Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

[Commandments]

[The First Commandment. [Amen // Primum mandatum D.] ]

[Non habebis deos alienos coram me. D.]

The first commaundment [comaundement O, ferste comaundement of euerychon D.] ys of echone 'Þou shalt haue [houyn D.] no god but one,' Né but o [on .o. O, And in oo g. þou schal D.] god shalt þou leue, Line 149 Ne on no þyng þat wyl [þynge þat wyle O, to don no þing þat schal D.] hym greue. Now [loke þou D.] beþenke þe weyl on þys, Ȝyf þou aȝen þys haue [hast O.] do ouȝt mys. [do owht a-ȝens hym a mys D.] Line 152

The fyrst askyng [askynge O, ferste askyng D, D om. ys.] ys yn oure boke, [folio 2a] 'Ȝyf þou euer god forsoke;' Any tymë, as for nede, [ony t . . drede D.] Or for folye, [foly OD.] or for drede, [nede D.] Line 156 Or ouþer chaunce þat you weyl woste, [wost O.] Forsoke fadyr and sone and holy goste. [gost O.]

For þys ys one þe mostë [is þe moste D, most HO.] synne Þat any man may fallyn [ony . . . falle D.] ynne. Line 160

Ȝyf þou haue synned [synnyd O.] þus gretly, With sory herte þou aske [drery herte aske D.] mercy. For god ys ful euer [euere ful OD.] of pyte, Hys mercy ys euer redy to þe. Line 164 Drede þe noght; [nouȝt O.] ȝyf þou wylt craue, Hys mochel [gret D.] mercy shalt þou haue. And þat may wel [weyl.] [i-]preuyd be Wyþ [be D.] a tale of auctoryte. Line 168 Þe tale ys wrytyn, al and sum, In a boke of [callyd D.] 'Vitas Patrum:'— [[Vit. Pat. p. 579; Libro de los Exemplos, no. 35 (Spanish MS.); Gaston Paris, in Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 193.]]

[The Tale of the Tempted Monk.] A Tale

Hyt was onys a munke, [munk O, monk D.] and had a celle In a wyldernes, [wyldyrnesse O, wildernesse . þere D.] for to dwelle; Line 172 Þys munkë [munk O, monk of holy D.] of relygyoun Had a [hadde a D, had Harl. O.] grete [gret O.] temptacyoun; He was so temptyd [temptyd O, fondyd D.] with lecherye, He ȝede fro hys celle to seke folye; Line 176 He dede hym sone to a cyte, [cytee O.] In-to egypte, þat yche cuntre. [cuntree O, ilke cuntre D.] And, as hé cam [com O, cam in to D.] yn a strete, with a womman he gan mete; Line 180 Hys flesshe on [of O.] here was so abeyted, [abeytyd OD.] Þat þyke [þeke O.] womman [þat woman sore D.] he couéytyd. [coueytyd OD.] To here fadyr swyþe he ȝede, And asked here to haue [hym hir to han D.] yn dede. Line 184 Here fadyr was prest of sarysyne; [sarȝyne D.] In maummetry [maumetrye OD.] he leued ynne. [leuyd ynne O, leuyde he D (om. ynne).]

Þe prest seyd þe munke [munk O, þat monk D.] vn-to,

As my god [god.] wyl, [wyle O, without my goddis wil I not D.] so wyl [wyle O, without my goddis wil I not D.] y do. Line 188 She shal noght [nouȝt O.] to any be sette [to no man ben sett D.] Withoutyn leue of my maumette. The munkë [munk O, monk seide I graunt wel D.] seyd he graunted weyl [folio 2a:2] Aftyr hys maumette to [I graunt wel, after þi mamett D.] do euery deyl. Line 192

Þe sarysyne to hys god [god O, þat s . . . D.] ȝede, And askede cunseyl of swyche a dede, Ȝyf he were of þe munkë [munk D, monk O, þat monk apayȝed D.] payde, Or, þe ȝyfte shulde be delayde.' [delayȝed D.] Line 196

Þan answered hys termagaunt, [teruagaunt O, þat termagaunt D.] "Ȝyue hym þy doghtyr [douȝtyr O, doutter D.] on þys cunnaunt, [vp þis comenaunt D.] Þat he forsake, & quytë clene, [quyt cleyme O (quit claim, give up), clene H, he must forsake qwyȝt & clene D.] God of heuene and hys bapteme, Line 200 And alle [al OD.] þe godenesse of hys munkhede; Þese þre forsakë, mote [muste D.] he nede; And ȝyf he forsake hem apertly, [apertely O.] Ȝyue hym þy douȝtyr hardëly." [Harl. hardly, O hardely, D hardily.] Line 204

Þys prest come [com O.] to þe [þys O, cam to þis D.] munke, & tolde what [how D.] he seyd, and what [how O, qwat D.] he wolde; 'And ȝyf he wolde forsake þese [ȝif he forsake þese alle D.] þre, Hys dougtyr shulde hys ownë be.' [lete þi douȝtter his wyf be D.] Line 208

She was so mochë yn hys þoght; [þouȝt O, meche in his foul þought D.] Had he here, [Hadde he hir D.] he rouȝte of noghte. [nouȝt O.] Alas! [Allas O, Allas þer D.] Ihesus he forsoke, And þe crystyndom þat he toke, Line 212 And þe state of relygyoun, And chesë [ches þer D.] hys Dampnacyun. [damnacyun O, dampnacyoun D.]

Certys he dede grete [a gret D.] outrage, To make þe deuyl so moche omage. [suych seruage D.] Line 216

Line 216 whan he had grauntede al hys [hadde grauntyde O, qwen he had grauntyd his D.] folye, Out of hys mouþe he say [saghe O.] flye [mouþ þer fley a flyte D.] A dowue vn-to [dowe in to D.] þe fyrmament; Þe holy gost þan from hym [fro hym þan O, þo fro hym D.] went. Line 220

Þe sarysyne wente to hys maumet, And tolde hym how þe munke [munk D, monk O, þat monk apayȝed D.] had [hadde O, had D.] het: "Þese [þose O.] þre þyngës" he wyl [wyle O, haþ D.] forsake; Shal y, hym my douȝtyr [doghetyr O, douȝtter D.] take? Line 224 Sey þou me þe [Sey me now D.] certeyn of alle, [al OD.] wheþer y shal, or y ne shalle." [shal OD, schal I ȝeuyn hir . or I not schal D.] Þe maumet [þat deuyl D.] answeryd hastyly, "Y warne þe for enchesoun [nay I warne þee . & a cause qwhy D.] why; Line 228 Þogh he forsake hys god for euere, [folio 2b] Hys god forsakeþ [wyl forsaken D.] hym neuere, For he ys euer ful of pyte; Men clepyn hym god of cristianite; [callen . . cristiente D.] Line 232 For ȝyf he wyl [wyle O, wil D.] hym mercy craue, Redyly mercy shal he haue; ¹⁹Þouȝe [þoghe O, þowh D.] he to-day fro hys god weyue, To-morwe [morue O.] hys god wyl [wyle O.] hym receyue.¹⁹ [19_19 Þowh he þis day his god forsake, to morwyn he wil a-ȝen hym take D.] Þarfor, [þarfore O.] y forbede þe weyl, Line 237 Ne [Ne, om. D.] delë with hym neuer a deyl."

Þe prest vnto þe munkë [munk O, þat monk D.] went [wente O.] And seyd, "y haue [he hadde in D.] commaundëment [comaundemente.] Þat y ne shal delë [delyn D.] with þe, Line 241 Ne my doghtyr þy wyfe to be; For þy god ys of swych [sweche O, þat D.] manere, Þogh þou forsake hym ryght now [ryþtnow O.] here, To-morwe [morue O.] mayst þou com [þou mayst soone after comyn D.] aȝeyn, [aȝeyne O.] Line 245

Line 245 And make with hym acorde certeyn; [acorde wyþ hym certeyne O, & haue forȝeue|nesse of al certeyn D.] Þogh þou haue do [doun O.] neuer [neuer O.] so ylle Ȝyt wyl [wylle O.] he graunte þe [aske mercy. & þou schalt han D.] hys gode wylle. My god me bad on none [no D.] wyse Line 249 To dele with þe, [hym D.] ne none of hyse."

Þe munke [munk O, þat monk D.] rependyd hym þan, and [repentyd hym in þat D.] þoght, "Alas!" he seyd, "what [qwat D.] have y wroght Þat y shulde euer [euer O, hym euere D.] hym forsake Line 253 Þat ys so redy me efte [euere me D.] to take. Þy mercy, god, ys mochyl [his mercy is mechil D.] to telle; when [Whan O, qwan D.] y see a maumet of helle Line 256 Þat neuer [neuer O.] ȝyt loued þe, He spekyþ of þy mochyl [gret D (om. he).] pyte. Seþyn þou art [and siþþin he is D.] so mylde and meke Þy mochyl [His mechil D.] mercy wyl [wyle O, wil I now D.] y seke; Line 260 Here y forsakë þat y toke, To hym y me betake [take OD.] þat y forsoke."

Seþyn [Seþþyn O, Siþþin D.] he ȝede to an ermyte, [heremyte D.] Line 263 And shrofe hym of hys synne [alle his synnys D.] astyte; And tolde hym þat he had y-doun, [how þat he hadde doun O, how he had don D.] Forsaken god and hys relygyoun. [cristendom D.] þys forsayde ermyte ful [þe hermyte þerfore D.] sory was [folio 2b:2] Þat he had [hadde O, had don D.] do so grete trespas; Line 268 Noþeles, he bad hym dwelle [to dwelle O, dwelle D.] Þre wokys [Þo þre woukys O, þre wykis D.] with hym yn his [his D, om. HO.] celle; For hys synne he shulde þan [he shulde D.] faste, And yn preyers wel [weyl O, with wil D.] to laste. [laste OD, last H.] Line 272

þys ychë munke [munk O, ilke mong D.] þat was so madde, Dyde ryght [ryþ O.] as þe [þys O.] ermyte badde. þey preyden [preyȝeden D, preyd H, preyde O.] boþe þat seuenyȝt

To god, for hys mochel [mechil D.] myȝt, Line 276 þat he wulde haue of hym [on hym haue D.] mercy; Þus preyd þey boþë [preyed þey boþen D.] specyaly.

At þe fyrste [fyrste O, fyrst H, ferste suenyȝttis ende D.] seuenyȝt ende, þe ermyte seyd, [hermyte seyde D.] "broþer hende, Line 280 Hast þou any [þou ony good D.] gracë see Yn þy preyers as þou hast be [now hast ben D.] ?" "ȝe," [þo D.] he seyde, "y sagh a syght Yn þe ['þe' om. OD.] lykenes of a dowuës [dowuys O.] flyght, [a dowe qwhyȝt D.] Line 284 Aboue me [Aboue me O, Aboue D.] yn þe firmament, Of þat dowue þat fro me went." þe ermyte þoght þan astyte [þowht as tyȝt D.] Þat hyt was þe same spyryte Line 288 þat went from [wente fro CD.] hym when [wan O, qwan D.] he began God forsake [forsake god D.] for þat womman.

To gret penaunce eft [to gret penaunce D, to penaunce eft HO.] he hym toke For hys cristyndom þat [crystendome þat O, cristendom D.] he forsoke; Line 292 Ȝyt a woke [wouke O, þat wyke D.] he badde hym faste For his flessh þat hym downe [down O.] caste, þat no more þurghe [no man þorw his D.] lecherye He fordo [for-do not.] hys grace so gretly. Line 296

Þys ermyte preyed [þe . . preyed D, preyde O, preyd H.] nyght and day þat hys penaunce were take to [were to his D.] pay. whan þey had [hadde O, qwan þei had D.] preydë day & nyght Alle þat woke [wouke O, þat wyke D.] yn goddys syght, Line 300 Þys ermyte seyd, [þe . . seyde D.] "benedicite; Broþer," he seyd, [þe . . seyde D.] "how þenkeþ [þynke O, þinkiþ H.] þe?" "weyl," he seyd, [þe . . seyde D.] "þurgh goddys grace, Þe dowue haþ be [was here D.] byfore my face, Line 304 And, a whyle, stylle by [a whyle be for D.] me stode; [folio 3a] Þe syght þere-of dyde me gode."

"þat ys weyl, wyþ [þorw D.] goddys wylle, Dwelle ȝyt with me [be-leve [stay] ȝit D.] a wokë [wouke O, wowke D.] stylle, Line 308 And be [Be o wyke D.] yn þyn afflyccyouns, Yn fastyng [fastynge.] and yn [oþer D.] orysouns: And y. shal prey [preye O, preyȝe D.] also with þe Þat god boþe herë me and þe." [here boþe þe and me. O, boþe here . . . D.] Line 312

Stedfastlych [Stedfastlyche O, stedefastly D.] þey preyd a-none [al oon D.] Tyl þat wokë [wouke O, þat wyke D.] were alle gone. [al agone O, wyke was al goon D.] At þe woke [wouke O, þat wyke D.] ende, spake þe ermyte [þat hermyte D.] And asked þe munke of þe [þat D.] spyryte. Line 316 Þe munkë seyde, "y haue hyt seyn, And on my [myn OD.] hede syttyn [setyn O, sotyn D.] and beyn; y sagh hyt [I say it to me D.] so mylde and spake, Line 319 Þat with my [myn OD.] hande y myght hyt take; Me þoght hyt was þat fro me steye, Aȝeyn yn-to my mouþe [mouþ O, in-to my mouþ wol euene D.] hyt fleye." þe ermyte þanked god almyght [of myȝt D.] Þat ȝafe hym grace to see þat syȝt. [syght O, sen þat syȝt D.] Line 324 "Now art þou clene," he seyde, "of [clene of al þi D.] synne, þe holy goste [gost O.] ys þe withynne: kepe þe now fro swych a kas, Aȝen god no more to [a-ȝens god do no D.] trespas." Line 328

By [Be OD.] þys ensample may ȝe see Þat god ys euer ful of pyte; Þogh [ȝif D.] a man hym onys forsake, Eft wyl [wyle O, ȝif he lowly D.] god aȝen [a-ȝen he wil D.] hym take Line 332 Ȝyf he with herte wyl [wyle O, ȝif he lowly D.] mercy crye And do penaunce for hys folye. [cryȝe . . . folyȝe D.] Blessed be he among [amonge O.] vs here, Þat he loueþ vs alle so dere. Line 336

Line 336

Go we now fyrþer [furþer O, forth a litil paas D.] on oure pas And tellë [telle we D.] more of oure trespas.

[On Witchcraft and Dreams.]

Ȝyf þou euer [euere O.] þurgh folye Dydyst ouȝt [oght O, dedyst ony n. D.] do nygrómauncy. Line 340 Or to þe deuyl dedyst [dedist to þe deule D.] sacryfyse Þurgh wychcraftys [wycchecraftys O, wycchecraft as þe on-wyse D.] asyse, Or any man ȝaf [ȝafe O, ȝaf D.] þe mede [folio 3a:2] For to reyse [reysyn D.] þe deuyl yn dede, Line 344 For to telle, or for to wrey, [or to be wreyȝe D.] Þyng þat þe [þat þe O, þat HD.] was don awey; [a weyȝe D.] Ȝyf þou haue do any [don ony D.] of þys, Þou hast synned & do [þan hast þou synnyd & don D.] a-mys, Line 348 And [And om. D.] þou art wurþy [wrþy O, wurþi D.] to be shent Þurgh þys yche [for brekyng of þis D.] commaundëment.

Ȝyf you yn swerd, oþer [or OD.] yn bacyn, Any chylde madyst [ony child dedyst D.] loke þeryn, Line 352 Or yn þumbe, [tombe D.] or yn cristal,— wycchëcraft [. . . fte O, wycchecraft D.] men clepyn [callyn D.] hyt al: [al OD, alle H.] Beleue nouȝt [noght O, trowe not D.] yn þe pyys cheteryng; [. . . nge O, pyȝes chateryng D.] Hyt ys no trouþe, but fals beleuyng. [. . . nge O, It ne is but fals & lesyng D.] Line 356 Many beleuyn [trowyn D.] yn þe pye: whan she comyþ [comþ H, comyþ O, quan he chateryth lowhe or hyȝe D.] lowe or hye Cheteryng, [Cheterynge O, þat cryȝith faste D.] and haþ no reste, þan sey [seye O, sey D.] þey we shul haue geste. [han a gest D.] Line 360 Manyon trowyn on [Harl. or, on O, of D.] here wylys, And many tymes þe pye hem gylys. [many on þe pyȝe be-gylys D.]

Also ys metyng [metynge O, And also it is of metyng D.] on þe morwe [morue O.] when [qwan D.] þou shalt go to bye [beye O.] or to [O. omits 'to.' qwan þou schalt go beyȝe begge or D.] borwe; [borue O.] ȝyf þan þy erende [ȝif þou þin arende not D.] spede ne sette, Line 365 þan [Þanne O.] wylt þou curse hym [hem O, banne hym D.] þat þou mette. Hyt ys þe tycement [þis is þe tysyng D.] of þe deuyl To curse hem [banne hym D.] þat þoght þe no [none O, non D.] euyl. Line 368

Of hancel y can no skylle also; Hyt ys nouȝt to beleue þarto: [

Also of hansele I can no skil.It is not for to truste til D.

] Me þynkeþ hyt ys fals [hyt fals O, for it is fals D.] euery deyl, Line 371 Y beleue hyt nouȝt, ne neuer shal weyl. [I trowe it not ne neuere wil D.] For many hauyn glad hancel at [Many han hansele on D.] þe morw, [morue O.] And to hem or euyn comþ [comyþ O.] mochyl [þat longe or euyn han sum D.] sorw; [sorue O.] And manyon hauyn yn þe day grete noy, [gret noye O, & manye han al day meche noyȝe D.] And ȝyt or euyn comeþ to hem mochyl [hem comyþ gret O, or euyn comyth ioyȝe D.] ioye. So mayst þou wyte, ȝyf þou gode [myȝt þou wite . . . good D.] can, Line 377 Þat hancel ys no beleue [is not trewe D.] to man.

Beleuë nouȝt moche [Ne beleue noghte mochyl. O, Ne trowe þou not D. ('Sompnia ne' in margin. D.)] yn no dremys, For many be nat but gleteryng [beyn but gleterynge O, arn not but gladyng D.] glemys. Þese clerkys seyn [seyyn O.] þat hyt ys [seyn it is but vanyte D.] vanyte, Line 381 Þat nouȝt ys, ne neuer shal be; [folio 3b] And oftë [Harl. oft, oftyn D.] mayst þou fynde hyt ryght [ryþt O.] þat þou hast mete vpon [mette opon O, mett of on D.] þe nyght. [nyþt O.] Line 384 But þerof to haue mochyl [But ouer mochyl to haue þer on. O; but haue þerin non D.] affyaunce Þe may betyde þe sunner [soner O.] a [þat þe be-tyde non oþer. D.] chaunce.

On syxë maners may a man [men may D.] mete: Sum beyn to beleue, sum beyn [summe arn to trowe summe arn D.] to lete. Sum men dremyn [dreme O.] for surfeture, Line 389

Line 389 þat etyn or drynkyn ouer mesure; And sum dremë on veyn þyng [of veyn þynge O, metyn of veyn þingis D.] For ouer mychyl and grete fastyng; [gret fastynge O, of gret fastyngys D.] Line 392 And sum beyn [arn D.] þe fendes temptacyoun Þat to þe trowþe [to trowe D.] ys fals tresoun; And sum come of ouer mochyl þouȝt [þoghte O, summe comyn of mechil þouȝt D.] Of þyng þat men wuld hauë wrouȝt; [wroghte O, woldyn han wrouȝt D.] Line 396 And sum beyn [summe arn D.] goddys pryuyte Þat he shewyþ to warnë þe; And, sum come [summe comyn D.] þurgh grete stody, [stodye O, studye D.] And shewë to þe apertly. [apertlye O.] Line 400 Þese syxë maners a clerk [clerke O, as clerkys D.] vs tellyþ, Seynt Gregory, þat mochyl spellyþ. [tellys, seiþ s. G. þat mechil spellys D.]

Þe fyrst twey maners, we wote [woot O, wetyn D.] weyl, Beyn oure defautë [is owre owyn defauȝtte D.] euery deyl. Line 404 Þe ton [toon O, þat oon D.] ys for ouer mychel [oure gret D.] outrage, Þe touþer ys febylnesse [febylnes.] of corage, [þat oþer is febilnesse of oure D.] ¹⁹ As yn mete, or drynk, ouer moche takyng, [takynge.] ¹⁹ [19_19 þat etiþ ofte tymys & doþ gret wast. þat oþer is febilnesse of body & fast. D.] Or yn feblyng [feblynge.] þe body with moche [wyþ to moche O.] fastyng. [fastynge.] Line 408 þe touþer fourë [voure.] þys [Þo oþer foure as clerkis D.] clerkys wytyn, [wetyn OD.] For yn þe byble þey ben wrytyn. [wretyn O, arn wreten D.] Ȝyf þey ne come þurgh [ne comyn of D.] temptacyun Of þe fende, þat ys a felun, [is feloun D.] Line 412 Neuere had seyd [ne hadde seiþ D.] Salamon 'þat dremys, men deseyue manyon.' [disceyuyth many man D.] For þo þat to dremys ouer moche trastys, [þei þat to dremys meche trust D.] [beleuyn] To scornë hem þe fende þen frastys. [fraystys O. Hym to scorne þe fend is prest D, which leaves out lines 417-478 here, but marks in the margin "hic deficit. Scip to þis signe ⊚," which is at the top of the next leaf 5.] [asayþ] Line 416

Line 416

Ȝyf þey come nat [noghte O.] also þurgh [comyn only of D.] þoght, Þe wysë clerk [clerk, om. D.] hadde tolde hyt noght, Ne suffryd hyt [suffryd to D.] be wrytyn yn boke [folio 3b:2] Þat men alle day rede yn, [þat may we alday redyn D.] and loke. Line 420 Þus þe wyse clerk seyþ, [seyþ om. D.] Catun, And techyþ chyldryn þys [Lernyth childryn in her D.] lessun, 'Ȝeue no charge to [þy] [non entent vn-to þi D.] dremys, Þey been but as [glasyng] [for it ben but glasyng D.] glemys Line 424 Þat yn þe þouȝt [stertys &] [þy þoghte O, in þi þouȝt it stertyth and D.] lepys A-nyȝt [nyghte O.] whan þou [restys &] [On nyȝt qwan þou restyst & D.] slepys: [sumtyme þou on nyȝt þinkys D.] þat you wakyng [sumtyme] þenkes, [wakynge þenkys O.] Beforë þy yȝen [þyn eȝyn O.] hyt [and be-forn þin yȝe D.] blenkys.' Line 428

Ȝyf þey ne come [it come not D.] þurgh pryuyte [þryuyte O.] Þat god [god O.] wyl shewë [shew H, shewe O, ȝeue þe or me D.] me or þe, Iosep of dremys had ȝyue [ȝeue O, ȝouyn D.] no kepe what [qwhan D.] hym was shewed yn hys slepe, Line 432 þat fadyr and modyr & al hys kynde, Þurgh hym shuld þey wurshyp [wrshepe O, wurshepe D.] fynde. yn þe byble men redë [redyn D.] þys In þe fyrst boke of genesys. Line 436 Also hyt was [al was it D.] shewyd pryuyly To iosep þat wedded oure lady, Þat with þe chyld þey shuldë [shulde þey O, schulde þei D.] fle To egypt, [Egypte O, in to Egipt þat c. D.] þat yche [yche om. D.] cuntre. Line 440 þys ys clepyd [klepyde O.] reuelacyun, To shewe byfore what ys to doun. [be-forn qwat is to comyn D.]

Ȝyf þey com noght þurgh stodyyng, [stodyynge O, stodyyng D.] þat tokene ys [takyn it D.] of selkouþe þyng, [selkowþ þynge O.] Line 444 Danyel had noght wyst [wyst O; not wyst D; Harl. omits wyst.] byfore

Þe dreme of Nabugodonósore. Danyel seyd [seyde O.] vn-to þe kyng, [kynge O.] "þou þouȝtyst to [þis D, om. H.] nyȝt a selkouþe þyng; [selkowþ þynge O.] 'what manere [maner folk O, qwat maner folk it schulde be D.] folk [Harl. omits folk.] shuld þey be Line 449 Þat yn þis worlde [þys wrlde O, þis word D, yn worlde H.] come aftyr þe, And how þey shulde þe wurlde [wrlde O, world D.] gouerne;' yn þy þoght þou gunne [gan D.] hyt ȝerne; Line 452 And god shewyd hyt yn þy syȝt; þat dremed þe [þat ilke drem D.] þe touþer nyȝt." He tolde þe profyte [prophete OD.] þan [þanne O, om. D.] euery deyl; And þe profete [prophete OD.] redde hyt [radde hym D.] weyl: Line 456 wysly he seyd, and weyl þurgh [& þorw D.] soght, [folio 4a] whan he hede toke to þat þe kynge [Whanne . . heyd . . kynge O, þat he ȝern (glost 'leer') D, took of þe kyngis D.] þoght. And god shewyd what [qwat D.] shuld betyde; what [qwat D.] manere folk [maner folke O, m. of folk D.] shulde aftyr a-byde.

Seþyn þer beyn dremys [Siþþin dremys arn D.] so many ma|nere, [maneyr O.] Line 461 þan [þanne O, om. D.] ys doute & [is it in douȝtte & in gret D.] gretë were [gret weyr O.] To wytë where [wete whar O, w. qwher D.] of dremys come, Þat euery nyȝt [nyght O.] dremyn [dremyth D.] þurgh custome; Þer beyn [þo þat arn D.] so many dremys yn veyne, Line 465 Þat no man wotë no [woot no O, wot non in D.] certeyn [certeyne O.] But þey [þo OD.] þat beyn [þo þat arn D.] with god pryue, To whom ys graunted [qwom is ȝouyn D.] , swych þyng to see: [se O.] Swych men deseyueþ nat [noghte O, disceyuyn not D.] þe deuyl, Line 469 þey haue no grace to knowe hys euyl; Ellys may no man fynde hem [so may . . . knowyn hym D.] stable, So ben [beyn O.] dremys [For dremys ben so D.] déseyuable. Line 472

Line 472 ȝyf þou telle hem, þan [þowh þou . . ȝit D.] mayst þou erre; Line 473 And ȝyf þow trow [trowe O.] hem, þat ys wel [weyl O, and þou trowe hem ȝit is it þe D.] werre; For þou mayst dreme of sum [myȝt dreme ryȝt D.] euyl þyng [þynge O.] Þat may turne to better for þy preyyng. [preyynge O.] "Þou, leudman, ȝyf [ȝeue O, lewde man ȝeue good D.] godë tent, [tente O, good entent D.] Line 477 Trow [Trowe O, Trowe not aȝens D.] noght aȝen þe comaundment."

Ȝyf þou beleue [trowe D.] yn wycchëcraft To chaungë þyng [þynge O.] be þe deuylys craft, [deuyls crafte O, with deuelys awȝt D.] — Swych beyn [swech arn D.] þe deuyl betaght, Line 481 with holy chyrche þey ben [with þe holy gost þei arn D.] vnsaght, And allë þo [alle þo D, also Harl.] þat on hem trowe Mow [Mowe O.] drede hem self to brenne yn lowe [fyre] ; [mon dredyn hem to be in helle lowhe D.] And þogh þey fynde hyt soþe oþer whyle, [& ȝit þei fynde suyche sumqwhile D.] Hyt ys þurgh [& þat is þorw D.] þe fendës gyle. Line 486 Þe fend fondyþ with alle hys myȝt [myghte O.] To put [putte O.] sumwat [sumqwat D.] yn herë syght Line 488 Þat shal make hem swych þyng [þynge O.] beleue [Þat þei schulde trowe & leve D.] And god almyȝty myspay and [& so al myȝtty god to D.] greue. For þer [it D.] was neuer womman ne man Þat any wycchëcraft be-gan, Line 492 Þat euer myȝt [myghte O.] bryng hyt to an ende, [a nende O, neuere m. truly brynge to þ^e ende D.] But fals beleue þat wyl hem shende. [be-leue hem hadde blende D.] þe wurdys [wrdys O.] certys beyn ryght [of hem be D.] noght, [folio 4a:2] But fals beleue makeþ dede y-wroght. [wroghte O. be fals b. þe dede is wrouȝt D.] Line 496 For whan þou trowyst [trowst O, qwan þou trowist D.] yn a fals þyng [þynge O.] þe deuyl hyt shewyþ for þat trowyng. [trowynge O.] lo here a tale of a wycche, Þat leued no better [more D.] þa[n] a bycche. [A tale.]

[The Tale of the Witch and her Cow-sucking Bag; [See a later version in Laud 416 (A.D. 1459), leaf 1: extracts printed in Reliq. Antiq., ii. 27.] and how a Bishop faild to work her Charm, because he didn't be|lieve in it.]

Þere was a wycche, and [It was D, and om. D.] made a bagge, A bely of leþyr, a gretë swagge, She sygaldryd so þys bagge bely [bagbely O.] Þat [þat, om. D.] hyt ȝede and soke mennys ky, Line 504 At euene, & at morw [on morue O, at morwe D.] tyde, yn here pasture, oþer [or OD; D om. ellys.] ellys be syde. long [Longge O.] hyt ȝede aboutë fast, [alaboute faste O, oueral faste D.] Tyl hyt was parceyued [parseyuyd O.] at the last; [laste OD.] Line 508 Þan al [Þanne alle O, alle D (om. þanne).] þe godemen of þe toune, Byfore þe bysshop dyden [be-forn . . . dede D.] here somoune; Þey dyden þe baggë [bagge O, þei do þe bagge D, bag H.] with here bere, To wetë what she shuld [qwat she schal D.] answere. Line 512 hyt was shewyd byfore [to D.] þe bysshop, Þat she dyde to goo [dede go O.] swych a melk [melke O.] slop, [dede it gon with a meche sop. D.] Þurgh wycchecraft & mysáuenture, To sugke here keyn [soukyn her ken D.] yn here pasture. Line 516 Þe bysshop merueyled, & oþer mo, how þat she myȝt [myghte O.] do hyt go. [so go O.] "Dame," seyd þe bysshop, "do þy quen|tyse, And late vs se [see O, sen D.] how hyt shal ryse." Line 520 Þys wycche here charme began to sey, [be-gan a-non D.] Þe slop ros vp, and ȝede þe weye. [wey O, þe bagge vp ros & gan to gon D.]

Þe bysshop seyd, "þys haue we seyn; [Isen D.] Do hyt now to lygge aȝeyn." [stente aȝen D.] Line 524 Þe wycchë dede al at hys wylle: [al his wil D.] She made þe slop aȝen lygge [& bad þe bagge stonde D.] stylle, Þe bysshop made a clerk [dede . . þer D.] þan wryte Al þat she seyd, mochel [seyde meche D.] and lyte, Line 528 And allë [al OD.] how she made here went; [sche dede & mente D.] Þe bysshop þarto ȝaf gode [ȝaffe gode O, ȝaf his D.] entent. "Þan," seyde þe bysshop, "now shal y, As þou hast do, do [þou dedyst don. D.] þy maystry." Line 532 Þe bysshop bygan þe charme to rede, [folio 4b] And as she dyde, [seyde D.] he dyde yn [dede yn O, dede in D.] dede; He seyd and dedë euery deyl, Ryȝt as she dede, he dede as weyl. [al weyl O, al weel D.] Line 536 Þe sloppe [bagge D.] lay stylle, as hyt ded wore, [oor D.] For hym ne ros hyt [hym it sterede D.] neuer þe more. "why," seyd he, "wyl [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] hyt nat ryse, And y haue do [don D.] þe samë wyse, Line 540 And seyd þe wurdys, [wrdys O, wurdis D.] lesse ne mo, And for my seyyng wyl [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] hyt nat go?" "Nay," she seyd, "why [qwhy D.] shuld hyt so? Ȝe beleue nat [nouȝt O, þou trowist not D.] as y do: Line 544 wlde [Wolde O, it wil D.] ȝe beleue my wrdys as [trowyn as do D.] y, Hyt shulde a [ha O.] go, and sokun [schulde gon & soukke D.] ky." He seyd, "þan fayleþ noght [nouȝt O, not D.] but beleu|yng;" [trowyng D.] She seyd, "þat helpeþ al my þyng; Line 548 And so hyt ys for [of OD.] ourë lawe, Beleue [trouþe D.] ys morë þan þe sawe; [lawhe . . . sawhe D.]

For, þou mayst sey what [qwat D.] þou wylt, But þou beleue hyt, ellys ys alle [trowe it is ellis D.] spylt; Alle [Al.] þat y seyd, y beleue [trowe D.] hyt weyl, Line 553 My beleue haþ do [doun O.] þe dede [trowyng dede it D.] euery deyl." Þe bysshop comaundyd þat she shuld noȝt Beleue ne wurche as [trowe no wycchecraft D.] she had wroȝt. Line 556

Here [Heyr O.] mow we wyte, [wete O, may ȝe wete D.] beleue wyl [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] make Þere þe wurde [wrde O, þo wurdis D.] no myȝt [þer wurd ne myȝt ne D.] may take. Þe bysshop seyd þe wurdys [wrdys O, wurdis D.] echoun, But, beleue þeryn hadde he noun. Line 560 Nomore shall hyt [it schal D.] auaylë þe Þat beleuest not þere [þat trust not in þat. þi D.] beleue shulde be.

Ȝyf þou herdyst a fals þyng [þynge O.] or layþ [foule [fowl O.] ] [spokyn a fals þing D.] Þat were spoke aȝens þe feyþ, [were a-ȝens þe feith brekyng D.] Line 564 And þou ne wuldest [þou woldyst not D.] þeraȝen seye, But beleuyst, oþer for loue, oþer for eye, [but lete it passe f. l. or ay D.] Þou hast synned, & aȝen went Þys ychë fyrst [In þe ferste D.] comaundëment. Line 568 Þus seyþ þe lawë þat men hauntes, 'Ȝyf þou forhelyst, weyl þou grauntes.' [for-hile þat it grauntys D.]

Ȝyf þou trowest or vndyrstondys [folio 4b:2] Þat þre sustren ben [beyn O.] shapandys, [sustrys arn schaphandys D.] Line 572 And comun þere þe chylde ys bore, [come . . . born D.] And shapyn hyt wele [weyl O.] or euel before; [schape . . be-forn D.] For wykked beleue þat þou art [trouþe þat þei ben D.] ynne Line 575 Þey make þe [þy O, cause þe D.] chylde to falle yn synne; Swyche beleue þou shuldest nat [sueche trouþes þei schulde not D.] werche Aȝens þe beleue [trouþe D.] of holy cherche. Þer nys no shapper³³ but god almyȝt, [ys no shaper . . almyghte O, is no schappere of alle þinge D.] Line 579

Line 579 Þat yn þe vyrgyne Mary lyȝt. [lyghte O, lyȝt D.] Line 580 He ys shapper³³ [33_33 Left out of D.] of al þyng; [þynge O.] Of al þat ys, he wote þe endyng; [woot þe endynge O.] He ys boþë god and man; Alle [Al O, alle þinge was be-gynnynge D.] he wote, [woot O.] and alle [Al O, alle þinge was be-gynnynge D.] he can. Line 584 Þe touþer shappers þat men of telle, [D leaves out lines 585-6.] Beteche we hem þe fende of helle.

Ȝyf þou trowyst synne shal be forȝeue [trowe þi . . . for ȝeuyn D.] withoutë répentaunce & shryue, [repente here & be clene schreuyn D. D leaves out lines 589-596.] Line 588 As sum [some.] of þys lewed men seys, 'God of heuene ys so curteys, Þat he shal on domysday certeynly For-ȝyue þe synne of lechery; Line 592 lechery ys but lyght synne, he wyl [wyle.] haue mercy on al [alle.] þerynne;' Þus sey þey þat can no gode, And þouȝ [þoghe.] þey hemself vndyrstode. Line 596 Ȝyf þou þe certeyn wylt lere, Þyn forȝeuenes mote be [must gynne D.] here; yn þe touþer werlde [In oþer word D.] þer [wrlde þer.] we shul come Þere ys but ryȝtfulnes [ryȝtwysnesse D.] of dome; Line 600 Þere ys al ryȝtfulnes [is ryȝtwysnesse D.] at þe last ende; Aske mercy or [ar O, or D.] þou þedyr [hens D.] wende, Elles gest [Ellys getyst O, ellis getyst D.] þou no forȝeuenes, [forȝeuenesse OD.] Here ne þerë, more no lesse. Line 604 God ȝyue vs grace, or we be went, To kepë þys fyrst cómaundment. [þe ferste comaundement D.]

[The Second Commandment. [Secundum mandatum. 'Non assumes nomen dei tui in vanum' D.] ]

THe touþer [That oþer D.] comandement ys, Line 607 'Swere nat [noghte O, not D.] hys name yn ydulnys.' [ydylnes O, ydilnesse D.] [folio 5a] whan þou yn ydulnes swerest [qwan . . . sweryst be D.] hys name, Þou dost hym bere wytnes of blame. Vndyrstond [Vndyrstonde O, Vnderstonde þis menyng D.] þys,—þe menyng ys, Alle [Al O, As D.] yn þe, þe wykednes ys. [as in þe is wikkydnesse D.] Line 612 Ȝyf þou sweryst fals, þy wetande, [suere fals wetende D.] And for soþenes ys [it is D.] vnderstonde, Þere takyst þou god yn þy sweryng To bere wytnesse of a fals þyng. [of fals lesyng D.] Line 616 Y askë 'wheþyr ys grettyr eye, [qweche is more unhable D.] A lesyng, or a fals tale seye.' [a tale culpable D.] Here mayst þou lerne [myȝt þou knowe D.] a queyntyse, To knowe of boþe [knowyn of bothin D.] þe ryȝt [ryþt O, ryȝt D.] asyse;— Line 620 Þou mayst here and beleue a [Vnderstonde þe trewe & D.] fals Þat ys seyd of a-noþer als, And telle hyt forþ þe samë wyse, Ryght as he vn-to þe seyse, [he telliþ his a-vyse D.] Line 624 And ȝyf þou wene þat þat [ȝef þou wene þat D.] sawe ys ryȝt, [ryþt O, ryȝt D.] Þouȝt [þoghe O, þowh D.] hyt be fals, þou hast no plyȝt; [plyght O, plyȝt D.] For, þyn ynwyt, þe shal saue, Line 627 Þou wenyst to seye [wenyst seye O.] weyl, no plyȝt [he sey wel þonk D.] to haue,

A lesyng haþ weyl wers [Lesyng haþ a wers D.] wey: Þe tokyn of a lesyng [tokene of lesynge O, tokyn of lesyng D (om. þe).] y shal þe sey. whan [qwan D (om. a).] ys a lesyng, [lesynge.] but þan ys hyt whan [qwan D (om. a).] hyt ys seyd aȝens ynwyt; Line 632 Soþely [Soþly O, trewe D.] to sey, a lesyng [lesynge.] ys whan þou wost þat þou seyst mys, [qwhan þ. w. þou s. a mys D.]

And ȝyf þou make a grete [make gret D.] sweryng [swerynge O, sueryng D.] For to manteynë [susteyne D.] þy lesyng; [lesynge O.] Line 636 Hym þan [þanne.] þat þou by sweryst, [swerys O.] Fals wytnes on hym þou [þou om. D.] beryst. [berys O.] Ȝyf þou by god, or oure [our O, be god & be oure D.] lady, Or ouþer seyntes þat þou sweryst by, Line 640 Þou dost hym berë fals [fals O, beryn fals D, fas Harl.] wytnes Of þy lesyng, [lesynge O.] þat soþ yt [hyt O.] ys. [þat so ysse D.] How shul [shulde OD.] þey þan help [helpe O, þei helpe D.] þe at þy [þy om. D.] nede, whan þou hem drawyst [draghst O.] to þy falshede; [qwan þow drawyst hem to f. D.] And þyn inwyt, þyn ownë [owyn D.] skyle, Line 645 Aȝen þe seyþ [Aȝenseyþ þe þan O, a-geyn seiþ þe D.] and euermore wylle. [wyle O.] [folio 5a:2]

Ȝyf þou trowest [trowst O, trowe D.] þat god was nat byfore Or [Ar O, not be-forn or D.] he was of þe maydyn bore; [beforn . . . . mayde born D.] Line 648 Or ȝyf þou trowyst [trowst O, trowe D.] þat he was noght Beforë or [Ar O, not be-forn or D.] þe worlde [wrlde O.] was wroght; Ȝyf þou wene þat [þis D.] verement, Hyt ys aȝens þys comaundement. Line 652 God was euer wyþ outyn bygynnyng Ar þe worlde, [wrlde O.] or man, or ouþer [or þe word was mad or ony D.] þyng.

Ȝyf þou trowyst [trowst O, trowe D.] þat hys manhede Haþ no powere with þe [haue no p. w. his D.] godhede, Line 656 Repentë þe, þou art yn synne, For ydylnes hast þou hys name [In ydilnesse hast þou name with D.] ynne;

Ȝyf þou trowest [trowst O, trowe D.] þat he may naght [noghte O, not D.] Yn heuene and erþe hys wyl haue wroȝt, [wroghte O, in erþe h. w. have wrouȝt D.] Þe manhede þat toke flesshe & bone, Line 661 Þat with þe godhede ys al one;— But þou repente þe byfore þy fyn, [ende] [beforn for þi synne D.] Þou mayst be lore, [myȝt be lorn D.] seyþ seynt Austyn.

[Against Swearing Oaths.]

Ȝyf þou were euer so fole [fole om. D.] hardy To swerë grete oþys [oþis & D.] grysly, As we folys do alle [al O, don al D.] day, Dysmembre Ihesu alle [al D.] þat we may. Line 668 Gentyl men, for grete gentry, [gret gentrye OD.] wene þat grete oþys beyn curteysy [þei wene gret oþis were curteysye D.] ; Noþeles, blode, [neþeles boþin blod D.] fete, & yȝen, [ygne O, yne D.] Þey scorne Ihesu, and vpbreyde hys pyn. [pyne O.] Of hys woundys he haþ [wondys he haþ O, handys he was D.] vpbreyd, Line 673 Oure [or D.] shame hyt ys þat yt [hyt.] ys seyd; Alle [al D.] þat he suffred [sufferyd O, suffryd D.] for oure frame, As yn vpbreydyng we sey [seye O, in vpbreyd we seyn D.] hym shame; Hys flesshe, hys blode, he shedde for þe; woundys he [wondys he haþ O, handys he was D.] suffred [sufferyd O, suffryd D.] to make þe fre; So mochyl [meche D.] ys oure shame þe more, Þat we eft pynë [eft we pynyn D.] hym so sore. Line 680 And þo men fallyn more yn plyȝt Þat sweryn oþer fals [eyþer soth D.] or ryȝt, By any menbre [membre O, be ony member D.] of hys manhede Byneþyn [be neþe D.] þe gyrdyl, y þe forbede; Line 684 For y haue herd men swere swyche [I herde m. sw. sweche D.] oþys; To þenke on hem, forsoþe [þo þingis of hym hyȝly D.] me loþys. [folio 5b] A lytyl tale y shal [I wil D.] ȝow telle, Þat y herde onys a frerë spelle. Line 688

[The Tale of the Bloody Child.]

Hyt was onys a rychë man [A tale. [Narracio D.] ] Þat gretë oþys swere bygan;

For ryche men vse [vse D, om. HO.] comunly Sweryn [to swere [contra iuratores in margin] D.] grete oþys grysly. Line 692 Þys rychë man wldë nat [wolde not D.] lete But þat he swore euer [but euere swor D.] oþys grete. An euyl [A neuyl HO.] toke hym on a day, Þat he syke yn hys beddë [bed D.] lay; Line 696 A nyȝt, as he lay a-lone, A womman he herdë make here [he herde a woman make D.] mone; Þat yche womman come hym byfore [þat woman cam his bed be-forn D.] , with a chylde yn here armys bore. [born D.] Line 700 ¹⁰Of þe chylde þat she bare yn here armys Al to-drawë were þe þarmys [guttys] ; Of handys, of fete, þe flessh of drawyn, Mouþe, yȝen, & nose, were alle to-knawyn,¹⁰ [10_10 gretly þat disfyguryd is . brokyn & rent were his armys. of hand & feet þe flesch of drawe . Mouþ. eyȝe & nose . as al to-gnawe D.] Bakke & sydës were [weryn D.] al blody: Line 705 Þys womman sorful [Harl. sorful and, was wunder D.] was, and sory. Þys man for here wax sore agrysyn; [sor agresyn O, hir was sore agresyn D.] he spak, [spake to here O, & spak to hir qwan D.] whan he was rysyn, [resyn OD.] Line 708 "what art þou womman, þat makyst [makst O, qwat . . . makist þis D.] swych cry? ho haþ made [Ho made D.] þy chyld so blody?" "Þou," she seyd, "hast hym so [þus D.] shent, And with þy [þyn.] oþys al [þin oþis hym al D.] to-rent. Line 712 Þus hast þou drawen my dere chylde, [drawyn my child D.] with þy [þyn.] oþys wykked and wylde; And þou makest me sore to grete [glost wepe in O.] , þat þou þyn oþys wylt nat lete. Line 716 hys manhede, þat he toke for þe, Þou pynyst hyt, as þou mayst se; Þyn oþys done hym more greuesnesse [greuusnesse O, care & dred D.] þan alle [al O, alle D.] þe Iewys wykkednesse. [wikkydhed D.] Line 720 Þey pyned hym onys, [onys, om. D.] & passed a-way,

But, þou, pynest hym euery day. Þe [þat D.] pyne, he suffred [sufferyde O, suffred D.] for þy gode, [folio 5b:2] And þou vpbreydyst hym of þe [þat D.] rode; Line 724 Alle [al O.] hys flessh, þan þou [flesch þou al to D.] teryst, whan þou falsly by [qwan þou so grysly be D.] hym swerest; And y [y þan O.] am euer so [I am euere of suych a D.] [in] mynde For to pray [preye O, preyȝe D.] for al mankynde. Line 728 how shulde y lengyr prey [preye O, pray D.] for þe, So rulyche makyst þou [makst þou O, ruly þou makist D.] hym to be, And ouþer [ouþere O, oþer D.] many mo þan þou; How shulde y þan [he þanne D.] be meke to ȝow?" Line 732 Þe caytyfe [kaytyffe O, Þat caytyf D.] þat lay yn hys bedde, For here seyyng wax sore adredde, And seydë, [And seyde O, & seyde lady D.] "ȝyf hyt be þy wylle, Helpe me, lady, þat y ne [not D.] spylle. Line 736 For al men seyn, [seyyn O.] o þou [alle men seyn of þe D.] lady, Þat þou art modyr of [þe moder of al D.] mercy!" She answeryd to þe caytyfe, [kaytyffe O, Þat caytyf D.] "yn [In grete D.] fals oþys ys alle þy lyfe; [lyffe O.] Line 740 what mercy mayst þou aske þurgh [qwat mercy myȝt þou aske of D.] ryȝt whan þou þus my sone hast [qwan þou hast þus my dere sone D, Whan þou my sone hast þus ydyghte? O.] dyght?" "Lady, alle my [al myn O, alle myn D.] oþys grete Fro þys [þys day O.] forward wyl [wyle O, þis tyme forth euere wil D.] y lete; Line 744 And preche to euery man þy lore, þat þey oþys swere [suere oþis D.] no more." "Ȝyf þou wylt of [so ȝif þou wilt þin D.] oþys blynne, Þan wyl [wyle O, þis tyme forth euere wil D.] y pray [preye O, preyȝe D.] for þy synne, Line 748 þat þey máy be þe forȝyue, [moun be þe forȝeuyn D.] And do [do þy O, do D.] penaunce whan þou art shryue. [qwan . . schreuyn D.] ³³For alle men þat hauntyn grete oþys, Line 751 To helpe hem at nede, certys me loþys;³³ [

33_33 For alle þo þat grete synnys haunte,to helpe hem me loþe to graunte D.

]

And my sonë wlde noght [wil not redyly D.] here For fals oþys, any prayere; [falce oþis. no preyȝere D.] For he comaundeþ to [to HO, om. D.] more & lesse, 'Swere nat [noghte O, suere not D.] hys name yn ydulnesse.' " Line 756 Þys womman with here chylde gan wende; Blessyd be she with-outyn ende!

For hem þat ben [beyn O, þou þat art D.] of oþys bolde, For hem haue y [þe I haue D.] þys talë tolde. Line 760 Þys gentyl men, þys gettours, [summe gentilmen & þese gettourys D.] [folio 6a] Þey ben [beyn O, þou þat art D.] but Goddys turmentours; [arn . . . tourmentourys D.] Þey turment hym alle [al D.] þat þey may, with fals oþys nyȝt [boþe nyghte O, falce oþis boþe nyȝt D.] and day. Line 764 But ȝe leue ȝoure [ȝour O, leuyn ȝoure (om. fals) D.] fals sweryng, Ȝoure [ȝour O, leuyn ȝoure (om. fals) D.] vnkyndë vpbreydyng, Ȝe shul go a deueyl weye But ȝe amende ȝou, ar ȝe deye. [qwyl ȝe may D.] Line 768 For euery gadlyng nat wurþ [wrþ O, a gadelyng þat is not wurþ D.] a pere Takyþ ensample at ȝow [oþere D.] to swere, So euery man vn-to ouþer [oþer O, til oþer D.] — Þe porë to þe ryche ys [to ryche is his D.] broþer— Line 772 yn oþys and yn wykkedhede, Þe toon [þat oon D.] þe toþer to helle shal lede.

Ȝyf þou euere swore [swore euer O, suere euere D.] by oure lady [leuedy O, lady D.] yn any [ony D (om. yn).] tyme fals or wykkedly, Line 776 Hastly [Hastely O, hastily D.] þe [þerfro] withdrawe; Vengaunce comþ [comyþ O.] for swych myssawe. [or venoiounce come for þat sawe D.] whan [qwan D.] þou sweryst by here þat he lyȝt [lyghte O, lay D.] ynne, He takyþ [takyþ O, takiþ D, takþ H.] more to wraþþe þat [more hed to hate þe D.] synne Line 780 Þan þou mysdedyst [dedist D.] aȝens hym with worde [wrde O.] or dede neuer so grym.

And as moche, he to hym mekeþ [meche he mekiþ D.] Line 783 þat here wurschyppyþ [wrshepyþ O (here om. D).] or here besechyþ. [be sekiþ D.] þus seyþ seynt Anselme, þat hyt wrote To þys clerkys þat weyl hyt wote: [his clerk wel I wot D.] More drede ys, by [dere it is be D.] here to swere, þan ys by [it is be D.] hym þat she dede bere; Line 788 Sunner [sonere O, sunnere D.] he takyth for here [for hir he takyþ D.] veniaunce [vengaunce O.] Þan for any oþer chaunce: [ony o. greuaunce D.] Þat shal y shewe when we be [qwan ȝe arn D.] went Vnto þe þryd [þredde O, In þe þridde D.] comaundëment. Line 792 Ȝyf þou þe talë ryȝt [ryghtely O, a-ryȝt D.] canst here, Twey þyngës þeryn mayst þou lere: Þe toon [Þat oon D.] ys, 'holde weyl þyn halyday;' Þe touþer, 'oure lady þou wurschyp [wrshepe O, þat oþer wurschip D.] ay.' Now shul we leue [letyn D.] oure oþys sweryng, Line 797 And speke fyrþer of ouþer [forþ of oþer D.] þyng; we shul eft touche [touche eft D.] of þys synne [folio 6a:2] when we be come [qwan we comyn D.] fyrþer withynne. Line 800

[The Third Commandment. [¶ Memento vt sabbatum sanctifices. tercium mandatum D.] ]

The þryd [þredde O, þridde D.] commaundement yn oure lay ys [Hys O.] 'holdë weyl þyn [halewe wel þe D.] halyday,' And come blelyche to þe [þy O, redily to goddes D.] seruyse whan holy chyrche settyþ asyse. Line 804 Of al [alle O, alle D.] þe festys þat [þat om. D.] yn holy chyrche are, [aren D.] Holy sunday men oght [þe holy s. m. owe to sparen, D.] to spare;

Holy [þe D.] sunday ys byfore [be-forn D.] alle fre, Þat euer ȝyt were, or euer shal [shul OD.] be. Line 808 For þe pope may, þurgh hys powere, Turne þe halydays yn [alle þe halydayȝis of D.] þe ȝere How as he wyl, [With counseyl . . owyn D.] at hys owne wyl, But þe sunday shal [muste D.] stondë styl. Line 812 Þe halydays [halydayȝes D.] þat yn heruyst are, In ȝolë [at ȝool D.] he may sette hem þare, And of þe ȝolë euery feste [fest O, ȝool . . feste D.] May he settë yn [yn þe O, he may setten in D.] herueste. [heruest O.] Line 816 But, he may, þurgh [ne may be D.] no resun, Þe sunday puttyn [Harl. put; putte O, puttyn D.] vp no dowun; [down O, ne doun D.] Þarfore þe sunday specyaly ys hyest to halew, [halewe O, heiȝest to haue D.] and most wurþy; [wrþy O.] Line 820 And þat day þou owyst and shal [by license for shalt.] For to herë þy [þou to here þin seruyse al D.] seruyse al; Matyns messe here, [matenys & masse D.] to rede or syngge, [syngge O.] Euery deyl to þe endyngge. [euerydele . . endyngge O, eche sunday D.] Line 824 weyte þy [O. omits þy; þi D.] tyme, and be nat [nat OD.] þe last To come whan [qwan D.] holy watyr ys cast. Come fyrst to matyns, ȝyf þat [þat om. D.] þou may, For hyt ys goddys ownë [cristis owyn day D.] day. Line 828 God made þe wrldë, este [est O, word est D.] & west, yn syxë days; þe seuenþe to reste. [he rest OD.] Þan restyd [restede O, restyd D.] he hym fro al erþly werkys. [fro euere werk D.] How dur [dur þan O, dar þan eyþer prist or clerk D.] oþer prestys or clerkys, Line 832 Or þou lewed [ony lewd D.] man, þat day werche, whan þat day ys [qwan it is D.] halewed yn holy chyrche? Þe seruyng man, þat seruyþ yn [a seruaunt seruynge be D.] þe ȝere, Oweþ to come when [Howith . . qwan D.] he haþ leysere. Line 836 Ȝyf þou come noght, [nat O, not D ('Nota bene' in margin of B).] algate y rede [folio 6b]

Ete noght ar [not til D.] þou haue holy brede, For to [to om. D.] many þyngës hyt may auayle, To soule helpe, or [(To om.), soulehelpe for D.] lyuës trauayle. Line 840 Þy body, ȝyf it þan [it D, þan HO.] smartly endes, [endys O.] Hyt ys for housyl [housul O, hosil D.] aȝens þe fendes; [fendys O.] And holy watyr take of þe prestys [of pristis D.] hand, [honde O.] For anoylyng [a noyntyng D.] hyt wyl [wyle O.] þe stande. [stonde O.] Line 844 Sum tyme hyt was wnt to be dowun [doun O, wont be don D.] To halewe þe satyrday at þe noun, [at non D.] Namëlyche [a namely D.] yn Ing[e]londe; [ynglande O.] And nawer [nawher O, nowhere D.] so moche [mechil D.] y vndyrstand. Line 848 when þat custome [custum O, qwan . . custum D.] was wnt to be, Þan was grace, & grete [gret O, þer grace & al D.] plente; And þere men haunted [þer men hauntyn O, þer men hau D.] þat custome [custum OD.] lest, Falleþ oft tymë grete [ofte . . . gret O, often many D.] tempest. Line 852 Þe satyrday ys specyaly [specyally . is D.] Ordeyned to wurschype [wrshepe O, honoure D.] oure lady, [ladye O.] And þat for [ys for O, is for D.] a grete [gret O.] resun;— whan Ihesu deyd þurgh [qwan i. deyȝede þorwh D.] passyun, Line 856 hys dyscyplys douted [douȝttedyn D.] echoun [echone O.] wheþer he shulde ryse or noun. [none O, qweþer . . non D.] Alle þat beleued yn hym byfore, [Alle þo þat trowedyn . . . beforn D.] Alle here beleuë was nygh forlore, [trouþe was forlorn D.] Line 860 Fro þe fryday þat he deyde, To tyme [deyȝed . til D.] þat he ros, as he seyde. But hys modyr, vyrgyne [blessid D.] Marie, She bare þe beleue vp [þe truþe D.] stedfastly Line 864 Fro þe fryday at þe noun Tyl alle þe satyrday was doun, [non (om. alle) . . al don D.] And alle [al O.] þe nyȝt [nyght O.] tyl þat he ros, Line 867 Of alle [al O.] oure beleue [trouþe D.] she bare þe los;—

Þat, crystyn men beleuyn now [leuyn D.] echon, In here þat tyme was hyt alone; [was a lon D.] And for þat skylle, þan [þen O.] þynkeþ me, Þe satyrday may here ounë [owyn D.] be: Line 872 Þarefore þat day al holy cherche Þeyr [Her O.] seruyse of here [her seruyse for her D.] þey werche. And ryȝt [ryþt.] now for þe [þys O.] samë skylle, [þat ilke skil D.] [folio 6b:2] A tale þerforë telle y wylle. Line 876

The Tale of the Vine-Storms and the Saturday half Holy-Day.

In Nauerne, be-ȝunde þe see, [A tale [narracio D.] ] In Venyse, [O. a later hand has inserted in before a.] a gode [grete D.] cyte, [Cytee O.] Dwellyd a prest of Yng[e]lond, And was a-uaunsed, y vndyrstond. Line 880 Euery ȝere at þe florysyngge, whan þe vynys shuldë [qwan her vynnys gunne to D.] spryngge, A tempest þat tyme began [gan D.] to falle, And fordede here vynys alle; Line 884 Euery ȝere withoutyn fayle, And fordyde here grete [for-dede al her D.] trauayle. Þerfor þe folk [folke O.] were alle [al O, weryn alle D.] sory Þurgh þe cyte comunly. [alle comounly D.] Line 888 Þys prest seyd, "y shal ȝow telle what [qwat D.] shal best þys tempest felle: On Satyrday shul ȝe ryngge noun, [þe s. s. ȝe rynge non D.] Line 891 And late no lenger no werke be doun: [lengere werk be don D.] But halewe[n] [halewyn D.] alle comunly Yn þe wurschype [wrshepe O.] of oure lady; For, þat manere [maner O.] halewe [be þat maner halewyd D.] we

Þurgh Inglond yn oure [þat O, In ynglond my D.] cuntre; Line 896 And ȝyueþ [ȝeuyþ O, ȝeue ȝe D.] better ȝoure offryngys [offryng D.] And tyþeth weyl alle ȝourë þynges. [tyþe ȝe bettere ȝoure newyng D.] And [O and D omit And.] ȝyf ȝe do þus goddys heste, [hest O, be-hest D.] Line 899 He saueþ ȝoure vynys fro þe tempest." [fro tempest D.] At hys cunsel, on þys manere Halewede þey, al þat yche [halewedyn D, om. yche.] ȝere; And whan hyt come to [þe O, qwan it cam þe somerys D.] somer tyde, Tyme of þe tempest to vnryde, [suyche tyme as tempest gan vp hyde D.] Line 904 Here vynys florshedë [floreschedyn D.] feyre & weyl withoutyn tempest euery [with out tach a D.] deyl. Þan commaunded þey, and made [Þei comaundyd þan & madyn D.] a cry Yn the wurschyp, [wrshepe O.] of oure lady, Line 908 'On satyrday shulde men noun ryngge, And syþyn halew of allë [al O, halewyn of alle D.] þyngge, And here tyþys to ȝeuë [tyþis ȝeuyn D.] ryȝt [ryght O.] Mochë bettyr at here myght.' Line 912 And so, grete [þe gret O, þe grete D.] tempest secede al, [folio 7a] Þat on þeyr [here O, here vynys w. wont D.] frutys was wnt to fal. Seþyn, oueral yn þat cuntre Þere þey made nat þys solemnyte, Line 916 were [weryn D.] here vynys al destroyed, And þe folk [folke O.] mochyl [& all þe folk meche D.] a-noyd.

Fel hyt on [it fel so D.] a satyrday A man hyréd folke tó [herede folk to þe D.] ful pay; Line 920 Þe half day ne haléwd [halewede O.] he noght, [haleday he halewid not D.] For al [al an O.] hole day hyt shulde be wroght; [for on þe holyday be wrout D.] Þe tymë come [com O.] þat noun [cam . noon D.] þey rong, [ronge O, runge D.] As þey hadde [as it was D.] ordeyned hem among: [amonge O.] Line 924

Line 924 Alle [Al O.] þe wyrkmen homward [homwarde O, homward þei D.] ȝede, But he and hys dede furþ hys [here D.] dede. Ouþer men seyd, [seidyn D.] þey shuld nat werche Lengyr þan þey rong [ronge O, runge D.] none at þe chyrche. [at cherche D.] "Comyþ alle home, & hauyþ doun, Line 929 And haleweþ with vs at þe [þis.] noun In þe wurschype [wrshepe O.] of oure lady, As now ys custome [custum OD.] comunly." Line 932 One of hem swore hys oþe Þat he ne wlde, [schulde not D.] for lefe ne [no O.] loþe, Halew [Halewe O.] morë at þe [halewyn m. a. þat D.] none [noun O.] Þan hyt wás wnt to be done; [doun O, for t. be don D.] Line 936 Ne he ne shulde, [he wold not D.] for oure lady, But wyrchë forþe þe [furþ þat O.] day holy. [forth al dayly D.] Dowun [Down O, Doun D.] he smotë hys mattok, And fyl hym self ded as a stok. [at þat strok D.] Line 940 (²¹Mattok [Mattoke O.] is a pykeys, Or a pyke, as sum men seys.²¹ [21_21 not in D.] ) Þe [þat D.] caytefe lay, and myȝt nat speke; Furþ, for ded, men gan hym streke; Line 944 Men crydë [creydyn D.] fast 'a prest, a prest.' But no wrde come out of [wurd cam fro D.] hys brest. As þey stode, & made grete [gret O, stodyn & madyn get D.] þrong, [þronge.] A gode man stodë hem a-mong, [amonge O.] Line 948 And seyd [seyde O.] "þys man ys at þe ded; wyl [wyle O.] ȝe do allë at [Wil ȝe don alle be D.] my rede? Allë men þat þys chaunce sees, [folio 7a:2] Syttyþ dowun vpp-on ȝoure [down opon ȝoure O, oure H.] knees; [seen . . kneen D.] Line 952 And pray we god, þat alle þyng [al þynge to god þat al D.] may, And to oure lady þat owyþ þys day,

Þat she graunte vs swyche a [graunt vs þat D.] ȝyfte Line 955 Þat he may speke, & take hys shryfte, [& take . schrifte D.] In swych a forward, þat he & we Shul euer more chastyed [chastyde O, chastysyd D.] be." when þey to prey on knees [qwan þei on knees doun D.] gan falle, Þe [þat D.] man spake fyrst among [amonge O, among D.] hem alle: Line 960 "whan y swore, he seyd, so hastly, [& seyde qwan I swor stedfastly D.] Þat y wlde [I schuld D.] nat leue, for oure lady, Ne halewe þys day of my [to halewe . . myn D.] note, An [& D.] hande y sagh come to my þrote, Line 964 And hyldë me þarby so sore [held me þerby sore D.] Þat y to ȝow myȝt [myghte O, myȝt D.] speke no more. Oure lady was with me so wroþe Þat y swore by here an oþe, Line 968 Þat y wlde nat leue for here to werche Þoght men rong [þoghe men runge O, þowh men runge non D.] noun at þe cherche; Ne here helpe hadde be, þat was [hadde here helpe be þat was O, ne wer hir helpe þat is D.] so nere, Þe hand me haddë [þat hand me schulde a D.] strangled here. Line 972 And ȝe þat stondeþ [stondyn OD.] me bysyde, Þat preyd for me þat ychë [preyedyn for me in þat D.] tyde, Blessed mote ȝe allë be For ȝoure preyers haþ [ȝoure preyer haþ O, ȝoure preyerys han D, oure . . . H.] saued me." Line 976

Of þys tale ys alle [al OD.] þe entent To kepe weyl [holdyn wel D.] þe commaundëment,— Þat ys, to holde wel [weyl O, to om. D.] þyn halyday In allë þyngë [al þynge O, alle þyng H.] þat þou may. [in clene lyuyng . man wyf & may. D.] Line 980 Ne þou shalt swere vnwurschyply, [ne swere not vn-wurþly D.] By oure lorde, ne by [by om. D.] oure lady. Swyche men halewe nat [sweche men halwyn not D.] gostly, Þat on þe [þe om. D.] halyday leuyn no foly. Line 984

Line 984 Ȝyf þou make karol or play, Þou halewyst nat þyn halyday. [brekyst þin holyday D.] Ȝyf þou come ouergladly þar tyl, [come gladly þertille D.] And ȝyuest þarto mochyl [ȝeue þerto meche D.] þy wyl, Line 988 yn þat hast þou mochyl [haddist þou meche D.] plyȝt, [folio 7b] For synne wyl [wyle O.] come þurgh swychë [swylke O, of þat D.] syȝt.

Ȝyf þou euer settyst swerde eyþer ryng [settyst euer swerde or rynge O, ȝif þou cause peple to gret gaderyng D.] For to gadyr a wrastlyng, [gadere a wrastlynge O, to make revel or D.] Line 992 Þe [þi D.] halyday þou holdest noght whan swyche bobaunce for þe ys wroȝt. [qwan suych ryot . . wrout D.] Cuntek [Cunteke D.] þere comyþ, or ouþer bobaunce, [or o. dystaunce O, & distaunce D.] And summan [summe men D.] slayn, or lost [and lost O.] þurȝe [þurghe O, & lorn be D.] chaunce.

Ȝyf [And ȝif D.] þou euer yn felde, eyþer in [or in O, or D.] toune, Dedyst floure-gerland or coroune [Sette fflour garlond vp on þi croun D.] To makë wommen to gadyr [wommen gadere O, to do women gadere D.] þere, To se [see O, sen weche þ . . ore were D.] whych þat feyrer were; Line 1000 Þys ys aȝens þe commaundëment, And þe halyday for þe ys shent; Hyt ys a gaderyng for lecherye, [of leccheryȝe D.] And ful grete pryde, & hertë hye. [herte enuyȝe D.] Line 1004

Ȝyf þou euer ianglyst at [þou make Iangelyng at ony D.] messe Yn þe cherche with [with om. D.] more or lesse, And lettyst [to lette D.] men of here preyers, [preyerys OD.] For hem perel soþely [al here pereyl forsoþe D.] þou berys; Line 1008 Þe halyday þou holdest nat [haldyst nat O, þin holiday . . . not a D.] ryȝt, And lettyst to wurschyp [wrshype O, þat lettyst to wurschep god of myȝt D.] god almyȝt. Halyday [þe haliday D.] was made for preyere,

To god oure herende [erende O, arende D.] for to bere. Line 1012 Certys we ouȝt þan with ful [owyn to be ful of D.] mynde To preye god vs of synne [& pray god out of synne vs D.] vnbynde, And yn gode lyfe vs wysse & rede, And for-ȝeue vs al [he forȝeue vs D.] oure mysdede. Line 1016

Ȝyf þou hauntyst to make þy [haunte . . þis D.] play At þe tauerne on þe halyday, To many on comyþ þarfore [many come þeder for to do D.] euyl Þurgh cumberaunce [þorw encoumbraunce D.] of þe deuyl. Line 1020 Holy chyrchë wyl [wyle O.] þe werne Þe halyday to go [þat day to gon D.] to þe tauerne, And namly byfore [be forn D.] þe noun Line 1023 whan goddys seruyse owyþ to [qwil . . . schulde D.] be doun. Tauerne [þe tauerne D.] ys þe deuylys knyfe Hyt sleþ þe, oþer soule or [sleth boþe soule & D.] lyfe; One of þys, shal hyt [þese it schal D.] do, [folio 7b:2] Ȝyf þou haunte comunly þarto. [þou it vse to gon D.] Line 1028 Hytshortyþ þy lyfe, ouer moche [meche D.] drynkynge, And [it D.] sleþ þy soule with bakbytyngge; Hyt wastyþ þy body, and makeþ þe drye, [it dreyȝe D.] And gadryd lecherye [gaderyþ lechours O, gaderith many D.] to glotonye; Line 1032 And þe comaundment ys brokun, And þe halyday, byfore of spokun. [Þe holy day is ofte broken; & þe comaunde|ment al fore-spoken D.]

Ȝyf þou do any man o dawe [of dawhe D, O. gloss 'to þe deþ.'] On þe halyday for any lawe, Line 1036 Swychë men greuusly [sueche m. g. þei D.] werche Aȝens þe state of holy chyrche: For holy preyere, [preyer O, to be holy in lyuyng D.] and for þe pees, þe halyday god hyt chees. [ordeyned is D.] Line 1040

Ȝyf þou euer with iogeloure,

with hasadoure, or [oþer O, or (ony roytour) D.] with rotoure, Hauntyst tauerne, or were to any pere [were helpere D.] To pley at þe ches [at ches D.] or at þe tablere, Line 1044 Specyaly before þe noun whan goddys seruyse owyþ [oghte O, qwan . . schulde D.] to be doun, Hyt ys [It were D.] aȝens þe comaundment And holy cherches [þat al holy cherche D.] asent. Line 1048 Ȝyf þou be [ȝif he were D, 'ordred' inserted in a later hand.] 'infra sacros,' And art a clerk, & hast þe los [& he were clerk & hadde þe loos D.] Of subdekene, [Sodeke (om. of) D.] or dekene by name, So moche art þou [meche he were D.] þe more to blame. Line 1052 Þys lerned [lerenyde O, þese lerede D.] men ȝyuen [ȝeuyn OD.] ensample so Þat þe lewd [lewede O, lewde (om. þat) D.] men þe more mysdo. God ȝyue us grace þe halyday [oure holiday D.] To kepë [þat it be D.] , Ihesu cryst to pay. Line 1056

[The Fourth Commandment. [Quartum mandatum ¶ Honora patrem & ma|trem, vt sis longeuus D.] ]

The fourþe comaundment ys, "oure Fadyr & modyr we shal [þou schalt D.] honoure." Certys þe chylde trespasyþ ful yl [doþ ful ille D.] Þat wyl [wyle O.] nat do þe fadrys wyl; Line 1060 Þe chylde owyþ hys wyl al [to D.] do, But dedly synne be þar-vnto; [þerto D.] For god forbedeþ swych synne algate, For loue, or for [O omits 'for.'] drede, erly or [Not to do . erly ne D.] late. Line 1064 Ellys yn al þyng [þynge O.] þat we [al þat euere þou D.] may, [folio 8a] Fadyr & modyr wurschype [wrshepe O.] we ay. [ay and glossed 'euere' in O, D om. we.]

Ȝyf þou euer, yn euyl wetand [ȝif ony man in euyl euere wetende D.] , Line 1067 On fadyr or modyr leydest þyn [leyd on D.] hand,

Hyt ys comaunded yn sum lawe [lawhe D.] þat swych men shulde be doun o dawe. [a man schulde be slawe D.] Vnneþys shuld þey mercy [mercy shulde þey O, Vnneþe mercy schulde he D.] fynde, Line 1071 For swyche a chylde ys kalled vnkynde; [on kynde D.] No bysshope may ȝyue þerfore [þer of O, þe byschop þerof may not ȝeue doom D.] dome But þe pope of þe court [curte O, pope of gret Rome D.] of Rome.

Ȝyf þou were euer [& ȝif ony be D.] so felun To ȝyue fadyr or modyr þy [her D.] malysun, Line 1076 Or stonde [stant D.] aȝens hem yn answere, And wldest nat [or wil not D.] bowë ne forbere, Þou hast synned þan dedly, To endëles penaunce wurþy, [wrþy O, & endeles pyne art wurþi D.] Line 1080 But sonë þou þer-of þe [þer of þou þe O, þou þerof Harl., þou þer-of þe clene D.] shryue And be bowyng yn [& to hem bowe þ^e D.] al þy lyue.

Ȝyf þy fadyr or modyr bydde [ȝif fader or moder D.] þe ouȝt do, And þou wylt nat bleþly [blely O, woldist nat wende D.] þarto Line 1084 By [Be OD.] þy wyl, but euer [euere O, om. D.] gruchande, Þou shalt weyl [þer of wel D.] vndyrstande, Þat, þogh þou do forþe þy [alþowh þou do it in D.] dede, Þat synne ys mochë for [ȝit þ. s. mechil is D.] to drede. Line 1088 Þou oghtyst [owyst D.] to bere penaunce grym, For þou greuyst a lytyl [a litil greuedyst D.] hym. with al þy myght, and [in D.] ryȝt gode wyl, Þy fadrys [fadyrs O.] byddyng [faderys entent D.] þou shalt fulfyl. Line 1092

Ȝyf fadyr or modyr falle [fallyn D.] yn elde, And noþer [þat neyþer D.] , for pouert [pouerte O.] , may hem self [hym selfe O, hem be D.] welde, Here chyldryn are holdë þan, þurgh [arn holde be D.] ryȝt, To susteyn [susteyne O.] hem at alle [al O, after her D.] here myght. Line 1096

Line 1096 Ȝyf þey se [& þei sen D.] hem so at mysese And þey may lyuë wel [weyl O, moun lyuyn wel at here D.] at ese, But þey help hem, [hem helpe OD.] þey are [arn D.] to blame And wrþy to haue wrldës [wrldys O, & were wurþi worldys D.] shame. Line 1100 Þoght [þoghe O, þowh þei han to D.] þey hauë þe mysdoun, Þou shalt nát fynde [fynde none OD (eschesoun D).] enchesoun Þat þyn help [helpe O, þi helpe be not fro D.] be fro hem went, [folio 8a:2] For hyt [it D (om. For).] were aȝens þe comaundment. Line 1104

Y se men þat purchasours [I se pourchasourys in labour D.] are, Þat coueyte catel with sorwe & kare Here chyldryn godë for [& for her childryn good D.] to wynne, And here [þowh her D.] soulës synke for synne. Line 1108

And oþer men also y [many men now I D.] see, Þat ȝyue here chyldryn boþe lond & [ȝeuyn here childryn good in D.] fee For to fynde hem [to fyndyn hem her D (om. For).] sustynaunce yn here age [her elde D.] , for allë [al O, alle D.] chaunce. Line 1112 Þo men, me þynkeþ, most [gretly D.] mysdo, Þat ȝyue here godë fro hem so; [ȝeuyþ her lond so hem fro D.] Hyt were [ȝyt were hem OD.] bettyr holde here land, [better to here lond D.] Þan begge hyt at a-nouþers hand: [a noþer hond D.] Line 1116 Men wexen sone sadde of hem þat [orkyn soone with hem to D.] craue When þey weyl wete þat þey naght [þat wetyn wel þei no good D.] haue. By a tale, y shal ȝou mone, [warne] Þat fyl betwyx þe fadyr & þe [be-twen þe good man & his D.] sone. Line 1120

[The Tale of the Fond Father.]

Of a man þat sum tyme was, [A tale.] y shal [I wil D.] ȝou telle a lytyl pas. Of hys sone [child D.] he was gelous, Line 1123

Line 1123 And ȝaue hym alle [al OD.] hys land & hous, And al hys catel in toune & felde, þat he shulde kepe hym wel [weyl O, schulde hym ȝeuyn D.] yn hys elde. Þys ȝong man wax fast [faste O, wex (om. faste) D.] , & was iolyfe, hys cunseyl was [ȝaf O.] to take a wyfe; Line 1128 he weddyd one, & broght here home with alle þe [O omits 'þe.'] myrþe þat þerto come; [al mery he spak to hir & com D.] He badde here fyrst, [O inserts 'boþe;' bad of . . . boþe D.] loude and stylle, Line 1131 To serue [servyn (om. weyl) D.] hys fadyr weyl at hys wylle. Sone aftyrwarde, [after þat D.] þys ȝongë man, Hys herte, hys [he his D.] þoght, chaunge began; Tendrere he was of wyfe and chylde, Line 1135 Þan to hys fadyr oþer [om. oþer D.] meke or mylde. Of o day, he [hym OD.] þoght [four or] fyue; [iiij or fyue D.] Long [Longe O.] hym þoght hys fadyr a-lyue; And euery day, boþe þe toon and þe toþer, [day after oþer D.] Serued hym weyl wers þan oþer. [hym wers . & with wil loþer D.] Line 1140 Y trowe þys man, whan [I þouȝte . . qwan D.] he gan mone [folio 8b] For þoght þat [þat om. D.] he ȝaf so meche [moche O, meche D.] hys sone, Þys oldë man was broght so logh [brout . . . lowhe D.] Þat he lay ful colde besyde a wogh. [and lay . . be þe wowe D.] Line 1144 Þys oldë man, vp-on a day, Pleyned hym þat he coldë lay: "Sone," he seyde, "for goddys loue wrye [hyl D. (Wrye, A.S. wríhan, cover.)] me with sum cloþe aboue." Line 1148 Þe sone, þat was þe husband To whom was ȝyuë alle [al O, ȝowyn al his D.] þe land, Clepyd hys sone, [he callid his child D.] & bade hym take A sak [sake O.] of þo [his D.] þat he dede make, Line 1152 And badde hym turnë hyt tweyfolde [twofolde O, to fold D.]

And ley [leye O, leyn D.] hyt on hys fadyr for colde. Þe chylde [dede [dede D, om. HO.] ] as he bad hym do, Toke a sak [sake O.] & karf [karfe O.] hyt yn [he tok . . . on to D.] two. Line 1156 Hys fadyr spakë to hym ȝorne, [O. glossed 'vaste.' he seyde to þe child hym be-forn D.] "Sey, why hast þou þe [qwhy hast þou þus þis D.] sak shorne?" þe chylde answered hym [hym answerde D.] yn haste A wurdë þurgh þe holy gaste, [hely gast D.] Line 1160 "Þys dedë haue y do for þe; Gode ensample ȝyuyst [ȝyfst O, ȝeue D.] þou me How y shal serue þe yn þy [þyn O, þus schal I þe serue in þin D.] elde, whan þou, þy self, mayst nat [qwhan þou mayst not þe be D.] welde; Line 1164 Þys halfe sak [sake O.] shal lygge [lyn D.] þy fadyr aboue, And kepe þe touþer part [& I schal kepe þat oþer D.] to þy [þyn D.] behoue. [

D adds 2 lines:

þou must han nedis cloth & corn& I provyde for þe be-forn.

] Vnkyndly þou techyst me þe [lernyst me to be D.] gode; Of unkynde cumþ vnkyndë [onkynde . comyþ onkynde D.] blode." Line 1168

[

This example were good to knowe.boþe for þe hyȝe & lowhe D.

] Þys ensample were gode [is good D.] to kone, Boþe to þe fadyr & eke to [for þe fader & D.] þe sone. God ys noght payd, here [not plesyd as D.] we fynde, Þat þe sone to þe fadyr ys nat kynde. [þer þe . . . vnkynde D.] Line 1172 Þarfor spekþ [spekyþ O, seyth þe wyse D.] Salamon To fadrys & to husbandys echon, [euerychon.] 'Þe whylys þat ȝe may drawe ȝoure [ȝour O, qwhyl . . . ȝour ond D.] hand, Ne ȝyueþ neuer awey [ȝeue neuer a-wey al D.] ȝoure land, Line 1176 And make ȝoure [ȝow O, ȝour D.] self, sogettys to be [to be soget D.] To hem þat owyn ȝow seruee.' [serue O, to serue ȝow bet D. D again adds 2 lines: 'do be counseyl & make it sekyr; þat it be truly sauyd fro bekyr'; but then leaves out two, 1183-4, 'Ne þy . . a-ȝene.'] Anoþer wysdom a clerk vs telleþ, [folio 8b:2]

Senek, þat moche of wysdom spellyþ, [mechil of wysdam telliþ D.] 'Ne be þou neuere [Harl. omits 'neuere;' D omits 'Ne.'] yn swych errour Line 1181 To make þyn eyr þy secutour, [secatour D.] Ne þy sekutoure þy fysycyene, Yn hopë for to leue a-ȝene.' Line 1184 For þy þyng, þy [þynge þyn O, Of al þi good . þin D.] eyr seyþ þys, Þat byfore was þyn, he halt hyt hys; [al þat was or is . he tellith his D.] Þyn executure, [exekutour O, executour D.] to haue þy þyng, [þynge O, þing D.] wlde þat þou madyst þyn endyng. [endynge O, Wolde þou . . endyng D.] Line 1188

Þou owyst [owst O.] to do no þyng [þynge O, Do no þing lowd ne D.] stylle withoute leue of þy fadrys wylle; [D adds 2 more lines: þat is to seyn . tak þou no þing. with-out þi faderys byddyng.] Þat ys to seyë, [seyn D.] take no wyfe For to make betwyxe [betwen D.] ȝou stryfe; Line 1192 Ne no grete þyng [gret þynge O, gret þing D.] beye ne [beyȝe ne D.] selle Ȝyf þou vndyr hys gouernaunce [gouernayle O, kepyng D.] dwelle. To relygyun þou mayst [In-to religioun mayst þou D.] go withoutë cunseyl of any [ony D.] mo; Line 1196 And to [to þe OD.] holy land, ȝyf þou haue hyt hette; [ȝif þou it hete D.] Syb, ne vnsyb, may [ne may O.] hyt lette. [for sibbe ne frend schalt þou not lete D.]

A clerk þat folylyche [þe clerk seiþ . he þat folyly D.] dyspendyth þe godys þat hysfadyr hymȝyueþ [ȝyfþ O.] or sendyþ, And wyl [wyle O.] nat ȝyue hym for to lere Line 1201 Clergye ne [er D.] craft, or ouþer mystere, wykkedlyche al þat gode he dyspendyþ [stelyþ O, þat good þou stelyst wikkydly I gesse D.] þat hys fadyr for godenesse spelyþ. [godenes. þat þi fader spendith for þi good|nesse D.] Line 1204 To hard a-cuncte [acomptis D.] shall he be sette At hys endyng, whan he shal be [qwan he is D.] fette, Þat so hys tyme haþ al forlore, [haþ for-lorn D.] Line 1207

Line 1207 And aȝens hys fadyr so hym mysbore, [so mys born D.] But [But ȝyf O.] he ȝelde hym, ȝyf þat [it ȝif D.] he may, Or preye for hym boþe nyght and day; For ȝyf þou mayst, & wylt noght, [& ȝif þou may & wil not D.] Þou art yn weye to peyne [to þe pyne D.] be broght. Line 1212

For a-noþer also [also om. D.] þou mayst be shent: Ȝyf þou destroblyst [desturblyst O, distourble D.] here testament Yn here lyfe, or aftyr here [þe D.] ded, Line 1215 with powere [power or ȝyfte O, power ȝifte D.] or ȝyft, cunseyl or rede, Þou hast trespast apertly [trespasyd a gret party D.] [folio 9a] Aȝens þys cómaundment so hy. Of alle wykked men þat men [alle men þat wikkid we D.] calle, [nota bene] Þe fals executours be [arn D.] werst of alle; Line 1220 For þey ne reche [rekke not D.] how þe soulë fare, [vare O.] And mennys owne eyres [chyldyr O, & her owyn childryn D.] , werst with hem are.

y tolde erwhyle, [erwhyl O, qwhyle qwy D.] for no socour Þou make [mak þou not D.] þyn eyre þyn executour; Line 1224 For alle þat was langere [longe D.] þy catel, he halt [now he holdiþ D.] hyt hys, euery deyl. [euerydel O.] 'Loue þou þy chyldyr out of wytte; Trust to hem, and helples sytte.' Line 1228 Ouþer ensample nedyþ þe noun [thore ȝe non D.] take; what dost [duste O, qwat dost D.] þou for þy fadrys sake, Ȝyt shal þy sone do for þe, les; For euer [euer O.] þe lastë, þe werst es. [is the werse D.] Line 1232 On hem y rede þyn herte so [hym . . þou D.] kest, Þat þou louë þy self [þe selfe O, loue þi self . & þi god best D.] best; Loue so þy chyldyr, loue so [loue þou childryn & loue D.] þy wyff, [wyffe O.]

Þat þou saue þe, boþe [þou loue boþe þi D.] soule & lyff. [lyffe.] Line 1236 Loue fadyr & modyr, þat þe forþe [furþ O, forth D.] brouȝt, Þenk on þat loue whan þey may nouȝt. [her loue qwan þei moun nat D.]

Seynt poule þat sagh [Poule saw D.] goddys pryuyte, he [& D.] seyþ yn hys autoryte Line 1240 A feyrë wurd [feyr wrde O, fayr wurd D.] vs for to saue, And specyaly to hem [þo D.] þat chyldryn [chyldyr O.] haue: He seyþ "be ȝe neuer so fole hardy To curse [kurse O, waryen D.] ȝoure chyldryn byttyrly; Line 1244 Ne greuusly, for lytyl [no D.] trespas, Betechë hem [be-take hem not D.] to satanas." Moche ys ȝour malysun [mechil is ȝoure maleys for D.] to drede; Curseþ hem noght; [cursith not D.] y ȝow forbede. Line 1248 Oft [Ofte O.] haue men boþe herde & see [Oftyn man hau herd & sen D.] Þat moche veniaunce þerfor haþ bee. [mechil . . . ben D (om. þat).]

For to leue ȝoure cursyng [ȝour cursynge O, ȝoure bannyng D.] bolde, [A tale.] Y shal ȝow telle what [þat D.] me was tolde Line 1252 Of a prest þat sagh and fonde [saw & fond D.] Þys chauncë yn [be-fil in D.] þe holy londe.

[The Tale of the Mother who curst her Child.]

A womman on a day ful raþe Line 1255 Ȝede to a watyr here [hir D.] for to baþe, And to[ke] [bad D.] here doghtyr here cloþys to kepe, [cloþis kepe D.] And baddë here [bade here þat O, chargid hir D.] she shuld nat slepe; "But, as sone as y þe kalle, Be redy with my cloþys alle." Line 1260 whan [qwan D.] she was baþed, she kalled [calde O, callyd D (om. her).] here faste, And bade here brynge here cloþys [bad bryngyn hir cloþis to hir D.] yn haste.

Here douȝtyr was nat alle [not al D.] redy, Ne comë nat at here fyrst [& cam not at þe ferste D.] cry. Line 1264 Þe modyr þat sat in here baþ wax [wex D.] ful of ire and of wraþ, And cleþyd [clepede OD.] eft-sonys aftyr here, [. . hyre O, clepede hir hastyly D.] kursyng [Kursynge O.] with ryghte gretë yre, [waryed hir ful bitterly D.] Line 1268 And seyd, "þe devyl come on [sche seyde þe deuyl mote come with D.] þe, For, þou art nat redy to me." "And y am redy," seyd [þo seyde D.] þe deuyl, Line 1271 "To take þat þou me betaght [betakyst D.] with euyl." he flegh on herë [fley in-to hir D.] þere [þer.] she stode, And madë herë wytte [here of here wyt O, hir out of hir wit D.] al wode.

Þys godë man for a-nouþer þyng [made a gret spekyng D.] Tolde hyt oft [ofte.] yn hys prechyng, [þat non come nyȝe hire for no þing D.] Line 1276 Þat none durste speke with here syþyn But ȝyf [ȝyf om. D.] he werë clenë shryuyn; For [& D.] ȝyf he were yn dedely synne, Þe fendë [deuyl D.] þat was here with-ynne Line 1280 Made here seye hym so moche [dede hir seyn hym so mechil D.] shame Þat alle men wundred [þat alle wundredyn D.] on hys blame. And þat was preued with [be D.] many one Þat to þe holy lond was gone. Line 1284

Þerfore, ȝe chyldryn, before al þyng [þynge O, for alle þinge D.] Dredyþ ȝoure [ȝour O, ȝe D.] modrys warryng; [waryynge, glossed 'cursynge,' O; moderys waryynge D.] And, ȝe wyuys, þenkeþ on þys cas, werryþ nat [Waryyþ noghte O, waryyth not for a D.] for lytyl trespas. Line 1288 Þey þat wyl [wyle O, For ȝe þat wil D. D has in margin, 'be war of waryyng.'] gladly warye, hem warryþ [waryyþ O, warye hem D.] god & seynt marye. For ho-so haunteþ hyt [hauntyþ hyt O, it hawnte D.] comunly

Yn ernest [in sclaunder D.] or yn rybaudy, Line 1292 He shall haue warryng [waryynge O, warnyng fro (corr. from 'wary|yng') D.] for blysse, [folio 9b] And of ['his' inserted in a later hand.] blessyng shal he [he schal D.] mysse; [glost 'fayle' in MS.] And ho-so curseþ withoutyn [ho so warye with-out D.] gylt [gylte O.] Hyt shal on hys hede be pylt. [pylte O, spylt D. O. gloss 'caste.'] Line 1296 Curser[y]s yn alle [Kurserys yn al O, for waryerys in al D.] here lyue Shal [Shul O.] neuer haue grace for to [þei shul neuere han grace to D.] þryue; As þey vse, so shal hem [so schal þei D.] falle, For kursyng [kursynge O, waryyng (om. shal) D.] shal come on hem alle.

wurschepyþ ȝoure [ȝour O.] fadrys, & ȝoure fadrys ȝow, Þan queme ȝe God, and doun ȝoure [ȝour O.] prow. [honouriþ ȝoure fader & moder euene; þan plese ȝe god þat sit in heuene. D.] God ȝyue vs grace to oure endyng [endyngge O, endyng D.] To kepe [kepyn D.] vs fro modrys cursyng, [kursyngge O, waryyng D.] Line 1304 And oure [oure O.] fadrys so to queme; Þat goddys comaundement we may ȝeme. [goddis c. þat we may queme D.]

[The Fifth Commandment. [Quintum mandatum. Non occides D.] ]

TO þe fyfþe [fyþe O, fyfte D.] now shul we go, Þat ys, [ys om. D.] 'þou shalt no man slo.' Line 1308 Þe fyfþë, [fyþe O, fyfte D.] shalt þou vndyrstonde, Ys, 'sle no man with þyn [ys om. D. sle no man with wil ne D.] honde, with-outyn iustyce, for felonye, [for no þing . ne for no folyȝe D.] Ne for no manere of robbrye.' Line 1312

Ȝyf þou do any man yn [or þif þou do ony in to D.] prysun, wykkedly, as a fals [as fals D.] felun, Or bynde yn upland or in burgh, [byndyn hym . . . borw D.] Þat he haue hys deþe [deþ O.] þer-þurgh,— Line 1316

Line 1316 Certeyn þe shal no þyng [þynge O.] were, [O. gloss 'kepe.' A-ȝens god schalt þou þe not forbere D.] Þat [þat, om. D.] for hys deþ þou shalt [ne shalt O, schalt þou D.] answere.

Ȝyf þou euer yn any tyme [in ony stryf D.] Reftë any man hys lyme, [reftyst ony man of his lyf D.] Line 1320 Or hyt was reftë þurgh þy rede, Þou art enchesun of hys dede. Ȝyf hyt be aȝens hys wylle [wyl O.] Or hys asent, þou synnest ful ylle. [yl O, þou schalt fulfille D.] Line 1324

Ȝyf þou þurgh wykked ordynaunce Fordost pore mannys [mans O, for-dedyst p. mennys D.] sustynaunce þat aftyrward he may nat lyue, [leue O, myȝt not leue (om. he) D.] þou art coupable, [culpable D.] —a ȝyfte y ȝyue. [ȝeue O.] Line 1328

Ȝyf a porë man ['of' inserted in a later hand O, of D.] þe craue A melys mete, hys lyfe to [hys lyffe to O, it may hym D.] saue,— Ȝyf þou mayst ȝyue [ȝeue O.] hym, & nat [myȝt ȝeuyn hym & not ne D.] wylt, [folio 9b:2] Beforë [be-forn D.] god þou hast hym spylt. Line 1332 Seynt Ambrosë seyþ hardly, [hardyly O, hardily D.] Þat hyt ys slaghtyr [it is manslauȝtter D.] gostly.

what shul we sey [seye O, qwat schul seynt þese doctourys D.] of þys dytours, Þys [a-ȝens þe D.] fals men, þat beyn sysours, Line 1336 Þat, for hate, a trewman wyl [trwman wyle O, trewe man dyȝtte D.] endyte, And a þefe for syluer [seluyr O, & for gold a strong þef D.] quyte? Be he neuer so strong [stronge O, strong D.] a þefe, Ȝyf he may ȝyue, [ȝeuyn D.] he shal be lefe; Line 1340 A porë [pore trewe D.] man þat may nat so, Þe deþë [deþ O.] þey wyl [wyle O, to þe deth he dampneth D.] dampne hym to. Also hyt ys of þys dormers [al is of fals demerys D.] yn tounne,— Falsë [Fals H.] treytours & feloune, [þe false tretourys to-gedere rowne D.] — Line 1344

Line 1344 þat falslychë, for enuye, [þat falsly & felounly D.] On here neghburs wyl gladly [wyle g. O, wil þey D.] lye, And seye [to seyn D [folio 12a] .] forsoþe þat he haþ wroght Line 1347 Þyng [þynge O.] þat neuer ȝyt was do ne [no O, he neuere dede ne D.] þoght. þey sle hem allë [al O, slen hym al D.] þat þey may, whan here gode los þey fordo for ay. [qwan þei þe wrong don say D.] yn alle [al O, slen hym al D.] þe wrlde, no ys more felonye, [felounly D.] Þan of þy neghbur next þe by. ['They byed on him.' Halliwell's Gloss. 'O. Norse bia, to spot or besmirch.'] Line 1352

Ȝyf þou euer dedyst [dedyst euere D.] þyn entent yn fals cunsél [cunseyl O.] or cómaundment, Þat a man to þe deþe [deþ O, to dethe D.] were dyght with wrong dome, or euyl syght; Line 1356 Þoght hyt semyd [semede ȝif al semede it D.] with þe lawe To ȝeue þe dome, hyt ys grete awe [lawhe . . . awhe D.] who-so demyþ felunsly, [deme felounly D.] And noþer wyþ pyte ne [and hath no pyte no no D.] mercy; Line 1360 he [ne] shal no mercy haue, Þat alle wyl sle, and no man [al wyle . . . O, alle wil slen & non wil D.] saue.

y shal ȝow telle for swychë [swych O, of suyche a D.] dome A tale þat sum tyme fyl [fil sumtyme D.] yn Rome. Line 1364 Of [out of D.] holy wryt, þe englysh [englysshe O, ynglysch D.] y toke, 'Dialogus,' [Dealogo D.] men clepyn [clepe O, clepyn D.] þe boke. Þys tale ys wryte þer-yn [þer yn ys wrete O, wretyn þer-in D.] redy, Line 1367 And [It D.] fyl yn þe tyme of seynt Gregory.

[ ['Narracio' in margin D.] The Tale of the Knight who had a Vision of the Judgment.]

yn Romë fyl a grete moreyne, [folio 10a] [gret moryne O, gret moreyn D.] [A tale.] A pestelens [pestlensse O, A man-qualm, a veniaunce of peyn D.] of men, a veniaunce to pyne, For some þat ȝedë [ȝeden D.] yn þe strete

Sawe arwys fro heuene shete, [seyȝen . . . shetyn D.] Line 1372 And smote [smete O, smet D.] men to þe deþ [to dethe D.] doun ryȝt; And one of þe arwys wounded [wndede O.] a knyȝt. Þe knyȝt ful sorë syke gan lye, Line 1375 And was yn poynt as he shuld deye; [poynt for to deyȝe D.] hys spyryt was take to see a [sen þat D.] cas, Ryght as goddys wyllë [wyl O, wille D.] was. hys frendys þat stode hym by [stodyn hym be syde D.] wende þat he hadde be dede bodely. [hildyn hym for ded in þat tyde D.] Line 1380 But sonë, yn a lytyl þrowe, [sone after it gan falle D.] Þe body quaked þat þey alle sowe: [a-wok þat þei seyȝen it alle D.] Seþþë he tolde where he hadde be, [qwere he had ben D.] And mochë þyng þat he hadde see. [meche . . sen D.] Line 1384 "y sagh a brygge of mochë [saw a bregge of meche D.] wndyr, A grymly [grysly D.] watyr was þer vndyr, Blak and depe & ful stynkyngge, [foul styngkende D.] Dredeful noyse hyt made rynnyngge. [a dredful . . rennende D.] Line 1388 Dunward yn-to [vn-to D.] helle hyt ȝede; whan y sagh [qwan I saw D.] hyt, y hadde grete drede. Be-ȝunde þat [þe.] brygge was a cuntre, Þe feyreste [feyrest O.] þat euer [euere O.] god lete be; Line 1392 As a medue hyt was grene, So feyre of syght [feyr of syght O, fayr of syȝt D.] ys noun, y wene, [is non sene D.] So ful of flourys logh and hygh, And saueryd swete [& saueredyn D.] as spycerye. Line 1396 Þarto so feyre syght of coloure, [fayr . . kolour O, þerto fayr . . colour D.] Delytable, & swete of sauoure, [sauour O, & delectable & swete sauvur D.] Y dar weyl seye [seyn D.] þat euermore A man myght leuë þat were þore; [lyuyn þat þer were D.] Line 1400

Line 1400 Deyë certys shuld he neuere, For lyue [lyffe O, lyf D, om. For, for.] and hele ys þere for euere. y sagh þere folk [y saghe þer folke O.] ³[of so feyr syghte, Line 1403 Here wonynge placys yn joye were dyghte; [her wonyngstede in joyȝe was dyȝt D.] All þe [þo D.] folke]³ [3_3 These two lines (from "of so" to "folke") printed from O, are omitted in the Harleian MS.] þat I saghe þere were [O. omits "were"; as fayre aungelys alle þey D.] as feyre as aungelys were. y sagh þere housys of ful ryche atyre, [of ryȝt fayr tyr D.] Alle of gletryng [Al of gleterynge O.] golde as fyre; [as bryȝt schynyng as gold wyr D.] Line 1408 Blesful [Blysful O.] bryghtenes was [bernys were D.] þerynne; [folio 10a:2] Þe syght was cely, & welþe to wynne; For, some of þo wynly wones [þe wurþi wonys D; O. gloss, 'sekyr dwell|yngys.'] were peynted with [al wyþ O, weryn al peynted with D.] precyus stones, Line 1412 Some were caste [dyȝt D.] with ryche colours And feyr [proudly OD.] peynted with frute & floures. Þere ys noun lyuyng here a [no man þat is o D.] lyue, But criste, þat may [myȝte D.] hyt alle dyscryue. Line 1416 Þe soþë myght y neuer wytte, [he neuere wete D.] who shuld yn þo stedys [in þat place D.] sytte. But yn þe watyr þat was [þat water þat is D.] hydus, Sstynkyng, [styngkende & D.] blak, & merueylus, Line 1420 y say [saghe O, saw D.] moche folk falle þerynne, Caytyuys charged ful of [false caytyuys chargyd with D.] synne. A myste out of þe watyr come, And to sum housys [hows O, hous D, om. And.] hyt gan gone, Line 1424 And to sum, come [com O, hous it cam not D.] hyt noght, Þat me merueyled yn my þoght.

Þe bregge þat ouere þe watyr lay, Hyt was euer of swyche a-say, Line 1428 Þat þer-ouere myght no man passe

But he were clene of euery trespas [trespasse O, of his trespas D.] Þat he ne shulde yn [but he schulde in-to D.] þe watyr falle To þe mayster fende [deuel D.] of alle. Line 1432 Þo men þat loue to do ryghtly, [þe man þat louede to do ryȝt D.] Þey shal passe þere sauëly [he schulde passe þer safly a plyȝt D.] Into [In-to D, To HO.] þat blesful cuntre, Þere ioyë withoute ende shal be. Line 1436

A preste y sagh passe þere weyl, [saw þer passede wel D.] And hadde no lettyng of any deyl, [a deyl O, hadde lettyng neuere a del. D.] As he hadde leuyd yn hys lyfe [In his lyf he had lyued D.] clene, At hys passyng was hyt [it was D.] weyl sene. Line 1440

A man y kneugh þere [kn. þere also H, kneghe þ. a. O, saw þere (om. also) D.] yn peynys strong. [stronge O, peyne strong D.] Þat felunlyche dyde euer wrong; [wronge O, felounly euere dede wrong D.] I knegh [knew D.] hym here yn grete [gret OD.] bayly, He loued veniaunce with-oute mercy. Line 1444 'Pers,' y wote [woot O, wot D.] weyl, was hys name, Yn þe [þat D.] watyr he suffred shame. y sagh hym bere [saw þer D.] vpp-on hys krowne [crown Brennynge . . . down O, brennende yryn beryn D.] [folio 10b] Brynnyng eryn þat bare hym downe [crown Brennynge . . . down O, brennende yryn beryn D.] Line 1448 In-to þe watyr, blak [so blac D.] as kole. Alas, þe paynes y sagh hym þole! [O. gloss 'suffre.' þe peyne I say . . D.] Moche y desyred [mechil I askyd D.] to wete certeyne why [qwy D.] he suffred al þat peyne; Line 1452 And asswyþe [also swyþe D.] hyt was me tolde, For to do veniaunce he was euere [euer O, ay D (om. For).] bolde; And whan [qwan D (om. þe).] he shuldë deme þe ryȝt, To felunly he dyde [felunnye he dede O, to deme wrong he deed D.] hys myȝt; Line 1456 At hym myght no man hauë [ha D.] grace,

Myldenesse, ne mercy, for any trespace; [meknesse ne m. to purchase D.] And for he dede so mochë wogh, Suffreþ he now shame ynogh. [suffred he so meche now D.] Line 1460 Swyche ys goddys ordynaunce, 'For veniaunce [for his cruelte D.] to take veniaunce.'

Ȝyt of a-noþer y had a syght, 'Steuene,' forsoþe, hys namë hyght; Line 1464 Þat yche [same D.] Steuene was wont [wnt O.] to be wonyng yn Romë, þys [duellynge in Rome, þat D.] cyte. As he wulde [wlde O.] passe þe brygge, betydde, [bregge þat tyde D.] Hys fete begunne to slyde besyde, [be-gunne for to slyde D.] Line 1468 And, was yn poynt for to [for to OD, to H.] falle In-to þe watyr bytterer þan galle; Þe fendës wende weyl hym to [wendyn hym a D.] fonge, ¹²But by þe bregge þan gan he¹² [12_12 be þe bregge he gan D.] honge. Line 1472 Þe fendys here crokys fasted yn hys knees, [fest in his leggis D.] And al to-drowe & rente hys þees; [thes O, to-drowyn . . þeyȝis D.] Feyr men come þedyr,—but y not [noot O, not D (om. but).] how,— And by hys armys vp hym [be þe . . . hym vp D.] drow; Line 1476 Þey wulde [wlde O.] nat suffre hym falle al [to falle D.] downe [down O.] In-to þat grete confucyoun; He plesyd [preyed D.] god with sum gode dede, Þarefore þey hylpe hym yn hys [holpyn hym at D.] nede.

Almysdede [Almasdede O, almesse deede D.] men vndyrstonde Line 1481 By þe drawyng vp [vp om. D.] of hys honde. Y trowe he trespast [trespacyd D.] yn lecherye Þat þey þe þeës [thes O, to-drowyn . . þeyȝis D.] drow [þeyȝis drowyn D.] hym by. Line 1484 But forsoþe y can [can y O.] nat telle [folio 10b:2] wheþyr [qweþer D.] he shulde to heuene or helle."

Þys talë haue y [I haue D.] tolde to ȝow,

Ȝyf hyt myȝt fallë ȝow to [falle to ȝoure D.] prow, Line 1488 Þys domus men, to chastyse, Þat deme men wrong þurgh [demyn wrong be D.] fals asyse. Many beyn [arn D.] now, as Pers was, Harde domys men as Satanas. [þerfore þei stonde in gret caas D.] Line 1492 Þat man þat demeþ alle to þe [al on D.] ryȝt, Of mercy get he no [non I- D.] plyȝt; And ȝyf he demeþ pytyffully [pytysfully O, & he þat demyth pytously D.] At hys demyng getyþ [demyngge get O, endyng he get D.] he mercy; Line 1496 And [And om. D.] ȝyf he deme fals iuggëment, Þere falsnes ys, [þorwh þat falshed D.] he shalle be shent; He shal be slayn, þat al wyl [wyle O, alle wil D.] slo; Þat peyne wyl deme, [þat to pyne demyþ D.] to pyne shal go. Line 1500

Ȝyf þou with-drowe any mannys wyl, Þat he ne myȝt [myghte O, he myȝt not to god D.] þe gode fulfyl whan [as ȝif D.] he þoght to haue wel [weyl O.] doun, Or entycedest any [entysyd ony D.] fro relygyoun, Line 1504 Gostly þou mayst [dost D.] hym slo Ȝyf he to ouþer wykkednes go:— As, ȝyf a man haue a chylde, And to relygyun hys wyl be [is D.] mylde, Line 1508 And þou [Harl.; þou O om.; ȝif þou D.] eggyst hym away To folue þe fals wrldës [for to folwe þe wordis D.] pay; Ȝyf he þarefore be lore [þerþorw be lorn D.] yn synne, For hym grete perel þou fallyst ynne; Line 1512 Byforë god þou hast hym slayn, And for hym þou shalt [schalt þou D.] suffre payn.

what sey ȝe of þys bakbyters [bakbyterys O.] Þat wykked wurdes [wrdys O.] aboutë bers [berys O.] ? Line 1516 Þey makë oftë mochë [meche D.] stryfe,

And a-peyryn many [peyryn many a D.] mannys lyfe. Ȝyf þou bryng [bryngge O, he brynge D.] a man yn fame, Þat he haue euer lastyng [þat after eueremor it is a D.] shame,— Line 1520 Byforë god, þou hym slos whan þou hym reuyst hys [qwan . . . . of his D.] gode los. Bakbyter, þurgh ryght [a bacbitere þorw D.] resun, [folio 11a] Of þre mennys deþ ys enchesun. Line 1524 Þou wost weyl, with-outyn [þat wete ȝe wel with-out D.] les, þe bakbyter fyrst hym self [hym selfe ferst O.] sles; He slekþ hym þat trowyþ hys lesyng, [lesyngge O, sleth . . eryth þe lesyng D.] whan he forþ beryþ hys bakbytyng; [furþ berþ hys bakbytyngge O, qwan he beriþ forth þis b. D.] Line 1528 And hym algate [also D.] þat hyt ys on leyde, He ys slayn; god help þe vpbreyde. [slayn be þat vpbreyd D.] As mochë þan he ys [mechil is be þan D.] to blame Þat ȝeueþ a man a vyle ekename; [þat causith a sclaundrous name D.] Line 1532 Ȝyf hys ryȝt [good D.] name be withdrawe, Gostlychë [Gostlych O, gostly D.] þou hast hym slawe.

Also ys [þer is a D.] slaghter gostly To vse to spekë [þat vsyn to spekyn D.] vyleyny. Line 1536 For many wurdys þat beþ spoke, [arn spokyn D.] were better [betre O, better D.] yn brest to be loke. [in þe brest be lokyn D.] And, sum owtȝë nat [some owte nat O, so owyn men D.] to be Of herë wurdys to [ouer O, euere D.] fre,— Line 1540 By þese [þys O, þese D.] ordryd men, y mene, Here wurdys owtȝ [oghte to be feyr & O, owyn euere to be D.] to be feyr & clene, And namlyche to [a namely in D.] relygyun Men shuld fynde [schuldyn fyndyn D.] noun enchesun: Line 1544 For ȝyf þey spekë oute of skore, [spekyn ony schame D.] Þey beþ to be blamed eft þarfore. [arn michel þe more to blame D.]

[[This Tale is from Gregory's Dialogues, Bk. IV, ch. liii, says Gaston Paris, Hist. Lit. de la France, t. xxviii, p. 195.]] Seynt Gregori [gregor D.] of a nunne tellys [A tale ['narracio' in margin D.] ] Þat ȝede to helle for no þyng ellys Line 1548 But for she spake euer [ofte D.] vyleyny Among here felaws al ahy. [felawys al an hy O, felawis euere in hyȝe D.] Þys nunnë was of dedys [dede D.] chaste, But þat she spakë wurdys waste [of wast D.] Line 1552 She madë [dede D.] many of here felawys Þenke on synnë for her [to þinkyn . . . hir D.] sawys. For many tyme a vyleynys wurde [vylens wrde O, & many to vyleyne wurdis D.] Gadryþ foulë þouþ [þoght O, gaderyn foule þouȝtis on hordys D.] to hurde. Line 1556 So dede she her felawys alle, For here wurdys, [wrdys O, hir wurdis D.] yn synnë falle. Noþeles, yn here [neþeles in fleschly D.] dedys, Se was chaste as men er hedys. [mene rhedys O, was sche chast . as men redys D.] Line 1560

Sone aftyr þys nunnë deyde, [folio 11a:2] As of herë was purueyde, [A-non þei for hir purueyȝd D.] She was beryyd, [beryde O, þei beryed hir D.] as fyl to be, Be syde an auter [a nautyr O, be sydyn an awter be-forn a gre D.] before þe gre. Line 1564 Sone aftyr, þys [a D.] chaunce gan falle:— Of þe cherche þe wardeynys [wardeyns O, þo wardeynys D.] alle were waked oute of [out of O, weren I-wakyd of D.] here slepe, So loude þey herde one [herden on D.] cry & wepe; Line 1568 Þey sterte vp allë [alle O, al Harl., stertyn alle vp D (om. for).] for to see what wundyr þyng [wndur þynge O, wunder þing D.] þat myȝt be. Þey say [saye O, saw D.] aboute þe [þis D.] Nunnë stonde, Line 1571 Fendys, with brynnyng swerdys yn honde: [honde D, hande HO.] Al [Alle O.] hem þoght þey wulde here [alle þei þouȝttyn hir for to D.] slo, For þey cloue here mouþe [mouþ O.] euyn o two; [o two O, þei clouyn hir euene doun a two D.]

And, þe to [hir O.] syde al to-brent Before þe auter on þe pament. Line 1576 Þe wardeynys come eft on [comyn on D.] þe morow To see where had be [were hadde be O, sen qwere was al D.] þat sorow. þey fonde þe brenyng [brennynge O, brennyng D.] euery deyl As þey before had seye [be-forn had sen D.] hyt weyl; Line 1580 Half þe body was brent a-way, And haluyndele yn her grauë lay. Seynt Gregorye seyþ þat hyt was sygne [O. gloss 'a tokene.'] Þat half here lyfë [lyf it D.] was nat dygne; [O. gloss 'wrþ.'] Line 1584 For þogh here dedys werë chaste, [al þowh hir lyf in dede was chast D.] Here wurdys were al [al om. D.] vyle & waste. So was hyt shewyd before here ygne, [as it was s. be-forn here eyne D.] Þat haluyndele she [half þe body D.] was ȝoue [ȝeue O, ȝoue D.] to pyne. Loke how ȝeuene [euene O, euene dom ȝouyn D.] dome þer was, Line 1589 Euene lyke [euenelych D.] aȝens here trespas. See how here tunggë made here slayn [slayne O, dede hir slo D.] And foulë wurdes broght here to payn. [wrdys . . payne O, wurdys dede hir þat wo D.]

By þys ensample þat vs awys [feryþ] [þat we here se D.] Line 1593 Y rede þat [þat om. O.] we leue alle oure foule sawys, [I rede we letyn alle foule wurdis be D.] Þat we sle nat vs self [vsself O, oure soulys D.] gostly, Ne noun ouþer so, ne [oþer also D.] bodyly, Line 1596 Þat we be nat with herë brent [not so schent heer D.] Yn hellë fere, no with here shent. [ne with hir brent in helle feer D.] God almyghty shelde vs þar fro, [folio 11b] And late vs neuer no man slo. Line 1600

[The Sixth Commandment. [Sextum mandatum (in margin) Non mecha|beris ¶ Sextum mandatum D.] ]

THe syxte comaundyþ vs [sexte comaundement bit D.] al so, Þat we shul noun hurdam [hordam O, hordom D.] do. þys comaundment [comaundement OD, it is D.] ys of prys, For hyt was stabled [mad D.] yn paradys; Line 1604 God stablede hyt, þou shalt beleue, whan he made of Adam, [qwan he made Adam & D.] Eue. A clene womman here [here om. D.] he hym betaght, Yn clenë lyfe to lyue she aght; [leue shaghte O, lyue sche auȝt D.] Line 1608 Al one to be, and of o wyl, Goddys comaundment [comaundement OD, it is D.] to fulfyl. God made womman man to gyue, [kepe] [ȝeue D.] To be hys helpë yn hys [ben his helpe whil þat þei D.] lyue; Line 1612 ¹¹he madë here nat, man to greue, No to be mayster, but felaw leue,¹¹ [11_11 om. D.] No nat ouer logh, no nat [nat om. O, nat ouer lowe . ne ouerhyȝe D.] ouer hy, But euene felaw, to be hym by; [ben hym byȝe D.] Line 1616 And he, mayster, lorde, [& lord he must be mayster D.] & syre; [sere O, syre D.] To hys wyl she shal meke hyre. [here O, makyn hyre D.] Þe sacrament ys for here [s. for þat ilke D.] sake, Of two, o fleshe and o [of to fleschis . oo D.] wyl, to make. Line 1620 Grete mede he getyþ [get O, getith you D.] with-outë fayle Þat wele wyl [wyle O, wil D.] holdë hys spousayle.

Now some of þe [summe of þese D (om. Now).] poyntys wyl [wyle O, wil D.] y touche Þat men vn-to hurdam [hordam O, to þo men þat to holdam D.] souche. Line 1624

Ȝyf þou haue [euer ȝaue O, ȝeue D.] trouþë pryuyly To bygyle a womman to [and O, & lyn D.] lygge here by,

Þogh no wedlok [wedloke O.] were yn þy þoght, Line 1627 But þat wuldest [þou wldyst O, þ. woldyst D.] þy synne were wroght; Ȝyf she vndyrstode weddyng of þe, So shal þy trouþë charged be; Þy trouþe to ȝeue yn swyche [swych O, swych D.] a-tent, hyt ys aȝens þe comaundment. [comaundement OD.] Line 1632 No trouþe oghte to [O. omits 'to.' owith to be ȝouyn be D.] be ȝeue wyþ ryght But yn holy cherchys syȝt, [syght O, cherche syȝt D.] Namlych, þat falleþ to wedlake, [falþ to wedlak O, namely . . wedlok D.] what-so-euer men [men euer O, qwat so men seyn þinke or D.] seyde or spake. [spak OD.] Line 1636

Ȝyf þou ly [lye O, lyn D.] by here seþen, [folio 11b:2] Aftyr þou hast þy trouþë ȝyuen, Y sey [seye O, sey D.] þe weyl certeynly [for certeynly D.] þat þou synnedyst þere [synnyst þanne D.] dedly. Line 1640 Fleshly dede þou oghteyst noun [owist non D.] werche wyþ-outë leue [wedlok D.] of holy cherche; þogh þou haue here trouþë [here trowþe O, alþowh þ. h. hir truþe D.] plyght, And to here hast so godë ryȝt, [ryghte O, haue so good ryȝt D.] Line 1644 Ȝyt holy cherche behoueþ wytte [holi cherche must knowe euerydel D.] Of ȝoure cunnaunt, ȝyf hyt may sytte. [or þe comenaunt be endyd wel D.]

Ȝyf þou plyghtyst [plyȝt D.] trouþe to any lyghtly To be at holy cherchys cry, Line 1648 But þou dedyst with her [with here in margin H, duste wyþ here O, þou dost with hir no fleschly dede D.] no foly dede þat ys fleshly felaurede, [felawrede O, neyþer be feld ne be thede D.] þou gost and ȝyfst [ȝeuyst D.] þy trouþe anouþer As þou dedyst [dest O, dedyst beforn þat oþer D.] byfore þe touþer, Line 1652 And lyst by here, and ys þy wyfe, yn hordam boþe þan ys [boþe ȝe lede D.] ȝoure lyfe.

Þe ferst womman þat þou ches Ys [sche is D.] þy wyfe, with-outë les. Line 1656 Ensample hauë we þerby, Of Iosep þat wedyd [weddede O, wedded D.] oure lady; Þere was verry [verry trewe D.] matrymony, with-outë fleshly dede of any. [dede don ony D.] Line 1660 By þys ensample mayst [myȝt D.] þou se þat þe fyrst [ferste O, ferst D (om. þat).] womman þy wyfe shulde be.

Ȝyf þou dedyst [dest O, dedyst beforn þat oþer D.] euer swyche [swych O, ony D.] outrage To [don D.] wedde chyldryn or [ar O, or D.] þey hadde age, þare [þar O.] -of may comë grete [gret OD.] folye Line 1665 ȝyf þey so ȝunge to-gedyr lye. Oft haue men [Ofte men haue O, oftyn men han (om. boþe) D.] boþe herde & seyn, Þat [þat om. D.] of swych lyggyng haþ foly beyn. For some, when þey yn age are come, [& summe qwan þei comyn to olde D.] Line 1669 þe toon þe touþer may nat loue; [þat oon to oþer neuere loue wolde D.] Þan make þey men [alle men O, þan fare þei boþe alle folk to wunder D.] on hem to wundyr, [wndre O.] And coueyt faste [þei coueyte boþe D.] to be asundyr; [a sundre O, a sunder D.] Line 1672 Also to brekë here [& for brekyn þe D.] spousayle, And here trouþe, þe whych shuld [wheche shulde O, þat schulde D.] nat fayle. Ȝyf þou to swyche [swych O, suych D.] weddyng consent, [folio 12a] Hyt ys aȝens þe commaundment. [comaundement O.] Line 1676

Ȝyf þou hast [haue D.] auowyd þe Þy lyfe to holde [holdyn D.] yn chastyte, Or þou art yn state of prest, Or yn two ordrys alþer nest, Line 1680 Suddekene, or dekene hy, [Subdekne . . hyȝ D.] þys lettyþ weddyng & dede fleshly.

Ne þou shalt neuer [neuer O, neuere D, om. Harl.] wedde, ne synne, wyþ any [non D (om. haþ).] þat þy kyn haþ weddyd ynne; Or ȝyf a man haue houe [ȝif þou haue houyn D.] a chylde, Line 1685 God hyt euer forbede and shylde Þat þat chylde shulde any [þat ilke . . ony D.] haue Of hys godfadrys, maydyn or knaue: Line 1688 Hys breþren or sustren may at here [may oþer D.] pay wedde; but he þat houe neuer [he hoffe neuer O, he þat hof neuere ne D.] may.

Ne þou shalt nat, [þou schalt neuere D.] by þy lyfe, weddë þy godfadrys wyfe. Line 1692 Also shal þe womman wonde [spare] To take [takyn D.] here godmodrys husbonde. Twey godmodrys shul nat wedde, [See 1. 2237, etc., of the French, next page. wede O, to commatres schal þou not wedde D.] Þe toon to aske þe touþer to bede. [þat oon aske þat oþer to bedde D.] Line 1696

Men shul nat wedde [Harl. omits 'wedde.' schuld not wedde for no D.] for any gode Man or womman þat ys wode; For many þyngys hyt ys grete eye, Þe whyche falleþ me nat for [þat falliþ me not now D.] to seye. Line 1700

Ȝyf a womman haue an husband, And he fro here go ouer [& he be gon out of D.] land, She shal noun ouþer take ne wedde [wed O, sche may take non oþer for no dred D.] But she be certeyn of hys ded. [ded O. O. gloss. 'deþ.'] Line 1704 Þou shal [shalt O, schalt truþe no w. D.] nat betrouþe a womman with hand þe whylys [qwhylys D.] here husband ys lyuand; For þe trouþe þat þou here ȝeuys Þe whylys þat here husbund lyuys, [þer qwhylis his husbonde leuyth. þat ilke truþe þat þou hir ȝeuyth D.] Line 1708

Line 1708 hyt ys hope, hurdam [it is opyn hordom D.] to be, And slaghter, but [but ȝyf O, & manslauter ȝif D.] he deye or she.

³Ȝyf þou madest euer any wyche, Line 1711 Þurgh whycchëcraft, wedlak to flycche,³ [3_3 om. H.] For to destruble [desturble O, distorble D.] þe ryȝt weddyng, [folio 12a:2] Þou art a-cursed yn þat þyng. [doyng D.] Ȝyf þou fordost þe weylfare [hem þat welfare.] Betwyx þo [be-twen hem D.] þat weddyde are, Line 1716 Þou synnest certys [þer D.] wykkydly, And brekyst [brekst O, þou brekist þer D.] spousayle & cumpany. Ȝyf þy chylde, mayden [mayde D.] or knaue, wulde a-noþer yn wedlak [wil in wedlok a noþer D.] haue, Line 1720 And with here wylle þey trouþë [truþis þei (om. And) D.] plyȝt withoute cunseyl of fadrys [fadery D.] syȝt, Ȝyf fadyr or modyr be þer aȝen, Line 1723 Seþþe þey haue trouþed & beyn [siþþe þei be truþid & arn D.] certeyn, Þey dysturble þys [þou stourblyst þe D.] sacrament Aȝens þys ychë comaundment. [a ȝens goddis comaundement D.]

Ȝyf a man be [were D.] of Ioly lyfe And mysdo [mysdede D.] onys vndyr hys wyfe, Line 1728 Ȝyf she be gode and certeyn, To gode state she turneþ hym aȝeyn; But þere þe wyfe haunteþ foly [haþ folyȝe D.] Vndyr here husbunde a ludby, [hir lord a lotebyȝe D.] Line 1732 Comunly she wyl [wyle O, wil not D.] neuer blynne, But euere [euer O, euere be ardent D.] be brennyng yn here synne; Vnto þe deuyl confounde [confunde O, confoundith D.] her here [here her O, hir þer D.] And bryngë her [here . . . fer O, bryngiþ her . . . fer D.] to hellë fere. Line 1736

Aȝens swyche maner wyuys [A namelych suych a m. wyf D.]

þat wyl [wyle O, wil not D.] nat amende here lyuys, [amenden her lyf D.] Shal y [I schal D ('narracio' in margin).] tellë ȝow a tale,— To swychë wyuys byttyr [suyche wyuys han bitter D.] bale. Line 1740

[The Tale of the Adulterous Wife, whose Skeleton split in two.] [[Source not found by G. Paris, Hist. Lit. de la France, xxviii. 195.]]

Þer ys an Ile be-ȝunde þe see, [A tale] Þer men were wunt [wnt O, wunt duellyng D.] wonyng to be; Þys ychë ylë wax [ilke yle wex D.] al waste, And þe folk [folke O.] drogh þen [þenne O, þe folk þens drow (om. And) D.] yn haste; Line 1744 So with-ynne a lytyl whyle [so þat . . qwyle D.] Men helde hyt [hylden it D.] a forsakyn yle. Seþþë, [siþþin D ('dragoun' in margin).] wonede þere a dragun, Þat dede many man confusyun; Line 1748 Men and wommen faste he slogh, And dede ouer al shame ynogh; [slow . . . a now D.] Al þat he fonde with-outë [outtyn D.] house [folio 12b] Þys dragun slogh so [þe dragoun slow D.] merueylouse; Line 1752 So mochë folkë [many folk D.] gan he quelle, Men seyd [seyden D.] he was a fende of helle. Alle þe folk [Al þe folke O.] of þat cuntre Line 1755 Cunseyled [Cunseylde O, counseyldyn D.] hem what þat [best O, qwat myȝt best D.] myght be; Þey armyde hem alle [many armyd hem D.] at here myght, Aȝens þe dragun for to fyght, But noun of hem myght vndyrstande Where þe dragun was wonande. [vnderstonde; qwere . . . dwellende D.] Line 1760 Befel ȝyt, [hyt O, So fil it in þat ilke D.] þat ychë tyde, An ermyte wonede [hermyte duellede D.] þere besyde, A godë man and ryȝt [and a ryȝt O, þat a good man was for D.] certeyn, Dwelled [Dwelde O.] besydë þat [& woned þer be syde in a D.] wasteyn,— Line 1764

Line 1764 One of hem ȝaf cunseyl tyte, Þat þey shulde go [for to wende D.] to þat Ermyte, And aske cunseyl of swyche [swych O, suyche D.] adede In hopë alle þe bettyr [þe better alle O, þei hoped alle þe better D.] to spede. Line 1768 whan þey hadde tolde hym [qwan þei had told D.] alle here dere, Þys was þan þe ermytys [þanne his D.] answere:— "Ȝyf ȝe wyl wepe [wepyn D.] for ȝoure [ȝour O, ȝoure D.] synne, Line 1771 And shryue ȝow clene, and þerof blynne, And grauntë me þat ȝe shul [grauntiþ þat ȝe schul alle D (om. And).] faste, And yn preyers wel [preyerys weyl O, ȝoure preyeris wel to D.] to laste, Perauenture [Perauenter O, perauenture ȝe moun D.] ȝe may be al-eggyd, And sum of ȝoure [ȝour O.] sorow abreggyd." Line 1776

To do alle [al O, al as D.] þat þe ermyte bad, Þey grauntede alle, & were ryȝt glad. Þe ermyte seydë, "ȝe shul be In penauncë þre days [al in penaunce here D.] with me; Line 1780 And, aftyr þe þre days [þe þridde day is D.] ende, To ȝow shal y come or sende."

Alle þe folk went [Al þe folke wente O, alle þo folk went D.] home þere weye; [here wey O, her wey D.] Þe ermyte hys preyere [preyer O.] began to seye, [sey O, say D.] "Ihesu cryst, god [cryste O, crist D.] almyghty, Line 1785 Of þys folk [folke O, on þese folk D.] haue þou mercy, Þat þou boghtyst on [þat boutist on þe D.] rode so dere; For hem shewe me on sum manere Line 1788 where [qwere D.] y may þe dragun fynde, [folio 12b:2] And hys power, lorde, þou bynde, [on bynde D.] Þat þe folk may knowe [þo folk moun knowyn D.] and se Þe [þi D.] mercy and þe myȝt of þe." Line 1792

Whan [qwan D.] he hadde preyde hys orysun Long yn grete [Longge yn gret O, longe in gret D.] afflyccyun,

God sagh allë [al O, saw al D.] hys entent, And hys [an D.] aungel to hym he sent Line 1796 For to techë hym þe way Þedyr þere [þer O, qwere þat D.] þe dragun lay. Þe aungel seyde to þe ermyte, "Do sumnë þe folk astyte, [sumnien . . as tyte O, somounne þo folk as tyte D.] Line 1800 Þat þey comë [comyn D.] allë hedyr Beforë þe, echone to gedyr. Y shal be ȝoure [ȝour O, ȝoure alþerys D.] alþer ledere, Þat þe dragun ȝow [schal ȝow D.] nat dere." [desese] Line 1804

Þe folk [folke O, folk ecchon D.] echonë þedyr com; Þe aungel before [be forn D.] hem gan gon, And led [ladde D.] hem to þat wasteyn Þat sum tyme was a stede [place D.] certeyn. Line 1808 Vnto a place þey ȝede [stede þei come D.] echone, And þere þey fonde a tumbe [towmbe O, foundyn a toumbe D (om. And).] of stone. Þe aungel bad hem lyfte [bad left D.] vp þe lydde; And as he bad, ryȝt [And, ryȝt, om. D.] so þey dydde. Line 1812 "here, he seyde, [be syde D.] ys hys wonnyng with anoþer wykked þyng; Drede ȝow noght þoȝt he [nat þoghe he O, douȝete ȝe not þowh he D. H om. he.] be fownde, For all hys power haue y [al his power I haue it D.] bownde." Line 1816 whan þey had þe toumbe o twynne, [.o. twynne O, qwan þei haddyn þese stonys at D.] Þe folk stode and loked [stodyn & loked D.] with-ynne. Þey sagh [sawe O, seyen D.] a womman þere [þer OD (D om. vyly).] vyly lye, Line 1819 And here body cloue yn twey partye; [clouyn on to partyȝe D.] Betwyxe þo twey partys þe [þat O, be twen þo to partis D.] dragun [body Harl., dragun O, dragoun D.] lay, Gresly to se wyþ grete [gret O, grysley to sen with grete D.] affray.

Grete [gret O, gret ferly it was D.] wndyr was hyt to see; Þey asked alle what hyt myȝt [myghte O, askedyn qwat it myȝt D.] be, Line 1824 And why hyt was, and wherë [qwy it was & qwen D.] -fore, [wharfore O.] Þat þe dragun lay so þore; And what [& in qwat D.] manere she synned so, [folio 13a] Þat here body was cloue yn [clouyn a D.] two. Line 1828

he shewede þan vnto [tolde þere to D.] hem alle, For what synne þat sorow gan [qwat . . was D.] falle. "Þys womman," he seyd, [womannys body D.] "þat here lys, And ys departyd yn two [on to D.] partys, Line 1832 She was weddyd, and here wedlak [wedlake O, & in hir wedlak D.] Ful falsly an on-truly brak, [and vntrewly brake O, hir wedlok sche brak D.] whan she was o [qwan . . in D.] flessh and blode with hym þat here to-keyn loue gode; [þat sche vnderstood D.] Line 1836 þurgh matrymony, þe sacrament, [of sacrament ywis D.] were two o flessh made be assent, [to bodyes mad in o flesch D.] holy togedyr [to gedere O.] for to leue [leue O, lyuyn D.] Line 1839 And noun fro ouþer hys flesh may ȝyue. [neyþer may here flesche fro oþer ȝeuyn D.] But þys womman þat þus ys shent, She brak [brake O, brak þat D.] þe holy sacrament; here flesh she ȝaf, o [a D.] party yn hordam and yn [to hordom & to D.] lechery, Line 1844 A-noþer party to here [& anoþer part to hir D.] husbonde, Þat for shame ne myȝt [myghte O, myȝt not (om. she) D.] she wonde. And, for þat yche [Harl. and D om. yche.] vyleyns [vyleyn D.] synne, Ys here body partyd [so partyd D.] a-twynne; Line 1848 And betwyx [be twyxe O, be twen þo to D.] þe twey partys, For veniaunce, þe dragun lys. Alas þe tyme þat she was bore! with-outyn endë she ys lore." [forlore O, born . . lorn D.] Line 1852

Line 1852 Þe aungel seyd, "y cómaunde þe, Dragun, hennë [þou dragoun hens D.] þat þou fle, Þat þou neuer [neuer more O.] any man noye No [? for Ne.] þys cuntre no more dystroye; Line 1856 No [? for Ne.] þat þou comë no more here yn þys stede [place D.] for to apere." And a-none, for drede and eye, [as tyd for dred of þe aungel on eyȝ D.] Þe dragun fleygh furþ hys weye. Line 1860 Þe folk þanked god echone, [echon O, ecchon D.] Þat þe dragun aweye was gone. [gon O, was a-wey gon D.]

wommen þat breke wedlak, mow [Wymmen moun here D.] yn þys tale Here, þat þey brew to hemself [þat breke wedlok brewyn her D.] bale. Line 1864 For þe foule dragun, þe fende [þe fende om. D.] of helle, [folio 13a:2] wyþ hém yn peyne shal euer [hym in p. schul þei D.] dwelle Þat half here flesh haue partyd or brokun [þat han her flesch so partyd & broke D.] Þat holy yn matrymony was lokun. [holy wedlok was be-loke D.]

Ȝyf þer be twey [tweyyn O.] yn cumpany [ȝif þou euere in place were D.] Line 1869 As beþ [byþ O.] yn wedlak specyaly, [þer wrong wedlok schulde a-rere D.] And þe toon do aȝens [but þou for-do þat D.] spousayle whereforë felaushepe may fayle, [so þat her cumpany may preuayle D.] Line 1872 But þe toþer wyl [wyle O.] hym [& but þou wilt hem þerfore D.] blame whan he wote hys foulë [foul O.] fame, [siþþin þou wost her foule schame D.] he consentyþ to hys [þou consentyst to her D.] synne But he desturble hym [þou destourble hem D.] þer-ynne. Line 1876

Ȝyf þou wendest [wentyst D.] oute of cuntre, Aȝens þy wyuys wyl to be, But she mow wonë [myȝt wonyn D.] yn þat stede

To haue þy fleshly felawrede, Line 1880 Ȝyf þou do hyt aȝens her [dedyst a-ȝen hir D.] wyl Certeynly þou synnyst ful yl. [wylle . . . ille D.] Ȝyf þou hyt do [do it D.] to holde þe chaste wyþ-oute here wyl, [leue O, leve D.] þou werchyst [dost D.] waste. For but [but ȝif D.] hyt be for grete resun, Line 1885 Ȝyf she mysdo, þou art enchesun.

Ȝyf þou louyst [loue D.] to haue þy wyfe Yn clennes and yn godë lyfe, Line 1888 vpbreyde here neuer for [of D.] gelusye Of no mannys cumpanye; For ȝyf þou dost, þan [dost . þen O, do . þan D.] wyl she do þyng þat she neuer þoghte to do. [þouȝt to D.] Line 1892 Men sey, þer [seye þere O, seyn þer D.] a man ys gelous, Þat þer [þere O, þer D (om. þat).] ys a kokewolde at [at þat D.] hous. Many a gode man ys kokewolde; [kukkold (om. ys) D.] Þere þe wyfe ys a shrewe, þer ys wykked [qwere þe wif is schrewe . þer is euyl D.] holde. But where [þer D.] þe wyfe haþ gelousye Þere beþ wrdys grete and hye; [Ielowsyȝe . . hyȝe D.] Line 1898 here mayster shal nagher go ne sytte [hir lord schal neuere out of hir syȝt D.] Þat she ne shal wommen on hym wytte. [but sche schal on hym women wyȝt D.] Þan ys þere [boþe D.] chydyng and boste, Line 1901 Þere ys nat [noght O, & þer is wantyng of D.] þe holy goste; For no þyng Ihesu cryst more quemeþ [more i. c. quemys D.] [folio 13b] Þan loue yn wedlak, þere men hyt ȝemyþ; [ȝemys D.] Ne no þyng ys to man [þanne is D.] so dere Line 1905 As [as a D.] wommanys loue yn gode manere. ²⁶A gode womman ys mannys blys Þere here loue ryȝt and [ryght O, þer þat hir lyþ D.] stedfast ys;²⁶ [26_26 A gode woman ys veryly mannys blys When she louys trew and stedfaste ys (? source)] Line 1908

Line 1908 Þere ys no solas vndyr heuene Of al [Harl. al, alle D.] þat a man may [moun D.] neuene, Þat shuld a man [man do O, man so meche D.] so mochë glew As a gode womman þat loueþ trew. Line 1912 Ne derer ys [ys om. D.] none yn goddys hurde Þan a chaste womman with louely wrde; Ensample haue y þerof ful fayre [haue we þare D.] yn þe lyfe of seynt Makayre. [makayr O, Machare D.] Line 1916

[The Tale of St. Macaire and the Two Good Married Women. [Narracio, in margin O.] ] [[Vitas Patrum, p. 656. Libro de los Exemplos, no. 145.—G. Paris.]]

Þere [It D.] was an abbot of great renoun, [A tale] An holy man yn relygyoun, he preydë god [om. god D.] vpp-on a day, And seydë "lorde, as þou weyl may, Line 1920 Ȝeue [ȝyf O, ȝif D.] me gracë for to wete who shal with me yn heuene sytte; Þat wulde y wyte [wete D.] on al manere, who yn heuene shal be my pere." Line 1924 A voys spakë [spak O.] to hym ful fayre, [hym þare D.] "wete [wethe D.] þou wele, for soþe, Makayre, Þere beþ [Þyr byþ O. It arn to D.] twey wymmen yn a cyte, Of so moche boneryte [O. gloss 'godenesse,' of ful mechil honoryte D.] Line 1928 þat alle þe penaunce þat þou mayst do Ne may nat reche here godenes to." he toldë hym þe cyte ryȝt, [ryght O, to þat c. ryȝt D.] And the wommen what þey hyght. [hyght O.] Line 1932 Makayrë wulde no lenger byde, [a-byde D.] But to þat cyte gan [wolde (om. But) D.] he ryde; As sonë as he comë [com O, & . . . cam D.] þere Line 1935 he askede where swyche [aspyed where þo D.] wymmen were.

Men taghte hym sonë to hem weyl; [tawtyn hym soone with wil D.] he come and toke þere hys osteyl. [O. gloss 'herborue.'] "wymmen," he seyde, "y wyl [wyle O.] me reste yn ȝoure Ine [yn O, hous & ben ȝoure gest D.] as [O. omits 'as.'] a nyȝtys geste." Line 1940 "Syr," þey seyde, "we graunte hyt þe [folio 13b:2] Ȝyf þou hyt aske pur [for D.] charyte." To a chambre þey hym broghte; [broght O.] þan [& þo D.] hys erende forȝate he noughte. [noght O.] Line 1944 ¹⁰he madë [O. inserts 'hem.'] boþë by hym sytte, And seyde, "y am come, at ȝow to wytte¹⁰ [10_10 om. D.] , [wete O.] yn what manere ȝe lede [qwat maner lede ȝe D.] ȝoure lyuys yn holynes, and byþ here [ȝe arn D.] wyuys: Line 1948 Forheleþ hyt nat, [for ellis not D.] y ȝow forbede, how þat ȝe ȝoure [ȝour O.] lyuys lede; Þarfore, y am come [I cam D.] to þys cyte, And haue trauayled many a iurne." [many Iourne D.] Line 1952

Þes wymmen answered al at gesse [O. gloss. 'hap'; ansuerden D.] "Syr, we knowe no [noun O, knowyn non D.] holynesse, But whan oure husbandys byþ [ben D.] vs by Þan beþ we yn loue ryȝtly, [ar . . loue all ryȝtfully D.] Line 1956 And yn parfyte charyte whan [qwhan D.] oure husbandys with vs be; Þys ys moste of ourë lyuys, And euer haþ be, syþ [syn O.] we were wyuys." "y beseche [beseke D.] ȝow, on my blessyng, Line 1961 Þat ȝe forhele fro me [forhile for D.] no þyng." [þynge O.] Þe toon [þat oon D.] answered to seynt Makayre [macare O, machure D.] "To twey breþryn we weddyd are Line 1964 A-passyd be [And passyde byþ O, & passid arn D.] twenty ȝere Þat we to-gedyr [gedere OD.] haue lyuyd here,

Þat neuer with hem [with hem, om. D.] were we onys wroth Ne þey with vs þat wedded vs both, Ne for no þyng þat euer [Ne . . euer, om. D.] may betyde Line 1969 To-gedyr shul we neuer chyde. Yn relygyun we wulde [woldyn D.] vs do; Oure husbondys graunte nat [grauntyn not D.] þar-to; Line 1972 Ȝyt haue we leuer leue [to letyn D.] oure wylle Þan oure hosbundys greue with [to greuyn D] ylle. So moche loue ys vs among Þat none to oþer wyl do [meche . . . non of vs wil oþer D.] wrong." Line 1976

Among oþer [Alle oþer H, of many D.] þynges to hym þey spake, [O. gloss 'seyde.'] "We þenke so moche on oure wedlake, For hyt ys [was O, It was D.] yn þe olde testament, [folio 14a] And yn þe newe hyt ys [it is þe D.] sacrament; Line 1980 And God [God OD, om. Harl.] haþ ordeyned hyt for þe pes, And þeryn, [O. to inserted in a later hand. þer in to (om. And) D.] be bore he ches, Þat we ne shul, by oure [our O, þerfore we schul not be oure D.] lyue, Neuermore to-gedyr [gedere OD, ben at D.] stryue, Line 1984 Ne foly wrdys be [be O, om. Harl., no foly wurdis betwen vs be D.] betwyxe vs seyd— As ouþer wymmen makyn vpbreyd,— For noun enuye ne coueytyse, Ne for noun ouþer maner [maner of D.] wyse; Line 1988 But seruë [seruyn D.] god and oure husbondys yn alle þyng þat [þat, om. D.] he sendeþ hys sondys."

Makayre ioyed þat [þat, om. D.] þey were so stable, And so long whylë [qwyle D.] so tretable; Line 1992 he þankeþ God [þankyde god O.] þat he haþ [hade O, þankid . . had D.] founde So mylde wymmen yn wedlak bounde; he toke hys leue and went hys weye, As an abbot shulde, to hys abbeye. Line 1996

Line 1996

[See ll. 2475-80 of the French.] God wuld hyt werë now so here, So meke wymmen ²of so fayre² [2_2 of here O, mylde women of here D.] manere; But of ouþer, men mowe [mow O, may D.] fynde wymmen yn wedlak ryȝt on-kynde, [vnkynde O, ful on-kynde D.] Line 2000 Þat for a gamë wurde [gamyn wurd D.] yn veyn Þey wyl ȝyuë forty [ȝeuyn .xx^ti. þer D.] aȝeyn. Se how þese [þys O.] wymmen [women with D.] a-cordaunce Plesyd [plesedyn D.] god with lytyl penaunce, Line 2004 And preysed hem to [euere preysid he D.] seynt Makayre For þey bare hem [hem bare O.] yn wedlak fayre; [so trewe in wedlok ware D.] As mochë þan shal he hem [& as meche mote hem of D.] blame, Þat chydyn to-gydyr, & reysyn shame. [ch. & fyȝttyn & don meche scame D.] Line 2008

Ȝyf þou euer þy wyfe lay [owher . . ly D.] by Yn tyme of penaunce, to seye flesshly, [it was foly D.] — ȝyf þou be custumable þar-to, Þou synnest gretly, my boke seyþ so. Line 2012 yn holy tyme and halyday Forbere þy wyfe, [lust D.] ȝyf þat þou may.

Ne þou shalt nat know [k. fleschly (om. Ne) D.] þy wyfe yn holy placë, by [be O, þe h. day be D.] þy lyfe; Line 2016 Ȝyf þou do hyt custumably, [folio 14a:2] Þou synnest, y sey, [be hir þan D.] dedly; Cherche or cherchëȝerd, y sey, [seye O, or in cherche sawe D.] yn holy stede hyt ys grete eye. [awe D.] Line 2020

yn lentyn tymë [it is tyme D.] of fastyng Shalt þou leue to do swyche þyng. [þou schalt leue al swych doyng D.] yn estyr tyme also, y [pasche tyme I þe D.] forbede Þat þou haunte any [vse no D.] swyche dede. Line 2024

Ȝyf a womman yn hordam [þou in hordam dost D.] do swyche outrage [L. 2525 Fr.]

Þat a [a, om. D.] wrong eyre bere herytage; But she wul seye hyt, [wyle O, þou wylt seyn it D.] y dar wel telle Þat she þarfore may [þou mayst þerfore D.] go to helle; Line 2028 For she ys cursed, yn stedys sere, [þei arn a-cursyd also in fere D. D puts lines 2031-2 before 2029-30.] Fourë tymës yn þe ȝere. And swyche an eyre, y vndyrstande, Shal neuer wel reioshe [schal he neuere ioyȝe in D.] hys lande. Line 2032

Many synnës to hordam longe; Sum byþ lyȝt, and sum beþ [many be l. & many arn D.] stronge, Þat beþ aȝens ryȝt [þei arn a-ȝens trewe D.] spousale, Þat y nel rekene, ne telle of [I can not . . . be D.] tale, Line 2036 But opunly þat seyd may [þat opynly seyd fel to be D.] be; For many longe [longen D.] to pryuyte. For pryuytees, [preuytes O.] ȝyf y hem named [l. 2039, 2040, om. D.] Lyȝt[e]ly myȝt y be blamed. [l. 2039, 2040, om. D.] Line 2040 But þogh a [þowh sum (om. but) D.] man sey neuer so weyl Vnto hys sawys men fyden [fyndyn O.] teyl. [summe contrarye it euerydel O.] [scorne]

Þat weddyd beþ, [þo þat weddid ben D.] God ȝyue hem myȝt, here wedlak to holdë weyl and ryȝt, Line 2044 And ȝyue hem grace, hordam to fle, Þat yn clenesse wuld leue [lyuyn D (at foot 'Amen. quod. con. Rose:').] and be.

[The Seventh Commandment. [Non Furtum Facies. Septimum Mandatum. D.] ]

The seuenþe shul we nat forhele 'No mannys [mans O, mannys good D.] godë shalt þou stele,' For þys ys one of ten; [þe ten D.] Þarefore y pray [preyȝe D.] allë men Þat þey kepe hem fro þys [kepyn . . þat D.] synne,

For þere ys moche veniauuce þerynne; [ynne O.] yn þys worldë, [wrlde O.] shamely dede; [deþ] Line 2053 And seþyn, helle; for god hyt forbed. [lines 2053-4, om. D.] God forbedyþ men [man D.] to stele [folio 14b] Any maner of worldës [wrldys OD.] wele. Line 2056 "Þou man, beþenke þe wel before [be-forn D.] how þou mayst þerfore be lore, [for þou . . . for lorn D.] And what þou shalt haue [qwat . . . han D.] þarefore, yn þys world, and elyswhore." Line 2060 But manyone wyl neuer beware Tyl sum myschaunce make hem aȝenchare; [myshap bringiþ hym in car D.] Slayn, [takyn & slayn D.] or, yn prysun [prysone O, presoun D.] be, Or hanged, þat al þe worlde may se. Line 2064 So shul men þe body shende; And ȝyt to peyne þe soule shal [þi soule to peyne D.] wende. wuldë men se what myschaunce Cumþ for þeft, [þyfte O, comyth for þefte & ȝit D.] and what penaunce, Line 2068 Þeftë [þyfte O.] shulde nat be so lefe; A foule poynt [poynt O.] ys, be clepyd a þefe. [name it is to be callyd þef D.]

Ouþer poyntes of wykkednes Mow be soffred, sum more, sum les; Line 2072 But þefte [þyfte O.] serueþ of wykkede note, [seruyse] hyt hangeþ hys [þe D.] mayster by þe þrote, Or doþe hym lese hys godë fame, [good name D.] Or bryngeþ hym oute [ellyswher O, ellis qwere D.] of þe towne forshame. 'Þefte shal neuere more be hyd, Line 2077 For, here or elyswhore, [O. hyt out . . wyþ OD, (D om. hym, hyt, þe).] hyt shal be kyd;' Þus seyþ þe prophete þat men on leuys, And [þat D (om. 2nd to).] spekeþ to fals men and to þeuys. Þe synne ys nat forȝyuen [is not forȝoue D.] þe man Line 2081 But he restore þat he haue [haþ O, b. þou r. þat þou hast D.] tan; For ȝyf þou make any man [ȝyf þou ony good D.] falsly tyne, [lese]

As for þeft, [þefte OD.] þou shalt haue pyne; Line 2084 And mochë more, for swyche [mechil m. for sum D.] falsnes, Þan for any ouþer falsnes þat es. [for sum þat falsnesse isse D.] [A tale]

[¶ A tale in margin HO.] A gode ensample þes clerkys wote [woot O, þat cl. wot D.] Of a tale þat an abbot wrote, [wroot O, þat in a bok he wrot D.] Line 2088 Þat þeuys shulde [schuldyn D.] before hem loke Ar [or D.] þey ouþer mennys þyng toke;— yn 'vytas patrum' hyt ys wryte; [wrete O, wreten D.] hyt ys a boke þat [þat þys cl. O, þat cl. weten D.] clerkys wete, Line 2092 And [And a OD.] ful fayre techyng ys þer-ynne [lernyng þerin D.] [folio 14b:2] For to leue of þeft [þyfte O, to letyn of þefte þat s. D.] þe synne.

[The Tale of Zenon, the would-be Thief: how he reformd himself.] [[Vitas Patrum, ed. Roseweyd, p. 569.—G. Paris.]]

Þys yche abbot, Ȝenon he [It was an ab. þat ȝenan D.] hyght, And wel [weyl O.] he was with god almyght; Vppon a day [tyme D.] he went hys wey Line 2097 To Palestyne, þat ys an [ys an, om. D.] abbey, To make hys vysytacyun As falleþ yn [it falliþ in his D.] relygyun; Line 2100 And as he went by [wente be O.] þe strete he behelde a fruyt ryȝt feyre and [frut þat was ful D (om. he).] swete; Þys yche fruyt he desyred [ilke frut he coueytid D.] faste, And hys herte moche þarto [þar to moche O, þerto mechil (om. And) D.] he caste, 'Gourdys' [Gourdus O, turcus . . . calle D.] þus men clepe þe name; Line 2105 Þys gode man þoght, "y am to blame Ȝyf y take ouþer mennys þyng wyþ-outë leue of any [my D.] askyng. Line 2108 For soþe, he seyde, þan were y a þefe [þef OD (om. he seyde D).]

And þefte ne ys gode, ne gode [gode O, no H, þ. to god is not lefe D.] man lefe; [lef O.] And ȝyf y stele, y am a felun; hanged y shal be, þurgh [hangen schal I be D.] ryȝt resun. Line 2112 Fyrst y wylle wyte [wete O, wete þe certeyn D.] þe soþe certeyne. Ȝyf y may suffre þat yche [ilke D.] peyne Þat þefys [þeuys OD.] suffre for þeft [þefte O, þeftis D.] sake, Ar y wyl [wyle O, or I wil ony D.] oght of þe fruyt take; Line 2116 And ȝyf y may nat suffre þat wo, To þeftë wyl [þan wil D.] y neuer go."

Ryght as he þoght, he dede eche dele, he ȝede and clambe [þer he clomb D.] vpp on a pele, [peyl O, pel D.] [perche] Line 2120 And hyng [hynge O, heng D.] þeron by þe hond, [handys D.] — Nat by þe nekke, y vndyrstonde [not be . . . we vnderstandis D.] — For hyt ys nat oueral þe lawe For to do so, men to [men so to O, don men so of D.] dawe. Line 2124 Fyuë days he hyng [hynge O, hong D.] þere stylle Aȝens þe sunnë by [þat synne be D.] hys wylle; And hyt was [& was D.] yn þe somerys tyde, whan þe hete ys al yn [qwan hete is in al his D.] pryde. Line 2128 Þan seyd [spak D.] he, to hymself þore, "Þys peynë wyl [wyle O, of þ. fr. wil D.] y suffre no more: Þefte, he seyde, y here [here I D.] forsake; [folio 15a] Þys fruyt, wyl [wyle O.] y nat take. Line 2132 Syn [Siþþin (om. for) D.] y may nat suffre for grefe Þe peyne þat befalleþ to [falliþ for D.] a þefe."

Þys ensample were gode to kone, [example is good to knowe D.] Alle hem þat to þefte hem wone; [þat to þefte wil hym drawe D.] Line 2136 Þo þat haue here handys as lyme, [han hool handis & lym D.] To hem were gode to here þys ryme;

Þan myght þey wytë [wete OD.] redly what [redily; qwat D.] shamë þat þey were wurþy, Line 2140 And swych grace myȝt god [god myȝt D.] hem sende Þat þey, þurgh þys myȝt [myȝte þorwh þis D.] hem amende.

A [O om. A.] þefë to hys þefte haþ [in to þ. hath alwey D.] rape, For he weneþ euer-more for [more HO, om. D; for HD, om. O.] to skape; yn þat hope he doþe hys euyl, Line 2145 And al ys [is þe OD.] entycement of þe deuyl. Þarefore beþenke þe wel [weyl, man O, man wel D (om. þarfore).] with-ynne Þat þefte ys cumbrement [encumbrement D.] of synne. Line 2148

Ȝyf a man make a chylde oght [owht a child to D.] stele, Swyche styl [stylle O, stille D.] þefte shal he nat hele; A þefte hyt ys, ȝyf þou do so, To tyse [tyce O, teche D.] a chylde swyche synne to do.

Or ȝyf þou euer stale a [þou stele ony D.] chylde aweye, yn swychë þefte ys grete affraye. [it is gret fray D.] yn þys twey þynges and yn þys [Of þese to þingis & of swych D.] fame Are wymmen mochë for [arn many women meche D.] to blame. Line 2156 For þey haue [han D.] cumlyngys yn and oute; Of swyche shuld men haue [han D.] gretë [gret OD.] doute. Þey shul neuer weyte but wo, Swychë cumlyngys, to ne [sueche . . and D.] fro, Line 2160 Þey are wurþy to be shent yn þys yche [ilke D.] comaundëment.

Ȝyf þou brake euer any kyrke [O. gloss. 'cherche,' werk D.] On day, or yn [on O.] nyȝt, yn myrke, [day or nyȝt in þe merke D.] [derke] Line 2164 Þou art a-cursed, þou wostë [wost OD.] weyl, And hange were wurþy [& wurþi to hangen vp D.] on a peyl.

And ȝyf þou bere [beryst O, bere D (om. ȝyf).] awey þe þyng, Þe more þou fallest yn cursyng. Line 2168

Ȝyf þou haue be a þefe of pray [folio 15a:2] To robbë men be [vsyd to robbe men D.] nyȝt or be [OD om. be.] day, Gretly þou dost aȝens þe lawe, Þou oghtyst to do swyche men a [o O, of D.] dawe.

Or ȝyf þou swyche foly began [began OD.] Line 2173 To rauyshë any [to rauaschyn euere ony D.] womman, Þat ys to seye, any [seyne ony D.] wedded wyfe, Þe more ys þy synne & [in D.] perel of lyfe. Line 2176

Ȝyf þou rauyssh any [a O, rauasehedyst ony mayde D.] mayden clene— Aȝens here wyl, þat [it D.] ys to mene,— hyt ys seyde þurgh lawë wrete, Þat þyn hede shulde be of smete [wretyn . . his hed . . smeten D.] Line 2180 (Lawe makeþ þat commandëment) with-outyn any iuggëment; Þat mayst þou fyndë al an [and O.] sum In code 'de raptu virginum.' Line 2184

Ȝyf þou rauysshe a mayden powre, [rauaschyst . . pure D.] Þou art holdyn [holde O, be holde hir to recure O.] to here socoure; And, þat shal be [þat schal be don D.] at here wylle, For, as she wyl, [wyle O, & al þat sche wile D.] þou shalt fulfylle; Line 2188 For þou hast do here [here a O, don hire a D.] tresun, Þou hast stole here [& stolyn hir chef D.] warysun; hyt may þe brynge to more cumbryng Þan þoght [þogh O.] þou haddest stole moche [þan þou had stole meche D.] ouþer þyng. To comun lechours, y þys [þis I D.] seye, Many with-outë shryfte shul deye.

Ȝyf þou be a [a gret D.] lordyng, And outraiusly [þat outrageusly D.] takyst mennys þyng Line 2196 yn tyme of werre or tyme of pes, Þou stelyst hyt, with-outë les,—

But þurgh ryȝt or þurgh cunnaunte, [ryȝt of comenaunt D.] — Þou art a þefe ȝyf þou hyt haunte. Line 2200

And ȝyf [ȝif þou be D.] a lorde of a tounne Robbe hys men oute of [& þi men robbe with-out D.] resoune, Þogh hyt be yn [al be it in his D.] bondage, Aȝens ryȝt [þe ryȝt D.] he doþe outrage. Line 2204 he shal so take, þat he may lyue, [leue O, schuld . . oþere myȝt D.] And as lawe of londe wyl [wyle O, wil ȝeue D.] forȝyue; For ȝyf [& ȝif D.] he take ouer mesure, [folio 15b] lytyl tymë shal hyt dure. [endure D.] Line 2208 Þogh [ȝif D.] god haue ȝeue [ȝeue O, ȝouyn D.] hym þe seynorye, [lordshyp] he ȝaf hym no leue to do [make (om. hym) D.] robborye; For god haþ ordeyned al mennys [alle mens O, for he . . . euery mannys D.] state, how to lyue, [leue O, schuld . . oþere myȝt D.] and yn what gate; [O. gloss 'maner.' How he schal lyuyn & on qwat g. D.] Line 2212 And þoȝt he ȝyue [þogh he ȝeue O, ȝif he ȝeue a man meche m. D.] one ouer oþer myȝt, he wyl, [wyle O.] þat he do hym [he do no man (om. þat) D.] but ryȝt. Þys ys þe ryȝt of goddys lokyng, "Ȝelde euery man hys ownë [owyn D.] þyng." Line 2216 But god takeþ euermore [mechil D.] veniaunce Of lordys, for swych myschaunce, For swych robbery þat [as D.] þey make Þat [þat þey O.] oftë of þe poure [pore O, of þe pore with wrong ofte þei t. D.] men take. Line 2220 y shal ȝou telle a. lytyl wyght how hyt befel onys of [be fil of suyche D.] a knyȝt. [A tale.] [narracio D.]

[The Tale of the Knight who robd a Poor Man.]

Sum tymë was, hyt were twey [it was þer were to D.] knyȝtys Þat loued weyl at [louedyn to-gedere with al D.] herë myȝtys; Line 2224 A sykenes [syknes O, syknesse on þat oon D.] on þe toon gan falle,

he deydë [& deyȝed D.] sone, as we shul alle. Þe touþer knyȝt seyd ofte, alas, For [þat oþer . . þat D.] hys felawe so sone dede was. Line 2228 Fyl hyt [it fel . . lyuende D.] so, þys lyuyng knyȝt, yn hys bed he lay [lay on D.] a nyght, And was yn swyche a-wakyng Þat he myȝt [myghte O, myȝt not D (om. þat).] slepë for no þyng; Line 2232 Þe mone shone yn hys [hys OD, om. H.] chaumbre flore; Þe knyȝt lay, and lokyd furþe. [foor D.] At a [þe D.] wyndowe come yn a beme, And yn þe shynyng he saghe a gleme Ryght lyche þat knyȝt euery [eury O.] deyl Line 2237 Þat sum tyme he loued ful [was he louede so D.] weyl. Þys knyȝt þoght 'hyt ys [þe k. hym þouȝt it was D.] fantome Þat y se þus yn þe monë [yn þe mone þus O, he saw in þe mone lyȝt D.] come.' Line 2240 He was a-frayd [a ferd D.] with-outë fayle, And, þat was no grete merueyle. But þe knyȝt þat was dede Cumfortyd hym sone, & seyde hys rede, "Be nat adred, [a ferd D.] for hyt am y [folio 15b:2] Line 2245 Þat þou louedyst [þe louede D.] so specyaly. Y was þy felaw, þy trewe frere, For help y come to þe now here: Line 2248 Þogh y be dede, þou darst [darst þou O, ȝif þou be ded, þar þe not D.] nat drede, Of helpe had y neuer er nede. At nedë shul men proue [preue O, preuyn D.] here frendys, And frendes loue oþer whyle wel [weyl O, sumtyme wel D.] endys. help me now, y am yn wo, Line 2253 Þat y may come þe sonner [þe sunner come O, come þe sonere D.] þerfro."

Þe [þis D.] knyȝt, þat lay yn hys bed, wax bolder, and lasse [wex boldere & was not D.] a-dred, Line 2256 And seyd "felaw, for charyte, what ys þy wo? shewe hyt [qwat is þi wo, þou telle it D.] me." Þan spake to hym þe dedë knyȝt, Line 2259 "Þoght [Þogh O, ȝif D.] y had space a day & a [O om. 'a.'] nyȝt, Alle þe penaunce ne coude y telle, Þat y suffre yn a welle. A peyne y suffre hard [harde, om. D.] for þe nones, For a cloþe þat y refte [stal D.] ones Line 2264 Of a poure [pore OD.] man with-outë ryȝt; Alas þat euer y say [sagh O, hadde D.] þat syȝt; Þat cloþe ys caste on me to peyne As heuy as any mounteyne; Line 2268 Hyl ne mounteyne, erþe ne stone, Vndyr heuene so heuy ys none; No so hote fyre [fere O, fyr D.] ys yn no land [is now in londe D.] As hyt ys aboute me brennand. [aboue me brennande D.] Line 2272 Þarfore, felaw, y pray [preyȝe to D.] þe, Þat þou haue on me [on me þou haue D.] pyte, And, to pore men do noun [do þou non D.] ylle, Ne aȝens holy chyrches wylle; Line 2276 But al þe gode þat þou mayst, [alwey good þat þou D.] werche To porë men and [do and O, boþe to p. m. & D.] to holy chyrche. Me were leuere deye an hundyr syþe [to deyȝe an hundred syþe D.] Line 2279 Þan suffre þys peyne þat noght may [þat may not D.] lyþe." Þan seyde þe knyȝt, & wepe [þis kn. & wepyd D.] ful sore, "My swete felaw, telle me ȝyt [now telle me D.] more, Ȝyf any þyng be so [ony þing were ful D.] certeyne [folio 16a] Þat may delyuer þe [myȝtte delyuere þe out D.] of peyne." Line 2284

Line 2284 Þan seyd þe knyȝt, "y myȝt [myghte O, myȝt D.] be clere Þurgh þe sacrament of þe autere." Þe knyȝt nemnede prestes [Harl. 'p'test,' om. OD.] manyone; Þan stode þe dedë, stylle as [stille as a D.] stone, Line 2288 "wylt þou þan [þat O, þat þei for D.] any of þese for þe syng, [syngge O.] Þe of peynë [out of peynys D.] for to brynge?" [bryngge O.] Þe dede meuede hys hede [hys hede meuede O.] to & fro, For he was payd of noun [plecyd with non D.] of þo. Line 2292 wete ȝe forsoþe, boþe [boþe, om. D.] man and wyfe, Þey were nat of [alle of D.] clenë lyfe; Of hem þe dede ȝaf noun answere, he made no fors of here preyere. Line 2296

Neþeles, [Noþeles O, not for þan þe self D.] þe seluyn messe ys noþer þe wursë, ne þe [neuere þe wers no of pris D.] lesse; Þe sunne, hys feyrnes neuer he [ne.] tynes, [O. gloss 'lesyþ.'] Þogh hyt on þe muk hepe [mukhyl D.] shynes, But þe muk ys þe more stynkyngge [mukhil . . stynkend D.] Line 2301 Þere þe sunne ys more shynyngge. [hoot schynyng D.] Ne [No O, no more is lorn D.] more hyt ys lore, þe vertu Of þe messe, but [to D.] mannys pru. Line 2304 Þogh [If D.] þe prest be fals or frow, Þe messe, ys euer gode ynow; [a now D.] But þe preyere haþ [preyeris of hym han D.] no myȝt, For hys lyfe ys nat clene dyȝt. Line 2308

Þe knyȝt nemnede one at þe laste, A gode man, and a ryȝt [ryȝt, om. D.] stedefaste: "wylt þou þat he preye for þe?" Þo seyde þe dede "wel were þan me [þou seyde . . were me D.] Line 2312 ȝyf he wuldë for me syngge, he myȝt me of [out of D.] peynës bryngge."

Þe knyȝt seyd [he seyde D.] truly, "truste to me, Þat samë prest shal prey [preye O, ilke p. s. preyȝe D.] for þe; Line 2316 And þat þy peyne mow [myȝt . . lesse (om. And) D.] be þe lasse, Euery day shal he for þe [for þe shal he O, certeyn dayȝis schal he for þe s. masse D.] synge a masse." "May y þan trust to þy [trusten þan to þe D.] sawe Þat þou be now my [þou wilt be to me (om. þat) D.] trew felawe?" Line 2320

"ȝe, as y am a trew knyȝt, [folio 16a:2] hyt shal be do, at [don with al D.] my myȝt." "A tokene betwyxe [be-twen D.] þe and me," [me and þe O.] Þan seyd þe dedë, [þe dede seyde þat D.] "shal þys be?" Line 2324 he toke and grepe [grypyd D.] þe knyȝtys arme, But he felt þer-of none harme; Also he touched hys bare þe; [so he touched þe bare skyn D.] Þe bare bone myȝt men euer after se; [myȝt be sen D.] But sorë [sor O, and for D.] þerof felt [felte O D.] he noght, Line 2329 But for þe felyng, more on hym [on hym more (om. but) D.] he þoght. Þat mark saw alle men comunly, [þe tokene saw many on þerby D.] But no man wyst [wyste O, non wyste r. qwy D.] redely why. Line 2332 Þe dedë seyd "þou shalt leue [not lyuyn D.] here No lenger but [þan D.] þys two ȝere." he tolde what day þat he shuld deye, [t. he schulde deyȝe & qwat day D.] And seþyn he went forþe [ȝede furþ O, þe dede knyȝt þo ȝede D.] hys weye. Line 2336

Þe knyȝt amended seþyn [seþen amendede O, siþþe amendyd D.] hym weyl, And to þe dede was as trew [trewe (om. as) D.] as steyl; For he dede [(om. For) he dede for hym D.] as he hym hette, Þe prest for hym song þat he hem hette. [hym to synge he let D.] Þys aperyng, [schewyng D.] yn my [myne O, myn D.] auys, Line 2341 Auayled [It a-vayled D.] to boþe partys.

Seþyn [Syn O, siþþe . . a palmerys D.] toke þe knyȝt palmers wede, And yn [yn om. D.] to þe holy londe he ȝede; Line 2344 Ihesu cryst [crystys O, cristis D.] sepulcre he soght, For þe synnys [synne hadde D.] þat he had wroght; And, at þe [at þe, OD, at H.] two ȝerës ȝende, God almyghty for hym gan sende; Line 2348 For þat day þat [þe same day D.] þe dede knyȝt seyde, Þe touþer knyghte þat same day [for soþe þat oþer knyȝt D.] deyde. Blessyd be god, of [grace be god D.] heuene kyng, Þat sent hym þat yche [to hym þat D.] tokenyng. Line 2352

Now may ȝe se, by þys tale, Þat þeftë breweþ mochë [mechil D.] bale. Certys þefte ryȝt [ful D.] wykked ys whan [qwan D.] þe dede bereþ wytnes, Line 2356 Namly, pore men for [a namely pore men D.] to pele Or [And O (om. D), robben & beten w. o. skele D.] robbe or bete with-outë skyle. Þeftë wyl hys mayster shende, [folio 16b] And hym fordo [& for don D.] wyþ-outyn ende. Line 2360

Ȝyf þou be a serïaunt, [were euere ony seruaunt D.] And takë [toke . . . comnaunt D.] more þan þy cunnaunt, Custummablychë, mete or drynk [drynge O, & drynk D.] — Þoht for noght hyt be þe þyng [it is al for nouȝt as þe þinkith D.] — Line 2364 y redë þat [rede sum tyme D.] þou þer-of lete, For many smale makeþ a grete. holy chyrche callyþ hyt þefte, wyþ-outë skylle, for hyt [skyl al þat þat D.] ys refte. Line 2368

Ȝyf þou euer reysyddyst [receydist ony fals D.] custome, Þou mayst be sykyr of hard [myȝt . . ryȝt hard D.] dome. But ȝyf þat þou mayst hyt [ȝif þou may for don it & D.] felle, hyt ys robbery, gostly to telle. [g. þou gost to helle D.] Line 2372

Line 2372 Ȝyf hyt so betyde þat hyt lasteþ [laste O, so be it l. D.] ay, Þy medë [song D.] shal be welaway. Ȝyf þou amende hyt nat yn þy lyue, what [qwat D.] prest may þe þer-of shryue? Line 2376 Now telle we forþe, þat ȝe [we D.] may lere, how þeftë comþ [comyþ OD, & on qwat m. D.] yn queynt manere:—

Ȝyf þou [þat þou D.] euer þy werke withdrowe, Or dedyst hyt nat weyl to [dede it not wel to þe ful D.] prowe, Line 2380 Tyde or tyme þat þou shuldest [shust O, qwhan þou schal D.] werche, 'Þou art a þefe,' seyþ holy cherche. Ȝyf þou do custummablyche swych [þys OD.] lak, To begyle [falsyn D.] þy mayster be-hynde hys bak, Þou mayst nat excuse þe with rous, [proud wordys] [must not defende þe with ros D.] Line 2385 And sey, 'al þe worlde so dous.' [þowh al þe wyde word so gos D.] Þe worldë may nat sauë [word may not sauyn D.] þe: Shryue [amende . . word D.] þy defaute, and late þe world be.

Ȝyf þe be leyde a borde [þou ley ony hurd D.] to wedde, Line 2389 Or a cloþe to bak or bedde, Ȝyf þou hyt vse aȝens hys [her D.] wylle, holy cherche seyþ þat þou dost [doust O, þou dost (om. þat) D.] ylle, [yl O, wil . . . il D.] And warneþ þe þerof ȝyt efte, Line 2393 Þat hyt ys boþe okyr [gowl D.] and þefte. Okur [goul D.] hyt ys, for þe outrage To take þy catel, and haue [haue, om. D.] auauntage; And for þefte, he may þe greue [folio 16b:2] Line 2397 To vse hys þyng aȝens hys leue; And ȝyf hyt be so þat þus ys [be sueche forth D.] gone, Charyte ne cristyndome [trewe charyte D.] ys þer none. Line 2400 Þyn euencristyn þou owyst to lene, [releue or relene D.] Ȝyf þou mayst spare hyt, [hyt, om. D.] þat y mene.

Also, [As D.] ȝyf a þyng be þe lent

And þou wyþ-outë hys asent Line 2404 lene furþer þat þyng [put þat þing often D.] to were, For þefte to hym [to hym O, þer of D, om. H.] þou shalt answere. Þou wost weyl, þou dost [doust O, þou dost (om. þat) D.] nat ryȝt; Þat a-noþer hyt useþ, hyt ys þy plyȝt. [to a-peyre his good forsoþe I plyȝt. D.] Line 2408

Ȝyf þou haue a þyng yn ferme To a certeyn day of terme, And ȝyf þou ouer þat terme day Trauelyst hyt [Traueylyst hyt O, trauaylyst it D; hyt om. H.] aȝens hys pay, Line 2412 Þou hast synned yn a spece, [I telle þe D.] yn þeftë þou art come a grece. [In a spyce of þefte in þat degre D.]

Now wyl y speke of okerers, [gouleris D.] Þat þefys ben [beyn O, arn on þe same D.] yn sum maners. Line 2416 To whom þat vsery [he þat to gowle D.] ys lefe, Gost[e]ly, [gostly to telle D.] he ys a þefe.

Ȝyf þou of any okerere [ony gowlere D.] wyþ wrong hys þyng awey dest [a-wey his good D.] bere, Line 2420 Þoghe [ȝif D.] he be no cristyn man, Þefte vnto [to D.] þy self þou wan; Þou ne owyst nat of hys [þou owyst not of hym D.] to haue with wrong, ȝyf þou þy self wylt [wylt om. D.] saue.

Also, ȝyf þou haue founde a þyng, Line 2425 And makyst þerfore [þer of D.] none askyng At cherche ne at þe market an hy, [hij O, þe cherche ne market by D.] But forhelest [kepist D.] hyt pryuyly Line 2428 So þat þe þyng with þe dwelle, hyt ys þefte, þys clerkys telle.

Ȝyf þou withdrawest [wyþdraghst O, with-drawe H.] a mannys [mans.] ryȝt Styllyche, þat hyt be nat yn [þat he haue þer-of no D.] syght, Line 2432 Þogh [alþowh D.] a man parseyue hyt noght,

Þou stelyst hyt, and þefte [& as a þef D.] hast wroght.

Ȝyf þou wyþholdest [withdrawe D.] a mannys seruyse [folio 17a] For euyl herte or fals [for D.] queyntyse, Line 2436 Or withdrawest [wyþdrahst O, with-drawyst ony mannys D.] any manere pay, And ledyst hym furþe [& taryest hym D.] fro day to day, But ȝyf hyt be [Harl. omits 'be'; be O, be be D.] with grete resun, Of þeftë þou art [art þe O, art þou D.] enchesun. Line 2440 For þe gospel commaundeþ ryȝt 'holde nat [withholde non D.] hys seruyse ouer nyght;' whan þe man haþ do [qwan a m. h. don D.] hys dede, God wol [wyle O, wil D.] þat he haue hys mede. Line 2444

what sey [qwat seyn (om. þes) D.] men of þes fals husbandys Þat ere aweye falsly [falsly ere awey O, falsly eryn a-wey oþer D.] mennys landys; Of a land, þurgh and þurgh, Takyn and eryn awey a furgh? [takiþ welny a wey a forw D.] Line 2448 Þat ys boþe thefte and [ȝit it is a þefte & a D.] robberye, And hyt ful derë shal he a-bye. [he O, om. H., & ful dere he schal it a-bey D.] Of swychë, fewe men [fo men god D.] hem amende, For þey beyn [þo men arn D.] þe deuylys frende. Line 2452

Tauuarsyns [gannokerys D.] and vserers, Þys are, Lucyfer, þy [arn lucyferys D.] peres; For þey are alle [þei arn D.] þe deuyl betaght Þat okeryn falsly þe worldes aght. [gode [þat is for goule & for wordis auȝt D.] ] Line 2456 Okyr ys also, [goul it is D.] ȝyf þou hyt haunte, To lenë þyng to [vp D.] certeyn cunnaunt; Also, to bye [a noþer to beyȝe D.] a þyng byfore, halfe vn-to þe [þe OD, om. Harl.] sellers [soweris D.] lore; Line 2460 For ȝyf þe byer may weyl [ȝif þe beyȝere myȝt wel D] lene Þat þyng [þynge O.] with-outë losse or [trey & D.] tene,

he ys holde to helpe [þou art bounden to helpyn D.] hym with-alle, Or holy cherche seyþ, þat he hyt stalle. [seith þou it stal D.]

Okeryng ys on many [goulyng haþ a noþer D.] manere, Line 2465 Mo þan y kan telle now here. But wete ȝe weyl, swyche gode shal go As hyt come, with sorowe and wo; Line 2468 For some haue [summe han (om. For) D.] so grete cumbrement Þat þey may make no testament; For holy cherche neuer vndyrstode To haue of okerer[ë]s gode. [han ony of goulerys good D.] Line 2472

[The Tale of Seint Forsyne's Visit to Hell.] [[Acta Sanctorum, Jan. iii. 404.—G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 196.]]

[folio 17a:2] A tale ys tolde of Seynt Forsyne, [A tale] wharefor he suffryd onys [qwerfore . . meche D.] pyne. Þys samë tale [þat ilke D.] tellyþ seynt Bede yn hys gestys þat men [gestys men it D.] rede. Line 2476 whan [qwan D.] seynt Fursyne had lyued long, Þyr toke hym þan [hym took þanne (om. þyn) D.] an euyl strong; Þat tymë þat he wende [tyme wende he al for D.] to deye, Come one to hym and [þer cam an aungel to hym D.] þus gan seye, "Rys vp, Fursyne, and go with me! Line 2481 Merueyl mochë shalt þou [mechil þou schalt D.] see." wheþer he wulde, or he ne wulde, [qwheþer he wolde or he nolde D.] he toke hym vp, and furþe he shulde; Many stedys he late [lete O, many a place he lete D.] hym se, Line 2485 Merueylys and grete [grete & of D.] pryuyte; he shewed hym þe [hym þe OD, om. Harl.] depnes of helle, And þe peynes þat þeryn dwelle; Line 2488 Seþþe þey toke a weye ryȝt [gate ful D.] euene,

As hym þoght, toward heuene. yn þe fyrmament as þey ȝede, Foure fyres he sawe [ferys hi sagh O, fyrys he saw D.] of gretë [gret OD.] drede; Þes foure fyres [ferys O, fyris wexyn D.] wax hygh & hote, Line 2493 And yn-to one, alle [al O, to on of þo (om. And yn) D.] foure þey smote. wndurful [wunderfully D.] was þan þat fyre, [fere O, fyr D.] And dredful, and also [And also dredful, & O, & so dredful D.] brynnyng shere. Þe aungel þydyrward [to hym ward D.] toke þe weye; Line 2497 Þo [þo om. D.] þoght seynt Fursyne, 'here shal y deye.' Þe aungel ȝede furþ ful boldely, But seynt Fursyne durst nat come ny. Line 2500 Þe aungel say [sagh O, saw D.] he gan abyde, "Come furþe," he seyd, "and þe [þou D.] nat hyde; Of þys fere ne drede [fyr drede D.] þe noght, But þou with wrong euer toke oght; Line 2504 Ȝyf þou haue take any [any om. D.] þyng with wrong, Þou shalt brenne yn þys fyre [brennyn in þis (om. fyre) D.] strong. with mochë [mechil D.] þoght, sorowe, and drede, Fursyne vnto þat fyre [þe fyr D.] ȝede. Line 2508 Þe fyre [fere O, fyr D.] on boþë half hym was, [halue was D.] But furþ he ȝede fast [faste he ȝede furþ O, (forth) D.] on hys pas, yn þat fyre saghe [fere sagh O, fyr saw D.] he lye [folio 17b] Saulys brennyng, [soulys brennende D.] and ruly crye; Line 2512 Þe fendës ȝedë [ȝeden D.] hem among, And fast echone on oþer þrong with brynnyng crokys sorowfuly, [hokys dolefully D.] And pyned hem [sore pyned hem D.] with-oute mercy. Line 2516 None lay by hemself a-lone, But eche [ache O, eche D.] on oþer, with sorowe and wone. [mone D.] Echone [eche D.] to oþer was sorowe and peyne, with-outyn endë for [þis is D.] certeyn. Line 2520 For pynyng, for wepyng, for cryyng, [for-pyned and cryed he seyde D.] alas, Fursyne almoste [ny D.] confunded was.

As he sagh þys sorowe so grym, Come a deuyl rennyng [Cam . . rennende D.] to hym Line 2524 with glesyng yȝen [eȝyn O, grysly eyȝen & hook D.] and croke yn hande, Þe steme stode oute of hys mouþ brennand: [ȝenande O.] he broght on þat brynnyng croke [kroke O, hook D.] A brennyng soule þat al to-shoke. [sore quook D.] Line 2528 Toward Fursyne [þe prist D.] he [he OD, hys Harl.] ran hys cours, And calyd [kalde O, callyd hym feloun of tretours D.] hym 'fals, felun, treytours.' "haue þys soule! þys hast þou slayn! Þou ȝeldyst nat [hym nat O, ȝelde hym now D.] hys gode aȝeyn. Line 2532 he kast þe soule vpp-on þe prest, And brenned hys o [he brent his oo D.] syde, and half hys brest. he went [wende O.] þat tyme haue deydë [wende þ. t. a be left D.] þore, For the soule brennyd [þat saule brende O, þat soule hadde brent D.] hym so sore; Line 2536 he hopyde neuer to haue come þen, [þeþen O, wende . . þenne D.] So had [hadde O, had D.] þe soule broght hym be-neþen. [on brenne D.] But at þe last þan gan he crye, ¹⁷ And seyd, "mayster, me¹⁷ [17_17 mayster D.] helpe now, or y dey!" Line 2540 Þan seyde þe aungel to Fursyne: "y tolde þe langer of þys [er. þis is þi D.] þyne; y sed langer [seyde þe er D.] at þe bygynnyng, Ȝyf þou haddest of oþer mennys þyng Line 2544 Þat þou madest nat of, amendëment, yn þys fyre hyt shulde be brent. loke now, ȝyf þou kanst hyt oght [can it D.] knowe, Þe soule þat þe brenned [brennede O, þat þer brent D.] so lowe." "Ȝe," [folio 17b:2] seyde Fursyne, [þan side þe prist D.] "y knowe hyt wele For whom [qwom D.] y suffre þys peyne eche dele:

Þys he dede, whan [qwan D.] he shuld deye, he ȝaf me a cloþe for hym to preye; Line 2552 For no maystry, ne for noun eyuyl, [non ille D.]

he ȝaf it me; but with [me be D.] hys gode wyl. And now, weyl y hyt [& wel I knowe now & D.] graunte, Þat y helde hym nat [not his (om. þat) D.] cunnaunt; Line 2556 wyllyng, certys, y dyd [dede O, aȝens his wil certis dede he D.] hyt noght, But for rechelesshepe [rentylnesse D.] of þoght." Þe aungel þo toke þe [þat (þo, om. D.)] soule forlore, And dyd [dede OD.] hyt þere hyt was byfore, Line 2560 yn-to þe peyne, þere [þe, þere, om. D.] for to dwelle,— hyt was an okerere, [he was a gowlere D.] y ȝou telle;— Þan touched Fursynys [touched he Fursyns O, þe aungel touchyd hym D.] brest and syde, And þe fyre myȝt no lenger [no lenger myght O, myȝt no lengere (om. And) D.] abyde. Line 2564 Þurghoute þe [þat O, þorw þe fyr he hadde hym D.] fyre he ledde hym euene, And shewed hym of þe blys of heuene: he shewed hym alle [of al D.] þe pryuyte Þere men befalleþ yn flessh to be. [þat men falle . . to se D.] Line 2568 he broght hym þan [brout hym D.] to þe body aȝen For [For, om. D.] to shewe þat hyt was certeyn. Þre days keptë men [dayȝes men keptyn D.] þe body, Alle for dedë comunly. [þanne contynuelly D.] Line 2572 he lyued seþþen many ȝeres, A quyk man, and a feres. [ȝerys . . fers D.] But þe brynnyng alle [be O.] be dene, [O. gloss. 'rewe.'] Euermore aftyrward was hyt [hyt, om. O, it was D.] sene; Line 2576 As long as he here [longe after as he D.] lyued, Þe brynnyng on hys [þe D.] body cleued.

y trowe god shewed þys merueyle, For þou ne shuldest of [ne shust of þy O, þat non schulde D.] trowþë fayle. Line 2580 Seþen leuyd [leuede O, lyuede D.] he so holyly Þat men callyn hym nowe [now O, om. D.] seynt Fursy; He was fyrst [fyrst, om. D.] founder and syre Of þe cherche of Knares [Canyes D.] -myre; Line 2584

Line 2584 And of Norwyche þe modyr cherche he ded hyt fyrst make and werche; And þere he lyþ be-ȝunde þe see, [folio 18a] he ordeyned a mynster [mynstyr O, mynstre D, mynyster H.] for to be; Line 2588 Foure ȝere or [ar O, om. D.] þe cherche were ful set [was endyd D.] was hys soulë to god [heuene O, or h. s. was to heuene sendyd D.] fet.

Okerers men oght to weyue, [gouleris owyn for to whyue D.; O. gloss 'fle.'] Ȝeue hem noght, ne of hem receyue, [ȝif hym nouȝt ne not retyue D.] Line 2592 ȝyf þou wetë what þey are, [OD. transpose these lines. In 2593, D reads 'qwat þei ware.'] — yn no manere of chaffare. [OD. transpose these lines. In 2593, D reads 'qwat þei ware.']

Sum tyme þer was yn [Sumtyme was D.] a cyte, Þat ȝyf an okerer [ȝif ony goulere þerin D.] myȝt founde [founden O.] be, Line 2596 Þey helde hym vyler [hyldyn hym wers D.] þan a Iew, For no man wuldë hys prew; [O. gloss 'profyte,' held hem but on-trew D.] Men clepyde [callyd D.] hys hous yn euery strete 'Þe hous of þe fendës sete.' Line 2600 Fyre, [Fer O, þe fer & D.] watyr, þat he shuld note, [O. gloss 'okepye.'] Þey cursed hyt [hyt, om. D.] euery grote; And euery syde to ouþer, "sere, [men seyde to oþer sone D.] lo, þere þe cursed vsurere!" [qwhere þe cursyd goulere come D.] Line 2604 yn cherchë no man ȝaf [ȝeue D.] hym pes, [O. gloss 'pax.'] For a fend þey [men D.] hym ches. [[6 syllables]] No man was so hardy [[6 syllables]] To bryng hym þyng [bryngyn hym good D.] opunly, Line 2608 Þat he ne shulde vyly [but þat he schulde opynly D.] be shent Of alle þat by þe stretë [stret O, strete D.] went. And whan any vsurere [qwhan a goulere D.] was dede, Þe cherchëȝerde þey hym forbede. Line 2612

Line 2612 Þey wuld nat, for loue ne awe, [O. gloss 'drede.'] Ȝeue hym crystyn mennys [ȝeuyn . . mannys D.] lawe; 'Requiem' ne shulde be note [wyþ note O, r. schulde noon D.] be sunge Ne seyd for hym, wyþ mannys tunge. Line 2616 'Lux perpetua,' and he, were wroþe, For [For, om. D.] yn hys lyue he solde hem boþe. A nyȝt, when men hadde here [qwen men holde D.] reste, he okered pens yn hys [goulyd pens he put in (om. He) D.] cheste; Line 2621 And also, vpp [vpp, om. D.] -on þe day lyȝt he gadered gode [pens D.] with alle hys myȝt. Þan semyþ hyt weyl yn oure lay Line 2623 Þat he solde [he selliþ (om. þat) D.] boþe þe nyȝt and þe day; 'Requiem,' (þe reste with outen ende,) [folio 18a:2] Þar-to [to þat D.] shal he neuer wende; Ne 'lux perpetua' [l. p. ne D.] —þe endles lyȝt— Þer-of shal he neuer haue syȝt; Line 2628 where [þer D.] he ys wurþy, þer shal he be; yn hym nas neuer no [founde D.] charyte.

Now of þeft haue we [þan haue I D.] seyd, And þese [þys O, of þese gouleris D.] vsurers made vp-breyde. Line 2632 god ȝeue vs gracë þefte to fle, And al [alle O.] okerers wel [wylle D, alle gouleris, euele mote þei be D.] to amendyd be.

[The Eighth Commandment. [Non loquaris contra proximum falsum testi|monium:· ¶ Octauum mandatum D.] ]

Now of þe eytþë wyl we speke, [Telle we now of þe eyȝttande D.] Þat fals sysours vse moste to breke. [han most in hande D.] 'Þous halt no fals wytnes bere, Line 2637 Þyn euene crystyn for to dere.' [O. gloss 'harme.] who-so with hys mouþe, one, [& how þat w. his mouth D.] seys, And with hys herte þenkeþ [þenkþ O, þinkiþ oþer D.] ouþer weys,—

he ys wurþy to be shent, For a doþ [D'.s order is l. 2644, 2643, 2642, 2641; ho so do D.] aȝens þys comaundment. But many one þat are [But man on erþe D.] þus fykyl Synnyn nat [nat alle, synnyth not only she O.] ylychë mykyl; [O. gloss 'moche.'] Line 2644 Þarfor behoueþ [it behouyth.] be tolde þe skyl [skylle.] As holy men seyn vs tyl. [tyll O, seyn it wel D, O. gloss 'to.']

who-so beleuyþ a wycches [telle a fals D.] sawe, he bereþ wytnes aȝens þe lawe. Line 2648 Swyche wycches [suych wikke D.] are for to weyue, [O. gloss 'fle.'] For many men þey [it D.] wyl dysceyue. [deseyue O.]

Some men [& summe D.] wytnessen a lesyng For nonë ouþer wynnyng Line 2652 But for to begyle sum man þer-ynne; Ȝyf hyt delyte hym, grete ys þat [ȝif þou delyȝt it meche. synne D.] synne.

On ouþer manere synnen [synne O, on oþer halue ȝit summe (om. synnen) D.] sum Þat makeþ lesyng [makyn lesynges O, maken lesyngis D.] þurgh custum Line 2656 To plese [a-peyre D.] þe folk yn rybaudy: Þat y halde no synne [calle no s. but D.] dedly, But þey [But ȝyf þey OD.] haue þeryn delyte; Line 2659 Þan mow þey [mayst þou D.] synne dedely ful tyte. [O. gloss 'sone.']

And sum vsë [vse as O, lyȝen also D.] for curtesye To speke [þat spekyn D.] nobly, and ȝyt wyl lye, Þey synnë [þou synnyst ȝit D.] yn þat feyre spekyng [folio 18b] Ȝyf þey [þou D.] haue delyt yn þat lesyng. Line 2664

And some lye oþer [& summe lyȝen D.] more or lesse, To preyse one bettere þan he es; [preysen . . . isse D.] Swyche lesyng ys nat [lesyng ys nat D, a lesynge is nat ful HO.] grete folye But þey hyt vsë comunly. Line 2668

Line 2668

And somë lye [& summe lyȝen D.] as þey were wode For men shuld [a man shulde O, þat . . ȝeuyn (om. sum) D.] ȝyuë hem sum gode, And seyn þat he [om. Harl., he O.] haþ do so or [seiþ þat he dede O.] so Þat he myȝt neuer come-to to do. [come þerto D.] Line 2672 But þogh no man haue þer-of euyl, Ȝyt hyt ys [ȝyt ys hyt O, ȝit it is a D.] þe tycement of þe deuyl. No lesyng ys with-outë synne, Line 2675 But þat þer ys algate, sum plyght þerynne [plyght ynne O, þowh a man þerfore no þing wynne D.] ; Al aftyr þat þe lesyng ys, [es O (þat, om. D).] Sum ys more, and sum ys les.

But some [sum O, summe m. synnyn D.] men synnë greuusly yn þys comaundment so hy, [hyȝ D.] Line 2680 Þat of grete þyng fals [fals, om. D.] wytnes beryn, And þar to-also [also, om. D.] grete oþys sweryn. [bere . . suere D.] Swyche synnë greueþ now [regnyth now ryȝt D.] mekyl, Line 2683 For many one are boþe [many on is D.] fals and fykyl; Þat oþer [or D.] for loue, or for awe, Wyl men swere falsly [fals D.] a sawe, And bere wytnes [beryn a witnesse.] of swyche a fals To make a man hang [don . . hangen D.] be þe hals. [nek (O. necke)] Line 2688 God haþ sent for swyche veniaunce, But many trusten of long [lange O, on long D.] suffraunce. Men hope so moche [hopyn so meche D.] hys mercy to, Þat some neuer recche what [not rekke qwat D.] þey do. Line 2692 But þe wys man seyþ yn hys lore, [O. gloss 'techyng.'] 'Þat here synne ys moche [he synnyth meche D.] þe more Ȝyf þey [he.] synne custummably yn þe hope of hys mercy.' Line 2696 Y shal ȝou tellë how hyt fore [A tale.] Of a man þat hym forswore.

[Tale of the Rich Forswearer at a Trial in London.]

[narracio D.] Yn Londun toune fyl swyche a chek, A ryche man and pore [a pore O, a pore weryn D.] were at cuntek, [debate] And pleted [motedyn D.] a-boute a lytyl land [folio 18b:2] Line 2701 Tyl a day was take yn [on D.] hand; þat day was so ny[e] [nyghe O, ny D.] dreue þat þe othe was to þe ryche man ȝyue: [dreuyn . . . ȝeuyn D.] wytnes þey allë gan hym bere Line 2705 Þat he ne wuld[ë] falsly [þat þei woldyn for hym D.] swere; For rychë men are holdë [arn holdyn D.] trewe, Þogh here falsnes be [be her falsnesse (om. þogh) D.] neuer so newe. whan [qwan D.] he was charged þe soþe to seye, Line 2709 Þat he ne shulde, for loue ne eye, [say . . ay D.] Ne for lefë, [No for lef O, ne f. lef D.] no for loþe, But trew[ë]ly to [schulde D.] swere hys oþe; Line 2712 A-nouþer þan [but a noþer D.] was yn hys þoght, For [For, om. D.] falshede he wlde haue furþ broȝt; And God toke veniaunce apertly, Þat alle hyt say þat stode [(om. For) alle it seyȝen . . stodyn D.] hym by. Line 2716 For whan he hadde hys oþë swore, And kest [kessid D.] þe boke hem alle before, Vp ne ros he neuer more, But, lay dede befor hem þore. [fil doun ded hem alle be-fore D.] Line 2720 Þan y trowe þat y dar [I dar wel (om. þat) D.] seye Þat he ȝede an euyl weye.

By þys tale, ȝe mowe se alle Þat fals sweryng wyl euyl befalle, [of f. s. w. e. falle D.] Line 2724 Namlyche, on þe halydom [namely vp-on þe holydom D.] whan he ys charged of any [qwan . . ony D.] whom.

Vndyrstand þys weyl yn þy wyt, Þat god seyþ yn þe holy wryt, Line 2728 'Þat fals oþys, ne [& D.] wrong Iugement, Shul neuer morë be vnshent.' Se how veniaunce was hys mede whan [qwan D.] he hadde of God no drede: Line 2732 Almyghty God, [God OD, om. H.] þat ys soþfastnes, [sothfast is D.] hé wulde [wlde haue O, wolde haue takyn D.] take to fals wytnes.

Fals sweryng ys nat ellys to say, But 'forsakyng of god, and alle [alle, om. D.] hys lay.' A man þat swereþ [swerþ O.] fals swerynges, Line 2737 He forsakeþ fyuë þynges: [sueryng . . þing D.] — Þe ioye of heuene he forsakeþ, [forsakþ O.] [[I]] [folio 19a] whan he, wetyng, [qwan he wetende D.] fals oþys makeþ, [makþ O.] Line 2740 And alle hys blessyd cumpanye Þat þey hym neuer helpe ȝyf þat he lye; [þei helpyn hym neuere ȝyf he lyȝe D.] And Ihesu crystys passyun [[II]] þat for hym to þe deþ [to dethe D.] was doun, Line 2744 þat hyt helpe [þat helpith D.] hym neuer at [yn O.] nede, Ȝyf he swere fals, or falsdom [fals doom D.] bede. Þe þryddë, [þredde ys O.] ȝyf he swerë fals, [[III]] hys crystendom he forsakþ als, [O. gloss 'also.'] Line 2748 þat hyt helpe [helpith D.] hym neuer more Ȝyf þat he lyë þore. [lyȝe of þat he haþ swore D.] [[6 syllables]] Þe fourþe [vourþe O, ferþe D (om. ys).] ys, he forsakeþ [forsakþ O, forsakiþ D.] þe preyers [[IV]] þat holy wryt wytnes of beres, [bers O, cherche wytnesse berys D.] Line 2752 þat þey neuer stonde hym by ȝyf he swere hys oþe falsly. Þe fyueþë [fyfþe O, fyfte D.] þyng wyl hym shende, [[V]] For he ȝyfþe hym self wyþ-oute[n] [(om. For) ȝeuyth . . outtyn D.] ende To þe fende þat ys yn helle, Line 2757 Ȝyf þat he lye, or falsly telle.

On þese fyue maners hymself [wyses hym self he D.] deryþ þat on þe bokë falsly sweryþ. Line 2760 For hys loue þat deyde on [hym þat deyde vp-on D.] þe rode, Forswere ȝow neuer for worldys [forsuerith ȝow not for wordis D.] gode. For ȝe wyte weyl, aud haue [ȝe wetyn it wel & han D.] hyt herde, þat trouþe ys more þan alle þe worlde. [word D.]

Ȝyt þer ys [is þer D.] anoþer sweryng Line 2765 where-þurgh comþ oftë grete cumbryng, [cumberynge O, þer þorw comyth gret coum|bryng D.] Þe whyche [þat D.] ys, an oþe oute of mesure, Þat he shulde haue a mysauenture Line 2768 On wyfë, and on chylde, to [wyf & child þat schulde D.] falle, And on hys ouþer godys alle, But he holdë at hys myght hys oþe þat he swereþ to alle [swerþ to al O, oth he sueriþ it is al D.] ryght. Line 2772 Swyche an oþe ys grete doute [it is douȝtte D.] to swere, For chauncë comþ [chaunsis comyn D.] on many manere. Þou settest þy chylde to mychë rewþe But þou holde þyn [þyn O, þin oth with D.] oþe to trewþe. Line 2776

A-nouþer oth comþ ȝyt [ȝit comyth D.] yn place, [folio 19a:2] Þer [þat D.] a man swereþ by fallace. Fallace ys, as who seye, [ho seiþ D.] 'gyle,' As many one sweryn vmwhyle. [O. gloss 'sum tyme;' sum qwyle D.] Line 2780 Ȝyf þou swere to me for oght, And a-nouþer ys yn þy þoght, wenyst þou þan [þan, om. D.] þat þou swerest wel when [when, om. D.] þyn oth to me ys gyle eche del? Nay: for, [& (om. Nay) D.] as y vndyrstande of þe, Line 2785 So shal þy [þyn O, þin oth D.] as othë charged be. Þus techyþ vs seynt Austyne Þat was a clerk of gret dyuyne. [gret D, om. HO.] Line 2788

Y pray ȝow alle, boþe [boþe, om. D.] lefe and loþe,

Þat ȝe charge neuer body [chargyn non D.] with oþe Þat ȝe suppose wyl be forswore; [hopyn . . . forsuorn D.] For, y warne ȝow wel byfore, [þerof I w. ȝ. alle be-forn D.] Line 2792 Þat [& D.] who-so putteþ hym to swere, Grete chargë for hym shal he [he schal D.] bere.

Ȝyf þou madest awhere any [euere ony D.] vowe To wurschyp God for þy prowe,— Line 2796 Ȝyf þou dedyst [dest O, dedist for g. w. D.] hyt with þy gode wylle, with-outë stresse [out distresse D.] or ouþer ylle, Þou art holde to ȝelde hyt [holdyn to ȝeldyn it D.] hym Or þy synne ys grete and grym; Line 2800 wytnes of othë and of hote: [of oþere þat þin hot D.] [vowe [a vow O.] ] Yn heuene, allë þyng [þyngis D.] þey wote.

Noþeles, y sey hardly, [þe hardily D.] Ȝyf þou vowe to do foly, [a vowe . . . folyȝe D.] — Line 2804 As [As O, om. Harl. D.] a man to bete or [beten or to D.] slo, Or to take hys gode hym fro; Or ȝyf þou vowe yn ȝungþe [ȝunþe O, ȝungþe D.] or elde, And þou mayst nat [not may D.] but wykkedly ȝelde,— God wyl nat þou hold yt so Line 2809 þat þou þy vowe yn wykkednes do; God haþ leuer þou þe [þat þou D.] ²⁰wyþdrow Þan do [do, om. D.] euyl dede after foly vow, Line 2812 Bettere ys [ys . . be, om. D.] a foly wrde be²⁰ [20_20 Harl. omit these two lines.] wyþdrawe Þan wyþ euyl dede to fulfyl þat [þi (om. wyþ) D.] sawe. Þurgh [be D.] goddys wurd yn þe gospel, Þys may be preuyd ryȝt wel. Line 2816

[The Bible-story of John the Baptist's Death.] [[Mark vi. 22-28]]

Hyt speketh [spekþ O, þer it spekiþ D.] of seynt Ion [Ioon O, Ioh D.] baptyst, [folio 19b] Þe best chylde borë [best barn D.] vndyr Cryst.

Hyt telleþ þat Eroud [he telliþ þat herodis D.] swore [A tale] To here þat tumbled [sayled D.] yn þe flore, Line 2820 Þat what-aseuer [qwat D.] she wuld aske to mede, he wuld [schulde D.] fulfyl hyt here [here O, hire D, om. H.] yn dede; halfe hys kyngdom, ȝyf she wuld craue, haluyndele [Hauyndele O, halfuendel (om. hyt) D.] she shuld hyt haue. Line 2824 Eueyl he vowed, [þer he a vowed D.] and swore hys oth, Þer-for with hym ys now god wroth. For ouþer mede wuld she haue none, But þe hede of swete seynt Ion; Line 2828 Here modyr bade here askë þys, Þe hede of seynt Ion [Ioon O, Ioh D.] yn a dyssh. Folylyche, certeyn, Eroud [herodis he (om. certeyn) D.] swore, And yn dede weyl [þe D.] werse he fore. [dede] Line 2832 But ȝyf she hade asked Eroudes ye, Troust þou he wuld nat a [trust þerto he schulde haue D.] made a lye? Y trowe he wulde haue be forswore [ha be forsworn D.] Ar he hade hys ye forlore. [or . . yȝe lorn D.] Line 2836 So had hym better, [be better O, were he b. D.] for hys prowe, For to haue broke þat ychë [brokyn hys D.] vowe, And with-oute mede haue late here [a letyn hir D.] go, Þan for hys [þat D.] vowe a man do [do O, to D.] slo. Line 2840

Ȝyt may y preue hyt by [prouyn it be D.] ouþer sawe Þat wryte [wreten D.] ys yn þe oldë lawe; Yn þe gest of syre Ieptë, Yn þe byble men mow hyt se. Line 2844

Line 2844

[þe Gest of Syre Jepte, — or the Tale of Jephthah and his Daughter. [narracio D.] ] [[Judges xv. 30-39.]]

Ieptë went onys to batayle And preyd God [he preyed D.] hys powere shuld nat fayle;— "Graunte me, Lorde, [O. (not D) inserts 'he seyde.'] þe maystry nowe, And y shal make to þe a vowe, Line 2848 þat þe fyrst þyng [þyng O, þing D, Harl. omits.] þat y mete Befor me homward yn þe strete, Þerof shal y make sacryfyse;" For to sle hyt, was þan þe asyse. [to þe god. with good a-vyce D.] Line 2852

whan [qwan D.] he had, þurgh goddys vertu, Of þe batayle prys and pru, Homward as syre Ieptë ȝede [folio 19b:2] he þanked god for [of D.] hys gode dede. Line 2856 hys doghtyr was þe fyrstë [ferste D, fyrst HO.] þyng þat mette hym and made hym [hym, om. D.] welcomyng; She grette here fadyr fayre with mouþe And made hym all [hym all, om. D.] þe ioye þat she couþe. Þan þoght Ieptë on [þouȝtte . . . of D.] hys vow, Line 2861 And hadde yn herte [In herte he made D.] sorow ynow. To hys doghtyr þan seyd he, "Þou art deseyuyd, and y for þe; Line 2864 Y made my [a D.] vow to heuene kyng Þat y shuld sle þe fyrstë [ferste D, fyrst HO.] þyng Þat y mette homwarde fro þe batayle; [h. be the way D.] And my vow y wyl nat fayle." [& myn a-vow me muste holde ay D.] Line 2868 Hys doghtyr answered myldly, [myldely D.] "Fadyr," she seyde, "y am redy For to take my deþe of [for D.] þe; But y am glade þat y þe [ȝow D.] se. Line 2872

Line 2872 But, swetë fadyr, y pray þe [D. puts this line after 2874, and reads, 'Now s. f. I ȝow preyȝe.'] Graunte me two moneþes ar y dye, [or I deyȝe D.] Þat y may wepe [wepyn D.] my virginite with hem þat noryst be [beyn O, weryn norysched D.] with me." Line 2876 Here fadyr graunted weyl þarto, And she forsoþë ded ryȝt so; She weptë nat for any [non D.] outrage, But for of here come [þat of hem cam D.] no lynage; Line 2880 Þat no fruyt of here myȝt spryng, Þare-for she madë here wepyng, And for here fadyr had chylder [childryn D.] no mo Þat furþer myȝt [myȝt ferþere D.] yn kyndë go. Line 2884 But, ryȝt át þe moneþes ende, here fadyr dede nat þerof [as þe D.] hende, Þat he hys ownë doghtyr [þat his owyn child D.] slowe For a foly and a wykked vowe. [foly wikkyd a-vow D.] Line 2888

Seynt Austyne seyþ certeynly Þat he synned ryȝt [ful D.] dedly; For he auowede, and nedyd naght, [noght O, & trust not D.] Line 2891 And ȝyt yn dede wel werse he wroght. Seynt Austyn seyþ so [a D.] redy wey [folio 20a] Þat y to ȝou dar [to ȝow þat dar I. [The Dulwich fragment stops with 1. 2894, and the catchwords at foot, 'ȝoure wikkid vowys.']] weyl seye 'Ȝoure wykked vowys shul ȝe nat fylle, Ne make no vowe to any ylle, Line 2896 But chaungë hem to better prow, And take penaunce for foly vowe.'

God shelde vs alle wykkedly to swere, And late vs neuer fals wytnes bere, Line 2900 Ne foly vow for to make, lordë, for þy wurschyp [wrshepe O.] sake. [O. adds 'Amen.']

[The Ninth Commandment.]

The nynþe comaundment yn oure tellyng Ys "coueyt nat [noght.] þy neghbours þyng," For to reue hyt hym wykkedly Line 2905 with wrong pleys or ouþer maystry, No with glosyng, no with queyntyse, No wyþ destressë, on noun wyse, Line 2908 No wyþ wykked procurement, To make hym lese hys tenement.

And for hyt haþ þe same assyse Þat longeþ vn-to coueytyse, Line 2912 y wyl now ouer-lepe hyt here, And aftyrwarde ȝe mowe hyt lere whan y speke of þe dedly synne Of coueytyse, hyt ys þer-ynne; Line 2916 For hyt ys one of þe seuene, Among hem y wyl hyt neuene; And of hys spycys telle ȝow neyde, As holy man [men.] haue wryten [wrete.] and seyde. Of þys nynþe wyl y endë now, Line 2921 And of þe tenþë speke [telle.] to ȝow.

[The Tenth Commandment.]

The tenþe comaundment ys, "by þy lyfe Coueytë nat þy neghburs wyfe." Line 2924 And þys ys now a comun synne Þat many onë fallyn ynne, For almost hyt ys euery-whore A gentyl man haþ a wyfe and a hore; [[All future various readings are from O.]]

And wyuës haue [hauen.] now comunly Line 2929 here husbondys and a ludby.

Yn euery place now mow men se [folio 20a:2] Þe wyfe wyl gladly þe mayster be; Line 2932 And ȝyf she onys þe maystry [þe maystry onys.] wynne Alle newë lawys she wyl bygynne; For þan wyl she make hyt alle [þan makyþ she hyt al.] newe, And bygynneþ to be a shrewe; Line 2936 And whan she haþ wune [wnne.] þe maystry Oure syre ys noght but 'veyes moy sy.' [Cp. Ves me ci tot en ta bonté De faire volon|té. Roman de Dolopatos (in Roquefort).] Þan wyl folys fonde and fare [O. gloss 'go.'] To chepë þe wyuys chaffare. Line 2940 And ȝyf þe wyfe lestene here [Harl. omits 'here.'] lore, here wurschyp ys lost for euer more. [Harl. euery more.] Þus wyl bygynnë wykked lyfe To coueyte a-noþer mannys wyfe; Line 2944 For no man ful comunly Besecheþ a wyfë of foly, But þere þe wyfë ys aboute, Þe godë man, for to stoute. Line 2948 Y dar no morë telle for drede Of vnkyndë wyuys hede; Noþeles, y haue grete skylle To sey morë þan y wylle. Line 2952

Ȝyf þou euer, þat þou wystyst, A-nouþer mannys wyfë kystyst, Or ȝaue here ȝyft for þat enchesoun Þat sum synnë myght be doun; Line 2956 Þan as yn þe, þou fallyst yn synne, Ȝyf þou to foly wuldest here wynne.

Ȝyf þou þys foly haunte, [[6 syll.]] Ouþer mennys wyuys for to daunte, Line 2960 yn foly wurdys, or yn foly play, yn vntyme, be nyȝt or day, Þat here herte to þe myght tourne, And late of here husbunde skorne, Line 2964 For soþe þou synnest þer dedly

Þogh þou lygge neuer here by. By foly wurdys mow men a fole kenne; [O. gloss 'knowe.'] Þurgh blast of mouþe þe fyre wyl brenne.

Ȝyf þou euer dedyst þy myght [folio 20b] Line 2969 A womman to tylle with foly syght, As men hauntë now alle day, To hauë glysyng yȝen and gay, Line 2972 A weddyd wyfe y þe forbede, For, þat ys most for to drede.

Also, ȝyf þou dedyst [dest euer.] letter sende To weddyd wyfe, or wrote or kende; Or ȝyf þou [O. inserts 'euer.'] letter bare, Line 2977 And þou were þerof weyl ware, Þogh hyt were ouþer mennys synne Ȝyt art þou partáble þer-ynne. Line 2980

Þys comaundment þat ys þe tenþe, wylle y no lenger drawe or [on.] lengþe; For yn þe syxtë þer y spake, [[p. 58-73]] y touched of þys ychë lake. Line 2984

Now of þys ten wylle we lete, And speke of ouþer synnys grete; [O. adds 'Þat ys to seyë, of þe seuene, How þey forbarre þe blys of heuene.'] God graunte vs gracë so to sey Of trouþe to shewë þe ryȝt weye. Line 2988