¹ Keep the Rule of the Lord; therein you run no risk. It is better that you transgress it not, so long as your life lasts.

² This is the essence of the Rule: love Christ, hate wealth; devotion in you towards the King of the sun and gentleness towards men.

³ Continuance in penitence — wonderful the road — keenness, persistence therein; heed of death every day; good will to every man.

^3a [In another manuscript]: A hundred prostrations to Him at the Beati morning and evening; if it be accomplished, the reward he will have for it in the Kingdom of Heaven will not be paltry.

^3b Every morning at the time let him bow down promptly three times. Over his breast, over his face, let him put the sign of Christ’s cross.

⁴ Aim not at a […] devotion. Eat your due portion of food. The short gross devotion — it is the Devil who has devised it.

⁵ Make not a fire of fern; then its extinction is near. Be not a sedge against a stream, that your devotion may be lasting.

⁶ If the battles overtake you, it is better for you that you should not be slack: a battle against many vices, a battle against the body, a battle against the Devil.

⁷ These are your three rules — have you nothing else dearer — patience, humility, and the love of the Lord in your heart.

⁸ Through fear is the love of the King who heals every misery. It is from love of Him that His will and His commandment are kept.

⁹ Love of God […] the earth fetters thoughts speedily. Fear has power over repentance. Love determines piety.

¹⁰ Whether in fear or in hurt, let us pray to Christ that we may escape. The manner of the penance our patron shall determine.

¹¹ The eight chiefs of the vices which slay the soul of every man — I know virtues which extinguish them all.

¹² This is the virtue which works long consolation: that in every desire which you desire you should exercise patience.

^12a [In another manuscript]: My own soul said to my […] body, if it might be moved upon this earth after being for a time in blasphemy.

¹³ To sing the three fifties [the psalter] from tierce to tierce, if it be possible, by the ordinances of the ancients — there will be a day that it will be a help.

^13a [Addition]: Three hundred prostrations every day, and three at every canonical hour — your soul will not be at the judgement of the King on the Day of Doom.

^13b [In another manuscript]: Two hundred prostrations every day to the Lord with a diligent booklet — they shall be performed without any defect always, save on the Lord’s day.

^13c Two hundred blows on the hands in every Lent — it will be a help. From every pride of which they are guilty they ward off every guilt upon them.

¹⁴ Light, wonderful and mild is the yoke of the Lord. It is good to go to a devout sage to direct your path.

¹⁵ It is good to have a devout sage to guide you, to avoid punishment. Though you deem your firmness great, be not under your own guidance.

¹⁶ It is better for you to avoid those whom you may expect to slay you: a fool pious but ignorant; a sage impenitent […].

^16a Practise the liberty of the elders. Be not foolish like […]. Before afterwards, in every place, to be in obedience to Jesus will be better.

^16b Practise deliverance from captivity for God’s folk — it is no shame — that you may not unawares play “I alone, you alone” before the Devil.

¹⁷ Though great injuries come to you, lament not thereat; because they are not more abundant than those of the King who sends them.

¹⁸ Though you deem the guests many, if you render them their service due, beg of the King with whom you are; buy nothing for them.

¹⁹ Go not yourself to solicit; let no one go from you to beg. Remain at home in prayer; ever endure your poverty.

²⁰ Be not hard and miserly. Be not deaf to prayer to you. Refuse not, solicit not. Love not a man’s wealth.

²¹ You shall not sell, you shall not buy God’s mercy, you shall not hide it. What you earn over and above your sufficiency, you shall give to the poor.

²² Be not given to buying and trafficking. Let your piety to Christ be great. Beg not of a king in Ireland, if you be a vassal of Mary’s Son.

²³ Repentance with sluggishness after being in great sin — small is its reward in heaven; its trial in fire will be great.

²⁴ If there should be anyone who should take the path of repentance, advance a step every day; practise not the ways of a charioteer.

²⁵ If you should part from the world, you have taken the path of sufferings. Flee from it, look not — as though it were a pursuit wherewith you were pursued.

²⁶ If you should have a son or household whom you have resolved to part from, you shall not seek them, you shall not think of them, as though you were in the earth.

²⁷ If you practise repentance, if your heart is meek, this way is straight to the King of the Kingdom of Heaven.

^27a [In another manuscript]: A hundred blows on your hands in every Lent — it will be a help. For every pride they have practised, miss not a single time.

²⁸ If it is your desire that your soul be as white as the swan, no other can strive after anything for your soul in your stead.

^28a [In another manuscript]: If you are a shepherd to church-tenants, it is fitting that you compassionate them and love them […].

^28b If tenant-service come to you, if your frequent trial be pleasant, preserve you three words till you are carried to your graveyard.

^28c These are your three words — it is neither shorter nor longer — “ar co fuin imon daire” you shall say every day.

²⁹ This is the Rule of the Lord. You may prove it. No imperfect one understands how to be under the rule of Him who keeps it.