Blanquerna

OF ACCUSATION

By Eaftertide Blanquerna had ended his expositions, and so great was the labour which his ftudies had caused him that the Abbot and the Cellarer took him to visit the farms of th; monaftery, to the end that he might have some bodily recreation. The Abbot and the Cellarer prepared salted fish and sauces and other things to take with them. Blan¬ querna reproved them, saying that to carry such things upon a journey is contrary to hope and poverty, and that therefore it behoved them to go upon their journey with virtues only and to leave behind them such things as are contrary to a life of penitence and in accordance with the aftive life. Many things did Blanquerna cause the Abbot and the Cellarer to leave behind them which they had desired to take, but the Cellarer disputed greatly with Blanquerna, especially concerning the coverlets and cushions and the cups and jugs which Blanquerna had discarded from their baggage.*

OF ACCUSATION

2. As Blanquerna journeyed along the road with the Abbot and the Cellarer, they met a Bishop who also was taking recreation, and with him went one of his nephews whom he greatly loved, together with a great multitude of his companions who were hunting and carried with them hawks, falcons and sparrow-hawks, together with dogs of divers kinds. The Bishop invited the Abbot and his com¬ panions to accompany them, and they went into the city on that day, and dined with the Bishop. At table there were divers meats prepared in many ways : golden cups, jugs and basins of silver were on the table. Great was the company of people who daily dined in the palace. After grace, when they had risen from the table, came jefters1 with divers instruments, who sang and danced, speaking words of a nature very contrary to those prayers which had been said at table. “ My lord 1 ” said Blanquerna to the Bishop. “ Here are jefters who hold themselves bound to do thee pleasure, because thou haft given them to eat. I too have dined with thee, and if it please thee I would fain be as one of thy jefters and speak to thee certain words.” It pleased the Bishop and all the company that Blanquerna should speak to them and say his words.

3. So Blanquerna rose and reproved the Bishop ftraitly for the superfluity of meats and the garments and the numerous trains of those that were present, and the orna¬ ments of the table, and above all things he reproved the Bishop because he gave ear to jefters who were enemies of the honour of Jesus Chrift, through Whom the Bishop himself was so greatly honoured and Who had created so many creatures to give him pleasure. Blanquerna bore on his person a crucifix, which he showed to the Bishop and to all the company, saying these words : “ Jesus Chrift has died, and dead is devotion. In the honour of Jesus Chrift are created prelacies and canonries and prebendaryships :

light on their accomplishments.

BLANQUERNA

but who is he that does to Jesus Chrift due honour?" Blanquerna wept, and great was the shame of the Bishop and of all the reft, and the Abbot and the Cellarer were greatly displeased with Blanquerna for that he reproved the Bishop so ftraitly.

4. The Abbot and his companions came to a monaftery, wherein they ftayed; and there they found a worthy preacher who ruled and governed the monaftery ; and all the people of that diftrift honoured and loved the mon¬ aftery because of that friar. Right well were the Abbot and Blanquerna and the Cellarer welcomed on that night. The Cellarer spake that same night with the friar who preached so well, and counselled him to leave that Order and to come to their monaftery and join their Order. When the Abbot and Blanquerna had left the monaftery, the Cellarer related how he had endeavoured to persuade that friar to come and take their habit. Blanquerna reproved the Cellarer ftraitly, saying these words: “ Envy, lack of charity, pride, avarice and wrong are in our company. These brothers with whom we have lodged in the night that is paft have received us with right good cheer and with courtesy, and we have seduced and enticed from them an honoured brother who is of their number. For this sin it behoves that accusation be made in chapter, to the end that it be punished.”

5- At vesper time they came to a monaftery that was greatly honoured, and lodged there. While the Abbot and Blanquerna spake with the friars, who showed them the monaftery, the Cellarer spake with a friar of that monaftery, saying that the chapel and the dormitory and the chapterhouse and the other parts of his own monaftery were greater and fairer than the chapel and the reft of the build¬ ings of that house. When they had ftriven concerning the buildings and the offices they discussed also the two Orders, and each of them praised his own Order and spake ill of the^other. And Blanquerna kept the words of the Cellarer

OF ACCUSATION in his memory, that he might make accusation concerning them in chapter.

6. As they went along the road, the Abbot and Blanquerna and the Cellarer passed by a goodly spot, wherein was abundant water, with fields and vineyards and trees and pastures. That place was the property of a rich burgess. The Cellarer said to the Abbot that whensoever he passed by that place he coveted it for their abbey, for it would make them a right noble farm. The Abbot enquired of the Cellarer if the Treasurer had money sufficient to buy it. The Cellarer answered that the money which the Treasurer had was needed to pay the debts which they owed by reason of a caStle which they had bought; but that when these debts were paid they ought to colleSt sufficient money to buy this place, and abstain greatly in their meat that they might the sooner buy it ; and that they had made like abstinence when they had bought the caStle. Blanquerna kept these words in his heart* and said that envy, avarice and wrong had not yet gone from their company, wherefore he spake these words : “ Alas 1 How great is the error of this world, for the religious is not kept from sin by his habit but by juSticc and charity. To eat beans, to drink Stale and sour wine, to wear long garments and double cowls, to use Stirrups of wood, to rise for matins, how is it that these things aid not justice and charity that they may company with us ? ” Blanquerna begged of the Abbot that they should return to the monastery, for his soul was in great travail, and he desired greatly to have recreation according as was agreed between them, and to have the company of his brethren, and solace in speaking with them words of God.

7. When the Abbot and Blanquerna and the Cellarer had returned to the monastery, and were in chapter, Blan¬ querna accused the Abbot and the Cellarer of the great dis¬ play which they had made when they left the monastery ;

BLANQUERNA

and he said that a man who belongs to a religious order should delight in want and in the lack of certain things upon a journey; for such want is an occasion to him of hope, patience, penitence, poverty and humility, and is a good example to countrymen and to other persons whom he may meet upon his journey.

8. The Abbot and the Cellarer accused Blanquerna for that he had so Straitly reproved the Bishop who had invited them to dine; but Blanquerna excused himself, saying these words: “ Love, truth, justice and virtue moved me to reproach the Bishop, and this cannot do me harm, in the life either of the body or of the spirit. If I had shame of my reproof of him, where would be the virtues aforesaid ? If I had shame and fear to speak, I should delight in keep¬ ing silence concerning the dishonour and wrong which has been done to my Lord and Creator and Saviour. To love and to die remembering ChriSt and His works, these things accord one with the other and are opposed to eating and living in forgetfulness of the honour and the gratitude which it behoves us to render to God.”

9. Blanquerna excused himself well, for the right was his; and afterwards he accused the Cellarer who wished to entice the good preacher from the friars who had given them so honourable a welcome. Many reasons, both Strong and true, did Blanquerna allege to prove that wrong, false¬ ness, villainy and covetousness are in those who would persuade friars to leave one house for another; for it is againSt the law of community that a friar shall take another from an Order, and according to the vice of ownership may this fault be accused and punished.

xo. That a man should praise his Order is permitted, and contrary to irregularity of orders; but to praise one Order above another is to speak ill concerning an Order and is contrary to the law of community and to the charity, justice, fraternity and unity of God. To have envy of towns, cables and farms is to sin through avarice and the vice

OF ACCUSATION

of ownership. To contrail debt and to take loans in order to have riches and many farms,1 is to make companionship and alliance between the religious and the worldly man, and signifies the servitude of the religious to the worldly man, and is a sin againfl the poverty of the monastery and the alms which are given therein to the poor. That a monastery should contrail debt because it has lack of food, which has failed because of peflilence or want of rain or other natural cause, is a thing that may be permitted. Blanquerna said that he accused the Cellarer of all these things aforesaid, and he desired that in his presence there should be given to him the discipline.

1 1. So the Cellarer was condemned to suffer discipline: a monk brought many rods which were bound together, and prepared to give discipline to the Cellarer ; but Blan¬ querna unbound the rods, and said that the use of many rods in giving discipline signifies vainglory, and causes harm to the person to whom it is given, and gives a feeling of suffering less severe than that which was given by one rod alone. Wherefore the Cellarer was beaten with one rod only, whereby he had greater suffering than he would have received from all the other rods. And the rule was made that discipline should ever be given with one rod only, upon the naked flesh.

12. Greatly was the Cellarer confounded, and great shame had he, and he excused himself concerning certain things, saying these words: “ The argument whereby I am accused of envy and covetousness is contrary to jufticc and charity which move me to desire that the monastery should possess many towns and caflles and farms, to the end that in this monaflery there may be gathered many monks, and great alms may be made herein.” Blanquerna answered : “ Jesus Chrisl might have had in this world the com¬ panionship of many princes had He wished; but in token of humility and poverty He was pleased to elefl the com-

The reference coarse, monastre, and not to the. ^

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panionship of few men, to deStroy pride and vainglory. Wherefore is it a better thing to desire the holiness of a few men, than to gather together a multitude of men in whom is error and sin. Saint Sophia did greater alms in building the church in Constantinople than did the Emperor; for more pleasing to God was the mite which she gave day by day to the work, than were all the remain¬ ing gifts which were given by the Emperor, and by the which that church was built and completed ; and as thou haft excused thyself againSl juStice, repentance and con¬ trition, it behoves that thou shouldSt again make satisfaftion through discipline.” So the Cellarer was beaten again, because according to juStice his excuse was of none avail.