The apostel seinte poule seyth the fulfyllyng of the lawe ys loue & Seynte gregory seyth̄

¶ Quicquid precipitur in sola caritate solidatur /

All thys that ys comaunded in the olde lawe and in the newe is / only in loue confermed for thys seyth seynt austyn ¶ Habe caritatem et quicquid vis Haue ye charite and do what ye wyll so it Agree wyth charite and all shall turne to your we le / As seynt Ambrose seyth after that same effecte in contrary wordys ¶ Qui non habet caritatem omne bonum quod habet amittit / who that hath no charyte he leseth alle the weles / that he hath or ony thyng that man doth wythoute loue is not acceptable to god / & of thys seyth seynte poule ¶ Si linguis hominn̄ loquar et angelorum Item si tradidero corpus meum ita vt ardeam et si distribuero onnes facultates meas in cibos pauperrum caritatem autem non habuero nichil michi prodest / Though that I coude speke wyth tongue of angell & man And that I shuld do neuer so moche penaunce and yelde my body to the fyre to be brente and gyf alle my good to fede poore folkes If I hadde not wyth thys loue in god and to alle folkes for god all thys shuld no thynge profyte / for as seyth the holi abbot moyses All the penaunce that we suffer and other good werkes that we do or cause to be doon / ne be but Instrumentis for to aredy the herte that loue may more sone growe ther in wyth holy deuocon̄ / and thys may ye see be ensample If a nedill sowyd not nor sherid / clipped not who wold hold them in ther handys men loue not suche thyngis for them self but for the welys / that men do wyth hem / So is it of the werkys / of penaunce they be not to be be loued for them self only / but for the holy loue that growyth in the herte of man be their helpe and be their procreacyon and that Ihu criste more sooner sendeth hys grace & maketh the herte clene and of clere syght . whiche none may haue that be ocupyed and ouyr corians / aboute worldy vanyteys and carnall loue / for thys that the loue of the world derkyth the eyen of the thought that it may not knowe god / nor gyue no conforte in beholdyng hym specyally that is full of ioye clere loue of herte as saint / bernarde seyth Do seyth he ij thynges / oon is / thys all that ye do of we le do it specyally for the loue of god or for the loue of your neyghbour in god . In alle your dedys haue one of these ij ententes or bothe for the secunde cometh of the fyrste and who hath hys herte enclerde of thys specyall loue no well is doon in heuene nor in erthe but he is partner therof / as seyth saynt powle / ¶ Omnia munda mundis quoinquinatis autem nihil mundum To folkes of clene harte belongeth all clennesse And tho folkes of fowle harte no clene thyng belongeth / For thys / ouyr alle other thynges be coryous . to kepe your harte clene in the loue of our lorde Ihu cryst and no thynge desyre in thys world / but only the loue of god and tho thynges that helpyth yow toward hym / loue no thynge for them self / thus as mete and drynke / man or woman or other thynges necessary that helpyth yow to your leuyng and to be sustyned in the seruyse of our lorde jhu cryste For thus spekyth saynt Austyn to our lorde sayng ¶ Minus te amat q aliquod preter te amat quod propter te non amat . This is to sey ye loue god lesse thanne ony other thynge that ye loue wythoute hym yf ye loue it not for hym / loue shall be put in the balannce of saynt myghel and they that moste hath loued most shall be glorifyed in heuene / and not they that haue led hardeste lyf & lengeste penaunce but tho that most haue loued . augustinus . ¶ Non diuturnitas temporum / non vniuerositas bonorum operum auget meritum Sed maior caritas maiorque voluntas auget meritum . This encreseth not chefly the meryte to be longe in good lyf & to do many good werkys / But grettest charyte and best wyll encreseth the meryte . loue is / the Cenycyall of paradys for is grete fredom for he wythholdyth no thynge but geueth all that he hath and hym self also / as saynt poule seyth ¶ Caritas non querit que sua sunt . Charyte desyreth not that is hys / owne / and ryght marueylously loueth the swete god charite . for he makith hytte hys chambyrleyn hys counsellour hys / spouse fro whom he may hide no thinge that he wyll do of thought that he hath in hys herte . as he seyd to abraham in genysis . ¶ Nūquit celare potero abraham que gesturus sum . Shuld I seyde our lord hyde from abraham ony thyng that j may do naye in no maner so dere is loue wyth hym that he makyth it hys felaw and yet wyll j sey more / the god makyth it hys mayster for thys / that he doth all that loue hym comaundyth Shall I mow preue thys . ye wythowte fayle be these wordys / For here spekyth he that was the man of the world / that most loued god in hys tyme in the booke of Nombrys / ¶ Diuisi iuxta verbum tuum non dicit preces / I had thought seyd our lorde to moyses to auenged me on thys / people But ye sey me that j shuld not / your worde be ther warant / / Men sey that loue byndeth / ye for trouth Loue bonde the allmyghty god so fermely that he myght no thyng do but as loue gaf hym leue now preue we thys / marueyle . ¶ Comune non est qui consurgat et teneat te . Lord seyd I saye wyll ye stryke A wee may sey alas / ther is non that holdeth yow as he ought For yf ony loued you ryh̄t he myght holde yow and lette yow that ye wold not do it ¶ In genesi ad loth . Festiua non potui ibi quicquam facere donec egressus fueris . This was whanne our lorde wolde confounde sodom and gomor loth hys louer was / ther to whom our lorde seyde haste you to go oute of sodom for befor that ye be gone may I do them none harme / here appereth wherbi the louers / of the swete kyng of heuene bindith hym A lone loue how thow arte precyous & wythoute pere Loue is lyke to a precyous stnoe that is of suche vertue that who that hath it shall haue what thynge that he towche wyth the sayd stone the same vartue hath loue For yf ye loue the vartues / or bounteys the other folkes haue in them their weles / ye make yours be the towchyng of your holy loue / as saynt gregory seyth / ¶ Aliena bona si diligis tua facis . If ye loue the goodnesse of other ye make it yours wyth oute ony mor trauayle O loue how thow arte precyous and wyth out pere Nou ryght dere beloued in god take hede to thre thynge be whych ye may lerne wherfor ye oughte to loue our lorde on thynge is the grete welys and graces that he hath geuyn you / on other ys the grete loue that he hath shewed yow : The thyrde that he desyryth your loue so faruently Now remember yow wel that grete gyft most comon̄ly draweth & encresyth loue . And what hath god geuyn yon All the world wyth the apporthenaunce and paradyse wyth alle hys delytys And to adam our fader alle the thynge & creaturs vndyr heuene as byrdys bestis & fyshys alle were put vndyr the foote of man & at our comandment befor the synne of hym wherof dauid seyth . ¶ Omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius oues et boues And yet for all that these thinges be ordeyned stylle for to sarue the good and susteyne them in the seruyse of our lorde Another gyste hath he geuyn vs and euery day geuyth vs thys is hym self for to kepe vs and helpe vs in alle our nedys . As seyt saynt Austyn . ¶ De multis periculis liberauit me virtute sua Quando errabam reduxit me . quando ignorabam docuit . me / quando contristabar consolatus est me / quando peccabam corripuit me quando cecidi erexit me . quando steti tenuit me / quando iui duxit me / hec et alia multa fecit michi dominus meus / de quo erit michi dulce semper loqui / semper cogitare / semper gracias agere / Of many hath deliuered me my sauioure whanne I walked he led me . whan I cowde nat he taught me / whanne I synned rep̄ued me / whanne I was heuy he conforted me . whanne I fell he araysed me . whanne I stode he sustyened me / whanne j zode he led me Thys grete bounteys . & many other hath doon to me mi lorde jhu cryste of whom it shall be alwey swete to speke and to thynke and alwey to yelde hym thankynge . For full euele shull befalle of vs if he tooke not good kepe of vs for our enemyes haue besette vs / all abooute to confounde vs . Thys ys to / knowe . our flesh / the fende : and the worlde . vnde versus . ¶ Nos certant triplici certamine tres inimici . Serpens antiquus caro lubrica mundus iniquus / Thre enemyes greue vs / be thre maner of batayles as the olde serpente the fende and the frele vnstabyll flesh & the deceynable worlde / as saynte Barnard seyth ¶ O anima innocens . o lilium candens O flos tener delicate vide quomodo caute ambules inter spinas habitas subuersores tecum habes : intra te sunt extra te sunt / super te sunt / circa te sunt In carne tua sunt O ye Innosent sowle O ye flour of lely fayr and whyte O ye tendyr & delycyous flour take kepe that ye go wysely amonge the thornys for ther in habyte your dedely enemies that wayte to ouerthrowe yow and wyth inne yow they be & wythoute you they be ouyr yow they be and rounde abowte you they be / now se how grete a gyfte this is of god for to defende yow be hys good wyll / as dauid seyth / ¶ Scito bone voluntatis tue coronasti nos / Fayr lorde seyth dauid / gret thynge haue ye geuin vs / for ye haue crowned vs wyth the shylde of your good wyl But these gystys beforseyd be but lytyll in comparyson of on gyste that he hath geuyn vs / that is the gyste of hym self for so moche loued he vs that he hath geuyn hym self to vs wherof saynt poule seyth ¶ Cristus dilexit eccleciam et dedit se ipsum pro eo . Ih̄ū cryste loued so moche hys loue that he wold gyf hym self for hyr so hye a gifte was neuyr geuyn to suche wretchys . ne for suche wretchys / Augustinus . ¶ Miser ego quantum debeo diligere deum meum cum me fecit non arborem nec auem nec aliquod de animalibus Sed hominem me voluit esse Seyth saynte Augustyn alas I wretche how I oughte to loue my lorde god that made me whanne I was no thinge and nother tre nor byrde nor non other beste but man wolde he that I ware and gaf me wherwyth to leue and to fele and knowe good & ylle I was perishte and juged to deth & he dyscended to me mortall & mortalyte receyued suffyrd pascon̄ and veynquyshte deth and thus he me restablyshte wher j was parysht & sold in myn owne synnes / and he cam aftyr me to bye me ageyn . and so derely loued he me that the pryes of his precyous blood he gaf for me be suche condycon̄ that the remembraunce of hym shold alwey abyde in me /

In canticis cāticorum sponsus ad sponsam / ¶ Pone me vt signaculum super cor tuum Et vt signaculum super brachium tuum / Fayr loue seyth our lorde and loue jhu cryste put me as a lytyll seale on your herte to the entente that ye may thynke on me oftyn / & put me as a seale vppon your arme so that ye enbrace me wyth holy deuocyon . Ryght dere beloued frende in god now take hede ententyfly and wyth grete deuocyon to thys ensample that folowyth / and wherfor ye shuld loue thys swete jhu cryst therin shall ye fynde delicious matyr for thys hath doon jhu the kyng of glorie be your sowle that is hys loue as doth a kynge of farre contreys . that louyth a strange lady & sendeth his massengers / before wyth hys lettyrs of loue : In the same maner dyde our lorde Ihu the sente hys patryarkis & hys prophetis of the olde testamente wyth letters . These ware the swete prophecyes . of hys gracyous comynge in to erthe & thanne at the laste he cam all preuyly and brought wyth hym the gospels as lettyrs opened & wreted wyth his precyous blood . and wyth the same saued he hys loue to conquar hyr Now leth her a tale in syngnyfyaunce of the entyre loue of our swete lorde Ihu cryste Ther was a lady som tyme in gret warre wyth hyr dedely enemyes that had dystroyed the substaunce of all hyr londe and she all poore was beseged in an olde castell wyth hym rounde abowte & thys castell was weyke and made of full febyll mater Neuertelesse ther was a ryche kynge and of grete power that marueylously loued her wyth suche far neuce that often he sente hys messengers on to her & sente her mani fair Iowellys & good socours wherwyth she myghth be susteyned and good helpe of hys noble meny to defende hyr & hyr castell And she receyued alle these thynge as a vyleyne that vnuethys cowde yelde hym a gramercy for alle these grete welys so rude & harde was hyr herte how be it had not the bounte and the pyte of thys noble kynge bene she had be vtterly loste & dystroyed for he was so supprysed wyth hyr loue that at the laste he cam him self to the rofe of the tour and shewed hyr his fayre visage whiche was most fayr of alle other to beholde and spake to h̄yr soo swete wordys / & delycious that they myght haue quikned a body half dede : Ther dyd he mani marueyles / and shewed grete mastryes / and befor hyr eyen preued parte of hys power . and tolde of hys rych̄esse and offrid to make hir quene of all that he hade & to gif hir all his reme with thys that she wolde gyf hym hyr loue wythoute more But thys was in veyne for hyr lone wolde she not promyse hym A was not thys a grete abusion of thys bestly wretche that was not worthy to serue vndyr his fete / yte of hys debonarite pyte hadde so veynquysht him be fo rs of loue that at the laste he seide A madam I se well ie be gretly greued wyth your enemyes that be soo ner you and so fers & stronge that ye may in no wyse escape ther handis / but they wyll put you to euele and sorowfull deth but ye haue helpe / wherfor I wyl for your loue entyrprise this bataile vppon them to dyscon̄fyte your enemyes how be it I knowe well that I shall receyue amonge them full harde & dedely woundys but wyth my good wyll I shall take them tho wynne your herte And now I pray you full petonsly wepyng for the grete loue that I shall shewe you that at the leste ye wyll loue me aftyr my peynfull deth syth in my lyf ye wyll not loue me thanne in thys maner entyrd thys kynge in to this batayle and dystounfyted alle hyr enemyes / & delyuered hyr from them that purposed hyr deth and was hym self wounded so sore and greuously that he dyed but by miracle roos / he frodeth to lyue was not thys lady ouyr vnnaturell and moche to be blamed if she loued not hym ouyr all other Thys same kynge is the swete Ihus that in thys maner hath loue to our sowles . that fendes hadde beseged and he as a noble sauyour sente hyr many massengers & many grete bounteys doone to her . and fynalle cam hym self for to preue hys loue and shewed well be cheualrye that he was / worthi to be be loued / wherof seyth saynte barnarde / ¶ Nonne dei filius cum esset 〈◊〉 sinu patris a regalibus sedibus pro anima tua descendit vt eam liber●ret a potestate dyaboli quam cum audisset peccatorum finibus irretica iamque demonibus tratēdam vt morte perpetua dāpnaretur fleuit super illa qui se flere nesciebat nec solum fleuit sed ecia occidi pertulit / vnde versus Aspice mortalis per te datur hostia talis / Ne se you not ryght dere freendes seyth saynte Barnarde that Ihu cryste the sone of god how that he beynge in the bosom of hys father descended fro that ryall sete in the heuenly empyre for the loue he hadde to your sowle to delyuer hyr fro the power of the fende whanne he harde how she was beseged and wyth the bondys of synne enbrased and wythoute taryenge sholde haue be deliuered to the fende to the preson of helle and was condempned to pardurable deth / And he be grete pyte and compassyoun wepte full tenderly for her in asmoche as she nother cowde wepe nor helpe hyr self and yete he wepe not only but offryd hym self to dye for hyr relefe Beholde now mortall wretchys who suffrid deth for your lyf / thys dyd the swete Ihesus the kynge of heuene to wynne your loue as knyghte were wone to do som tyme he cam to the tourney and for the loue of his loue whiche is iour sowle bar his shyld on alle partys of the bathayle as A valyaunte knyght and A hardy Hys shylde that couered the godhede was hys blessed body that was spred vppon the harde crosse ther appered he as A shylde in hys armys wyth hys handys streyned and persed and hys feete nayled down as summe men sey the tone vppon the tother And wher thys shylde had no syde syngnyfyeth that hys dyscyplys that sholde haue be shilde to his sydis / fledde alle / from hym as he seyth in the gospell· ¶ Relicto eo omnes fugerunt . They be alle fledde & lefte hym all for fere of deth Thys shylde is geuyn vs for our dyffense ayenste alle euelis and alle temptacon̄ . as saynte Ierome seyth / ¶ Dabit stictū cordis in laborem tuum . Lord jhesu cryste thanked be ye / ye haue geuyn vs a shylde for our hertes whiche is the thoughte of your peynfull / trauayle wherof seyth saynte Barnard . / ¶ Quid tam efficax ad curandum vulnera nec non ad purgandum mentis quam cristi vulnerum sedula meditacio / what thynge is so spedfull to hele and purge the spyrytuall woundys . as ententyf medytacon̄ of the sorowfull woundys of our swete lorde jhu cryste / & dauid seyth wyth thys shylde be ēuyron̄ed alle they that louen hym And serue hym nyght and day . Scito circundabit te veritas eius non timebis a timore nocturno . Ne drede we nat the fere of the nyght for thys is the trowth the sone of god / enuyroundyth vs wyth hys . shylde where sum euyr we be . and it more be his good wyll with hys shylde he hath crowned vs . as dauid seyth for wyth hys good wyll suffyrd he all thys . as Isaee seyth . ¶ Oblatus est quia ipse voluit / Now wyll ye sey parauenture wherfor suffyrd he these marueylous grete peynes myght he nolightlyer redeme vs fro helle A yis / yis myght he wyth moche les yf it had pleased hym / but he wolde not so wherfor but to shewe vs how moche he loued vs and to gyf vs ensample to loue hym : for suche as men loue lytyll they lette it lyghtli go and if they haue it not they aske not theraftyr / & also the more peyne and harme that a man suffryth for hys frende the more hys he to be beloued / wherof saynte bernarde seyth / ¶ Amplius michi vilis esse non debeo quia tantum deo placuit anima mea . vt mori pro me eligeret ne me perderet . In asmoche as the swete jhesus was more vyle in erthe for me in so moche ys he to me more dere in swete loue for I coude not thynke that he had loued me so moche / A swete Ihu fro hensforth ought I not to sette lyttyll be my sowle syn it was so pleysaunte to hym that he chaas rather to suffyr deth thanne lese it Item Barnardus ¶ Nisi amasset me dulciter non me in carcere Requisisset illa maiestas . If the swete jhesu had not loued me the more feruenhly he had not come from hys hygh ryall maieste for me that was so lowe in helle In thys shylde be thre thynges the ton is / the wode . the thother is the skyn . and the thyrde is the colour Thys it is of the shylde that Ihu cryste hath lefte yow The wode of the crosse the lethir of the peynfull passyon of our lorde . And colour of hys red blood / Thanne the skyn of hys precyous body was all to rente and broken and colowred wyth hys precyous blood and the crosse also The thyrde reson of thys shylde is that aftyr the deth of a valyaunte knyghte men shulde shewe hys shylde in the remembrance of hym Thys shylde is the crucyfyxe that is / sette in the chyrche wher men may se and thinke of the cheualrye that our lorde jhu cryste dyd on hye vppon the crosse / on the mounte of caluarye befor theym of hys blessed dere sorowfull mother / Thys shylde is hangyd vppe in euery chyrche that hys loue whyche is our sowle may beholde how dere he hath bought her / he lette not to bere hys shylde & to opyn hys syde to shewe hys herte & shewed all openli how entyrly he loued hyr and how she oughte often to thynke of the tokenys of loue that in thys shylde is : syngnyfyed / wherof seyth saynte Bernarde ¶ O felix anima aspice inclinacionē capitis ad osculum / extencionem brachiorum ad ampbexum . O ye blessed and happy spowse of jhu cryste beholde on the crucyfyx the shylde of jhesu cryste your spowse And se the inclinacyon of hys hed to kysse yow / se the spredyng of hys armys to clyppe yow beholde the openynge of hys syde and the crucyfyenge of hys fayr body and wyth greet affeccyoun of your holy loue turne it and returne it from syde to syde / fro the hede to the fete and ye shall fynde that ther was neuer sorou nor peyne lyke to that payne our lorde Ihesu cryste endureed for your loue & seyth he hath geuyn so myche for your loue and yet may not haue it / It is gre marueyle I may seyth he gyf now no more wherfor ye wyll loue me and that forthymketh me but whanne I may no forther I shall sey suche thynge wherof ye shall haue pyte yf ye wyll at the leste be charyte of gret gyftys . wherof speketh saynte Barnarde . ¶ Uere compaciendum est ei qui dedtt nobis clauos in salsam carnem in cibum / sanguinem in potum / aquam ex latere / in balneum sudorem sanguinis in medicinam : & propriam animam in redempcionem . Trewly is the swete Ihesu cryste A herttely louer and A compassyonate that hath gnuyn vs / so many grete specyalteys Beholde how he hath geuyn vs / hys nayles in sauce . hys swete fleshe in mete / hys precyous blood in drynke watyr of hys precyous syde in Baynes hys blody swete in medecyne / hys propyr blessed sowle in our redempcyon A what may wee more axe that he shuld gyf for vs Alas / alas / full harde is that herte and full vnnaturell that wyll not loue hym that hath geuyn so moche for their loue-here is a gret specialt wherfor we shold loue god The secunde cause wherfor god is to be beloued more thanne ony other thynge is for the marueylous . gret loue that he hath shewed vs . ouyr alle other louys . Ther be four special louys : in this worlde the one is . betwene ij good felawes The tother betwene mother and chylde / The thyrde betwene body and sowle And the fourth betwene man and wyf But the dere loue that Ihu cryste louyth vs and also that we shulde loue hym . passeth & surmounteth alle other louys Men myght say that thys / were a right good felaw that wolde laye hys plegge in place for to aquite hys / felaw owte of dette & of vsurye / but the swete Ihu put hym self in place and leyd hys tendyr body to aquyte hys loue whyche is our sowle owte of the pryson of helle and of alle vsuryes wherof dauid seyth ¶ Et pro vsuris et iniquitate redimit animas eorum . From alle vsuries and ynyquiteys / he hath redemeth our sowlys Take hede now who brought thys pereaunte to the place . wete ye well it was the blessyd mayden our lady saynte mary that bare the swete Ihu . the sone of god in hyr vyrgynall wombe in the tyme of wynter . & in the cyte of Bethlem for to put hym in plegge to make our pees . in the place wher the aungels / sunge gloryously befor hys ▪ fader in heuene : ¶ Gloria in excelsis deo / et in terra pax . Glorye be yeldyn on hye to god and in erth pees to men of good wyll But loo how malycyous were these cruell Iewes . that they deyned to logge this lady that bare thys blessed plegge and in so colde atyme as it was thenne in wyntyr / parauentur it was frost and the pure vyrgyne mary grete wyth chylde / and wente to seke sum place wher she myght reste hyr she was so wery of the gret trauayle that she hath in walkynge moche of that day tell it was . nye nyght and wyst not whether to goo sauf at the ende of the town was ij hye walles of rokkes ▪ and thys pytons wery vyrgyne entryd ther and founde an oxe . and an asse teyed ther and so streyght was the place . that vnnethe myght she and Iosoppe hyr spowse haue ony rome to sytte in wyth ese . but ther were they fayne to reste tyll it was mydnyght / that the sone of god was borne / and so poore was the bedde of thys lady and so streyght that h̄yr chylde might not lye by hyr as seyth the gospell . ¶ Peperit filium suum primogenitum & pannis eum in voluit et reclinauit eum in precepio quia non erat ei locus in diuersario . Mary bare a sone & wrappyd hym in poor clothis / and leyd hym in the rakke before bestys ▪ for thys . that she had not in all the worlde so moche place that hys lytyll swete body myght lye in : for yf she had put hym behynde the bestys yt was / so streyght there wher folkis vsed to go and cum that they shulde haue hurte hym wyth their feete the way was so nere there Now I pray yow ryght dere sustyr remembyr yow stedfastly whanne ye lyein your large softe bed wel arayed wyth ryche clothys and warme couerynge and hote furrys / so well at ese and your Ientylwoman so redy to serue yow . thanne thynke ye often wyth gret pyte how she that was / the quene of angellys / and Empresse of all the worlde how hyr bed was / streyght and harde and arayed wyth pore clothys . & was so colde a tyme of the yeer and at the oure in the nyght And how thys poore and petous lady had grete desyre to serue him & in likewise haue in your mynde how hyr swete sone our lord jhesu cryste lay full hard in the rakke weymentynge and tendyrly wepyng as for colde and dyssese . as chyldyrne do werof a holy man speketh ▪ ¶ Vagit infans inter arta conditus / presepio The lytyll chyld waymentyng & wepyng full petously where he lay betwene the bestys / in the streyght manger hys . swete tendyr body wrapte in poore clothys / suche as that blessed vyrgyn hys moder hadde bounden hys handes hys feete & hys theyes / wyth a streyght bende And thenne If ony had come to jhu cryst and seyde to hym A ye swete babe that be so yonge and so lytyll wherfor make ye suche sorow and wepe so petously he myght haue answerd . yf it had pleased hym and be of age to speke . what marueyle is It though j make sorow for I knowe well that I am comyn in to thys ▪ place owte of my celestyall glorye for to aquite suche folkys . that wyll not loue me . nor I shall neuyr haue on̄ good day nor on̄ goode hour and I am now among so felon people that wyll put them in deuour day and nyght to sey & do me all the harme & peyne that they may thynke or deuyse Neuerthelesse I shall enforce me now so that my frendis for whom I am come hether wyll loue me / but thys . is / a gret sorow that they for whome I am come shall con me so lytyll thanke for all the loue that I shewe them in my comynge . and for all the peyne and turment that I shall go to My dere frende in god trewly if ye thynke on all these thyngis I beleue veryly that in the nyght ye wyll lye in suche thoughetis and haue befo●● your bed an Image of our lady and salew the crowned quene of the celestyall trone and hyr sone Ihesus the hye kyng of heuene that lay in the vile stabil thus poorely / I pray yow thynke thenne on mi synfull sowle that It may haue parte of your deuocyon and I trust we shall fynde thys that seynte poule promyseth vs where he seyth yf we haue compacion to gadyr in erthe wyth Ihesus and wyth hys blessed moder we shall reyne togeder in heuene wyth our lorde and hys swete moder thys ys a full good conuenaunce Now remembyr yow wel that the lenger the plegge lyeth in a place the more vsurye rennyth vppon It / vppon thys precyous Iewell that lay more thanne xxxij yeer in plegge and the lenger that he leuyd the more gret & greuous was hys peynes and sorowys a● he seyth be the prophete dauid Super dolorem vulnerum meorum ad d●●●rūt . The● encreced alwey more and more vppon the sorowes of my woundys . ye trewly for in all hys lyf suffyrd he the grettest pouerte and the gretteste vylene and peyne that euyr yette ony man myght suffyr / wherof hym self seyth by dauid ¶ Pauper ego sum et in laboribus a iuuentute mea exaltatus / & humiliatus et conturbatus Alwey syth my yongthe / syth I was / a lytyll chylde I haue be full poore and yn gret trauayle and in full gret and hard peynes exalted and humbled & full anguishly troubled Alas / what pyte was thys of the swete Ihu criste that was in suche pouerte on palme sonday whanne he had preched the worde of hys fader before None & bode all the aftyrnone fastynge tyll euenynge and behelde full petously abowte hym to se yf ony wold haue pyte of hys / dyscyplys that were hungry / but none ther was / that deyned to gyf hym or them mete nor wolde logge hym in all the cyte of Ierusalem . wherfor it behoued hem to go that euenynge to grete leges thens / to the castell of Bethanye at the hou●● of martha and mary magdel●yn And as the gospell 〈◊〉 hys dyscypl●s had at that 〈…〉 gret hungyr the as they wente thrughe the feldes they wente in to the whete & gadered of the eris and rubbyd theym in theyr handes and blewe away the chaff and ete the greines . and yet were they full egerli repreued and blamed of the felon Iewes . and so grete haste at somtyme had hys poure diciples there that thei toke no kepe to washe theyr handes or they set theim doun to the borde and of him selfe it is writen . ¶ Ihesus fatigatus exitinere sedebat super fontem &c Ihu was one dai weri of grete walkyng that he hade / and sate doune for to rest him bi a welle syde . & cam a woman of samarye to fetche water at the welle . and the swete Ihesu that was so wery for trauyle prayd hyr to gyue hym drynke / And she wolde not but began to chyde wyth hym / wherof he myght say by the prophete dauyd ¶ Defeccio tenuit me pro pecca toribus derelīquentibus legem tuam Full greet defaute holdeth me fayr suete fader for synners / that refuse your commaundemente / this nyghte the swete Ihesu cryst said to his fader / him self pleineth him of this defaute ¶ Vulpes foueas habent et volucres celi nidos . filius autem homūs non habet vb● capud suum reclinet My dere swete fa●●● mercy I am pouer in erthe for : fo●is haue holes where they may lie birdes of the wode haue nestes where they may reste And Ihesu crist the sone of mary hath not so moche of place as he may leen hys hede to / alas what pouerte is thys / a god merci Saynt gregory /

¶ Magna abusio et nimis magna quod velis vermiculus vult diues esse pro quo ita pauper fuit deus sabaoth et dns magestatis / Grete abusyon is it / and ouer grete skorne that suche vyle wormes in erthe as we sholde desyre to be so ryche sythe he that was / the kynge of glorye & lorde of all power suffred suche pouerte here for vs / Item bernardus / ¶ Summu● magister elegit paupertatem esurie sitire mori sicut ista sunt simpliciter eligenda qui tibi aliud / dicit . sit tibi 〈◊〉 ethineus et puplicanus / Ihu cryst the grete kynge & mayster chose pouerte and suffred hungre & thurst wherby yet sheweth well that thyse are thynges specially to be chosen and who that wyll say otherwyse holde them as a myscreaunte / Se what vsurye of egre pouerte ran vpon thys pledge in the place where he was putte for vs . Now haue we sayd somwhat of hys pouerte / but what vilany suffred the swete Ihesu cryst in this lyfe in the place where he laye soo long for vs / For the gospel sayth that whan he prechid to the pepyll for the sauacyon of theyr sowlys & opened to them the ryght waye towarde heuen & whanne he hade ended hys ryght swete sermon for all his seruise the felon Iewis sterte on hym and wolde haue stoned hym to deth & thenne seyd he full petously alas fayre folkis wherefore wyll ye now sle me . ¶ Multa bona opera ostendi vobis a patre meo ꝓpter quod opus me vultis lapidare / Many good werkys haue I shewede yow fro my fader for the whyche ye wolde sle me / Ryght as he hade sayde to them / I haue geuen mete to yower poer folkes / I haue made your seke folkys hole I haue done all that ye haue desyrede me I haue thaught yow the scrypture of my fader & now wolde ye sle me ¶ Non ex operibus bonis lapidamus te sed de blasphemia et nunc scimus quia demonium habes / They answerede . for thy good werkys we wolde not sle the but for thy blaspheminge & that we knowe full well thow haste a deuill wythine they body . ¶ Et Ihesus abscondit se et exiuitde templo / And Ih̄s hide him & wente oute of the temple whan he sawe that they wolde haue put hym to this shamfull deth he made a soroufull cōpleinte by the ꝓphete dauid ¶ Ego sum vermis et non homo obꝓbriū hoīm & abieccio plebis / Right swete fader mercy what shall I do I am holden so vyle in erthe for synners that these folkis take me not as a man but as I were a worme / I am in reproche of men & of all caytyffys I am in abyeccyon / A what meruaile was this yf he made suche compleynte to hys fader that sente hym hedyr / where alwey he receuide euyll for his gode dedis / and harme & hate for hys swete loue / & grete shame for hys honour as hym self seyde· ¶ Retribuebant michi mala pro bonis et odium prodilecione me a / They yelde me euyle for wele & hate for loue / Alas what vylete was thys that Ihes● cryst suffred amonge this malicious folkys / that alwey in hys blessid wordes were cruell & ayen seyers and in hys holi dedys they were preuy aspyers and in hys anguyshous peynes / they were sorufull & in hys preyrs he hade poor conforters / & in hys gracious dedys ful few thankers wherefore he pleyneth hym in osee the proohete . ¶ Consolacio abscondita est ab oculis meis / Euery conforte in thys worlde is hyde before my sorowfull eien as the ꝓphete dauyd seyth . ¶ Heu michi quia incolatus meus prolongatus est And in the gospel of marke Ogeneracō incredula quam diu apud vosero quam diu vos paciar / Alas I sorowfull for this that I am so moche prolonged here wyth these myscreaunt folke where I haue so longe abyden in pledge And of thys spekyth saynt austyn to prowde folkes . ¶ Ecce humilitatis exemplum superbis superbie medicamentum quid ergo intime sis homo . O pellis morticina / quo tendis insanies fedida quid in flaris princeps tuus humilis est & tu superbus capud tuum humile et tu membrum superbi diaboli et comes membrorum suorum ¶ we haue ensamples of mekenes medecyn ayenst pryde wherfore / wretched men dyscharge yow therof / O ye mortall careyne wherfore goo ye in suche height o ye stynkyng fylthe wherfor be ye swollen wyth rotyn pryde was not your / prince & hede humble & ye that be hys subiectis & membryrs be pryde maketh yow felawes to the fende and hys membrys ¶ Item Erubesce homo esse suberbus qr factus est deus humilis ¶ Haue shame wretchyd man to be prowde yn asmoche as god that made yow ys humble ¶ Discite a me qr mitis sum et humilis corde ¶ Lerne ye of me that am debonair & humble of herte sayth our lorde / Ihu cryste yn the grete payne that he suffyrd yn thys place of owr mortalyte / Thys ys the thyrd parte of vsurye that ran vppon thys pledge was the swete body of our lorde Ihu cryst wherof hym self sayth he Ierom the ꝓphete . ¶ O vos omnis qui transitis per viam attendite & videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus ¶ O ye alle folkys that passe be the waye of thys synfull world beholde & se yf ony sorow or peyne be so grete or lyke vnto myn Trewly neuyr man borne of moder led so sorowfulk lyf nor the suffyrd so peynfull deth as / The swete . Ihu cryste ther as he lay yn pledge for hys loue / For tendyrly wepynge cam he yn to thys world wherof he pleneth hym be the ꝓphete . ¶ Caligauerunt oculi met a fle● tu meo & alibi languerunt occuli mei pre inopia .

¶ My fayr eyen be com all derke so moche wepe / I for my loue that wyll not loue me & all the clernesse of myn eyen be anysshe for peyne & dyssese / And what merueyle for he wente poorely & petously yn erthe all barfote yn colde yn hete in harde yn soste fro town to towne from countre to countre whyche was full of frost / and snow a● seyth seynte barnard·

¶ Exiuit a patre deposito diademate aspersit caput cinere nudo pede eiulans et flens venit querens illum qui perierat

¶ He cam from hys fader & put of hys crowne of the reyngne celes●tyall & strewid his hed with ashys all barfote syghyng / & wepyng & full petously lamentyng cam heder to seke his loue that same pore caytyf that was perysht / A god mercy how he was in gret heuynesse & many syghtꝭ and desyrys to hys Ioye fro whens he cam Trewly he was not to ●lame for he cam from hys gret honour that ys to sey whanne he was wyth hys Angels & archangels whyche were redy for to serue hym to his pleasur & now was the swete Ihu in preson in thys valey of mysery wher so many vnhappy pepyll were to shame hym & mokke hym to sey & do euylle vnto hym wythoute pyte as hym self seyth . ¶ Multiplicati sunt super capillos capitis mei qui oderunt me gratis .

May enemyes be multyplyed more thanne the herys of myn hed that hateth me dedeli Beholde now him that was in so gret ioye & eses he that was kyng of heuene that had nede of nothyng that was in erthe deyned to com in so gret defawte as for to suffyr so sorowfull peynys and so gret labour as to be in colde in hungyr in thurste & in hardnesse / & werynesse yn heuynesse & shortly to sey alle the euelys & peynys that we haue deserued fyll vppon hys gloryous hed wherof sayth ysaye .

¶ Vere langores nostros ipse tulit & dolores nostros ipse portauit et nos putauimus eum quasi leprosum percussum a deo & humiliatum Trewly Ihu the swete kyng of heuene suffyrd langour & bare the sorowys & peynys of our deserte vppon hym self & for the gret anguisshis & shamis that he suffird folke wende that he had ben a mesell A god how humble ware ye to suffyr them so cruelly / & vengably to stryke yow & for such anguysh he pleyned hym to his father in the gospell ¶ Nunc anima mea turbata est et quid dicam pater saluifica me ex hac hora sed propter hoc veni in horam hanc ¶ Now ys my sowle gretly troblede . A what may I sey fayr dere fader saue me nethelesse herfore I cam in erthe to suffyr so hard peynis to aquyte my frendes & of all thys made he no force yf he myght haue wonne the loue / our sowle for the whyche he suffyrd so gret sorowys & greuous peyne yn the place wher he was put for our loue / wherfor ye may well thinke for trouthe that yt behoueth vs to suffyr sum penance for hym & for our sauacon̄ / how beyt he hath no nede of vs of our good dedys wherof dauid sayth ¶ Bonorum meorum non indiges dne ¶ Fayr lord seyth he ye haue no no nede of my good dedys / but for all that good wyll not saue a man yf he helpe not therto hym self as seynte Austyn seyth . ¶ Qui fecit te sine te non iustificabit te sine te . that same that made yow wythoute yowr helpe he will not saue yow wythoute your helpe / and the glose vppon seynt powle . ¶ Deus pro omībus sanguinem suum fudit illis solis prodest sanguis xpi qui voluptates deseruūt & se ipsos affligunt God shed hys blood for alle but to them only shall hys blood profyte in redempcon̄ / that leue the delyte of ther flesh & chastyse their bodies in penaunce / for yt shulde be no reson that he shulde suffyr all the peyne / & we shulde haue all the ioye here / & elllys wher / For trewly yf / we suffir not som penaunce . The father wyll no more spare vs hys ylle chyldyrn : thanne he dyd the swete Ihu cryst hys good chylde wherof seynt Bernard sayth ¶ Qui non pepercit filio suo nunquam fimento nunquam parcet seruo nequ●m How shuld he spare vs vyle stynkynge fylthys . that spareth not hys swete sone Ihu cryst . how shuld he thanne spare hys fowle and euele felons / Now I pray yow sith yowr sowle ys the loue of Ihu cryste the hygh kynge of heuene that yf ye may no more do for his swete loue yette at the leeste that ye haue often yn remembraunce these thre maner of anguyshys that he suffryd / so longe in the place wher he lay for your aquytayle / Whanne ye beholde your ryche clothis & other fayr Iewellis your gret horses / & fayr harneys thanne bethynke yow of the poor clothyng that your lorde & loue ihesu cryst & hys dyscyplys hadde & how they wente abowte barfote yn wyntyr & in somyr / & what dyssese they suffryd / & also often whanne ye sytte at the tabyll so rychely arayd & serued & goodly Ientylmen abowte yow so well araid & well seruinge that serue yow so no●ely wyth cuppys of gold & syluyr vessell wyth so many & dyuerse / & good metys wyth delycyous sawses & pleysaunt wynes / Thanne remembyr yow wyth gret don how poorely the ryche kyng of heneue was serued your spowse the swete Ihus whanne he was so wery for gret trauayle & hungyr that yt behoued hym to go owte of the cite of samerie in the mene tyme that hys dyscyplys wente in to the cyte to fetche bred & in the mene whylys cam a woman to fetche watyr at a welle wherby he satte / & he preyde the woman to gyue hym of hyr water to drynke / but she wold not but rather repreuyd hym full egyrly / & he spake ageyn so benyngly to that woman that she was conuerted & than cam hys discyplis . And brought mete and set them all down wythowte tabyll and wythoute cloth / & ꝑauentur toke one of ther poore mantellys & set theron ther bred & sayde ▪ Rabi manduca & dixit eis . Ego cibum habeo manducare quem vos nescitꝭ meus cibus est vt faciam voluntatem eius qui misit me vt ꝑficiam opus eius . His disciplis seide mastir ete now & he answerd I haue mete to ete wherof ye knowe no thinge a good lord mercy yette for all the gret desir he had to ete he abode til yt was nere hygh none that he veinquisht dis desire & wold soner ete / O that thys ys a gret ensample to vs whān we haue ony tyme gret desyr to ony delicyous mete or drynke or ony other sore temptacon̄ we shuld fyght ●●●nst our owne wyll ▪ But what seyde he aftyr my mete ys that I muste do the wyll of my fader that ys to suffyr hungre & thurste & gret anguisshys & greuous peynes / & bethynke yow also how the poor dyscyplys ete the erys of wh●te in the seldis whan they wente wyth ther swete mastyr Ihu cryst / & of hym self yt ys wretyn that he cam one day in the mornynge & hadde gret hungyr as he that had watched in prayeer / & in trauayle & in sermonys / & saw a fygge tre full of leuys wythowte ony frute & whan he cam nere yt he seyde to the fyggetre / ye shall neuyr bere frute wythoute ende and forth wyth the fygtre becam all drye beholde now fayr frende how many dissesis your swete spowse suffird for to redeme yow / Wherfor hyt ys good for yow to thynke well & often on all thys wahn ye be in the dysportys of this worlde or whan ye see other conforted in foule vanyteys / Remenbyr yow thenne wyth preuy syghynge how petowsly the swete Ihus the sone of god wepte whan he cam rydynge all barfote vpon A poore asse Videns Ihus ciuitatem fleuit super illam dicens qr cognouissis & tu ciuitatem id ecclesiam As he cam & knew al thys that was to come aswell to thee that were present as to al vs that shuld come after & wepte petously for compascion of vs & seyde yf ye knew asmoche as I knowe ie shuld wepe as tendirly as I do / right as he hade seide to them I wepe for thys that ye do in foly & in vanyte / & that ye thynke not how streyght the waye ys that goth toward heuene / wherof hym self seyde ¶ Arta est via que ducit ad celum & pauci inueniunt illam et iterum . Non ne oportuit xpm pati et ita intrare in gloriam suam Full streyte ys the weye that ledyth to perdurable lyfe & fewe folkes fynde hyt / Ne see ye not well that Ihu cryst suffyrd full sharpe trauayle or euyr he entrede in to hys glorye / & for thys wepte he that we so lyghtly forgete our self & take no hede how wretchedly we be engendyrde nor how sorowfully we be borne nor how perlously we lyue in synne & in vanyte nor how hedously we shall deye nor knowe not whan nor how sone nor of what deth we shall deye Circumdabunt te inimici tui vallo & coangustabunt te vndique . ¶ your enymies that fendys shall be abowte yow and enuyrounde yow wyth anguysh̄ & turmente of alle partyes a how parlous ys the astate & sorowfull for the wh̄yche god hym self wepte so tendyrly wherof seyth seynte barnard : Compatitur dei filius & plorat patitur homo & Ridet . The sone of god hath compascion for man & wepyth / & man shall suffyr all the perell that laugheth & mackth but a Iape / also whan men preyse yow in ony thynge wherby ye fele veynglory sprynge in your harte : be thynke ye thenne / and full ententyf oo the humylyteys of swete Ihus yur anmyable spowse that seyth· Non veni ministrarised ministrare . He cam not in erthe to be serude but to serue / hyt ys wretyn how seynte clemente axed one time of saint petyr how our lorde Ihu delte amonge hys dyscyplys in erthe / & seynt petyr began to wepe full tendyrly Now fayr maystyr sayd saynt clemente wherefore wepe ye so petously / trewly sayd saint petyr I can not kepe me fro wepynge whan I here speke of hym / or verily thynke on hym & of his gracious dedys / We were onday gretly greued wyth hungyr & colde & at nyght was lodged in an olde howse that was broken on the ton parte therof where the colde entyrd gretly whyche anoyed vs for our swete maystyr / Ihesu cryst put hym self betwene the colde & vs & I perceyued hym that same nyght fiue tymes wyth hys owne clothys couyr our fete / A good lord mercy & so humbly serued he vs as to washe our fete how grete a pyte was this / In lyke wise thenke how sorowful . & heny he was ayenst hys peynful passcōn that was so ryght anguyshous / Thynke how he langourd ·xv dayes before hys deth for in signyficacion therof men synge & rede of hys pascion xv dayes befor hys resurrexion / ¶ For than was he in sygh̄ingys & heuynesse & praiours / & so ful of troubill that he had lityll wil to ete or drynke nor of no conforte & yette for all thys he seyde to hys / dysciplys ¶ Desiderio desideraui hoc pasca manducare vobiscum antequam paciar I haue gret desyre to ete with yow a soper befor I shall suffyr deth / And hys apostels apoynted thenne where they shold ete their souper & ete y●t And whan they hadde supped he tooke of hys ouyr garnement and gyrd hym wyth a toell and towke fayr watyr in a basyn & wesh̄ e fethte of hys dyscyplys & yette the fete of the felon Iudas wherof seyth seynte gregory ¶ Quis tumorem cordis non repellat si secum conferat quod qui sedet in throno super cherubyn lauit pedes sui proditoris What swellynge or rancour of harte ys so gret that shuld not aswage yf he well remembryd hym of hym that sytte so hie aboune angellis in heuene that wishe the feete of his owne traitour Iudas / & aftyr he tooke brede in his fayr handys & blessed yt & thanked hys father of all the harme & peyne that he had suffryd in erthe or shuld suffyr / & gaf hyt to hys apostlys wyth hys owne handys to ete / & seid Ete ye this for hit ys in fleshe & than tooke he wyn & blessed hyt & gaf hem to drinke / & sayde Drynke thys for thys ys my blood drynke & ete now wyth good wyll . For neuyr fro henfforth shall I drinke wyth yow befor I haue suffryd the moste marueylous & peynfull deth that euyr man suffyrd in erthe . Alas what sorowfull tydynges myght hys dyscyplys here than . A how they were sorowfull & dyscoūfortted / Alas how they wepte petously & no marueyle though they made wondyrfull sorow for he was all ther helpe / & all ther comforte & now harde they verily that they shuld lese hym that same nyght / Alas what sorow & lamentable pleynte ther was whan the swete Ihu had be soo longe in place for the loue of hys loue & so many vsuries of greuous peynys & anguyshous ran vppon him & he wold not go owte of the sayde place to the tyme he had all acounted & payed / & whan they cam for to rekne he was led vpon the hygh mounte of caluarys where he was condempned of the cruell & felon Iewys & made hym to mounte all on hyr on the harde crosse right faste teyed wyth gret naylis