The Hengwrt ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 593]

¶ Here bigynneth / the Persons tale.

[Hengwrt MS, leaf 236.]

[There are no paragraph-breaks in the MS, but Tyrwhitt's are kept in the print for convenience sake. The sidenotes are all in a later hand.]

Ieremie. 6^o. ‖ State super vias / & videte & interrogate de semitis antiquis / que sit via bona / & ambulate in ea / & inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris, &c

[75] Ovre swete lord / god of heuene / that no man wole perisse / but wole þat we comen alle to the knoweliche of hym / and to the blisful lyf / þat is perdurable / [76] amonesteth vs / by the prophete Ieromie / that seith in this wise [77] Stondeth vp on the weyes / and seeth / and axeth of olde pathes / that is to seyn / of olde sentences / which is the goode wey / [78] and walketh in that wey / and ye shal fynde refresshynge for youre soules &c [79] ¶ Manye been / the weyes espirituels / that leden folk / to oure lord Ihu crist and to the regne of glorie / [80] of whiche weyes / ther is a ful noble wey and a ful couenable / which may nat faile / to man ne to womman / þat thurgh synne hath mysgoon / fro the righte wey of Ierusalem celestial / [81] and this wey / is clepid Penitence / of which / men sholde gladly herknen and enquere with al his herte / [82] to wite / what is peni|tence / and whennes / it is clepid penitence / and in how manye maneres / been the accions / or werkynges of penitence/ [83] and how manye spices / ther ben of penitences / and whiche thynges / apertenen & bihouen to penitence / whiche thynges / destourben penitence.

[6-text p 594]

[84] ¶ Seint Ambrose seith ‖ that penitence / is the pleynynge of man / for the gilt þat he hath doon / and na|moore to doon any thyng for which hym oghte to pleyne [85] ¶ And som doctour seith ‖ Penitence / is þe wayment|ynge of man / þat sorweth for his synne / and pyneth hym self / for he hath mysdoon ‖ [86] Penitence / with certeyne circumstances / is verray repentance of a man / þat halt hym self in sorwe / & oother peyne for hise giltes / [87] and for he shal be verray penitent he shal first biwailen / the synnes / þat he hath doon / and stedefastly purposen in his herte / to haue shrift of mouthe / and to doon satisfaccion / [88] and neuere to doon thyng for which hym oghte moore to biwaile / or to compleyne / and to con|tinue in goode werkes / or ellis / his repentance may nat auayle [89] [folio 236b] ffor as seith Seint Isydre ‖ He is a Iapere / and a gabbere / and no verray repentant þat eft soone dooth thyng for which hym oghte repente ‖ [90] Wepynge / and nat for to stynte to do synne / may nat auaile ‖ [91] But nathelees men shal hope / þat at euery tyme þat man falleth / be it neuer so ofte / þat he may arise þurgh peni|tence / if he haue grace / but certeynly / it is greet dowte / [92] for as seith Seint Gregorie ‖ Vnnethe [vix] ariseth he out of his synne / that is charged / with the charge of yuel vsage / [93] and ther fore / repentant folk/ þat stynte for to synne / & forlete synne / er þat synne forlete hem / holy chirche / halt hem siker of hire sauacion / [94] and he þat synneth / & verraily repenteth hym in his laste / holy chirche / yet hopeth his sauacion by the grete mercy of oure lord Ihu crist for his repentance / but taak the siker [tene] wey [certum] /

[95] And now / sith þat I haue declared yow / what thyng is penitence / now shul ye vnderstonde / þat ther been .iij. acciouns of penitence / [96] ¶ The firste [[iij. A]cciouns of penitence:] is / þat if a man be baptised / after þat he hath synned ‖ [97] Seint Augustyn seith / but he be penitent / for his olde synful lyf / he may nat bigynne / the newe

[6-text p 595] clene lyf / [98] for certes / if he be baptised with oute penitence of his olde gilt / he receyueth the mark of baptesme / but nat the grace / ne the remission of hise synnes / til he haue repentance verray [99] ¶ Another defaute is this / that men doon deedly synne / after þat they han receyued baptesme / [100] ¶ The thridde defaute is ‖ that men fallen in venyal Synnes after hire baptesme / fro day to day ‖ [101] ther of seith seint Augustyn ‖ That penitence / of goode and of humble folk. is the penitence of euery day.

[102] ¶ The speces [species] of penance / been .iij. ‖ that oon [[iij. Sp]eces of penaunce:] of hem / is solempne ‖ Another is commune ‖ and the thridde is priuee [103] ¶ Thilke penance þat is so|lempne / is in two maneres / as to be put out of holy chirche in lente / for slaughtre of children / and swich manere thyng [104] ¶ Another is / whan man hath synned openly / of which synne / the fame is openly spoken in the contree / and thanne holy chirche / by Iuge|ment destreyneth hym / for to doon open penance ‖ [105] Commune penance is / that preestes enioynen men communly / in certeyn cas / as for to goon perauenture naked in pilgrymage / or barefoot [106] ¶ Pryuee penance / is thilke þat men doon al day for priuee synnes / of whiche / we shryue vs pryuely and receyue pryuee penance

[107] ¶ Now shaltow vnderstande / what bihoueth [[What] bihoueth to penitence] and is necessarie to verray perfit penitence / and this stant/ on .iij. thynges ‖ [108] Contricion of herte ‖ Con|fession of Mouth / and Satisfaccion ‖ [109] for which / seith seint Iohn Crisostomus [folio 237a] ¶ Penitence destreyneth man / to accepte benygnely euery peyne / þat hym is enioyned / with contricion of herte / & shrift of Mowthe / with satis|faccion / and in wirkynge of alle manere humylitee / [110] And this is fruytful penitence agayn .iij. thynges / in whiche we wrathe oure lord Ihu crist ‖ [111] this is to seyn / by delit in thynkynge / by recchelesnesse in spekynge / by wikked synful wirkynge / [112] And agayns thise /

[6-text p 596] wikkede giltes is penitence / that may be likned vn to a tree /

[113] ¶ The roote of this tree is contricion / þat hideth hym in the herte of hym / þat is verray repentant right as the roote of a tree hideth hym in the erthe ‖ [114] Of the roote of Contricion spryngeth a stalke þat bereth branches / and leues of confession / and fruyt of satisfaccion ‖ [115] for which / crist seith in his gospel ‖ Dooth digne fruyt of penitence / for by this fruyt may men knowe this tree / and nat by the roote / that is hyd / in the herte of man / ne by the branches / ne the leues of Confession ‖ [116] And therfore / oure lord Ihu crist seith thus ‖ by the fruyt of hem / shul ye knowe hem ‖ [117] Of this roote eek spryngeth a seed of grace / the which Seed / is moder of Sikernesse / and this Seed / is egre and hoot ‖ [118] the grace of thys Seed / spryngeth of god thurgh re|membrance on the day of dome / & on the peynes of helle ‖ [119] Of this matere / seith Salomon ‖ that in the drede of god / man forleteth his synne ‖ [120] the hete of thys seed / is the loue of god / & the desirynge of the Ioye perdurable / [121] this hete / draweth the herte of man to god & dooth hym hate his synne / [122] for soothly / ther is no thyng þat sauoureth so wel to a child / as the mylk of his norice / ne no thyng is to hym moore ab|homynable / than thilke mylk/ whan it is medled with oother mete ‖ [123] right so the synful man / þat loueth his synne / hym semeth / it is to hym moost swete of any thyng ‖ [124] but fro þat tyme / þat he loueth sadly oure lord Ihu crist/ & desireth the lyf perdurable / ther nys to hym / no thyng moore abhomynable / [125] for soothly / the lawe of god / is the loue of god ‖ for which / Dauid the prophete seith ¶ I haue loued thy lawe & hated wikkednesse & hate / he þat loueth god/kepeth his lawe & his word; [126] this tree saugh the prophete daniel in spirit vp on the auysion of Nabugodonosor / whanne he con|seiled hym / to do penitence; [127] Penance / is the tree of lyf / to hem þat it receyuen / & he þat holdeth hym

[6-text p 597] in verray penitence / is blessed / after the sentence of Salomon

[128] ¶ In this penitence or Contricion / man shal vn|derstonde iiij. thynges / that is to seyn / what is Contricion / and whiche ben the causes / þat moeuen a man to Con|tricion / and how he [folio 237b] sholde be contrit/ and what Con|tricion auaileth to the soule ‖ [129] thanne it is thus /. that Contricion is the verray sorwe / þat a man receyueth in his herte for hise synnes / with sad purpos to shryue hym & to do penance & neuere moore to do synne / [130] and this sorwe / shal ben in this manere / as seith Seint Bernard ‖ It shal ben heuy and greuous & ful sharpe & poynant in herte ‖ [131] first/ for man hath agilt his lord & his Creatour / and moore sharp & poynant for he hath agilt his fader celestial / [132] and yet moore sharpe & poynant/ for he hath wrathed & agilt hym þat boughte hym / þat with his precious blood / hath delyuered vs fro the bondes of synne / & fro the creweltee of the deuel / & fro the peynes of helle

[133] ¶ The causes / þat oghten moeuen a man to Con|tricion [[vj. C]auses to meue a [ma]n to contricioun] / been .vj. / ffirst/ a man shal remembren hym of hise synnes / [134] but looke þat thilke remem|brance [.I. ‖] ne be to hym no delit by no wey / but gret shame & sorwe for his gilt ‖ for Iob seith / Synful men / doon werkes worthy of Confession / [135] And therfore / seith Ezechie ‖ .I. wol remembre me alle the yeris of my lyf / in bitternesse of myn herte ‖ [136] And god seith in the Apocalipes / Remembre yow / fro whennes þat ye ben falle / for biforn that tyme þat ye synned / ye were the children of god / and lymes of the regne of god / [137] but for youre synne / ye ben woxe / thral & foul and membres of the feend / hate of Aungeles / Sclaundre of holy chirche / & foode of the false serpent perpetuel matere / of the fyr of helle / [138] And yet moore foul and abhom|ynable for ye trespasen so ofte tyme / as dooth the hound / þat retorneth to ete his spewyng [[Vomite (at side: later)]] [139] & yet

[6-text p 598] be ye fouler / for youre longe contynuynge in synne and youre synful vsage / for which / ye been roten in youre synne as a beest in his donge / [140] Swiche manere of thoughtes / maken a man haue shame of his synne & no delit as god seyth by the prophete Ezechiel / [141] ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes / and they shullen displese yow soothly / Synnes been the weyes þat leden folk to helle

[142] ¶ The seconde cause / þat oghte make a man [.2.] to han desdeyn of synne / is this / that as seith Seint Peter ‖ who so þat dooth synne / is thral of synne / & synne put a man in greet thraldam / [143] And ther|fore / seith the prophete Ezechiel / I wente sorweful / in desdayn of my self; ¶ Certes wel oghte a man / haue desdayn of synne & with drawe hym fro that thraldom & vileynye ‖ [144] And lo / what seith Seneca in this matere / he seith thus / though I wiste þat god / neither god ne man / ne sholde neuere knowe it/ yet [folio 238a] wolde I. haue desdayn / for to do synne [145] ¶ And the same Seneca also seith ‖ .I. am born to gretter thynges / than to be thral to my body / or than for to maken / of my body a thral / [146] ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman make of his body / than for to yeue his body to synne / [147] al were it the fouleste cherl / or the fouleste womman þat lyueth and leest of value / yet is he thanne moore foul & moore in seruitute / [148] euere fro the hyer degree þat man falleth / the moore is he thral and moore to god & to the world vil & abhomyn|able [149] ¶ O goode god / wel oghte man haue greet des|dayn of synne / sith þat thurgh synne / ther he was fre / now is he maked bonde / [150] And ther fore / seith Seint Augustyn ¶ If thow hast desdayn of thy seruant if he agilte or synne; haue thow thanne desdayn / þat thow thy self sholdest do synne / [151] take reward of thy value / þat thow ne be to foul to thy self ‖ [152] Allas / wel oghten they thanne haue desdayn / to ben

[6-text p 599] seruauntz & thralles to synne / & soore ben ashamed of hem self/ [153] þat god of his endelees goodnesse / hath set hem in heigh estat or yeuen hem wit strengthe of body / heele / beautee / prosperitee / [154] and boghte hem fro the deeth with his herte blood; þat they so vnkyndely agayns his gentilesse / quyten hym so vileynsly to slawghtre of hir owene soules [155] ¶ O [[[later] nota de pulcritudine Mu|lierum malarum]] goode god / ye wommen // þat been of so greet beautee / remembreth yow / of the prouerbe of Salomon ‖ he seith / [156] likneth a fair womman þat is a fool of hire body / lyk to a ryng of gold / þat were in the groyn of a Sowe / [157] for right as a Sowe wroteth in euerich ordure; so wroteth she hire beaute in stynkynge ordure of synne

[158] ¶ The thridde cause / þat oughte moeue a man [.3.] to Contricion / is drede of the day of dome / and of the horrible peynes of helle / [159] ffor as Seint Ierome seith / At euery tyme / þat me remembreth of the day of dome / I quake / [160] for whan I ete and drynke / or what so þat I do / euere semeth me / þat the trompe sowneth in myn ere / [161] Riseth ye vp þat ben dede & cometh to the Iugement [162] ¶ O goode god / muchel oghte a man to drede swich a Iugement/ ther as we shullen ben alle / as seith Seint Poul / biforn the Sete / of oure lord Ihu crist/ [163] where as he shal maken / a general con|gregacion / where / as no man may ben absent [164] for certes / there ne auaileth noon essoyne / ne excusacion / [165] and nat oonly / þat oure defautes shullen be Iuged / but eek þat alle oure werkes / shullen openly be knowe / [166] And as þat seith Seint [folio 238b] Bernard / ther ne shal no pletynge auaile / ne no sleighte ¶ we shullen yeue rekenynge of euerich ydel word / [167] there shul we han a Iuge / þat may nat ben deceyued / ne corrupt. and why; for certes / alle oure thoghtes / ben descouered as to hym / ne for prayere / ne for mede / he wol nat ben corrupt [168] and therfore seith Salomon ‖ the wrathe of god . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[6-text p 600] ne wol nat spare no wight/ for prayere / ne for yifte / And therfore / at the day of dome / ther nys noon hope to escape ‖ [169] Wherfore / as seith Seint Anselme ‖ fful gret anguisse / shullen the synful folk haue / at that tyme / [170] ther shal the stierne & wrothe Iuge / sitte aboue / and vnder hym / the horrible pit of helle open to de|stroye hym þat moot biknowen hise synnes / whiche synnes / openly ben shewed biforn god / and biforn euery creature / [171] and on the left syde / mo deueles than herte may bithynke / for to harye and drawe the synful soules / to the pyne of helle / [172] and with Inne the hertes of folk/ shal be the bityng conscience / & with oute forth / shal be the world al brennynge / [173] Whider shal thanne / the wrechched synful man fle to hyde hym / certes / he may nat hyde hym / he moste come forth and shewe hym ‖ [174] for certes / as seith Seint Ierome / the erthe shal caste hym / out of hym / and the See also / & the Eyr also / þat shal ben / ful of thonder clappes & lightnynges ‖ [175] Now soothly / who so wel remembreth hym of thise thynges / I gesse that his synne shal nat torne hym in delit/ but to gret sorwe / for drede of the peyne of helle ‖ [176] And ther|fore / seith Iob to god ‖ Suffre lord / þat I may awhile biwayle / & wepe er I go / with oute returnynge to the dirke lond / couered / with the derknesse of deeth / [177] to the lond of mysese & of derknesse / where as is the shadwe of deeth / where as ther is / noon ordre / or ordinance / but grisly drede þat euere shal laste [178] ¶ Lo here may ye seen / þat Iob preyde respit awhile / to biwepe and wayle his trespas / for soothly / o day of respit/ is bettre than al the tresor of this world / [179] And for as muche / as a man may acquyte hym self biforn god by penitence in this world / and nat by tresor // therfore sholde he preye to god / to yeue hym respit awhile / to biwepe & biwaylen his trespas / [180] for certes / al the sorwe þat a man myghte make fro the bigynnyng

[6-text p 601] of the world / nys but a litel thyng at regard of the sorwe of helle [181] ¶ The cause / why þat Iob clepeth helle / the lond of derknesse; [182] vnderstondeth [folio 239a] that he clepeth it lond / or erthe / for it is stable & neuere shal faile / dirk. for he þat is in helle / hath defaute of light material / [183] for certes the derke light þat shal come out of the fyr þat euere shal brenne / shal turne hym al to peyne / þat is in helle / for it sheweth hym / to the horrible deueles / þat hym tormenten / [184] couered with the derknesse of deeth ‖ that is to seyn / þat he þat is in helle shal haue defaute of the sighte of god / for certes the sighte of god / is the lyf perdurable ‖ [185] The derk|nesse of deeth / ben the synnes þat the wrecched man hath doon / whiche þat destourben hym / to se the face of god / right as a dirk clowde bitwixe vs and the sonne [186] ¶ Lond of myseise / by cause þat ther ben .iij. manere of defautes agayns .iij. thynges / þat folk of this world han in this present lyf ‖ that is to seyn /. honours /. delices /. and rychesses ‖ [187] Agayns honour / han they in helle / shame & confusion [188] for wel ye woot þat men clepen honour / the reuerence / þat man dooth to man / but in helle / is noon honour ne reuerence / for certes / namoore reuerence / shal be doon to a kyng than to a knaue ‖ [189] for which / god seith / by the prophete Ieremye ‖ thilke folk þat me despisen / shulle ben in despit [190] ¶ Honour is eek clepid greet lord|shipe / ther shal no wight seruen oother / but of harm and torment ‖ Honour is eek clepid / greet dignytee & heigh|nesse / but in helle shul they ben al fortroden of deueles ‖ [191] As god seith ‖ the horrible deueles / shullen goon & comen vp on the heuedes of dampned folk ‖ And this is / for as muche as the heyere þat they were in this present lyf / the moore shulle they ben abated and defouled in helle [192] ¶ Agayns the richesse of this world / shul they han myseyse of pouerte / and this pouerte shal be in .iiij. thynges / [193] In defaute of tresor / of which

[6-text p 602] þat dauid seith ‖ the riche folk þat embraceden & oneden al hir herte to tresor of this world / shulle slepen / in the slepynge of deeth / and no thyng ne shal they fynden in hire handes / of al hire tresor ‖ [194] And moore ouer / the Misayse of helle / shal ben in defaute of mete & drynke / [195] for god seith thus by Moyses ‖ they shul ben wasted with honger / and the bryddes of helle / shul deuouren hem / with bitter deeth / and the galle of the dragon / shal ben hire drynke / and the venym of the dragon / hire morsels ‖ [196] And forther ouer / hire Miseyse / shal ben / in defaute of clothyng for they shullen ben naked in body / as of clothyng saue the fyr / in which they brenne & othere filthes / [197] and naked shul they ben of soule / of alle manere vertues / which þat is / the clothyng of soule / where [folio 239b] ben thanne the gaye robes / & the softe shetes / & the smale shertes [198] ¶ Lo / what seith god of hem / by the prophete Ysaye ‖ that vnder hem / shul ben strawed Moththes / & hire couertures / shullen ben of wormes of helle [199] ¶ And forther ouer / hire myseyse / shal ben in defaute of frendes / for he is nat pouere / þat hath goode frendes / but there is no freend / [200] for neither god / ne no creature shal ben freend to hem / and euerich of hem / shal haten oother / with deedly hate ‖ [201] the sones & the doghtren / shullen rebellen agayns fader & moder / and kynrede agayns kynrede / and chiden & despisen / euerich of hem oother / bothe day & nyght ‖ as god seith / by the prophete Michias [202] ¶ And the louynge children þat whilom loueden so flesshly euerich oother / wolden euerich of hem eten oother / if they myghte ‖ [203] for how sholde they louen hem togidre / in the peyne of helle /; whan they hateden euerich of hem oother/in the prosperitee of this lyf / [204] for truste wel / hire flesshly loue / was dedly hate / as seith the prophete dauid; who so þat loueth wikked|nesse / he hateth his soule / [205] and who so hateth his owene soule / certes / he may loue noon oother wight

[6-text p 603] in no manere / [206] and therfore / in helle is no solas / ne no frendshipe / but euere / the moore flesshly kynredes þat ben in helle / the moore cursynges / the moore chid|ynges / and the moore dedly hate / ther is among hem [207] ¶ And forther ouer / they shul haue defaute / of alle manere delices / for certes / delices ben after the appetites of the .v. wittes / as Sighte /. Herynge /. Smellynge /. Sauor|ynge /. and touchynge/[208] but in helle/hire sighte/shal be ful of dirknesse & of smoke; and therfore ful of teerys / and hire herynge / ful of waymentynge and of gryntynge of teeth / as seith Ihu crist [209] Hire nose|thirles / shul ben ful of stynkynge stynk ‖ And as seith Ysaye the prophete ‖ hire sauorynge / shal be ful of bitter galle / [210] & touchynge of al hir body / ycouered with fyr þat neuere shal quenche / & with wormes / þat neuere shul dyen / as god seith / by the mowth of Ysaye ‖ [211] And for as muche / as they shul nat wene / þat they may dyen for peyne / and by hire deeth fle fro peyne / that may they vnderstonde in the word of Iob ‖ that seith / there as is the shadwe of deþ / [212] ¶ Certes / a shadwe / hath the liknesse of the thyng / of which it is shadwe / but shadwe / is nat the same thyng of which it is shadwe ‖ [213] right so / fareth the peyne of helle / it is lyk deeth / for the horrible angwissh / and why / for it peyneth [folio 240a] hem euere / as thogh men sholde dye anon / but certes they shal nat dye / [214] for as seith Seint Gregorie / to wrecche kaityues / shal be deeth with oute deeth / & ende with outen ende / & defaute with oute failynge / [215] for hire deeth / shal alwey lyuen / & hire ende shal euere mo bigynne / & hire defaute / shal nat faile / [216] And therfore / seith Seint Iohn the Euaungelist ‖ they shullen folwe deeth / & they shal nat fynde hym / & they shul desiren to dye / and deeth shal fle fro hem ‖ [217] And eek Iob seith / þat in helle / is noon ordre of rewle / [218] and al be it so / þat god hath creat alle thynges in right ordre / & no thyng with

[6-text p 604] outen ordre / but alle thynges / ben ordeyned & nom|bred / yet nathelees they þat ben dampned / ben no thyng in ordre / ne holden noon ordre / [219] for the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruyt ‖ [220] for as the prophete dauid seith / god shal destroye / the fruyt of the erthe / as fro hem / ne water / ne shal yeue hem no moysture / ne the Eyr no refresshyng ne fyr no light ‖ [221] for as seith Seint Basile ‖ the brennynge of the fyr of this world / shal god yeuen in helle / to hem þat ben dampned / [222] but the light & the cleernesse / shal he yeuen in heuene to hise children / right as the goode man / yeueth flessh to hise children / & bones to hise houndes / [223] and for they shullen haue noon hope to escape / seith Seint Iob / atte laste / þat ther shal horrour & grisly drede dwelle with outen ende // [224] Horrour is alwey drede of harm þat is to come / & this drede shal euere dwelle in the hertes / of hem þat ben dampned / and therfore; han they lorn al hire hope / for .vij. causes ‖ [225] ffirst for god þat is hir Iuge / shal be with oute mercy to hem / ne they may nat plese hym / ne noon of hise halwes / ne they ne may yeue no thyng for hire raunson / [226] ne they haue no Voys / to speke to hym / ne they may nat fle fro peyne / ne they haue no goodnesse in hem that they may shewe / to delyuere hem fro peyne / [227] And therfore seith Salomon ‖ the wikked man dieþ & whan he is deed / he shal haue noon hope / to escape fro peyne [228] ¶ Who so thanne wolde wel vn|derstonde thise peynes & bithynke hym wel / þat he hath disserued thilke peynes for hise synnes / certes he sholde haue moore talent to siken & to wepe / than for to syngen & to pleye ‖ [229] for as þat seith Salomon / who so þat hadde the science to knowe the peynes þat ben establised & ordeyned for synne / he wolde make sorwe / [230] thilke science / as seith Seint Augustyn / maketh a man / to waymente in his herte /

[231] ¶ The .iiij^e. poynt that [folio 240b] oghte make a man [The .iiij.^e mevere to contricioun.]

[6-text p 605] haue contricion / is the sorweful remembrance of the good / þat he hath left to doon here in erthe / & eek / the good þat he hath lorn / [232] Soothly / the goode werkes þat he hath left either they ben the goode werkes þat he wroghte er he fil in to deedly synne / or ellis / the goode werkes þat he wroghte / whil he lay in synne / [233] Soothly / the goode werkes þat he dide biforn þat he fil in synne / ben al mortefied / & astoned / & dulled / by the ofte synnynge / [234] That othere goode werkes þat he wroghte / whil he lay in dedly synne / they ben outrely dede / as to the lyf / perdurable in heuene ‖ [235] thanne thilke goode werkes þat ben mortefied by ofte synnyng whiche goode werkes he dide while he was in charitee / ne mowe neuere quyken agayn / with oute verray penitence / [236] And ther of seith god / by the mowth of Ezechiel / that if the rightful man re|turne agayn from his rightwisnesse / & werke wikked|nesse / shal he lyue; / [237] nay / for alle the goode werkes þat he hath wroght ne shulle neuere ben in remembrance / for he shal dye / in his synne / [238] and vp on thilke chapitre / seith Seint Gregorie thus ‖ that we shul vnder|stonde this / principally / [239] that whan we doon dedly synne / it is for nawght thanne to reherse / or drawen in to memorie / the goode werkes þat we han wroght biforn [240] ¶ for certes / in the werkynge of the dedly synne / ther is no trust to no good werk þat we han doon biforn / that is to seyn / as for to haue ther by / the lyf per|durable in heuene / [241] but nathelees / the goode werkes quyken agayn and comen agayn & helpen & auaylen / to haue the lyf perdurable in heuene / whan we han Contricion / [242] but soothly the goode werkes þat men doon / whil þat they been in dedly synne / for as muche / as they weren doon in dedly synne / they may neuere quyken agayn / [243] for certes / thyng þat neuere hadde lyf / may neuere quyken / and natheles / al be it þat they ne auayle noght to han the lyf perdurable / yet auaylen

[6-text p 606] they / to abreggen of the peyne of helle / or ellis / to gete temporal richesses / [244] or ellis / þat god wole the rather enlumyne & lighte / the herte of the synful man to han repentance; [245] And eek they auailen / for to vsen a man to doon goode werkes / þat the feend / haue the lasse power of his soule / [246] and thus the curteys lord Ihu crist ne wole þat no good werk be lost for in som what it shal auayle / [247] but for as muche as the goode werkes / þat men doon whil they ben in good lyf/ ben al amortised by synne folwynge; / and eek sith þat alle the [folio 241a] goode werkes þat men doon / whil they ben in dedly synne / ben outrely dede / as for to han / the lyf perdurable / [248] wel may þat man / þat no good werk ne dooth / synge thilke newe frenshe song Iay tout perdu / mon temps & mon labour ‖ [249] ffor certes synne bireueth a man / bothe goodnesse of nature / & eek the goodnesse of grace / [250] for soothly / the grace of the holy goost fareth lyk fyr / þat may nat ben ydel / for fyr faileth / anon / as it forleteth his werk|ynge / and right so grace faileth / anon as it forleteth his werkynge / [251] thanne leseth the synful man/the goodnesse of glorie / that oonly / is bihight to goode men þat labouren and werken / [252] Wel may he be sory thanne þat oweth al his lyf to god / as longe as he hath lyued / and eek as longe as he shal lyue / þat no goodnesse ne hath / to paye with his dette to god / to whom he oweth al his lyf / [253] for truste wel / he shal yeue acountes as seith Seint Bernard / of alle the goodes þat han ben yeuen hym in this present lyf / and how he hath hem despended / [254] nat so muche / þat ther shal nat perisse an heer of his heed / ne a moment of an houre ne shal nat perisse of his tyme / þat he ne shal yeue of it a rekenynge

[255] ¶ The .v.^the thyng þat oghte moeue a man to [The .v.^the mevere t[o] contricioun] Contricion / is remembrance of the passion þat oure lord Ihu crist suffred for oure synnes / [256] for as seith Seint Bernard / Whil þat I lyue I shal haue remem|brance

[6-text p 607] of the trauailes þat oure lord Ihu crist suffred / in prechynge / [257] his werynesse in trauailynge / hise tempt|acions whan he fasted / hise longe wakynges whan he preyed / hise teerys whan þat he weep for pitee of good peple / [258] the wo / and the shame / & the filthe þat men seyden to hym / of the foule spittyng þat men spitte on his face / of the buffettes that men yaue hym / of the fowle Mowwes & of the re|preues þat men to hym seyden / [259] of the nayles / with whiche he was nayled to the croys / and of al the remenant of his passion / þat he suffred for my synnes / and no thyng for his gilt ‖ [260] And ye shal vnder|stonde / þat in mannes synne / is euery manere ordre of ordinance / turned vp so down / [261] for it is sooþ þat god /. and reson /. and sensualitee. & the body of man / ben so ordeyned / þat euerich of thise .iiij. thynges / sholde haue lordshipe ouer that oother / [262] as thus /. god sholde haue lordshipe ouer reson / & reson ouer Sensualitee / & Sensualitee ouer the body of man / [263] but soothly / whan man synneth / al this ordre / or ordinance / is turned vp so down / [264] and therfore [folio 241b] thanne / for as muche as the reson of man / ne wol nat be subget ne obeisant to god / þat is his lord by right /; ther|fore leseth it the lordshipe / þat it sholde haue in Sensualitee / & eek ouer the body of man / [265] and why / for Sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns reson / and by that wey / leseth reson the lordshipe ouer Sensualitee & ouer the body / [266] for right as reson is rebel to god / right so is bothe sensualitee rebel to reson & the body also ‖ [267] and certes this desordinance & this rebellion / oure lord Ihu crist aboghte / vp on his precious body ful deere / and herkneth in which wise ‖ [268] for as muche thanne / as reson is rebel to god / ther|fore is man worthy to haue sorwe / and to be deed / [269] this suffred oure lord Ihu crist for man / after þat he hadde be bitraysed of his disciple and destreyned &

[6-text p 608] bounde so / þat the blood brast out at euery nayl of hise handes / as seith Seint Augustyn ‖ [270] And forther ouer for as muchel as reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensu|alitee when it may; / therfore / is man worthy to han shame / and this suffrede oure lord Ihu crist for man whan they spette in his visage ‖ [271] and forther ouer / for as muche thanne / as the kaytif body of man / is rebel / bothe to reson & to sensualitee / therfore / it is worthy the deeth / [272] and this suffred oure lord Ihu crist for man vp on the croys / where as ther nas no part of his body free with oute gret peyne & bitter passion / [273] and al this suffred Ihu crist þat neuere forfeted ‖ . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] to muchel am I peyned for the thynges þat I neuere deserued and to muche defouled for shendshipe / þat man is worthy to haue ‖ [274] And ther|fore / may the synful man wel seye / as seith Seint Bernard / Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne / for which / ther moste be suffred so muche bitternesse / [275] for certes after the diuerse discordances of oure wikkednesses / was the passion of Ihu crist ordeyned in diuerse thynges ‖ [276] As thus ‖ Certes synful mannes soule is bitraysed of the deuel by coueitise of temporel prosperitee & scorned by deceyte / whan he cheseth flesshly delites / and yet is it tormented by inpacience of Aduersitee / and byspet by seruage & subieccion of synne / and atte laste / it is slayn fynally ‖ [277] for this desordenance of synful man / was Ihu crist first bitraysed / and after that was he bownde / þat cam for to vnbynde vs / of Synne & of peyne ‖ [278] thanne was he biscorned / þat oonly sholde ben honoured in alle thynges of alle thynges / [279] thanne was his visage þat oghte be desired to be seyn of alle mankynde in which visage Angels desiren to looke / vileynsly bispet / [280] thanne was he skourged / þat no thyng hadde agilt and fynally / thanne was he crucefied & slayn ‖ [281] thanne was acompli [folio 242a] ced the

[6-text p 609] word of Ysaie ‖ He was wounded for oure mysdedes / & defouled by oure felonyes [282] ¶ Now sith þat Ihu crist took vp on hym self the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses; / muchel oghte synful man wepe & biwayle / þat for hise synnes / goddes sone of heuene / sholde al this peyne endure [283] ¶ The .vj.^the [The .vj.^the m[evere to] con[tricioun]] thyng þat oghte moeue a man to Contricion / is the hope of .iij. thynges / that is to seyn / foryeuenesse of synne / and the yifte of grace wel for to do / and the glorie of heuene / with which god shal gerdone man for hise goode dedes ‖ [284] And for as muche / as Ihu crist yeueth vs thise yiftes of his largesse & of his souereyn bountee / therfore is he clepid Ihus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum [285] ¶ Ihu is for to seyn / Saueour / or Sa|uacion / on whom men shal hope / to haue foryifnesse of synnes / which þat is proprely / Sauacion of synnes / [286] and therfore / seyde the Aungel to Ioseph ‖ thow shalt clepe his name Ihus / þat shal saue his peple of hire synnes / [287] And heerof / seith Seint Peter ‖ ther is noon oother name vnder heuene þat is yeue to any man / by which a man may be saued / but oonly Ihus [288] ¶ Nazarenus / is as muche for to seye / as florissynge / In which a man shal hope / þat he / þat yeueth hym remission of synnes / shal yeue hym eek grace wel to do / for in the flour/ is hope of fruyt in tyme comynge / and in foryifnesse of synnes / hope of grace wel to do [289] ¶ I was at the dore of thyn herte seith Ihus / & clepede for to entre / he þat opneth to me / shal haue foryifnesse of synne / [290] I wol entre in to hym by my grace / and sowpe with hym / by the goode werkes þat he shal doon / whiche werkes / ben the foode of god / and he shal sowpe with me / by the grete ioye þat I shal yeue hym ‖ [291] thus shal man hope / þat for hise werkes of penance / god shal yeue hym his regne / as he byheteth hym in the gospel. [In what manere o[ghte] ben thy contricioun]

[292] ¶ Now shal man vnderstonde / in which

[6-text p 610] manere shal ben his contricion / I seye / that it shal ben vniuersal and total / this is to seyn / a man shal be verray repentant/ for alle hise synnes þat he hath doon / in delit of his thoght. for delit is ful perilous / [293] for ther ben two manere of consentynges / that oon of hem / is clepid / consentynge of affeccion whan a man / is moeued to do synne/and thanne deliteth hym longe / for to thynke on that synne / [294] and his reson / aperceyueth wel þat it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson refreyneth nat his fool delit/ or talent though he seeth wel apertly / þat it is agayns the reuerence of god / al though his reson / ne consente nat / to doon the [folio 242b] synne in dede / [295] yet seyn somme doctours / þat swich delit þat dwelleþ longe / it is ful perilous / al be neuer so lite / [296] and also / a man sholde sorwe / namely / for al that euere he hath desired agayn the lawe of god / with parfit consentynge of his reson / for ther of is no doute / þat it is dedly synne / in the consentynge / [297] for certes ther is no dedly synne / þat it nas first in mannes thoght & after that in his delit & so forth / in to consentynge & in to dede / [298] Wherfore I seye / þat many men ne repenten hem neuere of swyche thoghtes & delites / ne neuere shryuen hem of it but oonly / of the dede of grete synnes outward [299] ¶ Wher fore I seye / þat swiche wikked delites & wikked thoghtes / ben subtil bigyleris of hem þat shullen ben dampned [300] ¶ Moore ouer / man oghte to sorwen for hise wikked wordes / as wel / as hise wikked dedes / for certes / the repentance of a singuler synne & nat repente of alle hise othere synnes ‖ or ellis repente hym of alle hise othere synnes / and nat of a synguler synne / may nat auayle / [301] for certes / god almyghty / is al good / and therfore / outher he foryeueth al / or ellis right noght/ [302] And her of seith Seint Augustyn ¶ I woot certeynly / [303] þat god is enemy to euerich synnere / And how thanne / he þat obserueth o synne / shal he haue foryeuenesse of the

[6-text p 611] remenant of hise othere synnes; nay; [304] ¶ And forther ouer Contricion / sholde be wonder sorweful and ang|uissous / and ther fore / yeueth hym god / pleynly his mercy / and therfore / whan my soule was anguissous with Inne me / I hadde remembrance of god / þat my prayere myghte come to hym [305] ¶ fforther ouer Contricion moste be continuel / and þat man haue stede|fast purpos to shryue hym / & for to amende hym of his lyf / [306] for soothly / whil Contricion lasteth / man may euere haue hope of foryeuenesse / And of this / cometh hate of synne þat destroyeth synne / bothe in hym self & eek in othere folk at his power / [307] for which seith Dauid / ye þat louen god / hateth wikkednesse / for trusteth wel / to loue god / is for to loue that he loueth / [nota] & hate that he hateth

[308] ¶ The laste thyng þat men shal vnderstonde in Contricion / is this / wher of auaileth Contricion ¶ I seye / þat som tyme / Contricion delyuereth man fro synne / [309] of which þat Dauid seith ‖ I seye quod Dauid / that is to seyn / I. purposed fermely to shryue me / & thow lord relessedest my synne / [310] and right so as Contricion auaileth nat / with outen sad purpos of shrifte / if man haue oportunytee; right so / litel worth is shrifte / or satisfaccion / with oute Contricion / [311] And moore / Contricion destroyeth the prison of helle [folio 243a] and maketh wayk & feble / the strengthes of the deueles / & restoreth the yiftes of the holy goost & of alle goode vertues / [312] and it clenseth the soule of synne & delyuereth the soule fro the peyne of helle / & fro the compaignye of the deuel / and fro the seruage of synne / & restoreth it to alle goodes espirituels & to the compaignye communyon of holy chirche / [313] and forther ouer/ it maketh hym / þat whilom was sone of Ire / to be sone of grace / and alle thise thynges / be preued by holy writ / [314] and therfore / he þat wolde sette his entente / to thise thynges / he were ful

[6-text p 612] wys / for soothly / he ne sholde nat thanne in al his lyf / haue corage to synne / but yeue his body & al his herte / to the seruyce of Ihu crist & ther of doon hym hommage / [315] for certes / oure swete lord Ihu crist hath sparid vs so debonairly in oure folies / þat if he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule / a sory song we myghten alle synge .. . .. . ...

¶ Explicit prima pars penitencie;

¶ Et incipit secunda pars eiusdem . . .

[316] THe seconde partie of Penitence / is Confession / that is signe of Contricion [317] ¶ Now shul ye vnderstonde / what is Confession / & wheither it oghte nedes be doon / or noon / & whiche thynges ben couenable to verray Confession

[318] ¶ ffirst shaltow vnderstonde / þat Confession is verray shewynge of synnes to the preest [319] this is to seyn verray / for he moot confesse hym of alle the condicions þat bilongen to his synne / as ferforþ as he kan / [320] al moot be seyd / & no thyng excused / ne hid / ne forwrapped / & nat auance hym of hise goode werkes ‖ [321] And forther ouer / it is necessarie to vnder|stonde / whennes þat synnes spryngen / & how they encressen / & whiche they ben

[322] ¶ Of the spryngynge of Synnes / as seith Seint Paul in this wise ‖ that right as by a man / synne entred first in to this world / and thurgh that synne deth / 'right so thilke deth entred in to alle men þat synneden / [323] and this man was Adam / by whom synne entred in to this world / whan he brak the comandementz of god / [324] and therfore / he þat first was so myghty / þat he sholde nat haue deyed / bicam swich oon / þat he moste nedes dye wheither he wolde or noon / & al his progenye þat is in this world/ þat in thilke man synneden [325] ¶ Looke þat in thestat of Innocence / whan Adam & Eue /

[6-text p 613] naked weren in Paradys [folio 243b] and no thyng ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse / [326] how þat the serpent þat was moost wily of alle othere bestes þat god hadde maked / seyde to the womman ‖ why comanded god to yow / ye sholde nat eten of euery tree in Paradys; ‖ [327] the womman answerde / Of the fruyt quod she of the trees in Paradys / we feden vs / but soothly / of the fruyt of the tree þat is in the myddel of Paradys / god forbad vs for to ete / ne nat touche it/ list per auenture we sholde dyen ‖ [328] the serpent seyde to the womman / nay / nay / ye shul nat dyen of deth / for sothe god woot þat what day þat ye eten ther of / youre eyen shulle opne / & ye shul ben as goddes / konnynge good & harm ‖ [329] the womman saugh / þat the tree was good to fedynge / and fair to the eyen / & delitable to sighte / 'she took of the fruyt of the tree & eet it & yaf it to hire housbonde / & he eet & anon the eyen of hem bothe opnede / [330] and whan þat they knewe þat they were naked / they sowed of ffyge leues in manere of breches / to hiden hire membres ‖ [331] Here may ye seen / þat dedly synne / hath first suggestion of the feend / as sheweth heere by the Naddre / and afterward the delit of the flessh / as sheweth heere by Eua / and after that the consentynge of reson / as sheweth heere by Adam / [332] ffor truste wel / thogh so were / þat the feend tempted oon / that is to seyn the flessh / and the flessh hadde delit in the beautee of the fruyt deffended / 'yet certes til þat reson / that is to seyn Adam / con|sented to the etyng of the fruyt yet stood he / in the estat of Innocence [333] ¶ Of thilke Adam / toke we thilke synne original / for of hym / flesshly descended be we alle & engendred / of vile & corrupt matere / [334] and whan the soule / is put in oure body / right anoon is con|tract original synne / and that / þat was erst but oonly peyne of concupiscence / is afterward / bothe peyne & synne / [335] And ther fore be we alle yborn sones of

[6-text p 614] wraththe & of dampnacion perdurable / if it nere baptesme / þat we receyuen / which bynymeþ vs the culpe / but for sothe / the peyne dwelleth with vs as to temptacion / which peyne / highte concupiscence / [336] and this concupiscence / whan it is wrongfully disposed / or ordeyned in man / it maketh hym coueite by couetise of flessh / flesshly synne / by sighte of hise eyen / as to erthely thynges / And eek coueitise of heynesse by pryde of herte

[337] ¶ Now as to speke of the firste coueitise / that is concupiscence / after the lawe of oure membres þat weren lawefulliche ymaked & by rightful Iuge|ment of god / [338] I seye / for as muche / as man is nat obeisant to god that is his lord / therfore / is the flessh to hym desobeisant [folio 244a] thurgh concupiscence / which þat yet is clepid norissynne of synne & occasion of synne / [339] therfore / al the while þat a man hath in hym the peyne of concupiscence / it is impossible / but he be tempted som tyme & moeued in his flessh to synne / [340] and this thyng may nat faile as longe as he lyueth / it may wel wexe feble and faile by vertu of baptesme & by the grace of god / thurgh penitence / [341] but fully ne shal it neuere quenche / þat he ne shal som|tyme / be moeued in hym self/ but if he were al refreided by siknesse / or by malefice of sorcerye / or colde drynkes / [342] ffor lo / what seith Seint Paul ‖ the flessh coueiteth agayn the spirit / & the spirit agayn the flessh / they ben so contrarie & so stryuen / þat a man may nat alwey do as he wolde [343] ¶ The same Seynt Paul / after his grete penance in water & in londe / in water by nyght & by day in gret peril & in gret peyne in londe / in famyn & thurst in cold and clothlees & ones stooned almoost to the deth / [344] yet seyde he / Allas .I. kaytif man / who shal delyuere me fro the prison of my kaytif body ‖ [345] And Seint Ierom / whanne he longe tyme hadde woned in desert where as he hadde no compaignye / but of wilde bestes / where as he hadde

[6-text p 615] no mete / but herbes / & water to his drynke / ne no bed / but the naked erthe / for which his flessh was blak as an Ethiopen for hete & ney destroyed for cold /. [346] yet seyde he / þat the brennynge of lecherye / boylede in al his body [347] ¶ Wherfore I woot wel sikerly / þat they ben deceyued / þat seyn / they þat ne be nat tempted in hire body / [348] Witnesse on Seint Iame the Apostel / that seith / that euery wight is tempted in his owene con|cupiscence / that is to seyn / that euerich of vs / hath matere & occasion / to be tempted / of the norissynge of synne. þat is in his body ‖ [349] And therfore / seith Seint Iohn the Euaungelist ‖ If þat we seyn / þat we be with oute synne / we deceyuen vs selue and trouthe is nat in vs /

[350] ¶ Now shul ye vnderstonde in what manere / þat synne wexeth & encresceth in man ¶ the firste thyng is thilke norissynge of synne / of which I spak biforn / thilke flesshly concupiscence / [351] and after that comth the subieccion of the deuel / this is to seyn the deueles bely / with which he bloweth in man / the fyr of flesshly concupiscence / [352] and after that a man by|thynketh hym / wheither he wol doon or no / thilke thyng to which he is tempted / [353] and thanne / if þat a man with stonde [folio 244b] and wayue the firste entisynges of his flessh / & of the feend / thanne is it no synne / and if so be / þat he do nat so / thanne feeleth he anon a flawmbe of delit / [354] and thanne is it good / to be war and kepe hym wel / or ellis he wol falle anon in to consentynge of synne / & thanne wol he do it/ if he may haue tyme & place ‖ [355] And of this matere seith Moyses / by the deuel / in this manere ¶ The feend seith ‖ I wol chace & pursue the man / by wikked suggestion / and I wol hente hym / by moeuyng or stiryng of synne / & .I. wol departe my prise / or my preye by de|liberacion / & my lust shal ben acompliced in delit ‖ I wol drawe my swerd in consentynge / [356] for certes / right as a swerd departeth a thyng in two peces / right

[6-text p 616] so consentynge / departeth god fro man / and thanne wol I sle hym with myn hand in dede of synne ‖ thus seyth the feend / [357] for certes / thanne is a man al deed in soule / and thus is synne acompliced / by temp|tacion / by delit & by consentynge / & thanne is the synne clepid actuel

[358] ¶ ffor sothe / synne is in two maneres / outher it venyal / or dedly synne ‖ Soothly / whan man loueth any creature / moore than Ihu crist oure creatour / thanne is it dedly synne / and venial synne is it if man loue Ihu crist lasse than hym oghte / [359] for sothe / the dede of this venial synne is ful perilous / for it amenuseth the loue þat men sholde han to god moore & moore / [360] and therfore / if a man charge hym self with manye swiche venial synnes / certes / but if so be / þat he som tyme descharge hym of hem by shrifte / they mowe ful lightly amenuse in hym / al the loue / þat he hath to Ihu crist [361] and in this wise skippeth Venial / in to Dedly synne / for certes / the moore þat a man chargeth his soule / with venial synnes / the moore is he enclyned to falle in dedly synne / [362] And therfore / lat vs nat be necligent to deschargen vs of venial synnes / for the prouerbe seith / that manye smale maketh a greet ‖ [363] And herkne this ensample ‖ A greet wawe of the See / comth som tyme / with so greet a violence / that it drencheth the Shipe / and the same harm / doon som tyme / the smale dropes of water / þat entreth thurgh a litel creuesse in to the Thurrok/ & in the botme of the shipe / if men be so necligent þat men ne descharge hem nat by tyme / [364] and therfore / al thogh ther be a difference / bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge / algates the Shipe is dreynt [365] ¶ right so fareth it som tyme of dedly synne / & of anoyouse venials synnes / whan they multiplie in a man so gretly / þat thilke worldly thynges þat he loueth / thurgh which he synneth venially / is as gret in his herte / as the loue of [folio 245a] god / or moore / [366]

[6-text p 617] and therfore / the loue of euery thyng þat is nat byset in god / ne doon principally for goddes sake / al þat a man loue it lasse than god / yet is it venial synne / [367] & dedly synne / whan the loue of any thyng weyeth in the herte of man / as muche / as the loue of god / or moore [368] ¶ Dedly synne / as seith Seynt Augustyn is / whan man turneth his herte fro god / which that is verray souereyn bowntee / þat may nat chaunge / & yeueth his herte / to a thyng/ þat may chaunge & flitte / [369] and certes / that is euery thyng saue god of heuene / for sooth is / þat if a man yeue his loue / the which þat he oweth al to god with al his herte / vn to a creature / certes as muche of his loue as he yeueth to thilke creature / so muche he bireueth fro god / [370] and ther|fore / dooth he synne / for he þat is dettour to god / ne yeldeth nat to god al his dette / that is to seyn / al the loue of his herte /

[371] ¶ Now sith man vnderstondeth generally / which is venial synne / thanne is it couenable / to tellen specially of synnes / whiche þat many a man per auenture ne demeth hem nat synnes / & ne shryueth hym nat of the same thynges / & yet nathelees they been synnes / [372] and soothly / as thise clerkes writen / this is to seyn / þat euery tyme þat man eteth or drynketh / moore than suffiseth to the sustenance of his body / in certeyn he dooth synne ‖ [373] and eek / whan he speketh moore than it nedeth / it is synne ‖ eek whan he herkneth nat be|nygnely þe compleynte of the pouere ‖ [374] eek whan he is in heele of body / and wol nat faste / whan oother folk fasten / with outen cause resonable ‖ eek/ whan he slepeth moore than nedeth / or whan he comth by thilke encheson / to late to chirche / or to othere werkes of charitee ‖ [375] eek/ whan he vseth his wyf / with oute souereyn desir of engendrure / to honour of god / or for the entente / to yelde to his wyf the dette of his body ‖ [376] eek whan he wol nat visite the syke / & the prisoner / if he may ‖

[6-text p 618] eek / if he loue wyf or child / or oother worldly thyng moore than reson requereth ‖ eek if he flatre / or blandise moore than hym oghte / for any necessitee ‖ [377] eek if he amenuse / or withdrawe the almesse of the pouere ‖ eek if he apparaileth his mete / moore deliciously / than nede is / or ete it to hastily / by likerous|nesse ‖ [378] eek/ if he tale vanytes / at chirche / or at goddes seruyce / or þat he be a talkere of ydel wordes / of folye / or of vileynye / for he shal yelde acounte of it at the day of dome ‖ [379] eek / whan he biheteth / or assureth to do thynges / þat he ne may nat perfourne ‖ eek/ whan þat he / by lightnesse / or folye / mysseyth / or scorneth his neighebore [380] [folio 245b] eek whan he hath any wikked suspecion of thyng ther he ne woot of it no sooth|fastnesse ‖ [381] thise thynges / & mo with oute nombre ben synnes / as seith Seint Augustyn /

[382] ¶ Now shalmen vnderstonde / þat al be it so / þat noon erthely man may eschewe alle veniale synnes / yet may he refreyne hem by the brennynge loue þat he hath to oure lord Ihu crist and by preyeres & confession / & othere goode werkes / so / þat it shal but litel greue ‖ [383] for as seiþ Seint Augustyn ‖ If a man loue god in swich manere / þat al that euere he dooth / is in the loue of god / or for the loue of god verraily for he brenneth in the loue of god / [384] looke / how muche þat a drope of water þat falleth in a furneys ful of fyr/ anoyeth / or greueth / 'so muche / anoyeth a venial synne vn to a man / þat is perfit in the loue of Ihu crist ‖ [385] Men may also / refreyne venial synne / by receyuynge worthily / of the precious body of Ihu crist [386] by receyuynge eek/ of holy water / by almes dede / by general confession / of Confiteor / at masse & at Complyn / & by blessynge of Bisshopes / & of preestes / & by othere goode werkes

[6-text p 619]

¶ De Septem peccatis mortalibus.

[387] NOw is it bihouely thyng to telle / whiche ben dedly synnes / that is to seyn / chieftaynes of synnes / alle they renne in o lees / but in dyuerse manere / now ben they clepid chieftaynes / for as muche as they ben chief / and sprynge of alle othere synnes [388] ¶ Of the roote of thise .vij. synnes / thanne is pryde / the general roote of alle harmes / for of this roote / spryngen certeyn branches / as Ire /. Enuye /. Accidie / or Sleuthe /. Auarice / or Coueitise /. to commune vnderstondynge /. Glotonye /. and lecherye ‖ [389] and euerich of thise chief synnes / hath hise branches and hise twigges / as shal be declared / in hire chapitres folwynge /

[De] Superbia [[from margin: no break in MS.]]

[390] and though so be / þat no man kan outrely tellen the nombre of twigges & of the harmes þat comen of [[The] braunches [of] Pryde] Pryde / yet wol I shewe a partie of hem / as ye shul vnderstande [391] ¶ Ther is / Inobedience / Auantynge / Ypocrisye / Despit Arrogaunce / Inpudence / Swellynge of herte / Insolence / Elacion / Inpacience / Stryf / Contumacie / Presumpcion / Inreuerence / Pertinacie / Veyne glorie / and many another twig þat I kan nat declare [392] ¶ In|obedient is he / þat desobeieth for despit / to the comande| [[Ino]bedience:] mentz of god / & to hise souereins / & to his goostly fader [393] ¶ Auantour / is he þat bosteth / of the [folio 246a] harm / [[Auan]tyng.] or of the bowntee þat he hath doon [394] ¶ Ypocrite is he / that hideth / to shewe hym / swich as he is / and sheweth hym / swich as he nawght is / [395] ¶ Despitous [De[spitous]] is he / that hath desdeyn of his neighebore / that is to seyn / of his euenecristen / or hath despit/ to doon / that hym oghte to do [396] ¶ Arrogant is he þat thynketh / [Arroga[nt]] þat he hath thilke bountees in hym / þat he hath nat/ or

[6-text p 620] weneth þat he sholde haue hem / by hise desertes / or ellis he demeth / þat he be that he nys nat / [397] ¶ Im|pudent is he þat for his pryde / hath no shame of his [Impudent] synne [398] ¶ Swellynge of herte is / whan man [Swelling of [herte] Insolent.] reioyseth hym of harm þat he hath doon / [399] ¶ Inso|lent is he / that despiseth in his Iugement alle oother folk/ as to regard of his value / & of his konnynge / & of his spekynge / & of his berynge [400] ¶ Elacion is / whan [Elacioun.] he ne may neither suffre to haue maister ne felawe [401] ¶ Inpacient is he / þat wol nat ben ytaught ne vnder| [Inpacient.] nome of his vice / & by stryf/ werreieth trouthe wityngly & deffendeth his folye / [402] ¶ Contumax is he / þat [Contumax.] thurgh his Indignacion / is agayns euerich auctoritee / or power / of hem þat ben hise souereyns / [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcion is / whan a man vndertaketh an Emprise / þat [Presumpcioun.] hym oghte nat do / or ellis þat he may nat do / and that is called Surquydie ¶ Inreuerence is / whan men do nat [Inreuerence.] honour / ther as hem oghte to doon / and waiteth / to be reuerenced [404] ¶ Pertinacie / is whan a man deffendeth [Pertynacie.] his folye / & trusteth to muche to his owene wit / [405] Veyne glorie is / for to haue pompe & delit in thise [Veyn glorye] temporel heynesses & glorifie hem / in worldly estatz [406] ¶ Ianglynge is / whan a man speketh to [Ianglynge] muche biforn folk & clappeth as a Melle / & taketh no kepe / what he seith

[407] ¶ And yet is ther a pryuee spice of pryde / that [Desir of worshi[p]] waiteth / first to be salewed / er he wole salewe / al be he lasse worthy / than that oother is par auenture / and eek he wayteth / or desireth / to sitte / or ellis / to goon aboue hym in the weye / or kisse pax / or ben ensensed / or goon to offrynge biforn his neighebore / [408] and swiche semblable thynges / agayns his duetee per auenture / but þat he hath / his herte and his entente in swich a proud desir / to be magnyfied & honoured / biforn the peple

[409] ¶ Now ben ther / two maneres of pryde / that [.ij. maners of pri[de]] oon of hem / is with Inne the herte of man / and that

[6-text p 621] oother is with oute / [410] of whiche soothly / thise for|seyde thynges / & mo than I haue seyd aperte [folio 246b] nen to pryde / þat is in the herte of man / And that othere speces of pride ben with oute / [411] but natheles / that oon of thise speces of pride / is signe of that oother / right as the gaye leuesel atte Tauerne / is signe / of the wyn / þat is in the Celer ‖ [412] And this is in manye thynges / as in speche & contenance / & in outrageous array of clothyng [413] for certes / if ther ne hadde be no synne [clothing /] in clothyng crist wolde nat so soone haue noted & spoke of the clothyng of thilke riche man in the gospel ‖ [414] And as seith Seint Gregorie / that precious clothyng is cow|pable / for the derthe of it & for his softnesse / & for his strangenesse & degisynesse / and for the super|fluitee / or for the inordinat scantnesse of it ‖ [415] Allas / may man nat seen as in oure dayes / the synful costlewe array of clothynge / & namely in to muche superfluitee / or ellis in to desordinat scantnesse

[416] ¶ As to the firste synne / that is in superfluitee of clothynge / which þat maketh it so deere to harm of the peple / [417] nat oonly / the cost of enbrawdynge / the degyse / endentynge / or barrynge / owndynge / palynge / or bendynge / & semblable wast of clooth in vanytee ‖ [418] but ther is also the costlewe furrynge in hire gownes / so muche pownsonynge of chisel / to maken holes / so muche daggynge of sheris / [419] forth / with the superfluitee / in lengthe of the forseyde gownes trail|ynge in the dong & in the Myre on horse / & eek on foote / as wel / of man / as of womman / þat al thilke trailynge / is verraily as in effect wasted / consumed / thred|bare / & roten with donge rather/ than it is yeuen to the pouere / to gret damage / of the forseide pouere folk / [420] and that in sondry wise / this is to seyn / þat the moore þat clooth is wasted / the moore moot it coste to the peple for the scarsnesse / [421] and forther ouer / if so be / þat they wolde yeue swiche pownsonyd &

[6-text p 622] dagged clothynge to the pouere folk/ it is nat conuenient to were / for hire estat ne suffisant to beete hire necessitee / to kepe hem / fro the destemperance of the firmament [422] ¶ Vp on that oother syde / to speke of the horrible desordynat scantnesse of clothyng as ben thise kutted sloppes / or hanselyns / þat thurgh hire shortnesse / ne keuere nat the shameful membres of man to wikke entente / [423] Allas / somme of hem shewen the shape & the boce of hire horrible swollen membres / þat semeth lik the maladie of hirnia / in the wrappynge of hire hoses [424] and eek the buttokes of hem / þat faren as it were the hyndre part of a she Ape / in the fulle of the Moone ‖ [425] And moore ouer / the wrecched swollen membres / þat they shewe thurgh degisynge / in departynge of hire hoses in whit and reed / semeth / þat half hire shame|ful pryuee membres weren flayn / [426] ¶ [folio 247a] And if so be / þat they departen hire hoses in othere colours / as is whit & blew / or whit & blak / or blak & reed / & so forth / [427] thanne semeth it as by variance of colour / þat half the partie of hire pryuee membres / ben corrupt by the fyr of Seint Antony / or by cancre / or othere swiche meschances ‖ Yet [428] of the hyndre part of hire buttokes / it is ful horrible for to se / for certes in that partie of hire body / ther as they purgen hire stynkynge ordure / [429] that foule partie / shewe they to the peple proudly in despit of honestetee / which honestetee þat Ihu crist & hise frendes obseruede to shewen in his lyue [430] ¶ Now / as of the outrageous array of wommen / god woot þat thogh the visages of somme of hem / seme ful chaste & debonaire / 'yet notifie they in hire array of atyr / likerousnesse & pride [431] ¶ I seye nat þat honestetee in clothynge / of man or womman / is vncouen|able / but certes the superfluitee / or the desordinat skantitee of clothynge is reprouable / [432] ¶ Also / the synne of Aornement/ or of apparaille / as in thynges þat apertenen [pride in thinges t[hat] longeth to rydyn[ge]] to ridynge / as in to manye delicat horses þat ben holden

[6-text p 623] for delit þat they ben so faire / fatte / & costlewe / [433] and also many a vicious knaue mayntened by cause of hem / and in to curious harneys / as in Sadeles / in croupers / peytrels / and brydles couered with precious clothyng & riche barres & plates of gold & of siluer / [434] for which / god seith / by Zakarie the prophete / ¶ I wol confounde / the ryderes of swiche horses ‖ [435] thise folk taken litel reward / of the ridynge of goddes sone of heuene / & of his harneys / whan he rood vp on an Asse / & ne hadde noon oother harneys / but the pouere clothes of hise disciples / ne we ne rede nat þat euere he rood on oother beest [436] I speke this for the synne of superfluitee / & nat for resonable honestetee / whan reson it requereth [437] ¶ And forther ouer / certes pride is gretly notified in holdynge of gret Meynee / [pride of Meyne:] whan they ben of litel profit / or of right no profit [438] and namely / whan that Meynee / is felonous & damage|ous to the peple / by hardynesse of hey lordshipe / or by wey of offices / [439] for certes swiche lordes / sellen thanne hir lordship / to the deuel of helle / whan they sustenen / the wikkednesse of hire meynee / [440] or ellis / whan thise folk of lowe degree / as thilke þat holden hostelries / sustenen the thefte of hire hostelers / & that is / in many manere of deceites / [441] thilke manere of folk ben the flyes / þat folwen the hony / or ellis the houndes / þat folwen the careyne / Swich forseide folk/ stranglen spiritually hire lordshipes / [442] for which thus [folio 247b] seith dauid the prophete ¶ Wikked [[rat or mouse gnawings .. be .. t ..... told ..... the Nor ..... on ....... est neuer ... reped a noure ..]rld of [in a third hand]] deth / mote come vp on thilke lordshipes / and god yeue / þat they mote descende in to helle adown / adown / for in hire houses / been Iniquitees & shrewednesses / and nat god of heuene / [443] and certes / but if they doon amende|ment/ right so as god yaf his benyson to Pharao by the seruyce of Iacob / & to Laban by the seruyce of Ioseph / right so / god wol yeue his malison to swiche lordshipes / as sustenen the wikkednesse of hire seruantz / but they

[6-text p 624] come to amendement [444] pride of the table apeereþ [[Pride] of the table.] eek ful ofte / for certes riche men ben clepid to festes / and pouere folk ben put awey & rebuked / [445] ¶ Also in exces / of diuerse metes & drynkes / and namely [[Exces]se of mete] swiche manere bake metes & disshmetes brennynge of wilde fyr & peynted & castelled with papir / & semblable wast / so þat it is abusion for to thynke ‖ [446] And eek in to gret preciousnesse of vessel / & curiositee of Mynstralcie / by whiche / a man is stired the moore / to delices of luxure [447] ¶ If so be þat he sette his herte the lasse / vp on oure lord Ihu crist certeyn it is a synne / & certeynly the delices / myghte ben so grete [And yf thou wyest what thyng yt were Coneng to lerne [in a third hand]] in the cas / þat man myghte lightly fallen by hem in to dedly synne / [448] ¶ The especes that sourdren of pride / soothly whan they sourden of malice ymagyned & auysed / & forncast or ellis of vsage / ben dedly synnes / it is no doute / [449] and whan they sourde by freletee / vn|auysed sodeynly / & sodeynly / withdrawe agayn / al be they greuouse synnes / I gesse / that they ne be nat dedly [450] ¶ Now myghte men axe / wher of þat pryde [[Whe]r of cometh pryde.] sourdeth & spryngeth / And I seye som tyme it spryngeth of the goodes of nature / and somtyme of the goodes of fortune / & som tyme / of the goodes of grace / [451] ¶ Certes the goodes of nature / stonden outher in goodes of body / or goodes of soule ‖ [452] [[g]oodes of body] Certes / goodes of body / ben heele of body / strengthe / delyuernesse / beautee / genterie / franchise [453] ¶ goodes of nature of the soule ben good wit [[good]es of the soule.] sharpe vnderstondynge / subtil engyn / vertu naturel / good memorie [454] ¶ goodes of fortune / ben richesses / [[good]es of fortune.] hey degrees of lordshipes / preisynges of the peple [455] ¶ goodes of grace / ben Science / power to suffre spiritual trauaille / benygnytee / vertuous contemplacion / withstondynge of temptacion ¶ and semblable thynges / [456] of whiche forseyde goodes / certes it is a ful gret folie a man to pryden hym in any of hem alle / [457]

[6-text p 625] ¶ Now as for to speke of goodes of nature / god woot þat som tyme we han hem in nature / as muche to oure damage / as to oure profit [458] ¶ As for to speke of heele of [folio 248a] body / certes it passeth ful lightly / & eek it is ful ofte encheson / of the siknesse of the soule / for god woot the flessh is a ful greet enemy to the soule / and therfore / the moore þat the body is hool / the moore be we in peril to falle ‖ [459] Eke for to pryde hym in hys strengthe of body / it is an heigh folye / for certes / the flessh coueiteth agayn the spirit / & ay the moore strong þat the flessh is / the sorier may the soule be / [460] and ouer al this / Strengthe of body & worldly hardynesse / causeth ful ofte many man / to peril & meschance ‖ [461] Eke / for to pryde hym of his genterye / is ful gret folie / for ofte tyme / the genterie of the body / bynymeth the genterie of the soule / & eek / we ben alle / of .o. fader & of o moder / & alle we ben of o nature roten / and corrupt bothe riche & pouere / [462] for sothe / o manere gentilrye / is for to preise / that apparayleth mannes corage with vertues / & moralitees / & maketh hym cristes child / [463] for truste wel / þat ouer what man þat synne hath maistrye / he is verray cherl to synne

[464] ¶ Now / ben ther general signes of gentilesse / as eschewynge of vice / or rybaudye & seruage of synne / in word / in werk / and contenance / [465] & vsynge vertu / curteisye / & clennesse / & to be liberal / that is to seyn / large by mesure / for thilke that passeth mesure / is folye & synne ‖ [466] Another is / to remembre hym of bounte / þat he of oother folk hath receyued ‖ [467] Another is / to ben benygne / to hise goode subgetz / wher fore as seith Senek ther is no thyng moore couenable to a man of heigh estat/ than debonairetee & pitee / [468] and therfore thise flyes / þat men [nota] clepe bees / whan they maken hire kyng they chesen oon þat hath no prikke / wher with he may stynge ‖ [469]

[6-text p 626] Another is / a man to haue a noble herte & a diligent to attayne to hye vertuouse thynges [470^* see after 474 & Pet.. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [471] Certes also / who þat prydeth hym in the goodes of fortune / he is a ful gret fool / for som tyme / is a man a gret lord by the morwe / þat is a kaytif & a wrecche / er it be nyght [472] and som tyme / the richesse of a man is cause of his deeth / somtyme the delices of a man / ben cause of the greuous maladie / thurgh which he dyeth ‖ [473] Certes / the commendacion of the peple / is som tyme ful fals / & ful brotil for to triste / this day they preise / to morwe they blame / [474] god woot desir to haue the commendacion eek of peple / hath caused deth / to many a bisy man [^*470] ¶ Now certes a man to pride hym in the goodes of grace / is eek an outrageous folye / for thilke yiftes of grace / that sholde haue turned hym to goodnesse [folio 248b] and to medicine turneth hym to venym & to confusion / as seyth Seint Gregorie. [475] ¶ Now sith þat so is / þat ye han vnderstonde / what is pryde / & whiche ben the speces of it / & whennes pryde sourdeth & spryngeth ‖

[476] Now shul ye vnderstonde / which is the remedie agayns pride / and that is humylitee / or mekenesse / [477] that is a vertu / thurgh which / a man hath verray knoweleche of hym self / & holdeth of hym self/ no pris ne deyntee / as in regard of hise desertes / considerynge euere his freletee [478] ¶ Now ben ther .iij. [[iij] maners of humilite] maneres of humylitee / As humylitee in herte ¶ Another humylitee / is in Mouth ¶ the thridde in hise werkes [479] ¶ The humylitee in herte / is in .iiij. maneres ¶ that oon is / whan a man holdeth hym self as naught worth / biforn god of heuene ‖ Another is / whan he ne despiseth

[6-text p 627] noon other man [480] ¶ the thridde is / whan he ne rekketh nat thogh men holde hym noght worth ‖ the ferthe is / whan he nys nat sory of his humyliacion [481] ¶ Also the humylitee of Mouth / is in .iiij. thynges ¶ In Atempree speche ¶ and in humblesse of speche ‖ And whan he biknoweth with his owene Mouth / þat he is swich / as hym thynketh þat he is in his herte ¶ Another is whan he preiseth the bountee of another man / and nothyng ther of amenuseth [482] ¶ Humylitee eek in werk is in .iiij. maneres ‖ the firste / is whan he putteth othere men biforn hym ¶ the seconde is / to chese the loweste place ouer al ‖ The thridde is / gladly to assente to good conseil ‖ [483] the ferthe is / gladly to stonde to the award of his souereyn / or of hym / þat is hyer in degree / certeyn / this is a gret werk of humylitee

. ¶ Inuidia.

[484] After pryde / wol I speke / of the foule synne of Enuye / which þat is / as by the word of the philosophre Sorwe of oother mannes prosperitee / and after the word of Seint Augustyn / it is sorwe of oother mennes wele / and ioye of oother mennes harm [485] ¶ This foule synne / is platly agayns the holy goost al be it so þat euery synne / is agayn the holy goost yet nathelees for as muche as bountee aperteneth proprely to holy goost & enuye cometh proprely of malice / ther fore is proprely agayns the bountee of the holy goost [486] ¶ Now hath malice .ij. speces / that is to seyn / hardnesse of herte in wikkednesse / or ellis the flessh of a man is so blynd [folio 249a] þat he considereth nat þat he is in synne / or rekketh nat þat he is in synne / which is / the hardnesse of the deuel [487] ¶ That other spece of Enuye / is whan þat a man werreyeth trouthe / whan he woot þat it is trouthe / & eek whan he werreyeth / the grace þat god hath yeue to his

[6-text p 628] neighebore / & al this / is by enuye / [488] Certes / thanne is enuye / the worste synne þat is / for soothly / alle othere synnes / ben som tyme / agayns o special vertu / [489] but certes / enuye is agayns alle vertues / & agayns alle goodnesses / for it is sory of alle the bountees of his neighebore / & in this manere / it is dyuers from alle othere synnes / [490] for wel vnnethe / is ther any synne / þat it ne hath / som delit in hym self / saue oonly enuye / þat euere hath in hym self / angwissh & sorwe [491] ¶ The speces of Enuye ben thise ¶ Ther is [The speces of E[nuye].] first sorwe of oother mennes goodnesse and of hire pros|peritee / and prosperitee / is kyndely matere of Ioye / thanne is Enuye / a synne agayns kynde [492] ¶ The seconde spece of Enuye / is Ioye of oother mannes harm / and that is proprely lyk to the deuel that euere reioyseth hym of mannes harm [493] ¶ Of thise .ij. speces comth [Bakbitynge] bakbitynge / and this synne of bakbitynge / or detraccion / hath certeyn speces / as thus ‖ Som man preiseth his neighebore / by a wikked entente / [494] for he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte laste ende / alwey he maketh a .but. at the laste ende / þat is digne of moore blame / than worth is al the preisynge [495] ¶ The Seconde spece is / þat if a man be good / & dooth / or seith a thyng to good entente / the bakbitere wol turne al thilke goodnesse vp so down / to his shrewede entente [496] ¶ The thridde / is to amenuse / the bountee of his neighe|bore [497] ¶ The ferthe spece of bakbitynge / is this ‖ that if men speke goodnesse of a man / thanne wol the bakbitere seyn / par fey / swich a man / is yet bet than he in despreisynge / of hym þat men preise [498] ¶ The fifthe spece is / for to consente gladly / and herkne gladly / the harm þat men speke of oother folk / this synne is ful greet & ay encreseth / after the wikked entente of the bakbitere [499] ¶ After bakbitynge comth grucchynge or Murmuracion / and som tyme / it spryngeth [Grucchynge.] of Inpacience agayns god / & som tyme agayns man

[6-text p 629] [500] ¶ Agayns god is it whan a man gruccheth agayn the pyne of helle / or agayns pouerte / or los of catel / or agayn reyn / or tempest or ellis gruccheth / þat shrewes han prosperitee / or ellis / for þat goode men han ad|uersitee / [501] and alle thise thynges / sholde men suffre paciently / for they comen by the rightful Iugement & ordinance [folio 249b] of god [502] ¶ Som tyme / cometh grucchynge of Auarice / as Iudas grucched agayns the Magdeleyne / whan she enoynte the heued of oure lord Ihu crist with hire precious oynement ‖ [503] this manere of murmure is swich as whan men grucchen of goodnesses þat hem selue doon or þat othere folk doon / of hire owene catel [504] ¶ Som tyme comth Murmure of pryde / as whan Symon the pharisee / grucched agayn the Magdeleyne / whan she approched to Ihu crist & weepe at his feet for hire synnes ‖ [505] And som tyme / it sourdeth of Enuye / whan men discoueren a mannes harm þat was pryuee / or bereth hym on hand thyng þat is fals / [506] ¶ Murmur eek is ofte amonges seruantz / þat grucchen / whan hire souereyns bidden hem to doon leueful thynges / [507] and for as muche as they dar nat openly with seye the comandementz of hire souereyns / yet wol they seyn harm & grucche & murmure pryuely for verray despit/ [508] whyche wordes / men clepe the deueles pater noster / though so be / þat the deuel ne hadde neuere pater noster/ but þat lewed folk / yeuen it swich a name [509] ¶ Som tyme it comth of Ire / or pryuee hate / þat norisseth rancour in herte / as afterward I shal declare [510] ¶ Thanne comth eek bitternesse of [[Bitt]ernesse.] herte / thurgh which bitternesse / euery good dede of his neighebore semeth to hym bitter/ and vnsauoury [511] ¶ Thanne comth discord / þat vnbyndeth alle manere [[Dis]corde.] of frendshipe ¶ Thanne comth scornynge of [[Sco]rnynge] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] his neighe|bore al do he neuer so wel [512] ¶ Thanne comth accusynge / as whan man seketh occasion to anoyen his [[Ac]cusinge]

[6-text p 630] neighebore / which þat is lyk the craft of the deuel / þat wayteth bothe nyght & day to accusen vs alle / [513] ¶ Thanne comth Malignitee / thurgh which a man [[M]alignite.] anoyeth his neighebore pryuely if he may / [514] and if he nat ne may / algate / his wikked wil ne shal nat wante / as for to brennen his hous pryuely / or enpoysone / or sleen hise bestes & semblable thynges /

[The Remedy against Envy. [(No break in MS.)] ]

[515] ¶ Now wol I speken of the remedye agayns this foule [remedies for enuie.] synne of Enuye ¶ first is the loue of god principal / and louynge of hym self / & of his neighebore / for soothly / that oon ne may nat ben with outhen that oother / [516] and truste wel / þat in the name of thy neighebore / thow shalt vnderstonde / the name of thy brother / for certes / alle we haue o fader flesshly & o moder / that is to seyn Adam and Eue / & eek o fader spirituel / that is god of heuene / [517] thy neighebore artow holden for to loue & wilne hym alle goodnesse / and ther fore seith god / loue thy neighebore as thy self / that is to seyn / to sauacion / bothe of lyf/ and soule / [518] & moore [folio 250a] ouer / thow shalt loue hym in word / & benygne amonestynge / & chastisynge / & conforte hym / in hise anoyes & preye for hym with al thyn herte ‖ [519] And in dede / thow shalt loue hym in swich wise / þat thow shalt doon to hym in charitee / as thow woldest þat were doon to thyn owene persone / [520] and therfore / thow ne shalt doon hym no damage in wikked word / ne harm in his body / ne in his catel / ne in his soule by entisynge of wikked ensample [521] ¶ Thow shalt nat eek/ desiren his wyf ne none of hyse thynges ¶ Vnderstoond eek þat in the name of neighebore / is com|prehended his enemy / [522] certes man shal loue his enemy for the comandement of god / and soothly / thy freend shaltow loue in god ‖ [523] I seye / thyn enemy shaltow loue for goddes sake / by his comande|ment

[6-text p 631] / for if it were reson / þat man sholde hate his enemy / for sothe / god nolde nat receyuen vs to his loue þat ben hise enemys / [524] ¶ Agayns .iij. manere of wronges þat his enemy dooth to hym / he shal doon .iij. thynges / as thus / [525] ‖ Agayns hate & rancour of herte / he shal loue hym in herte / ‖ Agayns chidynge & wikked wordes / he shal preye for his enemy ‖ Agayns the wikked dede of his enemy / he shal doon hym bountee / [526] for crist seith / loueth youre enemys / & preieth for hem / þat speke yow harm / & eek for hem / þat yow chacen and pursuen / and dooth bountee / to hem þat yow haten ¶ Lo thus comandeth vs oure lord Ihu crist to do to oure enemys / [527] for soothly / nature dryueth vs to louen oure frendes / & parfey oure enemys / han moore nede to loue / than oure frendes / & they þat moore nede haue / certes to hem shal men doon good|nesse / [528] and certes in thilke dede haue we remem|brance of the loue of Ihu crist þat deyde for hise enemys / [529] and in as muche as thilke loue is the moore greuous to parfourne / so muche is the moore gret the merite / and therfore the louynge of of oure enemy / hath confounded the venym of the deuel / [530] for right / as the deuel is desconfited by humylitee / right so is he wownded to the deth / by the loue of oure enemy / [531] certes thanne is loue the medicyne þat chaceth out the venym of enuye fro mannes herte [532] the speces of this pas shullen ben moore largely declared / in hire chapitres folwynge

¶ Ira

[533] After Enuye / wol I discryuen the synne of Ire / for soothly / who so þat hath enuye vp on his neighebore [folio 250b] anon he wole communely fynde hym matere of wraththe / in word or in dede / agayns hym / to whom he hath enuye / [534] and as wel / comth Ire of pride /

[6-text p 632] as of enuye / for soothly / he þat is proud or enuyous / is lightly wroth

[535] ¶ This synne of Ire / after the discryuyng of Seint Augustyn / is wikked wil to ben auenged / by word / or by dede [536] ¶ Ire after the philosophre / is the feruent blood of man / yquyked in his herte / thurgh which / he wole harm / to hym þat he hateth / [537] for certes the herte of man / by eschawfynge & moeuynge of his blood / wexeth so trouble / þat he is out of alle Iugement of reson // [538] But ye shal vnderstonde / þat Ire is in two maneres ‖ that oon of hem is good & that oother is wikke ‖ [539] the goode Ire is / by Ialowsie of goodnesse / thurgh which / a man is wrooth with wikkednesse & agayns wikkednesse / and ther|fore seith a wys / that Ire is bet than pley ‖ [540] this Ire is with debonairetee / & it is wroth with oute bitternesse / nat wroth agayns the man / but wroth / with the mysdede of the man / as seith the prophete Dauid ¶ Irascimini & nolite peccare [541] ¶ Now vnderstondeth / þat wikked Ire / is in .ij. maneres ‖ that is to seyn / sodeyn Ire or hastif Ire with oute auysement & consentynge of his reson / [542] the Menyng & the sens of this is / þat the reson of a man ne con|sente nat to thilke sodeyn Ire / and thanne is it venyal ‖ [543] Another Ire / is ful wikked / þat comth of felonye of herte auysed / & cast bifore with wikked wil to do vengeance / & ther to his reson consenteth / and soothly / this is dedly synne [544] ¶ this Ire / is so dis|plesant to god / þat it troubleth his hous / & chaceth the holy goost out of mannes soule / and wasteth & de|stroyeth the liknesse of god / that is to seyn / the vertu / þat is in mannes soule / [545] & put in hym / the lik|nesse of the deuel / & bynymeth the man fro god / þat is his rightful lord ‖ [546] this Ire / is a ful gret plesance to the deuel / for it is the deueles forneys / þat is eschawfed with the fyr of helle / [547] for certes /

[6-text p 633] right so as fyr is moore myghty to destroye erthely thynges / than another Element; right so Ire is myghty / to destroye alle spirituel thynges ‖ [548] Looke / how þat fyr of smale gleedes / þat ben almoost dede vnder the Asshen wolen quyke agayn / whan they ben touched with brymston; right so / Ire wole euere mo quyke agayn / whan it is touched by the pryde þat is couered in mannes herte / [549] for certes / fyr ne may nat come out of no thyng but if it were first in the same thyng naturelly / as fyr is drawen out of flyntes with Steel / [550] and right so / as pryde is ofte tyme matere of Ire right so is rancour norice & kepere of Ire [551] ¶ Ther is a manere tree ¹as seith Seint ysidre¹ [[^1_1 Catchwords. The rest of the Hengwrt MS. is gone.]] [ [Christ Church MS folio 262a] that whan men maken fuyr of thilke tree / & couere the coles of it with asshen soothly the fuyr of it wole lasten alle a yere or more / [552] And right so fareth it of rancour whan it is ones receyued in the hertes of somme men; certeyn it wole lasten parauenture. from oon Ester Day vnto anoþer Ester day & more / [553] But certes thilke man is ful fer fro the mercy of god alle thilke while //

[554] In this forseide deuels forneys. ther forgen .iij. shrewys. Pride. that ay bloweth & encresith the fuyr by chidynge & wikked wordes // [555] Thanne stante enuye. and holdeth the hote Iren vpon the herte of man wit a peyre of longe tonges of longe rancour / [556] Thanne stant the synne of Contumelie. or strife & chest/ & batereth & forgith by vileyns repreuynges [557] Certes this cursed synne anoyeth bothe to the man hym selfe. & eeke to his neighebore. For soothly almoste al the harme that a man doth to his neighebore cometh of wrath / [558] For certez outrageous wrath dooth al that euer the deuel hym commaundeth / For he ne spareth neyther criste ne his moder / [559] And in his out|ragreous anger and Ire. allas ful many oon at that tyme felith in his herte ful wikkedly

[6-text p 634] bothe of criste & eke his halewys. [560] Is nat thys a cursed vice; yis certes allas. It bynemeth from man his witte & his reson & alle his debonaire lyfe spirituel. that shulden kepe his soule // [561] Certes yt bynemeth eke goddis dewe lordeshipe / and that is mannes soule. and the loue of his neighebores // It stryueth eke alday agayn treuthe. It reueth hym the quiete of his herte. & subuerteth his soule //

[562] Of [I]re comen these stynkynge engendrures / Fir[s]te hate. that is oldee wrath / discorde thurgh whiche a man forsaketh . his olde frendee full longe / [563] And thanne cometh werre & euery maner of wronge that man doth to his neighebore in body or in catel ‖ [564] Of this cursedde synne of Ire cometh eke manslaughter / And vndirstonde wele that homycyde that is manslaughter. is in diuerse wise. Som maner of homycyde is spirituel. & som is bodely. [565] Spirituel manslaughtre is [i]n .vj. thynges. First by hate. as seyth seint Iohn that he that hateth his brother is homycyde // [566] homycyde is eke by bakbytynge / of whiche bakbiteris seith Salomon / that they han .ij. swerdes with wiche they sleen hire neighbores. For sootly as wikke is. to by nyme hym his good name / as his lyfe // [567] homycide is eke. in yeuynge of wikked counseile ¹by fraude / or for to yeue counseile¹ [[^1_1 repeated in MS.]] / to arreyse wrongeful custumes & tailages. [568] of whiche seith seint [Christ Church MS folio 262b] Salomon / leon rorynge & bere hungry ben lyke to the Cruel lordshipes in with holdynge or abreggynge of the shipe. or the hire. or of y^e wages of seruauntes / or ellys in vsure. orin withdrawynge / of the Almesse of the pouere folke. [569] For whiche the wise man seith. Fedith hym. that almoost dieth for hunger / For sothly. but if thow fede hym. thow sleyst him // And alle these ben deedly synnes // [570] Bodely manslaughter is. whan thow sleyst hym with thy tunge // In other manere. as whan thow commaundest to slen a man or ellys yeuest hym counseile to slen a

[6-text p 635] man // [571] Man slaughter in dede; is in .iiij. maners / That oon is by lawe Right as a Iustice dampneth hym that is coupable to the deeth But late the Iustice be ware that he do it rightfully / And that he do it nat for delyte to spille blood / but for kepynge of riȝtwys|nesse // [572] A nother homycyde is doon for necessite. as whan a man sleith a nother in his defendaunt. & that he ne may noon other wise escape from his owne deeth / [573] But certeynly. if he may escape with|oute slaughter of his aduersarie and sleeth hym; he dooth synne & he shall bere penaunce as for deedly synne // [574] Eke if a man by caas or aventure shete an arwe or caste a stoon with whiche he sleith a man; he is homycyde // [575] Eke if a woman by necligence ouerlyth hire childe in hire slepynge. it is homycyde & deedly synne // [576] Eke whan man destorbeth con|cepcion of a childe / & maketh a woman other barayne by drynkynge venemous drynkes. thurgh whiche she may nat conceyue / Or sleeth a childe by drynkes or ellys putteth certeyn material thynges in hire secre places to slee the childe [577] or ellys doth vnkyndely synne. by whiche man or woman shedeth hir nature in manere or in place ther as a childe may nat be con|ceyued Or ellys if a woman hath nat conceyued / & hurte hire selfe & sleth the childe / yet is it homycyde // [578] what sey we eke of wymmen that mordren hire children for drede of wordely shame. Certes an horrible homycyde //. [579] homycyde is eke if a man ap|procheth to a woman be desire of lecherie thurgh whiche the childe is perisshed or ellys smyteth a woman wityngly thurgh whiche she leseth hire childe / Alle these ben homy|cydes. and horrible dedly synnes // [580] yet comen ther of Ire many mo synnes as wele in worde. as in thought And in dede / as he that arettith vpon god. or blameth god of thynge of whiche he is hym selfe gylty. or dispisith god. & alle hise halewis as doon these cursed hasardours

[6-text p 636] in dyuers cuntres / [581] This curside synne doon they whan they felen in hire herte / ful wikedly of god and hise halewes // [582] Also whan they treten. vnreuerently the sacrement of the holy auter thilke synne is so greet that vnnethe may it ben relessed. but that the mercy of god passeth alle his werkys it is so grete & he so benynge // [583] Than cometh of Ire attry answer / [Christ Church MS folio 263a] whan a man is sharply a-monested in his shrifte / to for|lete synnee [584] thanne wole he be Angry & answere hokrely / And angrely or deffende or excusen his synne by vn-stedefastnesse of fleisshe / or ellys he dide it for to holde companye with hise felawys / or ellys he seith the fende entyced hym / [585] or ellys he dyde it for his youthe. or ellys his complexioun. is so corageous that he may nat forbere / or ellys it ys his destyne as he seith / vnto a certeyn age or ellys he seith it comyth hym of gentilesse of his Auncestres. & semblable thynges [586] Alle these manere of folke so wrappen hem in hire synnes that they ne wole nat delyuere hem selfe / for soothly no wight that excuseth hem selfe wilfully of hys synne. may nat be delyuered of his synne til that he mekely byknoweth his synne // [587] Aftir this than cometh sweryng that is expresse agayn the commaundement of god/ And this byfalleth ofte of Angir & of Ire / [588] God seith. thow shalt nat take the name of thy lorde god in veyn. or in ydel / Also oure lord criste seith by the worde of seint Mathewe Mathee 5^to. Nolite iurare omnino. [589] Ne wolde ye nat swere in alle manere. neither by heuene; For it is goddis trone / Ne by erthe; For it is the benche of his feet; Ne by Ierusalem; for it is the Cite of a grete kynge. Ne be thyn heed; For thow maist nat make an here white ne blake. [590] But seyth by youre word ye ye; and nay nay. And what that is more it is of yuel. thus seyst crist/ [591] For cristes sake ne swerith nat so synfully in dismembrynge of Criste by soule /

[6-text p 637] herte / bones / & body / For certes it semeth / that cursed Iewis ne dismembred nat ynow the precious persone of criste. but ye dismembre hym more. [592] And if so be that the lawe com|pelle yow to swere; than rewle yow aftir the lawe of god in youre swerynge. as seith Jeromye .4^to. c^o. Iurabis/ in uerita in iudicio & in iusticia. Thow shalt kepe .iij. condicions. Thow shalt swere in trouthe In doom. and in rightwysnesse. [593] This is to seyn / Thow shalt swere soth / For euery lesynge is agayns criste / For crist is verrey trouthe / And thynke wele thys. that euery grete swerer nat compelled lawefully to swere; the wounde shal nat departe /from his hous. while he vseth swiche vnlefull swerynge / [594] Thow shalt swere eke in doom. whan thow art constreyned by thy domes|man to witnesse the treuthe ‖ [595] Eke thow shalt nat swere for enuye / ne for fauour / ne for mede; but for rightwysnesse for declaracioun of it. to worshepe of god/ and helpynge of thyn euen cristen / [596] And therfore euery man that taketh goddis name en ydel / or falsly swereth for his mouth or ellys taketh on hym the name of crist to be called a cristen man / and lyuyth agayns cristes lyuynge & his techynge / alle they taken goddes name in ydel // [597] looke eke what seith seint Petir Actuum. 4^to. Non est aliud nomen sub celo. Ther is noon other name seith seint Petir vnder heuen yeuen to men in whiche they mowe be saued. that is to seyn. but in the name of Ihesu criste / [598] Take kepe eeke. how that the precious name of criste as seith seint Poule Ad Philipenses .2. In nomine ihesu &c that in the name of ihesu [Christ Church MS folio 263b] euery knee of heuenly creatures / or erthely / or of helle; sholde bowe / For it is so holy & so worshepfull that the cursed feend in helle sholde tremblen to here it nempned // [599] Than semeth it. that men that sweren so horribly / by hys

[6-text p 638] blessed name / that they despice it more boldely. than dide the cursed iewys / or ellys the Deuel that trembleth whan he hereth his name //

[600] Now certis sith that swerynge. but if it be lawefully doon. is so hily deffended / myche worse is for swerynge falsely & yet needles //

[601] what seye we eke of hem that Delyte hem in swerynge or holden it a gentire or a manly dede to swere grete othes // And what of hem that of verray vsage. ne cesse nat to swere grete oothes / al be the cause nat woorth a straugh / certis this is horrible synne // [602] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [603] But late vs goo now to thilke horrible sweryng of adiuracioun & coniuracioun / As doon these fals en|chaunteour. or Nygromanciens in bacyns full of water. or in a bright swerde in a sercle or in a fuyr. or in the sholder boon of a sheepe / [604] I kan natte seyn / but that they doon cursedly & dampnably agayns criste and alle the feith of holy chirche //

[605] what sey we of hem. that by-leeuen on dyuynayles / as by flyght or by noyse of bryddes or of beestes / or by sort. // By geomancye / by dremes / by chirkynge of houses/ by gnawynge of rattes. & whiche manere wrecchednesse [606] certes all this thynke is defended by god & holichirche / For whiche they accursed til they come to amendement. that on swiche filthe setten here byleue // [607] Charmes for woundes or maladie of men / or of bestes / if they taken any effecte. it may be parauenture that god suffreth it. for folke sholde yeue the more feith & reuerence to his name //

[608] Now wole I speke of lesynges / whiche gener|ally / is fals signifiaunce of worde in entente to desceyuen his euen cristene // [609] Som lesynge is of whiche there cometh noon auauntage to no wight And som lesynge turneth to y^e ease or profite of a man / And to

[6-text p 639] damage of a nother man [610] // Another lesynge for to sauen his lyfe or his catel comyth of delyte for to lye / in whiche delyte they wille forge a longe tale & peynte it with alle circumstaunces. where alle the grounde of the tale is fals // [611] Som lesynge cometh for he wole sustene his worde Som lesynge cometh of rechelnesse / wit outen avisement and sem|blable thynges //

[612] late vs now touche the vice of Flatering whiche ne cometh nat gladly but for drede. or for couetise // [613] Flaterie is generally wrongfull preysynge // Flater|ies ben the deuels norices / that norissen hise children. with Melke of losengerie / [614] For sothe. Salomon seith. that flaterie is wors than detraccioun For somtyme de|traccion maketh an hauteyn man be the More humble / for he dredeth detraccion // But certes flaterie that maketh a man to enhaunsen his herte & his countenaunce // [615] Flaterers ben the deuels enchauntours. For they make a man to wene of [Christ Church MS folio 264a] hym selfe by lyke that he is nat lyke. / [616] They ben lyke Iudas that bytraised. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] a man to selle hym to his ennemye. that is the deuels // [617] Flaterers ben the deuels Chapeleyns that syngen euer placebo. [618] I rekene flaterers in the vices of Ire / for ofte tyme. if oo man be wrooth with a nother / than wole he flatere som wight to sustene hym in his quarelle //

[619] Speke we now of swiche cursynge / as comyth of Irous herte / Malysoun generally may be seyd euery maner power of harme swiche cursynge ²byreueth man fro the reigne of god / As seith seint Poule // [620] And of|tyme swiche cursynge [^2_3 wrongly repeated in MS., after³] wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth. as a brid retorneth agayn to his owne neste / [621] and ouer alle thynges men ought to eschewe to cursen hire children / & yeuen to the deuel here engendrure / as ferforth as in hem is / certes it is grete perille & grete synne //

[6-text p 640]

[622] late vs thanne speke of chidynge & reproches whiche ben full grete woundes in mannes herte. For they vnsowen the semes of Frendeshippe in mannes herte. [623] For certes vnnethes may a man ben accorded with hym that hath hym opynly reuyled & repryued. & desclaundred This is a full grymly synne as criste seith in the gospel / [624] And take kepe now. that he that repreueth his neighebore / outher he repreueth hym by som harme of peyne that he hath on his body / as Mesel Croked harlote. or be som synne that he doth // [625] Now if he repreue hym by harme of peyne; than turneth the repref to Ihesu Criste for peyne is sente by the rightwis sonde of god / And by his suffraunce / be it Meselrie. or Mayme or Maladie // [626] And if he repreue hym vncharitably of synne / as thowe dronke|lewe harlot & so forth // thanne aperteyneth that to the reioysynge of the deuel / that euer hath ioy that men don synne / [627] And certes chidynge may nat come but out of a vyleyns herte. For after the habundaunce of the herte; speketh the mouth full ofte [628] And ye shulle vndirstonde / that loke by any way. whan any man shall chastice a nother. that he be ware. from chydynge or repreuynge For trewly but if he be ware; he may full lyghtly quyken the fuyr of angre & of wrath whiche that he sholde quenche & parauenture sleeth hym that he myght chastice with benyg|nyte[629] For as seith seint Salomon. The Amiable tunge is the tree of lyfe that is to seyn. of lyfe espirituel / and soothly a deslaue tunge sleeth the spirites of hym that repreueth / and eke of hym that is repreued / [630] lo what seyth seint Augustyn / ther is no thynge so lyke y^e deuels childe. As he that ofte chideth Seint Poule seith eeke I seruaunt of god / byhoueth nat to chide. [631] And how that chidynge be a veleyns thynge bytwixe alle maner folke. yet is it certes [Christ Church MS folio 264b] moste vncouenable bitwixe a man & his wyfe. For ther is neuer reste

[6-text p 641] And therfore seith Salomon / An hous that is vnkouered. & droppynge / & a chidynge wyfe. ben lyke / [632] A man that is in a droppynge hous in many places. thow he eschewe the droppynge in oo place. it droppeth on hym in a nother place // So fareth it by a chydynge wyfe. but she chide hym in oo place / she wole chide hym in a nother // [633] And therfore bettre is a morsel of brede with ioy^e than an housfull of delices with chidyngee seith Salomon // [634] Seynt Poule seith. o ye / women be ye subiettez to youre housbondes / as byhoueth in god. And ye men / loueth youre wyfes. Ad Colonisenses 3^o. //

[635] Aftirwarde speke we of scornynge. whiche is a wikked synne. And namely whan he scorneth a man / for hise goode werkys / [636] For certes swiche scorneris faren lyke the foule tode that may nat endure to smelle the swote sauour of the vyne whan it floresseth. [637] These scorners ben partynge felawes with the deuel For they han ioye. whan the deuel wynneth. & sorwe whan he leseth. [638] For they ben aduersaries of Ihesu criste. For they haten that he loueth that is to seyn sauacion of soule /

[639] Speke we now. of wikked counseille / For he that wikked counseille yeueth is a traitour For he deceyueth hym that trusteth in hym. Vt Achitofel ad Absolonem. But natheles. yet is his wikked counseille / furste agayns hym selfe. [640] For as seith the wise man. euery fals lyuynge hathe his proprete in hym selfe that he that wole anoye another man he Anoieth firste hym selfe / [641] And men shulle vndirstonde that man shalle nat take his counseile of fals folke ne of Angry folke or greuous folke that louen specially to myche hire owne profite ne to moche wordly folke / namely in counseillynge of soules //

[642] Now com^t the synne of hem that sowen & maken discorde amonges folke whiche is a synne that

[6-text p 642] crist hateth outrely // And no wonder ys for he deyde for to make concorde / [643] And more shame done they to criste than dide they that hym crucyfied/ For god loueth bettre that frendshepe be amonge folke than he dide hys owne body whiche that he yaf for vnyte. therfore ben they lykned to the deuel / that euer is aboute to make discorde //

[644] Now cometh thee synne of dowble tonge. swiche as speken faire byforn folke and wikkedly byhynde / or elles they maken semblaunt as thoughe they speke of good entencioun. or ellys in game & pley & yette they speke of wikked entente //

[645] Now cometh bywreyng of counseille thurgh whiche a man is defamed/ certes vnneth may he restore the damage //

[646] Now comyth Manace that is an open foly./ For he that often manaceth he threteth more. than he may performe ful ofte tyme //

[647] Nowe cometh ydel wordes that is with oute profite of hym that speketh thoo wordes. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Or elles ydel wordes ben thoo that ben neodelees or with outen entente of naturel profite [648] And alle be it that ydel wordes ben som|tyme venial synne; yet sholde men doute hem. for we shulle yeue rekenynge of hem byfore god //

[649] Now cometh Ianglynge; that may nat ben with|oute [Christ Church MS folio 265a] synne. And as seith Salomon. it is a signe of a-perte folye / [650] And therfore A Philosphre seyde whan men asked hym. how that men sholdee please the people / And he answerde / Doo many good werkys and spek fewe Iangles //

[651] After this cometh the synne of Iaperis. that ben the deuels Apes / For they make folke to laughen at hire Iaperie as men doon at the gaudes of an ape / Swiche iapes defendith seint Poul [652] loke how that vertuous wordes & holy conforten hem

[6-text p 643] that trauaillen in the seruyse of criste; so conforten the vileyns wordes & knakkys of Iaperis hem that trauaillen in the seruice of the deuel / [653] These ben the synnes that comen of the tonge. that comen of Iro & of other synnes moo

Remedium contra iram.

[654] The Remedie agayns Ire is a vertue that men clepen Mansuetude / that is debonairete And eke another vertue that men calleth pacience / or suffrance /

[655] debonairete withdrawith & refreyneth the sterynges & the meouynges of mannes corage in his herte in swiche manere/ that they ne skippe nat oute by angre ne by Ire. [656] Suffraunce suffrith swetely alle the Anoyaunces & the wronges that men doon to man outwarde [657] Seint Ierome seith thus of debonairete that it dooth noon harme to no wight ne seith ne for non harme that men doon ne seyn. he ne eschawfeth nat agayns his reson // [658] This vertue somtyme cometh of nature. /For as seith the Philosophre / A man is a quykke thynge by nature debonaire & tretable to goodnesse // But whan debonairete is enformed of grace than is it the more worth //

[659] Pacience that is a nother remedie agayns Ire is a vertue that suffereth swetely euery mannes godenesse / & nat wrooth for noon harme that is doon to hym // [660] The Philosophre seith that pacience is thilke vertue that suffreth debonairly alle the outrages of aduersite. & euery wikked worde // [661] This vertue maketh a man lyke to god & makyth hym his owne dere childe as seith criste / This vertue discomfiteth thyn enemy And therfore seith the wyseman / If thow wolte venquysshe thin enemy. lerne for to suffre / [662] And thow shalte vndirstonde that man suffreth .iiij. manere

[6-text p 644] of greuauncez & outward thinges/ agayns the whiche .iiij. he mote haue .iiij. manere of paciences /

[663] The firste greuaunce is of wikked wordes. thilke suffred Ihesu criste with outen grucchynge full paciently whan the iewes despised hym & repreued hym full ofte / [664] Suffre thow therfore paciently / For the wise man seith. If thow stryue with a fool. though the fool be wrooth or thow he laugh / Algate thow shalte haue no reste [665] // That other greuaunce outwarde is to haue damage of thy catel / Ther agayns suffrid criste full paciently whan he was dispoilled of alle that he hadde in this lyfe / And that nas but of his clothes [666] // The thrid greuaunce is a man to haue harme in his body that suffred criste ful [Christ Church MS folio 265b] paciently in alle his passion [667] // The ferthe greuaunce is in outrageous labour in werkys wherfore I sey that folke that maken hire seruauntez to trauaillen to greuously / or oute of tyme / as on halidaies; soothly they don grete synne // [668] here agayns suffred criste full paciently and taught vs pacience. whan he bare vppon his blyssed sholdre the croys / vpon whiche he shulde suffre dispitous deth // [669] here may men lerne to be pacient. For nat oonly cristen men ben pacient for loue of Ihesu criste & for gerdon of the blysfull lyfe that is pardurable // But certes the olde payens that neuer were cristene. commenden & vseden the vertue of pacience

[670] A Philosophre vpon a tyme that wolde haue beten his disciple for his grete trespas For whiche he was gretly amoeued. and broughte a yerde to scourge the childe / [671] And whan the childe saugh the yerde he seide to his maister. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] for thy correccioun. [672] For sothe quod the childe / ye oughte firste correcte youre selfe that han loste al youre pacience / for the gilte of a childe / [673] Forsoth quod the maister al wepynge; thow

[6-text p 645] seist sooth; haue thow the yerde my dere sone & correcte me for myn impacience // [674] Of pacience cometh obedience thurgh whiche a man is obedient to criste & to alle hem to whiche he ought ben obedient to criste // [675] And vndirstonde wele that obedience is parfite whan that a man dooth gladly & hastyly with good. herte entierly. al that he shold doo. [676] Obedience generally is to performe the doctrine of god & of his souereyn to whiche hym ougte to ben obeissaunt in alle rightwisnesse

.De accidia./

[677] Aftyr the synne of Envye and Ire; now wole I speke of thee synne of Accidie. For Enuye blyndeth the herte of a man & Ire trobleth a man. And Accidie maketh hym heuy thoughtfull & wrawe. [678] Enuye & Ire maken bitternesse in herte / which bitternesse is moder of accidie / And bynemeth hym the loue of alle goodnesse / Thanne is accidie the Angwisshe of troubled herte. As seith seint Austyn seith / It is anoye of goodnesse. & anoye of harme [679] / Certes this is a dampnable synne / for it dooth wronge to ihesu criste in as moche as it bynemeth the seruyce that men oughte doon to ihesu criste with alle diligence. as seith Salo|mon // [680] But Accidie dooth no swiche diligence. he dooth all thynge with a noy. and with wrawnesse. And excusacioun. And with ydelnesse & vnluste / For whiche the book seith / A-cursed be he. that dooth the seruyce of god necligently [681] Thanne is Accidie enemy to euery estaat of man. For certes thestaat of man is in .iij. maners // [682] Outher it is thestaat of Innocence / as was thestaat of Adam byforn that he felle in-to synne / in whichee estaat he was holden too wirche / as in heringe / And Adowrynge of god // [683] Another estaat is thestaat of synfull men / in whiche estat men ben holden

[6-text p 646] to labour in preynge to god for amendement of hire synnes / & that he wole graunte hem to ryse oute of hire synnes [684] [Christ Church MS folio 266a] A nother estaat is the estaat of grace. in whiche estaat he is holde to werkes of penytence / And certes to alle these thynges. is Accidie enemye & con|trarie. For he loueth no besynesse at al // [685] Now certes this foule synne / Accie is eke a ful grete enemye to the lyflode of the body / For it ne hath noo purueaunce agayns temporel necessite For it forslewith & for|sluggeth & destroieth alle goodes temporels by rechelesnesse //

[686] The .iiij. thynge is that Accidie is lyke hem / that ben in the peyne of helle. by cause of hir sleuthe / & of hire heuynesse / For they that ben dampned ben so bounde/ that thay may neyther wele doo ne thynke // [687] Of Accie cometh first that a man is anoyed & encombred for to do any goodnesse / & maketh that god hath abhomynacioun of swiche Accidye //

[688] Now cometh sleuth that wil nat suffre. non hardnesse ne no penaunce / For soothly slouthe ys so tendre & soo delicate. as seith Salomon / that he wole nat suffre noon hardnesse / ne penaunce / And therfore he shendeth al that he dooth [689] agayns this roten herted synne of Accidie & slouthe sholde men exercise hem selfe & vse hem selfe to don good werkes / and manly & vertuously cacchen corage wele to doon thenk|ynge that oure lord Ihesu criste quyteth euery good dede / be it neuer so lite [690] vsage of labour. is a greet thynge. for it maketh as [s]eith Seint Bernarde the laborer to haue stronge armes & harde synwes / & slouthe makith hem feble & tendre // [691] Than cometh drede to begynne to werke any good werkes / for certes he that is enclyned to synne / hym thinketh it is so greet an Emprise for to vndirtake to doon werkes of goodnesse / [692] and casteth in his herte that the

[6-text p 647] circumstaunces of goodnesse ben so greuouse & so chargeaunt for to suffre / that he dar nat vndirtake to do werkes of goodnesse As seith seint Gregorie

[693] Now cometh wanhope that is despeire of the mercy of god that comyth somtyme of to moche out|rageous sorwe / And somtyme of to moche drede ymagen|ynge that he hath do so myche synne. that it wole nat auaille hym though he wolde repente hym / & forsake synne / [694] thurgh whiche despaire or drede / he habawndoneth alle his herte to euery maner synne / As seith seint Augustyn / [695] whiche dampnable synne / if that it contynue vnto his ende / it is cleped synnyng in the holy goost // [696] This horrible synne is so perilous. that he that is despeired / ther nys no felonye ne no synne that he douteth for to doo / As shewed wele be Judas / [697] certes a bouen alle synnes. than is this synne moste displesaunt to criste & moste & moste [[sic]] aduersarie [698] Sothely / he that despeireth hym. is lyke the cowarde Champion recreaunt that seith creant with oute nede / Allas allas. nedeles is he recreaunt & nedeles despeired / [699] Certes the mercy of god is euer redy to y^e penytent And is. a-bouen alle his werkys. [700] Allas kan nat a man by-thynken hym on the gospel of seint luke. 15. Where as criste seith / that as wele shalle ther be ioye in heuene vpon a synfull man that dooth penitence / than vpon. 90 & 19 rightfull men that . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] neden noo [Christ Church MS folio 266b] penitence / [701] loke forther in the same gospel / the ioye & the feste of thee good man that hadde loste his sone / whan his sone with repentaunce was retourned to his fader [702] kan they nat remembre hem eke that as seith seynt luke .23. how that the theef / that was hanged by syde Ihesu criste seyde / lorde remembre of me. whan thow comest into thy reigne. [703] For sothe seyde criste I sey to the. to day shalt thow be with me in paradys / [704] Certes ther is noon so horrible synne of

[6-text p 648] man that it ne may in his lyfe be destroied by penitence. thurgh vertue of the passioun & of the deeth of crist [705] Allas what nedeth man thanne to ben despeired. sith that his mercy so redy is & large / axe & haue // [706] Thanne cometh sompnolense. that is sluggy slombrynge whiche maketh a man be heuy & dulle in body & in soule // & this synne cometh of sleuth / [707] And certes the tyme that by wey of reson men sholde nat slepe that is by the morwe / but if there were cause / resonable [708] for soothly the morwe tyde is moste couenable / a man to sey his preiers and for to thynke on god / & to honour god / & to yeuen almesse to the poore / that firste cometh in the name of criste / [709] loo what seith Salomon / who so wole by the morwe a-wake & seke me / he shalle fynde [710] Thanne cometh neclygence or rechele[s]nesse. that rekketh of no thynge /. and how that ignoraunce be moder of alle harme / certes necligence is the Norice / [711] Necligence ne doth noo force whan he shall doon a thynge whether he do it wele or baddely //

[712] Of the remedye of these twoo synnes as seith the wyse man that he that dredeth god / he spareth nat to doon that hym oughte doon. [713] & he that loueth god; he wole doon diligence to plese god to his werkis and a-bawndone hym selfe with alle his myght wele for to doon / [714] Than cometh Idelnesse that is the yate of alle harmes / An ydel man is lyke a place that hath no wallys the deuels may entre on euery syde / or sheet at hym ad diskouerte by temptacion on euery syde / [715] This ydelnesse is the Thurrok/ of alle wikked and vileyns. and of alle Iangles trufles / and of alle ordure / [716] Certes the heuen is yeuen to hem that wole labouren & nat to ydel folke / Eeke Dauid seith that they ne be nat in the laboure of men ne they shulle nat be whipped with men that is to seyn in purgatorie /

[6-text p 649] [717] certes thanne semeth it they shulle be turmentyd with the del in helle. but if they doo penitence /

[718] Than cometh the synne that men clepe Tarditas / as whan a man is to laterede or tariynge er he wole turne to god / And certes that is a grete folye / he is lyke to hym that falleth in the diche / & wole nat aryse / [719] And this vice comyth of a fals hope / that he thynketh / that he shalle lyue longe / but that hope failleth ful ofte //

[720] Thanne cometh lacchesse / that is he / that whan he begynneth any good werke anoon he shalle forlete it and stynte as doon they that han any wight to gouerne / and ne taken of hym no more kepe / Anoon as they fynden any contrarie / or any anoye // [721] These ben the newe shepehurdes that leten hire shipe wytyngly to renne to the wolfe that is in the breris / or do no force of hire owne gouer [Christ Church MS folio 267a] naunce / [722] Of this cometh pouerte / and destruccion bothe of spirituelle & temporelle thynges / Thanne cometh a maner cooldnesse that freseith alle the herte of man // [723] Than comyth vndeuocion thurgh whiche a man is blente As seith seint Bernard / & hath swiche langour in soule that he may neither rede ne synge in holy chirche. ne here ne thynke of noo deuocion ne trauaille with his handes in noo good werke that it nys to hym vnsauory / And alle appalled / [724] thanne waxeth he slow & slombry / And so is enclyned to hate & to Enuye // [725] thanne comyth the synne of wordly sorwe. swiche as is cleped Tristicia. that sleeth man as seith seint Poule / [726] For certes swiche sorwe wercheth to the deeth of the soule / and of the body also / For ther of cometh / that a man is anoyed of his owne lyfe / [727] wherfore swiche sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lyfe of a man er that his tyme by come by wey of kynde

[6-text p 650]

Remedium contra peccatum accidie

[728] Agayns this horrible synne of Accidie & the braun|ches of the same that is a vertue that is called Fortitudo. or strenght that is an affeccion thurgh whiche aman despiseth a noyous thynge // [729] This vertue is so myghty and so vigorous / that it dar withstonde myghtely & wisely kepe hym from periles that ben wikked / and wrastle agayns the assawtes of the deuel / [730] for it enhaunceth & enforceth the soule right as Accidie a-batith it and maketh it feble / For this Fortitudo may long endure by longe suffraunce. the trauailles that ben couenable //

[731] This vertue hath many spices // The firste is cleped magnanymite / that is to seyn grete corage . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] agayns Accidie / leste that it ne swolwe the soule / by the synne of sorwe. or destroye it by wanhope / [732] This vertue maketh folke vndirtake harde thynges & greuouse thynges by hire owne wille. wisely and resonabely / [733] And for as mychel as the deuel fyȝtteth agayns a man more by queyntyse and by sleight than by streght; therfore men shalle withstande hym by witte & by reson & by dis|crecion [734] Thanne Arn there the vertues of Feith & hope in god; and in his seintȝ to acheue & complice the good werkys whiche he purposeth fermely to contynue // [735] Thanne cometh seuerte or sikernesse & that is whan a man ne douteth no trauaille in tyme comynge of the good werkes that a man hath bygonne // [736] Than cometh magnificence / that is to seyn whan a man dooth & perfourmeth grete werkes of goodnesse And that is the ende why that men sholde doo gode werkys / For in the Accomplysynge of grete gode werkys. lyth the grete gerdoun [737] Thanne is there Constaunce that is stablenesse of corage / And this sholde ben in herte by stedeuast feith / And in mouth / and in

[6-text p 651] berynge & in chere / & in dede / [738] Eke ther ben more special remedies agayns Accidie in dyuers werkys. And in consideracions of the peynes of helle [Christ Church MS folio 267b] and of the ioyes of heuene / And in the truste of the grace of the holy goost that wole yeue hym myght to performe ys good entente.

De Auaricia

[739] Aftyr Accidie wole I speke of Auarice / & of coueitise / of whiche synne / seith seint Poule / that the rote of alle harmes ys couetise / Ad Thimoth.6^to. [740] For soothly whan the herte of mar is confounded in it selfe & trowble / and that the soule hath loste the comfort of god than seketh he an ydel solace of wordly thynges

[741] // Auarice aftir the descripcioun / of seint Augustyn is lykerous in herte to haue erthely thynges / [742] som other folke seyn that auarice is for to purchace many erthely thynges. & no thynge yeue to hem that han nede // [743] And vndirstonde that Auarice ne stant nat in londe ne catel. but som|tyme in science & in glorie. & in euery maner outrageous thynge. is Auarice & couetise / [744] And the difference bitwix Auarice & couetise is this / Couetise is this / Couetise is for to coueit swiche thynges as thow haste nat / And Auarice is for to with-holde & to kepe swiche thynges as thow haste with oute rightful nede / [745] Soothly this Auarice is a synne that is full dampnable / For alle holy writte curseth it / And speketh agayns that vice. For it dooth wronge to Ihesu criste / [746] For it byreueth hym the loue that men to hym owen. & turneth yt bakwarde agayns alle reson. [747] and makith that the Auaricious man hath more hope in his catel. than in Ihesu criste. and doeth more obseruaunce & kepynge of his tresore than he doth to the seruyse of Ihesu criste / [748] And therfore seith

[6-text p 652] seint Poul Ad Ephesios .5^to. that an auaricious man is the thraldom of ydolatrie

[749] What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre / and an auaricious man / but that an ydolastre parauenture ne hath but oo mawment or twoo And the Auaricious man hath manye / For certes euery Floryn in his Coffre / is hys Mawment / [750] And certes the synne of Mawmientrie is the firste thynge / that god deffended in the ten commaund|ement as berith witnesse in Exodi c^o. 20. [751] Thow shalte haue no fals goddis bifore me / ne thow shalte make to the noo graue thynge Thus is an Auaricious man that loueth his tresore byforn god and ydolastre [752] thurgh his cursed synne of Auarice // Of Couetise comen his harde lordshipes. thurgh whiche men ben destreyned by taylages / customes & cariages moore than hire duete or resonn is / And eke take they of hire bonde men Amercymentz whiche myghte moore rightfully ben cleped extorcions than Mercymentz [753] Of whiche mercymentz and raunsonynge of bonde men / somme lordes stywardes. seyen that it is rightfull / for as myche as a cherle hath no temporel thynge that it ne is his lordes as they seyn // [754] But certes these bysshops don [Christ Church MS folio 268a] wronge that byreuen hire bonde folke thynges that they neuer yaf hem Augustinus de civitate libro .9^o. // [755] Sooth is that the condicion of thraldom. & the firste cause of thraldom is for synne Genesis .9^o.

[756] thus may yee sen that the gilte disserued thraldom / but nat nature / [757] wherfore these lordes ne sholde nat myche glorifie hem in hire lordeships sith that be naturel condicion they ben nat lordes ouer thralles / but that thraldome comyth firste by the diserte of synne // [758] And forther ouer / ther as the lawe seith that temporel godes of bonde folke ben the goodes of hire lordshipes / ye that is for to vndirstonde the godes of the Emperour / to deffenden hem in here right. but nat for to robben hem ne reuen hem / [759] And therfore

[6-text p 653] seith Seneca / Thy prudence shulde lyue benignely with thy thralles [760] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ben goddes peple / For humble folke / ben cristes freendes. they ben contubernial with the lorde //

[761] Thenke eke that of swiche seed . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] springen lordes / as wele may the cherle be saued as the lorde / [762] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] wherfore I rede do right so with thy cherle. as thow woldest that thy lorde dide with thee / if thow were in his plyght // [763] Euery synfull man is a cherle to synne / I rede thee certes that thow lorde werke in swiche wise with thy cherles. that they rather loue the than drede // [764] I woot wele ther is degre a-boue degree. as reson is and skille is that men do hyre deuoire ther as it is dewe / But certes extorcions & despite of youre vnderlynges is dampnable //

[765] And forther ouer vnderstonde wele that conquerours or tirauntz maken ful ofte thralles of hem that ben borne of as roial blood as ben they that hem conqueren / [766] This name of Cherldom was neuer erste kouthe til that Noe seide that his sone Canaan sholde be thralle to hise bretheren for his synne // [767] What seye we thanne of hem thatte pilen & doon extorcions to holy chirche / Certes the swerde thatte men yeuen firste to a knyght. whanne he is newe dubbed signifieth that he sholde deffende holy chirche / and nat robbe it ne pile it And whoo so dooth is traitour to criste / [768] And as seith seint Augustyn. they ben the deuels wolues that stra[n]glen the sheepe of ihesu criste. And doon worse than wolues / [769] For soothly whanne thee wolfe hath full his wombe. he stynteth to strangle his sheepe But soothly the pilours and destroi|ours of holy chirches godes. ne doo nat soo. For they ne stynte neuer to pille haue they neuer so myche [770] Now as I haue seide. sith so is that synne was firste cause; of thraldom;

[6-text p 654] than is it thus that thilke tyme. that alle this world was in synne; than was al this world thraldom & subieccioun [771] but certes sith the tyme of grace cam / god ordeyned / that som folke sholde be more highe in estaat & in degree. and some folke more lowh / and that eueriche sholde be serued in estaat . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [772] And therfore in som cuntres ther they bien thralles whan they han tur [Christ Church MS folio 268b] ned hem to the feyth; they make hire thralles free oute of thraldom / And therfore certes the lorde oweth to his man; that the man that the man oweth to his lorde / [773] The pope calleth hym selfe seruaunt of the seruauntez of god; but for as moche as the estate of holy chirche ne myghte nat han be / ne the comune profite myght nat han be kepte ne pees & reste in erthe but if god hadde ordeyned that som man had hier degree & som men lower. [774] therfore was souereynete ordeyned to kepe & mayntene. and def|fende hire vnderlynges or hire subgetz in reson / as fer|forth as lieth in here power / And nat to destroy hem / ne confounde / [775] Wherfore I seye of thilke lordes. that ben like wolues that deuouren the possessions or the catel of pouere folke wrongfully. with outen mercy or mesure; [776] they shulle receyuen by the same mesure that they han mesured to pouere folke the mercy of Ihesu criste but if it be amended // [777] Now comyth deceite betwix Merchaunt & Merchaunt. And thow shalte vndir|stonde / that merchaundise is in many maners / that oon is bodely / and that other is gostely // That oon is honeste & leuefull & that other deshoneste & vnleuefull // [778] Of thilke bodely merchaundise that is leuefull and honeste is this / that there as god hath ordeyned that a regne / or a cuntre is suffisaunt to hym selfe; than is it honeste & leuefull / that of habundaunce of this cuntre that men helpe another cuntre that is more nedy // [779] And therfore ther mote ben Merchauntz to brynge fro that oo cuntre to that other hire Merch|aundisez

[6-text p 655] // [780] That other Merchaundise that men haunte with fraude or trecherie & deceite with lesynges & fals oothes. is cursed & dampnable // [781] Espirituel Merchaundise is proprely Symonye that is ententyfe desire to bye thynge espirituel / that is thynge that aperteneth to the seintuarie of god & to cure of the soule / [782] This desire if so be that a man doo his diligence to performe it / al be it that his desire ne take noon effecte yet is it to hym a deedly synne / and if he be ordred. he is irreguler // [783] Certes Symonye is cleped of Symond Magus that wolde han boughte for temporel catel the yefte that god hadde yeuen by the holy goost to seint Peter and to the Apostles. [784] And therfore vndirstonde. that bothe he that selleth. & he that bieth thynges espirituels. ben cleped Symony als / be it by catel. be it be procurynge or be fleisshly preiere of hise frendis / or espirituel frendes / [785] Fleisly in two maners as by kyn-rede. or other frendes / Sothly if they praye for hym that is nat worthy and able / it is symonye. if he take the benefice / & if he be worthy and able; ther nys noon // [786] That other maner is. whan man or woman praien for folke to auauncen hem oonly. For wikke fleisshly affeccioun [Christ Church MS folio 269a] that they han vnto the persones / And that is foule Symonye / [787] but certez in seruyse for whiche men yeuen thyng espirituel. vnto hire seruauntz. it mote ben vndi[r]stande / that the seruise mote be honeste & ellys / nat / And eke that it be with oute bargaynynge / and that the persone be able / [788] For as seith seint Damasye / alle the synnes of the worlde at regarde of this synne / arn as a thynge of naught for it is y^e gretteste synne that may be. after the synne of lucyfer & of Antecriste [789] for by this synne god forleseth the chirche & the soule that he bought with his precious blood by hem that yeuen chirches to hem that ben nat digne / [790] For they putten. In thevys that

[6-text p 656] stelen the soules of ihesu criste & destroien his patri|moygne [791] by swiche vndigne prestes & curatz halewed men han the lesse reuerence of the sacrementz of holy chirche & swiche yeueris of chirches putten oute the children of criste and putten into the chirche the deuels owne sone / [792] they sillen the soules that lambes shulde kepen to the wolfe that strangleth hem // And therfore shulle they neuer han parte of the pasture of lambes that is the blysse of heuene // [793] Now comyth hasardrie with hise apur|tenaunces. as tables. Rafles. of which deceite fals oothes / chidynges / and alle rauynes / blasphemynge & reneiynge of god / and hate of his neighebores / waaste of goodes / mysdespendynge of tyme / & somtym man|slaughtre // [794] Certes hasardours ne mowe nat ben with outen grete synne // . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [795] Of Auarice / comen eke lesynges / thefte & fals witnesse and fals oothes / And ye shulle vndirstonde that these ben grete synne. & expresse agayn the commaundementz of god as I haue seyd [796] Fals witnesse is in worde & eke in dede. In worde; as for to bireue thy neighebores good name by thy fals witnessynge or birefe hym his catel or his heritage by fals witnesseng whan thowe for ire or for mede. or for enuye birefte fals witnesse / or accusest hym or excusest hym by thy fals witnesse / or ellys ex|cusest thy self falsly / [797] Ware yow questemongers and Notaries. Certes thurghe fals witnessyng was Susanna in ful grete sorwe and peyne. & many a nother moo // [798] The synne of thefte is eke expresse agayns goddis heste. & that in two maners / corporel or spirituel [799] [Corporel] as for to take thy neighebores catel agayns his wille / by it by force / or by sleighte / be it by mete or by mesure [800] by stelynge eke of fals enditementz vpon hym. & in borwynge of thy neighebores catel / in entente neuer to paie. & semblable thynges // [801] Es|pirituel thefte is sacrilege that is to seyn hurt|ynge

[6-text p 657] of holy thynges or of thynges sacred to criste in twoo maneris by reson of the holy place. as chirches or chirchehawes. [802] For whiche euery vyleyns synne that men doon in swiche places may be cleped sacrilege or euery violence in the semblable places // Also they that withdrawe falsly the rightes that longen to holy chirche [803] & pleinly & generally sacrilege is to reue holy thynge fro holy place / or vnholy thynge oute of holy [Christ Church MS folio 269b] place / or holy thynge oute of vn|holy place

Remedium contra peccatum auaricie

[804] NOw shulle ye vndirstonde / that the releuynge of Auarice / is misericorde & pite largely taken / And men myght axe why that misericorde & pite is releuynge of auarice // [805] Certes the Auari|cious man sheweth no pite ne misericorde to the nedefull man. For he deliteth hym in kepynge of hise tresore. and nat in the rescowynge ne releuynge of hys euene cristene / And therfore speke I firste of Misericorde // [806] Thanne is misericorde as seith the Philosophre a vertue. by whiche the corage of a man is sterid by the myseise of hym that is myseised / [807] vpon whiche Misericorde folwith pite in perfourmynge of charitable werkys of Misericorde / [808] And certes thise moeuen man to the Misericorde of ihesu criste that yaf hym self for oure gilte & suffred deeth for Misericorde. & forgaf vs original synnes / [809] and therby relessed vs fro the peyne of helle. & amenused thee peyne of purgetorie. by penitence / And yeueth grace wele to doo and at the laste. the ioy of heuene // [810] The spices of Misericorde ben as for to lene. & for to yeue. & eke for to yeue & relesse. & for to han pite in herte. & compassion of the myschefe of his

[6-text p 658] euene cristene / and eke chastise ther as nede is // [811] A nother maner of remedie agayns Auarice is resonable largesse / But soothly here byhoueth the con|syderacion of the grace of ihesu criste. and of his temporel goodes eke & of the goodes perdurables that criste yaf vs / [812] & eke to han remembraunce of the deeth that he shal receyue. he noot whanne. & eke that he shal forgoon al that he hath. saue oonly that he hath despended in good werkys //

[813] But for as myche as som folke ben vn Mesur|able. men oughte eschewe fool largesse that men clepen waaste // [814] Certes he that is fool large. ne yeueth nat his catel but he leseth his catel / Soothly what thynge that he yeueth for veyn glorie / as to Mynstrals / & to folke for to beren his renoun in the worlde / he hath synne & noon almesse / [815] certes he leseth firste hys godes. that ne seketh with the yefte of his good / nothynge but synne / [816] he is lyke to an hors that seketh rather to drynke drouy or trowble water than for to drynkee water of the clere welle / [817] And for as myche as they yeuen. there as they shulde nat yeuen. to hem aperteyneth thilke malison that criste shall yeue at the day of dome to hem that shullen be dampned

.De .Gula./

[818] After Auarice comyth Glotonye. whiche is expresse [Gula] eke a-geyn the commaundement of god // Glotonye is vnmesurable appetyte to ete or to drynke. or ellys to doon y-now to the vnmesurable appetyt & desordeyne couetise to ete or to drynke / [819] This synne [Christ Church MS folio 270a] This synne corrumped al this world / as is wele shewed in the synne of Adam & of Eue. loo eke what seith seint Poule of glotonye / [820] Many seith seint Poule goon / of whiche

[6-text p 659] I haue efte seyde to yow / And now I seye it wepynge / that ben the enemys of the croys of criste / of whiche the ende is deeth / and of whiche hire wombe is hire god. and hir glorie / & in confusion of hem / that so deuouren erthely thynges / [821] he that is vsaunt to this synne of glotonye; he ne may no synne withstonde / he mote ben in seruage of alle vices / for it is the deueles horde / ther he rideth hym & resteth / [822] this synne hath many spices // The firste is dronkenesse that is the horrible sepulcre of mannes reson / And ther|fore whan a man is drunken. he hath loste his reson. and this is deedly synne / [823] But soothly whan that a man is nat wonte to stronge drynke. & perauenture ne knoweth nat the strenghthe of the drynke or hath feblesse in his heed or hath trauailled / thurgh whiche he drynketh the more. al be he sodenly caught with drynke. it is no deedly synne / but venial // [824] The secounde spice of glotonye is; that the spirite of a man wexeth alle troble for dronkenesse bireueth hym the discrecioun of his witte // [825] The thridde spice of glotonye is. whan a man devowreth his mete. & hath no rightfull maner of etynge [826] The ferthe is. whanne thurgh the grete habun|daunce of his mete / the humours in his body ben des|tempered // [827] The fifte is. foryetilnesse be to mychel drynkynge. for whiche somtyme a man forgeteth er the morwe // what he dyde at euen or on the nyght byfore //

[828] In other maner ben distynte the spices of Glotonye aftir seint Gregorie // The firste is for to ete bi|foren tyme to ete // The secounde is whan a man gete hym no delicate mete or drynke // [829] The thridde is. whan men taken to myche ouer mesure // The fourthe is Curiosite / with grete entente to make & apparaillen his mete // The fifte is for to ete to gredely // [830] These ben the v. fyngers of the deuels hande / by whiche he drawith folke to synne

[6-text p 660]

¶ Remedium contra peccatum gule

[831] Agayns glotonye is the remedie. Abstynence as seith Galien. but that holde I nat meritorie. if he do it oonly for hele of the body / Seint Augustyn wole that Abstinence doon for vertue & with pacience /[832] Abstynence he seith. is litelle woorth. but if a man haue good wille therto / and but it be enforced by pacience & by charite & that men doon it for goddis sake & in hope to haue the blysse of heuene //

[833] The felawes of Abstinence / ben attemper|aunce that holdeth the mene in alle thynges / Eke shame that escheweth alle deshoneste / Suffisaunce that siketh no riche metes ne drynkes ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparaillynge of metis / [834] Mesure also that restreyneth by reson the deslauee appetit of etynge / Sobrenesse also that restreyneth the outrage of drynke / [835] Sparynge also that restreineth the delicate ease to sitte longe at his mete. and softely / wher fore somme folke stonden at hire owne wille to eten atte lasse leyser

[Christ Church MS folio 270b] .De luxuria./

[836] After Glotonye. thanne cometh leccherie / For these two synnes ben so nygh Cosyns that ofte tyme they wole nat departe / [837] God wote this synne is ful displesaunt to god / for he seide hym selfe. doo no leccherie / And therfore he putte grete peynes agayns thys synne in the olde testament. [838] If wom|an thralle. were taken in this synne. she sholde be beten with staues to the deth / And if shee were a gentil|woman. she sholde be slayn with stones / And if she were a bisshopes doughter. she sholde be brente by goddes commaundement // [839] Forther ouer by the synne of leccherie god dreinte alle the worlde. at the

[6-text p 661] diluge / And aftir that he brente .v. Citees with thonder lyght. & sonke hem into helle //

[840] Now late vs speke thanne of thylke stynkynge synne of leccherie that men clepe avoutrie of weddide folke that is to seyn. if that oon of hem be weddyd. or ellys bothe [841] Seint Iohn seyth / that auowtiers shullen ben in helle in a stanke brennynge of fuyr & of brymstoon . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] for the stynke of hire ordure // [842] Certes the brekynge of thys sacrement. is an horrible thynge. It was maked of god hym selfe in paradys. and confermed by Ihesu criste as witnesseth seint Mathew in the gospel. 19. A man shal lete Fader & Moder & takyn hym to his wyfe. & they shuln ben twoo in oo fleissh [843] This sacrament betoke|neth the knyttynge to-gidre of criste & of holy chirche. [844] And nat oonly that god forbade avoutrie in dede. but eke he commaunded / that thow sholdest nat coueite thy neighebores wyfe [845] In this heste seith seint Augustyn. is forboden alle manere couetise to doon lecherie / loo what seith seint Mathewe.v^o. in the gospel / that who seeth a woman to couetise of hys luste he hath doon lecherie with hire in his herte. [846] here may ye sen / that nat oonly the de dede of this synne is forboden / but eke the desire to doon that synne // [847] Thys cursed synne anoieth greuously hem that it haunten And firste to hire soule / For he obligeth it to synne & to peyne of deth that is perdurable / [848] vnto the body anoieth it greuously also / For it drieth hym & wasteth / and shente hym / and of his blood he maketh sacrifice to the fende of helle / It wasteth eke his catel / and his substaunce [849] and certes yef it be a foule thynge a man to wasten his catel on wommen; yet is it a fouller thynge whan that for swiche ordure wommen despenden vpon men hire catel & substaunce // [850] Thys synne as seith the prophete byreueth man & woman hire good fame & alle hire honour. And it is full plesaunt to the deuel./ For therby

[6-text p 662] wynneth he the moste partie of this worlde / [851] And right as a Merchaunt deliteth hym moste in chafare that he hath moost auauntage of/ right so deliteth the fende in this ordure /

[852] This is that other [hond] of the deuel with .v. fyngers to cacche the peple to this vileynye // [853] The firste fynger is the fool lokynge of the fool womman. and of the fool man that sleeth right as the basilicok/ sleth folke / by the venym of hys [Christ Church MS folio 271a] syght for the couetise of the eyen / folwen the couetyse of the herte // [854] The secound fynger is the vyleyns touchynge in wicked manere / And therfore seith seint Salomon. that who so toucheth and handleth a woman he fareth lyke hym that handleth the Scorpion that styngeth & sodeinly sleeth thurgh his enuenemynge / as who so touchith warme piche. hit shent hise fingres // [855] The thridde is fool wordes. that farith lyke fuyr that right anoon brenneth the herte // [856] The ferthe fynger. is the kyssynge / And trewely he were a greet fool that wolde kysse the Mouth of a brennynge Ouene. or of a Forneis [857] And more fooles ben they that kyssen in vileynye / For that Mouth is the Mouthe of helle / And namely this olde Dotardes holors yet wole they kysse; thogh they may nat doo. & smatre hem / [858] Certes they ben lyke to houndes / For an hounde whan he cometh by the roser or by other beautes. thogh he may nat pisse / yet wole he heue up his legge and make kon|tenaunce to pisse / [859] And for that many man weneth that he may nat synne for no lykerousnesse that he doth with his wyfe certes that opynyon is fals / god woot a man may slen hym selfe with his owne knyfe / & make hym selfe dronke of his owne tonne / [860] Certis be it wyfe or childe. or any wordly thynge that he loueth byforn god / it is his mawment. & he is an ydolastre / [861] A man sholde louen his wyfe by discrecion / paciently and attemprely. and thanne is she as it were

[6-text p 663] hys syster // [862] The fyfthe fyfthe fynger of the deuels hand / is the stynkynge dede of lecchery [863] Certes the .v. fyngres of glotonye the fende putte in the wombe of a man. & with his .v. fyngers of lecherie he gripeth hym by the reynes for to throwe hym into the forneys of helle / [864] ther as they shalle han the fuyr and the wormes that euer shulle lasten and wepynge & waylyng/ sharpe hunger & thurste / grymlynesse of the deueles that shullen alle to treden hem withoute respyte. and with outen ende // [865] Of lecherie as I seyde sourden dyuerse spices. As fornicacion. that is bitwixe man & woman that ben nat maryed/ and this is deedly and agayns nature / [866] al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature. is agayns nature / [867] Parfay the reson of a man telleth hym eke wele that it is deedly synne / For as myche as [go]d forbade lecherie / And seint Poule yeueth hem the regne / that [MS. torn] dewe to no wight but to hem that doon deedly synne [868] [MS. torn] her synne of lecherie of is for to bireue a maiden. of hire may[denh]ode // For he that soo dooth; certes he casteth a maiden out [MS. torn]e hiest degree that is in this present lyfe [869] & bireueth hire thil[ke preci]ous fruyt that the book clepith the hundrid fruyt I ne kan [nat seye] it noon other weyes in englysshe. but in latyn it hight Cen[tesim]us fructus / [870] Certes he that so dooth. is cause of many damages [and vile]ynyes. moo than any man kan rekene / Right as he somtyme is cause of alle the damages that beestes don in the felde. that brekyth [Christ Church MS folio 271b] the hegge or the closure / thurgh whiche he destroieth that may nat ben restored / [871] For certes no more may maydenhede be re|stored thanne an arme that is smyten fro the body may retorne a-gayn to wexe / [872] she may haue mercy . thys woot I wele if shee do penitence / but neuer shal it be. that she nas corrupt. [873] And alle be it so that I haue spoke somwhat of avoutrie. it is good to shewe moo perils that longen to avoutrye for to eschewe that foule

[6-text p 664] synne / [874] Auowtrye in latyn is for to seyne aprochynge of oother mannes bedde thorgh thoo that whilom were o fleyssh abawdone hir bodyes to othere persones [875] Of this synne as seyth the wise man folwen many harmes / First brekynge of feyth And certes in feith is the keye of Cristendome / [876] And whan that fey[th] is broke & lorne. soothly Cristendome stant veyne & with outen fruyt [877] This synne is eke a thefte / For thefte generally to speke is for to reue a wight his thynge agayns his wille / [878] Certis this is the fouleste thefte that may be whan a woman stelyth hire body from hire housbande. & yeueth it to hire holour to defoule hire. & stelyth hire soule fro criste and yeueth it to the deuel / [879] this is a fouler thefte. than for to breke a chirche & stele the Chalice // For these avoutiers breken te temple of god spirituelly. & stelen the vessel of grace that is y^e body & the soule. For whiche criste shal destroien hem as seyth seint Poule. [880] Soothly of this thefte. douted gretly Ioseph. whan that hys lordes wyfe preyed hym of vylenye whan he seyde / loo my lady how my lorde hath take to me vnder my warde / al that he hath in this worlde. ne no thynge of of hise thynges is oute of my power but oonly ye that ben his wyfe / [881] And how sholde I thanne do this wikkednesse & synne so horribly agayns god / and agayns my lorde god it forbede / Allas alto lyte ys swiche treuth now yfounde // [882] The thridde harm is the filthe. thurgh whiche they breken the commaundement of god. and defoulen the Auctour of hire Matrimony that is criste. [883] For certes in so myche as the sacrament of mariage is so noble & so digne so myche it is grete synne for to breke yt For god makyd mariage in Paradys in the staat of Innocence to multiplie mankynde to the seruyce of god [884] and therfore is the brekyng the more greuous of whiche brekynge comen fals eires ofte tyme that wrongfully occupien folkes heritages / And therfore wole [crist] put

[6-text p 665] hem oute of the reigne of heuene that is heritage to good [folke] [885] Of thys brekynge comyth eke ofte tyme that folk vnware [wed]den or synnen with hire owne. kynrede. and namely thilke ha[rlotes] that haunten bordels / of these fool wymmen that mowe b[e lykened] to a comyn gonge. where as men pourgen hire ordure [886] // w[hat se]y wee eke of putours that lyuen by the horrible synne of pute[rie [and] constreyne wymmen to yelden hem a certeyne rente of hire bo[dely] Puterie / ye somtyme his owne wyfe or his childe. as doon [these] bawdes / certes these ben cursed synnes // [887] vndirstonde eke [[leaf. 272-3 is out]] [ [[ [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 348a] ]] that Advowtre is sette eke in the .x. commaundementis betwexe thefte and man|slauhter / for hit is lyke gretist thefte that may be / ffor hit is theft of body and of soule / [888] and hit is like an homycide ffor hit kervith a too hem that first wer made oo flesshe And therfore by the olde lawe of god he sholde be sleyne / [889] But nevir the lesse bi the lawe of Ihu Crist that/ is the lawe of pite / whan he seide to the woman that was founden in Advowtre and sholde haue bene sleyne with stones after the will of the Iewes as was her lawe / go quod Ihu Crist and haue no more will to do synne or will no more to do synne / [890] Sothely the vengiaunce of Advowtre is awarded to peynes off helle but yff hit be disturberid bi penitence // [891] yet ben ther mo spices of this cursed synne / as whan the tone of hem is religious or bothe / or of folke that ar enterid in the ordure of subdekyn or prest/ or hospitulers / and evir the hiher that he is in ordure the grettir is the synne / [892] The thynges that gretly grogen her synne is to breken her avowe of chastite / whan he hath receyved the ordour / [893] and ferthere ovir soth it is / that hooly [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 348b] ordur is cheeff off alle tresoure of god and his speciall signe and marke of chastite to shewe that they be Ioyned to chastite which that is most precious liffe that is [894] And thes ordred folke bene specially tytelid to god And off the

[6-text p 666] specyall meynye of god / ffor whiche whan thei done deedly synne thei bene the speciall traitours of god and off his poeple / ffor the lyven off the poeple and prayen for the poeple / and whil thei be suche traitours / her prayours availe nat to the poeple / [895] Prestes bene Aungellis as bi the dignyte of mysterie / but sothely seynt poule [/ Paulus /] seith that Sathanas transformyth hym in Aungel of liht / [896] Sothely the prest that hauntith deedly synne he may be lykened to the Aungell of derkenes transformed in the Aungell of light / he semyth an Aungell of liht / but forsothe he is an aungell off derkenes / [897] Suche prestes bene the sonnes of belial as sheweth in the booke of kynges / that thei were the [/ In libro Regum] sones of beliall. that is the devill / [898] Beliall is to seyn withouten Iuge and so fare thei that thynken thei be fre / and haue no Iuge no more than doth a fre boll that taketh suche a Cowe as hym lyketh in the towne / [899] so fare they by women For riht as a fre boll is Inouh for alle a toune / riht so is a wicked preste corrupcioun Inowh for all a parysshe or for alle a contreie / [900] Thes prestes as seith the booke ne comme not to the mysterie of presthode to the poeple ne to god ne knowe thei not ne the holde hem not apayed as seith the booke of suche flesshe that was to hem offerid / but thei take bi force the flesshe that is rawe / [901] Certes so thes olde shrewes holde hem not apayed of rostid flesshe and sode flesshe / with whiche the poeple feden hem on grete reverence but thei will haue rawe flessh of folkes wyves and her douhteris [902] And certes thes women that consentyn to her harlotry done gret wronge to Crist and holy Chriche and alle halows / and to alle sowles / ffor thei berevyn hym alle thes that sholde worship crist and hooly chirche and pray for cristen sowles / [903] And therfore haue [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 349a] suche prestes and her lemans eke that consentyn to her lecherye the malison off alle cristen courte tille thei come to Amendement //

[6-text p 667] [904] The .iij. spice of Advowtre is some tyme betwene a man and his wiff / that is whan thei take no rewarde to her assembelynge but onely to her flesshly delite as seith Seynt Ierome [905] and ne reken of no thyng / but that . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] they ben maried alle is good Inough as thynketh to them / [906] but in suche folke hath the devill power as seith the Aungell Raphael to Tobye / For in her assembelynge that thei put Ihe crist oute of her herte and yeve hem silf to alle ordoure // [907] The .iiij. spice is of the semble of hem that bene of her kynred or of affinite or els with them / with whiche her faders or her kyndred haue delid in the synne of lecherye / this synne maketh hem like to houndes that take no kepe to kyndred / [908] And certes parentail is in .ij. maners eyther [/ De parentela] gostly or flessly / Gostlye as for to delyn with her gosseppis / [909] ffor riht so as he that engenderith a childe is his flessly fader / riht so is god fadir his spirituall fader / ffor whiche a woman may in no lesse synne assemblyn with hir gossep than with hir owne flesshly broder // [910] The .v. spice is thilke abhominable synne of whiche no man vnneth spekith ne writeth / nevir the lesse it is openly reherced in holy writte / [911] this cursidnes doth men & women in dyverse entente or . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] horrible synne / Certes hooly writte may nat be defouled no more than the sonne that shyneth on the donge hille // [912] Anothersynne apperteyneth to lechery þat cometh in slepyng / and this synne cometh ofte to hem that bene maydens and eeke to them that bene corrupte and this synne men cleepe pollucion that commeth in .iij. maners / [913] some tyme off langwisshyng of body / for the humours bene to rank and habundaunt in the bodie of man / some tyme for infirmyte [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 349b] for the febilnes of the vertu retentiff as phisik maketh mencion / some tyme for sorfett of mete and drynke / [914] And some tyme of

[6-text p 668] vilons thouhtes that ben enclosed in mannes thouht whan he goth to slepe whiche may nat ben withouten synne / ffor whiche men most kepe hem wiselye or ells men mowe synne right greuously &c

Remedium contra peccatum Luxurie.

[915] Nowe commeth the remedie ageyns Lecherye that is generally Chastite and continence that re|streyneth alle disordeynet moevyng that commeth of flesshly talent/ [916] And evir the grettir merite shall he haue that most restreyneth the wicked enchaw|fyng or ardure of this synne / And this is in .ij. maners that is to seye chastite of mariage and chastite of widdowhode / [917] Nowe shallt thou vndirstonde that matrymonye is leefull assemblynge of man & of woman that receyven bi vertu of the sacrement the bonde / thoruh whiche thei mowe not be departed in alle her liff / that is to seyne while that thei lyven here both [918] as seith the booke is fulle grete sacrement / god made hit in paradise as I haue seide biforne and wolde hym silf be borne in mariage / [919] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] he was at weddyng where as he tornyd watyr in to wyne / whiche was the first miracle that he wrouht in erthe bifore his discipules [920] Trewe effecte of mariage clensith fornicacion & replenisshith holy chirches of good ffor hit is the ende of mariage ffor hit chaungith deedly synne in to veniall synne bitwexte hem that bene I-weddid and maketh her hertes alle one that bene I-weddid as well as the bodyes / [921] this is verrey mariage that was enstabilisshid by god or synne biganne / [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 350a] whan natural lawe was in the right poynte in paradise / & hit was ordeyned that one man [Nota quare vna mulier adherebit vni viro & e contra] sholde haue but one womane and one woman sholde haue but one man as seith seynte Austyne / by many reasouns / [922] ffirst for mariage is first figured bitwex crist and

[6-text p 669] holy cherche / and the other is for a man is hede of a woman / algate bi ordinaunce hit sholde be so / [923] ffor yff women had mo men than one . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] and that were an horrible thynge bifore god / and eke a woman cowde nat plese to many folke at ones / and also ther sholde nevir be pease nor rest amonge hem ffor everiche wolde axe his owne thynge / [924] And ferther ovir no man sholde knowe his en|gendure nor who sholde haue his heritage and the woman sholde be the lasse bilevid fro the tyme that she were coniuncte to many men //

[925] Nowe commeth howe a man sholde bere hym [Quomodo se haberet vir cum vxore] to his wiffe in .ij. thynges / that is to seye in sufferaunce and reuerence as shewid crist whan he made first woman / [926] for he ne made her not of the hede Adam for she sholde nat cleyme to grete lordship / [927] for ther as the woman hath the maistre she maketh to moche defray ther nedith none / Ensaumples of this the experience day bi day ouht to suffice / [928] Also certes god ne made not woman off the foot of Adam ffor she ne shulde not be holden to lowe for she can nat paciently suffyr / but god made woman of the rybbe of Adam / ffor woman sholde be felaw vnto man / [929] man sholde bere hym vnto his wiff in feith and in trouth and in love as seith Seynt Poule / that man sholde love his wiff as crist lovith hooly cherche / that lovid it so wel that he dyed for hit / so sholde a man for his wiff yf hit were nede //

[930] Nowe han a woman sholde be subiecte / [Quomodo se haberet mulier erga maritum] that tellith Seynt Petyr fyrst in obedi|ence [931] as seith the deere / A woman that is a wiff / as longe as she is a wiff she hath none auctorite to swere nor to bere witnes withoute leve off hir housbonde that is hir lorde / Algate she sholde be so by reason [932] [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 350b] She sholde eke serve hym in alle

[6-text p 670] honeste and ben attempre of hir arraye / I wot wel that thei sholde sette her entente to please her hous|bondes but nat bi her quayntes of Arraye / [933] Seynt Ierome seith that wyfes that bene apparellid in selke in precious purpill ne mowe nat cloth hem in Ihesu Crist Loo what seith Seynt Iohn eeke in this mater [934] Seynt Gregory eeke seith that no wiht seekith precious arraye but onely for vayne glorye / the more to be honoured biforne the poeple [935] hit is a grete folye a woman to haue a fayre array outeward and in her silf foule inwarde // [936] A wiffe sholde eke be mesurable in lookyng and beryng and in langage and discrete in alle hir wordes and in hir dedes / [937] and above alle thynges she sholde love hir housbonde with alle hir herte and to hym to be trewe of her bodye / [938] so sholde an housbonde eke to his wiff / For sith that alle the bodye is the housbondes / so sholde hir herte bēn / or ellis bituexte hem too as in that is no parfite mariage / [939] Then shull ye vndir|stonde that for .iij. thynges a man and his wiff flesshly maye assemble / The first is the entente of engen|dure of childerne to the service of god / For certes that is the cause fynalle of matrimonye [940] Another cause is to yelden eueryche of hem to other the dette of her bodye / for neyther of hem hath power of his owne body / The .iij^de. is for to eschewe lechere and vilanye / the iiij. is forsoth deedly synne / [941] As to the first hit is meritory / the secounde also as seith the decre / that she hath meryte of chastite that yeldith to her housbonde the dette of hir bodie / ye thouh hit be ayen her lykyng atte the lust of hir hert // [942] The .iij. manere is veniall synne and trewly skarsly may any of thes be withoute veniall synne for the corrupcion and the delite // [943] The .iiij^th. maner is for to vndirstond as is thei that assembelith onely for Amorous love / and for none of the [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 351a] foreseide causes / but

[6-text p 671] for to complysshe thilke brennynge delyte they reke nevir howe / ofte / sothlye it is dedely synne and yet with sorwe some folke woll peyne hem more to do then to the appetite sufficith /

[944] The secounde maner off chastite is to be a clene widdowe and eschewe the enbrasynges of a man [[Addit. MS. 5140 ends.]] ] [Christchurch MS. folio 274a] and desiren the embrasynge of Ihesu criste. [945] These ben thoo that [h]an ben wyues. & han forgoon hir hous|bondes. and eke women that han doon leccherie & ben releued by penitence / [946] And certes if that a wife koude kepen hire all chaste by licence of hire housbonde. so that shee nere noon occasion that he agilte; it were to hire a grete merite / [947] These manere women that obseruen chastitee most be clene in herte. as wele as in body. & in thought. & mesurable in clothynge. & in countenaunce // Abstinent in etynge and drynkynge in spekyng & in dede / And thanne is she the vessell. or the boiste of the blessed Mawdelene. that fulfilleth holy chirche full of good odour // [948] The .iij.^e manere of chastite is virginite. and it behoueth that she be holy in hert & clene of body / and than is she spouse to Ihesu criste and she is the lyfe of Aungels / [949] she is the preisyng of this world/. and she is as theȝ Martirs in egalite / she hath in hire that tunge may nat telle / [950] virginite bare oure lorde criste / & virgyn was hym //

[951] A nother remedie agaynst leccherie is/ specially to withdrawe swiche thyngis as yeuen occasion to thilke vylenye as ease. etyng & drynkynge. For certes whan the potte boilleth strongely. the best remedye is to with|drawe the fuyr [952] Slepynge longe in grete quiete is eke a grete norise to leccherie //

[953] A nother remedye agayns leccherie. is that a man or a woman eschew the compangny of hem of whiche he douteth to be tempted / For alle be it so. that the dede be withstonde; yet is there grete temptacion.

[6-text p 672] [954] Soothly a whyt wal . al thogh it ne brenne nat fully by stynkyng of a Candle; yet is the walle blakke of the light [955] full ofte tyme I rede that no man triste in his owne perfeccion . but he be strenger than Sampson . or holier than Dauid/ or wiser than Salomon //

[956] Now after that I haue declared yow as I kan . the seuen deedly synnes . & som of hire braunchis & hire remedies soothly if I coude . I wolde telle yow the x commaundementes [957] But so hye a doctrine I lete to dyuynes / natheles I hope to god they ben touched in this tretys . eueryche of hem alle

De confessione

[958] NOw for as moche as for the secounde partye of peni|tence stant in confession of mouth . as I began in the second chapitre I sey seint Augustyn seith / [959] synne is euery word/ & euery dede / And alle that men coueiten agayn the law of Ihesu criste / & this is for to synne in herte / in mowth / & in dede / by thi v. wittys / that ben sight . huryng . smellynge tastynge . or sauorynge and felynge // [960] Now is it good to vndirstonde the circumstaunces that aggreggen muchel euery synne//[961] Thow shalte considere . what thow art that doist synne . whether thow be male or female . yonge or/ olde gentell/ or thralle . free / or seruaunt . hole / or syke / wedded/ or sengle / ordred or vnordred . wis or fool . clerke / or seculer / [962] if she be of thy [Christ Church MS folio 274b] kynrede bodely or gostely / or noon / if any of thy kynrede haue synne[d] with hire or noon //

[963] Another circumstaunce is this / whether it be [done] in fornicacioun . or in avoutrie . or Incest or noon / Mayden or noon . in manere of homycyde or noon . orrible grete synnes . or smale . and how longe thow haste contynued in synne // [964] The thridde circumstaunce / is the place / where thow haste doon synne / whether in other

[6-text p 673] mennes hous / or in thyn owne . in felde or in chirche . or in chirche hawe / in chirche dedicat or noon / [965] For if the chirche be halewed . and man or woman spilde his kynde inwith that place by wey of synn[e] or by wikked temptacion; the chirche is entredited . til it be reconsiled by the bysshope / [966] and the preest sholde be entredited that dide swiche a vilenye to terme of alle his lyfe he sholde nomore synge masse / & if he dide; he sholde doon deedly synne . at euery tyme that he songe masse // [967] The ferthe circumstaunce is be whiche mediat|ours . as by messageris . or for enticement . or for consentement to bere compaignye . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] wole goo the deuel of helle [968] for they that egge[n] or con|senten to the synne; ben prisoners to the synne . & of the damnacion of the synnere //

[969] The fyfthe is how many tymes that he ha[th] synned if it be in his mynde . & how ofte that he hath falle . [970] For he that ofte falleȝ in synne; he despised the mercy of god . & encresseth his synne & is vnkynde to criste / & he wexeth the more febl[e] to withstonde synne . & synneth the more lightly . [971] & the latter aryseth . & is the more eschewe for to schryue hym . and namely to hym that hath ben his con|fessour / [972] For whiche that folke whan that they fallen agayn in hire olde folyes . other they leten hire olde confessours al outrely . or they departen hire shryfte in dyuers places / but soothly swiche departed shrifte deserueth no mercy of god of his synnes // [973] The sixte circum|staunce is . why that a man synneth . a[s] by whiche tempta|cion . & if hym selfe procure thilke temptacioun or by the ex|citynge of other folke / or if he synne with a woman [b]y force / or by hire owne assente . [974] or if the woman maugre hire hed[e] hath be aforced or noon this shalle she telle / for couetise / or for pouerte / & if it was hire procurynge or noon / & swiche maner

[6-text p 674] harneys // [975] The seuenthe circumstaunce is in what maner he h[ath] doon his synne / & how that she hath suffred that folke han [doon] to hire / [976] The same shalle the man tellen pleynly with alle [cir]cumstaunces . & whether he hath synned with comoun borde[l] women or noon / [977] or doon his synne in holy tymes or noon / or by forn his shrifte / or after his lattere shryfte / [978] & hath parauenture broken therfore his penaunce enyoyned / by whoos helpe & whoos counseile . bi sorcerie or crafte al moste be tolde / [979] Alle these thynges after that they ben grete or smale . engreggen the conscience of man . & eke the preest . that is thy Iuge may the better ben auysed of hise Iugement . in yeuynge of thy penaunce . and [Christ Church MS folio 275a] [t]hat is after thy contricioun / [980] For vnderstonde wele that after tyme that a man hath defouled his bapteme by synne . if he wole come to sauacioun . ther is noon other wey . but be penitence and shrifte & be satisfaccioun / [981] & namely by the twoo // If ther be a confessour to whiche he may shryue hym / And the Thridde if he haue lyfe to performe it /

[982] Thanne shalle men loke & considere if he wole make a trewe & profitable confessioun; ther moste ben iiij. condiciouns // [983] Firste it mote ben in sorwefull bitternesse of herte / As seide te kynge Ezechiel to god / I wole remembre me alle the yeres of my lyfe in bitternesse of myn herte / [984] This condicion of bitter|nesse hath .v. signes // The firste is that confession moste be shamefaste nat for to kouere ne hide his synne / but for he hath agilte his god & defouled his soule / [985] And here of seith seint Augustyn / The herte trauailleth for shame of his synne / And for he hath grete shame-fastnesse / he is digne to haue grete mercy of god / [986] Swiche was y^e confessioun of the publican . that wolde nat heue vp his eyen to heuen . For he hadde offended god of heuen / For whiche shamefastnesse; he had a noon the mercy of god / [987] And therfore seyth

[6-text p 675] seint Augustyn that swiche shamefaste folke ben nexte foryefnesse & remission // [988] Another signe is humylite of Confession / Of which seith seint Petir: humbleth yow vnder the myght of god / the hond of god is myghty in confession; For therby god foryeueth the synnes For he allone hath the power / [989] And this humylyte shall ben in hert & in signe outwarde / For right as he hath humylyte to god in hert; right so sholde he humble his body outwarde to the preest thatte sitte in goddis place / [990] For whiche in no maner sith that criste ys souereyn & the preest mene & mediatour bi|twixe criste & the synnere / & the synner is the laste by wey of reson / [991] thanne sholde nat the synner sitte as hye as his confessours. but knele byforn hym. or at his feet. but if maladye distorbed it / For he shalle nat take kepe who sitte there. but in whoos place that he sitteth // [992] A man that hath trespased to a lorde / & cometh for to axe mercy & maken his acorde & sette hym doun by the lorde; men wolde holden hym outrageous & nat worthy so sone for to haue remission ne mercy [993] The thridde signe is. that thy shrifte sholde be full of teeris. if men may. & if he may nat wepe with his bodely eyen; late hym wepe in his herte / [994] swiche was the confession of seint Petir / For after that he hadde forsake ihesu criste; he wente oute & weepe bitterly [995] The ferthe signe is / that he ne lette nat for his shame to shewe his confession / [996] Swiche was the confession of the Mawdeleyne that ne spared for no shame of hem that weren atte feste for to goo to oure lorde ihesu criste & byknowe to hym hir synne // [997] The fifte signe is that a man or woman be obeissaunt to receyue the penaunz that hym is enyoyned / For certes Ihesu criste for the giltes of o man [Christ Church MS folio 275b] was obedient to his deeth /

[998] The seconde condicion of verrey confession is that it be hastely don / For certes if a man hadde a dedly wounde. euer the lenger that he tarieth to warisse

[6-text p 676] hym selfe the more wolde it corrupte & haste hym to his deeth / and eke y^e wounde woude be the werse for to hele / [999] And right so farith synne. that longe tyme is in a man vnshewid / [1000] Certe a man ough[t] hastely shewyn his synnes For many causes. as for drede of deth that ofte sodeynly. And in no certeyne what tyme it shal be ne in what place / & eke the drecchyng of o synne draweth in a noth[er] [1001] And eke the lenger he tarieth; the forther he is fro criste. And if he abide vnto his laste day; scarsly may he shryue hym or re|membre hym of his synnes. or repente for the greuous malad[ye] of his deeth. [1002] And for as myche as he hath nat in his lyfe herkened Ihesu criste . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] at his laste day & scarsly wole he herkene hym [1003] And vndirstonde that this condicion moste haue .iiij. thynges // // Thy shrifte moste be purueyd by-forn and auysed / For wikked haste dooth noo profite. And that a man konne shryue hym of his synnes. be it of pride or enuye. & so forth. with the spices & circumstaunces / [1004] and that he haue comprehended in his mynde the nombre & the grettenes of his synnes and how longe that he hath leyn in synne [1005] & eke that he be contryte of hise synnes and in stedefaste purpos by the grace of god neuer eft to falle in synne // And eke that he drede. & countrewaite hym selfe & that he flee the occasions of synne to whiche he is enclyned // [1006] Also that thow shalte shryue the of alle thy synnes to oo man // And nat a parce[l] to oo man. & nat a parcel to a nother. that is to vndirstonde in entent to departe thy confessioun as for shame or drede / For it nys butte stranglynge of thy soule / [1007] For certis Ihesu criste is intierly al good & in hym is noon inperfeccion / And therfore outher he foryeueth alle parfitly. or elles neuer a dele. [1008] I sey nat that if thow be assigned to the penitauncer for certeyn synne / that thow arte bounde too shewe hym alle the remenaunt of thy synnes of whiche

[6-text p 677] thow haste be shreuen of thy curate / but if it lyke the of thyn humylite this is noo departynge of thy shrifte. [1009] Ne I ne sey nat ther as I speke of dyuiysioun of confes|sion. that if thow haue licence for to shryue the to a discreet & an honest preest where thee lyketh / & eke by the licence of thy curat that thow ne maiste wele shryue the to hym of alle thy synnes / [1010] but late noo blot byhynde / ne late noo synne vntoolde. Asfer as thow hastee remem|braunce / [1011] And whan thow shalte be shryue to thy curat. telle hym alle thy synne that thow haste doon / sith thowe were laste y-shryuen / Al this is no wikked intente of dyuysion of shrifte //

[1012] Also the verrey shrifte axeth certeyne con|dicions [Christ Church MS folio 276a] [F]yrste that thow shryue the by thy free wille nat constrayned. ne for shame of folke. ne for maladie or swiche thynges / For it is reson that he that trespaseth by his free wille; he mote be his free wille confesse his trespace / [1013] Noon other man shalle tellen his synne but he hym selfe / Ne he shal nat naite or denye his synne. ne wrath hym agayn the preest for hise amonestynge to lete synne // [1014] The secound condicion is / that thy shryfte be laweful. that is to seyn that thow that shryuest the & eke the preste that hureth thy confession be verrely in the feith of holy chirche [1015] And that a man ne be nat despeired of the mercye of Ihesu criste as kaym or Iudas / [1016] And eke a man mote accuse hym selfe of his owne trespace / & nat a nother / but he shalle blame .and. wite hym selfe & his owne malice of his synne & noon other / [1017] But natheles but if a nother man be occasion or enticere of his synne or that the estate of a persone be swiche. thurgh whiche his synne is agreggyd / or ellys that he may nat pleynly shryue hym hym but he telle the persone with whiche he hath synned; than may he telle it. [1018] so that his entente be nat to bakbite the .persone. but oonly to declaren his con|fession /

[6-text p 678]

[1019] Thow ne shalte natte eke make no lesynges in thy confessioun for humylite / parauenture to seyn that thow haste doon synnes. of whiche thow were neuer gilti // [1020] For seint Augustyn seith. yf thow be cause of humylite makest lesynges on thy selfe thogh that thow ne were nat in synne byforn; yet arte thow thanne in synne thurgh thy lesynges // [1021] Thow moste eke shewe thy synnes by thyn owne propre Mouth / but if thow be woxen dombe. & nat be no lettre // for thow haste doon the synne; thow shalte haue the shame // [1022] [T]how shalte nat eke peynte thy confession by faire subtile wordes [to] kouere the moore thy synne / For thanne bygyleste thow thy selfe [a]nd nat the preest / Thow most telle it platly. be it neuer so foule ne so horrible // [1023] Thow shalte eke shryue the to a preest / that is discrete to counseile the // And eke thow shalt nat shryue thee for veyn glorie. ne for ypocrisie. ne for no cause. but only for the doute of Ihesu criste & the hele of thy soule // [1024] Thow shalt nat eke renne to the preest sodeynly to telle hym lyghtly thy synne. as who so telleth a Iape / or a tale / but auysely & with grete deuocion / [1025] and generally shryue the ofte. if thow ofte falle; ofte thow aryse be confession / [1026] And though thow shryue the ofter thanne ones of synne of whiche thow haste be shryuen. it is the more meryte / And as seith seint Augustyn. thow shalt haue the more lightly relesyng & grace of god bothe of synne & of peyne / [1027] And certes oones in a yere atte leste weye it is lawefull / for to ben housled / for soothly onys a yere. alle thynges renouellen.

[1028] Now haue I tolde of verrey con[fes]sion that is the seconde partie of penitence

[6-text p 679]

[Christ Church MS folio 276b] De tercia parte penitencie

[1029] The thridde partie of penitence is Satisffaccion. And that stant generally in almesse. & bodely peyne // [1030] Now ben there .iij. maner of Almesses. Contricion of herte. where a man offreth hym selfe to god /. Another is to haue pite of his neighebores / The thridd[e] is in yeuynge good counseile & comfort goostly & bodyly where men han nede. and namely in sustenaunce of mannes foode // [1031] And take kep[e] a man hath nede of these thynges. generally he hath nede of fode // h[e] hath nede of clothynge & herberwe / he hath nede of charitable conseile & visytynge in prison. & Maladie. & sepulture of his dede body / [1032] And if thow maist nat visite the needfull with thy personee visite hym by thy message and thy yeftes / [1033] These ben general almesses or werkys of charite of hem that han temporel rechesse or discrecion in conseillynge / Of these werkes shaltow heren at the day of dome //

[1034] These Almesses shaltow doon of thynne owne propre thynges & hastyfly and priuely if thow maiste / [1035] But natheles if thou maist nat do pryuely; thow shalt nat forbere to doon thyn almesse. though men se it. so that it be nat doon for thanke of y^e worlde but oonly for thanke of Ihesu criste. [1036] For as witnesseth sei[nt] Mathew .5^to. A cite may nat ben hydde that is sette on a Mountayne ne men lyght nat a lanterne. & putte it vnder a busshel. but men. se[t] it on a Candel|styke to lyghten the men in the hous // [1037] Ryght soo shal youre lyght lighten byforn men. that they may sen youre good werkys & glorifien youre fader that is in heuene //

[1038] Now as to speke of bodyly peyne it stante in praieris in wakynges in fastynges & in v[er]tuouse

[6-text p 680] techynges of orisons // [1039] ye shulle vndirstonde that orison[s] or preiers is for to seyn. a pitous wille of herte that redresse [MS. torn] god & expressith it by worde outwarde to remoeue harmes. & t[o] han thynges espirituel & durable. and somtyme temporel thynges / [of] whiche orisons. certes in the orison of the Pater noster. hath Ihesu criste enclosed moost thynges // [1040] Certes it is priuelegged of .iij. thynges in his dignite / for whiche it is more digne / thanne any other praier for Ihesu criste hym selfe maked it / [1041] And it is short For it sholde be koude the more lightly / And forto witholde it the more esely in herte / & helpen hym selfe the oftere with the orison / [1042] & for a man sholde be the lasse wery to sey it / And for a man may nat excuse hym to lerne it. it is so shorte. & so esy / And for it comprehendeth in it sel[f] alle gode preiers / [1043] The exposicion of this holy praiere / that is so excellent & digne I be-take to the maistris of theologie. saues thus moch wole I seyn. that whan thow praiest that god sholde foryeue th[e] thy giltes. as thow foryeuest hem that agilten to the; be full wele ware. that thow ne be nat oute of charite / [1044] This holy oriso[n] [[Christchurch MS. has lost 10 leaves.]] [ [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 355b] amenysshith eke veniall synnes and therfore hit apperteyneth specially to penitence /

[1045] this prayer most be trewly seide and in verrey feyth / and that men prayen to god ordinatly and dis|cretely and devoutly And all wey a man shall put his wille to be subiecte to þ^e will of god / [1046] this orisone most eeke be seide with gret humblenes and full pure / honestly and not to the anoyaunce of any man or woman hit most eeke be contynued with the workes of charite / [1047] hit avayleth eeke ageyne the vices of the soule / For as seyth Seynt Ierome / bi fastynge bene savid the vices of the flesshe / and by prayer the vices of the soule //

[1048] Aftyr this thou shalt vnderstonde that bodely peyne stondith in wakynge for Ihesu Crist seith / waketh and prayeth þat ye ne enter in wicked

[6-text p 681] temptacioun / [1049] ye shal vndirstonde that fast|yng stondith also in iij thynges/in forberyng of bodely metes & drynkes and in forberyng of worldelye iolite / and in for|beringe of dedely synne . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] with his mygh /

[1050] And thou shalt vndirstonde that god ordeyned fastyng / and to fastynge apparteyneth .iiij. thynges / [1051] largenes to pore folke / gladnes of herte / spirituall not to Anggrie / ne anoyed ne gruche for he fastith / and alle for semblable houre for to ete by mesure / that is for to seye A man sholde nat ete in vntyme ne sitte no lenger at his table to ete for he fasteth //

[1052] Then thou shalt vnderstond that bodely peyne stonte in disciplyne or techyng bi worde or bi wrytyng or bi ensaumple / Also in werynge of heyres or of stamyn or of habergions on her naked flesshe for cristes sake And suche maner of penaunces / [1053] but ware the wel that suche maner of penaunces on thy flesshe ne make not thyn herte bittyr or [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 356a] Angre or noyed of thy silf / for bettir is to cast awaye thyn heire than for to cast the swet|nes of ihesu crist [1054] And therfore seith Seynt Poule / cloth you as they that bene chosyn of god in herte of misericorde debonarite sufferaunce / and suche maner of clothyng of whiche Ihesus Crist is most apayed than of his here or of his habourgioun or hawberkes //

[1055] then is disciplyne eke in knockyng of thy brest in scourginge with yerdes / in knelynges / in tribulaciouns / [1056] in suffering paciently wronges that bene done to hym / and eke in pacient sufferaunce of maladye / or lesynge of worldely Catell / or of wiff or children / or other freendes /

[1057] Then shalt thou vndirstonde whiche thynges distourbyn penaunce / and this is in .iiij. maners that is drede shame hope and wanhope that is disperacioun / [1058] & for to speke first of drede for whiche he

[6-text p 682] wenith that he may suffre no penaunce / [1059] There ageyns is remedie / for to thynke þat bodye penaunce is but shorte and litel at regarde of þ^e peyne of helle / that is cruell and so longe that it lastith withoute eende /

[1060] Nowe ageyns the shame that a man hath to shryve hym and namely thes ypocrytes that wolde beholde so parfite that they haue no nede to shryve hem / [1061] ageyns that shame sholde a man thynke that by waye of reasoun that he that hath nat bene shamed to do foule thynges Certes hym ouht nat to be ashamed to do fayre thynges / and that is confessions // [1062] A man sholde eeke thynk that god seeth and wot alle thy thouhtes and alle thy workes / Fro hym may no thynge be hide ne coverid / [1063] Men sholde eke remembre hem of the shame that is to come atte the daye of dome to hem that be nat penitent and shryven in this present lyff / [1064] For all the creaturs in erthe and in helle shull seene appertely alle that he hydeth in this worlde /

[1065] Now for to speke of the hope of hem þat bene negligent and slowe to shryve hem / hit stont in .ij. maners / [1066] the tone is þat he hopith for to lyve longe / and for to porchace [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 356b] moche riches for his delyte / and then he wolde shryve hym & as he seith he may as hym semyth than tyme Inouh for to come to shrifte / [1067] Another is surquedre that he hath in cristis mercye [1068] Ageyne the fyrst vice / he shall thynke that our lyff is in no sekyrnes / and eke that alle the riches in this worlde ben in aventure and passen as a shaddowe in the walle [1069] as seith Seynte Gregorie that hit perteynith to the grete rihtwousnes of god / that nevir shall the peyne stynte of hem that nevir wolde withdrawe hem from synne and rancour but aye contynue in synne / For thilke perpetual wille to done synne they shull haue perpetuall peyne //

[1070] Wanhope is in .ij. maners / the fyrst wan|hope is in the mercie of Crist / that othir is that they

[6-text p 683] thynke that they ne myght not longe preserve in good|nes / [1071] The fyrst wanhope commeth of that he demyth that he hath synned so gretely / and so ofte / and so longe lyen in synne þat he shall not be savid / [1072] Certes ageyns this cursid wanhope sholde he thynke that the passioun of our lorde Ihesu Crist is more stronge for to vnbynde than synne is stronge / [no gap in MS.] [1073] Ageyns þe secounde wanhope he shall thynke that as ofte as he fallith he may arrise ageyne by penitence / and thouh he nevir so longe haue leyne in synne / the mercie of god is allwey redye to receyve hym to mercie / [1074] Ageyns that wanhope that he demeth that he sholde not longe persevere in goodnes / he shall thynke the febylnes of the devill may no thynge done but men woll suffyr hym [1075] & eke he shall haue strength of the help of god and of alle holy chirche and of the proteccioun of alle aungells yff hym lyst //

[1076] Then shull men vndirstonde what is the rewarde of penaunce and aftir the worde off Ihesu Criste hit is the endeles blysse of hevyne [1077] ther ioye hath no contrarie of no wo ne grevance / there alle harmes bene passid of this present lyff / there as is sykernes frome the peyne off helle / there as the blissidfull companye that [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 357a] reioysen evirmore eueryche of others ioye / [1078] there as the bodye of a man that whilom was foule and dyrke is more clerer than the sonne / there as the bodye was whilom seke frel febyll and mortall / is inmortall and so stronge and so hole that there may no thyng apayre hit / [1079] ther as is neithyr hungyr nor thurst ne colde / but euery soule replenysshid with the sight of the parfite knowynge of god / [1080] This blessid regne mowe men purchace by poverte espirituall and the glorie bi lowly|nes / The plente of ioye by hungyr and thurst/ and the reste by travell / and the lyff by dethe and mortificacioun off synne Amen./

[6-text p 684]

Hic capit Autor licenciam./

[1081] Nowe I praye to them alle that herken this litel tretys or redyn that yff ther be any thynge in hit þat lyketh hem / that therof thei thanken oure lord ihesu crist of whom proceedith alle witte and alle goodnes / [1082] And yf ther be any thynge that displeseth them / I praye them also erecte it to the diffaute off myn vnkonnynge / and nat to my will / that wolde feyne haue done bettir yif I hadde had konnynge [1083] For oure booke seith Alle that is wryten / is writen for oure doctryne and that is myn entent / [1084] Wherfore I beseche you mekely for the mercye of god that ye pray for me / that crist haue mercie on me and forgyff me my giltes [1085] and namely of myn translaciouns and of myn enditynge of worldely vanytes the whiche I revoke in my de|tracciouns / [1086] As the book off Troilys / The booke also of Fume / The booke of .xxv. ladies / The booke of the Duchesse / The booke of Seynt Valentynes day / And the parlement of byrdes / The Talys of Caunter|bury [Addit. MS. 5140 folio 357b] thilke that sounden vnto synne / [1087] The booke of the leon / And many anothir booke yff they were in my remembraunce And many a songe / And many a lechourous lay / Crist for his grete mercie foryeve me the synne // [1088] But off the translacioun off Boes consolacioun And othir bookes of legendis and off Seyntes / And of Omelies / And moralite / And deuocioun / [1089] that thanke I oure lord Ihesu Crist and his blysfull moder / and alle the Seyntis in hevyn / [1090] beseekyng them / that thei from hens forth vnto my lyves eende / sende me grace off . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] verray penaunce Con|fessioun

[6-text p 685] and Satisfaccioun / to done in this present lyff / [1091] thoruh the benygne grace of hym that is kyng of kynges / and preste off alle preestis / that bouht vs with the precious bloode off his herte / [1092] For that I mot bene oone of hem att the laste daye off dome that shall be savid Qui cum deo patre & spiritu sancto viuis & regnas deus Per omnia secula Amen

Explicit narracio Rectoris et ultima inter nar|raciones huius libri de quibus composuit Chaucer./ cuius Anime propicietur deus / AMEN. [[Follows, in Brit. Mus. Addit. 5140, Lydgate's Siege of Thebes, incomplete:Incipit ultima de fabulis Cantuarie translata et prolata per Dompnum Iohannem Lidgate monachum in redeundo a Cantuaria. Incipit pro|logus./]]