,transcriber's ,note3 ,abbreviated words and syllables are shown in brackets4 1111 vowel with overline 7following m or n7 ,c symbol 99,v99 99,r99 ,verse and ,response symbols ,a ryght profytable treatyse compendiously drawen out of many and dyvers wrytynges of holy men by ,thomas ,betson ,printed in ,caxton's house by ,wynkyn de ,worde about #aejj 99 99 99 99 99 ,cambridge at the ,university ,press #aije ,the tract here reprinted is one of twenty-six formerly bound together in a remarkable volume 7,,ab4 #d4 #eh7 which was presented to the ,university in #agae by ,king ,george the ,first together with the rest of the ,library of ,john ,moore1 ,bishop of ,ely4 ,the name of the author is only known from the colophon4 ,it will be seen from the facsimile that the fourth letter of the name is not certainly an s4 ,herbert 7p4 #bjd7 on the information of ,w4 ,cole gives the name as ,betton3 but it seems probable that we are right in reading it as ,betson4 ,mr ,bernard ,w4 ,henderson1 who has very kindly examined the copy in the ,library of ,exeter ,college1 ,oxford1 and ,mr ,f4 ,madan1 to whom he has shown it1 are decidedly of opinion that the letter is a blurred s4 ,the date of printing is fixed by competent authorities as #aejj1 on the evidence of the states of the printer's mark and of the cut of the ,crucifixion4 ,,francis ,,jenkinson ,this facsimile has been taken from the original in the ,library of the ,university of ,cambridge4 ,i certify that ,i have printed #bej copies only of this facsimile1 that the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives destroyed4 ,p4 ,,dujardin 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,illustration ,here begynneth a ryght profytable treatyse cpendiously drawen out of many dyuers wrytynges of holy men _/ to dyspose men to be vertuously occupyed in theyr myndes prayers4 ,and declared the ,pater noster4 ,aue4 ,credo4 in our moder tonge with many other deuoute prayers in lyke wyse medefull to religyous people as to the laye people with many other moost holsomest ,instruccyons _/ as here after it shall folowe4 ,the famous doctour ,iohan gerson ,chaceler of ,parys _/ takynge his grode of holy scrypture4 accordynge with all other doctours sayth thus4 ,illuminated ,o ,oure moost mercyfull fader lord god knowyng our freelte redynes to all synnes4 is euer redy duryng this wretched mortall lyf _/ by many dyuers ways to forgyue vs our trespace _/ to grate gyue vs his grace _/ yf so be that truly we ordeyne vnto hym these treuthes folowynge sayd done with all our herte4 ,the fyrst _/ thou shalt saye4 ,blessyd lorde ,i knowleche that ,i haue synned ayenst thy goodnes thus and thus ,rehersynge thy synnes4 ,and ,i am dyspleaseth therwith by reason of the whiche ,i do penaunce wyll do4 ,for ,i knowe well that ,i haue greued the broken thy cmadementes4 ,in the whiche thou only ought to be worshypped4 ,the seconde saye this treuthe4 ,good lorde ,i haue good purpose desyre with thyn helpe to be ryght ware herafter that ,i fall not in to synne _/ ,i entende to flee the occasions after the possibilyte of my power4 ,the thyrde is this4 ,mercyful lorde ,i haue a good wyll to make an hole confessyon of all my synnes whan place tyme cuenient may be had acordynge to thy cmadement all holy chirche4 ,these thre treuthes who soeuer sayth with his herte vnfaynyngly in what place that euer it be _/ he may be sure that he is in the state of helth grace he shal haue euer lastynge lyf though he had done all the synnes of the worlde4 ,and yf he decessed without ony other confession for lacke of a preest4 as slepyng sodayn deth he sholde be saue suffrynge afore harde payne of purgatory _/ wherfor it is a good cosel that euery crysten man ones or twyes a daye erly or late _/ or els at lest on holy dayes examyne his conscyence rembre yf he may with al his herte vnfaynyngly say these thre treuthes _/ yf he do he may be sure that he is in the state of grace4 ,and yf he may not4 but is in wyll to synne ayen to haue his delectacion with dede _/ wyll not flee the occasyons of mortall synnes so drowned wyl not aryse4 as vsurers4 fals marchats or that desyren vengeace with suche other suche may be certayne that the pope may not assoyle them ,not for thy holsom cosell is that suche praye gyue almesse do other good dedes after theyr power that god the father may lyghten theyr hertes4 the sooner torne them to goodnes4 ,amen4 ,this ,pater noster _/ taught our lorde his dyscyples _/ and all people by his gospell4 ,fader our that art in heuens _/ halowed be thy name4 ,thy kyngdom come to the4 ,thy wyll be do as in heuen so in erthe4 ,our eche dayly brede gyue vs to daye4 ,and forgyue vs our dettes ryght as we forgyue to our dettours4 ,and lede vs not in to temptacyon4 ,but delyuer vs from euyll ,amen _/ that is to saye4 ,so be it4 ,this is the ,aue maria _/ that ,gabryell sayd salutynge our blessyd lady _/ it is the gospell4 ,heyll ,mary full of grace _/ the lorde is with the _/ blessyd be thou amonge wymen _/ blessyd be the fruyte of thy wombe ,ihesus4 ,amen4 ,these ben the artycles of our ,crede _/ and oure byleue _/ that who is baptysed and trusteth in hem shall be saued4 ,i byleue in god fader almyghty shaper of heuen erthe4 ,and in ,ihesu cryste his oonly sone our lorde _/ the whiche is conceyued of the holy goost _/ borne of ,mary the mayde _/ suffred payne passyon vnder ,ponce ,pylate4 ,crucefyed _/ deed _/ buryed _/ he lyghted downe to helles4 ,the 4iij4 daye he arose fr deth to lyue4 ,he flyed vp in to heuens4 ,he sytteth at the ryght syde of god the fader almyghty ,from thens he is to come to deme both quycke deed4 ,i trowe in the holy goost _/ holy chirche vnyuersall _/ comunynge of sayntes _/ forgyuenes of synnes ayen rysynge of flesshe _/ euerlastynge lyf4 ,amen4 ,hope is truste by the mercy of god to be saued4 ,and it standeth in the grace of our lorde our good werkes4 ,charyte is the ende the perfeccion of all the cmadementes of god _/ and it standeth in the loue of god aboue all thynges _/ thy neyghbour as thy self ,these ben the seuen vertues ayenst the seuen vyces4 ,mekenes ayenst pryde4 ,as in boostynge _/ despysynge _/ scornynge _/ hyghe herte _/ fayrnes _/ connynge _/ strengthe _/ vertue _/ pryde of kynne _/ vayne glory _/ dispyte of other _/ ypocresy4 ,pacyence ayenst ,wrathe4 ,as fyghtynge _/ chydynge _/ hurtyng _/ betyng _/ warryeng _/ cursynge _/ grutchynge _/ desyre of vengeace cruelnes c4 ,charyte ayenst ,enuye4 ,as gladde of an other euyll fare _/ to be heuy sory of theyr welfare _/ bacbytynge _/ sowynge of dyscorde _/ scornynge _/ and suche other4 ,largenes ayenst ,couetyse ,auaryce4 ,in wynnynge _/ in byenge _/ in sellynge _/ in metynge _/ in waynge _/ gyle _/ trechery _/ sacrylege _/ symony _/ vsury _/ theeft _/ receyuynge of stolen goodes _/ wronge withholdynge of ony dute to the the chirche c4 ,good occupacyon ayenst ,slouth4 ,as ydelnes _/ delyte in slepe _/ neclygent to cne the lawes of god _/ vnlusty to the seruyce of god _/ myspendynge of tyme _/ dyspayre _/ wanhope suche other4 ,abstynence ayenst ,glotony4 ,as in moche etynge drynkynge _/ brekynge of faste _/ desyrynge of delycate metes drynkes c4 ,these ben the fyue goostly wyttes4 ,mynde _/ reason _/ wyll _/ ymagynacyon _/ vnderstandynge4 ,these ben the fyue bodely wyttes4 ,herynge seynge _/ smellynge _/ tastynge _/ and touchynge4 ,chastyte ayenst ,lechery4 ,as in thought _/ wyll _/ werke _/ in syght _/ in felyng in prouokyng _/ or synne ayenst kynde with many other ,the 4vij4 goostly dedes of mercy4 ,teche _/ cosel chastyte _/ comforte _/ forgyue _/ suffre _/ praye for thy enemyes4 ,the 4vij4 bodely dedes of mercy4 ,fede the hongry _/ gyue drynke to the thursty _/ clothe the naked _/ herborowe the herbourles _/ comforte the seke _/ vysyte prysoners _/ burye the deed4 ,these folowynge ben the 4vij4 gyftes of the holy goost _/ that euery man sholde desyre to haue and kepe4 ,wysdome _/ counsell _/ knowynge _/ pyte _/ vnderstandynge _/ strength _/ and drede of god4 ,these folowynge be the 4iiij4 cardynall vertues ,temperace4 ,is a meane betwix to moche to lytell _/ it standeth in takynge suffycyently that nedeth in refusyng that is to moche or to lytel vtterly ,ryghtwysnes _/ is a paynge of a dute to eche thynge that it duly longeth vnto _/ as to god praysyng thkyng _/ to thy neyghbour loue charyte _/ to thyself besynes to fulfyl goddes wyl his cmadementes ,prudence or ,wysdome4 ,is a vertue that departeth good from euyll _/ it standeth in chesynge good refusynge euyll4 ,strength maketh ony myghty and hardy to do grete thynges for the loue of god in suffrynge pacyently aduersyte _/ and mekely takynge prosperyte4 ,these ben the 4vij4 sacrementes of holy cherche ,baptysme _/ wedloke _/ the sacrament of the awter _/ cfirmacn _/ ordre _/ penace _/ the last enoyntynge4 ,here folowen the 4x4 cmadementes ,worshyp no fals god4 ,in whiche is forboden wytchecrafte _/ enchatementes _/ mawmentry _/ redyng of dremes _/ al mysbyleue such other4 ,take not his name in vayn4 ,in which is forboden all heresyes _/ forsweryng of all mysmenyng _/ vnworshyp of god _/ takynge his name vayn other4 ,halowe the holydays herynge deuoutly thy seruyce _/ kepyng the out of dedely synne _/ visyte the poore _/ helpe to acorde them that ben at debate suche other4 ,worshyp thy fader thy moder4 ,god thy fader holy chirche thy moder _/ thy goostly faders _/ thy flesshly fader moder _/ people of age _/ prelates of holy chirche4 ,slee no man with hande smytynge _/ nor with thy mouth in bacbytyng with herte cursynge _/ ne wyll ony euyll or vengeace4 ,do no lechery4 ,in this is forboden all spousebreche with bodely dede or goostly _/ all wylfull polucns or prouokynge to the same4 ,do no theeft4 as stelyng _/ wronge getyng _/ trechery _/ oker _/ dysherytage of heyres4wronge amercymtes4 fals mesure wrong purchasyng ,bere no fals wytnes _/ in this is forboden fals byenge _/ bacbytyng _/ fals accusyng and all such other4 ,desyre not thy neyghbours wyf4 ,in this is not only forboden the dede doyng but also the desyre wyll of herte4 ,desyre not thy neyghbours thynge _/ as house _/ londe _/ beest _/ seruaunt nor ony thynge that is his4 ,these 4vij4 thynges folowynge sholde we haue euer in our mynde4 ,the synnes that we dayly do4 ,the short tyme that we shall abyde here4 ,the vncertayne of the daye of our deth4 ,the vnstablenes fraylte of vs4 ,the strayte ferefull ,iugement of god4 ,the bytter vnspekable paynes ordeyned for synnes4 ,the euerlastynge losse of eternall glorye4 ,here foloweth a short rembrace for confessyon to al peple _/ in especyal to al religious folke4 ,seldom shalt thou fynde tyme in all the yere in whiche thou shalt not haue cause to shryue the of some of these folowynge _/ that is to wete of hasty or neclygence saynge the seruyce of god _/ or of lesynge of tyme _/ or els of vayne thought or of vndue reuerence to god or to our lady or his saynt or to the other that ben thy souerayns4 ,or in forgetynge god his dayly benefayt4 not thankyng hym for his creacion his redempcn4 that he gaf the that mynde to dyspose the better than other ben with suche other4 ,and also not thankynge hym for thy dayly sustenaunce _/ clothynge helth of thy body for remissyon of thy synnes _/ for thyn enherytace of heuen with other ,innumerable4 ,also rembre thy wode wordes or noysom _/ or els fals ,iugementes in thy mynde _/ or fals suspycn4 ,also of ony mouynge to wrath or to vayne heuynes or vayne gladnes4 ,also serche in thy mynde yf thou haue well spended the daye nyght without synne _/ as yf thou haue prayed or rede to lytell with suche other4 ,also yf thou haue past thy bodes in wordes or in etynge or drynkynge _/ slepynge or laughynge with suche other4 ,also remembre how thou haste kepte the maundementes of thy souerayne _/ chastyte _/ pouerte _/ sylence in places houres accordynge as thou art called for to do4 ,also yf ony persone in worde sygne or dede thou haste offended gyuen ony cause or occasyon of greuace4 ,remembre also yf thou hast ouerskypped in the seruyce of god ony wordes _/ verses _/ or ony ,inclynacyons suche other4 ,and of the wauerynge of thy mynde _/ thyn eyen _/ other vnmanerly behauyour of all thy body4 ,also of thy vnhonest noysom thoughtes _/ that thou sholde miyghtly resyst not taryenge with them by thy wyll4 ,serche also yf thou haue grutched for mete or drynke or other necessaryes for bycause they were not gyue to the after thy pleasyr4 ,loke also yf thou haue synned in moche takynge of mete drynke _/ or ony other necessaryes more than nede requyred c4 ,saynt ,bernarde to a newe begynner in relygyon4 ,yf thou entende to please god woldest obteyne grace to fulfyll the same two thynges ben to the necessary4 ,fyrst thou must withdrawe thy mynde from all transytory erthely thynges as who saye thou carest as lytell for them as there were none suche thynges4 ,the seconde is that thou gyue thyself to god _/ that thou saye nor do ony thynge _/ but that only that thou verely byleuest sholde please god ,and in this wyse folowynge thou mayst gete grace for the fyrst4 ,in all thynges counte thyself vyle symple _/ and as nothynge in regarde of vertue _/ byleue all other to be good better than thyself _/ so shalt thou moost please god4 ,what soeuer thou here or see of ony relygyous persone or of ony other good persones _/ thynke alwaye that all is done sayd for good entent though they seme the contrary _/ for oft man by suspycyon is begyled4 ,dysplease no creature _/ vtter no langage to laude of thyself _/ though it were to thy moost famylyer beloued felowe _/ studye euer more to kepe more preuy thy vertue than thy vyce _/ speke neuer euyll of ony man or woman though it be neuer so true _/ open it not without it be in confessyon that whan thou can not elles shewe clerely thyn owne confessyon4 ,be more gladde to gyue thyn eere whan ony man is praysed _/ than whan ony persone is dyspraysed _/ ,whan thou spekest haue fewe wordes _/ true _/ sadde euer of god _/ yf ony worldely persone speke with the and purpose or vtter vayne wordes _/ as soone as thou mayst breke out of suche comunycacn talkynge talke of god of his vertues _/ or elles departe gyue the to some goodly goostly occupacn4 ,what soeuer befall the or ony other of thy frendes gyue no charge of it _/ yf it be prosperyte reioyse not therof _/ yf it be trouble or aduersyte be not sory for it4 ,but take or acompte all suche thyngs as nought euer prayse thanke god _/ gyue charge as moche as thou mayst to the wele prosperyte of thy soule flee places of moche speche as moche as thou canst4 ,for it is moche better one to kepe his tonge than to speke4 ,after complyn speke no worde tyl the masse be done the next daye folowynge without a grete cause requyre4 ,whan thou seest ony thynge that dyspleaseth the _/ see yf the faute be in thyself than haue compassyon _/ yf it be not _/ thynke that it may be so lete all thynges be to the as it were in a glasse to see thyself4 ,grutche not ayenst ony persone without thou see that thou may profyte what soeuer cause thou haue4 ,afferme neyther denye nothyng ouerthwartly _/ but lete thy nay or ye or thy doubte be powdred euer with salt _/ that is to saye _/ lete hem be spokan with discrecion pacyence4 ,be euermore ware of mockynge of scornynge4 ,yf thou be lyght of contenace see it be but selde _/ haue thy comunicacion but with fewe persones shortly behaue thyself so in all thy sayenge that thou speke not rather in a doubte than men sholde take auctoryte or grode of thy sayenge4 ,the seconde thou mayst obteyne in this wyse4 ,gyue thyself with grete deuocyon to praye lete thyn herte agree with that thou sayest both daye nyght4 ,remembre also dylygentely that thou ymagyne the state of them _/ in whose remembrace thou makest thy prayer4 ,these thre haue alwaye in thy mynde _/ what thou were _/ what thou art _/ what thou shalt be4 ,by reason of thy body _/ thou were foule slyme of the erthe _/ now thy body is the hous of fylte derte _/ herafter it shall be wormes mete4 ,also ymagyne the paynes of them that ben in helle how that payne shall neuer haue ende _/ how they suffre all these paynes for a lytell delectacn pleasyr in synne4 ,also ymagyne the ,ioye of paradyse _/ how that shal neuer be fynysshed how shortly and soone it may be goten4 ,than thynke what sorowe waylynge may be to them that for so lytell a thynge here haue lost so grete ,ioye contynuell4 ,and whan thou hast ony thynge that doth dysplease the _/ or elles thou dredest to haue it _/ thynke yf thou were in helle thou sholdest haue that _/ all that thou woldest not haue _/ so shalt thou suffre all thynge for crystus sake his loue4 ,also whan thou hast ony thynge that pleaseth the _/ or elles that thou desyrest to haue _/ thynke yf thou were in paradyse thou sholdest haue it all other thynges that thou woldest desyre4 ,also whan there falleth ony fest of ony saynt thynke on hym what payne he suffred here for goddes sake how shorte his payne was4 ,than thynke how greate ,ioye he hath in heuen for that whiche is euerlastynge4 ,and soo thou mayst thynke that the trybulacion or tourmentynge of the good men is soone gone4 ,and in lyke wyse the ,ioye of euyll men fadeth anone4 but good men with theyr trybulacyon here geteth eternall glorye4 ,and euyll men with theyr ouermoche ,ioye here geteth euerlastynge payne4 ,furthermore whan thou art accombred with slouth lackest deuocn _/ take this wrytynge ymagyne dilygently all these thynges rehersed4 ,than thynke of the tyme that thou lesest in vayne ydelnes _/ thynke that they that ben in helle wolde gyue all the worlde for so moche tyme to redeme theyr synnes yf they myght haue it4 ,whan thou hast ony trouble _/ thynke that they that ben in paradyse shall neuer haue suche trouble4 ,and whan thou hast ony spirytuell consolacyon or comforte _/ thynke that they that ben in helle shall euer lacke that4 ,whan thou goost to bedde or to thy rest _/ thynke what thou hast thought _/ what thou hast sayd _/ what thou hast done that daye4 ,and how prouffytable thou haste spende thy tyme _/ the whiche was gyuen the to spende it vertuously _/ to obteyne euerlastynge lyf4 ,yf thou haue spended it well _/ gyue praysynge to god4 ,and yf thou haue spended it euyll _/ wepe be sory for it4 ,and the next daye yf thou may _/ dyfferre not to be confessed4 ,yf thou haue sayd or done ony thynge that greueth thy conscyence sore _/ ete no mete vntyll thou be shryuen thou mayst4 ,now for a conclusyon _/ ymagyne in thy mynde two cytees _/ one full of trouble mysery whiche is helle _/ an other full of ,ioye and comforte whiche is paradyse4 ,and how to one of these two ye must nedes come4 ,than thynke in thyself what thynge sholde cause the to do euyll _/ or what thynge sholde drawe the fro god4 ,and ,i trowe thou shalt fynde none suche4 ,i am certayne yf thou kepe well all these that ben wryten here4 ,the holy goost wyll be with the teche the to kepe them parfytly4 ,wherfore kepe well all these preceptes cmadementes leue none behynde4 ,rede them twyes in the weke _/ on wensdaye saterdaye4 ,and as thou fyndest thou hast done as it is wryten4 ,gyue praysynge to god _/ whiche is euer pyteous mercyfull in worlde withouten ende ,amen4 ,a deuoute prayer for relygyous people _/ or for theym that entre in to relygyon4 ,remembrynge the termes _/ and to do theym in dede4 ,ihesu my maker sauyour to thy wyll and ordynace ,i commytte me euery houre4 ,besechynge the entyerly for grace mercy _/ so that ,i may be one of them that shall be saued4 ,teche me good lorde thy commaundementes to fulfylle _/ and to do that ,i come fore _/ eschewynge all euyll4 ,gyue me grace to loue the and to drede the aboue all thynge4 ,remembrynge thy grete benefettes _/ and euer to gyue the thankynge4 ,and to kepe euer charyte _/ obedyence _/ pacyence _/ sylence _/ with humylyte _/ demynge euer the best _/ saye well _/ telle the trouthe _/ and neuer to lye4 ,lothe to offende _/ sory for my synne _/ and to helpe whan nede is _/ to serue the euer deuoutly with mekenes to haue mede4 ,of the trespaces of other to haue compassyon _/ with good cosell example frendely consolacyon _/ to do after good prechynge holy sayntes lyues _/ kepynge my tonge conscyence clene to flee bacbytyng stryues _/ to gyue none occasyon of greuace neuer grutchyng _/ flee ydelnes _/ to praye for the deed quycke alwaye be my besynes ,takynge hede to my charges _/ do to them with good wyll _/ gladde to be correcte of eche creature _/ to leue myn owne wyll4 ,and euer to be ware to excuse my synne _/ to trust in myn owne wytte4 ,rembrynge that ,i come to relygyon for to do penace for synne _/ repugne ayenst it _/ to crye for mercy to the ,ihesu to thy moder ,mary4 ,in whome ,i trust shall serue _/ neuer for to varye ,amen4 99,v99 ,domine fiat voluntas tua4 99,r99 ,sicut in celo et in terra4 ,sidenote3 ,oratio ,acciones nostras quesumus domine aspirando preueni et adiuuando prosequere4 vt ccta nostra operatio a te semper incipiat4 et per te cepta finiatur4 ,per christum dominum nostr ,amen4 ,this prayer folowynge is good for them that vnderstande not theyr seruyce in latyne4 in syngynge4 or sayenge4 or that lacke deuocyon in tyme of theyr sayd seruyce4 and wolde haue it4 ,blessyd ,ihesu cryst our lorde god sauyour whiche ,i knowe well come in to this worlde not for them that were ,iuste ryghtfull _/ but for synners to redeme them by thy deth shedyng of thy precyous blood4 ,now mercyfull pyteous4 lord ,iesu cryste forgyue me haue mercy of me after thy grete mercyes _/ for thy crosse bytter passyon4 ,for ,i am a synner _/ haue greuously erred offended the4 ,not for thy swete ,ihesu4 ,i byleue in the _/ neuer denyed the nor shall4 ,attende beholde good lorde ,iesu my fayth ,intencyon _/ the vertue of the wordes of holy prayers that ,i haue sayd _/ songe _/ or shall _/ beholde not myn ,inhabylyte ,ignoraunce4 ,wauerynge of mynde neclygence4 ,but grat of thy grete goodnes _/ that the prayers with all other good dedes done by me _/ or to be done may gracyously profyte me4 ,and them that ,i am bounde to praye for _/ or that haue nede of prayer _/ ,whether they be lyuynge or deed _/ to thencreace of thy mercyes laude glorye worshyp of thy blessyd moder ,mary all sayntes ,amen4 ,thankynges to our lord god for his dayly gyftes benefaytes _/ is called4 ,deo gracias4 ,almighty euerlastynge lorde god ,ihesu cryst4 ,i worshyp the4 ,i gloryfye the4 ,i thanke the now euer shall for the makynge of me to thy symylytude _/ gyuynge to me with angelles wytte _/ reason vnderstandynge _/ and haste redemed me with grete paynes vnto deth _/ shedynge thy precyous blood plenteuously for me _/ dayly defendest me fr myn enemyes goostly bodely _/ preseruynge me to this tyme by thy grace _/ both slepyng wakynge from dyuers perylles dethys that other hath fallen in perysshed4 ,and ouer these thou hast endowed me with thyn holy cmaundementes newe lawes of grace pyte _/ with holy sacramentes of the chirche4 ,and moost in especyall gyuynge vs thy blessyd body blood for destruccion of our synnes encreace of vertue grace _/ and synguler comforte to all that ben on lyue and deed4 ,and besydes these thou hast ordeyned angelles _/ all other thy creatures bothe of heuen erthe _/ as sonne and mone _/ fysshe foule _/ beest and fruyte _/ with all other ,innumerable to serue me4 ,and to the entente that ,i sholde loue serue agayne with all myn herte deuoutly4 ,and also hast pyteously suffred me whan ,i haue synned4 ,not takynge me thenne to thy strayte ,iugement to my dampnacyon perpetuell4 ,also ,i loue the _/ and thanke the in moost especyall for that thou hast made me heyre partener of thy blysse in heuen perpetuelly _/ where ,i trust to see the face to face with the fader and the holy goost in eternall peas and glorye ,amen ,for these blessyd ,ihesu other thy benefytes gyftes ,infynyte ,i thanke the with all my herte _/ ,i desyre euer to serue the _/ to loue the _/ to worshyp the _/ magnyfye the here _/ and in the worldes durynge withouten ende4 ,amen4 ,a prayer full profytable to them that shal saye masse _/ here masse _/ or to them that shall be houseled comunyed _/ and besyde for all other that ben on lyue or deed4 ,ihesu my lorde god _/ my loue oonly comforte _/ the whiche as preest moost hyghe synguler bysshop offered thyself to god thy fader _/ an hoste sacrefyce moost clene vndefouled on the crosse for our gylte redempcyon _/ hath gyuen it vnto vs _/ lefte it in rembrace of thy grete charyte _/ deth _/ passyon _/ and therwith hast cmaunded vs to ete _/ cmone this gloryous sacrament of thy blessyd body ymade wonderfully by the vertue of the holy goost for our dayly helth _/ freelte _/ transgressyon4 wherfore blessyd ,iesu _/ to the be laude and praysynge worlde withouten end4 ,amen4 ,and for as moche that by the holy ordynaunce the consecracyon therof offerynge vp to thy hyghe mageste for the quycke and deed oonly belongeth to the order of preesthode4 ,for thy good lorde of thy grete pyte grace4 ,make thy seruat or seruates4 here name ye whom ye wyll that shall saye masse4 ,n4 and all other preestes clene in body and soule4 ,and delyuer them of all vnclene _/ wycked vayne _/ and noysom thoughtes _/ and strengthe them ayenst all theyr enemyes _/ and vs also with thy gloryous angelles _/ and confounde all suche that pursuen them and vs _/ and wolde make vs to perysshe fynally4 ,ihesu kyng of virgyns _/ louer of chastyte4 ,remembre how frele that our substace nature is _/ be mercyfull vnto them vs as fader _/ lorde _/ god _/ after thy grete mercy for thy bytter passyon4 ,for to the is oonly appropered to be mercyfull _/ without whiche no creature may be saued4 ,beholde swete ,ihesu that our wyll is to worshyp the _/ prayse the in the best maner that we can or may _/ and lyke as thou haste begonne with vs here _/ so make vs to contynue in thyn laude seruyce euerlastynge4 ,and where it is so that they knowleche themself vnable to do this heuenly mystery4 ,for thy good lorde ,ihesu _/ by thy grace make them able _/ the whiche of synners haste made full often and dayly makest holy sayntes4 ,and gyue them also thy drede clennes of herte with the ryuer of teeres in all spirytuell consolacyon4 ,make them to fele vnderstande the swetnes of thy blessyd presence _/ the grete attendaunce of thy holy angelles about hem at theyr celebracyons4 ,receyue mercyfull ,ihesu this hyghe holy sacryfyce to the comfort of all that ben on lyue deed _/ wouchesauf this daye that it be to vs to all them a synguler refresshynge feest _/ that we so releued with this brede of lyue lambe ,inmaculate _/ borne of the blessyd virgyn ,mary may ,ioye in thy laude glorye eternally4 ,thou saydest by thy holy mouth4 ,the brede that ,i shall gyve _/ my body it is _/ for the lyf of the worlde4 ,who that eteth me _/ he shal lyue for me _/ he abydeth in me _/ ,i in hym4 ,i am the brede of lyf that came downe from heuen4 ,he that eteth of this brede shall lyue without ende4 ,now swete brede of lyfe make both them vs fele thy swetnes loue forsakynge all vanytees4 ,come in to our soules _/ clense vs goostly bodely _/ sanctefye vs ,inwarde outwarde _/ be a contynuell defence of soule body _/ so that we may come to thy kyngdome _/ there to be fedde of the with a meruaylous vnspekable sacyete4 ,where after we shall neuer haue hongre ne thurst _/ seynge the than _/ not as we now do _/ in mysteryes of ferre home _/ but thenne shall we see the face to face in glorye with thy fader in vnyte of the holy goost by all worldes ,amen4 ,pater noster4 ,aue maria4 ,here foloweth a prayer to all sayntes _/ examyned and pardonned4 ,ad sanctam mari4 ,gaude mater saluatoris felix fide flos decoris ,mundique solacium ,nunc letare celi choris ,in hoc festo languoris ,nostri sis remedium ,ad sanctos angelos4 ,gaude michael hac die ,gabriel raphaelque messie ,angelorum ordines ,vos precamur nobis pie ,sitis causa melodie ,supra celi cardines ,ad ,patriarchas et prophetas4 ,gaude ventre prosecratus ,o baptista mire natus ,sacer degens seculo ,patriarchis sociatus ,et prophetis4 vite flatus ,fac finire iubilo ,ad ,apostolos et euangelistas4 ,gaude petre c sodali ,paulo4 cristo speciali ,lucens orbis climata ,et caterna generali ,vestra sita loco tali ,nos c eis adiuua ,ad martires4 ,gaude thoma spes glorum ,et georgi tutor horum ,cum ,edwardo nobili ,tu laurenti rege lorum ,vt tuamur poli chorum ,cum fauore stephani ,ad4 s4 confessores4 ,gaude presul o martine ,nicholae4 hugo4 line4 ,posce nobis graciam ,erkenwalde que birine ,iam c tuis augustine ,da supremo gloriam ,an4 s4 virgines4 ,gaude virgo katherina ,margareta4 magdalena ,cum brigitta4 brigida ,anna4 fides4 et cristina ,nos serudo nc diuina ,gens celorum iubila 99,v994 ,letamini in domino4 99,r994 ,et gloriamini4 ,oratio4 ,concede quesumus omnipotentes deus4 vt intercessio sancte dei genitricis marie sanctarumque omnium celestium virtutum4 et beatorum patriarcharum4 prophetarum4 apostolorum4 euangelistarum4 martirum4 confessorum4 atque virginum4 et omni electorum tuorum nos vbique letificet4 vt dum eorum merita recolimus patrocinia senciamus4 ,per eund christum dominum nostr4 ,amen4 ,here folowen the seuen degrees of humylyte4 ,caste thy syght downwarde _/ and shewe mekenesse _/ bothe in thy herte and body4 ,beware of hyghe speche clamorous _/ and see that thy wordes be fewe well sette resonable4 ,be not lyght for to laugh _/ but vse euer sadnesse4 ,be stylle kepe sylence _/ tyll nede requyre that answere must be hadde4 ,kepe well the comyn rule as the holy place hath vsed4 ,thynke the moost vylest of all other _/ so pronoce thyself4 ,knowlege the vnworthy not profytable to ony thynge _/ to byleue in dede4 ,make ofte confessyon of thy synnes _/ and that with greate contrycyon4 ,kepe pacyence in thy obedyence at all thy paynes trouble4 ,to all people be thou subgette for thy maysters sake _/ thyn owne wyll forsake it _/ and loue it in no wyse4 ,and euer kepe the from synne _/ for fere of hym aboue4 ,amen4 ,here folowen the seuen degrees of obedyence4 ,the fyrste is to do that is cmaded of thy souereyne without grutchynge4 ,the seconde is to make none excepcyon _/ neyther of the tyme _/ neyther of the dede that is to be done4 ,the thyrde is to be gladde cherefull in thy herte to do suche dedes cmaded without ony cpulcyon _/ settynge a side all beestly condycyons4 ,the fourth is to be quycke in suche dede doynge leuynge all other occupacyons for that tyme or ony maner of excuse4 ,the fyfthe is to do suche thynges with all thy myght and power _/ thynkynge that thy rewarde shall be grete4 ,the sixte is to do them also with al mekenesse bothe in spyryte and gesture4 ,the seuenth is to contynuye suche obedyence for the ende of thy lyf _/ euer folowynge thy mayster ,ihesu cryste _/ that was moost obedyent for thy synne vnto deth ,amen4 ,the seuen degrees of pacyence thou mayst beholde here4 ,to euyll done to the or aduersyte _/ make no resystence4 ,do no euyll for euyll _/ ne gyue an euyl answere4 ,loue thyn enmye _/ do good for euyl to hym in recompence4 ,grutche not ayenst aduersyte _/ but take it as swete as encence4 ,accpt it for best medycyne _/ and be gladde in thy payne4 ,thanke god therfore _/ loke for more with all benyuolence4 ,and whan thou hast no grutchynge in these _/ thenne meyst thou be fayne4 ,the 4xv4 degrees of charyte4 ,these make parfyte charyte after ,poules epystle4 ,be pacyente contynuelly for ony aduersyte4 ,lyberall to the nedy _/ do good for euyll4 ,of other mnes welfare4 enuye not ne be heuy ,lette not by thy crokednesse good werkes to multeplye4 ,swelle not inwarde by malyce yf thy nyghbour prospere4 ,loue to be in lowe degree _/ loth to be hye4 ,to labour for other as thyself do thy vtter deuour4 ,be not moued for ony cause to vgeace or to yre4 ,thynke none euyll to another for ony prouocacyon4 ,ioye thou not in wyckednesse but sorowe thou rather4 ,be gladde in trought ryghtwysnesse hate dyssymulacyon4 ,for suche ryght bere aduersyte or ony trybulacn4 ,to that the chirche techeth the put ful credulyte4 ,that god hath promysed trust it well without defalcatyon4 ,in hope abydynge his rewarde and euerlastynge glorye4 ,amen4 ,a lytell ,instruccn for them that shall entre in to religyon _/ drawen out of the longe rule of saynt ,iherom that he wrote to saynt ,eustochi c4 ,loue god aboue all thynge _/ thy neyghbour as thyself4 ,in these two is fulfylled all the lawe cmadementes of god parfyte charyte without whiche can noman or woman be relygyous come to heuen _/ the whiche had among them they make theyr place or monastery a paradyse in erthe themself professed therin angelles full pleasat vnto god4 ,wherfor amonge the spouses of god ben one wyll _/ one comfort _/ one heuynes ,remembrynge that he is prynce of peas charyte4 in whom they shalbe wedded vnto4 ,forsake the desyre of tporall goodes _/ for better it is to be ryche with other in the worlde than to be poore in a monasterye to haue a desyre to haue god4 ,blessyd be they sayth our lorde that ben poore in spyryte c4 ,the more noble that ye ben come of worshypfull lynage the more ye shal meke your self _/ euer be gladde of poore vyle habyte or clothynge _/ beware of obstentacyon pryde or to desyre to be better arayed than an other syster is4 ,and remembre that ye shall be professed wedde elyke to one spouse ,ihesu cryste in one wyl vowe _/ whiche loue none suche syngularyte _/ pompe vayne glorye4 ,for in his court shall not a kynges doughter haue prerogatyf afore an other in lower degree borne4 ,goostly lyf requyreth no dignyte temporall _/ though all ye be neuer so meke _/ yet your spouse was is moche more meker4 ,see in your mynde how that saynt ,peter was a poore fyssher _/ and ,bartylmew a noble man of byrth4 ,netheles ,peter was preferred made prynce of ,bartylmew of all the worlde4 ,beware of grutchynge that whiche gretly dyspleaseth god4 ,commende neuer your self of ony goodes gyuen or to be gyuen of you or by yours to the monasterye or els where _/ but euer lerne vse you to take the crosse to folowe your spouse in penace _/ do that ye come for _/ kepynge obedyence _/ pacyence _/ mekenesse _/ sylence _/ prayer _/ fastynge _/ suche other as your relygyon wyll gyue you ,instruccyon4 ,and in ony wyse shewe mekenesse in your langage _/ countenace all other behauyour _/ in especyall to your heed souerayne _/ the whiche representeth cryste your spouse _/ that in all obedyence _/ drede _/ loue _/ reuerence4 ,neuer disputynge of theyr wyll or of other that be your souerayns _/ but thynke that all is ryghtfull that they do _/ presume not to correcte theyr ,iugementes4 ,for as by example yf eche man sholde haue the guydynge of a shyppe that they be within _/ it sholde neuer prospere ne come to the hauen that it desyred4 ,and as ye be professed deed to the worlde so be ye deed in other mennes dedes4 ,also rembre that ye must forsake your owne wyll offre it vp gyue it to god to them that shall be your souerayne heed for euer more4 ,enforce eche one of you that shall come to religyon to passe an other in obedyence _/ for than doubtles ye shall please god ,a true obedyencer that hath vtterly forsaken his owne wyll _/ knowe not ony thynge harde to do that is cmaunded of theyr souerayne ne ony thynge vnryghtfull4 ,beware of ydelnes the whiche is moder of all synne vnclennesse _/ so that by your offyce that ye be called to _/ or by prayer _/ redynge _/ wrytynge _/ sewynge _/ or other handewerkes doynge _/ ye may make your bodyes dayly wery crucyfyed4 ,and therby make your spyrytes the more quycke and apte to the seruyce of our lorde in confusyon of your enemye and encreace of glorye4 ,beware to be ,inquysytyf _/ or to muse on hyghe maters and subtyll4 ,and leue them to worldely people _/ and to clerkes _/ for otymes the letter may hurte you ,thynke euer that ye had leuer dye than ones to passe the clausures or bodes of your monasterye4 ,yf ye haue a faythfull a ,iuste frende _/ to whom ye may open the secretes of your herte _/ than ye haue a grete tresour _/ for oftymes one shall be deceyued seldome can iuge the trouth in his owne maters so well as other4 ,knowe your owne synnes wayle them medle with none other4 ,beware euer of detraccion flee it as it were a venemous serpent _/ that the speker therof be your contenace departynge from them may be ashamed _/ therwith lothe for euer so to speke or do4 ,moreouer yf ye wyll see your spouse ,ihesu cryst in your mynde by contemplacn euer kepe your sylence4 ,for saynt ,ierom sawe many in ,egypt amonge holy faders that 4vij4 yeres togyder spake not owne worde _/ but only to god to his saynt4 ,yf the caas be so that ye must speke _/ lete it be in all peas charyte with fewe wordes4 ,remembrynge that your spouse loueth no voyde claterynge _/ but wolde be with you alone in all quyetnesse in your soules4 ,wherfore be ye aferde to dysplease hym or to dryue hym out from you with stryues or debate _/ sclaundres _/ othes _/ and suche other _/ ,saynt ,iames coselleth eche man to refrayne his tonge _/ sayenge that lyf deth ben in the power of the same tonge _/ wrytynge thus4 ,who that refrayneth his tonge he shalbe blessyd in all dedes c4 ,knowleche your self at all tymes carayne and erthe _/ the glory therof is as a floure in the medowe4 ,absteyne you as pylgryms from all desyres of the flesshe _/ the whiche dayly bataylleth ayenst the soule4 ,absteyne also from lyes at all tymes _/ as ye wolde from helle _/ for them in no wyse loueth ,ihesus your spouse4 ,and also beware to mayntene or botrace suthe lyes whiche is abhomynable in the syght of god4 ,yf there come ony strager vnto you _/ lete hym knowe by your heuenly talkynge behauyour that ye be a well taught spouse of cryste that they may glorefye in you for you be amended by you4 ,bere the wordes of saynt ,ierom in your mynde that sayth thus4 ,truste me verely that theris no thynge more peryllous to a man4 than is a woman _/ to a woman no thynge more contagyous than is a man _/ for eyther of them is chaff eyther is fyre4 ,and note this for a truth _/ that preuy talkyng lacketh no suspycyon4 ,that thynge is not lefull to be seen _/ that is not lefull to be desyred4 ,more than ony man can suppose or wryte _/ the deuyll reioyseth whan memorye of o man is fixed had in a womnes herte4 ,there is no venym in the worlde so noysom to woman as is affeccn towarde man of what soeuer cause it procede or growe4 ,ye may see that the desyre of worldly wymen is euer in vesture _/ golde _/ precyous stones _/ ornament outwarde of the body _/ therin they put theyr glorye felycyte4 ,in so moche that it suffyseth not them theyr luste gyuen by nature only _/ but they seke occasyon craft by the sayd premysses to encreace theyr sayd luste desyres to theyr grete dampnacn _/ beware ther fore of ony costely habyte or suche vanytees c4 ,certaynly sayth the sayd saynt ,ierom _/ the pryncypall desyre is of suche wymen that men sholde fest theyr eyen in the faces of them by the prouocacn syght of theyr precyous arraye4 ,but they sholde csyder though nature hath gyuen to golde _/ suthe other a precyosyte wherby they ben praysed _/ what is that to the vyle carkas that it hangeth vpon _/ the whiche is but a sachell of dounge brought forth of vnclene seed fynally shall be wormes mete4 ,the wordes of saynt ,ierom4 ,o ,thou moost vylest worse than ony beest how shamefast sholdest the be in thy body yf thou woldest beholde thyself _/ that so in thyn arraye auacest thyself4 ,and this blessyd ,ierom sayth4 ,i take them for no relygyous wymen that ben cladde in costlyous araye or in a wanton pynched habytes but he calleth them in latyn4 ,pessimas meretrices et storta4 ,wherfore desyre ye to go in vyle vnshapely vesture4 that wanton dissolute persones may rather be prouoked to scorne laughe at you than to thynke euyl or desyre you _/ for they say not trouthe that do ensure themself with a glorye to kepe chastyte in a costely or ony shapely vesture _/ ye shal be called ladyes _/ for bycause that ye shall be spoused to the kyng of all kynges4 ,beware than take hede with all mekenesse to your dygnyte _/ in lesse than your spouse be greued make a deuorce to departe from you4 ,yf that ye wyst ones had tasted how swete your spouse were4 ye sholde haue pleasyr ynough that passeth all worldly pleasyrs4 ,this ,ioye pleasye had saynt ,ierom many other both of men wymen _/ kepe the mansyon of your spouse clene _/ garnysshe it with floures of vertue _/ and accompte your self moost vyle outcaste of this worlde4 ,remembre also how in your baptysme ye forsoke the worlde _/ the enuye _/ and all theyr pryde glory _/ the whiche now ye shall cferme vnder the grettest othe that may be _/ therwith receyue our lorde god in sacramt in this your fyrste entrynge in to religyon4 ,beware also of vayne glory _/ lyftynge vp your vysage voyce on hyghe as wymen done in the worlde4 ,rebukyng other or to speke of your noble blood or kynrede _/ for in the spousage and seruyce of god _/ the poorest mannes doughter lyuynge shall be egall lyke to the gretest kynges doughter lyuynge in erthe4 ,ye muste forsake all suche worldely pompe vanyte take a newe a more sure noble dignyte by your spouse ,ihesu cryst that neuer shall haue ende _/ the poorest of you bryngeth more to the monastery _/ so that ye come with a meke herte and in wyll to forsake yf that ye hadde neuer so moche _/ than she that bryngeth moche with a proude herte _/ and therwith to other wolde haue it knowen4 ,beware euer that no foule worde or stryue be amonge you that ben deed folke in this worlde4 ,but euer thynke that the trompe of the last daye of ,iugement soundeth in your eeres _/ and calleth you sayenge4 ,ryse doughters ,ryse _/ come to your ,iugement4 ,lete euer your mynde be with your spouse _/ and with your moder blessyd ,marye _/ the sayntes as often as ye synge or rede4 ,remembrynge that god is there present and seeth what ye do ,lete none see you from the seruyce of god or vnoccupyed4 ,in redynge of prophetes epystles _/ gospelles _/ sayntes lyues _/ other dedes of vertue doynge _/ hauynge euer bokes in your handes _/ studyenge or wrytynge _/ that people seynge you may saye4 ,beholde here the seruat of god _/ the lanternes of the worlde4 ,beware also of glotony whiche is moder of all vnclennesse bocheres of chastyte _/ kepe your stomake rather voyd than to take to it superfluyte wherthorugh ye shall not nede to take medicynes for a digestyon4 ,vse curtesly to ete not gredely nor hastely _/ for therin may ye synne4 ,it is wryten in the lyf of saynt ,benet that a religious woman with a gredenes receyued a wycked spiryte in etynge of letuse in the gardeyn4 ,also they that vse to drynke wyne go not without fyre theyr bosom4 ,and euer beware of dronkenshyp _/ remenbrynge that abstynence fastynge is a sure medycyne for all sekenes4 ,and by them cometh grete vertue grace4 ,not for thy beware of vndiscrete abstynence _/ whiche myght cause you to haue payne here in tyme to come4 ,whan tyme is of redyng at your meles repast or ony other good doctryne than beware of speche or laughynge _/ but take hede to the lecture4 ,and knocke pryuely your brestes that yf ye may with fallynge of teeres _/ after your meles reherce your lectures or some notabilytees of sermons or other holy thynges that ye haue herde or seen afore4 ,and whan ye praye be sory for the ,ignorace of the people theyr synnes _/ mynde the soules that ye be specyally bode to praye for with all other crysten soules4 ,and yf ye wyl haue the swetenes of contemplacn _/ clense your herte from all worldly thynges4 ,and be as ye were deed amonge them as ye were buryed in your sepulcre the whiche betokeneth your monastery _/ to the tyme ye aryse appere afore your spouse to haue your rewarde of his glory4 ,whan ye shal go to your garden seen the herber grene trees smellynge the floures fruytes with theyr swetnesse _/ meruaylle the grete power of god in his creatures _/ thenne labour engendre in your mynde _/ or talkynge of deuocn lyfte vp your herte to heuen _/ thynke verely that the maker of them that is your spouse in heuen is vnspekable fayre _/ swete _/ delectable _/ and gloryous4 ,but beware touche there nothynge to a vayne vse or nycete of the worlde4 ,after complyne kepe your tonge take you to prayer contemplacion4 ,and call to your mynde suche heuenly thynges that ye haue herde or redde afore4 ,see in ony wyse that ye kepe this poynt of goddes lawe of the lawe of nature4 ,do euer to an other as ye wolde be done vnto ,deo gracias4 ,thyse short prayers folowynge taught our lorde saynt ,brigytte4 ,saye ye them ofte in the daye4 ,dome ihesu christe4 ego cognosco me grauiter peccasse4 ,et libenter volo emdare per gratiam tu ,miserere mei propter amar passion tu4 ,domine ihesu christe4 ,redemisti nos in sangue tuo4 ,laus sit tibi pro amara passione tua4 ,pater noster4 ,aue maria4 ,also vse for to saye dayly knelynge in remembrace of the passyon of our lorde his fyue wodes _/ of the grete compassion of our blessyd lady 4v4 ,pater noster _/ and 4v4 ,aue maria4 a ,credo4 ,deus propicius esto michi peccatori4 ,ihesu fili dei miserere mei et tocius populi cristiani4 ,semper deo gracias4 ,praye for your broder ,thomas ,betton which for your soules that be come or shall come in to relygyon _/ drewe and made the contentes of this lytell quayer exhortacion4 necessary nedefull to them that ben come shall come to relygyon4 ,lerne to kepe your bokes clene c4 ,illustration 7,caxton imprint7 ,illustration 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,errors and ,problems ,noted by ,transcriber3 grouped by type the pope may not assoyle them text changed by hand to he may not be assoyled as soone as thou mayst breke out of suche comunycacn ,than thynke how greate ,ioye he hath in heuen ,i thanke the with all my herte text reads brebe1 thyn be1 thanbe ,takynge hede to my charges the comfort of all that ben on lyue deed borne of the blessyd virgyn ,mary wymen that ben cladde in costlyous araye ,lerne to kepe your bokes clene c4 text reads ,takyuge1 on lyne1 borue of1 beu cladde1 cleue c4 ,accpt it for best medycyne text reads ,acccpt ,and also hast pyteously suffred me whan ,i haue synned4 text unclear3 probably surrfed ,here foloweth a prayer to all sayntes _/ examyned and pardonned4 reading of pardonned uncertain ,gaude ventre prosecratus reading of prosecratus uncertain3 may be obsecratus ,gaude thoma spes glorum reading thoma uncertain ,kepe pacyence in thy obedyence at all thy paynes trouble4 one or more letters may be missing between thy and obedience ,praye for your broder ,thomas ,betton name uncertain2 see ,editor's introduction