¶Cam.xlm.
¶ Of the paſſioun of oure lorde Jeſu criſte / and firſt of his prayer and takynge at matyn tyme.

At the bygynnynge thou that deſireſt to haue ſorwefull compaſſioun / thoruȝ feruent inward affeccioun / of the peynefull paſſioun of Jeſu / thou moſte in thy mynde depart in manere for the tyme the myȝt of the godhede fro the kyndely infirmyte of the manhede· though it ſo be in ſothenes that the godhede was neuer departed fro the manhede. For there beth many ſo blynded goſtly by vnreſonable ymaginacioun of the myȝt of the godhede in Jeſu / that thei trowe not that eny thing myȝte be peynefull or ſorwful to hym as to another comune man that hath only the kynde of man· and therfore haue they non compaſſioun of the peynes that he ſuffrede / ſuppoſynge that for alſo moche as he was god there myȝt no thing be aȝenſt his wille or dere hym. But therfore here aȝenſt forto haue trewe ymaginacioun and ynward compaſſioun of the peynes and the paſſioun of oure lorde Jeſu / verrey god and man / we ſchal vnderſtande that as his wille was to ſuffre the hardeſt deth and moſt ſorwful peynes for the redempcioun of mankynde / ſo by the ſelf wille he ſuſpendet in all his paſſioun the vſe of the myȝt of the godhede fro the infirmyte of the manhede· no more takynge of that myȝt for the tyme than hath another tendre and delicate man / only after the kynde of man. Wherfore thou ſchalt ymagyne and ynwardely thinke of hym in his paſſioun as of a faire ȝonge man of the age of xxxiij ȝere / that were the faireſte / the wiſeſte / and the moſte riȝtwyſſe in his leuinge· and mooſt goodly and innocent that euere was or myȝt be in this world· ſoPage  217 falſely accuſed / ſo enviouſly purſewed / ſo wrongſully demede / and ſo deſpitouſly ſlayne / as the proceſſe of this paſſioun afterward telleth / and all for thy loue. Alſo vnderſtonde / as clerkes ſeyne and reſoun techith / that in his bodily kynde of man he was of the clenneſt complexioun that euere was man or myȝte be· wherfore hauynge this in mynde he was the more tendre in the body / and ſo foloweth that the peynes in the body were the more ſore and bittre and the harder to ſuffre. Than ſethen he toke no ſocour of the godhede / but onely ſuffrede after the kynde of the manhede / the leſte peyne that he hadde was more peyneful to hym than it myȝte be to eny other man. Wherfore hauinge this in mynde / firſte to ſterynge of the more compaſſioun· ferthermore / after the proceſſe of Bonauenture / who ſo deſireth with the apoſtle poule to be ioyeful in the croſſe of oure lord Jeſu criſt and in his bliſſed paſſioun / he moſte with beſy meditacioun abide there ynne. For the grete myſteries and all the proceſſe therof / ȝif they were inwardely conſiderede with all the ynwarde mynde and byholdynge of mannis ſoule / as I fully trowe / they ſchulde brynge that byholder in to a newe ſtate of grace· for to hym that wolde ſerche the paſſioun of oure lorde with all his herte and all his ynward affeccioun there ſchulde come meny deuoute felynges and ſterynges that he neuere ſuppoſed byfore. Of the whiche he ſchulde fele a newe compaſſioun and a newe loue and haue newe gooſtly confortes / thoruȝ the whiche he ſchulde perceyue hym ſelf turnede / as it were / in to a newe aſtate of ſoule· in the whiche aſtate thoo forſaide gooſtly felynges ſchulde ſeme to hym as an erneſt and partye of the bliſſe and ioye to come. And forto gete this aſtate of the ſoule I trowe / as he that is vnkunnynge and blaberinge / that it byhoueth to ſette therto all the ſcharpneſſePage  218 of mynde / with wakyng eyȝen of herte / putting away and leuynge alle othere cures and beſyneſſe for the tyme / and makynge hym ſelf as preſent in all that byfelle aboute the paſſioun and crucifixioun effectuouſly / beſily / auiſely / and perſeuerantly· and nouȝt paſſynge liȝtly or with tediouſe heuyneſſe / but with al the herte and gooſtly gladneſſe. Wherfore if thou that redeſt or hereſt this book haſt here byfore beſily taken hede to thoo thinges that hauen ben writen and ſpoken of the bleſſid lyf of oure lord Jeſu criſt in to this tyme / moche more now thou ſchalt gedre alle thy mynde and al the ſtrengthe of thi ſoule to thoo thinges that folowen of his bleſſid paſſioun· for here ſpecialli is ſchewed his hiȝe charite· the whiche reſonably ſchulde all holily enflawme and brenne oure hertes in his loue.

¶ Nota hic premittitur proceſſus paſſionis in generali qui poſtea inſeritur / ſcilicet in fine hore tercie / quia videtur magis conueniens ibidem.

¶ Go we than to the proceſſe of his paſſioun / takynge hede and makynge vs in mynde as in preſence to all that folweth. And firſt byholdynge how / after the proceſſe of the goſpel of ſeint John / oure lord Jeſu after that worthy ſoper was done and that noble and fructuouſe ſermoun ended / wherof it is ſpoken in the nexte chapitre biforn / he wente with his diſciples ouer the water of Cedron in to a ȝerde or a gardyn / in to the whiche he was wont ofte ſithes to come with his diſciples· and there he bad hem abyde and praye. And ferthermore takynge with him his thre ſpecial ſecretaries / that is to ſay / Peter and James and John / and tellynge hem that his herte was heuy and ſorwful vnto the deth / bad hem there abyde and wake with hym in prayeres. And ſo a litel ferther fro hem / as aboute the ſpace of a ſtones caſt / vppon a litel hulle /Page  219 mekely and reuerently knelynge vppon bothe his knees made his prayer to the fader deuoutliche / in manere as it folweth after.

¶ But here abide we a litell while / and take we hede with a deuoute mynde of this wonderfull dede of oure lord Jeſu / ſothely worthy to be had in inward ſorwful compaſſioun· for loo now he prayeth mekely to the fader / and that for hym ſelf· as we reden that he hath ofte byfore prayed / but than for vs as oure aduokett. Wherfore ſkilfully we ſchulde be ſtired to inward compaſſioun and wondre here of the loweſt mekeneſſe / of the moſte perfiȝte obediens / and of the vnſpekable charite of god ſchewed to vs· and firſte of this moſte profounde mekeneſſe / conſideringe hym that is verray god / euene with the fader all myȝty and euerelaſtynge / ſo as it were forȝetynge hym ſelf as god / and ſo lowely prayenge as another comune man of the peple. Alſo take hede of his moſte perfiȝte obedience. For what is that he prayeth? Sothely he prayeth the fader / ȝif it be his wille that he be nouȝt ſlayn and putte to that hard deth· and ȝit with the fader he hath ordeyned to take that deth for man. And ſo he prayeth the fader / and ȝit he is nouȝt herde after his wille / that is to ſeie after oon manere of wil that was in hym. For there was in hym thre manere of willes: that is to ſay / firſt the wille of the fleſche and the ſenſualite / and that grucched and dredde and wolde nouȝt gladly ſuffre deth: alſo the wille of reſoun / and that was obeiſſaunt and aſſentaunt / as the prophete yſaie of hym ſeith: He was offred vppon the cros to the fader / for ſo was his wille: and the thridde was the wille of the godhede / the whiche ȝaf the ſentence of his paſſioun and bad in all manere to be done. Wherfore / in alſo myche as he was verray man / he dredde as man aftir the firſte wille / andPage  220 was than in greet angwiſche. And therfore inwardly haue compaſſioun of hym / in alſo mochel as thou may / with all thyn herte. For loo / the fader wille vtterly that he be ſlayne and dede· and nouȝt withſtondynge that he is his owne dere loued ſone / ȝit he ſpareth hym nouȝt / but ȝeueth hym to the deth for vs alle. And oure lord Jeſu takith mekeliche that obedience and fulfilleth after in dede / as the proceſſe of his paſſioun witneſſith fully. In the thridde poynt byholde the vnſpekable charite of the fader and the ſone ſchewed to vs / that oweth worthely to be had in inward compaſſioun and hie wonder and worſchippe· for only for oure ſaluacioun this harde deth is bidden of the fader and taken of the ſone.

¶ Of the prayer of oure lorde Jeſu / ſwetyng blood. Byholde now how he prayeth / longe tyme knelinge vppon the grounde he ſpeketh to the fader and ſeith in thiſe manere wordes: My dere fader / all myȝty and fulle of pitee and of mercy / I beſeche the that thow here my prayer and deſpiſe nouȝt my bede· byhalde to me and here me· for I am made ſory in myn exerciſe of vertue / ſchewynge to myn enemyes pacience and charite and thay nouȝt amende it. And ſo my ſpirit is in angwiſche within me / and myn herte greuouſly deſtourblede· wherfore bowe thin ere to me and take hede to the voys of my bede. It likede the / fader / to ſende me in to the worlde forto make aſeeth for the wrong that was done of man to ȝow· and anone at ȝour wille and biddinge I was redy and ſeide / Lo I go. And ſo thy ſoothfaſtneſſe and thy hele I haue declared and ſchewed· and I / euere pouere and in dyuers trauailles fro my ȝouthe / doynge thy wille and all that thou haſt boden me / am now redy to fulfille vtterly tho thinges that bene ȝit to be done and full ended. Thow ſeeſt / fader / the malice that myn enemyes hauenPage  221 conſpired aȝenſt me / and how I haue euere done tho thinges that bene pleſaunt to the / and done good and benefetes to hem that haten me· and thay aȝenward haue rewarded me euel for good / and hate for my loue· and ſo they haue corrupte my diſciple and made hym here ledere to deſtroye me / and hauen ſolde me and ſette my priſe on thritty penyes. Gode fader / I beſeche the that thou doo away fro me this cuppe of ſorwe and of bitter paſſioun that is ordeyned to me to drynke· and elles / be thy wille fulfilled. But / my dere fader / riſe vp into my helpe and haſte the to ſocoure me at my nede. For be it ſo / fader / that thay knowe me nouȝt thi ſothfaſt ſone· neuertheles ſithen I haue lad amonges hem a riȝtwis and ynnocent lyf / and alſo done to hem many goode dedes / thay ſchulde nouȝt be ſo cruel and ſo malicious aȝenſt me. Haue in mynde / good fader / how I haue ſtonden in thy ſiȝt forto ſpeke euere the goode for ham / and to turne away thyn indignacioun fro ham. But now loo / they ȝilden euel for good / and hauen ordeyned the vileſt dethe for me: wherfore / thou lorde that ſeeſt all thing / riſe in to my helpe and leue me nouȝt· for greet tribulacioun is now nygh / and there is none that wille and may helpe / but thou allone.

¶ And after this prayer oure lorde Jeſu tornede aȝeyn to his diſciples / and woke ham / and comforted ham ȝit to praye. And eft the ſecounde tyme / and the thridde tyme turnede aȝeyne to his prayere in diuerſe places a litel fro other / as in the ſpace of a ſtones caſt liȝtly with oute grete ſtrengthe· and contenued the forſaide prayer to the fader / addynge to and ſaienge: My fader riȝtwis / if it ſo be that thou haſt ordeynede and wilt in all manere that I ſuffre the deth vppon the croſſe / thy wille be fulfilled. But I recomende to the / fader / my ſwete moderPage  222 and my diſciples / the whiche I haue i-kepte in to this tyme all the while I haue be dwellynge with ham. And with this prayer that preciouſe and holyeſte blood of his bliſſed body / brekynge oute in manere of a ſwete / droppede doun vnto the erthe habundauntly in that grete agonye and harde bataille.

¶ Sothely here is grete mater of ſorwe and compaſſioun / that ouȝt to ſtere the hardeſt herte that is in this world to haue ynward compaſſioun of that grete and ſouerayne angwiſſhe that oure lorde Jeſu ſuffrede in that tyme and for oure ſake· for by the godhede he ſawe the hardeſt and ſouerayn paynes that were to come in his body· and therfore after the manhode his tendre body for fere and anguyſſh brak out violently of blode.

¶ Take hede alſo here that is ſpecially to be noted aȝenſt oure inpacience· how oure lord Jeſu prayeth thre tymes or he haue anſwere fro the fader. But than at the thridde tyme / whan oure lorde Jeſu was in ſo grete angwiſſhe of ſpirite / as it is ſeide / loo the prince of goddes aungelles / Michael by name / ſtondynge by hym comforted hym and ſeide: Haile / my lorde Jeſu / ȝoure deuoute prayer and ȝoure blody ſwote I haue offred and ſchewed to ȝoure fader of heuene in ſiȝt of all his bleſſid courte· and we alle fallynge doun byfore hym / haue byſouȝt hym to putte away fro ȝow this bitter drynk of ȝoure paſſioun. But the fader anſwerde and ſeide: My dere loued ſone knoweth wel that the redempcioun of mankynde / the whiche we deſiren ſo of oure hiȝe charite / may not be fulfilled and done ſo conueniently and reſonably with outen ſchedinge of his blood· wherfore if he wole the hele of ſoules / it byhoueth hym to die for ham. And therfore / my lorde / what deme ȝe now in this mater? Oure lorde Jeſu anſwered than to the aungel:Page  223 I will in all manere the hele and ſaluacioun of ſoules· and therfore I cheſe rather to ſuffre the deth / wherthorw the ſoules that the fader hath made vnto his likneſſe mowen be ſaued / than I wolde nouȝt die and the ſoules be nouȝt aȝeyn bouȝt· wherfor my faderis wille be fulfilled. And than ſaide the aungel to hym: Beth now of good comfort / my lord / and worcheth manfully· for it is ſemely to hym that is in hiȝe degre to do grete thinges and worthy / and to hym that is a manful man to ſuffre hard thinges· for tho thinges that ben harde and payneful ſchal ſone paſſe / and thoo thinges that ben ioyful and gloriouſe ſchal come after. The fader ſeith that he is and ſchal be euer with ȝow· and that he ſchal kepe ȝoure dere moder and ȝour diſciples at ȝour wille / and ſchal ȝeue hem ſafe aȝeyne vnto ȝow. And ſoo the good meke lorde toke benignly this manere of comfort and that of his creature / takynge hede or conſideringe hym ſelf after the kynde of man / laſſe in worthyneſſe than aungels for the tyme of the dedly lyf in this world: and ſo he was ſorwful as man / and ſo he was comforted of the aungelles wordes as man. And ſo he toke his leue of hym / prayeng hym to recomende hym to the fader and all the court of heuene. And than at this thridde tyme he roſe vp fro his prayer / all the body blody: whom thou myȝt byholde with ynward compaſſioun how he wypeth his body / or elles perauenture waſſheth hym priueliche in the ryuer· and ſo greetly peyned in his body / and that is reuerently to be had in mynde and in ſorwful compaſſioun· for with oute grete bitterneſſe of ſorwe this myȝt nouȝt byfalle to hym. And neuertheles doctoures and wiſe clerkes ſeien that oure lorde Jeſu prayed in that manere the fader nouȝt only for drede of his paſſioun / but alſo for his grete pitee and mercy that he hadde of his firſte peple the Jewes / ſorwyngePage  224 that thei ſchulde be loſt by occaſioun of his deth: for they ſchulde not haue ſlayne hym / namely ſithe he was of hir kynde / and was alſo conteyned and writen in her lawe as criſt to come· and therwith ſchewed hem ſo many grete benefetes. Wherfore he prayed the fader to this entent thus: My fader / if it may be with the hele and the ſauacioun of Jewes that the multitude of other folk be turned to byleue / I forſake the paſſioun and the deth· but if it be nedful that the Jewes be blendid in hir malice ſo that other folk mowe haue ſiȝt in trewe byleue / nouȝt my wille but thyne be done and fulfilled. That is to ſaie after the firſte manere of wille in hym / as it is i-ſeide bifore. After this he cam to his diſciples and ſaide to hem: Now ſlepeth and reſteth· for they hadde i-ſlepte a litel bifore there. Sothely he / as a good herde / was ful wakkerly and beſy vppon the kepynge of that litell flok / his byloued diſciples.

¶ Of the takyng of oure lorde Jeſu.

¶ O trewe loue / ſothely he loued hem in to the vttreſt that in ſo grete anguyſſhe and ſo bittre agonye was ſo beſy to procure hir hele and her reſte. Than ſawh oure lord after his aduerſaries comynge with torches and armes / and ȝit he wolde not wake and raiſe his diſciples til thai come nyh ham / and than he ſeide to hem: It ſufficeth now that ȝe haue ſlepte y-nowe. Loo / he that ſchal betraye me is nyh at hande. And therwith come that wicked Judas / the falſe traytour / the worſte chapman that euere was / byfore hem all and boldely keſſid that innocent lambe / his lord Jeſu. For as it is writen / the maner of cuſtume that our lord vſede of his grete benignite was what tyme his diſciples were ſent forth / when they come aȝeyn forto reſceyue hem in louely cuſſe. And therfore that traitour went bifore and kuſſede hym·Page  225 as who ſeith: I am nouȝt come with thiſe armed men / but in manere as here bifore I was wont at myn aȝen comynge / I kuſſe the and ſaie / haile maiſtre! Oo verray traytour! Take now good hede to oure lorde Jeſu / how paciently and benignely he reſceyuede that falſe feyned clippynge and traitoures cuſſe of that vnſely diſciple / whos feete he weſche a litel byfore of his ſoueraigne mekeneſſe / and fedde hym with that preciouſe mete of his owne precious body thoruȝ his vnſpekable charite. And alſo byholde how paciently he ſuffred hym ſelf to be taken / bownden / ſmyȝten / and wodely lad forth as thogh he were a theof or a wicked doer / and in all manere vnmyȝty to helpe hym ſelf. And alſo take hede how he hath ynward ſorwe and compaſſioun of his diſciples fleynge fro hym and errynge· and alſo thou maiſt ſe here grete ſorwe of hem / how as aȝenſt hir wille / by freelte of mannis drede / thay gone fro hym / makynge greet mornynge and with hiȝe ſighynges as faderles children / nouȝt wetynge what to done: and ȝit was hir ſorwe moche more / ſeynge hir maiſter and lorde ſo vileynſly ferde with / and the helle houndes drawyng hym as a beſte to ſacrifice / and hym as a meke lombe with oute reſiſtence folowynge.

¶ Now ferthermore byholde how he is ladde of thoo vileſt wrecches fro that ryuer vpward toward the citee of Jeruſalem· and that haſtely and with grete pyne / hauynge his hondes bounden behynde hym as a theef / gird aboue his cote / but nouȝt curiouſliche / and his mantel drawen fro hym / and bare heued / and ſtoupynge for the grete haſte and trauaille that they made hym forto haue. And when he was broȝt byfore the princes of preoſtes and the ſcribes and the aldermen that were than gadrede abidynge his comynge / glad were they than· examynyngePage  226 hym and appoſynge ſotelly in meny queſtiouns / and procuringe falſe witneſſe aȝenſt hym / and ſpittynge on his holi face / and hidynge his eiȝen / thay buffetede hym / ſkornyng and ſaienge: Prophecie now and telle vs who ſmote the laſte. And ſo in meny maneres they vexede hym and tormentede hym· and he in alle ſchewydde hiȝe pacience: wherfore here we owe to haue inward compaſſioun of alle that he ſuffrede ſo for vs. At the laſte the grete maiſtres went her way / puttinge hym into a manere of priſoun there vndir a lofte· and there thay bounden hym to a ſtoon piler / as men ſeien that haue ſene it. And alſo there they lafte with hym ſom armed men to kepe hym for more ſikerneſſe· the whiche all that nyȝt vexed hym in ſkornynges and ſchrewed wordes / abreydinge hym and reprovinge in this manere wordes / as we mowe reſonably ſuppoſe: Wendeſt thou forto haue ben ſtronger / bettre / and wiſer than oure princes and maiſtres of the lawe? What vnwitt and folie was that in thee to reprehende hem. Thow ſchuldeſt nouȝt haue bene ſo hardy ones to haue oponed thy mouthe aȝenſt hem. But now ſcheweth thyn lewed witte· for now thou ſtandeſt / as it byſemeth / to thy comperes / ſuche as thou art. With outen dowte thou art worthy the deth / and therfore thou ſchalt haue it. And ſo all that nyȝt now one and now another by wordes and dedes ſkorned hym and reproued hym. Take hede alſo on that other ſide of oure lorde / as ſchamefaſt / paciently in ſilence / haldynge his pees to alle that thay putte vppon hym / caſtyng doun toward the erthe his chere as thouȝ he were gilty and taken in blame· and here haue ynward compaſſioun. A lorde Jeſu / into whos handes art thou now comen! How mykel is thy pacience! Sothely this is the houre and the power of derkneſſe. And ſo ſtood he bounden vnto that piler til the morwe.

¶ In the mene tyme John / that hadde folwede oure lord / went to oure lady and Magdeleyn and other of hir felawes that were that tyme gadered in Magdeleyns hous where he had made the ſoper byfore / and tolde hem all that was byfalle of oure lord and his diſciples· and than was there vnſpekable ſorwe / crienge / and wepynge. Take now entent to hem and haue compaſſioun of hem· for they ben in the gretteſt diſeſe and hiȝeſt ſorwe for here lorde· for they ſee now wel and fully trowen that he ſchal be dede. At the laſte oure lady drowe here by hir ſelf and turned hir to the praier / and ſaide: Moſt worſchipful fader / moſt pitouſe fader / and moſt merciable fader / I recomende to ȝow ȝoure owne and myn dereſte loued ſone. Gode fader / beth not to hym cruel / ſethen ȝe ben to alle othere benigne. Fader euerlaſtynge / whether my dere ſone ſchal be dede? Sothely he dede neuere euil. But riȝtwis fader / if ȝe wil the redempcioun of mankynde / I byſeche ȝow / if it may be / that it be fulfilled by another manere / and that my ſone be nouȝt dede if it be ȝour wille· for alle thing is poſſible to ȝow. He helpeth nouȝt hym ſelf by cauſe of ȝour obedience and reuerence / but hath in manere forſake hym ſelf and made hym as feble and vnmyȝty amonges his enemyes. Wherfore / merciful fader / helpe ȝe hym and delyuere ȝe hym fro her handes and ȝeue hym me aȝeyne. By ſuche manere wordes prayed oure lady ſor hir ſone / with all her myȝt of ſoule and in grete ſorwe: and therfore haue here pitee of hire / whom thou ſeeſt in ſo grete affliccioun.