¶ To remembre that we ben pylgrymes and to what place we ben towarde .

IT is necessary fyrst to consyder / that we been here in this lyfe as pylgrymes / hauynge no longe restynge place / but alwayes beynge forwardes other to heuen were we shall haue eternall reste / orels we ben in the wronge way / the whiche shall lede vs to euerlastynge sorowe . Lerne to knowe that one waye fro that other . And than euery daye whan ye shall go to do ony thynge / aske this questyon of youre selfe / sayenge in your mynde to your selfe . Whyder arte thou goynge / consyderynge wysely / whyder ye been in the waye of vertue or wyckednes / folowynge cryste or the deuyll / in the waye to heuen or to hell . And saye these verses . Vias tuas domine demonstra michi : et se mitas edoce me . Dirige me in veritate tua et doce me : quia tues deus saluator meus : & te sustinui tota die . Set god for the marke that ye wyll go vnto / take his commaundementes for youre waye & ronne stedfastly therin . Haue good hope in his goodnes / vtterly dystrustynge the dysceyuable consolacyons of the worlde / thrugh the whiche many soules been dysceyued .

¶ The precyousnesse of tyme and the shortnesse of the same .

SEcundarely it is to consyder the precyousnes of tyme / whiche is gyuen vs to do penaunce in / for our lyfe past and to labour for Ioye in the lyfe to come . And how that god shall requyre of euery persone how he hath expended the tyme gyuen vnto hym . And thynke that euery tyme not spent to his honour is loste / and shal be straytly punysshed . Behelde how short our tyme is / and how vncertayne / beynge no thynge surer but onely this tyme present / that is but now / hauynge alwaye dethe suspecte / that cometh vpon vs sodeynly many dyuers wayes . And make alwaye a sure rekenynge for the tyme past . Sayenge this prayer dayly . O bone Ihesu : sint corante in obliuione mea tempora preterita valde male consumpta . Et concede : vt hoctemporis mei residium : tibi sit honorificum : michi fructuosum et proximo edificatorium . Qui viuis et regnas cumdeo . &c. That is to say in Englysshe . O good lorde Ihesu let all my tymes past be forgoten before the / that I haue consumed very yll . And graunt that this resydew of my tyme may be vsed in honour & worshyp vnto the / fruyte full vnto my selfe / and edyfyenge to my neyghbour / whiche lyuest with god the fader in vnyte of the holy ghost worlde without ende . Amen . And at euery tyme that the clocke dothe stryke / consyder that your lyfe is shorted by an houre / sayenge thus to our lady / for to socour you at the houre of dethe . Maria plena gratie : mater misericordie : tu nos ab hoste protige : & in hora mortis suscipe . Mary moder full of grace / moder also of mercy / defende vs from our enemy / and at the houre of dethe / take vs to thy proteccyon . And so I truste there shall come great grace therof .

¶ How god is present to vs and his angell .

REmembre alwaye that what soeuer ye do / our lorde god is alwaye present / seynge and consyderynge euery thought / worde / and dede / and straytly shall call vs to a accompte for them . Therfore it is necessary to obserue good maner and reuerent behauyoure / bothe inwarde in mynde / and outwarde in body / aswell in chambre or cell as in other secrete places / as in presence of great astates / hauynge alwaye honour and reuerence to god / and to our good angell / ferynge & beynge ashamed to do that thynge in the presence of god / that ye sholde be ashamed of in the presence of men . And whan ye been alone / saye often this verse . Qui cognoscis oculta cordis : parce peccatis nostris . Lorde that knowest the pryuytes of harte / we beseche the spare vs / that we be not dampned for our synnes / and great offences .

¶ Not onely the body / but also the mynde muste be sparred vs from the occasyons of yll .

THynke though ye sholde be closed vp within . iiij . walles . It is not ynough to haue your bodyes sparred frome the occasyons of yll / wher the mynde is wandrynge abrode in carnall pleasure / musynge vpon worldly vanytes / besyed with workes and maters of other persones / and carynge moche for youre frendes and kynnesfolkes / occupyed somtyme with vnlawfull and vnclenly thoughtes and desyres . Therfore ye muste close vp also your mynde and affeccyon fro all suche thynges . And that must be by often and contynuall remembraunce of god / as nere as ye maye . Close vp and hyde youre loue and mynde in the depe and large woundes of our lorde Ihesu cryste by deuoute remembraunce of his pytefull passyon / alwaye abydynge there / for there our enemyes dare not medle / but whyder ye wyll or not / they wyll entre with you into the materyall cloyster / youre enemy the flesshe must nedes in / the deuyll wyll not be behynde . And as I suppose / ye shall haue of hym more force and stronger batayle there than euer ye had before . And that we thynke now ryght lytell and easy / shall than perchaunce be full harde and greuous to ouercome . Therfore prepare youre selfe manly . Stande fast in fayth / and remembre the rewarde of your vyctory / trustynge in god onely for strength .

¶ How the worlde bryngeth in trouble vnto relygous persones .

THe worlde trusseth his gere & hydeth them in a corner of a mannes soule / vnto the tyme that he is entred into relygyon . And than the deuyll bryngeth them to lyght . So that those vanytes / synnes / and inquyet besynesse / that ye haue sene / herde / and ben in / shall than come to remembraunce / whiche now ye been nothynge troubled with / as hyden within you . Than also the worlde shall sende vnto you by crafte of the deuyll / tydynges and tale berers whiche shall lette you of great profyte / yf ye be not ware . Sparre them out therfore and auoyde them from you / and neuer be gladde to here worldly rumours / ne vayne talkynge . Let not the deuyll hyde vp suche thynges in youre soules that afterwarde maye put you to trouble . Be neuer gladde to talke and here of other persones yll demenour / of theyr beaute / theyr countenaunce / theyr apparell / and specyally of detraccyon or backbytynge of ony maner of persones / but rather flee theyr company / or moeue them to saye well / and to speke that is honeste and conuenyent for to here / sayenge thus before ye shall speke with ony worldely persones . Domine libera ani mam meam a labiis iniquis & lingua dolosa . Good lorde I beseche the delyuer my soule from the lyppes of wycked men & from a dysceyuable tongue .

¶ To order well euery tyme auoydynge ydelnesse .

THan after the counseyll of some good man dyspose and order euery tyme of the day to some profyte bodely or ghostly . So that ydlenesse before all thynges maye be vtterly excluded . For ydlenesse is the moder of all yll / stepdame to vertue / forger of vnclennes / the way to vnstablenesse nuryssher of vyces / increacer of slouthfulnesse / kyndeler of malyce and inuye . It soweth yll thoughtes . It gendreth yll desyres / and bryngeth forth many yll workes . It maketh vs wery of ghostly lyuynge . It putteth vs in fere of ghostly batayle / and dryueth vs frome the waye of penaunce . O fals ydelnes how many doest thou deceyue . Ydelnesse is the snare that the deuyll hydeth ymonges the grasse of the grene flourysshynge youthe / and ymonges the fallyngeleues leues of the vayne worldely Ioye and pleasure / and very harde it is to scape it . Therfore beware that the deuyll in no wyse fynde you in this snare / but yf ye be caught therin / breke out betymes before he catche holde vpon you . For whan he hathe holde vpon you / it is harde to breke awaye .

¶ How we sholde gyue vs to dyuers exercyses .

ANd bycause our mynde whiche is moche subiecte vnto vanyte whyles we ben in this lyfe / abydeth neuer longe in one state . Therfore we must dryue away ydelnes by dyuers chaunge of good exercyses . As somtyme by good hande worke / & conuenyent bodyly labour . Somtyme in prayer / somtyme in study / or redynge of scrypture or of some good workes of holy doctours . Somtyme in medytacyon and contemplacyon yf ye can attayne therto . And se the youre hande warke be other to the honour of god / to the profyte of poore people / orels for youre owne necessyte . And in euery thynge that ye shall do . Se fyrst that it be lawfull for you to do it . Secundarely yf it become you for to do it . Thyrdely whyder it be expedyent for to do it . For all thynges that ben lawfull and semynge for you to do / are not to be done / but yf they ben expedyent . Saynt Poule to wytnes . Omnia michilicēt : set non omnia michi expediunt . Therfore that thynge that is semynge expedyent and not agayne the commaundement of god performe it / sayenge before euery worke . In nomine patris . &c. with a Pater noster and un Aue maria .

¶ Of exercyse in prayer and study .

YOure prayers besydes the houres of dewty whiche must be preferred before ony thynge / ye maye prolonge or make short as the holy ghost gyueth grace of deuocyon or good desyre . And beware that longe prayer gender not tedyousnesse . For better it is to praye often breuely with deuocyon / than longe vndeuoutly / excepte deuocyon be inspired by longe desyre . Beware also ye make no bande ne bone of nombre of psalmes or prayers / but vse them for the tyme that ye haue pleasure and deuocyon in them . And where deuocyon slacketh / than go to redynge or to some other exercyse / so confortynge your spyrytes / auoydynge the synne of slouth . In your study and redynge of bokes se that they ben conuenyent for you . And marke well all suche thynges as make to the exemple of good lyfe / bothe for to fele at your selfe / and to shewe it vnto other for the same intent . And before ye go to rede or study / saye thus . Spiritus sancti gratia illuminet corda et corpora nostra . With a Pater noster . That is the grace of the holy ghost lyght on vs bothe soule and body . And after your redynge / remembre brefely what ye haue redde / and than say thus . Confirma hoc deus quod operatus es in nobis . With a Pater noster . How to be ordred at your vprysynge / whan ye wake in the mornynge from slepe after the houre assygned to ryse . Forthwith lyfte vp your harte to god / cōmytynge youre selfe to his proteccyon / and gyue hym thankes / for that he hathe preserued you that nyght past / sufferynge no vayne thoughtes to fall into your mynde / but shortly blesse you and fall vnto your prayer . Be neuer ouercomen with sluggysshnesse ne dulnesse of body / as some been that with gronynge and grutchynge ryse oute of theyr beddes . But with a quycke mynde put awaye all slouth as though cryst our spouse dyd call you vnto maryage / sayenge to youre selfe . Ryse thou wretched body oute of of thy couche / make the redy and lyght thy lampe / go mete with thy spouse / and do thy duty leest thou be refused for comynge to late . Be not longe in the apparyllynge of youre selfe / but apply you vnto your worke or seruyce enioyned to you for to do . With gladnesse of mynde lette no vanytes appere in youre apparell / but kepe alwaye a semynge fourme and an vnyfourme waye in your dressynge / vsynge nother to rude vesture ne to precious / but in a meane / no wyse desyrynge to please the worlde by it / but to honour god . Cal also beseli vnto god for his helpe and grace / that ye maye be stronge agaynst the malyce and power of your enemyes . For many haue been in great peryl bothe of body and soule / bycause they haue not blessed them selfe & honoured god at theyr vprysynge . Therfore saye alwaye whan ye ryse some blessynge and prayer / as ye maye fynde in dyuers bokes .

¶ Of herynge masse .

IF it may be / here masse euery daye . For by that ye be made the more able to all good workes in the day folowynge / and prosper the better in euery thynge . In masse tyme be dylygent asmoche as ye maye to haue deuocyon / commyttynge youre selfe and all that longeth vnto you to hym that is there present . The masse is the veray memoryall of Crystes passyon . Than yf ye wyl haue deuocyon / fall to some medytacyon of Crystes holy passyon . For there is nothynge that kyndelyth mannes affeccyon so soone as the medytacyon therof . Yf ye wyl be perfytely purged from vyces . Yf ye wyll be indued with vertues . Yf ye wyll be lyghtned with vnderstandynge . Yf ye wyl haue vyctory of youre enemyes . Yf ye wyll haue consolacyon in aduersyte . Yf ye wyll haue swetenesse with teres in your prayers . Yf ye wyll departe pleasauntly oute of this lyfe . Yf ye wyll haue redely euerlastynge ioye . Vse deuoute medytacyon of crystes passyon in your masse herynge . And also euery other tyme before ye shall praye . The masse is of merueylous great effecte . For after the sayenge of saynt Austyn . By euery masse deuoutly sayd is there one soule delyuered out of purgatory / and one synner conuerted . Therfore here masse deuoutly / besechynge our lorde sayenge . Blessed Ihesu let me synner be the persone the shal be stedfastly conuerted vnto the. And say this prayer . Aīa cristisanctifica me . And whan ye be comonde / se that ye dyspose your selfe before with hye deuocyon & mekenes / by contrycyon / confessyon / and deuoute prayers / so that ye maye receyue your maker to the saluacyon and strength of youre soules . And after to contynu the more stedfast in vertu .

¶ How goddes seruyce and prayer sholde be sayde .

THe seruyce that ye be commaunded for to say and al that longeth to obedyence / se that ye fulfyll moost dylygently before all thynge . For other prayers ben not acceptable to god / yf ye leue on those thynges that ye are bounde to of dewte . Therfore whan the bell ryngeth to seruyce / consyder as it were the trumpe that shal be blowen at the Iudgement . Than hye you faste to chyrche with great mekenesse and fere / to treat and dyscusse youre causes before god the moost hye Iudge / moost myghty / moost ferefull / moost wyse / moost tyghtwyse / but yet moost mercyfull . Remember that he is mercyful to all them that ben meke & obedyent / and theyr complayntes and petycyons onely he delyteth to here . Therfore dyspose your self to mekenes afore your prayer / by some medytacyon / as of your synfull lyfe with sorynes therfore / of your fewe merytes & innumerable demerytes / of the dayly mysery in this lyfe / of the infynyte peynes for synne after this lyfe . Of the great endelesse Ioye in heuen / of the great goodnes of god / for delayenge our punysshement / for that we sholde amende our lyfe . Of the great mercy of our sauyour Ihesu / sufferynge bytter passyon for our redempcyon . Whiche al / but these pryncypally ben great causes for to meken our hartes / & to serue god deuoutely . And whan ye haue great deuocyon by mekenesse . Saye your seruyce & prayers not onely in your one persone / as for your selfe / but in the persone of our moder the holy chyrche . In that whiche there been some as prysoners in the peynes of purgatory . Some as traytours that ben obstynate synners . Some as suers for theyr pardon that ben penytent . Some as mynysters and seruauntes that ben in the state of grace . Some ben assystent with god / to be our patrones and vocates they ben holy angels & sayntes . Now ymagyne that somtyme oure lorde speketh vnto vs / & we somtyme vnto hym in oure psalmes and other seruyces that we saye . And somtyme we treat for the prysoners . Somtye we complayne of our aduersaryes . Somtyme we desyre him to spare his traytours / that they may haue space to amende . Somtyme we labour to our patrones & vocates for to helpe to opteyne fauour & grace . Somtyme we magnyfy his power / his wysdome / his goodnesse / with lawe and prayse . Therfore thynke it no lytell cause that ye come to chyrche for . Before a temporall kynge causes ben dyscussed / for this bodyly lyfe with great dylygens / fere / & reuerence . Moche more than ought we with great mekenes / reuerence / & fere / dyscus our ghostly maters for the safegarde and promocyon of our soules before the hygh Iudge . And thoughe ye vnderstande not what ye saye / consyder that ye been as a poore wretche that hath a complaynt or supplycacyon to put vnto the kynge / made by a lerned man / wherin all your desyre is conteyned more expedyently / than ye can do it your selfe . Thus remember where and in whose presence ye been / and for what cause . And before ye go to your seruyce call for grace and saye . Rex christe clementissime : tu corda nostra posside : vt tibi laudes de bitas : reddamus omni tempore . Suffer not youre mynde to wander as nere as ye maye . And saye after euery houre where ye haue ben neclygent . Deus propitius esto michi peccatori . And whan ye haue sayd that is your duty / than saye your other prayers and memoryes of sayntes as your deuocyon is moeued .

To haue a synguler deuocyon to some specyall sayntes .

IT is very good to haue a synguler deuocyon / to some specyall sayntes / in whome ye haue great confydence to be youre aduocates / helpers / and defenders at all nedes to call on them / whiche maye opteyne for you that ben not worthy or able of your selfe . But moost specyally in ony wyse to haue the gloryous quene of heuen moder of cryst at all tyme in moost louynge reuerence with moost hardy affeccyon louynge vnto her / as to moste sure refuge in all nedes / perylle / & temptacyons / takynge her next cryst / for moost hye and trusty vocate / gyuynge euery daye some synguler laude & prayer to her mercyful goodnes . And that your deuocyon and reuerence to her made / be that more acceptable . Study to folowe her in pure chastyte & clennes of body & soule with all mekenesse of herte and lowlynesse to euery persone in worde and dede . We haue so many enemyes and they ben so crafty / that without her helpe & other holy sayntes / we are not able to escape theyr daunger . The fore chose you suche patrones that may helpe you in this daungerous lyfe / and defende your soules from all cruell enemyes at the houre of dethe specyally / and brynge you gracyously to perpetuall safegarde .

¶ Te commendacyon of vyrgynyte .

REmembre wysely to whome ye been despoused . Whome ye desyre to haue in maryage / & pray hym mekely that hathe inspyred you with so good wyll / and gyuen you suche desyre to preserue and perfourme the same . Ye haue promysed youre vyrgynyte to Cryst . Thynke this came not of your selfe For it is vnpossyble so to do and contynue / but onely by grace . Consyder howe precyous a tresoure ye bere in a frayle vessell . Remembre what rewarde / what glory / what crowne of Ioy ye shall haue / by kepynge of pure vyrgynyte . And fere what peyne / what shame / what confusyon / what dampnacion ye shall fall in yf it be lost . What treasure is better than that / wherwith ye maye by heuen . wherin angelles greatly delyte . Wherby Cryste him selfe is allect and moeued to loue you specyally . And to gyue ( not onely hymselfe ) to you / but also euery thynge that is good . The swetenes of meke vyrgynyte gaue so swete an odour into heuen / that it made the kynge of all kynges to haue suche a celestyall concupyscence and loue vnto the moost meke vyrgyne Mary that he descended frome heuen to erth for to be maryed vnto oure nature / but ye shall not be crowned tyll ye be well proued as golde in the furneys . For scrypture sayth / that he that is not tempted is not proued . Vyrgynyte is golde / your Cell is the furneys / temptacyon is the fyre / the deuyll is the kyndler and blower of this fyre / your body is the erthen vessell / wherin this golde is put to be proued . Whiche vessell yf it be broken by ony vyolent fyre / the golde is shedde out and loste / and the vessell can neuer be repared and made hole agayne .

¶ Vyrgynyte can not be get ne kepte without great labour and peyne .

SEynge that chastyte & vyrgynyte been gyftes of a spyrytuall grace of god & nothynge of our merytes . For we can not be chast or contynent / but yf god gyue it vs by grace . Therfore they ben vnworthy to haue so noble a gyfte the refuse to take some labour & peyne for it . They that thynke to be chast ymonges delyces & deynte cherysshynges of the body / they that wyl be contynent where great feestynge is & deynte fare / they the fere not to be conuersaunte ymonges vnchast & ryotous persones / & not to be tempted for to be forced with etynge & drynkynge & not to be defiled / to hyde fyre in theyr bosome / & not to be brent / they are sore dysceyued . For I thynke it very harde orels inpossyble . Therfore beware ye been not dysceyued presumynge to moche in these thynges vpon your owne strength . For without great contrycyon & afflyccyon of the flesshe & great helpe of gracce / true chastyte can nother be get nor kepte . Remember that glasse is frayle & may endure no dystresse . Also great aduentures many tymes do curs the dyce . Therfore beware ye ioperde not to ferre / but euermore eschewe the occasyons of yl . For the wyse man sayth . Whosoeuer loueth ꝑyl he shall perysshe therin

¶ Of the vertue of sadnesse .

SE that ye be of sadde behauyour / bothe in mynde and outwarde gesture . Kepe your mynde dylygently in sadnes & gyue it all to spyrytuall exercyses / sufferynge no vayne thoughtes to reste therin . And myghtely subdew the concupyscence & passyons of the body / as wrath / carnall loue / bodely or worldly fere / sensuall ioye / or dysolute laughynge For ye can not be well ordred outwarde / but yf these ben ordred & well ruled inwarde / but yet the outwarde behauyour helpeth moche to ouercome these inwarde passyons . And therfore it behoueth to kepe wysely the bodyly . v. wyttes that ye shal se / here / or touche / nothynge that sholde styrre you to yll / or dysteyne good maners / kepe youre syght close towarde the erthe / consyderynge the the eye is a these / & wyll betraye the soule yf it be not warely kepte . Fyxe not your syght vpon beawtefull thynges and here no vayne ne vycyous comynge / ferynge lest dethe wyll entre in at youre wyndowes & infecte your soules with synne .

Of sadnesse & dyscrecyon in speche & other behauyoure .

MOost dylygently refrayne youre tonge & speke not without a reasonable questyon be made vnto you / orels whan ye ben constrayned by euydent nede / & than study to gyue an answere brefely & mekely spekynge with sad countenaunce / reuerence / & swete fere of god / exchewynge alway talkynge & the occasyons of the same / excepte it be of ghostly maters / & with ryght ghostly persones . Speke nothynge but yf it be semynge for the tyme / place / & persone . Myxte your honest myrth with sadnes / bothe in in speche / laughynge / & gesture of body / without rownynge or castynge the syght towarde ony persone suspectly without lystynge or moeuynge of the heed or ony other membre vnsemyngely . Be gentyll without grutchynge . youre countenaunce lowly & cherefull without frownynge / lowrynge or derysyon . Whan ye speke / lawgh / or smyle / se it be without scornynge or lowde voyce . Be not to hasty nor to slowe in your goynge . Shewe no slouggysshnesse in in your restynge . Inquyre not of other persones conuersacyons ne consyder theyr defautes . Refourme the is amys in other persones without ony reprouynge . Nother prayse ne dysprayse your selfe / nor greatly other persone . Speke nothynge to be reputed holy or connynge . Gyue place to Ire betymes & to them that multyply wordes agaynst you / & forgyue shortly theyr errour or neglygence . And thus ye shall kepe the vertu of sadnesse / & dyscrecyon / whiche is is a great helpe to chastyte / & to all other vertues . Wher to saynt Poule dothe moeue vs / sayenge . Let your sadnes be knowen to all men . And so by good exemple ye maye profyte other & meryte very moche .

¶ How refeccyon ought to be take .

AAs a seke man receyueth his medycyne / so take your bodyly refeccyon . A seke man thynkes his medycyne very bytter therfore he wyll take no more than shall suffyse for his helthe / & yf he do / it may be to his hurte / so in lykewyse consyderynge the peryll vnto chastyte that is in meetes and drynkes / they sholde be bytter vnto you / nothynge gladde to take ony more thanne sholde susteyne nature / ferynge by to moche etynge and drynkynge for to gyue strength vnto your aduersary / and to nourysshe youre pryue enemy / increasynge sekenes of the soule . Therfore whan ye go vnto your meet / thynke alwaye vpon your chastye / ferynge lest the venym that is hydden in meet and drynke do not infecte the body with carnall luste or slouth . And so consequently the soule by concupyscence & neclygence in the seruyce of god . Saynt Ierom techeth holy vyrgynes wylleth that after they been passed chyldehood and growynge aege they sholde ete no flesshe / ne drynke no wyne / excepte the tyme of sekenesse . And commaundeth that suche sobrenesse sholde be kepte in meet and drynke that the body sholde rather complayne / than to reioyce in full appetyte / so that the stomake sholde not nede medycynes / for to cause degestyon / but so to breke the appetyte of the body / that it be not lesse apte vnto watchynge / prayer / study / or contemplacyon after the mele / than it was before . The wyse man Salomon sayth . I haue determyned with my selfe in mynde to restrayne my flesshe frome wyne . For this intent . That I myghte gyue my mynde vnto wysedome and conynge / and eschewe foly . Foly can not be auoyded / nor godly wysedome opteyned but by abstynence frome moche etynge and drynkynge . Therfore sayth our sauyoure Cryst . Take hede that youre hartes ben not accombered with Glotony . Exemple we haue of Danyell / Ananya / Mary / and Mysaell / chyldren of great abstynence . To whome our lorde gaue excellent wysdome and connynge / so that they exceded ferre all the wyse lerned men in the kynkedome of Babylon . And all that euer haue had the grace of holy wysdome of deuout contemplacyon / or reuelacyon hath come by it / by meanes of abstynence . And constrary . Moche etynge & drynkynge haue caused moche synne and foly . As it appereth of Noye and Loth with other / & of the ryche Glotone in the gospell . Sewe not sensuall appetyte therfore to his full desyre . So prouyde to your nede / that ye may swage hunger / & yet not satysfy your bodyly appetyte . Regarde not the deyntynesse of meetes and drynkes / but nedely sustentacyon of the frayle body contynually decayenge . And beware the voluptuousnes crepe not in vnder the cloke of nede . Some there ben the fere great abstynence or watchynge / bycause of sekenes or wekenes of body / ferynge to be not stronge to serue god . And I fere me many tymes it is but Excusatio in peccatis . For full fewe ther been that haue that feruour or loue to watche or to absteyne so moche . And yf they had for the loue of god . I thynke he wolde gyue them dyscrecyon withall / or otherwyse prouyde for them . I praye god it be not to moche / that many thynke to lytell . True dyserccōn is to preferre the soule before the body / whiche can not be without some peyne of the body .

¶ Of behauynge at the borde .

SYt honestly at your meet . Gyue place to youre better / bothe in order of syttynge and in fyrste takynge of youre meet . Vse no Ianglynge / tryflynge / nor lyghtnes at the borde / & hate vtterly detraccyon & backbytynge . Be content with suche as is sette before you without grutchynge / and fede not of to many dysshes nor to gredely . For in many meetes saythe the wyse man ye can not fayle of sekenesse . And as ye fede the body with bodyly fode / so fede the soule with ghostly fode / as by redynge of some holsome and ghostly werkes wherin your soules maye be edyfyed / gyue dylygence to the herynge therof with all sylence / youre mynde and intent set holy therupon . And as ye se some great estates of theyr charytable goodnes wyll se some poore people be serued afore them selfe . So in lyke wyse ghostly / before euery mele serue those poore soules in purgatory that haue leest helpe / with a pater noster and an aue maria / before ye serue your owne bodyes . And ye shall deserue ( I thynke ) ryght great mercy and rewarde of god therfore . Before ye ete ony mete / lyfte vp youre hartes deuoutely to god with laude and prayse to hym and say grace / besechynge hym to blesse your meet and you / so that the refeccyon whiche ye shall take / maye be to strengthe you in his seruyce / not ferynge the body to rebell agaynst the soule . After meet gyue thankes to god deuoutely with sayenge grace / addynge at the laste ende this lytell prayer . Deus det viuis gratiam : defunctis misericordiam : ecclesie sue pacem : domino apostolico & nobis peccatoribus vitam eternam . Amen . Wherto is graunted . lxv . yeres of pardon .

¶ How to be occupyed after meet / and to beware of temptacyon .

AFter your dyner go to youre worke / study / or prayer as ye ben assygned to / and do that dylygently / remembrynge alwaye god & youre good angell present what soeuer ye do / & apply euery thynge that ye done reuetently to his honour . Beware of ydelnesse and lyght maners / and forgete not your enemyes of the contrary behalfe / whiche neuer resteth / but full besyly laboureth contynually to destroye your soules with ryght great crafte & malyce . Haue them al waye suspecte in euery thynge that ye shall do and thynke . And beware that he hyde hym not ymonge your good werkes by vayne glory / for thou he wyll make them nought Somtyme he wyll brynge in good thughtes & purposes for an yll intent / for to lette a better thynge / or for to inquyete the conscyence . He cometh somtyme easely / somtyme feresely / somtyme pryuely / somtyme pertly . And the more ye flee fro hym the sorer he assayleth you . But what remedy ? Truly we haue no strength nor polycy in regarde to our aduersary . Therfore let vs not trust in our self Our lorde let hym be our strengthe . Our good angelles and holy sayntes helpe & conforte to vs . Let vs therfore commytte our selfe to hym / & call for helpe betymes in euery temptacyon . Cleue stydfastly to his loue / with fere of his dyspleasure . Remembrynge what peyne he suffered to brynge man into the state of grace . And therfore suffer not to be brought one therof for a lytell short pleasure or for sufferynge a lytell dyspleasure or a short peyne . It pleseth god very moche / whan ony persone auoydeth temptacyon betymes / and falleth to prayer and praysynge of god . For than the thynge that the deuyll had forged for mannes great hurte / it tourned vpon his owne heed with confusyon . And the persone that so resysteth / shall haue double rewarde / bothe for his vyctory & for his prayer vnto god .

¶ How to ouercome temptacyon .

IF he be very ferce agaynst you with temptacyon or trybulacyon / how soeuer greuous it be / dyspere not . Thynke there ben . xii . dyuers houres in the daye / they shall not be alyke vnto you . Some good and some badde . Thynke how oure lorde loketh vpon you to proue youre stydfastnesse & manlynesse / for to gyye you the larger crowne of glory / and saye with To be . Yf we haue not taken good thynges of the hande of god / why sholde we not take yll . And remembre holy sayntes that haue been troubled so before . And marke it wel that whome soeuer god wyll vysyte with grace and consolacyons / hym wyll he fyrste proue in the fyre of trybulacyon . Therfore neuer gyue vp to youre aduersary / ne grutche not with the troubleous temptacyons / nor loke to moche of that that is layde to you by temptacyon / but go forwarde aboute youre good besynesse / as thoughe ye dysdeyned to here of suche thynges . Or els speke thus in your mynde / refourmynge your soule . Lo my soule / lo how the deuyll knocketh at thy gate . Yf thou sufferest hym to come in / god thy strength shall go from the / and thou shalt perysshe with great mysery and suffer great peyne and shame before god and man . O thou frayle body / all this wyckednesse procedeth of the. Beware thou be not subiecte vnto the deuyll . Consyder how that god is present / to se how thou shalt fyght with thyne enemy Cry for helpe vnto heuen / that they maye assyste vs and put awaye our aduersaryes . Thou can not se them / and therfore the batayll is the more peryllous . Suffer and take vpon the a lytell peyne / and thynke how pleasaunt thy vyctory shal be . And contrary yf thou folowe the short pleasure of thy temptacyon / eternall peyne wyll folowe . Therfore beware / & than fall to prayer / & what soeuer the deuyll speketh in you by temptacyon / thynke it is not your worde nor youre doynge / therfore care not for it / but go forwarde / trustynge that as after great stormes / cometh fayre weder . Soo after great trybulacyon shall folowe ghostly consolacyon .

¶ How study or medytacyon in holy wrytynge profyteth moche agaynst temptacyon .

FOr this cause I wolde ye sholde alwaye fere trustynge nothynge vpon your owne strength but alwaye suspecte your owne fraylte / and as a donne that fereth the hawke dothe comunely vse the ryuer syde / and as in a glasse doth spy in the water the shadowe of the hawke flyenge for to deuoure her / and so is aware of her & saueth her selfe . So I wolde ye sholde do . The ryuers or waters ben the sentences of holy scrypture / the lyfe of our sauyour Ihesu cryst / & of other holy sayntes . Whiche flowynge fro the moost clere fountayne of the dyuyne wysedome dothe shewe & dyscouer the subtyll crafte & fals suggestyon of our enemy the deuyll / & techeth vs how we shal be ware of hym / for to escape his daunger . Nothynge swageth concupyscence more / nothynge putteth yll thoughtes awaye better / than with the study or medytacyon of the worde of god & holy redynge . Vnto the whiche I wolde that ye sholde so accustome your mynde and occupy your hartes so ther upon / that whan ye go to bedde ye myght fall on slepe in the thynkynge of some sentence of holy scryptures or sayntes lyues & dreame of them in your slepe that assoone as ye shall wake / they maye cleue to youre memory . And therfore whan ye be troubled or waked by the crafte or yllusyon of youre enemy / beware of vayne thoughtes be tymes / auoydynge all dulnesse of body and mynde . And occupy you thus orels in prayers .

¶ Of mekenesse .

TAke this for a sure conclusyon / though chastyte be the very floure and beaute of all vertues / yet without the grounde of mekenesse it can not growe / but it fadeth and vanyssheth away / as showe agaynst the sonne . Mekenes is the fundacyon of all vertues / the strengthe of the soule / the confusyon of our great enemy the deuyll / a vessell of all grace / the moder of peas / the restynge place of the holy ghost . And pryde contrary wyse is begynnynge of all synne & moost wekenes of the soule / whiche expelled angell frome heuen / and man from paradyse . Yf ye ioye in ony thynge / ioye in our lorde / & not for that ye come of noble vertuous lyguage or of ryche parentes / nor for that ye preferre pouerte before ryches / nor for that ye haue forsaken ryche maryages / but shewe by mekenes how nere you ben our meke spouse Cryste / the more meke / the more nere hym ye been . Beware that ye ben not proude of mekenes / but dyspyse your selfe / dyspyse none other persone . And set noughte to be dyspysed / but rather be glad . Yf ye wyll be the spouse of Cryste / whiche beynge moost ryche in heuen / chose to be moost poore in erthe . He chose a poore moder / a poore house to be borne in / where he was moost honoured in heuen . He came hyder to take dyspytes / reproues / & great peynes mekely as a lambe . Therfore folowe this lambe as ye haue knowen other vyrgynes do before where soeuer ye go . And thynke that ye can neuer be to meke / consyderynge what grace cometh alwaye therby .

¶ Of obedyence .

IF ye haue true mekenesse / ye shall repute euery persone your better / & youre selfe as a seruaunte or a hande mayde / whatsoeuer degre ye be of . Wherupon folowe perfyte obedyence / whiche vneth god to man / & man to god in perfyte charyte . Saynt Barnarde sayth Yf ye wyll be wyse / be obedyent . For thus it is wryten . Yf thou coueytest wysedome / obserue and do that is commaunded the / and god shall gyue it the. This obedyence must be obserued ( not in seruyle fere ) but with good affeccyon of loue & charyte ( not for fere of peyne ) but for loue of Iustyce . Obedyence is that vertue that graffeth all other vertues in the soule . It presecueth and kepeth them surely after they ben graffed . It is better than sacryfyce For by sacryfyce is gyuen away the temporall goodes / and by obedyence is vtterly lefte and forsaken the owne selfe wyll . Of our owne wyll cometh all synne . Than yf we forsake our owne wyll / resygnynge it to god and to our superyoure / we forsake all synne / for we may do nothynge but as they wyll . Yf they wyll no synne / we therfore beynge obedyent / maye do no synne . What is than more expedyent than to haue obedyence ( whiche hadde ) we nede to fere no peynes of hell . The order of obedyence is thus . It is more our duty to obey god than man / the superyour than the inferyour / better to obey your owne heed than a straunger . And it is specyally good to obey one to another / yf it letteth not the obedyence to the superyour . A true obedyencer is gladde to be seruyseable vn to euery one of his company / & sory to be chargeable or comberous to them . Louynge & gentyll to all / & deuoute vnto god . The greater that persone be that is dysobeyed the greuoser is the inobedyence . The more easy the commaundement be / the more greuoser is the contempte . And yf it fortune you to contempne the commaundement ( as god forbydde ) of youre heed / beware in ony wyse ye contempne not the remedy / whiche is meke penaunce / redy to be sory with submyttynge of your self to correccyon / fallynge to the fete of them whome ye offende . Note well this sayenge of saynt Barnarde . Whan my superyour ( sythen he ) commaundeth me to scylence / yf a worde perchaunce escape thrughe neclygence or forgetynge my selfe . I knowlege my selfe gylte of inobedyence venyally / but yf wyttyngly & with delyberacyon of a contempte / I breke out into wordes / wylfully brekynge the lawe of sylence . I dyscerne and Iudge my selfe a greuous synner / & that deedly and dampnably / yf I perceyuer inpenytent vnto my lyues ende . For Cryste sayth to them the been rulers . Who that dyspyseth you / dyspyseth me . Therfore kepe wel this vertue of obedyence vnto god / & your superyour / and god shal be obedyent vnto your prayers and petycyons . And be alwaye redy to obey with a good wyll without ony taryenge or delay / that ye may saye this verse truely . Paratum cor meuz deus : paratum cormeum . &c. My harte is redy good lorde / my harte is redy to obey in wyll and dede .