[Publications]. Original series

^M^ ^h[t 4 3o^

®f)e ffientiing of 3Life or Elje J^ule of fLibins,

Original ^mcs, 106.
1896.

BERLIN : ASHER & CO., 13, UNTER DEN LINDEN.

NEW YORK : C. SCRIBNER & CO. ; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.

PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

i;iw[ (M\[t 4 3gv%

AND

m^t IttiiMng of fife or Cfce |«Ie of Ii%.

THE FIRST ENGLISHT IN 1435, FROM THE
DE INGENDIO AMOHIS,

THE SECOND IN 1434, FROM THE DE EMENDACIONE VIT^,

OF

EICHAED ROLLE,

HERMIT OF HAMPOLE,

Etcfjartr M%l%

BACHELOU OF THEOLOGY, PRIOR OF LINCOLN, CARMELITE.
EDITED

FROM MS. CCXXXVl IN CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD,

BY

THE REV. RALPH HARYEY, M.A. (LOND.),

HEADMASTER OF CORK GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

"/!^''

^A

LONDON :
PUBLISHT FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY

By KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO.,

PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING-CROSS ROAD.
1896.

l^riginal Merits, 106.

B. CLAY dl HUNS, UHITU), U>iii>UN & iiUMaA.Y.

CONTENTS.

p.vr.K
INTRODUCTION ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ix

^ke Jirc of "goU.
BOOK I. Misyn's prolog ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1

Cap. 1. Hampole's prolog ... ... ... ... ... ... 2

,, 2. Of mans turnyng to god, and what helpys & what lettys his

turnnynge ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4

„ 3. That no man may sodanly come to hy deuocion, nor be wett

with swetnes of contemplacyone ... ... ... ... 6

„ 4. };at ilk man chosyn of gode has his state ordand ... ... 8

„ 5. Differens be-twix godis liifars & Ipe warldis : & ]jer niedis ... 9

„ 6. Qwarfore is it more to take entent to lufe of God ])en to

konynge or disputacion ... ... ... ... ... 11

„ 7. Of )?e cans of heretikis, & fayth of fe Trinite ... ... 13

„ 8. J)at in ])e godhede we aw not to say thre godis or iij kyndis,
als we say thre persones ; and J^at ilk man after quantite of
his lufe sal be cald grete or snial ... ... ... ... 15

,, 9. )pat ])e parfyte lufer of god had leuer rynne in-to grete payne,
pen ons be synne greue god; & why god tourmentis
ryghtwes be wykkyd ... ... ... ... ... 17

„ 10. )?at god in dises is to be lufyd and worschipyd; & also of

myrth and mekenes of gode ... ... ... ... 19

,, 11. J?at godis lufar, J)e warld, idylnes & irksumnes forsakis; and

of ypocritis & couetus men . . . ... ... ... ... 22

„ 12. J5at lufars of god with hym sail deem, & of lufe of konynge be
labour gettyu, and of god. And fat a trew lufar nowder
with fastynge nor abstinence or counsel & presumpcion erris
not nor is begillyd ... ,.. ... .., ... ... 24

„ 13. That no man salle deme odyr, bot to god gif louynge; And
of ay til desyrs of godis lufe, & of womans cumpany be
eschewyd ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27

vi Conterita,

PACK

( .11'. 11. J>at lyfo solitary or hormetis, conioii lyfe & mongytl, passys;

Ami how it coniys to fyro of lufe, and of swetnes of songe 29
.. 1 '. Of praysynge of solitari lyfo & of fyist lufars ferof, And J)at

godis lufe in hoet, songe, & swetnes standis ; & ))at reste is

nodofull, ^ slike fro lapis ar savyd & in prelaci ar not sett 31
„ IG. How & in qwat tyme it is comyn to solitary lyfe, & songe of

lowe, and of chawngjnge of placis 35

„ 17. \)o prayer of fe poyr lowand & to dy desyrand. & of \>c

praysinge of godis charite ... ... ... ... ... 37

„ 18. How parfite lufe be clennes & lufe is getyn. And of lufe
impaifyte & faymes. And of thre myglitis of godis lufe,
And of ryche, poyre, & almos ... ... ... ... 39

„ 19. Of fe loovynge & myght of charite, & of fe warldis forsakynge

^ jje way of penans to be takyn ... ... ... ... 42

,. '20. Of ))e fayrnes of niynde, vanito of the warld, & lufe of god
&, owr neghbur knyttyd, & qwedyr partite lufe may be loste
& gettyn in ])is way ... ... ... ... ... 44

„ 21. Of prof ett & wor))incs of prayer and meditacioun ... ... 46

„ 22. ]5at lyfe contemplatyfe is worfiar & meed full ar fen actife.

And of boyth in prechinge & prelacy ... ... ... 47

„ 23. That birnynge of lufe, vis & syns purgis ; & of fe tokyns of

trew frenschip ... ... ... ... ... ... 50

„ 24. )3at parfite lufe, with gode no J)inge mengis, & qw)% & Jjat it

is needful to lufe ; and of pe blyndnes of fleschly lufe ... 51

,, 25. Of J)e stynk parrell & towcliinge of lichery, and of pe cursed-

nes of couetys & vngiidely gladnes ... ... ... 53

„ 26. Of parfite lufe, & qwhat aw to be had to gostly loy, & o lufe

& correccion ... ... ... ... ... ... 5.5

„ 27. Of syghyngis, desyre & mekenes of a parfite lufar ; <fe of fe

differens of wardly lufe & godly ; & als of meditacion ... 5G
„ 28. Of trew mekenes & aduersite, ensanmpyll of sayntis ; & of fe

maner of gostely profetynge, & of criste passyone Jjinkynge 59
„ 29. J)at a trew lufar warldly ))ingis despisys & heuenly desyrs ;

and of pride to be hatyd, & moknes to be halsed 61

„ 30. Tocbyng of Iwystus & vntaght desireynge to lufe, and of

wymmen to be eschwyd 04

ni . Of godis preuay dome <fe of J)amc |7at fallys agayne, be vs not

be deniyd and gix?te skillis ngayns puichi.^ours 67

Contents. vii

BOOK II.

Cap. 1. Qvvhy parfytte contemplatyfe to vtward songe takes no lieed
& of ))er erroiir |jat fame repreuys, and how fa profett in
coiitemplacion ... ... ... ... ... ... 68

„ 2. Tecliinge to lyfe contemplatyfe in praynge, finkynge, fastyng
& wakinge, & of prowd contemplatife & of trew verray
gostly songe ... ... ... ... ... ... 70

„ 3. )5at gostly songe with bodily acordis not ; & fe cause & fe
errour of gaynsayars. And of conynge insched or inspiryd,
how it is diners fro connyiige be labore gettyn ... ... 73

„ 4. Of fe excelence of gostly songe & fat it nowdyre may be
sayd ne wryttyn, nor fat it resauys no felischyp. & of fe
charite of syngars in spirite & pride of fame fat has
counynge getyn ... ... ... ... ... ... 75

,, 5. Meditacion of fe longar to his lufe & forsakynge of felyschip,

and how be ordir it is cumyn to f e flawme of lufe ... 78

„ 6. Of dyuers giftys of godis chosyn and how sayntis cum to lufe
in praying, f inkynge, lufynge, aduersite sofyrand, vissittand.
And fat lufe cumys of god and fat his lufe is necessary,
And fat trew lufars fallis not be fleschly temptacions als
odyr inparfite / nor with dreggis of synne is hurtt f of all
failaste 80

„ 7. jpat a trew lufar onely his lemman lufys, and of dobylle
rauischyngis, fat is to say, owt of body & owt of lyftynge
of fe mynde in to gode & of fe worfines here-of ... 84

„ 8. The desir of a lufar to god is schewyd, & f e cursyd lufe of
this warlde be many ensaumpyls ar declaryd, & fat fe
mynde of god inwardly lufars byedis nott ... ... 87

„ 9. Of diners ffrenschips of gude & ille & as it may be lawsyd ;
of scarisnes & of frenscbip of men & wymmen, & of trew
frenschip & how chosyn in itt in fis lyffe loys & of foly of
sinne fat abstene to mikylle, or ar nakyd, & of fleschly
frenschip, & aray of men & wymmen- ... ... ... 90

,, 10. )5at with ilk tyme & deyd godis lufe is to be mengyd fat
failys not for wel ne wo. And of f e worthynes f erof & of
teris turnyd to songe ... ... ... ... ... 95

„ 11. That parfite lufe to god byndis with-oute lowsynge & makis
man myndy of his god, hot lufe of f e warlde fallis to noght,
And of the kynde of trew lufe stabille ay lastynge sweit
soft & profetabylle, & of fals lufe, venemus, fowle, & vnclene 98

VI 11

Contents,

Cap. 12. Of ^ folicito & swetnes of goilis Info Sc of fo iiightingalo
songe Si prayar for poreouorans of trew gostcly saiigc fat
worldly lufars has not 101

'tEhc ittfubiug of S;ifc or 'The Jhilc of gibing.

Contents and division

. 105

„ 1. ffirst, of conuersion

. ior>

„ 2. Of fo warldis despisynge

. 108

„ 3. Ofpouorte

. 109

„ 4. Of |>e settynge of mans lyfe

. Ill

„ 5. Of tribulacion

. 115

„ 6. Of Paciens

. IIG

„ 7. Ofprayar

. 118

„ 8. Of Meditacion

. 119

„ 9. Of Rcdynge

. 121

„ 10. Of Clennes of myndc

. 121

„ 11. Of J)e lufe of god

. 122

„ 12. Of Contemplacion

. 127

List of II am pole's "Writings ...

. 131

IX

INTEODUCTION.

THE MANUSCEIPT.

The MS. printed in this volume was made known to modern students
by Part II of the Catalog of Oxford College MSS., 1852, drawn up by the
late Kev. H. 0. Coxe, formerly Bodley's Librarian. At p. 97, col. 2 of the
MSS. of Corpus Christi College, the present MS. is enterd as " CCXXXVI.
Codex membranaceus, in folio, ff. 56, sec. xv. ; binis columnis ann. 1434-5,
manu Eicardi Misyn binis columnis exaratus," and a short extract is given
from the beginning of the MS., with the colophons of Books I and II of the
Fire of Love, and that of the Mending of Life, As Misyn says he was
Prior of the Carmelites of Lincoln, Dr. C. Horstmann wisely copied this
dated dialectal MS, and sent it to press with a few Latin collations. Miss
A. F. Parker has read the proofs with the MS. ; Dr. Purnivall side-noted
the first 48 pages of the text ; and I have done the rest of the editing work.
I must thank Dr. Furnivall for much valuable and very kind assistance.

The Misyn MS. (CCXXVL CC. C. Oxfd.) is written upon vellum
12 J in. X 8 J in two columns, with wide margins, in a clear fifteenth-
century hand. The ink is a rich black, in excellent condition. There is
little ornamentation except in the prolog, which has a pretty border in
red, with blue, gold and green lines, and with various flowers more or less
conventional. The chapter headings throughout are in red ink, or in black
underlined with. red. The capitals at the beginning of the chapters are in
blue, red and gold, and the capitals at the beginning of sentences usually
blue or red. It is throughout pleasing to the eye and easy to read.

Since its discovery, some forty years ago, the MS. has been regarded as
having claim to an importance which must now be abandoned. Its claim
was twofold,

{a) as Misyn's autograph and dialect,

{})) as a dated and consistent dialectic text.

Of these the first must be discarded altogether, and the second con-
siderably modified.

X Intrahidion.

1 1 IS NOT MISYN'S AUTOGRAPH.

It will be obeerved tliat tlie colophon, p. 104, states distinctly that The
Fim qf Love was translated by Kichard Misyn and "jj^er dictum /rat rem
Rieardwn Muyn senptum ^ correctum." Relying upon this, Coxe's Cata-
log and Tanner's Bibliotheca say that it is in ^lisyn's hand. Now, the
■writinj; throughout the volume is in the sjiine hand, so that if Misyn wrote
T)ie Fire of Love^ he also wrote The Mending of Life, We are, however,
here met by a serious difficulty, for, whereas the colophons on pp. 68 and
104 are dated 1435 a.d., the colophon on p. 131 is dated 1434 a.d. This,
it must bo obeerved, is not due to a binder's error, for the colophon of Fire
of Lovey Bk. II, is on the same sheet of vellum as the beginning of The
Mettdhig of Life. Kow, an author could scarcely be guilty of putting
1434 A.D. after 1435 a.d., unless, having written The Fire in 1435, he
proceeded to copy a translation of The 3Iendtn(j done the year before, lliis
is the only supiwsition which, in face of the colophons, will allow us to
regard the MS. as in Misyn's own hand. It is a possible supposition, but
scarcely a probable one. It is much more natural to suppose that a scribe
has copietl the whole MS., including colophons, and has left no trace of his
own identity. An examination of the text will show this supposition not
only rational, but practically a certain fact

IT IS NOT A CONSISTENT TEXT.

A careful reading of the MS. brings to light a number of mistakes, not
of any great importance, but fortunately, I think, quite sufficient to establish
the fact of its being a copyist's work, and unfortunately, quite enough to
detract from its second great claim to importance, viz. as a dated and
consistent dialectic text.

Of these mistakes (which are exactly the kind of mistakes we look for
in copyists* works) I give some of the more important, but the reader will
do well to make a careful study of the text himself.

COPYIST'S ERRORS.

(a) Bepelition of words:— to to (84/24), his his (84/36), bot trw bot trio

(96/3), <J- tretdy ^- treuly (34/25), bisily Usily (63/21), to to (28/24),

i« in (24/13), \at }>at (7/14).
(6) Sjjelling confused with that of next word: — Te \e for to \>e (125/32),

sonu us for sorois (115/33), te for to (41/27), ))e \e for \ai ]>e (110/2).
{e) lAiien midakeH (due probably to misunderstanding of meaning of the

sentence) :—te for he (115/21), and for aw (54/11), an for aic (113/4),

Introduction,

XI

is for Us (128/10), if for of (17/22), ffro for /or (17/18), mr^^// for
mane (2/29).
(f?) TFbrtZs copied in their icrong places (due usually to the cojiyist catching
sight of a word in the line above or below) : — to chastis (struck out)
(98/1), see chastys (97/39), ojf (107/2), seruand (struck out) (119/11),
see seruand (119/10), \e secund (struck out) (123/27), see pe secund
(123/25), of his mynde (struck out) (128/20), see beginning of line.
sail (crossed out) (11/35), lufe (struck out) (88/19), see life, 11. 19, 20.
he (altered in another hand) (91/11), fore (for of) (91/29), resonahil
(struck out) (26/9).

A FEW MISTAKES EXAMINED.

If we examine the word resonahil, struck out on p. 26, we shall see that
it is clearly due to the word resonahyll occurring immediately before ; but we
also notice there is a difference in the spelling ! Why is this difference %
Probably because in one case the scribe copies Misyn's spelling, and in the
other case he spells according to his own system. Which then is the copy
of Misyn ? I should say the form resonahyll, because the 3 and the double
consonant are more consistent with the remainder of the MS., and because
the scribe would be more likely to Avrite down the copied form first, and
then, writing from memory, and probably in a fit of abstraction, he puts
down his oivn form. So too we find chastis (98/1) due to chastys in the line
before.

These two examples would be almost unworthy of mention, were it not
that they seem to supply us with a key to the very serious irregularities of
spelling throughout the work. Taking what was, probably, an already
inconsistently-spelled MS., the copyist has in many cases, from carelessness,
introduced his own spelling. Thus, side by side with the strong ^N'orthern
guttural in qwhilk, qicedyr, we find sometimes the softer wliilk, lohedyr, &c.
While, too, the roll of the r is usually emphasized by an additional e or 3, as
in sarryf (serve) ; qivharefore, we find, too, ivharfor and ivharfore. hrynnynge
and the softer form hirnynge are found almost equally. So, too, truly occurs
(44/30), but the more usual form is trewly or treuly.

The broken vowels also supply us with good proofs of the mixture of
dialects. Generally speaking, an O.E. long vowel is represented by a broken
vowel, and an O.E. broken vowel by a simple vowel representing the first
element of the older broken vowel. Thus we constantly read forsoith,ffor-
soyth, foyl (fool), doyne (done), soyne (soon), poijr (poor), &c., and for the
older eo ea, we read ivirk (work) werlz ; dyrlaies (from deorcnes), lese (lose)
from leosan. But we also read occasionally, side by side with these, forsoth

xii Iiitroiimtioii.

(27/29, 3 J/28), ffor^ofh (41/36), fole (19/28), folea (26/10), fwe, sone, don ;
and again lose (45/34), wark.

All these more exceptional forms, with the single exception perhaps of
trorA-, clearly point to a more Southorn aud more inhmd dialect.

We shall, therefore, probahly not be far wrong if we put down tlie
present MS. as copied from Misyn's translation by a scribe coming possibly
from Ely or Peterborough.

NOTE ON LETTER y.

Dr. Fumivall kindly reminds me that the broken vowel oy for o is Old
Yorkshire, occurring constantly in the Toicncley Mysteries [R E. T. S. 1897].
I am not quite sure whether the vowel of the modem Yorkshire coit [coat,
oi as in bait] is a true descendant of this oy. Probably however the broken
vowel in hoiin (bone), IxkU (boat), &c., is a descendant, and we certainly have
moin or nwoin (moon), foil ot/ooU (fool), soin or sooin (soon). These examples
probably give us almost the exact vowel pronunciation of soyth, foyl, soyn in
our MS. Of course in the MS. under consideration the difficulty lies in the
changing value of y. In swyft, lyft and such forms we have the full short sound
1 ; but more frequently it is used merely as a connective between two sounds
to give a force to the one which caused the scribe some difficulty to express.
lliis leads to the very extraordinaiy form sarryff or saryf (serve) — a form
which I cannot find elsewhere. The scribe is however simply trying to ex-
press a very strong rolling r, and so pronouncing the whole *saref,' giving
the y the sound of the atonic e in ' several.' [See Key, Pron. N. E. D.] We
might comp. with this the fuU trill of the original r in wojtild, and the modem
vocalised r in world. The same remarks apply to the medial e in qicliarefore,

GRAMMAE.

The accidence is of the slightest kind, and can cause the reader no
difficulty. A glance down the accompanying list of verbs will show that it
is quite impossible to draw up a paradigm. There are no Southern pi. forms
in ethy or Midland pi. in en.

The order of words is un-English, and generally follows the Latin fairly
closely. Still the un-English order seems to be due to the translator being
thoroughly accustomed to Latin order, and perhaps thinking in Latin order,
rather than to his careful adherence to the text before him. For some-
times, when the Latin order is unclassical and like English, the translator
does not follow the Latin version, but writes in the order we should expect
to find in the Latin text, thus : —

hec quidej/i conversio fit per ordi- Sothely be ordinate lufe is pis turn-
natu/;2 amore/;i, vnc,' done.

Introduction.

xni

Still the order is often kept, and
seen from the following extracts taken

Mentalis emm visio sursum capitur
et celestia conte?/*platzir per visione?M
tame/(^ enigmatica?^ et speculare?^ non
clara??i et perpetua??i.

Coniierti quippe ad ipsz^m oportet
et ab omnibus rebus visibilibus in
me?ite penitus auerti priusqua/H pote-
rit diui/ii amoris dulcedines saltern
ad modicu?/i expe/iri.

the translation very close, as may be
at chance : —

Myendly sight truly is takyn up
heuenly to beliald be schadoly syght
^it & miroly, not clere and opyn.

To hyme treuly behofes be turnyd
& all erthly jjingz^s in mynde playnly
be twrned fro, or ]>at he may jje swet-
nes of goddys lufe in lityll ymgis be
expert.

VERB FORMS.

1st person, singular.

I dois 27/29 I haue 3/29 has 70/3

I has 1/5 I styrris 4/3 lia 69/40

I make 1/15 I meniayled 2/6 ha 70/3

I pink 1/10 I consaiied 2/14 haiie 70/5, 70/9

I schewe 2/6 I troued 2/19 tastes 75/33

I am 2/14, 4/3 I knew 2/12 hafe 87/9

I >inke 3/7 I despyse 26/13 cese 88/30

I offyr 3/22 I dois 27/29

I trowo 3/26 I ha 22/1

[%icl person, singular.

]3ou lias 27/25, 82/13
>ou hast 27/22, 38/37
>ou haste 27/28
piydis 27/28
|)0U was 23/16
despises 110/28
forsakes 110/78
dose 114/40

>u lufcs 1/21
J»ou entres 1/21
fou seis 18/5
waxis 76/35
hase 113/14
sal 77/36
salt 77/37
sail 78/30, 117/40
jjinkis 115/1

Zrd 2Jcrson, singular.

is 23/35
dar 14/25
erris 24/1
lufyse 9/36
lufes 9/35
folowys 17/35
sees (cease) 91/12
loses 116/35

be 26/39
haue 27/1
aw 34/20
awght 43/19
loiigis 50/13
felys 50/14
hase 89/30

sekys 84/32
saryfys 87/10
ha 80/13
lyfis 83/10
levys 83/10
ar 112/13

l6^^ person, plural.
we haue 26/8
we destroys 28/13
we Infys 9/38
we karis 10/3
we aw 15/21, 105/20

2nd person, plural.
wake 47/26
prays 47/27

\rd 2)erson, plural.

Present participle consistently in and.

bostis 23/33
cum 23/33
ar 23/34
flowe 23/35
ett 23/36
do 24/4
haue 24/4
provokes 24/6
chalange 24/8
full 24/13
cees 85/4, 110/25
wantys 94/9

geder 24/15

rynne 24/18

is 25/1, 10/20

liggis 26/17

ha 26/34, 70/8, 89/2

joys 9/27

lufys 17/36

hauys 23/31

er 43/16, 49/6

has 50/31

wote 116/29

RICHARD MISYJS^

Beyond what we find in the colophons at the end of the books of these
MSS., nothing can b6 found with any certainty concerning this Richard

XI \

Introduction.

Mi-\ n. No record of hiiu exists at Lincoln ; and the fintluist we can go, is
tM say that ho was possibly the Ricardus Mysyn mentioned in 1461-2 in
* Tlio llogister of the Guild of Corpus Christi in the City of York.' Surtecs
Soc. 1872, p. 62 :—

"Nomina Fratrum et Sororum admissorum per Dominum Johannem
IWirton, liectoreni ecclesiic Sancti Martini in Mikelgate, et suos consortes,
Auno Domini millesimo CCCC™° LXJ" [1461-2].

Per ilomiimni Jo\ian7iem r>urton, secundum magistrum nostrae gildos.

In primis, frater 'Ricardus Mysyn, suffragenus, ordinis Fratrum Car-
melitanim . . . ."

An earlier bishop of the same name is mentiond on the rim of Archbp.
Scrope's Indulgence Cup, ih. 291 w, 292 n. See Poole and Hugall's Hi^f.
awl DescHpiive Guide to York Catliedraly p. 197 :

" -H Recharde arche beschope Scrope grantes on to all tho that drinkis
of this cope xl" dayis to pardun. Robert Gubsufi. Beschope Musin grantes
in same forme afore saide xP' dayis to pardun. Robert Stensall."

* Beschope Musin' was probably Richard Messing, who, according to
Cotton {Fasti Ecd. Hih.^ iii. 277) was bishop of Dromore from 1408 to
1410. Another bishop of the same name was admitted into the Guild in
1461-2, as " Frater Ric. Mysyn, sufifragenus, ordinis Fratrum Carmelitarum."
See p. 62, antea.

As to Misyn's Friary at Lincoln, Dugdale says, Monasticon (ed. 1830),
vi. 1571, col. 2:—

[Carmelite or] \\Tiite Friars, at Lincoln. — Leland, in his Ititierary^ vol.
i., pp. 32, 33, has one or two sentences relating to the White Friars at
Lincoln. Their House, it appears, was situated on the West side of the
High-street, in the lower part of the Town called Wikerford. " Gualterus,"
he says, "as I hard, caullid Dorotheus, Dene of Lincoln, a Scottish man,"
was " first Founder of the White Friers in Lincoln." Speed says this
House was founded by Odo de Kilkenny, a Scot, a.d. 1269. The Site was
granted in the 36th Hen. Vlllth to John Broxholm.i The Particular for it
is in the Augmentation Office.

Ralph Harvey.

Cork, Sep. 1S03.

* Tamier, Notit. Moncust. Liiic., xlix. 15.

I. ^Iji Jfire of %abc,

ENGLISHED FROM HAMPOLE'S " INCENDIUM AMOPJS "
By RICHARD MISYN IN 1435.

[BOOK I.— MISYN'S PROLOG.]
[MS. CO XXX VI. Corpus Chrisli Coll. Oxford.]

At* ])e reue?'ence of oure lorde Iliesu criste, to Jje askynge of J)i [FoI. i. a.]
desyre, Syste/- ^largarete, couetynge a-sethe to make, for s^stSar-
encrece also of gostely comfortii to jje & mo, \a\> curiuste of latyn anSthers
4 viide?-standes noglit', I, emonge lettyrd men sympellest, and in Latinr^^'"^
lyfynge vnthrif tyest^, pis warlv* has takyn to tmnslacion of lattyn to i i.ave eng-
englysch, for edificacyoii of many sanies. And sen it is so Jjat aH book from
god^6' plesans & gostely life of mans saule standes in p«?'fyte^ lufe,
8 }?erfore ))is haly man Richard' Hampole, hys boke has named* Incen-
diuni Amoris, Jjat is to say ' \q fyer of lufe.' The whillv^ boke, in without

1 , T 1 • 1 J 1 T 1 r» altering its

sentence ne substance i pmlv' to chaunge, bot treuly aityr myn substance.
vnde?'standynge to wryte it^ in gude exposicione. // ])erioxQ aH redars

12 here-of I pray, if ^our discrecyon 03t fynde fankeworthy, to god
J)e;'of gyf loueynge, & to ])is holy man ; and if any J)inge mys-sayd',
to myne vnco?inynge wyet itf. Neue?*-])e-les, to reforme I make pro-
testacyofi, w^t7?, entent no j^inge to wryte ne say agayns pe faitli or

16 determinacion of holy kyrlc*, god to wytnes. // fforJ)irmore, sister,

haue in mynd deedlynes of Jiis lyfe, and ali-way in ))i liande sum Always keep
holy lesun kepe. ffor holynes if pou kepe, fleschly synnes Jjou salt reading in
noat lufe : and holynes whare-in it standes, before I sayde : in fo"" if timu

■^ ' "^ love holiness

20 prrj-fyte lufe. Bot p«?'fyte lufe, what may ))at be? c«rtan, when ))i J'^^/y^'*^'.
god (as ])e aght) for hym-self ]7ou lufeg, J)i frende in god, and )jin
enmy j?ou lufes for god ; for noy\\per god wzt/i-oute jji neghburgh,
nor )ji neghburgh witA-oute god, treuly is lufecJ. ip<r/rfyte lufe \er-

24 fore, in lufe of god & of ))i neghburgh standzs ; and lufe of god, in
kepeynge of his co77zmaundement?s. // Kepe Jjcrfore his co??2maunde-
mentz's, and j?i prayers or contemplaciofi when J)ou entres, aH: warldly Forsake
jjoghtes planely forsake, and chargh of aH ]?inge outcwarde forgett^, thoughts.

1 Read either perfyte or parfyte, all through.
HAMPOLE. > R

2 I. Tfie Fire of Lave. It sets the Saul ajhime. [Bk. I. Ch. 1.

& to god onely take heJe. Doutes if fou fyudo any, kaH to fe sad
counscH, for drede ^u erre, namely in slyke ))inges })at touclies |)o
•xij. artikiU of ^i faytlS, als of ))o lioly Trinite, & oper dyuers, als in
pin holy boko lilouynge is to oure lernynge connyngly writtyfl. 4

[Cap. 1. HAMPOLE'S PROLOG.]

iMtmy IV^o' ^^^® ^ raeniayled fen I schewe, fforsotho, when I felt fyrst*
1? I my hert wax warme, and treuly, not ymagynyngly, hot als
it wer with sensibyH fyer, bymed. I was forsoth meni&yld as fc 8
byrnyng^ in my saulo byrst vp, and of an vnwont solas ; for vncuth-
nes of slike helcfuH habundance oft-tymes haue I gropyd my breste,
sekandly whedyr fis birnynge wer of any bodely cause vtwardly.

with spiritual Bot* when I knew \>at onely it was kyndyld of gostely cans inwardly, 12
and ])at J)is brynnynge was no^t of fleschly liife ne concupiscens, in

th« gift of )>is I consaued it was pe gyff of my maker : Glad perioie I am
moltyn in-to pe desyre of grettar lufe, and namly for influence of
pe moste swete likyng* & gostely swetnes pe whilk^ with fat gostly 16
flaume pythely my mynde has comfortydl. ffyrste treuly, or fis
comfortabit heef, & in aH deuocion swettyst in me wer sched,
playnly I troued slyke hete to no man happyn in fis exiH : ffor
[Foi. I. b.] treuly, so it enflaumes pe saule als pe element of fyer per wer byrn- 20
ynge. Neuer-fe-les, als sum say, sum per ere in cristzs lufe bym-
ynge, be-caus fai se fame fis wark? despisynge, with besynes giffyn
onely to god/s seruys. Bot als it wer if fi fynger wer putt^ in fyer,

The soul Is it sulcB be cled wy th feleyng^ byrnyng^ : So pe saule with lufe (als 24

with love. before sayde) sett o-fyer, treuly felys moste verray hete ; bot sum
tyeme more & more intens, & sum tyeme les, after pe sufferynge of
pe frelety of flesch. 0, who is fat^ in dedely body, fat f is grete
hete, in his he degre als fis liff may soffyr, continuly beyng* may 28
longe here 1 Defaute treuly hym behoues for swetnes & gretenes of
so he desyre & lufe vtwarde ; and no me?*uayH fofe many^ of fis
warld passynge futt gredely wolcF kache, & with fuH bote desyre
3ern itt^, fat in fis honyly flaume with woundyrfuH gyfts of Mynde 32
his saule he my3t< 3elde, and so sone to be takyu, & entyr fe com-
panyes of faim fat syngis loueynge^ to fe?" creator w/t7?-outen ende.

Filths of the Bot some fingt,<? to charite contrary happyns, fibr fylthis of flesch

ottt thu heat, crepys tempynge restfuH myendys ; bodely nede alsso & mans freyl 36

* In margin in another hand mane.

* Opposite this word in margin in another hand Louenge, after the tung is
prayse.

1

Bk. I. Ch. 1.] I. The Fire of Love. The Reason for this Book's Name. 8

afFeccione i??ipryntycl', ^\^ih angwys of ))is wrechyd exile, Jjis hete
sumtyme ])a lese,^ and J?e flaume, whilk vndyr fygure I cakl' fyer,
be-caiis it brynnes ^ lightii", Jjai hynder & lieiiy. And trenly, ^itt*
4 pai take it^ no3f fully a- way \ai a-way may not be takyn, ffor it has
vmbelaj^pyd aH my hart* : Bot for slyke ]?inges, Jjis moste happy but it comes
hete, at sum tymes absent*, apperis agayne ; and I, als wer greuously ^^'""'
cald^ abydynge, Jjinke my-self desolate to tyme it com agayne, whiles
8 I haue not (als I was wount) \at felynge of gostely fyer, to pe whylk*
ali partyes of body & saule gladly aplyes, & in Jje whilk* pai knawe
J)ame-self sekyr. H More-ouer and, slepe gayiie-standes me als an sleep ciiecks
enmy ; for no tyme me heuys to loos bot* Jjat* in fe whilk* con-

12 strenyd' I ^elde to slepeyng*. Wakynand, treuly besy I am to warme
my saule als wer wzt/i calde jjirled*, fe whilk*, sattyld' in deuocion, I
knaw wele sett o fyer, & vfith fuH grete desire lyft* abowne aH erthely
])ingZ6\ Treuly, affluence of fis eue?'lastyng* lufe to me cummes so do idleness

16 no^t in ydilnes, nor I my3t fele fe gostely hete, whils I was wery

bodely for trauayit, or treuly vn-manerly occupyed' Vfiih warldly «n.fi worldly
myrthes, or elles wzt/i-outen mesure gyfen to disputacioii ; bot treuly
I haue felt* my-self* in slyke Jjinges wax cald' to tyme, aH ]?inges

20 putt o-bak* in whilk* vtwardly I my3t* be occupy ed, onely to be in
})e sight of my save^our I haue stryfvyne, & in fuH ynhirly byrnynge
dwelt. IT Qwhare-fore bis boke I offyr to be sene, noat to philiso- 1 offer tins

, i/ . , ^ "^ -, , book to un-

phyrs nor wyes men of |jis warld', ne to grete devyens lappyd in taught folk.

24 questions infenyte, bot vnto boystus & vntaght*, more besy to con
lufe god ])en many Jjinges to knawe ; for treuly, not desputynge bot
wyrkand it is kunde, & loffande. ffor treuly, I trowe jjies finges
here contenyd, of ])ies questionaries, in aH science moste hy in con-

28 nyng*, bot in ]je lufe of criste moste lawe, may no^t be vnder-

standyd'. U })erfore to jjame I haue not written, bot if, aH J^inges [Foi, ii. a.]
forgettyne & putt* o-bak* bat to bis warld* is longyng, onely to be Love is given

only to those

desyres of oure maker fa to lufe onely be gyfen. ffyrst, treuly, jjat wiibhatevain
32 ))ai fie aH erthely dignyte, fat fai hate aH pryde of connynge & vayn-
glory, and at f e last* fame confom-mynge to hyest* pouerte, f inkand*
& pray and, besily gyfen to goddz6* lufFe. ])us no meruayl to fa??'i
saH appere w/t7i-inforthe fe fyer of vnwroth charite, dressand fer
36 hartis to take fe hete wM whilk* aH dyrknes is consumed, & j}ai[m]
lift* vp in to byrnyng* lufely & moste mery, fat temporaH fingz's fai
saH pas, & hald' fame-self in f e seet of endeles rest*. ))e more con-

^ In margin in another hand lassyii.
" Under this word in another hand, colde.

B 2

Lov*.'

4 I, Fire of Lave, L(yve of God ahovc all Earthly Things, [Bk. I. Cli.2.

yngo troiily ))ai bo, \q more abyH to lufe bo lawe fai ar, if fai of odyr
And M my despisyd bo glad, & ))aine-8olf gladly despyes. H And sen I here to
«f totSre, lufo Btyrris aH mmtt of folk, and besy I am of lufe to schew hattist
'***'** or desyre & a-bown« kyndo, *byrnnyng< of lufe' fis boko hys name 4

saH bere.

Of mans turnyng to god, and wliat belpys, & what
Icttys his t//ynnyng^. [Cap. II.]

IN ))is wrocliyd' (hvellin<;<-i)laco of exile abydeyng*, to aH man^/* of 8
popyH be it knawen,))at no man may wiih liifFof endles lyfe be
tagbf, nor w/t// heuonly swetnes bo anoynf, bot if ho treuly to god
Mmmmt bo tumetF. To hyme treuly behofes be turny(?, Sz aH erthly fingw
InTftCm*^ in niynde playnly be t?/>-ned fro, or )jat he may ))e swetnes of goddys 12
to^uITu uod'i lufe IT in lityH ymgis be expert*. Sothely be ordinate lufe is J)is
tuniyng* done : As J)at he lufe fat worthy is to be luffyd, & not
lufyng' \ai is not worthy to be lufed, and jjat he byrn more in lufo
of )>o fingw ))<6t is moste worthy, & les in ])ame ]?at is les worjji. 16
IMoste is god forto be lufeiK IMikyH ar hevenly jjinges forto be
luiYed ; lityH or noght, bot for node, erthly ))inges ar to be luffyd. //
Wyth-outen doute Jjus eue?7 man to criste is turnyc?, qwyls of hym
Tom from no3t is dcsyrdc bot onely criste. Ti^?'nnyng* treuly fro |)ies gudeo 20
B.xKi« of ujI« Jjat in )jis warld? \er Infers dessave Si no3t defend', standys in want-
ynge of fleschly desire & hatred of aH wrechidnes, so J?at J)ai savoz^r
non erthly )jingis, nor desyrs to wythhak? of warldly fingw ouer fair
Th«y who stray t* node. ))ai treuly fat ryches hepys, & knawys no^t to whorae 24
riches ar« fai gedyr, \n fame haueynge fe?' solace, some-tyme i/i myrth of
of Im«v«u^ heuenly lufe ar not worf i to be gladded, f of aH fai fene, be deuocion
not holy bot similate, fame-self to felo in fer dises some fingw of
fat felicite }pai is to come ; for treuly for fare foule p?'esuy>?pcion fro 28
fat swetnes fai haue fallen, with whylk godA-? Infers ar softynd <fe
made swete, for fai vnmanerly wyth warldly mono has armyd fame-
self'. AH lufe treuly faf in gode endys not, wikkydnes is, & fe
hafars makis ouyH. Qwharefore lufandf fe warldly excelence wiih 32
^v^echyd lufo ar set o fyer, and ferf er fai ar fro heuenly hete fen is
They become f e spaco bo-twix f 0 hyest heuyn & lawyst place of f e erth. // )3ai sekyr
they love. ar likkyndc to fat fai lufe, for why fai ar confo?^?-med? to wanton con-
cupiscence. // And wtt/i haldynge olcJ manors of wrechidnes in vanite 36
of fis lyfe fai lufe for, holy lufe. Wharefor fe ioy of clerenes fat
saH not rote, fai chaunge to wantoned! of beute fat sal no^t last. ]3is

Bk. I. Ch. 2.] I. The Fire of Love. Ways of the Elect and Condemnd. 5

sotliely siild' ]?ai not do, hot if fai wer blynded ^\iiU fyer of fraward'

lufe, ])e whillv^ wastis burionyng^ of verteu, & norrysches })e plantes [Foi. ii. b.]

of aH vyce. ffor sotli many in womanly bewte ar no^t sett^, nor Many indeed

4 lykes Lychery, wharefor ]jame-self be savyd as wer wiili sikyrnes upon wom-
Jjai trayst, and for onely cliastite, the whilk ])ai bere w^t^-ollte,
als^ sayntes ])ai wene J)ai pas att: o\er ; bot wikkydly }pus J?ai suppose
& aH in vayn, when couetyes, Jje rote of synnes, is no3t drawne owte. ^ .

8 And treuly, as it is wryten, no bin^e is wars ben raone to lufe. ffor Nothing is

•^' J ' r o r worse to love

wliyls Jje lufe of temporali J)inge Jje hart of any man occupyes, no ^'^^^^ money,
deuocyoii playnely soffyrs hyni haue. Lufe treuly of god^ & of jjis
warld' neuer in one saule may be to-gydir ; bot whos lufe is strengar,
12 J?e to\er oute puttis, ])at oppynly fus may be knawen who is J)is As lovers of
warldys lufar and who criste's^ felower.^ Certanly als cristzs lufars tiie world,

•^ "^ so lovers

behavys fam-self agayns \q warld^ & jje flesch, so lulfars of )je warlde ti^e^'t^aX''^
behavys fame-self* agayns god & \er aAven saule. // ])ai treuly ))at Mancr of

16 ere chosyn, ettys & drynkes ; bot euer to god with aH jje?* mynde ]?ai ^^^^y^^ 5
take entent in aH ely^ |)iuges ; not lust, bot nede only ]?ai seke. Of
erthly J)inges jjai^ speke w/t/^, angwys, & no3t bot passyngly, nor in
Jjame makand no tariyng*, & ))en in mynde ^it wzt// god J»ai ar, and

20 Jje remenand' of tyme ]7ai ^elde to god^s se?"nys, no^t* standyng* in
ydilnes, nor to plays no wondyrs rynnynge, \ai is Jje tokyn of
reproued', bot rather honestly pame-self behaueynge, Jjrtt to god
longs, awdyr to spek* or do or ])ink, fai irlv^ no3t. Rep?'evyd treuly Mancr of

24 aH-way agayns god idilly behavys Jjame-self : god/.? worde treuly jjai ^^P^'^^^d^
here with hardnes, jjai pray wz't/i-outen affeccyon, of god jjai Jjinlv*
w/t//-outen swetnes. ])q. kyrlc* ))ai entyr, & fyllis ))e wallys ; fai knok Woridiy folk
}per brestis, & syghyngs 3eldys, bot playnely bot fenyd, ffor why ))ai and sigh,

28 cum to })e eghen^ of men, no ])ing* to''' J>e eyrs of god. Treuly when

J)ai m body ar in Jje kyrk, in mynde dystracf ]?ai ar to warklly gude, bnt their
))e whylk j^ai haue or els desyrs to haue, whare-fore ))are hart fro god their goods,
is far. // }3ai ett & drynk, not to Jjare nede bot to J)are lust, for bot

32 in lycherus fode fynde Jjai sauoz^?* or swetnes. Thay gif more-ouer

brede to |)e pore, clethynge parauntyr to pe cold, bot whils J)aro ^^^^g"?,",
almws is done in dedely synne or for vaynglory, or sekyrly of J^inges deadly sin,
vntreuly gettyn, no meruayl if Jiaiplcse no3t our gaynbyer, bot vnto '^y'!g"'[|^^m.

36 vengeance p?-ouoke owr luge. // Qwharefore als chosyn, whils jjai to Redeemer.

^ JVIS. att ; als in margin in another hand. ^ is goddw, crossed out.

^ Over the first e is an o in another haml. N.B. AH marginal corrections
(but not notes) are in another hand.

* On tlic margin erthly. ^ ]\IS. >at : j^ai on the margin.

(, I. TIlc Fire of Love, Devotion copies hut gradually. [Bk.I. Ch. 2, 3.

TiMwickeU fe 'vvarld or )>c flescli take hede, to god aH-way per myndo haue

fu'woriiiiy besily, so reprevyd, whyls fai semo to god do fie?*uy8, besy to ))e

warltl & to po finges put to fe warldl & flescli pe7'teiies, in besynes

of hert gretely ar rauyscht*. And als chosyn, god 1103^ displesys 4

when fai per nede releve, so rep?'euycJ, god no^t plesys in gudo

dedys )>al ar seno doo, ffor per gude dedys full few, with many itt

Tii« PieiMi dodi^r ar mengyd. // The fende also has many pe whilk we trowe be

owM iiuny ^^^^j^ ^ j^^ j^^ j^^ ^^^j. jjjjj^^ giffars, Chast^, & meke, pat is to say, 8

synnare callandl jjame-self*, wit/i hayer clecJ & penance ponyschid —
A^nder wenynge^ treuly of hele, is hyd oft-tymes dedely woundes. //
J)e fende alsso hauys not few hasty to wyrk, & besy to prech ; but
doutles aH jjame hym wantes in charite pat ar warmed, and to aH 12
vanito slawe. [Wickyd treuly to vyl delectacion] aHway ar gredy,
& vnto gostely exercise als dede, or els keste doune with fuH grete
TheyioT* febilncs, whos lufe is euer in-ordinate, fFor more |jai lufe gudes
inoreDinn tcmporatt J)en eternaH, and more per bodyes pen per saules. IG

[Foi.iii.a.] That no man may sodanly come to hy deuociou, nor

be wett witA swetnes of contemplacyoiie. Cap. IIL

The hiRhest 0| chcuyd tieuly it is to Infers pat in fyrst aeris of per tw7-nyng*,

devotion ^^^

I

»»o' KJ no man to hee deuocion may attene, nor with swetnes of con- 20
te;;/placyon fully be moystedl ; vnneth treuly seldum, & als wer in
twynkiUyng^ of an eghe, fai ar grauntedf to fele somqwhatt of heuewly
f inges, & softly profetand? at J?e last in spirytt Jjai ere made stronge.
Aftyrwarde when ]jai haue taken sadnes of raaners, and, as Jjis p7*e- 24
sent* chaunabylnes sofyrs, pai ar gone vp to stabylnes of mynde,
treuly with grete trauails gome pe?*feccion is gettyn, Jjat pai in godly
lufe sum ioy may fele. IF Neuer-jje-les it is no3f sene pat aH
•»«» *« W'* treuly, poi fai be grete in vertew, onon fele warily pe warmnes of 28
«»• charite increate or vnwroght*, and in pe flaume vnmesurde of lufo

))ai, meltand in paxne-seU, may synge pe songe of god/5 loueynge.
Thys mistery treuly fro many is hydtl*, and to few moste special it
is scheuyd ; for pe hyar ))is degre is, pe fewer fynders has it in J)is 32
warlA // Seldome (no meruayH) we fynde any saynt, or so pa^-fyte in
jn^^ )>is lyfc, wiUi so lie lufe takyn up, pat he in contemplacyon wer lyft
to swetnes of melody, fat is to say, jjat he in hym-self my^t tjike pe
•nd«inicit heuenly soonde in to hym sched, and als wer wit/i melody he sukU 36
uod; gayn-jelde lovyngzs to god, & many notys makandl in gostely

* ? wevyngc

Tine melody.

Bk. I. Ch. 3.] I. The Fire of Love. The Fmycr of the Elect to Christ. 7

lovynge, and J7«t in hy??i-self nij^t fele jjat hete of godz's lufe.
And neue?'-])e-les, niaruayl it is ^ai any man contemplatyue odyr-
wyes suld' be troud' : for |)e psalme, transfoz/^-med' in-to jje pe?-sone

4 of man contemplatyue, sayes : Transiho in domuni dei in voce exul-
tac'ionis Sf confession^, |)at is to say : ' I saH go in to godes hows in
voyce of gladnes & of schrift^,' qwhilke loueyng* is sownde of hyme
])ai etis, fat is to say, of hym p«t is glad of heuenly svvetnes. //

8 Pa?-fyte forsoth ]>ai in-to )jis passynge plente of endeles frenschyp ar
takyn, taght wit// swetnes bat saH not waste new lyffe in be clere butinimiy
chales of fun swete chante, and in liolv counsaiH: of myrth bai diaws into

•^ ' liis soul's

drawe in to J)ere saules happy hete, with fe whilk ))ai, gretely gladdyd, ii^ppy iieat,
12 has gretter comfoith ))en may be trowyd of gostely letwary. If In
Jjame, treuly lufand' pe heght of endeles heritage, is |?is refreschynge,
to whome forsoth happyns dyses in })is exile : / and ))rtt* to J?ame
emonge saH not appere vnp?'ofetable fat fai be some 3eris be God's lovers
16 ponyscht, fe why Ik to sytt in heuenly setys wtt/i-outyn partyng< here,
saH be lyftt. Of aH lieschly alsso fai ar cliosyn, in syghte of our
maker to be nioste dere, & clerely to be crouned'. // Eyrnt treuly fai
ar als seraphynne in hy hevyn, whos body be J?aime-self has sityn,
20 & j)er myndes eniange aungels walkand* to criste, fer lemman, fai but, nmonj?
liaue desyrde : fe whilk^ alsso moste swetely has songen Jjis p?'ayer sing this
of endles lufe in Ihesu loyand : / ' 0 honely hete, aH delite swettar. Endless Love

•^ ' . . to Christ:

aH riches more delectable! 0 my god, o my lufe ! in-to me scrith 'My God,

24: with fi charite firlyd, with fi bewte wounded?; sclyde doune &
comforth me heuy ; medecyn, to me wrech, to fi Infer schew fi-self ;
behald', in Jje is aH my desyre, & aH my hevV sekis. IF To pe my [FoI. hi. b.]
hert desyres ; to fe my flesch is firsty : and fou to me opyns not, my flesh

28 hot turns fi face. ))ou spars fi dore & hydes jji-self, & of an Thee,
innocentis payns fou laghys. IT Emonge neuer-J)e-les fro aH erthly
Jjou rauysches fi Infers, Jjou takes abowne aH desyre of warldly
finges, and of fi lufe fou makes fame takers, & in lufynge ful grete

32 wyrkers. Qwharfore in gostely songe of byrnyTig vp birstynge, to
fe, loueynges fai offyr, and with swetnes fe dart of lufe fai fele.
Hayle f erf ore, o lufly lufe euerlastynge, fat^ ys rayses fro fies lawe Haii, my
finges, & with so oft rauyschynge to fe sight of godis maiestee ys lasting!

36 representys. IF Cum in to me, my leman ! Al fat I had I gaf for

fe, and fat I suld^ haue, for fe I haue forsaken, fat fou in my

saule my3t haue a mansyoii it forto comforth. Forsake fou neuer

hym fat fou feles so swetely smel in fi desyre, so fat with moste

1 MS. pat ]>at.

8 I. The Fire of Love. God's Fore-ordaining of all Things. [ Bk. I. Ch. 4.

ormntm* bymyngo dosyro omonge fi halsynge ewer desyrcs to bo, so g/Yaint
inThMfor me grace to louo fe, in J)e to rest*, ))at iii fi kyngdome I may he.
worthy witA-outen cnde fo forto see.*

^ pat ilk man chosyn of gode has his state ordand. 4

Cap. IV.
Mm horninjf T N lufe of lyfc cuerlastyngo, men conte7?zplatyiie liily jjr/t ar brynde,
Mridooitniii* JL J)ai ar forsoth as hyest* in luflyest byrnyng^, (fc miryest of ))e

lufer eiierlastynge, so Jj^t fai seldu?yi or neue?* gos vtwardl to warldly 8
besynes, nor yi\f tak Jje dignite of "worschyp or prelacy, l)ot rather
certanly w/t/z-in Jjaine-selfe, jjame-self wet/i-haklynge viiih ioy to
criste in mynde Jjai alway ascend? in voyce of loueynge. IF In J)is
bat like An- trculy J)o kyrk felouys^ aungellis lerarchys, in jje whilk^ aungellis 12
ciiiM.are moste hy vtwaicH ar not sende, to god euermore nere beandf. IF So
onely besy fai ar in godw syght, ])at in crist/s lufe ar he & conte?/i-
placyon, & soue?*ante ])ai take no^t emong^s men ; bot to odyr it is
kepe, J>at ar more occupy ed wiili mannys besynes, & le[s]se vse IG
cj«i has fore- inwarde lykynge. IF Ilk chosyn, ferfore, his degre has of god*
Uiings, ordand before ; so fat -svliills he ))is to p.rclacy is chosyn, he fis to
god vzt/<-in is besy to take hede, & god -wiih-m ))e;-to hym lyftis
so \ai he lefe att vtwardl occupacyon. IF Slyke sofly ar moste haly, 20
& ^it of men ar haldyn laghyst ; ffor ))ai seldom gos vtward* miraclys
to do, be-cause in mynde onely ))ai dueH. IF Of o^per treuly J)at
both to goddw seruis jjame-self submytt/^, & }pei'e sogett/s discretely
gouyrn. II To o\er alsso J)at before men lyfe in fleschly penance vn- 2-1:
sene, oft-tymes in ]?e?-e lyfe tokyns grauntyd' ar scheuyd, or ellys aft^r
\erQ dede, fof aH in purgatory som-qwhili fuH scharply )jai be
ponyschidf. U AH sayutis treuly miracles hafe no^t* done, noude?* in
\erQ lyf nor aftyr fere dede, nor att dampnec?, owdyr in )je?*e lyfe or 28
hax Hi* after J}e?'e dede, miracle haue wantyd. IF J)e dome treuly of god is
•wrret. preuay, j?at yH wars sulci? be made tokyns sene of sj-nnars. U And

fa fat ar guyd? suldf be more whik* in lufe of f er makar, f o f ingcs
despisyd? fat to gude & ytt comonly may be had. IF Some forsoth 32
gude dedys has wro3t, [bot] no^t^ godzs bot mannys worschip f ai haue
so3f, & fis after fer dede pe?-yschis, fat only haueantV fat in fis
warlc¥ f ai hafe desyreiH. Itt happyns treuly oft-sythes fat meynly
[Foi. iv.n.j gude <& les pa?-fytf, mirakyls has done, ffuH many alsso heghe in 36
dcuocyone in heuenly setys before goddi's maieste playnly sessys,

* Over this icord in another Jtand follows.

Bk. I. Ch. 4, 5.] I. The Fire of Love. Lovers of God and the World. 9

hanand? ])er medys emonge J)e hegll compa?^ys of lieuen. U ffor ]>& st. Michael's
feste of saynt mycliael specially is worschypt^, and ^it of jje hyest aiiy honour-
ordvr of aiiiigels he is no^t* trouyd?. Some also to eod turnyil' & is not of the

•^ ° 1 o J ' highest order

4 penance doande and warldly erandi6^ forsakand', in j)er mynde ioys of angeia.
if ]!er name after \)ere dede anensse lyfars may be worschipt ; to pe
whillc' ciisiis treu se?'iiand' suld take no Lede, als in auntyr he loos
aH: ])at he wyrk?V. H j)o ]?ing{s treuly fat comon ar to gode & yii,
8 of saynt?'6' ar not to be desyrd^, hot charite & gostly vertuys vtiih-
outyn ceseynge in fer harte's be festynd, ]>e whilk not only })e saule
kepys fro fylth of synnes, bot fie body als in jje dome sali rays to
endeles mynd'. IF AH J^inge treuly Ipat here is done, sone cessys & ah things

12 fleis ; ]?ere treuly, audyr in worschip er in confusion, wzt/i-outyn end' ceise and flee.
])'di sail last. Actyue Iperfove, & p?-elates clere in co?2nynge & ve?'te\v,
men conte?»platyue before })ame-self suld sett*, & before god )?<??• Active men
bettyrs ))ame hald', fiame-self not trouand' wor])i to be gyfen to contempia-

16 conte??qjlacyon, bot if ■paraunter goddis grace to bat bame wakt above tiiem-

selves.

enspyr.

Differens be-twix godis lufars & J)e warldis ; & per

meclis. [Cap. V.]

20 IVTo-thynge felys mans saule ])o byrnynge of endeles lufe, J^eNoonecan
jj\ "vvhilk^ before aH warldly vanite p«?'fytle has not forsakyn, to onove*^wiio

,,.. 1T-1 1 • fn 1 • 1 liasn't for-

heuenly piugis studyand' besily to be ginyn, and AV?t//-outyn cessynge sai<en aii
goddz'6* lufe desyre, and aH creato?(5?-s to be loffyd' manerly to lufe. / vanity.

24 Treuly if aH Jjinge pat we lufe we lufe for god, god rather in it f>en
it we lufe / & so, not in it, bot in^ god, we delite, whome forto vse
w/t/i-outen end' we saH be glad. II AYyckyd treuly J)is warld lufe,
settand ])ere-m j^e lust of ]>erG delectacyoiie ; & ]>o Hingis onely ])at

28 to )}is warldi's ioy lang^s, Jia couet^ wzt/^-outen cessynge. And how
may a man do more fondly / more wrechidly or da??ipnabilly, ])en
fully to lufe J)ing/s t?*ansitory & faylynge, onely for it-self? U The
trinite god treuly onely for J)e self is to be lufyd. IT Put we pier-

32 fore oure mynde in it fully, & be we besy aH oure myndes in to ]?e
ende to here, pat w^e in itt* w«'t7i-outen end may be gladynd', so pat
we lufe our-self*, & al Jjing/s ]?at we lufe, for pnV allone. H Bot pat Tiie sinner
synnar leghes, psit says he lufes god, & 3it* he dredys not to serryf he loves God",

36 s^yn. like man treuly ))at lufyse god is fre, nor to bondage of synne doesh'tfear
byndes no3f hyni-self , bot to pe semys of rightwisnes stedfastly
standys. U Qwhills we treuly erthly p'wgis or comibrth lufys fur
^ in in margin in anotJicr hand.

10 I. The Fire of L(we. The Joys of tJie Lovers of God. [Bk. I. Cli. 5.

If WtlOTt

Mrthlj
tltlnit** w«

Lovers nf
plMiiur* bl«

iolMli.

[PtoLIV.b.]

God's lore
UBre.
purKinic oar
iMHiU firom

It idTM nt
heavenly

fo Bclf, god w/t/t-outon doutto we lufo 11031, foreoth hym not
sarifand; bet if in creatoM;-s we be delittyd, so jjrtt we our maker
sett bchynde, & fo ))ingw \ai entiles ar not, karis to folowe, als
go<l hatand we saH be demed. ffuH frawarde treuly to J>e saule it 4
is / tokyn of dampnacyone <fe J>o tokyn of enJlcs dede, whan man
holly gyfes hym-self vnto )jis warlcF, and in dyuers desyrea of \q
flesch & errowrs ho gos as hym lyst ]>U8 no meruaytt is a wrech
destruytl, U and whils ho wenis to folow ^ in lust, to penance of 8
heH ay-lastand he hyes. H J?e?'furo no man suldl dar p7-esume, nor
be pryde raise vp hym-self when he is despisid to hys repreue / or
when tlitynges to hym ar cast* , nor hym-self defend, or for iH wordes
iH gif agayne, H hot aH Jjing*, aHswele lovynge als reprefe, euenly 12
beryng^. On ))is wyes treuly doande, we with-outen ende wiih criste
saH bo glad, H gif we wit//-outen leffynge, lufe hym in J)is lyfe ;
whos lufe in hartis rotyd & made sekyr, vs makes lyke vnto hys
lyknes, and o^er ioy, )?at is to say godly, in-to vs he puttis, wiih 16
bjTnynge lufe playnly our myndes myrthand. U His hife treuly is
fyer, firy makand oure saules, & pourgis fame fro aH degres of
synne, makand Jjame ly3t & byrnawde ; whylk fyer byrnandl in ))am
fat is chosyn, myndely euer makes fame vp forto loke, and dede in 20
fer desyre continuly to wit/i-hald. U Q wharf ore whils we may syn,
lat vs charge fis warld^i)• prospe?-ite to flee, adue?'site to here gladly.
H An euyH mynde forsoth losys whils it ioys, & whils it in
creatowrs sekis gladnes, als wer wtt/i a flaterynge venome fe self* 24
kyllys : whos contagyuste to eschew be wele war, gostly fode
behaldand, fat to byrnyng* lufars holy is ordand in heuen. ^ And
80 criste grauntynge, be we comforth in swete sange of charite, &
be we delityd in so swete deuocyoun, whils wykyd slepe in horribul 28
dyrknes, & ful of synues gos doune to paynes. H ffuH: grete mer-
uayle it semys, fat mortall man in so hegh lufe of god may be takyn,
fat he in his moste p?'euay substance no f ing* felys hot heuenly
solace, & als wer goyng^ to heghe clere desyre, in noys of organes 32
to be contemplatyue ; f e whilk fat of odyr is done to sorow,
turnys fanne to ioy, so fat fai seme in saule vnabiH to soffyr
payn / fe whilk* also may not with drede of dede be turbyld*, nor
fro restfulnes to vn-es on any wyes be meuyd. H V^iih besy lufe 36
treuly he his styrd, & in foght f«t is co?itinuly in Ihcsu, ful sone
lie persauys his a wen defautes : fe whilk correctand, forward of
fam is war, & so besily he beres ri^twysnes to fe tyme to god he be

^ read flow

Bk. I. Cb. 5, 6.] I. The Fire of Love. Love of God above Knowledge. 11

led*, & sittis in setys euerlastynge with heuenly citesyns. U Qwhare- tm we Bit
fore clere he standes in conscience, & stedfast^ in att gude wayes, be citizens of

./ / heaven.

whilk* neuer is noyed* with warldly heuynes, nor witli vaynglory
4 gladynd. U Obstinate treuly in wark/^* vnclene, pe lufe of criste Those per-

SlStGUt 111

knawes no3t, for )}ai witJi flescbly likynge ar byrnd', U and to god "nehastity
)}ai 3elde no deuocion, for |?e byrdyn of riclies with ]je whilk pai ar ciuist's love.
Jjirstyn to ])e erth. fforsoth fai ar not ordand' to haue delytes of
8 paradys, bot in |)er frawardnes gose to pere dede ; & Jjerfore wor])e]y
])er heuynes sal not be lessynd', nor sorow of jje?* dampnacioii sal be
put bak, for pai wilfully gos in lustz.*? & synys, & luf of pe endeles
lufar for fals luf frawardly j)ai haue lost*. U Q wharf ore in paynes
12 perpetuaH, fat ])ai haue synned', playnly fai sail forjjinlv^, U and ^iV

of syns bai saH: neue?* be clensyd', bot endlesly byrnyd with fyris sinnorB shnii

, , burn in end-

continuyd* with-outen any coraiorther. // less flames.

Qwarfore is it more to take entent to lufe of god J)en
16 to konynge or disputacion. [Cap. VI.]

Emonge albingzs bat we wirk^ or binke, to be lufe of god be we Let us care
. _ more tor

more takand? hede ])en to connynge or disputacion. Lufe goU's love

treuly delytes fe saule, / & conscience makes swete, drawand it fro cleverness or

20 h^fe of lusty ])inges here beneyth & fro desyre of mans awen excel-
lence. H Connyng* w/t/i-oute charite beldes not* to endeles heel,
bott* bolnes^ to raoste wreched' vndoyng. IF Strong* jjerfore be oure
saules in takyng* of harde labours for god, & be it wyes with heuenly [FoI. v. a.]

24 sauow, no3t* warldly. Desire it* to be lyghtynd* with wysdome end-
les, & with Jjatt fyer to be enflaumed' with whilk* som ar styrd'
onely oure maker to luf & desyre, & my3tely is made strange to
despisynge of all transitory ymgis. In )?ies ])ingis j?at abyde, no3t*

28 countand' pies fe?* moste solace j?at ]?ai here haue no duellyng*,
heuenly place no3t made with hand? wzt/i-outen cessynge pai seke,
& cries : J/ihi viuere cristus est, <^ mori lucrum, ' Criste to me is lyfe,
& grete wynnyng* to dy.' H Treuly forsothe he lufys god \)at to no

32 wicked likeynge consentis. In als mykyH certanly is man fer fro

c7-ist/6' lufe, als he hym-self delytes in warldly |)inge. ^ Qwarfore if and let our
jjou lufe god', J)i wert ])at* scheuys : ffor he neue?* is proued to lufe our work,
god, whils to wicked desyres he is made to consent*. U Therfore to

36 all Ipat ar in j}is exil, ))is dar I schewe, ))at aH |)ai }:e maker of all

jjinge pat wil^ not lufe, in-to dyrknes endles j?ai saH be kest, & per

1 Over fJds vjord in another hand inflat : latiiife.
2 satt crossed out ; wil in the margin.

I •_' I T1i€ Fire of Love, The JUiss of Lovers of God. [Bk. I. Cli. G.

8iiH fele wtt//-outcii endo byrnynge of fo fycr of hoH, jxrt here wiih
lufe of per gnyiibyur^ walil! no^t be lyghtynd. II JSontlyiJ |)ai satt be
fro po coiniMiny of syngara in charitc of per maker, & besily ))iii satt
Borow, fro inyrtfi kest oute of synngand* in Ui^'sii, wantyng^ |je denies 4
& pa ioy of jjanio f>at satt be crounyd. H tfor leuyr )?ame was a
litiH whyle in warldly softnes tary, J)en soffyr penance pat per synnes
niy^t be clensed / ^ fai kunic fuH of pyte before pa defendar of att
godo. In J>e slippyr way tieuly Sc J>e brode, ifi })is vale of wepynge 8
pad hauo bene deliiyd, wher is no place of gladnes, bot of labo?«r :
Woriair Rin- wliarefore wit//-outen relese, in to7/rnient/V fai saH sorow, when pore
nw to torment to pcs eiu'rlastyng* sal be borne, & ])e made glade in be delites of be

when the iM>or ' *' o o / /

arebon.eto godlicdo gifand lyfc, J>o whilk* with veKues wer arrayed full treuly 12

i"«»8. seand', Sc in gostely hete happily has florisched, ))of aH in Avorthy
heghf of ))is warld! jjai haue takyn no solace, nor emang^ vnholsuni
wyesmen fai haue not sawen pride, bof of wikkyd men fai haue

Lovers of bom greues, Sc temptacyons fai haue exclude fro pe saule, )je trone 16
of pe tiinite pat in pes ])ai my^t* be haldyn. IT And tieuly ))ai haue
wodid? olil vnthriftynes of venemus lyfe, clerly loueandl & most
gladly gostly beute ; and plays of softnes,]7e whilk^ 3onge age^ acceptis,
& vnwyse warldly men desyrs, )jai haue demyd worfi reprefe, |)ink- 20
ant? with continuance charitefuH sange in to our makar ascendynge.
H ffor whilk )jinge, takars of lufly ioy, & heete consauandf pat may
not be consumyd, in songe J>ai ryn of clene co7»panys & lufly armony,
and in frendely myrth heuenly Jjai haue in-^ett* a schadow agayiie 24
aH hete of lychery Sc fylth. ^ Qwharefore in byrnynge of swettest
lufe pAi ar takyn vp to jjc behaldyng^ of per le?/Mnaii, & be flaume
happyest florischandf |)ai ar in xertaw, <Sz f rely loues per maker : and

■re fliici with J)er myude now gos, in-to melody chaungyd pat lastys, and |je 28

Ood

•ouis, thoythis fro hens-furth ar made songe, and pe hautt of pe saule,

heuynes kest oute, with wondyrfutt musyk^ is fulHllydl; so pat
prikkyng* before playnly it has lost', & hole in hee swetnes euennoie
it« abydis, fuK me?-uellusly syngandf in henyly swete meditacion. 32
H flfor))erniore, when )jai go fro J)is hardncs, and fro disesys )?at here
happyns, ))en pe tyme comys pat ))ai sal be takyn, & wixh-onten
doute to god be borne w/t/i-outen sorow, & emong' seraphyn haue
[Pol. V. b.] per setys ; ffor |)ai aH-to-gydyr setf on fyer with fyer of lufe moste 36
heghe, and with-in per saules byrnand?, so swetely & deuoutely })ai
ha louycJ god, J)at what-some-eue?* pai felt* in ))ame-self*, heef it was

* redejHptoris in margin.
• age on the margin^ in another hand.

Bk. I. Cli. 6,7.] I. The Fire of Love. Causes of Heresy aboitt Christ. 13

gostly, lieuenly songe and godly swetnes. U Herefore treuly it is, withiieaveniy
}pai ))ai wit/i-outen lieuynes dy, sotliely v^iih loy passand* vnto so sweetness.
grete degre in endles worschip pai are lyft, and ar crounyd' in be-
4 haldynge moste plentevows of \er makar, syngand' -wz'tA clerist
wlieris, |?e whilk also more byrnyngly desiris in-to ^ai godhede
J)at reulys ait ))inge. H And forsotli, Jjof J)ai now clerely behald*
jje chere of treutlie, & w^t7^ likyngest swetnes of jje godhede be
8 moistyd, H 3it no meruayH after a litiH whyle ))ai saH be made more
nie?*uellus ; Qwhen bodis of saynt^5 fat in ertb )}is tyme ar haldyn At the
fro ])er graiiys, saH be raysed^, and ])er sanies \\iih ))ame saH: bo
knyttyd' in fe last examinaciofi. ^ jpen forsotli saii Jjai take princi- they shall bo

12 palite emang^ pepyls, / & vnryglitwes ])ai saH: deme to be da??zpned, people,
IF and J)ai satt scliew ])«t menly goyde Aver blyst* to come to blistful-
nes. IT \>Q gene^-ali dome sothely ])us done, in-to songe enerlastynge
))ai saH be borne, & \\iili criste go vp \q lieght of treuytli, ]?e fas of andshaiisee

16 god vsand with lufe wt't/^-outen emV. — U Of ])is it is scheuyd jjat God.
swetnes ene?'lastyng^ mostis J)er myndes, )je Avhilk vnabilly to be
lousyd, ])e bande^ of trew charite byndis. Qwarfor rather latt vs seek Christ's

1 ipp'i ' T ' 1 jiiijT love, not dis-

seke pat lute oi enste byrn vs w^tA-in, pen we take hede to disputa- putation.

20 cioii vnprofetabith IF Qwhyls we trenly take hede to sekyng^
vnmane?'ly, ]je swetnes of eue?•lastyng^ smellynge we fele no^t.
IF Wharfore many now sauoms in so mykyH in brynnynge of con-
nyng^, & no3t of lufe, fat playnly what* luf is, or of what* sauour,

24 J»ai knaw no^t*, fof aH ])er laboure of aH ]ier stody fame aght to
sprede vnto fis ende fat f ai my^t* byrne in goddz'*' lufe. Alas, for
schame ! an olde wyfe of godd*^ lufe is more expert*, & les of warldly An old wife

1 • T 1 • /v> 1 c knows more

likynge, fen fe grete devin, whos stody is vayne; iTor why, for of God's love
28 vanite he studys, fat he glorius may apere, & so be knawen, fat divine does,
rentz's & dignites he mo gett : fe whilk* a foyle, & not* wis, is^ worfi
to be halden.

Of ])Q caus of heritik?^, & faytli of ]?e Trinite.
32 [Cap. yiL]

Plcnte of holy treutli & hoi to fa??! it sekys, schewes fe self*; &
to f e childer of vnite, misteris hyd ar opyn. IF Qwharfore
sof ly spryngzs frawardenes of heritikz6", bot* of a vntaght mynde & Heresy
36 inordinate, be whilk with desire of be awen excellence is blyndidl ignorance

' '^ ^ ... and vanity.

for f ai treuly w/t/z-in fame-self, god to repreue be vayne desiris, cesis

^ MS. bynde ; a overlined in another hand.
^ Aiwther is is inserted in margin.

It l« proud
of n«w

It an»«tiona
(iiiU'ii S<»n'<i

[Kol. VI. t.]

1 4 T. Tht Fire of Lwe. Of the Trinity and Jesuits Christ. [Bk. I. Ch. 7.

not^j of fare addillynge it* is also ))at fai vtward yriVi plaync argu-
ment/^ gaynstamlys fo treutn. % And when cristyn roligyofi wiH
aH contrariuste cut a-way, & fully acorde in vnito of lufc, ))o raaner
of horotikis & proudo is, new opynions to gett*, Sc fro fe saying* of 4
haly kyrk*, questyons vnwont to schowo ; and so ))o finges )jat trew
cristen men haly haldys, ))ai loy \si\Ji per vanites to sparpyH.
H Errours of whonio we kestande a-way says : fe sono treuly of
god, evyn witA-outen begynnyng* to J)e fadyr, eucrmore is to be 8
trowed & vnderstanded' : ffor hot if fe fadyr hynie w/t/^-outo
begynyngo had gettyn, \>g fuH godhede treuly in hym suki not haue
bene. / Sothely if god \>q fadyr som-tyme had bene, when fat he
had no sone, fen no m(!?ruayle he was les fen afterward! when ho f e 12
sone had gotyn : fat, no man of gude myndo satt say. IT God per-
fore vnchaungable, god vnchaungable getti^, and fe whilk* he has
gettyn wit/<-outen end / & f is day also he cessis nof to gett. ^ ffor
noufer fe substance of fe sone som-tyme vngetyn my^t be called?, IG
nor fe beyngo of fe getter fe self neuer felt*, wit/i-oute an onely
gettyn sone of fe self*. Evyn treuly as f e begynnynge of fe god-
hede, be no reson nor no witt* may be fun, be-caus begynyng* it has
not*, so f e generacion of f e sone with f e eue?'lastynge of fe godhede 20
vnchaungyngly bydis. U Qwhen treuly in fe infenite of gode
meruaile and worschip, wit/^-oute begynyng* aH-myghti clerely
scheuys, to what end mans foly raises f e self to stryue, a sacrament
vnabyH to be spokyn to f e eris of men dedly to schew ] U He 24
treuly knawes god parfitly, f rtt hym felys i?icomp?'ehensibyll & vn-
abyl to be knawen. IT j^o f inge sothely pa?-fitely is knawen, hot
if fe caus fe?*of, how & what wyes it is, parfitely be knawen. In
f is present lyfe treuly, in parte we knaw & in parte we can ; in lyf 28
treuly to cum^, pa?'fytely we sal cun & fully, als to creatures is lefuli
or spedful. H fforsoth he fat oure fat fat is p?-ofitabyH of our
makar euerlastyng* desyres to knaw, wM-oute dout fro parfyte con-
yng* of hym fonder he falles. IT ])o\i askes what god is. I schortly 32
to f e answer : Slike one & so grete he is, whatkyns or so mykiH
none odyr is, no neuer may be. IT Gyf fou wiH knaw prcpirly to
speke qwhat god is, I say, of fis questyon answer saH fou neuer
fynde. I haue not knawen ; Aungels can not ; Archaungelizs haue 3G
not hard. Wharfore how waldl fou knaw fat is vnknawen & als
vntaght*1 God treuly fat is almyghty, may noght fe teche what
hyme-self is : IF Qwhat* god is treuly, if fou knew, als wys fou suldf

» MS. cun.

He knows
God truly,
wlio knows
th»t He i>t
incoinpre-
bensible.

irynoMk
wlut Uod is,

I MTJOO

•hall never
find an an-
swer.

Bk. I. Ch. 7, 8.] I. The Fire of Love. Three Persons and one God, 15

be als fjod is : bat, nouber bou nor ober creature may be. IT Standi or you'd be
J^erfore in ]?i degre, and nye jjingzs desyre pou not ! / nor if J)ou God.
desyre to knaw what^ god is, to be god \ow desyrs ; J)e whilk^ becums

4 J?e not. Wele ])ou wote, allone god hym-self knawes, & knaw may.
Treuly it is not of gods vnpower fat he may not ]}e tech hym-self*
als he is in hym-self, bot for hys vnhopyd worjjines ; ffor slike one
als he is, none o\er may be. If he soythly^ treuly my^t be knawn,

8 inco??iprehensibvH ben wer he noat*. It is I-nogh be?'for to be to Be content

. . 1 . ./. / 1 , to know that

knaw \)at god is ; and agayns fe it wer gif Jjou wald' knaw qwhat God is,

god' is. IT Also it is to prays god parfytely, fat is to say, vn-abyH:

to be consauyd fully, to knaw, hyra knawynge to luf e, louandly to and to love

12 syng* in hym, syngand in hym to rest, & be rest^ inwarcJ to endles
rest to cume. Lat it not meue fe fat I haue sayd god parfytely to
knaw, & I haue denyed hym to may be knawen, sen fe prophet in
psalme has sayd' : Pretende mzsericordia??z tuam scientibus te, / fat

16 is to say : ' fi mercy schew to fame fe knawes.* Bot fis autorite }pus
vnde?'standi, if f ou wiH not erre : to fame f e knawes, fat is to say,
god to be lufed, to be loved, to be worschipyd and glorify de onely
maker of aH f ingz'.s, a-boune ali f ing^, be oR f ing^ & in all f ing*, fat

20 is blissed' in warld' of warld?s, Amen.

pat in ]>Q godhede we aw not to say thre godis or .iij.

kyndis, als we say thre persones ; and J)at ilk

man afte?' qttantite of his lufe sal be cald grete

24 or smal. [Cap. VIII.]

ff any errand' wald say, in be T?'inite .iij. kyndes, be-cause .iij. in the Trinity

,,,. ,.. TT are 3 persons,

pe?'sones fai say, why suld? fai not alsso say .iij. godd^s, sen to
god is all-one to be god & his kynde to be 1 IF We say treuly f e

28 fadyr is god, f e sone is god', f e holy goste is god ; U f e fadyr alsso

is hys kynde, f e sone is his kynde, f e holy gaste is hys kynd? : & [Foi. vi. b.]
^it not* .iij. godz5 nor .iij. kyndes we say; bot* o god .iij persones, to but i God,
be of 0 kynde, wzt/i strange fayth we grau?2t. IT O godhede treuly

32 is of iij. pe?'sones full & parfyte, & ilka pe7'sone in f e self contenes
f e hole godhede, euynhede & onhede forsoth haueand' after f e sub-
stance of f e godhede, not wantaM distinccion of diue?'site after fe
p?'opirte of f e name. H ))ai ar also .iij. pe?'30iies & o god, on kynde,

36 one substance, one godhede ; and f of ilk persone betokyn f e kynde, i substance
f of aH f er be .iij. pe?'sones, 3it ferfore .iij. kyndz's sali no3t be vndir- i^ead.
^ If he soythly on the margin in the same hand.

I

1 0 I 7 / nf Lnrr. JToly men have Keys of Heaven. [Bk. I. Ch. 8.

BUindyd. 11 And als our god ))o fadyr <fc fo sone & fe lioly goste, o
Th« Trinity kyiule we caH, & not .iij., so fc lie t/inite .iij. i)^/-8one8, not one
butiood. allono we snH say. H |3o fFadyr is called', be-causo of hyni-solf he

gatf a sone ; f o sone is cald', be-caus of fe fadyr he is gottyn ; fc 4 .
holy goste, be-caus of botho |)e holy fader & holy sone he is spiryd*.
f |)e fadyr lyfo, gettyn ))e sone [lyfe] to hynie has gyfen his hole
substance, so fat ))o fadyr als niykili suldf be in hys sone als in hym-
self . . . bot fo fadyr hys kynde has takyn of none, fo sone treuly 8
of his fadyr allon in his byrth has taken Jjat he is, IF fforsoth J)g
holy goste of jjo fadyr ^ J)e sone forthpassyngo, & viiih fame <fc in
fame cndlesly beyng*, is no nior in hyme-self feu in aydere, IT Evyn
treuly & euerlastynge he is with fainie of -wliome lie is, sene he is 12
of fo same substance, of fe same kynde & of fe same^ godhede, & fe
The Son be- firtl pez-sone in trinite. ^ \)q sone treuly euyrlastyng< of fe fader
toi^em is be-kume man in tyme, / borne of a niaydyn, fat lie mankynd* fro

fe feudes power my3f gaynby. H }?is is our lorde ihe^'u criste, fe 16
whilk only be festyndf in oure mynde, fe whilke onely for vs was
tyde in f e crosse. H Ko f ing< treuly is so swete as to lufe crist.
And ferfore ransake we not to mil^yH fo fing/** fat we in f is lyfe
n:ay not consaue. In heuen treuly clerar fen lyght fai saH be, if we 20
to lufe god gif aH our harttw. H We saH be treuly abyH to be
taght* of god, & in melody fuH meruell«s we satt ioy, Si in lie myrth
our makar loofe, & in fuH swete esines wiit/t-oute grefe & yrksu7?i-
Hewhoiove* nes, w/t//-outyn ende. IF fforsotS he fat mikyH louys is grete, $c he 24
«T«». fat leste louys is leste : fPor after f e gretnes of charite we hafe in

vs, be-fore god saH we be p?*aysed. So is not before men, bot he
tho'foik frtt moste ryches has or godis, is moste chargid & namly dred?;

tliink rich '^ -^ fc » o j y

meu are. wheu fame aght not so to do, bof fame most Avorschip <fc drede fat 28
fai in connjmge suppos be best. IT Mighty men of f is wark? treuly
may no f ing< do bot^ to far bodys or f er gudes ; IT Holy men treuly
Holy men has moro wortliyues : % fai treuly sal haue power to spar heuen to
opnbMTen. fame fat fame disesis, Sc Avald not ferfore do penawc<, and also heuyn 32
to opyn to fame in god fat fame has worschippyd & mayntenedl in
f is exil, whills fai w/t// charite wer arayd*, <fe all vaynglory has not
resauyd. Qwharfor chaiite to gett, to haue, & witli-haldf, with aH
fer myght & aH f<?r strenghtes fai suldf irauayH, fat in fe day of 3G
tewjptacioil manfully fai myghf stanr^ agayns fer enmys, & when
fai saH be p[r]ouyd2, fai mote take fe crowne of lyfe. IT Charite
treuly makes men pa^-fyte, & onely lufand parfitely to f e heglit of
1 same on the margin. * be previd on the margin.

Bk. I. Ch. 9.] I. The Fire of Love, Suffeo^ing for Love of God 17

\jiQ contemplatyue ar g?-aunted« to ciime. IF And treuly pore, Jjof
aH ^\iih lieuynes & vnclennes ])ai be cled, ^itt siild' ))ai not be
despisyd' : for })ai ar f rendi\<? of god & bredyr of crista, if jjai Jje The poor are

4 byrdyn of pouyrte bere whli dedz's of loiieyng. / Jjanne sikyrly J^at God, and
3e despysed pe?"Sonys w^t/^-onte, v^iih-m als heuenly citesenes wor- Christ;
schip 36, & in als mykiH for god to ^er worscbip growe 36 in als
mykyii as lie in bis godbed^ wyrkes priuely, / fe wbilt J?am co???-

8 f ortliand says : Beati j^?a?/^;eres quomsim veshmm. est regmim dei, / tiieirs is tiie
j?at is to say : * blissed be 36 pore, for 3o?irs is^ ]je kyngdonie of god 1 ' God,
Treuly, grete tribulacioii & nede Jiat ])ai sufF^T in ))is lyfe, ar pourg-
ynge of \er synnes ; ffor wbills jje pore in body wM hongyr, J)irst,
12 cald' & nakydnes & o\er greuys of Jjis warld? is noyed', in saule fro

vnclennes & warldly fyltbys be is poiirgyd. IF And treuly, in tyme they si.aii
to come be swetter rest 01 euyrlastvnpje pore men sali fele, m als their labours,

^ '^ •' '^ ^ ^ 'ill time to

mykyii as in |)is lyfe moste greuow^ labours ))ai haue borne. IT To come;

16 ]7ame sail longe treuly to say : H Lefati siimus 2'>t^o diehws qtiilms nos
humiliasti, annis quibus vidimus mala, ])at is to say : * gladdynd' we
ar for jje days in qwbilt ])0u mekid vs, ffor^ 3eres in qwhilk^ we
liaue sene grefe.' Qwarfore Jje birdyn of pouerte bals ])o\\ with ioy, therefore re-

20 <fe o])e?' wrecbydnes ba mynde gudely to bere, jjat be J^e sufferance of poverty,
tribulacioii to ioy of pes euerlastyng Jiou may be worjji to cum !

% pat pe parfyte lufer of god had leuer rynne in-to

grete payne, Ipen ons be synne greue god ; & why

24 god touriaentis ryghtwes be wykkyd. [Cap. IX.]

0

f ^ be grete fyre of lufe so grete beute of verteu grows in saules, a righteous

miiii will

Ipa^f a ryghtwys man rajjer wala chese to suffyr aii payne pen suffer any
ones greue god / jjofe aH he knew be penans be myght* ryse and '^''?» o"ce

28 afterward* pies god more & holyar be. IT ffor ilk^ parfyte ))is vnder-
standis, Jjat no-jjing'' to god es more dere J)en innocens, no-J)inge
more plesand )jen gude wiH. IF Gyf we treuly lufe god rightwisly, [Foi. vii. «.]
sonar we wald* grete mede in heuyn lose Jjen ones synne venially /

32 ffor moste ryghtwes it es, of rightwysnes no mede to ask^, hot

frencliypp of cjod, bat is hym-self*. IF Better it is berfore euer tur- it is better

r^ n -, in ,i to Suffer tor-

mentry to sunyr ]?en ones fro ryghtwysnes to wyckednes wilfully to ment than
be led' & knawyngly. [Wherfore it folowys fat jjei |jat crist so knowingly
36 birningly lufys] Ipat on no wys [fiai] will synne, not onely fro payne
saH be free Ijot with aungels endlesly sal ioy. IF j)a treuly Jjat

^ is on the margin. " MS, llro ' ;MS. if,

HAMPOLE. G

18 T. Tlve Fire of Lffoe, SuffeHng for Love of God. [Bk. I. Cli. 1).

wikkid iiodis enryf, «fe warMly t^ floschly solace ])a weyn gretely is

to be liirctl, i^ )J0 fing/*' lufaiuH j?ai ilesyrc, foi-soth both )jc ioy ])ai

loso ^at ))ai lufo, & rins in-to wrccliidnes ))at ))ai eschciiyd not.

The right- If IJot of 811111 it is wouiit to bo asked! qwhy god« almyghty wycked* 4
«oo« art cliM- . , - ^ _ , " ' - /« 11 I ii

ti««dwttii <& rntwea to-gidyr chastys. II pou seis at ons vnder bo liayH botli

the wicked, ^ o.»w o

like «H>m and coriio & caff*. bot in be wyudouynge be caff' is cute cast & be come
the Jrtimower ^*^^^^y is godyi'dl to iiians V80. IT Gyf aH men trouly lyfed, vfiUi-
dhvjj-otrthe outcn doutc in pes <fc tranquillite, w^t/f-olltell debate <fe battcH we 8
sidiF duoH; bot sen emonge few gude ar many iH, many disesys
ciiin, ])nt iH may bo chastissyd : & Jjis enyH fingw to gude men bap-
pyns for ))ai witb iH Jir me7egyd? vnto jrere dedc. Kigbtwes alsso for
))ai ar redy to synn, frtt fat redynes be not brogbt to deide, be ))e 12
waiide of oure meke fadyr jjai ar tagbf to take here a lygbt* scouring*,
so ]>iit ))o bitter scouryng' paV is to cum jjai may scape. IT )5^?/'fore
if jwy-secucion, wrecbydnes, & o\)er dises J)ou suffyr, Jjou has pat
We dwell in acurdys to \>c place in J)c whilk* pou dwell/*'. Is not J)is pa vayle of IG
te:«n»«nd tciis Sc tribulaciofi in whilk^ bou art*] bou waldf bou berfore be glad

tribulation. . . ....

ill presono, & lyfe in p?'osperite in aH piwa exile, or with-outen dyses

Christ go ))i long* pilgrimage ? Hauc mynde pai criste & his apostilh*' has

ment. suffyrdi turmentry, tfc )?ou be blys sekis to com to ioy ! bot J)ou saH 20

[Foi. MI.6,] j^^^^ ig fforsoth owdyr in p\s lyfe pe fyer of goddw lufe Jje ruste of

our synnes sal waste, <fe our saules clence to make J)ame abyH to fie

to blys, or ellis pe fyer of p?frgatory aiter |)is lyfe our saules saH

ponysch, if it happyn ))at we scape ))e fyer of heR Or ellys Jiat* in 2-i

vs J)e strenght of lufe bo not* so mikyH paV aH to-gidyr it may vs

Distrewmiut byrn. W/'t/i tribulacion, seknes & discs behouys vs to be clensetH.

Noyounjf Wtt/i-outiu douto also ]jis we haue paf^ no ^ong* man emong* flat^?*-
inadeTioiy by iugts & swotc wordys of fayre wymmen & plente of piugis likynge 28
sweet words, may be made holy, bot if it be be pe vntrauyd gretenes of god/s g?*ace,
wher so grete & so many stirris many to faH pat alsso off-tymes
holy men has bene lost. Qwarefore moste merakyH I trow it is
qwhen man be god«s grace & lufe of criste ))is chirischynge parfitely 32
despisis, & be-twix ))is enmys to pe sawle, poi aH to pe flescb pd,
seme soft*, to pe he holynes of pe heue/dy contemplacion manfully
gose vp. And wit^-outen fayH, pe holyar he is <fc with solace of
godw lufe more plenteuosly w/t/<-in fylcV, ))at he sett in fyer couth 36
not* byrn, & pe foule luste of vnclenc lyfe offerynge |?ame-self* he
lias pa^-fitely slokynd. pe whilk* no meruayH, & pot it be seldom,
criste "wyrkis in some to hyme belofyd, of whome it is say: E.r-
* Ovcrlineil, wlietlier by the same han<l or not is doubtful.

Bk. I. Ch. 10.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Holiness. 19

pandit nuhem in pxoteccionevii eoi'mw, Sf igneni vt luceret eis J9er nnc-
tem, II ]?at is to say : ' he has spred? a clowyd', ])q schawdow of god/y
gr«ce, to ])er defens agayn fleschly desyres, & fyer of endles lufe to
4 gyf ])ame lyght in mynd? wM-in be Jie nyght^ of J)is lyfe, \at ))a be
vnlefiihies of vayne beute be not' takyn/ Cristz's hife treuly iuTiieioveof
]3ame \v^'t^ so grete swetnes byrnys ]jat a fleschly & vnlef uii likynge out tieshiy '
J?ame Jjinke als fylth most foule, & jjerfor it fiai despise. IF )?erfore Therefore
8 touch |)0u not licherusly |3at noudyr is lefuH [to] desire nor to '^^"' ecieiy.
haiie. / Haue mynde alsso ]ji hande, J)i tonge & Jji body to \\itli- Take heed of
hald', & in \vy??2men disples not Jji consciens. Stirryng/s treuly of tonjjii'e, and
lychery ar aray of men & wymen. Alsso bote letwaris & ojjer
12 m.^iis Ipat ^\iili ]ier hete to mikiH enflaumys ])e flesch, wliillv^
norischars of bodis & killars of saulis ar besy to make ; pe whilk
of chaste suld^ be escheuyd'.

pat god in dises is to be lufyd and worschipyd ; &
IG also of myrth & mekenes of gode. [Cap. X.]

Iff temporali worsehip w^t/i schame be destruy(J, & warldly with
vilany be endyd' knawen it is w^t/i-oute doute bat better is Reproof is

. . „ . _ , ^ ^ better for a

repreue pen worsehip, & schame J>en degre, heuynes fen lovynge • man than
20 for be pis ping/s oft^-tymes a man scrithis in-to vaynglory, be pe
io\er alway, if man paciently it bare, in pis lyfe to mekenes he sulrJ
be taght* & in tyme to cum saH he no payne suffyr, for rightwes
gode twys saii not ponysch ; & he saH be crouned', for paciens of
24 pore saH not perich wM-outyn end'. To holynes treuly pies ping^5 The holy do
fyrst longis : i?^ no maner to pink*, to speke & do, pat* god displesis ; displeases

God, but

& alsso to pink*, to speke & wyrlv* pat god may^ plese. Do pou pis everything^
after pi connyng*, pat nouper pou fatt in sclaunde?- nor feyn pou not* Him.

28 to mikyit holynes. ffor he is a fole pat before men haly desyrs to

apere; & crueH, pat when he is gude scheuys hy??i-self ylt. Som somethings
ymgis treuly \er ar pat, be pa??i-self* tan heed? vnto, nouper ar good nor bad
gode nor iH, ffor in pere pore kynde pai ar nouper medefuH nor vn- selves,

32 medefutt : And. slike pingz^' if pa be done, god mysplesys not, nor if [Foi.viii.a.]
pai be vndone, plesis not god'. IF Here treuly we may se, smeH, assmeii,
fele & touch, & 3it* we adytt no mede nor vnmede. AH syn treuly
owdyr is done to godps] displesyng, or our neghburgh noyng, or to

36 our awen harme ; hot many ping^s emang* men may be fun pat* ar
in none of pies. Despisyd treuly or^ to be lost* in pe syght* of men,

1 itt struck met before may ^ MS. ar

C 2

20 I. The Fire of Love. Ti-ials on Earth. [Bk. I. Ch. 10.

jwtt..chM- makes mnne to ascend to loy of aungels. 0 gude IheKii, hero
Mr"!?,',r«?fi* clmstis, heit^ cut, lu-re sniyte, here byrne, 3a Si wliat-so-euer pics )ji
iiiy love, gudelynes, do to mo, so fat I in tyme to cum liaue none yH, bot I

J.-,-

may fi lufe fele hero <fe eue?'la8tyngly. IF ffor )>e, despysed to be, to 4
aH men in^ confusion Sc schame, swetter to nic it is J)en to be cakl?
brojXT of an erthly kynge & emong* aH men & of aH men I be
M'orechypycl ; so jjat wrecchednes faH on^ me on ilka syde in ))i8 lyfe &
\ni ))0U, gotl, in |?e todyr me spare, IT I wiH be cliastidi Sz correckydl 8
liero, & criste to me ))at griunf if i)ayn to come odyr-wyse I may
not scape. IT Proude treuly & fuH of wretli so seme worthy to
)>ame-self \a\f J)ai may sulfyr no ))inge ; At a li^t worde oft*-tymes fai
Aroidneif- ar mcuydl Sc w/t7/-out* caus. Jj^rfore fai ar to be fled more J)en to 12
folk. bo our-cumyn, for |jai ar frawardi ; And al-way ))a defende jjat J)a

liaue tixkyn ))of if be fals or vntrew, And noudyr ))ai wiH be ouyr-
cumyne with auctorite ne resun fat fai suldf not be sene hawsande
haue sayd ))«t wcr vnacordyng ; And wlien fa ar vntaght &, fat fa IG
wote wele, 3it^ wiH fa latt as fai inspired? wer in aH fingz'.^ fat to
god longis, so fat fai may in aH place speke wit/i-oute gaynsaying*
of any man ; & leuyr fame is in f er cYvoiir dueH styH fen of it
Give up oppynly be repreued?. , IT Lefe, bredyr, f is proude wodnes & wode 20
nlelk.' pryde, And our-self gretely lat vs meke wliils we ar in f is way : for

bettyr it is gude & lufly fat criste after oure dede to vs say,
"frende, cum vppymare," fen fat he say, "carl, go donyrmare;"
•nierigbtenus SO trculy saH it be of proude & meke. % Qwharfore no tribulacion, 24
while they no discs, no wreclivdnes, no schame, no repreue is to be dred* to be

keep from J J » ' l r

»in. rightwys man, qwhils fat he synnes not & in conte???platyfe lyfe &

luf of god aH-way he profettzV. IT Or we treuly to fat kyngely haH
may cum, in whilk^ with aungels of god Sz aH his sayntis fyllid v^itli 28

wemniithe swetnes, wc saH be gladi, vs befallis here to be repreuyd? be flaterars

' & wrang<-sayars, be fagiars & bakbitai-s, be p?'«ysars and blamears, so

frtt we in aH paciens & mekenes c^ charite to crist?> p>'ecept^* Sz his

connsaH gyfen aH-way we may be fun, when we saH be examynde, 32

als it is written : IT TanqwAm aurum in fomace pxohauit eos ; // f rtt

M gold In the is to say : * Als gold! he has proued f am in f e fornas,' \a\, has fyer on
ilka syde, And he has fun f am worf i to haue hym-self. J?us be
prosjiente & adue;'site lat vs go be fyre & watyr, to tyme we cum 36

^fev^runnn- in-to rcfresching^ of heuenly lyfe ! ^ Haue mynde alsso \n att dises

thank GtKi, & ncdc & poucrto fat [f ou] groch neuer, ne fondly speke or frawardly,

' Overlincd by the writer.
- noglit* stnick met before on

Bk. I. Ch. 10.] I. The Fire of Love. I will praise the .Lord. 21

bot ill aH Ipiugfs to god gif Jiankyiige. )3erbi treuly more ioyfuH for suffering
satt ]30ii be lyft^ to pe kyngdoiiie of sayiites, If pou in ])is warkt brinK you to
gkidly sulfyr ))inges beforesayd'. 0 my saiile, emoiig^ ali Ipmgis J)at of saints.

4 happyiis, with likynge deuocioii love^ ))i lord ; loveyiige fele J)on
^v^'t^ swetnes, / & syngaiid taste pow ^yiih hoiiily deuocioii, sayaiid
Laudaho doummm iri vita meet, / ]jat is to say : 'my lorde sail I [Foi.viii.//.]
worscliip in my lyfe,' wliedyr I be disesyd' or esytJ, wliedyr I take

8 worschip or scbaiiie. Als loiige als I am sal I syiige to my god. IF If sing to Jesus.

1 list, ill llie^'u I synge ; & if I suffyr persecuciofi, luf of god forget^

1 not*. To me treuly it is I-nogbe my god to lufe & to byni to cum,

sen 1 may do non ojjir nor to pe warlv* of oper ]?iuge my-self* I felfe

12 disposyd bot to lufe criste. And ^it* 1 cu?^i not to so grete lufe of

god as niyn eldar fiidyrs, ))e wliilk* also many odyr p?-ofetabiH: ))ing/6'

lias done — wbarof fuH gretely I am a-schaujyd' & in myself co/i-

fusycK 0 lorde, berfore my barf make brode lat it may be more Broaden my

16 abyH: bi lufe to persaue. More abill treuly man is to resaue so Lord,'toper-
'^ ' . . '^ oeive better

mykitt, more of cliarite be takes & savirs, & les for J)e flescli be caris, 'riiy love,
bot with discrecion, so ]jc.<t it be of bym aftt^r pe sentence of ]je
wys : / Modicum milii lahorani ^' iniieni im\\i midtain requiem, j
20 Jjat is to say : 'a lityii I baue trtaiayld witli my-self, & to my-self^

grete rest I baue fun' — tfor aftyr few 2ers of bis Ivfe, rest lias be After a few

° J :> r J J r years or tliis

rygbtwes fun of euerlastynge. IT In bis babitacion of exile be boly i't'e, ti

Jn Jar r J ,.igi,te

Infer of god bym-self scbeuys noujjer to mery nor fuH heuy, bot fi'"^is ever

teous
s ever-
lasting rest.

24 cberef nines be lias w/t/d rypnes. IT fforsoitbe some lagbtyr repreve
& some prays ; lagbtyr jjerlbr pat is of lyglitnes & vaiiite of mynde,
is to repreve, bot pat treuly pat is of gladnes of consciens & gostely
myrth is forto prays — pa wliilk* onely is in rigbtwis, & it is cakt

28 myrtb in lufe of god. / Wbarfor if we be glad & mery, Avyckyd' cal

vs wanton; if we be beuy, ypocrit^6•. % Vnnetb sotliely can any Few men see

^ , , J» Jl J J goodinotliers

man trow guae in a woper ])at be fyndes not in bym-self^ ; and pQ tiiatisnotin
synne in wliilk be stumbyls, be vvenis a nober it lias. And be dede And they see

" </ ■> / f their own sins

32 of wyckyd ])is is, J)at if any per lyfe felow not, pai trist )jat be gos i» otiier folk,
wrange & is desauyd — And ph is for mekenes be bas forsakyn.
Degres also of mekenes is : to bald per eglien law, not be. In
specbe to baue maner & not to pas it. }fter bettyrs & more connyng*

36 gladly to liere, & ratber to wiH wisdome be bard of odyr )jeii of
])ame-self*. ])q tynie of spekiug* not to take to sone. / ffro comone
lyfe not to go. Odyr to setf before j?i-self. ])i frailtes to knawe
and to deme ]ji-self wars |)cn aH oper. If If I treuly wald com

^ — lauda

22 T. Tlu Fire of Loa: ILccd not Praises of Men. [Bk. F. (^h. 11.

Let i.K K- emongo mon, fat I suld" sytt last in noumbyr I ha dcsyreci', &

e,!., n. M, lest to bo lialden iu opinion, Ai so att my ioy suld be in cristo

^ I" Ihem, & 80 to mans praysyng or per blameyng* I suUH take no

hctlo ; bot* w/t7/ lx?8y deuocion to god I suliF desire. IT Many forsoth 4

p»it wiVi me haue spoken, like wer to scorpions, for with pem bede

llatemnti ))ai haue fagycV, <fe with fare tayl bakbytami' jjai haue

«; . > ! smyttyn ; iho wyckcd lyppis of whome & sorofuH tong/« my saule

I., ia ! :, '^od sal delyuer, settandf it in ioy of rest. IF Bot wliarof is comyn 8

Hanoi «.r» umi so ui. t ' luadues lu-to mans mynde bat none wiH now be blamed?,

backbiters. j mi t. i ii i •

none Int rej)?*euyd witt, bot treuly att sekis to be praysedl ; fa Ioy to
Avoi-schip, fai laglie to fauyr. Also fai fat name berys of lyfe more
cunnyng*; / bot to me slike semys owdyr abowfi mesure holy or els 12
mad, fof aH fai be callyd wys Si taght. f Qwho is fat treuly of
glide mynde hym-self fat leuys, not takand hede to hym-self, <fe

Kxamine liym-sclf gladdys i/i voyde wordis of men? IF If he treuly bisily

hym-self behalde, & chargls to knaw whatkyns he is in foghtw & 16
dedys, sone may he fele hyme-self, & whedyr he be worfi wor-

and when you scliyp OF icprefe be may fynde. IF Qwlien he berfore hym-self seis

BM you are. •. iid-c ■ • ^

blame- vi many f ing^6* worf i blame & in fewe f ing/6" to be praysed?, vvor-

fuae honour, schip of fauoui f 6 -wliilk* he is not worfi v^ith gladnes he suld? not 20
take, bot if he erryd mad in mynde. II If treuly hym-self woundyr-
fully behaldand? in beet & swetnes of godis lufe he fynde merueluslj
wax warrae. And hely to go in- to lyfe conte;?zplatyue, in fis also
besily to stande, IF And fis also he has in mynde oudyr grete synnes 24
he has nott done or if he haue any done, be trewe penans he trow
fai be clensyd : / \>en treuly for worschyp of men hym behoues not*
to sorow, ffor he was more worthy, fat is to say felischip of aungels.
St'tiul'fh^"" ^ Q^vo-so-eue?' is f us disposycV, no more suldf ioy wM a kynge to 28
E^'^ithkin"'^ sytf fen with a pore man. IF ffor to ryches he takes no hede and
worschippes of men, bot vnto f e lyfe & medis of ilka man. IF He
hald/if it* not* grete to schyne in gold* nor to be vmbelappyd ^Y^th
grete men3e to go in p?«-pure to be glad in byschoppys aray treuly 32
holy in swete consciens, aft lykynge's & riches he settis before.

pat god/* lufar, ])e warld, idylnes & irksuwnes for-
sakis ; and of ypocrit?'* & couetus men. [Cap. XI.]

LmralsM

IN fe cantikyls it is saydf : * lufe als dede is strange. And lufe is 36
hard! as heft.' U Dede treuly kyllis fe Avhik, heft sothely
spares not f e dede. So certanly f e lufe of god : mane fat it pa/'fitely

Bk. I. Ch. 11.] I. The Fire of Love. The Lover vmst ivork. 23

rauiscLys, not oiiely it^ kyllis fro lufe growndly of pis warld'. bot Tiie love of

God kills love

alsso to \q warld' slayne & to heiiyn qwhikyiKt to siiifyr for god of the world,
tribulacion & warldly ^vrecllidnes fiiH mikyH it stirrys. 11 Qwliar-
4 for what-so-euer jjoii be fat liopis Jiat ]30U liifes criste, to Jjis take
liede ; for if ])ou beliald' ^it erthly ))iiiges with likynge, & j)i saiile
liy ])0U fyndis also to suffyr wrong/*' or ellys dede, forsotli godz's
tiew Infer bou sclienys bc(t ])on art^ not. Sotbely a treu Infer nonber The lover of

TTTi» ij rv- Ti ^'O'^ suffers

8 to be Avarld' dresses Ins ee, nor he dredis lor god to sunyr an bat to hardship for

' 'J I Him.

))e body seniys hevy or hard', & ^it he is not* lettyd fro thoyth of
his le?;anan Ihesu, q\vha[t]-so-eu^?* to hym happyn. U )?ou alsso J)at Thou, Lover
owjjer god^'s lufar art* or \Nlih ]?i hole niynde dissyrs to be, ahvay
12 stody als niykyl as fou may be crist/s g?"ace, not* to be noyd w^t7<! study, by His
irksu??ines, nor w/tA ydilnes to be takyn. 11 And if* it some-tyme be'iumoyed

. withirksome-

happyn ])at swete esines be not to J>e in p?'ayng* or gude )}inkynge, ness.

so Jjat ])0W. be of he myiide be songe of. holy conte7?^placyofi &
16 singe \o\i may not as \o\\ was Avontt, Cees not ^it to rede or prr<y, or Ceasenotto

ellis some oder gude dede inward' or outward' do, \)at not* in-to idil- good deeds.

nes or sleuyth ]jou scryth. IMauy sothely irksomnes has drawen to

idilues, & ydilnes to necligens & wikkydnes. H Qwharfore be pou
20 feruent alway in als mykil as in ]je is, & haue not* ])i desyre bowed

to any-J)ing of ))is warld' Jiat may be had or desiryd'. Ko man if bound in

treuly to god parfitelv is knyttid' qwhils he in desyre to anv creature worldly

11, . 1 mt" r 1 , "^ creakure,you

warldly is bune. II bome alsso per ar pat* outward' semys to god cannot be

KHlttGCl to

24 iunyd', And wit7?-in to fendes pai ar gyfyn. j?is ar similate & fals, «i>^i-
pat chalangis pe wretli of god. H Ifenyd' forsoth pai ar pat with
worde pe warld' despisis & it* w/t/^ pe?' dedys to mykyl ar knawen [Foi. ix. &.]
to lufe itt*. H Of god spekand' pai wiH be sene, & w*tA-in in so some talk of

28 mikiH ar takyn v^iih lufe of mony pat also sum-tyme for pe w^eght yet strive for

2 llclp611C6.

of ij halpens pai stryue. ]?e whilk opinand per mouth to god

desyres & barly charite wantand', qwhils pai no heet* of faith & They put on

charite hauys, pame-self* in gate moste holy, & clethynge & spech seeming of

•^ t' o holiness, but

32 pai schew. bis alsso more-ouer bame-self bostis stedfast in lyght I'ave neither

' ^ ' ^ ^ faith nor

dises, bot when pa cum perto, qwhere sonest* pai suld' gayn-stand', charity,
pere tityst* ar pai brokyn, & pere pai faH: : / And pen opinly it* is
scheuyd' be-fore pat was liyd. IT Qwhen pai also in riches flowe

36 and with riches ar fed, ^it pa say pai ett fuH: lityli ^ pat pa haue so
grete poght* pat all pis warld' is bot* vanite, pat as pa say vnneith for
febulnes pa may last. IT DesaueabyH: alsso pai ar, for warldly
wisdom pai haue, & in pat pa begilo, pat with oper Avaytyng?Vs" pai ar

40 not perseuyd', in als mekyli as pai ar war & eschew losse of warldly

24 I. 'H-- Fire of Love, Waminys to the Cocduas. [Bk. I. Cb. 12.

•jiuM', vntlyr fo tityH of gostely rest couetis liydand' m despyte of

fingea euerlastiiige. % IJot slyke, |}of utt |)ai liiik^ to a tyiiie, wiiJi-

outen ilouto longo before j)o eiide or at fe lest in |je ends qwhat-

Thi-tewiioUo kynns |)ai Imue bene ))ai satt appere, |)o wliilk* almiis }pai jjai do or 4

Mvu»rineii. any odyr dede in sigbt* of men, fa do fat^ aH of nh;n may be sene.

wraUtofUod. And woifely slike p/'t>uokes fe wretii of god, for ))ai holy desirandf

not to }>e, bof to bee seue, & w/tA-in, wher god sees, wantamV trew

charite, fer awon loy not goddis ))ai clialange. IT ffiiH hardi treuly 8

it is a wynnyngo craft* or office to haue & not to be coiieti^v.

no/a IT Q wharf ore off-tymes p?*estis ar defamyiJ qiwou^ J)e pepyH ))at* }pol

priwuTro )»a be chaste ))a ar fun couetus, if j)ai be hirge ])ai ar made lychurs.

And oft^-tymes it* happyns jjat )je ordyr of* p/'esthode takyn (h^i)i)ar 1 2
»n.i their fall in^ synnc, in so mykil })ai faii als fe he degree vnworthely j^ai haiie
tioimiio their takyn./ Not* few treuly vfiih noyiis couetys sett* on fyre, viidyr
••rnwi great- colur of sekenes or poue?-te )7<«t may com, ])er gudys J)ai say )jai geder

J)at sodan wrechidnes fai may eschew ; bot of f endys ))ai ar begilde : 1 G
no/a for bothe warldly gudes })ai loos, and dyrknes ))at* fai drede jjai
rynne in-to, IT ffor god, his seruand/*- Jjat* delyuers in \er sight*,
before fai see nott*. & }pai is warst of aH : whils ]?ai wz't/<-in w/t/i
-warldly couetys ar fulfillycV, w/t/i-oute ))ai fene J)am-self w/tA tokyn 20
God'ssen- of lialynes to schyen. IT Bot bat our lordis se?'uand is, In our lorde

ant« trust '' .

"il^their t^istw, & gudes \iQ whilk he has oue?" his nede, to )jame \ai it nedis
nSv!'^*''* he sparpylt. H Jje seruand? treuly of )je warld? aH ))at* he has to his

couetis vnabyH to be fulfyld? stodys iH to kepe, \ai he is so grete a 24
chinche ])at he dar not* ete bot* foule & scarsly, fat so he sparandf
inykiH mone may gedyr. And Jjies fai ar fat* fe psalme schamys
sayandf : Inimici e/us terram lingent, fat is to say : * his enmys fe
ertn saH lykke.' 28

pat lufars of god with hym sail deem, & of lufe of
konynge be Idhoffr gettyn, k of god. And ]>at a
trew lufar nowd<?;* with fastynge nor abstinence
or counsel & p?Tsu;;/pcion erris not nor is be- 32
gillyd. [Cap. XIL]

ixjrmof IV/T^^^ ^^viiQ of gode^ onely takar, Any-finge les fen god may
chri.tareat j_y|_ ^^t fulfyH, wharforc erthly lufars neu^r ar fulfiUyi^. Rest*
[FoLx.a.] fe;-fore of criste lufars is qwhils fer hart/s in lufe of god be desire 3G

» MS. in in 2 MS. gude

Bk. I. Ch. 12.] I. The Fire of Love. The Need for Alstincnce. 25

& jjoght is festynde And liifand' & byrnand' & syngand' it belialdzs. whue t.iieir
II Swettest^ for sotR is be resf whillc* be spirit^ takys qwilst swete fixed on Him,

T _ . , Ml ••IT -. and lieavenly

sownd^ o'odly curiis doun in whilk* it^ is delityd, And m moste "^sic

° "^ . . "^ ravishes their

4 swete songe & playfuH rauischyd is ])e mynde to synge likeyng/^' of ^ouis.
lufe eiierlastynf?e. Now forsothin moiitli sowndis agayne be loue- There is in-

. o J r credible joy

ynge of god' & of jje blist^ maydm in qwhonie more ]}en may be f»""d in the
trowed' it is loyd'. And J)is no mevuail liappis whilst^ Jie hart* of fe
8 siugar groundly with heue?^ly fyer is byrnde And in-to his lyknes
is iigurde in J)e whilk aH: swete songe is & mery, in sanour heuenly
moystand' owr affeccion : H And wherfore wzt/aTJward' delitys he The heavenly

singer's joy is

folowes, & in sonoje & boght* he loyes in byrnyng< of lufe. IF bis >" ''•« i>uni-

' o r o J J J o^ J inKlovetothe

12 treuly to aH dedely is vntrowabyH:, / & he Ji«t has J)is not trowes not^ '.<;''^"'"-^'i"-
Jjat any ])inge so swete & fuH of swetnes A man to take ^it beand'
in body ])at wili rote & with ])& fetyr of dedlynes is greuyd. If }pe
havar also meruails, bot for Ipe gudenes of god' vnabyH to be tald' he

16 is gladynd' J?at plentevosly gyfis his gude & not vnibrayd/*^, of

whome he takes aH pat he felis. H fforsoth Avhen he ]?at grete butifitfoii
])ing< [has] — & treuly it is cald' grete, for varely to dedely nehand' he feeis he'

, , . . lias no pros-

it* is vnknaweii — if it want UQuer he trouys m p?'ospente to be ; perity.

20 alway in lufe he longis ; whilst* ]jat he wakis besily, Oudyr he
syng?^' or of lufe he |)inkes and of his lufer, bot and he be allone,
more swetely he synges. IT Truly for ])e tyme pat any man |)is haf Once taken,
takyn, Aftirward' fully saH newer go I'ro itt*, bot* euermore saH byde leaves him.'

24 heef, swetenes or singing* if aH pis be noght* uere. H Treuly al J)is
bidys to-gidyr, bot if j?ai be repressyd' with fuH grete sekenes of pe
hede or of pe breste or of pe syde, or with grete hongyr or pirsf
with pe whilk* jje flesch is brokyn, or with to mykiH cold' or hete or

28 with trauayl jjai be lettyd'. H Hym pertoie it* behoues pat in godis Those wiio
lufe wiH s^mge & syngandly lufe & byrne, in wildernes to be, & in God's love

,.,,,. , „ , . « should live

to mykiH abstinence not to lyfe, nor to be gifyn on any wyse to sparingly in
superfluite or waste./ !N'eue?--|)e-les bettyr it* wer to hym in lityH "^ss,

32 jjing* vnknawyng* mesure to passe, whils he with gude ententt* dose J^fflPt*pJf„''^'^y
it to sustene kynde, jjen if he for to mikyH fastynge began to fayH, j|ejj(^"„f^
& for febilnes of body he myght* not synge. IT Bot with-owte ^ng'""^^
doute, he pat to J)is is chosyn, with falshede of pe fende noudyr in ml,eh''t*mn

36 ettynge nor in absteneynge is oue?'comen. IT ])e trew treuly lufer ^'^^ ^'"^^'
of criste & of criste taght*, with no les stody is war of to mikyH
pen of to lityH ; w^■t7i-outyn comparison treuly more mede saH he be
worthy with songfuH ioy p?'ayand, behaldand', redeand' & jjinkand'

40 weH bot* discretely etand', pen if he w/t^-outen pis euermore suld?

26 I. The Fire of Love. The Blessings of Fasting. [Bk. I. CIi. 1 2.

Mtiitff dif fast, l)re(lo allone or lierbys if he euldl etc <fe besily suIlH pray Si

Si!fing i!i redo. 11 Kttyii I haue & droiikyn of })i8 fat semedl best, not for I

Infed likyiig*, bot for kynde in go(h> sei'wy& sukl! be sustenyd* & in

louryngo of \\\es\x criste, co7?forniaiidl nic to J)aine wz't/i wliome I 4

i.i.ni.inot dwellydf in glide nianer for criste, & ))at I suld' nott fene holynes

V .~i. none wlior none es, nor fat men suldf not me prays to mykil wher I wer

fuH litiH to prays. II firo dyiurs alsso I liaue gone, not for Jjai fed!

me comonly or on hard! maner, bot^ for we liaue not acordet in 8

[PoJ.x.6.] manera or for som o\cr cause resonabyH. Neue^'^-fe-les I dar say

•\\iih blissyd lob : ' folis haue despisyd* me,' Sz -when I liad gone

fro fame, fai haue bak^-bittyn me : neuer-fe-les aschamyd saH fai be

when fa se me fat haue saydl fat I wak¥ not abyde bot wher 112

myght be delicately fecJ. Bette?- treuly it is to se f at< I despyse, fen

Tet fiwiinR is to desire fat I sali not* se. H fPastinge no meruayH is futt gude,

auefleahiy desyrcs of fleschly lust forto kest* downe And wylde lychery of

mynde forto make taame. In hym treuly fat goes in-to fe heglit* IG
of conte7»placion be songe & byrnyng< of lufe, liggis Als w[e]re
Death of evil slekkydl fleschly desyres.// Dede treuly of yH affeccion to hyme

love belongs . i . t i i i

toiuin timt lonj]fis fat* to contemplacioii taia.s' liede, whos sauJe also wiik-in in-to

jfives lieetl to '

*"j^'j'f>np>»>- A-nofer loy and a-nofer forme now is turiiyd* ; he ly vis now not* 20
Christ lives hym-self, crist* treuly in hym lyvis, wharfore in his lufe he meltis,
in hym-self* he longis & nerhand he faylis for swetnes, vnneth he is
for lufe. IT His saulc it* is fat sayes : Nunciate diledo guia amove
langueo, fat is to say : 'schew to my le7?iman fat I for lufe longe,' 24
to dy I desire, to be loused I couet*, to go ful gretely I ^erne.
J^^.,«>n>e Beliald?, for luf I dy. Lorde, cum downe ! Cum, my le/;mian, lyft*
Im ine'from ^® ^^^ hcuyues. Be-hald?, I lufe, I synge, I am ful bote, wM-in
iiiybeaviness. niy-sclf I byrne. Haue mercy on me wrech, bidding* me before fe 28
Hewhojoy» to be broglit*. IT He fat fis ioy has & in fis lyfe fus is gladdynd',
if 'i^Gi'^ 'he of f e holy goste he is inspiryd,/ he may not* erre ; what*-eu(?/* he do,
leetful it* is. No man dedely so gude counsayle to hym may gyfe
Als fat* is fat* he in hym-self has of gode^ vndedly. H Odyr treuly 32
if fa to hym wald? gif counsale, wit/^outen doute f ai saH erre, for fa
he shall not ha not* knawen hym : / he treuly saH nott erre, & if he waldl to f pr
skyllis gif assent*, of gode^ he sal not be sutfyrd?, fat to hys wiH
constrenys hym fat it he pass not*. Wharfore of slike is sayde : 36
iSinritualis omnia ivdimf ^ a nemine iudicatur, fat is to say : * f e
gostely man att f inge demys, and of no man he is demyd.' Bot
no man of so grete prcsu/wpcion be fat he hym-self* suppois slikon
* & resouabil struck out before Neucr '•* MS. gude

Bk. I. Ch. 13.] I. The Fire of Love. Do not judge Others. 27

to be, \oi att' Jje warkl* p«?'fitely he liaiie forsakin & J^of* he haue

led solitary lyfe vnabilly to be rep?-euecl' & fofe he haue gone in-to

bohaldynge of heuenly jjmges. IT )pis grace treuly to aii conte?7i- Yet God's

4 platife is not grantyd' bott seldome & to moste few, be whillc' liy granted to aii
■'■ ^ id ^^,],Q jjyg jjig

rest of body takand' & of niynde, to be wark^ of ^od be strencjht of coi.tempia-
lufe onely ar chosyn. ffuH hard it is sothely slike a man to fynde ;
& for j)ai ar fewe, fuit dere pai ar had. desirabyH & louyd before
8 god & man ; bot aungels alsso loys in }per passing^ fro J)is warld to
whome becumes aungellis cu7j»q3any. II Many forsoth \ier ar ]?at
of[t] in gret^ deuociofi & swetnes to god ^per prayers offyr / &
swetnes of co7ite??iplacion prayand' & ])inkand ])ai may felc, Jie
12 whillv^ alsso rins not aboute, bot bidys in rest^.

That no man salk clemc odyr, bot to god gif louynge ;
And of ayth desyrs of go({is lufe, k of womaDs
cuwpany be eschewyd. [Cap. XIII.]

16 Tfff any man holily lyue & ri3twysly, Alsso warst synnars despise Let no holy
1 he nott. IF bai treuly tempyd f aH, for bai haue no g7'ace of even the

f. n 1 ^ n ^ 11 -i worst sin-

gaynstandynge, jeofail be ])er awen malyce fro gude to yit jjai^ t^^rne ners.
Jjame-self". No man may wel wyrk & god lufe & chast be, bot if [Foi. xi. a.]

20 god \ai to hym gyfe. IT ];ou also ]?at bolnis in pryde for ])ou has

done weH, for ]?i-self fro lleschly lustys J)ou haste restrenyd, And Take not
scharp penance })ou hast suffyr, qwharfore of mans mouth J)ou has praises;
takyn praysing^ : haue mynde for bot if be gudelynes of criste be except for

1 • -IT • • p 11 Christ's lielp

21 had oue?'couyrd' m-to als many lUis or in-to wars als he bat is lallyn youwouhibe

, -. ; *T ^ <- as bad as the

])ou suld ha fallyn. Tl Of J)i-self treuly Jjou has no grace of gayn- worst.

standyng', bot of hym to whome is sayde : Diligam te dom\7iG, forti-

tudo mea, // ' ])e, lorde my strenght, I saH: lufe.' // Wharf ore if

28 fou noght^ haue ]>at ))ou haste not takyn, why prydis J)ou ])e als Jjou

it had not* takin 1 IT I forsoth to my god dois banking^ be whilk^ Thank God

. , 11. 1 • 1 • 1 1 1 ^^^ ^'^ ^''^^'

w^t/^-oute my merlt^6^, tor my gude and his worschip, his chyld so tisementof

had chastyd, his seruand so has ferid, j^at^ it semys fuH swete to me

32 warldly likingzs Ipat ar both few & sone slippynge to fie, in so mikyH

J)at payns of hell Ipat ar boyth many & neue>* saH ende I my^t be

worthy to eschewe ; IF And 3itf agayne Jjat^ so me has taght^ &

ve?'tew techinge has gifyn ])af |)is present penance And t?'ibulacion

36 gladly I sul here, in so mykiH ])at to eue?-lasting< delectacion &

prospe?'ite most fuH, ful li3tly I myght cume — ffor, if we wiH, lyghtly

1 MS. to

28 L The Fire of Z(n>e. Bcproof of Women. [Bk. I. CIj. 13.

& w/t/i-oute grete scliarpnes we may in jji.s life pariitely forJ)iuke

Wtmostb* And our-8olf clens, whils we ala niykiH as we may wytis destroys.
IT In ty mo treuly to cum, if we be not here clensyd, fat J)e apostitt
is trew we saH fynd", sayandl J)ies word is : H Ilorremhim est iiicidQve 4
in man\XA del viumtis, // ' Horribil it is to fatt in pa handis of godf^

FooJhh wu of ly ve.' LordI god, of me haue mercy ! My ^outli was fonde, My
N ' cliildhode vayne, my ^onge age vnclene ; bof now, lordc Ilie^u, with
•'"■ly bi holy lufe my hart^ is enflaumyd And my renes ar chaungy«V, And 8

cieoii. also my saule now wiH nof touche for bytte7*nes befor fat was my

fode, and myne affeccion now is slike : bot synne no-J)inge I hate,
noght drede I bot to greue god. I ioye not bot in god, I sorou not
bot for my synne ; no-finge I lufe bot god, no-fing* I trisf bot 1 2
hyme; no-jjinge me heuys bot synne, no-finge me gladyns bot

Three women cristo. Neue>"-be-les now late of thre wy?/imen worthely worbi

reproTed me,

repreve I toke. H One me repreuyd, for I, couetandl per wodnes to
correct in waste & softnes of clefyng', per vnmanerly aray to mykiH 16
for complain- 1 behelcH ; fe whilk sayd pat me aght* not so mykili fame to behald?
wore horns ^at I myght kuawc whedyr fai war hornyd or none — & als me finke,
^j'fJ-^^-^iss; wel me sche repreuyd, & made me aschamyd. A-nofe/- me repreuyd?
tiitri'tSr ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ o^'^^ P^PPys ^ spak als f ai had me delityd ; fe whilk 20
paps^imd the ^^y^^ what fat wer to me if fa wer grete or smali'? — & fis also rijt-
I'threiaSd* ^^'esly spak^. IT \)e thirdf, me touchand in play, be-cause I thrett als
to touch her. j ^oystusly hir wald? touch or tochyd, sche sayd : ' A rest, brofer,'

als qwho say : to^ fin astate, fat is to say of religyon, it longis not 24
witJi wy??imen to play — And scho alsso not vnworthely me has con-
fusydf. Sothely me aght* rather haue suffyrdl fen oghf haue done
agayu. fforsoth comand vn-to my-self, to my godd I do loueynge,
[Foi. XI. 6.] for be fere wordes he taght me gude, and svvetter way to me has 28
scheuyd fen I before knewe, in so mykeli fat — crist?'*- grace in me
wyrkynge — repreueabyit in fis party before wy??imen I sali not be
Atthwomnn fuu. U }pe fouif womau to whomc in pa?*ty I was famyliar, not me
for ii'iy only rcpreuyuge bot als wer me despysinge sayd? : IT ' noght has fou bott 32
not doing, f ayre sight* and fayre worde, deyde has pou none.' H And f erfore
bettyr I trow fe?*e specialte to wante fen in per handys to fatt, fat
can-nof maner keep in lufe nor in despyte. U To me treuly fis has
bappynd for [1] f er hele has soght*, not fat I in fame any f inge vn- 36
lawfully I ha desyrdi w/t/< whome some whyH my bodyly sustenans
I haue takyn.

1 MS. good? 2 j^is. to to

Bk. I. Ch. 14.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Solitude. 29

pat lyfe solitary or liermetz^, com on iyfe & mengyd,
passys ; And how it corny s to fyre of lufe, and of
swetues of songe. [Cap. XIV.]

4 Owm has bene, & iit paraunte;* on lyue ar, bat comon lyft* alway some praise

L^H . life ill com-

kJ/ settis ueiore solitary lytie, say and vs aw^ to gedyrryngzs to mon above
rynne, if we to he pe?'feccion desyre to cum. Agayns qwhonie if is
not^ mikiH to despute, he-cause ))at lyfe only jja here vp \yith loiie-
8 ynge, J?e whilk ouder fa couet to kepe, or at J?e lesf futt lityH pa
knew. Solitary lyffe treuly Jjerfore Jiai prays not^, for Jjai knaw it* but this is
not. IF A lyffe treuly ber is be whillc* no man in flesch lyfand' may know not

/ , r. ■■ . . . ,. -, A 1 solitary life.

knaw, hot lie to whome of god it is gifyn to haue ; And no man
12 sothely of ))is ])iiige treuly demys, of |)e whilk ^it he is vnsikyr what
& on what* manp?- it wyrkis. W^t7i-outen doute I wote : if Jta it knew,
more ]?en o])cr |)ai suld' it prays. Odyr wars erre Jjat solitary lyffe
to repreue & sclaunde?* cessys not, sayand Ve soli, )?at is to say ' wo
16 he to man allone ! ' not expownyng^ 'allone' ]?at ' wzt/i-oute gode,'

hot * w^'t/i-oute a fela.' He treuly is allone wiili whome god is not*, * Alone'

. Till i'i o "fisans 'wlth-

for when he fallys m-to dede, be-lyue to tw7*mentry he is takyn, & out God,'
fro pe ioyfuH syght* of god & of his saynt^'s he is spard. IT fforsoth out a com-

20 he jjat for god solitary lyffe chesys, & it* ledys in gude mane?% not
wo, hot fayr ve?'tu is nere, / & mynde of Wiesw. name hesily saii
delyte; & J)e more pat lyf w^t/^-oute mans solace to take pa drede
not, pe more sail he gyfyn witli god^s comforthinge to be glad.

24 H Gostly visitacion forsoth. off-tyms pa take pe whilk* in cu??2,pany
set playnly knawes not* — wharfore to a lykand saule it is said :
Ducam earn in solitudinem ^' ihi loquar ad cor eius, / pat is to say :
' I saH it lede to wyldernes & per salt I speke vnto his hartt*.' Sum

28 treuly be gode ar taght* for criste wildyrnes to desire, A singuler
purpos to hald ; pe whillv* soyne, pat pa more frely & more deuoutly
to god may saryf*, comon clethinge of pe warld forsakyn, AH
t?*ansitorii linnis pai despise & kestis a-way, And temporal! in heglit The solitary

,, 1 ■ ^ despise traii-

32 of mynde pa go abowne; euerlastynge Joy onely pax desyre, to sitory things
deuocion & contemplacion only pai ar gifyn, & to lufe criste AH pe themselves to
stody of per lyfe pai cesse not* to occupi. IT Of whome fuH many,
pof aH emoBgis men fuH fare pa dwell, ^it* fro heue?zly desyrs pai

36 stumbyH not, for per myndis fro wickyd co?iue?'sacion ar fuH far.
H Eightwes hermyt^s alsso singuler purpos haue : in charite of god
& of per neghburgh pai lyfe ; warldly praysynge pai despis ; Als

^ MS, not aw

no I. The Fire of Zwc, Of Solitiidc. [Bk. I. Ch. 14.

[Pol. xii. a.] mykitt as ^ai may, mans sight* fai flee / ylk man more worthy |)en
)>ame-8elf fai liahi", to deuocion contynuly )jer myndcs )ja gylT',
ydelnes )>iii hate, lleschly liistis manly ]jai gaynstand, lieuenly y,\\
sauowr &> byrnyngly sekys, / erthly ))ai couet* not hot forsakes, in 4
swetnes of pniyer fai er delityd. Treuly som of fam swetnes of
endles refreschyngo felys, / & treuly chaste hart* & body wM ))o
vnfilyd eo of mynde heucnly citcsens & god ))ai behald'. ffor jjo
bitter drynke of penance grcte labowr fa haue lowyd, now with lufo 8
of he contemplaciofie sett ofyer, onely to god to take hede & cristis
Ahermifi kyngedome to byd )}a were worthi. / Hermet/s lyffe ))e/-fore is
If It i« irreaiiy gretf , if it gpetcly be done. And treuly, blissyd maglorius, J)o

whilk was fuli of miraclys & fro his childhod~w7t7J. sight* of aungels 1 2
The Arriibp. gladc ', qwcuc aft^/' fe profecy of his fourme fadyr, saynte Sampson,
*''"TbM '''*i [^^®] ^^^^ made Archebyschop & godd/s kyrk* worthely longe has
hermUB'iife 8^"y^^^^» wamyd be an AwngeH hym visitywg*, hys Archbeschoprik*

left*, hermyts lyfe he chas, And in |)e ende of his lyfe his passynge IG
to hym betokinde^ was. Alsso sant Cuthbertt*, fro hys byschopryk*
to Ankyr lyfe he went. Slike men perfore if fai for more mede to
haue }piis haue done, who of gude mynde wiH be hardy Any state in
holy kyrk* solitary lyfe to sett* before ? In ))is treuly wzt/i none 20
vtward? |)ingw J?am-self Jjai occupy, bot* onely to heuewly conte77ipla-
cion ))ai take hede, and \iai in c?'ist/6' lufe besily ])ai be warme, And
warldly besynes parfitely sett behynd?. // Qwharfor wz'tA-in J)am-self*
8we«t melody heueuly noyes soundi^, & fuH swete melody makis mery |)e solitary 24
hermit. man, for ))e whilk emong^6' many sect clatering/^ distracts & bot
seldome sofyrs to Jjink* or pray. Of whilk solitary ))e psalme in
songe of lufe spekz's sayand? : ' I saH go in-to Jje place of J)e meruel-
lus tabe?'nakyH:, in-to jje hous of god.' IT And J)e maner of going in 28
songe & songely loueynge he descry ues sayand : In voce exultacionis
^ confessionis, / fat is to say : * in voys of gladnes & of schriftt*.'
And fat onelynes is nedfuH w/t7?-outen noys & bodily songe to fat
fat mane fat sowndly loy may take & hald? loyand & syngand, In 32
a-nofer place opinly he scheuys : Elongaui iiiqutt fugiens ^ mansi
in soUtiuUne, fat is to say : * fflean(J my-self I haue wet/i-drawen &
h!^\S!St ^^ ^i^dyrnes I haue dwelt.' H In fis lyfe treuly he is besy to
Holy Spirit's bym in fyre of f e holy goste, & in loy of lufe takyn & be gode 3G
comfortidl to be glad. IT Treuly f e onely parfite man in godw lufe
hugisly byrns, & qwhils abown hym-self in passynge of mynde be
conte^^placion he is takyn, vnto fe swete sowndl & heuenly noys
* MS. betokinge

s

Bk. I. Ch. 15.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Solitude. 31

loyand? he is lyft*. And slike one forsothe to serapliin is likind', iie is like tiie
byrnand^ forsoitii \fiih-m hym-self* in charite Avz'tA-oiite comparison.
(^ most stedfast, qwhos hart* is figurd to godly fyre, byrnand And

4 lyghtand ful byrnandly in-to his liife is borne. H And forsoth he
saii be takyn sodanly aftyr ]}is lyfe to ])e he setis of henenly citesens,
))at in place of lucifere foil bri3tly [he] may be ; for so grete byrn- and simii fiii
nand in lufe more jjen may be schenyd, only Joy of his makar has place Tn^

8 soght*, & niekely goand a-bowe synnars hym-self not* rasyd. [Foi. xii, &.]

Of pra^^synge of solitari lyfe & of fyrst lufars ]>eroi,

And ]>at go^is lufe in heet, songe, & swetnes

standi^ ; k pat reste is nedefuU, & slike fro lapis

12 ar savyd & in prdaci ar not sett. [Cap. XV.]

Ant lob emon(]je iurmentYY tasrht of holyqoste, com e?Klacion Job, inspired,
of many maner of harmetz^^ knyttis m one sayand : Qfafi chmi- iiennits,
sit onagruiw liberum, &c., J?at* is to say: *qwho left )?e wylde

16 Asse free, & hyr bandys lousyd*?' &c. ffyrsf Jjerfore he comend^s
of J)e frenes of g?"ace, when he says ' who leet* jje wild ass lows.'
H ])Q, secund of puttyng* a-way fleschly desyrs, when he sayes IT ' &
his bandes lousyd.' ])q jjird of solitary conue^'sacion, qwhen he pntt*

20 to : H ' to hir he gaf a hous in wildyrnes.' IF \)q fowrf of desyr of
endeles blystnes, when he sayes : ' And his tabe?-nakyil in lande of
saltnes.' IT Salt treuly Jjirst slekis not, hot* encressis : And so ]}is,
})e more })at* any-])inge of swetnes of lyfe euerlastynge fa haiie now

24 takynn, j^e more to haue & taste more }3a desyre.

IT fforsoth lohan Baptist*, prince of hermyt/5 after criste, in no JoimtheBap-
desyre tariand, solitary lyfe chasse. & odyr alsso has chosynne, like hermit's life.
a bresse, ])e whilk*, Salomon sayinge, ledar and comawnder he has

28 not, & be cn??zpanys he gos furth of giftys & vertew. H Bandis
treuly \er ar of kynde and synne, Jje whylk in ))ame our lorde has
lowsyd, and bandys of charite has confermyd. U ])q hous alsso of
wildyrnes may be sayd rest of a synnar, IF for holy hermyts fro Hermits are

32 warldly stryues & synnys ar sondyrd, swetnes of clere conscience strife and sin.
criste itf gyfand ]ja take &, Toy of lufe euerlastynge syngand, i?^
meriest heef refreschyd Jjai rest* ; And \oi ail with scharp & fraward
in body jjai be prykkyd, neue?*-})e-les songe & byrnynge in saule J)ai

36 hald w/t/i-out birsyng*. A-no)?er il wilderncs \er is of pryde : when
any man Awdyr hym-self before alt o]ier p?-efers, or fat* he has to
myght of his fre wiff Ascris, of whome is sayd Ve soli, / * wo to

32

1. Tlic Fire of Love. Jeremiah *on Solitude* [Bk. I. Ch. 15.

Tliey hkve
Him they
•outfht.

Jeremiah
prHi>e3 8oll-
Ury life.

[Fol.XIII.a

Love dwells
ill the soli-
tary's heart.

Tlie hermit
shall sit
among
Anicels in
heavtii.

AUone ! * if he fale, he has no helpar vp. In beginyng^ treuly of an
•hartnetis tum}Tig< — I say nof of rynnars aboute, Jjat ar sclaunderes
of hermyts, — wtt/t many & diners to/;/ptacion ar made wery ; bot
aftc7* ))e tempest of yH meuyng*, god schedis in bryglitnes of holy 4
desyre, / fat if fa manly jjam-self vse in wepynge, finkyng* &
praynge, cristis lufe oncly sekand, After a litiH whyle to fam-self
more saH fai be sene to lyue in likyn[ges] fen in wepeyng* or
straytnes of labour. IT Haue treuly fai saH qwhome fai loueyc?, 8
whoine fai soghf, wliome fai desyrde, & fen fai saH ioy & not* be
heuy. Qwhat* is it treuly to ioy, bot* goydl desirydl to haue, of it* to
fink*, / in it* to rest*] Swete no me?'uayl is fat myrth wher trew
lufers acorde & mery solas of lufely touchynge is vnabyH to be 12
tolde, t7'uly it* is desyre of byrnand? lufurs, & sight* ayder of odyr Sz
spcch to fame is swete abowe hony & hony-kombe. leremy treuly
solitary lyfe co7/miendand' says : 'goyd it is to a man when fro hys
.] 3onge age he has borne fe 90k* of god? : he saH sytt* solitary & be 16
in pes, for he (be desyre & behaldynge of f inges euerlastynge) hym-
self has raisyd abown hy7?2-self.' Qwharof in scripture it is writyn :
IF Nat us non est in terra qnnm enoch, fat* is to say : * in ei-th als
enok is none borne ' — forsoth fro f e erth for he is takyn. IT ffor 20
men contemplatyfe ar odyr hear, both in excellence of wark & hart*-
lynes in lufe. IT Lufe forsoth in hart* dwellis of f e solitary, if he
of vayn lordschip no-f inge seeke. Here groundly he byrnis & to
lyght* long/**, qwhils he fus clerely heuenly sauyrs & honily syngis 24
wtt/i-oute heuynes, Als seraphin cryinge offerandl to his nobil Infer,
for lyke in lufely mynde : ' be-haldl, loueand? I byrne, gredily
desireand.' \)ti8 with fyre vntrawd? & f irlancF flawme is byrnyd fe
saule of a Infer ; aH f ing* it* gladins & hevynly sparkyls, nor ende 28
I make happily desirandf, bot aH-way goand to fat [I] lufe, dede vnto
me is swete & sikyr. The holy solitari forsoith, for he for hys sauyo^^r
in wildymes suffyrdf to sytt*, an excellent, goldy seet in heuyns he
saH take emangis ordyrs of Auugels. IT And for he with foule 32
clothes for lufe of his lorde is cled«, A kirtlH to his helis eue?'last-
ynge & m clerenes of his makar wroght* he saH do on ; & schj-nynge
in face ful me?*uellus he saH take, for his flesch tamancJ, his face
pale & lene to haue he schamydl not* ; A mantiH alsso moste fajTe, 36
witJi precius stones in-wovyn, for despisyd? clothes emonge fe
i^yghty of paradis he saH here w?'t//-outen end. And treuly for he,
vyce voding* and in iolite of fis lyfe not borionand, spicis of synne
playnly has out* caste in by[r]nynge of lufe of god aHmyghty, 40

Bk. I. Ch. 15.] I. The Fire of Love. Strive to feel the Sweetness of Love. 33

lieuenly soiinde moste swete in liyni-self he toke, IF And sound* of
syngars in charitefiiH: songes in-to his mynde swetely was \vor])ely
insched. Boldly fcj-fore w^'tA-outyn dreed fro J)is exyle he goys, and shall

4 Aungels songe in his eend herand, & he ):at^ byrnynglyest lovyd song asTe
with aim [gels] goand in ]je haii eue?iastyng fuii worthely to most
loyfuH degre saH be takyn, \at he may be w*t/i seraphin in a futt:
heglie seett. IF Als I forsoth in scripture sekand myght fynd* &

8 knaw, ]je hy lufe of criste sothely in thre \mgis standis : In heef, no^a
In songe, In suetnes. And ])ies thre, I am expert in mynde, may J,\',®iJt ^tn-

uot longe stand' wM-oute grete rest, As if I wald' standand* & goand f^^l^^^

in heat,
love, and

in mynde behald' or lygandly, me foght my-self I wantyd' fuH: sweetness.

12 mikyii }peroi & as me semyd desolate; Avharfore strenyd be neyd?,
J}at I in he deuocyon pat I niyghte haue myght* abyde, I chase to
sytf. IF Caus of Jjis I know weli : for [if] a man sum-tyme stand'
or wallv^, his body waxis wery, & so fe saule is lett* And? in maner

16 yrk^ for charge, & he is nott in hee rest*, & feloandly nor in pa?'fyt-
nes, for, after Jie pliilosophir, sittynge or restynge ]?e saule is made
wys. Knaw he ]?erfore ]>at 3itt more standynge Jjen sittyng* in godd' is
delityd', |)af fro )?e heght of conte??iplacion he is fuH fare. IF Qwhen [Foi.xiii.b.]

20 treulyi in ])is thre \at ar tokyns of lufe moste parfyte, J)e he per-
feccion of cristyn religyon wz't^-outen aH doute is fan, and I now
after ])e litylnes of my capacite \o thre, Ihesu grauntynge, has takyn,
neuer-jje-les to saynt/s ])at* in ))am has schinyd' I dar not my-self

24 make evyn, for pa peraunter more pa?^tely pame has takyn. IF 3it

salt I be besy ^\ith vertew bat* I may, more birnynslv to lufe, to strive eam-

-, ,.■,,. , estlyforthese

synge more swetely, pe swetnes of lufe more plentu^<6'ly to fele. IF )e three,
err, bredyr, if ^e trowe none now so holy as prophetis or Appostilhs

28 has bene. IF Heet sothely I call, qwen mynde treuly is kyndyld' Heet
in lufe eue?'lastynge, & pe hart* on pe same maner to byrn not
hopingly, bot* verraly is felt*. ])q hart* treuly turnyd' in to fyre gifys
felynge of byrnnyng* lufe. / Songe I catt, when in a plenteuws sauH Songe

32 swetnes of euerlastj^ng* lovyng* w^t^ byrnynge is takynn, & thoyth

in to songe iritwrnyd', & mynde in to f uH swete sounde is chaungyd'. The first two

7 ""^ are gaind by

IF pis to in ydimes ar not* gettyn, bot in he deuociofi; of the whilk devotion,

pe pird', pat is to say swetnes vntrowyd, is nere. H Heet treuly & Swetnes

36 songe in pe sawle causes a meruellws swetnes ; & alsso of fuH grete third.^^^

swetnes pai may be causyd. ])er is not treuly in pis plentev^^6'nes

any deseytt*, bot* raper of ali dedis endly parfytenes — Als &wm of

lyfe contemplatyf vnkonynge be pe feend' of pe mydday in a fals

1 MS. he treuly
HAMPOLE. D

34 r. The Fire of Love. True Lovers are Rare, [Bk. I. Ch. 15.

swotnes & fonyd ar desauytJ, for fa trow )?am-sclf fuH liee when ))ai

ar law. IT Bot fo saule in ))o wliillc' })c for-saydl thru finges to-gi<lyr

ryne, playnly bidys vnhabitt to bo jjirlydf wLih arowys of our enmy,

besily to |)o louer whills if is jjinkamP, H with niy[ndc] vnsniytyn 4

to heuyns fo self itf raises & stiiTis to lufe. % And me7'uaili 30

notf if to J)o sauH ordantl? in loue melody be 8en<ll, & Jjof if take

continuly comfurtliabiH songo of fe le??iman, it lifys treuly hcuynly

cle<> als it wer notf vndyr vanite, 3a so faf if bymys witA-outen 8

When tiie en(? in to heet vnmade & iieue?' fallis. H "Wlien alsso it vncescyng*

imrniiiKiy, »t Sc l)yrnyngly hifys ))af, as before it is sayd, in \iq sclfe it felis

i.)ve. and* happiest licef <fe itf knawes J?e self sotelly byrnyd! yvlih fyre of lufe

endles, feland his moste belouyd in swetnes desynV, in to songe of 12
ioy meditacion is turnyd, and kynde enuwid in heuynly n)[i]rth is
vnbelappyd. H Qwhaifore J?e maker to if has grauntyd', wliome
-with an harf it has desirydf, wz't/i-oute drede to pas [&] hevines fro
j)e body abiH to royf, ))af wtt7<-oute heuynes of dede jje ward? it may IG
forsake ]?e whilk^, frende of lighf & enmy of dyrknes, no Jjing< hot
lyfe has louydl. IT J)is maner of men forsoth ))af so hee to lufe
ar takyne, nowdyr to office nor prelacy w/t7/-out-forth aw to be
Such lovers chosynn, nor to any seculer herand? to be callydl. ^ Treuly |jai ar 20
topaz, rare lyke J)e stouc Jjaf is callytt topa^ius, fe whilk* seldum is fun, & }per-
fore more precius & fuH dere it is had ; in whilk^ too colors ar ; one
is moste pure als golcP, & Jje toJ?er clere als hevyn when if is brighf .
IT & ali clernes of aH stonys if oue?*comys, & no finge fayrer is to be- 24
hald?. U If any treuly it waldl polysch, it is made [dym] ; & treuly ^
[Foi.xiv.a.] if it* be Jxe self be left, his clerenes is withhaldyn. U So holy con-
te7?2platyIFe of whome before we spake seldomest ar, & fey-fore moste
and are like dcrc. To gol(? fai ar lyke for passynge hete of charite, and to heuyn 28
for clernes of heuenly conue;-sacion ; fe whilk^ passys aH saynts
lyuys, & Jjerfore [ar] clerar and bryghtar emonge pz-ecius stonys,
fat is to say chosynn, for fis lyfe only louawd & hauancP clerar fa
er fen all odyr men f af ar or ellis has bene. Who treuly slike will 32
Worldly polysch, faf is to say with dignite[s] worschip, fe heef of fame fai
th'm'™ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ lessynn, fer fayrnes tt fer clernes in mane?- to make
dyme ; if fa treuly worschip of principalite getf, for sotlie fowlar &
of les mede fa saH be made. To fer stodys f e/'fore to take hede 36
fai sati be leff, fat fe?'e clerenes may encres.

1 MS. & treuly & treuly

Bk. I. Ch. 16.] I. The Fire of Love. Ham;pole's Beligion in Youth. 35

How & in qwhaf tyme it is comyn to solitary lyfe, &
soijge of lovve, and of chawngynge of placis.

[Cap. XVI.]
4 /~\ When I suld' floiiscii viiliappily, & ^oiitli of wakir age was in my youth
\3t' 1^0^^' cumen, grace of my makar was iiere, fe wliilk' liiste of from'iow
tempo/'aH schape restrenyd?, and vnto vnbodily halsynge to be for eternal
desird' has tzwnyd, and }3e saule fro law thingt's lyftand to henyns
8 has^ borne, ))at treuly more in desyre I schuld by rue to myrth of
cuerlastyoge, fen eiier before in any fleschly cu?Mpany or ellys
warklly softnes I was gladdynde. H ])q p?'oces treuly if I wiH i exhort men
schew, solitary lyfe be-houys me prech./ )5e spiryt forsoth, Jjis to Hfe-

12 liaiie & to lufe my mynde has sett on fyre j ]?e whillc^ hensforth for
]?e mane?' of my sekenes I haue charged to lede. Neue?--]je-les I
duellyd emange Jiani ])ai in warld* has floryschyd, & of ]?am food I
haue takyn. II fflate^yngz'** alsso, ])at oft-sythes worthy feghtars fro

16 he to law myght drawe, I haue harde. Bot J)is for one oute cast-
ande, my saule is takyn to lufe of my makar ; and desirand? w^'t7^
swetnes endlesly to be delityd', my sauH I gaf }jat in deuocioii it
suld* lufe cristo. Jpe whillv^ forsotli of j^e le7?zman it' has takynne,

20 ]7at now to itt' onlines swettist' aperis, & aH solas in whilk* mans
erro2^r encressis, for noght* itt' count^V. U Wont' I was forsoth, resf
to seke, Jjof aH I w^entf fro place to place. U Cellis forsoth to leue Hermits may
for cause resonable, to harmetis is not iH, & eff, if* if accorde, to ])e cei'is.

24 same to turn agayn. Some treuly of holy fadyrs ]jus ha done, Jjof
aH |)a suffyrd* jjerfor mans grochynge, neuer-j^e-less nof of goyd.
IT YH treuly yli spekis : & Jjat alsso jja suld^ do if ryghf Jjer jja had
abyd^ — for to jjanie custum it is. IF Of a p?-evay, fe coueringe put

28 by, bot stynlv* no jjing' fleys out* : And yH spekand' of hartz's plento

spekys in whome luxkis venu?7^ of neddyrs. H )3is haue I knawen Backbiters*

IP 1.7 1 n-111 abuse has

pat pe more men ha lonnyd w^t/^ wordys of bakbyttyngzs a-gayns made me
me, so mykiH \q more in gostely p?'6»fetf I haue growne. Forsoth in spirit.

32 Jjame moste bakbitars I haue had* whilk* faithfuH frendis I trysf
before. IT 3itt' cessyd^ I not* fro Jjo ^mgis \)at to my sauH was
prophetabyH: for wordis of Jjame, treuly stody I more vsy(J, and
euer god fand I fauorabyii. I cald« to mynde jjat is writtyn :

36 Maledicent illi ^ hi henedices, pat is to say : ' )?ai saH: curs hym, & [Foi.xiv.b.]
])ou satt blys.' And Ije proces of tyme to me is gyfyn grete profett
of gostely ioyes. ^ ffro pe begynynge forsoth of my lyfe-chaungyngt

1 MS. is

D 2

36 I. The Fire of Love. Of Hampolc's Conversion. [Bk. T. Ch. IG.

Tiw i«r«n- & of my myiulo to fe opinynj,^ of ))e heueiily doio,/ ))at, J)c fase
Slfewioif scheuyd, fo [eo] of herf heuenly J)iiige> myglit* bohalcH & se what*
wus years way iiiy lufo it luyglif seeke and to hym besily desyre, thre ^ere ar
utooUuago. ryn except* thre luoiiethes or four — IT J5e doic forsoth ^itt hydinge 4

opyn, viito )>e tymo in whilk in harf werely was felf heef of lufe
In about* eue/'lastyngo, a ^ero nerehandl is passyd*. f I satte forsotli in a
ffiofiove,* chappeH yk, (pvliilsf with swetnes of p?-rtyer or nieditacion mikvH I
iiiaciiapei. was dclityd*, sodanly in me I felt a niery heef & vnknawen. ^ IJot 8
when fyi-st* I won[deryd] dowtandf off whome it suldf be, U be
longe tynie, I am expert* not of creature hot* of my makar it was,
for more liote <fe gladdar I fondc itt*. \)ai heet* treuly sensibily
swete smellynge vnhopingly, I was besy vnto fe inscheddynge & 1 2
takynge of heuenly sounde or gostly, H ))e whilk to song/^ longis
of louynge euerlastynge tt swetnes of melody vnsene — for knawen
or harde may itt not be bot* of hyme ))af it* takys ; whome behouys
Nine months clcuc to be & fro ))e crth depa?*tydl — half* a ^ere, thre monethis & IG
nlew^(i™'*° sum wekys ar our-ryn. IT Whils treuly in be same chappeH I satt,

heavetily „. '' ,^ ,t iii-r i

songs ot love, Sz in ))e ny3t before sopar als 1 myght salmys* 1 songe, als wer pe
noyes of redars or rather singars abowen me I beheld!. II Qwhilst*
also p?'ayand? to heuyns w/t/i aH desire I toke hede, on what* mane?* 20
I wote not sodanly in me noys of songe I felt*, & likyngest melody
heuynly I toke, wlih me dwellyng* in mynde. Forsoth my toyth
continuly to myrth of songe was chaungyd, end als wer loueynge
I had finkandl, & in p?*ayers & salmys^ sayancH \q same sounde I 24
schenyiJ, & so forth to synge jjaf before I sayd? for plente of i^iwardl

and then swetucs I bryst* outc, forsoth priuely, for allonly befor my makar.//

burst out into ^ .1 k ,, i- , -^ ., t -,.

sweet song 1 was not* knawcn of Jjame ))«t me saw, als in awntyr, if pa had?

knawen, abowne mesure fai wald^ haue worschippyd? me,/ and so 28
part* of ])e floure fayrist I suld? ha lost*, Sc into forsakynge I suld? ha
fallyn. Emonge me?'uayH has kacliid me in }pat ])at I was takyn to
80 grete myrth whilst* I was cxitt, and for god to me gafe gyftis |?at*
I couth nott [aske] nor I trowed' any slyke I^inge any man, not 32
holyest*, in ))is life ha takyn. ))e)'for I trowe Jjis to non medfully
gyfyn hot frely to whome criste wyH ; neuer-])e-les I trowe no man
|)at* ttikis hot if he specially ))e name of Thesxx lufe & in so mikytt
he worschip })at neuer fro his mynde except* in slope he lat* itt pas— 36
to whome is gifyn J)at* to do, als I trow Jj«t \a\, same he may fulfill.
Mywho^^ IT Qwharfore fro ))e begynnynge of my chaungyd saule vnto jje he
version hai degre of crist/s lufe J?c whilk* god grauntyng* I myght atene, in

1 MS. sahivs

Bk. I. Ch. 17.] I. The Fire of Loxe. Glory to God. 37

whilk degre wM loyfuH: songe godiis loiieynge I my^t synge, fowre been 4 years

TT1 mr -n p ^ • t r^ aildS moutllS.

3ere and alDOiite iij nionethes 1 had. II Here lorsotli \vith first^
degres to ])is disposinge bydis to a trew ende ; afte?' ^e dede alsso it

4 sail be more pa7^fyte, for here loy of lufe or^ byrnynge of charite
is begun & in Jje heiienly kyngdomo endynge most' gloiius it satt [Foi.xv.a.]
take./ And forsoth in J)is lyfe in ])is degres sett< not^ litil p?'ofettis,
bot into a nodyr degree itt ascendes not*, trenly als itt* were in gras

8 cowfermyd' als a dedely man may he restis. IT Q^vharfor gras to Thanks and

1 • X 1^ ^ '^^ love tO God I

god, louyng* to hym \v*t/i-outyn cessynge desire I to gyii, J)e whillv* give,
both in dises, heuynes & pe?'secucion gyfis me solas, and emonge
p?-ospe?ites & flate?"ingz5 w^t7i sikyrnes makis me abyde a crowen

12 endles. IT periove to Ihesu ioyand besily louyngw I ^elde, J)e whillvi' and to Christ,
me, leest & wreth, has wochyd-safe with swete ministirs to menge,
J)e whillc* song?'s of melody of )je spirit, bot* hewynly, spryngis.
H Thankyngi6' besily \\ith loy I saH do, for me like he has made to

IG clerelv syn^ars be clerenes of co?2sciens in saule, byrnand' in lufe who has made

J <J ^^ ^ me burn with

endles, whilst it loues & bolnes in byrnynge, Jje mynde chaungyd love to mm.
sittand with hete warmand*, with desire gretly spreed', & trew lufly
bfewtc of vertew It spryngis with-oute strife or vyce in pe sight* of

20 our maker, pus songe )?e self in-berand', with mery songe gladdys
Jje longar, & labors refreschys. Many ar ]>& meruellus giftys &
grett*, bot* non ar slike emonge ])q gyftis of pis way, ]je whilk* fuH:
derely confermys in figure of schaplynes of lyfe vnsene in loueand'

24 saule, or Jje whillv* co??iforths so swetely ])e sittar, Sz co??iforthyd^ ])a
rauysch to ]je heght* of conte?^zplacion or acorde of Aungels loue-
ynge. Behald?, bredyr, to 30U I haue talde, to byrnynge of lufe Brother, I've

IT , 11 1,1, 111 told you how

how I com, not J?at ^e suld' p?-ays me, bot pat ^e my god suld'igoithe
28 glorify, of whome I toke ilke gude dede ])at* I had, & pat 30 J)inka?zd of God.
aH: ])inge vndyr [sonne] vanyte, to felow, not* to bakby t* may be for it.
stiryd'.

pe prayer of ])& poyr lowand & to dy desyrand. &
32 of J)e pr«y singe of godts charite. [Cap. XVII.]

"l^e deuoutt* poyr when he is noydf for defaute, if he wil pray he
J may, & say : " lord' my god Ihe6'U criste, haue me?T.y on me &
vouche ]Jou safe to behald* Jje grem^s 30k ]jat on my body is putt ;
36 And perioie my saule it* taris not* to kesf down. My flesch treuly uiuie/the'" *
failys in greuys of pis lyfe, wharfore alsso gostely vertewe is made life! ^ ^

1 MS, cr

38 1. llie Fire of Lwt. Godts weary Lovers desire Death, [lik. I. Ch. 17.

wery. \)ai I treuly in ))is wailclf or of jjis warliU had, aH I Iiauo
emlyd", & no^f is left* ])ot fat my snulo to a nodyr warldl }po\x ledc,
whar my tresuro ia p^rciosist*, & my rycliust substance & not
faylyngo Abydys. A\'liarfoie wttA-oute defaut I saH lyfe, w/t/f-oute 4
sorow I saH ioy, w/t/i-outen irksomnps I saH lufo, & |)e loiiean«lf,
tlio scand', in |)e ioyand^ endlesly I saH be fedl. |3ou treuly ait* my
tresure Ik. att |je desire of my hart^ ; Sc for f o, for jjen I saH hauc ))o
I cjiii on & iKirfitely so be. % And to dedo bus I spoke : " 0 dode, where .^

Dealti not to * •' ' ' *■ '

^•^y» dwellis |)ou1 to me lifand* why c?niiys ))ou so late, bot 3it dedely 1

why halsis |)ou nott ^(it J)e dcsirs ? IT Qwo is I-noght JjI swetnes to
fink, fat end art* of syghhig*, of desire begyninge, fe 3ate of jera-
ynge vnfayliuge 1 ]>o\x art fe end! of hcuynes, J)e mark* of labirs, 1 2
beghiyng* of fruyts, ))e 3ato of ioyes. Behaldl, I bolne, to fe I

[Fouxv.b.] desire; if fou cum, sono I saH be safe. For lufe treuly rauyschydl,
fully I mayo not lufe fat* I desire to, whilst I taste fe ioy fat f ou
to me saH gyfe. If it belioue me dedely, forsoith for it bofalles, be IG

but to come fe to pas als aH my faders has gone, 1 pray fe tary not* mikiH, fro

desire iiim. me bydc not* lange ! Behald? treuly, for lufe I longe, to dy I desire,
to f c I l)yrne, & no nieruaile not for fe, bot for my sauyo?«' Ihesu,
whom© after fat* I haue had f e, wet/i-outen end? I trow to so. IT 0 20
dode, how gude is f i dome to nedy mane, whos sawle neuer-fe-les
viiih lufe [is] made swete ; " to mane forsoth criste treuly loueandf,
heuenly fingw belialdand', vfiih fyre of fe holy goste swetely

After deatii, bymdo. H After dede sothely to aunj]jels son^^e he is takyn, for 24

the good man *' J o o . ,

now in musyk* of the spirit purgycJ Sz profetand? he dwellis. And
forsotli in melody ful meruellMs he saH dy, f e Avhilk fat swete name
l^'fandl fuH pythily thoyth on. And of companys hyni metynge

is t«ken into wy th hououly ympnis w/t/i w^orschipe he saH be takyn in to f e haH 28

Eternal Km- of fo omprowro endolos, beand emong* heuenly duellars in sect
blissydl. IT To jjis truly charite hym has broght* fat he so likandly
iiiwar(J sulcJ lyfe, & aH )?at happyns gladly suld' suffyr, And dede
not* vflih bittyrnes bot w/t/t swetnes he suldl f inlc* ; sothely fen 32
trows he hym-self* treuly to lyfe when to hym is gifyn fro f is lyght*

Sweet LoTe, to pas. IT 0 sweto charite, fou artt playnly swetnes darrest, \at fe
mynde f//t (j?e cachis) to f i lufe fou takis so clerly fou moistis, fat
sone aH passandl f ing/« & vayn loys fou mdkls to despise And in to 36
fi desirs onely meruellusly to couett. In to me fou hast cume, &

thou ha»t fiid l)ehald', aH bo inar forpartis of my saule with, swetnes of heuenly

my w>ul Willi ' r i j j

mirth. myrth ar fulfd*!' & boylingc in gostely ioy ar j)lenteuw.«f. And

treuly fe?-fore I longe for lufe of fe fayrest flowre, & viiih flaume of 1

0

Bk. I. Ch. 18.] I. The Fire of Love. It makes us despise Vain Things. 39

fyre I am inliirly byrnd'. Woldl god I suld go fro J)e dwelynge of
jjis exil ! IF J?us it warmys how man J?iiik?'6' not bot J)«t felis solas
in hym-self , ]je liart^ singand in dite & takyn with charge of charite.

4 U ]?is sothely is nioste mery ^ai \us I take & nere I dy whils it is
made J)us stedfast* with byrnynge lufe. IS'ow grauntt, my best
belouyd' bat I may cese : for dede, bat many drede, to me sukl' be Death wni
als heuenly musyk*, J}of ali now als wer m paradise sett stabyH I musicktome.

8 am sittand' in wylderues, swetely ^er soundand* A lufly songe In
likyngz's jjat my hife has gyn me.

How p^rfite lufe be clennes & lufe is getyn. And of
lufe inp<^rfyte & fayrnes. And of thre myghtz^
12 of godiis lufe, And of ryche, poyre, & almos.

[Cap. XVIIL]

,f clennes of consciens & plente of gostely gladnes & inliirly From a pure

p . o -I p ^ n •^^ ' Conscience

myrth, risys ])e songe of loy & byrnynge of lufe endles i?i rises tiieSong

16 mynde treuly loueand. Xo me?'uaile in J)is mane?* loueand' has lufe Love.

pa^-fitly had, gret in desire, in mevinge Alway in to god dressyd,

yfith no lettynge froo his lufe remode, wM-outen strife of vayn

Jjoghtis to criste besily cleuand^, in Wiesw euer ioyand, fro hym

20 neue?' dist?"ait, wiih iU neuer meuyd, qwhoni deand fles neue?*

' . [Fol.XVI.a.]

desaiiys or fro }>e swetnes of oyntme?it kestis downe. IF \)q warld', Tiie Lover of
be flesch, ]je deuylt in hym has none effect^, })of all bai pryk hyme : the world, tiie

, flesli, and tlie

bot vndyr his lete he tredys ])ame, \er strenght settand' at^ noght*. tievii, under

24 w^t^-outen setheynge he boyls, w^t/i grete desyre he loueys, wzt/i
swetnes he synges, vflth heet he schinys, in god he is delityd wiih-
outen gaynstandywg*, with goinge vp vnbrokyn he behaldis. AH
Jiinge he scumfet^^^, aH Jjinge he oue^-comys, of aH Jjinge |?at hym likis

28 no-]jinge to hyme semys i?Hpossibytt'. Treuly whilst any man is besy
wit/i aH his ve/'tew criste to lufe, grete swetnes forsoyth in hym-self
of lyfe eue?'-lastyiige he felis. IT To criste treuly we ar turnyd' if
hym wzt/i our hole mynd' to lufe we stryfe. Certan so meruelh^s a

32 jjinge god is, & so likand to se, J>at I wondyr \at any man may be
so wode & go oute of way ]}at in saule to his si3t wyl take no hede.
IT Treuly iiot^ he jjat grete & many jjinges dose is grete, bot he j^at
mikiH lufes criste gret is, & of god loueyd. H fforsoth philosophyrs

36 has trauayld' mykiH, & 3itt wet7?-outen fruytt J)ai ha vanischyd ;
And many ]iat semyd' cristen grete jjinges has done & nieniails
scheuyd', & 3it to be saued' ])ai wer not^ wor])i : for not to doars, bot^ Not to doers,

40 I. The Fire of Love, Tlie Retoard of loving God. [Bk. I. Ch. 18.

imttoOai. to goiiis lufars is i)lente of lieuenly crownc. I aske )je, lorde Uicmi,
hMveniy gif viito me lucuywg* in ))i lufe w/U-outen niesure, dosire wiih-ouieu.

crown.

inaiip/*, longyngo w/t/<-outcn ordyr, hyrnynge w/t/^-outo discrecioft.
po bott<?r treuly is lufe of pc, grediliar jjat it* is, tfor noiijjer with 4
resono it* is restronyd nor yyiih drede it is thronge nor with dome
tempyd. ^ Xo man ])listar cner saH be )jen ho Jjat for gretenes of
lufe may dy. f Xo creature treuly may lufe to mykili. In att
ofer ))inges att )>at is to mykiH tumes to vice : bot vwtew of lufe, 8
\)Q more it passys more glorius it sal be. IF \)g lufar treuly longis if
he by hy//i ha not be liknes fat he lufis. })erloY it is sayi? : Nun-
date diledo (Tuia am&i'eva langueOj fat is to say : " schew to my lufe
for lufe I longe," Als who say : [for] fat I lufe I se it* not*, for lufe 12
also in body I wax slaw. TurnycH forsoth v>H\h aH my hart to
They for- criste, first* be trew penance I am tyde, & so aH f inge fat to vanite
things. long/i? forsakand / After fe taste of gostly swetnes to synge in

soundly loueynge godly it saH be rauischyfU. AVher of ysai : Ego 16
cantaho dilecto vieo. & in psalmo : In te cantado mea sempev.
Jjat is to say : " to my lufe, I sail synge," And in psalme : " In f e
my songe is eue/*." Jja fe;-fore fat f ns in god/*' lufe has lyfidf And
in inwanH flayr swetely byrnyd*, In dede no meruayle wzt/i-outen 20
drede, treuly w/t/i loy fro fis lyghtte passys. And aft^r dede
lieuynly kingedomes ascendis. % Of fe flaume f^rfore of godis
lufe it is, fe mynde fat it takis to wond, fat it say: ''wondyd
Vfiih charite I am," & longinge I am made for my lufe — wlier of 24
it is saydl : Amore langueo^ ** for lufe I longe " ; U And to moste,
fat so it go in to fe le???man fat fe self & aH odyr f inges it forget
besid! criste. \)eriov he says : / j?o/ze me vt signaculuva. sux>ev
car tuum, / fat is to say : " Als a tokin sett* me on fi hart." 28
Lore is a H Qwhat is lufe bott t?'ansfot«*mynge of desire In to fe binge lufyd]
into the tiling Ut lute IS gretc desu'e of layre gude & lufely, with continuance of
[FoLXVi.b.] foghtis go&nd in to fat finge fat it lufys; fe whylk* when it has

it, fen it ioys, for ioy is not causyd bot of lufe. AH lufand to fer 32
lufe treuly ar likkynd*, & lufe makis hym like fat lufys to fat fat
is lufyd.

IT To be lufydl treuly noudyr god nor ofe?* creature dcdeins or
An Ujing. forsakis, bot gladly aH f ingiV sayes fa wald? be louyd, & of lufe fai 36
ar glad. In lufyng* treuly fa ar not heuy, bot if fa A vnkynde
finge fa ha lufyd or if fat finge fat fai lufyngly soght fa trow fa
may not hafe. / J)ies in godis lufe ar neuer, bot in lufe of f e warld*
& wy?«men fis off tymes happyns. H I dar not say fat aH lufe is 40

Bk. I. Ch. 18.] I. The Fire of Love. Goodness letter than Beauty. 41

gude, for \ai lufe fat more in creaturis is delityd ])Q,n in ]?e maker
of aH Jjinges, & luste of ely bewte settis before gostely clernes, is il
& to be liatyd, for it turnys fro luf endles & turns to temporal! J)af

4 may not last. U 3it pe?'auntyr \q les it saH be ponyscliid, for more
it desires &, ioys to lufe & to be lufyd' ]?en to fyil or to be filyd'.
U ])Q fayrer a creat?«' is, more lufely in Jje sight' of all it is. / ]5e?-fore
sum was wont besily to geet heel of schaply forme ])en of despisyd',

8 for it' has many occasions to brynge to yll ; And kynde techis be Nature says

." Love the

fayrer jjinge more swetely to be luiyd : neuer-pe-les ordinate charite fairest ^^
sayes more gude j)e more is to be lufyd, for ilk fleschly beute is as orderd Love
hay lightly vanischand^, gudelynes treuly bydis. / & of t-tymes god the good."

12 seek & of ]je warld« despisyd« chesys, And strong & fayr forsakis —
wharfore in psalme it is sayd : Tradidit in captiuitatem viitidem
eorwm, Sf pidcvitudinem eoruni m manus inimici / pat is to sny :
" ])eT yerteu he has gifyn to bondage, & ]>e7' fayrnes to handes of

16 J?er enmys ;" & in a nodyr plas : hsihens Jiduciam in jiulcritudine
tua formcata es, / pat is in englis : " haueand' trayst in ])i fayrnes,
J)OU has done fornicacion." IT Of lufe it is also, mynde to melf,
als it is writyn : Anima niea Uquef^icta est, vt dilectus locutus est,

20 J)«t is to say : " my saule is moltyn, as my lufe spak." Swete lufe
treuly & deuout fe harf in god^6' swetnes meltis, so ]j«t pe wiH of
man with ])e wiH of god i?^ woundirfuH frenschip is made on. / In
whillc* onhede slik* swetnes of likynge hete & songe to a lufand

24 saule is insched, how grete be felar may not tell. IF Lufe forsoth Love is

^ b I J strong to

has strenght in spreding', in knytynge, & turnynge. Spreding^ ^^"^.^^^^J^^^
treuly, for J)e bemys of his gudenes not ordy to frendis & neghburs convert,
hot also to^ enmys & straungers it spredys. H Knytynge treuly, for

28 lufars it makz's on i?^ deyd & wiH, <fe criste a ilk holy saule it makis
one. He treuly \at to god draws, one spiritt is, not on kynde, hot
grace & on[h]ed of wiH. IF A turnyng< strenght Also has lufe, for
J)e lufand if t?irnnys in to jje lufyd & beris in to hym. Qwharfore

32 fyer of j^e holy gosf the hart ]iat it treuly takis, al hoytt itt byrnys,
& als wer in to fyer it turns. And in to ]>at forme it ledis pat to
gude is likist. Ellis had not bene sayd' : Ego dixi dij estis ^ Jilij
excelsi omnes, pat is to say : " I haue sayd ^e ar gofh',5, & aH po,

36 childer of hee god," U fforsoth ^\wi men to-gidyr so has lufyd pat
nerha?zd jjai troude bot on saule in ))am both. ^ Treuly pa pore
man of warldly gude, j)of he be rich in mynde, fro slike lufe is fare : [Foi.xvn.a.]
IF He treuly ]jat euyr behoues to take & seldom or neue?- may gyf,

1 MS. te

42 1. 'I'h^ i -^ of Ia/vc. Duty of helping the Poor. [Bk. I. Cii. 19.

me/Tiail wor if ho had a frendc in ))e wliilk in aH fingu lie niyj,'ht

trist. Of o^er jjrrforo trowed vnwoi))i treu lufe, criste he has a

wiicrem»n'« stctlfiist fiL'iid J of hyiii fuitlifully ask lie what so he wyH. Qwlier

(kJ'uuir. mans help treuly failys, with-out doute god/y is nere. H More pro- 4

fetablH iieue;*-J>e-le8 it wer to fe ryche, a holy pore man if he chase

to his frond speciaH to \vhonie he wahU coino/i att f?at he had? &

gladly gyf hym, 3a more fen fe pore waldl, & hym lufyd affectu-

usly Als his best And kyndest frende. Jje/'fore criste saydf vnto 8

ryche: **frende3 make 3011," forsoth menand holy pore Si ar godis

HeffiTM frendes, & gladly god gifys to trew Infers of slyke pore for }per lufe

i.>veMorihc ioys of paradise. I trow sothely fat slike rich of fer frenschip suhF

bo welo plesydl ! bott now is trew fe vers y.ii is sayd : //on/iis crit 12
siccus cum 7?«M^.>er hahehit cnuiaun, *' fe sec saH be dry when J)e
pore man has a frende." Some riclie sothely I haue fun fat to holy
pore als fame foght gifyng fe?' mete, clothing^ fa wahU not gyff or
odyr necessarys, trowandl it wer I-nogh if f<^(t fa gif bot mete: & IG
80 fa make f a?w self frendis or in prt?'te, no more karinge for fren-
schip of glide pore fen il pore; And aH finge fat suldf be gifyn
of any prys, to fame self & fer childyr fai sayf. & so holy pore to
fame no more is haldyn bot os fai ar to odyr of fer gude doars 20
u." n!K)rret'in ]^^^ clothis gifis fam or ofer gude. And 3it fat is wars, pore to
burdei. ^y^^i® semys fuH grcte byrdyne.

Of J)e loovynge & niyglit of charite, & of pe \varld/5
forsakynge & pe way of penaiis to be takyii. 24

[Cap. XIX.]

Loveistiie /^harito qwene of ve?-tew, fc fayrest sterne, is bewte of fe saule,
Soul. ' V_y f«t in fe saule dois al f is f inges, fat is to say : it wondis it,

it makis it longancJ, it moistis, & meltis, & makis fayr ; it gladeU'd* (fe 28
enflaumys ; qwos ordi?2at dede is fulfare habet. / Ati vertew, if it
treuly be callyd vertew, behouys w/t^-out doute fat in charite it be
rotyt?. No ve?-tew treuly may he haldl fat in god/d' lufe it has nott
sett. IT Qwho sothely wM-oute godz** lufe ve>-tev/s or gude dedis 32
multii)lis, Als into a preuay bothomles p>'ecius stones he kestis.
If Sdieuyd it is &, knawen fat aH dedis fat men dose, in fe end
heel to gett fa help not if in goddis charite & of f i neghbur fa be
It alone not done. Qwharfor sen charite only is fat vs makis blissyil*, rather 3G
we aw owr lyfe desyre to Ioys, fen with mynde or mouth or dede
charite fylle. In fis ioys stryuars vfiiJi syn. In fis ar crowuyd

Bk. I. Ch. 19.] I. The Fire of Love. The WorUiig of Love. 43

ouercomars. ^ Inparfytc treuly is ilk cristyn J?at to erthly riclies
drawes ^\ii]i liife, or to any warldly solas is loynyd', for lie forsakes
not aH ])at he has, wz't/^oute ]je whilk to pe?'feccion no man
4 may cum.

II Qwhen any man treiily god parfitely desiris to Iiife, aH |)inge
als wele inward' as vtward' \a\, to godw lufe ar contrary & fro his
lufe lettz6', he stodys to do away. And \iat a man do jjat, treuly [Foi.xvii.b.]
8 grete hesynes he has, for in doynge grete stryuys he sal sufFyr,
aftirward' treidy swettest rest he saH: fynde in ])at \iat he sek^'5.
IT We haue hard' treuly \aX ])e way is stray tt', but ledys to lyfe. The way of
|?is is Jie way of penance J)at few fyndes ; ])e whilk ))e?-fore strayt is f "'5'\'''f*,-

12 callid for be it, And it be ryght, J)e fiesch fro vnlefuH solace of pe
warld is nakkind' & ])e saule fro schreuyd' likynge ^ vnclene
poghtis is restrenyd? & only to godd^6' lufe it is dressyd. Bot jjis is
seldu??i fun in men, for none neyhand' sauyrs pat to god longis, bot

16 erthcly ioy |jai seek & in \a\> Jjai er delitydd', wliarfore }per bodily
appetyte folowynge & gostely despisynge, AH the wayes to \er
sawlis heelfuH j^a forsak <fe fia vg< als strayte, scliarp & vnabyH to
be borne to \er lust. ^ Neu^^'-j^e-les euery dedely man awght to

20 charfje bat be be way of ryches and lleschly likeyn^e & lusf to be By the wny of

*-"' •■ "^ ... niches and

kyngdome heuynly sal he neue?* cum ; / for sothe sen it is writtyn of the Fiesii,
criste : qxxod oiwrtuit cltHstum jiati ^ ita intrare in r/Ioviavi siiam, jj r?=\^'''
\ai is to say : " \a\i criste behouyd to suffyr & so entyr his ioy,"

24 IF If we be mewibyrs of owr hede Ihe6^u ciiste, hym we saH folow ;
& if we lufe criste, Als he has gone vs bus go, els now ar we not^ asci
his me?;ibyrs, for fro ])e hede we ar deuydyd. IF If Ave fro hym we go.
treuly be sonderyd, greetly it is to dred, for to ))e feende J)en ar Ave

28 loynyd, 11 And in J)e last doyme criste is to say : " I haue not
knawen 30W." / He treuly be a noyus 3ate & a strayt Avay enteryd
to heuyn ; how wiH we \dX wrechis & synnars ar, of poyr rycbe be
made & w^t^ vnlefuH & flate?*ynges of ])is warld to owr lyst A^se aH

32 vanyte & softnes of fiesch & likynge desyre & neue?'-]je-les in lyffe
to cum w^*t7^ criste reyn % IF Criste when he Avas ryche, for vs is
becumyn poyr : And AV^e when Ave ar poyre, no jjinge is J)at Ave so
mykiH couet Als to be or seym plenteu?^s. IF Criste when he Avas

36 lorde of ali, is becum se?'uand of aH : And Ave Avhils Ave ar vn worthy

& seruandis vnp?-ofetabylt, 3it Avald Ave be lordes of aH. / He Avhen A'et we would
he Avas greet* god, is becum a meke man: And we when Ave ar :>ii;
scyk* & sympil men, in so mykiH for pryde Ave rays our self als Ave

10 AVer godd^■6^ / He w^i^ men Avas conuersant, pat vs to heuyns he

rist
went, must

44 T. The Fire of Lace, Lmx of God and o^cr NeiyJibour. [Bk. I. Cli. 20.

we.i.<.ire luyglit mysc : Sc we be aH owr lyfo ertlily Ywv^ix desiris. % Scliowid
Uiiiig*. |)/Tfore it is fat liyni wo liife not, for owr witt to liis we wiH not

meyk*, no to fulhl we bosy not fat ilk day we a«k sayand : fiat

volunUis tua si cut in celo ^ in tcjra, " J)i wil be <lone als in heuyn 4
Such men & in ertli." In vayn foi-soyth slyke men trowis fe lieritage to liaue
no part hi yritli fame fat is chosyn, for of cristis gaynbyinge fa ar no partiners
demptioii. fe wliilk fc bloydl be whome we ar gaynboght be fer wyckyd &

vnclene warkis fa despys & frely to f e fendis bondage f a?/i-8elf 8

^eldis.

^ Of pe faynies of mynde, vanite of the warldf &
lufe of god & owr neghbur knyttyc?, and qwedyr
p«;'fite lufe may be loste & gettyii in ))is way. 12
[Foi. XVIII. [_Cap. XX. J

The virtue of If f ou bc gladendl in fayrnes, knaw it wele, for fayrnes of f i
fn •purnhig mynde of f e hee fayr saH make f e belouedf if it* to lufe of liym
■licking to onely fou kepe vnfilyiK \)e flesch sothely abyl to royt* wM att by8 16
bewte is ful febyH & to be despisyd, for it soyne passandf aH fe
lufars begilis. \)e vertew ferfore of owr lyfe in fis standis : fat,
vanite spisyd* & spumyd', to trewtli vnpa7'tyngly we draw. IT AH
ely f ingis ar vayne Avhilk* in ertli ar desyrid ; trw sothely ar fat 20
may not be sein, heuynly & euerlasting. Trewly ilk cristen man in
fis of gode schewis hym-self chosyn fat f ies erthly f inges he sett at
noght, AH-to-gidyr in godis desiris spreed? and fer-of he takys a
pr^uay sounde of lufe, faf no man with warldly desirs is vmbe- 24
lappitH, fro f e sauow?* of heuenly loy wrechedly he is withdrawen.
And no meruayH of fe schinynge sawl & barely to lufe of euerlast-
yuge besy & criste vnwerely desireand ha[r]tis capacite with plente
of swetnes is Avonte to be fulfillyd, so fat in fis Mery flesch als wer 28
If our love of aungels lyfe with sowndly myrth fai argladind. j^ei'iore if our
loves God. lufe be pure & parfyte, what-eue;* our hart lufys god it is. H If we
truly owr-self & aH oper creaturs fat* ar to be lufyd? not bot in god
& for god we lufe, what odyr in vs & in fame bot hym we lufe 1 32
^ Qwhen owr god treuly of vs with hole hart & aH vertew is lufyd*,
fen Wit/iout doute & our neghbur, Sz aH fat is to be lufyd. Tightest
is lufyd'. % If our hartt* ferfore before god & in to lufe of god we
sched, with hyme bwne & with god haldyn, what is fer more with 36
ixjtreofOod whilk any ojjer finge we may lufel H In lufe treuly of god is lufe
Neighbour, of my ncgUbur. H |>e/*for als he fat god lufys he can not [but]

Bk. I. Cli. 20.] I, The Fire of Love. It saves Mm in Life and Death. 45

man lufe, so he Jjat criste treiily can lufe no J?ing^ in hym bot god is
he preuyd? to lute. Also aH ])at Ave ar lufyd [&] lufys, aH to god,
Jie wel of lufe, we ^elde : for he jjat aH mans hart to hym-self com-

4 awnde't"? be gyfyn, Al desyrs also & aH meveyngzV of mynde in hym
he desirs to be festynd. fibrsoth he Jjat truly god lufys no ])inge
in his harf bot god he felys, & if he fele non o))er ]?inge, no^t ellis
he has ; bot what so he has, for god he lufys, & noght he lufys bot

8 \at god wiH he lufe ; wharfore no )?inge bot gude he lufys, & so aH
hys lufe god is. fforsoth be lufe of bis man is trew, for hym-self to and confoim-

1 Ml 11 • i- ' ^ ing oneself to

his makar he coniourm^ Jje whilk aH jjinge for hym-self has wroght, ^od.
& so he for god aH ])inge lufys. Sothely when lufe of eufi?'lastynge

12 in owr sanies is treuly kyndyld, wz't/^out^ doute aH vauite of ))is
warld, & aH fleschly lufe, bot als foulyst fylth is haldyn; And
whils ]?e saule to besy deuocyon gyfyn no ))inge hot* plesance of J)e
makar desyrs, meruelusly in J)e self vfiih fyer of lufe it byrns, |)«t

16 soyftly in gostly godis p?*ofetand' & growand hens-forth in to Jje
slipe?' way & broid Jiaf to dede ledis it fallis not, bot ra]}er Vfith
a heuenly fyer yp raysid in to co?zte/«platyue lyfe it gose & ascendis.
^ Lyfe treuly conte??iplatyfe of any man in J)is vale of teris ynto a Atruiycon-

20 lytil is not pa?"fitely gettyn bot if ]je hart* of hym before he feyl life in this
byrne w^t/^ fyre of lufe Si his consciens he knawe viith honily b.]*
swetnes multyn. H So no meruayl a man treuly conte??iplatyfe is Staind^*"^^
made, qwhilst he both tastynge swetnes Sl byrnynge felynge, for \q o»iyijyLove.

24 gretnes of lufe off-tymes nerhand he dyes ; H And jjerfore in hals-
ynge of endles lufe Als wer bodily he is festynd, for vncessyngly
behaldyng*, to J>af li3t vndescryed to se v^Hth aH his desir he besies
hyme to go vp. IT fforsoth, slyk* a man no co??iforth hot* godis* in

28 his saule can graunt*, in qwos lufe now longynge, to ]je ende of fiis
lyfe he is made desire, greuusly criand with Jje psalm : Quando
veniam Sf aiipareho ante facieni dei ? / fat is to say : " qwen saH I
cum & appere before ]?e faace of my god ? " IT ))is is pa?-fite lufe, Tho a man's

32 bot* qwedyr J)is standyng \n lufe, ons had, any tyme may be losf, be perfect,
not vncongruly may be asked. IT Qwyls man truly may syn,
charite he may lese ; bot not may syn, is not* in state of Jjis way, bot
of JJB cuntre abofe : qwarfore ilk man, how eue?' so holy he be in fis

36 lyfe, 3it may he syn, & deedly, for )?e dreggis of syn in no pilgrim yet he may
of jjis lyfe is fully slokynd Aftyr comon law. Truly if ])er wer any
slike, ))e whilk* nawdyr desir, nor te/?zpyd myght* be, to ]je staat of
heuyn be fat rather fen of fis way he suld long/s, nor to hym wer

40 mede not to fawt, qwyls he may not syn [I wot not]. H If any slike

h; T. The Fire of Love. Ihity and Benefit of Prayer. [Bk. I. Ch. 21.

fort lie lifan(F owr-<iwher \n flosch [for I say for me: flesch] desire

n«:iu..iii.v aguyiis fr spirit*, tV: })o spirit* ag^yns fc Hesch ; And aft^^;- J)e i7iward
inane, to godtV lufo I am glad, bot ^it* I can not so mykyH lufe, J)at
flesciily desire I my^t* barely slokin. II I trow neue?'-J)e-le8 |)at o 4
degro of parfite lufe \ei' is, jje qwliilk* qwho-euer atenys it, afterwartl?
lie sal neue?' lose. A nojjer truly it is to may loos, & anodyr alway
But the per- to hald ])at lie wil not* leef fof aH he may. If Payfyt truly jjam-
iivoiiKvery. Self* absteuys, als mykili as in |)ani is, fro ilk* finge w/tA qwhilk* }per 8
nmy hinder perfeccioil may bo destroydl or ellis lett. U Wzt/i frones tmly of jjer
lyst* wiUi grace of god J)ai ar fulfillyd, with qwhilk besily J)a[i] ar
stiryd, gude to lufe, to spoke, ^ dec, / And fro iH of hart*, mouth &
wark* fai ar wyfdrawen. IT Qwhen man to crista fe^'fore pa?*fitely 12
he«ie«ircs tumyiV, al fiug* passand he despisis, Sz, hym-self in only desire of hys
Maker, uuvkar iu-moucabily, als for deedlynes for J)e cornipcion of flesch he

is letyn, he festins, jjen no meruayH, his myghtis manly vsand*,
ffirst*, als wer heuyn opynd, w/t/i his vnderstandiug* egh heuenly 16
]ie feels the citiscues bclioldis, & af tirwardl swettist* heet, als wer byrnynge fyre.

Fire of Love,

he felys ; H ]?en wM meruellus swetnes he is taght, & so forth in
songly noys he is ioyd. ]5is ferfore is parfit charite, qwilk* no
live* sweetly mail knew bot bat it* toke : & he bat it has takyn, it neuer leuys ; 20

nnddies i i i o -i • i i

«»afe«y. swetely he lyuys, & sikiiiy he sal dy.

Of profett* & worJ)ine3 of prayer and meditacioun.

[Cap. XXL]

[Foi.xix.a.] "Kis stabilnes of myent? to get* & wzt7<-haldl, bcsy prayer helpis 24

-T mikyii ; for if it in mynde be groundyd, myght of fendis it
Tiio God vndois. U \)ol god truly ail finge knawe, And or we any finge ask*,
we shall pray parfitly lie knaws what we wil ask*, to p?'ay ^itt vs awe for ma[n]y
to pray, cause. Foi cristo, to vs to p^v^y, ensaumpyl gaf qwhen in p?-ayer 28
allon in jje hyH [he] nyghtycH. And for it is fe ApostiH comament* :
Sine intermisslone orate; ojwrtet enim oi'are, ^ nan dejicere: / " with-
owtyn cessyng* pray ^a ; to pray sothely it behouys, & not to fayl."
to get grace Also fat we may be wor))i grace in fis lyfe, & loy in tyme to 32
hereafter, cum — // Qwharfore " askis & 3e saH take. He J)at askis takis, & to
M well a« for \>Q caUar it sal be opynd." IT Also for Aungellis our prayers to god
offyr, to help fer fulfillyngt*'. Thoghtis truly & desyrs only to godi
ar bare & opyn : ^it* Aungcls knaw qwhen sayntis worthy & holy 36
))ingis Jjinkis, & with lufe of lyfe endles gretely ar enflaumedl, be gods

Bk. I. Ch. 22.] I. The Fire of Love, Luty and Benefit of Prayer. 47

scheiiingc, And be expcriens of Jjer vtward? cledis, for jja see J)ame
onely to god saryf ; qwarfore to daniel ]je Aiingel sayd : vir desideri-
orum es : ''A man bou art of desyres." U Also for bo continuance By continued

' prayer the

4 of prayer Jjc saule is byrnt* wit/i fyer of godis lufe ; oure lorde truly soui is burnt
be his profett says : nonne uevha mea </uasi ignis ^ ^uasi 7naIJe\\s of God's love,
conterens j^etras ? " Ar not my wordis als fyre byrnand', & als a
mel stonys brekawd 1 J5e psalme also says : Ignitum eloquium iuum
8 vehementQY, " jji spech hugsly is byrnyd'." Bot [now] many \er ar
]?at soyne worde of god fro J)e moutli, And hart/s kestzs oute, it not
suffirand* \ier rest in J?a??^ : & Jie^-fore fa ar not byrnyd' \\iih heet
of cumfortli, bot kold' ])a byde in sleutli & necligens ; Also after

12 i?inumerabil p?*ayers & meditacions of scripture, for forsoth in
mynde nawdyr jja pray nor pink, qwhyls odyr ]jat al sleuth puttz**
bak, wit/^-in scliortt qwhyH ar gretely byrnyd', & in cristis lufe ful
strong^. \)eriov ful weil it felois : ^ sevuus tuus dilexit illud, j \ai

16 is to say : " & ])i seruand it has lufyd^" J^erfore truly he is byrnyd ;

for ])i worde, lord^, he lufyd*, \ai is to say, to se & aftir it to wyrk. that it may
])Q soynar he has soghf j^en jjine, [& has taken of \q Jjc & ]?ine. "'»' love.
Odyr serue ]7e for to haue ])ine] & litil for \q Jjai care. Truly Jje

20 feyn vndyr })i seruis fa wald be, wardly worschyp to geet, &
emonge men to seme glorius; bot qwhyls fa ioy few fing?5 to
fynde, many fa lose, for f e & fin, And f a??i self & f aris. IT To
p?'ay also vs behoues, fat sayf we may be ; f erf ore lamys warnes,

24 sayand* : Orate pvo inuicem vt saluemini, j " for ^our-self p?^ayes,

fat 30 be sauyd^" H Also fat we be not made slawe, & fat in we should
guyd continuly we be occupyde ; f erfore is sayd^ : Vigilate cj* always occu-
orate ne intretis m temjytacionem., / fat is to say: *'wake 30 &

28 p?'aySj f«t 3e entyr not in to temptacione." Eue?' truly we awe to

pray, or reed', or finke, with oper dedis profetabyl, fat our enmy that our
neuer fynJ vs ydil. IT Bot^ it is to take hede with alt besynes fat never find
we wake in p?"ayer, fat is to say, with handis foghtis not be endid,

32 fat widraues mynde, & makes forget qwhidir it is bowne, And alway
letter, if fai may, f e effect of deuocion to ouer-cum, f e whilk mynde
of fe p?*ayand« suld pe^seyf* if he with wakirnes, besines & desyr,
prayd.

36 pat lyfe contemplatyfe is wor})iar & meedfullar Ipen
actife. And of boyth in pr(?chinge & prdacy.

[Cap. XXIL]

us idle.

48 I. TJic Fire of Zoir. Cjnknqdative aiul Active Life. [Bk. I. Cli. 22.

[Foi.xix.b.] /^f sum truly it is doutydl qwliilk^ lyfe is more meedfuH And
\J bettir, co^<te//?platife or actiue. / Not* to fewe it semys ))«t
actife is meedfuUar, for many dedis h prechiugis ))at it vsis. / Bot
))ic8 ar vnknaw'an(>, for ve?'tew of coutev/iplatife fai kiiaw not. // 4
ThebMteon- \\ii many actife be/- ar bettir ben sum conte//q)latyfe ; bot best con-
Hie I* higher tcwplatjfe ar hear J)en pe besr actife. tI pe^lore wo say : lyfo
•cuve. conte/;<platif barly is Jje better, J)o swettar, & \q worj^iar, & more

meedfuH als euens verray meed, fat is ioy of god? vn-wroghf, 8
for he more byrnyngly lutis god ; & more grace is askyd, if con-
te///plalife lyfe reglit be led, )jen Actyfe. H Resun of feruewt*
lufe in lyfe conto/iplatife [J?en iu actyue is, for contemplatyue]
in rest* ar of mynde & body, & ferfore before aH deedly swetncs 12
of endles lufe |?a tasf. Actif truly iu labyr & vtwardf rynnynge
sarifis god, & [in] inward? rest toris bot* lityH, wliarfore |)a may
not* be delityd? bot seldum Sc schortly; contemplatife sothely als
wer besily lufe wiih lialsyngts of J?er le?nman. ^ Sum for soth 16
For the gaynsettaud*, says: H Actife lyfe is more fruytfuH, for warkw of
deeds are mercv it dovs, it p?-echis, & slike obei* dedis wyrkis* ; Qwarfore more

rewarded hy "^ . . J -r o , , i • , •

joy in the meritorv it is. II I say nay, for slyke warkis langis to accidentale

deed done. "' ./././ o

reward?, Jj«t is, ioy of jjinge wrognt* ; And so may on \at sal be takin 20
in-to fe ordir of Aungels, haue some meed? ^it he sal not haue fat
sal be in fe ordyr of cherubyn or seraphyn, fat is to say, Ioy of sum
gude dede fat he dyd in his lyfe, fe whiik* a nodyr fat passis in
godib' lufe wit/t-out comparison, dyd not*. Als oft* tyems it happy ns 24
fat sum of les meed is guyd, <fe preches ; A nof er prechis not, fat
mikytt more lufya : is not he f is better for he p?*echis ? no ; II bot
he f is fat more lufys, hyar & bettir is ; IT f of he be les in p?-echinge,
sum meed he sal haue fat fe more was not worfi for he prechid 28
Man is not not. IF Schcuyd f erf ore it is, fat mane is not holyar or hear for
for outward vtward? wark/5 fat he doys. God truly fat is f e behalder of f e hart*,
but for his ' rewards more Avyl fen dede. / ))e dedis truly hyng* of wyH, not wiH
Themor«he of dede. / For, fe more byrnyngly fat a man lufys, in so mikyl to 32
hi«her re- liyar reward? he ascendis. H ber is treuly in trew co?«te??iplatif* men

ward he shall '' ' *^ ^

iimve. a ful swete heet & plenteuwsnes of gode's lufe, of f e whilk abyding*,

iTi-to fame is send a ioyfuH sownd? \fiih myrth vntrowed? : And f is
in actife men in f is lyfe ar neuer fun, for only to heuynly finger f ai 36
take not hede fat so in Ihe*'u fa myght be worfi to ioy. & f e?-fore
worf ily actife lyfe is put be-hyncJ, & conte7?iplatyf in f is p^-esent [&
in] lyfe to cum worf ily is preferryd.

% Q wharf ore in fe meetbuyrd? of trew Salamon fe pilars ar 40

Bk. I. Cli. 22.] I. The Fire of Love. We are not all equal. 49

siluer, & his restinf^f^-placc gold'. H Pilars of be chayr ar stronge vp in Solomon's

(. 1 1 T 1 • •! p • cliaiiot, tlie

' berars And gude gouyrnours of noly kyrk* : bis ar siluer, for m piuars are

o o >/ vol silver, and

conuersaciofi ])ai ar clere, & in p?-eching^ ful of sounde. ])q resting- ^'^^^'^Pjjp
4 place gold ar men co^itemplatife, in J}e whilk in he rest beand, criste song, iw.i^).
specially restis his heed. / & f a forsoth in hym syngulerly restis. uv" men are
}?is ar goldly, for purare & darrar |)a er in honeste of lyfynge, U And ^pof^i, ^,]
reddar in byrnynge of lufynge and co?ite??iplaciofi. H God forsoth
8 before has ordand hys chosyn diuers seruys to fulfyH ; to ilk< man
truly it is not gif yn al offis to execute or fulfyH, bot^ ilk man Every man is

>j ° 'J " given wliat

has bat to his state is nioste acordyng^. Qwarfore jje Apostil says : best suits his
Fmcui^'ue nos,irmn data est gi'acia secundum mensuravo. donacionis

12 christi, / ]?at is to say : " to ilkoil of vs is grace gifyn aftyr J)e mesure
of cristz's gyft*." Sum truly of rightvvesly gettyn gude dos almus,
odyr to \er dede pe treuth defendis. U Odyr godis worde clerely & some are
strongely prechis & to odyr to p?'eche in jje?* writtynge fa scheu. ^^^^ P»"eaci» ;

16 Odyr for god grete penance & wrechidnes in ])is lyfe sofyrs. U Odyr

be \q gift^ of conte?;zplacion only to god ar besy, & criste to lufe ^,"^"® g^J^^^®*"'
]?ame-self straytly j^a set. IF Bot Wit/z-oute doute emang< al a-stat/s

and these joy

fat ar in fe kyrk^, with a speciaH gift* fa ioy fat* ar becum con-

iu His love.

20 te??iplatife, in god26* lufe now wer fa worfi singandly to Ioy. H if
any man truly both lifys myght* gett*, fat is to say coTztemplatyfe &
actife, & fame keep and fulfyH, he wer fuH greet, fat he bodily
seruys myght fulfyH & neue?--f e-les in hym-self fele heuenly sounde
24 And in to Ioy of heuynly lufe syngandly he wer multyn. I wot
not if eue?* any deedly man had f is ; / to me impossibil it semys fat
both to gidyr be. / Criste truly in f is party emonge men is nott to
be now[m]byrd', nor his blyst modyr emong wy??2men. IF Criste Christ had
28 truly had no scrithyng foghtis, & conte7?^platife he was not in comon thoughts;
maner als saynt/6' in f is lyf ar conte??zplatife ; hym nedyd not treuly t'ontempia-
! labyr als ys nedis, for fro f e begynnynge of his cowsaueing* he sawe t^i'^g^^y'JJi.Jf.g
I gude. IF ]^o meruayl, be grete exercise of gostely wark/s, in-to vs ^^"'^^•
I 32 cums a sowndly Ioy, & sownd swettist we take fro heuyn. And so
I forward' in rest we desire to stand', fat w^t^ greet swetnes we may
I Ioy. / He, f erf ore, actife life fat sarifis wele, to conte??2platif lyfe he He that lives
!, is besy to go vp. Qwho truly with gift* of heuenly conte??^placion in ^cHve life is
^ 36 maner forsayd' is raysyd, to Actif cums not down, bot if parauntyr J°]^(^JiJ%*['.^
I he be cowipcllyd, gouernans to take of cristin — fat seldom or neuer tiveUfe.
j I trow has happynd'. IF Odir treuly contew^platife to fat welle may
I be chosyn, for les with heet of lufe f ai ar taght. IF Les sayntis for-

I' 40 soth to offys of prelacy sum tyme ar more abil fen gretter, for about
HAMPOLE. E

50 I. The Fire of Lave. L(we overcomes SiUy [Bk. I. Ch. 23.

vtwanH besinos moio acordingly ))a sal l)cliaue J>am-8elfe, Jjat in
iuwanl" desii-s ixerfitly inyjt not rest.

That birnynge of lufe, vis & syns purgis ; & of ]>q
tokyns of trew frenschip. [Cap. XXIII.] 4

The burning "Dy^.V^o^ ^^ ^"^^> "^"^^ * ^^^^^ truly takvn, aH vicis po?^rgi8; both
Rii viwHjt *' J3 to inykitt «fe to lityH it avoydis, & beute of art v^'rtues it settis :

will liol IHT- "^ Oft '111

niiiaemiiy ^xiih dcedly syn standis it iieuer, & if it do with veniati, bot neuer-
|)e-le8 so byrnand may be Jje meuyng* (^ desyre of hife in god, )j^/t 8
also al veniaH synns it wastis, also wxt/^-oute p'lngis in dede of pe
whilst the saiuc syns veniatt ; for whilst* })e trew lufar in-to god wij) strong and
b<»nieto- feruent* desyre is })orne, aH J)inge liym displesis ))«t fro j)e sight of
aiitiiin>?H ' god witA-drawes. IF Qwhils he treuly in songly ioy is gladinde, 12
du'V"" ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ expres jiat he heuynly felys. And }je>'fore for luf
»'•»»• he longis. /

[Foi. XX. 6.] Variyt men also, to life to cum neuer hevis J?«t may be byrnyd,

for in fe hete of cristis^ lufe is wastid al per synnes. Bot ]>at no 16
man weyn in vayn him self parfite qwen he is not, U Here he
Perfect life is qwlien J)at a man has in hym self pe/"feccion. II j)is truly is lyfe of
wodar*^b' P^''*^y*' • ^^ charge of warldly erands to kest a- way, ffadyr and
fni'oftSer ^^^^^J^"' ^ ^^ V^ gii<iis> ^OY crist to forsake ; aH gudys passawd, for 20
aiTp^ses-"^ endles lyfe to despise ; warldly desyres with longe labir to destroy ;
christ^s'^sake li^'^i^iy <^ ^H vnlefuH meuyngis', as it is possibiH to refrene ; in our
and, after makei's lufc oiielv to byrne, IT Aft^ r bittir sorows & passand besynes

bitter sorrows - , J J ' r j

and transient of gostely warkz5, swetnes of lieuenly coiite?«placion to feel; & so, pat 24
mZn ^ ^^ ^^^^ priuelegicH speek, for Ioy of godw lufe in to gostly songts
IT U) set"*^ ^^' heuenly sound? behaldandly for to be takyn, IT And in [injwarldly
heaveu'sjoy. i-ggt, aH sturbelans put bak, swetely to byde, In so mykiH pat,

whilst to godis mane no finge is lefuH vtwardl to wyrk, swetnes of 28
endles lyfe, in likyng songe, in myrth vn-mesurd*, with-hi is takyn to
In his mind sowntP. % No meruail fus slyke swetnes he saH haue in mynde als
sweetness as Aungclbs has in heuyn, jjof aH not so mikyH. II On ))is wyes
the Angels, sothely is maue made p«?-fyt*, & Avitli fyer to be purgyt¥ hy7?i saH 32
**X"°'"^ not neyd aftyr pis lyfe / qwhome bymandly in flesche bean(J fyre
thunrr*"*'^ bymys of pe holy goost. H And 3it ))is parfyte lufe nmkis not* a

howi^ir"!^ ^^^^^^ ^y "^^ ^^ ^y^> ^^^ f^^ ®y^ ^^ ^y^ ^^^ ^^'^^f ^^^ ^°^® ^^'^^^ ^y^^

mlulhi\e^», of lufe it be wastid. H Slyke lufars truly of Ihesu crist, fare p?-ayers 36
si"nd(JSinot "^y^ "^^ ^^^® ^^y^ rightwysmen, for, sett* in rightwis mynde &

last.

^ MS. tristis

Bk. I. Ch. 24.] I. The Fire of Love. And sings in Joy. 51

rauischid ^\itli crist/s lufe abown hym-self, he is takyn in-to Such a lover,

n 1 T 1 carried above

meruellus myrtli, &, sownd' in to hym <:;oodly sclieed*, als wer wz't/i iiimseit; is

•^ ' ' . . . lifted up into

notis his prayers he singis, xilso fro his mouth in melody offerand* wondrous
4 fro mans feling* hyd, to god, And him is f uH bryght. H Strenght spiritual

D0VV6r luis

truly & gostely v^rtew in hym heuynes of be flesch into so mykiU "ow so tar

J ^ J J J r J overcome tiie

now has ouercum, bat he in criste ay may be dad, qwhos harf in-to burden of tiie
fyer of lufe tz^niyd varely felis heuenly heet, J)at the gretnes of so "i?yever
8 byrnynge lufe vnnejj he may here ^siili lyfe ; bot jje gudenes of ciirist.
god hym kepis to tyme ordand, pe whilk hym gaf \a\> he so mikyli
mi^t lufe, & truly say ' for lufe I longe ' ; Als seraphym byrnyd' he Like the
byrnys & lulis, he syngis & loys, he lufis & warmis ; & fe more sings, joys,
12 plesand' he is, J)e hattar in lufe \a\, he byrnis ; H not onely deed? he "l/^'^b^j"^^
dredis not, bot vnto dy he is glad* w/t/i ]je apostili : ' Ifihz inqmt ^'i^ig^^iffn
cristus fmere vita est, ^ man gaudium,' / \ai is to say : ' Criste to grStjoy to
me is lyff ; & to dye, greet ioy,' &c. ^'®-

16 pat pr/rfite lufe, ^ith gode no J>inge mengis, & qwy ;
& })at it is needfui to lufe ; and of ])e blyndnes of
fleschly lufe. [Cap. XXIV.]

[Fol.XXI.a.]

Tff we parfitly forsake filthes of syns & vis of ])is warld', noj^ing' ifweaito-

20 JL bot god we lufe. In our neghbur, qwhat lufe we bot god, sake tiie^fiiths

qwhen we not bot for god, and in god, hym wiH lufe. % How suld vice of this

o ' o J J world, we

god truly be ali in aH, in mane, if any J^ing* wer besyde his lufe ? no love nothing
man truly has Ioy, bot< of {je gude he lufis. / ))e more J)e?-fore ))at ^^^an has^ ^

24 man god lufis, pe more plenteuwsly (no meruayH) in hym he sal Ioy : ^Jl^^^/J^^
K Ifor ])e more besily & feruently any jjinge we desire, J)e more fhereloriThe*
hartly it* gettyn we Ioy. ])eriovQ truly has a man Ioy for he has GoTthI more
gode, IT and god truly is ]jat Ioy ; \q whilk* forsothe none of ))ame fSi'Jf mm.

28 has, fat any ])inge besyd god, sekis. If I truly for my-self any th'is"oy if he
])inge desyre, & my gode of j^at* desire I sef nott* end', sikyr it is of ti^dng^bSde
my-self I hafe made a traytur, & of )?e gilt* hyd opynly I am ° '
scheuyd. God truly on \at wyes wiH be lufyd*, fat no man w^t7i God win be

32 hym in his lufe be mengyd : ffor if fou fi hert* deuidys & dredis a waytJiat*^
not a nodyr finge ^\ith hym to lufe, wzt/i oute dowt knawe weH of have share
god fi luf forsakyn, fe whilk* a part* of lufe vochis not* safe forto
behald; / AH hole truly or noght* he takys, ffor hole he fe gayn Aiiorno-

36 boght. \)i body forsoth & fi saule, in J)e syn of fi Fadyr Adame was takes, for He
dampned : Q wharf or god into fe maydyns body is cume downe, & thee wholly,
man be-cum, |?e pris has gyfyn of fi delyuevans, fat not* onely fi souijmthee

E 2

52 I. The Fire of Love. Fleshly Love is vile, [Bk. I. Ch. 24.

w»* t»iy eaiiH fro fo fendis power he suh? delyuir, bot also ))i body wtt/i fi
A.ium'sBin sautt, ill ))o ciido of ))o warM*, lie niyglit make blissyd. \>q com-
if thou wilt aiueiitw }perlovQ bou has of lyfe eue?*lastyn«^ : if boii wiH entyr to

•nttT Into tlie T r J J r> ) r J

\ur^**"iV'."*' f® kyiigdomo lost* & eft repaz-ayldl with cristis blode, pe behouys I
chSTts*^'*'' godw comamentw to kepe ; And truly als fou desyrs aftyr ))i deecH
atKii* «mf ^ ascend into loyfuH & p<f7*fite, so pa Ix^liouys haue mynde in jjis
Ifurhrtilil*' lyf« w/t/^ hole & p^rrfyte hart^ good! to lufe. Ellis als J)ou now art
who'ie'ttiid'^*^ not* to godt5 lufe gifyn, so fen not p«?'fyte loy, bot endeles to?^r- 8
perfect heart, jj^pj^^. p^^^ gj^j| \^afe. llor truly qwhils fou with hole lufe <fe mynde
to ]>i makar takis not* hede, some creature sothely of god more |)en
No reni»on- is hoiicst OF Icefutt to lufe bou art p7-euydl. It may not be a saulo

nhle«oulcnn -.,... .t-

be without resonabytt wet/<-outen lufe quyls it is in )jis life : qwharfore ]>e lufe 1 2
J'fe' ferof is ))e fotte of ])o saule with whillc* aftyr )jis pilgrimage to good

or pe fende it is borne, Jjat to hyme it may be sogett* to qwhos wiH
Nothing that here it se7-uyc?. No finge truly may be lufyd, bot for gudenes pat
be loved hut it has or ellis semys pat it has, pat is lufydl. Herefore truly it is })«t IG
iiess it hns or lufers of bodilv bcuto or warldly riches als wer be wychcraft ar

seems to •' "^ ''

have. begilyc? ; for in fam is not pe lust jje whilk* we J?ink we feyH or see,

No man for- nor Toy bat is fenyd, nor be name bat we giff itf . No man berfore

{jets his soul t n i • n <• . 1 . . r>r>

more dam- more dampnabyli his sauii forgettz^, fen he pat is ee on woman settis "0
that sets his for Hchery ; qwhilst truly syght of ee pe sauH: kyndils, of J)inge seen
for lechery, onoue Jjoghf entyrs, & in hart gendyrs desyre, & tilys pe inward!
beute. Q wharf or sodanly vfith byrnyng* of a noyus fyre if is
vmbelappid & blyndyd, pat pe sentens of Jje straytt luge it may 24
not se. And pti-s pe sauH: takyn fro heuenly syght with iH lufe &
vnclene, tokyns of his errour vtwardf styntis not to schew, And bot
tFoi.xxi.6.] if* he may brynge forth fylth Jjat is consauydl, of his prospe?-ite he
He conceived mystristis. / Fyltli forsoth he consauyd*, pat is to say, wykkyd desire ; 28
fore 'shall Qwhavfore w^orbelv saH wickydnes be forth broght*, for be sonar

wickedness ^ '^ •' "^ i i i /.

rightly be scrithis pe sauH to slipyr luste, Als he takw no heed of pe greet
forth. parreH in qwilk he errys. // )5e domys of goc¥ alsso fro his face ar

w/t/i-drawen. Qwhils he truly in fleschly desirs begyns to lyke, in 32

to how greet a pytf of wrechidnes he cast hym self he seis not.
He who has ^ Sothely pe dome of god is, fat qwho wilfully god despisyd in
■piled God, dcdcly syu in casting^ down, vn wilfully af te?- fis lyfe, god demand,
ji.isiife be sal be dampnyd. IF He may not truly in tyme to cum fro paynes 36
J^e^^*i«™eut of heH defend hym-self fat in f is lyfe sett dedely synnes, when ho

myght*, with his power wak? not forsake and holly ali wykkidnes

hate.

Bk. I. Ch. 25.] I. The Fire of Love. In spite of Marriage. 53

Of ])e stynk parreii & towchinge of lichery, and of ])e
cursediies of couetys & vngudely gladnes.

[Cap. XXV.]

4 £~\ -whils a man for pure luf of god & vertew & chastitee weddis He who from
\C%J not, bot in clinstite & in aray of aH vertew is besy to lyfe, to ^o^i. virtue

^^ . "^ J J 1 .j„j chastity,

nym-selr doutles m heuyns gret name he gettis, for als he cesis not does not

•^ ^ o o 7 murry, but

here god to lufe, so in heuyn fro his praysynge he saH neuer cese. parefuiiy lives

° ' *' r cJ J o 111 all chastity,

8 Wedlake sothely in |)e self is gude, bot when men for fulfillynge \er ^''^i^e'?^^'^'''
luste, ])^m self strenys vndyr \q band' of Matrimony, gude forsoth in llurhe^who
to iii ]7a turn ; And qwherof J)a weyn to profett^ jjerof |)a cese not to uist'Sn?"^
be wars. IT Qwho so eue?' for Jjis entente lufys wedlake, for be it he s^*^*^ ^^^ ^'^•

12 trowes be ryche, doutles J)e bridyH of wantones he besys to lowse;
wiili lust & ryclies flowand, ful niikiH he loys slyke medicyn fone to
his slypyr flesch. // fforsoth fraward' men \er ar, \>at Iper wyffis for )?er There are,
bewte vnmanerly lufys ; & ]>e sonnar per bodily strenght is brokin, frowaid'men,

16 ])at Jja to fulfiH: Iper bodily lust^ ar lowsyd^ IT flbr ]je more luste ]7ai their wives
haue, ])Q sonar jjai fayli; & qwhilst |ja haue p?\9sperite, jja parisch; tor their
and qwhils J)a ar besy with lust to be fed', strenght of body & whiiethey
mynde wrechidly ]}a loys. IT 'No fiwg^ sothely is more pe?-lius, be^fe^d with

20 fowler, more stynkand to man, fan to put hys mynde in womans lose 'strength
lufe & hir desyr als blistf uH rest^. After pe deed soyn no meruayH mind.^ ^"
it waxis fouH, Ipat before he desird' so grete blys ^y^th mikyH
angwys. IF Aftirward' truly he knawes fat cowardly in slike lust

24 he has gone wrange, qwhen he perseyuys so schort^ lust* & longe
dises. It is schewd |j*:<t he was strongly bun with a fouii bande of
febyl vanite. H Bot for he to god' with aH: his hart* wald' not turn,
his wrechidnes he knew not* to tyme he felt it. H & f erfore he feH

28 to fe pytt of bondage, for to fe seytfc* of ioy he belield' not. U Iff o if a man had
droop truly of swetnes of endles lyfe he had felt*, fleschly fayrnes onhe'swS
(fat is begiellyng* & vayn grace) to hys mynde so sweet suld' neuer less life,
aperyd'. Bot alas, he takes no heed' how stynkand' & odius is his "ess would

32 wrecliid' lust* m be sight* of god aHmyghty, And i;^ hys consciens he appeared so

/„,.,, \ JO J) J sweet to his

seis not* hym-seli begilyd'. No man certan may be gifyn to vnclen- «ii"d.
nes of J?e flesch, bot* if he erre fro fe wayes of rightwysnes.
Q whiles fe fyr truly of erthly lufe, mans mynde cessis not to [Foi.xxir.
36 enflawm, no me?-uayl in it aH moystuie of g7*«ce it wastis, And it The'souien-
both voyd' & dry makand', al-way hys hett encressis, & of f e fire of notiHnrbut'
couetys fyr of lichery kyndyls ; And so fe thr;iH sauH masyd' sh-esl^ami"
meruelusly, no fing* bot llleschly desires couetis, or Biches to eiicres ; of rkhes?'''

54 I. Tlie Fire of Lave. Cleanness of Heart. [Bk. I. Ch. 25.

HtMMnot ^ ill J)am liis end makaiid', alway laburs new })inge to gett : And |)o
laffoins to. paynes )>at he gos to he sois notf, for god/« wordes & his coinamcntw
wrved not he chargyd not*. And for he fis vtwardi loys onely desirs \n in-wardly
mmuiments. ^ vnseiio blyndyd Als wer sytheles to fyre gois. H And truly when 4
unhappy soul ^q vnliappy sauH fro jje body saH pass', p«7'fitely it saH knaw in jjc
uT 'u'lijinii schewynge how wrechidl itf was, fe qwhilk* trowecJ jje self qwhils
wretduTit ^^ ^""'^ ^" flesch, not only giltlos, bot^ also hap})y. U In ilk* jiingc
whei/ln "fie f^^'fof, clcnncs of myndo more ))eii of body is to be chargyd! ; les 8
tSuRht itwif wyk certan it is, womans flesch wlih bare handes to touche, ])en wzt/t
IjumieMand ^yii,]^y,^ j^gt* niynde to be filydl. If we truly wy?/mien toch, & in
thinitpilrity hart* ))inkis none ytt, syn it* aw not* to be cald*, ))of aH be it* te?/<pt-
wtS than aciofi of J)e flesch sura tyme Ris ; for man fallis not to il whills his 12
be obaJrved! myndo in god is stedfast*. IT Qwhils ))e hart* of J)e toucher in dyuers
desires is takyn, or in iH swetnes is bowyd, And sone for godis lufe
& stedfastnes of ve^-tew is refrenyd', knaw dowtles }pai )jat man syn
of vnclennes i?^ hy7?i-self* has, ]}of he be neuer so fare, not* onely fro 16
Trneman, wy7»inen bot also fro men. And forsoth if a trew man with an
true woman, vntrcw woman be lunydf, / ful nere it* is \at his mynde to
being turned vntrewth be t2f?*nydl. Of wy??imen truly J?e mane?* is, ^at qwhen J)a
trutii. fell bame-self of men lufyd? out of mesur, be chirissynge flatirry 20

Women loved ' -^ j j r> j

^re"iS>rne ^^^us hartis be-gilis, & to jjo ymgis )?at J^air wikkyd? wyH stirryd |>a
Sfiomdr"^"' <iraw, fe qwhilk before be opyn speche ]?a assay d. f Salamon
IdM and' sothly was wys & trew to god a qwhiH, / bot* aftirwanV for to mykili
Iwhii^, bin lufe be qwhilk* to wy??nnen he drew, fro stedfastnes & godii? com- 24
frShe*^' ament/5 fowlyst he failydl, more worjji greuusly to be smittyn \ai
whreVhe^wiL he, in grete wysdome sett, of a fond? woman — hym self suftrycV to be
wTrd'women, oue^'cumue. No man hy??z-self J)e?-for flatyr, no man of hym self pre-
fl^mcod'? sume to say *I am sikyr, I drede not*, \e warld* may not* begyil me,' 28
ments. Qwhilst bou hcrvs of be wisyst man vnwittiest dede. IT Gostely

Covetnosnew ^ ,>. r i t- -, ,• r

is spiritual fornicacion also is Couetyse, for be couet?<s haif , for lufe of penys,

fornication. J ' r ' r ./ j

to fendis stru7?2petry hys bosum opyns. Qwhen god, as verray
spouse, before |)e lufe of mone was lufyd* / Sz aftirwarc^ be vnclene 32
lufe he is forsakynn & wickyd woars resauycV, qwhat ellis bot* fomi-
Let UB there- caciofi is doync and ydolatry % H Be we ))(?;'fore besy, our hartis in
f»' t" keep jje sight* off god aH-myghty to kepe clene. And venem?/,*? delectacions
»l*h"l"G^ to distroy ; and if any jjinge in hart be freelnes ha bene done, be-for 3G
Almighty, god now no Jjing* bot pa?-fitnes now be schewd. IF Su??i tyme truly
to sum men for mikitt myrth we ar hatyd'. Sum tyme in wordys &
laghtyr we loy ; And jjof aH ))is <^ slike mo befor godf may be doyn
6.J * wiHi clene saule, be-for men, iicuer-))e-les^ we knaw wele it is iH 40

Bk. I. Ch. 26.] I. The Fire of Love. Tome Souls hnitted to Love. 55

takyn & expownd' ; & jjerfore maner is to be hade, & |jat^ we wyesly we must take
kepe vs qwlier Ave trow we may oght doo bat^ is lyke yH. II To ourselves^

where we

seniandzi.' of crist, to ^od to be nere is guyd' for in desire of hym, think we can

' ° o J ' -^ ' do no ill.

4 lieet^ of be fyre of be holy "oste ba take, & swetnes of lufe endles it is good for

^ "^ ' J o r ' Christ's ser-

w/t/< swettyst^ sound' of heuyn honily lyke ]ja syiige. Qwharefore / ,^2!,%*'^^'^®
' melUliui /acte sunt ceW bat is to say : heuyns ar made sweett* als Heavens are

•• , made sweet

hoiiy, ))at is to mene, saynt/^', \dX so byrnaiidly criste has louyd, asiioney,
8 knaAvaiid ]jc./,t he for jjame so mikil has siiffryd. Qwhils ]3e myiide j!jj|[t^'^fi^
truly of saynt^s, to lufe endles, vnabyii to be lowsyd, is knyttyd', [o/J"^^*^^*
and swetnes of heuenly lyfe, )jof aH it wer als rauyschyd', Av/tA
melody before felt^ as wer in fat is gladynd'.

12 Of p^rfite lufe, k qwliat aw to be had to gostly loy,
& o lufe & correccion. [Cap. XXVL]

E

xcellens of mede stand^■s in gretnes of lufe, so \ai a Infer byrne
w^t7i fyei^ euer byrnynge, & in ])e self* w^t/i heuewly swetnes

16 fulfillyd'. IF He treuly \)at most lufys, hyest in heuen sal be He who loves
sett*. IF )?is lufe truly is in hart*, & ])e more it* lufys god', J)e more set highest
ioy in it* self* it felys. H bai err berfore, bat* trowes he lufe als The more' the

'^ -^ ' r ^ r heart's love

mikyH, J>af bot* selduni & schortly has ]je Ioy of lufe / als he J)at* aH desires God,
20 day as wer w^'t/^ swetnes of luf is fed'. Sum truly with difficulte |J/^j^i^'"
lufis, & sum w^'tA ese ; bot* god/s lufe jje blissyd ar [is] j^at* it* be JJl^y ^^^j^^
lyght* ; ))e lightar ))e hartyar / Jjat* qwhikkar Jje swetter, |je swettar ^vYo'sddom
Jje more. IF More truly it* is in restars Jjen laborars ; j^e/fore Jja jjat Snove^feves
24 co7^tinuly rest* & feruently lufys, ar hyar \Qn |)a ]?at* sum tyme to hewhSs^fed
rest, ^\\m tyme to o]>er occupacion takes heed. IF Xo jjinge truly is sweetnJs^s^
better ))en lufe, no Ymg swetter ))en holy charite. IF To be lufyd' Tiiey that
truly, & to lufe, is a swete chawnge, be likynge of aH mans life & aiiy, and fer'-

veutlv love

28 awn^els & crodzs. And als be mede of aH blistnes. IF If bou berfore areiiigher'
desires be lufyd, lufe, for lufe gayn-3eldis J)e self. IF Of gude luf that only
no man has lost*. He sothely can not* be glad' bat* in lufe couth not* rest.

J^ ^ T He ean not

byrn. \)eriove, neuer man is more blissyd' Jjen he J:«t wM-oute could not^**'
32 hym-self be myght* of lufe is borne, & be ])0 gretnes of ^od^is lufe f^"J^" ^^''^^
wM-in hym-self* he takis a soundy??g* swetnes of praysinge euer- InaiulTnore
lastynge. Bot* to eue?y man J)is happyns not onone, bot* qwhen a j^e^'who fs'^"
man to god t?«-ned' hy??i-self meruelusly vsis, & aH desyre of warldly yomulims'eif
36 vanite has cast* a-way, J)en god scheddys in \at vnspokynn loueyiig* ofiove!'"^^^^
to his lufai's. IF ^lynde truly to clcnnes disposyd', of gude takes

56 I. The Fire of Lave, Pure Thmtyhts [Bk. I. Ch. 27.

A mind (lu- foght* of lufe ondlo8, foghf sothely clene in to gostely eong/« risis.
purity thinks Clerones certan of harf, heueuly sound' is worbi haue. And bat

only of the ... '

good. godw lovynge bydo in gostely ioy, ])o sawH wHJl f(od/^ fyre is

If a man wamivcF, & wtt/i luH me?*uell7^ij likynge gladyndf. IF Bot* and a 4

wtmlil for- '' t o o ^

Mko tiie man pe workJ forsake prt7-fitely, and to prayer, wakynge & fastinge
E'timthe ^i^^^y ^*^® hede, & Jj(<t he haue clennes of conscience, so jjat* he
iSr'ilea'veniy ^^^^^'^ ^^ ^Y ^^^ hcuculy ioy, to be dissoUiydl & be with criste ; o les
teJiiw hii f®" ^^'^ mynde to criste fully be knytf , & fat he last in ce?-tayn 8
iSiJy knit desyres & lufly, ]?e qwhylk< he menys in entent with-outen endf, ))e
thinkRon- qwhilk^ jjoglitis qwher-euer he be sittyng* or goynge, W2t//-owt*
IiothinJ."' cessynge in hy??i-self he fink/i?, no Jjinge desireandl hot cristzij lufe,
thhiVim"**" ellys sotliely heuenly sounde he tak/*- nott, nor in gostely songe 12
he shall not ' Ihesu, HOI his p?*rtysynge he sali not* synge in mynde or mouth.
uai_songnnd 1] Piydc foi sotlie many distroys, qwheu fai trow fai haue oght*
done ]>at odyr ha not* , onone ))ame-self beris before odyr, & |jai fat*
[Foi. XXIII. ar fam-self* bettyr fai put* behynd. H Bot knaw it* wele, he can not* 10
He defiles the ^"^® hym-self, fat comon kynde in his brof e?' p?*esumys to despis,
feiiowsMp" * ^^^ ^^^ *^ ^^^^ ^^^^ condicion dos wrong, fat his right* in a nodyr
nduli'ecom- kuawys uott* ; fe lawe of mans feliscliyp he filys fat comoute of
neiKi.U)ur. "^ kyude in his neghbur wyrschipis not*. In f is many men err fro 20
waiiVier from godw lufc uor to liis lufc f ai Can not cume, ffor f e?* brodyr as f ai ar
omi betttuse buu fa study not* to lufe. U And sothely f e synar awdyr fa leef*
to- "to love incorrect*, or if correc or snyb f e synnar, wi't/i so grete scharpnes &
as they are feiisncs fai speke fat oft* be per wordes fai ar made wars fen fai ar 2-i

bound.

fat fai snyb. H ]3a suld? truly with meyknes sjjck, fat be swete
wordys fai my3t* wynn / fat scharp correcyng* waldl make wars.

Of syghyngis, desyre & mekenes of a p«riite lufcir ; &
of ])Q difFerens of wardly lufe & godly ; & als of 28
meditacion. [Cap. XXVIL]

■u

oys of a longing* sawle ^y^th lufe endles beris lyknes of fe
sekar of hys makar sayauc^ : ' Odculetuv me osculo oris sui^

I truly Ions fat* is to Say : * J3e godhede myght* glad me vtiih knittyng* me to his 32

with aii'my souc. ' J3e?'-for truly for luf I longe ; for qwom I lufe in hys fayrnes,

n'v' V^m ^^ ®® wzt/i aH mynde I desyre. Eraonge truly in labore and stryfp

rbSScii ^^ ™y pilgremage, w/t/i swetnes of his lufe I beseke he me make

Sl°foy.^^* glad; And vnto tyme my le?ninan clerely I may se, hys fuH swete 36 J

^ Vox languentis auime amore eterno ac speciem querentis siii conditoris
personat Osculetur.

my

me,

Bk. I. Ch. 27.] I. The Fire of Love, Make glad Siiigirig. 57

name in my mynde w/t/ilialdyn loyand' I saH ]3inke. % And no
meniayH ]ieroi lie in J)is lyfe be glad' \)at eiie?* lias lust desyrs of bis
makar to fiilfvH. / No bincje is nieriar ben Ibe^'u to syncje, No bincje Nothing is
4 more lYka7id' ben Ihe^ni to here. '\ Heryiise truly be mynde to sing to

^ ' " '-' ^ * " Jesus; no-

mvrtbis, & son^jre it* vp liftis. ^ And truly qwbilst* bis I want*, als thing more

J ^ '^ '^ '' ^ •» ' pleasing than

"wer viiili bongyr or thyrst sygbing & beuy, my-self me J^ingk* for- tohear Jesus.
sakyn. U fforsotb, wben I, balsyng of my lufe & kyssynge feyH:, Forsooth,
8 Als wer V!iih likynge vntold' I flow, qwhome trw lufars only, [fori theimpor-

•^ " ' -^ -^ -' L J tunityofmy

lufe of bis vnniesurd' gudenes, ali bing* setti's before. H Cu?/^iand Jf^^e, i.over-

" 7 J- o flo^v witli an

))e?-fore in to me, emu pa?'fyte lufe in scbedand' ; My bart* also be j",^''!'^''''*^^®
refrescb gifand continuance; warnie be me, also makand' fatf, ^H JJ^^y^^®^^*

12 leting/s of lufe a-way i)uttand«. H Qwo jien'saH: say jjaf be suld' i^;;'^™^^
fatt to stynkaud? vnclennes of flescb qwbome criste bas vochyd saff* au"bs?aeies^
to fulfyll wM swetnes of beueiily bebaldyng*? )?erfore now for- ^'^ ^'^^'®*
ward' it is songne : * Letahimur in te memoi'es vhervim tnoruTii supev

16 vinum. ' Als qwo say: to |)e vvorscbip & loy we desire. In \\ gladnes we desire to
we ar mery, lusf and ricbes of warldly vanite forsakyn, Jje qwbilk^ Thee; we me
\er lufers so begiles, ))at pe noy ]?a suffyr ])a knaw itt* not*. H And ^^?^^^^l^-
J)of aH we may not* 3if se ])i fas, neue?'-]3e-les so boott* we desire ^^y/^^^pg

20 J7at [if] we suld' euer lyfe, odyr lufe ^eroi we seek* none. ^ ffor \q "oSi'^do^
lenger we lyfe |)e bettar we J^e desyre, / And more loy in j^i lufe we that'lffwe
feyH & paynfully to ])Q we by / for to f)i lufars noyus fing* pass & for"eier,'we
myrtb in gostlynes fylus. / ])ai sawl truly, gude Ibesu, \q, lufys j^at noTtherTdve.

24 ratber wald' cbeis borribiH: deed to suffyr pen to any syn consent. [Foi. xxiii.
U Nor be sotbely p«rfitely criste lufys not* jjat any bot* criste He loves not
dredis, qwils to god/*' lufers aH jjinge turnys to gude. P«7-fite lufe feetiywiio
oue?'comys payn & also tliretis, for it felis no dreyd of creature ; AH but Christ.

28 pryde itt* putt/*^ a-way & meykly to ilk* )jinge itt* gyfis stede —
qwbarof it* is sayd : ' Recti diligunt te,* \ai is : Eigbtwis men lufe
]?e. % Eigbtwes ar meyk, truly lufand', no Jjinge forgettand' ; 51 And Righteous
Jjof )jai stand in be perfeccion, meyklyest J)a bebaue ]?ame in mynde meek, truly

32 & deyd. And so ilk* trw lufar in bym-seltf may say : *' Ilk* man getting no-
me passis \7i warldz's despisyng* & bate of synne, in desyre of be think' aii sur-

^ i. .y o J T J T pags tliem m

beuenly kyngdoin, in swetnes & beet of cristxs lufe, & brodirly J^at^j'|g *•!«
cbarite ; sum floryscb in vertu, sum scbynes in mirakils, sum ar

36 rasyd wz't/i gift* of beuenly bebaldynge, and sum sekis p?-euetys of and in spirit-
scripture. \>Q wortby lyfe of so many qwben I bebald', als rigbt xhe^righr^^'
no3t* me |)ink*, I am emange aH ojjer la west," H Eigbtwes J)e?'fore eanhfy en-^
fleys fuH fast* aH ertbly cu?;iberans, onely drawand' to eue?-lastyng* oni^ drawing

40 loys, grete% |)a fayH in desire of aHtemporaH j^ingi*-. and in god/*- lasting joys.

58 I. The Fire of Lave. Lv.^l is vnrsr than JJcIl. [Bk. I. Ch. 27.

liife with a liy list* |jai ry.se. And wortliily it is sayiY fa lufe gotl,
•ndsMkbat for ill right^ way <fe playn in sdiynynge charite goainH, no Jjing/**
But for the bot criste fa sauyr or seke. U To qwhos contraris it is sayd be jje

sal III : * Ohi<cnrent\xr oruli eormw ne viihant, ^ dorsum coruwx seinjMit 4
UMirejM we in nmin,' ))«t is to say : per eyn be dyme fat fai se not*, Sc fer bak*
iiewi not alway fou bow, so faf to erthly onely fai take hede, eue?*lastan(¥
iMtiiijj. putand be-liyndc. U & f^rfor godw wreth on fame is sched*, &
riglitwys venieans, with grete ferisnes of t?n'metw vmbelappyng*. 8
U Kightwes foi-soytli w/t/<-oiite cessyng* to loy of godz« sight, att
fenydnes put bak*, with liart*, mouth & deed fai tent, & not to lufe
voyde vanite fai bow, fat fai fro fc payth of rightwysnes in fer
pilgrimage be sturbyhV. U |3erfore he fat criste desirs to plese, for 12
Dreadful Is it guyd* no yH agayue crist/;? witt no f inge wiH do. H tful liorribiH it
fire'ofLii, is fe fyer of lieH to go into; More is to hate in synn to wil haue

but sir.ful i/» 1M11 •to mr k

hate ami lust lust, lor qwliilk* lio may criste loys lor euer-more. H A sawl
Christ may foi'soth partv<l? fro warldlv wys & fro venumz/i? swetnes of be tlesch 16

hv lost tor ^ -^ J J r

ever through sondynJ, gyfyu to licuenly desyrs, als wer rauischydf a menielus
A soui^partcii myrth vsj's, for now gladnes of fe le?>imans lufe it* felys, fat* clerly
eu?'Jwon- ^^ ^^ ^"^^y behald? & more lykandly desyr : U Also in f is tynie fe
llesrcryMig, i^^outh of fc spows & his swcttysf kissyug* it askis, with uoys 20
Erthly are sayandl : IT "AH erthly to me ar yrksome, my le??imau lufe I feyH,
niw^Lc^e?' moystM/* I taste of meruel/^s comf(3rth, & fat swetnes besily I
Love makes ^cmc ; lufe makcs me hardy hym to caH: fat I best lufe, / fat 1 fro
Jiiiou^Hiini \\jm put far be temptacioil fayH not*, he me comforthandf & fillandl 24
my^t* kys me with kyssynge of hys mouth. U ])q more truly fro
erthly f oghtis I am lyft*, f e more I feyH swetnes desyrd ; fe more
I beseech flcschly desyrs ar slokynde, f e truliar euerlastynge ar kyudyldl. I
me. beseke he kys me with swetnes of his lufe refreschynge, with 28

[Foi. XXIV. kissynge of his mouth me stray tly halsyng*, fat I fayl not*, & grsis
Asdiiidren ^" puttyug* fat* I may besily in hife grow. Als childyr with mylk
mfik^'U'^'^'^ of pa])pis ar norischyd, so chosyn sawlis byrnuandf in luffe witlt
biniTng""'* heuenly likynge is feed, be thee qwhilk to fe syght* of clerenes 32
ellfy loveare cucrlastynge fai saH be broght*. ]?e likyng^- truly of cristw lufe ar
S^brouUt''" swettar fe/i aH fe likyng/^- of f is Avarld* & tleschly sauo«y. U ffor-
UerhiitinK soth aH ymaginaciofi of fleschly lustis, / al plente of warldly ryches

giness. .^ comparison of fe lest swetnes fat of god into a chosyn saH is 36
the difference sclied*, is bot wrecliidues and abhominaciofi. U Als greet* ditferens
superfluity as is bc-twix liycst plente of warldly riches and grettest* nede of

and dire need . ...

of earthly wai'ldly pouei'tc, uiorc differe72S w/t/^-owtm end* is be-twix swetnes
even greater of f i lufc, my god, & lust of Warldly loy fat* lleschly men desyre & 40

Bk. I. Ch. 28.] I. The Fire of Love. Of the Meek 59

go aboute & in be wliilk bai only loy. ifor noglit of bi loy bai is the differ-

1111/^1 p ■ ^ ^^^^^ between

feyli, In whom allone ])ai sukt be gkid'. Gostly gyftz6' truly a Thy love, my
deuoute sawle dressis byrnandly to lufe, swetely to bink^, hely the just of

J >J ' ^ f 7 J worldly joy.

4 bebald', deiioutly pr«y, wortbely prais, Ibesii onely desyre, / Jie
mynde fro filth of syns to wayclie, fleschly desyrs to slokyn,
woundys & eristic' cros in mynde to paynte, And wz'tA an vnwery
desyre vnto J)e sight of fe most gloriws clerenes dissyri^igly syght.

8 ^ Slyke ar ])e vntement/*^ p?-ecius ^vith qwhylk a halowd' sawle with
godis lufe is best A-noynt & made fayre.

Of trew mekenes & adu(?rsite, ensaumpyH of sayntis ;

& of J>e maner of gostely profetynge, & of criste

12 passyone J>mkynge. [Cap. XXVIIL]

Verray nieyk^, not olper mens synne, bot ])er awen fai behald', & Meek men
not* ]?air guyde dedis bot oJ)er mens jjai prays. II Rep?Ymyd own, not'^'

. otliers' sins ;

truly doys Ipe reuers, nor rather olper mens syns j?en per awen })ai se, praise others'
16 & in compa?*ison ])e)' awen pai counf for litiH syns or none, Jjer"ot their
guyd* dedis, if any happyn, before ali oj^er ])ai prays, qwos gudenes
to lestyn })ai desyre, if fiat pai may not fully destroy. U Two i have
})ing^s to here I haue bene heuy : On was qwhen me Avrech, Ipat I hear two
20 onely despisyd, I knew be praysyd : II A-noj?er, when my neghbur when wretch-
jje qwhilk in god & for god I lufyd, I saw repreuyd or Avzt/i bymyseit;
sclaundc^?* bakbittyn. H K'euer-be-les bou bat be warld' forsakis & anotiier,

•^ / 7 r r when I heard

in poue?'te art* besy criste to folow, be besy ))i-self to knaw, for J^^,!|jy^P""''
24 truly, if ])ou forsake dedis and desire of pe warld, |?i self Jju byndz's s'^ndered.
for criste gladly to suffyr warldly disese, & truly welth strongly to
fle ; ]?is if pou forgettand' take no hede to, fro cristis lufe |)ou goys
begilyd. // IF Me?'uayl not* perhiQ, J)ofe jjou with dyuers & many Marvel not
28 temptacions be noyd ; ffor if j?ou stedfastly wi'tA-stand', swettar ]}ou be iiarassed
sail be & derrar befor god. / Haue in mynde bat* god his p7-euvs als and divers

^ ' J T n 1 ^ temptations.

gold' is preuyd be fyre. H }3ai t?'uly bat swetnes of cristis lufe bat They that teei

ii-i nnii 1 ^^ ^ • 11 1 -1 • the sweetness

m-ward' lelys, gladly halsana t?*ibulacion, wardlv solas vtward bai or Christ's

^ , Ij , 'J r love embrace

32 seyk nott*. tI pe swetnes truly in mynde truly crist* lufand, is so tribulation,
mykyll pat, if the warldis Joy wer gedyrd' to-gidyr in o place, / ness in a
leuer itt wer to ryn to wildyrnes j^en loke peron ons with ee. H And chiist'irso
no me?'uayl ce?'tayn, ffor aH wardly chere to it semys rather heuyries ^™uidnot'^'

36 ]?en com forth. ])e sawl sothely may not be fed with vayn Joy paV o'l^theworid's
is wonte with loy of cristis lufe to be visityd ; qwhos hart* fro hys •^"^^'
le??iman partis not, for soner he wald? cheis to dy fen his maker ^^£] ^^^^*

I

60 I. The Fire of Love, The perfected Soul [Bk. T. Ch. 28.

That thou offeiul. U Aiul bat boil bis L'vace may Imiie, cnsaiinii)yH of for-
grnw. luiiuw j)inkana, \>er syiines koyj) iii ))i inynde, / & saynwi* ly vis bo busy to
timithou, ' felow, ))t/t J)ou a syniier, jit to godis semis tuniy*?, bo 8yiin<?/'8
^^iTiu)'"'' *^^^®y^^ ^ lieiiyn may ryso to hoipo, & bo ransakynj^c of riglitwys 4
ii»vw»!° "^^'"^ ^y^^^ ^^^ "^ l)rydo pi self refroyn. H 1>« myiido truly of a
holyar jjiwg fo holy mans myndo [is] mekyd. ffor qwhos lyfe euer
J)ou fyndis writyii or heris tol(V, ahvay ^oii trist* it* with-ouV com-
Theyiiw parisoii bottyr ^e?* ))in. Slike truly ar cald* cristis lufars ]jat for his 8
of Christ that naiiio scharp adu^'rsyte of fo warldl takw, prosperite & vayngltjiy
aiivernity of dospisys, With dcspisyiigw, rcpreuys & sclauiidyrs })ai ar fultillyd', «.Kj
Hii.i dei.|.i8<5 in per praisynge pai ar ponyschyd ; fe qwhilk for gudo solitary
un.i. dying, jyf^j^ {^ jjig waihV, dyaiid to cu??ipaiiy of aungell/*' ar takyn in 1'2
hlHven** heiiyn. U Truly I fled in to wildyrnes, for ^y^th men I myght not
wudernwr accordo, for sikirly fro loy J)ai lett me oft*, & because I dyd not* as
witiMneM,''iw f'^i <^^y'^> errour <fe indignacion ]?ai put to mo, & perfor tnljulacion &
nSoSoy!^ sorow I luiuo fuu, bot our lordys name I ay lia worschippycV. |)«t 16
Jorrow.'but^ we \>erioTe in temptacion fayl not*, stody we for aH erthly couetys
woV^hiiJed to bo WGiy, pQ crouno of endles loy bisily in mynde to keyp, pat we
name" fuu wakaud? Jjc blys behestyd may resayue. U Emonge also vse we

ill mind the sliko I'owle bat floschly desire groundly ma be restrenyd, warldly 20

crown of , • i r i i i •

endieHsjoy. couctis bo liai'tt* wislv lorsakc, so bat be body iii god/.-? se?*uis stabitt

He who for- '^ "^ > r r J (d

Bakes all for & strouge alwav mow standi. H lie truly bat for Ih^.su lufe «H:

love of Jesus, o ./ ./ i

"ThS*"'^'^''' 1'"^"^ forsake^^, & wiH of hauyng leuys, & stedfasf abydes & pro-
^""soS*'''* fetandf with loy says : " I haue fun ))«t my sawle lufys." U Criste 24
loves." truly in harf is fun qwhen heat of endles lufe in itt* is felt*, po

qwhilk* couetis to be soglit* wit/i-outen fenyiige. H Criste certaii
light/i>' in a sawle in honily swetnes & gostly songe, so J)at he J?is
ioy Jjat has baldlye may say '*my lufe I ha fun." Qwho so eue;* 28
truly, qwhils he prays, his mynde seys hy raisyd, 3a abowii ))is ■
bodily heuyn lyft*, if he fayH not, bot more alway & more desires
euerlastynge fingis to sauo^^r. Mirily periore itt may abyde eristic
meyknes, for with-in few jeris to behaldl glori?^5 p'mgis it self it satt 32
feyH rauyschyd. H Qwharfore with meyk hart* p7'ofetand in p?'f>fett
to tyme it cum to felischyp of eue?-Iastyng* rest it sal not cese.
If thy heart's U If ))e CO of ))i hart* in p-ayer heuenly p'mgis to behakf be
joyed in rauischyd, J)en is fuli nere fat |)i saiile, erthly pingis passand, in 36
heaVeniy crlsti's lufo be mado pa7-fyte. H He sothely )jat praying* heuenly to
JJ'y«<;"i" be-hahV jit* is not* raisyd^, to pray discretly & wake, cese not* to
chriBV"i V *'y"^^ ^^® perseyfe hyar loys, so paV he in pe erth lyga7id w?t7i greuys

& discs be despisyd. U * Egredimini Jilee syon if videte regem 40

Bk. I. Ch. 29.] I. The Fire of L(we. Looks to Christ. 61

salomonem. in diademate ' // \a\, is to say : " go forth ^e sawlys
renwd, & vnderstand criste truly putt* to deed* for ^our heeH; [Foi.xxv.
behald* in hym & 3e sali see his godly hede wz't/^ pomes crownyd*, Look upon
4 his face be-spittyd', hys fuH fayr eyn be payns w^an, hys bat see hi"^ Godly

-iT-i \\eM crowned

scourgyd', his breste hurtt*, hys worjji handis pirlyd?, hys swetyst with tiioma,
syde wz't/i a spere woundyd', hys feytt Jjorow naylyd, & woundt^* suffering
setf ))orow al hys soft fiesch, Als it is writtyn : fro J)e sool of J^e asitiswrit-
8 foyt* to be croune of be heed in hym is no hele. U Go forth berfore tiie'soie of

•^ I . His feet to

fro 30UT vnleful desyrs & see what crist for 30W has suffyrd', jjat the crown of

syns playnly be outcast And to byrnynge of lufe 30ur hartz's be "« .

1 2 pat a trew lufar warldly J>ingis despisys & heuenly
desyrs ; and of pride to be hatyd, & meknes to be
halsed^ [Cap. XXIX.]

Behald', ])ou wrechyd lityli man, how in lykynge off fleschly
lust* of endles da??^pnacion cruelte slepis. To j^aim ))erfore ))e
aw to gaynstand, |)at* J70 J)ing^8 ))at* criste desyres ar besy to distroy,
\a\^ is to say vertew. IT ])i hart* truly desyr of alkyns passynge Thy heart

. , . T . . -, p , rt. shall drive

vanite sail vante or bi hart* ^Yiih cri^tis lufe may byrne. ffor out the desire

^ J J of all kinds

20 mynde w/t/i c?*ist?s spirytt* byrnand' onely w^t/i lufe off endles pingis of passing
is feed? & in a loyfuH songe is gladdyncP. II If ]?e swetnes truly of it may burn
endles lufe in J)i saule now be bidynge, wzt/^-owtin doute aH wan- Christ,
toned? of fleschly wykydnes it destroys, & |)e in criste delitand' no

24 ))inge bot^ criste it suffyrs feyH, for nowdyr |)ou fro hyme fallis nor
no ])inge sweyt jjou felys hot* hym./ Prt?*fytte forsoth when J}ai dy,
before god onone ])ai ar broght & sett* in setys of blistfuH rest*, for
})ai see ))at criste is god. IT )pai truly fat* crist begyn to lufe, af te?-- They that

28 ward' in grete loy of lufe & honily brynyng^s, fuH lufely songis to cin-ist truly,
Ihesu crist* to synge )?ai saii nott* cese. Hym truly none erthly finge burning with
likys ])at truly lufys criste, for be gretnes of lufe aH passand' semys ^.g^^e to^gi"g'
fowle, vfiih fflescly eyn bodily ))ing2s ar seyn, hot w^'tA clene hert* Bodfiy'tiiings

32 & meyl^ heuenly \m^is rightwes behald. ])q qwhilk lyghtynd' flesh'reyS'^
^yith flawme of heuenly sight*, fro J?e byrdyn of syn jjame-self felys eous^behofd^'
lowsyd' & in wyH eft* to syn ))ai cese. IF Qwhos hart turnyd in thil^g^with
fyre none erthly halsis in desyr, / hot alway is bisy hy jjing^s to and meek!

36 ]?irH. IT )?ai sikirly \iat to holynes ar ordand, in begynnynge of ])er Those or-
t2irnynge be goddis drede, synnes & wardly vanites forsakis, and pen holiness,

i MS. bost

02 I. The Fire of Lc/ve. Eschew Pride. [Bk. I. Ch. 29.

bi'jfinninR to jj^r flcscli \\\\ stitt* viuHr stmyt ponanco,/ aftf'rward' crist/« hife Leforo
Kako niii.'uieii uH otlyi* sett, a likynge of heuenly swetiiea fela/itV, in deuociofl of
rt..Kii un.ier niyuile mykil )>ai profef : And so fro gre to gre ))ai pass & florisch
put love'of Willi <r,)st(»lv ve/'tcws, & SO w/tA "n\QQ made fayre at be last^ bai cum 4
«''j||i''««" to p<(rfytncs fat standys in liait^, in worde, ^ deyd. Hyni ce/'tayn
))at cristis lufe has swaloyd, it makys ))ame dcde als wer to take ))is
vtwai*«V |)ingw ; it sanyrs J)r<t vpwardf is, \)ai is al)own it sekis, &
noglit |)af is on ertli. H Mynde no meruayH sygliand \n desyre of 8
[Foi. XXV. ))o lieuenly kyngdorae, in lufe of )>e spows grows, <fe of insched
gladnes loyandl fio desyre of erthlye |?inges fe self baris, and viiih
longy??g^ of trew lufe fulfillyd, god to se in his fayrnes tentw with
aH his myndo. Qwharfore vfiili fiawmc of his lufe lightyntj, onely 12
in his desyre itf is bisy Sc no |)inge hot hym it sekis. Qwhils a
trew sawH ce?'tan only presens of \)q spouse byrnyngly desyrs, fro
A true 8oui aH wantones of vaynglory parfytely is kelyd. IT ffor lufe ferfore it
andsetHiiU ' lougis, for aH erthly Vinms itt settis at* noght*. qwhils it so hyes to 16

eartlilytl.ings "' .. ..

at nougiit. endles leys. IF He J)at* in cristz'*- lufe hym-self delitis, & his com-
forth co?«tinuly desyres to haue, Mans solas onely couetw notf, hot*
also yfiih grete desire he fleis it* als it* wer reyk^, Jjrtt hurtis his eyne.
% Als ))e ayr of j?e son-beme strikyn, Sc with schynnyng* of his lyght*, 20
aH to-gidyr is hot schynyng*, so a deuoutt* mynde with fyer en-
flawmyd of cristis lufe, & with desyrs of heuenly loyes fulfild, / aH
semys bot* lufe, for aH-to-gydir to a nodyr lyknes is turnyd, fe
wiieutiie substans abydeynge Jjof aH it be wondyrly myrthyd. IT ffor qwhen 24:
kindled with J)e mynde with fyr of fe holy gost is kyndlydl, fro aH ydilnes &
Holy Ghost, vnclennes it is baryd, & with ])e sprynge of godis likeyng* if is made
"j^^'^'J^h swete, alway behaldand?, neuer fayland^, erthly Jjing/*' not seaTiif or
Pride and"^' ^^^ ^^'^''^^ syght of Jjc lufcr be glorifyed : f AH pride truly vs behoues 28
iuKrinust be Gsclicwe & boluyngc of hert, for fis is fat sad men has castin to
eschewed. grete wrcchedues. IT Qwhat is more schamefuH, qwhat more worthy
It is great to be ponyschytH 1 it is truly grete scorne & playn abhominaciofi fat
that mail fe fowlest womic, fe warst synne?', fe lawest of men, is abowf hym- 32
make himBcif self on berth to make grete, for qwhome f e hyest kynge & lorde of
the'h?^!'e8t l^^^ys has likyd so mikyH to meyk hym-self. H If f ou wiH crista
meyknes clerely behald*, of qwhat degre so eue?' fai bee, how mykeH
ryches or vertew so euer fow haue, in fe no mater of pride fou saH 36
fynde, bot fi-self despisynge & cause of meyknes. IT j)o\i ])«7t
synnars ferfor despisys, fi-self behal(J, for fi self wers fe odyr fou
makis, for truly god more displesis a ryghtwys prowdl fen a synnar
meyk. IT Qwhen in f i mynde tru meknes is sett*, qwhat so euyr 40

king lias so

Iiuuibled

liiiuself.

Bk. I. Cli. 29.] I. The Fire of Love. Praying is not Idling. 63

J?ou weyl (los to |)i makar louyiige it^ is done, so ])a\, vertu despisand^
his worscliip ]}ou seyk, )?at ]30U to vanite gifyii loys not )}i nieyd
euerlastvnge. IF Tliynk, on Ihesw, with liartis desire H prayer to Tiiink on

" . Jesus.

4 hym pas, be not wery iiyni eiier to seyk, no Ipmg^ Ipon charge bot* Never weary
hym allone. IT Happy is pe ryche ]paV has slike possessyon ; & Jjis Him.
to haue jje warkU*6' vanyte Ipou forsake : & he Ipi enmy sal ouercome
& be to his kyngdom brynge. IF be feyiid sali be oiiercomen bat The fiend

-" .^ o ^ o 111 tliiit harasses

8 Jje noys, ])q flescli made sogett^ ])at ])e greiiys, J?e warld' sal be tiiee shaii be
despisyd |)«t j^e assays for to begieli if |)i liert* ces not criste lufe
to seyk. U Man truly syt^* not ydil be Avhilk^ in niynde to cristTheman,

'^ "'*' "^ ' '^ who in mind

cryes ])of ali j^e tonge be stiH:, for Ipe body [in] fleschly rest^ neuer o'ie? out to
1 2 restis qwhils ))e niynde heuenly ]>mgis stintis not* to desyre, nor i«iie.
he is not ydyH ))at euyr is gredy euerlastynge |?ing/5 to couett. a.j
Thoghtis truly of crist/s lufars in goyuge vp ar swyft* & in cours
acordynge, H with J)ing?5 passynge pa wil not be bowde nor with
16 fleschly fylthis tyde, bot to ascend' |)a cese not* to pa to heuyns

come. ^ Qwhils jje body truly in cristzs se^niys is wery, of-tymes whiiethe
be spiritt* vp lyf tand' to heuenly refreschyng* & sodis conte?^ipla- Christ's ser-

■" ./ t. ± ^jpg jg weary,

clone is takyn. He truly deuoutly pat prays, has nof his hart* often tiie
20 wauyrand in erthlye pingi's, bot raysed? to god in heuyns. He pat* J"!"^/^^
desires to haue pat he prays, bisily^ tak/y heed qwhat he prays, !.g^.ggjfj^,
& pat he lufe hym pat he prayes, so pat wreclie askand' rewarde of jj" Go*d""^''*^
his lyfe be begilyd. H Saynt/s forsoth has so crrett meyknes bat saints are so

r.i • . 1 1 o .11 1 meek that

24 painie pmlv* pa can noght*, & pame pink* als qvvho say pa doo no^t, they seem to
pame self pai caH: lawest of aH: & vnworpiest*, 3a and wer pen pame powerless,
pat pai with rep?'euyng* chastis ; pis after godis co??2-mament* rest in fj,\^™f '^^f
pe lawest place ; qwhos lawe sittyng no repreeff a-nens god takz's ^oj^J"""

28 bot worschip, / not vnthank, nor lofe of meyd, bot of worpi & grete
worschyp to pe qwhik* meyknes best disposys. IF ))is meyknes
truly to criste gifs louynge, to pe feynde noy, loy to godis pepuH^
Cristi's seruand' it makz's to lufe more byrnyngly, to sarif more

32 deuoutly, to p/'ays more worthely, & makis fuller of charite. IF ])& The meeker a
more bat a man mek/5 hym-self, be more ^odis worschyp he raises more he

^ .^ ' r o J r raises God's

on heght*. He truly pat in goddz's lufe & his neglibur lastis, & 3 it worship.
pinkz^' hym-self vnworthiar & la war pen odyr, be meyknes & knawleg*
36 of hym self, // enmys of pe he luge he oue?'cums, lufe he conqwers,
& in endles loy he sal be resavyd? qwlien he fro pis light passys.

1 MS. bisily bisily

G4 I. The Fvre of Laoc. lA/vers kTuno no Envy. [Bk. I. Cli. 30.

Tocliyng of boystus & vntaght desircyngc to lufe, and
of wy;;imen to be eschwydi. [Cap. XXX.]

Atraesoui, A trew sawle, snows of Ih^'A<u cristo, p?-iilo Vcsiia owt, for deply

tlieap<>UMor \ , ^ 'J , . ^ , ,

Jesuii.aiau /% it lufys moyknes ; vaynglory it vggt,v, for myrth eucT-lastyng' 4
onely desyrand, criste it felowes ; fleschly lykyng< & softnes it hates,
for be-foyr swetnes fclandl of awcr lastynge liony, lufe of J)e lufelyest*
alway desyrs to feytt. 51 EuyH wreth it< has nott, for att ))inge to
suHyr for C7*i8tw hife if is redy. % To odyr it* can nott* haue enuy 8
for schynynge v^'iih tru lofc ^s^ih illr mans profett* Si hey It it* loys.
Nomnnis No man truly es envi?^*' hot if he be lityH in treuth Sc wenys he be
exi-^pt he i>e ' mikil, qwhaifoi agayns odyr, ))at* J)ai to hym be not lyke, sclaundyrs
uluitiiink ' it rayses, Or if any odyr gretter, fayrar or strengar be cald in fe 12
{f "">' "J'»er pepyH, onon he is heuy touchyd? wiili venu??^ of envy. Bot fat
iic^he b€-'^ vaynglory of slippand* p7-aysynge J)e sawle may not seyk, fe whilk*
am" touched ^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^^ kyndyld? \vitli heuynly behaldynge. Qwharby playnly
venouJ^of ^s schcuyd' ])rtt .men jjerfor has enuy, for ])ai of godi*' lufe ))af 16
Where any is in ilk* chosyn sawel jjai ha not. Qwher any truly ar fat lufys
frnVSJ*^"^ god, to }pp,r felawes truly as to faime self p?*ofett J?ai desyre. / In god/s
giMHi for'their lufc ^evioYd if fou wiH pass, al erthly praysynge fou hate. IT Mens
themselves. (lespisynge[s] & Jje?- scornys for criste fou hals, & endles loy to gett* 20
[Foi. XXVI. fi mynde fou strongely sprede. IT Rathe?' cheis wz'tA repreuyd to feyl
in payne turment* of fyre fen vfiih fame comon in synne. He certan
f r<t lufys crist* byrnyugly, & in loy of his lufe lustely synganc^, lifys
sikyr, to hym more likand? is to faH in fyre eue?*lasty?ig* fen ons 24
dedely synne. / Forsoth slik sayntiV f er ar, for in clennes f ai lyff,
AH erthly f ai despys, of heet and gostly gladnes loyand f)a synge
fat before f ai sayde, H In crist/s lufe fa byrn, to heueuly sightis fa
study, in gude werkw f ai ar euer als mikyl as in f am is, vfiih likynge 28
of euerlastynge lyfe fa felow, Sz ^it to fame-self fa seme foulest, and
Be thou heed- cuiange odyr fame-self fai fink fe last & lawest. Be fou besy fer-
staud thy forc f «t art boystus & vntaght, agayne f i gostly enmys strongly to
enemy. stand, & in fi hart* none ill foght* fou suffyr rest*, and agayns fe 32

When fend^6• way tinge sett* f i wisdom. H Qwen an vncleyn ymaginacion

t: i./nts or fo^t cont?'ary to fe purpos of fi mynde withstandis fe, fayl fou
fi-ht man- not*, bot manly feght*. IT Cry to criste wet/i-outyn cessynge, to fou
Jj'TUt that be cled with godw armour. IF And if fou desyr f is warldis despisars 36
armour' ^ folowe, finke not* what fou forsaki^, bot qwhat* fou despisis,
vfiXh (jwhat desyr f i wiH to god fou offyrs, with how grete desyre
of lufe f i prayers fou p?-escnt^s', \fiih howe greet hcyt of godw seinge

Bk. T. Cli. 30.] I. The Fire of Love. Avoid Things earthly. 65

Jjon long^'s to hym be ioynyd^ If ]70u aH sjmne pa7'fitely hate, / if
}po\\ desire no jjinge ))at passis, if ]?i sawli lese to be cheryd^ \\iili
erthly solas, If f)OU sauyr henynly to bebald', & moste godis sune

4 ])oii desire, if jjou mane?*ly speke & wyesly, for he spekis not^ bot if
he be made, qwhos spirit wz't/i hony of godzs lufe & swetnes of Ihesu
soyng^ is nuiltyn. U In J)is, behald', & slike odyr vsyd suintyme
f)ou sal cum to pe?"feccion. U Sliko a despyar of ])e warld no

8 meruayl gode appreuys. / ])q saule truly ^at boytli is sweyt* be The soui timt
schynynge of consciens, & fayr be cliarite of endles lufe, crist/s the brisht-

. n • ^ nessofcon-

gardyn may be cald, tor if clensyd iro syns liorischys with ve?'tew science, ami
& w^t^ swetnes of lie sonore als wer \\iih ^o\^Qis of byrdes it loys. charity of

° o J J endless love,

12 U ])eriovQ aH our niynde set we god to plese & obey, hym to saryf Sz 'w be called
lufe, & in ilk gude deyd' we do, to cwm to god be we besy. IF Qwliat ^vimt'virtue
valew is if erthly to couet, or flesclily lufe to desire, & Iper-oi no {.^,1^^^ '^^''^^
])inge we niaye haue bot ])o lugys wreth, })«t is to say eue?*-lastynge desSetwy

16 payne ? H ffleschly lufe sothely stirs temptacion, & pe sawl blyndis, wWciI we\et
])«t pwrfyte clennes it maye nof haue, done synnes it hidys, & the Judge?
vnwyesly if kest/s downe to new wykkednes, to aH: curst lustis if emiastlllg
enflawmys, aH rest of sawl it sturbyls, \at criste byrnyngly be not Fie8hiy"iove

20 lufyd if IqUs, And aH vertew before gcttyn if wast/^-. jperfore he soui, hides
frely )?at couet/^^ criste to lufe, ee of his mynde to womans lufe lat sins,
it not loyke. IT Wy??mien, if jjai lufe men, ))ai ar fondc, for mesure xxvii. a.]
Jjai can nof kepe in lufynge, And truly qwhen ])ai ar lufyd j^ai prik gothtuf

24 ful bittirly. f On ee ]?ai haue of waytynge, A-nodyr of trw sorow. Jji"£g*iove
qwhos lufe distract/6^ jje wytf , perue>-t/s & oue?-turnes resone, wys- ^"'" ^''"''''"
dome of mynd' to foly it channgys, J)e harf fro god it withdrawes,
and to fendys j^e sawl mak/s bondc. And forsotR he Jjat with

28 fleschly lufe, ])of aH it be not with wiH ]>q lust to fulfyH, a woman
behaldis, & fro vnlefuH meuyngzs nor vnclene Jjoghtis kepis not
]iy??i-self vnfilyd, bof off-tyms hym-self in fylthis filyd' & stynkand«
pe?\auenture for to do wars hym-self he fclis lykanA U })e bewte Tiie beauty

c,^ £ ,1 T-i-iT -in-. of women be-

6Z 01 wy??imen tvuly many men begilys, be desire qwhar-of ]}e hart?« g«iies many,
also of ryghtvvys Bwn tyme ar ouyr turned', so ])at Jja \a\, in spiryt and some-
began, in be flescli bai ende. H Bc-war be/fore, in be^vnynfre of righteous are

' J r y t='J J n turned aside

J?i gude conuersacion, with womans fayrnes kepe pou no speche, so [^fn'\^/'j^.[t
36 pat \er of takyn pe venemws seyknes of lust ])e fowlnes of niynde to ^"3/"^'"
profyr & fulfyH pow. knawingly desauyd and cowardly of ])in enniys
scomfetf be drawen. IT ffle wyesly wy?7^men, & ]?i |joght2V alway
fro Jjaim kepe fai^ ; for poi a woman be gude, 3itf pQ feynde prikand
40 & meuaud', )}e bewte also chirissand', for freilncs of flcsch \\ wil in

HAMPOLE, F

G6 I. The Fire of Lmr. Of Flesh! f/ Lcyve. [Bk. I. Cli. 30.

ifthou fain oiU'y-inikyH may bo tlelityd. II Bof and )jo\v cristis lufo viiih-

iioKi chriHi'ii onto cessyng* wold cal a-gayn, and liym in aH place liauo in bi sight*

love ill thy .,,,T. i»,i. o , 11

»«K«>t, w<U drevdl, I trow bo fals cliiryssyni^ of a woman pou suld neue?'

thou must , J J ^ T

never »H3 iw- he bogillyiH ; bot truly, )jo more })at jjon soys )5ou ard* asayd wiili fals 4
in'**'of'r'"''* li**t^'^7"o^» if f^^^ despis Jjawi as lapys, or trifuls, as ))a ar, no mf?-uayl
woman. ^^^ g„itj| )jauo ))e ioy of godw lufo. IT Criste truly dos meruelusly
in liis Infers, )?o (pvhilk*, \siih a special lufe h a i>a/-fyte, to hym-self*
[he] tak/if. |5ai desire not* truly softnos of ilesch or bewte jjer-of, aH 8
warldly fai forgett, temporal! prosperite ))ai lufe not, nor ))© warldw
fmwardnos \\\\ drcyd nott*. IT To be by |)am-self' ))ai lufe fuH welo,
fat* iii-to ]je gladnes fat in god/*' lufe fai feyl, with-outen leltynge fai
may fey 11; ful sweytt fame fink for criste to sufEyr, and no-finge 12
liardl. II ffor ho fat martyrs victory worthily wil worscliip, deuocion
of ve?'tew \n filoiug of vertew lat hym f ulfyH ; / f e mart«* cause hit*
hym bald', if fat he suffyr not fe payn ; paciens lat* hym kepe in
A soul that o wliilk* f ul victory he sail haue. H A sawl truly foly of ill lufe 1 6

truly foi-sakes „,, -. ,„ -r i-ncir

tiie tolly of forsaky7id, fe Avay of stray t* lyfe entyrs. In fe qwliilk* foyd of

tiie way of swctuos of heucnlv lyfe is felt* : be whilk*. qwhen it felis so corn-
straight life. ^ ^ ' '^ ' ^

forthabyH, f «t aH passynge likynge it oue?*cu?^imys, god it prays \(A

slike comfortii he wald* vochesafe to gyfe & gostely it refresch, & 20

g?-«ce of continuance f «t he wald' gyff*, nor fat it fayle nott made

If ayouiif? wery in dyuers errors. H A 3onge man, if he begyn to doo weyH,

do well, let ]at fiulc* oue?' to continow, lat hym not sleep, nor fro his gude Dz^rpos

him not cease ^ J J i J o ^ i

from his good cesso, bot* iu myiidc ay profet* he fro les to more risynge. II ]?e 24

[Foi. schado forsoth of errour forsakyn, & fe venemuse swetnese despisyd

of wrechid lyffe, stray tt* lylfe takand?, fe swetnes of ful he deuocion

now it lialsis, H And fus als wer be degrese be giftys of fe holy

goste to f e lieght* of god/6' belmldynge it ascendiif ; In f e qwhilk* 28

lieit of endles lufe restid* & gladynd*, w/t/i heuenly likynge [it]

flows als is lefuH to dedely men. IT A gude saule certanly with

many disese vmbesett*, and [with] heit* of temptacion noytl*, fe

swetnes of god^ lufe als it* is in fe self* may not* feyH ; neuer-fe-les 32

And thon h f® ^^^' ^^ ^"^^ ^^ ^^ oxpcrtt*, Sz, ill stabiH cours to f e Infer it* drawes,

SntTuch"*^ H And fof fe sawl so wondirfuH swetnes may want*, ^itt* wz't/i so

Tw^nS!, gr<^^ desire cryst it* lufys, fat onely for his lufe itt* my^f pe?-seuer-

christ'w^i aiuV stand*. H Bot* how mikyH is to be praysyd* his kyndist help, 36

desire u.at it i^^ qwhilk* oucry tru Infer is expert*, f(ft aU sory be comforthys,

^t'for hIs forsakyn it* makes swete, and sturbyldl he settis in pesse, & aH

The'souicnt uoyso sparpillaud* lie wastis. H )3e sawl fro fe warkJ synnes

world's »in» departyiV, & fro fleschly desyrs wttA-drawen, of syn is pourgyd', & 4C

Bk. I. Ch. 31.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Backsliding. 67

ber-hv it^ vnderstandis a swetnes of myrtii co??imynge to it nere, in perceives a

pio-M 1 IT* sweetness of

qwliilt hope it^ is co?iiermyd, & is sikyr to haiie be kynmom, And mhthap-

IIP nil pioachiiig it,

in bis Ivfe to criste it critis a drynke fuii likandly made of hoot^ '"^d i" ""s

gives
,e ? drii - -

plesyd' resauys ])at for lufe of fe weH: of penans in ])is lyfe dranke. othotiove.

4 lufe, & with grete of gostely gyftis ^Y^th floiiris of yertewe, ]?at criste f^'^f^^^de

f hot

Of godis pr^uay dome & of Ipsune Ipat fallys agayne,

be vs not be demycl and grete skillis agayns

8 p?^rcliesours. [Cap. XXXL]

Bott^ sum ar wonte to aslv* how it^ may be ]?af many ])at has led some ask
])G hardist' lyfe & j?is warld/s Toy barely had forsakyn, and having led a
afterward' to synn ar scrithyn agayne, & dreyd nott^ And in gude forsaken this
12 ende j^a sal not ende. / If Jjat we wyH not erre, be we in pesse jj^^j^ ^trayed
prowdly to deem. IF To vs longis nott^ god/s p^iuay domys to it is not for
knaw ; alt ]}mgis truly aftir ])is lyfe als it nedys sal bee schewde. God's secret
AH be ways of our lorde ar miry domys, bat is to say trw and shaii be

'^ no -, .7 -.1 slio^^n after

16 ri^twes, nor nowdyr one wtth-outen verray ryght^ he repreuys, nor thisUfeas

anoJ)er wzt/i-outen me>'cy, Ipai^ is rightwes, to lyfe he chas nott'.
perioi vs awe to charge ])q clethinge of his clerenes is als a growndles
pytt^, qwharfor we awe to dreed qwliils we ar in })is way, & on no

20 wyse vnwisly to presume, for mane wot^s not qwheder wreth or lufe
he be worthy, or be qwhat end fro J)is lyfe he saH: pas. Guyde awe
to dreyd' jjat' J)ai fali not^ to yH, / and ili may trowe ])rtf ]?ai fro ])cr
males may ryse.

21 fforsoth & })ai in Iper couetis byde & Iper wickednes, in vayne pai
ho2:)e J^am sikyr of mercy qwhils per wykkednes is not leff, for syn,
or it* be forsakyn, is euer forgyfen, nor ^it J)en hot* if a-seyth be be-
liyght*, & |)at* a synner feyii not to fuHfyli it* als soyne als he may. JSJ^ju ^-,

Men great
and rich,

28 H Myghty men truly & warldly riche Jjat in gettynge possessions Men great

hongrily euer byrns, & be ])er gudys & riches in-to erthly gretnes & tjlflw^ai^h,"
wardly power growes, byand' with lityH mony pat* aftir pis passyng* by th|™pos.
s?ibstance was of grete valow, or in kjngis se?'uis or grete loidis grete trearthiy

32 gyftis meydles pa haue resauyd', pat with delits lust & worschip pa leTthem
myght* haue, not me bot saynt lobe lat pame here : H Ducunt inquit ^t^Voh,
in bonis dies suos ^ in 'piincto ad infernum. descendent, pat* is to say : who says
" \)erQ dayes pa leyd' in likynge, & to hell pai fali in a poynf." "Tiiey spend

36 Behald', in a poynt pa loose pat aH per lyfe pai stodyd' to gett*, with pleasure, but
pis has dwellyd' warldly wysdome, pat before god is cald' foly, And to heii."
fleschly wytt pai knew pat to god is eiimy. Jperfore myghty turment/6'

F 2

68 I. The Fire of Love, Of Moiuymaking. [Bk. II. Ch. 1.

sal sofyr, Si in ^er Jjoglitis |)a Imuc vaniRcliyi? callawd )jame-self wyse,
ar iiowc made foh*'*, And ))rtt loy ik, likyiigi; of J)is warld hivs felt* to |)o
depnes of stinkand heH ar cumyn. IF And forsoth ^it* emange aH
\ai wiUi wys of fe warl<¥ is bun, of none, als I suppois, is less trayst* 4
Se«ker«for of Siiluacion feu of ))i8 fat po pepiH callis fals purchesurs. / Qwhen
fai sothely al per strenght & ^outh has spend! be wronge & law in
pwt In «Ke. gettynge of possessions, / afterward! in age pa rest, sikiily kepand pat
they^havo ^ j,a -vv/t/i WFongo liaue gettyn. Bot for per concience is ferde 8
when they wykkydues to conde7»pnynge gifys wytnes. H Qwhen pa onely fro
T"*th^-*(io ^^^^^*® gcttyng* cessis, odyr mens gudys als ))ai wer per awen |ja
touM oUicra' ^^^^^^ "^* ^^ ^^^f ^^^ ^^ ^ ^^® ^^^^'^ rcstorc, ful few to hy»i-self suld!
go^8 M their i^if^ And for fa ar prowde pa. schame to begge; or fro per old! 12
worschip fai wyl not* faH, fe^-for jja say fai may not graue nor labow?*.
Desauyd also of feyndis, cheis warldly wrechidnes rather to eschw
pe endles payne of heH to suffyr eiier-lastyngly. H Slike forsoth,
qwhils fa haue lordschyp in fis wa[r]lde And be power of per 16
tyrantry pe smale oppres, / to odyr forsoth in-to slyke melody of
J}is exile raysyd is not to dreyd! bot rather Icy, for pat godis chosyn
suld! not be slike of gode ar ref renytJ — Dauid to wittnes : Ne timtiens
cum diues fadtis fueiit /iomo, &c., "Qwhen man is made ryche, 20
dreyd }»e not*, nor qwhen ioy of* his hows is multiplycP, for qwhen
he dyes, he iakis not* ali, nor his ioy with hym gois not*, nor pe
drope of water, pat is to say of m<??'cy, to pe tungzs of pe ryche
mane byrnynge in heH ^it* coyme not*. AH his Ioy in hys diynge 21
he losis, & onely syn for the whilk he saH be ponyschyd! wit//-outen
encJ with hym to pe lande of dyrknes goys.
End of 1st U Explicit libev primns Incendi] Amori^ ii*tcardi Hampole here-

BookofHam- ^ ^ "^ i no

pole's Fire of mite. tmTislatns a latino in Annlicum wer froXiem i^wardum ^o

Love, trans-
lated from Misyn heremitam & ordinis carmelitai'um Ac sacre theolo^Ae

Latin into J ^ o

English by bachalareum. Anno doxniiii Millesimo ccccxxxv\

Rich. Misyn, '

a Carmelite,

and Bach.

Theol. A.D.

1435.

(II. BOOK)

Sviii h,i Qwhy p^rfytte conte?wplatyfe to vtward! songe takes 32
no heecJ & of ])er erioiir ]>at f)ame repreuys, and
how })a profett in contemplacion. [Cap. I.]

>e-caus pat* in pe kyrk of god ar sywgars, ordand hi pare degres,
set* to loue god, & pe pepul to stu* to deuociofi, sum has 36

B

Bk. II. Cb. I.] I. The Fire of Love. I sing a Spiritual Song. 69
comyn to me askaud' qwy I wakl' not synge als odyr men qwhen bai Some imve

•1 'I- ipj-TiT asked me wliy

liaie oit^-tymes sene me m solempne messis. pai weml' lorsotn i had i would not
done wran<]fe, for ilk^ man bai say is bun to syncje bodily befor his men.'sayinf,',

° . "Everyman

4 makar & musyk aeeld' of his vtward' voys. IT be?*for I answerd' not, i? bound to
for how to my makar I gaff melody & sweytt^ voys pai knew not^. J^aS'''-\nt
]?ai wend' truly j)at gostly sang' no man myght* haue, for be qwhaf ^^^!|^J T'^^-q
way J)ai couth not vnde?-stand'. A fondnes truly it' is to trow fat a Jhgy'^i^w ^"^

8 man, & namely he Jiat to godz's se^-uys is parfitely gifyn, of his lufe weenSnd^^
no special! gyft' suld' haue \a\j many odyr haue notf ; bot many ])is hTve sph-uuai
trow for in j?ame-self none slike ]jai fonde. H Jperfore I haue poght it'iffooiisu
sum maner of answer to schew, & to repreuars fully not gyffe steed'. / man'silouid
12 H Qwhaf longis if to pame of odyr mens lyfe, qwhos maners \n many speSargift.
\\n%is passis \er lyffe als pai wote, & ar fare hyar in pingis pat is give way to
vnsene % Qwhedyr it is lefuH to god paf he wyH do, or pare syghf condemn me.
is wykkyd & god is guyde, / or wil not bai god/s wiH brynsje vnder to God to do

^ •,/-, i what He will.

16 per mesure? ar not' ati men god^6', And qwhom he wyH he takis, &

»

qwhome he wiH he forsak^5, / and qwhen he wyH he gifys paf hym

plesis to schew pe gretnes of his gudenes % IT I trow perf ore pa They mnr-

gruche & bakbytis for pai wald' paf odyr, hyar in deuocione, to pame tiiey woiiid

20 come downe & pame confermyd in al pinge to pe?'lawars ; pai wene come down to

pa be hear qwhen pa ar far lawar. // IT Herefore my sauH boldnes

has fun a lityli to opyn my musyk pat to me is cumne be byrnyng*

lufe, In qwhilk I synge before Ih6^6*u, and notz's sowndz's of pe grettis

24 swetnes. // }5e more also agayns me pai ha stand' for vtward sange

prtt in kyrk/s ar wontf & orgons swetnes paf gladly of pe pepuH ar

harde, I fled, % Allonely emaug/s pis bydeand' / awdyr qwhen neyd'

of messe hereynge if askyd, pe qwhilk els I myglit not here, / or

28 sole?Mpnite of pe day for wronge bytynge of pe pepuli. U AUone

truly I ha desird' to fytf pat to criste allone I niyght take heyd', pat i have truly
to me had giffin gostly soiige in pe qwhyllv* to hy??z louynge & sing, that to

Cln-ist alone

prayers 1 suld offyr. / pis trowe not pai pat me repr^uyd', and to \er i might take
32 mane?' perfore pa wald' haue broghf me, / bot cristes grace I my3f i might
nof leyfe & to fond men paf me w/t/^-in knew not consenf. H \)er- christ'8 grace

£ ~r -i • , , 10T1T IP • •^'"' consent

tor i leit pame speke ik, i dyd pat was to do af t^r pe state \n pe to foolish
qwhillv^ god me had setf . H ffor pis I saH say, cristz6' loy pankand',

3G pat no more in odyr \iis pa be fonde, nor pat pa p?"esume not prowdly
to deme hensforward', / for if is not of simulacion fenywg^ / & takin
be ymaginacion pat I haue done Als sum says of me, & per-with [FoI.
many ar begilyd pat weyn pa haue pat pai neue?' toke. / Bot in treutli '

40 in me is cu?aie an vnsein loy, & w/tA-in me vcrraly I ha waxyd'

70 I. TJie Fire of Lm)e. Of Spinhtal Progress. [Bk. II. Ch. 2.

I have waxed warme vfHU fyro of luf, fe qwhilk* my herf has takyn fro fis lawe

flroofiovf. yuY^iSy J>«t in \\\en\x Byiif^'and ful fare fro vtwanl' iiK^lody to ful

inhirly I ha llownc. 11 (^whon I lilthis has luitydf <fe vanite of

wordys cast* out* & metw in superlluite not* to take nor vnwisly I

me to gouern I hane stryvyne, ))of aH of me wer saycH I was gifyn

to richo howses, weH to be fetH & in delitys to lyfFe. H Bot* god

wyrkandl my sawle I had odyr-wyes setf, fat rather I sauyrdi

lieuynly )jen swetnes of meytt ; <fe be fis cause certan wyldemes I 8

liaue hifycH & fro men I chase to lyfe, jje neJys of body onely speed,

& so sojjely solas I take of liym J)rtt I hifyd*.

Man cannot U It is not to trow br<t a man in the bc^vnnyn^e of his turn-

attain iiie ,1 O. J o

iieiKiit of the yngo may ryn to fe lieght* of lyfe C07ite7wplatife or ))e swetnes ferof 1 2

piativeini- feytt,' qwlicu It is wele knawen Jjrtt conte»iplacion in greet tynn &

ver£n^°"' ^^^^^* greet labo^^?• is gettyn & onone it is nof gifFyn to euery man,

Jjof alt •\\iili aH loy it be had qwhen it is gettyn. It is not* truly

in mans power to take itt* nor no mans labor is worthy it, hot of IG

godiis gudelynes it* be gifyn to trw lufers jjt/t abown mans hopynge

Many often ha desiro criste to lufe. H 3^^^ many aftyr penans has fallin fro

turn again to . . , . .

idleness, innoccnce eftsoyns scrythand to ydilnes & to abhominacion of

synnars, for in charite )?a wer not* byrnandl ; ])e swetnes of cowte7?i- 20
too weak to placiofi SO thync & seldome fai haue, )j«t to wayk* ))ai ar to stande
tempted. qwlien pai ar tempyd, / or ellis wery [&] gostely fode vgganc?, emonge
synnars warldly comfortt desyris. It is full gude truly to despis-
ynge of J?is warltJ, desyre of fe heuenly kyngdome [&] desyre of 2 1
cristas lufe, & to )?e hatynge of syn, bisy redinge or holy bokis
behaldynge. H A deuout saule in ))is vsyd & tagyth, agayns ))e
fendis dartis has redy defens. Confusyon truly of jje deuyH is,
qwhen agayns aH liys temptacion, godz's worde we sprede. fforsoythe 28
sofyrars & berars of inpacient birdyn & heet* of temptacion, &
soffyrs not* to be led in lufe of desauabyH swetnes, aftyr many teris
& bisy prayers sal be enflaumydf wiili lufe euerlastynge, & heytt in
paime-self saH feyH wztA-outen end? abydinge, for in \er meditacion 32
fyre sal wax warme.

Techinge to lyfe co;^te?;/platyfe in pmyng^, ])inkynge,
fastyng & wakinge, & of prowd co//tew/platife k
of trew v^;Tay gostly songe. [Cap. XL] 36

A chosen one A chosyu Jje/'for & lufe alway desirand*, hy??i-self turnys in-to
Jl\_ hys lufe, for nouiler warldly substance he has nor desyres to

Bk. II. Ch. 2.] I. The Fire of Love. God sliall sto^engthen the Lover. 71

liaue, bot be wilful poiiert criste filoand', of odyr mens alums lyfis follows
contentt^ & payde, qwliils his coiisciens is clere & wiiJi heiiynly contenVwitu
sauoz/'r made sweyt* : AH Lis lierfc^ in lufe of his makar he sal scheed, aims.
4 & with dayly encrese in he desirs sal \-dhour to be liditynde. / [Foi.

•^ -^ . o J / XXIX. b.]

Enery man bis warld' forsakand', if he Avitli fyer of be haly i^oste Let every

._ man who

desire to be ennawmed' to prayer tV meditacion besdy to take forsakes the

. "^ world give

tentt^ wax not slawe. U Sothely of bis terys feloand, criste favirand' iieedto

-J r ^ ' > prayer and

8 pe mynde to lufe me?*uelusly sal be Avarmyd', & warmyd it^ sal be "leditaiion.
gladyml', & glad in-to lyfe contemplatyfe sal be lyft. U Tn-to J^is ^'j^;.'^g^j''^JJ '^^
lienes ]>& sanH gos qwhils itt is takyn abown ])e self, & to Ipe ee of Jy,e^;ce"haii
mynd^ heuyn opin preuay ])ingis offyrs to be haldyn. II ffyrst ['^{jJe^u"^^

12 truly it behouyd* to be vsyd bisily, & not be few ^eris, in p?'«ynge tSe.^""^^'^'
& jjinkynge, Ipe nedys of body vnnethis taka?id, so j^at in ]?is to
fulfyH byrnynge it* be, [&] aH feynynge cast oute, godls lufe to seyk*
& knaw day & nyglit it suld' not slake. / And pus Jje almy^ty lufar, Tims the

16 hys lufar to lufe strenghtaw], saH rays hym hee abown ali erthly & Lover silaii

•^ o J J ^J J raise his lover

stryfis of vicius & vayn jjoght/s, pat wikkyd & dyand flees of syn Jngii above
loys not jje swetnes of ])q vntmewf of grace. / & so forward* god is vain thought,
lufe to hym sal be so sw^eitt*, & \vith swetnes most likynge so sal be

20 moistyd' & menielus liony he sal taste, Ipat in hym-self he sal not
feyH bot solas of heuenly sauowr in-to liyni scheyd, & tokyn off he
holy lies. H With J)is swetnese truly feyd' ewer [he] desirs to wake,
Als he put verraly I'elys pe heytt* of endles lufe his hart* byrnand,

21 uott* it gos not* away, pe mynde lyghtynand ^Yith sweytt* mistery,
qwhen sum odyr pat men trowed had beyn aH holy, be ymagina-
cion onely [not] J)is heit hade. H Qwharfore nott in treuth bot in
a schadow beand, qwhen ])ai to weddynge or pe fest* of cristis

28 spowsynge ar cald, ])e fyrst* place to chalange vnworthily pa, ar not*
aschainyd : J^o meruayH in pe ri^twy.s examinacion with schame pa
satt: go downe & lawar place Jja saH haue. Of |)is truly is sayd' :
IF Cade7i[t] a lateTe tuo mille ^ decern milia a dexfiis tuis, ])at* is

32 to say : ' fro pi syde a thowsand sal fall & ten thousand fro j^i right

hande.' Eof wald' god bai krn]ew bawi-self*. & per conscience bat* if men wonid

\ , -^ / . ransack their

))a walde ransake : pen suld pa not be p7-t'su?MptuM6' nor, co??iparison consciences
niakand to dedys of per bettyrs, pa suld not paine enpride. J?e lufer "ot^^be pre-

36 truly of pe godhede, qwos inwarde part/*' witli lufe of bewte vnsene
varily er pirlyd', / loys aH pe pyth of pe sawl, gladynd witJi, heytt
most niery, & hym-self has gyiin to besy deuocion for god : U Con-
tinwly, qwhen criste wiH, not* [of] hys mcdys bot criste gudenes,

10 asownd holy poglit he sal take i'ro heuyne scnde, and meditacion into shall be

72 I. TJic Fire of Love, The Lover's Voice is swcd. [Bk. II. Ch. 2.

changeato soiigc Sill 1)0 cliaiingy(¥, S,: fo myndo saH byde \7i menmhi^ melody.
It is suthely aungels swetncs Jjiit he lias takyii in sawle, ^ pa same
louyngo, J)of it be not in fo same word//*, to god ho sati synge.
The voice of ^ SHkc soiigo als Is of auiigcH, 80 is \>o iioys [of] ))i8 trw lufar, })of 4
*!"'*m'^'"^""'^ it* bo not so greet* or p«?-fyte for frcyltc of llescti \>at ^itt* cumbyrs
[\>Q soulo]. U he |)at ))is knawes, aungoH songe also he knawes, for
both ar of o kynde hero & in hevyn. Twne to songe pe?-teny8, not*
[Fxx ^^ ^*^ ^^^^^' ^^^ ^^ sungc. )?is jwrtysynge & song* is aungels nieett*, In 8

qwliilk* also men lyfland^ hattyst in lufe syngand* in Ihcsu ar glad*,/
now (jwhen fa ha takyn Jjo doyme of endles loifynge j)at of aungels
to god is sungne, in psalme in writtyn : Panem amjelwam. maii-
" Man has ^ ducduit Jiomo, H fat* is to say : * Aungett breed! man has ettyn : & 12
bread." so kyndo is renwyd* & now sal pas in-to a godly loy & happy
lyknes, so fat* it saH be liappye, sweet*, godly & soundly & in fe
selff*, saH fcyH luste of euerkistynge lufe & with greet* SAvetnes
A true lover contiuuly it sal synge.' H To slike a Infer sothely happyns in IG

docturs writynge fat I hafe not fun expressyd', fat is : f is sange sal
Bhiiiising bolne to his mouthe, (^ his prayars he saH synge with a gostly
si.iriiuai synphane, & of his tonge he sal be slaw, for be grete plente of

symphony. . . ox

inward loy & syngulere sownde tariandf be songe fat fat he in on 20
owr was Avonte to say, vnnethis in half a nowre he may fulfyli.
U Allone sothely sal he sytt qwhils he it* takes, with odyr not
i^thirado syngamV, no psalmes rede. I say not* ilk man bus suldl do, bot he

what he will, ° , . ^ "^ ^ *

jorheisied to qwliomo it* IS gyityn, & qwhat hym likys lat hym fiilfiH, for of 2-i
Ghostj fe holy goste he is led*, nor for mens word/^* fro hys lyfe he sal not*

turne. IT In a clere lieet* certan he saH dwell, & in full swete
• melody he sal be lift ; p^^rson of man he sal not* accept*, & f ^^rfore a

foyl or churl of sume he sal be cald?, for gode in loyful songe he 28
love of God saH prayse, louyngo of god of his hole hart* sal vp byrst*, & hys
up from his swcit voys sal cum to hei:fhf, the qwhilk nodts maieste likvs to

whole heart j ^ ^ ' j. o ./

here. IF A fayr visage he has qwlios fames god desires. / Wisdome
vnmade in f e self it* kepis. IT Wisdom truly is drawen of Xi?'iueteis, 32
& fe likynge fe?'of is with lufars of euyrlastynge, for it is not fun
in fare sawlis frtt likandly lyfis. // He dwels in hym of qwhome I
spak, for aH holy in crist/s lufe ho meltis And aH his inwardo
his cry is love me;/^bris to god crys. II \)ls cry is lufe & songe, fat a grete voys 3G
raisys to god/5 oris. It* is also a gudo desyre affeccion of vertw.
His criynge is owt of fis warlde, for his mynde no-finge bot criste
his soul is desires. / His sawle w/t//-in is al byrnyd with fyre of lufe, so fat his
love. hart is light* & byrnand, & no f ing* vtwarde he doys bot fat to 40

f

Bk. II. Cli. 3.] I. The Fire of Love. Ghostly Song and otUward Song. 73

glide may be expound'. God he lonys in song, bot* ^it in sylence,
not* to mens eris bof in god/6' siglit^ & in a meruellus swetnes
louyng/6* lie ^eld/*'.

4 'pat gostly songe with bodily acordis not ; & ]>q cause
& J)e erro^^r of gaynsayars. And of cony;^g^ m-
sclied or kspiryd, how it is diuers fro co/mynge
be labore gettyn. [Cap. III.]

8 TD^t eu'^ry man \n holynes raisyd', in Jjis may knaw fat lie jjis Amanex-
I W songe lias of qwliilk I spak, if he may not* sustene cry of nesscan teii
syngars, bot ii his mwarde sont^'e to mynde be bro^lit, & vtward' to tins song, if

"" he cannot

say he be scnthyn. })at sum truly emonge syngars & redars ar ''ear the cry
12 distracte is not of perfeccion, bot of vnstabilnes of mynde, for odyr without this

*■ ^ .; J J inward song

mens Avordys \ier i>myers brekt*^ & destroys; & forsoith to pwfyte Jri)"^itt
])is happyns not*, J)ai truly ar so stabyld? f>at wz't/i no cry or noys or *"'"^^-
any odyr ]?inge fro prayer [jjai] may be distracte, or foyght*, bot xxx. b.]
16 onely fro songe. For sweit* gostly songe truly & ful speciaH it is Ghostly song
gilfyn, Av^'t7i vtwaixJ songe acordw not* Jie qwhilk^ in kyrk/6^ & with outward
elsqwer ar vsyd'. It discord/6' mikyH, for aH bat* be mans voys for what is

niiidG bv

vtward is formyd w/t/i bodily eris to be hard', bot emonge aungids nian's voice
20 twnys it has a acceptabyH melody & \fiih meniale it* is co??imendyd ears,
of ])am ])at* has knawen it*. 11 See & vndirstand & be not begilyd,
for to 30U I haue schewd', to ])e worscliyp of almy3ty god & to ^our see then why
profett*, qwhy Jjat I fled' syngars in kyrkz's & be qwhat* cause I lufycH singers in
24 not* wiili bame to menge, & orgone playars I desird' not* to here, would not

' ^ ' o r J jjgjjj. them,

lettynge truly Jja gaf me to soundynge swetnes, & ]?e fulclere songe ^\^^'g!^
|)a gart* fayH. & J?e?'for no me?*uayl if I fled' ))rtt j^at me confusyd',
& in J)at-* I had bene to blame if I had not left ))at me fro so sweit

28 songe wald ha jxit. Arrid forsoj? I had' & I o])er wyes had done,
U bot wele I knew of qwhome I toke. jjerfore me aH-Avay I ha
confermyd his wiH to do, Jjat fro me vnkynd he take not* ])«t
kyndely to me he gaf. H Grete lykynge I had' in wildyrnes to i was eager

32 sytt, ])a\> I far froo noys swetlyar mote synge & wz't/i qwhyknes of the wi

o dwell in
Ider-

hart* likyngeste louynge I mote feyli, be qwhilke doutles of his gyft* might sing

.^ ' J J. oj more sweetly,

1 ha takyn, qwhome abown al ]?iuge wondirfully I ha lufyd'. H My far from

hart* truly has not ^ernyd' in bodily desyre, jN"or of creature I ha

36 consauyd ])is comforthabil songe ])at* I syngand in Ihe^u has swngne./

Lufe in mo }?6'rforo \erio was broght* jjat I suld' not stand' in

noise.

74 T. The Fire of Love. I must sJiun Wickedness. [Bk. II. Ch. 3.

plyto in qwliilk vuthrifti.s^ nr cast ilowno, Lot )jat I suld* Le niysfil
n-bowiie |>o heght of aH yuv^is seyn, iV: oft' licuyn I suld he kyiulyld
& liglityd to loyf god, qwos pmysyiige is uut cuiiily in synnar
moutho. H To qwlioine litMefore so sid be o])ynd ))C5 wymlow vn- 4
J)irlyd of aH, anyjjingi' ^li liilis l>ot^ one, no nie/'uale it wer fof his
kyndo "wer chaunged' in-to nobilnes of worfines vnabyH to be tald*,
made clere Sc free ; (jwhilk nobyl clerenes no man sal knaw J)^/t now
1 oucJitnot can nott lufe «fe, in criste, swetnes feytt. f Nor I aght^ not^ doutles 8
<i«v*iTu!m »>e'- fro beste tiyde deuocion cesse for bakbitars j>«t in-to myne innocens
bi'ujn». lias castyn yH Litynge, / And me aglit* att wyckydnes to kest*

downe, ^ lufe jjam jjat' stirdi me to more iH ; <fe ))er-(jlf grace sul(V
ba bene encressyd to J)c Infer, qAvliils he to wordis had! not tane 1-
lieyd waiiyd \n wynde, hot, w/t/i hart* prn'fytte, hy7?<-self suld* spreed
to hys lufe &; his purpos vnwerily piirsw. / Herefor truly desire of
The lover's vanite is vanischyd', (fe truful [lufe] in mynde is risyn, so frtt |)e
vnliwid;" lufar sawlc Sid no^t wax cold? hot in co7iforthabyl heef sal stand, & IG

|)e harf fro contynuaH jjoght of his le?«man sal not* he byrsyd*. In
[Foi. ))is stedfastnes sojjely, to a trw lufar, excellens of lufe happyns, so

)>af he 2 to be raisyd to a firy hevin & \ier he suld be stirrydl to lufe
more Jjen may he spokyn, & in hym-self suld' more be hyrndf fen 20
thouRi. but a may he scheuyd' Sz J)e dcgreis of g?-ace sukV hals. H And liere-of
lias piiiieii he has takyn wysdome & sotelte, Sz he emonge wys kan speek" &
8i>eak among boldly Say qwhat ewer hym ))inke, / ))ofe he a foytt & vnwyse before
say wiiat wcr lialdyu or ellis he were. // H Bot* taght* be connynge gettyn, not* 24
u> him. inscheed', & bolnyd with foldyn Argumentz's, in J)is disdene sayandf :
Lovers of the * qwhcr Icmyd he, qwho reed hym?' for fai trow not fat lufer[s] of
of'thXiii- endles lufe of fe?- inward* maister niy^t* he taght* to speek hette/* fen
mWhtbe fai of uieu taght*, \)a\> at aH tymes for vayn worschip has stodyd. -^
Bpeak »)etter H In oldl tymc, if the holy goste enspiryd many, qwliy sukU he not
taiigiitof now his lufars take to behald? loy of his godhedf? H With bairn

men. JO r

before senc of fis tyme ^\\m to fainie evin ar apreuydl. J?is appre-

uynge mens alowans I cal notf, for oft* fai erre in fer allowyng*, 3 J

slike chesand? als god despisycV, & despysantlf fat god has chosyn.

I call aloud H Eott slyke I caH alowcV qwhome endles lufe pythily has en-

eiuUe»8iove flawuiydf & gracc of fe holy gost* enspyrs to aH gude; fies ar

* markyd vfiih llowr of aH vertew & in god/^ lufe bisily syng/s; And 30

aH fat* to fe warldys vayn Joy longis & fals worschips of cursydf

prowed lytf vndyrfeytt of fer aflfeccyon fa treyd*. 1l \)\s no mer-

uayH of men ar outcast/s, hot in fe syglit of god & holy aungellys

^ iudigni - Ut iu igiieum celuui assuuii»tu.s ibi iucemleretui'.

Bk. II. Ch. 4.] I. The Fire of Love. Ghostly Song cannot he icrittcn. 7^5
gretely ar co??^mencly(l? ; qwhos hartzs ar stronge aii adnersite to strong

,„ , , 1 /. •,•1,111 1 L lieurts, not

snttyr, nor with wynde oi vauite wil not be blawen abowt^. At^ be blown ii« if

•^ ' •^ ^ by wind of

last to crist ba ar borne ^\ith he holiues, qwhen bai b«t men allowd* vanity,
4& clias in dampnacioii ar caste downe & in turmentzs ar drawen l'.?''.'<^'". ,
w^t7^ feyndys to be ponyschyd' w/t/^-outen end^ high holiness.

Of |)e excelence of gostly songe & ]>at it nowdyre
may be sayd ne wryttyn, nor ]>at it resauys no
8 feliscliyp. & of J)e charite of syngars m spirito

& pride of ])ame ])at has co;my;?g6^ g^tyn.

[Cap. IV.]

Truly \>Q Infer of almy3ty god wz't/i-outen skyH is not raisyd' in
mynde he ]?inl^ to see & Jje Infely songe to syiige ])ai spryngz';,-
vp in ])e sawle, J)e qwhilk fyiely & opynly is byrnyd ^\iih fyre
of lufe & spred in to sweit^ deuocion, bidynge in soiige[s] ])ai ^eldis
liony of OAvr fayrest mediatur. / ])eriov synga/^d in-to ali myrth

16 is led, & \q weli of endles heyt, brekand vp in myrth, is takyn in
lialsynge & singuler solas & wet/i my3tt of J?e luflyest passage ])q
Infer refreschyd in sweit heit* is arayd. % He qwhyet truly qwhittar
))e7^ snaw loys, & reddar Jjen rose, for \fiih godi's fyre he is kyndyld

20 & ^v^t^ clennes of consciens goynge in qwhite he is cled'. ^ Here-to Tiie lover
berfore he is takyn vp in p?iuyte abown odyr / for in his mynde above others,

1 • 1 o • 1 i> ^ • • n . 'I'* melody is

melody bidys & sweit pleTzte of heit' tans, so J)at not allonc mm his mind,
hym-self he offyr A marghty offerynge & to criste loueyng" i7i gostly x^xi. b.]

24 miisyk he suld pay, bot also, ]iai [he] stir odyr to lufe, ))at ]?ai hy He must stir
fame-self deuoutely & pro'fytely to god to gyf, |)e qwhilk so his
lufars & to hym in aH ])er hartt^ drawand also to make glad' in ]?is
exile vouchis-saffe. / )pis likynge certayn aH wytt & feling^ passis

28 qwhilk he has tastyd Ihesu lufand. / Truly I may not^ teli a lityH i could not
poynt of jjis ioy, fFor an vntold heet* qwho may teli % A infenit^ this joy.
swetnes qwho sali makyn ] Certan, if I wald speke ])is Ioy vnabyH:
to be told, me semys to my self* Als and I suld- teym pe see be

32 droype and spar it^ aH: in a lityH hole of pe erth. // U And no No wondei-
mare-vayle jjof I, \q qwhilk of ]iat same excelle?is o droype vnneyth scarcely taisti-
tast^'s, vnmesurdnes of bat^ endles swetnes to 30W may not opyn , that excei-
nor 30 boystws in wyt & wM fleschly J^oghtis' distract^, & j)of 36 wer open the

30 fuH w^yss of wytt* & to godiis seruys gifyn, if may take. U Neue?-- sweetness,
pedes if 3e wer bisy heuynly al-way to sauyr, & if 30 studyd wM

76 I. The Fire of Zavc, Charity shall reign. [Bk. II. Ch. 4.

gotlw luf to bo cnflawniyd', in-to 30W witli-oiiten dowt^ siildl cum
pleiiteiuwly likynge of pat lufo, Jjc qwliilk^ fuHillan<l' att jK^rtys of
pi luyiidc abil to be ))irlyil, a womliifuH swetiies it satt clrope in. /
W/t// cliaiit(3 truly pe fullar ^e saH be, more ablH to be takars 4
hivJimmi ^^ ^'^*' ^"^ ^^ "^^^ suppos. To goJ ti'uly eudlesly sal pa bo nar
iiere«"lain»o ^^^^ ^^^^ moro byniyngly & more sweitly hy in in fis tyme has
llereStorl''" ^"^y**- ^ 1^'^^ ct'rtau of godw lufc pat ar toyme, with warklly
fylthys ar fultillyd', & 80 to vayne taylis drawand, likynge )j«t 8
scheuys in vtwart^ fingw p& seyk, inward godis forgettyn ; qwhos
heyth is fro dodely syii byd*, qwliils pa. in mynde falh'ij vndyr
warldly solace & in per risyng^ fro a glorius perpetualte |)a vanysch.
In time to ^ Hei*efor it semys pat couetys in tyme to cum sal be exyL?, & charite 1 -
beexl^'ami ^^^'^^Y^ Tcyn. / Coutrarily of many in fis lyfe is wroglif, foi-sotli
reiVn'^ **''"'' ueliaud of aH, jjat couetys is broght^ in ^ee into jje kyng/^f haH, And
ciiaritv i>a« cliarytc als iV to tresun were consentynge is p?-esondl & owf of fe
[;;";;;J;;^i;|.';^ kyngdom kast in to exyH; bot< ^itt' a dwellynge-place if has fun 10

I

>t cnnVa j,j \y^j.i{g Qf goddw chosyn : fro prowde iV goys, & restw in meyke.

chosen.

nota U Begilyd ar many wrechis pe qwhilk fenys fam-self to luCe go(J
qwhen pa lufe hyin not, trowand* pat fai may with warldly nedys
be occupyde / & als truly to vse pe lufe of Ihei'u criste with 20
swetnes, / And fai trow fame-self* be pe warld? may ryn & be co7i-
templatyfe. j)Q qwilk fai demyd inpossibyl, pat god feruently lufis
& in conte7»platyf lyfe has gone. H Bot fai vnkonynge, not taght
with heuinly wisdome, bot* bolnydf with conywg* J)at ))ai ha gettyn, 24
wrong* suppoys of J)ame-self*, & god with lufe 3it can pa not haUK
^ Herfore I cry & with desire I say : SaJvum Quefac deiis, ^uonia?^
defeat sanctum, faf is to say : * lorde, make me sayffe, for pe
sayntw wantys.' / trwe lufars faylis, the voys of syngars is in pess, 28
of trw lufars apperis no beef, ylk man gos in his ili way, & pe
[F..1. wrechidnes in hartt he has consauydl to brynge to dede he cessis flj

not*, per days in vanite ))a wast, & per ^eris in hy. / Alas to-gidyr ^"
pe 3onge man & maydyn sowkandl. Also with pe old! man, pe fyre o-
ojesns.pood of desirc has swaloytH ! U 0 guyd Ihe^u, to pe to drawe to me is
tn draw near f ul gude, flor my sawH in prr counseyH sal not cum, hot* sittand
aH-one to fe I saH synge ; Jje qwhils pon art* praysyc?, J?ou waxis
To pray to sweytt*, SO fat pe continwly to p?'rtys is notf hard* hot fuH: sweet, 3G
ally u sweet, not bytter bot miry, & more fen to be fulfykH with al bodily &
warldly delytis. H Delectabyl & desirefuH if is in f i p?'rtysinge to
be, for aH pat wiih so giete lufe is dyghf, no inemayH, sauyrs fuli
sweytf. H \)e lufar also byrnaudi into vnbodily halsynge, his wyk- -iO

Bk. II. Cb. 4.] I. The Fire of Love. The Lover is hcifpiiy. 77

kydnes clensyd' & aH ))oghtis vanyschyd Jjaf to jjis ende goys not,

vfiih his crostely ee his le??mian desyrand* to see, A crying" to hys The lover ims

, J, , . ,^ raised a cry

makar has raysyd' & byrst vp of ]je inhere marygli of his aifectuws to ids MaUer,
4 lufe, Als he of arme suld cry, his iwwarde voys he lyftis, jje qwhilk
not bott in ])e byrnandist* hifar, als it" is lefuH in Jjis way, is fun.
Here I cesse for vnwytt" & boystnsnes of myn vndirstandynge, for
bis crv I can not" descry, nor sit* how mykyli it is or how miry to a great cry

' " J J J <! 'I 'J a,nj a merry.

8 ])inke, or feyit & here in my mane?- I my^tt*, bof to 3 owe I my^t
not teli nor may nof , for my wytt* I can nott ouercu??i, bot if I wyH
say J}is cry is gostly song". Jpe?-fore to me qwho saH synge pe dity
of my songis & loys of my des[i]re wzt/i byrnynge of lufe & heit

12 of my ^onge age, faf of felaly song* of charite my substans I my3t
ransake, & mesure of swetnes in qwhilk worfi I was haldyn, to me
mote be be-knawen, if I my3f fynd? fro vnhape parauntyr [me]
exemptyd^, & jjat to say be my-self to p?*esume not", for 3it I ha not*

16 fun ])at" I desire, in solas of my fela I suld' resf wit/i swetnes.
U fforsoth if I demyd J)at cry or songe fro bodily eris is aH-way
hyd', & Jiat" I dar wele say, wold god of \ai melody a man I my3t* wouidthati
fynde Autor, Jje qwhilk* jjof not in worde 3itt in writtynge my ioy some one to

20 he sulde synge, & noUs of lufe jje qwhill^ in \q wor])iest name of m.y love
before my lufe I schamyd' nott to say, syngand' and loyand he suld'
schew owt*. He Jjis truly to me suld' be luflyar pew gold', & aH:
• p?'ecius ym^is pat* in pis exiH ar had, to hym ar not* lyke. ^ Beute of ^^^J^y^^f ^^^

24 vertew viiih hym duellis, & priuetis of lufe pwfitely he ransake[is]. JJ^J^ggj^'J^/^'^"'^
H Als my hart* truly I wald' lufe hyme, nor it* is not pat I fro hym ^^^^H^^^l
walde hyde, for of pe gostely songe pat I desyre to vndyrstand? he
suld' schew me & melody of my myrth clerely suld' opyn. In

28 qwhilk* ojDynynge I suld' more Ioy or ellis qwyklyar synge, for
byrnynge of lufe to me suld' be schewed*, & a soundly Ioy to me •
suld? schyne. / My cryingly p03t/s Also w/t/i-outt a praysar suld'
nott scrith, nor I in dowt* suld' labowr. U N"ow truly heuisum

32 longyng* of pis exile me castas downe, & heuynes me grevand vnethis
suffyr me stand'. And qwhen wM-in w^t/i heyt vnwroght I wax
warme, w^t/i-[out] als wer browne & vnhappy wit/i-outen lyght* I j^xH, b^
lurk. / 0 my god, to qwhome deuocion I offyr W2t/i-oute fenyng*, 0 God, thiuk-

/ITT c . on me in Tliy

36 sal pow not pink on me m pi me?'cy ? / A wrech I am : periore pi mercy,
me?'cy I nede : & salt pou not* pe longinge pat me byndis rayse in-to mercy,
lyght*, pat acordyngly I may haue pat I desire, U And pe loihour in
qwhillv* I heuy pat I trespasyd in-to a homly mansion pow salt

40 chawnge, pat melody may last* qwhere heuynes was, [&] in his my

7s I. The Fire of Love. I mitst 7)?'«/.s'c Tlcee, Jesus, [Bk. II. Ch. 5.

Info \<ti I moto se qwliomo I desyre,^ & hym worschyp endlesly,
haldyn wiili liis toAvchinge, for to hym I longe.

Meditacion of J)e longar to his lufe & forsakynge of
felyschip, and how be ordir it is cumyn to J)e \
flawme of lufe. [Cap. V.]

When hum- /^ Ilie/ni, in \q qwhen I byrn yfiili loyvynge & fe heytt of lufe

iHiu.uw) \J bisily cums in, fat J)e, o most lufely, fully I suld hals; bot

Je»u8. ' borne bak* I am, ^om swetest, fro \iai I lufe & desyre. / More-oucT 8

greuys liappyns, c^ )?e wast* wildez-nes J)e way forbarris & fe babita-

woniii omi, ciofi of lufei's in on sufpyrs not* to be beyklycK / Bot wald cod bou
Thou hiuUt ,, , , , i.,. 'J J I .,,.^.'^

shown me Jiad owdyi' scliewd mo a tela in pe way, pf/t wzt/i his stiryngo

Bonie com-

panion u> the heuynes my3t ha bene gladynd? & jje band of sighynge vnlowsyd', if 1 2
it soyne vfiih \\ sweitt* syeth wer cuf in-sondyr, / so soyr it wald
streyn fr^t if suk? gar \q lufar J)e cloos of fe flesch go froo be
gretnes of lufe, & be-for ])i maieste to be cast. U Emonge c^-tan

I Rhouhi iiave loyandl in ympnis of louyng sweytly I suld ha restyd vfiih my fela 1 G

Wen Kiiui jj^t )?ou had gyfyn me, <fe in gude spech wet7<-outen stryfe we suk?
ha bene gladf ; / Etandf truly in myrth of lufe to-gidyr we sukJ

until ie«i from schewe lufly song/s, to we be led? fro bis vtward & cumberw^ p?'esone

this outward a ■, ^ - • i t n

prison, we & broght in-to be mwartlf dwellynge-place, samne takand? a seet 20

hhouhlto- ° ' J o 1 >

Ketheitakea emongis heucnlv citesenes b«t o maner & o mesuie lufyd criste.

heat among out ./

the citizens of ^ Alas, qwliaf sal I doo? how longe sal I suffyr delay] to qwhome
saH I flee, ))at* happily I myghf vse J?af I desire ? Nedy I am &
hongry, noyd? Sz disesyd*, wonedyd? & ili-colorde for absens of my 24
lufe, for me hurtys lufe, Sz hoype my sawle chastisis )jaf is ^Duf
bak*. Herefor cry of )je harf goys vp, &; a songely Jjo^t emonge
heuenly citesens rynnys, desirancj to be lyftydl to Jje ere of |)e
hyest ; & qwhen it ])er cums, ])e erawJ it p?v>fyrs & sayes : * 0 my J
lufe ! / 0 my hony ! / 0 my harp ! / 0 my sawtre & dayly songe : /
qwhen saH fow help my heuynes 1/0 my hart/*' royse, qwen sali
))ow cum to me & take wM ))e my spirytt 1 H Truly Jjou seis \at
whikly I am woundydf w/t// fayr bewte, and longynge releissys nof 32
bof grows more & more, & paynlynes here present* me down castis
& prykk/i' to go to ))e of qwhome onely I trow solas & remedy I sal
\yho shall see. Bot qwho to me saH: synge ende of my greyf, & ])e ende of
the end of my myne vnTcsf, & qwho to me sal schewe gretnes of my loy & fulfill- 36
ynge of songe, fat* of fis I myght take comforth & synge with
^ k videam in venustatc mei decoris dilectum quern detsidero.

Bk. II. Cli. 5.] I. The Fire of Love. In Spiritual Song. 79

oiadnes, for I sukl' knaw Ipat end' of myn vnliappines & bat bat* loy that i might
wer nere '? / Herefore a excellentt songe & cry I sukl' say & my near,
voys Hardnes of my le??mian suld softyn, Als if he suld' cliastys ons [FoI.

4 he sulde slayke & softly ponyschand' of i/mocentz.s paynys ay siild'
he not* layght*. & herfor I may be cald' happy, And ])g miryest
draght* of lufe w^'t/^-oute ali vnclennes haue \Y/'t/«-oiiten end, &, aH
grenys clensyd', stand' in pa?-iitnes of loy & holynes, wyrschyp

8 synga7id' with a heuenly synphane, qwene t?-uly emonge ]?is disesis
nedy, hyrny/zg* of sweitt* lufe I, twix my priuetis (fe ]>o sweitt*-honyd*
mynde of Ihe^'u, als wer with musyk my mynd' has myrthyd', so pat
I, gretely gladynd' iii songe Ipe whilk^ I toke of heuyn, venem?^5
12 swetnes of vnwor]?i lufe I suld' not feyU, pe qwhilk Jjame ])ink ful
sweit* )?at* in fleschly bewte florysches, nor at Jiis stordy erthlynes
me suld not* hald'. / 0 fayrest* & luflyest* in bi bewte, ha mynde o fairest in

' *^ J r J J beauty, loiow

warldly powder for ])e I drede not*; and also ha mynd', to ]}e Ipat I that i dread
IG myght* draw, alt lufe I ha cast* owt* ])at chirischis vn-wys, to all power.
Jjinge pat ])e, gude, lettis to lufe & fleynge fayrnes I ha fleed Ipat
mak/6' men bonde, & wymmen sendz^' in-to males ; nor me likyd not
^ong* playe to vse ])at be vnclennes worfi sawls to bondage of foly
20 mak26' sogett*. ^ To ]?e so forth I cessyd not to gif my hart* towchid
with desire, & |)0U it has w/t/^-haldyn, jjat* in-to dyuers lewdnes of
concupiscens & lust* it suld not flow, / & mynde of ))i name jjou
has in [send] And to my nee pe wyndow of conte?>^placion Jiou has
24 opynde. To ])Q at J)e last deuowt I ha ryne in gostely songe, hot At last de-
fyrst* my hart waxst warme with fyer of lufe, & in-to lufly ditis i"" to Thee

, . "^ -^ _ in spiritual

wlth-in [me] fyrst I rose vp. / If ])ou J^is putt not fro pi sight, song,
mykilnes of pi pite suld' meve pe be pe qwhilk* J)ou suffyrs not J?!

28 lufars in caldes be takin to mikyil ; als I trow, my wrechednes fiou
suld' lessyn & my longinge fro ))i face ])ou suld' not* turne. Soro
certan & wrechidnes in pe body standis ; lo7^gynge sothely in pe
sawle habidys to tyme ))ou gyff pat with so gret heit I ha desiryd',

32 borow qwhos lufe my flesch is made leyne & fowle emonge bewteuws Through love

p-iPop-T ofTlieeismy

01 ])is lyfe. & of pG influens of it my sawle has longyd, pe to se flesh made
qwhome byrnynglye it has desiryd', / And in ]?os cetys of secrete
heuyns it* my^t* be, & reest with felischyp paf it desiryd, And ]?er be

36 tane vp qwher emonge AungeH syngars pe w^■t7^-owt* eynd' parfytely
with lufe may worschyp. Eehald', myn inhir pa?-tis has vpbolyd',
& pe flawme of charite, pe gedyrynge of my hart*, pat I haue hatyde
has wastyd', And pe slippyr gladnes of warldly frenschyp it has put* fouI

40 by, poghtis also fat* wer fowH & to be hald' abhominabyli it* has driven out.

80 I. The Fire of L(yve. Tlic Gifts of the Chosen. [Bk. II. Cli. G.

drawen owt^, [k so with-owt] fenyngo, maiujrly I liaf risyn to lufe /
Jjc/t before in diners owtrays of myn errors 1ms sleep k, with dyrknes
vmbelappyd, 11 per likandly I felt* lust of detiocion swettest qwher
My (viemii. I soro uio mo luorc to trespas. My frendis, I pray 20\v, here, bat^ i

Itfl no one i i «t « • i. ti f • ^

U'guiieyou. no luau 30U begylc ! "1 pis iv slike odir wordys ni pc syghf of owr
XXXIII. b.] makar byrsf vp of fe fyre of lufe, And no man, )jaf strawngc is
fro |)is vnmesurde lufe, dare slike word//? teyt pe qwhilk^ ^it* is
sturbyldl wiiJt te)«ptacion of voyde foghtis <fe vnproplietabytt, ))at 8
hys mynde bisily to crist w/t/i-out* gayn-turnynge Las notf , or w/t/t
any mane?* afiectuusly is stirrydl abowf any creature, so \)ai aH ))e
nieuynge of ))e hart^ in to god go not, for hyme-self he felys bun to
He wiio8« erthly afreccion. U llul hee he is in charite qwhos hart^ fies ditys 1 1
BimifUjese of lufc ha[s] songyue Sc in gostely fode hyde ))is vtwarde fondenes
ishij^hin behaldys nott*. U fforsoth in eii^rlasting* desyrs me?-uelusly cheryd?
hyni-self rayses behaldand* to heuyne, froo qwhens he byrnys wzt/t
lufe swetist & Yiiili a draghf of heuenly passage he is moystit? & 1 r,
vmbesett* & truly is transforniyd wiili heit' of happis to-cum fat alt
te?//i)taciofi he may eschew, k. in ])e heght^ he is seet off lyfe con-
te7??platyie, & forward! so gostly songe contynuand in crist/6' louyngo
he is glorify de. 20

Of dyuers giftys of godis chosyn and how saynt/^ Qxun
to lufe i;^ pmying, piukynge, lufynge, adu^rsite
. sofyra;«d, vissittand. And ]>at lufe cu;;^ys of god
& ])rtt his lufe is necessary, And })at trew lufars 2 1
fallis not be fleschly temptacions als odyr inp^rr-
fite / nor with drcggis of synne is Imrtt J)of all
])ai laste. [Cap. VL]

hosyn trwly fat* with lufe ar fulfillyd? & more tak/,s heyiH to 28
lufyng* ill mynde fen to oght^ ellys, has schewydf to vs
wondirly J)e p?'iuete of lufars, ]je qwhilk* passand qwikly & aboweii
kynde fe fyer of lufe has takyn & v^ith a wondirfiiH desyre i7i-to
Of God's his le??iraan Ihe^ju ^ernyd?. Goddis lufars truly -with dyuers giftis 32
teach*°TOrae*' ^^ disposydl : Sum to do, sum to teche, sum to lufe ar chosyn.
tofove."^™* ^euer-Jje-lesse aH holy o ))inge couetw? Sz to o lyfe ryn, hot be dyuers
pathis : for euery chosyn be jjat* way of vertew gose to ])e kyngdome
of blysse in fe qwhik he is moste vsyd. And if }pai vertew in 3o
1 Before this in another hand : he that is.

■c

Bk. II. Ch. 6.] I. The Fire of Love. Profit of Meditation. 81

qwliilk"' lie passis more byrnytigly draw to \q SAvetnes of go([is lufe,
]7e qwhilk is siipposyd strangar m \q moste rest^, truly, to god
qwlien he saH cum pat dwellynge-place off heuenly loy & Jje seef
4 he takis to meyd' Jiat criste has ordand to be had to moste perfyte
lufars witA-outyne ende. U ))e lufar berfor saA^es b«t glori^^.*? dyttis Tiie lover

1 ^ p • ^ fv would never

of hifc has made & he Jjaf passyiigly to god?6* lufe is chosyn, rcyrst^ leave lus love.
he caris & desyres paf his harf fro his le?«man neue7* depcn't^, \a\, fe
8 mynde of Ihesu to hyme be als melodye of musyk at a feste and in
his mouth it is swettar ))en hony or hony-combe ; H Bot )}e lengar spiritual
in gostly study he vsys hym-self, J)e swettar to hyme if is. And. i^^^^^j^^f®
|)en his mynde fro vayn & euyl Jjoghtis it^ withdrawes & to desyre pursued;
12 of his makar if byndis, & aH-to-gedyr into criste it gedyrs, & in
hym })e welt of lufe, if stabyls, & \)ai hym ali onely he lufe & in [FoI.
hvm onely he be glad if prays. U Now cum in-to hys sawle sweif s^eet affee-

"^ '' . . ♦'ons and

affeccions & wondyrfuH: meditacions, onely faue?'abyH to god, I'© JJ^"'^J.^'^5oIi
16 qwhilk^ tastyd, & in J)is mynde w/t/< inte?icion sprede, it chiryschis g^JJ]^^^*''®
more ))en may be spokyn & Vsiih grete likynge & swetnes of sph-ytf
to behaldynge of heuenly ))inges |ja leed*, & fro desire of warldly
solas ]7a clens, so J^at god/s lufar no J)inge sekys in J}is warld' bof Jiaf
20 he may in wyldernes bee & to likyngz's of his god onely take heyd'. /

Afterward' truly strongly & weH: vsyd in prayinge, in meditacion when ex-

T)€riGncG(i in,

gyfin to he rest, all wykkydnes kylland' & vnclennes, & a straytte prayer and
way takand', w^t^ discrecion gretely he prophetis in vertew of lufe ^'e sees hea-

24 eue?-lastiwg<, & hys affeccion gos vp, so jjat entre is opynd' in be- ^jj^^.g'" '''^
haldynge of heue^dy misterys to ))e ee of his mynde. )?e Byrnynge The burning
also qwhylk^, before he felf nof, hys sawle begyns to kyndyH, & kindled in the
in ])af qwliils he is profetabilly occupyde now qwhykliar, now

28 slawlyer, / it warmes, als {)is rotynly body suffyrs J)e [soule] \iat it
heuys & off-tymes dowen castynge^ with dyuers heuynes, so fat J?e
self sawle wi't/i heuenly swetnes a-noynf & qwhykkynand* to heuenly
likyng< ]?e self* cleris mikylt to pas furth be gude desyre / & it irk/s

32 to dwell in ))is deedely flesch. Neuer-j^e-les gladly it suffyrs ad-
uersite \ai happyns, for in loy of eue?-lastynge lufe swetly it restys, /
and ]7af loyfuU songe ^pai it, gladynde in Ihesu had takyn, aH: ]?inges Nothing can
J?af happyns may nof distroy, bot in deyd' ])e fendis falshede ]jaf ^ sougdijoy.

36 flees a-way, & jje begillywg^ vanite of warldly worschyp gos in
despyte, ner jje fleschis softnes is soyght ne lufyd'. ^ J)is Jjingz's ar

^ prout permittit corruptibilitas corporis animam aggravantis & variis mo-
lestiis sepe deprimentis.

^ et inefficacia diaboli iiiachinameuta evolant.

HAMPOLE. G

S2 I. The Fire of Lace. ImllformJce Things TcmjKrral. [Bk. II. Ch. 0.

arniyd ngayna godw cliosyii, }fai aH-to-gotlyr vnauisycj to ^er ower-
tiirnynge fat \er conuo'sacion has in heuyn ))ai iiiyght* faH ; bot )ja
jwofet not* ))anie to ouercuni, bof |)r(t godcl//* holy lufar in crislw
name viibyrsyd* &, als wer w/t//[out] stryfc gladynde, says, Tu 4
autem \thnnine\ siuiccpfor meus es: lorde, })ou art my takar, \)at
malici?/^ prikkyng/s of my fmwariH enmys me make [not] vnrestfuH.
My^oyi«nn Gloua 1)16(1, my loy, for in ]>o is al my loy, not in my ve^-tew, for,
hi my virtue, sent* it is not* bot of ))»», Avorthely aH to fe is gifyn, no-finge to me. 8
4' ejcaltans caput meum : & my hede, J)af is to say, fe heyst paj'ty
of my sawle be ]>e qwhik pa nethyrar, jje fau^rand, ar gouyrnd*, to
gostely songe & conte?y/placione lyftandl, |jou suffyrs not in )>is
law & fowle likynge of fis warldl to be caste downe or in-bune. 12
H jjis sotliely is )je heed J)«t in oyle of gostely gladnes ))ou has made
fat, fat* in charite it snide bolne & be to me calix inehrianSy fat is
to say, drynke of inwarde swetnes \i7tehrianfi\ my sawle wiHi lufe of
1 shall be my makar, and slepy I sal Ivgge, fro lufe verraly tumyd of temporaH 16
fn.mioveof finges, & SO as wer with swetnes no-finge of erthly myrth felandf
things. or heuynes, to clerenes eue?*lastynge I ain ledde. In fis swetnes

[Foi. truly of he lufe fe consciens schynys, for clennes \er lastys, & \q

hart* likyngly waxis warme, fe mynde, myrthyd viiili giftis, waxis 20
bote, nor it likys not to behald? lustis of fis exile, bott* gladlyar
The mind bittyrnes of fe warlcV if halsys fe swetnes fen to folow, II fifor in
in unfailing likyuge f«t* fuylis uot* vsid, to Ihe^'U lufe w/tA so byrnynge desyre
near to Jesus, it cessys not* to drawe frtt als sone & als lightly fe warld? [fou 24
myght] turn vp so downe as his mynde fro his sauyour lufe gayn-
caH. U AH finge forsoth it* liatis fat contrary es to god/** lufe, &
vnwerily it byrnys fo f ingw to fulfil fat* it* seys & knawes plesynge
to god. H )5is certayn it suldf not* leefe for any payne or wrechid- 28
ues, bot* qwhiklyar it* suld by god/s wyH to do if it cowth persaue
desiring no- any liardl f inge he suldl soffyr be fat* cans. H Truly of e?- he f ink««
love Christ, not nor de-syres bot* criste truly to lufe & his wiH in att kyndes to

do wit/i-owt* cessynge. II A mynde \fiih deuocion of god made 32

ryche f is byrnynge witt in gudenes of his le7?mian has takyn ; for-

soyth he f«t it* chase fat* it slyke on myght be fat* cristis pa?*fite

le9«man sche myght* habyde & a choys veseli suld? be fat suldf be

fillyd wtt/< fe nobilest lycur of swetnes of heuynly lyfe, & his name 36

fatt* is chosyn of thowsandys, \\ii]i a mynde eue>iastyuge it suldf

The darts of continwe, & yfith-vo. fe self euer fiukandf wit/i-hal(J, And fen be

a^twt'aitrue god/d' help att lettyng/^ of lufe he saH caste oute, And in god he saH

unavaiung. be glad, for fc dartz'd' of owre enmys agayns slike a lufer saH not* 40

Bk. 11. Ch. 6.] I. The Fire of Love. Eternity is better. 83

auavH ; bot sikyrncs in conscieiis with clerenes vntrowd of inwaril?
swetiies of hys lufe lie sali take, / And euery liowre his spirytf he Every hour

"^ . ' "^ would he give

waLl' ^elde, for in a gostely criynge beand' euery day frendefully in up his spirit,
4 byrnynge of lufe is clensyd', ]?af no fylth of jje fowlnes of pe goste
may last ; H Qwhils Jjoghf in god continwdl, ali wykkednes cast^
owte ])at males mevys of owr enmys, & fyre of lufe varily in niynde
bydinge aH co?^tagiuste of synne it< clensys ])at be an vngettyn
8 desyre is drawen. U ])& affeccion truly in grete heght^ set^ is so
sikyr J)af neclige?is aii-way if is ware of & als a deedly enmy castis
away, bisynes & dreid qwhils it* lyfis it* leuys not*; for be bettyr a The better a

. . man is, and

man is (^ to grod more accept*, be more in charite he byrns & to the more ac-

*^ J- ' / -^ ceptable to

12 wyrk bisilyar & strongar fat to his degre & lyfe \ongis be Jje God.theinore
prikyng^6■ of lufe he is styrd'. And ali-way is bisy jjat* mynd' of his charity,
svvetyst* le??mian out* of his foght* be a mynwt* scryth, j^at* not onely
in clethynge bot* als in deyd' to hawe he pinkis qwhome to lufe

10 with alt his hart* he knawes he is bydyn. And gretely he dredis
pat* he be drawen in ))is Ipingis IpaV ar lest* hym to greue. U Not* [FoI.
only certayn he bisys hyme, with all hart*, ])at to fulfyit, als he is He takes'
bydyn criste to lufe, bot* also with grete likynge he is takyn ])at* his toLveChrL^

20 lewmian he neuer forgettys, ne fro hys lufe he wil not* part* hym- forget mm.
self, bowand to teiwporaR likynge, if he my3t* do ])at he walde
w/t/i-outyn payne. He is truly expe?'t*, gostely likynge swettar pen
bodily lufe ; & perfore it* wer meruayl if he to so grete wvongis suld'

24 slype, gostly cherefulnes forsakyn, hyni-self if he wald? make redy,
pis fenyd &, as war, fals felicite to reioys, or in fleschly bewte oue?'-
cumne, Ipat wald' desyre pe qwhilk* forsoyth ilk* holy lufar of god
hatis. H Sum, no meruayl, fowle has begillyd fleshly desire, Ss

28 bewte to syght schewd sum wys & als deyote to vnleful halsyngt's
has drawen, for in charite parfytely pa were not groundydd' nor to
lufe endles pa alway drw not*; qwharfore with tempyng?s halyd*,
qwhen pa semyd ascendl, or pa to heght* myght* cum has falne

32 downe. U Bot* doutles a trw lufar of euerlastyngnes emonge a true lover

of Eternity

te7»ptacion haldys hym-self stabyit, & in pat* stryfe he wyns a holds himself
crowne, qwhen odyr vnstedfast ar slayne. And crist/s Infers aH temptations,
obstakyls cessis nott to cut* away, & per hart* aU holly before per

36 makar pa scheed*, / & not als pis pat per fote in lufe has not* festynd,

fro pe heght of per meuynge downe castin, wax lene, bot* rather chltlt, sLad-
with-owP chaung^ goand, stabilly standys in wel begone, norischyd' go^od begfn-
& forth broght* in swetnes of heuynly sauyr, pat pai may gyf light* ?o"g1v€ S^

40 in ensaum]3yH of holynes to pame pat ar per out* & with -in pame- out.^

G 2

84 I. The Fire of love. Sin ends in Death. [Bk. II. Cb. 7.

self viiih fyro of lufc swotoly hyrnys, 51 Errors alsso of Heschly
dosirs bo desire of clennes ))a sal sloe, / |)of aH no man in ))i8 lyfe ))o
■vngendyrdi concupiscence fully may slokyn, or be so parfyte ))jit* ho
in flesch may lyf ^ neuer syne. And so be Jjis nor ))i3 pa?-fyte man 4
parfitely here saH not be helydl, bot* in heuyn qwher lyght^ of ioy
his wytf comforthis god to behaldl, & pess eue?*la8tynge greuys &
heuynes satt scomfett^ ^ kost* oute, \ai no greyf nowe of comipcion
now be qwhen euyr-lastynge blistnes confennys ))e scumfetore. 8
^ jje mynde emong* lat wakkyn & wit/i lufe abydynge desire if to
be kyndykV, Sz studye it to escliew likyngw of ))is seyn vanitcs.
The drejrs H Jje dreggis of syne to deed truly abydis, bot* in deed it* parischys
until deuih. & lougyuge of kynde fat eue?y chosyn hyme-self abillaijd to lufe & 1 2
with he grace strenghtyd, agayns |)e dreggis w/t/i clennes armyd
glorius batels suld? vse & att jjinge he sulcJ caste downe ))at emnyly
lufars swis. U Here-fore sikirly qwhils fe feghtand ouercomys & is
nof ouercumne, i7i-to a me?*uellus myrth he is lyft*, to qwhonie al IG
his i/nvard? me??ibyrs ioys, for in hym-self he felys inspiryd a
[Foi. mistery of lufe, [&] in a honyly heef he ascendys on heght*, & with

gostely songe behald/** sweif louy??gi6' sched to ]>e lufar, to deed
somesny hastand & to vnbeing/ij to mevingw of lleschly affeccions. U Su7» 20
rltua/wlif^hi P^^^^^ licrc-to, say[a]ndl \iai a swete Jjinge in his harf sowndys & of
their hearts, gostcly songc, qwharf ore he is rauyschyd firstandl <fe he is gladynd* ;
bot )?a ha not expownde, ))«t I myght* vudyrstand*, howe \er ))oghf
was chaungyd to^ songe & melody in mynde abidys & in qwhat 24
mane?* of louynge his prttyers he syng/6'.

pat a trew lufar onely his le;;mian lufys, and of
dobylk rauischyng«5, ))at is to say, ovvt of body
& owt of lyftynge of ]>^ mynde hi to gode S; of 28
J)e wor)?ines here-of. [Cap. VIL]

H

eyt of a longyng* spirytt in hym-self schews a pure lufe of fe
fairnes of god, for no-J)inge he sekys bot his lemman & alt

The mind 19 oher dcsyres clerely he slokyns ; And so freely be mynde sweitly is 32

HO pleasantly i » "

borne to- "bonie in to brtf it hifys, And be band? of lufai*s wylHs stabilly is

it loves, confermyd, qwhills no binge happyns \a\} a lufer fro his purpos

that the lov- , , , i,-iixii.i.

ing one, put- may lett*, nor \ai may gar hyme turne agayne to pinke oght els, pat

delay, may |je lufaufH, wM gretc csyucs, his- desire may take & swyftly, aH 36

ing of love, tariyugs put* bak, he may [ryn] to halsynge of lufe. H Emong* J)is

1 MS. to to - MS. his his

Bk. II. Cb. 7.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Ravishing. 85

delitys qwliillc* he tastis in so swete lufe bymand', a heuenly priiiyte
in-sclied he felys, \ai no man 3itt;^ knwe bot^ he ^a\f has resauyd it*
& in hyme-self berys, be letwary bat* ali ioyf uH hilars in Ihesu Joyful lovers

. cejiselessly

4 movstis c^ niakis bame happy, bat ba cees not* to hy in henenly i>a«tetohea-

•^ •• i 1. ^/ t ^ o ^ venly abodes

setis to sytt* [&] ioy of ])er iiiakar endlesly to vse. U Here-to truly
))a 3eme in heuenly sightis abidynge, & i^iwardly seet ofyre aH ]>er
inhere partys ar glad with playly schynynge in lyghtt, And Jiame-
8 self jja feyli gladynde with lufe niiryest & in loyful songe wondyrly
meltyd. U And ]>er(ore jjer foghtis ar mayd sweytt* in fere saruys,
for on per lufe Jja j?inke, in scripture stodiynge & jjinkynge & also
writynge, & fro ]je wonte voyce of louynge ]?a go nott*, pat forsoyth
12 sail be supposyd me?-uayH qwhen o mynde too piuQis saH: fulfyH
And tane heed to hi o tyme, paV is fat* worschyps & lufys to
Ihesu syngand' it* oifyr in mynde loyand^ & als with fat f«t* in
hokis is he vndyrstand', & nowber of er hurtys. U Bot f is g7Y<ce This grace is

It • ' t> t 11 11-11 1 not given to

IG generally & to ati is not* gifyn, bot* to a holy sawle holylyest taght*, aii.buttaught
to qwhome f e excellence of lufe schynis, & songz's of liifely louynge,
criste enspirynge, comunly byrst* vp & now mayde als wer a pype
of lyue, in syghte of god more gudely fen can be sayd, loyand'

20 sownd/s, fe qwhillv^ fe mistery of lufe knawand' & with greet* crye timt.knowing
to liis lufe ascendynge i7i wytt* in scharpyst*, & wysse, & in felynge otiove,
sntteH:, not spred in f ingw of f is warld' bot* in o god aH: gedyrde & xxxvi. a.]

sett*, fat in cleiines of coviscience, & schynynge of sawle, to hym it ^fg

ascends to

love with

a loud cry.

24 may saryff qwhome to lufe he has purposyd, & fe self to hym to

n-yff. be clerar certan lufe of a lufar is, be nerre to hym & more The brighter

^•J ^ ' '^ *^ is tlie lover's

p?-esent* god is, H And be?*by clerelvar in god he ioys & of be sweit* love.the

A o' r J ^o J r nearer is God.

gudenes f e more he felys, fat* to Infers is wont* fe self* to inscheed',
28 & with myrf wM-out* comparison in-to Imrtis of meyk to scryth.

IForsoy th f is is pure lufe qwhen desyre of non of er f inge with it* is P»"e loye has
mengyd, nor to bewte of bodily creature he has non inclinacion, bot anything else

^•^ ' •' ' mnigled with

rather, the scharpnes of his mynde clensyd, in o desyre of eue?*- it-
32 lasty7^gnes Al-to-gydir he is stabyldl & with frenes of spirytt* in-to
heuyns bisily he behaldis als he fat* is rauischyd' with bewte of any
qwhom he may not bot* lufe & behald'. U Bot rauischynge is als it*
is schewyd, i?i-t[?^]o wys is vnderstande : II 0 maner forsof in qwhilk
36 sum man is rauischid oute of fleschly felynge, for fe tyme of hys

rauischynge f att* playnly he feyH not* in flesche, ne qwhatt* ner navishing is
qwhat is done of his flesch, & 2it he is not* dede bot* qwhikk*, for ^it* taken out of

^ ' ^ i ' ^ fleshly ieel-

fc saule to fe body gifys lyfe — And on fis mauer sayntis sum tyme jj"^'jf^![|}'^'^^
40 ar rauischyd to fer p?"ofett* & ofer mens lernywg*, als paul, rauischyd'

86 I. TJie Fire of L(m. Of Ravishing. [Bk. II. Cli. 7.

to fe ))irtll hevyn ; And on fis maner synnars also in visyon sum-
tynio ur raiiyschyiil', {)at ))ai may se leys off sayntt* & paynes of
Another way dampnede for \('r conecciofi, And ober uls we rede of many. ^ An-
orthoiniiui o^.)' mane?* of rauischynge jjer is \ai is lyftin^^ of mynde in-to god 4
tion*'"'*^"* ^^ conte///placion ; And fis maner of rauisching is in att faf ar
pa?-fyte lufara of god, & in none hot* in fame fat* lufys god. / <fe
Tiiuuweii weH bis is caldl a rauisclivn^e als be todyr, ffor vfitlt a violens it is

called *• ra- ^ J o r J i

iVi« aSi *"^ <ioyiie & als wtT agayus kynde, & truly if is abowne kynde fat, of y
natuie. a fowle synnar, may be a chikH fulfyldl with gostely loy in to god
borne. ))is manp;- of rauischynge is to be desiry(¥ & to be lufyd.
& truly criste ay had godis conte«;placion, botf neuer drawen of
bodely goue7'nance. Dyuers )}e?'fore it* is be lufe in felynge of 12
flesch to be tane, / & fro a bodily felynge to a syglit* loyfuH or
dreedfull to be tane. U Jpat* ravyschinge I hald? best of lufe i;*
qwhilk* man may adyH moste mede. / Clerely to see hevynly
They are fing/s long/ij to rewarde, not* to increse of meed*. H Rauischydl also IG
vished in love in lufe bai ar calde bc(t to his savio?«;" desyres holly & parfitely ar

whose desires . ■' '^ j ./ i ./

are Riven givyn & worfcly to fe heght* of conte7?zplacione ascendys, with

Saviour." wysdom vnwroght* fa ar lyghtyud*, & heot* of fat lyght* vndescryuyd

XXXVI, b.] with qwos fayrnes fa ar rauischyd fa Ave?* worf i to feyH. \)is to a 20

denote saule truly happyns qwhen ati his f oghtis to godis lufe ar

ordancJ & aH waueryng/s of mynde gos in-to stabylnes, & now

nowf e>* it wauyrs ne houys, bot with aH desyr in-to on broght*, &

sett with ful grete heef, desyrs to criste, to hym spreed & givyn als 2 i

no-f inge is wer bot f is too, fat is to say, criste & fe lufaucl saule.

The ravished ^ To liym be?'fore it* is tyd with be bande of lufe vnabyl to be

soul is tie<l to r n i t r

<^hri8t with lausyd* ; [&] fleynge be passynge of mynde a-bowne f e bowndz** of
S* b^**' J'® body a me?-iielus moyste?* itt drawys fro heuyn, to qwhilk it sukU 28
loosed. neue?* cume bot if it had bene rauischyd be god«s gras fro inwarde

affeccion in gostelye heght sett*, in qwhilk*, no me?'uale, helefuli
giftys of grace it resauys. H Qwhils it fe?*fore aH onely godly
fingis & heuenly, wiih free hartt*, not dryvin agayn knawyngly, 32
finkis, / his mynde, also abowne aH bodily & visibil in-to heuenly
chaungyd & takin, he seis. iNere it is wz't/i-outyn donte, fat in
hym-self varilye he take & feyll fe heytt* of lufe, & fen in-to
gostely songe & swetnes fe?*-of he be nmltyn. \)at t?'uly of fis -
rauyschynge sal felow he fat* is chosyn fe?-to; fe?-for fis rauisch-
Ravishing is yngc Is gietc & wondyrfuH. / It passis truly, as I suppos, aH dedis
everlasting of f is lyfc, for it* is trowdc of euerlastynge swetnes a fortaste. / It

passis also, gylles, aH oft?* giftys fat in fis pilgi-image to saynti*- 40

Bk. II. Ch. 8.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Ravishing. 87

god gifys to meyd'. / In |?is truly wor])i ]?a ar a hyar place in
lieiiyn for hereby in ]jis lyl'e more byrnyngly & re.stt'ully god J;a lia
lufydji H Als to liee reste it^ is desyrd' to seke & bald', ffor in
4 mykyli bodily bisynes [or] in vnstedfastnes or wau6^ry?^g^ of niynde
nowdyr it is getyne nor baldyn. / ))erfor qwlier any to Jtis is lyft^, when any

, n 1 o one is raised

futi 01 ail loy & vertevv he Jyns, in sikyr swctnes he sail doo, & above un-

steadtastness,

aftyr Jiis lyfe Q\\\on^is aungels cu??ipanys fuH worjji & nere god he iieiivesinjoy
8 sal be. H In ])e nieyn-tyuie ce/'tayne he has SAvetnes, beet, & He has the
gostely songe, of qwhilk^ before I hafe oft* touchyd, & be bis he giiostiy son<,',

° -^ ° ' ^ . J J r by which he

saryfys god, & hym lufand w/t/i-oute partynge to hyni draws. / serves God.
Bot sen ]?e body j^af rotys grenys \q sawle, Si ))is warldly dwellynge
12 owr sensualyte many fiiiges ])inkand? cast^6' dowue, J^^^rfor not ay
wet// slyke besynes synges, nor w/t/i euynlyke gostely songe )?e
sawl in aH tymes cryes. H Su7?i-tyme ce?'tayn more he felys off sometimes

D7T1VT1 • 1 ^'^ ^eeX^ more

beef & swetnes & wet/i dimcultee he syngas, su?/i-tyme truly with sweetness.
IG grete swetnes & besynes it is rauyschyd qwen beet is felyd Jje lesse ;

Oft* also in-to gostely songe with grete myrth he flees |e^] passis & oft he passes

into spiritual

also he knawes ]?e heet & swetnes of lufe \\ith hym ar. H jN eue/-- singing.
J?e-lesse heet is neuer wet/i-oute swetnes, ))of aH sum-tyme it* be xxxvii. a ]

20 vv/t/i-outen gostly songe, J)e qwhilk also bodilye songe lettys, &

noys of langilars makes to turne agayne in to \)Oi^i. In "wildyrnes in the wilder-
more clerely ])ai meet*, for \ier spekys })e lufyd' to ]?e hart* of |)e loved speaks
lufar, als wer a schamefuH: lufar, Jjat his lewmian befor men halsys of the lover.

24 not, nor frendely, bot* comonly, & als a straungere he kyssis. ^ A
devoute saule sikyr fro wardly bisynes in mynde & body departyd,
only crist/s plesaunce desiramlf to vse, / onone cums hevy/ily ioy, &
it me?-uelus]y myrthand, melody to it spryngz'6' qwlios tokyn it*

28 tak?'*', bat* now forward wardly sownde fjladlv it suHVrs not*, his No man has

, -, . 1 -n ?i . 7 n 1 • known spi-

is gostely musylc*, bat is vnknawen tin ail bat* wit/i wardly bisynes ntuai music

^ J J ^ r y J J but one who

lefuH or vnlefuH: ar occupyde. ^N'o man \t>r is \a\j fis has knawen ^^^'^^^^^^'^A^Ji
bot* he fat* has stodyyd to god onely to take hede. ^"'ly-

32 The desir of a lufar to god is sehewyd, & J)e ciirsyd
lufe of this warlde be many ensaumpyls ar
declaryd, & J)at pe mynde of god inwardly lufars
byed/5 nott. [Cap. VIIL]

^ quemadmodum siimma qiiies ad hoc re(piirenJuin et retineiiduia ex-
poscitur.

I

88 I. The Fire of Love, I am lou7id to Jems Love. [Bk. II. Cli. 8.

Sweet Jc«ui, /^\ swcte Illfi^fu, jji lufo ill nio I bynde with a knot* vnabyft to be
lovo in me \J lowsy(K sekaiiil bo tresure bat* I desire, and lon«'ynj?e I fyndo,

with a knot -.,x i e «--o./»

timt cunt iKj for 111 the I cese not to tliyrst. }3erfor as wynde my sorow vaniscliys,
for my meyd is gostely songe fat no man seys. In-to swete songe 4

1 long to die myn inwanlf kynde is turnyd*, & I for lufe longM to dye. U Lyght*
gretnes of gyft/*' me delit/x, Sc tariynge of lufe yxith loys me ponyschis,
qwyls pa. cu)ti |)nt me takes, & takandl rcfrescliis. Bot J)o ))ing?rf
want fat to me longynge my le?;Mnan 8ul(F schew, Jja wondf me J>at^ 8
I longe, & my lorigynge fully not 3it fa heel, botf rafer encress, for,
lufe growing*, longynge also encresis. Sic defecit in dolors vita meUf

My life fails <$" «wwi m gemitibua ; bus failys my lyfe in heuynes, & my aeris in

in lieaviness, /.« ii.x iiiroTi r ■, ■, .

juui niy years Avamewtyng, lor iro my lute i am put bak^, [&J desyre of deed! is IJ
"wji/i-drawen, & medcyne of wrecliis tarys ; & I iw crying/a lys <fc
sayes : Jteu mihif quia, incohdus mews pvolongatus est : * Alias, my
laboz^r is lenghtyd ; luf if is fr^rt me noys, lufe fat me likys. [It]
me chastis, for soyne it* is not* gyfyn frit so mykil is lulydl; lie 16
gladdis, for wiili hope he refreschis & coumforth vntrowedl in f is
hetis he scheddis. II Grete longynge sothely growes qwhen be ioy

oreatheat of lufe qwheu fe dyte of gostly songe ^ is in f e sawle, & grete heytt*

to sweet lose, to sweite lufe gyfis increse, & now no finge is so lefuH as to finke 20
dede lyfe. U ffor fe flowre in qwhillc* this foght is norisshyd, it
may not haue ende, bot Toy fat* bisily waxis grete in f e lufar, Sc fat*

The fulness of is woudyr focjhf, of decde & melody it* makis aH one. H Truly

mr happiness ^ *

&XVII bi ^""^^^^^ ^ ^" ^^^® drawe, fulnes of my blistues in me begynnes, fat* 24
draw near\o ^^^-^lyo^ty god qwhome I lufe to me satt gyff*. / My seet* sothely
S^^habita- ^^ place is ordawdf qwher lufe kelys not, nor vnto slawnes may not*
£Jfiforrae ^ow^. His lufe ce^'tayne my hart* kyndyls for his fyre I may feyH,
^snS!^ qwhar-by strenght of my sawle knawes no greyfe qwhils I am 28
I faint for strenglitydl holly in solace of lufe. U ffor lufe I faynt* & in holy

love, and ....

spndaiimy sighinge al my tyme I spende, & fat to me sal be no repreife bo-for
Bighing. godis aungel to qwhos felischyp byrnyngly I desyre, w/t/i qwhome

also \n strong* hope I by id to be endyd. ^ And lovynge fat* gladyns 32
a longar now sail relees, & blistfuH syght* with Ioy saH opynly
Jimsl^'e^ schewe faf he desirydl & lufyd. H Lot* ay woo be to fame qwbos
*?tC^e ^'^^'^ ^^ slippydl Si passydl in yanite, Sz fer ^eris w?'t7i haste ar pari-

schyd wit/i-outen fruytt* of charite, fat* longis in lufe ynclene And 36_.
for fayrnes of rotyn flesch, fat is bot f e couerynge of fylth & cor- Ip
rupcion, w?t7i-outen swetncs to deed ar ledd* ; Apon qwhome also is
fallyn f e fyre of wreth & couetys, & f e swne of light* eutrlastynge
^ lufe crossed oiU before songe.

fruit of
diarity.

Bk. IT. Ch. 8.] I. The Fire of Lou. He is sweet. 89

pa lia not seyiie. ))is gos m-to exiH: filowande \ier vanite ar made
jjame-selefe vayiie als ])0 wer ])at^ ha liify(K j^erfore when ])ai saH
be demyd, pa saH criste scharp & intollerabyH to ])(iv cyne for pam

4 per hart/*' in pis lyfe felt^ hyni neue/' sweet. / ]9a truly here m panie- They who
self pat^ liyni felys sweetf . per doutles welcheryd pa sal hym see. sweet, in
U Slike truly to hym als \te now ar, slike one he to vs pen saH iiere.'simii
appere, / to a lufar certan lufly & desirefuH, & to pame pat< lufyd Him there.

8 not* hatefuH: & crueH. & ^itf pis chaunge of his party is nott*, bott*
of ours; he sothely ay is one vnchaungabyH, hot* eue?y creature
slyke saH se hyme als he is worbi. God truly wylf ally hym-selff* God shows

, .,1 11 no P . 1. 11 . Hirnaelrto

scheuys to ilk man als he wyii, & perfore m one lityii part of tyme each man as
, 12 & at ons to ryghtwys plesyng & to vnrightwys wroth he saH
^ appere. / Lufe truly of resonabiH sawle so doys, be it goyd' be it* The power of
1^. yH:, afte?" it it sal be demyd / ])ai is no-pi?^g' so spedefule to gett* loy is,

euerlastyng* als is be lufe of criste, nor i\o-\)\7i^ sonar brynfj^'*' to to gain joy'

•^ '=> r ' ro Jo everhvsting,

16 vttyr dampnaciun als lufe of pe warld'. / Luf perfor euerlastynge if of the
oure myndes myglit* enflawme, <fe cursyd lufe & hatful of lleschly damnation,
atfeccion far be putt* owt. 5i Swetnes of heuenly lyffe vs moyste &
to vs be not lefuH bittyr swetnes of pis lyfe to lufe ; ffor gaH of

20 dragons, 1 pat* is to say, cursidyst wykkydnes, & bittyrnes of falshedo
is wyen of synnars,^ for pai it drynkand' ar so maddyd pat^ pa see
nott* to pa?;^ qwhat is to cum ; and venum of neddyrs ; ^ pat is
schrewdnes killand', to pa??^^ is dedely drynlc^, & vnabyl to be helyd, [FoI.

24 for pe>- males is i?icorigibyH.

^jpis warld' truly has likyngzs of wrechydnes, ryches of vanite, This world
wondynge flateryng^6', dedely likeyngts, wode luste, made lufe, hate- pleasures
fuH dyrknes, mydday in pe begynynge & at pe endo nyght Qwer- structive —

28 lastynge. I[t] has also salt vnsalt*, sauyr vnsauyrd^, fowle bewte,
horribil frenschyp, chiryschynge nyght*, bittyr hony & kyllande
fruyte. / It base also a rose of stynke. Toy of waymentynge, melody joy of lamen-
off heuynes, louynge of despyte, truly drynke of deed, Aray of rneiody of

32 abhominacion, pe ledar begilaTzd & pe p?7nce downe castand. It
has also pe geme of heuynes & scornf aH: jjraysynge, of lillis blaknes,
songe of soro & foule bewte, / discordynge frenschyp & snaw blak-
nes, solas forsakyn, nedy kyngdoine. It has a nyghtyngale mor

36 rorynge pen a cowe, A swete voys we't/i-outyn melody, a scheep cled a sweet voice
in foxis skyn, & a dowe wodar ben any wode best*. / Flee we pe?-for melody, a

•^ ' X J / / sheep clad m

bodily & warldly lufe, qwos bake has a pryke if aH pe face flatyr ; fo^'s skin,

* Or E. ffel dracowwm. ^ Or R. Viini7« im\nQ\um.

'^ Or R. Venenu?n aspidum.

i)U I. The Fire of Love. The Wwkal shall i>a-lsh. [Bk. 11. Ch. 9.

(pvos tlowrc is iiiioytf w/t// gatt, & ))c i)apc of ncddyrs, jjof it bo
Rhiithburn- ])niK'lv, it^ l>erw I tiwos SiUiyr cuttw mans saiile fro L'ode, & be bath

Ini? with fire ' "^ ' ' * , '^ , . „ ,, „

oihcii. byriiys wiih fyre of hen; qwos gohll in-to inoH satt turne, & ))o

cnsens fyre of byrnstone satt schcecK U Here is lufo wetA-outeu 4 j
lueyknes, wodiies fill likynge, fe qwliilk |)e saiile to it bun siilfyrs I
not* to be loynyde to saynt/« setys or in godw lufe haue likynge. / I
To those who 51 To J)ame sothely )jat has }pLr desyro bowyd to lufe of fis warldly
"oli^^ofthu" creaturis, lievy if is, & to greet byrdyn of god to )jinke, fof niynde S
creaturw. ^^ ^^^"^ ^® swcttysf <fe to |)inkars memelusly it waxys sweytf. 11 If
bunieifS"' ))a begyn of hyni to ))iiikc, onone fro \et' niynde he scrithys Sz to }ptr
think of God. ^j^j, tiiyyti^jg jja tui'iie in qwhilk* ful longe ))a ha restyd. j?ai ar bun

(V'rtan wit// ^er iH custuni, and to so seyk & vnclene myndis wlHi 12
grete & longe vse of gostely J)03t & castyng* a-way of flesclily yinagin-
Theyhnve aciofi AuiigeH foyd? saH not sauyr. U ]?a haue ce/*tan ))e palate of
their hearts j,e harf lilydf wHk feuyr of wykkyd lufe, / qwaifor jjai may not fele
tJ'.e fever of swctiics of lieueiily loy. % Als if it happyn into \iet' myndw gude K>
))oghtt{j to cum, }per byde J?a not, hot soyne, J?e tokyns of godts
i7ispiracione put owf be rotynge of yH, ))a go fro yH to wars, & the
more dampnabilly |)a fale |j«:<t ]?a to ))at gude \at ))a wer wiih touchyd
cowsentw not. U So jja ))at ar cliosyn, ]j«t growndly ar byniyd vtiXh 20
lufe off gode / & to criste drawes w/tA-owte partynge, if any tynie il
jjoghti.y }per saule pluk^ or do stres to entyr, onone to heuyn behald-
andf ))a caste fame out* & with heet* of J)ere affeccioii slokkyns, & no
nie>'uayle ffor with gude custunie Jjaiu-self* }ja rayse so |?at non erthly 24:
[Foi. )'i»ge nor odir of veneniydf swetnes in qwhilk ]?a suldf haue luste J)a

Hethatininis ttike. He sotlicly ]:at i;* parfyte chary te byrns, felys no synne, no
chS^is Avikkyd luste, hot* rather m his god he loys, & nowdyr angyr ne

vnclenncs hyme heuys. 28

Of diuers ffrenscbips of gude & ilk & as it may be
lawsyd ; of scarisnes & of frenschip of men &
wy^/zmen, & of trew frenschip & how chosyn in itt
\n J)is lyfTe loys & of foly of sinne ])«t abstene to 32
mikylk, or ar nakyd, & of flescbly fre/?schip, &
aray of men & wy;;imen. [Cap. IX.]

Friendship is I .Ircuschyp is kuytyugc of two wyllis to lyke |)inges consentyngc

the knitting I-^ ,•,-,. i-<.i ■% i ^

of two wills, J_ & to vnlyke disse?ityng<, and ))is frenschyp may be betwyx 36
JSit'chierty guyd & be-twix euyli, bot be dyuers desyrs. & moste ])is aghf to be

Bk. II. Ch. 9.] I. The Fire of Love. Of Friendship. 01

betwix god h mans saule, j^e qwhilk his wyH to god/*- vvyH is buii between God
to couferme in aH )jinge, so ]?at qwliat god wyH it wyH, & ]?at^ god soui.
wyH nof nor it wyli. J3us sothely be-twyx ]i^m sal be ful f renschip.

4 In meunys desyrs qwer is tru frenschyp 1 god forbede Jjat bodily
sondyrans make partynge of sawh's, bot^ rather ]iq knot vnlousyd' of
drawynge frenschyp sal co??zforth heuynes of bodily sondyrynge,
}pat |)e freynd ^yiih his freynd' sali ))ink he is, qwliils he seys sted-

8 fanes of wills vnlowsyd*. It is certan trw frenschyp qwhen a f reynd True friend-

A • p 11 IP/ 1 • -i • ^ • ®'"P ^* when

behauys nym to his frende als to hym-selr / qwhen he bink^s his amanbe-

•^ "^ J I ^ r haves to his

f reynd? hym-self* in a-nodyr body, & his freynd' he \uiis for hym- [rie"*! as to
self, not for profett ])at he trowys of ^ hym to haue. U Bot it is

1 2 askyd', if })e tone freend erre qwhedyr sali frenschyp sees 1 Siwi some say
says frenschyp is not pf<?-fy tte bot if it be betwyx ])arae pat ar lyke perfect only
in ve>*tewe ;/ bot how was pat parfyte pat niy3t be brokyii 1 }pe tone equals in
errand' now is it not parfyte, & so sothly it may go to no3t. \)a,f is

16 agayns resone qwhere a man is lufyd' for hym-self, not for profett^ or
lykynge. U In frendys sothelj'' is it no3t necessary pe tone be
chaw?zgyd' for chaungynge of pat toper, bot irenschyp, sene it is Fnendsiiip,

.111*. •-■ 11* •-? ^ ' ^^ ^ virtus,

vertew, inpossibyH it is pat* it be voydyd in any man wzt/i-out* his caiisback

•• the erring

20 chaungynge. / Q wharf ore it* is not* brokyn for errore of pe tone, friend,
bot, ande it be trew frenschip, more bisy it sali be to caH hym
agayn pat erryd'. & pus frenschyp bus be callyd' lufe, be qwhilk he
wyH & gettis guyde to hys freynde als to hym-self, & for no errore

24 itt may be brokyn qwhylst pa lyfe. U ffrenschyp certan lyghtlye
is lousyd' qwhen in pe frendes ar nof fune qwharfor he suld' be
lufyd', pat is to say qwhene frenschyp is not profetabyH ne lykand?
for qwhylk freynd?'^ now ar lufyd', & slike frenschyp is fenyd', for it [FoI.

28 may not last bot qwhilste lust & p^-ofett* bydis. H Bot pat be cans
qwhar of^ trew frenschyp in frendys is not dissoluyd' qwhils pa
lyfe, perfor trewe frenschyp is not brokyn qwhils pa ar, bot, pe
tone errand', 3it both may lyfe. & perfore, pof on erre, 3if lastis

32 frenschyp, if it be trewe, for pame-self pa lufe after pam-self as pa
ar gude, pat bus be vndirstandyd not of gudenes of mane?'s bot of
kynde. U Kynde truly gars a man seyk* hym a trew frende, for Naturemakea

- 0/.1 -I o • 1 • • .a "lan seek a

kynde desyrs kyndenes & fayth to kepe, & itt wyrk^&' no-pmge m true Mend.
36 vayne ; qwarfore pat frenschyp pat* is kyndely sal not* be lausyd',
kynde lastyng*, bot* if it be in-to grete wronge of kynde pat* lufyd'
kynde gaynstand', & pat may kynde o no wyse do, bot* if it* be
oppressyd' with rotyn maners. ^ ffrenschyp perfore pat* anypi^ge
^ In margin in another hand ; altered from he ^ fore struck aid before of

I

02 T. The Fire of Love. Of Friauiship. [Bk. 11. Ch. 9.

kyndyls J^at* is not^ |)g same J)at is lufyd', slakM t^ is slokymlti qwcn
fat* )>i»go J^'t^ stirryd* ))e lufo is not* had', / as if maners or riches or
fayrnes fienschyp bo hadi wtt// yH maners, riclics scrij)inge, faymes
wasty«l', fronscliyp Alsso vanyschys & of hym ))jif it* had is saydc 4
FriemWiip no-J)inge vnhai)i)iar |jen to be happy. H Bot* llVenschyp fat kynde
by |H)vcrty, wyrkw iu frendys, \\i\Ji no pouert is cast* owt*, with non evrour done
disease. away, wit/^ none fowlnes of body is endyd* qwhilst kynde lastys put
is cause of fis frenschip. SHke frenscliyp is pure naturel, & ))e7'f()re JS
meydf no vnnieyd, bot if it* oght freyt agayn godi« co;/inianieiit, it* is ^|
worJ)i. It has also a grete likynge with it* knytt* i?i qwliilk it* adyls -
no meyde ne vnfanke. H Tru frenschyp may not* be yvith-out
likynge be-twyx frendys <fe faire desirefuH speych & co???forta])yH 12
chere. / And fis frenschip if it be enformydl with god/x grace &
all-to-gidyr in god it* be, <fe it* to hym be gyfyn, t^ so fen holy fren-
I do not know schyp it* is caldc & fuH meyd-fuH. H I wote not soytlielye be

bv what mis- '^ ^ '^ J J

chance a true qwliat* vuhap now is fullyii bat* vnneyth or seldom is fun a trew 10

friend is sel- ^ ^ J r J

dom found, freyudc : ilkone his awen sekvs & no man has a frende of qwliome

Every man ,j ' ^ i

seeks iiis \^q gavs lic is mv-sclf in a-nodyr body ; ba bow to ber awen p?-ofett*

own ; and no "^ "^ ,; >j ^ r j r

Sd wim is ^ lil^y"g^^> ^ gyl ^^ f ulfyH in \er f rendys fa schame nott*. Jjerof is

aiiotijerboiiy. ^l^'^ij^ f«t fa trew freudys ar not, bot fenyd*, for f e men fai liife 20
nott bot owdyr \er gude fa couet* or to fals flatering* \k> fauyr fa
tent. H fforsoth be-twyx men & wy??imen f of frenschyp be perlius,
for fayr bewtee a freytt sawle lyghtly chirischis & temptacion seyn
settis fleschly desyre on fyre & ofte^ tymes vsyn it inbryngw of body 24
& sawle, & so wy>«mens cu???pany to men is wont to happy n to
destruccion of veytew : And ^it* f is frenschyp is not* vnlefuH bot*
nieydfuH, if it be had with goyde sawle, & for god if it be lufycV,

[Pol. ^ not for swetues of flesch. H If wywmien truly fame-self saw despisyd* 28
of men, of god fa suldl pleyn fat* made fame slik of qwhome men
suld dysdene, & of heyH paj-aunter fa sulcF mistrest* ; fame-self for-

women's sakyu fa trow, if fa counsel! of men or helpe take not. In fame

reasoning is "^ '^ ' ^ '^

uuuMnen's ^^^^^^ Tcsuu is Icss qwhyk, & fe7'fore lyghtly fa ar begilyd & soyne 32
''^uiied'^'^ *^ ouyrcumne, <^ ferfore mykyH fame nedys counseH of gude men. /
Of yl ti-u'y ill ar fa drawen, ffor raikytt redyar fa ar to lykynge of
and look not lustc f cu to clcreues of liolyues. H ber is also a kyndely lufe of

to hohness. ' j i j j

Love of man mau to wouian fat* no man wantys, nor ^it* fe holy, be kynde 36
wa« ordained of god fyrst ordftHfl', bc qwliilk* to-gidyr beand* & acordand? be
kyndely stirryng* felaly fa ar glad, jjis lufe also has hys likynge,
as in spech & honest touchynge & goydly dwellynge sam ; be fe
^ AUcredfrom of; in margin, in another hand.

Bk. II. Cli. 9.] I. The Fire of Love, Cursed he the Seducer. 93

qwhilk^ man gett/s no meyd^ bot if it be mellyd with charyte, nor Joined with
vn])ank^s he getter' bot if it^ be filyd' v^itU synne. U If iH meuynge meritorious;
ryse be qwhome he J?inki.s' of lust & ]3a to it' go, doutles gilty J)a ar
4 of deed*, for agayne god ))ai synne. H )5a trespaa fowH jjerfore ))at
say j^at' ali owr dedys invvarde or vtward' ar meydfuH or vnmedefuH,
for Jia wald' put away, or at J)e leste kyndely dedys & likyng/*' J)a
stryfe in vs not to be, & so confusion too nobyH kynde to brynge
8 in Jja ar not aschaniyd. H ])at f renschyp ce?-tan & cu???pany of but in cases
men & wy??mien is vnlefuH: & forbed in qwhilk fa in covetis acorde
fowH luste to fuHfyH of \er desyre, euerlastynge potand behynde,
in tenipo7-all solas & bodily lufe J^a seyke to florysch. ^ )pa also

12 greuusly synnes, & most Jiat* holy ordyr has takynn, & gos too
women as woars, sayand? for ])er lufe ]?a longe & neliand sweltis in
greet desyre & stryfe of Jjoght/tS, & so Jjame lyght & vnstabyli to
wrechydnes of J)is lyfe & endles also )7a leed. & ])a saH not' be leff

IG vnponyschyd', for ^ler dampnacion with |jame ))a here, of qwhome cmsednre
be psalme is sayde : Sepulcrum. patens est guttur eorum, &c., ])af is mislead wo-
to say : * ^er throytt is an opyn grave ; wiili Jjer tungts falsly J?a
wroght deme J)a??i gude.' H Gode certayne wyH jjaf wymmen of

20 men be not despisyd nor be vayn flate?*ynge be begilyd', bof in ali God would

'"^^■'^ women

holynes )}af longis to body & sawle truly & charitef ully Jiat ])ai be truly and
taght. Bof seldum is he fun fat now so doys, bot rather \ai is to taugrht of
soro, Audyr for gyftys or \er bewte to get, fa study fame to informe.

24 Qwarefore oft-tyme it happyns fat fat if fa tech fame in o finge, in
a-nodyr fa dystroy ^ fame, & fo f ing/s fat wymmen plesys to vse, fat
fa be notf greuyd?, fa wil nott or fa dar nott forbeyd', f of it be yli.
H Trew frenschip ce?-tan is sadned of lufars & coumforth of myndis, [Pol. XL. n.]

28 releve of greif & out puttynge of warldly hevynes, reformacion of
synnars, encrese of holynes, lessyniug of sclaunder, multiplyinge of
gude meydf. Qwliils a freynde be his f reynde be helefuH counseH a friend may

*■ •^ ^g clrawii bv

is drawen fro yli & to do gude he is enflawmyd', qwhen he seis in a friend to
32 his freynd? gras faf he desires to hafe. Holy f renschyp, f e?*for, is not

to be despisyd faf has medcyn of all wrechydnes. 51 Of god truly but God alone

, n D 1 1 r '^^^ comfort

if IS batt, emonge wrechidnes of f is exile, \fiih counseli & help of us in our

J. "^ , r ' r wretched-

frendys we be comforthedl, vnto we cum to hjm qwher aH we sal be "ess.
36 taghf of god & in setis endles seet, in hym fat we haue luffyd? & in
qwhome & be qwhom we had frendys, w2t/i[owt] end Ave saH be glad'.
II ffro fis frenschyp I may no man except be he neuer so holy, bot SjMithout"
he if nedys, bot if \er be any slyke to qwome no man bot Aungellis Sipf ^"^"^"

1 MS. dyrtroy

94 I. The Fire of Love. . Tlie Body is GotVs. [Bk. II. Ch. 9.

saryfs. }fin' ar sum j)at in godM liife Toys i^ with liis swetnes so ar
moystycif pat pi\i may say Jienuit comolari awima mea : H My sautt
gaynsays to be cojwforthid yviih warldly chere with qwliilk wardly
liif.u-s Jjnino-solf rofroschis. H Neu?/--)jo-les it belioiiys J)at aftyr t
Man rejoices kyiulo ik gmcc \n jjis ))ing//* }pat to fc body is nedefutt, tSj '\n me & '\n
presence; mcn, jjftf fa be delity(F. 'I (^who ettis or d^ynkut or takw recreacioii
of hate or coldi with-ouUm likyn^'e? U Qwho has a freynde <fe in
hys p?'esens spoch <K: with hym dwellynge & pa/'f takynge of liys 8
glide is not glad ? f^ikyrly none bot wode <fe fa f^^t wantys rason, for
in fis (fc odyr lyke is mans lyfe cowforthyd', fof it' be fe holyesf <fe
iw god fat qwhikestly loys. II It is not fez-fore of slyke comforth
his 8oui 18 not to be vndyrstandydl * My saule gaynsays to be comforthyd*,' bot* of 12

comforteil by i-io i o ^ p ^\ /.»_« in- »i

tilings 8tink- stvnkand & vnclene <\: vnleiutt comiortn oi warldly binges ; And

ing, unclean "^ ... J r n }

and worldly, afterwarde he sayde ' Lorde, in fi wark foil haat gladynd me & in
The man that fo wark' of fi handle I sal be ioyfiiH.'^ H Qwho denyis fat he saH
fLrrmnks take comforth f^t says hym-self to be myHhydf in god/« wark/^l IG

shall take , . i> i\ i i ^ n

comton. J]ot f e viiwyse man sal not kiiaw f is nor a loytt vndez-stande. bujjt
truly has fe lufe of god, bot not after conywg, fe qwhilk' qwhils fa
study to put by superfluite, fa ar also vnwysely Also fa ar brok/<^ of
fer necessar/^ to cut away supposand? fat fa gode may nott plees, 20
f amself bot if fa cast/s be to mikyl abstinens & vnmesurde nakyd-
nes. H And fof aH palenes of face be fe bewte of solitary man,
neue7*-fe-les fer scruys is not' ryght ordand*, for if fa be bydyn fe?*

Man's body bodis to chastis (fe to brynge itt iii-to fe seruis of fe spirytt, 3it awe 24

imimustbe fa nof fe?' bodys to slaa, bot kepe fam to god/s worschyp to tyme

'he sondyr fe saule fro f c body f«t he has ioynyd*. II Slike fe?'fore

to men ar schai-p & in f a???-self bittyr, And kepynge of frenschyp fa

knaw nof nor f e way f e?'of fa keep. H Lufe forsoth of kynsme??, 28

if it be vn-manerd, fleschly afFeccione iV is calcH, & it is to be brokyn,

[Foi. XL. b.] for it lettis fro god/*' lufe ; And if it be manerd', kyndely it is calde,
<fe lettis nof fro god/6' se?'uis, for kynde in fat iV is wyrk/s not agayns
fe maker fe7'of. H AftyrwanH worfily wy??imen of our tyme ar 32
rep?'euabyH fat nw array to hede & body in so maruelus vanite has
fun & broght vp fat to behaldars bothe drede & wondyr fat put.
H Not onely agayns f e sentens of f e aostyH in golde & dressynge of
here to pryde & wantonhede fa go sarifand*, bot also agayns mans 3G
honeste & kynde be god ordantJ brode horns & in gretnes horribyil

^ R. : Delectasti me do??ime in factuvai tua k in ope^ibiw manuu7n tuaru7;i
exultabo.

^ R. vir insipiens no?i cog»08cet & stiUtws non iwteUiget hoc.

Bk. II. Ch. 10.] I. The Fire of Love. Ahvays tliinh of God. 95

of here wroyght \iat grw not ]iei\ on \er hedis pa sett, of qwlionie women now-
sum ber fowles to livde or ber bewte ba study to i/icrese w/tA paynt- large masses
ynge of begillynge avotre ]ier faces J>a color & qwhittyn. U Cletnyng a>i<i pai»t,

4 also newly korvin both men & wy/?iinen fill fondly vsis, not seand'
kynde qwhat besemys, bot qwhat^ newe nysed' of tithande'.s & vayne seeking only
nwelte ]>& feynd stirande he may vp brynge. U If any of slyke anddi-ess;
]}ing/6' 3ee ful seldum wakt snyb, to scorne he is laghyd, & mor )?a

8 charge a fonde tayli ))en |)er amendys. / Pass ]?a Jjcrfore, takyn be |ja
& also snaryd, jjis ladys & wy?/?nien \at ar cald' wor|)i, |)at desyrs
for a tyme to be fayre & eii*^?'lasty7zgly to be fowle ; for afte?* ])is ioy
lieH: payn ba saii feyli b«t not criste m bis lyffe bot foulest vanite of butiieii-pam

i^ J r J r r J shall come

12 j)is warld' has lufyd, jjame-self crowna?id with rose or J)a Avelkyd, "pont'iem.
bot let vs passe.

% pat with ilk tyme & deyd godis lufe is to be
mengyd pat failys not for wel ne wo. And of fe
16 worthynes perof & of teris turnyd to songe.

[Cap. X.]

Luf of Ipe godhede man ])at it parfitely jjirllis & with fyre of J)e
holy gost truly enflaumys, with meruellus gladnes his saule to

20 it takis & fro mynde^ of a lufar it byndis J)at to vayn itt may not*

turne & to his lufe bisily he goys. AVe may forsoy th, if we be trw we can think
luffars of our lorde Ihe.<fu criste, qwhen we walk apon hyui pinke, walks,
& songe of his lufe hald qwhils we in felyschyp sytt*, & at J)e burde

21 his mynde we may haue & also in tastynge of meet & drynke ; as we eat and
H Att eu^?y morseH: of meet* & draght of drynke god we av/e to

loyf, / And in tyme of our meet takynge & space be-twix morsels

to ^eildl hyin loueyng^'s with honily swetnes and cry of meteli &

28 with desire in meet qwliiel to ^erne. H And if we be in labur of

handys, qwhat lettys vs our hartis to hevyns to lyft & jjoght of andaswedo

endles lufe with-oute cessynge to hald''? H And so in aH tyme of

our lyfe qwhik* & noi^lit slawe no-bincfe bot sleep our hmtis fro hym Nothing but

^ ° ^ ^ - sleep shall

32 sail putt*. IT 0, qwhat* ioy & gladnes to pe lufar scrithis ! ! 0 how [akeour
happy & truly desyrefuH swetnes his saule fulfillys ! U Luf certan ^om Him.
is lyfe abydinge wz't/i-owt end' qwher it is seet*, qwhen Ipe lufe after
lufely desyre in hevyns rotyd p?-osperite ne aduersite may chaunge, [Foi.XLi.a.j

36 als wysist men has writtyn. U ]?en no meruayH: be nyght* to day night shaii

be turned to

^ & ab amoris tanti memoria nee ad momentum vagare permittit, ligat
mentem amantis ut ad sana.

9G

I. The Fire of Love. Lace the Creator oiily. [Bk. II. Ch. 10.

Thin love ia
tnio love, not

Kiviii)f iiiiKeU'

B0llgluJe»U8.

Tbon bIirH
not be over-
come by
beauty, tbnt
tboti f>enot
deAleil.

I am com-
pelleil to say
Bometliing
tbat bearers
and readers
may follow.
All worldly
love is but
porrow and
wretehed-
nei»8.

I may not
love a crea-
ture, but only
my Creator.

He is wor-
tiiiest to be
loved, con-
taining all
tbings iu
Uiuuelf.

lie 8aH tiirne, Dyrknes to lyglit, lieuynes to melody, noy to solas &
labyr to sweet rest. / H )?is liife truly is not of yinaginacion or feiiyd,
bot trw^ & pa?'fytte & to cristo wtt7<-outt i)artynge gywyn, aungel
songe wiVi melody to Ihcsw 3eeldan(V. H And forsotlie if ))ou liife
in |)is maner as I haue sayd", wM ))o best* ^ worj)iest in \q kyng-
dome of gocj to jjrtt^ qwhikly syglif fou salt* be nere futt glori^w.
H Emang* ali i?ipiignacione of fendys movyng* }pai risys of flesehly
frenscbyp, couetynge of warldly fing/i* in heet of lufe & vertew of
p?*ayer wett ))ou salt oue;*cum. Also J>ou salt oue^'cum lykynge of
fayrnes, schewyng^ |)at for aH ))inge )jat may be Jjoglit*, J)oii wold?
not* oils be filyd. W/t/i J)at' also ))ou salt* be tillyd wiili gostly fode,
& fe delis of endles lufe Jjou salt* knaw in sykyrnes ; & als wer in
verray connynge J)at })ou J)e lufar arf of ])e kynge euerlastynge.
H Neue/'-))e-les to no man Jjis happy ns bot* if owder god to liym say
it* or ))at he in hyni-self a grete part* of nieyd? to kum feyl bydynge.
H Bot of )?ame qwarto speke I wi\h odyr fe qwhilk Jjof att })a be
chosyn, fis holy letwary ^itt tastyd not*1 Sum-tyme of my-self I
nieruayle fat I haue spokyn of )je excellens of lufars of godi als qwo
say qwho-euer wyH to it* myght* cum, & 3it it is not of ylk rynnar
lie willar, bot of criste lufand!, lyftand? & takarid?. U J?e smalnes
ce7'tan of my mynde can-not* opyn itt )jat as a blabyrar I am besy
to schew, 3itt* I am co7Mpellyd sumqwhat to say, ))of aH if be vn-
abyl to be spokyn, Jjat herars or redars may stody to folo itt; fynd-
and |jat* aH lufe of fayrest & luflyest* warldly |)inge in co;??parison to
god/s lufe is sorow & wrechydnes. U )3erfore behald? to ^our vnder-
standynge & knaw weii our lorde his lufar makes merwe\iLS Sz raysis
in lieght*, <fe with vn-wortlii luf* of vayn hope it* suffyrs hym not be
castin, bot in hym-self* swettyst* to lufe stabilly kepys. II Luf truly
is coritinual )?oght* vfiili grete desyre of fayrc gode & lufly ; for if |)e
finge I lufe be fayr & not* gude, vnwor])ily I schew my-self to lufe
itt*, if it be gude, to be lufid it is. H Lufe truly of creature, ))of it*
be gude & fayre, to me is forbedf, ]?at to f e weH of gudenes & fayrnes
aH my lufe I suldf offyr & keyp, ^ai he be my lufe \ai is my god &
my Wvesiis. H He onely of hym-self* has fayrnes & gudenes & J)e
self fayrhede & gudenes he is. / Odyr ])inge qwhat-euer it* be, fayr
ne gude it* is bot of hym, & fe nar to hym fe fayrar & ))e bettir |7a
ar. H Wor)?iliest ferfore he is lufyd \at ali fiuge in hym-self con-
tenys jjat wor])i es to be lufycJ & of a lufar to be soght*, qwharfore
of his party no finge withaldis bot ]?«t he moste byrnyngly myght*
1 MS bot. trw bot trw

(

\-l

IG

20

24

28

32

3G

Bk. II. Ch. 10.] I. The Fire of Love, Of Loves Power. 97

be lufyd'. / Truly oglit ellis if I lufe, my coiisciens me bitys bat^ I ifiiove

uusrht 6ls6

lufe not ryght^. I drede fiat at I lufe, luf not me agayn, & 3it [Foi.xLi.b]
I adred for drede ili lufars departis & ali Iper vanites wastis. ^.cJ^Sga.
4 % Oftyms also odyr noys happyns ^ai gaynes & swetnes of lufars
sturbyls : bot' he truly b«t lufys god wiih aH his hart^ be clerar is The more

. 1. . ;,i T-I 1 \n ' -, „ „ '0^'« *0'' God,

in his conscience, / be more byrnynge he knawes hym-self m lur of the clearer

. »- i- w xi conscience.

god. jperfore his luflyest lufe he knaws fro qwhos swetnes dede
8 dep(2?'tzs not^, bot^ jjen p«rfitely his lufe fyndis qwen he fro ))is
warld passis to hym sikyrlyesf he is lonyd pat^ fro hym neue?- after
he sail be putt*, bot* in halsyngu' miriest besily he rynne & hym \>at
he has lufyd & couetyd? opynly seande wit/^-out* ende sal be glorifyed'.

12 U jpis lufe to fyre vnslokynd? I lykyn ; the whilk* no power of msioveis
enmys may cast dowen, no softnes of fiatery may ouyrcum. 11 ]?is quenched,
lufe clensis vs fro owr synnes, & in vnmesurde heet* of obstakyls it cleanses us
byrnys ])at suld' let* to lufe, & in ])e hattyst flawmys of godzs lufe

16 makes vs clerar pen golde & J)e swn bryghter. / ))is lufe bryngis vs and brings us
gostly medcyn, / & I hope no jjinge emonge ali ojjer \at may be medicine,
nowmbyrde of clark?« ))at* may vs socur so mikyii & clens & fro aH
dreggis of wykydnes vs clere als feruent lufe of fe godhede & con-

20 tynuaH boght of owr makar. Teris fro defautis ar wont* to wasch Tears wash
VS & heuynes of hait putzs by dawipnacione, bot* byrnynge lufe ail heaviness of

n68,rt puts

odyr passys, More fen can be ))oght*, & makis mans sawle schyne aside damna-
moste excellently. ])erlovQ before ali Jjinge ])rtt we may do, fe hart* '*„™g,!fyi

24 of ))e kynge euerlastynge itt gettw & in loyfuH souge is worjji to be ^^*^^-
seyn. / I say not, gretynge is vnprofetabyH, ne soro of hart vncu??ily
or not to be lufydl in fis exilt, / bot I meruayH jjat any so hyi
rauyschyd in songe of lufe Jjat in his deuocion or pr^yinge or

28 meditacion may not grete, bot rather I say ]jat prayer & meditacion
of slyke a lufar in-to songe is turnyd' in-to melody of heuenly
swetnes muityn, J)at rather he gyfis aungeH sownde |)en mans, in
qwhilk* lionyly heet Anoy[n]t not to lieuy bot* to loy he is takyn

32 &, teris as wer wyp away, in pe spryngw of endles & tru loy is

myrthyd. H Owr doctors say: parfyte aw to greit*, & fe more The more
parfite more plenteu^s of tenys jjai suld^ be, for wrechidnes of fuller ohears.
J)is lyfe & for jje delay of heuenly lyfe : to me certan a wondyrfuH

36 longynge in god/s lufe was nere, & noy of bodily gretynge's for J)e

gretenes of inward^ swetnes has cessyd*. He ce?'tan wit/i endles lufe Sft burnt'

J)at is not byrnyd^, wzt/i teris nedis to be p2^?'gyd'. H To hym in iove\ieedrhe

lufe euerlastynge Jjat* long^s, lufe is enoglit to chastys, ]ier is no fcml!

^ liy above the line in another hand.
IIAMPOLE. H

98 I. The Fire of L(A)c. Effects of Love. [Bk. II. Ch. 11.

Love'swound wouude^ gTottar ne sweeter ]>en of lufo. Forsotfle^ slykone if he

eit. walcJ wepe, ho is not suffyrc?, most in p7-euay deuocion, in Jjat Jje

holy goste hym vp raisyngo fe mynde is vp takyn, & with aungels
swetnos hifly louyngw & his |}oght/s to god he syngw. J3e seet of 4
lufo is lyft on heghf , for in-to heuyns it rynnys, & in ertli also me

LovenmVes j)inke iW sotoH & crafty fat men 8U7?ityme lufly broyn it makes & m
payH, qwhome it makes to weH ])at afterward* ))a may wax greyne, /
to fayH J)«t fa bo stronge. \)erloTe to rest of endles loy he drawes 8

[Pol. nar, & dredeles hym-self meng/s with syngars to his makar ; for fe

more hyrnyngly he liifys fe swettar he syngz's (fe more delicius ho
felis fat he strongely desirde. / <fe if fe way seyme scharp & longe

LoTebindB to famo fat lufw? not, lufo neuer-fe-lesse, god & man cuppyls & 12

aud man. with scliorf laboiG f ulfylUs f 0 abidars.

That prtfrfitc lufe to god byndis wii//-o\ite lowsynge &
niak/eS man my/zdy of his god, bot lufe of Ipe
warlde fallis to noght, And of the kynde of trew IG
lufe stabille ay lastyng^ sweit soft & prt^fetabyll^,
& of fals lufe, venemus, fowle, & vnclene.

[Cap. XL]

We should T-kis warld? is pa7*fite if we owr myndes fro lufe of e?'eaturzs pythely 20
Lnrts com- JT depart* & to onely god fame truly w^t/^-owte depa?-tynge loyn.
love oYGod. ^ An(j in f is wark" more pa?-fyte we be f e better we ar. ))is deyde
We should is abowon aH odyr, for aH f «t we do to f is ende is referd? fat we to
with God. god pa?-fytely be knytiyd in onned. H And fro fis onned many 2i
f ingts draws, f at* is likynge bewte of fis Avarld?, vanite of men &
wy7wmen, Riches & worschyp, louynge & fauyr of pepuH. jjerfore
fis wark to fulfyH onr-self vs must vse, aft f inge putbak & forgetin
Our love is fat VS myghf lett. H Lufe certan to the qwhilk* we ascend? in fis 28
burning cojU. wark* is qwykkar fen a bymynge coyH & fe effect* in "vs sal do, for
both bymynge <fe sehynnynge owr sawlis it saH make. ))is is lufe
fat of a creature may not be begylid nor in heuyn scornyd ne put
Who pouid fro meyd- / Flawm of fis fyer qwho myghf longe soffyr, [if] it in o 32
it should last maner sulcH ay last*? bot oft*-tymes it* is ter/myrdf ; bat it wast* not*

the same for '^ "^ i J y r

ever? kyndo be fe body fat rotys & greuys fe sawle, for fe rotyng* tlesch

suffyrs not owr mynde in god bisily to be borne. H Hoot ce^'tan of

^ This seems to be altered hij the writer from woynde to wounde.
' to chastis struck out before forsothe.

Bk. II. Ch. 11.] I. The Fire of Loi'e. Effects of Love. 99

verray deuocion is be tynies as be sleep and mys-vse of body or
labyr, & ^it' ))e byrnynge is not slekyd', bot if is not felt as it was
be-fore. To vs truly if cu??iys agayn qwliils we turn nof to god, &
4 makz5 vs mend' of seyknes of mynde, & swetnes it gyffis ; J^e body it frees our
also fro many seyknes it delyuyrs, qwhils it kepis vs in tempe?'ans sickness,
& sobyrnes, Owr saulis it raysis to hevynly desyres, Jjaf we in lawe and raises
bingis bane no delite. ^ bis is be lufe bat criste rauyscliis in-to our heavenly

001 • 1 • desires.

8 hert/s & makz6* owr myndes sweet, j^af wiin-ni to songe of louynge
we byrst vp, & als wer cliauntand', we synge. I hope to ))is be no
lykynge lyke, for wit/^. clene swetnes if nioystis & holy likynge it
gladyns. )?e sawle ))af if tak/s w^t^ blyst fyre is piirgyd, & in if

12 bidys no rust ne fyl]?, bot aH-to-gidyr wz't/i heuenly [ioy] is )?irlyd, so
fat owr inward' kynde in-to godly Ioy & songe of lufe it semys
turnycJ. H ]?us forsoth euer-lastynge lufe glade's & plenteuws lykynge Everlasting
insclled^s^ so ]?at ]>q frendys ])eroi ar nof co?/ipellyd [to] Any desire ^ ^ ^

16 of warldy creature to bowe, bot frely into louynge & luf of Ihe^^u

criste ])a may melt. ^ Lern Jjerfore to lufe ))i makar, if ]io\\ desyre Learn then
to lyfe qwhen J)ou hens passys ; do so jjat jjou lufe god, aftyr ]ji MaklrifUiou
deed' if jjou wylt lyfe ; All jji mynde to hym gyfe ])af fro temporaH death.

20 & endles sorois may kepe it. ^ Be-war ]}i harf fro hym be not
sondyrd' Jjof fiou in adue?-site or wrechidnes bo sett, for so |)0U salt
be wor]}i wet// Ioy to haue hym [&] hym to lufe wzt/ioutyn'eynd', [Foi.
U In |)at certan a trew lufar ])i-self fou scheuys, J)e mynde of god

24 if ])ou suffyr not slyp, prosperite or grefe qwhedyr so cum. IF 0 o good Jesus,
glide Ihesu Jjat gaf me lyfe, me in-to J)i lufe desirand leed', Al myn liie,
entent take to [|)e], \a\, ]jou be ait my desire nor be-^onde ]?e no- let my heart
J)inge my harf sal desyre. U Soro C(?rtan & ali heuynes fro me suld' thing beyond

28 pas, & to me cum ]7at I desire, if my saule had hard or takyn Jje
songe of Jji p?'aysynge. IT ])i lufe euer in vs myghf byde, qwher-of
we may it feyil. / ]pe?-fore my mynde to jji power take & make itt Jeeus, fix my
stabyit, |}at w^'t^ vayn & vnprofetabil fantesis it vanisch nott nor Thee.

32 with errors be scornyd, nor be it bowyd' to erthly felicite or lufe or
louyng', bot my mynde so in ])e sattyld' so in pi lufe byrne Jjcet, ^\ith
no chauns sodan ne auysyd if be kelyd. 51 Any creature of bis if i set my

•^ "^ "^ -^ ^ love and joy

warld' certan if I luf, brtf to my list in aH: kynde suld pleis, & I my inanycrea-

' ' "^ -^ ^ ' "^ tureofthis

36 Ioy & eiide of my solace in it I setf, qwhen if to me suld cum I world the

my3f weH dreed' for byrnynge & bittyr partynge, / for aH felicite ^

\ai I haue in slike lufe in \q ende is bof greteyng^ & soro qwhen if

drawes nere Jiat payn moste bittirly ]?e saul suld' ponysch. H AH

40 likynge also jj^jt men in ))is exile has behaldyn, to hay is likynde

H 2

parting
ould be

bitter.

100

I. The Fire of Love. Locc in-uujs Security. [Bk. II. Ch. 11.

The nature
or irue love

is that it
cliangws not

'\

))at now florischys & waxis greyne Lot sodanly it vanyschis as it had
not bene. H So no meruayle ))o ioy of {)is warlde seniys to J)ame
fat right* behaldw, & solas of synly bonde ilk* odyr filoynge in on
astate neuer abydes, bot passis, to it cum to noghf . In labyr neue?*-
fe-les & greyfe att standw, & no man may \ai eschew. U jje
kynde certane of trew lufe & not fenydf is J)is J)at* if stand ay
stabyH & wttA no new })ing< chaunge. H ))o lyfe ferfore ))af lufe
myglit fynde & truly knaw if in mynde, fro soro it sal be turnydl 8
to ioy vnspokyn & in seruys of melody it is conuersant. Songe
certan it sal lufe, & in Ihe^ni syngancf, to a byrd" it sal be likkyndl to
The comfort ))e dee(J syngand?. U & in Jje diynge pa?'aunter solace of charitefuH
nhaii not fail songc sal not wantc, if if happyne liym to dy & not swyftly to his 12

in the hour of ^ * , ^ , . ' i ,^ , , , i i , i- •

ti.ving. lufe go. Aftyr his passage, forsotn, meruelusly he sal be lyff in-to

lovynge of his makar, & more fen may be trowed? syngandf vfiih
likynge saH flaw & in-to seraphins criynge soyne sali rise, so jjaf in
louynge he saH gyf li3t & bisily byrn endlesly. }f)er saii be hals- 10
ynge of lufe, & swetnes of lufars in hart sal be coupylcP, Ioyny«g of
frendis sal stande euer ; H fe swete mouth sal gyf likynge kissynge
Tiw presence & jjer lufc sal neuer sees. U Presens of my lufe to me gettis gladnes
brings giud- vu-mcsurde & sikyrnes, & of heuynes vfitli hym I haue no mynde ; 20

nes« and a

feeling of aH adu^rsitc vanyschis & aH ofe/* desyres aperis nof, bof fa ar
stillyd & disparischyd, & he allone me holly refreschys & inlappis
fat my mynde allone byrnyngly lias desiryd. U Truly if f ou criste
lufe yviXh all f i wil & aH fylth of wyckednes fou hatis & fi harf 24
fou gifts to hym it boghf, \er he f i lorde be begrace, not f e feynd
be syn ; // Als f i saule criste truly has soghf & vnferde & in sekynge
wolde nof cees to tyme fou fonde hym, so to endles Ioy fou salf be
led & in a bliste sect to god be nere. )5erfore I counseH fe to lufe 28
I haue expouncJ : with aungels take f i place. U j)is ioy &

safety.

[Fol.

XLIII. a.]
Love as I
liave ex-
pounded,
with angels
take thy
place.

as

worschip be-war fou seH: nof for fowl vanite of fleschly luste;
behaldf wysely fat lufe of creatures exclude fe not fro lufe of god.
II In erthe hate fou no wrechidnes, bot fat may fi pure lufe cast 32
ouer & sturbyH ; / for parfite lufe is stronge as deed*, harde as heH: is
tni lufe. Lufe forsoth is a lyghf byrdyn, f e berar nof chargeanc^
bof lightynancJ ; f e qwhilk 3ong' wM al(J makw glad? ; in f e qwhilk^
loys scumfeturs of feyndi*' f er pray takyn ; in qwylk feghtars ar 36
It is spiritual defendyd? agayns fe flesch and fe warl(K Luf is gostly wyne,
tTe'ciiwen "^ myudis of chosyn moystand', & makes fame bolde & manly, \ai
fe venem?^^ likynge of fe warldl fa ha forgetyn nor ferof has
no care bot rather grete scorne. II Of holy lufe no lufar fe?*fore 40

Love does
not burden
the bearer.

Bk. II. Ch. 12.] I. The Fire of Love. Love brings Ha^pyiness. 101

may lose, hot' nedis wyn mykiil, if he kepe it truly in hart^. 1'f Liife
wit/i-oute payn bidys in Jje saule of a lufar, as lufars has schewed',
for lufo maki* pov-fyte & payne destroys. / Parfyte makand' and
4 destroyand ar contrary ; perfore ]>& hart^ parfitely lufand' felis no
payne ne heuynes, nor is not* sory ne sturbylcJ. / })us sothely standis
not^ to-gider parfite lufe & wrechid' heuynes. IT Eff-sones |?at pat
is doyne gladly is not doyne paynfully. A lufar sothely wilfully &
8 gladly wyrkys ; j7e?-fore in his wark* he has no wrechidnes, hot* he is
happy, not streiiydl, not heuy, hot* glad & miry hym-self ay schew- a lover ever
and'. II Lufe ferfore is |)e swetest pinge & profetabilesf jjat* euer self harpy.
resonabyH creature toke. / Luf to god is most accept & moste lik-

12 ynge ; it byiKU's not* onely mynde vfith bandis of wisdom & swetnes
& to god loynys, bot alsso flesch & bloyd it strenys, pat* man slip
not in-to bigilynge swetnes & in-to dyuera desiris of errors. U In
pis lufe he sulcJ wax myghty, strong* & our lyfe stande. U A better

16 dwellywg* place ne swettar neu^r I fand?, for me & my lufly it* has

made on & on of too. U 3it* wardly lufe sal growe & perysch als But worldly
flour of feyld' in somyr, & more sal not* be be loyand bot* as it wer perish as a

summer

o day, / so sikyrly sal it schort qwhyli last, & aftyr pat* in soro end, flower.

20 & so doutles it saH be bitte?' in fonde lufars. U \)er pride & jDlay
in fals bewte in-to fylth sal be custyn, qwen pai in-to tormentw ar
downcast, p«t viith pame sal endles be, not saH itt passe, as dyd \er
fals felicite &; loy pai had in schynynge bewte, voyde hafe pa gone

24 & swyftly vanyschyd aH pai iu-Ioyd'. H God truly gyiis fayrnes Beauty was
to men & wywzmen, not bat* pai to-i^ider in lufe suld byrn, her and women

^ ' ' ^' . , solely for

makar despisand', as ali neiehand' nowe doys, bot pat pai godzcs- gift/i" God's glory.
knawa/jd' in al per hart* hym pa suld' glorify & lufe vncessyngly, &

28 to pat* heue?2ly bewte to qwliome aH wardly bewte in co/?iparisone
is noglit, bisily pa suld desire. If in pe seruand/s of pis warld'
schew lufly forme, / qwhat sal be pe bewte of god^s cliildyr in
lievyu seett*] Lufe we pe?'fore byrii3aigly, for if we lufe, in heueiily [FoI.

32 myrth to criste we saH synge wM melody qwlios luf aH piiige
ouercums. Lyf we perfor \n luf & also dye.

Of ])e felicite & swetnes of godz> lufe & of pe niglit-
ingale songe & pr^yar for p^rseuerans of trew
36 gostely sange \a\j warldly lufars lias not.

[Cap. XII.]

102 I. The Fire.of Imt, TJie Lwe of Jemis is my Help. [Bk. II. Ch. 12.

I know MO ^wottar lust I knaw not \)e7i in luy Imrt to Jjc, I1i6»u, to sywg',

•uretjumto ^^ qwlioiue I liifc, soiige of J)i loyfynge. A bettyr felicite I know

J08U11, ' not* & moro plentouw* fen iw niynde to leyH sweit lieytt of lufe, [&]

of aH ym\;is I lialcl it best Ihe^^u in liart to scot ^ no o\)er Jjinge

desire. He truly has gudo bogy7Miynge of lufe pi\V has lufely tcris

chrut hasted vitUi swote longyngB & desyre of ))ing/« euej'lastynge. H Criste

to win us. truly as wer in our lufe long/.s, qwhils he vs to gett^ with so greet

heet* to ))e cros hyde ; bot* weil it is sayd iu play : * luf gos V^eforc

«fe ledis \>e dawns.' \)at crist put Jjus lawe not was bof lufe. Civn

iny saviowr, my saul to comforth ; in ))i lufe make me 8tal)vH, ))at I

neuer cese ]>e to lufe. Soro do ]>o\\ away qwe7i I saH passe, for slik(!

a synnar J?er is non ]?at may not loy if he to \>e parfitely be turnytK ll

ojesiw.of IT 0 swettyst Ihe^n, of bi mercy hane mynde hit my life mav be

Tliv mercy "

inaVemy lyght, witli \ert\v fulfyld*, my stronge enmy }?at I oue/'cum gyf me
heyl, on J)is wise I ^raj \)e ))at^ I be no^ lost^ with \>q chylde of
dampDacioii. ^ Sen my saule truly ^vith holy lufe was cnsensyd,
in longynge I am set of seynge ])i maieste. / )?e;-fore \>e bcrar of
ponerte made, erthly dignite I despyse & of no worscliyp I care, my
ioy truly isfrenschyp. Qwhen I began to lufe, })i luf my hart toke
& suffyrd me no-J)inge desire bot lufe; & J)en pou, god, iu swete
lyghf my sawle mayd byrne, J)e?-fore in ))e & be )je I may dy <fc
heuynes none feyH. Delectabyli heet^ also is in lufynge hart^, jjat
has deuoryd heuy greyf in fyre of byrnynge lufe, here-of is gifyn
swetnos, musyk goand principally betwix, \>e saule softynand J?er

None can i)e bou, my god <fe my comfortli, bi terwpyH has ordaneJ. H bat Ioy

more desirous • t- i\ ^ ^^ • ^^^

tium 1 of Die ce?*tan is fun delicius to qwhilk^ I lerne, & no man more couetus ni

delicious joy ^ -^

ofTiiyiove. glike desyre may be. Qwarfore my lufly saule in-to ])e kynge of hee

empyre als wer })e spouse araya7«d ])us says : U Lufe haldis my hart'

with band is vnlousyd & in slike gouemance it settis & so gretely

byndis wzt7? me/nieb/s maistry ])at to dy rather |)en lyfe itt plesys to

• fink*, pis flowr ce?-tan may not encV, so is my freyndl byrnandl in

lufe & his ioy deede syng/s Si melody. IT In the begynnynge truly

of my conue?'sion Sc .^yngulere purpoys I ))oght* I wahV be lyke ])e

lityH byrde Jjat for lufe of )je lewiman longz'5, bot in longynge it is

Tiic nightin- gladyndl qwhen he cu?«y8 })at it lufis, Also it long?>, bot in swetnes

KH^e^ingsaii ^^ j^^^^ i j^ -^ ^^^^^^ ^^ uyght^alc to souge & melody aH nyght is

Fov'e'jmuiow gyfjiij K't sclic m:iy pleis hym to qwhome sche is loynycK II How
shoui.iTs'^h.g mykili more with grettyst swetnes to criste, my lhd.su, I sukU synge,
Tiw^Tj^'sas. pat is spouse of my saule, be aH Jjis p?*esont lyfe paV is nyght in

k Ictaudo canit, cancndo & languct sod in dulcediue & ardore.

^^;.

i

lif

^tftf*^ t»« df f|tm«r t4rn«f' t«l*n^

^ 0f ftj^ wan wmpj«r. tw a<uj>
<««u% of ^^Aof ^^«Cmff&^t»<«rm

/tycfCtf^'^6tx(^^^ft^iht^

est 4^ ^ti^nSe f^ t«£e enteu^'tu al^
c»^«4^ <^yi%<tf»i»^fitflfottwdeot»%^/to

>^^#ffe^

dr m ^ f^- ^ nwti^e %/WAcfr ^<li ite
n«Bc^t6yat4^'P&t9atm^^lmtg

^^$p»^ op|mi^«r Am<<ggttijy $«tptt«

^ v^ts^S «8%0 ^iit f^ttu to ^ a>
fn]^'6cf^ to p< ^mr(^ ^to ^ jn*^^
|>*io |»< «&<l«fij7/f^fftf^ ^itcu<rrfe%n«^

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itt^ttSe 6<d^ 'j^dt ft« f5bt« 3o«>. ^ ^

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sotttu <8t fag tvm <^feftBt#^lljii» A<»

Facsimile of leaf 2^'- of the Misyn MS., No. 236, in Corpus Christi College,
Oxford, to show the contemporary (' als,' ' |)ai ') and later corrections.

^ortuv'|M^%'rroftnima«vvt>r»>c*rof^ * ':udCO'|cft»lu>ffc>tfi.ti^-it;rfVti«

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ft; f wc^r^^ '}« cmnpu^ccetiUi of Aif % ^^v4tdti<45' c^to fHff ^nioiiif gm

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tfiti^$T?f tttC<?t^trr/ifiai««i!f^iS^ • ii»^^f^ ^<»« of tucnt%iro-/tffijiv

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5a4f enH^&Cu ttt^ttt^ a^^ur Af ^fMOTar:w8Y9*?tPf«> f^flkaW;K"xi^

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Facsimile of leaf 44*- of the Misyn MS., No. 236. in Corpus Christi
College, Oxford.

Bk. II. Cb. 12.] I. The Fire of Love. The Love of Jestbs is 7mj Help. 103

regarde of clerenes to cum, to longe, longyngly in lufe dee, deyngly
I sal wax stroiige & in lieet I sal be norischyd', & ioy I sal & loy-
aiid likynges of lufe syiige with myrtb, & as wer of a pype bote [FoI.

4 deuociofi sal gif songe & auugelis melody my sa[u]l to J)e hyest sal
3elde wA/i-iufortb dressyd, And of ])& moutb offyrd' in the awtyr of
god/s loifynge, so IpaV uiy saule all-way be gredy to lufe & neuer
fayH with lieuynes or slawtb fro ])e desyre it tok. Ilolnes sothely

8 of mynde, redyiies of wytt, beet of verray desire, & turnynge to god
be contynuance of J^ogbt, Ipat ar in boly saules, suffyrs fame not
dedly to synne, And if ba be freylnes or ignorans synne, ouone True lovers,

. , . who sill in

^v^th ])0 pryk7,s' ])ai ar raysyd to tru penance, nor longe m synne pa ignorance.

12 sal byde, poi it wor liky/^g^ jjat pa. drw to. / Venyal forsoith pat pa raise.ito
do, in fyre of lufe J)a waste, o les J)at any witJi slike negligens be
cast down ))at ]»ai weyn it be no synne in pat jjai trespas, & charite is
not Inogli to putt away all pe payn worjji or els fa ha no tribulacion

16 qwher-w^t/i pei' synne suld be pui-gyd'. In comyng^ certan of luf fe
lufar hart^ is byrnyd ; hattar pen fire is j)is meruellus heet^, pe qwhilk*
pe my?id' swetelyest gladyns & fro pe heet^ oil' synnes temperis &
schadois. U Gude ihesu, gyf me orgonly & heuenly songe of

20 auiigels, paf in pat I myght* be rauischyd' & J)i worschip besily
synge ; pat fou gaf to me not^ knawynt & vnconyng^, now gif agayu
to me experte & askyng^. Chir^- me in myrth of fi heuenly lufe, cherish me
pat I firy be fune in my last end', & with ioyfuH songe in-to my Thy heavenly

24 saule liglite, schew me swete chirischinge in fi gude wyH, pat my
defautis here be ponyschyd! & clensyd in J)r<t wys pat pan has
knawen in fi me?'cy agayns hy??i drawynge to pe, noV as fou
chiryschis in fi wreth, florischars of pis warld', to qwhome temparali

28 prosperite fou gyfs & endles payns kej^ys. Warldly lufars sothely

wordis or ditis of owr songe may kmiw,^ for pe wordis fai rede, bot My heart
not & toyne & swetnes of songe bai may not^ lere. 0 gude Ihesu, bound in the

1 11 . IP- o -r 1 thought of

my hart fou has bun l?^ foght of fi name, & now I can not bot Thy name..

32 synge it ; periore liaue mercy on me, makand' parfyte pat pon has
ordand'. IT ])i tru & besy lufar is rauischid in-to gostly songe of
mynde, pat it is inpossibyH any slike swetnes of pe feynde to be,
or slyke hete of any creature, ne slike songe of mans wyLt, in qwhilk

3G if I abyde I sal be safe.

Truly it behoues pat sniale synnes we be not glad to do pat wiU.
grete synnes prt?-fitely eschw. Ho truly pat knawyngly &
wilfully fallis in-to pe lest, vnauisyd* to grette?- oft'-tymes sal faH.
^ lion autem cautica nostrorum canniimm.

Int I. T)ie Fire of Love, Conclusion. [Bk. II, Ch. 12.

f Itt l(>ng/> truly to liife to desyre i7A-to cjrete wrccliitlnes nxper to
faH pen ens syn. No-f inge if is nodefuH, likynge, rychea, strenglif
or fayrnes to seyk^, bot* scorne it is to liym pat in pe dome of pe
kyiige oufrlastyngo sal be made kni3t vrith pz/rfite bewte of meinbyrs 4
& elereiies of colo7<r ; qwher nowder sal be to niykyl ne to lityH in
pe heuonly liaH qwher he sal saryf to pe emprowr in warldl of warldM,
Amen.

KndofHam- ExpUcit liheT ih Ificendio Amoris, RicAvdi Hanipoh heremite, ^ran/?- 8

pile's />!'•«)'- J 7- •• 7 • tr

HiumAmoru, /ufws 111 Anfjlicum tnsfancijs aomme Margarete Hesli/ngton^

Miiojaret rccUwie, vex /?'atrem i2icardu7?i Misijn, scicve theoXooie hacha-

iKs"!. Ba laureu;», tunc Priorem LT/ncohilenaem, ordinis carraelifarum,

of Unwind ^""^ domini M\CCCCxxxv^\ m festo tvo^ndacionis sancti 12

u^.A^D^Ms, Martini Episco-pi, guod est iiij nonas Iulij,p)^^ d'xdwm fiwixem

byliSi!"'" /?2>avduw Misyn scxiptum 4' correctum.

i

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. I : Of Turning to God. 105

11. eTIje UTenbing iof %\iz, m Clje
§lule flf gibing.

ENGLISHED FROM HAMPOLE'S "DE EMENDACIONE VITAE"
4 By RICHARD MISYN IN 1434.

\_MS. in Univ. Coll., Oxford.]

Jjis boke is of mendynge of lyfe, or ellis of ])e rewl [foi.
of lyfynge, destinct in-to xij chapiters : The fyrst,
8 of coiiu^rsj^oii or holy turnynge. J)e secund^, of

pe despisynge of ])is warld^. J)e IpxTde, of pou^rte.
pe fowTte, of pe settynge of mans lyfe. Ipe fyft,
of tribulacio?<^n. pe sext, of paciens. Ipe sevynt,
12 of iprayev. Ipe aght, of meditacio?m. pe ix, of

rodyng(?. pe x of^ cler^nes of mynde. pe xj, of
pe lufe of god. pe xij, of godis co;/te7/?placio?/n.
Of J)is, als god wil graunt, we salk^ pursw.

16 ffirst, of conu6'rsion. [Cap. L]

Tary ]?ou not to oure lorde to be turnycV, ne piit^ it* not* fro day Deiny not in
to day : for oft-tymes cruelte of deed? rauischis wrecliis, & God.
))ame ])SiV irkw now to bo tiirnyd, bittyrnes of payns sodanly de-

20 vouris. ^ Of vs may not* be nowmbyrd', how many wardly, wykkyd
presu?»psyone has begilyd. / H Grete synne t?'uly it is, in godis
mercy to trest, and fro syn not* sees, trowyng* god/5 mercy be so
niikyli, jjr/t to synnars, rightwcs payn he wiH not* gyfP. U * Wirk^

24 30 ])eriove qwhils it* is day : Ipe nyght* truly cii???ys in qwhilk* no
man may wyrl<^.' Lyglit* or day, J)is lyfe he cala, in qwhillc* we aw
1WAW7' of gude wirkynge cees, knawand ))at* deed to vs is sykyr, ])e Death is cer-
owre of deed truly vnsikyr. pe nyghf, deed' he cals, in Ipe qwhillc* uncertain.

28 membyra ar bun, wittis ar put* by, And any helefuH fingz's now may

106 II. The Mending of Life. Ch. I: Of Conversion to Gcd.

we nof wyrk', bot* afk'r owr wark/^, loy or turnientry we sal rcsayfo.
Ouriiibisbut U III a poyiit wo lyfo, 3a Ics Jjoii a poyiit^, for [if] aH our lyfe to Jyfe
euerlastynge we walc> likkyn, no^f it* is. H Jpevfore oure lyfe how
waste wo in liife of vaiiito not* w/t/^-oute greu?^.s daz/ipiiacyone, & aH 4
day necligentt*, w/t/i-out forfjinkynge, ydiH wo stiiiid' ! H Lorde,
))e/-fore turne vs & wo satt be turnyd ; heyl vs & we saH be helyd*.
Many are not H Many truly ar not* liclyd, bot rotis & ber woiidys festvr, for to-
rotaiidieBter. Jay to godi tumyd to-nionio fro liym, [|jai ar turnand], to-tlay doaiidf 8
penance, to-morno, to \er iii t?i?'nand'. [Of slike it is seid] : we
haue curyd babilon & it is not lielyd, for to criste it is not truly
Turninffto tumydl. U Qwliat is turnyng* to god bot fro ))e warld* turnyng*, <fc
iiiK from the fro synne, fro ))e feynde & fro ])e flescli? H Qwhat is turnyng* fro 12
the deVii, and god bot tumyugo fro guyde vnchawngabyH to guyde chawngabyH,
to likynge bewte of creature, to ))e feynd/5 warkz's, to lusf of |)e
flesclie (fe |)e warld'? not* w/t/i goynge of feytt to goyd we ar
turnyd*, bot w^'t^ cliawng/5 of our desyrs & manors. U Tumynge 16
also to goyd is doyno, fe scharpnes of owr myndys qwliils we in-to
hym drees, his counsayli & his co7?zmamentys euerniore we |)inkw
5cLv bi ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^'^ ^^^ fulfillyd, & qwlier-euer we be, sytt we stand* we,

dreyd of god fro our hartw passis nott. U Of dreyd I speyk nott 20
)?at has payn, bot* of ))at* J)«t is in charite, w/t7i qwliilb w« gif
reuerence to \q pjrsence of so grete a maieste, & all-way we dreyd in
any lityH Jingo fat* we offend? not*. ]?us sothely disposyd, fro ))e
warld* to god truly [we] ar turnyd* [& fro J)e warld turned]. H ffro 24
It is a putting be warld! to be turned is not ellis bot aH lustis to put bak, &

back of 1.11 [. . ^

lusts and bitt^niGs of ]}is wai'ldf, for god gladly suffyr, nH idyli occupacions to
tiiis world, forgett^ Sc wavldly erand/s, in so mikyH yd owr saule holy to god

turnytl*, to all |}ingw in ))e warld to be lofyd or soyght pithily it 28
dyis. H To heuonly desyres Jjerfore gyvyn ha gode euermore before
))er eyne as hy7?i vnwerily euer ))ai suld behaldo, als beris witnes |)o
holy p?'ophett wlier he saydf : Protiideham dommum in cox\s2}ectu
meo sei/ipoTj ])at is to say : ' In my syght euermore owr lorde I before 3J
sawe,' not onely pe space of a now^e, as do ))ai paV aH erthely
fayre or lufly be-foro |?e eyne of per liartt/*' settif!, pe qwhilk pa,
behald*, In whilk |)ame likis & to rest be lufe desyris. And eft pe
prophet says : OcuH mei semper ad dominum, quon'miH ijfse euell- 36
hj'^Ki eyes ^^ de loqueo pedes mens, / paV is : * Myn eyn euermore ar to owr
nSMAto"^ lorde, for he fro pe snare my feyt saH delyuer.' // Be J)is is schewyd
note«»i»^e pat bot if owr inward eyn to crist vnwerily be raisyd, pe snaris of
tempution. temptacione we may not scape. And pat owre eyn of hart be not 4

J

II. The Mending of Life, Cb. I: Of Conveo^sion to God. 107

fixyd in god, ar many Icttyngz^, of wliilk put we sum. IT Abun-
dance of Riches, flaterynge of \vy?«men, ffayrnes or^ bewte of 3outhe :
J)is is ))e threfold' rope ]iat vnnethis may be brokyn, & y^t it bus be
4 brokynne & despisyd, J)at^ criste may be louyd^ He truly ]?at desires
criste truly to luffe, not^ onely wi't/^-oute heuynes bot with a loy He who
rn-mesurde he kest/s bak ali binge bat hym may lett^, II And in bis ciinst tmiy

, ^ ,i , . , casts aside all

case nowdyr fader ne modyr ne hym-self he spans, no mans chere inndranees.
8 he takis, violence he doys to ali his lettars, & ali ostakyls he byrst^6*
to-gidyr ; qwhat-euer he may do, hym J)ink it lityH god for to lufe. /
fFro vices he flees als man braynles, & to wardly solace he lohis noW,
bot ce?'tauly in god holy dressyd nerhand his sensualite he has
12 forgettyn. // U AH inward he is geddyrd', all in criste he is lyfte ;
so ]7rtt qwhen men se he als semys heuy, wondirfully he is glad.
Bot many ])er ar ))at say to god ))ai wiH turn, bot^ ^itf ])ai say fiai Manywim
may not, for by )jis occupacions or odyr Jjai ar haldyn bak ; qwhos to God make

6XCUS6S*

16 cold* mynd' heviyngly we reprefe. ffor w?'t/i-owten doute, and jjai
wer tochyd with ])e lest spark of crist^s lufe, onone with aH besynes
))ai suld seyk qwhilk^s way to god/s se?'uis J)ai myght^ cum, and in
sekynge ]jai suld' not sees to |)a had fun. U Excusacion oft-tymes [Foi.

20 ])<i feyn, qwhilk rather accusis Jiame more. / Riches forsoith many Many are
w^t/^-drawes, flate?ynge of wymen begilys, & J)a paV long< ha doyne ridieHand
AveH, suwi-tyme be ))aim in ))e warste dyke ar drownyd. For fayrnes women,
soyne is lufyd, & qwhen it fel/s ])e self lofyd, h'ghtly it is chirischyd,

24 and chosyn is kest down, & wars he is made afte?* turnynge or
co//uersion )}en he was before. )5en his name is blekyd, and he pat
before was worbi, of aH: men now is despisyd & of aH hatyd. Once worthy,

I'll now despised.

U Truly a man I saw of qwhome jjai sayd pat fyftcne 3ere his body
28 [he] chastisyd with mernehis scharpnes and afterward skrithyn in-
to s^mne with his se?*uanLh's wyfe for hir to his deed myght^ not be
party d. In his diynge truly j^ai sayd, presti'^' pat to hyme come he
waryd & sacrament/s refusyd to resayffe. Xewly turn yd berfore The converted

■^ J J J J r sliould avoid

32 aw forto fle occasyon of synnyng^, worde, deyd & sight^ to iH stir- every occa-
rynge with wyHe a-woyd. )pe more vnlawfuH a ])ing^ is, pe more it "ing-
is to be forsidiyn. ])e feynde also strongly vp-braidys agayns ])ame
qwhilk^ he seis fro hym turn yd & to god turn yd, & cessis not

36 fleschly & wardly desyr to kyndyH. H. Lustts before doyne to
mynde he bryng^s desolacion of fie contrit,^ & vnp^'cfetabyH desires

^ or altered from off by the ivriter.

2 et innumerabilia fantasmata cogitacionum vanarum & affeccioiuim inu-
tilium.

108 II. The Meyuling of Life. Cli. II: Of Despising the World,

The penitoiit Jjamo-self* iiieuys J)af before wer slokyiKp. U Emongc fis pa penit(3nt
nianiuiiy.Miui manly hyiu-self bus vso & ffostely annore kike, be deuyH & aH his

take annour . . ^ f J

n«ajiii.i tii« suggestions gaynstandl & fieschly desires sleek ^ & eue?* desire to godis
lufe ; |)o warldis despisyng* fro bym go not, of fe qwhilt now we 4
sali speyk.

Of J)e warlde* despisynge. [Cap. II.]

l^is warlde to despyse is aH tempo?'aH J)ing/« & passand, wit^-
J outen fe?' lufe J)is lyffe to passe. / In |)is no-jjinge bot* god to 8
seyk^, of att vaynglory & solas not to charge, vnnethis jji nescessaris
takand, & if ])ai sum tyme wante gudely bare it. Jjis is despisynge
Tak.heedto of jjis warld. Haue |)is in niynde if ))ou wylt not be slayn. ))us J?e
world. Avarld is despisyd & not lufd*. AH sotliely ))at we lufe we worscliii) ; 1 2

fowle it is also dyrt to worschyp, And ])at is erthly ))inge to lufe. /
]iprioxQ ))is riche chynchis in fowlest filthis & stynke byndz'^ )ja7?i-
self ))raH, & loys to be cald? lordis of men, [j)of Jjai be jjrall to
vicis]. If a man be lorde of men, not of kynde jjrtt is bot of 16
Pat away fortune ; fat man to visse is sogett, is off fraward? wiH. Put away
will, be free |)erfore ))i wickyd wiH, & fro ]je fend jjou saH be fre & fro syn
rriuSlus- ii^^^G J)e seruand^s of rightwisnes, pat techis |)e erlhly yingis not
iiess. ImIq. H Couetys of the warld! & god/^ lufe truly ar co?itrary and in 20

one saule to-gidyr restys not ; J)e place is so straytte ))e tone fallis
oute. U )5e more sothely pou keste's oute couetis, god/i' lufe more
[Foi. ))ou tast/i". )3e more couetys, pe lesse charite. 51 0 wrechyd sawle,

Here all" qwhat sckys pou in ])is warldl qwhere jjou seys aH pinge's deseuabyH 24
deceiving and & passaud? ] ])9\ sowuGst begylis JJG pat moste flatyrs pe. Qwhy
bisys pou for dedely ping/s] qwhy 3ernis pou wi'tA grete desire
pingts pat snH perys '\ Seys pou not sownar thai perys pen pai ar
gettyn] H Bot I wote qwhere pou dweH, qwher satanas sect is, 28-
pat pi eyn has blyndyd & be his lalsed pe scorned, so pat pou sulde
desire fleand ping?'* & lufe hatefuH ping/s and despyse abidynge
pinge's & to vanischynge pingw drawes. & so pow sett/s pi-self on
a fawte grounde & qwheu pou wenys to stand in fyre p6*u fallis. 32
Dwellers in U Dwellars in temporaH plente, be fyve pinges pat pa lufe ar
•rebeguiied bcgilydl : be riches, be dignite, be wyH, be power, & be worschip. /
jjies byndis pame i?^ synnes, in defautys strenys ; wiili pis lust/*' pa

\

ar oue?-comen & neuyr ar lowsyd bot be deedl — bot per lowsynge is

* Some words have been written here in a later liand above the line, for
iuseitiou, but have been erased.

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. Ill : Of Poverty. 109

to lato, qwhen \ier is no more but endeles payne. )?is lettz's Jjame
J?e warlcJ to despise, fro godiis lufe, fro kiiawleg/s of ))ame-se]f, & fro
])e desire of Jje heuenly kyngedome. U ]^o man may be sauyd, fie Nomancnn
4 warld' AveVi aH bat^ is fce?*in bot^ if he cees to lufe. U Sees b6?'fore cept he cense

to love tlie

qwhils heet is in ))e body & 3it faire age of 30uthe abidys. Qwhat world.
])inges sali lyke liyme \a\> hym-self disposys criste to lufe 1, ^^utlie He must
he saH: despise, his strenght to god he sali keep, riches he countts iici>es, Ac.
8 for noght* ; ]}at fayrnes of |)is vanite is gras desayuabyil he sali take
heed. / Qwarto sali I ryune be on & on ] AH ymgls pa?-fite]y he
sali despise |)at in |)is warld' as schadow passys. H 0 ffleschly wiiat ia there
lufar, in fe flesch what fyndis |)0u qwhar-for in it })ou so delyti6''? loving?
12 H ))e forme or schappe \q plesys, or has jjou now J)i loy in a skynne,

qwhat is hyd vndyr be skynne qwhy takes bou not heyd' 1 Or is not fleshly

1 1 1 9 1 n T 1 p 1 • CCT1 1 beautv but a

knaws pou not pat liescnly layrnes^ is coueryng^ of fylth, and covering of
dreggis of corrupcion, & oft cause of dampnacion? H Enogh \ier- ruption?

IG fore be it to ]je ali o]ier despisyd god to lufe, god to love, vfiili god
to be, In god to loy, fro hym not to part', bot to hym \\iih desyre
vnslokynd to drawe. U To despise |)e warld' ]?e selfe compellis, f»at
is so fuH of wrechidnes, In qwhillv' is males abydand, persecucion

20 destrua?id', bolnand wreth & fretynge luste, fals blamynge of synnes,
bitte?*nes of sclaundyr ; qwher ali ))inges ar co?ifuse wit/i-owtyn ordyr,
qwher nowj^er rightwisnes is lovyd' ne trewth apreuyd', qwher
faythefulnes is vnfaithfuli, & frenschip crueli, fat' standis m p?-os-

24 peritC' & failis i??- adue?-site. U Odyr ymgis ^it }jer ar jjat vs suld'
meue to |)e warkk's despisyng' : chawngynge of tyme, schortnes of
])is lyfe, sikyr deed, vnsikyr chawnce of deed, stabilnes of ouer-
lastyngnes, vanite of ]7ing/s p?*esent, trewth of loys to cu?«. Cchese choose what

28 what bou wyli ; be warld' if \o\\ lufe, with it fou sali perysch; If ti?e"\^'rid and

, p . . T 1 1 (leatli, or

bou lui criste, ^\^m hym \>ow. sal rene. Christ and

Of pouerte. [Cap. III.]

If Jjou win be parfite, go sell ali jjat J)ou has & gif it to pore, & se^uJLt
32 Q,\wi & fylo [me], crist. In forsakynge of warldly ]?inges & in give to^Ve
filoynge of cristly |)inges he schewis \ier is perfeccion. / Forsoythe foiioV Me.
ali felois not criste bat \)er gudys has forsakyn, for many ar wars ah do not

4^. 4^ 1 V I \, Z ^ ^ u , -u -f , follow Christ,

after forsakynge ot ])ars pen ))a beiore wer. pen certan pa sarii to
36 bakbitynge, & gude fame of ))e?* neghburs pa, drede not to with-
draw ; In envy pen po, bolne, In males pa guayste, ]?am self pa sect mafiJiousr^''
^ Thi" irritn' vafi going to jwt fairness, hut altered it.

110

but nliould
b« lowly,
vhariUblo,

temperate.

DIessed are
the pv)or in
spirit.

Steadfastness
Is, by the
grace of God,

a clian^e of
noul, not of
clothes.

'Learn of me,
for I am meek
uud lowly.'

Poverty alone
is but wret-
chedness, but
to be praised
as an instru-
ment of
virtue.
[Fol.
XLVII. b.]

So Christ wi
poor for an
example.

II. The Mending of Life. Cli. Ill : 0/ Poverty.

hoforo nH o|)er, \)n)' state pa. praise, al odyr owdyr ))a disprays or
duinpuis. How trowes pou |jat^ pc feynd slike has begilyd, pat
i\o\\'per has ))0 warld ne gode ; qwhom be dyuers wyllis to endles
tow/-iuewtry lie ledys. ^ pan pat vndiisUindis pat I lia sayd, take |)i 4
I)ouerte n-noper way. Qwheii ))at he says go & seH, ho niark«»
cliawngynge of )>i desire [&] of ))i |)0ght*, als p\is : lie J>af was
prowde, now be lawly, |)af wa.s wrathfuH now be nieyk^, he ))<ft was
envius now be chai'iterutt, be-fore conetus now large & discrete. 8
And if he wer vnclene, not* only fro att itt bot fro ati liklynes of
yH now abstene. U And if he before be meet* or drynke dyd
exces, now be fastynge lat hyni anientK He sothely p^V lufydl pe
warlde to mikyli, now aH-to-gidyr to cristw lufo gedyr hym-self, att 1 2
J)o sparpilyng/d" of his hart^ fest he in on desyre of pin^is euer-
lasty?ig<. & so no me/aiayH to hyni satt wylfutt pouert* be friite-
fuH, & pe noy pat he for god suffyrs, a gloriw« crown. Beati
pauperes spiiitu, quomam ipsomm. <?st regnum celonim, // |)at is to IG
say : * blissyd be )?ai ))at^ ar poyr in spirytt, for pers is pe kyngdome
of heuen.' Qwhat is pouert^ of spirit bot* mekeues of mynde, be pe
qwhilk a mane knawes his awen i^^firmite 1 Seand jjat he to p«?*fyte
stabilnes niaye not cum bot be pe grace of god, aH p'mge ))at hyni 20
niyghf lett* fro fat grace, he forsakz6' & onely in ioy of his makar
he settis his desire. H And als of o rote spryng/** many braunches,
80 of wylfuH: pouert* on |)is wyse takyn p?'Ocedis vertues & me/'uilnes
vntrowecJ. 'Not as su7?i pat chawnges per clojjes & not pei' sawlis, 24
ryches sothely it* semys |?a forsake & vicis i/mowmberabitt ))ai cees
not* to gedyr. / Qwhat* is wars |jen a poyr man proweel, qwhat
more cursed* fen a enxjus beggar 1 / If fou truly all f inge for god
forsake, see more qwhat* f^^u despisis fen fou forsakes. U Tak 28
heed! bisily how fou felois cryste in maners. Discite inqwit a me
quia mitis sum ^ humiliH corde : 'Lerne of me, he says, for I am
meek* & la we of hart*.' he says not ' lerne of me for I am pore,'
pouert truly be pe self is no vertew bot vdiper wrechidnes, ne for fe 32
self praysed bot for it is fe instrument of vertew & helps blissydnes
to geet* & makis many eschew many occasyons of synnynge; &
f<^;-fore it is to bee prasyd & desiryd. H A man [it] lett?^ to be
woi-schipydf fof all he be vertuus, bot r^xper despisyd it makes hyme, 36
to be out'rled & cast oute emonge lufars of f e warldl ; aH qwhillv* to
sufifyr for criste is hely medefuH. )?erfore criste to owr exsaumpytt
a poyr lyfe in fis way leed, for he knew fame fat bolne in riches &

1 MS. >e

11. The Mending of Life. Ch. IV: The SefMng of Mans Life. Ill

liky;?g of \q. liard hevyn to entyr. U |?e?'fore, \at men more gvedily
pouert* suld? desire, to fame \iat ait jjinge for hym forsakes Ly
worschip lie has behest, & lustisly power, sayawd, Vos qui rell-

4 quistis omxiia Sf secuti edis me, sedebHls stqjer sedes duodecim,
iudicantes duodecim trtlms isixiel, ))at is to say : * 3e J?at^ ali ])inge
has forsakyn & feloyd me, sal syf on xij setis, demand fe xij tribis
of israel.' IT ))ai sothely ])at* has wilfuH: power & wantis meeknes

8 & lawlynes ])at criste techis, ar more wrechyd Jien j?ai ]iat has
plente of ali riches, nor in f)e day of dome ))ai saii not take |)e place
of J)e apostils wor|)ines, hot })ai saii be cled' ^\iih jje dowblett^ of
co?ifusion, j^at* is da7?ipnacyon of body & saul, U ))ai sothely ])«t in Even the
12 mekenes & lawlynes schynys, fiof bai haue mikeii ryclies, on Jie andjowiy,

SilRll Sit Rt

right hand ^it of criste qwhen he demys ]}ai saii be sett^. H Su??z Christ's right
men sothely say : * ali we may [not] leefe, we ar seek, our necessarys
behouys vs kepe, \at we may lyfe, & ]iat is leefuli?' Bot |jai ar ))e

16 les worth for angwysse, pouert^ and neclynes for god pai dar not

suffyr. 51 3it to ))e heght^ of vertew ])ai may cwm be grace of god & They may
J)am-self lyft to contemplacioune of heuenly ])ingw, if j^a forsake iieight of
seculer occupacions & erandis, & rise vnwerily to ]}inke & pray. And God's glace.

20 |)e gndys |)at f)ai haue not with ful lufe to hald', bot ]jaim havynge

to forsake. U Take heed also, more to seek [banl Inosh it is fowle seek not

•-r J o more than

couetys, bi necessaris to kepe it^ is freilte, bot to forsake ali binc^e is enough;

•^ ^ I i ' y ^ to forsake all

prt7*fitnes. H ])erfore qwhils ])a se hy J?ing/6" jjat |)ai touche not, of things is
24 smale ])inges ]jat jjai haue jja enpryd not nor p?*esumys, so ]iat to j^e
ordenance of mans lyfe manerly J)a may ascend, of \q qwhilk now
felois.

Of f)e settynge of mans lyfe. [Cap. IV.]

28 T^^t man to fe worschip of god & his awen profett* and profet of
J his neghbur rightwisly be dressyd, ffowr ])ing^s ar to be sayde :
ffyrst, what it is j^rtt fills man. And it ar ii j synnes or iij kyndz> what defiles
of syn, ])at is to say, of jjoght*, of mouth, of wark^. % In ]}oght ofthougiit,

32 synnes man, qwhen he j}inkz6' oght^ agayn god, if he his liart^ occupy deed!
not w^t^ lufe & louynge of god, bot sufFyrs it v/itli dyuers j^oghtis^ not loving
& J)e warlde to go voyde. In mouth he synnes qwhen he lys, lying,
qwhen he forswers,^ qwhen he weris, qwhen he bakbitis, qwhen he perjury,

36 defendis a wronge, qwhen he fond spech, fowl spech, vayn or idyli foul speech,

bryng?'s forth. H In deyd he synnes many wyse : be lichery, syn- lechery,

•^ si illud diversis cogitacionibus abstrahi & in mundiira vagari permittat.
^ forsakes is struck out hy the writer before forswers.

112 II. The Mending of Life. Ch. IV : The Setting of Mans Life.

[Fol.

Xl.VIII.a.]

■tvaUiig.

What puriflca

lUUll ?

Confesaioii,

faMtiiiK. and
prajrert,

lively thou^lit
of Uud,

careftU fpiard-
the

iiii; of I

carefulness in
speech, Sx.,

aroidenre of
evil company,

Such a man,
as a tree by a
stream, shall
be ever green
in virtue,
never dry in
■in.

Discipline
teiu-hes us
righteous-
ness.

fully towchinge, ki.«»synge, wilfully liym-self filynge, / or p?'ocuryng<
or sustenyngo occas^yons wft/<-outyno grote cause bo qwhilk^ he
trows he myght be filyd ; in robbynge, stelynge, begilynge, smyt-
yngo ami oilyr. H )?o secund, qwhilk \\\ ar ))at clensys mau? And
iij J>a ar agayu iij before saydl, / fat is to say : contricion of jjoght
& puUynge owt of desyrs ])af longe not to lovynge or worschip of
god. 11 Confessyon of mowth, J)at aw to be tymely, bare, & hole*
Satisfacciofi of deyd, ))at has iij pa^'tis, }pai is to say : fastynge, for
he has synd agayns hym-self' ; prayer, for he has syud agayns god ;
Almus, for he has synd agayns his neghbur. U 3it say I not he suld
do alniWA} of odyr mens gude, bot he saH restore, for syn is not for-
gifyn bot if it be restoiyd fat is withdrawen. IF ])& fird, qwhilk*
kepys clennes of hart* ; & it ar iij : qwhikk thoyth of gode, fat no
tyme be in qwylk of gode fou finkes not except sleep fat to all
is comone. U Besy kepyng / of f i vtward wittis, fat tastyn[g]
sauerynge, herynge & seynge vndyr f e bridyii of gouernans wysely
be strenydl.i U Thre f ingi'^ also fat ar fa savis clennes of mouth :
Avisines of spech, niikeli speche to eschw, And lyinge to hate.
U Alsso thre f ingt's clennes of wirkynge kepys : Mesure of mettw,
yli cumpany fleyng*, & oft mynde of deed. U The fowrf, qwhilk
ar fa fat cliiryscli vs, to co?^forlne vs to ^odis wiH ? & f er ar iij :
ffyrst ensaumpil of creatures, fat is had be behaldynge ; U godw
gudelynes, fat is getyn be meditacion & prayer ; H & myrth of f e
heuenly kyngdome, fat i[n] maner is felt be contemplacion. U On
f is wyse to lyfe f [e] man of god sete sal be as a tre fat is sett* be the
lynynge watyrs & flowynge of gras, fat al-way sal be greyn in ve/-tu
& neue?* dry be synne, / fat sal gyfe fruyt in tyme, fat is gude
wark/5 in exaumpyH, & gude wordw^ to fe worschyp of god, & fis
sal not seeti for vaynglory. He says in tyme, agayns fame fat gyfis
ensaumpyH of fastynge in tyme of ettynge, & reuerse Avay also.
1i And agayns couetws men fat gyf fer fruyte qwhen it is rotyn, or
etiis fa gyf nof to fa dy. U ])eriov he p?'ayd [wisely] fat sayd :
U Bonitatem 4* discipUnawi ^' scieiiciam done me, // fat is to say :
* guydlynes, disciplyn, and conynge tech me.' qwliat is disciplyne bot
settyng* of maners or correctynge 1 U ffirst f e?'for be disciplyne we ar
taght rightwysnes, & of iU correctyd ; & aiter fat wee knaw qwat we
suldl do & what we suld! eschew. U At f e last saue?* we no ileschly

I

12

IC

20

2i

3G

* et honesta occiipacio, sit siue legendo sine aliquid de deo loquendo aut
8criben<lo aut ahquid utile agendo.

- k bona dat ad sxihnidiitin : Dabit inquam ad honorem Dei, nou vcudet.

II. The Mending of Life. Oh. IV: The Setting of Mans Life. 118

bot ])ingi6' eiie?-lastyng^, bot heueiily & godly. H And qwen a man with
aii bisines to ]?e wyli of hys makar hy7?i-self has dressyd & growen a man, hav-
in ve?'tea, & o]ier pc/rauntyr J^at went before in stedfastnes of iiAirtue,
4 lyuynge & desire of criste he hafe passyd, he aw^ not J)er-of to loy [Foi.
no to hym-self gif no praisyng^, ne no trow hym-self bette?* jjen ode?- should not
\oi ))ai be law, bot rather hold^ hym-self foiilyst & moste wrechid. '*^""'
1*^0 man bot hym-selff* he sal deem & aH odyr sett beffore hym-selffe ; and siiouui

judge no man

8 he sail desire not to be caM holy of men, bot worJ)i to be despisyd'. but himself.
Qwhen he emong^'^' men comys, he suU p?*ocure to be last in noumbyr
& leste in opinione. / ffor J)e grette?' fou art, more meek ])i-self in aH
))ing^6^''^ IT ffor godi's myght' is grete & of meek worschypd'; of

12 prowd ferfore it is despisyd?, for Jja \er awn loy sek^6•, not< godz*'
worschip. ^ If J)ou truly in fauer of ]je pepiiH^ [pridis & wor-
schip] for fame in ])i lyfe ))at* takis with gladnes, knaw it weel jjou
base resaued pi meed. U And if J>ou seme meruelw6- of penance &

16 chastite, qwhils )}ou ioys more in mans loy jjen aiingellis, \n tyme

to cwm noght* [bot] turmentry to Jje saH be. })e aw truly ))i-self Despise yom--
parfitely despise & aH: loy of Jjis warld playnly forsake, no-]?inge bot^ theVoiid.
in \q sight* of god^6• lufe to jjinke or do, ]?at^ aH ]}i life inward &

20 vtwarde ])e praysynge of god may cry. U In meet^ & drynke be Be wise in
))ow scars & wisse. H Qwhils pou ettz's or drynkzs, mynde of ]ji god driniang.
Jiat Jie fedis fro )}i mynde pass not^, bot prais, blys & glorify hym in
ilka morsel, so ]}at |)i hart^ be more in goddis louynge jjen in ]?i meet,

24 bafc^ bi saule fro i^od be not pm'tyd be any howr. bus doand, be- Thusshait

^ . Ti ir J no- ' thou deserve

fore criste Ihe^^u Jjou saH be worpi a crown, & j^e feyndis temptacions a crown.
pat in met^' & d'rynk^s men moste w^aytis |}ame begilis, jjou salt^
eschew. U Owdyr sothely be vnmanerly takynge of foyde fro pe

28 heth of ve?-tew j)a down cast, or be to mikyH abstinens in ])at

vertew ])a breek^. Many truly per ar pat in etyng^ allway flowe, so Many always
pat oue?' litylt or owr mekyH alway pai take, & pe forme of lyfyuge or too iittie in
pai kepe neue?-, q why Is now pis now pat pai trow be better. Vnwyss

32 & vntaght^, pe qwhilk* pe swetnes of criste lufe neuer feltte, trowes

pat vnwyse abstinence be holynes, & pai trow pai may not* be of Abstinence is
greet meed Anens god bott* if pai be knawen singuler of aH men be
scars & vnrigwys abstinews. Bot^ truly, abstynens be pe selff is not

3G holynes, bof, if it be discreef, it helpis to be holy. If If it be indis- dSlt.' ""

;; MS. an

" & tunc coram deo invenies graciam sc. exultantis, quia nou carnalia &
terrena, sed celestia & divina. '

^ Si in favore populi gloriaris k honorem tibi pro fama in vita tua o])latnni a
plolio. cvivn gaudio .suniis.

II AM FOLK. I

111. W. The Mending of Life. Ch. IV: The Setting of Man's Life.

Crete, it lettis to be holy, ffor so it distroys disciplyne wttA-out qwom

vertues ar turnyd to wisse. H If a man wiH take Rynj,'ulere abstyu-

ence, sight of men & \er pmyj<yng^ he aw to eschw, ))at he be not

Often thone prowd fro noght* <fe 80 lois att. U Men truly weyn bai be holiest 4

inoi.t«re bjit* ba seo most abstinent, qwhen in trewtn olf-tymes bai ar be

moetwicketl. ^ ' , J r r

warste. He certan fat truly has tastyd swetnes of endles lufe, neuer

[in] abstynence he sal deme to pass any man, bot ))e lawer a-nens

hym-self he saH be supposyd m ali mikyH as a-nens men he is

haldyn meruelus in abstinence. ])q best is & to god plesand, as

[Foi. I suppos, to conforme fe in mete & drj'nke for jje tyme & ))e

plase & honeste to Jjame wit//, qwhome ))ou art* , so |)at ))ou seme

not to wilfuli nor fenar of religion. U Knaw it truly wit/i-

oute dowt, if one or two thynke weH, ^it odyr an ypocrite or a

Some will fenyd man witt caii hym. U Bot sum be?' ar couetus of vaynglory

us common fat on no wiso witt be haldyn comon men, for owper so lityH J)ai

eett Jjrtt alway spech of men to ))ame [ja draw, or oper maner of 16
metis )ja p?-ocure to be seyn diuers fro ojjt^r — qwhos madnes and
obstinaciofi be far fro me. Truly holsum counsel is ])at J)ai fat
lityH faste, p?'^fer fame of grettar abstinence, & sen f ai niai not do
80 grete abstinence, in mynde be sory ; And fai fat ar of grete 20
abstinens, suld? trow odyr hear in verteu, qwhos ve?*teu in qwhilk*
fai passe to men is hydf, Qwhils per verteu, fat is to say abstinence,
of many is praysid ; bot if it< be dyght^ with meekenes & charite,
be for criste if is noght. H \)g verteu treuly of odyr is f e more in 24
fat if is nof of men seene. Qwho may knaw how mikyH lufe man
has anens god, how grete co?^ipassion anens his neghbur? And
doutles, f e vertew of charite al fastyng* or abstinence, and all ofer
warkw fat may be seyn, with-outjn comparison passis. And oft if 28'
liappyns, fat befor men is seyn leste faster with-in bc-for criste in lufe
is moste feruent. II It behoues hym truly be strong^ fat manfully I
The flesh is wil vse f 6 lufe of god. // be flesch truly febyld with grete disese, a "
man off-tymes may not p7-ay & fen mikil more hym-self he may nof 32
lyft to he f ingw with bote desire. H I wald raf er f erfore a man failyd
for f e gretnes of lufe fen for to mikyH fastynge, as fe spouse sayd
of hir self : H Nunciafe diledo g'uia amore langiieo, fat is : ' schew
but be stead- to my lufc for I longe for lufe.' / Be f ou f e?*fore stedfast in att f i 36
ways." ^ ^vays, & dres fi lyfe after fe reule to fe schewyd. / And if fou
maye nof gef in fe begynnynge fat f«u desires, mys-trist nof, bot
a-byde, for be loncje vse & tyme sal fou cum to parfeccion. U If
fou a pilgiym [be] & be fe way restw, qwhat-'^iiyr frm dopo in f is 4C

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. V: Of Trilmlatlon. 11"

way, to god hafe euer a nee ; lat not J?i ]5oglit go fro hym, ))mk jj«t Ever give
tyme lost^ in qwhilk* of god J)ou J^inkzs not. / In ])e nyght^ lufe hyme love Him at'
& his lufe desyre, J)af on no o\ier wyse occupyde fen prayand or of

4 god ])inkand' sleep fynd? pe noght. H Se pat ))ou flow notf yiitli
vayn ]?oght^6% ne gyf Jje not* to many charges, bot study J^is, sted-
fastnes of mynde to geet* & hald', ]jat J)e wrechidnes j7e7*of J?ou drede
not nor jje gudys ])eroi vnmanerly desire not*. He ])at* dredis aduersite He who

8 to sofyr he knawes not* 3it* how it behoves ]jis warld' to despise, And suffer adver-
he fat* ioyes in erthly fing^s is far fro euerlastynge finges. IT To [Fof.
fe ve?'tu off strenght truly long^'^ aH: adue?'sites & p?*ospe7'ites & also knows
deed for endles lyfe to despise ; and charite is onely heuynly to despise the
12 desire. fForsoth a parfite lufar Ioyes to dy & mekely he suffyrs
lyfe. U To qwhillc* pa?'feccion if fou ascende be cristis gift*, 3 it salt
jjou not* be wit/i-out tribulacion and te??zptacion, fe qwhilk* to scliew
our word^5 sail turne.

16 Of tribulacion. [Cap. V.]

Trilmlation.

a

when be feynd seis o mane of thowsandes, to god parfitelv when the

, • . . , • <. 1 , . , ,,,..: I>evil sees a

turnyd, cnstzs steppis lelow, pis present warld' despise, fmgz*' man toUow

Christ.

vnseyn only to lufe and seeke / pariite penance to take, fro aH filth
20 of mynde & body hym-self powrg* : a thowsand begilyngz's of noiyng*, he tries 1000
a Ml craft2-'s of feyghtyng* he^ reparells to kest* hym from J?e luf of wmtoiove"
god to fe lufe of fe waiid', and eft* wyth filth of syn to fyli hym, ^[i MS.'^be]
fat at f e leste with lycherus f oght/s he suld' be hatyd' of god. He
24 rayses agayn hym persecucion, tribulacion, sclawndyr, blame of fals
synnes, kyndi's of hatred', fat* so paynis may flay & byrst hym fat
prosperite myght not begyll. IF JSTow scharp, now chirischynge, he
putzs ; ymag^s of bodily ymgis he bryngzs to mynde ; fantasy of syn
28 he gedyrs to-gidyr / of old' schrewdnes & likynge of luf past he
gayncals ; hart* & flesch with licherws fyre he enflaumys. WitJi leste
he begynnes, bot [to] f e grettist flaume of wickidnes he cu??zs. And The Devil

._ o besets us with

With more besynes agayn vs ail kyndes of temptacion, turmentry & temptations
32 tribulacion, he study s to blawe, fat we be f e mercy of god fro his tions,
chekzs he sorus vs scapyd'. No f ing* he gettis, bot* fat* he myght*
depart* vs fro vnbodily halsynge moste chaste & swettist of lufe
euerlastynge, & eft* defile vs in f e pitt of wrechidnes : fat to vs wer
36 more wrechydd' fen I can teii. Qwho may fink* his wodnes, fat
fro delit^'s of kyng^'s to swyne-mete wald' cum downe 1 And 3it is he
more wode, fat deliciw^ metis of Avysdome vnwroghte forsakes, & Twineiy^flith
hym-self putt^^s^ vndyr fo fylth of flesch. IF Is not glotony & liohery ami lecheiy.

I 2

116 11. TJiC Mendhig of Life. Ch. VI : Of Patience.

swynely filth, And fa fat dose |)ame fedis feyndisi Jjerfor, how it
is to do apjayns ))g tribulaciofl <fe temptaciofl of owr enrays & to
gaynstand, priciens sal tech vs, of whilk* now we wyH speeke.

PatUnM.

Of Paciens. [Cap. VI.]

G

I

God's chii- /^ oddis cliildyr disdene to cu?;i to moef of bestw vnrcsonabitt,
unlawful V3r hot trulv ba despise aH lustw vnlefuH & warldly solace for

pleasures for i i i • <. i

the love of lufe of ciiste. He truly Jjrtt^ \\iin ))e brede is fed fat come fro
heuyn, his desire enclines not to fo fat of fe deuyH ar meuyd. /
Qwhen tewptacions rise or tribulaciofl, gostly arnio?fr is to be takyn
& tynie to go to batcH. U Temptacions truly wiUi stedfastnes of
fayth & lufe ar ouercomyn, / tribulacion truly vtiih paciens. //

Patience is Qwhat is paciens hot gudely suffirynge & wilfuti of aduersitel he 12
[Foi. L. a.] ferfor fat is pacient, in no greyf groches, bot rather \fiih f e profet

ad?er8ityr in aH tyme god louys. / }pe more pacient* a man is in his noys, fe

Rejoice in more fflorius in heuyn he sal be. H Gladly fe;-fore tribulacions ar

tribulation, ,«.,. /• o,- -oi o^/,

to be suffyrd m aduersite, noys & bittyrnes, paynis & sekenes & It

that your fii^ste, for be fis & slike ofer owr synnes ar clensydf & medis

increased, encressyd. II Truly awder behoues vs in fis lyfe yiiih i^TQ'^ of

purgatory or heH bitte?-liest be crucifyd? & ponyschic?. IT Clieis fer-

fore, fe tone we saH not scape. Here truly viiih litiH payne, 3a & 2(

wzt/t loy to god if we drawe, AH: payn to cum we may eschew.

Tribulations be?*fore tribulacions to vs ar sent, fro fe lufe of fe warld to caH vs,

are sent to ' . / \

call us from f at* in of f ?' lyfe more greuusly we be not ponischydf ; WitA soro

truly bus be clensyd fat in lust we dyd iH. If synnars beeldl opon

owr bak, fa noy vs not, if we suffyr it paciewtly, bot fame-self; for

Sinners make if fa put to VS a lityH payue, to vs a crown to f a;?i-self turmentry

us, but trou- f ai wyrk. / Synf uH: truly ar suffyrdi fis lyfe to pas wz't/i-outen grete

selves. tribulacion, for in tyme to cu??i no loy to fame is kept. ]?erfore 2i

holy men lufys tribulacion, for be fame fa wote endles lyfe to wynn.

H Contrarily repreuyd in adue7*site alway groch & fleis aH fat fa ■

may ; for qwhils fa to seyn f ing^s ar gifyn to mikyH, hope of f ing?5 ^

eue?'last3mge fa ar depriuyd. In vtwardf f ingz> onely solas fa fynde, 3!

No reason- for sauo?«r of heuvnlv fully fa ha lost*. H ])er is no resonabvH sauU

able soul is . J J J r i " . t^

without love here abidynge bot owdyr it* lovis creaturis or makar of creatwns. If
«fe«^"™ <"■ it lufe creatures, it leses god, & with f e gude louyd to deed it* goys.

H Slike lufe truly in fe begynnyng* is labyr & fondnes, / In fe 3>

^ Aut enim oportet nos in hac vita igne diuini amoris & tribulacionis exuri
& sic a seculi sordibus purgari, aut post hanc vitam igne purgatorii vel inferni
accrbissimc enieiari.

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. VI: Of Patience . 117

myddis langore & wrechidnes, & in j)e ende hatred^ & payrie. He
sothely his makar ]?at lonys / 07???iia que / pat is in Jje warld^ he The lover of
forsakes, and of hym & with hy??^ to speek he j^inkzs f uH sweitt, on the world. ^^
4 hjm to ])ink is his refreschynge. His vtward' wittis he sparis faf
deed ascend not be pe wyndowes ; [&] pat in vanite it be not vn-
profetabilly be occupyde. U And sum-tyme ar raysyd despisyng^s,
repreuys, scornz'6' & sclaundyr a-gayn hyme, & be?*fore nedefuH it is He must be

• 1/01-1 1 heedless of

8 pe schelde of paciens to take / & be he redyar wrong*s to forget Jien reproof and
to knawe ; prc<y for J^are turnynge pat hym hsitis & down castis, &
care not men plese, bot dreyd god to offend. In pe flesch if Jjou be keep the flesh
tempyd, make [it] sugett, bat^ be spiryt be not vndirlowt. Te??zpta- the spirit be

,^.' LJO'rrrj^ ^ not subjected.

12 cioune truly pat we consent not to, is mater of ve?'tew vsynge.
Truly no man v/otis qwhedyr he be wayk or strange, to iyme he be
assayed On lyke wise In pesse no man is cald pacient^ bot qwhen lie
is pullyd with wronge, if he haue paciens he saii see. U Many Many seem

16 semys pacient qwhen ))ai ar not prickyd, bot qwhen a soft blast (I

say not of wronge, bot of correccion) tuches Jiame, onone per mynde but when cor-
to bitternes turnys & wrayth : and o worde agayne per wiH: if ba turn to wrath,

IX 1 1 L • T . , , ^ giving two

here, two more vngudely pai gii agayne: m qwhose cozmsayle my words for

20 sawle comys not. // ^ jperfore pe davtis of owr enmy ar to be slokend' [FoI. l. b.]
with mekenes & swetnes of cristis lufe, / nor it is not^ to gyfe steed
to temptacione, poie it be greuws ; for pe grettar bateH Jje wor])iar
victory & hear crowne, as says pe psalm : Beatus vir qui suffert temp- Blessed he

24 tacionem, ^'uonia??z cum pvohatus fuerit aceipiet coronam vite^ &c., / temptation,
pat is to say : ' blyst be pa man ])at suffyrs te?7iptacion, for qwhen he
is p?-oued, a crowne of lyfe he saH take, })at god behestyd to his for tins is
lufars ' / Dout not in pariite lyfe fou art* if dispisynge be to Jje as crown.

28 praysinge, pouert as ryches, hongyr as meet, so pat pow sufl'yr piim
with evyn sawle if )jou faH: noght fro heght* of mynde. 11 fHe &
hate as mikyH as ])ou may mans p?'aysynge, for it is moste wor))i Avoid praise.
k)uy«g< to be wor])i prasynge, & of men not to be praysed^ U Timgis

32 of flaterers many begilis, and also pe tungis of bakbitars many Flatterers be-
destroys. Despyse ]?ou ferfore fauyr, worschip & all vaynglory ; backbiters
wrethis, hatred^6', detraccions mekely suffyr ; & so be sclaundyr &
gude fame, be bibulacione & angyr, to heuynly kyngedoms cese not

36 to go. U Oft^-tyme we faH bat, be many casys taghtt, strenglyar we we oft fail,

. that, being

suld stand, pe stronge dredys not, nor pe pacient in aduersite is taught, we
heuy, as it is writyne : Noit tristahit iustum. quicquid ei acciderit, firmer^
' qwhat-euer happyns pe rightwys man, it sail not heuy hyme.'
40 )3us disposyd, no meruayil aH tcmptacion poii saH ouevcum, & ail

118 II. The Mending of Life, Ch. VII: Of Prayer.

nialesse siek ; \\ noysurs wrechidar \o\x sal se, & yviih att |>i niynde
to criste ))ou salt* draw.

Of prayar. [Cap. VII.]
Huu «i T fV (lou in temptaciofi or tribulaciofl he sett, to prayer o-none ryn. / 4

1

'p?Ser when X Truly if fou clerely pray, J)ou salt haue help. Sparpillynge sum-

tyme coniys Sz waiiyryngo of hart, «fc jjoglitis rauiscliys |)e hart to

dyuers, & suffyrs not fe harte to stand in praysing^ of god. / jjen

pa7*aunter wer gnde & qwhyle to ))inke of holynes, to ))e mynde wer 8

Those who more stabyH, Sc so his prayers fulfyH. H Truly if any aH wardly

all things occupacions for luf of god ha left & aH-way to holy meditacion &

loveofood i^oly prayer be givyn, / I trow be goddw grace wM-in schorf spase

pleasure in jj^,. ha^t^s stabyldf )ja saH fynde & to luf & pmy ; not now i«.-to fis 12

now \n-io fat |)ai suldf wauyr, hot ra)?cr in rest & endles pese abyde.

Psalms and U fFul niikyl it co?^mforthis stabilnes of hart^ to geet*, in prayers vsyd

useful to be besy and psalmis deuoutely to synge. With besy prayers truly

to drive away feudys we ouercum, fare waytyng?'.9 & stiryngi** we lawse. / )3ai ar 16

enfebuld' Sz as wer wzt/i-outen strenght qwhils we byde strange and

not^ ouerconiyn in p?-aynge. H In fos men truly fat has it* \n custu??^

vfiih longe ext^rcise to pray, sum-tyme more swetnes & more feruent

Cease not desyre of prayinge fyndes. \)erioxe qwhils fat swetnes & heef 20

lastis, gude is fro p?-ayers not to cese. U Qwhen fa cese — fat oft

then turn happyus for f e liesch corruptibyH: — fa may turn holye scriptures to

Scriptures, reed or sum odyr p7'ofetabil f inge do, so fat fa suffer not fer f oght

[Foi. LI. a.] wauyr fro god, so fat qwen fa rise to pray, fa be qwhickar fen fai 24

before were. IF Truly fen p7'ay we weitt qwhen we fink of no

od^, bot all our mynde is dres-^^ydl to heuyn & our saule wi't/i fyre

of fe holy gost is enflaumyd. H }5us in vs truly a meruelus plente

The love of of go^is gudcues is f un, for of f e inhirliest mergh of our hartts saH 2^

from the Hse f e lufe of god, And aH our prayer with desire and effect sal be,

marrow of SO fat we ouer-rynne not f e wordi^*, bot* nerehand att sillabyls vfiih

grete cry & desire we sal offyr to owr lorde. H Our hartte vfiih bote

fyre kyndlyd, our prayer also is kyndlyd«, & in f e sauoz/r of swetnes 3f

of owr mouth in f e sighf of god is offered, so fat* grete ioy it is to

pray. H ffor qwhils in prayer a meruellus swetnes is givyn to fe

Some heed prayaud, fe prayer is chaunged to songe. Here su??? are repreuyd

rather than fat rafer to mcditaciofi takes heed fen to prayer, vnknawawd f at* 3(

godis spech is fyryd, yviilt qwhilk fylth of synnes is clensyrF Si

myndiA- of prayei-s with lufe ar euflawmycK )?a say fai wytt fyrst

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. YII : Prayer. VIII: Meditation. 119

jjinke and so stabyR ]ier hartis ; bot ])e latte/- ar |)a stabyH Jjat })a to
prt/yer ar not cowmforthidf. \)o aH: we may not gedir our liarW^
to-gidyr as we wold', ^it may we not leef, bot sokandly stody we to
4 grawe, ])at at ))e last^ Ihe^^u c?iste may stabil vs. To ])e qwliilk tionTs^liiy
meditacion helpis, if it pas not mesure and maner. certain Hmit.

Of Meditacion. [Cap. YIIL]

It is glide meditacion of c?'ist/*' passion & his deed, & oft to recorde it is good to
^ -t p ^ ^ ^ p i i • think upon

qwhatt payns & wrechidnes frely he toke for our hele m goynge whatciu-ist

& pr6'chynge, hongyr, ]?irst, cold', heet, repreuys & cursyngs, sufFyr- oursakes.

yng/s, so ])at it be not greui^s to an [vnjprofetabyli seruand to felo his

lorde & empro?/?'.^ He truly ))at says he dwels in c?iste aw to go als

12 he (1yd. / Criste truly says be leremy : ' ha mynde of my pouerte ^

of my passage, of wormwod Sz gaii, ^ai is to say of sorow & bitternes,

be be qwhilk fro be warld to be fadyr I went.' U jpis mynde truly Meditative

. CI o ^ • 1 on 1 ^ minds over-

& meditacion jje fend ouercoms & his gwnnys destroys, tiieschly come the
16 tewjptacions it slokyns & ])e sawle to cr'i&Us lufe kyndiiit'^, jje mynde
it raisys and clensis & also purgis. I trow Jiis J?oght of aH o])er is
moste profetabyii to J?ame ])rtt nwly ar turnyd' to criste. jjerfore
truly is schewyd \e manhede of Ihesu criste, in Jie qwhilk emong* The manhood
20 man suld' be glad, in qwhilk he has mater of loy & also mow?'ny??g. Christ gives
loy for sikyrnes of owr gaynbiyng^, heuynes for filtli of owr synyng^, redemption,
for \)Q qwhilk* it is to heuy J)at so wor)?i a offirynge is offyrd'. For \q sJ"s.
boystus fleschly sawle in-io behaldyTig of |)e godhede is not rauischyd'
24 bot if it be gostely, aH fleschly lettyng^5 v.astyd. II Truly qwhen it
begyns a clene hart* to haue & no ymage of bodily ])inge may begyle
it, ))en sikirly it is to he J)ingz5 admytte, |)at* in J)e lufe of god
wondyrf ully it may be glad. H Sum treuly bink of be loy of blissyd some think

oil! • • o • ^ ^ • °*" ^'^^ blessed

2b aungellis & holy saulys vfiih criste loyand', & jjis J)oghf longz^' to angeis and of
conte772placion. H Su??z binke's of wrechidnes of mans condicion & someofman's

vilcuBss

fylth of hym & in ])er ])ogh.Us ))ai dispoyte of mans foly, for vanites [Foi. l'i. b.]
of ])is lyfe paV iorgetis J)e loys vnsene. IT Odyr ])er jjoghtis \)iis dis-

32 pose f)af no-])inge J)ai wyH bott lofyng* & desir of per makar, ]>af ]ja
lufe hym as is possibil to men in J?is lyfe. ^ To ))is meditacion no
man comys bot he IpaV in Jjies |?inges before rehersyd' is mikil
vsyd. // Truly ]3e?' is a maner more excellent & makes a man moste

3G corjtemplatyfe. jperfor as per ar diners wark/s & vse of sayntis, so
of jjame ar diuers ])ogh.tis. 51 3it aH, for fai cum of o sprynge, to o

^ Sf^ruand struck out hy the uriter before cmprour.

<• He ban led

n>e upon the
imtliH of

Some by a
low path,
some by a
mean, hoiuo
by a high.

but all paths
are of God's
choosing.

120 II. The Mmding of Life. VM. VIII: Of Meditation on Christ.

ende fai go & to o blys fai cum or led, hot dyuers ways, be o
cliarite fat is more in on ))en in a-nodyr. J3erfor jjc psalmo pay8 :
Dednxit we siijHiv aemitmi iiLxtine, j yii is 'he has led* ine a-pon ))c
j)at]ns of lightwysnes/ as so say : \er is o rightwisnes, <& many
l>athis bo ))o qwhilk^ we ar led to loy of lyfe eiierlastynge ; / for
qwhils aH in one beami ar of diners nedis, in o ryghtwisnes be
dynei-s patliis to god ar le(? ; sum gois be a lawe path, sum be a
mene, Sc sum be a hee. 11 To liym truly is givin jje hyar path ))af
to lufe criste more endlesly is ordanc?, not for he wyvVis more fen
odyr / or gifis more or suffyrs more, bof for he lufis more. j5e
qwhilk lufe is heet & swetnes, & in aH men sekis resf. No man
may sett hym-self in any of ))is pathis, bot ))at ho takes to )je qwhilk
god chase hym. / Sum-tyme J)a ]?at semys \n fe hyar ar in ))e lawar,
<fc reuers ; fur Jjrtt is oijely inward! in saule be-for god, not^ in any
finge J)«t may be done of man vtwanK U Aft^ fe disposicion &
desire of \er meditacion fa ar dressyd to fis path or to fat. / No
man be vtward? warkis may be knawen qwlio is more or less befor
god. / Foly JJe?'fore it is too deme of chosyn Sz say : he passis hym,
or his merit/** ar far fro medis of f is, qwhen playnly fai knaw not
^er myndis; fe qwhilk if fa knewe, lefuUy fa myght^ deme.
U Truly f e?-fore to aH: creatures god wiH it be counsayli, fat fa
despyse not sum to mikytt or sum worschip to mikyH ; for doutles
if fa saw mens hartis, many fat fa worschip, as stynkawd & fowli
fa waldl despyse, & odyr fat fai sett not by, no 3it desires to see,
als moste lufely & haly aungeH fai wald* worschyp. H Gude foghtis
also & nieditaciofis of god^5 chosyn, & slike be his g?*rtce to ilkone
he schedts as to f er astay to & condicion beste acordis. H ]>erioT my
meditacion I may say f e, bot qwhilk is moste effectuzw I can-not
opyn, for fer i;nvard desu'e I see not^. I trow truly fat fo medita-
ciuns \ii fe plesys god moste and p?*ofetis fe fat god be his mercy
sched/d* in fe. // Neuer-fe-lesse begynnyng^ fou may hay of ofer
mens wordis, fat I knaw weH in my-self*. % Truly if fou despise
techynge of doctours, <^ trow fi-selfe better may fynde, fen fa tech
fe in fer writynge, knaw itt forsoith, cristw lufe fou sal not* taste,
ffond sayinge truly it is : god taght fame, qwhy ferfore sal he not
tech mel I answere fe, for fou arf not slike as fa were. / ])o\\ art
prowd & sturdy, & fa wer lawly & meek, & fa presumand of god
askyd no-fing<, bot fame-self vndyr aH mekand toke conynge of
sayntis. H ]ier{or he taght fame fat we in f^^r bokes suldf be taght.
H Truly if fi meditacions crist/V lufe now desire, or sownd in his

I

n is foolish
to judge.

If men's
liearts were
seen, many
tliat are
worsliii>ped
wonld be
<lespised as
foul.

12

16

20

24

1

If yoa think
you can find
better help
than doctors
give, you
Khali not tart e
Christ's love.

[Fol. LII. a]

To desire
Christ's love
and sinj; Mis
praise is well.

32

36

40

II. Mending of Life. CKIX: Of Rcadinrj. Ch.X: Purity of 3Iind. 121

luiiynge, as me semis ]30u art wele disposyd. / Bot ))e jjoghtii? in
qwhilk^ more swetnes pon felis in god, profeU's pe more. / To jjink
wel wzt/i-oute swetnes profetis fe lityH, bot* in J^at case in qwliilk*
4 for need swetnes is not felt*.

Of Eedynge. [Cap. IX.]

Xf Ipou desyre to cam to lufe of god, & in desire be kyndyld of
heuewly loys, & be broglit* to despisynge of eer]?ly ]?ing^s, be
8 noght necligent m Jjinkynge & redynge holy scripture, moste in po rtead the
plac^s qwher it techis maners & desaytis of ])e feynd to eschew, '
qwher it spekys of godis lufe & of lyfe cowte7?iplatyfe. U Hard
sentens to disputars & witty men be longe tyme vsyd in holy

1 2 doctryne be left. It helpis vs truly mikyH to profett in goyd. In
jjis we knaw our deiautis & gude dedys ; in qwhilk we synne, in
qwhilk not ; qwhat we sal do & qwhat forbere ; & moste soteH
desaytis of our enmys to vs ar opynd. / )?a kyndil to lufe &

16 prikk^c«t to wepynge. pa. ordan vs a likand horde if we in jjame

haue delyte, as wer in ali riches. / Eot lat no couetys of worschip, Let us not
fauyr or mens pmysynge sett vs to conynge of sc?upture, / bot onely scriptures
entent to plese god, pat we may knaw how we suld' lufe hym, & men.

20 teche our neghbur Jje same ; not to be haldyn connyng* a-nens pe
pepuH, bot ra|)er vs aw to hyde our conynge pen schew it to prays-
ynge, as it is sayd : In corde meo ahscondi eloquia tua vt non
lieccem tibi, pat is : 'In my hart I hyd ))i wordz's, pat I syn not to

24 J)e,' in voyd or vayn schewynge. / j^e cause jjerfore of our spekynge Let us then
be onely be louyng^ of god & edificacion of our neghbur, bat it may for the love

«T » ' r y of God and

be f iilfillyd of vs : U SempeT laus eius m ore meo, ' Alway his the edifica-
louynge be in my mowth,' & pat is qwhen we seek not owr awen neighbour.
28 worschyp, & agayns his louynge we speke not.

Of Clennes of mynde. [Cap. X.]

Be ])is ix degrese before tochyd cums mane to clennes of mynde,
qwher god is seyn. Clennes I say pat in ])is lyfe may be
32 had — how may prt?*Iite clennes be gettyn here, qwher so oftt man
with venial synnys at pe leste is filyd? / Sayntis feet ar to be
waschyd for bai draw duste of be erth. II Qwo may truly say 'I Who is free

rt. T 1 fi'om sin H

am cleyn of synne ' 1 truly none in J)is lyfe. ffor as says loob :

36 H >S'^ lotus fuero aquis niuis Sf effulserint velut mundicie maims mee,

tannen dordibus iiitinges me Sf abJionunahuntuT me vestimenta mea, /

122 II. The Mending of Life. Ch. X: Purity. XI: Love of God.

fat is to eay : * If I be waschyd with snaw watyr, ))at is to ineyno
ti-ew penance, & if my hanch'^f schyne as clennes, for waikis of
Innocens, ^it satt |)ou toclie me wM fylth, for venial syiines \ai
may not be esschwyd, & my clotlies satt vg me,' Jjat is to say my 4
fle-ch makw me vg of my-self, & scnsualite, }pa\, is so freett, sliper

[Koi. MI. b] anil redy to lufe likand bewte of fis warld", oft-tymes makes me
synue. / \>eHov says ]?e appostyH : Non re(jnet pacc^ixxm in no%iro
mortali eoi'poTS, / * Kene not syn in owr dedely body,* as qwo say : H

Man may at- svn i« V8 may vniene, bot it may not vnbe. Qwat clennes be/for

tain to ({real » •' /

purity by may man huue in bis lyfel Truly worbi & grete, if he hym-self

much read- *^ i ^ ^ , >^

*''K.p'^ver, rythgwisely vse in stody of redynge, prayer & meditacion, as it
Uon. before is notyd^. Truly \>oi he sum-tyme synne venially, ^it sone, 1 :

for hys hole mynde dressyd to gode, it* is destruyd. H j)e hete
truly of charite in hym att rust of synne in hyra wastis, as wer a
The virtue droipo of watyr put in-to a grete fyre. Verteu ))<?7'for of a clensyd
soul is to saule is |)e mynde to haue bisy to god, for in ])is degre att \)e jjoghf 10'
fixed upon in-to criste is dressyd, att |?e mynde in hym is spred, poi att it
In a clean seme he speke to odyr. Truly in clene cowsciens is no-binge bittyr,

COUSCiGIK.'6 / O «/ J

is nothing scharp OF hard', bot att sweyt & louely. Of clennes of hart* risis

bitter or hard. l f J J

songe of Joy, swete ditty & ioyfutt myrth. j?en ful oft* a wondyr- 20
futt Toy of god is givyn & hevinly songe is i?«-sched. ^ In |)is
astate a man may knaw, ))at he is in charite, jjrtt hee satt neuer lose ;
Wit/ioute greet drede he lyHs not*, not for suffiryng* turmentry, bot
isaynomore, hat his lufai he offcudl not. I spare to say more here, for me 24

for I feel my- ' x •' '

self utterly scuiys my-self a futt greet wrech : for oft my flesch is noyd &
ortamitrieii. assayd. fforsoth ]?of att in ])is ymgis beforsayd is gothV- lufe & life
contemplatife co^itinude, ^it sum-qwhatt of pame more specially to
^our neyd & profett is to be sayde. 28

O

Of })e lufe of gO(?. [Cap. XL]

sweit light & delectabytt, ])at is my makar vn-made : li^t ]je
face & scharpnes of ray Inwardf eyn viith clernes vn-made, &

My mind flees my m\Tide, bat pithily clensid fro vnclemies & menielus made v>itJi 32

into the mirth '^ -J j r ^

of love. giftis, swyftly [it] mo flee Into pe he myrth of lufe, kyndytt with

J)i savyr, pat I may sytt And rest, in pe, Ihesu, loyand. And goand

as wer rauischid in heuenly swetnes, & stabyldf in behaldynge of

SvIjSl"^ Jjinges vnsene neuer bot godly I satt be glad'. 0 lufe euer-lastand, 36

toKoS"^ enflaum my saule to lufe god, ]?at no |)inge byrne in me bot his

halsynges. U 0 gude Ihesu, qwho satt gmunte me to feitt pe J7«t

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. XI: Of tlie Love of God 123

now nowdyr may be felt ne sevne? / Sched )?i-self in-to J?e entrel
of my saiiH ; cum in-to my hart* and fyH it w/t/i j^i clerist swetiies.
U Moyst my mynde wM bote wyne of ]ji sweet lufe, fxr/t ali yllis &
4 aH: scornfuH: visions & ymaginacioiis forgetiH: &, Jje onely haiiand, I
may be glad, & Icy in Ihesw my god. H Heynforward', swettist Lord, aWde
lorde, go not fro me, bisily vfith me bidynge in J)i swetnes, for only only comfort.
))i presens to me is solas & onely Jji absence levis me heuy. ^ 0
8 holy gost*, Jjat gifis g?'ace qwlier Jjou wili, cu??2 in-to me & rauisch
me to Jje ; \q> kynde ]jat [Jjoii] made, wzt/i honily gyftis chaunge,
]iat my sawl, in |)i likand ioy fiilfyk?, aH ])inge \n ]?is warld? despise [Foi.Liii.a.]
& kast a-way, H gostely gyftis, ])e gyfand, it myght take & goand

1 2 be soundly ioy in-to light* vndiscrivyd in holy lufe be it aH meltyd. //
Byrn my renys wz't/i J)i fyre, & my hart Jjat in J)in awte?* sal byrn
endlesly. U 0 sweet & trw Ioy, I pray Jje cum! Cu???, sweit & o sweet and
most desiryd ! cum, my lufe, ]iat art aH my comforthe : Scrith in-to come !

16 a longynge sawle for jje & to ])e we't/i sweit* heet*. KyndyH ^\itli J)i
heet* holnes of my harf; vfiih ))i light lightynand' myn Inner
partys, v^Hili honily songe of lufe feed me as I may take be power
of body & sawl. In ]?is & slike o]ier meditacions be J)ou glad, fat Rejoice in

20 so ]?ou may cu?7i to ]?e pith of lufe. / Lufe truly suffyrs not* aiS.tifat^^'
lufand saule byd in it-self, bot rauischis it owt to })e lufar, ])ai ]>q the heart of
saul is more ])er qwher it hifis / })en wher j^e body is )jat lyfis &
felis it*. Tlire degrese sothely ]ier er of cristis lufe in qwbilk fro on Threedegree»

24 to a-nodyr profet^s he fat is chosyn to lufe : The fyrst is cald vn- christ-""^
abyH to be ouercomen, / fe secund' vnabyH to be partyd', / fe fird?
is cald' singuler. / Truly fen is luf vnouercomyn qwhen wztA no a. That can't
nodyr desyr it may be ouercomyw, when^ for it aH lettyngzs he

28 castes a-way, / aH te???ptacions & fleschly desyrs he slokyns, / And
when he suffyrs paciently aH greuis for criste & with no flaterynge,
no likynge is ouerco?7?myn. / AH labyr is lyght to a lufar, no
bettyr may no man ouercum labur fen be lufe. H Luf truly is /y. That is in-

32 indepa?*tyd qwhen with grete lufe fe mynde is kyndyld* and to
criste v^ith f oght vndepartyd draws, forsoth a minwt it suffyrs hym
not pas fro mynde, bot als he were bun in hart hym it finke's, to
hym it syghis, it* cryes wz't/i his lufe to be haldyn, to lawes fe

36 fettyr of dedelynes & to hym fat he onely to se desires may leed*.
And moste f is name Ihesu in so mikyH he worschyps & lufis fat in
his mynde bisily it restis. ^ Qwhen fe lufe fe?-fore of criste in
hart of god4' lufar & fe warLlis despisar in so mikyH is sect fat of be overcome
^ J-e secund is struck out hy the writer before when.

I

121

TT. The Mending of Life. Oh. XI: Of the Lcwe of God,

U culled
" hiKli."
everthouKht-
ful lovo id
called *' undo-
parted."

e. That is
tiMffulor.

"Singular"
love excludes
all but Jesus.

[Fol.LlII.b.]

Whatever
leads not to

Ctirist is ill-
tolerable.

The more the
soul is carried
into itself for
joy, the less
It is fliled
with heavi-
ness.

Ce-ise, my
aoul, to love
this world.

odyr desire of liifo itt may not bo ouercomyn, it is caMf lie; bot
when ho to criste liahl? vndepartyd, cristo cue?* finkamJ', be nou
occasion hym forgettant), euerlastywg and vndepartyd it is callyd. /
Anil qwhat lufe may bo liear or more, if ))i8 be he & euerlastynge 1 4
H 3itt per is fe ))irdl degre ))at is cald* singulore. / A-nodyr it is to
be he, & be allone, Als it is dyuers eue?* to be present & a-nojjer to
ha no fela. / We may truly haue many felaws & ^it hafe a place
befor aH. / If ))ou truly any coumfortli seyk* or resaue pen of pi god 8
& if ))ou parauentottr lute, / 3it^ not syngulere, ferfore ))ou seis
qwhatt gretnes of wor))ines is to encres qwhen po\i art hee, allon
pat pan may be. / To singulere degre pertoi luf ascendis qwhen aH
comforts it excludys bot* on fat is in Ibesu, qwen no-J>inge bot 12
Ihesu to hym may suffys. / In J)i8 degre pe sawle sett, hym on it
lufys, onely criste it* 3ernis, criste desires, Onely in his desire it
bidis, to hym it sighis, in hym it byrnis, in hym warme it restw.
No-))inge to it is sweyt*, no-J)inge it sauyrs, bot in Ihesu it be made 16
sweit, qwhos mynde als songe of musyk in feyst of wyen. H Qwhat
euir the self to it offyr or cum to mynde, soyne is cast bak, sodanly
despisyd? if itt saryf not his desire or to his wiii acorde not* ali
custum ))af to cristis lufe he seis sarifis not, he oppressis. Qwat- 20
euer he do, inprofetabyH & iwtollerabyH: it semys, pe end? of his
desyre in-to criste bot if it rynne & leed. U Qwhen he may lufe
criste, att )?inge ))at he wiH haue he trowes he has, & wet/i-outyn
hym att jjinge hym vggis & waxis fowle. Bot for he trowes to lufe 24
hym endlesly, stedfastly he bidys in body & werus not in hart*, bot
lufis pe?-seuerantly, & ali pinge suffyrs gladly. & pe more ))us in
hym it life's, pe more in lufe it is kyndyldf & to hym it is lykkar.
U Slike onelynes no meruayH acordis pat grauntis ne fela emang/s 28
men. II pe more it is rauischyd? inward! to loys, in vtward pingis
pe les it is occupyde or with heuynes or charges of J)is lyffe it is not*
lett*. And now it is in sawle als wer vnabyH to suffyr payn, )?at,
non angwysche lettand, in god euer he loys. 0 my saule, fro lufe 32
of fis warlcJ sees, & melt in cristzs lufe, )?at aH-way to pe it be
sweytt of hym to speek, reyd*, wryte & ))inke, hym to pray, hym
euer to prayse. H 0 god, my sawH to pe deuoute, desyres pe to se,
fro^ fare to pe it criis, in pe it byms, in ))i lufe it longti>'. 0 lufe ))at 36
failis not, poa oue7*comen has me. U 0 euer-lastynge swetnes &
fayrnes, my hart fou has woundyd, & now oue?*comyn & woundyd
I fan, vnne)?is for loy I life & nehand I dy, for I may nott suffyr

1 3iIS. fro fio

II. The Mending of Life. Ch. XI: Of the Loxe of God. 125

swetnes of so grete a maieste in flescli J?at wyli royte. II AH: m^^ My heart
hert truly festynd in desire of Ihci'ii, is turnyd iw-to heet of Infe, & the heat of
it is svvaloyd In-to a-no])e?' loy and a-nodir form. )?erfore, o goyd

4 Ihesu, haue me?-cy of a wrech, schew ))e to me J>at long/s, gyfo
medcyne to me hurt. Seek I feyl me not, bot longynge in j^i lufe. /
He ])ai lufis ))e not, losis ail to-gidyr ; he Jjat felois fe not is wode. He that loves
Emong^ ])eriov be ])ou my loy, lufe & desire, to I may se J)e in syon, loses Thee.

8 f?od of erodd*s. H Charite truly is nobilest of ve?-tews, moste charity is

no T--1P1 IPO the noblest

excellent & swettyst, \iai loynis pe lufyd to J^e lufar & crist w^t7/- virtue,
chosen sawle eue?'lastyngly cuppils. In vs it refoimys j^e ymage of
\q he Trinite & makis ]?e creatur likkeste fe makar. / 0 gift of
1 2 lufe, qwhat [is] it worj) before aH odyr ]jat chalangis he degree -wiih

aungellis ! \)q more truly of lufe a man take's in fis lyfe, the more The more
& be hyar in heuyn he saii be. U 0 singulere ioy of lufe euer- takes here,

.,.,,-,.., , ,, ,,. the higher he

lastvTzg bat^ rauiscms an his to hevyns a-bown ail warla?5, bameshaiibein

heaven.

16 byndand wz't/i bandis of ve?'tew. U 0 dere charite, in erth ))at has
))e not^ is no^t wroght, qwhat-euer he haue. / He truly in ))e ))at is
bisy, to loy Aboyn erthly he is soyne lyft. Jpou entyrs boldly Jje
bed-chaumbyr of \q kynge eue?-lastynge, \o\x onely art not a-schamyd

20 criste to take. He it is Jiat )?ou has soght & luffyd ; criste is ])in :

halde hym, for he may not bot take )je, to qwhome onely \ou How on to
desired to obey, ffor \v*t/i-o\vtyn fe playnly no wark hym plesis ; [Foi. liv. a.]
}jou make's aH finge saue^y ; J)ou art a heuenly seef , Awngelis

24 felischyp, a meruelws holines, a blistfuH syght, & lyfe Jiat lastis ah giory is
endlesly. H 0 haly charite, howe sweit art \ow & comfortabyH, hoiy charity,
fat mak^5 [hole] fat was brokyn, fale fou restoris, bond fou thou freest,
delyuers, man to aungclis fou makes euyn, sittand & restand fou to the angels.

28 raisys, & raisyd f ou makzs sweet. In fis degre or state of lufe is
lufe chaste, holy, wilfuH, / lufand faf is lufyd for fe selfe, not for
fe godis, aH-to-gider festynand fe self in fat fat is lufyd, no-f inge
vtward* sekand, of itt plesyd, bolnand^, swete smellaTid, & harty, in

32 fe self it byndand?, meruelusly passand maner ; U Te (!) fe luffyd^
loyand, hym wM-owt forgettynge finkand, ascendand in desire,
falla7^d in fe lufe, goand in halsyng^, oue?'comyn in kyssynge, aH
multyn in fyre of* lufe. ^ Truly so cristis lufar in lufynge kepis The lover of

36 Yion ordyr, ne couetzs no degre, for in fis lyfe, how feruewt & loyand not rank,
it be in godz's lufe, 3it more & more it f ink/*^ god to lufe, 3a f of he ever seeking
myght lyfe here euermore, 3it suld it not trow to stand any tyme more for love.

1 ad solum amatum se extendens, omnia alia contemnens & obliviscens, in
amato iubilans.

126 11. TJie Mending of Uj\. Ch. XJ ; nf (he L&cc of Uotl.

& not profett in lufe, bot ratlier |)e longer pi\t lie suld* lyfe J)e more
in lull'e he suhll byrne. ^ God truly is inlinit of gretnes, bette?* ])en
we may Jinke, of swetnes vn-nowmbyrde, of ati wroght kyndes
vnconsauyd, of vs may nouer be comprehendyd als he is in hyni- 4
The mind self euerlastynge. Bot qwhen J)e niynde now begynnis to byrne in
iove, desire of his njakar, it is made abitt to resaue light^ vnwroght ; & so

fliied with the enspiryd & with gyftis of \)e holy goste fulfyld*, as leful is to
uu*nmvr ^^^^^^'^y> heuynly loy it has / & in heght of mynde aH seyn Jjingw 8
the™8wimeM [passand] to swetnes of lyfe euerlastynge it* is raisyd. / And
oieuri.ity. q^yhils \>e saule with swetnes of \>e godhede & warmnes of Makand
lyght is spred, offyrd in sacrifice to Jje kynge euerlastynge & accept,
it is aH byrnyd. / 0 mery lufe, stronge, rauischand, byrnand, 12
AvilfuH, stronge, vnslokynd, \)at ali my sauH brynge to |)i seruis, &
siifFyrs no J)inge to |)inke bot )?e : U To ))e pou chalangis aH pat we
lyfe, all ))at we sauyr, ali jjat we ar. U Criste jjus \)erioTe [be]
begywnynge of owr lufe, qwhome for hym-self we lufe, & so we IG
lufe ordinatly qwhat-euer is to be lufyd for hym, fat is weti of luf.
Perfect love & to Qwliome aH bat we lufe & ar lufvd we put /. Here sothelv is

is the lifting ^ r v i / j

up of the schewyd parfite lufe qwhen aH be entent of raynde, be p?'iuay

iicArt 8 secret

SS-s "ov ^° warke of aH Jje hart in-to godis lufe is lyft, so fat |)e myght of trw 20
lufe & myrth be so mikyH |jat no wardly [icy] ne fleschly mer-
chandis be lefuH ne likandl. U 0 lufe indepa7-tyd, o lufe siugulere,
Jjof aH ])er wer no turmentzs of wyckyd, no meed suld be trowedl i7i
hevyn, fro p'l lufe |)ou suldf neuer )je sonnarlawse. More ti)llerabyH 24
it wer to ]7e a vntrowyd greife to sufpyr fen ons syn deedly. per-
fore truly lufys fou god for hym-self & for no nodyr finge, nor

Nothinffbut bi-self bot for goti*, & ber-of it felois bat in be no-binge bot god is

God is loved ^ &'r f f r n o

in thee. lufydf. H Els how sulcH god be aH in ilk finge, if fer be any luf of 28
0 Charity, man in a man 1 j 0 clere charite, cum in-to me & take me in-to fe
a sweet sa- & so present me before mv makar. / bou art* savir weH tastanJ,

voar thou art, *■ ^ i *

ScClurli"' swetnes weH smellandf, & plesandl odur, a lieit clensand, a comfortli
Usrin*^*^" eudlesly lastand. )pou makes men contemplatyfe, hevyn-^ate ]jou 32

opyna, mowthis of accusars ])o\i spars, gode )?ou mak/s be seyn, &
• multitude nmltitude of synnes jjou hydes. U We loif fe, we prech fe, be fe
hidest. whilk fe warldf we ouercume, be qwhome we loy & fe heuenly

leddyr we ascend. In fi swetnes scryth in-to me, me & myne I 36

co7«mendl fe w/tA-outen ende.

11. The Mending of Life. Ch. XII: Of Contemplative Life. 127

Of Contemplacion. [Cap. XIL]

Contemplatj'fe lyfe or cowtemplacion has thre pa7*tys : Redyng,
Pmyer, & Meditacion. In redynge, god speki6' to vs ; In in reading,
4 p?'ayer, we speke to god ; In meditacion, awngels to vs cuw down to'^usT^n ^

Dl'ilVGr WG

& techis vs, bat we erre nott^. In p?'ayer ba go vp & offyrs owr speak to God;

iTij" £ !•*" medita-

p?-ayers to god, loyand? of owr proiett, jjat ar messy ngers be-twix tion, anpeis
god & vs. H Prayer certan is a meyk desire of mynde dressyd m "s.
8 god, of fe qwhilk he is plesyd? qwhew it cnms to hym. IT Medita-
cion in god & godly j^ingts, aftyr prayer and redynge is to be takyn,
qwher is jje halsynge of racheli. H To redynge, longzs resoii & To reading
i?2quisicion of treuyth, j^at is a gudely h'ghtte markyd apon vs. enquiry into
12 IT To prayer, longti? louynge sange, passynge in behaldynge and to prayer be-
meruayH: : and so \n prayer standis contemplatyfe lyfe or con- and song;
temijlacioii. H To meditacione, longis inspiracion of godd, vndir- to meditation

mr -TP ' ^ ii i belongs God's

standynge, wysdome & syghynge. II If .it be asked qwhat is inspiration.
16 co?itemplacion : it is hard to defyne. Sum says, contemplatyfe lyf Contempia-

is not ellis bot knawlcg^s of Ymgis to cum & hyde, or to be voyde to define.

fro ali wardly occupacion, or study of godz's lettyrs. Odyr says \ai

contemplacion is free sight^ in \q spectakyls of wysdom, w/t/i a fuH:
20 he meruayli. IT Odyr says j}at contemplacion is a boke, & wys

behaldynge of fe saule, spred aH: abowt to behald his myghtis.

Odyr says, & weH:, Jiat conte??iplacion is loy of heuenly \m^is. Some well say

H Odyr says, & best, bat contemplacion is deed of fleschly desires be of heavenly

. , . _ things.

24 loye of J)e mynde raisyd. ^ To me it semys jjat contemplacion is others say
loyfuH: songe of godz'^ lufe takyn in mynde, with swetnes of aungeH the death of

tnG ci6sir6S 01

louynge. ]pis is lubilacioii, Jjat is end of parfit prayer & of he 5!|j^,Jg^'|{.
deuocion in ])is lyfe. / ))is is j^e myrth in mynde had gostely f oi^wji s^L of
28 ])e lufar eu6?-lastynge, wet/i grete voys oowt brekand. / \)v& is Jje ^^'^ ^°^®'
endly dede & parfittist of aU deidw in |)is lyfe. ]3e psalme ]?erfore
[says] IT Beatus vir qui sclt lubilacionem, ])at is to say: 'blyste
be bat* man bat knawes lubilacioii,' in contemplacion of god. Truly, None alien to

41 iT'Ti r»i' ^'°^ '^an re-

32 ]>er may non Aliene to god loy m Ihe^-u, ne taste pe swetnes oi his joice in Jesus.
lufe ; / bot if he euyr desire with fyre to be kyndyld of lufe euer-
lastynge, with pacience, mekenes & mane?*, wyth aH clennes of body
& saule to be made fayre, with gostly oyntmentis be dight^, in-to

36 contemplacion he is lyfte, / helefuH vertew lat hym seeke vncessand, [FoI. lv. a.]
be Jje whilk in Jjis lyfe fro wrechidnes of synne we ar clensyd & in
anodyr lyfe frc fro aH payn in blissyd lyfe endles it is To^tI. )5us

128 II. The Mending of Life. Ch. XII: Of Contemplative Life,

^it ill \\% oxilo he sal bo wor))i to feil loyfuH myrth of godw lufe.

B«nottiow f Jjerfor bo not slaw fi-self to chastys with prayer & wakynge, &

thjMlC vse holy moditacions, for doutles, w/t/i fis gostely labyrs wjit//

heuynes & we])ynge of imvanl' for))inkyiige m ))e is kyndyldl crist/* 4

lufe, & att vertews wj't/i gift/s of ))e holy gost in-to \\ hart ar schod.

Mb wjft ^ Begyn )>erfore be wilful pouert, so J)at qwhils )jou desires noght*

potreny. in Jjis warhV, befor god & man lyfe sobyrly, chastly & niekely. /

No-))ing< to hafe is sumtyme of need, bofc* no3t^ to may wili haue is

of greto ve;-tew. We may haue mikyH^ desirs. ^ Truly fe moste

parfite is necessam behoues to take, ellis wer he nott pa/-fyte if he

refusyd to take qwher-of he suld? lyfe. IT ))is maner is to keep in

partite men, aH wardly for god to despyse, & 3it of ))e same mete & 1 2

cloth to take ; & if j)is want any tyme, not to groch, hot [god] to

Ti>e warmer loyf, & superfluito als mikyti as fa may to refuse. H )pe warmar a

in the heat of xuan waxis wtt^ heet of lyght euerlastynge, be mekar in att ad-

everlnsting ./ «j #

li^'iit the uersites he sal be. / He fat truly is meek not fenydl fat* hy??jself 16
shall ihj in all JialJ/^^ woifi dospisynge & nowfer for harme nor reprefe to wieth is
prouokyd. Qwharfore hym-self lawand to bisy meditacion, to rise
to hym is givyn to behaldynge of heuenly fingz^*, & f e scharpnes of
his mynde clensyd, as sufFyrs seeknes of fe flesch, to hym is^ gyfyn 2C
sweitly witA inward! ioys, byrnyngly to synge. / And trewly when
He Koes not he gois to seyk any vtwardf f inge, not wz't/i a prowed fote he gois,
foot, but re- bot ill ho delitzs only loyand onon w/t/i swetnes of god2s lufe as
InhiKbde- ^ve^ i*auischyd in trans, meruelusly rauischid is glad. IT Slike2i
forsoyth is lyfe cowtemplatyfe, in dw mane?- if it be takyn : / be
longe vse of gostely warkz's to contemplacioii of fingis eue?*lasty7ig
we cum. / Myendly sight truly is takyn vp heuenly to behaldf be
schadoly syght* 3it & meroly, not clere and opyn; qwhils we go be 2i
faith, be mero as wer & schado we see. IF Truly if our gostely ee
be bisy to fat spiritual! light, [to behald] fat light \n it^-self* as it is
it may not se, & ^itt it felys it fat it is fere, qwhils it haldis wM
it favyr & heef of fatt light* vnknawen, qwher-of \n psalm is sayd : 3'-
Asiudark- Sicut teuehre eius ita & lumen eius, bat is: '& sis fe dvrknos
light. ferof so fe light ferof.' f poi aH truly fe dyrknes of syn ho a

holy saule be gone, myrk* f inges be passed & vnclene, fe mynde be
purgyd & lightynd, 3it qwhyls it bidys in fis flesch deedly fat 3*

* Possumus autem inulta habere & tamen nil velle habere, quando ea que
habemus uou ad voluptatein sed ad necessitatem retinemiis, sicut {{uandoqne
qui nil habet multa cupit. Necessaria etenim perfectissimum accipere oporttt.

" of his mvnde atrvrJc mit bffort' is.

II. The Mc7iding of Life. Ch. XII: Of Cmtemplative Life. 129

wondyrfuH ioy p^/rfitely is not seyn. Forsoith holy & contemplatif Hoiy men
men with clere face god behaldzs, Jjat is owdyr ]?ar witt opynd^ jjrtt God.
is more [jjat] as qwo say aH lettyng?*s be-twyx ])er mynde & god put
4 Lak, Ipe havtis er purgyd', / hene/^ly citesens J?ai behalde. Su?;^ [Foi. lv. b.]
truly both Jjis has takyn. / Als we in dyrknes sta?idand seys no-
))inge, so in co?itemplacion pat vnsemly lightis Jje saule, noo seyn
light^ we see. Criste also piit/6' hys restyng^ dirknes & ^it^ to vs he
8 spekis in a pilar of a clowed, bof it is fuH delectabyli fat is felf.
In ])is truly is proiyte lufe qwhen man goand in flesch can-not be it is perfect
gladdl bot in god [&] no-})inge wiH or desir bot god & for god. man, yet in
Hereby it is schewd Jjat holynes is not in criynge of pe hart* or .joiees soieiy

L2 teris or vtward' wark^'s, bot in swetnes of pf/?-fite charite & heuenly "*iut^,^^rcr
conte??q3lacion. / Many truly ar multyn in teris & aftirvvarde has -y^pei^feet'
turnyd to yli, bot no man filys hym-self with wardly bisynes ''^'""^y-
after ))«t he truly has ioyd in lufe eue?*lastywg. IT To greet & soro

16 long/*' to nw-co;mertyd begy?niars & profetand', bott ioyfully to
synge & to go in contemplasyon longzs bot to p«?*fite. 51 )pa Jjerfore
J?at longe tyme dois penance, qwhils he felis 3it' his conscience
prikand of defaute, dow[t]les knaw he ))at he dyd not 3it parfite

20 pena?ice. Emange j^erfore teris to hyni be as breed day & nyght,
for bot if he ponysch hym-self* fyrst vidth wepyng* & sighynge, to
be swetnes of co7ite?>nDlasion he may not cu??i. Conte?Hplatvfe contempin-

tivtj sweet-

swetnes not bot ^y^th fuH grete labowr is getyn, & with Ioy vntold' nessisob-

^A . . , -T rv> . -, . . ' -, p ^»'»e(l only

24 it IS possessyd. ^\ norsoith it is not mans merit* bot gods gyft* : & witii great
3it fro the begynynge to jjis day neu^r man myght be rauischyd in
conte??zplacion of lufe euerlastynge, bot if he before pa?'fitely aH
be warld/s vanite hadd* forsakyn. U More-owr w/tA heilful medita- He must be

•• '^ experienced

28 clone & deuoute prayer he aght be vsyd or he truly cum to >" i'e^»itw»>
contemplacion of heuenly ioys. H Conte^wplacion is labyr sweit* & pr»yer.
desirefuH ; J)e labyrar it gladis, & hurtis not ; no man J)is has bot
loyand' ; nott qwhen it cums, bot qwhen it goys, he is wery. U 0 Blessed la-

32 gude labyr to fe whilk deidly dress fame. / 0 nobyli & me?'uelus ^"°'^/*"^^"^"y
wyrkynge fat sittars dois moste parfitely. / It behouys t?-uly fat selves.
he take grete reste of body and mynde qwhome f e fyre of f e holy
goste truly enflaumys. Many truly fat can [not] in mynde rest ne

36 3it woyde f oghtis & vnp?-ofetabyH: put owtt*, fat in psalme is bidyn
may not fulfyH : H Vacate ^ videte qxiomam ego sim\ detis, / fat is to
say : *be voyde fro wardly vanite & se for I am god.* U In body

^ quod fit aut aperto eis sensu lit intelligant scripturas, aut ostio celi aperto
quod niaius est ut'quasi omnibus obstaculis.

HAMPOLE. K

ISO II. Tlie Mcndhig of Life, Ch. XII: Of Cmxicmflaiive, Life.

Th<im> wav*r. trulv vovde «fe waiK'rjindl \n liart^ ar not worbi to taste (fe sec

iiiK ill lifttrt J J ,,., ii* ,.

are not wcr- Jiow SWClt* OUF loruO 18, llOW SWClt JjC llCgllt^ of COntclliplaClOfl.

iiow Kweei u fl Tnily ilk man contcwplatyfe lufes solitarincs, J)at more feraent

^ oftar ))//t he of no man is lettyd in liis desires may he vsvi?. 4
i.ifi. coiuom- 11 (,)wcn it is knawn btvfor bat^ lyfe conte?>n)latyfe is worbiar k,
Hum life moedfular fen actife lyfe, <fc ail contcmplatyfe be godw mouynge
solitary lyfe lufand k for swetncs of conteniplacion ar feruewt,
namly in lufe : It semys J?at solitary men, wit/i gyff of contempla- 8
ciofl raisyd, ar he & tochis ))0 heest p</?-feccion, hot if it happyn
[sum] be in slike state \ai fa haue evyn fe heght of conte?/iplatyf(!
lyfe & 3it fa cees not fe p?r'cliur office to fulfyH : / fis odyr solitary
fFoi.Lvi.n.] in co;<templacion hiest, onely givyn to godly fingw, not to nede of 12

\cr neghburs, In fis fa passe in like degreis fat for p/-echynge [fai]

Amanvorj- ar worfi a crowne. Truly a man verray contewtplatyfe w/t// so

live u often gfcct desiio is Set in-to fe light vnsene, fat oft-tymes as a foyli or

r<.<.i. vnwys of men he is demyd — & fc^t is for his mynde in crist/A* lufe 16

sect infiawmyd, his bodily berynge playnly cliaung/.s' h his body

also depa/-tand fro ali erthly wark/s god/** chylde it makiV als man

owt of mywde. H J)us truly qwhils fe saule in endles^ myrth of lufe

gedyrs att fe selff, wtt/^-haldand fe self i7nvar(J, it flowes not 20

fonvardi to seike bodily likynge. And for it is fed wM likand

>viio shall inwardi luste, it is no menieH f of it say syghand? : // U * Qwho salt

my brother:-' gif me fe, my brofer, fat I maye fynde fe forth & kysse fel' fat

is to say, lawsyd fro fe flesch I may be worfi to fynde fe, <fe seand 24
fe face to face wzt/i-outen endf \y;iili fe be loynyd, and now man
A devout doui me despyse. // ^ A deuoute saule gyfyn to lyfe conte?/^platyfe, ful-
vttin glory, fyldl witA lufe eu^^/iastinge, aH vayngfory of fis warld? despisys &

onely in ih^.su loyand couets to be lowsyd ; / ^ tibr qwhy of fis fat 28
sauez-s h lufis fis warldl, not heuyn, it is despisyd, <fc greuusly
long/d' in lufe & gretely desyres Av/t// fe lufly co???panys of aungels
There u no- to be givyu to loys fat fe wardly aduersite may not noy. / IT !No-

thliiR more . p i -n . . <. i •

profitable or binge more protetabiH:, no-pinge meriar ben g?'ace of conte?/iplacione, 32

merrier than ... - ., o «t •

theKTaeeof |)at lyftis vs fro fis lawc & to god offyrs. tI Qwhat is grace [of
Perfect o contemplacion] bot begynnynge of loy \ qwhat is parRtenes of loy
flrS3L '^°" ^* grace cowferniydll In qwhilk to vs is kept* a loyfuH hap &

happy ioy, a glorius endlesnes & eue/'lastyng* ioy, wiih sayntis to 30
k ' «^ki" ^^^® ^ dwcH w/t/i aungels, / And fat fat is abowne ali f inge, god
truly to knaw, parfitely to lufe, in schynynge of his maieste to se, &
w/t// wondirfuH loyfuH songe Si melody hym ondlesly to loyfe,
* o stnicl' mU be/arc cudles.

II. The Mending of Life. Cli. XII : Of Contem;plaiive Life. 131

to qwhome be wyrscliip &l ioy, w^t7^ cledys of jjankynge, in warlcl? of to
warldys. Amen.

whom be
worship, joy,
and thunks-
givhig for
ever.

IT Thus endys ^e xij chapet>/rs of Ricliarde Hampole, in-to englys
•i ti-anslate he ffrere Richard Misj/n, to in/ormacion of Cridijn

sauls. A" do' Millimo cccc"'" xxxiiij.

Here follows in a VI th century hand : —

Kichardus Hampole ex Eboracensi Angloru??i Comitatu oriundiis,
8 Theologus insignis, scripsit exj)lanationes

12

16

I

in librum Job.

Elogium nonmm Jesu.

De Incendio Amoris.

In Tlirenos Jereniioe.

Regulani bene Viuendi.

Expositiones in Canticas Pro-
phetaru?^, Esaise, Ezechielis,
Annse niatris Samuelis,
Moysi, Abacuc, Danielis,
Zachariae, Marine, Simeonis.

In Ora^^'owem Dominica?/?.
In Symbola tria, Apostolicum ,

Ambrosianu?/i, et Atliana-

sianu?M. Claruit Anno Do-

miwi 1430.
Josias Simlems ita habet in

sua Bibliotheca.

»

K 2

13i

NOTE.

p. 48, 1. 40. iiieetb\iyrd, incat-board, tray, litter ; Vulgate fercnlumf 'A barrow,
litter, bier (for carrying the spoils, the images of the gods, &c., in public pro-
cessions).'— White.

The Wycliffite versions give the Song of Solomon iii. 10, thus (ed. 1850, iii. 76) : —

A cha3er King Salainon marie to hym, Kyng Salamon J made to hym a seeto,

of the trees of Liban ; his pileris he made of the trees of I;ibaii ; he made the pihTs

siluerene, the lenyng place goldene, the thereof of sihier ; lie made a goldiin

stewing vp purper; themiddesheenourn- restyng place, a stiyng of piirpur ; an<l

ede with charite, for the do3tri8 of he arayede tlie myddil tliingis with

Jerusalem. charite, for the doujtris of Jerusalem.

t Kyng Salomon; that is, God a king to 30U, specialy in the ^yuyng of lawe.
a golden resting place; that is, tlie propiciatorie, that was the seete of God, was al
of pure gold, stiyng of pui-pur; that is, a veil of purpur hanginge bitwixe th*;
pileris, and was reisid vp, whanne me entride in to the hooly of hooli places. tM
myddil thingis unth charite; for in the hooli of hooli places on the pawment was
the arke of testament, with the tablis of lawe, and manna, and the 3erde of Aaron,
that weren signes of Goddis charite to the puple. Lire here. C.

133

GLOSSARY.

h

ahillancl, making able or fit [liabilis],

84/12.
ahoune, aboivne, above.
abydes, (cp. habidys, 79/3i), IOO/4.
adred [O.E. andrtedan], dread, 97/3.
adyll, earn, gain [O.N. cicSlask ::> o^al,

property], 19/34, 86/15.
after, according to, I6/25 et passim,
aght, eiglith, 105/ 12.
arjlit., inipers. = behoves, I6/28.
all o)iely, alone, 8I/13.
and, ande, an = if.
anee, an eye, 11 5/ 1. See iiee.
anens, concerning, towards.
anoytt = anoijnt, anointed, 90/i.
aostyll, apostle, 94/35. ^P- ^'■^^17-
apmi, upon. 88/38, 95/21.
avme, [O.E. earin^e], misery.
arrid [Dan, arrighed], wickedness, 73/28.
asethe, sb. reconciliation, I/2 [O.E. saed,

E.M.E. assyth].

Cp. " And who so harmes any man in
his nede
Sal no3t be safe, bot he make
asseth at his power."

Oas. of Love,
f^seyth, 67/26. See asethe.
asowtid^ a sound, 7I/40.
at, \>tit, 97/2.
aiidyr, aydere, pron. either (as conj.

usually owdyr, I8/21).
auntyr, adventure.
avotre, adultery [O.F. avontrie], 95/3.
auysyd, planned, avised, 99/34.
aw, V. ought, 105/25.
awter, altar, 123/ 13.
ayth, empty [O.E. ea«e], 27/14.

be. usn. prep. = by.
beeld, build, II6/24.
begiell, beguile, 63/9.
HAMPOLE.

begone, begun, 83/38.

begrace = by grace, IOO/25.

behestyd [O.E. behatan], promised, 117/

26.
behyght, promised, 67/27.
beldes [O.E. bfeldan], encourage, II/2J.
beylded, biiilded, 78/io.
blabyrar, blabber, 96/21.
bhkyd, blackened, IO7/25.
blistness, blessedness, 88/24.
blys, bless, 35/37.
bolnand, swelling.
bolnes, swells, II/22 ; bolnis (2nd sing.),

27/20.
borde, board, shield, 121/ 16.
borionand, budding, 32/39. ^^^ burion-

bot if = except, 3/29 et passim.

boiryd [O.E. biigan], bent, inclined, 90/7.

boystus, rude, ignorant, 3/24.

boystnsnes, foolishness, 77/6.

brijnuymje, burning, 2/13.

bnne, bound, 23/23, usually bun.

burde, board, table, 95/23.

b'urionyng [O.Y. burjoner], budding, 5/2.

bus [behowes, behoues], behoves, 107/3-

byd, bide, abide, 123/21.

byrsyd, by metath. = brysyd [O.E.

brysan], bruised.
biime (see tim), 44/36.

caff, chaff, 18/6.

crt.siis = chastise, 94/21.

C((6'i/.s', chances, accidents, II7/36.

cese, cease, 53/6.

cetys, cities, 79/34.

chalengis, 12 6/ 14.

chales, chalice.

chargh, charge, I/27.

chesys, chooses, 29/20.

chinche, a niggard, 24/25. Cp. IO8/14.

l:ji

Glossaiy.

cho»ifnne, 31/26.

thitnches. See chinchia,

lied, clad, 2/24.

dethiouiey clothing, outward show, 88/15.

coinforth, pt. comforted, IO/27.

comforth^ sb. comfort, 78/37.

commonte = coiiimoiinte, fellowsliip, 56/

19.
comon, V. n. share, hold in common, 42/6.
contcujinde = contngioHity, 88/7. Cp.

L} dg. Chron. Troy, v. 36.
conetifs, covetousiiess, III/22.
roi/W, coal, 98/29.
comnforthid, comforted, 119/2,
vouih, cu|> = could, 82/29.
ciMi, know, 14/29.
cnriuHte, curiosity, I/3.
auftyiiy p.p. castin = cast, IOI/21.

dampiiedei damned, 86/3.

dawtiSj dance, IO2/9.

dede, death, IO/5 et passim.

dedelij, mortal, 43/19.

dedhfues, mortality.

deed, death.

delis [O.F. delice], pleasure, 96/i2.

demand, judging, 111/6. Cp. 120/i8.

departyd, cut off entirely, 87/25. ^'P-
98/21.

desaytis, deceits, 121 /9.

destinct, divided, 105/2.

deuoute, devoted.

deviiens, divines, 8/23.

deu'd, deed, 88/15, 1 11/37-

disparischyd, dispersed, IOO/21.

dlspoijte, dispute [cp. dispuite Myre, In-
structions for P.P. 673].

ditis, ditties, 79/25.

donyrmare, lower down, 2O/23.

dowe, dove, 89/37.

doyme, doom, 43/28.

doyne, done.

drees, draw [O.E. dragan, IO6/18].

dressyd, addressed, II8/2.

diiv, drew, 88/30.

dw, due, 128/25.

difte, poem, verse [O.F. dicte], 88/19.

dyttis, ditties, 8I/5.

dyuers, a different thing, 86/12.

ee, eye, 23/8.

eghen, eyen = eyes. Cp. eym, 106 '34,

eyn, IO6/37.
elsqtcer = elsewhere, 73/ 18.
ely = erHy, 41/2, 44/20. Cp. MS. fac.

emnyly [O.E. efen, emn = equal], ecinally,
84/14. More probably for envnjly -
liostilely. Cp. enmili, VVicl. 2 -Mace.
xiv. 11 ; wo have enynlyke, 87/13.

emproirre^ Emperor, 88/29. Cp. 104/6.

enpi'yd, take prido in, III/24.

er, or, 9/ 12. Cp. ner.

erandis, business, IO6/27.

ei'iSf ears.

68, er = are, 82/26.
j

faquirs, flatterers [O.E. ftegnian = to
flatter], 2O/30.

fagyd, flattered, 22/6.
j fanus, fairness, 72/31.
j fawt, be found wanting, 45/40.
I fela, fellow, partner.
! felaly, in fellowship, 92/38.
I felaiui, feeling, 82/17. Cp. /eyW, 86/20.
j felischyp, fellowship, 88/31.
j felo, follow. Cp. felmr, 115/i 8.
I feloandly, 33/ 16, aecordir'gly.

fenar, feigner, 1 1 4/i 2. Cp. feyn, 1 07/2O.

fende = flend, 6/7, usually feynd. Cp.

I 115/17;

' fenyd, feigned,

[ fenys, feigns.

' ferid, made to fear, 27/31.

j festyiul, I6/17, fastened.

fetyr, fetter, 26/14.
\feyd, fed, 71/22.
' Jilis, defiles.
; JUmiynge, following, 2/4.

jUoioamle, following, 89/i.

jUyd, defiled, 41/5, 90/ 15.

Jlaiv [O.E. fleogan], fly, IOO/15.
i Jiawm. flame, 98/32.
I Jiayr [O.E. flair], 40/2O.

jiitymjes, contentions,
i fmid, foolish, 54/26. Cp. I2O/35.

fonde, found, 69/ 10.

fonnyd, tried. O.E. /ajt^ian, 35/30.

far ]>am, because.

f(yr\niik, repent, II/12.
j for\:inkynge, repenting, IO6/5.
:/oi/rf, food, 90/14.
' foxde, foul.
■ freell, frail, I22/5.
' frenes, freeness, 3I/17.

fretyn^e, gnawing, 109 /20.

freylte, frailty.
' freyt, fret, 92/9.

fro. often = on account of, because cf.

ftdfare, ? = full fair, 42/29.
' fun, found, 14/ 19.

Glossary.

135

fyll, defile, 41/5-
fylo, follow, 109/32.

Cp. 109/33.

_r/rt/-, make, 84/35.

ijaycall, call back, 82/25.

gaynhy, redeem, 16/ 16.

(jaynbyer, Redeemer, 6/35, 12/2.

gaynes, gay n ess, 97/4.

gaynsays, refuses, 94/ 13^

gedyrynge, gathering.

^ee, honour [O.E. gean = to favour], 76/

14.
geet, get, 11 8/ 14.
^eme, care [O.N. gaum], 89/33.
generally, universally, 85/ 1 6.
^ernyd, yearned, 8O/32.
gettis, begets, I4/14.
gnayste [O.N. gneista], gnash, rage, 109/

37.
gouyrnd, governed, 82/ 10.
gras, grace, 109/8, 86/29 (but grace, 86/

31).
grave, dig, 68/13.
gre [O.F. gre], gradus, step, 62/3.
gretynge [O.E. gretaii], weeping, 97/25.
greuous, grievous, I7/15.
greuys, griefs, 17/ 12, 84/6.
greyn, green, 11 2/26.
gro'ch, grumble, 2O/38, 11 6/1 3.
grochynge , 3 5/2 5 •
groivndly, deep, profound, 23/i.
gruche. See groch, 69/19.
gwnnys [O.E. gewuna], habits, II9/15.
^.#, give, 79/31.
gyl, guile, 92/19.
gylles, guileless, 86/40.
^i/?oi/u, given, 96/3.

hahidijs, abides [cp. IOO/4], 79/31.

hahnndance, 2/ 10.

hahyde, abide, 82/35 [but abydynge, 84/

9, IO8/30, and abydis, 84/ii].
hals, hail, praise [O.E. haelsian], 78//.
halsynge, supplication, 76/40,
halyd [O.E. geholian]. dragged, 88/30.
hai^pis, happiness, 8O/17.
hard, heard, 99/28.
hatyde, heated, 79/38.
hanll, whole, I2/29.
hay, have, I2O/31.
hayer, hair, 6/9.
he, high [O.E. heh, heah], 6/34; hee, 12/

3^.
hear, higher, 69/21, 114/21. Cp. 120/8.
heel, health, 42/34.

highe [see he], 33//.

henes, highness, 71/io.

Jienyly, heavenly, I2/32.

here, hair, 94/36.

heuy, grieve, 11 7/39 et passim.

heyl [see heel], 102/ 15.

heyll, hell, 92/30.

hole, whole, complete, 112//.

holy, wholly.

Iwneste, honour, dignity, 94/37, 114/ 11.

honyly, honey-sweet.

honys [M.D. hoven], tarries, 86/23.

howr, howre. See owre, 83/2.

hoype, hope, 78/25.

hugisly, hugely, greatly, 3O/38.

h'ugsly. See hugisly, 47/8.

hy, V. haste, 82/29 ; past tense h}fde,

102/8.
hy, sb. haste, activity, 76/31.
hyar, higher, 87/ ij Cf. hear,
hy. See he, 33/8.
hyde, hidden, 127/ 17.

japis, trifles, 31/ii, 66/5.

ilkon, each one, 49/ 1 2. Cp. 92/i 7, I2O/26.

indepartyd, inseparable, 123/32.

inhere, inner, 77/3.

inhir, inner, 79/37.

inhirliest, innermost, II8/28.

inhirly, innerly, 39/1.

iupngnacione, struggle, 96/7.
[ is, his, 128/10.
> iKn|/(Z, joined, 23/^4.
1

I kelyd, cooled, 62/15.
j kelys, cools, 88/26.
! knavnjnt [for knawyng], 103/21.
I kunde, past t. of con, to know, 8/26.
j kynde, nature, 41/8, 86/8.
I

laghys, laughs [O.E. hlihhan], 7/29.

laghyst, lowest [O.N. lagr], 8/21.

laive, law, low.

lawse, loosen, 11 8/ 16.

lee fid, lawful, 26/31.

leffynge, leaving, ceasing, IO/14.

l^idl, lawful.

leghes, lies, tells lies, 9/35 [O.E. leogan.
Cp. Orm. 4907].

lemman, leof-man, dear one. beloved,
12/26, 82/33.

lenghtyd, 88/15. Cf. strenghtyd.

lese, lose, 3/2.

lesun, lesson, reading [O.F. Ie90n], I/18.

lettynge, hindrance, 73/25.

136

Glossaiy,

lettvaruj electuary, 7/i2, 19/ii, 86/3.

liagU, lies.

IVcynghL gladly, 82/20.

longia, belongs, 19/25, 93/21, 112/6.

loueinuj€y praise, I/13 [O.K. lofung, pro-
bably influenced by O.F. loangej.

lov\jn<je. See loxteynge.

lycJini's, lecbers, 2-1/1 !•

Ji/citr, liijuor, 82/36.

lyggey lie, 82/ 16.

hiyht, adj. light, slight; lyght gretnes of
(J [if t is = few gifts, 88/6.

hjkmulf inclination.

made, mad, 89/26.

nuileSj malice, 67/23, 89/24; malesse,

118/1.
VKtne, man, 20/ 1.
?H«»7//»/i/, mighty [cp. mahtij, Onn.; O.N.

mfittugr], 75/23.^^
inar\j(jh, marrow, 77/3.
meetindjrdj meatboard, tray, 48/40.
mekand ];>ame'8elf, humbling themselves,

120/38.
melj niJillet, 47/7.

ftiellyd [O.F. mesler, medler], mix, 93/i.
meng^d, mingled, I8/11, 86/30. Up.

tnengis, 98/9.
n^enngs, mens, 91/4.
mergh [O.E. meurg], marrow, II8/28.

Cp. nuirygh.
rueroly, as in a mirror, 128/28.
mctell = A.S. me]?el = speech, 95/27.
niekid = made meek, 17/i8.
nieuyd, moved, 20/ 12 et passim,
ineydles^ meedless, 67 1^2.
mei/nly, moderately, 8/35.
miry, merry passim.
Jtf^mille, 115/21.
wo, more, others, I/3.
'moistis, moisten (usually figurative).
wo«, ? trouble, 9O/3.
moltyn. molten, melted, 41/20 [lique-

facta].
multyriy 45/22, 65/6. See moltyn.
myendly, mental, I28/27.
m,ynde = memoria, 95/20.
myndy^ mindful, 98/15.
mynwt, minute, 88/14.
myrthundy making merry, 10/ 17, 87/27.
myrthyd, made merry, 82/20.

nakkind, ? nakkid, 4:2/ 1 2, stripped naked

[O.E. nacodian = to strip naked].
fi«r, nearer, 96/36 ; nerre, 85/25.

neddyrs, adders, 35/29, 89/22.

nee {my nee for myji ee), mine eye, 79/23 »

a n-ee, an eye, 115/i.
nehnnd, nearly, 25/ 18.
ncr, nor, 8I/37. Cp. er, 9/i2.
Tiere, were not, 25/24.
neyhund [A.S. neah-hand], 43/i5.
no, oft. = nor.

nodyr, no nodyr = none other, 123/27.
iwght, not, I/4.
two, new, 129/6.
nondyr, neither, 19/8.
nou\)er^ neither, I9/27.
nowre (a nowre, an owre), an hour, 72/2 1 ,

IO6/33. See oit;re, haicne.
noy [for nui], hurt, 57/1 8, 96/i, 116/ 16.
noye^, noise, 3O/24.
nyghtyd, passed tiie night, 46/29.
niv, new, 94/33.
mvelte, novelty, 95/6.

o, one, 110/22, 115/17.

obakj aback.

odir, odour, 9O/35.

odyr, other, others, 2I/38.

oft syth.es = often times, 8/35.

on, one, 41/2 8, 110/ 13.

onhede, onhed [O.K. anhad], one-head,

onetiess, 41 /23, 4I/30.
onnedy 98/24. See onhede.
or, before, 2/17, 83/31, 129/28.
orgonly, belonging to an organ, 103/ 19.
OS, as (cp. aln passim), 42/ 20?
our, prefix = over, 20/ 13. Cp. 20/ 14.
ouve, hour, 1 05/27 .
owrqwher, 46/ 1.
oivtrays, outrages, 8O/2.

parischyd, perished, 88/36.

party, side, part, 89/8.

partynge, division, 96/3.

perlins, perilous, 92/22.

pess, peace, 84/6.

pits, pity.

pithily, thoroughh', IO6/28.

playly, pleasant, 85/7.

pleyn [O.F. plaindre], complain, 92/29.

potand, putting, 93/ 10.

poiorg, purge, 11 5/20.

poyr, poor (passim, but cp. IO9/32).

prays, pray, 47/27 (sometimes = p>raise).

presond, imprisoned, 76/15,

prinetis, privacy.

profet, profess, 82/2.

profdand. those who profess, 129/ 16.

Glossary.

137

jrrykkis, urges, 78/36.
pythely, 98/20. See pithily.

qwarto, whereto, wherefore, 96/ 16.
qiohikestly, most quickly, 94/ii.
qwyklyar, more quickly, 77/28.

rachell [O.E. recels], incense, 127/ 10.
remjs, reins, kidneys, 123/ 13.
reparayld [O.F. repareiller], repaired,

restored.
reparells, repair, prepare, 115/21.
repreife, reproof, 88/30.
repreuyd, reproved.
retvl, rule, 106/6.

reyk [O.E. rec ; O.N. reykr], smoke.
rist, rest, 2I/9.
rorynge, roaring, 89/36.
rotyd, rooted, 42/29.
rotys [O.E. rotian], rots, 87/ii.
royse, rose, 78/30.
royte, rot, 125/ 1.

sad, serious, 2/i.

sahnys, psahns.

sam, together, 92/39.

samne [O.N. samun], together, 78/20.

saryf, serve, 124/ 19. Cp. sarif (passim).

sauyr, savour, 89/28 ; savir^ 126/3©.

sawtre, psalter.

scars, scarce, sparing. IIB/21.

schadois, shadows, 103/ 19.

schamydy shamed, 77/21.

scheed. cast down, 83/36.

scomfett, 84/7.

scrith, turn, turn aside, 7/23. [O.E.

scri^an, wander]. Cp. 19/20.
scri]pinge, ricJies scri]pinge = loss of riches,

92/3.
scrithyng, erring, 49/28.
scrythandj turning aside.
saimfetis, discomfits, 39/27.
scumfetore, conqueror, 84/8.
seell = sail away [A.S. seglian] (a trans.

of Lat. defluit, Ps. i. 3), II2/29.
sekyr, secure, 3/ 10.
sene, since, 91/i8.
servundis, servants, 101 /29.
sessys, ceases, 8/37.
setys, seats, 90/6.
seyk, V. seek, 9I/34.
seyk, adj. sick, 90/12.
seyknes [O.E. seocnes], sickness, 66/36.
seysy sees, 82/27.
she, slay, 84/2.

slek, slake, destroy, 11 8/1.

slenyth, sloth, 23/ 18.

slike, such, 45/38.

slikoii, sucli a one, 26/39.

slokkyns, destroy, 9O/23.

slokynd, destroyed, 45/37.

slyk, sucli, 45/27.

slyke, slike. See slyk.

slykoihe, such a one.

snyh [Dan. snibbe], snub, 95/7.

sogett [O.F. sogez, sogiet], subject, 62/

14, 79/20.
sorois, sorrows, 99/20.
sorus, for soris or sorois, 11 6/33.
sotelte, subtlety, 74/21.
soundly, adj. making a sound, 40/i6.
soyr, sore, 78/13.
spar [O.E. sparrian], bar, bolt, 7/28, 16/

31 ; enclose, cover, 75/31 ; shutest,

126/33.

sparpilyngis. flutterings, IIO/13.

sparpyll [O.F. esparpeillier = repandre],
scatter, 14/6, 24/23.

spisyd, despised, 44/19.

stabyls, fixes, 8I/13.

stedfunes, steadfastness, 91/8.

strange, strong, 11 7/ 13.

strenghtyd, strengthened, 84/13.

strenyd [O.F. estreindu], constrained,
101/9.

stres, force, 90/22.

strynes, strifes, 31 /32.

stryuys, strifes, 43/8.

sturbelans, disturbance, 5O/27. See stur-
byfd.

sturhyld [Low Lat. sturbulare], dis-
tressed, 80/8.

sugett,\\llii. See sogett.

siiiie, son, 66/3.

sweltis [O.E. sweltan], die, 93/13.

sivis [O.F. sewir], sue, pursue, 84/15.

swne [— O.E. sunne] = sim, 88/39.

syeth [O.E, sil^e, O.N. sigl^r], scythe,
78/13.

sykyr, sure, safe.

sykyrnes, safety, surety, 96/ 1 2.

syon, Zion, 125/7.

taghtt, taught, 11 7/36.

tagyth, taught, 7O/26. Cp. comforth.

tane, taken, 86/13.

te, scribe's error for to, 125/32.

tempyd, tempted, 27/17.

tent [O.F. tenter], try, 92/22.

tenys, scribe's error for terys, tears, 97/34.

i:is

Glossary.

ttijl [U.K. lyhluii], pcrsimdc, IimcIi. Cp.

te^t, Will, of Shorc'Imii, |». 97 (Percy

»S<»c.). •"' think, cp. tiit (S.r Gawayii,

1. 24rt3).
M to\>er^ the other, 91/ 1 8.
thuiedy pierced, 3/l3; K^^Wj 99/12.
\nrland, 32/27.
\H)row, tlirough, 79/32.
thoifthU [O.K. ^oht], tlioughts, 12/29,23/

9, 90/1 1. Cp. \>o(jhti8y 79/40.
thyne, thin, 70/21.
m, to, 87/29.

to, an, 78/19, 79/31, 117/13.

<orfj/r, Jje fod{/r, tlie otlier, 86/7.
too, two, 86/12, 101/17.
eoo, to, 93/7, 120/18.
toyrne [O.E. torn], free from, empty, 76/7.
tnnnentnjy torment, 17/34, I8/20.
tnmifs, tunes, 73/20.

tynn, vexation [cp. A.S. tynan, teonan
= vex ; Icel. tyna = to lose], 70/ 13.

vastifd, 119/24.

vg [6.N. uggr], fear, 43/i8.

vg, V. [O.N. ugga], abominator, 122/4.

visse, vice, IO8/17. See it?me.

vmhelappydj wrapped round {ymb and
lappian), 3/5, 22/31, 8O/3.

rmbesett, p.p. [O.E. jmbesettan], sur-
rounded, 66/31.

vmbraydis, reproaches, 25/ 1 6.

vnbe, be non-existent, cease, I22/9.

vnbelngis, death, 84/20.

vnbyrsydy 82/4. See byrsyd.

v)iderlowt [O.E. underluten], submissive,
117/11.

vudyrfeytty under the feet, 74/38.

vties, unease, distress, IO/36.

vngeiulyrd, not engendered, 84/3.

videfull, unhiwful, 43/ 12.

vidowsyd, unloosed, 78/ 12.

vnmedefuH, not deserving reward, 93/5.

vnne\>, vnneith, scarcely, 23/37.

vnui'th [O.K. um-iipcj, scimt-ly, 6/2 1.

vnnethU. See r/ut«^, 71/ 13.

vnrene, he deposed, be powerless, 122/<;,

rndokytul, uiisluked, 97/12.

rn)}anke, diKpleasure, 92/ii.

vnto, until, V3/35.

i7H<rotyi/rf,uiibeiieved, unheard of, I26/25.

miwytt, foolisiineHS, 77/6.

vodinyf voiding, 32/39.

voyde, void, to go voydp = vagari, 111/

34-
vppynuire, higher up, 2O/23.
up so dowiij upside down.
vsyd, experienced, 121/1 1.
vsynge, practising, 117/ 12.

wamentyngy groaning, 88/12.

war, wjire, 2blyj.

wardly, for ivaddly = worldly.

warld, in warid of warldis = for ever and

ever, 104/6.
waryd [O.E. warian], cursed, IO7/31.
ivaytyiigiif, watchings.
welchsryd, well cheered, 89/5.
ivelkydj faded, 95/ 12.
weru^s, 124/25, wearies. Cp. sonis.
wJiatkyns [qualem], wliat kind, I4/33 ;

qwhatkyims, 24/4,
whikly, quickly, to the quick, 78/32.
ivisse, sb. vice, 114/2. Cp. rits^e.
wisse, adj. wise, 113/21.
wochyd-mfe, vouchsafed, 37/13.
wodar, madder, 89/37.
wode, mad, 2O/20, 39/33, 89/26.
wodnes, madness, 90/5.
icanedyd, wouuded, 78/24.
wrethis, wraths, 117/34.
loroght kyndes, created beings, 126, 3.
wyen, wine, 124/ 17.

ympnisj for hympnis, hymns, 38/28.
ypocrite, hypocrite, II4/13.

a. CLAY ti SONS, LIUITUD, LONDON & BCMGAV.

o

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