¶ Here beginneth a matter speaking of a place that is namid the abbey of the holy ghost/ that shall be founded or grounded in a clean conscience/ in which abbey shall dwell xxix ladies ghostly.  
IN this abbey charity shall be Abbess wisdom Pryouresse. meekness suppryouresse. And these been in the Covent. poverty cleanness Temperance Soberness. Penance. Buxumnesse Confession rightwiseness predication Strength patience simpleness Mercy Largeness Reason pity meditation orison devotion contemplation chastity Aubylacyon Honest courtesy dread and jealousy. ¶ The father of heaven is founder of this abbey/ the son governor/ the holy ghost visitor. But though any abbey have never so good a founder/ governor/ & visytour/ but it have also good charters whereby it may hold his land/ rend & freedom. peradventure either by hap it shall be evil served or else suffer moche disease of enemies. Therefore I will rehearse the charters wherein I will say when/ where and of whom this abbey was first founded or grounded And then will I say how it was first made/ & afterward within short time destroyed/ & in what manner/ & how long time or it were made again as it was before. And how almighty god hath put his four daughters in this holy abbey against the four daughters of the fiend/ whom the holy ghost chased away for they were so fowl.  
¶ Sciant presents & futuri &c. Know they that been here & they that been to come that I almighty god in trinity/ father/ son/ & holy ghost have give & granted/ & with my word confirmed to Adam the fore father of man & to Eve his wife & to their heirs a little precious place that is called conscience that lieth in their soul's between a place that is called Sinderesis that stirred a man to goodness/ & grudgeth against evil in that other half. Whose end lieth fast by the grace of god/ through which every man may do well if he will. And that other end lieth in joy if the soul be clean out of sin. ¶ This holy place almighty god gave to Adam foresaid & to Eve and to their heirs/ cleanly dight without any wem. In the which god made a noble house of religion that is called the abbey of the holy ghost. In to which abbey he put many ghostly ladies/ that is to say/ good virtues. Wherein he made charity abbess/ & wisdom pryouresse/ & meekness suppryouresse. He walled this abbey about with strength that no wicked thought should have entered in that house if Adam & his wife had would themself. He gave them lordship of all the world to maintain this holy house so farforth that all the fishes in the see and all the birds of thayre and beasts of the earth should have been buxom to him & to his wife and to their heirs after them ever if Adam & his wife had kept them fro sin in to their ending day ¶ Habendun & tenendum &c. To have & to hold this foresaid place to the foresaid Adam and to Eve & to their heirs freely & in peace without let of any man ever. And therewith joy & bliss that never shall have end for the service & custom that longeth thereof to the chief lord of the fee. And that was no more than to withstand the temptation of the fiend and of his wife. And that lasted not of both not a mile way space. And almighty god should have warranted to Adam & to Eve & to their heirs that noble place/ to have dwelled evermore in more joy than any tongue may tell. ¶ Also that they ne her heirs should never have suffered woe/ ne should they never have died/ but when almighty god would he should have take him up in body & soul to the bliss of heaven/ there to have lived without end/ if Adam & his wife had kept them fro sin/ as I said one day to th'end ¶ Hijs teslibz etc. Of this beareth witness angel & man/ heaven & earth/ son & monesterres and all creatures. ¶ Datum apud paradysun etc. Yeven at paradise the first day that man was made. ¶ Anno regni etc. In the year of the regning of almighty god king of kings/ whose kingdom never began never shall have end.  
¶ Many men there be that would be in religion/ but they may not for diverse causes. Therefore they that may not be in bodily religion/ they may be in ghostly religion if they will/ that is founded in a place that is called conscience. But first the place must be cleansed with grace of the holy ghost Two maidens that be called Love & rightwiseness shall cast away fro conscience all manner of filth. Thenne shall meekness & poverty make the fundament thereof/ & put away all worldly thought that is though men have worldly goods set they not their love there upon/ & then may they well be called men poor in spirit/ to whom christ giveth his blessing.  
¶ This abbey must also be set upon a river/ that is the river of tears/ on which river was Mawdeleyne founded in sorrowing for her sins/ therefore the grace of god & heavenly riches came all to her will ¶ Thenne shall Buxunnesse & mercy rear up the walls in to height & make them strong with almsdeeds/ giving gladly to poor men after thy state is/ thus saith Thobi ¶ Si multum tibi fuerit habundanter tribue. si tibi sic exiguum. parum inꝑtire stude This is thus moche to mean. If thou be rich having plenty of worldly gods/ give plenteously thereof. If thou be poor be of good will to give gladly of such thing as thou hast For saint Poule saith. ¶ Hilaren datorem diligit deus. That is to say/ god loveth the glad giver Thus shall we build our house in heaven with the love of god & of our even christian ¶ Thenne shall patience & strength raise up all the pylars & undset them with botraces/ that no wind of words of anger ne of tempest of persecution/ ne of temptation may cast them down. ¶ Then we must make our cloister in this manner/ that shall keep us ghostly out of all worldly thoughts & sights/ that is keep we our eyen fro all evil sights our eeres fro evil hearing/ our mouth fro evil speaking/ fro swearing/ & fro dying/ & our hearts fro all evil thoughts. And if we keep thus this four corners/ we shall build well our cloister. ¶ A maid the height confession shall make our chapter house. predication the fraytour/ & orison the oratory. contemplation the dortour. And if these shallbe raised up to the worship of god/ they must stand out fro worldly noise/ fro worldly business & anger. ¶ contemplation is not else but a devout heart with a brenning love to god to taste somedeal of the bliss that is ordained for his chosen in heaven. ¶ pity shall be our farmer devotion cellerer/ & holy meditation shall be garnetour. When all these officers been made the holy ghost is warden/ with god father founder/ with god the son wisdom of the fad. The worthy lady charity shall be abbess of this house/ for all this other officers shall obey to charity. ¶ unde oina uran in caritate fiant. All thing that ye do/ say or think/ be they done in the love of god ¶ Alas if I durst say full many be in religion but few be religious that do the bidding of Paul to obey to charity/ therefore lose they much time & also their meed ¶ Now shall the worthy lady wisdom be our Pryouresse ¶ Nam prior omni est sapiencia. The good lady meekness that alway loveth herself shall be our suppryouresse. This abbey is of god blessed that hath these governors/ for all be blessed that hold them in their school. For they that keep charity wisdom & meekness/ the three persons in trinity shall give them heaven to meed. That soul is great & high in heaven that hath these three within herself. charity wisdom & meekness ¶ discretion shall be treasurer/ & orison shall be chanter ¶ Name oron sacrificium deo honi solacium diabolo tormentum. ¶ The fiend said to Bertilmew our lords apostle/ thy orisons burn me ¶ Saint bernard saith when we pray in good life/ our good angel danceth & maketh thereof a present to the fad of heaven/ & thenne our lord commandeth him to write them in the book of life. ¶ Saint Austen telleth the jubilation/ orisons fellow is a joy conceived in tears with a ghostly love that may not be showed in all/ ne hide in all As it doth by them that heartily love that give alms & continue in their prayers/ where so they been their hearts sing morning songs of love/ when they long inwardly with arms of love to clip with ghostly mouth to kiss/ they love sometime so heartily that they lack words so their love ravisheth their hearts that they wot not sometime what they do. ¶ devotion is Celerer that keepeth all the wines both white & red. That been all the worthy thankings the which we all own to do to god/ for the endless goodness that he hath done/ doth/ and will do to us if we will ourself. This goodness that he hath do was when we all should have been lost through sin of Adam & be in hell without end/ had not he of great goodness & pity become man for our sake/ living here many winters in great penance & passion/ & at the last naylled on a cross & with a spear tongue to the heart & deyed/ and all for love of us to bring us out of pain.  
¶ The goodness that he doth to us now/ is while we been here in body & in soul/ giving us all that we need both bodily and ghostly. Bodily/ as meet drink & clothing Ghostly/ as good thoughts/ good words/ & good deeds. And thereto to them that been good he granteth a shield of his grace & mind of his passion to keep them fro the fiend. And to them that been wicked & cumbered with sin he giveth space & time to torn therefro & to amend if they will. For thus he saith himself. ¶ Nolo mortem pctonris sed magis ut conuertat et vivat. This is to say. I will not the death of the sinful man but that he torn & live. And there to he granteth mercy & forgiveness if they will it ask. ¶ The goodness that he will do to us if we will dwell & abide still in his service/ that is in good virtues. In hearing seeing/ speaking/ going handling/ & in all other deeds working shall be to this. In time of death when body & soul shall depart atweyne & the devil appear in his own likeness before us to make us aghast/ & if he may to bring us in to misbelieve/ god would send his own angel & all our good deeds that ever we here wrought written to show us & comfort us/ & drive away the devil/ & lead our souls to bliss. The which bliss our lord granteth & giveth to all his chosen & true servant when he saith thus ¶ Venite bnndicti patris mei ꝑcipite regnum qd vobis ꝑatum est ab origine mundi. ¶ Penance shall be carver the right well can make many good meets/ suffering many bitter sorrows for sin to make the soul merry and glad with god that before was ●lenge/ for she had him offended. ¶ Temperance shall serve in the fraytour & look all about that measure be had over all that none have to moche ne to little/ neither of eating/ drinking/ ne of sleeping. ¶ Soberness must needs read at the board the life of holy faders/ what life they lived here in earth/ to take of them example to do as they died/ & thereby to win the meed that they have. ¶ pity must be the Pytauncer that doth that good that she may. ¶ Mercy must be almoner that giveth to all & no thing can hold to herself ¶ The lady dread Porter that keepeth the cloister of the heart that chaseth away all wicked vices & called in good virtues/ & closeth the gates of the cloister that none evil come not in to the heart/ the eyen/ the mouth/ the ears/ ne in to other places by the five wits ¶ Honest is mistress to teach novices courtesy how they shall have them in their deeds/ both to god and to man ¶ Curteysy is Hostlere to call in noble gift and simpleness shall be her fellow that she be not to liberal. ¶ Reason shall be Purueour that there be no default. ¶ bounty shallbe Fermerer the seek men to serve. Her fellow shall be Largeness to give everich that he needeth. ¶ meditation Garnetour for to gather corn together that men have their sustenance.  
¶ meditation is thought in god/ of his works/ of his words/ & of his creatures/ & of his pains that he loved us with. For oft a good thought is better than many Indevowte prayers. ¶ Thereof speaketh the holy bishop Denys & saith. When the heart is caught with the love of god/ he may not say the word that he thinketh in heart. The garner is above the cellar. So meditation over devotion meditation garnetour & devotion cellerer/ & pity shall be pytauncer.  
¶ Hereof speaketh the prophet David & saith ¶ A fructu frumenti vini & olei multiplicati sunt. Of fruit/ of wheat/ of wine & of oil been they multiplied God behoteth to his chosen these three things. Serve ye to me he saith & I shall give you plenty of wheat/ of wine/ & of oil. Plente of wheat is thus to think on the cross Inwardly & on christ Ihu that died thereon/ that is to say/ meditation. Plente of wine is well of tears for to weep well is good devotion. Plente of oil is good delectation in christ Ihesu/ that is our best comfort. Oil giveth savour to meets & light also to lamps. Right so when men beseech heartily god of mercy/ he sendeth them a ghostly joy. The oil of comfort & of mercy/ that is in meditation/ where to think on the cross of christ Ihu. And in devotion he giveth wine/ that is the well of tears of bitterness/ & after that wine of tears of sweetness. Our lord Ihu christ sendeth them the oil of comfort & of mercy that giveth the light of & showeth his heavenly brevities that he hideth fro men that been full of fleshly lusts/ that give them all to worldly wit in diverse degrees/ that which is right great folly ¶ For the apostle Poule saith. ¶ Sapiencia eiꝰmundi stulticia est apud deum. That is thus moche to say/ that the wisdom of this world is folly before god. Therefore me thinketh all those that purpose & travail to be hold wise in this world/ that is to gad riches to gad for great worship of themself here/ & for their lusty living/ more than for the worship of god/ to part thereof there as it needeth/ been right nice fools & great wretches/ as the apostle us teacheth And to them that be his true servants he giveth the light of love that they somedeal taast & feel how sweet he is & how good. But he giveth it not all fully for no man I trow might all fully it feel/ that for liking and joy his heart should to burst. For saint Austen doctor telleth example of an holy priest & saith thus/ that than when he heard any thing of god that it liked him to here he should be ravished so with joy that he should fall & lie still as he were deed And though any man in that time cast fire on his flesh he feeled it no more than he had be all deed. Whereof speaketh job & saith ¶ Abscondi lucem in manibz. That is to say god hideth light within his hands/ as he that hath a candle light between his two hands/ he may show it or hide whether he will. So doth our lord christ Ihesu to his chosey men/ his hands he openeth when he will and gladdeth them with heavenly light. And when he will he closeth his hands & withdraweth his comfort/ for he will not that they feel it fully/ but giveth them leave to taast/ & in party to feel how good he is/ how sweet he is/ as david saith in the psalter ¶ Gustate & videte qm suavis est dns. And if god said to us/ by this liking that thou hast in this short time of me/ thou mayst taast how sweet I am to my chosen in my bliss when they pass hens. And thus he doth to draw us fro lust of fleshly & worldly love to flamme our hearts with love longing to have that joy in body & soul with him without end.  
¶ A wise lady jealousy that is busy both night & day to do our lords will shall keep our Horolege to wake these ladies all & cause them swiftly to rise up to say our lords service. This horolege of contemplation is to god love longing that smiteth sooner than any other in the heart of Christ's lovers that feed their soul with good prayers/ & washeth with sweet tears/ & wipeth it with ghostly comfort/ as Solomon telleth & teacheth us. ¶ Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat. I sleep he saith my flesh to feed/ my heart is waking all in love & all to god longing. ¶ When this abbey was all well set & god therein served/ a tyrant came & with great power put in his four daughters/ that were all of shrewd manners/ the fiend fad of them all. The first daughter pride/ the other was envy/ the third false deeming/ the fourth fleshly lust. these four wenchiss by counsel of the devil their fad came to noye this abbey so night & day in soul the worse rest they have When charity saw this mischief & other ladies of the house they range anon their chapytour bell/ & took counsel of this thing. And then said discretion/ that they pray the holy ghost to come to help them with his grace. And thenne they kneeled down & sang. ¶ Veni creator spiritus. then as it is said before/ came our lord christ Ihu in to his mod & restored this house better than ever it was before. To him glory & worship that liveth without end.  
¶ Memorandun qd priᵒ die plasmacione etc. We may understand that there was a false tyrant apostata that is named Sathanas that some time was prior of the order of angels in the bliss of heaven/ that for pride ran out of his blissful order in to sorrowful horror of the pain of hell. He had so great envy to this abbey of the holy ghost that it was so well with god/ & had so great a lordship He bethought him how he might destroy that noble house/ & how he might do to make the noble convent of virtues to run out of their order/ as he ran out of his. He came in likeness of a adder to th'abbey gate to come in/ & the porter/ that was called dread was not there ready For without doubt if dread had be there the fiend had not come in. And Eve saw that he was there/ & as a great fool she let him come in. Thenne said the fiend to her/ why forbade god that ye should not eat of the fruit that groweth on the tree that standeth in mids of paradise/ thenne said Eve if we eat of it we shall die. Nay said he. God knoweth well if ye eat there of ye shall be as God's knowing good & evil/ buthe would that ye were not so wise/ & therefore he forbade ye should not eat of that fruit Eve heard she should be so wise/ was both covetous & lecherous/ & saw the fruits delicious to the mouth/ went to the tree and took & eat thereof and gave Adam that other deal and he eat thereof. And in the mean time that Adam & his wife eat of the fruit/ the false traitor which his three knights. That is is to say. Pride. covetise. & vainglory/ went in this abbey of the holy ghost & bare away all the good that there was/ & bore away the charter that god gave them to hold their place by. And therefore Adam ne his wife neither their heirs from that day unto this day had never right to challenge again lordship of the bliss of heaven/ but only by god's mercy. And not only these false thieves broke the abbey/ but also they bore away the gods/ that is/ they drove away dyspytousely out of the abbey all the noble covent of virtues. So that it was four M.u. C. & xxxiij year after that or they might come again all together as perfitly as they were before.  
¶ When Adam and his wife had eaten of the fruit they beheld each other/ & thenne perceived they first that they were both rob & naked & were ashamed of themself. And went and took leaves of fig trees to cover with their brevities/ for they had no other clothes Thenne went they forth to one that was thief beside that was namid wit/ and asked of him where that holy covent was become Thenne said wit that their abbey was destroyed & all the convent was run away for thy folly & for thy wives. For while thou & thy wife eat of the fruit/ the abbey was destroyed with four false thieves. Thenne all the covent broke their order & ran away/ & said as they went/ that they should no more come together again as they were first this iiij M. year & more. Then said Adam & his wife. Alas what shall we do/ we have no cloth to do on us/ ne house to dwell in/ & thereto the covent of holy virtues that were our best friends hath forsake us & been gone away So welawaye the hard while that ever we eat the fruit. Soon after they heard how god spoke to them as he went in the middle of paradise/ & they weren ashamed of themselves/ for they were naked. ¶ Also they were afeard of him/ and went under a tree to hide them God came by them & saw them/ and said. Adam where art thou Lord said Adam I heard thy voice in paradise/ and I was ashamed/ for I was naked/ therefore I hid me. Adam said our lord/ who told the that thou were naked. any thing else/ but for thou eat of the fruit against my forbidding. Adam said our lord/ who hath broke th'abbey of the holy ghost/ & who hath boar away all the good that there was. Where is th'abbess & her covent/ whether been they gone. Lord said Adam that woman that thou yavest to me in to my wife let in a false shrew at the abbey gates/ that bad her eat of that fruit/ & he said that she should be as wise as god And she took & eat thereof & gave me that other deal. And I would not displease her/ but eat thereof also. In the mean time that false chief with many of his assent went in to the abbey & broke it down/ beering away all the good that was therein and drove away all that noble covent. I wot not whether. Thenne said god to Eue. Why let thou in this false thief/ and why eat thou of the fruit/ then said Eue. Lord he came to me in likeness of an adder and beguiled me with false words/ & I let him in & died as he had Then said our lord to her. For thou let him in & died as he the bad/ & eatest of the fruit/ thou shalt bear thy children with great pain & all women that shall come after thee/ out take one. And if thou had not so done/ woman should not have had pain in bearing of children. And thereto thou shalt be ever vnd man's power. God thenne said to Adam. For thou eat of that fruit at thy wives bidding against my forbidding/ & for thou lettest the abbey of the holy ghost to be so foul destroyed/ & let th'abbess & her covent to run away fro their order & knowest not whether/ this shall be thy penance. Thou shalt be drive out of paradise in to the earth accursed for thy sin. Therein shall thou dwell with moche sorrow & woe all the days of thy life/ and the earth shall bring forth to the thorns & briars. And thou shalt eat grass that groweth on the earth. In business & sweet of thy face thou shalt eat thy breed till thou torn again unto the earth that thou came fro. For of the earth thou were made/ and to the earth thou shalt torn again.  
¶ After that our lord bade an angel to drive Adam & his wife out of the bliss of paradise in to the wretched world. He had him go & seek there the abbess of the abbey of the holy ghost. And said that neither he ne his wife ne none of their offspring should come again in to the bliss of paradise ne in to heaven/ till they have made again the ababye of the holy ghost as well as it was before. Also till they have brought again th'abbess with them and all the covent in as good point as they were or they went away. ¶ then made god to Adam a cote of leader/ & to Eve an other cote/ and put them out of paradise And thus they went forth in to this wretched world with moche sorrow and care/ & thereof was no wonder. ¶ They lived then in this world with moche woe & sorrow ix hundred years and xxx And sought the abbess & her covent that were soorenne away.  
¶ Also he would have had somewhat wherewith he might have made again that abbey of the holy ghost. And he might find thereof right nought in all that long tyme. And in the mean time he fell seek for sorrow thereof & died and his wife both And their souls went to hell. Not only they alone/ but all those that of them came by the space of four M. & vi C. years to hell they went each one. For so long was Adam in hell & that was for th'abbey of the holy ghost/ that was their conscience/ was not made again as fair ne as clean as it was before. ¶ Thus was Adam & his wife in hell many years in sorrow & care/ till almighty god had pity of their soul's/ & send down his own dear son/ & bade him go and seek the abbess of the abbey of the holy ghost & her covent. For he wist better where they were than Adam wist Thenne he came down in to this world & sought them here full busily xxxiij years. And at the last he found them hanging on the rood. And took them down & lad them with him unto hell & spoke with Adam & his wife. When Adam saw him come he was full glad and no wonder was. ¶ then christ gods son of heaven made again the abbey of the holy ghost better than ever it was/ & took out of hell Adam & his wife/ and lad them again home in to paradise. ¶ And there was moche joy made at their coming home. But how & in what manner christ found th'abbess & her covent/ here may we learn.  
AFter the time that Adam & his wife were departed from this transitory life and put in the prison of hell/ there came in to the world many wise & famous men as patriarchs and Prophets & other good men many that had much sorrow for the abbey of the holy ghost and for all the covent for they were so gone away/ they went about & sought after them in many syndre countries as long as they lived. But under them all they found them not. then among other men there came four good men. david. Solomon. Ysay. & jeremy/ that were about day and night to make this abbey again & to seek up the covent. And for they might not have their will/ they made moche sorrow & moon david said. ¶ Laboravi clamans rauce fact sunt fauces mee defecerunt ocli mei dum spero in deum meum I have so traveled & cried after them that my cheeks ache and been wax all hoores. ¶ Dne inclina celos tuos & descend. Therefore lord he said bow down thy heavens & come down & help me to seek the abbess & her covent/ for I may not find them ¶ then said Solomon ¶ Circuibo civitatem ꝑ vicos & plateas et queram quem diligit anima mea. I shall go about the city by ways & by streets & seek the abbess & her covent whom my heart loveth. I sought them/ but I found them not. I cried but none of them would answer with a word. Then I said morning thus/ torn again thou sweet wight & let us look on the. Thou hast wounded mine heart my fair sister my fair spouse thou hast woundid mine heart with the twinkling of thine eyen. I have sought by nights the covent whom my soul loveth. I have sought with all my might & I may not find them then said he to other maidens that dwelled there beside. I pray you specially ye maidens of jerusalem if ye find any thing where th'abbess is of th'abbey of the holy ghost & her covent/ that ye will tell them that I am seek for love longing after them Thus king Solomon made much moon/ & than he said thus Lord god send down out of thy holy heavens thy deer son that he may be with me & travail with me/ & help me to make again the abbey of the holy ghost in as good point as it should be. But for all that he could cry/ God's son came not yet then ¶ then went isaiah the prophet & sought th'abbess of her covent many days & long/ but he found them not. Then said he thus. ¶ utinam disrun peran celos et descenderes. that is to say would god lord that thou wouldest broke heavens & come down & help us to make again th'abbey of the holy ghost/ & find up the covent that is gone away. ¶ Then went jeremy the prophet & sought them also but he might not find them/ therefore made he a ruthful moon and said. ¶ We michi misere etc. Woe to me wretch he said that god hath increased more sorrow to my sorrow. I have travailed without any rest in sighing & sorrowing/ & I may not find that that I seek. Helas he said the fiend hath drive away the maidens in to the earth/ & defiled their kingdom. The maidens be passed away in to wretchedness. They heard me well how I sighed & made much moon but there was none of them that would me comfort with a word. Therefore I have so wept for sorrow that mine eyen be in point to fail. Who shall give me water to my heed/ & who shall give me a well of tears to mine eyen. And who shall weep for the maidens that be thus gone away both day & night Thou noble abbess he saith to whom may I liken thee/ to whom may I assemble thee/ thou daughter of Ihrlm the wise pryouresse to whom I liken that Thou maid & daughter of Zion thou holy covent he saith/ how may I comfort thee/ me think thy sorrow as great as the see/ thou noble covent who shall be thine help. I can not else say saith jeremy but the fairest flower of our garland is fall away. Alas alas & wellaway that ever we died sin ¶ When god almighty herd thus these prophets with many other good men to make moche moon with heavy cheer many hundred years for the destruction of the abbey of the holy ghost/ he had great pity of them that they farid so And that therefore man's soul was in prison & pain of hell/ & should have be there without end. He ordained a counsel of the holy trinity in the bliss of heaven/ of father/ son/ & holy ghost & said. We made man's soul to our likeness/ & took him to keep in his own conscience the abbey of the holy ghost. And he of his own proper folly let beer away out of that abbey all the good that there was/ & the abbess and her covent ran away out of her order. Therefore he was take & put in to the prison of hell/ and there hath be now. M. year and vi. C. & more/ & that is great pity. Therefore it were a good deed to make the abbess & her covent fair to come again in to her order & make again the abbey of the holy ghost as well as ever it was/ & to deliver man's soul out of the sorry prison. He hath be therein long time/ have we pity on him. He is as one of us made to our likeness. All the holy trinity granted it should be so/ but it was asked who should do the deed. It were need he were such one that were hold to do it/ & also that he might do it But no thing was behold to deliver man's soul but only man Ne no thing might deliver him but only god. Therefore he that should do that deed must be both god & man/ and so might no thing be but were one of the three persons of the trinity. Therefore they ordained that the second person that is almighty gods son should come in to this world & be borne of a maid & become man/ & make again the abbey of the holy ghost/ & die for love of man on the rood tree/ & so deliver man's soul fro the pain of hell. Thenne were there four daughters of almighty god/ which been Mercy truth rightwiseness & peace the which herd tell that man's soul should be delivered fro hell pain/ & came all four together before god almighty Then said Troth thus to her father almighty god/ lord she said thou hast loved ever well me that am thy daughter Troth. I pray the forsake my not. Thou said what time man eat of the fruit/ he should die & go to hell. Therefore if thou deliver man out fro thence/ thou destroyest me & that were no reason For god's troth lastith without end. Then said Mercy. ¶ O pater minarum etc. father of mercy & god of all comfort that comfortest all thing in anger & in woe/ have thou mercy on man's soul that lieth bound in hell/ and bring him in to bliss. For thou said thou wouldest keep mercy to him without end Therefore saith thou art true/ thou shalt have mercy on man's soul Then said rightwiseness. Nay nay/ it may not be so. ¶ Quia justus dns & iusticias dilexit. Lord she said thou art rightful/ & lovest rightwiseness/ there fore thou shalt not rightfully save man's soul. For it is right & reason that he have that he hath deserved/ for he hath forsake god that him forth brought & he hath forget his lord that made him of nought. Therefore it is reason that thou have of him neither pity ne mercy/ for thy rightwiseness shall last in to the worlds end ¶ Ten said Mercy to rightwiseness. Sister be thou still & say not so/ for it were not right thou knowest well that god should forsake me. For the mercy of god is above all his works/ & the mercy of god was without beginning & shall be without ending. Therefore if god forsook me/ he should forsake both my sister & thee/ that were neither right ne troth. Therefore she said to save us all three/ god shall have of man's soul both mercy & pity. ¶ Then said peace to her third sister. ¶ Pax dm exsuperat omne sensum. The peace of god passeth all manner wit Though it be so she said that truth say against skill why man's soul should not be saved/ & rightwiseness also an other. Nevertheless me thinketh that mercy saith best/ that man's soul should be saved. For as she soothe saith/ else god should forsake you all three both rightwiseness Mercy. & Troth. And I think that were great ruth. And not only he should forsake you three/ but also he should forsake me For as long as man's soul is so in hell/ there shallbe discord among you three For rightwiseness and Troth shall will to have him there still/ & Mercy shall will to have him out/ so that peace among you shall be forsake. Also if man were so still in hell/ there should be discord between god & man & between angel & man & between man & man/ so that peace should be forsake over all/ which were no proustyte. Therefore said peace do ye after my counsel/ & pray we god all to guider that is prince of peace that he will make peace & accord between you three/ between god & man/ between angel & man/ & between man & man/ & ordain such a way that he may keep us still all four sisters. ¶ All they thought that she said best. And all prayed god of heaven that he would so do. And then he said ¶ Ego cogito cogitaciones pacis et non affliccomes I think said god thoughts of peace and not of wickedness/ & I shall he said keep you still all four/ & shall save man's soul and bring him to bliss. ¶ Also he said I shall find up th'abbess of th'abbey of the holy ghost/ & make again the abbey & the covent all together better than ever it was before. ¶ When these sisters heard this/ they were glad & joyful ¶ Mīa et veritas obuiaverunt sibi justicia et pax osculate sunt. Mercy and troth met them together rightwiseness & peace been kissed and made at one. ¶ though anon almighty god the father send down his own son in to this world to become man for us/ & to seek th'abbess of th'abbey of the holy ghost & her holy covent/ that is to say. charity & other noble virtues. And the first day that he came he found a lady of that holy abbey that is called cleanness. For he was conceived without knowledging of any man thorough the virtue & the operation of the holy ghost/ and borne of a pure clean maiden and virgin that never was defiled with sin.  
¶ Thus cleanness he found when he was in his mods' womb being incarnate man by that pure virgin. ¶ And that noble lady he kept with him there xxxix weeks then was he borne of his mother in an old broken house at Bethleem towns end/ & laid on an asses mangeer on a little hay. And there he found an other lady of that abbey & that was poverty For his blessed mod had none other sheets for to wind him in/ but took a keverchyf of her heed/ & cut an old kertyl & made of it clouts/ & wound our blessed lord therein for cold. And laid him on a wyspe of hay before an ox & an ass. these two ladies poverty & cleanness he lad forth with him till he was twelve years old.  
¶ Then went he forth with joseph & his mother to Jerusalem to offer there in an Ester day. And when they had offered & were going home again/ our lord Ihu bode still at jerusalem three days/ & went in to the temple among masters of the law There he found other two ladies of the holy abbey/ that were. wisdom and rightwiseness.  
¶ When Mary & joseph were come home & wist not where Ihus was become/ they made moche sorrow for that sweet child/ & went again to Jerusalem to seek him. Then they found him in the temple sitting among doctors disputing of the law. Then said his mod to him. son what hast thou done/ thy father & I have sought the making for the moche sorrow. Then said Ihus. How is it that ye sought me/ wit ye not well that I must be busy about my fads needs. He send me in to this country to seek up th'abbess & the covent of th'abbey of the holy ghost. And therefore I went among the masters in to the temple/ & there found I two ladies of the covent. rightwiseness & wisdom/ and so he ●●●de more than all they Thenne went he home with joseph & his mother in to Nazareth/ & there he found an other lady that was called Buxunnes. For he that is highest lord was lowest of heart/ & in all thing buxom to his mother. ¶ Thenne went he forth xvij. years & an half/ & every day at his board he found other two ladies of that holy abbey/ & their names were temporance and Sobrenes. He lad them with him in to desert to seek more of her fellows. And there he found other two ladies/ that one height Penance & her fellow Strength. He found there penance enough for he fasted xl days & xl. night for love of man's soul without meet & drink/ & then he began to hunger. ¶ There came the fiend to him that came to Eve in paradise in to th'abbey of the holy ghost/ & would have overcome him in gluttony as he died her/ & lad him to an heap of stones/ and bad him if he were gods son he should make the stones loves/ & eat of them enough. Then found he there strength/ through which he withstood mightily the temptation of the fiend & said. Man liveth not only by breed/ but by every word of god's mouth. then bare the fiend him thence in to Jerusalem & set him on the pinnacle of the temple/ and would have overcome him with pride & vainglory. & said. If thou be gods son skip down & take none harm/ and all men shall praise thee/ and say that thou hast done a great mastery Then he withstood also his temptation with the virtue of that lady Strength/ and said Thou shalt not tempt thy lord god/ as who saith it is no need that I skip down I may go down well enough by another way. Then he lad him in to an high hill & showed him there all the richesse of the world/ & would have overcome him in covetise & said. I shall give that all the goods that thou seest/ if thou wilt kneel down & worship me. And there he withstood mightily with the lady strength/ & said Go thy way Sathanas and torn again to hell. Men shall worship almighty god & him only serve & no thing else. Then was the fiend ashamed of himself that he was so overcome with the lady Strength.  
¶ though went Jesus in to the land of Galyle/ and there he found other two ladies of that holy abbey/ one height shrift & that other Predycation For there preached christ first & said to the people of the country. ¶ Penitemini et confitemini et credite evangelio. shrive ye you & do ye penance & be ye of good believe the kingdom of heaven nigheth fast ¶ then went he forth to the see side/ & there he found Peter & Andrew his broad casting their nets in to the see to catch fish And christ said to them Come ye & follow me/ & I shall make you fishers of men. And they left their boat still in the see & went forth with christ So they went a little farther & found john & james his brother in an other boat drawing their nets with zebedee their father/ for they were fishers also. And christ bad them follow him/ & they left their father & all that they had in the boat & go with christ. ¶ On a day as they go by the way Peter said to christ. What shall we have of the that have forsake all that we had & follow the thus in poverty. then christ found an other lady of that holy abbey called Largeness. Forsooth christ said/ ye that have forsake all that ye had & follow me/ shall have an hundred fold so moche therefore/ & thereto life without end ¶ Thenne came he forth on a day fro the mount of olyvete in to the temple of jerlm to preach there/ & while he was preaching/ the Sarrasyns brought him a woman take in adultery/ & said to him. Lo master this woman is now take in a spousebreche/ what shall we now do with her Moses biddeth in our law that we should stone such to death. christ knew their falsehood that they died it to tempt him stooped down & wrote on the ground with his finger all their sins/ so that each of them might see how sinful other was And then he said to them thus. Sith it is so that by your laws this woman shallbe stoned to death/ then which of you all that is without sin/ caste he on her the first stone. then all they were ashamed of themselves & went out at the door each after other/ & let christ stand alone with the woman. Then came two ladies to him of the abbey of the holy ghost/ that were Mercy & pity. Then said christ to that woman. Woman where been thine enemies. Hath any man condemned the to death. Lord she said no man/ & I will not said our lord condemn the. Far well he said & be in will no more to do sin. Here was great mercy & pity/ for the greatest trespass that she died was against himself.  
¶ afterward on a day the Sarrasyns send their disciples to Cryst to have take him in words. They asked him if they might by god's law give tribute to th'emperor. christ knew their malice well/ & said. Ye ypocryt what need is it to tempt me. let me see a penny of your money/ & they showed him one. Thenne said Cryst/ whose coin is this/ they said th emperours. Thenne found christ a lady of the covent/ that was called Reason/ & said. give ye to th'emperor that longeth to him/ & to god that longeth to him & that is reason.  
¶ One day there as christ went by the way by himself/ he remembered him on man's soul & on the abbey of the holy ghost/ & then he found an other lady of the same house/ that men call jealousy then took he his disciples privily & went toward jerlm & said to them thus. I have all these xxxij. years & more be about to help man's soul/ & to keep up the abbess & the covent that went out of th'abbey of the holy ghost/ & I have found of them xvi And now I will go to jerlm & be bound/ beaten/ hangen & draw/ & I shall die for love of man's soul/ to find up the other deal of the holy covent This was a great jealousy & a great love ¶ Then went they forth to Jerusalem to gather/ & on a time as they were at their souper together Cryst found two ladies of that abbey/ that men call courtesy & Honest For Cryst fed there at supper his disciples with his own flesh and blood. When he had so done he wish their feet & wiped them. At this office were four ladies. Curteysy & Buxunnes. Honest & meekness.  
¶ afterward he went with his disciples in to a little town that hight Gethsemany/ & there he took three of his men. Peter. james. & john/ & bade all the other abide there still till they came again As they went our lord began to quake & dread/ & then he said to them. Here I have found an other lady of the holy covent/ that is called dread I have he said full moche dread again that I shall die. sit ye down he said & wake ye/ and bid your beads till I come again to you then went he forth fro them as far as it were a stones caste/ & there he found other two ladies. meditation & orison ¶ He bethought him on man's soul that it should be lost without end but if he died therefore/ & how he should die/ & so be hard naylid to the road tree/ & he was in a great agony/ as no word was. And for dread of death he sweat drops of blood that fell down in the ground as drops fall fro an house eaves after rain Then prayed he to his fad & said. Fad if it may be let me not die thus dyspytously/ nevertheless he said thy will be done & not mine. Then came he again to his disciples & found them sleeping/ & then he said to Peter. Mayst thou not one hour wake with me. Wake ye he said & pray that ye fall not in to temptation Then went he again and found orison & her sister devotion/ & said. My father sith it may none other be but that I must needs suffer death/ be it as thou will. Then came he again to his disciples & found them sleeping as he died before. He went again the third time/ & prayed as he died first & found other ladies of the holy abbey contemplation dalliance & jubilation. Then came an angel fro heaven to comfort him/ & told how man's soul or the third day should be delivered out of hell/ & how by that time he should find up all the covent of the abbey of the holy ghost & all their place made up again better than ever it was. Then was he merry and glad in his soul though he were kindly by his manhood aghast of his death. ¶ Then came he again to his disciples & bade them rise up and go with him. And as they walked a little faith/ they saw there moche folk coming with lanterns & drawn swords & staves to take our lord. judas Scaryoth went before them all/ and came to christ & kissed him. And christ said to him. judas friend shalt thou betray gods son with a cross. ¶ Thenne the jews took christ & bound him as a thief full hard and sore. There he found an other lady of that same house/ and she was named patience. ¶ Peter saw that/ & out with a sword and smote of a boys ear/ that was one of the bishops men Thenne said christ to Peter. Put up thy sword again. Trowest thou not that I might pray my father if I would/ & he might send me more than twelve legions of angels. All this he said I will suffer with good will for love of man's soul.  
¶ Thenne the false Iewes lad forth Ihu christ to Cayphas the bishop His disciples saw that/ & ran away for dread everichone/ & left him there alone. ¶ Then came many shrews and made plaint to the bishop on our lord. Thenne said Cayphas to our lord. What sayest thou to these complaint & trespasses that these men show against the ¶ christ found there an other lady that is called simpleness. For he answered not to him with one word. ¶ Thenne the bishop asked him where he had preached/ & what he had taught and said. Then said christ. What demandest thou me. inquire of them that heard me preach what I said to them. though took the jews our lord Ihu & put of his clothes and bound him to a pylar of stone. And made scourges with knots of lead & sharp pricks in th'ends/ and with them beat his precious body till it ran all on blood. Then they died on him a straight silken cloth/ & that cleaved fast to the flesh when the blood was dry. Then they set a garland on his heed of long & sharp thorns/ & beat it hard down with staves for they would not prick their fingers. And took him a reed in his hand/ and kneeled down & said in scorn. Hail king of jews. When they had so done they strypte of that cote of silk/ & for it cleaved fast to the body/ they drew away therewith moche of the skin and flesh also. When they saw that/ the shrews were well pleased/ & bleared on him and spit on him And there found christ an other lady of the abbey that height meekness. ¶ though the false jews made christ to bear his own cross on his back toward the mount of Calvary/ till he was in point to fall down for feblynesse When they saw that/ they would not that he died till he had be hanged for great malice & hate that they had to him. They made an other man to bear the cross till they came to the place where Cry should be nailed on. And ever as he went the good lady meekness went with him Trow ye not that his mother had then moche sorrow when she saw her son go so toward his death. Forsooth it was a piteous sight/ who that had it seen. ¶ When they came to Calvary they cast down there the cross & laid our lord along thereon/ & made marks & holes where his hands and feet were nailed to. Thenne they took a blunt rough ragged nail & drove with an hammer through his hand to the cross. And for anguish thereof all his body drew there toward/ they would have nailed that other hand to the cross/ & it was to short to the hole that they had made by half a foot & more/ & yet would they make no new holes/ but took ropes & tied to his hand & drew it till it was meet to the hole. And in the drawing all the joints of his arms brake asunder When they would have nailed his feet to the cross all his body was so shrunk up together for pain that it was to short for the hole that they had made by a large foot. Thenne took they ropes & tied to his feet/ & drew him down hard & lore till they were meet therefore/ they broke in that drawing all the joints of his lyndes & knees & of his feet also. Then they took such an other ragged rough nail and drove it through both his feet with an hamour at once in to the hard tree/ & while he was thus nailed on the cross/ came many ladies of the holy abbey poverty. Buxunnes. Penance simpleness. patience. & meekness/ to see how he died. Thenne said christ to them/ if ye had your abbess/ thenne had ye everichone. ¶ When the jews had nailed him on the cross/ as men do cloth on a teyntour/ they lift up the cross fro the ground to set it fast in the morteys that was made for the same purpose. And in their great envious malice the cursed jews life it up as high as they might with strength of men & let it fall down suddenly in to the mortise. In the falling all the sinews of his body/ all the veins/ & all the joints broke every one. I trow there was penance enough.  
¶ The lady poverty was there all ready/ for he hanged all naked as he was born of his mother on the cross for man's soul. And while he hangid there with his bloody wounds all to hurled & all to rent. He found the abbess of the abbey of the holy ghost that is called charity/ the which said. ¶ Maiorem caritatem nemo hent quam ut Eccliam svam ponat quis ꝓ amicis suis. Moore love & charity may no man have than to give his life for his friends/ as Cryst died for man's soul. ¶ When christ had found the holy abbess charity & all her covent he was full glad in his heart/ all though he felt moche woe of bodily pain withoutforth. Thenne asked he a drink to make with all these ladies merry. And welcomed them & said (Scicio) I thirst then the false jews made to him a drink of eisell & gall tempered together with myrrh/ & put it to his mouth upon a sponge. When our lord had smellid the taste thereof he would no more thereof but he said thus. ¶ Consummatum est. That is to say. I have done all my fads message that he bade me do on earth. For I have found up the abbess & all the covent of the abbey of the holy ghost/ & made again th'abbey better than ever it was. Now he said I will go to Adam & to my friends & deliver them out of hell/ & lead them again to the bliss of paradise that never shall cease.  
¶ When he had said thus he gave up the ghost and died in flesh hanging on the cross all to rushed & all to rend/ so uneath any limb hinge by other between two thieves for great love that he had to save man's soul Thenne ghostly in his godhead he went down to hell & took out Adam & Eue. Abel & Seth/ & other. No Abraham/ jacob & Ysaac joseph. Moses'/ & king david. patriarchs and prophets/ & all his friends he took with him/ & lad them with th'abbess & the covent of the holy ghost to the bliss of heaven And there almighty god ordained that his four daughters Mercy and Troth rightwiseness and peace should dwell in th'abbey of the holy ghost. And then he commanded himself/ that Mercy & Troth should be Charytees chapeleyns & go about with her whither that she went. He bade also that rightwiseness should be with wisdom/ for she was pryouresse & peace with meekness that was suppryouresse. He ordained that these three ladies should have their chapeleyns/ for they were most of worship. ¶ Then he said/ he that will keep fair & well these holy virtues/ he shall find in this world by holy meditation/ by good conversation/ by noble contemplation moche joy & mirth both in body & soul. And afterward when he is deed/ he shall have to his meed the kingdom of heaven/ that is to lay more joy & bliss than any eye may see/ or ear here/ or tongue tell/ or heart think. almighty god for his great mercy give us grace & succour to keep fair & well this abbey/ that is our conscience/ & all the hole covent/ that is to lay good virtues/ in thought/ in word/ & in deed/ that we may come to the bliss that god bought us to. Amen.  
¶ Now friends & brethren in christ Ihu that covet crystenly to live in Christ's religion Keep ye well your abbess charity in heart/ and all these other noble virtues before rehearsed. And if it so befall the any limb of the devil bodily or ghostly be about to take from you this lady charity/ ring ye your chapter bell of your in wit. And call ye to your counsel Reason & discretion. patience & peace. And go ye forth to orison/ & cry ye in soul to the holy ghost And inwardly pray him that he come & defend charity. That he through his gracious help keep you fro evil chance And he that made us all with bliss us advance. Amen.   

¶ imprinted at Westmestre by winken de word.