnyte  and  be  wyrchip*  bat  a  manes  saule 
hase  0-a.er  all  creaturs,  the  whilke  dygnyte  he  may  receyue2  by  grace  here,  bat 
ilk  a  creature  sauour*  to  hym*  als  it  es,  and  bat  es  when  by  grace  he  sese,  or  he 
heres,  or  he  felys  anely  godd*  in  all  creaturs.  One  bis  maner-wyse  [a] 3  saule  es 
made  gastely  in  be  sensualite  by  abowndance  of  charite  bat  es  in  be  substance 
of  the  saule.  Also  oure  lorde  cowforthes  a  saule  by  aungells  sange.  Bot  what  bat 
sange  es  it  may  noghte  [be]  dyscryuede  be  no  bodyly  lyknes,  for  it  es  gastely  and 
abown*  all  manere  of  ymagynacyone  and  mans  reson*.  It  may  be  p*rceyuede  and 
felide  in  a  saule,  bot  it  may  noghte  be  spoken*.  Neu*r-be-lattere  I  speke  pare-of 
1  al.  &.  2  al.  rccouer.  3  Ms.  in. 

12 


Treatises  of  Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55. 

be  as  me  thynke.  /  Qwen  a  saule  is  purified  be  lufe  of  god,  illumyned  be  wys- 
dome,  stabild  be  be  my^te  of  god,  ban  is  be  eyghe  of  be  saule  opynde  to  be- 
halde  gastly  thyngys,  as  vertuse  &  aungels  &  haly  saulys,  &  heuenly  thyngys. 
Pan  is  be  saule  habyl  be  cause  of  clennes  to  fele  be  towchynge,  be  spekynge 
of  gude  aungels.  Pis  towchynge  and  spekynge  is  gastly,  &  nou^t  bodyly:  ffor 
qwen  be  saule  is  lyfth  &  rauysched  out  of  be  sensualyte,  &  out  of  be  mynde  of 
any  erthely  thyngis,  ban  in  grete  feruoure  of  lufe  and  ly^th  of  god,  if  oure 
lorde  vouchesafe,  be  saule  may  here  &  fele  heuenly  sown,  made  be  be  presence 
of  aungels  in  louynge  of  god.  Nou^t  pat  bis  songe  of  aungels  es  be  souerayne 
loye  of  be  saule;  bot  for  be  difference  bat  es  atwyxe  a  mans  saule  in  flesche 
&  an  aiwgell  be-cause  of  vnclennes,  a  saule  may  nou^t  here  it  bot  be  rauyschynge 
in  lufe,  [&]1  nedyth  for  to  be  purified  wele  clene,  and  fulfilled  of  mykyl  charite,  or 
it  were  abil  for  to  here  heuenly  sown.  For  be  sou^eyn  &  be  essencial  loye  es  in 
[be]  lufe  of  god  be  hym-selfe  &  for  hym-selfe,  and  [be]  secundarie  es  in  communynge 
&  behaldynge  of  aungels  &  gastily  creaturis.  For  ry^t  as  a  saule  in  vndyrstandynge 
of  gastly  thyngis  is  oftesythes  towchyd  &  kenned  thorow  bodili  ymaginacion  ...  be 
sothefastenes  of  goddis  pr/uetys ,  ry^t  swa  in  be  lufe  of  god  a  saule  be  presence 
of  aungels  is  rauyschyd  out  of  mynde  of  alle  erthely  &  fleschely  thynges  in  to 
an  heuenly  loye,  to  here  aungelis  songe  and  heuenly  sowne,  eftyr  be  charite  is 
more  or  lesse.  Now  ban  thynke  me  bat  per  may  na  saule  fele  verraly  aungels 
sange  ne  heuenly  sowne,  bot  he  be  in  p^rfyte  charite.  And  nou^t-forthy,  alle 
i  Ms.  frat. 

to  be  als  me  thynke.  /  When  a  saule  es  puryfyede  by  be  lufe  of  godde,  Illumynede 
by  wysedom^,  stabled  by  myghte  of  godd?,  than  es  be  eghe  of  be  saule  opyned 
to  be-halde  gastely  thynges,  as  vertus,  aungelis  and  haly  saules,  and  heuenly 
thynges.  Thane  es  be  saule  abill  by  cause  of  clennes  to  fele  be  touch eynge,  be 
spekynge  of  gude  aungelis.  This  touchyng  and  spekynge  es  gastely,  noghte  bodyly  : 
ffor  whentf  be  saule  es  lyftede  and  raysede  owte  of  the  sensualyte,  and  owte  of 
mynde  of  any  erthely  thynges,  than*?  in  gret  feruoure  of  lufe  and  lyghte  of  godd, 
if  oure  lorde  vouche-safe,  be  saule  may  here  &  fele  heuenly  sownm,  made  by 
be  presence  of  aungelis  in  louynge  of  godd^.  Noghte  bat  bis  sange  of  aungelis  es 
sou^ayne  ioy  of  be  saule,  bot  [for  be]  *  defference  bat  es  by-twyxe  a  manes  saule 
in  flesche  and  ane  aungelle  be-cause  of  vnclennes,  a  saule  may  noghte  here  it  bot 
by  rauyschynge  in  lufe,  and  nedis  for  to  be  puryfiede  full  clene,  and  fulfillide 
of  mekyll  charyte,  are  it  ware  abyll  for  to  here  heuenly  sownn^.  For  be  sou^ayne 
and  be  Escencyalle  ioy  es  in  be  lufe  of  godd^  by  hym^-selfe  and  for  hyme-selfe, 
and  be  secundarye  es  in  comonynge  and  byhaldynge  of  aungelis  and  gastely  crea 
tors.  For  ryghte  as  a  saule  in  vndirstandynge  of  gastely  thynges  es  ofte-sythes 
touched  and  kennede  thurghe  bodyly  ymagynacyone,  by  wyrkynge  of  aungelis — as 
E^echielle  be  pr^fete  sawe  in  bodily  ymagynacyou^e  be  sothefastnes  of  goddes 
preuates — righte  so,  in  pe  lufe  of  godd*,  a  saule  be  be  presence  of  aungelles  es 
raueschede  owte  of  all  mynde  of  erthely  and  fleschely  thynges  in  to  a  heuenly 
ioye  to  here  aungelis  sannge  and  heuenly  sownne  eftir  pat  be  charite  es  mare  or 
lesse.  Nowe  than<?,  thynke  me,  bat  b^r  may  no  saule  fele  verreyly  aungelis  sange 
ne  heuenly  sowne  bot  it  be  in  perfiie  charite.  And  noghte  for-thi  all  pat  are  in 
i  Ms.  a. 


(W.  Hilton:)  Of  Angels'  Song.  I79 

bat  be  in  porfyte  charite  ne  has  nou;t  felid  it,  hot  anly  pat  sanle  J)at  is  sa  pu 
rified  in  be  fyre  of  lufe,  f)at  alle  erthely  sauoure  is  brent  out  of  it,  &  all  mene 
lettynge  atwyxe  be  saule  &  be  clennes  of  aungels  is  broken  &  putte  away  fra  it. 
fcan  sothely  may  he  synge  a  new  songe,  and  sothely  may  he  here  a  blyssefull 
heuenly  sowne  &  aungels  sange  w/t/^-outyn  deseyte  or  feynynge.  Oure  lorde  wat 
qware  bat  saule  is  bat  for  habundance  of  brennande  lufe  is  wurthy  to  here  aungels 
sange.  Qwa  swa  ban  wylle  here  aungels  sange,  &  nou^t  be  deseuyd  be  feynynge 
ne  ymagynacion  of  hym-selfe,  ne  be  illusyon  of  be  ennemy,  hym  behoues  for 
to  haue  parfite  charite,  &  pat  is  qwen  alle  vayn  lufe  &  drede,  vayne  loye  & 
sorowe  is  castyn  out  of  be  hert,  bat  he  lufes  na  thynge  ...  bot  in  god  or  for  god. 
Qwa  swa  myj;t  be  grace  of  god  go  bis  way,  he  sulde  nousjt  errc.  Neuyr-pe-latto' 
some  men  ere  desayued  be  payr  awen  ymagynacion,  or  be  illusyon  of  {)e  ennemy 
in  bis  mater.  Some  man  qwen  he  has  lange  travalid  bodili  &  gastily  in  distroynge 
of  synnes  and  getyng  of  vertus,  &  p*rauenrur  has  gcten  be  grace  [a]  somdele  reste 
&  a  clerete  in  conscience,  anow  he  leues  prayers,  redynges  of  haly  wrytte,  & 
meditacions  of  be  passyon  of  Criste,  &  be  mynde  of  hys  wrecchednes,  and  or  he 
be  called  of  god,  he  gedyrs  hys  wyttes  be  vyolence  to  seke  &  to  behald  heuenly 
thynges  or  hys  eyghe  be  made  gastly  be  grace,  and  on«travailis  be  ymagyna- 
cion[s]  hys  wyttes,  and  be  vndiscrete  travelynge  turnes  {)e  braynes  in  hys  heued 
&  forbrekes  be  my/^tes  &  be  wittes  of  be  saule  &  of  be  body :  &  ban  for  febelnes 
of  be  brayn  hym  thynke  bat  he  heris  wondyrfull  sownes  &  sanges  ;  and  fiat  is 

perfite  charyte  ne  base  noghte  felyde  it,  bot  anely  pat  saule  {>at  es  [so]  purede  in  pe 
fyre  of  lufe  of  godd*,  bat  all  erthely  sauoure  es  brynte  owte  of  it,  and  all  be  menes 
lettande  1  be-twyx  be  saule  and  be  clennes  of  angells  es  broken*  and  put  awaye 
fra  it.  Pan  sothely  may  he  synge  a  newe  sange  and  sothely  may  he  here  a  blysmll 
heuenly  sown*  and  aungells  sange  w/t>$-owtten*  dessayte  or  feynynge.  Our*  lorde 
wate  whare  bat  saule  es  bat  for  abowndance  of  brynnande  lufe  es  worthi  to  here 
aungells  sange.  Wha-so  ban  will  here  aungells  sange,  and  noghte  be  dyssayuede 
by  feynynge  ne  by  ymagynacyone  of  hym-selfe,  ne  by  illusyone  of  be  Enemy,  hym 
behoues  hafe  p*rfite  charite,  and  pat  es  when  all  vayne  lufe  and  drede,  vayne  ioy 
and  sorowe,  es  casten*  owte  of  pe  herte,  bat  he  lufes  na  thynge  bot  godd*,  ne 
dredis  na  thynge  bot  godd*,  ne  ioyes  ne  sorowes  na  thynge  bot  in  godd*,  or  of 
Whoso  myghte  by  be  grace  of  godd*  go  bis  way,  he  sulde  noghte  erre. 
Nemr-be  lattere  som*  men*  ere  disceyued  by  baire  awenn*  ymagynacyone,  or  by 
illucyon*  of  pe  Enemy  in  pis  matere.  Some  man*  when*  he  hase  lange  trauelde 
bodyly  and  gastely  in  dystroynge  of  synnes  and  getynge  of  vertus,  and  p*rauentwre 
hase  getyng  by  grace  a  somdele  ryste  and  a  clerete  in  cowcyence,  onone  he  leues 
prayers,  redyngs  of  haly  writte,  and  medytacions  of  be  passione  of  Cryste,  and  pe 
mynde  of  his  wrechidnes,  and,  are  he  be  callede  of  godd*,  he  gedyrs  his  wittys 
by  violence  to  seke  and  to  be-halde  heuenly  thynges,  are  his  eghe  be  made 
gastely  by  grace,  and  ou*rtrouells  by  ymagynaciouws  his  wittes,  and  by  vndiscrete 
trauellynge  turnes  be  braynes  in  his  heuede,  and  forbrekes  be  myghtes  and  be 
wittes  of  be  saule  and  of  be  body;  and  ban*,  for  febilnes  of  be  brayne,  hym 
thynkes  bat  he  heres  woundirfull  sownes  and>anges:  and  bat  es  no  thynge  ells  bot 
1  al.  all  mene  lettynge. 


12' 


180  Treatises  of  Ms.   Cambr.  Dd  V.  55. 

na  thynge  ellis  hot  a  fantasye  caused  of  trobelynge  of  pe  brayn  —  as  a  man 
pat  is  in  a  fransy,  hym  thynke  bat  he  heris  &  sees  bat  nan  opir  man  does,  and 
al  is  bot  vanite  &  fantasy  of  be  heued.  Or  ellis  it  is  be  wyrkynge  of  be  ennemy 
bat  feynes  swylke  sownes  in  hys  heringe.  For  if  a  man  haue  any  presumption, 
jn  hiis  fantasiis  &  in  his  wyrkynges,  &  perby  fallis  in  to  indiscrete  ymagynacion, 
as  it  were  in  a  frenesy,  &  is  nou^t  kenned  ne  reuled  of  g[r]ace  ne  confortid  be 
gastly  strenghe,  be  deuel  enters  in  be  fals  illumynacions  &  fals  sownes  &  swetenes 
[&]  deceyues  a  maws  soule.  An[d]  of  bis  fals  grounde  sprynges  errours  &  heresyes, 
fals  prophecies ,  presumcions  &  fals  r[o]seynges l,  blasphemes  &  sclaunderyngs ,  & 
many  obir  myschefes.  And  barefor  if  pou  see  any  man  gastly  occupyed  falle  in 
any  of  pis  synnys  &  bese  deseytes,  or  in  frenesis,  wyte  pou  wele  bat  he  neuyr 
herde  ne  felid  aungels  songes  ne  heuenly  sonne:  for  sothely  he  bat  veraly  heris 
aungels  sange,  h[e]  ys2  made  soe  wyse  bat  he  sal  neuyr  erre  be  fantasye  ne  be  in 
discretion,  ne  be  no  sleythe  of  be  wyrkynge  of  be  deuel.  /  Also  some  men  felis 
in  bayr  hertis,  as  it  ware  a  gastly  sowwe  £  swete  sangys ,  in  diu^rse  manors ,  & 
pis  is  comenly  gude,  &  sometyme  it  may  turne  to  disceyte.  fis  soune  is  felid 
on  bis  wyse :  Some  man  settis  be  thou^the  of  hys  hert  haly  in  be  name  of  Ihmt 
£  stedfastly  haldys  it  berto,  and  ba[n]3  in  schorte  tyme  hym  thynke[s]  bat  name 
turnys  til  hym  to  grete  profete,  conforte  &  swetenes ,  and  hym  thynke  pe  name 
sounes  in  hys  herte  delytably  as  it  ware  a  sange ,  &  be  vertu  of  bis  lykynge  is 
swa  my^tty  bat  it  drawj1  in  alle  wyttes  of  be  saule  berto.  Qwo-so  may  fele 
pis  soune  &  bis  swettenes  veraly  in  hys  herte,  wete  he  wele  bat  it  is  of  god, 
1  Ms.  reseynges,  E.  reasonynges.  2  Ms.  hys.  3  Ms.  i>at. 


a  fantasie  caused  of  trubblyng  of  be  brayne,  as  a  mantf  bat  es  in  a'frensye  hym£ 
thynkes  bat  he  herys  or  sese  bat  na  nop<?r  man^  duse,  and  all  es  bot  vanyte  and 
fantasie  of  be  heued.  Or  elles  by  wyrkyng  of  be  enemy  bat  fenys  swylke  sownne 
in  h(is  her^ynge.  For  if  a  man£  hase  any  presumpcione  in  his  fantasies  and  in  his 
wirchynge,  and  pare-be  falles  in  to  vndiscrete  ymagynacyone,  as  it  ware  a  frensye, 
and  es  noghte  kennede  ne  rewlede  of  grace  ne  cowzforthede  by  gastely  strenghe, 
be  deuelle  entirs  ban  by  fals  illumynacyons  and  fals  sownnes  and  swetnes,  and 
dyssayues  a  mans  saule.  And  of  bis  false  grounde  sprynges  errours  and  herysyes, 
false  prophesyes,  presuwpcyons  and  false  rusyngs,  blasfemyes  and  sclandirynges,  and 
many  ofyer  myschefes.  And  bare-fore  if  pou  se  any  man^  gastely  ocupiede  ffalle 
in  any  of  pise  synnes  and  pise  dissaytes,  or  in  frensyes,  wit  p0u  wele  bat  he  herde 
never  ne  felide  aungells  sange  ne  heuenly  sowne.  For  sothely  he  bat  verreyly  heres 
aungels  sange,  he  es  made  so  wyse  pat  he  sail  newer  erre  by  fantasye  ne  by  in- 
discrecyon*?,  ne  by  no  sleghte  of  be  deuelle.  Also  som£  men  felis  in  theire  hertes 
as  it  ware  a  gastely  sowne  and  swete  sanges  of  dyuerse  maners  and  bis  es  com- 
wonly  gude,  and  somtyme  it  may  turne  tyll  dissayte.  tis  sowne  es  felide  one 
pis  wyse.  Some  man^  settis  be  thoghte  of  his  herte  anely  in  be  name  of  Ihmi 
and  stedefastly  haldis  it  bare-too,  and  in  schorte  tym^  hym  thynkes  that  bat  name 
tumes  hymtf  till  gret  comforthe  and  swetnes,  and  hym<?  thynkes  bat  be  name  sownnes 
in  his  herte  delitabely  as  it  were  a  sannge,  and  be  vertu  of  pz's  lykynge  es  so 
myghty  pat  it  drawes  in  all  pe  wittes  of  pe  saule  pare-to.  Who-so  may  fele  pis 
sownrce  and  pis  swetnes  wrrayly  in  his  herte,  \vite  he  wiele  pat  it  es  of  godd<?,  and 


(W.  Hilton:)  Of  Angels'  Song.  T8i 

and  as  longe  as  he  is  meke  he  sal  nou^t  be  disceyued.  Bot  bis  is  nouajt  aungels 
songe ,  hot  it  is  a  sange  of  be  saule  be  vertu  of  be  name,  &  be  towchynge  of 
be  glide  aungell.  For  qwen  a  saule  offers  hyr  to  Ihmi  trewly,  &  mekely  puttis 
alle  hyr  trayste  and  hyr  desyre  in  hym,  &  besyly  kepes  hym  in  hyre  mynde,  oure 
lorde  Ihmi,  qwen  he  wyll,  purges  be  aifeccion  of  be  saule,  &  fyllys  it  &  fedys 
it  wztA  swetenes  of  hym-selfe,  &  makes  hys  name  in  be  felynge  of  be  saule  as 
hony,  &  as  sange,  &  as  any  thynge  bat  is  delitabil:  bat  it  lykes  be  saule  euyrmore 
for  to  crye  Thesu,  Thesn ;  and  nou^t  only  he  has  confort  in  bis ,  bot  also  in 
psalmys  &  ympnes  &  antympnes  of  haly  kyrke,  bat  be  hert  synges  bem  swetly, 
deuotly  &  frely,  w/t^-outyn  any  travayle  of  be  saule  or  bitttmes,  in  be  same  toune * 
&  notes  bat  haly  kyrke  vses.  Pis  is  gude  &  of  be  gyfte  of  god ,  ffor  be  sub- 
staunce  of  bis  felynge  lys  in  be  lufe  of  Ihmi  qwilke  is  fed  &  ly^ttynd  be  swylke 
maner  of  sanges.  Neuyr-be-latter  in  bis  maner  felynge  a  saule  may  be  desceyved 
be  vayn-glorye,  nou^t  in  bat  tyme  bat  be  affeccion  synges  to  Them  &  loues  Ihmi 
in  swetenes  of  hym,  bot  eftynvarde,  qwen  it  sesses,  &  be  hert  kelys  of  lufe  of  Them, 
ban  entyris-in  vayn-glorye.  Also  some  m«n2  is  desceyued  on  bis  wyse  :  He  heris 
wel  say  bat  it  is  gude  till  haue  Ihmi  in  hys  mynde,  or  any  obir  gude  worde  of 
god  ,  ban  he  streynes  hys  herte  my^ttly  to  bat  name,  &  be  a  custome  he  has  it 
nerehande  alway  in  hys  mynde.  Nou^t-forthy  he  felis  nou^thyr  berby  in  hys 
affeccion  swetenes,  ne  ly^t  of  knowyng  in  hys  resone,  bot  only  a  nakyd  mynde 
of  god,  or  of  Ihmi,  or  of  Marie,  or  of  any  obir  gude  worde.  Here  may  be 
desceyte,  not  for  it  is  ille  for  to  haue  Them  in  mynde  on  bis  wyse ,  bot  if  he 
1=  tone.  2  Ms.  men. 

als  lange  als  he  es  meke  he  sail  noghte  be  dissayuede.  Bot  bis  es  noghte  au;/gels 
sange,  bot  it  es  a  sanwge  of  be  saule  be  vertn  of  be  name,  and  by  touchynge  of 
be  gude  aungelle.  For  when  a  saule  offirs  it  to  Them  trewly  &  mekely,  puttande  all 
his  traiste  and  his  desyre  in  hym,  and  besily  kepis  [hym]  in  his  mynde,  oure  lorde 
Ihmi,  whene  he  will,  puris  be  affecciouwe  of  be  saule,  &  fillis  it  &  fedis  it  wz't/z 
swetnes  of  hym-selfe,  and  makes  his  name  in  be  felynge  of  be  saule  as  hony, 
and  as  sange,  and  as  any  thynge  bat  es  delitabill :  so  bat  it  lykes  be  saule  ener- 
mare  for  to  cry  Ihmi  Ibmi ;  and  noghte  anely  he  hase  cowforthe  in  this,  bot  also 
in  spalmes  and  ympnes  and  antyms  of  haly  kyrke,  pat  be  herte  synges  barm?  swetely, 
deuotly  and  frely,  wr'tA-owtten^  any  tnzuelle  of  be  saule,  or  bittmies,  in  be  same 
tyme1  and  note^  bat  haly  kyrke  vses.  This  es  gude2  and  of  be  gyfte  of  godd^, 
ffor  be  swbstance  of  bis  felynge  lyes  in  be  lufe  of  Ihmi  whilke  es  fedde  and 
lyghtenede  by  swilke  man^r  of  sanges.  Neu^r-be-lattere  in  bis-man^  felynge  a 
saule  may  be  disceyuede  by  vayne  glorye,  noghte  in  bat  tyme  b#t  be  affeccion<? 
synges  to  Ihmi  and  loues  Ihmi  in  swetnes  of  hym,  bot  eftyrwarde,  whan  it  cesses, 
&  be  herte  kelis  of  loue  of  Them ,  thant'  entyrs  in  vayne  glorie.  Also  sum  man£ 
es  dessayuede  on  pis  wyese:  He  heris  wele  say  bat  it  es  gude  to  haue  Ihmi  in 
his  mynde,  or  any  ofyer  gude  worde  of  godd<?,  and  ban<?  he  streynes  his  herte  myghtyly 
to  J)at  name  and  by  a  costonv  he  hase  it  nerehande  alway  in  his  mynde.  Noghte 
ffor-thi  he  felis  noub^r  bare-by  in  his  affeccyouwe  swetnes,  ne  lighte  of  knawynge 
in  his  resound,  bot  anely  a  nakede  mynde  of  godde,  or  of  Ihmi,  or  of  Mary,  or  of  any 
ofyer  gude  worde.  Here  may  be  disceyte,  noghte  for  it  es  ill  to  hafe  Ihmi  in  mynde 
1  a/,  tone.  2  Ms.  fee  gude. 


182  Treatises  of  Ms.  Cambr.  Dd  V.  55. 

pis i  felynge  &  pis  mynde,  pat  is  anly  hys  awen  wyrkynge  be  custome,  halde  it  a 
special  vysitacion  of  oure  lorde  &  thynke  it  mare  pan  it  is.  For  wyte  pou  wele 
p#t  a  nakyd  mynde  or  a  nakyd  ymagynacion  of  Ihmi  or  of  any  gastly  thynge, 
wztft-outyn  SAvetenes  of  lufe  in  affeccyon,  or  wztA-outyw  ly^te  of  knowynge  in 
resone,  it  is  bot  a  blyndenes,  &  a  way  to  disceyte,  if  a  maw  halde  it  in  hys  awen 
sy^te  mare  pan  it  is.  $  erf or  I  halde  it  sekyr  pat  he  be  meke  in  his  awen  fe 
lynge,  and  halde  pis  mynde  in  regarde  nou^t  til  he  may  be  custome  &  vsynge 
of  pis  mynde  fele  pe  fyre  of  lufe  in  hys  affeccion,  &  pe  ly;t  of  knawynge  in 
hys  resone.  Loe,  I  haue  tolde  be  in  bis  mater  a  lytyl  as  me  thynke;  nou^t 
affermande  bat  pis  suffys,  ne  pat  pis  is  be  sothefastnes  in  bis  mater.  Bot  if  be 
thynke  it  opir-wyse,  or  ellys  any  othyr  man  sauowr  be  grace  be  contrarye  here-to, 
I  leue  bis  saynge  and  gyfe  stede  to  hym;  it  suffys  to  me  forto  lyfe  in  trouthe 
prmcipaly,  &  nou^t  in  felynge.  AMEN. 
3  Ms.  be  IHS. 

5.     (Of  deadly  and  venial  sin.) 

UEre  brothyr,  bow  walde  gladly  wyte  qwilke  is  venial  synne,  and  qwilke  dedly 
synne,  for  be  thynke  qwen  a  man  can  knawe  pe  tane  fra  be  topir,  he  may  be 
be  more  war  for  to  flee  bam.  Bot  be  haly  doctoure  Seynt  Austyn  says:  »it  is 
na  venial  synne  bat  itnei  may  be  dedely  syn  qwen  it  lykyth  the2;  ne  dedly 
synne,  pan 3  it  may  be  venial  qwen  it  myslykedew.*  Seynt  Thomas  Alqwyne  sayde 
»pat  if  a  man  be  tempyd  neuyr  so  harde ;  if  be  wylle  assent  nou^t,  be  it  neuyr 
swa  foule  a  sterynge  it  is  na  synne,  or  ellis  bot  venial  synne.  If  be  wylle  haue 
any  lykynge  in  be  foule  sterywge,  be  it  neuyr  swa  lytil,  pan  it  is  a  party  venyal 
synne.  If  pe  wyll  assent  vrit/i  avysment  &  walde  doe  pat  wylful  sterynge  in  dede 
agayn  gude  conscience  £  agayns  pe  reson,  pan  is  pat  steryng  dedly  synne,  alle-if 
it  be  nou^t  fulfylled  in  dede— qwilke  dedly  synne  may  dampne  a  soule  til  endeles 
payn,  bot  if  contricion,  confession,  &  satisfaccyon  wasche  it,  &  amendys  makynge 
be  sufficiande  penaunce«.  Seynt  Gregor  sayde  be  hym-selfe:  »I  may  nou^t  bot  I 
fele  vnleful  steryngys  of  flesche :  bot  me  thare  nou^t,  he  sayed,  assent  bot  I 
wylle.  If  I  fele  it,  he  sayd,  &  assent  not  perto,  it  does  me  na  dere,  bot  it 
lessens  my  penaunce  in  be  payne  of  purgatorye,  &  incresys  my  meryt  in  be 

on*  bis  wyse,  bot  if  he  this  [felynge]  and  this  mynde,  bat  es  anely  his  awen*  wyrkynge 
by  customs,  halde  it  a  specyalle  vesytacyon*  of  our*  lorde  and  thynke  it  mare  pan* 
it  es.  For  wite  p<ni  wele  pat  a  nakede  mynde  or  a  nakede  ymagy[na]cion*  of  IhesM 
or  of  any  gastely  thynge,  wzt/fc-owtten*  swetnes  of  lufe  in  pe  affeccion*,  or  wz't/fc- 
owtten*  lyghte  of  knawynge  in  resound,  es  bot  a  blyndnes,  and  a  waye  to  dessayte, 
if  a  man*  halde  it  in  his  awen*  [syght]  mare  pan*  it  es.  Thare-fore  I  halde  it  sekyre 
pat  he  be  meke  in  his  awen*  felynge,  and  halde  bis  mynde  in  regarde  noghte  till 
he  mowe  be  custom*  and  vsynge  of  pis  mynde  fele  pe  fyre  of  lufe  in  his  affeccion* 
and  pe  lyghte  of  knawynge  in  his  reson*.  Loo,  I  haue  tolde  pe  in  pis  rosier  a 
lyttill  as  me  thynke ;  noghte  affermande  pat  pis  suffisches,  ne  pat  pis  es  pe  sothe 
fastnes  in  pis  mat*r.  Bot  if  pe  thynke  it  op^-wyse,  or  elles  any  ob*r  man*  sauoz/^ 
by  grace  pe  contrarye  here-to,  I  leue  pe  saying  and  gyf*  stede  to  hym.  It  suf- 
ficith  to  me  for  to  lyffe  in  trouthe  pnncipally  and  noghte  in  felyng*. 
1  Ms.  ityne.  2  Ms.  then.  3  —  }iatne.  *  r.  myslykes. 


Of  deadly  and  venial  sin.  183 

blysse  of  heuen«.  Als  ofte  as  any  creatoure  is  tempyd  &  na-wyse  in  conscience 
wille  assent,  no  [is]  in  wil  to  haue  lykynge  in  synne :  as  ofte  pay  wynne  pam  divide 
degrece  in  heuen  amange  pe  orders  of  aungells.  Qwo  so  walde  nou^t  be  tempid, 
pat  opon  pis  wyse  for  \>er  agaynstandynge  sulde  be  wele  rewardid  of  god?  Thomas 
Alqwyne  sayde :  "For  to  assent  sodanly  is  venial  synne :  bot  for  to  couete  or  assent 
be  avysment,  pat  is  dedly  synne«.  Als  Thomas  seyde:  »Consentynge  to  be  dede 
of  lychery  is  nou^t  anly  dampnable  dedly  synne;  bot  also  consentynge  p<zt  has 
luste  &  lykynge  in  herte  only  \\itfi  lusty  wylle,  pat  is  dedly  synne «.  Pat  pis  is 
sothe,  it  may  be  seen  be  goddis  worde  in  be  gospel,  per  he  sayd  pus:  »If  a 
man  see  a  woman  for  to  couete  hyr  nowe,  he  hathe  don  lychery«.  Behalde  how 
he  sayd  »for  to  couete«,  for  if  he  sawe  &  couete  nou^t,  it  ware  na  synne,  or 
ellis  bot  lytyl  synne,  or  ellys  venial  synne.  Bot  behalde  howe  he  sayde  »for  to 
couete  hyr« :  ffor  qwen  a  creature  sees  anothyr,  qwethyr  so  couetys  othyr  in 
thou^tte  &  walde  assent  in  synne ;  alle-if  bat  wryched  delite  be  nou^[t]  in  dede,  it 
is  dedely  synne.  Alswa  it  is  sayde  &  wretyn:  »It  is  not  lefull  to  behalde  pat 
thynge  qwylke  is  nou^t  leful  to  be  couete«.  Thomas  sayde:  »Qwen  a  mans  herte 
is  feruentyly  sette  opon  god,  alle  thynges  dispflejses1  hym  pan  pat  my^te  drawe 
hym  fra  god«.  Alswa  he  sayde  a  ful  gode  worde  £  a  ful  gracious:  »Lette  pi 
wylle  assente  to  na  sywne,  be  it  neuyr  sa  lytyl:  for  if  f)0u  falle  wylfully  in  til  a 
lytill  synne,  pou  sal,  nyl  pou  wylle  pou,  falle  in  till  a  grettm<.  He  sayde  alswa 
bat  »feruente  charite  distroyed  venial  syn,  &  pe  sterynge  of  charite  may  be  so 
fentente  in  god,  bat  it  may  waste  &  wasche  away  alle  venial  synne«.  Bot  pay 
pat  has  nou^t  |)is  charite,  pay  dare  maste  baldly  falle  in  venyal  synne.  Bot  bai 
bat  has  pis  charite,  pay  dare  nou^t  doe  for  pe  drede  of  god  agayn  gode  con 
science.  For,  Thomas  sayde,  qwat  thynge  so  is  doen  agayn  conscience,  it  edifies 
to  pe  pyne  of  helle,  qwethyr  so  pe  conscyens  be  trewe  or  fals,  as  [nis.  If  a 
man  thynke  bat  he  walde  doe  a  c^rteyn  penaunce  for  {)e  lufe  of  god:  if  he  doe 
bat  penaunce  ageyn  his  conscience,  he  trispas ;  of2  hys  conscience  saye  he  my^t 
doe  penaunce,  if  he  walde,  for  pe  lufe  of  god:  if  he  wil  nou^t ,  he  does  agayn 
conscyence,  &  he  does  synne.  Qwethyr  so  pe  penaunce  doeynge  wer  hyndrynge 
or  fortherynge  to  hym ;  if  he  did  agayn  conscience,  he  synnethe.  Bot  pis  synne 
may  sone  be  forgyfen  of  god,  qwo  so  cries  herthely  aftyr  goddis  mercy. 

(Follows  poem:    fay  pat  with-outen  lawe  dos  synne,  and  Quotations  from  Bona- 
venture  and  R.  Rolle,  cf.  p.   125.) 

i  Ms.  dispyses.         2  r.  if. 


Ms,  Thornton,  Line,  Cath.  Lifer.  A,  1.  17. 


Ms.  Thornton2,  small  fol.,  314  leaves,  but  deficient  in  the  beginning  and  end, 
was  written  c.  1430—40  by  Robert  Thornton,  in  the  same  part  where  R.  Rolle 
lived,  and,  therefore,  fairly  represents  the  original  dialect  of  our  author.  It 
contains,  after  a  prose  life  of  Alexander  the  Great  and  a  set  of  Romances  &c. 
in  verse,  the  following  pieces : 

fol.  176    -2  charms  for  the  tooth-ache,  one  in  Engl.  verse,  one  in  Latin  prose,  (ed.  in  Rel. 

Ant.). 
Epistola  sancti  Saluatoris :  Hec  est  Epistola  s.  Saluatoris  quam  Leo  papa  trans- 

misit  Karolo  Regi  dicens  quod  quicunque  earn  secum  portauerit,  in  die  qua 

earn   viderit   vel   legerit,  ferro  non  occidetur  nee  comburetur  nee  aqua  sub- 

mergetur  nee  malus  homo  nee  diabolus  nee   aliqua   alia   creatura   ei   nocere 

poterit  illo  die  (no  more  is  given). 
Crux  Christi  (que)  es  arma  invincibilis  &c. 
f.  177    A  Latin  Prayer:    Domine   deus  omnipotens  Pater   et  Filius   et  Spiritus   sanctus: 

Da  michi  N.  Roberto   famulo   tuo  &c.,   with   an  Introduction  in  English  (He 

btft  devotely  sayse  pz's  Orysone  dayly,  sail  hafe  &c.). 
A  Preyere  off  the  fyve  loyes    of  owre  lady  in  Inglys  ,    and  of  the  fyve  sorowes. 

(Lady,  for  thy  loyes  fyve,  wysse  me  the  waye  of  Righrwys  lyffe,  amen.    Now 

mekest  and  ioyfulleste  lady  saynt  Marye,  for  p_e  loye  p«?u  hadde  when  &c.). 
Psalmus  Voce  mea   ad    dominum   clamaui.     Say  pis  psalme  Voce  mea  &c.  with 

this  Collett  folowande   hat  es   full  Merytorye :   Domine  Ihesu  Christe,  Quin- 

que  wlnera  &c.  (short). 
Here  Bygynnys  fyve  prayers  to  the  wirchipe   of  the  fyve  wondys  of  oure  lorde 

Ihesu  Cryste:  Adoro  te  Crucem  in  honore  Crucis  in  qua  pependit  &c.  (in  Latin). 
Oracio  in  Inglys :  Now  Ih^-ru  goddis  sowne  giffere  of  alle  vertus  (short). 
A  Colett  to  owre  lady  saynt  Marye :  Sancta  Maria  Regina  celorum  Mater  Christi 

Domina  mundi  &c.,  with  2  other  short  oraciones. 
Oracio  in  modo  Collecte  pro  amico. 
Antiphona    s.    Leonardi   cum   collecta:    O    virtutum    domine;   and  prayer  to   S. 

Eustachius  (short). 
f.  178—189     Here  begynnes  the  Previte  off  the  Passiou«e  of  owre  lorde  Ihesu.     Col.:  Explicit 

Bonauenture  de  mysteriis  Passionis  Ihesu  Christi ;  ed.  below. 
f.  189    Incipit   tractatus   Willelmi   Nassyngton    quondam    aduocati     curie    Eboraci,    de 

Trinitate    et  Vnitate ,  cum  declaracione   operum   dei,    et  de  passione  domini 

nostri  Ihesu  Christi;  a  poem  in  Engl.,  ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces. 
f.  191^     (4  poems  in  Engl.,  by  R.  Rolle):  Lorde  Ih«u  Cryste  god  almyghty. 

Almyghty  god  in  trznite. 
Lorde  god  alweldande. 
Ihesu  that  diede  on  the  rode, 
f.  192  ff.     (Prose-pieces  bearing  name  of  R.  Rolle)  3; 

Of  the  vertuz  of  the  haly  name   of  Ihesu :    Ricardus   herimita   super  Versiculo, 

Oleum  effusum  nomen  tuum.  (Engl.). 
A  tale  that  Rycherde  hermet  [made]  (Engl.). 
A  prayere  pat  be  same  Richerd  hermet  made:  Deus  noster  refugium  (in  Latin); 

followed    by   Ympnus   quern   composuit    S.   Ambrosius   &   est   valde   bonus : 

Ihesu  nostra  redempcio. 

De  imperfecta  contricione:  Rycharde  hermyte  reherces  &c.  (2  tales  in  Engl.). 
Moralia  Ricardi  heremite  de  natura  apis  (in  Engl.). 
De  vita  cuiusdam  puelle  incluse  proptter  amorem  Christi :  Alswa  Heraclides  &c. ; 

in  Engl.  (this  piece  is  om.  in  Perry). 

2  Latin  bits  by  R.  Rolle :  Meliora  sunt  vbera  tua  vino  &c. 
O  quam  delectabile  gaudium  &c. 
A  notable  tretys  off  the  ten  comandementys  drawem?  by  Richerde   the  hermyte 

of  Hampole.  (Engl.). 
Item  idem  de  septem  donis  spiritus  sancti :   Also  of  the  gyftes  of  the  haly  gaste 

(Engl.). 
Item  idem  de  dilectacione  in  deo :  Also  of  be  same,  delyte  and  zernyng  of  gode 

(Engl.). 
f.  197—209     Incipit  Speculum  sancti  Edmundi  Cantuar.  Archiep.  in  Anglicis:  Here  begynnys 

The  Myrrowr  of  seynt  Edmonde  be  Ersebechop?  of  Canterberye ;  Engl.  (ed. 

Perry  Rel.   pieces.     Another  Ms.    of  the  same,   though   widely  differing,  is 

Ms.  Vernon ;  both  are  ed.  below). 


1  I  have  to  thank  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Lincoln  Cathedral,  and  especially  Canon  Venables, 
for  the  loan  of  the  Ms.  2  Cf.  Madden  Sir  Gawayne;  Halliwell  Thornton  Romances,  Camden 
Soc.  1844.  3  None  of  these  pieces  appears  to  be  written  in  rhythmical  prose. 


i85 

f.  209     Tractatus  de  dominica  oracione.     Pater  noster  qui  es  in  celis :  In  all  the  wordes 

bat  er  stabilled  and  sett  &c.  (Engl.);  ed.  below, 
f.  211     2  poems  in  Engl.:  Ihesu  Criste  saynte  Marye  sowne ,   Thurgh  whaym*?  \>'\s  werlde 

was  worthily  wroghte,  &c.  (ed.  Perry  Rel.  Pieces). 
Fadir   and   son*    and    haly   gaste ,    Lorde   to   J>e   I  make   my 

mone,  &c.  (ed.  Perry), 
and  an  Orison  to  Christ:  Ihesu  Criste  goddes  sune  of  heuene, 

kyng  of  kynges  and  lord  of  lordes  &c. 

f.  ai2  Incipit  a  Meditacione  of  be  fyve  woundes  of  oure  lorde  Ihesu  Criste  wz'tA  a 
prvzyere  in  be  same: 

Adoro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redimisti  me  (Latin  poem,  by  R.  Rolle?). 
A  medytacion?  of  the  Crosse  of  Criste,  v/tl/t  a  prayere: 

O  crux  frutex  saluificus  viuo  fonte  rigatus  (Latin  poem,  by  Bonaventura). 
f.  2i2*>    Poem  in  Engl. :  When  Adam  dalfe  and  Eue  spane  &c.  (ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces), 

followed  by  6  lines  in  verse  :  Ihesu  criste  haue  mercy  on  me  &c. 

f.  213—219  Here  begynnes  a  Sermon?  bat  Dan^  lohfi  Gaytryge  made,  be  whilke  teches  how 
scrifte  es  to  be  made  and  whareof,  and  in  scrifte  how  many  thyngez  solde 
be  cowsederide  (a  transl.  of  Thoresby' Cathechism ;  other  Mss.  Ar.  507,  Harl. 
1022,  Cambr.,  York)  ed.  Perry  Rel.  Pieces. 

f.  210     Hymn  in  Engl. :  Ihmi  thi  swetnes  wha  moghte  it  se  (ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces), 
f.  2190     Epistle  in  Engl.  on  Angels  Song:  Dere  ffrende  wit  bou  wele  pat  be  ende  and  be 
sou^faynte  of  p^rfeccione  standes  in  a  verray  anehede  to  godd  &c.  (ascribed 
to  Walter  Hylton  by   Pepwell    ed.  1521  and  Tanner ,   but   ed.  by  Perry  with 
R.  Rolle). 
f.  222    Poem   in   Engl.  (by  R.  Rolle):    Pi    ioy  be   ilka  dele   to   serue   thi   godd   to   pay; 

end  wanting;  (same  poem  in  Dd  V.  64). 

f.  223    (Walter  Hylton1  s)  Epistle  to  a  lord  on  mixed  life;  beginning  wanting;  ed.  Perry 
Prose   tr.   of  R.   R.    (the   same    tract   is    extant   in    many   Mss. ,    with    some 
variations), 
f.  229    Epistle  in  Engl. :  Wit  thou  wele  dere  frende  bat  bof  l>ou   had   neuer  done   syne 

witr*  thi  bodi  &c. 

f.  231     Poem  on  S.  lohn  the  Evangelist,  ed.  Altengl.  Leg.  Neue  Folge  p.  467. 
f.  233—6    (R.  Rolle's?)  Prose  treatise  on  Prayer:  Prayng  es  a  gracious  gyfte  of  oure  lorde 

&c. ;  imperfect  at  the  end,  as  a  leaf  is  torn  out ; 
f.  237     a  sequel:    on  6  things  in  Prayer,  beg.  wanting;    this   part  is   found   abridged    in 

Ms.  Ar.  507. 

f.  240  (R.  Rolle's)  Ue  Gracia  dei,  in  Engl.:  Off  goddes  grace  stirrand  and  helpand 
and  bat  na  thyng  may  be  done  wztA-owtten  grace.  (Same  text 
abr.  in  Ms.  Ar.  593.) 

f.  243       »  »  Three    thynges    are    nedefull  £c.,    a  rule   for   our   daily   work;    in 

complete  at  the  end.    (Same  treatise,  in    different   order,  in   Ms. 
Ar.  507.) 

f.  250  Hie  incipit  quedam  reuelacio:  A  Reuelacyone  schewed  to  ane  holy  woman<?  now 
one  late  ryme ;  in  Engl.  (This  revelation  took  place  in  1422  on  the  feast  of 
St.  Laurence;  a  woman  is  visited  by  one  Margeret  who  is  suffering  in 
purgatory). 

f.  258    Miserere  mei  deus,  &  Veni  creator  spiritus. 
f.  258^     Here  bygynnys  sayne  lerome  spaltyre,    in  Latin :    Beatus  vero   leronimus  in  hoc 

modo  disposuit  hoc  spaltenum  &c. 

f.  ,271  (R.  Rolle's?)  Religio  Sancti  Spiritus,  religio  munda:  Off  the  Abbaye  of  Saynte 
Spirite,  that  es  in  a  place  that  es  callede  conscience;  in  Engl.;  same  tract 
exists  in  other  Mss.  with  a  continuation:  The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  so  in  Ms.  Laud  210,  Vernon,  Harl.  1704  &c.;  ed.  by  W.  de 
Worde  1531;  and  by  Perry  Rel.  pieces;  in  Ms.  Lamb.  432  this  treatise  is 
ascribed  to  R.  Rolle). 
f.  276b  Poem  in  Engl.:  The  begynnyng  es  of  thre,  Full  mekill  berin  men  may  see  &c.; 

this  poem  is  from  R.  Rolle's  Prick  of  Conscience  v.  438—551- 

f.  277     Ista  oracio  que  sequitur  est  de  vn  gaudia  b.  Marie  virg.,   per  sanctum  Thomam 
et  Martirem  Cantuar.  archiep.  edita;  in  Lat. 
beg. :  Gaude  flore  virginali 

Honore  quoque  special!  &c.,  7  stanzas,  with  Oratio. 
Anob^r  Salutacioun^  till  oure  lady  of  hir  fyve  loyes,  in  Lat.: 
Gaude  virgo  mater  Christi 
Que  per  aurem  concepisti.  &c.  3  st. 
Ane  antyme  to  be  Fadir  of  heuene  w/tA  a  Colett,  in  Lat. :  Benediccio  &  claritas 

&  sapiencia  &c.  (short). 
Anoper  antynu?  of  be  passyoun*  of  Criste  Ih«u,  in  Lat. :  Tuam  crucem  adoramus 

domine  (short). 

A  Colecte  of  grete   p*rdon<?   yn-to  Crist  Ihesu,   in  Lat.:   Domine   Ihesu  Chnste 
Fili  dei  viui  qui  pendens  in  cruce  &c.  (short). 

SS  ltc±i  »««•  venerate.,  a  La.in  Hy»n(by  R.  RoUe?). 
A  Preyere  to  be  wounde  in  Crystis  syde:  Salue  plaga  lateris  nostri  redemptons 

&c.,  a  Latin  Hymn,  with  Oratio  (by  R.  Rolle?). 

f.  279    Engl.  poem:  Erthe  owte  of  erthe  es  wondirly  wroghte  &c.,  ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces. 
f.  280 — 314     Hie  incipit  liber  de  diversis  medicinis  (commonly  called  Liber  pauperum)  in  Engl. 


i86 


Ms.  Thornton:  Works  bearing  name  of  R.  Rolle. 


Works  bearing  name  of  E.  Kolle, 


i. 


(Encomium  nominis  lesu.) 


The  English  text  exists  in  2  Ms.:  Ms.  Thornton  fol.  192,  and  Ms.  Harl.  1022. 
The  Latin  original  is  ed.  in  De  La  Bigne  Magna  Bibliotheca  Patrum,  Colon.  1622, 
torn.  XV,  p.  834  (ex  edit.  Colon.  1535).  Ms.  Harl.  gives  the  better  text.  The  English 
text  is  a  verbal  translation  of  the  Latin,  except  that  some  passages  are  omitted. 
Whether  R.  Rolle  is  himself  the  translator,  is  highly  doubtful. 


Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  62. 


(\J]leum  effustim  nomen  tuum:  fat 
es  on  Inglyssch:  »Oyle  oute-^ettyd  es 
pi  name«.  Pe  name  of  Ihesu  comes  in 
to  f)o  worlde  &  als  sone  it  smelles1 
oyle  out-^ettyd.  Oyle,  pat  es  taken  for 
ay-lastande  saluacz'on  is  hopyd.  Sothle 
Ihesu  es  als  mykel  to  be-mene  os  sa- 
uyowr  or  hel[e]ful.2  Patfor  qwat  menys 
it  »Oyle  out-^ettyd  es  pi  namec'  bot 
)>lh(?ju  es  pi  name?«  pis  name  es  oyle 
out-^ettyd,  for  Ihesu  pe3  worde  of  god 
has  takun  mans  kynde.  Ihesu,  pou  ful- 
fylles  in  warke  pat  at  pou  art  cald  in 
name :  sothly  man  sauys  pou  qwam  we 
call  saueow:  l*erfor  Ihesu  es  pi  name. 
/  A,  pat  wondwHFul  name ,  A,  pat  dely- 
tabul  name !  Pis  is  po  name  pat  es 
aboue  al  names,  name  alp^-heghest, 
wzt/z-outew  qwilk  na  man  hopes  hele. 
Pis  name  es  swete  &  loyful4,  gyfand 
sothfast  comforth  vnto  mans  heri.  Sothle 
po  name  of  Ihesu  es  in  my  mynde 
loyus  sang,  in  my  ner*  heuenly  sounde5, 
in  my  mouth  hunyful  swetnes.  Qwar- 
for  na  wonder  If  I  luf  pat  name  pe 
qwilk  gyfs  comforth  to  me  in  al  angwys. 
I  can  noght  pray,  I  can  noght  haue 
mynde6,  bot  sownand  po  name  of  Ih*m7; 
I  s&uour  noght  loy  pat  -with  Ihesu  es 
noght  mengyd.  Qwar-so  I  be,  qwar-so 
I  sit,  qwat-so  I  do,  po  mynd  of  po  name 
of  Ihesu  departes  noght  fra  my  mynde. 
I  haue  set  it  as  a  takenyng  opon  <my 

1  Lat.  adoratur(I).  2  Ms.  helpful.  3  orig. 
fco.  4  oyerl.  5  r.  soune.  6  Lat.  meditari. 
7  Lat.  nisi  consonante  lesu  nomine. 


Ms.  Thornton  fol.  IQ2.1 

Of  the  vertu^  of  the  haly  name  of  Ihesu. 

Ricardus  herimita  super  versiculo  Oleuw 

effusuw  nomen  tuum,  in  Cantic.  I.  3. 

JL  hat  es  on  Inglysce :  »Oyle  owt- 
^ettede  es  thi  name. «  The  name  of 
Ihesu  cowmys  in  to  the  worlde  and  als 
sone  it  smellys  Oyle  out-netted.  Oyle 
it  es  takyntf,  for  ay-lastande  saluacyone 
es  hopede.  Sothely  Ihesu  es  als  mekyll 
to  be-mene  als  »saueoure«  or  »helefulk. 
Thare-fore  what  menys  it  »Oyle  owt- 
^ettide  es  thy  nam«  Bot  »Ihesu  es  thy 
name«?  This  name  es  Oyle  owte-^ettyd, 
ffor  Ihesu  the  worde  of  god  has  tane 
manes  kynde.  Ihesu ,  thow  fulfillis  in 
warke  that  thow  es  called  in  name: 
Sothely  sauys  man,  pat2  wham  we  calle 
saueoure,  Thare-fore  Ihesu  es  thy  name. 
A,  A,  that  wondyrfull  name ,  A,  that 
delittabyll  name !  This  es  the  name 
pat  es  abowntf  all  names  name  althir- 
hegeste,  witK-owtten^  whilke  na  man 
hopes  hele.  This  name  es  . . .  in  myn^ 
ere  heuenly  sowne,  in  my  mouthe  hony- 
full  swetnes.  £Fhare-fore  na  wondire 
pofe  I  luf  pat  name,  the  whylke  gyffes 
comforthe  to  me  in  all  angwys.  I  can 
noghte  pray,  I  cane  noghte  hafe  mynde, 
Bot  sownnande  the  nam  of  Ih^u;  / 
sauyre  noghte  loye  that  wz't/&  Ihesu  es 
noghte  mengede.  ^Tiare-so  I  be, 
W'Tiare-so  I  sytt,  £Khat-so  I  doo,  the 
mynd  of  the  sauoyre3  of  the  name  Ihtf.ni 
departis  noghte  fra  my  mynde.  I  haf 
sett  my  mynde 4,  /  haf  sett  it  als  takyn- 
nynge  .  . .  appone  myn£  arme :  for  luf  es 

1  The  dash  on  11  has  not  been  reproduced. 
On  fol.  1928-  the  capitals  are  red.  2  r.  man 
sauys  bou.  3  of  the  s.  al.  om.  *  om.  I — mynde. 


Encomium  nominis  lesu. 


187 


Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  62. 
hen,  als  takenyng  apon  myn  arme:  ffor 
»luf  es  strange  as  dede«.  Als  dede  slos 
alle,  so  luf  outcomes  alle.  Ay-lastand 
luf  has  oumjomen  me,  noght  for  to  sla 
me ,  hot  for  to  qwykew  me :  hot  it 
has  wonded  me  for  it  suld  leche  me, 
It  has  thurgh-fitched  my  herte  bat 
merghlyer  it  be  heled ,  &  now  o\ier- 
commen  I  fayle.  Vnethes  I  lyfe  for  loy, 
nerehande  I  dye,  for  I  suffice  noght  in 
bis  febul  flesch  for  to  ben?  so  flowand 
swetnes  of  so  mykel  a  mageste.  \?er 
skrythes  in  to  my  mynde  delyciost 
swetnes,  &  ay  to  it  be  drounkywd  it 
falles1;  be  flesch  may  noght  of  his 
virtue  noght  defayle ,  ay-qwyles  bo 
saule  in  swylk  loyes  is  rauyssched  for2 
to  loy.  /  Bot  qwen  vnto  me  swilk  Toy 
bot  for  Ihesu  bo  name  of  Ihesu.  has 
taght  me  for  to  syng,  &  has  lyghtynd 
my  mynde  with  bo  hete  of  vnmade 
light.  IVrfor  I  sygh  &  crye  :  »Wa3  sal 
schew  vnto  be  lufed  Ih<wu  bflt  I 
languyssch  for  luf?«  My  flesch  has 
fayled  &  My  \ierie  has  meltyd4  in  luf, 
Demand  Ihmi.  Alle  bo  hert  festynde  in 
bo  ^ernyng  of  Ihmi  is  twmyd  in  to 
iyre  of  luf,  &  w/tA  bo  swetnes  of  bo 
godhede  fullyly  it  is  fylde.  Kvfor,  a 
gode  Iht'ju,  haue  nwcy  of  bis  wretch, 
schew  be  to5  bo  languysshand^,  be  lech* 
vnto  bis  wonded.  If  bou  come  I  ame 
hale :  I  fele  me  noght  seke  bot  lan- 
guysshande  for  bi  luf.  Late  my  saule 
tak  and  6,  sekand  Ihmi  qwam  7  it  lufs,  \vith 
qwas  luf  it  es  takun,  qwam  anele  it 
coueytis.  Sothle  be  mynd  touched 
vrith  be5  sou<rrayn  swetnes,  andes  for 
to  wax  hate  in  be  luf  of  bo  maker, 
I-qwiles  it  enforces  for  to  halde  bysile 
in  it  be  swettest  name  of  Ihmi.  Sothly 
ira  thethyn  ryses  a  grete  luf,  &  qwat 
thyng  bat  it  trewle  touches,  it  rauysches 
it  ottyrle  to  it.  It  inflawmes  be  affect/'on, 
&  byndes  f)o  thoght ,  ^a ,  &  alle  be 
i  Lat.  Illabitur  menti  mee  dulcedo  delicio- 
sissima :  &  dum  inebriat  illam,  cadit  caro  :  non 
potest  &c.  2  overl.  3  Ms.  swa.  *  corr.  from 
mekyd,  o.  m.  meltid.  *  overl.  «  Ms.  takand; 
lat.  Respirat  animus  meus  lesum  querens.  7  Ms. 
qwam  qwam. 


fol.  192. 

strange  als  dede.  Ah  ded  slaas  all, 
Swa  lufe  ou^r-comes  all.  yfy-lastande 
lufe  has  ou^r-comemyn^  me,  noghte  for 
to  sla  me,  but  for  to  qwykkyn  me :  Bot 
it  has  wondyde  me  ffor  it  sulde  leche 
me,  7t  has  thurghe-fychede  my  herte, 
bat  nvrghlyere  it  be  helyde.  And  now 
ouer-comene  I  fayle.  Fnnethes  I  lyfe 
for  loye,  nerehand  I  dye,  ^br  I  suffyce 
noghte  ...  in  delycyouseste  swettnes,  And 
ay  to  be  dronkenede  it  falles (!);  the 
flesche  may  noghte  of  his  vertu  noghte 
defaile,  ay-whils  be  saule  in  swylk 
loyes  is  rauyste  for  to  loye.  Hot 
when*?  vn-to  me  swylke  loye  bot  for 
Iht'ju  ?  the  nam£  of  Ihmi  has  taughte 
me  for  to  synge,  and  has  lyghtenede 
my  mynde  -with  the  hete  of  vn-made 
lyghte.  thare-fore  I  syghe  and  crye: 
»Wha  sail  schewe  to  be  lufede  Ihmi 
bat  I  langwys  for  lufe?«  My  flesche  has 
faylede  and  my  herte  meltes  in  lufe, 
^arenande  Ih^u.  All  be  herte  festenede 
in  be  ^ernynge  of  Ihwu  es  turned  in 
to  be  fyre  of  lufe,  &  \fiih  be  swettnes 
of  |)e  godhede  fullyly  es  it  fillide. 
Thare-fore ,  a  gude  Ihmi ,  hafe  mercy 
of  bis  wreche,  schewe  be  to  b/s  langues- 
sande,  be  f)0u  leche  vn-to  bis  wouw- 
dyde !  If  b0u  come  I  am  hale  :  I  fele 
me  noghte  seke  bot  langwyssande  for  bi 
lufe.  Late  my  saule  tak  ande  !,  sekande 
be,  Ihesu,  whaym  it  lufes,  \\iih  whas 
lufe  it  es  takyn^,  whaym  anely  it  co- 
uaytes.  Sothely  be  mynd  towchede 
vfii/i  be  soutraynge  swettnes  andes2  for 
to  waxe  hate  in  the  lufe  of  be  makare, 
I-whyls  it  enforthis3  for  to  halde  besyly 
in  it  the  swetteste  name  of  Ihmi. 
Sothely  fra  thythen^  Inryses  a  gret  lufe, 
and  what  thynge  bat  it  trewely  towches 
it  rauesche  it  vtterly  to  it.  It  inflawmes 
be  affeccyone,  it  byndis  be  thoghte, 
^a  &  all  be  [mane] 4  it  drawes  to  be  smies 
i  Ms.  takande.  '  Ms.  and  es.  3  r.  en- 
forcis.  *  Ms.  name. 


i88 


Ms.  Thornton:  Works  bearing  name  of  R.  Rolle. 


Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  62. 

man  it  drawes  to  be  seruys  of  it.  /  Sothly, 
Ih^su,  desiderabul  es  bi  name,  luf-abul 
&  confortabul.  [Nane  so  swete  sange 
may  be  herd,  nane  so  swete  loye 
may  be  conceyued]1,  nane  so  delitabul 
solace  may  be  had  in  mynde.  2^  erf  or, 
qwat  so  euer  bou  be  bat  redys  be  to  bo 
luf  of  god:  [ifj3  bou  wil  nofw  be  dis- 
sayued  ne  dyssayue,  yf  bou  wil  be  wyse 
&  noght  vnwyse,  yf  bou  wil  stand  & 
noght  falle,  haue  in  mynde  bysele  for 
to  halde  be  name  of  Ihesu  in  bi  mynde. 
fin  enmy  sal  falle  &  bou  sal  stande; 
Pin  enmy  sal  be  made  wayke  &  bou 
sal  be  made  strange.  &  if  bou  wil  do 
lele  bis,  far  fra  [drede]  4  bou  sal  be  [a] 
gloriouse  &  a  lowabul  ouercomer.  /  Seke 
b^for  bo  name  of  Ihmi,  hald  it,  &  for- 
gete  it  noght.  Sothle  na  thyng  slokuns 
sa  felle  flawmes ,  destroyes  alle  ille 
thoghtes,  puttys  out  venem«j  affect/ons, 
dose  away  curious  &  vayn  occupaczons 
fra  vs.  Also  bis  name  Ihmi  lele  halden 
in  mynde,  draghes  \pe  be  bo  rotes  vices, 
settes  virtues,  insawes  charite,  [in]-^ettw 
sauour  of  heuenly  thyng,  wastes  dis- 
corde5,  reformes  pees,  gyfs  in-lastand6 
ryst,  dose  away  vttwrle  greuozmiesse  of 
fleschly  desyres,  t«mys  alle  erthle  thyng 
to  noy,  fylles  bo  lufand  of  gastle  loy ; 
so  bat  wele  it  may  be  sayde:  Et  gloria- 
buntur  omnes  qui  diligunt  nomen  tuum, 
quoniam  tu  benedices  iusto,  bat  is : 
»Alle  sal  loy  bat  lufs  bi  name,  for 
bou  sal  blys  bo  ryghtwyse.«  IVrfor  be 
ryghtwyse  has  deseruid  to  be  blyssud, 
yf  bo  name  of  Ihtf.ru  trewle  he  haue 
lufed.  &  b^rfor  es  he  called  ryghtwyse 
for  he  enforced  hym  trewle  to  luf  Ihmi.  / 
^erfor  qwat  may  defayle  vn-to  hym  bat 
couetys  vncessandly  for  to  luf  be  name 
of  Ihmi?  Sothle  he  lufs  &  he  ^ernis 

1  om.  2  From   here  another    translation 

exists  in  Bodl.  938  fol.  184^  :  be  loue  of  god 
(i>bis  is  be  IX  mater  of  be  pore  caityfa).  3  Ms. 
I  &.  *  Ms.  synne.  5  Ms.  discordes.  6  Lat. 
quietem  internam  exhibet. 


Ms.  Thornton  fol.  192. 

of  it.  Sothely,  Ihmi,  desederabill  es 
thi  name,  lufabyll  and  comfortabyll. 
Nane  swa  swete  loye  may  be  con- 
say  euede,  Nane  swa  swete  sange  may 
be  herde,  Nane  swa  swete  &  delytabyll 
solace  may  be  hade  in  mynde.  Thare- 
fore  what-so-eutff  bou  bee  bat  redies 
the  for  to  lufe  gode :  if  bou  will  now- 
thire  be  dyssayuede  ne  dyssayue ,  if 
bou  will  be  wysse  and  noghte  vnwysse, 
if  bou  will  stande  &  noghte  fall,  haue 
in  mynde  besely  for  to  halde  be  name 
of  Ihmi  in  bi  mynde,  and  bane  thyn<2 
Enemy  sail  fall  and  bou  sail  stande ; 
Thyne  Enemye  sail  be  made  wayke,  bou 
sail  be  made  strange.  And  if  bou  will 
lelely  doo  this ,  ferre  fra  drede  bou 
sail  be  glotyus  and  lowuabyll  ouer- 
cotfzmere.  Seke  before  the  name  of 
Ihesu ,  and  halde  it,  and  for-gette  it 
noghte.  Sothely  na  thynge  slokyns  sa 
fell  flawmes,  Dystroyes  ill  thoghtes,  Puttes 
owte  venemous  affeccyons,  Dos  a-waye 
coryous  &  vayne  Ocupacyons  fra  vs. 
This  name  Ihmi,  lelely  haldyntf  in 
mynde ,  drawes  by  be  rote  vyces,  Set- 
tys  vertus,  In-  [s]  awes  1  chary  tee,  In-^ettis 
sauoire  of  heuendy  thynges,  Wastys  dis- 
corde,  reformes  pese,  Gyffes  In-lastande 
ryste,  Dose  awaye  greuosnes  of  fleschely 
desyris,  Turnes  all  Erthely  thynge  to 
noye,  Fyllys  be  luffande  of  gastely  loye. 
So  bat  wele  it  may  be  saide :  Et  gloria- 
buntur^  omnes  qui  deligunt  nomen  tuum, 
quoniam  tu  benedices  Iusto,  That  es : 
»A11  sail  loye  bat  lufes  pi  name,  for 
pou  sail  blysse3  be  ryghtwyse. «  Thare- 
fore  be  ryghtewyse  has  dysseruede  to 
be  blyssede,  if  be  name  of  Ihesu  trewly 
he  hafe  luffede.  And  bare-fore  es  [he] 
cald  ryghtwyse ,  ffor  he  Enforssede  hym 
trewly  to  lufe  Ih^u.  Whare-fore  what 
may  defaile  vn-to  hym  bat  couaytes 
vn-cessandly  for  to  lufe  be  name  of 
Ihesu  f  Sothely  he  lufes  and  he  Barnes 

1  Ms.  Inlawes.        2  Ms.  gloriabitur.        3  Ms. 
blysse  be  name  for  bou  sail  blysse. 


Encomium  nominis  lesu. 


189 


Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  62. 

for  to  luf,  ffor  we  haue  knawen  bat 
bo  luf  of  god  standys  in  swilk  man*r 
bat  in  als  mykel  bat  we  mar*  luf,  bo 
mar*  vs  langys  for  to  luf;  for  qwy  it 
es  sayde:  Qui  me  edunt  adhuc  esuriunt^ 
£f  qui  me  bibunt  adhuc  sicittnt,  bat  is : 
»I>ei  bat  etys  me,  ^it  hungers  bam,  & 
bei  bat  drinkes  me  ^it  thrist  bei.« 
I>*rfor  be  it-selfe  delitabul  &  couetabul 
es  bo  name  of  Ih*.m  &  bo  luf  of  it. 
/  l*erfor  loy  sal  not  want  vnto  hym  bat 
coueytes  bysile  for  to  luf  hym  win  qwam 
angels  ^ernys  to  behalde«.  Angels  eu*r 
sese  &  ever  ^ern  for1  to  se,  and  so  are 
f)ei  fylled  [bat]2  b*r  fyllyng  do  noght 
away  b*r  desire,  [&  so  bai  desire]3  bat 
beir  desir*  do  noght  away  beir  fyllyng. 
£is  es  full  loy,  bis  is  endyng  loy, 
bis  es  gloriowj  loy,  be  qwilk  [we]4  fyld 
[vsesp  lastandly  w/'t^-outew  noy,  &  if  we 
vise  it  we  sal  be  fyld  eu*r  w*t/*-oute/z 
lessyng.  /  IVrfor,  Ihesu,  »all  sal  loy  bat 
lufs  bi  name«.  Sothle  bei  sal  loy  now 
be  in^ettyng  of  grace,  &  in  tyme  to 
cunt  be  syght  of  loy ;  &  b*rfor  bei  sal 
loy  for  bei  luf  bi  name.  Sothly  warn* 
bei  lufd,  bei  myght  not  loy ;  &  bei  bat 
lufs  mar*,  sal  loy  [mare]3:  for-qwi  loy 
cuwmes  of  luf.  /  t*rfor  he  bat  lufs 
noght,  he  sal  eu*rmar*  be  w/t/i-outew 
loy.  Verioi  many  wretches  of  bo  world 
trowand  bam  to  loy  vtith  Cryst ,  sal 
sorow  w/tA-outew  ende,  &  bat  for  bei 
lufed  noght  bo  name  of  Ih*ju.  [»What  so 
j^e  do ,  if  ^e  gif  al  bat  ^e  haf  vnto  be 
nedy,  bot  ^e  lufe  be  name  of  Ihesu]3, 
^efi  t/auel  in  vayn«.  Allanely  J)ei  may  loy 
en  Ih*ju  bat  lufs  hym  in  bis  lyfe ;  & 
bei  bat  fylles  bam  w/tA  vices  &  venomes 
delites,  na  drede  bat  [ne]3  bei  are  put  out 
of  loy.  /  Also  witte  alle  bat  be  name 
of  Ihmi  is  heleful,  frutful,  &  gloriowj. 
£*rfor  qwo  sal  haue  hele  bat  lufs  it 
noght?  qwa  sal  ber*  be  fruit  before 
Cn'st  |)at  has  not  bo  flour*?  and  loy 
i  overl.  2  Ms.  of.  »  om.  «  Ms.  l>e. 
6  om.;  Ms.  vysibul  loyes,  overl.  8  ze  expunged, 
J>ei  overlined. 


Ms.  Thornton  fol.  192. 

for  to  lufe,  ffor  we  haue  knawen*  bat 
be  lufe  of  gode  standis  in  swylke 
manure  bat  In  als  mekyll  als  we  [mare]  * 
lufe,  be  mare  vs  langes  for  to  lufe,  ffor 
why  it  es  saide :  » Qui  edunt  me  ad 
huc  esurient,  fy  qui  bibunt  me  adhuc 
sciciunt^,  bat  es  to  saye:  »that  ettys  me 
^itt  hungres  thaym,  and  bay  bat  drynkes 
me  ^it  thristis  thaym«.  Thare-fore  be 
it-selfe  delitabill  &  couaytabill  es  be 
name  of  Ih*.ra  and  be  lufe  of  it.  Thare- 
fore  loy  sail  noghte  faile  vn-to  hym  bat 
couaytes  besyly  for  to  lufe  hym  In  whaym 
angells  ^ernys  for  to  be-halde.  Angells 
eu*r  sese  &  eu*r  bay  ^erne  for  to  see, 
and  swa  are  bay  nld  bat  faaire  fillynge 
duse  noghte  awaye  baire  desyre,  and  so 
[bai  desyre  bat]3  bayre  desyre  duse  noghte 
awaye  baire  fillynge.  This  es  full  loye, 
This  es  Endles4  loye,  This  es  glorious 
loye,  be  whylke  be  fylde  vses  lastandly 
w*'t/j-owtten*  noye,  &  if  we  vse  it  we  sail 
be  fyllyde  eu*r  withowttyn*  lessynge. 
Thare-fore,  Ih*^u,  all  sail  loye  bat  lufes 
thi  name.  Sothely  bay  sail  loy  nowe5 
be  in-^ettynge  of  g^ace,  and  in  tym  to 
come  be  syghte  of  loye ;  and  thare- 
fore  bay  sail  loye  . . .  ffor  why  loy  comes 
of  lufe.  Thare-fore  he  bat  luffes  noghte 
he  sail  eu*r-mare  be  w/t/j-owttyn*  loye. 
Thare-fore  many  wreches  of  be  worlde 
trowande  bam*  to  loye  -with  Criste,  sail 
sorowe  w/tA-owttyn*  ende  ,  and  why  ? 
ffor  thay  lufecle  noghte  be  name  of 
Ihmi.  »What  so  ^e  doo,  if  ^e  gyfe  all 
bat  5je  hafe  vn-to  be  nedy,  bot  ^e  lufe  be 
name  of  Ih*ju  ^e  trauelle  in  vayne«.  All 
anely  bay  may  loye  in  Ih*ju  bat  lufes 
hym  in  bis  lyfe ;  and  thay  bat  files  bam* 
wz'tA  vices  &  venemous  delittes,  Na  drede 
bat  ne  bay  ere  putt  owte  of  loye.  Also 
vrit  all  bat  be  name  of  Ihmi  es  hele- 
full,  fruytfull,  &  glorious,  tare-fore  wha 
sail  haue  hele  bat  lufes  it  noghte?  or  wha 
sail  bere  be  frwyte  be-fore  Criste  bat 
»  Ms.  may.  2  Same  words  repeated  at  the 
bottom,  with :  in  Euangel. ;  on  the  margin  And 
hue.  3  om.  4  lat.  consummatum.  s  Ms.  newe? 


i  go 


Ms.  Thornton:  Works  bearing  name  of  R.  Rolle. 


Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  62. 

sal  he  noght  see  b#t  loyande  lufd  noght 
J)o  name  of  Ihesu.  »I>o  wykkyd  sal  be 
done  away,  bat  he  see  noght  bo  loy 
of  god«.  /  Sothly  be  ryghtwyse  sekzw  be 
loy  &  bo  lyfe  &  [bei]  *  fynde  it  in 
Ihtf.ru,  qwam  bei  lufde.  I  ^ede  about 
[be]  couaytys  of  Ryches  &  I  fand  noght 
Ihmi.  I  ran  be  bo  wantones  of  flesch 
£  I  fande  noght  Ihesu.  I  sat  in  com- 
panyes  of  wordly  myrth  &  I  fand  not 
Ihesu.  In  alle  bertf  I  soght  Ihesu  bot 
I  fand  hym  noght,  ffor  he  let  me 
wete  be  hys  grace  bat  he  ne  is  foun- 
dontf  in  bo  lande  of  softly  lyfand.  / 
^ erf or  I  turned  be  anob^r  way,  &  I 
ran  about  be  poutfrt:  &  I  fande  Ihesu 
pore-borntf  in  bo  worlde,  layde  in  a 
cryb,  lapped  in  clabes.  I  jjede  be 
sufFryng  of  scharp^nesse :  &  I  fand  Ihesu 
wery  in  bo  way,  tourment  w/t&  hungwf, 
thryst  &  calde,  fyld  wi'tA  reproues  & 
blames.  I  sat  be  myn  ane  fleande  be 
vanite  of  be  worlde  &  I  fande  Ihesu 
in  desert2  fastand,  in  bo  mount  anele 
prayande.  I  ran  be  payne  &  penance : 
&  I  fande  Ihesu  bounder,  scourged, 
gyfen  gall  to  drynktf,  nayled  to  bo 
crosse  [hyngand  in  be  crosse]3,  & 
dyand  in  bo  crosse.  Ptfrfor  Ihesu  es 
noght  funden  in  ryches  bot  in  poutfrt, 
noght  in  delitesbot  in  penance,  noght  in 
wanton*  loyng  bot  [in  bitter]  gretyng,  not 
among  many  bot  in  alon[n]es.  /  Sothly 
an  ill  man  fyndes  noght  Ihesu,  for  per 
he  es  he  sekes  hym  noght.  He  en 
forces  hyw  to  seke  Ihtf.ru  in  bo  loy 
of  bo  worlde,  qware  neuer  he  sal  be 
funden4.  /  Sothle  b^rfor  bo  name  of  Ihesu 
es  helpful,  &  nedus  behoues  be  lufed  of 
alle  couetand  saluacz'on.  4He  couetys 


Ms.  Thornton  fol.  192. 

has  noghte  the  floure  ?  and  loye  sail  he 
noghte  see  That  loyeande  luffede  noghte 
be  name  of  Ihesu.  »The  wykkyde  sail 
be  don*  awaye,  bat  he  see  noghte  be 
loye  of  god«.  Sothely  be  ryghtwyse 
sekys  be  loye  and  be  life1  and  bay 
fynd  it  in  Ihtf-yu  whaymtf  bay  luffede. 
I  ^ede  abowte  be  couaytyse  of  reches  and  Exem 
I  fande  noghte  Ihesu.  I  rane  [be]  2  the  plum 
wantownes  of  flesche  and  I  fand  noghte 
Ihmi.  I  satt  in  company  es  of  worldly 
myrthe  and  I  fand  noghte  Ihesu.  In 
all  thire  I  soghte  Ih^yu,  bot  I  fand  hym 
noghte,  ffor  he  lett  me  wyete  by  his 
grace  bat  he  ne  es  fundentf  in  be  lande 
of  softly  lyfande.  Thare-fore  I  turnede 
by  anothire  waye,  and  I  rane  abowte 
be  poutffte :  and  I  fande  Ihmi  pure-borne 
in  be  worlde,  laid  in  a  crybe  and 
lappid  in  clathis.  I  ^ode  by  sufferynge 
of  werynes,  and  I  fand  Ihesu%  wery  in 
be  way,  turment  wz'bfc  hu[n]gyre,  thriste  & 
calde,  fild  wz't/z  repreues  &  blames.  I 
satt  by  myntf  ane  ffleande  be  vanytes  of 
be  worlde,  and  I  fande  Ihtf.ru  in  deserte 
fastande,  in  be  monte  anely  pnzyande. 
I  rantf  by  be  payne  of  penauwce,  and 
I  fand  Ihesu  bowndentf,  scourgede, 
Gyffentf  galle  to  drynke,  naylyde  to  be 
crosse,  hyngande  in  be  crosse  and 
dyeand  in  be  crosse.  Thare-fore  Ihesu 
es  noghte  fuwdentf  in  reches  bot  in 
poutfrte,  noghte  in  delytes  bot  in 
penance,  noghte  in  wantontf  loyeynge 
bot  in  bytttfr  gretynge,  noghte  emange 
many  bot  in  anelynes.  Sothely  ane 
euyll  mane  fyndis  noghte  Ihmi,  for 
bare  he  es  he  sekes  hym  noghte.  He 
enforces  hymtf  to  seke  Ihtf.ru  in  be  loy 
of  be  worlde  whare  neuer  he  sail  be 
fuwdentf.  Sothely  thare-fore  be  nam 
of  Ihtfju  es  helefull  &  nedys  by-houys 
be  lufed  of  all  couaytande  saluacyone. 


1  Ms.  may.  2  Lat.  indefesse.  3  Om.  1  Ms.  luste?  P.  lufe.  2  om. 

*  A  passage  of  the  Lat.  text  om.  (Ms.  Bodl.  938        crossed  out. 
has  the  full  text). 


hyme 


Encomium  nominis  lesu. 


IQI 


Ms.  Harl.  1022,  fol.  62. 

wele  hys  saluaczon  pat  kepis  bysele  in 
Nota  hym  pe  name  of  Ihesu.  Sothly  I  haue 
no  vfondur  if  he  temptyd  falle  pat 
puttis  not  po  name  of  Ihesu  in  lastand 
mynde.  Sykerle  may  he  chese  to  lyf 
anele  pat  has  chosin  po  name  of  Ihesu 
to  hys  special ;  for  per  may  ne  wykkyd 
spirit  noy  per  Ihesu  es  mykel  in  mynde, 
or  neuend  in  mouth.  IVrfor  it  is  to 
hald  in  mynde  bysele  po  name  of 
Ihmi. —  Qwew  I  had  takew  my  synguler^ 
purpose  &  left  po  seculer^  habit,  &  I 
be-gan  mare  to  serf  god  pen  man : 
it  fell  on  a  nyght  os  I  lay  in  my  rest, 
in  po  begynnyng  of  my 
par  appered  to  me  a  ful  fayr* 
woman  pe  qwilk  I  had  [sene]  *  before,  & 
sche  lufd  me  noght  a  litel  in  gode  luf. 
&  qwen  I  had  behaldew  hir,  &  I  wondred 
qwy  scho  come  so  on  nyght  in  po 
wyldernesse:  sodenle  w/'t/^-outew  mare 
spech*  scho  layde  hir  be-syde  me.  & 
qwe«  pat  I  felde  hir  pare,  I  dred  pat 
scho  suld  draw  me  to  euel,  &  sayde  I 
walde  ryse  \pe  &  blysse  vs  in  po  name 
of  po  haly  tr/nite.  &  sche  streyned 
me  so  stahvorthle  pat  I  had  na  mouth 
to  speke,  ne  na  hand  to  styrre.  & 
qwen  I  saw  pat,  I  p^rseyued  wele  pat 
per  was  no  womaw  [bot  pe  deuel  in 
schappe  of  a  woman]2.  IVrfor  I  tamed 
me  to  god  &  w/t/J  my  mynde  I  sayde: 
»A,  Ih^yu,  how  precious  is  pi  blode«, 
makande  po  crosse  wrtA  my  fyngwr  in 
my  brest:  &  als  fast  scho  wex  wayke, 
&  sodenle  al  was  away;  [&]  I  thankyd 
god  pat  delyuerde  me.  &  sothle  fro 
pat  tyme  forth  I  forced  me  to  luf  Ihmi : 
&  ay  po  mon?  I  profet  in  po  luf  of 
Ihesu,  [be]  swetter  I  fand  it;  &  fra  pat 
day3  it  went  neu^r  fra  my  mynde. 
tVrfor  blyssud  be  po  name  of  Ihmi  \n 
po  worlde  of  worldes.  Amen. 

i  om.;  lufd  over!.          2  om.  3  Ms.  orig. 

fra  J)is   day  forth ;   )>is  is  corr.  to  J>at,  forth  is 
expunged ;  but  r. :  to  {>is  day. 


Ms.  Thornton  fol.  192. 

JHe  couaytes  wele  hys  saluacyone  pat 
kepis  besyly  in  hym  be  name  of  Ihwu. 
Sothely  I  haue  na  wondyr  if  be  temptid 
fall  pat  puttes  noghte  pe  name  of  Ihmi 
in  lastande  mynde.  Sekerly  may  he  or 
scho  chese  to  lyfe  anely  pat  has  chosen^ 
pe  name  of  Ihesu  to  thaire  specyalle ; 
ffor  thare  may  na  wykked  spyritte  noye 
pare  Tht'su  es  mekyll  in  mynde  or  es 
neue«nyd  in  mouthe  &c.  Explicit. 

The  last  passage  in  Ms.  Harl.  and  in  the 

Latin  text  forms  a  separate  piece  in  Ms. 

Thornton,  see  N.  2. 

1  o.  m.  Nota  bene  istum  passura. 


2.    Narracio:    A  tale  f)at  Rycherde  hermet  [made]. 

W  hen  I  hade  takers  my  syngulere  pwrpos  &  lefte  be  seculere  habyte,  and  I 
be-gane  mare  to  serue  god  ban  man*?,  it  felle  one  a  nyghte  als  I  lay  in  my  ryste, 
in  be  begynnynge  of  my  comvrsyone,  bare  appered  to  me  a  full  faire  ^onge 
womane  be  whilke  I  had  sene  be-fore  &  be  whylke  luffed  me  noght  lytill  in  gude 
lufe.  And  when?  I  had  be-haldyn^  hyre  and  I  was  wondyrde  why  scho  com  swa 
on  nyghte  in  be  wyldyrnes :  sodanly,  wz'tfc-owttyn*  any  mare  speche,  scho  laid 
hire  be-syde  me.  And  when^  pat  I  felyd  hir  thare,  I  dred  bat  scho  sulde  drawe 
me  to  luell,  and  said  bat  I  wald  ryse  &  blyse  vs  in  be  name  of  be  haly  trynytee. 
And  scho  strenyde  me  so  stallworthely  bat  I  had  no  mouthe  to  speke,  ne  no 
hande  to  styrre.  And  when*?  I  sawe  bat,  I  pm:eyuede  wele  pare  was  na  womane 
bot  be  deuell  in  schappe  of  womane.  Thare-fore  I  turnede  me  to  gode  and  -with 
my  mynde  I  said :  »A,  Ih&yu,  how  p^cyous  es  thi  blude !«,  makand  pe  crosse  wrtA 
my  fyngere  in  my  breste :  and  alls  faste  scho  wexe  wayke  &  sodanly  all  was 
awaye;  and  I  thankked  gode  bat  delyuerd  me.  &  sothely  fra  bat  tym^  furthe  I 
forced  me  for  to  luf  Ihmi,  and  ay  be  mare  I  profette  in  be  luf  of  Ihwu,  pe 
swetUf  I  fand  it,  &  to  bis  daye  it  went  noghte  fra  my  mynde.  Thare-fore, 
blysside  be  be  name  of  Ihmi  in  the  worlde  of  worldes !  Amen.  Amen.  Amen  &C.1 

Ihesu  be  sone  of  be  glorious  virgyne, 

Now,  lorde,  haue  mercy  one  all  thyne.    Amen.  Amen  pur  charite  Amen. 


3.    De  in-perfecta  contricione. 

fol.  194. 

JXycharde  hermyte  reherces  a  dredfull  tale  of  vn-p<?rfitte  cowtrecyone  pat  a  haly 
mane  Cesarius2  tellys  in  Ensample.  He  says  pat  a  ^onge  mane,  a  chanone  at  Parys, 
vn-chastely  and  delycyousely  lyfande  and  full  of  many  synnys,  laye  seke  to  be  dede. 
He  schrafe  hym  of  his  gret  synnys,  he  hyghte  to  amende  hym,  he  rescheyuede  be 
sacrament  of  be  autire  and  anoynte  hynu,  and  swa  he  dyede.  Till  hys  grauynge 
it  semyde  als  be  ayere  gafe  smiese.  Eftyr  a  faa  dayes  he  apperyde  till  ane  pat 
was  famyliare  till  hym  in  hys  lyfe ,  and  sayde  pat  he  was  dampnede,  for  pz's 
Enchesone :  wfofe  I  ware,  quod  he,  schreuen  &  hyghte  to  doo  penance,  me 
wawntede  verray  contrycyone,  wytKowtten*  be  whylke  all  othere  thynges  avayles 


1  Follows : 

A  prayere  bat  be  same  Richerd  hermet  made,  b#t  es  beried  at  Hampulle. 

Deus  noster  refugi^^m,  O  creator  noster  &  virtus  nostra  aduersus  eos  qui  nos  persecunttur  et, 
si  te  nos  viderint  proptter  peccata  nostra  dimittere,  semper  insidianttur :  adiuua  nos  miseros  tu 
misericors,  tua  wz'sericordia  semper  indegentes,  tue  miseracionis  auxilium  plus  quam  nobis  ex- 
pedierit  tepide  postulantes.  &  si  nos  despicis  idea  quia  multis  peccatis  inuoluimur,  saltern  ad  nos 
tuos  misericordes  oculos  [dirige]  quia  creatura  tua  sumus,  &  sicut  verissimum  est  te  nostrum  esse 
creatorem,  sic  semper  &  vbiqrte  senciamus  te  nostrum  esse  defensorem  &  aduersus  inimicos  nostros 
indeficientem  protectorem :  vt  in  presenti  vita  a  te  semper  defensi  &  adiuti,  finito  temporali  cursu 
ad  te ,  creatorem  nostrum  &  dominum ,  perueniamus  ab  omnibus  peccatis  mundati  &  absoluti. 
Amen. 

Then  follows: 

Ympnus  quern,  composuit  sanctum  Ambrosyus,  &  est  -valde  bonus : 

iftesu  nostra  redempcio  amor  &  desiderium  Deus  creator  omnium  homo  in  fine  temporum  &c. , 
see  Daniel  Thes.  hymn.  I  p.  63. 

Qui  scripsit  carmen  sit  benedictus.  Amen.  Amen,     In  nomine  domini  I/iesu.     Amen. 

2  Cf.  Caesarius  Heisterbac.    Dial.  Mirac.  ed.  Strange,  II.  15,  p.  83. 


2  Tales.     De  natura  apis.  IQ^ 

noghte.  For-thy  if  I  hyghte  to  lefe  my  foly,  my  cowcyens  sayde  pat  if  I  lefede1 
tham,  jet  walde  I  hafe  delyte  in  myn<?  aide  lyfe,  and  till  pat  my  herte  heldede 
mare  and  bowghede  thane  to  restreyne  me  fra  all  thoghtes  pat  I  knewe  agaynes 
goddes  will.  And  for-thy  I  had  na  stabyll  pwrpos  in  gude,  na  p^rfite  cowtrycyone, 
Wharefore  sentence  of  dampnacyone  ffelle  one  me  &  wente  agaynes  mee.« 

/\.ll-swa  he  reherces  anothyre  tale  of  verraye  cowtrecyone  pat  pe  same  clerke2 
Cesari«^3  says,  ffe  tellys  pat  a  scolere  at  Pares  had  done  many  full  synnys,  pe 
whylke  he  hade  schame  to  schryfe  hym  of.  At  pe  laste  gret  sorowe  of  herte 
outcome  his  schame,  and  when?  he  was  redy  to  schryfe  hym  till  pe  pn'ore  of 
pe  Abbay  of  Saynte  Victor,  swa  mekill  contricyone  was  in  his  herte,  syghynge  in 
his  breste,  sobbynge  in  his  throtte,  pat  he  moghte  noghte  brynge  a  worde  furthe. 
2"hane  the  pm>re  said  till  hym:  »Gaa  and  wrytte  thy  synnes.w  He  dyd  swa,  and 
come  a-gayne  to  pe  pryoure  and  gafe  hym  pat  he  hadde  wretyn?,  ffor  ^itt  he 
myghte  noghte  schryfe  hym  vtitk  mouthe.  The  prioure  saghe  the  synnys  swa 
grette  pat  thurghe  leue  of  pe  scolere  he  schewede  theym*  to  pe  abbotte  to  hafe 
conceyle.  The  abbotte  tuke  pat  byll  pat  pay  warre  wrettym?  In^,  and  lukede 
thare-one :  He  fande  na  thynge  wretyn* ,  and  sayd  to  pe  prioure  :  »What  may 
here  be  redde  pare  noghte  es  wretyn??«  That  saghe  pe  pry  our  &  wondyrde  gretly, 
&  saide:  »Wyet  j;e  pat  his  sywns  here  warre  wretyn?,  &  I  redde  thaym?,  bot  now 
I  see  pat  god  has  sene  hys  contrycione  &  forgyfes  hym  all  his  synnes.«  Pis  pe 
abbot  &  be  pn'oure  tolde  pe  scolere,  and  he  w/tA  gret  loye  thanked  god. 

4.    Moralia  Richardi  heremite  de  natura  apis,  vnde  quasi 
apis  argumentosa. 

1  he  bee  has  thre  kyndis4.  Ane  es  pat  scho  es  neu^r  ydill,  and  scho  es  noghte  Apis 
with  thaym  pat  will  noghte  wyrke,  bot  castys  thaym  owte  and  puttes  thaym 
awaye.  ^4-nothire  es  pat  when  scho  flyes  scho  takes  erthe  in  hyr  fette,  |)at 
scho  be  noghte  lyghtly  ou^r-heghede  in  the  ayere  of  wynde.  The  thyrde  es 
pat  scho  kepes  clene  and  bryghte  hire  wynge^.  TTius  ryghtwyse  men  pat  lufes 
god ,  are  neurr  in  ydyllnes :  ffor  owthyre  pay  ere  in  trauayle ,  prayand  or 
thynkande  or  redande  or  othere  gude  doande,  or  wzt/jtakand  ydill  men?  and 
schewand  thaym  worthy  to  be  put  fra  be  ryste  of  heuen?  ffor  pay  will  noghte 
tnzuayle  here.  Pay5  take  erthe,  pat  es  pay  halde  pam-selfe  vile  £  erthely  that 
thay  be  noghte  blawen?  with  be  wynde  of  vanyte  and  of  pryde.  TTiay  kepe 
thaire  wynges  clene,  that  es  pe  twa  cowmandementes  of  charyte  pay  fulfill  in 
gud  concyens ,  and  thay  hafe  othyre  vertus  vnblendyde  vrit/i  pe  fylthe  of  syn? 
and  vnclene  luste6.  ArestotilH  sais  pat  pe  bees  are  feghtande  agaynes  hym 
pat  will  drawe  paire  hony  fra  thaym<r.  Swa  sulde  we  do  agaynes  deuells  pat 
afforces  tham^  to  reue  fra  vs  pe  hony  of  poure  l[u]fe7  &  of  grace.  For  many 
are  pat  neu^r  kane  halde  pe  ordyre  of  lufe  ynesche  paire  frendys  sybbe  or 
ffrewmede,  bot  outhire  pay  lufe  paym  ou^r-mekill8,  settand  thaire  thoghte  vn- 
ryghtwysely  on  thaym :  or  pay  luf  thaym?  ou^-lyttill,  yf  pay  doo  noghte  all  as 
pey  wolde  till  pam^.  Swylke  kane  noghte  fyghte  for  thaire  hony,  ffor-thy  pe 

i  r.  lifede;  Ces.  si  convalueris.  2  Ms.  clreke.  3  Cf.  Cesarlus  II,  10.  *  Cf.  Pliu.  XI.  19. 
s  Ms.  tmuayle.  Here  J>ay.  «  Cf.  Arist.  Hist.  Anim.  IX.  40.  1  Ms.  lyfe.  »  Ms.  adds :  or 
thay  lufe  l»am^  ou^r-lyttill. 

13 


Ms.  Thornton:  Works  bearing  name  of  R.  Rolle. 

deuelle  tumes  it  to  wormefd]1  and  makes  peire  saules  ofte-sythes  full  bitter  in  angwys 
and  tene,  and  besynes  of  vayne  thoghtes  and  op*r  wrechidnes,  fFor  thay  are  so 
heuy  in  erthely  frenchype  bat  bay  may  noghte  flee  in  till  be  lufe  of  Ih*ju  Criste, 
in  be  wylke  bay  moghte  wele  for-gaa  be  lufe  of  all  creaturs  lyfande  in  erthe.  / 
Aresto- Whare-fore,  accordandly  ^rystotill2  sais  bat  some  fowheles  are  of  gude  flyghyng, 
tllL  bat  passes  fra  a  lande  to  a-nothire,  Some  are  of  ill  flyghynge  for  heuynes  of  body 
and  for[-bi]  baire  neste  es  noghte  ferre  fra  be  erthe.  Thus  es  it  of  thaym*  bat 
turnes  bam*  to  godes  seruys.  Some  are  of  gude  flyeghynge  for  thay  flye  fra  erthe 
to  heuen*  and  rystes  thaym*  thare  in  thoghte,  and  are  fedde  in  delite  of  goddes 
lufe,  and  has  thoghte  of  na  lufe  of  be  worlde.  Some  are  bat  kan  noghte  flyghe 
fra  bis  lande  bot  in  be  waye  late  theyre  herte  ryste  and  delyttes  baym  in  sere 
lufes  of  men*  and  women*,  als  bay  come  &  gaa,  nowe  ane  &  nowe  a-nothire, 
and  in  Ihesu  Criste  bay  kan  fynde  na  swettnes  or  if  bay  any  tym*  fele  oghte 
it  es  swa  lyttill  and  swa  schorte  for  othire  thoghtes  bat  are  in  thaym*,  bat  it 
brynges  thaym  till  na  stabylnes;  [f]or3  bay  are  lyke  till  a  fowle  bat  es  callede 
strucyo  or  storke,  bat  has  wenges  and  it  may  noghte  flye  for  charge  of  body. 
Swa  bay  hafe  vndirstandynge,  and  fastes  and  wakes  and  semes  haly  to  mens 
syghte,  bot  thay  may  noghte  flye  to  lufe  and  contemplacyone  of  god,  bay  are  so 
chargede  wytft  othyre  affeccyons  and  othire  vanytes.  Explicit. 


De  vita  cuiz^dam  puelle  incluse  pr<?ptter  amorem 
Christi.4 


Ai 


Jswa  Heraclides5  be  clerke :  telles  bat  a  mayden*6  forsuke  hir  Cete  and  satte 
in  a  sepulcre,  and  tuke  hir  mete  at  a  lyttill  hole,  ten  j;ere  scho  saghe  neu^r 
man*  ne  woman*,  ne  bay  hir  face;  bot  stode  at  a  hole  and  talde  why  scho  was 
enclosede,  and  said  bat  »a  ^onge  man  was  tempede  of  my  fairehede:  ffor-thy 
me  warre  leuere  be  als  lange  als  I  lyfe  in  pis  sepulcre,  pan  any  sawle  pat  es 
made  til  be  lyknes  of  gode  suld  p*richse  by-cause  of  me«.  And  when*  men 
askede  hire  how  scho  myghte  swa  lyffe  ;  scho  said:  »Fra  the  begynnynge  of  the 
day  I  gyfe  me  till  praynge  till  forthe  dayes  ;  thane  I  wyrke  vfith  handes  some 
thynge,  and  alswa  I  wyrke  in  thoghtes,  by  patryarkes,  pnrphetes,  Appostilles, 
Martyrs  and  confessowrs,  and  by-haldes  baire  loye ;  and  aftyrwarde  I  take  my 
mete;  when*  euen*  cowmys,  witfi  gret  loye  I  lofe  my  lorde.  The  ende  of  my 
lyfe  I  habyde  in  glide  hope  and  tholemodnes«.  &  loo,  swa  perfitly  a  woman* 
lyfede.  Richard  herymyte  reherces  bis  tale  in  Ensampill.  7 

i  Ms.  woimes;  wormed  =  wermod.  2  Cf.  Arist.  Hist.  Anim.  IX.  7.  3  Ms.  or. 

•*  This  tale  has  been  omitted  by  Perry,  why?  It  bears  R.  Rolle's  name  at  the  end._ 

»  Cf.  Heracl.  Paradisus  Cap.  i  (Vit.  Patr.  Migne  74,  p.  255).  6  sc.  Alexandra,  in  Heracl. 

i  Then  follows  immediately  in  the  Ms. : 
Richardus  herymyta. 

Meliora  sunt  vbera  tua  vino :  Dulciora  et  meliora  sunt  diuina  eloquia  quam  humana,  plus 
delectat  verbum  dei  animam  Christum  deligentem,  quam  totus  mundus  regem  ilium  ppssidentem. 
Amplius  aiitem  gaudto  sedens  in  solitudine  quam  rex  in  cuius  omnes  terrene  diidcie  -veniunt 
potestate.  Habet  amicam  pulcram :  certe  pulcriorem  habeo,  sapicnciam  incieatam;  speciosam  habet 
iuuenem.  terre:  summam  diligo  trinitatem,  quam  scio  inmortalemi  amorem  eius  et  gloriam  mors 
prorsus  auferet,  quando  ab  hac  luce  deus  dignetur  me  vocare  &c. 
Item  inferius  idem  Richardus. 

0  quam  delectabile  gaudium  et  delicatum  solacium,  amare  dei  filiuml  O  quam  sriaue  & 
iocundum!  Set  istud  non  est  modicum:  manet  autcm  me  cum,  non  transit  a  me ,  Jeruor  melhfluus , 
canor  celicus,  dulcor  rfmi«us:  apperiendo  &o  bone  Ihzsu  es  mecum  attrahenAo  spiritum.  Tant^^m 
gaudium  de  te  sencio  quantum  exprimere  non  sufficio.  Dulcissimum  asculto  canticum  &  canens 


Of  the  ten  Commandments.  jqe 

6.  A  notabill  Tretys  off  the  ten  Comandementys :  Drawers 
by  Richerde  the  hermyte  off  Hampull.1 

J.  he  fyrste  comandement  es:  »Thy  lorde  god  b0u  sail  loute  and  til  hym  anely 
bou  sail  s*nie.«  /  In  this  comandement  es  forbodew  all  mawmetryse,  all  wych- 
crafte  and  charemynge,  /  the  wylke  may  do  na  remedy  till  any  seknes  of  man*, 
woman*  or  beste  ;  ffor  bay  erre  be  snarrys  of  be  deuelle  by  be  whilke  he  affor- 
ces  hym  to  dyssayue  mankynde.  /  Alswa  in  bis  cowmandemente  es  forbodyn*  to 
gyffe  trouthe  till  so[r]cerye  or  till  dyuynynge^  by  sternys  or  by  dremys  or  by  any 
swylke  thynges.  /  Astronomyenes  by-haldes  be  daye  and  be  houre  and  be  poynte 
bat  man*  es  borne  In,  and  vndyr  whylke  syngne  he  es  borne  and  be  poynte2  bat 
he  be-gynnes  to  be  In,  /  and  by  bire  syngnes  and  o\>er  bay  saye,  bat  bay  say  that 
sail  be-fall  be  man  aftyrwarde:  bot  theyr*  errowre  es  reprofiede  of  haly  doctowrs.  / 
Haly  crosses  men*  sail  lowte  ffor  thay  are  in  syngne  of  Cryste  crucyfiede ;  To 
ymages  es  be  louynge  bat  es  till  theym*3  of  whaym  bai4  are  be  ymage^ ,  ffor 
bat  Entent  anely  bai4  are  for  to  lowte.  The  tothire  comandement  es:  »fo0u  sail 
noghte  take  be  name  of  god  in  vayne.«  Here  es  forboden*  athe  w/tA-owtten* 
cheson*.  /  He  bat  neuenes  god  &  sweris  fals,  dispyse  god.  /  In  thre  maners  mane 
may  syn*  in  swerynge :  /  That  es,  if  he  swere  agayne  his  concyence,  Or  if  he  swere 
be  Cryste  wondes  or  blude — That  es  eu*rmare  gret  syn*  /  bofe  it  be  sothe  bat  he 
sweris,  /  ffor  it  sounes  in  irreu[er]ence  of  Ih*ju  Cryste  ;  /  Also  if  he  com*  agaynes  his 
athe  noght  fulfilland  bat  he  has  sworne.  /  The  nam  of  gode  es  takyn*  in  vayne  one 
many  manors:  \\VtA  herte  /  w/tA  mouthe  /  w*tA  werke.  /  WitA  herte  takes  false 
crystyn*  men*  it  in  vayne  bat  rescheyues  be  Sacrament  wztA-owtten*  grace  in  sawle.  / 
W/tA  mouthe  es  it  tane  in  vayne  w/tA  all  athes;  brekynge  of  new  pn'chynge  bat  es 
vanyte  and  vndeuocyone ;  prayere  when  we  honowr  god  w/tA  oure  lyppys  and  oure 
hertys  erre  ferre  fra  hym.  /  W/tA  werke  ypocrittes  takes  goddes  nam  in  vayne :  /  ffor 
they  feyne  gud  dede  w/tA-owtten*,  and  bey  erre  w/tA-owtten*  charyte  and  vertue  and 
force  of  sawle  to  stand  agayne  all  ill  styrrynges.  The  thirde  cowmandement  es :  »Vm- 
bethynke  the  bat  thow  halowe  pi  halydaye !«  /  This  cowmandement  may  be  takyn*  in 
thre  man*res:  /  Firste  generally  bat  we  sesse  of  all  vyces.  [Sithen  special!,  pat  we 
cesse  of  alle  bodili  werkis]5  bat  lettys  deuocyone  to  god  in  prayenge  and  thynkynge. 
The  thyrde  es  specyall,  als6  in  contemplatyfe  men*  bat  departis  baym*  fra  all  worldly 
thynges  swa  bat  bey  hally  gyfe  baym*  till  god.  /  The  fyrste  man*re  es  nedfull  vs  to 
do  /  The  tothire  we  awe  to  do  /  The  thirde  es  p*rfeccyone.  /  For-thi  one  be  halydaye 
men  awe,  als  god  byddys,  to  lefe  all  syn*,  and  do  na  werke  bat  lettis  thaym*  to 
gyffe  baire  herte  to  godd,  thatt  bay  halowe  be  daye  in  ryst  and  deuocyone  and 
dedys  of  charyte.  TJie  ferthe  comandement  es :  »Honoure  thy  fadyre  and  bi 

ascendo  -usque  in  domttm  dei.  Cor  meum  increata  repletur  dulcedine ,  os  meum  diuine  laudis 
sonora  iubilaciont,  &  aures  mee  suauitate  celestis  melodic.  Gloria  igitur  qua  in  amore  fruor, 
non  est  diuisa,  set  continua ;  non  transient,  set  permanens ;  non  momentanea,  set  eterna.  Quid 
enim  vltra  istud  qms  desideret,  &si  hie  in  eternum  viuere  posset?  Adhuc  quippe  desidero, 
susptro,  amore  languio,  quia  non  vidi  faciem  dei  mei.  Verumtamcn  tale  gaudium  opto  in  celo 
quale  in  carne  sedens  g-ustaui  &  sentiui >  nee  volo  vt  alia  gloria  michi  detur,  set  vt  aliter  michi 
detur,  videlicet  dare  &  perspicue  videndo  dcum  meum  in  decore  suo.  Et  volo  vt  amon's  gaudium 
quod  in  hac  vita  in  me  incipitur,  in  rigno  dei  mei  plene  perficiatur.  Alioquin  si  amor  me  hie 
non  afjlcit^  ncc  quero  vt  ibi  in  wie  sit:  Quia  nichil  in  presenti  desidero  \quod  me  in  eternum 
habere  non  confido  &c. 

t  The  Ar.  507  text  of  Gaytryge's  Sermon  has  some  sentences  inserted  from  this  piece.  2  r. 
planete  ?  3  Ar.  &  til  ymages  m  be  honowr  of  ]>aiw.  *  Ms.  baire.  5  I  supply  from  Ms.  Ar. 
•  Ar.  be  iii.  as  is  in. 

13* 


jq5  Ms.  Thornton:  Works  bearing  name  of  R.  Rolle. 

niodyre.«  /  That  es  in  twa  thynges,  bat  es  bodyly  and  gastely.  /  Bodyly  in  suste 
nance  /  bat  bay  be  helpede  and  sustaynede  in  baire  elde  /  and  when  bay  are 
vnmyghtty  of  baym*-selfe.  /  Gastely  in  reuerence  and  bouxomnes :  bat  bay  say  to 
bam*  na  wordes  of  myssawe  ne  vnhoneste  ne  of  displesance  vnauyssedly,  /  bot 
smie  bam*  mekely  and  gladly  and  lawlyly;  bat  bay  may  wyn*  bat  godde  hyghte  to 
swylke  barnes  /  bat  es  [be]  lande  of  lyghte.  /  And  if  bay  be  dede  /  thaym  awe  to  helpe 
baire  sawles  with  almous-dedes  and  prayers.  The  fifte  cowmandement  es  bat  »thow 
slaa  na  man*;«  nowthire  vfith  assente,  ne  \ri\.h  werke,  ne  \ti\.h  worde  or  fauowr.  And 
also  here  es  forboden*  vn-ryghtewyse  hurtynge  of  any  persone.  /  Thay  are  slaers 
gastely  /  bat  will  noghte  feede  be  pouer  in  nede  /  and  bat  defames  men  /  and  bat 
cowfouwdes  Innocentys.  The  sexte  cowmandement  es  :  »thow  sail  be  na  lichoure.«  / 
|>at  es  /  thow  sail  haue  na  man  or  woman*?  bot  bat  bou  has  taken*  in  fourme 
of  haly  kyrke.  /  Alswa  here  es  forboden*  all  man*r  of  wilfull  pollusyone  procurede 
one  any  man*r  agaynes  kyndly  oys,  or  ob*r  gates.  The  seuende  cowmandement 
es:  »thow  sail  noghte  do  na  thyfte.«  In  the  whylke  es  forboden*  all  manure  of 
wzU-draweynge  of  ob*r  men*  thynges  wrangwysely  agaynes  baire  wyll  bat  aghte  * 
it,  /  bot  if  it  ware  in  tyme  of  maste  nede,  when  all  thynges  erre  comone.  /  Also 
here  es  forboden*  gillery  of  weghte  /  or  of  tale  /  or  of  mett  or  of  mesure,  /  or  thorow 
okyre,  or  violence  or  drede  /  als  bedells  or  foresters  duse  and  mynystyrs  of  be 
kynge,  /  or  thurghe  extorcyone  als  lordes  duse.  The  aughten*  cowmandement  es 
/  that  »thow  sail  noghte  bere  false  wyttnes  agaynes  thi  neghtebourecc,  als  in  assys  /  or 
cause  of  matremoyne.  /  And  also  lyenges  ere  forboden*  in  bis  cowmandement  /  and 
forswerynge.  /  Bot  all  lyenges  are  noghte  dedly  syn*,  bot  if  bay  noye  till  som 
man  bodyly  or  gastely.  The  nynde  cowmandemewt  es:  »thow  sail  noghte  couayte 
be  hous  or  ob*r  thynge  mobill  or  in-mobill  of  bi  neghtbo»r  with  wrange,«  /  ne 
j)<m  sail  noghte  hald  ob*r  mens  gude  if  b<m  may  ^elde  thaym*,  /  elles  bi  penance 
saues  be  noghte.  The  tend  cowmandement  as :  »thow  sail  noghte  couayte  bi 
neghtebowr  wyefe,  ne  his  seruande,  ne  his  mayden*,  /  ne  mobylls  of  his«.  //  He 
lufes  god  bat  kepis  thire  cowmandementes  for  lufe.  /  His  neghtebowr  hyw  awe 
to  lufe  als  hym-selfe,  bat  es  till  be  same  gude  bat  he  lufes  hym-selfe  to,  /  na- 
thynge  till  ill;  /  and  bat  he  lufe  his  neghtbowr  saule  /  mare  ban*  his  body  or  any 
gude^  of  be  worlde  &c.  Explicit. 

7.     Item  Idem  de  septem  donis  spiritus  sancti. 
Also  of  the  gyftes  of  the  haly  gaste. 

(This  same   article   forms  Cap.  xi   of  the  Form  of  liuyng  in  Ms.  Dd  v,  64,    see 

p.  45;  it  is  extant  besides  in  Ms.  Arund.  507,  see  p.    136). 

Pe  seuen*  gyftes    of  be  haly   gaste   bat    ere  gyfen*  to  men  and  wymmen*  bat 

er  ordaynede  to    be  loye   of  heuen*  and  ledys  theire  lyfe  in  this  worlde  reght- 

wysely:     Thire  are  thay:  /  Wysdom*  /  Vndyrstandynge  /  Counsayle  /  Strenghe  / 

Connynge  /  Pete  /  The  drede  of  god.    /   Begynn*  we  at  consaile,   for  bare-of  es 

myst*f   at   the    begynnynge    of   cure    werkes   bat  vs  myslyke  noghte  aftyrwarde.  / 

i  Wz't/fc  thire  seuen*   gyftes   be  haly  gaste   teches  sere  men*  serely.    ^[    Consaile   es 

doynge  awaye  of  worldes  reches,   and  of  all  delytes  of  all  thynge^  bat  mane  may 

be  tagyld  \fith  in  thoghte  or  dede,  and  ba[r]2-w*'t£  drawynge  in  till  contemplacyone 

i  r.  aghe.        2  Ms.  fcat. 


The  7  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Delight  in  God.  197 

of  gode.      ^[   Vndyrstandynge    es   to    knawe   whate    es   to  doo    and   whate    es   to  ii 
lefe ;  and  pat  that  sail  be  gyffen^  to  gyffe  it  to  thaym  pat  has  nede  /  noghte  till 
ofyer  pat  has   na  myster.    ^f    Wysedome    es    forgetynge    of    erthely    thynges    and  iii 
thynkynge  of  heuen,  with  discrecyone  of1  all  men*  dedys.  /  In  pis  gyfte  schynes 
contemplacyone,   pat  es,  saynt  Austyn*  says,  a  gastely  dede  of  fleschely  affeccyones 
thurghe    be   loye    of  a  raysede  thoghte.  «[  Strenghe    es   lastynge    to   fullfill   glide  iiii 
purpose,    pat  it   be  noghte   lefte  for  wele  ne  for  waa.  ^f  Pete  es  pat  a  man  be  v 
mylde ;  and  gaynesay  noghte  haly  writte  when*  it  smyttes  his  synnys,  whethire  he 
vndyrstand  it  or  noghte,  bot  in   all  his  myghte  purge  he  be  vilte  of  syn*  in  hym* 
and  op*r.  *[  Connynge  es  pat  makes  a  man  of  glide  [hope]2  noghte  mysand  hym*  vi 
of  his  reghtewysnes ,    bot  sorowand  of  his    synnys ;    and    pat   man   gedyrs   erthely 
gude  anely  to  the  honour  of  god,  and  prow  to  oper  men*  pan*?3  hym-selfe.  ^[  The  vi 
drede    of   god    es    pat    we    turne    noghte   agayne   till    cure    syn*   thurghe    any  ill 
eggyng.    /    And  ba[n]4    es  drede    p^rfite    in   vs   and   gastely  /  when  we    drede  to 
wrethe  god  in  be  leste  syn*,  bat  we  kan*  knawe,   and  flese  it  als  venyrru'.     Explicit. 

8.     Item  Idem  de  dilectacione  in  deo. 
Also  of  f)e  same:   delyte  and  ^ernyng  of  gode. 

//^esus  Marie  filiits,  sit  michi  demons  Sf  fropccius.  Amen. 

VJTernywg  and  delite  of  lhes\\  Criste  pat  has  na  thyng  of  worldes  thoghtes,  es 
wondyrfull,  pure,  haly,  and  faste,  and  when*  a  man  felis  hym  in  pat  degre  than  es 
a  man  Circuwsysede  gastely.  [It  es  haly]^  when**  all  oper  besynes  and  affeccyons  and 
thoghtes  are  drawen*  away  owte  of  his  saule,  that  he  may  hafe  ryste  in  goddes  lufe 
w/t/j-owtten*  tagillynge  of  oper  thynges.  ^f  The  delyte  es  wondirfull  [when]6  it  es 
sa  heghe  pat  na  thoghte  may  reche  par-to  to  bryng  it  doun*.  •[  It  es  pure  when 
it  es  noghte  blendid  w;t/*  na  thynge  bat  es  cowtrayrie  thare-to.  ^[  And  it  es  faste 
when*?  it  es  clene  and  stabill  clelitande  by  it-selfe.  *[  Thre  thynges  makes  delite 
in  gode  heghe:  Ane  es  restreynynge  of  fleschely  luste  in  cowpleciouwe7.  Anoper 
es  restreynynge  or  repressynge  of  ill  styrrynge  and  of  temptacione  in  will.  T'he 
thirde  es  kepynge  or  hegheynge  of  pe  herte  in  lyghtenynge  of  pe  halygaste,  pat 
haldis  his  herte  vpe  fra  all  erthely  thoghtes,  pat  he  sette  nane  obstakill  at  the 
comynge  of  Criste  in  till  hym*.  //  /Ikane  bat  couaytes  endles  hele,  be  he  besy 
nyghte  and  daye  to  fulfill  bis  lare  or  elles  to  Criste^  lufe  he  may  noghte  wynn*  // 
/or  it  es  heghe,  and  all  bat  it  duellis  in,  it  lyftes  abown<?  layery  lustes  and  vile 
couaytes  and  abown*  all  affeccyouws  and  thoghtes  of  any  bodily  thynge.  //  7wa 
thynges  makes  oure  delyte  pure.  //  Ane  es  tornynge  of  sensualite  to  the  skyll ; 
ffm  when*  any  es  tornede  to  delite  of  hys  fyve  wittes  alsone  vnclennes  entyrs 
in  to  his  saule.  //  Anoper  es  bat  pe  skyll  mekely  be  vssede  in  gastely  thynges, 
als  in  medytacyons,  and  orysouws,  and  lukynge  in  haly  bukes.  //  /br-thy  be  delyte 
bat  has  noghte  of  vnordaynde  styrrynge  and  mekely  has  styrrynge  in  Criste ,  and 
in  whilke  be  sensualyte  es  tournede  to  be  skyll,  all  sette  and  oysede  tyll  god,  makys 
a  mans  saule  in  ryste  &  sekirnes,  and  ay  to  duell  in  gude  hope,  &  to  be  payede 
w/t/j  all  godzV  sandes  wzt^-owtten*  gruchynge  or  heuynese  of  thoghte^,  Sfc.  Explicit. 

Explicit  carmen.      Qui  scripsit  sit  benedicttts.  Amen. 

i  al.  in.  2  so  Dd.  3  Dd  mare  tan  til,  Ar.  as  til.  «  Ms.  tat.  5  The  text  is  very 
incorrect.  °  om.  7  Ms.  cowplecciou«e. 


IQ8  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton: 

Works  not  bearing  author's  name. 

i.     The  Privity  of  the  Passion: 
Bonaventura  de  mysteriis  passionis  lesu  Christi.1 

f-  J79-  In  Nomine  Patris  et  Filii  et  Speritus  Sancti  Amen. 

Here  begynnes  the  Previte  off  the  Passiouwe  of  owre  lorde  Ih?.ra. 

Who  so  desyres  to  ffynd  comforthe  and  gostely  gladnes  in  be  Passione  and 
in  {)e  croysse  of  owre  lorde  Ihesu,  hym  nedis  with"  a  besy  thoghte  ffor  to  duell  in 
it  and  all  oper  besynes  forgette  and  sett  at  noghte :  and  sothely  I  trowe  fully  bat 
who  so  wolde  besy  hym?  w/tfc  all  his  herte  and  all  his  mynde  and  vmbethynke  hym 
of  this  gloryus  Passione  and  all  the  circumstance  thare-off,  It  sulde  bryng  hym  and 
chaunge  hym?  In  to  a  new  state  of  lyfyng?.  For  he  bat  incerches  it  with  depe 
thoghte  and  witft  all  hys  hert  lastandly,  he  sail  fynde  full  many  thynges  thare-In 
styrande  hym  to  newe  compassione,  newe  luffe,  newe  gostely  comfortKe,  and 
so  sail  he2  be  broghte  in  to  a  newe  gostely  swettnesse.  [To  gete  bis  state] 3 
bat  I  speke  of,  I  trowe  bat  a  mane  behoued  to  rayse  vp  all  be  scharpenes  of 
his  mynde  £  opyne  whyde  the  Inere  eghe  of  his  soule  In  to  be-holdynge  of 
bis  b[l]esside  passione,  and  forgett  &  caste  be-hynd  hym?  for  be  tym?  all  oper 
Ocupacyouws  &  besynes;  and  that  he  make  hym-selfe  present  in  his  thoghte  as 
if  he  sawe  fully  w/t#  his  bodyly  eghe  all  the  thyngys  bat  be-fell  abowte  be 
crosse  and  be  glorious  passione  of  oure  lorde  Ih?.m;  and  pat  noghte  schortly  & 
passandly,  bot  lufandly,  besely,  habundandly,  &  lastandly ;  noghte  sturdandly4,  ne 
vthh  dullnes  &  hevines  of  sperit.  Pof  eu?ry  man  aughte  wz't^  grett  reu^ance  & 
sadnes  to  thynk  one  all  be  leuynge  &  dedys  of  oure  lorde  Ihesu  bat  he  wroghte 
in  erthe  for  man-kynde,  neu^r-be-lesse  mekyll  more  besyly,  vtith  mekill  sadnes 
&  deuocyone,  awe  hym  to  sett  all  his  herte  &  all  his  myghte  abowte  bis  glorious 
passione:  ffor  here-In  he  schewes  moste  lufe  &  charite  to  vs,  be  wilke  aughte 
to  bryn?  all  oure  hertes  in  lufe  to  hym.  And  ther-for  sett  thy-selfe,  bat  es  bi 
mynde,  b?r-to  all  holly:  and  be-holde  noghte  onely  be  payne  &  crucyfyeng?  of 
thy  lorde  Ihesu  when?  he  was  done  one  the  rode  in  be  oure  of  vndrone,  bot 
also  fro  begynnywg  of  his  blisside  passion?,  that  es  full  of  mat  ere  of  pete  &  com 
passione.  How  mekill  compassione,  I  pray  be,  es  it  to  be2-holde  &  thynke  how 
owre  lorde  Ih?.ra,  bat  es  bothe  verray  gode  and  man?,  fro  be  oure  of  his  taking? 
at  be  euen?,  to  hye  vndron?  of  be  morne  when  he  was  don  on  be  rode,  was  in 
contenuell  batell,  and  hugge  sorowe,  and  bittire  reprevynges,  In  many  skomnynges 
and  vnresonabyll  turmentes,  wzt^-owttyn?  any  ryste  or  cessyng?  Ihesu,  mercy,  amen. 

jDegynne  nowe  thy  meditacyone  at  the  be-gynnyng?  of  Cristes  passyone  and 
pursue  it  feruently  to  be  laste  Ende:  of  the  wilke  I  sail  towche  to  be  a  littill: 
bot  thow  may  vse  them?  more  largelye,  after  god  gyfFes  be  grace.  Be-holde 
nowe  besylye  to  eu?ry  poynte  as  if  pou  were  there  bodyly:  and  be-holde  hym 
graythely  as  he  rase  vpe  fro  his  super,  whene  he  had  Endide  his  Sermon?,  vfith 
his  discipl?s,  and  ^ede  vriih  them?  in  to  a  7,erde  where  he  was  ofte  wounte  to 

1  So  the  title  in  Col.  The  piece  is  a  free  and  abridged  translation  of  Bonaventura's  Medita- 
tiones  vitae  Christi  Cap.  74—92  (Opp.  Paris  1868,  Tom.  XII,  p.  599  ff.).  2  overl.  3  om. 

4  r.  sturtandly. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion. 

goo  vfiih  them<?.  Goo  thow  amange  theme,  &  be-holde  how  lufandly,  how  fe- 
landly  he  gose  \tiih  themtf  and  spekes,  &  steres  them?  to  praye.  Be-holde  also 
how  he  hym-selfe  gose  fro  them?  a  caste  of  a  stone,  and  mekely  and  reverently 
he  knelyde  downw,  prayand  to  his  ffadir.  Abyde  now  a  littill  and  see  be  wondirs 
of  thy  lorde  god.  /  Now  thi  lorde  Ihmi  prayes.  We  rede  that  he  ofte-tyrns 
prayede,  hot  than  he  prayede  for  vs  as  oure  advocate:  bot  now  he  prayes  [for]1 
hym-selfe.  Haue  therfore  pete  &  compassyonc',  and  wondire  of  pe  vnmesurabill 
meknesse  of  hym.  For  of2-all  it  be  sothe  bat  he  be  bothe  gode  and  man,  euentf 
to  be  fadir  of  heuen?,  neu<r-pe-lesse  he  forgettes  as  it  were  his  godhede,  and 
prayes  mekly  as  a  man;  he  stode  as  a  nobire  synnere,  prayand  to  be  ffadire.  / 
Be-holde  also  in  hym  moste  p^rfite  obedience.  What  prayede  thy  lorde  Ihmi? 
sothely  he  prayede  his  ffadire  pat  he  sulde  delyu^r  hym  fro  be  bittire  houre  of 
dede,  he  couetyd  noghte  to  dye,  if  it  were  plesyng  to  be  ffadire  of  heuen?;  and 
neiur-be-lesse  his  aughen?  fadire  wolde  noghte  here  hym.  This  I  saye  aftire  some 
will  bat  was  in  Criste.  For  bou  sail  vndirstande  bat  bere  were  many  and  dyuerse 
willis  in  hym,  as  doctowrs  say :  there  was  In  hym  be  will  of  be  fflesche  and  bat 
wolde  one  no  manere  suffyre  dede ;  ther  was  also  In  hyra  be  will  of  sensualite 
and  bat  gruchede  and  was  afferde  to  suffire  dede;  ther  was  also  in  hym  be  will 
of  be  resou«e  and  bat  was  Obedyent  &  consentande  to  dye ;  thare  was  also  in 
hym  be  will  of  be  godhede  &  bat  cowmandedyd  and  ordaynede  hym  to  dye. 
And  here  sail  bou  haue  pete  &  compassione,  ffor  his  ffadire  will  owtterly  that  he 
dye  for  oure  gilte ,  and  of-all  he  be  his  awghene  begetyn?  sone,  ^itt  will  he  not 
spare  hym  bot  gyffes  hym?  to  be  dede  for  vs.  For  be  ffadire  of  heuen?  louede 
so  mekill  mankynde,  bat  was  loste  thurghe  synne,  bat  for  redempcione  of  mans 
sawle  he  putt  his  aughne  sone  to  be  dede.  And  then?  oure  lorde  Ihesus  takes 
mekly  bis  obedience,  and  fulfillis  it  mekly  and  reu?rently.  /  Here  may  thow  now 
see  be  vnspekeabill  &  be  vnmesurabill  charite,  bothe  of  be  ffadire  and  of  be  sone. 
There-fore  ^eld  we  agayne  pete,  compassione,  £  all  manere  luffe  &  wirchyppe. 
/  Owre  lorde  Ihmi  prayede  his  fadire  a  longe  while,  and  said3:  »My  moste  mercy- 
full  fadire,  I  be-seke  the  that  bou  here  my  prayere,  &  despise  not  my  prayere. 
Take  hede  to  me,  dere  ffadire,  &  here  me:  for  I  am  heuyde  in  my  trauayle,  and 
my  spyrite  es  greued  in  me,  and  my  herte  es  troublede  in  my-selfe:  and  there 
fore  bowe4  downwe  thyne  ere  to  me,  &  here  be  voyce  of  my  besekyng?.  It  was 
likyng?  to  ^ow,  ffadire,  for  to  sende  me  in  to  bis  werlde,  bat  I  sulde  make  asethe 
for  mans  trespas  bat  he  did  to  vs:  and  as  sone  as  bou  said  thus,  I  said  ,1  go', 
and  as  it  es  wretyn*  in  be  spalme  of  me  bat  I  sulde  full-fill  thy  will,  my  gode, 
so  wold  I.  ti  sothefastenes  I  haue  schewed  to  be  werlde,  I5  haue  bene  pore 
£  in  manye  trauelles  fro  myn  ^outhede,  &  I  haue  fulfillide  all  thi  will  and  done 
all  thynges  pat  bou  has  bedyn  me  do.  And  also  what  thyng?  bat  es  7,it  for  to  do 
I  am  redy  to  full-fill  it.  Neu?r-be-lesse,  gud  fadir,  if  it  be  plesande  to  be,  take 
fro  me  bis  bitter  passione  bat  myne  enemyse  ordeyne  for  me.  Thow  sees  wele, 
my  dere  fadir,  howe  grete  ill  bey  ymagyne  agayne  me,  &  how  grete  falsenes 
bey  put  appone  me,  and  all  peire  concell  es  to  do  me  to  dede.  Bot,  holy  ffadir, 
bou  knawes  wele  bat  I  dide  neu?r  none  of  thire  thynges  bat  bey  put  one  me, 
and  bat  bar  es  no  wykkednes  in  my  handes,  bot  I  haue  eu?r  done  bat  was  ple- 

i  om.        2  =  fcof.        »  The  prayer  is  made  up  of  passages  from  Psalms  54,  39.        4  Ms.  bewe  ? 
*  Ms.  tat  I. 


2OO  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

sand  to  pe :  and  pay  do  me  ill  agayne  glide,  &  hatreden^  for  grett  lufe  f)at  I 
schewede  to  pern ;  and  my  disciple  pai  haue  corupte  to  be  peire  ledare  to  lose 
me,  and  haue  boghte  me  for  thrytty  plates.  And  there-fore  I  pray  pe,  dere 
fadire,  pat  thow  take  awaye  fro  me  this  bitter  passione.  Neu^r-pe-lesse  if  it  be 
othir-wyese  plesande  to  pe,  thy  will  be  full-fillide.  Rise  vpe  nowe,  ffadire,  I 
pray  pe,  and  helpe  me:  for  certes,  pofe-all  they  know  me  noghte  for  pi  sone7 
noghte-for-thy  for  alls  mekill  as  I  haue  lyfede  amonge  them£  wz't^-owttyn  any 
trispas  or  gilte,  and  for  many  glide  dedys  pat  I  hafe  done  to  them,  pern  aughte 
noghte  to  be  so  fell  &  crewell  agaynes  me.  Bot  I  pray  the,  ffadir,  be  noghte 
ferre  fro  me:  for  why  my  tribulacione  es  nere,  and  p^r  es  none  pat  will  helpe 
me.«  When^  owre  lorde  Ihmi  had  pus  prayede ,  he  come  agayne  to  his  discipks, 
&  fonde  pern  slepande.  Bot  he  waked  them£,  &  bade  peni£  wake  &  praye,  pat 
pey  fall  noghte  in  to  tewptacione,  and  comforthede  pern.  &  went  agayne  fro  pern 
as  it  were  pe  caste  of  a  stone,  &  mad  the  seconde  pnzyere;  &  pe  thride  tym<? 
the  same  Oryson^;  and  saide:  »Rightewyse  fadire,  sen  pou  owtterly  ordeyned  pat 
I  sail  suffire  ded  one  pe  crosse  for  mans  saule,  thy  will  be  don^.  Bot  I  recomand 
to  ^owe  my  dere  modir,  &  my  disciples,  pe  whilke  I  haue  kept  to  pis  tyme 
whills  I  haue  bene  with"  them*?:  Bot  holy  fadir,  kepe  penu  now  fro  all  ill«.  /  Be- 
holde  in  tyme  of  pis  pnzyere  how  his  pn'cyous  blode  rane  down^  fro  his  blesside 
body  as  watire  *  habuwdandly  in  to  pe  grownde  ffor  gret  angwysse  &  drede  pat 
he  hade  of  his  bitter  dede,  and  be-holde  now  here  besyly  in  howe  grett  angwysse 
&  trybulacyone  pi  lorde  Ihmi  whas  sett  in  pis  houre .  And  be-holde  also  how 
he  prayed  thrys,  or  he  had  any  answere ;  and  there-for  suffire  thowe  paciently 
all-boff  pou  be  noghte  herde  one-one.  /  And  whentf  oure  lorde  hade  pus  prayede, 
and  was  pus  in  pis  grett  angwysse :  the  angell  seynte  Michaell,  a  prynce  of  pe 
heuewnly  courte,  apperide  to  hym  comforthande  hym  &  sayande  thus:  »Hayle, 
my  lorde  Ihmi.  2,our  meke  prayeng  &  7}o>ur  blody  swetyng<?  I  haue  offerde  to  7Jour 
ffadir  in  pe  syghte  of  all  heuenly  courte,  and  we  all  fell  douwe2  one  knese 
pnzyande  hym  to  take  awaye  fro  ^owe  pis  harde  passione.  And  ^oure  ffadir 
ansuerde  &  said:  ,My  dere  sone  Them  knawes  wele  pat  pe  rawnssone  &  salua- 
cione  of  manes  saule,  pat  we  all  desyre  so  gretly,  may  not  be  don^  &  made  with- 
owttyn?  scheddyngtf  of  his  blyssede  blode :  and  pare-for,  if  it  so  be  pat  he  will 
pat  mans  saule  be  safe,  hym  be-houes  to  dy  for  it3<«.  Then  answ[e]rde  oure  lorde 
Ihmi  to  be  angell:  »The  hele  of  mans  saule  all-gatt  I  couette,  &  pere-for  I 
seche  rathere  to  dye  pat  mans  saule  myghte  be  safe,  pan  nott  to  dye  if  mans 
saule  solde  be  loste  :  and  perfore  pe  wyll  of  my  ffadir  be  fullfillede«.  ten  said 
pe  angell  to  hym:  »Be  %e  p^-for  of  gude  comforthe  &  suffirs  manly:  for  sone 
sail  passe  ^oure  disesse  &  payne,  &  ^e  sail  aftir  haf  loye  and  Endles  blise.  For4 
^oure  fadir  es  euer  -with  ^owe,  and  he  [sal]  kepe  T,our  modir  &  all  T^our  disciplys«. 
And  than  owre  lorde  Ihmi,  mekely  and  reu[er]ently  receyuede  pis  comforthyng  of 
pe  angell,  knowyng  how  thurghe  takyng^  of  owre  dedlynes  he  was  made  lesse 
pen  angell  whilles  he  was  in  this  vale  of  teres ;  and  ryghte  as  he  was  ferde  and 
heuy  as  man*?,  righte  [so]  was  he  comforthede  of  pe  angell  wordes  as  man£,  pr^yand 
pe  angell  to  recomande  hym  to  his  fadir  and  to  all  pe  heuenly  courte.  And  so 
pe  angell  toke  his  leue  and  went  his  waye  agayne  to  heuen?.  /  fen^  owre  lorde 

1  r.  swete;  Bon.  in  modum  sudoris.  2  Ms.  don)e.  3  Bon.  adds:  Quid  ergo  decernitis. 

*  Bon.  Dicit  Pater  quod  semper  vobiscum  est. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  2OI 

Ihmi  rose  vpe  pe  thryde  tym*  fro  his  proyere,  all  wete  w/'t/j  blody  swete.  Be- 
holde  hym  nowe  besyly  how  he  wypis  his  visage,  or  ells  wesches  in  pe  [fonte] l 
of  Cedron*,  all  full  of  angwysche  and  woo,  and  hatie  thowe  grete  pete  of  hym* 
&  compassione,  for  he  myghte  noghte  haue  grett  &  swett  blode  so  largely  \vhh- 
owttyn*  grett  bitt*messe  of  sorowe  &  angwysche.  /  Be-holde  &  see  now  besyli 
all  pe  doynges  and  disesse  2  of  pi  lord  Ih*.ra ,  how  he  come  to  his  disciplys  & 
bad  them  slepe  &  take  theire  ryste:  and  he  wakede  &  watchede  as  a  gude  hirde- 
man  oner  hys  floke.  A  full3  gret  Infe3  of  cure  lorde!  sothely  he  [lufed]4  all  his  [to]5 
pe  laste  Ende  of  his  lyfe,  when*  hym-selfe  was  sett  in  so  grett  angre  &  ^it  he  es 
besy  abowte  peire  ryste.  Then  [saw]6  he  his  Enemys  come  fro  ferre  wzt//.  force7 
and  armes ,  wzt/j  lanternes  &  staues ,  to  take  hym ,  and  j;itt  he  wolde  noghte 
wakken*  his  disciplis  bot  sufferde  pern*  slepe,  to  his  Enemyse  were  nere  at  hym. 
£en*  wakkende  he  pern*  &  bade  pern*  ryse:  »ffor  he  pat  has  be-trayede  me  es  now 
cowmen*1".  And  pan  come  ludas  &  kyssede  Ihmi.  For  it  was  pe  manere  of  cure 
lorde  pat  whene  he  sent  his  disciples  in  any  place ,  for  to  kysse  pern*  at  pe 
comyng-agayne :  and  per-for  ludas  gafe  pe  lewes  pat  taken*  pat  wham*  so  he 
kyssede,  hym  sulde  pey  take  and  holde.  Bot  ludas  come  be-fore,  as  who  say: 
»I  am  not  with  pise  armede  men*  nor  of  theire  knowyng;  bot  I  kysse  |ie  &  say 
haile  maysttr«.  Be-holde  here  nowe  oure  lorde  Ihmi  and  se  how  paciently  and 
how  benyngly  he  resayuede  pe  haylsyng  &  the  kyssyng*  of  pe  tnzytoure ;  and  how 
he  suffirde  hym-selfe  to  be  taken*  &  betyn*  &  dispoyllede,  be  ledde  as  a  theeffe  or 
as  a  mysdoere  pat  no  powere  hade  to  helpe  hym-selfe  ;  ffor  he  hade  more  pete 
&  compassione  of  his  disciples  pat  flede  awaye  for  ferde,  pen*  he  hade  of  hym- 
selfe.  Be-holde  now  wele  how  he  es  led  forthe  of  pe  wykked  lewes  towarde 
ICTUS alem  agayne  pe  hill  hastyly,  vfit/i  grett  payne,  &  his  handes  boun*  be8-hynd 
hym*,  boystously  gyrdide  in  his  kirtill  all  one,  bare-heuedc,  &  bowande  down*- 
warde  pe  bake  for  werynesse  &  gret  hastynesse.  /  When  he  was  pr*sentede  be-for 
Cayphas  and  op*r  prynces  &  prestes  of  pe  lawe,  pay  made  myrthe  and  loy  as  dose 
a  lyone  when*  he  has  getyn*  his  pray.  They  lede  hym  in  to  peire  chapetere-hous  & 
examende  hym  straytly;  pey  procurede  false  wittnesse  agayne  hym;  |)ey  dampnede 
hym,  despysede  hym  &  spytte  in  his  faire  face,  they  hillide  his  enghne  &  bobbyd 
hym,  and  witft  many  dispysynges  and  repreuynges  pey  trauelde  hym  hougely :  and  all 
he  suffirde  pacyently  w/t^-owtten*  growchyng*.  And  here  be-holde  hym  wele  &  haue 
thow  compassione  of  hym.  /  At  the  laste  when*  pey  were  wery  for  tourmentyng* 
of  hym,  they  put  hym  in  a  preson*,  [&  bonde  hym  to  a  peler]9  of  stone,  &  lefte 
w;t/j  hym  armede  men*  to  kepe  hym  sekerly  pat  he  sulde  noghte  passe  away; 
[patj10  all  pe  nyghte  myssaide,  repreuy[nlg*  hym*  one  pis  manere:  »Thow  wenede  p0u 
had  bene  wysere  pen*  oure  pryncesj :  it  was  grette  foly !  pe  aughte  noghte  ones 
to  opyn*  pi  mouthe  agayne  them*:  how  durste  pou  be  so  hardy?  Bot  now 
schewes  wele  pi  foly,  now  standes  pou  as  pou  has  diseruede.  fcmi  erte  worthy  to 
be  dede,  and  w/t/z-owttyn*  dowte  so  p0u  sail,  be  seker  p*rx>f«.  And  thus  they 
trmielde  hym  all  pat  nyghte  now  one  now  an  op*r.  Be-holde  now  pi  lorde  gode 
how  mekly  he  stode  &  paciently  sufferand  all  pat  pat  pey  dide,  &  ansuers  noghte 
bot  stode  styll  wit^-owtten*  any  excusyng*,  &  [as]  he  had  bene  gilty  mekly  en- 
clynande  his  eghne  down*warde:  and  haue  here  grete  compassione  of  hym.  A, 

i  Ms.  stonde:  Bon.  in  torrente.        2  Bon.  affectiones.        3  on  margin.        «  om. ;  in  on  margin. 
5  Ms.  in.         6  Ms.  said.        1  r.  torches?        •  Ms.  be  be.        •  om.        10  Ms.  and. 


2Q2  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

lorde  Ihesu ,  in  to  whas  handes  ware  ^e  takyn*,  &  how  gret  was  ^oure  pacience ! 
/  And  pus  stode  he  all  f)e  nyghte  bownd  to  a  peler,  to  pe  morne.  In  this  tym 
saynt  lohn  wente  to  oure  lady  &  to  hir  felawghes,  per  pey  were  to-gedyre  in 
Marye  Maudeleyne  house,  &  tolde  pern*  all  pat  was  done  to  peire  lorde  Ihesu 
&  to  [his]  *  disciplis.  ten  was  pere  vnspekabill  sorowes,  wepynges  &  cryenge^, 
and  wryngynge  of  honde^,  &  murnynge^  witK-owttyn*  mesure.  Be-holde  pern* 
w/tA  grete  cowpassione ,  ffor  pei2  are  sette  in  grete  angwisse  £  in  full  mekill 
sorowe  for  peire  lofly  lorde  Ihmi,  ffor  they  knewe  wele  pat  he  sulde  be  dede. 
Then  owre  lady  turnede  hire  to  pe  walle,  pr^yande  pe  ffadire  of  heuen*  for  hir 
sone  Ihesu,  and  saide:  » Wirchipfull  fadir  of  heuen*,  ffadir  of  mercy  &  of  pete,  I 
comend  in  to  ^oure  hande^  &  if>ur  kepynge  my  moste  dere  sowne  Ihesn,  and  I 
beseke  ^ow  pat  ^e  be  noghte  cruelle  to  hym,  for  3je  are  to  all  othire  benywge 
&  mercyfull.  O  endles  fadire,  whedire  IhesM  my  dere  sone  sail  nowe  be  dede? 
Sothely  he  did  neu*f  ill  to  be  dede  fore.  Bot,  rygtwhise  fadyr  of  heuen*,  sene 
5;e  will  the  redempcyone  of  manes  saulle,  I  be-seke  ^owe  lorde,  pat  3;e  wolde 
ordeyne  it  one  anop*r  manere  than  this :  ffor  all  thyng  es  possibill  to  ^owe.  I 
pray  £ow,  holy  ffadire,  if  it  be  likynge  to  ^owe,  pat  my  dere  sone  Ih*.ra  be  nott 
don  to  dede,  bot  delyu*f  ^e  hym  fro  dede  &  ffro  pe  handes  of  synners,  and  gyfe 
me  hym  agayne.  For  he  for  obedience  &  reu*rence  of  ^owe  helpes  nott  hym- 
selfe,  bot  forsakes  hym-selfe  wittily,  as  mane  pat  myght  nop*r  helpe  hym*-selfe 
ne  cowthe.  Pere-fore  I  pray  ijowe,  if  it  plese  ^owe,  pat  ^e  wolde  helpe  hym*«. 
Kis  prayede  owre  ladye  for  hire  dere  sone  wz't^  all  pe  affectiouwe  and  will  of 
hire  herte,  &  -with  grett  bitt*messe  and  sorowe.  And  p^rfore  haue  now  pete  and 
cowpassione  of  hire,  pat  was  in  pat  grete  trebulacione  for  hir  dere  son£  Ihmt. 

Ad  primam. 

/\rely  at  morne  come  agayne  pe  prynces  and  pe  grette  of  pe  lewes  &  toke 
hym*  owte  of  p^sone,  &  bounde  his  hande^  by-hynde  hym,  and  repreuede  hym* 
&  bade  hym,  »Come  forthe,  thefe,  come  forthe  to  thy  dome,  ffor  this  daye  sail 
we  make  an  ende  of  thy  wykkednes,  and  nowe  sail  it  be  sene  what  all  thy  wisse- 
dom  profete^  pe  &  serues  of«.  And  pus  despetously  pei  lede  hym  forthe  be-fore 
Pylate ;  and  he  folowede  pern*  as  one  Innocente  lambe  pat  were  lede  to  sacra- 
fice.  When*  his  modire  and  seyn  lohn*  &  peire  felawes  come  tymly  at  morne 
to  see  Ih*.ra,  pey  mett  hym  in  pe  waye,  and  when  pey  sawe  hym  so  vnlawefully 
and  so  dispetousely  lede  witR  so  grette  multitude,  pare  myghte  no  tonge  telle  pe 
wo,  pe  sorowe,  pat  pey  hade  ffor  hym.  In  pis  metyng*  to-gedire,  was  gret  sorowe 
one  bothe  pe  partyese ,  ffor  owre  lorde  Ihmi  hade  gret  sorowe  for  compassione 
pat  he  hade  of  all  his,  &  pryncipally  to  his  dere  modire,  ffor  he  knewe  wele  pat 
hire  sorowe  was  vnspekabill  as  towchynge  hym*.  Be-holde  p*HFore  besyly  to 
eu*fy  poynte,  fore  pey  are  full  of  sorowe  &  bytt*r  compassione.  /  Thus  pey  lede 
hym  furthe  to  Pilate;  and  peise  women*  pat  lofed  hym*  so  tendirly  pey  come 
all  o  fferre,  for  they  myghte  noghte  com  nere  hym*  for  thronge  of  pe  lewes. 
Than  the  lewes  accusede  hym  in  many  poyntes,  and  Pilate  sent  hym  to  Herode. 
And  Herode  was  fayne  of  hym*,  be-cause  bat  he  couet  o  long*  tym*  to  se  hym* 
wirke  some  wondirs;  bot  he  ne  myghte  gete  no  meracle,  nor  worde,  of  hym*. 
And  pare-for  Herode  helde  hym  for  a  fole,  &  in  diresyouwe  &  skorne  he  clopede 

1  Ms.  Jeire.        2  Ms.  J)eire. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  203 

hym*  in  whytte  as  a  fole  &  sent  hymz  agayne  to  Pilate:  and  pen  fro  pat  tyme  for- 
warde  pey  helde  hym*  nott  onely  a  mysedoere,  hot  also  a  fole.  Bot  he  sufferde  all 
pis  full  paciently  witfiowttyn*  any  gruchyng*.  Be-holde  now  here,  thow  that  wilde 
be  goddes  luffere,  how  [when] l  he  es  lede  to-warde  and  frowarde,  how  schamefully 
&  how  mekely  he  gose,  his  face  Enclynede  to  pe  erthewarde,  and  herand*  vtith 
grett  styllnes  of  herte  peire  crynges  [and]2  peire  repreuynge^,  &  [suffrand]1  peire 
betynges  and  all  manure  vnclennes.  Be-holde  also  how  his  modire  and  all  his 
frendes  stand  all  o  ferre  lokande,  &  folowande  pern*,  with  mekyll  mwmyng  & 
hertly  sorowe.  /  When*  pey  hade  broghte  hym*  agayne  to  Pilate,  pis  fell  pepyll, 
pey  accusede  hym  felly  vncesynge:  Bot  when*  Pylate  couthe  fynde  no  cause  of 
dede,  he  wolde  haue  delyu*rede  hym*,  &  said  to  pern* :  »I  sail  chastye  hym*  and 
late  hym  goo«.  Then  Pilate  comandede  theym*  pat  he  sulde  be  betyn*  & 
schomgede.  /  Then*  pey  dispoylede  owre  lorde  dispitousely  w/t/j-owtten*  any  pete 
&  made  hym  nakyde,  &  bande  hys  handis  by-hynde  hym*  and  feste  hym  till  a 
pelere  ;  &  bett  hym  withe  scharpe  knotty  schourges,  a  longe  whyle.  3And  as  some 
doctoz/rs  says,  one  eu*ry  knott  was  a  scharpe  hok  of  Iryn*,  pat  w/t/j  eu*ry  stroke 
pey  rofe  his  tendyr  flesche3.  He  stode  naked  be-fore  them?  a  faire  ^onge  mane 
schamefull  in  schapp,  and  speciouse  in  bewte  passande  all  erthely  ment':  he  suf 
ferde  pis  harde  paynefull  betyng  of  thes  wikkede  men*  in  his  tendireste  flesche 
&  clenneste.  Floure  of  all  flesche  and  of  all  man  kynde  es  nowe  full  of  bio  be 
tynges  &  blody  brystywnge^  ;  one  every  syde  stremys  down?  pe  kynges  blode  of 
heuen*  fro  eu*ry  parte  of  his  blyssed  body.  He  es  betyn*  and  betyn*  agayne, 
blester  appon*  blest*r,  and  wonde  appon*  wonde ,  to  bothe  pe  beters  &  be 
[be  -4holders  were  wery,  &  pen*  pei  vn-bonde  hym*.  Be-holde  hym  here  mekly  & 
habondandly,  and  if  pou  can  haue  here  no  compassione  of  pi  lorde  Ihmi,  wete 
pou  wele  pi  herte  es  hardere  pan*  pe  stone.  Than  was  fullfillede  pe  profecy  of 
Ysaye  the  pr^phete,  sayand  thus:  »We  be-helde  hym  all  owt-caste  and  vileste 
of  all  men*,  &  p*r  was  in  hym  nop*r  fairenes  nor  bewte,  bot  he  was  lyke  a 
leprouse  mane,  smetyn*  &  cast  down*?  fro  gode«.  A,  dere  Ihmi,  what  whas  he 
pat  was  so  hardy  to  dispoyle  &  nakyn  pe?  And  how  were  pey  wele  wers  hardy 
pat  durste  bynde  be  so  faste?  Bot  sothely,  most  wikkedly  were  pey  hardy  pat 
du[r]ste  so  bett  the !  Bot  sothely  pou  son*  of  ryghtwisenes,  pou  wz't/*-drewe  pi 
bryghte  beme,  &  p^rfore  was  myrknes  ouere  all  pe  werlde.  A,  lorde  Ihmi,  what 
made  the  to  suffire  all  pis  hard  penance,  townnentejj  and  payne^?  Sothely  thywne 
vnmesurabyll  luffe  bat  pou  hade  to  vs,  and  owre  grette  wikkednes  pat  myghte 
not  be  weschen)e  awaye  bot  w/'t/i  pe  prvcyouse  licoure  of  pi  precyouse  blode. 
A,  lord  IhesvL,  weryede  be  pat  gret  M^kkednes  pat  was  pe  cause  pat  pou  was 
so  felly  tounnente!  /  When  [they  lesid  hym  fro  pe  pelere,  he  ^ode  abowte  se- 
kande  hys  clothes  pat  ware  casten^  here  &  there  where  he  was  firste  nakede. 
Be-holde  hym  here  besyly  thus  betyn*  &  all  tremlyng?  for  colde :  for,  as  pe 
gospell  sais,  pe  wedire  was  colde.  Bot  when*  he  sulde  haue  clede  hym  agayne 
wz't/j  hys  aughen*  clothes,  pey  wolde  noght  suffire  hym ;  bot  lede  hym  furtlie  all 
nakede  be-fore  Pilate  &  said  to  hym:  »Sir,  this  tr-oytoure  mad  hym-selfe  a  kynge : 
and  prrfore  be-houes  vs  elope  hym  one  kynges  manere,  &  corown*  hym^«.  Then 
they  toke  ane  olde  rede  mantill,  foule  &  myschapen*,  &  eloped  hym 


om.        2  Ms.  all.        *-3  added.        *  om.;  Bon.  inspectores. 


204  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

&  toke  a  garlande  of  scharpe  thornnes  in  stede  of  a  corown^  &  threste  one  his 
hede,  &  toke  hym  a  septur  in  his  hande,  all  for  scorne.  Be-holde  pow  now  be- 
syli,  &  haue  pou  pete  of,  his  gret  paynes,  &  2;itt  did  he  all  pat  pey  bade  hym, 
&  suffers  all  pat  pey  do  to  hym:  he  toke  pe  rede  clothe,  he  bare  pe  croune  of 
thorne  one  hys  heuede,  &  toke  pe  septur  in  his  hande ;  &  pey  knelyd  be-fore 
hym  &  scornede  hym  &  calde  hym  kyng£ ,  &  all  [he]  sufferde  &  spake  righte 
noghte  agayne.  Be-holde  hym  nowe  wz't#  compassione  &  tendirnes  of  herte  hou 
his  heued  was  thurghe-prikkede  wztA  scha[r]pe  thornes  thurghe  his  [blesside  brayne, 
and  ofte-tyme  pey  smote  hym£  wzt#  pe  septure  one  pe  heuede  fore  scorne  & 
dispite ;  and  beholde  his  blyssede  face  all  rynnande  wz'tfc  rede  blode.  A  ^ee 
ou^e-donwe  *  blynde  wreches  !  how  dredfull  &  ferdfull  sail  pat  wirchipfull  kynges 
heuede  apere  agayne  in  his  ryghtwyse  dome,  pat  ^e  smote  so  felly  and  dispe- 
tousely !  [Pey]2  scornede  hym^  &  dispysede  hymtf  as  he  wolde  haue  bene  a  kyng^ 
&  myghte  nott ;  and  all  he  sufferde  pacyently  as  [he]3  hade  bene  peire  allere  ser- 
uande.  And  ^itte  them^  thoghte  not  pis  ynoghe :  bot  for  more  scorne  &  repreue 
pey  gedyrde  to-gedire  all  pe  multitude  of  lewes,  &  broghte  hym  furthe  be-fore 
pemtf  thus  scorne[d]4,  weryng  pe  croune  of  thorne,  and  lede  hym  be-fore  Pilate. 
Be-holde  now  tendirly  how  he  stode  all  aschamede,  mekly  bowynge  his  heuede, 
be-fore  so  grete  a  multitude  of  folke  roreyng<?  and  cryenge  »do  hym  one  pe  crosse«, 
scornenynge  [hym]  as  he  hade  bene  a  fole,  and  as  all  had  bene  bot  foly  pat  he 
hade  spoken^  be-fore  to  pe  prynces  &  pe  pharysens  &  p^rfore  pey  dighte  hym 
thus  and  broghte  hym  to  pis  plighte;  and  so  nott  allonely  he5  sufferde  of  theme 
[sorwe]6  and  bodyly  payne,  bot  also  many  repreuynges  &  dispites. 

The  meditacion^  of  vndron^. 

.Pen  all  pe  multitude  of  lewes  come  cryeng  wz'tft  gret  voyce  pat  he  solde  be 
crucifiede,  and  fyus  was  he  dampnede  witK-owttyn^  gylt  of  pat  cursede  domesmane 
Pilate.  They  hade  for-getyne  all  his  benefete^  pat  he  hade  domze  to  pem^,  nor 
they  are  noghte  styrede  to  pete  pof-all  he  be  bot  ane  Innocent  &  clene  of 
lyfyng;  ne  pey  will  not  lett  for  all  pe  paynes  &  turmente2;  pat  pey  haue  done  to 
hymtf  be-fore  ;  bot  they  make  loye  &  myrthe  pat  peire  malicious  Entente  &  peire 
wikkede  will  es  fulfillede.  Pey  scorned  hym  &  hastede  hym  to  his  dede.  /  Then  they 
broghte  hym  [in]  agayne,  &  nakynd  hym  of  his  pwrpure  ;  &  he  stode  nakede  amonge 
theme,  &  soghte  his  aughen^  clothes  pat  were  throwentf  abowte,  &  clede  hym 
with  gret  schame  before  pern^  all,  pat  scornned  hym  as  he  had  bene  vileste  of 
all  men  &  forsaken^  of  god.  Be-holde  here  and  wondire  of  his  grete  mekenes 
and  pacience,  and  conforme  pe  pere-to  and  folowe  as  mekill  as  pou  may.  /  When 
they  had  clothed  hym,  pey  led  hym  forthe  witR  gret  haste  to  his  dede,  and  laid 
one  his  bake,  pat  was  so  sore  &  all  full  of  wondes,  the  hevy  crosse :  and  he  as 
a  meke  lambe  paciently  toke  it  and  bare  it  fertile  witfi  mekill  penance  and  ang- 
wisse;  and  pey  led  hym  forthe  be-twix  two  thefes,  and  pat  was  his  felaschipe! 
O  god  Ihesn,  how  mekyll  schame  &  velany  did  they  to  [^ow]7  the  cursede  lewes, 
pat  mad  pe  kyng  of  trewe[t]he  felawe  to  thettes!  &  more  schame  [^e]8  hade  &  more 
reprefe  pen  pe  thefes:  ffor  they  did  3; owe  bere  ^oure  owng  crosse,  &  pat  rede 
we  nott  of  pe  thefes.  /  Be-holde  hym  here  with  gret  pete  &  compassione ,  how 

1  Ms.  donwes.  2  Ms.  ^e.  3  Ms.  it.  4  Ms.  sayande  &  scornenand.  5  Ms.  how  he. 
6  Ms.  scorne.  7  Ms.  be.  8  om. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  205 

he  wente  stowpande  w/tfc  pat  gret  hevy  byrden?  pat  he  bare,  pat  was  be  crosse. 
Bot  for  as  mekill  as  his  sorowfull  modire  myghte  nott  com  to  hym  for  gret 
thronge  of  pepull,  scho  wente  be  anop?r  waye  nerehand  &  schortere,  with  seynt 
lohn  &  hir  felawes,  &  mett  hire  sone  comyng  owt  of  pe  cete.  And  when?  cho 
sawe  hir1  childe  pus  chargede  w/'t/*  pis  hevy  birden?,  &  he  mwne  al  onere  wz'tfc 
blode,  cho  fell  in  swunynge  and  nerehand  was  dede  for  sorowe;  [n]or2  cho  myghte 
nott  speke  to  hym  a  worde,  nor  he  to  hire,  so  was  he  hastede  to  his  dede  . . .  / 
And  whenc.'  he  hade  borne  pat  hevy  crosse  a  gret  while,  so  pat  for  werynes  & 
pe  sore  wondes  &  sorenes  he3  myghte  no  leng?r  bere  it,  he  laid  it  down*:  and 
for  they  wold  not  tarye  his  dede  fore  ferdenes  of  changyng  of  Pilates  sentence — 
for  he  lete  be-fore  as  he  wolde  hafe  delyeumle  hym?:  bey  made  one  take  |)e 
crosse  &  bere  it  forthe,  &  lede  Ih?.m,  bound  as  a  thefe,  to  pe  mouwte  of  Calueri.  / 
Thynke  pe  nott  pat  all  pis  pat  he  suferde  in  pe  owre  of  matyns,  prime,  & 
vndrone/  w/t/J-owttyn?  any  more  doynge  one  |)e  crosse  had  bene  sorowe  &  payne 
Inoghe,  bitttrnes,  sorowe4  &  angwyse  to  h[e]re5?  Certes,  I  trowe  7,is,  &  mekill 
sterynge  to  petouse  compassione,  ^a  &  bryngynge  in  to  tendir  and  loueande 
hertes  gret  mat  ere  of  pacience.  And  thus  we  haue  saide  in  this  partie  what  be-fell 
in  hire  thre  howres. 

The  Meditacione  of  Middaye. 

Pere-fore  when?  oure  lorde  Ihmi  whas  thus  velansly  broghte  to  pat  stynkande 
place  of  Caluarye,  thow  may  be-holde  wykked  werkes  one  ilke  a  syde.  Be-holde 
them?  pat  stande  beside6,  and  w/t/z  thi  gostely  eghe  be-holde  how  some  makes 
be  crosse  redy,  some  ordeynede  pe  nayles  and  some  pe  hamers,  oj)tr  some 
bryng  forthe  ledders  and  op?r  Instrumentes  pat  pey  hade  ordeynede  to  do  hym? 
one  the  rode  wytll.  Thane  they  nakynde  hym  agayne  be-for  all  f)e  pepill  and 
rafe  of  bustously  his  clothes  pat  were  drye  &  baken?  to  his  blessid  body  all- 
abowte  hym?  in  his  blyssede  blode ,  and  so  they  drew  ofe  be  flesche  &  pe  skyne 
w/t/fc-owttyn?  any  pete.  And  sekerly  jirs  was  a  gret  payne  and  a  vnsufferabill, 
ffor  there  they  renewede  all  his  olde  bryssynges  &  his  drye  wondes,  and  be 
skyne  pat  be-fore  was  lefte  one  hym,  pen  was  it  alto-gedire  rente  of  &  cleuyde 
by  hys  clothes.  O  whate  sorowe  &  woo  trowestowe  pat  his  modire  hade  when? 
cho  sawe  hym  thus  faren?  with?  Scho  had  sorowe  w*t//-owttyn?  mesure  and  also 
gret  schame,  whene  cho  sawe  hym  thus  stande  nakede  —  ffor  pe  fals  lewes  lefte 
nott  so  mekill  one  hym?  as  his  preue  clothes:  and  p^rfore  his  sorowefull  modire 
wente  in  gret  haste  to  hir  sone  &  halses  hym?  and  hilles  hym  w/t/i  the  vaile  of 
hire  heuede.  O  lorde  Ih?ju,  how  mekill  sorowe  &  pete  was  thane  in  hire  herte  ! 
I  hope  cho  myghte  not  speke  to  hym  a  worde  for  gret  sorowe  and  tribulacione 
of  sperite.  Bot  cho  myghte  no  more  helpe  hym?  nor  do  to  hym?,  bot  pat  cho 
couerde  hys  preue  membirs.  For  they  refte  hym  fro  hire  w/tA  gret  Indignacione 
and  Enviousely,  and  as  wode  men?  they  threwe  hym  wyde  opyne  one  be  crosse 7, 
and  strenede  oute  his  armes  w/t/j  gret  violence  one  eu?^y  side ,  and  smote  hym 
thrughe  bothe  be  handes  to  pe  crosse  wz'tA  gret  nayles;  &  when?  pey  hade  so 
•done,  pey  went  to  his  fete  :  &  pe  holes  of  pe  crosse  were  made  so  ferre  fiat 
his  fete  myghte  nott  reche  them?  be  a  gret  thynge :  and  pan  pay  tuke  rapes  & 

i  Ms.  saw  hir  sawe  hir.  2  Ms.  for.          3  Ms.  bat  he.          *  r.  horror?  Bon.  vehementissimi 

dolores  et  amarissimi(!),  et  horrores  stupendi.  8  Ms.  hire.  6  =  biside.  7  In  the  mode 
of  the  Crucifixion  our  text  deviates  from  Bonaventura,  and  agrees  with  R.  Rolle,  p.  86. 


206  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 


gret  violence  bey  drewe  owte  his  body  &  his  fete,  to  bei  1  were  mete  to  be 
holes.  And  aftere  bat  they  reysede  vpe  pe  crosse  one  Ende,  as  many  as  myghte 
ley  hande  one,  &  lett  it  fall  down£  in  to  a  mortase  of  stone,  was  ordeyned  fyerfore  : 
and  In  this  hevy  fallyngtf  all  be  loyntes  &  cenowes  of  his  blesside  body  braste 
in-sondire.  And  whentf  he  was  thus  sprede  o-brode  one  be  crosse  more  straite 
ban  any  parch  emyne-skyn^  es  sprede  one  be  harowe,  so  pat  mene  myghte  tell 
all  be  blyssede  bones  of  his  body:  thane  rane  fro  hym  one  every  syde  stremes 
of  blode  owt  of  his  blessede  wondes  .  For  he  was  sett  so  straytly  bat  he  myghte 
nott  remowe  fote  nor  hande  nor  lyme  of  hym  bot  his  blyssede  hede;  thies  thre 
nayles  bare  vpe  &  sustente  all  be  weghte  of  hys  body.  He  sufferde  mekill  payne, 
^a  more  pan  herte  may  thynke  or  tunge  tell.  He  hangged  by-twyx  two  thefes 
as  he  bat  hade  bene  fawty.  One  every  syde  was  repraies  and  paynes.  And  ^it 
when^  he  was  so  hard  sette,  ^itt  wolde  bey  nott  cesse  of  dispyssynge:  Some 
blasfemede  hym  &  said  fy  one  hym  bat  distroyes2,  and  ofyer  some  saide:  »Othire 
men*?  saned  he,  bot  hym-selfe  he  may  nott  helpe.  If  he  be  goddes  sone  ,  late 
hym  come  doune  of  pe  crosse  &  we  sail  trowe  one  hym«  ;  and  one  many  optr 
wyse  pey  repreued  hym  all  be  daye.  Also  be  knyghtes  pat  crucyfied  hym,  depar- 
tede  amongesj  them?  his  clothes  in  his  awen^  syghte.  /  And  all  pis  bey  did  in 
presence  of  his  sorowfull  modir,  whas  sorow  &  compassione  was  gretly  pe  cause 
of  encressyng  of  hir  dere  sones  passione,  and  be  sones  passione  ekede  be  modire 
sorowe  ;  ffor  oure  lady  hange  one  be  Rode  wztfc  hire  dere  childe  in  soule  ,  and 
rathere  couett  to  dye  witK  hym  pen£  to  lyfe  .  .  .  Per  was  also  be-syd  be  crosse 
standyng  by  oure  lady  lohil  Ewangeliste,  Marie  Mawdelyne,  &  olper  two  Maries 
oure  lady  systers,  &  all  pese  wepede  full  tenderly  for  oure  lorde  Ihmi  ;  bey  had 
gret  cowpassione  of  oure  lord  Ihesv  and  also  of  his  modire,  &  as  ofte  was  peire 
sorowe  renuede  as  any  new  passione,  myssayenge^  or  repr[e]ue  was  don^  to  oure 
lorde  Ihesv  &c. 

A  meditacyone  off  None  3. 

v_/wre  Lorde  Ihesv  whilles  he  hang  one  pe  crosse,  to  be  howre  of  his  ded,  he  was 
noghte  Idill,  bot  he  taughte  gret  p^rfeccione.  He  spake  seuentf  wordes,  the  wilke 
we  rede  in  be  gospell.  The  fyrste  was  whene  he  prayede  for  them^  pat  did  hym 
to  dede,  sayeng  :  »Fadir,  for-gyffe  thenv  theire  trespas,  for  they  wate  nott  whate 
they  doo«  .  .  .  Thise  wordes  were  takyntf  of  gret  pacience,  p^fite  lufe  &  charite,  & 
also  schewenge  of  Ensampill  of  grette  myldnes  &  pete.  /  The  secund  worde  was 
when  he  spake  to  his  modir  of  saynte  lohfi,  &  said:  »Womane,  be-holde  pi 
sone«.  He  called  hire  not  modir  bot  woman^,  bat  cho  sulde  nott  for  tendirnes 
of  lufe  haue  more  sorowe  ne  dissese.  /  The  thryde  worde  was  when  he  spake  to 
pe  thefe  pat  hange  be-syde  hymtf  one  be  crosse,  &  said  :  »This  daye  sail  pou  be 
Vfiih  me  in  paradyse«.  4A,  this  was  a  kynd  worde,  &  a  swete  worde,  &  a  worde 
to  vs  of  gret  comforthe,  whene  he  pat  was  a  theefe  &  a  mysdoere  all  his  lyfe 
to  pe  laste  houre  of  his  dede,  and  thane  for  he  forthoghte  hys  synne  &  beleuede 
in  oure  lorde  Ihmt,  had  forgyfnes.  Now,  lorde,  loued  myght  pou  be!4/  The 
ffertK  worde  was:  Heloy  heloy,  lama^abatani  :  fat  es  to  saye:  »My  god,  my 
gode,  why  hase  bou  forsaken^  [me]?«  as  who  saye:  »my  fadir,  bou  loues  so 


1  Ms.  Jieire.        2  Bon.  Vah  qui  destruis  templum  Dei.        3  —  Nouwe?        4-4  added. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  2O7 

mekill  pe  soule  of  mane  pat  pou  hase  gyffen?  me  to  be  dede  for  it,  and  so 
semes  it  pat  pou  has  fo[r]-saken?  me«.  /The  fyfte  worde  was:  »I  thryste«.  This 
was  a  bitter  worde  fall  of  compassione  bothe  to  his  modir  &  to  seynt  lohn  & 
to  all  his  frendis  pat  louede  hym  tendirly,  and  to  vnpeteuose  lewes  it  was  com- 
forthe  &  grete  gladnes.  For  pof  it  were  so  pat  hym  thrystede  for  pe  hele  of 
manes  soule,  neu?r-pe-les  in  sothefastnes  hym  thrystede  bodily;  &  pat  was  no 
wondyr,  for  thurghe  scheddyng?  of  hys  pr?cyouse  blode  so  habundandly,  *&  for 
grete  angwyse  pat  he  sufferde  withowttyn?  cessyng?  fro  pe  thursedaye  at  euen? 
to  pe  ffrydaye  at  hey-none1,  he  was  all  Inwardly  drye  and  thristy.  And  when? 
pise  vnpetouse  men?  vmbethoghte  them?  in  what  thyng?  bey  myghte  moste  dere 
hym?,  they  tuke  aysell  &  gall  &  mengede  to-gedir,  and  gafe  hym  to  drynke. 
/The  sexte  worde  was  whene  he  saide:  »It  es  all  don)e«,  as  who  say:  »Fadyr, 
pe  Obedience  pat  pou  bad  me  do,  I  haue  fullfillede  it;  and  ^it,  if  pare  be  any 
more  pat  3 e  will  pat  I  do,  I  am  redy  to  fulfill  it«  ...  And  thane  he  be-gane  to 
langwesse  as  be  man?r  es  agayne  pe  dede ,  now  speryng  hys  eghne  &  now 
Openyng  pern?,  nowe  bowynge  his  heuede  downwe  one  be  to  syde  and  now  on? 
pe  top?r,  and  all  hys  strenghes  &  all  his  myghte  be-gane  to  faile:  /  &  pen  said 
he  pe  seuend  worde,  cryeng?  with  a  hye  voyce  &  a  myghty,  &  with"  teres  wepyng? 
sayeand:  »Fad?r,  I  comende  my  sperite  in  to  pi  handes«;  and  than?,  when  he 
had  said  pis  wordes2,  he  ^elde  pe  goste  ...  /  O,  dere  frende,  what  sorowe  trowes 
thow  vmlappede  the  soule  of  his  dere  modyre,  when  cho  sawe  hir  dere  sone  so 
paynefully  fayle  and  dolefullye  dye?  I  trow  pat  for  mekill  payne  and  angwysse 
scho  was  all  slokenede3  in  sorowe,  and  made  as  it  were  incencebill  and  as  it 
were  halfe-dede,  mekill  more  pan?  thane  when?  cho  mete  hym  in  pe  waye  beryng 
his  crosse.  And  what  trowes  thow  pat  Marie  Maudeleyne  dyde  pat  so  mekyll 
loued  Ihmi?  what  dyd  sayne  lohn,  moste  bylouede  of  Ihmi  of  all  his  disciplys? 
and  what  trowes  pou  pat  pe  top?r  two  sysryrs  of  oure  lady  dyd?  What  myghte 
they  do?  £ey  where4  slokende  and  fulfillide  w/'t/*  bitt?mes  of  sorow  and  made 
dronken?  vrit/i  sobbyng?  and  sygheyng,  ffor  all  they  wepide  witft-owttyn?  mesure.  / 
Be-holde  now  how  thi  lorde  Ihr.ru  honge  dede  one  pe  crosse  for  pi  lufe.  All 
pe  multitude  of  pe  folke  where  ben?  gone  home,  bot  onely  oure  lady  &  hir 
systers  &  saynt  lohn;  they  duellide  &  sett  them*  doun?  be-syde  be  crosse,  and 
ofte  pey  lokede  one  peire  lufe,  abydand  helpe  how  bey  myghte  take  hym?  downe 
&  bery  hym.  Now,  &  thow  wolde  wele  &  avesyly  be-holde  |)i  lorde  Ihesu,  thow 
may  fynde  pat  fro  pe  crown?  of  pe  heuede  to  pe  sole  of  his  fete  pare  was  no 
hole  spotte  lefte  one  hym?;  nor  lym  nor  party  of  his  blyschede  body  bat  ne  it 
was  full  of  payne,  passione,  woo,  angwysse,  and  sorowe.  /  Thow  haste  now  herde 
me  reherse  here  pe  manere  of  his  cmcyfyeng?,  his  passione  and  his  bitt?mes, 
and  his  rewefull  dede,  the  wilke  he  sufferde  in  be  houre  of  vndron?5  and  of 
none ,  aftyr  pz's  littill  wryttyng?  for  sterryng?  of  deuocyon?  at  pis  tym? :  and  there 
for  studye  pou  devotely,  mekly,  and  besyly  for  to  clefe  p?rto,  and  take  Ensampill 
parof  as  mekill  as  in  pe  es,  thourghe  pe  helpe  of  pe  m?rcy  of  Ih?JU,  and  folowe 
aftire.  And  nowe  I  will  reherse  the  schortely  whate  be-fell  aftyr  pat  he  was 
dede  at  pe  houre  of  none  &c. 


'-1  added.         2  r.  worde?        3  Bon.  absorpta.        <  =  were.        »  Bon.  sexta. 


208  Ms-  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

f  Also  at  None  &c. 

Aftire  be  houre  of  none  the  petefull  modire  of  Ihesu  oure  lady  saynte  Marie, 
saynt  John,  Marie  Maudeleyne,  &  be  two  systers  of  our*  lady,  bey  satt  styll 
abyddyng*,  &  be-holdyng*  wzt/z-owttyn*  cessyng*  oure  lorde  Ihesn  so  hangyng 
be-twixe  two  thefes  nakede  &  so  petousely  wouwdede,  so  bitterly  twnnent,  so 
schamfully  done  to  dede,  and  vtterly  for-saken*  off  all  men*.  And  as  bey  satte 
thus  to-gedire ,  they  sawe  come  fro  be  Cete  a  grete  companye  of  armede  men*, 
that  where  sente  fro  be  prynces  of  be  lewes  to  take  bem*  down*  bat  hange  one 
be  crosse  and  bery  bem*:  that  they  solde  nott  hang  one  be  crosse  one  be 
grette  sabot-daye.  Than  oure  lady  &  hir  companye  rose  vpe  &  behelde  them*, 
ffor  then*  begane  beire  sorowe  all  newe  &  drede  [&]  ferdnes  to  begyne.  Oure  lady 
was  ban*  full  ferde  and  couthe  noghte  bot  turnede  hire  to  hir  sone  as  he  hange 
dede  one  be  Rode,  and  said  to  hym:  »My  dere  sone,  whareto  come  bise  men* 
agayne?  what  will  bey  do  to  be  more?  haue  bey  nott  don*  be  to  ded?  My  dere 
sone,  I  wend  bey  hade  fullfillede  all  beire  will  of  the :  bot,  me  thynke,  bey  will 
not  cesse  to  pursue  [be]  dede.  My  dere  sone,  I  wate  never  whate  I  sail  do,  ffor 
nob*r  I  myghte  haue  be  leuyng*  nor  I  may  not  defende  be  dede.  Bot  I  sail 
come  and  stande  be-syde  the  crosse  at  thy  fete,  my  dere  sone,  and  I  beseke  thy 
dere  fadire  bat  he  make  bem*  to  haue  mercy  one  the  and  pete«.  And  ban  bey 
all  fyve  knelide  down*  to-gedire  be-fore  be  crosse  of  Ihmi,  sore  wepande.  /  Thane 
come  beise  wikkyde  lewes :  &  when*  bey  sawe  bise  two  thefes  bat  hang  by  oure 
lorde  one  lyfe,  bey  brake  beyre  thees  &  slewe  theme  all-owte,  &  caste  them* 
vilancely  in  to  a  dyke.  And  when*  bey  come  to  oure  lorde  Ihmi,  oure  lady  his 
modire  was  a-drade  bat  bey  suld  do  so  with  oure  lorde:  scho  fell  down*  one 
hire  knees,  &  helde  vp  bothe  hir  handes  tendirly  wepyng*,  &  said:  »Brethire,  I 
pray  ^ow  for  goddes  lufe,  bat  7}e  do  no  more  to  my  son)e.  I  am  here  his  sorow- 
full  modire,  &  ;e  knowe  wele  bat  I  greued  ^ow  neu*r  ne  trespaste  agayne  ^ow; 
and  bof-all  my  sone  semed  contrarie  to  ?ow,  ^e  haue  now  slayne  hym?,  and  I 
will  for-gyfe  ^owe  be  wronge  &  be  trespas  bat  7,e  haue  done,  &  my  dere  sons 
dede,  so  bat  %e  do  mercy  witR  me  bat  ^e  breke  not  his  lymmes,  bat  I  may  lye 
hym  hole  in  his  grave.  It  nedis  not  bat  ^e  breke  his  ly;/zmes,  fore  ^e  see  wele 
he  es  dede  and  passede  forthe«.  £en  said  lohn  &  Marie  Maudeleyn*  &  oure 
lady  systers:  »A,  dere,  whate  doo  ^e?  why  do  7,e  knele  ,  swete  lady  of  heuen*? 
77e  knele  at  be  fete  of  wikkede  men*?,  and  %e  pray  pern*  bat  no  prayere  will 
here.  Wene  :$e  to  bow  to  be  mercy  of  creuell  wikkede  &  prowde  men*?  Nay, 
lady,  it  will  not  be,  for  meknes  es  abhomynabill  to  prowde  men*,  and  thare-fore, 
lady,  ^e  tnzuell  in  vayne«.  /  And  ban  one  of  bem*  bat  hyghte  Longeus,  [bat]  bat 
tym*  whas  prowde  and  wykkede,  bot  aftyre  he  was  comiertede  &  was  a  holy 
martire:  he  take  a  longe  spere  &,  dispysande  our*  lady  pfayere,  ffersely  and 
witfr  a  fell  herte  he  thriste  oure  lorde  thorow-owte  his  swete  herte,  &  made  a 
greuose  wonde:  &  one-on*  rane  owte  blode  &  water*.  Thane  ffell  his  modyr  in 
swoune  in  Marie  Maudelyn*  armes.  Than  lohn  for  gretnesse  of  sorowe  tuk 
herte  to  hym*  &  saide:  »7,e  wikkede  men*,  why  do  7,e  pus?  Se  ^e  not  wele  he 
es  dede?  Will  7,e  also  slee  his  sorowefull  modyre?  Gose  home  and  late  vs  bery 
hym  oure-selfe«.  Than,  as  god  wolde,  bey  went  home.  And  ban*  they  comforthede 
oure  lady  &  sette  hir  vpe ;  &  ban  askede  scho  bem*  what  bey  had  done  to  hir 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  2OQ 

sone;  and  pey  said,  no  more  pan  cho  sawe.  Pan  syghede  scho  and  be-helde 
hir  sone  so  dispetousely  wondede.  Than  dyede  scho  neghe  fore  sorowe.  How 
ofte,  thynke  the  that  oure  blyssed  lady  sufferde  payne  of  dede?  Sothely,  as  ofte 
as  scho  sawe  any  new  payne  or  passione  don*  to  hire  sowne.  And  p*Hbre  was 
fulfillide1  pe  prophecy  of  holy  Semyone,  pat  said  pe  swerde  of  sorowe  sulde 
thurghe-perse  hir  herte.  /  Than  sett  they  pern*  down*  by  pe  crosse  agayne,  & 
wiste  noghte  what  they  myghte  do.  For  they  myghte  nott  take  down*  pat  body — 
they  had  no  myghte  pare-to.  Ne  awaye  durste  pey  noghte  go  and  leue  hym 
one  pe  crosse ;  &  per  myghte  they  noghte  abyde  long,  for  nyghte  com  one  theme : 
and  pus  were  pey  sette  in  grete  p*rplexite  and  dowte  what  them*  was  beste  to 
doo.  A,  mercyfull  Ihesn,  how  myghte  ^e  suffere  7,our  owen*  modire,  be  whilke 
?e  ches  of  all  pe  women*  of  be  werlde  for  to  be  myrrow  and  example  to  pe 
werlde  &  to  be  ^our  owen*  rystynge-place,  to  be  pus  pyned,  trobulde,  torment 
&  disessede?  It  es  tym*  pat  cho  hade  som  riste,  &  ^e  wolde  wyche-safe  &c. 

^f  At  the  houre  of  Euensonge. 

XTOioptr  tym*  pey  lokede  &  saw  come  fro  pe  cete-warde  a  company.  Bot  it 
was  losephe  of  Aromathy  &  Nycodeme ,  pat  come  w/tA  Insbmnewtte^  to  take 
downe  be  blyssede  body  of  oure  lorde  Ih*.ra  Criste ;  and  pey  broghte  also  witA 
pern*  a  hundrethe  pounde  of  aloes  &  of  myre.  Than  oure  lady  &  hir  company 
rose  vpe  w/tA  gret  drede,  and  wend  it  hade  bene  any  new  schame  of  twnnentrye. 
A,  dere  god,  how  gret  was  beire  tribulacion*  pat  day!  Than  lohn  loked  & 
saide:  »^ondire  comes  Joseph  &Nycodeme«:  and  than  oure  lady  was  gretly  com- 
forthede,  &  thankede  god  bat  had  thoghte  one  pern*  &  sent  them*  helpe  & 
socoure;  &  bade  lohn  pat  he  sulde  goo  agayne  pern*  &  kepe  pern*.  And  lohn 
in  gret  haste  &  mette  pern* ;  &  ilkone  haylseste  ob*r  with  grete  wepynge  & 
m«mynge — for  b*r  myghte  none  speke  w/tA  ob*r  a  longe  while  for  tendirnesse 
of  compassione,  &  mekillnes  of  sorowe  &  wepyng*.  Than  loseph  spake  and  askede 
ware  oure  lady  was,  &  who  was  with  hire,  &  what  all  f>*2  op*r  disciplis  of  Ih«u 
did.  Then*  lohn  tolde  pern*  of  owre  lady  &  of  hire  companye ;  bot  of  Peter 
&  of  all  be  op*r  discyplis  he  couthe  nott  tell,  fFor  he  had  not  herde  tell  of  pern* 
of  all  pat  daye.  And  when*  pey  come  nere  at  pe  crosse,  on-one  pey  fell  down* 
one  knees  &  wyrchepyd  oure  lorde.  And  pen*  oure  lady  &  hyr  company  knelyd 
down*  &  with  gret  reu*rence  resayued  pern*  and  wyrchipede  pern*,  &  pey  knelyd 
agayne.  And  pen*  said  oure  ladye  to  pern*:  »7,e  do  wele  pat  ^e  haue  mynde  of 
our*  lorde  &  %our  mayst*r,  flfor  he  loffede  jjowe  full  mekill ;  and  I  tell  s;ow  I  haue 
full  grete  comforthe  of  %our  cornmynge,  ffor  we  wist  nott  be-fore  what  we  myghte 
do  :  &  p*rfore  gode  thanke  ^ow«.  Than  they  ansuerde  &  saide :  »We  sorowe  & 
murne  witA  all  oure  hertes  for  all  pat  es  done  to  hym*,  &  fayne  wolde  we  haue 
helpen*  hym*,  bot  we  myghte  not  with  righte  ou*re3-come  wikkednesse;  neu*r- 
be-les  bis  littill  servise  sail  we  do  to  oure  lorde«.  Than  rose  pey  vpe  &  mad  peme 
redy  to  take  hym*  downn*.  /  Thane  losephe  sett  vpe  a  leddere  one  pe  ryghte  syde, 
and  drew  owt  pe  nayle  of  his  ryghte  hande,  w/'tA  gret  trouayle,  ffor  it  was  full  faste 
dreuen*  in  pe  tree,  and  pe  nayle  was  boystous  of  it-selfe;  [and  be-tuke  it  to.  lohn 
&  bade  hym*  pat  oure  ladye  sulde  noghte  see  it,  ffor  ferde  of  swounynge].4  Pen* 


1  Ms.  fnllide,  fil  on  margin.        2  Ms.  Jat.        »  Ms.  oturrre.        «  om.  here. 


2  io  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Nychodeme  wente  vpe  one  pe  lefte  syde  &  toke  owte  pat  nayle,  &  be-tuke  it  to  lohn1. 
£en*  Nichodeme  com  dou^e1  &  went  to  pe  fete,  &  losepK  bare  vpe  pe  body  of 
Ih&ra.  A,  losepKe,  wele  was  the  pat  so  myghte  holde  pe  blyssede  body  of  Ihmi ! 
Than  tuke  oure  lady  pat  o  hande  pat  hange  downwarde,  -with  gret  reu^ence,  & 
putt  it  till  hire  face,  &  be-helde  it  &  kyssed  it  witK  many  teres  &  sore  syghynges. 
When  pe  nayle  of  pe  fete  was  pullyd  owte,  losepR  come  softely  douwe2,  &  pen* 
pey  all  toke  his  blyssede  body,  &  laide  it  down*  one  pe  grownde.  &  our  lady 
tuke  his  heuede  one  hyre  kne,  &  Marie  Maudeleyne  his  fete,  where  scho  hade 
fune  before-tym^e  ffull  mekill  grace ;  all  pe  top**'  [stode]  abowte  hym*,  and  made 
mekyll  mone,  waymentyng  &  wepynge,  as  it  hade  bene  peire  owun)e  getyn*  child  e. 

^[  Att  Complyn)e. 

jf\ftire  they  hade  stande  lange  pus  wepynge  a  gret  while,  losepft  come  to  oure 
lady  and  prayed  hire  pat  scho  wolde  suffere  them  to  dighte  pe  body  and  bery  it. 
Then  saide  our*  lady:  »Nay,  gud  frendis,  takes  nott  fro  me  my  sone  [so  son*]3, 
bot  rathere  bery  me  wz't/fc  hym«.  Scho  wepid  wzU-owttyn*  cowforthe,  scho  be- 
helde  be  wondes  of  his  hende  &  fete  &  syde,  nowe  one  &  nowe  one  op*r,  scho 
be-helde  his  lufly  face  defoulled  with"  spittyng*  &  brissede  blode,  his  heuede 
prikkede  vritfi  scharpe  thornnes4:  per*  was  pen*  no  wepyng*,  no  be-holdynge, 
no  kyssynge,  pat  myghte  fill  hire  ...  Bot  it  drewe  nere  nyghte,  &  lohn  pnzyede 
hire  pat  scho  wolde  voche-saue  to  suffere  losephe  &  Nychodeme  to  dyghte  pe 
body  of  Ihmt  &  graue  it:  »ffor  pey  myghte  lightely,  he  said,  if  pey  tariede  longe, 
fall  vndire  daungere  of  pe  Iewes«.  Then*  scho,  as  wyse  lady  &  discrete,  vmbe- 
thoghte  hyre  how  scho  was  be-takyn*  to  pe  kepyng*  of  lohn :  scho  blyssede 
hire  sone  &  sufferde  them*  to  do  wz't/z  hym  what  so  pey  wolde.  Then*  losepft 
£  Nychodem*  be-gane  to  lape  hym*  in  sendell,  as  pe  manere  was  of  lewes  to  be 
beryede.  Bot  oure  lady  held  styll  his  heuede  in  hir  lape,  to  dyght  it  hir-selfe; 
and  Marie  Maudeleyn*  his  fete,  and  prayed  them*  pat  scho  myghte  dight  his 
fete  where  scho  had  fun*  mercy  and  grace.  Then*  scho  tuke  his  fete  and  helde 
pern*,  &  swouwnede  nere  for  sorowe,  &  pe  fete  pat  scho  weschede  be-fore  vtiih 
teres  of  compuwncione,  aftyrwardes;5  scho  weschede  them*  wele  bett*r  wzt/z  teres 
of  deuocyone  &  bitt*r  compassione.  Scho  sawe  his  fete  so  dulfullye  wouwdede 
&  drye  baken*  in  blode,  pat  scho  wept  full  tendirlye;  scho  desyrede  to  dye  for 
sorowe,  bot  scho  ne  myghte.  Scho  wolde  fayne  haue  anoyntede  all  his  body  and 
lappede  it,  bot  scho  had  no  powere  perto ;  scho  myght  no  more  do,  scho 
weschede  his  fete  wz't/z  teres  of  hir  eghne,  &  wyped  them*  w/'t/k  hir  here^ ,  scho 
halsede  pern*  &  kissed  pern*,  lapped  pern*  &  dyghte  them*  one  pe  beste  manere 
pat  scho  couthe.  Then  when*  all  pe  body  was  dyghte,  pey  lokede  to  oure  lady 
pat  scho  sulde  dyghte  pe  heuede,  and  pan*  begane  they  to  wepe  all  newe. 
Oure  lady  sawe  pat  [scho]6  ne  myghte  no  lengare  tarye:  scho  kyssede  hir  dere  sone 
and  said  to  hym:  »My  dere  sone,  now  holde  I  pe  dede  one  my  kne:  A,  how 
hard  es  pe  departyng*  of  pe  &  me!  Mery  &  loyefull  was  oure  lyfe  to-gedire, 
witKowten  greuance  or  offence  of  any  op*r,  pofe-all  pou  be  pus  ded  and  spilte, 
my  dere  sone,  withowtten*  gylte.  Trewly,  my  dere  sone,  serued  I  pe  and  pou 
me :  bot  in  pis  bataile  thy  fadire  wold  nott  helpe,  &  I  myghte  not  in  no  kynde, 

i  Here   follows:    &  bade   hym*?   &c.— swounynge.  2  Ms.  done,   which   also  means  donne, 

3  om.        4  Ms.  thorunes.        5  Bon.  nunc.        6  Ms.  bey. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  2 1 1 

and  p<m  spylte  pi-selfe  for  man-kynde.  O  dere  lorde,  how  herde  and  paynefull 
was  pat  byeng* !  I  am  fayne  for  be  lufe  of  ma«ns  saule ;  hot  for  pi l  sorow  &  pi 
bitt*f  ded  I  pynede  wzt#-owtten*  mesure ,  ffor  I  knewe ,  dere  sone ,  pat  p0u 
neuere  synned  ne  trespassede  agayne  mane  &  perfore  arte  pou  don*  to  ded. 
Now,  my  dere  sone,  es  cure  felachipe  twynnede,  now  be-houes  me  parte  fro  the. 
I  thy  moste  sorowfull  modire  now  sail  I  bery  pe  my  dere  sone;  and  aftyrwarde 
whedire  sail  I  wende?  where  sail  I  duell?  how  sail  I  lyfe  wztfc-owttyn*  the?  I 
wolde  fayne  be  beried  w/tfc  the,  pat  where  so  thowe  were,  I  myghte  be  -with 
the.  Bot  sen*  I  may  noghte  be  grauen*  -with  pe  in  body,  my  soule  sail  I  leue 
in  graue  with  the;  I  comende  it  to  pe.  A,  my  dere  sone,  how  bittire  es  this 
departyng* !«  &  pus  w/'U  a  floude  of  teres  sche 2  weschede  his  vesage,  mekill  better 
»  pen*?  Maudeleyn*  did  his  fete.  Scho  wypede  his  face,  &  kissede  his  mouthe  and 
his  eghne,  &  wonde  his  blyssede  heuede  In  a  sudarye,  and  besyly  dighte  it  as  it 
sulde  be ;  at  pe  laste  scho  crossede  hym*  and  blyssed  hym*.  And  pen*  pey  all 
rose  vp  &  knelide  be-fore  hym*,  honourede  hym  &  kyssede  his  fete,  &  hike  vp 
his  body  &  bare  it  to  his  graue.  Owre  lady  helde  vp  his  heued,  &  Maudeleyn* 
his  fete,  &  be  top*r  went  in-myddis  beryng*  vp  his  body.  For  pe  [graue]3  was  not 
ferre  fro  pe  [place]4  pat  he  was  crucifiede  [in] ;  in  pe  wilke  [graue]3  they  beriede  hym* 
Vfiih  grett  reuerence  kneland,  gretande  vtith  many  bitter  teres,  sadde  sobbynges 
&  sorowfull  syghynges.  And  when*  he  whas  thus  laide  in  his  graue,  his  modire 
blyssede  hym*  &  halssede  hym*  &  fell  apon*  hire  dere  sone ;  &  j)en*  lohn  & 
hir  sisters  lyftede  hir,  vp  &  couerde  {)e  graue  w/t/j  a  grett  stone... 

A  meditacione  [after]5  cowplyn;   &  oprr  thynge^  of  his  beryeng. 

When*  Joseph  of  Aromathy  had  fulfillede  his  office,  he  said  to  oure  lady: 
^Fore  goddes  sake,  &  for  pe  luffe  of  'ipur  dere  sone  Ihmi  my  lorde  &  my  mayst*r, 
pat  5;e  wolde  vochesaffe  to  come  home  to  my  house  !  I  knowe  wele,  lady,  j)at 
?,e  haue  no  house  of  ?oure  aghen*,  &  all  pat  I  haue  it  es  at  ^oure  will".  And 
Nychodeme  proyede  hir  one  pe  same  manere.  A,  lorde  Ihmi,  how  grete  com- 
passione  es  this!  the  qwhene  of  heuen*  has  nott  so  mekill  to  be  herberde  In*  o 
nyghte ;  and  all  pe  sorowfull  dayes  of  hir  wedowhede  hir  be-houes  to  ly  vndire 
op*r  mens  hillyng*7.  &  wele  may  pis  be  calde  dayes  of  hir  wedowede  to  hire: 
ffor  hir  dere  sone  oure  lorde  Ihmi  was  to  hir  bothe  spouse  &  sone,  ffadire 8  &  all 
op*r  gude,  and  p*rfore,  when*  scho  for^ode  hym*,  scho  for^ode  also  all  op*r 
gude  viit/i  hym*.  And  p*rfore  was  scho  thane  in  wedowede  sothefastly ,  &  had 
no  duellyng*-place  to  come  too.  Then  scho  Enclynede  mekely  to  j)em*,  thankand 
pern*  of  peire  gud  will,  &  said  how  scho  was  be-takyn*  to  lohn  &  pare[fore]9 
scho  myghte  nott  do  bot  at  lohnes  ordynance.  And  pen  lohn  answerde  & 
saide  pat  he  wolde  lede  hire  to  pe  mownt  Syon*,  where  10  oure  lorde  Ihmi  soupede 
pe  nyghte  before  -with  his  disciplis.  Then  loseph  and  Nychodem*  toke  peire 
leue  at  oure  lady,  &  wirchipede  pe  sepulcre,  &  ^ode  home :  and  lohn  &  oure 
lady  bode  styll  at  be  graue.  After,  when*  it  begane  to  drawe  to  nyghte,  lohn 
said  to  oure  lady:  »It  es  nott  honeste  pat  we  duell  here  ou*r-longe ,  or  pat  we 
come  to  pe  cete  be  nyghte :  and  p*rfore,  if  it  be  lykynge  to  ^owe,  go  we  hens«. 
Then  oure  lady  rose  vp ,  &  pey  bothe  knelyd  down*  to-gedire  at  be  sepulcre 

1  Ms.  J>e.        2  Ms.  scho?        »  Ms.  place.         «  Ms.  graue.         *  Ms.  off.        6  add:  I  pray  ^ow 
lady.        i  Bon.  tecto.        8  Bon.  pater  et  mater.        »  Ms.  tare.        10  Bon.  in  domum  in  qua. 

14* 


212  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

fyen  cure  lady  halsede  pe  sepulcre  and  blyssett  it,  &  said:  »My  dere  sone,  I  may 
no  lengare  duelle  nowe  w/t#  pe:  I  recomende  })e  to  thy  ffadyre«.  Than  scho 
lifte  vp  hir  eghne  to  pe  heuen^-warde  &  prayede  to  pe  fadir,  sayande:  »Endles 
ffadire,  I  recomende  to  ^owe  my  dere  sone  Ihmt,  &  myn<?  aghen?  soule,  pe  wilke  I 
lefe  here  vrith  hym«,  &  then^  be-gane  pey  two  [to  go]1.  When^  scho  come  for-gayne 
f)e  crosse,  scho  knelide  downtf  one  hir  knes  &  honoured  pe  crosse,  &  said:  »Here 
dyede  my  dere  sone  &  here  was  his  pmnouse  blode  schede«,  &  so  did  all  hir 
felawes.  Here  may  thowe  thynke  pat  cure  lady  was  the  fyrste  body  that  wirchip- 
pede  the  crosse  ....2  righte  as  scho  was  pe  firste  ..  tellyng  and  reherseyngtf  of  pe 
wordes  &  dedis  of  peire  swete  lorde  Ihmi.  /  Oure  lady  was  eu^-more  pesefull3 
&  quiete  in  sperite,  ffor  scho  hade  eu^miore  certayne  hope  pat  he  sulde  sone 
ryse  vp  agayne,  and  in  pat  Saturday  was  all  pe  faythe  of  holy  kyrke  in  hir  alone 
— and  p^rfore  es  the  Saturday  specyally  wirchepde  in  pe  honoure  of  owre  lady. 
Neu^r-pe-lese  scho  myghte  nott  be  merye  nor  glade,  be  cause  of  vmbethynkyng^ 
of  pe  bitter  dede  of  oure  lorde  Ihmi  hir  dere  sone.  /  At  euen^,  aftere  pe  soraie 
settyng<?,  whentf  it  was  lefull  to  wyrke,  Marie  Maudeleyne,  Marie  lacobi  &  Marie 
Salome,  oure  lady  systyrs,  wente  to  by  spycery  to  make  oynement  of.  Be-holde 
J)en<?  nowe  how  besyly  pey  wente  vfitk  hevy  chere  in  manere  of  wedouse,  and 
come  to  a  man  pat  was  wele  willy  to  peire  lorde  &  gladly  &  willyly  fulfillede 
beire  desyre,  &  pey  boghte  of  hym  spyceryse  &  payede  hymu?  before ;  &  come 
home  &  ordeynede  pis  onyment.  Be-holde  besyly  pise  women^  how  trewly  & 
besily,  how  deuoutly  on  pe  best  man^r  bat  pey  cane  they  trauelle  in  theire 
lordes  servyse,  -with  many  teris  &  sore  sygheynges.  Owre  lady  &  pe  appostilles 
stode  all  &  be-helde  pern?;  and  all  pat  nyghte  pey  abode  at  home. 

How  oure  lorde  went  to  hell:  fyrste  aftire  his  ded. 

JDe-holde  now  what  owre  lord  Ihtf.ni  dide  one  be  Saturday.  As  sune  as  he  was 
dede,  he  wente  downtf  to  hell  to  owre  holy  ffadyrs  pat  ware  in  lymbo  to  tyme 
of  his  resureccione.  &  pen<?  were  pey  all  in  grete  loye :  for  be  syghte  of  gode  es 
ptfrfite  loye.  4£ere  was  also  pe  thefe  pat  oure  lorde  hangyngtf  one  pe  crosse 
said  thus  to,  »this  daye  sail  pou  be  with  me  in  paradyse«  —  ffor  paradyse  es 
caulde  pe  syghte  of  gode  ;  ffor  as  sune  after  pe  passione  of  oure  lorde  bothe 
f)e  thefe  &  all  pe  holy  ffadirs  bat  ware  in  lymbo  saw  be  loye  of  gode  as  he  es.4 
Be-holde  now  here  pe  mekill  m^rcy  &  pe  gudenes  of  oure  lorde  pat  wolde 
descende  downe  to  hell,  and  pe  vnmesurabill  charite  &  mekenes  pat  he  schewede 
in  his  dyenge.  He  myghte  hafe  sent  one  of  his  angells  to  peni£  [to]5  hafe  vesette 
his  seruande^  and  takentf  them£  owtt  of  hell  and  pr^sente  them<?  to  hym^  whep^re 
hynitf  had  lykede :  Bot  his  gret  charite  &  his  mekenes,  myghte  noghte  suffire  hymtf 
bot  bat  he  sulde  algate  dye,  and  before  he  come  in  his  aghentf  persone  lorde  of 
all  thynge^,  and  vesett  theme  not  as  s^naandez;  bot  as  his  frendes;  and  was  pare 
witfi  themtf  to  pe  sondaye  at  morne.  Thane  the  holy  ffadirs  made  mekill  loye 
of  his  comynge :  then£  where  they  in  cowtenuele  loueynge  in  ympnys  and  gostely 
sanges.  When  pey  felde  his  moste  helefull  comynge,  they  rane  agayne  hym 
loyeand  and  ?ayande :  »Blischyde  be  oure  lorde  gode  of  Israel,  for  he  has  vesette 
vs  &  boghte  his  pepill«  ...  4And  pofe-all  pese  wordes  be  noghte  pleynly  cowtenede 


om.        2  A  passage  wanting,  with  the  beg.  of  Medit.  de  Sabato ;  righte — firste  seem  inserted 
ip.        3  Ms.  pensefull;  Bon.  pacata.        4-4  added.        6  Ms.  &. 


to  fill  up  the  gap. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  213 

in  be  gosepell,    neuer-pe-lesse    pe   gosepell   beris   witnesse   pat   oure  lorde  Ihe.ra 
dyd  many  thynges  pat  pe  Euangelistes;  wrote  noghte4  . .  . 

1  t>ou  may  also  thynke  pat  oure  lorde  Ihe.ra  aperid  firste  to  his  blischide  modir 
oure  lady  aftire  his  resureccione :  and  in  siche  Meditacione^,  aftire  pe  gret  com- 
passione  pat  p0u  had  of  his  dede  &  his  bitter  passyone,  sail  pi  saule  be  fede 
with"  swettnes  of  his  glorious  resureccione,  so  pat  pou  sail  be  turnede  in  to  lufe 
of  thy  lorde  Ihesu  Cryste,  bat  lyues  &  regnes  w/tfc-owttene  ende  Amen.  1 

The  rysyng  vp  of  owre  lorde  Ihe.ni,   and  how  he  apperid  firste  to  his  mo- 
dire,   oure  lady  saynte  Marie  amen. 

When  oure  lorde  Ihe.ni  had  dispoylled  hell  &  taken*  Adam  &  Eue  &  all  oper 
holy  fFadirs  &  sett  pern  in  paradyse  —  pat  es  a  place  of  delite,  where  Ennoke 
&  Hely  dwellis :  he  toke  leue  at  them*?,  &  said  he  wolde  go  &  take  agayne  his 
body  and  rayse  it  agayne  to  lyue.  Then  come  he  with  gret  haste  to  his  graue, 
one  be  sonwdaye  herely  at  morne  ;  and  toke  agayne  his2  blissede  body  owt  of  be 
graue,  &  wente  forthe  thurghe  his  aghene  myght.  /  Pat  same  honre,  herly  at  morne, 
Marie  Maudeleyne  &  hir  two  sisters  asked  leue  at  oure  lady  &  went  w/t/fc  peire 
oynementes  to  pe  sepulcre-warde.  Bot  owre  lady  bod  styll  at  home,  and  prayede 
to  be  ffadire  of  heuene,  sayand:  »Fadir  of  mercy  &  pite,  ^e  knowe  wele  pat  my 
sone  es  dede  and  was  schamfully  hangede  be-twyx  thefes,  &  I  helpede  to  bery 
hyme  vfiih  my  handes.  I  knowe  wele  bat  ije  are  of  myghte  &  powere  to  restore 
hym  agayne  to  me  hole  and  sonde :  and  perfore  haue  mercy  of  me :  I  beseke 
%our  hye  mageste  bat  7}e  wolde  gyffe  me  hyme  agayne.  A,  lorde,  where  es  he? 
why  taries  he  thus  longe  fro  me?  send  hym  to  me  I  p^ay  30 we,  for  my  soule 
may  noghte  ryste  to  I  haue  hym.  A,  my  dere  swete  sone,  what  es  comene  one 
the?  whate  dose  thow?  why  taryes  pou  so  longe?  I  pray  the,  my  dere  sone, 
duel!  noo  langare  fro  me.  For  pou  said  thi-selfe  pou  sulde  ryse  pe  thyrd  daye : 
&  pis  es  pe  thyrde  daye,  my  dere  sone.  Noghte  ^ysterday,  bot  be-fore  Bister- 
day,  was  bat  ill  day,  bat  bitter  day,  pat  wrechid  day,  the  day  of  sorow  &  of 
myrknesse,  pe  day  of  twywnyng  &  of  bitter  dede.  Per-fore,  my  dere  sone,  bz's 
day  es  be  thred  day.  There-fore ,  Ryse  vp  now,  my  loye  and  all  my  com- 
forthe,  &  come  agayne  to  me:  ffor  ouer  all  thyng  desyre  I  to  se  be.  I  pray 
pe  pat  thyne  agayne-come  glade  me  wham*  pi  departynge  hase  mekyll  myscom- 
forthed,  &  solace  me  w:t/*  thi  blissede  presence  whame  thyne  absence  hase  me- 
kill  hevyde.  Come  agayne  now,  pou  my  wele-belouede  sone.  Come,  my  lorde 
Them.  Come,  bou  onely  my  hope.  Come  to  me,  my  dere  childe«.  And  whylles 
scho  prayed  thus  w/tfc  louely  teres:  sodeynly  come  oure  lord  Ihe.ni  in  clothes 
whyte  as  any  snawe,  his  fface  schynywg  as  pe  sone,  all  specyouse,  all  gloryouse 
&  all  full  of  loye,  and  said  to  his  modire :  »Haile,  holy  modire«.  And  as  sonne 
scho  turnede  hir  &  said:  »Art  pou  my  dere  sone  Ihe.ni?«  &  w/t/z  pat  scho 
knelid  downwe  &  wirchyped  hym:  and  he  lowly  Enclyned3  and  toke  hir 
vp,  &  said:  »My  dere  modire,  ^a,  I  am  ^our  sone,  &  I  am  resyne,  &  I  am 
viith  ^ow».  Pen  rose  they  vp  to-gedire,  &  scho  halsede  hym  &  kyssede  hyme, 
and  tendirly  and  loueandly  lened  one  hyme,  and  he  tendirly  &  mekly  helde  hir 
vpe.  Aftirwarde  pey  stode  to-gedire,  and  euer  scho  behelde  one  his  fface,  and 


»-i  added.        2  Ms.  his  his.        3  orig.  Enclened. 


214  ^s<  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

be  wondis  in  his  heuede  &  in  his  fete,  &  aftire  one  all  his  blyssede  body,  & 
askede  hym  if  all  his  payne  &  his  disesse  were  passede  a-waye  fro  hym.  Then? 
said  he:  »^a,  my  dere  modire,  I  haue  ou?f-comen?  sorow  &  wo,  and  I  sail  no 
more  fele  ber-of:  bot  I  am,  &  sail  be,  in  Endlesse  loye  &  blysse«.  Pen  said 
oure  lady:  »Now  blyssede  be  thy  ffadire,  my  dere  sone,  bat  hase  thus  gefen? 
the  to  me  ;  in  heuen?  &  erthe  prayssede  and  magnyfiede  be  his  holy  name ,  in 
worlde  of  worldes  wz't/z-owttyn?  Ende  Amen«.  Then  stode  bey  to-gedire  vtith 
gret  loye  and  gladnese  of  herte ,  holdande  beire  speche l  all  In  loye  &  in  de- 
lite  of  lufe ;  and  oure  lorde  Ihmi  tolde  hys  modire  how  he  had  delyueride  his 
pepyll  owt  of  hell,  &  all  be  m?mcl?s  &  be  wondirs  bat  he  had  done  bire  thre 
dayes.  Lo  bis  es  now  a  loyfull  gladsumnes  &  a  merye  paske! 

^[  How  Maudeleyn?  &  hir  systers  com  to  be  sepulcre. 

IViarie  Maudeleyn?  &  be  ob?r  two  Maries  come  arely  at  morne  to  be  sepulcre 
vfith  beire  Oynementes,  as  I  said  be-fore.  Wzt/z-owtyfi  be  ^ates  of  be  Cete 
they  vmbethoghte  bem  of  be  paynes  &  affliccyou^es  &  passiones  of  beire  may- 
stere,  and  In  eu?ry  place  bat2  bey  knewe  bat  he  had  sufferde  any  specyall  payne 
bey  knelyde  doun?  kyssyng  be  grownde ,  sorowynge  &  sygheynge  to-gedire3: 
»Here  mette  we  wz't/z  hym?  berynge  his  crosse  when?  his  modire  swouwede  for 
sorowe.  And  here  turnede  he  hym  agayne  to  be  women?  of  lerusalem.  And 
here  laid  he  down?  his  crosse  for  werynes ,  and  oppon?  bis  stone  lenede  he 
hym  a  lyttill.  And  here  was  it  bat  bey  schot  hyw  forthe  so  felly  &  so  cruelly 
and  spytte  in  his  face,  and  garte  hym  hye  so  fast.  Here  dispoyllede  bey  hym? 
&  nakynd  hym?,  and  here  did  they  hym  one  be  crosses,  and  ben?  with  gret 
wepyng  and  sorowynge  bey  ffell  to  pe  grownde  &  wyrschiped  be  crosse  & 
kyssed  it  —  ffor  it  was  all  rede  of  be  pr?cyouse  blode  of  oure  lorde  Ihmi. 
Aftir  bat,  bey  rose  vp  &  wente  to  be  sepulcre,  and  said  to  bem?-selfe:  »Who 
sail  remow  vs  bis  stone  fro  be  dore  of  be  monement?«  And  when?  bey  come 
bey  fonde  be  stone  leyd  one  syde,  and  ane  angell  sittande  bere-one,  bat  said 
to  them?:  »Dred  ^ow  nott,  he  saide ;  ^e  seke  Ih?ju  of  Na^aretft  bat  was  crucy- 
fyede:  he  es  resyn?,  he  es  noghte  here«.  And  bey  seande  bey  were  dissayuede 
of  beire  pwrpos,  for  they  wende  to  hafe  found  be  body  of  Ih?.ra,  bey  toke  no 
tewnt  to  be  angell  worde,  bot  come  agayne  all  affrayed  to  pe  discypl?s  &  tolde 
bem?  bat  beire  lordes  body  was  takyn?  awaye. 

Rynnyng  to  be  gfaue  &c. 

Jten?  Petir  &  lohn  ran  to  be  graue,  as  sayn?  Luke  sais.  Be-hold  bem  wele 
how  bey  ran?;  and  Maudeleyne  &  hir  felawes  ran?  vfiih  them?.  All  ran?  bey  to 
seke  Ih?ju  beire  lorde,  beire  herte  &  beire  saule.  tey  ran?  fmll  trewly,  full 
lastandly,  full  besyly.  When?  bey  come  at  be  gnzue ,  they  fonde  noghte  bot 
the  sudarye  &  be  clothes  bat  he  was  wound  In?.  Haue  nowe  pete  &  compassione 
of  bemtf,  for  bey  were  in  full  gret  tribulacione  &  thoght  for  beire  lorde.  I*ey 
soghte  hym,  bot  bey  fonde  hym?  noghte,  ne  bey  wiste  neu?r  what  they  myghte 
doo ;  thare-fore  Petir  &  lohn  went  home  sore  wepyng?  agayne  for  sorowe. 


Bon.  pascha  ducentes.        2  r.  \)er.        3  Bpn.  adds  et  dicentes. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  215 

Bot  be  thre  Maries  bode  still  at  pe  graue ,  pey  come  &  loked  In  to  pe  grave: 
&  pey  sawe  two  angells  sittande  in  whytte  clothes,  {)at  said  to  pern* :  » Where-to 
seke  7}Q  pe  lyfand  witft  pe  dede?«  Bot  they  toke  no  kepe  to  pe  angells  wordes, 
nor  to  no  visyone  of  pe  angells,  hot  of  pe  lorde  of  angells.  fcen*  two  Maries 
witK-drewe  pern*  a  littill,  &  satt  down*  sore  wepynge.  Bot  Marie  Maudeleyn* 
wist  not  what  scho  myghte  doo,  ffore  witK-owttyn*  hire  mayster  myght  scho  not 
lyfe,  and  pare  couthe  scho  nott  fynd  hym,  ne  scho  wist  neu«r  whare  to  seke 
hym*;  and  jiare-fore  stode  scho  styll  at  pe  graue  wepyng,  eft  &  efte  lokyng 
in  to  pe  graue,  for  euer  wende  scho  haue  sene  hym  pare  whare  sche  beryed 
hym*.  &  efte  scho  saw  [pe]  angells  sytt  one  pe  graue,  &1  saide :  "Woman*,  why 
wepis  pou*?  what  sekes  pou?«  And  scho  ansuerde  &  saide:  »ffor  they  haue 
taken*  my  lorde  awaye,  &  I  wate  neiur  where  l)ey  haue  don*  hym*«.  Se  now 
here  a  wondirfull  wirkyng*  of  luf :  a  littill  be-fore  herd  sche  be  angell  say  pat 
he  was  resyn*,  &  efte  of  op<r  two  pat  he  lyfed,  and  ^itt  had  scho  no  mynde  of 
all  pis,  bot  said:  »I  wote  neu*r  whare  they  haue  don*  hym«.  All  pis  reklessnes 
of  all  owtward  thynges  &  also  of  pe  angell  wordes  was  cause[d]2  of  pe  gret  loue 
&  desyre  pat  scho  had  to  hir  mayst*r  &  hir  lord  Ihi.ni;  ffor  scho  couthe  noghte 
ells  speke,  here  ne  thynke,  bot  of  onre  lorde  Ihesu.  When*  scho  had  thus  a 
long  tym  wepyd,  &  toke  no  kepe  to  pe  angells :  hir  loue  &  hir  mayshr  Ih*.m 
myght  no  lengare  with-holde  hym  fro  hire.  Than  oure  lorde  Ihcsu  said  to  his 
modire  f)at  he  wolde  go  to  comforthe  hir.  And  owre  lady  was  wele3  payed 
\ter-of  &  said:  »Go,  my  blyssyde  sone,  one  my  blyssyng,  &  comforthe  hir:  ffor 
mekill  es  pe  luffe  pat  scho  luffes  the,  and  mekill  was  |)e  sorowe  pat  scho  had 
for  the  &  for  thy  dede.  I  pray  the,  my  dere  sone,  j)at  pou  com  sonc  agayne 
to  me«. 

^[  How  oure  lord  Ih*.ni  appered  to  Maudeleyn*. 

Owre  lorde  Ihmt  come  pen*  to  pe  gardyne  where  his  graue  was,  and  mett 
pare  with  Marie  Mawdeleyne,  &  said  to  hir:  »  Woman*,  why  wcpes  pou^?« 
And  ^itt  scho  knewe  hym  nott,  bot  wend  he  had  bene  a  gardenere,  &  as  woman* 
full  of  thoghte  scho  answerde  hym  and  said:  »Sir,  if  p<m  haue  takyn^  hym  awaye, 
tell  me  where  p<m  has  hyde  hynu'  and  I  sail  take  hym«.  Be-holde  here  how 
wepandly,  how  mekly,  &  how  deuotly  scho  prayed  hym  to  tell  hir  to  hym*  pat 
scho  soghte :  scho  hoped  eu*r  to  here  some  new  tythyngesj  of  hym*  pat  was  hir 
lufe.  Than  oure  lorde  calde  hir  by  hir  name  hamly  and  said:  »Mari«.  Than 
wakynd  scho  at  his  voyce  as  owte  of  a  ded  slepe,  knowyng*  his  swet  voyce,  and 
w/t6  gret  loye  scho  saide:  Rabony,  bat  es  to  say  Mayst<r;  »Lorde,  scho  said, 
^e  are  he  pat  I  seke;  why  haue  ^e  pus  long  layned  ^owr-selfe  fro  me?«  And 
than  scho  rane  &  flfell  down*  at  his  fete  &  wold  hafe  kyssed  pern*.  Bot  our* 
lorde  Ih*.m  rayssede4  hir  vp  to  heuenly  lufe  &  gostely,  pat  scho  sulde  no  more 
seke  hym  here  in  erthe  ffleschely  [be  fleschely]5  aifeccyone,  onely  behauldand 
his  manhede  as  pure  man*  only,  bot  pat  scho  sulde  lufe  hym  gostely  be  gostely 
affeccione,  be-haldyng  hym*  as  god  in  man*;  and  pare-fore  said  he  to  hire: 
»Mari,  touche  me  nott,  for  ^it  haue  [I]  nott  styed  vp  to  my  ffadir«,  as  who  say: 
in  pis  forme  of  man  pat  pou  sees  with  thi  bodily  eghe ,  am  I  nott  euen*  to  my 

i  r.  feat.  2  Ms.  cause.  3  Ms.  wele  wele.  «  r.  wald  hafe  r.  ?  Bon.:  volens  eleuare  .. 
dixit.  5  om. 


21  6  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

fadir,  bot  lesse  ban  he,  &  before  touche  me  nott  soo  :  »Bot  go  saye  to  my  Bre- 
thire  bat  I  stye  to  my  ffadir  and  %our  ffadir,  my  gode  &  T,our  gode.  Said  I 
noghte  to  be  before  feat  I  suld  ryse  vp  be  threde  day?  why  sekes  bou  me  in  my 
graue?«  Than  answred  scho  :  »Sothely,  dere  mayster,  I  haue  [had]*  so  mekill  sorow 
&  murnyng*  ffor  goitre  bitter  passione  and  dede,  bat  I  had  forgetyn*  all  thyng  bot 
onely  goure  body  bat  was  ded,  and  be  place  bat  I  berid  ^ow  In*;  and  before 
ordeyned  I  bis  Oynement  this  mornenyng  to  hafe  anoynte  goure  body  with". 
Blyssed  be  ;oure  hye  worthynes  bat  vochede-saffe  to  ryse  agayne  and  come  to 
vs!«  Than  stode  to-gedire  Ihesu  &  his  dere  luffe  wzt£  gret  loye  &  gladnes: 
Scho  be-helde  hym  full  verreyly  and  besyly,  and  askede  hym  of  many  thynges, 
and  he  answerd  gladly  to  all  hir  askynges.  Thare  was  ben*  a  loyefull  standyng*2: 
ffore  if-all  cure  lorde  bad  hyr  scho  sulde  nott  touche  hym*,  I  may  nott  trowe 
bot  bat  scho  aftyrwarde  towched  hym*  full  tendirly  or  scho  ^ede,  bothe  kyssand 
his  hende  &  his  fete  ...  When*?  bey  had  bus  standee  spekyng  to-gedire,  oure  lorde 
said  hym  burde  goo  &  comforthe  mo  of  his  brethire  &  frendes.  Than  changede 
all  hir  chere,  for  scho  wolde  neu*r  haf  gon*  fro  hym*;  than  said  scho  to  hym: 
»Lorde,  me  thynke  goure  lyfyng*  may  nott  be  here  amonge  vs  as  it  has  bene. 
Bot  I  pray  ^owe,  dere  lorde,  pat  ge  fore-gett  me  not.  Haue  mynde  of  all 
kyndnes  &  gudnesse  bat  ge  haue  done  to  me,  bat  [pei]3  neu*r  be  loste  in  me,  and 
thynke  [of]  be  grete  ho[m]lynesse  &  luf  bat  ge  haue  had  to  me«.  And  ben  he  bad 
hir  bat  scho  suld  nott  drede ;  »bot  be  faythefull  and  stabill,  ffor  I  sail  eu^r-more 
be  wz'tfc  the«.  Thane  scho  toke  his  blyssyng  and  he  went  forthe ;  &  scho  come 
to  hir  felawes  &  tolde' them*  all  bat  scho  had  herde  &  sene.  Thane  were  bey 
glade  of  his  vp-rysesyng :  bot  be-cause  bey  hade  nott  sene  hym,  they  went  witK 
hir  murnynge. 

How  owre  lorde  apperide  to  [be]  thre  Maries. 

J\l$  theis  thre  Maries  gede  to-gedir  be  be  waye,  owre  lorde  Ihmt  apperide 
to  them*  and  said:  »Hayle  ^e«.  Pen*  made  bey  mekill  loye,  and  fell  down*  & 
hillede4  his  fete.  Than*  be-helde  they  hym*  Ententyfely,  and  askede  of  hym 
dyu*rse  thynges,  and  reseiued5  of  hym*  myghte  and  grace,  and  bey  mad  also 
gret  loye  &  myrthe6.  Pen*  bade  oure  lorde  Ihmi  bat  bey  sulde  go  to  his  bre 
thire  &  byde  them  goo  to  Galile,  for  there  suld  bey  see  hym*  as  he  tolde  bem* 
be-fore.  Be-holde  here  bat  be  mayster  of  meknes  calde  his  disciples  brethire; 
bz's  vertue  of  Mekenesse  dwelles  eu*r-more  wz't/6  hym^.  Bot  if  bou  will  haue 
vndirstandyng*  and  gostely  comforthe  of  b/'s  bat  I  haue  saide,  the  nedis  to  be 
present  in  eu^ry  stede  and  eu^ry  dede  in  thy  saule  as  if  b<7u  where  there  sothe- 
fastely  in  body;  and  one  be  same  manere  in  that  bat  I  sail  say. 


Wi 


How  oure  lorde  appered  to  losepKe  of  Aromathye. 


hen*  owre  lorde  Ihmi  was  go^ne  fro  be  thre  Maries  before-saide,  he  ap- 
perid  to  losepfi  of  Aromathy  pat  berid  hym*.  For  be  lewes  had  taken*  hym* 
for  oure  lorde  sake,  &  sperde  hym*  in  a  house  and  sellede  be  dores  w/t£  grete 
besynes  bat  he  suld  noghte  passe  awaye:  ffor  aftire  beire  sabot-day  bey  had 
ordeyned  to  sle  hym*.  Thare-ffore  oure  lorde  Ihmi  apperid  to  hym  &  sett  hym 

1  om.        2  Bon.  hie  est  magnum  Pascha.        s  Ms.  7}e.        4  r.  hielde,  Bon.  tenuerunt.        5  Ms. 
reserued.        6  Bon.  et  faciunt  magnum  Pascha. 


Bonaventura  The  privity  of  the  Passion.  217 

in  his  awen*  house  in  Aromathie,  and  braste1  selys  and  lokkes.  /  &  pen*  he  apperide 
to  lames  the  les,  pat  [had]  made  a  vowe  pat  he  sulde  neu*r  etc  mete  to  he  sawe 
owre  lorde  resyn*.  Thane  said  cure  lorde  Ihmi  till  hym,  and  till  op*r,  pat  pey 
suld  sett  a  borde  :  and  he  toke  brede  and  blyssed  it,  and  gafe  pern*,  sayande: 
»Etes  now,  my  dere  brethire,  and  make  7fe  mery:  ffor  pe  sone  of  Marie  es 
resyn*  ffro  ded«. 

^f  How  oure  lorde  apperid  to  Symon*  Petire. 

W  hen*  Marye  Maudeleyn*  and  hir  ffelawes  were  comen*  home  and  had  tolde 
pe  discipl*s  pat  oure  lorde  was  resyn*  and  howe  he  had  spoken*?  w/tA  them*: 
Petir  was  hevy  pat  he  hade  noghte  sene  his  lorde  Ihmi  :  and  for  mekylnes  of 
lufe  he  myghte  no  langare  abyde,  bot  ^ede  forthe  allone  to  pe  sepulcre-warde  — 
ffor  he  wiste  never  ells  where  to  fynde  hyme.  And  as  he  wente,  owre  lorde 
appered  to  hym*  in  pe  waye,  saynge  :  »Pese  be  to  be,  Symon*«.  Thane  Petir 
bett  hym-selfe  one  be  breste  and  fell  down*  to  be  grownde  w/tA  bitter  teres  and 
said:  »Lorde,  I  knowelage  my  trespas,  ffor  I  forsoke  ^owe  and  ofte-tymes  denyed 
;ow«;  and  Efte  fell  down*  and  kissede  oure  lordes  fete.  Bot  oure  lorde  mercy- 
fully  toke  hym  vp  and  bad  hym  drede  hym  nott,  »for  all  pi  synne  es  forgyfen* 
pe;  I  kn*we2  wele,  as  I  tolde  pe  be-fore.  And  fvrfore  go  nowe  and  stabill  pi 
felawes  and  thi  brepire,  and  triste  sekerly  pat  I  hafe  ou*rcomen*  dede«.  And 
Petir  behelde  hym  fulbesyly,  and  all  his  ly///ms  and  his  wondes,  3and  fell  down? 
to  pe  grownde  &  wepid  full  tendirly.  Bot  owre  lorde  toke  hym  vp  &  com- 
forthed  hym*,3  and  gafe  hym  hys  blyssynge  and  partede  fro  hym*.  And  Petir 
come  agayne  to  oure  lady  and  to  pe  discypl*s,  and  tolde  them*  all  to-gedire.  / 
Thow  sail  vndirstande  pat  pe  apparecione  made  to  owre  lady  es  noghte  wretyn* 
in  pe  gospell,  &  p*rfore  I  sett  it  be-fore  all  op*r,  &  so  semys  it  pat  holy  kyrke 
holdes  it,  as  it  es  more  [fully]  4  schewede  in  the  legent  of  his  resureccione. 

5  How  owre  [lord]  Ihmi  appered  to  two  discipl*s  goand  to  pe  castell  of  Emaus. 


two  disciples  of  Ihmi  went  to  pe  castell  of  Emaus  all  dismayed  ffor  peire 
mayst*f  and  hevy  for  chawnces  pat  were  fallen*:  owre  lorde  apperide  to  pern* 
in  liknes  of  a  pylgrym*,  &  ^ede  viitJi  them*  spekyng6  wordes  of  hele,  as  f)0u  redis 
more  fully  in  pe  gospell.  At  pe  laste  pey  garte  hym  come  In  with  pern*:  and 
as  [|)ey]  satt  at  pe  supere,  pey  knewe  hym  in  brekyng  of  brede  ;  &  on-one  he 
vanyste  awaye  fro  pern  ...  &  pen  pey  rose  vp  &  ^ede  to  lerusalem  &  tolde  to 
opt'f  discipl*s  what  had  be-fallen*  pern*  in  the  waye  and  [how]1  they  knewe  hym* 
in  brekyng  of  brede.  /  As  pey  stode  to-gedire  spekynge  of  owre  lorde  :  he  come 
and  stode  in-myddes  pern*,  &  said  :  »Pese  be  with  ^ow«.  Pen*  all  his  discipl*s 
fell  down*  to  be  grownde,  knowlageyng*  theyre  trespas  pat  pey  had  so  vnkyndly 
forsakyn*  hym,  &  welcomede  hym  vfitk  gret  reu*rence  and  gladnes.  Then  said 
oure  lorde  to  pern*  :  »Ryse  7fe  vp  ,  my  dere  brethire  ,  for  all  ^oure  synnes  are 
forgeffen*  ^ow«.  He  stode  homly  among  pern*,  schewyng  pe  wondes  of  his 
handes  &  fete  &  side7;  pen*  he  Opynde  peire  gostely  wittys  pat  pay  myghte 
vndirstande  holy  writt  &  knowe  pe  prevetes  of  his  passione  &  his  resurreccione. 
Than  askede  he  pern*  if  they  had  any  mete  ,  &  pey  broghte  fertile  be-fore  hym 

1  r.  braste  not?  Bon.  salvis  sigillis.        2  Ms.  knowe.        »-'  an  intercalation?        4  om.        5  A 
Chapter  om.        6  Ms.  spekyng  w/tA  them*.        7  Ms.  saide. 


2l8  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

fische  &  a  hony-cambe ;  and  he  blew  one  fyeme  and  gafe  bem^  be  holy  goste. 
Be-holde  how  all  bese  thynges  were  of  gostely  loye  &  gladnes.  Than  were 
j)e  discipL's  glad  &  fayne  bat  bey  hade  sene  owre  lorde  ;  ben  mad  bey  loye  & 
myrthe  be-fore  hym,  bat  be-fore  were  hevy  &  sary.  [With  how]1  glade  chere 
trowes  bou  bey  leyde  be-fore  hym<?  mete,  how  gudly  &  how  faytheftilly  bey 
serued  hym^,  how  loyefull  &  locund  bey  stode  be-fore  hym^!  Be-holde  also 
oure  lady  bere,  fore  all  be  disciples  were  gadirde  to  hire  for  socoure  &  co-wforthe. 
Be-holde  hire  nowe  wz't/z  glade  semlande  s^yng£ *  all  bis,  &  homly  sittand  by 
hir  dere  sone  &  servynge  hyni£  full  loueandly.  Owre  lord  Ihmi  toke  gladely 
smrese  of  hire  handes,  &  wirchipped  hyre  reu^ently  be-for  his  disciples.  I  pray 
be  forgett  nott  Mari  Mawdeleyn^,  bat  wele-beluflfed  discypulas  of  Ihtf.ni,  &  apostolas 
of  all  be  appostles,  how  scho  one  hir  olde  manere  satt  at  hir  lordes  fete  deuoutly 
heryng  his  wordes,  &  what  pat  scho  myght  do  scho  dide  wz'tfc  gret  gladnes  [&]  w/tA 
all  be  affeccione  of  hir  herte.  A,  how  blyssefull  was  pentf  pat  house,  in  the 
whylke  satt  bothe  god  &  man,  wz't/£  his  modire  qwhene  of  heuentf,  &  all  his  ofw 
dere  derlynges !  Gret  loye  was  ben<?  to  be  wz't/z  bemtf.  Thynke  be  nott  here  a 
gret  comforthe3?  Sothely  I  trow  s;is,  if  bou  hafe  any  lufe  or  deuocyone.  /  Bot 
oure  lorde  duelte  nott  wzt/£  themtf  bot  a  while,  for  it  was  late  whentf  he  come 
to  bemtf.  Bot  I  trow  bey  prayede  hymtf  of  his  gret  meknesse  pat  he  sulde  not 
so  sone  go  fro  pemtf.  Hopes  p0u  nott  bat  Marie  Maudeleyne  helde  hym  still 
by  be  skyrtte^full  tristily  [&]  wz't/z  a  gret  reu^rent  hardines,  bat  he  sulde  noghte  so 
sune  go  fro  hire?  Owre  lorde  Ihtf.ru  stode  amonges  themtf  clede  wz't/&  clothes  of 
glory  bryghtere  thane  be  sonne,  whittere  ban  the  snawe.  At  be  laste  oure  lorde 
Ihmi  toke  leue  at  his  modire  &  scho  also  of  hynu',  and  he  blischede  them?  all, 
and  went  forthe;  and  bey  all  fell  don)  one  knes  and  prayede  hym  wz't/z  gret  re- 
u£;'ence  &  desyre  of  his  sune  agayne-comyng^.  And  so  bey  duellede  in  gret 
desyre  aftire  beire  mayst^  &  lorde  agayne-comyng^ ,  whome  bey  were  wonnte 
so  mekill  be-fore  to  haue  at  theire  liste.  /  Thow  may  se  now  how  oft  f)0u  hase 
had  bis  daye  pasche4  —  ffor  ilke  of  pels  apperynges  es  calde  a  pasche.  Bot 
p^rauentwe  p^u  hase  herde  beni£,  bot  bfu  felde  no  gladnes,  nor  gostely  com 
forthe5  of  Cristes  passione.  I  trow  sothefastly  pat  if  b0u  coutfie  pete  &  compas- 
sione  of  his  passione,  and  had  pi  herte  and  bi  mynd  gedirde  to-gedire  &  nott 
distracte  abowte  in  be  werlde  abowte  ob^r  thynges  &  ob^r  fantassies,  pat  b^u 
sulde  fele  in  eu^rylkone  of  bes  apperynges  a  newe  feste  gostely  and  a  new 
pasche.  And  euery  sononday  suldes  bi?u  hafe  so,  If  b^u  wolde  one  ffryday  be 
fore  w/'t/z  hole  mynde  &  feruent  deuocyone  hafe  sorowe  and  pete  of  Cristes  pas 
sione ;  ffor  be  appostell  sais :  »if  we  be  felawes  of  Cristes  passione«,  haueuyng 
pete  &  compassione  of  his  pyne  and  disese  pat  he  sufferde  here  for  vs,  »than  one 
be  same  manere  sail  we  be  felawes  of  gostely  comforthe«  and  Endles  loye  the 
wilke  he  has  ordeyned  to  all  bo  bat  here  hertly  luffes  hym  wz't&  all  ^beire  myghte. 
fe  whilke  loye  &  comforthe  he  graunt  vs  bat  wz't&  his  precious  blode  boghte 
vs,  Ihwz/s  Christus  Amen.  Amen.  Amen.  P#r  Charite. 

Explicit  Bonauenture  de  mysteriis  Passionis  Ihesu  Christi. 

Of  all  thynge  it  is  the  best    )      .     ,  ,  r    , 

\    And  lufe  hym  ower  all  thynge. 
Ihmt  in  herte  fast  to  fest       ( 


Ms.  withowttyn^.    2Ms.sayng.   3  Bon.  magnum  Pascha.    4  Ms.  l>is  pasche  daye.    5r.  compassion. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  2IQ 

2.     Speculum  S.  Edmundi,  translated. 

Of  this  translation,  Ms.  Thornton  is  the  only  northern  Ms.  known ;  Ms.  Vernon 
contains  a  southern  transcription  (dialect  of  Somerset),  a  text  which,  though 
agreeing  in  some  parts ,  differs  in  others ,  in  following  more  closely  the  Latin 
original.  No  other  Ms.  is  known  to  me  ;  Ms.  Cambr.  Ff  VI.  40,  f.  207,  contains  a 
partial  translation  in  a  very  corrupted  text.  2  metrical  translations:  »How  to  live 
parfytly!«,  and  »t*e  spore  of  love«,  were  published  by  me,  from  the  same  Vernon 
Ms.,  in  "Minor  poems  of  Ms.  Vernon«  ^E.  E.  T.  S.  1892)  p.  221  and  p.  268. 
The  Latin  original,  Speculum  S.  Edmundi,  was  ed.  in  De  La  Bigne  Magna  biblio- 
theca  veterum  patrum,  Colon.  1618,  vol.  XIII  p.  355  ff.1  The  Speculum  is  the 
great  storehouse  from  which  R.  Rolle  derived  some  of  his  favourite  subjects  and 
ideas;  and  though  the  translator's  name  is  not  given  in  either  Ms.,  it  is  highly 
probable  that  R.  Rolle  him-self  is  the  translator ;  at  least ,  its  northern  origin  is 
beyond  doubt.  The  text  in  Ms.  Ji  VI.  40  is  ascribed  to  R.  Rolle.  In  the 
Thornton-text  another  exposition  of  the  Paternoster  is  added  to  that  of  the  Spe 
culum.  Ms.  Thornton  is  very  incorrect. 

I.     Ms.  Thornton,  f.   197. 

Incipit  Speculum  sancti  Edmuwdi  Cantuar[iensis]  Archipiscopi  in  Anglim.  Here 
begynnys  The  Myrrowr  of  seynt  Edmonde  j)e  Ersebechop^  of  Canttrberye. 

[I.]2  *idcte  vocadonem  vestram.  TTiis  wordes  sayse  saynte  Paule  in  his  pistyll, 
and  thay  are  thus  mekill  to  saye  one  ynglysche:  »Seesc  ^owre  callynge«.  This 
worde  falles  till  vs  folke  of  religious :  and  pat  sais  he  till  excite  vs  till  ptrfec- 
cyone.  And  ther-fore,  what  houre  pat  I  thynke  of  my-selfe  one  nyghte  or  on 
day,  on  a  syde  hafe  I  gret  loye,  and  on  anojxr  syde  gret  sorowe.  loy  for  be 
haly  religions,  sorowe  and  cowfusyon*  for  my  febill  conu^rsasione.  And  fiat  es 
na  wondire,  for  I  hafe  gret  enchesom'.  Als  be  wyese  man3  saise  in  his  smnon^ ; 
he  sais,  »to  com  to  religion*  es  souirayne  p^rfeccyone,  and  there-In  noghte  pwfitly 
to  lyffe  es  soiurayne  ^dampnacyone".  And  thar-for  jiare  es  na  turne  of  be  way 
bot  ane  to  come  in  congregacyone4,  pat  es,  to  drawe  to  p^rfeccione,  [&]  als  |wu 
will  pi  saluacyone,  to  leue  all  |)at  es  in  this  worlde  and  all  pflt  ber-to  langys,  and 
sett  thi  myghte'  to  lyffe  p^rfitly.  [II.]  To  lyffe  p^Hitly,  as  sayne  Bernarde  vs  kennys, 
J5at  es  to  lyffe  honowrabilly,  mekely,  &  lufesomly.  7/onowrabilly  als  to  god :  j)at 
p<m  sett  thyn^  Entente  to  do  hys  will";  pat  es  [to]  say :  in  all  thynges  pat  p0u  sail 
thynke  in  hert  or  say  w/t/*  mouthe  or  doo  in  dede  w/t/t  any  of  pi  fyve  wyttes 
alls  \vitk  seynge  of  eghe,  herynge  of  Ere,  smellynge  of  neese,  suellynge  of  throtte, 
towchynge  of  hande,  gangand  or  standande,  lygancl  or  sittande ,  thynke  at  be 
begynnywge  if  pat  it  be  goddes  will  or  noghte.  And  if  it  be  goddis  will,  do  it 
at  thy  powere ;  and  if  it  be  noghte  hys  will,  do  it  noghte  for  to  suffre  pe  dede. 
Bot  now  may  p0u  aske  mee:  »what  es  goddes  wyll  ?«  I  say  pe  his  will  es  na  nojw 
thynge  bot  pi  halynes ;  als  be  appostill  [sais]  in  his  pystill :  Hec  est  voluntas  del : 
sanctificacio  vestra,  pat  es  to  say:  »bat  es  goddes  will  pat  ^e  be  haly«.  [HI.]  /?ot 
now  may  b0u  aske  me:  »What  mase  man  haly?«  I  say  be,  twa  thynges  w/t^-owtten^ 
ma,  Jiat  es,  kwaweynge  and  lufe.  Knaweyng  of  sothefastnes,  and  /ufe  of  gudnes. 
Bot  to  be  knaweynge  of  godde  bat  es  sothefastnes,  ne  may  p0u  noghte  com* 
bot  be  knawynge  of  thi-selfe ;  ne  3jit  to  be  luf  of  godde  may  b<m  noghte  com* 
bot  thurghe  be  lufe  of  thynn*  evyn^-crystyn^.  To  be  knaweyng  of  bi-selfe  may 

i  This  ed.  is  not  without  mistakes.  2  I  add  the  numbers  of  the  Chapters  in  the  Latin  treatise 
3  Spec.  S.  Eusebius.  *  Spec.  Et  ideo  tu  qui  viuis  in  Religione  seu  congregatione,  sequere 

viam  perfectionis. 


22O  Ms.  Thornton:   Anonymous  writings. 

bmi  com*  w/t/j  besy  vmbythynkynge ;  and  to  be  knaweynge  of  godde  thurghe 
pure  cowtemplaciouwe.  To  be  knaweynge  of  pi-selfe  p0u  may  com*  on*  bzs 
manere:  Thynke  besely  and  ofte  what  p0u  erte,  what  p0u  was,  and  what  p<m 
sail  be.  FyrstQ  als  vn-to  pi  body,  tou  erte  now  vylere  pan*  any  mukke.  ton 
was  getyn*  of  sa  vile  matire  and  sa  gret  fyltfie  bat  it  es  schame  for  to  nevynn*, 
and  abhomynacyon*  for  to  thynke.  £ou  sail  be  delyuerde  to  tades  and  to  neddyrs 
for  to  etc.  /  What  bou  has  bene  and  what  thow  erte,  now  sail  bou  als  to  bi 
saule,  thynke ;  ffor  what  bou  sail  be  f)0u  may  noghte  wyete  nowe.  Vmbethynke 
be  nowe  how  bou  has  don*  gret  synns  and  many,  and  how  thow  has  lefte  gret 
gudnes  and  many.  Tliynke  how  lange  bou  hase  lyffede  and  what  thow  has 
rescheyuede,  and  how  bou  has  dyspende  it.  For  ilke  an  houre  bat  bou  has  noghte 
thoghte  one  godde,  bou  has  it  tynte.  .For  bou  sail  ^elde  resouwe  of  ilke  ane 
ydill  thoghte,  of  ilke  ane  ydill  dede,  of  ilke  ane  ydill  worde.  And  righte  as  bou 
has  noghte  ane  hare  of  thi  heuede  bet  it  ne  sail  be  gloryfyede  if  swa  be  bou 
be  safede ,  righte  swa  sail  eschape  nane  houre  pat  it  ne  sail  [be]  accouwtede. 
A  I/tesu  mercy!  If  all  bis  worlde  ware  full  of  smalle  powdire,  wha  sulde  be 
sa  qwaynte  bat  he  sulde  or  moghte  lugge  ilke  a  [atom  (^mot?)]1  by  bam*- 
selfe,  and  twyn*  ilke  ane  fra  ob^r?  Certis  na  [mane]2.  Bot  be  saule  es3  a 
thowsande  sythes  gretter  ban  all  bis  worlde,  if  it  ware  a  thowsande  sythes 
grett<r  ban  it  es;  and  it  es  [all]4  full  of  dyu^rse  thoghtes,  lykynges  and  ^ernywges: 
wha  moghte  ban  thus  seke  his  herte  bat  he  moght  knawe  all  bat  es  bare-In  or 
thynke  it?  See  nowe,  my  dere  hertly  frende,  howe  bou  has  gret  nede  of  knawynge 
of  thi-selfe !  /  Sythen*  aftyrwarde  take  gude  hede  whate  bou  erte  nowe  als  vn-to 
bi  saule :  howe  bow  has  littyll  of  gude  in  the,  and  littill  of  witte ,  and  littill  of 
powere :  ffor  bou  ^ernys  ilke  a  daye  bat  at  noghte  avayles  the,  and  eu*r-mare 
ou*r-lattly  bat  at  may  availe  the.  Dere  frende,  bou  erte  dessayfede  sa  ofte 
wz't/z  vayne  loye,  nowe  trauelde  vri\Ji  drede,  nowe  erte  bou  lyftede  one  lofte  w/'tfc 
false  trayste.  See  now  on  be  tob*r  syde  bou  erte  [sa]  chaungeabill,  bat  at  bou  will 
doo  to-day  b<?u  will  noghte  to-morne ;  and  ofte-sythes  bou  erte  anoyede  eftire 
many  thynges,  and  twment  if  bou  hafe  thaym  noghte,  and  sythen  when  bou  has 
bam*  at  bi  will  ban  erte  bou  of  thaa  thynges  annoy ede.  TTiynke  ^itt  one  be 
tob*r  syde  how  bou  erte  lyghte  to  fande,  frele  to  agayne-stande ,  and  redy  to 
assente.  /  Of  all  bese  wrechidnes  now  has  be  delymrede  Ihesu  bi  spouse,  and 
delyu^s  be  ylke  day  mare  and  mare,  For  when*  bou  was  noghte,  he  mad  be,  in 
saule  aftire  his  awen*  lyknesse  and  his  ymage,  and  bi  body  made  of  foule  stynkande 
skyum*  of  be  erthe  whare-of  es  abhomynacyone  to  thynke;  he  mad  be  in  witte 
and  in  membirs  sa  nobill  and  sa  faire  bat  nane  can*  deuyse.  TTiynke  now  besyly 
%e  bat  has  fleschely  frendis  and  kynredyn* ,  why  ^e  luffe  bam*  sa  derely  and  sa 
tendirly.  7f  bou  say  bat  p<m  lufes  bi  fadire  or  bi  modire  for-thi  bat  bou  erte 
of  baire  blude  and5  flesche  getyn*:  Sa.  are  be  wormes  bat  comes  of  bam*  day 
be  day.  On  a  nob*f  syde  bou  has  nob*f  of  bam*  body  ne  saule,  bot  bou  ban6 
has  of  god  thurghe  thaym*.  For  whate  sulde  bou  hafe  bene  if  p<m  had  duellyde 
swilke  as  bou  was  of  thaym*  when  bou  [was]7  genderide  in  fylthe  and  in  syn*?  One 
be  tob*r  syd,  if  bou  lufe  brethire  or  syst*rs  or  ob*r  kynredyn*,  for-bi  bat  bay 
are  of  be  same  flesche  of  fadir  or  of  modire  and  of  baire  blude :  by  be  same  skyll 

1  Ms.  thoghte,  ilke  a  sawe,  ilke  a  dede.     Sp.  quamlibet  athomum.        2  Ms.  thynge.        3  Ms. 
hat  es.        <  Ms.  so.         *  Ms.  and  of.        6  =  fiam.        7  om. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  221 

solde  p0u  lufe  a  pece  of  paire  flesche  if  it  [ware]1  schorne  a-waye,  and  pat  solde 
be  errour  gret  w*U-owtten<?  mesure.  Jyfe  pou  say  pat  p<m  lufes  pam*  for-thi 
f)at  pay  hafe  fleschely  fegure  in  lyknes  of  manf,  and  for-thy  pat  pay  haue  saule 
ryghte  als  pou  has:  pan  es  pi  brob^r  fleschely  na  nerre  ban  anofw,  bot  in  als 
mekill  als  b<m  and  he  hase  bathe  [of]  a  fadire  and  a  modire  fleschely  the  begynnynge 
of  bi  flesche,  bat  es,  a  lyttill  filth  stynkande  and  full2  to  see.  Thare-fore  b0u  sail 
lufe  hym  of  whaym  all  bi  fairenes  cowmes ;  and  b<?u  sail  lufe  gastely  ilk  a  man*, 
and  flee  fra  now  forthwarde  to  lufe  flescftly.  [IV.]  And  swa  sail  b#u  doo  certaynly 
if  f)0u  conabilly  thynke  of  glides  bat  he  has  done  gudly  for  be,  and  mare  sail 
doo  if  j)0u  lufe  hym  Enterely.  For  als  I  saide  at  be  begynnynge,  when  b#u  was 
noghte  he  made  be  of  noghte  ; — and  when*?  b<m  was  tynte  he  fande  fie,  and  when* 
ben  was  ptvyschede  he  soghte  be ,  and  when*  p0u  was  saulde  with  syn*  ban  he 
boghte  be,  and  when*  p0u  was  dampnede  ban  he  sauede  be.  And  when*  p0u 
was  borne  in  syn*  he  bapty^ede  be ;  and  sythen*  aftirwarde  when*;  p<m  synnede 
sa  foully  and  sa  ofte,  ban  he  sufferde  |)e  so  frely  and  habade  thynwe  amende- 
mente  sa  lange ,  and  sythen*  rescheyuede  be  sa  swetly,  and  be  has  sett  in  sa 
swete  a  falachipe.  And  ilke  a  day  when  p0u  mysdose  ban  he  reprofes  be,  and 
when*  p0u  repentis  be  ban  he  forgyffes  the,  and  when  p#u  erris  ban  he  amendis 
be,  and  when  p0u  dredis  be  ban  he  leris  be,  and  when*?  p<?u  hungers  ban  he 
fedis  pe,  and  when  p<m  erte  calde  pan*  he  warmes  be,  and  when*  p0u  has  hete 
ban  he  kelis  be ,  and  when  p0u  slepis  pan  he  saues  be ,  and  when*  f)0u  ryse^ 
vpe  pan  he  vphaldes  pe,  and  eu*r-mare  when  p0u  erte  at  male-eese  pan  he 
comforthes  pe.  [V.]  Thyre  gudnes  and  many  op*r  hase  don*  vn-to  pe  thi  swete  spouse 
Ihmi  Criste.  And  pe  swettnes  of  his  herte3  sail  p^u  thynke  eu^r-mare  and  eucr 
speke  pare-of,  and  eu^r-mare  lofe  hym,  and  evLfr  thanke  hym,  and  pat  batfi 
nyghte  &  day,  if  b0u  oghte  kan<f  of  lufe.  And  pare-for,  when^  pi?u  ryses  of 
f)i  bedde  at  morne,  or  at  mydnyghte,  thynke  als-tite  how  many  thowsand  men*?  & 
women*  ere  pmschede  in  body  or  in  saule  jwt  nyghte.  Some  in  fyre,  some  in 
o\>er  manere,  als  in  water  or  one  lande.  Some  robbide,  woundide,  slayne,  dede 
sodanly  w*'t//-owttyn£  sacramentis  and  fallyn^  in-till  dampnacione  ay-lastande. 
Thynk  alswa  how  many  thowsande  pflt  nyghte  are  [fallyn]  *  in  p^rill  of  saule,  pat 
es  to  say  in  dedly  syn^,  als  in  glotony,  lechery,  Couetyse,  in  manes-slaynge  and  in 
many  op^r  folyes.  And  of  all  |)ise  illes  the  has  delyu^red  thy  swete  lorde  Ihmi, 
w/'tA-owtten^  pi  deserte.  T^hat  smiyce  hase  p^u  don^e  wharefore  he  hase  pus- 
gate  keped  pe,  and  many  op<r  loste  and  forsaken^?  for  sothe  if  p0u  take  gud 
kepe  how  gret  glide  he  has  done  pe  on  ilk  a  syde,  pou  sail  fynd  hym  ocupiede 
aboute  pi  profet  als  he  did  nan*  o\>er  thynge  bot  anely  ware  Entendande  to  be 
and  to  pi  hele,  als  if  he  had  forgetyn*  all  |)is  worlde  for  to  be  anely  intendand^ 
vn-to  be.  ^[  And  when  f)0u  hase  bis  thoghte,  lyfte  vpe  thy  handis  and  thanke 
thi  lorde  of  pis  and  of  all  op<r  gudes,  and  say  one  j)is  manere :  Gracias  tibi  ago 
doming  Ihesu  Criste,  qui  me  indignum  famulum  tuum  N.  in  hac  node  vel  die 
custodisti,  protexisti,  visitasti,  sanum  saluum  Sf  incolumem  ad  hanc  horam  pervenire 
fecisti ;  et  pro  aliis  vniuersis  benefidis  tuis  que  michi  tua  sola  pietate  contulisti,  qui 
viuis  fy  regnas  deus  fyc.  This  Oryson*  es  pus  to  say  one  ynglysche :  My  lorde  Ihesu. 
Criste ,  grace  I  ^elde  and  thanke  |)e  pat  me  thyne  vnworthy  seruande  ])0u  hase 


1  om.         2  =  foul.        3  Sp.  Ista  bona  . .  tibi  fecit  dulcis  Sponsus  tuus  lesus  &  dulcor  cordis 
tui.    Propter  hec  bona  . .  debes  semper  de  Deo  cogitare  &c. 


222  Ms.  Thoruton :  Anonymous  writings. 

kepid,  cou^de  and  vesete  in  pis  nyghte  (or  in  pis  day),  hale,  safe,  and  wemles 
vn-to  pis  tymtf  p0u  hase  made  to  come,  and  for  all  ofyer  gudes  and  benfetis  pat 
f)0u  hase  geffyn*  me  anely  thurghe  pi  gudnes  and  pi  pete,  p0u  pat  lyffes  and 
regnes  endles,  Amen«.  Z>ere  frende,  in  pis  same  man^^e  sail  p<?u  say  when  p<?u 
ryse^  at  morne,  and  when  p0u  lygges  downtf  at  evyn^.  /  And  when^  p<?u  has  done 
swa,  pan  sail  p0u  besyly  thynke  how  pou  hase  spende  pat  day  (or  pat  nyghte), 
and  pray  god  of  mercy  of  pe  ill  p#t  p0u  hase  done,  and  of  pe  gude  p«t  p#u 
hase  lefte  vn-till  pat  tym^.  And  dere  frende,  do  na  thynge  in  pz's  lyfe  till  p0u 
cowmend  pi-selfe  and  thi  frendis  qwykke  and  dede  in  the  handis  of  thi  swete 
lorde  Iht'ju  Criste,  and  say  one  pis  man^: 

In  manus  tuas,  domine,   fy  sanctorum  angelorum  tuorum,  commendo  in  hac  node 
(vel  die)  animam  meam  et  corpus  meum ,    et  patrem  et  matrem ,  fratres   et  sorores, 
aniicos ,   familiar  es ,   propinquos ,    parentes ,  benefactores    meos ,    et  omnem  populum 
catholicum.    Custodi  nos,  domine,  in  hac  nocte  (vel  die),  per  merita  8f  intercessionem 
beate  Marie  et  omnium  sanctorum,  a  viciis,  a  concupis[c]enciis,  a  peccatis  et  tempta- 
cionibus  diaboli,  a  subitania  et  inprovisa  morte ,    et  a  penis  inferni.     Illumina  cor 
meum   de   Spiritu   sancto  fy  de  tua   sancta  gratia:    et  fac   me   semper  tuis   obedire 
mandatis ,    8f    a    te    nunquam    separari  permittas;    qui    viuis    fy   regnas   deus    8fc. 
And  pis  orysone   es    pus   mekill  to   saye:    » Lorde  Ihmi   Criste,    in  pi  handis  and 
in    pe    handis    of  thyn^   haly   angells   I   gyffe   in    pis    nyghte    (or   in    pis    day)    my 
saule  and  my  body,  my  ffadir  and  my  modire,  my  brothire  and  my  systirs,  frendis 
and    seruandes,    neghtburs    and   kynredynt?,    my   gude-doers,   and  all  folke   righte 
trowande.    Kepe  vs,  lorde,  in  pis  nyghte    (or  pis  day),   thurgK  pe  gud  dedis  and  pe 
of  pe  blyssed  mayden^  Marie  and  all  thi  halous,  fra  vices  and  fra  wykked 
fra  synns  and  fra  fandynges  of  be  deuell,  fra  sodayne  and  [vn]-avysede 
dede,   and  fra  pe  paynes  of  helle.     Lyght  my  herte  of  the   haly  gaste,  and  of  thi 
haly  grace.     Lorde,   p0u   make   me   to    be  bouxsome  eu^r-mare  to  pi  byddynges, 
and  suffire  me  neu^r-mare  to  twyn^  fra  the,  endles  Ihrni,  lorde  in  trynite.  Amen«.  / 
My  dere  frende,  if  p0u  hafe  pz's  manere,   pan  sail  p0u  hafe  verray  knaweynge  of 
thi-selfe,  ffor  thus  sayse  haly  writte :  »If  p<?u  traiste  one  thy-selfe,  to  pi-selfe  p^u 
sail   be   takyn^,    and  ^if  pc?u   trayste    one    gode    and   noghte  one  pi-selfe,   to   god 
p0u  sail  be  gyffen£«.     And  this  man<?r  of  consederasyone  es  callede  medytacyone, 
[and]  *  by  pis  man^  of  knawynge  of  pi-selfe  &  by  pis  man^  of  medytacyone  sail 
p0u  come  to  pe  knaweynge  of  gode  by  haly  cowtemplacyone.  [VI.]    Wiet  pc>u  pat 
pare  es  thre  manere  of  cowtemplacyone :   The  fyrste    es   in   creators.     The  top^r 
es   in    haly   scripture.     The   thirde    es   in   gode    hym^-selfe   in  his  nature.     Thow 
sail  wyet  pat  cowtemplacyone2  es  na  nofw  thynge  bot  thoghte  of  godde  in  gret 
lykynge  in  saule,  and  to  se  his  gudnes  in  his  creaturs.    Zfis  gudnes  in  his  creaturs 
may  p0u  see    one  p/'s  manere.     Thre   thynges   pryncypaly  ere  in  gode,   pat  es  to 
say   Myghte,  Wysdome,    and  Gudnes.    Mighte  es  appropirde   to    godd  pe  ffadire, 
Wysdome  to  god  pe  Son,  Gudnes  to  god  pe  Haly  gaste.     Thurgft  goddes  myghte 
ere    all    thynges    made ,    and   thurgfi    his   wysdome    ere    all    thynges    meruailously 
ordaynede,    and   thurgR   his    gudnes   ilke    a    day    ere    all    thynges   waxande.     His 
powere  may  pou  see  by  paire  gretnes  and  by   thaire   makynge;    his    wysdome  by 
paire  fairenes  [&]3  paire  ordaynywge,  his  gudnes  may  pc?u  see  by  paire  Encressynge. 


1  Ms.  ffor.        2  Sp.  Primo  modo,  nihil  est  aliud  quam  visio  Dei  in  suis  creaturis.         3  Ms.  of. 


The  Mirror  of  the  Edmund.  223 

Paire  gretnes  may  fxra  see  by  paire  fonre  partynges,  pat  es  to  saye  by  paire 
heghte  and  by  paire  depnes  and  by  paire  largenes  and  by  paire  lenghe.  His 
wysdom*  may  p<m  see  if  p<m  take  kepe  how  he  base  gyffen*  to  ylke  a  creature 
to  be.  Somme,  he  hase  gyffen*  to  be  anely  w/tA-owttenf  mare,  als  vn-to  stanes. 
Till  op*r,  to  be  &  to  lyffe,  als  to  grysse  and  trees.  Till  ob<r,  to  be,  to  lyffe, 
to  fele,  als  to  bestes.  Till  op*r,  to  be,  to  lyffe,  to  fele  and  w/t/z  resone  to 
deme ,  als  to  mane  and  to  angells.  For  stanes  erre ,  bot  bay  ne  hafe  no^te 
lyffe  ne  felys  noghte  ne  denies  noghte.  Trees  are,  [&]  bay  lyffe,  bot  bay  fele 
noghte  ...  Men*  are,  bay  lyffe,  bay  fele  and  bay  deme,  and  bay  erre  w/'t/< 
stanes,  bay  lyffe  w*t/fc  trees,  bay  fele  wzt/*  bestes,  and  demys  wftA  angells. 
Here  sail  pou  thynke  besyly  be  worthynes  of  manes  kynde,  how  it  ou*r-passes 
ilke  a  creature.  And  bare-fore  saise  saynt  Austjw:  »I  wald  noghte  hafe  be  stede 
of  ane  angelle  if  I  myghte  hafe  be  stede  bat  es  pwrvayede  to  man*c.  Thynk  also 
bat  man*  es  worthy  gret  schenschip*  pat  will  noghte  lyffe  eftyre  hys  degre  and 
eftirc  his  cowdicyone  askis.  For  all  be  creaturs  in  be  worlde  ere  made  anely  for 
man*.  Pase  pat  ere  meke,  ere  made  for  thre  skylles:  ffor  to  helpe  vs  at  trauayle, 
als  nate,  oxen*,  kye,  and  horse;  ffor  to  cou*r  vs  &  clethe  vs,  als  lyne  and  wolle 
and  lethire ;  ffor  to  fede  vs  and  vphalde  vs,  als  bestes,  Corne  of  be  ertKe,  ffysche 
of  be  see.  And  be  noyande  creaturs,  als  ill  trees  and  venemous  bestes;  be  wylke 
are  made  for  thre  thynges:  ffor  oure  chastyyng,  for  cure  amendement,  and  for 
oure  kennynge.  We  ere  chastied  and  puneschet  when  we  ere  hurte.  And  bat 
es  gret  mercy  of  godde  pat  he  will  chasty  vs  bodyly  bat  we  be  noghte  punescht 
lastandly.  We  erre  amendid  when  we  thynke  pat  all  pese  ere  broghte  vs  for 
our  syne;  ffor  when?  we  see  bat  sa  lyttill  creaturs  may  noye  vs,  bam:  we  thynke 
one  oure  wrechidnes1,  and  pan*  we  ere  mekyde.  We  ere  Eftirwarde  kende,  for-fii 
pat  we  see  in  pise  creaturs  pe  wondirfull  werkes  of  god  oure  makere ;  ffor  mare 
vs  availes  till  oure  ensampill  and  Edifycacione  pe  werkes  of  pe  pyssmowre,  pan 
dose  pe  strenghe  of  be  lyone  or  of  pe  bere.  Als-swa,  righte  als  I  haue  said  of 
bestes,  reght  swa  vndirstande  of  trees ;  and  when  p?u  hase  donwe  on  pis  manere, 
Raise  vp  thy  herte  vn-till  godd*,  and  thynke  how  it  es  grete  myghte  to  make 
all  thynges  of  noghte  and  to  gyffe  f)am  to  bee,  and  grete  wysdom*  to  ordayne 
bam  in  sa  gret  fairenes,  and  gret2  bounte  to  multyply  pam*  ilk  a  day  for  oure 
prowe.  A,  mercy  godd*,  how  we  are  vnkynde!  We  dispendeS  all  [p]is4  creaturs 
and  he  pam  makes !  We  confound  pam*  and  he  pam*  goutmes !  We  distruy  pam* 
ilke  a  day  and  he  pam  multy plies !  And  pare-fore  say  till  hym  in  thi  herte : 
»Lorde,  for-|)i  pat  f)0u  arte  pay  ere,  and  for-pi  pat  p0u  arte  fayre  pay  are  faire, 
and  for-pi  pat  fxni  arte  gude  pay  are  gude.  W/t/fc  gud  ryghte  pay  loue  pe,  and 
Onoures  pe,  and  gloryfyes  pe,  all  thy  creatures,  O  blyssed  godd  in  tmiyte !  W/'t/z 
gud  ryghte  bay  loue  pe  for  paire  gudnes,  w*t/i  gud  ryghte  pay  anouren*  pe  for 
thaire  fairenes,  with  gud  righte  pay  glory fye  pe  for  paire  profet,  all  pi  creaturs, 
blyssed  trinyte  !  of  wham*  all  thynges  ere  thurgh  his  powere  made;  thu[r]gll  whaym 
all  thynges  are  thurgfi  hys  wysdom*  gourrnede  ;  in  whaym  all  thynges  are  thurgli 
his  bounte  multipliede;  till  hym  honow  and  louynge  wz't/;-owtten*  [ende].  Amen«. 
._.  //«.  pars. 

[VII.]  xE  top*r  degre  of  contemplacyone  es  in  Haly  wryte.    Bot  nowe  may  p0u 
say  to  me:  »I5  pat  knawes  na  letters,  how  may  I  eu*r-mare  com  to  cowtemplacyone 

l  Sp.  fragilitate.        2  Ms.  and  in  swa  gret.        »  r.  mispende?        *  Ms.  his.        5  al.  om. 


224  ^S'  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

of  haly  writte?«  Now,  my  dere  frende,  vndirstande  me  swetely  and  I  sail  say  per 
chance  to  pe :  all  p#t  es  wretentf  [may  be  tald]  *.  If  p0u  kane  noghte  vndirstand  haly 
writt,  here  gladly  pe  gud  pat  men£  saise  pe;  and  when^  p0u  heres  haly  wryte  owper 
in  smnon£  or  in  prene  collacyone,  take  kepe  als-tyte  if  pon  here  oghte  pat  may 
availe  pe  till  edyfycacyon*,  to  hate  syn*  and  to  Me  vertue,  and  to  dowte  payne 
and  to  3  erne  loye,  to  dispyse  pis  worlde  and  to  hye  to  blysse,  and  whate  p0u 
sail  doo  and  whate  pou  sail  lefe,  and  all  pat  lyghtes  pinwe  vndyrstandynge  in 
knawynge  of  sothefastnes,  and  all  pat  kyndills  pi  lykynge  in  brynnynge  of  charite  ; 
ffor  of  pise  twa  gudnes  es  all  pat  es  wretyn^  in  preue  or  in  apperte.  Owte  of 
haly  writte  sail  p<?u  drawe  and  c\me  witte  whilke  are  pe  seuen^  dedly  synnes, 
and  pe  seuen^  vertus ,  and  pe  ten  comandementis ,  and  pe  tuelfe  artycles  of  pe 
troutfte ,  and  pe  seuen^  sacnzmentis  of  haly  kyrke ,  and  pe  seuen*  gyftis  of  pe 
haly  gaste,  and  pe  seuen^  werkes  of  mercy,  and  pe  seuen?  vertu^  of  pe  gospelL 
and  pe  seuen  prayers  of  pe  pater  noster. 

[VIIL]  Pir  are  pe  seuen^  dedly  syrnies:  Pryde,  and  Envy,  Ire,  SloutR,  Couetyse, 
Glotony,  and  Lechery.  2Pryde  es  lufe  of  vnkyndly  heghyng^,  and  par-of  comes 
pir  seuen :  Vnbouxomnes  agayne  god  or  agayne  sou^rayngne ,  pat  es  to  say,  to 
lefe  pat  pat  es  cowmandyd  and  to  do  pat  that  es  defendyde.  The  toper  branch" 
of  pride  es  Surquytry,  pat  es,  to  vndirtake  thyng  oner  his  powere,  or  wenys  to 
be  mare  wyse  pan  he  es,  or  better  pan  he  es ;  and  auazmte^  hym  of  gude  pat  he 
hase  of  oper,  or  of  ill  pat  he  hase  of  hym-selfe.  The  thrid  braunche  of  pride 
es  Ypocmye,  pat  es  when*  he  feynys  hym  to  hafe  gudnes  pat  he  hase  noghte, 
and  hydes  pe  wykkednes  pat  he  hase.  The  fertfi  brauncfi  of  pride  es  Despyte  of 
thyne  euencf/sten?,  pat  es  when  man  lesses  gudnes  of  oper,  for-thi  pat  hym-selfe 
suld  seme  pe  bettir.  The  fyfte  braunche  [es  Arrogance]1,  pat  es  when  man  makes 
lyknes  betwyx  his  awen£  wykkednes  and  oper  mens  wikkednes ,  pat  his  awen£ 
may  seme  pe  lesse.  The  sexte  braunche  of  pryde  es  Vnschamefulnes ,  pat  es 
when  men  hase  noghte  schame  of  ill  ded  aperte.  The  seuen[d]£  braunche  of  pryde 
es  Elacion*,  pat  es  when  a  man  hase  heghe  herte,  pat  he  will  no^te  suffire  to 
felawe  ne  mayst^r.  Dere  frende,  pou  sail  wit  pat  thre  thynges  ere  whare-of  a  man 
Enprides  hym,  pat  es  to  say:  of  pe  gude^  pat  he  hase  of  kynde,  als  fairenes  or 
strengKe  or3  gude  witte  or3  nobille  kynredyn^.  The  toper  thyng  es  pat  man 
hase  of  purchase,  als  cu?znynge,  grace,  gud  loos,  or  dygnyte  or  office.  The  thirde 
thynge  es  erthely  thynge  or  erthely  gude,  als  clethynge,  houssynge,  Rente^, 
possession*?,  Men^e,  horssyng,  and  honour  of  pis  worlde.  4Pride  makes  man  to 
be  of  gret  herte  and  heghe,  to  despyse  his  euencristen^,  and  to  ^erne  heghenes 
and  maystry  oner  oper*.  ^f  The  toper  dedly  syn£  es  Envy.  And  pat  es5  loye  of  oper 
mens  harme,  and  sorowe  of  oper  mens  welefare.  And  pat  may  be  in  herte  wz'tfc 
lykynge,  or  in  moutR  vfith  bakbyttynge,  or  in  werke  vfith  of  mens  gudnes6  wyth- 
drawyng  or  ells  wz't//  ill  procurynge.  4Envye  mase  man  to  hafe  pe  herte  hevy  of 
pat  he  sese  ofyer  men  mare  worthi  pan  he  in  any  thyng4.  ^[  The  third  dedly  syn? 
es  Wrethe,  pat  es  ane  vnresonabyll  tempm^ure  of  herte ;  and  of  it  comes  stryfes 
and  contekes,  schamefull  and  dyu^rse  wordes  and  denyouse7,  and  wikked  sclandirs. 
^[  The  fertile  dedly  syn^  es  Slouthe,  and  pat  mase  manes  herte  hevy  and  slawe 


1  om.        2  This  passage  has  foreign  ingredients.        3  Ms.  or  of.         4-4  om.  iu  Spec.        5  Sp. 
De  Inv.  nascuntur.        6  r.  gudes.        7  Sp.  praua  verba,  dedignatio,  blasphemia. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  22  S 

in  glide  dede,  and  makes  man<?  to  yrke  in  prayere  or  halynes,  and  puttes  man  in 
wykkednes  of  wanhope ,  for  it  slokyns  be  lykynge^  of  gastely  lufe.  ^[  The  fyfte 
dedly  sync  es  Couetyse,  and  pat  es  ane  vnmesurabill  luffe  to  hafe  erthely  gudes, 
and  it  destroyes  &  blyndes  manes  herte.  And  pare-of  cowmes  treson^s,  ifalse 
athes,  wykked  reste  *,  Malice  and  hardnes  of  herte  agaynes  mercy.  «[  The  sexte 
dedly  syn^  es  Glotony,  and  pat  makes  man*?  to  serue  and  to  be  bouxome  till 
wykked  lykynges  of  be  flescfie,  pe  whilke  man  suld  maistar  and  outrcome  witA 
mesure.  Of  glotony  cowmes  vayne  loy,  lyghtnes,  and  littill  vndirstandynge.  ^|  The 
seuen[d]<?  dedly  syn^  es  Lecherye,  and  pat  mase  manes  herte  to  melte,  and  to  playe 
thare  pare  his  herte  lykes  and  heldes,  and  pat  w/tA-owtent*  gou^rnynge  of  re- 
soun<?.  Of  lechery  cowmes  blyndynge  of  herte,  In  pray  ere  vnstabilnes,  and  fulle- 
hastynes,  lufe  of  hym-selfe,  hatreden*  of  godde,  lufe  of  p*'s  worlde,  vgglynes 
and  whanhope  of  pe  blysse  of  heuen<?.  ^f  Dere  frende,  thire  are  be  seuen^r  dedly 
synn^s  ;  and  wele  ere  pay  callid  dedly  synnes,  ffor  Pride  twynnes  fra  man  his 
godde,  Envy  his  euencristen^,  Ire  hym-selfe  twynnes,  Slouthe  hym  towrmentes, 
Couetyse  hym  begyles2,  Glotony  hym  dessayues,  and  Lecherye  hym  in  thraledome 
settis  ....  [X.]3  Nowe  hase  b0u  herde  be  seuent'  sekenes  of  manes  saule.  ^f  Sythen<? 
aftirwarde  cowmes  pe  soiurayne  leche  and  takes  pere  medcynes,  and  waresche 
man^  of  bese  seuen^  seknes  and  stabills  hym  in  be  seuene  vertue^ ,  thurgfi  |)e 
gyftes  of  be  haly  gaste.  Pe  whilke  are  bese:  «|[  Pe  gaste  of  wysdom  and  vndir- 
standynge,  be  gaste  of  cowsaile  and  of  stalworthenes,  be  gaste  of  cuwnynge  and 
of  pete,  and  be  gaste  of  drede  of  godde  Almyghty.  Thurghe  bese  gyftes  cure 
lord  Ihfju  lerres  man*-  all  bat  he  hase  myst^r  [of]  till  be  lyfe  bat  es  callid  actyfe, 
and  til  be  lyfe  called  cowtemplatyfe.  And  se  how;  firste  mane  suld  lefe  pe  euyll 
and  do  pe  gude ;  lefe  pe  euyll,  pat  teches  vs  be  gaste  of  drede  of  godde  al- 
myghty,  and  do  be  gude  leres  vs  be  gaste  of  pete.  And  for-pi  pat  twa  thynges 
are  pat  lettis  vs  to  do  gude,  pat  es  at  saye  welefare  and  tr/bulacione  of  bis 
worlde,  ffor  welefare  desaynes  vs  w*'t/*  losengtry,  tribulacyone  w/t//  hardnes  of 
noyes  &  dysses:  for-bi  sail  b<m  despyse  pe  welefare  of  pis  worlde  pat  p0u  be 
noghte  ^er-vfiik  dessayued^ ,  and  bat  leres  be  be  fgaste  of  cuwnynge ;  and  b^u 
sail  stallworthly  suffire  tr;"bulacyonr  bat  b<m  be  noghte  oiu'rcowmen^ ,  and  bat 
teches  vs  be  gaste  of  stallworthenes.  And  bire  foure  suffice  till  {)e  lyfe  bat  es 
callid  actyfe.  And  be  tojxr  thre  fallys  to  be  lyfe  bat  es  callid  co«templatyfe ; 
ffor  thre  maners  [are]  of  cowtemplacion^.  Ane  es  in  creaturs,  and  pat  leres  pe  gaste 
of  vndyrstandynge.  The  top^r  es  in  haly  writte  whare  p<m  sese  whatte  \>ou  [sal] 
doo  &  what  p<m  sail  lefe,  and  bat  leres  be  the  gaste  of  cowsaile.  The  thirde 
manere  es  in  godde  hym-selfe,  and  bat  leres  vs  be  gaste  of  wysdome.  Now  b^u 
sese  thurgfi  be  gyftes  of  Ihmt  how  he  es  besy  abowte  oure  hele.  [XL]  Eftire  bis 
sail  bou  wiete  whilke  ere  be  tene  comandementis.  ^[  Pe  firste  comandemewt  es 
bis:  »Thow  sail  wirchipe  bot  a  godde  pi  lorde,  and  till  hym  anely  pou  sail 
s<?me«.  ^at  es  at  say :  wyrchip*  hym  with  righte  troutfie,  serue  vn-till  [hym]  anely 
vfi\Ji  gude  werkes.  Here  sail  p™  thynke  if  pmi  hafe  lelly  serued  godde  &  wirchiped 
godde;  if  pou  hafe  smiede  hym  ourr  all  thynge;  if  p<?u  hafe  golden  hym  pat 
that  p<m  hyghte,  if*  b<m  hafe  done  Ie[l]e5  penance,  and  if  p^u  hafe  ^oldyn^ 
hym  pat  that  pou  hyghte  hym  in  pi  cristyndom?,  that  was,  to  forsake  be  deuelle 

m  >  Sp.  inquietudo.  2  r.  felles?  8p.  prosternit.  3  Chapter  IX  (De  7  virtutibus  evangelicis) 
is  wanting;  see  Ms.  Vernon.  *  Ms.  or  if.  •  Ms.  lesse. 

15 


226  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

and  all  his  werkes  and  in  god  lelly  to  trowe.  And  thurgKe  })is  cowmandement 
es  mantf  ordaynede  ynence  god  pe  ffadire.  ^f  [In]  pe  top^r  cowmandement  es  defen- 
did£  to  take  goddes  name  in  vayne ;  and  lying  and  falsenes  pare-in  es  defendid^ ; 
and  thurgKe  pis  cozwmandement  es  man  ordaynede  ynence  goddtf  pe  Son*?,  pat 
saise  hym-selfe  »I  am  sothefastnes«.  ^[  Pe  thirde  cowmandemente  es,  »vmbythynke 
be  pat  f)0u  kepe  pi  haly-dayes«,  pat  es  to  saye,  in  pine  awen^  herte  to  kepe  pe 
in  riste  and  pees,  wzt/j-owtten?  s^mage  of  syne  or  of  bodyly  dedis.  And  pis  cow- 
mandement  ordaynes  man^  to  reschayfe  pe  Haly  gaste.  Pise  thre  cowmande- 
mentes  lerres  man^  how-gates  he  sail  hafe  hym  ynence  goddtf  pe  trynite,  to 
whas  lyknes  he  es  made  in  saule.  /  Pe  ofyer  seuen?  cowmandementes  leres  man 
how  he  sail  hafe  hym  ynence  his  euencristen^.  ^f  Pe  firste  es:  »P<?u  sail  honour  pi 
fadire  and  pi  modire«  fleschely  and  gastely,  and  pat  in  twa  manors,  pat  es  to  say, 
pat  pou  be  bouxom  to  thaym  in  reu^ence  and  honoz/r,  and  [pat]  pou  helpe  pamt? 
at  thy  powere  in  all  thynge^  pat  pay  hafe  mystef  [of].  »Pat  p<?u  be  of  lange  lyfe  in 
erthe« ;  ffor  if  p0u  will  be  of  lange  lyfe,  it  es  resontf  pat  pou  honoure  thaymtf  of 
whaym  p<?u  base  pe  lyfe;  ffor  he  pat  will  noghte  honoure  hym  thurgft  whaym 
he  es,  it  es  noghte  righte  pat  he  be  mare  pa[t] 1  he  es.  *§  Pe  tofyer  cowmande- 
ment  es  pis:  »Pou  sail  sla  na  man«.  Here  sail  p0u  wyt  pat  slaughter  es  of  many 
manures:  ffor  fyer  es  manes-slaghter  of  hand,  oftunge,  of  herte.  Mawnes-slaynge 
of  hande  es  when  a  man£  slaes  anop^r  wz't/^  his  hande^,  or  when  he  duse  hym 
in  bandis2  of  dede,  als  in  preson^,  or  in  op^r  stede  pat  may  be  enchesont'  of  his 
dede.  Manes-slaynge  of  tunge  es  in  twa  manercs,  thurghe  cowmandement  or 
thurgRe  enticement.  Manes-slayng  of  herte  es  alswa  one  twa  maners,  pat  es, 
when^  men^?  ^ernys  and  couaytes  ded  of  op^r,  and  when  he  suffyrs  man  to  dy  and 
will  noghte  delyu<r  hym  if  he  hafe  powere.  ^f  Pe  thirde  cowmandement  es  pis: 
»Pou  sail  do  na  lechery« ;  and  pat  es  ryghte ;  wha-sa  will  hafe  pe  lyfe  w/t/^-owtten^ 
corupcyone  in  pe  loy  of  heuen^,  hym  byhoues  kepe  his  lyfe  pat  es  dedly  wzt/^- 
owttene  corupcione  of  body.  ^[  Pe  ferthe  cowmandement  es  pis:  »Pou  sail  do  na 
thyfte  ne  na  falsenes«;  and  pat  es  ryghte,  ffor  he  pat  will  safe  op^r  menes  lyfe 
he  sail  noghte  do  away  pat  that  moghte  his  lyfe  sustayne.  ^f  Pe  fyfte  cowmande- 
ment  es  pis :  »Pou  sail  noghte  bere  false  wittnes  agaynes  thyne  euen-cristyn^«  witli 
hym  pat  will  noye  hym  or  sla  hym;  and  pat  es  ryghte,  ffor  he  pat  will  noghte 
sckathe  his  euencristyn^  he  sail  noghte  consente  ne  na  consaile  gyffe  to  do  hym 
ill.  ^[  Pe  sexte  cowmandement  and  pe  seuend*?  er  pir:  »Pou  sail  noghte  couaite 
pi  neghtboure  wyfe«,  »ne  pou  sail  noghte  couaite  his  house  ne  nane  of  his  gude 
wrangwysly«;  ffor  he  pat  hase  wykked  will  and  ill  Entente  in  his  herte,  he  may 
noghte  lang  wz't/z-hald3  hym  fra  wykkide  dede;  and  p^fore  if  pi?u  will  noghte  do 
lecherye  pou  sail  noghte  cowsente4  to  man^  ne  to  woman^  pat  it  duse,  and  if  pou 
will  noghte  stele  pou  sail  noghte  couayte  oTper  memies  thynges  in  pi  herte.  Z>ere 
frende,  pir  are  pe  ten  cowmandementes  pat  god  gafe  till  Moyses  in  the  mouwte 
of  Synay.  The  thre  fyrste  er  p^rtenande  to  pe  lufe  of  god,  and  the  top^r  seuen^ 
to  pelufe  of  pi-selfe  and  of  thynwe  euen^-crystyn^.  [XII.]  Now,  efter,  sail  pou  wyt 
whilke  ere  pe  seueng  vertue^,  pat  es  to  saye  ^[  Trouthe,  Trayste,  and  Lufe,  Wyse- 
dom^  and  Rightwysenes,  Mesure  and  Force.  Of  pe  same  matire  er  pe  seuen^  vertus 
pat  pe  ten^  cowmandementis,  bot  pis  es  pe  varyance  be-twyx  thaym:  The  ten£ 
cowmandementzV  kennes  vs  what  we  sail  do,  and  be  seuen^  vertus  kennes  vs  how  we 
1  Ms.  J>an.  2  Sp.  in  loco  mortis.  3  Ms.  w/t/z-haldynge.  4  r.  couaite. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  227 

sail  doo.  The  thre  fyrste,  bat  es  to  say  Trouthe,  Trayste  and  Lufe,  ordaynes  the 
how  bou  sail  lyfe  als  to  godd*,  be  tob*r  foure  how  bmi  sail  ordayne  thyne  awen* 
lyfe  bat  [bay]  sail  lede  till  be  loye  of  heuen*.  Z>ere  frende,  the  awe  to  wyte  bat 
we  ere  all  made  for  ane  ende,  f>at  es  to  say,  for  to  knawe  godde,  to  hafe  hym, 
and  to  lufe  hym.  Bot  thre  thynges  er  nedefull  at  puruaye  till  oure  cu[m]yngei  [to 
gud  ende],  that  es,  to  wyte  whedyr  we  sail  ga,  and  bat  we  wyll  cowme  thedyre, 
and  bat  we  hafe  trayste  to  com  thedyre;  ffor  grete  foly  ware  it  to  begynrf  be 
thynge  mane  may  noghte  ende.  ^itte  one  be  tofo*r  syde,  {)e  mane  bat  will  wyele 
doo,  hym  nedide  to  hafe  wysdom*,  myghte,  and  will,  bat  es  to  say,  bat  he  konn* 
[wele]  doo,  and  bat  he  may  doo,  and  bat  he  wyll  doo.  Bot  for-bi  bat  we  hafe 
noghte  cuwnynge,  myghte,  ne  will  of  oure-selfe,  for-bi  base  godde  gyfen*  vs  trouthe 
for  to  fulfill  be  defaute  of  oure  [cunnynge;  trayste,  for  to  fulfill  be  defaute  of  oure]2 
myghte;  sothefaste  lufe3,  for  to  ordayne  oure  will  to  |)e  tane  and  to  he  tob*r. 
Trouthe  ordaynes  vs  to  godde  be  Son*  to  whaym*  es  appropyrde  Wysdom*,  Trayste 
till  godd*  be  ffadyre  to  whaym  es  appropyrde  myghte,  Lufe  to  be  Haly  gaste  till 
whaym*  es  appropyrde  gudnes.  And  bare-[fore] 2  trouthe  makes  vs  to  hafe  knawynge 
[of  god]2;  and  bat  knaweynge  vs  sayse  bat  he  es  wondyrfull  ffre4  es  he  bat  one  bis 
manere  and  bus  largely  gyffes  of  his  gudnes,  and  of  bat  comes  trayste ;  and  [of]  bat 
knawynge  bat  sais  bat  he  es  gude,  cowmes  be  thyrde  sothefastnes,  bat  es  lufe, 
ffor  ylke  a  thynge  luffes  kyndely  be  gude.  [XIII.]  Dere  frende,  here  sail  b<m  wyte 
whilke  are  be  twelue  arrycles  of  be  trouthe.  ^[  The  firste  es  bis:  bat  godde  es  ane 
in  hym-selfe  and  thre  in  persons,  witfi-owttenf  begynnynge  and  wzt//-owtten* 
Endynge,  and  bat  all  thynges  made  of  noghte  vfiih  his  worde.  ^[  fe  tob*r  artecle 
es,  bat  goddes  son*  tuke  flesche  and  blode  of  be  blyssed  mayden*  Marie  and  was 
borne  of  hire  sothefaste  godd*  and  sothefaste  man*.  «j  fce  thirde  es,  pat  he  was 
dede  and  grauem-,  noghte  for  nede,  bot  for  to  by  vs  of  his  fre  will.  %  The  ferthe 
artecle  es,  bat  be  same  Ih*.ru  rase  fra  dede  to  lyfe,  and  we  sail  ryse  alswa.  «|[  The 
fyfte  artecle  es,  bat  be  same  sothefaste  god  and  mam-  steigKe  vp  in  till  heuen*  in 
manhed  and  godhede,  and  we  sail  steigfie  vp  alswa  thurgfi  his  grace.  [XIV.]  ^[  te 
sext  artecle  es  Baptymte,  bat  mase  man*?  clene  of  syn^  bat  he  drawes  of  kynde, 
and  gyffes  grace  to  dense.  ^[  The  seuend^  artecle  es  Cowfirmacion^,  bat  cowfermys 
be  haly  gaste  one  man*?  bat  es  cristenede.  «[  I*e  aughtened  artecle  es  Penance, 
bat  duse  awaye  all  man<r  of  syn^,  dedly  and  venyall.  ^[  ^e  nynde  es  be  sacrament 
of  be  Auter,  bat  cowfermys  be  penante5,  and  gyffes  hym  force  bat  he  fall  noghte 
efte  in  syn£ ,  and  vphaldes  hym^  and  reconsailles  hym.  ^[  te  tend*  artecle  es 
Ordyre,  pat  gyffes  powere  till  paym*  bat  are  ordeynede  to  do  baire  Offece  and 
to  do  be  sacrament*V.  «[  I»e  elleuend*  artecle  es  Matrimone,  bat  defendis  dedly 
syn*  in  werke  of  gentracyon<?  by-twyx  man*  and  woman*,  ^f  ^e  twelfed  artecle 
es  Enoyntynge,  bat  men*  Enoyntes  be  seke  in  p*rell  of  dede,  for  alegeance  of 
body  and  saule.  [XV.]  Z>ere  frende,  aftyre  sail  b<m  wyt  whilke  are  be  foure  vertus 
cardynalles,  thurgh  whilke  all  manes  lyfe  es  goumiede  in  bis  worlde ,  fat  es  ^[ 
Cuwnynge  and  Rightwisnes,  Force  and  Mesure.  Of  bir  foure  saise  be  haly  gaste  in 
be  buke  of  Wysdom*  bat  bare  es  na  thynge  mare  profytabill  till  man  in  ertfie.  And 
se  nowe,  whare-fore.  Wha-sa  walde  any  thynge  wele  do,  firste  hym*  byhouys  bat  he 
konn*  chese  be  ill  fra  be  gude,  and  of  twa  gud  chese  be  bettire:  &  bis  vertu  es  called 

1  Ms.  cuwnynge;  to  gud  ende  om. ;  Sp.  tria  sunt  necessaria  ad  perveniendum  ad  bonum  finem. 
»  om.        3  Ms.  lufe  es.         «  Ms.  ffre  es  he.        »  Ms.  penance. 


228  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

cunnynge.  Sipen  pou  sal  lefe  pe  ill  &  do  pe  gude,  &  do  pe  greter  gude]1  and  leffe 
pe  lesse  gude:  and  pis  es  the  vertu  pat  es  callede  ryghtwysnes.  And  for-pi  pat 
twa  thynges  lettes  man?  to  do  wele  and  lefe  f)e  yll,  pat  es  at  say  welefare  of 
pis  worlde,  for  it  dessayfes  hym?  w/t/j  false  vanytes,  pe  tober  es  tribulacyoni?,  to 
putt  hym  down£  \fitk  many  scharpnes:  agaynes  welefare  sail  p<?u  hafe  mesure  pat 
pou£  be  noghte  ou^-hye:  and  pis  vertu  es  called  temperance.  And  agayne  ad- 
uersyte  sail  pou  hafe  hardynes  pat  pou  be  noghte  casten?  downwe :  and  bat 
v^tiie  es  callyde  fforce  or  strengfie.  [XVI.]  ^f  Here-eftyre  sail  p0u  wyte  whylke 
are  pe  seuen?  werkes  of  mercy.  ^[  The  firste  werke  of  Mercy  es,  to  gyffe  mete 
to  pe  hurcngry.  The  tober  es  to  gyffe  drynke  to  pe  thrysty.  The  thirde  es  to 
clethe  pe  nakede.  Pe  ferthe  es  to  herbere  pe  herberles.  Pe  fyfte  es  to  vesete 
pam£  pat  ere  \n  pr^souwe.  The  sexte  es  to  comfortR  pe  seke.  The  seuend? 
[es]  to  bery  pe  dede.  Thyse  are  pe  seuene  werkes  of  mercy  pat  are  langande  to 
pe  body.  Bot  nowe  may  p#u  say  to  me:  »how  sulde  I  pat  es  in  Relygyon<?,  and 
noghte  hase  to  gyffe  at  etc  ne  at  drynke,  ne  clathes  to  be  nakede,  ne  berbery  to 
pe  herberles,  ffor  I  am  at  ober  mens  will  and  noghte  at  myne  awen??  ffor-thi 
ware  it  better  pat  I  ware  seculere,  bat  I  myghte  do  pire  werkes  of  mercy«.  /  A, 
dere  frende,  be  noghte  begylede.  Better  it  es  to  hafe  pete  and  cowpassione  in 
pi  herte  of  hym  pat  hase  mysese  and  wrechednes,  thane  p0u  hade  all  pis  worlde 
to  gyffe  for  charyte ;  ffor  it  es  bettir  wytR  compassions  to  gyffe  pi-selfe,  als  f>0u 
erte,  pan  it  es  to  gyffe  pat  that  p0u  hase.  There-fore,  dere  frende,  gyffe  thi-selfe, 
and  pan  gyffes  p0u  mare  pan  es  in  all  pis  worlde.  Bot  now  may  p0u  say  me 
one  pis  manure :  »Sothe  it  es  bat  it  es  better"  to  gyffe  hym^-selfe  pan  it  es  to 
gyffe  of  his:  bot  better  es  pe  tane  and  pe  tober  pan  es  ane  be  it-selfe,  for  lesse 
es  a  gud  pan  twa«.  It  es  noghte  swa;  ffor  whethire  es  better  be  callede  godde, 
or  his  smiande?  Thow  wate  wele  pat  [it]  es  better  to  be  callede  godde.  Bot  pase 
bat  suffirs  hunwgere,  thryste,  caulde  and  defaute,  and  ober  wrechidnes  and  mys 
ese,  calles  oure  lorde  Ihesu.  Criste  »hym-selfe«,  ffor  he  saise  pus  in  pe  gosepelle : 
»What  als  p^u  dyde  to  pe  leste  of  myne,  pou  did  to  me«  .  .  .  Saynt  Barnarde  says : 
»Thire  pure  hase  noghte  in  erthe,  ne  thire  riche  hase  noghte  in  heuen^c;  and 
pare-fore  if  be  Riche  will  it  hafe,  thaym  byhoues  bye  it  at  pe  pure.  /  Now  wate  I 
wele  pou  couaytes  to  wyte  whilke  are  verray  pure,  and  whilke  noghte.  Now  herken^ 
vfitk  deuocyons.  Sume  are  pat  hase  reches  and  lufes  thaym,  and  pase  are  pe  haldande 
&  be  couaytourse  of  pz's  worlde.  Othere  are  pat  hase  pamif  noghte  bot  thay  luffe 
thaym^,  and  pay  walde  hafe  thaym*  gladly,  and  pase  are  pe  wrechide  beggers  of  be 
worlde,  and  be  false  folke  in  religyone,  and  pase  are  als  riche  and  richere  b&ne 
pe  o\>er  [in  will].  And  of  tham^  Ih^u  saise  in  be  gospelle  pat  »lyghtere  it  ware  a 
camelle  to  passe  thurgfte  a  nedill  eghe,  pan  pe  riche  to  com£  in  to  pe  blysse  of 
heuens«.  Sum^  r^re  pat  hase  reches  bot  thay  lufe  thaym  noghte,  noghte-for-thy  pay 
will  wele  hafe  pam^:  and  pase  are  pe  gud  mene  of  pe  worlde  pat  dispendis  wele 
that  at  pay  hase.  Bot  fone  are  of  pase !  2^it  it  are  ober  pat  hase  noghte  reches, 
ne  lufes  noghte  thaym,  ne  will  noght  hafe  pam^ :  and  pase  are  pe  gude  folke  pat 
are  in  religion?,  and  pase  are  sothefastely  pure,  and  pairs  es  pe  loye  of  heuene, 
ffor  pat  es  the  benyson*  of  pe  pure.  Than  it  behufes  pat  pe  riche  hafe  be 
reu<r[s]e  of  pat  benyson^;  and  pare-fore  may  I  say  »Blyssede  be  be  pofur  for  paires 
es  pe  kyngdoms  and  be  loye  of  heuens«.  And  swa  may  I  say  of  pe  riche  for 
1  om. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund. 


22Q 


pairs  es  pyne  of  helle.  Alswa  potter  pay  are  pat  base  pouerte  and  lufes  na 
reches,  and  pouer  pay  are  pat  base  reches  and  lufes  pouert.  [XVIL]  Now  aftire 
pis,  awe  pe  to  wyte  whylke  are  pe  seuen^  prayers  of  pe  Pater  nosier,  pat  duse 
away  all  ill  and  purchase  all  gude.  And  pase  seuentf  prayers  er  cowtende  in  pe 
Pater  noster  pe  whilke  oure  lorde  Thesu.  Criste  kennde  till  his  discypks  how  pay 
[suld]  pray  godd^  pe  ffadire,  and  sayd  thaym  one  pis  manere :  »When<?  ^e  sail 
praye,  one  pis  wyese  sail  ^e  say.  Pater  noster  qui  es  in  cells  fyc.«  X  Now,  my 
frende,  wit  pou  pat  oure  lorde  Ihmi  Cryste  kennes  vs  in  pe  gospelle  to  make 
pis  prayere.  And  pare-fore  I  walde  at  pou  wyste  at  pe  begynnynge  whate  es 
pr^yere  or  orysone|,  and  sythynt:  pat  pou  vndirstande  pe  prayere  of  pe  Pater 
noster.  I  Prayere  or  Oryson?  es  noghte  elles  bot  ^ernyng  of  saule,  w/t/j  certayne 
trayste  pat  it  cowmes  pat  ptfti  prayes.  And  in  pat  trayste  vs  settis  Ihmi  Criste 
whentf  he  kennes  vs  to  calle  godde  »oure  fadyre  pat  es  in  heuen<?«  ;  ffor  in  hym 
sail  man  hafe  certayne  trayste  pat  he  may  and  will  all  gudnes  gyffe  pat  oure 
saule  kan£  ^erne  and  mekill  mare,  pe  whilke  es  betakynde  by  pise  wordes :  Qui 
es  in  cells,  p«t  es  to  say  »pe  whilke  es  in  heuen£«;  ffor  if  godde  will  call  hym- 
selfe  oure  fadyre,  pan  he  makes  vs  to  wiet  pat  he  lufes  vs  als  childyre,  and  at 
he  will  gyffe  vs  all  pat  we  hafe  myster  of.  Bot  certanly,  if  all  pe  lufe  pat  e\\er 
had  fadire  or  modire  vn-to  paire  childyre,'  or  all  op*r  lufes  of  pis  worlde,  ware 
gedirde  to-gedyre  in  a  lufe,  and  ^it  pat  lufe  ware  multipliede  als  mekill  als  manes 
herte  moghte  thynke,  ^it  it  moghte  na-thynge  atteyne  to  pe  lufe  pat  godde  oure 
fadyre  base  vn-till  vs,  pare  whare  we  are  hys  enmys.  And  |)at  sail  we  wele  see 
thurgfi  pe  grace  of  godde,  If  we  se  one  what  manere  he  es  oure  ffadyr  and 
whatt  he  base  done  for  vs.  Wit  pou  pat  when*?  god  made  all  crearurs  of  noghte, 
we  rede  noghte  pat  he  made  any  creature  till  his  lyknes  bot  man<?  allan^e;  and 
pare-fore  godd  he  es,  and  makere  of  all  thynges  of  pe  worlde,  bot  he  es  noghte 
paire  fadyre ;  bot  vn-till  vs,  thurghe  his  awen?  myghte  full  of  mercy,  es  he  godde 
and  makere  and  ffadyr,  ffor  pat  oure  saule  es  lelly  lyke  vn-till  pe  lyknes  of  pe 
ffadyr,  and  be  son^,  and  pe  haly  gaste,  pat  ere  hallyly  a  godd*:  and  persons  thre. 
And  all  pis  werlde  he  base  made  to  strue  man,  whils  mane  will  duelle  in  his  lele 
lufe  als  his  awen^  childyre.  Bot  als-tyte  als  we  twyn?  fra  pat  lele  lufe,  for  lufe 
of  pis  lyfe,  or  for  any  o\*er  thynge,  we  losse  pe  lordechipe  of  pis  worlde,  and 
becowmes  thralles  dreryly  to  pe  deuelle,  pare  we  ware  before  fre,  and  ayers  of 
pe  erytage  of  pe  kyngdom^  of  heuen*  and  to  welde  pe  welthe  of  pis  werlde. 
Alias  [I]  may  saye,  Alias,  alias,  what  here  es  a  sorowfull  chauwge,  wha-sa  it  vndyr- 
stode!  Wit  p<ni  wele  pat  here  es  gret  lykynge  of  lufe,  —  when  godd  pat  es  w/t//- 
owttyntf  begywnynge  and  es  w*t//-owtten£  chaungeyng  and  duellys  w/t//-owttyn6' 
Endynge,  for  he  es  alpir-myghtyeste  and  alpir-wyseste,  and  alswa  al[)ire-beste  pat 
manwes  herte  may  noghte  thynke,  in  whaym  es  lufe  and  loy  endles, — here,  I  say,  es 
takyn^  of  gret  lufe,  pat  he  deyned  hym  to  make  vs  till  his  awen*  lyknes  righte 
als  we  had  bene  his  awen  chosen*  childyre,  and  moghte  hafe  lefte  vs  to  be  a 
littill  vyle  matire  als  we  ware  made  of  oure  modyr,  pat  vile  es  to  neuen^ ;  or  he 
moghte  hafe  made  vs  at  his  will  [lik]2  any-kyn£  ofyer  best/*,  and  pan^  had  we  dyede 
to-gedire  bathe  body  and  saule.  Bot  when  he  hade  made  vs  man  and  gafe  vs 
pe  saule  to  his  awen?  lyknes  —  louede  and  luffede  be  pat  lorde! — for  to  be  ayers  of 
pe  Erytage  of  heuen*,  and  lyfe  in  pat  gret  loye  w*'t//-owtten£  Ende ,  now  es  na 
X  The  piece  from  heie  to  the  mark  on  p.  232  is  wanting  in  the  Latin  text  and  Ms.  Vernon.  2  om. 


230  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

herte  sa  harde  pat  it  na  moghte  nesche  and  lufe  swylke  a  godd*?  with  all  his 
myghte,  and  his  herte  suld  melte,  filled  of  loy,  If  it  thoghte  sothely  of  pat 
grace  pat  oure  lorde  hase  don^  till  vs  by- fore  all  o\>er  creattirs.  And  zitt  did 
he  mare  thurgRe  his  mekill  mercy.  For  whene  we  ware  thurgRe  oure  sorowfull 
syne  twynnede  fra  godd*  oure  sweteste  ffadire,  and  become  thralles  to  pe  ill 
gaste,  than  he,  thurgRe  hys  maste  mercy,  sente  his  awen^  sonwe,  pat  with  hym  es 
godd*  in  his  godhede,  for  to  take  flesche  and  blode  of  be  virgyn^  Marie,  Mayden* 
and  modyr,  lastand  in  loy;  and  one  bis  manure  did  he  be  dede :  In  state  of 
thralle  tuke  he  oure  flescRe  to  suffre  be  gylteste  pou^rte  and  schame  and  noyes 
and  paywnes  pat  neu<?r  dyd  ill  ne  na  man^r  of  syn^,  and  sythen^  delyu^rde  hym 
till  be  vileste  dede  and  be  schamefulleste  bat  man  moghte  thynke,  to  delywr  vs 
wreches  of  sorowfull  bandis,  and  of  be  pynand1  preson^  puttid  in  hell,  and  to 
make  vs  to  cowme  till  be  heghe  heuen^,  whare  we  sail  be  als  kynges  corounde 
in  blyse,  if  we  do  be  will  of  bat  swet  lorde  bat  for  vs  ordeynede  hym  to  dye 
one  be  crosse  als  bofe  he  had  ben)e  a  wykkid  thefe.  Dere  ffrende,  nowe  hase 
pou  here  twa  thyngei;  in  be  whylke  godde  hase  schewede  vs  bat  he  es  oure  fa- 
dire  and  bat  he  lufes  vs  als  his  awen^  childyre,  bare  we  are  agayne  hynu?  with 
oure  wykked  syn^.  The  firste  es  bat  he  made  vs  till  his  awen?  lyknes,  and  be 
to\*er  es  bat  he  boghte  vs  fra  pmouW  -with  his  p^rcyouse  dede  of  his  manhede. 
For  be  fyrste  es  man  halden^  till  hym  for  to  lufe  hym  with  all  his  herte.  Bot 
ban  may  p<?u  aske:  »What  sail  I  do  hym  for  be  tof>w  thynge?  ffor  if  I  sail  witR 
pou^rhede  lofe  godde  be  ffadyr  and  lufe  hym  and  smie  hym  with  all  my  saule  and 
•with  all  my  herte  in  all  thynges  for-bi  bat  he  made  me  of  noghte  and  gafe  me 
saule  aftir  his  awen£  lyknes,  als  it  was  cowmandyd  in  be  aide  lawe  be-fore  godde 
was  borne  and  be-com  man  for  vs:  what  moghte  I  now  do  hym  whentf  he  for  me 
wrechid  synnere  sa  mekill  hym  lawede  bat  he  walde  beco;«me  mam?,  and  he  gafe 
hym  to  me  when?  he  thurghe  his  sweteste  mercy  walde  dye  for  me,  and  of  be 
maste  noyouse  and  be  maste  vile  dede  bat  ever  was  thoghte?  I  wate  neu^f 
what  I  may  say  here,  ffor  if  I  myghte  lyffe  a  hundrethe  ^ere,  and  if  I  moghte  in 
bat  tym  ilk  a  day  at  a  tyme  dye  als  vile  ded  als  he  for  me  dide,  ^it  ne  ware  it 
noghte  ynence  his  gret  gyfte2,  when  he  es  sothely  said  goddes  sonwe  of  heuen*?, 
and  gafe  hym-selfe  till  vs  bat  tynte  was  thurgR  syne  and  put  in  to  be  pyne  of 
helle  and  pare  in  be  dispytte  of  hym  smiede  to  be  deuelle.  How  sulde  we 
pan*  ^elde  hym  be  gude  gret  gyfte  when*?  he  walde  sende  his  awen^  sone  to  be 
pynede  for  oure  syne?«  Now  I  sail  lere  the,  if  god  gyffe  me  grace,  how  oure 
dere  ffadir  askes  nane  o\>er  store  bot  that  we  with  herte  knawe  oure  awene  ffe- 
billnes  and  oure  wrechidnes  bat  we  hafe  for  oure  awentf  syne.  Thane  sail  we 
be  in  bittmies  of  penance,  and  crye  till  hym  faste  mercy,  pat  he  vs  saue  for 
his  haly  name,  ffor  of  oure-selfe  hafe  we  noghte  hym  for  to  z;elde.  t'are-fore  said 
the  pn?phete  in  pepsalme:  Quid  retribuam  domino  pro  omnibus  que  retribuifi  michi? 
Calicem  salutaris  accipiam  et  nomen  domini  invocabo  &fc.,  pat  es:  »What  sail  I  ^elde 
to  god  for  all  his  gud  gyftes  bat  he  me  gyffes  als  lorde  with-owttene  my  deserte? 
The  coppe  of  hele  I  sail  take  and  calle  pe  name  of  my  lorde«.  The  cope  of 
hele  whare-of  dranke  oure  lord  Ih«u  oure  saueoz^r,  pat  es  the  byttmies  of  be 
penance  in  his  grete  pynes ;  and  pat  man  in  all  his  thoghte^  calles  gode^  name, 
pat  sothefastely  knawes  pat  he  hase  noghte  of  hym-selfe  bot  sorowe  and  synne. 
1  Ms.  pyn  and.  2  Ms.  gyfte/,.  s  Ms.  retrebuit. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  231 

And  wit  thow  pat  if  sothefastenes  be  sett  faste  in  thi  saule,  pe  mare  pat  pou 
knawes  pe  for  wrechide  and  febyll,  be  mare  sail  pou  meke  be  and  calle  one  hys 
mercy.  And  bus  it  was  of  cure  swete  lady  mayden*  and  modyr,  ffor  scho  had 
mare  of  grace  bane  any  in  this  lyfe  man  or  woman*  bat  eu*r  was  borne,  thare- 
fore  scho  helde  hir  lesse  and  lawere  ban  any  of)*r  wyghte,  and  mare  cryede 
scho  mercy  ban  any  op*r  man,  when*  sothefaste  goddes  son*  lighte  in  hir 
wambe.  /  My  dere  frende,  se  now  aftirwarde  why  cure  lorde  Huvra  kennes  vs  in  be 
gospelle  to  say  »our*  ffadire«  and  noghte  »my  ffadir«.  For  by  pat,  will  he  kenn*  vs 
bat  we  suld  gedyre  all  men  w/tfc  vs  in  oure  prayers;  ffor  all  ere  oure  brethire, 
crystende  and  vncristend*  men*,  ffor  pat  all  of  a  gou*maylle  hafe  we  a  ffadyr ;  and 
bat  J>0u  may  bis  thynge  thurgfie  be  grace  of  godd  clerelyere  see,  gyffe  gude 
Entente  till  bat  at  I  say.  Hym  calles  p<m  thi  fleschely  brop*r  pat  base  his  body 
of  pe  same  man*  and  woman*  of  whaym  p<?u  hase  thyne :  thane  sail  p0u  wele 
halde  hym  pi  brop*r  bat  hase  his  saule  of  pe  same  fadir  of  heuen*  of  whaym 
p0u  hase  pi  saule,  and  of  swylke  a  kynd,  and  of  swylke  a  lyknes;  ffor  als  wele 
made  godd*  ilke  man*  till  lyknes  of  pe  trinyte  als  he  did  pe  ;  and  pis  brobtrhede 
mare  suld  we  lufe  and  mare  dere  halde,  pan  pe  brop*rhede  of  pe  flesche,  in 
als  mekill  als  pe  saule  es  mare  nobyll  ban  be  flesche,  and  in  als  mekill  als  godd* 
oure  fadir  of  heuen*  es  mare  nobill  and  mare  for  to  lufe  ban  oure  fleschly  fadir. 
And  bat  suld  we  do  if  we  saghe  als  clerely  witft  oure  gastely  eghe,  als  we  do 
w/'tA  oure  bodyly  eghe.  Bot  for-thy  bat  we  see  noghte  bot  w*t/*  pe  fleschely 
eghe,  als  it  ware  bestes,  we  hafe  na  knawynge  ne  na  lufe  bot  of  bat  bro|)*rhede 
pat  cowmes  of  pe  flesche  stynkande  and  foule.  Alias ,  alias!  what  sorowfull  thynge 
thus  hase  blyndid  vs!  Certis  na  thynge  mare  blyndis  manes  saule  pane  lufe  of 
erthely  thynge  bat  sofie  takes  Ende.  For-pi  behufes  man*  lefe  his  pwpire  will  if 
he  will  ptrfitly  knawe  pe  lufesomest  broj)*rhede  whare-of  now  mekill  I  hafe  spoken*?, 
ffor  whate-sa-eu*r  we  hafe  in  body  or  in  saule  of  gudnes  or  of  fairenes,  we  hafe  it 
of  oure  fadyr  of  heuen*,  godd*,  bat  es  till  vs  fadir,  and  Euenly  till  all  his  creaturs ; 
noghte  anely  for  his  makynge  of  noghte,  ne  for  his  goumvyng  of  his  grace,  for 
his  purchasynge  bat  he  made  of  vs  bot  ware  tynt  childir,  w*t//  his  flesche  and  his 
blode  bat  he  for  vs  gafe,  als  saynt  Austyn*  be  nobill  clerke  witnes.  He  sayse,  »be 
ffadir  gaffe  his  Son*  thurgfi  whaym  he  walde  by  vs  thralles ;  he  gafe  pe  Haly 
gaste  thurgft  whaym*  he  walde  purchase  pe  thralles  in  his  childire.  £e  sonn 
he  gafe  in  pryse  of  raunson*,  pe  haly  gaste  in  pmielege  of  purchase ;  and  par- 
fore  pe  ffadir  kepis  hym-selfe  in  Erytage  till  his  childir  pat  he  p/*rchase«.  And 
pare-fore,  dere  frende,  na  man*  sail  mystrayste  of  pe  lufe  of  his  swete  ffadirhede 
and  of  his  dere  pete,  ffor  mare  es  his  mercy  pan*  all  oure  wykkednes ;  ffor  wha 
sa  calles  till  hym  w/tA  all  his  herte,  w/tA-owten*  faile  he  will  here  hym*,  for 
he  es  full  of  mercy.  And  pare-fore,  als  I  be-fore  saide,  vritk  ^ernynge  of  saule 
and  certayne  trayste,  calle  appon*  hym  trewely  w/t/fc  all  thi  herte.  He  es  bi  ffadir 
pereles  {)at  pwrchacece^  be  pees;  and  saye  traystely  till  hym*  als  hym-selfe  vs 
lerede:  Pater  noster  qui  es  in  celis,  bat  es  to  say  »Oure  ffadir  bat  es  inheuen*«; 
sanctificetur  nomen  tuwn ,  bat  es  to  say,  »halyed  be  pi  name«;  adueniat  regnum 
tuum,  »it  com*  pikyngedom*;  ffiat  voluntas  tua  sicut  in  celo  ct  in  terra,  »pi  will 
be  donne  swa  in  erthe  als  it  es  in  heuen*«;  pancm  nostrum  cotidianum  da  nobis 
hoJie,  »oure  ylke  day  brede  b^ti  gyffe  vs  to-day«;  et  dimitte  nobis  debita  nostra 
sicut  ct  nos  dimittimiis  debitoribus  nostris,  »and  forgyffe  vs  oure  dettis  als  we  for- 


232  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

gyffe  our  dettows«;  et  ne  nos  inducas  in  temptacionem,  »and  suffire  vs  noghte  be 
ledde  in  to  fandyng«« ;    set  libera  nos  a  malo,  »bot  delyu*r  vs  fra  all  ill  thyngw«. 
Amen,  bet  es  to  say,  Swa  mot  it  be.  X  Now,  my  dere  frende,  b<m  sail  wyt  bat  bis 
Oryson*  passes  all  ob*r  prayers   pryncypally  in   twa  thynges,    bat    es  to  say,    in 
worthynes    and   in  pnrfyte.     In   worthynes,    for    bat   god    hym-selfe  mad  it;    and 
for-thi  do  bay  gret  schame  and  gret  vnreuerence  till  Ihesv.  goddes  son*  bat  takes 
bam*  till  wordis  ry[m]and  *  and  curiwj-,  and  leues  be  proyere  bat  he  vs  kennede,   bat 
wate  all  be  will  of  godd*  be  ffadir*,  and  be  whilke  orysone  cowmes  maw  till  his 
plesynge,    and    whate  thynges  be  wrechede  caytyfe2   hase    myst*r  at  pray  fore. 
Alswa,  als  I  hafe  sayde,    he  wate  anely  all  be  ffadir  wyll,    and   he  wate  all  oure 
nede.    And  bare-fore  a  hundrethe  thousande  er  dyssayuede  with  multyplicacione  of 
wordes  and  of  Orysouws ;  ffor  when  bay  wene  bat  bay  hafe  grete  deuocyon*,  ban* 
hafe  bai  a  folleS  fleschely  lykynge,  ffor-thy  bat  ilk  a  fleschely  lykynge  delytes  bam* 
kyndely  in  swylke  twrnede  langage.    and   bare-fore  I  walde   bat    bou  war   warr* 
ffor  I  say  be  sykerly    bat   it    es  a  foule   lychery   for    to   delyte    be   in   rymes   and 
slyke  gulyardy.    7j.\.  one  a  nob*r  syde  saynt  Austyne  and  saynt  Gregore  and  ob*r 
halowes4  prayede  als  was  baire  lykynge.  I  blame  noghte  [baire]5  prayers;  bot  I  blame 
base  bat  lefes  be  pray ere  of  godd*  bat 6  hym-selfe  made  and  lerede  vs  for  to  pray, 
bat  es  [be]  Pater  noster,  and  takes  bam*  till  be  Orysons  of  a  synfull  saynte  whare  bay 
fynde  it  wretten* ;  ffor  oure  lorde  Ihesus  hyw-selfe  sayse  in  the  gosepelle :  »When  ^e 
will  praye:  prayes  noghte  wz'U  many  wordes,  bot  prayes  one  bis  manere:  Pater 
noster  &c.*  f  Dere  frende,  ^it  sail  b<?u  wit,   one  anob*r  syde,  bat  be  .Pa&r  ww/^r 
passes  all  ob*r  prayers  in  [sufficience]7,  ffor  bare-in  es  corctende  all   thynge^,  what 
sa  we  hafe  myst*r  of,  till  bis  lyfe  or  till  be  tob*r;  ffor  we  praye  pare-In  godd* 
be  ffadyr   bat  he  delyu*r  vs  of  all  illes,    and  bat  he  gyffe  vs  all  gudes,    and  bat 
he  make   vs   swylke   bat  we   may  neu*r  do  ill,    ne    bat  we  may  noghte  fayle  of 
gude.    And  [sep  now,  all  be  ille  bat  vs  greues,  oub*r  es  it  ille  bat  es  don^e,  or  it  es 
ille  for  to  com*,  or  elles  it  es  ille  bat  we  suffire  nowe.     Of  bat  ille  bat  es  don»e 
and  passede,   we  praye   oure  swete  lorde  bat  he  delyu*r  vs  b*r-of  when*  we  say 
Dimitte  nobis  debita  nostra  fyc.    We  pray  hym  delyu*r  vs  of  ill  pat  es  for  to  com*, 
when*  we  say  et  ne  nos  inducas  in  temptacionem.     Of  illes    bat  we  suffire  nowe 
we  praye  hym*  bat  he  delyu*r  vs  when*  we  say  set  libera  nos  a  malo.  f  5^it,  dere 
ffrende,  on  anob*r  syde,  wit  bou  bat  all  man*r  of  glide  bat  es,   oub*r  it  es  erthely 
gude,  or  gastely  gude,  or  gude  lastande  endles ;  ffor  erthely  gude  we  praye  when* 
we  say  panem   nostrum   cotidianum  da    nobis  hodie;    ffor   gastely  gude   we  praye 
when*  we  say  ffiat  voluntas  tua  sicut  in  celo  et  in  terra ;  ffor  endles  gude  we  praye 
when  we  say  adueniat  regnum  tuum;  and  confermywg  of  all  bis  we  praye,  when* 
we  say  sanctificetur  nomen  tuum.  ^  Now,  my  dere  frende,  pese  ere  seuen*  prayers 
of  be  Ewangelle  bat  oure  lorde  Ihesn  Criste  kenned*  till  his  dyscypills.    And  bou 
sail  wit  bat  bese  foure  wordes  bat  comes  be-fore,  bat  es  to  wit  Pater  noster  qui  es 
in  celis,  leres  vs  how  we  sail  praye,   and  what  oure-selfe  sail  be  in  proyere.    For 
we  sail  in  ylke  ane  Oryson*  haue  four*  thynges,    bat  es  to   say,   Perfite  lufe  till 
hym  till  whaym   we  praye,    and    certayne   trayste   to  haue  bat  at  we  praye  fore, 
and    stabill   troutR   in   hym   in   whaym  we   trowe,    and  sothefaste  mekenes  of  pat 
that  of  oure-selfe  na  gude  we  haue.     P*rfite  lufe  es  vndi[r]standen*  in  bis  worde 

l  Ms.  ry«nand.          2  r.  we  .  .  caytyfs.          3  V  foul,  Sp.  vilem.          IMS.  !>**  prayede.        *  om. 
6  r.  Jiat  god.        7  MS.  worthynes. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  2^ 

Pater,  ffor  ilke  a  creature  kyndly  lufes  his  ffadir.  Certayne  trayst  es  contende 
in  bis  worde  nosier,  ffor  if  he  be  ours,  ban  may  we  sekerly  trayst  in  hym  bat  he 
es  halden^  till  vs.  Stabill  trouthe  es  taken^  in  bise  wordes  Qiti  es,  ffor  whentf  we 
say  gui  es ,  ban  graunt  we  wele  bat  godd^  es  bat  we  neu<?r  sawe,  and  bat  es 
ryghte  troutfie,  ffor  trouthe  es  na  nob^r  thyng  bot  tro\vyng  of  thyng  bat  may 
noghte  be  sene.  Sothefaste  mekenes  es  betakynde  in  bis  worde  In  celis,  ffor 
when  we  thynke  how  he  es  heghe  in  loy,  and  how  we  are  here  lawe  in  besynes, 
than*?  we  are  mekide.  Bot  whentf  we  hafe  festenede  bere  foure  thynges  in  cure 
hertes,  ban  may  we  hardyly  praye  and  saye  wz't/j  all  cure  affeccyon<?  Sanctificetur 
nomen  tuum,  bat  es  to  say  »haly  be  bi  name« ;  als  wa  [say  *],  stabill  bi  name,  bat  es 
ffadir,  in  vs,  bat  we  be  one  bat  manere  bi  childhv  bat  we  do  na  thyng  bat  be 
agaynes  bi  will,  and  bat  eu<r-mare  we  doo  bat  at  cowmes  to  bi  plesyngf,  thurgft 
grauntynge  of  bi  grace.  And  for-thi  bat  we  may  noghte  eu^-mare  do  bat  pcr- 
fitely  whyls  we  ere  in  bis  caytifede  worlde,  bare-fore  pray  we  bus  and  sayse 
Adueniat  regnum  tuum,  pat  es  to  say,  »it  com*  till  vs  bi  kyngdom^,  bat  we  regne 
in  {)e2,  Ihmi,  in  bis  lyfe  thurgft  thi  grace,  and  p0u  in  vs3  in  be  toptr  lyfe  thurgti 
Ioy«.  And  bis  ilke  we  praye  for  base  bat  are  in  purgatorie.  And  for-thi  pat  we 
neu<r-mare  may  hafe  parte  vtMi  loye  of  heuem?  if  we  do  noghte  thi  will  in  erthe, 
pare-fore  we  praye  thus :  Fiat  voluntas  tua  sicut  in  celo  el  in  terra,  pat  es  to  say, 
»thi  will  be  donwe  als  in  heuen^  swa  in  erthe«;  als  wa  say,  make  vs  to  do  f)i  wyll, 
bat  es  to  say,  pou  gyffe  vs  grace  to  do  all  bat  b<?u  cowmandes,  and  to  lefe  all 
bat  p0u  defendis ;  and  bat  swa  in  erthe  als  in  heuem',  bat  es  to  say,  als  Michaelle 
and  Gabrielle  and  Raphaelle,  Cherubyn^  and  Seraphyn^,  and  all  be  opcr  angells  and 
archangells,  ...  and  all  base  pat  are  Ordeynede  to  pe  endles  lyfe  in  Toy  in  ilke  a 
kynde,  in  ilke  ane  ordire,  and  in  ilke  ane  elde,  thi  wille  duse.  And  for-thi  pat 
we  may  noghte  do  pi  will  whills  we  lyffe  in  pis  body  if  pou.  ne  sustayne  vs 
noghte,  bare-fore  say  we  bus:  Pattern  nostrum  cotidianum  da  nobis  hodic,  bat  cs 
to  say,  »Oure  ilke  day  brede  b<m  gyffe  vs  to-day» ;  als  wa4  say,  bou  gyffe  vs  fforce 
in  body  and  in  saule,  and  helc  if  it  be  bi  will  of  be  tane  and  offe  be  toper.  And 
here  es  for  to  wit  bat  bare  es  thre  maners  of  brede:  ba[re]5  es  bodyly  brede,  bat 
es  to  say  ffode  and  clethynge,  bare  es  brede  gastely,  bat  es  to  say  of  haly  wrytte  be 
leryng,  and  bare  es  be  brede  of  Eukaryste,  bat  es  be  grace  in  be  sacrament  of  be 
autere,  for  to  comfortfie  be  kynde  of  be  tane  and  be  tobtr.  Bot  for-thi  bat  we  ere 
worthi  na  gudnes  whills  we  ere  bowndenf  in  synnf,  |)are-fore  say  we  bus :  Dimitte 
nobis  debita  nostra  sicul  et  nos  dimittimus  debitoribus  nostris,  bis  es  to  say,  »fforgyffe 
vs  oure  dettis  als  we  forgyffe  cure  dettours«.  £ou  sail  wyt  bare  our*  synns  byndis 
our*  dettowrs  to  pynne,  bare-fore  we  pray  Ihf.ni  to  forgyff  vs  synnes,  pat  es  to 
say,  all  pat  we  hafe  synnede  in  thoghte  in  worde  and  in  dede ;  and  pat  ryghte 
als  we  for-gyffe  till  pase  pat  hase  mysdone  agaynes  vs.  And  for-bi  pat  a  lyttill 
vs  helpes  to  hafe  forgyfnes  of  syn<r,  if  we  may  noghte  kepe  vs  fra  syn*,  pare- 
fore  pray  we  pus:  Et  ne  nos  inducas  in  temptacionem,  and  pis  es  to  say,  »lede 
vs  no^te  in  to  na  fandyng/j«;  als-wa4  say,  suffere  vs  noghte  be  ou^r-cowmen^  in 
fandynge^  of  be  deuell  ne  of  pe  flesch  ne  of  pe  werlde.  And  noghte  allanly 
we  pray  pat  we  be  delyutred  of  all  euyll  fandynge^ ,  bot  alswa  we  pray  pat  we 
be  delyu^red  of  all  ill  thyng<?,  when^  we  say  Set  libera  nos  a  malo,  and  bis  es  to 
say,  »Bot  delyu^r  vs  of  all  ill  thyngw,  bat  es,  of  body  and  of  saule,  of  syn<?  and  of 
1  Ms.  als  swa;  say  om.  2  r.  J>ou  r.  in  vs.  3  r.  we  in  J)e.  *  Ms.  als  swa.  5  Ms.  fat. 


234  ^s'  Thornton:   Anonymous  writings. 

pyne  ffor  syn<?,  pat  now  es  or  sail  be.  Say  we  Amen,  pat  es  to  say,  Swa  be  it! 
And  for-thi  sayse  oure  lorde  Ihmi  Criste  in  pe  gospelle:  »what-sa  pou  prayes  my 
fadir  in  my  name  he  sail  do  it«,  and  per-fore  say  at  pe  Ende  Per  dominum  nostrum 
lesum  Christum  filium  tuum  fyc.  And  now  ,  my  dere  frende,  vndirstande  noghte 
pat  pou  sail  say  pi  Pater  noster  wz't/z  mouthe  als  I  hafe  it  here  wretyn*  be-fore 
be.  Bot  say  all-anely  pe  nakede  lettir  wz't/z  pi  mouthe,  and  thynke  in  pi  herte 
of  this  pat  I  hafe  said  here,  of  ilke  a  worde  by  it-selfe;  and  rekk  noghte  pof 
J)0u  ne  multyply  many  Pater  nosters ;  ffor  it  es  better  to  say  a  Pater  noster  with 
gude  deuocyon^  pan£  a  thousande  wz't^-owtten^  deuocyontf ;  ffor  pus  sais  saynte  Paule 
appertly:  he  sayse,  »me  ware  lener  say  fyve  wordes  in  herte  deuotely,  pane  fyve 
thousande  wz't/z  my  mouthe  wz't/z-owtten^  lykynge«.  And  one  pe  same  man^fe  sail 
pou  say  and  do  at  thyne  offece  in  pe  qweire,  for  swa  sayse  pe  prophete:  Psallite 
sapienter,  and  pat  es  to  say,  »Synges  and  versy1  wyesly«.  To2  say  or  to  syng<? 
wyesly,  pat  es,  pat  thi  herte  be  one  pat  at  pou  saise,  and  one  pat  at  op^r  saise, 
pat  pou  here  it  besyly ;  ffor  if  pi  body  be  at  thi  seruyce,  and  pi  mouthe  speke 
one  a  wyse,  and  thi  herte  thynke  of  wrechidnes,  caytefly  pan  es  pou  twynned^, 
[and]3  when  pou  swa  es  twynned^,  pou  tynes  pe  mede  of  pi  seruyce ;  ffor  pe  awe  to 
s^rue  godd^  wz't/£  all  pi  herte,  wz'tA  all  thi  saule,  and  wz't/z  all  pi  vertu,  and  swa 
pou  may  pay  pi  godd<?.  Bot  pare  es  many  thynges  pat  ere  cause  of  swylke 
wrechede  twynnynge,  als  mete,  drynke,  Reste,  clethynge,  layke,  discorde,  Thoghte, 
laboure,  hethynge.  These  makes  hippynge,  homerynge  of  medles  momellynge.4 
And  pare-fore  take  kepe  what  oure  lorde  Them  Criste  saise  in  pe  gospelle :  »ffirste, 
he  saise,  sekes  pe  kyngdom^  of  heuen^,  and  all  pat  ^e  hafe  myst^r  of  sail  be 
gyffenc  30  we  wz't/z-owttyn^  any  askynge«.  Thare-fore,  dere  frende,  pou  sail  wit  what 
pou  sail  hafe  in  pe  blysse  of  heuen^.  [XVIII.]  Wit  pou  wele  pat  pou  sail  hafe 
seuen^  gyftes  in  body  and  seuentf  in  saule,  pat  es  to  say:  Fairenes  in  body  wz't£- 
owttyn^  fyltK,  Lyghtenes  wztfc-owttyn^  slewtfi,  Force  wzt^-owtten^  ffeblesce,  Frenes 
wzt/z-owtten*  thralledome,  Lykynge  wz't/z-owtten*  noye,  Lufelynes  wztfc-owttyntf  envye, 
Hele  wzt/z-owttyn<?  sekenes,  Lange  lyfe  wz'tA-owttyn^  ende.  Thou  sail  hafe  in  saule: 
Wysedome  wit^-owtten^  ygnorance,Frenchipe  wzt/z-owtten^  hateredyn^,  Accorde  w/'t/z- 
owtten^  discorde,  Myghte  wz't/z-owtten^  wayknes,  Honour  wz't/fc-owtten*  dishonour, 
Sekirnes  wzt/z-owtten^?  drede,  loy  wzU-owttem?  sorowe.  Bot  pe  wreches  in  helle, 
all  pe  reuerce,  botfi  in  body  and  in  saule,  pat  es  to  say:  FyltK  wz't/z-owttyn?  faire- 
nes,  Slouthe  wz't^-owtten*  lyghtenes,  Feblesce  wz't/^-owtten^  force,  Thraledom*  wzt^- 
owtten^  freenes,  Angwyse  wz'tA-owtten^  lykynge,  Sekenes  wz't/z-owtten^  hele,  Ded 
wz't/z-owtten^  ende.  Thare  sail  be  in  pair  saules:  Ignorance  wz't/z-owttyn?  \vys- 
dome,  Hatredyn^  wz't/z-owtten^  lufe,  Discorde  w/t/z-owtten^  accorde,  Feblesce  w/tfc- 
owtten^  powere,  Schame  w/tfc-owtten?  honour,  Drede  wz't/z-owtten^  sekernes,  and 
Sorowe  with-owttene  loy.  And  for  pis  sail  pou  seke  w/t/z  all  pi  myghte  pat  f)0u 
may  wyne  pe  loye  of  heuen^ ;  ffor  pare  es  sa  gret  loye  and  sa  mekill  swettnes,  pat 
if  pou  myghte  lyffe  fra  pe  begy;znynge  of  be  worlde  vn-till  pe  ende  and  hafe  all  pe 
lykynge  pat  pou  couthe  ordeyne,  ^it  pou  sulde  w/t/z  gret  ryghte  lefe  all  pase,  for  to 
be  a  day  in  pe  loy  of  heuen^.  //  And  thus  endys  pe  top^r  degre  of  contemplacyone, 
pat  es  to  say  pe  cowtemplacione  of  haly  writte  ;  of  pe  whylke  if  pou  take  gud  kepe 
in  pi  herte,  it  sail  be  lyghte  vnto  pe  ilke  a  worde  to  halde.  One  ane  oper  syde, 
pou  hase5  mater  to  speke  vn-to  pe  clerke^,  be  pay  neuer  sa  \vyse,  or  to  lewede 
1  Vern.  versele.  2  Ms.  }>at  es  to.  3  Ms.  ffor.  4-4  wanting  in  Spec.  a  Ms.  if  t^u  hafe. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund. 


235 


men  be  pay  neuer  so  ruyde.  [To]1  pe  clerkes  pou  mofe  som  matirs  of  pis,  and 
[aske]2  at  pou  may  lere  more.  And  when*  pou  spekes  till  sympill  men*  and  myde, 
gladly  pou  lere  pam*  [&]  \rith  swettnes.  For  pou  base  enoghe  whare-of  pou  may 
speke,  and  how  pou  sail  pi  lyfe  amende  and  gou*me,  and  op*r  menwes  alswa. 

[XIX.]  I*e  thirde  degre  of  cowtemplacyon*  es  in  Godd*  hyw-selfe.  And  pat  may 
be  on  twa  maners,  pat  es,  witfi-owtten*  in  his  manhede,  and  In,  in  his  godhede 
so  blyschede.  For  pus  saise  saynt  Austyn*:  »ffor-pi  be-come  godd*  man*,  ffor  to 
make  mane  to  se  godd*  in  his  kynde ;  ffor  whep*f-som)  he  ^ocle  with-'m  or  \vith- 
owtten*,  eu*r-mare  moghte  man  fynde  pasture,  wzt/j-owtten*,  thurgfi  consederacyon* 
of  his  manhede,  w/t//-in  thurghe  contemplacyon*  of  his  godhede«.  Of  his  manhede, 
sail  pou  thynke  thre  thynge^:  pe  meknes  of  his  Incarnacyon* ,  pe  swetenes  of 
his  conurrsasion*,  and  pe  grete  charite  of  his  passione.  Bot  pis  may  pou  noghte 
do  all  att  anes,  and  pare-fore  hafe  I  twynned  the  thaym  by  be  seuen*  houres  of 
pe  clave  pat  pou  saise  in  pe  kyrke,  swa  pat  nan*  houre  passe  the  pat  pou  ne 
sail  be  swetely  ocupyed*  in  pi  herte.  Bot  nowe  for  to  do  pis,  pan  sail  pou  wit 
pat  till  ilke  ane  houre  of  pe  daye  es  dowbyll  medytacyon*,  ane  of  his  passyon*,  and 
anoptr  of  pe  top*r  seson*.  [XX]  *[  Now,  dere  frende,  before  matyns  sail  pou  thynke 
of  pe  swete  byrtfte  of  Ih*.ra  Cryste  alp*r*-fyrste,  and  sythyn*  eftyrwarde  of  his 
passions.  Of  his  byrtR,  sail  thou  thynke  besyly  be  tym*,  and  pe  stede,  and  pe 
houre  pat  our*  lorde  Ihcsu  Criste  was  borne  of  his  modir  Marie.  £e  tyme  was  in 
myd-wyntUr,  when*  it  was  maste  calde,  be  houre  was  at  mydnyghte,  pe  hardeste 
hour*  pat  es,  pe  stede  was  in  mydwarde  pe  strete,  in  a  house  w*'tA-owtten* 
walles ;  in  clowtis  was  he  wonden^?  and  als  a  childe  was  he  bundent',  and  In  a 
crybbe  by-fore  an^  Oxe  and  ane  Asse  pat  lufely  lorde  layde  was,  for  pare  was  na 
nop^r  stede  voyde.  And  here  sail  pou  thynke  of  pe  kepynge  of  Marye  and3 
hir  childe,  and  of  hir  spouse  losepfi — wat  loye  Ihmi  [hym]4  sente.  Thou  sail 
thynke  also  of  pe  hyrdes  pat  saw  pe  takynt'  of  his  byrtfte,  and  pou  sail  thynke 
of  pe  swete  felachipe  of  angells,  and  rayse  vpe  thi  herte  and  syngc'  with  |)am^ 
Gloria  in  cxcclsis  deo  &c.  /  Of  pe  passions,  sail  pou  thynke  how  pflt  he  was  at 
swylke  a  tyme  of  pe  nyghte  betrayed  of  his  descyple,  and  taken^  als  a  traytoure, 
and  bownden<:  als  a  thefe,  and  ledde  als  a  felons  ...  [XXL]  ^f  Be-fore  pryme,  |)ou 
sail  thynke  of  pe  passions  of  Iht'JU  and  of  his  loyfull  ryssynge.  Of  his  passyon^ 
sail  pou  thynke  how  pe  lewes  leddt'  hym  in  to  paire  counsaile,  and  bare  false 
wytnes  agayne  hym,  and  put  appone  hym  pat  he  had  saide  blasefeme,  bat  es 
sclandyre  in  godd^,  and  p#t  he  had  said  pat  he  suld  haue  distroyede  pe  temple 
of  godd^  and  make  agayne  anopi?r  w/t/z-in  the  thirde  day  ;  and  pan^  pay  bygan^  to 
dryfe  hym  till  hethyng*  and  to  falle  hym  als  a  fule,  and  spite  one  hym<?  in  dis- 
pyte  in  his  faire  face;  and  sythyn<?  thay  hide  his  eghen^,  and  gafe  hym*  bofetes 
grete  and  sythen^  asked  hyrae  whate  he  was  pat  hym  smate",  and  sythen^  pay 
ledde  hym  dreryly  to  be  dede,  and  ^itt  neutr  he  sayde  till  thaym  anes  why  pay 
swa  dyde.  Many  othyre  wykkydnes  pay  dide  hym,  pat  lange  ware  to  telle.  /  7,itt 
before  pryme  sail  pou  thynke  of  pe  haly  rysesynge:  pat  at  pat  tyme  of  pe  daye 
Ihmi  loyfully  rase  fra  dede  to  lyfe,  when*.'  pat  he  hade  destruyede  helle  and  dely- 
nercde  haly  sawles  owte  of  pe  powere  of  pe  deuelle  ...5  [XXII.]  ^[  ^itt  be-fore  vndrone 
sail  pou  thynke  of  pe  passion*  and  of  pe  witsondaye.  Of  pe  passion*  sail  pou  thynke 

i  Ms.  of.  2  Ms.  alswa.  »  Ms.  and  of;  r.  anent?  Spec,  cura  b.  Marie  circa  puerum.  *  Ms. 
J)am.  5  The  10  Apparitiones  in  the  Latin  text  are  om. 


236 


Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 


how  bat  tyme  oure  lorde  Ihesu  Cryste  dispytousely  was  dyspuylede  nakkynde,  and 
bownden*  till  a  tree  in  Pylate  house,  and  swa  wykkedly  scourgede  and  dofigen^, 
bat  of  his  swete  body  fra  be  heued  till  be  fate  noghte  was  lefte  hale  ...  And  at 
bat  like  houre  bou  sail  thynke  of  be  witsownday,  how  bfat]1  tym<?  of  be  day  oure 
lorde  Ihmi  Criste  sente  be  haly  gaste  till  his  disciples  in  liknes  of  fyre  and  of 
tunwges,  in  takynnynge  bat  bay  sulde  hafe  abowndance  in  worde,  and  brynnynge 
in  lufe ;  and  bat  ryghte  es  be  pwueance  of  oure  lorde  pwmayde :  ffor  in  twa 
maners  be  wykked  gaste  be-gylede  man^  in  paradyse,  bat  es  to  saye,  w/'tfc  wykked^ 
entycement  of  his  tunge,  and  wz't/&  be  caldnes  of  his  venym^,  and  for-bi  come  be 
haly  gaste  in  lyknes  of  tung  agayne  be  Entycement  of  be  deuelle,  and  in  fyre  for 
to  distruye  be  caldnes  of  his  venynv.  [XXIII.]  ^[  Be-fore  myddaye  sail  pou  thynke 
of  be  a«nu«ciacyon£  and  of  Ihesu  passions.  Of  be  amuwciacion*  sail  pou  thynke 
of  be  grete  mercy  of  oure  lorde  Ih^u  Criste,  whi  pat  he  walde  be-cowme  man^, 
and  ffor  vs  suffire  be  dede  in  bat  swete  manhed^,  sen^  he  moghte  hafe  boghte  vs 
agayne  on  ob^  manere.  And  bat  dyde  he,  for  till  drawe  till  hym?  pi  luffe;  ffor  if 
ane  hade  bene  pi  maker,  and  anop^  thi  byere,  and  hade  sufferde  in  [his]  body2 
es  all  our*  sorowe  for  to  by  all  oure  lufe,  than  hade  noghte  oure  trouthe  bene  anely 
in  ane.  Off  be  passions  sail  b<?u  thynke,  at  bat  houre  how  oure  lorde  Ihmi  was 
done  one  be  Crosse  be-twyx  twa  thefes,  ane  one  his  ryghte  syde  and  anob^  one 
his  lefte  syde,  and  hym-selfe  bay  hangede  be-twix  pamtf  twa,  alls  mayst<?r  of  thefes. 
[I  ne  wate  what  I  may  say  here]3;  ffor  if  all  be  sekenes  of  bis  werlde  and  all  be 
sorowe  ware  in  be  body  of  a  man?  anely,  and  bat  man  myghte  consayfe  alls 
mekill  noye  and  angwysce  and  sorowe  in  his  body  als  all  be  men^  of  pis  werlde 
moghte  thynke,  ^itt  it  ware  full  littill  or  els  noghte  to  regarde  of  be  sorowe  pat 
he  sufferde  for  vs  ane  houre  of  pe  daye  ...  [XXIX.]  ^[  Before  none4  sail  bou  thynke  of 
be  passions  and  of  be  gloriouse  ascencion^.  Of  be  passione  sail  bou  thynke  pat  at 
swylke  a  tynv  of  pe  daye  dyede  pe  makere  of  lyfe  for  pi  lufe.  And  here  sail 
bou  thynke  of  be  wordes  bat  Ihesu  spake  on*  be  crose,  and  of  be  foure  takynws 
bat  be-felle  in  his  dede.  The  fyrste  worde  was  bis  bat  he  spake:  »Fadire,  forgyffe 
bam<?  pis  syn£,  for  pay  wate  noghte  whate  pay  doo«.  The  tofw  worde  was  pis 
pat  he  said  to  pe  thefe:  »For  sothe  I  say  the,  pis  day  sail  bou  be  w/'t/fc  me  in 
paradyse«.  The  thirde  was  bat  he  saide  to  his  modir*  of  sayne  lohn  his  cosynwe: 
»Woman£,  lo  bare  thi  son<?«;  and  to  be  discyple  saide  he:  »Man«e,  lo  pare  thy 
Modire«.  The  ferthe  worde  pat  he  saide  was  this:  »Godde,  my  godd^,  whi  hase  bou 
lefte  me  bus?«  The  fyfte  was:  Scicio,  bat  es  to  say,  »I  haf  thriste«.  The  sexte 
worde  was  this:  In  mamts  tuas  domine  &c.,  whilke  es  for  to  saye:  »Fadir,  in  to  bi 
hanndis  I  gyffe  my  sawle«.  The  seuend*  worde  was  bis :  Constimmatum  esf,  bat  es 
to  say:  »Now  es  be  prophecy e  fulfillede«:  and  wzt/z  bat  worde  he  helde  his  hede 
downwe  and  gafe  pe  gaste.  Now  be  takynws  bat  ware  in  his  dede  ere  bire:  ffirste 
all  pe  erthe  bygane  to  tremble,  and  be  vaile  of  be  temple  braste  in-twa  and 
felle  doun^,  pe  stanes  raue  in-sondire,  be  graues  opyned^  and  pe  dede  men  rase ; 
and  pe  sonwe  wzt^-drewe  his  lyghte  fra  pe  werlde  fra  myddaye  to  none.  /  Of  pe 
ascencione  sail  pou  thynke  pat  swylke  a  tym?  of  pe  daye  wente  vpe  oure  lorde  Ihmi 
Criste  in  till  pe  mounte  of  Olyuete,  seande  his  discyples  and  his  swete  modire 
Marie;  how  he  steighe  in  till  heuen^,  and  sett  hym  one  [his]  ffadir  righte  hande, 
and  how  his  dysciples  turnede  agayne  into  be  Cete  and  ware  in  fastynge  and  in 
1  Ms.  J)e.  2  Ms.  thaire  bodyes.  3  Om.  <  =  nou«e? 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  237 

prayere  vntill  be  cowmynge  of  be  haly  gaste,  and  bare  ware  to-gedire  a  hundretfi 
and  twentty  in  a  house  for  to  abyde  be  cowmynge  of  be  haly  gaste,  als  oure  lorde 
cowmande  bam?  before.  [XXV.]  ^[Before  euensange  sail  b#u  thynke  of  Ihmi  passion? 
and  of  his  super?.  Of  be  passions  sail  pou  thynke  how  losepR  of  Aramathy  pur- 
chaste  Ihwu  body  of  Pilate,  and  how  bey  come  to  be  crosse  bare  he  hang?,  and 
bay  brakke  be  twa  thee-banes  of  be  twa  thefes.  And  bare  was  a  knyghte  redye 
vfit/i  a  spere ,  and  p?rchede  be  syde  of  Ih?.ru,  and  smate  hym  to  be  herte;  and 
als-sone  come  rynnande  downe  be  pr?cyouse  blode  and  watir?.  And  bat  was  be 
Rawnsone  of  be  whilke  I  before  spake  —  louede  be  bat  lorde!  And  pan?  lo- 
seph  tuke  hym  downe  of  be  crosse,  for-bi  bat  na  bodye  sulde  duelle  on  pe 
crosse  in  so  hye  a  daye  als  was  one  be  morne.  /  Of  be  supers  of  IhesM  sail  pou 
thynke  how  bat  tym?  he  gafe  his  prt'cyouse  flesche  and  his  blude  in  lyknes  of 
brede  and  of  wyne  bat  we  may  see,  and  it  es  sothefastely  flesche  and  blude  of 
Ihmi  Criste  bat  we  may  noghte  see  w/'tfc  bodyli  eghen?.  te  thirde  thynge  es 
gastely,  be  grace  bat  we  rescheyue  when?  we  take  bat  flesche  and  jiat  blude. 
We  se  bare  lyknes  of  brede  and  of  wyne  and  it  es  noghte,  bot  we  trowe  Jiat 
bare  es  sothefastely  be  flesche  and  be  blude  of  Ihmi  Criste.  And  noghte-forthi 
be  lyknes  of  flesche  ne  may  we  noghte  see.  And  par?-fore  bare  whare  we 
sulde  hafe  vgglynes  als  vn-till  oure  body  for  to  etc  flesche  and  drynke  blude  of 
man?,  our?  lorde  Ihmi  Criste  twmede  his  flesche  and  his  blude  in  liknes  of  brede 
and  of  wyne,  for  to  comfortfte  oure  bodily  witte  thurghe  swylke  fade  als  we  ere 
wonnte  for  to  see,  and  alswa  for  to  helpe  oure  trouthe,  thurghe  bat  bat  we  see 
a  thynge  and  trowes  anob?r.  And  bare-fore,  dere  frende,  when?  po\\  sail  gaa 
for  to  reschaife  bat  swete  flesche  and  bat  blude  of  Ih?JU  thi  saueowr,  luke  at  pou 
haue  verray  contricyon?  and  repentance  and  clensynge  of  thi  syn?  in  thi  herte, 
ffor  bare  bou  ressayfes  in  sacrament  reghte  als  bou  ressayfede  hym?  in  flesche 
and  blude,  bescede  be  bat  grace !  [XXVI.]  ^[  Be-fore  complyn?  sail  bou  thynke  how 
pat  losepli  and  Nicodemwj  wande  Ihmi  body  in  faire  schetis,  and  enoynte  it  vrith 
pn-cyouse  oynementes,  and  laide  it  in  a  monumente  of  stane,  and  [be  Jewes]  sett  baire 
seles  apon?  be  stane,  and  knyghtes  bat  sulde  it  kepe.  The  toper  thynge  bat  b<?u 
sail  thynke  in  be  same  tyme  es  bis:  how  Ihesus  in  be  daye  of  supers,  when  he 
had  souppede,  he  7tode  in  till  a  gardyn?  -with  his  discyples,  and  felle  downe  in 
Orysoun^,  and  bygann^  for  to  swete  one  swylke  manere  pat  be  droppis  of  blode 
droppede  of  his  blyssede  face  vn-till  be  erthe.  [XXVII.]  //  Now  hase  pan  matire  and 
manere  for  to  thynke  of  godclis  manhede.  And  eftirwarde  sail  b0u  wit  how  b0u 
sail  thynke  one  hym  in  his  heghe  godhede.  ^j  To  bat,  sail  p0u  wit  pat  godd^  tem- 
pmk  swa  his  knaweynge  fra  be  begynnynge  of  mankynde,  \>at  he  walde  noghte 
all  hally  schewe  hym  to  man^,  ne  all  hally  hele  hym^  fra  man^;  ffor  if  he  hade 
all  hally  schewede  hym  to  man*',  ban  hadd<?  trouthe  noghte  bene  worthe  and  mys- 
bileue  had  noghte  bene  ban^  ourrcomen^,  ffor  trouthe  es  of  thynge  bat  may 
noghte  be  sene,  ban  bat  at  I  see  es  noghte  trouthe ;  and  if  he  had  all  hallily 
helede  [hym]  fra  man*,  pan  had  trouthe  noghte  bene  helpede,  and  mysbileue  hade 
bene  excusede ;  and  for-thi  ban?  walde  he  in  party  schewe  hym?,  and  in  party  hele 
hyrau?.  Bot  now  may  pan  aske  me  in  how  many  maners  he  walde  schewe  hymtf.  I 
say  in  twa  maners,  ane  with-In,  anob^r  witli-owtten^.  WitK-In  he  schewede  hyni£ 
thurgll  reuelacyon?  and  thurgll  resoun? ;  witfi-owtten?,  thurglT  halye  writte  and 
thurgl!  creaturs.  Thurgfi  reuelacyon?,  when?  he  schewede  hym  till  any  folke  thurgfi 


238  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

inspirations  and  thurghe  myracle.  By  resound  cowmes  he  till  be  knawynge  of  man? 
one  bis  manere:  like  a  man?  may  wele  see  in  hym-selfe  bat1  he  es,  and  bat1 
he  hase  bene,  bot  he  may  wele  wit  bat  he  hase  noghte  bene  ay,  and  f[ro]2 
bat  he  wate  wele  bat  sum?-tym?  he  began?  for  to  be,  ban  was  bare  sum?  tyme 
when?  he  was  noghte.  Bot  when?  he  was  noghte,  ban  moghte  he  one  na  wyese 
make  hym?-selfe,  and  bis  seghes  man?  in  [ilk] 3  creature,  ffor  he  sees  ilke  a  day  sum? 
ga  and  sum?  com?;  ffor-bi,  sen?  ilke  thynges  erre,  and  bay  erre  noghte  of  thaym?- 
selfe,  bare-fore  it  be-houes  nede  bat  bare  be  ane  to  gyffe  all  thynges  to  be, 
bat  es  to  saye ,  of  whaym  alle  thynges  are;  thare-fore  it  behoues  of  force  bat 
he  thurgfie  whaym  alle  thynges  erre,  be  wz't^-owtten?  begynnynge :  ffor  if  he  hade 
begynnyng,  than?  it  behoufede  bat  he  had  begynnyng  of  sum?  ob?r,  ban?  had  he 
noghte  bene  be  firste  autour  and  be  firste  begynnyng  of  all  thynge^.  Bot  bare 
was  nathynge  before  hym? ;  ban  he  come  of  na  nob?r,  ban?  hade  he  neu?r  na  be 
gynnynge.  And  bare-fore  it  be-houfes  one  all  man??'  of  be  werlde  bat  bare  be 
a  thynge  bat  neu?r  hade  begynnynge.  And  when?  reson?  of  man?  sese  of  force 
bat  it  may  na  nob?r-wysse  be,  ban  he  begynnys  for  to  trowe  stabilly  bat  a 
thynge  [es] 4  wz't^-owtten?  begynnynge,  bat  es  awtour  and  makere  and  gou?r- 
nere  of  all  thynges  bat  ere.  And  hym  calles  men?  Godd?  by  this  skill,  ffor  bis 
worde  Deus,  bat  es  to  say  Godd?,  cownies  of  a  worde  of  grewe  bat  es  called  theos, 
5  and  bat  es  als  mekill  for  to  say  als  ane  anely  Godd?.  And  bat  betakyns  bis  worde 
Godd?.  [XXVIII.]  And,  dere  frend,  b<m  awe  to  wit  bat  bare  ne  es  bot  a  Godd?... 
And  b#u  awe  to  wit  bat  na  gude  may  faile  to  godd?,  bot  for-thi  bat  swete  thynge 
and  gud  thynge  es  comforthe  of  felaschepe,  ban  may  noghte  godd?  be  w/t£- 
owtten?  gudnes  of  felaschip?.  Than  behouede  it  nede  bat  bare  ware  many 
p?rsons  in  godd?,  be  hegheste  gudnes.  And  for-bi  bat  felyschepe  may  noghte 
be  be-twyx  faere  ban?  twa,  bare-fore  behoues  it  be  bat  in  godd?  be  at  be  leste 
twa  persons ;  and  for-thi  that  felyschipe  es  littill  worthe  whare  bare  es  nan? 
alyance  ne  lufe,  ffor-thi  it  behoues  bat  be  thirde  persone  ware  in  godd?,  bat  ware 
the  alyance  and  be  lufe  be-twyx  the  twa.  And  for-bi  bat  anehede  es  gude  and 
manyhede  alswa,  bare-fore  it  behouede  nede  bat  anehede  and  manyhede  bathe 
ware  in  godd?.  And  by  bis  skill  cowmes  man?  to  be  knaweynge  of  godd?,  bat  he  es 
a  godd?  in  hym?-selfe,  and  thre  in  p?rsones.  And  bis  ilke  may  man?  see  in  hym- 
selfe  ;  ffor  he  sese  at  be  begynnynge  bat  he  hase  in  hym-selfe  Powere,  and  sy- 
then?  eftir  power?  he  hase  Wysdom?.  And  sythen?  begane  he  for  to  lufe  bat 
wysdom?,  and  ban  begynnes  he  for  to  knawe  apertely  pat  bare  es  in  be  saule 
mighte,  and  of  bat  myghte  comwes  wysdom?,  and  of  thayme  bathe  comes  Lufe  ;  and 
when  man?  sese  bat  it  es  one  swylke  manere  in  hym,  of  bat  awe  hym?  to  wit 
bat  one  swylke  man??'  awe  it  to  be  in  godd?  bat  es  abouen?  hym?,  bat  es  to  say, 
bat  in  godd?  es  myghte,  and  of  bat  cowmes  his  wysdoni)e,  and  of  powere  and 
wysedom?  bathe  comes  lufe.  And  for-bi  bat  of  be  fyrste  p?fsone  cowmes  be  top?;', 
and  owte  of  thaym?  bathe  comes  be  thyrde ,  ffor-thi  calles  he  be  firste  p?rsone 
godd?  be  ffadire,  be  top?r  godd?  be  Sonwe,  be  thirde  godd?  be  Haly  gaste.  And  for 
bat  it  [was]  wonnte  to  be  thus  in-manges  men?,  bat  be  ffadir  was  mare  ffebill  ban 
be  somze  for  his  elde,  and  be  sonne  mare  vnwyse  ban  be  ffadire  for  his  ^outhe, 


1  Ms.  bat  at.  2  Ms.  for.  3  Ms.  his.  4  Ms.  bat  was.  »  Sp. :  et  hoc  tantum  valet  sicut 
creare  vel  nutrire;  et  ideo  appellamus  primum  principium  Deum  quia  ipse  omnia  creauit  & 
emisit,  hoc  enim  dicit  illud  verbum. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund.  259 

and  for  ])at  a  man  sulde  noghte  wene  pat  it  ware  swa  of  godd^:  thare-fore  es 
powere  appropirde  to  godd<?  pe  ffadir,  wysdom^  to  gockL'  pe  Sonwe  ;  and  for-pi  pat 
pis  worde  Gaste  sownnes  suwwhate  in  to  fellenes,  ffor-pi  es  swetnes,  lufe,  and 
gudenes  appropirde  to  pe  Haly  gaste.  Oppone  pis  maner  cowmes  man<?  firste  to  pe 
knaweynge  of  his  godd^,  how  he  es  w/t/2-owttene  begynnynge,  and  whi  he  es 
called  godde,  ane  in  substance  and  thre  m  persones,  and  whi  pe  firste  p^rsone  es 
callede  goddt  pe  ffadir,  pe  toptr,  godd^  pe  source,  pe  thyrde  goddtf  pe  haly  gaste, 
and  whi  powere  es  appropirde  to  goddt?  pe  ffadir,  &  wysdom<?  to  godde  pe  sonwe, 
and  gudnes  to  godd<?  pe  haly  gaste.  In  swylke  manere  sail  p<m  knaAve  pi  godde. 
[XXIX.]  ...  The  fyrste  degre  of  contemplacione  es,  pat  pe  saule  be  ledde  agayne  to 
pe  selfe,  and  gedire  it  all  w*t//-In  be  selfe.  The  toper  degre  es,  pat  man  see  whate 
he  es  swa  gedyrde  to-gedire.  The  thirde  degre  es,  pat  he  lefte  hym-selfe  abouen 
hym-selfe,  and  payne  hym  for  to  luke  one  his  godde  in  his  awene  kynde.  Bot  till  [pe] 
selfe  may  he  neuer-mare  cowme,  vn-till  he  hafe  lerede  to  re[freine] l  ilke  a  bodyly 
ymagynacyone  erthely  and  gastely  pat  cowmes  to  his  awene  herte  owper  of  herynge 
or  of  tastynge  or  of  sweloynge  or  of  any  oper  bodily  wite,  to  refuse  it  and  to 
defule  it,  pat  it  may  see  the  selfe  swylke  as  it  es  w*t/*-owttene  pe  bodye.  ^[  Thare- 
fore,  dere  ffrende,  take  gud  hede  how  be  saule  es  wondirrall  in  pe  selfe:  and 
howe  it  es  ane  in  pe  kynde,  and  noghte-forthi  ^it  it  duse  dyuerse  thynges :  ffor 
pe  selfe,  it  sese  pat  at  pou  sese  w/t//  thyne  eghne,  heris  w/'t/j  thyne  eres,  swelowes 
w/tA  thi  mouthe,  smelles  w/V*  j)i  nese,  and  alswa  pat  at  pou  touches  \\iih  all  pi 
membris.  ^[  Thynke  ^it  Eftynvarde  howe  pi  saule  es  grete,  pat  all-anely  w/t/£  a 
thoghte  it  may  comprehende  heuene  and  ertfte  and  all  ptft  in  thayme  are,  if  jpay 
ware  a  hundretl!  falde  grettere  pant'  pay  are  or  may  be.  ^[  When  manes  [saule]'2  es 
[swa]  grete  and  swa  nobill  |)at  na  creature  may  vndirstande  it  perfitly:  thane  grete 
and  nobill  es  he  pat  swa  nobill  thynge  made  of  noghte !  He  es  abouene  all  thynge, 
and  w/'t/*-In  all  thynge,  and  w*t//-owttene  all  thynge,  and  be-netfie  all  thynge. 
He  es  abouen^  all  thynge,  all  thynge  gou^mande;  be-netlle  all  thynge,  berancle  all 
thynge;  witA-in  all  thynge,  ffulfillande  all ;  w/t//-owtten^  all  thynge,  abowte-gangande 
all.  ^|  S\vylke  manere  of  cowtemplacione  Engendyrs  in  man^r  ffaste  trouthe  and 
sekire  deuocyone.  *[  Eftir  pis  sail  f)0u  thynke  howe  pat  he  es  large  ;  ant  pat  may 
p0u  see  one  many  maners.  See  at  f)e  begynnynge  howe  pat  he  es  large  of 
erthely  gude,  how  he  gyfes  his  gudes  als  wele  to  be  ille  als  to  be  gude,  in  alle 
thynges  pat  pou  sese  in  erthe.  Sythent'  eft^rvvardt7  see  howe  pat  he  es  large  for 
to  fforgyffe ;  ffor  if  a  mane  hym  ane  hade  donwe  alls  mekill  ille  als  alle  pe  men  of 
pis  werlde  moghte  doo,  7,itt  sulde  he  be  mare  redy  be  be  hundrethe  parte  for 
to  fforgyffe  hym,  pan  pat  caytife  sulde  bee  for  to  aske  of  hym  forgyfenes  .... 
[XXX.]  •[  Nowe,  my  dere  ffrende,  if  p0u  lyfe  Efter  pis  kennynge,  pan  sail  p<m  lyfe 
hononrabily:  and  pat  es  pe  fyrste  parte  of  oure  sermons  pat  I  touchede  at  pe 
begynnynge.  «[  And  eftir  bat  sail  p0u  studye  to  lyffe  lufely,  als  to  thyne  euencrysten*, 
and  vntill  pat  sail  pou  sette  all  hally  pi  myghte  to  lufe  and  for  to  be  lufede. 
Thou  sail  lufe  all  men^e  in  goddf,  pat  es  at  say,  anely  in  gudnes,  and  noghte  for 
paire  fairenes  of  bodye  for  to  lufe,  ne  for  force,  ne  for  na  nop^r  bodily  vertu; 
ffor  pay  pat  lufes  in  swylke  manere,  pay  lufe  noghte  for  goddes  sake  ;  and  for  to 
lufe  mane  in  godd^,  es  na  nop^r  thynge  bot  for  to  lufe  hyrn^  for  any  thynge  pat 
may  noghte  be  lufede  wz't£-owtten£  godd*,  als  for  gudnes  or  for  rightewysnes  or 
*  Ms.  resayfe.  2  Ms.  lyfe. 


240  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

for  sothefastenes.  If  we  [be] 1  gude,  bane  hafe  we  na  frende  hot  gude,  ne  nane 
Enemy  bot  ill,  and  bar-fore  base  bat  er  gude  sail  we  lufe  for-thi  bat  bay  er 
gude,  and  be  ille  sail  we  lufe  for-thi  bat  bay  may  be  gude:  in  bis  manere  lufe[s] 
b0u  nathynge  bot  gudnes,  sen£  bat  b^u  lufes  all  thynges  for  gudnes.  And  if  f)0u 
will  be  lufede,  schewe  thi-selfe  lufely.  Ife  b<m  will  be  lufely,  resayfe  these  thre 
wordes  wzt/z-owtten£  forgetynge:  Do  bat  at  man  biddis  be  or  praies  be  bat  gude 
es;  Take  bat  at  man<?  gyffes  be  and  gruche  noghte;  And  bat  at  men  will  say  be, 
suffire  it  mekely  and  wrethe  the  noghte.  If  b^u  lyfe  thus  lelely,  ban  lyfes  thou 
lufely.  ^[  Dere  syst^r  and  frende,  s[i]ben^  eftirwarde  sail  p^ni  studye  for  to  lyffe  me 
kely.  And  to  bis  sail  f)0u  cwne  wit  bat  bare  are  twa  maners  of  mekenes.  The 
tane  commies  of  sothefastenes,  and  be  tofyer  cowmes  of  charite.  £e2  firste  may  b0u 
hafe  [by]  knaweynge  of  thi-selfe :  ffor  thou  may  noghte  in  na  manere  of  bis  werlde 
see  bi-selfe  whate  bou  artte  in  sothefastenes,  if  f)0u  be  noghte  mekyde.  The  tofw 
manere  of  meknes  may  b0u  hafe  if  thou  thynke  of  be  meknes  of  Ihmi  Criste,  how 
bat  he  mekid  hym  bat  neuer  dyde  syn^;  and  swylke  mekenes  cowmes  clenely  of 
charyte.  ^[  Now,  my  dere  system  and  ffrende,  wate  b^u  whate  it  es  to  lyffe  honowabili, 
lufely,  and  mekely:  and  bat  es  to  lyffe  perfitly.  ^[  Now  oure  swete  lorde  Ihesu  Criste 
gyffe  vs  grace  swa  godd^  for  to  honour,  and  oure  euen^cristen^  for  to  lufe,  and  oure- 
selfe  for  to  meke,  bat  we  may  for  oure  hono«fynge  be  honourede,  and  for  oure  lufe 
be  lufede,  and  for  oure  mekenes  be  lyftede  vp  in  to  be  heghe  blysse  of  heuen^, 
pat  he  boghte  vs  to  Ih&ra  with  his  swete  blude  and  his  prmouse  passions.  Amen. 
Explicit^  speculum  sancti  Edmundi  cantuariensis  Archiepiscopi. 
Dulce  no  men  domini  nostri  Jhesu  Chris  ti  sit  benedictum  in  secula  seculorwn.  Amen. 

II.     Ms.  Vernon,  fol.   355-4 

Heer  biginneb  a  good  tretis 
bat  seint  Edmouwd  be  Bisschop  made,  I-wis : 
be  Mirour  of  seint  Edmovuzd  I-cleped  hit  is, 
bat  techeb  Mon  to  heuene  Blis. 
J>Is  is  be  Bok  sikerly  bat  techeb  to  liuen  parfytliche:    hit   is  clept    be  Mirour 

of  seynt  Edmouwd  be  Cowfessour. 

Ca°.  i°          Furst  how  Mon  schal  loken  his  stat. 

Ca°.  ii°         What  is  to  lyuen  parfytliche,  and  what  is  Godes  wille. 

Ca°.  iii°        What  ping  makeb  Mon  holi,   &  w^uche-maner 5  mon  schal  comen  to  be 
knowyng  of  hiw-self,  in  bodi  and  \n  soule. 

Ca°.  iiii°       Pe  goode  dedes  of  vr  lord. 

Ca°.  v°         How  Mon  schal  spenden  his  tyme. 

Ca°.  vi°        Whuche-maner  Mon  schal  seon  God  in  eueri  creature. 

Ca°.  vii°       Whuche-maner  Mon  schal  seo  Godes  wille  in  holy  writ. 

Ca°.  viii°      Of  be  seuene  dedly  synnes  and  of  heore  Brauwches. 

Ca°.  ix°        Of  be  seuene  blessynges  of  be  gospel. 

Ca°.  Xmo       Of  pe  seuene  ^iftes  of  be  holigost  and  of  heore  folsimnesse. 

Ca°.  xi°        Of  be  Ten  Comau;zdemens. 

Ca°.  xii°       Of  be  seuene  virtues  be  w^uche  ben  beos:    Be-leeue,    Hope,   Loue, 
Qweyntyse,  Riht,  Methsu^messe,  Strengpe. 

1  Ms.  do.          2  Ms.  By  l>e.  3  Ms.  expliculum.          4   I  omit  the  ^)  marks,  and  reduce  the 

capitals  after  commas  &c.        *  =  quomodo. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text.  241 

Ca°.  xiii°       Of  be  twelue  articles  of  be  be-leeue,  and  of  pe  seuen  sacramens. 

Ca°.  xiiii0     Of  seuene  dedes  of  Merci. 

Ca°.  xv°       £e  seuen  prei^eres  of  pe  Pater  noster. 

Ca°.  xvi°      Of  seuene  druryes  of  bodi  and  seuene  in  soule,  and  of  peynes  of  helle. 

Ca°.  xvii°     Of  Contemplacion  of  God  in  his  Monhede,  onsweryng  to  seuen  houres 

of  holy  chirche. 

Ca°.  xviii0  Of  Contewplacion  of  God  in  his  Godhede. 
Ca°.  xix°  Of  pe  large  ^iftes  of  God  in  moni  manors. 
Ca°.  xx°  Contewplacion  of  be  swetnesse,  of  pe  bounte,  and  of  pe  feyrnesse 

of  God. 
Ca°.  xxi°      What  is  to  liuen  Honurabliche,  Loueredenliche,  and  Mekeliche. 

How  Mon  schal  loken  his  staat.     Capitulum  pr/muw. 

J>E  word  of  pe  Apostele  ffallep  to  Men  of  Religion  and  to  alle  gode  cristene 
men:  »Seoj)  pe  stat  wherto  ^e  beop  clept«.  iMs  he  seib,  ffor  to  drawe  vs  to 
p^rfeccion.  And  ptrfore,  what-time  I  penke  on  my-self,  bi  day  or  bi  niht,  on  on 
half  I  haue  gret  loye,  and  on  a  nopw  half  gret  Serwe.  loye,  for  pe  grete  Re 
ligion  and  godnesse  pat  he  ha{)  schewed  to  me  and  to  Monkynde ;  Serwe,  for 
pe  wikked  liuinge  in  me,  and  feble  comurrsacion.  For  whi?  pus  seip  seint  Eusebie 
in  aSarmouw:  »Cum  to  Religion,  is  a  souereyn  p^rfeccion;  not  parfytliche  liuen 
is  a  souereyn  da[m]pnacion«.  ^erfore  be  beste  ping  is  whose  liuef)  in  Religion, 
drawe  he  to  pe  lyf  of  perfeccion  as  he  wilnej)  his  sauacion,  and  leue  al  pat  is 
in  be  world  &  al  pat  p<r-to  fallep,  and  ^iue  al  his  power  to  liue  parfyt  lyf. 

What  is  to  liuen  parfyt  lyf.     Capitulum  secundum. 

Parfytliche  liuen,  as  seint  Bernard  seip,  is  to  liuen  Honorabliche,  Louereden 
liche,  and  Mekeliche.  Honwrabliche  as  to  God,  bat  bau  ^iue  pin  entent  to  don 
his  wille,  pat  is  to  siggen  to  don  alle  pe  dedes  pat  pmi  schalt  don  vrip  honden, 
penken  wib  herte ,  or  speken  w//>  Moup,  to  honour  of  God,  and  nou^t  a^eyn 
his  wille  don  wib  eny  of  pi  fiue  wittes ,  as  wip  Si^t  of  e^en ,  Herynge  of  Eren, 
Swolewynge  of  Tonge ,  Smellynge  of  Neose,  Touchynge  of  honden,  Gon  or 
stonden,  Liggen  or  sitten.  tenk  at  pe  biginnyng  of  euerich  ping,  ^if  hit  beo 
godes  wille  or  hit  beo  not.  7,if  hit  beo  his  wille ,  do  hit  wib  al  pi  mis;t.  5^if 
hit  beo  nou^t,  do  hit  not  ffor  to  suffre  deb.  /  But  now  wol  men  aske :  »What 
is  godes  wille  ?«  His  wille  nis  non  opwr  bing  bote  vre  holynesse  ;  and  bat  seip 
be  Apostle:  Hec  est  voluntas  dei:  sanctificacio  vestra,  pat  is  to  seyen:  »Godus 
wille  is  pat  we  ben  holi«. 

What  bing  makeb  mon  holi.     Capitulum  in. 

Two  binges  wib-outen  mo  makef)  mon  holi,  bat  is  to  witen  Knowynge  and 
Loue.  Knowynge  of  sobnesse,  and  Loue  of  godnesse.  But  to  knowyng  of  God 
bat  is  sobnesse,  ne  mai^t  b0u  not  comen  but  borw  knowynge  of  bi-self;  no  to 
be  loue  of  God  bat  is  goodnesse,  ne  maisjt  b0u  not  comen  bot  borw  lone  of  bi 
nei^ebore.  To  be  knowyng  of  |)y-self  maiijt  bou  comen  wib  ofte  benkynge ;  to 
be  knowyng  of  God :  wib  clene  contemplacion.  To  be  knowynge  of  bi-self  b<3u 
mai^t  comen  in  bis  Manere :  tenk  inwardliche  and  ofte  what  b0u  art ,  what 
pou  were,  and  what  f>0u  schalt  ben.  Furst  as  to  bi  bodi,  after  as  to  bi  soule. 

16 


242 

As  to  bi  bodi :  bou  art  vilore  ben  a  dongehul.  fou  were  geten  in  so  gret  fulbe 
pat  hit  is  schome  to  seye,  and  wlatful  to  benken.  fou  scha[l]t  be  mete  to  fyle1 
todes  and  wormes.  What  bou  hast  ben  and  what  bou  art,  nou  take  god  hede 
as  to  bi  soule — what  bou  schalt  ben,  ne  mai^t  bou  not  be^ken.  £enk  bat  bow 
hast  don  gret  wikkednesses  and  monye,  and  leued  mony  godnesses  and  grete. 
£enk  hou  longe  bou  hast  liued ,  and  how  mony  goodnesses  bou  hast  receyued, 
and  hou  bou  hast  hem  spendet;  ffor  whi?  eueri  houre  bat  bou  hast  not  bou^t  on 
god,  bou  hast  forloren.  fou  schalt  ^elde  reson  of  eueri  idel  word  and  eum  Idel 
bouht  and  eueri  Idel  dede ;  and  also  }>er  nis  not  an  her  on  bin  hed  bat  ne  schal 
ben  glorifyed  ^if  hit  be  so  bat  bou  be  saaf,  also  ber  ne  schal  a-skapen  non 
houre  bat  ne  schal  be  rikned  to  be.  A,  Ihmi,  Mmn!  7j.f  al  be  world  weore  ful 
of  smale  pouder,  who  mi^te  ben  so  slei^  bat  mi^te  departew  vche  [mot]  2  bi  hiz/z-self 
and  taken  from  ober?  Certes,  non.  And  be  soule  of  Mon  is  grettore  ben  al 
be  world,  bei^  hit  were  a  bousend  so  gret;  and  is  al  ful  of  diu^rse  bou^tes, 
willes  and  desyres;  who  mi^te  bewne  so  sechen  his  herte  bat  [he]  mi^te  knowen 
al3  bat  he  hab  don  and  bou^t?  Se  now,  goode  Brober,  bat  bou  hast  gret 
mester  to  knowyng  of  bi-self.  Aftur  tac  good  hede  what  bou  art  now  as  to  bi 
soule.  £ou  hast  luitel  good  in  be,  luitel  wit,  or  strengbe :  for  whi?  bou  desy- 
rest  al  day  bat  be  helpep  nou^t,  and  seldene  or  no  tyme  bat  be  may  helpen. 
£ou  art  often  deceyued,  now  borw  [to]4  grete  serwe,  now  borw  veyne  glorie ;  now 
art  bow  trauayled  of  fere,  now  artou  houen  an  hei^  borw  fals  hope.  On  ober 
half  bou  art  so  chau;zgeable ,  bis  bat  bou  wolt  to-day  bou  wolt  not  to-morwe. 
And  also  benk  what-maner  bou  art  bisi  and  tz^rmented  aboute  mony  binges  ^if 
bou  hem  ne  haue ;  and  whowne  f)0u  hem  hast,  ben  artou  anuyed  and  ful  of  hem. 
^enk  ^it  on  obwr  man^  bat  f)0u  art  liht  to  tewpten ,  and  feble  forte  ^eyn- 
stonden,  and  redi  to  concenten.  Of  alle  beose  wikkednesses  be  hap  delyu^ed 
bi  swete  lord,  &  schal  delyu^en  eueri  day  more  and  more,  ^if  b0u  hit  not  fordo. 

Of  be  godnesse  of  vre  lord,  &  hou  mon  schal  spenden  his  tyme  Cap.  nil. 

Whowne  p0u  were  nouht,  be;me  he  made  be,  in  soule  after  his  owne  liknesse, 
and  pi  bodi  of  foul  rotew  and  stinkinde  fom,  bat  is  abhominacion  to  benken.  He 
made  bi  wittes  and  bi  Membres  so  noble  and  so  feire  bat  no  mon  may  deuysen. 
£enk  ^it  inwardliche,  bou  bat  louest  bi  fader  and  bi  Moder  so  tenderliche,  and5 
whi  b^u  louest  hem  so  derworblich.  2^if  bou  sigge  bat  b<?u  louest  bi  ffader  and 
bi  Moder  for  b0u  art  gete^  of  heore  flesch  and  of  heore  blood:  also  ben  be 
wormes  bat  waxew  of  hem  eueri  day.  On  obw  halue  bt?u  hast  of  hem  neijw 
bodi  ne  soule,  but  of  god  borw  hem;  for  whi?  what  were  bou  &  b<?u  heddest 
dwelled  in  bat  bat  b0u  hast  of  hem,  whon  bou  weore  geten  in  fulbe  and  in  synne? 
On  opw  half,  ^if  p0u  louest  Brobz/f  or  Suster  or  kin  for  bei  ben  of  be  selue 
flesch  or  blod  bat  pcai  art:  [wib]6  be  selue  skile  scholdest  bou  louen  a  pece  of 
be  flesch  of  ffader  or  Moder  ^if  hit  were  awei  coruen;  and  bat  were  a  gret  wod- 
nesse  out  of  mesure !  ^if  bow  sigge  bat  bou  louest  hem  for  bei  han  be  flesch 
formed  in  liknesse  of  mon,  and  for  bei  han  soule  as  hast  b<?u:  bewne  is  bi  fleschlyche 
brobz^r  no  nerre  ben  a  nober,  but  in  as  muche  as  bou  and  he  han  of  on 
fleschlich  fader  be  biginnyng  of  ^oure  flesch,  bat  is,  a  luytel  stunch  and  fulbe. 


s=  vile.        2  om. ;  or  r.  atom?        3  Ms.  })e«ne  al.        4  Ms.  ]>e.        5  al.  om.        G  Ms.  whi. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text. 


243 


Loue  him  bewne  ffrom  whom  alle  goodes  comen ;  and  loue  alle  men  gostliche, 
and  stuwte  herbi-forward  to  louen  fleschliche.  Tjf  b<m  bewke  inwardliche  of  be 
goodnes  bat  he  hab  do  be,  and  schal  do  ^if  b0u  wolt  loue  him  enterliche,  hit 
schal  sture  be  him  to  loue  be  more  hertiliche.  For  whi?  as  I  haue  i-seid 
bifore,  whon  b#u  ne  were,  he  made  be  of  nou^t :  and  whowne  f)0u  were  loren, 
he  sou^te  be;  whon  f)0u  weore  sold  to  synne,  he  bou^te  be;  whon  b<?u  weore 
dampned,  he  sauede  be.  Whon  f><ra  were  borew  in  synne,  he  cristnede  be;  and 
afturward  whon  p0n  suwgedest  so  ofte  and  so  foule,  be;me  he  suffrede  be  so 
freoli  &  abod  lo;/ge,  and  receyuede  be  to  his  merci,  and  be  putte  borw  his 
grace  in  to  his  swete  couent.  And  eueri  day,  whon  b#u  dost  mis,  he  snibbeb 
be;  whon  fa<m  sungest,  he  for^iueb  hit  be;  whon  bmi  doutest,  be>z  he  techeb 
be ;  whon  b<m  errest,  he  a-Mendeb  be.  Whon  bou  hungrest,  he  fedeb  be ; 
whon  b<m  art  cold,  he  heteb  be;  whon  b<m  hast  hete,  he  kelef)  be.  Whon  bow 
wakest,  he  saueb  be ;  whon  b0u  slepest,  he  lokeb  be ;  whon  b<m  risest,  he 
susteyneb  be;  whon  b<m  wost1  fallen,  he  redresseb  be;  whon  b<m  sittest,  he 
abydef)  be;  whon  bou  gost,  he  ledeb  be ;  whon  fxm  tamest,  he  went2  be.  Whon 
f)0u  gost  mis,  he  a^eyn-callef)  be ;  and  eu<re  whon  b<m  art  vuel  at  ese,  he  com- 
forteb  be.  Peose  godes,  and  mony  mo,  vre  swete  lord  hab  don  to  be.  Wher- 
fore  in  swetnesse  of  bin  herte  bou  schalt  eu^e  on  him  benke,  of  him  speke, 
him  bonken,  him  preisen,  niht  and  day,  ^if  bow  const  ouht  of  loue. 

How  bat  Mon  schal  spenden  his  tyme.     Capihilum  quintum. 

Furst,  whon  bmi  risest  of  bi  bed  in  Morwe-tyde  and  at  Mid-niht,  benk  hou  mony 
bousend  Men  han  ben  perisch  pat  niht  in  bodi  and  soule,  suwme  in  fair  and  suwme 
in  water,  [summe]3  in  [ober]3  diu^rse  manere  as  in  see"  and  in  lond  ;  suwme  Robbede 
and  suwme  I-wouwdede,  suwme  slayn,  suwme  dede  sodeynliche  wz^-outen  schrift, 
wherfore  bei  be  fallen  in  to  peyne  w/^-outen  ende.  ljenk  also  how  mony  bou 
send  men  ben  fallen  bat  niht  in  to  peril  of  soule,  pat  is  to  siggen  in  to  dedly 
synne,  as  in  Lecherie,  Couetyse,  and  in  obwr  mony-maner  folyes.  Of  alle  |)eose 
wikkednesses  be  haf)  dilyuered  vre  swete  lord,  w/^-outew  bi  diseruyng.  For  whi? 
what  seruise  hastou  do  to  him  wherfore  he  hab  so  loked  be,  &  mony  ohure 
forsaken  &  laft?  7,if  b^u  take  good  hede  hou  grrt  good  god  hab  don  to  be 
on  alle  halue,  b0u  schalt  fyndew  him  ocupyed  aboutew  be  as  bei  he  dude  non 
obur  {>ing  but  were  tendynge  onliche  to  be  and  to  bin  hele  ;  and  b<m  schalt 
seon  him,  for  to  loken  be,  al  so  tentyf  and  bisi  as  he  hedde  for^etew  al  be 
world  for  to  taken  kepe  onliche  to  be.  And  whowne  bou  hast  bouht  bus,  tak 
vp  bin  bond  and  bonke  bi  lord  of  |iis  and  of  alle  o\)ur  goodnesse,  in  bis  manere : 
Crractas  tibi  ago,  doniine  Ihesu  Chris te,  qui  me  miserum  peccatorcm  in  hac  nocte 
custodi[sti],  protexisti,  visitasti,  sanum,  saluuni,  ct  [incolumem]^  ad  hanc  horam  per- 
ucnire  fecisti,  et  pro  vniuersis  alijs  beneficijs  tuis,  que  michi  tua  sola  bonitate  con- 
tulisti.  Qui  cum  p&trc  fy  s.  s.  u.  8f  regnas  deus: 

»J>Onkynge  I  make  to  be,  my  lord  Ih^u  Crist,  bat  me  sywful  wrecche  euer  to 
bis  tyme  lokedest,  defendest,  visytest,  hoi,  saue  and  vnbroken  to  bis  tyme  ma- 
dest  comen,  and  for  alle  bine  obwre  gode  dedes  bat  to  me  borw  bin  onliche 
godnesse  hast  wrousjt ;  bat  \vip  be  ffader  and  be  holy  gost  liuest  and  regnest  god 
eu^rmore  wih-outen  ende.  A.M.E.N.  Amen.« 

i  =  woldest.        "  =  wendej).        3  om. 

1 6* 


244 

In  be  selue  manure  schaltou  seyen  whon  b0u  risest  in  Morwe-tyde,  and  whon  b0u 
gost  to  bedde  a-niht.  At  Mid-niht  f)0u  schal  seyen  ad  hanc  horam  »to  bis  houre«, 
but  in  Morwe-tyde  f)0u  schalt  seyen  ad  principium  huius  did  »to  be  begynnynge 
of  bis  dai« ,  and  at  niht  ad  fin  em  Jndus  diei  »to  be  endynge  of  bis  dai«.  /And 
whon  f)0u  hast  don  bus,  b^u  schalt  benkew  inwardliche  hou  b<?u  hast  dispendet 
be  tyme  from  morwe-tyde  bat  b<?u  ros  til  bmi  go  to  bedde  a-niht;  and  also  from 
I3*  liggynSe  to  fri  rysyng6!  and  Preye  g°d  M^ci  of  be  wikkednesses  bat  b^u  hast 
don,  and  of  be  godes  bat  b#u  hast  leued  bat  dai,  or  bat  niht;  and  do  no  biwg 
to  bis  lyf,  til  f)0u  haue  bitaken  bi-self  and  bi  frendes,  quike  and  dede,  in  to 
be  hondes  of  vre  swete  lord  Ihesn  Cn'st,  &  sei  bus: 

In  mantis  tuas,  domine,  et  sanctorum  angelorum  tuorum  comendo  in  hac  die  animam 
meam  &f  corpus  meum,  parentes,fratres  sorores,  cognatos,  amicos,  familiares,  benefacto- 
res  meos,  et  omnent  populum  chaiholicum.  custodi  nos  in  hac  die,  per  Merita  8f  inter- 
cessionem  beate  Marie  fy  omnium  sanctorum,  a  vicijs  fy  concupiscences  prauis^, 
temptacionibus  diaboli,  a  subitanea  fy  inprouisa  morte,  8f  a  penis  inferni.  illumina 
cor  meum  de  spiritu  sancto  et  de  tua  sancta  gracia,  fac  me  tuis  semper  obedire 
mandatis,  et  a  te  nunquam  separari  permittas.  Qui  viuis  8f  regnas  deus  per  omnia 
s[ecula~]  seculorum.  Amen. 

»lN  to  bin  hond,  lord,  and  of  byn  holy  Ang^ks  I  beo-take  in  bis  dai  my  soule 
and  my  bodi,  ffader  and  Moder,  Breb^rew  Sustren.  Sibbe  and  frende ,  and  alle 
myne  gode-doeres ,  and  alle  cristene  folk.  Loke  vs  to-day,  borw  be  meede  and 
be  preyeres  of  blessed  Marie  and  of  alle  halewes,  frow  vices  and  wikkede  coue- 
tises,  fondynges  of  be  deuel,  and  from  sodeyn  and  vn-war  deb,  and  from  be 
peynes  of  helle.  Lihte  myn  herte  of  be  holigost  and  of  bin  holi  grace,  make  me 
euer-more  Boxum  to  bi  comauwdemews,  and  neu^e  suffre  me  be  parted  from 
be;  bat  liuest  and  regnest  god  wz/J-outew  ende.  Amen.« 

And  whon  f)0u  gost  to  bedde  at  niht,  ber  as  bc>u  seist  in  be  Morwetide  In  hac 
die  »in  bis  day«,  sei  benne  In  hac  nocte  »in  bis  ni^t«.  /  ^if  bou  do  in  bis  man^e, 
bewne  schaltou  hauen  trewe  knowyng  of  bi-self.  For  whi?  bus  seib  be  holi  [writ]2: 
»^if  bou  affye  be  o  bi-self,  bt?u  schalt  be  delyuered  to  bi-self;  ^if  bou  afifye  be 
in  god,  f)0u  schalt  be  taken  to  god«.  ^is3  Manure  of  consideracion  of  bi-self,  and 
in  bis  benkyng  schalt  bow  come  to  be  knowyng  of  God. 

Whuche-Manere  Mon  schal  knowe  God  in  eueri  Creature.  Cap.  sextum. 

f>reo  Maners  ben  of  Contemplacion :  be  ffurste  is  in  Creatures,  be  secounde 
in  Holy  writ,  be  bridde  in  God  self  and  in  his  kuynde.  Contemplacion  nis  non 
ober  bing  but  siht  of  be  godnesse  of  god.  Pe  goodnesse  of  god  in  his  crea 
tures,  bou  mai^t  se  in  bis  Manere.  freo  binges  ben  in  god:  Miht,  Wisdam,  and 
Godnesse.  Mihtistwned4  to  god  be  Fader,  Wisdam  to  god  be  Sone,  Goodnesse 
to  god  be  Holigost.  £orw  his  Miht,  ben  alle  binges  formed,  borw  his  Wisdam 
ben  wonderliche  ordeynet,  borw  his  Goodnesse  ben  eueri  day  Multiplyede.  His 
miht  maihtou  seon  borw  heore  gretnesse  and  borw  heore  formyng,  his  Wisdam 
mai^t  bou  sen  boFw  heore  feirnesse  and  borw  heore  ordynauwce,  his  Godnesse 
borw  heore  vertues  and  borw  heore  multipliing.  His  Mihte  borw  heore  gretnesse 
mai^t  bou  seon  in  heore  foure  departynges,  pat  is  to  witene,  borw  heore  hei^nesse, 

1  al.  peccatis.  2  Ms.  folk.  3  =  J)is  is  ?  or  add   after  {>i-self:   is  called  J>enkyng  (Th. 

medytacyone).        4  Th.  appropirde. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text.  245 

and  heore  depnesse,  and  poru  heore  brodenesse,  and  heore  longenesse.  His 
Wisdom  maiijt  bow  sen  ^if  b<m  take  good  heede  how  he  hap  r/;iuen  to  eueri  crea 
ture  beoing:  To  su/wme,  beoing  wip-oute  more,  as  to  stones;  to  suwme  beoing 
and  lining,  as  to  treon;  to  suwme  beoing,  lining,  and  felyng,  as  to  beestes ; 
to  swwme  being,  lining,  felyng,  and  vnderstonding ,  as  to  Ang^ks  and  to  Mon. 
[Stones]1  hauen  beoing,  but  pei  neiper  liuen,  felen,  ne  vnderstonden.  Herbes 
hauen  beoing  &  lining  but  bei  felen  not]2.  Beestes  ben,  linen,  and  felen,  but 
pe[i]  haue  no  resouw.  Men  haue  beoinge  wip  stones,  Liuynge  wip  herbes,  ffelynge 
vrip  Beestes,  Resouw  \vtp  Angd^s.  £us  pmi  maiht  seon  be  dignite  of  Monkuynde— 
and  p^rfore  self)  seiwt  Austin:  »I  wolde  not  haue  be  godnesse3  of  Angel,  and  I 
mihte  haue  be  goodnesse3  bat  is  ordeyned  to  Mon«.  fcenk  also  bat  Mon  is  worbi 
gret  confusion  bat  wol  not  liuen  as  his  condicion  askef)  in4  his  degre.  For  whi? 
alle  be  creatures  of  bis  world  ben  maad  onliche  for  Mon,  ffor  breo  enchesons: 
ffor  to  helpen  vs  of  trauayle ,  ffor  to  clopen  vs ,  ffor  to  feeden  vs.  £e  nuyaunt 
Creatures,  as  wikkede  herbes  and  venimouse  beestes,  ben  maad  for  breo  binges: 
ffor  vre  chastyng,  ffor  vre  amendyng,  ffor  vre  teching.  We  ben  punissched 
and  chastised  whon  we  ben  hurt:  and  pat  is  a  gret  Merci  [of  god]2,  bat  he  wole 
chastisen  vs  now  in  bodi,  pat  we  beo  not  wz/>-oute«  ende  punissched  in  soule. 
We  ben  amendet  whon  we  penken  bat  al  pis  is  comew  vs  porw  vre  sunne  ;  ffor 
whi?  whon  we  sen  pat  so  luitel  creatures  mowen  vs  greuen ,  penne  we  penken 
on  vre  feblesse,  &  ben  meke.  We  ben  tau^t  in  bat  pat  we  seon  in  suche  crea 
tures  pe  wonder  werkes  of  vre  Creatour ;  ffor  more  edificacion  to  vs  is  pe  trauayle 
of  pe  nuy^ere5  pen  pe  strengpe  of  pe  Beore  or  of  pe  Lyouw.  Also  as  is  seid 
of  Beestes,  also  vndwrstowd  of  herbes ;  and  whon  pmi  hast  pou^t  of  peose  Crea 
tures,  hef  vp  pin  herte  to  pi  creatour,  and  J)enk  pat  hit  is  gret  power  to  makew 
such  pinges  of  nou^t,  and  gret  wisdam  to  ordeynew  hew,  and  gret  goodnesse  to 
encresen  hem  eueri  day  \n  to  so  gret  nouwbre.  Sei  to  pi  lord  prrfore  in  pin 
herte :  »For  pou  art,  fvrfore  pei  ben ;  ffor  p<m  art  feir,  perfore  are  |)ei  feir ;  ffor 
p0u  art  good,  perfore  are  pei  goode.  Wife  good  riht  pefi  honouren  alle  creatures, 
pei7  herien,  pei  glorifyen  for  heo[re]  prow,  blessed  God  in  Trinite !  Of  whom  ben 
alle  pinges  porw  his  pouwer  maade,  and  gouernede  porw8  his  wisdaw,  &  porw 
his  bouwte  mwltipliede.  Ipsi  honor  fy  gloria  in  secula  s.  amen.« 

How  Mon  mai  seo  Codes  wille  in  Holi  writ. 

fE  secouwde  degre  of  Contewplacion  is  in  Holi  writ.  But  nou  schalt  pou  asken 
pat  art  of  luitel  lettrure :  »On  what  manure  mi^t  I  euere  comen  to  contewplacion 
of  holi  writ?« 

Now  vnderstond  and  I  schal  telle  pe.  ^if  p^u  konst  not  vndurstonde  pat  is 
writen:  here  blepeliche  pe  gode  pat  mon  seip.  Whon  p0u  herest  out  of  holi  writ, 
in  a  comuyne  p^rchinge  or  in  priue  seyinge :  tak  hede  anon  ^if  p0u  herest  ou^t 
pat  mai  auayle  pe  to  edificacion,  to  hate  synne  and  loue  vertues,  and  doute  peyne 
and  desiren  ioye,  to  dispisen  pis  world ,  touward  pe  topwr  hi^en ,  what  p<?u 
schalt  don  and  what  pou  schal  leuen ,  and  al  pat  mai  lihten  pin  vnd^stowdynge, 
in  knowynge  of  sopnesse,  and  al  pat  warmep  pi  wille  [&]  affeccion,  i»  hete  of 
charite;  ffor  whi?  of  peose  two  goodes  ben  al  bat  is  writen  \n  holi  writ,  priueli 

»  Ms.  Suwme.          2  om.          3  Sp.  locum,  Th.  stede.          *  r.  &.  *  Th.  pyssmowre,  Spec, 

formica.        «  Ms.  J)ei.        '  r.  Je?        •  Ms.  and  fcorw. 


246 

or  aperteli.  Out  of  holiwrit  p0u  schalt  witen  and  knowew  w^uche  ben  pe 
seuene  dedliche  syraies,  &  heore  Brauwches;  pe  seuene  blessynges  of  pe  Ewangelie  ; 
pe  seuene  jriftus  of  pe  holigost ;  Codes  ten  Comauwdemens ;  pe  seuene  v^tues: 
Be-leeue,  Hope,  Loue,  Qweyntise,  Riht,  Atemprenesse,  and  Strengpe;  pe  twelue 
articles  of  pe  be-leeue ;  pe  seuene  Sacramens ;  seuene  dedes  of  M.erci ;  seuene 
preieres  of  pe  Pater  noster ;  pe  seuene  druweries  in  bodi,  &  seuene  in  soule ;  pe 
seuene  peynes  of  helle,  and  loyes  of  heuene. 

Of  pe  seuene  dedly  synnes. 

|>E  seuene  dedli  synnes  ben  peose:  Pruide,  Wrappe,  Envye,  Accidie,  Couetise, 
Glotonie,  and  Lecherie.  Pruide  is  loue  of  oune  hei^nesse;  of  him  waxen1  peose2 
seuene  Brauwches :  Vnbuxumnesse  a^eyn  God  and  a^eyn  Souereyn ,  pat  is  to 
siggen :  leuen  pat  is  comauwdet,  or  don  pat  is  defendet.  Pe  secuwde  is  Auaun- 
tynge:  whon  a  Mon  a-vauwtep  him  of  good  pat  he  hap  of  a  noper,  or  of  an 
vuel  pat  he  hap  of  him-self.  Pe  pridde  is  Ypocrisye:  whon  mon  makep  him 
hauen  good  pat  he  hap  nouht,  and  hut  pe  wikkednesse  pat  he  hap.  Pe  ffeorpe 
is  Despit:  whon  a  mon  blamep  a  noperes  godnesse,  for  hiw-self  scholde  seme 
pe  betere.  Pe  .v.  is  Arrogauns:  whon  mon  makep  comparison  bitwene  his  wikked 
nesse  and  an  opwes,  so  pat  his  may  semen  pe  lasse.  Pe  .vi.  is  Boldnesse:  whon 
he  hap  no  scheme  of  open  synne.  Pe  seuenpe  is  Elacion:  whon  Mon  loyep 
of  his  wikkednesse.  Preo  pinges  ben  wher-of  mon  hap  pruide :  of  godes  pat  he 
hap  of  kuynde,  as  ffeirnesse,  strengpe,  god  wit,  cunrade.  Pe  secouwde,  of  godes 
pat  he  hap  of  p/<rchas,  as  science,  virtues,  good  loos,  grace,  or  dignite.  Pe 
pridde  is,  of  worldliche  godes,  as  eloping,  housyng,  Rentes,  Meyne,  horsyng  and 
oper  hauyng. — Off  Envye  [waxen]3:  ben  glad  of  opwes  harm,  and  sori  of  opwes 
goode ;  and  pat  mai  ben  in  herte  porw  wille,  or  in  Moupe  porw  detraccion,  or  in 
dede  porw  wip-drawyng  of  gode  or  pn?curyng  of  vuel.  Off  Ire  waxen :  manaces, 
vileyne  wordes,  scornynges,  &  Blasfemies.  Off  Accidie  waxen:  heuinesse,  Ma 
lice  ,  Whonhope ,  Necligence  aboute  godes  comauwdemens ,  bisi  pouht  aboute 
pinges  defendet.  Off  Couetyse  wexen :  tresouns,  ffals  opes,  feble  reste,  and  hard 
herte  for  to  don  dedes  of  Merci.  Off  Glotenie  waxen:  veyn  gladnesse,  Lecherie, 
fulpe,  muche  speche,  and  feble  vnderstondyng.  Off  Lecherie  woxen:  Blyndnesse 
of  herte,  in  preyeres  vnstudefastnes,  fol-hastinesse,  loue  of  hi^-self,  hate  of  god, 
loue  of  pis  world,  fere  and  wonhope  of  pe  world  pat  is  to  comen.  Peose  ben 
pe  dedly  synnes  seuene;  and  weltben  I-callet  dedly,  ffor  whi?  pe  preo  furste  de- 
spoylen  pe  synful  wrecche,  and  pe  feorpe  fallep4  him  doun,  pe  fyfpe  castep  him 
out,  pe  sixte  deceyuep  him,  pe  seuepe  puitep  him  in  to  vuel  seruage.  For  whi? 
Pruide  dispoylep  mon  of  God,  Envye  of  his  broper,  Ire  of  hiw-seluen ;  Accidie 
him  fallep,  Auarce  prowep  him  out,  Glotonye  deseyuep  him,  Lecherie  put  him 
in  to  phraldam. 

5 Of  seuene  Blessynges6  of  pe  Ewangelye. 

rvEmedies  a^eyn  pe  seuene  dedly  synnes  leip  vr  lord  Elessynges 7  seuene  in  pe 
Ewangelie,  and  seip  pus:  »Blessed  be  pe  meke  of  spirit,  for  heoren  is  pe  ioye 
of  heuene«:  pat  is  a^eyn  Pruide,  pat  dispoylep  mon  of  god.  »Blessed  be  pe 


1  From  here  the  same  text  exists   in  the  mutilated  Ms.  Simeon  f.  163 ,   till  Contempl.  of  god. 
Ms.  be  beose.  3  om.  4  =  felleb ;    Sp.  quartum  ipsum  verberat,    quintum  eum  prosternit. 

5  This  Chapter  is  wanting  in  Ms.  Th.        6  Sp.  virtutibus  euangelicis.        J  al.  vertues. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text.  247 

deboners1,  to  his  broker,  for  bei  schulen  haue  blessed  erbe  eu^rlastand«:  bat  is 
a^eyn  Envye ,  bat  reueb  from  mon  his  brober.  »Blesset  beo  bei  bat  wepen, 
for  bei  schulen  be  cuwforted« :  bat  is  a^eyn  Wrabbe,  bat  bi-reueb  mon  him-self. 
»Blesset  beo  be  Mtrciful,  bat  han  M^ci  of  obwe,  for  God  wole  haue  Mtrci  of 
hem«:  bat  is  a^eyn  Couetyse,  bat  hab  of  no  mon  Mtrci  ne  pite.  »Blesset  ben 
bei  bat  han  hunger  aftwr  rihtfulnesse,  for  bei  schulen  be  fed«:  bat  is  a^ein  Sloube 
and  negligence.  »Blesset  ben  bei  bat  han  clannesse  of  herte,  for  bei  schullen 
seo  be  face  of  god<«:  bat  is  a^eyn  Glotonye,  bat  benkeb  al-wey  of  ffleschliche 
lustes.  »Blessed  ben  be  peisybles,  for  bei  schulen  be  cald  godes  children" :  bat 
is  a^eyn  Lecherie,  for  whi?  lechour  mai  not  han  reste  nor  pees  of  herte.  A^ein 
Prude,  Mon  schal  han  in  his  herte  and  in  his  moub  and  in  his  dedes,  studefast2 
mekenes.  A^eyn  Em7e,  loye  in  herte  of  obw  mennes  wel-fare,  and  serwe  of 
obwres  harm,  and  loue  to  alle  men.  A^eyn  Wrabbe,  suffring  and  symplenes. 
A^ein  Sleube,  li^t  herte  in  godes  seruise  and  in  alle  goode  dedes.  A^eyn  Coue 
tyse,  Jjiuynge  v?ip  gode  herte  to  pore  men.  A^eyn  Lecherie,  Chastite  of  bodi, 
of  herte,  of  tonge,  of  ei^e.  A^eyn  Glotonye,  Mesure  of  him-seluen,  in  Mete  and 
drinke,  nomeliche  of  drinke,  ffor  borw  to  muche  driwk  mony  mon  hab  losen  his 
lyf,  and  mony  Maiden  hire  Maidewhod;  of  hit  comef)  mony  obw  wikkednesses. 

Of  be  seuene  ^iftes  of  be  holigost. 

NOw  b0u  hast  seuene  Manure  seknesses ,  and  heore  medecynes,.  [After 
comeb  be  souereyn  leche  and  takeb  his  medecynes]3,  bat  sauen  mon  frow  be 
seuene  vices  and  confermen  him  in  [be]3  seuene  virtues,  borw  be  ^ifte[s]  of  be 
holigost,  bat  ben  beose:  J>e  spirit  of  wit,  and  of  vnderstondynge,  f>e  spirit  of 
couwseil,  and  of  strengbe,  J>e  spirit  of  cownynge,  and  of  pite,  f> e  spirit  of  drede 
of  god.  J>orw  beose  seuene  ^iftes  techefj  vre  lord  what  mon  hab  mester  [of]3  to  be 
lyf  bodilyche4  and  to  be  lyf  gostliche5.  And  seo  in  what  manure.  Furst  mon  moot 
leue  wikkednesse:  and  bat  vs  techej)  be  spirit  of  drede  of  god;  and  do  be  goode: 
|)at  vs  techeb  be  spirit  of  pite.  And  for  tweyne  binges  ben  bat  letteb  mon  to 
dow  good,  bat  is  to  witen  Weole  and  Wo  of  bis  world — Weole  wzj5-halt  him 
\vip  faytinge6,  Wo,  w#  hardnes :  b^rfore,  b0u  schalt  dispisen  be  weole  of  bis 
world,  bat  bi?u  be  not  disseyued :  and  bat  be  techef)  be  spirit  of  cunnynge ;  and 
f)0u  schalt  suffrew  hardnesse,  bat  b0u  be  not  ou^rcomen:  and  bat  be  techeb  be 
spirit  of  strengpe.  I^ose  foure  suffisen  to  be  lyf  bodiliche.  fe  ob«re  fallen  to 
])e  lyf  gostliche.  For  whi?  breo  Maners  ben  of  contemplacion :  on  in  Creatures, 
and  bat  teche|)  be  spirit  of  vnderstondyng ;  anobw^  in  Holi  writ,  where  bou  mai^t 
seo  what  is  to  don  &  what  f)0u  schalt  not  don:  and  bat  be  techeb  be  spirit  of 
couwseil;  and  be  bridde  m&ner  is  in  God  self:  bat  be  techeb  be  spirit  of  wit. 

Of  be  ten  Comaundemens  and  of  heore  Sufficience. 

J>E  mir[s]te  Comauwdemewt  is:  bat  Mon  schal  \\ip  gret  Mekenes  seruen  and 
honouren  God  ouer  alle  biwg.  I*e  secuwde  is :  |)at  mon  schal  not  taken  Godes  nome 
in  veyn,  in  Idel  obes;  Mownes  speche  schal  ben  to  obur  »Hit  Is,  Hit  Is;  Hit 
nis,  Hit  nis:  ^e  7,e,  Nai  Nay«.  ^e  bridde  Comauwdemewt  is:  bat  Mon  schal 
halewe  his  hali-day,  wip  holy  werkes:  heren  deuoutliche  wi^-outen  langeliwg 

i  Sp.  mites,  &  hoc  est  erga  proximum.  -  r.  sopfast.  3  om.  4  Th.  actyfe.  5  Th. 
contemplatyfe.  6  Sp.  blanditia. 


248 

Masse  and  Matins  and  ober  houres,  and  not  leuen  to  rysen,  for  no  colde  ne 
for  no  sleep  ne  for  no  swot — ffor  be  more  gref  bat  mon  hab  to  risen,  be  more 
schal  ben  his  meede  ^if  he  rise ;  and  whon  f>ou  art  at  hi  mete,  of  such  goodes 
as  God  hab  he  lent  ^if  blebeliche  berof  to  he  pore,  and  after  Meterbonke  God 
of  alle  his  gode  ^iftes ;  and  afturward  not  gon  to  tau^rne  nor  to  wrastelynges 
nor  to  Carolynges,  nor  to  ohur  veyn  pleyes  of  vanite — ffor  of  such  pleyes  comen 
ofte  mis-happes  and  dedly  synnes.  /  feose  breo  Comauwdemews  ordeyneb1 
mon  and  techeb  hou  he  schal  hauew  him  a-nontes  god  in  trinite,  to  whos  lik- 
nesse  he  is  formed  in  soule.  £e  tohure  seuene  ordeynej)  mon  and  techeb  hou  he 
schal  hauen  him  anentes  his  brobw.  J>e  ffurste  is:  »bmi  schalt  honouren  Fader 
and  Moder«,  ffleschliche  and  gostliche ,  In  twei  maneres :  bou  schalt  bouwe  to 
heom  &  don  hem  reticence,  and  helpen  hem  in  alle  binges  aftur  bi  pouwer  ^if 
bei  han  mester ;  »bat  hou  beo  of  long  lyf«,  bat  is  to  seyen,  w#-outen  ende 
liuinde — and  bat  is  riht,  ^if  {DOW  wolt  haue  long  liuynge,  bat  hou  honoure  hem 
of  whom  bow  heddest  biginnynge  to  liuen.  J>e  secouwde  Comauwdemewt  is: 
»bow  schalt  sle  no  mom.  freo  Maners  ben  of  Slauht:  ber  is  slauht  of  hond, 
whon  a  Mon  sleb  a  nohur,  or  puttef)  him  in  stude  of  sleinge2,  as  in  prison,  or  in 
ober  stude  where  for  to  ben  slayn.  Slauht  of  tonge ;  bat  is  in  two  manors:  be 
comaurcdmg,  or  of  tysinge.  Slauht  of  herte  mai  ben  also  in  two  manors:  as 
whotfne  he  disyreb  or  coueyteb  a  nobles  deb,  or  whon  he  suffreb  a  mon  dyen 
and  wol  not  helpen  him  and  delyueren  him  ^if  he  haue  pouwer.  |>e  bridde  Co- 
mauwdemerct  is  :  »bou  schalt  do  no  lecherie«.  And  bat  is  riht,  whose  wole  hauew 
heuene  bat  is  wz^-outen  rotyng  or  stynk,  bat  he  loke  his  soule  beo  not  roten 
nor  stynkinde.  J> e  ffeorbe  Comauwdeme^t  is:  »bou  schalt  do  no  befbe,  nor 
falshedea.  And  bat  is  riht,  whose  louef)  a  nober,  bat  he  bi-reue  him  nou^t  bat 
he  loueb  or  scholde  him  seruen.  |>e  ffyfbe  Comauwdeme^t  is:  »bon  schalt  not 
beren  fals  witnesse  to  harm  of  bi  brob«f«.  And  bat  is  ri^t;  whose  wol  not 
falsliche  greuen  his  brober  hi^-self,  he  schal  not  concenter  to  anober  bat  wole 
him  greuen,  nor  helpen,  nor  counseil  ^iuen.  J>e  sixte  Comauwdeme;zt  is:  »p0u 
scha[l]t  not  coueyten  bi  brober  wyf«,  nor  his  seruauwt ;  nor  no  mon,  b<?u  bat  art 
wowmon ,  nor  now  ober  wowmon  hou  hat  art  mon.  J>e  seuenbe  Comauwdemewt 
is :  »bra  schalt  not  coueyten  bi  brobwres  bing«.  £eose  tweyne  comauwdemens  a- 
corden  to  tweyne  biforen :  »bow  schalt  don  no  lecherye«,  «ne  f)0u  schalt  don  no 
befbe« ;  ffor  whi?  hose  hab  an  vuel  wille  and  coueyteb  faste  in  herte,  he  mai 
not  longe  holder  him  from  wikkede  dede  in  wikkede  occasions ;  and  jvrfore 
hou  bat  wolt  not  don  no  lecherie,  loke  hou  haue  herof  no  couetyse ;  and  hou  hat 
wolt  not  Robben  nor  stelen,  coueyte  not  in  herte  non  ober  mownes  bing.  feos 
ben  be  ten  Comauwdemews  bat  god  ^af  Moyses.  fe  breo  ffurste  fallen  to  be 
loue  of  God,  be  [obure]  seuene  to  be  loue  of  bi  brober. 

Of  seuene  vertues  and  of  heore  Sufficience. 

Afftur  anon  most  bou  knowen  be  seuene  virtues:  Be-leeue,  Hope,  Loue, 
Qweyntise,  Riht,  Strercgpe,  and  A-temprenesse.  ^e  breo  furste,  bat  is  to  witen 
Be-leeue,  Hope,  and  Loue,  ordeyneb  be  hou  bou  schalt  lyuen  as  anentes  God. 
Pe  ober  foure  ben  cleped  vertues  Cardinals:  to  ordeynen  pi-self  hou  bou  schalt 


1  Ms.  he  ordeynel).         2  Sp.  in  loco  mortis. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text.  249 

lyuen  here  ffor  to  comen  to  [be  ioye]1  wib-outen  ende.  tow  wost  wel,  we  ben 
maad  for  bis  ende,  bat  is  to  witen :  to  knowen  god,  hauen  him,  and  louen  him. 
But  breo  Binges  ben  nedful  to  comen  to  bi[s]2  ende:  bat  is  to  witen:  Connynge 
whoder  bou  schalt  gon,  and  wille  to  cu[m]en3,  and  hope  for  to  cu[m]en3.  On  ober 
halue,  hose  wole  wel  dona  bing,  him  bi-houef)  breo  binges:  Connynge,  Pouwer, 
and  Wille ;  bat  is  to  sei^en :  bat  he  con  don  hit,  and  mowe,  and  wole.  But 
for  we  han  not  of  vre-self  connynge,  pouwer,  no  wille,  berfore  God  haf)  ^iuen 
vs  Be-leeue,  ffor  to  fulfillen  be  de-faute  of  vre  vncunnyngnesse ;  Hope,  fforte  ful- 
fullew  be  defaute  of  vre  feblenesse ;  Loue,  for  to  ordeynew  vre  wille  to  f)at  on  or 
to  bat  ober.  Be-leeue  ordeynef)  vs  to  God  be  Sone4,  to  whom  is  a-titlet  cunnynge5; 
Hope  to  God  be  Fader0,  to  whom  is  a-tytlet  strengbe7;  Loue  to  God  be  Holygost, 
to  whom  is  a-tytlet  godnesse.  And  berfore,  Be-leeue  makef)  vs  haue  knowyng  of 
God ;  and  bat  knowiwge  sei[)  to  vs  bat  he  is  wonderliche  corteis  bat  in  such 
man  ere  and  so  largeliche  ^iuef)  vs  of  his  godes:  and  of  bat  be-leeue8  comef)  Hope  ; 
and  of  bat  knowynge  bat  he  is  go[o]d,  come{)  be  |)ridde  virtue,  bat  is  Loue,  ffor 
whi?  eueri  biwg  louef)  kyndeliche  be  goode. —  9\Vif)  be  foure  obwe  vrrtues,  bat 
ben  vertues  cardinals,  is  al  a  Monnes  lyf  gou^med  in  bis  world ;  bat  ben : 
Qweyntise,  Riht,  Strengbe,  and  A-temprenesse.  Of  beose  foure  seij)  be  holi  gost 
in  be  Book  of  wisdam,  bat  b<r  nis  no  biwg  more  profitable  to  mon  in  eorpe.  Heere 
now,  wherfore.  Whose  wole  wel  don,  ffurst  hit  beo-houe{>  pat  he  cunne  chesun 
be  gode  from  be  wikke,  and  of  tweye10  goode  be  betere  to  chesun.  Pe  gode 
fro  be  wikke,  techej)  vs  Riht11.  Leuen  be  lasse  goode  for  be  more,  vs  techep 
Qweyntise.  And  for  twey  binges  letten  mon  to  don  wel,  bat  is  to  seyen ,  worlds 
weole,  bat  deceyuef)  mon  w*/>  fals  swetnesse,  and  adu^rsite  bat  ouwrcomef)  mon 
w*/>  grete  and  mony  hardnesses  or  wi{)  grete  burstus :  aijeyn  weole  bou  schalt 
haue  Mesure,  bat  bou  beo  not  to  muche  houen  an  hei^  and  deceyued  wz/>  fals 
swetnesse ,  and  bat  wrtu  is  clept  A-temprenesse ;  a'^ein  adu^rsite  schalt  b<m  haue 
hardynesse  of  corage,  pat  b#u  be  not  feld  vrip  bis  hardnesse,  and  bis  vertu  is 
cald  Strengbe. 

Of  be  twelue  articles  of  be  Fei. 

J>E  ffurste  poynt  of  holy  be-leeue  is:  Fader  and  Sone  and  Holy  gost,  beose 
breo  p^rsones  ben  on  God,  w//>-oute«  begynnynge  and  wibouten  endynge,  bat 
made  heuene  and  eorbe  of  nou^t.  |>e  secunde  point  of  be-leeue  is:  jiat  Godes 
sone  tok  flesch  and  blod  of  be  Mayden  Marie,  and  of  hire  was  boren  IhesM  Crz'st, 
v^rrey  God  and  verrey  mon.  j>e  faridde  poynt  is :  pat  god  and  be  virgynes  sone 
Marie  was  pyned  and  crucifyed  and  suffrede  de|)  on  pe  crois,  and  in  sepulcre  was 
leyd,  in  to  helle  his  soule  descended  \vip  his  godhede  and  tok  out  be  soules  bat 
hedden  in  heore  lyf  don  his  wille.  £is  passion  he  suffrede  vfip  his  oune  wille, 
ffor  to  diliueren  from  helle  alle  pat  heere  don  his  wille.  J'e  ffeorbe  poynt  is: 
pat  Ihmi  Crist  in  be  bridde  day  wrrei  god  and  v^n-ei  mon  Ros  front  def)  to  Hue 
in  flesch  and  bodi  glorifyed ;  schewynge  hi;«  ofte  to  Marie  Maudeleyn  and  to  his 
disciples,  and  spac  v?ip  heom ;  and  |>orw  bat  Resurrexion,  \vip  bis  bodi  {)at  we  han 
in  bis  world  we  schullen  risen  fro  def)  to  lyue.  f>e  ffyfbe  poi«t  is:  pat  vre  lord 
IhesM  Crist,  God  and  Mon,  stei^  in  to  heuene,  and  porw  hint  schulen  we,  [if  we] 12 

»  Ms.  J)at  ojier.  2  Ms.  J)in.  »  Ms.  cunnen.  *  Ms.  Fader.  •  Ms»  strengj)e.  6  Ms. 
Sone.  J  Ms.  cunnynge.  8  r.  knowing.  »  In  the  Spec.,  the  following  comes  later,  after 
the  7  Sacraments.  l°  Ms.  he  tweye.  "  Cf.  Spec.  12  om. 


250 

be  not  cumbred  *wip  no  dedly  synne  whon  we  passen  henne.  From  penne  he  sende 
be  holigost  to  hise  apostles;  and  fro  benne  at  be  day  of  doom  in  his  monhed 
schal  comen  to  luggen  wz/>  his  apostles  eueri  mon  aftur  his  werkes.  J*E  seuene  * 
bat  comen  after,  ben  be  seuene  sacramens  of  holichurche,  bat  ben  remedie 
to  mon  of  alle-man^re  synne.  J>e  furste  is  Cr/stendom,  bat  makep  mon  clene  of 
be  synne2  bat  he  drau^j)  of  ffader  and  moder.  f* e  secuwde  is  Confirmacion,  bat 
confermep  be  holygost  in  Mon  or  wowmon  bat  is  cn'stned.  |>e  bridde  is  Penauwce, 
pat  dop  awei  cu^ri  maner  of  synne.  |>e  ffeorpe  is  be  sacremewt  of  be  Auter, 
bat  confermep  pe  penatwt  and  s;iuep  hiw  strewgpe  pat  he  ne  ^eyn-falle,  and 
reconsylep  him.  J>e  ffyfpe  is  Ordre,  pat  ^iuep  pouwer  to  ordeyne[d]  to  don  heore 
Offys  and  make  pe  sacremewt.  J*e  sixte  is  Matranoyne,  pat  defendep  dedli  synne 
in  waxing3  of  generacion.  |>e  seuenpe  is  Vnccion,  pat  is  don  to  pe  seke  in  re 
medie  of  bodi  and  soule. 

Of  pe  seuene  dedes  of  Merci. 

Affter  pow  most  witen  w^uche  ben  pe  dedes  of  Merci.  te  ffurste  is:  ^iuen 
pe  hu?zgri  mete,  fe  secuwde,  ^iue  drynke  to  pe  phrustfol.  J>e  pridde  is,  clopew 
be  nakede.  J>e  ffeorbe  is,  herborwe  be4  housles.  J>e  ffyfpe,  visyten  be  prison 
neode5.  f>e  sixte  is,  cuwforte  be  seke.  }>e  seuenpe  is,  to  burie  be  dede.  /  £eose 
ben  be  dedes  of  Merci  bat  fallen  to  monnes  bodi.  But  now  mai'^t  f)0u  sei^en 
pat  art  in  Religion:  »I  haue  no  power  to  ^iue  mete  nor  drinke  nor  clopmge  nor 
herborwe,  nor  visyten  nor  cuwforten  pe  pn'son  nor  pe  seke,  ffor  I  am  al  in 
op^^es  pouwer  and  not  in  myn  oune.  t^rfore  hit  weore  bettre  I  weore  at  myn 
owne  wille,  and  don  bis  dedes  of  Merci,  ben  ben  in  Religion. «  Ne  be  not  de- 
ceyued:  hit  is  bettre  haue  compassion  and  pite  in  herte  of  hi;;z  pat  is  Meseyse, 
pen  pat  f>0u  heddest  al  pe  world  to  ^iuen  for  charite,  ffor  better  is  ^iuen  hol- 
liche  compassion  of  pi-self,  pen  of  pyn  god.  2^ef 6  pi-seluen,  and  pou  ^euest  more 
pen  al  pe  world.  But  nou  p<?u  wolt  seien:  »So{)  hit  is  pat  hit  is  bettre  ijift  to 
^iuen  pi-seluen  pew  pyn:  But  bope  were  bettre  ben  on;  ffor  on  good  is  lasse 
ben  tweyne.«  Hit  is  not  so  ;  ffor  whi?  Whepere  is  better  be  called  god,  or  ben 
called  his  seruauwt?  To  ben  called  god.  And  bo  bat  suffren  Cold,  hunger  and 
defaute  and  obw  meseises  here,  he  callep  heom  him-self;  ffor  he  seip  in  pe 
Ewangelie:  »A1  pat  ^e  don  to  pe  leeste  of  myne,  ^e  don  hit  to  me.«  On  opw^ 
halue :  wheper  is  beter,  to  luggen  or  ben  I-Iugget?  Certes,  luggen.  And  bat 
schullen  be  pore:  pei  schullen  lugge  pe  riche;  also  Ih«u  seip  in  pe  Ewangelie: 
«^e  pat  han  alle  pingw^  forsake  for  pe  loue  of  me :  at  pe  day  of  dome  whon  i 
sitte  \n  pe  see  of  my  Mageste,  pemie  schul  ^e  sitten  vppon  pe  xii  tnmos  and 
luggen  [be]  .xii.  Images  of  Israel.«  On  ober  halue  :  wheber  is  bettere  han  be  loye 
of  heuene  in  possescion,  or  in  be-hotyng?  Certes,  in  possession.  And  pat  haue 
pe  pore  of  spirit,  ffor,  as  Ihmi  seif)  in  pe  Ewangelie,  »heoren  is  pe  loye  of 
heuene«.  He  sei{)  not  where  schal  ben«,  but  »here  is« ;  bat  is  to  vnderstonden :  also 
siker  mouwe  be  pore  ben  of  be  loye  of  heuene,  as  mon  is  of  be  ping  pat  is  in 
his  hondes.  And  pMbre  seip  seint  Bernard :  »Pe  pore  han  nou^t  in  eorpe,  ne 
be  riche  han  nou^t  in  heuene«;  and  pMbre,  ^if  pe  riche  wolen  hit  haue,  pei 
moten  hit  bugge  at  be  pore.  Now  I  wot  wel  pow  disyrest  muche  to  witen  w^uche 


1  Ms.  seuenj)e.      2  Ms.  synnes. 
Ms.  of  ])yn.  ^ef  God. 


Th.  werke,  Sp.  in  opere  g.      4  Ms.  to  J>e.       5  r.  prisonede. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text.  251 

ben  verrey  pore,  and  w^uche  nou^t.  Now  here  wz/>  deuocion.  Suwme  ben  bat  han 
richesse,  and  louen  hit:  bo  ben  be  Couetouse  of  bis  world;  and  suwme  ben  bat 
hauen  hem  not,  but  bei  louen  hem  and  wolde  gladliche  hauen  hem:  bo  ben  be 
wrecches1  of  be  world,  and  be  fals  religious,  and  [bei]2  ben  also  riche  as  be  obere 
or  ricchore,  [in  wil]3.  And  bei  ben  [bo]4  of  whom  Ihesu.  sei{)  in  be  Ewangelie  bat 
whit  weore  lihtore  to  a  chamaile  gon  borw  be  ei^e  of  an  nedele,  ben  be  riche  entre 
in  to  be  ioye  of  heuene«.  Suwme  [han]  riche[s]5,  but  bei  louen  hit  not,  al-bau^  bei 
[wol  wele]6  h[it]7  han:  bo  ben  be  gode  men  of  bis  world  bat  dispenden  bat  bei  han 
wel;  and  obz/re  b^r  ben  bat  han  nousjt  of  richesse,  nor  louen  hit,  nor  bei  sechen 
not  to  hauen  hit :  bo  ben  be  holy  men  of  Religion ;  and  bei  ben  vtrreiliche  pore, 
and  heoren  is  be  Ioye  of  heuene.  Pat  is  be  blessyng  of  pore.  I>e;me  bihouef) 
hit  bat  be  riche  haue  be  contrarie  of  be  blessynge.  And  b^rfore  I  mai  siggen: 
»Blessed  ben  be  pore,  for  heoren  is  be  Ioye  of  heuene«,  |)e«ne  may  I  siggen: 
»Waried  ben  be  riche,  for  heoren  is  be  peyne  of  helle.«  Riche  ben  bat  han 
richesse  and  louen  hit,  [or  bat  han  hit  not  but  louen  hit  and  coueyten  hit]6. 
Pore  ben  bat  han  pouerte  and  louen  hit  and  coueyten  hit,  or  pat  han  richesse 
and  louew  al-wei  poutrt. 

Of  be  seuene  preyeres  of  pe  Pater  noster.     Cap.  xv. 

Aftur  pou  most  knowen  w^uche  ben  be  seuene  preyeres  of  be  Pater  noster, 
pat  forclon  alle  wikkednesses  and  bringen  alle  godnesses ;  bat  vre  lord  Ih^u  Crist 
tau^te  his  disciples  how  bei  scholdew  pm^e  god  pe  fadur,  &  seide  hem  bus : 

Pater  noster  qui  es  in  cells:  Fader  vre  bat  art  \n  heuene.  Sanctificetur  nomen 
tutifn:  Halewed  be  pi  nome.  Aducniat  regnum  tuum:  Come  pi  regne.  fiat 
uohtntas  tua,  sicut  in  celo  ct  in  terra:  Pi  wille  be  don  in  eorjie  as  in  heuene. 
Panem  nostrum  cotidianum  da*>  nobis  hodie :  Vre  eumdayes  bred  ^if  vs  bis  day. 
Et  dimitts  nobis  debita  nostra,  sicut  et  nos  dimittimus  debitoribus  nostris :  For- 
^if  vs  vre  dettes,  as  we  foremen  vre  dettoures.  Et  ne  nos  inducas  in  tempta- 
cionem :  And  do  us  not  in  to  fondynge.  Set  liber  a  nos  a  malo :  But  diliuere  vs 
of  wikkednesse.  Amen:  So  beo  hit.  fis  orison  sourmountej)  alle  obwre  orisouns, 
in  dignite  and  in  pr^fyt.  In  Dignite :  for  God  hi;;/-self  made  hit ;  and  |)erfore 
he  dof)  gret  schome  and  gret  vnreurrrence  to  god  pat  takef)  him  to  Rymede 
wordes  &  queynte,  and  leuef)  be  wordes  and  be  preyere  pat  he  vs  tauhte,  pat 
wot  al  be  wille  of  god  be  fader,  and  w^uch  orison  him  best  payep,  and  of  w^uche 
binges  we  wrecches  han  most  neode9  and  mester  to  preyen — ffor  whi?  as  I 
haue  i-seyd,  he  wot  onliche  al  godes  wille  and  al  vre  nedfulnesse.  And  ptrfore 
ben  an  hundred  bousend  men  deceyuet  bonv  multiplicacion  of  orisou;/s ;  ffor  whon 
pei  wenen  han  deuocion,  bey  han  a  foul  fleschliche  wille,  ffor  eueri  fleschliche 
corage  delytef)  him  kuyndeliche  in  turned10  langage  and  rymed.  And  b^rfore  beo 
war!  ffor  I  seye  be  forsobe,  hit  is  a  foul  lecherye  to  delyten  in  such  Rymynge. 
On  ober  halfe  seynt  Austin  and  seint  Oregon  and  ofrur  seyntes  preiden  after 
her  affeccion.  [I]11  blame  not  heore  orisons;  bote  I  blame  hem  bat  leuen  be 
preyere  pat  god  hiw-self  maade  and  tauhte,  and  holden  hem  to  pe  orisoun  of  a 
symple  seint,  wher-so  he  ha[)  founden  hit  writen.  For-pi,  bad  God  in  be  Ewaw- 
gelie:  »\Vhon  ^e  preyen,  ne  preye{)  not  in  mony  wordes,  bote  sei{)  bus,  Pater 

i  Sp.  miseri.  2  Ms.  suwme.  a  om. ;  Sp.  in  voluntate.  *  Ms.  also.  6  Ms.  ben  riche. 
«  om.  '  Ms.  hem.  •  Ms.  do.  »  Ms.  neode  to.  1°  so  Th. ;  Spec,  in  tali  loquela  cunosa. 
»  Ms.  and. 


252 

nosier*.  On  oper  halue,  pis  Orisouw  passep  alle  opwe  orisouns  in  [sufficience]  * : 
ffor  jw-Inne  is  contenet  al  pat  we  han  mester  [of]  to  pis  lyf  or  to  pat  o{)er ;  ffor 
we  preyen  God  pe  ffader  pat  he  delyu^e  vs  of  alle  wikkednesse  2,  and  pat  he  ^eue 
vs  alle  goode,  and  pat  he  make  vs  suche  pat  we  mowen  neuer  don  vuel  nor 
faylen  of  goode.  And  seo  what  manere.  Al  pe  wikkednesse  pat  vs  greuep, 
pat  is  to  siggen3,  oup^r  hit  is  wikkednesse  pat  is  passet,  ouper  pat  is  to  comen, 
or  pat  is  present  now.  Of  pat  is  passet,  we  preyen  vr  lord  pat  he  vs  delyu^re 
whon  we  siggen  Dimitte  nobis  debita  nostra,  sicut  et  nos  dimittimus  debitoribus 
nostris.  Of  pat  is  to  comen:  Et  ne  nos  inducas  in  temptacionem.  Of  pat  we 
suffre  now,  whon  we  siggen  Set  libera  nos  a  malo.  On  oper  halue,  what  good 
so  hit  be,  oup^r  hit  is  Bodili  goode,  or  gostly  goode,  [or  good]4  wz/J-outen  ende. 
Bodily  goode  preye  we  whon  we  siggen  1  anem  nostrum  cotidianum  da  nobis 
hodie.  Gostly  good,  whon  we  seyen  fiiat  voluntas  tua,  sicut  in  celo  8f  in  terra. 
Good  wz/J-outen  ende,  whon  we  seyen  Aditeniat  regnum  tuum.  Confirmacion 
of  al  pis,  whon  we  siggen  Sanctificetur  nomen  tuum.  Peose  ben  pe  seuene 
preyeres  of  pe  Ewangelye  pat  Ihesn  tauhte  his  disciples.  And  p0u  schalt  wel 
witen  pat  pe  foure  wordes  pat  corner  beforen,  pat  is  to  witen  Pater  noster  qui 
es  in  cells,  techen  vs  hou  we  schullen  preyen,  and  w^uche  we  schule;z  ben  in 
preyere.  For  whi?  we  schul  hauen  foure  binges  in  orison,  pat  is  to  witen: 
Parfyt  loue  anentes  him  pat  we  prei^ep  to ,  and  certeyn  hope  to  hauen  pat  we 
asken,  and  studefast  be-leeue  in  whom  pat  we  hopen5,  and  sopfast  mekenes,  of 
pat  we  no  good  han  of  vre-self  and  fer  ben  from  his  hei^nesse  pat  we  leeuen 
and  louen  and  hopen.  Parfyt  loue  is  conteynet  in  pis  word,  Pater^:  ffor  whi? 
eueri  Creature  louep  kuyndeliche  his  ffader.  Certeyn  hope  is  vnderstonden  in 
pis  word  Noster:  ffor  whi?  ^if  he  beo  vre,  pen  mowe  we  homeliche7  seyen  and 
hopen  pat  he  is  holder  to  vs.  Studefast  bi-leeue  is  vnderstonden  in  pis  word 
Qui  es :  ffor  whi?  whon  we  seyen  Qui  es,  we  leeuen  pat  god  is,  whom  we  neuer 
se^en;  and  pat  is  rizjt  beleeue,  ffor  fei{)  is  non  oper  pyng  but  leeuyng  of  ping 
pat  may  not  been  se^en.  Sop8  Mekenesse  is  vnderstonden  in  pis  word  In  celis: 
ffor  whi?  whon  we  penken  pat  he  is  hei^,  and  pat  we  ben  lowe,  pewne  beo  we 
meke.  //  Whonne  we  han  pese  foure  pinges  studefastliche  in  vre  herte,  pen 
mowe  we  hardiliche  preyen  and  siggen  wip  gret  wille :  ^Sanctificetur  nomen  tuum, 
Halewed  beo  pinome;  pat  is  to  siggen:  A-ferme9  pi  nome,  pat  art  fader,  in  vs, 
pat  we  mowen  ben  in  such  manere  pi  children,  pat  we  don  euere  pi  wille,  and 
pat  no  ping  beo  in  vs  oper  pen  beo  al  to  pi  paye.  And  for  we  mowe  not 
don  pis  parfytli  while  we  ben  in  pis  wrecchede  world,  p^Hbre  we  preyen, 
Adueniat  regnum  tuum :  Come  to  vs  pi  regne ,  pat  pmi  regne  in  vs  in  pis  lyf 
porw  grace,  and  [we  in  pe]4  in  heuene  wij)  loye.  And  pe  selue  we  preyen  for  hem 
pat  ben  in  purgatorie.  And  for  we  mowen  neuer  han  pe  loye  of  heuene  but  we 
don  pi  wille  in  eorpe,  we  seyen,  Fiat  voluntas  tua  sicut  in  celo  et  in  terra ;  pat 
is  to  siggen,  ^if  vs  grace  to  don  al  pat  pou  comauwdest,  and  leuen  al  pat  pou 
defendest;  and  pat  \n  erpe  as  in  heuene,  pat  is  to  siggen:  As  Michael,  Gabriel, 
Raphael,  Angeles  and  Archangeles,  P^phetes,  Apostles,  Martires,  Confessours, 
Virgines  don  pi  wille  in  heuene,  also  mote  don  pe  Ordres  pat  ben  in  eorpe,  pat 
is  to  witen  pe  Pope,  pe  Cardinals,  Bisschopes,  Abbotes,  Priores,  and  alle  heore 

1  Ms.  worj>inesse  (=  Th.).        2  Th.  illes,  Sp.  malis.        3  Omit  f»«t— siggen?        4  om.        »  Th. 
trowe.         6  Ms.  Parter.        ?  r.  hardiliche ;  Sp.  audacter.        «  al.  Sohfast.        9  Sp.  Confirma. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text. 


253 


sogettes  ,  Erchedeknes  ,  Officials  ,  Denes  ,  Parsouns  ,  Vikers ,  Prestes  ,  and  alle 
Ordres  ;  be  Kywges,  be  Princes,  Duykes,  Erles,  Barouns,  Riche  Pore,  Lettrede  and 
Vnlettrede,  and  [al]  bei  bat  bou  hast  bouht  in  evurriche  [regne] l,  in  eueriche  Ordre, 
and  in  eu^nche  Lynage,  and  Age.  And  for  we  mowe  not  don  bi  wille  nor  liuen 
in  bis  Bodi,  but  :£if  ^e  vs  susteyne,  we  seyen,  Pattern  nostrum  cotidianum  da 
nobis  hodie;  pat  is  to  seyen,  7,if  vs  strengj)e  of  bodi  and  of  soule ,  and  hele  of 
bobe;  bat  is  to  witen2,  breo  maner  of  bred:  bodiliche,  as  mete  and  clob, 
gostliche  as  holy  writ,  and  be  bred  of  Eukarist,  to  cuwforten  be  ton  and  be 
tob//r  kynde.  And  for  we  be  worbi  no  good  while  we  beo{)  in  synne,  we  seyen, 
Et  dimittc  nobis  debita  nostra,  sicut  et  nos  dimittirnus  debitoribus  nostris ;  bat  is  to 
siggen,  For-^if  vs  (vre  misdedes,  as  we  foremen  vren(!) ;  bat  is  to  siggew3,)  al  j)at 
we  han  synget  wz/>  word,  v?ip  dede,  wib  bouijt ;  as  we  foremen  to  hem  b#t  han 
mistaken  a^eynes  vs.  And  for  hit  is  luitel  worbh  for  to  han  for^iuenesse,  but  ^if  we 
mowen  aftur  loken  vs  from  synne,  we  sigen,  Et  nc  nos  indue  as  in  temptacionem ; 
bat  is  to  siggen,  Ne  soffre  not  bat  we  ben  ouer-comen  wi|)  fondynge  of  be  feend, 
of  be  fflesch,  ne  of  J)e  world.  (Ac  b<nt  schalt  not  preyen  b^t  b0u  be  not  tewpted, 
but  brtt  b0u  beo  not  ouw^comen  in  tewptacion3.)  Set  libera  nos  a  male:  And  not 
only  of  temptacion,  bote  delyu^re  vs  of  vuel,  of  bodi  and  of  soule,  of  seknesse  of 
synne  and  of  pyne,  bat  nou  is  or  bat  is  to  come.  Amen.«  And  for  god  sei{)  in 
be  Ewangelie:  »A1  bat  7}e  preyen  my  ffader  in  my  nome,  |)tft  he  schal  don« ; 
berfore  we  seyen  at  be  ende  of  eu^ri  orison  \n  holi  chirche ,  Per  dominum 
nostrum  Jesum  Cristum ,  filium  tuum,  Qui  tecum  uiuit  et  regnat  (feus,  per  omnia 
secula  seculorum  amen*,  bat  is  to  siggen:  »Porw  vre  lord  Ihwu  Crist,  bi  sone,  bat 
wif)  be  liue{)  &  regnef)  god,  world  w;j5outew  ende,  be  hit  so«.  /  Vnderstowde  bat  j)0u 
schalt  not  seyen  w*/>  moube  al  bat  I  haue  heer  writen :  but  sey  onliche  be  bare 
lettre  [wif)  moube]5,  and  benk  in  bin  herte  of  |)«t  I  haue  put  here  vppon  eum  word 
bi  him-self.  And  make  no  fors  ffor  to  multeplyen  mony  Pater  noster;  ffor  whi? 
on  is  more  wor{)  vrif  deuocion  and  entewdemewt ,  pen  a  bousend  wzj5outen 
entendemewt;  and  seint  Poul  seib:  »[I]6  hedde  leutre  siggen  fyue  wordes  w^ 
deuocion  in  myn  herte  w^5  entewdemewt,  ben  fyue  bousend  wi^outen  entendemewt«. 
IN  be  selue  manure  bow  schalt  don  bin  offys  in  Qweor ;  ffor  whi?  bwj  seif)  be 
pr^phete :  Psallite  sapienter,  »Singe  and  versele  Codes  seruise  wysliche«.  Wysliche 
syngen  and  reden,  is  forte  [binken]7  wij)  hrrte  bat  mon  sei{)  wi|)  moujpe.  For  whi? 
^if  bi  bodi  is  in  qweor  of  chirche  and  bi  lippes  in  be  sauter,  and  byn  herte  in 
be  chepyng8,  bow  art  wrecchedliche  departed9.  And  [for]10  God  seip :  »Seechej) 
furst  Codes  Reyne,  and  b«t  ^e  han  mester  of  be  world  schal  be  send  ^ow« : 
{xrfore  b<m  schalt  witen  what  |)0u  schalt  han  i»  be  loie  of  heuew. 

Of  be  seuene  drueries  in  bodi,   and  seuene  in  be  soule. 

f  Ow  schalt  han  seuene  druryes  in  bodi,  and  seuene  in  soule.  Pow  schalt  han 
in  bodi :  Feirnesse  w//>outen  fuilyng ,  Strengbe  wz^outen  feblenesse ,  Freonesse 
wibouten  braldam,  Lihtnesse  w/^-outen  heuynesse,  Wille  w$-outen  wernyng  or 
a^eyn-standyng,  Hele  w//5-outew  seknesse,  Long  lyf  wz^-outen  ende.  Pow  schalt 
haue  i«  soule :  Wisdam  wz^outen  vnconnyng ,  Sikernesse  wz')5-outew  feyntnes, 


i  Ms.  lynage,  Sp.  regno.  2  Sp.  Sciendum  est  quod  triplex  est  panis.  3  an  intercalation 
*  Qui— amen  al.  om.  »  om.  «  Ms.  He.  7  Ms.  siggen.  «  Sp.  in  foro.  9  Sp.  diuisus. 
»«  Ms.  Ixrrfore. 


254 

loye  w/j5-outen  serwe,  Lone  wib-outen  hate,  Acord  wib-outen  discord,  Honour 
wz'/Jouten  dispisyng.  Bote  wrecches  in  helle  schulen  han  be  reuers,  in  bodi  and 
in  soule ;  bat  is :  Foulnesse  wz/>-outen  feirnesse ,  Feblenesse  wib-outew  strengbe, 
and  so  of  al  of)we.  /  And  b^ore  b0u  schalt  don  al  bi  power  to  han  bat  loye. 
For  whi?  hit  is  so  gret  loye  and  so  gret  swetnesse  bat  7,if  b<?u  mi^test  liuen  ffro 
be  begynnynge  of  be  world  to  be  endynge,  and  han  alle  be  desyres  b«t  bou 
coubest  de-vysen,  be  good  skil  b0u  schuldest  vrip  good  wille  leten  al  bat,  to 
ben  o  day  in  be  loye  of  heuene.  //  Pus  endeb  be  secu/zde  degre  of  Contempla- 
cion,  in  Holi  writ;  wherof  and  f)0u  take  good  hede,  hit  schal  ben  liht  for  be 
to  holden  eueri  sarmouw.  On  obur  halue,  b0u  hast  ma[t]ere l  of  spekyng  to 
Clerkes  ben  bey  nevure  so  wyse,  and  to  lewede,  ben  bei  neuere  so  boystes. 
When  b<?u  spekest  to  wyse,  meue  suwme  of  beose  materes,  and  aske.  And  whon 
bow  spekest  to  symple,  teche  hem  blebeliche  and  sweteliche.  For  whi?  f)0u  hast 
in  0113  wherof  to  speken,  and  hou  p0u  schalt  bin  owne  lyf  leden  &  obure  amenden.  — 

Contemplacion  of  God. 

f>E  bridde  degre  of  Conte;;zplacion  is  in  God  self;  and  may  beo  in  two  Man^s: 
Wib-outen,  in  his  Monhede,  and  wz/J-Innen  in  his  hei^e  Godhede.  For  whi?  bz/.y 
seib  seint  Austin:  »Perfore  bicom  God  Mon,  to  maken  Mon  seon  God  in  his 
nature;  ffor  whi?  where  Mon  gob  Inne  or  oute,  alle  dayes  and  alle  tymes  he 
may  fynden  fedyng  of  God,  inward  borw  Contemplacion  of  his  Godhede,  outward 
borw  Consyderacion  of  his  Monhede «.  Off  his  Monhede,  b<?u  schalt  benke  breo 
binges:  Pe  Mekenesse  of  his  Incarnacion,  and  be  swetnesse  of  his  Conu^rsacion, 
and  be  charite  of  his  Passion.  But  b<m  mai^t  not  don  bis  at  ones:  before  I 
haue  distynktet  hem  bi  [foe]  houres  of  be  day  bat  bou  syngest  at  Chirche;  bat  non 
houre  be  passe  b^t  bc>u  ne  haue  bin  herte  ocupyed.  l*at  to  don,  fwu  schalt  witen 
bat  eueri  houre  hab  double  benkyng:  on  of  be  Passion,  anober  of  ober  seson. 

Conte;;zplacion  before  Matynes. 

Bl-fforen  Matynes,  bow  schalt  benken  enterliche  be  tyme ,  be  stude,  and  be 
houre  whonne  god  was  born.  Pe  tyme  was  in  [mid-]wynter,  whon  hit  was  caldest. 
Pe  houre  was  at  Midniht,  be  hardeste  houre  bat  is.  Pe  stude  was  in-middes 
be  wey;  in  an  hous  wib-outen  walles  I-wou«den  in  cloutes  and  bou^den  wi{)  a 
lyste,  bi-foren  an  Oxe  and  an  Asse  was  [he]  leid  in  a  Cracche,  for  bei  hedde  non 
ober  place.  Pou  schalt  benken  of  be  bisynesse  b^t  Marie  hedde  of  hire  child; 
of  loseph,  hire  spouse,  b0u  schalt  benken,  hou  bat  he  hedde  gret  loye.  Penk 
of  be  schepherdes  deuocion,  and  of  be  swete  cuwpaygnye  of  pe  Angeles:  and 
hef  vp  pin  h^rte  and  synge  wib  heom  Gloria  in  cxcelsis  deo.  j  Of  be  passion, 
pi?u  schalt  benken  how  bat  tyme  of  be  niht  he  was  bi-trayet  of  his  disciple, 
and  taken  as  a  traytor,  and  bouwden  as  a  bef,  and  lad  as  a  felouw.  And  benk 
how  he  proferede  hiw-self  to  his  enemys,  and  custe  hi;;*  b#t  trayede  hiwz,  and 
callede  him  his  frende;  and  how  he  defendede  his  disciples  to  drawen  eny 
wepne,  and  how  he  helede  be  Ere  of  his  enemy.  And  how  his  disciples  flowen 
for  fere  and  laften  him  one  wz/5  his  enemys.  And  hou  bei  bouwden  him  and 
ladder  him  bifore  Anne,  and  b^e  he  was  examynet  &  boffeted;  and2  for  he 


Ms.  manere.         2  om.  in  Spec. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:   Vernon  text.  255 

onswerde  not   after   heore  wille ,    he  was   lad  bi-foren  Caiphas ;    and  ber  forsok 
seynt  Peter  him  brie. 

Contemplacion  be-fore  Prime. 

Bl-ffore  Prime,  f)0u  schalt  benken  of  be  Passion  and  of  be  Resurrexion.  Of 
be  passion,  bou  schalt  benken  hou  be  lewes  ladden  him  to  heore  couwseil,  and 
how  bei  fals  witnesse  beeren  him  an  honde,  and  *  Blasfemie,  and  hou  bat  he  hedde 
reneyed2  be  peple  of  Galyle  to  lerusalem:  and  scorned  him  in  diu^rse  maners,  and 
spitten  in  his  face ;  and  hudden  his  face,  and  smiten  him,  and  beden  him  propheten 
and  tellen  who  him  smot.  Bute  for  al  bat  swete  Ihwu  suffrede,  he  seide  neu^re 
»whi  do  ^e  so  ?«,  bote  as  a  lomb  bat  is  lad  to  slen,  also  he  bar  hym  and  spac  not 
a^eyn.  Obwr  monye  dispites  bei  duden  him,  whuche  weore  longe  to  telle.  /  Of 
be  Resurrexion,  b<m  schalt  benken  bat  such  tyme  ros  Ihesii  Crist  from  debe  to 
lyue,  aftwr  bat  he  hedde  distruied  helle  &  delyurred  be  soitles  bat  weren  hise 
from  be  pouwer  of  be  feend.  And  b<m  schalt  benken  also  of  his  swete  schewynges : 
how  he  aperede  pat  day  fyue  tymes  and  fif  tymes  afterward.  Furst  to  Marie 
Magdaleyn,  whon  heo  wende  he  hedde  I-beon  a  gardyner.  Pe  secunde  tyme  to 
hire  and  to  ober  wiwmen  in  be  wey,  whon  he  grette  hem  and  seide  Auett ,  bat 
is  to  siggen  »God  loke  ^ou«.  Pe  bridde  tyme  to  seint  Peter — but  we  haue  not 
be  maner.  Pe  ffeorbe  tyme  to  tweyne  disciples  touward  be  Castel  of  Emaus, 
whon  bei  wenden  he  hedde  ben  a  pilgrym,  and  whowne  bei  knewe/z  him  in 
brekynge  of  bred.  Pe  ffyfbe  tyme  to  ten  obwre  disciples  whon  seynt  Thomas 
was  absent:  whon  he  stod  a-middes  hem  and  seide  Pax  vobis,  and  schewede 
hem  his  hondes  and  feet,  for  bei  wenden  bei  hedden  seyen  a  spirit.  Pe  sixte 
tyme,  whon  seynt  Thomas  was  vfip  hem:  and  bad  him  putten  his  bond  in  his 
syde.  Pe  seuebe  tyme  he  aperede  to  seint  Peter  and  to  seint  Ion  and  to  seint 
lake  &  to  Natanael  whon  bei  fisscheden  in  be  se6  bat  is  cald  Tiberiadis,  and  eet 
vfip  hem  &  askede  seint  Peter  wher3  he  louede  him  more  ben  be  o|3er^.  IJe 
eihtebe  tyme  on  be  Mouwt  of  Galilee  ,  whon  he  comauwdede  hem  gon  porw  be 
world  and  Bapti^en  be  peple  In  be  Fader  nome  and  Sone  and  Holygost.  !Je 
Nybe  tyme  he  apeerede  to  his  disciples  be  day  bat  he  steih  in  to  heuene,  whon 
bei  weren  at  be  mete,  and  snibbede  heom  for  heore  misbileeue  and  hardnesse 
of  herte.  Pe  Tenbe  tyme  to  heom  be  selue  day,  whowne  he  ladde  heom  out 
of  be  Citee"  in  to  be  Mount  of  Olyuete4,  and  Comauwdede  hem  bat  bei  dwelledew 
in  be  Cite  til  bei  weore«  clobed  of  be  \crtu  of  god ,  and  ^af  hem  his  sweete 
blessynge,  and  de-parted  frow  he///  in  to  heuene,  and  sit  on  be  riht  half  of 
his  Fader. 

Conte/rcplacion  biforew  Terce. 

Bl-ffore  terce,  b0u  schalt  benken  of  be  Passion  and  of  be  Comynge  of  be 
holigost.  Of  be  passion :  hou  Ih^jus  was  such  tyme  dispoylet  al  naked  and 
bouttdew  to  a  piler  in  Pilatus  hous,  and  beoten  him 5  bat  from  his  hed  to  his  feet 
was  not  laft  on  hoi  stude.  Pewk  also  hou  Pilat  sende  him  to  Heroudes,  and  he 
forleet  him  and  clobed  him  in  whit,  in  signe  bat  he  heold  hiw  a  fool,  and 
sende  him  a^eyn  to  Pilat.  And  Pilat  wolde  haue  lete  him  gon,  but  furst  he  wolde 

1  Sp.  querebant  falsum  testimonium  contra  ipsum  &  imposuerunt  ei  quod  blasphemauit. 
2  Sp.  circuiuit  totam  patriam  a  Gal.  vsque  Jer.  subuertens  gentem  suam.  3  =  whe^er.  4  Sp. 
in  Bethaniam.  5  omit  him. 


chastisen  him  in  pe  Manure  bat  bei  duden  beues  {>at  scholden  be  letew  gon :  and 
his  knihtes  token  him,  and  gederedew  to-gedere  {)e  peple  for  to  be-holden  him, 
and  duden  on  him  a  Mantel  of  red,  &  ^[ejuen1  him  a  staf  in  stude  of  Ceptre,  and 
a  Coroune  of  {)ornes  on  his  bed,  and  kneleden  biforen  him  and  gretten  him. 
Bote  for  al  bis,  wolde  not  be  lewes  leten  him  beo  quyt,  but  Pilat,  for  to  payen 
hem,  dilyu^rede  hem  [a  beef]  2  and  tok  hem  Ihcsus  to  crucifyen  wz/>outen  gult.  / 
P0u  schalt  also  benken  bat  such  tyme  of  be  day  sende  vre  lord  be  holygost  to 
his  disciples  in  liknesse  of  ffuir  [&  tonges]3,  bat  fulde  hem  of  wordes  and  langages, 
and  loue.  And  bat  was  be  rihte  ordinauwce  of  God;  ffor  whi?  in  two  Manors 
deceyuede  be  wikkede  gost  ffurst  Mon  in  Paradys,  wip  tonge,  &  vrip  coldnesse  of 
his  venym,  and  Jvrfore  com  be  holigost  In  tonge  a^eyn  be  entisemewt  of  be 
deuel,  In  fair  for  to  destruy^ew  be  coldnesse  of  his  venyn. 

Cowtewplacion  biforew  Midday. 

Bl-fforen  Midday,  bow  schalt  benken  of  be  Anmwciacion  and  of  be  Passion.  Of 
be  Annuwciacion,  b<?u  schalt  benken  [of]  be  Merci  of  vr  lord,  bat  he  wolde  bi-come 
mon,  and  suffre  deb  in  his  Monhede  for  vs,  while  bat  he  mihte  in  obur  manere 
han  delyu^ed  vs.  Bute  al  he  dude  bis  to  vs  for  to  drawen  be  loue  of  vs.  For 
whi?  sjif  on  hedde  iben  vre  Creatour,  and  anober  vre  Saueour,  bewne  we  mihten 
more  han  loued  vre  buggere  ben  vre  make[re] ;  and  before  wolde  vre  Creatour  ben 
vre  Saueour,  and  suffren  in  his  bodi  alle  vre  serwes,  for  to  buggen  al  vre  loue. 
Off  be  Passion  bow  schalt  benken  bat  such  tyme  he  was  don  on  be  crois,  bi- 
twene  twey  beues,  as  bou^  he  hedde  ben  heore  Mayster.  And  before4  I  not 
w^at  I  may  siggen:  ffor  bei^  alle  be  seknesses  and  alle  be  serwes  of  bis  world 
weore  in  O  Mownes  bodi,  and  bat  mon  mihte  receiuen5  also  mony  anguissches 
and  also  muche  serwe  in  his  bodi  as  alle  be  men  of  bis  world,  hit  were  not  but 
luytel  or  as  nou^t  to  regard  of  be  serwe  bat  he  suffrede  for  vs  in  on  houre  of 
be  day.  For  whi?  ^if  I  mi^te  liuen  an  hundred  bousen[d]  ^er  and  dyen  eueri  day 
a  bousend  tymes  for  him  of  be  selue  dep  bat  he  di^ede  for  me,  ^it  hit  scholde 
not  amouwten  to  be  serwe  bat  he  suffrede  in  his  bodi.  Pewne  may  suw  Mon 
seyen  bat  be  serwe  bat  he  suffrede  for  vs  on  be  Crois  was  grettore  ben  be 
peyne  of  helle  is,  in  so  luytel  tyme:  ffor  w^i?  no  Creature  mi^te  so  muche 
soffren  as  Ihesn,  for  her  hedde  non  so  gret  v^rtu  in  him;  but  sum  creature  may 
suffren  be  peines  of  helle:  bewne  is  be  peyne  of  helle  lasse  for  be  tyme  ben 
be  peyne  of  Ihesu.  I  sei  not  pis  certeynliche ,  for  sum  mewnes  cowcience. 
And  berfore  he  seide  in  leremie :  »Alle  ^e  bat  passen  bi  be  weye,  takeb 
kepe  to  me  and  seop  wher  \)er  be  eny  serwe  lyk  my  serwecf.  Certes  nay, 
ber  was  neuer  serwe  to  be  serwe  of  vre  swete  lord  Ihmi  Crist.  And  also 
bou  schalt  benken  of  vre  swete  ladi  seynte  Marie,  what  anguissche  heo  hedde 
whon  heo  stod  bi  his  ri^t  syde ,  and  receyuede  be  disciple  for  be  Maister, 
and  be  seruauwt  for  be  lord,  Ion  ^ebedeus  sone  ffor  Ihmi  Codes  sone.  And 
before  heo  may  sei^en  of  hire-self  so  as  Noemi  seide :  »ne  calleb  me  not  swete 
luitel  or  eni  del,  but  calleb  me  bitter  herbi-forbward ,  for  whi?  of  bitternesse 
me  ha[b]6  fult  and  of  gret  serwe  god  bat  is  al  mi^tful«.  Pe  selue  heo  seide  in 
hire  song  of  loue :  »Ne  haue  no  m^meile  bat  i  am  bio ,  for  be  sowne  hap  dis- 


1  Ms.  x,iuen.        2  Ms.  and  zeef.        3  Om.        4  Sp.  Hie  nescio  quid  dicam.        5  Sp.  concipere. 
Ms.  halt. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund:  Vernon  text. 

colurd  me  so«.  P^rfore  seip  on  Englisch1  pis  in  Maner  of  pite :  »2Nou  go{)  pe 
sowne  bi  pe  wode,  me  rewep  Marie  pi  feire  rode;  Nou  goj)  pe  sowne  vnder 
tre,  me  rewep  Marie  pi  sone  and  pe2.  Nou  pou  hast,  Mayden,  feled  pe  scharpe 
poynt  of  pat  swered  pat  pe  prophete  Symeon  made  to  pe  mencion  [of],  pe  day 
of  purificacion;  nou  pou  hast  receyued  pat  pe  bi-hete  Anne  pe  prophetesses 

Cowtewplacion  bifore  Non. 

Bl-fore  Noon,  pou  schalt  penken  of  pe  Passion  &  of  pe  Ascencion.  Of  pe 
passion,  pou  schalt  penken  pat  such  tyme  of  pe  day  di^ede  pe  makere  of  lyf,  for 
pi  loue.  Pewne  pou  schalt  penken  of  pe  wordes  pat  he  spac  on  pe  Crois,  and 
of  ffoure  signes  pat  fellew  in  his  dyeing.  1*6  ffurste  spekyng  was  pis:  »Fader, 
for^if  hem  heore  trespas,  for  pei  wite  not  what  pei  don«.  Pe  secuwde  was  pat 
he  seide  to  pe  goode  pef:  »Forsope  I  sigge  pe,  pou  schalt  in  to  paradys  pis 
day  wij)  me«.  Pe  pridde  was  pat  he  spac  of  his  Moder  to  seint  Ion:  »Seo  her 
pi  Moder«,  and  to  his  Moder  of  his  disciple:  »Seo  p^re  pi  sone«.  Pe  ffeorpe 
was:  »I  haue  phurst«.  Pe  ffyfpe:  Eloi,  Eloi,  lamagabatany,  pat  is  to  siggen :  »Mi 
God,  mi  God,  whi  hast  pou  laft  me?«  1*6  sixte  was:  Consummatum  est ,  pat  is 
to  siggen:  »Now  hit  is  fulfild«.  Pe  seuenpe  was:  »Fader,  into  pin  honden  I  be 
take  my  spirit".  Foure  signes  p^  weren:  pat  al  pe  eorpe  bi-gon  to  quaken; 
be  Veil  of  pe  Temple  clef  a-two  ,  and  pe  stones;  pe  graues  opencde,  and  pe 
dede  arisen  to  lyue  ;  pe  sonne  wip-drow  his  liht  from  pe  world,  from  Midday 
til  Noon.  /  Of  pe  Ascencion  pou  schalt  penken  pat  such  tyme  vre  lord  on  pe 
Mouwt  of  Olyuete  beforen  his  Moder  and  his  disciples  stei^  in  to  heuene.  And 
pei  turned  in  to  pe  Cite,  &  were  dwellyng  ptr-Inne  in  fastinge  and  in  preyeres, 
til  pei  weore  fold  of  pe  holigost,  as  ur  lord  hedde  comauwded  hem. 

Contew/placion  bi-foren  Euensong. 

Bl-fforen  Euen-song,  pou  schalt  penken  of  pe  Soper  &  of  j)e  Passion.  Of  pe 
Passion  pou  schalt  penken  hou  Joseph  of  Aramathie  code  to  Pouws  Pilat  and 
preiede  hiw  to  ^iuen  him  pe  bodi  of  vre  lord  Ihmi  Oz'st ,  and  he  '^af  hit  him. 
And  pewne  pe  lewes  comen  to  pe  crois  and  broken  be  hupes  of  pe  twei  peoues ; 
and  on  of  pe  knihtes  tok  a  spere  and  smot  Ihesu  to  pe  ht'rte :  and  anon  com 
out  blod  &  watwr.  3And  Joseph  tok  pe  bodi  &  buriede  hit.  And  pe  lewes  setten 
pe  knihtes  to  waken  hit,  ffor  his  disciples  schulde  not  stelen  hit  and  seyen  falsli 
to  pe  peple  pat  he  weore  risen  frow  dep  to  lyue3.  /  Of  pe  Ceene  pou  schalt 
penken  hou  vre  lord  ^af  his  flesch  and  his  blod  pat  time  in  liknesse  of  bred 
&  wyn,  in  confirmacion  of  vre  feip.  For  we  seon  &  leeuew  gostliche,  pat  we 
mouwe  not  seon  bodiliche.  And  pcrfore,  whon  pou  schalt  receyue  pat  bodi,  tak 
hit  also  as  pou  receiuedest  hit  out  of  Ihesu  Or'stes  syde.  2And  pat  tyme  he  wusch 
his  disciples  feet,  and  Comauwdede  hew  to  louew  vchon  opw,  and  takew  ensauwple 
of  him  mekeliche  [to]  seruew  vchone  oper.2 

Contewplacion  bi-foren  cumplyn. 

Bl-fforen  Cuwplin,  pou  schalt  penken  hou  Joseph  &  Nichodemwj  wouwdew  Ihesv. 
bodi  in  feire  schetes  and  enoynedew  hit  wz/>  p^cious  oynemens.  /  Pe  secouwde 
ping  pat  pou  schalt  penken  on,  is  pis:  pat  pi  swete  lord  Ihmt  Crist  pe  day  of 

1  Spec,  (where  the  verse  is  om.) :  vnus  angelicus.  2-2  added.  3-3  properly  belongs  to 

Complin. 

17 


J)e  Ceene,  whon  he  hedde  I-souped  vrtp  his  disciples,  he  code  from  hem  vfip 
Peter  and  lacob  and  Ion,  and  code  vfif  heom  in  to  a  cortelage,  and  here  front 
heom  he  code  a  stones  cast  and  leide  him  to  preye,  pat  pe  swot  of  him  ferde 
as  dropes  of  blod  rewnynde  to  pe  eorpe. 

Contemplation  of  God  and  of  his  deite. 

NOw  p<ra  hast  JDC  Man^e  to  penken  on  god  in  his  Monhede.  (N)ow,  pmi  schalt 
witen  hou  p<?u  schalt  penken  on  him  in  his  he^e  godhede.  And  p<m  schalt  vnder- 
stondew  pat  God  Mesurede  so  his  knowynge  [fro]  *•  pe  bigmnynge  of  mankynde,  pat 
he  noupwr  al  schewed  him,  nor  al  hud  him ;  ffor  whi?  ^if  he  hedde  al  schewed 
him,  pewne  hedde  pe  bileeue  serued  of  nouht.  For  ffei|)  is  not  but  of  pi«g  pat 
mai  not  ben  se^en ;  pe^ne,  pat  I  leeue  and  seo,  nis  not  feip.  And '^if  he  hedde 
al  hud  him,  pernie  hedde  feip  ben  but  misbeleeue.  And  p^rfore  he  wolde 
sum  schewen  &  sum  huyden.  In  ffoure  Manors  he  ordeynde  to  schewen  hiw: 
Two  Manors  inward,  and  two  outward.  Inward:  porw  gostly  schewyng  &  porw 
reson.  Outward:  vrtp  holy  writ  &  porw  creatures.  fcorw  gostly  schewyng, 
whon  god  schewede  him  to  mon  porw  inspiracion  of  pe  holygost,  or  porw 
Miracle.  Porw  reson  schewede  god  him  to  mon  in  pis  man^e:  Eueri  mon  mai 
wel  sen  in  hiw-self  pat  he  is,  pat  is  to  vnderstowden  pat  he  hap  be[ing]2,  and 
pat  he  hap  not  ben  eu^fe;  and  vppe  pat  he  may  witen  pat  he  begon  s\im  tyme 
to  ben.  tewne  suw  tyme  was,  pat  he  was  not;  penne  he  mi^te  in  none  manure 
maken  hiw-self,  pewne  hit  bihouep  nede  pat  euen  mon  come  of  opw  pew  of 
him-self.  Pe  selue  may  mon  seon  in  vche  creature,  ffor  he  mai  seon  eum  day 
summe  comen  and  suwme  gon.  And  p^rfore,  for  alle  pmges  ben,  and  ben  not 
of  hem-self,  fxrfore  behouep  hit  nede  pat  o  pmg  beo  pat  ^iuep  to  alle  pi^ges 
for  to  ben:  pat  is  to  seiew,  of  whom  alle  pinges  ben.  tewne  behouep  hit  neede 
pat  he  porw  whom  alle  pinges  ben,  be  vripouie  bi-ginnyng.  For  whi?  ^if  he 
hedde  biginnyng,  hit  bihouede  pat  he  hedde  hit  of  anoper  and  pewne  weore 
he  not  pe  biginnere  nor]  be  makere  of  alle  pinges,  and  p^rfore  hit  bihouep 
nede  pat  he  of  whom  alle  fringes  ben,  be  biforen  alle  pinges,  and  no  ping  bi- 
foren  hym ;  and  ^if  no  ping  weore  biforew  him,  pemie  come|)  he  not  of  anoper ; 
pewne  hedde  he  neu^r  bigynnyi^g:  ffor  whi?  eu^ri  piwg  pat  hap  biginnyng  hap 
hit  of  anoper ,  ffor  whi  pircg  pat  is  not  may  not  ^iuen  beoing  to  him-self  for  to 
ben.  And  before  hit3  bihouep  on  alle  manors  pat  o  ping  be  pat  nettle  hedde 
biginnywg.  And  whon  Reson  of  mon  seop  pat  hit  may  non  oper  wyse  ben, 
pewne  he  bigynnep  to  leeuen  studefastliche  pat  on  piwg  is  -wipoviten  bigynnyng, 
pat  is  makere,  ordeynere,  and  gowrnere  of  all*  pinges  pat  han  ben  or  ben  or 
schul  ben.  And  pat  pmg  is  cald  god ;  ffor  pis  resun :  ffor  pis  word  god4  comep 
of  a  word  of  Gru  pat  hi^te  theym  and  is  as  muche  to  siggen  as  »formen«  or 
»norisschen«,  and  p^rfore  he  is  called  god  for  he  norisschep^  alle  ping  and 
formed  alle  piwg.  After  pis  comep  Reson  of  Mon  and  seip  pat  hit  behouep 
nede  pat  on  god  beo  and  no  mo:  ffor  whi?  ^if  two  goddes  weoren,  hit  bi-houep 
nede  ben  to  muchel  in  bope,  and  to  luitel,  al  at  ones;  p^ore  hit  bihouep  pat 
p^r  be  not  but  on  god.  On  opwr  halue:  no  good  may  God  wonten,  and  p^rfore, 
for  noble  piwg  and  good  is  pe  ctwzfort  of  cuwpanye ,  pewne  may  not  god  ben 
wz/J-outen  be  goodnesse  of  cuwpanye :  pewne  hit  behouep  nede  pat  p^sones 

1  Ms.  at.      2  Ms.  ben.      3  rest  wanting  in  Ms.  Simeon.      4  Ms.  god  word.       5  Ms.  norissched,  corr. 


The  Mirror  of  St.  Edmund :  Vernon  text. 

ben  in  god.  And  for  cuwpanye  may  not  ben  in  lasse  ben  of  tweyne,  berfore 
hit  bihoueb  nede  bat  ber  ben  in  god  at  be  leste  tweyne  p<rsones.  And  for 
cumpaynye  is  luitel  worf)  ber  is  not  be  byndynge  of  loue,  berfore  hit  bihouej) 
bat  be  bridde  p^rsone  beo  in  god,  bat  be  be  linage1  of  be  oper  tweyne.  And 
for  [unite]2  is  go[o]d  and  cumpaynie  also,  berfore  hit  behoue^  nede  bat  bobe  be 
in  god  almihti.  For-[bi]3  he  is  breo  p<rsones  and  o  god.  £e  selue  may  eu<ri 
mon  sen  in  hi/w-self:  For  whi?  he  may  seo  wel,  at  his  furste  begynnywg  he  hedde 
in  him-self  pouwer,  aftur  pouwer  cunnynge ,  and  aftur  he  bigon  to  louen  bat 
cuwnynge.  In  bis  Manure  may  mon  seon  ap^rteliche  pat  he  hedde  in  soule  miht, 
and  of  pe  mi^t  comeb  cownynge ,  and  of  hem  bobe  comeb  loue.  A«d  who/me 
mon  sef)  bat  hit  is  so  in  him-self,  he  may  wel  leeuen  bat  hit  is  so  in  God 
almihti  bat  is  muche  abouen  him;  bat  is  to  seyen:  bat  in  God  is  miht,  and  of 
bat  comef)  his  cownynge  and  wisdam,  and  of  hem  bobe  comef)  loue.  And  for 
be  secunde  p^rsone  comef)  of  be  furste,  and  of  hem  bobe  be  bridde,  berfore  is 
be  forme  icald  God  be  Fader,  be  secunde  God  be  Sone,  be  bridde  God  be  Holi- 
gost.  And  for  hit  is  [so]  among  vs  pat  be  ffader  is  feblere  ben  be  sone  for  elde, 
and  be  sone  not  so  wys  as  be  ffader  for  ^oube  :  ffor  men  scholde  not  be  selue 
tromven  of  God  almihti,  berfore  is*  pouwer  ap^pre[d]5  to  God  pe  Fader,  wisdam 
to  God  be  Sone;  and  for  be  nome  of  be  bridde  s[oun]ef)  g[a]stli6,  berfore  is  ap;v- 
pred  to  him  loue  and  swetnesse.  In  pis  Manere  com  mon  furst  to  be  knowyng 
of  his  creatour ,  how  he  is  wib-outen  begynnynge,  and  whi  he  is  called  god,  on 
in  substauwce  and  breo  [in]  phones,  and  whi  be  ffurste  is  called  Fader,  be 
secunde  be  Sone,  be  bridde  be  Holigost.  In  bis  manere  bou  schalt  knowen  bi 
god.  Such  manere  of  knowyng  is  foundemewt  of  Contemplation.  /  And  berfore, 
whon  b(m  hast  in  bis  Manure  stablised  bin  h<rte  in  ri^t  feib,  and  studefast  hope, 
and  parfyt  loue,  ben  bau  schalt  heuen  vp  bin  herte  in  hen;  contemplacion  of  pi 
Creatour.  l>e  soule  wolde  fayn  sen  god  borw  Contemplacion  in  his  owne  nature, 
but  hit  may  not:  and  be/me  hit  twmef)  to  his  oune  degres7  bi  w^uche  hit  may 
mounten  to  be  Contemplacion  of  God ,  bat  hit  may  furst  seon  and  knowen  his 
oune  nature,  and  after  be  nature  bat  is  abouen  hit.  But  ^if  bi  bou?,t  be  borw 
worldlich  bou/.tes  sprad  wyde,  hit  may  neu^-e  him-self  nor  his  kuynde  wel  seken, 
ffor  whi?  as  fele  [foule]  bouses  as  he  is  lad  wib,  [wip]  so  fele  stoppynges  he  is  blent. 
£e  ffurste  degre  of  bis-manm?  contemplation  is  pat  be  soule  tume  to  him-self  and 
gedere  him  al  w/^-Inne  him-self.  I>e  secuwde  degre  is  bat  he  seo  what  he  is 
whon  he  is  so  gedered  to-gedt-re.  I>e  bridde  degre  is  bat  he  heue  hire-self 
abouen  hire-self  and  enforce  hire  to  sen  god  hire  creatour  in  his  oune  kynde. 
But  to  hire-self  ne  mai  he  neu<r-more  comen  til  bat  he  haue  lerned  forte  7}em- 
stowden  and  w^holden  alle  Man^e  of  ymaginacions  bodili  or  worldli  or  heuenely8; 
al  bat  comeb  to  his  herte  [of]9  siht,  or  heriwge,  or  touchinge,  or  smellynge,  or 
of  eny  bodiliche  wit,  refusen  or  defoulen,  bat  he  seo  hire-self  such  w^uch  bat 
he  is  al  w/^outen  be  bodi.  /  Tac  before  good  heede  bat  [be]  soule  is  wonderful  in 
hire-self:  hou  hee^  is  on  \n  hire  knynde,  and  dob  diu^rse  biwges,  ffor  whi?  be 
selue"  he  seof)  at  be  E?en,  heref)  at  be  Eren,  toucheb  w#  honden,  swoleweb 
wip  Moub,  smelleb  wip  neose.  tewk  also  bat  heo  is  gret,  bat  of  *2  o  bou2;t  mai 

»  Th.  alyance.  2  Ms.  nm,t.  3  Ms.  flfor  whi.  <  Ms.  his.  *  Hs.  apropreth.  G  Ms. 
semef)  gostli;  Sp  sonat  in  atrocitatem.  1  Sp.  et  tune  reuertitur  ad  seipsam,  &  facit  de  seipsa 
gradus  per  quos  &c.  *  Sp.  et  non  celestem.  »  Ms.  or.  "»  orig.  heo,  corr.  "  Ms.  selue 
pat.  i-  Th.  wztA. 

I7* 


260 

cowpfdiende  heue[n]  and  eorpe  and  al  pat  fxr-inne  is,  pei$  [pei]  *•  were  a  pousend 
grettore  pen  pei  mouwe  ben.  /  ^if  morales  [soule]2  beo  so  gret  and  so  noble  bat  no 
creature  may  attewden3  hit  parfytliche:  hou  gret  and^hou  noble  is  he  pat  so  noble 
piwg  made  of  nou^t!  So  gret:  he  is  abouew  alle  bmge,  beneoben  alle  biwge, 
and  wz^-Inne  alle  biwge,  and  w2$-outen  alle  bmge.  He  is  abouew  sille  pynge : 
gou^mynde;  bineben  alle  bmge  vp-berynde;  w/^-Inne  alle  byng,  fumllynde; 
wz/J-outen  alle  bynge,  vironynde.  Such  Man^r  of  contemplation  ge[n]d£rep  in  Mon 
studefast  bileeue  &  siker  deuociow. 

Of  be  largesse  of  God. 

Affter  pou  schalt  bewken  pat  he  is  la[r]ge ;  and  bat  pern  mai^t  sen  in  mony 
man^s.  Loke  at  be  ffurste  bat  he  is  large  of  wordly  goodes,  bat  ^iueb  his  goodes 
also  to  wikke  as  to  goode,  of  alle-man^re  bilges  pat  ben  in  eorpe.  After  penk 
hou  he  is  large  for  to  [foremen ;  ffor  whi?  ^if  a5  Mon  hedde  I-don  also  monie 
wikkednesses  as  al  be  men  in  be  world,  ;it  he  wolde  beo  rediore  forte  foremen  be 
be  hiwdreddel,  ben  we  scholden  be  to  aske  for^iuenesse.  Also  pou  scha[l]t  penken 
bat  he  is  large  of  gostlich  goodes,  bat  is  to  seyen  of  his6  virtues:  ffor  whi?  who 
hap  on,  he  hap  alle.  fre  ffeorbe,  pou  schalt  benken  bat  he  is  large  of  his 
goodes  pardurables,  to  alle  bat  wollew  ri^tfolliche  asken  h[e]w7.  For  w^uche-maner* 
mi^t  he  don  from  vs  bat  bat  he  a-monesteb  vs  to  asken?  8on  ober  halue  he 
wole  ^iuew  vs  gret  mede  so  bat  we  wolen  asken  him ;  ffor  he  seip :  »Pr^^ep  me 
^iuen  ow  be  loye  of  heuene  and  I  schal  ^iuen  ou  all*  worldliche  binges  wib-outen 
askynge«8.  $is  Contewplacion  of  his  largesse  makep  in  mon  certein  hope. 

Of  pe  swetnesse  of  God. 

Affter  p<m  schalt  penken  of  his  swetnesse,  of  his  bouwte,  and  of  his  ffeirnesse. 
For  to  don  bis,  f)0u  schalt  takew  good  hede  of  pe  grete  swetnesse,  of  gret  bouwte, 
and  of  gret  feirnesse  bat  is  in  bodiliche  creature.  Sebbe  bemie  bat  suche  Dingus 
ben  bat  delyten9  bodilyche  si^t  for  heore  feirnesse,  and  be  swolewynge  for  heore 
goodnesse,  and  be  smellynge  for  heore  swetnesse,  and  so  alle  obwre  monnes 
wittes:  hou  gret  beute,  swetnesse,  and  bouwte  [mot  be  in  gostly  creature  bat  neuer 
schal  haue  ende,  if  such  bounte,  swetnesse  &  beute  be] 10  in  such  bing  bat  to-dai 
is  and  to-morewe  is  nout.  On  obw  halue,  ^if  gret  beute,  swetnes,  and  bouwte 
be  in  Creat^fe,  hou  muche  beute,  swetnesse,  and  bounte  mot  ben  in  vre  Crea- 
tour !  fcis  Manure  of  Cowtewplacion  makeb  in  mon  to  louew  his  Creatour.  After, 
whon  bmi  hast  in  bis  Manere  se^en  pi  Creatour  in  si^t  of  his  creatures,  put  out 
of  pin  herte  vche  bodilyche  ymaginacion,  and  lift  bin  on  entewdemewt  a-bouen 
alle  resun  of  Mon:  [&]  \>er  b0u  schalt  fyndew  so  gret  swetnesse,  and  so  gret  pn'uite, 
pat  now  may  felen  but  he  bat  hit  hab  preued.  And  ^if  bou  wolt  witew  hit  wip 
teching,  go  to  him  bat  hab  pnmed  hit  be  assaying.  And  bei^  I  wrecche  hedde 
I-praied  hit,  I  mi^te  not  telle  wip  moup,  no  I  mihte  not  penkew  wip  herte ;  pe 
biwg  is  so  pmie  pat  hit  passep  al-man^r  pouht.  And  p^rfore  I  holde  my  speche, 
and  riht  is  pat  I  do:  ffor  whi?  pis  techep  not  tonge,  bute  onliche  grace. 
To  lyuen  Honorabliche,  Loueredewliche,  and  Meokeliche. 

NOw  bou  hast  breo  Man^s  of  Contewplacion :  on  is  in  creatures,  a  nop«r  in 
holi  writ,  pe  pridde  in  God  self  and  in  bobe  his  natures,  ^if  pou  Hue  aftur  pis 

i  Ms.  hit.          2  Ms.  lyf.          3  r.  entenden.          «  om.          •  =  o.  6  a/,  om.          7  Ms.  him. 

8-«  added.        9  Ms.  del.  in.        w  om. 


Tract  on  Our  Lord's  prayer.  261 

teching,  pewne  schaltou  linen  honurabliche— [&]  pat  is  pe  furste  parti  of  vre  sarmoun 
pat  we  touchedew  at  pe  biginnyng.  /  After  pis,  p0u  schalt  studien  to  liuen  Ami- 
abliche,  as  a-nentes  pi  bropwr.  And  pat  to  don,  p<m  schalt  ?iuen  al  pin  entente 
and  al  pi  strengpe  forte  louen  and  to  be  loued.  Pou  schalt  louen  alle  men  in 
god,  pat  is  to  seyen  onliche  for  bouwte,  not  for  feirnesse  of  bodi  ne  for  good 
synginge1  or  for  such-maner  binges,  fforwhi?  feirnesse  of  bodi,  or  strengpe,  or 
opwr-maner  virtues  bodiliche,  mouwen  be  loued  w*j5-outen  God.  And  perfore, 
louen  mon  in  god,  nis  not  elles  but  louen  hiw  for  suw  piwg  pat  may  not  be 
loued  w*/5-oute«  God,  as  for  bouwte,  or  for  riht,  or  for  sopnes :  ffor  whi?  ffor 
peose  piwges  mai^t  pmi  not  louew  mon,  but  ^if  J)0u  loue  god.  And  perfore  whon  p<m 
louest  mon  for  bouwte  or  for  rihtfulnesse  or  for  sobnesse,  pewne  pmi  louest  him  in 
god,  ffor  whi?  God  is  bouwte,  riht,  and  sobnesse.  2^if  we  ben  goode,  we  haue  no  loue 
but  God,  and  non  Enemy  but  sywne :  and  perfore  we  schulen  loue  be  goode  for 
pei  ben  goode,  and  pe  wikke  for  pey  mowen  be  goode.  In  pis  mature  louestou 
not  but  bouwte,  sipen  bow  louest  alle  men  for  bounte.  ^if  bow  wolt  beon  loued, 
schew  pe  amyable :  and  ?if  pou  wolt  ben  louereden,  hold  peos  preo  wordes :  Do 
pat  me  biddeb  be,  smartliche ;  Tac  pat  me  ^iueb  be,  wip-outen  grucchinge  glad- 
liche;  Soffre  pat  mew  seib  to  pe,  Mekeliche.  77if  bow  lyue  pus  louyndeliche, 
penne  liuest  pow  amyableliche.  /  After  pow  schalt  fynden2  to  lyuen  Mekeliche. 
Pow  schalt  vnderstowden  and  witen  bat  ber  beon  twey  Maners  of  Mekynge  :  On 
comeb  of  Sobnesse,  anoper  of  Charite.  fce  ffurste  pou  may/,t  ban  borw  knowynge 
of  pi-self:  ffor  pow  mai^t  not  seon  pi-self  sopliche  w^uch  pow  art,  ])at  pou  ne 
schald  be  Meked.  fce  secounde  Maner  pou  mai^t  seon  and  han,  ^if  pow  penke 
ofte  of  pe  Mekenesse  of  lesu  Crist,  how  he  Meked  him  pat  neuer  synne  dude; 
and  pis  Mekyng  comeb  clanliche  of  Charite.  /  Now  pou  wost  what  is  to  liuen 
Honurabliche,  Amyabliche,  and  Mekeliche;  and  bat  is,  liuen  Parfytliche.  Vre 
lord  Ihesu  Cryst  graunte  vs  God  so  honouren,  vre  Breberen  louen,  and  Vre-self 
MeUen,  pat  we  mouwen  for  vre  honouring  ben  honoured,  ffor  vre  loue  ben  loued, 
and  for  vre  Meokyng  beon  hei^ed,  in  be  loye  of  heuene  bat  is  ordeyned  to  vs. 
AMen.  Ihesus  graunt  hit  vs,  amen. 

3.     Tractatus  de  dominica  oracione  secundum  — :3  &c. 

fol.  209b. 

Pater  noster  qui  es  in  cells.  In  all  the  wordes  pat  er  stabilleck  and  sett  to 
say  in  erthe,  pan  es  pe  Pat<r  noster  be  beste,  and  be  hegheste  and  pe  halyeste. 
For  god  hym-selfe  made  it,  and  cowmandide  it  to  his  appostills  for  to  say,  and 
to  all  pa  pat  in  hym<?  trowed^.  And  pare-fore  sen*  godd^  hym-selfe  made  it, 
pan  awe  it  maste  of  all  othire  Orysouws  to  be  Oysede  in  all-haly  kyrke;  and 
vs  awe  for  to  witte  and  certanly  to  vndirstande  whate  pis  Oryson<?  es  to  say  and 
what  it  be-menes,  be-fore  all  ojw  Orysouwes.  For  swylke  may  pay  be  when 
pay  say  it,  that  it  es  mare  to  thaire  skathe  pane  to  paire  gude.  And  parfore 
sail  I  say  ^ow  and  make  5jow  to  vndirstande  what  be  letter  es  to  say  and  bemenys.  / 
When  we  say  omv  Pater  noster,  ban  make  we  cure  requestis  till  godde.  In  be 
firste  requeste  pan  say  we  thus:  »Owre  ffadir  pat  es  in  heuene,  blessede  and 

i  Spec,  et  pro  bono  tantum,  nee  propter  alia  huiusmodi  sicut  pro  fortitudine  vel  alia  corporal! 
virtute  que  potest  amari  absque  deo ;  the  transl.  read  et  pro  bono  cantu.  2  r.  fonden  or  studyen. 
»  name  om.  Cf.  Hugo  de  S.  Victore  Allegoriae,  Migne  175,767.  Similar  expositions  in  verse  are 
found  in  Ms.  Galba  E  IX,  f.  73,  and  in  Mss.  of  the  Cursor  Mundi. 


262  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

halowede  be  pi  name«.  Bot  it  are  many  when  pay  say  pain?  Pater  noster,  pay 
call  godd*  paire  ffadir*  and  with  wrange  pay  call  hynu?1  paire  ffadin?,  ffor  pay 
are  noghte  goddes  sownes  thurgfie  na  gude  werkes  pat  pay  do,  ne  thurgKe  na 
gude  lyfe  pat  pay  lede,  wharefore  gode  knawes  thaym  noghte  for  his  sonnes,  ffor 
syne  pat  he  deuelle  hase  putte  in  thaym.?.  The  wykkede  mane  hat  dispyses  godd* 
and  his  cowmandementes,  and  [takes]2  to  pe  werkes  pat  falles  to  pe  deuelle,  he 
es  noghte  goddes  sone  hot  pe  deuelles  soraie ,  als  our*  lorde  hym-selfe  saide  to 
pe  lewes  pat  made  na  tale  of  hym*:  ^f  Vos ,  Inquit ,  ex  parte  diaboli  estis ,  »I^e 
are  of  pat  ffadir  pat  es  pe  deuelle«.  fane  hase  he  myst*r  pat  will  pat  godd* 
here  his  pnzyere ,  pat  he  do  swylke  werkes  pat  god  of  his  grace  wyll  knawe 
hym*  for  hys  sowne ;  pan  may  he  ryghte  say  his  Pater  nost*r  and  call  god*  his 
ffadir*,  and  pan*  will  godd*  here  hym*  and  do  pat  that  he  askes  hym  sone,  if  he 
see  pat  it  be  [gud]'2  for  hym*  pat  at  he  askes  hym.  And  if  he  be  noghte  godd* 
sonne,  ne  godd*  knawes  hym?  noghte  for  his  sonne,  godd  will  noghte  here  his 
prayers ,  ffor  haly  writt  saise ,  pat  es  to  say  godd  hym-selfe :  ^[  Deus  peccatores 
non  audit,  pat  es  to  say,  »Godd*  heres  noghte  pe  synfull  men*«.  We  sail  vndir- 
stande  pat  pay  er  synfull  pat  gyffes  neu*r  tale  of  godd*,  bot  gladlyer  duse  be 
werkes  of  pe  deuelle  pan  goddes  cowmandementes.  fare-fore  ilke  a  man?  amende 
hym  and  lede  haly  lyfe  whar*-thurghe  he  may  be-cowme  goddes  sonne,  and  pan 
will  godd*  here  hym*  and  his  prayere,  and  pan  he  may  hardely  say  these  wordes 
»Owre  fadir  pat  es  in  heuen*:  halowede  and  blyssede  be  pi  name«.  Es  noghte 
godd*  name  ay  blyssede  and  haly?  ^is,  in  hym-selfe  may  he  noghte  mare  be 
blysside  ne  halowede  pan*  he  es.  Bot  pan*  sail  ^e  vndirstande  pat  when*  we 
say  »blyssede  be  pi  name«',  we  praye  noghte  gode  pat  his  name  be  blyssede  in 
hym-selfe,  bot  in  thaym^  in  whaymtf  it  es  noghte  ^it  blissede,  and  in  thaym  in 
whaym  it  es  noghte  ynoghe  blissede.  ^f  Sanctificetur  nomen  tuum ,  pat  es  to  say 
»Lorde  godd^,  thi  nam  be  blissede  in  pe  hertes  of  paynywmes  i.  paganorum,  and 
lewes,  and  in  pe  mystrowande,  and  in  all  pa  pat  pou  hase  pwruayde  to  be  safede, 
pat  pay  stalleworthlere  trowe  in  pe  and  pe  mare  loue  pe  and  knawe  pe  for 
paire  godd^  and  lorde  of  all  thynge.  ^[  Adueniat  regnum  tuum,  pat  es  to  say: 
»Com-to  pi  kyngdom^«.  God  es  kyng  and  gou^mes  enere  his  kyngdom^,  Quia 
ipse  gubernat  omnes  creaturas  suas  que  sunt  in  celo  et  in  terra,  in  niari  et  in 
omnibus  abissis ,  pat  es  to  say:  »he  goumies  all  his  creaturs  pat  er  in  heuen?, 
in  erthe,  and  in  pe  see,  and  in  all  pe  werlde«:  and  noghte-ffor-thi  if  he  be 
kyng^  and  his  kyngdom^  es  all  tymes,  and  regnes  ay,  newr-pe-lesse  we  praye 
hym  pat  he  cowme  to  his  kyngdom^,  ffor  it  es  many  a  mantf  in  erthe  pat  trowes 
pat  god  regnes  noghte,  bot  wate  wele  pat  pe  deuelle  regnes  thurgRe  synn^:  and 
when^  we  say  adueniat  regnum  tuum ,  pan  praye  we  god  pat  he  destruye  pe 
deuelles  kyngdom*?  and3  his  folke,  and  pat  he  put  in  paym  pe  lawe  and  pe  gudnes 
and  the  halynes  pat  he  hase  downe  in  vs  and  in  paym  pat  hym  luefes,  in  whaym* 
he  rewgnes  thurghe  grace.  And  ^it  praye  we  to  hyrn?  when^  we  say  adueniat 
regnum  tuum ,  pat  he  conv  at  pe  endyng^  of  pis  worlde :  pat  his  Enemys  may 
see  and  trowe  pat  he  es  verray  god^  kyng<?  alweldand^ ;  and  at  hally  kyrke  namely 
sail  be  heghede  in  heuen*  and  in  erthe,  and  hir  somies  and  doghters — \Quando 
fenito  hoc  seculo  solus  deus  regnat,  quia  ipse  erit  omnia  in  omnibus  cum  euanuerint 


1  Ms.  hynu?  hym.        2  om.        3  r.  in? 


Tract  on  Our  Lord's  prayer.  263 

omnes  principatus  et  potestates  et  virtutes ,    nee   amplius   angelus   angelo   vel  homo 

homini  out  demon  demonH  dominabitur.  ^[  Fiat  voluntas  tua  sicut  in  celo  et  in  terra, 

pflt  es  to  say:  «t>i«ne  awen*  will  be  downe  in  erthe  als  it  es  downe  in  heuen*«. 

Lordynges,  in  heuen*  es  goddes  wylle  downe  p*rfitely,  ^[  Qttia  Angeli  Archangeli 

Principatus   Potestates    Virtutes    Troni    Dominaciones    Cherubyrb    Cyraphyn1,  Patri- 

arche  et  Prophete,  Apostoli  Martires  Confessores  Virgines,  et  omnes  electorum  anime 

obediunt,  pat  es  to  say:  »ffor  Angells,  Archangells  &c.,  and  all  pe  sawles  pat  er 

in  heuen*  before  god* ,    er  bowande  till   hymr,    and    p*rfitely  wirkes  his  will  and 

duse  his  cowmandemente^«.    Bot  it  er  many  in  erthe  pat  duse  pe  thyng  pat  god 

walde  noghte  ware  done :  and  pare-fore  pray  we  when*  we  saye  ffiat  volu[n]tas 

tua  $c.,  pat  es   »lorde   god,    als   pa  pat   er  in  heuen*  duse  thi  will  p*rfitely  ffor 

pe  gret  gudnes  pat  pou  hase  gyffen*  to  thaym*  in  heuen*,  swa  pou  gyife  vs  grace 

to  dense  vs  of  syn*  and  do  pi  will  in    pis  werlde,    pat  we   may   se  pi  face  wz'tfc 

thywne  appostells,    erchebechopes  and  bechopes,    prestes,    and   all   be  ordirs   of 

haly  kirke«.  ^  Panem  nostrum  cotidianum  da  nobis  hodie,    pat  es :    »p<m  gyffe  vs 

to-day  our*  ilke  a  day  brede«.     Man*,    pat   es  of  twa  naturs,    pat   es  to  say  of 

bodyly    and    of  gastely ,    hase   myst*r   of  twa   manors  of  brede :    of  bodyly  brede 

and   of  gastely   brede.     To    pe   saule    pis   gastely   brede    es    be  lerynge   and  pe 

techeynge  and  pe  vndirstandynge  in  pe  cowmandementes  of  godd*,   whare-thurgRe 

pe  saule  es  kennede  an[d]  lyffes.     te  tob<r  brede  es  to  be  hele  of  body,  and  pat 

aske  we  gladly.     Bot  aske  we  bathe,    and  pan*  sail  we  fare  wele.     Bot  aske  we 

mare  and  oftere  pe  brede  of  saule,   pan  pe  brede  of  body :    ffor  when*  be  body 

hase  pat   that  it  will ,    and  pe  saule  dyes   for   hungere ,    pat  es  to  say  es  noghte 

kennde  als  it  aughte  to  be,  bane  sail  bathe  be  body  and  be  saule  wende  to  be 

fyre  of  helle.     Bot  and  it  be  louede  and  fcdde  w*tA  gud  techynge  and  duse  pare- 

Eftyr  pat  it  awe  to  doo,    pan   sail    bathe    be  body  and   be  saule  Entir  in  to  pe 

loye  of  heuen*    pat    aye    sail    laste.  f  Et  dimitte   nobis  debita    nostra  sicut  et  nos 

dimittimus  debitoribus  nostris,    pat  es  to  say:    »and   forgyffe  vs  oure  mysdedis  als 

we  forgyffe  to  paym  pat  hase  mysdone  vs«.     Here  may  we  here  pat  we  pat  will 

at  godde  forgyffe  vs  oure  synnes,  bat  vs  behuffes  forgyffe  paym  pat  hase  mysdone 

vs,    pat  es  to   saye  if  he  or  pay  pat  hase   mysdone   will   come   and  aske  mercy 

and  hete  resonabill  amendment ;    bot  if  we  pan  forgyffe  paym ,   in  vayne  say  we 

oure  Pat*r  noster.     For  if  we  say  it  and  will  noghte  forgyffe ,    pan*  say  we  it  to 

oure  awen*  scathe,  and  pare  ware  vs  better  sitt  still  pan  pray  god  one  pis  manere, 

till  pat  tym  pat  we  will  forgyffe  als  vs  awe  for  to  do.   Forgyffe  we  pan*  to  op*r 

when   pay   aske  vs  forgyffenes   and   hetes   and  offirs  amendement,  if  we  will  pat 

godd  forgyffe  vs  oure  synfis:  ffor  oure  lorde  saise  in  pe  gospell:  Eadem  mensura 

qua  mtssi  fueritis  remecietur  vobis,  pat  es  to  say :   »with"  pe  same  mesure  pat  pou 

mesure  to  op*r,   sail  be  mesurede  to  the«.  ^  Et  ne  nos  inducas  in   temptacionem, 

bat  es  to  say:  »Suffere  vs  noghte  swa  ferre  to  be  assayede,  sa  ferre  to  be  temped, 

pat  we  be  ledde  in  to  ill  dedis«.     For  be  deuell  es  abowte  nyghte  and  day  for  to 

luke  if  he  may  take  any   man*   and   bryng   hym*   in  to  any  ill  thoghtes  or  dedis. 

He  assayes  be  gude  men*  and  women*,  als  monkes  or  chanouws  or  h*remytes,  or 

p*rfit   Nonnes  &  gude   women*,    and   many    op*r   Relegeous   and   vertuouse  men* 

and  women*,  pure  and  riche,  for  to  drawe  theym*  vn-till  ill  dedis  or  ill  thoghtes, 


Ms.  domoni. 


264  Ms-  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

ffor  he  walde  ger  pam<?  fall  in  syne.  Bot  be  gude  men*  and  womem?  defendis 
panv  stallworthely  fra  hym  and  his  werkes  and  his  wyles  -with  ifastynges,  Orysones, 
gud  meditacyones ,  and  op<r  gud  dedis:  and  forthi  ressayfe  bay  be  corouwne  of 
lyfe  bat  god  hase  highte  to  all  bat  hyni£  luffes.  ^f  Set  liber  a  nos  a  malo  ,  bat  es 
to  say:  »Delyu<r  vs  of  all  euyles,  of  body  and  of  saule,  bat  es  fra  wikkydnes  of 
be  werlde,  and  of  be  tob^r  {)at  es  fra  synne,  and  of  be  thirde  f)at  es  fra  be 
paynes  of  helle«.  Amen,  pat  es  to  say  »witterly  forsothe ,  w/t/fc-owtten^  any 
defaute«,  and  aifermes  all  pe  thynges  pat  we  aske  godde  in  oure  Pat<?r  nosier: 
vfltk-owtene  defaute  Oure  ffadir  fiat  es  in  heuen^  blissede  be  thi  name  ;  and  wz't/*- 
owtten?  any  defaute  Com^-to  thi  kyngdome;  w/bfc-owtten*  any  defaute  Done  be 
thi  will  in  erthe  als  in  heuen<?;  wzt/z-owtten*  any  defaute  Gyffe  vs  to-day  oure 
ilke  day  brede;  wzt^owtten*  any  defaute  fforgyffe  vs  our?  synnes  als  we  forgyffe 
thaym?  bat  hase  synnede  in  vs,  bat  es  to  say  trespaste  agaynes  vs ;  w/t/£-owtten<? 
defaute  Suffere  noghte  pe  deuelle  to  assaye  vs  ne  lede  vs  in  to  temptacione  ne 
in  to  nane  ill  dedis ;  with-owtten?  any  defaute  Delyu^r  vs  fra  all  ill.  And  ffadir 
endeles,  witk-owttene  any  delaynge  gyffe  vs  be  gudenes  of  lyffe  and  hele  of  oure 
saules  bat  es  thi-selfen?.  Que  nobis  prestare  dingneris  qui  viuis  fy  regnas  fyc.  Explicit. 
Benedicta  sit  sancta  trinitas.  Amen. 

(The  treatise  »Of  Angels'  song«  has  been  given  with  the  text  of  Ms.  Dd  V.  55,  p.  175.) 

4.    (Walter  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life. 

The  ^  following  tract  is  extant  in  several  Mss.  and  old  prints:  Ms.  Thornton 
(beginning  wanting;  ed.  Perry  Prose  tr.  of  R.  R.  p.  19 — 41)  the  only  northern 
Ms.  known;  Ms.  Vernon,  the  oldest  existing  Ms.  (and  Ms.  Simeon),  Ms.  Harl. 
2254  (after  the  translation  of  Bonaventura's  Stimulus  amoris;  beginning  wanting), 


Ms.  Vernon,  fol.  353. 

Here  begimieb  a  luitel  Boc  bat  was  writen  to  a  worldli  lord  to  teche   him   hou 
he  schulde  haue  him  in  his  state  in  ordeynd  loue  to  god  and  to  his  euencristene. 

1Whi  gode  desyres  neodeb  to  be  reuled  be  discrecion,  &  medeful  werkes  to  be 

wrou7t  \n  pe  ordre  of  charite:  Ca[p]°.  pr/mo. 
Pat  pe  lyf  of  Marie  and  Martha  menged  to-gedere   is  acordyng  to  hem  bat  are 

in  hi^  degre  Ca°.  ii°. 

To  whom  actif  lyf  a-cordeb,  &  to  whom  contemplatyf  Ca°.  iii°. 
Hou  medled  lyf  lorcgeb  speciali  to  palates  of  holychurche  &  also  to  worldly  lordes 

bat  rulen  Q^ur  men  Ca°.  iiii°. 
Hou  vre  lord  Ihmi  Oz'st  &  holy  men  in  heiz  degre  schewed  ensauwple  in  lyuine 

of  medlet  lyf  Ca°.  v°. 


i.1-  ?Cf°^e  the.beginning   °f  Ms.  Vernon,   the   younger  Mss.  and   the   prints   have    an  addition 
which  I  here  give  from  the  ed.  of  1507  (cf.  Perry,  where  it  is  given  from  Ms.  Reg.)  : 

Ed.  J.  Notary  1507. 

This  is  a  deuout  boke  cowpyled  by  mayster  Walter  Hylton  to  a  deuout  man 
in  temperal  estate,  how  he  sholde  rule  hym. 

f  How  a  man  pat  wol  be  ghostly  must  fyrst  vsen  moche  bodyly  exercyse 
in  penaunce  and  destroyenge  of  synne:    Cap.  Primum. 

.LJEre  brother  in  Cryst,  two  maner  of  states  there  are  in  holy  chyrche  by  be 
whiche  crysten  soules  plesen  god  &  geten  hem  the  blysse  of  heuen  ;  that  one  is 
bodyly,  &  that  other  is  ghostly.  Bodyly  werkyng  longeth  pryncypally  to  worldly 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  265 

Cambr.  Ff.  V.  40,  Reg.  17  C  XVIII  f.  57  (contains  only  the  first  half,  cf.  p.  278),  Rawl. 
C  894,  Rawl.  A  356  &c.  It  was  printed,  with  W.  Hilton's  "Ladder  of  perfection^,  by 
Julian  Notary  London  1507,  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  1525,  and  1533;  with  »The 
Kalendre  of  the  newe  Legende  of  Englande«  (an  abr.  transl.  of  Capgrave's  Nova  leg. 
Ms.  Vernon. 
To  whom  medled  lyf  is  most  a-cordyng,  &  to  whow  contewplatyf  is  most  medeful 

Ca°.  vi°. 
Here  hit  is  schewed  what  lyf  is  most  a-cordi;/g  to  him  pat  pis  bok  was  maad  to 

Ca°.  vii°. 
tat  men  schulde  vse  medlet   lyf  as    a  man   schulde    haue    him   to    Crist  &  to    his 

limes  Ca°.  viii°. 
Pat  suw-tyme  schulde  a  lord  leue  gostli    ocupacion  &  gladli  s;eue  him  to  medeful 

worldli  werkes  Ca°.  ix°. 

Ed.  Notary. 

mew  &  wymen  the  whiche  lefully  vsena  worldly  goodes,  &  wylfully  vsen  worldly 
besynes.  Also  it  longeth  to  all  yonge  begynnynge  men  the  whiche  comen  newe 
out  of  worldly  sywnes  to  the  seruyce  of  god  ;  for  to  make  hem  able  to  ghostly 
werkyng  &  for  to  breke  downe  the  vnbuxumnes  of  the  body  by  dyscrecyonb  [and 
suche]c  bodyly  werkynge,  pat  it  myght  be  suple  &  redy,  &  not  mekyl  contraryous 
to  the  spyryte  in  ghostly  werkynge.  For  [as]  saynt  poul  sayth,  as  woman  was  made 
for  man  &  not  man  for  woman,  ryght  so  bodyly  werkynge  was  made  for  ghostly 
&  not  ghostly  for  bodyly.  Bodyly  werkynge  goth  before  &  ghostly  comyth  after; 
as  saynt  Poul  sayth:  ^f  Non  prius  quod  spiritual e,  sedA  quod  animate,  deinde  [quod] 
spirituale.  And  this  is  ae  cause  why  it  behoueth  to  be  so:  for  we  are  borne  in 
synne  and  corrupcyon  of  the  flesshe  by  the  whyche  we  are  soo  blynded  &  so 
ouerlayed  pat  we  haue  neyther  the  ghostly  knowyng  of  god  by  lyghte  of  vnder- 
stondynge,  ne  ghostly  felynge  of  hym  by  clene  desyre  of  louynge.  &  therforef 
we  may  not  sodeynly  sterte^  out  of  this  derke  nyghth  of  this  flesshly  corrupcyon 
into  bat  ghostly  lyght ;  for  we  maye  not  suffre  it  ne  bere  it  for  syknes  of  ourself, 
no  more  than  we  may  with  our  bodyly  eyen  wha«  they  are  sore  beholde  the 
lyght  of  the  son1.  &  therfore  we  must  abyde  &  werke  be  processe  of  tyme. 
Fyrst  by  bodely  werkes  besily k  ryl  we  be  dyscharged  of  this  heuy  burden  of  sywne 
whiche  lettyth  vs  fro  ghostly  werkyng;  &  tyl  our  soule  be  sowwhat  clensed  fro 
grete  outwarde  synnes  &  abled  to  ghostly  werke.  By  this  bodily  werkynge  [that] 
I  speke  of  mayst  thou  vnderstowde  al  maner  of  god  werkis  bat  thy  soule  doth 
by  be  wyttes  &  be  mewbris  of  thy  body,  vnto  thyself  as  in  fastyng,  waking,  &  in 
restraynyng1  of  flesshly  lustes  by  penauwce  doyng,  or  to  thyn  euencristew  be  ful- 
fyllyng  of  be  dedes  of  mercy  bodyly  or  ghostly,  or  vnto  god  be  sufferynge  of  al 
bodely  myscheues  for  be  loue  of  ryghtwysnes.  /  Al  thyse  werkes  done  in  trouthe 
by  charyte  plesen  god ;  withoute  whiche  they  are  nought.  Than  who  so  desyreth 
for  to  be  occupyed  ghostly,  it  is  syker  &  profitable  to  hym  pat  he  be  fyrst  wel 
asayed  a  longe  tyme  in  this  bodely  werkynge,  for  thyse  bodely  dedes  are  a  token 
&  a  shewyng  of  moral  vertues,  withouten  whiche  a  soule  is  not  able  for  to  werke 
ghostly.  Breke  down  fyrst  pryde  in  bodely  beryng  &  also  withiw  thin  hert 
thynkyng,  bostyng  &m  praysyng  of  [thyselfe  and  of  thy  dedis,  presumyng  of] 
thyself  [&]  vayn  lykyng  in  thyself  of  onythyng  bat  god  hath  sent  to  the  bodely 
or  ghostly.  Breke  downe  also  emiye  &  yre  ageynst  thyn  euencrysten  whether 

»  Reg.  haunten.  b  R.  skille.  c  N.  vsen.  d  N.  scilicet  quod  prius.  c  al.  the.  f  al. 
forthi.  g  al.  stir.  h  Reg.  mirke  pitte.  '  N.  syn.  *  N.  bestly.  '  R.  refreynynge. 
m  R.  b.  &  prikkynge  &  pr. 


266  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Angliae)  by  Pynson  1516  (the  Col.  of  this  ed.  gives  falsely  1506);  the  3  firstnamed 
edd.  have  the  same  text  (which  agrees  with  that  of  the  younger  Mss.),  the  ed.  of 
Pynson  differs  a  little  in  the  arrangement  of  the  Chapters.  Ms.  Thornton  has  no 
Chapters,  Ms.  Vernon  gives  the  text  in  20  Chapters,  younger  Mss.  and  the  first- 
Ms.  Vernon. 
How  be  ensauwple  of  lacob  &  his  two  wyues  men  schal  ruile  hem  ri^t  in  medlet 

lyf  Ca°.  x°. 
tat  cowtewplacion   shulde   be   had  in   desyre ,    &   actyf  werkes   in  vse   wz'/>outen 

anger  and  vnskilful  drede  Ca°.  xi°. 
tat   nedful   worldli  werkes  kyndel   gostli   desyres ,    praied   be   bodili    ensauwple 

Ca°.  xii°. 
How  be  mekenes  &  diu^se  gode  werkes  is  pe  loue  of  god  norissched  in  diu^fse 

mennes  hertes  Ca°.  xiii°. 
How  be  desyr  of  loue  wastep  al  sywne  &  is  a  gret  criming  in  be  eres  of  vr  lord 

Ca°.  xiiii0. 

What  desyre  is,   &  siker  swetnes  Ca°.  xv°. 

What  difference  is  be-twixe  desyre  &  be  loue  of  god  Ca°.  xvi°. 
Hou  desyre  may  ever  be  lastyng  in  habyte ,    &  not  in  workyng ,    &   hou  mekenes 

wip-oute  schewep  pis  disyr  Ca°.  xvii°. 
How  aftur  pi  sleep  p0u  schalt   quiken   pin  herte  wz/>  preieres  &  gode  pou^tes  & 

put  away  vuel  pou^tes  pat  lettew  deuocion  Ca°.  xviii0. 
Hou  ordeyned  penkyng  of  pin  owne  sywnes    and  of  ofyur  mewnes    norisschen    pi 

desyr  to  god  Ca°.  xix°. 
Pat  dmerse  pou^tes  of  be  manhed  of  vre  lord  discretly  vsed  norisschep  pi  desyr 

to  god  Ca°.  xx°. 

Pat  pou^t  of  moni  virtues  norissche|)  pi  desyr  to  god  Ca°.  xxi°. 
Pat  pou^t  of  dhitffse  seyntes  &  of  heore  vertues  norisschef)  pi  loue  to  god  Ca°.  xxii°. 
Pat  pou^t  of  pe  merci  of  vre   lord  schewed  to   synful  men  norisschep  pi   desyr 

to  god  Ca°.  xxiii0. 
Pat  pou^t  of  pe  wrecchednes   of  men ,   &   of  pe  ioyes   of  heuene  norisschep  pi 

desyr  to  god  Ca°.  xxiiii0. 
How  desyre  of  worldly  worschipe,    and  pe  desyr  of  heuen,  is  meeded  at  pe  last 

ende  Ca°.  xxv°. 
Hou   discrecion   is   nedful   in  penkyng  and  preying,    and   hou  hit  is  suw-ryme  to 

passe  from  pat  on  to  pat  op^  Ca°.  xxvi°. 
How  a  man  schal  haue  hi#z  in  penkyng  of  pe  passion  of  vre  lord  Ihesu..     Whon 

deuocion  lastep  &  whon  hit  passef)  away  Ca°.  xxvii0. 
Hou  a  man  schal  haue  hiw  warli  in  pou^t  and  desire  &  wysely  vse  pe  grace  pat 

god  hap  ^eue  to  him  Ca°.  xxviii0. 

Pe  Prologe. 

f>e  grace  &  pe  goodnes  of  vr  lord  Ihmi  pat  he  hap  schewed  to  pe  in  wip- 
drawyng  of  pin  herte  from  loue  &  lyking  of  worldli  vanyte  &  vse  of  fleschli 
synnes,  &  in  twmyng  of  pi  wille  enterli  to  his  seruise  &  his  plesauwce,  bringej) 

Ed.  Notary.         ~~~ 

they  be  riche  or  pore,  gode  or  bad,  that  thou  hate  hym  not  ne  haue  dysdeyne  of 
hym  wylfully  neyther  in  worde  ne  in  dede.  Also  breke  downe  couetyse  of  worldly 
good,  pat  thou  for  pe  holdyng  [or]  getyng  or  sauyng  of  it  offende  not  thy  con- 
scyewce,  ne  breke  not  charyte  to  god  &  to  thyn  euencrysten  for  loue  of  ony 
worldly  good ,  but  pat  thou  getyst  to  kepe  it  &  spende  it  without  loue  &  vayn 
lykyng  of  it,  as  resyn  asketh,  in  worshyp  of  god  &  helpe  of  thyn  euencrysten. 
Breke  downe  also  as  mekil  as  thou  mayst  flesshly  lykynges  eyther  of  accydye  or 
bodyly  ese,  gloteny  or  lechery ;  &  than  whan  thou  hast  ben  wel  traueyled  &  wel 
asayed  in  all  suche  bodely  werkis,  than  mayst  thou  by  grace  ordeyne  the  to 
ghostly  werkyng.  The  grace  &  be  goodnes  &c. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  267 

named  editions  in  16  Chapters  (which  do  no  coincide  with  those  of  Ms.  Vernon), 
Pynson's  ed.  in  19  Chapters  by  subdividing  some  of  the  Chapt.  of  the  ed.  of 
1507  .  The  younger  Mss.  and  the  prints  add  a  passage  at  the  end  which  is  wanting 
in  Mss.  Thornton  and  Vernon ;  the  same  Mss.  and  prints  have  an  addition  before 
Ms.  Vernon. 

in  to  myn  herte  muche  matere  for  to  loue  him  in  his  merci,  and  also  hit  sterep 
me  gretly  for  to  strengpe  be  in  pi  gode  purpos  &  in  pi  gode  worching  pat  pou 
hast  be-guwne ,  for  to  bringe  hit  to  a  good  ende  j;if  pat  i  coude,  principali  for 
god,  and  also  for  tender  affeccion  of  loue  w^uch  p^u  hast  to  me  pou^  i  be  a 
wrecche  &  vnworpi. 

Whi   gode   desyre   neodep    to    be  ruled  be  disovcion,  and  medeful  werkes 

to  be  wrou^t  in  ordre  of  charite.     Capitulo  primo. 

I  knowe  wel  pe  desyre  of  pin  herte,  pat  pou  coueytest  gretli  for  to  seme  vr 
lord  be  gostli  ocupacion  al  holfi]  \vip-oute  lettyng  or  troublyng  of  worldli  bisynes : 
pat  pen  mi^t  be  grace  come  to  more  knowyng  [&]1  gostly  felyng  of  go[d]2  &  gostly 
pinges.  Pis  desyr  is  good  as  I  hope,  &  of  god,  for  hit  is  charite,  speciali  set 
in  to  him.  Neutrpeles  hit  is  to  refreyne  and  to  rule  hit3  be  discrecion  as  a^eynes 
outwarde  doyng,  after  pe  state  pat  pou.  art  in,  ffor  charite  vnruled  tumep  sum- 
tyme  to  vice.  And  p^rfore  hit  is  seid  in  holi  writ:  Qrdtnauit  in  me  caritatem, 
pat  is  to  say :  »>Vre  lord  ^af  to  me  charite  set  in  ordre  &  in  rule,  pat  hit  schulde 
not  be  lost  porw  myn  vndiscrecion«.  Riht  so  pis  charite  &  pis  desyr  pat  vre 
lord  of  his  merci  hap  ^iuen  to  pe,  is  for  to  rule  &  to  ordeyne  hou  pou  schalt 
pursue  hit,  &ftur  pi  de-gree  askep,  and  aftur  pe  liuyng  pat  pern  hast  vsed  be 
fore  pis  tyme,  and  after  pe  grace  of  vertu  pat  pan  nou  hast.  Pou  schalt  not 
vtturli  folwe  pi  desyre  for  to  leue  ocupacions  &  bisynes  of  pe  world  w^uch  are 
nedeful  to  vse  in  rulyng  of  pi-sel[f]  &  of  al  opur  pat  are  vnder  pi  kepiwg,  &  3  cue 
pe  hol[i]  to  gostly  occupacion  In  preyers  &  meditacions  as  hit  were  a  Monk  or  a 
frere  or  eny  opur  mon  pat  were  not  bouwde  to  be  world  be  children  &  seruauws 
as  pou.  art:  for  hit  fallep  not  to  pe;  4^if  pou  do  so,  pan  kepest  not  pe  ordre  of 
charite.  Also,  7,if  pou  woldest  vtterli  leue  gostli  occupacion,  nomelir>  after  pe 
grace  pat  god  haf)  ^euen  to  pe,  &  sette  pe  holliche  to  bisynes  of  be  world,  to 
fulfillyng  of6  actif  lyf,  as  fully  as  a-nopwr  pat  neurr  feled  deuocion,  pou.  leosest7 
pe  ordre  of  charite:  for  pi  stat  askep  for  to  do  bope,  in  diuerse  tymes. 

Pat    pe   lyf  of  Marie  &  Martha  menged   to-geder  is  acordiwg  to  hem  pat 

are  in  heh;  degre.     Capitulo  secundo. 

POW  schalt  medle  pe  werkes  of  actif  lyf  wz/5  gostly  werkes  of  contewplatyf 
lyf,  and  pen  dost  pou  wel.  For  pou  schalt  o  tyme  vtif  Martha  be  bisy  ffor  to 
ruile  &  gouerne  pin  houshold,  pi  children,  pi  seruauws,  pi  nei^ebors,  and  pi  te- 
nauwtes ; — ^if  pei  do  wel,  cuwforte  hem  perin  &  help  hem ;  ^if  pei  don  vuel,  tech 
hem  to  amende  hem,  &  chastise  hem.  And  pou  [schalt]  also  loke  &  knowe  wysli 
pat  pi  piwges  &  pi  worldly  godes  be  ri^tly  kept  be  pi  seruauwtes,  goumied  & 
trewely  dispendet:  pat  p<?u  mi^t  pe  more  plenteuousli  vfip  hem  fulfille  pe  dedes 
of  merci  to  pin  euencmten.  A  nopur  tyme  pou  schalt  wip  Marie  leue  pe  bisynes 
of  be  world  &  sitte  doun  at  pe  feet  of  vr  lord  be  mekenes  in  preyers  &  holy 
pou^tes  &  in  cowtewplacion  of  him  as  he  ijeuef)  pe  grace.  And  so  schalt  pou 

1  Ms.  of.  2  MS.  gost.  3  a/,  om.  «  R.  &  if.  *  R.  n.  now.  6  R.  of  l>e  werkis  of. 
7  R.  leuyst. 


268  ^s-  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

the  beginning  of  Ms.  Vernon,  beg.  »Broper  and  Syster  bodely  &  gostly«  (so  Ff, 
Rawl.  A  356),  or  »Brepirne  and  Susteryne  bodely  &  goostely«  (Reg.,  Rawl.  C  894), 
or  »Dere  brother  in  Cryst«  (so  the  prints).  Now  the  treatise  is,  in  Ms.  Vernon,  directed 
to  a  worldly  lord,  a  devout  man  in  temporal  estate  (so  the  prints),  te  teach  him  how 

Ms.  Vernon. 

go  from  pat  on  to  pat  ofyur  meedfulli  &  folfille  bope :  &  pemie  kepest  pou  wel 
pe  ordre  of  charite.  Neu^rpeles,  pat  p0u  ne  haue  no  wonder  of  pis  pat  I  say, 
p^rfore  I  schal  tel  &  declare  to  pe  a  luytel  of  pis  mat^e  more  opewli. 

To  whom  actyf  lyf  a-cordep,  &  to  whom  contemplatif.  Ca°.  iii°. 
J>ow  schalt  vnderstande  pat  \>er  is  preo  man^r  of  liuinges :  On  is  actyf,  a- 
nopw  contewplatyf,  pe  pridde  is  maad  of  bope  &  is  medled  lyf.  Actyf  lyf  al- 
on  longep  to  worldly  men  &  wywmen  whuch  are  lewed,  fleschly,  &  boistous  in 
knowyng  of  gostly  occupacion ,  ffor  pei  fele  no  sauowf  ne  deuocion  be  feruowr 
of  loue  as  ofyur  men  don,  pei  can  no  skile  of  hit,  and  ^it  neu<?rpeles  pei  han 
drede  of  god  &  of  pe  peynes  of  helle  &  p^rfore  pei  fle  sywne ,  and  pei  haue 
also  desyre  for  to  plese  god  &  for  to  come  to  heuene,  &  a  good  wille  to  heore 
euencn'stne.  To  pise  men  hit  is  nedeful  &  spedeful  to  vse  werkes  of  actyf  lyf 
as  bisili  as  pei  may,  in  help  of  hem-self  &  of  heore  euewcristen:  for  pei  can  not 
elles  do.  Contewplatyf  lyf  alone  longep  to  such  men  or  wywmen  pat  for  pe 
loue  of  god  forsaken  al  open  sy/mes  of  pe  world  &  of  heore  flesch,  &  al  bi- 
synes,  charges  &  gou^rnauwce  of1  worldly  godes,  and  makew  hem  pore  &  naked, 
in  to  pe  bare  nede  of  pe  bodili  kuynde,  and  fleen  from  souereynte  of  opw  men 
to  pe  seruise  of  god.  To  pise  men  hit  longep  for  to  trauayle  &  ocupye  hem 
[iwwardli2]  for  to  gete  porw  pe  grace  of  vr  lord  clawnes  in  herte  &  pees  in  con 
science  be  distruyng  of  smnes  &  receiuyng  of  virtues,  and  so  forto  come  to  con- 
templacion ;  pe  w^uche  claraies  may  not  be  had  wz/i-oute  gret  exercise  bodili  & 
continuel  trauayl  of  spirit  in  deuoute  preiers,  feruent  desyres  and  gostly  meditacions. 

How  medled  lyf  longep  speciali  to  palates  of  holichirche  &  also  to  worldly 

lordes  pat  rule  oper  men.     Capitulo  iiii°. 

J>E  pridde  lyf,  pat  is  medlet,  longep  speciali  to  men  of  holy  churche,  as  to 
prdates  and  to  opw  curates,  pe  w^uche  han  cure  &  souereynte  ou^r  opwf  men 
for  to  kepe  &  rule  hem,  bope  heore  bodies  &  praicipali  here  soules,  in  fulfillyng 
of  be  dedes  of  merci,  bodily  &  gostly.  To  pise  men  hit  longep  suw-tyme  to 
vse  werkes  of  actyf  lyf,  in  help  &  in  sustinauwce  of  hew-self  &  of  her  soiettes  & 
of  opw^e  also,  and  suw-tyme  [forto]  leue  al  bisynes  outward  and  ^iue  hem  for  a  tyme 
to  preyers,  meditacions,  redynges  of  holi  writ,  &  to  oper  gostly  ocupacions,  after 
pei  fele  hem  disposed.  Also  hit  longep  gen^rali  to  suw  temporal  men  pe  w^uche 
han  souereynte  wip  muche  hauyng3  of  worldly  godes,  and  also  han  as  hit  were 
a  lordschipe  oner  o^ur  men  to  goumie  &  susteyne  hem,  as  a  fader  hap  o\ier  his 
children,  a  Maister  ouer  his  seruauwtes,  and  a  lord  ou<?^  his  tenaimtes ;  pe  w^uche 
men  also  han  receyued  of  pe  ^ift  of  vr  lord  grace  of  deuocion,  &  in  parti  sauowr 
of  gostli  ocupacion.  To  pise  also  lowgep  pis  medled  lyf,  pat  is  bope  actyf  & 
contewplatyf.  For  i^if  pise  men  stondynge  pe  charge  &  pe  bond  pat  pei  han 
take,  wolde  leue  vttwly  pe  bisynes  of  be  world,  pe  w^uche  ou^te  skilralli  be 
vsed  [in]4  fulfillyng  of  heor  charge,  and  hol[i]  ^eue  hem  to  lyf  contemplatyf,  pei  do 

1  Here  begins  Ms.  Harl.  2254.        2  Ms.  in  J>e  world.        s  al.  hauer.        *  Ms.  &. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  269 

to  rule  himself  in  his  estate ;  and  in  the  treatise  only  one  person  (a  lady  in  Ms. 
Th.  p.  278}  is  addressed.  The  addition  in  the  beginning  can  therefore  hardly  have 
belonged  to  the  original  work ;  but  it  may  have  been  added  later  to  give  the 
treatise  a  wider  scope.  In  all  the  prints  the  treatise  is  ascribed  to  W.  Hilton, 

Ms.  Vernon. 

not  wel,  for  pei  kepe  not  pe  ordre  of  charite.  For  charite,  as  p0u  knowest,  lip 
bope  in  lone  of  god  &  of  pin  euen-cn'stne,  and  ptrrfore  hit  is  resonable  pat  he 
pat  hap  charite  vse  bope  in  worchinge,  now  pat  on  now  pat  ofyur.  For  he  pat 
for  pe  loue  of  god  in  conte///placion  leuep  pe  loue  of  his  euen-cristen  [&  dop 
not  to  hem]1  as  him  ou^te2  whon  he  is  bouwden  p*rto,  he  fulfillep  not  charite.  Also 
on  pe  contrarie  wyse  who  so  hap  so  gret  reward  to  werkes  of  actyf  lyf  &  to 
bisynes  of  pe  world  pat  for  loue  of  his  euenm'sten  he  leuep  gostli  ocupacion 
vtterliche,  aftwr  god  hap  disposed  hiw  p^rto,  he  fulfillep  not  fulli  charite.  £is 
is  pe  seying  of  seynt  Gregore. 

Hou  vre  lord  Ihmi  Crist  &  holi  men  in  hei^  degre  schewed  ensaumple  of 
medled  lyf  in  lyuyng.     Capitulo  v°. 

3Oure  lord  for  to  stere  su/#  men  to  vse  pis  medled  lyf,  tok  vpon  hiw-self  pe 
p^rsones  of  such  man<?r  of  men,  bope  of  palates  &  curates  of  holy  chirche,  &  of 
opwr  suche  as  are  disposed  as  I  haue  seid,  and  ijaf  to  hem  ensauwple  be  his 
owne  worchyng  pat  pei  schulde  vse  pis  medled  lyf  as  he  dude.  O  tyme  he 
comuned  &  medled  wip  men,  schewyng  to  hem  his  dedes  [of]  merci :  ffor  he  tau^t 
pe  vnkownyng  be  his  pr^ching,  he  visyted  pe  seke  £  heled  hem  of  heor  sores, 
he  fedde  pe  huwgri,  &  cuwforted  hem  pat  were  sori.  Anopwr  tyme  he  lafte  pe 
comu'rsacion  of  al  worldly  men,  &  of  his  disciples  also,  &  went  alone  in  to  desert 
vpon  pe  hulles,  £  co«tyn[u]ed  al  pe  ni^t  in  preyers  as  pe  gospel  seip.  fcis  medled 
lyf  schewed  vr  lord  in  hi/w-self  to  ensauwple  of  hem  p<;t  han  take  pe  staat  £ 
pe  charge  of  pis  medled  lyf,  pat  pei  schulde  o  tyme  ^eue  hem  to  bisynes  of 
worldly  pynges  in  resonable  nede,  &  to  werkes  of  actyf  lyf  in  pr<?fyt  of  heor 
euencrr'stne  w^uch  pei  haue  cure  of;  anopwr  tyme  ^eue  hem  hol[i]  to  contemplacion  be 
deuocion,  in  preyer  &  in  meditacion.  1%  lyf  led[d]e«  £  vse[de]n  pis  holy  bisschops 
herbifore  w^uch  hedden  cure  of  mewnes  soules  &  mynistracion  of  tewp<?rel  godes. 
For  pise  holy  men  left  not  vtterli  pe  ministracion  ne  pe  loky[n]g  &  pe  disp[end]yng4 
of  worldli  godes,  ne  ^af  hem  hol[i]  to  contewplacion,  as  muche  grace  as  pei  had 
in  contewplacion :  but  pei  lafte  ral  of[t]  her  oune  rest  in  contewplacion,  whon 
pei  hedde  leuere  han  bew  stille  p^rat,  for  loue  of  heor  euen-cr*sten,  and  ent^nnetede 
hem  vfip  worldli  bisynes  in  helpyng  of  heor  soiettes:  &  sopli  pat  was  charite. 
For  wysli  &  discretli  pei  departed  heore  [lyuyng] 5  in  two :  O  tyme  pei  fulfilled  pe 
lower  partye  of  charite  be  werkes  of  actyf  lyf,  for  pei  were  bouwde  p*rto  be 
takyng  of  heore  prelude,  anop«r  tyme  pei  fulfilled  pe  hi^ore  par-tye  of  charite  in 
co«te^q>lacion  of  god  &  of  gostly  piwgwj  be  preyers  &  meditacions — &  so  pei  hedde 
ful  charite  to  god  &  to  her  euencn'sten,  bope  in  affeccion  of  here  soule  w//J-inne 
and  in  schewyng  of  bodili  dedes  w^-oute.  Opwr  men  pat  were  only  contewplatyf 
and  were  fre  frow  al  suche  cures  &  prelacies,  pei  hedde  ful  charite  to  god  &  to 
heore  euewcristew,  but  hit  was  only  in  affeccion  of  heore  soule,  nou^t  eu*r  outward6 
in  schewyng,  and  in  hap  so  muche  hit  was  pe  more  ful  inward  pat  hit  was  not 
letted  be  outward  dedes  ;  ffor  pei  mi^t  not,  ne  hit  neded  not,  ne  hit  fel  not  to  hem. 

i  om.  2  Ms.  ou^te  for  to  do.  8  a/.  For-fci  o.  4  Ms.  dispisyng.  5  Ms.  good.  «  al. 
in  outward  sch. 


270  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

and  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  his  authorship.  More  difficult  is  the  question 
of  his  original  dialect.  Ms.  Cambr.  Ee  IV.  30  f.  4  calls  him  »Magister  Walter 
Hilton  canonicus  de  Thtirgarton  qui  obiit  A.  D.  1395  decimo  Kal.  Apriles  circa 
solis  occasumv..  Thurgarton  lies  in  Nottinghamshire,  where  was  an  Austin  priory 
(founded  in  1130  by  Ralph  d'Ayncourt).  Now  the  fact  is  that  some  of  the  oldest 
and  best  Mss.  of  his  works  are  written  in  the  Yorkshire  dialect,  and  many  of  his 
works  are  mixed  up  with  works  of  R.  Rolle ,  while  he  himself  follows  in  the 
track  of  R.  Rolle.  I  therefore  assume  him  to  be  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  and  to 
belong  to  the  Yorkshire  branch  of  the  Hiltons  (cf.  Surtees  Hist,  of  Durham  II, 
P-  35). 

Ms.  Thornton  fol.  223. 

men*  pat  ware  in  pr*lacye,  and  oper  also  pat  ware  haly  temporalle  men*,  had 
full  charite  in  affeccione  wzt#-in  and  also  in  wirkynge  wzt&-owtten* ;  and  pat 
es  pwpirly  pis  mellide  lyfe  pat  es  made  bathe  of  actyfe  lyfe  and  of  cowtemplatyfe 
lyfe.  And  sothely  for  swilke  a  man*  pat  es  in  spm'Aielle  sou*raynte  as  in 
pr*lacye,  in  cure,  in  goumiance  of  oper,  as  prelates  bene,  or  in  temporalle 
sou*raynte,  as  werldly  lordes  and  mayst*rs  bene,  I  halde  pis  mellide  lyfe  beste 
and  maste  by-houely  to  pam*,  als  lange  als  pay  ere  bownden*  perto.  Bot  to 
oper  pat  ere  fre  and  noghte  bownden*  to  template  mynystmcyon*  ne  to  spzVz'Ai- 
alle,  I  hope  pat  lyfe  cowtemplatyfe  allane,  if  pay  myghte  com*  sothefastely  pare- 
to,  were  beste  and  maste  spedfull,  maste  medfull  and  faire ,  and  maste  worth! 
to  pam*  for  to  vse  and  to  halde,  &  noghte  for  to  leue  wilfully  for  nane  owt- 
warde  werkes  of  actyfe  lyfe,  bot  if  it  ware  in  gret  nede  at  gret  releuynge  & 
cowforthynge  of  oper  men*  oup*r  of  pair*  body  or  of  paire  saule.  Than*,  if 
nede  aske,  at  pe  pnzyere  and  instaurcce  of  oper,  or  elles  at  pe  byddynge  of  oper 
governance1,  I  hope  it  es  gude  to  pam*  for  to  schewe  owtwarde  werkes  of  actyfe 
lyfe  for  a  tym*  in  helpynge  of  pair*  euencristen*.  /  By  this  that  I  hafe  saide  pou 
i  al.  J>er  souerayne. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

To  whom  medled  lyf  is  most  a-cordyng,  and  to  whom  contempla,tyf  lyf  is 

most  mederal.     Capitulo  sexto. 

But  pise  men  pat  were  in  pr*lacie,  &  opure  also  pat  were  hole  temp^el  men, 
hedde  ful  charite  \n  affeccion  wz'^-inne  &  also  \n  worchyng  wz^-oute:  &  pat  is 
propurli  pis  medled  lyf,  pat  is  maad  bope  of  actyf  lyf  &  of  contewplatif  lyf.  And 
sopli  to  such  a  man  pat  is  in  spz'rz'Aial  sou*reynte  as  pr*lacye,  in  cure  &  goumiauwce 
of  opure  as  pr*lates  &  curates  are,  or  \n  temporal  sou*reynte  as  worldly  lordes  & 
maistres  are,  I  holde  pis  medled  lyf  best  &  most  bihoueli  to  hem,  as  longe  as 
pei  are  bourcde  p*rto.  But  [to]  opwre,  pat  are  fre  &  not  bouwde  to  temporal  mi- 
nistracion  ne  to  spmVual,  I  hope  pat  lyf  contewplatif  alone,  ^if  pei  mi^t  come 
sopfastly1  perto,  were  best  &  most  medeful,  most  feir  &  most  spedeful,  &  most 
worpi  to  hem  for  to  vse  &  to  holde,  &  not  forto  leue  hit  wilfulli  for  non  out 
ward  werkes  of  actyf  lyf,  but  s;if  hit  were  in  gret  nede  &2  gret  releuyng  &'cuw- 
fortyng  of  opur  men,  oupur  of  her  bodies  or  of  her  soules.  Pen,  $if  ned  aske, 
at  pe  preyer  &  pe  instauwce  of  opure,  or  elles  at  pe  biddyng  of  heore  sou*reyns, 
I  hope  hit  is  good  to  hem  for  to  schewe  outward  werkes  of  actyf  lyf  for  a  tyme 
in  helpyng  of  heore  euencristene. 
1  Ms.  come  soK-  come.  2  #/.  at> 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  27 ! 

Ms.  Thornton. 

may  in  party  vndirstande  whilke  es  a  lyfe  and  whilke  es  o\>er,  and  whilke 
accordis  maste  to  thi  state  of  lyffynge.  And  sothely,  as  me  thynke,  this  Mellid 
lyfe  accordis  maste  to  pe.  For  sen*  owre  lorde  hase  ordaynede  pe  and  sett 
pe  in  pe  state  of  sou^raynte  o\\er  olper  als  mekill  als  it  es,  and  lent  pe  habownd- 
ance  of  werldly  gudes  for  to  rewle  and  susten*  specyaly  all  pose  pat  are  vndir<? 
thi  gowmance  and  thi  lordchipe  after  thi  myghte  &  thi  cuwnynge;  and  also 
after  thou  hase  ressayuede  grace  of  pe  mercy  of  oure  lorde  godd*  for  to  hafe 
suwwhate  knaweynge  of  thi-selfe ,  and  gastely  desyre  and  sauow  of  his  lufe : 
I  hope  pat  pis  lyfe  pat  es  mellide  es  beste,  and  accordes  maste  to  pe  for  to 
trauelle  pe  pare-in.  And  pat  es  to  depart  wyesly  thi  lyffynge  in  two:  a  tyme 
to  pe  tane,  and  anop^r  tyme  to  pe  tojvr.  For  wiet  pou  wele,  if  pou  leue  ned- 
full  besynes  of  actyf  lyfe,  and  be  rekles  and  take  na  kepe  of  thi  werldly  glides 
how  pay  be  spendide  and  kepide ,  ne  hafe  no  force  of  thi  sugetis  and  of 
thyn*  euencristem?  bycause  of  desire  and  will  pat  pou  hase  anely  for  to  gyffe  pe 
to  gastely  ocupacyon*,  wenande  pat  pou  arte  therby  excusede  —  if  pou  do  so, 
pou  dose  noghte  wysely1.  Whate  are  all  thi  werkes  worthe,  whethin?  pay  be 
bodyly  or  gastely,  bot  if  thay  be  done  ryghtefully  and  resounabyly,  to  be  wirchiptf 
of  godd*  and  at  his  byddynges?  Now  sothely  righte  noghte.  U  Thane,  if  pou 
leue  pat  thynge  pat  pou  arte  bownden*  to ,  by  way  of  charite ,  apontf  righte  and 
reson*,  and  will  hally  gyffe  be  to  a  nob^r  thynge ,  wilfully  as  it  ware ,  for  mare 
plesance  of  hym ,  whilk  pou2  arte  noghte  bownden^  to,  thou  dose  noghte 
1  wyss  wiesely  crossed  out  before.  2  Ms.  whilk  bou  whilke  bou. 


Ms.  Vernon. 


Here  hit  is  schewed  what  lyf  is  most  a-cordyng  to  [him]  pat  J)is   bok  was 

mad  to.     Capitulo  septimo. 

Be  pis  pat  I  haue  seid  bow  may  in  partye  vnderstawde  w^uch  is  o  lyf  &  w^uch 
opwr,  &  w^uch  acordep  most  to  pi  staat  of  liuinge.  And  sopli,  as  me  pinkej), 
pis  medled  lyf  a-corde|)  most  to  pe.  For  sef)  vre  lord  haf)  ordeyned  pe  &  set 
pe  in  pe  stat  of  souereynte  oviur  opwr  men  as  muche  as  hit  is,  and  lente  pe 
abuwdauwce  of  worldli  godes  for  to  rule  &  susteyne  speciali  alle  bo  pat  are  vnder 
pi  gou^mauwce  &  pi  lordschipe  in  pi  im*7,t  &  pi  cuwnyng ;  and  also  p<y-w#-al 
aftw  pou  hast  receyued  grace  of  pe  mcrci  of  vre  lord  for  to  haue  suw-what 
knowyng  of  pi-self  &  gostli  desyr  &  sauo«r  of  his  loue :  I  hope  pat  pis  lyf  j)at  is 
medled^is  best  &  most  acordyng  to  foe  for  to  trauayle  in.  And  pat  is  forte  departe 
wysli  pi  lyuynge  in  two:  o  tyme  to  pat  on,  and  anopwr  tyme  to  pat  op«r.  For,  wite 
pou  wel,  $if  pou  leue  nedful  bisynes  of  actyf  lyf,  &  be  recheles  &  take  no  kepe  of  pi 
worldly  godes,  hou  pei  be  kept  &  spewded,  ne  haue  no  force  of  pi  soiettes  &  of  pin 
euencr/stew,  be  cause  of  desyre  &  wille  pat  pou  hast  only  for  to  ^eue  pe  to  gostly 
ocupacion,  wenyng  pat  pou  art  p^rbi  excused:  ^if  pou  do  so,  pou  dost  not  wysli. 
What  are  alle  pi  werkes  worp,  whepir  pei  be  bodili  or  gostli,  but  ^if  pei  be  don 
ri^tfulli  &  resonably,  to  be  worschipe  of  god  &  at  his  biddyng?  sopli,  ri$t  nou?t. 

tat  men  schulde  vse  medled  lyf  as  a  mon  schulde  haue  him  to  Crist  &  to 

his  lymes.     Ca°.  viii. 

fen,  ^if  pou  leue  pat  ping  pat  pou  art  bouwde  to  be  wei  of  charite  in  risjt 
&  in  resun,  and  wolt  holli  ?iue  be  to  an  opwr  piwg  wilfulli  as  hit  were  for  more 
plesauwce  to  god  w^uch  pou  art  not  bounde  to  fully:  pou  dost  not  worschipe 


272  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

wirchipe  discretly  to  hym^ .  Thou  erte  besy  to  wirchipe  his  heuede  and  his 
face,  and  aray  it  faire  and  curyusly ;  hot  pou  leues  his  body  and  be  armes 
and  be  fete  raggede  and  rente  and  takes  no  kepe  pare-of.  And  ban  pou  wir- 
chipis  hyme  noghte.  For  it  es  a  velany  a  man^  for  to  be  curyously  arrayede 
apon*  his  heuede  vfiih  perre  and  precyous  stanes,  and  all  his  body  be  nakide  and 
bare  as  it  ware  a  beggere.  Righte  so,  gastely,  it  es  no  wyrchipe  to  godd^ 
for  to  couer  his  heuede  and  leue  his  body  bare.  Thou  sail  vndirstande  pat 
oim  lorde  Ihmi  Criste ,  as  man* ,  es  heuede  of  a  gastely  body ,  whilke  es 
haly  kirke.  The  membris  of  this  body  are  all  cristen*  men*?.  Some  are 
armes,  and  some  are  fete,  and  som*  ere  oker  membris  aftir*  sundre  wirkynges 
pat  bay  vse  in  thaire  lyffynge.  Than  if  pou  be  besy  vriih  all  pi  myghte  for  to 
arraye  his  heuede,  pat  es,  for  to  wirchipe  hym^-selfe  by  mynde  of  his  passions 
or  of  his  op^r  werkes  in  his  manhede  by  deuocyon*  and  meditacion^  of  hyrm?, 
and  forgetis  his  fete ,  bat  ere  thi  childire ,  thi  smiante^ ,  thi  tenantes  and 
all  thyntf  euencristyn<? ,  and  latis  pamtf  spill  for  defaute  of  kepynge,  vnarayede, 
vnkepide,  and  noghte  tente  to  as  pam<?  aughte  for  to  be :  thow  pleses  hym? 
noghte,  ffor  pou  duse  no  wirchipe  to  hynv.  Thou  makes  pe  for  to  kysse  his 
mouthe  by  deuocyon?  and  gastely  prayere,  bot  pou  tredis  apontf  his  fete  and 
defoules  panv,  in  als  mekill  als  pou  will  noghte  tente  to  thaymtf  for  neclygence 
of  pi-selfe  of  whilke  pou  hase  takyn^  cure.  ^[  This  me  thynke.  ^[  Neu^r-pe- 
lesse  if  pou  thynke  pat  pis  es  noghte  sothe ,  for  it  ware  a  fayrere  Offyce  to 
wyrchipe  pe  heuede  of  hym^,  as  for  to  be  alday  Ocupiede  in  meditacyon£  of  his 
manhede ,  pan  for  to  go  lawere  to  ober  werkes  and  make  clene  his  fete,  as  for 


Ms.  Vernon. 

discretly  to  him.  Pou  art  bisy  to  worschipe  his  hed  &  his  face,  &  array  hit  fayre 
&  curiously,  but  pou  leuest  his  bodi,  his  armes  &  his  feet,  al  ragged  &  rent  & 
takest  no  kepe  berof.  &  pe^ne  worschipest  him  nou^t:  ffor  hit  is  a  vilenye  to  1  a 
mon  for  to  be  curiousli  arrayed  vpon  his  hed  vtijt  p^nre  &  precious  stones,  &  al 
his  bodi  be  naked  &  bare  as  hit  were  a  beggere.  Riht  so  hit  is,  gostly,  no 
worschipe  to  god  pat  his  hed  be  keuered,  &  leue  his  bodi  bare.  Pow  schalt 
vnderstawde  pat  vre  lord  Ihf.ru  Crist  as  man  is  hed  of  a  gostly  bodi,  pe  w^uche 
is  holy  chirche.  Pe  limes  of  pis  bodi  are  al  cristen  men.  Summe  are  armes,  and 
summe  are  feet,  and  suwme  are  opwr  limes,  aft^r  duurse  worchynges  pat  pei  vse 
in  here  lining,  Pemie  ^if  pou  be  bisy  w//>  al  pi  mi^t  for  to  aray  his  hed,  p#t 
is  for  to  worschipe  hiw-self  be  mynde  of  his  passion  or  of  his  o\>ur  werkes  in 
his  manhede  be  deuocion  &  meditacion  of  him,  and  for^etest  his  feet,  pat  are  pi 
children,  pi  seruau^s,  pi  tenaws  &  al  pin  euewcmten,  &  letest  hem  spille  for  defaute 
of  keping,  vnarayed,  [vnkept],  &  not  tended  to  as  hem  ou^te  for  to  be  ;  pou  plesest 
hi#z  nou^t,  pou  dost  no  worschipe  to  him.  Pou  makest  pe  to  cus  his  moup  be 
deuocion  of2  gostly  preyere,  but  pou  tredest  vpow  his  feet  &  defoulest  hem,  in  as 
muche  as  pou  wolt  not  tewde  to  hem  for  necclygence  of  pi-self  of  w^uche  pou 
hast  take  cure.  Pus  me  semep.  Neu^'peles  ^if  pou  pmke  pat  hit3  is  not  sop, 
for  hit  were  a  fayr[er]  offys  to  worschipe  pe  hed  of  him,  as  be  ocupied  al  day  in 
meditacion  of  his  manhede,  pen  forto  go  lower  to  ohur  werkes  &  make  clene  his 

1  al.  om.        2  al.  and.        3  al.  J)is. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life. 
Ms.  Thornton. 

to  be  besy  bathe  in  thoghte  and  dede  aboute  be  helpe  of  thyn*  euencristen*  in 
tyme:  me  thynke  noghte  so  as  vnto  be.  f  Sothely  he  will  cum?  the  more 
thanke  for  meke  waschehynge  of  his  fete  when*  bay  ere  righte  foule  and  stynkyng 
appon*  the  ,  pan  for  all  be  pr^cyouse  payntynge  and  be  arraynge  bat  bmi  kane 
make  aboute  his  heuede  by  mynde  of  his  manhede.  For  it  es  faire  enoghe  and 
nedis  noghte  mekill  to  be  arrayede  of  be.  Bot  his  fete  and  his  o\>er  membris, 
that  ere  thi  sugetts  and  thyn*  euencristyn* ,  ere  suwtyme  euyll  arrayede  and  had 
nede  for  to  be  lukede  to  and  holpyn*  by  be,  &  namely  sen*  p0u  erte  bownden* 
bare-to;  and  for  thaym  will  he  cun  the  mekill  thanke,  if  p<m  will  mekely  and 
tendirly  luke  bam*.  For  be  mare  lawe  seruyce  bat  b<m  duse  to  pi  lorde,  for  lufe 
of  hym*,  vn-to  any  of  his  membris  when*  nede  and  rightwysnes  askes  ,  wz'tfc  a 
glade  meke  herte,  the  mare  plese^  p<?u  hym*:  thynkand  bat  it  ware  enoghe  for 
pe  for  to  be  at  be  leste  degre  &  laweste  state  sen  it  es  his  will  at  it  be  so. 
For  it  semys,  sen  he  hase  putt  pe  in  pat  state  for  to  trauelle  and  smie  op*r 
men*,  pat  it  es  his  will  pat  p<m  suld  fulfill  it  at  thi  myghte.  /  This  ensample  I  say 
to  pe,  noghte  for  p0u  duse  noghte  pus  as  I  say — ffor  I  hope  p<m  duse  pus  and 
better:  bot  for  I  walde  bat  p0u  sulde  do  pus  gladly,  and  noghte  [lathe]1  for  to 
leue  suwtyme  gastely  ocupacyon*  and  ent*nnete  pe  \fi\Ji  werldly  besynes  in  wyse 
kepynge  and  dispendynge  of  thi  werldly  gudes,  and  2  gud  rewlynge  of  pi  seruantes 
and  pi  tenantes,  and  in  op*r  gude  werkes  doynge  vn-to  all  |)in«e  euencristen*  at 
pi  myghte;  bot3  bat  p<?u  sulde  doo  bathe  in  dyu*rs  tynv  vrith  a  gud  will,  pe 

1  om.        2  al.  in.        3  Ms.  Bot  for. 
Ms.  Vernon. 

feet,  as  for  to  be  bisy  bope  i»  pou^t  &  in  dede  aboute  [be]1  helpe  [of]  biw  euew- 
cmten  in  tyme:  me  binke  not  so  as  vn-to  be.  For  sobli  he  wol  cun  pe  more 
bonk  for  meke  wasschyng  of  his  feet  whon  bei  are  m,t  foule  &  stynking  vpon 
be,  pen  for  al  pe  pr*ciouse  peyntyng  &  araying  pat  pou  can  make  aboute  his 
hed  be  mynde  of  his  monhede.  For  hit  is  fayr  inou^  &  nedep  not  muche  to  be 
arrayed  of  be.  But  his  feet  &  his  ober  lymes,  pat  are  pi  soiettes  &  pin  euen- 
cn'sten,  are  suw-tyme  vuel  arayi;ed  and  hadde  nede  to  be  loked  &  holpe  be 
be,  namely  sep  p<m  art  bouwden  b*rto ;  and  for  hem  wol  he  cun  be  moche  bank, 
5jif  bou  wole  mekely  &  tewderly  loke  to  hem.  For  pe  more  louh  seruise  pat  pra 
dost  to  pi  lord  for  pe  loue  of  hym  or2  to  eny  of  his  lymes  whon  neode  &  ri^t- 
wysnes  aske[>  hit3,  w#  a  glad  &  a  meke  herte,  pe  more  plesest  pou  hiw  ;  pink- 
i«g  pat  hit  were  inou?  to  pe  for  to  be  at  be  leste  degre  &  lowest  state  sef> 
hit  is  his  wille  bat  hit  be  so.  For  hit  semep  to  me,  sej)  he  haf)  put  pe  in  pat 
state  for  to  tnraayle  &  serue  oper  men,  pat  hit  is  his  wille  pat  jmi  schulde  ful- 
fille  hit  in  by  miht. 

I*at  suw-tyme    schulde  a  lord  leue  gostli  ocupacion  and  gladli  ^eue  him  to 

meedful  worldli  werkes.     Capitulo  ix°. 

|>is  ensauwple  I  say  to  pe,  not  for  p<ra  dost  [not]  pwj-  as  I  say,  for  i  hope  pou 
dost  bus  &  better:  But  I  wolde  bat  p<m  schuld  do  pwj  gladli,  and  not  forto  pinke 
lop  for  to  leue  suw-tyme  gostly  ocupacion  &  entermete  pe  wip  worldly  bisines,  in 
wys  kepyng  &  dispendyng  of  pi  worldli  godes,  in  good  rule  of  pi  seruauwtes  & 
pi  tenauwtes,  &  in  opwr  gode  dedes  doyng  to  al  byn  euenc^'sten  in  pi  mi^t;  but 
bat  b^u  schuld  do  bo  be  werkes  in  diu^rse  tyme  vrifi  a  good  wille,  bat  on  &  bat 
1  Ms.  to.  2  al.  vn-to.  3  al.  om. 

18 


274  ^s*  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

tane  and  pe  to^er,  if  p0u  myghte ;    as,    if  p0u   hade  pr^yede   and  bene  ocupiede 

gastely ,  p0u  sail  aftir  cMayne  tym^  breke  of  pat  and  f)0u  sail  besyly  and 
gladly  ocupye  pe  in  som^  bodily  ocupacion?  vnto  thyne  euen^-cristen* ;  also 
when  p<?u  base  bene  besye  owtwarde  a  while  with  thi  smiantes  or  with  o\)er 
mene  p^fytabily,  pmi  sail  breke  offe  and  com*  agayne  to  pi  payers  and  thi 
deuocyon?  otter  goddtf  gyfs  pe  grace,  and  so  sail  p<ra  put  away  by  grace  of 
oure  lorde  sleuthe,  ydilnes,  and  vayne  riste  of  thi-selfe  pat  comes  vndir 
coloure  of  cowtemplacion^  and  lettes  pe  suwtyme  fra  medfull  and  spedfull  ocupa- 
cion*  in  owtwarde  besynes,  and  p0u  sail  be  ay  wele  ocupiede  ouptfr  bodyly  or 
gastely.  /  Thare-fore  if  f)0u  will  do  wele  p0u  sail  [do]  gastely  as1  lacob  did^  bodily. 
*f[  Haly  write  saise  pat  lacob  when<?  he  begane  for  to  smie  his  Mayster  Labane, 
he  couete  Rachelle  his  mayster  doghter  to  his  wyfe  for  hir  fairehede,  and  for 
hir  he  smiede.  Bot  whentf  he  wende  to  hafe  hade  hire  to  his  wife,  he  tuke 
firste  Lya  be  tolper  doghter  in  stede  of  Rachelle,  and  aftirwarde  he  tuke  Rachelle, 
and  so  he  hade  bathe  at  be  laste.  /  By  lacob  in  haly  writt  cs  vndirstande  ane 
o\\erga.nger  of  synnes.  By  pise  two  wywmen^  ere  vndirstandentf,  as  sayne  Gregor 
saise,  two  lyfes  in  haly  kyrke :  actyfe  lyfe ,  and  cowtemplatyfe.  Lya  es  als 
mekill  at  say  as  »trauyliouse« ,  and  betakyns  actyfe  lyfe;  Rachelle,  »syghte  of 
begy«nynge«,  pat  es  godd^,  and  betakyns  lyfe  cowtemplatyfe.  Lya  was  frwtefull, 
bot  scho  was  sare-eghede.  Rachelle  was  faire  and  lufely ,  bot  scho  was  bar- 
rayne.  Than  righte  as  lacob  couetid  Rachelle  for  hir  fairehede  and  neuff-pe- 
lesse  he  had  hir  noghte  when*?  he  walde ,  bot  firste  he  tuke  Lya  and  aftirwarde 
i  Ms.  als  as.  

Ms.  Vernon. 

opMf,  ^if  p0u  mi^t;  as,  ^if  p#u  heddest  ben  in  preyer  &  ben  ocupied  gostli,  f)0u 

schalt  after  certeyn  tyme  breke  of  pat  &  p<?u  schalt  bisili  and  gladli  ocupie  pe  in 
suw  bodily  ocupacion  vn-to  piw  euewcmtew.  Also,  whon  b<?u  hast  be  bisy  out 
ward  a  while  wip  pi  seraantus  or  wz^5  ofyer  men  profitably,  pou  schalt  breke  of 
&  tame  a^eyn  to  pi  preyeres  &  pi  deuocion  after  god  ^iuef)  be  grace.  And  so 
schalt  p0u  put  awei  be  grace  of  vr  lord  sleupe,  ydelnes,  &  vayn  rest  of  pi-self, 
pflt  comep  vnder  colour  of  contewplacion  &  lettejp  pe  suw-tyme  from  medefull 
&  spedeful  ocupacion  in  outward  bisynes,  and  p0u  schalt  be  euer  wel  ocupied 
oup/^r  bodili  or  gostli. 

Hou  be   ensauwple  of  lacob  &  of  his  two  wyues  men  schal  rule  hem  ri^t 

in  be  medled  lyf.     Ca°.  x°. 

^if  p0u  wole  do  wel,  p^u  schalt  do  gostli  as  lacob  dude  bodily.  Holi  writ 
sei|)  pat  lacob,  whon  he  began  to  serue  his  mayster  Laban,  he  coueyted  Rachel 
his  Maistres  do\\2,tur  to  his  wyf  for  hir  fayrhede,  and  for  hire  he  serued.  But 
whon  he  wende  for  to  haue  I-had  hire  to  his  wyf,  he  tok  Lia  first,  pat  ofyur 
douhtwr,  in  stude  of  Rachel,  and  afterward  he  tok  Rachel,  and  so  he  hedde  bope 
at  pe  last.  Be  lacob  in  holy  writ  is  vndurstande  an  ouwgoer  of  synnes.  Be  pise 
two  wiwmen  are  vnderstande,  as  seint  Gregore  sayp,  two  lyues  in  holy  chirche: 
Actyf  lyf  &  Contewplatyf  lyf.  Lia  is  [as]  muche  for  to  say  as  »tfvniaylous«,  &  be- 
toknef)  actyf  lyf;  Rachel  be-toknep  »si^t  of  beginnyng«  pat  is  god,  &  be-tokne[> 
lyf  contemplatyf.  Lia  was  fruiteful,  but  heo  was  sore-ei^ede.  Rachel  was  bareyn, 
but  heo  was  fayr  &  loueli.  Pewne  riht  as  lacob  coueited  Rachel  for  hire  fairhede 
&  neuwrpeles  he  hedde  hire  nou^t  whon  he  wolde,  but  first  he  tok  Lia,  &  after- 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life. 
Ms.  Thornton. 

hir  :  righte  so  ilk  man*  tumede  by  grace  of  coz«pu[n]ccyon*  sothefastely  fra  synnes 
of  pe  werlde  and  of  pe  flescRe  vnto  pe  smiyce  of  godd*  and  clennes  of  gude 
lyffynge  ,  base  gret  desyre  and  gret  langynge  for  to  hafe  Rachelle,  pat  es ,  for 
to  hafe  ryste  and  gastely  swetnes  in  deuocyon*  and  contemplations,  for  pat  es  so 
faire  and  so  lufely ;  and  in  hope  for  to  hafe  pat  lyfe  anely ,  he  disposes  hym 
for  to  seme  our*  lorde  with  all  his  myghtes.  Bot  ofte  when*  he  wenes  for  to 
hafe  Rachelle,  pat  es  riste  in  deuocyon*,  our*  lorde  suffers  hyw  firste  for  to  be 
assayede  wele  and  trouelde  w/tA  Lya,  pat  es,  oup*r  vritfi  gret  temptacions  of  pe 
werlde  or  of  pe  deuelle,  or  ells  w/'tA  op*r  werldly  besynes  bodily  or  gastely  in 
helpyng  of  his  euencristyn*.  And  when*  he  es  wele  tazuelde  wz't/fc  pam*  and 
nerhande  ouer-commene ,  than  cure  lorde  gyffes  hym  Rachelle  pat  es  grace  of 
deuocyont-  and  riste  in  co«cience.  And  so  base  he  bathe  Rachelle  and  Lya. 
So  sail  p<?u  do  aft*r  ensauwple  of  lacob:  take  |)ise  two  lyfes  actyfe  and  con- 
templatyfe,  sen  godd*  hase  sett  the  bathe,  pe  tane  and  pe  top*r.  By  pe  taa  lyfe, 
pat  es  actyfe ,  pan  sail  brynge  furthe  fruyte  of  many  gude  dedis  in  helpe  of 
thyn*  euencristen*.  And  by  be  tober  pou  sail  be  made  and*  bryghte  and 
clene  in  f)e  behaldynge  of  sonirayne  bryghtnes  bat  es  goddt,  begynnynge  and 
ende  of  all  pat  es  made.  And  pan  sail  p<m  be  sothefastly  lacob  and  ou*rgang*r 
and  ou*rco//;mere  of  all  synnes,  and  aft*r  by  pe  grace  of  godd*  thi  nam  sail 
be  chaungede,  as  lacobe  name  was  turnede  in  to  Israel.  Israel  es  als  mekill 
at  say  als  »a  man*  seande  godd*«.  Than  if  pou  be  firste  lacob  and  discretly  will 
vse  pise  two  lyfes  in  tyme,  pou  sail  be  aftir  Israel,  pat  es  verray  cowtemplatyfe. 
Oup*r  in  pis  lyfe  he  will  delyu*r  pe  and  make  pe  free  fra  charge  of  besynes 


i  — 


=  et  ...  et. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

ward  hire:  riht  so  vche  mon,  twrned  be  be  grace  of  cowpunccion  sopfastli  from 
sywnes  of  pe  world  &  of  pe  flesch  to  pe  seruise  of  god  &  clewnes  in  good  lyu- 
ynge,  hap  gret  desyre  &  gret  longynge  for  to  haue  Rachel,  pat  is  for  to  haue 
rest  &  gostli  swetnes  in  denociow  &  contemplation,  for  hit  is  so  fair  &  so  loueli; 
&  in  hope  forto  haue  pat  lyf  only,  he  disposep  him  for  to  seme  vre  lord  -wif 
al  his  raises.  But  ofte  whon  he  wende  for  to  haue  had  Rachel,  bat  is  rest  in 
deuocion,  vre  lord  suffred  him  furst  to  be  assayed  wel  and  trauayled  vfip  Lia, 
pat  is  oupwr  vfip  grete  tewptacions  of  pe  world  or  of  pe  deuel,  or  elles  vrtp 
opMr  worldly  bisynes,  bodili  or  gostly,  in  help  of  his  euen-m'sten.  And  whon 
he  is  wel  trauayled  w*/»  hem  &  nei^hand  outcome,  pen  vr  lord  ijeuef)  him  Rachel, 
bat  is  grtfce  of  deuocion  &  rest  in  concience;  &  so  hoi1  bope  Rachel  &  Lia.  So 
schalt  p0u  do  aftwr  ensauwple  of  lacob,  tak  be  pi[s]  two  lyues  actyf  &  contewplatyf, 
sen  god  haf)  sent  pe  bobe,  vse  hem  bobe2,  bat  on  &  bat  obttr.  Be  bat  o  lyf  pat 
is  actyf,  pou  schalt  bringe  forb  fruit  of  moni  gode  dedes  in  help  of  pin  euen- 
cn'sten.  And  be  bat  obur  btm  schalt  be  maad  feir  &  bri^t  &  clene  in  behaldyng 
sou*reyne  bn^tnes,  bat  is  god,  begiwnyng  of  al  bat  is  mad.  And  pen  schalt  pou 
be  sopfastly  lacob  and  ouwrgoere  and  ou*rcomere  of  all*  sywnes.  And  aftur  bis 
be  be  grace  of  god  pi  name  schal  be  chauwged,  as  lacobwj  name  was  t«rned  in 
to  Israel.  Israel  is  as  muche  forto  say  as  »a  mon  seoyng  godct.  Pen  ^if  bou  be 
furst  lacob  &  discretly  wol  vse  pise  two  lyues  in  tyme,  pou  schalt  aftur  be  Israel, 
pat  is  v*rrey  contewplatif.  For3  oubur  in  pis  lyf  he  wole  dilhure  pe  and  make 
»  Th.  hase  he.  2  Vse  h.  bobe  al.  om.  a  a/.  om> 

18* 


276  Ms.  Thornten:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

whilke  b<?u  ert  bounden^  to,  or  ells  after  bis  lyfe  fully  in  be  blysse  of  heuenz  when 

pou  cowmes  thedire.  ^[  Contemplatife  lyfe  es  faire  and  medfull,  and  bar^-fore 
pou  sail  aye  hafe  it  in  desyre.  Bot  pou  sail  hafe  in  vsesynge  mekill  be  lyfe 
actyfe,  for  it  es  so  nedfull  and  so  spedfull.  And  bare-fore  if  pou  be  putt  fra  thi 
reste  [in]1  deuocyontf  when*  be  ware  leueste  be  still  bar-at,  by  thy  childire,  thy 
seruantes,  or  by  any  of  thyn£  euencristen* ,  for  pair£  profyte^  or  ese  of  paire 
hertes  skilfully  askide :  be  noghte  angry  wzt&  pam<?,  ne  heuy,  ne  dredfull,  as 
if  goddtf  wald  be  wrathe  wit/i  the  bat  pou  lefte  hym  for  any  o]>er  thynge ,  ffor 
it  es  noghte  so  ;  bot  lyghtly  pou  leue  of  thi  deuocyon?  wheb^r  it  be  in  players 
or  in  meditacyons ,  and  goo  do  thi  dett  and  pi  seruyse  to  bine  euencristen*,  als 
redily  as3  if  oure  lorde  hym-selfe  bade  be  do  so.  And  suffire  mekely  for  his 
lufe  wzt/fc-owtten?  gruchynge  if  pou  may,  and  dissese  and  trubblynge  of  bi  herte 
by-cause  of  mellynge  wz't/z  swilke  besynes.  For  it  may  fall  suwtyme  bat  be  truby- 
lyere  bat  bou  hase  bene  owtwarde  vrith  actyfe  werkes,  the  mare  brynnande 
desyre  bou  sail  hafe  to  goddtf,  and  be  more  clere  syghte  of  gostely  thynges  by 
grace  of  owre  lorde  in  deuocyon^  when^  bou  comes  bare-to.  For  it  faris  per- 
by  as  if  pou  hade  a  littill  cole 4  and  pou  walde  make  a  fyre  pare-witK  and  ger 
it  bryn^.  Thow  wald  fyrste  lay-to  stykkes  and  ou^-hille  be  cole,  and  if  it 
semyd  as  for  a  tym*  bat  bou  sulde  qwenche  be  cole  w/t#  bi  stykkes ,  neu^r- 
be-lesse  when^  bou  hase  habedyn*?  a  while  and  after  blawes  a  lyttill,  onane 

1  Ms.  by.        2  y  in  profyte  corr.  from  e.        3  Ms.  als  as.        4  on  the  margin. 
Ms.  Vernon. 

be  freo  of  bi  charge  &  bi  bisynes  w^uch  pou  art  bouwde  to,  or  elles  oitur  bi[s]  lif 
fulli  \n  be  blis  of  heuew  whon  bou  comest  bider. 

Pat  contewplacion  schulde  be  had  in  desyr,  and  werkes  of  actyf  lyf  in  vse 
wib-outen  anger  &  vnskilful  drede.     Ca°.  xi°. 

Lif  contewplatyf  is  feir  &  medeful,  and  p^rfore  p(?u  schalt  euer  haue  hit  \n 
desyr.  But  pd?u  schalt  haue  \n  vsywg  muche  pe  lyf  actyf,  for  hit  is  needful  *  & 
spedful.  And  p^rfore,  ^if  pou  be  put  fro  pi  rest  in  deuocion  whon  pe  were  leuest 
to  be  p^rat,  be  bi  children,  be  bi  seruantes,  or  be  eny  of  bin  euewcrz'sten,  for 
here  profyt  or  ese  of  here  hertes  skilfulli  asked,  be  not  angn'  wi{)  hem,  ne  heuy, 
ne  dredful  as  ^if  god  wolde  be  wroji)  wip  be  bat  b0u  left  him  for  eny  obwr 
ping — ffor  hit  is  not  so.  But  li^tli  leue  of  pi  deuocion  whefw  hit  be  \n  preyer 
or  meditacion,  and  go  do  pi  dette  &  pi  seruise  to  pin  euewcristen,  as  redili  as  ^if 
vre  lord  hiw-self  bad  be  do  so.  And  suffre  mekely  for  his  loue  wz^-oute  grucch- 
yng  ^if  bt?u  may ,  &  disese  &  troublyng  of  biw  h^-te  be-cause  of  medlyng  vfif 
such  bysynes. 

tat  nedful  worldli  werkes  kundel  gostli  desyres,  proued  be  bodili  ensaumple. 
Capitulo  duodecimo. 

Hit  may  fal  suw-tyme  pat  pe  more  troubled  bat  b0u  hast  >ben  outward  wz/> 
actyf  werkes,  be  more  brewnyng  desyr  fa^u  schalt  haue  to  god,  &  be  more  cler 
si^t  of  gostly  binges  be  grace  of  vre  lord  in  deuocion  whon  b0u  comest  berto. 
For  hit  faref)  b^r-bi  as  ^if  pou  hedde  a  luite  Cole  and  b0u  wolde  make  a  fir 
b^r-wif)  &  make  hit  brewne.  f^u  woldest  furst  lei  perto  stikkes  and  ouerhule  be 
cole,  and  bou^  hit  seme  for  a  tyme  pat  pon  schuldest  sleke  be  cole  wz^  stikkes, 
neu^rbeles  whon  b0u  hast  beden2  a  while  &  aftwr  bat  i-blowen  a  while3,  anon 

1  Ms.  meedful.        2  al.  abiden.        3  al.  a  littil. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  277 

Ms.  Thornton. 

sprynges  a  grete  flawme  of  fyre:  for  be  stykkes  ere  turnede  to  fyre.  /  Righte  so, 
gastely,  thi  will  and  thi  desyre  pat  b<ra  base  to  godd*,  it  es  as  it  ware  a  littill 
cole  of  fyre  in  pi  saule ,  ffor  it  gyffes  to  pe  suwwhate  of  gostely  hete *  and 
gostely  lyghte;  hot  it  es  full  lyttill ,  ffor  ofte  it  waxes  colde  and  tumes  to 
fleschely  riste,  and  suwtyme  in  to  ydilnes.  For-bi  it  es  gude  pat  p<m  putte 
pare-to  stykkes ,  pat  ere  gud  werkes  of  actyfe  lyfe.  And  if  so  bee  pat  pire 
werkes  as  it  semes,  for  a  tym*  lette  thi  desyre  pat  it  may  noghte  be  so  clene 
ne  so  feruente  as  pou  walde,  be  noghte  to  dredfull  pare-fore,  bot  habyde 
and  suffire  a  while ,  and  go  blawe  at  be  fyre,  pat  es :  firste  do  thi  werkes 
and  go  pan^  allane  to  pi  prayers  and  thi  medytacyons,  and  lyfte  vpe  thi  herte 
to  godd^,  and  pray  hym  of  his  gudnes  pat  he  will  accepte  thi  werkis  pat  pou 
duse  to  his  plesance.  /  Halde  pou£  bam*  as  noghte  in  thyne  awen*  syghte ,  bot 
anely  at  be  mercy  of  hym,?.  Be  aknowe  mekely  thi  wrechidnes  and  thi  frelte, 
and  arett  all  thi  gude  dedis  sothefastly  to  hym*  in  als  mekill  als  pay  ere  gude  ; 
and  in  als  mekill  als  pay  ere  badde,  noghte  donV  wz'tA  all  be  circumstance 
bat  ere  nedfull  vn-to  gude  dedis,  for  defaute  of  discrecion^,  put  tham^  vn-to  thi- 
selfe.  And  for  pis  meknes  sail  all  thi  dedis  twme  in  to  flawme  of  fyre,  as 
stykkes  laide  apon*  pe  cole.  And  so  sail  gud  dedis  owtewarde  noghte  hyndire 
thi  deuocyon*,  bot  rab^r  make  it  mare.  /  Oure  lorde  sayse  in  haly  write  bus: 
^[  Ignis  in  altare  meo  semper  ardebit  et  sacerdos  mane  surgens  subiciet  ligna  vt 
ignis  non  extynguatur :  »ffyre,  he  sayse,  sail  bryn^  in  myn£  autir ,  and  be  priste 
1  lyste  lyghte  crossed  out  before  hete. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

springef)  out  a  gret  flaume  of  fuire,  ffor  be  stikkes  are  twrned  in  to  fuire.  Riht 
so  hit  is  gostli ;  pi  wille  &  pi  desyre  bat  p0u  hast  to  god,  hit  is  as  hit  wer£  a 
luitel  cole  of  fire  in  pi  soule,  ffor  hit  ^iue[)  to  pe  suwwhat  of  gostli  hete  &  of 
gostli  li^t;  but  hit  is  ful  luitel,  ffor  ofte  hit  waxej)  cold  &  twrneb  to  fleschli  rest, 
&  suw-tyme  in  to  idelnes.  K'rfore  hit  is  good  bat  f)0u  put  p^rto  stikkes,  pat 
are  goode  werkes  of  actyf  lyf.  And  ^if  so  be  bat  bise  werkes  as  hit  semeb  for 
a  tyme  lette  bi  desyr  bat  hit  may  not  be  so  clene  ne  so  feruent  as  bou  wolde, 
be  not  ou^r-dredful  b^rfore,  but  a-byd  &  suffre  a  while,  &  go  blowh  at  be  fuire, 
bat  is,  ffurst  do  bi  werkes  and  go  ben  al-[one]  to  bi  preyers  &  pi  meditacions, 
and  lift  vp  pin  herte  to  god  and  prei  him  of  his  godnes  bat  he  wole  accepte 
pi  werkes  pat  p0u  dost  to  his  plesaunce. 

Hou   be   mekenes  &  diu^rse   gode  werkes   is   be  loue  of  god  norisched  in 
mony  mewnes  hertes.     Capitulo  xiii°. 

Hald  pi  werkes  as  nou^t  in  bin  owne  si^t,  but  only  of  be  "Merci  of  him.  Knowe 
mekely  bi  wrecchednes  &  bi  frelte,  and  arette  sobfastli  al  bi  gode  dedes  to  hiw 
in  as  muche  as  bei  are  gode,  and  in  as  muche  as  bei  are  vuel,  not  don  vrip  al 
be  circu/wstauwce  bat  are  nedful  to  a  good  dede,  for  defaute  of  discrecion,  put 
hem  to  pi-self.  And  for  pis  mekenes  schal  al  pi  dedes  t«me  in  to  a  flaume  of 
fair,  as  stikkes  leid  vpon  foe  cole.  And  so  schal  be  gode  dedes  outward  not 
hynder  bi  deuocion,  but  rab«r  mak  hit  more.  Vre  lord  sei|)  bus  in  holi  writ: 
Ignis  in  altari  meo  semper  ardebit  fy  sacerdos  surgens  mane  subiciet  ligna  ut  ignis 
non  extinguatur:  bat  is  to  say:  »ffuir  schal  eu^r  brewne  in  myn  auter,  and  be 


278  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

rysande  at  morne  sail  put  vndir*  stykkys  pat  it  be  noghte  qwenchede«.  This  fire 
es  Me  and  desire  to  godd*  in  saule,  whilke  Me  nedis  to  be  nureschede  and 
kepide  by  laynge-to  of  stykkis  pat  it  goo  noghte  owtte.  Thise  stykkes  ere  of 
dyu*rse  matire :  som*  ere  of  a  tre  and  som*  er  of  anop*r.  A  man*  or  a  woman*  l 
pat  es  lettmide  and  hase  vndirstandynge  in  haly  writt,  if  he  hafe  pis  desire2  of 
deuocyon*  in  his  herte,  it  es  gude  vn-to  hym*  for  to  gedire  hym*  stekkis  of  haly 
ensauwpills  and  saynges  of  oure  lorde  by  redynge^  of  haly  write,  and  noresche 
pe  fyre  with  thaym*.  Anop*r  man*  or  a  woman*  *  vnlett*rede  may  noght  so  redyly 
hafe  at  his  hand  haly  writt  and  doctours  sawes,  and  forthi  it  nedis  to  hym  to 
do  many  gud  werkis  owtewarde  to  his  euen*-cristyn*  and  kyndill  pe  fire  of  lufe 
with  tham*.  And  so  it  es  gude  ilke  man*  in  his  degre,  aftir  he  es  disposede, 
pat  he  gette  hym  stykkes  of  a  thyng  or  of  oper,  oup*r  prayers  or  gude  medi- 
tacyons  or  redynges  in  haly  writt,  or  gude  bodily  wyrkynges,  for  to  nuresche 
pe  desire  of  Me  in  his  saule ,  pat  it  be  noghte  qwenchede.  For  pe  affeccyon* 
of  lufe  es  tendir,  and  lyghtly  will  vanysche  awaye ,  bot  if  it  be  wele  kepide 
and  by  gud  dedis  bodyly  or  gastely  corctenualy  nuresched*.3 

IN  ow  pan*  sen*  oure  lorde  hase  sente  in  to  thi  herte  a  littill  sparke  of  his 
blysside  fire  pat  es  hynu'-selfe,  as  haly  writt  saise:  Deus  nostcr  ignis  consumens 
esl:  »Oure  lorde  es  fyre  wastande« — ffor  as  bodily  fyre  wastes  all  bodily  thyng* 
pat  may  be  wastyde,  righte  so  gastely  fyre,  pat  es  godd*,  wastis  all  man*r  of 
syn*  whare-so  it  fallis ,  and  for-thi  oure  lorde  es  lykkende  to  fyre  wastande  — 
I  pray  pe  hertly,  dere  syster(l),  noresche  pis  fire.  This  fire  es  noghte  ellis  bot 

1  or  a  w.  al.  om.         2  al.  fire.         3  So  far  Ms.  Reg. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

prest  risyng  at  morewe  schal  put  vnder  stikkes,  pat  hit  go  not  out.«  Pis  fuir  is 
loue  &  desyr  to  god  in  soule,  be  w^uche  loue  nedej)  to  be  norisched  &  kept  be 
leying  to  of  stikkes  pat  hit  go  not  out.  Pise  stikkes  are  of  diuerse  matere : 
suw  are  of  o  tre,  suw  of  an  oper.  A  mon  pat  is  lettred  &  haf)  vnderstandyng  in 
holy  writ,  ^if  he  haue  pis  fuir  of  deuocion  in  his  herte,  hit  is  good  to  him  for 
to  gedere  hi;;z  stikkes  of  holi  ....  writ  &  norissche  pe  fuir  wif  hem.  Anopur  man 
vnlettred  mai  not  so  redili  haue  at  his  hand  holy  writ  &  doctors  sawes,  and  per- 
fore  hit  nedej)  to  him  to  do  mony  gode  dedes  outward  to  his  euencrz'stne  &  kendele 
pe  fuir  of  loue  wz/>  hem.  And  so  hit  is  good  pat  vche  man  in  his  degre  do l 
aftur  he  is  disposed,  pat  he  gete  him  stikkes  of  o  pyng  or  of  opur,  oupur  preiers 
or  gode  meditacions  or  redyng  in  holy  writ,  or  gode  bodili  worchyng,  for  to 
norissche  pe  disyr  of  loue  in  his  soule,  pat  hit  ne  be  not  slekked.  For  be  affeccion 
of  loue  is  tendre,  &  li^tli  wol  vanissch  away,  but  ^;if  hit  beo  wel  kept  and  be 
gode  dedes  bodili  or  gostly  beo  l  continuely  norissched. 

How  be  fuir  of  loue  wasteb  alle  syraie  and  is  a  gret  criming  in  pe  eres  of 

god.     Cap0,  xiiii0. 

JNow  pen  seppe  vre  lord  hab  sent  in  to  pin  herte  a  luytel  sparkel  of  his  blessed 
fuire  pat  is  hiw-self  as  holy  writ  saib  — -Deus  noster  ignis  consumens,  pat  is,  »vre 
lord  is  fuire  wastyng« — ffor  as  bodili  fyr  wastef)  al  bodili  ping  pat  may  be  wasted, 
ri^t  so  gostli  fuir,  pat  is  god,  wastef)  al  maner  of  synne  where  so  hit  fallep,  and 
p*rfore  vre  lord  is  likned  to  a  fuir  wastyng— I  preye  pe  norissche  pis  fuire  pat 
1  al.  om. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life. 


279 


Ms.  Thornton. 

lufe  and  charyte  ;   pis  base  he  sent  in  till  erthe  as  he  saise  in  the  gosepelle :  Ignem 

veni  mittere  in  terrani ,  et  ad  quid  nisi  vt  ardiat? l  »I  am  cowmen? ,  he  saise, 
for  to  send  fyre  of  lufe  in  till  erthe,  and  whare-to  [but]2  pat  it  suld  bryn£?c 
That  es,  godd*  hase  sent  fire  of  lufe  pat  es  gude  desyre  and  a  grete  will  vn-to3 
plese  hymtf  in  to  manes  saule ,  and  vn-to  pis  ende  pat  a  man*  suld  knawe  it, 
kepe  it ,  noresche  it ,  and  strenghe  it ;  and  be  sauede  thare-by.  The  more 
desire  pat  pou  hase  vn-to  hym<r,  pe  more  es  this  fyre  of  lufe  in  the.  The  lesse 
pat  thi  desire  es,  pe  lesse  es  pis  fire.  The  mesure  of  pis  desyre  how  mekill 
it  es,  nop^r  in  thi-selfe  ne  in  na  nojvr  knawes  p0u  noghte,  ne  no  man*  of 
hym-selfe,  bot  godd*  allone  pat  gyflfes  it;  and  for-thi  dispuyte  noghte  w/tA  pi- 
selfe  as  if  p0u  wolde  knawe  how  mekill  thi  desire  es,  bot  be  besy  for  to  desyre 
als  mekill  als  p0u  may,  bot  noghte  for  to  wete  pe  mesure  of  thi  desyre.  Sayne 
Austyn*  saise  pat  pe  lyfe  of  eumlk  a  gude  cristyn*  man*  es  a  cowtenuelle 
desire  to  godd* ,  and  pat  es  of  a  gret  vertue ,  ffor  it  es  a  gret  crying  in  pe 
erris  of  godd*.  £e  more  pat  p0u  desires  pe  heghere  pou  cries,  pe  better 
pou  prayes,  pe  wyseleere  p<m  thynkis.  /  And  what  es  pis  desire?  Now,  sothely, 
na  thyng  bot  a  lathynge  of  all  pis  werldis  blysse,  of  all  fleschely  lykynges  in  thi 
herte,  and  a  qwemfull  langynge  vritA  a  thristy  ^ernyng  to  heuenly  loye  and 
endles  blysse.  This,  thynke  me,  may  be  callid  a  desire  of  godd*.  If  pou  hafe 
pis  desire,  as  I  hope  sekirly  pat  \>o\\  hase,  I  pray  the  kepe  it  wele  and  noresche 
it  wysely:  and  when*  f)<m  sail  pray  or  thynke  make  pis  desire  begywnynge  of 
all  pi  werke.  For  to  encresse  it,  luke  affcr  na  nop^r  ....  bodily  swetnes,  nofxr 
i  Ms.  ardiatwr.  '*  om.  3  dl.  for  to. 


Ms.  Vernon. 
is    not    elles 


but  loue  &  charite.  I'is  hajj  he  sent  in  to  |)e  eorj>e  as  he  seib  in 
pe  gospel:  Ignem  veni  mittere  in  terrain,  ad  quid  nisi  vt  ardeat:  pat  is,  »I  am 
come  to  sende  fire  in  to  pe  erpe,  and  wharto,  but  pat  hit  schulde  brewne?«  t'a/1 
is :  god  ha{>  sent  fuire  of  loue,  pat  is  a  god  disyre  &  a  gret  wille  to  plese  hiw, 
in  to  a  mownes  soule,  and  to  pis  ende,  pat  a  man  schulde  knowe  hit  &  kepe  hit, 
norissche  hit  &  strengpe  hit  &  be  saued  p<rbi.  £e  more  desire  pat  p<m  hast 
to  him,  pe  more  is  pis  fuir  of  loue  in  pe.  I'e  lasse  bat  pis  disyre  is,  pe  lasse 
is  pis  fuire.  fce  mesure  of  pis  disyr  hou  muche  hit  is,  in  pi-self  or  \n  eny  ofyur 
knowest  p<m  not  ne  no  man  of  hiw-self,  but  god  only  pat  ^iue{)  hit.  And  \>er- 
fore  dispose  pe  nou^t  to  striue  wib  pi-self  as  J$if  p^u  wolde  wyte  hou  muche  pi 
disyr  is,  but  be  bisy  for  to  disyre  as  muche  as  p0u  mai,  but  not  to  wite  pe  me 
sure  of  pi  disyre.  Seint  Austin  seib  pat  {)e  lyf  of  vche  good  cristene  mon  is  a 
continuel  desyr  to  god.  And  pat  is  a  gret  virtue,  ffor  hit  is  a  gret  criming  in  pe 
eres  of  god;  be  more  p<m  desyrest  pe  hi^ore  b<m  cri^est,  pe  better  pra  prayest, 
pe  wy slier  p<?u  pewkest. 

What  disyr  is,   &  siker  swetnes.     Cap0.  [x]v°. 

And  wThat  is  pis  desyr?  Sopli,  nopi«g  but  a  loping  of  al  pis  worldly  blisse  & 
of  al  fleschli  lyking  i«  pin  herte,  &  [a]  quemeful  longyng  w^  a  tristi  J^ernyng  to 
heuenly  ioye  &  endeles  blis.  fcis,  pinkep  me,  may  be  cald  a  desire  to  god.  ^if 
p<m  haue  pis  disire,  as  I  hope  sikerli  pat  p<m  hast,  I  prey  pe  kepe  hit  wel  & 
norissche  hit  wysli,  and  whon  pmi  schalt  praye  or  penke,  mak  pis  desyr  begynnyng 
&  endyng  of  al  pi  werk.  And  forte  encresce  hit  loke  after  now  opw  felyng  \n 

i  Ms.  l>as. 


280  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

sownyng,  ne  sauo«fynge ,  ne  wondirfull  lyghte,  ne  aungells  syghte,  ne  if  oure 
lorde  hym-selfe  as  vn-to  pi  syghte  walde  appere  to  pe  bodily,  charge  it  hot  a 
lytill ;  hot  at  all  thi  besynes  be  pat  pou  myghte  fele  sothefastly  in  thi  thoghte 
a  lathynge  and  a  full  forsakynge  of  all  man^r  of  syne  and  of  vnclennes,  wzt/z 
a  gastely  syghte  of  it  how  foule  ,  how  vggly  and  how  paynfull  pat  it  es ; 
and  at  pou  myght  hafe  a  myghty  desyrynge  to  vertus ,  to  mekenes ,  to  charite, 
and  to  the  blysse  of  heuen?.  /  This,  thynke  me,  ware  gastely  comforthe 
and  gostely  swetnes  in  a  mans  saule,  as  for  to  hafe  clennes  in  cowcience  fra 
wikkidnes  of  all  werldly  vanyte,  w/'tA  stabill  trouthe  ,  meke  hope,  and  full  desyre 
to  godde. 

llow  so  ever  it  es  of  ofyer  cowforthes  and  swetnes,  me  thynke  pat  swetnes 
sekire  and  sothefaste  pat  es  felid  in  clennes  of  concyence  by  myghty  forsakynge 
and  lathyng  of  all  syn<?  and  by  inward  syghte,  by  feruent  desyre  of  gastely 
thyngis;  and  o\>er  cowforthes  or  swetnes  or  any  op<?r  man*r  of  felyng^,  bot  if 
pay  helpe  and  lede  to  pis  ende,  pat  es,  to  clennes  in  conscience  and  gastely 
desyre  of  godd^,  ere  noghte  full  sekire  for  to  riste  one.  /  Bot  now  may  pou  aske 
whep^r  this  desyre  be  lufe  of  godd*.  As  vnto  pis,  I  say  pat  pis  desire  es  noghte 
pr^pirly  lufe,  bot  it  es  a  begynnynge.  For  lufe  pr^pirly  es  a  full  cuppillynge 
of  pe  lufande  and  pe  lufed  to-gedyre,  as  godd£  and  a  saule,  in  to  ane.  This 
cuppillyng  may  noghte  be  had  fully  in  this  lyfe  bot  anely  in  desyre  and  langynge 
pare-to ;  as  if  a  man?  lufe  anop^r  whilke  es  absent?  he  desyris  gretly  his  pmence, 


Ms.  Vernon. 

pi  wittes,  ne  seke  aftw  non  opwf  bodili  swetnes  noupwf  sounmg  ne  sauoryng,  ne 
wonderful  li^t,  ne  si^t  of  angeles,  ne  of1  vre  lord  hiw-self  as  to  pi  siz;t  wolde  a- 
peere  to  pe  bodily,  charge  hit  but  luytel :  but  pat  al  pi  bisynes  be  pat  p0u  mi^t 
fele  sopfastli  in  pi  pouzjt  a  lopiwg  &  a  ful  forsakyng  of  al  man^r  of  sywne  &  of 
vnclewnes,  wz/>  a  gostli  si^t  of  hit  hou  foul,  how  vggli  &  hou  pyneful  hit  is ;  and 
pat  p0u  mi^t  haue  a  mi^ti  desyryng  to  virtues,  to  mekenes,  to  charite,  &  to  pe 
blisse  of  heuew.  tis,  pinkep  me,  were  gostly  cuwfort  &  gostly  swetnes  in  a 
mownes  soule,  as  to  haue  clewnes  in  conscience  frow  wikkednes  of  al  worldly 
vanite  wzj5  stable  troupe,  meke  hope,  and  ful  desyr  to  god.  Hou-so-eu^re 
hit  be  of  opwr  cuwfortes  &  swetnes ,  me  pinkep  pat  swetnes  syker  &  sopfast 
pat  is  feled  in  clewnes  of  concience  be  mi^ti  forsakyng  &  lopiwg  of  al  siwne 
&  be  inward  si^t ,  w/^  feruent  desyre  of  gostly  desyres.  Al  opwr  cuwfortes 
or  swetnes  or  eny  opwr  maner  of  felyng,  but  ^if  pei  helpe  &  lede  to  pis  ende, 
pat  is  clawnes  in  conscience  &  gostly  desyre  of  god,  are  not  fulli  syker  forto 
reste  vpon. 

What  difference  is  be-twixe  desyr  &  pe  loue  of  god.     Cap0.  [x]vi°. 

But  nou  askest  pou  whep^r  pis  desyre  be  pe  loue  of  god.  As  to  pis,  I  say 
pat  pis  desyre  is  not  pn^pwrli  loue,  but  hit  is  a  begywnyng  &  a  tastyng  of  loue2. 
For  loue  is  pr^purli  ful  couplyng  of  pe  louer  &  pe  loued  to-geder  as  god  &  a 
soul  in  on.  £is  couplyng  may  not  be  had  fully  in  pis  lyf,  but  only  in  disyre  & 
longyng  p*rto  ;  as  ^if  a  man  loue  a  nop«r  wa;uch  is  absent,  he  disyrep  gretly  his 
i  r.  if?  2  &— loue  om.  in  Th. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  28l 

Ms.  Thornton. 

for  to  hafe  be  vys  *  of  his  lufe  and  his  likyng?.  Righte  so,  gostely,  als  lang  als 
we  erre  in  pis  lyfe  cure  lorde  es  absent?  fra  vs ,  pat  we  may  nop?r  se  hym  ne 
here  hym?  ne  fele  hym  als  he  es,  and  pare-fore  we  may  noghte  hafe  pe  vis 
of  his  lufe  here  in  fulfilling.  Bot  we  may  hafe  a  desyre  and  a  gret  ^ernyng?  for 
to  be  present  to  hym,  for  to  se  hym  in  his  blysse,  and  to  be  anede  to  hym  in 
lufe.  This  desyre  may  we  hafe  of  his  gyfte  in  bis  life  ;  by  be  whilke  we  sail 
be  safe,  ffor  it  es  lufe  vnto  hym?  as  it  may  be  hade  here.  Thus  sayne  Paule2 
saide :  Scientu  quoniam  dunt  sumus  in  hoc  carport  peregrinamur  a  domino,  per 
fideni  enim  anbulamus  et  non  per  speciern ;  audemus  autern  et  bonam  voluntatem 
habemus  magis  peregrinari  a  corpore  et  presentes  esse  ad  deum,  Et  ideo  contendimus 
siuc  absentes  siue  presentes  placerc  illi.  Sayne  Paule  sais  pat  »als  lange  als  we  ere 
in  bis  body,  we  ere  pilgrymes  fra  cure  lorde«,  pat  es,  we  ere  absent  fra  heuen? 
in  pis  exile ;  »we  go  by  trouthe,  noghte  by  syghte«  ,  pat  es ,  we  lyff  in  trouthe, 
noghte  in  bodily  felynge;  »we  dare  and  hase  gud  will  to  be  absent  fra  be  body 
and  be  present  to  godd?«,  pat  es,  we  for  clennes  in  concyence  and  sekire  trouthe 
of  saluacyone  dare  desyre  gastely  absence  fra  oure  body  by  bodily  dede  and 
be  present  to  oure  lorde ;  »Neu?r-pe-les,  for  we  may  noghte  ^itt,  perfore  we 
stryfe  whep?r  we  be  absent  or  present  for  to  plese  hym?«,  and  pat  es,  we  stryfe 
agayne  synnes  of  pe  werlde  and  lykynges  of  pe  flesche  by  desyre  to  hym?,  for  to 
bryn?  in  pis  desire  all  thynges  pat  lettes  vs  fra  hym?.  \  2^it  askes  pou  whep?r  a 
man?  may  haue  pis  desire  cowtenuelly  in  his  herte  or  noghte.  Pe  thynke  nay.  / 
As  to  pis,  I  may  say  as  me  thynke,  pat  pis  desire  may  be  hadd?  as  for  be  vertu 
i  =  vse.  2  2.  Cor.  5.  7. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

pr?se«ce,  for  to  haue  be  vse  of  his  loue  &  his  lykyng.  Ri^t  so  gostli,  as  longe 
as  we  are  in  pis  lyf,  vre  lord  is  absent  from  vs,  pat  we  may  noupwr  se  him  ne 
fele  him  as  he  is,  and  p?rfore  we  may  not  haue  pe  vse  of  his  loue  here  in  ful 
likywg.  But  we  may  haue  a  desyre  &  a  gret  ^ernyng  forte  be  present  to  him, 
forte  se  him  in  his  blisse,  &  fulli  to  be  oned  to  him  in  loue.  Pis  desyr  may  we 
haue  of  his  ^ift  in  pis  lyf.  Be  pe  w^uche  we  schal  be  saaf,  ffor  hit  is  loue  vn 
to  him  as  hit  may  be  had  here.  I'us  seide  seint  Poul:  Sciences  quia  dum  sumus 
in  hoc  corpore  peregrinamur  a  domino,  per  fidem  enim  ambulamus  ct  non  per  spe- 
ciem ;  audemus  autetn  $•  bonam  voluntatem  habemus  magis  peregrinari  a  corpore  fy 
presentes  esse  addeum;  et  ideo  contendimus,  siue  absentes  siue  presentes,  placere  illi. 
Seint  Poul  seif)  bat  as  longe  as  we  are  in  pis  bodi  we  are  pilgr/mes  fro  vre  lord, 
pat  is,  we  are  absent  fro  heuene  in  bis  exile  ;  we  go  be  troupe  &  not  be  si^t, 
pat  is  we  leue  in  troupe,  not  in  bodili  felyng;  we  dar  &  haue  a  good  wille  to 
be  absent  fro  be  bodi  &  be  pr?sent  to  god,  pat  is,  we  for  clennes  in  conscience 
£  siker  troupe  of  saluacion  dar  desire  to  be  absent  fro  vr  bodi  be  bodili  dede  & 
pr?sente '  to  vre  lord.  Neu?rpeles,  for  we  may  not  ^ut,  p?rfore  we  strme,  whep*r 
we  be  pr?sent  or  absent,  for  to  plese  him,  and  pat  is,  we  str/ue  a^eyn  sywnes  of 
pe  world  &  likingus  of  be  flesch  be  desyr  of  him,  for  to  brenne  in  pis  desyre  alle 
pyng  pat  lettef)  vs  from  hym. 

How  werkes  wip-outen  schewen  pis  desyr.     Capitulo  xvii°. 
^it  askest  pou  :  »Mai  a  man  haue  pis  desyre  in  his  herte  contynuely«?  Pe  pinke[) 
nay.     As   to    pis,  I  may   say  as  me  pinkep,   pat  pis  desyr  may  be  had  as  for  be 
1  Ms.  presence. 


282  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

and  profite  of  it  in  habyte  cowtenualy,  hot  noghte  in  wyrkynge  ne  vsesynge ;  as 
by  bis  ensample.  If  bou  ware  seke,  bou  sulde  hatie  as  ilke  mantf  base  a  kyndly 
desire  of  bodily  hele  cowtenualy  in  thi  herte,  what  so  bou  dide,  wheb^r  bou 
slepe  or  bou  wake,  bot  noghte  ay  ylyke :  ifor  if  bou  slepande(l)1  or  elles  wakande 
thynke  of  sum  werldly  thynge  pan  hase  pou  bis  desire  anely  in  habite,  noghte 
in  wyrkynge.  Bot  when^  pou  thynkes  of  pi  seknes  and  of  pi  bodily  hele,  ban 
hase  pou  it  in  vssynge.  /  Righte  so,  gostely,  es  it  of  desire  to  godd£.  He  bat 
hase  bis  desyre  of  be  gyfte  of  godde ,  pofe  he  slepe  or  ells  thynke  noghte  of 
godd£  bot  of  werldly  thynges,  ^it  he  hase  bis  desyre  in  habyte  of  his  saule,  vntill 
he  syn*  dedly.  Bot  when*  he  thynkes  of  godd^,  or  of  clennes  of  lyrTynge, 
or  of  be  loyes  of  heuen^,  than  wirkkis  his  desyre  als  lange  als  he  kepis  his 
thoghte  and  his  entente  to  plese  godd^,  oup<?r  in  pray  ere  or  in  meditacyon^,  or 
in  any  o^er  gud  dede  of  actyfe  lyfe.  Thane  es  it  gude  pat  all  [our]2  besynes  be 
for  to  stire  bis  desire  and  vse  it  be  discrecyon^,  now  in  a  dede  now  in  a-nob^r, 
after  we  ere  disposede  and  hase  grace  to.  This  desire  es  rute  of  all  thi  wirk- 
kynges:  ffor  wete  pou  wele  whate  gude  dede  it  be  pat  pou  dose  for  godd^,  bodily 
or  gostely,  it  es  ane  vsynge  of  bis  desyre ;  and  before  when  bou  duse  a  gude 
dede,  or  prayes  or  thynkis  of  godd<?,  thynk  noghte  in  thi  herte  doutande  whejw 
pou  desires  or  noghte,  ffor  pi  dede  schewes  thi  desyre.  /  Sum  ere  vnkonande  and 
wenes  pat  pay  desire  noght  goddtf  bot  if  bay  be  ay  criande  o[n]3  godde  wz't/z  wordis 
of  baire  mouthe ,  or  ells  in  theire  hertis  by  desyrand  wordes,  as  if  JDay  said 
thus:  »A,  lorde,  brynge  me  to  thi  blysse«,  »Lorde,  make  me  safe«,  or  swylke 
ob^r.  The  wordis  ere  gude  wheb^r  bay  be  sownned  in  be  mouthe ,  or  ells 
1  al.  slepe.  2  Ms.  o}>er.  3  Ms.  of. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

vertu  &  be  profyt  of  hit  in  habite  cowtinuely,  but  not  in  worchyng  ne  in  vsyng; 
as  be  pis  ensauwple.  ^if  pou  were  seek,  pou  schuldest  haue  as  vche  mon  hap  a 
kuyndeli  desyr  of  bodily  hele  continueli  in  bin  herte,  what-so  bou  dedest,  whep<?r 
pou  sleped  or  waked,  but  not  euer  iliche  ;  ffor  ^if  bou  slepe,  or  elles  wakyng  pewkest 
of  sum  worldly  pinges,  pen  hast  pou  pis  desyre  in  habyte,  nou^t  in  worchinge. 
But  whon  bow  penkest  on  bi  syknes  and  on  bi  bodili  hele,  ben  hast  pou  hit  in 
vsyng.  [Right] 1  so  hit  is  gostly  of  be  disyre  of  god.  He  bat  hab  bis  desyr  of  be 
^ift  of  god,  bou^  he  slepe  or  elles  benk  not  on  god  but  on  worldly  binges,  ^it 
he  hab  bis  desyr  in  habite  of  his  soule,  til  he  synne  dedli.  But  whon  he  benkeb 
on  god  or  on  clawnes  of  lyuing  or  of  be  ioyes  of  heuene,  ben  worcheb  his  disyre 
to  god  as  longe  as  he  kepep  his  pou^t  &  his  entent  for  to  plese  god,  oupw  in 
prayere  or  in  meditacion,  or  in  eni  good  dede  of  actyf  lyf.  £en  is  [it]  good  pat 
al  vre  bisynes  be  forto  stere  bis  desyr  &  vse  hit  be  discrecion,  nou  in  o  dede  & 
nou  in  a  nobw,  after  we  are  disposed  &  han  grace  p^rto.  iMs  desyr  is  rote  of 
al  pi  worchyng:  ffor  wite  pou  wel,  what  good  dede  pat  hit  be  b«t  bou  dost  for 
god,  bodili  or  gostli,  hit  is  an  vsyng  of  bis  desyr ;  and  before  whon  bou  dost  a 
good  dede,  or  preiest  or  penkest  on  god,  penk  not  in  pin  herte  doutyng  whefw 
pou  disyrest  or  nou^t,  for  pi  dede  schewep  pi  disyre.  Sum  are  vnkurcnynge  & 
wene  pat  pei  desyre  not  god  but  ^if  bei  were  euur  cr/^inge  on  god  wib  wordes 
of  heore  moub,  or  elles  in  her  herte  be  desyring  wordes,  as  ^if  I2  seide  bus  : 
»A,  lord,  briwg  me  to  bi  blisse«,  »Lord  mak  me  saaf«,  or  such  o])ure,  £ise  wordes 
i  Ms.  But.  2  Th.  Jay. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  2g^> 

Ms.  Thornton. 

fourmede  in  pe  herte,  ffor  bay  stire  a  mans  herte  to  be  desyrynge  of  godd*. 
Bot  neu*r-be-les,  w*bfc-owtten*  any  swylke  wordes,  a  clene  thoghte  of  godd*  or 
of  any  gostely  thynge ,  as  of  vertu^  or  of  be  manhede  of  Criste ,  of  be  loyes 
of  heuen*,  or  of  vndirstandynge  of  haly  writte ,  with  lufe,  may  be  bettir*  ban 
slyke  wordis.  For  a  clene  thoghte  of  godd*  es  sothefaste  desyre  to  hym*,  and 
be  mare  gastely  bat  thi  thoghte  es,  be  mare  es  thi  desire,  and  for-thi  be  b<?u 
noghte  in  dowte  ne  in  were  when  pou  prayes  or  thynkes  one  goddt-  or  ells 
duse  any  owtwarde  dedis  to  thyne  euencristyn* ,  whep*r  pou  desyres  hym*  or 
noghte,  ffor  thi  dedis  schewes  it.  Neu*r-pe-les,  if  it  be  so  pat  all  thi  gude 
dedis  bodyly  and  gastely  ere  a  schewyng*  of  thi  desire  to  goddt:,  ^it  es  per  a 
dyu*rsite  by-t\vix  gastely  &  bodily  dedis:  ffor  dedis  of  contemplatyfe  lyfe  er 
propirly  and  kyndly  wirkyng  of  bis  desire,  bot  owtwarde  dedis  ere  noght  so, 
and  forthi  when*  bou  prayes  or  thynkes  one  godd*,  thi  desire  to  godd  es  mare 
hale,  mare  feruent,  and  mare  gastely,  pan  when*  pou  duse  oper  dedis  vn-to  thyne 
euencristyne. 

IN  ow  ban  if  pou  aske  how  pou  sail  kepe  this  desir*  and  norische  it,  a  littill 
I  sail  tell  the,  noghte  for  pou  sail  vse  be  same  fourme  all-way  as  I  say,  bot 
for  pou  sail  hafe,  if  nede  be,  som*  wyssyng  for  to  rewle  the  in  thyn*  ocupacyon*. 
For  I  may  noghte,  ne  I  can*  noghte,  tell  the  fully  what  es  beste  ay  to  be 
for  to  vse.  Bot  I  sail  say  to  be  suwwhate  as  me  thynke.  /  One  nyghtis,  aftir 
thi  slepe,  if  pou  will  ryse  for  to  smie  thi  lorde,  thow  sail  fele  thi-selfe  firste 


Ms.  Vernon. 

are  gode  whep*r  bei  be  souned  i«  be  mou[)  or  elles  formed  in  be  herte,  ffor  pei 
srure  a  mawnes  herte  to  be  desyring  of  god.  But  neu^rbeles,  w#»-oute  eny  such 
vfordus,  a  clene  bovu^t  of  god  or  of  eny  gostli  ping,  as  of  virtues  or  of  be  man 
hede  of  Crist  or  of  be  ioyes  of  heuene  or  of  be  vnderstandynge  of  holi  writ,  vfip 
loue,  mai  be  better  pen  such  wordes.  For  a  clene  bou^t  of  god  is  a  sobfast 
disyr  to  hiw,  and  be  more  gostli  pat  pi  bou^t  is,  be  more  is  pi  disyr,  and  be 
fore  be  bou  noujjt  in  doute  ne  in  weere  whon  pou.  preyest  or  penkest  on  god  or 
elles  dost  eny  outward  dede  to  bin  euencn'sten,  wheb^r  po-a.  disyrest  him  or  nou^t : 
for  be  dede  schewep  hit.  Neu*rbeles,  ^if  hit  be  so  pat  al  pi  gode  dedes  bodili 
or  gostli  are  schewed  of  pi  disyr  to  god,  ^it  is  per  a  diumsete  be-twixe  bodili  & 
gostli  dedes.  For  be  dedes  of  contewplatyf  lyf  are  propurli  &  kuyndeli  pe  worch- 
yng  of  pis  desyr,  but  outward  dedes  are  not  so,  and  b^rfore  whon  bou  preyest 
or  penkest  on  god,  pi  disire  is  more  hoi,  more  feruent,  &  more  gostly,  pen  whon 
bou  dost  opur  dedes  to  bin  euen-w'sten. 

Hou   after   pi  slepe    pou  schalt   quiken   pin  herte   wip   preyeres  and  gode 
pou^tes  &  put  awai  vuel  pou^tes  pat  letten  deuocion.     Cap0,  xviii0. 

Now  ^if  p<m  aske  hou  pou  schalt  kepe  pis  disyre  &  norissche  hit,  a  luitel  I 
schal  telle  f)e,  nou^t  pat  pou  schalt  vse  pe  same  forme  al-wei  as  I  say,  but  pat 
pou  schalt  haue  perbi,  ^if  ned  be,  sum  wissyng  forto  rule  be  in  bin  ocupacion. 
For  I  may  not,  ne  i  can  not,  tell*  pe  fulli  what  is  best  euer  to  be  for  to  vse. 
But  i  schal  sei  to  be  suwwhat  as  me  binkeb.  In  nihtes,  aft«r  bi  sleep,  ^if  p<?u 
wole  ryse  for  to  seme  pi  lord,  pou  schalt  fele  pi-self  furst  fleschli  heui,  &  sum- 


284  ^fs-  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

fleschely  heuy,  and  su/wtynv  lusty.  Than  sail  pou  dispose  the  for  to  pray  or 
for  to  thynke  somi?  gude  thoghte  for  to  qwykkyn^  thi  herte  to  goddtr,  and  sett 
all  thi  besynes  firste  forto  drawe  vp  thi  thoghte  fra  werldly  vanytes  and  fra  vayne 
ymagynacyou^s  fallande  in  to  thi  mynde,  pat  pou  may  fele  sum  deuocyon?  in 
thi  sayings,  or  ells,  if  pou  will  thynke  of  gostely  thynges,  pat  pou  be  noghte 
letted  -with,  swylke  vayne  thoghtes  of  pe  werlde  or  of  pe  flesche  in  thi  thynkynge. 
Thare  are  many  maners  of  thynkynges,  whilke  ere  beste  to  pe  I  can?  noghte 
say;  bot  I  hope  pe  whilke  bou  felis  maste  sauowr  in  and  maste  riste  for  pe 
tymj  it  es  beste  for  the.  /  Thow  may  if  pou  will  suwtym*  thynke  over  thi  synnes 
be-fore  donne ,  and  of  thi  freeltes  pat  pou  fallis  in  ilke  day ,  and  aske  nwcy 
and  forgyfnes  for  thaym^.  /  Also  aftir  this  pou  may  thynke  of  synnes  and  of 
wrechidnes  of  thyne  euencristentf  bodily  and  gastely  wztfc  pete  and  compassions 
of  thaymtf,  and  cry  mercy  and  forgyfnes  for  thaym^  als  tendirly  als  iff  pay  ware 
thyne  awen^;  and  pat  es  a  gude  thoghte:  ffor  I  tell  pe  for  sothe  pou  may  make 
ober  mens  synnes  a  pr^cyouse  oynement  for  to  hele  wztA  thyne  awen^  saule, 
when  pou  hase  mynde  of  thaym.  This  oynement  es  pr<?cyouse  all-if  pe  spycery 
in  it-selfe  be  noghte  full  clene:  ffor  it  es  tn'acle  made  of  venym?  for  to  distroye 
venymtf,  pat  es  to  say  thyne  awen^  synnes  and  oker  mens  also  broghte  in  to  pi 
mynde.  If  pou  bete  pam^  wele  witR  sorowe  of  herte,  pete,  and  compassions, 
pay  tame  vn-to  trz'acle  whilke  makes  thi  saule  hale  fra  pryde  and  envye,  and 
brynges  in  lufe  &  charite  to  thyne  euencristens.  This  thoghte  es  gude  sumtyme 


Ms.  Vernon. 

tyme  lusti:  pen  schalt  pou  dispose  pe  for  to  preye  or  for  to  penke  sum  good 
pou^t  for  to  quiken  pin  herte  vn-to  god,  and  forto  l  sette  al  pi  bisynes  furst  for 
to  drawe  vp  pi  pou^t  from  worldli  vanytes  &  from  veyn  ymaginacions  fallyng  in 
to  pi  mynde,  pat  pou  mai  fele  sum  deuocion  in  saying,  or  elles,  ^if  pou  wole 
penke  of  gostly  pinges,  pat  pou  be  not  muche  letted  wip  such  veyne  pou^tes  of 
pe  world  &  of  pi  flesch  \n  pi  penkyng.  Per  are  moni  maner  of  penkynges, 
w^uch  are  best  to  pe  I  can  not  say;  but  I  hope  pat  pou^t  pat  pou  felest  most 
sauowr  in  &  most  rest  for  pe  tyme,  is  best  for  be. 

How  ordeind  [pou^t]2  of  pin  owne  synnes  and  of  oper  mennes  norisschep 
pi  desyre  to  god.     Capitulo  xix°. 

J>ow  may,  ^if  pou  wole,  suw-tyme  penk  of  [pi]  synnes  be-fore  done,  &  of  pi 
frelete  pat  pou  fallest  in  vche  day,  &  aske  merci  &  for^iuenes  for  hem.  Also  aftur 
pis  pou  mai  penke  of  pe  syrnies  &  pe  wrecchednes  of  pi  euencrz'stew  bodili  &  gostli 
vfip  pite  &  cowpassion  of  hem,  &  cri^e  merci  &  for^iuenes  of  hem  as  tenderli  as 
^if  pei  were  piw  oune ;  &  pat  is  a  good  pou^t,  ffor  i  telle  pe  for  sope  pou  may 
make  opwr  mewnes  sywnes  a  precious  oynement3  for  to  hele  pin  oune  soule  wzJ/>, 
whon  pou  hast  mynde  of  hem.  Pis  oynemewt  in  hit-self  is  pmnons  pouz;  pe 
spicerie  in  hit-self  be  not  clene,  ffor  hit  is  triacle  maad  of  venym  [for  to  distroye 
venym4],  pat  is  to  sai  pyn  oune  sy«nes  &  op«r  mennes  also  brou^t  in  to  py 
mynde  ;  ^if  pou  beete  hem  wip  serwe  of  pin  herte  &  pite  &  compassion,  pei  twme 
in  to  tn'acle  w^uch  makep  pi  soule  hoi  from  pride  &  envie,  &  bringep  loue  & 
charite  to  piw  euewcn'stew.  Pis  pou^t  is  good  sum-time  to  haue. 

1  al.  om.        2  Ms.  loue.        *  Ms.  oymement.        4  om. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  28^ 

Ms.  Thornton. 

for  to  hafe.  /  Also  f>0u  may  hafe  mynde  of  pe  manhede  of  our*  lorde,  in  his 
byrthe,  or  in  his  passion*,  or  in  any  of  his  werkes,  and  fede  thi  thoghte  w/bfc 
gastely  ymagynacyon*  of  it,  for  to  stirre  thyne  affection*  to  mare  lufe  of  hym*. 
This  thoghte  es  gude  and  spedfnll ,  namely  when  it  cowmes  frely  of  goddes 
gyfte  vfiih  deuocyon*  and  feruo«r  of  pe  sperite.  Elles,  if  a  man*  may  noghte 
lightly  hafe  saiiow  ne  deuocyon*  in  it,  I  halde  it  noghte  spedfull  pan*  to  a 
man*  for  to  pr*se  to  mekill  pare-till  as  if  he  walde  gete  it  by  maystry;  ffor  he 
sail  mowe  breke  his  heuede  and  his  body  and  he  sail  neu*r  be  be  nerre. 
For-thi  me  thynke  vn-to  be  it  es  gude  for  to  hafe  in  mynde  his  manhede  snm- 
tyme,  and  if  deuocyon*  and  sauowr-  cum*  wzt/fc-alle,  kepe  it  and  folowe  it  for 
a  tyme ,  bot  leue  of  sone  and  hyng  noghte  to  lange  pare-appon*.  Also  if 
deuocyon*  cuw  noghte  with  mynde  of  be  passion*,  stryue  noghte  ne  prese  to 
mekill  pare-aft*r.  Take  esyly  pat  will  cum*,  and  go  furthe  to  som*  oper 
thoghte.  /  Also  op*r  par  bene  pat  ere  mare  gostely,  as  for  to  thynke  of  v*rtus, 
and  for  to  se  by  lyghte  of  vndirstandynge  what  be  vertu  of  mekenes  es  and 
how  a  man*  sulde  be  meke.  Also  what  es  pacyence  and  clennes,  rightwys- 
nes,  chastyte ,  and  sobirte,  and  swylke  oper ,  and  how  a  man  sulde  gete  all 
thiese  vertus,  and  by  swylke  thoghtes  for  to  hafe  gret  desire  and  langgyng  to 
pise  vertus  for  to  hafe  thaym*,  and  also  for  to  hafe  a  gastely  syghte  l[of  be 
thre  principal  vertus,  of  trouthe,  hope  &  charite.  Be  be  sighte]1  and  pe  desyre 
of  pise  vertus  a  saule  sulde  mowe  fele  grete  cowforthe  if  a  man*  had  grace  of 


Ms.  Vernon. 

Pat   fele    pou^tes    of  pe   monhede   of  vre  lord  discretli  vsed  norische|)  be 

desyr  to  god.     Cap0.  xx°. 

Also  p0u  may  haue  mynde  of  be  manhede  of  vre  lord,  In  his  burpe  or  in 
his  passion  or  in  eny  of  his  werkes,  and  fede  pi  pouzt  wif)  gos[t]ly  ymaginacion 
of  hit,  for  to  sture  pin  affeccion  to  more  loue  of  hi;«.  iMs  pou^t  is  good,  and 
nameli  whon  hit  comef)  freli  of  godes  jpft  w//>  deuocion  &  feruowr  of  pe  spirit. 
Ac1  ^if  a  man  may  not  li^tli  haue  sauowv  ne  deuocion  in  hit,  I  halde  hit  not  spede- 
ful  pewne  to  a  mon  for  to  pr*se  ouwr-muche  p*r-vpon  as  he  wolde  gete  hit  be 
maistrie ;  for  he  schal  mowe  breke  his  hede  &  he  schal  neu*r  be  be  nerre. 
P*rfore  me  pi«kej)  as  to  pe  [it]  is  good  to  haue  in  mynde  his  manhede  sum-tyme, 
and  j^if  deuocion  &  sauowr  come  \vip-al,  kepe  hit  &  folewe  hit  for  a  tyme,  but 
lef  of  sone  &  hang  not  ouwr  longe  p*r-vpon.  Also  j^if  deuocion  come  not  wip 
mynde  of  pe  passion,  stn'ue  not  ou*r-muche  p*r-aftz/r;  tac  esyli  pat  wol  come, 
&  go  forp  to  suw  opwr  pou^t. 

Pat  pou^tes  of  fele  v*rtues  norisschef)  pi  desyr  to  god.     Capitulo  xxi°. 

Also  op«r  pou^tes  p*r  are  pat  are  more  gostli,  as  for  to  penke  of  v*rtues,  and 
forto  se  be2  li^t  of  vnderstandyng  what  be  v*rtu  of  mekenes  is  and  hou  a  mon 
schulde  be  meke ;  and  also  what  is  pacience  and  clewnes ,  ri^twysnes ,  chastite 
&  soberte,  &  such  ober*,  and  how  a  man  schulde  gete  bise  v*rtues;  and  be  suche 
bou^tes  for  to  haue  gret  disyr  &  longyng  to  pis  v*rtues  for  to  haue  hem,  and 
also  for  to  haue  a  gostli  si^t  of  pe  preo  principal  v*rtues :  of  troupe,  hope,  & 
charite.  Be  pe  si^t  &  pe  disyre  of  pise  vertues  a  soule  schulde  mow  fele  gret 

i  «/.  Elles.        2  Ms.  l>e. 


286  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

onre  lorde,  wz't/z-owten*?  whilke  grace  a  mans  thoghte  es  halfe  blynde, 
owtten*  sauowr  of  gastely  swetnes.  /  Also  for  to  thynke  of  be  sayntes  of  owre 
lorde,  of  Appostills,  Martirs,  Confessozws  and  haly  Virgyns,  byhalde  inwardly 
thaire  haly  lyffyng*,  be  grace  and  be  vertus  bat  cure  lorde  gafe  bam<?  here 
lifTande,  and  by  bis  mynde  for  to  stirre  thyn<?  awen^  herte  to  take  ensauwpill 
of  pam*  vn-to  better  lyfTynge.  /  Also  the  mynd  of  cure  lady  saynt  Marie  abowne 
all  ofyer  sayntes;  for  to  see  by  gostely  eghe  be  abowndance  of  grace  in  hir*? 
haly  saule  when*?  scho  was  here  lyffand*?,  bat  owre  lorde  gafe  hir  allane  passande 
all  oper  creators.  For  in  hir  was  fullhede  of  all  vertus  wzt£-owttyn£  wem* 
of  synn^.  Scho  had  full  mekenes  and  per&t  charite,  and  fully  w/t^  pise  be  bewte 
of  all  opcr  vertus,  so  hally  bat  bare  myghte  no  styrrynge  of  pride,  envie,  ne 
wrethe,  ne  [fleschely  lykynge,  ne  no  manere  of  syn<?  ent^  in  till  hir  herte  ne 
clefoule  be  saule  in  no  party  of  it.  /  The  behaldynge  of  be  fairehede  of  bis 
blyssid  saule  sulde  stirre  a  mans  herte  vnto  gostely  comforthe  gretly,  and  mekill 
mare  pan^  abowne  bis  be  thynkynge  of  be  saule  of  Ihesn  oure  blyssid  lorde, 
the  whilke  was  aned  fully  to  be  godhede,  passand  wztA-owttyn^  comparison 
ome  ladye  and  all  ofyer  creaturs.  For  in  be  persone  of  Ihesn  er  two  kyndis,  pat 
es  godde  &  man^,  fully  anede  to-gedir.  By  pe  vertu  of  this  blysfull  anynge, 
whilke  may  noghte  be  saide  ne  cowsayued^  be  manes  wit,  the  saule  of  Ihmi 
ressayuede  be  fulhede  of  wysedom*  and  Me  and  all  gudnes,  as  be  appostill 
saise:  Plenitudo  diuinitatis  inhabitauit  in  ipso  corporaliter:  pat  es:  be  godhede 


Ms.  Vernon. 

cuwfort  ^if  he  hedde  grace  of  vre  lord,   wib-oute  wzuch   grace  a  mawnes   bou^t 
is  half  blynd,  wz/j-oute  saiiour  of  gostli  swetnes. 

Pat   bou^t    of  diuerse  seyntes  &    of  heore   virtues    norischep    pi    loue    to 
god.     Cap0.  xxi°. 

Also  for  to  penke  of  pe  seyntes  of  vre  lord,  as  of  Apostles,  of  Martires,  Con- 
fessours  &  holy  VzVgynes,  be-hald  inwardli  here  holi  liuynge,  be  grace  &  be 
virtues  bat  vre  lord  zaf  hem  heere  liuircge,  and  be  bis  mynde  for  to  sture  bin 
owne  herte  to  take  ensauwple  of  hem  to  better  lyuyng.  And  also  be  mynde  of 
vr  ladi  seynte  Marie  aboue  al  opur  seyntes ;  for  to  seo  bi  gostli  eiz.e  be  habund- 
auwce  of  grace  \n  hir  holz'1  soule  whon  heo  was  here  lyuynge,  bat  vr  lord  zaf 
hire  alone  passyng  al  opz<re  creatures ;  ffor  in  hire  was  fulhede  of  alle  virtues 
wz^-oute  wem  of  synne.  Heo  hadde  ful  mekenes  &  party t  charite,  and  fulli  wz£ 
peose  be  beute  of  al  ofyur  virtues,  so  hole  bat  per  mi^t  no  steryng  of  pride, 
envye,  ne  wrappe  ne  fleschli  lykyng,  ne  of  no  maner  of  sywne  entre  in  to  hire 
herte  ne  defoule  pe  soule  in  no  partye  of  hit.  Pe  behaldyng  of  be  fairhede  of 
bis  blessede  soule  schulde  gretli  stere  a  monnes  herte  i»  to  gostly  cuwfort.  And 
muche  more  ben  aboue  bis  be  pink[yng]2  of  pe  soule  of  vre  lord  Ihesu,  pe  w^uch 
was  fulli  oned  to  be  godhede,  passynge  wz^-oute  co^zparison  vre3  ladi  &  al 
ofyur  creatures.  For  in  pe  p^rsone  of  vre  lord  Ihmi  are  two  kyndes :  p#t  is,  god 
&  mon,  fulli  oned  to-geder.  Be  pe  \ertn  of  pis  blessed  onyng  wzuch  may  not 
be  seid  ne  co«seyued  be  mawnes  witte,  be  soule  of  Ih^u  receiued  f)e  fulhede  of 
wisdom  &  loue  &  al  godnes,  as  be  apostell*  seip :  Plenitudo  diuinitatis  habitauit 
in  ipso  corporaliter:  pat  is,  pe  godhede  was  oned  fulli  to  be  monhede  in  be  soule 
i  Ms.  hole.  2  Ms.  binkej).  3  Ms.  of  vre. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life. 
Ms.  Thornton. 

was  anede  fully  to  be  manhede  in  be  saule  of  Ihmi,  and  so  by  be  saule  duellide 
in  be  body,  te  mynde  of  he  manhed  of  oun?  lorde  on  bis  wyse,  bat  es  forto 
behalde  be  vertus  and  be  ou<r-passande  grace  of  be  saule  of  Ihwu,  sulde  be 
cowfortheabill  to  a  mans  saule.  /  Also  mynd  of  be  myghte ,  of  be  wysedoiw,  & 
be  gudnes  of  omv  lorde  in  all  his  creaturs;  ffor  in  als  mekill  als  we  may  noghte 
see  godd*  fully  in  hym-selfe  her  lyffande,  ffor-thi  we  sail  be-halde  hym,  lufe 
hym  and  dred  hym,  and  wondire  hys  myghte  and  his  wysdonv  and  his  gud 
nes,  in  his  werkes  and  his  creaturs.  /  Also  for  to  thynke  of  be  mercy  of  oure 
lorde  bat  he  hase  schewed  to  be,  and  to  me,  and  to  all  synfull  kaytyfes  bat 
hase  bene  combirde  in  synn^,  speride  so  lange  in  be  deuells  pr^sone  ;  how  oure 
lorde  sufferde  vs  pacyently  in  oure  syne  and  tuke  na  vengeance  of  vs  as  he 
myghte  ryghtfully  hafe  donwe  and  putt  vs  till  helle,  if  his  mercy  had  noghte 
lettide  hym^;  bot  for  lufe  he  sparede  vs ,  he  had  pete  of  vs,  and  sente  his 
grace  in  till  oure  hertes  and  callid  vs  owte  of  oure  synf,  and  by  his  grace  hase 
turnede  oure  will  hally  to  hynu-  for  to  hafe  hyme  and  for  his  lufe  to  forsake 
all  mzner  of  syn<>.  The  mynde  of  bis  mercy  and  bis  gudnes,  made  wz'tfc  o\*er 
circumstance  mo  ban  I  can^  or  may  reherse  now,  brynges  in  to  my  saule  grete 
triste  in  ourt'  lorde  and  full  hope  of  saluacyon^,  and  it  kyndylls  desire  of  lufe 
myghtily  to  be  loyes  of  heuem'.  /  Also  for  to  thynke  of  be  wrechidnes,  be 
myscheues  and  be  prrills ,  bodily  and  gastely,  pat  fallis  in  bis  lyfe;  and  aft<r 
bat  for  to  thynke  of  be  loyes  of  heuen<?,  how  mekill  blysse  bare  es  and  how 
Ms.  Vernon. 

of  Ihttu  and  so  be  be  soule  dwelled  iw  be  bodi.  Pe  mynde  of  be  manhede  of 
vre  lord  vpon  pis  wyse,  bat  is  forto  be-holde  be  virtues  &  be  passyng  grace  of 
be  soule  of  Ihmi,  &1  bat  schulde  be  cu/wfortable  to  a  mownes  soule.  And  also 
mynde  of  be  mi^t,  be  wisdam,  &  be  godnes  of  vre  lord  iw  al  his  creatures  ;  ffor 
iw  as  muche  as  we  mai  not  seo  god  ftilli  iw  hiw-self  here  lyuyng,  before  we 
schal  be-halde  him,  loue  hiw  &  drede  him,  &  wondwre  his  mi^t  &  his  wisdam  & 
his  godnes,  iw  his  werkes  &  iw  his  creatures. 

Pat  be  bou^t  of  be  merci  of  vr  lord  schewed  to  synful  men  norisscheb  bi 

desyr  to  god.     Capitulo  xxiiii0. 

Also  for  to  penke  of  be  m^rci  of  vr  lord  bat  he  hafo  schewed  to  be  &  to  me 
&  to  alle  synful  caytyfs  bat  ban  be  cuwbred  in  sywne,  sperred  so  longe  in  be 
deueles  pn'son  ;  hou  vre  lord  suffred  vs  paciently  in  vre  synne  and  tok  no  veniauwce 
of  vs  as  he  mihte  ri^tfulli  haue  don,  &  put  vs  to  helle,  ^if  his  merci  hedde  nou^t 
letted  him;  but  for  loue  he  spared  vs,  he  hedde  pite  of  vs,  &  sente  his  grace 
iw  to  vre  hertes  &  called  vs  out  of  vre  synne,  and  be  his  grace  hab  tamed  vre 
wille  hoi  to  him,  &  for  his  loue  for  to  forsake  al  man^r  of  sywne.  Pe  mynde  of 
his  merci  &  his  godnes  made  wip  ofrur  circuwstauwces  mo  ben  i  con  or  may 
reherce  nou,  br/ngeb  into  a  soule  gret  trust  iw  vre  lord  &  ful  hope  of  saluacion, 
and  hit  cundeleb  be  desyr  of  loue  mistily  to  be  ioyes  of  heuene. 

Pat  bou^t  of  [be]  wrecchednes  of  men  &  of  be  ioyes  of  heuene  norisscheb 

bi  desyr  to  god.     Capitulo  xxiiii0. 

Also  for  to  penke  of  be  wrecchednes,   be  mescheues  and  be  p^reles  bodili  & 
gostli  pat  falleb  in  bis  lyf;  and  zftur  bat  for  to  benke  of  be  ioyes  of  heuene,  hou 
1  al.  om. 


288  ^s-  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

mekill  loye :   ffor  pare  es  no  syn£,  no  sorowe,  no  passions,  no  payne,  no  hungre, 

no  thriste,  no  sare,  no  sekenes,  no  dowte,  no  drede,  no  schame,  no  schenchip?, 
no  defaute  of  myghte,  ne  lakkynge  of  lyghte,  no  wanttyng  of  will ;  hot  thare  es 
sbu^rayne  fairenes,  lyghtnes,  strenghe,  ffredomtf,  hele,  lykynge  ay-lastande,  wyse- 
dom£,  lufe ,  pees,  wirchipe ,  sekirnes ,  ryste,  loy  and  blysse  wzt^-owtten^  ende. 
The  more  pat  p<?u  thynkis  and  felis  pe  wrechidnes  of  pis  lyfe,  the  more  feruently 
sail  pou  desire  pe  loye  and  pe  riste  of  pat  blyssede  lyfe.  ^f  Many  mene  er 
couetouse  of  werldly  wyrchips  and  erthely  reches,  and  thynkes  nyghte  and  day, 
dremande  and  wakande ,  how  and  what-man^r  pay  myghte  wyn<?  pare-to  ,  and 
forgetes  pe  mynde  of  thaym^-selfe ,  of  pe  paynes  of  helle  and  of  pe  loyes  of 
heuene.  Sothely  pay  are  noghte  wyse,  thay  ere  lyke  vn-to  pe  childir  pat  rynnes 
aftire  buttyrflyes,  and  for  pay  hike  noghte  to  thaire  fete,  pay  fall  somtyme  and 
brekes  pair^  legges.  What  es  all  pe  wirchipe  and  pe  pompe  of  pis  werlde  in 
reches  and  lolyte  bot  a  buttirflye?  Sothely  noghte  elles,  and  ^itt  mekill  lesse. 
Thare-fore  I  praye  pe  be  pou  couetouse  of  pe  loyes  of  heuenr  and  pou  sail  hafe 
wirchipe  and  reches  pat  eu^-more  sail  laste.  For  at  pe  laste  ende  when^  werldly 
couetouse  mene  brynges  no  gud  in  thaire  handis,  for  all  pe  wirchip^s  &  rechese 
er  turned  to  noghte  saue  sorow  and  payne,  than<?  sail  heuenly  couetous  men^,  pat 
forsakes  trewly  all  vayne  wyrchips  of  pis  werlde ,  or  ells  if  pay  hafe  wirchips  & 
reches  pay  sett  noghte  |)aire  lykynge  ne  pair*?  lufe  in  thaym^,  bot  ay  in  drede,  in 
meknes,  in  hope,  and  in  sorowe  suwtymg  [pay]1  habydes  pe  mercy  of  godd<?  pacient- 
i  Ms.  and. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

mnche  blisse  p^r  is  &  hou  muche  ioye  :   ffor  p^r  is  no  sywne  ne  sorewe  ne  passion 

ne  pyne  ne  hunger  ne  prist,  sore  ne  seknes,  doute  ne  drede,  schame  ne  schend- 
schipe,  ne  defaute  of  mi^t,  ne  lakkyng  of  li^t,  ne  wantyng  of  wil ;  but  p^re  is 
sou^eyne  fairnes,  li^tnes,  strengpe,  freodam,  holy(!)  lykyng  eu«r  lastyng,  wisdom, 
loue,  pees,  worschipe,  sikernes,  rest,  ioye  &  blisse  inowz;  w//5-outen  ende.  1?e 
more  pat  pou  penkest  &  felest  pis  wrecchednes  of  pis  lyf,  pe  more  feruently  schalt 
pou  desyre  pe  ioye  &  pe  rest  of  pe  blisse  of  heuen. 

Hou  pe  desyre  of  worldli  men 1  and  pe  desyr  of  heuene  is  meded  at  pe  last 
ende.     Capitulo  xxv°. 

Moni  men  are  coueytous  of  worldli  worschipes  &  erpli  riches,  and  penken  nizt 
and  day,  slepyng  &  wakyng,  hou  &  be  what  man^f  pei  mi^te  come  perto,  and 
for2|etep  pe  mynde  of  hem-self,  &  of  pe  peynes  of  helle  &  of  pe  ioyes  of  heuene. 
Sopli  pei  are  not  wyse,  pei  are  like  to  pe  children  pat  rewnen  after  a  bot-fly e, 
and  for  pei  loken  not  to  heore  feet,  pei  falle  suwz-tyme  &  breken  hertf  leges. 
What  is  al  be  pompe  of  pis  world  in  richesse  or  iolyte  but  a  botwrflye?  Sopli, 
not  elles,  &  muche  lasse.  t^rfore  i  pre^e  pe  be  pou  coueitous  of  pe  ioyes  of 
heuene,  &  pou  schalt  haue  worschipe  &  richesse  pat  schal  euwr  laste.  For  at  pe 
last  ende  whon  worldly  coueytous  men  fayle,  pei2  bringe  noping  in  here  handes, 
for  al  heore  worschipes  &  here  richesses  are  torned  iw  to  nou^t  saue  serwe  & 
pyne ;  pen  schal  al  heuenly  couetous  men  pat  forsaken  treweli  al  vayne  worschipes 
of  pis  world,  or  elles  zif  pei  haue  worschipes  and  richesses  pei  sette  not  her  lyk- 
yng  ne  here  loue  in  hit,  but  in  drede,  in  mekenes,  in  hope  &  iw  serwe  sum-tyme 

1  r.  worschipe.        2  fayle  hei  om.  in  Th. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  28o 

Ms.  Thornton. 

ly,  pay  sail  pan*  hafe  fully  pat  pay  hafe  conetid,  ffor  thay  sail  be  coround  as 
kynges  and  sitt  vpe  vriih  our*  lorde  Ihesu  in  be  blysse  of  heuens.  /  Also  bar  are 
many  otyr  meditacyons  mo  ban  I  kan  say  whilke  oure  lorde  puttis  in  to  a  mans 
mynde  for  to  stirre  be  affeccyon^  and  reson^  of  be  saule  to  lathe  vanytes  of  bis 
werlde  and  for  to  desyre  be  loyes  of  heuem-.  /  These  wordis  I  saye  to  be,  noghte 
as  I  had  fully  schewede  bese  manors  of  meditacions  as  bay  ere  wroghte  in  a  manes 
saule :  hot  I  touche  thaym  to  be  a  lyttill,  for  bou  sulde  by  bis  littill  vndirstande  be 
more.  /  Noghte-for-thi  me  thynke  it  es  gude  vn-to  be  bat  when  thow  dispose^  be 
for  to  thynke  of  godd^  as  I  hafe  before  saide,  or  one  ofvrwyse,  if  thi  herte  be 
dulle  and  myrke  and  felis  nofo^r  witt  ne  sauowr  ne  deuocyon?  for  to  thynke,  bot 
anely  a  l  naked  desyre  &  a  wayke  will,  bat  bou  walde  fayne  thynke  of  godd*  bot 
bou  cant'  noghte — ban  I  hope  it  es  gud  to  be  bat  bou  stryue  noghte  to  mekill  w/tA 
thi-selfe,  as  if  bou  walde  by  thyn^  awens  myghte  oiu'f-come  thi-selfe,  for  bou 
myght  lightly  ffall  so  in  to  more  myrknes,  bot  if  bou  ware  be  more  slye  in  thi 
wirkynge;  and  for-thi  I  hald  it  ban  moste  sekyre  vn-to  be  for  to  say  thi  Pate* 
noster  and  bine  Aue  maria,  or  bi  matyns,  or  ells  for  to  rede  apon?  thi  saut^r, 
for  bat  es  eu<r-mor  a  sekyr  standarde  bat  will  noghte  faile,  who  so  may  cleue 
b^r-to  he  sail  noghte  erre ,  and  if  bou  may  by  pnzyeynge  gete  deuocyon^, 
than^,  if  pi  deuocyon*  be  anely  in  affections,  bat  es  in  a  grete  desire  to  goddf 
wiiA  gastely  delyte,  halde  furthe  thi  saynge  &  brek  noghte  lyghtely  off,  ffor  [oft]  2 
it  ffallis  bat  praynge  w/tA  pe  mouthe  getis  and  kepis  feruo«r  of  deuocion<?,  and 
1  Ms.  of  a.  2  om. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

bei  abyde  be  merci  of  god  pacientli:  pei  schal  pew  haue  fulli  bat  pei  haue 
coueyted,  ffor  bei  schal  be  penne  corouned  as  kynges  &  set  vp  vfip  vre  lord 
Ihmi  \n  pe  blis  of  heuew. 

Hou  discretion  is  nedeful  in  |)enkyng  &  preying,  &  hou  hit  is  suw-tyme  for 

to  passe  fro  bat  on  to  f)at  oper.     Capitulo  xxvi°. 

Also  p<r  are  mony  opwr  meditacions,  mo  pen  I  con  say,  |)e  w^uche  vr  lord 
puttef)  in  to  a  mownes  mynde  for  to  sture  be  affeccion  &  pe  resun  of  be  soule 
to  lobe  vfip  vanites  of  bis  world  &  for  to  desyre  be  ioyes  of  heuene.  £ise  wordes 
I  say  to  be,  not  as  I  hed  fulli  schewed  fee  maner  of  meditacions  as  bei  are  in  a 
mawnes  soule,  but  I  touche  hem  a  luitel  to  be  bat  bou  scholde  be  bis  luytel 
vnderstande  be  more.  Notforbi  me  binkej)  hit  is  good  to  pe  pat  whon  bou  dis- 
posest  pe  for  to  faenke  on  god  as  I  haue  before  seid,  or  on  eny  obwr  wyse,  ^if 
bin  herte  be  dul  &  merk  &  bou  felest  noubwr  wit  ne  sauo//r  ne  deuocion  for  to 
benke,  but  only  a  naked  desyre  &  a  weyk  wille,  bat  bou  wolde  fayn  benke  on 
god,  but  pou  can  nou^t:  but1  ban  I  hope  pat  hit  is  good  to  be  bat  bou  striue 
not  outr-muche  vfij>  bi-self,  as  ^if  bou  wolde  be  bin  owne  mi^t  ou^rcome  pi-self, 
ffor  pou  mi^t  li^tli  so  falle  in  to  more  merknes,  but  ^if  bou  were  sleih  in  pi 
worchynge.  And  p^rfore  I  halde  hit  ben  most  syker  to  be  for  to  say  bi  Pater 
noster  or  bin  Aue  or  elles  bi  matyns,  or  for  to  rede  on  bi  sauter,  ffor  bat  is 
eusrmore  a  syker  stawdart  and  wol  not  fayle,  who  so  wole  cleue  b^rto  he  schal 
not  erre,  and  ^if  bou  may  be  preying  gete  deuocion,  pan,  ^if  pis  deuocion  be 
only  in  affeccion,  bat  [is]  in  a  gret  desyre  to  god  wip  gostli  dilyt,  hold  forb  pi 
saying,  brek  not  li^tli  of,  ffor  ofte  hit  fallef)  pat  praying  vfip  moupe  getep  & 
1  al.  om. 

19 


2 go  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

if  a  man?  cesse  of  saynge,  deuocyontf  vanysche  away.  Neu£r-be-les  if  deuocion^ 
of  prayere  brynge  to  thi  herte  gastely  a  thoghte  of  pe  manned  of  oun?  lorde, 
or  of  any  ofo^r  before-said,  and  bis  thoghte  sulde  be  lettide  by  bi  saynge, 
ban  may  b0u  cesse  of  saynge  and  Ocupye  be  in  meditacyon^,  vntill  it  passe  away. 
*[  Bot  of  certayne  thynges  the  by-houes  be  warre  in  bi  meditations.  Sum  sail 
I  tell  be.  /  Ane,  bat  when*  fo0u  hase  had  a  gastely  thoghte  oub^r  in  ymagy- 
nynge  of  be  manhede  of  our^  lorde  or  of  swylke  bodily  thynges,  and  bi  saule 
hase  bene  fedde  and  cowforthed  b^-witR ,  and  passes  away  by  be-selfe :  be 
b0u  noghte  to  besy  for  to  kepe  it  still  by  maystry :  ffor  it  sail  ban  turne  to  pyne 
and  to  bitt^mes.  /  Also  if  it  passe  noghte  away  bot  duellis  still  in  thi  mynde 
by  any  tnraell  of  bi-selfe,  and  bou  for  cowforthe  of  it  will  noghte  leue  it, 
and  b^-fore  it  reuys  the  fra  bi  slepe  on  nyghtys,  or  elles  one  dayes  fra  o^er 
gud  dedis,  bis  es  noghte  wele,  thou  sail  wilfully  breke  of  when^  [tyme]  askis, 
^a  suwtyme  when?  b0u  hase  maste  deuocyon^  and  ware  latheste  for  to  leue  it,  as 
when^  it  passes  resonabill  tyme  or  ells  it  twmes  to  disesse  of  thyn^  euencristen^, 
Bot  if  bmi  do  so  elles  b<?u  dusse  noghte  wysely  as  me  thynke.  A  werldly  man? 
or  woman?  bat  felis  noghte  persamter  deuocyon?  twys  in  a  5jere,  if  he  felid  by  be 
gnzce  of  our?  lorde  gret  cowpuwccyon?  for  his  synnes,  or  ellis  by  a  mynde  of 
foe  passion?  of  our?  lorde,  bofe  he  ware  put  fra  his  slepe  a  nyghte  or  two  or 
thre  vn-till  his  heued  werke ,  it  es  na  force ,  for  it  comm.es  to  bam?  seldom? ; 


Ms.  Vernon. 

kepeb  feruowf  of  deuocion,  &  ^if  a  mon  cese  of  saying  deuocion  vanisscheb  a-way. 

Neuerbeles  yji  deuocion  of  preyer  bringe  to  bin  hert  a  gostly  bou^t  of  [be]  Monhede 

of  vr   lord,    or    of  eny   obar  before-seid,  and  bis  bou^t  schulde  be  letted  be  bi 

seying,    ben   mai    bow    cese    of  bi   saying  &  ocupie    pe  in  meditacion,  til  hit  pas 

a-wai. 

Hou  a  man  schal  haue    him   m   pewky^g  of  be  passion  of  vre  lord  Ihesu ; 
whon  deuocion  lastes  &  whon  hit  passep  a-way.     Cap.  xxvii0. 

But  of  certeyn  pmges  be  bi-houeb  be  war  in  bi  meditacion.  Suw  schal  I 
telle  be.  On  is,  whon  b0u  hast  had  a  gostli  bou^t  oubz^  in  ymaginiwg  of  be 
monhede  of  vre  lord  or  of  such  obwr  bodili  binges,  &  bi  soule  hab  be  fed  & 
cuwforted  bi?rvvib,  &  hit  passeb  away,  be  hit-self,  be  not  ou^r-bisy  for  to  kepe 
hit  stille  be  maistrie,  for  bewne  hit  schal  t^me  be  to  pyne  &  to  bitternesse.  Also 
^if  hit  passe  not  a-way  but  dwelleb  stille  in  bi  mynde  w/y5  a  trauayle  of  bi-self, 
&  b0u  for  cuwfort  of  hit  wol  not  leue  hit,  &  b^rfore  hit  reueb  be  fro  bi  slepe  a- 
ni^tes,  or  elles  a-dayes  from  oper  gode  dedes,  bis  is  not  wel,  bow  schalt  wilfulli 
breke  of  whon  tyme  askeb.  ^e  suw-tyme  whon  bt?u  hast  most  deuocion  and 
were  lobest  forto  leue  hit ,  as  whon  hit  passeb  resonable  tyme  or  elles  ^if  hit 
tame  to  eny  disese  of  bin  euewm'sten,  but  ^if  b<?u  do  so  elles  dost  fo<?u  not  wys- 
liche  as  me  bmkeb.  A  worldli  mon  or  a  wowmon  bat  feleb  not  per  auentafe 
deuociow1  twy^es  in  a  ^ere,  ^if  he  feled  be  grace  of  vr  lord  gret  cowpuwccion 
of  his  sywnes,  or  elles  a  mynde  of  pe  passion  of  vr  lord,  pou^  he  were  put 
fro  his  slepe  &  his  rest  a  ni^t  or  two  or  pre  til  his  hed  oke,  hit  is  no  force, 

1  So  far  Ms.  Simeon,  where  a  leaf  is  wanting. 


(W.  Hilton's)  Epistle  on  mixed  life.  2QJ 

Ms.  Thornton. 

bot   to   pe,    or   to   a-nojwr  man*  or  woman*  |>at  base  this  man*r  of  wirkynge  in 

customs  as  [it]  ware  ilke  ofxr  day,  it  es  spedfull  for  till  hafe  discrecyon*  in  zour 

wyrkyng*,  noghte  fully  fall  per-to  for  to  folow  it  als  mekill  als  will  com*.     And 

[  halde  pat  it  es  gud  to  pe  for  to  vse  pis  man*r  in  what  deuocyon*  pat  p<m  be 

hyng   noght   to   lange   pare-appon*    oup*r  for  to  put  pe  fra  thi  mete  or 

thi  slepe  in   tyme,   or  for  to  disesse  any  op*r  man*   vnskilfully.     The   wyse   man* 

sayse:   Omnia  tempus  habcnt ,   pat  es:   »all  thyngis  hase  tyme«.  /  Anop*r  thyng  es 

his  pat  pe  by-houys  be  warre  off.     If  thi   thoghte   be    ocupied  in  ymagynacyon* 

5  manhede  of  owre  lorde  or  in  any  swilke  op*r,  and  after  this  p<m  erte  besy 

Wit*  all  pe  desire  of  thi  herte  for  to    seke   knawynge    or    felyng  more  gastely  of 

pe  godhede:   prese  noghte  to   mekill   par-aft*r,   ne  suffire   noghte  thi   herte   fall 

e  desire  as  if  p<m  ware  abydande  or  gapand  aftir  sn/«   qwyent   stirrynge,    or 

*   wondirfull   felynge   vthire    pan   p*u   hase   had.      Thou  sail  noghte  do  so.     It 

s  ynoghe  to  me  and  to  pe  for  to   haue   desyre   &  langynge   to  our*   lorde,    and 

f  he  will  of  his   fre   grace,    oner   pis   desire   send   vs    of  his   gostely  lyghte   and 

opyn*   our.   gostely    eghen*   for  to  se    &  knawe   more    of  hym*  pan  we  hafe  had 

by   comon*   trauell,    thanke   we   hym  par-of;   and   if  he   will   noghte,    for 

we    er   $it   noghte   meke   ynoghe,    or    ells   we    er  noghte  disposede  by  clennes  of 

lyffyng*  in  op*r  sydis  for  to  ressayue  his  grace,    than   sail   we   mekly  knawe  our* 

awen*   syn*   and   wrechednes,    and   hald  vs  payed  w/t/;  pe  desyre  pat  we  hafe  to 


Ms.  Vernon. 

for  hit  comefa  to  hem  but  selden.  But  to  be,  or  to  anopKr  man  pat  hap  pis 
man*,-  of  worchynge  in  costume,  as  hit  were  vch  oper  day,  hit  is  spedful  for  to 
haue  discrecion  in  ^oure  workywg,  nou^t  fulli  forto  folwe  hit  as  muche  as  wol 
come.  And  I  halde  pat  hit  is  good  to  pe  for  to  vse  pis  man<r  in  what  deuocion 
p«t  pou  be,  bat  pou  hange  not  longe  p*r-vpon,  oupwr  forto  putte  fro  be  pi  mete 
or  pi  slepe  in  tyme,  or  forto  [dijsese  any  op«r  man  vnskilfuli.  Omnia  tempus  habent: 
Al  ping  hap  tyme. 

Hou  a  mon  schal  haue  [him]  warli  in  pou^t  &  disire,  &  wisli  vse  pe  grace 
pat  god  hap  ^iuen  to  hym.     Capitulo  xx°  octauo. 

Anopwr-  ping  is  pis  pat  pe  be-houep  be  war  of.  #f  pi  pou^t  be  ocupyed  in 
ymaginacion  of  pe  monhede  of  vr  lord  or  in  eny  such  oper,  and  aftw  pis  p<m 
art  bisy  w//5  al  pi  disyre  of  pin  herte  for  to  seke  knowyng  or  felyng  more  gostly 
of  pe  godhede,  prese  not  ouwr-muche  per-in,  ne  suffre  not  pin  herte  falle  fro  pe 
disyre  as  ^if  pou  were  a-bydyng  or  gapyng  aftur  suw  queynte  sturyng,  or  suw 
wonderful  felyng,  ofrur  pen  p(?u  hast  had.  l>ou  schalt  not  do  so.  Hit  is  inou^ 
to  pe,  &  to  me,  for  to  haue  desyre  and  longyng  to  vre  lord,  and  j$if  he  wole  of 
his  grace,  ouer  pis  desyre,  sende  vs  of  his  gostly  Ity  [&  open]1  vre  gostli  e^en 
for  to  seo  &  knowe  more  of  hiw  pen  we  haue  had  bifore  be  comon  tnraayle, 
ponke  we  him  pm>f,  and  ^if  he  wol  not  so,  for  we  are  not  jpt  meke  inou^, 
or  elles  we  are  not  disposed  be  clewnes  of  lyuyng  on  opwr  sydes  forte  receyue 
his  grace,  pen  schal  we  mekely  knowe  vr  owne  synnes  &  vre  wrecchednes,  & 
hald  vs  payed  vrip  pe  disyre  pat  we  haue  to  hiw,  &  vfip  vre  comon  pou^tes 
1  Ms.  vpon. 

19* 


2Q2  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

Ms.  Thornton. 

,  and  -with  oure  comon^  thoghtes  pat  may  lyghtly  fall  vndir  our^  ymagy- 
,  as  of  our^  synns,  or  of  Cristes  passions,  or  of  swilke  ofyer ,  or  ells 
•with  prayers  of  pe  sauter,  or  sum  ofvr,  and  loue  hym  vfith  all  cure  hert  pat  he 
will  gyff  vs  pat.  /  If  f)0u  do  op^nvyse,  p0u  may  lyghtly  be  by-gyled  by  pe 
spiryte  of  errour1,  ffor  it  es  presumpsione  a  man?  by  his  awen?  wytt  for  to  prese 
to  mekill  in  to  knawyng  of  gastly  thynges,  bot  if  he  felid  plente  of  grace :  ffor  pe 
wyse  man  saise  pus:  Scrutator1  maiestatis  opprimetur  a  gloria,  pat  es  to  say: 
»Raunsaker  of  pe  myghte  of  godd^  and  of  his  maieste  w/t/^-owtten?  gret  clennes 
and  meknes  sail  be  ou^rlayde  and  oppresside  of  hym-selfe«  &C.1  explicit. 
i  Ms.  our*  errour. 


Ms.  Vernon. 

pat  may  li^tli  falle  vnder  vre  ymaginacions,  as  of  vre  synnes,  &  of  O/stes  passiow, 
or  of  such  op«r;  or  elles  wz/>  preyers  of  pe  sauter,  or  of  sum  oper,  &  loue  him 
vfip  al  ^oure  hertes  pat  he  wole  3  cue  vs  pat.  //  ^if  p0u  do  opwr-wyse,  p0u  mai^t 
li^tli  be  bigyled  be  be  spirit  of  errow,  ffor  hit  is  presuwpcion  pat  a  man  be  his 
oune  wit  schulde  prese  ou^r-muche  in  to  knowyng  of  gostli  pinges,  but  he  feled 
plente  of  grace.  For  be  wyse  mon  seib :  Scrutator  maiestatis  opprimetur  a  gloria, 
pat  is  forte  sai:  »Rowsaker  of  pe  mi^t  &  of  pe  maieste  wz/i-oute  gret  clawnes 
&  meknes  schal  be  ouwrleyd  &  oppressed  of  him-self.« — 


1  The  Editions  add  the  following  conclusion: 

And  therfore  the  wyse  man  sayth  in  an  other  place  on  this  wyse :  Altiora  te  ne 
quesieris,  et  fortiora  te  ne  scrutatus  fueris,  that  is  [for]1  to  saye:  »hygh  thynges  that 
are  aboue  thy  wytte  and  thy  reason  seke  not ,  &  greate  thynges  that  are  aboue  thy 
myght  ransake  not«.  By  these  wordes  the  wyse  man  forbedeth  not  vtterly  for  to 
seke  and  ransake  ghostly  and  heuenly  thynges,  but  he  forbyddeth  vs  that  as  longe 
as  we  are  flesshely  and  not  clensed  fro  vayne  loue  of  the  worlde,  that  we  take 
not  vpon  vs  by  our  owne  trauayle  ne  by  our  owne  wytte  for  to  ransake  or  to 
fele  ghostly  thyrcges ;  [ne  thoughe  we  fele  ghostlye  thyngys]1  and  grete  feruour 
of  be  loue  of  god  so  moche  [that]2  we  set  at  nought  all  erthly  thynges  and  vs 
thynketh  that  we  wolde  for  goddes  loue  forsake  all  the  loyes  and  [all]  the  welth 
of  this  worlde,  yet  are  we  not  [anone] l  able  and  redy  for  to  seke  and  beholde 
ghostly  thynges  that  are  aboue  vs,  vntyll  our  soule3  be  made  sotyll  &  tyll  it  be 
made  sadde  &  stable  in  vertues  by  processe  of  tyme  and  encreasynge  of  grace. 
For  as  saynt  Gregory  sayth:  no  man  sodeynly  is  made  souerayne  in  grace,  but 
fro  lytell  he  begywneth  and  by  processe  wexeth  vntyll  he  be  perfyte. 

AMEN. 

^[  Explicit  vita  mixta. 

Infynyte  laude  with  thankynges  manyfolde 
I  yelde  to  god  me  socourynge  with  his  grace 
This  boke  to  fynysshe  whiche  that  ye  beholde, 
»Scale  of  perfeccyon«  calde  in  euery  place, 
Wherof  thauctor  Walter  Hylton  was. 

(These  verses  are  om.  in  Ed.  Pynson,  which  adds  a  table  of  contents  instead). 
1  The  words  in  brackets  are  only  found  in  Pynson.        2  Ed.  though.        3  Ed.  soules. 


(R.  Rolle)  Epistle  on  salvation  by  the  name  of  lestis.  293 

5.     (An  Epistle  on  salvation  by  loue  of  the  name  of  lesus).1 

Vv  it  thou  wele,  dere  ffrende,  bat  bof  bou  had  never  done  syn*  with  thi  bodi, 
dedly  ne  venyall,  bot  anely  this  bat  es  called  Orygynall  for  it  es  be  firste  syn*, 
and  bat  es  be  lossyng  of  thy  ryghtwysnes  whilke  bou  was  mad  in:  suld  thou  nevur 
hafe  bene  safe  if  cure  lord  Ihesu  Criste  by  his  passion*  hade  noghte  delyumle  the 
and  restorede  be  agayne.  And  bou  sail  wit  bat  b<m,  be  p^u  never  so  mekill  a 
wreche,  hafe  bou  donwe  never  so  mekill  syn*:  forsake  thi-selfe  and  all  thi  werkes 
gude  &  ill ,  cry  mercy  and  aske  anely  saluacyon*  by  be  vertu  of  his  precyouse 
passyon*  mekly  and  tristely,  and  wztA-owtten*  dowte  p0u  sail  haf  it  and  fra  this 
orygynall  syn*  and  all  op*r  b<?u  sail  be  safe,  ^a  and  pan  sail  be  safe  as  ane 
ankir  incluse,  and  noghte  anely  p0u  bot  all  cristen*  men*  &  wymen*  bat  trowes 
appon*  his  passions  and  mekes  pam*-selfe,  knawande  baire  wrechidnes,  askand 
mercy  and  forgyfnes  and  be  fruyte  of  his  p>vcyouse  passion*,  anely  lawand  bam*- 
selfe  to  be  Sacramentes  of  haly  kyrke,  bof  it  be  swa  bat  bay  hafe  bene  cumbyrde 
in  syn*  &  w/t/z  syn*  all  baire  lyfe-tyme,  and  never  had  felyng  of  gastely  s&vottr 
or  swetnes  or  gastely  knawynge  of  godd* ,  pay  sail  in  this  faith  and  in  pair  gud 
will  be  safe  by  be  vertu  of  be  pn'cyouse  passione  of  cure  lorde  Ihmi  Criste, 
and  com  to  be  blysse  of  heuene.  /  See  here  be  Endles  mercy  of  owre  lorde,  how 
lawe  he  fallis  to  be  &  to  me  and  to  all  synfull  caytyfs.  Aske  nuvcy  and  hafe 
it;  thus  said  be  pr^phete  in  pe  person*  of  our*  lorde:  Omnis  cnym  quicunque 
inuocauerit  nomen  domini  salttus  erit:  »Ilk  man*,  what  pat  he  be,  bat  in-calles 
be  name  of  godd*«,  bat  es  to  say  askes  saluacion*  by  Ihesv  and  by  his  passion*, 
»he  sail  be  safe«.  Bot  bis  curtasye  of  our*  lorde  su;w  men*  takes  and  erre  safede 
b*rby,  and  suttt  in  traiste  of  his  mercy  and  his  curtasye  lyffes  still  in  bair  synnes 
&  wenys  for  to  hafe  it  when  {)am  lyst,  and  ban  may  bay  noghte,  ffor  bay  ere 
takyn*  or  bay  wit,  and  swa  bay  dampne  pam*-selfe.  /  Bot  now  sayse  p0u,  if  pis 
be  sothe,  p0u  wondirs  gretly  »for  bat  I  fynde  wretyn*  in  svm  haly  mens  saghes. 
Suw  sayse,  as  I  vndirstande,  bat  he  bat  can*  noghte  lufe  bis  blyssed  nam*  Ihesv 
ne  fynd  ne  fele  in  it  gastely  loye  and  delitabilite  with  wondirfull  swetnes  in  bis 
lyfe  here,  ffra  be  sou*rayne  loy  and  gastely  swetnes  in  be  blysse  of  heuen*  he  sail 
be  aliene  and  never  sail  he  com*  bar-to.  Sothely  pise  wordes  when  I  here  thaym* 
or  redis  bam*  stonyes  me  and  makis  me  gretly  ferd*:  ffor  I  hope,  as  p0u  sayse, 
bat  many  by  be  mercy  of  godd*  sail  be  safe  be  kepyng  of  his  comwandemente^ 
and  by  verray  repentance  of  pair*  euyll  lyfe  be-fore  done,  be  wylke  felid  never 
gastely  swetnes  ne  inly  savour  in  be  name  of  Ih*m  or  in  be  lufe  of  Ih*.m.  And 
for-thi  I  meruell  me  be  more  bat  bay  say  the  contrary e  here-to  as  it  semys«.  Als 
vn-to  bis,  I  may  say  as  me  thynke,  that  theire  saynge  if  it  be  wele  vndirstanden* 
es  sothe,  ne  it  es  noghte  cowtnzrye  to  bat  that  I  hafe  said.  For  bis  name  Ih*ju 
es  noghte  ells  for  to  say  one  ynglische  bot  »heler«  or  »hele«.  Nowe  eu*f-ilk  man* 
bat  lyffis  in  bis  wrechid  lyfe  es  gastely  seke,  ffor  bare  es  na  man*  bat  lyffis 
wz'tfc-owtten*  syn*  whilke  es  gastely  seknes,  as  sayn  Ihori  sayse  of  hym-selfe  and 
op*?-  p*rfite  men*  thus:  Si  dixerimus  quia  peccatum  non  habemus  ipsi  nos  seducimus 
fyc. ,  wlf  we  say  pat  we  hafe  na  syn*,  we  begile  our*-selfe  and  sothefastnes  es 
noghte  in  vs«;  and  for-bi  he  may  neu*r  fele  ne  com*  to  be  loyes  of  heuen*, 


ed.  Perry  Pr.  tr.  of  R.  Rolle,  p.  42.     The  authorship  of  this  piece  is  doubtless. 


294  Ms-  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

vn-to  he  first  be  made  hale  of  bis  gostely  seknes.  Bot  bis  gastely  [hele]  may  na 
man*  haf  bat  hase  vse  of  reson*,  hot  if  he  desire  it,  and  lufe  it,  and  hafe  delite  bar-in 
in  als  mekill  als  he  hopis  for  to  get  it.  Now  be  name  of  Ihmt  es  noghte  elles 
bot  bis  gastely  hele.  Whare-fore  it  es  sothe  bat  bay  say,  bat  bar  may  na  man* 
be  safe  bot  if  he  lufe  &  lyke  in  be  name  of  Ih*.ra,  ffor  bar  may  na  man*  be 
gastely  hale  bot  if  he  lufe  and  desire  gastely  hele.  For  ryght  als,  [if]  1  a  man*  ware 
bodily  seke  tyr  ware  nane  erthely  thyng  sa  dere  ne  so  nedfull  to  hym*  ne  so 
mekill  suld  be  desyrid  of  hym*,  als  bodily  hele— ffor  bofe  fxm  wald  gyff  hym* 
all  be  reches  and  be  wirchips  of  pis  werlde  and  noghte  make  hym  hale  if  pat 
p*u  niyghte,  fxm  plesid  hym  noghte  — righte  so  it  es  to  a  man*  pat  es  seke 
gastely  and  felis  be  payne  of  gastely  seknes ;  nathyng  es  so  dere,  so  nedfull,  ne 
so  mekill  desired  of  hym*  als  his  gastely  hele,  and  pat  es  Ihmi,  withowtten*  whilke 
all  pe  loyes  of  heuen*  may  noghte  lyke  hym*.  And  this  es  pe  skill,  as  I  hope, 
whi  our*  lorde  when*  he  tuke  mawkynde  for  oure  saluacyon*,  he  walde  noghte  be 
called  by  na  name  betakenande  his  endles  beyng,  or  his  niyghte,  or  his  wysdom*, 
or  his  ryghtwysnes,  bot  anely  by  bat  that  was  cause  of  his  comwyng,  and  bat 
was  saluacyon*  of  mans  saule  whilke  saluacion*  was  maste  dere  and  maste 
nedfull  to  man*,  and  bis  saluacyon*  betakens  bis  name  Ihesu.  £an  bi  this  it  semes 
bat  p*r  may  na  man*  be  safe  bot  if  he  lufe  Ihesu,  ffor  b*r  may  na  man*  be  safe 
bot  if  he  lufe  saluacyon*,  whilke  lufe  he  may  hafe  bat  lyfes  and  dyes  in  be 
laweste  degre  of  charite.  Also  I  may  say  on*  a  nob*r  wyse  pat  he  pat  can* 
noghte  lufe  pis  blessede  nam*  Ihmt  wzt//  gastely  myrthe,  ne  enioye  in  it  witA 
heuenly  melodye  here,  he  sail  neu*r  hafe  ne  fele  in  be  blisse  of  heuen*  bat 
fulhede  of  sou*rayne  loye,  be  whilke  he  bat  niyghte  in  bis  lyfe  by  habondance 
of  p*rfite  charite  enioye  in  Ihesn  sail  hafe  &  fele ,  and  so  may  paire  saynge  be 
vndirstanden*.  Neu*r-be-les  he  sail  be  safe  and  hafe  full  mede  in  be  syghte  of 
godd,  all-if  he  be  in  bis  lyfe 2  in  the  laweste  degre  of  charite  by  kepyng  of  goddes 
comwandementes.  For  Criste  sayse  in  the  gospelle :  In  domo  patris  met  mansiones 
multe  sunt:  win  my  fadir  house  erre  many  sere  dwellynges«.  Suw  are  for  p*rfite 
saules  be  whilke  in  this  lyfe  ware  fulfillede  of  grace  of  be  haly  gaste  and  sang 
louyngs  to  godd  irc  contemplation*  of  hym  w/tA  wondirfull  swetnes  and  heuenly 
savo«r:  £ise  saules,  for  pay  hade  maste  charite,  sail  haue  hegheste  mede  in  pe 
blysse  of  heuen*,  ffor  bise  ere  callid  goddes  derlyngs.  Othir  saules  bat  ere  in 
pis  lyfe  inp*rfite  and  erre  noghte  disposed  to  ^wtemplacyone  of  godd* ,  ne  had 
noghte  pe  fulhede  of  charite  as  apostells  or  martirs  had  in  pe  begynnyng  of 
haly  kirke:  bay  sail  hafe  be  lawere  mede  in  be  blyse  of  heuen*,  ffor  bise  er 
callede  goddis  frendis.  fus  callis  our*  lorde  chosen*  saules  in  haly  writt,  sayand 
thus:  Comedite  amid,  et  inebriamini  carissimi:  «Mi  frendes  ete  ^e,  and  my  der- 
lynges  be  ^e  dnmkyn*«.  As  if  our*  lorde  said  one  bis  wyse :  »£e  bat  er  my  frendis 
for  ?e  keped  my  cowmandmewte^  and  sett  my  lufe  be-fore  be  lufe  of  be  werlde, 
and  lufed  me  more  ban  any  op*r  erthely  thynge,  ^e  sail  be  feedd  with  gastely 
fude  of  be  brede  of  lyfe.  Bot  ^e  bat  er  my  derlynges  and  noghte  anely  kepid 
my  cowmandementis  bot  also  of  ^our*  awen*  fre  will  fulfillede  my  consailles,  and 
ouer  bat  ^e  luffed  me  anely  enterely  wz't/fc  all  be  myghtes  of  ^our*  saule,  and 
brynnede  in  my  lufe  vfiih  gastely  delyte  as  did  pryncypally  be  apostills  &  martirs 
and  all  ob*r  bat  myghte  com*  by  grace  to  be  gyfte  of  p*rfeccion*,  5$e  sail  be 
1  om.  2  MS.  be  in  IMS  lyfe  be. 


(R.  Rolle)  On  Prayer.  2Q5 

made  drunken*  w/tA  be  freeste  wyne  in  my  celer,  bat  es  be  sou^reyne  loye  of 
lufe  in  be  blysse  of  heuen*«. — To  the  whilke  blise  he  brynge  vs  bat  boghte  vs 
•with  his  pr*cyouse  passions,  Ihmi  Criste,  goddes  sone  of  heuen*.  Amen. 

6.     (On  Prayer.)1 

Prayng2  es  a  gnzcyous  gyfte  of  owre  lorde  godd  tyll  ylk  man*  diuysed  as  he 
vouches-safe,  till  sum  mare  delyttabyll,  till  sum  lesse,  as  all  o\>er  gudnes  &  gyftes 
ere  gyffen*  till  sere  men*  apon*  sere  wyse  as  be  haly  gaste  will,  and  principally 
aftire  pat  ilk  a  man^  besyes  hym*  to  gett  goddes  grace.  The  vertu  and  be 
swetnes  of  |)e  Pat*r  nost*r,  and  of  the  psalmes  of  be  sautyr,  and  of  all  op*r 
prayers  pat  er  inwardly  prayede  w/t/*  lufe  and  mekenes  and  clennes  of  herte, 
may  na  tung  tell,  hert  thynke  ne  eghe  see.  Thorowe  be  sout'rayne  wysdom* 
and  f)e  grete  grace  of  be  gloryouse  gyfte  of  our*  lorde  Ihesu  Criste  goddis  som? 
of  heuen*,  if  bay  be  sadly  soungen*  or  saide  in  a  clene  herte  witA  lufe  and 
mekenes  and  lufely  drede  in  pe  louyng*  of  godd ,  thay  bryng  in  till  vs  bryghte 
brynnande  by-haldynge  mengede  with  myrthe,  and  selcouthe  schynynge  fra  be 
heghenes  of  heuen*  wit//  glet*ryng  and  glemyng,  wit/*  myrthe  and  melodye,  that 
herte  vnclosande  bat  lufes  Ihmt  Criste  goddes  somze  of  heuen*  wzt/fc-owtten* 
forgetyng,  whare  {)e  haly  gaste  dwelles  balefull  bandes  brystande  wz't/j  be  bryn- 
nynge  of  lufe  bare  be  heghe  name  of  Ihmi  duelles  eu*r  in  mynde3.  /  Prayere  es 
a  precyous  prikkynge  in  a  clene  hert  makand  men  myghtty  firste  fra  be  erthe  to 
be  ayere  to  be-halde  witA  a  meke  herte  heghand  one  heghte,  clymbande  to  j)e 
clouddes  all  planetes  p*rchande  what4  so  it  hittes,  r)fforpt'r-mare  foundande  ferly 
to  fele  and  mmielle  to  beholde ;  eu*r  be  lufe  of  godd  mekely  desyrande,  praiely 
puttandc  his  grace  pare  hym  lykes  and  namely  to  pam*  bat  abills  pam*  bare-to 
w*t/z  be  helpe  of  godd  in  all  pat  bay  may,  one  be  same  wyse  for  |)ay  sulde 
preuely  wit/*  the  desire  of  theire  hertes  lufe  hym*  agayne.  Many  meke  hertes 
perchance  trewely  lufande  godd  in  all  pat  {>ay  cawne  here  and  speke  of  pis  lufe, 
walde  fayne  hafe  sum  sauowr  or  swettnes  of  it:  pe  whilke  for  paire  gud  wyli 
and  pain?  grete  desyre  hase  it  and  wate  noghte,  and  mekill  thanke  of  godd  fo[r] 
|)air  gud  will;  and  p*raunt*r  and  bay  wyste  bat  bay  hadd  it,  bay  suld  noghte 
bere  it  so  dredefully  as  if  bay  wyste  noghte.  And  jiarfore  he  bat  knawes  oure 
wyllis  and  oure  hertes,  hydes  it  fra  vs  for  we  suld  lyffe  in  drede,  and  halde  vs 
wele  payedde  of  what  so  he  sente  vs,  and  faste  folowe  hym^.  And  ay  pe  faster 
bat  mem*  folowes,  the  mare  sail  men*  fele  of  be  lufe  of  godd.  Bot  by  lange 
tym^  and  grete  trauei\e  trewe  lufe  behuse  be  getyn^,  and  namely  of  thaym*  bat 
gretly  hase  trispaste  and  one  lange  tym*,  pat  felis  pair*  cowcyence  vnclere  for 
are-done  dedis,  lesse  or  mare  whe|><r  so  bay  bee.  And  sen*  it  may  noghte 
clerely  be  getyn*  wi'tft-owtten*  lange  traueile ,  ne  noghte  be  felide  w/t/*-owtten* 
clennes  of  herte ,  whi  sulde  we  ban  bat  ere  synfull  and  vnclene  in  herte,  and 
littill  hase  traueilde,  wrangwisely  grefe  vs  or  gruche  vfith  godd  or  wz't/j  oure 
awen*  selfe,  ffor  we  hafe  it  noghte?  Wate  we  noghte  wele  bat  godd  es  sothe- 
faste  and  trewe?  How  dare  we  ban*  be  wrathe  for  we  hafe  noghte  bat  we  ere 
noghte  j^'t  worthi  to  hafe  by  be  sothefastenes  of  godd  and  by  oure  awen*  defautes? 

i  This  piece  is  written  in  rhythms,  with  frequent  alliteration.  2  Ms.  Srayng.  3  Ms.  eufr 
in  mynde  ever  in  mynde.  «  Ms.  whas.  &  fibrfrer-mare— beholde,  and  e\\er— desyrande,  are 
transp.  in  the  Ms. 


296  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

What  sail  we  pan<?  do?  Sail  we  f)ar-fore  cesse  and  waxe  slawe,  and  tz^ne  vs  to 
syn*,  and  latte  oure  hertes  dye  fra  all  glide  werkes?  Nay,  godd  forbede ,  ffor 
pan*  are  we  dampnabill ;  bot  with  pe  grace  of  godd  gyffe  we  vs  styffely  to  gude 
werkes:  and  we  sail  wounderfully  fynde  pat  we  couthe  noghte  seke,  and  gnzyce- 
ousely  se  bat  we  never  herde  say  ne  neu^  knewe.  For  vs  by-hufes  nedelynges 
besyly  traueile  if  we  desyre  for  to  fynd  lufe ;  and  thaym<?  nedis  maste  for  to  traueile 
that  maste  hase  trispaste.  Bot  comonly  thay  that  leste  hase  trispaste,  erre  leueste 
to  traueile,  and  pay  pat  maste  hase  trispaste  thay  are  vmwhile  latheste  to  tnzueille ; 
and  godd  gyffe  thaym*  pat  liste  noghte  to  traueile,  or  may  noghte  traueille,  or  hase 
littill  will  for  to  traueille,  couthe  trowe  pam*  als  gude  pat  lufes  for  to  traueille1, 
als  pay  pat  lufes  for  to  trauelle  haldes  pam^  and  trowes  pat  will  noghte  trauelle 
or  may  noghte  traueille !  For  thay  pat  lufes  to  trauelle  haldes  and  trowes  ham? 
pat  will  noghte  or  may  noghte,  gude  and  mekill  better  pan*  paym-selfe,  ffor  paire 
awen^  selfe  inwitK  thayre  herte  seett  pay  att  noghte,  and  at  lesse,  if  pay  myghte. 
For  all-if  lufe  make  pam^  to  traueile  and  pai[n]e2  ilke  daye  trispas,  ^itt  thynke  pay 
pat  all  op<r  lufes  mare  and  trauels  mare  and  trespas  lesse  pan  pay,  and  pat 
makes  bam*  to  thynke  pat  pay  hafe  nede  to  hye  faste  aftyre,  pat  pay  myghte  at 
the  laste,  if  godd  vouche-safe,  hafe  happe  and  grace  to  com*  with  pe  hyndireste. 
And  thus  are  thay  worthy  to  ga  with  pe  forthirmaste.  Bot  vmwhile  thorowe 
grace  of  oure  lorde  godde  it  es  geuen^  sonere  to  thaym*  pat  hase  trespaste  apon<? 
schorte  tyme ,  pan<?  it  es  sone  gyuen^  to  pam<?  pat  ere  clene  wz'U-owtten?  dedly 
syn<?  and  w/t/z-owtten^  pmie  byttynge  of  conscience,  pat  ay  ere  besy  to  doo 
goddes  will  after  paire  myghte,  that  ener  hase  bene  sumdele  thynkande  one  godd 
with  pray  ere  and  penance  and  sekynge  of  lufe.  Bot  it  es  gyuen*  soneste  to  pase 
namely  pat  hase  noghte  loste  pat  thynge  pat  es  maste  lykynge  to  godde  by  be 
way  of  lyffynge,  pat  es  pe  floure  of  paire  Couthe ,  if  it  be  festened  in  all  otyr 
vertus  in-w/t/z  pe  saule,  and  pryncypally  grouwdid  in  schamefullness  and  mekenes. 
Thay  hafe  ay  hadd?  pe  luf  of  godd  encressande  \nwith  pe  herte  sen,?  pay  ware 
borne,  pat  never  felid  paire  hertes  ne  paire  willis  fully  assenttande  to  losse  pe 
clennes  of  paire  Couthe  when*?  pay  ware  tempede ;  and  pay  littill  knewe  how  pay 
sulde  lufe  godd  what  for  pe  lufe  and  whate  for  pe  drede  of  godd  and  for  pe 
drede  of  payne  pat  es  ordaynede  for  syn^ ,  and  what  for  pe  lufe  of  godd  and 
for  be  lufe  of  pe  loye  pat  es  ordaynede  in  heuen^  for  all  pase  pat  liffes  clene. 
Bot  sothely  pat  hert  pat  walde  fayne  fele  preuete  of  lufe,  it  nedid  ay  to  be 
clensede  with  many  sake  teres,  ffastynge  and  wakynge,  praynge  and  thynkynge, 
sorowynge  and  syghynge,  and  with  olper  smale  poyntes  pat  p^tenys  to  penance, 
pat  nankynne  manure  of  ill  be  lefte  in  oure  hertes ,  owte-tane  ilke-day  fallynge 
as  oure  freelte  askes— ffor  if  any  saye  pat  pay  fall  noghte,  pay  dyssayue  thaym*- 
selfe.  For  pay  pat  hase  any  tendirnes  or  drede  in  pe  lufe  of  godde,  pay  fall 
for  a  worde  pat  es  vaynely  spoken*  owte  of  pe  louynge  of  godd ,  bot  if  pay  be 
mare  warre  in  paire  spekyng,  for  hurtynge  of  paire  hertes  and  of  tyr  conscience ; 
all-if  it  seme  littill  ill,  it  duse  grete  dere.  It  heuyes  a  clene  herte  ay  till  it  be 
brente  oute  and  with  trewe  contricione  waschem?  awaye,  and  with  the  kyndillynge 


i  Ms.  for  to  traueille  (catchword)  for  to  trauelle ;  (the  catchwords,  though  written  by  the  same 
hand,  have  frequently  a  different  spelling  from^the  text,  which  proves  that  traueille  and  traueile, 
more  and  mare,  go  and  ga,  &c.  were  used  indiscriminately  by  the  scribe  and  in  the  dialect  at 
that  time.)  2  Ms.  baire. 


(R.  Rolle)  On  Prayer.  2gj 

of  lufe  clensede  and  hyghtenede1.  Bot  bay  b<zt  walde  fayne  lufe  godd  one  this 
wyse,  thayme  by-houede  hertly  beseke  and  besely  pray  w*tA-owtteni  any  besynes 
in  werldes  wele  bot  at  nede  askes ,  and  at  bay  make  noghte  nede  ovur-large  ; 
and  seett  thaire  mynde  fully  in  godd  w*t£-owtteni  cessynge,  whare-so  bay  walke 
or  dwelle  or  speke,  slomerande  and  slepande,  in  all  pat  bay  may  \vith  be  mekenes 
and  be  clennes  of  baire  hertes  by-fore  godd  cryande,  and  vmwhill,  if  godd  will, 
of  the  lufe  of  godd  dremande ,  and  eu^-mare  of  be  loye  of  heuen^  thynkande  ; 
wakande  and  wynkande,  knelande  and  standande,  sittande  and  gangande,  lyggand 
and  ryssande,  ettande  and  drynkande  and  all  ob<r  werkes  wyrkande,  nyghte  and 
day,  euyn*  and  morne ,  midill-tyme  and  all  tyme  in  trewe  lufe  lastande,  houre 
ne  halfe  wastande,  bot  eiurr-mare  freely  in  lufe  doune  fallande  to  be  ffadir  of 
heuene  preuely  prayande,  to  be  pereles  prynce  Ihmi  goddis  sone,  ant  till  be  haly 
gaste  hertly  besekande  ;  and  before  be  haly  trinyte  tremble  and  qwake  for  loy 
and  myrthe  and  lufely  drede  one  godd  to  be-halde.  Owte  of  whilke  thre  gloryous 
p^rsouws  and  a  godd  cowmes  all  grace  fra  heuem?  vn-till  erthe  thorowe  a  meke 
herte  besyly  prayande,  all  worldly  thynges  for  be  lufe  of  godd  vtt^rly  forsakande, 
and  all  werldly  solace  and  werldly  delyte  vtt^rly  forgetande,  and  baire  awen<? 
selfe  vndir  baire  awen;  futt  styffely  tredande.  And  thus  may  all  liffe  as  es  before 
saide  bat  base  hade  gude  wille  for  to  lufe  godd  and  for  to'2  hate  sync  fra  baire 
begynnynge,  and  whate  tyme  so  bay  cum*  bat  mekely  will  amende  thayme.  Alias 
for  schame,  whate  may  we  say  if  we  bat  ere  synrall  and  foule  halde  oure-selfe 
gude,  when*  bay  bat  ere  maste  clene  and  maste  lufes  godd*  haldes  pamoselfe 
maste  synrall  and  maste  vile  and  maste  vn^-worthi?  Bot  wha-sa  hase  na  will 
for  to  liffe  thus  and  myghte  come  bartill,  thay  hafe  full  grete  matire  for  to  make 
sorowe,  to  purchase  panic'  bis  will.  For  be  werlde  es  wyde  enoghe  and  gude 
enoghe  to  wyn*  heuen*  in,  gete  at  gete  maye ;  and  it  es  riche  enoghe  and  lykande 
enoghe  and  synrall  enoghe  for  to  wynf  helle  with,  flee  at  flee  maye.  /  Prayere 
frely  floresches  oure3  saules  w/t//  flores  of  swetnes,  w/tfc  be  fairenes  &  be  swetenes 
of  be  fruyte  in  to  meke  hertes  fallande,  bat  es  in  all  meke  vertus  freely  to  be- 
halde  be  faire  face  of  godd,  w/t/z  be  bemys  of  his  bryghtnes  all  clene  conscience 
and  meke  hertes  lightenande.  Bot  noghte  p^rchaunce  as  suw  thynkes  imvitfi 
baire  hertes  when*  bay  hafe  lefte  grete  synns  and  a  party  begynnes  to  turne 
bam*  to  vertus  and  punesche^  baire  bodyes  \vit/i  many-faulde  penance  apon*  sere 
\vyse,  bat  bay  cane  hafe  cowtemplacione  of  loy  in-w/tA  schorte  tyme.  The 
whilke  if  it  so  be ,  wele  mot  bay  brouke  it.  Bot  for  be  drede  of  godd*  and 
hele  of  baire  saules  it  ware  gret  nede  trewly  to  hafe  in-witft  baire  hertes  how 
bay  hafe  cowmen*  bare-to,  in  whate  tyme,  in  whate  trauelle  and  in  whate  lyfe: 
and  if  be  begynnynge  be  gude  thurghe  be  grace  of  godd,  halde  one  hcrtly  and 
godd  will  make  it  better ;  and  if  [it]  be  amys ,  it  es  gude  to  amende  it  or  elles 
it  will  be  harde  for  to  gyffe  accounte  of  all  pmiee  defautes  bare  be  sothe  mon* 
noghte  be  laynede,  one  be  dredfull  daye  of  dome.  And  wha-sa  felis  bam-selfe 
bat  bay  hafe  gretly  trespaste,  and  thynkes  bat  bay  hafe  in-with"  schorte  tyme 
comforthe  and  lyghtnes  wztA-owtten*  lang  trauelle ,  it  may  be  lykynge  &  myrthe 
bat  makes  baire  hertes  merie  for  bay  hafe  lefte  syn*  and  thynkes  bam<?  loyefull 
and  lyghte  for  bai  ere  clene,  bot  if  be  sorowe  of  thaire  hertes  be  be  mare  tendir, 


1  r.  lyghtenede.        2  Ms.  for  to  for  to.        3  Ms.  oure  oure. 


298  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

so  pat  it  hafe  clensede  paym  of  all  aide  synfis.  Pe  whilke  lyghtnes  es  gude  so 
pay  passe  noghte  to  ferre,  and  a  gret  be-gynnynge  of  gudnes  mekill  gf^ce  for  to 
purchase  if  pay  laste  furthe  in  paire  gud  trauaile :  hot  noghte  ^it  cowtemplacyon* 
of  loy  ne  noghte  ^it  clere  syghte  of  saule  and  of  conscience  if  {Day  so  wene,  as 
pay  sail  eftir  verraylye  knawe  inw/t£  paire  herds  if  pay  be-seke  godd  of  grace 
and  besy  paym*  to  laste  furthe  in  goddes  lufe ;  or  elles  erre  pay  fra  godd  &  fra  all 

gudnes,  sa  pat  if  pay  turne  agayne  to  vanyte  of  pe  werlde, as  it  may  sothely 

be  herde  by  be  herte  when*?  pe  tunge  spekes  of  paym*  pat  lufes  syn*,  and  hates 
goddes  worde.  Bot  take  pis  worde  as  it  es  saide,  ffor  he  es  werre  pan  wode  pat 
denies  any  manes  herte  pe  whilke  [he]  one  na  wyse  knawe[s].  For  na  manes  witt 
may  trewly  knawe,  ne  awe  noghte  to  knawe  as  by  demynge,  a  nop*r  mans  herte  * ; 
and  he  pat  es  in  his  witt,  and  w/tA  his  witt  passis  his  witt  goddis  preuete  to 
knawe  and  the  hedills  of  manes  herte  pe  whilke  es  noghte  leuefull  bot  dredfull 
to  knawe ,  it  es  bot  wodenes  and  owte  of  all  gudnes — ffor  it  falles  vnto  godde 
and  noghte  vn-to  mane  for  to  deme  mans  herte,  bot  ilke  man*  his  awen*.  For 
trewe  riste  in  saule  may  na  mane  fynde  till  pay  kane  lyffe  and  deme  neu*r2 
na  man*,  and  till  pay  can*  trewly  in-wz'fcfc  paire  hertis  thurghe  goddes  grace  halde 
all  op*r  better  pan*  pam*-selfe ,  and  namely  all  pase  pat  gyffes  pam*  to  gude. 
And  if  pay  halde  thaym*-selfe  maste  vnworthi  of  all,  and  p*rwith"  falles  noghte3 
in  to  ouer-mekill  drede  ne  in  till  dispaire ,  pay  hafe  bot  the  mare  grace.  Bot 
pus  may  nane  meke  pam*  wzt/z-owtten*  gret  grace4,  thynkande  all  op*r  better 
pant'  paym-selfe.  like  mane  for  pam*-selfe  luke  paire  awen*  conscience  how 
pat  pay  erre,  and  deme  payre  awen*  selfe:  ffor  sothely  pay  dare  deme  neu*f  na 
man*  pat  are  trewe  demers  of  paire  awen*  selfe.  Bot  if  [it]  be  saide  of  any,  it 
es  saide  of  pase  pat  bakbyttes  haly  writte  and  tomes  it  bakwarde,  or  ells  pay 
degrade  it  makand  [it]  mare  tendire  pan  it  es,  accordande  to  thaym* ;  whas  hertes 
erre  so  harde,  and  so  ferre  pare-fra,  paire  conscience  witnesande ,  pat  pay  may 
vnnethes  habyde  to  here  it  be  spoken*.  Bot  ane  es,  by  mekenes  a  man*  selfe 
trewly  to  thynke  hym  ferre  fra  it,  and  a  nop*r  es,  styll  or  lowde  to  thynke  pat 
it  may  noghte  be  so,  or  ells  to  agayne-say  it,  and  pat  es  maste  dredfull.  Bot 
whare  pay  sulde  lawly  knawe  paire  trespas  and  mekely  amende  pam*,  thay  caste 
wafull  wordes  agaynes  goddes  wordes  for  to  defende  pam*  and  to  mayntene  styfly 
pat  es  noghte  gude,  and  sayse  wrange  opynly  and  ruydely  wz't/z-owtten*  drede. 
Thay  agayne-say  godde  and  sayse  pat  (fol.  236)  »godd  saide  neu*r  soo,  godd  walde 
neu*r  say  so;  It  may  noghte  be  so:  wha  sulde  be  safe  if  it  ware  so?«  See  how 
pe  fende  pykes  owte  pe  trouthe  of  cristyn*  menes  hertes ;  ffor  oup*;'  he  makes 
pam*  to  trowe  pat  haly  writt  es  noghte  trewe,  or  elles  pat  na  man*  sail  be  safe : 
and  pese  ere  nop*r  trewe.  If  thay  thoghte  it  preuely,  it  ware  na  heuenes  ne 
na  charge  bot  anely  for  pam*-selfe :  Bot  when*  pay  say  it  appertely,  pan*  charge 
pay  op*f  men*  gretely,  and  namely  tendir  hertes  to  make  sorowe  for  thaym*. 
And  pus  walde  pay  make  godd,  &  pay  moghte,  to  hald  vritk  syn*,  and  agayne 
godd  paire  ill  toj  excuse — ffor  pai5  ere  noghte  of  will  for  to  leue  it.  For,  dredeles, 
and  pay  ware  of  will  for  to  leue  &  ceesse  of  paire  synnes,  thay  walde  noghte 
say  pus;  and  if  pay  hade  neu*f  so  lyttill  of  pe  drede  of  godd,  thay  durste  noghte 
speke  thus.  »Bot  wha  sa  duse  pus?«  P*munt*r  fone  dus  pus  or  spekes  pus.  Bot 

1  Cf.  p.  8.        2  Ms.  na  neu^r  na.        3  Ms.  noghte  noghte.        4  Ms.  repeats  Bot  thus  may  nane 
meke  $a.me  wz'tA-owtten^  grete  grace.        s  Ms.  J>aire. 


(R.  Rolle)  On  Prayer.  2    ^ 

wha  so  dus  bus— fame  nedis  no  nob*r  wittnes  hot  thaire  awen*  selfe— amend 
fame  whaa  so  will,  or  bat  day  cowme  fat  heuen*  and  erthe  and  helle  mon* 
dampne  vs  for  cure  ill  dedis,  and  all  gitd  men*  sail  be  gloryfyede  for  paire  gud 
dedis.  '/  Thurghe  pe  vertu  of  pray  ere  beande  hate  in  oure  hertes  w/tA  be  brynnynge 
of  lufe,  Ihwu  Criste  sendis  haly  angels  of  heuen*  in  helpynge  of  vs  in  all 
meschefes,  myrthe  for  to  make  and  be  mare  glade  for  to  be  when*  mescheues 
fallis,  and  mekely  to  thole  dispysynge  and  skorne,  hatreden*,  ill  will,  angere  and 
noy,  whilke  mekely  to  thole  makes  be  herte  lyghte  of  fame  fat  lufes  godd*. 
/  Prayere  purifiej;  base  pat  base  vsede  syn*  and  fie  vanite  of  be  werlde.  It  slaaes 
paire  aide  synns,  and  fulfillis  fame  of  grace  fat  hadd  loste  be  lufe  of  godd 
thurghe  baire  aide  trispase,  and  makes  fame  loyfull  and  lyghte  for  to  s*me  godd 
i  baire  ill  dedis  gretly  hadd  hym  greuede.  All  bat  ever  may  bay  doo  for 
be  lufe  of  godd,  baym  thynke  it  omr-lyttill  and  countes  it  at  noghte,  so  full  es 
baire  will  sette  for  to  plese  godd:  pare  be  lufers  of  be  werlde,  if  bay  oughte 
doo  for  be  lufe  of  godd  and  hele  of  thaire  saules ,  thaym  thynke  fame  mare 
worthi  to  hafe  thanke  of  godd  for  a  gud  dede ,  than  the  trewe  lufers  of  godd 
thynke  fame  worthi  for  all  be  gud  dedis  and  pe  trewe  scrnyce  of  all  baire  lyfe- 
tym*.  Bot  be  lufers  of  be  werlde  &  of  baire  awen*  luste  gettis  never  be  mare 
bot  be  lesse  for  swilke  vayne  styrrynge,  ne  be  lufers  of  godd  gettis  newr  be  lesse 
bot  be  mare  for  baire  meke  thynkynge.  /  Prayere  es  eu*r-mare  plesande  to  godd 
w*t//  lowe  bryghtyly  brennande  in  a  meke  herte,  wzt/z-owtten*  smokynge  smelland 
full  swetly,  in  all  meke  myndis  haldand  pe  lufe  of  oure  lorde  godd  hate  in  oure 
hertes.  /  Prayere  puttes  at  be  fende  and  haldes  hym?  obake  and  makes  hym*  to 
faile  and  flee  as  a  fonne  standande  oferre ,  noghte  darrand  come  nere,  hafande 
grete  ferly  how  bat  it  fans  bat  his  myghte  es  noghte  bot  twmede  to  rnyste;  ffor 
schame  of  hym-selfe  he  wynnes  hym  awaye  als  a  cowerde  clene  ou*r-comen*. 
Bot  powere  in  herte  es  nane  agaynes  pe  fende  wM-owtten*  goddes  grace.  /  Prayere 
slakes  and  slaas  and  stiffly  brynges  vndir  be  luste  and  be  lykynge  of  be  freele1 
flesche,  and  makes  be  herte  loyefull  and  bryghte  w/t//  brynnynge  of  lufe  in  be 
loueuywg  of  godd  heuen*  at  by-halde.  /  Prayere  mekis  oure  saules  and  makes  oure 
hertis  lyghte,  in  be  lufe  of  godd  lykand  to  lyffe  ,  vfith  gastely  wyrkynge  for  to 
plese  godde,  and  gladly  to  dye  bathe  wrtA  lufe  &  w/t/fc  drede  when*  godd  vouches- 
safe ;  mekill  myrthe  and  solace  in  clene  hertis  festenande,  w/tA  gastely  fyre  of 
brynnande  lufe  makand  freele  flesche  down*  for  to  falle,  fra  alkyn  lustes  wondir- 
fully  losand  his  myghte — ffor  flesche  es  noghte  myghtty  pis  lufe  to  abyde ;  and 
whils  be  herte  lufes  be  luste  and  be  lykynge  of  be  flesche,  it  may  neu*r  wit  what 
bis  lufe  menes.  For  as  be  h*rte  bat  es  lufely  festenede  in  be  lufe  of  godd  for- 
gettis  all  be  luste  and  lykynge  of  be  flesche,  righte  swa  bat  herte  bat  es  festenede 
in  luste  and  lykynge  of  be  flesche  ffor-getes  all  lufe  and  lykynge  bat  it  sulde 
hafe  in  godd.  /  Prayere  opyns  oure  wittis  and  be  eghe  of  oure  hertes  one  heghte 
to  be-halde  w/tA  be  leue  &  be  grace  and  be  gyfte  of  godd*,  all-if  we  be  vnkynde, 
to  be  kyngdom*  of  heuen*.  /  Prayere  wesches  of  vs  all  wykkid  werkes  and  all 
sare  synns ;  apon*  all  wyse  it  dystruyes  syn*  and  puttes  it  vndire ,  and  brynnes  in- 
sundir  pe  bannde  of  all  bale  vtith  a  ferly  fyre  festened  in  lufe  snytfiand2  oure 
hertes  if  we  will  hate  syn*,  w/tA  a  ferly  fyre  flyande  fra  heuen*  as  fyre  owtt  of 
flyntte,  ferly  to  be-halde,  w/tA  bryghte  schynynge  lyghtenande  base  hertes  bat 
i  Ms.  freile?  2  Ms.  snytK  and. 


300  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

stiffely  standis  in  be  Me  and  in  be  louynge  of  godde ;  whilke  es  a  brennande 
lufe  lyghtenede  wztfc  myrthe  in  a  meke  herte.  Wha  so  lykes  to  lufe  godd  wz't#- 
owttentf  desire  of  werldly  vanyte  and  wz't/z-owtten?  mengynge  of  worldely  myrthe 
&  werldly  solace,  and  wha  so  hade  grace  for  to  lufe  godd  soo,  bay  myghte  sytt 
nerehande  it  and  hafe  of  it  na  dere ;  hot  noghte  in  it ,  ne  noghte  melle  bam^ 
wz't^  it,  w*t£-owtten*  gret  sorowe.  /  Prayere  prynttede  and  closede  in  a  laghe 
herte  wz'tfc  be  lufely  drede  of  godd  and  -with  mylde  mekenes,  eu^r-mare  dredande 
for  to  greue  godd  and  eu^r-mare  desyrande  for  to  lufe  godd,  reues  fra  be  ^onge 
Infers  of  godd  lykynge  and  luste  bat  be  aide  lufers  of  godd  before  hase  loste, 
and  fulfilles  bame  of  loye  and  makes  bam£  to  lyffe  angells  lyfe ,  bat  es  to  lufe 
godd  wzt/z-owtten£  forgetynge,  and  eutfr-mare  to  sette  thaym  saddly  in  his  syghte, 
wz't/z  ay-lastande  lufe  and  clennes  of  herte  one  hym?  to  behalde.  /  Prayere  gyfes 
endelesse  cowforthe  &  loye  till  bamt?  bat  hase  trispaste  and  gretly  greuede  godd, 
bat  ere  ofte-sythis  sygheand  and  sorowande  baire  synns ;  bat  ere  of  trewe  will 
to  trespase  no  more,  bot  besily  to  thynke  one  ay-lastande  lyfe  in  be  louynge  of 
godd.  All-if  bay  hafe  will  and  grace  for  to  smie  godd,  ^itt  may  bay  make  bot 

lyttill  owtwarde  myrthe , 

(one  or  more  leaves  torn  out  in  the  Ms.). 

7 .     (Six  things  are  to  wit  in  prayer.) l 

(beginning  wanting;  but  cf.  Ms.  Arund.   507,  p.  142). 

.  .  .  .  (f.  237)  mercy  habydes,  &  sythen^  for  all  pat  myster  hase,  qwykk  &  dede ;  and 
that  soumiyne  mede  wynnes  be  prayand ,  als  saynt  Gregore  sayse :  »be  titter  sail 
he  be  herde  and  of  his  prayere  spede,  pat  for  all  prayes«  ;  &  saynt  Ambrose  thus: 
Si  pro  omnibus  roges,  pro  te  rogabtint,  pat  es  to  say :  »if  b#u  pray  for  all,  all  sail 
praye  for  the«;  &  saynt  lerome  sayse:  »Nede  byndis  man^  to  pray  for  hym-selfe, 
bot  charite  of  brethirhede  stirres  to  pray  for  all :  for  mare  it  stirres  gode  &  payes 
hyw  pat  noghte  nedfulnes,  bot  charite,  bat  ilkane  byndis  to  ob^r,  makis  to  pray 
for  all«.  Als  god  in  be  Pater  noster  vs  teches,  bare  he  byddis  vs  say,  »our?  fadir«, 
noghte  »my  fadir«,  and  teches  vs  bus  to  say  in  be  same  prayere,  Da  nobis  hodie, 
pat  es  »gyf  vs  to-day «;  he  sayse  noghte  »gyf  to  me«,  bot  »gyf  to  vs ,  our?  ilke 
day  brede«,  to  mak  vs  to  vndirstande  bat  we  sail  pray  for  all,  frendis  &  fase, 
and  ^erne  thurgft  prayere  pat  all  may  be  helpede. 

4  Quid        J.  he   fertfi,  what   men?  sail   aske  in  prayere?  Now  certis,  grace  in  this  lyfe, 

duniln  ^  endles  loye  in  be  tob^r.    This  techis  god  vs  to  pray  afterwarde,   pare  he  sayse 

oratione thus :   Primum   querite  regnum  dei  fy  iusticiam  eius,  fy  hec  omnia  adicientur  vobis, 

»ffirst,  he  saise,  layte^  with  prayere  be  blis  of  heuentf,  &  rightwysnesa,  bat  be  waye 

makis  b^r-to,  »and  ban  [al]  at  be  nedis  sail  b^u  fynd«;    for  god  es  dettowr  to  bam^ 

bat  rightwyse  ere  to  fynd  banitf  at  bam  nedis  of  erthely    gudis,    for   rightwysnes 

makis  of  men£  goddes  childir ;  for-thi  erthely  gudes  are  ordayned  to  be  sustenance 

of  goddes  childir  bof  bay  noghte  after  bamtf  pray,  and  pe  ffadir  thurgft  kynd  es 

halden^  to  sustene  his  childir.     Erthly  gudes  ere  noghte  for  to    j^erne   ne  ^itt  for 

bam^  to  pray,  for  man^  wate  neu^r  certaynly  if  pay  be  for  hym? — for  ofte  we  hafe 


1  In  Ms.  Arund.  507,  the  following  pieces  are  found  in  a  shorter,  earlier  form.  Whether  this 
piece  had  any  connection  with  the  preceding,  does  not  appear;  in  Ms.  Arund.  it  forms  part  of 
»Our  daily  worke,  with  a  different  passage  on  prayer. 


(R.  Rolle)  Six  things  in  Prayer.  30 1 

herde  pat  to  many  pay  harme ;  ffor-thi  be  erthely  gudis  Salamon^  sayse  pat  knewe 
pe  sothe :  Vsquequo  stulti  ea  que  sibi  sunt  noxia  cupitint ,  »Whare-to,  he  sayse, 
foles  ^ernes  pat  \>&me  may  harme?«  For-thi,  if  man*  erthely  gudis  will  aske  of  godd, 
witK  grete  drede  aske  he  panv  of  godd ,  and  praye  hy[s] *  lorde  if  he  see  pat 
|)ay  may  helpe  to  [hyme] 2,  send  pam*  if  it  be  his  will,  &  if  pay  will  noghte  helpe 
bot  harme,  witft-drawe  pam*  at  his  will ;  ffor  what  may  helpe,  whate  may  harme, 
better  wate  pe  leche  pan^  pe  seke.  For-thi  it  es  noghte  [ay] 3  beste  in  prayere  to 
be  herde  to  our*  pr^pire  will,  bot  to  oure  pr<?fitt.  Better  it  es  we  be  [noght]3  herde 
whent'  we  to  god  praye  :  for  of  ane  of  pir  twa  sail  we  trayste  in  prayere  to  spede : 
owthir  of  pat  we  for  pray,  or  of  pat  at  better  es  for  vs,  witfi-owttyn*  any  drede. 
It  es  noghte  ay  best  in  prayere  to  be  herd  to  oure  pr^pir  will:  ffor  agaynes  pe 
prayere  of  Paule  god  stode,  &  grunted  to  be  fende  pat  at  he  fore  prayede,  pat 
he  myghte  enter  in  till  a  draue  of  swyne.  Paule  prayed  to  god  pat  he  suld  for 
do  pase  fandynges  pat  hym  pynede  so  sare:  bot  god  herd  hyrru?  noghte,  bot  he 
did  with  better  j)an^  he  prayede  fore.  God  grauntes  vs  noghte  ay  pat  we  for 
pray,  ffor  he  will  gyfe  vs  better  pen<?  we  after  jrerne,  as  he  duse  to  j^onge  childir 
pat  in  pe  scole  leris ;  of4  pay  praye  to  god  pat  pay  be  noghte  downgen^,  god 
heris  pam<f  noghte,  for  if  pay  were  noghte  doungemr,  pay  wolde  noghte  lere  &c. 

1  he  fyfte  es  to  wyet :  what  lettes  prayere  to  be  herde  of  god?  and  sex  thynges  5  Quid 
per  are,  sothely  to  telle.  The  fyrst  es,  syne  of  pe  pray and e ;  this  thurgli  god1^^.1' 
the  pr^fett  sayse  thus  :  Cum  multipl[i]caueritis  oraciones  non  exaudiam,  quia  manus  audia- 
vestre  sanguine  plene  sunt,  pat  es  thus  for  [to]  say :  »When*  ^e  to  me  prayers  sex  im- 
makes,  I  will  noghte  here  ^owe,  for  j^owre  handis  are  full  of  blode« :  pates,  thaypedluntt 
are  full  of  synfull  werkes,  pat  pe  blode  by-takyns.  For-thi  Dauid  sayse  by  hym- 
selfe  :  Iniquitatem  si  aspexi  in  corde  meo,  non  exaudiet  dominus,  pat  es  thus  for 
to  say :  »if  I  se  wykkednes  in  my  hert,  god  will  noghte  me  here«.  And  pe  p[roj- 
phete  sayse :  Peccata  nostra  absconderunt  faciem  suam  a  nobis,  pat  es  to  say  : 
»oure  synnes  hydes  godis  face  fra  vs«.  And  at  oure  synnes  lettis  oure  prayere  to 
be  herde,  be  gospelle  of  sayne  Iohn<?  it  sayse :  Scinius  quoniam  peccatores  non 
exaudiet  dominus,  pat  es :  »sothely  we  wate  pat  god  heris  noghte  pe  synfull,  ne 
whylles  pay  lygge  in  syn^«.  //  TTie  secund  es,  pe  vnworthynes  of  pam<?  for  whaym^ 
men  prayes ;  ffor  whaym^  god  thurgft  pe  pr^fett  byddis  pat  men^  sail  noghte  praye, 
par  he  pus  sayse:  Nolite^  orare  pro popullo  isto  neque  assumas  laudem  8f  orationem, 
quia  non  exaudiam,  »Ne  pray  j$e  noghte  for  pis  folke,  pe  pr^phete  sayse,  for  ^if 
^e  do,  I  sail  noghte  here«.  For-thi  nan^  affye  pam^  in  ojvr  prayere  bot  if  pay 
leue  paire  syn^.  /  It  telles  in  the  lyfe  of  haly  fadyrs  of  ane  pat  bounden?  was  in 
syn* ,  pat  com  to  pe  haly  habott  saynt  Antone  &  sayd  :  »haly  ffadir,  hafe  mercy 
on  me  &  pray  for  mee !« ;  to  wham)e  pe  haly  habott  sayde :  »I  will  hafe  no  mercy 
on  the  bot  p0u  helpe  thi-selfe  &  leue  thi  syn#<.  //'  The  thirde  es,  foule  thoghtes 
&  ydill  pat  lettis  vs  to  thynke  one  oure  prayere  ,  &  sa  merres  vs  of  oure  mede  ; 
als  it  falles  when^  pe  mouthe  prayes  and  pe  hert  fletis  owt  in  foule  thoghtes  & 
ydylle,  pe  body  in  pe  kyrke,  pe  hert  w/tA-owttyn^.  Of  pir  fals  prayande  spekis 
god  thir  wordes :  Populus  iste  labiis  me  honorat,  cor  autem  eius  longe  est  a  me, 
pat  es  p«J  for  to  say :  »This  folke  honours  me  w/tA  paire  lyppes,  bot  paire  hertes 
are  ferre  fra  mee«.  Es  this  noght  gret  vnworthynes  of  pir6  wrechis,  pat  when^ 

2  Ms.  Jjam,?.        3  Om.        <  =  }>of.         5  al.  Noli.        6  Ar.  vs. 


3O2  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

we  speke  wytft  prayere  till  almyghtty  godd,  &  we  alls  vnwitty  herkyns  noghte 
what  we  saye  ?  Sothely,  gret  dispyte  we  do  till  hym*  when*  we  till  hym  praye  pat 
he  oure  prayere  here,  and  pe  prayere  pat  we  till  hym  make,  oure-selfe  will  noghte 
it  here;  we  pray  hym*  pat  he  be  Entendant  to  vs,  and  we  to  hym*  ne  to  oure- 
selfe  will  be  Entendant,  bot,  pat  werse  es,  in  foulle  thoghtes  &  ydille  wastes  oure 
tyme.  For-thi  it  es  to  do  alls  Abraham  dyde.  When*  Abrahams  made  his  sacra- 
fyse  to  god,  ffoules  lyghtted  p*r-appon*  &  walde  hafe  fyiide  it:  bot  what  dyd 
Abraham  pat  this  sawe?  he  chasede  pe  fowles  clene  awaye,  pat  nane  durste  it 
neghe,  to  alle  pe  tym*  were  passede  &  pe  sacrafyce  made.  Do  we  pan*  swa  by 
thir  flyande  thoghtes,  pat  pe  sacrafyce  of  owre  prayere  so  fouly  fyles  pat  pay 
may  noghte  paye  wele  als  pay  solde.  This  sacrafyce  full  qweme  es  to  god  when** 
it  es  clene  &  cuwmes  of  a  luffande  herte ;  ffor-thi  [this]  sacrifice  askes  god  of  man* 
as  rent  for  it  es  to  hym  dere,  and  for-thi  thrugfi  pe  haly  pr^phett  he  sayse  thus : 
Sacrificium  laudis  honorific abit  me,  et  illic  iter  quo  ostendam  illi  salutare  del,  pat 
es  pus  for  to  say :  »W*tA  sacrtfyce  of  pray  ere  pou  sail  honour  me,  &  pare-thurgfi 
way  pou  makes  to  me,  pat  of  my  heuenly  lykynge  £  hele  I  may  sende  to  the. 
Than*  by-twix  vs  may  be  fulfillide  pat  one  ynglysche  es  sayd :  Gyff  pou  me  &  I 
the,  &  so  may  we  frendis  be*.  Send  to  me  prayere  &  I  sail  sende  to  pe  grace, 
&  what-sa  pou  me  duse  I  for-gett  it  noght.« 

The  ferthe  pat  lettis  oure  prayere  to  be  herde  of  god,  pan  es  hardnes  of 
herte  agaynes  the  pure ;  &  hereby  pe  prophett  sayse :  Qui  obturat  aures  suas  ad 
clamorem  pauperis,  clamabit  ipse  fy  non  exaudietur,  pat  es  pus  mekill  for  to  say : 
»He  pat  stoppes  his  erys  agaynes  pe  pure  pat  one  hym  cryes  besekand  hym  of 
helpe,  when*  he  crzes  to  god  &  of  oghte  hym  bysekes  god  hym  sail  noghte  here.« 
The  toper  es  hardnes  of  pam*  pat  noghte  will  forgyfe  pam*  pat  agaynes  pam* 
hase  m^sdone ;  and  to  slyke  Salomon*  spekes :  Rdynque  proximo  tuo  nocenti  te,  $ 
tune  depricanti  tibi  peccata  soluuntur,  pat  es  pus  mekill  for  to  say :  wforgyf  hym 
pat  agaynes  the  hase  mys-done,  &  pan*  god  will  forgyf  the  thi  syn*  when*  pou 
to  hym  prayes«.  And  in  pe  gospelle  god  sayse  :  Cum  stabitis  ad  orandum,  di- 
mittite  si  quid  habetis  adversus  aliquem,  vt  pater  vester  qui  in  cells  est  dimittat 
vobis  peccata  vestra,  pat  es  pus  mekill  for  to  say:  »when*  pou  standis  to  pray, 
forgyf  thase  pat  hase  mysdone  agaynes  the ;  pat  thi  fadir  of  heuen*  forgyf  the 
thi  synnes«. 

The  fyfte  es,  lyttill  ^ernynge  eft*r  pe  [pynge]2  men*  prayes  fore,  and  noghte 
lastande  in  prayere ;  for-thi  sayse  saynt  Austyn* :  Quod  homo  ex  toto  corde  confite- 
tur%  seruat  tibi  deus,  quod  [non]wlt  cito  tibi  dare  vt  discas  magna  magne  desiderare, 
pat  es  pus  mekill  for  to  say :  »ffor  pou  sail  with  all  thyn*  hert  gret  thynges  gretly 
^erne,  god  ijemys  thase  thynges  to  thi  byhoue ;  pat  he  will  [noght]  als  tyte  gyfe 
to  the  or  pou  p*rfore  stalworthely  swynke  with  all  thi  herte,  pat  pou  lere  grete 
thynges  hertly  to  j;erne4«.  And  sayn  Greggor  sayse  thus:  »if  we  with  mouthe  pray 
aft*r  be  blyse  of  heuen*,  &  noghte  ^erne  it  with  hert,  crz'and  we  halde  vs  5  styll«. 
And  if  we  be  lastande  in  prayere,  god  hyghttes  vs  to  spede  in  his  gospelle,  pare 
he  sayse  thus:  Qui* perseuerauerit pulsans:  surget  $  dabit  sibi  quot'1  habet  necessaries, 
pat  es  to  say:  »If  he  lastande  calle  one  god,  god  sail  gyffe  hym  pat  he  after 
prayes«.  

i  This  is  not  found  in  Ar.  2  Ms.  i^ernynge.  3  Ar.  Vt  ex  t.  c.  desideretur.  <  Ms.  zeme. 
3  Ar.  we  are.  «  Luc.  XI.  8  Si.  ">  Luc.  quotquot,  sc.  panes. 


(R.  Rolle)  Six  things  in  Prayer. 

The  sexte  pat  lettis  cure  prayere,  es  foule  speche  &  ydill  pat  we  fyle  oure 
lyppis  wytfi.  For  if  p<m  gafe  a  gret  lorde  drynke  in  a  slutty  coppe  &  foule :  ware 
pe  drynke  neu*r  sa  gude,  hym  wolde  wlate  witft-alli  &  byd  do  it  awaye,  thriste 
hyw  neu*r  sa  sare.  Sa  dose  god  with  the  prayere  pat  comes  of  a  foule  mouthe: 
he  latys  noghte  p*r-by  &  turnes  hym  p*r-fra;  &  for-thi  saynt  Gregor  sayse :  Os 
nostrum  a  deo  tantum  minus  exauditur  in  prece,  quanta  plus  polluitur  stulta  locu- 
done,  pat  es  p«*  for  to  say :  «Als  mekill  es  oure  prayere  herde  lesse  of  god,  in 
als  mekill  as  oure  mouthe  es  fyled  wit/i  foule  speche.  (vi.)  ^en*  pat  ware  by-for  6 
this  tym*,  with  prayere  wan*  of  god  what-so  pay  fore  prayede,  for  pay  helde 
pam*  in  sothefastnes  &  noght  ydyll  spake.  And  this  was  schewede  till  ane  haly 
heremyte  pat  highte  FlorenciuS3,  pat  wonned  in  a  wildirnes  vnknawen*  fra  men*.Narratio 

U  vermyn*  was  abowte  this  heremyte  stede,   pat  nane  durste  thedir  come, 
be  a  ferre  waye.     A  deken*  was  in  pat  lande  pat  of  pis  herymyte  had*  herde:   he 
went  so  lange  in  pat  wildirnesse  hym  to  seke,  ay  to  he  come  to  pe  place  whare 
he  duelland  was.    Bot  sa  mekill  v*nnyn*  he  saw  pare  abowte,   pat  he  durste  come 
no  nerre,   bot  cr/ede  aft*r  helpe,  as  he  pat  was  afferde.     Pat  haly  man*  com*?  owte 
to   wiete   whate    pat  was  pat  cryede :    &  he  sawe  a  man*  stand  w*tA-owte,  &  he 
spirred  hym*4   whate  he  walde.     Pe  dekyn*  was  fayne  pat  he  hym  sawe,   &  thus 
to  hym*  sayde:    »Haly  fadir,  I  haue  soghte   the   ferre,    for  thi   blyssynge  I  walde 
hafe ;  and  now  I  hafe  the    fouwden*  I  hafe   loye  ynoghe,    myghte  I  to  be  wyn* ; 
bot   sa   many    venemos    bestes  abowte  I  se,   pat  I  dare  come  no  nerre  the.«     Pe 
haly   man*,  when*  he   this   herde,  felle  down*  appon*  his  knees  &  hertly  to  god 
he   prayede    he  wold   for-do  pase  wormes,   pat  be  dekyn*  myghte  come  &  speke 
with    hym*.     &  vnnethes   had   this  haly  man*  hys  prayere  to  god  made,  when*  a 
grysely  storme  with  thonore  rase,  was  nane  slyke  herd  ne  sene  by-fore,   &  slewe 
all    he   wormes    by-dene.     Pan*  sawe  the  h*remyte    bis   syghte  &  sayd   till    oure* 
lorde:  «Now,  lord,  thir  bestes  lygges  here  slayne  sa  thikke  one  ylke  a  syde,   pat 
I  to  hym  come  ne  may  ne  he  to  me,  bot  we  of  thir  dede  wormes  be  envenomede. 
Lo,  lord,  pay  lygge  here  dede:  bot  wha  sail  lefte  bam*  awaye ?«  Att  this  worde 
s  haly  man*  sa  many  fowles  come  in  a  littill  whylle  pat  bare  all  pir  wormes 
a-waye.     Here-of  spekys   saynt  Gregore  &  sayse:    »For-thi  pat  goddes  s*mande^ 
W*t*-drawea  pam*  fra  the  werlde  and  his  werkes,  ydill  &  vayne  kan*  pay  noghte 
speke,  sa  to  sylence  pay  bynd  pam*-selfe  dare  pay  no  worde  say  bot  it  myghte 
be  outhir  to  lerenynge  or  to  louynge  of  god:   ffor-[bi]  when*  pay  oghte  by-soghte 
god,  he  graunted  pam*  als  sone,  als  he  dyd  to  pis  haly  man*  of  wham*  we  spake, 
t   we   wofull   wrechys   pat  with   pe  werlde  delis,    pat  all  daye  clatirs  as  pyes, 
righte   alls  we   wittles   ware;    now  lyes,  now  wryes,  now  ill  spekes,  now  flyttes, 
now  bakbyttis,  now  sweres  grete  athes:    thir   fyles  oure  prayere  &  lettis  it  to  be 
spede;  ffor  als  ferre   es  oure  mouthe  prayande  fra  god,  als  it  es  nere  be  werlde 
wit*  ydill  speche.    Mekill  Metis  ou*r  oure  herte  &  passys  owt  of  warde,  whils  we 
are  taryed  to  speke  wft*  werldes  men*;  ffor-[bi]  pe  lesse  we  are  herde  of  god  if  we 
o  hym  pray,  if  oure  mouthe  be  fyled  be-fore  with  werldes  speche.«    For  so  myght- 
full  es  prayere  if  he  hafe   his  ryghte,   pat  he  mayst*rs  pe  fende  &  lettis  hym  to 
do  his  will.     For  als  6  it  tellis  by  an  Emp*ro«r  pat  hyghte  lulyane?,   pat  had  many 
fendis  pat  did  whate  he  pam*  badde :    this  lulyan*  comandid  a  fende  to  wend  to 

III'  ^r<  ^Trj^      2  PM  beg'  °f  the  6th  P°int  is  not  marked  in  ^e  Ms.        3  cf.  Greg.  Dial. 
*  Ms.  oure  oure.        o  r.  aiso?        7  Cf>  Vh>  Patr>  (Migne)  I003>     fe 


304  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

pe  owttireste  syde  of  pe  werlde,  to  bryng  hym  hasty  tydynges  how  it  was  bare. 
And  when?  the  fende  had  flowen?  by  be  lyfte  ten?  day  lourne  thedirwarde,  he  com? 
fly  and  ou?r  a  place  whare  an  herymet  duellyd  bat  hight  Puplius,  bat  prayand  was  pat 
tyme.  I*e  pray  ere  of  pat  holy  h?remyt  ou?r-gat  be  fende  bar  he  flowe,  and  bar  still 
it  helde  hym  faste  as  he  ware  bounden?,  ywhils  ten?  dayes  lastede — for  all  bat 
tym?  be  holy  h?remyte  wasse  in  prayere.  &  when?  he  cessyde  of  his  prayere,  pe 
fende  toz/mede  agayne ;  for  prayere  hym  lettide  pat  he  myghte  na  ferrere  wende.  // 
1When  p0u  hase  gedirde  hame  thi  herte  w/tA  his  witt,  &  hase  for-don?  pase 
thynges  pat  pe  prayand  myght  lett,  and  won?  to  pat  deuocyon?  bat  god  to 
pe  sendis  thwrgR  his  dere-worthy  grace:  Qwykly  ryse  pan?  of  thi  bede  at 
be  belle  ryngynge,  if  p0u  may  it  here  ;  and  if  na  kirke  be  bare  p<?u  duellis,  be 
Cokk  be  thi  belle;  if  p?r  be  nowthir  cokk  ne  belle,  goddes  lufe  pan?  wakken? 
the — and  this  I  hald  be  beste,  for  it  payes  maste  to  godd  when?  man?  wakkyns 
and  mase  hym  to  ryse  to  s?me  his  lorde  &  his  creat[o]ure  als  to  hym  fallys.  And 
ofte  by  goddes  Infers  it  falles  bat  gelelousely  es  in  lufe  ruted,  bat  bay  wakken? 
be-fore  bathe  Cokk  &  belle,  and  hase  weschen?  baire  face  witft  swete  lufe-teris, 
and  baire  saules  wz't^-in  hase  loye  in  gode  wz't/z  deuocyon?  &  lykynge  &  mz/rnywge 
to  hym,  &  witR  ob?r  heuenly  gladynges  bat  god  to  his  Infers  sendis.  Cely  are 
bay  by-fore  ob?r  bat  lufe  wakkynws ,  for  many  gladynges  bay  hafe  when?  ob?r 
faste  slepis :  for  bay  fynd  by-fore  bam?  bat  gladdes  all,  ryse  bay  neu?r  so  sone ; 
ffor  god  hyghtis  this  till  all  his  bare  he  bus  sayse:  Quj  mane  vigilauerit  ad  me, 
inveniet  me,  »he  bat  arely  wakkyns  to  me,  for  sothe  I  say  he  sail  fynd  me,  to 
speke  wz'tA  me,  to  glade  hym?  -with  me,  &  hafe  me  at  his  will.«  For-thi  lere  of 
be  lufe-buke  als  goddes  spouse  pe  techis,  so  he  dyd  pare  he  pus  sayse :  Ego 
dormio  Sf  cor  meum  vigilat,  pat  es:  »whils  I  slepe  my  body  to  ese,  my  hert  es 
ay  wakire  in  gelousy  to  my  lord.«  /  Qwykly  ban?  f)0u  ryse  when  any  ob?r(!)  be 
calles,  &  thank  hertly  thi  gud  lord  for  be  rest  bat  b<m  hadd,  for  be  mynd  of 
angels  pat  god  to  pe  sent.  Ryse  pan^  qwykly  at  this  calle  as  knyght  pat  es 
called  to  speke  wz't/fc  his  lord  be  kynge.  If  a  knyghte  gret  lykynge  hafe  to  be 
called  to  come  speke  w/tfc  pe  kynge,  when^  he  knawes  sothely  pat  it  es  for  his 
profet:  witR  more  skyll  goddes  knyghte,  pat  es  ilke  gud  crystym?  man?,  at  pe 
callyng  of  his  lord  god  aughte  to  be  redy,  sen^  so  es  he  calles  hym  for  his  mekill 
pro  we,  and  for  no  thynge  elles.  At  pis  calle  arely  to  ryse  ffalles  ilke  gude  crystyntf 
man^,  and  namely  thir  thre  degres  of  men£,  pat  es  at  say:  2Men£  of  relegion^  are 
namely  halden^  pat  by  alnmy  lyfes ,  and  men?  of  haly  kyrke  bat  lyfes  by  tendis — 
for  alle  be  werld  trauells  to  brynge  tham^  to  hande  all  bat  bam£  nedis,  so  bat 
bay  may  w/t/z  more  ryst  bett^  s^me  godde,  &  wz't^  baire  haly  dedis  saughetelynge 
make  by-twyx  god  &  man?;  and  also  maydens  &  wedous  bat  hase  a-vowede  chaste. 
All  thir  byfore  ob?r  ere  moste  holden?  to  pray  to  god  and  loue  hym?  als  till 
ylkan?  falles,  pat  pe  sonne  rysesynge  fynd  pam?  noghte  in  bedde,  bot  if  bay  wery 
be  for  trauelle  or  sekenes  bat  bam?  lettis,  or  any  nedfull  encheson?  bat  bay  may 
noghte  wz't/fc-stande.  Sobirly  f)0u  ryse  w/t/z  a  glade  chere,  and  thynk  b^u  herys 
god  calle  the  wz't/z  bir  wordes  bat  are  wretyn?  in  the  lufe-buke,  bare  he  bus  spekes 
to  his  leue  spouse :  Surge  propria 3  arnica  mea,  formosa  mea,  et  veni  ostende  michi 
faciem  tuam,  sonet  vox  tua  in  auribus  meis :  pat  es  pus  mekill  to  say:  »Ryse,  he 

1  The  following  shows  this  piece  to  be  part  of  a  more  comprehensive  treatise.        2  Cf.  p.  141. 
3  al,  propera. 


(R.  Rolle)  On  Grace. 

sayse,  to  me*  my  lefe,  my  faire  thynge,  &  schewe  thi  face  to  me,  [I]2  jrerne  p0t 
the  voyce  of  thi  prayere  rynge  in  myn*  ere.«  The  Cok  wakyns  to  loue  his  lorde 
by  nyghte  for  pat  he  hym  made,  othir  mede  gettis  he  nane  eft*r  pat  he  es  dede : 
Than?  anghte  the,  Crystyn*  man.?,  pat  lyghtenyde  es  \\ith  skylle  &  goddis  lyknes 
berys,  &  tnzystys  on*  hym*  thurgfi  his  grete  grace  heuenly  mede  to  hatie  if  p<m 
hym  trewly  s*me,  for  thus  thi  byleue  be  sayse,  schame  pan*  witfi  thi-selfe  if  p<m 
withstand  his  calle.  Thynke  be  coke  es  goddes  messangere  and  w/t/fc  hym  he  the 
calles.  When*  p<?u  heris  hym*,  or  when*  p0u  heris  be  belle  ryng,  wakyns  pan*  at 
this  calle  &  qwykly  ryse,  &  gedir  thi  herte  all  to-gedir,  to  loue  thy  lorde,  &  thanke 
hym  of  alle  his  gud  dedis  bat  he  to  be  hase  done  bare  pou  lyttill  s*mede  &c. 


8.     De  gratia  dei. 

(Cf.  Ms.  Arund.  507,  where  this  piece  is  found  in  a  shorter  form;  p.   132). 
Assit  principio  sancta  Maria  meo. 


goddis  grace  stirrand  and  helpand,    and   pat  na  thyng  may  be 
done  w/tA-owtten*  grace3. 

Gratia  dei  vita  eterna  ,  ad  Ro-  V°-:  thir  are  be  wordis  of  be  haly  appostill 
saynt  Paule  ;  bat  thus  are  on  Ynglysche:  »be  grace  of  god  es  lastand  lyfe«. 
Grace  be  appostille  settis  be-fore  as  ledare,  ffor  wztfc-owttyn*  wyssynge  & 
stirrynge  of  grace  nane  may  wyn*  to  be  lastand  lyfe:  for  als  saynt  Austyn* 
sayse:  Omne  bonum  nostrum  nichil  facit  in  nobis  nisi  gratia  dei,  »alle  be  gude 
we  do  to  wyn*  with  heuenly  mede,  grace  by-fore  sent  it  makis«;  for  ellis 
cure  dedis  are  noghtes  bot  als  false  moneye  whare-wzt/fc  men*  may  noghte  by. 
And  for-thi  wene  we  no  gud  to  do  wztfc-owttyn*  grace,  or  ^it  haue  gud  wille, 
for  noghte  es  gud  bat  man*  dose  bofe  it  gude  seme,  bot  goddes  grace  it 
lede.  This  the  prt>phete  witnes  be  god  pare  he  sayse  thus:  Stio  domine  quia 
non  est  via  hominis  vt  ambulet  et  dirigat  gressus  suos:  »I  knawe  wele,  lorde, 
sayse  the  pr^phete,  pat  the  gude  wayes  of  man?  are  [noght]  of  hym*-selfe,  to 
styrre  his  fotsteppis  to  walke  in  the  waye«.  For-thi  wete  pay  wele  the  fende  pam* 
foully  bygylis,  that  wenys  by  pam*-selfe  any  gude  to  do,  w/tfc-owtten*  grace  by- 
fore  cowmande  and  stirande  be  gude,  &  by-twene  seand  &  helpande.  And  pat 
this  be  sothe,  god  thurgh  be  prophete  sayse:  Perdido  tua  ex  te  Israel;  in  me 
est  auxilium  tuum:  »Of  thi-selfe,  he  sayse,  p0u  hase  pat  p<m  may  be  loste,  bot 
wzt^-owttyn*  my  gnzce  helpande  bese  p^u  neu<?r  saufen.  Goddes  grace  command 
to  man*  wirkis  in  hym  whare-thurgh  he  may  be  saufe,  bat  in  his  firste  cowmyng 
fyndes  in  man*  whare-fore  he  myghte  hym  dampne  thurgh  his  ryghtewys  dome. 
Whate  garte  our*  forme-ffadir  Paradyse  wyn*  of  Cryste,  pat  w/t/fc  his  blody  handis 
was  done  one  the  croyse?  now  certis  bot  grace  helpande,  pat  stirrid  hym*  bat 
tyme  to  forthynke  hys  syn*  &  made  hym  mercy  to  crye  for  his  mysdede. 

Off  thre  degrees  of  grace  fynde  we  in  haly  write.  For  be  begynnyng  of 
oure  speche  es  of  grace,  it  es  for  to  wete  of  thre  degrees  of  grace.  Ane  p*f  es  pat 
till  creatowrs  es  comon*,  that  god  gyffes  till  all  creators  to  vp-halde  pam*  with", 
and  this  es  called  goddis  helpe  freely  gyffen*  till  all  creatows  ;  and  for-owtten* 


1  r.  come.        2  Ms.  and.        3  Ms.  grace  J>at  is;  god  says  J)us  crossed  out. 

20 


?o6  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

this  gyfte  of  grace  creators  may  noghte  do,  ne  laste  in  thayre  kynde.  For  als 
f)0u  may  se  bat  water  es  mad  hate  thurgR  strenghe  of  ffyre ,  &  witR-drawe  be 
fyre  bare-fraa,  it  turnes  agayne  als  it  was  &  by-cowmes  calde:  righte  sa  it  fares 
of  creators,  als  saynt  Austyn*  sayse:  »A11  creators,  als  bay  are  of  noghte  made, 
bot  if  god  bam*  vp-halde  thurgRe  his  grace  in  bat  bay  ere,  worthe  to  noghte 
wz'tfc-in  a  littill  stounde«.  Pis  vndirstode  be  appostill  by  skill,  &  for-thi  he  sayse : 
Gratia  del  sum  id  quod  sum,  » thurgR  goddes  grace,  quod  he,  I  am  bat  I  am, 
anely  thurgR  goddes  grace  alle  this  I  haue«.  //  Bot  bar  es  anob*r  grace  of  god 
&  mare  specyale,  bat  god  gyffes  till  ilk  man*?  bat  es  gud  &  skilfull  creature,  do 
it  wha  sa  will :  and  this  grace  standis  ever  at  the  ^ates  of  oure  hertis  &  knokkes 
on  oure  fre  will  and  byddes  late  hym  In*.  This  sayse  god  bat  he  duse  b*r  he 
thus  sayse:  Ego  sto  ad  hostium  8f  pulso;  he  standis,  he  sayse,  at  be  dore  of 
thyn*  herte  &  knokkes  bat  bou  late  hym  In*.  &  this  es  calde  goddes  grace 
frely  gyffen*  to  man*  or  he  b*r-aft*r  s*me ;  bat  thurgR  stirrynge  of  this  grace 
man*  graythe  hym  swa  bat  he  be  worthy  to  resceyue  be  gyfte  of  be  haly  gaste, 
pat  e\\er  stirres  the  to  be  gude  &  calles  fra  be  the  ille  of  mans  free  wille. 

1  Wa  thynges  are  nedfull  to  be  hele  of  manes  saule.  The  firste  es  bis  [grace] 
bat  I  now  of  speke,  the  tob*r  es  manes  fre  wyll  accordand  fw-till:  &  wzt/fc- 
owtten*  thir  twa  na  man*  may  do,  thurgR  oghte  bat  in  hym  es,  bat  helpe  hym 
sulde  to  be  hele  of  his  saule.  For  nob*r  free  will  forowten*  this  grace  stirrande, 
ne  this  grace  forowtten*  free  will  assentande  &  helpeand,  noghte  may  do  bat  god 
may  paye.  For  saynt  Austyn*  sayse :  Qui  fecit  te  sine  te,  non  viuificabit  te  sine  te, 
pat  es  at  say:  »he  b«t  made  the  wzbfc-owtten*  the,  he  wille  noghte  make  the 
ryghtwyse  to  be  bot  if  bou  will  helpe  b*r-to«.  And  bofe  be  fre  will  of  man* 
ne  may  not  mak  the  grace  of  god  in  man*,  neu*r-the-lesse  do  man*  b«t  in  hym 
es  and  graytRe  hym  swa,  bat  he  be  redy  &  abyll  to  resceyue  be  grace  when*  it 
co  wines.  Als  b0u  may  see  by  thi-selfe  if  f)<m  ware  in  a  myrke  house  one  the 
daye,  &  alle  the  thirlles,  dores  &  wyndows  ware  stokyn*,  bat  na  sone  myght  enter: 
if  f)0u  stod  styll  &  walde  noghte  late  be  sonwe  come  In,  wha  were  to  blame  if 
be  house  were  myrke?  for  if  f)0u  opynde  the  dores  and  wyndouse,  als-tyte  be 
sone  walde  come  In*  &  lyghte  alle  be  house.  For-thi  wyte  nane  bot  thi-selfe 
if  b0u  g^celese  be;  ffor  saynt  Anselme  sayse:  »Man  wanttes  noghte  bis  grace, 
for  god  gyffes  it  hym* ;  bot  he  hafes  it  noghte,  &  whi?  for  he  resceyues  it  noghte, 
&  b«t  es,  for  he  redies  hym  noghte  to  resceyue  bis  gr^ce  als  he  sulde ;  for  if 
he  graythede  hym  als  he  sulde,  wzt^-owtten*  grace  ware  he  noghte «.  God  es 
no  chynche  of  his  grace ,  for  he  base  b*rof  ynoghe — for  if  he  dele  it  neu*f  sa 
ferre  ne  to  sa  many,  ^itt  leues  hym  neu*r  be  lesse ;  ffor  it  wanttis  bot  clene 
vesselle  to  resceyue  it.  For-[bi]  saynt  Austyne  sayse:  Deus  ingenti  libertate  atque 
vbertate^  replet  omnes  creatiiras,  in2  capacitate  earum,  b«t  es  bus  mekill  for  to  say: 
»God  thurgR  the  gret  fredome  of  his  mekill  gr^ce  helpfull3:  fillis  alle  creaturs 
aft*r  f)#t  bay  are  abyll  to  resceyue  his  grace«.  If  man*  open*  his  herte  to  this 
[grace]  when  god  it  sendis  to  hym,  in  werke  he  walde  it  schewe,  w/t^-owtten* 
any  drede.  For-thi  the  appostill  by  hym-selfe  sayse  when*  he  hys  gnzce  had 
wonne:  Gratia  eius  in  me  vacua  non  fuit,  pat  es:  »be  gnzce  bat  god  base  me 
gyfen*  es  noghte  vanyte4  in  me«,  ffor  he  noted  eu*r  in  werke  be  grace  bat  he 

1  Ms.  vnbertate.        2  Ms.  &.        3  om.  in  An;  Ar.  fulfilles.         *  Ar.  vnnayte. 


(R.  Rolle)  On  grace.  307 

hade.  We  felawchipe  -with  god  of  hys  grace  als  merchaundes  duse  to-gedir  bat 
base  chafere  in  mene  :  ffor  god  settis  his  grace  agayne  oure  werke ,  to  chafere 
Vfiih  bam?  bathe ;  hot  for  his  dede  he  will  noghte  elles ,  be  be  byet  neu?r  sa 
gret,  bot  louynge  &  thankynge,  &  alle  be  pro  we  he  will  pat  man?  haue  bat 
b?rof  may  ryse.  Bot  many  fandis  to  be-gyle  god  &  refe  hym  his  dale,  bat  will 
be  loued  of  men?  for  bayre  gud  dede ;  &  for-thi  are  bay  worthi  to  lose  if  bay 
any  gude  hafe ,  for  bay  stele  fra  paire  lorde  pat  falles  to  his  dale.  Agaynes 
whayme  god  sayse:  Gloriam  meant  alteri  non  dabo,  pat  es  to  saye:  »the  wirchipe 
pat  falles  to  me  I  will  gyffe  nane  ob?r«.  /  And  forthi  pat  oure  speche  es  now  of 
manes  fre  will,  pou  sail  vndirstande  pat  per  es  called  fire  will  of  mane,  pat  frely 
may  turne  to  gude  or  till  ille,  pat  mane  wele  knawes. 

L  Hre  statys  are  of  man?:  be-fore  syn?;  &  eft?r  [manes  syne]1;  and  eft?r  man?  esNotade 
cowfermed,  that  [es]  efter  man?  es  departede  owte  of  this  dedly  lyfe  and  wone  to  that  ]^^. 
loy  bat  neu?r  sail  hafe  ende.  Mannes  will  was  mare  fre  in  the  firste  state  ban  in  tate 
the  secunde,  and  in  the  thirde  mare  free  than?  in  the  firste  or  in  the  secunde.  In  be 
firste  state,  by-fore  man?  synned,  was  mannes  will  so  fre  bat  he  myghte  syne  & 
noghte  syne;  in  his  free  will  it  was  whethir  sa  he  wolde  do  wele  or  ille.  In 
the  laste  state ,  bat  es  cowfermede ,  ban  sail  man?  noghte  mow  syn?  ne  do  ill 
one  none-kyn  wyse.  In  the  secund  state,  in  be  wylke  he  may  syn?  and  may 
noghte  bot  he  syne:  manes  will  es  fre  till  ill,  to  it  be  streyned  &  turned  agayne 
with  grace ;  and  when?  grace  ledis  be  will ,  ban?  es  it  free  to  wirke  be  gude. 
Eu?r  es  manes  will  fre:  bot  be-fore  grace  it  es  free  to  wirke  be  ill,  &  thurgft 
grace  it  es  made  fre  to  wirke  be  gude ;  and  p«j  es  mannes  will  fre  eu?r  on? 
some  wyse.  Bot  mannes  will  es  noght  gude,  bot  it  be  fre  fra  syn?,  thus  es 
mannes  fre  will  fyled  \\i\Ji  syn?.  For-thi  by-fore  bat  man?  synnede,  na  lettynge 
hade  he  bat  myghte  marre  hym?  to  do  be  gude.  Bot  now  slyke  a  brop?r  hase 
syn?  copied  with  oure  flesche  pat  saynt  Paule  calles  Legem  carnis ,  »pe  lawe  of 
be  flesche«,  pat  es  mayst?r  of  the  flesche,  swa  pat  eu?r  he  withstandis  goddis 
lawe  in  alle  pat  he  may ;  pat  lettis  oure  will  to  assente  to  pe  gude  &  stirris  foam? 
to  pe  ill,  pat  he  may  noghte  wirke  pe  gude,  bot  if  grace  helpe  &  vse  hym  owte 
of  syn?.  like  a  man? ,  or  he  syn? ,  hase  a  fre  will  to  folowe  be  fendis  rede 
or  goddes  rede  whethir  sa  he  chesys:  bot  fra  man?  thurgh  werke  of  syn?  byndes 
hym  to  be  fende,  he  ne  may  thurgh  na  myghte  of  hym?-selfe  wyn?  owte  of  his 
bandes ;  and  ban?  he  fares  as  a  schippe  pat  thurgh  tempeste  hase  loste  alle  pat 
sulde  hym?  helpe,  and  es  casten?  fra  wawe  to  wawe  whedir  tempeste  hy/rc  dryues. 
And  righte  swa  it  es  by  man?  bat  goddes  grace  wanttis  fra  he  be  fallen?  in 
dedely  syn?:  he  duse  noghte  bat  he  walde,  bot  aye  waywes  fra  hande  to  hande 
at  the  fendis  will ,  and  bot  god  gyffe  hym  grace  to  ryse  owte  of  his  synn? ,  he 
sail  be  lefte  in  syn?  till  his  lyfes  end ;  and  eft?r  he  sail  be  loste  bathe  lyfe  & 
saule,  and  dampned  till  endeles  pynwe.  And  this  may  p0u  see  in  werldly  tbynges: 
nane  may  make  hym-selfe  kynge  bot  pe  folke  of  pe  comon?  chese  pam?  slyke  a 
kynge  als  pay  walde  hafe ;  bot  when?  he  es  chosen?  of  be  folke  and  cowfermede 
in  his  rewme,  ban?  slyke  powere  he  hase  ou?r  pam?  pat  hym  chase,  pat,  be  he 
neu?r  sa  ill  to  bam?,  bay  may  noghte  do  hym  doune,  bot  if  it  be  thurgh  op?r 
pat  hase  mare  powere  pan?  he ;  and  thus  thurghe  paire  awen?  chose,  [f.  242]  be 

1  so  Ar. ;  om.  in  Th. 

20* 


Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

he  neu<?r  so  ill1,  nedly  by-houys  bam<?  thole.  Ryght  so  man*?,  or  he  syne,  hase 
a  fre  will  to  chese  wheb<r  he  will  be  vndir  god  or  be  fende.  Bot  when?  he 
cheses  -with  his  will  be  fend  to  smie,  efter  he  may  noghte  when^  he  will  com* 
owte  of  his  banddis,  &  swa  be  firste  fre  will  in  till  nedfulnes  turnes.  And  on* 
bis  man*r  werldly  men*  sayse  bat  are  bounden*  in  syn*  to  bam*  bat  consaylles 
bam*  to  amend  baire  lyfe:  »fayne  we  walde  ryse,  bay  say,  bot  we  may  noghte «, 
ne  bay  ne  may  thurgli  myghte  of  bam*-selfe ;  bot  thurgKe  goddes  grace  helpand 
bay  may. 

J.  he  thirde  grace  es  maste  specyalle ,  ffor  it  es  noght  gyffen*  to  ilke  skilfull 
creature  bot  anely  to  tha  bat  resceyues  be  secunde  grace  &  wzt#  baire  fre  will 
filles  it  inded,  &  may  say  by  bam*-selfe  als  saynt  Paule  sayde:  Gracia  eius  vacua 
non  fuit  in  me,  bat  es  at  say:  »goddes  grace  ne  was  noghte  vanyte2  in  me «.  And 
saynt  Austyn*  sayse  bat  god  in  vs  wyrkande  fulfillis  bat  he  thurgft  grace  stirrand 
by-gan*  in  vs:  for  nowb*r  wzt^-owtten*  hym  helpande  may  we  do  gude  vn-till 
oure-selfe  ne  till  hym*  pay3.  And  this  by-houes  be  thoghte  by-fore,  for  god  sayse 
hyw-selfe :  Sine  me  nichil  potestis  facere :  »wzt/£-owtten*  helpe  of  my  grace,  he 
sayse ,  ^e  may  noghte  spede  ne  do«.  Goddes  grace  stirrande  gase  be-fore  gud 
will,  &  stirres  hym*  to  do  be  gude  &  leue  his  syn*. 

Whate  grace  dose  when*  he  vesettis  mannes  saule. 

Cjrace,  when*  he  firste  cowmes  to  vesete  mans  saule,  he  wakkyns  hym*  als 
of  a  slomerynge  bat  lange  hase  lyggen*  in  syn*:  and  spyrres  at  hym*  wzt^  thre 
scharpe  worddes,  sayande :  »Whare  art  bou,  he  sayse,  and  whethen*  cowmes  bou, 
and  whedir  wendis  bou?«  Firste  he  sayse:  »Whare  arte  bou*?«,  als  wa4  say: 
»Vmbythynke  the,  vnhappy  wreche,  how  foule  bou  arte  douwne  castyn*,  &  whate 
p*relle  bou  arte  in;  for  thurgR  thi  syn*  b<?u  arte  fallen*  in  till  thyn^  enemys 
handes,  bat  ou(?r  all  thynge  couaytes  to  wyrke  the  waa;  and  noghte  may  helpe 
ne  delyu^r  the  owt  of  thy  faaes  handes,  bot  almyghtty  god  thi  gud  lorde ,  bat 
b0u  hase  forsaken?«.  Sythen*  he  spyrres  &  sayse:  »Whethyn*  cowmes  bi?u?«,  als 
[if]5  he  till  the  sayd:  »I*0u  wrechid  caytefe,  by-halde  all  thi  lyfe  als  bou  hase  wastede 
it  \n  syne:  thou  cowmes  fra  be  fendis  tau^rne  of  helle.  Whare  es  alle  be  gudes  god 
hase  be  gyffen*  to  [help]5  pe  &  wirchipe  hym  witR?  sa  saryly  f)0u  hase  bam^  loste 
so  riche  als  thi  lord  the  made,  &  b0u  arte  by-comen^  a  pure  wriche«.  Sythen<? 
he  spyrres:  »Whedir  weyndis  p0u?«  »Wafull  wreche«,  he  sayse,  »bou  wyendis  to 
be  wafull  dome  bat  he  denies  to  wofull  wreches ;  for  als  b0u  hase  s^ruede,  ryghte 
swa  sail  f)0u  be  demyde.  Sa  awefull  bare-to6  bi?u  sail  god  see,  bat  bou  sail  be 
[for] 7  ferde  owt  of  thi  wytte,  and  to  be  montaynwes  &  hillis  bou  sail  luke  &  crye 
•with  a  grylle  voyce  &  pray  pani*  bat  bay  one  the  falle  &  hyde  the,  bat  bou 
noghte  one  hym  see.  Wafull  wreche,  f)0u  wendis  till  helle,  &  j)0u  do  forthe  als 
bou  hase  by-gonn?.  Whare  bou  sail  wende 8  es  fyre ,  so  hate  brynnande  &  sa 
wodly,  bat  all  the  water  of  be  see,  if  it  thorowe  it  rane,  be  leste  sparke  of  the 
fyre  it  myghte  neiur  sloken*.  For  pou  stynkkes  here  to  godd  for  thi  foule  synnes, 
barefore  b<m  sail  fele  foule  stynke  bare  lastande  for  eu*r;  &  for  f)0u  luffed  here 
myrknes  &  ay  to  be  in  syn£,  thare  sail  bou  fele  so  thikke  myrkenes  bat  bou  may 


1  catchword:  be  he  neuer  sa  ill.          2  r.  vnnaite.          3  Ms.  till  pay  hym*.          *  Ms.  als  swa. 
5  om.        6  to  al.  om.         "  Ms.  so.        8  aL  fynde ;  es  om. 


(R.  Rolle)  On  Grace.  309 

it  grape  ;  &  ffor  p<?u  restede  the  here  in  syn*  agaynes  goddes  will,  thare  sail  p0u 
wepe  ma l  thykkere  &  more  glowande  teres  then*  motes  ere  in  the  sowne ;  a 
thowsande  of  thowsande^  ^eris  payne  sail  p0u  thole,  eu*r  payne  aft*r  payne,  to 
newe  thy  waa«.  //  When*?  goddes  grace  hase  styrrede  man*  and  wakkenede 
hym*  witfi  thir  thre,  &  hase  mad  hym*  to  knawe  the  p*relle  pat  he  es  in:  than* 
he  conseyues  a  ferdenes  of  goddes  awefull  dome,  &  pare-thorowe  he  be-gynnes 
to  sorowe  pat  ener  he  dyd  amyse ,  and  j^ernys  to  amende  hym*,  thurgh  goddes 
grace  pat  stirres  hym  to  fle  pe  euyll  &  gyf  hym  to  do  pe  gude.  Than  cowmes 
grace  folowande  to  helpe  pe  gud  will  of  man*  to  fulfill  it  in  dede.  For  pofe  p0u, 
man*,  hafe  a  gud  will  to  do  pe  gude  thurgh  grace  byfore  stirrande,  the  gud  will 
|)0u  may  noghte  do  in  dede  wztA-owtten*  goddes  grace  folouande  &  helpeande. 
And  [pat]  the  appostill  affermes  by  hyw-selfe  pare  he  pus  sayse :  Non  autem  Ego, 
sed  gracia  dd  mecum:  »the  gud  I  do  es  noghte,  he  sayse,  bot  goddes  grace 
do  it  with  me«,  as  if  he  sayde:  »na  gude  may  I  do  if  ne  goddes  grace  me 
helpe«.  Than  es  gud  we  do  pe  firste  pat  grace  stirres  oure  wyll  to  do,  and 
sythen*  thurgh  grace  feloande  to  wyrke  gude:  &  than*  hase  p0u  pat  grace  pat 
gase  by-fore  gud  will,  and  gude  wyll  es  als  a  hande-mayden*  to  grace  to  wyrke 
alle  hir  wille.  Goddes  grace,  pare  he  es,  will  noghte  be  vnmayte2,  bot  eu*r  he 
es  wyrkkande ;  and  he  es  waxeand  ay  mare  &  mare,  to  mekill  the  mede.  For-thi 
of  this  helpand  grace  sayse  saynt  Paule:  » Goddes  grace  es  noghte  vanyte  in  me«. 
Note  we  pan  this  grace  pat  god  vs  sendis ,  pat  god  for-thynke 3  hym  noghte  of 
his  sande  &  haue  it  eu*r  in  pyne  for  we  note  it  noghte.  For-thi  do  we  als  the 
appostill  vs  redis  pare  he  sayse:  Hortamur  vos,  fratres,  ne  in  vacuum  graciam  del 
recipiatis:  »I  pray  ^ow,  he  sayse,  &  byddes  ^owe  als  my  brethir  in  god,  pat  ^e 
resceyue  noghte  [goddis]4  grace  in  vayne,  pat  notes  it  noghte  in  gud  when*  god  till 
30 w  it  sendis«.  For  p*rcas  if  p0u  it  with-skape  &  it  tyne,  pou  sail  neu*r  aft*r  p*r-till 
wyn*.  //  Isodere  telles  of  a  littill  fle  pot  es  called  Saura,  &  this  fle  by-takyns  grace 
be-fore  stirrand;  whase  kynd  it  es  pat  he  [es]  enemy  to  all  wormes  of  venome, 
sa  pat  whare  he  seese  any  worme  to-warde  man*  for  to  stange  hym*  whare  he 
slepis  in  wildirnes  or  in  woddes,  he  flees  by-fore  to  pe  man*,  or  pe  worme  hym 
stange,  and  lyghttes  appon*  pe  slepand  face  and  byttes  hym  a  lyttill,  &  par- 
thurgh  he  wakyns  hym  or  pe  best  cowme,  pat  he  may  be  warre  or  he  be 
stangede.  Now  by  this  Saura  es  vndirstande  grace  pat  god  sendis  to  man*,  agayne 
the  fandynge^  of  be  fende  pat  ofte  venemosely  stangges;  he  cryes  appon*  the 
als  pe  appostill  witnes  in  [t]his  wordes  &  sayse:  Surge  qui  dormis ,  8f  exsurge  a 
mortuis,  8f  illuminabit  te  Chrisius ;  he  sayse:  »ryse  p0u  [pat]  slepis  so  faste,  owt 
of  thi  syn*  wakken*  &  ryse  fra  thi  dede:  &  Criste  sail  helpe  the  thurgh  his 
dere-worthi  grace «.  Bot  the  vnkynde  cr*atowrs  duse  agayne  pis  grace,  &  for-duse 
it  w/bfc-alle,  als  Wrgill  did  with  this  littill  flee  pat  I  are  of  spake,  pat  saued 
hym  fra  pe  dede.  He  this  Virgill  als  he  slepid,  a  neddere  come  to  hym*-warde 
for  to  stang  hym*,  as  it  es  his  kynde.  Bot  this  littill  flee,  pis  Saura,  pat  sawe 
pe  neddire,  flow  by-fore  &  lyghtted  in  his  forheuede  &  prykede  hym*  a  littill: 
&  pare-w/tA  he  wakenede,  ryghte  als  [pe  worme  come.  Bot  pis  Virgill  in  his 
wakynnynge  he  feled  his  forheued  smerte :  he  smate  hym-selfe  in  pe  fronte ,  & 
sa  he  slewe  pe  fle ,  &  pus  qwyte  he  hym  his  gud  s*ruyse  pat  sauede  his  lyfe. 

1  Ms.  in  a.  2  Ar.  vnnayte.  3  Ms.  for  thynke  for  thynke.  *  This,  and  some  more 

words  om. ;  cf.  Ar. 


2  IO  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

For-thi  for-do  p0u  noghte  grace  when*  he  to  be  commes  to  warne  be  of  thi 
harme  &  stirre  be  to  be  gude.  Fayne  aughte  man*  to  be  of  goddes  grace  when* 
god  sendis  it  to  hym,  and  sa  riche  a  gyfte  of  god  warely  to  ^eme ;  for  bot  man 
hafe  goddes  grace  in  this  dedly  lyfe  &  reule  hym  b*^-afbr,  wele  better  it  ware 
to  hym*  bat  he  ware  vnborne,  ban  lyfe  w/t#-owtten*  grace.  For  grace  es  harls 
of  bat  lastand  loye  bat  is  to  come,  als  be  appostill  sayse:  Gracia  dei  vita  eterna: 
»Goddes  grace,  he  sayse,  es  als  helpe  &  waye  to  ay-lastand  lyfe«:  &  for-thi  he 
settis  grace  by-fore  as  waye  bat  ledis  to  be  lastande  lyfe  &  loye,  &  als  a  wedde, 
if  we  it  wele  ^eme,  to  make  in  it1  sekirnes  of  Endles  loy  to  welde,  als  be  appostill 
sayse:  Qui  dcdit  pingnus  spiritum  suum  in  corporibus  nostris :  »God ,  he  sayse, 
hase  gyffen*  till  vs  be  halygaste  als  a  wedde  here  in  vs  to  welde  of  bat  Endles 
Ioye«.  Halde  we  pan*  this  heuenly  wede  &  note  it  wele  in  werke ,  and  schape 
our*  lyfe  bare-aft**',  in  whate  sa  we  do.  For  wele  es  vs  in  bis  lyfe  whiles  goddis 
grace  vs  ledis;  ffor2  when*  grace  vs  leues,  we  faile  of  bat  wele.  For-thi  for-do 
we  in  vs  thurgK  helpe  of  grace  alle  pat  es  agaynes  grace  what  so  euer  it  be, 
lesse  or  mare,  bat  oure  synfull  witte  sayse  es  agaynes  goddes  will ;  ffor-do  we 
ban*3  by-dene,  bat  bay  lettis  vs  noghte  to  accorde  to  goddes  will ;  f>at  es  ,  bat 
we  fordo  all  bat  syn*  es,  or  bat  may  stirre  to  syn*,  wz'tfc  forthynkkynge  of  herte 
&  scrifte  of  mouthe  &  withstandyng  vthh  will  neu*r  to  turne  agayne. 

g.     (Our  daily  work).4 

(Another  text  is  Ms.  Arund.  507,  p.    135). 

1  hre  thynges  are  nedefull  till  ilk  a  man*  of  what  state  he  be ,  to  mekill  his 
mede,  thurgft  goddes  grace  helpande,  als  abouen*  es  sayde,  bat  hym  sail  lede. 
The  ffirste  es  bat  man*  be  in  honeste  werke  wzt^-owtten*  lettynge  of  his  tyme. 
The  secunde,  bat  he  his  werke  do  with  a  fredome  of  spyrite,  in  stede  and  in 
tyme  als  till  ilke  werke  falles.  The  thirde,  bat  his  vttire  berynge ,  whare-so  he 
cumm.es,  so  honeste  be  &  faire,  bat  louynge  be  to  god,  and  stirryng  of  gude  till 
all  bat  hym*  seese;  bat  be  appostill  byddynge  bay  ftil-nll  in  dede,  bat  sayse: 
Omnia  in  vobis  honeste  fy  secundum  ordinem  fiant ,  bat  es  at  saye:  »all  bat  ^e 
do,  honestely  be  it  done,  [&]  in  ordir*«. 

[I]  /\.t  the  fyrste,  sail  eu*r-ylke  gud  cristen*  man*  vmbyluke  hym*  &  eu*r  be 
warre  bat  he  tyne  noghte  the  schorte  tyme,  or  wrange  dispende  it,  or  in  ydilnes 
late  it  o-aer  passe;  be  tyme  bat  god  hase  lente  hym*  to  s*rue  hym  witR-all,  to 
gedir  in  gud  werkes  tresure  of  grace ,  to  by  "hym  witR  heuen*.  The  tyme  of 
werke  es  schorte,  &  for-thi  the  fast*r  it  es  to  wirke,  bat  we  ne  tyne  noghte  bis 
schorte  tyme  &  sa  lose  oure  mede.  &  noghte  anely  this  schorte  tyme  fra  vs  flees, 
bot  bare  flees,  als  be  wyse  man*  sayse,  Nostra  etas  volat,  bat  es  at  say  »our* 
elde  flees«.  Slepe  we,  wake  we,  or  whate  sa  we  elles  do,  our*  lyfe  glyddes 
away  ;  and  als  saynt  Gregor  sayse ,  «our*  lyfe  es  lyke  a  man*  in  a  schippe :  sytte 
he  or  stande,  slepe  he  or  wake  he,  eu*r  he  es  thedirwarde  whedir  be  schipe 
dryues  thurgR  strenthe  of  pe  wynde.  Righte  sa  we  in  this  schorte  whille,  whate 
sa  we  do,  we  dryue  eu*r  till  oure  ende«.  For-thi  we  spede  vs  in  this  schorte 


1  Ar.  vs.         2  Ar.  and.         3  r.  fame.         *  In  the  Ms.  this  piece  is  not  marked  as  a  separate 
piece. 


(R.  Rolle)  Our  daily  work.  311 

tym? ,  als  our?  enemy  folows  vs  ever  at  be  bake  w*t/j  a  scharpe  swerde  to  styke 
vs  thurgKe.  And  sothely  cure  enemy,  thate  es  be  [dede] i ,  folows  vs  evier  at  the 
bakke:  ffor  als  Senec  sayse :  Vita  fugif,  mars  sequttur,  pat  es  to  say:  »the  lyfe 
flees  &  the  dede  freschely  folows « ;  for  cure  lyfe  es  noghte  elles  hot  passynge  fra 
lyfe,  and  saynt  Austyn?  sayse  bat  »lyf  es  bot  a  swyfte  rynnynge  to  be  dede«. 
For-thi  it  es  [noght]  to  tell  by  how  lang  a  man?  lyfFes,  bot  how  wele.  ^it  this 
schorte  lyfe  es  vncertayne  &  vnstabill2,  how  lang  it  sail  laste:  &  for-thi  lob  sayse: 
Nescio  quam  diu  sub  sis  tarn ,  fy  si  post  modicum  tollatt  me  factor  meus ,  »I  ne 
wate,  sayse  be  haly  man?  lobe,  how  lange  here  I  sail  duelle,  ne  when?  my  makere 
will  take  me  hythen?«.  Here-of  spekes  saynt  Gregor  whare  he  bus  sayse:  »I  ne 
wate  noghte,  sayse  bis  haly  man*,  the  while  I  sail  duelle  here,  ne  when?  bat  I 
hythen?3  sail  be  tane  and  ledde  to  be  dome«.  Mannes  lyfe  es  lykkynde  to  the 
wynde,  bat  of  all  thynges  es  maste  vnstabill.  For  saynt  Gregore  sayse:  »Schorte  es 
mannes  lyfe,  &  ^it  bat  schortnes  es  eu?r  vncertayne«.  For-[bi]  saynt  lerome  sayse: 
»na  thynge  sa  mekill  be-gyles  man?  als,  man?  ne  knawes  noghte  be  tyme  of  his 
lyfe,  bat  to  his  witt  vncertane  es,  &  ^itt  highte  he  hy;;z-selfe  lang  to  lyfe,  als  he 
myghte  at  his  will  dryue  dede  obake«.  Thus  desceyued  was  be  riche  man?  of 
wham?  be  gospelle  spekes,  pat  sa  mekill  gud  hade  raked  to-gedir  pat  he  ne 
wyste  whare  it  to  do ;  na  thyng  hyw  greuede,  so  all  thynge  felle  to  his  will,  bot 
bat  he  had  no  housesynge  to  do  his  gudes  In? ;  thus  als  vnwitty  he  spake  to 
hym-selfe:  »My  saule,  now  may  [bou]  reste  the  £  lede  thi  lyfe  wit/*  ese ,  for 
reches  &  gudes  f)<m  hase  ynoghe  for  many  i;eres  to  spende«:  bot  for  he  thoghte 
all  one  his  gudes  £  noghte  one  the  dede,  a  voyce  come  fra  almyghtty  god  £ 
sterynly  to  hym  sayde:  »a,  foule ,  this  nyghte  be  fendis  of  helle  thy  saule  sail 
fra  the  refe ;  and  at  b<m  sa  lange  gadirde  samen?,  wha  sail  it  hafe?«  Happy  had 
bis  riche  man?  bene  and  wyselyere  had  he  wroghte,  &  he  wolde  hafe  done  after 
Salamon?  rede,  bat  all  teches  how  bay  sail  do  if  reches  to  bam?  fall ;  Diuicie  si 
affluanty  nolite  apponere  cor,  bat  es  at  say:  »if  reches  to  be  falle,  feste  noghte 
one  bam?  thy  herte«;  for  bay  are  faylande  &  noghte  lastande  ay,  &  slepir  als 
ane  eele ,  bat  when?  men?  wenys  he  hase  hym  faste ,  als  fantome  he  fra  hym? 
glyddys,  &  tynys  hym  for  ay.  And  thus  it  es  by  erthely  gudes  ffor  wham?  men? 
swynke  so  sare  to  gedir  bam?  to-gedir  bat  riste  may  bay  nane  hafe  ne  of  noghte 
elles  thynkkes,  &  when?  bay  hafe  bat  bay  ^erne,  wrtA  righte  or  vtitfi  wrange,  or 
vfiih  pore  men?  malysouws  that  bytt?Hy  bam?  bannes,  ban?,  when?  bay  thynke 
bam?  maste  sekire,  and  alle  to  bam?  falles  ryghte  als  bay  walde ,  sodanly  bay 
fra  bam?  glyde  als  a  slep?r  eele  men?  haldes  by  be  tayle :  for  owthir  baire  gudes 
fra  bam?  partys  whylls  bay  are  here,  or  ells  bay  dy  fra  pair  gudes  when?  bay 
walde  fayneste  lyfe,  &  noghte  \ri\h  bam?  beris  bot  malysouws  &  synnes  bat  sail 
wende  w/tA  bam?  to  be  stozyte  dome  &  chalange  bam?  by-fore  god,  for  wz't/fc 
wrange  &  in  ill  vse  bay  spende  bam?  &  ou?r-mekill  luffede  bam?  agaynes  goddis 
will.  Vnhappy  me  thynke  ban?  bay  ere  bat  for  bam  ou?f-mekill  cares.  And 
bat  man?  sail  noghte  affy  hym  in  reches,  exemplum* :  Mighte  reches,  bat  be  worlde 
j^eldis  to  thase  bat  for  bam?  swynkes,  bynde  hym  to  make  bam  sekyre  bat  bay 
sulde  eu?r  vfiih  bam?  laste?  5^it  lo,  bat  ban?  hade  men?  some  coloure  erthely 
gudes  to  j^erne  £  hertly  for  bam?  to  swynke  als  men?  now  dose.  Bot  this  may 

i  Ms.  deuyll.        *  &  vnst.  om.  in  Ar.        3  Ms.  hythen*,  y  corr.  from  e.        *  The  additions  to 
Ar.  do  not  improve  the  sense. 


312  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

noghte  the  werlde  mow  do  one  na  wyse,  ffor  that  thynge  he  ne  hase  of  hym- 
selfe  pat  may  lett  that  na  he  sail  passe,  and  pat  he  hase  noghte,  gyffe  it  to 
op*r;  ffor  f)e  haly  wrytt  be  pe  werlde  &  by  all  his  thynges  thus  sayse:  Mundus 
transsibit,  $  concupiscencia  eius,  pat  es  thus  mekill  for  to  say :  » The  werlde  salle 
passe,  wz't/z  all  his  thynges  pat  men*  here  after  Denies,  whate  so  euer  pay  be«; 
and  the  law  wretyn*  thus  sayse:  That  man?  may  gyffe  na  mare  ryghte  in  a 
thynge  to  op*r  than*  hym-selfe  hase.  Righte  als  p0u  may  see  by  a  man*  bat 
es  fallen*  in  a  watt**-  &  thurgft  strenghe  it  beris  hym  forthe  &  reues  hym  be 
grounde;  if  he  may  wyn*  to  a  stake  or  to  a  rote  pat  gud  festenynge  hase, 
he  may  lett  pe  water  to  bere  hym  furthe:  bot  if  he  festyn*  hyw-selfe  till  a 
thynge  pat  fletis  als  he  duse,  he  may  noghte  pan*  lett  pe  water  to  bere  hym* 
furthe  or  whedir  it  will.  Bot  sothely,  riyll  we1  will  we1,  in  pis  werlde  als  in 
a  -water  vtith  pe  gudes  of  this  werlde  euer  are  we  passande,  &  noghte  es  in 
pis  werlde  to  festyn*  vs  by  to  lett  vs  bat  we  ne  sail  passe:  ffor  als  pe  haly 
man*  by  vs  sayse:  Omnes  moriemur  §  sicut  aqua  dilabimur  in  terra,  pat  es 
pus  mekill  for  to  say:  »Alle  sail  we  dy  and  als  water  wende  in  to  pe  erthe«. 
For-thi  pe  haly  man*  lob  sayse  by  hym-selfe  pat  here  I  knawe  pe  sothe:  Ego 
Hie  opuhntus  quondam,  repente  contritus  sum,  et  ecce  hues  amid 2  mei  transierunt, 
et  semitam*  per  quam  non  reuertor  ambulo:  »loo,  said  pis  haly  man*,  I  pat  some- 
tyme  was  so  riche,  to  what  meschefe  I  am  now  fallen*!  loo  my  schortt  frendis 
hase  me  lefte,  &  by  pat  way  now  I  wende  bot  p*r-by  I  come  neu*r  agayne«; 
and  is  als  if  he  saide:  »Riches  &  frendis  I  ha[d]e4  ma  pan*  op*r  of  pe  lande,  & 
all  tha  na  myghte  me  lett  pat  ne  me  byhouede  furthe  wende,  &  nyll  I  will  I  bat 
waye  I  wende  wzt^-owten*  agayne-come«.  Bot  why  Ike  es  pis  pase  man*  sail 
wende  by,  pe  pn?phett  p*r  he  schewes  \fith  thir  wordis:  Omnis  caro  fenum,  8f 
omnis  gloria  eius  quasi  flos  agri,  »Man*,  he  saise,  es  als  hay,  &  als  flowres  in 
the  medowe  pat  growes,  to  man*  pat  es  lufly  &  faire«.  Mannes  flesche  es  als 
haye,  &  all  his  loy  &  noblaye  as  pe  fiour  in  pe  medowe,  pat  so  faire  growes. 
Haye  firste  waxes  in  grene  grysse ,  &  sone  after  he  brynges  furthe  faire  floures ; 

6  if  he   stande   after  a   while   pan*   pe   floures   dryes   &  falles ,    and  after  he  es 
mawen*  downe  wztfc  pe  sythe  &  d[r]ye[d] 5,  sythen*  es  it  lede  to  house  &  2;emyd  to 
bestis  fode.    Thus  it  fares  by  be  man*  pat  borne  es  in  pis  werlde:  in  his  childhede 
he  sprynges  &  waxes  as  dose  pe  grysse  pat  lufly  es  one  to  luke,  eft*r  he  waxes 
to  man*  &  so  he   floresche  in  fairenes  &  strenghe  &  wytt  &  hauynge   of  erthely 
gudes  pat  to  hym  falles ;  pan*  sone  after  als  he  drawes  till  elde,  pe  floures  falles 
£   fayles ,    pat    ere   his    vertus ,    fairehede ,    strenghe ,    wytte ,    syghte ,    felynge    & 
herynge,  &  efter  pat   he  es  smetyn*  down*  wit/i   the   sythe  of  dede ,    sythen*  led 
to  house  to  bestis  fode,  pat  es  to  say,  doluen*  he  es  in  pe  erthe  to  fede  wormes 
witR.    &  this  wittnes  pe  holy  man*  p*r  he  thus  sayse :  Cum  moritur  homo  habitabit 
inter  §   serpentes   et  bestias ,    pat  es  thus  for  to  say:   »When   man*    es   dede,    witft 
tadis,    neddirs  &  foulle  venymos  bestis   sail  his  duellyng  be«.     Whatt  thynge  es 
so  wlatesome  to  pe  werlde  or  vnworthi,    als  es   7man*  when*  he   es   dede?   pat 
pe  werlde  so   mekill  lattis   by  whills  man*  by  hym  lyffes,    so  hethely  be  werlde 
lattis  by  hym  son*  when*  he  es  dede,  bat  he  ne  may  thole  hym  be  in  his  house 
thre  dayes  to-gedir,  bot  borne  [he]  es  owte  pat  he  harme  noghte  witA  stynke  pat  of 

1  corr.  from  he.        2  Vulg.  anni.        3  Ms.  senectam.        *  Ms.  hafe.        5  Ms.  dyes.        6  al.  om. 

7  Ms.  a  man?. 


(R.  Rolle)  Our  daily  work. 


313 


hym  cowmes,  &  es  grauen?  depe  vndir  foe  erthe  to  be  wormes  mete.  /  &  ffor-thi 
it  es  now  in  fozs  tym?  to  wyrke,  for  in  be  tyme  bat  es  to  come  es  na  tyme  to 
swynke,  hot  to  resceyue  mede  for  are-done  dede.  &  bis  affermes  f)e  angell  wz'bfc 
athe  fo?r  he  {)us  sayse :  lurauit  enim  angelus  quod  non  erit  tempus  amplius ,  foat 
es  frus  mekill  for  to  saye:  »foe  angell  sware  by  athe  bat  after  manes  dede  na 
tyme  sail  he  hafe  oghte  for  to  wyn?,  bot  bat  that  he  hase  by-fore  wonn?«.  Wete 
he  wele,  ffor-thi  it  es  to  do  als  be  appostill  sayse  &  redis:  Dum  tempus  habemus, 
operemur  bonum  ad  omnes,  pat  es  to  say:  »Whills  we  hafe  tyme  do  we  gud  till 
all«.  And  als  foe  appostill  ofo?r  men?  redis ,  hym-selfe  did  in  dede ,  for  as  foir 
clerkes  by  saynt  Paule  sayse,  eiur1  he  was  styrrande  in  sum  gude  werkes: 
for  fra  foe  fyrste  houre  of  foe  daye  vn-to  foe  fyfte  he  trouelde  w/tA  his  hende  to 
wyn?  his  fode,  &  fra  foe  fyfte  houre2  vn-to  foe  tende  houre2  to  foe  folke  he 
pr?chede,  and  fro  none  till  euen?  he  s?mede  to  be  pure  [&]  pilgrymes  \tiih  slyke 
[gude]  als  he  hade,  also  by  nyghte  was  he  prayande:  &  thus  spendid  he  his  tyme. 

In  thre  maners  tynes  man*  his  tyme,  bat  es:  in  ydilchipe ;  or  in  werke  bat  na 
gude3  comrnes  offe ;  or  in  gud  werkes  bot  noghte  ordayned  als  bay  sold  be.  Firste  [i. 
it  es  to  fordo  ydilchipe,  for  it  mekill  harmes;  &  this  witnesse  Salamon?  foe  wytty 
pat  thus  sayse:  Multam  maliciam  docuit  ociositas,  bat  es  bwj  mekill  for  to  saye 
»f>at  mekill  malece  &  syne  leris  ydilnes«.  &  for-thi  sayse  haly  wryte  b?rby:  Qui 
sectatur  ocium  stultissimus  est,  bat  es  b#.r  mekyll  for  to  say :  »he  bat  spendis  his 
tym?  ;  in  ydilchipe,  ou?r-mekill  he  es  a  fole« :  for  he  for-beres  noghte  be  thyng 
bat  duse  hym  harme  ;  &  ^it  mare  fole  es  he  for  he  Wynnes  hym  na  mede  in  be 
tyme  ;  and  alb?r-maste  fole  he  es  for  he  Wynnes  hyw  payne.  &  ffor-pi  god  blames 
foe  ydill  foare  he  to  foam?  sayse:  Quid  hie  statis  tota  die  ociosi?,  foat  es  to  say: 
»whi  stand  ^e  here  al  foe  day  ydill  &  will  noghte  wyrke  ?«  Ydilchipe  wastes  gudes 
bat  are  warely4  wonne,  &  for-thi  saynte  lohfi  sayse  pat  na  thyng  es  werse  foan 
ydilnes,  &  noghte  anely  for  he  Wynnes  noghte,  bot  for  he  wastes  bat  are  wonne. 
Ydillnes  tilles  be  fende  till  house,  &  for-thi  sayse  saynt  lohn:  »eu?r  be  wyrkande 
suw  gud  werke  bat  foe  fende  fynde  the  noghte  ydill« ;  ffor  als  thurgfie  gude  werke 
foe  fende  es  lettid  to  enter  in  to  manes  herte,  swa  ydillnes  makes  waye  to  manes 
herte  &  drawes  foe  fende  in.  Idillnes  lettis  man?  to  lyfe  mawnes  lyfe  ordanely  als 
to  man*  falles,  als  foe  wyse  Senec  sayse:  »he  lyffes  noghte  till  hyw-selfe  foat  lyffes 
till  hys  wambe  &  to  ese  of  his  foulle  flesche  in  all  bat  he  may« ;  for  he  lyffes 
noghte  till  his  pr^phett  ne  to  nane  op?r,  &  for-foi  he  lyffes  noghte,  ffor  lob  sayse: 
Homo  enim  ad  laborem  natus  est,  bat  es  at  saye:  »Man?  es  borne  to  trauelle«:  and 
for-bi  man?  bat  trauells  noghte  he  lyffes  noghte  as  man?.  To  trauelle  was  man? 
bounden?  eft?r  he  had  synned,  thurgh  goddes  bynddynge5  bat  bwj  to  "hym  sayde: 
In  sudore  ivltus  tui  vesceris  pane  tuo,  donee  reuertaris  in  terram  de  qua  assumptus 
es,  quia  terra  es  8f  in  terram  ibis,  bat  es  fo«j  mekill  for  to  saye :  »In  swete  of  thi 
face  fo0u  sail  ete  thi  brede«,  bat  es,  b^u  sail  trauelle  stalworthely  &  noghte  fayntly, 
for  he  byddis  be  trauelle  »wztA  swete  of  thi  face«  —  he  foat  trauells  bat  swettes 
hertly,  he  bat  swynkkes;  &  so  foou  sold,  way  till  b<m  torne  in  to  be  erthe,  he 
sayse,  fo0u  erte  of[fe]6  tane«,  foat  es,  all  thi  lyfe  b0u  trouelle,  foat  bou  lose  no 
tyme.  /  This  vice  of  ydilchipe  mekill  gude  it  lettis  and  [mase]  man?  vnworthi  any 


1  Ms.  ever  ])at.  2  overlined.  3  Ms.  gudes.  *  Ar.  are  ware.  5  Ar.  byddynge. 

Ms.  of  \>e. 


314  ^s»  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

gad  to  do,  and  smyttis  hym  als  it  were  with  a  parlesy  pat  all  his  lymes  dryes, 
pat  he  may  na  gud  do  als  he  sulde ;  for-thi  spekes  pe  psalme-wrytter  pare  he 
pus  sayse:  Manus  habent  et  non  palpabunt,  pedes  habent  et  non  ambulabunt,  os 
habent  et  non  loquentur,  oculos  habent  et  non  videbunt^  aures  habent  et  non  audient, 
pat  es  \)us  mekill  for  to  say:  »Thay  hafe  handes,  he  sayse,  hot  pay  wyrke  noghte, 
ffeete  pay  hafe  bot  pay  ga  noghte,  Mouthes  pay  hafe  bot  pay  speke  noghte,  Eres 
pay  hafe  bot  pay  here  noghte« — ffor  paire  lywmes  are  so  boundene  in  syne  pat 
to  all  thynge  pat  euyll  es  are  pay  lyghte,  bot  to  do  pe  gud  pay  are  als  dede. 
^itt  ydilnes  es  a  vyce  pat  wyrkes  mekill  euyll,  for  it  nuresche  to  all  pat  euyll  es, 
Saynt  Clement  sayse,  for  it  makes  mane  rekles  &  for-getill  for  to  do  pat  he  [es] 
haldene  to  do  if  he  sauede  sail  be.  For i  whene  pe  fend  fyndes  a  mane  ydill, 
pane  he  drawes  hym  nere  hyme  to  draw  hym  to  his  werkes:  ffirste  he  puttis  hym 
fowle  thoghttes  in  pe  herte  and  taries  hyme  with  foulle  ^ernynges  of  fleschely 
fylthe  or  of  oper  folyes  pat  brynges  mane  to  syne;  efter  he2  prikkes  hym  to  do 
thiese  ^ernynges  in  dede;  &  pus  he  makes  hym  to  lose  hy/w-selfe  in  syne,  3hys 
tyme  also,  and  lettis  [hym]  gud  dedis  to  do  pat  myghte  helpe  hyme  till  heuene.  And 
sa  he  dose  agaynes  pe  appostell  rede  pat  pus  till  all  mene  sayse :  Nolite  dare  lo 
cum  diabulo,  pat  es  to  say:  »GyfFe  na  stede  to  pe  fende«.  Bot  in  pat  mane  pat 
trauels  in  gud  werkes,  the  fende  may  fynd  na  stede  in  hyme  for  to  reste,  ffor 
what  vessale4  sa  it  be  pat  es  euyne  full,  if  mene  ^ett  mare  pare-in,  it  castes  it 
agayne.  &  pat  mane  mase  waye  to  pe  fende  &  tillis  hym  to  reste  wz'tfc  hyme,  & 
fumllps]  in  dede  whate  sa  he  hym  byddes.  /  &  thus  he  mase  hyw-selfe  vnworthi  to 
all  oper  stedis  in  to  dwelle  bot  anely  to  helle ;  ffor  als  helle  es  pe  duellyng-stede 
of  pe  fowle  fende,  righte  sa  it  es  howsynge  to  pe  ydill  mane  pat  here  semes  hym 
in  syne.  And  at  this  thus  be,  by  skyll  it  may  be  prouede.  Sothe  it  es  pe  ydill 
mane  may  noghte  duelle  in  heuene,  ffor  heuene  es  anely  5  foil  mede  to  pame  pat 
in  pis  lyfe  spendis  paire  tyme  in  base  werkes  pat  pay  hope  be  Criste  to  paye. 
In  purgatorie  nane  slyke  may  duelle,  [for]  pare  pe  gude  anely  are  purgede  \n  pat 
clensand  fyre  till  pay  be  als  clene  of  syne  als  whene  pay  crystenyd  ware ;  &  here 
to  witnes  be  psalme-wrytter  per  he  bus  sayse:  In  labore  hominum  non  sunt,  8f 
cum  hominibus  non  Jlagellabunttur,  pat  es  fyus  for  to  say :  »The  ydill  trauels  noghte 
with  mene,  ffor-thi  pay  sail  noghte  in  purgatorye  be  pyned  with  thase  mene  pat 
are  in  be  waye  to  heuenea.  Bot  pay  sail  be  for  euer  pynede  in  helle  witR  pe 
fende,  for  pay  als  his  thralles  semed  hym  in  syne.  /  Crete  schame  it  es  cristyne 
mane  nowe  ydill  to  be  in  be  tyme  pat  nowe  es,  pat  callede  es  pe  tyme  of  grace, 
in  pe  whylke  tyme  Ensampill  es  schewed  vs  of  gud  werkes,  &  we  are  hyrede  for 
to  wyrke,  &  if  we  wyrke  als  we  awe  grete  mede  vs  habydes.  Firste,  ensample 
god  sett  hyw-selfe  pat  we  suld  lufe  to  wyrke,  als  be  apostille  by  hyme  sayse: 
Exinaniult  semetipsum  formam  serui  accipiens ,  in  similitudinem  hominum  factus 
8f  habitu  inventus  vt  homo;  humiliauit  semetipsum  factus  obediens  vsque  ad  mortem, 
mortem  autem  crucis:  propter  quod  8f  deus  exaltauit  ilium  fy  donauit  illi  nomen 
quod  est  super  omne  nomen,  vt  in  nomine  Ihesu  omne  genu  flectatur,  celestium, 
terrestrium  et  infernorum^,  et  omnis  lingua  confiteatur  quia  dominus  Ihesus  in  gloria 
est  dei  patris,  this  es  \>us  mekill  for  to  saye:  »[He]7,  this  es  goddes  sone  of  heuene, 
with  trauelle  base  wastede  hyw-selfe,  he  tuke  pe  body  of  thralles,  made  to  lyknes 

1  Ar.  And.        2  Ms.  he  he.        3  &  hym  his  crossed  out  before  hys.         4  Ms.  vessale  corn  to 
vessele?        5    for  mede,  crossed  out  before.        «  Ms.  infornorum.         7  om. 


(R.  Rolle)  Our  daily  work. 

of  man*,  in  clethyng  fonden*  as  man* ;  he  mekid  hym-selfe  [&] *  boxome  by-come  to 
be  dede,  bare  to  dy2  on  be  croyse:  for-thi  god  base  heghede  hym*  &  gyflfen*  hym 
name  bat  es  abowne  al  bat  name  beres ,  so  bat  in  be  name  of  Ihwu  all  spyrites 
sail  knele  of  helle,  of  heuen*  &  erthe,  &  all  sail  witnesse  bere  bat  oure  lorde 
Ihesn.  Cryste  dwelles  w/'t^  his  fadir  in  Ioye«.  Ou*r-prowde  ban*  es  be  s*ruande 
&  ou*r-delycate  bat  in  a  batelle  will  ryste,  and  seese  his  lorde  by-fore  his  eghne 
of  his  enymyse  be  assayllede  &  of  bam*  euyll  wondyde.  /  The  tob*r  skyll  es  why 
we  sulde  wyrke  now  iw  bis  tyme  of  grace:  for  we  are  goddes  boghte  thralles, 
w/tA  be  pryce  of  his  dere-worthy  blode,  noghte  to  sytt  ydill,  bot  for  to  wyrke 
i«  his3  vyne-^arde,  and  ^itt  he  hyghttes  vs  mede  if  we  do  w/tA  gud  wyll  bat  we 
thurgfi  dett  awe  for  to  do.  /  The  third  skyll  es:  bat  mare  mede  he  hyghtes  vs  if 
we  do  his  will,  ba[n]4  he  highte  to  his  praie  frendis  be-fore  be  tyme  of  grace  ;  to 
bam*,  if  bay  wele  dyde,  he  hyghte  erthely  gudes:  to  vs  he  highte  to  wonne 
with  hym*  for  eu*r  i«  his  blysse.  /  The  ferthe  es,  if  he  to  any  of  his  praie  frendes 
highte  be  blysse  of  heuen*,  lange  tym*  aft*r  it  was  or  bay  myghte  wyn*  b*rto, 
and  j^itt  by-houed  bam*  wende  by  helle  and  bare  make  lang  habyddynge,  some 
a  thowsand  wynt*r,  su/«  twa  thowsand  and  some  thre  thowsand  wynt*rs,  or  bay 
to  heuen*  myghte  come:  bot  now  iw  a  littill  whyle  men*  may  wyn*  heuen*  at 
will,  als,  if  any  dye  sone  aftir  he  es  crystewnede,  owther  if  he  hafe  done  full 
penance  for  his  mysdedis  bat  may  for-do  payne  of  purgatorie  bat  he  for  bam* 
sulde  thole,  or  martyrs  bat  for  goddes  lufe  scheddes  baire  blode.  The  blys  es 
now  redy  to  man*  if  he  it  s*rue,  and  for-thi,  als  be  gospelle  tellis  of  saynt  Luke, 
Misit  dominus  seruurn  suum  hora  eene  dicere  invitatis  vt  venirent,  quia  iam  parata 
sunt  onmia,  pat  es  bus  mekill  for  to  say :  »God  hase  sent  his  s*ruant  \n  be  sop*r- 
tyme  to  say  pam*  bat  boden*  warre  bat  bay  sulde  come  &  na  duellyng  make, 
for  alle  es  redy  bat  graythed  es  to  the  feste«.  This  tyme  of  sop*r  es  tyme  of 
grace  bat  now  es,  in  whylke  all  es  redy  w*t£-owtten*  lettynge  to  brynge  man* 
witft  to  blysse;  bare  es  noghte  ells  to  do  bot  wasche  men*  handes  &  sett  bam* 
to  the  mete,  bat  es,  bat  bay  p*rfytely  be  clensyde  of  all  be  synws  bat  bay  hafe 
donwe  sen*  be  tyme  bat  bay  were  borne  agaynes  goddes  will.  //  What  losyng  of  [2.] 
tyme  es  it  to  trauelle  abowte  base  thynges  bat  na  pr^fet5  cowmes  of!  Noghte 
anely  it  es  euylle  for  to  waste  be  tyme  in  ydillnes  &  in  vayne:  bot  il  it  es  & 
losyng  of  tyme  to  trauelle  abowte  base  thynges  bat  na  pr^fete  cowmes  of,  for 
forto  trauelle  abowte  swylke  thynges  [es]6  wastynge  of  lyfe.  His  lyfe  es  lange  bat 
trauells  in  bat  he  may  for  hym*-selfe,  bat  es  to  be  wyrchip*  of  god  &  his  saule- 
hele.  Thow  sail  noghte  deme  the  man*  bat  he7  hase  lang  lyffede  |)of  fo<m  se  hym 
white-harede  &  ga  stowpande  wi'tA  a  staffe :  for  bat  of  mannes  lyfe  es  noghte  to 
telle  by  bat  es  wasted  in  ydilnes  &  in  dedly  syn*.  For-thi  ansuerde  Baralam*  to 
losaphate  his  disciple  bat  to  hym  sayde,  »Mayst*r,  how  aide  arte  b0u?  I  pray  the, 
j$if  it  be  thi  will,  b0u  telle  me  be  sothe« ;  and  he  ansuerde  &  sayd:  »I  am  of 
fourty  ^eres  &  fyve«.  »Maist*r,  quod  losaphate,  me  thynke  pat  fwm  solde  be  of 
sexty  ^ere  &  mare«.  And  than  ansuerde  Baralam*:  »If  bw  aske  me  of  all  base 
^eres  {)at  I  haffe  lyffede  sen*  I  was  borne,  ban*  haf  I  lyffed  als  many  als  b<?u 
laste  sayd.  Bot  base  ^eres  I  spendid  in  ydillnes  &  in  syn*  or  I  tuke  to  be  lyf 
bat  I  now  halde,  base  ^eris  I  halde  ^eris  of  dede.  Bot  all  base  ^eris  I  telle  J^eris 

»  Ms.  et.          2  r.  J,are-to  dede  ?          a  Ms.  this.          «  Ms.  I>at.          »  Ms.  p^rfet.          6  Ms.  are. 
i  J>at  he  om.  in  Ar. 


316  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

of  my  lyfe  &  na  ma,  pat  I  hafe  s?med  Cryste  my  lorde  in  thurgfi  his  dere-worthy 
grace ;  for  j^eris  of  dede  with  j^eris  of  lyfe  are  noghte  for  to  telle«.  Wha  so  walde 
vmbythynke  hym?  whate  tyme  stelis  fra  hym?  in  lang  etyng  &  drynkynge  in 
owtrage,  whate  [in]  vnmayte  werkes,  ydilchip?,  ydill  thoghtes  and  foule,  vnmayte 
wordes1  &  op?r  vanytes  pat  man?  delyttes  hym?  In?,  he  suld  sothely  vndirstande 
&  fynd  pat  pofe  he  aide  be  of  jjeris,  pat  littill  he  base  lyffed,  &  {)at  es  for  to 
say,  one  pe  manure  he  sulde  hafe  lyffede  and  he  hym  wele  vmbythynke ;  for  he 
lyffed  noghte  to  his  profet,  ne  wan?  hym  no  mede  als  he  sold  hafe  done,  bot 
per&nter  wan?  hym  payne,  for  lossyng  of  his  tyme.  Wondir  thyng  it  ware  bat 
the  man?  pat  gyffes  hym?  to  pe  besynes  of  pis  werlde  mare  pan*  nedis,  had  na 
[lettyng  in]2  p^ayere,  in  reste  of  herte,  in  sothefastnes  of  worde,  in  p?rfeccion?  of 
gild  werkes,  in  lufe  to  god  &  till  all  crysten?  men?.  I  trow  pat  wha  sa  wzt&  a 
clene  hert  will  charge  thire  many  lettynges,  he  may  fynd  pat  ofte  tyme  will  lett 
hym?  god  to  s?me  to  paye.  And  for-thi  haly  men?  by-fore  pis  tyme  pat  pire3 
lettynges  knewe,  pay  ftede  pe  werlde  -with  all  his  vanytes  righte  als  it  were 
cursede,  for  pam?  thoghte  pay  myghte  na  ryghtwyse  lyfe  lede  p?rin ;  and  for- 
thi  went  pay  vntill  wyldirnes,  for  ther  they  trowed  pat  pay  myghte  better  s?nie 
paire  lorde  to  paye.  For  Senec  pe  wyse  sayse:  Auarior  redeo  fy  crudelior  [fy]  in- 
humanior,  quia  inter  homines  fui:  »Mare  auerus  I  am,  sayse  Senec,  &  mare  co- 
uetw.y,  &  mare  kene  &  lesse  man?  I  am?,  pat  haue  duelled  amanges  men?«. 

Off  thre  man?rs  ocupacions. 

1  hre  man?rs  of  Ocupaciouws  es  owtwitK,  als  in  sere  langlyng  &  mekill,  \n 
vtwitfi  raykyng,  &  in  mekill  traualynge  abowte  werldly  thynges.  Firste  may  many 
tnraelle  pam?-selfe  in  mekill  langelynge,  &  agaynes  this  Salomon?  sayse:  Qui 
dimittit  aquam,  caput  est  lurgii,  pat  es  to  say :  »he  pat  lattes  owte  pe  wat?r,  he 
es  heued  of  the  stryuyng«.  »Late  pe  wat?r  owt«,  es  late  pe  tunge  flete  owt  in 
mekill  langillynge,  [&]  als  many  vnmayte  wordes  &  ydill  pat  man?  spekes,  4als  so 
many  sythes  he  latis  pe  wat?r  owte.  [Bot]5  to  knawyng  [of]6  god  ne  of  hym-selfe  may 
nane  wyn?  pat  latis  his  herte  owte  flete  w*'t/z  mekill  vnmayte  speche :  for  he  mase 
waye  to  the  fende,  his  faa,  in  hy/«-selfe ;  &  for-thi  slyke  lykyns  Salamon?  to  pe 
cete  pat  es  wzt^-owtten?  walle,  pare  he  fyus  sayse :  Sicut  vrbs  sine  murorum  ambitu, 
Ita  vir  qui  non  potest  cohibere  spiritum  suum  in  loquendo,  pat  es  fyus  mekill  for 
to  say:  »Wha  sa  noghte  refrenes  his  tonge  fra  mekill  speche,  he  es  als  a  cete 
wz'tfc-owtten?  walles,  pare  hostes  may  ent?r  ou?f-alle«.  The  fend  of  helle  wrtA 
his  hoste  gase  thurgfr  pat  mouthe  pat  eu?^  es  opyn?  wzt/*  euyll  speche.  7In  Vitis 
patrum  it  es  tolde  of  a  haly  man?  pat  saide  when?  men?  praysede  a  felawchipe 
of  brep?f  pat  he  had  herde  of  mekill  speche :  Boni  vtique  sunt,  set  habitacio  eo- 
rum  non  habet  lanuam;  quicunque  wit  intrat  fy  asinwu  solliit,  »Gude,  quod  he, 
pay  ere,  bot  paire  wonnyng  hase  no  j^ate ;  wha  sa  will  may  ga  in  and  lede  furthe 
the  asse«,  pat  es,  paire  vnwitty  saules.  For-thi  sayse  sayne  lames :  Si  quis  putat 
se  religiosum  esse  non  refrenans  linguam  suam,  sed  seducens  cor  suum,  huius  vana 
est  religio,  pat  es  to  say :  »If  any  wenys  pat  he  es  religion  and  brydills  noghte 
his  tunge,  his  religio [n]8  es  vayne,  he  be-gyles  his  hertec.  He  sayse  swythe  wele 
»he  brydils  noghte  his  mouthe«.  A  brydill  es  noghte  anely  in  the  horse  mouthe, 


1  Ar.  vnnayt  bourdis.  2  Ms.  lykyng  of.  3  Ms.  Jiaire.  *  Ms.  &  als.          5  Ms.  for. 

6  Ms.  to.        7  The  next  passage  is  wanting  in  Ar.        «  Ms.  religio?^. 


(R.  Rolle)  Our  daily  work. 

for  sum  es  abowte  be  eghne,  &  sum  abowte  be  eres,  for  all  thre  es  mekill  nede 
bat  bay  brydild  be.  In  the  mouthe  lygges  the  heuy  Iryn*  one  be  lyghte  tunge, 
for  bat  es  maste  to  halde.  Ofte  we  thynke  when^  we  by-gyn^  to  speke,  for  to 
spek  lyttill  &  sett  wele  oure  wordes:  bot  be  tung  es  sleper,  for  it  wades  in 
wate[r],  &  glyddes  lyghtly  furthe  fra  faa  wordes  to  many,  fra  gud  to  sum£  ille, 
fra  sothe  to  lese :  and  pan*,  als  Salomon*  sayse :  In  multiloqtteo  non  deest  pecca- 
tum,  bat  es  thus  for  to  say :  »Mekill  speche,  by-gyn*  it  never  sa  wele,  may  noghte 
be  w*t/z-owtten*  syn*« ;  for  fra  sothe  it  strikes1  in  to  false,  owt  of  gud  in  to  euyll, 
fra  mesure  to  ou*r-mekill,  and  as  of  a  drope  &  a  drope,  waxes  a  mekill  node  pat 
drownnes  the  saule,  for  wz'tfc  be  fletand  worde  fletis  be  hert  owt,  bat  lang  ber- 
aft*r  may  it  noghte  gedir  to-gedire.  &  b*rfore  sayse  Gregor  bus:  Et  os  nostrum 
tanto  est  deo  longinquum  qtianto  mundo  -proximum ;  tanto  [minus]'1  exauditur  in  prece 
quanta  magis  inquinatur  [stulta]  locucione — thir  are  saynt  Gregor  wordis  \n  his 
Dyalogs3,  bat  ere  bus  for  to  say:  »Als  nere  als  oure  mouthe  es  to  be  werlde 
speche,  als  ferre  es  it  fra  god  when*?  we  to  hym  speke  &  prayes  hym  of  oghte; 
ffor-thi  es  when*  we  calle  on  hym*  &  he  w/tA-drawes  hym  agayne  fra  oure  steuen*, 
for  he  will  noghte  it  here:  ffor  we  stynke  to  hym  als  of  ydill  speche  and  of  ydill 
Iangelyn)g  pat  vs  hase  fyled«.  For-thi  wha  so  will  bat  goddes  ere  be  nere  his 
mouthe  when  he  to  hym  prayes,  drawe  his  herte  fra  be  werlde,  elles  may  he 
lange  cry  or  god  hym  here,  als  he  thurgh  be  prophet  Ysaye  sayse:  Cum  exten- 
deritis  manus  vestras  auertam  oculos  meos  a  vobis,  bat  es  to  say :  )>When  ^e  make 
many-falde  prayere  to  me  ^e  bat  playes  vfi\Ji  the  werlde,  I  ne  here  ^ow  noghte 
bat  while,  I  \vill  turne  me  away  when  ^e  ^ottr  handes  lyftes  to  me«.  For  sa 
mekill  lettyng  of  be  gud  philosophic  sayse  es  in  mekill  spekyng,  pat  bay  bynd 
baire  dyscypylls  w/tA  sylence  baire  firste  fyve  ^ere,  als  saynt  Ambrose  sayse.  And 
wretyn*  it  es  by  a  haly  habot  bat  hyghte  Agathon*,  bat  thre  ^ere  he  bare  a  stane 
in  his  mouthe,  to  lere  hym  to  halde  hym  stylle.  /  The  tober  es  of  base  bat  kan* 
hafe  na  ryste  bot  eu*r  [er]  raykand  abowte  fra  stede  to  stede,  &  for  nane  ob*r 
encheson*  bot  for  to  fede  baire  wyttis  w*tA  vanytes  &  lustes  slyke  als  be  flesche 
^ernes.  »Flee  be  werlde  and  his  ^ernynges,  &  halde  [be]4  in  ryste,  and  brydelle 
the  tonge  bat  he  noghte  owte  flete  nob*r  in  langelyng  ne  \n  ydill  speche«,  thire 
thre  be  haly  angelle  lerede  f)e  abbot  Arsenius  bat  he  bam  solde  :$eme ;  ffor  whare 
thir  thre  er  halden*  bat  be  angelle  leris,  thare  es  way  to  god  [&]  wftA-drawyng 
fra  ill.  It  telles  of  an  abbot  bat  fully  twenty  ^ere  satt  in  his  selle5,  bat  neu^f 
lyftede  vp  his  heued  to  see  pe  selle5-rofe.  /  The  third  es  of  tha  bat  wastes  baire 
tym<?  w/tA  trouelle  in  couatyse  to  gedir  barn*  werldly  thynges  ma  ban*?  bam  nedis ; 
&  of  slyke  spekes  Salamow  be  wyse  &  telles  what  betis6  to  bam  for  all  baire 
grete  swynke,  here  what  for-bi:  bus  by  ban*?  he  sayse:  Vana  est  spes  eorum  et 
labor  sine  fructu  :  »ffalse  es  bair  hope,  he  sayse,  &  pair  trauell  w*'tfc-owten*  mede«; 
&  ^it  he  sayse  be  swylke  men*:  Nichil  aufert  secum  de  vniuerso  labore  suo,  bat 
es  bus  mekill  for  to  say :  »Na  thynge  w«tA  hym  he  beris  when  he  hythen^  weyndis, 
of  all  bat  he  hase  wonne  w/'tfc  care  &  swynke«.  This  es  ilk  a  day  sene  by  base 
pat  are  dede,  bat  noghte  \\iih  bam  beris  to  faaire  lang  hame,  of  all  be  gudes 
pay  hade  were  bay  neu^r  sa  ryche,  bot  a  lyttill  cloute  of  clathe  to  hille  baire 
body  with — na  mare  the  werlde  vouches-saufe  one  bam*,  bat  bay  so  mekill  luf- 


r.  skrithes?        2  Ms.  cicius.        3  Dial.  HI:  15.        4  Ms.  men*.        *  Ar.  scole.        6  r.  betidis. 


318  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

fede.  1  Here-of  sulde  pe  Riche  thynke  pat  playes  pam*  -with  pe  werlde,  and  thir 
couatouse  men*  {)at  pe  pure  pylles2,  pat  rakes  hally  to-gedir  pat  pay  may  gete, 
rekkes  he  neu*r  of  whayme,  be  he  pure  or  be  he  ryche  he  takes  na  kepe,  bot 
ane3  pat  he  hafe:  and  alle  es  bot  fantom  &  dreme  pat  pay  witft  dele.  Righte 
by  a  ryche  man*  it  es  pat  here  his  lykyng  hase  of  golde  &  of  sylu*r  &  of  ojw 
fleschely  lykynge  whare-wzt/;  als  an  vnworthi  wreche  pe  werld  hy#z  dyssayues, 
als  by  a  pure  man*  pat  hungres  swythe  sare  &  swa  sare  thrystes  pat  almaste  he 
dyes.  Efter  hungere  lange  hase  hym*  pyned  he  falles  one  slepe,  and  he  dremys 
pat  he  es  bodyn*  till  a  feste,  &  heghe  sett  one  pe  desee,  &  all  deyntes  pat  his 
herte  may  thynke  sett  by-fore  hym*,  wyne  &  pymewt  in  faire  cowppes;  he  etis 
£  drynkes  at  his  will  &  makes  hym  righte  glade,  &  all  pat  abowte  hyw  standis 
are  fayne  for  to  do  his  wylle.  Efter  pat  he  hase  etyn*  pat  hym  gud  thynke, 
pe  clathe  es  drawen*  &  he  with  mekill  noblaye  to  chambir  es  gane,  and  pare, 
hyw  thynkes,  he  etis  spyce  &  drynkes  pe  wyne,  &  sythen*  to  bede  he  es  broghte 
als  it  ware  a  prynce,  &.  happed  v?hh  ryche  robes  appon*  hym*  ynewe4,  wele  fur- 
rede  wzt/fc  vayre5  &  vrc'tA  gryse.  Bot  when*  this  wreche  wakyns,  he  felis  his  legges 
all  calde ;  he  thynkes  on  pat  noblaye  hym*  thoghte  he  was  in,  &  of  all  pat  riche 
noblaye  hym  thoghte  pat  was  abowte  his  bed,  he  grapes  abowte  hym*  if  he 
myghte  oghte  fynde  of  pase  riche  clathes  he  wende  ware  one  hym* — bot  pan 
feles  he  noghte  elles  bot  taters  &  ragges;  &  mare  hym  hungers  &  thrystes  pan 
he  dyd  by-fore.  £an*  knawes  he  sothely  it  was  bot  a  dreme ;  pat  false  fantome 
made  hym  to  trowe  pat  it  was  [a]  fest.  Pusegate  false  reches  of  pe  werlde  taries 
pe  Riche,  pat  mase  pam*  to  wene  pat  all  es  sothe  pat  fantome  pam*  leris.  So 
witles  riches  pam*  makes  pat  pay  for- gete  pam-selfe,  and  hethyng  makis  at  op*r 
&  lyghtly  by  pam  settis  pat  sothely  pase  reches  wan*.  Pay  make  feste  of  pase 
gudis  pay  pylled  fra  pe  pure,  and  ilke  man  for  drede  es  fayne  to  do  paire  will. 
Bot  when*  dede  pam*  sail  wakyn*  of  pat  balefull  dreme,  pan*  fynd  pay  bot  fan- 
[3.]  tome  all  pat  pay  wende  had  bene  sothe1.  //  The  thirde  ma.net-  of  men*  thare6  are 
pat  lykyng  hase  to  do  pe  gude,  bot  for  pay  do  it  noghte  in  pe  man*r  pay  suld 
do,  pay  putt  pe  mede  of  paire  gud  dede  in  a  reuen*  sekke,  for  pay  losse  paire 
mede  pat  pay  sulde  wyn*  if  pay  wroghte  pase  gud  dedis  in  gud  entent ;  for  pare 
whare  gud  entent  fayles  in  any  gude  dede,  than  mede  pat  to  pe  gude  werke 
sulde  falle,  fayles  alswa.  And  pat  may  fayle  7  on  foure  maners.  The  firste,  for  pe 
wykkednes  of  pe  wyrkande ;  als  it  telles  in  pe  firste  buke  of  pe  lawe  that  Cayme, 
Adam  sone,  offerde  to  godd  of  pe  fruyte  pat  hym  newede:  to  pis  offerand  of 
Cayme  god  walde  noghte  luke,  bot  to  pe  offerand  of  Abelle,  his  brothir.  Of  pir 
wordes  saynte  Gregor  spekis  &  sayse :  »by  [pe]  hertt/j  will  of  hym  pat  pe  offerand 
mase  es  the  gyfte  of  god  resceyued  or  p*r-w/t#-all  repraied:  for  by  Abelle  wretyn* 
it  es  pat  god  firste  luked  to  Abelle  &  sythen*  to  his  gyfte,  for  to  vndirstande  pat 
noghte  for  pe  oiferande  of  Abelle  god  was  payed,  bot  of  be  offeryng  for  Abelle, 
pat  in  all  his  werke  was  trew  &  gud,  &  aft*r  pat  god  luked.  Bot  to  Cayme  &  his 
offerande  god  wold  noghte  luke,  pat  es  for-thi  pat  he  [pat]  pe  offerande  made 
gretly  my[s]payed  god«.  Whi  oure  offerand  myspayes  god  or  what  so  we  do  pat 
gud  es  in  kynde,  pe  haly  praphete  schewes  by  skyll,  here  &  lere  who  so  will; 
for  fyus  he  sayse :  Cum  multiplicaueritis  oraciones  non  exaudiam,  quia  manus  vestre 

1-1  This  passage  is  wanting  in  Ar.  2  =  rob,  Fr.  piller.  3  r.  anely.  *  r.  ynowe. 

*  =  old  Fr.  vair,  a  sort  of  fur.        6  r.  thai,  or  thire.        1  r>  falle. 


(R.  Rolle)  Our  daily  work. 

plene  sanguine  sunt,  pat  es  bus  for  to  say:  »When  ^e  many  payers  to  me  makes 
I  will  pam*  noghte  here,  ffor  ^oure  handes  are  full  of  blode«,  that  by-takyns 
syn*.  /  !^itt  whi  tnzuelle  falles  wzt/j-owtten*  mede,  bat  es  v[an]yte  *  pat  stirres  many 
gud  to  do,  as  it  es  when*  man*  dose  any  gud  pat  gud  [es]2  in  his  kynde,  for  we3 
walde  be  praysede  of  men  for  oure  gude.  For-pi  sayse  god  till  all  men*  pat  ere 
in  slyke  Entent  to  be  loued  of  men*:  »If  ^e  so  do,  for  sothe  I  say  ^e  tyne  zoure 
mede«.  For  vayne  glorie  es  bat  thynge  pat  of  gud  makes  euyll;  als  it  es  by 
almos-dede  bat  in  his  kynde  es  gude,  bot  do  it  for  manes  praysynge  &  it  Wynnes 
bot  syn*.  /  The  thirde  pat  for  gud  werke  refes  man*  his  mede,  than  es  roysyng 
of  bam*  pat  dose  be  gud  dede;  &  for-thi  god  in  be  gosepelle  by  be  pharaz;ene 
sayse  bat  talde  his  gud  dedis  by-fore  be  folke  in  goddes  temple  thare  he  in 
prayede,  for-bi  god  by  hym  sayde  till  all  bat  by-fore  hym  stode:  »Sothely,  bis 
man  hase  loste  his  mede,  trayste  he  non*  ober,  for  all  his  gud  dede«.  4Of  this 
phara^ene  sayse  saynt  Gregore :  »Loo  so  many  gud  dedis  are  loste  thurgR  a  syn*. 
This  man*,  als  hym-selfe  sayd,  fasted  twa  dayes  in  a  weke,  &  payed  wele  his 
tendis  of  all  pat  hym  newede,  &  ou*r-passed  many  ober  vrhh  his  gud  dedis:  bot 
for  he  roysed  hym*  of  his  dedis,  he  losed  all  bat  he  dide«.  *  Nedefull  forthi  it  es 
to  man*  bat  he  do  be  gud  he  may,  and  bat  he  warely  vmbyluke  hym  bat  he  pryde 
hym  noghte  bare-of  in  thoghte  ne  in  worde.  *&  for-thi  by  bis  phara^ene  saynt 
Gregore  sayse:  >»Als  repraied  of  god  he  went  to  his  house,  for  be  merit  of  his 
gud  dede  he  had  gyfuen*  to  hyw-seluen*  &  mad  hym  vfiih  his  worde  bettir  ban* 
he  was«.4  5For  one  foure  maners  men*  loses  mede  of  pair  gud  dede.  The  first  es 
when  man*  wenys,  be  gude  he  hase,  bat  he  it  haues  of  hyw-selfe.  The  tober  Nota 
when*  he  trowes  bat  god  gyffes  base  gudes  for  he  hase  bam*  s*med.  The  thirde  qjj|d 
es  when*  he  ruses  hym*  of  his  gud  dedis.  The  ferthe  when*  he  ober  dispyses  of  modis 
paire  gud  dede  for  he  wolde  be  halden*  better  ban*  any  ober5.  /  2^it  dedis  bat  gudhomines 
are  fayles  of  baire  mede  when*  men*  dose  [bam]  in  bat  Entent  to  be  halden*  bett*r  J1^"' 
pan*  any  ober,  or  for  to  lessd  gud  dede  of  othire,  &  for  to  for-do  it  wz'tfc  all  bonis 
pat  he  may.  And  be  slyke  gud-doers  saynt  Gregor  spekes  &  tellys  by  a  haly  °bus'~ 
bechope  bat  hyghte  Fortunate,  bat  thurgfie  grace  bat  he  had  of  god  he  chased 
owte  fendis  of  bam*  bat  bay  had  duellede  with.  And  sa  by-felle  on  a  tyme 
bat  bis  Fortunate  chased  the  fende  owte  of  a  man*  in  an  Euen*-tyde :  be  fende 
sone  when*  he  was  chased  owte  he  put  hym  in  lyknes  of  a  pilgrymwe  &  went 
thurgh  pe  cete  par  the  bechope  was,  wepand  and  ^elland  als  a  pure  wreche,  als 
he  pat  was  will  of  berbery  bat  nyghte ,  and  bus  by-gane  he  to  crye  bat  all  be 
cete  myghte  here:  »Loo  whate  ^oure  bechope  hase  done  to  me,  bat  j$e  halde  so 
gude  &  so  haly !  tare  I  had  tane  my  herberye  &  wend  to  [haf]  bene  in  reste,  the 
bechope  come  to  pe  house  &  putt  me  owte  vrith  force:  And  now  als  a  pure 
wreche  of  my  herberye  I  am  will.  Ou*r-all  berbery  I  seke  &  nane  will  one  me 
rewe«.  A  man*  of  bat  cete  bat  this  herde  &  herd  hym  b«j  speke,  tuk  hym  in 
to  his  house  &  hym  by  pe  fyre  sett  &  esede  hym  one  this6  wyese.  When*  pe 
man*  had  spoken*  w/tfc  pe  pilgrym*  as  he  wende  he  had  bene,  and  he  had  spyrred 
hym  of  ferre  ty^ynges  as  men*  dose  pilgrymes,  pe  fend  styrte  to  pe  childe  in  pe 
credill  and  wrathe  pe  neke  in-twa  &  keste  it  in  pe  fyre,  and  vanyste  awaye 
sodanly :  &  thus  at  his  partynge  he  qwytt  be  man*  his  gud  dede.  Off  [bis]  spekes 

1  Ms.  vnnayte.  2  Ms.  dose.  3  r.  he.  *-«  om.  in  Ar.  5-5  a  useless  insertion. 

«  Ar.  his. 


320  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

saynt  Gregor  &  sayse:  »Many  semys  gud  dedis  pat  are  noghte  gud,  for  pay  are 
noghte  done  wz't/z  a  gud  will.  For  *  {)is  man*  pat  pe  pilgryme  herberde  pat  was 
pe  fende,  it  was  for  na  pete  pat  he  of  hym  hade,  hot  anely  for  of  his  bechope 
he  spake  pe  ill;  he  called  hym  to  house  pat  he  snld  be  baldens  better  &  mare 
of  pete  pan*  his  bechope  was,  als  he  pat  herberde  pe  pure  pat  pe  bechope 
witR  strenghe  putt  owte  of  his  house«.  Thus  it  es  by  mony  pat  dose  pe  gude 
for  to  lessen*2  pe  gud  dedis  of  oper  men*  &  to  for-do  pam*  wz't^-all.  /  ^it  gud 
dedis  are  forowtten*  mede  als  willyng  to  wyn*  to  grete  honoures  or  any  werldes 
gude,  for  to  hafe  mede  of  mam;  pofe  to  mans  dome  it  seme  pat  many  duse  pe 
gud :  pay  do  it  anely  for  god,  noghte-for-pi  many  of  thir  pat  are  abouen*  neuewnede 
reues  pam*  paire  mede.  7jt  thurgK  syn*  fylande  gude  dede  es  loste  ;  &  here-to 
accordes  pat  haly  wryte  sayse:  Qui  in  vno  peccauit  multa  bona  perdidit,  pat  es 
pus  for  to  say:  »he  pat  a  thyng  synnes,  many  gud  dedis  he  tynes«,  pat  es  bot  he 
amend  hym  wzt/z  schryfte  &  penance  do  p*rfore. 

[II]  The  secu[n]de  party  pat  teches  man*  to  do  pe  gude:  he  es  halden*  to  do  it  in 
stede  &  in  tyme  als  to  ilke  gud  dedis  falles  witK  a  fredome  of  spirite.  &  noghte 
benedit  fw-to,  ne  witK  angir,  ne  with  a  dede  herte.  For  god  takes  gretly  to  thanke 
pat  a  man*  dose  vtith  a  glade  herte,  for-thi  pe  wyse  man*  sayse  by  god :  Hillarem 
datorem  diligit  dcus,  pat  es  bus  for  to  say :  »god  lufes  pase  pat  hym  gyffes  oghte 
wzt/z  a  glade  herte« ;  and  namly  pase  werkes  pat  to  goddes  honow  &  his  louynge 
falles  &  to  lykyng3  of  manes  saule,  &  gastely  werkz'-y  als  prayers  and  haly  thoghttes, 
and  clere  mynde  of  god  &  of  his  gude  dedis.  Thir  &  oper  slyke  to  pam*4  lyttill 
reste  will  hafe  if  pay  wele  sail  bee,  for  als  be  haly  man?  sayse,  prayers  wzt/z-owten* 
deuocion*  es  als  clat*rynge  of  pyes.  For  prayere  es  a  sacrafyce  pat  mekill  payes 
gode  if  it  [be]  made  one  pe  man^f  pat  it  awe  to  be ;  for-thi  god  askes  it  of  vs  als 
dette  pat  we  it  to  hym  paye,  pare  he  vs5  sayse:  Sacrificium  laudis  honorificabit  me, 
pat  es  to  say:  »witli  sacrafyce  of  prayere  f)0u  sail  honoure  me«.  And  pat  es  gud 
skylle;  for  god  mad  man^  for  he  wolde  be  loued  of  hym^,  &  for-thi  haly  wryt 
sayse:  Gentes  creauit  deus  in  laudent  8f  gloriam  suam,  pat  es  fyus  to  say:  »God 
made  man^  to  his  honow  and  his  wyrchip  &  his  louyng«.  For-pi  pe  appostill 
sayse:  Oportet  semper  orare  8f  nunquam  deficere,  pat  es  pwj  for  to  say:  »for-thi 
behoues  man*  ener  pray  and  neuer  fayle«.  He  es  ener  prayand  pat  es  [ai]  gud  wyrk- 
ande.  Ryghte  es  it  by  prayere  als  by  draweyng  of  ande:  ffor  eu^  to  ^emyng  of 
oure  bodily  lyfe  vs  nedis  to  drawe  oure  ande,  pat  es  to  drawe  ayere,  &  sa  it  es 
by  pnzyere  to  ^emyng  of  saule  lyfe.  For-pi  if  we  noghte  drawe  of  god  thurgR 
pnzyere,  we  are  to  wyte.  For-pi  it  es  be  tymes  to  drawe  men*  fra  be  werlde 
and  his  besynes,  pat  pay  pe  better  may  seme  paire  lorde  in  pnzyere  &  in  lykyng 
of  hym*,  with  pase  thynges  pat  may  styre  to  hym*.  And  of6  all  be  halden*  to 
wyrchipe  god  wz't^  prayere,  men*  of  religion*  are  namely  halden*  pat  by  almus 
lyffes,  and  men*  of  haly  kyrke  pat  lyfes  by  tendis:  ffor  alle  pe  werlde  trauels  to 
bryng  paym*  to  hande  all  pat  pam*  nedis,  so  pat  pay  may  wz't&  mare  reste  better 
god  serue  &  witfi  haly  dedis  saughtelyng  make  bytwyx  god  &  man*;  and  also 
maydyns  &  wedows  pat  hase  avowede  chaste — all  thir  by-fore  othir  are  maste 
bownden*.  It  es  noghte  by  heuenly  werke  as  by  ofyer  werkes  pat  in  pe  werlde 
fall  whare-to  man*  es  ofte  constreynede  to  wyrke  agayne  his  will,  als  an  oxe  pat 


Ar.  And.        2  Ms.  lesten*.        3  Ar.  hele.        *  to  J>anu?  om.  in  Ar.        »  Ar.  Jus.        6  =  Jof. 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  ,  2  j 

ledis  be  zokke  to  drawe,  thynke  hym  ne\\er  sa  ille:  bot  bis  werke  patlofspeke 
wil  be  done  with"  a  fredom^  of  spyrit,  £  with"  lykyng  in  god,  for  bat  softes  alle 
trauell  be  it  neiur  sa  grete.  &  for-thi  he  pat  will  plese  god  wztfc  prayere,  do  & 
thynk  to  dement  hy/w  to  seke  grace  of  god,  &  hafe  gmythely  his  memorie  als 
he  es  taghte  here,  &  he  sail  noghte  fayle  for  to  cowme  to  grace  of  gode  &  ay- 
lastand  hele ;  to  pe  wylke  hele  £c. 

10.     (The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost). 

Ms.  Thornton  is  the  only  northern  Ms.  known  to  exist,  and  it  contains  only 
the  original  treatise ;  the  other  known  Mss.  are  southern  transcriptions.  Ms.  Laud 
210  (oldest  Ms.)  gives  it  at  the  end,  fol.  180 — 5,  but  contains  separately  fol.  136  (in 
the  midst  of  the  Ms.),  a  2^  treatise,  the  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
which  in  Ms.  Vernon  (c.  1380)  is  joined  to  the  original  treatise,  so  that  the  two  have 
coalesced  into  one.  The  same  combination  is  followed  by  the  later  Mss.,  which 
are  mostly  derived  from  Laud-Vernon,  while  a  few  show,  in  their  readings,  the 
use  of  a  northern  Ms.;  these  Mss.  are:  Harl.  2406,  fol.  61,  Harl.  1704,  f.  33, 
Corp.  Chr.  Coll.  Oxf.  155,  Dd  n.  89,  LI  V.  18,  Lamb.  432.  Ms.  li  IV.  9  f.  69 
contains  only  the  original  treatise.  It  was  printed  by  \V.  de  Worde,  1531.  In  Ms. 
Lamb.  432  it  has  the  title:  Here  begynnythe  Richard  Hamppull  of  the  Abbey  of 
the  holy  Goest  full  necessarye.  As  no  other  Ms.  ascribes  it  to  him,  a  direct  proof 
of  his  authorship  is  wanting ;  yet,  as  we  find  references  to  the  treatise  in  other 
works  of  his,  his  authorship  is  very  probable.  A  Latin  treatise,  Abbacia  de  S. 
Spiriru ,  exists  in  several  Mss.  The  Charter  &c.  is  the  work  of  another  author, 
not  a  Northerner ;  its  plan  is  similar  to  that  of  The  Castle  of  Love. 

Religio  Sancti  Spiritus,  Religio  Munda. 
Ms.  Thornton  f.  271. 

L/jf  the  abb  aye  of  saynte  Spirite,  that  cs  in  a  place  that  cs  callede  conscyence. 
A  dere  brethir  and  sy stirs ,  I  see  bat  many  walde  be  in  religyon*?  bot  pay  may 
noghte,  owthir  for  pout'rte  or  for  drede  of  thaire  kyn£  or  for  band  of  maryage, 
and  for-thi  I  make  here  a  buke  of  be  religeon  of  be  herte,  pat  es,  of  be  abbaye 
of  the  holy  goste,  that  all  tho  pat  ne  may  noghte  be  bodyly  in  religyom? ,  pat 
pay  may  be  gostely.  A  Ihma  mercy,  whare  may  pis  abbay  beste  be  funded 
and  pis  religione  ?  Now  certis ,  nowhare 1  so  wele  als  in  a  place  p«t  es  called 
Conscyence'1 ;  and  who  so  will,  be  besy  to  funde  p/s  holy  religions,  and  |)at  may 

i  Ms.  norwhare.  2  On  the  margin   the   names   of  the  Virtues  &c.  are  given  in  Latin  or 

Engl.  form :  Consciencia,  lusticia  &c. 


I  here  give  the  readings  of  Mss.  Laud  210,  Vernon,  Harl.  2406  f.  61  (H),  Harl.  1704  (Ha),  all 
of  which  are  southern  transcriptions: 

L  pis  is  pe  abbey  of  be  holy  gost  pat  is  founden  in  a  place  pat  is  clepud 
concience,  Ha  Here  is  a  tretis  of  the  abbey  of  the  holi  goost,  V  Heer  biginnef) 
a  tretis  bat  is  clept  pe  Abbey  of  pe  holy  gost,  pat  is,  Concience  of  Monnes 
herte  schulde  ben  in  jiis  abbey  most ;  Title  om  in  H.  —  A — systirs  om.  in  Ha. 
VLH  Mi  inst.  of  A.  V  Brepren  and  Sustren,  LH  broper  and  sister.  VLH  s.  wel. 
Ha  many  men.  woldfe).  VLHa  ben.  H  relegion.  Ha&;  bay  om.  VLHa  niowe 
H  mow.  L  nowt  H  no^t  VHa  not.  all  om.  owthir.  VH  pouert.  V  adds  or 
for  age,  LHHa  or  for  awe.  V  heore,  L  her,  om.  in  HHa.  V  kun.  H  for  pe. 
all  bond.  H  wedlok.  LHHa  om.  and.  all  perfore.  Ha  here  is.  book  H  bok. 
all  om.  be.  V  om.  pe.  is.  Ha  is  clepid  the.  Ha  om.  po ;  H  pei.  all  om.  ne. 
V  mouwe  LH  mow.  VH  ben  L  been.  all  in  bodylych  (V  bodi  Ha  bodely)  r. 
all  om.  pat.  LHHa  om.  pay.  all  in  gostely.  Ha  A  lorde  god ,  mercy  om. 
H  mow.  all  pis  abbey  and  pis  religioun.  VHHa  I-founded,  L  I-founden.  all 
om.  Now.  L  Sertus  V  Certes  ,  H  sotheliche.  H  no  wher,  VL  neuere ,  Ha  in 
no  nother  place.  VLH  so  wel  ne  so  semely  as.  V  clept  L  clepud  HHa  clepid. 


722  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

ilke  gnd  cristyn?  man?  and  woman  do  bat  will  be  besy  b?r-abowte.  And  at  be 
begynnynge,  it  es  by-houely  bat  be  place  of  thi  conscience  be  clensed  clene  of 
syn? ;  to  be  wilke  clensynge  be  haly  goste  sail  sende  two  maydyns  bat  ere 
conande,  the  one  es  callede  Rightwysnes,  and  be  tob?f  es  called  Luffe  of  Clennes  ; 
thiese  two  sail  cast  fro  be  conscience  and  fro  be  herte  all  man?f  of  fylthe  of 
foule  thoghtes  and  desyris.  /  When?  be  place  of  be  conscience  es  wele  clensed, 
than  sail  be  grownde  be  mad  large  l  and  depe;  and  this2  two  maydenes  sail  make3: 
be  one  es  callede  Mekenes,  bat  sail  make  be  grownde  depe  thorowe  lowlynes 
of  hir-selfe,  the  tob?r  es  callede  Pou?rte ,  bat  makis  it  large  &  wyde  abowne ; 
bat  castis  ou?r  ylke  a  halfe  be  erthe  owte ,  bat  es  to  say,  alle  erthely  lustes  & 
worldely  thoghtes  ferre  fro  be  herte,  bat  if  bay  hafe  erthely  gudis  vfiih  luffe  bay 
forgete  baym?  for  be  tym?  &  castis  no  lufe  to  bam?,  nor  hase  noghte  ne  settis 
noghte  for  bat  tyme  baire  hertes  no-thynge  one  bam? — and  thies  ere  callede 
pure  in  spyrite,  of  wham?  god  spekes  in  be  gospelle  &  sayse  bat  thaires  es  be 
kyngdom?  of  heuen?,  be  thies  wordes  Beati  pauperes  spiritu,  quoniam  ipsorum  est 
rignum  celorum.  Blyssed  es  ban?  bat  religyon?  bat  es  fundide  in  pouerte  and  in 
meknes.  This  es  agaynes  many  religyous  bat  are  couetous  and  prowde.  /  This 
abbaye  also  sail  be  sett  on  a  gud  reu?r,  and  bat  sail  be  be  reu?r  of  teres;  for 
swylke  abbayes  bat  ere  sett  one  swylke  gude  ryu?rs,  pay  are  wele  at  ese,  and  be 
i  Ms.  lange.  2  Ms.  thies.  3  Ms.  be  made. 


and  who  so-ber-abowte  al.  om.  all  Now  be-houeb  hit  benne  at  be  biginnynge. 
be,  om.  in  HHa.  all  be  clanset  borw  (H  by,  Ha  with)  wys  clansynge;  be  holi  gost 
&c.  VL  sendeii,  HHa  fynd.  V  s.  adouw.  V  twey.  H  maydenes  al.  maidens, 
bat  ere  al.  om.;  bat — conande  om.  in  Ha.  LH  wel,  V  ful  c.  L  connende  VH 
connynge.  VLH  bat  on,  Ha  one.  V  clept  L  clepud  HHa  clepid.  Ha  rightues- 
nesse.  LHa  om.  and.  all  bat  ober.  is  cleped ;  om.  in  V.  loue.  V  clannesse. 
V  beose,  al.  bese.  V  tweyne.  VL  schul  HHa  schal.  LHHa  caste(n)  out.  V  from 
H  frome.  VLHa  om.  of.  V  fulbzw  L  filbes  H  fylthis,  Ha  filthode.  VHHa  and 
of  foule,  L  &  foule.  V  ^eornynges  L  ^ernyggys.  V  And  whon.  HHa  om.  be 
place  of.  LHa  om.  be.  V  I-clanset  LH  I-clensed.  all  foundement.  V  maad 
L  made,  all  large.  V  deop  L  dep.  V  bat  inst.  of  bis.  LVH  schal  (V  schul) 
twey  (H  two)  maydens  make  (L  maken),  Ha  shall  make  other  ii  maydens.  pat  on. 
cleped.  meknesse.  H  and  s.  L  s.  maken,  HHa  makith,  schal  om.  foundement. 
V  f)orw  H  throw  Ha  through.  V  louhnesse  al.  lownesse.  LHHa  her(e)-s.  V  and. 
bat  ober.  cleped.  Ha  pouertee.  makeb  H  makith.  Ha  wide  and  large.  V  wyd. 
L  abouen  al.  aboue.  VHa  and  inst.  of  f)at.  VL  casteb  H  castith  Ha  cast,  all  out 
of  be  herte  al  bat  is  of  erbelyche  (V  eorbliche  Ha  erthly  H  herbelyche)  binges  & 
worldliche  (H  worldeliche  L  wordly)  bouhtes  bat  bow  (om.  in  V)  bei  (V  bei  bat)  haue 
erbliche  goodes  (H  thynges  and  g.)  wib  loue  (om.  in  Ha)  bei  ne  (om.  in  Ha)  faste 
(H  festen  Ha  feste)  not  her  (V  heore)  hertes  (Ha  hartys)  on  (H  in)  hem  (V  ber-on, 
Ha  there-vppon?).  V  beose  L  byse  HHa  bese.  VH  ben  Ha  be,  om.  in  L. 
cleped  L  I-cleped.  VHHa  pore  L  pouere.  Ha  sprite.  V  w^uche  L  wyche  H 
qwyche  Ha  the  which?.  Ha  Crist.  VLHa  spekep.  V  godspel.  seib.  V  heoren 
LHa  here.  H  bat  be  kyngdome  of  h.  is  herne.  V  kindom.  all  om.  be  thies  wordes. 
L  Beati  inquid.  quoniam — celorum  om.  in  LH.  Ha  est  enim.  Ha  om.  Blyssed — 
prowde.  VL  Blessed  H  Blyssyd  H  benne  is.  L  be.  V  foundet  L  y-founded.  V 
vppon  pouert.  L  om.  in ;  V  vppon.  mekenesse  H  mekenes.  This — prowde  om.  in  V. 
LH  pat  is.  L  a^eyn  H  a^eynest.  bat  are — prowde  om.  in  H.  L  been  coueytouse. 
LH  schal  also.  H  sette.  V  vpon.  good  ryuer  ( V  Riueer) .  and — gude  ryuers  om. 
in  LHHa;  and — reuer  om.  in  V;  V  of  teeres:  For  eu?ri  Citee  and  Abbey  bat  ben 
set  on  goode  Riueres.  bay  om.  in  V;  H  bat,  LHa  it.  V  ben,  LH  is,  Ha 
shalbe.  all  be  (om.  in  Ha)  more.  Ha  ease.  LH  om.  be.  delicious(e).  all  om. 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  323 

more  dylecyous  duellyng  es  fw.  One  swylke  a  reu^r  was  Mary  Mawdelayne 
fowndide,  ffor-thy  grace  and  rechesse  come  all  to  hir  will.  And  for-thi  sayde 
Dauid  thus:  Fluminis  impetus  letificat  duitatem ,  bat  es  to  saye  »the  gude  reu^r 
mase  be  cete  lykande«;  for  it  es  clene,  sekyr,  &  ryche  of  all  gude  marchandyse. 
And  so  be  reuer  of  tens  clenses  goddis  cete,  bat  es  mannes  saule  b#t  es  goddes 
cete ;  and  also  be  holy  man  sayse  of  fylthe  of  synnt'  bat  it  brynges  owte  be 
reches  of  vertus  and  of  alle  gude  thewes.  /  And  when  bis  grownde  es  made,  ban 
sail  come  a  dameselle,  Bowsomnes,  on  be  tone  halfe,  and  dameselle  Miserecorde 
one  be  tojw  halfe,  for  to  rayse  be  walles  one  heghte,  and  to  make  bam  stalworthe : 
w*t/j  a  fre  hert  largely  gyfande  to  be  pure  &  to  bamt?  bat  myster  base ;  ffor 
when^  we  do  any  gud  werkes  of  charite  thorow  be  grace  of  gode,  also  ofte-sythis 
als  we  bam  do  in  be  lufe  and  be  louynge  of  god  and  in  gud  entent ,  als  many 
gud  stonys  we  laye  one  owre  howssynge  in  be  blysse  of  heuen^,  festenande  to- 
gedir  w/tfc  be  lufe  of  gode  and  oure  euen£-crysten<?.  We  rede  bat  Salomons  made 
his  howssynge  of  grete  pr^cyouse  stones:  thiese  pn'cyous  stones  are  almos-dedis 
and  werkes  of  mercy  &  holy  werkes ;  pat  sail  be  bownden^  togedir  vtith  qwyke- 
lyme  of  lufe  &  stedfaste  byleue ,  and  for-thi  sayse  Dauid ,  Omni  a  opera  tins  in 
fide,  bat  es  to  saye,  »alle  his  werkes  be  done  in  stedfaste  byleue«;  and  als  a  walle 
maye  not  laste  wzt/j-owtten*  syment  or  morfter]1,  also  no  werkes  bat  we  wyrke  are 
noghte  worthe  to  god  nor  spedfull  till  oure  sawles,  bot  pay  be  done  in  the  lufe 

1  Ms.  more. 

duellyng  es  \)er.  such(e)  L  swyche.  VH  be  Marie  M.;  LHa  om.  Mary;  the  maude- 
leyn.  all  i-set  (HHa  set/  and.  V  I-foundet  L  I-fonded  Ha  I-founded.  HHa 
therefor  L  before,  V  and  btrfore.  V  graces  &  richesses,  Ha  Richese  and  grace. 
L  adds  of  werkus ,  HHa  of  vertues  (vertuousj .  V  comen  H  comyn  L  com. 
Ha  om.  all;  V  folliche  al,  H  fulliche  al,  L  fully.  V  at.  LH  her(e) .  LHHa  om. 
and.  all  berfore.  VL  seib.  L  seynt  D.  Ha  dauith.  all  om.  thus.  H  im  (inst. 
of  impetxis;.  all  du.dei.  L  seyn.  L  ryuer  pat.  makej)  HHa  makith.  L  syte 
V  citee  HHa  cite.  HHa  of  god  (H  good  1.,  VL  1.  of  god.  L  lykende  al. 
likyng.  all  cl.  and.  VL  siker.  Ha  Riche  &  sekyr.  LH  goodes  &.  Ha  gode- 
nesse  and  vertues.  VL  Marchauwdises  H  merchaundysse.  all  Riht  so.  teres. 
V  clansef)  L  clenseb,  H  clensyng,  Ha  cansith.  soule.  VHa  be  wh^uche.  V  om. 
cite  ;  L  cee  H  see.  LHHa  om.  And.  V  om.  also  ;  LHHa  as.  VL  men  seyen 
(seyn).  all  bat  be  fylbe  of  synne  departeh  (H  depart*'*)  riches  (V  richesses).  HHa 
&  inst.  of  of.  H  v^rtuis.  Ha  om.  of.  H  thewis.  LHHa  om.  And.  V  be.  all 
foundement.  V  schul.  H  comyn.  LHHa  om.  a ;  V  twey  Dameseles.  V  Boxuw- 
nesse  L  buxomnesse  H  boxomnes  Ha  Buxumnesse.  VLHa  bat  on,  H  be  on. 
V  om.  dameselle.  V  Mmnful.  LVHa  bat  ober.  all  rere  (L  reren).  VHa  an,  H  of. 
VL  hei^  H  heybe  Ha  hie.  all  om.  to.  L  maken.  hem,  om.  in  H.  all  ^euynge. 
Ha  yeuyng  largely  with  a  free  hert.  all  &  to  be  (om.  in  H)  meseyse  (H  mysey- 
seyd  Ha  mysesede).  VL  don.  V  eny  HHa  ony.  V  dedes  LHHa  dede.  VLH 
om.  be.  VLH  gr.  of  good  entente,  Ha  of  god  with  good  entent;  also — gud 
om.  in  VLHHa.  V  als  al.  as.  VHa  moni.  VLHa  stones.  V  leggen  L  lei^en 
H  legge  Ha  leye.  Ha  in.  V  vre.  H  blise.  Ha  and  f.  VL  I-fastned  H  fest- 
ned  Ha  and  fastened.  VLH  to-gederes.  L  wit.  Ha  om.  be.  VL  and  of. 
VL  reden.  H  Salamon.  Ha  hous.  V  beos  L  beyse  H  bis  Ha  thes.  VLH 
ben  Ha  be.  VLHa  almes  H  almesse.  all  om.  and — mercy.  L  om.  &;  Ha  & 
ober.  V  schul  L  schullen,  HHa  schuld(e).  L  been.  H  bounde.  VLH  to- 
gederes.  V  studefast.  LHHa  om.  and.  all  berfore.  H  sayd.  Ha  Dauid  saith. 
V  Dauid  be  ptt?phe[te].  VL  sey(e)n.  Ha  workes.  LH  ben.  all  as.  VLH  wal. 
L  lasten  V  fastnen.  Ha  wzt/z-oute.  VL  Cyment  H  cement  Ha  sement.  all 
morter.  all  Riht  so.  LH  werk(e)  Ha  worke.  VHHa  do  L  doon.  L  aryn, 
HHa  is.  H  ry^t  no^t.  Ha  is  plesyng  to.  VLH  ne.  VL  noteful,  H  nedful,  Ha 
medefull.  VHa  to,  LH  for.  HHa  soule.  H  but  if.  LH  been.  HHa  om.  the. 

21* 


324  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

of  god  and  in  trewe  by-leue  ;  ffor  alle  {)at  be  *  synfull  dose,  alle  es  loste.  /  Sythen^ 
dameselle  Sufferance  and  damesell  Forte 2  sail  rayse  be  pelars,  &  vndirsett  bam?  so 
strangly  bat  no  wywde  of  wordes,  angre  o[r]3  stryffe,  fleschely  nor  gastely,  sowre 
ne  swete,  caste  bam*?  downe.  /  A,  dere  brethir  and  systers  ,  J^itt  by-houys  be 
cloystyre  be  made,  one  foure  corners ;  and  it  es  callede  »cloystm<  for  it  closys  and 
stekys4,  and  warely  sail  be  lokkede.  My  dere  breb^r  and  systyrs ,  wylke  of 
j^ow  as  will  halde  this  gastely  religyon^  &  be  in  ryste  of  sawle  &  in  swetnes  of 
hert,  halde  be  -with-Ine  be  cloyster,  and  so  sparre  b<m  be  ^ates,  and  so  warely 
kepe  b0u  pe  wardes  of  pi  cloyster,  bat  non  o[t]^5  fandynge^  nor  euylle  styr- 
rynges  hafe  in-gate  in  the  &  make  p£  thy  sylence  forto  [breke]6  or  styrre  the 
to  synn^ ;  steke  thyntf  eghne  fro  fowle  syghtes,  thyn^  heres  fro  foule  herynges, 
thy  mouthe  fra  foule  speche,  and  thyn^  herte  fra  foule  thoghtes.  /  Scrifte  sail 
[make]  thi  chapitir,  Pn?dicacion<?  sail  make  thi  frsAour,  Oracion<?  sail  make  thi 
chapelle ;  Cowtemplacione  sail  make  thi  dortowre,  pat  sail  be  raysede  one  heghte 
Vfiih  heghe  ^ernynge  and  vtith  lufe-qwykkynynge  to  gode,  and  p#t  sail  be  owte 
ofe  worldly  noyse  and  of  worldly  angyrse  and  besynes  als  fere  furthe  als  pmi  may 
for  be  tyme  thorow  grace  for  be  tym*  of  pnzyere.  Conte/wplacion^  es  a  deuote 
rysynge  of  herte  with  byrnynge  lufe  to  god  to  do  wele 7,  and  in  his  delites  loyes 

i  al.  we.        2  o.  m.  Fortitude.         3  Ms.  of.         *  Ms.  steskys.         5  Ms.  no  no^er.         s  Ms.  & 
make  ]>er  thy  s.  and  for  to  . .  the.         7  r.  in  god  to  dwelle  ? 


HHa  om.  in.  Ha  om.  for — loste.  LH  perefor,  V  an  p^rfore.  all  we  sinful  don 
H  do),  all  om.  alle.  V  loren  L  lorn  H  lore.  VLH  add  till  bat  (om.  in  L, 
H  but)  we  amenden  vs.  V  Sebbe  H  sythe,  Ha  And.  H  be  d.  S.  LHa  be  Fort. 
VHHa  schul  L  shullen.  VL  reysen  vp,  HHa  rere  vp.  V  pilers  LHa  pelers 
H  pyleres.  VL  vndersetten.  Ha  so  mightly,  VLH  so  studefastlich  and  so  stal- 
worplich.  L  wordus.  all  ne  (L  no)  of.  V  non  a.  all  angres  ne  of  gostliche 
fondynges  (HHa  temptaczon)  ne  of  fleschliche  lustes  (L  lust)  pe  Innore  ne  (L  no) 
pe  otture  (L  vttere,  H  ferrer;  be  I. — otture  om.  in  Ha)  ne  (om.  in  LHHa)  may 
(Ha  shall)  hem  (L  hym)  doun  casten  (Ha  cast  hem  adown^).  A — systers  al.  om. 
all  After  pis  be-houep  hit  (om.  in  LHHa)  bat  (om.  in  L)  pe.  V  Cloistre  al. 
cloyster.  VLH  of.  Ha  iiii-cornerde.  all  for  whi  (Ha  for)  hit  is  cleped.  V  be, 
Ha  a  c.  closeb.  VL  stekeb ,  H  schetteth  Ha  shutteth.  Ha  om.  and — systyrs. 
V  warliche  L  warly ;  H  &  wardith  bat  schal.  VL  loken  H  loke.  V  breperen 
and  sustren,  LH  brober  &  syster.  V  ^if  z;e  wollen,  LHHa  ^yf  bow  wylt  (H  wil); 
V  holden  LHa  holde  H  hold ;  V  ow,  LHHa  be  ;  VLHHa  in  gostlich  religion. 
V  om.  &  be — hert.  rest.  H  and  of;  Ha  om.  in.  V  holdeb  ow.  all  om.  be 
Cloyster.  all  om.  so.  L  steke,  H  schette  Ha  shutt,  V  stekeb.  all  om.  f)0u. 
L  by,  V  or.  H  om.  so.  V  kepep.  p0u  al.  om.  Ha  thi.  HHa  wordis.  V  s;or. 
V  opwr,  LH  vttere ;  om.  in  Ha.  HHa  temptacz'on.  Ha  om.  nor — &.  LVH  no 
iH  ne  V  non)  innere  (innore)  mowe  (H  may)  haue  any  (om.  in  H)  entre  to  make 
(V  maken)  pi  sylence  (L  cylence)  to  breke  (V  bren ;  Ha  make  the  br.  thy  s.)  or 
(Ha  nor)  stere  (V  sturen)  f)e  to  synne.  H  schette  Ha  shutt.  HHa  bi.  V  E'^en 
L  ey^en  HHa  eyen.  VH  from.  VLHa  Eren  H  eres.  VH  from.  Ha  fole  heryng. 
VH  from.  VLH  speches,  Ha  spekyng.  VL  add  and  from  (fro)  vnclene  lauhtres 
(L  lauters).  V  om.  and.  Ha  thy.  L  poutus.  V  adds:  pin  honden  from  foule  hond- 
lynges,  and  pi  Neose  from  vuele  smellynges.  LH  be.  L  Chapetere-hous  V  Cha- 
pi^tre-hous  HHa  Chapitil-house.  all  om.  sail  make.  LH  pe.  V  ffretore  LHa  frey- 
tour  H  fraytowr.  all  orisoun.  all  om.  sail  make.  LH  £e.  all  om.  sail  make.  LH  pe. 
V  Dortur  H  dortor.  HHa  rered.  LHa  an.  H  hepe  L  hey  V  heiz;  Ha  hie. 
L  hye  V  he^e  H  heye,  Ha  his.  LV  ^ernynggzw,  HHa  desires.  Ha  d.  of  loue  ; 
and — gode  om.  LV  quikyngw^  H  quickyng.  all  om.  and  pat — pnzyere.  LVH 
deuout(e).  LVH  rys.  vp ,  Ha  rys.  oute.  all  of  pe.  L  brennewde  V  brewnynde 
HHa  brennynge.  V  in  g.  Ha  om.  to  do — saule.  L  dwelle  H  dwele  V  dwellen. 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  325 

his  saule,  and  somdele  ressayues  of  that  swetnes  bat  goddis  chosen?  childir  sail 
hafe  in  heuen?.  /  Rewfulnes  sail  make  the  fermorye,  Deuocion?  sail  make  be  celere, 
Meditacion  sail  make  the  gernere.  /  And  when  all  be  howses  bene  made,  ban  be- 
houes  be  holy  gaste  ordeyne  be  couent  of  grace  &  of  vertu ;  and  ban  sail  be 
holy  gaste  bat  bis  religyone  es  of,  bee  warden?  and  visiture.  The  whilke  god  be 
ffadir  funded  thorow  his  powere,  ffor  bus  saise  Dauide:  Fundauit  earn  altissimus, 
and  this  es  to  saye :  »the  heghe  gode  be  ffadyr  ffundide  this  relegyone« ;  the  Son? 
thurgfi  his  wysedom?  ban  ordayned  it,  als  sayne  Paule  witnes  it :  Que  [sunt],  a  deo 
ordinata  sunt1,  bat  es  at  saye:  »alle  bat  es  of2  god,  the  Sone  it  rewlis  &  ordaynes«; 
the  Holy  goste  ^emys  it  and  vesettes  it,  and  bat  saye  [we]  in  holy  kyrke  when?  we 
saye  bis:  Veni  creator  Spiritus,  with  Qui  paraclitus  diceris,  bat  es  for  to  saye: 
»come  b<m  god  be  haly  gaste,  and  thyne  f)0u  vesete,  and  fulfill  bam?  with  grace«. 
/  And  than  the  gude  lady  Charite,  als  scho  bat  es  most  worthy  by-fore  alle  ofw, 
sail  be  abbas  of  this  sely  abbaye.  And  also  als  bay  bat  are  in  relegyone  sail 
do  no  thynge,  ne  saye  thynge,  ne  gange  in  to  no  stede,  ne  take  no  gyfte  with- 
owtten?  leue  of  be  abbasse ,  also  gastely  sail  none  of  swylke  thyngys  be  done 
w/tA-owtten?  leue  of  charite  ;  ffor  thus  cowmandes  sayne  Paule :  Omnia  vestra  in 
caritate  fiant,  bat  es:  »what  so  j^e  do  or  saye  or  thynke  w/t/j  herte,  alle  ^e  mon 
1  Cf.  Rom.  13,  i.  2  omit  of? 

H  om.  and:  dwele  in  gostely  delicies,  ioyes — saule  om.  ;  LV  &  of  his  dylycys 
L  froberen  his  halle,  V  for  to  heeren  and  of  his  halewes.  LVHHa  and  (om.  in  V) 
sumdel  (om.  in  H)  tasten  (H  to  taste)  of  be  (om.  in  Ha)  swetnesse.  V  I-chosene,  Ha 
cosyns.  all  om.  childir.  L  schullen  V  schul.  V  hauen.  V  Rihtfulnesse.  all  schal 
be.  V  bi ;  Ha  om.  |)e.  V  ffermorer  H  fermowr  Ha  fermouresse.  all  om.  sail  make. 
V  bi;  Ha  om.  be.  L  seler  V  Cellerer  H  cele  Ha  Celeresse.  H  &  M.  L  maken. 
V  f)i.  V  Gerneer  H  garn?r.  all  om.  all.  V  bin.  all  houses  of  offys.  Ha  be. 
all  be-honeth  it  bat  be  h.  g.  sette.  V  Graces.  Ha  om.  of 2-  (ill  vertues.  LHHa 
om.  and.  VL  benne.  H  hey  holy.  LH  bat  is  of  b.  r.  ;  V  om.  j)at  is,  of  b.  r.; 
Ha  which  is  w.  &  v.  of  the  Religion.  LHHa  om.  bee.  LVHa  wardeyn.  LHa  vysi- 
tour  V  Visitor  H  wysitour.  L  om.  be.  H  om.  god.  LVHa  fader.  L  foundede 
V  foundet  H  founden.  all  my^t.  all  as  Dauid  (L  dauit)  seyth  (H  says).  VHa 
Fundauid.  all  om.  and.  all  bat.  LVH  om.  to  saye.  H  heyest.  LHHa  om.  be 
fadyr.  LHHa  haf)  made  hit.  The  son? — god  om.  in  LHHa.  V  om.  ban.  V  as 
seint  Poul  witnessef)  and  seij)  Quia  a  deo  sunt  ord.  sunt,  bat  is  be  hei^e  God 
ha{)  maad  hit.  all  rewlef)  (V  ruleb)  it.  all  om.  &  ordaynes.  all  kepeth  (L 
keput,1.  visiteb.  Ha  om.  bat;  H  berfor.  all  synge.  Ha  we  syng.  H  om.  holy. 
LV  churche  HHa  chirche.  all  om.  when? — bis.  L  adds  mentes  tuorum,  VHHa 
continue  ~>isita,  V  imple  superna  gracia  que  tu  creasti  pectora,  all  om.  wz't/j  Qui  p. 
diceris.  V  om.  bat — saye,  LH  om.  for — saye,  Ha  om.  for.  V  om.  god  be,  LHHa 
om.  be;  HHa  gode.  LVH  om.  and;  be  (V  ber)  hertes  of  byne.  Ha  &  visite 
the  herds  of  thyne.  V  folfulle,  L  felle  HHa  fille.  LHHa  hem,  V  be  brestes. 
H  throw,  all  f)i  grace.  V  adds  b#t  fyon  hast  I-foormed.  all  om.  And  than. 
Ha  om.  the  gude.  L  lefdy.  LVH  as,  om.  in  Ha.  L  sche  V  heo  H  he,  om. 
in  Ha.  all  om.  bat.  L  by-forn.  H  al  thyng.  L  been.  LVHa  abbesse  H  ab- 
baysse.  LHHa  holy.  all  om.  also.  as.  faei.  VH  ben  L  been  Ha  be.  L  no 
thyng  schol  doon,  VHHa  schul  no  bing  (Ha  not)  do(n).  L  no  Ha  nor.  L  seggen 
V  siggen.  all  om.  thynge.  L  no.  L  goon  V  gon  HHa  goo.  H  om.  no. 
V  stude.  L  no.  H  om.  ne — gyfte.  V  taken.  LV  no  (ne)  ^yue  (^iuen).  Ha  yftes. 
VHa  wiboute.  V  of  heore.  all  ri^t  so.  gostliche.  V  ne  schulle.  H  no  suche. 
Ha  nothyng.  L  schyche  fyyngus.  H  ben.  Ha  om.  leue  of.  H  loue.  H  bis. 
co(m)maundeth ,  H  comendith.  V  Omnia  opera  v.  Ha  is  to  seye.  Ha  all  that. 
V  om.  so.  V  don  or  seyen.  Ha  om.  or  saye.  L  benk  V  benken  Ha  thenkith. 
Ha  om.  with  herte.  Ha  loke  it  be  don?.  LH  mote  V  mosten.  VH  hit  don. 


326  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

do  in  charite«.  A,  dere  Brewer  and  systirs,  whate  here  es  harde  comandemewt ! 
Bot  it  es  [notfull] l  to  oure  sawles  bat  oure  thoghtes  &  oure  wordes  &  oure 
werkes  be  onely  done  for  lufe.  Wayleawaye ,  if  I  durste  saye !  for  many  are  in 
religione ,  hot  to  fewe  relegious  bat  bay  ne  done  be  comandment  of  saynte 
Paule,  or  be  concelle  of  be  gud  lady  Charite  bat  es  abbesse  of  this  cely  relegyon^  ; 
and  for-thi  bay  lose  mekill  tym<?,  and  losses  baire  mede,  and  ekes  thaire  payne 
gretly,  bot  if  bay  amende  bam.  Whare-fore,  leue  breb^r  and  systirs,  bese  ever 
more  wakire  and  warre ,  and  in  all  ^oure  werkes  thynke  depely  bat  whate-so  j^ee 
doo  be  it  done  in  be  lufe  of  gode  and  for  be  lufe  of  [god].  /  Pe  lady  Wysdome2  sail 
be  pr/oresse,  for  scho  es  worthi,  Nam  prior  omnium  creat\ur\ar\um\  est  sapiencia, 
bat  es:  » alfw-firste  es  Wysedome  made«,  and  thurgft  be  lare  and  be  concele  of 
bis  pn'oresse  sail  we  do  alle  pat  we  do  ;  and  this  sayse  Dauid :  Omnia  in  sa 
piencia  fecisti,  ptft  es  at  saye :  »alle  b#t  f)0u  base  made  bou  hase  made  wysely«.  / 
The  gud  lady  Meknes  b«t  aye  elyke  makis  hir-selfe  lowly  and  vndir  alle  ob<?r, 
sail  be  suppr/oresse :  hir  sail  ^e  honoure  and  wirchipe  wzt&  bouxomnes.  A  Ihesn, 
blyssede  [es]  bat  abbaye  and  cely  es  bat  religione,  bat  hase  so  haly  ane  abbas  as 
Charyte,  a  przoresse  as  Wysedome,  a  supprioresse  as  Mekenes.  A,  dere  brejw 
and  systirs,  blyssede  and  cely  are  bay;  bat  es  to  saye,  those  saules  are  cely  b#t 
haldis  be  comandmewt  of  be  abbas  lady  Charite,  and  be  techynge  of  be  priores 
lady  Wysdome,  and  the  concele  of  be  suppn'orese  lady  Mekenes.  For  who-so  es 
i  Ms.  noghte  full  ill.  2  Ms.  and  for  fce  lufe  of  l>e  lady  Wysdome  Jxzt  sail. 


H  with.  L  loue,  VH  loue  and  in  (om.  in  H)  charite.  A — lufe  of  (/.  9)  om.  in  Ha. 
V  brebren  and  sustren,  LH  brober  &  soster  (sister).  L  wat,  V  bat,  H  bis.  H  om. 
here.  V  and  hard,  H  a  harde.  H  om.  it.  LV  notful ,  H  nedful.  all  om.  ill. 
LV  for.  L  J>ou?t«j.  VH  ben  onliche.  H  ydo.  VH  for  be  1.  H  adds  oflhmi. 
LVH  add  &  in  be  loue  of  god.  V  weilawei  L  weylawey  H  welaway.  H  dorst, 
LV  dar.  ben  H  be.  LVH  and.  V  &  gon  to  seche  Religion.  V  bo  bat.  LVH 
om.  bay.  LVH  don  (V  dof)  H  do)  nou^t  after  (H  efter)  |)e  c.  L  no  VH  ne, 
after  be.  L  counsel  V  cou;zseil  H  conseyl.  L  lefdy.  LVH  sely.  berefore. 
L  leson  V  leose  H  losse.  L  mechel  V  muche  H  meche.  LVH  tyme  of  her 
mede  (and  losses  om.).  L  eken  V  echen.  H  and  also  gretly  schal  haue  payne. 
LV  gretlyche  here  peyne.  LH  om.  if.  LV  amenden.  hem.  LVH  perfore.  V 
breberen  and  sustren,  LH  brober  &  syster.  L  beth  H  bethe  V  beob.  LV 
waker,  H  wakynge.  L  ^oure  w.  all.  V  ^or.  LV  benketh  H  thynketh.  LVH  bysy- 
lyche  what  so  (H  w.  bat)  ^e  don  bat  it  be.  V  om.  done.  LVH  in  (V  for)  be  loue 
of  god  &  for  (V  in)  his  loue.  of  om.  L  leuedy.  V  Wisdam.  all  om.  bat.  L  been 
V  beo.  L  pryouresse.  for — worthi  om.  in  Ha.  LH  sche  V  heo.  Ha  priorum. 
LHa  omni  creata,  VH  omni  creatura.  Ha  is  to  saye.  V  aller.  L  ferst  V  furste. 
LHHa  was.  LV  y-maked  H  ymakyd.  lore.  H  priorisse.  Ha  we  shall  VH  we 
schul,  L  we  scholdew.  L  doon  V  don.  al.  LV  don  Ha  doth,  H  schul  do.  Ha  as. 
LVH  bus,  om.  in  Ha.  L  seyt.  Ha  dauid  saith.  LV  tu  fee.  Ha  om.  b#t — saye. 
LVH  om.  at  saye.  V  om.  alle.  hast.  V  i-maked.  LVH  hast  it.  LV  avisylyche 
H  awisiliche  Ha  avysily.  L  lefdy.  all  euer  m.  h.  I-lyche  (Ha  like)  lowe.  Ha  om. 
and.  L  ben.  V  subprioresse  H  suppn'orisse.  LVH  schalt  bow,  Ha  bou  shalt. 
L  onourew  V  honourew.  Ha  om.  and  wirch.  L  worchepe  V  worschipen  H 
worchip.  Ha  O.  all  bl.  is.  hath,  holy  an.  Ha  om.  as.  LVH  om.  a.  all  om.  a. 
Ha  O  Ihesu.  H  om.  A  —  bay.  Ha  om.  dere  —  saye.  V  breb^rm  and  sustrew, 
L  brober  &  syster.  LV  been  bo.  L  seyen.  Ha  sely  be  tho  soules.  LVH  be. 
L  been  V  ben  H  bothe.  LVHa  holden  H  holdithe.  V  comauwdemens.  H  om. 
abbas.  Ha  lady  abbesse.  L  leuedy,  V  bat  ladi.  all  om.  and.  Ha  lady  priores. 
V  p.  be  ladi.  LVH  om.  and.  Ha  lady  supprioresse.  V  be  ladi.  V  ho  so, 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  327 

bouxome  to  thir  thre  ladyse,  and  baire  lyffe  rewlis  aftir  baire  techynge,  the  ffa- 
dir,  the  Sone,  the  Holy  goste,  bam  sail  comfurthe  -with  many  gostely  loyes,  and 
bam  helpe  and  socoure  in  alle  fandiwges  [&]1  angirs  pat  pay  ne  be  noghte  ouer- 
comen^;  bam  thare  drede  no  wrenkis  ne  no  wylis  of  the  fende,  for  why  god  es 
\fiik  pam£  and  standis  aye  by  pam£  als  a  trewe  kepere  &  a  strange ;  and  ffor-pi 
says  Dauid  thus:  Dominus  protector  vite  mee,  a  quo  trepidabo?  alsifhesayd:  »god 
es  my  champyone  staleworthe  and  trewe,  pat  for  me  pat  es  so  wayke  and  so 
vnmyghtfull,  agaynes  myn£  enemyse  base  vndirtane  for  to  fyghte:  whame  thare 
me  pan£  drede  ?  now  trewly,  righte  none«.  We  rede  in  a  buke  of  Danyele  bat 
a  myghtfull  [kyng]  was  bat  men£  callede  Nabogodhonosore ,  bat  sett  in  [his] 
reme  thre  mene  bat  solde  do  &  ordayne  and  stabyll  als  baylyes  alle  be  rewme, 
so  bat  be  kynge  herde  no  noyse  ne  no  playnte,  bot  bat  he  myghte  be  in  pese 
&  in  loye  &  in  ryste  in  his  rewme.  And  righte  so  pe  rewme  of  pe  sawle  pat 
thiese  thre  baylyes  are  Ine,  and  be  religione  bat  thies  thre  palates  are  Ine,  pat 
es  Charite,  Wysedome  and  Mekenes,  thare  es  pese,  ryste  and  lykynge  in  saule  & 
comforthe  in  lyfe.  /  Z?amesele  Discrecyone,  pat  es  witty  and  be-[fore]2-ware,  sail 
be  tresorere ;  scho  sail  hafe  in  hir  kepynge  alle,  and  ^ernely  luke  pat  all  go 
wele.  /  Orysone  salle  be  chaunterese,  bat  w/t&  hertly  prayers  sail  trauele  daye  & 
nyghte3.  And  whate  Orysone  es,  pe  holy  man^  sayse :  Oracio  est  deo  sacrificium, 
angelis  solatium,  diabolo  tormentum,  pat  es  to  saye :  »Orysone  es  a  louely  sacrafice 
i  Ms.  in.  2  full.  3  The  same  passage  is  part  of  a  treatise  on  prayer  and  meditation  in 
Ms.  Reg.  17  C  xvin,  fol.  65. 

Ha  who  so  that,  H  he  pat ;  L  who,  so  om.  V  peos  H  besse  Ha  pes,  L  pe. 
VHa  ladies  H  ladis  L  Iefdy7,s.  LVH  hys.  LH  reulyth  V  rulep.  Ha  &  Rewleth  his 
lyf  after  hem  &  her  t.  L  techynge  VH  techinges.  Ha  and  the  h.  g.  LV  hem, 
HHa  hym.  L  counforten  V  cu/wforten  H  conforte.  L  gostlyche.  LV  hem,  H  hym, 
om.  in  Ha.  LV  helpen  &  socourew.  LV  all  here,  HHa  al  his.  L  fondyngz^r 
H  fondyngis,  V  temptacions,  Ha  nedes.  Ha  om.  in  ang.  LVH  and.  L  angeres, 
VH  angres.  HHa  he.  all  om.  ne.  L  been;  V  schul  not  ben.  HHa  ouercome. 
LVH  ne  bar  (H  ber;  hem  (H  hym)  nou^t  drede,  Ha  ne  hym  dar  not  d.  L  non, 
H  be.  LVH  wrenches  Ha  wrenchis.  L  no  non.  VHHa  om.  no.  wyles.  all  om. 
why.  HHa  hym.  V  om.  and — banu'.  LHHa  om.  aye.  Ha  with.  L  om.  bam<? ; 
HHa  hym.  as.  V  om.  a.  L  kempe,  V  Campion  II  Kampioun  Ha  Champion.  LV 
om.  a.  all  strong,  all  and  pus ;  for-bi  om.  V  witnessef),  Ha  said.  as.  VL  ^if 
Ha  5jef.  LV  om.  es.  LHHa  champyoun  V  Campion,  all  am.  LVHa  feble  H  febel. 
Ha  om.  so.  H  vnmy^ti  Ha  onmyghty.  L  a^eynus  VH  a^eynes  Ha  ayens.  L  enne- 
mys  VH  enemys  Ha  enemies.  Ha  he  hath.  L  vndertaken  al.  vndertake.  Ha  om. 
for.  L  fyten  V  fihte  H  fy2jt  Ha  fyght.  Ha  adds  for  me.  whom  H  qwhom. 
LVHHa  schulde  I.  L  dredon.  all  om.  Now.  all  om.  righte.  Ha  nomantf.  Ha  om. 
\Ve — go  wele  (/.  18).  LV  reden.  V  bat  \>er  was.  V  migtiful.  all  kyng.  V  me. 
H  was.  clepede.  L  Nabugodonozjor  V  Nabugoddonosor.  in  his.  LH  rewme 
V  Reame.  L  schulden  V  scholdew  H  schulde.  LH  doon  and  ordeynen  &  stablen. 
H  om.  andj.  H  stabil.  as.  V  Bayliues,  H  reuleres.  LH  of  inst.  of  alle. 
VH  reame.  H  harde,  V  ne  herde.  V  now.  L  no  (no2  om.)  pleynt.  VH  but. 
V  ben.  &  in  loye  al.  om.  in  om.  L  reste  VH  rest.  V  and  his  R.  also. 
L  om.  rewme.  all  om.  And  righte.  LH  Also.  LVH  om.  of  be  sawle.  H  bis 
L  bese  V  beose.  L  bayles  H  baylis.  L  been  H  ben  V  beb.  LV  inne. 
V  be-tokneb  inst.  of  and.  L  om.  be.  H  regiouw.  L  preletes.  V  beob  H  bethe 
L  been.  V  and  Wisdom.  LV  Damysele.  L  descreczoun.  LVH  byfore.  LVH 
tresouresse.  V  ffor  heo.  H  hee  L  she.  LH  om.  hir.  LVH  bysylyche.  L  loken 
VH  loke.  Ha  Cloystresse.  H  hertliche  Ha  herty.  Ha  prayours.  L  trawaylen 
al,  trauayle.  all  om.  and.  V  tellefo.  Ha  sacrificium  deo.  L  seyn.  Ha  Orisons 
&  holy  prayers  sacrifice  to  g.  LVH  an  holi.  V  sacrifice,  LH  preyer.  H  solace 


328  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

to  god,  solase  and  lykynge  to  angells,  and  turment  to  pe  fende«.  It  witnes  in  pe 
lyfe  of  saynte  Barthilmewe  pat  it  es  turment  to  pe  fende:  for  pe  fende  cryede 
to  hym  and  sayde:  Bartholomee,  ince{n}dunt  me  oraciones  tue,  pat  es  to  saye: 
»Bartilmew,  thi  payers  byrnys  me«.  And  pat  [it]  es  lykynge  to  angels,  saynte 
[Austyn]  1  wytnes  it  and  sayse :  »When*  we  praye  vriih  deuocyone  of  hert,  the  angels 
standis  byfore  [vs]  daunsesande  &  playeande2,  and  beris  oure  prayers  vp,  and 
present  3  pam<;  to  pe  ffadir  of  heuen* ;  pe  whilke  payers  oure  lorde  cowmandes 
to  wryte  in  pe  buke  of  lyfe«.  [^it  it]4  es  sacrafyce  to  god,  ftis  anep  of  pam?  pat 
hym  moste  payes,  and  for-thi  he  askes  vs  it  tyr  he  sayse  thus :  Sacrificium  laudis 
honorificabis  me,  pat  es  to  saye:  »^e  salle  wyrchipe  [me]  with  sacrifice  of  louynge«.6  / 
/ubilacio,  hir  felowe,  sail  helpe.  And  what  Jubilation?  es,  a  seynt7  it  telles  and 
sayse  pat  wlubylacion^  es  a  grete  loye  p«t  es  cowsayuede  in  teris  thorow  brynnande 
luffe  of  spirite,  pat  may  noghte  be  in  all  schewede  no  in  alle  hyde« ;  als  it  fallis 
somtyme  of  tho  p«t  god  hertly  lufes ;  pere®  efter  pat  pay  hafe  bene  in  prayere 
and  in  orysone,  pay  are  so  lyghte  &  so  lykande  in  god,  pat  whare  so  pay  go  \>er 
hertes  synges  murnynge  songes  of  lufe-longynge  to  paire  lefe,  pat  pay  ^erne  vfhh 
armys  of  lufe  semlyly  to  falde,  and  -with  gastely  mowny[n]ge  of  his  gudnes  swetly 
to  kysse ;  and  ?it  vmwhile  so  depely  p#t  wordis  pam  wanttis ;  for  luf-longynge  so 

1  Ms.  Bartilmew.  2  MS.  prayeande.  3  Ms.  a  pr.  of.  *  Ms.  l>at.          5  Ms.  this  are. 

6  This  _word   (=    praise)   proves   the   tract   to  have   been   written  in   the   north.  "•  al.    seynt 

Oregon ;  cf.  Greg.  Mor.  xxm.        8  —  bire. 


to  god.  Ha  om.  solase.  L  aungks  V  angeles  HHa  aungelis.  V  om.  pe. 
VLHa  fendes.  HHa  pis  is  wittenessyd  (Ha  wittenesse).  VL  witnessep.  L  bar- 
tolmew  V  Barthelmeu  Ha  Bartelmewe  H  bartholemewe.  V  to  fendes.  all  whan 
inst.  of  for.  L  cryede  &  seyde  to  hym.  Ha  om.  to  hym.  L  Bartillomewe, 
V  Apostole  del  Bartholomee;  om.  in  HHa.  Ha  me  inst.  of  tue.  L  seyn.  V  pou 
godes  apostle  Bartholomeu^.  LH  brennen  V  brennep  Ha  brenne.  all  om.  and. 
HHa  pat  orisoun  is.  Ha  adds  and  turment  to  the  fendis.  all  Austyn  (L  Austeyn; 
berep  wytnesse.  L  sey^t.  LV  preyen.  all  of  h.  to  god.  LV  stonden  H  stondyn 
Ha  stonde.  L  aforn  V  bi-foren.  all  vs.  daunsynge  &  pleyynge.  LVH  beryng, 
Ha  bere ;  vp  oure  pr.  LV  £  maken  hem  present,  Ha  and  present  hem  vp,  H  and 
hem  presentith.  V  preyere.  Ha  he.  VHHa  comawzdeb  L  comendep.  H  writyn, 
LV  be  wryten  (ben  I-write).  L  om.  pe.  L  lyj^f.  all  it  is.  LH  7,e  &  on  of, 
V  and  on  of.  Ha  and  most  plesith  hym.  L  poo  V  po,  H  bilk.  LV  pleseth, 
H  likep.  all  om.  and.  LH  perfor  he  axef)  it  vs,  VHa  hit  (Ha  god)  scheweb 
wel  (Ha  hywself)  for  he  hit  askep  (Ha  askith  it)  of  vs.  all  &  seyth ;  thus  om. 
LHHa  honorificabit ,  V  honorificabis .  LH  om.  to  saye.  H  pat  pu.  all  pou 
schalt.  V  worschupe.  all  me.  H  praysyng ,  Ha  plesyng.  all  Jubilation.  Ha 
shall  folowe ,  H  schal  be  chaiwterysse  felaw  and  her  help  to  do.  LV  helpen 
(om.  in  Ha),  and — es  om.  in  Ha.  and  om.  in  LVH.  all  seynt  Gregori  inst.  of 
a  seynt.  all  om.  it.  Ha  om.  telles  and.  LV  telleb  H  tellyth.  L  sey^t  V  seip 
H  seyth  L  saith.  LH  conseyued  V  concerned  Ha  conceiuid.  H  terres.  L 
brennewde  V  bre;rninde  HHa  brennyng.  V  of  be.  L  spyry^t  VHa  sprit,  in  om. 
V  al  out  L  alle  owt  H  al  out  be  sch.,  Ha  all  be  sh.  oute.  Ha  ne  V  nor,  L  noyper 

I  nofw.  in  om.  HHa  all  be.  L  hyd  Ha  hid  H  hydde  V  hud.  as.  LV  fallep 
HHa  fallyth.  V  pulke.  Ha  om.  god.  V  pat  louen  god  herteli.  H  for,  L  7,e, 
VHa  om.  pere.  LVHa  after.  LV  han.  all  om.  in  pnzyere  and.  VL  ben 
HHa  be.  all  om.  so  lyghte  &.  likyng.  Ha  what  ever  they  do  here.  LVH  ben. 

I  hertis^,  Ha  hert.  L  synggew  H  syng  Ha  syngith  V  syngynge.  mornyng. 
Ha  songis,  H  song.  Ha  om.  longynge — longynge.  H  lofe.  L  ^ernew  V  ^eornen, 

H  desire,  armes.  L  semly  VH  semeli.  LH  klyppe  V  cluppen.  L  menyngw^, 
H  mengynges,  V  moones.  LH  gladnesse.  H  swetlyche  to  clippe  &  kysse.  V  cussen. 
all  om.  ^it.  all  somtyme.  H  depelyche.  LV  wordes.  L  wanteth  V  wontep, 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  329 

ferforthe  rauesches  thorow1  hertis  prtt  somtym<?  pay  ne  wote  noghte  whate  pay 
do.  /  Z>euocione  es  celeresse,  p#t  kepis  pe  wywnes,  bothe  pe  white  and  pe  rede, 
wzt/j  depe  vmbythynkynge  of  be  giidnes  of  god,  &  of  be  paynnes  &  of  be  anguyse 
bat  he  tholede,  and  of  the  loyes  &  be  delytes  of  paradyse  pat  he  base  ordayned 
to  his  chosen*?.  /  Penance  sail  be  kychynnere,  bat  vrith  grete  besynes  trayuells 
daye  &  nyghte  for  to  plese  alle,  and  ofte  swetis  -with  bitter  teris  for  angyre  of 
hir  synnes.  Scho  makes  gud  metis,  pat  es  many  bitter  sorowes  alle  for  hir  gylte^, 
and  theys  metis  fedis  be  saule ;  bot  scho  sparis  hir-selfe  thorow  abstynence  and 
etys  bot  littill,  ffor  do  scho  neu^r  so  mekill  ne  so  mony-folde  of  gud  werkes,  ay 
semys  scho  hir-selfe  vnworthy  and  synfull.  /  ^4tempmmce  seme[s]e2  in  the  fratoz^r, 
bat  scho  to  ylkone  so  hikes  bat  mesure  be  ou^r-alle,  bat  none  ou^r-mekill  nere 
outr-lyttill  ete  ne  drynke.  /  .Sobirnes  redis  at  the  borde  the  lyues  of  the  haly 
ffadirs,  and  sywges  and  reherces  whate  lyfe  bat  bay  lede,  for  to  take  gud  en- 
sampille  to  do  als  pay  dyd,  and  pere-thorowe  slyke  mede  to  wyn?  als  pay  now 
hafe.  /  Pete  es  spensere,  pat  dose  seruesse  to  gud  all  p<?t  scho  maye.  And  Mercy 
hir  syst^r  sail  be  ambynowre3,  bat  gyffes  to  alle,  and  noghte  kane  kepe  to  hir-selfe.  / 
TTie  lady  Drede  es  portere,  pat  kepis  besyly  be  cloyst^  of  be  herte  &  of  be 
conscience,  b«t  chases  owte  alle  vnthewes  and  calles  In  alle  gud  vertus,  &  so 
1  r.  thaire?  -  Ms.  seruede.  3  =  almoner. 


H  lakkyth.  H  lonkyng.  VH  &  so.  Ha  so  forsoth.  rau.  —  hertis  om.  in  Ha. 
L  rauyscheth  V  rauissched  H  rauyss.  here,  H  hey.  LV  hertes.  L  ne  wyte,  V  nute, 
H  om.  ne,  LHa  om.  noghte.  L  doon  V  don.  V  Celleresse.  kepep,  Ha  kepith. 
HHa  om.  bothe.  VH  om.  be.  H  qwyte.  VH  om.  be.  V  deore.  all  pou^tes. 
V  of  be  angussches  and  of  be  peines.  L  angusches  H  angwysches,  Ha  diseases. 
all  suffrede.  LHHa  ioye ;  V  om.  the  loyes  &.  L  delycys  V  delices,  H  delyte. 
Ha  of  heven.  HHa  om.  base.  L  greyped.  H  chosofi  L  chesoun,  Ha  lou<rs. 
Ha  kechener,  L  cosyner  V  Cusyner  H  cusener.  all  om.  bat.  HHa  om.  grete. 
all  and  trauayle  V  trauayles)  &  peynes  ;L  peynus^1  bobe  day  &  n.  all  paye  (pay) 
for  alle.  L  swetyn  V  swetew  HHa  swete.  V  angwr  al.  anger.  Ha  she  L  5jhe 
V  heo  H  he.  LHa  makeb  H  makyth  V  maken.  Ha  mony  good.  LVHa  metes. 
Ha  om.  es — metis.  V  beob.  V  serwes,  H  wordes.  V  om.  alle.  LH  here. 
V  gultes  LH  gylt.  LVH  feden  Ha  fedeth.  LHa  sche  H  hee  V  heo.  sparep 
Ha  fareth.  Ha  with.  V  abstinesse.  LV  etep  HHa  etyth.  L  lytul  V  luytel 
HHa  litell.  L  mykel  V  muche  H  myche  Ha  mochf.  L  no.  HHa  om.  folde 
of.  H  werkys  Ha  workis.  VLH  al  wei ;  Ha  om.  ay.  sche  (heo)  holdeb.  LH 
&  temperaunce  VHa  Temperaunce.  all  om.  seruede.  L  freytour  V  freitur 
H  frayt<?r.  V  adds  schal  be  ;  Ha  shalbe  fraytoures.  LH  so  bat  echon  (ychechon) 
lokef)  ,loke  ,  V  for  to  loke  ;  Ha  om.  bat — hikes.  Ha  and  mesure  shalbe  ou^r-seer 
al-waye  'rest  om.).  V  mensure.  (be:  here  begins  Ms.  Simeon.)  L  mechel  V 
muchel  H  mech.  ne.  LH  lytel  H  luitel.  L  no.  V  sobrenesse  H  soburnesse 
Ha  sobernesse.  redeb  H  redyth,  Ha  shall  rede.  H  bourde.  H  lyfis,  LVHa  lyf. 
all  om.  the.  V  fadres  H  faderes  Ha  faders.  LH  redeb,  V  techeb,  Ha  tell. 
LVH  add  hem.  &  reh.  al.  om.  LVHa  om.  pat.  L  ledden  V  ladden  H  ladde 
Ha  ledde.  V  adds  in  eorbe.  LHHa  here  in  (L  on,  Ha  on  the)  erbe.  L  taken, 
ensaumple.  LVHa  to  god,  H  to  loue  god.  as.  L  deden  V  duden  HHa  dede. 
Ha  om.  and — hafe.  L  swyche  H  seche  V  such.  LVH  om.  now.  Pitee  H  pyte. 
VLH  Pitaunceer,  Ha  penitauncer.  Ha  om.  pat — maye.  LVH  om.  seruesse.  L  of 
gode,  V  be  goode,  H  oft.  H  om.  al.  H  wat  he.  V  adds  wib  al  hire  miht. 
all  is.  VLH  aumener,  Ha  a  yeuer.  LV  ^iueb  HHa  ^eueb.  LHHa  om.  to.  V  nou^t 
con,  LHHa  can  nowt.  LVH  holden  Ha  hold.  LV  kepep  HHa  kepyth.  Ha 
om.  {ie  cloysfcr  —  speres.  VLH  be  ^ate  and  be  cloistre  (H  clayster).  V  and 
chase  b.  H  all  yuell  bewes.  L  cleput  V  clepep  H  clepyth.  VH  vertues  L 


330  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

spares  pe  ^atis  of  pe  cloyster  &  pe  wyndows,  pat  none  evylle  hafe  none  Ingate 
to  pe  herte  thorowe  pe  s;atis  of  pe  mouthe  ne  thorowe  pe  wyndows  of  pe 
eghne  nere  of  pe  eris.  /  /foneste  es  maystresse  of  pe  nouyce,  and  teches  f)am 
alle  curtasye,  how  pay  sail  speke  and  gange  and  sytt  and  stande,  and  how  pay 
sail  bere  pam£  w/tfc-owtten*  and  vriih-Ine ,  howe  to  god,  how  to  man£,  so  pat 
alle  pat  pamtf  sese  of  pam  may  take  ensampill  of  alle  gudnes  and  alle  gud 
thewes.  /  Z>ameselle  Curtasye  sail  be  hostelere,  &  pay  pat  com[es]  and  bydes1 
scho  sail  pam  resafe  hendely,  so  pat  ylke  one  may  speke  [gitd]  of  hir.  And  for-thi 
pat  nowp^f  sail  be  by  pam<?  one  emange  the  gestes — ffor  it  myghte  falle  pat 
damesele  Curtasye  solde  be  oure-balde  &2  ou^-hardy, — for-thi  sail  scho  hafe  a 
felawe  damesele  Symplese ,  for  pay  two  alyede  to-gedir  thorowe  felawchipe  are 
sekyre  and  semande;  for  pe  tone  wzt^-owtten*  pe  top^r  vmwhile  es  littill  worthe: 
for  ou^-grete  symplesse  may  make  of  pe  symple  a  sott  or  ou^r-nyce,  and  OMer- 
grete  curtasye  may  be  somewhile  op*r  to  lyghte  chere  or  to  glade,  or  ou<?r-balde 
for  to  paye  be  gestes;  bot  fayre  and  wele,  &  wzt/z-owtten£  fandynge  of  blame, 
may  pay  do  paire  offece  bothe  to-gedir.  /  Z>amesele  Resone  sail  be  p&merere3, 
ffor  scho  sail  ordayne  w/t^-In  &  wzt^-owttyn^  so  skilfully  pat  pere  ne  be  no  de- 
faute.  /  Z>amesele  Lewte4  sail  be  fermoresse,  p#t  sail  tr^uelle  abowte  &  besely  smie 
be  seke.  And  for-pi  sen  p«t  in  pe  fermory  of  this  religyontf  are  moo  seke  pan£ 
1  Ms.  &  £at  J)ay  comande  and  byddes  ]}at.  2  Ms.  a.  3  r.  purueiere.  4  r.  Leaunce. 


vertuus.  L  spereth,  V  stekep,  H  schet.  LVHa  spates.  HHa  of  pe  moupe  &  pe 
wyndowes  of  pe  (om.  in  Ha)  eyen  (len)  &  of  pe  erys  pat  none  (nothing  of)  euyl 
wordys  ne  sy^this  (sight)  schul  (shal)  foule  (fyle)  pe  sowell  (soule).  V  vuel  L  euel. 
V  hap.  LV  om.  none,  entre  into.  L  mou^t  no.  V  wi;zdouwes.  ei^en.  L  no 
V  ne.  L  eres  V  Eren.  V  Honestete.  LH  mayster.  V  Nouices,  LHHa  nonnes. 
LHHa  pat.  LV  al,  om.  in  HHa.  L  corteseye  V  Cortesye  HHa  curtesye.  L 
scholen  V  schullen  H  scull  Ha  shull.  V  speke^.  VHa  om.  and ;  L  or.  L  goo 
V  gon  H  go,  om.  in  Ha.  all  om.  and.  V  sitten.  L  or.  LHa  stonde  H  stond 
V  stonden.  LH  om.  and.  V  beren.  Ha  within  and  withoute.  L  om.  and 
with-ine.  H  and  how.  V  wzp-innen.  L  into.  LHHa  &  how.  V  mon.  L  seen 
V  seon  H  sene  Ha  seeth.  Ha  om.  of  pam.  V  mowe.  L  taken.  H  gode  ens. 
all  om.  and  alle  gud  thewes.  H  Damseyl.  Curtesy  V  Cortesye.  V  ben.  H  pe. 
LH  osteler  V  Osterasse.  &  om.  V  so  pat.  L  ^he  V  heo ,  H  pe,  Ha  at  the, 
LVHHa  comyng  and  (pe  H  at  the  Ha)  goyng  schal  receyue  hendeliche  (L  heendly) ; 
V  adds  gode  goers  and  comers.  L  echon  V  vchone  H  yche  one  Ha  ech. 
VL  mowe ,  H  schall  mowe.  all  speke  good.  HHa  of  of)er.  LVH  and  for  as 
(L  os)  meche  as,  Ha  for  that,  all  non.  V  adds  of  hem.  L  been.  LHa  her£- 
seluyn  (self),  VH  him  seluen  (selfe).  all  al-one.  among.  V  peose.  V  gistes 
L  gestis.  V  mai.  H  to  inst.  of  pat.  H  curteyse.  V  ben.  bold.  H  houer. 
all  perfore.  LHHa  sche  (H  he)  schall.  LVH  to  inst.  of  a.  Ha  om.  felawe. 
LH  symplesse  VHa  symplenesse.  Ha  adds  to  goo  with  hyr.  Ha  om.  for.  pese. 
L  to.  Ha  om.  al>ede.  L  to-gederes.  V  felaweschupe.  ben.  VHHa  semyng. 
Ha  be  s.  &  s.  through  felawship.  pat  on.  pat  oper.  somtyme.  VH  is  sum- 
tyme.  H  worthi.  VHa  symplenesse.  L  maken.  all  om.  of;  all  ouer  gret  (L 
mikel)  symplete,  LVH  or  ouer  litel,  om.  in  Ha.  Ha  ouer  mochtf.  all  may  make 
ouer-fair  semblaunt  (H  semlaunt)  or  ouer-glad  or  ouer-bold.  V  forte.  H  om.  to. 
Ha  please,  all  om.  pe.  V  om.  &.  all  doute  of  b.  LVH  mouwe.  Ha  they 
maye.  V  don.  office,  V  offys.  V  to  gederes.  L  purueyresse  H  pwmyouresse, 
VHa  Prioresse.  all  pat  schal.  V  ordeynen  Ha  ordeygne.  VLH  wip-outen  and 
wip-Inne(n).  V  om.  so.  V  skilfolliche.  all  om.  ne.  HHa  schal  be.  V  non. 
V  Leaute  L  Leaunce  H  louance,  Ha  Rewfulnesse.  V  ffermeresse  H  formeresse. 
L  tranaylew.  LHa  syke.  Ha  om.  and.  all  for ;  -pi — pat  om.  V  ffermerie. 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  33  j 

hole,  mo  febyll  ban^  wighte,  and  es  owr-grete  trauelle  to  smie  bam  alle  hyr- 
one,  ffor-thi  sail  scho  hafe  a  felawe,  damesele  Largesse,  bat  sail  see  full  wele  to 
ylkone  after  bat  bam  nedis.  /  damesele  conande  and  wysse  bat  es  callede  Medi- 
tacyone  orPoleschesy1,  es  garnere:  scho  sail  gedyre  and  sembyll  gude  whete  and 
ob*r  gud  cornnes  to-gedir,  and  bat  fully,  w/tft  grete  plente,  thorow  be  whilke  alle 
be  gud  ladyse  of  be  howse  may  hafe  baire  sustenance.  Meditation*  es  in  gud 
thoghtes  of  god,  &  of  his  werkes,  and  of  his  wordes,  and  of  his  creaturs,  and  of 
his  paynes2  bat  he  tholede,  and  of  his  grete  lufe  pat  he  had  and  hase  to  bam* 
for  whaym*  he  tholede.  This  garnere  had  be  gud  kyng  Dauid,  ffor- {3/3  was  he 
ay  riche  &  in  plente ;  and  for-thi  he  sayse  in  be  psaltyre :  In  omnibus  operibus  tuis 
meditabar  ...  die  ac  nocte,  pat  es  to  saye:  »Lorde,  in  thi  lawe  I  thynke  nyghte 
and  daye«.  This  es  begynnynge  of  all  perfection*4  when*  man*  settis  and  stabylls 
his  herte  in  depe  thynkynge  on  god  &  on  his  werkes  ;  ffor  ofte  es  better  a  gud 
thoghte  in  haly  meditacyonf  pan  many  wordes  sayd  in  pray  ere,  ffor  pe  holy 
thoghtes  in  meditation*  cryes  in  goddes  eris.  Ofte  it  falles  pat  pe  herte  es  so 
ou*r-tane  and  so  raueschede  in  holy  meditacyon*  pat  it  wote  noghte  what  it  dose, 
heris  nor  sayse,  or  seys,  so  depely  es  pe  herte  festenede  in  god  and  in  his  werkes 
pat  wordis  hy;«  wanttis:  and  pe  stillere  pat  he  es  in  slyke  meditations  the 
luddere  he  cryes  in  goddis  eris  ;  and  p*rfore  sayd  Dauid  thus  :  Quoniam  tacui,  dum 
1  o.  m.  Poleschsy.  2  Ms.  paynens.  3  Ms.  ffor  \er.  *  Ms.  Than  when*-. 

V  beon  H  ben  LHa  be.  Ha  and  inst.  of  ban.  LVH  stalworpe,  Ha  strong. 
L  &  ouer  her*  my^te ,  H  &  for  it  were  ouer  her  my^th ,  V  and  ouer-muche  hit 
weore  to  hir,  Ha  she  (and  om.)  were  not  myghty.  LVH  hem  (om.  in  H!  alone 
for  (om.  in  V)  to  s.,  Ha  to  s.  hem  alone,  all  perfore.  L  sche  V  heo  H  he. 
Ha  she  shal.  Ha  to  hyr  a.  LVH  to  f.  V  kuyndenesse.  all  doji  .  V  folle 
L  j)e  fulle ,  wele  om.  ;  H  be  wille,  full  om.,  Ha  om.ffull  wele.  Ha  om.  to. 
Ha  hem  all  that  they  n.  nedeb  H  nedyth.  L  cownyng  V  Ciu/nynge  H  conyng. 
Ha  wyse  &  kunnyng.  cleped.  all  om.  or  Pol.  V  Gernerer  LH  gerneter ;  HHa 
add  maystresse  (Ha  the  maisterj  of  pe  gerner.  L  gendren;  Ha  gadereth,  sail  om. 
Ha  om.  and  sembyll.  L  assemblen  V  asemble  H  assemly.  Ha  the  g.  LH  wete. 
L  cornus  H  corny  s.  H  to-gedyres.  Ha  so  inst.  of  and  bat.  V  fulliche  H  fully  ch. 
L  &  bat  p.,  V  and  at  p.  ;  HHa  &  'so  Ha;  plenteuw-rlych.  Ha  that  all.  V  om.  be. 
all  om.  gud.  L  mown  VH  mowe.  Ha  sustenaunces.  LHHa  om.  in.  H  werkys 
Ha  workes.  H  om.  and.  H  wordys.  L  om.  his.  LH  om.  and.  LV  peynes, 
Ha  peyne.  all  suffred.  L  herte  inst.  of  grete.  HHa  vnto.  all  vs.  L  whom, 
HHa  qwan,  V  whuche.  VLH  polede  deth,  Ha  deyed.  V  hedde.  Ha  om.  be  gud. 
all  for  he  was  alwey.  Ha  &  in  gret  p.  H  &  plenteuouse.  HHa  om.  and.  all  berfor. 
Ha  said,  all  sauter.  In — saye  om.  in  V.  L  om.  operibus.  LHHa  mcditabor ;  die 
ac  nocte  om.  LHHa  bat  ys  as  ;jyf  he  seyd  (Ha  to  saye).  all  (Lord  V)  I  (om.  in  Ha) 
haue  al-wey  (H  all  mi  (om.  in  Ha,  })ou^t  (mi  p.  om.  in  L)  depely  (om.  in  Ha;  H  depely 
in  pou^t)  in  (om.  in  H,  pi  werkes  ;  &  in  an  (om.  in  L)  oper  stede  (V  stude,  Ha  place) 
he  seij) :  In  lege  domini  meditabor  die  ac  nocte  (V  om.  Latin),  pat  is  (to  saye  Ha; 
V  om.  pat— saye).  V  schal  penke.  Ha  alday.  Ha  That.  LVH  pe  b.  VLHa  pat 
mon  set  ;L  se)  stabliche  (H  stable,  set  om.)  his  h.,  H  bat  stablyth  mennes  h.  VLH 
to  faenke  deopliche  in  g.  &  in  h.  w.,  Ha  to  benke  to  plese  god  in  h.  w.  L  it  is. 
Ha  prayours.  LHHa  om.  ffor — eris,  V  om.  pe — eris.  all  ouer-come(n).  rauished 
H  besy.  Ha  meditaczons.  VH  he,  Ha  bey,  om.  in  L.  Ha  wete.  he  Ha  they. 
dob  Ha  do.  hereb  H  herybe  Ha  here.  LVH  or,  Ha  ne.  saybe  V  seo£>  Ha 
seye.  Ha  depe.  L  is  hys  h.,  VH  (h,is  h.  is,  Ha  her  hertw  be.  all  set  and 
fastnecl  H  festenyd).  Ha  workes.  bat — wanttis  om.  in  Ha.  L  hem.  L  wanteb 
V  wonteb ,  H  lakkybe.  V  stillore  Ha  stillyr.  all  meditacions.  V  loddore 
Ha  louder,  cryeb.  L  godus  erus,  a/,  godes  eres  (H  heres).  LHHa  om.  and. 


332  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

elamarem  tot  a  die,  as  if  he  sayd  :  »Lorde,  lo  here  the  whills  rnyn^  herte  was  in 
depe  thoghtes  in  the  and  of  thi  werkes,  it  cryed  one  the  in  holy  medytacyons, 
and  was  stylle  as  beynge  dowme«.  And  p*r*  sayse  pe  glose,  »the  grete  cryes  pat 
we  crye  to  god  pan  are  oure  grete  desyres  and  oure  grete  ^ernynges«.  And  this 
sayse  saynte  Denyse,  {)at  sayse:  «When  pe  herte  es  lyfte  and  raueschede  to  pe  lufe 
of  god  wz't/fc  gelouse  ^ernynges,  he  ne  may  sownde  wz't/z  worde  {)at  pe  herte 
thynkis«.  This  holy  Meditacione  pat  es  pe  gernare  pat  kepis  ^erely  pe  whete  pat 
es  rede  w/tA-owte  and  white  wM-lne,  pat  hase  pe  syde  clouen^,  of  pe  whilke 
men  niase  gud  brede :  pat  es  called  Ihesu  Criste,  p«t  wzt/z-owtten<?  was  rede  of 
his2  awenf  blode,  and  whitte  wzt/z-In<?  thorow  his  awen?  mekenes  and  clennes  of 
lyfe,  and  hade  his  syde  clotien*  wz't&  a  spere ;  this  es  pe  brede  pat  we  ressayue 
and  etis  in  pe  sacrament  of  pe  altyr.  And  wele  p0u  weite  pat  the  gern^f  sail 
be  abown<?  pe  selare :  also  sail  be  meditacion^  before  deuociom? ;  and  for-thi  Me 
ditacione  sail  be  gernare,  Deuocion^  celerrere ,  and  Pete  penetancere.  Of  thiese 
thre  sayse  pe  pr^fete  Dauide :  A  ffructu  frumenti,  vini,  et  olei  sui,  multiplicati  sunt, 
pat  es  at  saye:  »Of  the  fruyte  of  pe  whete  and  wyne  and  oyle  pay  ere  fumllede«. 
In  pe  aide  lawe  in  many  stedis  gode  takis  to  his  chosene  thiese  thre  ;  »Serue  me, 
he  sayse,  wele,  &  I  sail  gyffe  ^owe  plente  of  whete  and  wyne  &  oyle«.  Plente  of 
whete,  es  hertly  to  thynke  one  pe  croyce  and  ever  haffe  pe  passyon*  of  Ihesu 
Crist  hertly  in  mynde :  this  es  meditacion^.  Plente  of  wyne ,  pat  es  pe  welle 
of  teres,  wele  for  to  wepe  :  this  es  deuocion^.  Plente  of  oyle,  pat  es  for  to  hafe 
1  r.  \)er-to.  2  Ms.  hisn) . 

#//om.  perfore;  all  pus  seif)  (Ha  said)  Dauid.  Quoniam — sayd  om.  in  V.  all  om. 
lo  here.  L  per-whyles  VHa  pe  while,  H  bmi  wymles(!).  all  of  pe.  all  &  cr. 
HHa  to.  Ha  with.  Ha  meditaczon.  all  I  inst.  of  and.  H  styff.  L  os,  Ha  &.  all  a 
dombe  ping.  Ha  that  the.  V  om.  pe.  L  cry  en.  «//om.  pan.  ben.  L  ^ernyggzAr. 
HHa  wyllyngw.  Ha  as.  LV  pus,  om.  in  HHa.  HHa  s.  Denes  (Denyse)  saype. 
all  om.  sayse2;  pat  when.  LVH  lift  vp,  Ha  hiest  vp.  Ha  om.  and  rau.  Ha  om. 
wz't/z — ^ernynges.  L  ielouse  H  lelewes.  H  desyryngzV.  VHa  om.  ne.  all  may 
not.  L  comon,  VHa  schewe,  H  speke.  Ha  adds  it.  Ha  what.  Ha  meditacz'ons. 
V  a ;  H  in  pe,  Ha  om.  LVH  gerner  Ha  garner.  kepej)  HHa  kepyp.  all 
om.  ^erely.  HHa  om.  pat  —  white,  all  and  hap.  Ha  Clene  seed.  V  sydes. 
H  clone.  VL  of  wh.  L  maken  V  makef)  H  niakyp,  Ha  take,  all  om.  called. 
HHa  Ihesus,  Ha  Christus.  all  was  withouten.  owne.  LVH  &  was.  whit  H  wyet, 
om.  in  Ha.  L  m.  &  polmodnesse,  V  and  pacience,  H  &  suferabelenes,  Ha  and 
sufferaunce.  all  and  alle  maner  cl.  V  and  he.  HHa  clone.  L  om.  a;  V  pe. 
LVHa  speres  (Ha  spere)  dynt  (V  dunt  Ha  dent).  H  pe  b.  pat  is,  we — in  om.  VL 
receyuen.  VL  &  seon,  Ha  &  sithen.  atiter.  H  wol.  LVH  we  witen  (H  wytte), 
Ha  wete  ye  well.  Ha  om.  pat.  L  abouen  al.  aboue.  L  celer  V  seller  H  seler 
Ha  Celerer.  LVH  and  so,  Ha  Right  so.  H  om.  be;  LV  schal  med.  been,  Ha 
med.  shalbe.  LHHa  abouen.  Ha  om.  and  —  penetancere.  LVH  &  perfore. 
VL  gerner er  H  gernetor.  LVH  and  d.  LH  celerer  V  sellerer.  H  om.  and  p. 
penetancere.  V  om.  and.  LV  pyte  schal  been  pitauncer.  H  As  Dauid  sayf). 
Ha  Hereof.  LVHa  spekep.  Ha  om.  be  profete.  VLHa  add  and  seip.  LVHa 
om.  sui.  to.  H  om.  to  saye.  L  om.  Of.  L  fru^t  V  fruit  Ha  frute.  H  om.  pe. 
ben.  LVHa  founded,  all  In  mony  places  of  pe  olde  1.  all  be-hoteb.  Ha  om. 
to  his  chosen.  L  cosyne.  Ha  pese  iii  things,  all  Seruef)  me  well  he  s.  H 
om.  I.  LHHa  ?eue  V  ;iuen.  V  ow.  all  of  inst.  of  and.  LVH  and  of  o. 
LHHa  om.  es.  all  om.  hertly.  L  penkyn  V  penken.  VHHa  cros.  all  &  on 
(L  of;  om.  in  Ha)  pe  p.  of  Ihesu  Crist  (V  p«t  Ih.  C.  sufTrede),  &  pis  (Ha  that) 
is  m.  LVH  om.  pe.  LV  add  f>at  is,  Ha  pat  is  to  saye,  H  o\*er  ellys.  Ha  om. 
wele ;  L  welle  H  wyll,  V  in  wille.  L  wepen.  H  adds  for  all  may  nou^t  haue 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

delyte  and  sauoyre  in  god  :  and  this  es  comforthe.  For  be  oyle  gyffes  odoure  to 
metis,  and  lyghtes  in  be  kyrke,  and  byrnys  in  the  lampe ;  also  when^  goddis 
seruandes  hase  depely  thoghte  vritA  schire  herte  on  gode  &  on  his  werkes,  with 
lufe-longynge  to  banu',  ban^  hase  god  pete  of  banu?,  and  sendis  bam  petance  of  com 
forthe  and  of  gastely  loye.  And  thfujs1  gyffes  [bam]2,  at  be  begynnynge  meditation*, 
and  bis  es  be  whete  bat  god  hyghttes  vs;  than  sendis  god  sone  after  be  wyne, 
bat  es  plente  of  teris  and  deuocyone  b^t  mew  consayues  in  medytacyon^3;  and 
after  be  wyne  of  swete  teris  than  sendys  he  be  oyle  of  consolation*  bat  gyffes 
bamt?  sauowr  &  lyghtnes  [baire]4  knaweliggynge,  and  schewes  to  bam  of  his  heuenly 
pr/'uatyse  pat  es  hide  fro  bam*  bat  folowes  fleschely  desyris  and  gyffes  banw-selfe 
alle  to  be  wysedome  of  be  worlde  and  his  fantasyse,  and  so  enflawmes  bam  w/t/* 
be  blysse5  of  his  lufe  bat  bay  taste  somedelle  &  fele  how  swete  he  es,  how  gud 
he  es,  how  luffande  he  es — bot  noghte  alle  fully.  I  wote  wele  bat  none  may 
fele  it  fully  bot  if  his  herte  solde  bryste  for  lykynge  of  loye.  Sayne  Austyne 
telles  of  a  preste  pat,  when*  he  herde  any  thynge  of  god  b«t  lykynge  ware  In*, 
he  wold  be  so  raueschede  in  loye  bat  he  walde  fall  downe  and  lygge  als  he 
ware  dede ;  and  also  in  bat  tyme  if  men  layde  byrnande  fyre  to  his  flesche 
nakide,  he  felid  it  no  more  ban  dose  a  dede  corse.  Sayne  Bernarde  spekes  of 
i  Ms.  this.  2  Ms.  hym.  *  and— medyt.  precede  in  Ms.,  before  »than  sendisa.  *  Ms.  his. 
*  al.  blase.  

bodylyche  wepyng  as  I  trowe,  but  yche  may  haue  wyll  b*rto.  V  bat,  LHHa  & 
bat.  all  sauour.  VLHa  om.  in  god — odoure.  H  \n  god  as  oyle  makyp  men  to 
haue  more  delite  in  bodylyche  metys.  LVHa  to  metes  and  to  (om.  in  Ha)  drinkes. 
H  om.  and  lyghtes — lampe.  LVHa  &  (Ha  bat;  ly^teb  in  holy  chirche  (brewnynge 
V)  laumpw.r  lampes  .  HHa  And  qwen.  V  seruauws  H  s^maunt/V  LHa  st'mauntes. 
V  han  L  hauyj)  Ha  haue.  Ha  derely  desired.  H  in.  V  cler,  HHa  her,  om. 
in  L.  HHa  hertis.  Ha  to  g.  Ha  vnto.  all  him.  LHa  pyte  on.  V  him  al. 
hem.  V  sendeb  him.  VLHa  pitaunce.  V  om.  this.  V  wynneb,  LHa  f)enkeb ; 
H  is  conseyuyd,  hym  om.  L  ferst  V  furst  HHa  fyrst,  inst.  of  at  be  beg.  Ha 
om.  and  bis  —  medytacyon.  V  be-heteb  LH  byhoteb.  LVH  and  (om.  in  V) 
after  (be  L;  deu.  conceyuen  (H  cowseyuybj  men  (in  L)  med.  V  and  benne. 
Ha  god  sendith  hem.  VLH  godes  sone.  Ha  om.  after.  L  wyijn.  all  om.  bat 
es — wyne.  V  and  benne,  Ha  and  baw  after.  L  sent  H  seynt  V  sendeb,  Ha  he 
sendyth  hem  o.  all  of  comfort.  L  ^euyt  V  ^iuep  HHa  ^eueb.  all  om.  bam. 
H  gode  s.  VH  li^tep  L  alyteh  Ha  lighteneth.  Ha  om.  his  kn.  VL  know- 
leching,  H  knowlege.  scheweb.  all  om.  to.  V  him  al.  hem.  LVH  priuetes 
of  heuene ;  Ha  om.  heuenly.  Ha  the  which,  all  he  huydeth  (hydebj  and  helyth 
•V  hulep  H  heleb;  Ha  helith  and  hideth;.  VL  from  bo.  VLH  folewen  Ha 
folowe.  V  flesshes.  Ha  lustes  and  des.,  L  ^ernyngz^.  Ha  om.  and  g.— fantasyse. 
H  &  bat.  L  ijyuen  V  ^iuep  H  ^eueb.  hem;  selfe  alle  om.  H  om.  be.  LH  of 
bis.  L  &  of  h.,  V  and  al  is,  H  bat  is  bot.  L  fantesyes  V  fantasye  H  fantesye. 
LVHHa  and  wyche  V  bo,  H  seche,  Ha  techith)  bat  been  (Ha  beth)  trewe  godes 
seruaun(te>  he  (L  ho,  Ha  and)  so  (om.  in  Ha)  e.  hem  (V  e.  h.  so).  LHHa  blase. 
Ha  ban.  V  taaste  L  tasten.  L  felyn  V  felen.  he  es  om.  (twice),  louyng. 
V  hit  is;  L  om.  he  is.  Ha  om.  alle.  all  for  I  trowe  bat.  V  nomon  ne.  LVH 
my?t,  om.  in  Ha.  VLH  folliche  felen  (L  felon  H  fele)  hit.  Ha  om.  fully. 
H  but,  if  om.;  VLHa  bat.  VLH  ne  scholde.  L  berste  HHa  brest,  V  to-breke. 
Seynt.  telleb.  H  hard  ony  thynk.  L  of  lykyng  bat  were  of  god.  V  was, 
HHa  were.  VLH  so  be.  Ha  glad  inst.  of  rav.  Ha  he  fell.  L  fallen.  HHa  adou». 
Ha  adds  for  loye.  Ha  laye,  V  ligge  stille.  as.  were.  Ha  that.  LH  so,  VHa 
bauh.  VHa  om.  in  bat  tyme.  LH  om.  in.  VHa  om.  if.  L  me  ;  V  men  bewne. 
V  leiden.  L  brennend  V  bre«nynde  H  brennyng,  om.  in  Ha.  L  fer  V  fair 
H  fire  Ha  fyre.  VLH  his  nakede  liche,  Ha  h.  n.  body.  LHHa  nou'^t  namore. 
all  om.  dose.  H  body,  Ha  man.  H  adds  as  for  a  tyme.  Ha  Of  these  maner 


334  ^-s'  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

be  wordis  of  lob  b*r  he  sayse  Abscondit  lucem  in  manibus,  bat  es  at l  say  »god 
hase  lyghte  hyde  in  his  handis«:  »I>ou  wote  wele,  he  bat  hase  a  candill  lyghte  by- 
twene  his  handis,  he  may  hyde  it  &  schewe  it  at  his  owenn*  will.  So  dose  oure 
lorde  to  his  chosen*.  When*  he  will  he  opynis  his  handes  and  lyghtenes  bam 
vrith  heuenly  gladnes ;  and  when*  he  will,  he  closis  his  handis  and  witRdrawes 
be  lykynge  &  be  comforthe  fro  bam*«.  He  wille  noghte  bat  bay  fele  it  fully  aye, 
bot  here  he  gyffes  bam*  as  for  to  taste  &  sauowr  somedele  how  swete  he  es, 
how  gud  he  es,  als  Dauid  sayse  Gustate  et  videte  quoniam  suauis  est  dominus,  als 
if  god  sayd  to  vs,  ,be  bis  comforthe  and  this  lykynge  bat  bou  bis  schorte  tym* 
hase  of  me,  bou  may  taste  &  fele  how  swete,  how  gude  I  ame  to  my  chosyn* 
in  my  blysse  in  be  werlde  wzt/z-owtten*  ende' ;  and  bus  he  dose  for  to  drawe  vs 
fro  werldly  besynes  and  be  lykynge  b*r-of,  and  for  to  enflawme  oure  hertes 
•whh  lufe-^ernynges,  ffor  to  wyn*  and  to  hafe  be  lykynge  of  bat  loye  alle  at  be 
full,  in  body  and  saule  wzt//  hym  for  to  be  eu*r-more  w/t£-owtten*  ende.  /  A 
dameselle  wyse  &  wele  taghte  bat  men*  calles  Gelosye2,  bat  es  ay  wakyre  and 
besy  eu*r  ylyke  wele  for  to  do,  sail  kepe  be  orloge,  and  sail  wakkyn*  be  ob*r 
ladyse  &  make  bam*  arely  to  ryse  and  go  be  wyllylyere  to  baire  s*niysse.  Per 
es  orloges  in  towne  bat  wakyns  men*  to  ryse  to  bodily  trauayle,  &  bat  es  be 
[coke] 3 ;  and  b^r  es  orloges  in  be  cete  bat  wakynnes  be  marchauntes  to  wende 
abowte  baire  marchandyce:  bat  es  be  [wayte]4  bat  blawes  daye.  And  b*r  es  orloges 
1  Ms.  as  at.  2  Cf.  p.  144.  304.  3  Ms.  seke.  *  Ms.  wynde. 


wordes  spekith  Barnard  Abscondit  &c.  LVH  vp  (V  vppe  H  opon)  pese.  L  loop. 
H  pat  seyb.  LVH  s.  bus.  LH  om.  as — say.  LH  bat  god.  Ha  hid  light.  VL  om. 
hyde.  VL  hondes  H  hondys.  LVH  ^e  weteth  (V  witeb  H  wytte),  Ha  We  se.  VHa 
bat  he  bat.  L  om.  hase.  V  condel.  Ha  om.  lyghte.  V  be-twenen,  Ha  in.  Ha 
hande.  VL  huiden  H  hede.  V  schewen.  Ha  as  he  will.  LH  om.  owenn.  dob  H 
doybe.  all  oure  1.  god.  Ha  louers.  L  openet  V  openep  HHa  opynep.  VLH  li^tep 
to  hem  pat  louen  (V  loueb  H  loue)  him.  Ha  lighteneth  to  hem.  VL  gladynges. 
closeb.  Ha  om.  clos.— and.  LHHa  bat  1.  Ha  lightyng.  LHHa  &  bat.  all  om. 
fro  bam.  all  for  he.  H  om.  He — bot.  VL  he  fele.  VLHa  here  inst.  of  fully  aye. 
Ha  and  to  sume  he  yeueth  it  here.  L  ^yuyt.  H  hit  hem,  VL  hit  him.  V  om. 
as.  LV  tasten.  VHa  and  for  to,  L  &  to.  L  sauourew  V  saueren,  HHa  fele. 
all  om.  somedele.  HHa  how  gode  how  swete  he  is.  LV  om.  how  gud  he  es.  V  bat 
is  to  seien  God  seide  to  vs.  VL  at  (pat)  bis.  HHa  haste  (in  Ha)  bis  sch.  t. 
VLH  miht  Ha  maist.  LV  tasten  &  felen.  all  how  good  (and  V)  how  swete. 
H  myn*.  Ha  louers.  L  blyssede  ;  LV  om.  in  be.  Ha  blissedhede  of  heuyn*,  in  be 
werld  om.  H  bl.  b*r  ioye  is  w.  w.  e.  all  this.  Ha  om.  he  dose  for  to.  H  om.  for. 
VL  drawen ;  Ha  withdrawe  the.  V  from.  Ha  om.  besynes  and  be.  LV  om.  be. 
Ha  likynges.  all  om.  berof.  V  forte.  VL  enflaumen  Ha  flaume.  L  7,ernyggus, 
VHHa  desyringe.  all  &  for  to.  L  om.  be.  L  at  fulle.  LVH  &  in  s.  Ha  for  to 
be  with  hym.  V  ben.  all  om.  more,  all  And.  LV  I-tau^)t.  L  klepyn  H  clepon* 
V  clepep  Ha  clepit.  LHHa  ielusye  V  Gelesye.  LVHa  euer,  H  ou*r.  H  &  ou*r 
ylyche  b.,  Ha  &  eu*r  b.  (ylyke  om.).  V  om.  eu*r  ylyke.  Ha  for  to  do  well.  V 
forte.  L  done  V  doone.  LVHHa  ^he  (heo  he  she)  schall.  LH  orlage  V  Ouerlogge 
Ha  oriloge.  V  &  heo.  L  wakyn,  a/,  wake.  LVH  pys.  L  leuedys.  L  maken. 
erly(che).  LVH  for  to.  LV  rysen.  Ha  to  a-rise  erlich.  LHHa  om.  and  go.  V  om. 
go.  LVH  quiclyche  (be  om.) ;  om.  in  Ha.  LVHHa  to  serue(n)  god.  LH  orlage, 
VHa  an  orlogge.  V  tounes.  LV  wakeb,  HHa  makeb.  LV  rysen  Ha  a-rise.  LVH 
trauayles.  Ha  om.  &.  LVH  cok,  H  cloke.  Ha  om.  ber  es.  LH  orlage,  VHa  an 
Orlogge  (orilege).  LHVom.be.  V  Citees.  all  wakeb.  all  om.  be.  marchaundes. 
L  weenden  V  wenden.  LV  abouten.  her,  om.  in  H.  V  marchauwdyses.  all 
and  bat.  H  bat  w.  all  wayte.  L  blowet  V  blowe{)  HHa  blowyth.  LH  orlage, 


The  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  335 

in  relegion^,  of  contemplacion?.  And  this  es  of  this  holy  relegyon^  bat  es  ftindede 
of  be  haly  gaste,  and  bis  es  lelosy ,  and  this  es  sauoyre  of  p^rfeccioni?.  &  ofte 
it  falles  in  relegione?,  before  pat  be  orloge  falles  or  any  belles  rynges,  goddes 
gostely  semandes  are  lange  wakenede  be-fore,  and  hase  wepede  by-fore  god,  and 
hase  waschene?  pam*  w/tA  paire  teris,  and  paire  spyrit  hase  vesete(!)  w/tA  deuote 
prayers  and  gastely  comforthe.  And  why  rose  pay  so  arely  &  so  tymly?  witterly, 
for  be  orloge  of  lufe  and  damesele  lelosye  had  wakened  bam*  before  be  tyme 
pat  be  handmade1  orloge  felle.  A,  dere  breb^r  and  syst*r[s],  sely  ar  tho  sawles 
bat  foe  lufe  of  god  and  longyng  till  him  wakyns,  and  slomers  noghte  no  slepis 
noghte  in2  slowthe  of  fleschly  lustes  !  For-thi  he  sayse  in  Canticis:  [Ego]%  dormio  ef 
cor  mettm  vigelat,  pat  es  at  saye:  »when  I  slepe  bodily  my  flesche  for  to  ese  & 
ryste,  my  herte  es  ay  wakyre  in  gelosy  and  in  lufe-^ernynge  to  gode«.  That  saule 
pat  bus  wakes  to  god,  [may]4  thynke  [with]5  hole  conscyence  bat  werldly  men£  thynke, 
and  bat  es  this:  leo  ay  le  quer  a-lochc,  rauayle^  par  amours,  bat  es  at  saye:  »Myn£ 
herte  es  styrte  fro  me,  wakened  vrith  lufe«.  Whate  es  this  bat  mase  be  herte  fro 
be  flesche  to  wake,  and  for  bat  es  it  as  it  were  fremde  to  hym?  wittirly,  leloussye 
w/t/j  lufe-teres  &  mwmynge,  vfi\Ji  lufe-longynge  cowsayuede  in  deuote  vprysynge 
of  herte.  //  When  this  abbaye  was  alle  wele  ordaynede  and  goddes  will  seruede 
in  ryste  &  in  lykynge  &  in  pese  of  saule  :  than  come  a  tyrante  of  pe  lande  thorowe 
i  Ms.  handmayde.  -  \>e  crossed  out.  *  Ms.  Ecce.  4  Ms.  me.  5  om.  6  r.  reueyle. 


VHa  an  o.  all  add :  r.  pat  wakep  pe  couent  to  matyns,  &  per  (V  pat)  is  (an  Ha,  V  pe) 
orlage  of  cont.  all  pat  inst.  of  pis.  VHa  of  pe.  L  fonded  Ha  foundid  V  foundet 
H  foundyt.  VHa  &  pat.  L  gelowseye.  Ha  om.  this  es.  V  pat.  L  om.  es.  H  sauor 
&  desire,  fallej)  H  fallyt.  all  bat  b.  LH  byfor,'n;hond.  all  or  (L  er)  inst.  of  bat. 
V  ouerlogge,  a/,  orlage.  LHHa  om.  falles — belles.  V  falle.  V  om.  any  belles,  all 
rynge.  LV  been  H  be,  Ha  is.  Ha  a-waked,  a/,  wakynge.  L  byforn  V  beforen. 
H  om.  before — wepede.  LV  ban  Ha  hath.  LV  wept  e).  L  to-for.  H  haue. 
HHa  wasche.  Ha  hym.  Ha  om.  paire!.  Ha  sprit,  LVH  spyrytes.  ben  (V  aren, 
Ha  is)  styred  (V  stured  H  steryd  Ha  stered  .  Ha  prayoun?.  V  cuwfortes.  VHHa 
rise  L  rysen.  Ha  om.  so.  all  om.  &  so  tymly.  all  trewly.  Ha  for  trewly  the. 
LHaH  &  (of  Hj  leluseye,  V  &  be  ouerlogge  of  Gelesye ;  all  om.  damesele.  LVH 
hap  wakyd,  om.  in  Ha.  L  byforn  bat,  HHa  before  or,  be  tyme  om.;  all om.  hand 
mayde;  LH  fallep,  Ha  fall;  V  beforn  be  fallynge  of  bat  oper  Ouerlogge.  Ha  O. 
LH  brober  &  syster,  Ha  Ihesu.  all  blessed  ben).  V  bat  soules.  LVHHa  &  be 
longyng  makef)  (hem  L)  for  to  ('V  forte)  waken)  bat  bey  ne  (om.  in  V).  LHa 
slombere  V  sluwbre  H  slomer.  H  in  slepe  ne  sleupe.  ne,  L  slepyn  VHa  slepe. 
LHa  om.  noghte.  Ha  worldly  lustes  and  fleschly  desyres.  LV  lust,  berfore,  V  and  p. 
all  in  fie.  L  cantyklys  Ha  canticles  H  cantekeles,  V  Candclers.  all  Ego.  Ha 
vigilet.  H  om.  pat — saye.  L  om.  at  saye.  L  wyl  Ha  will  V  while  H  wyles.  LV 
esen  Ha  ease.  L  &  to,  Ha  &  for  to.  LV  resten.  all  soule.  euer  wakyng.  loue- 
longyng.  pe  soule.  Ha  this.  LVH  me  pynkeb  wyp  h.  (H  holy)  c.  Ha  with  holy 
Concience  he  may  thenke  this  worde  (rest  om.).  H  pat  he  doyth  thenk  pis  (r.  om.). 
LV  worldly  . .  penken.  L  om.  pat.  V  queor  HHa  coer.  LH  reuele  V  reueyle, 
Ha  Releue.  L  pur.  V  amwrs  Ha  amour*.  LH  om.  at  saye.  Ha  my.  LHHa 
stert  V  sturt.  H  fram  V  from.  LVHa  y-waked  H  waked.  V  om.  pis;  LHHa 
pat  inst.  of  pis.  LV  pat  makeb  be  herte  to  (om.  in  V)  sterte  fro  be  flesh  and 
(to  V)  for-^et  it,  as  it  (L  om.  as  it) ;  H  bat  it  stert  fraw  me  bat  it  stert  fro  be 
flesche  &  forgete  it  as  it ;  Ha  bat  maketh  hyw  fro  the  flessh  bat  foryeteth  as  it. 
LVH  fremd  (H  fremyd)  were.  Ha  freynt  vnto.  all  Trewly.  Ha  teres  of  loue.  H  be 
hert.  all  in  al  byng  (V  binges).  Ha  in  all  thyng  was.  LVH  god  wel.  Ha  god 
seruid  yt.  V  om.  &,  Ha  om.  &  in.  Ha  om.  in.  LHa  cam.  H  tyrand.  Ha  of 


336  Ms.  Thornton:  Anonymous  writings. 

his  powere  and  did  in  this  holy  abbaye  ffoure  doghtyrs  bat  he  hade,  bat  were 
lothely  &  of  euyll  manors,  bat  be  fende  was  fadir  of  thiese  doghtirs.  f*e  firste 
of1  bis  foule  barne-tyme  highte  Envye ,  the  tob^  highte  Pride,  the  thirde 
highte  Gruchyn[g]e,  the  ferthe  highte  False  demynge  of  Q\*er.  Thiese  foure  doghetirs 
ban  hase  be  tyraunt,  be  deuell  of  helle,  for  euyll  will  &  malese,  done  in  this 
holy  abbaye,  and  bay  -with  baire  foule  vnclennes  be  couent  hase  greuede  and 
harmede,  so  bet  bay  no  riste  ne  no  pe^e2  may  hafe,  nyghte  nor  daye,  nor  lyk- 
ynge  in  saule.  And  when  be  gud  lady  Charite  saw  this  bat  was  abbas,  and  the 
lady  Wysdome  bat  was  p^/oresse,  and  pe  lady  Mekenes  supprzoresse,  and  pe 
top*r  gude  ladyse  of  this  holy  abbaye,  that  the  holy  abbaye  was  in  poynte  for 
to  worthe  to  noghte  thorowe  be  wykkydnes  of  thir  foure,  than  range3  the  chape- 
tozir  belle  and  gedirde  bam  alle  to-gedyr,  and  asked  concele  whate  wTas  beste 
to  do.  And  than  lady  Dyscrecyon*  bam*  concelde  bat  bay  solde  alle  falle  in 
prayere  to  pe  Holy  goste,  bat  of  this  abbay  es  vesetoz/r,  bat  he  haste  hyw  for 
to  come,  as  bay  grete  myster  hade,  thare4  for  to  help  and  vesete  w/tfc  his  grace. 
And  bay  all  at  hire  consaile  w/t/z  grete  deuocyon*  of  herte  vn-to  hyw  songe  alle 
witti  a  swete  steuen*  Veni  creator  spiritus.  And  also  sone  be  holy  goste  come 
at  baire  desyrynge,  and  bam  comforthede  -with  his  grace,  and  chasede  owte  be 
fowle  wyghtes,  pose  lothely  fendis  doghetirs,  and  clenesede  be  abbaye  of  all  be 
1  Ms.  }>er  of.  2  Ms.  pete.  3  al.  thai  ronge.  *  r.  tham? 


a  nother  Contrey  and  with  a  gret  power  &  maistrie  he  put.  L  dede  V  dude. 
all  in  to.  L  doutren  al.  dou^tren.  Ha  om.  pat  he — doghtirs.  LH  weren  V 
weore.  LH  loplyche  V  lodliche.  V  foule.  LVH  om.  bat.  LVH  bese  foure. 
L  doutern  V  dou^tren  H  douthtres.  L  ban  be.  HHa  bat  on*,  per  al.  om. 
HHa  om.  of — barne-tyme.  V  foure  inst.  of  foule.  V  barntem  L  barentem. 
L  hatte  V  hette  H  hy^t,  Ha  is.  V  and  bat  o.  LVH  om.  highte;  Ha  is. 
LHa  is,  al.  om.  Ha  &  be  f.  LHHa  is,  V  was.  all  om.  doghtirs.  VHa  om. 
ban.  LVH  bis.  all  be  fend.  Ha  the  fende  of  hell*  that  tyraunt.  V  vuel. 
V  and  for.  all  malyce.  H  do,  Ha  put.  all  in  to.  H  om.  holy.  LHHa  pat 
inst.  of  and.  Ha  om.  bay.  all  borow  her.  foule  om.  V  vnpewes,  LHHa 
wykkednesse.  all  al  be  c.  LVH  greueb  &  harmeb.  Ha  greuyd  and  harmed  all 
the  Couent.  Ha  om.  bay.  Ha  myght  not  haue  Rest.  H  nober  pese  no  rest. 
L  r.  no  p.  VHa  om.  no.  Ha  day  ne  nyght.  L  no,  al.  ne.  LHHa  om.  And. 
all  om.  Charite — lady,  all  om.  bat  was.  Ha  prz'oresse  Wisedome.  L  om.  pe  ; 
H  &  be  ober.  H  be  supp.  all  om.  be.  H  holy  1.  LHa  be,  H  bat.  Ha  saw  p~at. 
VH  om.  that — abbaye.  LHa  bat  al  be  (that)  ab.  Ha  shuld  turne.  LVH  om.  for. 
Ha  om.  be.  all  pyse  f.  dou^tren ;  pey ronge  (L  rongen  H  rungen).  L  chapeter* 
V  Chapi^tre.  Ha  the  bell*  of  the  Chapille,  H  to  chapetel  be  bell*,  all  asembled. 
H  om.  pam  alle.  LV  om.  alle.  VH  to-gederes  L  to-gyderes.  V  askeden 
H  axed.  LHa  counsel  VH  couwseyl.  Ha  hem  was.  V  weore.  LHaV  done. 
all  om.  than,  be  1.  Ha  discresczon.  H  om.  pam*.  Ha  yaf  hem  consayle. 
L  counselde  VH  counseilede.  V  schuldew.  LV  fallen.  H  falle  all*  in  to.  V 
preyeres  H  prayers  L  preyours  Ha  prayoum.  Ha  is  visitour*  of  this  holy  ab. 
V  hei^e  H  heye  LHa  hye.  LHHa  om.  hym.  V  forte,  Ha  to.  HHa  om.  come — 
and.  L  comen.  LV  mester.  V  hedden.  LV  hem  inst.  of  bare.  LV  helpen 
&  for  to.  Ha  visite  it  w.  holi  g.  V  alle  benne  wz'b  h.  c.  and  wz'b.  Ha 
with  gr.  d.  of  h.  after  hyr  conseile.  all  songen  (HHa  song)  to  be  holy  gost ; 
alle  om.  LH  add  mentes  tuorum  uisita  imple  (H  8fc.}.  H  al  sone,  Ha  thus  sone. 
L  cam  V  com.  H  desyryngw,  Ha  desyre,  V  ^eornynge  L  sjernygg^.  LV  hem 
alk,  H  all*  hem,  Ha  &  cowfortid  hew  all*,  all  alle  be.  H  wihtes  L  wytes 
H  wy^tys,  Ha  sprites.  LVH  pe,  Ha  of  the.  V  lodli  H  lobfaelyche.  L  feendes 
H  fendzw.  L  clensede  HHa  clensyd  V  clanseden.  HHa  om.  all*.  LHaV  her, 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:   Ms.  Laud  210.          337 

fylthe,  and  ordayned  it  and  restorede  better  ban*  it  was  by-fore.  /  Now  I  pray 
?ow  all  in  charite  of  god,  {>at  all  pa  t>at  of  this  relegion*  redis  or  heris,  bat  pay 
be  bouxome  w/tA  all  paire  myghte,  and  suffire  pat  be  gud  ladys  be-fore  namede 
do  baire  offece  ilke  daye  gastely  witA-In  baire  hertes ;  and  luke  ylkone  wysely 
bat  he  ne  do  no  trispase  agayne  be  rewle  ne  be  obedyence  of  b/s  relegion*  and 
of  base  [suferaynes]  1.  And  if  thorow  vnhape  falle  bat  any  of  thiese  foure  fendis 
doghetirs  seke  one  any  wyse  any  Ingate  for  to  hafe  witA-in  ?oure  herds  for  to 
duelle,  or  Ingate  hase  wonne  and  w/t//  ?ow  duellis,  [dose]2  after  be  concelle  of 
be  lady  Discrescion*  and  gyffe  $ow  to  deuocion*  vrit/i  hertly  prayers,  in  hope  of 
goddes  helpe  and  of  his  socoure,  and  7,e  sail  be  delyuerde  thurgfi  be  mercy  of 
oure  lord  Ihesu  Criste  there,  blyssede  mot  he  be  w/t£-owtten*  ende.  Amen. 
Explicit  Rdegio  sancti  Sfirittts  Amen. 

II.      (fe  Chartre  of  J)e  Abbeye  of  f)e  Holy  gost.) 

Ms.  Laud  210,  f.   136.2 

llEre  is  be  book  pat  spekib  on  a  place  pat  is  I-clepid  be  abbeye  of  be  holy 
gost  be  whiche  schulde  be  foundid  iw  clene  conscience;  iw  whiche  abbeye,  as  be 
book  tellib,  schulde  dwellen  xxix  gostly  ladyes,  among  whiche  Charite  is  be 
abbesse,  Wisdome  pr/ouresse,  Mekenes  suppriouresse ;  per  is  also  Pou6';te  & 
Clennesse,  Tewp*raunce  &  Soburnesse,  Penauwce  &  Buxuwnesse,  Schrifte  &  Ri^t- 

i  Ms.  lufe  frayners.  2  Ms.  do  so.  3  Title  in  Ms.:  Here  ....  begynnip  fee  abbeye  of  [])e| 
holy  goost.  This  treatise  is  of  gret  beauty. 

H  pcr\  fylbes  (V  fulbes].  L  ordeynd.  all  restored  it.  VH  biforen,  Ha  tofore 
Ha  om.  ?ow  all.  LV  par,  HHa  for.  H  be  ch.  Ha  almighti  inst.  of  god. 
LV  bo,  Ha  ye,  om.  in  H.  LV  reden  or  heien,  H  rede  or  here;  Ha  reden  or 
heren  this  Religion.  HHa  jre.  L  been.  LV  her,  HHa  ^oure.  H  herte  &  myrt. 
Ha  suffreth  V  to  suffren.  V  om.  bat.  Ha  all*  be,  LVH  bese.  LV  nempned 
H  neymed  Ha  nemyd.  LV  don.  office.  L  eche  H  yche  V  vche,  Ha  euery. 
LVH  gostlyche.  all  ^oure.  H  lokep.  L  ychon  H  echon*  V  vchone,  om.  in  Ha. 
all  bysyly  che  .  LV  7,e,  HHa  none,  all  om.  ne.  Ha  om.  no.  L  a^eynes  H 
aijenest  Ha  ayenst.  HHa  her.  H  ne  a^eyn*  be.  LH  obedyaunce.  V  be,  Ha 
her.  all  &  namly.  Ha  ayenst.  L  be  seruountes,  VHHa  be  >Ha  her)  souereyns. 
LV  ^if  it.  Ha  om.  thorow.  all  ony.  HHa  myshape.  all  om.  fendis.  L  sekyn 
V  sechen.  all  in.  LV  kens  V  kunj  wyse.  all  to  Ha  forto)  haue  entre.  V  ?or. 
for  al.  om.  all  om.  or — duellis.  all  dob,  so  om.  LHHa  om.  be  cone.  of.  all  f)e 
gode  1.  V  5;iueb  ow.  V  hertlich.  VH  preyere  Ha  pf^youre.  Ha  om.  of2. 
V  socoures.  schul.  LV  mercy  &  be  grace,  HaH  grace  &  the  mercy  (H  my^t". 
all  of  almy^ty  god.  LVH  he  (V  and  he)  it  ^ou  (V  vs)  graunte  borow  be  be- 
sechyng  of  hys  dere  moder  seynt  Marye  (V  om.  s.  M.)  amen,  Ha  the  which*  grace 
he  you  yeue  amen  pur  Charite. 

L  Here  endeb  of  be  holy  gost ;  VH  bus  ende  b  be  abbeye  of  be  holygost,  bat 
set  is  in  H  &  of  be)  Concience,  in  be  H;  whuche  (\vyche)  ben  fouwdet  (founden 
alle  goode  virtues  and  alle  (om.  in  H)  foule  ;H  wycked)  vices  (of  synne  H)  ben 
(om.  in  H)'driuen  ydr.)  out.  V  adds:  and  bus  bigynnej)  be  Chartre  of  be  same 
Abbey  of  be  holigost. 

II. 

H  Her*  bygywneb  a  b.  Ha  2Tiis  booke  spekyth.  all  of.  cleped.  Ha  that 
shukl.  VHHa  founded.  H  in  trw.  HHa  in  be  Avyche.  telleb.  V  dwelle^ 
HHa  sh.  dwell*.  V  Nine  and  twenti  H  neyen  &  twenty.  V  gostliche,  om.  in  Ha. 
Ha  ladys.  HHa  be  qwyche.  all  om.  be.  VH  Pouert.  Ha  om.  &.  V  Clawn- 
ess*  H  clennes.  Ha  om.  &.  V  sobrenesse  H  sobirnesse.  V  Pacience.  Ha 


338 

wysnesse,  Pralicac/on  &  Stabulnesse,  Sufferauwce  &  Symplenesse,  Misericord  & 
Largenesse,  Resouw  &  Reufulnesse,  Meditac/'on  &  Orisouw,  Deuoczon  &  Co«- 
templacz'on,  Leaunce  &  lubilacz'on,  Honeste  &  Curtesye,  Drede  &  lelusye1.  £e 
fader  of  heuene  is  founder  of  pis  abbeye,  &  be  holy  gost  is  wardeyn  &  visitour, 
as  be  booke2  tellip.  But  naperpeles  pou^  it  be  so  pat  an  abbeye  haue  ne\\ere  so 
good  [a]  founder  or  a  visitoure,  but  ^if  he  haue  also  goode  dedis  &  charteres  of 
here  places  where-porou  pei  mowe  kepen  here  londis,  rentys  &  fraunchises,  3ofte- 
sipes  per  auentur^  pei  schulden  ben  mysserued  &  sufFren  mochel  p^rsecucz'on  of 
here  enemyes  &  of  false  men.  &  pat  se  y  wel  pat  pis  holy  abbesse  &  here  co- 
uent  han  many  false  enemyes  be  whiche  wolden  distroye  here  abbeye  &  byreue 
hem  of  her  possessiouws,  &  pat  were  me  ful  lop.  &  p^rfore  y  make  here  a  book 
pat  schal  be  clepid  »pe  Chartre  of  pe  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost«,  In  whiche  I  schal 
tellen  first  whan  &  where  &  of  whom  pis  abbeye  was  first  I-fouwdid,  sipew  I  schal 
tellen  hou  &  in  what  tyme  pat  pe  holy  abbeye  was  destroyed  &  hou  pe  abbesse 
&  [be]  prz'oresse  &  alle  here  couent  were  dryuen  ou^t  of  her  ordre,  &  afterward  I 
schal  tellen  hou  &  in  what  manure  pe  abbeye  was  made  newe  a^en  &  hou  pe 
abbesse  &  al  here  couent  kemen  a^en  to  here  ordre ,  &  alper-last  I  schal  tellen 
hou  almisjtty  god  hap  put  his  owen  foure  dour/;tren  in  pis  holy  abbeye  a^ens  poo 
foure  foule  feendis  dou^tren  pe  whiche  pe  holy  gost  kacchid  a-wey  for  pei  weren 
so  foule,  as  pe  book  of  pis  abbeye  tellip  at  pe  laste  ende. 
Here  begynnip  pe  forseyd  chartre. 

^ciant  presentes  8f  futuri  <Sfc. :  Wetip  ^e  pat  ben  now  here,  &  pei  pat  schulen 
comen  after  ^ou,  pat  almi^ti  god  in  trinite,  fader  &  sone  &  holy  gost,  hap  sjouen 
&  grauTzted  &  wip  his  owne  word  cowfermed,  to  Adam,  pe  first  man  pat  eu^re 

1  Discrecion  (=  Reson?)  and  Pite  are  om. ;  Stabulnesse  is  t>e  Fort.      3  Ms.  boole.       2  Ms.  &  o. 


Rightuesnesse.  V  Stalworpnesse.  V  Largesse  H  larges.  V  Rihtfulnesse ;  Ha 
Rewfulnesse  and  Reason.  HHa  lyaunce.  V  Honestete.  V  Cortesye.  V  Gelesye 
Ha  lolusie.  V  ffoundeor.  Ha  om.  of  pis  abb.  Ha  om.  &.  Ha  tellith  before. 
V  nopeles  H  neu^-pe-les,  om.  in  Ha.  V  pauh  H  po^.  HHa  om.  it  be  so  bat. 
all  a.  Ha  grounde  or  a  foundour*?.  V  ffoundeour.  HHa  om.  ^if.  VHa  pei. 
H  godes.  V  dedes.  V  chartres  Ha  charters.  H  place.  Ha  where-by.  Ha  may. 
VHa  londes.  rentes.  Ha  frauncheses.  all  om.  &.  H  oft-tyme,  Ha  oft.  Ha  om. 
pei.  VH  schul,  Ha  myght.  HHa  be.  H  mys-bede,  Ha  diseased,  V  greued. 
V  soffre  HHa  suffer.  V  muche  H  myche  Ha  moch^.  H  enmys.  V  i  se,  Ha 
I  wist  and  knew.  Ha  om.  holy.  all  al  hire.  H  hape,  Ha  had.  VHa  mony. 
HHa  wold.  V  distruy^e.  V  bi-reuen  H  byrefe.  Ha  om.  her.  V  riht  loth. 
VHa  om.  &.  Ha  made.  V  clept.  Ha  a  Chartour^.  HHa  pe  wyche.  VHHa  telle. 
V  furst  H  ferst  Ha  frist.  V  who;me  H  qwen.  VHa  om.  &.  H  warn,  founded. 
V  Seppe ,  H  efter,  Ha  pan.  telle.  Ha  om.  &.  Ha  wh.  man^r  t.  V  om.  pat. 
VHa  pis.  H  destruwyd.  H  om.  hou.  a//  pe  pr.  Ha  om.  alle.  H  pe.  V  feire  C. 
Ha  dreue.  HHa  om.  &.  V  om.  & — ordre.  H  om.  I  schal.  HHa  telle.  H  a^eyne. 
Ha  om.  hou.  Ha  abb.  and  pn'oresse  and.  H  pe  c.  HHa  come.  HHa  in  to. 
V  aller-last  H  alle  pe  laste.  V  putte,  hap  om.  Ha  om.  owen.  V  feire  foure. 
HHa  into.  Ha  om.  holy.  VH  a^eynes  Ha  ayen.  VHHa  pe.  Ha  om.  foure. 
H  om.  foule.  all  fendes.  Ha  dought^res.  V  chasede  H  chasyd,  Ha  driuet. 
H  hey.  all  were.  Ha  om.  pe  book  of.  HHa  be.  Ha  abbey  of  the  holigost. 
V  atte  1.  V  om.  forseyd ;  V  Chartre  of  pis  Abbeye.  Ha  Hie  incipit  carfa,  inst. 
ofEngl.  title.  V  Witef)  H  Wyttep  Ha  Wetheth.  H  well*  ?e.  V  beop  Ha  be. 
H  here  now;  Ha  om.  here.  Ha  tho.  VHa  bep  (be)  to,  H  schall.  HHa  come. 
V  om.  after  ^ou.  H  hauep.  V  ^iuen  Ha  yeuen  H  j;eue.  H  graunte.  Ha  Adam 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud  210.  330 

was,  &  to  Eue  his  wyf,  &  to  here  heyres,  a  lytel  prcc/ouse  place  bat  is  clepid 
Conscience,  bat  Hip  in  here  soules  by-twixen  a  place  bat  is  clepid  Resouw,  be 
whiche  knoweb  good  &  wykke,  on  bat  o  sydde,  and  a  place  pat  is  I-clepid 
Synderisys,  be  whiche  sterifa  a  man  to  good  &  grucchib  a?ens  wykke,  on  bat 
ofyere  sydde ;  whos  on  ende  is  fastened  be  be  grace  of  god,  boron  whiche  eu^rey 
man  may  don  wel  5jif  he  wylle ;  &  be  ofnr  ende  lifj  in  ioye  &  merbe  of  be 
soule,  ftif] i  hit  be  clene  out  of  be  filbe  of  synne.  /  fis  holy  place  almi^ty  god  ?af 
hit  to  Adam  forseyde  &  [to]  his  wyf  &  to  here  eyres,  clenelich  a-di^t  wib-outen 
any  synne;  in  be  whiche  he  hym-self  made  a  noble  hous  of  religion;?,  bat  is 
clepid  be  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost,  in  be  whyche  he  put  manye  gostly  ladyes, 
pat  is  to  seye  gode  virtues,  amonge  whiche  he  made  damysel  Loue  &  Charite 
abbesse,  &  dame  Wyt  &  Wysdome  pr/ouresse,  &  dame  Mekenesse  &  Lownesse 
suppn'oresse  ;  &  walled  pe  abbeye  so  wel  abouten,  so  wel2  wib  swyche  rnyght  & 
swyche  strengbe,  bat  b^re  ne  schulde  neutre  no  wycked  byng  no  wycked  boir^t 
haue  mi^t  to  an  entrid  amonge  bat  holy  couent,  ^if  be  forseyd  Adam  &  Eue  his 
wyf  haddew  hem-self  wold.  He  ^af  hem  also  be  lordschip  of  heuene  &  of  erbe 
&  of  al  be  worlde,  to  maywtene  wib  be  noble  ladyes  in  here  holy  couent,  so 
ferforbe  bat  alle  be  fysches  in  be  see,  &  alle  be  briddes  in  be  eirye3,  &  alle  be 
bestes  of  be  londe  schulde  han  ben  buxum  to  hem  &  to  alle  here  eyres  euere- 
more,  'ft  Adam  &  his  wyf  hadde  kept  hem  out  of  synne  to  here  ende.  {Haben- 
dum  et  tenendum}:  To  hauew  &  to  holden  bis  prcczouse  place  wib  be  noble  abbeye 
&  al  be  holy  couent,  to  be  forseyde  Adam  &  to  Eue  &  to  alle  here  eyres,  fre- 
lyche  &  pesybelyche  wib-outen  grucchyng  of  any  man  eu^e-more,  &  b^r-wib-al 
ioye  &  blisse  bat  neutre  schulde  han  had  ende :  for  be  seruyse  &  be  customes 
1  Ms.  l»at.  2  so  wel  al.  om.  3  Ms.  eirfre. 


and  to  the  fyrst  man.  V  mon.  Ha  his  owne  wyf.  Ha  eyres.  V  luite.  Ha  the 
which.  V  I-cleped.  VH  he  whuche  (wych).  V  lihb.  VHHa  bi-twene(n). 
Ha  that  knowz't//.  V  vuel  H  euel,  Ha  illc.  on  syde.  HHa  clepyd  V  clept. 
VHa  sinderesis,  H  reufulnesse.  V  stureb.  V  wikkednesse,  HHa  euel.  Ha  in. 
V  Of  whuche  on  ende.  Ha  om.  on.  V  strecchej)  to  j)e  g.  H  be  wyche.  all 
do.  V  om.  ^if  he  wylle.  Ha  ^ef.  V  bat  ober.  Ha  om.  be  oj)er  ende.  V 
strecchef)  in  to  f)e.  Ha  haue  lyf  and  Ioye.  V  and  to  be  murbe.  all  ^if  be  soule 
be.  II  wzt/foute  of.  Ha  om.  (ie.  V  ful{)e.  Ha  om.  holy.  V  God  lord,  al- 
mi'^ty  om.  all  om.  hit.  V  to  be  fore-seid  Adam,  all  &  to.  H  his  heyres. 
V  al  clanliche,  HHa  and  clenlyche.  HHa  om.  adi^t — whiche.  V  I-diht.  V  eny 
wem.  V  In  whuche.  H  om.  he.  H  to  h.  Ha  om.  self.  Ha  om.  a  noble. 
H  nobil.  V  i-clept.  V  In  wh.  V  gostliche.  H  ladys.  V  Dam.  V  wisdam. 
H  pn'orysse.  Ha  om.  &.  V  Louhnesse.  V  Subpr.  Ha  wallep.  Ha  walled 
well*  the  a.  all  aboute.  all  om.  so  weV  VHa  such  H  seche.  all  om.  ne.  Ha 
shall.  HHa  om.  no  wycked  jiyng.  H  om.  no.  V  ne  no.  V  han  haad.  Ha  pouer. 
V  haue  entred,  HHa  entre.  Ha  in  to.  HHa  be.  VH  om.  Eue.  Ha  om.  his  wyf. 
V  hadde.  HHa  had  wold  hem-selfe.  V  Lordschupe  H  lorchipe.  V  eorpe. 
VH  meyntene  Ha  meynteyne.  VH  ladys.  Ha  &  her.  H  fysche.  Pla  water. 
Ha  om.  &.  HHa  om.  alle.  HHa  byrdes,  V  Bridde.  V  Eir  H  eyre  Ha  eyer. 
Ha  om.  alle.  HHa  in.  haue.  HHa  be.  V  Boxum  H  boxome.  Ha  vnto. 
VHHa  him  and  to  (om.  in  Hj  his  wif.  H  om.  to.  H  heyres.  Ha  for  euermore. 
V  hedde.  V  I-kept  H  kepyd.  HHa  add:  Habendum  8f  tenendum,  fyc.  (om.  in 
Ha..  IIHa  haue.  holde.  Ha  abbesse.  V  om.  al.  all  &  Eue.  Ha  om.  tO3. 
Ha  freli.  H  pesyblelyche  Ha  pesebly,  V  possybleliche.  V  eny.  Ha  for  euerm. 
H  om.  al ;  Ha  alk  the.  V  schal.  all  haue,  had  om.  V  non  ende.  VHa  seruyses, 
H  smiece.  Haom.be.  V  costumes.  H  longeb  Ha  longith.  V  berof  to,  Hathere- 

22* 


340 

bat  longen  b<?f[-of] *  to  fie  chef  lord  of  be  fee,  and  bat  was  no  more  but  a  wib- 
stondyng  be  temptacz'on  of  be  fende  &  of  his  wif 2,  whyche  ne  leste  nou^t  bo[t]e3 
fully  be  spase  of  a  myle  weye.  And  almi^ty  god  schulde  han  waraunted  to  Adam 
&  to  Eue  his  wyf  &  to  here  eyres  bat  p^czouse  place  wif)  be  noble  abbeye  & 
al  be  holy  couent,  for  to  haue  dwelled  eu^e-more  in  more  loye  &  blysse  ban 
any  tu;zge  may  telle ;  &  also  nob^  he  ne  none  of  her  eyrys  schulde  neu^re  haue 
suffred  woo  ne  peyne,  no  bei  schuld  neu^'e  haue  dy^ed:  but  whan  almi^ty  god 
hadde  seye  best  tyme  he  schulde  han  taken  hem  vp  wif)  body  &  soule  in  to  be 
blys  of  heuene,  ber  to  han  lyued  wib-outen  ende :  s;if  sely  Adam  &  hys  wyf  hadde 
kept  hem  wib-outen  synne  o  day  to  be  ende — alas,  why  ne  hadde  bei  do  so? 
Hijs  testibus :  Of  bis  bereb  witnesse  aungel  &  man,  heuene  &  erbe,  sone  &  mone 
£  al  be  stems,  &  eu^rey  creature  bat  eu^e  was  maade  for  man.  Data  apud 
paradisum  $c.:  be  date  was  ^ouen  at  paradyse,  on  be  first  day  bat  eu^re  man 
was  made,  In  be  ^eer  of  be  reigne  of  al-mi^ti  god  kynge  of  alle  kynges,  whos 
kyngdom  neu^'e  by-gan  ne  neu<?r  schal  haue  ende.  Explicit  carta.  Memoran 
dum  quod  primo  die  incarnacionis  ho  minis  fyc. 

7,e  schullen  vndurstondew  bat  ber  was  a  fals  tyrant  aposteta4  bat  hy/;te  Satanas, 
be  whiche  was  suwme-tyme  pn'oure  of  be  aungels  ordre  in  be  blisse  of  heuene ; 
be  whiche  for  his  pn'de  ran  out  of  his  blysful  ordre  \n  to  be  sorowful  errowre3 
of  be  peyne  of  helle.  And  bo  he  hadde  gret  envie  wif)  be  abbesse  of  be 
abbeye  of  be  holy  gost  &  wib  alle  here  couent,  b#t  bei  weren  so  wel  wif) 
god  &  hadden  so  gret  lordschipe :  he  be-bou^t  hym  of  a  caast  of  gyle  hou  he 
mi^t  distroye  be  noble  abbeye  &  hou  he  my^t  do  be  religiouse  abbesse  wif)  al 
here  fayre  couent  remeuen  out  of  here  ordre,  as  he  dide  out  of  his.  He  cam 
\n  be  lickenesse  of  an  addre  to  be  abbeye  ^aatys  &  wolde  haue  comen 

1  Ms.  to,        2  overl.         3  Ms.  bo})e.         4  Ms.  apostota.        5  r.  ordre? 


fore  to,  H  berto  of.  H  schefe.  H  om.  bat.  V  bote  to  haue  wz/>stonde,  HHa 
but  only  (Ha  onys)  withstonde.  V  om.  & — wif.  VHa  be  wh.  H  adds  ioy,  Ha 
fredome.  all  om.  ne.  V  laste  HHa  last.  V  fulliche  bote,  Ha  om.  fully,  H  om.  bote. 
all  om.  be  space  of.  VH  a  Mile  wey  while.  Ha  and  also,  all  haue.  H  warand. 
V  be  same  A.  V  b^zt  noble.  V  f)<zt  holi.  V  forte.  Ha  om.  euere  more.  VH 
ben.  V  eny  HHa  ony.  V  tonge  HHa  tong.  VH  &  also  bat.  Ha  neither,  V 
neu&f.  VHa  bey,  H  cue.  V  nor.  V  om.  none  of  V  om.  neuere.  V  no  wo. 
Ha  pyne.  VHa  ne,  H  &.  H  hey.  H  deyd.  Ha  om.  almi^ty.  H  god  all-my^ty. 
V  hedde.  V  se^en  H  seyn  Ha  sey.  V  tyme  best.  haue.  HHa  take.  HHa  om. 
wib.  V  and  w//>.  Ha  forto.  H  haue,  om.  in  Ha.  V  I-lyued  euer  w.  e.  V 
hedde  I-kept.  VH  wip-oute.  HHa  add  as  I  sayd  beforn  (before).  Ha  om.  o — 
ende.  V  nedde.  HHa  so  donwe  (do).  V  om.  hijs  testibus.  Ha  berith.  V  sonne 
Ha  sunne.  sterres.  V  eu^riche ,  H  eche  ober.  VHa  om.  &c.  all  om.  be  date 
was.  V  ^iuen  H  ^eue  Ha  I-yeue.  Ha  om.  on.  Ha  om.  euere.  V  In  be  furste 
^eer.  V  regne  H  reyne.  H  om.  god.  all  om.  alle.  Ha  be  which  k.  V  kyndam. 
V  bigon.  V  hauen  ,  om.  in  H.  VHa  om.  ExpL  carta.  H  bona  carta  fyc.  Ha 
om.  die.  V  Christi  inst.  of  hominis.  &c.  om.  in  VHA. 

VH  schull  Ha  schall.  HHa  vnderstond.  V  and  apostata.  V  &  be  wh.2-  V  pruyde 
ron.  V  serwful  ordre.  all  om.  And  po.  V  he  bat  hedde  be  g.  e.  H  full  grete. 
all  to.  Ha  om.  of  be  abbeye.  VHa  &  to.  V  for  bat.  V  weore  al.  were. 
V  hedden  al.  had.  V  gret  a.  VHa  on.  V  om.  caast  of.  Ha  do  awaye.  Ha  om. 
religiouse.  H  abbey.  Ha  and.  HHa  om.  al.  Ha  holy.  V  to  wenden,  Ha  and 
make  hem  Renne,  H  remew.  V  dude.  V  and  com.  H  come.  V  om.  be. 
liknesse.  V  a  Neddre  HHa  an  edder.  Ha  yates,  V  ^ate.  V  om.  haue.  H 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud.  210.         -IA  j 

i«ne.  &  f)e  porter  bat  men  clepen  Drede  as  pat  ofyere  book  seip,  was  not 
p^r  redy — for  ^if  he  hadde  ben  p^  redy  he  schulde  not  haue  comen  yn,  as 
god  ;$if  pat  he  hadde1;  and  pat  sei^y2  Eue  pat  he  was  pere,  &  as  a  greet 
fool  leet  hym  iwne.  &  pawne  seyde  pat  false  schrewe  to  Eue:  »Cur  precepit  vobis 
deus ,  why ,  he  seyde,  for-bad  god  pat  ^e  schulden  not  eten  of  pe  apples  pat 
grower  on  pe  tree  pat  stant  amyddys  paradys?«  &  pan  seyde  sche:  ^Ne  forte  mo- 
riamur,  last,  ^if  we  eten  p^rof,  we  schulden  dy?en«.  &  pan  seyde  he:  *Nequa- 
quam  moriemini  sed  eritis  sicut  dii  fyc.,  nay,  nay,  he  seip,  ^e  schul  not  dy^en, 
god  almi^ty  wot  wel  pat  what  tyme  pat  5;e  eten  p*rof  ^e  schul  ben  as  goddis 
bope  knowand  good  &  wicked;  but  god  wolde  not  pat  ^e  werew  as  wyse  as  he, 
&  before  he  forbed  pat  ^e  schuldew  not  eten  of  pe  apples«.  &  pat  seiy  Eue  pat 
sche  schulde  be  so  wyse,  &  was  bope  coueytous  &  lykerouse  as  comenliche 
wy/»men  ben;  sche  sei^e  be  apples  were  fayre  to  here  si^t  &  deliczous  to  pe 
mo[u]p?:  scho  wente  to  pe  tree  &  took  awey  an  appul  &  eete  pmjf,  &^afAdam 
pe  op^fe  deel,  &  he  eete  pm>f  also.  In  pe  mene  tyme  pat  Adam  &  his  wif  eten 
of  pis  applen,  pat  foule  fals  tiraunt  wib  his  foure  twnnentours,  pat  is  to  seye 
IVi'de  &  Glotonye,  Coueytise  &  Folye,  wente«  \n  to  be  abbeye  of  pe  holy  gost  & 
beren  a-wey  al  pe  good  pat  \>er  was.  Sykerly  I  dar  wel  seye  pei  beren  a-wey 
mo  precious  iewelys  pan  al  pis  world  is  worpe ;  pei  baren  also  away  pe  chartre 
pat  god  almi^ty  35  af  hem  to  holde  bi  here  place, — &  Jwfore  neip^r  he  ne  his  wyf 
ne  noon  of  here  eyres  fro  pat  day  in  to  pis  clay  hadde  no  rtyt  to  chalenge  pe 
lordschip  of  pis  world  ne  pe  blisse  of  heuene,  but  onlyche  in  pe  m^rsy  of  god. 
i  r.  nadde?  2  Ms.  sei?,]). 


comyn  Ha  come.  V  me  clepede.  Ha  clepit.  II  pe  to|)er.  Ha  the  b.  saith  byfore. 
V  nas  not  redi  b^e  as  pe  bok  tellej).  Ha  om.  for— yn.  V  be.  Ha  as  wolde  god 
she  had.  V  leeue  . .  nedde.  Ha  he  wolde  not  haue  come  In  and  begiled  Eue  & 
as  a  grete  fole  she,  V  And  po  Eue  sau^  hym  heo  was  a  gret  fool  &.  VH  pe 
fals.  Ha  adds  thus.  V  seide  he.  V  for  bed  H  fore-bede.  V  god  ow.  V  schulde 
HHa  schuld.  ete.  Ha  these.  H  applis.  H  groue.  Vila  pis.  V  stond  HHa  stondyth. 
H  in  myddys,  V  a-midde  Ha  amid.  Ha  om.  &.  V  heo  H  hee,  Ha  Eue.  H  om. 
Ne  forte  —  seyde  he.  Ha  lest,  om.  in  V.  Ha  wete  ete.  Ha  shuld,  V  schullew. 
V  dyen  Ha  dye.  Ha  said  the  fals  shrew.  H  quasi  dii,  all  om.  &c.  all  seide. 
II  ne  schul  ^e.  Ha  shuld.  «//dye.  V  But  God.  Ha  om.  almi^ty.  Ha  om.  pat2. 
II  ete  Ha  yete.  HHa  shuld.  HHa  be.  V  goddes.  H  knowyng  bope.  V  to  knowe. 
Ha  knowing  moo  precious  stones  &  lewellw  than  alk  this  world  is  worth.  H  euel. 
V  wol.  Vila  were,  H  schuld  be.  Ha  so.  VII  forbed  3011,  Ha  bade.  V  scholde 
HHa  schuld.  all  ete.  V  &  whon.  VHa  om.  pat.  H  herd  sorye  Eue,  VHa  Eue 
herde.  HHa  om.  so.  V  heo  inst.  of  and.  all  couetous.  Ha  licorous.  VHa 
om.  as — ben.  H  comywlyche  wemefi.  V  and  heo.  V  sau^  H  see;  Ha  sawe 
also.  V  and  heo.  HHa  sche.  V  treo.  VHa  om.  awey.  VH  appel.  H  om. 
&  ^af — deel.  V  pat  oper.  II  also  ete  of  pis  applen.  Ha  om.  perof.  H  om. 
In — applen.  V  And  in.  Ha  ete.  Ha  apples,  V  appel.  Ha  fals  foule.  all  coue- 
tyse.  H  went  Ha  wente.  Ha  om.  in.  HHa  bare.  Ha  om.  al.  Ha  was  there. 
Ha  om.  sykerly — seye.  H  sekyrly.  HHa  pai  beren  away  also  be  charter  pat  god 
almy5;ty  (Ha  a.  god]  had  (om.  in  Ha)  ^aue  hem  (om.  in  Ha)  &  mo  pr.  i.  penne  alk 
pis  w.  is  worpe  pai  bere  away  (pai  b.  a.  om.  in  Ha).  V  luweles.  V  awey  also. 
V  Chatre.  H  bat  pei  schuld  by  h.  p.,  Ha  where-by  they  shuld  haue  h.  p.  Ha 
om.  perfore.  V  nouper  Ha  nether,  om.  in  H.  II  of  his.  Ha  eyers.  V  from. 
H  vnto,  V  to.  V  ne  heddew  riht.  H  had  pai  no.  Ha  om.  no.  VHa  chalange 
H  calenge.  H  om.  pe  (twice).  V  of  h.  noupzo'.  VHa  be.  VH  onliche.  V 


342 

&  not  only  poyse  false  peues  broken  pus  pis  holy  abbeye  &  beren  away  here 
goodys,  but  bei  deden  a  more  cruel  dede  &  a  more  reuful:  bei  drouew  awey 
dispitousliche  out  of  bat  abbeye  be  faire  abbesse  &  be  prz'ouresse  &  al  here  holy 
couent,  so  ferforp  bat  it  was  fyue  pousande l  fyue  hundrid  &  pre  &  pritty  ^er 
after  bat  or  eu^e  pei  mitten  comen  a^en  alle  to-geders  as  parfisjtliche  as  pei 
weren  beforn.  /  And  whan  Adam  &  his  wyf  hadden  eten  of  bat  apple,  he  loked 
on  here  &  scho  on  hym,  &  panne  p^'ceyued  bei  first  bat  bei  weren  bobe  robbed 
&  naked.  Hem  pou^te  greet  schame  of  hem-seluen  bat  bei  ferden  so,  £  went  en 
&  tokene  leeues  of  a  fige-tre  to  hyden  wip  here  priueyteys,  for  bei  ne  hadden 
noon  op^fe  elopes — for  bat  tyme  were  no  furred  gou^nes  ne  pricked  paltokys ! 
l?ei  deden  hem  to  be  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost,  bat  is  to  seye  here  conscience,  & 
wolde  ban  had  suwme  helpe  per:  &  bei  seen  al  be  good  bat  b^  was  [ago]2, 
£  hem  bou^t  grete  schame;  for  bei  mi^t3  aforhande  han  faren  p^'e  wele  merye. 
&  ban  pei  wenten  forp  to  on  pat  wonede  p^re-by-syde,  to  on  bat  men  clepyd  Wit, 
&  axed  hym  where  be  przoures  &  be  abbesse  were,  where  bei  ben  be-comen. 
&  ban  seyde  Wit:  »be  abbeye  is  distroyed  dispitousliche,  &  al  be  couewt  is 
ruwnen  aweye  sorufully,  for  pi  folye  and4  for  pi  wyues«.  »Hou  so?«  seyde  bei.  & 
bamie  seyde  Wit:  »W/zil5  bou  &  bi  wyf  eten  of  be  appul  be  abbeye  was  distroyed 
wip  foure  false  peues,  &  be  abbesse  &  be  przouresse  &  al  be  couent  breke  here 
ordre  &  rumie  aweye ,  and  seyden  as  bei  wenten  bat  bei  schulden  no  more 
comen  a^en  to-gedere  as  bei  weren  first,  bis  fyue  bousande  ^er^  &  more,  &  al 
was  for  p0u  &  bi  wyf  eten  of  pat  appuk.  &  pan  Adam  &  his  wyf  hadden  moche 
1  Ms.  adds  ^eer.  2  om.  3  Ms.  mi^t,  one  7,  expunged.  4  Ms.  and  &.  5  h  overl. 


peose  H  pise  Ha  these.  H  peuys.  H  breken  VHa  breke.  V  noble  ;  Ha  om.  holy. 
Ha  bare.  VHa  goodes.  V  duden  Ha  dede  H  dyd.  V  cruwel  Ha  crewel. 
H  ruful  V  reupful.  VH  driuen  Ha  dreue.  H  disputylyche  Ha  dispitously. 
Ha  the  fair*?  abbesse  oute  off  her  abbey.  Ha  all<?  the.  Ha  In  so  moch^.  V  foure 
p.  LHa  sjeer.  VHa  and  fyf.  Ha  om.  ^er  after  bat.  H  om.  bat.  V  er  Ha  ar; 
H  or  bat  e.  bat.  V  mihte  bei.  Ha  come,  om.  in  H.  V  om.  a^en.  V  to- 
gederes  HHa  togeder.  V  als.  H  parfytly  Ha  parfetely.  V  weore  Ha  were. 
Ha  before.  Ha  Thanne  whan.  V  hed  H  had,  om.  in  Ha.  H  etyfi,  Ha  ete. 
V  bis.  V  appel  H  appyl  Ha  appulk.  H  on  inst.  of  &.  HHa  sche  V  heo. 
V  om.  bei  first,  were.  H  om.  bofDe.  H  robbid  &  nakid.  V  and  hem.  V  scheme. 
HHa  self.  HHa  ferd.  V  and  bei.  HHa  went.  VHHa  toke.  H  leuys.  HHa  fygge. 
V  hulen  H  hyl  Ha  hele.  V  priueytees  HHa  priuytes.  V  nedde.  HHa  om.  ne. 
H  clopis.  Ha  om.  for — paltokys.  H  om.  for.  H  wered  men.  V  per  neore  none 
f.  g.  pat  tyme.  VH  om.  pricked.  V  paltokes  nouper.  V  into,  H  oute  of.  V  seyen. 
H  om.  here.  haue.  Ha  om.  &.  V  sesjen  Ha  sigh.  V  pat  hit  was  destruyed  foule 
and  booren  awey  al  be  g.  HHa  alle  (H  bat  alle)  be  g.  bat  ber  was  (was  Ha) 
ago.  Ha  om.  & — merye.  V  inouht.  V  aforehond  H  a-forhonde.  V  haue  H  a. 
VH  fare.  V  murie.  Ha  om.  &.  H  om.  ban.  HHa  went.  H  woneb,  V  dwelled. 
all  om.  to  on.  HHa  clepyth.  Ha  axid  V  askede.  all  abbesse  and  be  prioresse. 
Ha  adds  with  alk  the  fayre  Couent.  all  were  become,  where — ben  om.  V  om. 
al.  VHa  ronne  H  rune.  V  serwfulliche  H  soryfully,  Ha  wz'tft  gret  sorough. 
H  for  foly  &  for  wykkednes,  Ha  through  the  wickidnesse  and  folie  that  thou  hast 
doo.  V  seiden.  Ha  ete.  VH  appel.  V  foule  inst.  of  foure.  Ha  haue  broke 
her  ordere  and  alk  the  Couent  be  runne.  V  al  heore.  V  breeken.  H  ordir. 
V  rowne  H  rune.  Ha  &  they.  HHa  sayd.  went.  V  alias  bat.  Ha  om.  bat. 
V  schulde  HHa  schuld.  Ha  come  nomore.  V  om.  a^en.  H  to-gederes.  all 
were.  H  om.  fyue.  V  bousend.  V  al  pat  was.  all  of  pe.  HHa  had,  V  maadew. 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud  210.          343 

sorowe  as  no  woundur  was,  &  seyden  iche  to  ob^re:  »Alas,  alas,  what  schul  we 
don?  we  ne  han  nowb«-  clobes  to  don  on,  ne  hous  for  to  dwellen  inne,  & 
bt^to  be  abbesse  &  here  faire  couent  bat  weren  oure  beest  frendis  han  forsakene 
vs  &  ben  goon  aweye;  so  weylewey  be  while  bat  euere  we  eten  be  appel!«  & 
asswy^e  aftyrward  bei  harden  god  hou  he  spak  to  hem  as  he  wente  in  paradyse ; 
&  bei  weren  aschamed  of  hem-seluen  bat  bei  weren  naked,  &  also  bei  werew 
agast  of  hym,  &  stirten  vndre  a  tree  for  to  han  hid  hem.  &  god  com  &  sy^e 
hem  &  seyde:  »O  Adam,  Adam,  where  art  pou?«  »A,  lord,  quop  Adam,  I  harde 
pi  woyse  in  paradyse,  &  I  was  a-schamed  bat  I  was  naked,  &  btrfore  I  hidde 
me«.  »O  Adam,  quo{>  oure  lord,  ho  told  [be]  bat  pou  were  naked,  any  ping 
ellys  but  bat  pern  ete  of  be  appul  a$en  my  for-beddyng?  Ho  hajo  broken  be 
abbeye  of  be  holy  goost,  Adam,  &  who  hap  boren  aweye  al  bat  b^-was?  where 
is  be  fair  abbesse,  Adam,  &  here  couent  bat  I  took  bee  to  kepen— w/^eder1  ben 
bei  went?«  »A,  lord,  quofi  Adam,  be  woman  bat  pou  ^eue  me  to  my  wyf  let  in  a 
fals  schrewe  at  be  abbeye  ^atys,  bat  bad  here  eten  of  an  appul  pat  hange  on  a 
tre  in  paradyse,  &  he  seyde  scho  schulde  wexen  as  wyse  as  god;  &  sche  took 
hit  doon2  &  ete  {wof,  &  7,af  me  bat  o^re  deel;  &  y  wolde  not  displesew  here 
&  ete  bm>f  also.  &  in  bat  mene  wile  bat  fals  bef  wip  o^er  man^r  schrewes  of 
his  assent  wenten  in  to  be  abbeye  &  broken  [hit]  adouw3  &  beren  away  al  be  good 
bat  per  was,  &  dryuen  away  pe  abbesse  &  be  priouresse  &  al  be  couent  I  wot 
neu^-e  whedur«.  cSc  pe  whyle  he  told  god  pis  tale4  he  wepte  for  sorowe.  &  pamie 
seyde  god  to  Eue:  >AVoman,  why  let  p0u  i/me  pat  fals  pef?  &  whi  ete  pou  of 
pat  appul  ?«  &  fiawne  seyde  scho:  »A,  lord,  he  cam  to  me  in  f>e  lickenesse  of  an 
eddre  &  bygylid  me  wij>  faire  false  wordes,  &  I  let  hym  inne  &  dede  as  he  me 
bad,  alas,  alas  fee  while  bat  eutre  knewe  I  hym«!  &  scho  wepte  for  sorowe  also, 
i  h  overl.  2  =  doun.  3  Ms.  adoii.  4  orig.  tayle,  y  erased. 

VHa  muche  H  mych.  VH  wonder  Ha  wondyr.  V  nas.  Ha  om.  seyden.  <*//  eiher. 
II  tyl  HHa  schal.  all  do.  Ha  do  nowe.  Ha  om.  we  ne  han.  H  om.  ne.  VH  haue. 
V  noubw,  HHa  ne|ur.  Ha  c.  to  vs.  VH  do.  II  on  vs.  Ha  nep*r  h.  HHa  om.  for. 
dwells  Ha  om.  faire.  HHa  were.  VHa  frendes.  HHa  haue  forsake.  V  i-gon, 
Ha  a-goo.  V  weylawei  HHa  wele  away.  Ha  ete  of.  V  also-swibe.  Ha  anon. 
Ha  he.  HHa  herd  V  herden.  V  how  God  sp.  Ha  pey  went.  HHa  were. 
V  aschomed.  HHa  self.  V  for  pat  pel.  V  sturten  H  stert.  V  om.  for  VHa 
haue,  om.  in  H.  V  I-hud,  H  hyde.  Ha  om.  com  &.  H  see  Ha  sey  V  sanz. 
V  adds:  Adam  Adam  vbi  es,  bat  is  to  seye.  V  om.  O.  V  quab,  H  seyde  V  ich 
here  HHa  herd.  V  &  icham  asch.  for  icham.  V  ich  huyde.  V  om.  U.  iia 
hoo  H  qwo.  all  tolde  be.  Ha  but  for  bou.  V  a'^eynes  Ha  ayenst.  V  for- 
beodyng  HHa  forbode.  HHa  broke.  V  ho.  HHa  bore.  V  hire  feire  c^  Ha 
to  the.  all  kepe.  H  whejxr  Ha  whither  V  whoder.  V  beo  Ha  be. 
VHHa  ouod.  V  wommon.  VHa  ?af  H  gafe.  H  lete  a  f.  s.  in.  H  om  abbeye. 
V  and  bad.  HHa  ete.  Ha  the  ap.  V  heng,  H  hongep  Ha  hangeth  V  on 
pis  tre  here  in  p.  H  pat  sche.  V  waxen  H  wex  Ha  wax.  V  heo  Ha  took 
an  appulL'-&.  H  dou»,  V  adoun.  HHa  {>e  toper.  Ha  delk.  H  om.I.  H  dis- 
plece  Ha  displease.  Ha  om.  in.  VHa  {^e.  Ha  same.  HHa  tyme  Ha  the  fals 
a//mony.  Ha  mony  other.  V  at.  V  breken  H  breke  Ha  broke.  VHa  hit, 
H  be  abbey.  V  doun.  H  bere  Ha  bare.  H  it  a.  H  om.  al— away. 
V  al  heore.  H  went  I  wot.  V  whoder  H  qwyther  Ha  whethyr.  Ha  om.  « 
V  om  be  Ha  Adam  w.  H  wepyd.  Ha  full  sore.  Ha  lettest.  H  the 
ylk  Ha  etest.  H  om.  pou.  Ha  of  the.  Ha  om.  &-scho  H  &  sche ,  sayde 
bent-  V  heo.  Ha  A  lord  quod  she.  V  com.  V  om.  be.  V  gyled  HHa  om. 
inne.  V  dude.  II  knew  yche.  VHa  I  kneu?.  Ha  also  full  sore  as.  H  om.  also. 


344 

as  I  blame  here  not.  fan  seyde  god  to  here :  »For  p0u  lete  Inne  pat  schrewe  & 
dedest  as  he  pe  bad,  &  ete  of  bat  appul,  p<ni  schalt  bere  pi  childerew  wif)  mochel 
gronyng  &  kare,  p<m  &  alle  pe  wymmen  pat  schul  come  after  pe,  sane  on;  & 
'^if  pou  haddest  not  so  don ,  wy/wmen  schulden  nenere  han  hadde  no  manure  of 
peyne  in  berynge  of  child,  fou  schalt  eu^e-more  also,  he  seyde,  ben  vndur 
mannus  heste,  &  he  schal  be  pi  mayster«.  &  pawne  scho  hadde  mochel  sorowe. 
&  pan  seyde  god  to  Adam:  »For  pou  ete  of  pe  appul  at  pi  wyfes  byddyng  a^ens 
myn  heste,  &  for  pou  lete  pe  abbeye  of  pe  holy  gost  so  fouliche  ben  distroyed 
&  lete  pe  abbesse  &  here  couent  rennen  aweye  out  of  here  ordre  &  pou  ne 
woost  neu^re  whider,  pis  schal  be  pi  penauwce:  pou  schalt  pis  day  or  euen  ben 
dryuen  out  of  paradyse  in  to  erpe,  pat  is  a-cursid  for  pi  synne ;  fyer-inne  schalt 
p<m  dwellen  wif)  mochel  sorowe  &  mochel  woo  alle  pe  dayes  of  pi  lyf,  &  erpe 
schal  bringe  pe  forf)  pornes  &  brambles,  &  p<?u  schalt  eten  gresse  pat  growefo 
on  pe  erpe.  In  swynke  &  in  swete  of  pi  visage  pou  schalt  eten  pi  bred,  til  p^u 
turnest  a^en  to  pe  erpe  pat  p0u  com  fro ;  for  whi,  f)0u  were  mad  but  of  erpe  & 
in  to  erpe  p0u  schalt  turne  a^en«.  &  as-swipe  afterward  god  bad  a  aungel  dryue 
Adam  &  his  wyf  out  of  pe  blisse  of  paradyse  in  to  pe  wrechid  world,  &  bad  hem 
goon  &  sechen  pere  pe  abbesse  of  pe  holy  gost,  &  seyde  nep^  he  nor  his  wyf 
ne  noon  of  here  ospryng  schulde  neu^re  comen  az;en  in  to  pe  blysse  of  paradyse 
ne  in  to  heuene  neuer,  til  pei  han  mad  a^en  pe  abbeye  of  pe  holy  gost  as  wel 
as  it  was  beforn,  &  til  pei  hadden  also  brou^t  a^en  wij)  hem  pe  abbesse  &  [pe] 
przouresse  &  al  here  fayre  couent  in  as  good  pli^t  as  hit  was  be-forn  or  pei 
wenten  out.  &  panne  went  god  &  mad  Adam  &  hys  wyf  eyptff  a  cote  of  lep^r, 
&  cast  hem  out  of  paradyse,  &  pat  was  a  pytouse  si^t  forsope,  &  bat  is  sope1.  & 
1  &  J>at  is  soj)e  al.  om.  

V  ne  blame.  V  And  pe^ne.  Ha  thef.  V  dudest  Ha  deddest  H  dede.  VHa  pe  a. 
H  with  sorw  &  vfiih  gr.  &  c.  Ha  sorowfull  inst.  of  mochel.  V  m.  peyne  &  gr.  Ha 
om.  p0u — child.  V  om.  f)0u.  H  wemen^.  H  om.  schul.  H  senfe  on.  H  p*r  schull<? 
neu^r  woman*?  hadde.  V  om.  of.  V  of  heore.  H  childer  H  children.  VHa  also 
euer-more.  Ha  om.  he  seyde.  VHa  be.  Ha  behest.  V  ben.  Ha  And  po.  HHa 
sorw  &  pyne.  Ha  po.  V  to  Adam :  Adam.  H  pat  a.  Ha  after.  H  pin.  VHa  my. 
V  forbeoding.  V  foule,  Ha  folily.  V  beo  Ha  be.  VHa  om.  pou  ne.  H  wyst 
Ha  wote.  H  om.  neuere.  V  whodere  HHa  whyper.  Ha  om.  pis — penaunce. 
H  schall.  Ha  om.  or  euen.  V  ar.  H  cue.  HHa  dreue.  V  put.  VHa  pe  eorpe. 
VHa  and  p.  VHa  pow  schalt.  dwelle.  V  muche  Ha  moche.  HHa  om.  mochel 2. 
Ha  s.  care  &  woo.  H  pin  lyue.  Ha  adds  thou  shalt  trauayle  in  erth  and  pat  shall. 
V  pe  e.  H  schall  p^ore.  V  forth  to  pe.  H  bremblys,  Ha  breers.  Ha  om. 
& — erpe.  VH  ete.  V  pe  gras.  Ha  and  swynke  &  s.  V  swot.  H  pin.  ete. 
H  vntyl.  VHHa  torne.  Ha  wherefro  p.  c.  Ha  for  of  erth  thou  art  m.  VHa  om. 
in.  V  also  swif)e,  Ha  anon.  H  aftur.  H  bed.  all  an.  Ha  dreue  oute  of  para 
dise  Adam  &  his  wyf.  V  &  Eue  h.  w.  HHa  erpe  (world  expunged  in  H).  H  go 
seke.  Ha  om.  goon  &.  V  seche.  HHa  om.  pere.  HHa  pe  couent  of  pe  holy  gostw 
abbey  (Ha  of  the  abbey  of  the  h.  g.).  H  om.  seyde.  VH  pat  n.  V  nouper 
HHa  noper.  all  ne.  Ha  she  inst.  of  his  wyf.  VHa  ofspriwg,  H  spryng.  V  ne 
scholde,  H  schul.  HHa  come.  Ha  om.  pe.  Ha  ne  of  h.  V  neyper  H  noper, 
om.  in  Ha.  H  forto.  H  haue ,  V  hedde  Ha  had.  V  i-maad.  Ha  om.  a^en. 
H  &  vntyl.  HHa  haue.  HHa  om.  also.  V  I — brou^t.  HHa  om.  wib  hem.  all 
&  pe  p.  Ha  om.  al.  H  pe  f.  Ha  om.  fayre.  V  also,  H  als  so.  V  plyt  Ha 
plite.  VHa  as  pei  weoren.  H  was  in.  V  om.  beforn;  Ha  afore.  V  ar.  Ha 
adds  for  it  was  skil.  H  And  qwenne  god  had  made.  Ha  om.  went.  .  &.  Ha  to 
A.  and  to  Eue;  hys  wyf  om.  V  eiper  heom,  Ha  to  eciu?  of  hem.  Ha  leddyr 
to  couer  hem  with.  H  dryue.  Ha  pituous  s.  to  se.  & — sope  al.  om.  HHa  & 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud  210.          345 

bus  kemen  bei  forb  in  to  bis  wrecchid  world,  wib  mochel  sorowe  &  kare,  & 
b^rof  was  no  woundur.  &  bewne  wente  Adam  in *  bis  world  in  mochel  sorowe 
&  woo  IX  hondred  8f  XXX2  [;er]  &  sou^te  be  abbesse  &  here  couent  bat  weren  so 
goon  awaye,  &  he  wolde  also  han  had  suwwhat  where-wif)  he  mi^te  haue  as;en 
be  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost ;  and  he  mi^t  neu^re  fynde  nou^t  bm^f  in  al  bat  long 
tyme.  &  Adam  hadde  mochel  sorowe,  &  fel  seke  &  died,  &  his  wyf bobe  ;  &  here 
soules  wenten  to  helle,  &  bat  was  grete  pyte.  &  not  oneliche  bei  alone,  but  al 
bo  bat  comen  of  hem,  be  whyche  kemen  aftur  bat  be  foure  bousande  sex 
hundred  &  foure  Jjer,  wenten  to  helle  eu^rychone — so  longe  was  Adam  in  helle, 
&  bat  was  for  be  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost,  bat  is  to  seyn  here  conscience,  was 
not  mad  a^en  as  fayre  ne  as  clene  as  it  was  be-forn.  £us  was  Adam  &  his  wyf 
in  helle  many  bousande  ^eer  in  mochel  sorowe  &  kare :  til  alle-mi/,ty  god  hadde 
pyte  of  her  soules  &  sente  adouw  his  swete  sone  &  bad  hym  goon  &  sechen  be 
abbesse  &  here  couent — for  he  wiste  bett^e  whertf  bei  weren  ban  Adam  wyste. 
&  he  cam  dou«  in  to  bis  world  and  sou^te  hem  here  wel  bisyly  bre  &  britty  ^eer, 
&  at  be  last  he  fond  hem  hangyng  on  be  rode-tree.  He  took  hem  doon  &  lad 
hem  in  to  helle,  to  speken  wib  Adam  &  his  wyf.  &  whan  Adam  sau^  hyw  comen, 
lord  bat  he  was  glade !  &  fyer  Oz'st  goddis  sone  of  heuene  mayd  a^en  be  abbeye 
of  be  holy  gost,  bet^e  ban  eu^e  hit  was,  &  took  out  of  helle  Adam  &  his  wyf, 
be  abbesse  &  be  pn'ouresse  &  al  here  holy  couent,  &  ladde  hem  wib  hym  a^en 
hom  in  to  paradise,  &  ptrr  was  mochel  ioye  &  blisse  at  here  comywg-hom. — But 
hou  &  in  what  manere  Crist  fonde  bis  abbesse  &  her  couent,  I  schal  tellen  ^ow 
as-swi|)e  ^if  ^ee  wolen  abydde,  &  hou  be  abbesse  of  be  holy  gost  &  alle  her 
couent  were  foundon  &  brou^t  hom  a'^en  al  hole. 

Aftwr  bat  Adam  &  his  wyf  werew  dede,  b*r  comew  many  wyse  me;?,  yatri- 
arches  &  pr^phetes  &  ob^re  mew  bobe,  bat  hadden  mochel  sorowe  for  be  abbeye 

i  Ms.  i«  to.        2  by  another  hand;  o.  m.  ixcxxx  ^er. 


pen.  VH  come.  H  he.  Ha  bey  come.  Ha  om.  forb.  H  as  b^rof.  Ha  and 
no  wonder  was  (berof  om.}.  Ha  om.  &.  HHa  Adam  was.  VHHa  om.  to.  Ha 
the  w.  HHa  w*'t/L  V  muche  H  mech  Ha  moch.  V  wo  &  serwe,  Ha  sorowe 
&  care  &  woo.  VHHa  ni^ene  (H  neyen)  hundred  winter  (HHa  ^ere)  and  britti. 
Ha  was.  Ha  goo.  Ha  om.  he.  VHHa  haue.  H  were-boru?.  HHa  haue  had. 
V  neuer  mihte.  V  om.  fynde.  VHHa  riht  nou'^t.  Ha  om.  &  Ad. — seke.  V  Adam 
bewne ,  &  om.  H  felk  douw  seke.  Ha  After  bat  Adam  and  Eue  were  dede 
her  sowles.  H  also  inst.  of  bobe.  Ha  om.  &— pyte.  H  &  n.  he  alonlyche  by 
hym-self.  H  bat  inst.  of  be  whyche.  V  dieden  HHa  died.  Ha  afterward.  H  in. 
HHa  f.  thousand  ^ere.  V  and  sixe.  H  om.  ^er.  H  ychone,  om.  in  Ha.  V  and  so, 
Ha  for  so.  V  long  time.  H  &  bat  for.  H  forto.  V  ymad.  Ha  om.  a/,en.  V  and 
als.  Ha  om.  ne.  Ha  and  Eue  (his  wyf  om.).  VHa  mony,  H  many  a.  H  ^er«^. 
V  winter.  V  Til  bat.  VH  on.  V  sende.  H  down,  om.  in  Ha.  V  owne  inst. 
of  swete.  HHa  om.  goon  &.  Ha  &  the  c.  V  wuste.  were.  Ha  om.  wyste 2. 
Ha  And  bo  he.  V  so  com  forj)  d.  H  adown^.  HHa  om.  here.  H  om.  wel; 
Ha  full.  V  wynter.  Ha  yere  &  more.  Ha  hem  alk.  Ha  om.  hangyng— end  of 
Chapt.  V  honginge,  om.  in  H.  V  speke.  V  &  whon  bat.  H  see.  VH  hem 
c.ome.  H  om.  JW.  H  &  Eue  ;  his  wyf  om.  H  &  be  h.  c.  V  hoi.  H  om.  hem. 
V  hom  comynge.  V  bat  crist.  V  be.  H  abbey.  V  abbesse  of  be  holigost  & 
hire  c.  H  schew,  ^ow  om.  V  also  swibe.  V  wol  H  will^.  abyde.  V  om.  & 
hou — hole.  H  om.  alle.  H  founde. 

V  After  be  tyme  bat.    VHweore,  Ha  was.  come.    V  patn'arkes,  H  as  p.    HHa  had. 
VHa  muche    H  myche.     H  bat  a.     H  om.  al.     HHa  bat  so  wer*.     HHa  om.  &. 


34^ 

of  be  holy  gost  &  for  al  be  couent  bat  bei  weren  so  goon  awaye  :  &  bei  wenten 
&  sou^ten  after  hem  in  many  soundry  cuntrees  as  longe  as  bei  lyueden :  but  vndre 
hem  alle,  for  nou^t  bei  couden  don,  mi>;t  bei  neuere  fynde  hem.  &  per  were 
amonges  ofyere,  foure  gode  men  &  trewe,  pat  is  to  weten  Dauid  &  Salomon, 
Ysaie  &  leromye,  pat  weren  abou^te  day  &  ni^t  to  maken  bis  abbeye  &  to  sechen 
vp  bis  couent ;  &  for  pei  mitten  not  han  here  wille,  sowme  of  hem  maden  mochel 
sorowe  &  mone ,  &  I  pray  ^ou  listenip  what  bei  seyden.  Dauid  seyde :  »Laboraui 
damans,  rauce  facte  [sunt]  fauces  mee  fyc.1,  I  haue,  he  seyde,  so  nwne  &  cried  aftir 
hem,  bat  my  chaules  aken  &  ben  woxen  al  hose«  ;  y>Domine  inclina  celos  tuos  fy 
descende  fyc.-,  &  b^rfore,  lord,  he  seib,  bowe  doun  bin  heuewnes  &  come  doon,  & 
help  me  for  to  sechen  bis  abbesse  &  here  couent  be  whyche  myn  herte  loueb  ; 
for  I  may  not  fynde  hem«.  Seib  Salomon:  vdrcuibo  ciuitatem  per  vicos  fy  plateas 
8f  queram  quern  diligit  anima  mea%,  I  schal,  he  seib,  risen  vp  &  wenden  al  abou^ten 
be  citee  be  weyes  &  be  stretys  &  I  schal  sechen  be  abbesse  &  here  couewt  be 
whyche  myn  herte  loueb«.  »Quesiui  8f  non  inueni  fyc.*,  a,  he  seib,  I  sou^te  hem  & 
I  ne  fouwde  hem  nou^t ;  I  cryed  &  noon  of  hem  wolde  here,  non  answere  me  wib 
word«.  tanne  spake  [he]5  mornan[d]liche6  &  seyde:  ^Reuertere,  reuertere  sunamitis, 
reuertere,  reuertere  fyc. 7,  a,  torne  a^en,  turne  a^en  p0u  sely  swete  wyi^t,  &  let  vs 
see  be«;  vWulnerasti  cor  meum  soror  mea  sponsa  mea,  wulnerasti  cor  meum  in 
vno  ictu  oculorum  tuorum  $r.8,  a,  pou  hast  wouwdid  myn  hert  pou  fayre  sistwr, 
pc?u  fayre  spouse,  f)0u  hast  wouwdid  myn  herte  wib  a  twynkelyng  of  bin  ei^e«. 

6  he  seyde  ou^r  bat:    y>In  lectulo  meo  quesiui  per  nodes  quern  diligit  anima  mea; 
quesiui  fy  non  inueni  fycP,  I  haue  sou^t  any^ttis  i»  my  bed  bat  couent  whyche  my 
soule  loueb  ;  I  haue  sou^t  wib  al  my  my^t  &  I  may  not  fynden  hem«.    &  ban  spak  he 
to  pe  op^e  maydens  pat  dwelleden  p^-bysyde,  &  seyde:  »Adturo  vos filie  Jerusalem, 

1  Ps.  68,  4.        2  Ps.  143,  5.        s  Cant.  3,  2.        *  Cant.  5,  6-         5  Ms.  I.         6  Ms.  mormanliche. 

7  Cant.  6,  12.        8  Cant.  4,  9.        9  Cant.  3,  i. 


HHa  went  &  sou^t.  HHa  diuerse,  V  wonder.  H  lyued  Ha  leuyd.  all  nou^t 
bat  bei.  V  coupe  H  COWC[D  Ha  cowde.  Ha  do.  V  ne  mihte.  V  fynden. 
VH  &  benne  per.  Ha  iiii  good  men  &  tr.  among  hem.  V  among.  H  wyten 
V  wite,  Ha  say e.  Ha  om.  &].  all  leremye.  were.  HHa  make,  all  seche.  Ha 
om.  &.  V  mihte  HHa  rny^t.  all  haue.  Ha  Thei  made.  H  mykel  V  muche  Ha 
moch.  V  and  muche  m.  Ha  om.  &.  V  lustneb  H  lystes.  H  om.  bei  seyden.  Ha 
om.  Dauid  sayde.  VH  facte  sunt.  &c.  al.  om.  Ha  om.  so.  V  trauayled.  Ha 
trauailed  he  saith.  Ha  om.  aftir  hem.  HHa  chekys.  Ha  om.  aken  &.  V  waxen 
H  wex,  om.  in  Ha.  Ha  hors.  VHHa  om.  &c.  V  seide.  V  adouw.  H  bi. 
V  cum.  doun.  V  forte ;  Ha  om.  for.  VHa  seche  H  seke.  Ha  be  a.  V  om.  be 
whyche— loueb.  Ha  my.  H  louyb.  V  ne  may  not  fynden.  Ha  Sal.  saith,  H 
ban  sayp  S.,  V  And  benne  seide  S.  Ha  quere.  V  seide.  V  a-risen  HHa  ryse. 
Ha  wende,  H  goo.  Ha  om.  al.  all  aboute.  VHa  citees.  Ha  and  by  w.  VHa 
stretes.  all  seche.  V  my  soule.  HHa  louyb.  V  adds  -vocaui  8f  non  respondit  michi. 
Ha  as.  VH  seide.  Ha  haue  sought.  H  hym.  ne  al.  om.  V  fond  H  fonde. 
H  hym.  V  &  \>er  wolde  non  of  hem.  VH  om.  here  non.  H  here  me  ne.  V 
onswere.  V  wi[)  aw.  V  And  bewne.  VH  he.  VH  mornyngliche  H  mornyngly. 
H  resunamitis.  H  om.  reu.  reu.%  &c. ;  Ha  vt  supra;  V  reu.  reu.  vt  intueamur  te. 
H  A  b<?u,  Ha  and  thou.  Ha  sely  swete  wight  turne  ayen  turne  ayen.  H  b<?u  turn. 
V  om.  soror — meum.  Ha  om.  in — tuorum.  V  om.  &c.  Ha  and  b#u.  Ha  wonded. 
H  in.  Ha  om.  a.  V  twynclyng.  Ha  thy  eyen.  V  And  benne  seide  he  o.  p.  H  & 
ouer  bat  he  saybe.  Ha  om.  meo.  Ha  noctem.  VHHa  om.  &c.  Ha  a-nytes, 
VH  on  nihtes.  V  be  c..  Ha  om.  bat  couent.  Ha  the  which,  VH  bat.  V  ne 
may.  HHa  fynde.  V  bat  ofyure,  Ha  om.  be.  H  tob^r.  H  medeynes,  Ha  ladies. 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:   Ms.  Laud  210.          347 

si  inueneritis  dikctum  meum  (i.  conuentum  ilium  V,  an[n]uncietis  [ei]  quia  amore  langueo 
8fc* ,  I  pray  3011  specialiche  ^e  maydens  of  lerusalem ,  ^if  ^e  fynden  owh^re  be 
abbesse  of  be  holy  gost  &  here  couent,  bat  ^e  wil  sayn  bat  I  am  seke  for  loue- 
longywg  of  hem«.  &  bus  Salomon  be  kyng  mad  mochel  mone.  But  ^it  fonde  he 
hem  no^t,  £  banne  seyde  he  fyus:  »Mitte  dornine  sapiendam  tuam,  i.  filium,  de  celis 
sanctis  tuis ,  qui  mecum  sit  $c2,  lord  god,  he  seib,  sende  douw  out  of  bi  holy 
heuenes  bi  owne  dere  sone,  bat  he  mi^t  be  wib  me  &  helpe  me  for  to  maken 
a^en  be  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost  \n  as  good  plit  as  it  was  &  schulde  ben«.  But 
for  al  bat  he  coude  cr/en,  goddis  sone  ne  cam  nou^t  ^it.  &  ban  wente  Isaye  be 
pn?phete  &  sou^te  pe  abbesse  &  here  couent  many  dayes  £  fele,  &  he  fonde  hem 
nou>;t;  &  bawne  he  seyde  bus:  »Vtinam  dirumperes  celos  Sf  dcscenderes*,  wolde  god, 
he  seyd,  b<m  woldest  bresten  heuene  &  come  adoon,  &  helpen  vs  for  to  maken 
a^en  pe  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost  &  fynden  vp  pe  couent  bat  is  bus  goon  aweye«. 
&  banne  wente  leromye  be  pwphete  &  sou^te  hem  also  ;  &  for  he  mi^te  not  fynde 
hem,  he  made  a  reuful  mone  &  seyde  fyus:  *Ve  michi  misero,  quoniam  addidit 
dominus  dolor  cm  dolori  mco ;  laboraui  in  gemitu  meo5,  wo  me  wrecche,  he  seib, 
bat  god  hab  eked  more  sorowe  to  my  sorowe;  I  haue  trauayled  wib-outen  reste 
in  sikynge  &  in  kare  &  I  ne  may  not  fynden  bat  I  seke<c.  ^Virgines  ddedt  in 
terrain,  pol[l]ii[it]§  regmim1 :  virgines  %  abierunt  in  captiuitatem^;  audierunt  quia  in- 
gemesco  ego  Sf  non  est  qui  consolettir  melQ,  idcirco  ego  plorans^,  alas,  he  seyde,  be 
feende  hab  drowen  a-way  be  virgines  &  made  foule  here  kyngdome,  be  virgines 
ben  went  away  iw  to  be  wrecchid  world,  I*ei  harden  me  wel  hou  I  sikede  £ 
made  mochel  mone,  &  b^r  was  noon  of  hem  bat  wolde  couwforte  me  wib  a  word ; 
&  Jvrfore  I  haue  so  wept  for  sorowe  pat  myn  eyen  ben  \n  poynt  to  faylen  me«. 
»Quis  dabit  capiti  meo  aquam  8f  oculis  meis  fontcm  lacrimarum,  Sf  plorabo  [die 
ac  nocte]  interfecdonem  filie  populi  met12,  a,  he  seib,  who  schal  ^euew  me  water 

i  on  margin.         -'  Cant.  5,  8.         >  Sap.  9,  10.         *  Is.  64,  i.         s  ler.  45,  3.         6  Ms.  poluerunt. 
^  Ihren.  2,  2.         8  overlined.         »  Thren.   i,  18.         "     ib.  i,  21.         »  ib.  i,  16.         i-'  ler.  9,  i. 


V  dwelled  Ha  dwellid  H  dwelleb.  Ha  om.  i.  conuentum  ilium.  VH  #  c.  i.  VH  vt. 
Ha  nundate  michi.  V  ann.  ei.  Ha  om.  quia  a.  langueo.'  &c.  al.  om.  VH  spec, 
he  seide.  HHa  fynde.  V  ou^wher,  om.  in  H.  Ha  I  pray  you  specially  bat  ^e. 
V  wolde.  V  seyen  hem  hou  I.  Ha  sike.  V  longynne.  Ha  this.  Ha  he  fou«de. 
Ha  &  bo.  Ha  this.  Ha  om.  /.  filium— sit.  V  et  filium.  VH /.  tuum.  V  sit  fy 
mecum  laboret.  Ha  om.  god.  VH  seide.  Ha  om.  doun.  VHa  [)in,  om.  in  H. 
Ha  om.  holy,  all  bin.  H  one.  Ha  om.  be  wi[>  me  &.  V  adds  and  trauayle  wz'b 
me  &.  V  forte.  HHa  make.  Ha  om.  a^en.  H  plyth  Ha  plight.  V  om.  was  &. 
HHa  be.  H  &  inst.  of  But.  VH  cou()e.  all  crie.  VHa  om.  ne.  come.  Ha  yet. 
Ha  om.  &  ban — nou^t.  V  seide  he.  Ha  bz's.  V  jpue  God  lord.  Ha  om.  he  seyd. 
V  bat  bou.  H  woldys.  H  brest,  Ha  breke,  V  to-bersten.  HHa  heuenes.  VHa  doun. 
HHa  help.  V  forte.  HHa  make,  fynde.  Ha  is  pis.  Ha  om.  &.  V  fynden.  V  gret 
del,  a  om.  V  om.  bus.  Ha  om.  michi.  V  om.  misero.  Ha  om.  labora^d — meo. 
V  Sf  laborem  in  g.  m.  VHHa  is.  V  to  me.  H  seyde.  V  eched,  Ha  put  to.  Ha  om. 
to  my  sorowe.  H  wyth-oute.  V  eny  rest.  H  sekyng,  Ha  in  care  &  sighing. 
PI  om.  &.  Ha  om.  ne.  Ha  om.  not.  all  fynde.  V  seche,  Ha  sike.  V  et  p. 
VHHa  polluit.  virgines  overl.  in  L,  om.  in  V.  Ha  ciuitatem.  VHa  ingemisco. 
V  consolatur.  HHa  saybe.  VH  driuen  Ha  dreven.  H  maydenes.  all  into  (pe  HHa) 
eorbe.  V  be  kindom.  H  maydenes.  H  om.  ben.  Ha  be  goo.  V  herden 
HHa  herd.  H  om.  wel.  H  sorwed,  Ha  said.  H  one  worde.  H  om.  haue. 
H  wepyd.  V  beob.  VHHa  faile.  V  om.  me.  die  ac.  n.  om.  N filiarum,  tt&filiorum. 
Ha  om.  populi  mei.  H  om.  a;  Ha  and.  HHa  sayde.  V  ^iue  HHa  ^eue.  Ha  my. 


348 

to  myn  heued,  £  who  schal  ^euen  a  welle  of  terris  to  myn  eyen,  &  I  schal 
wepen  for  be  maydens  bat  ben  pus  goon  away,  bobe  day  &  ni^t«.  ^Cui 
comparabo  te,  cui  asshmilabo  te  filia  lemsalem?  cui  [exequabo  te,  fy  consolabor]^  te, 
[vifgo]^  filia  Syon^?  magnet,  velud  [mare^  est  contritio  tua',  quis  medebitur  tui?], 
a,  be>u  noble  abbesse,  he  seib,  to  whom  may  I  licken  be,  to  whom  may  I  assemble 
be  btfu  doubter  of  lerusalemt  a,  bou  noble  przouresse,  to  whom  may  I  euen  be 
bou  mayden  &  doubter  of  Syon?  a,  bou  holy  couent,  he  seib,  hou  may  I  counforte 
be?  me  pinkeb  bi  sorowe  is  as  grete  as  a  see:  a,  bou  sely  couent,  who  shal 
ben  bi  helpe?«  »Cecidit  corona  capitis  nostri,  ve  nobis  quia  peccauimus 5,  I  ne  can 
nou^t  ellis  seyn,  he  seib,  but,  be  fairest  flour  of  al  oure  garlond  is  fallen  away; 
alas,  alas  &  weloway,  bat  eu^re  we  dede  synne«. 

Hou  god  ordened  a  waye  to  sauen  man.® 

&  whan  almi;ty  god  had  hard  bus  bes  pn>phetis,  wip  many  ofwe  men,  ma[k]e  7 
mochel  mone  wib  reuly  chere  many  bousand  s;eer  for  be  destrucczon  of  be  abbeye 
of  be  holy  gost:  he  had  grete  pyte  of  hem  bat  bei  ferden  so,  &  b#t  mannwj 
soule  was  b^rfore  \n  pmone  of  pe  pyne  of  helle,  &  schulde  haue  ben  {w  wib- 
outen  ende.  He  be-bou^t  hym  hou  he  mi^t  best  don  to  delyutfren  mann^j  soule 
out  of  bat  sory  prisouw,  &  hou  he  mi^t  fynde  vp  be  abbesse  of  be  abbeye  of 
be  holy  gost  &  maken  a^en  here  couent  faire  &  wel  as  it  was  be-forn.  He 
ordeyned  a  couwseil  of  be  holy  tn'nite  \n  be  blisse  of  heuene,  of  be  f&dur  &  of 
be  sone  &  of  be  holy  gost,  &  seyde :  »^e  weten  wel,  he  seyde,  we  maden  mannwj 
soule  to  oure  lickenesse,  &  token  hym  for  to  kepen  in  his  owne  conscience  pe 
abbeye  of  be  holy  gost,  &  he  for  his  folye  let  beren  out  of  be  abbeye  al  be 
good  bat  \>er  was,  &  let  be  abbesse  &  here  couent  rennet  away  out  of  her 
ordre,  &  before  he  was  taken  &  put  in  to  prisons  of  be  pyt  of  helle.  &  pere 
hab  he  been  now  foure  bousand  ^er  sexe  hundred  &  more,  &  bat  is  grete  pitee ; 

i  Thren.  2,  13.  2  om.  a  overlined.  4  Ms.  ierlm  ;  rest  om.  5  Thren.  5,  16. 

6  Title  not  separate;  no  initial.         7  Ms.  made. 


VHa  hed.  VH  ^iue  me  a.  all  teres.  HHa  wepe.  Ha  for  pese  that  thus  be  goo. 
Ha  om.  bobe.  V  &  cui,  HHa  vel  cui.  V  om.  lerus. — -filia.  H  om.  cui  &c.  Ha 
cui  coequabo  te  f.  S.  Ha  om.  magna  &c.,  V  vdud  &c.  H  nobil.  Ha  om.  he  seifi  ; 
H  seyde.  V  likne  HHa  lyken.  Ha  semble.  V  doubter  doubter.  V  and  bou  \vys  p. 
H  mayde.  V  om.  a  pou — seib.  Ha  &  b<?u.  H  sayde ;  Ha  om.  he  seib.  H  who. 
H  om.  I.  H  thenkybe.  V  om.  is.  V  be  se.  HHa  semely.  HHa  be.  all 
bin.  HHa  om.  ve  nobis.  VHa  om.  ne.  V  con.  V  seye  H  say,  om.  in  Ha. 
Ha  saide.  V  but  bat.  VHa  om.  al.  H  garland.  HHa  fall*.  V  weilawey  HHa 
weleaway.  V  dude  we.  all  saue.  Ha  mannes  soule. 

Ha  om.  &.  Ha  god  almyghty.  all  herd.  VHa  om.  bus.  Ha  all*  these.  HHa  & 
many.  VH  make,  Ha  makyng.  HHa  reuful,  V  reubful.  V  bousend.  V  destric- 
tion.  Ha  god  had.  H  haf).  H  on.  VHa  om.  of  hem.  V  for  bei.  Ha  ferde, 
H  fordede.  H  om.  &  bat.  H  m.  s.  b«t  was.  Ha  om.  berfore.  Ha  in  pr.  in  the. 
VHHa  peyne.  V  han.  Ha  om.  {w.  V  world  w.  e.  Ha  wold  do,  best  om.  VH  do. 
V  deliu£fe  HHa  delyuer.  H  om.  bat  sory.  H  bat  inst.  of  &  hou.  Ha  wold. 
V  fyndew.  H  oute.  Ha  om.  of  be  abbeye.  H  make.  Ha  om.  maken  a^en.  Ha 
her  holy  c.  Ha  om.  faire  &.  Ha  as  well*?.  V  And  bo  God  ordeynde.  all  &  be  s.  & 
be  h.  g.  VH  om.  ^e— seyde.  Ha  om.  he  seyde.  V  Wolle  we  make.  HHa  made. 
V  vre  owne.  HHa  toke,  V  taken.  Ha  om.  for.  V  om.  owne.  V  bat  inst.  of  &. 
Ha  brough.  V  lette.  HHa  bere.  V  om.  be  abbeye.  V  goodes  .  .  .  weren. 
al.  renne.  HHa  take.  V  I-put.  VH  om.  to.  HHa  into,  V  in.  V  put.  Ha  he 
hathe  ;  H  hauyp,  he  om.  V  beo  Ha  be.  V  bousund.  V  and  sixe.  VHHa  and 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud  210.          349 

me  penkip  hit  were  a  good  dede  to  don  be  abbesse  £  al  here  couent  comen 
a^en  to  here  ordre,  &  maken  a^en  be  abbeye  as  wel  as  euere  hit  was,  &  delyu^re 
mawnus  soule  out  of  pat  sory  pr/sone  ;  he  hab  ben  in  bat  pn'souw  longe  I-now, 
haue  we  pitee  on  hym,  he  is  as  hit  were  on  of  vs,  maked  to  oure  lickenesse«. 
*£  alle  be  holy  trinite  graunted  bat  it  schulde  so  be.  But,  he  seyde,  who  bat 
shulde  don  swyche  a  dede,  hym  be-houed  for  to  be  swyche  on  bat  were  be 
holden  for  to  clon  hit,  &  also  bat  he  mi^te  don  it  ;  but,  b<?r  was  no  ping  bat 
was  by-holden  to  delyu^ren  mann^j  soule  but  onliche  man  ,  no  b^r  was  no  bing 
bat  mi^te  delyu<?re  hym  but  ^if  it  were  god;  &  p^rfore  who  so  schulde  do  bat 
dede  he  most  be  bobe  god  &  man  :  &  so  mi^t  it  noon  be  but  ^if  it  were  oon  of 
be  bre  ptrsones  in  pe  holy  trmite  ;  almi^ty  goddis  sone  schulde  come  doun  in  to 
bis  world,  &  ben  I-born  of  a  mayden  &  becomen  man,  &  maken  a^en  bat  abbeye 
of  be  holy  gost,  &  dien  for  be  loue  of  man  on  be  harde  rode-tree,  &  so  de- 
lyu^re  m&nnus  soule  out  of  be  peyne  of  helle. 

Here  now  hou  goddys  dou^tren  pletedcn  for  wanwus  soule  aforn  here  fadvx. 

/\.nd  panne  were  al-mi^ty  goddis  dou^tren  per£,  bat  is  to  seye  M^cy  &  Treuf)e, 
Ri^tfulnesse  &  Pees,  be  whiche  harden  seyen  bat  mawnwj  soule  schulde  be  de- 
lywred  out  of  helle-pyne  ,  &  pei  comew  alle  to-gedir  aforn  god  al-mi^ty.  &  panne 
seyde  Trupe  bus:  »Ecce  enim  veritatem  dilexisti,  A,  lord,  scho  seyde,  p0u  hast  ^it 
eu^remore  loued  wele  me  bat  am  pi  dou^tre,  and  banne,  seyde  Trube,  I  pray 
pe  for-sake  nou^t  me.  pou  seydest  bat  what-tyme  bat  maw  ete  of  bat  appul, 
pat  he  schulde  dieye  &  gon  to  helle;  before  ^if  bou  delyutrest  man  banne  out 
of  bat  prisouw,  p0u  destroyest  me,  £  bat  were  no  skil,  Qida  veritas  domini  manet 
in  etcrnum,  for  whi  goddys  treube  schulde  dwellen  eu^re-more  wz^-outen  ende. 


(om.  in  Ha)  berfore  me  b.  Ha  forto.  all  do.  Ha  om.  al.  H  be  c.  HHa  to 
come.  H  into.  Ha  &  to  m.  H  as  it  was  before.  Ha  &  to.  H  om.  he  —  Inow. 
VHa  ffor  he.  VHa  bere.  Ha  om.  in  bat  pr.  V  om.  pat.  Ha  om.  we.  Ha 
adds  and  nurcy  for  he.  V  I  —  maad  Ha  I-made.  V  vr  owne.  Ha  om.  pat. 
HHa  be  so.  V  beon.  V  heo  seyden  Ha  they  saide.  V  bat  whose,  H  qwo  so, 
Ha  he  that.  Ha  soche  a,  V  bat;  H  om.  swyche.  Ha  he  must,  V  he  weore 
bisy,  H  it  were  nede.  Ha  om.  forto  —  were.  V  om.  for.  H  bat  he  wen?  suche  on. 
Ha  be  byhold.  V  I-holde  H  hold.  HHa  om.  for.  do.  Ha  om.  &  also  —  don  it. 
Ha  om.  bat.  V  biholde  Ha  be-hold  H  holden.  deliuere.  Ha  onely.  VHa  ne  ; 
H  neb^r,  was  om.  Ha  b^r  myght  nobing  del.  V  hit.  HHa  om.  ^if  it  were. 
H  only  god.  Ha  om.  &.  V  hose,  HHa  he  bat.  H  om.  he.  H  om.  bobe.  V  ne 
mihte.  VH  om.  it;  Ha  he  not  be.  V  no  bing,  be  om.  H  om.  ^if.  H  of;  Ha 
om.  be  holy,  H  om.  holy.  Ha  om.  al-mi^ty—  helle.  V  and  berfore  a.  g.  s.  H 
schapt  hym  to  c.  V  comen.  H  om.  doun;  V  adoun.  V  beo  boren  H  be  born. 
V  mayde.  H  bycome  .  .  make.  VH  be.  VH  dye.  V  vppon.  V  from.  VHa  om. 
Here  now.  H  Herepe.  V  foure  |d.  H  om.  dou^tren.  V  pledede  H  pleted 
Ha  pleten.  Ha  in  heuyn<?  inst.  of  af.  h.  f.  V  to-forew  H  tofore.  VHa  om. 
And.  VHa  were  p<r.  V  foure  a.  g.  d.  V  om.  pen?  ;  Ha  bre.  Ha  om.  &. 
HHa  Ry^tewysnes.  H  bat,  Ha  they.  V  herden  HHa  herd.  V  seye  H  say, 
om.  in  Ha.  Ha  how  that.  H  peyn.  H  om.  pei.  HHa  come.  H  to-gederes. 
VH  to-fore,  Ha  afore.  V  om.  enim;  H  omnem.  HHa  sche,  V  heo.  HHa  om. 
?it.  V  eu^ite.  HHa  louyd.  Ha  me  wele.  all  pi  d.  Treube;  and—  seyde  om. 
V  om.  be.  V  forsake  bou.  VHHa  me  nouht.  V  but  penk  now  what  bou  s. 
H  qwat.  V  om.  flat.  V  mon.  HHa  fe  a.  all  dye.  go.  H  b^ore,  berfore. 
V  and  berfore,  Ha  wherefore.  VHa  delyuere.  all  om.  banne.  V  om.  of  bat 
prisoun.  HHa  om.  jiat.  Ha  shal.  VH  dwelle,  Ha  last.  V  om.  euere-more. 


350 


,  leue  lord,  scho  seyde,  lat  man  be  stille  in  helle,  &  forsake  nou^t  me«. 
&  bawne  seyde  Mercy.  »0  pater  misericordiarum  8f  deus  tocius  consolacionis,  qui 
consolaris  nos  in  omnl  tribulacione  nostra,  A,  b0u  fader  of  mercy,  scho  seyde,  & 
god  of  al  cowfort,  bou  bat  confortes  alle  bing  \n  anger  &  in  woo,  haue  mercy 
of  mannwj  soule  bat  lib  bounden  in  prisoun  bat  is  helle,  &  brynge  h^m1  in  to 
blisse.  Quoniam  dixisti,  in  eternum  seruabo  illi  misericordiam,  for  why,  scho  seyde, 
b0u  seydest  bat  poii  schuldest  kepe  to  hym  bi  mercy  wib-outen  ende.  &  b^rfore, 
^if  po\i  be  trewe,  bou  schalt  haue  m^'cy  of  mann^j  soule«.  &  banne  seyde  Ri£t- 
fulnesse:  »Nay,  nay,  scho  seib,  it  may  not  ben  so:  Quia  iustus  dominus  fy  iusti- 
cias  dilexit,  for  whi,  lord,  scho  seib,  bou  art  ri^tful  &  bou  louest  ri^tfulnesse  ;  & 
berfore  pou  ne  mayst  not  ri^tfulliche  sauen  mannwj  soule,  it  is  ri^t  &  skil  bat  it 
haue  as  it  hab  disserued.  Dominum  qui  se  genuit  dereliquit,  $•  oblitus  est  dei 
creatoris  sui,  he  forsoke  god  bat  hab  forbe-Ibrou^t  hym,  &  he,  lord,  for-^at  be 
bat  maydest  hym  of  nou^t  ;  &  before  it  is  skil  &  resoun  bat  he  bat  hab  forsaken 
be  lord  of  al  pitee  &  mercy,  bat  he  neiwre  haue  of  be  neiper  pitee  no  mercy. 
&  berfore,  leue  lord,  scho  seib,  lat  mannus  soule  be  stille  as  it  is,  for  bat  is 
skil  &  resouw  ;  &  ellis  me  benkib  bou  hast  forsaken  me,  &  pat  schuldest  poii  not 
don:  Quia  iusticia  ems  manet  in  seculum  seculi,  for  why,  holy  wryt  seib  bat  bi 
ri^tfulnesse  schal  lasten  iw  to  be  worldis  ende«.  &  banne  seyde  Mercy  to  Ri^tful- 
nesse  :  »A,  leue  suster,  let  ben  &  seye  not  so,  it  were  neiper  ri^t  ne  skil  bat  god 
schulde  kepen  be  &  forsaken  me  :  Quia  misericordia  eius  super  omnia  opera  eius, 
for  why  only  goddis  nvrcy  is  abouen  al  his  werkes  ,  Et  misericordia  eius  ab  eterno 
8f  vsque  in  eternum,  &  goddis  mercy  was  wib-outen  begywnyng  &  schal  ben  wib- 
outen  endy/zg.  &  berfore,  £if  god  for-soke  me,  he  schulde  forsake  bobe  my  sister 
Trube  &  be,  &  bat  were  neiper  ri?t  ne  trube.  &  perfore,  leue  lord,  scho  seib,  to 
sauen  vs  alle  bre,  haue  bou  on  mann«j  soule  bobe  mercy  &  pitee«.  &  banne 
i  Ms.  hem. 


V  and  berfore.  Ha  om.  scho  seyde.  let.  HHa  om.  &.  H  misericordie.  VHa  con- 
solatur.  Ha  O.  Ha  om.  scho  seyde.  Ha  om.  bou.  HHa  confortest,  V  art  cuw- 
fort  in.  Ha  in  tribulacion  &  woo.  HHa  on.  HHa  bounde.  V  om.  prisoun  bat  is. 
Ha  pr.  in  h.  VHa  him,  H  it.  Ha  om.  in.  H  be  blysse.  H  obseruabo.  Ha  om. 
why.  HHa  om.  scho  seyde.  V  om.  to.  Ha  om.  to  hym.  all  om.  bi.  Ha  as, 
H  and.  Ha  art  trewth.  H  schall,  Ha  schuldest.  VHHa  on.  Ha  Rightuesnesse. 
Ha  om.  scho  seib.  VH  seide.  V  beo  HHa  be.  Ha  Quoniam.  Ha  lord  god. 
Ha  om.  scho  seib.  VH  seide.  H  loues.  Ha  Rightuesnesse.  HHa  om.  &  berfore. 
all  om.  ne.  V  miht.  HHa  om.  ri^tfulliche.  H  so  saue.  V  skil  and  Riht.  VHHa 
he.  he.  VHa  deserued.  VH  Deum.  VHHa  domini.  H  habe  forsake.  V  be  god, 
H  be  lord.  V  him  hab.  HHa  brou^t  hym  forbe.  Ha  om.  he  lord,  madest.  Ha 
forsoke.  VH  forsake.  Ha  om.  al.  Ha  &  of.  Ha  om.  bat  he.  VH  bat  neuere 
nobing  haue  on  (H  of)  him.  Ha  ne  haue  bou  neuer  mercy  on  hym.  V  noubur. 
VH  ne.  Ha  but  lat  (rest  om.).  V  heo  seib  leue  lord.  H  he  sayde.  V  bat  inst.  of 
lat.  VHa  stille  in''helle.  Ha  om.  as  it  is.  Ha  for  it.  VHHa  binkeb.  Ha  bat  bou 
hast  lord.  HHa  forsake.  V  me  Ri^tfulnesse.  V  &  so  schulde  ^e.  H  bou  schalt, 
Ha  bou  schuldest.  HHa  do.  V  Quia  sacra  scriptura  dicit  histicia.  Ha  om. 
why — })at.  H  om.  bi;  V  be.  HHa  ry^twesnes.  V  laste  HHa  last.  VHa  worldes. 
Ha  &  bo.  Ha  om.  to  Ri^tfulnesse.  Ha  lat.  VHHa  be.  V  nonpur.  Ha  skil  ne 
Reason?.  VHa  kepe,  H  take,  forsake.  Ha  om.  why.  H  holy  wrytte  saybe  bat 
be  mm;y  of  god.  all  om.  only.  H  werkys  Ha  workes.  V  domini.  Ha  om.  et.:  be. 
HHa  forsake.  H  myn.  VHa  sustren.  H  Trewyth.  V  &  be  Rihtfulnesse.  VHa 
nouber,  H  nou^t.  Ha  ne  skill.  Ha  om.  scho  seib.  H  seyde.  VHHa  saue.  Ha  om. 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:   Ms.  Laud  210.          $$l 

seide  Pees  to  here  |)re  sistren:  »Pax  domini  exsuperat  omnem  senswn  &c.,  Goddis 
pees  ou^-gof)  eueriche  man^r  wilt.  £0115  it  be  so,  sche  seiyt,  hat  Trub'e  seib  a 
grete  skile  why  mannus  soule  schulde  not  be  saued,  &  Ri^tfulnesse  seib  also, 
lneu^beles  me  benkeb  bat  Mercy  seif)  alberbest,  bat  man  schulde  be  saued,  for 
why  ellys,  scho  seib,  schulde  god  forsaken  ^ow  al  bre,  bobe  Mwcy,  &  Ri^tfulnesse 
[&  Treube],  &  bat  were  grete  reube.  &  not  only,  sche  seyde,  he  schulde  bus 
forsake;?  3011  bre,  but  he  schulde  also  forsaken  me:  for  why  as  longe  as  man 
soule  is  in  helle,  fyr  schal  ben  discord  bytwene  ^ou  bre:  Ri^tfulnesse  &  Trube 
schol  willen  to  haue  hym  so  btre  stille,  &  Mercy  schal  willew  to  haue  hym  out*?; 
so  bat  pees  schal  ben  amongys  3011  forsaken.  Pere  schulde  also  ,  j;if  man  were 
stille  in  helle,  ben  a  discord  by-twene  god  &  man,  by-twene  aungel  &  man,  by 
twene  man  &  man,  by-twene  man  &  hym-self :  so  bat  I,  bat  am  pees,  schulde  a2 
ben  forsaken  oiwr-al,  &  bat  were  no  resouw.  &  before  dob  after  my  conseil, 
seide  Pees,  &  praye  we  alle  to-geders  to  god3  pat  is  prince  of  pees,  bat  he  wole 
maken  pees  &  acord  by-twixen  jjou  bre,  by-twyne  hym-self  &  man,  by-twyne  man 
&  aungel,  &  by-twene  man  &  man,  &  ordeyne  sich  a  weye  bat  he  mtyt  kepen  vs 
stille  alle  foure,  bobe  Mercy  &  Trube,  Ri^tfulnesse  &  Pees«.  &  hfejm*  bou^te  bat 
scho  seyde  best,  &  prayden  alle  to  be  fadz^r  of  heuene  f)at  he  schulde  so  don. 
And  he  seyde:  »Ego  cogito  cogitaciones  pads  Sf  -non  afflictionis  &c.,  I  benke,  he 
seyde,  bounds  of  pees  &  not  of  wickednesse.  I  schal,  he  seib,  kepe  ^ou  stille 
alle  foure,  &  I  schal  sauen  m&tmus  soule  &  brynge  hym  to  blisse.  I  schal  also, 
he  seib,  fynden  vp  f)e  abbesse  of  be  holy  gost  &  maken  a?eyn  here  couent  & 
here  place,  betere  ban  euwe  it  was«.  &  whan  his  dou^tren  harden  f)is,  pei  were 
glad  &myrie:  and  as-swif)e  Misericordia  fy  vcritas  obuiaucnint  sibi,  iustida  &c.5, 

1  Ms.  &  n.         2  haue  o.  m.         3  Ms.  good.         *  Ms.  hym.         s  sc.  iusticia  et  pax  osculate  sunt ; 
cf.  Ps.  84,  ii. 


bou.  Ha  om.  bobe.  Ha  Tho  saide.  VHa  sustren.  &c.  al.  om.  V  ouwgeb,  HHa 
ou^cowmyb.  Ha  euery,  V  vche.  H  maner  of,  V  mownes,  om.  in  H.  Ha  wight. 
V  faauh.  V  seib,  HHa  sayde.  Ha  saide.  HHa  bat  inst.  of  why.  HHa  Ry/,t- 
wysnesse.  HHa  seyde.  V  also  anober.  VHa  om.  &.  V  no{)eles  H  nabeles  Ha 
nabt-rles.  H  sayde.  V  aller.  Ha  mannes  soule.  Ha  om.  why.  VH  as  heo  (sche). 
HHa  sayde.  VHa  God  schulde.  HHa  om.  bobe.  HHa  Mercy  Trwbe  &  R.,  V  M. 
Ri^tf.  &  Treube.  VH  onliche.  VHHa  om.  sche  seyde.  V  om.  he— but.  Ha  fors. 
this  you.  HHa  om.  bre.  HHa  but  also  me.  V  om.  also.  V  me  Pees.  Ha  om. 
why.  V  mownes  Ha  mannes  H  mans.  H  be-twix.  HHa  om.  ^ou.  VHa  schul, 
H  schuld.  V  wilne,  H  wylk,  Ha  desyre.  V  om.  so.  H  [)er  so.  Ha  mannes  soule 
in  hellt'.  V  wilne,  HHa  wylk.  H  hem,  Ha  it.  V  among//*  ou  schal.  Ha  may. 
HHa  nou^t  be;  forsaken  om.  Ha  Also  yef  man....  there  shuld  be.  V  Monnz^ 
soule.  HHa  om.  a.  Ha  &  betwene.  H  om.  &  man2.  HHa  &  bytwene4.  Ha 
and  so.  VHa  om.  bat.  VHa  om.  haue  (a).  VHa  be.  Ha  conseit.  VHa  to- 
gedere.  all  god.  Ha  om.  bat  is.  Ha  wold,  H  will*,  make,  all  bitwene.  HHa 
om.  by-tw. — aungel.  VHa  om.  &.  Ha  om.  ordeyne.  Ha  soch^  alwey.  Ha  om. 
he.  Ha -may.  all  kepe.  V  om.  stille.  H  om.  alle — bobe.  all  om.  bobe. 
HHa  om.  &j.  H  And  benne.  VHHa  hem.  V  b.  so.  Ha  pees  s.  altherbest. 
Ha  &  bey.  HHa  prayd.  Ha  om.  to.  Ha  wolde  do  so.  V  And  p^nne,  H  Syenne, 
Ha  And  bo.  VH  seide  he,  Ha  s.  be  fader  of  heuen  thus.  &c.  al.  om.  H  om. 
he  seyde.  HHa  &  of  no.  Ha  om.  he  seib.  H  sayde.  HHa  om.  I  schal.  VHHa 
saue.  H  it  into  |)e  b.  Ha  om.  he  seib.  H  sayde.  VHHa  fynde.  Ha  adds  and 
all^  her  Couent.  HHa  make.  Ha  om.  here  c.  &.  H  as  welle  as.  Ha  om.  whan. 
Ha  these,  V  be.  VHa  herden  H  herde.  VH  we(o)ren.  V  murie  Ha  mery. 
Ha  om.  &.  V  also  swibe,  Ha  anonne.  Ha  simul  inst.  of  sibi.  all  iust.  et  pax 


352 

»Mercy  &  Trube  metten  hew  to-gedew,  Ri^tfulnesse  &  Pees  weren  kyste  &  maad 
at  on«. 

Hott  Crist  is  founder  of  pe  abbcye  of  pe  holy  gost. 

And  banne  as-swibe  almi^tty  god  be  fader  sente  dovw  i»  to  bis  world  his 
owne  sone  to  be-come  man  for  vs  &  for  to  sechen  be  abbesse  of  be  holy  gost 
&  here  holy  couent,  bat  is  to  seyn  loue  &  charite,  &  ob^-e  goode  vertues.  &  f-e 
first  day  he  cam  &  found e  a  lady  of  bat  abbeye  bat  is  clepid  Clennesse:  for  why 
he  was  conceyued  wib-outen  any  knowelechyng  of  synne  of  man  boru  verta  of 
be  holy  gost ,  &  born  of  a  clene  virgyne  bat  neuere  mi^t  synnew.  bis  clennesse 
he  founde  whyle  bat  he  was  wib-iwne  his  moders  wombe,  and  here  he  kepte 
b^-e  wib  hym  nyne  &  britty  wekes  &  a  day :  &  panne  was  he  born  of  his  moder 
in  an  olde  broken  hous  at  Beedlem  touwnys  ende,  &  leyde  in  an  asse  manager 
on  a  litil  hei^e.  &  \>er  founde  he  anob^r  lady  of  be  selue  abbeye  bat  is  Pou^rte : 
for  why  his  moder  hadde  noon  ob^e  schetis1  to  wynde  hym  Inne,  but  took  a 
keuerchef  of  here  heued,  &  kytte  an  olde  kirtel  &  made  bm>f  clopis,  &  wond 
p<?r-Inne  b^re  child  for  colde,  &  leyde  hym  on  a  wisp  in  an  oxe-stalle — I  trowe 
b^re  was  powrte  I-now!  Pis  pou^rte  &  pis  clewnesse  he  ladde  forp  wib  hym  til 
he  was  twelue  ^er  olde,  &  whan  he  was  twelue  ^er  olde  &  more,  he  wente  wib 
loseph  &  his  moder  to  Jerusalem — for  bei  weren  wont  to  weyndew  beder  eu<?ryche 
^er  to  offren  b*r  on  estreday ;  &  whanne  bei  hadden  offred,  &  wenten  a^en  horn, 
lytel  Ihrni  here  sone  lefte  stille  pere  bre  dayes  in  lerusalem  &  wente  in  to  be 
temple  among  be  maystres  of  be  lawe:  &  b^re  he  fonde  [ii  ladyes]  of  be  selue 
hous  be  whyche  ben  clepid  Ri^twisnesse  &  Wisdom.  &  whanne  Marie  &  loseph 
weren  comen  horn  &  wisten  neu<2;'e  when?  swete  Ihmi  was  be-comen,  bei  weren 

1  Ms.  sche^tis,  t  overl. ;  r.  scheytis? 


osculate  sunt.     H  mete,   Ha  met.     Ha  om.  hem.     V  to-gederes.     H   om.  weren; 
Ha  han.     V  cust    H  kyssyd    Ha  kist.     H  &  were  m. 

Ha  om.  title.  VH  fond  be  sustren  (H  abbesse)  of  be  a.  Ha  &  tho.  V  also 
swibe  benne,  Ha  anone.  Ha  om.  be.  Ha  f.  of  heuen.  V  adorn/.  V  word. 
VHHa  o.  dere.  Ha  om.  &.  V  seche  Ha  seke.  HHa  saie.  Ha  the  f.  d.  that. 
Ha  he  inst.  of  &.  Ha  one  1.  V  of  be  hous.  Ha  was.  V  I-cleped,  om.  in  Ha. 
V  Clannesse.  Ha  om.  why.  V  eni,  Ha  mannes.  Ha  knowliching.  VH  om.  of 
synne,  Ha  om.  of  synne  of  man.  H  be  vertu.  HHa  bore.  Ha  wist  of.  VHHa 
synne.  Ha  om.  bis.  Ha  kept.  H  be  qwyles.  VHa  in  inst.  of  wibinne.  VHa 
moder.  Ha  om.  and— hym.  V  wikes  HHa  wokes.  Ha  one.  Ha  &  tho  he  was. 
H  a  holde.  Ha  broke.  Ha  in.  V  Bethleem  Ha  Bethelem.  VHa  tounes.  VHa 
asses.  Ha  in,  H  vpon.  Ha  he  founde.  HHa  be  same.  VHa  is  (I)-cleped.  V 
Pouert.  Ha  om.  why.  V  nedde  neu^f  o.  VHHa  schetes.  Ha  forto.  V  wynden. 
H  corchef  Ha  kerchef.  VHa  hed.  Ha  adds  to  wynde  hym  Inne.  H  om.  &— 
kirtel.  V  cutte  Ha  kut.  V  curtul.  Ha  m.  hym  cl.  freroSe  &  cloutes.  VH  cloutes. 
Ha  to  wynde  In.  VHHa  hire.  Ha  om.  &  leyde— stalle.  H  oxes.  V  Pouert. 
Ha  Thus.  V  hedde  Ha  had,  H  kept.  Ha  om.  forf) ;  H  styll.  H  forto.  H 
holde.  H  om.  &  —  more.  all  om.  &  more.  H  pen  he  w.  were.  V  woned. 
V  wende,  HHa  go.  eueri.  Ha  om.  to  o.  per.  H  om.  per.  V  on  an,  H  on  pe. 
V  aster-day  Ha  estrenday.  V  hedde  HHa  had.  V  weore  went.  VHa  horn 
a^eyn.  Ha  a  litill  Ihwus.  V  luttel.  H  om.  here  sone.  V  be-lafte.  Ha  there 
still*.  V  om.  bere.  V  at.  Ha  &  he  w.  V  twey  H  two.  Ha  same.  V  abbey. 
Ha  were.  Ha  om.  whanne  ;  H  &  ben  qwen.  Ha  om.  weren.  Ha  come.  V  wuste 
HHa  wist.  Ha  litell  swete.  V  bicome  Ha  becomme.  H  hey  (=  bei).  V  hedde 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud  210. 

in  mochel  sorowe  for  be  swete  childe,  &  wenten  a^en  to  Jerusalem  to  sechen 
hym:  &  banne  bei  founden  hym  s[i]ttande  1  in  be  temple  among  pe  doctoures  of 
be  lawe  disputyng  wib  hem.  &  banne  seyde  his  moder  to  hym:  »A,  sone,  scho 
sayde,  what  hast  bou  don?  I  &  bi  fader  Joseph  han  sou^t  be  &  hadden  mochel 
sorowe  for  be«.  »Hou  is  it,  he  sayde,  bat  ?ee  han  sou?t  me?  Nesciebatis  quia  in 
his  que  patris  mei  sunt  oportet  me  esse?  wiste  ?e  not,  he  seyde,  bat  I  most  be 
besy  abou^ten  my  fadres  nedys?  He  sente  me  in  to  bis  cuntre  to  sechen  be  co 
uent  of  be  holy  gost,  &  before  I  wente  amonge  he  maystres  in  to  be  temple, 
&  tyr  haue  I  founden  tweyew  ladyes  of  be  couent,  Ri^twisnesse  &  Wisdam,  for 
why,  now  can  I  more  good  ban  bei  eu^rychon«.  &  ^anne  wente  he  horn  wib 
hem  in  to  Na^aret ,  &  bm?  he  founde  a  noper  of  pe  selue  couent  pat  hi^te 
Buxumnesse:  Quia  erat  subditus  iUis,  for  why  he  was  lowe  of  herte  &  buxum  to 
his  moder  in  al  man^r  ping.  &  banne  wente  he  forp  seuentene  ?er  &  an  half,  & 
eiiery  day  he  fond  at  his  owne  bord  two  oper  ladyes  of  be  selue  abbeye,  &  bat 
weren  pese:  Tempmiunce  &  Soburnesse.  &  he  hadde  hem  wib  hym  in  to  desert 
to  sechen  mo  of  here  felawys :  &  b<re  he  fond  ohm;  two  ladyes,  bat  is  Penauwce 
&  here  felaw  bat  is  clepid  damyseil  pe  Fort.  Penau«ce  he  fonde  bere,  for  why 
he  fasted  fourty  dayes  for  loue  of  mammr  soule  wib-outen  mete  or  drynke.  & 
whanne  he  hadde  fasted  fourty  dayes  &  fourty  ny^ttys,  he  was  for-hungred  & 
lust  to  eten;  &  \>ere  cam  be  self  schrewe  to  hym  bat  cam  to  Eue  in  to  be  abbeye 
of  be  holy  gost,  &  wolde  han  ourrcomen  hym  v?ip  glotonye  as  he  dede  Eue, 
&  led  hym  to  an  hep  of  stonys  &  bad  hym  ^if  he  were  goddis  sone  he  schulde 
make  be  stonys  loues  &  etc  of  hem  I-now.  &  banne  founde  he  bere  be  lady  l 
damysel  be  Fort,  borow  whyche  he  wib-stode  my^tiliche  be  fondyng  of  be  fend; 
1  Ms.  settande.  2  Ms.  J)re  ladyes. 

muche  s.  Ha  for  hym.  V  wente  HHa  went.  H  om.  banne.  Ha  founde  H  fonde. 
VHHa  sittynge.  Ha  a.  the  d.  of  be  1.  in  the  temple.  H  &  dispute.  Ha  and  askid 
of  hem  questiouws  of  holi  writt.  V  his  moder  seide.  V  adds  Fili  quid  feds  ti  nobis 
sic?  Ego  $  pater  tuus  dolenter  querebamus  te.  V  om.  A.  Ha  om.  A— don.  H  has. 
V  Sone,  whi  dudest  f)0u  \)us  to  vs.  V  In.  V  om.  Joseph.  VH  haue.  V  &  so,  Ha 
&  we.  V  hedde,  Ha  haue  had.  VH  And  pewne  seide  he,  Ha  &  tho  said  swete 
Ih^us  to  his  moder.  V  adds:  Quid  est  quod  me  querebatis?  nesciebatis  quia  in 
his  qttc  patris  mei  sunt  oportef  me  esse?  Ha  What  is  bat.  HHa  om.  he  seyde. 
V  om.  han ;  HHa  haue.  V  here  om.  Nesciebatis  &c.  V  ne  wite.  V  om.  he  seyde. 
Ha  om.  be.  Ha  besely.  VHHa  aboute.  V  fader  Ha  faders.  V  seche  Ha  seke. 
HHa  couent  of  be  abbay  of.  V  in,  Ha  of.  H  &  b^rfor.  Ha  I  haue.  V  twey 
rl  two.  Ha  om.  forwhy — euerychom'.  V  con.  H  om.  ban.  H  bat  eiurycheone. 
Ha  om.  banne.  Ha  he  went.  HHa  om.  wij)  hem.  V  WZ|D  Joseph  and  his  Mooder. 
Ha  om.  in.  V  fond.  Ha  anob^r  lady.  HHa  same.  H  abbey,  Ha  hous.  V  hette. 
Ha  Et  erat.  Ha  om.  why.  Ha  lowly,  of  herte  om.  H  maner  of.  Ha  thingis. 
HHa  he  went.  H  eu^ryche.  V  twey.  V  ladys.  HHa  same.  V  weore  a/,  were. 
V  beos  H  bise,  om.  in  Ha.  H  om.  he.  V  ladde,  Ha  toke.  H  into  d.  wyth 
hym.  seche.  V  felawes  H  felawse  Ha  felaws.  V  fond  he.  V  tweyne  of  heore 
sustrew.  Ha  the  one  was  clepid  P.  &  pe  o[)er  damisele  de  Fort.  V  om.  felaw. 
V  bat  be  o\)ur  bok  clepep.  V  om.  be.  Ha  om.  why.  H  fastyd  V  faste.  V  dawes. 
Ha  d.  and  xl  nyghtes.  V  be  loue.  Ha  and  wiboute  d.  Ha  om.  whanne— ny^ttys. 
Ha  &  after  bat  he  hungred.  H  an-hongrete.  HHa  lyst.  H  for  to.  HHa  etc. 
H  &  ben.  V  com.  HHa  same.  Ha  at  be  abbey  yate  of  the  h.  g.  HHa  haue. 
Ha  outcome.  H  w/t4  his.  V  dude.  V  hire.  V  ladde  Ha  lad.  Ha  vnto.  VHa 
stones.  H  bede.  H  if  bat.  VHa  bat  he.  H  louys.  V  eten.  H  om.  &— borow. 
Ha  he  founde.  V  a  ladi,  Ha  ober  iii  ladyes.  V  om.  be.  Ha  for  he,  H  be 

23 


354 

»Non  in  solo  pane  mult  homo  set  de  omni  verbo  &c.,  Man  lyuef)  not  onlyche  in 
bred,  he  seip,  but  be  eu^ryche  word  of  god«.  &  banne  bar  be  fend  hym  from 
bennys  to  lerusalem  &  sette  hym  on  be  pynacle  of  |)e  temple,  &  wolde  ban  o\\.er- 
comen  hym  wif)  pride  &  wif>  veyn-glorye  &  seyde:  »^if  bou  be  goddis  sonne, 
skippe  adouw  &  take  no  sor,  &  men  shulle  pray  sen  be  &  seyen  f)0u  hast  don  a 
grete  maistrye«.  &  bere  also  he  wib-stode  his  fondyng  borow  vertu  of  damysele 
be  Fort&seide:  »Non  temptabis  dominum  deum  tuum,  bou  schalt  not  tempten  bi 
lord  god,  he  seib;  it  is  no  nede  bat  I  skippe  dou«,  I  may  go  douw  be  anob^e 
waye  wel  I-now«.  &  banne  ladde  he  hym  to  an  hie^  hille  &  schewede  hym  alle 
be  richesses  of  bis  world,  &  wolde  haue  ou^r-comen  hym  borou^  coueytise  & 
seyde:  »I  schal  ^eue  be  alle  be  goode  bat  b^u1  seest,  ^if  bou  wilt  knele  douw  & 
do  me  worschip'c.  &  bere  he  wib-stood  hym  myz;tiliche  wi{)  damysele  be  Fort  & 
seide:  y>Vade  retro  s  at  anas ,  dominum  deum  tuum  [adorabis]^  &c.,  fy  on  be,  sa- 
tanas,  he  seyde,  &  twme  a^en  to  helle ;  men  schuld  worschip  almi^ty  god  &  no 
wi^t  ellys«.  &  panne  be  fals  schrewe  was  aschamed  of  hym-seluen  bat  he  was  so 
ou^comen  wip  damysele  Fort,  [&]  ran  a^en  to  helle  as  an  olde  schrewe.  &  banne 
went  Ihmi  Crist  \n  to  be  lond  of  Galilee:  &  b<?re  fond  he  ob*r  two  sustren  of 
be  self  hous,  bat  is  to  seye  Schrifte  &  Pr^dicac/on.  Pere  prechid  Oz'st  first,  & 
banne  seyde  he  to  be  folk  of  be  cuntre:  »Penitemini  fy  credite  &c.,  schriuep  ^ou, 
he  saib,  &  dop  penaunce,  &  beef)  of  good  byleue,  be  kyngdome  of  heuene  neiz;ep 
faste«.  &  he  wende  forbe  to  be  see-syde  &  berre  he  sei^e  seynt  Petre  &  Andrew 
his  brob^fe  leggynge  b^'e  nettys  \n  be  see  to  taken  fisch ;  bei  were  bobe  pore 
fischers.  &  Oz'st  seyde  to  hem:  »Comeb,  he  seyde,  &  folowef)  me,  &  I  make  ^ou 
i  o  in  J)^u  overl.  2  Ms.  non  temptabis  dominum  deum  tuum. 


qwyche  he.  Ha  mightily.  VHHa  add  &  seyde.  Ha  om.  set  &c.  V  in.  V  adds  quod 
procedit  de  ore  del.  H  lyfep  Ha  leuyth.  VHa  only.  VHa  be.  Ha  om.  he  seip 
but.  VH  seide.  VHa  eueri.  H  berebe.  Ha  he  bare  hym.  Ha  fro.  VHa  bennes. 
Ha  in  to.  Ha  vppon.  VHHa  a  p.  haue  ouercome.  V  pruyde.  Ha  om.  wib2.  H  seyde 
to  Cryst.  V  sone  of  heuene.  VHa  lep.  HHa  douw.  HHa  non.  Ha  harme. 
preyse.  V  om.  &  seyen.  VHa  pat  f)0u.  H  donne.  Ha  om.  gret.  H  maystre. 
V  he  also.  Ha  om.  also.  H  foundyng.  Ha  by.  VHa  be  v.  V  om.  be.  Ha 
shall,  tempte.  Ha  om.  he  seib.  V  lepe.  VH  adoun.  V  bi  anober  wey  adoun. 
H  had.  Ha  was  Ihwus  bore  of  hym.  H  vpon  a.  V  hul.  Ha  &  the  shrewe  shewed. 
VH  b^re  alle.  H  ryches  Ha  Richesse.  VHHa  be.  ouercome.  VHa  wib.  Ha  om. 
seyde.  V  bis.  Ha  om.  be  goode.  Ha  seist  now.  V  wolt,  om.  in  Ha.  H  adoune. 
HHa  om.  bere.  Ha  ben  inst.  of  hym.  V  mihtiliche  also,  H  also  mysjtyly.  Ha 
brough.  V  om.  be.  VHa  om.  retro.  VHa  sathana.  rest  of  Lat.  om.  in  HHa. 
V  dominum  deum  tuum  adorabis.  H  sathan.  Ha  om.  he  seide  &.  Ha  goo. 
VHa  schul.  H  wyrchyp  V  worschupe.  Ha  om.  almi^ty ;  god  of  heuen.  V  adds 
and  onliche  seruew  him.  HHa  nou^t  e.  Ha  &  tho.  H  om.  was.  H  aschamede. 
self.  HHa  be  Fort,  all  &.  V^wente.  Ha  away.  Ha  om.  as — schrewe.  Ha  om.  &. 
Ha  swete  Ih^us  in  to  Galile/  H  Galalie.  Ha  he  founde.  VH  twey.  H  systren. 
HHa  same.  H  om.  seye.  H  ben,  Ha  for  there.  Ha  he  pn?ched  frist.  H  om.  first. 
Ha  om.  banne.  HHa  om.  he.  VHHa  bat  c.  VHa  add:  quoniam  apropinquabit 
(Ha  ap.  enim]  regnum  celorum.  H  schryfeb.  HHa  om.  he  saib.  Ha  do.  V  for 
be.  Ha  nygheth.  V  And  bo,  H  and  pew.  wente.  H  om.  syde.  H  om.  bere  he. 
V  sau;  H  sye  Ha  saye.  HHa  om.  seynt.  V  &  seint  A.  V  om.  his  brobere. 
Ha  leying,  H  legge.  all  here.  V  netes.  Ha  for  to.  all  take.  V  be  fisch. 
V  for  bei.  H  but  p.  f.  bobe.  Ha  tr.  &  Crist— men.  V  om.  he  seyde.  VH  schal 
make.  H  lete  Ha  let.  Ha  &  w.  forth  with  hym  &  saide  to  hem  Comith  after  me  & 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Laud  210.          355 

fyscheres  of  men«.  &  bei  lette  here  boote  be  stille  in  be  see  &  wente  forf)  wib 
Crist.  &  he  wente  alitel  forbere,  &  founden  seynt  lames  &  seynt  loou  his  brob^e 
in  a  nob^fe  boote  drawynge  here  nettys  wif)  ^ebedee  here  fadere ;  bei  were  also 
fischeres.  &  Crist  bad  hem  also  comen  &  folowe  hym,  &  bei  letten  *  here  fader  & 
al  bat  bei  hadden  be  stille  in  be  boote  &  wenten  wib  hym.  &  on  a  day  as  bei 
wenten  alle  to-gedere  be  be  weye,  seynt  Petre  seyde  to  Crist:  »Lord,  he  seyde, 
what  schul  we  haue  of  be  bat  han  forsaken  alle  bat  we  hadde  &  folowen  be 
bus  in  pou^rte?«,  and  as-swibe  Oz'st  fonde  anob^r  suster  of  bat  hous  bat  is  clepid 
Largesse,  &  seyde :  »For  sobe,  ^e  bat  han  forsaken  al  bat  '^e  hadden  &  han  folowed 
me,  ^e  schullen  han  a  houndred-fold  so  myche  b^rfore,  &  btrto  be  blisse  of 
heuene« ;  bis  was  a  grete  largesse !  &  banne  cam  he  on  a  day  fro  be  mounte  of 
Olyuete  in  to  be  temple  of  lerusalem  to  prechen  \>ere,  &  be  while  he  was  prt'ch- 
ynge,  be  phariseus  brou^ten  to  hym  a  woman  bat  was  founden  in  bed  wib  anob^f 
man  ban  here  hosebounde,  &  seydefn]  to  hym  bus:  »Lo,  maistrr,  bis  woman  was  ri^t 
now  taken  in  spousebreche:  what  schulle  we  doii  wi[)  here?  Moyses  biddef)  vs 
in  oure  lawe  we  schulde  stone  such  to  be  deeb«.  &  Cmt  knewe  wel  be  falshed 
of  hem  bat  bei  deden  [so]  to  tempten  hym,  &  he  stowped  doun  &  wrot  wif)  his 
fynger  on  be  grounde  alle  be  sywnes  bat  eu^re  hadden  be  pharasew^  donn,  so 
bat  eche  of  hem  mii^t  seen  hou  synful  op^re  was,  &  |)anne  he  seyde  to  hem 
bus:  »Siben  hit  is  so  bat  bus'2  woman  schal  be  3  oure  lawe  be  stoned  to  be  deeb, 
btrfore  whiche  of  ^ow  |)at  is  wih-outen  synne,  caste  on  here  J)e  firste  stoon«: 
and  bei  weren  alle  aschamed  of  hem-seluen  &  wenten  oute  at  be  dore  eche  on 
after  ofyere  &  leten  Cn'st  stonden  alone  vrip  be  woman ;  and  bere  comen  to  hym 
two  ofyere  ladyes  of  be  abbeye  of  be  holy  gost,  Misericord  &  Reufulnesse,  &  f>an 
seide  Cmt  to  be  woman:  "Woman,  he  seyde,  where  ben  bin  enemyes?  hab  any 
1  Ms.  leften.  2  fern.;  or  r.  l>is? 


I  shall  make  you  fisshers  of  men.  II  om.  wif»  Crist — for  bere.  V  and  bo  bei 
wente.  HHa  om.  seynt.  V  lame  H  lamys.  Ha  his  n.  V  and  |)ei.  Ha  fisshers  also. 
VHa  om.  also.  Ha  om.  comen  &.  V  letten  H  let,  Ha  left.  H  h.  f.  ben  &  all. 
Ha  om.  be  stille— boote.  V  wewten  forb  w.  h.  Ha  om.  &.  H  om.  as.  Ha  om.  be 
be  weye.  H  &  Petur.  HHa  om.  seynt.  Ha  Ihr.ni.  VHHa  om.  he  seyde.  PI  schall. 
HHa  haue.  HHa  forsake.  H  om.  alle.  PI  folowed  Ha  folow.  Ha  this.  V 
pouert.  Ha  om.  and.  HHa  anon.  Ha  Ihmis.  V  be,  H  bat  same.  Ha  Largenesse. 
V  om.  &  seyde — largesse.  Ha  om.  for  sobe.  HHa  haue  forsake,  hadde.  haue. 
schall  haue.  Pla  &  jp^rto  ye  shal  haue.  Ha  an  hie  &  a  gr.  largenesse.  Ha  &  as. 
HPIa  he  come.  V  from.  Ha  forto.  preche.  Ha  om.  bere — prechynge.  VH  be 
whiles.  V  ffarisenes  H  pharyseys,  Ha  sari^ens.  brou^te.  Ha  om.  bat — woman. 
V  in  a  Bed.  V  and  bei  seiden.  HHa  was  take  ri^t.  H  om.  now.  V  spousbruche 
H  spousebreke,  Ha  spousebrekyng.  H  schal.  V  tau^te.  HHa  his.  H  lawys. 
HHa  bat  we,  V  to.  VH  om.  schulde.  V  alk  suche,  Ha  suche  one.  H  om.  |)e. 
H  ded.  Ha  Ih<?.ras.  Ha  om.  wel.  V  falsnesse.  Ha  dede  H  dyd ;  V  duden  hit. 
so  om.  HHa  forto.  tempte.  Ha  om.  he.  Ha  staped.  V  adoun.  Ha  in  the  g.  V  bat 
eurrichone  of  hem  hedden  i-don.  HHa  be  phariseys  (Sare^ensj  had  d.  V  vche 
H  yche.  H  om.  of  hem.  V  i-seo  al.  se.  HHa  bat  ober.  V  Sebbhe  Ha  sith 
H  syn.  bis.  Ha  that  by  youre  lawe  she  shulde.  VH  bi  oure  (^ourej  lawe  schal  be. 
V  stened.  H  to  dede.  V  om.  berfore.  HHa  and  ben.  H  om.  bei.  self.  Ha 
oute  of  the  temple.  V  atte.  V  vchone.  Ha  om.  eche.  Ha  an  other.  VH  lette, 
Ha  laft.  H  stond,  om.  in  Ha.  V  com  Ha  came.  H  ober  two.  V  tweyne. 
V  Merci  &  Rihtfulnesse.  Ha  tho.  HHa  om.  Woman.  VHHa  om.  he  seyde. 
Ha  be  thy.  II  ded.  H  sayde  be  woman.  HHa  om.  noman.  Ha  bo  Crist  saide. 


356 

man  condewpned  pe  to  pe  deep?«  »Nay,  lord,  scho  seyde,  noman«.  »No  I  ne 
schal  nou^t  condewpne  pe ;  go  faare  wel,  &  be  of  wil  neuere-more  to  do  synne«. 
Here  was  grete  misericord  &  grete  reufulnesse,  for  why,  pe  most  gylt  scho  hadde 
don  was  a.7,enus  hym.  &  aftirward  on  a  day  pe  pharaseus  senten  here  dissiplis 
to  Crist  &  wolden  hauen  taken  hym  m  his  wordis,  &  askede  hym  ^if  pei  mitten 
bi  goddis  lawe  ^eue  tribute  to  pe  empmmre.  &  Crist  knewe  wel  here  malice,  & 
seyde:  »A,  ^e  ypocrytis,  what  nede  is  hit  to  tempten  me?  lete  me  seen  a  peny 
of  ^oure  mony«.  &  pei  schewed  hym  on.  &  panne  seyde  Crist:  »Whos  coyn  is 
pis?«  &  panne  seyden  pei  to  Crist:  »pe  emp<rours«.  &  fyere  fond  Crist  anop^e 
syster  of  pe  noble  abbeye  pat  is  clepid  Resoim,  &  seyde:  »^eldij>  to  pe  emperour 
pat  by-longe|>  to  hym,  &  ^eldif)  to  god  pat  bi-longep  to  hym« ;  &  pat  is  resoun. 
On  a  day  afturward  as  Crist  wente  by  pe  way  by  hym-self  &  as  he  pou^te  of 
mannwj  soule  &  on  pe  abbeye  of  pe  holy  gost,  he  founde  a  noper  suster  pat  is 
clepid 

(So  far  Ms.  L;  I  give  the  rest  from  Ms.  Vernon:) 
Ms.  Vernon  fol.  360. 

Gelesye:  and  pewne  tok  he  priueliche  his  twelue  apostles  and  wente  touward 
lerusalem  &  seide  to  hem  pus:  »Ichaue  al  pis  two  and  pritti  %er  and  more  ben 
aboute  to  helpe  mownes  soule  and  for  to  seche  pe  abbesse  and  hire  Couent  be 
whuche  wenten  out  of  pe  abbei  of  pe  holygost,  and  ichaue  fouwden  sixtene1  of 
hem;  and  now  wol  I  go  to  lerusalem  and  ben  I-bouwden  and  I-bete,  and  ben 
honged  and  drawen,  and  dye  for  loue  of  monnes  soule,  to  seche;*  vp  pat  olpur 
del  of  pe  holy  Couent«.  fis  was  a  gret  gelesye  and  a  gret  loue !  ^[  And  pernie 
wente  pei  forj)  to  lerusalem.  And  as  pei  weore  p^e  on  an  euen  at  heore  sop^r, 
Crist  fond  per  ofyir  twey  ladies  of  pe  abbey  of  pe  holigost  pe  whuche  men 
clepef)  Cortesye  and  Honestete:  ffor  whi?  Crist  fedde  his  disciples  ri^t  pere  atte 

i  16,  if  Gelesye  is  included. 

V  Nor  H  ne  Ha  ny.  V  I  nul.  HHa  om.  ne.  H  condempe.  Ha  om.  fare  wel. 
V  and  sunge  no  more  (rest  om.).  HHa  in  w.  H  never  to  do  more.  V  Merci  and 
Rihtwysnesse.  Ha  om.  why.  H  gretest.  V  gult.  VHHa  pat.  Ha  the  woman^. 
V  i-don.  VH  hymself.  Ha  om.  &.  Ha  after.  V  vppon,  Ha  in.  Ha  another, 
day  om.  Ha  Sari^ens.  V  senden  HHa  sent.  Ha  om.  wolden.  V  i-taken,  al.  take. 
V  askeden  HHa  axed.  Ha  om.  hym.  HHa  myajt.  V  om.  wel.  Ha  om.  seyde.  V 
om.  A,  Ha  om.  A  ^e.  H  it  to  ^ow.  VHHa  tempte.  V  letep.  Ha  om.  me.  V  seo 
al.  se.  V  moneye.  H  hij.  Ha  a  peny.  H  om.  seyde.  H  om.  whos.  V  quoyne. 
VHa  and  pei  seiden,  to  Crist  om.  VHa  a  suster.  V  pat.  n.  hous.  V  I-clepet. 
V  he  inst.  of  &.  Ha  om.  seyde.  HHa  to  cesare  (se;ar).  Ha  that  pat.  V  longeJD ; 
H  sesars  is,  Ha  is  his.  V  om.  & — hym.  Ha  om.  5;eldib.  H  pat  is  his,  Ha  that 
is  goddis ;  HHa  add:  dope  to  pe  emperoure  (Ha  to  se^&re)  pat  bylongep  (longith) 
(to  Ha)  hym.  V  And  on.  Ha  On  anoper  day,  afturward  om.  V  bi  pe  wei  as 
Crist  wente.  Ha  walked ;  by  pe  way  om.  VHa  om.  &  as.  VHHa  on.  VHa  and 
p<re.  VHHa  add  of  pat  (H  j)e,  Ha  the  same)  hous.  H  om.  is.  Ha  om.  clepid. 

(Readings  from  HHa  to  the  Vernon  text): 

H  pn'uyly  to  hym  his.  H  towerd,  Ha  to.  Ha  pis.  HHa  I  haue.  Ha  xxx*1 
yere  and  too.  HHa  be.  seke.  Ha  &  be  Couent  of  the  holigost  which  went  o.  of 
her  abbey,  founde.  HHa  wyll.  be.  I-  om.  Ha  bound.  HHa  bete.  HHa  om.  ben. 
Ha  hangid.  Ha  drawe.  HHa  be  loue.  Ha  and  to.  seke.  Ha  the  oder.  HHa 
pat  h.  H  is.  Ha  om.  And.  HHa  om.  p^re.  H  at  euen,  Ha  at  nyght.  Ha  1.  of 
the  same  hous  the  which.  H  qwam.  Ha  clepidde.  HHa  honeste.  Ha  and  \>er 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Vernon. 

sop*f  vfip  his  owne  flesch  &  wip  his  ovine  blood ;  and  whon  he  hedde  so  I- 
don,  he  wusch  heore  feet  eumchone  and  wipede  hem  wz/>  a  cloth.  Heere  weor 
mony  sustren:  her  was  Cortesye  and  Louhnesse1,  [Honeste]  and  Mekenesse.  And 
afterward  he  wente  w//>  alle  his  disciples  touward  a  luytel  touw  pat  hette  Geth- 
samany,  and  per  he  tok  preo  of  hem,  Peter,  lames,  and  Ion,  and  bad  be  opwe 
beo  \>er  stille  til  pei  comen  a^eyn.  And  as  pei  wente,  Incepit  Ihesus  faucre  et 
tedere,  Ihesus  bi-gon  for  to  quake  for  drede,  and  seyde  to  hem  pere :  »Ichaue 
fouwden  a  nop«r  suster  of  pe  abbey  pat  is  I-cleped  Drede :  Tristis  est  anima  mea 
vsque  ad  mortem,  Ichaue,  he  seide,  fouwden  muche  drede  a^eyn  pat  I  schal  dye. 
Sitte{)  her  adouw,  he  seide,  and  wakef)  and  biddep  or  beodes,  til  I  come  a^eyn«. 
And  pe«ne  wente  he  forp  from  hem  as  hit  weore  a  stones  cast:  &  per  he  fond 
tweyne  opw^e  sustren  of  pe  selue  hous  pat  weren  Contewplacion  and  Orisouw. 
He  be-pou'^te  hi/w  on  mownes  soule  hou  hit  scholde  be  lost  wip-outen  ende  but 
he  diede  fvrfore,  and  hou  he  schulde  pe  nexte  day  after  pat  ben  honged  on  be 
roode-tree ;  and  he  was  in  a  gret  agonye  as  no  wonder  was,  and  for  drede  of 
deth  he  swatte  dropes  of  blood,  pe  wijuche  trilleden  douw  of  his  bodi  to  pe 
eorpe  as  watwr  dop  of  an  hous  after  reyn ,  and  pewne  preyede  he  to  his  ffader 
&  seide:  »A,  ffader,  ^if  hit  may  be,  let  me  not  dye  pus  dispitousliche.  Nopeles, 
he  seip,  pi  wille  beo  don  and  not  myn«.  And  pewne  com  he  a^eyn  to  his  dis 
ciples  &  fond  hem  slepynge,  and  pewne  seide  he  to  Peter:  »A,  Peter,  miht  pou 
not  wake  WT/>  me  on  houre?  Wakep,  he  seide,  and  preyep,  pat  7}e  ne  falle  in  no 
tewptacion.«  And  he  wente  eft  a^eyn,  &  pewne  fond  he  Orisouw,  [&]  a  nopw 
suster  of  pe  hous  pat  hette  Deuocion,  and  pewne  he  seide:  »Mi  ffader,  seppe  hit 
may  non  oper  beo  bote  pat  I  mot  to-morwen  ben  honged  on  be  rode-tre  and 
dyen,  beo  hit  as  pou  wolt.«  And  he  com  a^eyn  to  his  disciples,  and  font  hem 
slepynge  as  he  dude  biforen.  And  |)ewne  wewte  he  eft  a^eyn  and  preyede  as  he 
dude  furst ,  &  \>er  he  fond  \vip  Orisoun  preo  of  hire  sustren ,  Cowtewplacion, 
Leauwce,  and  lubilaciouw : 
i  Louhnesse  is  not  in  the  list. 

he  fed.  Ha  om.  ri^t — soper.  H  at  pe.  Ha  om.  owne.  Ha  om.  wipo.  Ha  do 
so.  H  don.  HHa  wysche.  Ha  all*  inst.  of  euerichone.  H  dryed.  Ha  om. 
Heere — sustren.  H  curt.  &  lowenesse  honeste  &  mek.  Ha  Curt,  honeste  and 
lownesse  Inowe.  Ha  Than*  he.  H  eftwr.  H  om.  alle.  H  into.  Ha  into  a 
litell  town*  with  his  disc.  HHa  is  clepyd.  H  Gethsamayne  Ha  Gethsemany. 
Ha  bad  oper  abide.  H  om.  per.  H  fortyll.  Ha  he  come.  Ha  he  went.  HHa 
paucsctrc.  HHa  om.  */  tedere.  Ha  om.  for.  Ha  om.  to  hem  jiere.  H  here, 
clepid.  Ha  found  he  saide.  H  a^eynest.  Ha  ayenst  my  deth  whan  I  shal  dye. 
H  om.  schal.  H  doune.  HHa  ^our*  bedys.  H  to  pat  I.  HHa  fro.  HHa  op*r 
two.  Haladyes.  H  pat.  HHa  same.  Ha  Meditacion  &  O.  H  of  mans.  Ha  but  yf. 
Ha  in  be  nexst.  HHa  om.  pat.  Ha  hang,  ben  om.  Ha  om.  and.  Ha  in  gret 
thought.  H  swete  Ha  swett.  H  dropys.  H  ran,  Ha  dropped.  H  adoune  by. 
Ha  om.  to  be  eorpe.  H  pe  watwr.  H  a,  Ha  the.  Ha  a  rayne.  Ha  to  h.  f.  pus;  & 
seide  om.  HHa  om.  A  fader.  H  dysputeslyche.  H  Napeles,  Ha  neu^rpeles. 
H  sayde;  Ha  om.  he  seip.  Ha  came.  H  he  come.  H  on  slepe  Ha  a-slepe. 
Ha  he  saide.  H  O  Petwr.  ;Ha  mightest.  Ha  our*.  Ha  om.  and.  HHa  fall* 
nou/jt,  ne  om.  HHa  in  to  t.  Ha  om.  penne.  HHa  he  fonde.  HHa  &.  HHa 
pat  h.  HHa  is  clepyd.  H  sayde  he.  Ha  sith,  H  saype  pat  it.  HHa  no 
nop*r.  H  om.  pat.  H  moste.  Ha  to  morowe  H  p#u  morwe.  Ha  hang,  be  om. 
H  bunged.  Ha  vppon.  H  dye  Ha  deye.  HHa  wylt.  Ha  om.  And.  H  om.  he. 
Ha  came.  H  dyd  Ha  dede.  Ha  om.  And — furst.  H  before.  H  s.  pat  hy?t, 


358 

PEr  com  an  angel  doun  from  heuene  to  mmforten  him,  and  tolde  him  hou 
mo^nes  soule  scholde  be  delyu^red  out  of  helle  er  preo  dayes  to  be  ende ,  and 
hou  he  scholde  be  bat  tyme  ha  fourcden  al  be  Couewt  of  be  abbey  of  be  holi- 
gost  and  haue  mad  a^eyn  heor  abbey,  beter  ben  euire  hit  was.  And  bewne  was 
he  murie  and  glad  in  his  soule,  bau^  hit  were  so  bat  he  was  kyndeliche  in  his 
monhede  adred  of  his  deb.  And  benne  wente  he  a^eyn  to  his  disciples  and  bad 
hem  risen  vp  and  go  wib  him.  And  as  bei  wentew  a  luytel  forb,  bei  se^en  hou 
bat  muche  folk  comen  b^e  wz'/>  li^t  lanternes  and  drawee  swerdes  and  staues, 
for  to  take  Crist ,  and  ludas  Skariot  wente  be-foren  hem  alle,  and  com  to  Crist 
and  custe  him.  »A,  ludas,  he  seide,  schaltou  be-trayen  Godes  sone  of  heuene 
w$  a  cos?«  And  benne  token  be  false  lewes  Ihesn  Crist  &  bounden  him  harde 
and  sore  as  a  bef:  and  b^r  he  fond  a  nofyur  suster  of  be  selue  hous  bat  is  I- 
cleped  Suffrauwce.  And  bo  seynt  Peter  sau^  bat,  he  drou^  out  a  swerd  and  smot 
of  a  boyes  ere  bat  was  a  Bisschopes  mon,  and  pe«ne  seide  Crist  to  Peter:  »Put 
vp  pi  swerd  a^eyn!  Wenest  b0u  not,  he  seide,  bat  I  mi^te  preye  my  ffader 
and  he  scholde  sende  me  mo  pen  twelue  legiouws  of  ang^ks  for  to  helpe  me 
^if  hit  were  neod?  Al  bis  wol  I  soffre  wip  a  good  wille,  for  be  loue  of  mo/znes 
soule.« — A  legiouw  is  six  bousend  six  hundred  sixti  and  sixe. — And  bewne  be  false 
lewes  ladden  forp  Ihesu  Crist  to  Cayphas  be  Bischop ;  and  bat  se^en  his  disciples, 
and  ronne  awey  eu^nchon  and  [often  him  per  alone.  And  bewne  corner  mony 
false  schrewen  and  maden  playnt  on  Crist  to  be  Bisschop,  and  pe^ne  seide  Cai- 
phas:  »What  seist  b<?u  to  bis  pmg  bat  beose  men  seyen  a^eym^y  be?«  And  Crist 
fond  per  a  nobw  suster  of  bat  hous  bat  is  cleped  Symplesse,  &  spac  no  word 
to  him.  And  bewne  wente  boyes  and  harlotes  and  spitten  on  his  face,  and  hudden 
his  e^en  wip  a  clop  and  smites  him  on  be  croune  and  pleyedew  wz/>  him  a- 
bobbeb  as  bei  wolde  ha  don  wip  a  fol,  and  bedew  him  telle  hem  who  smot 
him  last;  and  Crist  kepte  Symplesse  &  spak  no  word.  And  afterward  Caiphas 
asked  Crist  where  he  hedde  I-prt'ched  &  what  he  hedde  i-seid.  And  pewne  seyde 


Ha  pat  weren.  Ha  Thanne  came  down^  an  a.  HHa  fro.  Ha  comfort.  Ha 
om.  him.  HHa  or.  H  om.  be  bat  tyme.  Ha  fynde  vp.  Ha  holi  abb.  Ha  & 
make.  Ha  the  abb.  Ha  &  bo.  HHa  he  was.  Ha  om.  and  glad.  H  b.  he 
wertf  agast  kyndely  of  his  manhede  of  his  depe,  Ha  p.  it  were  kyndely  pat  he 
was  in  his  m.  agast  of  his  d.  Ha  he  went.  Ha  ferther.  H  see  Ha  seye.  Ha 
om.  hou  pat ;  H  whertf.  come.  HHa  om.  pere.  Ha  1.  in  lanterns.  HHa  swerdys 
drawe  (I-dr.).  H  stony s.  HHa  om.  for.  HHa  byfore.  Ha  kame,  H  went.  H 
kyssed  Ha  kissid.  HHa  add  :  &  ben  (bo)  sayd  Cryste  to  hym.  HO.  Ha  om. 
he  seide.  H  schall  b<?u  Ha  shalt  f)0u.  HHa  betray(e).  Ha  kosse  H  kysse. 
toke.  H  bonde  Ha  bounde.  Ha  the  same,  H  pat.  Ha  clepid.  HHa  &  pat 
sey  seynt  (om.  in  Ha)  P.  Ha  and  d.  H  &  oute  wz'tfc  a  s.  HHa  om.  and.  Ha 
Woost  pmi  n.  wele.  Ha  om.  he  seide.  Ha  may.  Ha  om.  mo  ben.  H  twolue. 
H  Al  pis  he  seyde.  H  wyll  I,  Ha  I  will.  Ha  for  loue.  Ha  &  viC.  Ha  &  bo. 
Ha  om.  false.  H  lewys.  H  ledde  Ha  led.  Ha  om.  Ihesu.  H  see  Ha  sey. 
HHa  rune.  Ha  om.  euerichon.  H  lete,  Ha  left.  HHa  om.  ber.  Ha  came. 
H  schrewys  Ha  shrewes.  Ha  made.  Ha  om.  bing.  Ha  bat  bei  saye.  HHa  be 
same.  H  Symples,  Ha  Semplenesse.  H  speke.  Ha  vnto  hem.  Ha  om.  And. 
Ha  harlottys.  H  spitte  Ha  spet.  Ha  in  Cristis.  H  hydde  Ha  hid.  H  smote 
Ha  smett.  H  pleyde  Ha  played.  H  a  bobbys,  Ha  a  bobat.  haue  do.  H  foule. 
Ha  bad.  Ha  Symplenesse.  H  adds  (after  word) :  Lo  pus  schuld  we  do  wen  we 
be  scornyd  or  dyspysyd  of  any  wykked  folk  as  he  was  penne.  Ha  Than  C.  HHa 
axed.  H  pr^chyd  Ha  pr^ched.  sayde.  Ha  &  pan  Crist  said  to  hym.  HHa  axest. 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Vernon.  359 

Crist:  »What  askest  b<?u  me?  aske  hem  bat  hmle  me  pmihe  what  I  seide  to 
hem«.  And  whon  he  hedde  I-seyd  so,  her  sturte  vp  a  schrewe  of  Cayphas  men 
&  ^af  him  a  buffet  vnder  be  cheke  ;  and  bewne  tok  Cmt  to  him  Symplesse  & 
seide  to  bat  schrewe  bat  smot  him :  »^if  I  euel  seide,  ber  witnesse  of  vuel ;  &  ;$if 
I  seide  wel,  whi  smitest  b<m  me  ?« 

And  afterward  be  lewes  tokew  vr  lord  lhes\\  Crist  &  dudew  of  his  clobwj  and 
bouwden  him  to  a  piler  of  ston  as  a  bef,  &  made;*  hem  scorges  wip  babeles2  of 
led  &  scharpe  prikkes  on  be  endes  and  beotew  Cn'stes  precious  bodi  her-vfip 
be  while  hit  mihte  lasten,  til  al  his  bodi  ron  o-blode.  And  bewne  bei  duden  on 
him  a  strayt  selkene  clop,  bat  heng  faste  be  his  flesch  whon  be  blod  was  druye; 
and  aftwr  bei  settew  a  garlond  on  his  hed  of  long  scharpe  porn,  &  beotew  hit 
douw  wip  staues  for  bei  wolde  not  prikken  heore  howdes ;  bei  token  him  a 
reod-spyr  iw  his  hond,  &  kneledew  doun  in  scorn  &  seidew :  »Heil  sir  kyng,  kyng 
of  Iewes.«  And  whon  bei  heddew  so  I-do,  bei  tornede  of  be  clo{)  of  selk,  & 
for  hit  heng  faste  to  his  bodi  bei  drowew  a-wey  wip-a.1  muchel  of  his  skyn,  & 
of  his  flesch  bobe;  and  whon  be  lewes  se^en  bat,  hem  bou^te1  hit  was  a  foul 
siht,  and  bleredew  on  hiw  &  spittew  on  his  face  as  bei  wolde  ha  don  on  a  tode. 
And  bef  Crist  fond  a  nobwr  suster  of  be  abbei  of  be  holigost  bat  hette  Mekenesse. 
And  bewne  duden  be  false  lewes  Ihesu  Crist  berew  his  oune  roode  on  his  bak 
touward  Caluarie,  til  he  was  in  poynt  to  haue  falle  a-doun  for  feblenesse.  And 
whon  bei  se^en  bat,  bei  wolde  not  bat  he  hedde  I-dyed ,  til  he  weore  an- 
honged:  bei  madew  a  nobwr  mon  bere  be  Roode  til  bat  bei  come  to  be  place 
her  Crist  schulde  beo  don  heron.  And  euere  as  he  wente,  Mekenesse  was 
wip  him,  so  ferforb,  as  Ysaye  be  prophete  seib,  bat  Crist  wente  as  mekeliche 

i  Ms.  J)ou^te«.       2  al.  balles.  

Ha  of  me,  axe  of  hem.  H  harde.  H  ben  stert.  Ha  styrt.  Ha  &  smote  Crist 
vnder.  Ha  &  bis  toke  C.  symplenesse  to  hyw.  Ha  om.  to  bat — him.  H  om. 
bat  smot  him.  HHa  seyde  amys,  b.  w.  bcrof.  H  adds:  Loo  qwat  mekenes  her 
was.  Ha  And  then  the  I.  H  £>ai  inst.  of  be  I.  HHa  toke.  H  om.  lord.  H  dyd, 
Ha  put.  HHa  clopis.  H  bounde  Ha  bound.  Ha  h.  fast.  Ha  peler.  ,  HHa  made. 
H  scorges  as;  Ha  om.  scorges  wip.  HHa  balles.  Ha  in.  H  endys.  bete.  Ha 
Crist  on  the  body.  HHa  om.  berwif).  H  bere  qwyles,  Ha  while.  H  her  my^t, 
Ha  bey  wold,  laste.  H  to.  Ha  all  the.  H  ran  Ha  ranne.  on.  H  dyd  Ha  dede. 
Ha  stret.  HHa  sengle.  HHa  cleuyd.  HHa  om.  fast.  Ha  to.  H  be.  Ha  fl.  full  fast. 
HHa  dryed.  HHa  om.  oitur  bei.  set.  Ha  garlon*.  H  heued.  HHa  j^ornes. 
Ha  bem.  H  stonys.  H  pn'ke  Ha  pricke.  H  hondys  pm>n.  HHa  &.  H  om. 
bei.  toke.  Ha  om.  him.  HHa  rede  spire.  Ha  hand,  H  ry?,t  h.  Ha  knelid. 
H  adoune  on.  sayde.  Ha  ser.  HHa  om.  kyng j.  had.  H  do,  Ha  do  so.  H  turnyd, 
Ha  tere.  sylk.  H  hong,  Ha  cleued.  H  by.  H  drwe,  Ha  tere.  Ha  of  inst.  of 
awey.  HHa  om.  wibal.  H  meche  Ha  moch^.  Ha  om.  bobe.  Ha  bey.  H  sene, 
Ha  sie.  Ha  hym  so  I-dight.  Ha  h.  |).  hym  foule  to  loke  vppom?,  H  |>at  he  was  a 
foule  &  foule  to  see.  HHa  om.  and— him.  H  spyttyd  Ha  spet.  Ha  thou  woldest. 
H  haue.  Ha  om.  ha  don.  H  opon.  Ha  of  that.  H  holy  abbey.  HHa  om.  of 
be  holigost.  hyzt.  Ha  Tho  be  f.  I.  made.  Ha  om.  Ihesu,  H  om.  Crist,  bere. 
Ha  om.  oune.  Ha  Crois.  Ha  om.  on  his  bak.  H  rygge.  Ha  to  the  mount  of 
C.  H  forto.  Ha  om.  haue.  Ha  down*.  HHa  febylnesse.  H  adds:  for  he 
schewyd  bot  only  his  ma/zhed  &  nou^t  of  his  godhede.  Ha  &  for  bey  wold 
not.  H  see.  Ha  shuld  die.  H  forto.  H  honged  Ha  hangid.  H  adds:  & 
dede  on  be  croyce.  made.  Ha  to  bere  his  Crois.  H  forto.  HHa  om.  bat. 
H  qwer*.  Ha  om.  so  ferforb.  H  bat  inst.  of  as.  H  sayde.  Ha  adds:  Tanquam 
ouis  ad  occisionem  ductus  est  et  sicut  agnus.  Ha  om.  hat.  H  als  so  mekely. 


3  6o 

to    his    hongynge    as    a   lomb    doj)    to    his    scherynge ;    ffor    he  made  nouper  bost 
ne  noyse. 

VV  Ene  ^e  not  bat  his  Moder  hedde  muche  serwe  whon  heo  sei^  fyus  hire 
sone  go  to  be  galewes-ward  ?  forsobe,  hit  was  a  pitous  siht  whose  hedde  I-se^en 
hit!  And  whon  bei  come  to  Caluarie,  bei  caste  doun  be  roode-tre,  and  Crist 
b^r-on,  and  make[d]  markes  and  holes  where  his  hondus  &  his  feet  scholde  be 
nayled  to,  and  be«ne  bei  toke  a  blont  rouh  ragged  nayl  &  smitew  hit  borw  his 
hond  wip  an  homer  to  be  roode  ;  and  for  be  peyne  fyerof  al  be  bodi  drou^  ^er- 
touward.  And  whon  bei  wolde  haue  nayled  bat  o^ur  hond  to  be  treo,  hit  was 
to  schort  to  be  hole  bat  bei  hedden  I-mad  bi  half  a  fote  and  more :  and  bei 
nolde  not  make  a  newe  bore,  but  token  ropes  and1  ty^eden  [to]2  his  hond,  and 
drowen  hit  til  hit  was  meete  to  be  hole  feat  bei  heddew  I-maad ;  and  \n  be 
drawywge  alle  be  loyntes  of  bofee  his  armes  bursten  m-suwder.  And  whon  bei 
woldew  haue  I-nayled  his  feire  feet  to  be  roode-tre,  al  his  bodi  was  [so]  schronkew 
vp  to-gedere  for  peyne  feat  hit  was  to  schort  to  be  hole  feat  bei  heddew  I-maad 
bi  a  large  foote:  and  feemie  toke  bei  mo  ropus  &  ti^eden  to  his  feet,  &  drowew 
hew  doun  harde  and  sore  til  bei  weore  meete  to  be  hole3,  and  bei  to-borsten 
i«  be  drawynge  alle  be  loyntes  of  his  lendes  and  of  kneos  &  of  his  sydes4;  and 
f>e»ne  tok  bei  such  a  nof)«r  ragged  nayl  &  driue?z  hit  wip  an  homer  borw  bobe 
his  feet  at  ones  in  to  be  harde  tre.  A,  lord,  hou  feat  raggede  nayl  craschte 
amowg  be  harde  bones! 

-r\.nd  fee  while  he  was  fe#.r  nayled  on  fee  roode-treo,  fyer  corner  mony  sustren 
of  fee  abbey  of  be  holigost,  bobe  Pou^rt  and  Boxuwnesse,  Penaurcce  &  Symplesse, 
SufFrauwce  &  Meknes,  to  loke  hou  he  ferde ;  and  bewne  seide  Crist  to  hem,  ^if 

1  Ms.  and  fcei.         2  Ms.  on.         2  Ms.  holes.        *  al.  fete. 


Ha  hanging.  Ha  lambe.  HHa  om.  dob.  H  clyppyng.  HHa  om.  ffor.  H  no 
boste,  Ha  no  grucching.  H  ne  no  n.  Ha  om.  Wene — I-sez;en  hit.  H  Qwene. 
H  had  meche  sorwe  wen  sche  se.  H  dere  s.  gon  towarde  f>e  galwes.  H  who 
so  it  had  sene.  H  cast  done.  Ha  &  laide  C.  b^ron,  and  be  lewes  bat  were 
makers  of  the  holes.  H  merkys  &  holys.  H  hondys  Ha  handis.  HHa  om.  to. 
Ha  tr.  toke.  H  blunt.  H  om.  rouh ;  Ha  long.  H  rugged.  Ha  nayle  toke.  HHa 
smote.  Ha  om.  hit.  H  his  on  h.  H  a.  Ha  to  the  tree  with  an  hamoz<r.  HHa 
om.  be.  H  pyne  Ha  payne.  H  om.  al.  H  drwe  Ha  drewe.  Ha  bederward. 
H  be  tofe^r.  H  so  schort.  Ha  om.  hedden.  made.  H  by  one  fote  &.  m.  H 
adds:  it  wold  nou^t  come  fe^rto.  HHa  wold.  HHa  hole.  toke.  Ha  tweye  r. 
HHa  om.  bei.  HHa  tyed  to.  drew.  H  forto.  H  hadde  Ha  had.  H  om.  I-maad; 
Ha  made.  Ha  in  this.  HHa  om.  alle.  H  om.  his.  HHa  brest.  H  on  two 
Ha  a-too.  H  adds:  lo  wat  peyn  bis  was.  wold,  nayled.  Ha  om.  feire.  Ha  om. 
to  be  Roode-tre.  H  al  be.  HHa  was  so.  Ha  I-shronke  H  schreng^.  H  to- 
gederes.  Ha  that  it  come  not  to  the  h.  Ha  om.  bat — I-maad.  H  made  before. 
Ha  they  toke  more,  ropys.  H  tyed  hem.  H  drwe  Ha  drew.  H  sore  &  harde. 
H  forto.  Ha  holes.  H  brosten  (to  om.) ;  Ha  and  in  bis  drawing  they  breke. 
H  om.  alle.  Ha  om.  alle  — of.  lendys.  Ha  &  his,  H  &  of  his.  H  knes  Ha 
knees.  H  &  of  his  fete  bobe,  Ha  &  the  loyntes  of  his  feet.  HHa  bai  toke. 
H  seche,  om.  in  Ha.  H  rugged.  H  dryue  Ha  drof.  HHa  hym.  H  boru^;  wyth 
a  hamer.  Ha  om  wif)  an  h.  H  om.  his.  H  fete  &  hondys.  HHa  onys.  HHa 
om.  in.  Ha  om.  A — bones.  H  lord  god.  H  nigged.  H  krakeled  a.  his  bonys. 
HHa  om.  fee.  H  qwyles.  Ha  feis.  H  ypyned.  come.  H  systren  Ha  sustefs. 
H  to  hym,  Ha  aboute  hym;  bobe  om.  pouerte.  Ha  om.  &.  Ha  simplenesse. 


The  Charter  of  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ms.  Vernon.  361 

bei  hedden  heore  abbesse,  bewne  hedde  bei  euerichon.  And  whon  be  lewes 
heddew  bus  nayled  Crist  on  be  cros  as  men  dob  dob  on  a  teytur,  bei  reisede 
him  vp  fro  be  grouwde  to  sette  be  rode  faste  in  a  morteys  bat  was  maad  for 
be  nones,  and  bei  heouen  hiw  vp  bewne  for  schrewednesse  as  hei^e  as  bei  mihtew, 
and  lette  be  cros  squattew  a-douw  sodeynliche  \n  to  be  morteis ;  and  in  be  fall- 
ynge  alle  be  senewes  of  his  bodi  &  alle  be  veynes  &  alle  be  loyntes  to-borsten 
euerichon.  I  trouwe,  ber  was  penauwce  I-nouh !  and  pouert  also:  ffor  whi  he 
heng  stark-naked  on  be  rode-treo  for  be  loue  of  mownes  soule.  And  be  while 
he  heng  so  bere  \\rip  his  blodi  wouwdes,  al  to-ragget  and  to-rent,  he  fond  be 
abbesse  of  be  abbey  of  be  holigost  bat  is  cleped  Charite:  Quia  maiorem  carita- 
teni  nemo  habct  [quani]  ut  animam  suam  fonat  quis  pro  amicis  suis,  ffor  whi  more 
loue  and  charite  may  no  mon  haue  ben  for  to  dye  for  loue  of  his  frendes ,  as 
Ihesits  dude  for  loue  of  monnes  soule. 

/\.nd  whon  he  hedde  bus  fouwden  vp  be  abbesse  of  be  holigost  and  hire  feire 
Couent,  he  was  wonderliche  glad  in  his  herte,  {)auh  he  felede  muche  peyne  wip- 
outen  in  his  bodi:  and  he  asked  drynke,  to  make  be  sustrew  murie  wib  and  to 
welcome;*  hem  horn,  and  seide:  »Scicio,  I  am  a-furst«.  And  |)e  false  lewes  maden 
Ihesu  Cr/'st  a  drynke  of  eysel  and  of  galle,  I-tempred  \vip  mirre ,  and  put  hit  to 
his  mou[j  on  a  sponge  for  to  don  him  drynkew  hit ;  and  whon  he  hedde  assayed 
a  luytel  what  hit  was,  he  wolde  no  more  berof.  And  |)ewne  seide  he  hits:  »Con- 
sumiiiatum  est,  Ich  haue  al  don,  he  seide,  bat  I  am  come  fore:  I  haue  fouwdew 
vp  a^eyn  be  abbesse  of  |)e  holigost  &  al  hire  holy  couent,  &  maad  a'^eyn  hire 
abbey  as  wel  as  hit  euer  was.  And  now,  he  seib,  I  wol  go  to  Adam  and  to  Eue 
&  dilyufren  hem  out  of  be  put  of  helle  and  ledew  hem  a^eyn  in  to  blisse  of 
paradys,  per  for  to  dwelle  w//>  be  noble  couent  of  be  holy  gost,  in  loye  and  in 
blisse  |:>tft  neu^r  schal  haue  ende.«  And  whowne  he  hedde  I-seyd  bus,  he  ^eld 


Ha  Had  I  now  your^  abb.  than^  had  I  all.  Ha  om.  And.  H  om.  j)e.  H  Iwys. 
H  streyned.  Ha  nailed  bis.  Ha  to.  H  rode.  H  don  a  c.  Ha  streynowr,  H  rakke. 
HHa  reryd.  Ha  om.  vp.  H  gronde.  HHa  &  s.  H  on,  Ha  in  to.  HHa  be.  Ha 
mortes.  H  nonys.  HHa  om.  and.  HHa  lyft.  Ha  it.  HHa  om.  be/me.  H  in  her. 
Ha  as  hie  as  bey  might  for  shrewdnesse.  Ha  Crois.  squatte.  Ha  down*?  H  don. 
H  sadlyche.  HHa  in  bat  f.  H  senwys.  Ha  s.  &  all  the  v.  &  all  the  I.  of  his 
body.  H  brosten  Ha  brest.  H  echon,  Ha  on-too.  Ha  om.  Inouh.  Ha  om.  whi. 
H  hong;  Ha  hangid  he  was.  H  sterke,  Ha  all.  Ha  for  manns  sake  as  he  was 
bore  of  his  moder.  HHa  om.  be;  H  qwyles.  H  hong  Ha  hing.  Ha  bere  so 
to-Ragged  &  to-Rent  with  his  blody  woundis.  II  blody  syde  £  wondys.  H  &  alle 
to-rent.  HHa  om.  of  be  abbey,  clepyd.  H  om.  Quia.  quam  om.  H  om.  quis. 
H  fro  ouibus  s.  Ha  om.  whi.  H  m.  1.  may  noman  h.  ne  charite.  Ha  shewe. 
H  om.  for.  H  for  be  1.  HHa  frende.  H  Ihesu,  Ha  Crist,  dede.  H  be  1. 
Ha  om.  And.  Ha  bis.  H  founde  Ha  foundyn.  Ha  om.  vp.  Ha  wonder. 
Ha  though,  H  al  yf.  H  poled.  Ha  grete.  withoute.  Ha  on.  HHa  axed.  H  a 
drenke.  H  sistren.  HHa  mery.  Ha  om.  wib.  welcome.  HHa  om.  and — afurst. 
HHa  made  a  drynke  to  I.  C.  Ha  om.  of2.  HHa  &  temperd  it.  H  merre.  H  it 
vp  to.  Ha  in  a  spunge  to  his  mouth.  H  om.  for.  H  do,  Ha  make.  Ha  to 
drynke  it.  Ha  om.  a  luytel.  Hal.  berof  wat.  Ha  &  bo  he  said.  H  om.  al. 
HHa  I-do.  HHa  om.  he  seide.  HHa  om.  am.  Ha  came.  Ha  for  I.  H  fonde. 
Ha  om.  vp.  H  abbey.  HHa  om.  holy.  Ha  better  then.  HHa  euer  it.  Ha  om. 
he  seib.  H  sayde.  HHa  will,  deliuer.  H  pytte  Ha  pitt.  lede.  Ha  the  bl. 
H  om.  blisse  of.  H  nobil.  Ha  c.  of  the  abbey  of  the  h.  g.  Ha  om.  in2.  Ha 
om.  And — bus.  Ha  Tho  he  yaf  vp.  Ha  hanging  on  the  Roode  and  deied.  Ha 


362 

vp  be  gost  and  dyede  hongynge  on  be  roode-treo,  bolned  blu  &  blodi,  be-twene 
twei  beues,  for  be  grete  loue  lie  hedde  to  monnus  soule. 

J\.nd  bemie  wewt  he  douw  in  to  helle,  and  tok  out  Adam  and  Eue,  and  o^ur 
mo  b#t  weorew  hiw  leue,  Dauid,  Moises  and  Abraham,  and  al  be  goode  wip 
hiw  he  nom *,  and  ladde  hem  v?ip  be  abbesse  &  be  couent  of  be  holygost  in  to 
be  blisse  of  heuene,  ber-inne  forte  dwelle,  in  more  [loye]  and  blisse  ben  eny 
mon  may  telle.1 

How  God  putte  his  ffoure  douhtren  In  to  pe  abbey  of  pe  holigost. 

x\nd  ber  almihti  God  ordeynde  bat  his  ffoure  douhtren  Merci,  Trube,  Rih[t]- 
fulnesse,  and  Pees,  scholde  be  glad  among  be  Couent  of  be  abbey  of  be  Holi 
gost  ;  and  ber  he  bad  him-self  bat  Merci  and  Trube  scholde  be  Charite  Chapeleyns 
and  wenden  a-boute  wip  hire  whoder  bat  heo  wente ;  and  he  bad  also  bat 
Rihtwysnesse  scholde  eumnore  be  vfip  Wisdam,  for  heo  was  Prioresse ;  and 
he  bad  also  bat  Pees  scholde  beo  wtp  Mekenesse,  for  heo  was  Subprioresse. 
He  ordeynde  bat  beose  breo  Ladyes  scholde  haue  heor  Chapeleyns,  for  bei  weore 
most  of  worschupe.  And  peraie  he  seide  bat  whose  kepte  feire  and  clene  pis 
abbey  of  be  holygost  &  be  Abbesse  &  be  Prioresse  &  al  heore  holy  Couent,  bei 
scholde  fynden  in  bis  world  muche  murbe  in  herte  and  in  soule,  and  afterward, 
whon  bei  were  ded,  bei  scholden  haue  for  heore  mede  be  kindam  of  heuene  and 
more  ioye  and  blis  ben  eny  e^e  may  seo  or  tonge  may  telle  or  herte  may  benke.  — 
^[  Almihti  God  for  his  deore  merci  ^if  vs  grace  forte  kepe  feire  and  clene  pis 
abbey  of  be  holygost,  bat  is  to  seye  vr  Concience,  and  be  Abbesse  &  be  Prioresse 
and  al  heore  holy  couent,  bat  is  to  seye  goode  virtues,  in  vre  soules,  bat  we 
mowe  come  to  bat  loie  and  to  bat  blisse  bat  Ihwu  Crist  bou^te  vs  to  wtp  his 
p?rcious  blood.  To  bat  Ioye  and  blisse  bring  vs  he,  bat  for  loue  of  monnes 
soule  dizjede  on  be  Roode-Tre.  A.  M.  E.  N. 

1  Note  the  rhymes;  the  passage  is  taken  from  a  poem  (Ipotis  v.  335). 


om.  Bolned;  H  swelly^g.  HHa  bio.  HHa  bat  he  had.  H  to  saue  m.  s.  Ha 
&  bo  he  went.  Ha  oute  of  hell.  HHa  were.  Ha  &  all  other  good  soules. 
Ha  om.  wif) — nom.  H  nam.  H  ledde  be  abbesse  of  be  holy  gost  wyth  hym 
into.  Ha  there,  inne  om.  HHa  forto.  Ha  vtith  more.  HHa  ioye.  H  ener  man, 
Ha  ony  tong.  Ha  om.  title,  ordeyned.  Ha  om.  bat.  Ha  fayre  doughters.  HHa 
Ry^twysnesse.  H  pesse.  Ha  forto  be  g.  Ha  om.  of  be  abbey.  Ha  om.  ber  he. 
H  bede.  Ha  also  inst.  of  him-self.  Ha  Charitees,  H  to  Charite.  Ha  chamber- 
leyn.  H  wend,  Ha  go.  Ha  om.  aboute.  H  we|w  so,  Ha  where  bat.  H  j^ede, 
Ha  goo.  HHa  om.  and.  H  bede.  HHa  Ry^tfulnesse.  HHa  be  euermor.  wisdom. 
Ha  om.  for  heo  was.  H  sche.  Ha  the  pr.  Ha  om.  he  bad  also.  Ha  om.  for 
heo  was.  H  ladys,  om.  in  Ha.  Ha  Chamberleyns.  Ha  ben  of  most.  H  wyr- 
chip  Ha  worship.  Ha  &  bo.  H  om.  bat.  H  qwo  so,  om.  in  Ha.  HHa  wold 
kepe.  H  be  abbey.  Ha  om.  £  be  Prioresse.  Ha  with  all  her.  HHa  he  schuld 
fynde.  H  mechel,  om.  in  Ha.  myrbe.  Ha  &  after  his  deth.  H  he  were.  H  he 
schuld,  Ha  he  shall.  Ha  to  his.  H  for  mede.  H  kyndom  Ha  kyngdom.  HHa 
om.  eny.  HHa  om.  may2.3.  Ha  om.  Almihti— blood.  H  om.  deore.  H  J$eue. 
forto.  H  om.  and  clene.  H  our*  owen  c.  H  mot  come.  Ha  To  the  which, 
H  &  to  bat.  Ha  bryng  vs  Ihmis  for  his  gret  mercy  Amen.  Pur  charite.  H  be 
loue.  Ha  Explicit  Cart  a  Abbacie  Sancti  Spiritus. 


363 


Poems  of  Ms,  Thornton.1 


I.        JL/orde3  Tkesu  Cryste,  godd  almygfity, 

I  thanke  pe  with  all  my  herte  hally 

That  me  man  schope  and  mad  of  noghte, 

And  of  vile  matere  me  furthe  broghte, 

5  And  my  body,   swa  made  of  vile  matere, 

'  Thow  knyttide  to-gedire  in  loyntes  sere, 

And  my  sawle  made  thurghe  thyn^  In- 

spayre, 

&  gaffe  me  lymra.es  semly  &  faire. 
Fra  a  myrke  downgeon*?  p0u  broghte  me 

righte, 

IO  pat  es  my  modirs  wambe,  to  pzs  lighte ; 
And  Efte  gate  me  as  pi  barne  newe- 

borne 
Thurghe    baptym* ,    pat  was   pe  fendes 

childe  lorne. 
And  fyve  wittes  of  body  p0u  has  gyffen^ 

me, 
And  skyll  ware-w*t<6  pey  sulde  rewlyde 

bee. 

15  And  all-if  I  hafe  done  agayns  pi  lawe, 
Thi  glides  p<?u  will  noghte  fra  me  drawe, 
That  a  false  traytoure  aganes  pe  es  ay 
And  trespas  agayne  the  here  ilke  daye. 
Thow  sendes  me  here  thurghe  pi  pur- 

ueance 

2O  like  daye  my  nedefull  sustenance, 
That  es  to  saye,  met  &  clathe  fre, 
And  all  pat  nedfull  es  to  me. 
Thow   has   tholede    me    &    venged    pe 

noghte 


13.        ./\lmyghty  god  in  tnnite, 
Inmardly  I  thanke  pe 
For  thy  gud  ded,   pat  p0u  me  wroghte, 
And  w/'t^  pi  pfvcyous  blude  me  boghte, 


Of  my  syn*  pat  I  hafe  agayne  pe  wroghte, 
And  ^itt  suffers,   &  gyffes  me  space  25 

To  turne  me  to  pe  &  take  pi  grace. 
And  ay  when<?  I  hafe  fallyn^  in  the  fendis 

bawndon^, 
p0u  has  sauede  me  fra  fynall    dampna- 

cyone 

That  I  ware  for  my  wikkidnes  worthy ; 
Bot  p0u  has  couerde  me  wit/i  pi  mercy,  30 
And  ay  has  sparede  me,  &  ^itt  spares, 
And  kepes  me  fra  pe  deuyllis  snares, 
And    agayne   his   darttes   has   bene    my 

schelde. 
And  has  sauede  me  bathe  in    ^outhe  & 

elde 

Fra  many  ptTells  in  many  sere  stedis,      35 
And  fra  myschance  &  sudayne   dedes. 
For  all  thes  pat  I  hafe  rehersede  here, 
And  for  all  op<r  gudes  &  benfettes  sere 
That  thow  till  me  synfull  caytife 
Hase  gracyousely  done  in  p/s  lyfe,  40 

I  thanke  pe,  lorde,  w/'t/*  all  louyng^; 
And    proyes    pe    p0u    take    me    in    thi 

kepyng^, 
And    saue   me    forthewarde   as    p0u  has 

done, 
And  graunte  me  pi  grace,  whills  I  here 

wonne, 

To  mende  my  lyfe  &  lyfe  in  clewnes,     45 
pat  I  may  wonne  \vitfi  pe  in  blisse  End- 

lesse.     AmenX 


And  of  all  gud  pat  p0u  lennes  me, 
Lorde,  blyssede  mott  f)0u  be ; 
Honour,  loye,  &  louyng 
Be  til  pi  name  wztA-owttyn^  endyng. 
Amen. 


1  Omitting  Will,  of  Nassyngton's   poem   De  Trinitate    et  Unitate  fol.  189  (ed.  Perry),  and  the 
allit.  poem  Of  S.  John  the  Evang.  fol.  231  (ed.  Altengl.  Leg.  N.  F.  p.  467),    I  give  those  shorter 
pieces  which  are ,   or  may  possibly  be ,   R.  Rolle's.     His  name  is  not  given  with  any.     Some  of 
them  have  occurred  before  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64. 

2  The  first  4  poems  immediately  follow  Will,  of  Nassyngtons'  poem,  without  special  title;  the 
first   written    in    long   lines,    the   z^d  and  3*   as   prose,    in    one.     The  first  3  are  inspired  by  St. 
Edmund's  Speculum,    the  2n<^  and  3^  paraphrase   the  prayers  contained  therein,  see  p.  221.  222. 
The  connection  with  Will,  of  Nassyngton's  poem  might  suggest  his  authorship;  but  on  the  other 
hand  these  pieces  are  followed  by  R.  Rolle's  prose  treatises,  and  the  4*^  is  undoubtedly  R.  Rolle's. 

8  gode  crossed  out  after  Lorde. 


364 


Poems  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


.L/orde  god  alweldande, 
I  be-teche  to-daye  in  to  pi  hande 
My  saule  &  my  body, 
And  all  my  ffrendes  specyally, 
5  Bathe  be  quik  and  be  dede : 
Graunt  them  parte  of  my  bede. 
Kepe  vs  all  in  erthe  here, 
Fore  be  pray  ere  of  thi  modyr  dere 
And  all  thy  haloghes  bat  are  in  heuen^, 
10  Fra  be  dedly  synnes  seuen*?, 

And  fra  fandyng  of  be  euyll  wyghte, 


And  ffra  sodayne   dede   bathe   daye 

nyghte. 

Schelde  vs  fra  be  paynes  of  hell, 
bat  bitter  are  to  thole  &  ffell, 
And  vfhh  thi  grace  fulfill  vs  all, 
bat  redy  we  may  be  to  pi  call; 
And  late  vs  neu<?r  parte  fra  be. 
Alls  thow  for  vs  died  one  a  tree, 
Graunte  vs  lorde  bat  [it)  swa  bee, 
Amen,  Amen),  pur  charite. 


IV.       lhmi,  that  diede  one  the  rude  for  be  lufe  of  me, 

And  boghte  me  wz't/j  thi  precious  blode :  thow  hafe  mercy  of  me ; 

Whatt  me  lettes  of  any  thyng  for  to  luffe  the, 

Be  it  me  lefe  be   it  me  latfie,  do  it  awaye  fra  me. 

Ihmi,   of  whayme  all  trewe  luffe  sprynges, 
That  for  my  lufe  tholede  payne, 
Till  lusty  lufe  of  erthely  thynges 
Thow  thole  me  neu^r  turne  agayne. 

In  thi  luffe  be  my  likynge, 
And  there-to  make  me  glade  &   fayne, 
And  for  thy  lufe  to  make  mournynge, 
That  for  my  lufe  walde  be  slayne. 

Amen*  Ametti  Amen)  Amen*  pur  charite. 

(Follow  prose  pieces  bearing  R.  Rolle's  name.) 


V. 


fol.    211. 

2T 

JLhmt  Criste,  saynte  Marye  somie, 

Thurgfr  whayme  bis  werlde  was  worthily 

wroghte, 

I  pray  be  come  and  in  me  wonne 
And  of  all  filthes  dense  my  thoghte. 

5  Ihmi  Criste,  my  godde  verray, 
bat  of  oure  dere  lady  was  borne, 
bou  helpe  now  and  euer  and  aye, 
And  lat  me  neu^r  for  syn^  be  lorne. 

Ihmi  Criste,  goddes  sone  of  heuen^, 
10  bat  for  me  dyede  one  be  rude, 
I  pray  be  here  my  symple  steuen^, 
Thurghe  be  vertue  of  thi  haly  blude. 


Ihmi  Crist,  bat  one  be  thirde  daye 
Fra     dede     to     lyffe     rase     thurgK     thi 

myghte, 

bou  gyffe  me  grace  the  seme  to  paye    if 
And  be  to  wirchiptf  day  and  nyghte. 

Ihmi,  of  whayme  all  gudnes  sprynges, 
Whaym  all  men^  awe  to  lufe  by  righte, 
Thou  make  me  to  3 erne  thi  biddynges 
And  thaym  fullfill  wzt/fc  all  my  myghte. 

Ihmi  Crist,  bat  tholede  for  me 
Paynes  &  angers  bitter  &  felle, 
Late  me  neu^r  be  partede  fra  be 
Ne  thole  be  bitter  paynes  of  helle. 


1  The  i»t  stanza   occurs   as   a  last  stanza  in  a 
Vernon  Ms.  p.  22. 

2  ed,  Perry.    Some  of  the  stanzas  occur  in  the 
is  beyond  doubt. 


Vernon   poem ,   cf.  The  Minor   Poems   of  the 
poems  on  p.  57.  60.  80;  R.  Rolle's  authorship 


(R.  Rolle)  Ihesu  Crist,  s.  Mary  sone.     Prayer  to  the  Trinity  &  S.  Mary.      365 


25  Ihmi  Criste,  welle  of  mercy, 
Of  pete  and  of  all  gudnes, 
Of  all  pe  synnes  pat  euer  did  I 
I  pray  pe  gyffe  me  forgyffnes. 

Ihesu,  to  pe  I  make  my  mane, 
3°  Ihmi,  to  pe  I  calle  and  crye, 

Late  neu^r  my  saule  with  syne  be  slane, 
For  pe  mekillnes  of  pi  mercy. 

Ihmi,   pat  es  my  saueoure, 
pou  be  my  loy  and  my  solace, 
35  My  helpe,  my  hele,  my  cowfortoure, 
And  my  socoure  in  ilke  a  place. 

Ihmi,   pat  vfith  thi  blude  me  boghte, 
Ihmi  pou  make  me  clene  of  synt', 
And  with  pi  lufe  pou  wounde  my  thoghte, 
4°  And  late  me  neu^r-mare  fra  pe  twywne. 

Ihesu,  I  couayte  to  lufe  the, 
And  pat  es  hally  my  ^ernynge  ; 
pare-fore  to  lufe  pe  pou  lere  me, 
And  I  thi  lufe  sail  synge. 

45  Ihesu,  thi  lufe  in  to  me  sende, 
And  with  thi  lufe  pou  me  ffede ; 
Ihmi,   pi  lufe  ay  in  me  lende, 
Thi  lufe  euer  be  my  saule  mede. 

Ihesu,  my  herte  with  lufe  pou  lyghte, 
50  Thi  lufe  me  make  eu^r  to  forsake 
All  werldly  loy,  bathe  day  &  nyghte, 
And  loy  in  foe  anely  to  make. 


Ihesu,  pi  lufe  me  chaufe  w/t^-in, 

So  pat  na  thynge  bot  the  I  seke; 

In  thi  lufe  make  my  saule  to  brywne,      55 

Thi  lufe  me  make  bathe  mylde  &  meke. 

Ihesu  my  loy  and  my  louynge, 

Ihmi  my  comforthe  clere, 

Ihmi  my  godde,  Ihmi  my  kynge, 

Ihmi  with-owttent-  pere  ;  60 

Ihmi  pat  all  base  made  of  noghte, 
Ihmi  pat  boghte  me  dere : 
Iht'j-u,  loyne  pi  lufe  in  my  thoghte, 
Swa  pat  pay  neu^r  be  sere. 

ilht'-m  my  dere  &  my  drewrye,  65 

Delyte  pou  arte  to  synge; 

Ihmi  my  myrthe  and  my  melodye: 

In  to  thi  lufe  me  brynge. 

Ihmi  Ihmi,  my  hony  swete, 

My  herte  -,  my  cowforthynge  :  70 

Ihmi,  all  my  bales  pou  bete, 

And  to  pi  blysse  me  brynge. 

3Iht'JU,  in  thi  lufe  wounde  my  thoghte, 
And  lyfte  my  herte  to  the; 
Ihmi,  my  saule  pat  pou  dere  boghte,     75 
Thi  lufere  mak  it  to  bee. 

Now  Ihmi  lorde,   foou  gyffe  me  grace, 

If  it  be  thi  will, 

That  I  may  come  vn-to  j)i  place, 

And  wonn^r  ay  with  the  stylle.  80 

Explicit  Tractatus.  Explicit,  Amen). 

Thorn to tb  Amen. 


Jr  Adir  and  son^  and  haly  gaste, 
Lorde,  to  pe  I  make  my  mone, 
Stedfaste  kyng  of  myghtes  maste, 
Alle-weldand  gode  sittand  in  trone : 
5  I  praye  foe,  lorde,   pat  pou  be  haste 
To  forgyffe  \)at  I  hafe  mysdone. 

Lorde,  hafe  mercy  of  my  syn^ 
And  brynge  me  owte  of  all  my  care 
Euylle  to  doo  I  couthe  neu^r  blyne, 
IO  I  hafe  ay  wroghte  agaynes  pi  lare  ; 


VI. 


i  Cf.  p.  60.          2  Dd  whart.          3  Cf.  p.  57. 
Minor  Poems  of  the  Vernon  Ms.  p.  16. 

5  Vern.  adds:  Lord  ])at  al  J>is  world  schal  winne, 
Hele  me  ar  i  fonde  and  fare. 


pou  rewe  one  me,  bathe  owte  and  In, 
And  hele  me  of  my  woundes  sare.5 

Fadir  of  heuen^,  pat  all  may, 
I  pray  foe,  lorde,   foat  foou  me  lede 
In  stabyll  trouthe  foe  ryghte  way;  15 

At  rnyn^  Endynge ,  whentf  I  sail  drede, 
Thi  grace  I  aske  bathe  nyghte  &  day  ; 
Hafe  mercy  now  of  my  mysdede. 
Of  myn^  askynge  say  me  noghte  nay, 
Bot  helpe  me,  lorde,  att  all  my  nede.  20 
*  ed.  Perry.     Same  poem  in  Ms.  Vernon:  cf. 


366 


Poems  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


Swete  Ih&ra,  pflt  for  me  was  borne, 
pou  here  my  pnzyere  loude   and   stille. 
For  paynes  pat  me  ere  laide  be-forne, 
Full  ofte  I  syghe  &  wepis  my  fylle ; 
25  Full  ofte  haf  I  bene  for-swourne , 

When  I  hafe  wroghte  agaynes  pi  vfille: 
Thou  late  me  neu^  be  forlorne, 
Lorde,  for  my  dedis  ille. 

Haly  gaste,  I  pray  to  the 
3°  Nyghte  and  day  w/t&  gud  entente: 
In  all  my  sorowe  p0u  cowforthe  me, 
Thi  haly  grace  be  to  me  sente, 
And  late  me  neu^f  bownden^  bee 
In  dedly  syn?,   pat  I  be  schente; 
35  For  Marie  lufe  pat  mayden^  free, 
In  whaym  p<?u  lyghte  verraymente. 

I  pray  pe,  lady  meke  and  mylde, 
pat  p0u  pray  for  my  mysdede, 
For  pe  luffe  of  pat  ilke  childe 
40  pat  pou  saghe  one  pe  rude  blede. 
Ewire  &  ay  haf  I  bene  wylde, 
My  synfull  saule  es  z\\er  in  drede: 
Mercy,  lady  meke  and  mylde1, 
pou  helpe  me  euer  at  all  my  nede. 

45  Mercy,  Mary  mayden^  clene, 

pou  late  me  neu^r  in  syn£  duelle ; 
Pray  for  me  pat  it  be  sene, 
And  schelde  me  fra  pe  fyre  of  helle. 
Certis,  lady,  wele  I  wene 

50  pat  all  my  faamen^  may  p0u  felle; 
For-pi  my  sorowe  to  pe  I  mene, 
Wzt&  drery  mode  my  tale  I  telle. 

Be-thynke  pe,  lady,   euer  and  ay 
pat  of  women^  p<?u  beris  pe  flowr; 

55  For  synfull  men*?,  als  I  pe  say, 
Omr  lorde  hase  done  pe  gret 
Helpe  me,  lady,  so  wele  p#u  may, 
pe  behouse  be  my  cowsailloure : 
Of  consaile,  lady,  I  pe  praye, 

60  And  also  of  helpe  &  of  socoure. 


Nyghte  and  day,  in  wele  &  wa, 

In  all  my  sorowe  pmi  cowforthe  me, 

And  be  my  schelde  agayne  my  faa, 

And  kepe  me,  gyffe  pi  willes  bee, 

Fra  dedly  syn^  pat  will  me  slaa.  65 

Mercy,  lady  faire  and  ffree ! 

pou  take  pat  pe  es  fallens  fraa, 

For  thi  mercy  and  pi  pete. 

At  myn  Endynge  pou  stand  by  me, 
Heyn^  when  I  sail  fouwde  and  ffare,        70 
When*?  I  sail  qwake  and  dredfull  be 
And  all  my  synnes  so[r]we2  full  sare : 
Als  ay  my  hope  hase  bene  in  the, 
I  pray  pe,  lady,  helpe  me  pare, 
For  pe  luffe  of  pe  swotte  tree  75 

pat  Ihmi  sprede  one  his  body  bare. 

Ih&ni,  for  pat  ilke  harde  stounde 
pat  p<?u  walde  one  pe  nide-tre  blede, 
At  myne  Endynge  when^   I  sail  founde 
Hafe  mercy,  lorde,   of  my  mysdede,         go 
And  helpe3  me  pare  of  pe  dedes  wounde, 
And  kepe  me  pare  at  all  my  nede, 
When    dede    me    takes    &    brynges    to 

grounde, 
Lorde,  pare  I  sail  thi  domes  drede. 

For  my  synnes  to  do  penance  55 

Before  my  dede,  lorde,  graunt  p0u  me, 

And  space  of  verray  repentance, 

Inwardly  I  beseke  the. 

In  thi  mercy  es  my  fyaunce : 

Of  my  foly  p0u  hafe  pete,  90 

And  of  me  take  p0u  na  vengeance, 

Lorde,  for  pi  debonerte. 

Lorde,  als  pou  erte  full  of  myghte, 
Whase  lufe  es  swetteste  for  to  taste : 
My  lyfe  amende,  my  dedis  pou  ryghte,  9« 
For  Marie  lufe  pe  mayden^  chaste; 
And  brynge  me  to  pat  ilke  syghte4, 
One  pe  to  see  pare  loy  es  maste, 
One  pe  to  see  pat  loyfull  syghte, 
Fadir   and   Sonm?   and    pe  Haly  gaste.   l< 
Amen).  Explicit. 


1  Vern.  Merci  ladi,  bou  me  schilde. 
<  Vern.  liht. 


2  Ms.  sowe ;  Vern.  I  rewe. 


Vern.  hele. 


(R.  Rolle)  A  prayer.     When  Adam  dalfe  &c.  367 

VII. 

Ihesu  Criste  goddes  sun?  of  heuen?,  Kyng  of  kynges  and  lorde  of  lordes,  Mi 
lorde  &  my  godd:  For  be  mekenes  of  pi  clene  incarnacione  /  And  thurghe  pe 
meryte  of  pi  harde  passione  /  Safe  vs  fra  dampnacione  /  Socoure  vs  in  tempta- 
cione  /  And  gyffe  vs  thi  benysone  /  And  of  all  oure  wykkidnes  playne  perdone  : 
And  full  remyssione  /  thurgfi  verray  cowtrission?  /  nakede  cowfessione  /  and  worthi 
satisfaccione.  //  Graunte  vs  alswa,  lorde  godd ,  in  heuen?  ay-lastande  mansione  / 
and  ever  to  se  pe  cherefull  visione  /  of  thi  faire  face ;  for  pe  lufe  pat  pou  sche- 

wede  to  mankynde   AmenV 

Explicit. 

vm. 

fol.  213.       (Cf.  p.  73,  where  the  text  of  Ms.  Dd  V.  64  is  given). 

When  Adam  dalfe  and  Eue  spane,  go  spire  if  p<m  may  spede, 
Whare  was  pan?  pe  pride  of  man?,  pat  nowe  merres  his  mede? 
Of  erthe  and  lame1,  as  was  Adam  makede  to  noye  and  nede, 
We  er  als  he  maked  to  be,  whills  we  pis  lyfe  sail  lede. 
5  W/t/*  I.  and  E.,  borne  er  we,   as  Salomon?  vs  highte, 

To  trauell  here  whills  we  er  fere,  as  fewle  vn-to  j)e  flyghte. 

In  werlde  we  ware  casten?  for  care,  to  we  ware  worthi  to  wende 
To  wele  or  wa,  ane  of  pase  twa  to  welde  wzt^-owtten?  ende. 
For-thi,  whills  pou  may  helpe  pe  nowe,  amend  pe  &  hafe  mynde 
10  When  pou  sail  ga,  he  bese  thi  ffaa  pat  here  was  are  thi  ffrende. 
W*t/j  E.   and  I.,  I  rede  forthi,  vmthynke  pe  ay  of  thre : 
What  we  er,  and  whate  we  warre,  and  whate  pat  we  sail  be. 

Ware  p0u  als  wysse  proysede  in  pryce  als  was  Salomon?, 
Wele  fairere  fade  of  bane  &  blude  ba[n]2  was  Absolon?, 
15  Strenghely3  and  strange  to  wreke  pi  wrang?  as  eu?r  was  Sampson?: 
pou  ne  myghte  a  day,  na  mare  |)an  j)ay,   pe  dede  w/t//-stand  allone. 
W*b&  I.  and  E.,  pe  dede  to  be  sail  com?  als  I  pe  ken?, 
Bot  pou  ne  wate  in  whate-kyn  state,  ne  how,  ne  whare,  ne  whewne. 

4When  bemes  sail  blawe  rewly  one  rawe,  to  rekkenynge  buse  vs  ryse, 
20  When  he  sail  come  vn-to  bat  dome,  Ih?.ra,  to  sitt  lustyse. 

£at  are  was  leue,  pane  mon?  be  greue,  when?  all  gastis  sail  ryse; 

I  say  bat  pan?  to  synfull  man?  sary  bese  bat  assise ; 

Wz't/;  I.  and  E.,  he  sail  noghte  flee,  if-all  he  his  giltes  fele, 

He  ne  may  hym  hide,   bot  pare  habyde,  ne  fra  bat  dome  appelle. 

25       Of  all  thyne  aughte,  bat  pe  was  raughte,  sail  pou  noghte  hafe,  I  hete, 
Bot  seuen?  fote,  pare-in  to  rote,  and  a  wyndynge-schete. 
For-pi  pou  gyffe,  whils  p<m  may  lyfe,  or  all  gase  pat  p<m  may  gete, 
Thi  gaste  fra  godd?,   pi  gudes  olodde,  thi  flesche  foldes5  vndir  fete. 
Wz't/z  I.  and  E.,  full  sekire  p0u  be  bat  thyne  executurs 

30  Of  be  ne  will  rekke,  bot  skikk^  ande  skekke  full  baldely  in  thi  boures. 

i  Dd  slame.  2  Ms.  fcat.  8  Dd  Strengthy.  «  This  stanza  is  om.  in  Dd  and  is  spurious, 
as  Doomsday  is  inconsistent  with  the  original  plan.  8  Dd  fowled.  8  Dd  skelk. 


368 


Poems  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


*To  dome  we  drawe,  be  sothe  to  schawe  in  lyfe  pat  vs  was  lente ; 
No  latyn<?  ne  lawe  may  helpe  an  hawe,  bot  rathely  vs  repente. 
The  croice,  pe  crowfle,  {)e  spere  bese  bowne  pat  Ihmi  ruggede  &  rente, 
The  nayles  ruyde  sail  pe  conclude  with  thyne  awen^  argument. 
35  Wz't/z  E.  and  O.,  take  kepe  pare-to,  als  Criste  hym-selfe  vs  kende: 
We  cowme  and  goo,  to  wele  or  wo  pat  dredfull  dome  sail  ende. 

Of  will  and  witt,   pat  vesettis  it  in  worde2,  and  pat  we  wroghte 
Rekken^  we  mon^,  and  ^elde  reson^  full  rathely  of  oure  thoghte ; 
Sail  no  fallace3  cufere  our  case,  ne  consaile  gette  we  noghte, 
40  No  gyfte  ne  grace  nop^r  pare  gase,  bot  brwke  as  we  hafe  broghte.4 
Wz't/j  E.   and  I.,  I  rede  forthi,  be  warre  nowe  vtith  thi  werkes: 
For  terymes  of  ^ere  hase  p#u  nane  here,  thi  medes  sail  be  thi  merkes. 

What  so  it  be  pat  we  here  see,  pe  fairehede  of  thi  face, 
Thi  ble  so  bryghte,  thi  mayne,  thi  myghte,   pi  mouthe  p«t  myrthis  mase: 
45  All  mone  als  was  to  powdir  passe,  to  graue  when^  pat  f>0u  gase ; 
A  grysely  geste  pan  bese  p<?u  preste^  In  armes  for  to  brace! 
Wzt/fc  I.   and  E.,  for  leue  pou  me,  bese  nane,  as  I  pe  hete, 
Of  all  pi  kytft,  dare  slepe  pe  witfi  a  nyghte  vndir^  pi  schete. 

Sit  nomen  domini  benedictum  ex  hoc  nunc  et  usque  in  seculum  Amen. 

Ihesu  Criste,  haue  mercy  one  me, 

Als  p0u  erte  kynge  of  mageste, 

And  forgifife  me  my  sywnes  all 

pat  I  hafe  don^e  batRe  grete  and  small, 

And  brynge  me,  if  it  be  thi  will, 

Till  heuen<?  to  wonntf  ay  vrith  be  styll.     Amen). 


fol.  219. 

Ihesu,  thi  swetnes  wha  moghte  it  se 
And  pare-of  hafe  a  clere  knaweynge, 
All  erthely  lufe  sulde  bitter  bee 
Bot  thyne  allane,  wzt^-owtten^  lesynge. 
5  I  pray  pe,  lorde,  pat  lare  lere  mee 
Aftir  pi  lufe  to  hafe  langynge, 
And  sadly  sett  my  herte  one  pe, 
In  pi  lufe  to  hafe  ly kynge. 

So  lykand  lufe  in  erthe  nane  es 
10  In  saule,  wha  sa  couthe  hertly  se ; 
To  lufe  hym  wele  ware  mekill  blysse  : 
For  kyng  of  lufe  callede  es  he. 


IX. 


trewe  lufe  I  walde,  I-wysse, 
So  harde  to  hym  bownden^  be 
I*at  my  herte  ware  hally  hys, 
And  op<?f  lufe  lykede  noghte  me. 

If  I  for  kyndnes  suld  luf  my  kyn£, 
Ay  me  thynke  pus 7  in  my  thoghte 
By  kyndly  skyll  I  sulde  be-gyn^ 
At  hym,   pat  me  gun£  make  of  noghte. 
Hys  semblant  he  sette  my  saule  wzt^-In, 
And  this  werlde  for  me  he  wroghte, 
As  fadir  of  fude,  my  lufe  to  wyn£, 
For  herytage  in  heuen^  he  me  boghte. 


1  This  stanza  is  om.  in  Dd.        2  Dd  Of  welth  &  witt,  fris  sal  be  hitt,  in  world  Jwt  &c.        3  Dd 
fals.  <  Dd  boght.  5  Dd  J)i  breste.  6  ed.  Perry.     Same  poem  is  extant  in  Ms.  Vernon 

(Minor  Poems  p.  45),  Lamb.  853  (ed.  Furnivall  Hymns  &c.,  p.  8),  Rawl.  A  389,  and  Ms.  Harl. 
1706  fol.  9.  The  authorship  of  this  piece  is  doubtful,  as  the  o-forms  (sore,  lore,  wore)  are  fre 
quent;  but  perhaps  allowance  must  be  made  for  the  metre;  the  same  poet  wrote  the  poem  on 
Hell,  Purgatory  &c.  in  Ms.  Reg.  17  B  xvn.  "  r.  ban. 


Ihesu,  thi  swetnes  wha  moghte  it  se. 


25       As  modir,  of  hym^  I  may  make  mynde, 
rat  are  my  byrtlle  to  me  tuke  hede, 
And  seyn?  wzt//  baptymi?  weschede    p#t 

strynde 

W*tA  synn^  was  fylede  w/t//  Adames  dede  ; 
Vfith  nobill  mete  he  nureschede  my  kynde, 

30  For  w/t/z  his  flesche  he  walde  me  fede — 
A  better  fude  may  na  mam'  fynde, 
For  to  lastande  lyfe  it  will  vs  lede. 

My  brofvr  and  syster  he  es  by  skyll, 
For  he  saide  &  lerede  pat  lare 

35   I'at  wha  sa  dide  his  fadyr  will, 

Systers  and  brepfr  till  hym  bay   ware ; 
My  kynde  also  he  tuke  bare-till. 
Full  trewly  I  tryste  |>are-fore 
l*at  he  will  neu<?r  lat  me  spyll, 

40  Bot  \vi\Ji  his  mercy  sal[u]el  my  sore. 

2  Eftyr  his  lufe  me  bude  lange 
3 For  he  has  myn^  full  dere  boghte : 
When  I  was  went  fra  hym  w/tA  wrange, 
Fra  h  client  to  erthe  he  me  soghte, 
45  My  wrechede  kynde  for  me  he  fange 
And  all  his  noblay  sette  at  noghte, 
Pouerte  he  suffirde  &  penance  strange, 
To  blysse  agayne  are  he  me  broghte. 

When<?  I  was  thralle,  to  make  me  fre 
50  Mi  lufe  fra  heuen*  till  erthe  hym  ledde. 
My  lufe  allane  hafe  walde  he, 
(And  bat  my  saule  sulde  sauede  bee:)4 
I*are-fore  he  laide  his  lyfe  in  wedde ; 
\\itii  my  faa  he  faughte  for  mee, 
Woundide  he  was  &  bitterly  bledde, 
55  His  prrcyous  blude  full  of5  plentee 
Full  petevosely  for  me  was  schede. 

His  sydes  full  bla  and  bludy  ware, 
That  sum-tynu?  ware  full  brighte  of  blee ; 
His  herte  was  perchede  w*'tA  a  spere ; 
60  His  bludy  woundes  was  reuthe  to  see. 
My  raunson^,  I-wys,  he  payede  pare 
And  gaffe  his  lyfe  for  gylte  of  me. 
His  dulefull  dede  burde  do6  me  dere 
And  p^rche  myn^  herte  for  pure  petee. 




For    pete    myn^    herte     burde    breke  65 

in-two, 

To  his  kyndenes  if  I  tuke  hede: 
Encheson?  I  was  of  all  his  wo, 
He  sufferde  full  harde  for  my  mysdede  ; 
To  lastand  lyfe  for  I  sulde  goo, 
The  dede  he  tholede  in  his  manhede.     70 
When  his  will  was,  to  lyfe  also 
He  rasse  agayne  thurghe  his  godhede. 

Till  heuen^  he  wentew/t/z  mekill  blysse,  • 
Whem'  he  hade  venqwyste  his  bataile. 
His  banert*  full  brade  display ede  es,         75 
When  so  my  faa  will  me  assaile. 
Wele  aghte  myne  herte  pant'  to  be  his, 
For  he  es  brtt  frende  |)tft  neurr  will  faile ; 
And  na  thynge  he  will  [hafe],  I-wys, 
Bot  trewe  lufe  for  his  trauaile.  80 

Thus  walde  my  spouse  for  me  fyghte, 
And  woundide  for  me  he  was  full  sare, 
For  my  lufe  his  dede  was  dyghte  : 
What  kyndnes  myghte  he  do  me  mare? 
To  s;elde  hym  his  lufe  hafe  I  na  myghte,   85 
Bot  lufe  hym  lelly  I  sulde  pare-fore, 
And  wyrke  his  will  with  werkes  ryghte, 
That  he  me  Icryde  w/t//  lufely  lore. 

His  lufly  lare  w/t/;  werkes  fulfill 
Wele    aghte    me    wreche ,     if    I    ware  90 

kynde ; 

Nyghte  and  daye  to  wirke  his  will, 
And  eu<:rmare  hafe  hym  in  mynde. 
Bot  gastely  Enemyse  greues  me  ill, 
And  my  frele  flesche  makes  me  blynde  ; 
Thare-fore  his  mercy  I  take  me  till,        95 
For  betthv  bute  I  kane  nane  fynde. 

Bettir^  bute  es  nane  to  me 
Bot  till  his  mercy  trewly  me  take, 
That  \vit/i  his  blude  made  me  fre 
And  me,  a  wreche,  his  sun^  walde  make.  100 
I  praye  pat  lorde  for  his  pete, 
For  my  synn<?  noghte  me  forsake, 
Bot  gyffe  me  grace  syn*  for  to  flee, 
And  in  his  lufe  lat  me  neu^r  slake. 


1   al.  salue.        *  Vern.  has  a  stanza  more.        «  ffor  he  has  boghte  myne  full  dere,  is  crossed 
out  before.        «  This  verse,  om.  iu  Vern.,  is  intercalated.        »  Vern.  ful  gret.          8  Vern.  be. 

24 


370 


Poems  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


105     A    Ihttu,     for    be     swetnes     bat    in 

the  es, 

Hafe  mynde  of  me  when  I  sail  wende ; 
Wz't^  stedfaste  troutfte  my  wittes  wysse, 
And  defende  me  fra  be  fende; 


For  bi  mercy  forgyffe  me  my  mysse, 
That    wikkede    werkes    my    saule    ne  no 

schende ; 

Bot  brynge  me,  lorde,  vn-to  bi  blysse, 
"With  be   to  wonn*  wzt/z-owtten*  Ende. 

AmenX  Explicit. 


fol.    222. 


X. 

(Same  poem  in  Ms.  Dd  V.  64,  see  p.  81). 


Iri  loy  be  ilke  a  dele  to  s*me  thi  godd*  to  paye, 
For  all  this  worldes  wele,   pou  sese,  it  wytes  a-waye; 
Thow  fande  his  lufe  to  fele,   pat  laste  will  vfhh  the  aye, 
And  pan  pi  care  sail  kele,  and  pyne  tz*me  the  to  playe. 

5          In  Criste  pou  caste  thi  thoghte,  hate  all  wrethe  and  pryde, 
And  thynke  pat  he  pe  boghte  with  woundis  depe  and  wyde. 
When*  p<m  [hym^-selfe  base  soghte,  full  wele  the  sail  be-tyde : 
Of  reches  rekke  pou  noghte,  fra  helle  pat2  he  the  hyde. 

3Thay  tz«-ne  pair*  day  to  nyghte  pat  lufes  pis  erthely  syn*, 
10     And  slayne  ere  in  pat  fyghte  pare  we  oure  lyfe  sail  wyn*  ; 
For  pat  pay  lufe  vnryghte,   and  pare-of  kane  noghte  blyn*, 
£ay  lose  be  lande  of  lyghte,  and  helle  sittis  with-in. 

Thou  do  als  I  be  rede,  lyftande  vpe  thi  herte, 
And  say  till  hym*  was  ded:   » Criste,  my  hele  pou  arte«. 
15     Syn*  synkes  ay  as  lede,   and  ferre  falles  fra  qwerte, 

For-pi  stabill  thi  stede  bare  smyttynge  may  noghte  smerte. 

3Lere  to  lufe  thi  kynge,  whas  lufe  eu*r-more  will  laste, 
Haue  hym  in  thi  thynkynge,   and  feste  his  lufe  sa  faste 
That  for  nane  erthely  thynge  na  qwayntyse  may  it  caste: 
20     Thi  sange  (and  t)hi  swetynge  he  will  be  at  be  laste. 

In  Criste  bou  couayte4  thi  solace,  his  lufe  chaunge  thi  chere, 
With  loy  f)0u  take  his  grace5,  and  syghe6  to  sytt  hym*  nere, 
Eu*r  sekande  his  face  pou  make  pi  saule  clere : 
He  ordaynes  hye  thi  place  if  b<?u  pis  lyfe7  will  lere. 

25         Thou  kepe  his  byddynges  ten*,  halde  the  fra  dedly  syn*, 
For-sake  be  loy  of  men*,   bat  bou  his  lufe  may  wyn* : 
Thi  herte   of  hym*  sail  bryn*,  T,our  lufe  sail  neu*r  twyn* ; 
Langynge  he  will  be  len*  to  won*  heuen*  wz't/z-in. 

Thow  thynke  of  his  mekenes,  how  pur*  pat  he  was  borne, 
30     Be-halde  his  bludy  flesche,  his  heide  pungede  v?i\h  thorne ; 
£i  lufe  bat8  it  noghte  lesse,  he  fande  be  for-lorne 
To  s*me  hym  in  swetnes,  for  all  bat  hafe  we  sworne. 


1  om.        2  Dd  bot. 
sekc.        7  Dd  his  lufe. 


3  This  stanza  is  wanting  in  Dd. 
8  Dd  lat, 


Dd  knyt.        5  Dd  trace.        6  Dd 


(R.  Rolle)  £i  ioy  be  like  a  dele  &c. 

bi  herte  to  flee  all  bis  werldes  care, 
That  bou  in  ryste  may  be ;   bou  salfe  bi  saules  sare ; 
35     His  lufe  take  it  to  be  and  lufe  hym  mare  &  mare : 

His  face  bat  bou  may  see,  when  bou  sail  heben?  fare. 

If  bou  be  in  fandynge,   of  lufe  bou  base  grete  nede, 
To  stedde  be  in  stabillynge 2,  and  gyffe  |>e  grace  to  spede. 
Thow  duell  ay  w/'t/*  bi  kynge  and  in  his  lufe  be  fede : 
40     For  littill  I  hafe  cuwnynge  to  tell  of  his  fairhede. 

Bot  lufe  hym  at  thi  myghte,  whills  bou  ert  lyfande  here, 
And  luke  vpe  to  bat  syghte  bat  mon?3  be  the  so  dere  ; 
Say  till  hym?  day  and  nyghte:   »when?  may  I  neghe  be  nere? 
Rayse  me  vpe  to  be  ryghte4  thi  melodye  to  here«. 

45         In  that  lufe5  be  stedde  bat  bou  be  ay  lufande5, 

And  gyffe  hym  lufe  to  wedde  bat  bou  wz't/z  hym  will  stande: 
Ioy  in  thi  breste  es  bredde  when?  b0u  erte  hym  lufande, 
Thi  saule  ban  base  he  fedde  in  swete  lufe  ay  brennande. 

6 All  vanytese  for-sake  If  bou  his  lufe  will  fele, 
50     Thi  herte  bou  hym  by-take,  he  kane  it  kepe  full  wele: 
Thi  myrthe  na  man?  may  make,   of  godd?  es  ilke  a  dele ; 
Thi  thoghte  late  it  noghte  qwake,  thi  lufe  late  it  noghte  kele. 

Of  syne  be  bitt?mes,  thow  flee  ay  faste  |)are-fraa, 
This  werldes  wikkednes,  luke  it  noghte  witfi  be  gaa: 
55     This  erthely  besynes,   bat  hase  men*?  wirkede  waa, 
Thi  lufe  it  will  make  lesse,  if  bou  it  to  be  taa. 

All  we  lufe  som?  thynge,   bat  knawynge  hase  of  skyll, 
And  hase  bare-in  lykynge,  when  it  may  com*?  vs  till : 
For-thi  doo  Cristes  byddynge  and  lufe  hym  als  he  will, 
60     Whas  lufe  hase  nane  endynge,  and  loye  w*t/;-owtten?  ill. 

Thay  bat  lufes  fleschly,  ere  lykenede  to  be  swyne, 
In  filthe  ban  will  bay  lye,  thaire  fairehede  will  bay  ryn)e, 
Thair?  lufe  paries  purely,  and  puttede  es  in  pyne: 
Swett?r  es  lufe  gastely,   pat  neu?r-mare  will  d(wyne). 

65         If  bou  lufe,  whils  bou  may,  the  kynge  of  mageste, 
thi  wa  wendis  away,  thi  hele  hyes  to  be, 
thi  nyghte  twmes  in  to  day,  thi  blysse  mon?  euer  be  ; 
When  bou  erte  as  I  say,  I  pray  pe  thynke  one  mee. 

Our?  thoghtes  sail  we  sette  to-gedire  in  heuen?  to  duelle, 
70     For  bare  be  gude  er  mette,  {at  Criste  haldes  fra  helle; 

When  we  cure  synns  hafe  grett,   be[n]7  tythandes  may  we  telle, 
bat  we  fra  ferre  hase  fette  be  lufe  bat  man?8  sail  felle. 


i  This  stanza  is  wanting  in  Dd.  2  Dd  stallyng.  a  Dd  vnto  bi  syght  ]>at  nane.  *  Dd 
bi  lyght.  s  Dd  lyfe  ...  lyuand.  «  This  is  a  separate  poem  in  Dd,  see  p.  79.  '  Ms.  be. 
•  Dd  nane  may. 

24* 


372 


Poems  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


The  werlde,  caste  it  byhynde,  and  say:  »Ihmi,  my  swete, 
Faste  in  thi  hife  me  bynde,  and  gyffe  me  grace  to  grete ; 
75     To  lufe  the  turne  my  kynde,  and  for  to  lufe  the  I  hete, 
that  I  thi  lufe  may  fynde,  bat  will  my  bales  wele  bete. 

Witfi  lufe  wounde  me  wzt&-in,  and  to  bi  lyghte  me  lede ; 
thow  make  me  clene  of  syne,  bat  me  thare  noghte  be  drede ; 
As  bou,  to  saue  mantf  kyn^,  sufFerd  bi  sydes  to  blede, 
80     Gyfe  me  witt  to  wyne  the  syghte  of  be  to  mede«. 

His  lufe  es  (trayst)  and  trewe,  who  so  hym  lufeande  ware; 
Sen  firste  bat  I  it  knewe,  it  kepide  me  fro  care, 
I  fand  it  emer  new  to  lere  me  goddes  lare, 
And  now  thare  me  noghte  re  we  bat  I  haffe  sufferde  sare. 

85         In  lufe  thi  herte  bou  heghe,  and  fyghte  to  felle  be  fende; 
thi  dayes  sail  be  vndreghe  [bat  be  na  sorow  schende]1; 
When*?  thi  ded  neghes  neghe  and  thow  sail  heben?  wende, 
Thow  sail  hym  se  wzt&  eghe  and  come  to  Criste  thi  frende  . 
(end  wanting;   a  leaf  torn  out). 


fol.  276^. 

1  he  begynnywg  es  of  thre, 
Full  mekill  bmn  men  may  see, 
And  for-thi  I  will,   or  I  passe, 
Schewe  whate  man  firste  was. 
5  Whilom,  when  a  man  was  noghte, 
Bothe  vnfo^nne  and   vnforthe-broghte, 
He  was  getyn^,  als  it  was  knawen^, 
Thurgli  sedis  man  and  sedis  sawen^; 
His  modir  cowsayued  hym  synfully, 
IO  And  bare  hym  sythen^  in  hir  body 
Wz't/z  mekill  bale  bothe  nyghtes  &  dayes, 
Als  Dauid  in  the  psaltyre  sayse: 

Ecce  enim  [in]  iniquitatibus  con- 
ceptus  sum,  fy  in  peccatis  concepit 
me  mater  mea, 

»Loo,  he  sayse,  whate  manes  kynd  es : 
I  am  consayued  in  wykkydnes, 
15  And  my  modir  co/zsayued  me 
In  mekill  syn^  and  caytefete«. 
Than  duelled  man*?  in  a  dongeowne, 
In  care  and  grete  corupcion* ; 
Thare  he  fande  non^  ofyer  fode 
20  Bot  wlatesonv  glete  &  lopird  blode 


XI2. 


&  stynke  &  fylthe,  als  I  sayd  are, 
Wz't/z  the[r]  he  was  fyrste  noresched  bare. 
And  b^r-aft^r,  when?  he  borne  sold  bee, 
Bathe  hade  bale  his  modir  and  he. 
To  be  werlde  he  com  a  wrechid  wyghte,   25 
Bathe  wztAowtten<?  strenghe  &  myghte ; 
Nowb^r  myghte  he  go  ne  stande, 
Ne  helpe  hyw-selfe  wz't/z  fote  ne  hande. 
Man  es  mare  wrechide,  borne  \n  bedde, 
ban  bestes  bat  in  forestes  are  bredde :   30 
For  ylke  a  beste  one  grownde  will  ga 
Als-tyte  efter  be  byrthe,  to  or  fraa, 
And  man  may  nob^'  ga  ne  crepe, 
Bot  lygge  welterand  wz't/z  wa  &  wepe. 
The  kynde  es  so  combyrde  wz't/z  kare,    35 
It  kane  noghte  do  bot  cry  and  rare; 
And  by  be  cryinge  knawe  bay  ban^ 
Wheb^r  it  be  mantf  or  woman^. 
And  it  [es]  tane  by  lettirs  twa: 
If  it  be  man,   ban  sayse  it  A : 
bat  letter  es  firste  of  his  name 
bat  was  cure  forme  3-fadir  Adame; 
And  if  be  childe  a  woman  bee, 


i  a  half-line  om.  in  the  Ms.  «  This  poem  is  part  of  the  Prick  of  Conscience,  v.  438— S5]f  i 
the  text,  however,  differs  much,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  believe  the  differences  to  be  merely 
svarious  readings*.  3  Ms.  formed. 


(R.  Rolle)  The  beginning  of  man's  life. 


373 


When  it  es  borne  baw  sayse  it  E : 
45  And  bat  letter  es  firste  alswa 

Of  one  bat  wroghte  vs  all  oure  waa. 
There-fore  a  clerkke  on  b/s  manere 
Made  this  verse  of  metir  here : 

Dicentes  E  vcl  A,  quotquot  nas- 
cuntur  ab  Eua, 

He  sayse:  »all  tha  bat  sail  be  borne 
50  Of  Eue,  als  I  hafe  said  be-forne, 

At  baire  berynge  whate-some  bay  bee, 
Thay  sail  saye  owfvr  A  or  E.« 
And  bus  es  all  owre  begynynge 
With"  greuosnes  &  gret  gretynge, 
55  And  cares  bat  kyndly  comes  to  vs; 
And  for-thi  Innocent  sayse  thus: 

Onmes  nascimur  eiulantes ',  vt 
nature  nostre  miseriam  exprima- 
mus, 

He  sayse :  »alle  are  [we]  borne  gretande 
And  makand  sorowfull  semblande, 
For  to  schewe  bere  oure  wrechidnes«. 
60  And  for  oure  kynd  comyn^  til  vs  es, 
thus  when  tym£  cowmes  of  our  byrthe, 
Alle  make  we  murnywg  &  no  myrthe. 
When  man  es  borne,   ban  es  he  bare 
And  febyll;  so  sail  he  hythent-  fare; 
65  One  b/s  thynge  sold  we  thynke   |)an<?, 
For  thus  sayse  lob  bat  haly  mam". 

Nudus  egressus  sum  de  vtero 
matris  mee ,  et  nudus  reuertar 
illuc, 

»Nakid,  he  sayse,  I  am  comen^  fra 
Mi  modirs  wambe  w*tA  mekill  wa, 
And  nakide  sail  I  wende  away, 
70  W/t//-owtten£  drede,  at  my  laste   day«. 


Thus  es  a  man  at  be  firste  comynge 

Nakid,  &  brynges  w/tA  hyw  no  thynge, 

Bot  in  a  rywme  bat  es  wlatesome 

Es  he  clede  when^  he  sail  come, 

bat  es  noghte  bot  a  blody  skynne,  75 

bat  he  was  lathely  lappede  In* 

In  be  wambe  thare  he  fyrste  laye, 

that  schamefull  thynge  es  for  to  saye, 

And  foulle[r]  to  here,   als  sayse  be  buke, 

And  alb^r-foulleste  one  to  luke.  80 

Thus  es  ylk  man<?,  als  we  may  see, 

Borne  in  care  and  kayteftee ; 

And  for  to  dre  w*tA  dole  his  dayes, 

Als  lob  sothely  hym-selfe  sayse: 

Homo  natus  de  Muliere ,  brctii 
viuens  temporc  rcpletur  multis 
miscriis, 

»Man£  borne  of  woman^  es  noghte  ells  85 
Bot  lyfe[and]2  schorte  tyme,  als  he  telles, 
And  ever  fulfilled  of  sorowes  sere 
Alle  be  tyme  bat  he  duellis  here«. 
Alswa,  to  be  a  man  borne  es 
Ener  in  trauayle,  as  lob  witnes:  90 

Homo  naccitur  ad  laborcm,  sicut 
an  is  ad  v  datum, 

»A  man  es  borne  trauayle  to  drye, 
Als  a  fowle  es  for  to  flye«. 
For  in  this  lyfe  no  rystynge  es, 
Bot  grete  trauayle  &  besynes. 
Als-swa  es  man,  when  he  es  borne,        95 
the  fende  sone  &  fra  god  lorne, 
Till  he  thurgti  goddis  grace  may  come 
To  baptyme  &  to  crystyndome. 
Thus  may  a  man<?  see  his  lyfe  ay-whare 
Full  of  caytefte  and  of  care.  100 


XII.3 
fol.  279. 

Memento  Homo  Quod  Cinis  Es, 
Et  in  cenercm  Reuerteris. 


Perce  michi  domine,  nichil 
enim  sunt  dies  mei ;  quid  est 
homo  quia  (magnificas  eum)? 


Erthe  owte  of  erthe:  es  wondirly  wroghte, 

Erthe  base  getyn  one  erthe:  a  dignyte  of  noghte, 

Erthe  appom?  erthe:  base  sett  alle  his  thoghte, 

How  bat  erthe  appon<?  erthe:  may  be  heghe  broghte. 


Limus 

Homo 
primus 

i  Ms.  emulantes.  *  Ms.  lyfe  &.  •  ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces;  an  enlarged  text  with  7  addi 
tional  stanzas  is  extant  in  Ms.  Lamb.  853,  ed.  Furnivall  Hymns  &c.  p.  88;  an  old  poem  on  the 
same  theme,  in  alternate  Engl.  and  Latin  stanzas  (a  6  vv.),  in  Ms.  Harl.  913,  fol.  62,  ed.  in  Keu 
Ant.  II,  216,  and  Furnivall  Early  Engl.  Poems  Phil.  Soc.  1862,  p.  150. 


374 

Sordens; 

Mutare 
Nequimus 


5  Erthe  appon*  erthe:  wolde  be  a  kynge; 

Bot  howe  ptzt  erthe  to  erthe  sail:  thynkis  he  no-thynge. 
When*  erthe  bredis  erthe:  and  his  rentis  home  brynge1, 
Thane  schalle  erthe  of  erthe:  hafe  full  harde  partynge. 


:      Erthe  appon*  erthe:  wynnys  castells  and  towrrys, 
10  Thane  saise  erthe  vn-to  erthe:  «this  es  alle  owrris«; 
Vnde  '    When*  erthe  appon*  erthe:   base  bigged  vp  his  bowrris, 

Thane  schalle  erthe  for  erthe :   suffire  scharpe  scowrrys. 

Erthe  gose  appon*  erthe:  as  golde  appon*  golde: 
Superbimus?   TT 

He  that  gose  appon*  erthe:  gleterande  as  golde, 

15  Lyke  als  erthe  neu*f-more:  goo  to  erthe  scholde, 
Terram  And  ytte  schall  erthe  vn-to  erthe:  ^a  rathere  pan*  he  wolde. 

Terra  Now  why  pat  erthe  luffis  erthe:  wondire  me  thynke, 

*    ,.        2          Or  why  pat  erthe  for  erthe:  scholde  op*r  swete  or  swynke; 

For  when*  pat  erthe  appon*  erthe:   es  broghte  w/tA-in  brynke, 
20  Thane  schalle  erthe  of  erthe:  hafe  a  foulle  stynke. 

Mors  Soluit  Omnia. 


1  this  v.  repeated  f.  279^.        2  Same  v.  see  p.  424  v.  165. 


Appendix  I. 


Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton1 


i.     (2  Charms  for 

fol.  176. 

I.     A  charme  for  be  tethe-werke. 

Say  be  charme  thris  to  it  be  sayd  IX 
ty(mes),  and  ay  thris  at  a  charem- 
ynge. 
I  conjoxire  the,  laythely  beste,  vrtth  bat 

ilke  spere 

bat  Longyous  in  his  hande  gan£  bere, 
And  also  w*t&  ane  hatte  of  thorne 
bat  one  my  lordis  hede  was  borne, 
W*'tA  alle  pe  wordis  mare  and  lesse, 
be  Office  of  be  Messe, 
my  lorde  &  his  xn  postills, 
oure  lady  &  hir  x  Maydenys, 
Saynt  Margrete  be  haly3  quene, 
10  Saynt  Katmn  be  haly  virgyne, 

IX   tymes   goddis   forbott ,    p0u  wikkyde 

worme, 

bat  eiur  bmi  make  any  rystynge4, 
Bot  awaye  mote  b0u  wende 
To  be  erde  &  be  stane. 

II. 

15  Thre  gude  brejw  are  5je5, 
Gud  gatis  gange  ^e, 
Haly  thynges  seke  :$e. 


the  tooth-ache.2) 

He  says,  will  7}e  telle  me? 

He  sais,  blissede,  lorde,  mot  ^e  be, 

It  may  neu^r  getyn?  be,  20 

Lorde,  bot  ^our  willis  be. 

Settis  doting  appontf  T,otir  knee, 

Gretly  athe  suere  z;e  me 

By  Mary  Modir  mylke  so  fre ; 

There  es  no  man*;  \)a\.  eiur  hase  nede,  25 

5^e  schall  hyw  charme  &  aske  no  mede. 

And  here  sail  I  lere  it  the. 

As  be  lewis  wondide  me, 

bay  wende  to  wonde  me  fra  pe  grounde : 

I  helyd  my-selfe  bathe  hale  &  sounde.   30 

Ga  to  be  cragge  of  Olyuete6, 

Take  oyle  de  bayes,   ptft  es  so  swete, 

And  thris  abowte  this  worme  7,e  strayke7. 

This  bethe  pe  worme  pat  schotte  noghte, 

Ne  kankire  noghte,  ne  falowe   noghte;   35 

And  als  clere  hale  fra  pe  grounde, 

Als  Ihesvi  dide  with  his  faire  wondis. 

pe  ffadir  &  pe  son*  &  pe  haly  gaste7  , 

And  goddis  forbott,  p<m  wikkyde  worme, 

pat  eucr  p0u  make  any  ristynge  or  any  40 

sugorne  8, 

Bot  awaye  mote  p<?u  wende 
To  pe  erthe  &  pe  stane. 


I76b. 


2.     A  Charme  ffor  the  Tfethe  werke). 


In  dei  nomine  Amen,  -j-  Sancta  Edlana  et  S  .........  e    sorores  quarum  dentes 

earum  fuerunt  abstracte  pro  amore  Ihesu  Christ!,    .....  vt  quicunque  nomina  eanma 


These  pieces  are  of  various,  partly  recent  origin,  and  show  an  important^part  of  the  current 
li 

seer 

Arund.  507,  _    .  . 

Ms.;  quene,  and  virgyne  are  to  be  tr. 
crossed  out.        7  a  line  seems  cm. 


»  These  pieces  are  of  various,  partly  recent  origin,  and  show  an  important  part  o  te  current 
literature  of  the  time.  Of  the  prayers  and  hymns,  several  may  possibly  be  R.  Kolle  s ,  who  it 
seems,  also  wrote  prayers,  as  several  Mss.  containing  works  of  his,  also  contain  prayers  (t.  i. 
Arund.  507,  Cambr.  Addit.  3042).  2  ed.  in  Reliquiae  antiquae  I,  p.  126.  •  crossed  out  in 


«  r.  sugorne?        '  r.  we. 
or  any  sugorne  overlined. 


Ms.  Olyuere  nete  ;  ere 


376  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

super  se  portauerint,   a  dolore  dencium  liberentur.  -J-  O  d f  discedat  te  pater 

•J-  discedat  te  ffilius  f  discedat  te  spiritus  sanctus  f  ab  hac ffamulis  dei  Amen. 

f  In  nomine  patris  f  Et  ffilii  f  Et  spiritus  sancti  f  Amen.     Pater  noster  &  in  Aue 
Maria,  f  Amen.-}- 

3.     Epistola  Sancti  Saluatoris. 

Hec  est  Epistola  Sancti  Saluatoris,  quam  Leo  papa  transmisit  Karolo  Regi.  dicens 
quod  quicunque  earn  secum  portauerit,  in  die  qua  earn  viderit  vel  legerit ,  ferro 
non  occidetur,  nee  comburetur,  nee  aqua  submergetur,  nee  mains  homo  nee  dia- 
bolus  nee  aliqua  alia  creatura  ei  nocere  poterit  illo  die. 

(It  does  not  appear  whether  the  following  piece  is  this  Epistle). 


Crux  Christi  .  .  es  anna  invincibilis.  f  Crux  Christi  -j-  sit  semper  mecum.  f  Crux 
Christi  f  est  semper  quam  adoro.  f  Crux  Christi  f  est  vera  salus.  f  Crux  Christi  f 
superat  gladium.  f  Crux  Christi  •{-  soluit  vincula  mortis,  -|-  Crux  Christi  7  est  salus 
veritatis.  f  Super  crucem  diuinam  aggredior  iter,  f  super  crucem  diuinam  ...•}•  Crux 
Christi  impedit  •}•  omne  malum.  -j-  Cmx  Christi  -J-  dat  omne  bonum.  f  Crux  Christi  -j- 
aufert  penam  eternam.  -J-  Cmx  Christi  salua  me.  -j-  Crux  Christi  -j-  sis  super  me  •{•  ad 
me  f  ante  me  post  me.  f  Quia  antiquus  hostis  fugit  vbi  te  vidit.  f  In  nomine 
patris  et  ffilii  Et  spiritus  sancti  amen. 


5.     (A  prayer). 

He  bat  devotely  sayse  pz's  Orysone  dayly,  sail  hafe  remyssyone  of  alle  his 
synnys,  and  that  daye  he  ne  sail  noghte  dy  none  euylle  dede.  And  pat  daye 
pat  he  saise  pz's  Orysone,  he  or  scho  whepV  it  be  bat  says  pis  Orysone,  pay 
sail  spede  wele  in  alle  paire  nedes  pat  pay  hafe  to  do.  And  who  so  vssis  to 
say  pz's  Orysone  sail  no^te  be  lange  encombirde  wz't/z  synnes.  And  if  a  woman* 
trauell  of  childe,  take  watir  of  a  welle  and  say  pz's  Orysone  ou^  it,  and  giffe 
it  hir  to  drynke  :  and  scho  sail  hastyly  be  delyumle  and  passe  (hir)  perell.  Also 
gerre  a  preste  synge  a  Messe  of  cure  lady  oner  pz's  Orysone,  of  pz's  Office: 
Vultum  tuum  &c.  ;  say  pz's  Orysone  deuotly  at  pat  Messe  ,  and  bere  it  wretyn* 
appon*  the  byfore  kyng  or  prynce  or  any  op*r  lorde  :  and  p<?u  sail  fynd  grace, 
helpe  and  ffauore  byffore  bam*.  And  if  p<m  trauell  in  be  se,  and  tempeste  ryse 
appon*  the,  take  of  be  see  watire  in  a  vessell  and  say  pz's  Orysone  deuotely 
p^-ouere,  and  caste  it  in  pe  see  :  and  be  tempeste  sail  cesse,  and  pmi  sail  passe 
ouere  p^-of.  And  if  p^u  sail  goo  to  Batell,  saye  pz's  Orysone  devotely  and 
Enterely  one  pe  Croys  of  pi  swerde,  and  girde  the  p^r-wz't/S,  and  bere  pz's  Orysone 
wz't£  be  appon^  the  :  and  p0u  sail  noghte  be  slayne  nor  skomfet.  And  if  {)ou 
hafe  be  fflixe  ,  take  brede  made  of  clene  whete  and  say  pz's  Orysone  oner  it  and 
ban*  Etc  it:  and  b^u  sail  sone  be  stawnchide.  And  if  p<?u  trauell  in  pe  Centre, 
say  pz's  Orysone  deuotly:  and  p<m  sail  noghte  ga  will,  nor  no  thefes  sail  hafe 
powere  to  robbe  the.  And  wete  p<m  wele  for  sothe  bat  pz's  thynge  base  bene 
wele  profed  for  trewe  ;  for  saynt  Paule  made  pz's  Orysone  by  be  Ensencesynge 
of  be  haly  gaste,  and  pape  Innocent  hafes  grantyde  there-to  thre  hundreth  dayes 
of  pmlon*  to  alle  those,  man*  or  woman*,  pat  sayse  pz's  blyssed  Orysone  devoutely. 
For  alle  be  vertu  berof  may  [no]  man*  telle.  Oracio  sequitur  : 

Domine  deus  omnipotens,  Pater  et  ffilius  et  spiritus  sanctus,  Da  michi  N.  Ro 
berto  ffamulo  tuo  victoriam  contra  omnes  Inimicos  meos,  vt  non  possint  michi 
resistere  nee  nocere  neque  contradicere,  set  dirigatur  virtus  et  consilium  eorum 


Prayers.  377 

in  bonum.  [Esto]1  deus  fortitude  mea,  refugium  meum  et  clepius2  defensionis  mee 
et  turns  inexpiignabilis ,  quatenus  dispergantur  &  confundantur  omnes  adversarii 
mei.  Deus  Abraham  y  Deus  Ysaac  y  Deus  Jacob  y  Deus  omnium  bene  viuencium, 
libera  me  N.  Robertum  ffamulum  tunm  ab  omnibus  peccatis  meis,  tribulacionibus 
et  angustiis,  et  a  cuntis  periculis  anime  &  corporis.  y  Da  michi  robur,  fortitudinem, 
pacienciam,  perseueranciam  bonam,  sanitatem  mentis  &  corporis,  sermonem  rec 
tum  &  bene  sonantem  in  ore  meo,  vt  placita  sint  vultus  &  opera  [mea]  omnibus  me 
videntibus  et  audientibus,  vt  inveniam  graciam  £  auxilium  in  omnibus  peticionibus 
meis.  Propheta  clamat,  apostolus  dicit  Christus  in  se  confidentes  saluat.  Christus 
vincit,  Christus  regnat :  Christus  imperare  dignetur  me  esse  triumphatorem  omnium 
adversariomm  meorum,  vt  non  timeam  quid  faciat  michi  homo.  ^  cum  toto  spalmo 
Deus  in  nomine  tuo  saluum  me  fac,  ^f  $•  cum  spalmo  Deus  mysereatur  nostri, 
^[  4*  cum  spalmo  De  profundis  clamaui ,  *[  Sf  cum  spalmo^:  Voce  mea 'ad  do- 
minum  clamaui,  voce  mea  ad  dominum  depricatus  sum ;  Effundo  in  conspectu  eius 
oracionem  meam :  et  tribulacionem  meam  ante  ipsum  pronuncio.  In  deficiendo 
ex  me  spiritum  meum:  et  tu  cognouisti  semitas  meas.  In  via  hac  qua  ambulabam 
absconderunt  laqueum  michi.  Considerabam  ad  dextram  et  videbam  et  non  erat 
qui  cognosceret  me.  Periit  fuga  a  me :  et  non  est  qui  requirat  animam  meam. 
Clamaui  ad  te  domine,  dixi  tu  es  spes  mea:  porcio  mea  in  terra  viuencium.  In- 
tende  ad  depricacionem  meam:  quia  humiliatus  sum  nimis.  Libera  me  a  perse- 
quentibus  me:  quia  conf[ortati)  sunt  super  me.  Educ  de  custodia  animam  meam  ad 
confitendum  nomini  tuo :  me  exs'pectant)  iusti  donee  retribuas  michi.  Gloria  patri 
&  filio  &  spiritui  sancto :  sicut  erat  &c.  Libera  me  domine  Ihesu  Christe  ab 

omni  hoste  visibili  et  invisibili,  qui  in  cruce  suspensus  fuisti,  et  lancea  latus  tuum 
perforari  permisisti,  et  tuo  sancto  &  precioso  sanguine  me  redimisti ;  et  sicut  liberasti 
Susannam  de  falso  crimine,  et  tres  pueros  de  camino  ignis  ardentis  —  y  Sidrak  y 
Misac  y  [Abdenago] — illesos  abire  fecisti,  y  et  Danielem  de  lacu  leonum  extraxisti. 
y  Libera  me  domine  sicut  liberasti  Abraham  de  Caldeorum  manibus,  et  filium  eius 
Ysaac  de  immolacione  cum  ariete,  et  lacob  de  manibus  Esau  fratris  sui,  loseph 
de  manibus  fratrum  suorum,  Noye  de  aquis  diluuii,  Loth  de  crimine  Sodomorum. 
y  Exaudi  me  domine  sicut  exaudisti  Mariam  Magdalenam  peccatricem  et  dimissa  sunt 
ei  peccata  multa.  y  Ita  verasciter  libera  me  Robertum  famulum  tuum  ab  omni 
dolore,  tribulacione  et  angustia,  et  ab  omnibus  malis  preteritis,  presentibus  et 
futuris.  Et  exaudi  me  in  omnibus  depricacionibus  &  peticionibus  £  necessitatibus 
meis,  &  ab  omnibus  periculis  libera  me  &  protige  me,  domine  Ihesu  Christe  rex 
piissime,  qui  cum  patre  &  spiritu  sancto  (viuis)  &  rignas  deus  per  omnia  secula 
seculorum,  amen. 

fol.  i77»>. 

6.     A  Preyere  Off  The  ffyve  loyes  of  owre  lady  in   Inglys,   and 
Of  the  ffyve  sorowes.4 

Lady,  ffor  thy  loyes  fyve,  Wysse  me  the  waye  of  Rightwys  lyffe,   amen. 

Now  rankest  and  ioyfulleste  lady  saynt  Marye,  ffor  pe  loye  \>o\\  hadde  when*? 
b<m  co;/ceyuede  thy  dere  sonwe  of  {)e  haly  gaste  in  j)e  gretynge  of  the  angell, 
the  whilke  loye  was  so  grete  pot  if  pe  angell  had  duellyd  langere  ban<?  he  had 
made  his  message,  ffor  grete  luffe  and  loye  in  god  thyn*  hnrt  had  clovyn^  and 
p0u  had  dyede,  if  p<m  had  noghte  bene  strengthede  of  be  haly  gaste :  now,  lady, 
for  pat  grete  loye,  hafe  Mercy  one  me  synfull  wreche.  Pater  noster.  Aue  Maria. 


l  Ms.  Es  tu.          2  r.  clipeus.     I  retain  the  spelling  of  the  Ms.          3  Ps.  141.          4  This  prayer 
is  possibly  by  R.  Rolle. 


•278  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

Swetteste  and  ioyfulleste  lady,  ffor  pe  gret  ioye  p0u  hade  in  the  birthe  of 
thy  swete  sonwe  Ihmi :  hafe  Mercy  one  me  synfull  wryche ;  for  als  p0u  cow- 
ceyuede  hym  of  pe  haly  gaste  with  grete  Ioye  and  w/t/2-owttyn?  any  syn?,  swa 
J)0u  Bare  hym  witK  grete  Ioye  &  wzt/;-owttyn?  any  sorowe,  Amen.  Pater  noster. 

Als  pe  son  schynes  thorowe  the  glasse  and  lyghtenys  pe  place  witfi-In?  &  pe 
glas  es  noghte  brokyn?  ne  fylide  of  pe  sonne  when*?  he  schynes,  nor  when?  he 
withdrawes  his  bemys  nor  aftire,  bot  es  aye  clere  and  hale :  reghte  swa,  lady, 
when?  be  godhede  schane  in  thy  saule  and  tuke  Manhede  of  the  and  was  borne 
of  the,  thou  was  noghte  fylide ;  bot  ptfu  was  halowede  of  his  presence  swa  that 
thou  Mighte  neuere  be  fylede.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 

Now  blysfullest  and  Ioyfulleste  lady,  ffor  pe  honour  of  pe  Gloryouse  passyoun? 
pat  thy  blyssede  sone  sufferde  for  vs  synfull  wrechis,  hafe  Mercy  one  me  synfull 
wreche ;  for  be L  blody  wouwdys  pat  *  he  suffrede,  and  pe  pr?cyouse  blode  pat  he 
sched  for  vs  on  pe  Gloryous  Crosse  that  he  was  naylede  one  for  vs,  and  the 
schamfull  dede,  and  alle  pe  Bittyre  paynes  pat  he  sufferde  ;  and  for  alle  pe  sorowes 
pat  p0u  hade  for  his  paynes.  Now  dere  lady,  for  pe  p?rturbance  pat  f)0u  hade 

when?  Symeon?  sayde  to  pe,  »The  swerde  of  sorowe,  he  said,  sail  passe  thorowte 
thyn?  awnn?~  saule «:  preye  thy  dere  sone  to  helpe  me  and  to.'vdelyu?r  me  owte 
of  all  my  synnys  and  to  kepe  me  fra  all  ill,  Amen.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 

Dere  lady,  for  pe  sorowe  p<?u  hade  when?  pi  sone  was  loste  fra  the  thre 
dayes  &  f)0u  soughte  hym  with  gretande  hert :  preye  thy  sone  to  gyffe  me  con- 
trycioune  of  alle  my  synnys  in  the  Ende  of  my  lyfe,  Amen.  Pater  noster.  Aue 
maria. 

Dere  lady,  for  pe  sorowe  pat  p0u  hade  when?  pat  p0u  wiste  in  spyryte  pat 
pi  sone  was  tane  &  solde  thole  pe  dede:  pnzy  pi  sonwe  to  delyu?r  me  owte  of 
alle  tn'bulaczoun  of  body  and  of  saule.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 

Now  dere  lady,  for  be  sorowe  pat  p#u  hade  when?  pat  p0u  saughe  thy  dere 
sone  hynge  one  pe  Crosse  with  freche  wondys  newe-made,  rede  wz't^  his  awnn?2 
blode :  preye  thy  blyssede  sone  to  make  me  birnande  in  his  luffe  swa  pat  I  neu?f 
forgete  hym?.  Pater  noster. 

Dere  lady,  for  pe  sorowe  pat  p<?u  hade  when?  pat  pi  dere  sone  laye  dede  in 
thyn?  armes :  preye  pi  sone  to  saffe  me  fra  dampnacyoun?  and  fra  harde  paynes 
when?  pat  I  sail  passe  owte  of  this  lyffe,  and  fra  pe  grete  drede  &  pe  tempta- 
cyouws  of  fendys ,  and  fra  alle  Meschefes  bothe  bodily  and  gastely,  and  graunte 
me  his  endelesse  blysse  Amen.  Pater  noster.  Aue. 

Dere  lady,  for  pe  grete  Ioye  pat  p0u  hade  in  his  gloryous  Resureccz'oun?  and 
sawe  hym?  resyn?  fra  dede  to  lyfe,  and  restauracyoun?  of  auwgells  and  redemp- 
cyoun?  of  mankynde  was  made  by  his  passyoun? :  hafe  Mercy  one  me  synfull 
wriche.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 

Now  dere  and  luflyest  lady,  for  pe  grete  Ioye  pat  p0u  hade  when?  pat  J)0u 
sawe  thy  swete  sone  Ihesus  ascende  in  to  heuen?  fra  whythyn?  he  come,  in  pe 
Manhede  he  tuke  of  the,  for  to  be  kyng  of  heuen?,  lorde  of  erthe,  Emperour 
of  helle,  kyng  of  all  kynges,  lorde  of  alle  lordes,  to  Ordeyn3  the  a  Mansyouwe 
a-bownn?  alle  haly  au/zgells  and  alle  sayntes  nexte  be  haly  Trynyte,  and  for  to 
deme  bathe4  dede  &  qwyke  at  his  wyll:  hafe  Mercy  one  me  synfull  wriche.  Pater 
noster.  Aue  maria. 

Ioyfulleste  and  gracyou?ste5  lady,  for  pat  grete  Ioye  pat  f)0u  hade  when?  pi 
blyssed  son?  Ihesn  Crist  almyghty  god  in  Trinyte  Coroiined  the  Qwene  of  heuen?, 


1  overl.  2  Ms.  awun*.  3  Ms.  Ordeynand,  to  overt,  5  overt.  4  e  overt,,  r.  gra- 

cyouseste. 


Prayers. 

Lady  of  erthe,  Empryce  of  helle,  Lady  and  qwene  of  alle  haly  angells  and  alle 
sayntys,  Modir  of  Mercy,  socoure  and  comforthe  to  |)e  saluacyon^  of  alle  Man- 
kynde :  hafe  Mercy  one  me  synfull  wreche ;  and  of  alle  those  prtt  I  ame  boun^ 
to  preye  fore,  and  of  alle  those  ptft  traystis  in  my  pnzyeres,  and  of  alle  those 
pat  haly  kyrke  preyes  fore,  qwyke  and  dede,  Amen.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 
Amen. 

7.     Psalmus  Voce  mea  ad  dominum  clamaui. 

Say  b/s  psalme,  Voce  mea  ad  dominum  clamaui,  witft  this  Collett  folowande 
pat  es  full  Merytorye : 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe,  Quinque  wlnera  sanctissimi  Corporis  rui  adoro,  laudo 
et  glorifico,  qui  non  indeges  laude,  a  cuius 1  laude  set  non  cessant  Angeli,  Troni, 
Dominaciones,  Principatus,  et  Potestates,  et  omnes  Virtutes  celorum.  Ita  veraciter 
libera  me  Miserum  famulum  tuum  N.  de  peccatis  meis,  et  de  presenti  tribulacione 
et  angustia,  et  a  cunctis  tribulacionibus  anime  et  corporis,  et  a  potestate  om 
nium  inimicorum  meorum  et  spirituum  inmundorum,  visibilium  et  invisibilium,  amen. 

8.     Here  Bygynnys  ffyve  prayers  to  the  wirchipe  of  the  ffyve 
wondys  of  oure  lorde  Ih^u  Cryste. 

Adoro  te  Crucem  in  honore  Crucis  in  qua  pependit  dominus  noster  Ihesus 
Christus.  Dulcissime  Ihesu,  per  piissimam  plagam  quam  in  dextra  manu  tua  pro 
nobis  sustenuisti  in  cruce,  [oro]  vt  sicut  ipsa  acrius  tibi  dolorem  aliis  plagis  intulerat, 
ita  nos  domine  ab  omnibus  malis  anime  et  corporis  liberare  digneris ,  amen. 
Pater  noster.  Aue  maria.  Amen. 

Per  sanctissimam  plagam,  dulcissime  Ihesu  misericordie  O  Ihesu  beatissime  O 
Ihesu,  quam  in  dextro  pede  tuo  sustenuisti  in  cruce :  perdue  nos  ad  cognicionem 
viam  veritatis,  amen.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria.  Amen. 

Per  piissimam  plagam ,  O  dulcissime  Ihesu  O  gloriosissime  Ihesu ,  quam  in 
sinistra  manu  tua  pro  nobis  sustinuisti  in  Cruce :  custodi  manus  nostras,  ne  tibi  con- 
traria  operentur.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 

Per  piissimam  plagam,  O  dulcissime  Ihesu  O  Ihesu  beatissime  O  Ihesu,  quam 
in  sinistro  pede  tuo  pro  [nobis]  sustenuisti  in  Cruce :  custodi  pedes  nostros  ne  ad 
viam  contrariam  dirigantur,  sed  ab  ea  semper  declment,  amen.  Pater  noster. 
Aue  maria.  Amen. 

Per  piissimam  plagam,  O  dulcissime  Ihesu  O  Ihesu.  dilectissimi  lateris  tui, 
accende  in  corda  nostra  ignem  tui  suauissimi  amoris,  et  fac  nos  feruere  et  semper 
desiderare  que  tibi  placent  et  nobis  expediunt,  amen.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria. 
Amen. 

Pro  omnibus  obprobriis  que  pro  nobis  sustenuisti  in  cruce  vt  citra(!),  dulcissime 
O  Ihesu  piissime  O  Ihesu,  i[t]em'2  vt  sputas,  alapas,  irrisiones,  et  accusaciones,  et 
per  arborem  ad  quam  religatus,  fuisti  ita  attrociter  licet  non  reus  flagellatus,  et 
per  crucem  quam  baiulasti,  et  per  coronam  spineam  capeti  tuo  pro  nobis  Miseris 
impositam :  Custodi  nos,  Visita  nos,  Guberna  nos,  Consolare  nos.  Da  nobis  in- 
dulgenciam  de  peccatis  nostris  propter  nimiam  caritatem  tuam  qua  dilexisti  nos 
deus,  qui  viuis  et  rignas  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum,  Amen.  Ipsa  crux, 
dulcissime  Ihesu,  in  qua  pro  nostra  salute  suspensus  fuisti,  sit  hodie  &  cotidie 
contra  omnia  tela  inimici  et  contra  omnia  nobis  adversaria,  Amen.  Oremus : 


Ms.  alcuius.          2  Ms.  idem. 


Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

Deus,  qui  manus  tuas  &  pedes  tuos  &  totum  corpus  tuum  pro  nobis  peccatoribus 
in  ligno  posuisti,  et  coronam  spinarum  a  iudeis  in  dispectu  tui  sacratissimi  cor- 
poris  super  capud  tuum  inpositam  sustenuisti,  et  quinque  wlnera  pro  nobis  pecca 
toribus  in  Crucis  patibulo  passus  fuisti,  et  nos  cum  precioso  et  sacro  sanguine 
tuo  redimisti :  da  nobis,  quesumus,  hodie  et  cotidie  vsum  penitencie,  abstinencie 
et  paciencie,  humilitatis,  castitatis;  lumen,  sensum  &  intellectual,  et  veram  scien- 
ciam,  vsque  in  fmem;  per  te,  Ihesu  Christe  saluator  mundi,  qui  cum  patre  & 
spiritu  sancto  viuis  et  rignas  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum,  Amen. 

9.     Oracio  in  Inglys. 

Now  Ihmi  goddis  sonne,  giffere  of  alle  vertus,  vouche  pou  safe  to  giffe  me  the 
seuen<?  giftys  of  be  haly  gaste :  The  gifte  of  vndirstandywge  to  knowe  the  my 
lorde  god,  &  deuotely  to  knawe  &  wirchipe  thi  worthynes  and  to  knawe  myne 
vnworthynes,  and  gnzunte  me  of  thy  Blyssedhede  virtuose  lyffynge.  (no  more  is  given). 

10.  A  Colett  to  owre  lady  Saynt  Marye. 

Sancta  Maria,  Mater  Christi,  Regina  celorum1,  Domina  mundi,  Imperatrix  in- 
ferni,  que  nullum  despicis:  noli  me  miserum  peccatorem  propter  peccata  mea 
relinquere,  set  exaudi  me  in  tua  solita  pietate,  &  eripe  me  de  Inimicis  vnigeniti 
filii  tui  [et]  fideles  viuos  et  mortuos;  a  mortis  caligine  erue  me:  ipso  adiuuante 
quern  tu  genuisti  et  in  presepe  posuisti,  amen.  Oratio.  Of  emus: 

Deus,  cuius  misericordie  non  est  numerus,  suscipe  pro  anima  famuli  tui  N.  preces 
nostras,  et  lucis  ei  leticieque  regionem  [in]  sanctorum  tuorum  societate  concede. 
Oracio.  Or  emus : 

(O)  ineffabilis  clemencie  atque  infenite  bonitatis  domine  Ihesu  Christe,  qui  non 
despicis  ad  te  clamancium  gemitus :  magnitudinem  benignitatis  tue  humili  deuo- 
cione  imploro,  vt  mentis  et  intercessionibus  sanctissime  Marie  genitricis  tue,  & 
sancti  lohannis  Baptiste  precursoris  tui,  ac  dilecte  tibi  Anne  genitricis  Matris  rue, 
aliorumque  omnium  sanctorum  tuorum  quos  gracia  tua  michi  dilectos  dedit,  michi 
largiri  digneris  de  preteritis  peccatis  meis  veniam,  de  presentibus  fugam,  et  de 
futuris  cautelam.  Et  fac  me,  priusquam  moriar,  consequi  plenissime  misericordiam 
tuam,  et  ne  dies  meos  finire  facias  priusquam  omnia  peccata  mea  dimittas,  et 
disponas  pro  me  vt  ipse  vtilius  nosti.  Exaudi,  Exaudi,  Exaudi  me  dulcissime 
Ihesu,  vt  terrorem  Sathane  per  te  queam  euadere.  Amen. 

11.  Oracio  in  modo  Collecte  pro  amico. 

Omnipotens  sempiterne  deus,  miserere  famulo  tuo  N.,  et  per  intercessionem 
beate  &  gloriose  dei  genitricis  semperque  virginis  Marie,  omniumque  sanctorum 
tuorum,  dirige  actus  eius  cotidie  in  bono,  et  omnia  eius  peccata  dimitte,  augeque 
illi  felicitatem  &  tempora  longeua ;  et  mitte  in  cor  eius  talem  volu[n]ttatem  sicut 
vis  et  sicut  scis  quod  expedit  anime  eius  &  corpori.  Da  ei  talem  intellectum  vt 
ex  toto  corde  &  animo  tibi  feliciter  semiat,  et  in  tuo  sancto  seruicio  vsque  in 
finem  persiueret,  per  dominum  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum. 


1  Ms.  Regina  celorum  Mater  Christi. 


Prayers.     Hymns.  38 1 

foi.  i78b.   I2      Antiphona  Sancti  Leonardi,  cum  Collecta. 

O  virtutum  domine  per  secula  benedicimus  te,  qui  famulo  tuo  Leonardo  spe- 
cialiter  dedisti  in  carcere  cathenas  confringere,  sedentes  in  tenebris  ad  lumen 
reducere ,  dissolatos  releuare ' :  dignare  plebem  tuam  sua  intercessione  in  pace 
vesitare.  Versus:  Ora  pro  nobis  beate  Leonarde,  vt  digni  efficiamur  promissio- 
nibus  Christ! . 

Orcmus.  Maiestati  tue,  quesumus  domine,  sanctissimi  confessoris  tui  Leonardi 
nos  pia  iugiter  commendet  oracio,  vt  quern  deuoto  veneramur  officio,  ipsius  suffragio 
subleuemur  optato,  per  Christum  dominum  nostrum,  amen. 

Oremus.  Deus  qui  beatum  Eustachium  in  temptacionibus  probasti,  et  probatum 
coronasti:  ipsius  sociorumque  eius  meritis  in  omnibus  temptacionibus  tuum  nobis 
prista  auxilium,  et  sempiternum  gaudium,  per  dominum  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum 
filium  tuum,  qui  tecum  viuit  &  rignat  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum,  amen. 

fol.    212. 

13.     Incipit  A  Meditacione  of  f>e  ffyve  woundes  of  oure  lorde 
Ihcsu  Criste,  wit/i  a  prayere  in  j)e  same  &c.2 

x\doro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redimisti  me. 
Ihesu  bone,  te  deprecor  pro3  pena  nimis  aspera 
Et  wlnere  quod  passus  es  pro  me  in  manu  dextera, 
Vt  mentem  meam  derigas,  mores,  affectus,   opera; 
5  Vt  tibi  toti  seruiam  torus  cum  mente  libera. 

Adoro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redemisti  me. 
Ihesu  dulcis,  te  suplico  pro  graui  pena  wlneris 
Quam  in  synistra  passus  es  manu  pro  nobis  miseris, 
Vt  clementer  indulgeas  quicquid  commisi  sceleris 
10  Per  tactus  inmundiciam  et  prauitatem  operis. 

Adoro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redimisti  me. 
Ihesu  mitis,  te  deprecor  per  illud  wlnus  asperum 
Quod  pedem  claui  cuspide  tuum  transfixit  dexterum4, 
Vt  gressus  meos  dirigas,  iter  parando  prosperum 
15  Per  mandatorum  semitas  tuorum  et  itenemm. 

Adoro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redimisti  me. 
Ihesu  clemens,  pro  wlnere  quod  pendens  in  patibulo 
In  sinistro5  dlgnatus  es  pede  pad,  te  postulo8 
Vt  digneris  absoluere  ab  omni  me  piaculo 
20  Quod  per  sinistra  gradiens  commisi  in  hoc  seculo. 

Adoro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redimisti  me. 
Ihesu  pie,  te  postulo  pro  venerando  wlnere 
Quod  fixum  est  per  lanceam  tibi  in  dextro  latere, 
Vt  ab  omni  me  criminum  labe  velis  absoluere 
25  Que  commisi  nephario  visu,  verbo,   et  op  ere. 


1  Ms.  reuelare.  2  This  Latin   poem,   and   2  others   of  the   same  Ms.,   N.  21,  22,  which  I 

find  nowhere  edited,  may  possibly  be  by  R.  Rolle.          3  Ms.  per.          4  Ms.  dexteram.         5  Ms. 
sinistra.         6  Ms.  postolo. 


382  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

Adoro  te  piissime  Ihesu  qui  redimisti  me. 
Pro  me  precor  et  populo  te,  Criste  rex  clemencie, 
Auge  piis  iusticiam,  reis  da  munus  venie; 
Vt  mortis  tue  memores  et  passionis  anxie 
30  Nos  a  mundi  miseria  ducas  ad  rignum  glorie,  Amen. 

Adoramus  te  Ihesu  Christe  et  benedicimus  tibi,  Quia  per  sanctam  crucem  et 
passionem  tuam  redemisti  mundum.  /  Auxiliare  nobis,  te  deprecamur  deus  noster.  / 
Omnis  terra  adoret  te  deus  et  psallat  tibi,  Psalmum  dicat  nomini  tuo  domine. 
Oremus  : 

Deus,  qui  vnigeniti  filii  tui  domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi  precioso  sanguine  humanum 
genus  redemere  dignatus  es :  concede  propicius  vt  qui  [ad]  adorandam  viuificam 
cnicem  adueniunt,  a  peccatorum  suorum  nexibus  liberentur.  Per  eundem  Christum 
dominum  nostrum.  Amen. 


14.     A  medytacion*?  of  the  Crosse  of  Criste,  with  a  prayere. 

(=  Arbor  Vitae  Christi  a  S.  Bonaventura  excogitata  et  triplici  ramorum  serie  dis- 

posita:   prima  Salvatoris  origo,  media  passio,   suprema  glorificatio  describitur  &c., 

in   Bonav.    Opp.  XII  p.  67.!     Cf.    Fasciculus    Myrrhae   in   Mone   Lat.    Hymnen   I 

p.   152,   &  Planctus  Bonaventurae  de  Christo  ib.  p.    150.) 

vy  crux,  frutex  saluificus,  viuo  fonte  rigatus, 
Cuius  flos  aromaticus,  ffructus  desideratus 

Ihesus  ex  deo  genitus,  Ihesus  prefiguratus, 
Ihesus  emissus  celitus,  Ihesus  Marie  natus, 
5       Ihesus  conformis  patribus,  Ihesus  magis  monstratus, 
Ihesus  submissus  legibus,  Ihesus  regno  fugatus, 

Ihesus  baptista  celitus,  Ihesus  hoste  temptatus, 
Ihesus  signis  mirificus,  Ihesus  transfiguratus, 

Ihesus  pastor  solicitus,  Ihesus  fletu  rigatus, 
10  Ihesus  rex  orbi  agnitus,  Ihesus  panis  sacratus; 

Ihesus  dolo  venumdatus,  Ihesus  orans  prostratus2, 
Ihesus  turba  circumdatus,  Ihesus  vinculis  ligatus, 

Ihesus  notis  incognitus,  Ihesus  vultu  velatus, 
Ihesus  Pilato  traditus,  Ihesus  morti  dampnatus, 
15       Ihesus  spretus  ab  omnibus,  Ihesus  cruci  clauatus, 
Ihesus  iunctus  latronibus,  Ihesus  felle  potatus, 

Ihesus  sol  morte  pallidus,  Ihesus  translanceatus, 
Ihesus  cruore  madidus,  Ihesus  intumulatus ; 

Ihesus  triumphans  mortuus.  Ihesus  surgens  beatus, 
20  Ihesus  decor  precipuus,  Ihesus  orbi  prelatus, 

Ihesus  doctor  eximius,  Ihesus  laxans  reatus, 
Ihesus  largitor  spiritus,  Ihesus  a  celo  leuatus, 

Ihesus  testis  veridicus,  Ihesus  index  iratus, 
Ihesus  victor  magnificus,  Ihesus  sponsus  ornatus, 
25       Ihesus  rex  regis  filius,  Ihesus  liber  sygnatus, 
Ihesus  Solaris  radius,  Ihesus  finis  optatus. 


1  The  same  tree  in  Ms.  Arund.  507,  fol.  18,  with  some  additions.  2  The  last  halflines  of 


A  revelation  respecting  Purgatory  (A.  D.   1422). 


nos,   crux,   ciba  fructibus,  illustra  cogitatus, 
Sacris  reple  fulgoribus,   spira  pios  afflatus, 

Rectis  due  itineribus,  hostis2  frange  conatus, 
30  Sisque  Christum  tuentibus  tranquillus  vite  status,  Amen. 

Antiph.  Nos  autem  gloriari  oportet  in  cruce  domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi,  in  quo 
est  salus,  vita,  &  resureccio  nostra  ,  per  quern  saluati  &  liberati  sumus.  Vcrs, 
Omnis  terra  adoret  te  deus  &  psallat  tibi  :  Psalmum  dicat  nomini  tuo.  Oremus: 

Deus,  sanctam  crucem  ascendisti  ,  et  mundi  tenebras  illuminasti:  tu  corda  et 
corpora  nostra  clementer  illuminare  dignare.  Qui  viuis  et  rignas  cum  deo  patre3 
in  vnitate  spiritus  sancti4  deus,  Per  omnia  secula  seculorum.  Amen. 

Ihesus  pie,  flos  Marie,  peccatorum  miserere,  amen. 

Ihesus.  Maria.  Johannes. 

Nomina  digna  coli  Ihesus  coque  Maria  Johannes. 
R.  Thornton  dictus  qui  scripsit  sit  benedictus  amen. 

fol.  250^. 

15.     Hie   incipit   quedam   reuelacio.     A  Reuelacyon^   schewed   to 
ane  holy  woman*?  now  one  late  tyme.5 

/llle  manere  of  thyng  pat  es  by-gun  pat  may  twrne  to  the  pnrfyte  of  mawnes 
saule,  to  god  allonely  and  to  oure  lady  saynte  Marie  be  |)e  wirchipe  gyfifen*, 
and  to  none  othir  erthely  man*  ne  woman*.  /  Dere  brethir  and  systt'rs,  &  all 
ob<r  trew  cristyn*  ffrendis  bat  redis  this  tretyce,  lystenys  and  heris  howe  a  wo 
man^  was  trrtuelde  in  hir  slepe  with  a  speryte  of  pwrgatorye,  and  how  pat  scho 
made  hir  compleynte  to  hir  gastely  ffadir  and  said  one  this  wyse:  ,Fadir,  I  do 

$ow  to  wiete  how  grete  trybulacyon*  I  had  in  my  slepe  appone  saynt  Lowrence 
day  at  nyghte,  [)e  ^ere  of  oure  lorde  a  thowsande  fowre  hundrethe  twenty  and 
two.  I  wente  to  my  bede  at  eghte  of  be  cloke,  and  so  I  fclle  appon*  slepe  ; 
and  so  by-twyx  nyne  and  ten  me  thoghte  I  was  raueschede  in  to  pwrgatorye  and 
sodanly  I  sawe  all  the  paywnes  whilke  was  schewed  me  many  tyms  by-fore  ,  als 
2je,  ffadir,  knowe  wele  be  my  cowfessyone  &  tellynge.  Bo[t]f>,  dere  syn',  I  was 
noghte  schewede  by  no  spyrite  the  syghte  of  pam*  on  |)is  nyghte  of  saynt  Low 
rence,  bot  sodanely,  dere  ffadir,  me  thoghte  I  sawe  pam*;  &  for  sothe,  dere 
ffadir,  I  was  neurr  so  euylle  afferde  when*  I  woke  for  scheweynge  of  be  paywnes, 
als  I  was  pan*,  and  pe  cause  was  (>at  I  was  noghte  ledde  by  no  spyrite 
pat  I  knewe  be-fore,  pat  myghte  hafe  cowforthed  me.  And  \n  pis  sighte  of 
pwrgatorye  me  thoghte  I  sawe  thre  grete  ffyres,  and  me  thoghte  ylk  a  ffyre  was 
at  op*r  ende;  bot,  sir,  here  was  no  depertynge  by-twene  bam*,  bot  ylkane  was 
eked  to  othir.  And  thies  thre  ffyres  was  wondirfull  and  horrybill,  &  specyally  be 
moste  of  alle,  was  in  the  myddis.  For  bat  fyre  was  so  horribill  &  so  stynkande 
bat  all  pe  cr*aturs  in  be  werlde  myghte  neu*r  telle  be  wykkede  smellynge  pere- 
of;  ffor  bare  was  pykke  and  tarre  ,  ledde  and  bromestane  &  oyle,  and  alle  ma 
nere  of  thynge  bat  myghte  brynne,  and  alle  manere  of  paywnes  pat  man*  couthe 
thynke,  and  alle  manure  of  crysten*  men*  &  women*  pat  hade  lyffede  here  in 
this  werlde  of  whate  degre  pay  were.  Bot  amange  alle  pe  paynes  pat  I  sawe 
of  alle  men*  and  wywmen*,  me  thoghte  bat  pr*stes  pat  hade  bene  lechours  in 
baire  lyues,  &  paire  wywmen  with  bam*,  whefvr  bay  were  relegyous  men*  & 

»  The  rest  is  wanting  elsewhere.  2  Ms.  hoste.  3  Ms.  patri.  *  Ms.  sancte.  5  Another 
revelation  of  this  kind  is  that  titled  Spiritu  Guidonis  in  Ms.  Vernon  ,  translated  from  a  Latin 
text  extant  in  many  Mss.  ;  which  revelation  took  place  in  1323,  near  Avignon.  6  MS.  Bod. 


-? 34  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

wywmen?  or  seculers,  men?  &  wywrnen  of  ordire,  me  thoghte  in  pat  syghte  pat 
pay  hade  moste  payne.  And  in  pat  grete  ffyre  me  thoghte  I  sawe  pe  spiryte  of 
a  woman  pflt  I  knewe,  the  whilke  woman?  was  in  hir  lyfe  a  syst?r  of  ane  house 
of  relygyone,  pe  whilke  woman?  pe  while  scho  lyffede  was  callede  Margarete: 
whilke  me  thoghte  I  sawe  in  this  horrible  fyre,  &  had  so  grete  paynes  pat  for 
drede  I  myghte  nott  dyscryue  pam?  at  pat  tym?.  And  in  a  dredfull  fere  I  wokke  — 
&  by  [pat]  tyme  smote  pe  houre  of  ten?  by-fore  mydnyghte.  And  for  drede  &  for 
fere  to  slepe  agayne  I  rose  vpe,  &  a  littill  mayden?-childe  wz't/z  me,  &  we  two 
sayde  pe  seuen?  psalmes  &  pe  letanye.  &  by  we  hade  saide  owte  pe  Agnus  dei, 
I  was  so  heuy  of  slepe  I  myghte  noghte  make  ane  ende,  bot  made  my  childe 
go  to  bedde  &  so  did  I.  And  by  pat  tyme  it  smate  Elleuen?  of  pe  clokke.  & 
by  I  had  tolde  pe  laste  stroke,  I  by-gan?  to  slepe.  And  onone  me  thoghte  come 
to  me  pe  speryte  of  pis  woman?  M?rgarete  pe  whilke  I  sawe  by-fore  in  paynes, 
and  me  thoghte  scho  was  full  of  stronge  wondes  als  scho  hade  bene  drawen? 
with"  kames,  &  so  me  thoghte  scho  was  wondede  &  rent;  bot  specyaly  at  hir 
herte  me  thoghte  I  sawe  a  greuous  &  ane  Orybille  woumle,  and  owte  of  pat 
wonde  come  flawme  of  fyre.  And  scho  said:  »Cursede  mote  pou  be  and  wo 
worthe  the  bot  if  pou  haste  the  to  be  my  helpe.«  And  me  thoghte  by  scho 
hade  saide  pat  worde,  I  was  so  ferde  I  myghte  noghte  speke  ;  bot  eu?r  I  thoghte 
in  myn?  herte  »Ihesus  passioun?  be  my  helpe  «,  and  wzt/z  pat  I  was  comforthede 
in  my  spiryte.  And  pan  me  thoghte  scho  wolde  hafe  casten?  fyre  appon?  me,  & 
styrte  to  me  to  hafe  slayne  me:  bot  me  thoghte  scho  hade  no  powere,  ffor  pe 
passyone  of  god  cowforthed  me ;  bot  pe  grysely  syghte  of  hir  afferdede  me.  And 
me  thoghte  scho  had  a  littill  hounde  &  a  littill  catte  folowyng  hir,  alle  one  fyre 
brynnynge.  &  pan  me  thoghte  I  said  to  hir:  »What  arte  pou  in  goddes  name, 
that  thus  sore  tnraells  me?  And  I  conjure  the  in  the  ffadirs  name  &  pe  sone  & 
the  haly  gaste,  thre  p?rsou«s  and  o  godd  in  trynyte,  pat  pou  telle  me  whate  p0u 
arte  pat  pus  tnraells  me,  and  whethir  pou  be  a  sperit  of  pz^rgatorye  to  hafe 
helpe  of  me,  or  a  sperit  of  helle  to  oner-come  me  &  to  trobble  me«.  And  pan? 
scho  said:  »Naye,  I  am  a  spirit  of  p^rgatorye  pat  walde  hafe  helpe  of  the, 
&  noghte  a  spirit  of  helle  to  dryche  the  ;  and  if  pou  will  wiete  whate  spirit  I  am 
pat  suffirs  grete  paynes  iw  p&rgatorye  for  my  synnes,  I  ame  the  spirit  of  Mar 
garete  the  whilke  was  syskr  in  a  syst^s  house  of  relegyon?  as  p0u  knewe  wele, 
and  also  p0u  knewe  me  when?  I  duellede  p?;'-in.  *And  in  pe  name  of  god  I  aske 
helpe  of  pe.«  And  than?  I  askede  hir  whate  I  sulde  do.  &  ban?  scho  sayde: 
»pou  sail  make  to  be  saide  for  me  thirttene  messis,  in  the  manure  als  I  sail  telle 
the«.  And  pan?  scho  namede  a  gude  mawnes  name  the  whilke  es  my  cowfessoure  : 
»and  byd  hym  saye  a  messe  of  requiem  for  me.  And  he  sail  saye  fyve  dayes 
alle  pe  psalme  Miserere  mei  detts.  And  when?  he  bygynnes  to  say  Miserere  mei, 
saye  he  pis  verse  fyve  tymes  Miserere  mei  deus  alle-owt  to  pe  Ende,  wz't/z 
castynge  vp  herte  &  eghne  to  godwarde«  —  for  |3e  more  deuotly  he  sayd  it, 
pe  more  relesede  suld  hir  paynes  be,  &  be  grett?r  suld  be  his  mede.  »And 
when?  he  hase  sayde  this  verse  fyve  tymes,  late  hym  say  owt  pe  psalme:  and 
byd  hym  saye  pis  ympne  Veni  creator  spiritus  to  pe  ende  fyve  dayes.  Also  go 
to  thi  gastely  fadir,  sir  lohn ,  &  byd  hym  say  for  me  three  messis  of  pe  try 
nyte  ;  and  Miserere  mei  fyve  dayes,  w/'t/z  pis  ympne  Veni  creator  spiritus  and  so 
forthe,  in  pe  manere  als  it  es  sayde  byfore.  And  also  sende  to  thi  fadir  pe  recluse 
of  Westemynst?f,  &  byd  hym  synge  twa  messis  of  saynt  Petir  for  me,  &  saye 
fyve  dayes  for  me  this  psalme  Misere[re]  mei  deus  &  pis  ympne  Veni  creator  spiritus 


1  o.  m.  here  askede  scho  helpe  in-  be  name  of  god. 


A  revelation  respecting  Purgatory. 

and  so  forthe,  in  pe  manure  a-bown*  sayde.     And  bydde  hi[m]i  warne  dane  Perse 
Cowme  bat  he  saye  two  messis  of  be  haly  gaste  for  me,  &  thre  dayes  bis  psalme 
Miserere  mei  deus  for  me  in  be  man^e  a-bowne  sayde,   &  bis  ympne  Veni  creator 
spiritus  &  so  forthe.     Also  byd  sir  Richerde  Bowne  saye  for   me   three  messis  of 
cure  lady,   &  thre  dayes  bis  psalme  Miserere  mei  deus  &  pis  ympne  Veni  creator 
spiritus  als  it  es  a-bown*  sayde.     Also  byde   Dan*   lohn   Percy   say   for   me    two 
Messis  of  Alle   sayntes   vritk   bis  Office    Gaudiamus  omnes   in  domino   &c.    &   thre 
Memoris  of  be  tr/nyte,  &  thre  dayes  this  psalme  Misere[re]  mei  deus  &  bis  ympne 
Veni   creator   spiritus    as   it   es    abown*  sayde.«     And    bant-  I  askede  hir  whi  scho 
desyred  to  aske  bis  messis  to  be  sayde  on  bis  manure.     And   scho   said   b*r  was 
no    prayere   bat   myghte   rathere    helpe    hir.     And   I   asked  whi  scho    desyred  p/s 
psalme  Misere[re]  mei  deus  to  be  saide  so  ofte  for   hir.     2And  scho    said,    for  to 
hafe  the  mercy  cS:  be  pete   of  almyghtty   god;    ffor   als    ofte,    scho   saide,    as   bat 
psalme  w/t4  pis  ympne   afore-saide  es  said  for  hir,  so  many  paynes  sail    scho  be 
relessed  of  at  pat  tyrhe.     »And  also,  scho  said,  what   man*    or    woman    bat   vses 
to  say  bis  psalme  w/'tA  this  ympne  aboune-said  Veni  creator  spiritus,    &  if  he  be 
in  dowte  of  syn*  or  dispeyre  of  feythe   or   of   be   mercy   of  god,    he   sail   thurgh 
be  myghte  of  god  hafe  trewe  knaweyng  of  his  defawtes,    &   thurgh   be  mercy  of 
god  be  delyumie  of  bat  temptacyoiu-  as  for  bat  tyme.     And  also  if  a  man*  or  a 
woman*.'  be  tempede  in  any  of  the  seuen*  dedly  synnes  als  in  thyfte,  manslaughter, 
sclaunderyngf,  bakbyttyng,   or  in  any  cursede  syn*  of  lechorye,  late  hym  saye.witA 
a  gud    herte   thies   wordis   Miserere    mei    deus  &c    &    }ris   ympne    alle-owte   Veni 
creator  spiritus3,   and  base  wikkede  sperites    bat   trauells  hym  to  bat  temptacion* 
sail  be  avoydide   at   pat   tyme.«     And    ban   I   askede   what   prophete    it  was  for  a 
saule  to  say  mo  messis  of  pe  trynyte  &  of  oure  lady   &    of  saynt    Petir,    bant'   it 
was  of  requiem.     And  scho  said  ^is,   bat  bare  was  no  thyng   so    mekill    prophete 
for  a  saule,  who  so  were  of  powere  to  do  it,  als  for  to  make  to  be  sayde  for  a 
saule  ane  hundrethe  messis  of  be  trynyte  &  an  hundreth   of  oure  lady  and   halfe 
ane  hundreth  of  saynt  Petir  &  halfe  an  hundreth  of  requiem,  and  thre  hundrethe 
tyms  till  all  pise  messis  to  say  Miserere  [mei]  deus  &  Veni  creator  spiritus,  »&  what 
mant*r  of  synn*  bat  he  had  done  in  his   lyfe,    bare   sail   no    manure    of  payne    in 
pwrgatorye  halde  hym  pat   ne   hastyly   he    sail   be   delyuired    fra    pami,    &   many 
op*r   saules    be    delyumie,    ffor   his   sake.     Bot   if  thies   messis    be   saide   for   any 
saule  bat   es    dampnede,    ^it    sail   the   helpe   and  the  mede  turne  to  the  nexte  of 
his  kynne  in  p«rga[to]rye  and  hastely  spede  bam  owte  of  paire  pwrgatorie — for  pat 
es  a  stede  of  mercy  and   clensyng   for   mannes    syn* ,    &   nowre    ells ;    and    anone 
pay  sail  hafe  so  grete  mercy  pat  thurgh    pe    myghte    and   pe    mercy   of  god  and 
pe  vertu  of  thies  haly  messis,   pat  pay  sail  sone  be  broghte  owte  of  j)aire  paynes 
and  be  ledde  to  erthely  paradyse  whare  Adame  was  fyrste,  &  bare  to  be  waschede 
in  be  welle  of  grace  \ri\h  be  water  of  clensynge,    &   to    be    anoynetyde   w/'t/*  be 
oyle  of  m*rcy.     No  more  I  kane  telle  the  of  be  blysse  als  ;itt,  ffor   I   ne  knawe 
noghte  ^it  bot  paynes.     And   pt'rfore   what   man    or   woman    bat   are    of  powere, 
make  he  pise  haly  messis  to  be  saide  for  hym,    and    if   he   were   in  the  greteste 
payne  of  pwrgatorye,  he  solde  sone    be    delyu^rde  of  pamt'    and    of  alle  op*r,  if 
thies  messis-  be  sayde  in  be  forme  lyke  als  I  hafe  talde  the,  w/'tA  othir  gud  dedis 
&  almos  doyng  als  it  was  be  dedis  will.     And  if  a  man*  or  a  woman*  be  noghte 
in  powere  to  make  alle  pise  messis  to  be  saide  for  hym  :  make  he  thies  thirtene 
to  be  said  for  hym  in  the  manure  als  I  hafe  saide  vn-to   the,    w;t//  Miserere  mei 


i  Ms.  hir.          2  o.  m.  ],e  virtue  of  J)is  spalme  Miserere  mei  deus.  *  o.  m.  fre  \ertu  of  l>is 

ympne  Veni  Creator  spiritus  Qui  paraclitus  diceres  &c. 

25 


3  86  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

deus   ffolowyng   and  Veni   creator   spiritus.     Bot  the   rnessis  of  oure    lady    sail   be 
Salue  sancta  par  ens.     And  when*  thies  messis  are  sayde,   pay  sail  sone    be   owte 
of  paire  payne.«     And,  fadir,   alle  pise  I  hade  pe  firste  nyghte.    And  pan,  ffadir, 
when  scho  had  saide  all  pise  wordis,  the  littill  [hound]  and  pe  Catt  pat  broghte 
hir  to  me,  had  hir  to  hir  paynes   agayne;    and  ^itt,   or   scho   went   fro    me,    scho 
said  I  solde  see  hir  pe  nexte  nyghte  in  alle  hir  townnente^  or  scho  come  agayne 
to  me,   and  how  seuen^  deuyllis  sulde  tourment  hir,    &   how    pe    lyttill  hounde  & 
pe  Catt  sulde  eiw  be  with  hir  in  fyre  to  encrese  hir  paynes,  and  how  pe  worme 
of  conscience  sulde  eu<?r  gnawe  hir  wz'tA-In^ — and  pat,   scho  sayde,  was  pe  gretteste 
payne  pat  was  in  pwrgatorye  or  in  helle ,    ffor  pat,  scho    saide,    sesside  newer  als 
lange  as  eu^r  pay  were  in  payne.     And  pan  I  askede  pe  spirite :   »Whate  knawes 
pou   pe  paynes  of  helle    sen^  pou  come  nener  pare-Inn^?     ffor   whate   cane    pou 
telle  of  pam<?  more  pan^   of  pe  loyes    of  heueng?«    And  pan  scho    saide:    »^is: 
by  pe  ryghtewysnes  of  god  and  by  pe  reson<?  of  pe  saule  wele  I  wote  pe  worme 
of  conscyence  es  pe  moste  payne  bothe  here  and  pere ;  bot  more  kane  I  noghte 
telle  of  helle,  for  I  hafe  no  leue  als  op^r  hase  hade   pat  hase  peride   to    the    or 
this  tyme.     And  of  heuen^   I  tolde   pe   by-fore   how    pat  when^  I   were   owte  of 
pwrgatorye  I  solde  be  ledd  in  to  erthely  paradyse  and  be  waschen^  in    pe  welle 
of  grace  and  clensid,  and   be    anoynte  with  pe    oyle  of  mercy,    and  I   said   more 
couthe  I  noghte  telle  the  of  heuen^  for  I  come  noghte  ^itt  there-Inn^.     And  \>er- 
fore,    scho    sayde,    I   telle    the    some   parte    of  helle   and  some  parte  of  heuen<?.« 
And  witfi  pat  worde  scho  said:   »Fare  wele«,   &  neuenede  my  name,  »and  tak  |)ou 
gud  hede  of  my  paynes  pis  nexte  nyghte  folowynge,   and  also    of   ofyer,    for  pou 
sail  see  bothe  myn<?  and  othir/(.     And  witfi  pat  scho  ^ode    awaye    with  a  stronge 
scrike  and  a  gret  crye,  and  als  me   thoghte   scho   sayde:    »O    dere    lady,    be   my 
helpe«.     And  pan<?,    my  dere   ffadir,    sone    after  I    awoke.     And   by    pat   tyme    it 
smote    one    after   mydnyghte — and  when^   I   bygane    to    slepe   it    smote    elleuen^. 
And  appone  pe  mo  me  when  I  rose  vp,  I  wente   to   Mayster  Foreste   my    gastely 
fadir,   and  told  hym  what  he  sulde  do  for  hyr:   and  for  sothe  he  grountede  anone. 
And    pan    I    wente    to    sir  lohfi    Wynburne    myn£   ofyer  gastely   fadir,    and  tolde 
hym  what  he  sulde  do  for  hir:   and  he  graunted  also.    And  so  did  alle  the  prestes 
pat  scho  spake  of  pat  suld  synge  for  hir.  //         Now,  ffadir,   pe  nexte  nyghte  appone 
that  folowyng,  I  went  to  bede  &  felle  one  slepe:  and  so  sodaynely  was  schewede 
to  me  hir  paynes  in  pwrgatorye  &  o\)er  many  one.    Bot,  fadir,  nowthir  scho  nor 
none  ofyer  spiryte  led  me  p^'-to,  bot,  fadir,  when  I  was  one   slepe   me    thoghte 
I  sawe  pamtf  onone  wz'tft-owtten<?  any  ledyng.    And  onone  me  thoghte  I  sawe  Mar- 
garete  in  hir  werste  clothes  as  scho  wente   one    erthe,    and   in   pe  gretteste    fyre 
of  thir  pe  whilke  I  sawe  by-fore  in  p&rgatorye ;    and  me  thoghte  I  sawe  abowte 
hir  seuen<?  deuylles,   and  one  of  pani£  clede  hir  with  a  longe  gown*?,   and  a  longe 
trayle  folowyng  hir,  and  it  was  full  of  scharpe  hukes  with-Inne,    &   pe   gowne  & 
pe  hukes  me  thoghte  were  alle  rede  fyre.     And  pan  pe  same  deuell  tok  wormes 
and  pykk  and  tarre  &  made  lokedes  and  sett  pam£  appone  hir  hede,    &   he  toke 
a  grete  longe  neddir  and  putt  all  abowte  hir  hede,   and  pat,  me  thoghte,  hissed 
in  hir  hede  as  it  had  bene  hote-brynnyng  Iryn?  in  pe  colde  water:   and  me  thoghte 
scho  cryede   when*?   scho   was    so    arrayede    als   me    thoghte    pat    alle    pe    werlde 
myghte  hafe  herde  hir;  and  the  littill  hounde  and  pe  catt  forfrette   in-sondir  hir 
legges  and  hir  armes.     And  pantf  sayd  pat  deuele  pat  arayed  hir  pus:    »This  sail 
pmi  hafe  for  thi  foule  stynkkyng  pryde  and  boste    pat    pou   vsede    in    pe    werlde 
agayne  mekenes;    and  this  hounde    and   pis   catt    sail    eu^r  frete    appone   the   the 
while  pou  erte  here,  for  thyne  vnresonabille  lufe  pat  p0u  luffede    pam   in   erthe. 
For  I  am  pe  deuelle  of  Pryde,   and  pare-[fore]  I  sail  do  myne  Ofyce  in  this  payne 
and  qwyte  the  thi  mede  for  pe  s^myce  pat  pou  smiede  me.«     And   me   thoghte 


A  revelation  respecting  Purgatory. 

many  deuelles  were  witfi  [him]1.  And  pan  onone  me  thoghte  pat  pare  come  ow  e 
op*r  [two]2  deuels,  and  one  pullede  owte  hir  tunge,  and  ane  of>*r  pullede  owte 
hir  herte,  and  me  thoghte  pay  raked  it  -with  Iryn*  rakes.  »And  this,  pay  sayd, 
pou  sail  hafe  for  thi  wrethe  &  thyne  envy ,  and  for  false  forswerynge  &  for 
bakbyttyng  and  sclandirynge,  for  all  thies  pou  vsyde  in  thi  lyfe  ;  and  we  are  pe 
deuels  of  Wrethe  and  of  Envye,  and  all  thies  neddirs  and  snakes  pat  pou  seese 
w/bfc  vs,  pa[i] 3  sail  toftrment  the  for  thi  wykkede  vyces  pat  pou  vsede  in  erthe  & 
dyde  noghte  thi  penance  or  f)0u  come  here."  And  pan*  me  thoghte  pat  pere 
come  owte  op*r  two  deuelis,  of  pe  whilke  one  had  scharpe  rasours  and  he  ferde 
als  he  wolde  forcute  hir  flesche,  and  so  he  did  to  my  syghte,  and  me  thoghte 
he  paride  awaye  all  hir  lyppes,  and  he  tuke  a  grete  huke  of  yryn*  &  smote  tho- 
rowe-owte  hir  herte ;  and  pat  ofvr  deuele  melted  lede  &  bromstane  &  alle 
manure  of  stynkynge  venym*  pat  man*  myghte  thynke,  and  also  he  ordeyned  hir 
alle  manure  of  lykenes  of  metis  and  drynkes  pat  was  delycate  in  pis  werlde  pe 
whilke  pat  scho  vsede  to  styre  hir  more  to  syn*  pan*  to  v*rtu :  and  pose  metis 
me  thoghte  was  alle  neddyrs  and  snakkes,  &  pose  pay  made  hir  to  ete  agayne 
hir  will,  and  also  pay  made  hir  for  to  drynke  alle  mamr  of  cursede  venym*, 
and  said:  »Ete  &  drynke  this  for  thi4  c«rsede  glotonye  &  myspendynge,  wastyng 
&  takyng  ou*>-mekyll  the  while  pou  was  one  lyue.«  And  pant-  me  thoghte  this 
deuele  &  pat  op*r  deuele* cutt  awaye  hir  flesche  and  hir  lyppes,  and  thriste  pe 
huke  in  to  hir  herte.  And  than  pay  drewe  hir  in  to  a  grete  blake  water,  and 
pat  semyd  als  colde  als  any  Ise,  &  mekyll  p*rof  was  freside  to  my  syghte:  and 
per-in  pay  keste  hir  &  possede  hir  vp  &  down*,  and  sayd:  »Take  pe  this  bathe 
for  thi  slewthe  &  thi  glotonye«.  And  anone  pay  tuke  hir  owte  of  pe  wat*r  and 
threwe  hir  in  to  a  grete  fyre,  and  pare  pay  lefte  hir  styll,  and  pat,  pay  saide, 
solde  be  hir  bedde  for  pe  slewthe  pat  scho  lufed  so  wele  here  in  erthe  and 
wolde  noghte  cowme  to  goddis  s*myce  when*  scho  myghte.  And  per  pay  lefte 
hir  styll  vritft  many  wormes  aboute  hir.  And  pant'  me  thoghte  pare  come  othir 
two  deuelles,  and  one  broghte  mekyll  golde  and  syluyre,  and  pat  was  melte  and 
casten*  in  hir  throte,  and  pat  rane  owte  of  hir  stomake,  and  he  saidc:  »Take  the 
this  for  thi  cursede  and  wykkede  couetyse,  and  for  thi  myspe'ndjyngejr  in  waste 
when*  pou  had  it  and  wolde  noghte  helpe  op*r  pat  had  nede,  and  for  thi 
mysgou*mance  when*  p<m  hade  it«.  And  pan*  me  thoghte  f)at  ojnr  deuele 
broghte  hir  till  a  grete  ffatte  of  brasse,  and  pare-In*  was  alle  man*re  of  stynk- 
kynge  thynge  and  alle  man*res  of  venym,  &  wormes  bothe  smalle  and  grete: 
and  in  this  grete  fatte  pay  putte  hir  amange  pis  foule  venym 

(A  leaf  is  wanting) 

fol.  254. 

I  sawe  of  the   paynes   of  relegious  wywmen*:    and   than*   sone    aftyr  me 

thoghte  I  sawe  the  paynes  of  weddede  men*  and  wywmen*,  and  the  paywnes  of 
pam*  ware  thiese.  They  were  putt  in  grete  barells  full  of  neddirs  and  snakys  and 
of  all  man*re  of  stynkkyng  thynge,  and  me  thoghte  pe  barells  were  anone  pan* 
closed  at  bothe  pe  endis,  and  pay  were  stoppide  pare-In* ;  and  pan*  me  thoghte 
those  deuels  tuke  lange  gaddes  of  Iryn*  all  brynnynge  and  put  thorowte  pe  ba- 
relle,  and  als  faste  als  pay  myghte  pay  towrned  pam*  abowte  als  men*  dose 
hernayse  in  barells.  And  pan*  me  thoghte  pe  barells  brakke,  and  pare  smote 
owte  swylke  a  smoke  pat  it  alle  by-smokede  pam*  pat  was  abowte.  And  pan* 
me  thoghte  pose  deuels  toke  pykke  and  melte  it  and  put  in  thaire  throtes:  bot, 


Ms.  hir.        2  Ms.  seuen*.        3  Ms.  bat.        *  Ms.  this. 


•2 88  Appendix  I:.  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

ffadir,  it  rane  noghte  thurgK-Owt  pam?  hot  habade  still  wz't/z-In?  pam?.  And  pan? 
me  thoghte  pose  deuels  al  to-drewe  pam?,  ylke  a  bane  of  pam?  fra  o\>er.  And 
pan  sayde  pose  deuels  to  pam?:  »Take  z,ow  prs  byttir  bathe  pat  was  in  this 
barelle,  for  3 (rare  wykked  and  synfull  lyggynge  in  s;oure  foule  beddes  of  lechery e, 
and  also  for  false  brekynge  of  ^oure  trouthe  agaynes  goddes  will  and  wolde 
noghte  kepe  ^owe  to  ^oure  wyffes  and  to  7,oure  housbandes  als  the  lawe  of  god 
walde.  Also  take  7,ow  this  byttir  pykke  for  be  swete  metis  and  drynkes  pat  ^e 
vsede  in  7,our  glotonye  to  fulfill  3  oure  lecherye.  Also  take  ^ow  pzs  byttir  [to]-dra- 
wynge  for  ^our  softe  beddis  &  softe  werynge  pat  ^e  vsede  to  fulfill  ^oure  syn?, 
and  also  for  pe  wykkede  werkes  pat  ^e  did  agaynes  goddis  will  &  ^oure  con- 
scyence.«  And  thus  me  thoghte,  dere  ffadir,  I  sawe  be  paynes  of  weddid  men? 
&  women?.  And  onone,  fadir,  after  thiese  I  sawe  pe  paynes  of  synglere  men* 
and  wywmen?:  and  pase  me  thoghte  was,  pat  pay  were  putt  one  spetis  and 
rostede,  and  als  many  neddirs  &  snakes  &  tades  &  newtes  &  also  mekill  foule 
venynu'  as  myghte  swarme  abowte  pam?  was  sett  one  pam?  to  sowke  pam?  & 
to  gnawe  pam?.  And  pan?  were  pay  taken?  of  pe  spetis  and  those  deuels  drewe 
pam?  thurgfi-owte  pe  fyres  wztA  harde  scharpe  hokes,  bothe  syngle  men*  & 
wywmen,  and  pay  all  fordrewe  paire  hertes  and  paire  moste  praie  membris. 
&  pan?  saide  jiose  deuels  to  pam?:  »Take  ^owe  thiese  paynes  for  ^e  disvssede 
/;oure-selfe  in  pe  foule  luste  of  lecherye,  and  in  alle  op?r  synnes,  agaynes  goddes 
will  &  ?oure  ownn?  conscyence ,  and  for  ^e  disvsede  ^oure-selfe  in  pe  synn?  of 
lecherye  wz't/z-owtten?  any  nede  when?  ^e  myghte  hafe  taken?  pe  fredom?  of 
wedlayke  whilke  7,e  hade  leue  by  god  to  take  to,  &  pat  was  ffree  &  comon?  to 
eu?fylke  a  man?  &  wy/wman?  pat  was  wz't/z-owttyn^  ordir  &  pat  was  vndir  \)e 
lawe  of  god  to  be  weddede,  and  also  ^e  myghte  hafe  done  &  keped  ^ow  fro 
lecherye.  And  for  7,e  walde  noghte  do  so  &  for  ^e  dispysede  pe  ordir  of  wed 
layke  and  for  ^e  dred  pat  if  7,e  were  wedded,  pat  op^r  men  wolde  hafe  taken*? 
^oure  wyfes,  and  for  this  fulle  mystryste  &  pe  foule  dyssuse  J  of  7,oure  bodyes,  take 
here  thiese  byttir  paynes  in  purgatorye,  &  thiese  neddirs  &  thiese  snakes  eu^r  to 
gnawe  on  ^ow,  to  25 our  bandis  of  synn^  be  wasted  awaye  &  to  god  hafe  schewede 
on  ^ow  his  mercy.  For  weite  z;e  wele  this  es  noghte  helle,  bot  this  es  an  In 
strument  of  goddis  ryghtewysnes  to2  purge  ^owe  of  5joure  synnes  in  purgatorye, 
for3  7,e  wolde  noghte  vse  penance  in  2,our  lyfes  and  or  ^e  come  here«.  And 
thus  me  thoghte  those  deuels  sayde  pat  was  there  ;  and  pus  mekill,  my  fadir,  I 
saw  of  pe  paynes  of  syngle  mentf  &  wymen^.  And  all  pis  me  thoghte  I  sawe 
fro  pe  tyme  that  pe  sperite  of  Margarite  went  fro  me  til  scho  come  agayne. 
And  sone  affcr  scho  come  agayne  to  me,  and  pan^  scho  said  to  me  :  »Now  hase 
p0u  sene  my  byttir  paynes  p^zt  I  suffirde  in  thiese  grete  fyres  of  p«fgatorye«. 
And  pan?,  ffadir,  me  thoghte  onone  pat  scho  come  owte  of  pe  grete  fatte,  and 
come  to  me ;  and  pan?  scho  sayd :  »pou  may  knawe  by  be  deuels  pat  were  my 
towmento«?'s,  &  by  be  townnentes  p^t  pay  did  me,  what  syne  pat  I  hafe  done; 
and  pere-fore  pay  sail  neu?r  townnent  me  more,  god  it  the  for^elde  and  all  my 
helpers  pat  hase  sped  me  owt  of  my  paynes «.  &  pan?  I  askede  hir  whi  scho 
cryed  so  petousely  » swete  lady,  be  myn?  helpe«,  &  whi  scho  cryed  more  one 
oure  lady  pan?  scho  did  one  god  almyghty  or  one  any  op?r  sayntes.  And  pan? 
scho  said:  »^is,  ffor  scho  es  hede  of  all  op?r  sayntes  except  god  allane,  and  for 
scho  es  welle  of  mercy,  I  cryede  one  hir  in  my  grete  woo,  and  also  for  I  solde 
pe  rathere  be  delyu?nle  thurgft  hir  bone  &  pnzyere,  and  also  the  whils  I  was 
one  lyfe  I  fastede  hir  fasten  And  the  sperit  sayd  me  agayne  .pere  sulde  neu?r 
none  fayle  of  oure  ladys  helpe  pat  cowmes  in  to  pwgatorye,  pat  hase  fastede 


Ms.  dyffuse.        2  Ms.  &  to.         3  Ms.  and  for. 


A  revelation  respecting  Purgatory.  389 

hir  faste  byfore.  &  pan£  I  askede  hir  whi  scho  cryede  so  dullefully  in  pat 
grete  fatte  pat  scho  was  In,  and  why  I  myghte  noghte  see  hir.  And  pan  scho 
said:  »If  pou  had  sene  my  paynes  pou  sulde  hafe  bene  so  ferde  pat  thi  body 
solde  noghte  wele  hafe  borne  thi  sperit  wztft-owtten?  grete  trybulaciouwe  of  thi 
wittes,  or  ells  strange  seknes,  for  my  paynes  were  so  strange;  and  p^rfor  I 
cryede  so  horribily«.  &  pan*?  I  askede  hir  whi  pat  flawme  of  fyre  come  owte 
of  hir  mouthe,  &  why  at  hir  herte  come  owte  so  many  sparkes  of  fyre  &  why 
hir  herte  was  so  wouwdide,  and  whi  pe  littill  honde  &  pe  cate  folowed  hir; 
and  what  gude  did  pase  messes  hir  &  pase  players  hir  pat  scho  bade  saye  for 
hir.  And  pant'  scho  sayde:.-als  towchynge  pe  flawme  of- fyre  at  hir  mouthe,  pat 
was  for  hir  grete  athes  pat  scho  vsede  in  hir  lyfe ;  and  also  towchynge  pe  wonde 
at  hir  herte  and  pe  sparkelynge  fyre  pareof,  it  was  for  -hir  athes  was  mekyll 
by  cure  lordes  hert,  and  pat  was  pe  cause  pat  pe  sparkes  of  fyre  come  owte 
at  hir  herte — and  pat  was  one,  schro  sayde,  •  of  pe .  gretteste  paynnes  pat  scho 
hade;'  and  as  touchynge  the  lyttill  hounde  &  pe.  Cate:  pay. were  hit  mawemetts 
pe  whils  scho  was  one  lyfe,  and  scho  sett  hir  herte  to  mekili  one  swylke  foulle 
wormes,  »&  pare-jTore]  pay  folowe  me  to  encrese  my  paynes,  ay  till  pe  bandes 
of  syn*  be  worne  in-sondir.  And  towchiwg  pe  messis  saying  .&  pe  prayers  pat 
was  done  for  me:  pay  hafe  hasted  me  pe  tytt^r  owt  'of  my  paynes;  and  alsg  fro 
hethen£  forwarde  I  sail  neuer  be  towrment  more  wz't/r  deuels  safe  wz't&  one,  &  pat 
es  with  my  wykkede  angelle,  and  he  sail,  brynge  me  thurgft  pise  [oper]  two  fyr§ 
of  purgatorye;  and  if  par  be  any  drosse  of  syn*?,  p,ere  sail  I  be  clensed ;  and  |)is 
honde  ne  pis  cate  sail  nen«r  folow  me  more«.  &  -pan  scho  saide :.  » Fare  .wele « 
&  nenned  my  name,  &  said  scho  suld  nem'r  trauelle-  me  more  in  be  syghte  of 
paynes  bot  ane  ofyer  nyghte.  And  pant'  me  thoghte  scho  went  fro  me,  bot  scho 
cryed  noghte  als  scho  did  by-fore.  And  pan*,  fadir,  I  woke  of  niy.slepe;  & 
pan<?  me  thoght  I  was  full  wery  &  full  euylle  afferde.  -And,  fadif,,thus  mekili 
me  thoghte  I  sawe  on  przt  nyghte.  //  And  pan*-,  my  dere  ffadir,  me  thoghte  scho 
come  to  me  pe  nexte  nyghte  folowyng.  And  pan*?,  dere  fadir,  .me  thoghte:.scho 
was  alle  blake  als  any  cole,  bot  scho  had  no  flawme  in  hir  mouthe  of  fyre  als 
scho  had  by-fore,  and  also  pe  wounde  at  hir  hert  was  closed,  and  alle  pe 
wouwdes  pat  me  thoghte  scho  had  on  hir  body  by-fore  were  closed  vp.  &  pant' 
me  thoghte  scho  sayde  to  me :  »Tak  pou  gud  hede  how  I  sail  now  be  delyiurede 
of  my  paynes  &  enter  in  to  the  blysse  of  paradyse«.  &  pan  me  thoghte  scho 
went  fra  me,  &  onone  a  deuele  tuke  hir  and  threwe  hir  in  to  the  medill  fyre, 
&  pare  me  thoght  he  had  belowes  in  his  hande  &  he  blewe  faste,  &  me  thoghte 
scho  laye  &  fryed  in  pe  fyre  als  it  had  bene  fysche  in  hate  oyle.  £  pan*  me 
thoghte  he  toke  hir  vpe  agayne  &  led  hir  thurgh-owte  alle  pat  medill  fyre,  and 
euer  als  scho  went  pe  blaknes  of  hir  felle  a-waye  as  it  had  bene  talowe  of  a 
candill  when*  it  droppes  for  hete ;  and  by  ptft  scho  come  to  pe  end  .of  ptft 
grete  fyre,  me  thoghte  scho  wexe  alle  rede  &  wele-coloured  als  it  had  bene 
blode-rede  flesche.  And  pan*'  me  thoghte  scho  entirde  in  to  pe  thirde  fyre, 
and  that  fyre  me  thoghte  was  als  clere  as  any  ambir,  &  p«t  deuele  broghte  hir 
akway  p^rin,  and  euer  als  scho  ^ode  \>er  in  pat  fire  scho  wexe  eu*r  clerer.  and 
clerere.  &  me  thoghte  scho  taried  noghte  in  pat  fyre,  bot  me  thoghte  scho 
hyed  faste  owt  par-of  till  scho  was  at  the  ende:  and  by  be  rym*  scho  was  at 
the  ende,  scho  wexe  wondir  whitte  &  fayre.  &  pan^  me  thoghte  scho  sayde : 
»Blysside  be  god  &  oure  lady  Marye  pat  I  ame  here  nowe,  &  god  ^elde  the  & 
panv  all  pat  hase  helpede  so  sone  par-to  ;  &  bot  if  pat  J  h&d.  hafed  grace  of 
helpe,  I  sulde  hafe  bene  puneschede  in  purgatorye  jjit  thre  ijere  langare;  and  if 
pat  I  had  noghte  perid  to  the  &  had  hade  helpe  of  the,  I  suld  hafe  hade  more 
strongere  payne  pan*?  I  hade«.  And  than*?  scho  sayd;  »p#*  ere  thre- manure :  of 


3QO  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

pz/rgatoryes.  One  es  pe  grete  fyre  of  pz*rgatorye  pat  pou  sawe  me  Ine  fyrste, 
and  pat  es  euen<?-lyke  to  pe  paynes  of  belle,  saue  we  salle  be  sauede  &  pay 
sail  noghte.  And  thiese  o\>er  two  fyres  ere  counted  ane  op^«.  And  pan  I 
askede  hir  if  alle  pat  dyede  solde  go  to  pe  fyrste  fyre,  pat  was  to  pat  grete 
fyre.  And  scho  sayd:  »Naye;  lewes  and  Sara^enes  dyes  &  o\>er  heythen^  pople 
and  pay  sail  neuer  come  pere  hot  pay  sail  streghte  to  pe  paynes  of  helle,  for 
pay  sail  never  be  sauede;  &  alle  pat  co#zmes  in  pe  grete  fyre  of  pwrgatorye 
sail  be  sauede,  what  paynes  pat  eu^r  pay  be  In<?«.  And  pan£  I  sayd  to 
hir:  »I  ment  ^ife  all  cristen^  peple  solde  go  thedir  or  pay  went  to  the  o\>er 
two  fyres«.  And  pan*  scho  sayd:  »Naye ,  syst^r,  god  forbede  it!  for  fyer 
gase l  (f.  256)  many  a  thowsande  to  the  medill  fyre  pat  comes  [noght]  in  the 
grete  fyre,  and  pat  es  all  lesse  or  mare  thurgh  grace  als  pay  hafe  [had]  co;z- 
tricyon<?  and  base  made  satysfaccione  and  done  penance  for  paire  synnes.  For, 
scho  saide,  pe  gretteste  fyre  es  the  gretteste  reddoz^r  of  pe  ryghtwysnes  of  god 
pat  es  in  pwgatorye.  For,  scho  said,  all  dedly  synnes  pat  mantf  or  woman^  hase 
done  in  the  werlde  pat  pay  er  schreuen^  of  and  hase  noghte  done  paire  penance 
or  pay  dyede,  thay  sail  be  punesched  in  pe  paynnes  of  purgatorye.  And  also 
many  a  man<?  &  wymmane  pat  will  noghte  leue  pair  syn<?  or  euen<?  sodanly  pat 
dede  take  pani£.  And  also  many  a  man£  &  womantf  hase  many  a  schrewed 
opynyon*?,  ffor  pay  will  saye  may  pay  hafe  thre  wordes  be-fore  pair  dede  pay 
rekke  neu^,  and  pat  es  a  full  pmllous  worde;  bot  ^it  god  of  his  heghe  mercy 
grawntes  many  pase  wordis  when?  pay  lye  in  paire  beddis  of  ded,  ffor  hym  es 
full  lathe  to  lese  pat  he  dere  boghte:  and  for  schortynge  of  his  wittis  &  for 
payne  of  his  sekenes  he  schrefes  hym  als  wele  as  he  cane,  &  puttes  hym  in 
goddes  mercy — all  pese  man^r  of  pople  sail  go  to  pis  fyre  till  pe  bandis  of  syn* 
be  wasted  in-sondire ,  some  lang^r  tym*  &  some  schortt^r,  &  all  affcr  als  pay 
hafe  frendis  in  erthe  to  helpe,  and  all  otter  as  pay  hafe  done  gude  in  erthe  or 
pay  dyed,  and  after  pat  pay  hafe  sufferde  sekenes  and  trebulaciouws  here  in  pzs 
erthe  pacyently  or  pay  dyed — ffor,  scho  sayd,  a  day  of  sekenes  &  trz'bulacyone 
here  sail  stande  for  a  ^ere  in  pz/rgatorye.  And  pat  sail  be  \n  pat  grete  fyre. 
Bot  alle  pat  co;/zmes  in  to  pe  greteste  fyre,  sail  come  thrugfi  pe  medill  fyre,  & 
so  euen<?  thurgK  pe  clere  fyre,  &  so  passe  pe  paynnes  of  pwrgatorye.  And,  scho 
sayd,  many  sail  go  thurgK  be  medill  fyre  and  come  noghte  in  pe  grete  fyre, 
and  pat  are  pay  pat  hase  done2  many  venyalle  synnes  and  hase  noghte  bene 
schreuen^  of  panitf  bot  generall,  &  some  were  to  be  schreuen^  of  in  specyally 
be-fore  pay  dyed ;  &  many  forgetyn^  synnes  pat  comes  noghte  to  mynde ;  or 
oure-lyghte  penance  or  oure-lyttill  or  oure-necligently  done  pat  was  loyned  pam<? 
to  do,  or  oure-lyttill  repentance,  or  penance  Enloynede  &  noghte  fulfilled  or 
pay  dyede :  alle  thiese  pepill  sail  be  clensede  and  fulfill  paire  penance  in  pe 
myddis  fyre  of  pz/rgatorye,  and  so  come  owte  &  go  to  the  thirde  fyre  of  clen- 
synge  als  I  do  nowe.  And  many  gose  to  the  clere  fyre  als  sone  als  pay  bene 
dede,  and  comes  nop^r  in  pe  grete  fyre  ne  ^itt  in  the  medill  fyre,  bo[t]  righte 
gose  to  the  clere  fyre,  &  so  onone  to  the  blysse :  &  pat  ere  Innocentes,  &  haly 
mentf  &  wymmene  of  relygions  &  ancres  &  ancresys,  &  alle  haly  closede  pepill, 
and  alle  haly  Martyrs  and  cowfessours.  And  god  hym-selfe  schewede  his  blyssede 
Modyre  to  see  pe  paynes  of  pz^rgatorye ,  pofe  pay  neghede  hir  noghte.  Alle 
manure  of  crystyntf  men<?  &  wywzmen*  in  pe  werlde  whate  syn£  pat  ever  pay  hafe 
done,  if  paire  penance  be  fulfilled  or  pay  dyed,  [for]3  the  mercy  of  god  &  pe  grete 
tryste  in  god  or  in  his  mercy  and  pe  contricyontf  pat  pay  hafe  for  paire  syn<?, 


catchword  Jiar  gose?  2  Ms.  £at  hase  done  J>#t  hase  done.        3  Ms.  &. 


A  revelation  respecting  Purgatory.  391 

anone  als  pay  be  dede  pay  sail  come  to  this  thirde  fyre   of  mercy,    &   so    passe 
to  pe  blysse  of  heuen*  w/t/fc-owttyn*  mekill  payne  or  lettynge«.     And  pan,  ffadir, 
me  thoghte  anone  scho  saide :  »I  hafe  declared  to  the  pis  bitter  paywnes  of  pur- 
gatorye,  and  I  wolde  declare  to  the  two  mo  pwrgatoryes,  hot  I  may  noghte  lange 
habyde.     Bot  this  es  pe  gen*ralle   pwrgatorye    for    alle   men*    pat    ere    cristened. 
Ane    op*r    es    by    sekenes    and  grete   tn'bulacion*   in   this   werlde,    and   aft*r    pe 
cowtricion*  pat  pay  hafe,  &  eft*r   pe   pmlone  pat  pay   hafe  pwrchesede  pam*  in 
the  werlde  pe  while  pay  were  owte  of  dedly  syn* ;  ffor  pay  maye  purchase  pam* 
so  mekill  p*rdon*  in  pis  werlde  pat  sail  fordo  all  pe  pay;mes  of  pwrgatorye   and 
lyghtly   brynge    bam   to  blysse  of   heuen*;    and   this   es   ane   op*r  pwrgatorye,   of 
mercy.     The  thirde  p/^gatorye  es  of  grace,   and  pat  es:  whare  a  man*?  or  a  wo 
man^  hase  maste   cowtenede1   his   synnes  &  moste  vsede    pam*,    pare    he    sail   be 
puneschede  if  god  will  gyfe  hyw  grace,  and  come  noghte  in  pe  generalle  paynes 
of  pwfgatorye ;  and  pat  es  callede  pe  pwrgatorye  of  grace  ;  bot  pay  sail  hafe  full 
grete  paywnes  till  god  will  gyffe  pam*  mercy.     And  many  swylke  spiryts  apperes 
to  men*  wakynge  in  this  werlde,   &  also  [pay]  in  pwrgatorye  bothe,   and  pay  bothe 
come  to  men*   and    pay   telle   whate   may   helpe  pam*  and  so    pay  ere  delyu*red 
of  pair  paywnes.      Also    many    apperis    slepynge    to    men*    and    wywmen*   in   the 
werlde  als  I  did  to  the,  &  telles  whate  may  helpe    pam*   &   op*r  frendes.     And 
all  this  es  the  pwrgatorye  of  grace.    So  pat  I  hafe  rehersed  vn-to  the  three  pur- 
gatoryes:     One    es   pwrgatorye    of  rightwisenes  pat  es   generalle   pwrgatorye,   pat 
pou    hase    sene   by-fore;     The    top*r   es    pwrgatorye    of   mercy;     And  the  thirde 
es  the  pwrgatorye  of  grace  as  I  hafe  tolde  the.     Bot  eu*r-ylke  man*  or  woman* 
pat  may  make  pise  messes  to  be  saide  for  hym,  &  pis  salme  Miserere   mei  deus 
w*'t6  this  ympne  Veni  creator  spiritus,  in  pe  mamr  als  I  hafe  saide  be-fore  —  & 
[if]  he  be  noghte  of  powere  to  make  pise  messes  alle  to  be  sayde  for  hym,  make 
he    pise    thirtene   be   sayde   for  hym*   w*'tfc   the   prayers   folowynge    before-sayd: 
and  god  will  thurgft  his   mercy   sone  delyu*r   pam*   owt    of   paire  paywnes.     And 
if  pere2   be   any   prest   pat   will    saye    pam*  for  hyw-selfe    or   he  dye,    pay   salle 
relese  his  paywnes  in  p«rgatorye  when*  he  sail  come    p*r-In*   also    sone   als  pay 
were  said  for   hym   anone    aft*r   his  dede,    and   a   full  hey  thanke    &  mede  solde 
he  hafe  of  god  for  his  trouelle ;   or  [if]  he  wold  saye  it  for  any  frende  of  his,  it 
were    bett*r  of  hym  pan  of  any  op*r  man*,  and  the  more  hastylier    pay   sail    be 
delyu*rde  out  of  paire  paywnes  for  his   gud-will  &  his  trewe  labourer     And  ban 
scho  sayd:  »Eu*r-ylk  man*  and  woman*  pat  were  lettirde  pat  were  in  any  temp- 
taciouwe  whilke  pat  I  rehersede  be-fore:   saye  he  this  ympne  Veni  creator  spiritus, 
and  pe  deuele  &  pat  temptacion*  sail  sone  voyde  fra  hym ;   and  anone  pan*  thanke 
he  his  god  and  aske  his  m*rcy  &  say  Miserere  mei    deus  vrit/i   fyve  aues  gretyng 
to  oure  lady«.     And  pan  scho  said:    »Now  hafe  I  tolde   the   all   thynges  als   god 
will,  &  made  ane  end  of  pwrgatorye:   and  now  take  gud  hede  what  pou  sees  me 
doo  nowe;  and  if  pou  had  noghte  gone    to  Sowthwyke    one  pilgremage    for    me 
in  pe  wyrchipe  of  god  and  of  oure  lady— ffor  I  had  vowede  it  and  myght  noghte 
do  it,  and  pou  hase  done  it  for  me,  &  ells  I  sulde    full   foule   hafe   bene    lettide 
of  my  passage  when*  I  solde  hafe  bene  weyhede  oute  of  pise  paywnes,    and  pat 
sail  j)0u  sone   see«.     And  me  thoghte   sone   aft*r   pat    pare   come    a  fayre    lady, 
and  a  fayre  ^onge  man*  witA  hir  of  pe  age   of  twenty   wynt^r,    and   he    broghte 
weyhes  in  his  hand,  and  he  was  clede    alle    in  whitte   clothes;    and   me  thoghte 
this  lady  was    cled   in   white    clothe    of  golde,    and   sternes   of  golde  was  in  hir 
garment,   and  a  royale  crowne  scho  had  one  hir   hede  of  gold,    and   a   septre  in 
hir    hande,    and    on    pe   ende    of  the   septre   was    a   lyttill   crose.     And  pan  scho 


r.  conceucde?         2  Ms.  l>ere  overlined  before  if. 


39-2  Appendix  I:   Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

spake  to   pe  man  in  white:    »Sone,   scho  said,    take  pis   womans  and    late    hir  be 
weyhed«.     And  anone    sodanly   scho    was   in    pe   weyhes:    and   onone    pe    deuele 
weyhed  agayne  hir,   and  a  grete  lange  worme  with  hy;;z.     And   twyse   scho   felle 
downs  to  pe  deuelle  and  the  deuele   rehersed   all    hir   synnes   whilke    scho   hade 
bene  in  paynes  fore.      And    pan    sayd    pe   mans    in   white:    »Hir    synnes  ere  for- 
geffens,  for  scho  hase   done    hir   penance   psr-fore,    and    scho    es    gyffens   to    pe 
welle  of  mercy  pat  es  present,   pe  qwene  of  heuens  &  of  erthe,   empryce  of  helle 
&  of  pwrgatorye,   &  pe  blyssed  modir  of  god,  &  scho  es  gyffens  to  hir.     Whate 
cane  pou  saye  to  f>is  womans  ?«    And  pan  me  thoghte  pe  deuele    tuke  owte  p*t 
grete  worme  &  saide  :    »Here    es  pe  worme    of  conscyence,    pat   ^it    sail  trauelle 
hir  for  a  thynge  pat  es  by-hynde,  &  pat  es  scho  made  a  vowe   to  a  pilgremage 
&  fulfilled  it'noghtecc.     &  jaans    me  thoghte    that    pat   faire   lady   said:    «Here  es 
one  pat  hase  done  it  for  hir,   and  my  sone  and  I  hase  gyffens  pz's  woman*?  mercy. 
And  fy  one  the,  foule  sathanas!    pou  &  pe  worme  of  conscience  sail  neusr  dere 
hir  more«.     &   vtith    pat    worde    me  thoghte    scho   weyhede   euens   downs   to    pe 
faire  lady.     &  me  thoghte  pe  deuele  &  pe  worme  made  a  grete  crye,    &    anone 
pay  voydede  awaye.     And  pans   pat    faire   lady   tuke  a  white    clothe    &   wrapped 
all  aboute  hir,   &  pan*  this' lady  saide:  »Come  one,  doghetsr,  wzt/;  me  &  peu  sail 
ressayue  pe  oyle  of  mercy,   and  pi  conscience  sail  be  made   clene.     &  full  grete 
mede  sail  pay  all  hafe  pat  hase  helpede    the    so    sone    out    of  thi   pay;mes,    and 
whens  pay  sail  come  to  pz/rgatorye    pay   sail    sone    fynd    pe    grete    mercy   of  al- 
myghty  god  and  the  sonere  be  spede  owte  of  paire  paywnes  for  pi  sake«.     And 
pan  onone  this  fayre  lady  ledd  hir  cure  a  strongs  brygge,   &  at  pe  brygges  ende 
was^  a  faire  white  chapelle,   and  me  thoghte  pare  come  owte  mekill  multitude  of 
pepill,   pat    come    agaynes    hir '  vrith  faire  precessione    &   me¥y   sange.     And    pans 
pis  faire  lady  &  pz's  precessions  broghte  hir  to  a  fayre  welle,  &  pare  all  hir  body 
was  weschens.     And  sodanly  be-syde    pe   welle    was   a   white   chapelle,    and  this 
lady  and  this  precessions  broghte  Margarete    psr-Ins.     And  anone  come  Ine  thir- 
tene   men*?,    and    one    of   pams  sange    a   messe,    and   me    thoghte   p/'s    faire   lady 
offirde  Margarete    to  hyme,  &  sodanely  me  thoghte    psr  was   a    crowns    sett    one 
hir  hede,   &  a  septre  in  hir  hande ;   and  pan  said  pe  mans  pat  sange  the  messe: 
«Doghetsr,  take  here  pe  crowns  of  grace  and  mercy,   and  this  septre  of  victorye, 
ffor  pou  erte  passed  all  thyn  enymys«.     And  me  thoghte   this   mans    sange   owte 
the  messe,    and  whens    the    messe   was   saide,    pay    wente   owte    of   pe    Chapelle 
ylkane ;   and  this  mans  pat  sange  pe  messe  toke  Margarete  witR  hym  and  broghte 
hir  tyl  a  goldyns   ^ate,    and    pe   precessions   witli   hyme.     And    he  saide  to  Mar 
garete:   »Doghetsr,    go  In  at  this  ^ate  and  ressayue   the   blysse  of  paradyse  &  of 
heuens,  whilke  pat  es  thi  kynde  heritage,   and  pat  Adams  was  Ins.«     And  anone, 
ffadir,  I  woke  and  all  thynge  was  vaneschede.    No  more,  fadir,  at  pis  tyme  ;   bot 
god  bryng  vs  to  his  kyngdome,   amens.i 


1 6.     Here  Bygynnys  Sayne  lerome  Spaltyre.2 

fol.    25S>>. 

eatus  vero  leronimus  in  hoc  modo  disposuit  hoc  spalterium,  sicut  angelus 
domini  docuit  per  spiritum  sanctum.  Porro  propter  hoc  ab[b]reuiatum  est  quod 
hii  qui  solicitudinem  habent  seculi,  vel  qui  in  innrmitatibus  iacent,  aut  operibus 
seu  itineribus3  occupantur,  qui  nauigium  agunt,  qui  bellum  commissuri  sunt,  vel 


i  Then  follows  in  the  Ms.  the  Psalm  Miserere  mei  deus,  and  the  Hymn  Veni  creator  spiritus. 
In  this  piece  I  adjust  the  faulty  spelling.          3  Ms.  iteneribus. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office.  -20 -2 

quos  Mnuidia  diaboli  exagitat,  uel  aliud  aliquid  tribulacionis  molestat,  siue  quo- 
ciens  uouere  cotidie  spalterium  et  implere  minime  possunt,  vel  qui  ieiunant  et 
debilitantur,  et  qui  dies  festos  custodiunt,  et  qui  uult  animam  suam  saluam  facere 
et  vitam  eternam  habere :  hoc  spalterium  dicat  assidue.  Et  sic  incipit : 

Adesto  [deus]  vnus  omnipotens  pater  &  films  &  spiritus  sanctus,  amen. 

[5]  Verba  mea  auribus  percipe  domine :  intellige  clamorem  meum.  Intende 
voci  oracionis  mee,  rex  meus  &  deus  meus.  [6]  Domine  ne  in  furore  tuo  arguas 
me:  neque  in  ira  tua  corripias  me.  Miserere  mei  domine  quoniam  infirmus  sum: 
sana  me  domine  quoniam  conturbata  sunt  omnia  ossa  mea,  Et  anima  mea  tur- 
bata  est  valde:  &  tu  domine  vsquequo?  Conuertere  domine  et  eripe  animam 
meam:  saluum  me  fac  propter  misericordiam  tuam. 

Adesto  [deus]  vnus  omnipotens  pater  &  filius  &  spiritus  sanctus. 

[7]  Domine  deus  meus  in  te  speraui :  saluum  me  fac  ex  omnibus  persequen- 
tibus  me  &  libera  me,  Ne  quando  rapiat  ut  leo  animam  meam,  dum  non  est  qui 
redimat  neque  qui  saluum  faciat.  [12,  4]  Respice  in  me  et  exaudi  me  domine  deus 
meus,  Illumina  oculos  meos  ne  vnquam  obdormiam  in  morte:  nequando  dicat 
inimicus  meus,  preualui  aduersus  eum.  Adesto  deus  [vnus]2.  [16,5]  Perfice  gressus 
meos  in  semitis  tuis,  vt  non  moueanrur3  vestigia  mea.  Ego  clamaui  quoniam  exau- 
disti  me  deus  :  inclina  aurem  tuam  michi  et  exaudi  verba  mea.  Mirifica  misericordias 
tuas,  qui  saluos  facis  sperantes  in  te  domine.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

Custodi  me  domine  vt  pupillam  oculi  sub  vmbra  alarum  tuarum:  protege4  me 
a  facie  impiorum  qui  me  afflixerunt.  [18,13]  Ab  occultis  meis  munda  me  domine: 
et  ab  alienis  parce  seruo  tuoj.  [21,  20]  Tu  autem  ne  longe  facias  miseraciones  tuas 
a  me:  ad  defensionem  meam  conspice.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

Krue  a  framea  deus  animam  meam:  &  de  manu  canis  vnicam  meam.  Salua 
me  ex  ore  leonis :  &  a  cornibus  vnicornium  humilitatem  meam.  Narrabo  nomen 
tuum  fratribus  meis:  in  medio  ecclesie  laudabo  te.  [24,4]  Vias  tuas  domine  de- 
monstra  michi :  &  semitas  tuas  edoce  me  r>.  Dirige  me  in  veritate  tua  &  doce 
me :  quia  tu  es  deus  saluator  meus,  &  te  sustinui6  tota  die.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 
Reminiscere  miseracionum  tuarum  domine,  &  misericordiarum  tuarum  que  a  seculo 
sunt,  Delicta  iuuentutis  mee  &  ignorancias  meas  ne  memineris  ;  Secundum  miseri 
cordiam  tuam  memento  mei  tu:  propter  bonitatera  tuam  domine.  [24,11]  Propter 
nomen  tuum  domine  propiciaberis  peccato  meo :  multum  est  enim.  Adesto  vnus 
deus.  [24,18)  Vide  humilitatem  meam  <Sc  laborem  meum:  &  dimitte  vniuersa  de- 
licta  mea.  [25, 9]  Ne  perdas  cum  impiis  animam  meam  deus,  et  cum  viris  san- 
guinum7  vitam  meam;  In  quorum  manibus  iniquitates  sunt,  dextera  eorum  repleta 
est  muneribus^.  [26,7]  Exaudi  domine  vocem  meam  qua  clamaui  ad  te  :  miserere 
mei  &  exaudi  me.  [26,9]  Ne  auertas  faciem  tuam  a  me:  ne  declines  in  ira  a 
seruo  tuo.  Adesto  deus  vnus  omnipotens. 

Adiutor  meus  es  tu ,  ne  derelinquas  me :  neque  despicias  me  deus  salu- 
taris  meus.  [26,  n]  Legem  pone  michi  domine  in  via  tua:  &  dirige  me  in  semita 
recta  propter  inimicos  meos.  Ne  tradideris0  me:  in  animas  tribulancium  me. 
[27]  Ad  te  domine  clamabo,  deus  meus  ne  sileas 10  a  me :  nequando  taceas  a  me  et 
assimilabor  U  descendentibus  in  lacum.  Adesto  vnus  deus. 

Kxaudi  domine  vocem  deprecacionis 12  mee  dum  oro  ad  te :  dum  extollo 
manus  meas  ad  templum  sanctum  tuum.  Ne  simul  tradas  me  cum  peccatoribus : 
&  cum  operantibus  iniquitatem  ne  perdas  [me].  [27,9]  Saluum  fac  populum  tuum 
domine  &  benedic  hereditati  tue  :  &  rege  eos  &  extolle  illos  usque  in  eternum. 


1  Ms.  in  inuedia.          '*  Ms.  meus.          3  Ms.  mouiantur.          4  Ms.  protige.          8  The  last  2  vv. 
are  transp.  6  Ms.  sustenui.  '  Ms.  sanguenum.  8  on  the  margin.  '  Ms.  tradederis. 

10  Ms.  silias.        »  Ms.  assemulabor.        12  Ms.  depricacionis. 


Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

1 30]  In  te  domine  speraui,  non  confundar  in  eternum :  in  iusticia  tua  libera  me. 
Adesto  deus  vnus.  Inclina  ad  me  aurem  tnam:  accelera  ut  eruas  me,  Esto  michi 
in  deum  protectorem :  &  in  domum  refugii,  vt  saluum  me  facias.  Fortitude  mea 
(&  laus  mea  dominus):  &  refugium  meum  es  tu  deus  meus.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 
[30,6]  In  manus  tuas  domine  commendo  spiritum  meum:  redemisti1  me  domine  deus 
veritatis.  [30,  16]  (Libera  me  et)eripe  me :  de  manibus  inimicorum  meorum,  Illustra 
faciem  tuam  super  seruum  tuum:  saluum  me  fac  in  misericordia  ^  tua  domine:  non 
confundar  quoniam  invocaui  te.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [32,  22]  Fiat  misericordia  tua 
domine  super  nos:  quemadmodum  sperauimus  in  te.  [33]  Benedicam  dominum  in 
omni  tempore:  semper  laus  eius  in  ore  meo.  In  domino  laudabitur  anima  mea: 
audiant  mansueti  &  letentur.  Magnificate  dominum  mecum:  &  exaltemus  nomen 
eius  in  idipsum.  Adesto  vnus  deus. 

[34]  ludica  domine  nocentes  me:  expugna  impugnantes  me.  Apprehende  arma 
&  scutum :  &  exurge  in  adiutorium  michi ;  (ne  sileas  domine :  ne  discedas  a  me 3). 
Effunde  frameam  &  conclude  aduersus  eos  qui  persecuntur  me :  die  anime  mee, 
salus  tua  ego  sum.  [34, 23]  Exurge  domine  intende  iudicium  meum :  deus  meus 
et  dominus  meus,  in  causam  meam.  ludica  me  secundum  iusticiam  tuam :  domine 
deus  meus.  Adesto  vnus  deus.  [35,  "]  Pretende  domine  mise[ri]cordiam  tuam  & 
iusticiam  tuam:  hiis  qui  recto  sunt  corde.  Non  veniat  michi  pes  superbie:  & 
manus  peccatoris  non  moueat  me.  [38,  5]  Locutus  sum  in  lingua  mea:  notum  fac 
michi  domine  finem  meum ,  Et  numerum  dierum  meorum  quis  est ,  ut  sciam  quid 
desit  michi.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [38,  13]  Exaudi  oracionem  meam  domine  et  depre- 
cacionem  meam :  auribus  percipe  verba  oris  mei ;  Ne,  sileas  quoniam  aduena  ego 
sum  apud  te:  &  peregrinus  sicut  omnes  patres  mei.  Remitte  michi  vt  refrigerer 
priusquam  abeam4,  &  amplius  non  ero.  [39,  12]  Tu  autem  domine  ne  longe  facias 
miseraciones  tuas  a  me:  misericordia  tua  &  veritas  tua  semper  susceperunt5  me. 
Adesto  deus  vnus. 

[39,  13]  Quoniam  circumdederunt  me  mala  quorum  non  est  numerus,  comprehen- 
derunt  me  iniquitates  mee:  &  non  potui  vt  viderem.  Multiplicate6  sunt  super 
capillos  capitis  mei:  &  cor  meum  dereliquit  me.  Complaceat7  tibi  domine  vt  eruas 
me :  domine  ad  adiuuandum  me  respice.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [39,  i8!  Ego  vero 
egenus  &  pauper  sum :  deus  adiuua  me.  Adiutor  meus  &  liberator  meus  es  tu : 
domine  ne  moreris8.  [40,5]  Ego  dixi  domine  miserere  mei:  sana  animam  meam, 
quia  peccaui  tibi.  Inimici  mei  dixerunt  mala  michi :  »quando  morietur,  &  peribit 
nomen  eius?  Et  si  ingrediebatur  ut  videret,  vana  loquebatur:  cor  eius  congregauit 
iniquitatem  sibi«.  [43,23]  Exurge,  quare  obdormis  domine?  exurge  &  ne  repellas 
in  finem.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

Quare  faciem  tuam  auertis?  obl[i]uisceris9  inopie  nostre  &  tribulacionis  nostre? 
[43,  26]  Exurge  domine  adiuua  nos:  &  redime  [nos]  propter  nomen  tuum.  [50]  Miserere 
mei  deus  secundum  magnam  misericordiam  tuam,  Et  secundum  multitudinem 
miseracionum  tuarum  dele  iniquitatem  meam.  Amplius  laua  me  ab  iniquitate  mea : 
&  a  peccato  meo  munda  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [50,  n]  Auerte  faciem  tuam  a 
peccatis  meis:  &  omnes  iniquitates  meas  dele.  Cor  mundum  crea  in  me,  deus: 
&  spiritum  rectum  innoua  in  visceribus  meis.  Ne  proicias  [me]  a  facie  tua :  & 
spiritum  sanctum  tuum  ne  auferas  a  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  Redde  michi  leticiam 
salutaris  tui:  &  spiritu  principali  confirma  me.  [50,16]  Libera  me  de  sanguinibus 
deus  deus  salutis  mee.  Domine  labia  mea  aperies:  &  os  meum  annunciabit  laudem 
tuam.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [53]  Deus  in  nomine  tuo  saluum  me  fac:  &  in  virtute 
tua  libera  me.  Deus  exaudi  oracionem  meam:  auribus  [percipe)  verba  oris  mei. 


1  Ms.  redimisti.        2  Ms.  miserecordia.        3  =  Ps.  34,  22  ;  to  be  tr.  ?        4  Ms.  habeam.        5  Ms. 
susciperunt.        6  Ms.  Multiplicati.         7  Ms.  complaciat.         8  Ms.  morieris.        9  Ms.  obluesceris. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office. 

Quoniam  alieni  insurrexerunt  aduersum  me:  &  fortes  quesierunt  animam  meam  & 
non  proposuerunt  deum  ante  conspectum  suum.  Ecce  enim  deus  adiuuat  me :  & 
dominus  susceptor  est  anime  mee.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [54]  Exaudi  deus  oracionem 
meam  &  ne  despexeris1  deprecacionem  meam:  intende  michi  &  exaudi  me.  [55,  "1  In 
deo  laudabo  verbum,  in  domino  laudabo  sermonem:  in  deo  speraui,  non  timebo 
quid  faciat  michi  homo.  In  me  sunt  deus  vota  tua:  que  reddam  laudaciones  tibi ; 
Quoniam  eripuisti  animam  meam  de  morte:  et  pedes  meos  de  lapsu,  vt  placeam2 
coram  deo  in  lumine  viuencium.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [56]  Miserere  mei  deus  miserere 
mei:  quoniam  in  te  confidit  anima  mea,  Et  in  vmbra  alarum  tuarum  sperabo: 
donee  transeat  iniquitas.  Clamabo  ad  deum  altissimum :  deum  qui  benefecit  michi. 
[58]  Eripe  me  de  inimicis  meis  deus  meus:  &  ab  insurgentibus  in  me  libera  me. 
Eripe  me  de  operantibus  iniquitatem:  &  de  viris  sanguinum  salua  me.  Quia  ecce 
ceperunt  animam  meam :  irruerunt  in  me  fortes.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

[68, 14]  Kgo  vero  oracionem  meam  ad  te  domine  :  tempus  beneplaciti  deus ;  In 
multitudine  misericordie  tue  exaudi  me :  in  ueritate  salutis  tue.  Eripe  me  de  luto 
vt  non  infigar:  libera  me  ab  hiis  qui  oderunt  me,  &  de  profundis  aquarum.  Non 
me  demergat3  tempestas  aque :  neque  absorbeat  me  profundum:  neque  vrgeat  super 
me  puteus  os  suum.  Exaudi  me  domine  quoniam  benigna  est  misericordia  tua : 
secundum  multitudinem  miseracionum  tuarum  respice  in  me.  Et  ne  auertas  faciem 
tuam  a  puero  tuo;  quoniam  tribulor ,  velociter  exaudi  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 
Intende  anime  mee  &  libera  earn:  proptter  inimicos  meos  eripe  me.  [6g[  Deus 
in  adiutorium  meum  intende :  domine  ad  adiuuandum  me  festina.  [69,  6]  Adiutor  & 
liberator  meus  esto4:  domine  ne  moreris.  [70]  In  te  domine  speraui,  non  con- 
fundar  in  eternum :  in  iusticia  tua  libera  me  &  eripe  me  ;  Inclina  ad  me  aurem 
tuam  et  salua  me.  Esto  michi  in  deum  protectorem:  et  in  locum  munitum  ut 
saluum  me  facias.  Deus  meus  eripe  me  de  manu  peccatoris:  &  de  manu  contra 
legem  agentis  &  iniqui.  Quoniam  tu  es  paciencia  mea  [domine] :  domine  spes 
mea  a  iuuentute  mea.  [70,8]  Repleatur  os  meum  laude:  vt  cantem  gloriam  tuam, 
tota  die  magnitudinem  tuam.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  Ne  proicias  me  in  tempore 
senectutis  mee;  cum  defecerit  virtus  mea  ne  derelinquas  me.  Deus5  ne  [ejlongeris 
a  me:  deus  meus  in  auxilium  meum  respice.  Ego  autem  semper  sperabo:  & 
adiciam  super  omnem  laudem  tuam.  Os  meum  annunciabit  iusticiam  tuam:  tota 
die  salutare  tuum.  [73,  19]  Ne  tradas  bestiis  animas  confitentes  tibi:  &  animas 
pauperum  tuorum  ne  obliuiscaris  in  finem.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

Respice  in  testamentum  tuum  :  quia  repleti  sunt  qui  obscurati  sunt  terre  domi- 
bus  iniquitatum.  Ne  auertatur  humilis6  factus  confusus:  pauper  &  inops  laudabunt 
nomen  tuum.  [102,  10)  Domine  non  secundum  peccata  nostra  facias  nobis:  neque 
secundum  iniquitates  nostras  retribuas  nobis.  [78,8]  Domine  ne  memineris7  iniqui 
tatum  nostrarum  antiquarum :  cito  anticipent  nos  misericordie  tue ,  quia  pauperes 
facti  sumus  nimis.  Acliuua  nos  deus  salutaris  noster :  &  propter  gloriam  nominis 
tui  domine  libera  nos ,  &  propicius  esto  peccatis  nostris  propter  nomen  tuum. 
l79t  3]  Excita  domine  potenciam  tuam  &  veni :  vt  saluos  nos  facias.  Adesto  deus  vnus.8 
[79,  20]  Domine  deus  virtxitum  conuerte  nos :  &  ostende  faciem  tuam ,  &  salui 
erimus.  [84,  5]  Conuerte  nos  deus  salutaris3  noster:  &  auerte  iram  tuam  a  nobis. 
Et  non10  in  eternum  irascaris  nobis:  neque  extendas  iram  tuam  a  generacione  in 
generacionem.  Deus  tu  conuersus  viuificabis  nos:  &  plebs  tua  letabitur  in  te. 
Ostende  nobis  domine  misericordiam  tuam:  &  salutare  tuum  da  nobis.  [85]  Inclina 
domine  aurem  tuam  et  exaudi  me:  quoniam  inops  &  pauper  sum  ego.  Custodi 


1  Ms.  disp.         2  Ms.  placiam.         3  Ms.  dim.         <  a/,  es  tu.         *  Ms.  Domine.         6  Ms.  humelis. 
7  Ms.  memeneris.  8  In  Ms.  here  follows  Respice  in  seruos  tuos  &c.  from  Ps.  89,  16,  which  is 

repeated  below.         9  Ms.  salataris.         10  al.  Numquid. 


•2g6  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

animam  meam  quoniam  sanctus  sum :  saluum  fac  seruum  tuum  deus  meus  sperantem 
in  te.  Miserere  mei  domine :  quoniam  ad  te  clamaui  tota  die ;  Letifica  animam 
serui  tui:  quoniam  ad  te  domine  animam  meam  leuaui.  [85,  15]  Et  tu  domine  deus 
miserator  &  misericors  :  paciens  &  multe  misericordie  &  verax.  Respice  in  me  & 
miserere  mei:  da  imperium  puero  tuo :  saluum  fac  filium  ancille  tue.  Fac  mecum 
signum  in  bonum :  vt  vide  ant  qui  oderunt  me  et  confundantur :  quoniam  tu  domine 
adiuuisti  me  &  consolatus  es  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

[87,  2]  Domine  deus  salutis  mee :  in  die  clamaui  &  nocte  coram  te.  Intret  in 
eonspectu  tuo  oracio  mea:  inclina  aurem  tuam  ad  precem  meam.  [88,50]  Vbi  sunt 
misericordie  tue  antique  domine:  sicut  iurasti  Dauid  in  veritate  tua?  Memor  esto 
domine  obprobrii  seruorum  tuorum,  quod  continui  in  sinu  meo,  multarum  gencium. 
[89,13]  Conuertere  domine;  vsquequo?  &  deprecabilis  esto  super  seruos  tuos. 
Adesto  deus  vnus.  [89,  16]  Respice  in  seruos  tuos  &  in  opera  tua :  [&]  dirige  filios 
eorum.  Et  sit  splendor  domini  dei  nostri  super  nos:  &  opera  manuum  nostrarum 
dirige  super  nos:  &  opus  manuum  nostrarum  dirige.  [101,3]  Domine  exaudi  ora- 
cionem  meam:  &  clamor  meus  ad  te  veniat.  Non  auertas  faciem  tuam  a  me:  in 
quacunque  die  tribulor  inclina  ad  me  aurem  tuam;  In  quacunque  die  invocauero 
te  velociter  exaudi  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [101,  24]  Paucitatem  dierum  meorum 
domine  annuncia  michi.  Ne  reuoces  me  in  dhnidio1  dierum  meorum;  in  genera- 
cione[m]  &  generacionem  anni  tui.  [108,  21]  Et  du  domine  fac  mecum  signum2  propter 
nomen  sanctum  tuum :  quia  suauis  est  misericordia  tua.  Adesto  deus  vnus.- 

[115,  16]  Dirupisti  vincula  mea:  tibi  sacrificabo  hostiam  laudis:  &  nomen  domini 
inuocabo.  [108,  21]  Libera  me  domine  quia  egenus  et  pauper  sum  ego:  &  cor 
meum  conturbatum  est  intra  me.  Sicut  vmbra  cum  declinat  ablatus  sum:  et 
excussus  sum  sicut  locusta.  [108,  26}  Adiuua  me  domine  deus  meus :  saluum  me  fac 
secundum  magnam  misericordiam  tuam.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  (118,  17]  Retribue 
seruo  tuo;  viuifica  me:  &  custodiam  sermones  tuos.  Reuela  oculos  meos:  &  con- 
siderabo3  mirabilia  tua.  Incola  ego  sum  in  terra:  non  abscondas  a  me  mandata 
tua.  [n8,  22]  Aufer  a  me  obprobrium  &  contemptum:  quia  testimonia  tua  exque- 
siui.  [n8,  28]  confirma  me  domine  in  sermonibus  tuis.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

[118,  29]  Viam  iniquitatis  amoue4  a  me:  &  de  lege  tua  miserere  mei.  [118,  35]  Deduc 
me  in  semita  mandatorum  tuorum :  quia  ipsam  volui.  Inclina  cor  meum  deus  in 
testimonia  tua  •  &  non  in  auariciam5.  Auerte  o'culos  meos  ne  videant  vanitatem : 
in  via  tua  viuinca  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  Statue  seruo  tuo  eloquium  tuum:  in 
timore  tuo.  [118,65]  Bonitatem  fecisti  cum  semo  tuo  domine:  secundum  verbum 
tuum.  Bonitatem  &  disciplinam  &  scienciam  doce  me:  quia  mandatis  tuis  credidi. 
[n8,  68]  Bonus  es  tu:  &  in  bonitate  tua  doce  me  iustificaciones  tuas.  [n8,  73]  Manus 
tue  fecerunt  me  &  plasmauerunt  me :  da  michi  intellectum  vt  discam  mandata  tua. 
[n8,  76]  Fiat  misericordia  tua  vt  consoletur  me:  secundum  eloquium  tuum  seruo 
tuo.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  Veniant  michi  miseraciones  tue  &  viuam:  quia  lex  tua 
meditacio  mea  est.  ["8,  80]  Fiat  domine  cor  meum  inmaculatum :  in  iustifica- 
cionibus  vt  non  confundar.  [118,  107]  Humiliatus6  sum  vsquequaque  domine :  viuinca 
me  domine  secundum  verbum  tuum.  Voluntaria  oris  mei  beneplacita  fac  domine: 
&  iudicia  tua  doce  me.  Anima  mea  in  manibus  [meis  semper] :  &  legem  tuam 
non  sum  oblitus.  [118,114]  Adiutor  &  susceptor  meus  es  tu:  &  in  verbum  tuum 
supersperaui.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  Suscipe  me  secundum  eloquium  tuum  domine 
et  viuam:  &  ion  confundas  me  ab  expectacione  mea.  Adiuua  me  &  saluus  ero  : 
&  meditabor  m  iustificacionibus  tuis  semper.  [n8,  124]  Fac  cum  seruo  tuo  secun 
dum  mise[ri]cordiam  tuam  :  &  iustificaciones  tuas  doce  me.  Seruus  tuus  sum  ego : 


1  Ms,  dimedio.          2  al.  oin.          3  Ms.  consederabo.  *  Ms.  ammoue.          *  Ms.  auericiam. 

Ms.  humel. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office.  307 

da  michi  intellectum  vt  sciam  testimonia  tua.  [118, 130]  Declaracio  sermonum 
[tuorum]  illuminat :  et  intellectum  dat  pamulis.  Aspice  in  me  &  miserere  mei 
domine:  secundum  iudicium  diligencium  nomen  tuum.  Gressus  meos  dirige  secun- 
dum  eloquium  tuum:  vt  non  dominetur  mei  omnis  iniusticia.  Redime  me  a 
calumpniis  hominum:  vt  custodiam  mandata  tua.  Faciem  tuam  illumina  super 
seruum  tuum  domine:  &  doce  me  iustificaciones  tuas.  [118,153]  Vide  humilitatem 
meam  &  eripe  me :  quia  legem  tuam  non  sum  oblitus.  ludica  iudicium  meum  & 
redime  me:  propter  eloquium  tuum  viuifica  me.  Adesto  deus  vnus  omnipotens  Pater 
&  Filius  et  Spiritus  sanctus. 

[n8, 156]  Misericordie  tue  multe  domine:  secundum  iudicium  tuum  viuifica  me. 
Vide  quoniam  mandata  tua  dilexi  domine:  in  misericordia  [tua]  viuifica  me. 
[118,169]  Appropinquet  deprecacio  mea  in  conspectu  tuo  domine:  iuxta  eloquium 
tuum  da  michi  intellectum.  Intret  postulacio  mea  in  conspectu  tuo  domine:  secun 
dum  eloquium  tuum  eripe  me.  Eructabunt  labia  mea  hympnum :  cum  docueris  me 
iustificaciones  tuas.  Fiat  manus  tua  vt  saluet  me:  quoniam  mandata  [tua]  elegi. 
Concupiui  salutare  tuum  domine:  &  lex  tua  meditacio  mea  est.  Viuet  anima  mea 
et  laudabit  te:  et  iudicia  tua  adiuuabunt  me.  Erraui  sicut  ouis  que  periit,  quere 
seruum  tuum  domine:  quia  mandata  tua  non  sum  oblitus.  Adesto  deus  vnus1. 

[119]  Ad  dominum  cum  tribularer  clamaui:  et  exaudiuit  me.  Domine  libera 
animam  meam  a  labiis  iniquis:  &  a  lingua  dolosa.  [119,  4]  Sagitte  potentis  acute; 
cum  carbonibus  desolatoriis2.  [122]  Ad  te  leuaui  oculos  meos:  qui  habitas  in  celis. 
Ecce  sicut  oculi  seruorum :  in  manibus  dominorum  suorum.  [120,2]  Auxilium  meum 
a  domino  qui  fecit  celum  &  terram.  [121,  7]  Fiat  pax  in  virtute  tua:  &  habundancia 
in  turribus  tuis.  [122, 3]  Miserere  nostri  domine  miser[er]e  nostri :  quia  multum 
repleti  sumus  despeccione.  [123,  8]  Adiutorium  nostrum  in  nomine  domini:  qui  fecit 
celum  &  terram.  [124,4]  Benefac  domine  bonis:  &  rectis  corde.  [125,4]  Conuerte3 
domine  captiuitatem  nostram :  sicut  torrens  in  austro.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

[129]  De  profundis  clamaui  ad  te  domine:  domine  exaudi  vocem  meam.  Fiant 
aures  tue  intendentes  in  vocem  deprecacionis  mee.  [137,  3]  In  quacunque  die  invo- 
cauero  te  exaudi  me :  multiplicabis  in  anima  mea  virtutem.  (137]  Confitcbor  tibi 
domine  in  toto  corde  meo :  quoniam  audisti  verba  oris  mei.  In  conspectu  ange- 
lorum  psallam  tibi,  adorabo  ad  templum  sanctum  tuum:  &  confi[te]bor  nomini  tuo 
super  misericordia  tua  &  veritate  tua ,  quoniam  magnificasti  super  omne  nomen 
sanctum  tuum.  [140,3]  Pone  domine  custodiam  ori  meo:  &  hostium  circumstancie 
labiis  meis.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  [1371  7]  Si  ambulauero  in  medio  tribulacionis  viui- 
ficabis  me:  &  super  iram  inimicorum  meorum  [extendisti]  manum  tuam,  &  saluum 
me  fecit  dextera  tua.  Dominus  retribuet  pro  me:  domine  misericordia  tua  in 
seculum,  opera  manuum  tuarum  ne  despicias.  [138]  Domine  probasti  me  et  cogno- 
uisti  me:  til  cognouisti  sessionem4  meam  &  resureccionem  meam.  [138,  23]  Proba 
me  deus  &  scito  cor  meum :  interroga  me  &  cognosce  semitas  meas.  Et  vide  si 
via  iniquitatis  in  me  est:  &  deduc  me  in  via  eterna.  [139]  Eripe  me  domine  ab 
homine  malo :  &  a  viro  iniquo  eripe  me.  Qui  cogitauerunt  iniquitates  in  corde  : 
tota  die  constituebant  prelia.  Acuerunt  linguam  suam  sicut  serpentes :  venenum 
aspidum  sub  labiis  eorum.  Custodi  me  domine  de  manu  peccatoris,  et  ab  homini- 
bus  iniqiais  eripe  me :  Qui  cogitauerunt  supplantare  gressus  meos ,  absconderunt 
superbi  laqueum  michi.  Dixi  domino5  deus  meus  es  tu:  exaudi  domine  vocem 
deprecacionis  mee.  Domine  domine  virtus  salutis  mee ,  .  obvmbrasti  super  capud 
meum  in  die  belli.  Ne  tradas  me  domine  a  desiderio  meo  peccatori:  cogita 
uerunt  contra  me:  ne  derelinquas  me  ne  forte  exaltentur.  [140]  Domine  clamaui 
ad  te  exaudi  me:  intende  voci  mee  cum  clamauero  ad  te.  Dirigatur  oracio  mea 


Ms.  viuus.        2  Ms.  dissol.        3  Ms.  conuertere.        «  Ms.  cessionem.        5  Ms.  domine. 


398  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

sicut  incensum  *  in  conspectu  tuo  :  eleuacio  manuum  mearum  sacrincium  vespertinum. 
[140,9]  Custodi  me  a  laqueo  quern  statuerunt  michi:  &  ab  scandalis  operancium 
iniquitatem.  [141]  Voce  mea  ad  dominvun  clamaui:  voce  mea  ad  dominum  depre- 
catus  sum  (donee  transeam).  Effundo  in  conspectu  eius  oracionem  meam:  &  tri- 
bulacionem  meam  ante  ipsum  pronuncio.  [14°.  4l  Non  declines  cor  meum  in  verba 
malicie:  ad  excusandas  excusaciones  in  peccatis.  [141,6]  Clamaui  ad  te  domine: 
dixi  tu  es  spes  mea,  porcio  mea  in  terra  viuencium.  Intende  ad  deprecacionem 
meam :  quia  humiliatus  sum  nimis.  Libera  me  a  persequentibus  me  quia  confor- 
tati  sunt  super  me.  Educ  te  custodia  animam  meam,  ad  confitendum  nomini  tuo ; 
me  expectant  iusti  donee  retribuas  michi.  Adesto  deus  vnus. 

[142]  Domine  exaudi  oracionem  meam:  auribus  percipe  obsecracionem  meam  in 
veritate  tua;  exaudi  me  in  tua  iusticia.  Et  non  intres  in  indicium  cum  seruo  tuo  : 
quia  non  iustificabitur  in  conspectu  tuo  omnis2  viuens.  Quia  persecutus  est  ini- 
micus  animam  meam:  humiliauit  in  terra  vitam  meam.  [142,  7]  Velociter  exaudi 
me  domine:  defecit  spiritus  meus.  Non  auertas  faciem  tuam  a  me:  &  similis3  ero 
descendentibus  in  lacum.  Auditam  fac  michi  mane  misericordiam  tuam :  quia  in 
te  speraui.  Notam  fac  michi  viam  in  qua  ambulem,  quia  ad  te  leuaui  animam 
meam.  Adesto  deus  vnus.  Eripe  me  de  inimicis  meis  domine:  ad  te  confugi. 
Doce  me  facere  voluntatem  tuam  quia  deus  meus  es  tu.  Spiritus  tuns  bonus  de- 
ducet  me  in  terram  rectam :  propter  nomen  tuum  domine  viuificabis  me  in  equitate 
tua;  Educes  de  tribulacione  animam  meam:  &  in  misericordia  tua  disperdes  ini- 
micos  meos,  Et  perdes  omnes  qui  tribulant  animam  meam:  quoniam  ego  seruus 
tuus  sum.  —  Gloria  patri  &  filio  &  spiritui  sancto  :  Sicut  erat  in  principio  &  nunc 
cS;  semper  in  secula  seculorum  amen.  Adesto  deus  vnus  omnipotens,  Pater  &  films 
&  spiritus  sanctus.  Kyriel.  Christel.  Kyriel.  Pater  noster.  Et  ne  nos.  Ostende 

nobis  mise[ri]cordiam  tuam:  Et  salutare  tuum  da  nobis.  Et  veniat  super  nos 
misericordia  tua  domine :  Salutare  tuum  secundum  eloquium  tuum.  Saluos  fac  ser- 
uos  tuos  &  ancillas  tuas:  Deus  meus  sperantes  in  te.  Mitte  eis  domine  auxilium 
de  celo  sancto:  Et  de  Syon  tuere  eos.  Exurge  domine  adiuua  nos:  Et  libera 
nos  propter  nomen  tuum.  Domine  exaudi  oracionem  meam :  Et  clamor  meus  ad 
te  veniat. 

Orcmus : 

Dona  michi,  queso ,  deus  meus,  vt  per  hec  sacrosancta  verba  psalterii  celesti 
melle  anima  mea  saginetur :  &  dona  vt  leo  rugiens  ab  infirma  anima  mea  superetur : 
et  dona  vt  per  tuam  graciam  violentissimus  ille  spiritus  a  debilissinio  vincatur: 
et  dona  vt  qui  de  celo  cecidit  hie  me  pugnante  subdatur :  &  dona  vt  si  tempta- 
cionem  ad  tempus  tua  permissione  patimur,  nequaquam  eius  insaciabilibus  faucibus 
absorbeamur4;  fac  ilium  tristem  de  nostra  humilitate ,  qui  de  nostra  offensione 
exultat;  et  fac  me  semper  tuis  laudibus  vacare,  et  ad  tuam  quandoque  dulcedinem 
misericorditer  peruenire,  amen.  Pater  noster. 

Adoro  te  pater,  adoro  te  fill,  adoro  te  sancte  spiritus,  tres  pers.onas  et  vnum 
in  substancia  deitatis.  Deus  propicius  esto  michi  peccatori.  Pater  noster.  Adoro 
te  pater,  qui  misisti  filium  tuum  in  mundum  propter  nos  peccatores:  adoro  te  fill, 
qui  venisti  redimere5  nos.  Pater  noster.  Aue  maria.  Credo  in  deum  patrem. 
Adoro  te  pater :  adoro  te  fili :  adoro  te  sancte  spiritus  paraclite,  verum  deum  a  patre 
filioque  procedentem,  in  quo  ipse  deus  pater  mundum  creauit  &  redemit.  Te 
adoro,  &  tibi  gracias  ago  de  omnibus  beneficiis  tuis,  &  meam  culpam  tibi  dico  de 
omnibus  peccatis  meis  quecunque  feci  cogitacione,  consensu,  et  opere  :  propterea 
precor  te,  miserere  mei.  Sancta  trinitas  vnus  deus  miserere  nostri;  serua  iustos, 
conuerte  peccatores  ad  viam  veritatis,  amen. 

1  insensum.        2  Ms.  omnes.        3  Ms.  semilis.         4  Ms.  absorbiamur.        5  Ms.  redemere. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office. 


399 


Adoramus  te  Christe  &  benedicimus  tibi :  Quia  per  sanctam  crucem  tuam 
redemisti l  mundum.  Domine  deus  omnipotens  Ihesu  Christe,  qui  tuas  manus  mun- 
das  propter  nos  in  cruce  posuisti  et  de  tuo  sancto  sanguine  precioso  nos  redemisti, 
mitte  in  me  sensum  &  intelligenciam,  quomodo  habeam  veram  penitenciam,  et 
habeam  bonam  perseueranciam-,  omnibus  diebus  vite  mee,  saluator  mundi,  amen, 
amen. 

Aue  Maria,  gracia  plena,  dominus  tecum,  benedicta  tu  in  mulieribus,  et  bene- 
dictus  fructus  ventris  tui  Ihesus,  amen. 

Magnificat  anima  mea  dominum.  Aue  maria.  Et  exultauit  spiritus  meus  in 
deo  salutari  meo.  Aue  maria.  Quia  respexit  humilitatem  ancille  sue:  ecce  enim 
ex  hoc  beata[m]  me  dicent  omnes  generaciones.  Aue  maria.  Quia  fecit  michi 
magna  qui  potens  es  &  sanctum  nomen  eius.  Aue  maria.  Et  misericordia  eius 
a  progenie  in  progenies  timentibus  eum.  Aue  maria.  Fecit  potenciam  in  brachio 
suo,  dispersit  superbos  mente  cordis  sui.  Aue  maria.  Deposuit  potentes3  de  sede 
&  exaltauit  humiles.  Aue  maria.  Esurientes  impleuit  bonis  &  diuites  dimisit 
inanes4.  Aue  maria.  Suscepit  Israel  puerum  suum  recordatus  misericordie  sue. 
Aue  maria.  Sicut  locutus  est  ad  patres  nostros,  Abraham  et  seinini  eius  in  secula. 
Aue  maria.  Gloria  patri  &  filio  &  spiritui  sancto.  Aue  maria.  Sicut  erat  in 
principio  &  nunc  et  semper  &  in  secula  seculorum,  amen.  Aue  Maria,  gracia 
plena,  dominus  tecum:  Benedicta  tu  in  mulieribus,  &  benedictus  fructus  ventris 
tui  Ihesus,  amen. 

Sancta  Maria  virgo  super  omnes  feminas  benedicta:  intercede  pro  me  misero 
peccatore  et  pro  toto  mundo,  que  genuisti  regem  orbis.  Benedicatur  hora  qua 
deus  homo  natus  est,  et  ilia  sancta  virgo  ex  qua  natus  est  sit  benedicta :  et  per 
illam  benedictam  virginem  de  qua  deus  homo  natus  est,  &  per  illam  sacratam 
horam  qua  natus  est,  exaudiantur  preces  mee.  Aue  gloriosa  regina  mundi,  Gaude 
quia  tu  es  celestis  sponsa ;  Letare  quia  mater  Christi  fieri  meruisti,  &  virgo  in- 
violata  permansisti.  Assiste  nunc  queso  poscentis  votis  &  repete5  optatu[m]  effectum 
michi  peccatorifi.  Sancta  Maria  omni  laude  dignissima,  te  exoro,  tibi  supplico  tu 
preces  queso  funde  coram  omnipotenti  deo  pro  me  peccatore :  quia  ego  peccator 
ad  te  confugio  ,  &  quia  in  auxilium  tuum  spero  &  in  bonitate  tua  confido  ;  vt  tua 
sancta  intercessione  abluti7  celestia  regna  mereamur  peruenire,  amen.  Paternoster. 


JVyriel.  Christel.   kyriel. 

Pater  de  celis  deus,  mise 
rere  nobis. 

Fili  redemptor  mundi  deus, 
miserere  nobis. 

Spiritus  sancte  deus,  mise 
rere  nobis. 

Sancta  trinitas  vnus  deus, 
mis.  n. 

Sancta  Maria,  ora  pro  nobis. 

Sancta  dei  genitrix,  ora  p.n. 

Sancta  virgo  virginum,   or. 

Sancte  Michael,  or. 

Sancte  Gabriel,  or. 

Sancte  Raphael,  or. 

Omnes  sancti  angeli  et 
archangeli,  orate  p.  n. 


Sancte  lohannes  Bapt.,  ora. 
Omnes  sancti  patriarche  et 

prophete,   orate  p.  n. 
Sancte  Petre,  ora  p.  n. 
Sancte  Paule,   or. 
Sancte  Andrea,  or. 
Sancte  lohannes,   or. 
Sancte  Thoma,   or. 
Sancte  lacobe,  or. 
Sancte  Philippe,   or. 
Sancte  Bartholomee,  or. 
Sancte  Mathee,   or. 
Sancte  Symon,   or. 
Sancte  luda,   or. 
Sancte  Mathia,  or. 
Sancte  Luca,   or. 
Sancte  Marcialis,   or. 


Sancte  Barnaba,   or. 

Omnes  sancti  apostoli  et 
euangeliste,  orate  p.  n. 

Omnes  sancti  discipuli  do- 
mini,  orate  p.  n. 

Omnes  sancti  innocentes, 
orate  pro  n. 

Sancte  Stephane,  ora  p.  n. 

Sancte  Line,  or. 

Sancte  Clete,   or. 

Sancte  Clemens,  or. 

Sancte  Corneli,   or. 

Sancte  Cipriane,   or. 

Sancte  Laurenti,   or. 

Sancte  Vincenti,   or. 

Sancte  Geruasy,  or. 

Sancte  Prothasy,   or. 


1  Ms.  redimisti. 
*  Ms.  peccatore. 


2  Ms.  persiueranciam. 
7  Ms.  abluta. 


3  Ms.  potentis.        *  Ms.  inanis. 


Ms.  repente. 


400 


Appendix  I:   Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


Sancte  Cosme,   or. 
Sancte  Quintine,   or. 
Sancte  Basyli,   or. 
Sancte  Edmunde,   or. 
Omnes  sancti  martires  dei, 

orate  p.  n. 
Sancte  Siluester,   ora. 
Sancte  Gregori,   or. 
Sancte  Martine,   or. 
Sancte  leronime,   or. 
Sancte  Augustine,   or. 
Sancte  Dunstane,   or. 
Sancte  Antoni,   or. 
Sancte  Macharie,   or. 
Sancte  Germane,   or. 
Sancte  Vedaste,   or. 
Sancte  Cuthberte1,   or. 
Sancte  Johannes  -,   or. 
Sancte  Sampson,   or. 
Sancte  Bede,   or. 
Sancte  Maure,   or. 
Sancte  Bricii,   or. 
Omnes  sancti  confessores, 

orate  p.  n. 
Sancta  Felicitas,   ora. 
Sancta  Perpetua,   or. 
Sancta  Scolastica,   or. 
Sancta  Maria  Magd.,   or. 
Sancta  Agatha,   or. 
Sancta  Agnes,   or. 
Sancta  Cecilia,   or. 
Sancta  Lucia,   or. 
Sancta  Margareta,   or. 

Pater  noster.  Et  ne  nos.  /  Peccauimus  domine  cum  patribus  nostris:  Iniuste 
egimus,  iniquitatem  fecimus.  Domine  non  secundum  peccata  nostra  facias  nobis: 
Neque  secundum  iniquitates  nostras  retribuas  nobis.  Domine  ne  memineris  iniqui- 
tatum  nostrarum  antiquarum :  Cito  anticipent  nos  misericordie  tue  quia  pauperes 
facti  sumus  nimis.  Adiuua  nos  deus  salutaris  noster:  Et  propter  gloriam  nominis 
tui  domine  libera  nos  et  propicius  esto  peccatis  nostris,  multum  est  enim.  Memor 
esto  congregacionis  tue:  Quam  possedisti3  ab  inicio.  Sacerdotes  tui  induantur 
iusticiam:  Et  sancti  tui  exultent.  Saluum  fac  populum  tuum  domine:  Et  benedic 
hereditati  tue.  /  Pro  fidelibus  &  defunctis:  Requiem  eternam  dona  eis  domine: 
Et  lux  perpetua  luceat4  eis.  /  Domine  deus  virtutum  conuerte  nos:  Et  ostende 
faciem  tuam  et  salui  erimus.  Domine  exaudi  oracionem  meam:  Et  clamor  meus 
ad  te  veniat.  Domine  Ihesu  Christe  miserere  mei,  Et  exaudi  me.  Of  emus: 

Omnipotens  sempiterne  deus ,  qui  dedisti  nobis  famulis  tuis  in  confessione  vere 
fidei  eterne  trinitatis  gloriam  agnoscere  et  in  potencia  maiestatis  tue  adorare  vni- 
tatem:  quesumus  vt  eiusdem  fidei  firmitate  ab  omnibus  semper  muniamur  adversis, 
per  Christum  dominum  nostrum.  Amen. 


Sancta  Petronilla,   or. 
Sancta  Eugenia,   or. 
Sancta  Eulalia,   or. 
Sancta  Sabina,   or. 
Sancta  Elena,   or. 
Sancta  Sussanna,   or. 
Sancta  Euerildis,   or. 
Sancta  Barbara,   or. 
Sancta  Brigida,   or. 
Omnes  Sancti,  orate. 
Omnes    Sancti    &   Sancte, 

orate  p.  n. 
Propicius  esto :  parce  nobis 

domine. 
Ab  omni  malo  :  libera  nos 

domine. 

Ab  hoste  malo  :   1.  n.   d. 
Ab  insidiis  diaboli:   1. 
Ab  infestacionibus    demo- 

num:   1. 
Per   niisterium    sancte    in- 

carnacionis  tue :   1. 
Perannunciacionem  tuam:  1. 
Per  incarnacionem  tuam:  1. 
Per  natiuitatem  tuam :   1. 
Per  circumcisionem  tuam:  1. 
Per  baptismum  tuum:   1. 
Per  ieiunium  tuum:   1. 
Per   passionem    &    crucem 

tuam:   1. 
Per      gloriosam      mortem 

tuam:   1. 


Per    sanctam    resurreccio- 

nem  tuam:   1. 
Per  admirabilem  ascensio- 

nem  tuam:   1. 
Per  graciam  sancti  spiritus 

paracliti:   1. 
In  die  iudicii:   1. 
Peccatores,te  rogamus  audi 

nos. 

Vt  pacem  nobis  dones:  Te 
Fili  dei :  Te  rog.  audi  nos. 
Vt  misericordia  &  pietas 

tua   nos    semper    custo- 

diat:  Te 
Vt  omnibus  benefactoribus 

nostris  sempiterna  bona 

retribuas :  Te 
Vt    omnibus   fidelibus    de 
functis  requiem  eternam 

dones:  Te 
Vt  nos  exaudire   digneris: 

Te 
Fili  dei:    te  rogamus   audi 

nos. 

Agnus  dei  qui   tollis    pec 
cata  mundi :  Parce  nobis 

domine . 
Agnus  dei  qui  tollis  p.m.: 

Exaudi  nos  domine. 
Agnus    dei    qui   t.    p.  m.  : 

miserere  nobis. 
Kyriel.     Christel.     kyriel. 


Ms.  Cuthberti.        2  Ms.  lohannis.         3  Ms.  possidisti. 


Ms.  luciat. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office.  401 

Omnipotens  sempiterne  deus ,  dirige  actvis  nostros  in  beneplacito  tuo ,  vt  in 
nomine  dilecti  filii  tui  mereamur  bonis  operibus  habundare,  per  Christum  domintim 
nostrum.  Amen. 

Deus  virtutum,  cuius  est  totum  quod  optimum:  insere  pectoribus  nostris  amorem 
tui1  nominis,  &  presta2  in  nobis  religionis  augmentum,  vt  mereamur  assequi  quod 
promittis  ;  fac  nos  amare  quod  precipis3,  per  Christum  dominum  nostrum.  Amen. 
Amen. 

Kxaudi  domine  supplicum  preces,  et  confitencium  tibi  parce  peccatis:  vt  pariter 
nobis  indulgenciam  tribuas  benignus ,  et  pacem ,  per  Christum  dominum  nostrum. 
Amen.  Amen. 

Deus  qui  per  coeternam  tibi  sapienciam  hominem  cum  non  esset  condidisti, 
perditumque  misericorditer  reformasti :  presta,  quesumus,  vt  eadem  pectora  nostra 
inspirante  te  [te]  tota  mente  amemus,  et  ad  te  toto  corde  curramus,  per  Christum 
dominum  nostrum.  Amen.  Amen. 

Deus  cui  omne  cor  patet ,  et  omnis  volu[n]ttas  loquitur,  &  quern  nullum  latet 
secretum :  purifica  per  infusionem  sancti  spiritus  cogitaciones  cordis  nostri,  vt  per- 
fecte  te  diligere4,  &  digne  laudare  mereamur,  per  Christum  dominum  nostrum. 
Amen.  Amen. 

Familiam  hums  sacri  cenobii5,  quesumus  domine,  intercedente  beata  &  gloriosa 
semperque  virgine  Maria,  &  beato  Edmundo  martire  tuo,  necnon  &  sancto  Petro 
apostolo  ,  &  sancto  Paulo  martire  tuo ,  &  sancto  Benedicto  confessore  tuo ,  cum 
omnibus  sanctis :  perpetuo  guberna  moderamine :  vt  assit  nobis  &  in  securitate 
cautela,  &  inter  aspera  fortitude,  per  Christum  dominum  nostrum.  Amen,  Amen,  Amen. 

Omnium  sanctorum  tuorum  intercessionibus,  quesumus  domine,  gracia  tua  nos 
semper  protegat:  &  Christianis  omnibus  ndelibus,  viuis  atque  defunctis,  misericordiam 
tuam  vbique  pretende,  vt  viuentes  ab  omnibus  impugnacionibus  defensi  de  tua 
opitulacione  saluentur,  &  defuncti  remissionem  omnium  [malorum]  suorum  accipere 
mereantur,  per  dominum  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum  filium  tuum  qui  tecum  viuit  tSc  r. 

Or  ado. 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe,  qui  in  hunc  mundum  propter  nos  peccatores  de  sinu 
patris  advenisti  vt  de  Ade  peccato  nos  redimeres6:  quia  scio  &  credo  non  propter 
iustos  set  propter  peccatores  in  terris  habitare  voluisti,  audi  &  exaudi  me,  do 
mine  deus  meus,  peccatorem  &  culpabilem  &  indignum  et  necligentem  &  ob- 
noxium.  Tibi  confiteor  omnia  peccata  mea  &  omnia  mala  mea  que  in  hoc  seculo 
commisi,  de  delicto,  de  facto,  de  verbo,  siue  de  iniquis  cogitacionibus,  de  om 
nibus  veniam  peto :  peccaui,  erraui :  tamen  te  non  negaui,  quia  scio  &  credo  quia 
tu  pius  pater  es:  indulge  michi  Christe :  te  laudo  :  te  magnifico  :  te  glorifico  trinitas 
sancta,  tibi  gracias  ago  in  omnibus  innrmitatibus  meis,  quia  non  habeo  in  aliuin 
spem  nisi  in  te  deus  meus;  &  ad  portam  ecclesie  tue  confugio,  &  ad  pignorancias 
sanctjorum7  prostratus  indulgenciam  peto.  Precor  &  supplico  te  domine  vt  illam  michi 
concedere  digneris,  Christe  pro  tua  magna  misericordia  &  pietate  tua,  vsque  in  finem 
meum;  &in  ilia  hora  tremenda  quando  anima  mea  assumenda  fu[er]it  de  corpore  meo, 
presta  michi  sensum  rectum8,  fidem  certam:  credulitatem  michi  concedere  digneris, 
Christe  omnipotens  deus.  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  exaudi  me  vt  animam  meam  de 
inferno  inferiori  salues:  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  libera  me  de  igne  inestimabili: 
Domine  deus  omnipotens,  libera  me  de  prothoplausto :  Domine  deus  omnipotens, 
libera  me  de  verme  immortali  &  eterno:  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  libera  me  de  omni 
tribulacione :  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  libera  me  de  manibus  inimicorum  meorum : 

i  Ms.  tue.  2  Ms.  prista.  3  Ms.  precepis.  «  Ms.  dilegere.  *  This  passage  may  give  a 
clue  as  to  the  origin  of  this  piece;  the  place  is  probably  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  •  Ms.  redemeres. 
7  Ms.  cunlorum.  8  Ms.  rectam. 

26 


4-O2  Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

Domine  deus  omnipotens,  libera  me  de  tormentis  hnpiorum:  Domine  deus  omni- 
potens,  libera  me  de  angustia  eterna:  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  libera  me  de  omni 
bus  malis:  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  liberare  digneris  animam  meam  de  tenebris 
exterioribus ;  quia  in  te  confido  Christe,  quia  opera  manuum  tuarum  sum  ego:  ne 
despicias  me.  Rogo  sanctam  Mariam  dei  genitricem  beatissimam  matrem:  Rogo 
viginti  quatuor  seniores :  Omnes  sanctos  angelos  tuos  deprecor:  Omnes  patriarchas 
et  prophetas  tuos  supplico  :  Omnes  apostolos  &  omnes  martires  tuos  et  confessores 
et  virgines  similiter  rogo  :  Omnes  sanctos  tuos  et  electos  tuos  invoco,  in  auxilium 
michi  in  ilia  hora  tremenda  quando  anima  mea  egressa  erit  de  corpore  meo.  Te 
ergo  deprecor  &  supplico,  sancte  Michael  archangele  qui  ad  animas  accipiendas 
accepisti  potestatem,  vt  animam  meam  suscipere1  digneris  quando  de  corpore  meo 
erit  egressa;  &  libera  earn  de  potestate  inimici,  vt  pertransire  possit  portas  in- 
fernorum  &  vias  tenebrarum,  vt  non  se  deponat  leo  vel  draco  qui  consuetus  est 
animas  in  inferno  recipere  £  ad  eterna  tormenta  perducere:  Te  deprecor,  sancte 
Petre  princeps  apostolorum  qui  claues  regni2  celorum  accepisti  &  potestatem,  vt 
portas  paradisi  michi  aperire  digneris.  Domine  Ihesu  Christe  fili  sancte  Marie,  preces 
tibi  fundo  vt  [de]  anima  mea  agas  pietatem  &  misericordiam,  quia  in  te  speraui:  Christe 
redemptor  mundi,  peto  ut  quando  accusatus  fuero  non  sim  expulsus  a  facie  tua,  quia 
nonmereor3  coronam  uel  veniam  nisi  michi  concedere  digneris  Christe.  Auxiliatrix 
sis  michi  trinitas  sancta :  Exaudi  me  domine,  tu  es  deus  meus  verus :  Tu  es  pater 
meus  sanctus:  Tu  es  deus  meus  pius:  Tu  es  deus  meus  magnus:  Tu  es  magister 
meus  oportunus:  Tu  es  medicus  meus  potentissimus :  Tu  es  dilectus  meus  pulche[r]- 
rimus :  Tu  es  panis  meus  viuus :  Tu  es  sacerdos  meus  in  eternum :  Tu  es  miseri- 
cordia  mea  magna:  Tu  es  victima  mea  magna  immaculata:  Tu  es  redempcio  mea 
facta:  Tu  es  spes  mea  futura  :  Tu  es  concordia  mea  bona:  Tu  es  custodia  mea 
tota;  Te  deprecor,  te  supplico,  te  rogo  ut  per  te  ambulem,  ut  ad  te  perueniam, 
in  te  requiescam,  &  ad  te  surgam.  Exaudi  me  merito  Dauid  sicut  iurasti  patribus 
nostris :  vt  auertas  iram  tuam  de  me  famulo  tuo  N.  Archangelus  Michael,  archan- 
gelus  Gabriel,  archangelus  Raphael,  Omnes  angeli,  Omnes  archangel!,  Omnes 
apostoli,  Omnes  martires4,  Omnes  confessores,  Omnes  virgines,  Omnes  virtutes  in 
adiutorium  &  in  auxilium  assistant5  michi  per  dominum  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum : 
Matheus,  Marcus,  Lucas,  &  sanctus  Johannes,  &  sanctus  Georgius,  &  omnes  sancti 
dei  intercedant  pro  me  homine:  de  limo  terre  formasti  me,  ossibus,  venis,  neruis 
formasti  me:  Domine  pro  tua  pietate  custodi  me,  saluum  me  fac.  Pax  hie,  deus 
hie,  trinitas  sancta  hie :  Domine  exaudi  oracionem  meam  &  clamor  meus  ad  te 
perueniat,  quia  tibi  soli  peccaui  &  maluin  coram  te  feci,  quia  peccata  mea  in- 
numerabilia  sunt  valde.  Ego  veniam  peto  a  te  domine  pro  peccatis  meis  necli- 
genciisque,  pro  vana  gloria,  pro  concupiscencia  carnali,  pro  pollucione  corporis, 
pro  detractione6,  pro  murmuracione,  pro  inuidia,  pro  superbia,  pro  sompnolencia, 
pro  uisione,  pro  cogitacione  iniqua,  pro  adulteriis,  pro  fornicacione,  pro  hoc  quod 
ego  ad  opus  dei  tarde  venio.  Reus  apparui  peccatis  meis:  nee  dicere  nee  no- 
minare  possum,  iniquitates  meas,  et  malicias  meas  non  abscondi.  Omnipotens  sempi- 
terne  deus  credo  quia  tu  pius  pater  es :  non  me  derelinquas  pie  pater,  set  dignare 
indulgere  quod  male  egi.  Succurre  michi  pietas  invisibilis7  dulcis  &  amabilis,  ante- 
quam  me  fauces  interni  absorbeant,  antequam  veniat  pars  inimici  super  [me] :  Tu  michi 
manum  porrige,  &  lumen  ostende,  vt  ilia  hora  quando  anima  mea  egressa  fuerit 

de  corpore  meo  possim8 piissime  deus,  misericors  deus,   clementissime  pater; 

te  laudo,  tibi  gracias  ago  qui  me  saluasti  per  diem:  iube  me  saluari  per  noctem ; 
ffac  me  domine  ob  tuam  graciam  ad  te  venire,  te  amare ,  te  laudare,  tibi  seruire, 


1  Ms.  suscepere.  2  Ms.  rigni.  3  Ms.  merear.  <Ms.  marteres.  5  Ms.  assistant. 

6  Ms.  ditr.        7  Ms.  invisebilis.        8  Ms.  possum. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office.  403 

te  diligere1  per  omnes  dies.  Deus  tibi  commendo  animam  meam:  miserere  mei 
deus,  misere[re]  mei,  Deus  glorie  qui  es  vnus  &  verus:  qui  es  solus  &  iustus :  in  quo 
omnia:  per  quern  omnia  facta  sunt.  Exaudi  me  domine  orantem  [te]  sicut  exaudisti 
Sussannam  &  liberasti  earn  de  manibus  inimicorum  duorum  testium:  Exaudi  me 
domine  orantem  te  sicut  exaudisti  Petrum  in  man2,  Paulum  in  vinculis.  Parce 
anime  mee :  Parce  malis  meis  £  cunctis  criminibus3  meis,  Christe.  Deus  pone 
ante  me  sicut  exaltat  inimicus  contra  me  arma:  Tu  plus  deus  ante  me.  Ego  dormio4, 
cor  meum  vigilat3 :  Angeli  tui  domine  illud  custodiant6  quam  per  diem  tarn  per  noc- 
tem.  Deus  omnipotens:  Emitte  spiritum  tuum  bonum  &  rectum  qui "  animam  meam 
&  corpus  meum  custodiat.  Feccaui  tibi  domine:  Peccaui  coram  te :  in  lege,  in 
verbis,  in  factis,  in  cogitacionibus :  Multa  sunt  peccata  mea,  necligens  ego  sum 
in  statu  &  in  ordine  meo.  Misereatur  michi  omnipotens  deus  &  donet  michi  do- 
minus  veram  humilitatem,  veram  penitenciam,  sobrietatem  &  tolleranciam  bonam, 
ffidem  bonam,  perseueranciam  veram:  Illuminet  me  spiritus  sanctus ;  indulgeat 
michi  dominus  omnia  peccata  mea,  hie  et  in  future  seculo,  amen,  amen. 

Te  adoro  deum  patrem  £  filium  &  spiritum  sanctum,  vnam  diuinitatem8,  equalem 
gloriam,  coeternam  maiestatem.  Tu  es  deus  verus,  &  non  est  alius  preter  te : 
Tu  es  adorandus  &  colendus,  tremendus  &  venerandus,  in  trinitate  &  vnitate :  Tu 
es  dominator  dominus.  Domine  deus  omnipotens,  qui  solus  nosti  fidem  sicut 
scienciam  hominum  omnium,  Deus  propicius  esto  michi  peccatori,  quia  non  sum 
dignus  ego  peccator  leuare  oculos  meos  ad  celum  nee  respicere  ad  te  deum 
patrem  omnipotentem  pre  multitudine  peccatorum  meorum.  Set  tu  misericors  deus 
conditor  noster,  qui  es  coeternus  &  coequalis  patri  cum  sancto  spiritu,  qui  pecca- 
tores  saluare  venisti,  miserere <J  michi  peccatori  &  omnium  iniquitatum  pondere  pre- 
grauato:  aufer  a  me  misericors  deus  omnia  mala  preterita,  presencia,  cS:  futura, 
£  mitte  michi  adiutorium  sanctum  de  celis,  vt  non  dominetur  mei  iniquitas  mea,  set 
de  ilia  valeam  agere  penitenciam  que  tibi  sit  placita,  &  peruenire  merear  ad 
misericordiam  tuam.  Deus  qui  solus  habes  sapienciam  ,  tu  scis  domine  que  michi 
peccatori  expediunt :  prout  tibi  placeat  &  sicut  in  oculis  tue  maiestatis  uidetur  de 
me  peccatore ,  ita  fiat.  Suscipe  pater  clemens  &  misericors  deus  preces  famuli 
tui ,  &  perueniant  ad  aures  misericordie  tue  preces  quas  pro  me  misero  peccatore 
effundo  coram  te  in  hac  hora,  amen,  amen. 

Domine10  deus  pater  omnipotens,  qui  consubstancialem  &  coeternum  tibi  ante 
omnia  ineffabiliter  secula  filium  genuisti,  cum  quo  ,  atque  cum  spiritu  sancto  ex 
te  eodemque  filio  procedente  celum  £  terram  atque  quecunque  existunt  visibilia 
atque  invisibilia  creasti :  Te  adoro,  Te  laudo,  Te  glorifico  ;  esto  queso  propicius 
michi  peccatori,  &  ne  despicias  me  opus  manuum  tuarum,  set  salua  &  adiuua  me 
per  sanctum  nomen  tuum.  Qui  viuis  &  regnas  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum, 
amen,  amen. 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe  fili  dei  viui,  qui  es  verus  &  omnipotens  deus,  splendor 
&  ymago  patris  et  vita  eterna,  cui  vna  est  cum  eterno  patre  equus  honor,  eadem 
gloria,  coeterna  maiestas,  vna  substancia :  Te  adoro,  Te  laudo ,  Teque  glorifico  ; 
ne  me,  obsecro,  perire  paciaris,  set  salua  &  adiuua  me  gratuitu  munere  tuo,  quern 
dignatus  es  redimere  precioso  sanguine  tuo.  Qui  cum  patre  &  spiritu  sancto  viuis 
&  regnas  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum,  amen,  amen. 

Pater  &  filius  £  spiritus  sanctus,  &  sancta  trinitas:  adiuro  te  per  maiestatem 
tuam  vt  exaudias  me  de  celo  per  pietatem  tuam  &  miserearis  michi  in  omni 
misericordia  tua,  in  sempiternum.  Obsecro  omnis  sanctos  angelos  et  archangelos, 
virtutes,  dominaciones,  principatus,  £  potestates,  thronos,  cherubyn  &  seraphyn, 


i  Ms.  delegere.  2  Ms.  mare.  3  Ms.  crimenibus.  *  Ms.  dormeo.  5  Ms.  vigelet. 

Ms.  illi  custodient.       7  Ms.  quia.       8  Ms.  deuenitatem.       »  Ms.  mesirire.       10  Ms.  Domine  Ihesu. 

26* 


404  Appendix  I:   Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

ut  intercedant  pro  me  peccatore  apud  iustum  iudicem  ut  dimittat  michi  peccata 
mea:  Et  deprecor  Michaelem  archangelum  sanctum,  et  gloriosum  Gabrielem,  et 
Raphaelem,  ut  suscipiant  animam  meam  in  nouissimo  die  &  perducant  earn  ad 
amenitatem  paradisi.  Similiter  &  obsecro  per  deum  patrem  celi  &  terre  omnes 
Patriarchas  &  prophetas,  &  apostolos,  &  martires,  et  confessores,  et  virgines,  et 
viduas1,  et  innocentes,  et  omnes  sanctos,  ut  intercedant  pro  me  misero  in  omni 
tempore,  amen,  amen. 

Domine  deus  omnipotens  Pater  &  Filius  £  Spiritus  sanctus,  O  deus  pie  & 
exaudibilis,  clemens  &  benignus :  suscipe  propicius  hos  psalmos,  per  intercessio- 
nem  beate  &  gloriose  semper  virginis  Marie,  &2  sanctorum  apostolorum  Petri 
et  Pauli  atque  Andree,  &  omnium  sanctorum  tuorum,  &  libera  me  ab  omnibus 
malis  per  horum  intercessionem,  &  fac  me  dignum  exaudiri  pro  omnibus  pro  qui- 
bus  tuam  clemenciam  exoro.  Misere[re]  itaque  Omnibus  rectoribus  ecclesiarum 
qui  pro  tuo  sancto  nomine  laborant,  &  omnibus  deo  dicatis  vtriusque  sexus  ut 
iugiter  in  tuo  seruicio  perseuerent.  Subueniat  domine  pietas  tua  famulis  &  famu- 
labus  tuis  illis,  simulque  omni  populo  christiano  ,  viuis  &  defunctis,  quicunque  in 
tuo  nomine  de  hac  vita  migrauerunt,  &  omni  congregacioni  seruorum  £  ancillarum 
dei.  Propiciare  domine  omnibus  qui  mei  memoriam  faciunt,  &  se  meis  indignis 
oracionibus  commendauerunt,  sen  qui  michi  aliquod  caritatis  uel  pietatis  impen- 
derunt  officium.  Miserere  itaque  domine  horum  qui  michi  consanguinitate  siue 
compassionis  affectu  propinqui  sunt,  &  omnium  pro  quibus  te  rogandi  debitor  sum 
siue  aliquo  voto  constrictus,  siue  pro  quibuscunque  michi  [hjactenus  iniunctum  est 
laborare  &  neclexi.  Me  itaque  piissime  deus,  &  hos  omnes  quorum  nomina  hie 
specialiter  nomino,  vel  quorum  in  communi  mencionem  facio,  ab  omnibus  nos  in 
hoc  seculo  insidiis  inimici  libera,  &  in  tuo  sancto  seruicio  conseruare  digneris 
illesos,  angelumque  tuum  sanctum  nobis  hie  &  vbique  custodem  &  defensorem 
tribue :  &  in  futurum  simul  cum  defu[n]ctis  fidelibus  uniuersis  dona  ut  a  te  premia 
consequi  mereamur^  eterna.  Per  dominum  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum  filium  tuum 
mediatorem  dei  &  hominum,  redemptorem  mundi,  Qui  tecum  viuit  &  regnat  in 
vnitate  spiritus  sancti  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum,  amen,  amen. 

Confiteor  tibi  domine  omnia  peccata  mea:  indulge  michi  quia  nimium4  peccaui 
tibi.  Domine  miserere  mei  per  intercessionem  omnium  sanctorum  angelorum  atque 
archangelorum :  Miserere  mei  domine  per  intercessionem  Patriarcharum  &  prophe- 
tarum :  Miserere  mei  domine  per  intercessionem  omnium  apostolorum,  martirum, 
confessorum,  simulque  virginum;  te  deprecor  domine  miserere  mei.  Domine  si  in 
te  peccaui,  tamen  te  non  negaui,  nee  te  dereliqui,  deos  alienos  non  adoraui :  Do 
mine  veniam  peto  a  te  pro  omnibus  culpis  meis.  Pius  deus,  sanctus  deus,  tibi 
confiteor  omnia  peccata  mea,  quia  crimina  agnosco  in  me :  Deus  propicius  esto 
michi  peccatori  seruo  tuo ,  Non  me  deseras  neque  derelinquas.  Domine  deus 
meus  miserere  mei.  Pius  deus :  miserere  mei,  sanctus  deus,  sanctus  fortis  &  immor- 
talis ,  misericors  deus,  clementissime  pater:  adiuua  me  humilem  &  peccatorem 
famulum  tuum.  Da  michi  cor  quod  te  timeat:  sensum  qui  te  intelligat:  oculos 
qui  te  videant:  aures  que  te  audiant:  nares  que  odorem  tuum  senciant5.  Domine 
mollifica  cor  meum  durum  &lapideum6,  quia  sum  cinis  mortuus.  Salua  me  vigi- 
lantem,  custodi  me  dormientem :  ut  dormiam  in  pace,  &  vigilem  in  Christo,  amen, 
amen,  amen. 

Dominator  domine  deus  omnipotens,  qui  es  trinitas  vna,  cum  patre  in  filio, 
&  filius  in  patre,  cum  spiritu  sancto,  qui  es  semper  in  omnibus,  et  eras  ante 
omnia,  &  eris  per  omnia  deus  benedictus  in  secula :  Commendo  animam  meam  in 
manus  potencie  tue,  ut  custodias  earn  diebus  ac  noctibus,  horis  atque  momentis. 

1  Ms.  veduas.  2  Ms.  &  omnium.  3  Ms.  mereantur.  *  Ms.  nimeum.  5  Ms.  sensciant 
c  Ms.  lapedium. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office.  405 

Miserere  mei,  deus  angelorum  :  Dirige  me,  O  rex  archangelorum :  Custodi  me  per 
oraciones  patriarcharum ,  per  merita  prophetarum,  per  suffragia  apostolorum,  per 
victorias  martirum ,  per  fidem  confessorum,  qui  tibi  placuerunt  ab  inicio  mundi. 
Oret  pro  me  sanctus  Abel,  qui  primus  coronatus  est  in  martirio:  Oret  pro  me 
sanctus  Enoch,  qui  ambulauit  coram  deo  &  translatus  1  est  a  mundo :  Oret  pro  me 
sanctus  Noe,  quern  dominus  seruauit  in  diluuio  propter  iusticiam:  Roget  pro  me 
fidelis  Abraham,  qui  primus  credidit  deo  &  reputatum  est  ei  ad  iusticiam:  Inter- 
cedat  pro  me  iustus  Ysaac,  qui  fuit  obediens  patri  usque  ad  mortem,  in  exemplum 
domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi  qui  oblatus  est  patri  pro  salute  mundi :  Postulet  pro  me 
felix  lacob,  qui  vidit  angelum  dei  venientem  in  auxilium  sibi:  Oret  pro  me  beatus 
Moyses ,  ad  quem  locutus  est  dominus  facie  ad  faciem:  Subueniat  michi  sanctus 
Dauid,  quem  elegisti-  secundum  cor  tuum  domine:  Deprecetur  pro  me  sanctus 
Helyas  propheta,  quem  eleuasti  in  curru  igneo:  Oret  pro  me  beatus  Eleseus,  qui 
suscitauit  mortuum  post  mortem  eius :  Oret  pro  me  beatus  Ysayas,  cuius  mandata 
emicant  feruore  ignis  celestis:  Assistat  michi  sanctus  leremias,  quem  sanctificasti 
in  vtero  matris  sue :  Oret  pro  me  sanctus  Ezechiel  propheta,  qui  vidit  visiones 
mirabiles:  Deprecetur  pro  me  electus  Daniel,  qui  soluit  sompnia  regis  &  inter- 
pretatus  est,  &  bis  liberatus  est  de  lacu  leonum:  Subueniant  michi  tres  pueri 
liberati  ab  igne,  &  viginti  duo  prophete,  scil.  Samuel,  Dauid,  Natan,  Helyas,  Eleseus, 
Ysayas,  leremias,  Ezechiel,  Daniel,  Osee,  lohel,  Amos,  Abdias,  lonas,  Micheas, 
Namu,  Abacuc,  Sophenias,  Aggeus,  Zacharias ,  Malachias,  Johannes:  hos  omnes 
invoco  in  auxilium  meum  hodie.  Assistant  michi  omnes  apostoli  domini  mei 
Ihesu  Christi:  Petrus,  Paulus ,  Andreas,  lacobus,  Johannes,  Thomas,  Philippus, 
Bartholomeus,  Matheus,  Symon,  ludas,  Mathyas,  lacobus:  &  omnes  martires  tui, 
&  omnes  sancti  tui,  intercedant  pro  me.  Repelle  a  me  domine  concupiscenciam 
gule  &  da  michi  virtutem  abstinencie :  Effuga  a  me  spiritum  fornicacionis  &  da 
michi  ardorem  castitatis:  Compesce  a  me  iracundiam  &  accende  in  me  anhne 
suauitatem :  Abscide  a  me  domine  seculi  huius  cupiditatem  &  da  michi  voluntariam 
paupertatem:  Expelle  a  me  iactanciam  mentis  &  tribue  compunccionem  cordis: 
Abscide  a  me  domine  tristiciam  seculi  &  auge  michi  gaudium  spiritale^:  Minue4 
superbiam  meam  [&]  perfice  in  me  humilitatem  veram.  Indignus  quidem  ego  sum 
&  infelix  homo  :  Quis  me  liberabit  de  corpore  mortis  huius  nisi  gracia  dei ,  quia 
peccator  ego  sum,  &  innumerabilia  delicta  mea ,  &  non  sum  dignus  vocari  seruus 
tuus.  Suscita  in  me  fletum  penitencie  &  mollifica  cor  meum  durum  &  lapideum^, 
£  accende  in  me  ignem  timoris  tui ,  quia  sum  cinis  mortuus.  Libera  animam 
meam  ab  omnibus  insidiisfi  inimici,  &  conserua  me  in  tua  voluntate,  &  doce  me 
facere  voluntatem  tuam ,  quia  deus  meus  es  tu.  Tibi  est  honor  &  imperium  in 
secula  seculorum,  Amen,  amen. 

7Miserator  &  misericors ,  paciens  &  multum  misericors,  magne  &  terribilis  deus, 
tibi  confiteor  delicta  mea,  tibi  patefacio 8  wlnera  mea :  tu  propter  ineffabilem  boni- 
tatem  tuam  confer  michi  misero  medicinam.  Tu  enim  mitissime  dignatus  es  dicere: 
Nolo  mortem  peccatoris  set  vt  conuertatur  &  viuat  &  confiteatur.  Inique  egi : 
peruersa  est  in  conspectu  tuo  vita  mea :  extincta  est  in  iniquitatibus  anima  mea 
superbia,  libidine,  ira  inpaciencia,  malicia  invidia ,  gula  ebrietate,  concupiscencia 
rapina,  mendacio  periurio,  scur[r]ilitate  stultiloquio,  ignorancia  negligencia. 

Sanota  &  perpetua  uirgo  Maria,  domina  &  aduocatrix  mea,  confiteor  dominum 
nostrum  Ihesum  Christum  tuum  dulcissimum  filium,  verum  deum  et  verum  homi- 
nem,  ex  te  natum  in  fine  seculorum  pro  nostra  salute;  etenim  te  pro  me  in- 
cessanter  interueniente ,  ipsi ,  &  tibi,  £  omnibus  sanctis  confiteor  peccata  mea, 


»  Ms.  transelatus.          2  Ms.  eli^isti.          3  Ms.  speritale.         *  Ms.  Menue.     _    5  Ms.  lapedium. 
Ms.  insediis.        7  This  passage  is  perhaps  spurious,  cf.  p.  406.        8  Ms.  patifacio. 


406  Appendix  I :  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 

quecunque  feci  ab  ineunte  etate  mea  vsque  in  hanc  horam,  vel  alii  per  me  vel 
pro  me  peccauerunt:  pro  quorum  remissione,  &  adiutorio  omnium  necessitatum 
mearum,  £  illorum,  £  omnium  affinium  et  amicorum  meorum,  £  pro  omnibus 
Christianis  viuis  £  defunctis  ad  vitam  eternam  predestinatis,  in  omni  sexu  £  etate 
£  ordine,  offero  tibi,  O  mater  misericordie,  hec  quinque  verba  gaudii,  uice  quinque 
plagarum  quas  *  ipse  verus  deus  £  verus  homo  suscepit  in  suo  sanctissimo  corpore 
pro  nostra  salute.  Gaude  dei  genitrix,  virgo  semper  Maria.  Gaude  que  gaudium 
ab  angelo  suscepisti :  Gaude  que  genuisti  eterni  luminis  claritatem.  Gaude  mater : 
Gaude  virgo  sancta  genitrix:  tu  sola  mater  innupta;  te  laudat  omnis  creatura: 
deum  pro  nobis  interpella,  Amen. 

Ecce  ad  te  confugio,  virgo  nostra  saluacio,  Spes  salutis  £  venie,  mater  miseri 
cordie.  Serua  ad  te  fugientem,  salua  in  te  confidentem,  Super  omnis  te  exoro, 
super  omnis  te  imploro.  Tu  es  enim  potencior  super  omnis  £  dulcior,  Super 
omnis  humilior ,  super  omnis  sullimior.  Nullus  enim  iam  perdetur,  nullus  enim 
confundetur,  Qui  se  tibi  commendabit,  qui  te  pure  inuocabit.  O  Maria  mater  dei, 
miserere  precor  mei ,  Atque  pro  me  roga  deum,  vt  absoluat  istum  reum.  Ecce 
tibi  commendo  me,  ut  seruum  tibi  trado  [me] :  Vt  domina  me  suscipe,  et  clementer 
hue  respice.  Respice  [hue]  O  Maria,  dei  mater  £  filia,  £  visita  hunc  miserum,  oppres- 
sum  mole  scelerum.  Nam  si  tu  me  visitabis2,  visitando  me  purgabis ;  Tua  enim 
visitacio,  est  peccatorum  remissio.  Serua  tibi  commendatum,  £  tibi  seruire  para- 
ram;  Tue  donum  pietatis,  me  absoluat  a  peccatis.  Te  Maria  invocare,  hoc  est 
opus  salutare;  Nomen  tuum  dulce  nimis,  memorandum  est  in  primis;  Vbi  nomen 
tuum  sonat,  spem  salutis  michi  donat. 

(Rest  of  the  page  and  y3  of  following  page  are  left  vacant.) 
Or  emus  : 

Pietate  tua,  quesumus,  domine,  nostrorum  solue  vincula  omnium  delictorum,  £ 
intercedente  beata  Maria  semper  virgine  cum  omnibus  sanctis,  Reges,  Antist[it]es, 
Abbates,  Duces  £  omnes  congregaciones  illis  commissas,  £  nos  famulos  tuos,  atque 
loca  nostra,  ab  omni  iniquitate  eripe,  £  in  omni  sanctitate  £  religione  custodi; 
omnesque  familiaritate 3  £  consanguinitate  nobis  iunctos,  seu  omnes  Christianos, 
a  viciis  omnibus  purga,  virtutibus  illustra.  Pacem  £  salutem  nobis  tribue:  hostes 
visibiles4  £  invisibiles  remoue  a  nobis.  Pestem  repelle:  inimicis  caritatem  largire : 
uinctis5  absolucionem :  peregrinantibus  ad  patriam  reditum:  infirmantibus  opem  salu 
tis  adhibe6:  £  omnibus  fidelibus  viuis  £  defunctis  vitam  £  requiem  eternam 
concede ,  per  dominum  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum  filium  tuum  ,  qui  tecum  viuit  £ 
regnat . . 

Oracio  valde  deuota  £  magni  meriti7. 

Liberator  £  misericors  deus,  Magne  £  terribilis,  tibi  confiteor  peccata  mea, 
tibi  patefacio  wlnera  mea :  tu  propter  ineffabilem  pietatem  tuam  confer  michi 
misero8  medicinam ;  tu  enim  mitissime  dignatus  es  dicere :  Nolo  mortem  peccatoris 
set  vt  magis  conuertatur  £  viuat.  Confiteor  inique  egi:  peruersa  est  in  conspectit 
tuo  vita  mea:  lapsa  est  in  lacum  miserie  anima  mea.  Extincta  est  in  iniquitatibus 
anima  mea:  Superbia,  libido,  ira,  rapina,  mendacium,  periurium,  scur[r]ilitas,  in- 
paciencia,  stultiloquium,  detraccio,  malicia,  invidia,  gula,  ebrietas,  concupiscencia, 
necligencia,  vani  risus,  odium,  seu  cetere  pestes  occidunt  miseram9  animam  meam. 
Pollutum  est  enim  cor  meum  £  labia  mea  visu,  auditu,  gustu,  odoratu ,  £  tactu: 
£  omnibus  modis,  Cogitacione,  locucione.  £  opere  coinquinatus  sum.  Tibi  domine 
rex  omnipotens  hec  omnia  confiteor,  veniam  suppliciter  petens:  vt  digneris  in- 

1  Ms.  quos.  2  Ms.  vesitabis.  3  Ms.  famel.  4  Ms.  visebiles.  b  Ms.  lunctis.  6  Ms. 
adibe.  7  Ms.  meritis.  8  Ms.  mesero.  9  Ms.  Miseriam. 


Abridged  Psalter,  with  Office.  407 

dulgere  omnia  quecunque  egi.  Domine  deus  omnipotens  qui  plus  potes^  dare 
quam  ign[o]rancia  raea  sciat  uel  audeat  petere ,  moueat  vox  mee  humilitatis 
clemenciam  tue  pietatis.  vt  hec  precamina  mee  deuocionis  serena  benignitate 
acceptes.  Queso  domine  deus  cnius  miseracio  non  habet  finem,  attrahe  me  sicut 
attraxisti  mulierem  peccatricem:  dona  michi  sicut  donasti  illi,  noncessare1  osculari 
pedes2  tuos,  rigare  lacrimis,  &  extergere  capillis.  Concede  michi  tit  secundum 
magnitudinem  iniquitatum  mearum  sit  magna  miseracio  tua  in  me,  vt  propter 
immensitatem  tue  pietatis  omnia  peccata  mea  dimittas  michi:  Et  largire  michi 
deprecor  de  preteritis  veniam,  &  de  presentibus  emendacionem  &  continenciam3, 
&  de  futuris  cautelam.  Deprecor  te  piissime  domjne  vt  michi,  cuntis  inuoluto 
[sjceleribus  peccatomm,  manum  porrigas  pietatis,  meque  a  cu[n]ttorum^  criminum 
nexibus  solue  indesinenter :  Et  ab  omni  protegens  malo,  concede  michi  in  tua 
sancta  volunttate  &  in  bonis  operibus  omnibus  diebus  vite  mee  perseuerare.  Fac 
me,  priusquam  moriar,  consequi  plenissime  misericordiam  tuam,  &  ne  dies  meos 
ante  finire  sinas  quam  peccata  mea  dimittas;  set  sicut  vis  &  sicut  scis,  miserere 
mei  deus  meus,  vt  ad  tuam  quandoque  merear  peruenire  visionem ,  per  dominum 
nostrum  Ihesum  Christum. 

O  vos  omnes  sancti  &  electi  dei,  quibus  omnipotens  deus  preparauit  regnum 
eternum  a  principio :  vos  deprecor  per  caritatem  qua  dilexlt  vos  deus ,  succurrite 
michi  misero  peccatori ,  antequam  me  mors  rapiat:  Subuenlte  michi  infelici  ad- 
modum,  antequam  ira  dei  me  disperdat:  Reconciliate  me  creatori  meo,  antequam 
me  infernus  deuoret.  O  beata  Maria  mater  dei  virgo  Christi ,  peccatorum  inter- 
uentrix,  exaudi  me,  salua  me,  custodi  me:  Optine  michi  pia  domina  fidem  rectam, 
spem  certam,  caritatem  perfectam,  humilitatem,  castitatem,  sdbrietatem ,  &  post 
cursum  vite  mee  societatem  perpetue  beatitudinis.  Tu  eciam,  sancte  Michael,  cum 
omnibus  milibus*  angelorum ,  ora  pro  me  vt  eripiat  me  deus  de  potestate  ad- 
uersariorum  meorum:  Adiuua  me,  optine  amorem  dei,  cordis  decorem,  &  fidei 
uigorem,  ac  celestis  glorie  iocunditatem.  Vos  quoque  sancti5  patriarch  e  &  pro- 
phete,  poscite  michi  a  deo  indulgenciam ,  pacienciam,  constanciam ,  perseueran- 
ciamque  sanctam,  &  vitam  eternam.  O  beati  apostoli  dei,  soluite  me  a  peccatis 
meis  :  defendite6  me,  confortate  me,  &  ad  regnum  celeste  perducite7  me.  Per  vos, 
sancti  martires  dei,  detur  michi  a  domino  caritas,  pax  sincera,  mens  pura,  vita 
casta,  et  peccatorum  remissio.  O  gloriosi  confessores  dei,  orate  pro  me  vt  per 
vos  michi  tribuatur  a  deo  celestis  concupiscencia,  morum  reuerencia,  et  manda- 
tcrum  obseruancia,  ac  omnium  criminum  absolucio.  Necnon  et  vos  rogo  omnes 
sancte  virgines  dei,  adiuuate  me  vt  habeam  bonam  voluntatem  cordis,  &  corporis 
sanitatem,  piam  humilitatem,  temperanciam,  &  omnium  peccatorum  meorum  a^deo 
indulgenciam.  Omnis  sancti  dei,  vos  quoque  deprecor  &  supplico^subuenite  michi, 
miseremini  mei,  cor[r]igite  me  misericorditer,  &  orate  pro  me  instanter,  vt  per 
vestram  intercessionem  tribuatur  michi  a  deo  consciencie«  compunccio,  vite  eterne 
consum[m]acio  laudabilis ,  quatenus  per  merita  vestra  pervenire  valeam  ad  eterne 
beatitudinis  patriam:  prestante  domino  nostro  Ihesu  Christo,  Qui  cum  patre  & 
spiritu  sancto  viuit  &  regnat  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum.  Amen.  Amen. 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe  qui  es  verus  deus,  qui  pro  humani  generis  salute  « 
celo  ad  terras  descendisti,  &  de  virgine  natus  fuisti,  &  totam  hominis  naturam 
absque  peccato  suscepisti,  &  a  lohanne  in  lordane  baptizari  voluisti,  &  a  diabo-lo 
te  temptari  permisisti,  &  in  ligno  crucis  suspensus  fuisti,  &  propter  nos  moriens 
mortem  occidisti,  &  in  sepulcro  iacuisti,  &  in  die  tercia  a  mortuis  resur[r]existi,  ^& 
post  tuam  resur[r]eccionem  per  dies  qnadraginta  conuersatus  es  cum  discipulis  tuis, 


i  Ms.  cessari.          2  Ms.  petes.          *  Ms.  contenenciam.          *  Ms.  miletibus.         5  Ms.  sancte. 
«  Ms.  defendete.        7  Ms.  perducete.        »  Ms.  consciencia :  c.  v.  e.:  c.  1. 


408 


Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


&  ipsis  videntibus  in  celum  ascendisti,  vnde  venturus  es  iudicare  viuos  &  mortuos ; 
qui  &  spiritum  paraclitum  super  apostolos  in  linguis  igneis  misisti:  O  domine  Ihesu 
Christe  qui  es  verus  deus  &  verus  homo,  miserere  mei  &  libera  me  ab  omni  nialo 
anime  &  corporis,  &  a  subitanea1  &  eterna  morte,  per  intercessionem  sancte  virginis 
Marie  genitricis  tue,  &  sancti  lohannis  Apostoli  dilecti  tui.  Qui  pro  nostra  salute 
in  cruce  pendens  ipsam  sanctam  genitricem  tuam  eidem  dilecto  tuo  lohanni  com- 
mendasti,  dicens  matri  tue:  Mulier,  ecce  films  tuus;  deinde  ad  discipulum:  Ecce 
mater  tua:  te  deprecor  ut  hodie  per  eorum  merita  protectus  in  anima  &  corpore, 
tibi  omni  hora  placere  possim,  &  in  hora  exitus  mei  tibi  sine  macula  ualeam 
presentari :  Qui  es  patri  &  spiritui  sancto  coeternus  £  consubstancialis  secundum 
diuinitatem,  Qui  cum  eodem  patre  &  spiritu  sancto  viuis  &  regnas  deus  per  omnia 
secula  seculorum,  amen,  amen. 

Orentus : 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe  fill  dei  patris  omnipotentis,  qui  voluisti  pro  redempcione 
mundi  a  ludeis  reprobari ,  £  quasi  agnus  innocens  ad  victimam  duel ,  atque  ad 
conspectum  Pilati  presentari,  a  falsis  quoque  testibus  accusari,  fflagellis  &  ob- 
probriis  vexari ,  &  conspui ,  spinis  coronari,  cruci  eleuari  atque  inter  latrones 
deputari,  clauorum  aculis  perforari,  ffelle  &  aceto  potari,  lancea  wlnerari:  Tu  per 
has  sanctissimas  penas  tuas  de  inferni  penis  me  libera,  &  per  sanctam  crucem 
tuam  salua  me  &  custodi ;  &  libera  me  a  cunctis  iniquitatibus  meis  &  vniuersis 
malis,  &  tribue  michi  indulgenciam  &  remissionem  omnium  peccatorum  meorum, 
&  illuc  perdue  me  miserum  peccatorem  quo  duxisti  tecum  crucifixum  latronem  tibi 
confitentem,  Qui  viuis  &  regnas  deus  per  omnia  secula  seculorum.  Amen.  Amen. 

fol.  277b. 

17.     Ista  oracio  que  sequitur  est  de  VII  gaudia  beate  Marie 
virginis  per  sanctum  Thomam  et  Martirem  Cantuariensem  Archi- 

episcopum  Edita. 

(This  hymn  is  ed.  in  Daniel  Thes.  Hymn.  I,  346) 3. 


Gaude  fflore  virgenali, 

Honore  quoque  speciali  20 

Transcendens  sp[l]endiferum4, 
Angel  orum  principatum , 
Et  sanctorum  decoratum 

Dignitate  numerum. 

Gaude  sponsa  cara  dei,  25 

Nam  [vt]5  clara  lux  diei 

Sol[is]6  datur  lumine, 
Sic  tu  facis  [o]rbem7  vere 
Tue  pacis  resp[l]endere 

Lucis  plenitudine.  30 

Gaude  splendens  vas  virtutum, 
Cuius  pendens  est  ad  nutum 

Tota  celi  curia, 
Te  Benygnam  &  felicem 
Ihesu  dignam  genitricem  35 

Venera[ns  in]8  gloria. 


Gaude  nexu  voluntatis 
Et  amplexu  caritatis 

luncta  sis  altissimo, 
Vt  ad  votum  consequaris 
Quidquid  virgo  postularis 

A  Ihesu  dulcissimo. 

Gaude  mater  miserorum, 
Quia  pater  seculorum 
Dabit  te  colentibus 
Congruentem  hie  mercedem, 
Et  felicem9  poli  sedem 
Rigni[s]  in  celestibus. 

Gaude  virgo  Mater  pura, 
Certa  manens  et  secura 

Quod  hec  septem  gaudia 
Non  cessabunt  nee  decressent, 
Set  durabunt  et  florescent 

Per  eterna  secula.  Amen.  Amen. 


1  Ms.  subitania.  2  Cf.  p.  411.  3  An  Engl.  translation  in  the  same  tune,  see  in  Furnivall 
Political  &c.  poems,  p.  145  ;  another,  free,  translation  in  Joh.  Mirk's  Festial,  Sermo  II  in  die 
Assumpcionis  b.  Marie,  cf.  Altengl.  Leg.  N.  F.  p.  cxvi.  *  Ms.  spendeferum.  Ms.  tu. 

c  Ms.  sola.        '  Ms.  vrbem.        *-Ms.  Veneratur.        '•>  al.  felicis. 


Hymns  &c.  409 

Gaude  virgo  mater  Christi,  40     Esse  tante1  dignitatis 

Quia  sola  meruisti,  Quod  sis  sancte2  trinitatis 

O  virgo  piissima,  Sessione  proxima. 

Vers.  Sponsa  dei  electa,  Mater  dei  domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi  benedicta,  Esto 
nobis  via  recta  ad  eterna  gaudia,  Vbi  pax  et  gloria ;  et  nos  semper  aure  pia,  dul- 
cissima  atque  piissima  exaudi  virgo  Maria.  Amen. 

Oremus . 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe  ,  ffili  dei  viui ,  qui  beatissimam  genitricem  tuam  Mariam 
gloriosissimam  perpetuo  et  felicibus  gaudiis  in  celo  letificasti,  concede  propicius 
vt  eius  mentis  et  precibus  continuis  salutem  et  prosperitatem  mentis  &  corporis 
consequamur ,  et  ad  gaudia  tua  et  eius  eterna  feliciter  perueniamus ;  qui  viuis  & 
rignas  deus  per  omnia  sec.  seel.  Amen. 

fol.  278. 

1 8.     Anofyer  salutacioun^  till  oure  lady  of  hir  fyve  loyes. 

(ed.  in  Mone  II  p.    172. )3 

Gaude  virgo  Mater  Christi,  10     Gaude  Christo  ascendente, 

Que  per  aurem  concepisti  Et4  in  celum,  te  vidente, 

Gabriele  nuncio.  Motu  fertur  proprio. 

Gaude  quia  deo  plena  .- 

.    .     .  Gaude  quod0  post  ipsum  scandis 

5     Pepensti  sine  pena  „                        *.,.            ,. 

.....  Et  est  honor  tibi  grandis 

Cum  pudons  leho.  T         ,.            . 

15  In  cell  palacio. 

Gaude  quia  tui  nati,  Ibi  fructns  ventris  tui 

Quern  dolebas  mortem  pati,  Per  te  detur  nobis  frui 

ffulget  resureccio.  In  perhenni  gaudio.     Amen. 

lr.  Exaltata  est  sancta  dei  genitrix:  super  choris  angelorum  ad  celestia  rigna.  Orcnms  : 
Deus,  qui  beatam  virginem  Mariam  in  conceptu  et  partu  virginitate  seruata 
duplice  gaudio  letificasti,  quique  eius  gaudia6  filio  tuo  resurgente  et  ad  celos 
ascendente  multiplicasti ,  prista,  quesumus ,  vt  ad  illud  ineffabile  gaudium ,  quo 
assumpta  gaudet  in  celis,  eius  meritis  et  intercessionibus  valiamus  peruenire  ,  per 
eundem  Christum  dominum  nostrum. 

19.     Ane  antyme  to  f)e  ffadir  of  heuenr,  \\i\Ji  a  Colett. 

Benediccio  et  claritas  et  sapiencia  et  graciarum  accio,  honor,  virtus  et  fforti- 
tudo,  deo  nostro  in  sese,  Amen. 

V.  Benedictus  es,  domine,  in  nrmamento  celi,  Et  laudabilis  &  gloriosus  &  super- 
exaltatus  in  secula.  Or  emus: 

Deus,  in  te  sperancium  fortitudo  ,  adesto  propicius  invocacionibus  nostris,  et 
quia  sine  te  nichil  potest  mortalis  infirmitas,  prista  auxilium  grade  tue ,  vt  in 
exequendis  mandatis  tuis ,  et  volu[n]ttate  tibi  et  accione  placiamus,  per  Christum 
dominum  nostrum. 

20.     Anofyer  Antyme  of  f>e  passyoun^  of  Criste  Ihesu. 

Tuam  crucem  adoramus  domine,  Tuam  gloriosam  recolimus  passionem :  Miserere 
nostri  qui  passus  es  pro  nobis. 

Versus:  Adoramus  te  domine  Ihesu  Christe  &  benedicimus  tibi:  Quia  per 
sanctam  crucem  tuam  redimisti  mundum.  Orenius: 


i  Ms.  tanti.        2  Ms.  sancti.         3  Cf.  Bonaventura  Corona  b.  Mariae  virg.,  Opp.  XIV,  p.  179. 
al.  Qui.        5  al.  que.        6  Ms.  gaudio. 


4io 


Appendix  I:  Rest  of  religious  contents  of  Ms.  Thornton. 


Perpetua,  quesumus,  domine,  pace  custodi  quos  per  lignum  sancte  crucis  rede- 
mere  dignatus  es  saluator  mundi,  qui  viuis  &  rignas  deus  per  omnia  sec.  sec.  Amen. 

21.     A  Colecte  of  grete  perdone  vn-to  Crist  Ihmi. 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe,  ffili  dei  viui,  qui  pendens  in  cmce  pro  peccatoribus 
dixisti  patri  tuo,  Pater  dimitte  illis  quia  nesciunt  quid  faciunt,  scilicet1  pro  crusi- 
hxoribus  tuis  orando  :  obsecro  te  per  hoc  sacratissimum  dictum  tuum ,  vt  dimittas 
malefactoribus  meis  peccata  eorum,  quia  quidem  salutem  eorum  noueris,  Amen  &c. 

Hec  oracio  prescripta  dicitur  in  honor e  domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi  crucifix!,  hanc 
autem  scriptura(!)  cum  legis  inspeciendo  ffiguram.  Illo  nempe  die  pietatis  munere 
die  Non  formidabis  hostes ,  tutusque  meabis ,  Nee  ffacies  aliqua  te  contristabit 
iniqua  &c. ;  &  tune  dices  hanc  salutacionem  ad  faciem  saluatoris  nostri  Ihesu  &c. : 

2Salue  sancta  facies  nostri  redemptoris,   cum  tota  oracione  &  versu  &  colecta  &c. 


22.' 


fol.  278^. 

Crucem,   coronam  spiniam, 
Clauos,  diramque  lanceam 

Denote  veneremur ; 
Acetum,  fel,  veronicam, 
Virgas,  sputaque,   spongeam 

lugiter  meditemur. 

Velum,  lanternam,  nobilem 
Pellicanum  et  calicem, 

Arundines  pungentes, 
Tunicam  inco[n]sutilem, 
Columpnam*  minime  fragilem, 

Et  funes  vrgentes: 


20 


Flagella,  ffustes  innumerabiles, 
Enses  latronum  horribiles, 

Denarios  ter  denos, 
Manus  cedentes  dissimules, 
Cultellos  duros  &  forcipes, 

Vrceos  amenos : 

Serpentem,   Scalam  &  Mallium, 
Sepulcram,  lumen,  candellabrum 

Corditer  recolamus : 
Faciunt  hec  nam  regium 
Vexillum,  per  quod  gaudium 

Perpetuum  speramus. 

nos 


Adoramus  te  Christe  &  benedicimus  tibi :    Quia  per  hec  passus  [sine]    culpa 
a  culpa  misericorditer  liberasti.     Oremus: 

Quesumus  omnipotens  deus  vt  qui  redempcionis  nostre  temporaliter  veneremur 
signa,  per  hec  indesinenter  signiti  a  peccatorum  nostrorum  nexibus  liberemur,  per 
Christum  dominum  nostrum. 

23.     A  Preyere  to  }>e  wounde  in  Crystis  syde. 

Ihesus  Marie  filius  sit  michi  clemens  &  propicius. 
(This  hymn  is  formed  on  Salva  sancta  facies  nostri  redemptoris,  Mone  I  p.   156.) 

fol,  279. 

Salue  plaga  lateris  nostri  redemptoris, 
Ex  te  enim  profluit  fons  rosei  coloris ; 
Es  vera  medicina  tocius  doloris, 
Et  eterna  requies  humani  laboris. 

Salue  plaga  domini,  salus  peccatorum, 


Tu  es  consolacio  perfecta  lustonvm, 
Et  grata  refeccio  tu  es  beatorum, 
Ac  pacis  fruicio  portaque  celorum. 

An*yme:  Salue  teca  tu  Messie, 

Tu  nos  salua  omni  die. 


Salue  plaga  domini  recens  et  fecunda, 
Emanauit  nam  ex  te  salutaris  vnda 
Per  quani  liberabimur  a  morte  secunda, 
Cu[n]tti  seruientes  hie  tibi  mente  munda. 

Salue  plaga  domini,  domus  requiei, 
Tu  tutum  refugium,   ancera  fidei^: 
Per  te  iam  a  cremine  nos  purgemur  rei, 
Et  post  introibimus  in  conspectu  dei. 


1  Ms.  selket.  2  Cf.  Mone  I.  156.  3  The  2  following  hymns  may  possibly  be  by  R.  Rolle. 
In  1276,  Innocent  V  had  ordered  festival  days  in  memory  of  the  spear,  nails,  crown  of  thorns. 
*  Ms.  calumpnam.  5  Ms.  fidiei. 


Oretnus: 

Domine  Ihesu  Christe ,  saluator  raundi ,  qui  voluisti  pro  salute  nostra  a  ludeis 
reprobari,  a  Inda  osculo  tradi,  vinculis  ligari,  vt  agnus  innocens  ad  victimam  duci, 
atque  conspectibus  Pilati  offerri,  a  falsis  quoque  testibus  accusari,  flagellis  et  ob- 
probriis  vexari ,  conspui ,  spinis  coronari ,  et  alapis  cedi ,  cruci  eleuari  atque  inter 
latrones  deputari,  clauorum  aculiis  perforari,  ffelle  et  aceto  potari,  lancea  wlnerari, 
super  cnicem  mori:  O  dulcissime  Ihesu  Christe,  vniuersorum  domine ,  per  has 
sanctis[s]imas  penas  remitte  michi  omnia  peccata  mea,  et  dele  cunta  vicia  mea,  et 
per  ardorem  tante4  tribulacionis  tue  extingue  tocius  fomentum  libidinis  ardentis  in 
me;  conserua  me  domine  amodo  ab  omni  cogitatu  malingno,  turpiloquio  atque 
verbo  ocioso ,  simul  et  ab  omni  opere  prauo ,  atque  ab  omnibus  inimicis  meis 
visibilibus  &  invisibilibus ,  &  a  subitania  morte  &  inprovisa ,  ab  omni  confusione, 
&  a  mala  fama,  atque  ab  omni  periculo  co[r]poris  &  anime,  per  Christum  dominum 
nostmm.  Amen. 


1  Ms.  tanti. 


Appendix  II, 

Additions  from  Ms.  Arund.   507. 

I  add  from  Ms.  Arund.  507  i)  the  parts  of  the  »Form  of  living"  which  here 
appear  separate,  and  Ego  dormio  &C.1,  all  written  by  the  same  Durham  scribe,  and 
so  showing  the  slight  differences  between  the  Durham  and  Yorkshire  branches 
of  the  northern  dialect2;  and  2)  a  collection  of  Latin  Epigrams  &c. ,  in  verse, 
which  collection  was  made,  it  seems,  by  a  monk  of  Durham. 

I. 

i.     (Four  things). 

fol.  36.  (=  Form  of  living  Cap.  6,  p.  21 — 29] . 

.F  owce  thinges  nedes  man  til  knowe :  if  he  sal  he  right  disposid  in  bodi  & 
saule.  Pe  first:  what  things  files  him.  Pat  ofyer:  what  makis  hi/;z  clene.  Pe 
.iii. :  what  haldis  him  in  clenesse.  Pe  .iiii.  :  what  drawis  him  til  ordeigne  his 
wille  til  goddis  wille.  For  pe  first:  wit  pou  pat  we  synne  in  .iii.  thingis  pat 
makis  vs  foule,  pat  is,  vriili  hert,  &  mouth,  &  dede.  /  Pe  synnes  of  our?  hert: 
are  pir<?:  il  thought.  il  delite.  assents  or  desire  til  ille.  wikkid  wille.  il 
suspecz'on.  vndeuocion.  if  pou  be  any  tyme  idel  wz't/z-oute  occupaczon  of  pe 
luf  &  pe  louyng?  of  god.  il  drede.  il  lufe.  errowr.  fleshli  affecc/on  til  pi 
frendis:  or  til  ober.  ioie  of  ani  mawnes  il-farj.  despite  of  pouer  or  sinful 
men.  honour  men  for  pair*  richesse.  vncouenable(I)  ioie  of  ani  werldis  vanite. 
sorugK  of  pe  werld.  vntholemodenesse.  p^rplexte,  pat  is,  doute  what  is  to 
do:  &  what  noght.  obstinaczon  in  il.  noy  til  do  gode.  anger  til  smie  god. 
sorugft  pat  he  did  na  mar?  il ,  or  pat  he  did  noght  pe  lust  &  pe  likyng  of  his 
flesh":  when  he  might  haue  done  it.  vnstablenesse  of  thoght.  pyne  of  penance, 
ypom'sie.  luf  to  pleise  men,  drede  til  displeise  bairn,  schame  of  gode  dede,  ioie 
of  il  dede.  singuler?  witte.  couaitise  of  honow  or  dignite,  or  be  halden  better  or 
wiser?  or  richer  or  fairer  or  wrthier?  pen  o|)?r,  or  be  mar?  dred.  vayne  glorie 
of  gode[s]  of  kynne3,  of  happe,  or  grace,  schame  of  pcuer  frendes,  prz'de  of  riche 
kynne ,  or  gentil ;  for  alle  ar?  we  ilike  free  bifore  goddis  face :  bot  if  our?  dedes 
make  vs  better  or  wers  pen  op?r.  despite  of  gode  consa.il  &  of  gode  teching?. 

Synnes  of  mouth:  ar?  thin?:  to  swer?  oft-sithis.  forsweryng?.  sclaunder?  of 
O*st  /  or  of  ani  of  his  halughs.  neuen  goddis  name  w/t//-oute  reu?rence.  gaynsaie 
&  strife  /  agayn  sothefastenes.  grucche  agayn  god  for  ani  anger  or  trz'bulacz'on 
pat  mai  falle.  vndeuoteli  &  w/t/^-outen  reu^rence:  sai  goddis  s^niice.  bakbityng^. 
flatmng^.  lesyng^.  missawe.  wariyng^.  diffamyng^.  flityng^.  manace.  sowyng!? 
of  discords,  treson.  fals  wittenes.  il  consail.  hething*?.  vmbuxom  wttA  worde. 
turne  gode  til  il.  for  to  gen?  paim  be  haldyn  il:  pat  dose  il;  for  we  agR  til 
lappe  oun?  neghbur  dedis  in  pe  best:  &  noght  in  be  werst.  exite  ani  til 
inr.  repr^hende  any  of  pat  pou  dose  pe-selfc.  vayne  speche.  foule  speche. 


1  All  these  texts  are  abridged;    in   the  sins,    additions   have  been    made   from   other  sources. 

.e  metrical  portions  are  omitted.  2  The  Durham  scribe  f.  i.  uses  is,  are  (inst.  of  es,  er) ; 

aids  mon  (=  mai);  prefers  i  in  endings  (is,  id,  il) ;  til,  even  before  the  infinitive:  writes  hauis, 
geris,  brennis  (inst.  of  has  gars,  byrns) ;  iee,  hiegh,  lihe  (inst.  of  egh  &c.);  loue,  gode,  behoues 
(inst.  of  lufe,  gude),  &c.  3  «/.  kynde. 


The 

avoids 


Four  things  (part  of  the  Form  of  living).  A  j  7 

venemoiise  speche.  mikel  speche.  rosyng?.  polissyng<?  of  wordis.  defense  of 
synne.  criyng^  in  laghtrr.  skorne  or: make  pe  mowe  on  ani  man:  for  sekenes 
or  mayne  or  vnkonyng^  or  ani  op<:r  defaute.  syng^  seculer^  sanges:  &  lufc  til  her£ 
paim.  praise  il  dedis.  mar£  syng£  for  louyng  of  men  pen  of  god. 

f-  37-  Synnes  of  dedis  :  ar<?  thirf:  glntonie  /  1pat  haues  pin?  braunchis :  ou^r-erly,  ou^r- 
hastili,  oiur-deliciouseli,  oiw-ardantli,  on^r-mikil,  outr-late,  ou<:r-ofte  ;  &  mar^ 
bifallis  pis  synne  in  drynfo,  pen  in  mete.  Licherie  /  pat  haues  pin?  kyndels : 
horedome ,  maiden-losse ,  inceste  /  pat  is  bitwene  sibbe  /  fleshli  or  gasteli ; 
foule  wille  to  pe  synne:  \\it7i  consents ;  egge  ojvr  p^rto  /  thorugh  rageyng  / 
foule  spekyng<?  or  gig-laghtn' ,  lighte  latis ,  giftis ,  or  flaterand  speche ;  foule 
handeling.  Watte  stede  or  tyme :  to  come  jvrto,  &  on  what  man^r  eau^r  pis 
synne  be  done  wakand  &  wilfulli:  it  is  heuid-synne  /  bot  it  be  in  wedlaik^. 
Drunkynhede.  symonie.  wichecraft.  brekyng  of  pe  hali-dai.  sacrilege,  resceyuyng 
of  God  or  of  any  sacramewtis  in  dedli  synne.  brekyng  of  vowes.  apostasie. 
dissolucion  in  goddis  s^ruice.  il  ensample  in  ani  il  dede.  hurt  ani  man  in  bodi 
/  or  godis  /  or  fame,  thift.  rauyne.  vsun'.  deceyte.  selling  of  rightwisenesse.  herkyn 
pe  il.  gif  til  herlotis.  wztA-halde  necessari  fra  pe  bodi ,  or  gif  it  outrage, 
bigyn  thing  abouen  ourt"  might,  custome  to  synne.  recidiuac/'on.  feynyngi?  of 
mar£  gode  pen  we  haue  :  for  to  be  halden  hali  or  wise,  halde  pe  office  /  pat 
we  suffice  noght  to  /  or  mai  noght  be  haldyn  w*t/$-oute  synne.  lede  karols.  bring 
vp  newe  gise.  rebelle  til  sou^rayns.  defoule  paiw  pat  an:  lesse.  synne  in  sigh  & 
heryng/  smellyng;  in  giftis,  in  waies,  signis,  biddyngs,  writyngs.  Tyme,  stede,  man*:;', 
noumbr^,  pt'rsone,  cause,  duellyng^,  conyng*:,  elde:  pin'  c/rcuwstances  makis  pe 
syn  mar^  or  lesse.  Couaite  to  synne:  or  he  be  tewptid.  constrayne  hitn  til  synne. 
Op^r  mani  synnes  art',  as  omission,  pat  is  /  when  men  leuis  pe  gode  pat  pai 
suld  do.  noght  think  on  god  nor  drede  nor  lufe  hiw,  nor  thank  him  of  his  btwficis. 
do  noght  al  be  gode  pat  he  dose :  for  goddis  lof.  sorugh  noght  for  his  syn  as  he 
suld.  dispose  hi>ti  noght  til  receyue  grace;  &  if  he  haue  takin  grace:  vsis  it  noght 
as  "him  aght,  nor  kepis  it  noght.  trowis  noght  til  pe  i;/spirac;'on  of  god.  (onfoTuais 
noght  his  wille  til  goddis  wille.  gif  noght  entent  til  his  prvziers  /  bot  rabils  on  / 
&  rekkis  noght  /  bot  at  pai  be  said.  dose  nr<rgligentli  pat  he  is  bonden  to 
thorugfi  vowe  or  comandme;/t  /  or  enioint  in  penance,  drawis  on  lenth :  pat 
is  to  do  sone.  haue  na  ioie  of  his  neghbur  pr^fite  as  of  his  awen ;  nor  sorugh- 
and  for  his  il-far^.  stande  noght  agayn  tewptac/ons.  noght  forgifc  paLw  pat  has 
done  hi/;/  harme.  kepis  noght  troutll  til  his  neghbur :  as  he  wold  pat  he  did 
til  "him;  &  ^eldis  hiw  noght  a  gode  dede  for  an  op<:r/  if  he  mai.  amendis  noght 
paiw  pat  synnis  bifore  hi/w.  pesis  noght  strife,  techis  noght  pe  vnconand.  com- 
fortis  noght  pe  sary,  or  pa  pat  ar^  seke  /  or  in  pmone  /  or  in  pou^rte  /  or  in 
penance.  Jstudis  in  foule  thoughtis.  be  fayne  of  fals  gladyng^.  be  heuy  &  mor- 
neand  or  grucheand  for  mete  or  drinks  or  oght  ellis.  in  silence  broken,  of  hour^s 
missaide ,  w;'t/^-oute  hert^  «S:  deuoc/on  /  or  in  vntyme.  of  some  fals  worde  of 
sweryng.  of  playing,  of  giglaghtn?.  of  spillyng2  of  cromes  /  brede  /  or  ale  /  or 
opcr  mete  or  drinks,  latyn  brede  moule  /  ale  sour^  /  flesft  &  fish  be  lost;  clathes 
vnsewid,  torne,  vnwaschen.  broken  cop  /  or  dish  /  or  dobeler  /  or  op^r  vessel  / 
or  lomys ,  as  axes  /  wymbils  /  p^rfo«rs,  or  ani  op^r  swilk :  pat  men  w/'t^  delis, 
or  hurryng  of  me-selfe:  so  pat  .i.  was  vnabil  til  do  pat  to  me  fell,  of  alle  |)e 
thinges  bat  ar£  in  oure  Reule :  pat  .i.  haue  broken. 

f.  38.      1  hre    pingis   clensis   vs  of  pis    synnis  &  filthis.     1*6  first  is  :   sorugh  of  hert  / 
agayn  pe  syn  of  thought.     &    ptft  bihoues  to  be   so  parfite  :    pat  pou  wil 


The  text  here  has  additions.         2  Ms.  splillyng. 


414  Appendix  II:   Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

synne  mare ;  &  pat  pou  haue  ai  sorugfi.  of  alle  pi  synnes  /  &  na  ioie  ne  solace 
hot  in  god.  //  te  .11.  is  schrift  of  mouth  :  agayn  pe  syn  of  mouth.  &  pat  sal  be 
wreiand  &  acusand  him-selfe  /  noght  sai  /  i  was  nedid  perto  thorugH  oper  or 
pe  deuel.  It  sal  als  be  bitter:  agayn  pat  pe  thought  pe  synne  swete.  haleli 
made  til  an  pr^ste  wzt/z-oute  departyng^.  nakidli  made  as  pe  syn  was  done  /  noght 
schewid  in  faire  wordis.  ofte  made,  sone  made :  after  pe  syn  is  done,  mekeli 
made  /  noght  telle  his  gode  dedes:  bot  his  il  dedes.  schamefuli  made,  dredeful 
so  pat  pou  drede  pat  pou  has  forgeten  some  of  pe  cz'rcuwstances.  hopeful  of 
goddis  nvrci.  wise  &  to  wise  man  made,  sothe,  to  sai  na  mare  ne  lesse  pen 
pou  has  done,  wilfuli  made  /  noght  nedid  p^rto  /  nor  drawen  o  pe  as  pine 
vnthankis.  awne  /  noght  wreie  op^r.  stedfast  /  to  do  pe  penance  &  leue  pe  syn. 
bithougftte  lang  bifore  in  .v.  manors  :  pe  first  /  pat  pou  geder  pi  synnes  of  pi 
childehede  &  al  pine  elde  ;  pe  .11. :  pat  pou  geder  pe  stedes  sunderli  in  ilk  elde  ; 
pe  .ill.  :  trie  pi  synnes  after  pi  .v.  wittes  ;  pe  .mi. :  bi  alle  pi  lymes  in  whilk  pou 
has  mast  synnid  -with  or  oftisd ;  pe  .v. :  trie  pi  synnes  bi  daies  &  tymes.  //  Pe 
.ill.  pat  clensis  vs  :  is  satisfacc/on  /  pat  has  .in.  parties,  pat  are,  fasting  /  praier  / 
almisdede  ;  noght  aneli  gif  pe  pou^r  mete  £  drink  &  clathis  :  bot  als  to  forgif  paim 
pat  dose  pe  wrang?,  £  prai  for  paim  ;  &  enforme  paim  pat  are  in  poynt  til  peris. 

xe  .in.  what  haldis  man  in  clenesse :  .III.  thingis.  clenesse  of  hert ,  of 
mouth" ,  of  werk<?.  Clenesse  of  hert :  kepis  stabil  £  wakir  thought  in  god ;  & 
kepe1  be  .V.  wittis  fra  alle  pe  wik<?  of  pe  flesR;  &  be  ocupid  in  honeste  £  pr<?fe- 
table  ocupacz'on.  Clenesse  of  mouth:  kepis  /  bifore-vmthinkyng<?  or  pou  speke  ; 
&  pat  pou  be  noght  of  mikil  speche,  bot  thinks  pat  pou  lokis  ai  on  Ihwu:  whe- 
per  pou  speke  or  noght ;  &  pat  pou  lihe  on  na  man<?r  for  na  thing,  for  ilk  lihe 
is  syn  £  agayn  goddis  wille.  £e  thar  noght  telle  al  pe  sothe  aie.  If  pou  saie 
a  thing  of  pe-selte  pat  semes  louyng  /  £  pou  sai  it  til  goddis  louyng :  pou  dose 
wele,  for  god  makis  some  better  pen  oper  £  gifs  paim  mare  grace  :  noght  aneli 
for  paiw-selfc :  bot  for  ensampil  til  oper.  Clenesse  of  werktf:  kepis  /  assiduel 
thought  of  pe  deade ;  £  fle  fra  il  felaschip  /  pat  gifs  mare  ensawzple  to  luf  pe 
werld  pen  god,  erth  pen  heuen,  filtfi  of  bodi  pen  clenesse  of  saule ;  alswa  /  tem 
perance  £  discr^cz'on  in  mete  £  drinks:  for  outrage  and  ou^r-mikil  fasting 
comes  bathe  til  ane  /  £  are  bathe  agayn  goddis  wille.  If  pou  take  pi  sustenance 
of  swilk  gode  as  god  sendis  for  pe  tyme  £  pe  daie  /  i  oute-take  na  man^r  of 
mete  /  vfith  discrecz'on  £  mesure:  pou  dose  wele,  for  swa  did  Crz'st  £  his  apostles ; 
if  pou  leue  so#zme  in  na  despite  /  bot  for  be  thinks  pe  nedis  paim  noght:  pou 
dose  wele.  Rightwisenes  is  noght  in  fastyng*:  nor  etyng^;  bot  pou  art  right- 
wise:  if  ilike  be  to  be:  despit  £  louyng  /  pouert  £  richesse  /  hunger  £  nede : 
as  delices  £  dayntees.  If  pou  take  pir  wz't/z  pe  louyng  of  god:  i  halde  be  blissid 
£  hiegli  bifor  Thesu,  £  noght  for  oght  pat  pou  dose  wz't/z-outen ;  bot  pi  wille 
sal  be  <r0;zformid  til  goddis  wille.  £  sette  noght  bi  mewnis  louyng  ne  lakkyng, 
£  gif  pou  na  tale  if  men  speke  les  gode  of  pe  pen  pai  didde :  bot  at  pou  be 
mare  brennand  m  goddis  lufe  pen  pou  was.  I  hope  /  god  has  na  parfite  smiant 
in  erth:  w/t^-oute  enemys  of  some  men;  for  aneli  wrechednesse :  has  nane 
enemy — Sola  miseria  caret  inuidia. 

i  e  .mi.  what  drawis  vs  til  ^wforme  oure  wille  til  goddis  wille:  are  ensample  of 
hali  men,  pat  ware  ententite  night  £  dai  til  smie  god  £  drede  him  £  luf  him ;  £  if 
we  folugh  paim  in  erth:  we  sal  be  wM  paiw  in  heuen.  An  op^r  is:  pe  godenes 
of  oure  lauml  /  pat  despicis  nane,  bot  gladli  receyuis  alle  pat  wille  come  til 
his  mmn.  £e  .III.  is  pe  vntelland  ioie  of  heuen  pat  is  so  mikel  pat  as  in  helle 
mai  na  thing  Hie  for  mikil  pyne  /  bot  at  be  might  of  god  suffres  paim  noght  to 

1  Ms.  kepef,  s.  overl. 


Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat.  A  j  c 

deie  :  swa  be  ioie  in  be  sight  of  god  in  his  godhede  /  is  so  mikil  /  bat  bai  suld 
deie  for  ioie  /  if  it  ne  war^  his  godenes  /  bat  \vil  bat  his  lufars  be  lifand  ai  in 
blisse,  as  his  rightwisenes  wil  bat  ba  bat  lofid  him  noght:  be  ai  lifand  in  fier 
bat  is  horribil  ani  man  til  thinks ;  bot  ba  bat  wil  noght  think  it  &  drede  it  hen? : 
bai  sal  suffre  it  bare.'  ai  w/t//-outen  ende. 

2.     (Ego  dormio  et  cor  meum  vigilat). 

fol.  4o.  (Cf.  p.  49  ff.;« 

P  0u  bat  list  loue,  helde  bi  nere  &  her*  of  loue.  /  In  be  sang*  of  loue  (it  is)  writen: 
Ego  dormio:  $  cor  meum  vigilat,  bat  is:  »I  slepe :  &  my  herte  w(akis>.  Mikel 
loue  he  schewes :  bat  is  neu*r  irk*  to  loue :  bot  ay  standand  /  i  sittand)  /  gangand  or 
other  dede  doand :  is  ay  of  loue  thynkand,  &  in  slepe  dre(mand).  Grists  be  kynges 
son  of  heuen  bat  made  vs  &  boght  vs  :  he  askes  bot  ou(r*  lufe).  Grists  couaitis 
our*  fairede  in  saule  :  &  bat  we  gif*  him  hali  our*  hert*.  (Do  we)  his  wille,  &  enforce 
vs  dai  &  night:  til  leue  al  fleshli  loue  /  &  alle  li(kyng)  bat  lettis  vs  til  loue  him 
\vnraili.  For  ai  whiles  our*  hert*  is  heldand  til  (luf  of)  any  erthli  hinge :  we  mai 
noght  parfiteli  be  coupelid  with  god.  In  w(ham)  ar*  .ix.  ordres  of  Angels:  pat  ar* 
contend  in  .ill.  lerarchies.  1*6  lowest  (le)rarchie  :  <w/tenes  angels  /  archangels  / 
&  v*rtu^.  te  mydelest  a?«tenes :  prin(cipa)tes  /  potestates  /  dominaciones.  fre 
heighest  bat  is  neste  god :  contenes  tronos  /  cher(ubin)  /  &  seraphin.  And  pat 
ordrt'  bat  leste  is  bright:  is  seuensithe  brighter  {)en  be  s^onne).  And  als  bou  sees 
be  sonne:  brighter  ben  be  candell  /  be  candell :  brighter  ben  be  mone  /  {)e 
mone  :  bright*^  ben  be  sterne :  als  ar*  ordres  of  angels  in  he(uen)  ilkan  brighter 
ben  ober.  And  alle  bat  are  gode  &  hali  /  when  bai  passe  out  of  [lis  werld  : 
sal  be  taken  in  til  bis  ordres ;  some  til  be  lawest* :  bat  ha'ues)  loued  mikel ;  some 
til  j)e  midelest:  bat  haues  loued  mar*;  some  til  be  hei^ghest,  :  bat  maste  loued 
god.  Seraphyn  is  at  sai :  brennand ;  til  }>e  whilkt-  ordr*  b(ai)  an'  resceyued :  bat 
leste  couaitis  of  bis  werld  /  &  feles  maste  swetenes  in  ('god  &)  haues  bair*  hertes : 
maste  brennand  in  goddes  loue.  Wha  sa  loues  brennandly  &  stabili  /  whiles  he 
is  here:  his  seete  sal  be  ordeynid  ful  hiegh  biflore  goddis  face:  among*?  his  hali 
angels.  For  in  bat  degree  /  fra  whilk*  be  pro'ud  d  euels  felle  :  sal  meke  men  & 
wymen  /  Cn'stes  dowues  /  be  sette  /  &  haue  rest  &  ioie  w/t/j-outen  ende :  for  a 
littel  schorte  penaunce  &  trauail  bat  })ai  sufferd  hert'  for  goddis  loue.  //  £e  thinks 
now  per  auentwre  harde  til  gift'  pi  hert^  fra  all  erth(li)  thinges  /  fra  idel  &  vayne 
speche  /  &  fra  all  fleshli  loue  /  &  ga  bi  be  ane  /  til  (w)ake  &  praie  /  &  thinks 
of  be  ioie  of  heuen  /  of  be  compassione  of  Ihesu  Criste  /  of  (he  p)yne  of  helle 
bat  is  ordeinid  for  synful  men.  bot  witUrli  /  fra  bou  be  vsed  (j)e;r-inne :  be  wil 
thinks  it  lighter  &  swetter:  ben  be  did  any  erthli  solace.  (Als)  sone  als  bi  hertc' 
is  tuched  w/'tA  be  swetenesse  of  heuen  :  be  sal  litel  « li)ke  be  mirthes  of  bis  werld : 
for  alle  be  melodic  &  richesse  &  delices  &  gam'en  bat)  man  can  ordeyne  or 
think*?  in  bis  werld :  semes  &  is  bote  noie  &  angen?  (til  a)  mawnes  hertt'  bat  is 
brennand  wnraili  in  goddis  loue.  If  bou  leeue  alle  fleshli  (lou)e  &  sibbe  fren- 
des  /  &  aneli  gife  bi  hert^  til  couaite  goddis  loue  &  til  paie  him :  bou  sal  fynd 
man?  ioie  in  him  /  ben  I  can  on  thinks  or  write.  /  I  wat  noght  /  if?  mani  be  in 
swilk  loue;  for  ai  (f)e  hegher  bat  be  lyf  es,  be  faer  folow)ers  it  haues. 

De  triplici  gradu  amoris  spiritualis. 

(i  e)  first  degree  of  loue  is  /  when  man  haldes  |>e  .x.  cornand mentis,  &  kepis 
him  fra  be  .vii.  deadli  synnes,  &  is  stable  in  be  trouthe  of  hali  (kirk*);  &  when 
man  for  nane  erthli  thing*  /  wil  wrathe  god ,  bot  treul  i  stan)des  in  his  s^mice 
&  lastis  ber-inne:  til  his  lyues  ende.  I*is  degree  of  (loue;  nedes  ilk  man  til  haue: 


41 6  Appendix:  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

pat  wille  be  salue.  For  na  man  mai  come  (til)  heuen:  hot  he  loue  god  &  his 
neghbun?  /  with-outen  Pride,  Ire,  Enuye  (or  Bak)bityng£,  Slauthe ,  Glotonie, 
Lucherie,  &  Couaitise.  For  thir  vices  slase  (be)  saule  &  maids  it  til  depart  e  fra 
god :  bat  is  life  of  be  saule.  Als  a  m(an  in  a)  swete  morsell  takes  poysone  bat 
slase  be  bodi :  swa  dose  a  synful  wr(eche)  in  a  likynge  or  luste  /  destrois  his 
saule  &  bringes  it  til  dead  wz't/z-ou(ten  en)de.  Men  thinks  synne ;  swete ;  bot 
bair  mede  bat  is  ordeynid  for  bairn :  (is)  bitterar  ben  galle ,  sourer  ben  atter, 
werre  ben  al  be  waa  bat  we  wi(th  iee)  see  or  w/t£  herte  mai  thinks,  bot  he 
mai  syng£  of  solace  /  bat  loues  Ihesu  (Cris)te :  when  alle  be  wreches  fra  wele  / 
falles  in  til  helle.  /  Bote  when  bou  haues  wele  lyued  in  be  comandmewtis  /  & 
wele  kepid  be  fra  be  deadly  synnes  /  &  paied  god  in  bat  degree :  vmthink^  be 
til  loue  god  mare  /  &  do  better  wz'tfc  bi  saule  /  &  bicome  parfite  ;  &  ben  entres 
bou  in  til  be  second  degree  of  loue.  //  Pe  .11.  degree  of  loue  is  til  forsake  al 
be  werld,  fader  (&)  moder  &  alle  bi  kynne:  &  folugh  Oz'ste  in  pollute.  In  bis 
degree  bou  sal  st(ody)  how  clene  bou  mai  be  in  herte,  how  chaste  in  bodi,  how 
meke  /  suffrand  /  &  bux(o)me,  &  how  fain?  bou  mai  make  bi  saule  in  vertiiT,:  & 
hatyng*  of  vices:  swa  bat  bi  life  be  gasteli  &  noght  fleshli.  Neremare  speke 
iuel  of  bi  neghbur,  ne  gife  an  iuel  worde  for  an  ojw;  bot  alle  bat  men  sais : 
suffre  it  debonerly  in  bi  herte  wz'tA-outen  stiryng^  of  wratn" ;  &  ben  sal  bou  be 
in  reste  wz't/£-Inne  &  with-outen  /  &  lighli  come  til  gastli  lift  /  bat  bou  sal  fynde 
swetter:  ben  any  erthtl(i)  bing<?.  /  Parfite  life  &  gasteli  is  til  despice  be  werld  / 
&  til  couaite  be  ioie  of  heuen  /  &  destroie  thorough  goddis  grace  :  alle  iuel  desires 
of  be  fles(h) ;  &  forgete  be  solace  &  be  likyngtf  of  bi  kynne ;  &  wether  pai  bee 
pouer  or  riche  /  seke  or  hale  /  dead  or  quyk^:  pank^  ay  god  &  blisse  him  in 
alle  his  werkis — for  his  domes  are  swa  prz'uee:  bat  na  creature  mai  comprehend 
baiim).  For  ofte-sithes  some  haues  bair  weele  &  likyng<?  in  bis  werld:  &  h(ell) 
in  be  other ;  &  some  are  in  pyne  &  p^rsequcz'one  in  bis  life  &  haues  heuen  til 
bair  mede.  For-pi  /  in  bis  degree  of  loue :  bou  sal  be  fillid  wz't/z  (be)  grace  of 
be  hali  gaste :  swa  bat  bou  sal  haue  na  sorugh  ne  gretyng^ :  (bot)  for  bi  synnes 
&  ojvr  mewnes,  &  after  be  loue  of  Ihmi  Crz'ste,  &  in  thinkyng  (of  his  passione) 
bat  wil  kyndel  bi  herte  /  til  desire  brennandli  be  dwellfyng  with  angels,  and  set 

all  be  godes  of  al)  be  werld  at  noght.  /  And  w(hen) (A  leaf  is  lost). 

(Follows  On  Grace,  f.  41  —  43b,  see  p.   130). 

3.     (Active  and  contemplative  life).1 

foL  43b  (=  Form  of  living  Cap.   12,  p.  46). 

JL  wa  Hues  art' :  bat  cr/stin  men  lyues  inne ,  Actiue  &  Contewplatiue.  Actiue 
life:  is  mikel  outewarde  &  in  man?  trauail  &  pml  for  tewptacz'ons  bat  are  in  be 
werld.  And  twa  thinges  falles  til  ba  bat  takis  bairn  til  actiue  life:  ane :  for  til 
ordeyne  bairtf  meignee  in  be  lufe  &  be  drede  of  god,  &  fynd  bairn  bahv  neces 
saries;  &  bai-self<? :  kepe  enterli  be  comandme^tis  of  god  /  doand  wz'tA  bair^ 
neghbur^:  as  pai  wold  bat  bai  did  wz't^  bairn.  An  o]*er:  bat  bai  do  at  bain? 
power  be  .vii.  werkes  of  merci:  bat  are :  ffede  be  hunger!.  Gifbethresti  drinks. 
Clathe  be  nakid.  Herberi  him  bat  haues  na  bowsing^.  Visite  be  seke.  Comforte 
|)aim  bat  ar^  in  prison.  And  graue  be  deade.  Alle  bat  haues  whar^-ofe :  bi- 
houes  do  alle  bin?,  if  bai  wil  haue  be  benyson  on  domesdaie :  bat  god  sal  gife 
til  alle  bat  dose  bairn;  or  ellis  mai  bai  drede  be  malison  bat  ba  sal  haue  bat 
wil  noght  do  bairn  /  &  haue  whar^-wztA.  //  Contewplatiue  life  is  mikel  inward 

i  The  treatise  on  active  and  contemplative  life,  frequently  ascribed  to  R.  Rolle,  is  nothing 
else  but  this  Chapter  of  the  >Form  of  living*,  which  here  appears  in  an  independent  form. 


Parts  of  the  Form  of  living.  *  l  ~ 

&  for-bi  it  is  lastandan?  &  sikerar*,  restfullan?  &  delitablen-,  fullaw1  &  man?  mede- 
ful;  for  it  haues  ioie  in  goddis  lufc:  &  ai  sorugfe(!)  \n  bis  life  here  /  if  it  be  right 
ledde.  And  bat  felyng*  of  ioie  in  be  lufc?  of  Ihmi :  passis  alle  ober  mentis  in 
erth;  for  it  is  so  hard  to  mm  till:  bat  be  freletee  of  our*  flesh*  /  &  be  many 
tewptac/ons  bat  we  an'  vmsette  w/tA:  lettis  vs  night  &  daie.  Alle  ober  thinges 
ar*  light  til  come  to :  in  regard  of  it ;  for  bat  mai  nane  deserue :  bot  aneli  it  is 
gyuen  of  goddis  godenesse  til  bairn  bat  v*rraili  gyues  bairn  til  quiete  for  Cmtes 
luff.  Pis  life:  haues  .11.  parties,  a  lagher :  &  a  hegher.  Pe  lagher:  is  in  medi- 
taczon  of  hali  writyng*?  bat  is  goddis  worde,  &  in  ober  gode  thoughtis  &  swete  : 
bat  men  haues  of  be  grace  of  god  &  in  his  lufc;  &  alswa  in  louyng*  in  psalmis 
&  ympnis  &  praiers.  /  Pe  hegher :  is  bihalding  &  gernyng*  of  be  thinges  of  heuen 
/  &  ioie  in  be  hali  gast  bat  men  haues  oft:  if  foai  be  noght  praiand  w/tA  be 
mouthe  /  bot  aneli  thinkand  of  god  &  of  be  fairede  of  angels  &  hali  saulis. 
Contemplation .-  is  a  wonderful  ioie  of  goddis  lufe ,  be  whilk  ioie  is :  be  louyngt- 
of  god  /  bat  mai  noght  be  tald;  &  bat  wonderful  louyng*  is  in  saule.  And  for 
habundance  of  ioie  &  swetenesse:  it  ascendis  in  til  be  mouthe  /  swa  bat  be  hert 
&  be  tong«?  acordis  in  ane,  &  bodi  &  saule  ioies  in  god  lifand.  A  man  bat  is 
ordeynd  til  contemplate  life:  first  god  inspiris  him  til  forsake  be  werld  &  al  be 
vanite  (f.  48)  &  vile  lust  berof.  After  he  ledes  bairn  bi  bairn  ane,  &  spekis  til 
pair  herte,  &  gifs  bairn  to  souke:  swetenesse  of  be  bigyning  of  lufr,  &  ben  he 
settis  baiw  in  wille  til  gif  bairn  hali  til  praiers  &  meditac/ons  &  teres.  Sithen 
when  bai  haue  suffrid  many  tewptac/ons  /  &  be  foule  anoyes  of  thoughtis  bat 
an?  idel  &  of  vanitees  /  foe  whilk  wil  combre  bairn  bat  can  noght  destroie  bairn : 
he  geres  bairn  geder  bain?  hert  to  bairn  /  &  fest  it  aneli  in  him  :  &  oppyns  til 
be  iee  of  bain?  saule  :  be  ?ate  of  heuen ;  &  ben  be  fin?  of  luft- :  wrraili  lightis 
in  til  bain?  hert  &  brennis  bt-r-inne,  &  makis  it  clene  of  al  erthli  filtfi.  &  ben 
aft*r:  bai  ar*  owtemplatif*  men  /  &  rauist  in  lufe;  for  owte/ttplaczon  :  is  a  sight, 
&  bai  see  in  til  heuen:  w/tA  j)ain?  gasteli  iee.  Bot  bou  sal  witte  bat  na  man 
haues  parfit  sight  of  heuen:  whiles  he  is  hen'  in  bodi;  bot  als  sone  as  bai  deie: 
bai  an?  broght  bifore  god  /  &  sees  him  face  til  face  &  iee  til  iee  :  &  wones  w:tA 
him  w/tA-outen  ende;  for  hiw  bai  soght  /  &  him  bai  couaitid  /  &  hi/«  bai  lofid 
'  al  bain?  might.  £e  grace  of  god  lhes\\ :  be  w/tA  vs. 


fol.  45.  =  Form  of  living  Cap.    l). 

(l)n  ilk  a  sinful  man  bat  is  bonden  in  deadli  synne:  are  .in.  wrechednesses  / 
be  whilk  bringes  baiw  til  deade  oft'  helle.  te  first  is  defaute  of  gasteli  strintR ; 
for  bai  ar^  so  waik<:  w/t/z-inne  in  bair^  hert:  bat  bai  mai  nouther  stand  agayn 
fandyns  of  be  fend  /  ne  bai  mai  lift  bair  wille :  til  gerne  be  luf  of  god  /  &  folugll 
b^rto.  /  Pat  ofxr  is:  vse  of  desires,  for  bai  haue  na  wille  ne  might  til  stand: 
bai  falle  in  lustis  &  likyngs  of  bis  werld;  &  for  baiw  thinke?  bai#z  swete:  bai 
chvelle  i«  faai;;/  ful2  mani  til  bair*  lifes  ende;  &  swa  faai  come  i«  to  be  .111.  wre- 
chidnesse.-/  Pe  .III.  wrechidnesse  :  is  changyng*  of  lastand  gode  /  for  a  passand 
delite ;  as  wha  sai ,  bai  gif  ioie  endelesse :  for  a  litil  ioie  of  bis  Avorld.  If  bai 
wold  t#me  bairn  &  do  penaunce :  god  wold  ordeigne  pair  wonyng^  w/tA  angels 
&  halughs  in  heuen  ;  bot  for  bai  chese  at  be  in  lust  of  be  werld3  &  filthe  of 
bain-  fiescfi:  bai  lose  bathe  be  werld  &  heuen.  &  for  he  lufs  noght  god:  he 
tynes  al  bat  he  haues  /  &  al  f>at  he  is  /  &  al  bat  he  might  gete.  he  is  noght 
worthi  be  life :  ne  to  be  fed  w/tA  swynes  mete  ;  alle  creatures  sal  be  stired  in 

1  al.  lufliare.         2  al.  still.         3  Ms.  world? 

27 


4i  8  Appendix  II:   Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

his  vengeance  /  \n  be  dai  of  dome,  Pis  .in.  wrechidnes  are  noght  aneli  in  werldli 
men  /  fat  vses  glotonie  &  lucherie  &  ob*r  synnes :  bot  bai  are  als  in  some  bat 
semes  in  gode  life,  for  be  deuel  when  he  sees  a  man  tame  hali  til  god  /  & 
forsake  {)e  riches  &  vanitees  of  be  (wer)ld  &  sekis l  be  ioie  ai-lastand  :  a  thousand 
wilis  he  haues  til  desceyue  baiw  wz'tA.  &  when  he  mai  noght  bring  baiw  in  til 
grete  &  opyn  syn(nes) :  he  bigilis  baiw  wz't/z  so  prz'uei  synnes  /  bat  bai  can  noght 
p*rceyue  his  (wi)lis.  Some  he  takis  wz't/z  error  bat  he  puttis  baiw  inne,  Some 
with  singuler*  witte  /  so  bat  bai  wene  bat  bair*  doing*  &  conseil  is  best,  &  for- 
bi  wil  bai  do  after  na  conseil  of  ob*r  bat  can  mar*  &  bett*r  ben  bai;  &  bat 
comis  of  prz'de.  Some  he  desceyuis  -with  vayne  glorie  /  bat  haues  pride  of  be 
penance  or  of  be  gode  bat  bai  do  /  or  ani  v*rtu  bat  bai  haue,  or  is  glad  bat  men 
rosis  paiw,  sari  if  men  (l)ak  bai»z,  or  haues  enuie  til  ba  bat  mar*  gode  is  spokyn 
of:  ben  of  bairn.  Pai  hald  baiw-self*  so  gode:  bat  bai;;z  think*  na  man  suld 
blame  baiw  for  oght  bat  bai  do  or  sai ;  &  bai  despice  sinful  men  /  &  ba  bat 
wil  noght  do  as  bai  bid.  A  sinfuller  wreche  mai  noght  be  ben  swilkan  is !  &  he 
is  be  werr* :  bat  he  wate  noght  bat  he  is  ille  /  bot  is  honwrid  of  men :  as  wise 
&  hali.  Some  he  desceyuis  wz't/z  ou*r-mikil  lust  in  mete  &  drink*,  &  wenis  bat 
bai  sinne  noght  /  &  for-bi  bai  amend  baiw  noght.  /  Some  he  bigilis  \vith  ou*r- 
mikil  abstinence  of  mete  &  drink  &  slepe:  for  to  ger*  baiw  fail  m-middis  bair* 
werk*.  /  Pis  gilders2  lais  our*  enemy  til  vs :  when  we  bigyn  til  hate  wikkidnes  & 
tame  til  gode.  Pen  some  bigyns  thin(g)  bat  bai  mai  neu*r  ende,  for  bai  wene 
bai  mai  do:  what  bair*  hert  is  sette  on;  bot  oft  bai  faile  or  bai  come  in  mid 
gate.  /  We  haue  a  lang  waie  til  heuen :  &  als  mani  gode  dedis  as  we  do,  &  als 
mani  praiers  as  we  make,  &  als  mani  gode  thoughtis  as  we  think*  in  trouthe  & 
hope  &  charite:  als  mani  pasis  ga  we  til  heuen-ward.  Pen  if  we  make  vs  so  waike 
bat  we  mai  noght  wirk*  ne  praie  /  ne  think*:  we  ar*  gr*teli  to  blame.  For  be 
pn?ph*/e  Dauid  sais :  ffortitudinem  meam  ad  te  custodiam ,  pat  is:  »I  sal  kepe  mi 
strintft  til  be  /  bat  i.  mai  susteyne  bi  s*niice  til  mi  deade-dai«.  And  saynt  lerome 
sais:  »he  makis  offerand  of  rauyne:  bat  wast(is)  his  strintft  in  ou*r-litil  mete  & 
slepe«.  And  saynt  B*rnard*:  »ffasting*,  waky(ng,)  helpis  gasteli  godis  :  if  bai  be  done 
vfith  discrecion ;  wz't/z-outen  bat :  bai  ar*  vices«.  At  mi  dome  /  men  suld  pai  Ih*.ra 
Crist  if  pai  toke  for  his  luf*  wzt/?  thankyng*  &  louyng*  of  him  /  for  to  susteyne 
bair*  bodi  in  his  s*mice  &  to  hald  bairn  fra  mikil  speche  of  men  /  what-so 
god  sent  for  be  tyme  &  be  stede  /  &  gaf  baiw  sithen  ent*rli  &  parfiteli  til  pe 
luf*  &  be  louyng*  of  bair*  lord;  swa  bat  bair*  halinesse  war*  mar*  sene  in  goddis 
iee  /  ben  in  mawnes.  For-bi  sais  be  hali  man3:  »A:  what  it  is  mikil  to  be  worthi 
louyng  &  be  noght  loued!  And  what  wrechidnes  it  is  /  til  haue  name  &  habite  of 
halinesse  /  &  be  noght  hali !  A  foule  licherie  it  is  til  haue  likyng*  in  mewnis  rosyng*, 
bat  can  na  mar*  deme  what  we  ar*  in  saule :  ben  bai  wate  what  we  think*«.  bot  if  we 
h(id)  (£46)  vs  fra  speche  £  rosyng  of  pis  werld :  god  wil  schew  vs  (til  his  lo)uyng*  &  our* 
ioie.  ffor  bat  is  goddis  ioie  :  bat  we  be  stalword*  agayn  be  pn'uee  &  ap*rt  fandyngs 
of  be  deuel,  &  j)at  we  seke  noght  bot  be  louyng*  &  be  honour  of  him,  &  bat  we 
might  ent*rli  luf  him.  &  bat  aght  to  be  our*  desir*  &  praier  night  &  daie :  pat 
pe  fier  of  his  luf*  kyndel  our*  hert,  &  be  swetenesse  of  his  grace :  be  our*  corn- 
forte  &  solace  in  wele  &  in  waa.  God  suffirs  be  deuel  til  tewpte  man  /  for  his 
profit*;  for  he  sal  be  heigher  coronid:  when  he  haues  thorugfi  his  helpe  /  ou*r- 
comew  so  cruel  enemy.  In  .III.  man*rs  haues  pe  deuel  power  til  be  in  man:  in 
a  man*f :  hurtand  be  gode  bat  he  has  of  kynde,  as  in  dombe  men,  &  in  ob*r: 
blemisand  bair*  thought.  On  ob*r  man*r :  reuand  {le  godis  bat  bai  haue  of 
grace;  &  swa  is  he  in  sinful  men,  be  whilk*  he  has  deceyuid  thorugli  delite  of 


r.  seke.         2  r.  gilder.        3  sc.  R.  Rolle. 


Parts  of  the  Form  of  living. 

pe  werld  &  of  bair?  flesK,  &  after:  ledis  bai/;/  w/'t//  him  til  helle.  On  be  thrid 
man?/-:  he  aneintis1  a  bodi  wz't//-inne,  as  he  was  iw  lob.  bot  if  he  bigile  be 
noght  her?  witS-innc:  be  thar  noght  drede  hi/;/  for  bat  he  mai  do  w/'t//-oute; 
for  he  mai  do  na  mar?  ben  he  haues  leue  to  do. 

5.     De  solitaria  vita. 

f.  46.  (=  Form  of  living,   Cap.  2 — 4). 

Wha-so  forsakis  be  solace  &  be  ioie  of  bis  werld  /  &  takis  him  to  solitarie 
life  /  til  suffir?  for  goddis  luf  angers  &  noyes:  i  trow  truli  bat  be  comfort  oflhesu 
Crist  I  &  swetenes  of  his  luf?  /  wzt//  be  fier  of  be  hali  gast  fiat  pwrgis  al  syn  : 
sal  be  ledand  him  &  lerand  how  he  sal  think?  &  praie  &  wirk? ;  so  bat  in  a  fone 
^er?s:  he  sal  haue  man?  delite  to  be  al  ane,  &  speke  til  his  lord  Ihf.ra :  ben  if 
he  war?  lord  of  a  thousand  werldis.  Men  wenes  pat  be  solitari  is  in  gr?te  pyne 
&  penance ;  bot  he  has  mart?  ioie  &  man?  v?rrai  delite  in  a  dai :  ben  men  of  he 
werld  haues  al  barn?  lif-tyme.  fai  see  our?  bodi  w/tA-oute:  bot  bai  see  noght 
our?  hert  /  whan?  al  our?  solace  is ;  if  bai  sagh  bat :  mani  of  bai///  wold  forsake 
al  bat  bai  had  &  folugh  vs.  ra  bat  are  solitari:  ar?  mast  abul  til  j)e  schewyng? 
of  be  hali  gast.  fe  godenes  of  god  it  is  /  bat  comfortis  bai///  wonderfulli :  bat 
has  na  comfort  of  be  werld  /  if  jiai  gif  f)air?  hert  ent?rli  til  him  /  &  couaitis  & 
sekis  noght  bot  him.  fen  he  gifs  hiw-self  to  bai//;:  in  swetenes  &  delite,  in 
brennyng?  of  lufe,  in  ioie  &  melodi,  &  dwellis  ai  w/'t//  j)ai///  in  j)air?  saule,  swa 
bat  j)e  comfort  of  him  dep#rtis  neu?r  fra  bai;//.  &  if  bai  erre  thorugll  ignorance 
or  frailtee:  sone  he  scweis2  bai///  be  right  waie  ;  &  al  hat  b&im  nedis :  he  leris 
bai///.  na  man  comes  til  swilk  schewyng?  on  be  first  dale :  bot  thorugll  lang 
tnniail  &  bisynes  to  luf  Ih?ju  Crist.  Noght-for-bi  /  he  suffers  bai///  til  be  te///ptid 
on  (sere  manors),  wakand  &  slepand.  Wakand :  w/t//  foule  thoughtis,  vile  lustis, 
w(ikid)  delitis,  vriih  pride  /  ire  /  enuie  /  despair  /  pr?su///pc/'on  /  &  ober  many,  bot 
bain?  remedi:  sal  be  praier  /  g^vtyng?  /  fastyng?  /  wakyng? :  if  pai  be  done  vfit/i 
discreczon.  /  I  find  writen  of  a  recluse  /  bat  be  ille  angel  app^rid  to  :  in  forme 
of  a  gode  angel,  &  said  he  was  comen  til  bringt?  hin*  til  heuen.  Whar-for  sche 
[was]  right  ioiful  &  glad ;  &  sche  tald  it  til  hin?  schriftfadcr.  &  he  as  wise  man : 
gaf  hin?  til  ^wsail :  »\Vhen  he  comes :  bid  him  bat  he  schew  be  our?  leuedi  saynt 
Marie,  &  when  he  has  schewid  hin?:  sai  Aue  maria«.  Sche  did  swa.  &  be  fend  said: 
»Fou  nedes  noght  til  see  hhv  her?:  mi  presence  suffice  til  pe«.  &  sche  said:  »I  wil 
see  hin?  on  al  man?nf.  Him  nedid  til  do  hin?  wille  /  or  sche  wold  despice  him: 
&  he  broght  forth  be  fairest  bodi  of  woman  bat  might  be  /  &  schewid  hir?.  & 
sche  set  hire  on  knees :  &  said ,  Aue  maria :  &  al  vanist  a-waie  ;  &  for  schame 
neu?r  after  come  he  agayn.  /  Alswa  slepand  he  tewptis  vs :  vmwhile  w/t//  vgli 
thingis  /  for  to  make  vs  rad.  vmwhile  w/'tA  fair?  ymagis  &  siglitis :  for  to  make 
vs  til  wene  bat  we  ar*  hali,  &  so  bring*  vs  til  pride,  vmwhile  sai  vs  bat  we 
an?  synral  &  wikkid  :  for  to  ger*  vs  fal  in  to  despeir.  Bot  wit  pou  wele  /  bou 
synnes  noght  slepand :  if  bou  be  eau?r  wakand  wz't//-outen  outrage  of  mete  & 
drink?  /  •&  ober  iuel  thoghtis.  /  far?  ar?  .VI.  manors  of  dremes  :  twa  ar?  bat  na 
man  mai  eschape ;  bat  ar?,  if  |)air?  wambe  be  ou?r-tome  /  or  ou?r-ful :  ben 
mani  vanitees  befallis  bairn  slepand.  l*e  thrid  is  of  illusions  of  our?  enemys.  / 
re  .nil.  is:  of  thought  bifore  &  illusion  folowand.  fe  .v.  thorugR  schewyng  of 
be  hali  gast  /  bat  is  done  in  sere  man?rs.  /  re  .vi. :  of  thoughtis  bat  ar?  bifore  / 
bat  fallis  til  Oz'st  or  hali  kirk?  /  reuelac/'on  comand  aft?r.  Bot  so  mikel  be  latt?r 
sal  we  gif  faith  til  any  dreme:  bat  we  mai  noght  wit  sone  /  whilk  is  of  be  hali 

1  al.  tourmentes.        2  =  schewis. 


A2O  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

gast  /  &  whilk  of  o\\re  enemy.  Bot  whaiv  mani  dremes  are:  hare  are  mani  vanitees  ; 
ffor-pi  sais  Salomon:  »Mani  bisynes  folows  dremes:  &  pai  felle  /  pat  trowid  in 
paim«.  //  I  wil  pat  pou  wit :  pat  alle  ar^  noght  hali:  pat  has  pe  habite  of  halinesse ; 
nor  pat  alle  ar^  ille  :  pat  mellis  haim  wz'tA  erthli  bisynes.  bot  pa  ar^  anelihali: 
pat  loues  noght  erthli  thing  /  &  brennis  in  pe  hife  of  Ihmi  Crz'st  /  &  alle  pair*? 
desires  are  sette  til  pe  ioies  of  heuen  /  &  hatis  al  syn  ,  &  cessis  noght  of  gode 
werkis,  &  felis  a  swetenesse  in  haire  herte:  of  pe  life  wz't/z-outen  ende ;  &  neu^r- 
pe-latter :  pai;w  thinkis  paiw-selfe  vilest  of  alle ,  &  haldis  haim-selfe  wrechedist 
/  leste  &  lawest.  Pis  is  hali  mewnis  life ;  folow  it :  &  pou  sal  be  hali.  And  if 
pou  wil  be  in  mede  wz't#  apostels:  think  noght  what  pou  forsoke  /  bot  what  pou 
despicis;  for  als  mikil  pai  forsoke  (fol.  49)  pat  folowes  Ihmi  Oz'st  in  wilful  poiurt 
&  mekenes  &  charite  &  patience :  as  pai  mai  couaite  pat  folowes  him  noght.  And 
think  wz't/z  how  mikil  &  how  gode  wille  &  deuocz'on :  pou  pr^sentis  pi  praiers 
bifore  god,  for  til  pat  has  he  his  iee.  God  reuis  fra  his  lofers :  pe  lust  of  flesR 
&  of  blode  /  &  makis  haim  to  wil  nan  erthli  thing,  &  dose  haim  til  rise  in  til 
solace  of  him  /  &  forgete  vanitees  &  fleshli  luf;  &  to  drede  na  sorugh  pat  mai 
falle;  to  lathe  wz't/z  owr-mikil  bodili  aise.  to  suffir  for  his  luf:  haim  think  it 
ioie ,  &  to  be  solitari :  comforth ,  pat  pai  be  noght  lettid  in  haire  deuocz'on. 
Tnrne  pe  enterli  to  pi  lauml  Ihmi  Crz'st,  &  leue  al  couaitise  &  likyngs  &  occu- 
pacz'ons  &  bisynes  of  pe  werld,  &  fleshli  lust  &  vayne  luf;  &  be  noght  ai  mode- 
land  in  pe  erth:  as  pou  was  in  pe  werld,  bot  be  ai  vpward  as  fire  /  sekand  pe 
heighest  place  in  heuen:  right  to  pi  spouse  hare  he  sittis  in  his  blisse.  Til  hi;;z 
j)ou  art  tz^mid:  when  his  grace  lightis  pi  hert  /  &  pou  forsakis  alle  vices  /  & 
owformes  pi  wille  to  wrtu^,  &  gode  thewis,  &  til  al  raaner  of  debon^rte  & 
mekenes.  &  pat  ton  last  &  wax  in  godenes:  pat  tou  has  bigumie  /  wz't£-oute 
slawnes  &  sarynes  &  irkyng  of  pi  life :  //  ffoiire  thinges  sal  tou  haue  in  pi  thoght. 
An  is  pe  mesur^  of  pi  life  here  /  pat  is  schort ;  for  we  life  bot  as  in  a  poynt : 
in  regard  of  pe  life  pat  lastis  ai.  An  oher  is  vnc<?rtaignete  of  our^  endyng^  ;  for 
we  wate  noght  when  ne  whar<?  ne  how  we  sal  deie ,  ne  whider  we  sal  after 
oure  dead;  &  god  wil  noght  pat  we  witte:  for  we  suld  be  ai  redi.  Pe  .ill.  is 
pat  we  sal  answers  bifore  pe  rightwise  iuge:  of  al  pe  tyme  pat  we  haf  had  here  / 
how  we  haf  dispendid  it,  &  what  gode  we  might  haue  done :  when  we  war^  idel. 
for-pi  enforce  [we]  vs  to  do  pe  gode  pat  we  mai  /  whil  we  are  here.  &  ilk  tyme 
pat  we  think  noght  on  god :  mai  we  acount  as  lost.  /  Pe  .nil.  thing  /  pat  we 
think  how  mikel  ioi  pai  sal  haue:  pat  lastis  in  goddis  hife  til  pair*  endyng ;  for 
pai  sal  be  brether  &  felaws  wz't/z  angels  &  halughs  /  luf  and  &  hauand  /  louand 
&  seand  pe  kyng  of  ioie :  in  pe  fairehede  &  schynyng  of  his  mageste.  Pe  whilk 
sight  sal  be  mede  &  mete  &  alle  delices  pat  ani  creature  mai  think  /  &  mar? 
pen  ani  mai  telle :  til  alle  his  lufars  /  wz't^-outen  ende.  It  is  mikil  lighter  til 
com  til  pis  blisse  :  pen  til  telle  it.  Alswa  think  what  sorugh  &  pyne  &  tttrment 
pai  sal  haue :  pat  wil  noght  luf  god  ouer  alle  pe  thinges  of  pis  werld ,  bot  filis 
pair  bodi  &  hare  saule  in  lust  &  lucherie  of  pis  life,  in  pride  &  couatis  &  op<?r 
synnes.  Pai  sal  brenne  in  pe  fire  of  helle  w/t£  pe  deuel  /  whaim  pai  smiid: 
als  lang  as  god  is  in  heuen,  pat  is  cau^r-man7.  God  for  his  mikil  grace  :  kep  [vs]1 
alle  fra  helle:  &  bring  vs  til  his  blisse.  amen.2 

(Amore  langueo,   or  Cap.  7 — 10  of  the  Form  of  living,  is  not  found  in  Ms.  Ar.). 

II.  A  collection  of  Latin  epigrams. 

The  North  is  the  old  home  of  gnomic  literature  —  of  collections    of  sayings, 
sentences,   epigrams,  proverbs,  riddles  &c.  —  since  Beda  and  Cynewulf.     This  is 

*  Ms.  kepis.        2  Follows  :  Cum  infeliciter  florerem  (a  chapter  of  R.  Rolle's  Incendium  amoris). 


Latin  Epigrams. 


421 


borne  out  also  by  the  following  collection,  which,  though  drawn  from  various 
sources1,  appears  to  have  been  brought  together  by  a  Durham  monk,  perhaps 
Richard  de  Segbrok.  Many  of  these  epigrams  are  truly  delightful. 

fol.  69. 

£Lst  nichil  vtilius  humane,  crede,  saluti 

Quam  morum  nouisse  modos  &  moribus  vti. — 

Quam  cito  templa  subis,  recolas  cur  sis  homo  natus; 

Aut  lege,  vel  canta,  vel  Christo  funde  precatus. 
5  Quando  deo  seruis,  vtrumque  genu  sibi  flecte ; 

Ast  homini  solum,  reliqum  teneas  tibi  recte. 

Ne  facias  aliis,  tibi  quod  fieri  minhne  vis. 

Qui  nimis  est  humilis,  hie  stultus  adesse  putatur. 

Sis  celer  ad  quemuis  sermonem  percipiendum, 
10  Sis  piger  ad  queuis  aliis  tua  verba  loquendum. 

Si  tibi  res  desit,   da  verba  benigna  querenti. 

Os  mendax  animam  vite  male  priuat  honore. 

Risus  ab  ore  tuo  grandis  raro  videatur: 

Per  crebros  risus  leuitas  in  corde  notatur. 
15  Quid  fueris,   quid  sis,   quid  eris,  semper  memoreris, 

Sic  minus  atque  minus  peccatis  subicieris. 

Si  secretarum  seriem  vis  noscere  rerum, 

Ebrius,  insipiens,  pueri  dicent  tibi  verum. 

Sepe  rogare,  rogata  tenere,  retenta  docere: 
20  Hec  tria  discipulum  faciunt  superare  magistrum. 

Femineo  nunquam  de  sexu  praua  loqueris. 

Set  quamcunque  vides,  pro  posse  tuo  venereris ; 

Rusticus  est  vere  qui  turpia  de  muliere 

Dicit,  nam  vere  sumus  omnes  de  muliere. 
25  Si  tibi  sit  natus,  peccantem  corrige  natum, 

Neue  suum  gratis  dicare  fouere  reatum. 

Si  tibi  sit  seruus,  hunc  sub  pede  semper  habeto  ; 

Ne  nimis  elatus  moueat  tibi  dampna,  caueto. 

Si  nouerca  tibi  fuerit  vel  vittricus,  esto 
30  Gnanis,  vt  allicias  ipsos  cum  corde  modesto. 

Si  tibi  priuignus  sit,   ei  tu  defer  honorem  ; 

Sic  populi  laudem,  matrisque  mereris  amorem. 

Si  videas  fratres  inter  se  bella  gerentes, 

Neutri  confer  opem,  set  eorum  corrige  mentes. 
35  Raro  conuiua,  ne  consumptis  cito  rebus 

In  breuibus  fias  mendicus  inopsque  diebus. 

Te  tua  mensa  colat;  sic  non  discrimine  curris; 

Dedecus  est  si  discurrens  aliena  liguris*.  (*  aut  swells) 

Zephale,  tu  comedis  aput  omnes,  nullus  aput  te ; 
40  Aut  tu  redde  vices,  aut  desine  velle  vocari. 

(Dum  cibus  extat  in  ore  tuo,  potare  caueto}2. 

Qua  tegeris  non  veste  manus  siccato  madentes, 

Nee  nasum  tergas  mappa  madidum  tibi  sorde. 

In  propriis  rebus  laus  est  si  largus  haberis; 

1  Several  epigrams  seem  to  have  been  contributed  by  R.  Rolle,  viz.  those  that  are  found  with 
works  of  his,  as  in  Ms.  Reg.  17  B  xvn  (see  vol.  II,  p.  60).  Others  are  found  in  Libellus  de  modo 
confitendi  et  penitendi,  Daventriae  1491.  A  similar  collection  by  Johannes  Presbiter  is  extant 
in  Ms.  Reg.  17  C  xvn,  fol.  17*— 18  (280  vv.).  The  northern  English  homilies,  legends  &c.  fre 
quently  quote  Latin  epigrams.  2  This  v.  is  crossed  out. 


Mulicr 


Filius 


Seruus 


Vittricus 
Nouerca 

Priuignus 


Fratres  dis- 
cordantes 


422  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

45  Dedecus,   alterius  res  large  dando1  mereris. 
Bis  duo  sunt  quibus  extollit  se  quis  sine  mora: 
Luxus  opum,  proles  generosa,  sciencia,  forma. 
A  fruno,   stillante  domo,  nequam  muliere 
Te  remoue:  tria  namque  solent  hec  sepe  nocere. 

50  Si  tibi  contingat  te  cum2  meliore  sedere, 
Versus  eum  noli  sub  genu  crura  tenere. 
Si  peregre  pergas,  nunquam  te  iunge  duobns ; 
Disparibus  raro  trahitnr  currus  bene  bobus. 
Ne  facias  offas  de  pane  prius  tibi  morso ; 

55  Mensa  tibi  cubitum  nunquam  subsistat  edenti, 
Set  recte  sedeas,  tecum  seruito  sedenti. 
A  pueri  iubilo,   serui  lingua,   canis  ore, 
A  manni  pedibus  caueas,  blesoque  lepore, 
Inque  domo  rufi  nunquam  capias  tibi  pausam. 

60  Hospitibus  letum  debes  ostendere  vultum, 
Hospitibusque  tuis  cum  discedas  dato  laudes; 
Vultus  enim  letus  dandi  duplicat  tibi  cultum. 
Irritare  canem  noli  dormire  volentem, 
Ne  moueas  iram  post  tempora  longa  latentem. 

65  Ne  malus  erumpat  fetor,  latrina  tegatur. 

(Fallitur  ad  fora  quern  spes  burse  fert  aliene).3 
Nil  super  hoste  tuo  tua  lingua  minando  loquatur, 
Hostem  namque  suum  munit  quicunque  minatur. 
Alterius  nolis  in  messem  ponere  falcem, 

70  Inque  thorum  timeas  alienum  ponere  calcem. 
Si  tibi  quis  loquitur,  in  vultum  cerne  loquentis, 
Et  sua  verba  tue  secretis  insere  mentis. 
Si  par  vel  maior  fuerit  tibi  forte  loqutus, 
Donee  fmierit  sua  verba,   sile  quasi  mutus. 

75  Raro  fideiussor,  vel  nunquam  creditor  esto ; 
Tu  fugias  talosque  lupanar,  sicque  tabernam, 
Si  decus  &  vitam  tu  queris  habere  supernam. 
Si  bene  vis  orare  deum,   talamum  tibi  claude: 
Sic  illi  qui  cunta  videt  tacita  prece  plaude. 

80  Rem  de  qua  loqueris  digito  monstrare  caueto. 
Non  te  iactes  facturum  quod  tota  replere 
Vis  tua  non  poterit;  ne  pro  mendace  tenere. 
In  potum  sufflare  tuum  nolito  cibumque. 
Non  extollaris  si  sors  tibi  prospera  cedat, 

85  Nam  deus  ingrato  cito  tollit  munera  que  dat; 
Non  tristare  nimis  si  sors  aduersa  tibi  sit, 
Nam  deus  hos  temptat  quos  diligit,  &  cito  visit. 
Quicquid  agas,  hosti  nunquam  tua  dampna  loquaris, 
Atque  tua  nunquam  de  paupertate  queraris. 

90  In  te  si  domina  dominusque  tuus  moueatur, 

Dum  cadit  ira,  nichil  in  eos  tua  lingua  loquatur. 
Effigiem  Christi  dum  transis,  pronus  adora; 
Non  tamen  effigiem,  set  quem  designet,  honora. 
Nolito  culpare  dapes  quas  sumere  speras, 

95  Ni  quod  preponat  inuitans  te  tibi  queras. 
i  orig.  dando  large,  tr.        2  Ms.  tecum.        3  This  v.  is  crossed  out. 


Latin  Epigrams.  423 

Pro  modico  tibi  non  est  offendendus  amicus ; 

Nullus  amicicie  rem  perdet,  ni  sit  iniqus. 

Raro  breues  humiles  vidi,  rubeosque  fideles , 

Albos  audaces,  miror  magnos  sapientes.  On  the  margin  Is  added: 

Ad  quamcunque  domum  perrexeris;   ante  screato  o^cho,  stTrnSo,  sing^tlo, 

Quam  subeas,  tussique  loquens  ad  hostia  stato.  spwe        rowe 

Omnis  homo  quacunque  domo,  qua  sede  fruatur,  nauseo,     sterto, 

_.        .  ,                      ,                           ,               ,      ,  Glutio     masticans,     hio, 

Prouideat  quando  taceat  vel  quando  loquatur.  tussio,  ructo,  s(puove): 

Qui  non  dat  quod  amat,  non  accipit  ille  quod  optat.    Omnia    continent    hec 


sine 


sponte  viro.- 


105        Si  te  forte  domus  aliena  rogaret  ad  escas,  Nat  cams  equore,  'splen- 

Donec  sis  iussus.  mense  loca  nulla  capescas.  det  in  ethere,  latrat  in 

ede. 
(room  for  10  vv.  left  vacant) 

fol.    7ob. 

If  Subtili  visu  sociomm  probra  videmus, 

Ad  discernendum  propria  sensus  hebet. 
^[  Condicione  bona  sunt  in  cane  bis  duo  dona  : 
no       Est  lingua  medicus,  dominique  fidelis  amicus, 

Pollet  odoratu,  fugit  eius  latro  latratu. 
^[  Simia,  nimpha,  canis,  lira,  nummus,  auesque  rapaces 

Sunt  ludi  laycis,  sunt  ydola  religiosis. 
^[  Non  puer  aut  mulier  intret  portas  monachorum, 
115       Aut  canis  inmundus  bona  consumens  miserorum. 
^[  1  Tres  partes  fracte  de  Christi  corpore  signant 

Prima  suam  carnem,  sanctosque  secunda  sepulto*, 

Tercia  viuentes,  hec  est  in  sanguine  tincta. 
*i  Die  homo  quid  speres  qui  mundo  totus  inheres: 
1  20       Tu  nichil  inde  feres,   licet  omnia  solus  haberes. 
^[  Sit  timor  in  dapibus,  benediccio,  leccio,  tempus, 

Sermo  breuis,  hillaris  vultus,  pars  detur  egenis. 
*j  Si  vis  incolumem  semper  te  ducere  sanum, 

Curas  tolle  graues,  irasci  crede  prophanum, 

Parce  mero,  cenare  caue,  nee  sit  tibi  vanum 

Surgere  post  epulas,  sompnum  fuge  meridianum,)2 
125       Minctum  nee  ventrem  retine,  nee  cogeris  anum. 

(Si  leuis  esse  velis,  sit  tibi  cena  breuis.)3 

De  cibis  sume  quantum  vis,  tempore  brume, 

Temporibus  veris  modice  prandere  iuberis, 

At  calor  estatis  dapibus  nocet  inmoderatis, 

Autumpni  fructus  extremes  dant  tibi  luctus. 
13°       Mensibus  in  quibus  R,  post  prandia  fit  sopor  eger  ; 

In  quibus  R  non  est,   sompnus  post  prandia  prodest. 

Lote  cale,  sta  paste  vel  i,   frigesce  minute  ; 

Sta  satur,  ablutus  suda,  trepidaque  minutus. 
^[  Qui  manibus  sordes  operam  prius  ablue  sordes, 
*35       Intus  te  munda,  quia  mundis  omnia  munda. 

^[  Morbus,  mira,  cibus,  blasphemia,   dogma,  fuere 

Cause  cur  dominum  turba  sequta  fuit. 

Homo    dixit  ^[  »Cur  tua  cauda  nocet  carni,   que  carne  quiescit?« 

ad  serpentem 

quern  quasi  mortuum 

fouebat  in  sinu  suo  : 


1  These  3  vv.  are  to  be  tr.  after  141.  2  These  2  vv.  are  crossed  out;  they  are  repeated 

ter^v.  397).          3  This  v.  is  crossed  out,  cf.  v.  316. 


424  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

Et  serpens  »Sic  natura  docet,  gratesque  reddere  nescit.« 

u^seoindo  !4°  1  Salue  caro  Christi,  que  pro  me  passa  fuisti ; 
ersu:  Intus  me  munda  caro,   sanguis :   panis  &  vnda. 

^[  AfFectum,  non  effectum  habet  egra  senectus. 
^[  Casu  labor  aui  subito  visu  labo  raui*,  (*  i.  e.  lupi) 

Surge  labora  vi,  bonus  est  veniens  labor  a  vi. 
J45  H  Ver  here  mite,  pecudes  poscunt  heremi  te; 

Corpus  here  mite  mutat  mores  heremite. 
f.  71.  U  Nunc  lege,  nunc  ora,  nunc  cum  feruore  labora : 
Sic  erit  hora  breuis,   &  labor  ipse  leuis. 
Funde  preces,  plora,  legito,  meditare,  labora; 
150       Que  prosunt  fac  tu,  pede  vel  sermone  vel  actu. 
*[f  Septem  sunt  hore :   proprie  cognicio  culpe 
Prima,  secunda  timor  est  iudicis,   est  breuitatis 
Vite  presentis  meditacio  tercia,   quarta 
Est  inprouise  mortis  suspicio,   quinta 
155        Spes  venie,  dominique  fiducia  sexta  iuuantis, 

Se  deplorantis  contricio  septima  cordis. 
^[  O  felix  mortale  genus,  si  semper  haberet 

Ethereum  pre  mente  bonum,  fmemque  timeret ! 
^[  Vnde  superbit  homo?  sitit,  esurit,  estuat  alget, 
1 60       Flet  ridet,  metuit  sperat,  habundat  eget; 

Sic  stat  &  obstat,  non  flat  &  efflat,  floret  &  aret, 
Incipit  &  teritur;   sunt  ea  pene  l  simul. 
^[  2Heu,  heu,  quam  fragilis  est  nostre  gracia  sortis! 

Spuma,  sopor,  fumus,  flos,   cinis :   omnis  homo. 
16$  11  Cum  fex,   cum  limus,  cum  res  vilissima  simus: 

Vnde  superbimus?  ad  terram  terra  redimus.3 
If  Res  homo  vana :  nitet  sordebit,  habundat  egebit, 

Floret  marcescet,  stat  cadet,  est  nee  erit. 2 
^[Femina:   corpus,         opes,       animam,    vim,     lumina,     vocem 
17°  Destruit,  adnichilat,    necat,     eripit,    orbat,     acerbat. 

If  Nobile  vincendi  genus  est  patientia ;  vincit 

Qui  patitur;   si  vis  vincere :   disce  pati. 
If  Hie  labor  in  nobis :  nam  spiritus  &  caro  semper 

Pugnant,  &  morimur  si  caro  vincat  eum. 
175   1i  Sub  molli  pastore  lupus  lanam  cacat,   &  grex 

Incustoditus  dilaceratur  eo. 
If  Non  discunt  quicunque  scolas  vbique  frequentant : 

Nam  veniunt  plures  vt  videantur  ibi. 

If  Egris  &  sanis  est  sana  refectio  panis, 

1 80       Set  Christus  panis  non  est  sanus  nisi  sanis. 

If  Gaudet  epar  spodio,  mace  cor,  cerebrum  quoque  musco, 

Pulmo  liquoricia,  splen  capare,   stoma  galanga. 
Herodes.        ^[  Occidit  pueros  Herodes  Ascolonita, 

Antipas  Herodes  Baptistam  decapitauit, 
185        Agrippa  lacobum,   claudens  in  carcere  Petrum. 
1f  Scripture  verba,  miracula,  verba  pudica, 
Celica  doctrina,   simul  &  vox  martiriorum : 
Esse  deum  verum  tibi  monstrant,  perfide,  Christum. 


1  Ms.  pena.        2.2  on  the  margin.        8  Cf.  Poem  in  Ms.  Thornton,  p.  373. 


Latin  Epigrams.  2e, 

Luxuria.         ^  iNe  pereas  cede  misera  Veneris,  cito  cede, 
190       Eius  bella  fuge:  vincitur  arte  ;   fuge 

Visus  &  alloquium,  contactus  &  oscula,  factum. 
Ardet  in  affectu  Venus  anxia,  vexat  in  actu. 
Inficit  &  fetet  quando  patratur  opus, 
Post  factum  fecisse  piget;  cito  preterit  illud 
195       Quod  iuuat;   eternum  quod  cruciatur  erit. 

^[  Spernere  diuicias,  se  spernere,  spernere  mundum, 

Spernere  se  sperm:   quatuor  hec  bona  sunt. 
Hec  sum  in-  ^[  Corporis  integritas,  sine  crimine,  sexus,  &  etas 
o?dinan5is!n       L.ittera,  baptismus,  libertas,  vita,  voluntas, 

200       Firma  fides,  titulus,  intencio,  forma,  potestas, 
Tempus :  in  ordinibus  prestandis  ista  require. 
Hec     impe-  ^[  Simon,  coniugium,   sententia,  puplica  nota, 
nandos.01^1"       Etas'  vis'  finis :  indignos  ordine  reddunt. 
Hec    inqui-  H  Stricta  fides,  si  sint  coniuncti  proximitate, 

conKgio  fa-2°5  °.rd°  SaCCr'   de  f°nte2  sacr°  suscePcio,   votum 
ciendo :  Viuat  vt  in  claustro  casteve,  libido  parentum. 

Hec  soluunt  ^[3Condicio,  dispar  cultus,  vis,   error,  honestas, 
km^ntrlc'        Frigiditas>  habitus,  ordo,  cognacio,  votum. 
turn : 
Hec  sunt  im-  11  Votum,  condicio,  violentia,  spiritualis 

pedimenta2ioProximitas,   error  dissimilisque  fides 

matnmonii  . 

contrahendi:       Culpa,   dies  vetitus,  error,  ligacio,  sanguis, 

Quod  sis  affinis,  quodque  coire  nequis. 
In  baptismo  ^[  Mistica,   candela  sponsali  quinque  notantur : 

sponsis™  m       Cera'  Calor'   lux>  stuPPa»   cinis5  signantur  in  istis: 
215       Mentis  mundicia,  dilectio  mutua,  purum 

Cor,  vite  breuitas,   dubie  meditacio  mortis. 
Bobrietas.       ^[  Sobrietas  carnem  domat,   &  vitalia  firmat, 
Intus  leticiam  procurat,  dat  vigilare, 
Augmentat  donum,  sic  vitam  temporis  auget. 
Euange-  22O  *[  Virgo  Johannes  auis,  vitulus  Lucas,  leo  Marcus, 
Est  homo  Matheus:   quatuor  ista  deus; 
Est  homo  descendens,  vitulus  moriens,  leo  surgens, 
Est  auis  ascendens,  hie  &  vbique  manens. 
^[  Abstrahe  ligna  foco,  si  vis  extinguere  flammam ; 
225       4Si  carnis  motus:   ocia,  vina,   dapes. 

^[  Stratus  humi  non  surgit  item  cum  poplice  flexo 
Portat  onus  graue  quo  precipitatur  equs  : 
Sic  homo  qui  magna  viciorum  mole  grauatur, 
Non  nisi  deposita  mole  leuare  potest. 
230  ^f  Pessimus  est  hostis,  qui  cum  benefeceris  illi, 
Fortior  insurgit,  bella  mouendo  tibi. 
Sic  carni  fac  velle  suum,  si  bella  moueri 
Vis  tibi;  si  pacem:   bella  domato  fame. 
^[  Anni  bis  centum  minus  vno,  milia  quinque 
235       Precessere  tue  legis  noua  tempora,   Christe. 
^  Dant  crux>  Lucia,  cineres,  karismata  dia, 
Ne  sit  in  angaria  quarta  sequens  feria. 

»  A  similar  ep.  is  in  Ms.  Reg.  17  C  xvn.          t  orig.  sacro  fonte,  tr.          3  Cf.  Instr.  for  parish 
priests,  Ms.  Harl.  4172,  fol.  41.        *  Ms.  Sic. 


426 


Appendix  II:    Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 


240 


Aue    245 


Peccare. 


lehmium.       ^[  Spiritui  iustus  ieiunat,  ypocrita  mundo, 

Phisicus  vt  viuat,  vt  burse  parcat  auarus. 

Dura  licet  denti  faba  sit  :   fauus  esurienti. 

Murelegus  plures  vbi  non  est  sunt  ibi  mures. 

In  modio  rendi  non  est  vola  plena  sciendi. 

Tres  condempnarunt  mundum,  tres  saluificarunt  : 

Arbor,  homo,   serpens;   crux,  pia  virgo,   deus. 

Die  homo  mente  pia,  die  quinquies  aue  Maria  : 

Die  vt  salueris  per  earn,  quando  morieris. 

Pro  miseris  ora,  pia  mater,  mortis  in  hora. 

Oderunt  peccare  boni  virtutis  amore, 

Oderunt  peccare  mali  formidine  pene. 
Adulari.  250  ^f  Si  quis  ditari  cupiat  carusque  vocari, 

Discat  adulari:   quia  tales  sunt  modo  cari. 
^j"1  Virtus,   ecclesia,   clerus,  demon,  symonia: 

Cessat,   calcatur,   errat,  regnat,   dominatur. 

Fames.  ^[  Morsque  fames  fit  in  M.  ter  C.  pentaptata  decem. 

Thomas  255  U  Anno  Milleno.     Centeno.     Septuageno 

Primo,  tune  primas  corruit  ense  Thomas. 
Lancastre.      ^[  Littera  prima  Come,   collum  si  demis,   o  Thome  : 

Dant  tibi  scire  necem,   sex  simul  atque  decem. 

(Space  of  4  vv.  left  vacant.) 

Medicina        ^[  Dentes  sic  sana  :   porrorum  collige  grana, 
pro  dentibus.2goNe  careas  thure,  cum  lusquiamo  simul  vre. 
Fama.  ^[  Fama  repleta  malis  pernicibus  euolat  alis: 

Fama  boni  lente  volat,  inuidia  retinente. 
Mora.  ^[  Principiis  obsta  ;   sero  medicina  paratur, 

Cum  mala  per  longas  conualuere  moras2. 
Fortuna.  265  ^f  Vt  fortuna  breuis  hominem  facit  esse  beatum, 

Sic  fortunatum  degradat  hora  breuis. 

Mors.  ^[  Mors  fera,  mortua  sis,   quia  dignis  parcere  nescis. 

Donum.          ^[  Qui  modicum  michi  dat,  me  viuere  longius  optat. 
Lis.  ^[  Mane  sit  ignota  lis  potu  vespere  mota. 

270  ^f  Quanto  dignior  es  aut  per  genus  aut  per  honores, 

In  te  tanto  res  viciose  sint  grauiores. 
^[  Postquam  seruiles  ceperunt  nobilitare, 
Postquam  nobilitas  seruilem  cepit  amare  : 
Nobilis  &  seruus  ceperunt  degenerare. 
275  ^[  Est  reprobum  reprobrare  bonum  ;  vos  qui  reprobratis, 

Sic  reprobos  reprobrando  bonos  vos  esse  probatis. 
^f  Ter  centum,  ter  vicenos,    cum  quinque  diebus, 
Totque  dies  anno,  non  plus  scribas,  tibi  dico. 
^[  In  lacrimis  tria  sunt  que  multis  cognita  prosunt  : 
280       Sunt  etenim  clare,   sunt  salse,  sunt  &  amare  ; 
Clarificat  clarum,  sal  condit,  purgat  amarum. 
%  Temporibus  istis  quicunque  placere  curabit, 
Det,  cupiat,   querat  :  plurima,  pauca,  nichil. 
^[  Qui  socios  spernit  summum  se  cum  fore  cernit, 
Dampna  parum  plangunt  ipsum  cum  tristia  tangunt. 


285 


i  Same  verse  in  Reg.  17  B  xvn. 
minus  aptus  erit. 


*  on  margin  by  another  hand:  Qui  non  est  hodie,  eras 


Latin  Epigrams.  427 

^[  Fallit  nos  vicium  specie  virtutis  &  vmbra : 
Nam  multis  quidem  virtutes  esse  videntur 
Que  nil  virtutis,  nil  bonitatis  habent. 
^[  Primitus  in  mundo  tua  tecum  quanta  tulisti? 
290       Nudus  eras  primo,  postea  nudus  eris. 
Discrecio.       ^[  Preualet  in  cuntis  discreta  modestia  rebus, 

Qua  sine  virtutum  grande  peribit  opus. 
Fortuna.         ^[  Promouet  iniustos  fortuna  volubilis,   vt  quos 

Scandere  precipites  facit ,   ad  yma  rotet. 
295  ^f  Nemo  bonum  sapiet  nisi  cognicione  malorum  ; 

Quisque  malum  vitat  cognicione  boni. 
Redils.          ^[  Quinque  placent  ori:   set  quatuor  acre  pendent; 

Si  tria :  pars  hominis ;  si  duo :   dulce  sonant. 
^[  Cornix  est  alba,   si  cor  tollatur  ab  ilia. 
300  ^f  Est  nomen  volucris,  tantummodo  dicito  tur   bis. 
^  Manducare  potes  formicam,  si  caput  aufers. 
^[  Nil  porco  peius,   si  tollatur  caput  eius. 
Tabelle.         ^[  Floribus  &  lignis  quoddam  mirabile  vas  fit, 

Quod  si  sit  vacuum  vel  plenum,  ponderat  eque. 
Penna.  305  ^f  Bos  portat  spinam  de  qua  facit  auca  ruinam ; 

Quod  rapit  auca  boui,  dat  vitulo  vel  oui. 
Sagitta.          ^|  Quid  michi  quid  creuit  siluis,   quid  femina  neuit, 

Quid  pratum  pauit,  ars  fabrilis  reparauit.1 
%  Marce  trecente,  Simon,   si  pontificent  te  : 
310       Per  numisma2  teres  fis  Simon  Simonis  heres. 
Relegantur    ^[  Laus  tua  non  tua  fraus,  virtus  non  copia  rerum 
1SestVsen"us&       Scandere  te  fecit  hoc  decus  eximium. 
contrarius.    «[[  Optimus  esse  soles ;  iam  credo  te  meliorem, 
(f-  73)       Credo  quod  fies  de  meliore  bonus. 
315  ^j  Ex  magna  cena  stomacho  fit  maxima  pena; 
Vt  sis  ergo  leuis,   sit  tibi  cena  breuis. 
'«T  Dura  licet  denti  &c.  =  v.   240,  is  crossed  out.) 
^[  Nos  vexant  triplici  vexamine  tres  inimici : 
Serpens  antiqus,  caro  lubrica,  mundus  iniqus ; 
Hec  tria  qui  poterit  vincere,  saluus  erit. 
320  ^[  Que  petit  infirmus  quamuis  contraria,  dentur; 

Tune  melius  natura  viget,   cum  vota  replentur. 
^[  Die  quot  quadrantes  tua  septimana  valebit 
Tot  solidos  &  denarios  tuus  annus  habebit. 
ffl  Cum  fex  cum  Hums  &c.  =  v.  165,  is  crossed  out.) 
^[  Quinque  pedes  passum  faciunt ;  passus  quoque  centum 
325       Viginti  quinque  stadium  faciunt;   miliare 

Octo  dabunt  stadia;  duplicatum  dat  tibi  leucam. 
*[f  Infans,  postque  puer,  adolescens,  post  iuuenis,  vir 

Dicitur,  inde  senex,  postea  decrepitus. 
^[  Non  nimis  amissis  doleas,  nee  omne  quod  audis 
330       Credas,  nee  cupias  id  quod  habere  nequis. 
X.  precepta.  3^[  In  tabulis  binis  lex  est  depicta  petrinis, 
Lex  precepta  dei  continet  ista  decem  : 
Vnum  crede  deum,  nee  iures  vana  per  ipsum  ; 

1  After  this  v.  follows  again  the  couplet  Floribus  &  lignis  &c.  (v.  303-4)  with  va(cat)  on  margin.     2  Ms. 
numusma.     3  The  next  2  Epigr.  are  found  in  Libellus  de  modo  confitendi  et  penitendi,  Dauentne  1491. 


428 


Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Anmdel  507. 


335 


X.  plage 


340 

Presbiter. 

345 


350 

Diues,  pau- 


355 


360 
Caro. 

365 

Temptacio. 
370 
Remedia. 


Pecca-  375 


Dotes  carnis. 
Dotes  anime. 


Sabbata  sanctifices,  sic  tu  venerare  parentes  ; 

A  te  vitentur  cedes,  lasciuia,  furtum, 

Fraus  ;  non  alterius  rem,  sociamque  petas. 
^[  Prima  rubens  vnda,  ranarum  plaga  secunda, 

Inde  culex  tristis,  post.musca  nociuior  istis, 

Quinta  pecus  strauit,  vesicam  sexta  parauit, 

Hinc  sequitur  grando,  post  brucus  dente  nephando, 

Nona  tegit  solem,  primam  necat  vltima  prolem. 
^[  Sobrius  &  prudens,  noto  sine  crimine  viuens, 

Doctus  &  ornatus  verbo,  manibusque  modestus, 

Hospes  non  cupidus  sit  presbiter  atque  pudicus  ; 

Predicet  &  celebret,  liget  &  soluat,  legat  oret. 

Presbiter  abstineat  quern  sua  culpa  ligat; 

Quisquis  ad  altare  stas  vt  celebres,  memorare 

Vt  sacramentis  assit  deuocio  mentis  ; 

Curia  celestis  circumstat  &  est  tibi  testis 

An  sit  deuota  populi  vox  /  an  tua  vota. 
^[  Cum  moritur  diues,  concurnmt  vndique  ciues  ; 

Cum  pauper  moritur,  vix  vnus  adesse  videtur. 
^[  l  Diuiditur  diues  moriens  tribus  :   accipit  eius 

Stix  animam,  corpus  vermis,   &  orbis  opes; 

Vnica  plus  duplici  pars  sua  cuique  placet.1 
^[  Ora,  ne  cesses  :  venient  post  semina  messes, 

Post  fletum  risus,  post  hunc  habitum  paradisus. 
<j[  Quid  lucra  terrea,  vos  male  ferrea  corda  gerentes 

Queritis  ?  omnia  sunt  quasi  sompnia  ;  vertite  mentes  ! 

Vt  stuppe  flamma,  sic  transit  gloria  mundi. 
^[  Est  caro  nostra  lutum,  vas  fetens,  seruus,  &  hostis, 

lumentum,  castrum,  career,  domus,  Eua,  leena, 

Vt  lupa  seua  vorax,   sicaria  Dalida  blande. 

Vilior  est  humana  caro  quam  pellis  ouina  ; 

Si  moriatur  ouis,  aliquid  valet  ilia  ruina, 

Extrahitur  pellis  &  scribitur  intus  &  extra; 

Si  moriatur  homo,  moritur  caro,  pellis,   &  ossa. 
^[  Explorat,  temptat,   excecat,  suggerit  hostis, 

Decipit,   exultat  insultans  illaqueatque  ; 

In  mala  propellit,  &  consuetudine  vincit, 

Vt  turbo  rapiens  colles,  vt  fulgur  adurens. 

Hunc  exorcismus,   &  crux,  aspersio,  virtus, 

Scripture  verbum,  compunccio  cum  prece,   donum 

Ac  exercitium  sperando2  fugant  inimicum. 
^[  Peccatum  parit  exilium,  dampnumque,  pudorem, 

Obprobrium,  mortem,  contemptum,  perdicionem. 


c"tudo.         locitas. 


titudo.       bertas.        nitas. 


luPtas. 


lon.geultas'  sunt  carnis  amena. 


Sa.piencia'   di.lectio'  con.cordia- 


gau.      m'  sunt  mente  serena. 


ho.nor'  po.testas'  se.curitas' 


380 


Isti  virtutis  sunt  exemplaria  nobis  : 

lustus  Abel,  parens  Abraham,  Samuelque  benignus, 

Est  patiens  Ysaac  &  lob,  lacobque  laborans, 


1-1  on  the  margin.        '2  r.  superando  ? 


Latin  Epigrams. 

Et  Moyses  mitis,   castus  Joseph,  losueque 
Constans,  ac  humilis  Dauid,   Salomonque  peritus, 
Discretus  Daniel,  Noe  iustus  longanimisque. 
Mechus.  385  ^[  Fur  sponse:  mechus  est,  incestus  causa,  statuti 
Transgressor,  spolians  heredes;  in  tria  peccat. 

(vt  lingua  deo  famuletur, 
^F  Voce  deum  laudes  <  vt  proximus  edificetur, 
(.deuocio  quod  recreetur. 
vt  ei  meritum  cumuletur, 


429 


390 


Est  qui  torquetur 


ne  fastus  ei  dominetur, 

deus  vt  sic  glorificetur, 
vt  crimen  purificetur, 


395 


Phisicum. 


Miseria 
humana. 


vt  lob,  £  Tobias, 
vt  Paulus  cui  datus 
est  angelus  sajtane] 
ne  magnitude  reue- 
(lationum  extolleret 
eum]. 

vt    cecus     natus 

loh.  IX. 

vt  Maria  soror 
Moysi  Num.  12, 
&  filii  Israel,  & 
multi  christiani. 

vt  perpetuo  crucietur.  v*  Herodes  Act. 

f  Dum  Sathanas  aliquid  tibi  suggerit  vt  facias  id:  GJ*;  f^D^thkn 

Non  vaco,  die,  procul  i!   quis  fructus?  non  emo  tanti.  &  Abyron  Num. 

is- 

^[  *Parce  mero,  cenare  caue ;  non  sit  tibi  vanum 
Surgere  post  epulas  ;•  sompnos  fuge  meridianos. 
^F  Ad  nichilum  redeunt  etas  longeua  dierum, 
Forma,  genus,  probitas,  sapientia,  copia  renim. 
2 (Si  te  delectant  hec  friuola:   decipieris, 
Nam  cito  mors  veniet  &  nescis  quo  rapieris.) 
^[  Ad  quid,   homo,  gaudes?  cur  vis  tibi  sumere  laudes? 

Cerne  quid  es,  quid  eris:   hodie  flos,  eras  morieris. 
^F  Sume  cibos  modice :  modico  natura  tenetur ; 

Sic  corpus  refice  ne  spiritus  inde  grauetur. 
*[  Quater  millenis,  trecentis,  quatuor  annis 

Nexus  in  inferno  fuit  Adam  crimine  primo. 
«[  Cunta  caduca  cadunt,  mors  omnibus  imperat  eque ; 

Cum  teneris  vadunt  ad  mortem  fortia  queque. 
^[  Felle  columba  caret,  vermes  fugit  atque  cadauer, 
Optima  grana  legit,  pullos  nutrit  alienos, 
Pro  cantu  gemit,  in  petra  construit  edem, 
Accipitrisque  notat  vmbram  prope  fluminis  vndam. 
Fel:   odium,  vermes  pcccata  notant;  bona  grana: 
Mistica  verba  dei ;  pullos  nutrire  sub  alis 
Alterius,  fertur  pietas:   aqua:  pagina  sacra; 
Accipiter:   demon;  lacrime  vox;  petraque  Christus. 
^[  Sint  circumcisa  cuntorum  membra  nociua : 
1 1S*  420  Circumcidatur  os,  ne  vaga  verba  loquatur ; 
Circumcidatur  cor,  ne  vanis  capiatur; 
Circumcidatur  oculus  qui  sepe  vagatur, 
Vnde  suum  visum  non  dirigit  in  paradisum; 
Circumcidatur3  auris,  ne  decipiatur 
Friuola  captando,  sathane  portam  reserando; 
Circumcidatur3  naris  nee  odore  trahatur 


400 


405 

Adam  in  in 
ferno. 

Mors. 

410 
Columba. 


415 


Circumcisio 


425 


Same  vv.  precede  v.  124.  -  The  next  2  vv.  are  crossed  out. 


3  Ms.  circumscidatur. 


430 


Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Amndel  507. 


430 


Septem 

llta< 
435 


Hoc  mod 


440 


445 


Qui  tibi  fetorem  sputet  mortisque  saporem  ; 

Circumcidatur  *  locus  &  res  cui  dominatur 

Feruor  lasciuus,   qui  plus  solet  esse  nociuus  ; 

Circumcidantur  manus,  vt  bona  facta  sequantur; 

Circumcidatur1  pes,  ad  mala  ne  gradiatur. 

Hec  non  carnalis  lex  est,  set  spiritualis. 

Intrant/  &  pugnant,  pergunt,  redeunt,  abeuntque, 

Scandunt,  seruantur  per  septem  sacra  fideles. 

Tinctio.   crisma.  caro.  dolor,  vnctio.  lectus.  &  ordo 

Mundat.  firmat.  alit.  renouat.  leuat.  vnit.  &  ornat. 

(Baptismus  est  sacramentum  intrantium,  confirmacio  pugnantium,  penitencia  pro- 
ficientium,  eukaristia  peregrinantium,  extrema  vnctio  exeuntium,  ordo  ministrantium, 
matrimonium  laborantium.) 

^f  Heres  peccati,  natura  filius  ire, 

Exiliique  reus  nascitur  omnis  homo. 

Costa  viri  vere  lloua  forma  fit  in  muliere  : 
De  Christi  latere  noua  sacramenta  mere; 
Virga  crucem  geminat,  petra  tunsa  fluenta  propinat  : 
Crux  Christum  vexit,   dat  aquam  latus,  cruor  exit. 
Flatus,   crux,  &  sal,   sputum,  cum  crismate,  vestis, 
Et  cere  facula:   sunt  in  baptismate  signa. 
Hec  dant  esse  latex,  intinctio,  debita  forma. 
Vngitur,  induitur,  intinctus  luce  potitur, 
Vt  sit  mens  rnunda,   caro  casta,  refulgeat  actus. 
Vnguntur  pueri  scapule,   cum  pectore,  vertex, 
Vt  Christum  recolat,  penset,   onusque  ferat. 

Hec  bona  450^"  2Inprimit.  adnichilat.   aperit.   confert.  relegatur 

baptismus.          Eaptismus  signum.     culpam.     celum.     bona.    planctum. 
^[  Bapti^at  sanguis,  contricio,  limpha,  fidesque. 
Ara  prophanata,  fatuum  sal,  cesaque  vitis, 
Depastor,   cecus  ductor,  mutus  canis,   olla 
Fracta,  vetus  rethe,  laqueus:  prelatus  iniqus. 
Omne  bonum  nostrum  referatur  ad  omnipotentem; 
Cum  quid  peccamus,  hoc  nobis  attribuamus. 
Cur  de  sponsata  voluit  de  virgine  nasci 
Christus?  causa  fuit  quod  si  foret  innuba  pregnans, 
sponsata.  460  Mox  lapidaretur  ;  pariensque  clientis  egeret  ; 

Et  sacramentum  celaretur  inimico. 

(^[  Tres  partes  fracte  =  v.   116  —  8,  crossed  out;  on  the  margin:) 
^[  Si  malus  est  sacerdos  qui  offert:    non  est  suum  quod  offert  /  set  omnium  preces 
&  vota  ;  nam  finis  oracionis,  omnium  voce  confirmatur:   dum  omnes  consona  voce 
dicunt  amen.) 

^[  Non  fuit  indutus,  non  sacratus,  non  inunctus  : 
Optulit,   orauit,  Moyses  &  sanctificauit. 

XII  abusiones  claustralium  : 

^[  Prelatus  necgligens.  —  Forma  gregis  f  actus  qui  prolis  despicit  actus. 
465  Discipulus  inobediens.  —  Discipulus  mentis  dure,  spretorque  iubentis. 
luuenis  ociosus.  —  Ocia  sectantes  iuuenes  nugisque  vacantes. 
Senex  obstinatus.  —  Vir  gnarus  etate  sine  mentis  sobrietate. 

1  Ms.  Circumscidatur.        2  Same  epigrams  in  Ms.  Reg.  17  C  xvn,  f.  18. 


Prelatus  ini- 
455 


Quare  domi- 


Latin  Epigrams.  ... 

Monachus  curialis.  —  Sepe  frequentata  monachus  cui  curia  grata. 

Cenobita  causidicus.  —  Res  noua,  res  subita:  vir  causidicus  cenobita. 
470  Habitus  preciosus.  —  In  grege  pannoso  vir  vestitus  precioso. 

Cibus  exquisitus.  —  Res  indiscreta :   nimis  exquisita  dieta. 

Rumor  in  claustro.  —  Rumor  claustralis  claustralibus  exicialis. 

Dissplucio  in  choro.  —  Quoslibet  ad  nutus  chorus  absque  regente  solutus. 

Lis  in  capitulo.  —  Illic  rixari  quo  rixa  solet  resecari. 
475  Irreuerencia  circa  altare.  —  Ad  loca  sacrata  reuerentia  nulla  relata.1 

(Homo  dixit  ^j  »Cur  tua  cauda  nocet  carni,   que  came  auiescit?« 
ad  serpentem 

quern  fere 
mortuum  fo- 
uebat  in  sinu 
suo: 

Et     serpens       »Sic  natura  docet  que  grates  reddere  nescit«.)2 
cumsecundo  *l  Infortunatus  ad  tres  obolos  homo  natus 


versu 


Nunquam  numorum  dominus  valet  esse  duoruni. 
Ypocrite.        «[j  Plus  aloes  quam  mellis  habent  in  pectore  tales 

Quos  sanctis  similes  simplicitate  putas. 
480  ^[  Clareuallorum  decimas  lacobi3  petiere 
A  domino  papa:   set  eas  non  optinuere. 
Dixerunt  monachi  se  quod  petiere  daturos, 
Si  vellent  infra  monachorum  degere  muros, 
Et  non  exire  sine  iussu ;  set  lacobini 
485       Elegerunt  magis  mundum  transcurrere  bini. 
*|  Limpha,  viror,  speculum,  fortificant  oculum. 
«[  Tolle  peripsima,  post  pete  pulpam;   spernis  arullam. 
%  Aspiciens.  veterem.  Circum.  quasi  Quis.  Benedicta 

Non  licet  hie,  licet  hie,   hie  non  licet,  hie  licet,   hie  non. 
490  «[  Pultibus  infundat,   cui  copia  mellis  habundat. 

^[  Amittit  totum  :   qui  tendit  ad  omnia  votum. 
Detractor.       ^[  Qui  mel  in  ore  gerit  &  me  retro  pungere  querit, 
Eius  amiciciam  nolo  michi  sociam. 
fll  Cum  moritur  diues  =  v.  351 — 2,  crossed  out  here.) 
^[  Tempore  felici  multi  numerantur  amici ; 
495       Set  cum  desierit,  nullus  amicus  erit. 

(f[  Die  homo  quid  &c.  =  v.  119 — 120,  crossed  out4.) 
^[  Non,  homo,  leteris,  tibi  copia  si  fluat  eris: 

Hie  non  semper  eris,  memor  esto  quod  morieris  ; 
Es  euanebit,  quod  habes  hie  alter  habebit ; 
Corpus  putrebit,  quod  agis  tecum  remanebit. 
500       Eri  cur  heres:   eris  quia  non  eris  heres? 

Diues  eram  per  heram:  michi  que  multam  dedit  eram. 
Here,  diues,  here,  non  ere  michi  precor  here : 
Natus  heri  gaudebat  heri  quia  prerait  eri. 
Eris  seruus  eris,  si  te  species  trahat  eris. 
505  «[  Diligo  te,  non  te  pro  te  :   set  te  tua  propter. 
Munus.  Omnia  vincit  amor :   set  munus  vincit  amorem. 

Non  bene  viuit  amor,  nisi  munus  pascat  amorem. 


1  Follows  Infortunatus  &c.  (=  v.  476),  crossed  out.         2  The  same  couplet  precedes  v.  139—140, 
but  is  not  crossed  out.         3  Qn  the  Jacobites  (mendicants)  see  Math.  Par.  Anno  1237. 

This  v.  has  however  here  the  foil,  form:  Die  homo  quid  meres  cum  mundo  totus  adheres: 

Tecum  nulla  feres,  licet  omnia  solus  haberes. 


432  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

5f  Dum  quid  habere  putor,  festiua  voce  salutor ; 

Set  re  cessante  vox  est  ferialis  vt  ante. 
Mors.     5IQ  51  Post  mortis  morsum  vertit  dilectio  dorsum, 

Finita  vita,  finit  amicvts  ita. 
Studium.        5[  Vt  ver  dat  flores,  flos  fructum,  fructus  odores : 

Sic  studium  mores,  mos  sensum,  sensus  honores. 
5[  Cur  aliena  rapis?  nescis  tu  viuere  rapis*?  (*i.  nepys). 

5 1 5  If  Est  graue  prestare :  grauius  prestata  rogare  ; 
Postulo  perdo  rem,  perdo  debentis  amorem. 

(quid  est  mundus?  curarum  flebile  pondus. 
quid  est  venter?  pellis  mendica  frequenter. 
II  x  cue-,  quid  est  panis?  sine  potu  victus  inanis. 
52°  I  quid  est  vinum?  liquor  optimus  ante  caminum. 

I  quid  est  pratum?  locus  est  ad  ocia  natum. 
5[  O.  sine  p.  timet  1.,  nisi  p.  precesserit  aut  c. ; 
P.  dormit  venit  1.  rapit  o.  fugit  1.   sequitur  c. 
Femina.          5[  Poma  mericas  edere  dicas,  mella  cicutas, 
525       Cum  mulieres  dicere  speres  res  tibi  tutas. 

Femina  dum  plorat,  hominem  superare  laborat. 
51  Qui  bene  vult  fari,  bene  debet  premeditari; 

Qui  fari  nescit,  taceat  dum  mens  sibi  crescit. 
5|  Qui  meliora  videt  £  deteriora  sibi  det : 
530       Vltio  digna  dei  retribuetur  ei. 

5|  Hie  pax,  hie  bonitas,  hie  laus,  hie  semper  honestas. 
51  Qui  pateris  bella,  Christi  meditare  flagella. 
ftmerales        ^  Vermibus  hie  donor  &  sic  descendere  conor ; 

Qualiter  hie  ponor,  ponitur  omnis  honor. 
535       Quisquis  ades  tu  morte  cades;   sta,   respice,  plora; 

Sum  quod  eris;  quod  es,  ipse  fui;  pro  me  precor  ora. 
5[  Cocta  placent,  set  frixa  nocent,  assata  cohercent. 

Per  que        Gen.  44  5f  Dat  seruire  suis  loseph,   suspenditur  Aman,  Hest.  7. 

homo:      "  Mach.  4       Exulat  &  lason,  loca  gentes  perdit  hebreus;  loh.  XI  d. 

per   hec    i  Reg.  vlt.       Ense  Golya  peris :  fait  ensis  mors  Olofernis ;  ludith  8t> 

tur?C     "  M&ch.  4       Quo  nocuit  perit  Antiochus,  simul  &  Nabal.   ergo          i  Reg.  25 

Ne  cadat  in  foueam,   caueat  qui  foderat  illam. 
5[  Tutius  vt  peterem  layci  sub  ymagine  Romam, 

Lex  sinit  vt  sinerem  luxuriare  comam. 
545  H  Nasus  mungatur  caute,  pupilla  regatur, 

Tussis  stritigatur,  sputum  deforme  tegatur. 
5f  Non  pateant  faciles  senis  rumoribus  aures. 
5f  Sunt  pueri  puri;  parui  paruo  satiati 

Currunt  &  ludunt,   cito  dant,  cito  pacificantur. 
55°  *f  Scire  loqui  decus  est,   decus  est  &  scire  tacere  ; 

Hec  duo  si  poteris  scire:   peritus  eris2. 
5f  Prima  triangula,  longa  subambula,   longa  sequatur, 
Greca  sit  vltima :   talis  in  intima  cordis  amatur. 


1  This   is  perhaps  Petrus   Archiepiscopus   Tarentinus,    from   whom   a  letter   to   the   Prior  of 
Durham  exists  in  the  same  Ms.  Arund.  507,  fol.  8ob. 

2  on  the  margin :   loh.   elemosinarius :   Si   vere   nepos   mee   humilitatis   existis :    prepara   te   & 

flagellari  &  conuicia  pati  ab  omnibus. 

Consciencia.  Henr.   de  Gandauo   in   quodam   Quolibetuo    stio :    Consciencia :    est   eleccio 
deliberatiua  procedens  ex  dictamine  rationis. 


Latin  Epigrams. 

Saligia.  i        ^f  Gallos  cecauit  &  eos  saligia  strauit  : 

555       Die  michi  saligia  qne  sunt  peccata  cauenda. 
^[  In  cratere  meo  Tethis  est  coniuncta  Lieo, 
Est  dea  iuncta  deo,  set  dea  maior  eo. 
Nil  valet  hie  vel  ea  nisi  cum  fuerint  pharisea. 
(Annus).         %  Est  arbor  quedam  retinens  ramos  duodenos, 
560       Quinquaginta  duos  retinent  rami  sibi  nidos, 

Nidorum  quisque  septem  volucres  habet  in  se, 
Et  volucrum  quisque  sibi  nomen  habet  speciale. 
Cos.  ^f  Do  quod  non  habeo,  qui  fert  mea  dona  laborat, 

Quod  dat  &  hoc  aufert  &  fit  vterque  minor. 
Salue.    565  ^[  Est  vox  leticie  dissillaba  dictio  tota, 

Est  vox  tristicie  si  pars  sit  prima  remota, 
Si  tollas  finem  dapibus  dat  prima  saporem. 
^[  Ter  tria  sunt  septem,  septem  sex,  sex  quoque  tres  sunt, 

Si  numeres  recte,  tune  milia  sunt  tibi  quinque. 

Dapes.   570  ^  Quinque  cibant,  bis  bina  volant,  tria  stant,  duo  pulsant. 
Nix.  ^  Res  volat  ante  louem  &  semper  tendit  ad  yma  ; 

Denotat  esse  nouem  si  desit  littera  prima. 
^[  Si.  cur.  quando  :  rage,  promissio  fit  tibi  nuge  ; 

Frenum  vel  vestis:   remanendi  sit  tibi  testis. 
575  ^[  Tres  sunt  stulticie  quas,  fili,  disce  cauere: 
Tantum  iurare,  tantum  dare,  tanta  minari 
Quod  nil  credaris,  habeas  nil,  nil  metuaris. 

(Vs  P*£e  left  vacant;  on  fol.  76b  is  added:) 

Die  homo  mente  pia  &c.   (=  v.  246  —  8). 
^[  Virtus,  ecclesia  &c.  (=  v.  253  —  4). 
580  *[  Dum  scalpis  prurit,  set  postquam  scal[p]seris  vrit. 
^[  Ma[le]dictum  caput  canum  &  cor  vanum, 

Capud  tremulum  &  cor  emulum, 

Canicies  in  capite  &  pernicies  in  mente, 

Frons  rugosa  &  lingua  nugosa, 
585       Cutis  sicca  &  fides  ficta, 

Visus  caligans  &  caritas  claudicans, 

Labrum  pendens  &  dens  detrahens, 

Virtus  debilis  &  vita  flebilis 

Anni  multi  &  acrus  stulti. 
590  ^f  Fama  repleta  &c.  (=  v.  262  —  3). 

Amicus  necessarius  dicitur  qui  non  relinquit  hominem  in  necessitate  sua. 

^[  Qui  seminat  >»ite«,  non  metet  ille  »venite«. 
^[  Est  reprobum  reprobare  &c.  (=  v.  276  —  7). 
^[  Vestio,  poto,  cibo,  tectum  do,  visito,  soluo. 

O  pater  alme,  tuum  sit  nomen  sanctificatum, 

Adveniatque  tuum  regnum  per  secla  beatum  , 

Velle  tuum  fiat  in  terris  sicut  in  altis, 

Tu  panem  nostrum  da  nobis  cotidianum, 

Debita  dimitte  nobis  vt  nos  inimicis, 


Pater  noster. 
595 


»  On  the  meaning  of  saligia,  a  word  made  up  from  the  first  letters  of  the  7  deadly  sins, 
S(uperbia)  A(varitia)  L(uxuria)  I(ra)  G(ula)  I(nvidia)  A(ccidia),  see  Lib.  dc  modo  confitendi  et 
penitendi. 

28 


434  Appendix  II:   Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

Et  non  permittas  vt  nos  temptacio  vincat, 
600       Set  tutela  malo  tua  nos  defendat  ab  orani. 

When  be  hee  beginnis  &c.  (see  p.  156). 

A  few  more  epigrams  are  found  on  fol.  54,  at  the  end  of  Joh.  de  Gaytryge's  Sermon  : 
De  gula.  Prepropere,     laute,         nimis,    ardenter,       studiose. 

Sic  lonatas,  populus,  Sodome,      Seir,     atque  sacerdos. 
i  Reg.  14.       Num.  xi.  =Esau     filii  Ely:  Reg.  2. 

^f  Fastus,  auaricia,  torpedo,  liuor  et  ira, 

Et  gula,  luxuria:  sunt  septem  prima  cauenda. 
(X  pre-  605  ^f  Disce  deum  colere,  nomenque  dei  reuereri, 

Sabata  sanctifices,  inhonoret  nemo  parentes, 

Noli  mechari,  noli  de  cede  notari, 

Furta  caue  fieri,  non  sis  testis  nisi  veri, 

Non  queras  nuptas,  nee  queras  res  alienas. 
^[  Nos  vexant  &c.   (=  v.  317 — 8). 
610       Dicendis  horis  assit  mens  cordis  &  oris, 

Vox  ne  frustretur  dum  mens  procul  inde  vagetur. 
^f  Virtus,  ecclesia  &c.  (=  v.  253 — 4). 
^f  Viuere  vis  sine  ve,  cum  tu  sis  filius  Eue : 

Funde  frequenter  aue  matri  que  liberat  a  ve. 
^[  Perfidus  aspiciat  Petrum,  predoque  latronem, 
615       Crudelis  Paulum,  inmundus  carne  Mariam, 

Diues  Zacheum,  quern  tangit  cura  Matheum. 
^[  Triginta  binis  Christus  sic  vixerat  annis, 

Mensibus  &  trinis,  solum  decemque  diebus. 
^[  Die  vbi  tune  esset  cum  preter  eum  nichil  esset. 
620       Tune  vbi  nunc:  in  se;  quoniam  sibi  sufficit  ipse. 

Other  epigrams  are  found  in  different  places  of  the  Ms. : 

f.  6. 

(At  the  bottom  of  Bonaventura's  Arbor  vite)1: 
^]  Crux  finis  legis,  uia  uite,  passio  regis 

Cui  dedit  interitum  gracia  non  meritum. 
^f  Dulcis  amice,  uides  quos  pro  te  porto  dolores? 

Nil  pro  me  pacior,  inmeritus  crucior ; 
625       In  cruce  sum  pro  te ;  qui  peccas,  desine  pro  me ! 
Mortem  morte  domo,  ne  moriaris,  homo. 
Ecce  vides  quanti  michi  sis  homo ;   sim  tibi  tanti. 
Si  sic  felicem  vis  fore,  redde  uicem. 
Dignos  morte  premi  sic  uos  a  morte  redemi ; 
630       Qui  cruce  vos  emi,  sum  cruce  dignus  emi. 

f.  6b.    ^[  Qui  transis  per  me,  cernens  hoc  corpus  inerme 
Si  gemis  &  ploras,  Christum  compunctus  adoras. 
Aspice  peccator,  pro  te  moritur  mediator ; 
Vt  tibi  saluator  sit,  ei  sis  verus  amator. 

*•  7-    635       In  cruce  sum  pro  te;  qui  peccas  desine  pro  me. 
Cessa :   condone  ;  pugna :  iuuo  ;  vince :   corono ; 
Hie  contristari  malo  quern,  quam  post  cruciari. 


*  The  next  10  vv.  are  written  in  an  older  hand,  viz.  the  same  that  wrote  the  4  vellum  leaves 
(f.  6— 9)  inlaid  in  the  paper  Ms.;  but  the  foil,  verses  (Qui  transis)  are  written  in  the  usual  hand, 
although  on  the  same; vellum  leaves. 


Latin  notes,  prayers  &c.  42 c 

f.    10. 

Synful  man  &c.   (see  p.    156). 

Reminiscens  beati  sanguinis,  quem  effudit  amator  hominis,  perftmdo  lacrimas  ; 
Non  est  locus  ingratitudinis,  vbi  torrens  tante  dulcedinis  pertingit  ad  animas. 
640  Ihesu  bone,  cur  tantum  pateris,  cum  peccati  nichil  commiseris,  flos  innocencie? 
Ego  reus:  hi  -cruce  moreris;  ego  latro :  tu  pena  plecteris  nostre  nequicie. 
Pro  re  vili  cur  tantum  precium?  quid  lucraris  per  hoc  supplicium,  diues  in  gloria? 
An  te  fecit  amor  sic  ebrium,  vt  nil  putares  crucis  obprobrium,  amoris  gracia? 

f.    lob. 

(4  modi  inter-  ^[  Narrat  preteritas  tibi  res  historia  gestas. 

S     "    645       Vnum  Pro  reliquo  dat  verbis  allegoria. 

Set  verbum  mutat  ad  mores  tropologia  (vel  moralis). 
De  rebus  tractat  celestibus  anagogia. 
*[[  Litera  gesta  docet;  quid  credas,   allegoria; 
Moralis,  quid  ames ;  quid  speres,  anagogia.1 

f.    22. 

650  ^[  Indiscretus  homo  merito  reprehenditur,   omnis 

Qui  factis  propriis  spernit  habere  modum ; 

Omnibus  in  rebus  res  est  discrecio  summa, 

Et  modus  in  rebus  res  facit  esse  bonas. 

Nam  quecumque  facis,  si  non  discerneris  ante, 
655       Ad  reprobum  finem  sepe  venire  solent. 

f.  33b- 

^[  Cum  quid  turpe  facis  aliquo  spectante  rubescis : 
Cur  spectante  deo  non  magis  ipse  rubes? 

1  These  verses  are  followed  by  the  note  : 

Purgacio  respondet  ordini  tronorum,  quia  ibi  purgatur  anima  vt  deus  in  ea  quasi 
in  loco  mundo  resideat.  Illuminacio  respondet  cherubin,  qui  interpretatur  pleni- 
tudo  sciencie  ,  quia  per  illuminacionem ,  i.  e.  scienciam  scripturarum,  anima  in- 
telligit  creatorem  &  creaturas.  Perfectio  respondet  seraphin ,  qui  interpretatur 
ardens,  ibi  enim  anima  tanto  amore  in  deum  fertur  vt  maxime  corpus  per  exten- 
sionem  affectuum  &  motuum  quandoque  mirabiliter  affligatur. 


Lastly  I  also  give  here  the  Latin  pieces,  notes,  prayers  &c.,  which  in  the  same 
Ms.  accompany  the  English  texts  of  R.  Rolle,  and  are  partly  due  to  the  same  author. 
f-  34-1.  ^[  ^ens  humana  ymago  dei  est;  in  qua  sunt  hec  tria :  memoria,  intelligentia, 
&  voluntas.  Memorie  tribuimus  omne  quod  scimus,  eciam  si  non  inde  cogitamus. 
Intelligence  tribuimus  omne  quod  verum  cogitando  reperimus ;  quod  eciam  memorie 
commendamus.  Per  memoriam  :  Patri  similes  sumus  ;  per  intelligentiam  Filio.  Spiri- 
tui  vero  sancto  nichil  tarn  simile  est  in  nobis  quam  voluntas,  vel  amor  siue  dilectio, 
que  excellentior  voluntas  est.  Dilectio  dei :  donum  dei  est ,  ita  quod  nullum 
donum  hoc  dono  dei  excellentius.  Dilectio  namque  que  ex  deo  est:  &  deus  est 
proprie,  &  spiritus  sanctus  dicitur,  per  quem  caritas  dei  diffusa  est  in  cordibus  nostris, 
per  quam  tota  trinitas  in  nobis  habitat.  Non  ergo  superbiat  homo  cum  puluis  & 
cinis  sit;  cuius  concepcio  culpa,  nasci  miseria,  viuere  pena,  mori  angustia.  Cur 
camera  tuam  preciosis  rebus  adornas,  quam  post  paucos  dies  vermes  vorabunt  in 
sepulcro ;  animam  vero  tuam  non  ornas  bonis  operibus ,  que  deo  &  angelis  eius 
presentanda  est  in  cells?  Quare  animam  tuam  vilipendis  &  ei  camera  preponis? 
Dominam  ancillari  &  ancillam  dominari,  magna  est  abusio!  Totus  iste  mundus 
ad  vnius  anime  precium  estimari  non  potest ;  non  enim  pro  toto  mundo  deus 

1  probably  by  the  author  of  Speculum  peccatoris,  which  is  falsely  ascribed  to  R.  Rolle. 

28* 


436  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

animam  suam  daret.  Die  michi ,  amatores  mundi  vbi  sunt  qui  ante  pauca  tem- 
pora  nobiscum  erant?  nichil  ex  eis  remansit  nisi  cineres  &  vermes.  Attende 
diligenter  quid  sunt,  vel  quid  fuerunt.  Homines  fuerunt  sicut  &  tu;  comederunt, 
biberunt,  riserunt,  duxerunt  in  bonis  dies  suos:  &  in  puncto  ad  infernum  descen- 
denmt.  Hie  caro  eorum  vermibus,  illic  anima  igni  deputatur.  Quid  profuit  illis 
inanis  gloria,  breuis  leticia,  mundi  potentia,  carnis  voluptas,  false  diuicie,  magna 
familia ,  mala  concupiscentia  ?  vbi  risus,  vbi  iocus ,  vbi  iactancia,  vbi  arrogantia? 
post  tantam  voluptatem:  quam  grauis  miseria!  de  ilia  exultacione  ceciderunt  in 
magna  tormenta.  Quicquid  illis  accidit ,  tibi  accidere  potest,  quia  homo  es;  de 
humo  &  limo  &  terra  es,  &  de  terra  viuis ;  &  in  terram  reuerteris :  quando^veniet 
dies  vltima ;  que  subito  veniet,  &  forsitan  hodie  erit.  Certum  est  quod  morieris :  set 
incertum  est  quando,  aut  quomodo,  aut  vbi.  Et  quia  mors  vbique  te  expectat :  tu, 
si  sapiens  fueris,  vbique  earn  expectabis.  Si  in  carne  delectaris:  in  carne  crucia- 
beris;  si  curiosas  requiris  vestes:  subter  te  sternetur  tinea,  &  operimentum  tuum 
vermes  erunt.  lusticia  enim  dei  aliud  iudicare  non  potest  nisi  quod  merentur 
opera  nostra.  Qui  enim  plus  diligit  mundum  quam  deum,  seculum  quam  claustrum, 
gulam  quam  abstinentiam ,  luxuriam  quam  castitatem:  sequitur  diabolum ,  &  ibit 
cum  eo  in  supplicium  eternum.  Et  ideo  cum  ad  orandum  in  ecclesiam  veneris : 
fluctuantium  cogitacionum  tumultum  relinque ,  curamque  exteriorum  penitus  obliui- 
scere,  vt  soli  deo  possis  vacare.  Fieri  enim  non  potest  vt  cum  deo  loquatur  qui 
cum  toto  mundo  &  tacens  fabulatur.  Intende  ergo  illi  qui  intendit  tibi ;  audi  eum 
loquentem  tibi :  vt  ipse  audiat  te  loquentem  sibi.  Tu  eciam  votis  &  precibus  tuis  pias 
aures  domini  ad  te  flecte,  lacrimans  &  suspirans  pro  tuis  excessibus,  &  in  canticis 
spiritualibus,  in  omnibus  operibus  tuis  deum  lauda  &  glorifica;  nichil  magis  supernis 
ciuibus  spectare  libet ,  nichil  summo  regi  iocundius  exhibetur ,  sicut  ipse  testatur 
dicens :  »Sacrificium  laudis  honorificabit  me :  &  illic  iter  quo  ostendam  illi  salutare 
meum«  —  quod  dicit:  ab  hac  laude  terrena  est  iter  ad  eternam  laudem  sine  fine  man- 
suram;  set  nemo  apprehendit  illud  iter  nisi  ego  premonstrauero.  Iter  enim  nostre 
salutis  in  dei  laude  consistit,  vt  ait  leronimus:  O  quam  felix  esses  si  oculis  spiritua 
libus  semel  intueri  posses  quomodo  »preueniunt  principes  coniuncti  psallentibus  in 
medio  iuuencularum  tympanistrarum« ;  videres  procul  dubio  qua  cura  quove  tripudio 
intersunt  cantantibus,  assistunt  orantibus,  assunt  meditantibus,  supersunt  quiescentibus, 
presunt  prouidentibus  atque  procurantibus.  O  beata  visio  dei  &  gaudiorum  celi!  set 
ad  hec  quis  ydoneus?  profecto  verus  penitens,  bonus  obediens,  fidelis  seruus,  ama- 
bilis  socius.  Verus  penitens:  semper  est  in  labore  &  dolore ;  dolet  de  preteritis, 
laborat  pro  futuris  cauendis.  Vera  penitentia  est:  sine  intermissione  de  peccatis 
dolere,  sic  plangere  commissa:  ne  committat  plangenda.  Irrisor  namque  est  &  non 
verus  penitens  qui  adhuc  agit  quod  penitet.  Si  vis  ergo  verus  penitens  esse :  cessa 
a  peccato ,  quoniam  inanis  est  penitentia  quam  sequens  coinquinat  culpa.  Verus 
obediens:  dat  suum  velle  &  suum  nolle;  vt  possit  dicere:  »Paratum  cor  meum 
deus  paratum  &c.«  Vtrobique  timendum  est  bellum  &  periculum,  vndique  tela 
volant ,  vndique  temptamenta ,  vndique  pericula ;  quocumque  me  vertam :  nulla 
securitas.  Caro  michi  suggerit  mollia ,  mundus  vana ,  diabolus  amara.  Quotiens 
aliqua  carnalis  cogitacio  mentem  pulsat  de  cibo,  potu,  sompno,  ceterisque  simi- 
libus  carni  pertinentibus :  caro  michi  loquitur;  cum  de  ambicione  seculi  &  aliis 
cogitacio  vana  in  corde  versatur :  de  mundo  est ;  quando  ad  iram  &  amaritudinem 
animi  prouocor:  diaboli  snggestio  est.  Set  quotiens  hiis  resistimus:  diabolum  supera- 
mus,  angelos  letificamus,  deum  honoramus.  Deus  enim  hortatur  nos  vt  pugnemus ; 
adiuuat  vt  vincamus ;  certantes  spectat,  deficientes  subleuat,  vincentes  coronat. 

f.  35h.      2.     Istam  oracionem  subsequent  em ,    videlicet  Domina    mea    sanctissima   sancta 
Maria,    confirmauit  dominus  papa  Innocentius  IIII  &  addidit  omnibus  earn 


Latin  notes,  prayers  &c. 

deuote  dicentibus  quingentos  dies  indulgentie  quotienscumque  earn  dixerint, 
&  vnam  quadragenam.  Item  quicumque  istam  oracionem  ieiunus  &  con- 
fessus  per  .xxx.  dies  continuauerit,  pro  quacumque  re  beatam  virginem 
petierit,  sine  dubio  optinebit,  &  visione  eius  tertia  die  ante  obitum  suum 
nunquam  carebit. 


J_J 


omina  mea  sanctissima,  sancta  Maria  perpetua  virgo  virginum,  mater  summe 
benignitatis  &  misericordie,  per  ilium  qui  animam  tuam  pertransiuit  gladium  doloris 
dum  vnigenitus  filius  tuus  dominus  noster  Ihesus  Christus  supplicium  mortis  pateretur 
in  cruce  ;  &  per  ilium  filialem  affectum  quo  ipse  niaterno  dolori  compassus  integer- 
rime  dilectionis  sue  vicario  sancto  lohanni  apostolo  te  prouidendam  commendauit  : 
compatere,  condole,  consule  queso  tribulationi,  anxietati,  aduersitati,  infirmitati,  pau- 
pertati,  solicitudini  &  qualicunque  necessitati  mee.  O  miseratrix  miseromm,  dulcis 
consolatio  afflictorum,  ac  mater  misericordiarum,  desolatomm  piissima  consolatrix, 
in  omni  necessitate  pupillorum  prompta  adiutrix:  exaudi  preces  meas  &  respice 
orbitatis  mee  &  miserie  lacrimas;  quia  in  diuersis  malis  &  angustiis  pro  peccatis 
meis  positus,  penitus  ignoro  ad  quern  fugiam,  nisi  ad  te  dominam  meam  dulcissi- 
mam  virginem  Mariarn,  genitricem  domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi,  conformem  &  con- 
similem  ac  reformatricem  humanitatis  nostre.  Ergo  aures  tue  pietatis  siue  consuete 
misericordie  precibus  meis  benigne  accomoda  ,  per  viscera  misericordie  filii  tui  ; 
per  dulcedinem  quam  tune  filius  tuus  dominus  noster  Ihesus  Christus  habuit  quando 
humanum  genus  amplexatus  est  vt  liberaret  vna  cum  patre  &  spiritu  sancto,  carnem 
pro  nostra  salute  assumens  fragilem  angelo  nunciante  &  spiritu  sancto  obum- 
brante  de  te  piissima  virgo  Maria  incarnatus  est,  &  IX  mensibus  in  tuo  sacratissimo 
vtero  clausus,  deus  &  homo  gestatus,  ac  finito  cursu  .IX.  mensium  spiritu  sancto 
cooperante  gloriosam  aulam  tui  virginalis  vteri  egrediens  non  aspernatus  est  visi- 
tare  mundum;  per  angustiam  quam  idem  filius  tuus  dominus  noster  Ihesus  Christus 
habuit  quando  in  monte  Oliueti  patrem  suum  exorauit  vt  si  fieri  posset  transiret  ab 
eo  calix  passionis  &  mortis  eius;  per  trinam  oracionem  eius;  per  tristem  quoque 
incessum  domini,  quo  insequta  es  eum  cum  lacrimis,  ad  crudele  spectaculum 
passionis  &  mortis  eius;  per  probra,  sputa,  colaphos,  irrisiones,  &  per  tempta- 
ciones  eius  ,  per  accusaciones  eius  ;  per  vestem  sorte  &  ludo  adquisitam  ;  per 
vincula  &  flagella  eius  ;  per  trinas  lacrimas  eius,  per  guttas  sanguinei  sudoris  eius  ; 
per  patientiam  &  taciturnitatem  eius;  per  pauorem  &  tedium  ac  mesticiam  cordis 
eius;  per  verecundiam  quam  habuit  quando  denudatus  in  cruce  coram  te  piissima 
virgo  omnique  populo  pependit;  per  regale  caput  eius  arundine  conquassatum, 
per  spineam  coronam  eius;  per  sitim  &  gustum  aceti  cum  felle  mixti  ;  per  lanceam 
infixam  sacratissimo  lateri  eius,  per  sanguinem  &  aquam  qui  de  sacratissimo  latere 
eius  fluxerunt  &  misericordiam  &  gratiam  super  nos  effusam  demonstrauerunt  ;  per 
clauos  infixos  manibus  &  pedibus  eius;  per  commendacionem  qua  patri  animam 
suam  commendauit;  per  dulcissimum  spiritum  eius  quern  cum  clamore  valido, 
clamando  Eloy  eloy  lamas;abatany  ,  &  inclinato  capite  cum  dolore  mortis  dicens 
Consummatum  est,  emisit  in  cruce;  per  scissuram  veli  in  templo,  per  obscura- 
cionem  solis  &  lune,  per  tremorem  terre;  per  misericordiam  eius  factam  in  latrone; 
per  crucem  &  passionem  eius,  per  mortem  &  sepulturam  eius;  per  descensionem 
eius  ad  inferos,  per  omnes  animas  quas  per  aduentum  sue  visitacionis  letificauit; 
per  gaudium  &  victoriam  ac  gloriam  resurrectionis  eius;  per  apparicionem  .xl. 
dierum  qua  post  resurrectionem  suam  tibi  preelecta  virgo  &  apostolis  ceterisque 
electis  apparuit;  per  admirabilem  ascensionem  suam  qua  te  virgo  gloriosa  &  ipsis 
cernentibus  est  eleuatus  in  celum;  per  graciam  sancti  spiritus  paracliti  quam  dis- 
cipulorum  cordibus  in  linguis  igneis  infudit  &  per  eos  in  toto  orbe  terrarum  longe 
lateque  dimidit;  per  tremendum  diem  iudicii  quo  ipse  venturus  est  iudicare  viuos 


438  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 

&  mortuos,  &  seculum  per  ignem;  &  per  omnes  compassiones  eius  tecum  in  hoc 
mundo  participatis ;  per  suauitatem  colloquiorum  &  osculorum  ac  amplexuum  eius  ; 
per  ineffabile  gaudium  quo  secum  assumpta  [es]  in  conventu  (?)  eiusdem  filii  tui  vbi 
gaudes  &  exultas  sine  fine:  Letifica  cor  meum  &  exaudi  me  in  hac  peticione  mea 
pro  qua  specialiter  te  imploro  supliciter  &  exoro  vt  sicut  certus  sum  quod  ille 
nichil  negans  te  honorat,  ita  sentiam  facilius,  plenius,  celerius  &  efficacius  tuum 
sanctissimum  adiuuamen  &  consolamen :  Secundum  suauitatem  misericordissimi 
cordis  tui  &  dilectissimi  filii  tui  voluntatem  timentium  se  facientis  &  delectanti  in 
se  cordis  peticionem  dantis,  &  secundum  necessitatem  meam  in  hiis  &  in  omnibus 
rebus  meis  pro  quibus  sanctissimum  suplex  inuoco  nomen  tuum  &  adiuuamen ,  vt 
optineas  michi  apud  eundem  dulcissimum  filium  tuum  in  fide  catholica  spem 
firmam,  fidem  rectam,  caritatemque  perfectam,  veram  cordis  contricionem,  fontem 
lacrimarum,  dignam  &  sinceram  confessionem,  &  sanctissimam  satisfactionem,  diligen- 
temque  custodiam  a  peccatis,  contemptum  mundi,  dilectionem  dei  &  proximi ;  flagella 
misericordissimi  filii  tui  in  corde  meo  inmundissimo  recordari,  veram  patientiam  por- 
tare  ad  omnia  que  pro  amore  filii  tui  sunt  sustinenda  &  eciam  si  oportuerit  mortem 
turpissimam  cum  exequcione  votorum  meorum;  perseuerantiam  in  bonis  operibus, 
conuersationem  sibi  placentem,  felicem  obitum,  &  in  extrema  hora  vite  mee  peni- 
tenciam  vehementem  bonique  sensus  integritatem  cum  loquela;  &  animabus 
parentum  meorum  &  omnium  benefactorum  meorum  viuorum  atque  mortuorum  & 
omnium  fidelium  defunctorum  requiem  eternam,  &  viuis  salubrem  vitam  &  pro- 
speritatem  in  hoc  seculo  concedat,  per  eundem  Christum  dominum  nostrum,  amen. 
Vers.  In  omni  tribulacione  &  angustia  &  paupertate  nostra:  succurre  nobis  piissima 
virgo  Maria.  Oremus :  Famulomm  tuorum  quesumus  domine  delictis  &c.  Concede 
quesumus  misericors  deus  fragilitati  nostre. 

f.  35b.  3-  JL/iabolus  tribus  modis  insidiatur  religiosis :  sc.  cum  aliquis  se  solum  estimet 
iustum;  vel  quando  nimium  confidit  de  sua  iusticia;  vel  quando  cessat  ab  op  ere 
bono.  Elias  se  solum  estimans  iustum :  dixit  Reg.  ill.  19  in  fine  :  Domine,  altaria  tua 
subuerterunt  &  prophetas  tuos  occiderunt ,  &  ego  solus  remansi  inter  eos ;  Cui 
dominus:  Relinquam  michi  in  Israel  .vn.  milia  virorum  quorum  genua  non  sunt 
curuata  ante  Baal.  Petrus  signans  cum  qui  nimium  confidit  de  sua  iusticia:  dixit: 
Si  oportuerit  me  mori  tecum  non  te  negabo.  Tobias  gerens  tipum  cessantium  a  bono 
opere :  de  sepultura  fatigatus  obdormiuit  in  domo  sua  iactans  se  iuxta  parietem : 
&  ex  calido  stercore  yrundinum  factus  est  cecus.  Domus  Tobie  morantis  caro 
nostra  est;  nidus  yrundinum  qui  ex  luto  conficitur  &  ex  plumis  mollibus  intus 
paratur,  delectacionem  in  terrenis  signat ;  yrundines,  propter  leuem  volatum,  super- 
biam  cordis  leuitatemque  figurant :  quarum  inmundicia  confestim  cecat  eos  quibus 
dominantur;  ille  ergo  qui  incautus  mentem  leuitati  ac  superbie  subicit,  quasi  nido 
yrundinum  suppo  situs  dormit. 

f.  36.  Insidiatur  eciam  diabolus  religiosis:  per  gloriam  laudis  humane.  Eleazarus ,  ut 
dicitur,  elephantem  occidit,  &  ab  elephante  legitur  occisus ,  cecidit  enim  elephans 
super  Eleazarum  &  mole  sui  corporis  oppressit  eum.  per  Eleazarum:  illi  qui  mundi 
fastum  repudiant  per  humilitatem,  designantur ;  per  elefantem :  mundi  superbia. 
vbi  occiditur  bestia:  succiditur  arbor  cui  inclinat,  &  sic  cadit  vterque.  stat  semper 
elefans;  qui  sic  stat:  male  stat,  quia  membra  superbie  inflexibilia  sunt;  ad  pro- 
priam  voluntatem  stat  superbus  &  quasi  ad  arborem  latus  inclinat. 

f.  s6b.  4-      leronimus  in  quadam  epistola  que  suo  kalendario  preponitur:  Nullus  dies  est 

exempto    die  Kalendarum   lanuarii:    qui    non   intra  .v.  milium   numerum   martirum 

reperiri  possit  ascriptus.    Et  ideo  ecclesia  ordinauit  vt  quia  omnium  sanctorum  singu- 

lariter  festa  agere  non  possumus:   saltern  omnes  generaliter  &  insimul  honoremus. 

For  als  mykil  &c,   cf.  p.    156. 


Latin  notes,  prayers  &c. 

f-  37-  5-  vJTregorius  in  omelia  18  super  illo  lo.  8  Quis  ex  vobis  arguet  me  de  peccato : 
Nemo  se  contra  acceptas  contumelias  erigat,  nemo  conuiciis  conuicium  reddat. 
Imitacione  enim  dei  gloriosius  est  iniuriam  tacendo  fugere,  quam  respondendo 
superare. 

Religio  qualis  sit. 

f.  38b.  6.  llugo  de  Folieto  prior  Canonicorum  Sancti  Laurentii  in  pago  Ambienensi, 
in  Tractatu  de  claustro  anime ,  libro  primo  circa  medium,  sic  dicit  de  Religione  : 
Religio  habundans  est  pauperi,  Sufficiens  est  mediocri — dat  enim  necessaria,  &  dat 
gratis  &  dat  satis;  Tolerabilis  est  diuiti,  Infirmis  larga,  Delicatis  compatiens,  For- 
tioribus  moderata,  Penitentibus  misericors  ,  Peruersis  seuera,  Bonis  optima.  Hec 
sunt  .ix.  beneficia  Religionis,  in  quibus  singulis  est  diligencius  immorandum. 

f.  39.  7-  V_/portet  vnumquemque  diligere  animam  suam:  sicut  &  corpus  suum.  Corpus 
autem  aim  esurit :  querit  cibum ;  quando  sitit :  querit  potum ;  quando  nudum  est : 
querit  vestimentum;  quando  laborat:  querit  requiem;  quando  grauatur:  querit 
sompnum.  Ita  anima  indiget  hiis  substantiis.  Cibus  autem  anime :  est  preceptum 
dei;  potus :  est  oracio,  sciencia  vel  sapiencia ;  vestimentum  eius:  in  Christo  con- 
firmacio ;  requies  eius:  veritas ;  sompnus:  humilitas.  Ipse  enim  deus  ait:  Super 
quern  requiescam,  nisi  super  humilem  &  quietum  &  trementem  verba  mea? 

8.  In  omni  claustro  sunt  .mi.  genera  monachorum.  Sunt  enim  cenobite,  in 
communi  monasterii  regula  &  communi  vita  obediencie  maiorum  deseruientes.  Sunt 
anachorite,  de  quibus  dicitur  in  lob:  qui  edificant  sibi  solitudines;  qui  in  communi 
vita  fratrum  positi:  laudabiliter  tamen  vacant  priuate  contemplacioni.  Sunt  giro- 
uagi  carnales ,  qui  corpore  tantum  infra  septa  monasterii  inclusi :  corde  &  lingua 
totum  mundum  circueunt.  Sunt  &  girouagi  spirituales,  qui  de  lectione  ad  ora- 
cionem,  de  oracione  ad  laborem,  pro  cordis  sui  leuitate  feruntur,  in  nullo  opens 
fructum  stabili  constantia  &  perseueranti  deuocione  prestolantes.  Sunt  &  sarabaite, 
qui  seipsos  amantes ,  que  sua  sunt  querentes ,  in  congregacione  bini  aut  terni  aut 
quaterni  communem  monasterii  regulam  necgligentes,  &  sententias  nouas  &  priua- 
tas  sibi  adinuenciones  fingentes :  partes  &  scismata  in  congregacione  faciunt,  seque 
inuicem  &  heresim  suam  &  scismata  defendentes :  gregem  domini  turbare  non 
desinunt. 

9-  Oi  quis  deum  voluerit  reddere  sibi  propicium,  dicat  ingemiscens  coram  cruci- 
fixo  .vii.  vicibus  hos  psalmos:  Vsquequo ;  Ad  te  domine  leuaui.  In  necessitate 
quis  positus,  cantet  hunc  psalmum  attentius  &  liberabitur  :  In  te  domine  speraui 
.1.  Cum  quis  alicubi  est  iturus  vnde  est  sibi  timendum,  dicat  tribus  vicibus  hunc 
psalmum:  ludica  domine  nocentes  me.  Cui  temptamenta  carnis  s'unt  tedio  ,  dicat 
quadragies  hunc  psalmum  &  erit  sibi  remedium:  ludica  me  deus  &  discerne.  Cum 
de  lecto  surrexeris,  antequam  quicquam  inceperis  die  hunc  psalmum  tribus  vicibus 
&  totidem  pater  noster  &  non  erit  tibi  illo  die  aliquid  impedimento :  Deus  in 
nomine  tuo  saluum.  Dum  in  aduersitate  fueris,  centies  in  terra  genibus  positis  die 
hunc  psalmum  cum  lacrimis  &  liberaberis:  Exaudi  deus  oracionem  meam  &  ne 
despex'eris,  &,  Miserere  mei  deus  quoniam  in  te  conndit.  In  peccatis  quis  positus, 
imploret  deum  cum  fletibus  vt  detur  sibi  compunccionis  spiritus,  &  dicat  psalmum : 
Deus  misereatur  nostri.  Si  quis  ab  inimicis  circumdatur,  deum  orando  cum  gemi- 
tibus  dicat  hunc  psalmum  decies  &  absque  dubio  liberabitur:  Exurgat  deus. 
Quanto  magis  tribulatur  homo  :  tanto  magis  sit  eius  intencio  posita  in  oracionibus, 
&  conuersus  ad  deum  &  ex  toto  corde  penitens  dicat  hunc  psalmum  in  oratorio : 
Saluum  me  fac  deus.  Quando  aliquid  graue  incepturus  es,  voca  diuinum  auxilium, 


44°  Appendix  II:  Additions  from  Ms.  Anindel  507. 

prostratus  ante  altare  dicens  hunc  psalmum  quinque  vicibus:  Deus  in  adiutorium 
meum  intende.  Quando  magna  tristitia  te  senseris  oppressum,  ante  altare  & 
corpus  domini  prostratus  hunc  psalmum  die  decies  &  auxilio  diuino  cito  repleberis : 
Domine  deus  salutis.  -Si  quis  in  tribulacione  positus  sit,  in  nomine  trinitatis  & 
sancte  crucis  hos  psalmos  cantet  &  sine  dubio  liberabitur — primus  est  de  auxilio 
dei,  2US  de  misericordia  dei,  3^  de  redempcione  del :  Leuaui  oculos  ;  Ad  te  leuaui ; 
De  profundis;  et  addat:  Tibi  laus,  tibi  gloria,  tibi  graciarum  accio  in  secula 
seculorum  o  beata  trinitas,  Te  inuocamus,  te  adoramus,  te  laudamus  o  beata 
trinitas.  3US  vicibus  repete :  Tibi  laus.  Kirieel.  ChristeeL  Kirieel.  Paternoster. 
Et  ne.  Ostende  nobis.  Domine  deus  uiuus.  Domine  ex.  Domine  deus  pater 
omnipotens  nos  famulos  tuos  maiestati  tue  subiectos:  per  vnicum  nlium  tuum  in 
uirtute  spiritus  sancti  benedic  &  protege,  ut  ab  omni  hoste  securi:  in  tua  iugiter 
laude  letemur,  qui  viuis  &  regnas.  — 

•  39b-  10.     O  gloriosa  regina  celorum,  domina  -angelorum  &  hominum,  o  singulare  refu- 
gium   peccatorum,    o    beatissima   mater   saluatoris :    ego   reus  &  indignus ,    de   tua 
ineffabili   bonitate   quam  peccatoribus   te   denote  rogantibus  feliciter  ostehdis  con- 
fidens,  tue  pietati  sanctissime  suplico  vt  de  potestate  inimici    generis    humani    cui 
me    multipliciter  subieci,    celeriter   eripias,    atque   filio   tuo    conditori  meo  miseri- 
corditer  restituas.     Scio  enim  quod  innumerabiles  a  gehenne  faucibus  tua  sanctis- 
sima  prece  potenter  eripuisti.     Igitur  te  domina   omni  affectu    exoro ,  per   Ihesum 
Christum  quern  virgo  concepisti,  virgo  peperisti,  lactasti  &  aluisti,   &  quern  tandem 
pro   redempcione    generis    humani    crucifixum ,    in  cruce  pendentem,    cum  maxima 
compassione    conspexisti :    quatinus   michi  peccatori   misero    in    omnibus    succurras 
aduersitatibus  atque  temptacionibus,   ab  occultis  &  manifestis  peccatis  me  liberans. 
Adiuua  me  domina  dulcissima  sicut  adiuuisti  Theophilum  in  te  confident  em,  relaxa 
facinora   mea   que    sunt   magna   valde ;    scio  enim  quia  potes ,  si  vis.     Surge  ergo 
bona  domina  mea,    &  ante    tronum  filii  tui,    mamillis  tuis  pulcherrimis  atque  dul- 
cissimis   quibus   deum  &  hominem   lactasti  [ostensis],    eum  si  placet  sic  alloquere : 
»Fili,    huius  serui  mei  peticionibus  &  doloribus  nequeo  non  moueri;    iam  penitet, 
iam  te  adorat  &  me  veneratur,  veniamque  de  commissis  humiliter  petit ;   &  ut  faci- 
lius  impetret,    auxilium  meum   flagitat;    nee  ei  negabo  quod  te   deuote  petentibus 
&   te    &   me   humiliter   inuocantibus    misericorditer   impendere    consueueram.     Ne 
aduerseris  igitur  matri  pro  eo  suplicanti;   quia  ideo  voluisti  habere  matrem  in  terris: 
vt  impios   iustificando   duceres   ad  celos.     Nee   attendas   eius  iniquitatem  set  peni- 
tenciam,  non  scelera  set  dolorem.     Si  ilium  iuste  abicis:  non  auertas  faciem  tuam 
a  me.     Ecce  viscera  mea  que  te  portauerunt,    ecce  manus  que  te  fouerunt,    ecce 
vbera   que   te    lactauerunt.     Recordare   fili   mi   dulcissime,    quare  hec  sustinueras, 
quare   me  ministram    horum   esse  volueras.     Recordare   quam  fragilis  est  humana 
substancia,    quam  prona  ad  peccandum,  quam  facilis  ad  lapsum,    quam  ruitura  in 
profnndum,  nisi  earn  manu  misericordie  tue  &  gracie  sustinueris.     Audi  me,  domine 
&  fili,   orantem  pro  isto  qui  clamat  ad  me  pro  se  &  omnibus   amicis,    parentibus, 
benefactoribus  &  familiaribus  suis,  vt  conuertantur  &  saluentur ;    quia  non  possum 
deesse   eis   quos   precioso   sanguine   tuo    redemisti ,    quia   eorum  precium  de  carne 
mea  est.     Audi  igitur ,    audi  me  ancillam  tuam ;    &  si  non  ancillam :    audi  matrem 
tuam ;   &  da  michi  animam  istius ,    &  animas  eorum  pro  quibus  flagitat  me  ac  pro 
quibus  animam  tuam  preciosissimam  posuisti ;  valeat  illi  obsecro  spes  &  fiducia  quas 
in  te  habet  erga  me  matrem  tuam«.    Sic  quoque  domina  mea  Maria,  mater  miseri 
cordie,  consolatrix  miserorum,  refugium  peccatorum :  loquere  ad  filium  tuum  domi- 
num  nostrum  Ihesum  Christum ;  qui  cum  patre  &  spiritu  sancto  viuit  &  regnat  deus 
benedictus   per  omnia  secula  seculorum,  amen. 


Latin  notes,  prayers  &c.  44! 

1r~* 

Ricar'  "'  ^ura  infeliciter  florerem  &  iuuentus  iugulantis  adolescentie  iam  aduenisset : 
dus  affuit  &  gracia  conditoris  qui  petulantiam  restringens :  ad  superna  animum  eleuauit, 

Here-  ita  vt  amplius  ad  eternitatis  amenitatem  anelarem:  quam  antea  vnquam  in  carnali 
mollicie  delectabar  ;  vnde  aspirante  spiritu  sancto :  ad  assequendam  vitam  solitariam 
incendebar.  Mansi  tamen  inter  mundanos  accipiens  ab  eis  alimenta.  Set  huius- 
modi  propter  Christum  abiciens :  transtuli  animum  meum  ad  amorem  conditoris 
desiderans  in  eterna  dulcedine  delectari,  vnde  solacia  hominum  deserens :  quietem 
solitudinis  quesiui,  de  vno  loco  ad  alium  transiens.  Deserere  autem  cellas  ex 
racionabili  causa:  non  est  malum  &  itemm  ad  easdem  redire:  si  congruum  videa- 
tur.  Quidam  enim  sanctorum  parnun  sic  fecerunt.  Nee  cessandum  est  propter 
detrahentes :  qui  malum  loquerentur  :  licet  ibidem  perstetissent.  Hoc  enim  cognoui 
quod  quanto  magis  contra  me  homines  verbis  detractariis  insanierunt :  tanto  magis 
in  profectu  spiritual!  succreui;  non  enim  cessaui  ab  hiis  que  vtilia  erant  anime 
mee:  propter  verba  eorum,  &  ideo  semper  inueni  deum  fouentem.  2Et  propter 
processus  temporum :  magnus  datus  est  michi  profectus  spiritualium  gaudiorum. 
Ab  inicio  itaque  alternate  vite  &  mentis  usque  ad  apercionem  ostii  celestis  vt 
reuelata  facie  oculus  cordis  superos  contemplaretur  &  videret  qua  via  amatum 
suum  quereret  &  ad  ipsum  anelaret:  effluxerunt  tres  anni  exceptis  tribus  vel  4 
mensibus.  Manente  siquidem  aperto  ostio  :  vsque  ad  tempus  in  quo  corde  realiter 
sentiebatur  calor  eterni  amoris:  vnus  annus  pene  pertransiit.  Sedebam  quippe  in 
vna  capella,  &  dum  suauitate  oracionis  &  meditacionis  multum  delectarer:  subito 
sentiui  in  me  ardorem  insolitum  &  iocundum ;  set  cum  fluctuarem  a  quo  esset : 
experrus  sum  non  a  creatura  ilium  esse  set  a  creatore,  quia  feruentiorem  &  iocun- 
diorem  me  inueni.  Flagrante  autem  illo  calore  suaui :  usque  ad  infusionem  soni 
celestis  qui  ad  canticum  pertinet  laudis  eterne  que  audiri  non  potest  nisi  ab  eo 
qui  mundus  est  nee  sciri :  dimidius  annus  &  tres  menses  &  aliquot  ebdomade 
effluxerunt.  Dum  enim  in  eadem  capella  sederem  &  in  nocte  ante  cenam  psalmos 
prout  potui  decantarem:  quasi  tinnitum  psallentium  supra  me  ascultaui.  Cumque 
celestibus  orando  toto  desiderio  intenderem:  nescio  quo  modo  ,  mox  in  me  con- 
centum  canorum  sensi  &  delicatissimam  armoniam  celitus  accepi,  mecum  manentem 
in  mente  ;  nam  cogitacio  mea  continue  in  carmine  canoris  commutabatur :  &  quasi 
odas  habui  meditando  ;  ac  eciam  in  oracionibus  ipsis  &  psalmodia :  eundem  sonum 
edidi,  deincepsque  ad  canendum  que  prius  dixeram,  pre  affluentia  eterne  suaui- 
tatis  prorupi;  occulte  tamen:  ne  cognoscerer  a  me  cernentibus;  quia  sic  me 
honorassent:  quod  partem  meriti  perdidissem.  Et  mirabar  quod  assumptus  essem 
ad  tantam  iocunditatem ;  set  dederat  deus  michi  dona:  que  petere  nesciui ;  nee 
putaui  aliquem  quamuis  sanctissimum  in  hac  vita:  tale  aliquid  accepisse.  Puto 
eciam  neminem  illud  accepturum :  nisi  specialiter  nomen  dei  diligat,  &  tantum 
honoret:  vt  ab  eius  memoria  nisi  per  sompnum  non  recedat.  Ego  autem  ab 
inicio  mutati  animi  usque  ad  suppremum  amoris  gradum  quern  deo  dante  attinge- 
bam:  .mi.  annos  &  circa  .ill.  menses  habui.  Hie  nempe  cum  prioribus  ad  ipsum 
dispositis :  status  permanet  usque  in  finem ;  verum  eciam  post  mortem  erit  per- 
fectior ;  quia  hie  gaudium  amoris  incendiumve  caritatis  incipitur :  &  in  celesti 
regno  gloriosissimam  accipiet  consummationem. 

f.  66.  12.  .L/omine  deus  spiritus  sancte,  timeo  &  desidero  loqui  de  te  pro  me;  quia  de 
me  non  habeo  quid  loquar  de  te :  nisi  tu  dederis  michi  te,  vt  tu  tibi  loquaris  pro 
me.  Da  igitur  michi  te  in  principio,  dator  optime  &  optimi,  quia  quam  ad  te, 
tu  deus  meus ;  nichil  potest  aliquid  meum  esse,  nee  ego  meus  ero :  nisi  postquam 

1  This  piece  is  a  chapter  of  R.  Rolle's  Incendium  amoris,  but  is  frequently  found  separate. 

2  This  passage  is  quoted  in  Offic.  de  S.  Ricardo  eremita. 


442 


Appendix  II:    Additions  from  Ms.  Arundel  507. 


tu  meus  fueris.  Esto  ergo  meus,  deus  meus:  quia  sic  ero  meus,  &  sic  tuus.  Si 
vero  non  es  meus:  nichil  meum  est.  Quomodo  ergo  emam  aut  comparabo  te? 
nullo  certe  nisi  te.  Necesse  igitur  est  vt  des  michi  te:  vt  te  possim  emere  te. 
Peto  ergo  te,  &  prepara  me  ad  recipiendum  te,  &  receptus  loquere  tibi  pro  me, 
&  audi  in  me  te  pro  me.  Pete  michi  dona  tua  a  te,  &  da  tibi  petenti  pro  me. 
Nunc  sentio,  dulcissime,  quid  queris  a  me:  »Vnde  tibi,  misera  creatura,  tanta  pre- 
sumpcio,  tarn  improba  egressio?  Quali  ceruice  principalem  offensum  tuum,  offensum 
detestabilem  sic  alloqueris?«  Audi,  benignissime,  semel,  &  ne  irascaris ;  vide  quo 
spiritu  loquor ;  quia  ego  nescio ;  set  bene  sentio  quod  non  loqui  non  possum. 
Recolo  tamen  quod  alium  adulterum  &  homicidam  tetigisti:  &  psalmistam  fecisti; 
Danielem  ydiotam  replesti :  &  iudicem  senum  fecisti  &  innocentem  liberasti ; 
Magdalenam  septem  demonibus  plenam  respexisti :  &  multa  dilectione  repletam 
apostolorum  apostolam  constituisti ;  flere  fecisti  apostatam :  &  ordinasti  in  summum 
pontificem;  publicanum  vocasti:  &  euangelistam  consecrasti;  percussisti  persequ- 
torem:  &  erexisti  in  summum  doctorem;  descendisti  in  timidos  metu  iudeorum 
inclusos:  &  emisisti  eos  audacissima  doctrina  inflammatos.  Domine  sancte,  cum 
hec  mente  rumino,  excitant  me,  sic  alloqui  te ;  &  scio  nunc  quia  sic  docuisti  me 
respondere  tibi;  &  propter  hoc  in  te  spero,  ad  te  respiro,  ad  te  confugio.  Si 
forte  adhuc  obicis  michi  dicens:  »tu  omnibus  de  quibus  spem  confidentie  assump- 
sisti  peior  es ,  omnes  in  malicia  superasti ;  quare  ergo  ex  illis  trahis  argumentum 
spei?«  Audi  ergo,  summa  benignitas,  audi  ita  tamen  vt  non  incurrat  indignacionem 
tuam  misera  creatura  tua.  Si  plura  sunt  scelera  mea  &  maiora  quam  omnium 
eorum  quos  ita  exemplum  tue  misericordie  notaui:  multo  est  misericordia  tua  maior 
quia  infinita,  cui  eque  facile  est  remittere  mille  milia  peccata  &  vnum  solum, 
quamuis  ille  cui  dimittitur,  propter  consuetudinem  sit  difficilior.  Scio  quod  aliquis 
in  suo  primo  mortali  discedit  precitus  ad  mortem,  alius  post  mille  milia  peccata 
commissa  reseruatus  est  &  ad  vitam  predestinatus.  Et  in  hiis  quid,  dulcissime, 
nisi  hinc  tua  misericordia,  illinc  dei  patris  iusticia  manifestissime  apparuit  ?  Accidit 
in  aliis  duobus  quod  vterque  post  multa  peccata  magna  &  mortalia  diutius  reser- 
uantur,  &  in  fine  alter  ad  vitam,  alter  ad  penam  transit  eternam.  Quid  ergo  in 
hiis,  benignissime,  nisi  tua  dulcissima  misericordia  in  se  vniformis  ,  diuersimode 
tamen  operans?  Nee  ergo  certitudinem  vite  eterne  dat  paucitas  peccatorum:  nee 
desperacionem  confert  multitude  scelerum.  Set  quoniam  melior  est  misericordia 
tua  super  vitas  . .  .  (rest  om.). 

(Ms.  Arundel  contains,    besides,    several   other  interesting  pieces,    as  drawings  of 
trees  of  vices  &c.,  which  cannot  be  reproduced  here). 


p.  3. 


Addenda. 

A  metrical  version  of  The  Form  of  Living  (but  exclusive  of  Amore  langueo),  in  the 
northern  dialect,  is  extant  in  Ms.  Tib.  E  vn,  which,  besides,  contains  (Will.  ofNassing- 
ton's)  Mirror  of  life,  the  Lamentation  of  St.  Mary  to  St.  Bernhard  on  the  passion 
of  Christ,  a  metrical  version  of  Spiritus  Guidonis  (a  prose  text  is  contained  in  Ms. 
Vernon).  and  a  set  of  homilies  and  legends  —  an  enlargement  of  the  original  collection 
of  Dominicalia  evangelia,  and  of  which  another  copy,  still  more  enlarged,  is  Ms.  Harl. 
4196,  cf.  Altengl.  Leg.  Neue  Folge  p.  LXXVIII.  Of  Will.  Nassington,  Ms.  Thornton  f.  189 
contains  another  poem,  titled  Incipit  tractatus  Willelmi  Nassyngtoun,  quondam  aduocati 
curie  Eboraci :  de  Trinitate  et  Unitate,  cum  declaracione  operum  dei,  &  de  passione 
Domini  nostri  Ihesu  Christi  (ed.  Perry  Rel.  pieces  in  prose  and  verse),  which  is  mainly 
a  metrical  reproduction  of  St.  Edmund's  famous  Speculum.  The  Mirror  of  life  is 
generally  attributed  to  him,  though  some  Mss.  ascribe  it  to  R.  Rolle.  Will,  of  Nassington 
appears  to  be  more  of  a  translator  and  easy  versifier,  than  of  an  original  thinker  and 
poet;  and  so  it  is  probably  to  him  that  we  have  to  ascribe  the  contents  of  Ms.  Tib. 
E  vn,  incl.  the  metrical  version  of  the  Form  of  living. 
p.  37,  note,  parcenel  is  a  form  frequently  used  in  R.  Rolle's  Prose  Psalter  (ed.  Bramley),  and 

must,  therefore,  be  retained  in  the  text. 

p.  104.  Of  the  smaller  pieces  of  Ms.  Rawl.  C  285,  No.  i,  2,  and  5,  are  Chapt.  70,  91,  82,  of 
W.  Hilton's  Scale  of  perfection. 

p.  no.  A  later  poem  on  the  same  subject  (9  points),  in  the  northern  dialect,  is  found  in  Ms. 
Harl.  2409  f.  75^,  beg. 

Here  ere  neghen  poyntes  of  gret  vertu 

^at  cure  lorde  talde,  swet  Ihesu, 

^il  a  creature,  als  ^e  shal  lere, 

?at  askyde  hym  on  pis  manere  &c.  (114  vv.). 

p.  128.  The  poem  ,Pai  bat  withouten  lawe  does  sinne'  &c.,  is  extracted  from  the  Prick  of  Con 
science  v.  6071 ff. 

p.  129.    The  quotation  from  R.  Rolle  on  the  passion,  refers  to  the  Form  of  living. 

p.  192;  3,  i.  This  tale  is  found  in  R.  Rolle's  Forma  siue  regula  de  modo  confitendi,  Ms.  Rawl. 
C  397- 

p.  198.  The  whole  of  Bonaventura's  Life  of  Christ  was  translated  into  English,  in  the  earlier  part 
of  the  is«»  cent.,  by  Nic.  Love,  prior  of  the  Carthusian  Monastery  of  Mount  Grace  in 
Yorkshire  (Ms.  Add.  30031 :  Explicit  speculum  vite  Christi  complete;  Iste  liber  translatus 
fuit  de  latino  in  anglicum  per  dominum  Nicholaum  Loue  priorem  monasterii  de  Mounte 
Grace  ordinis  Cartusiensis),  which  is  extant  in  Mss.  Add.  19901  (northern  dialect,  istfol. 
wanting),  21006  (last  part  wanting,  ends  in:  how  Crist  appered  to  S.  Mawdeleyne),  30031, 
19901  (beg.  wanting,  begins  at  the  end  of  dies  Mercurii),  Arund.  364,  Ar.  112,  Reg.  18  C  x 
(incomplete,  ends  in  the  Crucifixion).  This  translation  is  titled  be  Myrrour  of  pe  blessede 
lyfe  of  Ihesu  Crist;  it  has  many  additions  by  the  translator,  which  are  marked  N  on 
the  margin.  The  Thornton  text  is  an  independent  and  older  translation. 

A  previous   translation   is   Robert  Mannyng  of  Brunne's  poem  of  the  Meditacions  on 
the  supper  of  our  lord  and  the  hours  of  his  Passion. 

p.  261.    The   same   exposition   of  the   Pater   noster   occurs   in   Ms.  Harl.  4172,   f.  50** ;  the  texts, 
however,  do  not  quite  agree. 
A  metrical  exposition  in  the  northern  dialect  is  found  in  Ms.  Cotton  Galba  E  ix,  f.  73*. 

p.  293.  The  gieater  part  of  this  epistle  (from:  Bot  now  sayse  bou,  if  bis  be  sothe,  bou  wondirs 
&c.),  is  inserted  in  Cap.  45  of  the  Vernon.  copy  of  W.  Hilton's  Scale  of  perfection  (but 
wanting  in  the  other  Mss.  of  the  same).  The  author  of  the  epistle  is  more  probably 
W.  Hilton. 

p.  295.  A  similar  treatise  on  Prayer,  in  rhythmical  prose  and  with  frequent  alliteration,  and 
originally  written  in  the  north,  is  found  in  Ms.  Reg.  18  A  x,  f.  8 ;  the  beginning  of  the 
treatise  is  wanting  (a  leaf  being  torn  out),  the  first  part  treated  of  ghostly  battle. 


Ti 
Pa 


Printed  by  Breitkopf  and  Hartel,  Leipzig. 


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