may þens turne. Jhū mp vere and mp dzeurp deute arte pon to spynge thū
mp merth, and mp melodi whā milt pon come mp kynge. Jhū mp hele t-
mp holyp mp herte t my comforpnyge. Jhū j coueite for to die. Whā it is pī
paymge longynge is in me lent. y at gret lone hath me seut. All woo
fro me is wente sith þp my hert is brente. In cristf lone so swete þnem
wil lett but eu to lone j hete. Sfor lone mp bale mai bete t to mp blisse me
brenge. And zene me mp zernpnyge. Jhū mp lone swetynge longspnge
is i me lzt pat dpndith me day i myth til j hane it in sizz his face so fame
and brizt. Jhū mp hope t hele mp iore euþdele. Pi lone lett it not kele.
pat pi lone mai fele t wōne w me i wele. Jhū w pe j buys t beulde.
leu me were me to die. Pan al pis world to welde t hane it i manstre. Whā
wilt þ rev on me ihū þ j myzt w pe be to lone t loke on ye. My sete
or depnpd be fore. And sett pon me per yne. For pa val we neu tuyne.
And j pi lone xal spynge pozn sizz i pi schpnyge m heupn w ontyn
ende. Almen. her be nymyth A noble tretis of lone, a w

Right as men pe werkys of men þ ben chofyn to pe blisse be dyúise
rizt so pe fame me h an dníſe meditaconys. But neimelesſepei
cu al to on ende. pat is to sey to pelif þ eu val laſte. And pedirpei ben
bronzt t lede be dyúise ways. And be oo charite. pe wþche is more
m one pa m a noyer. per for seyth pe aphete. Dedurit me lip ſenitais
iustitie. As who sey on is pe wep of rythmesnes and þ is pe hewe weye. but
per be many patbys be pe whpche we be led to pe iore of endelesſe lif. for
whple þ we be al i vinte per be dníſe maner of meritis. And be ye rizth
vſnesse of god al pe chpdrpn of his chpiche ihe partýth w opw m menit-
and ben led to god be dníſe pathis. Bui noo be ye louest patche. Bui be p
heuſest pathe. And ſi me be ye medileſt. Andpei cu to one cite al pe laſte.
Rithe as men don here m pis worlde i to a cite. Bui cu me be ye ſonthe.
Bui be pe northe. ſi be pe eſt. And ſi oute of pe west. Bui cu be pe hewe
wep. and ſi be pe pathis. ſi on horse t ſi on foote. And al pei ſemblē
to ryder i pe market plate. And pedirpei cam to freche þ hem nedith. t
to fulfil her deſir. reduce þ pis vp pi mynde t pi diſtrecyon. pat god
hæthe zoupn ye. I pe heneſt pathe zoup to hæm þ lowth god moſte.

And was or deynd per be for pe begynnge of pis worlde, not for he
wer chith more pan opir men, not for he zene many pley for pe lone
of god, ne for he suffi pty many innres paciently. But for he loueth more,
Whych lone makith god to dwell in hy and he in god, but no ma may by
hys ome myth s sett hy selfe i ony of pese patins p toorth to henry, but hy
be houyth to take p pathe mekely pat god hath choſyn hy to ſinne tyme
it is so pat pei þ ſeme to vs to be in pe herteſt, pei ben i pe loweſt, and pei
þ ſeme to be i pe loueſt, pei ben i pe herteſt, for þ is huid i a manys trewe
loue þ he hath i his hert, þ no ma may knowe but god a lone, Which is
more or leſſe, for per is no pimge þ ma may doo outwards to brýnge hy
to so heyz a pathe, as trewe loue of god, but al men ben broute to heier or to lower
aſtir pe meſure of her lone, but no man mai be knowe be his outwards werk,
Whepnr he be more or leſſe i pe ſiſt of god, þ for it is a foli pimge to deme
of poo þ god hath choſyn ſe pue pis ma is more holyp pan pat man, And
pis manys mertt yal be ful mekyl more pa pat manys, And zit he know
ith rith not what einr ma pmbith. And if he kneve pe pontſt of hem,
pan myth he wele deme so. A las how man ony ma deme pis of opir me
ſith he mai not knowe of hi self. Whepnr he is wortn lone or hate. Or Whepnr
he yal be saupd or dampnýd. And per for god wolde kiepe þ pimy to hi self.
And deſye knowynge per of to al creaturis, pat no ma yulſe dispise he to me
che þ knewe he for to be dampned, ne woſchip he to meche pat yulde be ſa
upd. for w ontý donſte, if pei myzt ſe pe hert of me of po þ pei woſchip
now as crift choſyn chypdrpn. And a conute hem for holyp men, ſouler pa
onyf stynkynge carepne pei wolde dispise he, And opir per ben þ pei recke
not of. As me þ ben reprempd of god pei deme hem, ſt diſpayne to loke vp
on hem, And if pei myſte ſee her hert derly as god doth, And knowe þ pimy
per of, w ontý donſte if pei had pe iſce of god w ine he. Thei wolde wold
woſchip he w all her myth einpily as pei yulde do to pe holyp anget of
The comandement of god is pis, þ we lone oure lorde god in Lhenyn,
al oure hert. In al oure ſonle. In al oure pontſt. In al oure herte. þ is in
al oure vndir ſondynge w ontý errynge. In al oure ſonle. þ is i al oure
wil w ontý azensepynge. In al oure pontſt. þ is pat pimke on hy w ontyn

For zetynge. In pis mai' is very lone i' trewe þis wylke of manys will.
for lone is a wilful sterynge of oure ponzte i to god. So þit resepue no piige
pat is azens ye lone of ilhui triste. And yer wþ pat it be lastynge i ye swetnes
of deuocony. And pis is ye pfection of pis lif i to ye whych al dedely syne is
contrarie enmpe but not venyal synne. For venyal syne doth not a wey
charite, but only lettith deuocony i bhenynge per of. For whi alle' wil lone
sod pfizthy. hem be hompeth not only to fle al dedely syne. But as mehil as þa
mai al venyal syne. In ponzt worde i dede. and name to be of ltil speche.
And þSilence be in occupacion of god ponzte. wh helpith greth to goddis lone.
For iangelers i bacoiters yel apper yn opir menys lif w' wickid wordis.
And alle þ lone her owne state for by al opir. Or dispise ony aste i pe whiche
a man mai be saaf. Yel hane no more fizte i pe lone of god yan pe eze of
a bake hath of pe sime. for veyne spedh i evnl wordis. be fegne of a veyne
herte i evil þis w' oure pe yrate of god. And he þ spekith al wey þ hoddy
iche ma bettr pan hym self. he schewith wele þ he hath stablyd yoodne
in his herte. Et is ful of charite to god i to his nezebore. And þ pon maist
wyne to pe. pe swetnesse of goddis lone. Thane seft here. m. degrees of lone.
In pe which loke þ pou be wapn. pe ferst degre is callid insepable. the top
insepable. pe yridde sylnguler. pi lone is insepable. wha no piige mai oni
come it. þis nepir wele ne woo. esse ne anguyrsche. luste of flesche ne likynge
of pis worlde. but al wey it lastith in god. ponz it were temptyd greth
i it hatith all synne so pat no piige mai slake pat lone. yme lone is
in sepable wha al pi ponzt i pi willis ben traderid to gedre i fastenpð hol
i ilhui crift. So þ pon mai no tyme for zete hi. but al wep ymke on hym.
And whi is it callid in sepable ffor it mai not be deptyd fro pe ponzte of
ilhui crift. þ lone is sylnguler when al pi delite is in ilhui crift. i in nod
opir piige fyndift ioie or comfort. In pis degre of lone is lone stronge
as dep i harde as helle. for as deth fleth al lenpige pimege i pis world.
So pfizte lone fleth in manys soule al fleschely desiris i er dely corneitise.
And as helle Sparith not to dede me. but turmentith al þ cumpyth þ to.
So a man þ is i pis degre of lone not only he for sakith ye wzechid solas
of pis life. but also corneitith to suffre peynps for goddis lone. per fore if

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3

["you list to love any crime. One who commits a sin is called a sinner. Whose love is lastest in one's end? For all erudious love is passable and wondrous, and weep. For no crime is fallible, but people sin, and deserve it if you are coneituse after good. One who does not have a sin, is called a sinner. If delites like you, one who is of azenryth delites to his louers is more harmful to himself. But all delites in this world have a penalty and a fate in most cases. For even begins in someones, but perforce is as bitter as gall, if you want not to be out of the world. And if you do not want to be a sinner, you must feel comfortable in your sin, and know that your sin is your last sin. And if you want to speak for someone else, at least be sure that you will be able to do so. And if you want to lift up someone else, lift up your own spirit and lift up someone else. And when you lift up someone else, lift up your own spirit

nþth and day pe lone of erist. þ he mai lone hym verily felynge com,
forte et delite in hi, castynge oute al pe pounte et besynesse of pis wozlde.
And be you seith if you conente his lone treulyt et lastynget þo þo no linte of
pe flestche ne angrynge of pe wozlde, ne speche of men drawe pe
azen. And taffe ye not in to besynesse of boddlyþ pingsf. pon palt hane
his lone et fynde et fele þ it is more delectable move merie pa al pe
Welch in pis wozlde. Or mai be til dompday. And if you fayle or
falle for temptacions or angris, or for oði mehil lone of pi frendis.
It is no wondre youz he holde fro pe þ pinge, þ pou conentist vntrenely,
he seith þ he lompty he pat lompty hpm. And he þ erdly erly wakith
to hi yal fynde hi. you arte erly wakynge ofte fype. Whi pan
fpndist you not hi ertis if you sekiste hi rithwele pou palt fynde
hpm. But while you sekiste erdely pinge, youz you wake ne’i se erly
crist maist you not fynde. For he is not fonde in her londe pat
lompty in flestchely lustf. his modr whâ he was wilid fro her. Sche,
fonzte hym weppynge erly et late a monge his hervede et hers. But
sche fonde hi not for al her sekynge et her sozwynde, til at pe lafte
sche cam to pe temple. And per sche fonde hpm spttynge a monge
pe maistferis. herynge et answerpnge. And so be hoipty pe to doo.
If you wolde fynde hi, seke inwardely in trewe hope et charite of
holyp cherche castynge oute al spire et hate it i al pi herte. For pat
holdith hi fro pe et lettith pe þ pou maist not fynde hpm, pe herdes þ
fonzte hym fonde hi lynge in a maniour be twene too bestf. þ þal
pou knowe if you seke hpm verily, pe be hoipty to go in pe wele
of ponerte and not of richesse, pe sterre ledde pe thre kynnis to
bedleem. Perpei fonde est in swadlpynge clontis spimple as a poire
childe. And per by maist you vudrstonde þ while þ you arte et vanpte.
pon fpndist hi not, hon maist you for scheme pat arte but a sernante
w many clops et riche, solwe pime fponse et pi lorde þ deied i a kiwtil.
And you trailiste as meche be hende pe as al þ he hadde on. And per
for i rede ye pat you parte w hpm or yout he mete, pat he reprene
pe not of outeraensnesse. For he wil þ you hane þ you hafte nede

of. And no more. As he seide to his discipulis. pat pei yulde hane not
as many clothys as to myzt be fustepnyd w. for to tranaple per a boute
is outeragons besynesse. pat he pfrith ye to haue pe lone of ihui
criste is a ful dere tresom. And a deletable ioie. et a ful sekar for
a man to trufte per vpon. for whi he wil not zene it to foles pat
can not holde it ne kepe it tendrly. but to hem he zempeth it pe
whiche wil not neynr for wele ne for woo latte it passe fro hem.
but rapn wolde die or pei wolde wrape ihui cste. And in no wise a
man doth precious lecoure in a stynkynge vessel but in a clene. Also
criste doth not his lone in a fonle which is harde bonde w spynne
et w fonle luft of ye fle sche. but in a herte y is fane et clene et ful
of vertues. ne upeles a fonle vessel mai be made so clene. pat a ful
dere ymige et precious mai be sanely do per in. And ihui crift ofte
spppe pur sype many a senful fonle. And makith it able pozn his yce
to resepue pe deletable swetnesse of his lone. et to be his dwellynge
stede in hollynesse. And al wep ye dener p it wapith. pe more ioie
et solas of henyn crift settith per ynne. for ye ferst tpine y a ma
is turnyd to god. he mai not fle y swete lecom til he haue be wele
vspd in goddis fince. And his herte be pur gyd pozn preerib and
penance et god poyzt in god. for he y is flowe in goddis fince.
mai not be hennynge in his lone. but if he do al his myzte and
tranale eity day et nuth to fulfil goddis wil. And whan y blisshid
lone is fastempd in a manys herte. It wil not suffre hi to be idel.
But al wep it fterith hym to do god y myzt be lykynge to god.
as in preynge or in wozkynge pfiztable yinge. Or in spekynge
of ihui crift passe not fro yis poyzte. for if pon lone hym treulh.
pon wilte glade pe in hi et in no oyn yinge. And pon wilte ymke
on hym. caste a wey al oyn poyzt but pon be false et take oyn pa
hym and delite pe in eirdly poynt azens his wil. Wite pon wele he
wil for sake pe as pon hafte done to hym and dampne pe for pi fyne.
Where pat you myztif lone hym treulh. I wolde y pon viur stode
y is lone is puryd in thre ymges. In ymkyntge spekynge et werkynge.

Change pi ponzte from ye worlde. And tafte it holly on hym. And he yall
norsche pe change pi month from jodpl ò worldeþ speche. And speke of hi
And yal comforte pe /change pi handis from werkis of vanite. And lifte
pem ì his name. And werke onlý for his lone. And he yal reſepne. Do
pns ò so pon lompſt hym treulý. And pon yooſt in pe wey of pſetznesſe.
Delite pe so in hym þ pme herte reſepne nepir worldeþ ioe ne worldeþ
woſchip. And dred not Anguysche ne noies þ map be falle bodyl on pe
or of onp of yme frendys. But take al m to goddis wil. And yanke hym
All wey of al his ſondes. So pat you may hane reſt ò ſanour to his lone,
for pme herte be led eyir w worldeþ drede or worldeþ solas. Pon arte
ful fer fvo pe ſwetnesſe of crift lone. And loke wele pat pon ſeme not
one w oute and be a nopir w ynne. As jpocritis done, ye whiche ben
like to a ſepulture pat is richely pepntyd w oute. And w ynne be roten
ſtynkypnge bomps. And if pon hane delite in name of religion. Ioke
pat pon hane more delite in pe dede pat fallith to religion. For pi Abte
ſeith pat pon haſt for ſakyn pe worlde and pat you arte zonyn to
goddis ſince. And pat pon delite not in erdly pming. Ioke yan pat it be
in yme herte as it ſempth in manps ſizte. For no pming mai make pe
religion but vertues ò dennes in ſonle and in charite. And if pi body be
clad w outyn as pme order wele. Ioke pat pi ſonle be not nakid w ìne.
For þ pi ordre for bedith, but be pi ſonle nakid fvo all vices. And lett it ben
warne happid in lone and mekeneſſe. And ye domps of god so pat pon
wzape not hi. And ſtacle pi ponzte in his lone. And holde oute of pe
Al man of ſymps ò tafte A wey flowneſſe. And vſe pe namelp in good,
neſſe. And be deboure and meke to al men. And lett no pming brynge
pe m to me or m to empe. And make pi ſonle per faire ò meke in a
troné of lone to goddis ſone. And if pi wel be conetise to reſepne hi
as eſladely as pon woldſt be at pe compnge of a pming pat pon lompſt
moſt of al pming. And wasche pi ponzt denne w lone teris ò breinpçe
desire pat he ſynde not pming ſoule in pe. For his ioe is pat ò be faire
ò loue ſom ì his ſizte. ſaueuesſe of pme ſonle pat he conetith is pat
pon be chafte ò meke ò mplde and ſuffirnge. And nepir wey to do

Yis will. But eur hatynge al wrecydnesse in all þe pon doste. Ymke eur to come to ye fizte of his fairehede. And sett al pime entente per me pat pon may come per to at pime endynge. For pat is hoth to be oure ende of al oure tranel. Pat we eur more whyle we leue here desire pat fizt w al oure herte. And pat we ymke eur longe per to. Also pon yalt fastene in pime herte ye mende of his passion and of his bittir wondis. Grett delite and swetnesse yalt pon fele if pon holde yi mpunde ð yi ponzte of ye peyne pat trist suffrid for ye. If pon tranaile rith in his lone and desire hym bymynly. Al temptatons and dzedis of hell you yalt oter come. And defoule vndr pime fete pozu his grace. For al pat he seith in god wil to lone hym. He helpithzens his empes. And resith her ponzte a bone erdely pimege. So þe pei may hane savoure and solace in ye swetnesse of heupn. Also purchase ye pe ye wil of weppynge and cese not til pon hane it. For in ye herte where ye teris spryngen. Per wil pe fier of ye holysost be lyndelyd. And sizen pe fier of lone pat yal brenne in yi herte wel bynge to uouzt at ye ruiste of synne. And pynge yi soule of al felth as clene as pe yolde pat is clensid in pe fier. I wot in wardly pat no pynge mai make ye to coueite goddis lone and to desire ye iore of heupn and to dispise ye vamites of yis worlde. As fted faste pmlaymge of ye trevous wondis of pe deth of ilh crift. it wil repse yi ponzte a boue erdely lykynge. And make pime herte brenynge in crifts lone. And purchase in to yi soule delectable savour of heupnly comforte. but panenture pon wil seie j mai not dispise ye worlde. I may not fynde in my herte to pumpche my body. And also j uniste lone my fleschely frendis. And take ese whan it compth. If you be tempted with suche ponzt. loke þe you be ymke ye fro ye bymynge of pis worlde where ye loners of pis worlde ben nowe. And where ye loners of god ben. certis þa were men and women as we ben and eten ð drumknyn as nede was. And ye wrecthis pat lourd pis worlde toke ese to her body. And lemyd aftir ye luiste and lykynge of her wickid wil. And ledde

he gte and þ goodnesse of ourelorde Jhīn criste þ he heth schempd to þ in
w drampnge of pi herte fro þ lone et laptunge of pis world þ vanpte.
And vse of flesthel þeunys. And i turnunge of pi mil enterl þ to his furece et his
plesaunce bryngith i to my herte mekyl mater for to loue he in his mici. And
also it fterith me greth þ for to strengthe þ in yi good pimpos and i pi werlapnge þ pon
haste be ionne for to brenge it to a wood ende if þ i coude principall for god and also
for pi tendre affecony of loue þ þ hast to me thowz I be a wrecthe et vna wort hi. I knowe
wel þ desire of pi herte þ þ zeurpft þ greth to fve oure lorde god be noftly occupacion
al hol þ oute lettynge or trublynge of worldel þ besynesse þ pon impististe cu be
nte to more knownys et noftly felpnge of god et noftly pmingis. pis desire is good
I hope et of god. for it is charite specpall þ Seth to hym. Si eu vellesse it is to refrepne
and for to renle be dyfcrecon as a neptis oute warde werlapnge aftir þ state þ pon
arte yne. for charite vi reulyd turneth ſi tyme to vice. And þ fore it is sepd in
holy writ pis. Ordimant in me caritatem. That is to say oure lorde zenade
to me charite. Sett it in ordre et in reule þ it yilde not be loste throum my vnd iferecon.
Aith so pis charite et pis desire þ oure lorde of his merc y hath zoun to pe. is for
to reule and or depne how þ yalt þ pyn it aftir pi degre aftith and aftir pi laptunge
þ you haste vfyd be fore pis tyme. And aftir þ gte of vertues þ pon haste nowe
thou yalt not vitrl þ folow pi desire foz to leue occupacion et besynesse of pis
worlde wiche arn nedful to be vſid as in reukenge of pi self et of al op þ arn
vndr þ kleppnge. And zene holl þ to noſt occupacion of preperis et meditacon.
As it were a ſvere or a minke or an op may þ were not bounde to pe werde by
wif chuldryn et ſuantis as þ arte. for it fallith not to pe. If pou do so þ krepſt
not pe ordre of charite. Also if þ wold it vitrl y leue noſt occupacion. namely
nowe aftir þ gte þ god hath zonp to pe. And settith pe holl in besynesse of
pe worlde to fulfillunge of werkis of active lif as full as an op man þ nei felte
deuocon. Thou loſt it pe ordre of charite. for pi state aftith for to done both in iche
of he in dyuerſe tyme pou yalt medlyn pe werke of attif lif w pe werkis of
noſt contemplatif lif. And yan doſte þ wel. for pou yalt oſtyme be beſy w
martha to reule et noine pi honſolde pi chuldryn pi ſuantis pi nezeboris
and yi tenantis. If þ done wele conforte he þ in helpe hem. If þ done euele

for to hem hem anende hem and chafise hem, and yalt loke and knowe w itself
p inyme and werdly good ben rithly keped, be pi seruants uouerm'd and
trenly spendid p inytsiffe pe more plentenost w hem fulfill pe dedis of mire
to pi eure cristen, and an opyme p yalt maria leuen besynesse of pe worlde
and sittyn don at p fete of oure lorde be mekene and preperis and i hol point
and in contemplacion of hym as he zenith pe dyte, And so yalt p cto fro pe tone
to medfully and fulfill both p ane p kepeste wele pe ordre of charite, S. er
deles p p hane no wondr of pis p j hane seide, p for pyal tell pe and dedare it to pe
alull of pis more opynt. At pe ferst begyngen, pou yalt undristonde p pis
the maner of levingis, On is attif an op is contemplatif, The m is made of
both and pis medid. Actif lif a lone lonynth to werdly men and women parne
lewd and flestel rende and boistons and knoweng of noftly occupatons, for p fele no
sauour ne denoton by fernour of lone as op men done, ne pei cime no fail of.
And zit nerdeles p hane drede of god of peynys of helle, And for pi fle spinne.
And pei han desyre also for to plese god and for to cime to hemyn, And hat god
vil to her enyn cristen. Than to pese men it is nedful and spedful for to vse werkis
of actif lif as besyl as pei moi in helpe of hem self and of her enyn cristen.
for cime not ellis done. Contemplatif lif a lone longith to such men and women
for lone of god, for sake al oppyn spinys of pe worlde and of her fle sche and
all besynesse charis and noimans of worlde god and makeng hem self pore
and nakp vn to pe bare nede of bodply kende, And fre fro sonie pnte of op men to pe
forte of god, Vn to pese men it loneth for to trauayle and occupy he in wardly for
to gette pom pe dyte of oure lorde dennes i herte, And pees in consciens, be distroy
of spinys and resepuyage of vertues, so for to euil to contemplacion, whiche dennesse
may not be had oure oute mett bodply eyer cise and continuale trauayle of spuit in
denoute preperis fernen desnes in noftly meditatons. The m hif pott is medlyd.
longith specially to men of holys churche, As prelatis op curat whiche han cire
soie pnte on opn men for to kepe hem freule hem both her vodges in principly
her soulys in fulfellynge of dedis of mercie bodply and noftly, Vn to pese men it
longith in tyme to vse pe werkis of actif lif in helpe and sustinace of hem self
And of her soiett of opye also, And in tyme for to fle al besynesse outwarde i
zeue hem holiy for a tyme to preperis meditatons redy nge in holys writ