Anonymous

“ 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. ”

“ 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? ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 ”