IN this abbaye Charyte shall be Abbesse Wysdome Pryouresse . Mekenes suppryouresse . And thyse ben in the Couent . Pouertee Clennesse Temperaunce Sobernesse . Penaunce . Buxumnesse Confession Ryghtwysnes Predycacyon Strength Pacyence Symplenes Mercy Largenesse Reason Pyte Medytacyon Oryson Deuocyon Contemplacyon Chastyte Aubylacyon Honeste Curteysy Drede and Gelousy . ¶ The fader of heuen is founder of this abbaye / the sone gouernour / the holy ghost vysytour . But though ony abbay haue neuer so good a founder / gouernour / & visytour / but it haue also good chartours wherby it may holde his londe / rent & fredom . Perauenture eyther by happe it shall be euyll serued or elles suffre moche dysease of enmyes . Therfore I woll reherce the chartours wherin I wol saye whan / where and of whom this abbaye was fyrste founded or grounded And thenne woll I saye how it was fyrst made / & afterwarde within short tyme destroyed / & in what manere / & how longe tyme or it were made ayen as it was before . And how almyghty god hath put his foure doughters in this holy abbay ayenst the foure doughters of the fende / whom the holy ghost chaced awaye for they were so fowle .

¶ Sciant presentes & futuri &c. Knowe they that ben here & they that ben to come that I almyghty god in trynyte / fader / sone / & holy ghost haue gyue & graunted / & with my worde confermed to Adam the fore fader of man & to Eue his wyfe & to theyr heyres a lytel precyous place that is callid Conscyence that lyeth in theyr soules bytwene a place that is called Sinderesis that styred a man to goodnes / & grutcheth ayenst euyll in that other halfe . Whose ende lyeth fast by the grace of god / thrugh whiche euery man may doo well yf he woll . And that other ende lyeth in Ioye yf the soule be clene out of synne . ¶ This holy place almighty god gaf to Adam forsayd & to Eue and to ther heyres / clenly dyght without ony wemme . In the whiche god made a noble house of religyon that is called the abbaye of the holy ghost . In to whiche abbaye he put many goostly ladyes / that is to saye / good vertues . Wherin he made charyte abbesse / & wysdom pryouresse / & mekenesse suppryouresse . He walled this abbaye aboute with strength that no wycked thought sholde haue entrid in that hous yf Adam & his wyfe hadde wolde themselfe . He gaaf them lordshyp of al the worlde to maynten this holy house so ferforth that all the fysshes in the see and all the byrdes of thayre and beestes of the erthe sholde haue ben buxome to hym & to his wyfe and to theyr heyres after them euer yf Adam & his wyf had kept them fro synne in to theyr endynge daye ¶ Habendum & tenendum &c. To haue & to holde this forsayd place to the forsayd Adam and to Eue & to theyr heyres freely & in peas without lette of ony man euer . And therwith Ioye & blysse that neuer shal haue ende for the seruyce & custome that longeth therof to the chyef lorde of the fee . And that was no more than to withstonde the temptacyon of the fende and of his wyfe . And that lasted not of bothe not a myle waye space . And almyghty god sholde haue warrantyd to Adam & to Eue & to theyr heyres that noble place / to haue dwelled euermore in more Ioye than ony tongue may telle . ¶ Also that they ne her heyres sholde neuer haue suffred wo / ne sholde they neuer haue deyed / but whan almighty god wolde he sholde haue take hym vp in body & soule to the blysse of heuen / there to haue lyued without ende / yf Adam & his wyf had kept them fro synne / as I sayd one daye to th ende ¶ Hijs teslibz &c. Of this bereth wytnes angell & man / heuen & erth / sonne & monesterres and all creatures . ¶ Datum apud paradysum &c. Yeuen at paradyse the fyrst daye that man was made . ¶ Anno regni &c. In the yere of the regnynge of almyghty god kyng of kynges / whose kyngdom neuer beganne neuer shall haue ende .

¶ Many men there be that wolde be in relygyon / but they may not for dyuerse causes . Therfore they that may not be in bodyly relygyon / they may be in ghostly relygyon yf they woll / that is founded in a place that is called Conscyence . But fyrste the place muste be clensed with grace of the holy ghost Two maydens that be called Loue & Ryghtwysnes shall cast awaye fro conscyence all maner of fylth . Thenne shal Mekenesse & Pouerte make the foundement therof / & put awaye all worldely thought that is though men haue worldely goodes set they not theyr loue there vpon / & thenne may they well be called men poore in spyryte / to whom Cryst gyueth his blessynge .

¶ This abbay must also be set vpon a ryuer / that is the ryuer of teeres / on whiche ryuer was Mawdeleyne founded in sorowynge for her synnes / therfor the grace of god & heuenly ryches came all to her wyl ¶ Thenne shal Buxūnesse & mercy rere vp the walles in to heygth & make them stronge with almesdedes / geuynge gladly to poore men after thy state is / thus saith Thobi ¶ Si multum tibi fuerit habundanter tribue . si tibi sic exiguum . parum īꝑtire stude This is thus moche to meane . Yf thou be ryche hauynge plentee of worldly godes / gyue plenteuously therof . Yf thou be poore be of good wyll to gyue gladly of suche thynge as thou hast For saynt Poule sayth . ¶ Hilarem datorem diligit deus . That is to saye / god loueth the glad gyuer Thus shall we buylde our hous in heuen with the loue of god & of our euen crysten ¶ Thenne shall Pacyence & strength reyse vp all the pylars & vndset them with botraces / that no wynde of wordes of angre ne of tempest of persecucyon / ne of temptacyon may cast them downe . ¶ Thenne we must make our cloystre in this maner / that shall kepe vs ghostly out of al worldly thoughts & syghtes / that is kepe we our eyen fro all euyll syghtes our eeres fro euyll herynge / our mouth fro euyll spekynge / fro swerynge / & fro lyenge / & our hertes fro all euyll thoughtes . And yf we kepe thus this foure corners / we shall buylde well our cloystre . ¶ A mayde the hyght Confessyon shall make our chaptour hous . Predycacyon the fraytour / & Oryson the oratory . Contemplacyon the dortour . And yf thyse shal be reysed vp to the worshyp of god / they must stonde out fro worldly noyse / fro worldly besynesse & angre . ¶ Contemplacyon is not ellis but a deuoute herte with a brennynge loue to god to taste somdele of the blysse that is ordeyned for his chosen in heuen . ¶ Pyte shal be our fermour Deuocyon cellerer / & holy Medytacyon shall be garnetour . Whan all thyse offycers ben made the holy ghost is warden / with god fader founder / with god the sone wysdom of the fad. The worthy lady Charyte shal be abbesse of this hous / for all this other offycers shall obeye to Charyte . ¶ Vnde omnia vran in caritate fiant . All thynge that ye do / saye or thynke / be they done in the loue of god ¶ Alas yf I durste saye full many be in relygyon but fewe be relygyous that do the byddynge of Poul to obeye to charyte / therfore lese they moche tyme & also ther mede ¶ Now shall the worthy lady Wysedom be our Pryouresse ¶ Nam prior omni est sapiencia . The good lady Mekenesse that alwaye loueth herselfe shall be our suppryouresse . This abbay is of god blessyd that hath thyse gouernours / for all be blessyd that holde them in theyr scole . For they that kepe Charyte Wysedom & Mekenesse / the thre persones in trynyte shall gyue them heuen to mede . That soule is grete & hye in heuen that hath thyse thre within herself . Charyte Wysdom & Mekenesse ¶ Dyscrecyon shal be tresorer / & Oryson shal be chauntour ¶ Nam oron sacrificium deo hōi solacium diabolo tormentum . ¶ The fende sayd to Bertilmew our lordes apostle / thy orysons brenne me ¶ Saint Bernarde sayth whan we praye in good lyfe / our good angel daūcith & maketh therof a present to the fad of heuen / & thenne our lorde commaundeth hym to wryte them in the booke of lyfe . ¶ Saynt Austen telleth the Iubylacion / orysons felowe is a Ioye conceyued in teeres with a ghostly loue that may not be shewed in all / ne hyde in all As it doth by them that hertly loue that gyue almesse & contynue in theyr prayers / where soo they ben theyr hertes synge mornynge songes of loue / whan they longe inwardly with armes of loue to clyppe with ghostly mouth to kysse / they loue somtyme so hertly that they lacke wordes so theyr loue rauyssheth theyr hertes that they wote not somtyme what they doo . ¶ Deuocyon is Celerer that kepeth all the wynes bothe whyte & redde . That ben all the worthy thankynges the whiche we all owe to do to god / for the endeles goodnes that he hath done / dooth / and woll do to vs yf we woll ourself . This goodnes that he hath do was whan we all sholde haue ben loste thrugh synne of Adam & be in helle without ende / had not he of grete goodnes & pyte become man for our sake / lyuyng here many wynters in grete penaunce & passyon / & at the laste naylled on a crosse & with a spere tonge to the herte & deyed / and all for loue of vs to brynge vs out of payne .

¶ The goodnes that he doth to vs now / is whyle we ben here in body & in soule / yeuynge vs al that we nede both bodyly and ghostly . Bodyly / as mete drynke & clothynge Ghostly / as good thoughtes / good wordes / & good dedes . And therto to them that ben good he graunteth a shelde of his grace & mynde of his passyon to kepe them fro the fende . And to theym that ben wycked & combred with synne he gyueth space & tyme to torne therfro & to amende yf they wol . For thus he sayth hymselfe . ¶ Nolo mortem pctōris sed magis vt conuertat et viuat . This is to saye . I woll not the dethe of the synfull man but that he torne & lyue . And ther to he graunteth mercy & forgyuenesse yf they woll it aske . ¶ The goodnes that he woll doo to vs yf we woll dwelle & abyde styll in his seruyce / that is in good vertues . In herynge seenge / spekynge / goynge handlynge / & in all other dedes werkynge shall be to this . In tyme of dethe whan body & soule shall departe atweyne & the deuyl appere in his owne lykenesse before vs to make vs agast / & yf he may to brynge vs in to mysbyleue / god wolde sende his owne angell & all our gode dedes that euer we here wrought wryten to shew vs & comforte vs / & dryue awaye the deuyll / & lede our soules to blysse . The whiche blysse our lorde graunteth & gyueth to all his chosen & true seruaunt whan he sayth thus ¶ Venite bnndicti patris mei ꝑcipite regnum qd vobis ꝑatum est ab origine mundi . ¶ Penaunce shall be Keruer the ryght well can make many good meetes / sufferynge many bytter sorowes for synne to make the soule mery and glad with god that before was ●lenge / for she had hym offended . ¶ Temperaunce shall serue in the fraytour & loke all aboute that mesure be had ouer all that none haue to moche ne to lytell / neyther of etynge / drynkynge / ne of slepynge . ¶ Sobernes must nedes rede at the borde the lyfe of holy faders / what lyfe they lyued here in erthe / to take of them example to do as they dyde / & therby to wynne the mede that they haue . ¶ Pyte must be the Pytaūcer that dooth that good that she may . ¶ Mercy must be Almener that gyueth to all & no thynge can holde to herself ¶ The lady Drede Porter that kepeth the cloystre of the hert that chacyth awaye all wycked vyces & called in good vertues / & closeth the gates of the cloystre that none euyl come not in to the herte / the eyen / the mouth / the eeres / ne in to other places by the fyue wyttes ¶ Honeste is maystresse to teche nouyces curteysy how thei shall haue them in ther dedes / both to god and to man ¶ Curteysy is Hostlere to calle in noble gyft and Symplenes shall be her felowe that she be not to lyberall . ¶ Reason shall be Purueour that there be no defaute . ¶ Bounte shal be Fermerer the seke men to serue . Her felawe shall be Largenesse to gyue eueryche that he nedeth . ¶ Medytacyon Garnetour for to gadre corne togyder that men haue theyr sustenaunce .

¶ Medytacyon is thought in god / of his werkes / of his wordes / & of his creatures / & of his paynes that he loued vs with . For oft a good thought is better than many Indeuowte prayers . ¶ Therof speketh the holy bysshop Denys & sayth . Whan the herte is caught with the loue of god / he may not saye the worde that he thynketh in herte . The garner is aboue the cellar . So medytacyon ouer deuocyon Medytacyon garnetour & deuocyon cellerer / & pyte shall be pytaūcer .

¶ Herof speketh the prophete Dauid & sayth ¶ A fructu frumenti vini & olei multiplicati sunt . Of frute / of whete / of wyne & of oyle ben they multeplyed God behoteth to his chosen thyse thre thynges . Serue ye to me he sayth & I shal gyue you plente of whete / of wyne / & of oyle . Plente of whete is thus to thynke on the crosse Inwardly & on Cryste Ihu that dyed theron / that is to saye / medytacyon . Plente of wyne is welle of teeres for to wepe well is good deuocyon . Plente of oyle is good dylectacion in Cryst Ihesu / that is our beste comforte . Oyle gyueth sauoure to meetes & lyght also to lampes . Ryght so whan men beseche hertly god of mercy / he sendeth theym a ghostly Ioye . The oyle of comfort & of mercy / that is in medytacyon / where to thynke on the crosse of Cryste Ihu . And in deuocyon he gyueth wyne / that is the welle of teeres of bytternes / & after that wyne of teeres of swetnes . Our lorde Ihu Cryste sendeth them the oyle of comfort & of mercy that gyueth the lyght of & shewith his heuenly preuytees that he hydeth fro men that ben ful of flesshly lustes / that gyue them all to worldely wytte in dyuerse degrees / that whiche is ryght grete foly ¶ For the apostle Poule sayth . ¶ Sapiencia eiusmundi stulticia est apud deum . That is thus moche to saye / that the wysdom of this worlde is foly before god . Therfore me thynketh all those that purpose & trauaylle to be holde wyse in this worlde / that is to gad ryches to gad for grete worshyp of themselfe here / & for theyr lusty lyuynge / more than for the worshyp of god / to parte therof there as it nedeth / ben ryght nyce foles & grete wretches / as the apostle vs techeth And to them that be his true seruauntes he gyueth the lyght of loue that they somedele taast & fele how swete he is & how good . But he gyueth it not all fully for no man I trowe myghte all fully it fele / that for lykynge and Ioye his herte sholde to braste . For saynt Austen doctour tellith example of an holy preest & sayth thus / that than whan he herde ony thynge of god that it lyked hym to here he sholde be rauysshed so with Ioye that he sholde falle & lye styll as he were deed And though ony man in that tyme caste fyre on his flesshe he feled it no more than he had be all deed . Wherof speketh Iob & sayth ¶ Abscondi lucem in manibz . That is to saye god hydeth lyght within his hondes / as he that hath a candell lyght betwene his two hondes / he may shewe it or hyde whether he woll . So doth our lorde Cryst Ihesu to his chosey men / his hondes he openeth whan he wol and gladdeth them with heuenly lyght . And whan he wol he closith his hondes & withdreweth his comforte / for he woll not that they fele it fully / but gyueth them leue to taast / & in partye to fele how good he is / how swete he is / as Dauyd sayth in the sawter ¶ Gustate & videte qm suauis est dns. And yf god sayd to vs / by this lykynge that thou hast in this short tyme of me / thou mayst taast how swete I am to my chosen in my blysse whan they passe hens . And thus he doth to drawe vs fro lust of flesshely & worldly loue to flame our hertes with loue longynge to haue that Ioye in body & soule with hym without ende .

¶ A wyse lady Ielousye that is besy both nyght & daye to do our lordes wyl shall kepe our Horolege to wake thyse ladyes all & cause them swyftely to ryse vp to saye our lordes seruyce . This horolege of contemplacyon is to god loue longynge that smyteth sooner than ony other in the herte of Crystys louers that fede theyr soule with good prayers / & wassheth with swete teeres / & wipeth it with ghostly comforte / as Salomon telleth & techeth vs . ¶ Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat . I slepe he sayth my flesshe to fede / my herte is wakynge all in loue & all to god longynge . ¶ Whan this abbaye was al well set & god therin serued / a tyraunt came & with grete power put in his foure doughters / that were all of shrewed maners / the fende fad of them all . The fyrste doughter pryde / the other was enuye / the thyrde false demynge / the fourth flesshly lust . Thyse foure wenchis by counsell of the deuyll theyr fad came to noye this abbay so nyght & daye in soule the worse rest they haue Whan Charyte sawe this myscheyf & other ladyes of the house they range anone theyr chapytour bell / & toke counsell of this thynge . And thenne sayd Dyscrecyon / that they praye the holy ghost to come to helpe them with his grace . And thenne they kneled downe & sange . ¶ Veni creator spiritus . Thenne as it is sayd before / came our lord Cryst Ihu in to his mod & restored this hous better than euer it was before . To hym glory & worshyp that lyueth without ende .

¶ Memorandum qd priᵒ die plasmacione &c. We may vnderstonde that there was a fals tyraunt apostata that is named Sathanas that some tyme was pryour of the order of angels in the blysse of heuen / that for pryde ranne out of his blysful order in to sorowfull horrour of the payne of helle . He had soo grete enuy to this abbay of the holy ghost that it was so well with god / & had so grete a lordshyp He bethought hym how he myght distroye that noble hous / & how he myght do to make the noble couente of vertues to renne out of theyr order / as he ranne out of his . He came in lykenes of a adder to th abbaye gate to come in / & the porter / that was called Drede was not there redy For without doubte yf Drede had be there the fende had not come in . And Eue sawe that he was there / & as a grete fole she lete hym come in . Thenne sayd the fende to her / why forbad god that ye sholde not ete of the fruyte that growith on the tree that stondeth in myddes of paradyse / thenne sayd Eue yf we ete of it we shall deye . Naye sayd he . God knowith wel yf ye ete there of ye shal be as goddis knowynge good & euyll / buthe wolde that ye were not so wyse / & therfore he forbad ye sholde not ete of that fruyte Eue herde she sholde be so wyse / was bothe couetous & lykerous / & sawe the fruytes delycyous to the mouth / went to the tree and toke & ete therof and gaaf Adam that other dele and he ete therof . And in the meane tyme that Adam & his wyf ete of the fruyte / the fals traytour wich his thre knyghtes . That is is to saye . Pryde . Couetyse . & Vaynglory / wente in this abbaye of the holy ghost & bare awaye al the good that there was / & bare awaye the chartour that god gaaf them to holde theyr place by . And therfore Adam ne his wyfe neyther theyr heyres from that daye vnto this daye had neuer right to chalenge ayen lordshyp of the blysse of heuen / but oonly by goddes mercy . And not onely thyse false theues brake the abbaye / but also they bare awaye the godes / that is / they draue awaye dyspytousely out of the abbaye all the noble couent of vertues . So that it was .iiij. M.v. C. & .xxxiij. yere after that or they myght come ayen al togyder as perfytly as they were before .

¶ Whan Adam and his wyfe had eten of the fruyte they behelde eche other / & thenne perceyued they fyrst that they were bothe robbed & naked & were ashamed of themself . And went and toke leues of fygge trees to couer with theyr preuytees / for they had no other clothes Thenne wente they forth to one that was thef besyde that was namid wytte / and asked of hym where that holy couent was become Thenne sayd wytte that theyr abbay was destroyed & all the couente was renne awaye for thy foly & for thy wyues . For whyle thou & thy wyfe ete of the fruyte / the abbaye was destroyed with foure fals theues . Thenne all the couent brake theyr order & ranne awaye / & sayd as they went / that they sholde nomore come togyd ayen as they were fyrst this .iiij M. yere & more . Thenne sayd Adam & his wyfe . Alas what shall we doo / we haue no clothe to doo on vs / ne hous to dwelle in / & therto the couent of holy vertues that were our best frendes hath forsake vs & ben gone awaye So welawaye the harde whyle that euer we ete the fruyte . Soone after they herde how god spake to theym as he went in the myddel of paradyse / & they weren ashamed of themself / for they were naked . ¶ Also they were aferde of hym / and went vnder a tree to hyde them God came by them & sawe them / and sayd . Adam where art thou Lorde sayd Adam I herde thy voys in paradyse / and I was ashamed / for I was naked / therfore I hyd me . Adam sayd our lorde / who tolde the that thou were naked . Ony thynge elles / but for thou ete of the fruyte ayenst my forbyddynge . Adam sayd our lorde / who hath broke th abbaye of the holy ghost / & who hath bore awaye all the good that there was . Where is th abbesse & her couent / wheder ben they gone . Lord sayd Adam that woman that thou yauest to me in to my wyfe lete in a false shrewe at the abbaye gates / that bad her ete of that fruyte / & he sayd that she sholde be as wyse as god And she toke & ete therof & gaaf me that other dele . And I wolde not dysplease her / but ete therof also . In the meane tyme that false cheyf with many of his assent went in to the abbaye & brake it downe / beerynge awaye all the good that was therin and draue awaye al that noble couent . I wote not wheder . Thenne sayd god to Eue. Why lete thou in this false theyf / and why ete thou of the fruyte / thenne sayd Eue. Lorde he came to me in lyknes of an adder and begyled me with false wordes / & I lete hym in & dyde as he had Thenne sayd our lorde to her . For thou lete hym in & dyde as he the bad / & etest of the fruyte / thou shalt bere thy childern with grete payne & all wymmen that shall come after the / out take one . And yf thou hadde not so done / woman sholde not haue had payne in berynge of childern . And therto thou shalt be euer vnd mannes power . God thenne sayd to Adam . For thou ete of that fruyte at thy wyues byddynge ayenste my forbyddynge / & for thou letest the abbay of the holy ghost to be so foule destroyed / & lete th abbesse & her couent to renne awaye fro theyr order & knowest not whether / this shal be thy penaunce . Thou shalt be dryue out of paradyse in to the erthe acursed for thy synne . Therin shall thou dwelle with moche sorowe & woo all the dayes of thy lyfe / and the erthe shall brynge forth to the thornes & breres . And thou shalt ete grasse that groweth on the erthe . In besynesse & swete of thy face thou shalt ete thy brede tyll thou torne agayne vnto the erthe that thou came fro . For of the erthe thou were made / and to the erthe thou shalt torne agayne .

¶ After that our lorde bad an angel to dryue Adam & his wyf out of the blysse of paradyse in to the wretched worlde . He had hym go & seke there the abbesse of the abbaye of the holy ghost . And sayd that nother he ne his wyfe ne none of theyr ofsprynge sholde come agayne in to the blysse of paradyse ne in to heuen / tyll they haue made agayne the ababye of the holy ghost as well as it was before . Also tyll they haue brought agayn th abbesse with them and all the couent in as good poynt as they were or they wente awaye . ¶ Thenne made god to Adam a cote of leder / & to Eue an other cote / and put them out of paradyse And thus they went forthe in to this wretched worlde with moche sorowe and care / & therof was no wonder . ¶ They lyued thenne in this worlde with moche woo & sorowe .ix. hondred yeres and .xxx. And sought the abbesse & her couent that were soorenne awaye .

¶ Also he wolde haue had somwhat wherwith he myght haue made agayn that abbaye of the holy ghost . And he myght fynde therof right nought in all that longe tyme . And in the meane tyme he fell seke for sorowe therof & deyed and his wyfe both And theyr soules went to helle . Not onely they alone / but al those that of them came by the space of .iiij. M. & .vi. C. yeres to helle they went eche one . For so longe was Adam in hell & that was for th abbaye of the holy ghost / that was theyr conscyence / was not made ayen as fayr ne as clene as it was before . ¶ Thus was Adam & his wyfe in helle many yeres in sorowe & care / tyll almyghty god had pyte of theyr soules / & sende downe his owne dere sone / & bad hym go and seke the abbesse of the abbaye of the holy ghost & her couent . For he wyste better where they were than Adam wyst Thenne he cam downe in to this worlde & sought them here ful besely .xxxiij. yeres . And at the last he founde them hangynge on the roode . And toke them downe & ladde them with hym vnto helle & spake with Adam & his wyfe . Whan Adam sawe him come he was ful gladde and no wonder was . ¶ Thenne Cryst goddes sone of heuen made ayen the abbaye of the holy ghost better than euer it was / & toke out of helle Adam & his wyfe / and ladde them agayn home in to paradyse . ¶ And ther was moche Ioye made at theyr comynge home . But how & in what maner Cryste founde th abbesse & her couent / here may we lerne .

AFter the tyme that Adam & his wyfe were departed from this transytory lyfe and put in the pryson of helle / there came in to the worlde many wyse & famous men as Patryarkes and Prophetes & other good men many that hadde moche sorowe for the abbaye of the holy ghost and for al the couent for they were so gone awaye / they wente about & sought after them in many syndre contrees as longe as they lyued . But vnder theym al they founde theym not . Thenne amonge other men ther cam four good men . Dauyd . Salomon . Ysay . & Ieremy / that were about daye and nyght to make this abbaye ayen & to seke vp the couent . And for they myght not haue theyr wyll / they made moche sorowe & moon Dauyd sayd . ¶ Laboraui clamans rauce facte sunt fauces mee defecerunt ocli mei dum spero in deum meum I haue so traueled & cryed after them that my chekes ake and ben wexe al hoores . ¶ Dne inclina celos tuos & descende . Therfore lorde he sayd bowe downe thy heuens & come downe & helpe me to seke the abbesse & her couent / for I may not fynde them ¶ Thenne sayd Salomon ¶ Circuibo ciuitatem ꝑ vicos & plateas et queram quem diligit anima mea . I shall goo about the Cyte by wayes & by stretes & seke the abbesse & her couent whom my herte loueth . I sought them / but I founde them not . I cryed but none of them wolde answere wyth a worde . Thenne I sayd mornynge thus / torne ayen thou swete wyghte & lete vs loke on the. Thou hast wounded myn herte my fayre syster my fayre spouse thou hast woundid myn hert with the twynkelynge of thyn eyen . I haue sought by nyghtes the couent whom my soule loueth . I haue sought with all my myght & I may not fynde them Thenne sayd he to other maydens that dwelled there besyde . I praye you specyally ye maydens of Ierusalem yf ye fynde ony thynge where th abbesse is of th abbaye of the holy ghost & her couent / that ye woll tell them that I am seke for loue longynge after them Thus kynge Salomon made moch moon / & then he sayd thus Lorde god sende downe out of thy holy heuens thy dere sone that he may be with me & trauayle with me / & helpe me to make ayen the abbaye of the holy ghost in as good poynt as it sholde be . But for all that he coude crye / goddis sone cam not yet then ¶ Thenne wente Ysaye the prophete & sought th abbesse of her couent many dayes & longe / but he founde them not . Thenne sayde he thus . ¶ Vtinam disrū peram celos et descenderes . that is to saye wolde god lorde that thou woldest broke heuens & come downe & helpe vs to make ayen th abbaye of the holy ghost / & fynde vp the couent that is gone awaye . ¶ Thenne went Ieremy the prophete & sought them also but he myght not fynde them / therfore made he a ruthfull moon and sayd . ¶ Ve michi misere &c. Wo to me wretche he sayde that god hath encreaced more sorowe to my sorowe . I haue trauaylled without ony reste in syghynge & sorowynge / & I maye not fynde that that I seke . Helas he sayd the fende hath dryue awaye the maydens in to the erthe / & defyled theyr kyngdome . The maydens be paste awaye in to wretchednes . They herde me well how I syghed & made moch moon but there was none of them that wolde me comforte with a worde . Therfore I haue so wepte for sorowe that myn eyen be in poynt to faylle . Who shall gyue me water to my heed / & who shal yeue me a welle of teeres to myn eyen . And who shall wepe for the maydens that be thus gone away both day & nyghte Thou noble abbesse he sayth to whom may I lyken the / to whom may I assemble the / thou doughter of Ihrlm the wyse pryouresse to whom I lyken that Thou mayde & doughter of Syon thou holy couent he sayth / how may I conforte the / me thynke thy sorowe as grete as the see / thou noble couent who shall be thyn helpe . I can not elles saye sayth Ieremy but the fayrest floure of our garlonde is falle awaye . Alas alas & welawaye that euer we dyde synne ¶ Whan god almyghty herde thus thyse prophetes with many other good men to make moche moon with heuy chere many hundred yeres for the destruccyon of the abbaye of the holy ghost / he had grete pyte of them that they farid so And that therfore mannes soule was in pryson & payne of helle / & sholde haue be there without ende . He ordeyned a counseyle of the holy trynyte in the blysse of heuen / of fader / sone / & holy ghost & sayd . We made mannes soule to our lykenes / & toke hym to kepe in his owne conscyence the abbaye of the holy ghost . And he of his owne propre foly lete beere awaye out of that abbay all the good that there was / & the abbesse and her couent ranne awaye out of her order . Therfore he was take & put in to the pryson of helle / and there hath be now . M. yere and vi . C. & more / & that is grete pyte . Therfore it were a good dede to make the abbesse & her couent fayre to come ayen in to her order & make ayen the abbaye of the holy ghost as well as euer it was / & to delyuer mannes soule out of the sory pryson . He hath be therin longe tyme / haue we pyte on hym . He is as one of vs made to our lykenes . All the holy trynyte grauntid it shold be so / but it was asked who sholde do the dede . It were nede he were suche one that were holde to do it / & also that he myght do it But no thynge was beholde to delyuer mannes soule but only man Ne no thyng myghte delyuer hym but onely god . Therfore he that sholde do that dede muste be both god & man / and so myght no thynge be but were one of the thre persones of the trynyte . Therfore they ordeyned that the seconde persone that is almyghty goddes sone sholde come in to this worlde & be borne of a mayde & become man / & make agayn the abbaye of the holy ghost / & deye for loue of man on the rood tree / & so delyuer mannes soule fro the payne of helle . Thenne were there foure doughters of almyghty god / whiche ben Mercy Trouthe Ryghtwysnes & Peas the whiche herde telle that mannes soule sholde be delyuered fro helle payne / & came all foure togyd before god almighty Then sayd Trouth thus to her fader almyghty god / lorde she sayd thou hast louid euer well me that am thy doughter Trouth . I pray the forsake my not . Thou sayd what tyme man ete of the fruyte / he sholde deye & go to helle . Therfore yf thou delyuer man out fro thens / thou destroyest me & that were no reason For goddes trouth lastith without ende . Thenne sayd Mercy . ¶ O pater mīarum &c. Fader of mercy & god of all comforte that comfortest all thynge in angre & in wo / haue thou mercy on mannes soule that lyeth bounde in helle / and brynge hym in to blysse . For thou sayd thou woldest kepe mercy to hym without ende Therfore sayth thou art true / thou shalt haue mercy on mannes soule Thenne sayd Ryghtwysnes . Nay nay / it may not be so . ¶ Quia iustus dns & iusticias dilexit . Lorde she sayd thou art ryghtfull / & louest rightwysnes / there fore thou shalt not ryghtfully saue mannes soule . For it is ryght & reason that he haue that he hath deserued / for he hath forsake god that hym forth brought & he hath forgete his lorde that made hym of noughte . Therfore it is reason that thou haue of hym nother pyte ne mercy / for thy ryghtwysnes shal laste in to the worldes ende ¶ Tenne sayd Mercy to Ryghtwysnes . Syster be thou styll & saye not so / for it were not ryght thou knowest well that god sholde forsake me . For the mercy of god is aboue al his werkes / & the mercy of god was without begynnynge & shal be without endynge . Therfore yf god forsoke me / he sholde forsake both my syster & the / that were nother ryght ne trouth . Therfore she sayd to saue vs all thre / god shall haue of mannes soule both mercy & pyte . ¶ Thenne sayd Peas to her thyrde syster . ¶ Pax dm exsuperat omne sensum . The peas of god passeth al maner wytte Though it be so she sayd that trouthe saye ayenst skyll why mannes soule sholde not be saued / & ryghtwysnes also an other . Neuertheles me thynketh that mercy sayth best / that mannes soule sholde be saued . For as she soth sayth / elles god shold forsake you al thre both Ryghtwysnes Mercy . & Trouth . And I thynke that were grete ruthe . And not oonly he sholde forsake you thre / but also he sholde forsake me For as longe as mannes soule is so in helle / there shal be dyscorde amonge you thre For Ryghtwysnes and Trouth shall wyll to haue hym there styll / & Mercy shall wyll to haue him out / so that peas amonge you shal be forsake . Also yf man were soo styll in helle / there sholde be dyscorde betwene god & man & betwene angell & man & betwene man & man / so that peas sholde be forsake ouer all / whiche were no proustyte . Therfore sayd Peas do ye after my counsell / & praye we god all to gyder that is prynce of peas that he wol make peas & acorde betwene you thre / betwene god & man / betwene angell & man / & betwene man & man / & ordeyne suche a way that he maye kepe vs styll all foure systers . ¶ All they thoughte that she sayd best . And all prayed god of heuen that he wolde so do . And thenne he sayd ¶ Ego cogito cogitaciones pacis et non affliccōes I thynke sayd god thoughtes of peas and not of wyckednes / & I shall he sayd kepe you stylle alle foure / & shal saue mannes soule and brynge hym to blysse . ¶ Also he sayd I shall fynde vp th abbesse of th abbaye of the holy ghost / & make ayen the abbaye & the couent all togyder better than euer it was before . ¶ Whan thyse systers herde this / they were glad & Ioyfull ¶ Mīa et veritas obuiauerunt sibi iusticia et pax osculate sunt . Mercy and trouth mette them togyd ryghtwysnes & peas ben kyssed and made at one . ¶ Tho anone almyghty god the fader sende downe his owne sone in to this worlde to become man for vs / & to seke th abbesse of th abbaye of the holy ghost & her holy couent / that is to saye . Charyte & other noble vertues . And the fyrste daye that he came he founde a lady of that holy abbaye that is called Clennesse . For he was conceyued without knowlegynge of ony man thorugh the vertue & the operacyon of the holy ghost / and borne of a pure clene mayden and virgyn that neuer was defyled wyth synne .

¶ Thus clennesse he founde whan he was in his mods wombe beynge incarnate man by that pure vyrgyn . ¶ And that noble lady he kepte with hym there .xxxix. wekes Thenne was he borne of his moder in an olde broken house at Bethleem townes ende / & layed on an asses mangeer on a lytel heye . And there he founde an other lady of that abbaye & that was Pouerte For his blessid mod had none other shetes for to wynde hym in / but toke a keuerchyf of her heed / & kytte an olde kertyl & made of it cloutes / & wounde our blessyd lord therin for colde . And layed hym on a wyspe of heye before an oxe & an asse . Thyse two ladyes Pouerte & Clennes he lad forth with hym tyll he was .xij. yeres olde .

¶ Thenne went he forth with Ioseph & his moder to Ierlm to offre there in an Ester daye . And whan they had offrid & were goynge home ayen / our lorde Ihu bode styll at Ierusalem thre dayes / & went in to the temple amonge maysters of the lawe There he founde other two ladyes of the holy abbaye / that were . Wysdom and Ryghtwysnes .

¶ Whan Mary & Ioseph were come home & wyst not where Ihus was become / they made moche sorowe for that swete childe / & went ayen to Ierlm to seke hym . Thenne they founde hym in the temple syttynge amonge doctors dysputynge of the lawe . Thenne sayd his mod to hym . Sone what hast thou done / thy fader & I haue sought the makynge for the moche sorowe . Thenne sayd Ihus . How is it that ye sought me / wytt ye not well that I must be besy about my fads nedes . He sende me in to this countre to seke vp th abbesse & the couent of th abbay of the holy ghost . And therfore I went amonge the maysters in to the temple / & there founde I two ladyes of the couent . Ryghtwysnes & Wysdom / and so he ●●●de more than all they Thenne went he home with Ioseph & his moder in to Nazareth / & there he founde an other lady that was called Buxūnes . For he that is hyghest lorde was lowest of hert / & in al thynge buxome to his moder . ¶ Thenne went he forth xvij . yeres & an half / & euery daye at his borde he founde other two ladyes of that holy abbaye / & theyr names were Temporaunce and Sobren̄es . He lad them with hym in to deserte to seke mo of her felowes . And there he founde other two ladyes / that one hyght Penaunce & her felowe Strength . He founde there penaunce ynough for he fasted .xl. dayes & xl . nyght for loue of mannes soule without meete & drynke / & thenne he began to hungre . ¶ There came the fende to hym that came to Eue in paradyse in to th abbaye of the holy ghost / & wolde haue ouercome hym in gloteny as he dyde her / & lad him to an hepe of stones / and bad hym yf he were goddes sone he shold make the stones loues / & ete of them ynough . Thenne founde he there strength / thrugh which he withstode myghtly the temptacion of the fende & sayd . Man lyueth not oonly by brede / but by euery worde of goddes mouth . Thenne bare the fende hym thens in to Ierusalem & set hym on the pynacle of the temple / and wolde haue ouercome him with pryde & vaynglory . & sayd . Yf thou be goddes sone skyppe downe & take none harme / and al men shall prayse the / and saye that thou hast done a grete maystry Thenne he withstode also his temptacion with the vertue of that lady Strength / and sayd Thou shalt not tempte thy lorde god / as who sayth it is no nede that I skyppe downe I may go downe well ynough by another waye . Thenne he lad hym in to an hyghe hylle & shewed hym ther al the rychesse of the worlde / & wolde haue ouercome hym in couetyse & sayde . I shall gyue that all the goodes that thou seest / yf thou wolt knele downe & worshyp me . And there he withstode myghtly with the lady strength / & sayd Go thy waye Sathanas and torne ayen to helle . Men shall worshyp almyghty god & hym only serue & noo thynge elles . Thenne was the fende ashamed of hymself that he was so ouercome with the lady Strength .