Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

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Title

Author

Mannyng, Robert, fl. 1288-1338.

Publication

London :: Pub. for the Early English text society, by K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., ltd.,

1901-[03].

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"Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne"." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/AHA2735.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 23, 2024.

Pages

[Of Covetousness, 5th Deadly Sin.]

                      
                        Now shul we speke of couetyse,
                      
                        How hy ys haunted on wykked wyse.
                      
                        Coueytyse ys þe fryst vyce; [folio 36a] 
                      
                        Þat streyte ys holde, y halte auaryce.
                      
                        Coueytyse ys of vs echone,
                        Line 5329 
                      
                        But auaryce wulde haue echone.
                      
                        Coueytyse, ys desyryng of þoght,

Page 175

                      
                        But auaryce, wulde þat none had oght.
                        Line 5332 
                      
                        Coueytyse, cumþ oþerwhyle of gode;
                      
                        But auaryce wyþdrawyþ mannys fode.
                      
                        Coueytyse, to gode men mowe hyt charge;
                      
                        But auaryce, ys noþer gode ne large.
                        Line 5336 
                      
                        Coueytyse, ys of wylle, as ys a bayte,
                      
                        But auaryce, ys nygun haldyng strayte;
                      
                        Coueytyse, cumþ of kynde of blode;
                      
                        But auaryce, ys noþer kynde ne gode.
                        Line 5340 
                      
                        As y kan telle, þys ys þe assyse,
                      
                        Betwyxe auaryce and coueytyse.

                      
                        Here, y aske at þe bygynnyng,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou with wrong ȝerned oþer mennys þyng,
                        Line 5344 
                      
                        Or falsly purchased: þat ys grete synne,
                      
                        So with wrong mennys gode to wynne.
                      
                        Ȝyf þou withholde, and ȝelde hyt noght,
                      
                        Auaryse to hellë haþ þe broght.
                        Line 5348 
                      
                        Yn þy lyfe, y rede þou ȝelde hyt aȝen,
                      
                        Þy saluacyun ys ellës alle veyn.

                      
                        Ȝyf þou madest euer any delay,
                      
                        And ledyst one lyte fro day to day
                        Line 5352 
                      
                        with þy wurdys pryuyly,
                      
                        Or perauenture al on hy,
                      
                        For to haue hys þyng with wrong,
                      
                        Euyl coueytyse þou mengest among.
                        Line 5356 
                      
                        Þogh þou broghtest hyt neuer to dede,
                      
                        Ȝyt ys þy wylle moche for to drede.

                      
                        Or ȝyf þou dedyst euer þy myght
                      
                        To false a chartre, þat ys grete plyght.
                      
                        Þat ys a dede of tresun
                        Line 5361 
                      
                        Ȝyf hyt be of dysheresun,
                      
                        Ouþer of lond, ouþer of rent,
                      
                        Oþer of ouþer gode þat God man haþ lent;
                      
                        But þou þe peynë nyȝt and day [folio 36a:2] 
                        Line 5365 
                      
                        To amende þat charge, ȝyf þat þou may,

Page 176

                      
                        Ȝyf hyt ne be, þou art to blame;
                      
                        Ordeyned to þe ys mochë shame.
                        Line 5368

                      
                        Ȝyf þou yn batayle, or in fyȝt,
                      
                        Toke oght of man with-outë ryȝt,
                      
                        And namely of relygyun,
                      
                        Þe harder ys þy synnë doun:
                        Line 5372 
                      
                        And but þou sone amendë þe,
                      
                        Þarfor mayst þou acumbred be:
                      
                        Hyt ys wurþy hym for to dere
                      
                        Þat holy cherche wyl nat forbere.
                        Line 5376

                      
                        Ȝyf þou of rychesse be wel beforne,
                      
                        And a ȝere or two holdyst þy corne
                      
                        Þat þou myȝt selle hyt ryȝt dere,
                      
                        And to helpe þe pore þou wylt nat here,
                      
                        Salamon seyþ, þat mochë kan,
                        Line 5381 
                      
                        Þou shalt be weryed with many man;
                      
                        For þou ȝyuest myys to ȝete
                      
                        Þat was ordeyned to mannys mete;
                        Line 5384 
                      
                        For who so wyl hys myys wel fede,
                      
                        And spare hyt fro þe pore at nede,
                      
                        hyghly shal he go a-lone
                      
                        To þe deuyl, body and bone.
                        Line 5388

                      
                        Ȝyf þou haue of ouþer tresour,
                      
                        More þan susteyneþ þyn onour,—
                      
                        Syluer, cloþes, or ouþer store,
                      
                        Or of ouþer þyngës more,—
                        Line 5392 
                      
                        Ȝyf þe pore for defautë deye,
                      
                        And þou mayst hym helpe, y seye,
                      
                        Þou are a-couped of þys vyce
                      
                        Of coueytyse, and of auaryce;
                        Line 5396 
                      
                        And before God, of þeft, a þefe,
                      
                        And for hys deþ, of slaghter grefe.

Ȝyf þou yn falshede so moche ȝede, For coueytyse or for grete mede 5400

Page 177

                      
                        Line 5400 
                      
                        To consente to a fals Iuggyng,
                      
                        Or hyredyst a voket to swyche þyng,
                      
                        Or myghtyst haue sturbled hyt, & wust noght, [folio 36b] 
                      
                        But for coueytyse þe wrong were wroght,
                      
                        Moche shal God challengë þe,
                        Line 5405 
                      
                        Þat day þat þou Iuged shal be.

                      
                        As for lordynges cunseylours,
                      
                        wykked legystrys or fals a-countours,
                      
                        Þey ne recche of no ryȝt fey,
                        Line 5409 
                      
                        Ne more þe lordynges þan do þey;
                      
                        Cunseyl to wykked lawes þey ȝeue,
                      
                        So þat þe pore men mow nat lyue:
                        Line 5412 
                      
                        Þarfor, þey and here lordyngys
                      
                        Doun moche wrong yn many þyngys;
                      
                        Þarfor shul þey and here cunsayl
                      
                        Go to helle, boþe top and tayle.
                        Line 5416 
                      
                        Many man ys broght ful bare
                      
                        For cunseylours þat coueytous are;
                      
                        And many a land yn grete errours
                      
                        Are ouer-turned þurgh cunseylours.
                        Line 5420

                      
                        Among hem, stywardes mow be tolde,
                      
                        Þat lordyngës courtys holde,
                      
                        For nyrhand euery a styward,
                      
                        Þe dome þat þey ȝeue, ys ouer hard;
                        Line 5424 
                      
                        And namely to þe porë man,
                      
                        Þey greuë hym alle þat þey kan.
                      
                        who-so-euer to mercy wyl hym drawe,
                      
                        he seyþ, he shal do hym but lawe;
                        Line 5428 
                      
                        But who so shal þe lawe alle do,
                      
                        And no mercy do þar-to,
                      
                        he may neuer for mercy craue
                      
                        To God whan he wulde mercy haue;
                        Line 5432 
                      
                        For ȝyf God shal deme with lawe ryȝt,
                      
                        Shal no man come to heuene lyȝt.
                      
                        But þurgh grace and hys mercy,
                      
                        Þan are we saued certeynly.

                        Line 5436

Page 178

                      
                        Line 5436 
                      
                        Þarfor, ȝe stywardes on benche,
                      
                        Þer-on shulde ȝe allë þenche,
                      
                        'Ȝyf þou of þe porë haue pyte,
                      
                        Þan wylle God haue mercy on þe.'
                        Line 5440 
                      
                        For hardë dome and coueytyse [folio 36b:2] 
                      
                        y shal ȝow telle of swych a Iustyse.

[The Tale of the Hard Judge.]

                        Y haue herde, be-ȝonde þe see
                      
                        was a Iustyse, yn a cuntre;
                        Line 5444 
                      
                        Of hym the wurde ful wydë sprong,
                      
                        he ȝaf harde dome, and oþer whyle wrong.
                      
                        Godë men ofte hym besoght
                      
                        For þe pore, þat he wo wroght,
                        Line 5448 
                      
                        Þat he shulde haue on hem mercy,
                      
                        And pylle hem nat but mesurly;
                      
                        Þat þey myȝt lyue yn pes by hym,
                      
                        And be nat so aȝens hem grym.
                        Line 5452

                      
                        Þys was hys answere and hys sawe,
                      
                        'Y shal do hem no þyng but lawe."
                      
                        And many lawes are oute of skylle,
                      
                        But, ȝyf þér be mercy tylle.
                        Line 5456

                      
                        was hyt nat long aftyrward,
                      
                        He fyl yn a sykenes hard;
                      
                        Hyt telleþ of hym swych a chaunce,
                      
                        He hadde no godë répentaunce;
                        Line 5460 
                      
                        Hys sykënes wax harde and strong,
                      
                        Þat he myȝt nat lyuë long;
                      
                        For allë hoped weyl y-nogh
                      
                        Þat he vn-to þe deþ faste drogh.
                        Line 5464

                      
                        Men þat sate a-boute hys bedde
                      
                        were a-gast, and sore a-dredde;
                      
                        And hopyd wel, and vndyrstode

Page 179

Þat here drede was for no gode. 5468

                      
                        Allë þey behelde hym faste,
                      
                        And sawe hys coloure ofte ouer caste;
                      
                        And wroth a-boutë, to and fro;
                      
                        Hys bedde hym þoght wulde cleue on two;
                      
                        And crydë with a loudë cry,
                        Line 5473 
                      
                        "Lordë, haue on me mercy!"
                      
                        Þan spake a voycë yn þe sky,
                      
                        Þat alle hyt herde þat stode hym by,
                        Line 5476 
                      
                        "Þou haddest neuer of man pyte,
                      
                        Ne y shal neuer haue noun of þe."
                      
                        Asswyþë he dëyd yn haste; [folio 37a] 
                      
                        Þere he shulde go, he ȝalde þe gaste.
                        Line 5480

                      
                        Ȝe domës men þat þys chaunce here,
                      
                        Yn þys talë mowe ȝe lere
                      
                        what hyt ys to do euer wreche,
                      
                        And to mercy no þyng reche.
                        Line 5484 
                      
                        Hauyþ yn ȝoure þoght, mercy, and se,
                      
                        Þe pore mow nat so weyl as ȝe;
                      
                        Beþ mercyáble for ȝoure prow
                      
                        Þat God ne take veniaunce on ȝow.
                        Line 5488

                      
                        Ȝyf þou haue be so coueytous
                      
                        To mercs men ouer outraious,
                      
                        And porë men, specyaly,
                      
                        Þat ferde þe wers for þat mercy,
                        Line 5492 
                      
                        Sykyr mote þou be, syre styward,
                      
                        Þy mercyment shal be ful hard.
                      
                        Þy wreched soule þarfor shal dwelle;
                      
                        Þy mercyment shal be þe þyne of helle.

                      
                        Þou baylë, owest nat to take
                        Line 5497 
                      
                        (For drede of soule, and þyn oth sake,)
                      
                        Þat þy lordes prow be þe lasse,
                      
                        Ne noun of hys do harder stresse."
                        Line 5500 
                      
                        So shulde eche aturne seriaunt;
                      
                        But many one holde no cunnaunt;
                      
                        For, sum take ful greuusly,
                      
                        Þat ful sore shal come hem by.

                        Line 5504

Page 180

                      
                        Line 5504 
                      
                        Alle þat þey takë now to frest,
                      
                        Þérof shál God take a quest.
                      
                        Þe quest ys take and draght on hym;
                      
                        Accord þe wyþ þy lorde, betym.
                        Line 5508

[Of Simony.]

To coueytyse longeþ symonye, Þe whych haunteþ almost al clergye. Symonye ys, as men telle, when ȝyftys of holy cherche men selle. 5512

                      
                        Ȝyf þou oþer ȝaue or sent
                      
                        Of holy cherche to haue vaunsement,
                      
                        Or any ȝaf hyt for þe loue of þe,
                        Line 5515 
                      
                        And þou art nat wurþy vaunsed to be,
                      
                        þan art þou come, þurgh þat queyntyse, [folio 37a:2] 
                      
                        To symonye and coueytyse.
                      
                        Ȝyf þou þan þat auaunsement holde,
                      
                        Þou art a wulfe of Goddys folde;
                        Line 5520 
                      
                        A wulf, y sey, take þou gode kepe,
                      
                        For þou shalt answere for þe shepe.
                      
                        A clerk þat hys orders takeþ
                      
                        For ȝyft or present þat he makeþ,
                        Line 5524 
                      
                        He ys nat wurþy hem to haue,
                      
                        Hym were bettyr to be a knaue,
                      
                        And so were hem þat so hem selles
                      
                        For ȝyftys, and for no godenes elles.
                        Line 5528 
                      
                        Þese holy men þat hauë ben,
                      
                        And holy wryt haue red and sen,
                      
                        Sey, þat swych ȝyftys are lore,
                      
                        And, now ys noun ware before.
                        Line 5532 
                      
                        For swych men selle þe holy gast
                      
                        To hem þat he loueþ last.

                      
                        Coueytous men and lechours,
                      
                        Of holy cherche þey haue onours:
                        Line 5536 
                      
                        Þys mow men se alle day with ye;
                      
                        Cursed be syr symonye!

Page 181

[Of Usurers.]

                        And okerere may þar-to be tolde,
                      
                        For coueytous man ys okerere bolde.
                        Line 5540 
                      
                        y haue ȝow toldë of þys lak
                      
                        yn þe seuenþe comaundement whan y spak.
                      
                        Þys to sey, y am hardy,
                      
                        Þese chapmen haunte hyt comunly.
                        Line 5544

                      
                        Ȝyf þou borow of a marchaunte,
                      
                        And makest for wynnyng certeyn cun|naunt,
                      
                        'Gete þou wynnyng, or gete þou lore,
                      
                        Þou shalt ȝyuë so þar-fore;'
                        Line 5548 
                      
                        For soþe ȝe fallë boþe yn synne,
                      
                        And he ys a-cursed þat takeþ þe wynne.
                      
                        with oker forsoþë boþe ȝe lyue;
                      
                        Þat he wyl take, þat wylt þou ȝyue.
                        Line 5552

                      
                        Okerers, and kauersyns,
                      
                        As wykked þey are as sarasyns.
                      
                        who so myȝt preuë whych þey wore— [folio 37b] 
                      
                        were þey lewed, or were þey lore—
                        Line 5556 
                      
                        Þey shulde nat come yn Crystys herde,
                      
                        Ne come yn cherche ne chyrchë ȝerde.
                      
                        Noþeles, þurgh þys skylle
                      
                        Þey mowe be saued, ȝyf þat þey wylle,
                      
                        leue þat synne, and do no more,
                        Line 5561 
                      
                        And do at holy cherches lore;
                      
                        And ȝyue aȝeyn þat ychë þyng
                      
                        Þat þey haue take yn okeryng;
                        Line 5564 
                      
                        ȝyf þey mow nat aȝen hyt ȝyue,
                      
                        Helpe þe pore men þer-with to lyue,
                      
                        largëly and with gode wylle,
                      
                        And þey mowe peyse here dedys ylle.
                        Line 5568

A gode ensample now ȝe here,

Page 182

                      
                        Of Pers þat was a tollere;
                      
                        And y shal tellë ȝow as quyk,
                      
                        How he was boþë gode and wyk.
                        Line 5572

[The Tale of Pers the Usurer.]

                        Seynt Ioun þe aumenere
                      
                        Seyþ Pers was an okerere,
                      
                        And was swyþë coueytous,
                      
                        And a nygun and auarous,
                        Line 5576 
                      
                        And gadred pens vnto store
                      
                        As okerers doun aywhore.

                      
                        Befyl hyt so, vp-on a day
                      
                        Þat porë men sate yn þe way,
                        Line 5580 
                      
                        And spred here hatren on here barme
                      
                        Aȝens þe sonnë þat was warme,
                      
                        And rekened þe custome houses echoun,
                      
                        At whych þey had gode, and at whyche noun;
                        Line 5584 
                      
                        Þere þey hadde gode, þey preysed weyl,
                      
                        And þere þey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.

                      
                        As þey spak of many what,
                      
                        Comë Pers forþ yn þat gat:
                        Line 5588 
                      
                        Þan seyd echoun þat sate and stode,
                      
                        'here comþ Pers, þat neuer dyd gode!'
                      
                        Echoun seyd to oþer Iangland,
                      
                        'Þey toke neuer gode at Pers hand;
                        Line 5592 
                      
                        Ne noun pore man neuer shal haue, [folio 37b:2] 
                      
                        Coude he neuer so weyl craue.'

                      
                        One of hem began to sey
                      
                        "A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley,
                        Line 5596 
                      
                        Þat y shal haue sum gode at hym,
                      
                        Be he neuer so gryl ne grym."
                      
                        To þat waiour þey graunted alle,
                        Line 5599 
                      
                        To ȝyue hym a ȝyft ȝyf so myȝt befalle.

Page 183

                      
                        Þys man vp sterte, and toke þe gate,
                        Line 5601 
                      
                        Tyl he com, at Pers ȝate.
                      
                        As he stode stylle, and bode þe quede,
                      
                        One come with an asse charged with brede;
                      
                        Þat ychë bredë Pers hade boght,
                        Line 5605 
                      
                        And to hys hous shuld hyt be broght.
                      
                        He sagh Pers comë þerwith-alle;
                      
                        Þe porë þoght 'now aske y shal.'
                        Line 5608 
                      
                        "Y aske þe sum gode, pur charyte,
                      
                        Pers, ȝyf þy wyl be."

                      
                        Pers stode, and loked on hym
                      
                        Felunlyche with yȝen grym.
                        Line 5612 
                      
                        He stouped down to seke a stone,
                      
                        But, as hap was, þan fonde he none.
                      
                        For þe stone he toke a lofe,
                      
                        And at þe porë man hyf drofe.
                        Line 5616 
                      
                        Þe pore man hente hyt vp belyue,
                      
                        And was þerof ful ferly blyþe.
                      
                        To hys felaws faste he ran
                      
                        with þe lofe, þys porë man,
                        Line 5620 
                      
                        "lo," he seydë, "what y haue
                      
                        Of Pers ȝyft, so God me saue!"
                      
                        Nay, þey sworë by here þryft,
                      
                        Pers ȝaue neuer swych a ȝyft.
                        Line 5624 
                      
                        he seyd, "ȝe shul weyl vndyrstonde
                      
                        Þat y hyt had, at Pers honde;
                      
                        Þat dar y swere on þe halydom
                      
                        Here beforë ȝow echoun."
                        Line 5628 
                      
                        Gretë merueyle had þey alle,
                      
                        Þat swych a chaunce myȝt hym befalle.

                      
                        Þe þryddë day, þus wryte hyt ys, [folio 38a] 
                      
                        Pers fyl yn a grete syknes;
                        Line 5632 
                      
                        And, as he lay yn hys bedde,
                      
                        Hym þoght weyl, þat he was ledde

Page 184

                      
                        with one þat aftyr hym was sent,
                      
                        To come vn-to hys Iugëment.
                        Line 5636

                      
                        Before þe Iugë was he broght
                      
                        To ȝelde acounte how he hadde wroght.
                      
                        Pers stode ful sore a-drad,
                      
                        And, was ábashed as mad;
                        Line 5640 
                      
                        He sagh a fende on þe to party,
                      
                        Bewreyyng hym ful felunly;
                      
                        Alle hyt was shewed hym before,
                      
                        how he had lyued syn he wos bore;
                        Line 5644 
                      
                        And namely euery wykked dede
                      
                        Syn fyrst he coudë hym self lede;
                      
                        why he hem dyd, and for what chesun,
                      
                        Of alle behoueþ hym to ȝelde a resoun.

                      
                        On þe touþer party stode men ful bryȝt,
                      
                        Þat wulde haue saued hym at here myȝt;
                      
                        But þey myght no godë fynde
                      
                        Þat myȝt hym sauë or vnbynde.
                        Line 5652 
                      
                        Þe feyre men seyd "what ys to rede?
                      
                        Of hym fynde we no godë dede
                      
                        Þat God ys payd of, but of a lofe
                      
                        þe whych Pers at þe pore man drofe:
                        Line 5656 
                      
                        ȝyt ȝaue he hyt with no gode wylle,
                      
                        But kast hyt aftyr hym with ylle;
                      
                        For Goddys loue ȝaue he hyt noȝt,
                      
                        Ne for almes dede he hyt had þoght.
                        Line 5660 
                      
                        Noþeles, þe porë man
                      
                        Had þe lofë of Pers þan."

                      
                        Þe fendë had leyd yn balaunce
                        Line 5663 
                      
                        Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce;
                      
                        Þey leyd þe lofe aȝens hys dedys,—
                      
                        Þey had noȝt ellës, þey mote nedys—
                      
                        Þe holy man telleþ vs, and seys,
                      
                        Þat þe lofe made euen peys.
                        Line 5568

Þan seyd þese feyrë men to Pers, [folio 38a:2]

Page 185

                      
                        "ȝyf þou be wys, now þou leres
                      
                        How þys lofe þe helpeþ at nede
                      
                        To tylle þy soule with almës dede."
                        Line 5672

                      
                        Pers, of hys slepë gan blynke,
                      
                        And gretly on hys dreme gan þynke—
                      
                        Syghyng with mornyng chere,
                      
                        As man þat was yn gretë were,—
                        Line 5676 
                      
                        How þat he acouped was
                      
                        with fendës fele for hys trespas,
                      
                        And how þey wulde haue dampned hym þere,
                      
                        Ȝyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were.
                        Line 5680

                      
                        Alle þys yn hys herte he kast,
                      
                        And to hym self he spak at þe laste,
                      
                        "Þat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle
                      
                        Halpe me yn so grete perel,
                        Line 5684 
                      
                        Mochë wlde hyt helpe at nede,
                      
                        with godë wyl do almës dede."

                      
                        Fro þat tymë þan wax Pers
                      
                        A man of so feyrë maners,
                        Line 5688 
                      
                        Þat no man myȝt yn hym fynde,
                      
                        But to þe pore boþe meke and kynde;
                      
                        A mylder man ne myȝt nat be,
                      
                        Ne to þe pore, more of almes fre;
                        Line 5692 
                      
                        And reuful of herte also he was,
                      
                        Þat mayst þou here lere yn þys pas.

                      
                        Pers mette, vp-on a day,
                      
                        A porë man, by þe way,
                        Line 5696 
                      
                        As naked as he was bore,
                      
                        Þat yn þe see had allë lore.
                      
                        He come to Pers, þere he stode,
                      
                        And asked hym sum of hys gode,—
                        Line 5700 
                      
                        Sumwhat of hys cloþyng,—
                      
                        For þe loue of heuene kyng.
                      
                        Pers, was of reuful herte,

Page 186

                      
                        He toke hys kyrtyl of, as smert,
                        Line 5704 
                      
                        And ded hyt on þe man aboue,
                      
                        And bad hym were hyt for hys loue.

                      
                        Þe man hyt toke, and was ful blyþe; [folio 38b] 
                      
                        He ȝede and soldë hyt asswyþe.
                        Line 5708 
                      
                        Pers stode and dyd beholde
                      
                        How þe man þe kyrtyl solde,
                      
                        And was þarwith ferly wroþe
                      
                        Þat he solde so sone hys cloþe;
                        Line 5712 
                      
                        He myȝt no lenger for sorow stande,
                      
                        But ȝedë home ful sore gretand,
                      
                        And seyd, 'hyt was an euyl sygne,
                      
                        And þat hym self was nat dygne
                        Line 5716 
                      
                        For to be yn hys preyere,
                      
                        Þerfor nolde he þe kyrtyl were.'

                      
                        Whan he haddë ful long grete,
                      
                        And a party þerof began lete;—
                        Line 5720 
                      
                        For, comunlych aftyr wepe,
                      
                        Fal men sone on slepe,—
                      
                        As Pers lay yn hys slepyng,
                      
                        Hym þoght a feyrë sweuenyng.
                        Line 5724 
                      
                        Hym þoght he was yn heuene lyȝt,
                      
                        And of God he had a syght,
                      
                        Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clad
                      
                        Þat þe pore man of hym had,
                        Line 5728 
                      
                        And spak to hym ful myldëly,
                      
                        "why wepest þou, and art sory?
                      
                        Lo, Pers," he sayde, "þys ys þy cloth.
                      
                        For he solde hyt, were þou wroth;
                        Line 5732 
                      
                        Know hyt weyl, ȝyf þat þou kan,
                      
                        For me þou ȝaue hyt þe pore man.
                      
                        Þat þou ȝaue hym yn charyte,
                      
                        Euery deyl þou ȝaue hyt me."

                        Line 5736

Page 187

                      
                        Line 5736 
                      
                        Pers of slepë outë breyde,
                      
                        And þoght grete wunder, & seþen seyd,
                      
                        "Blessyd be allë porë men,
                      
                        For God almyȝty loueþ hem;
                        Line 5740 
                      
                        And weyl ys hem þat pore are here;
                      
                        Þey are with God, boþe lefe and dere;
                      
                        And y shal fonde, by nyȝt and day,
                      
                        Tó be pore, ȝyf þat y may."
                        Line 5744

                      
                        Hastly he tokë hys kateyl, [folio 38b:2] 
                      
                        And ȝaue hyt to porë men echedeyl.
                      
                        Pers kalled to hym hys clerk
                        Line 5747 
                      
                        Þat was hys notarye, and bade hym herk,
                      
                        "Y shal þe shewe a pryuyte,
                      
                        A þyng þat þou shalt do to me;
                      
                        y wyl þat þou no man hyt telle;
                      
                        My body y take þe here to selle
                        Line 5752 
                      
                        To sum man, as yn bondage,
                      
                        To lyue in pouert and yn seruage;
                      
                        But þou do þus, y wyl be wroth,
                      
                        And þou and þyne shal be me loth.
                        Line 5756 
                      
                        Ȝyf þou do hyt, y shal þe ȝyue
                      
                        Ten pownd of gold, wel with to lyue;
                      
                        Þo ten pownd y take þe here,
                      
                        And me to selle on bonde manere;
                        Line 5760 
                      
                        Y ne recchë vn-to whom,
                      
                        But onlych he haue þe crystendom;
                      
                        Þe raunsun þat þou shalt for me take,
                      
                        Þarfore þou shalt sykernes make,
                        Line 5764 
                      
                        For to ȝyue hyt bleþely and weyl
                      
                        To porë men, euëry deyl,
                      
                        And withholde þerof no þyng,
                      
                        Þe mountouns of a ferþyng."
                        Line 5768

hys clerk was wo to do þat dede,

Page 188

                      
                        But only for manas and for drede.
                      
                        1For dredë Pers made hym hyt do,
                      
                        And dede hym plyghte his trouthe þer-to.

                      
                        Whan hys clerk had made hys othe,
                        Line 5773 
                      
                        Pers dede on hym a foulë clothe;
                      
                        Vnto a cherchë boþe þey ȝede
                      
                        For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.1
                        Line 5776 
                      
                        whan þat þey to þe cherchë com,
                      
                        "Lorde, þoght þe clerk, now whom
                      
                        Myȝt y fynde, þys ychë sele,
                      
                        To whom y myȝt sellë Pers wele!"
                        Line 5780

                      
                        Þe clerk loked euery where,
                      
                        And at þe last, he knew where;
                      
                        A rychë man, þat er had be
                      
                        Specyal knowlych euer betwe,
                        Line 5784 
                      
                        But þurgh myschauncë at a kas
                      
                        Alle hys gode y-lorë was;
                      
                        'Ȝole,' þus þat man hyghte,
                      
                        And knew þe clerk wel be syghte.
                        Line 5788

                      
                        Þey spak of oldë a-queyntaunce, [folio 39a] 
                      
                        And ȝolë tolde hym of hys chaunce.
                      
                        "Ȝe," seyde þe clerk, "y rede þou bye
                      
                        A man to do þy marchaundye,
                        Line 5792 
                      
                        Þat þou mayst holdë yn seruage
                      
                        To restore weyl þyn dammage."

                      
                        Þan seyde ȝole, "on swych chaffare
                      
                        wulde y feyn my syluer ware."
                        Line 5796 
                      
                        Þe clerkë seyd, "lo, one here,
                      
                        A trew man an a dubonure,
                      
                        Þat wyl seruë þe to pay,
                      
                        Peyneblë, al þat he may.
                        Line 5800 
                      
                        'Pers,' shalt þou calle hys name;
                      
                        For hym shalt þou haue mochë frame.
                      
                        he ys a man ful gracyous,
                      
                        Gode to wynne vn-to þyn hous,
                        Line 5804 
                      
                        And God shal ȝyue þe hys blessyng,

Page 189

And foysyn, yn allë þyng."

                      
                        Þe clerk ȝaue allë hys raunsun
                      
                        To þe pore men of þe toun,
                        Line 5808 
                      
                        Plenerly, alle þat he toke,
                      
                        wyþhelde he nat a ferþyng noke.

                      
                        Þe Emperoure sent hys messageres
                      
                        alle aboute for to sekë Pers,
                        Line 5812 
                      
                        But þey ne myȝt neuer here
                      
                        Of rychë Pers, þe tollere,
                      
                        yn what stedë he was nome,
                      
                        No whydyrward he was become;
                        Line 5816 
                      
                        No þe clerk wuld telle to none,
                      
                        whydyrward þat Pers was gone.

                      
                        Now ys Pers bycomë bryche,
                      
                        Þat er was boþë stoute and ryche.
                        Line 5820 
                      
                        Alle þat euer any man hym do bade,
                      
                        Pers dyd hyt with hert[ë] glad.
                      
                        he wax so myldë and so meke,
                      
                        A mylder man þurt no man seke;
                        Line 5824 
                      
                        For he meked hym self ouer skyle,
                      
                        Pottes and dysshes for to swele.
                      
                        To grete penaunce he gan hym take, [folio 39a:2] 
                      
                        And mochë for to fast and wake,
                        Line 5828 
                      
                        And moche he loued þolmodnesse
                      
                        To ryche, to pore, to more, to lesse.
                      
                        Of allë men he wuld haue doute,
                      
                        And to here byddyng mekly loute;
                        Line 5832 
                      
                        wulde þey bydde hym sytte or stande,
                      
                        Euer he wuldë be bowande;
                      
                        And for he bare hym so meke and softe,
                      
                        Shrewës mysded hym ful ofte,
                        Line 5836 
                      
                        And heldë hym folted or wode,
                      
                        For he was so mylde of mode.
                      
                        And þey þat were hys felaus
                      
                        Mysseyd hym most yn herë sawes;
                        Line 5840 
                      
                        And alle he suffred here vpbreyd,

Page 190

And neuer naght aȝens hem seyde.

                      
                        Ȝole, hys lorde, wel vndyrstode
                      
                        Þat al hys gracë and hys gode
                        Line 5844 
                      
                        Com for þe loue of Pers,
                      
                        Þat was of so holy maners;
                      
                        And whan he wyst of hys bounte,
                      
                        He kalled Pers yn pryuyte,
                        Line 5848 
                      
                        "Pers," he seyd, "þou were wurþy
                      
                        For to be wurscheped more þan y,
                      
                        For þou art weyl with Ihesu;
                      
                        He sheweþ for þe grete vertu;
                        Line 5852 
                      
                        Þarfor y shal make þe fre;
                      
                        Y wyl þat my felaw þou be."

                      
                        Þar-to Pers granted noght,
                      
                        To be freman, as he besoght;
                        Line 5856 
                      
                        he wuldë be, as he was ore,
                      
                        yn þat seruage for euermore.
                      
                        he þanked þe lorde myldëly
                      
                        For hys gretë curteysy.
                        Line 5860

                      
                        Syþþen Ihesu, þurgh hys myȝt,
                      
                        Shewed hym, tó Pers syȝt,
                      
                        For to be stalworþe yn hys fondyng,
                      
                        And to hym haue loue longyng.
                        Line 5864 
                      
                        "Be nat sorowful to do penaunce; [folio 39b] 
                      
                        y am with þe yn euery chaunce;
                      
                        Pers, I hauë mynde of þe;
                        Line 5867 
                      
                        lo, here þe kyrtyl þat þou ȝaue for me;
                      
                        Þerfor grace y shal þe sende,
                      
                        Yn alle godenessë weyl to ende."

                      
                        Byfyl þat seriauntes and squyers
                      
                        Þat were wunt to seruë Pers,
                        Line 5872 
                      
                        went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas,
                      
                        To þat cuntre þere Pers was.
                      
                        Ȝole ful feyrë gan hem kalle,
                      
                        And preyde hem homë to hys halle.

                        Line 5876

Page 191

                      
                        Line 5876 
                      
                        Pers was þere, þat ychë sele,
                      
                        And euerychone he knew hem wele.
                      
                        Alle he serued hem as a knaue
                      
                        Þat was wunt here seruyse to haue.
                        Line 5880 
                      
                        But Pers nat ȝyt þey knew,
                      
                        For penaunce chaunged was hys hew;
                      
                        Nat forþy þey behelde hym fast,
                        Line 5883 
                      
                        And oftyn to hym here yȝen þey kast,
                      
                        And seyd, "he þat stontë here,
                      
                        Ys lychë to Pers tollere."

                      
                        He hydde hys vysege al þat he myȝt,
                      
                        Out of knowlych of here syȝt;
                        Line 5888 
                      
                        Noþeles þey behelde hym more,
                      
                        And knew hym weyl, al þat were þore,
                      
                        And seyd, "Ȝole, ys ȝone þy page?
                      
                        A ryche man ys yn þy seruage;
                        Line 5892 
                      
                        Þe emperoure, boþe fer and nere,
                      
                        Haþ do hym seche, þat we fynde here."

                      
                        Pers lestned, and herd hem spekyng,
                      
                        And þat þey had of hym knowyng;
                        Line 5896 
                      
                        And pryuyly a-wey he nam,
                      
                        Tyl he to þe porter cam.

                      
                        Þe porter had hys spechë lore,
                      
                        And heryng also, syn he was bore;
                        Line 5900 
                      
                        But þurgh þe grace of swete Ihesu,
                      
                        was shewed, for Pers, feyre vertu.
                      
                        Pers seyd, "latë me furþ go." [folio 38b:2] 
                      
                        Þe porter spak, and seydë "ȝo."
                        Line 5904 
                      
                        He þat was def, and doumbe also,
                      
                        Spak, whan Pers spak hym to.

                      
                        Pers out at þe ȝatë wente,
                      
                        And þedyr ȝede, þere God hym sente.
                        Line 5908 
                      
                        Þe porter ȝede vp to þe halle,
                      
                        And þys merueylë tolde hem alle,

Page 192

                      
                        How þe squyler of þe kechyn,
                      
                        Pers, þat haþ woned here yn,
                        Line 5912 
                      
                        "He asked leuë, ryȝt now late,
                      
                        And went furþ out at þe ȝate.
                      
                        Y rede ȝow alle, ȝeueþ gode tent,
                      
                        whederward þat Pers ys went.
                        Line 5916 
                      
                        with Ihesu cryst he ys pryue,
                      
                        And þat ys shewed weyl on me;
                      
                        For, what tyme he to me spak,
                      
                        Out of hys mouþ me þoghtë brak
                        Line 5920 
                      
                        A flamme of fyre bryght and clere;
                      
                        Þe flaumme made me boþ speke and here;
                      
                        Speke, and here, now, boþe y may,
                      
                        Blessed be God and Pers to day!"
                        Line 5924

                      
                        Þe lordë and þe gestës alle,
                      
                        One and oþer þat were yn halle,
                      
                        Had merueyle þat hyt was so,
                      
                        Þat he myȝte swych myrácle do.
                        Line 5928 
                      
                        Þan asswyþë Pers þey soght,
                      
                        But al here sekyng was for noȝt;
                      
                        Neuer, Pers þey ne founde,
                      
                        Nyȝt ne day, yn no stounde;
                        Line 5932 
                      
                        For he þat toke Ennok and Ely,
                      
                        He toke Pers, þurgh hys mercy,
                      
                        To reste with-outyn ende to lede
                      
                        For hys meknes and hys gode dede.
                        Line 5936

                      
                        Take ensample here, of Pers,
                      
                        And parteþ with þe pore, ȝe okerers,
                      
                        For ȝow shal neuer come Ioye with-ynne,
                      
                        But ȝe leuë fyrst þat synne;
                        Line 5940 
                      
                        And ȝyue to almes þat ychë þyng [folio 40a] 
                      
                        Þat ȝe haue wune wyþ okeryng.

Now with God, leue we Pers; God ȝyue vs grace to do hys maners! 5944

Page 193

5944

                      
                        Yn coueytyse synnen marchauntys mekyl,
                      
                        Yn feyrë wurdys and yn fykyl,
                      
                        And heteþ hym godë þat he byeþ,
                      
                        And swereþ þarto, and algate lyeþ.
                        Line 5948 
                      
                        For fals peys and fals mesure
                      
                        here soulës haue mysáuenture.

                      
                        Also hyt longeþ to coueytyse
                      
                        Ȝyf þou hyre one out of seruyse
                        Line 5952 
                      
                        Þurgh ȝyft or þurgh procurment,
                      
                        Þou synnest gretly yn swych atent:
                      
                        Enuye hyt ys, and falsnes yn dede,
                      
                        But ȝyf hyt were for þe morë nede.
                        Line 5956

                      
                        ȝyf þou boghtest of any seriaunt
                      
                        pryuyly, yn stylle cunnaunt,
                      
                        Þyng þat þou wystyst wel was stole,
                      
                        And þurgh þy byyng was forhole,
                        Line 5960 
                      
                        Hyt ys coueytyse and þeft pryue
                      
                        To bye þyng out of commalte.

                      
                        ȝyf þou receyuedyst any what
                      
                        Of onë þat hys þyng forgat;
                        Line 5964 
                      
                        But þou ȝyue hyt hym aȝeyn,
                      
                        Or þe valeu for certeyn,
                      
                        Þou art falle þan yn þe vyce
                      
                        Of, coueytyse, þeft, and auaryce.
                        Line 5968

                      
                        Or þou ledyst any man to þe ale
                      
                        And madest hym drunk with troteuale,
                      
                        And he solde hys þyng to þe
                      
                        More þan he wulde yn soberte,
                        Line 5972 
                      
                        Hyt semeþ þou art a gylour,
                      
                        And coueytous, and trechour.

                      
                        For men þat loue to do gylerye,
                        Line 5975 
                      
                        At þe alehous make þey marchaundye,
                      
                        To loke ȝyf þey kunne com with-ynne,

Page 194

here neghburs þyng, falsly to wynne.

                      
                        And a ryche man hyt noyeþ oftyn tyde [folio 40a:2] 
                      
                        Þat a porë man hat oght besyde.
                        Line 5980 
                      
                        Alle þat he may, with euyl he fondys
                      
                        For to reue hym, and haue hys londys;
                      
                        Ȝyf he may nat hem at hym bye,
                      
                        He wul weyte hym oþer felunnye,
                        Line 5984 
                      
                        hym to sle, or to endyte,
                      
                        Or þeft he wyl vpon hym wyte,
                      
                        Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte,
                      
                        Hys bestes for to bete or bayte,
                        Line 5988 
                      
                        To ete hys grasse, or foule hys corne,
                      
                        So þat hys gode shal neuer be lorne:
                      
                        Of swyche men, boþe wryte hyt ys & seyd,
                      
                        Moche peyne ys before hem leyde;
                        Line 5992 
                      
                        here synne shal noþer be forȝyuen ne slakyn
                      
                        Vn-to þey ȝelde þat þey haue takyn;
                      
                        Here mercy ys ful on- certeyn
                      
                        But þey ȝelde hem here gode aȝeyn.
                        Line 5996

                      
                        Of þys, before ȝe herde me rede,
                      
                        How seynt Fursyn founde hyt yn dede;
                      
                        And here y shal telle a lytyl tale
                        Line 5999 
                      
                        Of swyche a man þat brewed hys bale.

[The Tale of Lucretius, and how the Devil leapt into him.]

                        Þyr was a man þat hyght Lucrecyus,
                      
                        A swyþë ryche and coueytous;
                      
                        Besyde hym wonèd a mayden wys,
                      
                        Here name was kalled Beatrys.
                        Line 6004 
                      
                        Lucrecyus þoght on felonye;
                      
                        here landës he wulde algate bye.
                      
                        And, shortly ȝow for to telle,
                      
                        Þys lady wuldë nat hem selle.

                        Line 6008

Page 195

                      
                        Line 6008 
                      
                        when he wyst hyt, þan was hym wo;
                      
                        He weyted here, and ded here slo.
                      
                        whan he hád do here þat pyne,
                      
                        Yn alle here landes he toke sesyne,
                        Line 6012 
                      
                        And was þan a ryche lordyng
                      
                        And bare hym stoutë as a kyng.

                      
                        Þys Lucrecyus made a feste,
                      
                        A ryche, with men of noble geste.
                        Line 6016 
                      
                        Þe lordyngës þat he myȝt gete [folio 40b] 
                      
                        were settë with hym at þe mete;
                      
                        And as he sat yn alle hys pryde,
                      
                        Com a pore womman þat tyde,
                        Line 6020 
                      
                        And bare a chylde yn cloþës loke,
                      
                        Þe pappe yn þe mouþe as hyt had soke;
                      
                        Hyt hade neuer spoke before, saunȝ fayle,
                      
                        Þarfor y telle hyt, þe more meruayle.
                        Line 6024 
                      
                        As for grete myrácle, þe chyld seyd þus,
                      
                        "y sey to þe, Lucrecyus,
                      
                        Þat þou hast slayn seynt Beatrys,
                      
                        To haue here lond þat by here lys.
                        Line 6028 
                      
                        Þou art come now vn-to here fe,
                      
                        And syttest þere yn þy pouste;
                      
                        And y comaunde, þurgh Goddys myȝt,
                      
                        Þe deuyl, yn-to þe to lyȝt."
                        Line 6032

                      
                        As sonë as þe chylde had spoke,
                      
                        Þe fendë yn-to hym was lope,
                      
                        And traueyled hym þre dayys with pyne
                      
                        Þat alle hyt sawë with here yne;
                        Line 6036 
                      
                        And, at þe þre day[y]s ende,
                      
                        He deydë, and to helle gan wende.

                      
                        loke now, how þe deuyl hym laght
                      
                        For coueytyse of wurldys aght.
                        Line 6040 
                      
                        Ful wykked ys þat coueytyse,
                      
                        with oþer mennes gode falsly to ryse.

Ȝyt hyt ys wers þan ys þe lore

Page 196

                      
                        To do a man to deþ þarfore.
                        Line 6044 
                      
                        Of God almyȝty haþ he noun eye,
                      
                        Ne he ne þenkeþ for to deye;
                      
                        On hys deþ he þenkeþ neuer,
                      
                        And þarfor deyeþ he for euer.
                        Line 6048 
                      
                        "Ȝe ryche men, ȝe ryche purchasours,
                      
                        Ȝe wene þat al þe worlde be ȝours;
                      
                        And yn alle ȝoure moste purcháce
                      
                        Comþ ȝoure deþ sunnest yn place;
                        Line 6052 
                      
                        God sheweþ hyt oftë to ȝow;
                      
                        Þenkeþ þéron for ȝoure prow.

                      
                         [folio 40b:2]  What seye ȝe by þese streyte negons
                      
                        Þat se al day Goddës persones
                        Line 6056 
                      
                        Before hem deyë for mysese,
                      
                        And þey are ryche and wel at ese,
                      
                        And, ȝyt mow þey no þyng spare
                      
                        To helpe þe porë þat mys fare.
                        Line 6060 
                      
                        Swyche a man ys auarous,
                      
                        weyl wers þan ys coueytous;
                      
                        For coueytyse ys yn purchace,
                      
                        And auarycë halt long space.
                        Line 6064

                      
                        Aȝens mokerers wyl y þrepe
                      
                        Þat gadren pens vn-to an hepe;
                      
                        y warne hem allë yn þys wurde,
                      
                        whan mokerers gadren yn-to hurde
                        Line 6068 
                      
                        Þe deuyl ys here tresorer,
                      
                        For auaryce ys hys spenser.

                      
                        Y speke to men of rychë lyfe
                      
                        Þat han no charge of chylde ne wyfe,
                        Line 6072 
                      
                        persones, prestes, þat han here rente,
                      
                        And ouþer þat han grete extente,
                      
                        Þat mow weyl, at allë ȝers,
                      
                        lyue as lordes, and be here pers:
                        Line 6076 
                      
                        Þese nede nat to haue tresourye,

Page 197

But aftyr manhede and curteysye.

                      
                        Ȝyf an husbond chyldryn haue,
                      
                        One or two, mayden or knaue,
                        Line 6080 
                      
                        He may haue store and tresour
                      
                        To kepe with hys chyldryn yn honour.
                      
                        wele ys wurþy þat he haue gode,
                      
                        Þat wel dyspendeþ hyt on hys blode.
                        Line 6084 
                      
                        As wykkedly, me þenkeþ ys hyt doun,
                      
                        A man to gadyr oute of resoun,
                      
                        And do þerwith noun almës dede,
                      
                        Porë men to helpe at nede.
                        Line 6088

                      
                        A man þat haþ pens in chest,
                      
                        Vnneþes to slepe haþ he rest;
                      
                        with alle þat go nerhond, hym greues,
                      
                        For alle, he weneþ þat þey be þeues;
                        Line 6092 
                      
                        Þus seyþ he þat gadreþ tresoure, [folio 41a] 
                      
                        Of alle þat go byfore hys dore.
                      
                        Swych euyl þoghtes here soulë þenkeþ,
                      
                        And seye of hem euyl, þat noun hym þenkeþ.
                        Line 6096

                      
                        He þat gadryþ to tresorye,—
                      
                        Be he neuer so wys ne slye,—
                      
                        Þese þre sorwes shal he haue,
                      
                        hys tresour for to gete and saue:
                        Line 6100 
                      
                        Þe fyrst, ys trauayle yn þe wynnyng;
                      
                        Þe touþer, ys drede to kepe þat þyng;
                      
                        þe þryd ys þe most wo,
                      
                        Þat tyme þat he shall parte þarfro.
                        Line 6104 
                      
                        "Þou rychë man, þou lestene weyl;
                      
                        Þou gettyst but sorow of euery deyl.
                      
                        Sykyr lyfe shalt þou noun lede;
                      
                        Þyn herte ys þerfor euer yn drede."
                        Line 6108 
                      
                        And herë y shal telle a lyte,
                      
                        A wurdë of a gode Ermyte.

Page 198

[The Tale of the good Hermit who gave away the Money he had saved.]

                        An ermyte woned fer ouer a doune,
                      
                        yn a wasteyne, fer fro þe toune;
                        Line 6112 
                      
                        Þys ermyte þoght vp-on a day
                      
                        Þat he was yn febyl aray,
                      
                        And seyd, he wulde gader to store
                      
                        Tyl eftsones he had nedë more.
                        Line 6116 
                      
                        He gadred vn-to storë fast,
                      
                        Þat hys purs he fylled at þe last.

                      
                        Þo was he yn grete stodye
                      
                        where he myȝt do hyt pryuylye,
                        Line 6120 
                      
                        For to lese hyt he was a dred;
                      
                        And ȝede and leyd hyt at hys bed.
                      
                        whan he shuld slepë, he myȝt noght,
                      
                        So mochë on hyt was hys þoght;
                        Line 6124 
                      
                        whan he sagh men come or go,
                      
                        He þoghte and seydë, "þeues are þo."
                      
                        Euery man he wened had be a robbour,
                      
                        For dredë þat he had tresoure.
                        Line 6128 
                      
                        And whan he seyd hys oures of þe day,
                      
                        He þoght on hys tresour þer hyt lay.
                      
                        And more was he þan morenande [folio 41a:2] 
                      
                        Seþen þan beforëhand:
                        Line 6132 
                      
                        Þan seyd hym self, "weyl y ferde
                      
                        Ar y, yn purs, penys sperde;
                      
                        Now slepe y neuer but with kare,
                      
                        Syn y wyst, whére pens ware."
                        Line 6136 
                      
                        "y trowe," he seyde, "þat Goddys curs
                      
                        ys spred with pens, yn þe purs."

                      
                        he ros vp and ȝede to hys ȝate,
                      
                        And sagh twey men come yn þe gate;
                      
                        He parseyued weyl whydyrward þey cam,

Page 199

                      
                        And swyþe aftyr hys purs he ran,
                        Line 6142 
                      
                        And kast hyt to hem euery deyl,
                      
                        And seyd, "haueþ, and broukeþ hyt weyl,
                      
                        For, myn herte was neuer yn reste
                      
                        Syn y had hem a nyȝtys geste;
                      
                        For shal y neuer, aftyr þys day,
                      
                        Purs, pens, ȝyf þat y may."
                        Line 6148

                      
                        Þarfor he þat mekel has,
                      
                        Hys herte ys yn many a kas;
                      
                        Syn þat þykë pore ermyte
                      
                        was yn dredë for so lyte.
                        Line 6152

                      
                        Auaryce ys þy mochë fo;
                      
                        Þe loue of God hyt dragheþ þe fro;
                      
                        And syluer algat[e], namëly,
                      
                        Hyt ys a god of maumetry;
                        Line 6156 
                      
                        For maumetry ys madë alle
                      
                        Of golde and syluer and swych matalle,
                      
                        þe saraȝyns and ouþer wanbodyes,
                      
                        Þer-of þey make þat are here goddes;
                        Line 6160 
                      
                        Þarefor y rede þat ȝe loue hyt noght,
                      
                        Ne ouer moche to haue yn thoght:
                      
                        Þyr ys no þyng yn erþe aboue,
                      
                        Þat draghþ so mochë mannës loue
                        Line 6164 
                      
                        Fro God, né fro Goddys wurde,
                      
                        As golde and syluer leyde yn hurde;
                      
                        And y haue oftë herdë seye
                      
                        Of sum men whan þey shuldë deye,
                        Line 6168 
                      
                        Þat, þey wulde haue her pens ete [folio 41b] 
                      
                        Raþer þan any ouþer had hem gete;
                      
                        And, here ar y ferþer go,
                      
                        y shal telle of one þat ded so.

                        Line 6172

Page 200

6172

[The Tale of the Cambridgeshire Miser-Parson.]

yn Chambryg-shyrë, yn a toune, y herd telle of a persoune: Shortly to tellë, at þe laste, hys deþ euyl down hym kaste. 6176

                      
                        Men sente aftyr twey freres,
                      
                        Þat perauenture were hys cunseylers;
                      
                        Þese frerès cam, and by hym sate,
                      
                        and askéd hym of hys state.
                        Line 6180 
                      
                        Þis persone lay, and loked furþ
                      
                        vn-tyl a cofre yn þe florth.
                      
                        Þarto þe frere ȝaf godë tente
                      
                        whyderward hys yȝen glente;
                        Line 6184 
                      
                        Þarto he loked euer anone,
                      
                        And lay styllë as a stone;
                      
                        Þan asked þe ton frere,
                      
                        "what ys yn þys cofre here?"
                        Line 6188 
                      
                        Þe personë spak no þyng,
                      
                        But ȝaf a gretë syghyng.
                      
                        Þe freres kalled men hem to,
                      
                        Þat cofre for to vn-do:
                        Line 6192 
                      
                        Þe persones men come echone:
                      
                        "Key," þey seyd, "hadd þey none."
                      
                        Þe lyd vp sone þey wraste,
                      
                        And brak þe lok at þe laste;
                        Line 6196 
                      
                        And þere þey fonde þe cofre ful
                      
                        Sperd wyþ þe deuylys mul
                      
                        Of florens and of goldrynges,
                      
                        And of many ouþer þynges
                        Line 6200 
                      
                        Þat were of syluer, vesseles,
                      
                        And gold and ouþer Iuweles.

Þe wrecche saw hys tresoure sperd,

Page 201

                      
                        And sette hym up yn hys bedde,
                        Line 6204 
                      
                        And bekened þer-aftyr with hys hand:
                      
                        Þe frerë seyd, "y vndyrstande
                      
                        Þat he wulde haue sum of þys." [folio 41b:2]

                      
                        Þey toke and fylde a syluer dysshe
                        Line 6208 
                      
                        Ful of pens, and to hym broght,
                      
                        To se what was yn hys þoght.
                      
                        he toke and fyldë ful hys fyst,
                      
                        And yn-to hys mouþe þe pens kyst,
                        Line 6212 
                      
                        As þat he wuldë hem haue ete,
                      
                        Ȝyf he myȝt hem al haue gete.
                      
                        And, whan þey sagh hym þus do,
                      
                        Þe frerë styrtë hym vn-to,
                        Line 6216 
                      
                        And toke þe dysshë of hys hand
                      
                        Magre hys wylland.
                      
                        And a-none he fyllë downe,
                      
                        And deyd, y wenë, yn a suowne.
                        Line 6220

                      
                        Seeþ now how hys louyng
                      
                        Broȝt hym to euyl endyng!
                      
                        Þat he haþ loued and holde faste,
                      
                        with shame þey departed at þe laste;
                        Line 6224 
                      
                        Þerfore hyt were bettyr here
                      
                        Dyspende here þyng on gode manere,
                      
                        Þan for to ley hyt vp yn mucche,
                      
                        Oþer yn cofre, oþer yn hucche.
                        Line 6228

                      
                        Auarycë, ryche and harde,
                      
                        ys a þefe, a mokerad,
                      
                        whan he muccheþ pryuyly
                      
                        Þat many man myȝt lyuë by.
                        Line 6232 
                      
                        Ryche men gadere ryche tresours
                      
                        To make with ryche executours:
                      
                        Þe whyles þe execútours sekke,
                      
                        Of þe soulë þey ne rekke;
                        Line 6236 
                      
                        Þe body, whyl hyt on bere lys,
                      
                        A day or two ys holde yn prys,
                      
                        But whan hyt ys yn erþë broght,
                      
                        Body ne soulë gete ryȝt noght;
                        Line 6240 
                      
                        Be he broght nobly to hys pyt,

Page 202

Dette and soule þey þynke al quyt.

                      
                        loke þerfore, executore,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou haue ȝyt hold yn store
                        Line 6244 
                      
                        Þat þou oghtest for to haue ȝyue, [folio 42a] 
                      
                        But fro day to day hast hyt dryue:
                      
                        Þou synnest þan wykkedly,
                      
                        And doust þe soule treytory;
                        Line 6248 
                      
                        But þus seyþ holy story,
                      
                        Þe soule þat ys yn purgatory
                      
                        lokeþ fast aftyr þe socoure
                      
                        Of þe gode executoure;
                        Line 6252 
                      
                        Ȝyf he hyt helpë for to saue,
                      
                        Gretë mede þan shal he haue;
                      
                        And ȝyf he do nat hys ordynaunce,
                      
                        hyt askeþ of God to hym veniaunce.
                        Line 6256

                      
                        Of allë fals þat beryn name,
                      
                        Fals executours are maste to blame.
                      
                        þe pope of þe courte of Rome,
                      
                        Aȝens hem ȝyfþ he hardë dome,
                        Line 6260 
                      
                        And curseþ hem yn cherchys here
                      
                        Fourë tymës yn þe ȝere.

                      
                        Of alle executours þat men fynde,
                      
                        werst are þyn ownë kynde,
                        Line 6264 
                      
                        And þy chyldryn specyaly
                      
                        Are to þy soule vnkyndëly:
                      
                        Þy chyldryn allë sey ryght þus:
                      
                        "whom shuld þey ȝyuë hyt, but vs?"
                        Line 6268 
                      
                        y graunte weyl hyt ys ȝyue to þe;
                      
                        Be þou to hem þan sumwhat fre:
                      
                        Þat was heren, now hyt ys þyne;
                      
                        helpe hem þerwyþ oute of pyne;
                        Line 6272 
                      
                        But þou mayst nat, for auaryce,
                      
                        Þat haþ þe boundë yn þat vyce,
                      
                        To sparë no þyng þat was hys
                      
                        For to bryngë hym to blys.

                        Line 6276

Page 203

                      
                        Line 6276 
                      
                        And many tymës, so hyt gos,
                      
                        mennës eyres are here most fos;
                      
                        Namly, an eyre þat ys a qued,
                      
                        þat desyreþ hys fadrys ded;
                        Line 6280 
                      
                        For oftë haue men herde and sen
                      
                        Þat swych eyrës hauë ben.

                      
                        yn London, þe wurde gan go, [folio 42a:2] 
                      
                        Þat eyrës ded here fadrys slo;
                        Line 6284 
                      
                        And wyues wundryng was so bolde
                      
                        To make here husbundes kokëwolde:
                      
                        Many tymës, for swych dede,
                      
                        Are eyrës mochë for to drede;
                        Line 6288 
                      
                        For doute þerof, þys ys þe skyle,
                      
                        To queþe here landys where þey wyle;
                      
                        hous and rente, and ouþer þyng,
                      
                        Mow þey queþe at here endyng.
                        Line 6292

                      
                        Ȝe ryche men, before ȝow se,
                      
                        Þe whyles ȝe are yn ȝoure pouste;
                      
                        On ȝoure soules, y rede ȝow þenke;
                      
                        y warne ȝow of ȝoure eyres blenke;
                        Line 6296 
                      
                        Ne haueþ no trust of ȝoure sokoure,
                      
                        Nat of ȝoure owne executoure;
                      
                        Ȝyueþ ȝeself with ȝoure hondys,
                      
                        For þe dede haþ few[ë] frendys;
                        Line 6300 
                      
                        For þey þat þou louyst with-alle,
                      
                        For þy soule wyl ȝyue but smalle.

Of þre executurs y shal ȝou rede, how þey halpe ones a soule yn nede.

[The Tale of the Three Dishonest Executors.]

                        A tale y herde a gode man sey,
                        Line 6305 
                      
                        how a man dyd whan he shuld deye:
                      
                        he ches hym þre executours,
                      
                        Of al hys godys ordeynours,
                        Line 6308 
                      
                        Twey lewed men and a clerke,

Page 204

                      
                        To do gode yn soulë werke.
                      
                        Þys clerk was a lordyng,
                      
                        Þe toþer was an husbunde þat lyued by hys þyng,
                        Line 6312 
                      
                        Þe þrydë was a marchaunde
                      
                        Þat boght and solde with cunnaunte.

                      
                        Fyl auenture he deydë sone;
                      
                        Þey dyd with hym þat was to done;
                        Line 6316 
                      
                        To þe erþë þey hym dyght,
                      
                        For, þat was þe dedys ryȝt.
                      
                        whan he was dede, forȝate þey noȝt
                      
                        Þat al hys godë þey furþe broght.
                        Line 6320

                      
                        Whan þey hadde gadred and a-countede [folio 42b] 
                      
                        Þrytty mark hys gode amounted;
                      
                        hys vessel was ten mark wurþy,
                      
                        and ten mark of pens redy,
                        Line 6324 
                      
                        and ten mark hys ouþer store:
                      
                        Þus þey hyt set, and at no more.

                      
                        Þys clerk seyd: "we are þre;
                      
                        As y rede, so do shul ȝe:
                        Line 6328 
                      
                        Þys ychë man þat dedë ys,
                      
                        y hope hys soulë be yn blys;
                      
                        and ȝyf hys soulë yn blys be,
                      
                        he haþ no nede of gold ne fe;
                        Line 6332 
                      
                        hyt may no more but be yn heuene,
                      
                        þogh we ȝaue þys, and swych[ë] seuene;
                      
                        And ȝyf hys soulë be yn helle,
                      
                        Alle þe pens þat we mow telle,
                        Line 6336 
                      
                        ne alle þe prestes þat messe mow synge,
                      
                        Mow nat hyt out of hellë brynge:
                      
                        So, be hyt yn helle, or be hyt yn blys,
                      
                        hyt haþ no morë nede of þys;

                        Line 6340

Page 205

                      
                        Line 6340 
                      
                        "And we are swore to dele hyt ryȝt,
                      
                        And euen to parte hyt at oure myȝt;
                      
                        So we shul, ȝyf þat ȝe wylle:
                      
                        And seyþ now here an euyn skylle;
                        Line 6344 
                      
                        he vouchede hyt saufe on vs, he seyd,
                      
                        Þat we ȝaue hyt whan he deyde.

                      
                        "Þys yche vessel þat ȝe se,
                      
                        hyt may wel fallë to me.
                        Line 6348 
                      
                        þe store of hous, y vndyrstande,
                      
                        Falleþ weyl to an husbande;
                      
                        And þese pens falle on best wyse
                      
                        To a marchaunde to do hys marchaundyse.
                      
                        For soþë, y kan se no bet,
                        Line 6353 
                      
                        How euer hyt myȝt be bettyr sette;
                      
                        No better, certes, myȝt hyt falle:
                      
                        Þys ȝe seeþ, and weteþ alle.
                        Line 6356 
                      
                        Takë eche man hys party,
                      
                        For y haue parted hyt euenly."

                      
                        And eche of hem hys partë toke; [folio 42b:2] 
                      
                        Hyred þey neyþer messe ne boke
                        Line 6360 
                      
                        For to synge, ne for to rede;
                      
                        þey seyd þe soulë had no nede.
                      
                        y pray God, mysauenture
                      
                        hauë swych executure!
                        Line 6364

                      
                        Executur þat wyl nat do
                      
                        As þe dede ordeyned to,
                      
                        he shal haue ful euyl endyng
                      
                        þat so wyþ-halt þe dedës þyng.
                        Line 6368 
                      
                        Fals executours þat haue ben,
                      
                        þys chaunce haue men of hem sen,
                      
                        þat oþer fayleþ hem wurldës grace,
                      
                        Or, at here endyng, speche or space;
                        Line 6372 
                      
                        And ȝyf hyt stonde þe wurldës aght,
                      
                        A tokene hyt ys, hys soule ys kaght.

Page 206

                      
                        And here, at þys ychë pas,
                      
                        Y shal ȝow tellë of a kas
                        Line 6376 
                      
                        Þat fyl now late yn Kesteuene;
                      
                        But þe name y wyl nat neuene.

[The Tale of the Two wicked Kesteven Executors.]

                        A man, shortly for to sey,
                      
                        Whan he wyst þat he shuld deye,
                        Line 6380 
                      
                        Twey lewed men hys executours he ches,
                      
                        As þou shalt here, wykked and les.
                      
                        Þat tyme hyt happed for to be,
                      
                        Hys sone was oute of þat cuntre.
                        Line 6384

                      
                        Whan þe dede was yn hys graue,
                      
                        þey toke alle þat þey myȝt haue.
                      
                        þe sonë herd[ë] þat tydyng,
                      
                        And come home fo þe énteryng;
                        Line 6388 
                      
                        But he myȝt, with no procurement,
                      
                        Se ones hys fadres testament,
                      
                        For þe katel was a-counted
                      
                        More þan þe testament amounted,
                        Line 6392 
                      
                        And þey wuldë nat fulfylle
                      
                        þe testement of þe dedës wylle.

                      
                        Þe sone besoght hem þat þey wylde
                        Line 6395 
                      
                        Þe testement of hys fadyr were fulfylede:
                      
                        Þan bygan þey hym for to þrete, [folio 43a] 
                      
                        And spakë to hym wurdys grete;
                      
                        For tene, þey seyd þey wulde nat do
                      
                        For hym þat þey were ordeyned to.
                        Line 6400

                      
                        Þe chylde besoght[ë] God almyȝt
                      
                        To take veniaunce on here vnryght.
                      
                        hyt was nat a moneþ aftyrward,
                      
                        þe ton fyl yn a chaunce ful hard:

                        Line 6404

Page 207

                      
                        Line 6404 
                      
                        At hys foreyne, y ne wot what,
                      
                        Strangled hym þeron as he sat;
                      
                        Þe touþer executoure þat had þe þyng,
                      
                        Yn pouert he madë hys endyng.
                        Line 6408

                      
                        Now haue ȝe herde, myschaunce and nede
                      
                        Cumþ of fals executours dede;
                      
                        Whedyr hyt be stylle, or loude on hy,
                      
                        Fals executours endyn wykkedly;
                        Line 6412 
                      
                        lyfe or soule, þe toon ys shent,
                      
                        Or, boþe shul yn fyre be brent.

                      
                        As mochë ioyë and onours
                      
                        Shal come to gode executours;
                        Line 6416 
                      
                        God graunteþ hym, for hys gode wyl,
                      
                        hele and welþe with-outyn yl;
                      
                        And for hys dede þat he douþ ryght,
                      
                        He shal haue mercy aȝens hys plyght.
                        Line 6420 
                      
                        Þe soule prayeþ also, with wyl fre,
                      
                        Þat hys gode dede hym ȝouldë be
                      
                        Yn blys of heuene, wyþoutyn ende,
                      
                        Whan he out of þys wurlde shal wende;
                      
                        And loue of man, he shal fynde,
                        Line 6425 
                      
                        Yn þe syght of alle mankynde:
                      
                        Þys godënesse shal ay be newe
                      
                        To þe executur þat ys trewe.
                        Line 6428

                      
                        Now we þe executore haue mysseyd,
                      
                        And of hys wrong he haþ vpbreyd,
                      
                        he aȝensseyþ alle þat tresun,
                      
                        And setteþ þus hys resun,
                        Line 6432 
                      
                        And prayeþ vs þe soþe to se,
                      
                        Þat þe dede ys more to blame þan he,
                      
                        And argueþ vp-on þys skylle, [folio 43a:2] 
                      
                        And byt þe dede answere þartylle:
                        Line 6436 
                      
                        "ȝyf þou be ryche yn ȝongþe or elde,
                      
                        And hast ynowe of welþe to welde,
                      
                        And knowest þy self yn wyl and dedes,
                      
                        Þy wo, þy welë, how þou ledes,

                        Line 6440

Page 208

                      
                        Line 6440 
                      
                        "Alle þy lyfe, what hyt ys wurþy,
                      
                        Þou wost hyt bettyr þan wote y;
                      
                        Wyk and godë, þou hyt wyst,
                      
                        And þe to sauë, þou ne lyst,
                        Line 6444 
                      
                        And haddest þy self alle þy powere;
                      
                        why were þou nat þyn owne spensere?
                      
                        how shuld y þan do now for þe,
                      
                        Syn þy self were nat so fre?
                        Line 6448 
                      
                        how shulde y loue þy soulë nowe,
                      
                        whan þou louedyst nat þy soulë prowe?
                      
                        how shulde y þenke, þy soule to saue,
                      
                        Whan þou þoghtyst noun to haue?
                        Line 6452 
                      
                        how shulde y bryngë þe to blys,
                      
                        whan þou þy self ne wuldest þe wysse?
                      
                        how shulde y bringë þe of pyne,
                      
                        when þou ne wuldest, whyl alle was þyne?
                      
                        how shulde y, frend-man, be þy frende,
                        Line 6457 
                      
                        when þy-self fo-man wald þy hende?
                      
                        how shulde y late þy gode me fro,
                      
                        when þou lete noun fro þy-self go?
                        Line 6460 
                      
                        who shulde þe oute of sorowe vnbynde,
                      
                        When to þy self þou were vnkynde,
                      
                        and wystyst weyl þou shuldest deye,
                      
                        and nedely þe behoued passe þat weye?
                        Line 6464

                      
                        "Þogh y, for þe, ȝaf aywhore,
                      
                        who shulde kunne me þank þerfore?
                      
                        what shuld God do þè mede?
                      
                        Þou dedyst hyt nat; hyt ys oure dede?
                        Line 6468 
                      
                        a peny ȝyue of þe, yn þy lyue,
                      
                        hadde be bettyr þan oure fyue.
                      
                        Þou gederdyst, and ȝaue þyn executours;
                      
                        Þat before was þyn, now ys hyt ours.
                        Line 6472 
                      
                        Þou gaderdyst faste, and puttest yn holde; [folio 43b] 
                      
                        So shul we, be þou bolde;
                      
                        Þou boghtyst fast, and madyst a ryche eyre,
                      
                        Þy sone ys now yn þe samë speyre;
                        Line 6476 
                      
                        he shal nat þenk þat he shal deye,

Page 209

                      
                        "Ne noght of þe, but alle to beye.
                      
                        what þoghtest þou on þy fadyr before,
                      
                        lesse shal he þenke on þe, þat of þe ys bore.
                      
                        Of þy wofare ne haþ he þoght,
                        Line 6481 
                      
                        Þou myghtyst þy self, and wuldest noght;
                      
                        and þogh now we ȝaue alle þy gode
                      
                        vntyl porë mannës fode,
                        Line 6484 
                      
                        Or dede anouþer (for þy sake,)
                      
                        Cherche to sette, or auter make,
                      
                        y trowe þy mede shal be but smal,
                      
                        Syn þou dedyst noȝt whan þyn was al.
                        Line 6488

                      
                        "loke now þy-self, and gode skyl why,
                      
                        Þat þou art more to blame þan y.
                      
                        wharefor ys alle y with þe stryue,
                      
                        Þat þou do godë yn þy lyue;
                        Line 6492 
                      
                        Make þy-self þyn ownë weye,
                      
                        Þat þyn executor of þe þus seye;
                      
                        For what time þat þou awey gos,
                      
                        Þo þat were þy frendys are þan þy fos,
                        Line 6496 
                      
                        And comunly þyn ownë wyfe,—
                      
                        Þát, mayst þou se here ful ryfe,—
                      
                        Also þy chyldryn are vnkynde,
                      
                        Þat þou hast be aboute ful mynde;
                        Line 6500 
                      
                        Of boþe mayst þou þy merour se,
                      
                        ȝyf þou kanst, or wyl párseue þe;
                      
                        And alle cumþ hyt of coueytyse
                      
                        Þat men done vpp-on þys wyse;
                        Line 6504 
                      
                        Þárfore þenk on þe endyng,
                      
                        And spendë weyl þyn ownë þyng,
                      
                        Þat þou fal nat yn auaryce:
                      
                        Of vnkyndhede hyt cumþ, þat vyce."
                        Line 6508

                      
                        God, for hys holy myȝt,
                      
                        late us neuer, with wnryȝt,
                      
                        Coueyte oght aȝens hys wyl, [folio 43b:2] 
                      
                        No with auaryce to holde for yl,
                        Line 6512 
                      
                        But þat hyt be, hym to queme,
                      
                        And body and soule yn clenesse ȝeme.

Notes

he [hy? for A.S. heo, fem., or the t of hyt omitted.]

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O. omits 'y.'

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þynge.

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O. omits 'yn.'

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lyue.

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euer dedest.

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dyserytsun.

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ryches.

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haldest.

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myghtest.

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ȝyfst mys.

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ete.

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for.

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for.

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Of.

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lordes.

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ys ȝeue.

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A tale.

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þyr.

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O, syknes H.

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alle men.

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he O, om. H.

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mercye.

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cuuinaunt.

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some.

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þan þou.

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þo.

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takþ H, O.

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makþ.

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hely.

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eury.

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An.

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þar to may.

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makst.

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þey yn.

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pese.

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Iohan.

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A tale.

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þayr.

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wey

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no.

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of.

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O. gloss 'wey.'

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abode.

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swore alle.

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ȝaf.

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of.

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falle.

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es.

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al abashede and.

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was.

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behouede hym elde.

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O. omits 'of.'

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at O, a H.

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ȝaf.

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ȝaf.

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moste.

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telþ.

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almas.

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hadde al.

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dede.

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þarfore.

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wepte

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began þer-of.

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ȝyt were.

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of hys slepe vpbreyde.

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Hastely.

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katel.

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ȝaf.

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hyt no man.

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recche neuer.

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1_1 Harl. omits these six lines that O. has.

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man

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man was.

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knowelache hem betwe.

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by.

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þe.

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þy.

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& a debonurere.

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ȝaf.

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O. gloss 'a corner.'

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stede þat.

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logh

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swyle.

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Euermore.

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my felawe þat.

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grauntede.

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ys.

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O. omits 'þat.'

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colour

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ofte.

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seyden.

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stant.

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knowlache.

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here.

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þughte.

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O. omits 'to.'

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marchaundes.

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and for.

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comnalte.

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Or ȝyf.

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leddest.

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haþ oght hym.

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vpon O, on H.

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beyte.

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gresse.

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nere.

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wryte ys.

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Vntyl.

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vn.

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A tale

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and a.

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Here O, He H.

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stout.

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kynge.

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sauntȝ.

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þe (here adv.).

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þenkeþ nat.

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deyþ.

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be.

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nygones.

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prysones.

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vntyl a.

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þat O, þan H.

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haue.

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ȝeres.

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peres.

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hem.

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sorous.

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A tale.

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He.

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wende.

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hadde.

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penys O, pens H.

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sperde.

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O. gloss 'wey.'

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þeke.

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God O, om. H.

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No O. [folio 3b]

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wrd O.

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or O.

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wlde O.

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þat wlde O.

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A tale.

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euyl O, om. H.

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forth O.

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eȝen O.

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eure O.

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to O.

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seyde þey had O.

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lokes O.

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spred O.

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beknede O.

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honde O.

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-stonde O.

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wlde O.

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wlde O.

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Maugre O.

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[5-syll. line]

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had O.

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or O.

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mokerard O.

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fyl þe bag

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ryght þus O, þus H.

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shrewe

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ashrewe O.

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aqued O.

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fader O.

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wrd O.

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hendes O.

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leuest O.

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A tale

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[6-syllable line]

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husbund lyued O.

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marchound O.

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cunnound O.

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wrþy O.

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See John of Bromyard's Summa Predicantium (c. 1390, ed. 1485), Executor, E. viij. .xiiij. Exemplum: sicut patet, de executoribus, De quibus scribitur, quod, inter se tractantes de bonis defuncti, dixerunt quod mortuus ille, vel fuit in celo, & tunc bonis illis non indiget; vel in inferno, tunc ei non valerent; vel in purgatorio, & tunc sine illis liberaretur: finaliter, "Ergo," inquiuunt, "inter nos illa diuidamus, quia talibus indigemus."

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falle weyl O.

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vndyrstonde O.

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husbonde O.

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seþ O.

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wrldes O.

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wrldes O.

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A tale.

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executurs O, executour H.

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he ne O.

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wlde O.

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fulfylde O.

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bygunne O.

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wrdes O.

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And seyd for tene O.

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wlde O.

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toon O.

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hym þeron O, hym H.

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Wheþer.

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hym fyrst for O.

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wrld O.

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ȝyngþe O.

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wrþy O.

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þe O.

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þenke þe to O.

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? when, MS. why.

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shuldest O.

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euermore

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euermore, om. O.

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line too long.? cut out lesse.

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we now ȝyue O.

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ne of O.

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wylt O.

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Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

About this Item

Pages

[Of Covetousness, 5th Deadly Sin.]

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Notes

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