<fol. 4r><line 14>how we schul dyspose vs for to haue compassion of cristes passion
Jf thou wylt haue compassioun of criste crucifyed
first schape ye 3if you may be onyd to hym thurh feruente desyre .
For-whi ye more feruently yat you louyst hym . ye more schalt you
haue of hese passiouns and ye more compassioun yat you felyst . ye more
schal yin loue be . for loue and compassioun schull so wexenn to-gedere in
yin thought yat you schalt come to ye tastynge of this . but 3if you
thurh yin owin wrecchednesse leue alle with-outenn . therfore kaste
a-wey fro the at ye begynnynge vntrost and reklesheed . for-whi such
a worthi werk a mann owith to doun wonder mekely trystfully . and
stedfastly with all maner reuerence and clennesse of conscience . and yow
a mann thinke hym-self wykked and vn-worthi & vnclene to yis werk .
stynte not yer-fore For-whi for synful menn was criste don on ye
crosse . First yan be thin herte so oned to hym in longynge . yat it
be his and nou3t yin . wheyther yu schalt nou3t fele ye vertu of his
woundes . studye yerfore al yat you may . yat yin thou3t entre hooly
in-to hym and yin-self au3t fro hym a counte as nou3t . lete al yi
besynesse of yin thou3t be now a-boute yin lord ihesu in beholdynge
of his passioun . for-whi his you art . what-so you is yerfore 3if thin
self to hym and to noun oyer . and 3if you thus be+turnyd in-to hym
thurgh helpe of grace . j may not trowe but yat yu schalt be wounded
<fol. 4v>with hese woundes & ouer-hylled wt peynes of his passioun . what gladsum
nesse & what swetnesse you schalt haue yann . be experience you schalt fele .
it may not wel be declared thurgh wrytinge of a penne ¶ Neuertheles
3if this weye be ouer hy3e to ye . and you may not come to sauour thus .
asay yan in a-nother gretter maner . Thenk what peyne it schulde be
to ye 3if you were flayn as was seint Bertelmewe or rostyd quyk+as
was seint Lawrens . or yat yin flesch were plucked a-way with irenn
hokes as was in othere martires . Conceyue in thin herte what ferd
full hugglynesse it were to ye to suffre these . Thenk yan yat oure lord
ihesu for the vylest worme & synnere most wrecched suffred on ye crosse
muche hardere peynes & more vnsufferable . with-outen comparysoun
yann you schuldest thole in alle suche peynes . Thann ruyne take in yin
thou3t what anguysch what affliccioun & what hugglynesse of
passioun and of deth be suffred . and how much yat loue was yat
steryd hym yer-to . and in this meditacioun steryd be yin herte in hese
peynes as 3if you hem suffred . and spare not for to melte al in-to
watir of teerys . ye qwych schul be turnyd to ye in-to grete swetnesse .
And 3et 3if you fele yin herte euere harde and drye with-outen sterynge
of loue or of compassioun . you may yan make 3if you wylt a good
scharp scourge pynande & not muche hurtande . and go in-to a preuy
place & scourge yin body nobely wel . spare nou3t yow yu fele smerte .
but whan you felest smertynge & pyne . lyft yan yin thought to
ihesu criste . and thenk
thenk yat he yt is thin dere spouse . yin loue . desire of
yin soule . solace of aungeles . blys of holy soules . and sone of heuen
ly kynge . ye fader wolde for loue of ye a stynkande kareynn & wrecche
most vnkynde . suffre in his body so vnsufferable pynes . this reme
dye is muche worthe for to stere a drye boystouse herte to tendyrnesse
of compassioun . For-whi thurgh his owen pyne . a mann leryth for
to haue pytee on a-nother mannes pynes . And yann euere prey to ihesu
criste yat he wolde touche yin thou3t with his woundes . and euer
sette ye longynge of yin herte to hym . so lastendely yat you go not
fro hym . tyl you gette sumwhat of his largesse . 3if what he wole .
¶ Nou3t for-thi 3if thin herte be so harde yat it wole not 3et melte
in-to tendernesse of compassioun . holde you thin-self . but as a sekke
<fol. 5r>ful of fylthe of synne and wepe you for yi synnes bytterly yt the
lettith fro ye sauour of yis gostly compassioun and say thus . Tyl whann
schal ye wykkednesse of myn herte stonde a-3en ye passioun of my lord
¶Lo hese woundes ouercome ye fendes power . and braste ye 3ates of
helle and openyd ye 3ates of paradys . and 3et myn herte wole not
openn a3enn hese goodnesse . what is wers yan J . what is more yann
malyce of myn herte . allas what schal J . do yat j am so ouerdone
seke yat j fele not ye receyte of ye medecyne of criste . 3e eyen blyn
neth not of wepynge . vn-tyl ye moystour of teres may susteyne ye
hardnesse of myn herte . what may j do yat j fynde not ye lyf of myn
soule . yat j may not taste yat swete down-3ettynge of cristes charite .
¶ J schal sytte with job in ye myddynges of myn synnes . and j schal
pare a-way with a schelle of scharpe sorw the stynke of myn con
science . j schal not spare myn soule fro suche turmentynge . tyl j
may fynde myn ihesu in his passioun . Wonder it is how ony mann
may bere hym-self in pacience yat felyth such hardnesse in his
herte . A you my wykked herte . 3a . a fendely herte . tyl whan schalt
you a3enstonde ye softnesse of criste whi hast you more delyte in
ye prykkynges of synne . yann in ye woundes of ihesu criste . whi hast
you more compassioun of a lytell prykkynge in yin too . yan you
hast in ye hydous deth of ihesu criste where is more wyckednesse &
more woodnesse . yu man sefte yu not . yat where you more louyst . yer
hast you more compassion . weyther loyust you more yin foot . yann
ihesu criste . 3a . it semyth so . For-whi you hast gret compassioun for a
lytell hurtynge of yin foot . and in yin good lord ihesu you hast lytel
or nonn . yin herte is not touched ne prykked with his pyne ¶
A yis gret blyndnesse were wers yan nedderys yat for compassioun of
sauynge of here hede leyn forth here bodi . but we seme lyke styn
kande lymes with-outen lyf . kuytte a-wey fro oure hed ihesu criste . for
as muche as we fele not wonderynge of his woundes . A lord lord
whi madest you me . 3if j schal not be ioyned to ye or ellys 3if j be
not oned to ye . Whi am j not wounded with ye . For me art you
wounded lord . and nou3t j for ye j owe lord to be woundid & nou3t
you . for j am he yat hath synned . j haue don juell . but yu innocent
<fol. 5v>lombe what hast you don . sothely neuere juell . j beseke ye yerfore turne
yin woundes vn-to me . and in-to my faderes hous . for j am worthi
ye deth & nou3t you . eyther do so or ellys wounde myn herte with
ye . sothly j wole deye for sorwe but 3if you wounde myn herte . j
ugge to fele myn herte vn-wounded . whan j se ye myn sauyour
so for-wounded for me . j wole not lyue with-outen þin gostly woun
dynge . syn j se ye for-wounded . and 3if al this a-vayle ye now3t
thenke yann yat for mekylnesse of yin pryde . you art vn-worthi
to receyue so noble a 3ifte . And yerfore holde yin-self as no mann .
but as a wylde beste . vn-worthi felaschep of menn . and perchaunce
3if you meke yin-self so . he yat loked on ye mekenesse of his
handmaydenn . schal lokenn on ye mekenesse of yin soule . & accepte
yin mekenesse in stede of compassioun . yat you felyst not on-tyl
he wole 3eue ye a newe herte . but lord whan schal yat be . delay
of it is nerhande deth to me . Neuertheles j schal a-byde tyl he wil
and longe in desire on-to myn herte melteth . A ryght now lord myn
soule begynneth to longe for loue . and al werdely lykynge is euenn
brou3t to nought in me . so j desire to be frescheed & comforted with ye
hote blood of 3oure swete woundes ¶ A lord delaye me no ferthere .
where is yin endlees wysdam . tarye nou3t to wounde me . lest yat thurh
yin taryinge j be lost fro ye . whom you hast dere bought . Renne sone
lord and wounde me . lest yat you come to late . 3if you a-byde long .
3a . but wo is me yat j am so wrecchyd yat he yat loueth hese
enmyes hateth now me . weyther j be wers to hym yan his enmye .
For hese enmyes he was ded . for hese enmyes he was wounded . &
yerfore j hope for to haue parte of hese woundes . j aske not yat he be
eft wounded for me . but yat he wole don myn ded herte lay in hese
holy woundes in restore me to lyf . ¶ A lord you wolde suffre Jrenn
entre to yin herte at ye wounde of yin syde . and me yin creature
resonable you wylt not lete in now whann ye wounde is made .
what is yis . weyther myn harte be hardere & rustyere yan Jrenn
weyther you thenke yat myn 3ernynge be ful of cruelte . j hope
nay . For what may myn cruelte dere ye now syn you art vn
sufferable . for entre j neuere so oftenn-sythes to yin herte be yin
<fol. 6r>woundes . and yow j ete flesch for swetnesse of loue . 3et yu
dwellyt euere a-lyke impassyble . Myn appetite schall be fylled
and euere ye more kyndelyd in loue . but you schalt neuere be ye
lesse . but wher to schal j crye more yus . yow taryest & comest
not . and j as mann wery in 3ernynge begynne for to fonne .
for loue steryth me and no resoun . and j renne with gret beer
~ . wheyther so my loue heldyth . and yei yat sen me scornn me .
for yei knowe not yat j am made as j were drunkenn for lon
gynge . yei seyn yus Why cryeth yis wood mann yus in ye
stretes . but yei takenn non hede hou yat desyre of ihesu bren
nyth in myn herte . wote not yat brennynge of loue inwar
dely felyd . yt he lettyth oftyn-sythes ye vse of bodely wyttes .
And he yat seketh aftir ihesu hertly . oftenn for3etyth hym-self .
and alle other thynges . lytel heed taketh he ihesu of outewarde
thynges . yat seketh for to fynde ye in pryuyte of his herte . Come
now gode ihesu and tarye no lengere . yat j be not al made witlees
thurgh outerageouse 3ernynges . but parchauns yat abydest yu . yat
whan j were reste fro felynge of all other thyng . yt j my3t yan entre
pure to ye at yin precious woundynge with whiche you schalt full
softly wounde myn louande herte . And yan schal j mowe crye & saye
A lorde how is it yat j se ye thus despitously wounded . A god 3if yt
j my3t deye for ye myn swete lord . j may not suffre to se ye thus an
gvysched in so muche of sore pyne . For-whi to beholde ye yus pyned
it is ouerdone hydous . and 3et neuertheles for to sen ye delyuered it were
to me more perlyous . and so j am in angvysch on iche syde . j woot
not what to chese . but 3if yat j myght be crucifyed with ye . yann
were j wel . whi . for me yat am vilest . you yat art heyest deth wold
suffre . And what am j but a vile worme . and wlatsome stenke .
for whom you lord of all wolde so be pyned ¶ A ihesu wysdam of
ye fader what chapmann was you for to 3eue lyf for deth . charite
for vanite grace for malice . and blys for wrecchednesse . who may
suffice to thenke whi you dede yus . A ouer-muche was yin loue . &
yat made ye to do it other chesoun se j non of yin deth . but ye ouerdone
habundaunce of yin charite . Were it not better gode ihesu yat j nou3t
<fol. 6v>a-benn born . yan you schuldest yus a-ben wounded for me . A why
made you me for to yus turment ye . it is wonder yat iche a crea
ture sleth not me yat am chesoun of yin deth . with muche mornyng
aught j for to bere myscheef . ry3t as j wolde suffre myn dedly enmye
before myn eyenn . whom j wolde slee & no gates durste . js it now
a gret defaute yat aftir suche a fruteful bunfice of yin passioun . J as
an vnkynde kaytef schal for3ete ye and synne be-fornn yin eyenn .
as you yin passioun hadde be ryght not worth . 3is yis a grete defaute .
A gode ihesu you hast 3ouenn yin-self for me . and to me . and 3et j for
sake ye .you slowh synne on ye crosse and 3et j chese it . you put a-wey
derknesse . and 3et j falle in it . Am j not euere besy to don a-3ens yi wyl
and openly to a-3en-stonde ye in yin face 3is sothly . 3if you say do
not yat j say as tyte j wyl don it . 3if you seye do this . j seye j wyl
not . j knowe wel lord yat you art souereyn goodnesse . and j yat am
as nou3t . for3ete ye as you were nou3t . and turne myn bak to ye
ward . and myn face to coueyte werdly thinges . and 3et sumtyme to
muche wers . j suffre myn herte be boundenn with glew of fleschly
loue . yat j may not to ye yat art lord of all . reyse it vp a-3enn .
A My lorde ihesu criste softe you myn herte with yin holy woun
des and with yin precious blood make myn soule drunkenn .
yat whedyr-so j turne me . euere j mote se ye crucifyed with myn
inner eye & what yat j loke on . al reed yat is seme with licoure
of yin blood . and 3if j may not do yis euere . in holynesse of deuocioun
ne in lykynge of gostly jmaginacioun ; at ye laste yt j may do it in
stabylnesse of feyth . and in holy conuersacioun . & yat no thing lyke me
but 3if it be dypped in yin holy blood . al my comfort be in mynde of
ye . and ow3t for to thenkenn wt-outen ye . pyne mote it be . lete neuere
myn herte reste fro thenkynge & 3ernynge . tyl j may fully fynde ye
in ye blysse of heuene . Amen . a meditacion of oure lady . how sche hadde here on good friday
Faste be ye crosse of ihesu stood .
marie virgine his moder as ye gospel tellyth . A my lady
wher stood you : only be ye crosse j hope better yat yu was
on ye crosse crucifyed with ihesu yin sone . j hope yer was no difference
but yat he was crucifyed in body & soule . and you only in yin soule
<fol. 7r>Alle ye woundes yat ihesu suffred in hese body . you suffred in yin soule .
yer was yin herte launced with a spere of sorwe . and yin hed corouned
with thornes of hese hed . and yin soule was fylled with schames
and schenschepes yat yin sone suffred . stoppyd ful of heysel & galle
of bytternesse . but gode lady whi 3ede you to be offeryd for vs . wheyther
ye passioun of yin sone hadde not suffysed . but 3if 3e hadde benn cruci
fyed with hym in hertly compassioun . ¶ A marie whi is yin louely
herte turnyd in-to a+lumpne of sorwe . j beholde lady yin herte now .
and j se it full of bytter peyne . j seke goddys moder . and lo j fynde
spyttynge scornynge & woundes for sche is al turnyd in-to hem .
A you vessell of holynesse : whi makest you yin-self a vessel of
pynefulnesse . A lady why art not yow a-lone in yin chawmbre .
wher-to 3ede you to ye hyll of Caluarye . jt was yin customm lady
before to renne for to se suche wondrynges . whi with-helde
not ye at home scham-fastnesse of maydenhod . whi lettyd not
ye vyled of yat place : ye vggely syght of oyer mennys synne . ye
hydousnesse of noyse . ye woodnesse of jewes . ye fendes rable of
cristes turmentoures . but to alle yese you hadde no considera
cioun . for-whi yin herte was alyened fro ye for sorwe . you was not in
yin-self . but in affeccioun of yin sone ihesu . and in ye woundes of yin
dere childe . turne a-3en good lady to yin first place . lest yat we
lese ye also with oure good schepperde . and so in on tyme we forbere
ye rewlynge of 3ou bothe . jt is not custome lady for to punysch
wommenn with suche maner deth . but j hope you may not here me
for yin herte is so full of sorwe . A . a . selkouth thynge is this . yu
art all turnyd in-to yo woundes of criste . And al criste is crucifyed
with-inne ye sydes of yin herte . A you wounded lady wounde yu
our hertes and renewe in oure soules ye passioun of yin sone ihesu .
ioyne yin herte in-to oures . yat we may be wounded with ye .
A lady 3if you ne wylt 3if me yin sone crucifyed . ne yin-self woun
ded . j pray ye 3if me ye despytes and ye reprouys of yin sone . Wher-
to holdest you hem stylle in yin-self . What moder is yat . t sche
ne wolde putte a-wey passiouns fro here-self and fro here sone &
leye hem on here servauntes . A blyssed schulde j be . 3if j my3t be
<fol. 7v>ferlawe of 3oure peynes . What were more leef to me . yan to fele
myn herte onyd to ihesu . and to yin sothly . no thynge . For-whi .
thin herte is ful of grace : and as tyte as it is openyd . grace
schuld renne fro ye in-to myn herte oned yer-to and ryght so
at þe openynge of cristes herte . al swetnesse of grace
folwith