The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 593]

[Harl. MS 1758, leaf 205, for Cambr. MS.]

[There are no paragraph-breaks in the MS, but Tyrwhitt's are kept in the print for convenience sake. The many curls, tags, and lines, to final e/, f/, g/, ll/, r/, s/, t/ in Harl. 1758, are not printed here.]

[And begynneth the tale. [Harl. 1758, on leaf 205]

Ier. 6^o. State super vias & videte & interogate de semitis antiquis que sit via bona & ambulate in ea & inuenietis refrigerium animabis vestris.

[75] Our swete lord god of heuyn þat no man woll perische, but will þat we comen alle to þe knoweliche of hym. & to the blisfull lif þat is perdurable. [76] Amonyscheth vs bi þ^e prophet Ieromie. þat seith in this wise. [77] ¶ Stondith vp on þ^e weies & seeth & axeþ of olde pathees. þat is to seyn of olde sentences whiche is þ^e good weie. [78] & walkiþ in þat weie & ye scholen fynde refreschyng for your soulis. & cetera. [79] ¶ Manye ben þe weies espirituels þat ledyn folk to our lord ihesu crist & to the Regne of glorie. [80] Of whiche weies ther is a full noble weie & a full couenable whiche maie noght faile to man ne to woman that thorogh synne hath mys goon fro the right weie of Hierusalem celestiall. [81] And this weie is clepid [[Nota de peni|tencia. ‖]] penytence. of whiche men schuldyn gladly herkyn & enquere with all his hert [82] to wite what his pen|aunce & whens it is clepid penytence. & in how mony maneres ben the accions of worchyng of penytence [83] & how manye spices ther ben of penytences & whiche thynges a-pertenyn & bi-houyn to penytence. [Harl. 1758 folio 205b] Whiche thynges distourben penytence.

[6-text p 594]

[84] Seynt Ambrose seith that penytence is the [¶ What is peny|tence] playnyng of man for the gilt that he hath doon. & no more to doon ony thyng for whiche hym ought to pleyne. [85] ¶ And som doctour seith. Penytence is the weyment|yng of man that sorwith for his synne & pyneth hym self for he hath mys doon. [86] Penytence with certeyn circumstaunces is very repentaunce of man that holdeþ hym self in sorow & other peyne for his giltes. [87] & for he schall be verye penytent. he schall first be-weilen the synnes that he hath doon. And stidfastly purposid in his herte to haue schrift of mouthe. & to don satisfaccion [88] & neuyr to do thyng. ffor whiche hym oughte more to be-weile or to compleyne & to con|tynue in good werkis or ellis his repentaunce maie noght a-vaile. [89] ¶ ffor as seith seynt Isidre. He is a iaper & [¶ Isiderus.] a gabber & no very repentaunt man that efte sone doth thyng for whiche hym ought to repent [90] wepyng & noght for to stynte to do synne may noght a-vaile. [91] ¶ But natheles men schulen hope that at euery tyme that man falleth be it neuyr so ofte that he may arise thorogh peny|tence if he haue grace. ¶ But certeynly hit is gret doute. [92] for as seith seynt Gregorie. vnnethes ariseth he out [¶ Gregorius.] of his synne that is charged with the charge of yuell vsage. [93] ¶ And therfore repentaunt folk that stynte for to synne & for to lete synne er that synne for-lete hym. holi|chirche holdith hem siker of her sauacion. [94] And he that synneth & verrily repentith hym in his last ende. Holi chirche yet hopith his sauacion bi the gret mercy of our lord ihesu crist for his repentaunce but take the sikerer weie. & þ^e more certeyn.

[95] ¶ And now sethyns I haue declarid you what thyng is penytence. Now schulen ye vndirstonde that ther [¶ Tres sunt ac|ciones peni|tencie] ben thre accions of penytence. [96] ¶ The first is that if a man be baptiste after that he hath [1^a. accion of penytence.] synned. [97] seynt Austyn seith. but he be penytence [¶ Augustinus.] for his olde synfull lif he may not be-gynne the newe

[6-text p 595] clene lif. [98] ffor certis if he be baptised with out penytence of his olde gilt. he receyueþ þ^e mark of baptisme. but not the grace ne the remysson of his synnes till he haue verraye repentaunce. [99] ¶ Another defaute is this that men doon deedly synne after that [¶ .2. accion.] thei haue receyued baptisme. [100] The þrid defaute [¶ .3. accion.] is that men fallen in venyall synnes aftir her baptisme. fro daie to daye. [101] Ther of seith seynt Austyn. [¶ Augustinus] that penytence of good & humble folk is the penytence of euery daie.

[102] ¶ The spices of penaunce ben thre; that oon [¶ The spices of penytence.] of hem is solempne. Another is comune. & the .3. is pryue. [103] ¶ Thilk penaunce that is so|lempne [¶ of penaunce solempne.] is in two maneres. as is to be put out of holy chirche in lente for slaughter of childryn & suche maner thyng. [104] ¶ Another is when a man [¶ Of open penaunce.] hath synned openly of whiche synne the fame is openly spoken in the contre. ¶ And then holy chirche bi Iuge|ment distreyneth hym for to do penaunce opene. [105] Som penaunce is that preestis enioynen [[Harl. 1758 extract ends]] ] [Cambr. begin] [folio 401a] men in certeyn cas / As for to goon parauenture nakid in pilgrymage or barefot. [106] ¶ Pryue penaunce is thilke that men doon alday for certeyn synnys that been priue / of whiche we schryue vs pryuely / & receyue priue penaunce

[107] ¶ Now schalt thow vndyrstonde what is behofly & necessarie to verray perfit penytence & this stant on thre thyngis. [108] Contrycioun of herte / Con|fessioun of mouthe / & Satisfaccioun / [109] For whiche seyth seynt Iohn Crisostomus ¶ Penytence constrynyth a man to accepte benyngnely euery peyne that is enioyned hym. with contricioun of herte & schrifte of mouthe. with Satis|faccioun. And in werkynge of alle manere humylite / [110] And this is freutful penytence a-geyn .iij. thyngis. in wheche we wrethe oure lord Ihesu cryst / [111] this is to seynne / by delyt in thynkynge / by recheles-nesse in spekynge And be wikkede synful werkynge / [112] And a-geyn these

[6-text p 596] wekede giltis is penytence that may be likkenyd vntil a tree

[113] ¶ The rote of this tre is contricioun / that hydith hym in the herte that is verray repentaunt / righ as the rote of a tre; hydyth hym in the erthe. [114] ¶ Of the rote of contricioun spryngith a stalke that berith braunchis & leuys of Confessioun & freut of satisfaccioun [115] ¶ for whiche Crist seyth in his gospel / Doth digne freut of penytence / for by this freut may men knowe this tree / & not by the rote that is hid in the herte of man ne bi the braunchis ne by the leuys of Confessioun. [116] And therfore oure lord Ihesu Crist seyth thus by the freut of hem; schul ȝe knowyn hem. [117] ¶ Of this roote ek spryngith a seed of grace the whiche seed; is modir of sekyrnesse / & this seed is egre & hoot / [118] the grace of this seed spryngith of god thourw re|membraunce of the day of doome / & on the peynys of helle [119] ¶ Of this mateere seyth Salomon that in drede of god / man forletyth his synne / [120] the heete of this seed is the loue of god / & desyrynge of the Ioye perdurable / [121] this heete drawith the herte of man to god / & doth hym hate his synne / [122] For sothly there is nothyng that saurith so weel to a child as the mylk of his noryce / ne no thyng is [folio 401b] to hyre selvyn; [[e selvyn; corrected]] more abomynabele / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [125] for sothly the lawe of god; is the loue of god / For whiche Dauid the prophete seyth / I have lowyd thyn lawe / & hatid wekedenesse And [[nd corrected]] he that louyth god; kepith his lawe & his word / [126] This tre saw the prophete danyel / in spiryt vp-on the auysioun of Nabugodonosor whanne he con|seyled / hym to do penytence [127] Penaunce is the tre of lyf / to hem that it resceyuyn / And he that holdyth hym

[6-text p 597] in verray penytence is blyssid aftyr the centence of Salomon /

[128] ¶ In this penitence / or contricoun / man schal vn|dyrstondyn .iiij. thyngis That is to seyne what is contricioun / & whiche been the causis that meuyn a man / to Con|tricioun / & how he schulde been contryte / & what Con|tr[i]cioun avaylyth to the Soule / [129] ¶ Thanne is it thus / that contricioun is the verray sorwe that a man resceyuyth in his herte for hise synnys with sad purpos / to schryue hym & to do penaunce & neuere moore to do synne / [130] And this sorwe schal been in this maneere / as seith seynt bernard / . It schal ben heuy & greuous / & ful scharp & poygnaunt in herte. [131] ¶ ffyrst for man hath a-gilt his lord / & his Creature / & more scharp & poynaunt for he hath . . . . .[132] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] wrathid / & agilt hym that bought hym / that with his precious blod hath delyuered vs from the bond of synne / & from the crewelte of the deuyl And from the peynys of helle

[133] ¶ The causys that oughtyn to meue a man to con|trycioun; been sexe / ¶ ffyrst a man schal remembre hym of hise synnys / [134] but loke that thilke remem|braunce / be to hym no delyt / be no weye / but gret schame & sorwe for hise synnys / ffor Iob seith synful men don werkys worthy of Confescioun / [135] & therefore seith esechie ¶ I wele remembre me alle the ȝerys of myn lyf in the bittirnesse of myn herte / [136] ¶ And god seith in the apocalipse ¶ Remembre ȝow from whene ȝe been falle / for by-fore that tyme that ȝe synned; ȝe were the childeren of god / & lemys of the regne of god / [137] but for ȝoure synne ȝe been wexen thral. & foul & menbris of the deuyl / hate of aungell / Sclaundere of holy cherche And foode of the false serpent / perpetuel mater of the fer of helle [138] / & ȝit moore foul & abom|ynable for the trespa [folio 402a] syn so ofte tyme as doth an hound / that retornyth to ete his spewynge / [139] And ȝit

[6-text p 598] been ȝe more foulere; for ȝoure longe contynuynge therin / & ȝoure synful vsage / for whiche ȝe been rotyn in ȝoure synne; as beste in his dunge [140] Sweche manere of thoughtis makyn a man to haue schame of hise synnys / & no delit / As god seyth by the prophete Eȝechiel / [141] ȝe schal remembre ȝow of ȝoure weiis / And thi schul displese ȝow sothly / Synnys been the weyis that ledyn folk to helle [142]

THe secunde cause that oughte to meue a man to haue disdeyn of synne; is this / as seith seint Petyr / who so that doth synne is thral of synne / & synne puttyth a man in gret thraldam / [143] And ther|fore seyth the prophete Eȝechiel / I wente sorweful in disdeyn of myn self ¶ Certis weel ouȝte a man / haue disdayn of synne & withdrawyn hym from that thraldam & vilenye / [144] And lo what seyth Seneca / in this matere he seith thus ¶ Thow I wiste that / neythir god ne man ne schulde neuere knowe it / ȝit wolde I haue disdayn for to do synne / [145] And the same Seneca also seyth / I am born to grettere thyngis / than to ben thral to myn body . or than for to makyn of myn body a thral / [146] ne a foulere thral may no man maken of his body; than for to ȝeuyn his body to synne / [147] Al were it the fouleste cherl or the fouleste woman / that leuyth & lest of valew / ȝit is he thanne more foul & moore in seruitute / [148] euere from the heyere degre that man fallyth; the more is he thral / & the moore to god & to the world vile & abomyn|nable / [149] ¶ O goode god wel oughte man haue greet disdeyn of synne / sythe that thorw synne / there he was fre / now is he makid bonde / [150] And therfore seyth seynt Augustyn ¶ If thow haue disdayn of thyn seruaun[t] / ȝif he haue gilt or synne Haue thow thanne disdayn / that thow thyn self schuldyst doon synne / [151] take reward of thyn value / that thow ne be to foul to thyn self // [152] Also weel auȝte they thanne haue disdayn / to been

[6-text p 599] seruauntys & thralles to synne & soore been aschamyd / of hem self / [153] that [folio 402b] god of his endeles goodnesse / hat set hem in high estat or ȝeuyn hem wit strenthe / hele of body / beute prosperite / [154] & boughte hem from the deth with his herte blood that they so onkendely aȝens his gentilesse / quytyn hym so vileynly to slauthere of here owene soules. [155] O goode god / the wemen that been of greet beute. remembrith ȝow of the prouerbe of salomon / he seyth [156] & likkenyth a fayr woman þat is a fol of hire body; lik to a ryng of gold / þat were in the groyn of a sowe / [157] ffor rygh as a Sowe wrothith in eueryche ordure; so wrotith sche hire beute / in stynkynge ordure of synne [158]

THe thredde cause þat oughte to meue a man to contrycioun; is drede of the day of dome & of the horrible peynys of helle / [159] ffor as seynt Ierom seith At euery tyme that me remembrith of the day of dome; I quake. [160] for whan I ete or drynke or what so euere I do / euere semyth me that the trumpe sounyth in myn ere. [161] Ryseth ȝe vp that been dede & comyth to the Iugement. [162] O goode god meche ouȝte a man to drede / swich a Iugement/ there as we schul been alle as seynt poule seyth by fore the cete of oure lord Ihesu Cryst / [163] where as he schal makyn a general con|gregacioun / where as no man may Been absent / [164] for certis there auaylith non essoyne ne excusacioun / [165] And not only that oure fautis schuln ben Iugit. but that alle oure werkis schuln opynly been knowe / [166] And as seyth seynt Bernard / There ne schal no pledynge auayle ne no slyȝte / we schul ȝeue rekenynge / of euery Idele wod [167] there schul we han a Iuge / þat may not ben disseyued ne corupt / And why / ffor certis al oure thouȝtis been discryued as to hym / ne for preyer ne for mede he schan not ben corupt / [168] And therefore seyth salomon / the wrethe of god . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[6-text p 600] ne wele not spare no wight / for preyere ne for ȝifte / And therfore at the day of dome / there is non hope to escape / [169] wherefore as seyth seynt Anselm ¶ Ful gret angwisch schul the synful soulis haue at that tyme [170] there schal the sterne & wrothe Iuge / sitte a-boue / & vndyr hym the horryble pit of helle / opyn to di|stroyen hem that mot beknowyn here synnys / whiche synnys opynly ben [folio 403a] schewid by-foryn god / & beforyn euery cryature / [171] And on the left syde / mo deuyllis than herte may bethynke / For to harye & drawe / the synful soulys to the pit of helle / [172] And with|inne the hertis of folk. schal be the bytynge concience And withoute folk; schal be the world / al brennynge / [173] whedyr schal thanne the wrechede synful man fle to hidyn hym certys he may not hidyn hym / he muste come forth & schewyn hym / [174] For certis as seyth seynt Ierom / the erthe schal caste hym out of hym / & the se also / & the eyr also / that schal ben ful of thundyr clappis / & lyghtenyngis [175] ¶ Now sothly ho so wele remembre hym / of these thyngis / I gesse that his synne schal not turne hym in-to delyt / but to greet sorwe for drede of the peyne of helle / [176] And ther|fore seyth Iob to god ¶ Suffere lord that I may a while bewayle / & wepe or I go / wit oute returnynge to the derke lond / keuerred with the derrkenesse of deth / [177] to the lond of mysese & of derkenesse / where as there is the schadewe of deth / where as there is non ordere of ordynaunce / but gresely drede that euere schal laste / [178] Lo heere may ȝe seen / that Iob preyede of respit / a while /. to bewepe & wayle his trespacis / For certis on day of respit; is betere than al the trespas of this world [179] And for as meche as a man may aquyte hym self byfore god / by penytence in this world & not by tresore / therfore schulde he preye to god to ȝeue hym respit / a while to be-wepe & wayle hise synnys. [180] ffor certis alle the sorwe that a man myȝte make from the begynnynge

[6-text p 601] of this world. nys but a lyte thyng at regard at the sorwe of helle [181] ¶ The cause why that Iob clepith helle the lond of derknesse [182] Vndyrstonde that he clepith it lond or erthe for it is stabeled / & neuere schal fayle /. derk; for he that is in helle schal fayle lyȝt material /. [183] for certis the derke lygh[t] that schal come out of the fyr that euere schal brenne / schal turne hem al to peyne that is in helle / for it schewith hym to the horrible deuillys / that hym turnementyn / [184] couerid with the derkenesse of deth / that is to seyyne / he that is in helle; schal haue defaute of the syȝte of god / ffor certis the sigh[t]e of god / is the lyf perdurabele / [185] The derke|nesse of [folio 403b] deth; ben the synys that the wrechede hath don. whiche that disturbyn hym to seen the sase of god. ryght as the derke cloude / by-twixen vs & the sunne [186] ¶ Lond of mysese / by cause that there been .iij. maneris of defautis a-ȝen .iij. thyngis / that folk of this world han in this present lyf / that is to seyne. honouris. delycis. and richessis / [187] ¶ A-geyns honour haue þey in helle schame & confusyoun / [188] for wel ȝe wote that men clepyn honour the reuerence that men doth to man / but in helle is non honour ne reuerence / for certis no more reuerence schal be doon / there to a kyng; than to a knawe / [189] for wich god seith by the prophete Ieromye / Thilke folk that me dispysyn / schul been in dispit. [190] ¶ Honour is ek clepid gret lord|schepe / there schal no man seruyn othir but of harm & turnement / Honour is ek clepid gret dignetee / & hegh|nesse; but in helle schul they ben al fortrodyn with deuyllis / [191] As god seyth / the horyble deuyllys schul gon & comyn vp on the hondis / of dampnede folk And this is for as meche / as the heyere that they were in this present lyf. the more schul they been abatyd and defouled in helle / [192] ¶ A-geyns the richesse of this world schul they han myseyse / of pouerte / & that schal been in foure / [193] In defaute of tresore / of whiche

[6-text p 602] that dauyth seyth. The riche folk that enbrasedyn / & onedyn al here herte / to tresore of this world / schul slepyn in the slepynge of deth And no thyng ne schal they fynde / in here handis of al here tresore / [194] ¶ And more ouyr the mysese of helle schal been in defaute of mete / & drynk / [195] for god seyth thus be Moyses / They schul been wastid / with hungyr And the bryddis of helle schul deuoure hem with bittere deth / And the galle of the Dragoun / schal been here drynk / And the venyn of the dragoun schal ben here morsellys [196] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / here mysese schal been in defaute / of clothynge / for they schul ben nakyd in body as of clotyng saue the fyre in whiche they brenne & othere feltys / [197] And nakede schul they been of soule of alle manere vertuis / whiche that is the clothynge of soule / Where ben thanne the gaye robis / & the softe [folio 404a] schetis / & the smale schertis / [198] ¶ Lo what seyth god of hem / bi the Prophete Isaye / that vndyr hem schul be strowede mothis / An here couertouris schul been of wermys / of helle / [199] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / here mysese schal ben in defaute of frendis / for he is nat pore that hath goode frendis / but there ne is no frend / [200] for neythir god ne no cryature schal been here frend / and eueriche of hem schal hatyn othir with dedly hate / [201] the sonys & the douȝteryn schul rebellyn a-geyns fadyr & modyr / and kenrede a-geyns kenrede / And chydyn & dispysyn euerich a-geyn othir bothe day & nyght / as god seyth by the prophete Michias / [202] & the louynge childeryn that whilom louedyn / so fleschly eueryche of hem othir; woldyn euerich of hem etyn othir / ȝif they myȝte / [203] for how schulde they louyn hem to-gedere in the peyne of helle / whan they hatid euerich of hem othyr in the prosperite of this lyf /[204] for troste wel her fleschely loue was dedly hate. as seith the prophete Dauid. Who so that louyth wikkede|nesse he hatyth his soule [205] And ho so hatyth his owene soule / certis he may louyn non othir wiȝt

[6-text p 603] in no manere [206] And therfore in helle is no solas / ne no frenschepe / but euere the more flesly kenredis that been in helle / the more cursedenesse / the more chyd|yngis / & the more dedly hate there is / amongis hem [207] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / they schul haue defaute of alle manere delycis / for sertis delycis been aftyr the apetitis of the fyue wittis As Sighte. Herynge. Smellynge / Sauour|inge / & touchynge / [208] but in helle here syghte schal ben ful of derknesse / & of smok & therfore ful of terys / And here Herynge ful of waymentynge / & of grochynge of teth as seyth Ihesu Crist. [209] Here nose|therlys schul be ful of stynkynge. ¶ And as seith Isaye the prophete here sauouringe schal been ful of bittere galle / [210] And touchynge of al here body / I-keuerede with fyr / that neuere schāl quenche / & wit wermys that neuere schal deyen. As god seyt by the mouth of Isaye [211] And for as meche / as they schul nat wene / that they may deye for peyne / And by here deth fle from peyne. / That may they vndyrstonde in the word of Iob that seyth. there [folio 404b] as is the schadewe of deth / [212] Certis a schadewe hat the liknesse of the thyng of whiche it is schadewid / but shadewe is not the same thyng / of whiche it is shadewe [213] riȝt so faryth the peyne of helle / it is lyk deth for the horrible anguysch / And / why for it peynyth hem euere As thow men schulde deye a-non / but certis þey schul not deye / [214] For as seyth seynt Gregory / To wreche caityuys / schal been deth with-oute deth & ende with-outyn ende / & defaute with-oute faylynge / [215] for here deth schal alwey lyuyn / & here ende schal euere more begynne / And here defaute schal nat fayle / [216] And therfore seyth seynt Iohn the Euaungelist // They schul folwe deth And they schul not fyndyn hym / And þey schul desyre to deye & deth schal fle from hem / [217] And ek Iob seyth there is non ordere of rewele / [218] And al be it so that god hath creat/ alle thyngis in ryȝt ordere & no thyng with|outyn

[6-text p 604] ordere / but alle thynge been ordeyned / & noum|bered but ȝit natheles / þey that been dampned / ben no thyng in ordere / ne holdyn non ordere / [219] for the erthe ne schal bere hem no freut / [220] For as the prophete Dauid seith god schal distroye the freut of the erthe as fro hem ne the watyr schal ȝeue hem no moysture / ne the ayr no refreschynge / ne fer no lyght [221] ffor as seith seynt Basilie / the brennynge of the fuyr of this world / schal god ȝeuyn in helle to hem that been dampnyd / [222] but the lyȝt & the clernesse schal be ȝeuyn in heuene / to hise childeryn / righ as the goode men ȝeuyn flesch to here childeryn / & bonys to here houndis / [223] And for they schul haue non hope to escape / seyth seynt Iob at the laste. there schal horrour And gresely drede dwelle / with-outyn ende [224] ¶ Horrour is al wey drede of harm / that is to come / And þis drede schal euere dwelle / in the hertis of hem that been dampned / & therfore han they lore al here hope for .vij causis / [225] ¶ fferst for god that seyth / here Iuge schal ben with-oute mercy to hem / & they may not plesyn hym / ne none of hise halwis / ne they ne may ȝeue no thyng for here raunsum / [226] ne they schul [ [Cambr. leaf405 is cut out; sup|plied from Harl. MS. 1758, on leaf 208, back] haue no vois to speke to hym. Ne thei may noght fle fro peyne. Ne thei haue no goodnes in hem that thei may schewe to delyuer hem fro peyne. [227] ¶ And therfore seith Salamon. The wicked man [¶ Salamon.] dyeth & when he is deed he schall haue non hope to escape fro peyne. [228] Who so aschamed is well wolde vn|dirstonde these peynes & bi-thynke hym well that he hath deseruyd thilk peynes for his synnes. Certis he schulde haue more talent to sike & to wepe; then for to syngen & to pleie. [229] ¶ ffor as seith Salamon [¶ Salamon.] who so that hadde the science for to knowe the peynes that ben establisched & ordeyned for synne he wolde make sorow. [230] Thilke science as seith seynt Austyn [¶ Augustinus.] maketh a man to weymentyn in his herte.

[231] ¶ The fourþe poynt that ought make a man [.4. causa.]

[6-text p 605] haue contricion is the sorowfull remembraunce of the gode that he hath lost to don here in erthe & eke the gode that he hath lorn. [232] ¶ Sothly the gode werkis that he hath loste. either thei ben the gode werkis that he wroght er .he fell in to deedly synne. Or ellis the gode werkis that he wroght while he laye in synne. [233] ¶ Sothly the gode werkis that he dide bi-forn that he fell in synne ben alle mortefied & astonyed & dullid bi the ofte synnyng. [234] ¶ That other gode werkis that he wroght whiles he laye in synne thei ben outerly deed as to the lif perdurable in heuyn. [235] then thilke gode werkis that ben mortified by ofte synnyng whiche gode werkis he did whiles he was in charite. ne mowen neuyr quyken a-yen with-outyn verrye penytence. [236] ¶ And þer-of seith god bi the mouthe of Ezechiell þat is the rightfull man re|turne [¶ Ezechielle.] a-yen from his rightwisnes & to werke wicked|nes schall he lyue [237] nay . for alle the gode werkis that he haþ wroȝt ne schulen neuyr be in remembraunce for he schall dye in his synne. [238] And vp on thilke Chapitre seth seynt Gregorye thus. þat we schulde vndir|stonden [¶ Gregorius] this pryncipally. [239] That when we doon deedly synne. hit is for noght than to reherce or drawe in to memorie the gode werkis that we han wroght bi-forne. [240] ffor certis in the werkyng of deedly synne ther is no triste to no good werke þat we han doon to-forn. that is to seyne as for to haue ther-by the lif per|durable in heuyn [241] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] whan we han contricion. [242] ¶ But sothly the gode werkis that men doon whiles that thei ben in deedly synne. for as meche as thei weryn doon in deedly synne thei may neuyr quyken a-yen. [243] ¶ ffor certis thyng that neuyr had lif may neuyr quyken. ¶ And natheles all be hit that thei ne a-vaile noght to han the lif perdurable. yet a-vailen

[6-text p 606] thei to a-breggen of the peyne of helle or ellis to getyn temperall richesse. [244] Or ellis that god woll the rather enlumyn & lightne the herte of the synfull man to han repentaunce [245] & eke thei a-vailen for to vsen a man to doon good werke that the fende haue the lasse power of his soule. [246] ¶ And thus the curteis lord ihesu crist ne woll that no good werke be loste. for in som what it schall a-vaile. [247] but for as meche [as] the gode werkis that [Harl. 1758 folio 209a] men doon whiles thei ben in good lif ben alle mortefied be synne folwyng ¶ And eke sethyns alle the gode werkis that men doon whiles thei ben in dedly synne ben outerly deede as for to haue the lif perdurable. [248] Well may that man that no gode werke ne doth. syng thilke fresche song. Iay tout perdu moun temps & moun labor. [249] ¶ ffor certis synne bireuyth a mannys goodnesse & nature & eke the goodnesse of grace. [250] ¶ fforsothe the grace of the holy gost fareth as fyre that may noght ben ydell. for fire faileth a-non as hit for-lesith his wirch|yng . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [251] then lesith the synfull man the goodnes of glorie. That only is be-hight to good men that labouren & werken [252] well may he be sorye then. that owith all his lif to god as long as he lyueth hath lyved & eke as long as he schall lyue that no goodnes ne hath to paie with his dette [[Harl. extract ends.]] ] [folio 406a] to god / to whom he owith al his lyf. [253] for truste wel he schal ȝeue a-countys as seyth seynt Bernard. of alle the godis that han be ȝeuyn hym in this present lyf and how he hath hem dispendit [254] not so meche that here ⁴schal not periche & here of is heed⁴ [[^4_4 Rubd out, but still visible.]] ne a moment of an oure / ne schal not perissche that he schal ȝeue of it a rekenynge. [255]

THe fyfte thyng that oughte to meue a man to [V^a] Contrycioun is remembraunce of the passioun that oure lord Ihesu crist sufferede for oure synys / [256] ffor as seyth sey[n]t Bernard / whil that I leue I schal han remem|braunce

[6-text p 607] / of the trauaylis / that oure lord crist sufferede in prechynge [257] his werynesse in trauaylynge / hise tempt|aciounys whan he fastide / Hise longe wakynge whan he preyede / Hise teris whan that he wepte for pete of good peple [258] ¶ the wo & the schame / & the filthe that men seydyn to hym / of the foule spittynge that men spittyn in his face / of the buffetys that men ȝeue hym / of the foule mowis that men ȝeue hym / & of the foule re|preuys that men to hym sede / [259] of the naylys with the whiche he was nayled to the cros / and of al the remenaunt of his passioun / that he sufferede for myne synnys & no thyng for hyse gilt / [260] ¶ And ȝe schul vndyr|stonde / than in manys synne / is euery manere ordere / or ordenaunce turned / vp so doun / [261] for it is soth that god & resoun / & sensualytee / & the body of man been ordeyned that euerych of these foure thyngis schulde haue lor[d]schepe ouer that othir [262] As thus / god schulde haue lordschepe ouer resoun / & resoun ouyr sensualite / & sensualite ouyr the body of man [263] ¶ But sothly whan man synnyth / Al this ordere & ordenaunce is turned vpsodoun / [264] And therfore thanne for as meche / as the resoun of man ne wele nouȝt been subiect ne obeysaunt to god that is his lord by ryȝt there|fore leseth it the lo[r]dschepe that it schulde haue ouyr sensualite / & ek ouer the body of man / [265] And why for sensualite rebellyth / thanne a-geyns resoun [folio 406b] And by that weye leseth resoun the lordschepe / ouer sensualite / & ouyr the body. [266] for ryȝt as resoun is rebel to god / rygh so is sensualite / rebel to resoun and the body also / [267] And certis this disordenaunce & this rebellioun oure lo[r]d Ihesu crist abouȝte vp-on his precious body / Ful deere And herkenyth in which wise /. [268] for as meche / thanne as resoun is rebel to god / ther|fore is man worthi to han sorwe / & to be ded / [269] This sufferede oure lord Ihesu cryst for man Aftyr that he hadde be betrayed of his disciple And distreyned / and

[6-text p 608] boundyn so that his blod brast out at euery nayl / of hise handis as seyth seynt Augustyn [270] ¶ And ferthere ouyr for as meche as resoun of man wele / not doute sensu|alite whan it may therfore is man worthy / to haue schame. And this sufferede oure lord Ihesu cryst for man whan they spitte in his visage [271] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / for as meche as the caytyf body of man is rebel bote to resoun / & to sensualite / therfore is it worthy the deth / [272] And this sufferede oure lord Ihesu Crist vp-on the cros / where as was no part of his body fre / with-oute gret pyne / & bittyr passioun / [273] And al this sufferede Ihesu crist that neuere forfetid // And therfore resonabely may be seyd of Ihesu in this manere ¶ To meche am I pynyd for the thyngis that I neuere deseruyd / And to meche defouled / for schenschepe that man is worthy to haue / [274] And ther|fore may the synful man / weel seye / as seyth seynt Bernard / acused be the bittyrnesse of myn synne / for whiche there muste been suffered so meche bittyrnesse / [275] ffor certis aftyr the dyuerce discordaunce / of oure wekedenesse; was the pascioun of Ihesu cryst ordeyned / in dyuerse thyngis/ [276] ¶ As thus /. Certis synful manys soule; is betraysed of the deuyl be coueytyse of temperel prosperite / & skornyd be disseid whan that he cheseth fleschely delycis / And ȝit is it turmentid by inpacience / of aduersite & be [folio 407a] spit be seruage & subieccioun of synne / & at the laste it is slayn fynally / [277] for þis disordenaunce of synful man; was Ihesu crist fyrst betrayed / and aftyr that was he bounde that cam for to onbynde us of synne & of pyne [278] ¶ Thanne was he bescorned / that only schulde a ben honoured / in alle thyngis . . [no gap in the MS.] [279] ¶ Thanne was his visage / that ouȝte be desyred of alle mankynde / in whiche visage aungellis / desire to loke; vileynly be-spit [280] ¶ Thanne was he scorgit that no thyng hadde a-gilt / And fynally thanne was he Crucified / & slayn / [281] thanne was accompleced / the

[6-text p 609] word of ysaye ¶ He was woundit for oure mysdedis / & defoulid by oure felonyes [282] ¶ Now sithe that Ihesu crist tok vp on hym self / the peyne of al oure wekkedenesse; Meche ouȝte synful man wepyn / & be-waylyn that for hise synnys; goddis sone of heuene schulde al this peyne endure [283] THe .vj. [.vj.^a] thyng that schulde meue a man to contricioun; is the hope of .iij. thyngis that is to seyne forȝeuenesse of synne / And the ȝifte of grace weel for to do And the glorie of heuene / with whiche god schal gerdounnyn man / For hise goode dedis / [284] And for as meche as Ihesu crist ȝeuyth vs these ȝiftis of hise largenesse & of his souereyn bountee. therfore is he clepid Iesus [[MS. Ihc]] nazarenus rex iudiorum [285] Ihesu is to seyne sauyour / or sal|uacioun on whom men schul han forȝeuenesse as they schul hope of here synnys / whichiche that is properly saluacioun of synnys [286] And therfore seyde the aungel to Ioseph // Thow schalt clepe his name Ihesus that schal saue his peple / of here synnys / [287] and here of seyth seynt petir Theere is non othir name vndir heuene that is ȝeue to ony man / by whiche a man may be sauyd / but only Ihesus. [288] Nazarenus / is as meche for to seyne as flouryschynge in whiche a man schal hope that he that ȝeuyth hym remyssioun of synnys schal ȝeue hym ek grace / weel to do ¶ ffor in the [folio 407b] flour is hope of freut tyme comynge / And in the forȝeuenesse of synne / hope of grace weel to do [289] I was at the dore of thyn herte seyth Ihesus / & clepede for to entere / he that openyth to me schal haue forȝeuenesse / of synne / [290] I wele entere in to hym be myn grace / And soupe with hym by the goode werkis that he schal doon / whiche werkis been the fode / of which / & he schal soupe with me by the greete Ioye / that I schal ȝeue hym / [291] ¶ Thus man schal hope / for hise werkis of penaunce / that god schal ȝeue hym his regne / as he behetyth hym in his gospel

[292] NOw schal a man vndyrstonde in which

[6-text p 610] manere schal ben his contricioun / ¶ I seye that it schal be vnyuersel / & total A man schal be / uerray repentaunt for alle hise synnys / that he hath doon / in delit of his theut for delit is ful parlious / [293] For there ben two maneris of consentynges / . that on of hem is / clepid consentynge of affeccioun / whan a man is moeuyd to do synne / & thanne delytith hym longe for to thynkyn on that synne / [294] & his resoun aperseyuyth it weel / that it is synne ageyns the lawe of god / and ȝit his resoun refreynyth not his foule delit / or talent. thow he se wel apertely that it is synne / & ageyns the reuerence of god. Althow his resoun ne consente not to don that synne in dede; [295] ȝit seyn some doctourys / that swich delyt that dwellith longe / it is ful parlious al be it neuere so lite / [296] And also a man schulde sorwe namely for al that he hath desyred a-geyn the lawe of god / with parfit consentyng of his resoun / for therof is no doute / that it is dedly synne / . . . . .[297] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] that it is ferst in manys thouȝt / And aftyr that in his delyt & so forth in to consentynge & in to dede [298] ¶ Wherfore I feere that manye man / ne repentyn hem neuere of sweche thoughtys & delycys / ne neuere schryuyn [folio 408a] hem of it / but only of the dede of greete synnys outward / [299] wherfore I seye that sweche wekede thouȝtis & wekkede delitis / been subtyle begilouris of hem that schul been dampned / [300] Moore ouer a man ouȝte to sorwe / for hese wekede wordys / as wel as hise wikkede dedis / For certis the repentaunce of a sengeler synne & not repentaunt for alle hise othere synnys / or ellis repente hym of alle hise othere synnys & not of a senguleer synne may not auayle / [301] for certis god almyȝti is al good & therfore / othyr he forȝeuyth al or ellis ryȝt noght [302] And herof seyth seynt augustyn / . I wot certeynly [303] that god is enemy to euery synnere / & how thanne he that observit on synne / schal he han forȝeuenesse of the

[6-text p 611] othere synnys; Nay [304] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / Contricioun schal been wondyr sorweful And an|guyssous / & therfore ȝeuyth hym god pleynly his mercy / And therfore whan myn soule was angwissous / with-inne me / I hadde remembraunce of god / that myn preyere myȝte come to hym [305] ¶ fferthere ouyr / Contricioun muste be contynewel / & that man haue stede|fast purpos to schryue hym & to amende hym of his lyf / [306] For sothly whil contricioun lastith man may euere haue hope of forȝeuenesse / & of this comyth hate of synne that distroyeth synne bothe in hym self & ek in othere folk / as his power [307] ¶ ffor whiche seyth dauyd / he that louyn god hatyn wekkedenesse / for trustith weel / for to loue god; is for to loue that he louyth / & hate that he hatith /

[308] ¶ The laste thyng that we schal vndyrstonde; is this / whereof auaylith contricioun / I seye that sumtyme Contricioun delyueret man from synne / [309] of whiche that dauid seyth / I seye quod Dauid / that is to seyn. I purpose it fermely / to schryue me / And thow lord relesedyst myn synne / [310] And rygh so as contricioun auaileth nouȝt with-oute sad purpos of schrifte / If man haue oportunyte / rygh so lite worth is schrifte [folio 408b] or satisfaccioun with-outyn contricioun [311] ¶ And more ouer Contricioun distroyet the prysoun of helle / & makyth week & feble alle the strenthis of the deuyllis / and restorith the ȝiftys of the holy gost / & of alle goode werkys / [312] & it clenseth the soule of synne / & delyuerith the soule from the pit of helle / & from the cumpayny of the deuyl / & from the seruage of synne / & restorith it to alle godis spiritueles & to the cumpayny & communioun of holy cherche / [313] And ferthere it makith hym that whilhom was sone of yre / to be sone of grace / And alle these thyngis been prouyd by holy writ [314] ¶ And therfore he that wolde settyn his entent to teche thyngis he were ful

[6-text p 612] wis // ffor sothe he schulde not thanne in al his lyf haue corage to synne / but ȝeue his body & al his herte to the seruyse of Ihesu crist / & therof don hym homage [315] For sothly oure swete lord / Ihesu Crist hath spared vs so debonerly in oure folyis / that ȝif he ne hadde pete of manys soule / a sory song we myghte alle synge /

Explicit prima pars penitencie Et sequitur / secunda pars eiusdem.

[316]

THe secunde partie of penytence is Confessioun that is signe of Contricioun / [317] Now schul ȝe vndyrstonde / what is Confessioun & whethir it oughte nedis be doon or non And whiche thyngis ben nede to verray Confessioun

[318] ¶ ffyrst schalt thu vnderstonde that Confessioun is verray schewynge of synnys to the prest / [319] this is to seyne verray; for he muste confessyn hym of alle the condiciounnys that belongyn to hese synnys / as fer forth as he can / [320] al muste be seyd / & nothyng excused / ne hid ne forwrappid / & nouȝt auaunte the of thynne goode werkys [321] ¶ And ferthere ouyr it is necessarye / to vndyr|stonde whens that synnys sprynge / And how they entere / & whiche they [folio 409a] been

[322] ¶ Of the spryngynge of synnys / seyth seynt poul in this wyse / That ryȝt as by a man / Synne enterede ferst in to this world / And thour that synne deth / ryght so thilke deth / endtred in alle man that sennen [323] And this man was .adam. by whom synne enterede in to this world / whan he brak the comaundement of god / [324] and therfore he that fyrst was so myghty / that he ne schulde nat a deyed / becam swichon that he muste nedis deyee whedyr he wolde or non / And al his progenye in this world / that in thilke man synnedyn [325] ¶ Loke that in stat of innocence whan Adam & Eue

[6-text p 613] were makid in paradys / & nothyng haddyn schame of here nakedenesse [326] how that the serpent that was most wyly of alle othere bestis / that god hadde makyd / seide to the woman / why comaunded god to ȝow that ȝe schulde nat ete of euery tre in paradys / [327] The woman answerede / of the freut quod sche of the treis in Paradys we fedyn vs But sothly of the freut of the tre that is in the myddyl of paradys / god forbad vs for to ete / ne nought touche it / lest perauenture we schulde deye [328] ¶ The serpent seyde to the woman / Nay nay ȝe schul not deye / of detht / ffor sothe god wot that what day that ȝe ete therof / ȝoure eyen schul openyn & ȝe schul been as goddys / knowynge good & harm / [329] The woman thane ¹saw þat the tre was godd to fedyng & fair to þ^e eyen & delitable to sight Sche tok of the freut & et it & ȝaf to hire husbonde & he et / & a-non þ^e eiȝen of hem bothe openedyn / [330] And whan þat they knewin that þei were nakede they sowedin of fegelevis a manere of brech to hidyn here membris / [331] There may ȝe se that dedly synne hath ferst suggestioun of the feend as schewith heere by the Naddre¹ [[^1_1 In corrector's hand, over an erasure.]] And aftyrward the delyȝt of the flesch as schewith heere by eue / And aftyr that consentynge of resoun; as schewith heere by Adam // [332] For troste weel thow it so weere / that the fend temtede .eue. that is to seyne the flesch / & the flesch hadde delyt in the beute of the freut / defended / ȝit sertis tyl that resoun that is to seyne adam / con|sentede to the etynge of the frut; ȝit stood he in the estat of Innocence // [333] [folio 409b] Of thilke Adam; toke we thilke synne orygynal / for of hym fleschly; descendede be we alle / & engendrede of vyle / & corupt mateere / [334] And whan the soule is put in oure body / righ a-noon is con|tract orygynal synne / And that that was ferst but only peyne of concupscence / is aftyr-ward bothe peyne & synne / [335] & therfore ben we alle born / sonys of

[6-text p 614] wrathe / & of dampnacioun / perdurable / ȝif it neere baptisme / that we resseyvyn / whiche be-nemyth vs the culpe. but for sothe the pyne dwellith with vs as to temptacioun / whiche peyne hyghte concupiscence / [336] this Concupiscence / whan it is wrongfully disposed / or ordeyned in man / it makyth hym coueyte by coueytyse of flesch / flesschely synne be syghte of hise eyen / as to erthely thyngis / And eek coueytise of heynesse / be pryde of herte

[337] ¶ Now as to spekyn of the ferthe coueytyse that is Concupiscence / aftyr the lawe of oure membris / that weere laufully I-makede / And be ryghtful Iuge|ment / of good / [338] I seye for as meche / as man is nouȝt obeysaunt / to god that is his lord / therfore is the flesch to hym dysobeysaunt / thorw Concupiscence / ¹whiche is clepid norisschynge of synne & occasioun of synne / [339] Therefore al the while / that a man hath withinne hym the pyne of concupiscence¹ [[^1_1 repeated in MS.]] / it is impossible / but he be temptid sumtyme / & meuyd in his flesch to synne / [340] & this thyng may not falle as longe as he leuyth / it may weel waxe feble & fayle be vertew of baptisme / and by the grace of good thorw penytence / [341] but fully schal it neuere quenche / that he schal sum|tyme be meuyd / in hym self but he were al refreyned be seknesse or by malefice of socerye / or colde drynkis [342] ¶ ffor lo what seyth seynt Paul / the flesch coueytith a-ȝen the spyryt / & the spirit ageyn the flesch / they been so contrarye / & so stryuyn that a man may nat alwey don as he wolde [343] ¶ The same Seynt Poule Aftyr his greete / penaunce / in watyr & in lond / in [folio 410a] watyr be nyght / & be day in gret peril & in greet pyne In lond in femyn & thurst / & cold & clothis / & onys stooned / almost to the deth [344] ȝit seyde he allas I caytif man / ho schal delyuere me from the prysoun of myn caytyf body / [345] And Seynt Ierom whan he long tyme hadde wonyd / in deserd / where as he ne hadde noon cumpaynye / but of wilde bestes / where as he hadde

[6-text p 615] no mete but erbis / and watir to his drink ne no bed but the nakede erthe / ffor whiche his flesch was blak / as an Ethiopen / for hete & nygh distroyed / for cold / [346] ȝit seyde he / that the brennynge of lecherye / boylede in al his body / [347] wherfore I wot wel sekyrly that they ben disseyuede / that seyn that they ben not temptid in here body [348] witnesse of seynt Iame / the apostelle that seyth / that euery wiȝt is temptid in his owene Con|cupiscence / that is to seine that euery of vs hath mater & occasioun to be temptid / of the norysshynge of synne / that is in his body / [349] And therefore seyth seynt Iohn the ewangelist/ ȝif that we seyn that we been with-oute synne we disseyuyn oure seluyn / & treuthe is not in vs

[350] ¶ Now schal thow vndyrstonde / [. . . . .] how synne wexeþ And encreseth in man ¶ The ferste thyng is thilke noryschynge of synne / of whiche I spak by-fore / thilke fleschely concupiscence / [351] and aftyr that comyth subieccioun / of the deuyl / this is to seyne the deuylis bely with wheche he blowyth / in man the fer of fleschely concupscence / [352] And aftyr that a man be|thynkyth hym whethir he wele do or noo the ilke thyng to wheche he is temptid / [353] And thanne if that a man withstonde / & weyue the ferste entisyngis of hise flesch / & of the feend / thanne is it no synne And ȝif so be that he do not so / thanne fleit he a noon / a flaume / of delit / [354] and thanne is it good to be war / & kepe hym weel or ellys he wele / fallyn a noon in to consentynge / of synne / And thanne wele he do it ȝif he may / haue tyme & place / [355] and of this mater seyth Moyses. be the deuyl in this manere [folio 410b] The fend seyth I wele chase & pursewe the man be wekede sulieccioun / & I wele hente hym be meuyng or steri[n]g of synne / & I wele departe myn preyse or myn prey by de|liberacioun / & myn lust schal be accomplischid / in delit / I wele drawe myn swered / in concentynge / [356] for certis rygh as a swerd / departyth a thyng in to pecis / righ

[6-text p 616] so consentynge departith god fro man / And thanne wele I sleen hym with myn hand / in dede of synne / thus seyth þ^e fend [357] For certis thanne is a man al deed / in soule / & thus is synne accompleschid with temp|tacioun / bi delyt & be concentynge / & thanne is the synne clepid actuel

[358] ¶ fforsothe synne is in two manerys / othir it is venyal or dedly / synne / Sothly whan man louyth ony thyng more than Ihesu Crist oure creature; thanne is it / dedly synne / And venyal synne / is it / ȝif man loue Ihesu Crist lesse than hym ouȝte / [359] forsothe the dede of this venyal synne is wol parlyous / for it amenuseth the loue that a man schulde haue / to good moore & more [360] And therfore ȝif a man scharge hym self / with manye sweche venyal synnys / certis but ȝif so be that he sum|tyme dyscarge / hym of hem be schrifte the mowe ful lightely / amensyn in hem al the loue that he hath / to Ihesu crist / [361] & in this wyse skippith venyal in to dedly synne / For certis the more that a man schargyth hys soule with venyal synnys; the moore is he enclynyd to dedly synnne [362] And therefore lete vs not be to necligent to discharge vs / of venyal synnys / for the prouerbe seith That manye smale makyn a greet [363] ¶ And herkene this ensaumple / A greet wawe of the se comyth sumtyme with so greet a violence / that it drenchith the schip / And the same doth sumtyme the smale dropis of watir that enteryn thorw a lytil crauas in the thurrok & in the boteme of the schip If men ben so necligent that men ne scharge hem not be tyme / [364] And therefore al thow theere be a differens be twethe these two causys / of dren [folio 411a] chynge; algate the schip is drenkt [365] ¶ Ryght so faryth it sumtyme / of dedly synne / And of noyouse venyal synne / whan they multiplie in man / so greetly that theyilke wordely thyngis that he louyth thorw whiche he synnyth he synnyth venyally / is as greet in his herte / as the loue of god / or moore / [366]

[6-text p 617] And therfore the loue of euerithyng / that is not be set in god / ne doon principally for godis sake; al thow a man loue it lasse than god / ȝit is it venyal synne / [367] And dedly synne / whan the loue of ony thyng/ wegheth in the herte of man / as meche as the loue of god or moore / [368] ¶ Dedly synne as [seyth] seynt austyn / is whan a man turnyth his herte from god / whiche that is verray souereyn bounte / that may not schaunge / & ȝewith his herte to thyng that may schaunge & flitte [369] & certis / that is euery thyng saue god of heuene for soth is ȝif a man ȝeue his loue / whiche that he owith al to god / with al his herte / vn-to a creature / certis as meche of his loue as he ȝeuyth to that ilche creature / so meche he be-reuyth from god / [370] And ther|fore doth he synne / for he that is dettour to god / ȝildyth not al his dette to god / that is to seyne / al the loue of his herte

[371] ¶ Now sithe man vndyrstonde / generally whiche is venyal synne thanne is it couenable / to telle specially of synnys whiche that manye a man / parauenture ne demyth hem no synnys & schryuyth hym not of the same synnys / And ȝit natheles they been synnys [372] Sothly as these clerkis wryte / this is to seyne that at euery tyme / that man etith or drenkyth moore than suffiseth to the sustenaunce / of his body in certeyn he doth synne / [373] And ek whan he spekyth more than hym nedith / it is synne ek / whan he herkenyth not [[not later]] be|nygnely to the compleynt of the poore / [374] ek whan he is in hele of body / And wele not faste whan othere folk faste / with-oute cause resonable / eek whan he slepith more than nedith / or whan he comyth be thilke enchesoun to late to cherche / or to [folio 411b] othere werkis of charitee / . [375] eek whan he vseth his wif with-outyn souereyn desyr of engenderure to the honour of god / or for the entent to ȝilde his wif the dette of his body / [376] Ek whan he wele not visite the sike or the prisounner / ȝif he may /

[6-text p 618] Ek ȝif he loue wyf or child or othir wordely thyng more than resoun requyrith / Ek ȝif he flatere or blaundise more than hym oughte for ony necescite. [377] Ek ȝif he withdrawe or menuse the almesse of the poore. Ek ȝif he apparayle his mete more delisciously than nedyth or ete to hastily by licourse|nesse /. [378] Ek ȝif he tale uenyteis at cherche / or at godis seruyse / or that he be a talkere of idele wordis / of folye / or of vilenye / for he schal ȝilde acountis of it at the day of doome / [379] Ek whan he hotith or assuryth a thing that he may not parforne / Ek whan he by lightnesse or foly / mysseith or skornyth his neghebour. [380] Ek whan he hat ony wekke suspecioun of thyng that he wot of no soth|fastnesse [381] ¶ These thyngis And mo with-outyn noumbre ben synnys / as seith seynt Augustyn

[382] ¶ Now schal men vndirstonde that al be it so that non erthely man / may eschewyn alle venyal synnys; ȝit may he refreyne hym by the brennynge loue that he hath to oure lord / Ihesu crist/ And by preyeris & confessioun & othere goode werkys / so that it schal but litil greue / [383] For as seith seynt Augustyn / ȝif a man loue god in swich manere / that al that euere he doth is in the loue of god . . . [no gap in the MS.] werrayly / for he brennyth in the loue of god / [384] loke how meche that a drope of watyr / that fallyth in a furneys ful of feer avaylyth / or greuyth / so meche anoyeth a venyal synne to a man / that is parfit in the loue of Ihesu Crist . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] be resseyuynge ek of holy watyr / by almesse dede by general confessioun of Confiteor at the masse / and at Compelyn / And be blyssynge of Besschopis & of Prestis & by othere goode werkys. [[leaf 412 is cut out of the Cambr. MS.]]

[6-text p 619]

De Superbia et eius dependencijs circumstancijs spectantibus

[Harl. MS. 1758 folio 212b]

[387] NOw is it bi-houeli thyng to tellen whiche ben dedly synnes. that is to seie. kaitifnesse of synnes alle they renne in colis. But in dyuers maner. Now ben thei clepid kaitifes. ffor as meche as thei ben chief & spryngen of alle other synnes. [388] ¶ Of the rote of these .4. synns. Then is pride the generall rote of alle harmes ¶ ffor of this rote spryngen certeyn branchis. as. Ire. Enuye. Accidie. or slewthe. Auarice or couetise to comyn vndirstondyng. Glotenye & lecherie. [389] And eueryche of these cheef synnes hath his branchis & his twigges as schall be declarid in her chapitres folwyng.

[Of Pride, and its Twigs.]

[390] ¶ And thogh so be that no man can telle vtterli the nombre of the twigges & of the branchis that cometh of pride. yet woll I schewe a partie of hem as ye schullen vndirstondyn. [391] ¶ Ther is. inobedience. Auauntyng. Iprocrisie. Dispite. Arregaunce. Impudence. Swellyng of herte. Insolence. Elacion. Inpacience. Strif. Contumacie. Presumpcion. Irreuerence. Pertynacie. Veynglorie. And manye another twigge that I can noȝt declare. [392] Ino|bedience is he that disobeieth for dispite to the comaunde|ment of god & to his souereynes & to his gostly ffadir. [393] ¶ Auauntour is he; that bosteth of the harme or of the bounte that he hath done. [394] Ipocrisie is he that hideth hym to schewe hym suche as he is & schewith hym suche as he is not. [395] ¶ Dispitous is he that hath disdeyn of his neighboris. that is to seyn of his euyn cristen or hath dispite to do that he ought to do. [396] ¶ Arrogaunt is he. that thenketh that he hath thilke bountees in hym that he hath not. Or

[6-text p 620] weneth that he schulde haue hem be his desertis. Or ellis that he demeth that he be þat he is not. [397] ¶ Im|pudent is he that for his pride hath no schame for his synne. [398] ¶ Swellyng of herte is he that when a man reioiseth hym of harme that he hath doon. [399] ¶ Inso|lent is he that dispiseth in his Iugement alle other folk as to regarde of his value & of his connyng & of his spekyng & of his beryng. [400] Elacion is when that he ne may neither suffre to haue maistrie ne felawe. [401] ¶ Inpacient is he that woll noght ben taught ne vndir|nome of his vices. ¶ And be strife werreieth trouthe wetyngly & defendeth his folye. [402] ¶ Contymax is he that thorogh his indignacion is a-yens eueryche auctorite or power of hem that ben his souereyns. [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcion is he that when a man taketh an emprise that hym ought noght to do. Or ellis he may it noght do. & that is called Surquedrie. ¶ Inreuerence is when men don noght honour ther as hem ought to doon & waiteth to be reuerencid; [404] ¶ Pertynacie is whan a man defendith his folye. & trusteth to mechill to his owne witte. [405] ¶ Veynglorie is / for to haue [[Harl. 1758 extract ends]] ] [Camb. MS.] [folio 413a] pompe & delit in his temperel heynesse / & gloryfye hym in wordely estatis [406] ¶ Iangelyng is / whan man spekith to meche be-fore folk / & clappyn as a melle And take no kep what they seye /

[407] And ȝit is there a preue spice / of pryde that wayth fyrst for to be saluyd; er than he wele salue / al be he lesse worthi than that othir is / parauenture / And ek he waitith or desyrith to sitte / or ellis goon a-boue hym in the weye / or kisse pax / or been ensensed / or goon to offerynge by-fore his neighebore / [408] & sweche semblable thyngis / a-geyns his deute parauenture / but that he hath his herte / & his entent in swich a proud desir to be magnyfied & honoured / by-forn the peple.

[409] ¶ Now be there two manere of pride that on of hem is with inne the herte of a man And that

[6-text p 621] othir is with oute / [410] of whiche sothtly these for|seyde thyngis & mo than I haue seyd / apertenyn to pryde / that is in the herte of man / And that othere spicis of pryde. been with-oute / [411] but neuere the les that on of these spicis / of pride; is sygne of that othir riȝt as the gay ¶ Leuesel at the tauerne; is signe of the wyn / that is in the seler / [412] & this is in manye thyngis / as in speche & cuntenaunce / & in outrageous aray / of clothynge / [413] For certis ȝif there hadde be no synne in clothynge; Crist wolde not so soone haue notid / & spokyn of the clothynge of the riche man in the gospel [414] & as seyth seynt Gregory / that precious clothynge is cou|pable / for the derthe of it / & for his softenesse / & for his strangenesse & degisynesse / & for the super|fluyte or for the inordinat skarsenesse of it [415] ¶ Allas may man nat seen as in oure dayis the synful costelewe aray of clothynge / & namely in to meche superfleuyte / or ellis in disordenat skarsenesse

[416] ¶ As to the ferste synne in superfluyte of clothynge / whiche that makith it so deere to harm of the peple / [417] nat only the cost of the enbroudynge / the degyse endentynge / or barrynge / owndynge . palynge / wyndynge or bendynge [folio 413b] & semblable wast/ of clothynge in vanyte / [418] But there is also the costelewe furrynge in hire gounnys / so meche pounsounnynge / of chesellis to make holys / so meche daggynge of scheris / [419] forth-with / the superfluite in lenthe / of the forseide gounys / trayl|ynge in the dunge / & in the myre / on horse & ek on foote as weel of man as of woman / that al thilke traylyng is verrayly as in effect wastid consumyd thred|bare & rotyn with donge / rathere than it is ȝeue to the poore / to greet damage of the forseyde poore / folk [420] & that in sundery wise / this is to seyne / that the more the cloth is wastid; the more mote it coste / to the peple for the skarsenesse [421] And ferthere ouyr ȝif so be that they wolde ȝeue swiche pounsonede / &

[6-text p 622] daggede clothynge to þ^e pore peple / it is not conuenyent to were for here estat ne sufficient to be to here necescite / to kepe hem from the distemperaunce of the firmament. [422] ‖ Vp-on that othir syde / to speke of the disord|ynat skarsenesse / of clothynge as been these cuttede sloppis or haunseleynys / that thorw here schortnesse keuere not the schameful membris / of man to wekede eentent / [423] Allas some of hem schewyn the boce of here schap / & the horyble swollyne membris / that semyth lyk the maladie of hirnya in the wrappynge of here hosyn / [424] And ek the buttokis of hem / farn as thow it were the h[y]ndere part of a sche Ape in the fulle of the moone [425] And moore ouyr the wrechede swollene membris / that they schewe thorw disgisyng in departynge of here hosyn / in whit & red / semyth that half here schame|ful preue menbris were flayn / [426] & ȝif so be that they departyn here hosyn in othere colouris / as is whit & blew / or with whit & blak / or blak & reed and so forth / [427] thanne semyth it as be variauns of colourys that half here preue membris been corupt by the fier of seynt Antonye / or by cankre [folio 414a] or othir swich myschaunce [428] ¶ Of the hyndere part of here buttokys it is ful horryble for to se / for certis in that partye of here body / there as they porgyn here stynkynge ordure / [429] that foule partie schewe they to the peple / proudely in dispit / of honeste / which honeste that Ihesu crist & hise frendis obserued to schewyn in here lyue [430] ¶ Now as of the outrageous aray of wemen / god wot that thogh the visage of some of hem seme ful chast & debonayre / ȝit notyfie they in here aray or atyr / likerousnesse & pride / [431] I sey not that honeste in clothynge of man or woman is oncon|able / But certis the superfluite / or disordenat skantite of clothynge / is repreuable / [432] Also the synne of ornement or of apparayle / is in thyngis that apperteignyn to rydynge / As in to manye delicate horsis that been holdyn

[6-text p 623] for delit that been so fayre fatte & costlewe / [433] & also in manye a vicious knaue / that is susteynyd by cause of hem. In to coryous harneys / as in sadelis croperis / peitrelis / & brydelys kouered with precious clothynge & riche barris & platis of gold / and of syluyr [434] ¶ For whiche god seith be ȝacharie the prophete. I wel confounde / the rideris of sweche hors / [435] These folk take liytil reward of the rydynge of goddis sone / of heuene / & of his harneis whan he rod / vp-on the asse / And ne hadde non othir harneys but the poore clothis of hise disciplis / ne we ne reede not that euere he rod / on othir beste [436] I speke this for the synne of superfluyte / & not for resonable honeste whan resoun it requyreth [437] ¶ And ferthere ouyr/certis pryde is gretly notified/in holdynge of greet meyne/ whan they been of lytil profit or of ryȝt no profit / [438] & namely whan that meyne is felonous / & damage|ous to the peple / by hardynesse of greet lordschepe / or by weye of offys [439] ¶ For certis sweche lordis / selle thanne here lordschepe / to the deuyil of helle / whan they susteyne the wikkedenesse of here meyne [440] ¶ Or ellis whanne these folk of lowede degre / as thilke that holdyn ostelryis / suste [folio 414b] ne the theffte of here hostelleris / & that is in manye manere / of disseytis / [441] thilke manere of folk been the flyis / that folwyn the hony or ellis the houndis that folwyn the carayn / sweche manere of folk folwyn strangelyn spiritually here lordschepis / [442] for whiche thus seyth dauyd the prophete ¶ Wikkede deth mote come to sweche lordschepis / And god ȝeue that they mote discendyn in to helle al doun / for in herere housis been inyquiteis / & schrewedenessis / & noght god of heuene / [443] & certys til dey doon a-mende|ment / ryght as god ȝaf his benysoun to Pharao / bi the seruyse of Iacob / & to laban bithe the seruyse of Ioseph; so god wele ȝeue his malysoun to sweche lordschepis that sustene the wikkedenesse of here seruauntis / but they

[6-text p 624] come to a-mendement [444] ¶ Pryde of the table apperyth ek ful ofte / For certis riche men been clepid to festis / & poore folk been put a-wey & rebukid [445] And also in exces of diuerse metis & drynkis & namely sweche manere bake metis / & dischemetis brynynge with wildefeer / peynted & castellid with paper / & semblable wast / so that it is abisioun for to thynke / [446] & ek in to gret preciousnesse of vessel & coryouste of menstralsie by whiche a man is sterid the moore to delycis / of lecherye / [447] ȝif it so be that he sette the lesse his herte vp-on oure lord Ihesu crist / certeynly it is a synne. & certeynly the deuyllis myght is so greet in this cas / that a man myghte lighteli by hem falle in to a dedly synne. [448] The especes that souredyn of pryde / sothly whan they sourdyn of maleis ymagyned auysed & forcast or ellis of vsage by dedly synne / it is no doute / [449] & whanne they souredyn bi frelte on|auysed / sodeynly / & sodeynly withdrawen a-geyn alle been they greuous / synnys / I gesse that they been nat dedly [450] ¶ Now myghte men aske wherof Pride souredith & spryngit / And I seye that it spryngith sumtyme of the goodis of nature / And sumtyme of the goodis of fortune / And sumtyme of the goodis of grace / [451] Certis the goodis of nature [folio 415a] stondyn outirly in goodis of body or goodis of soule [452] Certis goodis of body; been hele of body / strenthe delyuyrnesse / Beute genterye / Fraunchise / [453] Goodis of nature of the soule; been good wit / scharp vndirstondynge / subtyl engyn / uertu naturel / good memorye / [454] Goodis of fortune been rychessis hei degreis of lordschepes / preysynge of the peple / [455] Goodis of grace been science / power to suffere spirituel trauayle / benygnetee verteuous contemplacioun / withstondynge of temptacioun / & semblable thyngis / [456] of whiche forseide goodis / certis it is a ful greet folye / a man to prydyn hym in onye of hem / alle [457]

[6-text p 625] ¶ Now as for to spekyn of goodis of nature god wot that sumtyme we han hem in nature / as meche to oure damage as to oure prophit / [458] As for to spekyn of hele of body; certis it passith ful lyghtely / & ek it is ful oftyn enchesyn of the seknesse of oure soule / ffor god wot that the flesch is a wel greet enemy to the soule / And therfore the more that the body is hol the moore be we in peril to falle [459] ¶ Ek for to pride hym in his strenthe / of body; it is an high folye ffor certis the flesch / coueythith a-geyns the spirit And ay the moore strong that the flesch is / the soryere may the soule be [460] And ouyral this strenthe of body / & wordily hardynesse / causeth ful ofte manye a man to peril & myschaunce [461] ¶ Ek for to pryde hym of his genterye / is wol greet folye for ofte tyme the gentrye of the body / benymyth the gentrie of the soule / And ek we been alle of oon / fadyr / & of on modir / & alle we been of on mater rotyn & corupt/ bothe riche & poore / [462] Forsothe on manere genterye is for to preyse / that aparaylyth manys corage / with vertuys & moraliteis / & makith hym cristis child / [463] ffor truste weel that ovir what man that synne hath maystrye he is a verray cherl to synne

[464] ¶ Now been there general signys of gentilessis / as eschuynge of vicis / and ribaudye & seruage of synne in word [folio 415b] in werk & contenaunce [465] & vsinge vertu curtaysie & clennesse & to be liberel / that is to seyne large be mesur for thilke that passith mesur; is folye & synne / [466] A nothir is to remembre hym of bounte / that he of othere folk hath resseyued / [467] A nothir is to be buxsome to hese sogettis / wherof seith Senec/ there is no thyng moore conabele to a man of hey estat / than debonayrete & pete / [468] And therfore these flyes that men clepe beis / Whan they make here kyng; they chese on that hath no prikke wherwith he may stynge // [469]

[6-text p 626] A nothir is a man to haue a noble herte / & a diligent to atteyne to here vertuuous thyngis [470] ¶ Now certis a man to pride hym in the goodis of grace / is ek an outragious folye for thilke ȝiftis of grace / that schulde a turnyd hym to goodnesse / And to medicyne turnyth hym to venym and to confusioun as seith seynt gregory // [471] Certis also ho so prydith hym in the goodis of ffortune; he is a ful greet fol / for sumtime is a man a ryȝt greet lord be the morwyn / that is a caytif & a wreche er it be euyn [472] And sumtyme the richesse of a man; is cause of his deth Sumtyme the delicis of a man; is cause of the greuous seknesse thour whiche he deyeth / [473] Certis the comendacioun of the peple / is sum|tyme ful fals & ful brethil for to triste / this day they preise / to morwe they blame. [474] god wot desir to haue commendacioun of the peple hath caused deth to manye a besi man [475] ¶ Now sithe that so is / that ȝe han vndirstonde what is pride / & whiche been the spicis of it / And whens pride sordith & spryngith /

Remedium contra peccatum Superbie (in the margin).

[476] Now schul ȝe vndirstonde whyche is the remedye a|ȝens pride ¶ Humylite or . . . . [no gap in the MS.] meknesse / [477] is the remedye Ageyns Pride / that is vertu thorw whiche a man hat verray knowelechyng of hym self. & heldith of hym self no prys ne deynte / as in regard of hise de|sertys / considerynge euere his frelte [478] ¶ Now be there thre maneris of humilitee. as humylite in herte / And othir humylite in his mouth. the thredde in hise werkis / [479] The humilite in herte; is in foure maneris / that on is whan a man holdyth hym [folio 416a] self as nygh wroth bi-fore god of heuene / A nothir is whan he dispiseth

[6-text p 627] non othir man / [480] The thredde is whan he ne rekke nat thow men holde hym not worth / the ferthe is whan he ne is not sory of his humyliacioun / [481] Also the humylite of mouth; is in iiij. thyngis / in a-tempre speche / And in humylite of speche / And whan he knowith with his owene mouth that he is swich as he thynkith that he is / in his herte / Anothir is whan he preyseth the bounte of a nother man / and no thyng therof amenuseth / [482] Humylite ek in werk / is in .iiij. manerys / The fyrste is whan he puttyth othere men bi-foryn hym / the secunde is to chese the loweste place oueral / The thredde is. gladly to assente to good conseyl / [483] The forte is to stonde gladly to the award / of hise souereynys or of hym that is in heyere degree /. Certeyn this is an greet degree of humylite. [(Below are two painted figures: one "Inuidia", a man in a green dress, riding a clawd feline animal (? a wolf) biting a bone; the other, "Charite", a woman with a 3-crownd mitre on her head, carrying a wingd and flaming (or bleeding) heart in her left hand, a staff in her right. See the Society's Chaucer Autotypes, Part 2.)]

[484] [folio 416b] Aftyr pride wele I speke of the foule synne of enuye / whiche that is as by the word of the philysofere Sorwe of othere menys prosperite // And aftyr the word of seynt Augustyn / it is sorwe of othere manys wele / And the Ioye of othere menys harm // [485] This foule synne is platly a-geyns the holy gost / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ȝit natheles for as meche / as bountee. pertenyth properly to the holy gost / & enuye comyth propyrly of maleys / ther|fore it is propirly a-geyn the bounte of the holygost // [486] Now hath Maleys .ij. spicis that is to seyne hardynesse / of herte in wekedenesse or ellis the flesch of man is so blynd that he considerith not that he is in synne / or rekkith not that he is in synne whiche is the hardynesse of the deuyl [487] That othir spice of enuye / is whan that a man werreyeth trouthe whan that he wot that it is trouthe / & ek whan he werreyeth the grace that god hath ȝoue to his

[6-text p 628] And al this is by enuye // [488] Certis thane is enuye the werste synne that is / For sothly alle othere synnys / been sumtyme onli a-geyns on special vertu / [489] But certis enuye / is a-geyns alle othere wertuis a-geyns alle goodnesse / for it is sory of alle the bounteis / of his neghebour And in this manere / it is dyuerse from alle othere synnys [490] For weel onethe is there ony synne / that it ne hath sum delit in it self / saue only enuye / that euere hat in it self / Angwissch & sorwe // [491] The spicis of enuye ben these / theere is ferst sorwe of othere menys goodnesse / & of his pros|perite / & prosperite is kyndeli mater of ioye / Thanne is enuye a synne a-geyns kynde / [492] The secunde spice of enuye / is Ioye of othere menys harm / & that is proprely lyk to the deuyl that euere reioyeth hym of othere manys harm [493] ¶ Of these two spycys / comyth bakbytynge And this synne of bakbitynge / or detrac|tyoun hath serteyn spicis / as thus sum man preyseth his neighebour by a wekede entent [494] For he makyth alwey a wekkede knotte / at the laste ende . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] that is digne of moore blame / than worth [folio 417a] is al the preysynge / [495] The secunde spice is that ȝif a man be goode / & doth or seyth a thyng to good entent / the bakbitere wele turne al thilke goodnesse vp so doun / to hise schrewede entent / [496] The iij is to amenuse the bounte / of his neighe|boure / [497] The ferthe spice of bakbytynge is this that ȝif men speke goodnesse of a man / thanne wele the bakbitere seyn / Parfey ȝit swich a man is bet than he / in dispreysynge of hym that men preyse / [498] The fifte spice is this / for to concente gladly & herkene gladly to the harm that men speke of othere folk this synne is ful gret / And ay encreseth aftyr the wekkede entent/ of the bakbytere [499] ¶ Aftyr bakbytynge comyth grochynge / or murmuracioun & sumtyme it sp[r]yingith of inpacience / a-geyns god & sumtyme a-geyns man /

[6-text p 629] [500] A-geyns god it is whan a man / grochith ageyns the peyne of helle / or ageyns pouerte / or los of catel or a-geyns reyn or tempest or ellis grochyn that schrewis han prosperite or ellis that goode men han ad|uersite / [501] And alle these thyngis schulde men suffere / paciently / for they come by the ryghful Iugement / & ordenaunce of god / [502] Sumtyme comyth grochynge of aueryce As Iudas grochede a-ȝens the Magdelyne / whanne sche a-noynted the heued of Cryst with here preciouse onyment / [503] this maner murmour is swich as whan man grochith of goodnesse that hym self doth / or that othere folk doon of here owene catel / [504] Sumtyme comyth murmour of pryde / as whan Symon the pharyse grochede a-geyns the Magdalyn whanne sche aprochede / to Ihesu Crist / & wepte at his feet / for hire synnys [505] And sumtyme it sordyth of enuye / whan men discoueryn a manys herm / that was preue / or beryth hym on hande thyng that is fals [506] ¶ Murmure ek is ofte a-mongis seruauantis / that grochyn whan here souereynys biddyn hem don lefful thyng [507] & for as meche as they dar not opynly with seye the comaundementis of here souereynys / ȝit wele seyn [folio 417b] seyn harm & groche & murmure pryuyli for verray despit / [508] whiche wordis men clepe the deuyllis pater noster thow so be that the deuyl hadde neuere no pater noster but that lewede folk ȝeue it swich a name [509] ¶ Sumtyme it comyth of yre or priue hate / that norschith rancour in herte / as aftyrward I schal declare [510] ¶ Thanne comyth ek bittirnesse / of herte / thorw whiche bittirnesse euery good dede of his neighebour semyth to hym bittyr & onsauoury [511] ¶ Thanne comyth discord that vnbyndith alle manere of frenchepe / Thanne comyth scornynge as whanne a man sekyth occasioun to anoyen his neighe|bour / al do he neuere so weel [512] ¶ Thanne comyth accusynge / As whan a man sekyth occasioun to anoyen his

[6-text p 630] neihebour whiche that is lik the craft of the deuyl that wayth bothe nyght & day to acusyn vs alle [513] ¶ Thanne comyth malignete / thour whiche a man noyeth his neighebour / priuyly ȝif he may / [514] & If he not ne may algate his wilke wil schal not fayle / as for to brenne his hous pryuyly . or enpoysoune or sle ¹hese bestis or semblable thyngis

[In the margin :] Remedium contra Inuidiam./

[515]

NOw wele I speke of the¹ [[^1_1 Over an erasure in the corrector's hand.]] remedye a-geyns this foule synne of enuye ffyrst is the loue of god principal & louynge of his neghebour as hym self ¶ ffor sothly that on ne may not been with-outyn that othir / [516] And troste weell that in the name of thy name / of thyn neghebour; thow schalt vndyrstonde the name of thyn brothir / for certis we han on fadyr fleschely / & on modyr ¶ That is to seyne Adam. & Eue. & ek on fadir spirituel / that is god of heuene [517] ¶ Thi neighebore art thow holde for to loue & willyn hym alle goodnesse / And therfore seith god loue thin neghebore / as thyn self / that is to seynne to saluacioun bothe of lyf & soule [518] ¶ And more ouer thow schat loue hym in word / & in benygne amonestynge & schastysynge / & conforte hym in hise anoyis ¶ And preye for hym with al thyn herte [519] ¶ And in dede thow schat loue hym in swich wyse / that thow schat doon to hym in charite; as thow woldist that it were doon to thyn owene persone / [520] & therfore thow [leaf 418 is cut out of the Camb. MS.] [ [Harl. 1758, on leaf 215, back fills in.] schalt not doon hym no damage in wicked worde ne harme in his bodie ne in his catell ne in his soule bi entisyng of wicked ensample. [521] Thou schalt not desiren his wif non of his thynges. Vndirstonde eke that in the name of thi neighbore is com|prehendid his enemye. [522] ¶ Certis a man schall loue his Enemye for the comaundementis of god. & soþli thi frende schalt thou loue in god. [523] I seie thyn Enemye schalt þou loue for goddis sake bi his comaunde|ment.

[6-text p 631] ffor if it were reson þat man schulde hate his Enemye. forsothe god schulde not take vs to his loue; that ben his Enemyes [524] a-yens thre maner of wrongis that his Enemye doth to hym. he schall do thre thynges. as þus. [525] ¶ A-yens hate & rancour of herte. he schall loue hym in herte. Ayen chidyng & wicked wordis he schall praie for his Enemye ¶ Ayens the wicked dede of his Enemye he schall doon hym bounte. [526] ffor crist seith. Loueth your Enemyes & preieth for hem that speke you harme. And eke for hem that you chacen & pursewyn & doth bounte to hem that you haten. Lo thus commaundeth vs our lord ihesu crist to do to our Enemyes. [527] ¶ ffor sothli nature dryueth vs to loue our frendis. And parfaie our Enemyes han more nede to love then our frendis. And thei that muste nede haue. certis to hem schall men do good|nes. [528] & certis in thilke dede haue remem|braunce of the loue of ihesu crist that died for his Enemyes. [529] ¶ And in as meche as thilke loue is the more greuous to parfourme. so meche is more gret the merite. & therfore the louyng of our Enemye hath confoundid the venyme of the deuyll [530] ffor as the deuyll is discomfited be humylite. Right so is he woundid to the deth bi the loue of our Enemye. [531] Certis then is loue the medecyne that caccheth out the venyme of Enuye fro mannes hert. [532] The spices of this pas schull ben more largeli in her chapiters folwing /

¶ De Ira [from margin]

[533]

Affter Enuye woll I declare the synne of Ire. ffor sothli who that hath Enuye vp on his neighbore. a-non comenli he woll fynde hym mater of wraþthe in worde or in dede a-yens hym [Harl. 1758 folio 216a] to whom he hath Enuye. [534] ¶ And as well cometh Ire of

[6-text p 632] Pride as of Enuye. ffor sothli he that is proude or Enuyous is lightli wroth.

[535] This synne of Ire aftir the discryuyng of seynt Austyn. is wicked wille to ben a-vengid bi word or bi dede [536] ¶ Ire aftir this Philosophre. is [¶ Philosophus] the feruent blood of man quyked in his herte thorogh whiche he woll harme to hym that he hitteth. [537] ¶ ffor certis the herte of man bi enchaūfyng & meuyng of his blood wexith so trouble that he is oute of all Iugement of reson. [538] But ye schullen vndirstonde that Ire is in two maneres. That oon of hem is good & that other is wicked. [539] ¶ The good Ire is bi ielousie of goodnes thorogh the whiche a [[Harl. MS. 1758 ends.]] ] [folio 419a] man is wroth with wikkedenesse & ageyn wekkedenesse And ther|fore seyth a wis man that Ire is bet than pley / [540] this ire is with debonoyrete & it is wroth with|oute bittyrnesse / not wroth ageyns the man; but wroth with the mysdede of man As seyth the prophete dauyd. Irascimini et nolite peccare. [541] Now vndirstondith that wekede yre is in two manerys that is to seyne sodeyn yre / or hastif Ire with-outyn a-visement & consentynye of resoun / [542] The menynge & the sens of this / is that the resoun of a man / ne con|sente not to thilke sodeyn yre / & thanne is it venyal [543] ¶ Anothir yre is / ful wekkede that comyth of felonye of herte auysed & cast be-forn wit wikkede wil to don vengeaunce / & therto his resoun consentith and sothly this is dedly synne / [544] this yre is so dis|plesaunt to god that it distorbelyth his hous / & chaseth the holy gost out of manys soule / & wastyth & dis|troieth the liknesse of god. that is to seyne the vertu that is in manys soule / [545] & put in hym the lyk|nesse of the deuyl / & be-nemyth the man from god that is his ryghtful lord [546] this ire is a ful greet plesaunce to the deuyl for it is the deuyllis furneys that is eschafid / with the fyr of helle / [547] for certis

[6-text p 633] ryȝt so as fyr is moore myȝty to distroye ertheli thyngis / than ony othir elemen / ryȝt so Ire is myty to distroye alle spirituel thyngis / [548] loke ho that fuyr of smale gledys that been almost dede vndir aschyn welyn quekyn a-geyn whan they been touchede / with brynston / right so Ire wele eueremore quekyn a-geyn / Whan it is touchid by the pryde that is couered in manys herte [549] for certis fyr ne may not come out of no thyng but if it were fyrst in the seme thyng naturelly as fyr is drawyn out of flyntys with styl. [550] And ryght so as pryde is manye tyme matire of yre; righ so is rancure noryce & kepere of Ire // [551] There is a manere [folio 419b] of tree as seith seynt Isydre that whan men make fyr of the ilke tre & kouere the colis with aschyn / sothly the feer of it wil lastyn ale a ȝeere or more / [552] And riȝt so farith it of rancure / what it is coueryd in the hertis of summe men certeyn it wele laste perauenture / from oon Esterne day On tyl a nothir esterne day / & moore / [553] but certis thilke man is ful fer from the mercy of god al thilke while.

[554] In this forseyde deuyllis furneys / there forgyn iij schrewis / Pryde that ay blowyth & encresith the feer by chydyng & welkede wordis / [555] thanne stondith Enuye And holdyth the hoote yryn in the fyr vp-on the herte of man / with a peyre of longe tongis; of long rancur [556] And thanne stant the synne of contumelye or stryf & cheest & baterith & forgith by vileyns repreuyngis [557] Certis this cursede synne a-noyeth bothe to the man hym self & ek to his neighebore / for sothly almost al the harm that ony man doth to his neighebore comyth of wrathe / [558] ffor certis outragious wratha doth al that euere the deuyl comaundyth hym / For he ne sparith nothyr crist ne his swete modyr / [559] & in his out|ragious angir / & Ire Allas ful manyon / that tyme felyth in his herte / ful wikkedely

[6-text p 634] bothe of cryst & of hise seyntis / & ek of alle hise halwys. [560] Is nat this a cursed vse. ȝis certis allas it be-nemyth from man his wit & his resoun / & al his debonayre lyf spirituel that schulde kepe his soule // [561] Certis it be-nemyth ek goddis due lordschepe. & that is mannys soule / & the loue of hise neigheboris // It stryuyth ek alday ageyn trouthe / it reuyt hym the quyete of his herte & subuertith his soule.

[562] Of Ire comith these stynkende gendruris Fyrst hate that is old wrathe / Discord thurh whyche a man for-sakith his olde frend / that he hath louyd ful longe / [563] And thanne comyth werre & euery maneere of wrong that man doth to his neghebour in body or in catel. // [564] Of this cursede synne of Ire comyth ek manslaughtre / And vndirstonde weel that homycide that is manslaughtre is in dyuerse thyngis. sum manere of homycide is spirituel. & sum is [folio 420a] bodyly. [565] Spirituel manslaughtre; is in .vj. thyngis. Fyrst bi hate as seyth seynt Iohn that he that hatith his brothyr is homycide [566] homycide is ek bi bakbitynge of whiche bakbiteris seyth Salomon that they han two swerdis / whith whiche they sleen heere neigheborys / for|sothe as wikke is it to be-neme hym his goode name / as his lyf. [567] Homycide is ek in ȝeuynge of wikkede conseyl be fraude / As for to ȝeue conseyl to areyse wrongful customys / & talagis [568] of whiche seith Salo|mon / Leoun rorynge & Bere hungery; been lik to the crewel lordschepis in whiche lordschepis holdynge or a bregynge of the schepe or the heere of the wagis of seruauntis / or ellis in vsure or in withdrawynge of the almesse of poore folk / [569] ffor whiche the wyse man seyth ffedith hym that almost deyeth for hungir. ffor sotly but ȝif thow feede hym thow slest hym. And alle these been dedly synnys / [570] Bodily manslauȝtere is this / whan thow slest hym with thyn tunge. In othere manere; as whan thow comaundist to sleen a man / or ellis ȝeuyst hym conseyl to sleen a

[6-text p 635] man. // [571] Manslaughtre in deede is in foure maneris / that oon is by laue ryght as a Iustise dampnyth hym that is coupable to the deth. but let the Iustise been war that he do it ryghtfully & that he do it not for delit to spille blood / But for kepynge of ryghtwis|nesse [572] Anothir homycide is doon for necessite / as whan a man sleth a nothir / in his defendaunt / And that he ne may non othirwise askape . . . . .[573] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] with|oute slauȝtere of his aduersarye / . . [no gap in the MS.] he doth synne & he schal bere penaunce as for dedly synne // [574] Ek ȝif a man be cas or aventure schete an arwe or caste a stoon with whiche he sleth a man he is homycide. [575] Ek ȝif a woman by neklygence ouyrlye hire child in hire slepynge it is homycide / & dedly synne / [576] Ek whan man disturblith con|cepcioun of a child & makith a woman outhir barayn be drynkyng of venenouse erbis / thorw whiche sche may not conseyue / or sleth a child be drynkis / or ellis putty[t]h certey[n] material thyngis / in here secre placys to slen the child [577] or ellis doth onkyndely synne by whiche man [folio 420b] or woman sleth here nature in manere or in place theere as a child may not ben con|seyuyd / Or ellis ȝif a woman hath conseyuyd & hurt hire self & sleth the child ȝit is it homycyde [578] What seye we ek of wemen that morderyn here childeryn for dreed of wordely schame certis an horrible homycide / [579] omycide is ek ȝif a man ap|rocheth to a woman by desir of lecherye thorw whiche the child is perschid / or ellis smythitt a woman wetyngely thour wheche sche sleth hire child / Alle these been homy|cidis / & horible dedly synnys / [580] ȝit comyth there of Ire manye mo synnys / as weel in word as in thought & in dede as he that arrettith vp-on god / or blamyth god of thyng of whiche he is hym self gilty. or dispiseth god / & alle hise halwys As doon these cursede hasardourys

[6-text p 636] in dyuerse cuntreis / [581] this cursede synne doon they / whan they felyn in here herte / ful wekkedely of god & of hise halwys. // [582] Also whan thei tretyn onreuerently the sacrement of the auteer / thilke synne is so gret that vnnethe may it be relesid / but that the mercy of god passith alle hise werkys / it is so greet / & he so benyngne [583] Than comyth of yre an attery angir / whan a man is scharply amonestid in his schryfte to for|lete synne / [584] Thanne wele he been angery / & answeryn hokyrly / and angyrly or defende or excuse his synne / by onstedefastnesse of his flesch / or ellis he dede it for to holde cumpany with hise felawys / or ellis he seyde the feend entisede hym / [585] or ellis he dede it for his ȝouthe. or ellis his complexioun is so coragious that he may not forbere / or ellis it is his destenye as he seyth in to a certeyn age / or ellis he seith it comyth hym of gentylesse of hise Auncestris And semblable thyngis // [586] Alle thesse manere of folk so wrappyn hem in here synnys / that they ne welen not delyuere hemself // ffor sothly no wigh that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne; may not be delyuered of his synne til that he mekely beknowith his synne [587] After this [folio 421a] thanne comyth swerynge that is expres a-geyn the comaundement of god / And this be-fallith ofte of Angir & of yre. [588] God seyth thow schat not take the name of thyn lord god in veyn / or in Idil. Also oure lord Ihesu crist seyth by the word of seynt Mathew / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [589] Ne wil ȝe not swere in alle maner nothir be heuene; for it is godis trone. ne be erthe for it is the bench of his feet / Ne be Ierusalem for it is the cyte of a greet kyng / ne be thyn heed for thow ne canst not make an heer nothir whit ne blak [590] But seyth be ȝoure word .ȝe. ȝe. &. nay. nay. And what that is moore it is of euyl / thus seith Crist / [591] ffor Cristis sake sweryth nat so synfully in dismembrynge of crist by his soule.

[6-text p 637] herte. bonys. & body. for certis it semyth that ȝe thynke that cursede Iewis / ne dismembredyn not I-nough the preciouse persone of crist / but ȝe dismembryn hym moore / [592] And ȝif so be / that the lawe com|pelle ȝow / to swere thanne rewelyth ȝow aftyr the lawe of god / in ȝoure swerynge as seyth Ieromye .4^o. c^o. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Thow schalt kepe iij condiciounnys ¶ Thow schat swere in trouthe in dom & in righwisnese / [593] this is to seyne thow schalt swere sooth / ffor euery lesyng is a-geyns crist / for Crist is verray trouthe / and thyngk wel this that euery greet swerere nat compellid laufully to swere / the wounde schal nat departe / from his hous / whil he vseth swich onlefful swerynge [594] ¶ Thow schalt sweryn ek in dom / whan thow art constreyned by thyn domys man to witnesse the trouthe [595] Ek thow schalt not swere for enuye / ne for fauour / ne for meede / but for ryghwisnesse for declarynge of it to worschepe of god & helpe of thyn euyn|cristene / [596] And therfore euery man / that takith goddis name in Idyl or falsely sweryth with his mouth or ellis takyth on hym the name of Crist / to be callid a cristene man / And lyuyth a-geyns Cristis lyuynge & his techynge / alle they take goddis name in ydyl [597] loke ek what seyth seynt Petyr Actuum .4^o. c^o. Non est aliud nomen sub celo. &. c. Theere is non othyr name seith seynt Petyr / undyr heuene / ȝeuyn to men wherwith they [folio 421b] mowe be savid / that is to seyne but the name of Ihesu Crist /. [598] Tak kep ek how that the name so precious is of Ihesu Crist / as seyth seynt Poule / ad Philipenses 2^o. In nomine Ihesu &c. / That in the name of Ihesu euery kne of heuynly creaturys / erthely & of helle / schulde bowe / for it is so hey & so worschepeful that the cursede fend in helle schulde tremble to here it nemene it / [599] Thanne semyth it that men that swere so horibly bi his

[6-text p 638] blissede name that they dispise it / more boldely / than the cursede Iewys / or ellys the deuyl that tremblith whan he herith his name

[600] ¶ Now certis sythe that swerynge but ȝif it be laufully doon / is so heyly defendit/ moche werse is forswerynge falsely / And ȝit needeles /

[601] what seye we ek of hem that delite hem in swerynge . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] /othis. And what of hem that of verray vsage ne cese not to swere greete othis / al be the cause nat worþ a straw / certis this horrible synne / [602] Swerynge sodeynly is ek a greet synne / [603] But let vs go now to that horrible synne swerynge of adiuracioun as don these false en|chauntouris or nigramanciens in bacenys ful of watyr or in a brygh swerd / in a cerkele / or in a fir or in the schuldir|bon of a scheep / [604] I can nat seyn but that they doon cursedely & dampnably a-geyns crist & al the feith of holy cherche /

[605] ¶ What seyn we of hem that beleyn on dyuynalis / as be flight or be noyse of briddis / or of bestis / or by sort bi Griomancye be dremys by chirkynge of doris / or krakynge of housys / by gnawynge of rattis / and sweche manere wrechedenesse / [606] Certis al this thyng is defendyt/ bi god & holy cherche / for whiche thei been acursed / til thei come to a-mendement that on swich felthe besettyn here be-leue / [607] Charmys for woundis / or maladie of men / or of bestis / if they takyn ony effect / it may be parauenture that god sufferith it for folk schulde ȝeue the moore feith / & reuerence to his name

[608] ¶ Now wele I speke of lesyngis / whiche gener|ally is fals sygnyfiaunce / of word in entent to disseyuyn his euene cristene / [609] Some lesyngis of whiche there comyth non auauntage to no wight / And sum [folio 422a] lesyng turnyth to the ese or profit of a man & to

[6-text p 639] damage of anothyr man. [610] A nothir lesyng for to saue his lyf or his catel . . . [no gap in MS.] comyth of delit for to lye / for swich delit they wele forge a long tale / & peynte it with alle circumstauncis / where al the ground of the tale is fals / [611] sum lesyng comyth for he wele sustene his word Sum lesynge comyth of recheles-nesse / with-outyn a-visement and sem|blable thyngis /

[612] Lete vs now touche the vice of flaterye / wiche ne comyth not gladly but for dreed or for coueytyse [613] ¶ fflaterye is generally wrongful preysynge. fflater|eris been the deuyllis Noricis / that norischyn his childeryn / with mylk of lesyngerye / [614] Forsothe Salamon soith that flaterye is wers than detraccioun / for sumtyme de|traccioun / makith an haunteyn man / been the moore humble / for he dredith detraccioun ¶ But certis flaterye that makyth a man / to enhauntyn his herte and his cuntenaunce / [615] Flatereris been the deuyllis enchantourys / for they make of a man to weene of hym self been lyk that he ne is nat lyk / [616] They been lik to Iudas that be-traysyn . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] a man to selle hym to his enemy / that is to the . . . [617] . . . [no gap in the MS.] deuyllis chapilleynys / that syngyn euere placebo / [618] I rekene flatrye in the spicis of yre / for ofte tyme ȝif on man be wroth with a nothyr thanne wele he flatere sum wight to susteyne hym in his querel /

[619] speke we now of swich cursynge as comyth of yrous herte ¶ Malisoun generally may be seyd euery manere pouwer of harm Swich cursynge bereuyth euery man from the regne of god / as seith seynt poule / [620] And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully returnyth a-geyn to hym that curseth. as a brid that turnyth a-geyn to his owene nest / [621] And ouer alle thynge / men oughte eschewe to curse here childeryn and ȝeue to the deuyl here engenderure as fer forth as in hym is / certis it is greet peril & greet synne.

[6-text p 640]

[622] ¶ Lete vs thanne speke of chydyng & reproche / whiche been ful greete woundis in manys herte / for they onsewe the semys of frenschepe / in mannys herte [623] ffor certis vnnethe may a man pleynly been accordit [folio 422b] with hym that hym opynly hath reuylid / & repreuyd and disclaundered / ¶ This a ful gresely syne as crist seyth in the gospel / [624] & take kepe now that he that repreuyth his neighebore ¶ or he repreuyth hym by sum harm of peyne that he hath vp-on his body / as mesel crokid harlot or by sum synne that he hath doon. [625] Now ȝif he repreue hym by harm of peyne; thanne turnyth the repref to Ihesu crist / for peyne is seyt by the ryȝtwise sonde of god & by his sufferaunce / be it meselerie or maym or maladye / [626] & ȝif he repreue hym on-charitably of synne / as thow holour thow dronkelewe harlot / & so forth / thanne parteynyth that to the reioysynge of the dewil / that euere hath Ioye that men doon synne / [627] And certis chidynge may not come but of a vilens herte / for aftyr the haboundauns of the herte spekyth the mouth ful ofte / [628] And ȝe schul vndirstonde / that loke by onyweye / [Ex abundancia cordis os loquitur] whan ony man schal chastise a nothir that he be war of chydyng or repreuyng / For trewely but he be war he may ful lyghtely quekyn the fer of angir / & of wrathe whiche schulde quenche / & parauenture sleth hym that he mygh[t]e chastise with benyng|nete / [629] ffor as seith Salomon / The amyable tunge is the tre of lyf / that is to seyne the lyf spirituel / And certis a dislaue tunge sleth the spyritis of hym that repreuyth. And ek of hym that is repreuyd / [630] lo what seyth seynt augustyn / There is no thyng so lyk the deuyllis child / as he that ofte chidith . . [no gap in MS.] ¶ I seruaunt of god behoue not to chide / [631] And how that chydynd / by a vilens thyng / by-twixe alle manere folk that is it certis most on-conable bi-twixe a man & his wif for there is neuere reste

[6-text p 641] And therefore seyth Salomon. An hous that is onkeuered & droppynge / & a chidynge wif been lyke / [632] ¶ A man that is in a droppynge hous / in manye placis / thow he eschewe the droppynge in on place. it droppyth on hym in anothir place / so farth it by a chydynge wif / but ȝif sche schide hyn in on place . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [633] [folio 423a] And therfore betere is a morsel of breed with Ioye; than an housful of delicis with chidyng seith Salomon / [634] Seynt Poule seyth / ȝe wemen be ȝe subiectis to ȝoure hous|bondis as byhouyth in god / And ȝe men louyth ȝoure wiuys. ad Colonienes .3^o.

[635] ¶ Aftyrward speke we of skornynge whiche is a wekkede synne / And namely whan he skornyth a man [["a man" repeated in MS.]] for hise goode werkis / [636] ffor certis sweche skornerys faryn lik the foule toode that may not endure to smelle the sote sauour / of the vyne whan it floryschith / [637] these skorneris been partynge felauis / with the deuyl / ffor they han Ioye whan the deuyl wynnyth / & sorwe whan he lesith / [638] they been aduersaryis of Ihesu crist / for they hatyn that he louyth / that is to seyne saluacioun of soule /

[639] Speke we now of wekkede conseyl /. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] whiche is a traytour for he disseyuyth hym that trustith in hym ¶ Vt Achitofel ad Absolonem / But natheles / ȝit is his wekkede conseil fyrst a-geyn hym self / [640] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] that he that wele a-noye a-nothyr man / he anoyeth ferst hym self [641] And men schal vndyrstonde that man schal not take his conseyl of false folk ne of angery folk ne of greuous folk ne of folk that louyn specially to meche wordely folk / namely in conseylynge of soulys //

[642] ¶ Now comyth the synne of hem that sowyn & makyn discord a-mongis / folk whiche is a synne that

[6-text p 642] crist hateþ vttyrly & no wondir is / for he deyede for to make concord / [643] And moore schame do they to crist than dedyn they that hym crucyfyed / for god louyth louyth bettere that pes be a-mongis folk than he deyede his owene body. whiche that he ȝif for vnyte. therfore been they lekkenyd to the deuyl / that euere is aboute to make discord /

[644] ¶ Now comyth the synne of double tunge whiche as spekyn fayre be-foryn folk & wikkedely by-hynde / or ellis they make semblaunt / as thogh they spoke of good entencioun or ellis in game / & pley . and ȝit they speke of wekkede entent //

[645] ¶ Now comyth bewreyinge of con [folio 423b] seyl thourw whiche a man is diffamyd certis onethe may he restore the damage //

[646] ¶ Now comyth Manace / that is an opyn folye / for he that oftyn manacith; he thretheth moore than he may parforme / ful ofte tyme /

[647] ¶ Now comyn ydele wordis . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And ek of hym that herkenyn tho wordys / or ellys Idele wordis been tho that been nedelees or with-outyn entent of naturel profit [648] And al be it that ydele wordys / been sum|tyme uenyal synnys ȝit schuldyn men doutyn hem / for we schul ȝeue rekenynge of hem be-fore god

[649] ¶ Now comygh Iangelynge/that may not been with|outyn synne And as seyth Salomon it is a synne of a-pert folye / [650] And therfore a Philisophre seyde whan men axede hym how men schulde plese the peple / And he answerde do manye goode werkis / And speke fewe Iangelys

[651] ¶ Aftyr this comyth the synne of Iaperys / that been the deuyllys apis / for they make men to laughe at here folye / & at here Iaperyes / as folk doon at the gaudis of an Ape / whiche Iaperis diffendyth seynt poule [652] Loke how that vertevous wordis & holye confortyn hem

[6-text p 643] that trauaylyn in the seruyse of Crist; And right soo confortyn the vileyns wordis & knakis of Iaperis hem that trauayly in the seruyse of the dewil ¶ [653] These been the synnys that comyth of the tunge / that comyn of yre & of othere synnys

[The Remedy against Ire]

[654]

THe remedie ageyns yre / is vertue þat men clepyn mansuetude / that Ihon de Bonania clepith debonayretee / & ek a nothir wertu that men callyn pacience / or suffraunce /

[655] ¶ Debonoyretee / withdrawith & refrayn|yth / the sterynge & the meuynge of manys corage / in his herte in swich maneere / that they ne skippe nat out be angir / ne by [folio 424a] yre [656] ¶ Sufferaunce sufferith sweetely alle the anoyauncis & the wrongis / that men doon to man outward [657] ¶ Seynt Ierome seith thus of debonayretee that it doth noon harm to no wyȝt ne seith ne for non harm that men doon ne seyn / he ne eschafyth not a-geyn resoun / [658] This vertue comyth sumtyme of nature . for as seyth the philisophere As man is a quik thyng by nature debonayre & tretable / to goodnesse / but whan debonayrete is enformyd / of grace thanne is it the more worth

[659] ¶ Pacience is a-nothir remedye a-geyns yre / and is a vertu that sufferith swetly euery mannes goodnesse / & is not wrooth for non harm that is doon to hym [660] ¶ The Philisophre seyth that pacyence is thilke vertu that sufferyth debonayrely alle the outragis of aduercite / & euery wikkede word [661] This vertu makyth a man lik to god & makyth a man goddys owene deere child / as seith Crist this vertu disconfortith thyn enmy & therfore seith the wise man / ¶ If thow wilt / venqusche thyn enemy lerne for to suffere / [662] And thow schal vndirstonde that man suffere iiij manere

[6-text p 644] of greuauncys in outward thyngis a-geyns the wheche .iiij. he mote haue .iiij. maneere of paciencis

[663] The ferste greuaunce is of wekke wordis. thilke sufferede Ihesu Crist with-oute grochynge ful paciently whanne the Iewis dispisedyn hym ful ofte [664] ¶ Suffere thow therfore paciently / for the wise man seith If thow stryue with a fool. thow the fool be wroth or thow he laughe; algatis thow schalt haue no reste / [665] ¶ That othyr greuaunce outward / is to haue damage of thyn catel. Theere ageyns sufferede Crist/ ful paciently; whan he was dispoyled of al that he hadde / in this lyf. And that nas but hise clothis / [666] ¶ The .iij. greuaunce is a man to hauen harm in his body. That sufferede Crist ful paciently in al his passioun [667] ¶ The .iiij. greuaunce is this in outragious labour in werkis wherfore [folio 424b] I seye that folk that makyn here seruauntys to trauayly to greuosly or out of tyme as on halydayis Sothly they doon greet synne [668] ¶ Hereageyns sufferede crist ful paciently & taughte vs pacyence / whan he bar vp-on his blyssede schuldyr the cros on the whiche he schulde suffere dispitous deth/ [669] Heere may men lerne to been pacient. ffor certis nat only cristene men been pacient for loue of Ihesu crist And for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that is perdurable But certis the olde paynemys that neuere were cristene commendyn & vsyn the vertue of pacience

[670] ¶ A Philisophre vp-on a tyme that wolde a bete his disciple / for his greete trespas / ffor whiche he was Ameuyd / & broughte a ȝerde to skoure the child. [671] & whan the child say the ȝerde. he seyde to his Maystyr / what thynke ȝe to do. I wele beete the quod his maystir for thyn correccioun / [672] Forsothe quod the child ȝe oughte ferst to corecte ȝoure self that haue lost al ȝoure pacience for the gilt of a child. [673] fforsothe quod the maystyr al wepynge thow

[6-text p 645] seist soth. haue thow the ȝerde myn deere sone & corekte me for myn Inpacience [674] ¶ Of pacience comyth obedience / thorw whiche a man is obedient to Crist & to alle hem to whiche he oughte to been obedyent in Crist / [675] And vndyrstond weel that obedyence is parfit whan that a man doth gladly And hastyly with good herte entyerly al that he schulde do [676] ¶ Obedyence generally is to parforme the doctryne of god & of hise souereynys to whiche hym oughte to been obeysaunt in al ryghtwisnesse

De Accidia [folio 425a] [is cut out.]

[677]

[ [Harl. MS. 1758, on leaf219, back] Aftir the synnes of Ire I woll speke of the synnes of Accidie. ffor Enuye blyndeth the herte of a man & Ire troublyth a man. & Accidie makith hym heuy thoughtfull & wrawe. [678] ¶ Enuye & Ire maken bitternes in herte whiche bitternes is modir of Accidie. & be-nymeth hym the loue of all goodness. Then is Accidie the anguysche of a trouble herte. And seynt Austyn seith. [¶ Augustinus./] it is a-noie of goodnes & anoye of harme. [679] ¶ Certis this is a dampnable synne. ffor it doth wrong to ihesu crist. in as meche that he nymeth the seruyce that men ought to do to ihesu crist with all diligence. As seith Salomon. [¶ Salamon./] [680] But Accidie doth non suche diligence. he doth all thyng with a-noie & wrawnes. slaknes & excusacion & with dulnes & vnluste ¶ ffor whiche the book seith. A-cursid be he that doth the seruyce of god necligentli. [681] Then is Accidie enemye to eueri estate of man ffor certis the estate of [be-forn þat he fell in to synne.] man is in .3. maners. [682] ¶ Either it is the estate of [¶ Of .3. maners of Estat of man] Innocence as was the estate of Adam. biforn that he felle in to [¶ Estate of Inno|cence./] synne in whiche estate he was holdyn to wirche as in herying & honouryng of god [683] ¶ Another estate is the Estate of synfull men in whiche estate men ben holdyn [¶ Estate of syn|fulle men./]

[6-text p 646] to labour in praiyng to god for amendement of her . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [¶ Estat of grace./] synnes [684] ¶ Another estate is the estate of grace in whiche estate he is holdyn to do werkis of penytence. And certis to alle thes thynges is Accidie Enmye & con|trarie. ffor he louyth no besynes at all.// [685] ¶ Now certis this foule synne Accidie is eke a full gret enuye to the liflode of the body. for it hath no puruyaunce a-yen temperall necessite . ffor it is for-sleuthe & for|sloggeth & distroieth alle godis temperallis bi rechilnes.

[686] ¶ The .4. thyng is. that Accidie is like hem [¶ Accidie is lik to hem þat ben in the peyne of helle./] that ben in the peyne of helle . bi cause of her slouthe & of her heuynes. ffor thei that ben dampned ben so boun [Harl. 1758 folio 220a] de that thei ne may well do ne well thenke. [687] ¶ Of Accidie cometh first that a man is anoied & encombrid to don eny goodnes & maketh that god hath abhomynacion of suche Accidie. as seith seynt Ion. [¶ Johannes./]

[688] ¶ Now cometh sleuthe that woll not suffre non [¶ Of Slewthe/] hardnes ne no penaunce. ffor sothe slouthe is so tendir & so delicate. As seith Salomon. That he woll not [¶ Salamon./] suffre non hardnes ne penaunce & therfore he schendith all that he doth [689] ¶ a-yens this rotyn [¶ Remedium./] hertid synne of Accidie & slouthe schulde men excercise hem self to don good werkis & manli & vertuousli cacchen corage well to don. thenk|yng that our lord ihesu crist quyteth euerye good [[Harl. extract ends.]] ] [folio 426a] [Cambr. be|gins.] deede be it neuere so lytil // [690] ¶ Vsage of labour is a greet thyng for it makyth as seyth seynt Bernard / the labourer to haue stronge armys & harde senewis / And slouthe makyth hem feble & tendre [691] ¶ Thanne comyth dreed to begynne to werke onye goode werkis / for certis he that is enclyned to synne; hym thynkyth it is to greet an enpryse / for to vndyrtake to doon werkis of goodnesse / [692] And castith in his herte / that the

[6-text p 647] circumstauncis of goodnesse / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] as seyth seynt. gregory./

[693] ¶ Now comyth wanhope that is dispeyr of the merci of god // that comyth sumtyme of to meche out|ragious sorwe / & sumtyme of to meche drede ymagyn|ynge / that he hath don so meche synne that it wele not auayle hym thow he wolde repente hym / and forsake synne / [694] thorw whiche dispeyr or drede he abandownyth al his herte to euery manere synne / As seyth seynt Augustyn [695] whiche dampnable synne / ȝif that it contynewe on to his ende it is clepid synnynge in the holygost / [696] This horrible synne is so parlious that he that is dispeyred / theere ne is no felenye ne no synne that he doutith for to do / As schewede weel be Iudas / [697] Certis a-bouyn alle synnys / thanne is this synne most displesant to Crist And most aduersarye [698] ¶ Sothly he that dispeyrith hym is lyk the coward / champioun recreaunt tat seyth creaunt withoutyn nede // Allas allas nedeles / is he recreaunt / and nedeles dispeyred / [699] Certis the merci of god is euere redy to the penytent / And is a-bouyn alle hyse werkis [700] Allas can not a man be-thynken hym / of the gospel of seynt. Luk .iij. where as Cryst seyth / that as weel schal theere been Ioye in heuene vp-on a synful man that doth penytence than vp-on a .90. & 19 ryghful men that neuere ne dede synne Ne nedyn no penytence [701] ¶ Loke ferthere in the same gospel the Ioye & the feste of [folio 426b] the goode man / that hadde lost his sone whan his sone with repentaunce was returned to his fadyr // [702] Can they not remembre hem ek that as seyth seynt Luk .33^o. how that the thef that was hangit be syde Ihesu crist seyde. Lord remembre of me whan thow comyst in-to thy regne. [703] ffor soth seyde Crist I sei to the / to day schalt tow be with me in paradys / [704] Certis there is non so horryble synne of

[6-text p 648] man that it ne may in his lyf been distroyed be penytence / thorw vertu of the passioun of the deth of cryst / [705] Allas what nedyth men thanne for to been dispeyred sithe that his mercy so redy is / & large. Axe & haue [706] ¶ Thanne comyth sompnolence / that is sluggy slumbrynge / whiche makyt a man been heuy & dul in body & sowele And this synne comyth of slouthe / [707] And Certys the tyme that by weye of resoun / man schulde not slepyn / that is by the morw but ȝif there were cause resonable [708] For sothly the morwe tyde is most conable A man to seye hise preyeris / & for to thanke his god / & for to honoure god / And to ȝeuyn almesse to the poore / that comyth fyrst in the name of crist // [709] lo what seyth Salomon. Who so wele by the morwe a-wake to seke me he schal fynde / [710] ¶ Thanne comyth necligence / or recheleesnesse / that rekyth of nothyng and how that ignoraunce / be modir of alle harm / Certis necligence is the noryche / [711] Necligence ne doth no fors whan he schal doon a thyng whedyr it be doon wel or euele /

[712] ¶ Of the remedye of these two synnys as seyth the wise man / that he that dredith god / ne sparyth nough[t] to don that hym auȝte to don [713] And he that louyth god he wele doon diligence to plese god by hise werkis / And enforce hym self with al his myght weel for to doon. [714] Thanne comyth Idil [folio 427a] nesse / that is the ȝate of alle harmys / An Idyl man is lik a place that hath none wallys / the deuyllis may entre on euery syde / or shete at hym at discouert by temptacyoun on euery syde / [715] This ydillenesse is the thurrok of alle wekked / & vylens thoutys & of alle Ianglys truflis / & of alle ordure / [716] Certys this. the heuene ys ȝevyn to hem that wil labouryn / & not to ydil folk / Ek dauid seyth that they ne been not in the labour of men / ne they schul nat been whippid with men / that is to seyne in purgatorye //

[6-text p 649] [717] ¶ Certis thanne semyth it they schul been turmentid / with the deuyl in helle / but ȝif they doon penytence //

[718] Thanne comyth the synne that men clepyn tarditas as whan a man is so laterede or taryinge / er he wele turne to god / And certis that is a greet folye he is lyk hym that fallyth in the deyth & wil non aryse [719] And this vice comyth of fals hope / that he thynkith that he schal leue longe / but that hope faylith ful ofte

[720] ¶ Thanne lacchesse that is he / whan that he begynnys / ony good werk / Anon he wele forlete it And stynte as doon they that haue ony wight to gouerne / and ne take of hym no moore keep / a non as they fynden ony contrarye or any anoy / [721] these been the newe schepperdys that letyn here scheep wetyngely go renne to the wolf that is in the brerys / ne do no fors of here owene gouernaunce [722] of this comyth pouerte / & distruccyoun bothe of spirituel & temperel thyngis / thanne comyth a maner coldnesse / that fresith al the herte of man / [723] Thanne comyth ondeuocioun / thour whiche a man is so blent. And as seyth seynt Bernard / hat swich langour / in soule that he may neythyr / reede ne synge in holy cherche / ne heere ne thynke of no deuocioun / ne trauayle with hise handys in no good werk that it nys to hym vnsauourry And al appallid / [724] thanne wexith he slow & slombry and soone wele be wroth / And sone is enclynyd to haate & to enuye / [725] ¶ Thanne comyth the synne of wordely sorwe / swich as is clepid tristicia / that [folio 427b] sleth man as seyth seynt Poul / [726] ffor certis swich sorwe werkyth to the deth of the soule & of the body also ffor therof comyth that a man is a-noyed / of his owene lyf. [727] wherfore swich sorwe. schortyth ful ofte the lyf of man / er that his tyme is come by weye of kynde./

[6-text p 650]

Remedium contra peccatum Accidie.

[728]

AGayns this oryble synne of acydye & the braun|chis of the same; Theere is a vertu that is callyd fortitudo / or strenthe that is an affeccioun thour whiche a man dispiseth noyouse thyngis [729] ¶ This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous / that it dar with|stonde myghtyly and wysely keepe hym self from perilis that been wekkede / & wrastele a-geyn the sautys of the deuyl [730] for it enhaunsith & enforseth the soule rygh as accidie; abatith & makith it feble ¶ ffor this ffortitude may endure by long sufferaunce the trauaylis that been couenable

[731] This vertu hath manye spicis ¶ the ferste is clepid magnanymytee that is to seyne greet corage ¶ ffor certis there behouyth greet corage a-geyns Accidie ¶ lest that it ne swelwe not the soule by the synne of sorwe / or distroye it by wan hope. [732] this vertu makith folk vndyrtake harde thyngis & greuouse thyngis by his owene wil wysely & resonably [733] And for as mechil / as the deuyl fiȝtith a-geyns a man more by queyntise & by slouthe; than by strenthe / therfore a man schal withstonde hym by wit & by resoun. & by dis|crecyoun [734] ¶ Thanne are theere the vertuis of feyth / & hope in god / & hise seyntis to accomplische the goode werkis in the whiche he purposith fermely to contynue [735] ¶ Thanne comyn seurete / or sekyrnesse. And that is whan a man ne doutyth no trauayle in tyme comynge of the goode werk that he hath begunne [736] ¶ Thanne comyth magnyficence ¶ That is [[leaves 428 and 429 are cut out of the Cambr. MS.]] [ [Harl. MS. 1758, on leaf221] to seyn when a man doth & performeth gret werkis of goodnes that he hath bigonne & that is the ende whi that men schulde do gode werkis. ffor in the accomplesyng of good werkis lith þ^e grete guerdon. ¶ [737] Then is ther Constaunce that is stablenes of corage & this schulde [¶ Of Con|staunce./] be in herte bi stedfast feith & in mouthe & in

[6-text p 651] beryng & in chere & in dede. [738] Eke ther ben mo speciall thynges & remedies a-yens Accidie in dyuers werkis & in consideracions of the peyne of helle & of the ioye of heuyn & in the truste of the grace of the holi|gost that woll yeuyn hym myght to performen his entente /

¶ De Auaricia /

[739]

Aftir Accidie woll I speke of Auarice & of Couetise. Of whiche synne seith seynt Poule [¶ Paulus./] that the rote of alle synnes is Couetise. & Thymoth. 6^o. [740] ffor sothli when that the herte of man is confoundid in hit self & trouble & that the soule hath lost the counfort of god. þen seketh he an ydell solace of worldli thynges.

[741] ¶ Auarice aftir the scripcion of seynt Austyn. [¶ Augustinus./] is a licorousness in herte to haue ertheli thynges. [742] Som other folk seyn. that Auarice is for to purchace manye ertheli thynges. & no thyng yeue to hem that han nede. [743] ¶ & vndirstonde thou well that Auarice is noght onli in lond ne Catell but som|tyme in science & in glorie & in euery maner of outragious thynges is Auarice & Couetise [744] ¶ And the difference be-twixe Auarice & Couetise is this. [¶ The difference betwixe Auarice & Couetise./] Couetise is for to coueite suche thynges as thou hast not. And Auarice is for to withholde & kepe suche thyngis as thou hast with-outen rightfull nede. [745] ¶ Sothli this Auarice is a synne that is full dampnable. ffor all holi writ cursith it & spekith a-yens hit. ffor it doth wrong to ihesu crist. [746] ffor it bireuyth [Harl. 1758 folio 221b] hym the Loue that men to hym owyn & turnyth hit bakwarde a-yen all reson [747] & makith that the Auaricious man hath more hope in his Catell. than in ihesu crist. ¶ And . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [748] therfore seith

[6-text p 652] seynt Poule Ephesios .5^o. That an Auaricious man haþ more [¶ Paulus ./] his hope in thraldom of Ydolatrie.

[749] what difference is bitwixe an ydolastre & [¶ Difference be|twixe an Ydol|atre & an Auar|ous man ./] an Auaricious man. But þat an ydolastre & an Auaricious man perauenture ne hath but a mawmet or two & the Auaricious man hath manye. ffor certis euerye ffloreyn in his cofre is his a mawmet [750] & certis the synne of mawmetrie is . . . . [no gap in MS.] that god in þe ten comaunde|mentis. As berith witnes in Exodi. capitulo .20. [751] Thou schalt haue no fals goddis bi-forn me. Ne þou schalt make to the no grauyn thyng. thus is an Auaricious man that loueth his tresour a-forn god An ydolastre [752] thorogh his synne of Auarice & of couetise comen this hard lordschipes thorogh whiche men ben streyned bi tailages customes & cariages more then her dewte or reson is. ¶ And ellis take thei of her bonde men amercementis whiche myghten more resonabli be clepid extorcions then amercementis. [753] Of whiche amercementis & raunsonyng of bonde men som lordis stiwardis seyn that it is rightfull. ffor as meche as a cheerll hath no temperall thyng that it ne is his lordis as they seyn. [754] ¶ But certis thes lordes don wrong that bireuyn her bonde folke thynges. that thei neuyr ne yaf hem. Augustinus. de. civitate. libro .9^o. [755] [¶ Augustinus ./] ¶ Soth is that the condicion of thraldom. & the first cause of thraldom is for synne. Genesis .5^o. [¶ Genesis .5^o.]

[756] ¶ Thus may ye seen that the gilte deseruyth thraldom. but not nature. [757] Wherfore these lordis ne schulden not meche glorifie hem in her lordschip. sethyn that bi naturall condicion. thei ben lordis ouyr her thrallis. but for that thrall-dom cam first by deserte of synne [758] ¶ And further ouyr there as the lawe seith. that temperall godis of bonde folke ben the godis of her lordschipes. Ye that is for to vndirstonde. the godis of the Emperour to defende hem in her right. but not to robbe hem ne to reue hem. / [759] ¶ And therfore

[6-text p 653] seith Seneca. Thi prudence schulde lyue benyngli with [¶ Seneca ./] thyn thrallis. [760] thilke that thou clepist thyn thrall. ben goddis peple ffor humble folke ben cristes frendis. thei ben contubernyall with the lorde.

[761] ¶ Thenke eke that suche seed as cherlis spryngen. of suche seed spryngen lordis. As well may the cherle be sauyd. as the lord. [762] The same deth that taketh the cherle. the same deth takith the lorde. ¶ Wherfore I rede do right so with thi cherle as thou woldist thi chirle did with the. if thou were in his plite. [763] Euery synfull man is a cherle to synne. I rede the certis that thou lord thou wirche in suche wise that thi cherlis rather loue the than drede the. [764] I wote well there is degre a-boue degre as reson is & skill is that men don her deuyr ther as it is dewe. But certis extorcions & dispites of your vndirlynges is dampnable.

[765] ¶ And further ouyr vndirstonde well that Conquerours or tirauntis make full often thrallis of hem that ben born of as roiall blood. as ben thei that hem conqueryn. [766] ¶ This name of thraldom was [¶ Genesis .10. Maledictus Canaan seruus seruorum erit fratribus / suis /] neuyr knowe erste. till that Noe seide that his sone Canaan schulde be thrall to his bretheryn for his [Harl. 1758 folio 222a] synne [767] ¶ What seie we than of hem that pilen & don extorcions to holi chirche ¶ Certis the swerde that men yeuyn first to a knyȝt when he is newe dobbid. [¶ How knyght|hode schulde defende holi chirche ./] signyfieth that he schulde defende holy chirche & noght robbe hit. And who so doth is a traitour to crist. [768] As seith seynt Austyn. Thei ben [¶ Augutinus ./] deuyls wolfis that stranglen the scheep of ihesu crist & don wers than wolfis. [769] ¶ ffor sothli when the wolfe haþ full his wombe; he stynteth to strangle scheep. But sothli the pilours & distroi|ers [¶ Of pilours & distroiers of holi chirche goodis ./] of godis of holi chirche ne do not so for thei ne stynte neuyr to pilen. [770] ¶ Now as I haue seide sethyns so is that synne was first cause of thraldom. then it is

[6-text p 654] thus that thilke tyme that all the worlde was in synne. then was all this worlde in thraldom & in subieccion. [771] But certis sethyns the tyme of grace cam. God ordeyned that som folk schulde be more hye in estate & hye degree & som folke more lowe & that eueriche schulde be seruyd in his estate & in degre. [772] And therfore in some contrees ther thei ben thrallis when thei han turned hem to the feith. thei maken her thrallis fre out of thraldom. And therfore certis the lord owith to his man. that the man owith to his lorde. [773] ¶ The Pope clepith hym self seruaunt of seruauntis of god. But for as meche as the state of holi chirche ne myght not han be. ne the comune profite myght han be kept in pees & reste in erthe. But if god had ordeyned that some men han heyer degre & som men lowir [774] ¶ Ther-fore was souereyne ordeyned to kepe & maynten & de|fende her vndirlynges or her sogettis in reson as fer forth as it lith in her power & noght to distroie hem ne as ferforth confounde. [775] ¶ Wherfore I seie that thilke lordis that ben thilke wolfis that de [[Harl. MS. 1758 extract ends.]] ] [Camb. MS.] [folio 430a] vouryn the possessiouns or the catel of pouere men wrongfully with-oute mercy or meseur. [776] They schul receyue by the same meseur that they han mesured to poore folk the meseur of Ihesu crist but it be amendid [777] ¶ Now comyth deceyt be-twixe Marchaunt and Marchaund ¶ And thow schat vndir|stonde that marchaundise is in manye maneris / that on is bodyly & that othir is gostely; that on is honest & lefful; & that othir is dishonest & onleful. [778] Of thilke bodyly marchaunddyse that is lefful & honest is this there that god hath ordeyned / that a rem or a cuntre is suffisaunt to hym-self; thanne is it honest & lefful that of haboundaunce of this cuntre that men helpe a nothir Cuntre that is more nedy. [779] And therfore there mote been marchauntis to brynge from that oon cuntre to that othir hire march|aundyse

[6-text p 655] / [780] That othyr marchaundyse that men hauntyn / with fraude & trecherye And deceyt with lesyngis & falso othis is cursed & dampnable [781] ¶ Espirituele marchaundyse is propirly symonye that is ententyf desyr / to beyen thyng espirituel that is thyng that aparteneth to the seyntewarye of god / & to cure of the soule [782] ¶ This desir ȝif so be that a man do his dilygence to parforne it / al be it that his desir take noon effect. ȝit is it to hem a dedly syne. & ȝif he be ordered. he is irregulere / [783] Certis Symonye is clepid of Symon magus / that wolde a bouȝt for temperel catel / the ȝifte that god hadde ȝouyn by the holy gost to seynt Petyr. & to the apostellis / [784] And therfore vndyrstond that by that he that sellyth & he that beyeth thyngis espirituel been clepid Symonyalys / be it be catel be it be procurynge / or by fleschely preyere of hise frendis. fleschely frendis or spyrituel frendis / [785] Fleschely in two manerys as by kenreede or othere frendis sothly ȝif they preye for hym that is not worthi & able it is Symonye ȝif he take the benefice / and ȝif he be worthi & able; theere is non. [786] ¶ That othir maner is / whan men or women preyen for [folio 430b] folk to auauncyn hem only for wekede fleschely affeccioun that they han vn-to the persone & that is foul symonye / [787] But certis in ceruyce for whiche men ȝeuyn thyngis espirituel on to here seruauntis / it mote been vndirstande that the seruyce mote been honest & ellis nat / And ek that it be with-outyn bargaynynge & that the parsone be able / [788] ffor as seith Seine Damasye / Alle the synnys of the world at regard of this synne arn as thyng of nough / for it is the gretteste synne that may ben aftyr the synne of lucyfer & of antecryst / [789] ffor by this syne god forlesyth the cherche & the soule that he bouȝte with his precyous blood / By hem that ȝeuyn cherchis / to hem that been not digne [790] for they putte in theuys handis / that

[6-text p 656] stelyn the soulis of Ihesu cryst And distroyen the patry|monye [791] Be sweche indigne prestis & curatis / han lewede men lesse reuerence of the sacrementis of holy cherche. And swe[che] ȝeueris of cherchis; putte the ȝeueris of cryst out / & puttyn in the cherche the deuyllis owene sone / [792] they sleen the soulys that lambis schulde kepe / to the wolf that that strangelyth hem And therfore schul they neuere han part of the pasture of lambis that is the blysse of heuene. [793] Now comyth hasardrye with hise apor|tenancis. as tablis. & rafles / of sweche comyth deceit false othis chydyngis / And alle rauynesse. blasphemynge And renayinge of god / And hate of hise neghebourys. wast of goodis. Mis spendynge of tyme. & sumtyme man|slauȝtere. [794] Certis hasardourys ne mow not been with-oute greet synne / . . . [no gap in the MS.] [795] Of Auaryce comyn ek lesyngis. thefte. fals witnesse. & false othis ¶ And )e that vndirstonde that these been greete synnys & expres a-geyn the comandementis / of god as I haue seyd / [796] ffals wytnesse; is in word & ek in deede By word as for to reue thyn neighebour his goode name bi thyn false witnessynge / or by-reuen hym his catel or his herytage / by thyn false witnessyng [folio 431a] whan thow for yre or for mede or for envie berist fals witnesse or accusist hym. or excusest hym by thyn false witnesse. Or ellis ex|cusist thyn self falsely / [797] ware ȝow ȝe quest mongeris / & Notarijs Certis for fals witnessenge was Susanne in ful greet sorwe & peyne & manye a nothir mo. [798] ¶ The synne of thefte is ek expres. a-geyns goddis heste / & in two maneris corporel or spirituel / [799] [Corporel] As for to take thyn neigheborys catel a-geyns his wil / be it be forse or be sleyghte / be it be met or be meseur [800] by stelynge ek of false endytementis vp-on hym / & in borwynge of thyn neghebouris catel / in entente neuere to paye it a-geyn / & semblable thyngis / [801] Es|pirituel thefte is sacrilege that is to seyne / hurt|ynge

[6-text p 657] of holy thyngis sacrede to crist / in two maneris / be resoun of the holy place As cherchis or cherche hawys / [802] ffor whiche euery vileyns synne that men doon in swich placis / May ben clepid sacrilege / or euery violence in the semblable placis / ¶ Also they that withdrawyn falsely the rightis that longyn to holy cherche [803] and plesynge / and generally Sacrylege is to reuyn holy thyng out of holy place or onholy thyng out of holy place / or holy thyng out of on|holy place

Releuacio contra peccatum Auaricie.

[804]

NOw schul ȝe vndirstonde that the releuynge of auarice is mysericorde & pete largely takyn / ¶ And men myghtyn axen why that mysericorde & pete is releuynge of Auaryce [805] ¶ Certis the Auaricious man / Schewith no pete ne myseri|corde to the nedful man / for he delitith hym in the kepynge of hes tresor & not in the rescowynge or in the releuynge of his euene cristene & therfore speke I ferst of myserycorde [806] thanne is Miserycorde as seith the philisophere a vertu be whiche the corage of a man is sterid bi the . . . [no gap in the MS.] mysesed [807] ¶ vp-on which mysericorde / folwith pete / in parfornynge of charytable werkis of myse [folio 431b] ricorde [808] And certis these thyngis meuyn a man to myserycorde of Ihesu crist that he ȝaf hym self for oure gilt And sufferede deth for mysericorde / And forgaf oure original syne [809] And therby releseth vs from the peynys of helle & amenuseth the peynys of purgatorye by penytence / & ȝeuyth grace weel to do and at the laste the blysse of heuene [810] ¶ The specis of myserycorde been as for to lene & for to ȝeue And to forȝeuyn & to relesyn and for to han pete in herte / & compassioun of the myschif of his

[6-text p 658] euene cristene and ek to chastise there as is neede [811] A nothir maneere of remedye ageyns auaryce; is resonable largesse But sothly heere be-howith the con|sideracioun of the grace of Ihesu crist & of his temperel goodis And ek of the goodis perdurable that crist ȝaf to vs [812] & to han remembraunce of the deth that he schal resceyue he not whanne wheere ne how and ek that he schal forgoon al that he hath / saue only that he hath spendid in goode werkis /

[813] But for asmeche as some folk been onmesur|able / men oughte to eschewe fol largesse that men clepyn wast. [814] ¶ Certis he that is fol large / he ȝevith not his catel but he lesith his catel Sothli wat thyng that he ȝeuyth for veynglorye as to menstrallis & to folk to beryn his renoun in the world he hath synne therof & non almesse [815] Certis he lesyth foule his good / that he ne sekyth with the ȝifte of his good no thyng but synne. [816] he is lyk to an hors that that sekyth rathere to drynkyn drouy or trouble watyr than for to drynke watyr of the cleere welle. / [817] ¶ And for as meche as they . . . . [no gap in MS.] schulde not ȝeuyn to hem apartenyth thilke malicioun that Crist schal ȝeuyn at the day of dome to hem that schuln be dampned

Sequitur Gula

[folio 432a]

[Two figures, of a man, 'Glotenye', riding on a bear or sloth?, and of a woman, 'Abstinence', crownd and halo'd, with a jug in the right hand, and a flower in the left. See the Society's Chaucer Autotypes, Part 2.]

[818] AFtir Auarice comyth Glotenye whiche is expres ek a-geyns the comaundement of god Glotenyee/ is vnmesurable apetit to ete or to drynke or ellis to don I-now to the onmesurable appetit / & disordeyned coueytyse to etyn or to drynke [819] ¶ This synne corrumpid / al this world as is weel schewyd in the synne of adam & of eue. Loke ek what seyth seynt poule of glotenye. [820] Manye seyth seynt Poule goon of

[6-text p 659] whiche I haue ofte seyd to ȝow & now I seye it wepynge that been the enmyis of the croys of crist of whiche the ende is deth and of whiche here wombe is here god & here glorye in confusioun of hem that so deuouryn erthely thyngis [821] he that is vsaunt to this synne of glotenye he ne may no synne withstonde he mot been in seruage of alle vicis / for it is the deuillis hord there he hydith hym and restith [822] this synne hat manye spicis / ¶ The ferste is dronkenesse / that is the horible sepulture of mannys resoun / And ther|fore whan a man is dronkyn; he [folio 432b] hath lost resoun & this is dedly synne // [823] ¶ But sothly whan a man is not woned to strong drynk & parauenture ne knowith not the strenthe of the drynk or hath febilnesse in his heed / or hath trauayled / thour whiche he drenkyth the moore / Al be he sodeynly cauȝt with drynk it is no dedly synne but venyal [824] ¶ The secunde spece of glotenye is // that the spirit of a man / wexeth al trouble for dronkenesse; bereuyth hym the discrecioun of his wit. [825] ¶ The thredde spece of Glotenye is whan a man deuourith his mete / & hath not ryghtful manere of etynge. [826] ¶ The fourte is whan thour the greete habund|aunce of his mete. the humuris in his body been dis|temperede [827] ¶ The fifte is forȝetefulnesse be too meche drynkynge for whiche sumtyme a man forȝetith on the morwe what he dede at euyn or on the nyght be-forn

[828] ¶ In othere manerys been distynit the specis of glotenye aftyr seynt Gregorye ¶ The ferste is for to etyn be|fore tyme of etynge ¶ The secunde is whan a man get hym to delicat mete or drynk. [829] ¶ The thredde whan men takyn ouyr mesure ¶ The forte is curiositee with greet entent to makyn & apparaylyn his mete ¶ The fifte is for to ete gredileche. [830] ¶ These been the fyue fyngerys of the deuyllis hand be whiche he drawyth folk to synne

[6-text p 660]

Remedium contra peccatum Gule

[831]

Ageyns glotenye is the remedie Abstynence as seyth Galiene / but that holde I not meritorye / ȝif he do it only for the hele of the body. Seynt Augustyn wele that abstynence be doon forvertu & not for vice / but with pacyence. [832] Abstynence he seyth is lytil worth but ȝif a man haue ryght good wil therto & but it be enforsed bi pacience / And be charite & that men don it for godis sake And in ¹hope to haue the blysse of heuene

[833] ¶ The felawis of abstynence been attemper|aunce/ that holdith¹ [[^1_1 MS. repeats hope to haue the blysse of heuene ¶ The felawis of abstynence been [folio 433a] Attemperaunce. that holdith]] the meene in alle thyngis. Ek schame that eschewith al disoneste ¶ Sufferaunce that sekith no ryche metis ne drenkys / ne doth no fors of too outragious apparaylynge of mete. [834] Mesure also that restreynyth by resoun the dislaue appetit of etynge / Sobirnesse also that restreynyth the outrage of drynk. [835] Sparynge also that restreynyth the delicat man as is to sitte longe at his mete & softely wherfore some folk stondyn of here owene wil to etyn at the lasse leyser. [[Two paintings, "Lecherye," seated on a goat, with a sparrow (both animals types of lechery) on her right forefinger, and "Chastite" standing on the rump and forepaws of some tawny couchant tuskt animal, with a spear in her hand.]]

Sequitur de peccato Luxurie

[836]

AFtyr glotonye comyth Lecherye For these two synnys been so nygh Cosynys / that ofte tyme thei wele not departe god [837] wot This synne is ful displesaunt thyng to god For he seyde hym self. Do no lecherye And therfor he putte greete peynys a-geyn this synne in the olde lawe / [838] ¶ If woman thral were takyn in this synne sche schulde been betyn with stonys to the deth. And ȝif sche weere a gentil weman sche schulde be slayn with stonys / And if sche we [folio 433b] re a bischopis doughtyr sche schulde been brent by godis comaundement. [839] ferthere ouyr bi the synne of lecherye god drenkte al the world / at the

[6-text p 661] diluge / and aftyr that he brente .v. ceteis with thundyr liȝth & sank in to helle

[840] ¶ Now lat vs speke of that stynkende Synne of lecherye. that men clepe auouterye of weddede folk / that is to seyne that ȝif that on of hem be weddit or ellis bothe. [841] Seynt Ioon seyth auouteryis schuln been in helle in a stark brennynge fere of bronston . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] for the stynk of here ordure [842] ¶ Certis the brekynge of this sacrementis is an orrible thyng / it was makyd of god hym self in Paradys. & confermed be Ihesu crist. as witnesseth seynt Mathew / in the gospel / A· man schal lete fadir & modyr / & takyn hym to his wif / And they schuln ben two in on flesch. [843] This sacrement be-toke|nyth the knyttynge to-gedere of Crist & of holy chirche / [844] And nat only that god forbad auoutrye in dede. [[MS. adds in text, Non concu|pisces uxorem proximi tui (on an erasure).]] but ek he comaundede that thow schuldist not coueyte thyn neyhebouris wif. [845] And in this heste seyth seynt augustyn; is forbodyn alle manere coueytyse to doon lecherye. lo what seyth seynt Mathew in the gospel. That ho so seth a woman to coueytyse. of his lust he hath doon lecherye with hire in herte / [846] Heere may ȝe seen that nat only the deede of this synne / is forbodyn. but ek the desir to doon that synne / [847] This cursede synne a-noyeth greuously hem that it hauntyn. & ferst to here soule. for he obligeth it to synne. & to peyne of deth that is perdurable [848] On to the body anoyeth it greuously also. ffor it dreyeth hym And wastith hym also & schyndyth hym. And of his blood he makyth sacrifise to the deuyl of helle it wastith his catel . . . . .[849] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] on women. // ȝet it is a foulere thyng whan that for swich ordure wemen spendyn vp-on men here catel & here substance. [850] This synne as seyth the prophete / bereuyth man & woman here goode fame & al here honour / & it is ful plesaunt to the deuyl. For therby

[6-text p 662] wynnyth he the more party of this world [851] And ryght as a marchaunt delytith hym most in chaffare that he hath most auau[n]tage of. ryght so dely [folio 434a] tith the feend in this ordure

[852] ¶ Thys is that othir hand of the deuyl with .v. fyngerys / to cache the peple to his vilanye / [853] The ferst fyngir is / the fool lokynge of the fool woman. And of the fool man. that sleth rygh as the Baselycok sleth folk by the venyn of his syth. for the coueytyse of eyen; folwith the coueytyse of the herte. [854] ¶ The secunde fyngir is the vyleyns touchynge in wekede manere And therfore seyth Salomon. that ho so touchith a woman or handelith; he farth lyk to hym that handelyth the skorpyoun that styngith & sodeynly sleth thour his enuenymynge. As ho so touche warm pych. it schent hise fyngerys [855] The thredde is foule wordys. that farth lyk fuyr that rygh a-non brennyth the herte. [856] The fourte fynger is. the kyssynge. And trewely he weere a greet fool that wolde kysse the mouth of a brennynge ouene or of a forneys [857] And moore folys been they. that kessyn in vilenye. for that mouth is the mouth of helle. and namely these olde dotardys holouris ȝit wole they kisse and smatere hem thow they may nat doon. [858] Certis they been lyke to houndys. for an hound whan he comyth by the roser. or by othere beauteis. thow he may not pisse. ȝit wele he heue vp his leg and make a cun|tenau[n]ce to pisse. [859] And for that manye men wenyth. that he may not synne for no lykerousnesse that he doth with his wif. Certis ȝit the opynyoun is fals God wot a man may sleen hym self. with his owene knyf And make hym self dronke of his owene ale or of his owene wyn. [860] Certis be it wif be it child. or ony wordely thyng that he louyth by-forn god. it is his maumet. & he is an ydolastre. [861] Man schulde louyn his wif by dyscrecyoun paciently. & attemprelly. And thanne is sche as they it

[6-text p 663] weere his systir. [862] ¶ The fyfte fyngir of the deuyllys hand; is the stynkynge dede of lecherye. [863] Certis the .v. fyngyr of glotenye the fend put in the wombe of a man. And with his fyue fyngerys of lecherye; he grypyth hym by the regnys / for to throwyn hym in-to the furneys of helle. [864] theere as they schal have [folio 434b] the fyre that euere schal laste / & wepynge & waylynge & scharp hongir & thurst grymnesse of deuyllis / that schuln al to-trede hem with-outyn . . [no gap in MS.] ende. [865] ¶ Of lecherye as I seyde Sourdyn dyuerse spechis / as fornycacioun. that is between man & woman that been not maried. And this is dedly synne. and a-geyns nature. [866] Al that is enemy & distruxioun to nature; is a-geyns nature [867] parfay The resoun of a man tellyth eek hym weel that it is dedly synne. ffor as moche as god forbad lecherye And seynt poule ȝeuyth hem the regne that ne is dewe to no wyȝt But to hem that don no dedly synne. [868] A nothir synne of lecherye is; to bereue a maydynhede. for sertis he that so doth; he castyth a maydyn out of the heyeste degre that is in this present lyf. [869] And be-reuyth hire the ilke precyouse freut that the book clepith the hunderede freut I ne can seye it noon othere weyis in engelisch but in latyn it hyȝte Centesimus fructus [870] Certis he that so doth is cause of manye damagis & vylenyis mo than ony man can rekene. ryght as he sumtyme is cause of alle damagis that bestis doon in the feeld / that brekyn hegis of the closeure / thorw whiche he distroyeth that may not been restrored. [871] ffor certis no more may maydynhede; . . [no gap in the MS.] than an arm that is smetyn from the body may returne a-geyn & wexe. [872] Sche may haue mercy this wete I weel / ȝif sche haue wil to don penytence / but neuere schal it be that sche nas corupt. / [873] And al it so be. that I haue spoke sumwhat of avouterye; it is good to schewyn perilys that longyn to a-uouterye. ffor to eschewe that foule

[6-text p 664] synne // [874] Auouterye in latyn is for to seyne aprochynge of othere manys bed / thorw whiche / tho that whilom weere on flesch Aboundone here bodyis to othere personys. [875] Of this synne as seyth the wyse man folwyn manye harmys. Fyrst brekynge of feyth. And certis in feyth is the keye of cristendom [876] And what that feyth is brokyn & lorn; sothly cristendam stant veyn. And withoutyn freut. [877] this syne is ek a thefte. for thefte generally is as to reue a wight his thyng ageyns his wil [878] [folio 435a] Certis this is the fouleste thefte that may be / whan a woman stelyth hire body from hire husbonde & ȝeuyth it to hire holour / to defoulyn hire And stelyth hire soule from cryst / & ȝeuyth it to the deuyl / [879] this is a foulere thefte than for to breke a cherche & stele awey the chalys ¶ ffor these auoutyeris brekyn the temple of god / spirituelly & stelyn the vessel of grace that is the body & the soule / For whiche Crist schal distroye hem as seyth seynt poule. [880] ¶ Sothly of this thefte doutede greetly Iosep whan that his lordys wif preyede him of vylenye / whan he seyde lo myn lady how myn lord hath take to me vndyr myn warde al that he hath in this world / ne nothyng of his thyngis is out of myn power but only ȝe that been hise wyf [881] And how schulde I thanne do this wekedenesse & synne so horyble a-geyns god. & a-geyns myn lord / god it for-beede Allas al to lytil is swich trouthe now I-founde [882] The thredde harm is the fylthe thorw whiche they breke the comaundement of god / & defoule the auctour of matrymonye that is cryst [883] for certis in so meche as the sacrement of maryage is so noble & so dygne; so meche is it grettere synne for to brekyn it for god made maryage in paradys In the estaat of innocence to multyplye mankynde in the seruyse of god / [884] and therfore is the brekynge therof the more greuous / Of whiche brekynge comyn false eyrys ofte tyme that wrongfully ocupye menys eritage And therfore god wele putte

[6-text p 665] hem out of the regne of heuene that is herytage to goode folk. [885] ¶ Of this brekynge comyth ek that folk that onwar weddyn or synnyn with here owene kenrede / And namely thilke harlotys / that hauntyn bordelys / of this folk; women mowe be lykenede to a comune gonge wheere as men porgin here ordure. [886] // What sey we ek of putruse that lyuyn by the horryble synne of putrye And constreynyn wemen to ȝeuyn to hem a certeyn rente of here bodyly putrye. ȝa sumtyme of his owene wif or his child as doon these baudys. Certys these [folio 435b] been cursede synnys [887] ¶ Vndyrstond ek that auouterye is set in the ten comaundementis be-twixe thefte & man|slauȝthere for it is the gretteste thefte that may be for it is thefte of body & of soule / [888] and it is lyk to homycyde / for it keruyth a too / & brekyth atwo; hem that ferst were makid o flesch. And therfore by the olde lawe of god; they schulde been slayn / [889] But natheles by the lawe of Ihesu crist that is lawe of pite / whan he seyde to the woman that was foundyn in auouterye / & schulde han ben slayn with stonys aftyr the wil of the Iewys as was here lawe. Go quod Ihesu crist & haue no more wil to synne or wille no more to synne. [890] ¶ Sothly the vengeaunce of Auouterye; is awardit to the peynys of helle. but if so be that that it be disturbit be penytence [891] ¶ ȝit been there moore spicis of these cursede synne / as whan that on of hem is relygious / or ellis bothe / or of folk that been entrid in-to ordere. as subdekene / dekene. & preest / or ospitallerys / And euere the heyere that he is in ordere; the moore is the synne [892] ¶ The thyngis that gretly agreggyn here synne; is the brekynge of here awowe of chastite whan they resceyuyn the ordere. [893] And ferthere ouyr soth is that holy ordere is cheef of al the tresore of god / & his especial sygne & marke of chastite to schewe that they been ioyned / to chastite whiche that is most precious lyf that is / [894] and these orderede folk been specially tytelede to god / and of . .

[6-text p 666] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] his peple / for they leuyn of the peple. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [895] Prestis been aungellys / as by the dignetee of here mysterie but forsothe seynt Poule seyth that Sathanas transformede hym in an angel of lyght. [896] Sothly that preest that hauntyth dedly synne he may been lykkened to the aungel of derknesse transformed hym in to the aungel of lygh. he semyth Aungel of lyght but forsothe he is aungel of derknesse [897] Sweche prestis been the sonys of belyal as seyth in the book of kyngis / that they weere the sonys of Belyal that is the deuyl. [898] Belial is to seyne with-outyn Iuge / And so farn they. hem thynkyth they been free and haue no Iuge no moore. than hath a fre [folio 436a] bole / that takyth euery cow of the toun that hym likyth / [899] So farn they be wemen / for riȝt as on fre bole is I-nowgh for al a toun; righ so is a wekkede prest corupcioun I-now for al a parisch or for al a cuntre / [900] these prestis as seyth the bok ne kunne not mynystre the mysterie of presthode to the peple / ne god ne knowe they not / they ne helde hem nat a-payed / as seith the book of sodyn flesch that was to hem offered; but they take by forse the flesch tat is raw. / [901] Sertis so these schrewis / ne holde hem nat apayed / of rostede flesch & sode flesc[h] with whiche the peple fedyth hem with greet reuerence / but they wele haue raw flesch of folkys wyuys / And here douȝteris / [902] And sertis these wemen that consentyn to here harloterye; doon gret wrong to crist & to holy cherche & alle halwys & to alle soulis. for they bereue alle these hym that schulde worschepe cryst & holy cherche & preye for cristene soulys [903] And therfore han sweche prestis / & here lemanys ek that consentyn to here lecherye; the malysoun of al the court cristene til they come to a-mendement.

[6-text p 667] [904] ¶ The thredde spece of auouterye; is sumtyme be-twixe a man & his wif / And that is whan they take no reward in here assemblynge; but only to here fleschly delit / as seyth seynt Ierome / [905] and ne rekkyn of no thyng but that they been assemblit / bi cause that they been maryed / al is good I-now as thynkyth to hem / [906] but in swich folk / hat the deuyl power as seit the aungel Raphael to Thobie / for in here assemblynge they putte Ihesu crist out of here herte & ȝeuyn hem self to alle ordure. [907] The forte spece is the assemblynge of hem that been of . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] oon affynytee. Or ellis of hem with whiche here faderis / or here kenrede han delid / in the synne of lecherye / this synne makyth hem lyk to houndys that take no keep to kenrede. [908] And certis parentele is in two manerys othir gostely oth[ir] fleschly. Gostly as for to dele with his gossib. [909] for rygh so as he that engenderyth a child / is his fleschely fadyr; rygh so is his godfadyr his fadyr esspirytuel. for whiche a weman may in no lasse synne assemble with hire gossib than with hire owene fleyschely brothyr. [910] ¶ The fyfte spece is. thilke abo [folio 436b] mynable synne of whiche abhomynable synne that no man onethe oughte speke of . . . . .[911] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] horrible synne . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] that schynyth on the myxene. [912] A nothir synne apartenyth to lecherye that comyth slepynge and this synne comyth ofte to hem that been maydenys And ek to hem that been corupt & this synne men clepyn polucioun that comyth of iij manerys / [913] Sumtyme of languyschynge of body for the humouris been to ranke & habundant in the body of man / Sumtyme of Infyrmyte for the febillesse of the vertu retentyf / as Phisyk makyth mencyoun Sumtyme of surfeet of mete & drynk. [914] And sumtyme of

[6-text p 668] vyleyns thoughtys that been enclosede in mannys mynde whan he gooth to slepyn / whiche may not been withoutyn synne / For whiche men muste kepe hem wysely / or ellis men may synne ful greuously.

Remedium contra peccatum luxurie

[915]

NOw comyth the remedie a-geyns lecherye & that is generally chastite & contynence that re|streynyth alle dysordenee meouyngis that comyn of fleschely talentys [916] And euere the gretter meryt schal he han / that most restreynyth the wekede eschewyngis of the ordure of this synne And this is in two manerys that is to seyne chastite in maryage and chastyte in wedewehode / [917] Now schalt thow vndyrstonde that matrymonye is lefful assemblynge of man & woman that resseyuyn be wertu of this sacrement the bond thurgh whiche they may not be departid in al here lyf that is to synne whiche that they leuyn bothyn. [918] This as seyth the bok is a ful greet sacrement / god makede it as I haue seyd in paradys / And wolde hym self been born in maryage / [919] & for to halwyn in maryage he was at a weddyng where as he turnede watyr in to wyn / whiche was the ferste myrakele that he wrouȝte / in erthe by-forn hise dissyplys / [920] Trewe effect of maryage / clensyth fornycacyoun / & replenyschith holy cherche of goode lynage / for that is the ende [folio 437a] of maryage & chaungith dedly synne in to venyal synne be-twyxen hem that been I-weddyt / & makyth the hertis of on of hem that been I-weddyt as weel as the bodyis [921] Verray maryage was establysschid / by god er that synne be-gan. whan naturel lawe was in his ryghte poynt in paradys. ¶ And it was ordeynyd / that oon man schulde han but oon woman And on woman but on man As seyth seynt augustyn by manye resonys /

[922] ffyrst for maryage is figurd be-twyxe crist &

[6-text p 669] holy cherche / & that othir is for a man is heuyd of a woman. algate by ordenaunce it schulde be so. [923] For if a woman hadde mo men than oon; thanne schulde sche haue mo heuedys than on / And that were an horyble synne / by-forn god / And ek A woman ne myghte not / plese two manye men at onys and also theere schulde neuere been pees ne reste amongis hem / for eueryche wolde axe his owene thing [924] ¶ And ferthere ouyr no man schulde knowe his owene en|genderure ne ho schulde haue his erytage / And the woman schulde been the lesse be-louyd / for the tyme that sche weere comeynt to manye men

[925] ¶ Now comyth how that a man / schulde bere hym with his wif & namely in two thyngis / that is to seyne in sufferaunce & reuerence as shewith crist whan he made ferst woman / [926] for he ne made hire not of the heed of Adam; for [sche] schulde not cleyme to greet lorschepe / [927] For theere as the woman hath the maystrye; sche makyth to greet disray Theere nedyn none exsaumplis of this / the experience day be day oughte I-now suffyse. [928] ¶ Also certis god ne made not woman / of the foot of Adam / for sche schulde not ben holdyn to lowe / for sche can not pacyently suffere / but god made woman of the ribbe of man; for woman schulde been felawe on to man. [929] Man schulde beryn hym vnto his wif / in feyth in trouthe / & in love as [seyth] seynt Poule that a man schulde louyn his wif as crist lovede holy cherche that louede it so weel that he deyede for it / So schulde a man for his wif If it weere neede.

[930] ¶ Now how that a woman schulde been subiect to hyre housbonde / that tellyth seynt Petyr fyrst [folio 437b] in obedi|ence / [931] And ek as seyth the Decree a woman that is wif as longe as schche is a wyf sche hath non autorite to swere ne bere witnesse with oute leue of hire husbonde that is here lord/ algatis he schulde be so be resoun / [932] sche schulde ek seruyn hym in alle

[6-text p 670] onestee / & been attempre of hire aray I wot wel that they schulde sette here entent to plese here hus|bondis. But not by queyntyse of aray [933] ¶ Seynt Ierom seyth that vyuys that been apparaylede in silk and in precious purpure; ne mowe not clothe hem in Ihesu crist What seith seynt Ion ek in thys matyere. [934] Seynt gregory ek seyth that no wight sekyth precious aray; but only for veynglorie to been honoured the moore be-forn the peple. [935] It is a greet folye a woman to haue a greet aray outward / And in hire self be foul inward [936] ¶ A wif schulde ek be mesurable / in lokynge & in berynge & in laughynge & discreet in alle hire wordis / & hire dedis. [937] And a-bouyn alle wordely thyngis sche schulde loue hire husbonde with al hire herte / & to hym been trewe / of hire body / [938] so schulde an husbonde been to his wif / For sythe that alle the body is the husbondis so schulde hire herte been / or ellis theere is by-twixe hem two; as in that; no parfyt maryage [939] ¶ Thanne schal we vndyr|stonde that for thre thyngis a man & his wyf fleschly moun assemble The fyrste is in entent of engen|derure of childeryn to the seruyse of good / for certis there is the cause fynal of matrymonye [940] ¶ A nothir cause is to ȝeldyn euerych of hem to othir the dettis of here bodijs / for neythyr of hem hath power of here owene body. The thredde is for to eschewe lecherye & vilenye / The forte is forsothe dedly synne [941] ¶ As to the fyrste is meritorye the secunde also. For as seith the Decree / that sche hath merite of chastite that ȝeldyth to hire husbonde the dette of hire body. ȝe thow it be a-geyn hire likyng & the lust of hire herte. [942] The thredde manere is venyal synne / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] for the corupcioun & for the delyt. [943] The fourte manere is for to vndirstonde / ȝif they assemble only for amorous loue / & for noon of the forseyde causys / but

[6-text p 671] for to exemplice thilke brennynge delit [folio 438a] they rekke neuere how ofte Sootly it is dedly synne. And that with sorwe some folk wele peynyn hem more to doon; than here apetit suffisyth.

[944] ¶ The secunde manere of chastite is / for to been a cleene wedewe / & eschewe the enbrasyngis of man / And desyre the enbrasyngis of Ihesu crist / [945] These been tho that han been wyuys And han forgetyn here hus|bondys. And ek wemen that han doon lecherye. & been resseyuyd be penytence. [946] And certis ȝif that a wyf coude kepyn hire al chast by lycence of hire husbonde / So that sche ȝeue noon occasyoun that he agilte it were to hire a greet merite. [947] This manere of wemen that obseruyn chastite . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] in clothynge & in cuntenaunce abstinent in etynge & drynkynge in spekynge & in deede they been the vessel or the Boyste of the blyssede Magdelyn that fulfillyth holy cherche of good odour [948] ¶ The iij manere of chastite; is vyrgynyte / & it be-houyth that it be holy in herte and cleene of body thanne is sche spouse to Ihesu crist. And sche is the lyf of aungellis / [949] Sche is the preysynge of this world / And sche is as these martyrys egalyte / sche hat in hire that tunge may not telle / ne herte thynke / [950] Virginyte bar oure lord Ihesu crist. And virgyne was hym selue.

[951] ¶ Anothir remedye ageyn lecherye is this / specyally to withdrawe sweche thyngis as ȝeuyn occasioun to thilke vilenye as ese etynge & drynkynge. ffor certis whan the pot boylyth strongely; the beste remedye is to with|drawe the feer [952] Slepynge longe in greet quyete; is ek a gret noryce to lecherye

[953] ¶ A nothir remedye a-geyn lecherye is that a man or a woman eschewe the cumpaygnye of hem be whiche he doutyth to been temptyd / For al be it so / that the dede is withstonden ȝit is theere greet temptacioun

[6-text p 672] [954] Sotly a whit wal al thow it brenne not with stekynge of a candele; ȝit is the wal blak of the lyght. [955] Ful ofte tyme I reede that no man ful truste in his owen perfeccioun. but he be strengere than Sampsoun. or holyere than Danyel. And wisere than Salomon

[956] ¶ Now aftyr that I haue declared / ȝow as I can the seuene dedly synnys / And some of here braunchis. & here remedyis. Sothly [folio 438b] ȝif I coude I wolde telle ȝow the ten Comaunndementis. [957] but so high doctryne I lete to deuynes. Natheles I hope to god they been touchede in this tretyse eueryche of hem alle./

Sequitur iij^a. [iij^a and] pars Penitencie ³Decem mandata³ [^3_3 corrected.]

[958]

NOw for as meche as the secunde partye of penytence stant in confessioun of mechil as I be-gan in the ferste chapitere I seye seynt Augustyn seyth / [959] Synne is euery word / & euery dede & al that men coueyte ageyn the lawe of Ihesu crist And this is for to seyne. in herte in mouth & in dede by the fyue wittys / that is by herynge syghte smellynge tastynge or sauourynge and felynge [960] ¶ Now is it good to vndyrstondyn ¶ That þat aggreggith mechil euery syne / [961] Thow schat considere what that thow art that dost that synne / Whedyr thow be male or femele / ȝong. or old/ gentil. or thral / fre. or seruaunt. hol or sek / weddit or sengele / ordered. or onordered / wis. or fol. Clerk. or Seculer / [962] yf sche be of thyn kynrede. bodyly or gostely or noon / ȝif ony of thyn kenrede haue synned with hire or non And manye mo thyngis

[963] ¶ A nothir circumstaunce is this / Whethir it be doon in fornycacioun or in auouterye / or non. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] in manere of homycide or non / horrible greete synnys. or smale & how longe thow hast contynued in synne [964] ¶ The thredde circumstaunce is the place there thow hast do synne. Whethyr in othere

[6-text p 673] menys hovs or in thyn owene. In feeld or in cherche or in cherche hawe. in cherche dedicat or non / [965] ffor if the cherche be halwyd. And man or woman spylle his kynd withinne that place be woye of synne / or be wekede temptacioun / the cherche is entretydede . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [966] And the prest that dede swiche. the terme of al his lyf he schulde not synge no masse. & ȝif he dede he schulde do dedly synne. at euery tyme that he schulde so synge [folio 439a] messe. [967] ¶ The fourte circumstaunce is by sweche medya|tourys or be sweche messangerys / as for entysement or for consentement to bere compaygnye with fals schepe. for manye a wreche for to bere compaignye wele go to the deuyl of helle [968] wherfore they that eggyn or con|sentyn / to the synne been partenerys of the synne / And of the temptacyoun of the synnere

[969] ¶ The fifte circumstaunce is / how manye tymys that he hath synnyd / ȝif it be in his mynde / & how ofte that he hath falle / [970] for he that hath ofte falle in synne / he dispiseth the mercy of god / and encresith his synne And is vnkynde to cryst / And he wexeth the moore feble to withstonde synne / & synnyth the moore lyghtely / [971] & the lattere aryseth / & is the moore eschew for to schryue hym / an namely to hym that is his con|fessour. [972] For whiche that folk whan they falle a-geyn in there olde folyis othir they for-ȝete here olde confessouris al outrely or ellys they departyn here schrifte in dyuers placcis But sothly sweche departede schrifte deseruyth no mercy of god / of hise synnys [973] The sexte Circum|staunce is why that a man synnyth as by temptacyoun / & ȝif hym selue procure the ilke temptacyoun or by the ex|cytynge of othere folk. or if he synne with a woman by force or by hire owene assent [974] orr ȝif the woman maugre hire heed / hath been aforced or non / this schal sche telle. for coueytyse or for pouerte / & ȝif it was hire procurynge or non & swiche manere

[6-text p 674] harneyes [975] ¶ The Seuynte circumstance / is in what manere he hath doon his synne / or how that sche haue sufferede that folk han don to hire [976] & the same schal the man telle with alle circumstauncys And whedyr he hath synnyd with comoun bordel wemen or noon / [977] or don his synne in holy tymys or non In fast|ynge tyme or non / or by forn his schrifte / or aftyr his laste schrifte / [978] and hath parauenture brokyn therfore his penaunce enioyned be whos helpe & whos conseyl / by sorcerye / or craft al must ben told [979] ¶ Alle these thyngis aftyr that they been greete [folio 439b] or smale engreggyn the concyence of man & ek of the prest that is thyn Iuge may the betere been auysed of his Iugement in ȝeuynge of thyn penance & that is aftyr thyn contrycyoun [980] ¶ ffor vndyrstonde wel that aftyr that tyme that a man hath defouled his bapteme by synne if he wele come to saluacioun / there is non othir weye but be penytence & schryfte and satisfaccioun / [981] & namely by the two / if there be a confessour to whiche he may schryue hym / And the threde If he haue lyf to parforne it

[982] ¶ Thanne schal men loke and consydere that ȝif he wele make a trewe & a profitable confessioun there muste been .iiij. condisciounnys / [983] ffyrst it moote been in sorweful . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] bittyrnesse of myn herte / [984] this condicioun of bittyr|nesse hath .v. signys The ferste is that confessioun mote been schamefast not for to couere ne hyde his synne / for he hath a-gilt his god & defouled his soule ./ [985] And herof seyth seynt Augustyn / the herte trauaylyth for schame of his synne & for he hath greet schamefastnesse he is digne to haue greet mercy of god [986] ¶ Swych was the confessioun of the Publican that wolde not heue vp hise eyen to heuene for he hadde offendit god of heuene / for whiche schamefastnesse he hadde a-non the mercy of god / [987] And therof seith

[6-text p 675] seyn Augustyn that sweche schameful folk been next forȝeuenesse & remyssioun [988] ¶ A nothir sygne is humylite in confessioun of whiche seyth seynt Petyr / Humblith ȝow vndyr the mygh of god / the hond of god is myghty in confessioun / for therebi god forȝeuyth the thynne synys / for he alone hath the power / [989] & this humylite schal been in herte / & in signe outward / for rygh as he hath humylite to god in his herte / rygh so schulde he humble his body outward / to the prest that sittyth in godis place / [990] For which in no maner seth that Crist is Souereyn & the prest meene & Mediatour be|twethe Crist & the synnere. And the synnere is the laste be weye of resoun / [991] thanne schulde not the synnere sitte as heye as the Confessour; but knele [folio 440a] by-forn hym or at hise feet / but if maledye disturbe it / for he schal not take kep who sit there; but in whois place that he sittyth. [992] A man that hath trespased to a lord / & comyth for to axe mercy / & makyn his acord / & sette hym doun a-non by the lord / men wolde holde hym outrageous & not worthy so sone to haue remyssioun ne mercy. [993] The thredde signe is how that thyn schrifte schulde ben ful of teerys if man may / & ȝif he may not wepyn with his bodily eyen. let hym wepe in herte / [994] swich was the confessioun of seynt petir / for aftyr that he hadde forsake ihesu Crist he wente out & wepte ful bittyrly [995] ¶ The ferthe signe is that he ne lette not for schame to schewyn his confessioun [996] Swich was the confessioun of marye Maudelyn that ne sparede for no shame of hem that weryn at the feste for to go to oure lord ihesu Crist & beknowe to hym here synnys // [997] ¶ The fifte signe is that a man or a woman be obeysaunt to resceyue the penaunce that hem is enioynyd / ffor certis Ihesu Crist for the giltis of man was obeysaunt to the deth

[998] ¶ The secunde condicyoun of verray confessyoun is that it be hastyly don / For certis if a man hadde a dedly wounde. euere the lengere that he taryede to wariche

[6-text p 676] hym self / the more wolde it corupte & haste hym to his deth / & ek the wounde wolde be the werse to hele. [999] And rygh so faryth synne that long tyme is in a man o-nschewid / [1000] Certis a man oughte hastyly schewyn hise synnys for manye causys as for dred of deth that comyth off the sodeynly / & no serteyn what tyme it schal be ne in what plase / And ek the drechynge of on synne drawyth in a-nothir / [1001] & ek the lengere that he taryeth / the ferthere he is from crist / And ȝif he a-byde to his laste day / skarsely may he schryue hym or re|membre hym of hise synnys or repente for the greuous maledye of his deth [1002] And for as meche / as he ne hath not in his lyf herkenyd Ihesu Crist . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] at his laste day & skarsely whil he herkenyth hym [1003] And vndyrstonde that this condycioun / muste haue .iiij. [folio 440b] thyngis ¶ Thyn schryfte muste been purueyed by-forn & a-vysed / for wekede haste doth no profit / And that a man can schryue hym of hise synnys be it of pryde or of enuye & so forth with the spechis & circumstauncis [1004] & that he haue comprehendit in his mynde the noumbre & the gretnesse of hise synnys / & how longe that he hath leyn in synne / [1005] & ek that he be contrit of hise synnys & in stedefast purpos with the grace of god neuere eft to falle in synne. And ek that he dreede & countrewayte hym self that he fle the occasiounnys of synne / to wheche he is enchynyd / [1006] Also thow schalt schryue the of alle synnys to on man / & not a parcel to oo man / & a parcel to a nothir man ¶ That is to vndyrstonde / en entent to departen thyn confessioun / as for schame or dreed for it is but strangelynge of thyn soule / [1007] For certis ihesu crist is entyerely al good / in hym nys non imperfeccioun And therfore othir he forȝeuyth al parfitly or neuere a del. [1008] I sey not if thow be assygnit to the pentauncer for certeyn synne / that thow art bounde to schewyn hym alle the remenaunt of thynne synnys / of wheche

[6-text p 677] thow hast be schreuyn of to thyn curat but if it lyke to the / of thyn humylite / this is no departynge of schrifte [1009] ¶ Ne I seye not there is a spice of dyuysioun of confes|sioun / that if thow haue lycence for to schryue the to a dis|creet & to an onest prest / wheere the lykyth & by lycence of thyn curat that thow ne mayst wel schryue the to hym of alle thynne synnys / [1010] but lat no blot been by-hyndyn ¶ Lat non synne been on-told as fer as thow hast remem|braunce / [1011] And whan thow schat be schreuyn to thyn curat telle hym ek alle the synnys that thow hast doon syn thow were last Ischreue / this is no wekede entent / of dyuysioun of schrifte

[1012] Also the verray schrifte axeth certeyn con|dyciounnys / fyrst that thow schryue te by thyn fre wil. noght constreynyd / ne for schame of folk / ne for maledye ne sweche thyngis / for it is resoun that he that trespasith by his fre wil; that by his [folio 441a] fre wil confesse his synne / [1013] & that noon othir man telle his synne but hym self / ne he ne schal not nayte ne denye his synne / ne wrathe hym agay[n] the prest/ for his amonestynge to leue synne [1014] ¶ The secunde condicioun is that thyn schrifte be be lauweful. that is to seyne that thow schryuyst the & ek the prest/ that heryth thyn confessioun / been verrayly in the feith of holy cherche / [1015] & that a man ne be not despeyred / of the mercy of Ihu Cryst / As caym or iudas / [1016] And ek a man mote acuse hym selue of his owene trespase / & not a-nothir but he schal blame & wyte hym self / & his owene malyce / of his synne / & noon othir. [1017] but natheles / if that a-nothir man be occasioun / or entysynge of his synne or the estat of a persone / be swich thour his synne / that it is aggreggit or ellis that he may not pleynly schryue hym but he telle the persone with whiche he hath synnyd / thanne may he telle [1018] so that his entente be not to bakbyte the persone / but only to declare his con|fessioun

[6-text p 678]

[1019] ¶ Thow ne schalt not ek / make none lesyngis / in thyn confessioun for humilite parauenture to seyn that thow hast doon synnys of whiche thow were neuere gilty in [1020] for seynt augustyn seyth / if that thow be cause of thyn humilite makyst lesyngis on thyn self / thow ne were not in synne be-forn / ȝit art thow thanne in synne thour thyn speche [1021] ¶ Thow muste ek schewe thyn synne by thyn owene propere mouth but thow be wexe doumb. & nat by no lettere / for thow that hast don the synne; thow schalt haue the schame therfore [1022] ¶ Thow schalt nat ek peyntyn tyn confessioun / by fayre subtyle wordis / to couere the more thyn synne / ffor thanne begilyst thow thyn self / & nat the prest/ thow muste telle it platly be it neuere so foul ne so horrible / [1023] Thow schalt ek schryue the to a prest that is discreet to conseyle the / & ek thow schat not schryue thee for veynglorye / ne for ypocrise / ne for non cause but only for the doubte of ihesu Crist / & the heele of thyn soule / [1024] thow schat nat ek renne sodeynly to the prest to telle hym thyn synne lyghtly [folio 441b] as ho so tellit a iape or a tale / but auysely & with gret deuocioun [1025] And generally schryue the ofte if thow ofte falle & a-ryse by confescioun / [1026] And thow thow schryue the oftere than onys of synne of whiche thow hast be schryuen it is the moore meryt / And as seyth seynt augustyn / thow schalt haue more lyghtely relesynge & grace of god / bothe of synne & of peyne [1027] And certis onys a ȝeer at the leste weye it is laueful for to been houseled / for certys onys a ȝer alle thynge renouelyn

[1028] ¶ Now haue I told of verray confessioun that is the secunde party of penytence.

[6-text p 679]

Tercia pars penitencie est Satisfaccio

[1029]

THe thredde partye of penytence is Satisfaccioūn / & that stant most generally in almesse & in bodyly peyne. [1030] ¶ Now be there thre manere of alle manere of almesse / contricioun of herte Wheere a man offeryth hym self / to god / a-nothir is to haue pete / of defaute of hise neigheboris / And the thredde is / in ȝeuynge of good conseyl gostely & bodily where men haue nede & namely sustenaunce of mannys fode. [1031] And take that a man haue nede of these thyngis generally. he hath nede of fode / he hath nede of clothynge. and herberwe he hath nede of charitable conseyl. & visitynge in prisoun / & in maladie / & sepulture of his dede bodi [1032] And if thow mayst not visite the nedeful with thyn persone visite hym bi thyn message & thynne ȝiftys [1033] these been general almessis or werkis of charyte of hem that hath temperel richessis or discrecioun in conseylynge ¶ Of these werkis schalt thow here at the day of dome /

[1034] These almessis schalt thow don of thynne owene propere thyngis and hastyly & priuyly if thow mayst [1035] . . . . [no gap in the MS.] nat don it pryuyly thow schat not forbere it to don allmesse thow men seen it so that it be nat don for thank of the world / but for the thank only of ihesu Crist. [1036] For as witnessith seynt Matthev .c^o. 5°. A cete may not been hid that is set on a greet mounteyn / ne men lyghte not a lanterne & [folio 442a] putte it vndir a buschel / but men sette it vp on a candel stikke to ȝeuyn lyght to the men in the hous / [1037] Right so schal ȝoure lygh lightyn by-fore men that th[e]y may seen ȝourere goode werkys & gloryfye ȝoure fadyr that is in heuene

[1038] Now as to spekyn of bodyly peyne it stant in preyeris in wakyngis in fastyngis / in vertyuous

[6-text p 680] techyngis of orisounnys [1039] ¶ And ye schal vndyrstonde that orisounnys or preyeris is for to seyne a pitous wil of herte that redresseth it in good / And expresseth it by wil outward to romounnyn harmys & to haue thyngis espirituel & durable & sumtyme temporel thyngis / Of whiche orisounnys / certis in the orisoun of the pater noster / hath ihesu crist enclosed / most thyngis. [1040] Certis it is pryuyleged / of thre thynges in his dignetee. for whych it is more digne / than ony othir preyere for that ihesu Crist hym self makede it [1041] & it is schort for it schulde be coud the moore lyghtely & for to with-holde it the more esyly in herte & helpyn hym self the moore oftere with the orysoun / [1042] & for a man schulde been the lasse werye to seyn it/ & for a man may not excuse hym to lerne it / it is so schort & so esy / & for it comprehendyth in it self alle goode preyeris / [1043] The expocicioun of this holy preyere that is so excellent & digne; I be-take to these maystris of Theologie / saue thus meche wele I seyn thāt whan thow preyest that god schulde for-ȝeuyn the thynne giltys as thow for-ȝeuyst hem that agyltyn to the / be ful weel war that thow ne be nat out of charyte / [1044] This holy orisoun amenuseth ek venyal synne / & therfore it apartenyth specially to penytence

[1045] ¶ This preyere muste been trewely seyd / & in verray feyth & that men preye to god / ¹ordinatly & dis|cretly & deuoutly & alwey a man schal putte his wil to be subiect to the wil of god¹ [[^1_1 'ordinatly—god;' repeated in MS.]] / [1046] this orysoun muste ek be seyd / with gret humblesse / & ful pure honestee / & not to the anoyaunce of ony man or woman It muste ek be contynued with thynne werkys of charitee [1047] It auaylyth ek a-geyn the vicis / of the soule / For as seyth seynt Ierome by fastynge been sauyd the vi [folio 442b] cys of the flesch / & be preyerys the vertu of the soule

[1048] Aftyr this thow schat vndyrstonde that bodyly preyere stant in wakynge / ffor Ihesu Crist seith / wakyth & preyeth that ȝe ne entre in wekkede

[6-text p 681] temptacioun / [1049] ȝe schulde vndyrstonde also that fast|ynge stant in thre thyngis / in forberynge of bodyly mete & drynk / & in forberynge of wordely iolytee / & in for|berynge of dedly synne this is to seyne that a man schal kepe hym from dedly synne with al his myght /

[1050] Thow schalt vndyrstonde ek that god ordeynede fastyngis / And to fastynge partenyth iiij thyngis. [1051] largenesse to poore folk. gladnesse of herte espirituel nat to be angry ne a-noyed / ne groche for he fastith. And also rosonable our for to ete be mesour that is for to seyne / a man schal nat ete in on tyme / ne sitte the lengere at his table for he fastyth /

[1052] ¶ Thanne schalt thow vndyrstonde that bodyly peyne stant in disciplyne or techynge be word / or by wrytynge / or in exsaumple / also in werynge of heyrys or of stamyn or of habyrgeouns on here nakede flesch for crystis sake And sweche manere panauncis. [1053] but ware the wel that sweche manere penauncis on thyn flesch ne make the nat ouyr angery or a-noyed of thyn self / for betere is to caste a-wey thyn heyre / than to caste a-wey thyn sekyr|nesse of Ihesu crist [1054] And therfore seyth seynt Poule / clothith ȝow as they that been chosyn of god / in herte of myserycorde / debonayrete / sufferaunce & swich manere of clothynge / of whiche ihesu Crist is more a-payed / than of heyrys / or haubergeouns or hauberkys

[1055] ¶ Thanne is disciplyne ek in knokkynge of thyn brest / in scorgynge with ȝerdys / in knelyngis in tribulaciouns / [1056] in sufferynge paciently wrongis that been doon to the / & ek in pacient sufferaunce of maledyis or lesynge of wordely catel / or of wif or of child / or othere frendys

[1057] ¶ Thanne schalt thow vndyrstonde whiche thyngis disturben penaunce / & this is in .iiij. manerys / That is dreede. schame. hope & wanhope that is desperacioun [1058] ¶ And for to speke ferst of drede [folio 443a] for wheche he

[6-text p 682] wenyth that he may suffere no penaunce [1059] There ageyns is remedye for to thynke that bodyly penau[n]ce is but schort & lytil / at regrard of the peyne of helle. that is so crewel & so long that it lastyth with-outyn ende

[1060] ¶ Now a-geyns the schame that a man hath to schryue hym / & namely these ypocritis / that woldyn been holdyn so parfite / that they han non neede to schryue hem[1061]// A-gayns that schame schulde a man thynke / that be weye of resoun that he that hath not been aschamyd / to doon foule thyngis; certis hym oughte not to been aschamyd to doon fayre thyngis / . . . . .[1062] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] & alle hese werkys to hym may no thyng been hid / ne couered / [1063] Men schulde ek remembre hem / of the schame that is to come at the day of dome / to hem that been nat penytent / & schryuyn in this present lyf / [1064] for alle the creatourys in erthe & in helle / schulyn seen aperly al that they hidyn in this world

[1065] ¶ Now for to speke of hem that been so necligent & slowe to schryue hem / that stant in two manerys / [1066] that on is for that he hopit to leue longe / & for to purche meche rychesse for his delyt & thanne he wolde schryue hym / And as he seyth hym self thanne tymely I-now / to come to schrifte / [1067] A-nothir is of surquiderye / .i. [[.i. = id est]] necligent hope that he hath in cristis mercy. [1068] A-gayns the ferste vice / he schal thynke that oure lyf is in no sekyrnesse And ek that alle the rychessis in this world / been in auenture & passyn as a schadewe on the wal. [1069] & as seyth seynt Gregorye that it apertenith to the greete ryght-wisnesse of god that neuere schal the peyne stynte of hem that neuere wolde withdrawe hem / from synne here thankis / but ay contynewe in synne / for thilke . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] perpetuel peyne.

[1070] ¶ Wanhope is in two maneris / the fyrste wan|hope is in the mercy of crist / that othyr is / that they

[6-text p 683] thynke that they myghte nat longe perseuere in good|nesse // [1071] The ferste wanhope comyth of that he demyth that he hath synnyd so gretly & so ofte & so longe leyn in synne that he schal not been sauyd / [1072] Certis a-geyn that cursede wanhope / schulde he thynke that the passioun [folio 443b] of Ihesu Crist is more strong for to onbynde; than synne is strong for to bynde. [1073] ¶ Ageyns the secunde wanhope / he schal thynke that as ofte as he fallyth he may ary[s]e a-geyn by penytence & thow he neuere so longe haue leyn in synne / the mercy of Crist is euere more redy to resceyue hym to mercy. [1074] ¶ A-geyns the wanhope that he demyth / that he schulde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse / he schal thynke that the febilnesse of the deuyl may no thyng don but if men wele suffere hym [1075] And ek he schal han strenthe of the helpe of ihesu crist & of al holy chyrche / & of the protexioun of angelis ȝif hym leste //

[1076] Thanne schal man vndyrstonde what is the meryt [[meryt corrected]] of penaunce / & aftyr the word of ihesu Cryst it is the endeles blysse / of heuene / [1077] theere Ioye hat non ende no contrarite of woo / ne greuaunce / there alle harmys been passid of this present lyf / theere as is the sekyrnesse from the peyne of helle / theere as is the blysful cumpany that reioysyn hem euere moo euereyche of otherisIoye/[1078] theere as the body of man that wilhom was foul & derk; is moore cler than is the sunne / there as the body that whylom was sik frel & febele & mortal; is inmortal / & so strong & so hol that theere may no man apeyre it / [1079] there as ne is neythyr hungir thrust ne cold but euery soule replenyschid / with the syghte of the parfite knowynge of god [1080] ¶ This blysful regne / may men purchase by pouerte espirituel / & the glorye by lou|nesse / the plente of Ioye with hungir & thurst & the reste; by trauayle / & the lyf be deth & mortificacioun of synne /

[6-text p 684]

Here takyt the makere of this bok his leue:· [[Leaf 444 is torn out. Prol. to Legende follows.]]

[1081] [Harl. 1758 folio 230b] [Reg. 18 C. ii. also has the Epilogue.] NOw praie I to hem alle that/ herken this/ litell/ tretis/ orrede it. that/ if ther/ be anye thyng/ in it. þat liketh hem; that ther/ of thei thanken our/ lord ihesu crist/. of/ whom procedith all/ witte & all/ goodnes/. [1082] And if ther/ be anye thyng that displese hem; I praie hem also that/ thei arecte it/ to the defaute of myn vnkonnyng. & not to my will/ that/ wolde fulfayne haue seide bettre if/ I had had kunnyng/. [1083] ffor our/ book/ seith. All/ that/ is/ writen. is/ writen for our/ doctryne & that is/ myn entente. [1084] ¶ Wherfore I beseke you mekeli for the mercy of god that/ ye praie for me that crist haue mercy on me. & for-yeue me my giltes/. [1085] & namli of my translacions/ & enditynges/ of worldli vanytees/. the [Harl. 1758 folio 231a] whiche I reuoke in my retraccions/. [1086] ¶ As/ is/ the book/ of/ Troilus/. ¶ The book also of ffame. ¶ The book/ of/ the .25. ladies/. ¶ The/ book/ of/ the Duchesse. ¶ The book/ of/ seynt Valentynes/ daie of the parlement/ of briddes/. ¶ The talis/ of Cauntir|burie that/ sownen in to synne. [1087] The book/ of/ the Lion. & manye anothir/ boke. if/ thei were in my remembraunce. And manye a song/. & mony a lecherous/ laye. that/ crist/ for his/ gret/ mercy foryeue me the synne. [1088] ¶ But of the translacion of Boyce de consolacione; & other/ bokis/ of/ Legendis/ of seyntes/ & Omelies/ & moralite & deuocion [1089] þer of/ thanke/ I our/ lord ihesu crist & his/ blessid modir/ & alle the seyntes/ of heuyn [1090] besechyng/ hem that/ thei from hens/ forth vn to my lyues/ ende. sende me grace be-waile my giltes/. & to studie to sauacion of/ my soule. And graunt me grace of verye penaunce con|fession

[6-text p 685] & satisfaccion to don in this/ present/ lif [1091] thorogh the benyngne grace of hym that is/ kyng/ of/ kynges & preest/ of/ alle preestis/ that bought vs/ with þ^e precious/ blood of/ his/ herte. [1092] so that I may be oon of hem at the/ daye of/ dome that/ schulen be sauyd. Qui cum patre. & cetera//

[Edwarde Foxe oweythe this booke ex dono patris sui] [[later hand]]