The Book of the Craft of Dying/lamentation

by Anonymous

THE LAMENTATION OF THE DYING CREATURE

The Dying Creature enset with Sickness incurable sorrowfully complaineth him thus

Alas that ever I sinned in my life. To me is come this day the dreadfullest tidings that ever I heard. Here hath been with me a sergeant of arms whose name is Cruelty,^[1] from the King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords, and Judge of all Judges; laying on me the mace of His office, saying unto me : I arrest thee and warn thee to make thee ready, and that thou fail not to be ready in every hour when thou be called on; thou shalt not wit when. And call sadly to thine remembrance thine old and [long]^[2] continued offences; and the goodness of God, how largely He hath departed^[3] with thee the gifts of nature, the gifts of fortune, and the gifts of grace. And how He hath departed with thee largely and ordained thee at thy baptism three borrows,^[4] that thou shouldest safely and surely be kept in thy tender age as well from vices as bodily peril; and ordained thee a good angel to keep and counsel thee — if thou have been counselled by him, bethink thee — and when thou camest to years of discretion he ordained thee three sad counsellors; Reason, Diead, and Conscience If thou have ruled thee by their counsel, call that to thy remembrance.

He ordained thee also five [Wits] servants, that thou shouldest be master of, and rule them after thy discretion; that is to say, thy sight, thy hearing, thy speech, thy feeling, and thy taste. How hast thou ruled those that be under thine obedience ? Me seemeth thou hast much things to answer for. The Judge that shall sit upon thee. He will not be partial, nor He will not be corrupt with goods, but He will minister to thee justice and equity certainly as well as these three were. Certain things He forbade thee, and those things thou shouldest flee in every wise. There is, to wit, the seven deadly sins; and all things that should provoke, move, or stir thereto. He bade thee flee. Hast thou done so ? Hast thou kept His commandments ten: and yet that is but a little thing.

The Lamentation of the Dying Creature

Alas! alas! Excuse me I can not, and whom I might desire to speak for me I wot not. The day and time is so dreadful; the Judge is so rightful; mine enemies be so evil; my kin, my neighbours, my friends, my servants, be not favourable to me;

and I wot well they shall not be heard there.

The Complaint of the Dying Creature to the Good Angel

O my Good Angel, to whom our Lord took me to keep, where be thee now? Me thinketh ye should be here, and answer for me; for the dread of death distroubleth me, so that I cannot answer for myself. Here is my bad angel ready, and is one of my chief accusers, with legions of fiends with him. I have no creature to answer for me. Alas it is an heavy case!

The Answer of the Good Angel TO the Dying Creature

As to your bad deeds, I was never consenting. I saw your natural inclination more disposed to be ruled by your bad angel than by me. Howbeit, ye cannot excuse you, but when ye were purposed to do anything that was contrary to the commandments of God, I failed not to remember you that it was not well; and counselled thee to flee the place of peril, and the company that should stir or move you thereto. Can ye say nay hereto? How can ye think that I should answer for you?

The Complaint of the Dying Creature TO Reason, Dread, and Conscience

O ye Reason, Dread, and Conscience, ye were assigned to be of my counsel. Now come, I require you, and help me to answer for me. For my defaults be so many, and so abominable in the sight of Him that shall be my Judge, and mine accusors so many and so unfriendly, that they leave not one fault behind. Now come, I require you, and help to answer for me, for it was never so great need. The fear and the dread that I am in distroubleth me so that one word I cannot speak for my life. Alas that ever I saw this day!

The Answer of Reason to the Dying Creature

Be not ye remembered that Our Lord ordaineth you a good angel and a bad angel; and He ordained you reason and discretion to know good from evil. He put you in free choice whether ye would do well or evil; and also commanded you to do good and leave the evil. Ye ought to call to your remembrance how well God hath done for you, and holpen you in every danger and peril: He would have been beloved, dreaded, and served, according to the manifold mercies and kindnesses that He hath showed unto you. How to answer for you I wot not. Loth I am to accuse you, and excuse you I can not.

The Complaint of the Dying Creature TO Dread

O Dread, where be ye? Is there none help and succour with you to speak for me when I shall come

to judgment

The Answer of Dread

No certainly. For when ye were set on pleasure and delectation of the world, Reason put in your mind that ye did not well, and I, Dread, was with you at all times and in every place; and failed not to speak to you and to put you in mind of the shame of the world, dread of damnation, and of the peril that would follow — as well here as elsewhere — remembering^[5] unto you the punishments that our Lord ordained for sin; saying to you: See ye not how graciously our Lord hath called you away from sin and wretchedness, if ye would understand it. How hath He long kept you in worship, estate, and in prosperity, and (ye) coude not^[6] know the goodness of God. How hath He chastised you, and how oft; by loss of your children, loss of your kin, friends, and goods, and loss of all those things that ye be not pleased with; and set you in the indignation of high and mighty princes, and holp you out of the dangers and perils that ye have been in at all times; and yet have ye not loved Him and served Him, that in all these perils hath preserved and kept you, and hath been so gracious and good Lord to you. Who should speak for you. I? Nay certainly.

The Complaint of the Dying Creature TO Conscience

Alas, Conscience, is there no help with you? I have heard say, long ago, the world was evil to trust, but I would hope that Conscience would have compassion of my distress; and much the more that I am friendless.

The Answer of Conscience to the Dying Creature

I am sorry to accuse you, and excuse you I cannot. For Conscience and Dread have been full seldom from you in every time and place of peril, and bad you flee the occasions of sin. Ye might have fled at that time, and would not. Now ye would flee Death, and can not. We should speak for you, and dare not; and though we would, it availeth not. Ye must sorrowfully and meekly suffer the judgments that ye have deserved.

The Complaint of the Dying Creature TO THE Five Wits

O ye Five that were ordained to be my servants, and under mine obedience, and to have been ruled at all times as I would have you; is there no good word that ye may say for me, and record my demeaning^[7] to you, and report how I have ruled and governed you that were taken^[8] me to keep, rule, and govern. Me seemeth ye should say for me now. Who might say so well for me as ye Five? Ye have been continually with me ever sith I was born, night and day, and never at no time from me. Me thinketh of your kindness ye should have compassion on me, and say the best that ye coude say for me. I have been friendly to you, and brought you in every place of pleasaunce and disport. Now show your kindness again to me and speak to Faith and Hope for me, that they would charitably do my message unto the most glorious Prince that ever was, is, or ever shall be.

The Answer of the Five Wits

Certainly we marvel that ye will desire us to speak, for you understand those worshipful people hath denied and refused to speak for you; your Good Angel, Reason, Dread, and Conscience. How should ye be heard ? Or what credence will be given unto us that have been your servants and under your obeisance, and nothing done all times but as ye have commanded us to do ? Call to your remembrance how you ruled us Five, Sight, Hearing, Feeling, Tasting and Smelling. Ye have at all times brought us in places of pleasance and disport; and though it were disport and pleasance for the time, it is now sorrow, weeping, and wailing for your sake, that we cannot excuse you nor anything say for you that might be your weal or to your ease. For we have been privy and partners to all that hath been mis-done in any wise, and in every place. And our offence in all things is in your default. For, and ye had sadly^[9] ruled us as a sovereign should, ye should have restrained in us every vice. For we should have been ruled by you in every thing; and otherwise than ye Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/194 in her bosom was perfectly contained very God and Man, by the great mystery of the Holy Ghost, without knowledge and company of any earthly man, and she a pure, chaste, virgin, flowering in virginity, and by hearing of the holy Archangel Gabriel, which brought unto her the most gracious and good tidings that ever came to mankind.

Now holy Faith, take with you Hope, and ye twain, of your perfect charity, be mine advocates in the High Court, and refuse me not; nor disdain me for mine horrible and abominable sins that I have done, which asketh vengeance in this world, and damnation eternal, without the mercy of Him that is Almighty. What mean^[10] might I have thereto ? I pray you counsel me, for ye know well that my reason never discorded from the faith.

And as to you Hope, I hope that ye will say for me that I have hoped always to the mercies of Almighty God; and that I should be one of the children of salvation, and one of those that should be redeemed by the precious and bitter painful passion, as other sinners have been. And certainly other plea or resistance I can not make. But, and ye twain would be mean for me to that most glorious and pure chaste Virgin, that chosen was by the one assent of the whole glorious Trinity to do the most glorious and worshipfuUest act that ever was done. For her chastity, her pure virginity, her meekness, her virtue and her constancy, was cause that she was chosen by all the whole glorious Trinity to be the Daughter, Mother, and Spouse to the most glorious Trinity; and that she should bear Him that should redeem all mankind from damnation. Who may so well (be) advocatrice to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as she? And ye will be mean to her for me, I hope she will not refuse me. For I understand and know well that she hath holpen many a sinner that hath right grievously offended; and in the holy psalm that was made between her and her cousin, Saint Elizabeth, it was said that all generations should bless her. I hope at the beginning of the world Our Lord put not me out of His number of those that should bless His most holy Mother, and record her mercy, pity, and grace that she showeth to sinners when they have none other succour nor help.

She is Mother of orphans, and she is Consolation of those that be desolate. She is Guide to those that be out of the way, to set them in the right way. I am an orphan. I am desolate. I am out of the way. I wot not where to cry and call after succour and help, but only to her that bare our aller^[11] Redemptor. Who may so well be mean to the Son as the Mother? And ye twain. Faith and Hope, would be mean to the Mother of mercy for me. Now gracious Faith and Hope, do your part, and disdain not my request though I desire you to this occupation. For, and ye twain would deny me, to say for me, I doubt I should fall in despair. For on whom to call for after succour I wot not; and to put myself in press^[12] as a poor naked beast, unclothed in virtue and repleted with vices, naked of grace and in mine own default; and to come to the presence of the King of all Kings, (and) unpurveyed of^[13] all things that would accord with His most royal and imperial estate; — I dare not take it upon me. I should be in such dread and fear that I should not come, nor dare speak for myself. For I have prayed my Good Angel to speak for me, and he hath denied it. I have called upon Reason, Dread, and Conscienc, and they have answered me full heavily that they be loth to accuse me, but excuse me they can not; and alledgeth many a great, reasonable cause why, that I cannot say nay thereto. I have called upon my servants which were taken^[14] me to rule and govern, and if they would answer for me [as I would answer for them,] and they answer me right shortly, and say : If they should say any good word for me they should not say truth of me, and casteth to me that peril, that nobody would give credence unto them if they would say well of me; but call them flatterers, false dissimulers and favourers of sin.

Alas! alas! I have heavily dispended my long life that, in all this long time (I) have not purchased me one friend to speak for me. Had our Lord, of His most ample grace, ordained me immediately after my Christendom to have died forthwith, I might say I had been born in a blessed hour. But would it please your goodness to speak for me, and understand^[15] whether I shall have hardiness to make a bill to the Blessed Lady, and most holy Virgin that ever was; and she that disdaineth not, nor denieth sinners when they call after grace, notwithstanding her chastity and her pure virginity excelleth all other virgins.

Now good,^[16] go your way and let me wit how I shall speed. For all this time I live in such dread and fear that me were better to die anon than live any longer in [the dread that I am in. And also I have so great] dread and fear of the righteousness of Almighty God that I am almost dead for fear. For Reason, Dread, and Conscience said to me shortly that the high Judge would not be partial, nor He would not be corrupted with goods, but He will minister to me justice certainly. But, and He intend to minister to me justice without favour, I would appeal to His mercies certainly; for other remedy is there none pardie. Origen our Blessed Lady hath holpen, Theophil and Sir Emory; ^[17] how should they have done ne^[18] the Mother of mercy had been? And many another sinner that her grace hath holpen. She is Queen of Heaven, Lady of the World, and Empress of Hell; and sithen her own Son, Our Lord Jesu Christ, hath died and suffered so tormentuous a death, and in her own sight, to her great sorrow and motherly compassion, I hope that she would be loth that thilk precious passion should be lost in any creature that

her Blessed Son suffered so patiently.

The Answer of Faith to the Dying Creature

Have ye none acquaintance with our brother Charity? We marvel that ye have not spoken of him in all this time; for, and he were joined with us twain, your message should be more acceptably heard many fold.

The lamentable Complaint of the Dying Creature to Faith, Hope, and Charity

Certainly I have but little dealed with him. I was never conversant with him. That me repenteth now, for I feel by you twain that he may do much in the High Court. I have more dealed with vengeance than I have with charity. For I would have been avenged upon every man by my will. When the people had slain my children, my kin, my friends, and robbed and spoiled myself; and certainly I would have been a-wroke^[19] right fain, and I had had power to my will. But though my power were little, certainly I have hated them, and willed them to have been done to as they have done to me. And well I wot that is not the order of charity. But now heartily I cry God mercy, and our Blessed Lady, and you, holy Charity; and here, afore God, Our Blessed Lady, and you three, I forgive them all —and all mine enemies — that they have done against me, and will not be avenged though I might. And I pray you holy Charity, though it were long or I were acquainted with you, be not the lother to do for me. I sore repent me that I have thus unreasonably and unwittingly absented me from you, and heartily I cry you mercy, and pray you of your charity to put out of your mind my presumptuous folly. For certainly I shall never do so more again, but in every thing that I have to do I shall desire your favour, succour, and counsel. And I utterly deny and defy Vengeance, and never to deal with him more, howsoever I be done to; but take it in patience and think, as me ought of right, that worse than I have been done to, I have deserved to be done to. But that is not the World, for him have I served and pleased, and displeased Almighty God, that is Maker of all things, and His Holy Begotten Son, that conceived was of the Holy Ghost, and born of the pure and chaste Virgin, and died for our redemption. And I have grievously offended and broken His commandments in all things, knowing that I did not well; wherefore my peril is the more. Nor I have not called after the blessed Holy Ghost's grace, mercy, succour, and His help, when I have been in places of peril of deadly sin. Nor upon that most holy, pure, chaste, and excellent Virgin, and besought her of grace. And she turned her visage from me not from lack of faith, but that me-thought that her most excellent [charity and] chastity must of very right abhor my sins, and all things that I pleased the world with.

I know well that I have displeased Him that redeemed me with His precious passion; and this, I wot well, deserved a greater punishment than I have yet suffered. And there, as me lacked suffisance and boldness to come in the presence of them that I have so grievously offended, will it please your goodness. Faith, Hope, and Charity, charitably to go before and be mean for me to the Mother of mercy and pity, that she will go for me to the glorious Trinity, and take you three with her. For well I wot the glorious Trinity will nothing deny that she desireth. They understand her perfect charity is such that every creature that calleth after grace, she hath pity upon them; have they never so grievously offended. I should fall in despair and I had not perfect trust in her grace, mercy, and pity. And so I have great cause, for I have brought my seely^[20] soul to great bondage, and in such adversity without remedy, that it passeth my power to ease him or help him, nor^[21] the great nor special trust that I have in that most blessed Lady, and in you, holy Faith, Hope, and Charity.

How the sorrowful soul complaineth him to the Dying Creature: saying right thus

How much hast thou done with thy master, the World? How nigh be ye twain departed? Understandest thou not how unsure he is, and at thy most need will fail thee? Hast thou not seen, afore this time, in the times of great adversities and troubles, what hath he eased or profited thee? Certainly little or nought. For, and he hath flattered or dissimuled with thee one day or one hour, he hath loured and grutched with thee^[22] an whole year there- fore. Hast thou not understood him in all this time, but hanged upon him always, so long as thou mightest; and longer wouldest if thou might? But now the season [and time] is come he will depart from thee; and what distress that ever thou art in, little will he savour, succour or help thee. Such as thou thinkest be thy friends will show thee a feigned favour, till they know the certainty of thy riches; and if thou have goods they will cherish and favour thee for a season, and complain and wail thy death. And yet they would right fain thou were a-gone, and be right glad of thy death. And when thine eyes be closed, thine hearing a-gone, thy speech withdrawn and may not speak, then shalt thou see what thy master the World will do for thee. Seek thy coffers he will, and every corner by the way of likelihood where any goods is in. And little will thy worldly friends depart with^[23] to thee then, and little com- passion will they have on thy poor soul. And if they find little or nought in thy coffers, what will they say then? They will say thou were a fool, a waster; thou couldest not keep; thou spendest more than thou haddest. Thus will they say by thee. And though they find much, thou shalt have but a little thereof, and fare but little the better. And if they find but little, they will grudge with thee^[24] and say thee never a good word.

Think thereon betimes, and be thine own friend; for, and thou canst not love thyself, who will love thee? Canst thou love every^[25] creature better than thyself? If thou do so, I wis thou art not wise. Remember (what I say now, for thou shalt find this true, every word. And though I speak thus grievously and straitly unto thee, marvel not for it; for he am I that shall abide and suffer, and endure the pains of thy distress. Alas that ever I was coupled with thee! And so have I cause to say, for I shall be punished without favour for thy deeds. How hastily, how soon [I cannot say. How unadvisedly and how unreadily thou purveyeth for me;] I wot never. How should any other creature have compassion on me when thou hast not, that, sith that thou were first formed a creature, I have always been with thee and never from thee; and in the age of thine innocency was kept full virtuously to my great comfort; and in thy middle age was kept full viciously and sinfully to my great sorrow; and in thine old age little or nought remedied^[26] thy wretched living.

Alas! Alas! Alas! that ever thou and I were coupled together! For the season hasteth fast that I must go to pains for thy misrule, and endure pain — whether it be eternal or for a long season. I wot not what remedy thy worldly friends will find to ease me. I am in great dread. I trow they will have little compassion on me that am thy poor soul, but give their attendance to bury thee richly and worshipfully, and make thy house cleanly and thy purse empty; and little compassion or remembrance have on thee and me certainly, but let me burn eternally, but if^[27] (by) the mercies of Him that is Almighty, (and) by the mean^[28] of His most holy Mother; that pure, chaste, maiden that helpeth every sinner that calleth after grace when there is none other remedy.

Now farewell Body. Thou shalt to the Earth, and lie and rot, and worms eat thee; and I shall to pains long, or else eternal. Mercy, blessed Lady, that bare Christ Jesu, Our aller Redemptour: for in none other help I assure me.

The lamentable Lamentation of the Dying Body to the Soul

Alas, seely soul, the torments and pains of mine offences shall ye suffer. I am so sorry. There can no tongue tell the sorrow that I endure that have brought you in such bondage, peril, danger and adversity, without remedy; nor the high and mighty mercies of Almighty God, whose mercies cannot be had but by the mean of His Blessed Mother. And if she that is so chaste, so pure, and so holy, would abhor the abomination of our sins, what should we do? I have desired Faith, Hope, and Charity, to be mine advocates to her that bare Christ Jesu, and when I am answered again, such answer as I have I shall let you

wit.

How THE Dying Creature complaineth Him TO Faith, Hope, and Charity

O ye holy Faith, Hope, and Charity, where have ye been so long ? I have lived in great dread how ye have sped. Have ye been with the Queen of Heaven, Lady of the world, and Empress of hell ? That most glorious, pure, chaste virgin, that bare the Son of God that should redeem all mankind. How will her chaste and pure virginity receive me that am a sinner, and suffer me to come in her presence, and put a supplication to her most high, glorious, and excellent Prince, that have so grievously offended her blessed Son and her. Will she not abhor, nor disdain to look on me that am of all sinners the most horrible and abominable, and have so done that I cannot, without her most abundant grace, find a mean how to make aseth.^[29] But I have heard say of old antiquity that she is so merciful and so gracious to sinners [when they call after grace, and hath holpen so many sinners] that of right must have perished n'ere her grace had been. But what comfort ye have of her most abundant grace I pray you let me wit, for certainly I live in great despair. For here hath been with me, sith ye went, my Soul, and complained that he must perish eternally in my default,^[30] and crieth and waileth the time that ever he was coupled with thilk ungracious body, that so hath ruled him, and I can give him no comfort

without you three.

The answer of Faith, Hope, and Charity TO THE Dying Creature

We, Faith, Hope, and Charity, have done your message, and found that Princess full graciously disposed; and saith that she remembereth well how the glorious Trinity chose her of one assent to be mediatrix and mean between God and man. And that her great worship and joy was caused for our redemption, — which she cannot put in oblivion; and also the great sorrows, not one but many, that she had at her blessed Son's passion, and saw her blessed and well-beloved Child die so tormentously for the redemption of sinners, and He guiltless Himself in everything, but of His great and most ample grace, mercy, and charity that He showeth to all sinners. And so precious, so glorious, and so tender was never none as He was. For He was the very pure Godhead, medled with her pure, chaste, virginity and maidenhood; and in her precious body made His holy habitation nine months; and in her soul eternally. And when she understood the prophecy, of her great meekness desired that she might be one of those and simplest servant, to her that should bare the Son of God and Him that should redeem all mankind : and her great meekness thought herself not worthy to that most holy occupation.

And therefore be of good chere, for we three. Faith, Hope, and Charity, will bring you there, and not leave you till ye be answered. And sith ye have put your special trust in us to be your advocates, and laid apart all temporal and worldly trust, we three will not fail you. And therefore put your soul in comfort, and arm you with the armour of a sure and holy Confession, with a sorrowful Contrition, purposing to do very Satisfaction; and be out of doubt. We hope ye shall speed right well, if it be in your heart as ye speak with your mouth, — and else trust not to our friendship in no wise. But go and labour your supplication as effectually as ye can devise, and be out of all despair; for we. Faith, Hope, and Charity, will believe^[31] you for the trust that ye have had alway in us.

How The Dying Body calleth after the Soul Again

Where be ye, dear Soul, that here was with me but late, complaining that ye must to pain for a long while or else eternally, and in my default and without remedy ? I have been in such dread, sorrow, and fear for you that nothing could comfort me till Faith and Hope came to me and asked me if I were not acquainted with Charity. And I have answered them simply that I was never acquainted with him^ and that me repenteth sore now. But Faith and Hope have brought me with him, and I have lowly and humbly submitted myself to him, and meekly cried him mercy of my presumptious folly; promising that I will never offend him more, denying all such as be his enemies, and as he loveth not vengeance, hatred, and cruelty, and promised him faithfully that I will never deal with them more; and I hope^[32] he hath pardoned me. And (he) hath been in the company of Faith and Hope to the Mother of mercy for me, and brought me (a) right gracious answer again : That she cannot put in oblivion the great joy, worship, and comfort that she had of the Son of God for the redemption of us sinners, neither the maidenly and motherly compassion that she suffered for Him in the time of the most precious, painful, and bitter passion; and that I shall have^[33] hardiness to come to the presence of that most royal and imperial Princess, and put a supplication to her.

And therefore be of good cheer and suffer your pains patiently, for though it be long I hope it shall not be eternally. And good, dear Soul, while ye and I be together, or that we depart, purvey^[34] in your wisdom some remedy — what can be to your ease — and I will be agreeable thereto. For were we twain once divided and departed, few or none would have compassion on your pain. See ye not how the World loureth upon us now every day, and is ready to depart from us every day, for little thing or nought? And less would they do for us and we twain were departed. Therefore, dear Soul, the remedies that may be found through your wisdom I pray you find them, and I shall be right fain to execute them. For I am at this hour as sorry as it is possible any wretch to be, that have brought you in the peril and danger that ye be in, and as fain would be to do that (that) might ease you, and gladder than ever I was to do anything that hath hurt you.

How THE Dying Creature putteth his Supplication TO THE Mother of Mercy, Mary, replete WITH Grace: Princess of Ruth, Mercy, AND Pity, to whom all Sinners resorteth

WHEN they be SUCCOURLESS

Meekly beseecheth and sorrowfully complaineth your dreadful^[35] suppliant, that all my life long unto my last age have lived and not obeyed the comandments of Almighty God in nothing; but misruled myself and my life in all the seven deadly sins, and sinfully and simply have occupied [my five wits, and set aside all virtues and used and occupied] all vices, and served the devil, the world and the flesh, having very knowledge both of good and evil: and knew well that what pleased them displeased God, but I dreaded to displease them. And now hath been a servant-of-arms with me, and laid upon me the mace of his office cruelly, and hath commanded me to make me ready every hour; for I shall not wit when I shall be called to my judgment.

The certainty of death hath brought me into so grievous an infirmity that none earthly medicine can cure me. Mine enemies be great in multitude, and have environed^[36] me and all my defaults brought with them, and I wot well they will accuse me. My worldly friends have forsaken me. I have cried and called after them to answer for me; and they have answered me full straitly and unfriendly that they neither dare nor can, nor will answer for me, nor excuse me; and shortly they be departed from me. My Good Angel first, Reason, Dread, and Conscience and my Five Wits, hasteth them from me-ward, and leaveth me destitute and alone: and where to have succour I wot not, nor help. But as it fortuneth me in good time, may I say, I met with Faith, Hope, and Charity; and they have promised me that they will speak to your most excellent benign grace and mercy for me: and so I trust they have. For certainly of your most pure, chaste virginity, and un-wemmed^[37] maidenhead was I never in doubt, and I have hoped and trusted to your mercies always. I have heard say that ye be Mother of orphans, and I wis I am a very orphan, fatherless and motherless. Ye be comfort and succour to all those that be destitute, desolate and succourless. I wis Lady, that am I. For I have neither help, succour, nor comfort of no creature, but only the trust that I have in your benign grace. Ye be guide to them that be out of the way and seek the means to come to the right way. Ah, blessed Lady, I have been so long out of the right way that I sore dread and fear to call upon you for grace: but as Faith, Hope, and Charity have put me in comfort how loth ye be to sec your Son's precious passion lost in any creature, and they have given me hardiness to call upon your most noble and benign grace. And so Lady, with humble, sorrowful, and dreadful heart and mind, I beseech your most benign grace, mercy, and pity, to set me in the right way of salvation and make me one of the partners of your Blessed Son's precious passion, and of your maidenly and motherly compassions. And as ye became borrow^[38] for Mary Egyptian to your Blessed Son, so good Lady be my borrow, that I shall never from henceforth wilfully offend your Blessed Son or you, but sore repent that ever I have heard or did anything that hath displeased your Blessed Son or you; being in will never to return to sin and wretchedness again, but rather to die than wilfully to do anything that would displease my Lord Christ Jesu, or you.

Now Princess, excelling in might and worthiness all creatures, as in dignity; mine heart's Lady, my worldly chief Goods, pray your Son to have mercy upon me, sith in all my greatest mischief^[39] to your grace I fly. I can no further resort to find any consolation. And sith my hope and trust is only set in you, be my refuge now in this great tribulation, and cover my sinful Soul with the mantle of your mercies, and set your Son's precious passion between me and eternal damnation. Amen.

The Supplication of Our Lady to Our Lord Jesu HER Son for the Sick Creature

O Jesu, my Lord and God, and my most Blessed Son, in whom is all plenty of grace and of undoubted Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/212 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/213 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/214 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/215 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/216 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/217 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/218 Page:Bookofcraftofdyi00caxtiala.djvu/219

1. All words printed in capitals are written in red in the MS.
2. Additions in square brackets are from Wynkyn de Worde's printed version.
3. divided.
4. i.e. sureties.
5. de Worde, 'rehearsing.'
6. ye were not able to.
7. demeanour
8. i.e. given.
9. wisely
10. mediator
11. i.e. of us all.
12. i.e. exert myself
13. i.e. unprovided with.
14. i.e. given.
15. i.e. make me understand.
16. good Faith and Hope.
17. de Worde, 'Thyophyle and Sir Emery.
18. i.e. lest.
19. avenged
20. Here means 'poor,' " often used of the soul as in danger of divine judgment." O.E.D
21. except for.
22. i.e. frowned upon and complained of thee.
23. i.e. divide.
24. complain of thee.
25. de Worde, 'any'
26. de Worde, 'remembered.'
27. i.e. except
28. i.e. mediation.
29. satisfaction.
30. i.e. for my failure
31. de Worde, ' not leave you.'
32. i.e. trust
33. - i.e. must have.
34. foresee or provide.
35. i.e. full of dread.
36. de Worde, ' overcome.'
37. i.e. unstained.
38. i.e. pledge.
39. i.e. need.