¶ The definicion of pacience in generall . Capi. primo .

THe definicion , or determinacion , of euery thyng that is intreated , & spoken of : is fyrste necessarye to be knowen that is to saye : that you may knowe what is ment by thꝭ terme or worde pacience , and what thynge it is , and that fyrst in generall . The definicion of Pacience , seʒm Lactan. Firmia num. Exemple . Pacience is a voluntarie , and wylfull tolerance / and sufferance of all suche paynes hurtes aduersites / & yules : as be put , or as do fortune , ar happe / vnto any parson . And this pacience I cal general : bycause it doeth extende , and strech vnto the body as wel as vnto the soule / or mynde . As by exeample when a parson maye and wyll suffre hongre , thurst , colde , labours & such other paynes and incommodites of the body , then is that parson called pacient of that thynge that he so doeth suffre . Vt de Catelina refert sal● stius . But this pacience of it selfe : is no thynge meritoriouse although the complexiones , and disposicions of the body : may helpe muche or hyndre pacience & therfore the sayde incommodites / wylfully borne / & suffred for a good cause : may be meritorious , but nat ( as I sayde ) of them selfe but of the grace of our lorde . And therfore a grete lerned man doth make a forther definicion of pacience saynge . another definition . Cicero . prime . rethorices . Pacience is a voluntarye , and wylful perpession and sufferance of those thinges that be greuous and harde to be borne and suffred for any of these cause that is to saye : For honesty . For ease , or pleasure or for auayle , profet or auantage . And yet thꝭ pacience , is commune vnto man , and vnto brute bestes . For the bestes , althoght not for any honesty , yet for theyr ease pleasure , and ꝓfet done sumtyme suffre incommodites . And sumtymes for feare or drede , But that is not proprely pacience bycause it is not wylful . And therfore that you may knowe whiche is the very pacience that I wolde here speke of : we shall dyuyde this pacience into pacience natural , and pacience artificiall that is to saye suche a pacience as is gotyn & had by craft , conyng , or labour , and diligence , and of grace . ❧ : ☞ : ❧ : ☜

¶ Of naturall pacience . Capt●ii .

NAturall pacience : is a sufferance that is in man , or best : by the disposicions of the natural complexions of the body . For in euery man , and beste . be .iiij. complexions that haue theyr names of .iiij. principal humors that be in the body that is to saye Colexe , Bloude Flegme , or flewme , and melancoly so that of this humour colere , is named , the coleryke , complexion , and of the bloude the complexcion Sangwyne . And of slewme : the flewmatyke . And of the humour melaneoly : the complexion melanco lyke . And these .iiij. humours , and complexions in in the body : haue the same qualites and disposicions in simititude : that be in the .iiij. elementes , the Fyre , the Ayre , the water , and the yerth . For as the fyre is drye , and hote : so is colore , and the coleryke complexion . And as the ayre is hote , and moyste : so is the bloude / & the sang wyne complexion . And as the water is moyste , and colde : so is the flegme , or flewme and the complexion flewmatyke . And as the yerth is colde , & drye , so is melancoly , and the complexion melancolyke . And therfore accordyng vnto that humour that hath in the body most dominacyon , and rewle : that body is called of that complexion As where colere moste reygneth : that body is called coleryke of complexion . And so in lyke maner of the tother . And bycause that these complexions haue a respecte vnto the bodyes aboue and thereafter do naturally moue man or beste accordynge vnto theyr disposicions : they may muche helpe , or hyndre pacience , notwithstandyng man may : by wysdom grace , and goodwyll rule , and gouerne all bodyly and naturall disposicyons . And also educacion , bryngyng vp and doctrine , & teachynge : do bylde frame , and make maners in man or best , contrarye vnto naturall disposicions . For custum , and vse : may alterate nature , yet I say that ( of them selfe ) bothe man , and beste do muche , and communly , folowe naturall mocions , & disposecions . And therfore sum men , and sum bestes be naturally more disposed vnto pacience , or inpacience then sum other be . For sume parsones lyke vnto the ore : be al disposed to pacience , and yf by chaunce they be moued vnto the contrary : yet be they sone , and shortly appeased sume persones , be naturally disposed to loue pacience , & to lyue restfully : but yet wyll they sone be moued for a lyght occasion . And yet forthwith whan they perceyue them selfe : they wyl sone be appeased & yf in that passion : they sayde or dyd any thynge amysse , they wyl mekely make amendes . And these maner of ꝑsonꝭ : Inregula . C● . 6. doeth saynt Augustyne preferre byfore them that wyll not so sone be wrogh and yet when they be moued wyl not so lyghtly be appeased nor make amendes . For suche a kynde of persons ther is in .ii. maners on of those persons that yf they be wroth wyll nener be appeased tyll they be reuenged , or at the lyest tyll they so ferre haue the vectory and maystry : that they might be reuenged . For vnto sume persons to haue the power to reuenge : Satis est potu isse vincere . is sufficient and ynough . But sume other wyll not so be content , ne euer be appeased vnto the tyme the haue done as muche vengaunce as is possible for them to do , and yet ouer that , haue they wyll to do more vengaunce yf hyt lye or were in theyr power . As the lion & y●●gle . And yet these persons be in .ii. mauers . For some of them wyl not lyghtly be moued vnto wrath , but kepe long theyr pacience , & suffre , greate wronges or peynes but when they be ons fulvexed : they be ( as is sayde ) mercyles all venge able . Theto ther kynde is of them : that wyll sone be moued of a lyght occasion for a tryfle , & suntyme wyll seke occasion , and make quarelles . And yet then when they be angry : wyll they neuer as is sayd be appeased without extreme , & moste cruell vengaunce . And these persons be of the worst kinde of impacience . For these in maner , haue no pacience at all . Ther is yet an other kynde of pacience naturall called A vnlpyne pacyence . That is to saye suche pacience as the fox hathe sume tymes , or the catte that wyll lye , or syt full styll , and paciently byde vnto the tyme theyr praye be within danger & then sodenly shewe what they be . This pacience had the Iewes vnto our sauiour , & so haue many wyked parsons . But of all maner of paciences naturall : pacience that is most excellent that is in the lambe , and in the innocent parsons that neuer do shewe any sygne , or token of wrath , displeasure or reuengance . Yet is there an other pacience , which is alwaye kept inwardly , and in effect , & yet outwardly semeth muche contrarye as it was in our sauyour : Math. 21. b. Marci . 11. c. Lu. 19. 〈◊〉 Io. 2. 〈◊〉 When he dyd byet and dryue out with a whyppe , or slayle the byers , and sellers in the temple and when he caste downe the tables of them that made exchaunges and solde dowues there , wherin he semed outwarde very impacient , and angrye , and so he was in dede as the prophete , dauid bade and commaunded saynge . P●al . ● Irascimini et nolite peccare Be you wrath ( sayeth he ) or angry , and yet haue no wyll to synne . This maner of pacience , may be naturally in man , or best , as in the mothers , or parentes that do : with semyng angre , or hasty wrath : dryue or put a waye theyr chyldren from fyre , or water , or other parylouse places , and so wyl the bestis and bryddes do vnto theyres , and yet do they naturally loue them . And so haue they pacience inwarde in effecte , although hyt seme outwarde otherwyse . All these maner of paciences haue we shewed vnto you by cause , you maye knowe , that the disposicions of nature , whiche communely be moued of the complexions : may helpe much , or hynder pacience , but yet they can not of themself : make the pacience meritoriouse . For as the philosofour sayeth . Aristot . For those thynnges that be in vs of nature : we be not worthy any prayse , or yet disprayse / rewarde or payne , I saye determinately of them selfe , Notwithstandynge , a man is bounde by the commaundement of God : to restrayne all naturall disposicions , and inclynacious vnto vice , and to force them forth by violence , vnto vertue . For the greate meryte standeth in the great violence . For the scripture sayth . Regnum coelorum vim patitur . &c. Math. 11. b. The kyngdome of heuen doeth suffre violence , and the violent parsons : do rauysh , and wynne it . And saynt Paule vnto his disciple Timothe . No parson shall wynne the crowne : 2. Timo 2. a. but that doeth feght accordynge vnto the lawe of batell . And in the Apocalyps . Who so euer hath here that victorye , shall neuer be hurte with the secunde death , Apoc. 2. c. that is damp nacion . And agayne , I wyl make him , that geteth or wynneth that victorye a pyler , or post in that churche of Christe . 3. c. Thus you may perceyue that those parsons that haue moste pacience by naturall dispocion : haue lyest meryte therby . And contrarye those that haue lyest pacience but be all disposed of nature vnto passions , may restraynyng those naturall passions by grace , and goodwyl : haue moste hygh merite . For the more greuous the batell be : the more noble is the victorye , and the merite , and rewarde more large . And therfore we leue this naturall pacience sum what to intreate of the pacience artificial that is more merytorious .

¶ Of artificiall pacyence and of the definicion , or determinacion therof . Capitulo tercio . ❧ : ❧

ARtificiall pacience : we cal that pacience that ( all natural disposicion venquyshed by violence ) and ouercūmen , is obteyned , and gotten by doctryne , labour , and vse , with grace , & goodwyl . And this pacience may be thus defined or determined . Pacience , is a voluntarie or wylful , & continual sufferauns , another definic● on of pacience . of those thynges that be greuous noyouse , or paynfull taken , and suffred : not onely ( as the pagane sayde ) for honestie / or profet / and auayle but also for vertue , and for the increas of merite , I say here that pacience , is a suffraunce , but euery sufferaunce , is not pacience . For pacience is a vertue , & many parsons do suffre greate paynes without any vertue , but rather theyr sufferaunce is much viciouse . Therfore that sufferaunce that maketh pacience : muste be voluntarye , so that the parsons do suffre : with theyr owne goodwyll and consent of mynde . For yf they be constrayned , & compelled for any cause contrarye vnto the wyll , it is a sufferaunce but not pacience . Except we call hyt as the Frenchman doth . Pacience per force . The sayde sufferaunce therfore must be voluntarye , hyt must also be continual . For els it is not meritorious ne worthy rewarde . For many persons do incerprise and begyn many thinges with great paynes , and greuouse sufferaunce for the tyme . But they sone gyue ouer , they say they can suffre no lenger . That sufferance therfore is not pacience nor yet meritoriouse . Math. ●0 . ● and 24. b. For the scripture sayeth Qui perseuerauerit vsque in finem : hic saluus erit . Who so euer doth per seuer and continue vnto the ende : that person shall haue the merite , and rewarde of saluacion . The sufferaunce also muste be , of those thynges that be greuous . For euery man may lyghtly suffre , and here that thynge that is not peyneful ne dothe greue although sume persons ( they saye ) can not here welth , but that is not bycause it is greuouse , but for defaulte of wysdome & discrecion . But where is no greue : is no sufferaunce , and therfore no pacience , but when the greue or payne is borne , and suffered for a good cause , with good wyl ( as is sayd ) and continually : then is that sufferaunce called pacience notwithstandynge : those causes that the Pagan setforth , that is to saye honesty or profet : be not sufficient to rendre and declare our pacience . For many prowde , and lyght mynded persons , do suffre muche for honeste . The commune prouerbe is , that hit is good to dyete , or stryke the prowde persons For they wyl suffre well for theyr honeste without complaynt , & kepe al counsel , but that sufferaunce is nat patience , although to suffre for some honeste : may be a good degre of pacience . And to suffre for ꝓfet alon : is not alwaye pacience . For so ( as we sayd by byfore ) the fox or other bestes : myght haue that pacience . But bycause the pacience , that we haue purposed here to intreate : is a noble vertue ▪ & meritorious , apperteynynge onely vnto man : we shal setforth , as we haue gedred of dyuers catholyke , & lerned doctours a more exacte , and playne definicion of pacience . ❧ : ☜ : ❧ : ☞

¶ Of the verey true definicion , determinacion , descripcion and declaracion of meritotiouse pacience . Capi. iiij . ❧ : ⚜ : ❧

PAcience meritorious : is a myght . power , Definicion . auctorꝭ strength and vertue of the soule , wherby we may ( with grace , and goodwyl ) represse , restreyne , rebate , and withdrawe , all inordinate passions & mouynges wherunto we be stered , prouoked and moued , by any of our enimies , the dyule , the worlde , or the flesh . And wherby we do gladly with euen mynde and goodwyll : suffre continually , and here . For that loue of God , and saluacion of our soules : all aduersites troubles , paynes , and yules that be done vnto vs , or that ( by any meanes ) chaunce fal , happe , or fortune vnto vs hauyng therwith a reuerrēde , Aug. de paciēci a Capi. 2. drede lest we , by any contrarye impacient & wyked wyl , shulde forgo & lose any vertu or good thingꝭ : wherby we myght atteyne , and come vnto better thynges . This is our definicion , or descripcion of pacience . And this pacience doeth saynt Augustine call the greate gyfte , and rewarde of God .

¶ Of the ymage and byhauour of pacience . Capi. v. ☜ : ⚜ : ☞

Ciprianus de paciencia . And sait Cyprya nesayth 〈◊〉 same . NOwe here I was in mynde to haue set forth an ymage of thys good lady and excellent prynces dame pacience , that not onely you myght knowe , by the definicion , what she is in substance : but also by onde that knowledge of vnderstandynge you shulde perceyue by outwarde sens , and se the beaute maner , and by hauour of her person . But I lacke a paynter , and I can not paynte my selfe . A grete lerned man called Prudencius , in a boke that he made of the conflictes , batayles , feldes , or feghtꝭ of vices & vertues : doth setforth in goodly verses the ymage and byhauiour of thys lady dame pacience . Shewynge howe that when the lothsome , and vgglye , wrythyn wyche , and pale faced scolde called dame . Ire , or wrath : came forth agaynst her in batayle with a cruell cumpeny and with wepynes and artilerie of dedly myschef : she dame pacience I saye stode vpryght in the fronte of the batayle with a countenance of grauite and sadnes & with out mouinge or sterynge , cast vp hyr syght with a sobre sinylynge countenaunce , without feere or drede holdly dyd beholde al the fassion of the fylde . And when that gresty goste dame Ire , sawe her of ferre of , she began to swell and fome at the mouth , & with a fyrye inflamed face grennynge & gnastynge rolled her eyes , castynge her syght and her heda wrye , disdaynynge that pacience durst , wout harnes or wepyn , no thynge appareled , vnto warre : mete with her , in the felde . And fyrst she mocked her , and then rayled vpon her , and when she sawe that no thynge she was moued withall , but euer stode styl stablye in one countenauce , & behauour : she then ( with a fell furious stomake ) made a shoute and crye vpon her / and so let flye a darte streght towarde her herte , but dame pacience had priuey harnes of precyous stones : that made all her shotte to starte backe / all voyde without noyans , and so she stode styll all quiete & restfull , no thyng moued / but all stronge and myghty , redy to byde al the forther and furious assaytes of that barbarous best , which therwith chafed , as a wode and madde brayneles body : Rysped out her swerde / & ranne forth in a rage and swapped that louynge lady , vpon the mydle of the hed supposyng verely : to haue clouyn her skull and to haue dashed out her braynes , but the stroke lyght vpon her pryuey skull , and range withall . So harde that the edge of the swerde , partly bended and pertly brake ther with , and yet the hed was whole , and she no thing moued with the braynles brayde of that barbarous monstre , but smyled therat whiche monstre ( Ire I meane , or wrath ) when she sawe / & perseyued that all her shotte was loste , and all her wepynes wasted , and all her ordinaunce spent / & she no thynge spedde : she rane vnto the remedye / that best becūmed her malyce , and myschefe , that was to wreke all her wodenes vpon her owne selfe . And so she caght vpon quikly a pece of a brokyn spere , and thrast the spylde , fast into the yerth & rane fyersly vpon the poynt which persed throgh the mydle of her hert , and so she , grennynge and gnastyng , gaue vp her sory goste , whom / the sobre / & mylde maystres dame pacience , byheldyng sadly , sayde vnto the people present ? here you may se fryndes howe , lyghtly , and easely ( by our naturall & accustomed vertue , we haue without bloudshed / or blemyshe , without hurte , or harme , and without all peryll or Ioperdy , venquished , & ouercomen thys gryme and grysly gost , Ire / or wrath . For this is the maner of our batayle , and our meane to venquishe , onercome , and to tryumphe , that is to saye : by sufferaunce only , to quench sle , & destroy all the furious rages , malice / and myschef , of the wrathfull and yule persones . For the hasty man ( sayeth the prouerbe ) wanteth neuer wo. The hasty passionate angry persons : be most enimies vnto them selfe . Theyr owne furie doeth frete them to deth , when this louely lady had spoken thys lesson : she went forth with greate glorye , & her true faythfull seruandꝭ folowed her full ioyfully , that by her meanes / & helpe : had myghtyly also ouercūmen theyr enemies and fose . That is to say , holy Iob , all the holy appostles , martirs & sayntis . For this myghty lady doeth euer ioyne , and accūpeny her selfe with al maner of vertue . And no vertue can be perfect : without pacience . Thus nowe you may se , and beholde the very ymage of paycience after the sayde greate clerke , but that he doeth set it forth , more expressl , with muche goodly eloquence . Nowe than let vs go forth with our institute , & purpose , which shal be to shewe vnto you certeyne commodites or ꝓfitable frutes of pacience , euerych to excede other in perfection . ❧ : ☞ : ❧ : ☜

¶ Of the comodites , frutes of pacience , In generall the .vi. Chapiter ❧ : ❧

EVery thyng is called commodious , frutfull , or profitable vnto man : accordyng vnto the necessites and nedes of those thynges that do apperteyne vnto the welth of man , as by example , man can not lyue : without meate , and drynke , & clothes , wherfore : the goodes of the worlde be commodious frutful , and profitable vnto man , yf they be well vsed . And yet be those worldly goodes in the lowest degre of those thynges that do apperteyne vnto man . For they do onely serue proprely vnto the body . And therfore is the state of the body : aboue the wordly goodes . And yet that state of the body ( as we sayde ) is preserued by the sayde goodis which worldly goodes , I sayde be commodious proprely , vnto that body alon , although they may ( by accidence in case ) be profitable vnto the soule . And vnto bodely honor , or dignite fame & good name , for the which paynimes or paganes dyd preferre , & in price , set byfore , & a boue the body , bycause hyt doeth remayne , byde , and last lenger then doth the body wherfore many of them called wyse : haue wylfully lost theyr lyfe rather then they wolde lose theyr honour , Aag . de Citutate dai . lib 10.4 . name or fame / as saynt Augu , doeth shewe , in his boke de Ciuitate dei ? Yet aboue all worldly honours : the soule of man doth excede . These .iiij. that we haue named , appertenynge vnto man do stande and kepe an order , of dignite , and degre amonge them selfe as you may perceyue . For the goodes of the worlde do stande in the lowest degre . The body next whiche is preferred & more set by . The fame , and name aboue both them . And the soule aboue all thynges vnder God : our mynde is nowe to shewe vnto you : howe pacience , is commodious , frutfull , profitable and necessary : vnto all these .iiij. And fyrst .

¶ Howe pacience is profitable and necessarye vnto to the true getynge , and vnto the lawful kepynge and increascynge of worldly goodes . The vii . Chapiter . ⚜ : ⚜

BEcause that worldly goodes be not alwaye well gotyn : ne alwaye well reteyned , & kept / ne yet wel increased , or multiplied : we therfore put in these termes truly and laufully . For althogh pacience largely taken ( as we shewed before ) may be ꝓfitable to gete holde and to increase goodes falsly and vnlawfully , yet our pacience : that we intreate : doeth neuer so . For when the seruantes of our pacience do put them selfe to labour , study / and to gyue diligence , to gete worldly goodes , for the necessarie lyuynge of them that they haue in charge : they do take pacience with al that god sendes , and ( as saynt Iames sayeth ) they do , Iac. 〈…〉 with all pacience , abyde the tyme , and wedder that god prouideth and euer do thanke hys goodnes , where the vnpacient persons do murmure , and grudge agaynst god , and cōplayye vpon the wedder , and yf any thynge fortune contrary vnto theyr mynde in theyr labours they more hynder them selfe , and destroy theyr goodes by theyr lacke of pacience . Vitas patrum As we rede in Vitas patrum of a person that wolde nedely go into wyldernes to be alone ( bycause he coulde not be pacient amonge his compeny ) And he wente vnto a well to feche water in an erthen pot for his necessite , and when he had set downe the pot vpon the gronde ( whyle he couered the founteyne ) the pot fell ouer , and ( he sum what displeased ) fylled hyt agayne , and yet hyt fell agayne , and so by the laste ( forgetynge all pacience he brake the pot , in a furie , but yet when he came vnto hym selfe : he returned vnto his monastre . And I sawe my selfe a man that , in shutyng , amonge cumpeny , was so moued into passion ( because he myssed his marke , and purpose ) that he brake his bowe all to shyuers . Many suche braydes haue we sene of impacience . And many persons bycause they lacked pacience in theyr labours , and in the beryng of the rebukes / and intreates of theyr Maysters or suffraymes , haue commen to beggry / or fallen to thefte , of such other vnlawful lyuynges . The pacient persons : haue euer a fore syght what is necessarie to be don accordynge vnto theyr charge , and that wyll they do with diligence , and with good ꝑseuerant pacience : hauyng euer a good garde & warenes that no goodis be gotyn vnlawfully or contrarye vnto conscience . And thys maye suffice to shewe that pacience is good and profitable for the true obteynynge , and getynge of worldly goodes , nowe for the garde , & kepynge and for the increace of those goodes .

¶ That pacience is necessarie for the due , and lawfull kepyng of such goodes as be truly , & lawfully goten . The viii . Capiter . ☞ : ☜

THis conclusion is sure and certeyne fyrst , that no goodes vnlawfully gotyn : may be lawfully kept . An other conclusion , that in tyme of the extreme nede of the neghbur : no person may kepe : lawfully gotyn goodes : from the due releue of such nedy persons . Dette also must uedely be payde as the dayse appoynted . For if any persones beynge in dette , and hauynge sufficient to paye ( without the greate extreame hynderance of theyr state / and condicions of lyuyng I wolde , for the increase of theyr owne goodes by the gaynes of that det : kepe hy● vnpayde they shulde do wronge , and that gaynes were vnlawfully goten , & lyke wyse of the reteyne and withholdynge of dettes for the mayntenaunce of vayneglorious astate . These poyntes , & suche other , secluded and put on parte , by due pacience . ( for suerly they be euer done for lacke of pacience to departe with the goodes , all such goodes as be lawfully goten : may be lawfully reteyned & kept . But euer to be kept vnto a good and lawful purpose and intent and a good effecte & ende . And accordynge vnto the state and degre , or condicion of the persons . And so of the lawfull increasce of the same without vsurie , symony , fraude , gyle , desceyte or any suche other vnlawfull meanes , howe thys good lady our Maystres dame pacience , doth inserue and auayle vnto thys custodie / & increasce : may appere vnto you thus , yf you consyder howe the pacient persons done euer lyue amonge theyr neyghburs restfully , without discorde , or debate , euer redy rather to suffre wronge hurte , and losse : then to be at debate or to stryue with any person , so that euermore pacience induceth concorde . And concorde doeth folowe pacience , as her syster , and most by loued frende . And suerly by concorde : Salust . pacient , and peasfull lyuynge : small goodes , a lytle stocke : shall growe . encreasce , and multiplie . And by dyscorde , stryfe , and debate : greate substance of ryches , is sone sparpuled , & broght ( in short tyme ) vnto ryght noght , yf you wyl more clerely se and perseue thys truth : set before you , vnpacience and vnrestfulnes . For the philosopher sayth . Philo. Qui bene definit , contraria assignat . He that wold wel determyne & declare a thynge : wyl apoynt with hyt a contrary thynge . For contrary thynges ioyned and set forth together : do euerych more euydently appere , and shewe eche the better for other . For yf you set blacke , by whyte : the whyte colour , shall seme the whyter / & the blacke : the blacker . Sette nowe before you .ii. suche neghburs as haue bene knowne , bothe in one towne , bothe ryche , and of good substance , that for a tryfle , a thynge ( as I was credible informed ) passed not the valure of a grote or . vi.d . fell at stryfe / & went vnto the lawe , so longe , that nother of them was worth the grote / or yet . i●.d . And but late two ma●er of persons in dyuers cuntreyse dwellynge : and makyng sute at London at the lawe for landes came hyder vnto the pardone : and ared counsell : whiche persons not withstandynge dyd not folowe the counsell , vnto the tyme that they had spende more then the landes were worth after .xxuij. yeres purches , and yet , in the ende , were fayne to folowe the same counsell that fyrst was gyuen vnto them . Dame pacience wolde here , haue saued , kept , & increasced all those goodes , your Englysh prouerbe than is full true . Sufferaunce doth ease , many other meanes , there bene as pride ꝓdigalite , and vnlawful pleasures : that done lyghtly sparpoyle & destroy great goodis and substance for lackh of due pacience . So that we may well conclude / that pacience is profetable vnto the lawful getynge , kepynge ; increascyng : & also spendyng of the wordely goodis , which goodis : ( as we sayde ) be the lyest / and in the lowest place of those commodites that do apparteyne , & belonge vnto man . Then foloweth of the cors , and body of man , which is more precious , then any worldly goodes . ❧ : ☞ : ❧ : ☜

¶ That pacience is commodious and profitable vnto the good state of the body of man . The .ix. Chapiter . ☞ : ⚜ : ☜

WE put the body of man in the secunde place as muche more worthy then the goodis , and yet vnder the fame , & good name or honour : in dignite and degre , althogh sume persons do set more by the sory carcas , then other by theyr name , or yet by the soule , vnto the good state than of the body to be kept , or recouered : our pacience is much necessarie , and profitable . For the pacient person is euer sobre , prouident and ware , bothe in wordes dedes , countenaunce , & behauiour . And the hasty man ( sayeth the commune prouerbe ) wanteth neuer wo. The countenaunce of man in lokes or gestures : doth many tymes , prouoke vnto Ire , and hathe ben occasion of bodely hurte / and harme , many persons by hasty passions : haue hurte them selfe . Yee , and some slayne them selfe / for lacke of pacience , many ( for default of pacience : haue exceded in wordes , which haue bene occasion , and cause of bodyly hurte , and bludshed , Eccli. 6. a. where the pacient persons by soft and swete , wordes haue mytigate and swaged Ire , and restrayned hasty passions , and appeased the parties , Ibidem let neuer therfore ( sayth the wyseman ) a prowde hasty worde passe thy mouth , hasty passion & lacke of pacience haue brought and cast many persons into feuers , axes , variant sekenece / and diseases . And also kept them longe therin , and increasced the same . And sume , for lacke of pacience , do rayle , & blaspheme god . And many wylfully done byde , and continue in sekenes : because they wyll not suffre to be launced , Qui pri ceptame dici non seruat seip̄m intimit . cut or otherwyse cured . And sum wyll not kepe prescribed dyete , ne kepe the preceptes & cōmaundemeutes of theyr phisicions , surgions or leches , wherby they bene oftymes , causers of theyr owne death . And some haue had so greate malyce / and hatered vnto some persons : that they had leuer suffer greate paynes in the body : then to be cured by that / or those persons . Many and very many variant and sondry incommodites haue comen vnto the body of man , for lacke of pacience , whiche the meke pacient persons do avoyde , and exscape . And yf by chaunce they be in peryll , yet by pacience they sone , & lyghtly recouer , and finde remedy . Some for very angre : freate them selfe to death , and that is for lacke of pacience . Thus you se and perceyue that vnto the good state of the body : pacience is commodious / and profetable . ☞ : ❧ : ☜ : ❧