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1

VII

2

A NOTABILL TRETYS OFF THE TEN COMANDEMENTYS, DRAWEN
3BY RICHERDE, THE HERMYTE OFF HAMPULL.

4
5    The fyrste comandement es 'Thy Lorde God þou sall loute,
6and til Hym anely þou sall serue.' In this comandement
7es forboden all mawmetryse, all wychcrafte and charemynge,
8the wylke may do na remedy till any seknes of man,
9woman, or beste, For þay erre þe snarrys of þe deuelle, by þe
10whilke he afforces hym to dyssayue mankynde. Alswa in þis
11commandemente es forbodyn to gyffe trouthe till socerye or till
12dyuynyngeȝ by sternys, or by dremys, or by any swylke thynges.
13Astronomyenes by-haldes þe daye and þe houre, and þe poynte
14þat man es borne In, and vndyr whylke syngne he es borne,
15and þe poynte þat he begynnes to be In; and by þire syngnes
16and oþer, þay saye þat þay say that sall be-fall þe man aftyrwarde;
17Bot theyre errowre es reproffede of haly doctours. Haly
18crosses men sall lowte, For thay are in syngne of Cryste
19crucyfiede. To ymages es þe louynge þat es till thaym of
20whaym þaire are þe ymageȝ, For þat Entent anely þaire are for
21to lowte.
22    The tothire comandement es 'þou sall noghte take þe name
23of God in vayne.' Here is forboden athe with-owtten cheson.
24He þat neuenes God & sweris fals, dispyses God. In thre maners
25mane may syn in swerynge; That es, if he swere agayne
26his concyence, or if he swere be Cryste wondes or blude,
27That es euermare gret syn, þofe it be sothe þat he sweris,
28For it sounes in irreuerence of Ihesu Cryste. Also if he com
29agaynes his athe, noght fulfilland þat he has sworne. The nam

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30of Gode es takyn in vayne one many maners: with herte, with
31mouthe, with werke. With herte, takes false crystyn men it in
32vayne, þat rescheyues þe sacrement with-owtten grace in sawle.
33With mouthe es it tane in vayne, with all athes brekynge, of new
34prechynge þat es vanyte and vndevocyone; prayere, when we
35honour God with oure lyppys, and oure hertys erre ferre fra Hym.
36With werke, ypocrittes takes Goddes nam in vayne, For they
37feyne gud dede with-owtten, and þey erre with-owtten, charyte
38and vertue and force of sawle to stand agayne all ill styrrynges.
39    The thirde commandement es 'Vmbethynke the þat thow halowe
40þi halydaye.' This commandement may be takyn in thre
41maneres. Firste generally, þat we sesse of all vyces þat lettys
42deuocyone to God in prayenge and thynkynge. The thyrde es
43specyall, als in contemplaytyfe men þat departis þaym fra all
44werldly thynges, swa þat þey hally gyfe þaym till God. The
45fyrste manere es nedfull vs to do; The tothire we awe to do;
46The thirde es perfeccyone. For-thi, one þe halydaye, men awe,
47als God byddys, to lefe all syn, and do na werke þat lettis
48thaym to gyffe þaire herte to Godd, thatt þay halowe þe daye
49in ryst, and deuocyone, and dedys of charyte.
50    The ferthe comandement es 'Honoure thy fadyre and þi
51modyre.' That es, in twa thynges, þat es, bodyly and gastely.
52Bodyly, in sustenance, þat þay be helpede and sustaynede in þaire
53elde, and when þay are vnmyghtty of þaym selfe. Gastely, in
54reuerence and bouxomnes, þat þay say to þam na wordes of
55myssawe, ne vnhoneste, ne of displesance, vnauyssedly, Bot serue
56þam mekely, and gladly and lawlyly, þat þay may wyn þat
57Godde hyghte to swylke barnes þat es laude of lyghte. And if
58þay be dede, thaym awe to helpe þaire sawles with almous dedes
59and prayers.
60    The fifte commandement es, þat 'thow slaa na man, nowthire
61with assente, ne with werke, ne with worde or fauour.' And also
62here es forboden vn-ryghtewyse hurtynge of any person. Thay
63are slaers gastely, þat will noghte feede þe pouer in nede, and
64þat defames men, and þat confoundes Innocentys.

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65    The sexte commandement es, 'Thow sall be na lichoure'; þat
66es, thow sall haue na man or woman Bot þat þou has taken in
67fourme of Haly Kyrke. Alswa here es forboden all maner of
68wilfull pollusyone procurede one any maner agaynes kyndly oys
69or oþer-gates.
70    The seuende commandement, es 'Thow sall noghte do na
71thyfte.' In the whylke es forboden all manere of withdraweynge
72of oþer men thynges wrangwysely, agaynes þaire
73wyll þat aghte it, Bot if it ware in tyme of maste nede, when all
74thynges erre comone. Also here es forboden gillery of weghte
75or of tale, or of mett or of mesure, or thorow okyre, or violence,
76or drede, als bedells or foresters duse, and mynystyrs of þe
77kynge, or thurghe extorcyone, als lordes duse.
78    The aughten commandement es, that 'thow sall noghte bere
79false wyttnes agaynes thi neghteboure,' als in assys, or cause of
80matremoyne. And also lyenges ere forboden in þis commandement,
81and forswerrynge. Bot all lyenges are noghte dedly syn,
82bot if þay noye till som man bodyly or gastely.
83    The nynde commandement es, 'Thow sall noghte couayte þe
84hous or oþer thynge mobill or in-mobill of þi neghtbour with
85wrange,' ne þou sall noghte hald oþer mens gude if þou may
86ȝelde thaym, elles þi penance saues þe noghte.
87    The tend commandement es, 'Thow sall noghte couayte þi
88neghtebour wyefe, ne his seruande, ne his mayden, ne mobylls
89of his.' He lufes God þat kepis thire commandementes for lufe.
90His neghtebour hym awe to lufe als hym selfe, þat es, till þe
91same gude þat he lufes hym-selfe to, na thynge till ill; and þat
92he lufe his neghtbour saule mare þan his body, or any gudeȝ of
93þe worlde, & cetera. Explicit.
94

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95

VIII

96

ITEM, IDEM DE SEPTEM DONIS SPIRITUS SANCTI.

97

ALSO OF THE GYFTES OF THE HALY GASTE.

98
99    Þe seuen gyftes of þe Haly Gaste þat ere gyfen to men and
100wymmen þat er ordaynede to þe Ioye of heuen, and ledys
101thaire lyfe in this worlde reghtwysely: - Thire are thay,
102Wysdom, Vndyrstandynge, Counsayle, Strenghe, Connynge,
103Pete, The drede of God. Begynn we at Consaile, for
104þare-of es myster at the begynnynge of oure werkes, þat vs
105myslyke noghte aftyrwarde. With thire seuen gyftes þe Haly
106Gaste teches sere men serely. Consaile es doynge awaye of
107worldes reches, and of all delytes of all thyngeȝ þat mane may
108be tagyld with in thoghte or dede, and þat withdrawynge in-till
109contemplacyone of Gode. Vndyrstandynge es to knawe whate
110es to doo and whate es to lefe, and þat that sall be gyffen, to
111gyffe it to thaym þat has nede, noghte till oþer þat has na
112myster. Wysedome es forgetynge of erthely thynges, and
113thynkynge of heuen, with discrecyone of all men dedys. In þis
114gyfte schynes contemplacyone, þat es, Saynt Austyn says,
115A gastely dede of fleschely Affeccyones thurghe þe Ioye of
116Araysede thoghte. Strenghe es lastynge to fullfill gude purpose,
117þat it be noghte lefte for wele ne for waa. Pete es, þat a man
118be mylde, and gaynesay noghte haly writte when it smyttes his
119synnys, whethire he vndyrstand it or noghte, Bot in all his
120myghte purge he þe vilte of syn in hym and oþer. Connynge
121es, þat makes a man of gude, noghte ruysand hym of his reghtewysnes,
122bot sorowand of his synnys, and þat man gedyrs erthely
123gude anely to the honour of God, and prow to oþer men þan
124hym-selfe. The drede of God es, þat we turne noghte Agayne
125till oure syn thurghe any ill eggyng. And þat es drede perfite
126in vs, and gastely, When we drede to wrethe God in þe leste syn
127þat we kan knawe, and flese it als venym. Explicit.
128

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129

IX

130

ITEM, IDEM DE DILECTACIONE IN DEO.

131

ALSO OF ÞE SAME,
132DELYTE AND ȜERNYNG OF GODE.

133

IHESUS, MARIE FILIUS, SIT MICHI CLEMENS & PROPECIUS! AMEN!

134
135    Gernyng and delite of Ihesu Criste, þat has na thyng of
136worldes thoghtes, es wondyrfull pure, haly, and faste;
137and when a man felis hym in þat degre, than es a man
138Circumsysede gastely. When all oþer besynes and affeccyons
139and thoghtes are drawen away owte of his saule That he may
140hafe ryste in Goddes lufe, with-owtten tagillynge of oþer thynges.
141The delyte es wondirfull. It es sa heghe þat na thoghte may
142reche þar-to to, bryng it doun. It es pure, when it es noghte
143blendid with na thynge þat es contrayrie thare-to. And it es
144faste, when it es clene and stabill, delitande by it-selfe. Thre
145thynges makes delite in Gode heghe. Ane es, restreynynge of
146fleschely luste in compleccionne. Anoþer es, restreynynge or
147repressynge of ill styrrynge and of temptacione in will. The
148thirde es, kepynge or hegheynge of þe herte in lyghtenynge of
149þe Halygaste, þat haldis his herte vpe fra all erthely thoghtes,
150þat he sette nane obstakill at the comynge of Criste in-till hym.
151Ilkane þat couaytes endles hele, Be he besy nyghte and daye to
152fulfill þis lare, or elles to Cristeȝ lufe he may noghte wynn; For
153it es heghe, and all þat it duellis in, it lyftes abown layery lustes
154and vile couaytes, and abown all affeccyouns and thoghtes of
155any bodily thynge. Twa thynges makes oure delyte pure.
156Ane es, ternynge of sensualite to the skyll. For, when any es
157tornede to delite of hys fyve wittes, alsonne vnclennes entyrs in-to
158his saule. Anoþer es, þat þe skyll mekely be vssede in gastely
159thynges, als in medytacyons, and orysouns, and lukynge in haly
160bukes. For-thy þe delyte þat has noghte of vnordaynde
161styrrynge, and mekely has styrrynge in Criste, and in whilke
162þe sensualyte es tournede to þe skyll, all sette and eysede tyll
163God, makys a mans saule in ryste & sekirnes, and ay to duell in

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164gude hope, & to be payede with all Godis sandes with-owtten
165gruchynge or heuynese of thoghteȝ, & cetera. Explicit.
166

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167

X

168

THE ANEHEDE OF GODD WITH MANNIS SAULE.

169THE HEADING ON LF. 219 BK.
170    Dere Frende, wit þou wele þat þe ende and þe soueraynte
171of perfeccione standes in a verray anehede of Godd
172and of manes saule by perfyte charyte. This Ende
173þan es verrayly made, whene þe myghtes of þe saule
174er refourmede by grace to þe dignyte and þe state of þe
175firste condicione, þat es, whene þe mynde es stablede
176sadely, with-owtten changynge and vagacyone, in Godd and
177gastely thynges, and when the resone es cleryde fra all worldly
178& fleschely behaldynges and Imagycyones, fygours and fantasyes
179of creatures, and es illumenede with grace for to be-halde
180Godde and gastely thynges, and when þe will and þe affeccyon
181es puryfiede and clensede fra all fleschely lustes, kyndely and
182werldly lufe, and es enflawmede with brennande lufe of þe Haly
183Gaste. Bot þis wondirfull anehede may noghte be fulfillede
184perfytely, contenually, ne hally in þis lyfe, for corrupcyon of þe
185flesche, Bot anely in þe blysse of heuen. Neuer-þe-lattere, þe
186nerre þat a saule in þis presente lyfe may come to þis anehede,
187þe mare perfite it es, For þe mare þat it es refourmede by grace
188till þe ymage and þe lyknes of his creatoure here one þis manere
189wyse, þe more Ioy and blysse sall it hafe in heuen. Oure Lorde
190Godd es ane Endles beynge with-owtten chaungynge, All-myghtty
191with-owtten faylynge, Souerayne wysdome, lyghte, sofastenes
192with-owtten errour or myrknes; Souerayne gudnes, lufe, Pees

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193and swetnes; þan, þe mare þat a saule es Anehede, festened, confourmede
194& Ioynede to oure Lorde Godd, þe mare stabill it es
195& myghty, þe mare wysse & clere, Gude, peyseble, luffande,
196and mare vertuous; and so it es mare perfite. For a saule þat
197haues, by grace of Ihesu, and lange trauayle of bodyly & gastely
198excercyse, ouercommen and dystroyede concupyscensand passiouns,
199and vnskillwyse styrrynges with-in it-selfe, and with-owtten
200in þe sensualite, and es clede in vertus, - as in mekenes and
201myldnes, in pacyence, in sothefastnes, in gastely strenghe and
202ryghtewisenes, in contynence, in wysdom, in trouthe, hope, and
203charyte, - þan es it made perfite als it may be in þis lyfe. Mekill
204comforthe it reschayues of oure Lorde, noȝte anely inwardly in
205his preue substance, be þe vertu of þe anehede to oure Lorde, þat
206lyes in knaweynge and lufynge of Godd, in lyghte of gastely
207brynnynge of hym, in transfourmynge of þe saule in þe Godhede,
208Bot also in many oþer comforthes, & Sauours, swettnes, and
209wondirfull felynges one sere maners. Aftir oure Lorde vouches
210safe to vesete his creatours here in erthe, and eftyre þe saule profytes
211and waxes in charyte, Some saule (by vertue of charyte þat
212Godd gyffes it) es so clensede, þat all creaturs, in all þat he heris
213or sese, or felis by any of his wittes, turnes hym till comforthe
214and gladnes; and þe sensualite receyues newe savour and swetnes
215in all creaturs. And righte als before, þe lykynges in þe sensualite
216ware fleschely, vayne, and vecyous, for þe payne of þe orygynalle
217synn, righte so nowe þay ere made gastely, and clene, with-owtten
218bitternes and bytynge of concyence. And þis es þe gudnes of
219oure Lorde, þat, sen þe saule es puneschede in the sensualite, and
220þe flesche es partynere of þe payne, That eftirwarde þe saule be
221comforthede in hir sensualite, and þe flesche be felawe of þe Ioye
222and comforthe with þe saule, noghte fleschely, bot gastely, als he
223was felawe in tribulacione and payne. þis es þe fredom & þe
224lordchipe, dygnyte and þe wyrchipe, þat a manes saule hase ouer
225all creaturs; The whylke dygnyte he may receyue by grace here,
226þat ilk a creature sauoure to hym als it es, and þat es, when by
227grace he sese, or he heres, or he felys anely Godd in all creaturs.

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228One þis maner wyse a saule es made gastely in þe sensualite by
229abowndance of charite þat es in þe substance of the saule. Also
230oure Lorde comforthes a saule by Aungells sange. Bot what þat
231sange es, it may noghte be dyscryuede be no bodyly lyknes, for it
232es gastely, and abown all manere of ymagynacyone and mans
233reson. It may be perceyuede and felide in a saule, bot it may
234noghte be spoken. Neuer-þe-lattere, I speke þare-of to þe als
235me thynke. When a saule es puryfyede by þe lufe of Godd,
236Illumynede by wysedom, stabled by myghte of Godd, Than es þe
237eghe of þe saule opyned to be-halde gastely thynges, as vertus,
238Aungells, and haly saules, and heuenly thynges. Thane es þe saule
239abill, by cause of clennes, to fele þe toucheynge, þe spekynge of
240gude Aungells. This touchyng and spekynge es gastely, noghte
241bodyly: For when þe saule es lyftede and raysede owte of the
242sensualyte, and owte of mynde of any erthely thynges, Than in
243gret feruoure of lufe and lyghte of Godd, if oure Lorde vouche-safe,
244þe saule may here & fele heuenly sowun, made by þe presence
245of Aungells in louynge of Godd. Noghte þat þis sange of
246Aungells es souerayne Ioy of þe saule, Bot a defference þat es
247by-twyxe a manes saule in flesche and ane Aungelle, be-cause of
248vnclennes. A saule may noghte here it, bot by rauyschynge in
249lufe, and nedis for to be puryfiede full clene, and fullfillide of
250mekyll charyte, are it ware abyll for to here heuenly sowun.
251For þe souerayne and þe Escencyalle Ioy es in þe lufe of Godd by
252hym-selfe and for hym-selfe, and þe secundarye es in comonynge
253and byhaldynge of Aungells and gastely creaturs. For, ryghte as
254a saule, in vndirstandynge of gastely thynges, es of ofte sythes
255touched and kennede thurghe bodyly ymagynacyone, by wyrkynge
256of Aungells (as Eȝechielle þe profete sawe in bodily ymagynacyonne
257þe sothefastnes of Goddes preuates), Righte so, in þe lufe of
258Godd, a saule, be þe presence of Aungelles, es raueschede owte
259of all mynde of erthely and fleschely thynges in-to a heuenly Ioye,
260to here Aungells saunge and heuenly sowun, eftir þat þe charite
261es mare or lesse. Nowe than, thynke me, þat þer may no saule
262fele verreyly Aungells sange ne heuenly sown, bot it be in perfite
263charite. And noghte for-thi all þat are in perfite charyte ne

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264hase noghte felyde it, Bot anely þat saule þat es purede in þe
265fyre of lufe of Godd, þat all erthely sauoure es brynte owte of it,
266and all menes lettande be-twyx þe saule and þe clennes of Angells
267es broken and put awaye fra it. Þan sothely may he synge a
268newe sange, and sothely may he here a blysfull heuenly sown
269and Aungells sange, with-owtten dessayte or feynynge. Oure
270Lorde wate whare þat saule es þat, for abowndance of brynnande
271lufe, es worthi to here Aungells sange. Wha-so þan will here
272Aungells sange, and noghte be dyssayuede by feynynge, ne by
273ymagynacyone of hym-selfe, ne by illusyone of þe Enemy, hym
274behoues hafe perfite charite, and þat es, when all vayne lufe and
275drede, vayne Ioy and sorowe, es casten owte of þe herte, þat he
276lufes na thynge bot Godd, ne dredis na thynge bot Godd, ne
277Ioyes ne sorowes na thynge bot in Godd, or of Godd. Who-so
278myghte, by þe grace of Godd, go þis way, he sulde noghte erre.
279Neuer-þe-lattere som men ere disceyued by þaire awenn ymagynacyon,
280or by illucyon of þe Enemy in þis matere. Som man,
281when he hase lange trauelde bodily and gastely in dystroynge of
282synnes and getynge of vertus, and perauenture hase getyn
283by grace a somdele ryste, and a clerete in concyence, onone he
284leues prayers, redyngs of haly writte, and medytacions of þe
285passione of Criste, and þe mynde of his wrechidnes, and, are
286he be callede of Godd, he gedyrs his wittys by violence to seke
287and to be-halde heuenly thynges, are his eghe be made gastely
288by grace, and ouertrauells by ymagynacionns his wittes, and by
289vndiscrete trauellynge turnes þe braynes in his heuede, and forbrekes
290þe myghtes and þe wittes of þe saule and of þe body; and
291þan, for febilnes of þe brayne, hym thynkes þat he heres woundirfull
292sownes and sanges, and þat es no thynge ells bot a fantasie
293caused of trubblyng of þe brayne, as a man þat es in a frensye,
294hym thynkes þat he herys or sese þat na noþer man duse, and all
295es bot vanyte and fantasie of þe heued; or elles by wyrkyng of
296þe enemy þat fenys swylke sowune in his herynge. For if a man
297hase any presumpcione in his fantasies and in his wirkynge, and
298þare-be falles in-to vndiscrete ymagynacyone, as it ware a frensye,
299and es noghte kennede ne rewlede of grace, ne comforthede by

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300gastely strenghe, þe deuelle entirs þan by fals illumynacyons, and
301fals sownnes and swetnes, and dyssaues a mans saule. And of
302þis false grounde sprynges errours and herysyes, false prophesyes,
303presumpcyons and false rusynngs, Blasfemyes, and sclandirynges,
304and many oþer meschefes. And þare-fore, if þou se any man
305gastely ocupiede Falle in any of þise synnes, and þise dissaytes,
306or in frensyes, wit þou wele þat he herde neuer ne felide Aungells
307sange, ne heuenly sowne. For sothely, he þat verreyly heres
308Aungels sange, he es made so wyse þat he sall neuer erre by
309fantasye, ne by indiscrecyon, ne by no sleghte of þe deuelle.
310Also som men felis in theire hertes as it ware a gastely sowne and
311swete sanges of dyuerse maners, and þis es commonly gude, and
312somtyme it may turne tyll dissayte. þis sowne es felide one þis
313wyse. Some man settis þe thoghte of his herte anely in þe
314name of Ihesu, and stedfastly haldis it þare-too; and in schorte
315tym hym thynkes that þat name turnes hym till gret comforthe
316and swetnes, and hym thynkes þat þe name sowunes in his herte
317delitably, as it were a saunge, and þe vertu of þis likynge es so
318myghty, þat it drawes in all þe wittes of þe saule þare-to. Who-so
319may fele þis sownne and þis swetnes verrayly in his herte, wite
320he wiele þat it es of Godd; and als lange als he es meke, he sall
321noghte be dissayuede. Bot þis es noghte Aungels sange, bot it
322es a saunge of þe saule, be vertu of þe name, and by touchynge of
323þe gude Aungels. For when a saule offers it to Ihesu trewly
324& mekely, puttande all his traiste and his desyre in hym, and
325besily kepis in his mynde, Oure Lorde Ihesu, whene he will,
326puris þe affeccione of þe saule, and fillis it & fedis it with
327swetnes of hym-selfe, and makes his name in þe felynge of þe
328saule as hony, and as sange, and as any thynge þat es delitabill.
329So þat it lykes þe saule euer mare for to cry 'Ihesu, Ihesu'; and
330noghte anely he hase comforthe in þis, bot also in psalmes and
331ympnes, and antymms of Haly Kyrke, þat þe herte synges þam
332swetely, deuotly, and frely, with-owtten any trauelle of þe saule,
333or bitternes, in þe same tym, and noteȝ þat Haly Kyrke vses.
334This es þe gude and of þe gyfte of Godd, For þe substance of þis

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335felynge lyes in þe lufe of Ihesu, whilke es fedde and lyghtenede
336by swilke maner of sanges. Neuer-þe-lattere, in þis maner
337felynge a saule may be disceyuede by vayne glorye, noghte in
338þat tym þat þe affeccion synges to Ihesu and loues Ihesu
339in swetnes of hym, bot eftyrwarde, whan it cesses, & þe herte
340kelis of loue of Ihesu, Than entyrs in vayne glorie. Also sum
341man es dessayuede on þis wyese. He heris wele say þat it es
342gude to haue Ihesu in his mynde, or any oþer gude worde of
343Godd, and þan he streynes his herte myghtyly to þat name, and
344by acostom he hase it nerehande alway in his mynde. Noghte
345for-thi he felis nouþer þare-by, in his affeccyonne, swetnes, ne
346lighte of knawynge in his resoun, bot anely a nakede mynde of
347Godd or of Ihesu, or of Mary, or of any oþer gude worde. Here
348may be disceyte, noghte for it es ill to hafe Ihesu in mynde on þis
349wyse, Bot if he think a thinge and this mynde, þat es anely his
350awen wyrkynge by custom, halde it a specyalle vesytacyon of
351oure Lorde, and thynke it mare þan it es. For, wite þou wele,
352þat a nakede mynde or a nakede ymagycion of Ihesu or of any
353gastely thynge, with-owtten swetnes of lufe in þe affeccion, or
354with-owtten lyghte of knawynge in resoun, es bot a blyndnes,
355and a waye to dessayte, if a man halde it it his awen mare þan
356it es. Thare-fore I halde it sekyre þat he be meke in his awen
357felynge, and halde þis mynde in regarde noghte, till he mowe, be
358custom and vsynge of þis mynde, fele þe fyre of lufe in his affeccion,
359and þe lyghte of knawynge in his reson. Loo! I haue
360tolde þe in þis mater a lyttill as me thynke; noghte affermande
361þat þis suffisches, ne þat þis es þe sothefastnes in þis mater. Bot
362if þe thynke it oþer-wyse, or elles any oþer man sauour by grace
363þe contrarye here-to, I leue þe saying, and gyfe stede to hym. It
364sufficeth to me for to lyffe in trouthe princypally, and noghte in
365felynge.
366

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367

XI

368

ACTIVE AND CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE.

369
370    Brethirne and susteryne bodely and goostely, two maner of
371states ther bene in holy chirch, be the which cristen soules
372plesyn God and gettyn hem the blisse of heven, the one is
373bodily, and the other is gostely. Bodely wirkynge longith
374principally to worldely men or women, the which haunten leuefully
375worldely goodes and wilfully vsen worldely besynessis.
376Also itt longith to all yonge begynnynge men, which come newe
377oute of worldely synnes to the seruyce of God, forto make
378hem able to goostely wyrkynges, and forto breke downe the
379vnbuxomnes of the body be skill, And swich bodely wyrkynges
380that itt myght be souple and redy, and not moch contrarious
381to the spirite in gostely wyrkynge. For, as seynt Poule seith,
382as women was maade for man, and not man for women, Ryght
383so bodely wirkyngis was maade for goostely, and not gostely for
384bodely. Bodely wirkyngis goth before, and gostely comyth aftir,
385so seith seynt Poule,
386    Non quod prius spirituale, sed quod prius animale, deinde
387spirituale.

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388    Gostely werke comyth not firste; but firste comyth bodely
389werke that is doone by the body, and sithen comyth gostely
390aftir; and this is the cause why itt behouyth the to be soo, for
391we are borne in synne and in corrupcion of the flessh, by the
392which we be so blyndet and so ouerlaide, that we haue nethir
393the gostely knowynge of God by light of vndirstondynge, ne
394gostely felynge of hym by clene desire of lovynge. And for-thi
395we mowe not sodenly stir oute of this mirke pitte of this flesshly
396corrupcion into that gostely light. For we may not suffre itt
397ne bere itt for sekenes of oure silfe, no more than we may with
398oure bodely eene, when þei be sore, beholde the light of the sonne.
399And therfor we muste abide, and wirke be processe of tyme.
400    Firste bi bodily werkis besili, vnto we be discharged of this
401hevy birthen of synne, þe which lettith vs fro goostely
402wirkynge, And till oure soule be somwhat clensid from gret
403outewarde synnes, and abiled to gostely werke. By this bodely
404wirkynge that I spake of, may þou vndirstonde all maner of
405goode werke that thi soule doth by þe wittes and the membres
406of thi bodi vnto thi silfe, - as in fastynge, wakeynge, and in
407refreynynge of thi flesshly lustis, be othir pennaunce doynge, - or
408to thine even cristen, by fulfillynge of the dedis of mercy bodili
409or gostely, or vnto God, by suffrynge of all maner bodely mischeves
410for the loue of rightwisnes. And thees werkis doone in trouth
411by charite pleysyn God, with-out the which þei be noght. Than
412who-so desirith forto be occupied gostely, hit is sekir and
413profitable to hym that he be firste well assaide a longe tyme
414in this bodely wirkynge, for thies bodely dedis ar tokyne and
415shewynge of moralle vertues, with-oute which a soule is not
416able forto werke gostely. Breke downe firste pride in bodely
417berynge, and also with-in thi herte, thynkynge, boostynge, and
418prikkynge and preysynge of thi silfe and of thi dedis, presumynge
419of thi silfe, and veynlikynge of thi silfe, of eny thynge
420that God hath sent the, bodili or gostely. Breke downe also
421envy and Ire ayene thyne even cristen, wheþer he be riche or
422pore, goode or badde, that þou hate hym nott, ne haue

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423disdeyne of hym wilfully, nethir in worde, ne in dede. All-so
424breke doune Couatise or worldely goode, þat þou (for holdynge
425or getynge or sauynge of itt) offende not thi conscience, ne breke
426not charite to God and to thi even cristen, for loue of no
427worldely gode, but that þou getiste to kepe itt and to spened
428itt with-oute loue or vaynlikynge of itt, as reson askith, in
429worship of God, and helpe of thyne evyn cristyn. Breke
430doune also, as þou may, flesshely likynges, oþer in accidie or in
431bodili ease, or glotonie, or licherye; and þan, whan þou haste be
432well trauailed and wele assaide in all swich bodily werkes,
433than may þou bi grace ordeyne the to goostely wirkynges.
434Grace and the goodenes of oure lorde Ihesu Criste that he
435hath shewed to the, - in with-drawynge of thyne herte fro luste
436and from likynges of worldely vanite, and vse of flesshly synnes
437and in the turnynge of thi will enterely to his seruyce and his
438plesaunce, - bryngith into my herte much mater to loue hym in
439his mercy. And also itt sterith me gretly to strength the in thi
440goode purpos and thi wirkynge that þou haste begon, forto
441brynge itt to a goode ende, if that I coude, and principally for
442God, and sithen for tendir affeccion of loue which þou haste to
443me, Thoffe I be a wrech and vnworthi. I knowe well the
444desire of thi herte, that þou desiriste gretely to serue oure Lorde
445by goostely occupacion, and holy, with-oute lettynge or strobillynge
446of worldely besynes, þat þou myght com by grace to more
447knowynge and gostely felynge of God, and of gostely thyngis.
448This desire is goode, as I hope, and of God, for itt is sente vnto
449hym specially. Nevirtheles itt is to refreyne and rewlen by
450discrecion, as even outwarde wirkynge aftir the state that þou
451arte in, for charite vnrewled turnyth som tyme into vice. And
452for this is seid in holy write, 'Ordinauit in me caritatem,'
453That is to sey, oure Lorde yevynge EDITION: yevYnge to me cherite, sett itt in ordir,
454and in reule, that itt shulde nat be loste by myne discrecion.
455Right so this charite and this desire that oure Lorde hattth
456yeven, of his mercy, to the, is forto rule and ordeyne how thou
457shalte pursewe itt, aftir þi degre askith, and aftir the lyvynge
458that thou haste vsed by-for this tyme, and after the grace of

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459vertues that þou now haste. Thow shalt not vttirly folow thi
460desire forto leve occupacion and besynes of the worlde which ar
461nedefull to vsen, in reulynge of thi silfe and of all othir that,
462ar vndir thi kepynge, and yeve the holy to gostely occupacion of
463prayers and holy meditacions as itt were a frere or a monke, or
464anoþer man that war not bonden to the worlde by children and
465seruantes as þou arte, for itt fallith not to the. And if þou doo
466soo, thou kepiste not the ordire and charite. Also yf þou woldiste
467leven vttirly gostely occupacion, namely now aftir þe grace that
468God hath yeven vnto þe, and sett the holy to the besynes
469of the worlde, to the fulfillynge of the werkis of actife liffe
470as fully as anothir man that nevir felt deuocion, thou leuyste
471the ordir of cherite, for thi state askith forto doo both ilkon
472of hem in dyvyrs tymes. Thou shalt medle the werkes of
473actife liffe with goostely werkes of live comtemplatyfe, and than
474þou doste wele. For þou shalt oo tyme with Martha be besy
475forto reule and gouerne thi householde, thi children, thi seruantes,
476þi neghboris, and thi tenantes; if þei do well, comforth
477hem there-in and helpe hem; if thei do evill, forto teche
478hem, amende hem, and chastise hem. And thou shalt also loke
479and knowe wysely thi thyngis and thi worldely goodes, þat þei be
480ryghtwysly kepte bi thi seruantes, gouerned and truly spendid,
481that þou myght the more plentivosly fulfill the dedis of mercy
482with hem vnto thyne evyn cristen. Also thou shalt, with Maria,
483leve besines of the world, and sitt dovne at the fete of oure Lorde
484by mekenes in prayers, and in holy thoghtes and in contemplacion
485of hym as he yevith the grace; and so shalt þou goo from
486the oone to the othir medefully, and fulfill hem both, and than
487kepiste þou well the ordir of cherite.
488
489

VNTO WHAT MANER OF MEN LONGITH ACTIFFE LIFFE.

490    Neuertheles, that þou haue no wondre of this that I say, þerefore
491I shall tell and declare to the a litill of this more
492opynly. þou shalt vnderstonde that þere is iij maner of livyngis:
493One is actife, anothir comtemplatife, the thride is made of both,
494and that is medlid. Actyfe liffe alon, that longith to worldely

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495men and women which ar lerned in knowynge of gostely
496occupacion, for þei fele no sauoure ne deuocion be feruour of loue,
497as othir men doo, ne thei can no skill of itt, and yitt nevirtheles
498thei haue drede of God, and of the payne of hell, and þerefore thei
499fle synne, and thei haue desire forto please God, and forto com
500to heven, and a goode wille hauen to her even cristen. Vnto
501these men itt is nedefull and spedefull to vse the werkis of Actife
502liffe als besili as þei may, in the helpe of hem silfe and of hir
503even cristen, for thei can nott els doo.
504
505

VNTO WHICH MEN LONGITH CONTEMPLATIFE LIFF.

506    Contemplatife liffe alon longith to swyche men and women
507that, for the loue of Godd, for-saken all opyn synnes of the
508worlde, and of hir flessh, and all besynes chargis, and grevance
509of worldely goodis, and maken hem silfe pore and naked, to the
510bare nede of the bodili kynde, and fre fro soueraynte of alle
511othir men, to the seruice of God. Vnto thies men itt longith
512forto trauaile and occupy hem inwardly forto gett, thorow the
513grace of our Lorde, clennes in herte, and pes in conscience, bi the
514distroynge of synne and receyvynge of vertues, and so forto com
515to the comtemplacion; which clennes may not be hadd with-out
516gret excersyice of body and continuell trauaile of the spirit, in
517deuoute prayers, feruent desires, and gostely meditacions.
518
519

VNTO WHICH MEN LONGITH MEDELID LIFFE.

520    The thride liffe, that is, medlid liffe, itt longith to men of
521holi-chirch, as to prelates and to oþer Curatis, the which
522han cure and souerante ouer othir men forto teche and reule hem,
523both hir bodies and hir soules, principally in fulfillynge of the
524dedis of mercy bodili and gostely. Vnto thes men itt longith
525som tyme to vsen werkis of mercy in actife liffe, in helpe and
526sustinaunce of hem silfe and of hir sugettis and of othir also,
527and som tyme forto leve all maner of besines ovtewarde, and
528yeve hem vnto prayers and meditacions, and redynge of holy
529writt, and to othir gosteli occupacions, after that thei fele hem

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530disposed. Also itt longith to som temperall men, the which han
531soueraynte with michell haver of worldely goodis, and han also
532as itt wer lordisshipe ouer othir men forto gouerne and sustene
533hem, as a fader hath ovir his children, a maistre ouer his seruantis,
534and a lorde ovir his tenantes, the which men han also
535receyved of oure Lordes yifte grace of deuocion, and in party
536sauoure of gostely occupacion, vnto these men also longith medlid
537liffe, that is both actife and contemplatife. For if þese men,
538stondynge the charge and the bonde which thei haue taken, wille
539leve vtterly the besynes of the world, the which owe skilfully to
540be vsed in fulfillynge of hir charge, and hooly yeve hem to contemplatife
541liffe, thei doo not well, for thei kepe nott the ordir of
542cherite. For charite, as þou knowiste, lith both in loue of God
543and of thyne evyn cristen, and þere-fore itt is resounable, that
544he that hath cherite, vse both, in wirkynge now to the one and
545now to the othir. For he þat, for the loue of God in contemplacion,
546levith the loue of his evyn cristen, and doth not to hym as
547he oght when he is bonden þere-to, he fulfillith no cherite. Also,
548on the contrary wise, who-so hath gret rewarde to wirke actife
549liffe and to besinnes of þe worlde that, for the loue of his evyn
550cristen, he levith gostely occupacion vtterly, after þat God hath
551disposed hem there-too, thei fulfill not cherite. This is the seynge
552of seynt Gregory. For-thi our Lorde, forto stere som forto vse
553this medlid liffe, toke vpon hym silfe the person of swiche
554maner of men, both of prelates, and of othir swich as ar disposed
555ther-to as I haue seide, and yave hem ensample, by his owen
556wirkynge, that thei shulde vse this medlid liffe as he did, that
557tyme he comyned with men and medled with men, shewynge to
558hem his dedis of mercy. For he taght the vn-couthe and vnkunnynge
559by his prechynge, he vesited þe seke, and helid hem of
560hir sores, he fedde the hungry, and he conforted the sory. And
561an othir tym he lefte þe conuersacion of all worldely men, and of
562his disciplis, and went into disserte vpon the hilles, and continued
563all night in prayers alone, as the gospell seith. Þis
564medlid liffe shewith oure Lorde in hym silfe to ensample of all

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565othir that han taken the charge of þis medlid liffe, that þei shuld
566oo tyme yeven hem to besynes and worldely thyngis att resonable
567nede, and to the werkes of actiffe liffe in profitt of her encresynge,
568which þei haue cure of. And an othir tyme yive hem holy
569to deuocion and to contemplacion, in prayers and in meditacion.