Mirrour of the blessed lyf of Jesu Christ : a translation of the Latin work entitled Meditationes Vitæ Christi : attributed to Cardinal Bonaventura : made before the Year 1410
About this Item
Title
Mirrour of the blessed lyf of Jesu Christ : a translation of the Latin work entitled Meditationes Vitæ Christi : attributed to Cardinal Bonaventura : made before the Year 1410
Author
Love, Nicholas, fl. 1410
Editor
Powell, Lawrence Fitzroy, 1881-1975
Publication
Oxford: Clarendon Press
1908
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"Mirrour of the blessed lyf of Jesu Christ : a translation of the Latin work entitled Meditationes Vitæ Christi : attributed to Cardinal Bonaventura : made before the Year 1410." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/LoveMirrour. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 3, 2024.
Pages
¶ The firſte partie hath fiue chapitres touchinge contemplacioun
for Moneday and for the tyme of Aduent / as
it foloweth after.
¶Capm.jm. ¶ A deuoute Meditacioun of the grete counſeile in
heuene for the reſtorynge of man and his ſauacioun.
After the tyme that man was exiled oute of the
hiȝe Citee of heuene by the riȝtwis dome of all
myȝty god / ſouereyne kyng thereof / for his
treſpas and his ſynne· and ſo wrecchedly lay
in preſoun / and was holden in the bondes of that tyraunt
the deuel of helle / that none myȝte come aȝen to that
bleſſed citee the ſpace of fyue thowſand ȝere and more:
alle the bleſſid ſpirites of heuene deſirynge the reſtorynge
of her companye / that was fallen doun with lucifer /
hadden grete compaſſioun of ſo longe meſchief of man
that was made to here reſtorynge / and preiden often for
his reſtorynge / but ſpecially and with more inſtaunce
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whan the tyme of grace was comen. What tyme / as we
mowen deuoutly ymagyne / alle that bleſſid companye
of aungels gedered to gidre with one wille and ſouereyne
deuocioun fellen doun proſtrate to fore the trone of almyȝty
god / kyng of heuene. And gabriel / to whom / as ſeint
Bernard ſeith / was made ſpecial reuelacioun of criſtes
incarnacioun / in her alther name ſeide in this manere:
Almyȝty lord / it liked in ȝoure hiȝe maieſte / of ȝoure endeles
goodneſſe / to make of nouȝt that noble and reſonable creature
/ man / for oure conforte and oure goodneſſe· that of
hym ſchulde be made the reſtorynge of oure falſe companye/
lucifer and his felawes / that fellen doun fro vs by apoſtacie·
ſo that he ſchulde dwelle here in this bliſſed place with vs/
louynge and worſchippynge ȝow with outen ende. But loo /
good lorde / now alle thei periſſhen and none is ſaued·
and in ſo manye thowſand ȝere paſſed / we ſeie none of hem
alle here. Oure enemyes hauen the victorie· and of hem
oure party is noȝt reſtored / but the priſoun of helle continuelliche
filled. Wherto / lorde / be they borne to ſo greet
meſchief? For though it be done after ȝoure riȝtwiſneſſe·
neuertheleſſe / lord / it is now tyme of mercye. Haueth in
mynde that ȝe made hem after ȝoure owne likneſſe· and
though her forme fadres folily and wrecchedly breken ȝoure
maundement or heſte: neuertheles ȝoure mercye is aboue
alle thinges. Wherfore all her eyȝen ben ſette vppon ȝow /
as the ſeruantes in the lordes handes / til ȝe haue mercye /
and helpe hem with a ſpedeful and heleful remedie.
¶ De contencione inter miſericordiam et veritatem.
¶ Herewith bygan a manere of altercacioun and diſputeſoun
bytwixe the foure kynges douȝtres / that is to ſaie /
mercy and ſothfaſtneſſe / pees and riȝtwiſneſſe. Of the
whiche foure / mercye and pees accordynge to the aungels
prayer forſeide weren fauorable to mannis reſtorynge: but
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the tother tweyne ſiſtres / ſothefaſtnes and riȝtwiſneſſe / aȝeyne
ſeiden: als ſeint Bernard be deuouȝt ymaginacioun
maketh herof a faire proceſſe and a long. But forto take
therof ſchortly / as to oure purpos at this tyme / ſumwhat in
othere manere and in othere wordes we mowen ymagyne
and thenke thus: Firſt / mercy and pees knelynge to fore
her fader / kyng of heuene / by the prophetes wordes Dauid
ſeiden thus: Lorde / ſchalt thou caſt away fro the man with
owten ende / or haſt thou forȝeten to doo mercye? And
this often and longe tyme they reherſeden. Thanne ſeide
oure lorde: Lete clepe forth ȝoure othere tweyne ſuſtres /
the whiche ȝe ſeen redy aȝenſt ȝow / and lete vs here alſo
what they wole ſeie herto.
¶ And whan they were cleped / and comen alle togidre /
mercy bygan and ſeide in this wiſe: My fader of mercy /
it was ȝoure wille euere with outen ende amonge ȝoure
othere douȝtres / my ſuſtres / to ȝeue me that prerogatyf
abouen alle ȝoure werkes / that not onliche I ſchulde
ſpecially regne here with ȝow in heuene / bot alſo that the
erthe ſchulde be replenyſched and filled with me to ſo
mykel vertu that who ſo wolde trewely and biſely aſke
my help in any meſchief or nede / he ſchulde with outen
fayle fynde ȝoure ſocour and helpe thoruȝ the mediacioun
of me. But loo now / my dere fader / that worthy party of
erthe and ȝoure noble creature man / in his grete wrecchedneſſe
and meſchief ſo longe tyme liggynge / cryeth contynuellyche
and aſketh after myn helpe· and now tyme
is comen in the whiche but ȝe helpe and ſaue hym I
periſſhe and leſe my name.
¶ Here aȝenſt the other ſiſter / ſothefaſtneſſe / ſeide:
And ȝe knowen wele my fader / ſothfaſt god / that I am
the bygynnynge of ȝoure wordes / and after ȝe made man
in ſo grete worthyneſſe / ȝe wedded me to hym in that
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condicioun that what tyme he breke ȝour heſte / he and
alle that comen of hym ſchulde leſe hir bleſſid lyf and be
dampned and done to dethe. Wherefore ſithen he forſoke
me / and betoke hym to ȝoure enemye and myne /
the fader of leſynge / witneſſynge my ſiſtre riȝtwiſneſſe /
I periſche and leſe my name but he hath the dethe that
he hath deſerued.
¶ Thanne ſpake ryȝtwiſneſſe and ſeide: Riȝtwyſe lorde /
my fader / thou haſt ordeyned me gouernour of thy dome /
laſtynge with outen ende· and my ſiſtre truthe techer of
thy lawe: and al though it ſo be that oure ſiſter mercye
be ſtired of pitee and a gode ȝele for mannis ſauacioun·
neuertheles in that ſche wolde ſaue hym that hath ſo
greetly forfeted aȝenſt ȝow and vs alſo with outen dewe
ſatisfaccioun / ſche wolde deſtroye vs bothe hir ſiſtren /
that is to ſeie trewthe and riȝtwiſneſſe / and fordone oure
name.
¶ Herwith the ferthe ſuſtir / Pees / came forth / and
firſt ſoberlly blamynge hir ſuſtres for here contrarious
wordes and her ſtryf / ſeide to hem thus: Knowe ȝe not
wele / ſuſtres / that oure fader hath ordeyned and made his
place onliche there as I am / and I may not abide ne
dwelle there as is ſtryf or diſencioun? and that is noȝt
ſemely / bot fully aȝenſt kynde to be amonge vertues.
Wherfore but ȝe ceſe of ſtryf and be accorded / I moſte
forſake ȝow and my fader alſo. Lo here a grete contrauerſy
bitwix theſe foure douȝters of oure lorde· and ſo
grete reſones that it was noȝt ſeyn how that in mannis
ſauacioun / mercy and ſothfaſtneſſe / pees and riȝtwiſneſſe /
myȝt fully be kept and accorded.
¶ Than bad the fader of heuene / that for alſo mykel that
he hadde committed and ȝeuen alle his dome to his dere
ſone / ſouereyne wiſdome / kyng euerlaſtynge / with hym
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in one godhede / that thiſe foure douȝtres ſchulde goo to
hym / he to termyne this queſtioun and ȝeue a dome theron.
And than the kyng / ſouereyn wiſdom / wroot the ſentence
and the dome in this matere / and toke it to his Chauncelere /
Reſoun / to rede it in his name / ſaienge in this wordes:
This douȝter ſothfaſtneſſe ſeith / that ſche periſſheth and
leſeth her name / but man haue the deth that he hath
diſſerued· and with her accordeth her ſuſter riȝtwiſneſſe:
and on the othere ſide mercy ſeith / that sche periſſheth
and leſeth hir name / bot man haue mercy and be ſaued·
and with her accordeth the ferthe ſuſtre Pees. Wherfore
to accorde alle thiſe to gidre / and for a fynal dome in this
matire / let be made a gode dethe of man· ſo that one
be founden with outen ſynne that may and wole innocently
and for charitee ſuffre deth for man: and thanne
haue they all that they aſken. For than may not deth
lenger holden hym that is with owten ſynne or treſpas·
and ſo he ſchal pers hym / makyng in hym a hole and
a way / thoruȝ the whiche man may paſſe and be ſaued.
¶ In this ſentence and dome alle the courte of heuen /
wondring and commendynge the ſouereyn wiſdam / aſſenteden
wel herto· but furthermore aſkeden amonge
hem ſelf / where that one myȝte be founden that ſchulde
fulfille and do this dede of charite.
¶ And than mercy toke with hir reſoun and ſouȝte
among alle the ordres of aungels in heuene to ſe whether
any of hem were able to doo this dede· bot ther was
none. Alſo ſothfaſtneſſe ſouȝte fro heuene to the clowdes
bynethen / whether there were eny creature that myȝte
perfourme it· and they weren alle vnable.
¶ Riȝtwiſneſſe went doun to Erthe and ſouȝte among
the hiȝe hilles / and in to the depe pytte of helle / whether
there were eny man that myȝte take this good and innocent
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deth; but there was none founden clene of ſynne /
no / not the child of one dayes birthe. And ſo ſche went
aȝen vppe to hir ſuſtres tellynge / that alle men had forfeted
and weren vnable· and there was non that myȝte
do that good dede. Wherfore they weren alle full ſory
and heuy that they myȝte not fynde that one that they
deſireden. Than ſeide pees: Wete ȝe not wele / that the
prophete that ſeide there is none founden that may done
good· afterward he putteth to more and ſeith / til it come
to oon: this oon man may be he that ȝaf the ſentence
forſaide of mannis ſauacioun. Wherfore preie we hym
that he wole helpe and fulfille it in dede. For to hym
ſpeketh the prophete after in the foreſeide pſalme / ſaienge:
Lord / thou ſchalt ſaue man and beſtes after thy mykel mercy.
Bot thanne was a queſtioun amonge the ſuſtres committed
to Reſoun forto determyne which perſone of thre / fader
and ſone and holy gooſt / one god / ſchulde become man
and doo this merciful dede. Thanne ſeide reſoun: That for
als mykel as the perſone of the fader is propurly dredeful
and myȝty· the perſone of the ſone al wyſe and witty·
and the perſone of holy goſt moſte benigne and goodly:
the ſecound perſone ſemeth moſt conuenient as to the
fulle acorde of the forſeide ſuſtres to the ſkilful remedie
of man and to the moſte reſonable victorie of the enemye.
For as anemptis the firſte: ȝif the perſone of the fader
ſchulde doo this dede / for his drede and myȝt mercy and
pees myȝte ſumwhat haue him ſuſpecte as not fully fauorable
to hem· and ſo on the tother ſide / for the ſouereigne
benignyte and goodneſſe of the holy gooſte / truthe and
riȝtwiſneſſe myȝt drede of nouȝt ful ſatisfaccioun / but to
mykel mercy of hym. Wherfore as a good mene / euene
to bothe parties / the perſone of the ſone is moſt conuenient
to performe this dede thoruȝ his ſouereyn wit and
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wiſdome. Alſo it ſemeth moſt ſkilful remedye to man:
for alſo mykel as he forfeted by vnwitte and foly that
ſatisfaccioun be made for hym by ſothefaſt wiſdome / that
is the ſone. So that as he fel to dethe by the falſe worde
of the fende / that he riſe aȝen to lyf by the trewe worde
of god. And as for moſt reſonable victorie of the enemy /
it is ſkilful that as he conquered man by wicked ſleiȝte
and falſe wiſdome· ſo he be ouercome and venquyſſhed
by good ſleiȝte and trewe wiſdome. And whanne reſoun
had ſaide this verdyt / the fader ſeide it was his wille that
it ſchulde be ſo: the ſone ȝaf gladly his aſſent therto: and
the holy goſt ſeide he wolde worche therto alſo. And
than fallynge doun alle the holy ſpirites of heuene and
ſouereynly thonkynge the holy trinite / the foure ſuſtres aforſeide
weren keſſid and made acorde. And ſo was fulfilled
that the prophete dauid ſeide: Mercye and ſothefaſtneſſe
metten louely to gidere· Riȝtwiſnes and pees hauen kiſſed.
¶ And thus was termyned and ended the grete counſeille
in heuene for the reſtorynge of man and his ſauacioun.
The whiche proceſſe ſchal be taken as in likneſſe
and oneliche as a manere of a parable and deuouȝte ymagynacioun
/ ſtirynge man to loue god ſouereynly for his
grete mercye to man and his endeles godeneſſe· alſo /
to honour and worſchippe the bliſſed aungelis of heuene
for hir good wille to man and for his ſauacioun makynge
continuele beſyneſſe· and alſo / to loue vertues and hate
ſynne that brouȝt man to ſo grete wrecchedneſſe. And
thus mykel and in this manere may be ſaide and thouȝt
by deuouȝt contemplacioun of that was done abouen in
heuene bifore the Incarnacioun of Jeſu. Now goo we
doun to erthe· and thynke we how hit ſtood with his
bleſſid moder marie / and what was hire lyuynge here
bifore the incarnacioun that foloweth after.
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¶Cam.2m. ¶ Of the manere of lyuynge of the bleſſed virgyne mayden
marie.
As it is writen in the lyf of oure lady ſeynt marye /
whan ſche was thre ȝere olde ſche was offred in
the temple of hir fader and moder / and there
ſche abode and dwelled in to the fourtenthe
ȝere: and what ſche dede / and how ſche lyuede there in
that tyme / we mowen knowe by the reuelaciouns made of
hir to a deuouȝt woman / the whiche men trowen was ſeint
Eliȝabeth. In the whiche reuelaciouns is conteyned among
othere / that oure lady tolde to that ſame womman and ſeide
in this manere: Whan my fader and my moder laften me
in the temple I purpoſed and ſette ſtably in my herte to haue
god vnto my fader· and ofte ſithes with grete deuocioun
I thouȝt what I myȝt doo pleſynge to god· ſo that he
wolde vouche ſauf to ſende me his grace: and here with
I was tauȝt and I lerned the lawe of my lord god. In the
whiche lawe / of alle the heſtes and byddynges / principally
I kepte thre in my herte. The firſte is: Thou ſchalt loue
thy lord god with all thyn herte / with al thy ſoule / with
al thy mynde / and with al thy myȝt: the ſecound: Thow
ſchalt loue thy neiȝhebore as thy ſelf: and the thridde is:
Thou ſchalt hate thyn enemy. Theſe thre I kepte trewely
in herte / and anon I conceyued and toke alle the vertues
that beth conteyned in hem. For there may no ſoule haue
eny vertue but it loue god with alle the herte· for of this
loue cometh al the plente of grace: and after it is comen
it abideth nouȝt in the ſoule / bot renneth out as water bot
it ſo be that he hate his enemyes / that is to ſaie vices and
ſynnes. Wherfore he that wole haue grace and kepe it /
it byhoueth that he diſpoſe and ordeyne his herte to loue
and to hate / as it is ſeide. And ſo I wole that thou doo
in manere as I didde. I roſe vp algate at mydnyȝt and
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went forth byfore the auȝter of the temple / and there with
alſo grete deſire and wille and affeccioun as I kowthe and
myȝte / I aſked grace of all myȝty god to kepe tho thre
heſtes and alle othere biddynges of the lawe· and ſo ſtondynge
to fore the auȝter I made vij peticiouns to god / the
whiche ben theſe. Firſt / I aſked grace of all myȝty god /
thoruȝ the whiche I myȝt fulfille the heſte of loue / that is
to ſay / forto loue hym with al my herte / &c.;: the ſecounde /
I aſked that I myȝt loue myn neigheboure after his wil
and his likynge / and that he wolde make me to loue alle
that he loueth: the thridde / that he wolde make me to
hate and eſchewe alle thing that he hateth: the ferthe /
I aſked mekenes / pacience / benignyte / and ſwetteneſſe /
and alle othere vertues by the whiche I myȝt be gracioſe
and pleſynge to goddes ſiȝte: the fifte peticioun I made to
god / that he wolde lete me ſe the tyme in the whiche that
bleſſid mayden ſchulde be born that ſchulde conceiue and
bere goddes ſone· and that he wolde kepe myne eyȝen
that I myȝt ſee hire / myne eris that I myȝt here hir ſpeke /
my tunge that I myȝt preiſe hir / myne hondes that I myȝt
ſerue hir with / my feete that I myȝte goo to hir ſeruiſe and
myne knees with the whiche I myȝte honoure and worſchippe
goddes ſone in hir barme. In the ſixte peticioun
I aſked grace to be obeſiaunt to the biddynges and the
ordenaunces of the biſſhop of the temple. And in the
ſeuenthe I prayde god to kepe all the peple to his ſeruiſe.
¶ And whan the forſeide womman / criſtes ſeruaunt /
had herd theſe wordes ſche ſeide aȝeyn: A / ſwete ladye /
were not ȝe ful of grace and of alle vertues? And the
bleſſed mayden marye anſwerde: Wete thou wele certeyne
that I held my ſelf als gilty / moſte abiecte / and vnworthy
the grace of god / as thow: and more ouer troweſt thou /
douȝter / that al the grace that I hadde / I hadde with outen
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trauaile? Nay / not ſo· but I telle the / and do the to
wite / that I hadde no grace / ȝifte / nor vertue of god / with
oute grete trauaille / contynuele prayer / ardaunt deſire /
profounde deuocioun / and with many teres and moche
affliccioun· ſpekynge / thenkynge / and doynge alle wey
as I kouthe and myȝte that was pleſing to god· that is
to ſay outake the holy grace thoruȝ the whiche I was
halowed in my moder wombe. And furthermore oure lady
ſeide: Wite thou wele in certeyne that there cometh none
grace in to a mannis ſoule but by prayer and bodily
affliccioun: and after that we haue ȝeuen to god tho thinges
that we mowen / though they ben litel and fewe / than
cometh he in to the ſoule / bryngynge with hym ſo grete
and ſo hiȝe ȝiftes of grace that it ſemeth to the ſoule that
ſche failleth in her ſelf and leſeth mynde / and thenketh
not that euere ſche ſeide or dede eny thing pleſynge to
god / and than ſche ſemeth in hir owne ſiȝt more foule
and more wrecched than ſche was euere byfore.
¶ All this ſentence is conteyned in the forſeide reuelaciouns.
Alſo ſeynt Jerome / writynge of hir lyfe / ſeide in
this manere: that the bleſſed mayden marye ordeyned to
hir ſelf this manere of rule in lyuynge / that fro the morwe
into the tierce of the day ſche ȝaf hire all to prayeres· and
fro tierce in to none ſche occupied hir bodily with weuynge
werk· and efte fro none ſche went not fro prayeres til the
aungel of god come and appered to hir / of whos hande
ſche toke mete to the bodily ſuſtinaunce: and ſo ſche profited
algate bettre and bettre in the werk and in the loue
of god. And ſo it byfel that ſche was founden in wakynge
the firſte / in the wiſdome of goddes lawe moſt kunnynge /
in mekenes moſt lowe / in the ſonges and the pſalmes of
dauid moſt conuenient and ſemeliche / in charite moſt gracious
/ in clenneſſe moſt clene / and in all manere vertue
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moſt perfite. Sche was ſad and invariable· ſo ferforth
that as ſche profited better and better / ſo was there none
that euere ſyhe or herde hir wrooth. Alle hir ſpeche was
ſo ful of grace that god was knowen by here tonge. Sche
was contynuelliche abidynge and dwellynge in prayere and
in the lore of goddes lawe· and algate beſy aboute hir
felawes that none of hem ſchulde treſpace or ſynne in any
word / and that none ſchulde lawhe diſſolutely / and alſo
that none of hem ſchulde offende other thoruȝ pryde or
any wrong. And euere with oute faillynge ſche bleſſid god.
And leſt perchaunce by eny gretynge or preyſinge ſche
ſchulde be letted fro the louynges of god / what tyme eny
man grette hir / ſche anſwered aȝen Deo gracias / that is
to ſay / thonked be god: wherfore of hir ſprong firſt that
what tyme holy men ben gret they ſeien aȝeyn Deo
gracias / as ſche dide. Sche was fedde of the mete that
ſche toke of the aungels hande· and that mete that ſche
toke of the biſſhop of the temple ſche ȝaf to pore men.
Euery day goddes aungelle ſpake with hir / and als he
ſchulde to his derworthe ſuſtre or moder / ſo he ſerued
and was obeiſaunt to hir. Thus moche ſeith ſeynt Jerome
of hir lyf. Furthermore in hir fourtenthe ȝere that bleſſed
mayden marye was wedded to Joſeph by the reuelacioun
of god· and thanne wente ſche home aȝen in to naȝareth·
als it is writen by proces in the ſtorie of hir natiuitie.
¶ But thus myche at this tyme ſuffiſeth to haue in
mynde and in contemplacioun of the thinges that byfellen
byfore the Incarnacioun· the whyche who ſo wil wele
thynke and haue deuoutly in mynde and folwe vertuouſly
in dede / he ſchal fynde hem ful of gooſtly fruyte. Now
come we to ſpeke of the Incarnacioun of oure lord Jeſu.
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¶ De incarnacione Ieſu ſuper euangelium Miſſus eſt.
Luca primo capitulo.
¶Capm.3m. ¶ Of the Incarnacioun of Jeſu / and the feſte of the
annunciacioun· and of the gretyng Aue maria.
Part one
Whan the plente of tyme and of grace was
come in the whiche the hiȝe trinite ordeyned
to ſaue mankynde / that was dampned thoruȝ
the ſynne of Adam / for the grete charite
that he hadde to mankynde ſtirynge hym his grete mercy /
and alſo the prayer and the inſtaunce of alle the bleſſed
ſpirites of heuene· after that the bleſſed mayden marie /
wedde to Joſeph / was gone home to naȝareth / the fader
of heuene called to hym the archaungel gabriel and ſeide
to hym in this manere: Go to oure dere douȝter marye /
the ſpouſe of Joſeph / the whiche is moſt chere to vs of
alle creatures in erthe / and ſaie to hir that my bleſſed ſone
hath coueyted hir ſchap and hir beaute / and choſen hir
to his moder· and therfore praye hir that ſche reſceyue
hym gladly· for by hir I haue ordeyned the hele and
the ſaluacioun of al mankynde: and I wole foreȝete and
forȝeue the wrong that hath be done to me of hym here
byfore.
¶ Now take hede and ymagyne of gooſtly thing as it
were bodily / and thinke in thyn herte / as thou were preſent
in the ſiȝt of that bleſſed lord / with how benigne and glad
ſemblaunt he ſpeketh theſe wordes· and on the tother ſide
how gabriel / with a likynge face and glad chere / vppon
his knees knelynge and with drede reuerently bowynge /
reſceyueth this meſſage of his lorde.
¶ And ſo anon Gabriel riſynge vppe / glad and iocunde /
toke his fliȝt fro the hiȝe heuene to erthe and in a moment
he was in mannis likeneſſe byfore the virgyne marye /
that was in hire priue chambre that tyme cloſed and in
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here prayeres or in here meditaciouns / perauenture redynge
the prophecie of yſaie touchynge the Incarnacioun· and
ȝit alſo ſwiftly as he flewh his lord was come byfore / and
there he fonde alle the holy trinite comen or his meſſagere.
For thou ſchalt vndirſtonde that this bleſſed incarnacioun
was the hiȝe werk of alle the holy trinite / though it ſo be
that al only the perſone of the ſone was incarnate and
bycome man.
¶ But now be war here that thou erre nouȝt in ymagynacioun
of god and of the holy trynyte / ſuppoſynge that
thise thre perſones / the fader / the ſone / and the holy gooſt
ben as thre erthely men that thou ſeeſt with thy bodily
eiȝe: the whiche ben thre dyuerſe ſubſtaunces / eche departed
fro other / ſo that none of hem is other. Nay / it
is not ſo in this goſtely ſubſtaunce of the holy trinite· for
tho thre perſones ben one ſubſtaunce and oon god / and
ȝit is there none of thiſe perſones othere: but this mayſt
thou noȝt vnderſtonde by mannis reſoun ne conceyue with
thy bodily witt. And therfore take here a general doctrine
in this matere now for all gate. What tyme thou hereſt
or thynkeſt of the trinyte / or of the godhede / or of gooſtly
creatures as aungeles and ſoules / the whiche thou maiſt nat
ſee with thy bodily eyȝe in her propre kynde / ne fele with
thy bodily witt / ſtudie not to fer in that mater / occupie
not thy witt therwith as thou woldeſt vnderſtonde it by
kyndely reſoun· for it wole not be while we be in this
buſtous body / lyuynge here in erthe. And therfore whan
thou hereſt eny ſuche thing in byleue that paſſeth thy
kyndely reſoun / trowe ſothfaſtly that it is ſoth / as holy
chirche techeth / and goo no furthere. And ſo thou ſchalt
byleue in this matere of the Incarnacioun / that the ſeconde
perſone in trinite / goddes ſone of heuene / came in to erthe
and took fleſche and blood of the bleſſed virgyne Marye /
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and bycame verray man· and ȝit was he neuere departed
fro the fader or the holy goſt in his godhede / but euere
was dwellynge ſtille with hem one verrey god in heuene.
¶ But now forto go to oure purpos of the Incarnacioun
bifore ſeide: take hede and haue in mynde as thou were
preſent in the priue chaumbre of oure lady / where the
holy trinite is preſent with his aungel gabriele. A lorde /
what hous is that where ſuche geſtes ben / and ſuche thinges
ben done! For thouȝ that the holy trinite is euery where by
preſence of his godhede / neuertheles thou maiſt thenke and
vnderſtonde that he is there in a more ſpecial manere by
reſoun of his hiȝe werk of the Incarnacioun. Gabriel than
entred in to maryes chaumbre that was ſtoken fro men /
bot noȝt fro aungelis / as ſeint Bernarde ſeith / knelinge
with reuerence bygan his meſſage in theſe wordes: Heile /
ful of grace / oure lord is with the! Bleſſed be thou in
wommen and aboue alle wymmen!
¶ Marye than / herynge this meſſage and this newe
gretynge that ſche neuere herde bifore / was aſtonyed and
abaſſhed / and noȝt anſwered / but thouȝt what this greting
myȝte be· ſche was not abaſched or diſtourbled by any
vicious or ſynful diſtourblynge / ne agaſte of his preſence /
for ſche was wont to aungels preſence and the ſiȝt of hem·
bot as the goſpel ſeith / Sche was aſtonyed in his worde.
That was a newe gretynge· for he was neuere wont byfore
to grete hir in that manere. And for as moche as in that
gretynge ſche ſay hir ſelf commended and preiſed ſpecially
of thre grete thinges· in that ſche was perfiȝtly meke / ſche
moſte nede be abaſſhed in that hiȝe gretynge· for ſche
was commended that ſche was ful of grace / and that oure
lord was with hir / and that ſche was bleſſid aboue alle
wommen. And for alſo meche as the perfiȝt meke may
not here his preiſynge with oute abaſſhement and ſhamefaſtneſſe
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/ therfore ſche was abaſſhed and aſtonyd with an
honeſte ſhamefaſtnes / and alſo with drede: for though ſche
trowed wele that the aungel ſeide ſoth / neuertheles ſche
dredde his word. For as myche as they that ben perfiȝtly
meke han that properte that they rewarde not here owne
vertues / but rather taken hede to her owne defauȝtes·
wherthoruȝ they mowen algate profiȝte vertuouſly / haldynge
in hem ſelf a grete vertue lytel and a litel defaute grete.
And ſo as wiſe and warre / as ſhamefaſt and dredful / ſche
hild hir pees and anſwered not.
¶ Here than myȝteſt thou take enſaumple of marye: firſte
to loue ſolitarye prayere and departing fro men that thow
mowe be worthy aungeles preſence· and furthermore lore
of wiſdome to here or thou ſpeke and forto kepe ſcilence
and loue litel ſpekeng / for that is a ful greet and profitable
vertue· for marye herde firſt the aungel twies ſpeke or
ſche wolde anſwere ones aȝen· and therfore it is abhomynable
thynge and grete reproofe to a mayden or virgyne to
be a grete iangelere / and nameliche a religious.
¶ Furthermore / after the goſpell / the aungel / byholdynge
her ſemblaunt / and knowynge the cauſe of hir
abaſchement and drede / anſwered to hir thouȝt and ſpake
more homeliche / callynge hir by name and ſeide: Drede
thou noȝt marye / and be thow noȝt abaſched or aſchamed
of the preiſynge that I haue grette the with· for ſo is the
trewthe: and noȝt only thou art ful of grace in thy ſelf/ but
alſo thow haſt founden ſpecial grace of god / and rekeuered
to al mankynde: for why / loo thow ſchalt conceyue and
bere a childe / and thou ſchalt calle hys name Jeſu / that
bytokeneth ſauyoure· for he ſchal ſaue fro ſynne and fro
dampnacioun alle his peple that truly hopen in hym.
¶ Here ſeith ſeynt Bernard: God graunte that my lorde
Jeſu vouch ſauf to noumbre me among his peple / ſo
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that he ſauf me from myn ſynnes· for ſothely I drede that
many ſchewen hem as they were of his peple / the whiche
he knoweth not ne hath not as his peple· and as I drede
he may ſaie to many that ſemen in his peple more religious
and more holy than othere: This peple worſchippeth me
with lippes / bot ſothely her herte is fer fro me. But wilt
thou knowe whether thou be of his peple / or wilt thou
be of his peple / do that he / oure lord Jeſu / biddeth in the
goſpel and the lawe and the prophetes / and alſo that he
biddeth by his mynyſtres / and be buxome to hiſe vikeres
that ben in holy chirche thy ſouereynes / not only gode
and wele leuynge / bot alſo ſchrewes and yuel lyuynge·
and ſo lerne of Jeſu to be meke in herte and buxum / and
than ſchalt thou be of his bleſſed peple.
¶ But here now furthermore what the aungel ſpeketh
in preiſynge of this child Jeſu: He ſchal be greet / not
in temporel lordſchippe and worldely dignite / for that he
ſchal forſake / bot he ſchal be grete god and man / grete
prophete in myracles worchynge / grete doctour in ſothfaſt
preching / and grete conquerour in myȝtily the deuel ouercomynge·
and ſo worthely he ſchal be cleped the ſone of
the altherhiȝeſt lord god / the whiche ſchal ȝeue hym the
ſete of dauid / his fader· for he ſchal take mankynde and
be born in fleſche by deſcente of his auncetrye / and he
ſchal regne in the houſe of Jacob euermore / and of his
kyngdome ſchal be none ende. This hous of Jacob is
gooſtly holy chirche· in the whiche Jeſu ſchal reigne in
trewe ſoules: firſte / ouercomynge ſynnes and the deuel
here in erthe by grace· and after / in heuene in bliſſe with
outen ende.
¶ Here mayſt thou ſayen with ſeynt Bernarde deſirynge
in the the kyngdom of Jeſu thus: Come / my lord Jeſu / and
putte away alle ſclaundres of ſynne fro thy rewme / that is
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my ſoule / ſo that thou mowe reigne therynne as the oweth
to doo: for couetiſe cometh and chalangeth his rewme in
me· preſumpcioun coueyteth to ben my lord· pride wole
be my quene· leccherie ſeith / I wole reigne· detraccioun /
envye / wrathe / and glotonye ſtryuen whiche of hem ſchal
principally regne in me: and I / in as moche as I may /
aȝeynſtonde hem· bot thou my lord Jeſu / deſtroye hem in
thy vertu / and take thou thy rewme and thy kyngdome
in me: for I haue none trewe kyng but the / my lord Jeſu.
¶ And whan the aungel had tolde theſe condiciouns /
and the worthynes of this bleſſid child Jeſu / to that
meke mayden marie / that was choſen to his moder· than
ſche ſpak firſt to the aungel / not dredynge of his wordes
or of her conceyvynge / nor knowynge / nor forſakinge
the preiſynges byfore ſeide of his gretynge / bot willynge
to be certified more pleynly of that ſche dredde moſte /
that was that ſche ſchulde not leſe hir maydenhode / aſked
of the aungel the manere of hir conceyuynge in thiſe
wordes: How and in what manere ſchal this be done·
ſithen I knowe no man fleſchely / and I haue made a vow
to kepe me chaſte to my lorde god with oute fayle / and
I ſchal neuere dele with man fleſchely? And than the
aungel anſwerde and ſeide to hir: It ſchal be done by the
worchynge of the holy gooſt / that ſchal liȝten in to the in a
ſinguler manere· and thoruȝ his vertu / that is altherhiȝeſt /
thow ſchalt conceyue / ſavynge thy maydenhode· and
therfore that holy thing that ſchal be borne of the ſchal
be named goddes ſone: and in confort furthermore here
of / loo! Eliȝabeth / thy coſyne / that is olde and was
bareyne / hath conceyued a childe now ſixe monthes
paſſed· for there ſchal no thing be impoſſible to god.
¶ Now take here good hede and haue in mynde how
firſt all the holy trinyte is there abidynge a fynal anſwere
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and aſſent of his bleſſid douȝter marye / takynge hede and
byholdynge lykyngliche hir ſchamefaſt ſemblaunt / hir ſad
maneres / and her wiſe wordes: and furthermore howe
alle the bleſſid ſpirites of heuene / and alle the riȝtwis
lyuynge men in erthe / and alle the choſen ſoules that
weren that tyme in helle / as adam / abraham / dauid /
and alle othere deſireden hir aſſent· in the whiche ſtood
the ſauacioun of all mankynde: and alſo how the aungel
gabriel ſtondynge with reuerence byfore his lady / enclynynge
/ and with mylde ſemblant abideth the aunſwere of his
meſſage. And on the tother ſide take hede how mary
ſtondeth / ſadly with drede and mekenes / in grete aviſement
/ hauinge none pride ne veynglorie for alle the hiȝe
preiſynge bifore ſeide· but tho ſouereyn ȝiftes of grace that
ſche hath herde ȝeuen to hir / that neuere weren ȝeuen to
creature byfore / alle ſche arette only to the grace of god.
Lerne thou thenne by enſample of hir to be ſchamefaſt
vertuouſly and meke· for with oute theſe two vertues maydenhode
or virgynyte is litell worth. For as ſeint Bernard
ſeith: Virgynyte is a faire vertue / but mekenes is a more
neceſſarie· for thou mayſt be ſauf with outen the firſte /
but with oute that othere / that is mekenes / thou maiſt not.
In ſo moche that I dar hardely ſaie that with oute mekenes
the virgynyte of marie had not ben pleſynge to god· for
bot marie had ben meke the holy goſt had not reſted vppon
hir / ſeithe ſeynt bernarde. At the laſte / as the ende of the
goſpel ſeith / the mylde mayden marye / whan ſche had
herd and wiſly vnderſtonden the aungels wordes / by good
aviſement ȝaf hir aſſent in this manere / as it is writen in
her reuelaciouns: ſche kneled doun with ſouereyn deuocioun
/ and holdynge vp bothe hir hondes / and liftynge
vp hir eiȝen to heuen / ſeide theſe wordes: Loo here the
handmayden and the ſeruaunt of my lorde· be it done to
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me and fulfilled after thy worde. And ſo in thiſe meke
and lowe wordes of marye at the ende thou haſt enſaumple
of grete mekenes / as thou haddeſt in hir ſcilence at the bygynnynge.
Lo / ſche is choſen goddis moder / and of the
aungel cleped ful of grace: and ſche nempned hir ſelf his
honde mayden. And no wonder / for / as ſeynt Bernard
ſeith / mekenes is euere wont to be felawe with the grace
of god· but this mekenes was not litel: for / as he ſeith /
it is not moche to preiſe mekenes in abieccioun / but it is
a grete vertue and ſelden ſeyn / mekenes in worſchippe.
¶ Alſo ſone thenne as ſche had ȝeuen hir anſwere and
aſſented in the wordes forſeide / anone with oute dwellynge
goddis ſone entred into hir wombe· and thoruȝ worchynge
of the holy gooſt was made man in verray fleſche and blood
taken of hir body· and not as othere children / conceyued
and born by kynde / ben ſchapen / membre after membre /
and after the ſoule ſched in to the body· but anone at the
firſte inſtaunce he was ful ſchapen in alle membres and
alle hole man in body and in ſoule· but neuertheles ful
lite in quantite: for after he waxed more and more
kyndely as othere children done. So that at the firſte he
was ful perfite god and man / as wiſe and as myȝty as he
is nowe. And whan this was done / Gabriel / knelynge
doun with oure lady / and ſone aftir with hir riſynge vp /
toke curteiſly his leue of hir with a deuouȝt and lowe bowynge
to the erthe· and ſo vanyſchynge away fro hir with
a ſwift fliȝt toke his wey to heuene aȝeyne / tellynge and
certifienge the holy courte of heuene his meſſage fulfilled /
and that that was done in erthe: and thanne was there
a newe ioye and a newe feſte and ful myche merthe and
ſolempnyte. Afterward oure lady / fulfilled and enflawmed
with the holy goſt and in the loue of god more brennynge
then ſche was bifore / felynge that ſche had conceyued
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kneled doun and thonked god of that grete ȝifte / mekeliche
byſechynge hym and deuoutliche preienge that he wolde
ſende hir grace and teche hir ſo / that alle that were after
to come and to be done aboute his bleſſed ſone that ſche
myȝte fulfille hem and doo hem withoute defauȝte. And
thus moche touchynge the goſpel and the proceſſe of the
Incarnacioun of Jeſu criſt.
¶Secunda pars ¶ Of the feſte of the annunciacioun and of tho thinges
that byfel that day.
Now take good hede and vndirſtande how
worthy this feſte and this ſolempnite is· and
haue therfore a goſtly merthe and make a
ſpecial feſte / in thy ſoule thonkynge god ynwardely·
for ſuche was neuere herde bifore. For this is
the ſolempnite of all the holy trinite / fader / and ſone /
and holy goſt / by whom this ſouereyn dede of the Incarnacioun
was wrouȝt and fulfilled / as it is ſeide byfore.
This alſo is a ſpecial feſte of oure lady ſeynt marye / the
whiche as this day was choſen of the fader of heuene
in to his dere douȝter· and of the ſone in to his mylde
moder· and of the holy gooſt in to his ſpecial ſpouſe. This
day alſo is a ſpecial ſolempnyte of alle the bleſſed ſpirites of
heuene· for this day was bygonne the reſtoringe of her
companye and felawſchippe that felle doun by ſynne of
lucifer. But ſouereynliche this day is an hiȝe feſte and
a ſpecial ſolempnytee of al mankynde· for this day was
mankynde ſoueraynliche worſchipped / in that it was oned
and knetted to the godhede in criſt withoute departynge.
And this day bygan the hele and the redempcioun of
mankynde / and the reconſilynge to the fader of heuene.
For in to this tyme god was wrooth to mankynde for the
ſynne and the treſpas of oure forme fadres· but fro this
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tyme forth he maye no lenger be wrothe ſeynge his dere
ſone bycome man· and therfore is this day ſkilfully called
the plente of tyme to man. And ſo this day ouȝte euere to
be had in mynde of man and womman· for this day was
man made to the liknes and the ymage of god / and ſette
in that ioyful place of paradiſe / and forto haue liued euere
with outen deth. And this day the firſte man / Adam / by
the fruyte of the tre forbeden deformed in hym that ymage
of god / and loſte that ioyful place of paradyſe / and was
dampned to deth with outen endynge. But this day the
ſecounde Adam / criſt god and man / reformed this ymage
in his Incarnacioun / and after / by vertu of the bleſſed
fruyt of his body hangynge on the tree of the croſſe / reſtored
man to bliſſe and lyf euerlaſtynge. Alſo this day
the firſte womman / Eue / thoruȝ pride aſſentynge to the
ſerpent / the deuel of helle / was cauſe of mannis dampnacioun.
And this day the bleſſed mayden Marye / thoruȝ
mekeneſſe trowyng to the aungel Gabriel / was cauſe of
mannis ſaluacioun. And ſo this day hath man mater of
grete ioye and of grete ſorwe: firſte of grete ioye for the
ſouereyne godeneſſe / worſchippe / and grace of gode done
to hym· and alſo of grete ſorwe for his grete ſynne and
vnkyndneſſe done to god aȝeynward. And thus myȝt thou
haue thy contemplacioun of this day and of this bleſſid
feſte of criſtes Incarnacioun / and oure ladyes annunciacioun.
¶Tercia pars
¶ And for alſo moche as that bleſſid gretynge of the
aungel gabriel / wherwith we honouren and greten oure
lady euery day / is grounded in this goſpelle as thou haſt
herd byfore· therfore I ſchal telle the ſomwhat more here
of / as me thinketh / to ſtere thy deuocioun the more in
ſeienge of that gretynge / Aue maria. As I conceyue this
gretynge in manere as holy chirche hath ordeyned it to be
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ſeide hath fyue parties· in the whiche mowen be vnderſtande
ſpecially the fyue ioyes of oure lady / and in tho
fyue ioyes / fyue vertues that ſche had in hem ſoueraynly
aboue alle erthely creatures: the whiche ben mekeneſſe /
chaſtite / feith / hope / and charite. In the firſte partie of
this gretynge that ſtandeth in theſe two wordes / Heyle
marye / thow maiſt vnderſtonde the firſte ioye that ſche
had in hir annunciacioun of Jeſu gracious conceyuynge /
of the whiche mekenes was the ground / as thou haſt herd
bifore· and as thiſe wordes / Heyle marye / ben the firſte
and bygynnynge of this gretynge / ſo this feſte was byginnynge
and ground of alle othere· and as it was the
byginnynge of maryes ioye and alle mankynde / ſo is
mekenes the bygynnynge and ground of alle vertues.
And therfore in thiſe firſte wordes / Heyle marye / ſkilfully
thou maiſt vnderſtonde the firſte ioye that ſche hadde
in hir annunciacioun of the conceyuynge of hir bleſſed
ſone Jeſu / and that ſpecially thoruȝ the vertu of mekenes.
In the ſecounde partie that ſtant in theſe wordes / Ful of
grace / may be vnderſtande the ſecounde ioye that marye
hadde in Jeſu natiuitie and her ioyful berynge· in the
whiche ſche hadde ſouereynly the vertue of chaſtite and
of clenneſſe· and therfore than was ſche ſpecially ful of
grace / in that that ſche / clene mayden and moder / bare
with outen ſorwe that neuere dide womman but ſche al
onely. In the thridde parte / that is in thiſe wordes /
Oure lord is with the / may be vndirſtonde the thridde
ioye that ſche had in hir ſone Jeſu glorious vpriſynge /
ſpecially by the vertu of ſtedfaſt feith and trewe byleue.
For fro his deth in to that tyme / he dwelled all only with
hir by ſtedefaſt byleue that ſche had in hym as god / whan
that alle his apoſtles and diſciples weren departed fro hym
by myſbileue / and deſpeyre that he was god: and therfore
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the feith of holy chirche tho thre dayes ſtood al only in
hir· ſo that in that tyme it myȝte ſpecially be ſeide to hir /
Oure lord is with the / that is to ſeie by trewe feith and
byleue: and after at his vpriſynge more ſpecially by his
bodily preſence / firſte to hire apperynge / it was fulfilled
Oure lord is with the. In the ferthe part / that is in theſe
wordes / Bleſſid be thou in wommen / or elles / abouen all
wommen / may be vnderſtonde the ferthe ioye that ſche
had in the ſiȝt of hir ſone Jeſu myȝtily to heuene vp ſtienge:
in the whiche ſiȝt the hope that ſche hadde in his godhede
was fulliche ſtrengthed and confermed / ſeinge that othere
wommen neuere did / whan that parte that he toke of hir
in fleſche and blood was bodely thoruȝ myȝt of the godhede
borne vp to heuene· and ſo hopynge with outen drede that
ſche ſchulde folwe after. Wele than myȝt it be ſeide that
tyme and now may to hir: Bleſſid be thou ſouereynly in
wommen / ſeynge thi ſone Jeſu myȝtily to heuene vp ſtieng.
In the fifte part / that is Bleſſid be the fruyte of thy wombe /
Jeſu / may be vndirſtonden the laſte ioye that ſche had in hir
bliſſed ſone Jeſu / whan he toke hir vp with hym to bliſſe
and there worſchipfully coroned hir quene of heuene euerlaſtinge.
Than was hire deſire of loue fulfilled whan ſche
was endeleſly thoruȝ plente of charite knytte to hir bleſſed
ſone Jeſu / and he to hir / and ſo fed with that bleſſed
fruyte that ſche coueyted no more· for ſche was ther
thoruȝ filled of all goodnes / blis / and ioye with outen ende.
And thus ſchortly in the fifthe partie of this gretynge /Aue maria / mowen be vnderſtonde the fyue ioyes of bliſſed
marie / with fyue vertues that ſche had ſoueraynly in hem /
as I haue now ſeide. The whiche greting after the commone
vnderſtondynge may be thus ſeide in Engliſche tonge:
Heyle marye / ful of grace / oure lord is with the. Bliſſed
be thou ſouereynly in wymmen / and the fruyte of thy
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wombe / Jeſu / euere bleſſid be! And ȝif the liſte in this
gretynge ſpecifye the fyue ioyes with the fyue vertues
byfore ſeid / thow mayſt ſeie thus in ſchort wordes: Heile
marie / mayden mekeſt / gret of the aungel gabriel in Jeſu
gracious conceyuynge· Ful of grace / as moder chaſt with
outen ſorwe or peyne thi ſone Jeſu berynge. Oure lord
is with the by trewe feith and byleue at Jeſu joyful vpriſynge.
Bleſſid be thou ſouereinly in wommen by ſadde hope ſeynge
thy ſone Jeſu to heuene myȝtily vp ſtyenge. And bleſſed
be the fruyte of thi wombe / Jeſu / in euere laſtynge bliſſe·
thorw perfite charite the quene of heuene gloriouſly crownynge.
Gete vs thiſe vertues as for oure ſpede to thy ſone
Jeſu and thy pleſynge. Be thou oure help in al oure nede
and ſocoure at oure laſt ending. Amen. Thus thinketh me
may be had contemplacioun more conueniently after the
ordre of the fyue ioyes of our lady ſeynt marye in the forſeide
gretynge Aue maria &c.; than was bifore writen to
the Ankereſſe as it ſcheweth here. Cheſe he that liſte to
rede or write this proceſſe as hym ſemeth beſt / or in other
better manere ȝif he kan / ſo that be it one be it othere that
the ende and the entent be to the worſchippe and the
pleſynge of oure lord Jeſu and his bleſſed moder marye.
Sithen thenne the proceſſe of the bleſſed Incarnacioun of
Jeſu / and the bygynnynge and mynde of the ioyes of his
bliſſed moder marye / and the grounde of ſaluacioun of
mankynde is conteyned in this goſpel / as it is ſeide and
thou haſt herd bifore / with grete deuocioun and gooſtly
deſire ouȝteſt thou and euery criſten creature to here this
goſpel and worſchippe therynne Jeſu that ſo bycome man
for oure ſake and his bleſſed moder marie / to whos worſchippe
and profite of thy ſoule and myn this ſchorte tretys
be writen. Amen.
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¶Cam.iiijm.¶ How that oure lady wente to Eliȝabeth and mekely
grette hire.
After the proceſſe of the Incarnacioun of Jeſu bifore
ſeide / the bliſſed mayden marie hauynge in
mynde the wordes of the aungele touchynge
hir coſyne Eliȝabeth / ſche purpoſed to viſite
hir forto thonke god with her / and alſo to mynyſtre and
to ſerue hir: and ſo with hir houſebonde and ſpouſe /
Joſeph / ſche wente fro naȝareth to hir houſe by ſide Jeruſalem
/ that is the ſpace of ſixty myle and fourtene or
there aboute. Sche taried not and letted not for the longe
and diſeſy way / but anone with haſte ſche wente· for
ſche wolde not longe be ſeyen in the open amonge folk:
and ſo ſche was not heuyed or charged by the conceyuynge
of hir ſone as comounly beeth othere wymmen· for oure
lord Jeſu was not chargeant to his moder.
¶ Now take hede how this bleſſed lady / quene of
heuene and of erthe / gothe allone with hir ſpouſe / and
that not vppon horſe / bot on foote. Sche ledeth noȝt with
hir many knyȝtes and barouns / ne grete companye of
bouremaydens and damyſeles· but ſothely there gooth
with hir a wel better companye / and that is pouert / mekenes
/ and honeſte ſchamefaſtnes / ȝe and plente of alle
vertues: and the beſte of alle / that is oure lord god is
with hir. Sche hath a grete and worſchipfull companye /
bot not of the vanyte and pompe of the world.
¶ And what tyme ſche come and entred in to the hous
of ȝakarie ſche gret his wyf Eliȝabeth in this manere: Al
heile / my dere ſuſter / Eliȝabeth. And anone here with
Eliȝabeth / glad and ioyful and liȝtened thoruȝ the holy
gooſt / roſe vp and clipped hir derworthely and tendirly /
crienge for ioye and ſeienge thus: Bleſſid be thou amonge
wymmen / and bleſſid be the fruyte of thy wombe! And
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wherfore / or / of what deſerte is this byfalle me that the
moder of my lord ſchulde come to me? And ſo ferforth
in the wordes of the goſpel. And ſo what tyme that oure
bleſſid lady grette Eliȝabeth / John in his moder wombe
was fulfilled with the holy gooſt / and alſo his moder·
and not firſt the moder than the ſone / bot the ſone fulfilled
/ fillede the moder thoruȝ his deſert in alſo moche
as in hym was more fully the grace of the holy gooſt:
and firſte he felte and reſceyued grace· for as ſche felte
the comynge and preſence of oure lady / ſo he felte the
comynge of oure lord· and therfore he withynneforth
ioyed / and ſche ſpake and prophecied with oute forth.
Byholde now and take hede what and how moche vertu
is in the wordes of oure lady / in that at one pronounſynge
of hem is ȝeuen the holy gooſt· for ſche was ſo fully
replenyſſhed with hym that thoruȝ her merites and deſertes
the ſame holy goſt alſo filled othere. Thanne to the wordes
of Eliȝabeth / Marie anſwerde and ſeide: My ſoule magnifieth
our lord / and my ſpirit is gladed and reioyſed in god
my ſaueour / etc. And ſo forth ſeieng and fulfillynge that
Canticle of goſtly ioyenge and louynge / that is Magnificat
as it is conteyned in the goſpel. And whan ſche had done
they wenten to ſitte to gidere· and oure ladye of hir
ſouereyn mekenes ſette hir downe in the lower place at
Eliȝabeth feete. But ſche anone riſyng vp ſuffred not /
but toke hir vppe: and ſo they ſeten doun to gidre. And
than aſked oure lady of Eliȝabeth the manere of hir conceyuynge·
and ſche aȝeyn the manere of hir conceyuynge:
and ſo they tolden either to othir gladdely the grete goodneſſe
of oure lord and loueden and worſchippeden god of
either concepcioun. And ſo in thonkynge god and goſtly
merthe they contynueden dayes and nyȝtes. For oure
ladye dwelled there the terme or tyme of thre monthes /
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ſeruynge Eliȝabeth in all that ſche myȝte / mekely / reuerently
and deuoutly / as a ſeruaunt / forȝetynge that ſche was
goddis modir and quene of al the worlde. A lord god /
what houſe was that / or what chambre / and what bedde
in the whiche dwelleden to gidre and reſteden ſo worthi
moderes with ſo noble ſones / that is to ſaie Marie and
Eliȝabeth / Jeſu and John! And alſo with hem dwellynge
tho worſchipful olde men / ȝacharie and Joſeph. This was
a bliſſed companye of men and wymmen and of children.
¶ In this forſeide proceſſe of the viſitacioun of oure
lady we haue enſaumple that it is leueful and ofte ſpedefulle
deuoute men and wymmen to viſite othere for edificacioun
and gooſtly recreacioun / and nameliche the ȝonger
to elder· ſo that it be done in dewe tyme and with
othere leful menes. And alſo that the ȝiftes of grace
mowen be notified to othere for edificacioun in tyme· ſo
that it be not done for veyne ioye / bot only to goddes
worſchippe. Als ȝif we take good entente to the wordes
of marye and Eliȝabeth / alle they weren in lowynge of
hem ſelf / and to worſchippynge of god / and magnifienge
hym in alle his werkes / and tellynge his grete mercye
ſchewed to mankynde to ſtire man to the loue and the
worſchippe of god.
¶ Of the Natiuite of ſeynt John the Baptiſte. Forthermore
whan the tyme of Eliȝabeth was comen / ſche was
liȝtened and bare hir child· the whiche in tokene of his
grete holyneſſe / oure lady firſt lift hym vp fro the grounde
and after beſily dyȝt and treted as it longeth to hym: and
the childe / as vnderſtondynge what ſche was / ſette his eiȝen
ſadly vppon hir. And whan ſche wolde take hym to his
moder / he torned his heued and his face to hir / als hauynge
in hir al onely his likynge· and ſche gladly pleide with
hym and louely clipped and kiſſed him. And here mowe
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we ſee the grete worthynes of this child· for there was
neuere none othere byforn that hadde ſo worthy a berere.
After in the viij day / as the lawe wolde / the child was
circumcided / and nempned John by myracle of god / as
the goſpel telleth: and the mowthe and the tunge of the
fader / ȝacharie / byfore cloſed for vntrowynge / was than
opened· and ſo he prophecied ſeienge: Bleſſid be oure
lord god of Iſrael / for he hath viſited thoruȝ grace / and
made redempcioun of his puple. And ſo forth as it is
conteyned in the goſpel. And ſo in that hous thiſe two
noble and worthy Canticles / that is to ſayen Magnificat
and benedictus / weren firſt ſpoken and made. And oure
lady ſtondynge that tyme with ynne ſom curtyne / for
ſche wolde not be ſeien of hem that weren comen to the
circumciſioun of that child John / lyſtened beſily and
herde ententifly that Canticle / Benedictus· in the whiche
was made mynde of hir bleſſed ſone Jeſu: and alle ſche
kepte in hire herte / as ſche that was mooſt wiſe and ful of
grace. And at the laſte whan al this was done / ſche toke hir
leue at Eliȝabeth and ȝacharye / and bleſſid the child John:
and ſo wente home aȝeyn to hir owne hous in Naȝareth.
¶ Now here bythenke we and haue in mynde the
grete pouert of hir in this goynge aȝeyn to hir owne
hous: for there ſche ſchal neyther fynde brede ne wyne
ne othere neceſſaries / and therewith ſche hadde neither
poſſeſſiounis ne money. And whan ſche hadde alle tho
thre monthes dwelled with hem that were plenteuous and
hauinge· now ſche torneth aȝen into her owne pouert and
bare hous / where ſche byhoueth to gete her lyflode with
hir owne hondes and bodily trauaille. And herof moche
ouȝte we to haue compaſſioun / and be ſtired to the loue of
vertuouſe pouerte by enſaumple of hir: bleſſid mote ſche
euere be. Amen.
descriptionPage 41
¶Cam.vm. ¶ Hou Joſeph thouȝte to leue priuely oure lady ſeint
Marye.
What tyme that oure lady and Joſeph hir
ſpouſe dwelleden to gidre / and hir bleſſid
ſone Jeſu day by day encreſſed bodily in his
modir wombe. At the laſte Joſeph / ſeynge
hir grete with childe / and byholdynge hir not ones bot
ofte ſithes / was wonder ſory and greetly deſtourbled / made
hir heuy chere and turned away his eiȝen ofte ſithe fro
hir / and as in a perplexite thouȝte what he myȝte beſt
doo. For on the tone ſide he ſawh hir lyf ſo holy and no
tokene of ſynne in hir / neither in contenaunce / neither
in word in ſpeche / nor in dede that he dorſte not openly
accuſe hir of avoutrie· and on that other ſide he knewe
nouȝt how that ſche myȝte conceyue bot by man. Wherfore
he thouȝt that he wolde priuely leue hir. Sothely it
may be ſeide of hym that is writen in the goſpel to his
preiſynge / that is to ſeie / that he was a riȝtwys man / that
ſchewede wele this dede of grete vertue. For ſithen comounly
avoutrie of the womman is to the man occaſioun of
moſte ſchame / moſt ſorwe / and as a manere of wodenes·
neuertheles he vertuouſly tempered hym ſelf and wolde
nouȝt accuſen hir / nor venge hym ſelf· but paciently
ſuffring that ſemynge wrong / and ouercomyng hym ſelf
with pitee / thouȝt that he wolde priuely leue hir.
¶ This is an open enſaumple of reproof to jelouſe men
that ben ſo ſuſpecious / that at the leſte contenaunce or
louely ſpeche of her wifes with othere men han hem ſuſpecte
of avoutrie. Alſo ȝif we take here good entent we mowen
ſee bothe in Joſeph and alſo in marye a fructuoſe doctrine
how that we ſchulde paciently ſuffre tribulacion· and how
that god ſuffreth his choſen ſoules to be diſeſed and tempted
ſor here beſte and to her mede. For wite we wele that alſo
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oure lady was not here with oute grete diſeſe and tribulacioun
what tyme that ſche ſawh hir houſbonde ſo diſtourbled·
and neuertheles ſche ſuffred and hilde hir pes mekely and
kepte priue that grete ȝifte of god / and cheſe rathere to
be holde as wickid / vicious / and vnworthy / than ſche
wolde make open that grete ſacrament of god and to ſpeke
and telle thinges that myȝte ſeme to hir preiſynge / boſte
or iactaunce.
¶ But her with ſche prayed god that he wolde ſende
remedye in this caas / and that he wolde / as it were his
wille / putte away fro hir and fro hire houſbonde this tribulacioun
and this diſeſe. And ſo oure lord / that ſuffreth
and ordeyneth alle thinges for the beſte / to conforte of
bothe ſent his aungel· the whiche appered to Joſeph in
his ſlepe / and ſeide that he ſchulde not drede to take to
hym marye his ſpouſe / bot triſtily and gladly dwelle with
hir: for that that ſche had conceyued was not by man /
but by the worchynge of the holy gooſt. And ſo after
tribulacioun cam grete ioye and counfort. In the ſame
manere it ſchulde falle with vs ȝif we kouthe wele kepe
pacience in tyme of aduerſite. For oure lord god after
tempeſt ſente ſofte and mery wedir· and it is no dowte
that he ſuffreth none temptacioun falle to his choſen bot
for her profiȝte. Than after this reuelacioun Joſeph aſked
oure lady of this wonderful conceyuynge· and ſche gladly
tolde hym the ordre and the manere therof. And ſo Joſeph
dwelled and ſtood ioyfully with his bleſſed ſpouſe / marye·
and with chaſte and trewe loue ſo feruently loued hir that
it may not be tolde· and beſily in alle thinges toke hede
to hir: and oure lady aȝeynward triſtily dwelled with him:
and ſo in hir bothe pouerte they lyueden to gidre with
grete goſtly merthe. Here with alſo oure lord Jeſu / as
recluſe and ſtoken in his moderes wombe the ſpace of
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nine monthes in manere of othere children / paciently and
benignely ſuffreth and abideth the dewe tyme of his birthe.
¶ Lord god / how moche ouȝte we to haue compaſſioun
that he wolde for oure ſake enclyne vnto ſo profounde
mekenes! Miche ouȝte we to deſire and loue that vertue
of mekenes· and ȝif we wolde haue beſily in mynde how
that hiȝe lord of ſo grete maieſte ſo myche lowed hym
ſelfe / ſchulde we neuere be lifted vp to veyne pryde and
reputacioun of oure ſelf. For of this one benefice of ſo
longe reclucioun for our ſake / we mowe neuere worthely
doo ſatisfaccioun or recompenſacioun to hym· but neuertheles
knowe we this trewely in herte / and with al oure
affeccioun deuoutely thonke we hym / ſpecially we that
bene religious / that he wolde take vs fro othere and
graciouſly departe vs fro the world / ſo that in this / thouȝ
it litel be / ſomwhat we ȝelde hym· that is to ſaie that we
ſtonde perſeuerantly recluſe in his ſeruice. For ſothely
this is al only his benefice of grace and not oure deſerte /
and that a grete benefice and worſchipful / in that that we
ben not recluſe to peyne / but to grete ſikerneſſe· for we
ben ſette as in a hiȝe and ſtronge toure of religioun / vnto
the whiche the venemous arowes of this wicked world
and diſtourblynge tempeſtes of that bitter ſee mowe not
atteyne or neyhe / bot in oure owne defauȝte and foly. But
for alſo moche as bodely encloſynge is litel worth or nouȝt
with oute goſtly encloſynge in ſoule· therſore thou that art
encloſed bodily in celle or cloyſtre / ȝif thou wolte be with
Jeſu vertuouſly encloſed in ſoule / firſte thou moſte with hym
anentyſche thy ſelf in thyn owne reputacioun and bycome
a child thorgh perfiȝt mekenes. Alſo thou moſte kepe and
loue ſcilence / not ſpekynge but in tyme of nede or edificacioun.
And furthermore or thou be born / that is to ſay
or thou ſchewe thy ſelf outeward by word or by opinioun of
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perfeccioun / thou moſte abyde the tyme of nyne monthes:
that is while thou art noȝt perfiȝtly grounded in vertues and
in knowynge of goddes lawe· for the noumbre of the x.
comaundementis tokeneth the perfeccioun of the lawe /
and therfore that that is laſſe tokeneth inperfeccioun.
Wherfore as the childe that is born byfore his kynde tyme
is vnable to thryue· ſo who ſo wil ſchewe hym outwarde
by worde or by dede holy and perfite or the tyme that he
be perfiȝtly growen and ſchapen in vertues withynneforth /
he is vnable to ſtonde as a man in tyme of temptacioun by
goſtly ſtrengthe and to profiȝte of othere and of hym ſelf.
Wherfore cloſynge and with drawynge to oure power all
oure mynde fro vanyte and luſtes of the world / beſye we
vs to conferme vs in clennes of herte to oure lord Jeſu /
that for oure ſake wolde be ſo cloſed in the wombe of his
bliſſed moder marie. Alſo to ſtire vs to compaſſioun / and
to ſuffre with Jeſu penaunce and diſeſe in this worlde / we
ſchulle conſidere and haue in mynde that he was in contynuel
affliccioun fro the firſte tyme of his concepcioun
in to the laſte tyme of his deth / ſpecially and principally
for that he knewe his fader of heuene / whom he loued
ſouereynly / ſo vnworſchipped of ſynful men / and forſaken
for mawmetrye and myſbileue· and of that grete compaſſioun
that he hadde to the ſoules made to his ymage /
ſo wrecchedly and for the moſte parte dampned / this was
to hym more peyne thanne his bodily paſſioun and dethe.
For why to putte away myſbileue and deſtroye this dampnacioun
he ſuffred that deth and that paſſioun. And ſo
ſchulde euery trewe louer of Jeſu haue compaſſioun and
be ynwardly ſorye / not only for the myſbyleue of Jewes
and Saraȝynes and her dampnacioun / bot alſo / and myche
more / for the wycked lyuynge of vntrewe criſten men·
in ſo muche that it ſchulde be to hym more paſſioun and
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gooſtly diſeſe whan he knewe or ſeie a ſoule periſſhe thoruȝ
dedly ſynne / than the loſſe of any worldely katel / or than
his owne bodily deth. For that wole perfiȝte charite. And
ſo in this forſeide proceſſe we haue profitable doctryne
and good enſaumple: firſt / in oure bleſſid lord Jeſu of
penaunce ſuffrynge / of perfiȝte charite / and trewe compaſſioun·
alſo in his moder marie of profounde mekenes
and pacience in tribulacioun· and in hir houſbonde Joſeph
of vertuous riȝtwiſneſſe aȝenſt falſe ſuſpecioun.
¶ And ȝif we wole wite why and wherto oure lady was
wedde to Joſeph / ſithe he hadde noȝt to doo with hir bodily /
but ſche was euere clene mayden: herto anſwerynge ben
thre ſkilles: Firſte / for ſche ſchulde haue conforte and ſolace
of man to hir bodily ſeruice and witteneſſe of hir clene
chaſtite: the ſeconde is / that the merueylous birthe of
goddes ſone ſchulde be heled and pryvey fro the deuel:
and the thridde / that ſche ſchulde not be defamed of
avoutrie / and ſo / as worthy the deth after the lawe / be
ſtoned of the Jewes. And thus endeth the firſte partie
of this booke that ſtant in contemplacioun for the Monday
and for the tyme of Aduent vnto the Natiuite of oure lord
Jeſu / whos name with his moder marye be euere bleſſid
with outen ende. Amen.
¶Capm.vjm. ¶ Of the Natiuite of oure lorde Jeſu Criſte.
What tyme that nyne monthes fro the concepcioun
of bliſſed Jeſu drowen to ende
Ceſar Auguſte / the Emperour of Rome /
ſente oute a maundement / or an heſte / that
all the world ſugette to hym ſchulde be deſcryued· ſo that
he myȝte knowe the noumbre of regiouns / of citees /
and of the heuedes longynge to hem that weren ſubdyte
to the Emperour of Rome· and herfore he ordyned and
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bad that alle men where ſo euere they dwelleden ſchulde
goo to the citee of hir firſte birthe and propre lynage.
Wherfore Joſeph / that was of the lynage of dauid / whos
citee was bethleem / toke with hym his ſpouſe / bliſſed
marie / that was that tyme greet with childe / and wente fro
Naȝareth vnto the citee Bethleem / there to be noumbred
among othere as ſugett to the Emperour. And ſo ledyng
with hem an oxe and an aſſe / they wenten al that longe
wey to gidere / as pore folk / hauynge no more worldely
good bot tho tweyne beſtes. And what tyme they comen
to Bethleem / for the grete multitude that was there in the
ſame tyme for the ſelue cauſe / they myȝte gete none herborwe
in none houſe but in a comoun place / bytwixe
tweyne houſes / that was heled aboue men for to ſtonde
ther fore the reyn and was i-cleped a dyuerſorie / they
were neded to reſte ynne and abide all that tyme. In the
whiche place Joſeph / that was a carpunter / made hem
a cloſere and a cracche for her beſtes.
¶ Now take here good hede and haue inwardly compaſſioun
of that bleſſed lady and mayden / marye· how ſche
ſo ȝong and of ſo tendre age / that is to ſaye of xv ȝere /
and grete with childe as nyh the birthe / trauailleth that
longe wey of ſixty myle and ten or more in ſo grete
pouerte· and ȝit whan ſche cam to the citee forſeide there
ſche ſchulde reſte / and with her ſpouſe aſked herborgh
in dyuers places / ſchamefaſtly as amonge vnkouthe folk /
alle they werned hem and lete hem goo· and ſo for nede
at the laſte they toke as for herborgh that comoun place
aforſeide.
¶ But now furthermore to ſpeke of the bliſſed birthe of
Jeſu· and of that clene and holy deliueraunce of his dere
moder marye / as it is writen in party by reuelacioun of
oure lady made here of to a deuowte man. Whan tyme
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of that bliſſed byrthe was come / that is to ſay the ſonday
at mydnyȝt / goddis ſone of heuene as he was conceyued
in his moder wombe by the holy gooſt with outen ſeede
of man / ſo goynge out of that wombe with outen trauaille
or ſorwe / ſodeynely was vppon hey at his moder feete.
And anon ſche / deuoutly enclynande / with ſouereyne
ioye toke hym in hir armes and ſwetely clippyng and
keſſynge leyde hym in hir barme / and with a fulle pap /
as ſche was tauȝt of the holy gooſt / wiſſhe hym al aboute
with hir ſwete mylk· and ſo wrapped hym in the keuerchiefes
of hir heued and leide hym in the cracche. And
anone the Oxe and the Aſſe / knelynge doun / leyden her
mowthes on the cracche / brethynge at hir neſes vppon
the child / as they knewen by reſoun that in that colde
tyme the childe ſo ſymply hiled had nede to be hatte in
that manere. And than his moder knelynge doun worſchipped
and loued god / inwardely thonkynge and ſeienge
in this manere: Lord god / holy fader of heuene / I thonke
the with al my myȝt that haſte ȝeuen me thy dere ſone·
and I honoure the al myȝty god / goddes ſone and myn.
Joſeph / alſo honourynge and worſchippynge the childe
god and man / toke the ſadel of the Aſſe and made therof
a kuſſhyne oure lady to ſitte on and a ſuppoayle to lene to.
¶ And ſo ſat the lady of all the worlde in that ſymple
array beſide the cracche / hauynge her mylde mode and
her louely eiȝen / with her inward affeccioun / vppon her
ſwete derworthe child. But in this pore and ſymple worldly
araye / what goſtly riches and ynward confort and ioye
ſche hadde may no tunge telle. Wherfore ȝif we wole
fele the trewe ioye and conforte of Jeſu / we moſte with
hym and with his moder loue pouerte / mekenes / and
bodily peneaunce / as he ȝaf vs enſample of alle thiſe here
in his birthe and firſt comynge in to this worlde. For of
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the firſte / that is pouerte / ſeynt Bernarde in a ſermoun of
the Natiuite of oure lord / tellynge how he was born to
comforte of mankynde / ſeith in this manere: Goddes ſone
comforteth his peple. Wolt thou knowe his peple? That is
of whom ſpeketh Dauid in the pſawter and ſeith: Lorde /
to the is bylafte the pore puple. And he hym ſelf ſeith in
the goſpel: Woo to ȝow riche men that hauen ȝoure comforte
here. For how ſchulde he comfort hem that hauen
here her owne comforte? Wherfore criſtes innocens and
childhode conforteth not iangeleres and grete ſpekeres·
criſtes wepynges and teris conforteth noȝt diſſolute lawheres·
his ſymple clothinge conforteth not hem that gone
in proude clothynge· and his ſtable and cracche conforteth
noȝt hem that louen firſt ſeetes and worldes worſchippes.
And alſo the aungels in criſtes Natiuite apperynge to the
wakynge ſcheephirdes conforten none othere but the pouere
trauailloures· and to hem tellen they the ioye of newe liȝt /
and noȝt to the riche men that hauen her conforte here.
¶ Alſo as to the ſecounde: we mowen ſee at this birthe /
bothe in criſt and in his moder / perfiȝt mekenes· for they
were not ſqueymous of the ſtable / nor of the beſtes / nor
of hey and ſuche othere abiecte ſimpilnes. But this vertu
of mekenes bothe oure lord and oure lady kepten perfiȝtly
in alle her dedes / and commenden it ſoueraynly to vs·
wherfore be we aboute with al oure myȝt to gete this
vertue / knowynge that with outen it is none ſaluacioun:
for there is no werk or dede of vs that may pleſe god with
pride.
¶ Alſo as to the thridde: we mowen ſee in hem bothe /
and nameliche in the child Jeſu / not a litel bodily penaunce·
of the whiche ſeynt Bernard ſeith thus: Goddes ſone whan
he wolde be born / that hadde in his owne fre wille to cheſe
what tyme he wolde take therto / he ches that tyme that
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was mooſt noyous and harde / as the colde wynter / nameliche
to a ȝong childe and a pore wommanes ſone / that
ſkarſly hadde clothes to wrappe hym inne / and a cracche
as for a cradel to laye hym inne· and ȝit thowh there was
ſo moche nede / I fynde no mynde of furres or pilches.
And ſithen criſt that is not begiled chas that is moſt hard
to the fleſche / ſothely that is beſt / moſt profitable / and
rather to be choſen· and who ſo techeth or biddeth othere
he is as a falſe deceyuere to be fledde and forſaken. Al
this ſeith ſeynt Bernard. And thus myche of theſe vertues
at this tyme.
¶ Goo we nowe furthermore to ſpeke of the forſeide
bleſſid natiuite of criſt. What tyme that oure lord was
ſo borne / the grete companye of aungeles that there weren
honourynge / louynge / and worſchippynge her lord god /
wenten anon to the ſchypherdes that weren there beſide /
aboute a myle fro Bethleem / tellynge hem that birthe of
her ſaueour and alſo the place therof by one of hem
apperynge with grete liȝt / peraunter gabriel that was
ſpecial meſſanger of this werk. And therwith al that
multitude of aungels token vp that newe joyful ſong /
ſeyenge / as the goſpel telleth in thiſe wordes: Joye with
outen ende be aboue in althere hiȝeſt heuen to god· and
in erthe pees to all men that ben of good wille. And ſo
with that ioyful ſong and moche merthe they wente vp in
to heuene / tellynge her othere felawes theſe newe ioyeful
tydynges of her lordes bliſſed birthe. Wherof al the court
of heuene / ioyeful and gladde more than tonge may telle
or herte thenke / makynge a ſolempne feſte / and devoutly
thonkynge the fader all myȝty god / as we mowen deuoutly
thynke and ymagyne / comen alle after by ordre after
ordre to ſee that louely face of goddes ſone her lorde /
with grete reuerence worſchippyng hym and his bliſſed
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moder. Herto accordynge ſpeketh the apoſtle ſeynt poule
in his piſtle / ad hebreos primo / ſeyenge: That whan the
fader of heuene brouȝte his firſt goten ſone in to this worlde /
he bad that all the aungels of god ſchulde worſchipp him.
Alſo the hyrde men / after the aungels weren paſſed fro
hem / comen and worſchippeden the child / tellynge openly
what they herden of the aungels· and his dere moder /
as ſche that was ſouereynly wys and witty / toke good
hede of al that was done and kepte priuely in her herte
alle the wordes that weren ſpoken of hir bleſſed ſone.
Thus myche and in this manere we mowen haue in contemplacioun
touchynge the proces of the bliſſed natiuite of
oure lord Jeſu. And furthermore touchynge the ſolempnite
and the worthyneſſe of this feſte and this hiȝe day / we
ſchullen haue in mynde that this day is borne the kyng
of blis and the ſone of almyȝty god / lorde of alle lordes /
and makere and gouernour of alle the world / whos name
is cleped ſpecially prince of pees· for by hym was made
that grete and endeles pees that is tolde bifore in the
Incarnacioun: wherfore this day the aungeles ſongen that
ioyful ſonge Gloria in excelſis &c.; / as it is i-ſeide bifore.
This day / as holy chirche ſyngeth in the office of the
maſſe / after the prophecie of yſaie / a child is borne to vs
that is like to vs in his manhede· and a ſone is ȝeuen to
vs that is euene to the fader of heuene in his godhede.
Alſo this day the ſonne of riȝtwiſneſſe / that was firſt vnder
cloude / ſprang openly his bemes of mercy and the liȝt of
his grace in alle the world. And ſo this day was ſeien
that bleſſed newe ſiȝt that neuere ere was ſeien in erthe /
that is to ſaye god almyȝty in mannis liknes. This daye
alſo bifelle the tweye grete wondres that paſſen al kynde
and al mannis wit· the whiche mowen all only be conceyued
thoruȝ trewe byleue / that is to ſeie that god is
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borne· and a mayde with oute ſorwe or blemyſchynge of
hir maydenhede hath born a child / wherfore this day
had ſche that ſecounde ſouereyn ioye in felynge done in
dede that ſche ȝaf feithe to / ſpoken bifore and byhiȝt by
the aungel at her conceyvynge. And ſo to all mankynde
this is a daye of grete ioye and a grete feſte / bothe of god
all myȝty / and of his bliſſed moder marie / as it was ſeide
bifore in the feſte of Incarnacioun: for alle the ſkilles that
there were ſeide bygan there and here more pleynly fulfild·
ioyne that to this and than it wil ſchewe pleynly.
In tokene alſo and witneſſynge of this wonderful birthe
aȝenſt kynde / at Rome that day out of a tauerne ſpronge
a welle of oyle· and in the ſame citee an ymage of gold
with a temple that was cleped the euerlaſtynge temple of
pees / for alſo moche as it was prophecied that it ſchulde
neuere falle adoun til a mayden bare a ſone / this day fel
doun both to gidre anone as criſt was born. In the whiche
place is now made a chirche in the worſchippe of oure
lady ſeynte marie / whos name with hir bliſſed ſone oure
lord Jeſu be now and euere with outen ende. Amen.
¶Cam.vijm. ¶ Of the circumſicion of oure lorde Jeſu.
In the viij day that the child was born he was circumſided
after the biddynge of the lawe. And ſo in
this day tweyne grete thynges were done that we owen
to haue deuoutly in mynde: the firſte is that the bleſſid
name Jeſu / that was euere with oute bygynnynge ȝeuen to
hym of the fader of heuene / and also of the aungel cleped and
tolde or he were conceyued / this day was openly declared
and nempned· and he therwith ſpecially cleped Jeſu / that
is alſo moche to ſay as ſaueoure. And this name reſonably
is aboue alle names· for as the apoſtle Petre ſeith / there is
none othere name vnder heuene in the whiche we owen to
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be ſaued. Of the whiche name and the grete worthyneſſe
and vertue therof ſeynt Bernard ſpeketh deuoutly by proceſſe
that ſchal be ſeide after. The ſecounde thing that
was done this day worthy to be had in mynde is that this
day oure lord Jeſu bygan to ſcheden his precious blood
for oure ſake. He bygan be tyme to ſuffre for vs / and he
that neuere did ſynne bygan this day to bere peyne in his
ſwete tender body for oure ſynne. Myche ouȝte we to
haue compaſſioun and wepe with hym / for he wepte this
day ful ſore. And ſo in theſe grete feſtes and ſolempnites
we ſchulde make moche merthe and be ioyful for oure
hele· and alſo haue ynward compaſſioun and ſorwe for
the peynes and angwiſche that he ſuffred for vs. For as
it is ſeide bifore / this day he ſched his blood whan that /
after the rit of the lawe / his tender fleſch was kutte with
a ſcharpe ſtonen knyf· and ſo that ȝong child Jeſu kyndeliche
wepte for the ſorwe that he felte there thoruȝ in his
fleſche: for withouten dowte he hadde verray fleſche and
kyndely ſufferable as haue othere children. Schulde we
than not haue compaſſioun of hym? Ȝis ſothely· and alſo
of his dere moder· for wel mowe we wite that whan
ſche ſeih hir louely ſone wepe ſche myȝte not withholde
wepynge. And than mowe we ymagyne and thynke how
that litel babe / in his moder barme / ſeynge hir wepe /
putte his litel honde to hir face as he wolde that ſche
ſchulde not wepe· and ſche aȝeynward / ynwardely ſtired
and hauinge compaſſioun of the ſorwe and the wepynge
of hir dere ſone / with kiſſynge and ſpekynge conforted
hym as ſche myȝte. For ſche vnderſtood wel by the
Inſpiracioun of the holy goſt / that was in hir / the wille of
hir ſone / thouh he ſpeke not to hir· and therfore ſche
ſeide: Dere ſone / ȝif thou wilt that I ceſe of wepynge / ceſe
thou alſo of thy wepynge· for I may not bot I wepe / what
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tyme that I ſee the wepe. And ſo thoruȝ the compaſſioun
of the moder the childe ceſed of ſobbynge and wepynge.
And than his moder / wypynge his face and kyſſynge
hym and puttynge the pappe in his mouth / comforted hym
in alle the maneres that ſche myȝte· and ſo ſche dede as
ofte as he weped. For as we mowen ſuppoſe he weped
ofte ſithes / as othere children done / to ſchewe the wrecchedneſſe
of mankynde that he verrayly took· and alſo to hyde
hym fro the deuele / that he ſchulde not knowe hym as for
god. And thus moche ſuffiſeth ſeide at this tyme of the
circumſicioun of the olde lawe· and we haue in that ſtede
baptiſme ordeyned by criſt / that is the ſacrament of more
grace and laſſe peyne. Bot for that bodily circumſicioun
we ſchulle haue goſtly circumſicioun / that is kuttynge
away fro vs alle ſuperflue thinges that diſpoſen to ſynne /
and holdynge with vs as in affectioun oneliche that is
nedfulle to vertuous lyuynge. For he that is truly pore
is vertuouſly circumſidid· the whiche circumſicioun the
apoſtle techeth in theſe wordes whan he ſeith: That we
hauynge mete and drinke and clothing / we ſchulde hold
vs paid. This alſo goſtly circumſicioun nedeth to be in
alle oure bodily wittes / as in ſeynge / herynge / touchinge /
and othere· that is to ſeie / that we in alle theſe eſchewe
ſuperfluyte and kepe ſkarſte / and namely in ſpekynge·
for moche ſpeche with oute frute is a grete vice and diſpleſynge
to god and man / and token of an vnſtable and
diſſolute herte: as aȝeynward / ſilence is a grete vertue / and
for greet cauſe of goodneſſe ordeyned in religioun· of the
whiche vertue dyuers clerkes ſpeken / that we ſchulle paſſe
ouer at this tyme: and thus endeth this chapitre.
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¶Cam.viijm. ¶ Of the Epiphanye / that is the open ſchewynge of
oure lord Jeſu.
Firſte touchinge this ſolempne day and worthy
feſte / we ſchulde vnderſtonde that there is none
feſte that hath ſo moche dyuers ſeruiſe in holy
chirche longyng therto as this feſte hath· not
for it is more worthy than othere / but for many grete
thinges byfelle and were done in this day ſpecially touchynge
the ſtate of holy chirche. As firſt vnderſtondynge
that holy chirche here in erthe ſtante in tweie manere
of peple· that one is of hem that comen of the Jewes
that hadden Moyſes lawe and weren circumſided· that
othere is of the remenaunte that weren not circumſided
and were i-cleped gentiles. This day / that is to ſay the
xiij day fro the Natiuite / acountyng that ſelf day / the
bleſſid child Jeſu ſchewed hym as god and man ſpecially
to the kynges that weren of the gentiles / and in her
perſone holy chirche nowe criſtened / that is principally
gedered of the multitude of gentiles / was this day reſceyued
and accepted of god to trewe byleue. For the day of his
Natiuitie he appered and ſchewed hym ſpecially to the
Jewes in the perſone of the hirde men· the whiche Jewes
for the more parte reſceyueth not goddes worde and byleue.
But this day he ſchewed hym to the gentiles / of whom
we comen that ben nowe his choſen chirche. Wherfore
this feſte is ſpecially and propurly the feſte of holy chirche
of trewe criſten men.
¶ The ſecounde thing that was done this day touchinge
holy chirche is that ſche was this day goſtly wedded to
criſte / and trewely knytte to hym by the bapteme that he
toke this day / xxix ȝere aftir complete: for in the baptiſme
ben ſoules wedded to criſt / and the congregacioun of
criſten ſoules is cleped holy chirche that by baptiſme is
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waſchen and made clene of the filthe of ſynne and clothed
newe in vertues.
¶ The thridde thing is that / that ſame day a twelfmonthe /
that is to ſaie a ȝere after the baptiſme of criſt / he wrouȝt
the firſte miracle at the bridale / turnynge water into wyn·
by the whiche is vnderſtonden alſo the gooſtly bridale of
holy chirche.
¶ The ferthe thing that byfel in that day is / as Bede
ſeith / that in that ſame day a ȝere after oure lord Jeſu
wrouȝt that grete myracle fedynge the grete multitude of
puple with a fewe loues and a fewe fiſches. But the firſte
thre ben reherſed this day in holy chirche and not this
ferthe.
¶ Loo how worſchipful this day is! the whiche oure
lord god ches ſpecially to worche thereynne ſo many grete
and wonderful thinges. Wherfore holy chirche / conſiderynge
ſo many grete benefices done to hir this day of hir
goſtly ſpouſe Jeſu criſte / by waye of dewe kyndenes
maketh grete merthe and ſolempnite in this day. But for
alſo moche as principally and moſt ſpecially the ſolempnite
of this day ſtant in the mynde of the firſte / that is the
worſchippynge of the kynges and her offrynges· therfore
ſpeke we furthermore of the contemplacioun her of / leuing
the remenaunt at this tyme. And ſo ymagyne we and
ſette we oure mynde and oure thouȝt as we were preſent
in the place there this was done at Bethleem / byholdynge
how theſe thre kinges comen with grete multitude and
a worſchipful companye of lordes and othere ſeruauntes·
and ſo by token of the ſterre firſt ledynge and after reſtynge
vppon that place that the child Jeſu was ynne / there they
liȝten doun of the dromondes / that they riden vppon / byfore
that ſymple hous and manere of ſtable / in the whiche oure
lord Jeſu was borne. And than oure lady / herynge grete
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noyſe and ſterynge of peple / anone toke hir ſwete child in
to hir barme. And they comynge in to that hous / alſo
ſone as they ſeien the child they kneled adoun and reuerently
and deuoutly honoured hym as kyng and worſchipped
hym as god. Lord god / how grete and how ſad was her
feith and byleue that ſuche a litell childe ſo ſympilly
clothed / founden with ſo pore a moder / in ſo abiecte
a place / with oute companye / with oute meyny and with
oute all worldely array / ſchulde be verray god and kyng
and lord of al the world· and natheles they bileued ſothfaſtly
bothe two. This was a grete goodnes of oure lord /
ordeynynge ſuche forlederes and ſuche bygynneres of
oure bileue· and ſo hit byhoued to be. Furthermore
touchynge the proces· we mowe thynke how the kynges /
after the firſte honourynge of the childe / ſpeken with his
moder / reuerently aſkynge of the condiciouns of hym /
in what manere he was conceyued and born / and ſo of
othere that thei deſireden to knowe. And oure lady myldely
anſwerynge / tolde hem of al as it nedeth: and they ȝeuen
ful credence and bileue to al that ſche ſeide. And for alſo
moche as they weren clerkes and men of grete wiſdome /
therfore we mowe ſuppoſe that they kouthen the langage
of hebrewe / and ſpeken in that tonge that was the moder
tonge of oure lady and alle Jewes.
¶ Now take we here good entent to the manere of
ſpekyng in bothe parties: firſt / how reuerently and how
curteiſly thei ſpeken and aſken her queſtiouns· and on
that other ſide hou oure lady / with a manere of honeſte
ſchamefaſtneſſe holding downe her eiȝen toward the erthe /
ſpeketh and anſwereth / ſaddely and ſchortly / to her
aſkynges· for ſche hath none likynge to ſpeke moche /
or elles to be ſeen: neuertheles oure lord ȝaf hir ſtrengthe
and ſpecial comfort to ſpeke more homely to hem by cauſe
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that they repreſenten holy chirche that was than to come
of the gentiles / as it is ſeide bifore.
¶ Byholde alſo the childe Jeſu / how he ſpeketh not /
but ſtant with a manere of ſad ſemblant and glad chere /
and als he vnderſtood hem / louely lokynge vppon hem·
and thei haue grete likynge in the ſiȝt of hym / not only
gooſtly in ſoule of his godhede as illumyned and tauȝt of
hym / but alſo in his bodily ſiȝt with oute forth: for as
Dauid witneſſith: He was faire and louely in body byfore
alle mennis ſones.
¶ And ſo whan they weren gretly comforted by hym /
thei maden her offrynge to hym in this manere / as we
mowen ſuppoſe. They openeden her cofres with her
treſoure and ſpredynge a tapite / or a cloth / byfore the
childes feete oure lorde Jeſu / they leiden there vppon and
offreden echone of hem golde / encenſe / and myrre / and
that in grete quantite / nameliche of the gold: for elles as
for a litel offrynge it hadde nouȝt neded hem forto haue
opened hir treſoure cofres / as the goſpel ſeith / but here
awmeneres / or her treſoreres / myȝt liȝtly haue had it in
hande and taken it hem bot for the ȝiftes and the quantitees
weren grete by reſoun / as it is ſeide. And whan thei
hadden thus offred and leide her ȝiftes bifore hym / then
reuerently and deuoutly fallynge doune they kiſſeden his
feete· and than peraunter the child / ful of wiſdom / forto
comforte hem more and ſtrengthe hem in his loue ȝaue
hem his hand to kiſſe / and after bleſſed hem therwith.
And ſo they reuerently enclynynge and alſo takynge her
leue at his moder and Joſeph / with grete ioye and gooſtly
merthe / as the goſpel ſeith / turneden aȝen in to hir owne
cuntre by a nother way. What that thiſe thre ȝiftes offred
of thiſe kynges bytoken goſtly / and many other thinges
that the goſpel more ouer telleth / as it is expowned by
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holy doctoures / is ſufficiantly and fully writen in manye
othere places· wherfore we paſſen ouer al that here.
¶ But what hope we was done with that golde of ſo grete
priſe? Whether oure lady reſerued it and putte it in treſorie/
or elles boute therewith londes and rentes? Nay/ nay/ god
forbede! for ſche that was a perfite louer of pouerte toke
none hede of ſuche worldely goodes. But what? Sche /
louinge pouert / and vnderſtondynge alſo hir bleſſid ſones
wille / not onliche thoruȝ his Inſpiracioun techynge hir in
ſoule with ynne forth / bot alſo by ſigne ſchewynge his
wille with outen forth that he loued not ſuche riches /
perauntre turnynge away ofte ſithes his face fro that golde
or ſpittynge there vppon / with ynne a fewe dayes and
ſchorte tyme ſche ȝaf it al to pore men· for the kepynge
therof that litel tyme was to hir a gret burthen and heuy
charge. And that ſemeth wele· for ſche made hem ſo
bare of money that whan ſche ſchulde go to the temple
forto be purified / ſche had noȝt wherwith to bigge a lombe
forto offre for hir ſone / but only bouȝte turtles / or dowfes /
of litel prys / that was the offrynge of poore folk after the
lawe. And ſo we mowe reſonably bileue that the offrynge
of the kynges was grete and riche / and that oure lady /
louynge pouert and ful of charite / ȝaf it in haſte to pore
men / as it is ſeide· ſo that here is ſchewed a grete
precony and worthy enſaumple of pouert. Alſo ȝif we
take here goode hede we mowe ſene open enſaumple of
perfite mekenes· for there beth manye that holden hemſelf
lowe and abiecte in her owne herte / and ben not
eleuate by pride as in her owne herte ſiȝte / but neuertheles
they wolde not be ſeyn ſuche in other mennis ſiȝt /
nor mowen not ſuffre to be deſpised or ſcorned of other·
and alſo they wolde not that her vnworthines and her
defauȝtes were knowen of othere / leſt they were deſpiſed
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or reproued of hem. But thus didde noȝt this day that
child Jeſu / lorde of all othere· for he wolde that his lowenes
and abieccioun were knowen and ſeen to his and to
othere / and that not to ſymple and fewe· but to grete and
manye / that is to ſay to kynges and lordes and her
meyne / many and fele. And alſo that is more to wonder
in ſuche a caas and tyme· in the whiche by reſoun it was
moche to drede / that is to ſay leſt the comynge fro ſo fer
and fyndynge hym that thei ſouȝten / kyng of Jewes / and
whom they troweden alle myȝty god / liggynge in ſo ſymple
array and ſo grete abieccioun / by that ſymple ſiȝt ſuppoſynge
hem diſceyued and holdynge hem ſelf as fooles
ſchulden gone away with oute deuocioun and bileue. But
not forthy the mayſter of mekenes and louer of ſympilneſſe
lafte not to fulfille the perfeccioun therof/ ȝeuynge to vs
enſample that we ſchulde not go fro the grounde of trewe
mekenes by colour of any ſemeliche profite or goode· but
that we ſchulde lerne to wille forto apere and be ſeyn
ſymple and abiecte in the ſiȝte of othere. That vertue of perfite
mekenes he graunte vs thoruȝ his grace that ſo wolde
meke hym for oure ſake / oure bleſſed lord Jeſu. Amen.
¶ De mora domine apud preſepe continetur in proximo
capitulo excepta meditacione de miniſterio ſuo et ſollicitudine
circa puerum Jeſum / de quibus poterit quis faciliter
meditari.
¶Cam.ixm. ¶ Of the purificacioun of oure lady ſeint Marie.
After the kynges had performed her offerynges /
and weren gone home aȝeyne in to her owne
cuntrey / as it is ſeide· ȝit ſtode that worthy
lady of all the world in that ſymple herborwe
with hir bliſſed ſone Jeſu and her houſbonde / that holy
olde man Joſeph / at the cracche paciently abidynge vnto
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the fourty day ordeyned by the lawe to hir purificacioun /
as ſche were an other womman of the peple defoyled thoruȝ
ſynne / and as the childe Jeſu were a pure man / and not
god / nedy to kepe the obſeruaunce of the lawe. But why
hope we that thei diden thus? Sothely for enſaumple
to vs· ſchewynge the trewe way of obedience: and for
they wolde no ſinguler prerogatif thei kepten the comoun
lawe as othere. But thus done not manye that lyuen in
comune congregacioun· the whiche deſiren to haue ſpecial
prerogatyues / and there by wole be i-ſene more worſchipful
than othere and ſengler abouen othere: but this
ſuffreth not trewe mekenes. Whan the fourty day was
come of hir purificacioun after the lawe / than wente oure
lady oute with hir ſone Jeſu and Joſeph / and toke the wey
fro bethleem in to Jeruſalem / that is aboute fyue or ſixe
myle / there to preſente the childe and offre hym to god.
¶ Now lete vs here goo with hem by deuoute contemplacioun·
and helpe we to bere that bliſſed birthen
the child Jeſu in oure ſoule by deuocioun· and take we
ynwardly good entent to all that ben here ſeide or done:
for thei ben ful deuoute.
¶ In this manere then they berynge and bryngynge the
child Jeſu in to Jeruſalem / and the lord of the temple
in to the temple of god at the entre thereof thei bouȝten
tweyne turtles / or elles tweie dowue briddes / to offre for
hym as the manere was for pore folke· and therfore the
goſpel ſpeketh not of a lambe / that was the comoun
offrynge of riche men / in token that they weren with
the poreſt folke. And herwith that riȝtwys man Symeon /
ladde in ſpirit by the holy gooſt / came in to the temple
to ſee that he had longe tyme deſired / criſt goddes ſone /
after byheſt and anſwere of the holy gooſt. And anone
as he cam and had the ſiȝt of hym / knowynge hym by
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the ſpirit of prophecie / he kneled doun and deuoutly
honoured and worſchipped hym as he was in his moder
armes borne· and the child bliſſed hym and / lokynge
vppon his moder / bowed toward hym in token that he
wolde goo to hym· and ſo the moder vnderſtondynge the
childes wille and therof wondrynge toke hym to ſymeon·
and he with grete ioye and reuerence clippynge hym in
his armes roſe vp / bliſſynge god and ſeienge with glad
ſpirite: Lord / I thonke the· for now thou leteſte thy ſeruaunte
after thy word in pees: for why I haue ſeen with
myn eiȝen thyn bliſſed ſone / oure ſaueoure. And afterward
he prophecied of his paſſioun and of the ſorwe
therof / that ſchulde as a ſwerd perce and wounde the
moder herte. Herwith alſo that worthy wydowe Anne /
the prophetiſſe / came to hem in to the temple / and / worſchippynge
the child / ſche prophecied alſo of hym and
ſpake of redempcioun that was to come by hym to mankynde.
And the moder wonderynge of alle theſe wordes
kepte hem by good entente pryuely in her herte. And
than the child Jeſu ſtrecching his armes toward his moder
was bytaken to hir aȝen. Afterward they ȝeden in manere
of proceſſioun towarde the auter with the childe· the
whiche proceſſioun is repreſented this day in alle holy
chirche with liȝt born to goddis worſchippe. And than they
wente in this manere: firſte / tho tweyne worſchipful olde
men/ Joſeph and ſymeon / goon bifore / joyfully holdyng
either other by the hondes and with grete myrthe ſyngynge
and ſeienge: Lord god / we haue reſceyued this day thy
grete mercy in myddes of thy temple / and therfore after
thy grete name / ſo be thy louynge and thy worſchippe in
to the fertheſt ende of al the worlde. After hem foloweth
the bliſſed moder and mayden marye berynge the kyng
of heuene / Jeſu· and with hir on the one ſide gothe
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the worſchipful wydewe Anne / with grete reuerence and
vnſpekeable ioye louynge and preiſynge god. This is
a ſolempne and a worſchipful proceſſioun of ſo fewe perſones
/ bot grete thinges bytokenynge and repreſentynge·
for there ben of alle ſtates of mankynde ſome / that is to
ſaie of men and wommen / olde and ȝonge / maydenes and
wydewes. Furthermore whan they weren comen to the
auter of the temple / the moder / with reuerence knelynge
downe / offreth hir ſwete ſone to the fader / god of heuene /
ſeienge in this manere: Taketh now / hiȝeſt fader / ȝoure
owne dere ſone / whom I offre here to ȝow after the biddynge
of ȝoure lawe· for he is the firſte born of his moder:
bot / gode fader / I byſeche ȝow that ȝe ȝeue him aȝen to
me. And than ſche riſynge vp lafte hym vppon the auȝter.
A lord god / what offrynge is this! Sothely there was
neuere ſeien ſuche another fro the bygynnynge of the
world / ne ſchal neuer after in to the endynge. Now take
we here goode hede hou the child Jeſus ſitte vppon the
auȝter as it were another childe of the comoun peple / and
with that loueliche face and ſadde chere he loketh and
byholdeth vppon his dere moder and othere that there
were preſente· paciently and mekely abidynge what
thei wolden doo with him. And therewith weren brouȝt
the preoſtes of the temple / and the child / lord of al the
worlde / was bouȝt aȝen as a ſeruaunt for .v. penyes / that
weren cleped cicles / a manere of money / after the lawe
as othere. And whan Joſeph had paied that money for
hym / the moder / oure lady / toke aȝen with ful glad wil
hir bleſſid ſone. And after / ſche toke the forſeide briddes
of Joſeph / and knelynge adoun and liftynge vp her eyȝen
deuoutely vnto heuene / holdynge hem in her hondes
offred hem / ſeienge thus: Al miȝty and merciful fader of
heuene / vnderfonge ȝe this litel ȝifte and offerynge / and
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the firſte ȝifte that ȝoure litel child this day preſenteth
vnto ȝoure hiȝe maieſte of his ſymple pouerte. And therewith
alſo the child Jeſu / puttynge his hondes to the
briddes and liftynge vp his eiȝen to heuene / ſpeke not /
but ſchewed contenaunce of his offrynge with the moder:
and ſo thei leiden hem vppon the auȝter. Now here
takynge hede what they ben that thus offren / that is to ſaie
the moder and the ſone· trowe we whether that offrynge /
thouȝe it were litel / myȝte be forſake? Nay / god for bede.
But we ſchulle fully trowe that it was by aungels preſented
vppe in to the court of heuene / and thereof the fader of
heuene ful gladly accepted / ſo that alle the bliſſed companye
of heuene there thoruȝ was reioyſed and gladed.
¶ Aftir this was done / and ſo the lawe of god fully
kepte / as it is ſeide / in alle that longed to the child fro
his birthe in to this tyme / oure lady with hir bliſſed ſone
and hir ſpouſe Joſeph toke the wey fro that citee of
Jeruſalem homward into Naȝareth. But by the weie
ſche viſited hir coſyn Eliſabeth / deſirynge alſo to ſee
John / hir ſone / that ſche loued ſpecially. And what tyme
they meten to gidre they maden grete ioye / and nameliche
Eliſabeth whan ſche ſawe that bleſſid ſiȝt of the childe
Jeſu· by vertu of whome in his firſte concepcioun John
in her wombe reioyſed / and ſche alſo replenyſched with
the holy gooſt. Alſo the childre / Jeſu and John / when
they weren brouȝt to gedere thei kiſſeden othere louely and
with lawhynge chere and maden moche merthe to gidre·
bot John / as vndirſtondynge his lorde / had hym alwey
in countenaunce / as with reuerence to hym. And what
tyme they had reſted hem there certeyn dayes / oure lady
with hir child and Joſeph wenten forth on her wey toward
Naȝareth / as to her home and reſte· but ȝit fel no reſte
to hem as it ſchal ſchewe after.
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¶ Now ȝif we take good entent to the forſeide proces /
and hou longe tyme they haue leyne oute of her owne
hous in ſo grete pouerte and ſympleneſſe / by reſoun we
ſchulde be ſtired to compaſſioun / and to lerne by enſaumple
of hem mekeneſſe / pouerte / and buxumneſſe·
that weren openly ſchewed in her ſymple dwellynge / in her
pore offrynge / and in the lawe kepynge. And furthermor
as the worldly men maken bodely myrthe in this tyme of
criſtemaſse / fro the Natiuite in to this day or feſte of the
purificacioun / that is i-cleped Candelmaſſe / ſo ſchulde
euery deuout ſoule in this tyme ſpecially / with deuocioun
and goſtly merthe in ſoule / worſchippe and honour that
bliſſed child Jeſu and his moder marye· viſitynge hem by
contemplacioun and ſome deuowte prayer / at the leſte ones
on the daye / as they ſeien in ſpirit oure lady with her child
liggynge at the cracche· hauynge therwith in mynde the
mekenes / the pouerte / and the buxumneſſe of hem / as it
is ſeide· and louynge hem and kepynge hem vertuouſly
in dede. Amen.
¶ And thus endeth the firſte parte of the book in
contemplacioun for the monday.
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