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 20, 2024.

Pages

Page 309

[Of the Sacrament of the Altar.]

                      
                        God almyȝty, þat al þyng weldes,
                        Line 9891 
                      
                        wyndës, watrys, wodes, & feldes,
                      
                        As soþely as þou madest of noȝt
                      
                        Alle créatures þat euer were wroȝt,
                      
                        Forȝyue me, to day, Lorde, my synne,
                      
                        Þat y þys wrþy sacrament mowe begynne,
                      
                        And wurschypfully þar-of to speke,
                        Line 9897 
                      
                        Þat we þe beleuë neuer breke;
                      
                        Ne for to tellë, yn þys long,
                      
                        Þyng, þat falle-of, may any wrong,
                        Line 9900 
                      
                        But þat máy be, þe to queme,
                      
                        And vs yn stedfaste beleue to ȝeme.

                      
                        Goddës sone, of heuene a-boue,
                      
                        He shewed vs alle, for gretë loue;
                        Line 9904 
                      
                        For whan hys passyun neyghed nye, [folio 66a] 
                      
                        To hys dyscyplys þat were hym bye,
                      
                        He ȝaue hys body hem to fede,—
                      
                        More loue ne myȝt he shewe yn dede,—
                      
                        Þat þey shuldë myndë haue
                        Line 9909 
                      
                        On hym, þat he myȝt hem saue;
                      
                        Ȝyt aftyrward he lete hym slo
                      
                        with ful vyle deþ, and pynyng wo;
                        Line 9912 
                      
                        For vs, and hem, ded he þys,
                      
                        To bryngë vs echone to blys,
                      
                        Ne more loue ne myȝt he do,
                      
                        Ne neuer man, myȝt so do;
                        Line 9916 
                      
                        For vs he ded hyt, þys ys certeyn,
                      
                        Þat we shuld loue hym weyl aȝen;
                      
                        Þogh we vs self ȝaf an hundryd syþe,
                      
                        O poynt of loue ne myȝt we kyþe
                        Line 9920 
                      
                        vn-to þe loue þat he haþ vs doun,
                      
                        For hyt ys oure saluacyun;
                      
                        And of vs, askeþ he ryȝt noȝt

Page 310

                      
                        But þat may weyl y-nogh be wroȝt,
                        Line 9924 
                      
                        No þyng but loue-longyng,
                      
                        To loue hym weyl ouer alle þyng,
                      
                        And for hys loue to leuë synne;
                      
                        hys loue, hys blys, þan mow we wynne;
                      
                        For þou mayst neuer haue hym to þe,
                        Line 9929 
                      
                        But, þou wylt fyrst synnë fle;
                      
                        Alle þyng he loueþ, but synne he hates;
                      
                        Ȝyf þou hym louest, with synne þou wlates.
                      
                        Ȝyf þou loue one, þe behoueþ nedes
                        Line 9933 
                      
                        Forsake þat þyng þat he þe forbedes;
                      
                        Elles, hyt ys tolde no loue,
                      
                        And namëly to God a-boue.
                        Line 9936

                      
                        And þou mayst nat loue hym with no greyth,
                      
                        But þou haue of hym gode feyþe,
                      
                        Þat ys to seye, to beleue hyt weyl,
                      
                        Alle þat ys wryte of hym euerydeyl.
                        Line 9940 
                      
                        Stedfast beleue, of loue hyt comes;
                      
                        And of beleuë, loue men nomes:
                      
                        So ys þe toon with þe touþer; [folio 66a:2] 
                      
                        with stedfast beleue, loue ys þe broþer.
                        Line 9944

                      
                        To whom ogh þan oure loue be went,
                      
                        But to þe beleue of þys sacrament?
                      
                        Þys, oght to beleue, euery crysten man,
                      
                        And lerne þe beleue of one þat kan,
                        Line 9948 
                      
                        'Þat þe bred þat sacred ys
                      
                        At þe auter, ys Goddys flessh:'
                      
                        Boþe flesshe and blodë þer ys leyd,
                        Line 9951 
                      
                        Þurgh þe wurdes þat þe prest haþ seyd,
                      
                        Þat lyȝte with-ynne þe vyrgyne Marye,
                      
                        And on þe rode for vs wulde deye,
                      
                        And fro deþ to lyue he ros,
                      
                        God and man, yn myȝt and los.
                        Line 9956

For who so beleueþ nat clere yn þe sacrament of þe autere,

Page 311

                      
                        He shal neuer þe blys a-byde,
                      
                        For no þyng þat may betyde.
                        Line 9960

                      
                        Yn þe oldë lawë, þus ys wryte,
                      
                        Boþe Iewes and crysten weyl hyt wete,
                      
                        "God seyd, and hyt was wroȝt;
                      
                        he commaunded alle þyng of noȝt."
                        Line 9964 
                      
                        Þese wurdës are verry and clere;
                      
                        Dauyd hem seyth yn þe sautere;
                      
                        Syn he made alle þat noȝt er was,
                      
                        lesse maystry were hyt þan yn kas,
                        Line 9968 
                      
                        For to chaunge þe lekënes
                      
                        Yn-to an ouþer þyng þat es;
                      
                        þe lykënes of bred and wyne,
                        Line 9971 
                      
                        Yn flesshe and blode to turne hyt ynne;
                      
                        Yn flessh and blode þe brede be broȝt,
                      
                        Syn he madë alle of noȝt.

                      
                        Ȝyf þou se hyt nat with bodly syȝt,
                        Line 9975 
                      
                        Þy soule with-ynne shal beleue hyt ryȝt;
                      
                        And ȝyf þou felë no sauour,
                      
                        But ryghtely wyne, and brede of flour,
                      
                        Þat ys þe wysdom of Goddys ordynaunce
                      
                        For to saue vs alle fro þys chaunce;
                        Line 9980 
                      
                        For ȝyf hyt fyl, as flesshe to take, [folio 66b] 
                      
                        wlate we shulde, and hyt forsake;
                      
                        And for he wulde nat men hyt forsoke,
                      
                        But þat alle men hyt vndyrtoke,
                        Line 9984 
                      
                        Þarfore hys wysdom, hys ownë rede,
                      
                        Sauerþ hyt yn wyne and brede;
                      
                        Hyt semeþ bredë, as be syȝt,
                      
                        And as brede, sauer haþ ryȝt;
                        Line 9988 
                      
                        Noþyr þe syȝt, noþer þe felyng,
                      
                        Haþ þer-of any certeyn þyng;
                      
                        what shal þan, þe most saue,
                      
                        But stedfast beleue þat þou shalt haue?
                      
                        Stedfast beleue of euery deyl,
                        Line 9993 
                      
                        Þat shal þan, saue þe weyl.

Page 312

                      
                        And some haue sey hyt bodyly,
                      
                        To whom he shewed hys mercy;
                        Line 9996 
                      
                        Lo here a tale for of ȝow sum,
                      
                        Þat y fonde yn 'vitas patrum.'

[The Tale of the Priest for whom the Sacramental Bread and Wine were turnd into a Child's Flesh and Blood.]

                        Þyr was a man of relygyoun;
                      
                        Of almës he had grete renoun;
                        Line 10000 
                      
                        But, for þe fende wulde haue hym shent,
                      
                        He beleued nat yn þe sacrament,
                      
                        And seyd 'hyt was nat Ihesu
                      
                        Þat conceyued was þurgh vertu;
                        Line 10004 
                      
                        Ne Ihesu was nat þe oblé
                      
                        Þat reysed was at þe sacré;
                      
                        And þo þat wurschep ded þarto,
                      
                        To beleue hyt, was nat to do.'
                        Line 10008

                      
                        Byfore twey abbotes þus he tolde;
                      
                        Þese abbotes wryte þys tale to holde;
                      
                        hyt oght be tolde to euery wham
                      
                        Þat ys aȝens þe crystendam,
                        Line 10012 
                      
                        Tyl hyt be preued with clergye
                      
                        wheþer hyt be beleue or erysye.

                      
                        Þese abbotes shewed hym þe ryȝt weye
                      
                        with alle þe ensamples þat þey coude seye;
                      
                        And he seyd 'þat hyt was lye,
                        Line 10017 
                      
                        But ȝyf he sagh hyt with hys ye.'
                      
                        "Doþe þan so þat y hyt se, [folio 66b:2] 
                      
                        Þan wyl y beleue þat hyt may be."
                        Line 10020

                      
                        Þese abbotes preyd a ful seuen nyȝt
                      
                        Þat God wulde shewe hym, þurgh hys myȝt,
                      
                        Yn flesshe and blode on þe autere,

Page 313

                      
                        To cónferme hys beleuë clere;
                        Line 10024 
                      
                        And hym-self preyd specyaly
                      
                        Þat God wulde shewe hym also yn body;
                      
                        "Lorde," he seyde, "for no mysbeleue
                      
                        Þat þou shuldest, with me þe greue,
                        Line 10028 
                      
                        But for to shewe þe ryȝt soþenes
                      
                        Þat þou art þe sacrament of þe messe,
                      
                        Þat y may make ouþer certeyn
                      
                        whan y with yën haue þe seyn!"
                        Line 10032

                      
                        Þe abbotes lay yn orysun
                      
                        Tyl alle þe seuen nyȝt were doun;
                      
                        þe seuenþe day, to þe cherche þey cam,
                      
                        And þe touþer man with hem þey nam;
                      
                        A sege was ordeyned for hem þre
                        Line 10037 
                      
                        To beholdë alle þe pryuyte
                      
                        Of þat holy sacrament
                      
                        Þat shewed was yn here present:
                        Line 10040 
                      
                        Betwyxe hem sate þys ychë man
                      
                        Of whom þe myracle fyrst began.

                      
                        whan þe vble was on þe auter leyd,
                      
                        And þe prest þe wurdes had seyd,
                        Line 10044 
                      
                        Alle þre þoȝt þan verrylyk,
                      
                        Before þe prest, þat a chyld lay quyk
                      
                        Yn feyrë forme of flesshe and blode;
                      
                        Þys say þey þre, þere þey stode.
                        Line 10048

                      
                        whan þe preste shulde parte þe sacrament,
                      
                        An aungel dowun from heuene was sent,
                      
                        And sacryfyed þe chylde ryȝt þare;
                      
                        As þe prest hyt brak, þe aungel hyt share;
                      
                        þe blode yn-to þe chaleys ran
                        Line 10053 
                      
                        Of þat chylde, boþe God and man.

Þys man ȝede to þe heyȝest degre, To housel hym, as fyl to be; 10056

Page 314

                      
                        Line 10056 
                      
                        Hym þoght þe prest broȝte on þe pateyn [folio 67a] 
                      
                        Morselles of þe chylde alle newe sleyn,
                      
                        And bedde hym a morsel of þe flesshe
                      
                        with alle ȝe blode þer-on alle fresshe.

                      
                        Þan gan he cry, with loudë steuene,
                      
                        "Mercy! Goddys sone of heuene!
                        Line 10062 
                      
                        Þe brede þat y sagh on þe auter lye,
                      
                        Hyt ys þy body; y se hyt with ye.
                      
                        Of þe brede, þurgh sacrament,
                        Line 10065 
                      
                        To flesshe and blode hyt ys alle went;
                      
                        Þys y beleue, and euer y shal;
                      
                        For verryly we se hyt alle."
                        Line 10068

                      
                        whan he and þey were alle certeyn,
                      
                        yn forme of brede hyt turned aȝeyn;
                      
                        He ded hym housel as ouþer wore,
                      
                        And was a gode man for euermore;
                        Line 10072 
                      
                        And alle þe toþer beþ þe better,
                      
                        Þat heren þys tale, or redyn þys lettyr.

                      
                        Þe prest þat sacreþ Goddys body,
                      
                        Hym behoueþ bé clene nedëly:
                        Line 10076 
                      
                        A lewed man þat shal hym receyue,
                      
                        Alle maner of fylþe, behoueþ hym weyue.

                      
                        Be þou neuer so gode a preste,
                      
                        Ne so grete wyttë yn þy breste,
                        Line 10080 
                      
                        Y rede þe here how þe propertes are shewed,
                      
                        Þogh þe langage be but lewed.

                      
                        Þou wost weyl þat þe vblè
                      
                        Ys but a lytyl þyng to se;
                        Line 10084 
                      
                        So shal we be lytyl yn wyl,
                      
                        lytyl and meke, with-outyn yl,
                      
                        Noȝt yn pryde, ne naȝt yn heghþe,

Page 315

                      
                        For no wysdom ne for no sleghþe,
                        Line 10088 
                      
                        Þat we ne falle with Lucyfere,
                      
                        For proude men wonë with hym þere.

                      
                        Þe vblè ys made of whete,
                      
                        Þe louelyest cornë þat men ete;
                        Line 10092 
                      
                        So shal we be meke and louely
                      
                        To allë þo þat beþ vs by;
                      
                        Þys mekënes ys aȝens Ire, [folio 67a:2] 
                      
                        Þat ys with Lucyfere yn fyre.
                        Line 10096

                      
                        Þe paste of þe vblè, nat ne ogh
                      
                        Be made of any maner of soure dogh;
                      
                        For þe soure dogh makeþ alle soure
                      
                        Þe swetnes þat cumþ of þe floure.
                        Line 10100 
                      
                        By þys soure dogh ys tokenyng
                      
                        Þat enuye ys a wykked þyng,
                      
                        For hyt fordoþe swetnes of dede
                      
                        Þat God shulde ȝyue for soulë mede;
                        Line 10104 
                      
                        Þarfore makeþ he none herbergerye
                      
                        Þere he fyndeþ byfore, enuye.

                      
                        A vertu also yn þe whete ys,
                      
                        Þat ys moche aȝens sloghnes;
                        Line 10108 
                      
                        For whetë cornës wyl nat prykke,
                      
                        As otës dowün, or barlykke;
                      
                        Ne we shulde nat haue any prykyl
                      
                        Of ydylnes ouer mykyl.
                        Line 10112

                      
                        Ydylnes gruccheþ, and ys heuy of þoȝt,
                      
                        And also sonë wroþe for noȝt;
                      
                        And þat wraþþë cumþ of sorowe,
                      
                        Þat of wanhope wyl mochë borowe.
                        Line 10116 
                      
                        Þys sacrament of þe messe
                      
                        loueþ noun swyche ydulnesse,
                      
                        Ne, with noun, wyl he dwelle,

Page 316

But þere men of Ioyë spelle. 10120

                      
                        Þe paste to þe vblè seyd byforne,
                      
                        Shal nat be 1of no medel1 corne,
                      
                        But allë onëly of wete;
                      
                        Þe mastlyoun shul men lete.
                        Line 10124 
                      
                        Þat yche meneþ, with no wyse
                      
                        we shul vs medel with coueytyse,
                      
                        And namëly with auaryce,
                      
                        For þat ys tolde a wykked vyce.
                        Line 10128

                      
                        Also þou seest þe vblè ys þynne,
                      
                        And grete dunhede ys noun þer-ynne;
                      
                        And þat wyl weyl sygnyfye
                      
                        Aȝens þe synne of glotonye;
                        Line 10132 
                      
                        For þere ne wyl þe sacrament reste, [folio 67b] 
                      
                        þere glotonye wyl hym oute keste.

                      
                        And þou seest, þe vblè ys whyte;
                      
                        And we shul hauë noun delyte
                        Line 10136 
                      
                        Of no maner of flesshely lak,
                      
                        Of lechery, þat makeþ vs blak.

                      
                        Þese are þe seuene propertes
                      
                        Yn þe vblè, as þou sees;
                        Line 10140 
                      
                        And euery properte þer-ynne
                      
                        Ys aȝens a dedly synne.

                      
                        Aȝens þys sacrament, þan do þo
                      
                        Þat are yn synne, and þar-to go,
                        Line 10144 
                      
                        Or are yn wyl aȝen to wende
                      
                        To synne, and hemself shende.

                      
                        Also a preste þat goþ, syngeþ hys messe,
                      
                        þat yn dedly synnë ys,
                        Line 10148 
                      
                        An hunder folde he synneþ more
                      
                        Þan ȝyf he, a lewed man wore.

Alle þey þat receyue þys sacrament yn dedly synne, or wykked entent, 10152

Page 317

                      
                        Line 10152 
                      
                        yn any óf þese ychë seuene
                      
                        Þat þou hast me herdë neuene,
                      
                        Hyt ys to here dampnacyun,
                      
                        And þarfore veniaunce shal be doun.
                        Line 10156 
                      
                        And, here y shal telle a tale,
                      
                        How hyt ys to þo men bale.

[The Tale of the Priest who was enabled to see Folk's sins in their Faces.]

                        A parysshe prest was yn a tounne,
                      
                        A man of ful grete dyscrecyounne;—
                      
                        Dyscrecyun, a ryȝt wyt ys,
                        Line 10161 
                      
                        On boþe partys ryȝtly to ges;—
                      
                        Of hys parysshenes he vndyrstode,
                      
                        whyche were yl, and whych were gode;
                      
                        Tweyn he haddë for to gete,
                        Line 10165 
                      
                        Þat neuer wuldë synnë lete.

                      
                        And fyl hyt at an esterne,
                      
                        Þat a prest shul none ouþer werne
                      
                        But ȝyf hyt be þe gretter synne,
                        Line 10169 
                      
                        As yn cursyng, or yn vnbuxyme.
                      
                        Þys prest was yn gretë þoȝt [folio 67b:2] 
                      
                        wheþer he shulde housel hem or noȝt;
                      
                        he preyd God, of heuene kyng,
                        Line 10173 
                      
                        Þat he wulde sende hym sum tokenyng
                      
                        wheþer hé shulde hem forbede;
                      
                        To housel hem, he þoȝt grete drede.
                        Line 10176

                      
                        Fro God he had þys answere:
                      
                        'Þat echone shuld hys owne charge bere,
                      
                        And þat he shulde warne hyt none,
                      
                        But ȝyue hyt furþe to euerychone;'
                        Line 10180 
                      
                        "Do þou as Ihesu dyd yn dede,
                      
                        And þou shalt no man hyt forbede,
                      
                        Ne morë þan he ded Iudas,
                      
                        Þat haddë do ful grete trespas."
                        Line 10184

he ȝaue hyt to alle with myldë mode whan brede was turned to flessh & blode.

Page 318

                      
                        For some þat hyt takeþ, hyt shal hem saue,
                      
                        And some þarforë peyne shal haue;
                        Line 10188 
                      
                        Aftyr þey are of synnë clene,
                      
                        So shal hyt on hem be sene."

                      
                        Ȝyt preyde he God of morë grace,
                      
                        Þat he myȝt knowë hem by face,
                        Line 10192 
                      
                        Þe whyche receyued hyt wurþyly,
                      
                        And whyche to have hyt were wurþy.
                      
                        And God graunted hym hys wyl,
                      
                        To knowe þe godë fro þe yl.
                        Line 10196

                      
                        Þe folk þat to þe prestë went
                      
                        For to receyue þe sacrament,
                      
                        Of some þe faces were as bryȝt
                      
                        As þe sunne ys, ón days lyȝt;
                        Line 10200 
                      
                        And some, here vysages al blake,
                      
                        Þat no þyng myȝt hem blaker make;
                      
                        And somë were as rede as blode,
                      
                        Staryng ryȝt as þey had be wode;
                        Line 10204 
                      
                        And sum were swolle, þe vyseges stout,
                      
                        As þoȝ here yȝen shulde burble out;
                      
                        And sum gnapped here fete & handes,
                      
                        As doggës doun þat gnawe here bandes;
                      
                        And sum hadde vysages of meselrye; [folio 68a] 
                      
                        And some were lyke foule maumetrye:
                      
                        Many wundrys were on hem sene,
                      
                        Mo þan he myȝt se at þat tyme.
                        Line 10212

                      
                        Þe prest, whan he say alle þys,
                      
                        Of þat syȝt he gan hym grys;
                      
                        For þat syȝt was hydous,
                      
                        And dreful, and perylous.
                        Line 10216

                      
                        Ȝyt preyd he God, with gode entent,
                      
                        Þat he myȝt wyte, what al þat ment;
                      
                        And God almyȝty loued hym weyl,
                      
                        And wuldë shewe hym euerydeyl;
                        Line 10220 
                      
                        "Þo men þat are so bryȝt
                      
                        As þe sun, on day[e]s lyȝt,
                      
                        Þo men are ȝyt yn charyte,
                      
                        And clene of synne, & wurschepeþ me;

Page 319

                      
                        Þo men þat were so blake,
                        Line 10225 
                      
                        Þat no þyng myȝt hem blaker make,
                      
                        Þey are lecchours foule with-ynne,
                      
                        And haue no wyl to leue here synne;
                      
                        Þo men þat werë rede as blode,
                        Line 10229 
                      
                        Þey are Irus, and wykked of mode,
                      
                        here euene crystyn for to slo
                      
                        with deþ, or, with pyne do wo;
                        Line 10232 
                      
                        Þo þat þou sagh with swolle vysage,
                      
                        Þey are enuyous ouer outrage;
                      
                        And þo þat gnapped here finger endes,
                      
                        Are bakbyters betwyxë frendys;
                        Line 10236 
                      
                        Þo þat þou sagh, meselles be syȝt,
                      
                        Þey loue more gode þan God almyȝt;
                      
                        Þo þat þou sagh lyke maumetrye,
                      
                        On worldly þyng þey most affye;
                        Line 10240 
                      
                        More loue þey gode þat hé haþ sent
                      
                        þan þey do hym þat alle haþ lent;
                      
                        þese maner men are ȝyt yn wyl,
                      
                        yn here synne to lyuë stylle;
                        Line 10244 
                      
                        And þarfore shal þe sacrament
                      
                        On hem aske hardë Iugëment,
                      
                        Þat þey haue receyue hyt vnwurþyly, [folio 68a:2] 
                      
                        And serued þe fende, hys enemy.
                        Line 10248

                      
                        Þys tale y tolde for loue of þo
                      
                        Þat yn synne to housel go,
                      
                        Or beþ yn wylle to turne aȝeyn;
                        Line 10251 
                      
                        For alle here trauayle þey do yn veyn.

                      
                        Ȝyf þou, whan þy housel shalt take,
                      
                        Be yn wylle þy synne to forsake
                      
                        For euermore yn stedfaste herte,
                        Line 10255 
                      
                        Þogh þou synne sone aftyr, and smert,
                      
                        Ȝyt God takeþ hyt nat to so grete grym
                      
                        As ȝyf þou yn tresoun receyuedest hym.

                      
                        yn no þyng wote y more tresun,
                      
                        Þan brynge þy lorde to hys felun;
                        Line 10260 
                      
                        And ȝyt men sey here synne ys grefe,

Page 320

                      
                        Þat bryngeþ a trew man on a þefe;
                      
                        And ȝyf þou do þus, þy wytande,
                      
                        þan chargë men hyt most yn hande;
                        Line 10264 
                      
                        þarfore loke þat þou wyte noȝt,
                      
                        No synne hyde yn herte ne þoȝt,
                      
                        Ne wyl nat wyte for neuer more
                      
                        whan þou receyuest God ryȝt þore.
                        Line 10268

                      
                        Also þe clerk þat haunteþ synne,
                      
                        But he leue, and þer-of blynne,
                      
                        He shal nat serue at þe auter,
                      
                        Noþer halewed þyng to comë ner.
                        Line 10272

                      
                        Y touched langer of þys outrage
                      
                        whan y spake of sacrylage,
                      
                        Þat þe holy gost shewed hym noȝt
                      
                        For þe dekene synned yn þoȝt,
                        Line 10276 
                      
                        Yn þe tale of Ion Crysostomus;
                      
                        Þys tale ys tolde for ȝow and vs.

                      
                        Also he ys wurþy to be shent,
                      
                        Þat, sone aftyr þe sacrament,
                        Line 10280 
                      
                        To foly and to synne hym draweþ:
                      
                        lytyl of Goddes veniaunce hym aweþ.

                      
                        Ȝyf þou forgete or ouersyttes
                      
                        Tyme of housel, þat þou weyl wytes,
                        Line 10284 
                      
                        lytel fors of hym þou ȝyues, [folio 68b] 
                      
                        Þou louest hym nat þat þou by lyues,
                      
                        And ouer alle þyng he loueþ þe beste,
                      
                        And þou ne wylt, a nyȝtys geste,
                        Line 10288 
                      
                        lete hym herber yn hys hous;
                      
                        Þou art vnkynde ryȝt merueylous,
                      
                        Þat alle þe ȝere þou latest hym weyue,
                      
                        And with wurschyþ þou wylt nat hyt receyue.
                        Line 10292 
                      
                        God manaceþ swyche, for swyche enchesun,
                      
                        And ryȝt hyt wyl, and gode resun;
                      
                        For swychë men are holde vntrewe
                        Line 10295 
                      
                        Yn þe olde lawe, and eke yn þe newe.

Page 321

                      
                        Comaundement yn þe olde lawe was,
                      
                        'Ones yn þe ȝere to shewe þy trespas;'
                      
                        þe newe law ys of more onour
                      
                        'Ones to receyue þy creatoure,'
                        Line 10300 
                      
                        Ones yn þe ȝerë, to knowleche,
                      
                        Þy lorde to pes, for drede of wreche.

                      
                        Þat prest, y blame ouer alle þyng,
                      
                        Þat with-oute skylle lettyþ to synge;
                        Line 10304 
                      
                        For many a soulë myȝt be saued
                      
                        with þe messe þat he haþ leued;
                      
                        For al[lë] þat yn peynë ys,
                      
                        Abydeþ þe socoure of þe messe;
                        Line 10308 
                      
                        For euery messe makeþ memórye
                      
                        Of soules þat are yn purgatórye;
                      
                        Mochë þanke shal þat prest haue,
                      
                        Þat helpeþ, hem for to saue;
                        Line 10312 
                      
                        For no þyng may hem so moche auayle
                      
                        Of here peyne and here trauayle,
                      
                        As þe sacrament of þe autere,
                      
                        Ne makeþ hem of peyne so clere.
                        Line 10316

                      
                        And þat may y shewe apertly
                      
                        By a tale of seint Gregorye;
                      
                        Seynt Gregory telleþ for þe same,

[The Tale of the Priest who was waited on by a Dead Lord whom he afterwards sang out of Purgatory.]

                        þer was a prest, Felyx was hys name;
                      
                        Bysyde hys wonyng yn a paþ
                        Line 10321 
                      
                        was a wasshyng yn an hote baþ;
                      
                        Þys prest þedyr oftë ȝede [folio 68b:2] 
                      
                        To wasshe hym whan he haddë nede.
                      
                        Þys prest þere euer redy fonde

                        Line 10325

Page 322

                      
                        Line 10325 
                      
                        A man þat serued hym to fote and honde;
                      
                        he drogh hys hosen of, and hys shone,
                      
                        And efte was redy hem on to done;
                        Line 10328 
                      
                        At euery tyme þat he þedyr cam,
                      
                        hys shone and hys hosen, of he nam,
                      
                        And serued hym at euery a tyde,
                      
                        Yn þe water, and eke besyde.
                        Line 10332

                      
                        Þys prest, þat cam þedyr so ofte,
                      
                        Þat þys man serued so softe,
                      
                        he ne asked hym neuer more
                      
                        when he was, ne how he come þore;
                      
                        But euery tymë was redy
                        Line 10337 
                      
                        And serued hym peynyblëly.

                      
                        Þys prest þoȝt he serued hym weyl,
                      
                        "hys trauayle wyl y quyte sum deyl."
                      
                        On o day he þedyr þoȝt,
                        Line 10341 
                      
                        And, twey loues with hym he broȝt;
                      
                        yn-to þe baþ, ȝede þe prest,
                      
                        And, wesshe hym, as he dyd neste:
                        Line 10344 
                      
                        Þys man was þere hym aȝayne;
                      
                        To serue hym weyl, he dyde hys mayne;

                      
                        Þys preste, whan he shuld furþë go,
                      
                        He ȝaue þe man þese louës two,
                        Line 10348 
                      
                        And þanked hym moche, hys seruyse,
                      
                        And more he wuldë ouþer wyse.

                      
                        Þys man answered þe prest aȝeyn:
                      
                        "Þys brede þou broȝtest to me yn veyn,
                      
                        For neuer morë shal y ete
                        Line 10353 
                      
                        Bredë, ne noun ouþer mete.
                      
                        Y am a man, þat ys dede,
                      
                        Þat neuer more shal etë brede."
                        Line 10356

                      
                        Þe preste asked "on what manere
                      
                        Ys hyt þat þou wonest þus here?"
                      
                        Þys yche man answered and seyd,
                      
                        "Y was lorde here, are y deyde;

                        Line 10360

Page 323

                      
                        Line 10360 
                      
                        And þys seruyse þat y am ynne, [folio 69a] 
                      
                        ys þe peynë for my synne;
                      
                        But y pray þe, pur charyte,
                      
                        Offre on þe auter þese loues for me;
                        Line 10364 
                      
                        And y beseche þe, ouer alle þyng,
                      
                        Þat syxe messys for me þou synge,
                      
                        For, were þey sunge, y hope to wende
                      
                        Yn-to þe ioye with-outen ende.
                        Line 10368 
                      
                        whan þe syxtë messe ys lefte,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou ne fyndë me here efte,
                      
                        know þou þan soþëly ywys
                      
                        Þat for þy prayere y am broȝt yn blys."

                      
                        þys prest, alle þat wokë long,
                        Line 10373 
                      
                        Fór þys same man preyd and song;
                      
                        And whan þe wokë was alle gone,
                      
                        Þe prest cam þedyr, and fondë none.
                      
                        he beleued þan weyl þat he was broȝt
                      
                        To blys, for, he fonde hym noȝt.

                      
                        By þys tale þan mowe ȝe se,
                      
                        þat hyt ys grete charyte,
                        Line 10380 
                      
                        Messes for the dede to synge,
                      
                        Þe soulës oute 3of þyne to3 brynge.

                      
                        Passyng alle þyng, hyt haþ powere,
                      
                        Þe sacrament of þe autere,
                        Line 10384 
                      
                        And namëly whan hyt ys doun
                      
                        with godë mannes deuocyun;
                      
                        Hym, wyl God sunner here
                      
                        þan one þat ys nat hym so dere.
                        Line 10388

                      
                        yn þe seuenþe comaundement
                      
                        Toucheþ to þys sacrament,
                      
                        Yn a talë of a knyȝt,
                      
                        How þe prest þat lyueþ nat ryȝt,
                        Line 10392 
                      
                        Of hys preyer ys lytyl prowe,
                      
                        And þere telleþ hyt weyl how;
                      
                        And y shal telle a-nouþer here,
                      
                        Of a messë of a frere.

Page 324

[The Tale of the Suffolk Man who was taken out of Purgatory by two Masses his Wife got sung for him.]

                        A man yn Souþfolke onës deyde
                      
                        Besydë Sudbyry, men seyde.
                      
                        For þat man, swych grace was dyȝt, [folio 69a:2] 
                      
                        Þat hym was graunted to come a nyȝt
                      
                        For to spekë wyþ hys wyfe
                        Line 10401 
                      
                        To amende þe defaute of hys lyfe:
                      
                        "Ȝyf a messe were for me doun
                      
                        with gode mannes deuocyoun,
                        Line 10404 
                      
                        y hope," he seyd, "to blys go,
                      
                        And be delyuerd of alle my wo;
                      
                        Y prey þe, pur charyte,
                      
                        To trauayle so moche for me."
                        Line 10408

                      
                        She graunted hym þat ychë bone,
                      
                        And ros vp on þe mornë sone,
                      
                        And, vn-to þe frerës ȝede,
                      
                        For þere hoped she best to spede.
                        Line 10412 
                      
                        She cam, and spak with a frere,
                      
                        And preyd she myȝt hys messë here,
                      
                        And for here housbunde soule to synge,
                      
                        And she wulde ȝyuë hym offrynge.
                        Line 10416

                      
                        Þe frere ded here a messe
                      
                        yn comune, as þe seruyse ys;
                      
                        whan þys messë sungë was
                      
                        She went home a godë pas.
                        Line 10420 
                      
                        Þe nyȝt aftyr, þan come he,
                      
                        "Slepest þou?" he seyd; 'nay,' seyd she,
                      
                        'Be ȝe ȝyt,' she seyd, 'yn blys?
                      
                        þe messë for ȝow sungen ys.'
                        Line 10424 
                      
                        "þe messe," he seyde, "þou dedyst be do,
                      
                        A party hyt halpë þer-vn-to;
                      
                        My parte y had, of þat messe,
                      
                        As of þyng þat comune ys;
                        Line 10428 
                      
                        Ȝyf one for me were specyale seyde,
                      
                        Þat ouþer for me blys had nede,—
                      
                        Ȝyf þe prest were of lyfe so gode

Page 325

                      
                        Þat God hys preyer vndyrstode—
                        Line 10432 
                      
                        Y hopë þan, grace to haue,
                      
                        Þat hys messë myȝt me saue."
                      
                        Ofte he seyd[ë] to hys wyfe
                      
                        "A prest! A prest! of clenë lyfe."
                        Line 10436

                      
                        On þe mornë, sone she ȝede [folio 69b] 
                      
                        To þe frerës eft god spede,
                      
                        And shewed hyt to þe pryour,
                      
                        And prey[ed] hym of socour,
                        Line 10440 
                      
                        'Ȝyf he had any broþer,
                      
                        Þat he hoped, were better þan oþer,
                      
                        Þat wyl syngë me a messe
                      
                        For a man þat dedë ys;
                        Line 10444 
                      
                        And at myn esë he shal haue,
                      
                        To a pytaunce, þat he wyl craue.'

                      
                        Þe pryor spake vn-to a frere,
                      
                        And prey[ed] hym on alle manere
                        Line 10448 
                      
                        Þat he wulde a messë synge
                      
                        For þat soule þat she made preyng.

                      
                        Þe frerë was an holy man;
                      
                        And ar þat he hys messe bygan,
                        Line 10452 
                      
                        He preyde to God hys orysoun
                      
                        Yn ful grete afflyccyoun,
                      
                        Þat hyt myȝt be, hym to pay,
                      
                        Þe messe þat he shulde synge þat day.

                      
                        whan þe messe was do to ende,
                        Line 10457 
                      
                        He bad þe womman home to wende;
                      
                        "And, whan þou more eftë heres,
                      
                        Cum and sey to ourë freres."
                        Line 10460

                      
                        Þe nyȝt aftyr, lesteneþ now,
                      
                        He come, and seyd, "slepest þou?"
                      
                        'Nay,' she sayd, 'how farë ȝe?'
                      
                        "weyl," he seyd, "and so wurþ þe."
                        Line 10464 
                      
                        'were ȝe pay[ed] of þat messe,
                      
                        Þat, for ȝow, sungyn ys?'
                      
                        "Ȝe," he seyd, "graunte mercy,
                      
                        Þys messe to me ys more wurþy
                        Line 10468 
                      
                        Þan alle þe worlde, an hunder syþe,

Page 326

                      
                        Ne myȝt haue made me halfe so blyþe;
                      
                        hys preyer was to God so dere,
                      
                        Þat he besoghte, þat wlde he here,
                        Line 10472 
                      
                        Ȝyf he had preyd for an hundred mo,
                      
                        Fro pyne to blys, he had broȝt þo;
                      
                        For what þyng he hade asked bone, [folio 69b:2] 
                      
                        God had graunted hyt hym as sone;
                        Line 10476 
                      
                        And haue gode day, for now y wende
                      
                        To þe ioye with-outyn ende."
                      
                        God late vs neuer þer-of mysse,
                      
                        with-outyn ende to haue þat blys!
                        Line 10480

                      
                        Þys wyfe come sonë on þe morne,
                      
                        And fyl on knees þe frere byforne,
                      
                        And toldë hym weyl, euery deyl,
                        Line 10483 
                      
                        How he, for hys prayer, yn ioye was weyl;
                      
                        And þe frere ful weyl þarby lete,
                      
                        And þanked God; and for ioye he grete.
                      
                        weyl were hym at hys endyng
                      
                        Þat had swych a prest for hym to synge!

                      
                        Yn þys tale, þan, shewed ys,
                        Line 10489 
                      
                        Ouer alle gode þan ys þe messe;
                      
                        For þe sacrament of þe autere
                      
                        Oueral passeþ hys powere;
                        Line 10492 
                      
                        Yn þat messe, þey hem affye,
                      
                        Þe soules þat are yn purgatorye,
                      
                        For hyt makeþ mencyun of þe passyun
                      
                        As Ihesu Cryst to deþ was doun;
                        Line 10496 
                      
                        Þe sone ys offred to þe fadyr yn heuene
                      
                        For þe soules þat þe prest wyl neuene.

                      
                        Also, þys talë wyl mene
                      
                        Þat þe preste be gode and clene;
                        Line 10500 
                      
                        Þan wyl Ihesu Cryst hym here,
                      
                        For what þyng he makeþ preyere:
                      
                        Preye he for body, or for soule,
                      
                        Þat ys yn pyne, or here yn noye,
                        Line 10504 
                      
                        Boþe wyl God almyȝty saue,
                      
                        what-so þe godë prest wyl craue.

Nat only for soules ys he herd,

Page 327

                      
                        But also for vs, yn þys world;
                        Line 10508 
                      
                        Be a man yn sykenes, or yn prysoun,
                      
                        weyferyng, or yn temptacyun,
                      
                        Or yn any ouþer trauayle,
                      
                        Þe sacrament wyl vs auayle;
                        Line 10512 
                      
                        hyt wyl delyuer vs out of peyne, [folio 70a] 
                      
                        Ȝyf oure beleuë be certeyne;
                      
                        And þat was weyl shewed yn dede
                      
                        Yn Ingland, so seyþ seynt Bede;
                        Line 10516 
                      
                        Yn hys bokys wrytyn þyr ys
                      
                        A feyre myrácle of þe messe.

[Bede's Tale of Jumna and Tumna; or, How an Abbot's Mass|singing made the Fetters fall off a Knight in Prison.]

                        what tyme seynt Bede was man lyuand,
                      
                        were many kyngës yn þys land;
                        Line 10520 
                      
                        Betwyxë tweyn was grete batayle,
                      
                        For whych þyng y telle þys merueyle;
                      
                        þe toon hyght Edfryde of þe norþe cuntre,
                      
                        þe toþer of Lyndëseye was he:
                        Line 10524 
                      
                        Edfryde had grete seygnourye,
                      
                        Seynt Audre housbonde, of Ely.
                      
                        þys batayle was, þurgh here boþe assent,
                      
                        Besyde a watyr, men calle Trent:
                        Line 10528 
                      
                        Syre Edfrydes broþer hyȝt Elfwynne,
                      
                        He was slayn þe batayle ynne;
                      
                        On boþe partyys, ne was none
                      
                        So feyre a knyȝt of flesshe and bone,
                        Line 10532 
                      
                        Ne so doȝty was of armes;
                      
                        Þarfore seynt Bede pleyneþ hys harmys.

                      
                        An noþer knȝyt also was felte dowun
                      
                        Almoste dede, and fyl yn swoun:
                        Line 10536 
                      
                        Þe namë of þys ȝungë knyȝt,
                      
                        'Iumna,' seyþ seynt Bede, he hyȝt.
                      
                        whan þys Iumna had long leyn,
                      
                        He couerd, and sette hym vp aȝeyn,

                        Line 10540

Page 328

                      
                        Line 10540 
                      
                        And stopped hys woundes, þey shuld nat blede,
                      
                        And as he myȝt, þennë he ȝede
                      
                        To seke hym helpe agher to haue,
                        Line 10543 
                      
                        Or frendës fynde, þat hym myȝt saue.

                      
                        And as he wente with mochë drede,
                      
                        He was take with kyng Eldrede,
                      
                        And, broght vn-to a lordyng,
                      
                        An Erle þat heldë of þat kyng.
                        Line 10548 
                      
                        Þe Erle asked hym 'what he was,
                      
                        And where he had be yn hard kas?'

                      
                        For drede of deþ, he was affryȝt, [folio 70a:2] 
                      
                        And durst nat sey he was a knyȝt;
                        Line 10552 
                      
                        He seyd, "seyre, ȝyf þy wyl be,
                      
                        Y am an husband of þe cuntre;
                      
                        Y was wunt to lede vytayle
                      
                        To knyȝtës þat were yn batayle;
                        Line 10556 
                      
                        And now y am a porë man,
                      
                        Yn þys maner fro þe batayle wan,
                      
                        And wyl fonde to saue my lyfe
                      
                        Tyl y may comë to my wyfe."
                        Line 10560 
                      
                        Þe erle þan made a leche be stoundes
                      
                        Tende to hym, to hele hys woundes.

                      
                        Þat tyme were here many thedys,
                      
                        Many vságes yn many ledys;
                        Line 10564 
                      
                        For euery kyng, yn þat dawe,
                      
                        Beleued on dyuers lawe;
                      
                        Sum were crystyn, on oure fay,
                      
                        And some beleued on paynyms lay;
                        Line 10568 
                      
                        Þarfore þat tyme was mykyl þro,
                      
                        And ofte was boþë werre and wo;
                      
                        Ȝyf any kyng myȝt of oþers men take,
                      
                        He shuld hem selle, or yn seruage make.

                      
                        wharfore y telle so of þys knyȝt,
                        Line 10573 
                      
                        þe erle dyd hym bynde euery nyȝt
                      
                        þat he ne shuld[ë] fro hem fle,
                      
                        Ne stele awey to hys cuntre;
                        Line 10576 
                      
                        Noþeles, for alle þat þey myȝt hym bynde,

Page 329

                      
                        A-noþer tyme, lose, þey myȝt hym fynde;
                      
                        Só fast, þey neuer hym bonde,
                      
                        Þat lose a-noþer tyme þey hym fonde.
                        Line 10580

                      
                        Þys boundë knyȝt hyght Iumna,
                      
                        And had a broþer þat hyȝt Tumna;
                      
                        þys Tumna was prest relygyous,
                      
                        For he was abbot of an house;
                        Line 10584 
                      
                        So long he leued yn þat estre
                      
                        Þat for hys name he hyȝt Tuncestre;
                      
                        Þat tounne, as y vndyrstande,
                      
                        hyt was yn Northhumber-lande.
                        Line 10588

                      
                        þys abbot herd tydyng certeyn [folio 70b] 
                      
                        Þat Iumna was yn batayle slayn;
                      
                        He come to Trent, þys abbot Tumna,
                      
                        And fonde a body ryȝt lyke Iumna;
                        Line 10592 
                      
                        Onóurablye he dyd hyt graue
                      
                        Yn hys cherche, þere he wulde hyt haue,
                      
                        And song þarforë, day and ouþer,
                      
                        For he went he had be hys broþer.
                        Line 10596

                      
                        Þogh þat Tumna had chose wrong,
                      
                        hys broþer had þe godenesse of hys song;
                      
                        For God alle wote, and wyst hyt þere
                      
                        For whom he madë hys preyere;
                        Line 10600 
                      
                        how as euer men, þys knyȝt at eue bonde,
                      
                        Þe bondes, on þe morne, vndo þey fonde;
                      
                        Men myȝt neuer hym yn bondes so feste
                      
                        Þat þey þat tyme ne gunne al to-braste.

                      
                        Þo men þat had þys man yn holde,
                        Line 10605 
                      
                        Þys wundyr to þe erle þey tolde;
                      
                        Þe erle had þer-of gretë wundyr

                      
                        Þat hys bondes were so a sunder,
                        Line 10608 
                      
                        He seyd 'hym self wulde with hym speke,
                      
                        To wytë why hys bondes dyd breke.'

                      
                        Before þe erlë was he fette,
                      
                        And þe erle, ful feyre he grette,
                        Line 10612 
                      
                        "Sey me now," he seyd, "bele amye,

Page 330

                      
                        "kanst þou weyl on sorcerye?
                      
                        Sum wycchecrafte þou doust aboute bere,
                      
                        Þat þy bondes mow þe nat dere.
                        Line 10616 
                      
                        For soþe," he seyd, "sum what þou dos,
                      
                        Þat euer-more þey fynde þe los."

                      
                        he seyd, "on whycchecrafte beleue y noȝt,
                      
                        Ne for me shal none be wroȝt,
                        Line 10620 
                      
                        Ne wyl nat be, þurgh fendys crafte,
                      
                        Vnbonde, ne with no whycchëcrafte.
                      
                        Syre erle," he seyd, "hyt ys a-nouþer;
                      
                        Yn my cuntre y haue a broþer
                        Line 10624 
                      
                        Þat supposyþ weyl þat y am slayn,
                      
                        For y come nat home agayn;
                      
                        For me he syngeþ euery day a messe; [folio 70b:2] 
                      
                        Prest, and abbot, for soþe he ys;
                        Line 10628 
                      
                        Y wote weyl, þát ys þe enchesun
                      
                        Þat my bondes are so ondoun,
                      
                        For, no þyng haþ powere
                      
                        Aȝens þe sacrement of þe autere;
                        Line 10632 
                      
                        And ȝyf y were dede yn ouþer werlde,
                      
                        hys preyer shulde for me be herde,
                      
                        To bryngë me of pyne and wo
                      
                        And aftyrward to blys[së] go."
                        Line 10636

                      
                        Alle þe meyne þan, and þe erle,
                      
                        Supposed weyl he was no cherle,
                      
                        As he to hem byfore hadde seyd,
                      
                        whan þey on hym fyrst handës leyd;
                      
                        By hys semblant and feyre beryng
                        Line 10641 
                      
                        Hym semed weyl to be a lordyng;
                      
                        By hys speche, þey vndyrstode
                      
                        Þat he was man of gentyl blode.
                        Line 10644

                      
                        Þe erle toke hym yn pryuyte;
                      
                        Of when he was, telle hym shulde he;
                      
                        "Sey me þe soþe, and, as y am knyȝt,
                      
                        Þou ne shalt haue for me, skaþe ne plyȝt."
                      
                        "Syn ȝe me behete ȝoure pes and gryth,
                      
                        Y am þe kyngës man Edfryth;
                      
                        Armës y bare yn þe batayle,

Page 331

                      
                        with alle my powere hym to auayle."
                        Line 10652 
                      
                        "So me þoȝt," seyd þe erle,
                      
                        "Þe semed nat to be a cherle;
                      
                        But, for þát y here þe seye,
                      
                        Þou were wurþy for to deye,
                        Line 10656 
                      
                        For þou hylpë þer to slo,
                      
                        Þat alle my kyn ys dede me fro;
                      
                        But, langer þat y sykerd þe,
                      
                        Shalt þou haue no skaþe for me."
                        Line 10660

                      
                        He ȝede and solde hym for raunsoun
                      
                        At London to a Frysoun,—
                      
                        A Frysoun ȝe shul vndyrstande
                      
                        To a marchaunde of Fryslande;—
                        Line 10664 
                      
                        Þys Frysun wulde þys man furþe lede, [folio 71a] 
                      
                        And, dyd on hym bondes for drede;
                      
                        For he ne shulde skape by þe weye,
                      
                        He dyd on hym, bondes for to leye;
                      
                        But hyt auayled hym no þyng
                        Line 10669 
                      
                        Neuer a day, þat byndyng;
                      
                        For yn þat oure þat þe messe was sunge,
                      
                        Þe bondes to-braste, and alle to-sprunge.

                      
                        Þys Frysoun þoȝt 'how may þys be?
                        Line 10673 
                      
                        hé may ryȝt weyl fro me fle;
                      
                        Chaunsfullyche hyt vayled noȝt,
                      
                        þe katel þat y wyþ hym boȝt.'
                        Line 10676

                      
                        þe Frysoun seyd, "wylt þou weyl
                      
                        Restore aȝen alle my katel,
                      
                        And y shal ȝyue þe leue to go
                      
                        To þy cuntre, þere þou come fro;
                        Line 10680 
                      
                        But fyrst þou shalt me trouþë plyght,
                      
                        And trewly holde hyt at alle þy myȝt,
                      
                        To brynge þe katel, and ȝyue for þe,
                      
                        And ellës y grauntë þe nat fre."
                        Line 10684 
                      
                        he graunted hym alle þat he seyd,
                      
                        And trouþe yn hande with hand[ë] leyd.

                      
                        þys Iumna went to þe kyng Loyre,
                      
                        þat was kyng of Kaunterbyre;
                        Line 10688 
                      
                        he was seynt Audre syster sone,
                      
                        And Iumna was wonte with here to wone;

Page 332

                      
                        Of alle hys state, boþe wo and wele,
                      
                        Iumna tolde þe kyng euery deyl;
                        Line 10692 
                      
                        Þe kyng þan ȝaue hym hys raunsoun,
                      
                        And he bare hyt to Londoun to þe Frysoun.

                      
                        Syþen ȝede he home, þys knyȝt Iumna,
                      
                        To hys broþer þe abbot Tumna,
                        Line 10696 
                      
                        And tolde hym of alle hys wo-fare,
                      
                        And of alle hys cumforte yn alle hys care.
                      
                        Þe abbot ful weyl þan vndyrstode
                      
                        Þat hys messe dyd hym grete gode,
                        Line 10700 
                      
                        And þat þe sacrament gan hym borowe
                      
                        Oute of seruage and out of sorowe.

Þys tale telleþ vs seynt Bede, [folio 71a:2] Yn þe gestys of Inglond þat we rede. 10704

                      
                        By þys talë, mow men lere
                      
                        Þat þe messe helpeþ vs weyl here;
                      
                        For vs lyuyng, hyt makeþ memórye,
                      
                        As weyl as for soules yn purgatórye;
                        Line 10708 
                      
                        Euery man shal beleue þat ryȝt,
                      
                        Þat holpe wyl be, as was þe knyȝt.

                      
                        Þys sacrament helpeþ nat ȝyt a-lone,
                      
                        But deuoute offrynges also echone;
                        Line 10712 
                      
                        Alle þat we offre at þe messe,
                      
                        Alle oure saluacyun hyt ys;
                      
                        Nat onely for to saue þo þat dede beþ,
                      
                        But þe quyke also hyt saueþ and redeþ;
                      
                        As weyl haue þe quyke, þe pru,
                        Line 10717 
                      
                        As þe dede, þereof vertu;
                      
                        Quyke and dedë, more and lesse,
                      
                        Alle are saued þurgh þe masse.
                        Line 10720

                      
                        þe offryng ys also a present
                      
                        þat hyt be oure helpe, þe sacrament,
                      
                        To þe fadyr of heuene bysyly,
                        Line 10723 
                      
                        For whom þou offrest, to haue mercy.

                      
                        A tale y fondë onës wryte;
                      
                        And as y wote, þan shul ȝe wyte;
                      
                        And weyl a-cordeþ yn alle þyng,
                      
                        Þat God ys payd of gode offryng.

                        Line 10728

Page 333

10728

[The Tale of the Miner, and how his Wife's Offerings for his Soul fed him while he was buried alive in a Mine.]

Þyr was a man beȝunde þe see, A mynour, woned yn a cyte,— Mynurs, þey make yn hyllys holes, 10731 As yn þe west cuntre men seke coles.—

                      
                        Þys mynur soȝte stones vndyr þe molde,
                      
                        Þat men make of, syluer and golde;
                      
                        he wroȝt on a day, and holed yn þe hyl;
                      
                        A perylous chauncë to hym fyl;
                        Line 10736 
                      
                        For, a grete party of þat yche myne
                      
                        Fyl dowun yn þe hole, and closed hym ynne.

                      
                        hys felaus alle, þat were hym hende,
                      
                        Þat he were dede, weyl soþely wende;
                      
                        Þey ȝede and toke hem alle to rede, [folio 71b] 
                      
                        And tolde hys wyfe þat he was dede.
                        Line 10742

                      
                        Þys womman pleyned here husbonde sore—
                      
                        wulde God þat many swyche wommen wore!—
                      
                        She hylpe hys soule yn allë þyng,
                        Line 10745 
                      
                        In almës dede, and yn offryng;
                      
                        She offred for hym to þe auter,
                      
                        Ful of wynë, a pecher,
                        Line 10748 
                      
                        And a feyrë lofe with-alle,
                      
                        Euery day as for a pryncypalle;
                      
                        Alle þat twelue moneþ stabëly,
                      
                        But o day þat passed forby.
                        Line 10752

                      
                        Fewe swyche wymmen now we fynde,
                      
                        Þat to here husbondes are so kynde!
                      
                        But þys wyfe, at alle here myȝt,
                      
                        Ded for hym boþe day and nyȝt.
                        Line 10756

                      
                        Fyl hyt at þe twelue moneþ ende,
                      
                        Hys felaws to þe mounteyne gun wende,
                      
                        And comë to þe same stede efte,

Page 334

                      
                        Þere þey last here werk [i-]lefte.
                        Line 10760 
                      
                        Ryȝt þere, þey fyrst bygan,
                      
                        And perced þurgh vn-to þys man.

                      
                        Þe man yn godë state þey fonde,
                      
                        lyuyng with-outë wem or wounde;
                        Line 10764 
                      
                        Euerychone, þey hadde grete ferly,
                      
                        And þat was gretë resun why;
                      
                        Alle þo men were yn grete were,
                      
                        How he had lyued alle þat ȝere.
                        Line 10768 
                      
                        But he tolde hem euerychone
                      
                        How he hadde lyued þere alone;
                      
                        "Y haue lyued gracyous lyfe,
                      
                        Þurgh þe curtesye of my wyfe,
                        Line 10772 
                      
                        For euery day she haþ me sent
                      
                        Brede and wynë to present;
                      
                        But o day certys ete y noȝt,
                      
                        For, no mete was to me broȝt."
                        Line 10776

                      
                        Þey led þys man vnto þe tounne,
                      
                        And tolde þys myracle vp and dounne,
                      
                        Fyrst, þur[o]gh þe cyte, [folio 71b:2] 
                      
                        And seþþë þur[o]gh þe cuntre.
                        Line 10780 
                      
                        Þey asked hym, at þe laste,
                      
                        Þat day þat he dyd[ë] faste;
                      
                        He tolde hem þe day[ë]s name,
                      
                        And hys wyfë seyd þe same;
                        Line 10784 
                      
                        Þat day she offred neuer a deyl;
                      
                        Þe gode fryday, he myȝt be weyl.

                      
                        Now mow ȝe here, þat almës dede,
                      
                        Gostëly a man wyl fede,
                        Line 10788 
                      
                        And so mow ȝe weyl vndyrstande
                      
                        Þat God ys payd of gode offrande.

                      
                        But fór alle þys tale, yn ȝoure lyues,
                      
                        Truste ȝe nat moche ón ȝoure wyues,
                        Line 10792 
                      
                        Ne on ȝoure chyldryn, for no þyng,
                      
                        But makeþ ȝe self, ȝoure offryng:

Page 335

                      
                        For, so kynde a womman as y of tolde,
                      
                        lyueþ nat now, be þou bolde;
                        Line 10796 
                      
                        Ne no clerk, þat þys ryme redys,
                      
                        Shal fynde a womman of so kynde dedes.'

                      
                        Ȝe men þat are now yn present,
                      
                        þat haue herd me rede þys sacrament,
                      
                        how ouer alle þyng hyt haþ powere,
                        Line 10801 
                      
                        Þe sacrament of þe autere,
                      
                        As y haue here to ȝow shewed
                      
                        —Nat to lered onely, but eke to lewed,—
                      
                        Ȝe lewed men, y telle hyt ȝow,
                        Line 10805 
                      
                        Þese clerkys kun hyt weyl y-now,
                      
                        Pray we alle oure creatoure,
                      
                        Þe sacrament oure sauyoure,
                        Line 10808 
                      
                        Þat body and soule he wyl vs saue,
                      
                        And we hym loue, and he vs haue!

Notes

This Section, to p. 336, is copied into the Vernon MS. (with a few changes of words and forms) as '7 Miracles of Corpus Christi,' and is printed in 'Minor Poems of the Vernon MS.,' ed. Hortsmann and F. J. F.; E. E. T. Soc. 1891.

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and watres.

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'wrþy' should be cut out.

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neuer þe beleuc.

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Ȝafe.

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No.

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steynyst

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louest.

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nat H, om. O.

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O. gloss 'taketh.'

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oghte.

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þan were hyt.

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lyknes.

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al byfore of noght.

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bodyly.

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But . . . flour O. But ryȝt bred and wyne of flour H.

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by.

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þy.

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no þy.

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Hast þou on no (but altered in the same hand).

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[6-syllable line]

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[6-syllable line]

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A tale

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þe fende O, þe H (? þe = they).

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had.

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vbble.

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was reysede.

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hyt. hyt.

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by.

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O. gloss 'fals.'

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saye.

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þese.

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were alle H, were O.

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come.

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nome.

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Leave out 'alle.'

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alle ouþre.

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hyt.

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Þoghe þat.

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'naȝt' omitted.

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See French 1. 7421-5.

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shulde.

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See French 1. 7389-94.

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oghþ (the last letter has been added on).

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cut out 'maner of.'

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fyndes.

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of a.

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1_1 of medlede.

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See French l. 7413-20.

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keste O, kaste H.

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See French l. 7389-94.

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no.

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a properte.

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hast here herde me.

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A tale

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'were' omitted.

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shulde.

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housel.

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hym.

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dede.

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folke.

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In Harl. the remainder of the line is scratched out.

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vysege.

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yen.

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saghe.

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dredful.

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[6 syllables]

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wrshype.

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In Harl. the words after 'were' have been scratched out, but a later hand has written 'face full of blode' for them; an original 'of' can be made out before the 'full.'

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yrous.

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wrly (sic) þynge.

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receyuede.

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þyn.

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after synne sone.

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on.

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brynge.

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Ion.

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[p. 278]

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hyt.

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of þe.

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y O, om. H.

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A tale.

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was H, om. O.

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ofte þyder.

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com.

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penyblely O, peynybly H.

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wysshe.

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'broȝt' omitted.

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com.

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3_3 of pyne for to.

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[page 73]

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A tale.

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com.

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sunge.

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were specyaly for me.

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gode O, go H.

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hopede.

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Cum.

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most þou

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al.

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'and' omitted.

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wepte

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Þo.

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þo.

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soule or for bodye.

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vs here yn þe werlde.

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A tale.

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seynurrye.

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husb. of St. A. of E.; l. 10689.

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was O, om. H.

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boþe her.

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Þat.

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eke was felde.

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lyffe.

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vnto.

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made þan.

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by.

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thedes countries.

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Noþeles O, Noþele H.

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neuer þey.

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toune

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Oxf. gloss 'a toune.'

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wende hyt (but he is used for the neuter, see ll. 10586, 10786, &c.).

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breste.

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bondes O, landes H.

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aboute þou doust bere.

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be O, om. H.

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be.

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dede O, de H.

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wenne.

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for me haue.

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eschape.

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He dede bondes on hym to leye.

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hym wyþ.

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hyt saueth also.

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A tale

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vnto.

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swyche many.

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ledde.

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seþþe O, seþ H.

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note.

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þys O, om. H.

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kunne.

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Preye we now.

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creatour O, creature H.

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sauueour.

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The Vernon MS. borrowing ends here.

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Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

About this Item

Pages

description Page 309

[Of the Sacrament of the Altar.]

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