¶ This Pater noster / taught our lorde his dyscyples / and all people by his gospell .

●Ader our that art in heuens / halowed be thy name . Thy kyngdom come to thee . Thy wyll be do as in heuen so in erthe . Our eche dayly brede gyue vs to daye . And forgyue vs our dettes ryght as we forgyue to our dettours . And lede vs not in to temptacyon . But delyuer vs from euyll Amen / that is to saye . So be it .

¶ This is the Aue maria / that Gabryell sayd salutynge our blessyd lady / & it is the gospell .

HEyll Mary full of grace / the lorde is with the / blessyd be thou amonge wymen / & blessyd be the fruyte of thy wombe Ihesus . Amen .

¶ These ben the artycles of our Crede / and oure byleue / that who is baptysed and trusteth in hem shall be saued .

I Byleue in god fad almyghty shaper of heuen & erthe . And in Ihesu cryste his oonly sone our lorde / the whiche is conceyued of the holy goost / borne of Mary the mayde / suffred payne & passyon vnd Ponce Pylate . Crucefyed / deed / & buryed / he lyghted downe to helles . The .iij. daye he arose from deth to lyue . He styed vp in to heuens . He sytteth at the ryght syde of god the fader almyghty From thens he is to come to deme both quycke & deed . I trowe in the holy goost / holy chirche vnyuersall / commynge of sayntes / forgyuenes of synnes ayen rysynge of flesshe / & euerlastynge lyf . Amen .

HOpe is truste by the mercy of god to be saued . And it standeth in the grace of our lorde & our good werkes . ¶ Charyte is the ende & the perfeccion of all the commaundementes of god / and it standeth in the loue of god aboue all thynges / & thy neyghbour as thy self

¶ These ben the seuen vertues ayenst the seuen vyces . ¶ Mekenes ayenst pryde . ¶ As in boostynge / despysynge / scornynge / hyghe herte / fayrnes / connynge / strengthe / vertue / pryde of kynne / vayne glory / dispyte of other / ypocresy . ¶ Pacyence ayenst Wrathe . ¶ As fyghtynge / chydynge / hurtyng / betyng / waryeng / cursynge / grutchynge / desyre of vengeaunce cruelnes &c. ¶ Charyte ayenst Enuye . ¶ As gladde of an other euyll fare / & to be heuy & sory of theyr welfare / bac●ytynge / sowynge of dyscorde / scornynge / and suche other . ¶ Largenes ayenst Couetyse & Auaryce . ¶ In wynnynge / in byenge / in sellynge / in metynge / in waynge / gyle / trechery / sacrylege / symony / vsury / theeft / receyuynge of stolen goodes / wronge withholdynge of ony dute to the chirche &c. ¶ Good occupacyon ayenst Slouth . ¶ As ydelnes / delyte in slepe / neclygent to conne the lawes of god / vnlusty to the seruyce of god / myspendynge of tyme / dyspayre / wanhope & suche other . ¶ Abstynence ayenst Glotony .

¶ As in moche etynge & drynkynge / brekynge of faste / desyrynge of delycate metes & drynkes &c. ¶ These ben the fyue goostly wyttes . Mynde / reason / wyll / ymagynacyon / vnderstandynge .

¶ These ben the fyue bodely wyttes . Herynge seynge / smellynge / tastynge / and touchynge .

¶ Chastyte ayenst Lechery . ¶ As in thought / wyll / werke / in syght / in felyng in puokyng / or synne ayenst kynde with many other

¶ The .vij. goostly dedes of mercy .

Teche / counsel chastyte / comforte / forgyue / suffre / & praye for thy enemyes .

¶ The .vij. bodely dedes of mercy .

Fede the hongry / gyue drynke to the thursty / clothe the naked / herborowe the herbourles / comforte the seke / vysyte prysoners / burye the deed .

¶ These folowynge ben the .vij. gyftes of the holy goost / that euery man sholde desyre to haue and kepe .

Wysdome / counsell / knowynge / pyte / vnderstandynge / strength / and drede of god .

¶ These folowynge be the .iiij. cardynall vertues

¶ Temperaunce . Is a meane betwix to moche & to lytell / & it standeth in takynge suffycyently that nedeth & in refusyng that is to moche or to lytel vtterly ¶ Ryghtwysnes / is a paynge of a dute to eche thynge that it duly longeth vnto / as to god praysyng & thankyng / to thy neyghbour loue & charyte / & to thyself besynes to fulfyl goddes wyl & his cōmaūdemen● ¶ Prudence or Wysdome . Is a vertue that departeth good from euyll / & it standeth in chesynge good & refusynge euyll . ¶ Strength maketh ony myghty and hardy to do grete thynges for the loue of god & in suffrynge pacyently aduersyte / and mekely takynge prosperyte .

¶ These ben the .vij. sacrementes of holy cherche

Baptysme / wedloke / the sacrament of the awter / cōfirmacōn / ordre / penaunce / & the last enoyntynge .

¶ Here folowen the .x. cōmaūdemen●

¶ Worshyp no fals god . In whiche is forboden wytchecrafte / enchaūtemen● / mawmentry / redyng of dremes / & al mysbyleue & such other . ¶ Take not his name in vayn . In which is forboden all heresyes / forsweryng of all mysmenyng / vnworshyp of god / takynge his name in vayn & other ¶ Halowe the holydays herynge deuoutly thy seruyce / kepyng the out of dedely synne / & visyte the poore / & helpe to acorde them that ben at debate & suche other . ¶ Worshyp thy fad & thy moder . God thy fader holy chirche thy mod / thy goostly fads / thy flesshly fader & mod / & people of age / & prelates of holy chirche . ¶ Slee no man with hande smytynge / nor with thy mouth in bacbytyng with herte cursynge / ne wyll ony euyll or vengeaunce . ¶ Do no lechery . In this is forboden all spousebreche with bodely dede or goostly / & all wylfull polucōns or prouokynge ●o the same . ¶ Do no theef● . as in stelyng / wronge getyng / trechery / oker / dysherytage of heyres . wronge amercymē● . fals mesure wrong purchasyng ¶ Bere no fals wytnes / in this is forboden tals byenge / bacbytyng / fals accusyng and all such other . ¶ Desyre not thy neyghbours wyf . In this is not only forboden the dede doyng but also the desyre & wyll of herte . ¶ Desyre not thy neyghbours thynge / as house / londe / beest / seruaunt nor ony thynge that is his .

¶ These .vij. thynges folowynge sholde we haue euer in our mynde .

THe synnes that we dayly do . The short tyme that we shall abyde here . The vncertayne of the daye of our deth . The vnstablenes & fraylte of vs . The strayte & ferefull Iugement of god . The bytter & vnspekable paynes ordeyned for synnes . The euerlastynge losse of eternall glorye .

¶ Here foloweth a short remembraunce for confessyon to al peple / & in especyal to al religious folke .

SEldom shalt thou fynde tyme in all the yere in whiche thou shalt not haue cause to shryue the of some of these folowynge / that is to wete of hasty or neclygence saynge the seruyce of god / or of lesynge of tyme / or els of vayne thougt or of vndue reuerence to god or to our lady or his saynt or to the other that ben thy souerayns . Or in forgetynge god & his dayly benefayt . & not thankyng him for his creacion & his redempcyon . & that he gat the that mynde to dyspose the better than other ben with suche other . And also not thankynge him for thy dayly sustenaunce / clothynge & helth of thy body & for remissyon of thy synnes / for thyn enherytaunce of heuen with other Innumerable . Also remember thy wode wordes or noysom / or els fals Iugementes in thy mynde / or fals suspycion . Al●● of ony mouynge to wrath or to vayne heuynes or vayne gladnes . ●lso serche in thy mynde yf thou haue well spended the daye & nyght without synne / as yf thou haue prayed or rede to lytell with suche other . Also yf thou haue past thy boundes in wordes or in etynge or drynkynge / slepynge or laughynge with suche other . Also remembre how thou haste kepte the maundementes of thy souerayne / chastyte / pouerte / sylence in places & houres accordynge as thou art called for to do . Also yf ony persone in worde sygne or dede thou haste offended & gyuen ony cause or occasyon of greuaunce . Remembre also yf thou hast ouerskypped in the seruyce of god ony wordes / verses / or ony Inclynacyons & suche other . And of the wauerynge of thy mynde / thyn eyen / & other vnmanerly behauyour of all thy body . Also of thy vnhonest & noysom thoughtes / that thou sholde myghtly resyst not taryenge with them by thy wyll . Serche also yf thou haue grutched for mete or drynke or other necessaryes for bycause they were not gyue to the after thy pleasyr . Loke also yf thou haue ●ynned in moche takynge of mete & drynke / or ony other necessaryes more than nede requyred &c.

¶ Saynt Bernarde to a newe begynner in relygyon .

YF thou entende to please god & woldest obteyne grace to fulfyll the same two thyngꝭ ben to the necessary . Fyrst thou must withdrawe thy mynde from all transytory & erthely thynges as who saye y● carest as lytell for them as there were none suche thynges . The seconde is that thou gyue thyself to god / that thou saye nor do ony thynge / but that only that y● verely byleuest sholde please god And in this wyse folowynge thou mayst gete grace for the fyrst . In all thynges counte thyself vyle & symple / and as nothynge in regarde of vertue / & byleue all other to be good & better than thyself / & so shalt thou moost please god . What soeuer thou here or see of ony relygyous pe●sone or of ony other good pe●sones / thynke alwaye that all is done & sayd for good entent though they seme the contrary / for oft man by suspycyon is begyled . Dysplease no creature / & vtter no langage to laude of thyself / though it were to thyn ●ost famylyer & be loued felowe / studye euer more to kepe more preuy thy vertue than thy vyce / sp●ke neuer euyll of ony man or woman though i● be neuer ●o t●ue / & ●pen it not without it be in conf●ssyon / & that whan thou can not elles shewe clerely thyn owne con●essyon . Be more gladde to gyue thyn eere whan ony man is praysed / than whan ony pe●sone is dyspraysed / Whan thou spekest haue fewe wordes / true / & ladde & euer of god / yf ony worldely persone speke with y● and purpose or vtter vayne wordes / as soone as thou mayst brebe out of suche comunyca●ōn & talkynge & talke of god & of his vertues / or elles departe & gyue that to some goodly & goostly occupa●ōn . What soeuer befall the or ony other of thy frendes gyue no charge of it / yf it be prosperyte reioyse not ther of / yf it be trouble or aduersyte be not sory for it . But take or acompte all suche thyngꝭ as nought & euer prayse & thanke god / gyue charge as moche as thou mayst to the wele & prosperyte of thy soule flee places of moche speche as moche as thou canst . For it is moche bet● one to kepe his tonge than to speke . After complyn speke no worde tyl the masse be done the next daye folowynge without a grete cause requyre . Whan thou seest ony thynge that dyspleaseth the / see yf the faute be in thyself & than haue compassyon / yf it be not / thynke that it may be & so lete all thynges be to the as it were in a glasse to see thyself . Grutche not ayenst ony persone without thou see that thou may profyte what soeuer cause thou haue . Afferme neyther denye nothyng ouerthwartly / but lete thy nay or ye or thy doubte be powdred euer with salt / that is to saye / lete hem be spokan with discrecion & pacyence . Be euermore ware of mockynge & of scornynge . Yf thou be lyght of contenaunce see it be but selde / haue thy comunicacion but with fewe persones & shortly behaue thyself so in all thy sayenge that thou speke not rather in a doubte than men sholde take auctoryte or grounde of thy sayenge . The seconde thou mayst obteyne in this wyse . Gyue thyself with grete deuocyon to praye & lete thyn herte agree with that thou sayest both daye & nyght . Remembre also dylygentely that thou ymagyne the state of them / in whose remembraunce thou makest thy prayer . These thre haue alwaye in thy mynde / what thou were / what thou art / & what thou shalt be . By reason of thy body / thou were foule slyme of the erthe / & now thy body is the hous of fylte & derte / & herafter it shall be wormes mete . Also ymagyne the paynes of them that ben in helle & how that payne shall neuer haue ende / & how they suffre all these paynes for a lytell delectacyon & pleasyr in synne . Also ymagyne the Ioye of paradyse / & how that shal neuer be fynysshed & how shortly and soone it may be goten . Than thynke what sorowe & waylynge may be to them that for so lytell a thynge here haue lost so grete Ioye contynuell . And whan thou hast ony thynge that doth dysplease the / or elles thou dredest to haue it / thynke & yf thou were in helle thou sholdest haue that / & all that thou woldest not haue / & so shalt thou suffre all thynge ●or crystus sake & his loue . Also whan thou hast ony thynge that pleaseth the / or elles that thou desyrest to haue / thynke & yf thou were in paradyse thou sholdest haue it & all other thynges that thou woldest desyre . Also whan there falleth ony fest of ony saynt thynke on him what payne he suffred here for goddes sake & how shorte his paynes was . Than thyn be how greate Ioye he hath in heuen for that whiche is euerlastynge . And soo thou mayst thynke that the trybulacion or tourmentynge o● the good men is soone gone . And in lyke wyse the Ioye of euyll men fadeth anone . but good men with theyr trybulacyon here geteth eternall glorye . And euyll men with theyr ouermoche Ioye here geteth euerlastynge payne . Furthermore whan thou art accombred with slouth & lackest deuocyon / take this wrytynge & ymagyne dilygently all these thynges rehersed . Than thynke of the tyme that thou lesest in vayne ydelnes / & thynke that they that ben in helle wolde gyue all the worlde for so moche tyme to redeme they● synnes yf they myght haue it . Whan thou hast ony trouble / thynke that they that ben in paradyse shall neuer haue suche trouble . And whan thou hast ony spirytuell consolacyon or comforte / thynke that they that ben in helle shall euer lacke that . Whan thou goost to bedde or to thy rest / thynke what thou h●●●●h●●ght / what thou hast sayd / what thou hast done ●hat daye . And how prouffytable thou haste spende thy tyme / the whiche was gyuen the to spende it vertuously● to obteyne euerlastynge lyf . Yf thou haue spended it well / gyue praysynge to god . And yf thou haue spended it euyll / wepe & be sory for it . And ●he next daye yf thou may / dyfferre not to be confessed . Yf thou haue sayd or done ony thynge that greneth thy conseyence sore / ete no mete vntyll thou be shryuen & thou mayst . Now for a conclusyon / ymagyne in thy mynde two cytees / one full of trouble & mysery whiche is helle / an other full of Ioye and comfort● whiche is paradyse . And how to one of these two ye must nedes come . Than thynke in thyself what thynge sholde cause the to do euyll / or what thynge sholde drawe the fro god . And I trowe thou shalt fynde none suche . I am certayne yf thou kepe well all these that ben wryten here . The holy goost wyll be with the & teche the to kepe them parfytly . Wherfore kepe well all these preceptes & commaundementes & leue none behynde . Rede them twyes in the weke / on wensdaye & saterdaye . And as thou fyndest thou hast done as it is wryten . Gyue praysynge to god / whiche is euer pyteous & mercyfull in worlde withouten ende Amen .

¶ A deuoute prayer for relygyous people / or for theym that entre in to relygyon . Remembrynge the termes / and to do theym in dede .

IHesu my maker & sauyour to thy wyll and ordynaunce I commytte me euery houre . Besechynge the entyerly for grace & mercy / so that I may be one of them that shall be saued . Teche me good lorde thy commaundementes to fulfylle / and to do that I come fore / eschewynge all euyll . Gyue me grace to loue the and to d●ede the aboue all thynge . Remembrynge thy g●ete benefettes / and euer to gyue the thankynge . And to kepe euer charyte / obedyence / pacyence / sylence / with humylyte / demynge euer the best / saye well / telle the trouthe / and neuer to lye . Lothe to offende / sory for my synne / and to helpe whan nede is / & to serue the euer deuoutly with mekenes to haue mede . Of the trespaces of other to haue compassyon / with good counsell example & frendely consolacyon / & to do after good prechynge & holy saynt● lyues / kepynge my tonge & conscyence clene & to flee bacbytyng & stryues / & to gyue none occasyon of greuaunce neuer grutchyng / & flee ydelnes / & to praye for the deed & quycke alwaye be my besynes Taky●ge hede to my charges / & do to them with good wyll / gladde to be correcte of eche creature / & to leue myn owne wyll . And euer to be ware to excuse my synne / & to trust in myn owne wytte . Remembrynge that I come to relygyon for to do penaunce for synne / & repugne ayenst it / & to crye for mercy to the Ihesu & to thy moder Mary . In whome I trust & shall serue / & neuer for to varye Amen .

V ¶ Dūe fiat voluntas ●ua . R ¶ Sicut in celo et in ter●a .

AL●iones nrās quesumus dne aspirando Oratio p̄ueni et adiuuando prosequere . vt ●●●ta nram operatio a te semper incipiat . et ꝑ te cepta fima● . Pe● xpm dnm nostrum Amen .

¶ This prayer folowynge is good for them that vnderstande not theyr seruyce in latyne . in syngynge . or sayenge . or that lacke deuocyon in tyme of theyr sayd seruyce . and wolde haue it .

BLessyd Ihesu cryst our lorde god & sauyour whiche I knowe well come in to this worlde not for them that were Iuste & ryghtfull / but for synners to redeme them by thy deth & shedyng of thy precyous blood . Now mercyfull & pyteous lord Iesu cryste forgyue me & haue mercy of me after thy grete mercyes / & for thy crosse & bytter passyon . For I am a synner / & haue greuously erred & offended the. Not for thy swete Ihesu . I byleue in the / & neuer denyed the nor shall . Attende & beholde good lorde Iesu my fayth & Intencyon / the vertue of the wordes of holy prayers that I haue sayd / songe / or shall / & beholde not myn Inhabylyte & Ignoraunce . Wauerynge of mynde & neclygence . But graunt of thy grete goodnes / that the prayers with all other good dedes done by me / or to be done may gracyously profyte me . And them that I am bounde to praye for / or that haue nede of prayer / Whether they be lyuynge or deed / to th encreace of thy mercyes laude & glorye & worshyp of thy blessyd moder Mary & all sayntes Amen .

¶ Thankynges to our lord god for his dayly gyftes & benefaytes / & is called . Deo gracias .

ALmyghty & euerlastynge lorde god Ihesu cryst . I worshyp the. I gloryfye the. I thanke the now & euer shall for the makynge of me to thy symylytude / gyuynge to me with angelles wytte / reason & vnderstandynge / and haste redemed me with grete paynes vnto deth / shedynge thy prec●ous blood plenteuously for me / & dayly defendest 〈◊〉 from myn enemyes goostly & bodely / preser●●●●e me to this tyme by thy grace / both slepyng 〈◊〉 ●ynge from dyuers perylles & dethys that o●●●● h●th fallen in & perysshed . And ouer these thou 〈…〉 me with thyn holy cōmaundemen●●● 〈◊〉 lawes of grace & pyte / with holy sacra●●●●es of the chirche . And moost in especyall gy●●nge vs thy blessyd body & blood for destruccion o●●ur synnes encreace of vertue & grace / and synguler comforte to all that ben on lyue and deed . And besydes these thou hast ordeyned angelles / & ●ll other thy creatures bothe of heuen & erthe / as sonne and mone / fysshe & foule / beest and fruyte / w●●h all other Innumerable to serue me . And to the entente that I sholde loue & serue agayne wi●h all myn herte deuoutly . And also hast pyteously suff●ed me whan I haue synned . Not takynge me 〈◊〉 to thy strayte Iugement to my ●amp●●●y●● p●rpetuell . Also I loue the / and thanke the in 〈◊〉 especyall for that thou hast made me heyre 〈…〉 of thy blysse in heuen perpetuelly / whe●● I trus● to see the face to face with the fader and ●he holy goost in eternall peas and glorye Amen ¶ For these blessyd Ihesu & other thy benefytes & gyft●s Infynyte I thanbe the with all my herte / & I desyre euer to serue the / to loue the / to worshyp the / & magnyfye the here / and in the worldes du●ynge wi●houten ende . Amen .

¶ A prayer full profytable to them that shal saye masse / & here masse / or to them that shall be houseled & comunyed / and besyde for all other that ben on lyue or deed .

IHesu my lorde god / my loue & oonly comforte / the whiche as preest moost hyghe & synguler bysshop offered thyself to god thy fader / an hoste & sacrefyce moost clene & vndefouled on the crosse for our gylte & redempcyon / & hath gyuen it vnto vs / & lefte it in remembraunce of thy grete charyte / deth / & passyon / and therwith hast commaunded vs to ete / & commone this gloryous sacrament of thy blessyd body ymade wonderfully by the vertue of the holy goost for our dayly helth / freelte / & transgressyon . wherfore blessyd Iesu / to the be laude and praysynge worlde withouten ende . Amen . ¶ And for as moche that by the holy ordynaunce the consecracyon therof & offerynge vp to thy hyghe mageste for the quycke and deed oonly belongeth to the order of preesthode . For thy good lorde of thy grete pyte & grace . Make thy se●uaūt or seruauntes . ¶ Here name ye whom ye wyll that shall saye masse . N. and all other preestes clene in body and soule . And delyuer them of all vnclene / wycked vayne / and noysom thoughtes / and strengthe them ayenst all theyr enemyes / and vs also with thy gloryous angelles / and confounde all suche that pursuen them and vs / and wolde make vs to perysshe fynally . ¶ Ihesu kyng of virgyns / & louer of chastyte . Remembre how frele that our substaunce & nature is / & be mercyfull vnto them & vs as fader / lorde / & god / after thy grete mercy & for thy bytter passyon . For to the is oonly appropered to be mercyfull / without whiche no creature may be saued . Beholde swete Ihesu that our wyll is to worshyp the / & prayse the in the best maner that we can or may / and lyke as thou haste begonne with vs here / so make vs to contynue in thyn laude & seruyce euerlastynge . And where it is so that they knowleche themself vnable to do this heuenly mystery . Fo● thy good lorde Ihesu / by thy grace make them able / the whiche of synners haste made full often and dayly makest holy sayntes . And gyue them also thy drede & clennes of herte with the ryuer of ●eeres in all spirytuell consolacyon . Make them to fel● & vnderstande the swetnes of thy blessyd presence / & the grete attendaunce of thy holy angelles about hem at theyr celebracyons . Receyue mercyfull Ihesu this hyghe & holy sacryfyce to the comfort of all that ben on lyne & deed / & wouchesauf this daye that it be to vs & to all them a synguler refresshynge & feest / that we so releued with this brede of lyne & lambe Inmaculate / borne of the blessyd virgyn Mary may Ioye in thy laude & glorye eternally . Thou saydest by thy holy mouth . The brede that I shall gyue / my body it is / for the lyf of the worlde . Who that eteth me / he shal lyue for me / & he abydeth in me / & I in hym . I am the brede of lyf that came downe from heuen . He that eteth of this brede shall lyue without ende . Now swete brede of lyfe make both them & vs fele thy swetnes & loue forsakynge all vanytees . Come in to our soules / & clense vs goostly & bodely / sanctefye vs Inwarde & outwarde / & be a contynuell defence of soule & body / so that we may come to thy kyngdome / there to be fedde of th●●●ith a meruaylous & vnspekable sacy●te● Where ●fter we shall neuer haue hongre ne thur●t/seyng● the than / not as we now do / in mysteryes & of fer●e ho●e / but thenne shall we see the face to face in glory● with thy fader in vnyte of the holy goost by all wo●●des Amen . ¶ Pater noster . Aue maria .

¶ Here foloweth a prayer to all sayntes / examyned and p●●●mned . ¶ Ad scām marian . Gaudem mt̄ saluatoris felix fide flos decorꝭ Mundique solacium Nunc letare celi choris In hoc festo & languoris Nostri sis remedium ¶ Ad scons angelos . Gaude michael in hac die Gabriel raphaelque messie Angelorum ordines Vos precamur nobis pie Sitis causa melodie Supra celi cardines ¶ Ad Patriarchas et ꝓphetas . Gaude ventre consecratus O baptista mire natus Sacer degens seculo Patriarchis sociatus Et ꝓphetis . vite flatus Fac finire iubilo ¶ Ad Apostolos et euangelistas . Gaude petre cum sodali Paulo . cristo speciali Lucens orbis climata Et caterna generali Vestra sita loco tali Nos cum eis adiuna ¶ Ad martires . Gaude 〈◊〉 spes anglorum Et georgi tutor horum Cum Edwardo nobili Tu laurenti rege lorum Vt tuamur poli chorum Cum fauore stephani ¶ Ad. s. confessores . Gaude presul o martine Nicholae . hugo . line . Posce nobis graciam Erkenwaldeque birine Iam cum tuis augustine Da supremo gloriam ¶ An. s. virgines . Gaude virgo katherina Margareta . magdalena Cum brigitta . brigida Anna. fides . et cristina Nos seruando nunc diuina Gens celorum iubila V. Letamini in dno . R. Et gloriamini .

¶ Here folowen the seuen degrees of humylyte . ¶ Caste thy syght downewarde / and shewe mekenesse / bothe in thy herte and body . ¶ Beware of hyghe speche & clamorous / and see that thy wordes be fewe well sette & resonable . Be not lyght for to laugh / but vse euer sadnesse . ¶ Be stylle & kepe sylence / tyll nede requyre that answere must be hadde . Kepe well the comyn rule as the holy place hath vsed . ¶ Thynke the moost vylest of all other / & so pronounce thyself . Knowlege the vnworthy & not profytable to ony thynge / & so byleue in dede . ¶ Make ofte confessyon of thy synnes / and that with greate contrycyon . Kepe pacyence in thy ● obedyence at all thy paynes & trouble . ¶ To all people be thou subgette for thy maysters sake / thyn owne wyll forsake it / and loue it in no wyse . ¶ And euer kepe the from synne / for fere of hym aboue . Amen .

¶ Here folowen the seuen degrees of obedyence . ¶ The fyrste is to do that is commaunded of thy souereyne without grutchynge . ¶ The seconde is to make none excepcyon / neyther of the tyme / neyther of the dede that is to be done . ¶ The thyrde is to be gladde & cherefull in thy herte to do suche dedes commaunded without ony compulcyon / settynge a syde all beestly condycyons . ¶ The fourth is to be quycke in suche dede doynge & le●ynge all other occupacyons for that tyme or ony maner of excuse . ¶ The fyfthe is to do suche thynges with all thy myght and power / thynkynge that thy rewarde shall be grete . ¶ The sixte is to do them also with al mekenesse bothe in spyryte and gesture . ¶ The seuenth is to contynuye suche obedyence to the ende of thy lyf / euer folowynge thy mayster Ihesu cryste / that was moost obedyent for thy synne vnto deth Amen .

¶ The seuen degrees of pacyence thou mayst beholde here . ¶ To euyll done to the or aduersyte / make no resystence . ¶ Do no euyll for euyll / ne gyue an euyl answere . ¶ ●oue thyn enmye / & do good for euyl to hym in recompence . ¶ Grutche not ayenst aduersyte / but take it as swete as encence . ¶ Acccompt it for best medycyne / and be gladde in thy payne . ¶ Thanke god therfore / & loke for more with all beny●olence . ¶ And whan thou hast no grutchynge in these / thenne mayst thou be fayne .

¶ The .xv. degrees of charyte .

¶ These make parfyte charyte after Poules epystle .

¶ Be pacyente contynuelly for ony aduersyte . ¶ Lyberall to the nedy / & do good for euyll . ¶ Of other mennes welfare . enuye not ne be heuy ¶ Lette not by thy crokednesse good werkes to multeplye . ¶ Swelle not inwarde by malyce yf thy nyghbour prospere . ¶ Loue to be in lowe degree / & loth to be hye . ¶ To labour for other as thyself do thy vtter deuour . ¶ Be not moued for ony cause to vengeaunce or to yre . ¶ Thynke none euyll to another for ony prouocacyon . ¶ Ioye thou not in wyckednesse but sorowe thou rather . ¶ Be gladde in trought & ryghtwysnesse & hate dyssymulacyon . ¶ For suche ryght bere aduersyte or ony trybulacyon . ¶ To that the chirche techeth the put ful credulyte . ¶ That god hath promysed trust it well without defa●cacyon . ¶ In hope abydynge his rewarde and euerlastynge glorye . Amen .

¶ A lytell Instruccyon for them that shall entre in to religyon / drawen out of the longe rule of saynt Iherom that he wrote to saynt Eustochium &c.

LOue god aboue all thynge / & thy neyghbour as thyself . In these two is fulfylled all the lawe & commaundementes of god & parfyte charyte without whiche can no man or woman be relygyous & come to heuen / & the whiche had among them they make theyr place or monastery a paradyse in erthe & themself professed therin angelles full pleasaunt vnto god . Wherfor amonge the spouses of god ben one wyll / one comfort / one heuynes Remembrynge that he is prynce of peas & charyte . in whom they shal be wedded vnto . Forsake the desyre of temporall goodes / for better it is to be ryche with other in the worlde than to be poore in a monasterye & to haue a desyre to haue god . Blessyd be they sayth our lorde that ben poore in spyryte &c. ¶ The more noble that ye ben & come of worshypfull lynage the more ye shal meke your self / & euer be gladde of poore & vyle habyte or clothynge / beware of obstentacyon & pryde or to desyre to be better arayed than an other syster is . And remembre that ye shall be professed & wedde ●lyke to one spouse Ihesu cryste in one wys & vowe / whiche loue none suche syngular●te / pompe & vayne glorye . For in his court shall not a kynges doughter haue prerogatyf afore an other in lower degree borne . Goostly lyf requyreth no dignyte temporall / though all ye be neuer so meke / yet your spouse was & is moche more meker . See in your mynde how that saynt Peter was a poo●e fyssher / and Bartylmew a noble man of byrth . Netheles Peter was preferred & made prynce of Bartylmew & of all the worlde . Beware of gru●chynge the whiche gretly dyspleaseth god . Commende neuer your self of ony goodes gyuen or to be gyuen of you or by yours to the monasterye or els where / but euer lerne & vse you to take the crosse & to folowe your spouse in penaunce / & do that ye come for / kepynge obedyence / pacyence / mekenesse / sylence / prayer / fastynge / & suche other as your relygyon wyll gyue you instruccyon . And in ony wyse shewe mekenesse in your langage / countenaunce & all other behauyour / & in especyall to your heed & souerayne / the whiche representeth cryste your spouse / & that in all obedyence / drede / loue / & reuerence . Neuer disputynge of theyr wyll or of other that be your souerayns / but thynke that all is ryghtfull that they do / presume not to correcte theyr Iugementes . For as by example yf eche man sholde haue the guydynge of a shyppe that they be within / it sholde neuer prospere ne come to the hauen that it desyred . And as ye be professed deed to the worlde so be ye deed in other mennes dedes . ¶ Also remēb●e that ye must forsake your owne wyll & offre it vp & gyue it to god & to them that shall be your souerayne & heed for euer more . Enforce eche one of you that shall come to religyon to passe an other in obedyence / for than doubtles ye shall please god A true obedyencer that hath vtterly forsaken his owne wyll / knowe not ony thynge harde to do that is commaunded of theyr souerayne ne ony thynge vnryghtfull . ¶ Beware of ydelnes the whiche is moder of all synne & vnclennesse / so that by your offyce that ye be called to / or by prayer / redynge / wrytynge / lewynge / or other handewerkes doynge / ye may make your bodyes dayly wery & crucyfyed . And therby make your spyrytes the more quycke and apte to the seruyce of our lorde in confusyon of your enemye and encreace of glorye . ¶ Beware to be Inquysytyf / or to muse on hyghe maters and subtyll . And leue them to worldely people● and to clerkes / for otymesthe letter may hurte you Thynke euer that ye had leuer dye than ones to passe the clausures or boundes of your monasterye . Yf ye haue a faythfull & a Iuste frende / to whom ye may open the secretes of your herte / than ye haue a grete tresour / for oftymes one shall be deceyued & seldome can iuge the trouth in his owne maters so well as other . Knowe your owne synnes & wayle them & medle with none other . Beware euer of detraccion & flee it as it were a venemous serpent / that the speker therof be your contenaunce & departynge from them may be ashamed / & therwith lothe for euer so to speke or do . Moreouer yf ye wyll see your spouse Ihesu cryst in your mynde by contemplacyon euer kepe your sylence . For saynt Ierom sawe many in Egypt amonge holy faders that .vij. yer●● togyder spake not owne worde / but only to god & to his saynt . Yf the caas be so that ye must speke lete it be in all peas & charyte & with fewe wordes . Remembrynge that your spouse loueth no voyde ●lat●●ynge / but wolde be with you alone in all quyetnesse in your soules . Wherfore be ye aferde to dysplease hym or to dryue hym out from you with stryues or debate / sclaundres / othes / and suche other / ¶ Saynt Iames counselleth eche man to refrayne his tonge / sayenge that lyf & deth ben in the power of the same tonge / wrytynge thus . Who that refrayneth his tonge he shal be blessyd in all his dedes &c. Knowleche your self at all tymes carayne and erthe / & the glory therof is as a floure in the medowe . Absteyne you as pylgryms from all desyres of the flesshe / the whiche dayly bataylleth ayenst the soule . Absteyne also from lyes at all tymes / as ye wolde from helle / for them in no wyse loueth Ihesus your spouse . And also beware to mayntene or botrace suche lyes whiche is abhomynable in the syght of god . Yf there come ony straunger vnto you / lete hym knowe by your heuenly talkynge & behauyour that ye be a well taught spouse of cryste & that they may glorefye in you & for you & be amended by you . Bere the wordes of saynt Ierom in your mynde that sayth thus . Truste me verely that ther is no thynge more peryllous to a man . than is a woman / & to a woman no thynge more contagyous than is a man / for eyther of them is chaff & eyther is fyre . And note this for a truth / that preuy talkyng lacketh no suspycyon . That thynge is not lefull to be seen / that is not lefull to be desyred . More than ony man can suppose or wryte / the deuyll reioyseth whan memorye of o man is fixed & had in a womannes herte . There is no venym in the worlde so noysom to woman as is affeccyon towarde man of what soeuer cause it procede or growe . Ye may see that the desyre of worldly wymen is euer in vesture / golde / precyous stones / & ornament outwarde of the body / & therin they put theyr glorye & felycyte In so moche that it suffyseth not them theyr luste gyuen by nature only / but they seke occasyon & craft by the sayd premysses to encreace theyr sayd luste & desyres to theyr grete dampnacyon / beware therfore of ony costely habyte or suche vanytees &c. Certaynly sayth the sayd saynt Ierom / the pryncypall desyre is of suche wymen that men sholde fest theyr eyen in the faces of them by the prouocacion & syght of theyr precyous arraye . But they sholde consyder though nature hath gyuen to golde / & suche other a p●ecyosyte wherby they ben praysed / what is that to the vyle carkas that it hangeth vpon / the whiche is but a ●achell of dounge brought forth of vnclene seed & fynally shall be wormes mete .

¶ The wordes of saynt Ierom.

O Thou moost vylest & worse than ony beest how shamefast sholdest y● be in thy body yf thou woldest beholde thyself / that so in thyn arraye auauncest thyself . And this blessyd Ierom sayth . I take them for no relygyous wymen that be● cladde in costlyous araye or in wanton & pynched habytes but he calleth them in latyn . Pessimas meretrices et storta . Wherfore desyre ye to go in vyle & vnshapely vesture . that wanton & dissolute persones may rather be prouoked to scorne & laughe at you than to thynke euyl or desyre you / for they say not trouthe that do ensure themself with a glorye to kepe chastyte in a costely or ony shapely vesture / ye shal be called ladyes / for bycause that ye shall be spoused to the kyng of all kynges . Beware than & take hede with all mekenesse to your dygnyte / in lesse than your spouse be greued & make a deuorce & so departe from you . Yf that ye wyst & ones had tasted how swete your spouse were . ye sholde haue pleasyr ynough that passeth all worldly pleasyrs . This Ioye & pleasyr had saynt Ierom & many other both of men & wymen / kepe the mansyon of your spouse clene / & garnysshe it with floures of vertue / and accompte your self moost vyle & out caste of this worlde . Remembre also how in your baptysme ye forsoke the worlde / the enuye / and all theyr pryde & glory / the whiche now ye shall confer me vnder the grettest othe that may be / & therwith receyue our lorde god in sacrament in this your fyrste entrynge in to religyon . Beware also of vayne glory / lyftynge vp your vysage & voyce on hyghe as wymen done in the worlde . Rebukyng other or to speke of your noble blood or kynrede / for in the spousage and seruyce of god / the poorest mannes doughter lyuynge shall be egall & lyke to the gretest kynges doughter lyuynge in erthe . Ye muste forsake all suche worldely pompe & vanyte & take a newe & a more sure noble dignyte by your spouse Ihesu cryst that neuer shall haue ende / the poorest of you bryngeth more to the monastery / so that ye come with a meke herte and in wyll to forsake yf that ye hadde neuer so moche / than she that bryngeth moche with a proude herte / and therwith to other wolde haue it knowen Beware euer that no foule worde or stryue be amonge you that ben deed folke in this worlde . But euer thynke that the trompe of the last daye of Iugement soundeth in your eeres / and calleth you sayenge . Ryse doughters Ryse / & come to your Iugement . Lete euer your mynde be with your spouse / and with your moder blessyd Marye / & the sayntes as often as ye synge or rede . Remembrynge that god is there present and seeth what ye do Lete none see you from the seruyce of god or vnoccupyed . In redynge of prophetes epystles / gospelles / sayntes lyues / & other dedes of vertue doynge / hauynge euer bokes in your handes / studyenge or wrytynge / that people seynge you may saye . Beholde here the seruaunt of god / & the lanternes of the worlde . Beware also of glotony whiche is moder of all vnclennesse & bocheres of chastyte / & kepe your stomake rather voyd than to take to it superfluyte wherthorugh ye shall not nede to take medicynes for a digestyon . Vse curtesly to ete & not gredely nor hastely / for therin may ye synne . It is wryten in the lyf of saynt Benet that a religyous woman with a gredenes receyued a wycked spiryte in etynge of letuse in the gardeyn . Also they that vse to drynke wyne go not without fyre in theyr bosom . And euer beware of dronkenshyp / remembrynge that abstynence & fastynge is a sure medycyne for all sekenes . And by them cometh grete vertue & grace . Not for thy beware of vndiscrete abstynence / whiche myght cause you to haue payne here & in tyme to come . Whan tyme is of redyng at your meles & repast or ony other good doctryne than beware of speche of laughynge / but take hede to the lecture . And knocke pryuely your brestes & that yf ye may with fallynge of teeres / after your meles reherce your lectures or some notabilytees of sermons or other holy thynges that ye haue herde or seen afore . And whan ye praye be sory for the Ignoraunce of the people & theyr synnes / & mynde the soules that ye be specyally bounde to praye for with all other crysten soules . And yf ye wyl haue the swetenes of contemplacyon / clense your herte from all worldly thynges . And be as ye were deed amonge them & as ye were buryed in your sepulcre the whiche betokeneth your monastery / to the tyme ye aryse & appere afore your spouse to haue your rewarde of his glory . Whan ye shal go to your garden & seen the herber & grene trees smellynge the floures & fruytes with theyr swetnesse / meruaylle the grete power of god in his creatures / & thenne labour & engendre in your mynde / or talkynge of deuocyon & lyfte vp your herte to heuen / & thynke verely that the maker of them that is your spouse in heuen is vnspekable fayre / swete / delectable / and gloryous But beware touche there nothynge to a vayne vse or nycete of the worlde . After complyne kepe your tonge & take you to prayer & contemplacion . And call to your mynde suche heuenly thynges that ye haue herde or redde afore . See in ony wyse that ye kepe this poynt of goddes lawe & of the lawe of nature . Do euer to an other as ye wolde be done vnto