Hoccleve's works. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

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APPENDIX.

The XIII Poems in the englisht Be Guilleville's 'Pilgrimage of the Soul.'
Egerton MS. 615, Brit. Mus.

(1) The epistle of grace sent to the seek man. littera. [folio 17b]

[26 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      I' Gracë quen, and heuenly princesse,—
                      Line 1 
                    
                      As depute [? MS. deprite.]  be the souereyn kyng eterne,
                    
                      In erthe a-lowe to be the gyderesse
                    
                      That [That = of him that. (Tags t r f &c. are not printed.)]  liste the redy wey[ë]s for to lerne,
                    
                      In pilgrymagë him selff to gouerne—
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Gretyng, with yerde & lore of disciplyne,
                    
                      To the that hast, and must be, one of myn.
                      Line 7

(2)

                      It is me don to knowe & vnderstonde,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Þat, this dethës seruaunt, malady,
                    
                      The hath arrest, and holdith now in hande,
                    
                      And the oppressith, nought knowyng the forwhi.
                    
                      I wil therfore, as for thi remedy,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Ordeyne[n] in my best[ë] manere wise;
                    
                      I rede þe that thi self þou wel aduyse.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      I haue be with the whan thu knewe it nought,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Enserchyng, lo, thi poin[t]is of conscïence,
                    
                      Be wich I knewe the innermost of thought.
                    
                      Thu hauest, thi self, with veari neclegence,
                    
                      And also for defawte of diligence,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Noght take heed to thi gouernaunce,
                    
                      Thi selffë brought in anguysshe & greuaunce.

                      Line 21

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21

(4)

                      Thu hast, with surfeet, leuyng sobirnesse,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      fful greuously encombred thi corage,
                    
                      In lust dispending al thin besynesse, [folio 18] 
                    
                      Syn þat thu were a childe of tender age,
                    
                      That the now doth ful gret disauauntage;
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Wherfore the nature of thi maladye
                    
                      Wil askë sothly a fleobotomye.
                      Line 28

(5)

                      Also I see, þat ful art thu withinne
                      Line 29 
                    
                      of córrupte humour al a-bowt[ë] spred,
                    
                      That rennyth ay betwyn [þi] flesch and skynne,
                    
                      That causith þat thu kepist now thi bedde:
                    
                      Than ydilnesse and slouthë hath this bred;
                      Line 33 
                    
                      Thu hast nought swet owt of thin eye one tere;
                    
                      Wich thing to the ful necessary were.
                      Line 35

(6)

                      For if thu myghtist, dayës two or thre,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      With mynde upon thi foulë wrechidnesse
                    
                      haue suche a sweet, it wolde availë the;
                    
                      ffor leue it weel,—I sey it the expresse—
                    
                      but if thu do the rathere thi besynesse,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      with suche a swet thi self[ë] to amende,
                    
                      This malady will of the make an ende.
                      Line 42

(7)

                      Take heed[ë] nowe, and to thi self conuerte,
                      Line 43 
                    
                      And see what wrechidnesse is the withinne,
                    
                      Or dethë take thi liffe out of thin herte;
                    
                      To be my reed, anon þat thu be-gynne
                    
                      To make the clenë of thi sory synne,
                      Line 47 
                    
                      As ferrë [forth] as þou canst think or spye,
                    
                      And wasshe hem out with terës of thin eye.
                      Line 49

(8)

                      For if þat deth the sudeynly assaile,
                      Line 50 
                    
                      beleue it weel, he sparith no persone;
                    
                      With him to trete, it may no thing avayle;
                    
                      On the hath he no piete, thow thu grone;
                    
                      Complayntis sothly he rewardith none,

                      Line 54

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                      Line 54 
                    
                      But buskith you vnto the pittës brynk:
                    
                      On this, I rede, thu besely bethink.
                      Line 56

(9)

                      Take heed, and here, how þat to euery wight
                      Line 57 
                    
                      With-in[në]-forth he clepith preuely: [folio 18b] 
                    
                      "Arayeth you, and be al redi dight,
                    
                      ffor I wil come—beleve it sikerly—
                    
                      Or ye be ware, parauenture sudeynly:
                      Line 61 
                    
                      And me by-for ther may [no] praiere spede
                    
                      Ne non ne wele: I sparë for [no] mede."
                      Line 63

(10)

                      "Beholde and see, how þat this messageres,
                      Line 64 
                    
                      lo, in awaitë, [now] be leyd for the.
                    
                      Sest thu noght Agë, with his whightë eres,
                    
                      hath had [[? hid]]  himselff ful nye,—canst thu not see?—
                    
                      And maladi[ë] hath arrest par-de.
                      Line 68 
                    
                      Herist thu nowt, how thei crie lowde alwey,
                    
                      'what eilith vs, to tarye so al day?'
                      Line 70

(11)

                      "How oftë haue I warned the be-for,
                      Line 71 
                    
                      Som while apert, somtymë preuely,
                    
                      That redy schuldist thu have be euermor:
                    
                      Witnesse upon thi self, I say the, whi
                    
                      Thu might the nought excusë vtterly:
                      Line 75 
                    
                      Synderesis, she knowith euery deel;
                    
                      Sche will be thin appélloure, wete it weel,
                      Line 77

(12)

                      "Aneinptes me, that alway wold thi prowe;
                      Line 78 
                    
                      fful folili thu hast thi self mystake:
                    
                      for thu behetest—this knowist well I-nowe—
                    
                      Þat alle thin foli woldest thu for-sake,
                    
                      And woldest thi-self very clenë make,
                      Line 82 
                    
                      Puttyng [thi] flesch vnder subieccioun,
                    
                      To be gouérned after thi reason.
                      Line 84

(13)

"But sekerly she euery deel reuerse 85 vsurped hath hire ownë ladi right, By here delites and lustës full dyuers Oppressyng her with alle hir mayn & myght.

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                      A fool is he (as semith in my sight)
                      Line 89 
                    
                      That be no lore ne will his freend[is] knowe
                    
                      Till þat he be in myschief ouerthrowe.
                      Line 91

(14)

                      "But now I rede, take good entent & hepe, [folio 19] 
                      Line 92 
                    
                      Puttyng awey thi slombre & [thi] slouthe.
                    
                      A fool he is, that leith him self to slepe,
                    
                      To whom I springe, the veray sterre of trewthe.
                    
                      How ofte hast thu refused, for thi yowthe,
                      Line 96 
                    
                      To herë me? and sone hast thu for-yete
                    
                      Myn lusty songës veary hony-swete.
                      Line 98

(15)

                      "Now sey me, be thi feith, whethir þou were he
                      Line 99 
                    
                      Alone of woman in this world I-bore,
                    
                      So clene of wemme, that no thing is in the
                    
                      To weylë ne to wepe thi synnës sore.
                    
                      Nay, sekerly—and þat me for-thinke sore—
                      Line 103 
                    
                      That thu ne canst [nat] se thi wrechidnesse,
                    
                      Thi synne, thi surfeet, and thin vnthriftynesse,

(16)

                      "And hard conflicte of bataile, the withinne.
                      Line 106 
                    
                      Thu felë myght (but if thu be vnwys),
                    
                      How þat þi sowle assailed is with synne,
                    
                      And vnder-cast þou art of hye malice,
                    
                      And subiecte, thu madist thi selfe, to vice,
                      Line 110 
                    
                      Wich þat of god, the Juge omnipotent,
                    
                      Condempned is with-owt[en] iugëment.
                      Line 112

(17)

                      "Shamë hath he þat at the cheker pleith,
                      Line 113 
                    
                      Whan þat a powne saith to the kyng 'chek mate;'
                    
                      And shame it is, whan that thi gost obeith
                    
                      Vnto thi flessh, þat schuld obeye algate
                    
                      Vnto thi goost. And now, thowe it be late,
                      Line 117 
                    
                      Yilte helpe thi self, and cast her vnder fote,
                    
                      Or elles þou art lost: þere is non other bote.
                      Line 119

(18)

"In bataylë, as it hath ofte be-tydde 120 a myghti man to falle, it is no schame, The first[ë] tyme, the secunde, and the thridde,

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                      And rysith weel—this holde I but a game;—
                    
                      But gretly, me thinkith, is he to blame,
                      Line 124 
                    
                      And worthi as [a] fool to be reproeved,
                    
                      That not enforsith him to be releuyd. [folio 19b] 
                      Line 126

(19)

                      "Now youthë may no lengere the excuse,
                      Line 127 
                    
                      for age is come, and calengith his plase.
                    
                      Yeld thi promyse! þou myght it not refuse.
                    
                      A fool is he þat desobëyth grace,
                    
                      And is to meward fallë in trespace,
                      Line 131 
                    
                      And castith him nought ámendis to make:
                    
                      Suche one, what wondir is, though I forsake?
                      Line 133

(20)

                      "Ful long I haue a-beden and susteyned
                      Line 134 
                    
                      to haue amendës for thi forfeture;
                    
                      And or this tyme I haue me not compleyned.
                    
                      I may no more the wrechidnesse endure:
                    
                      I rede the do [MS. to do.]  thi besynesse and cure;
                      Line 138 
                    
                      Amende thi self; it is anow to me,
                    
                      That is the amendës þat I askë the.
                      Line 140

(21)

                      "Now chese thin port, at wich thu wilt aryve;
                      Line 141 
                    
                      But to there ben, of solace and distresse:
                    
                      At one, thow myght thi self[en] kepe a lyve,
                    
                      And euere abide in ioye and lustynesse;
                    
                      That othir, is but care and wrechidnesse;
                      Line 145 
                    
                      here comë deth; and if þat he [schal] smyte
                    
                      Thi liffe, there is non leche that [may] respite.
                      Line 147

(22)

                      "Se now thi self, that hauest no defence!
                      Line 148 
                    
                      A-bove thin heed the swerd is redy drawe;
                    
                      I redë the to look thi conscïence,
                    
                      How þou hauest lyved a-geyn thi lorde-is lawe;
                    
                      And after this, a-nothir wey thu drawe,
                      Line 152 
                    
                      Þat alle thi tyme in foly so dispended,
                    
                      yit at the last[ë], lat it be amendyd.

                      Line 154

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154

(23)

                      "How oftë tyme have I the tolde & taught
                      Line 155 
                    
                      The worthynesse of vertue, and the mede!
                    
                      how ofte haue I the from the clowches caught
                    
                      Of sathanas! yitte takist thu non heed.
                    
                      But now be ware, and nought withowt[ë] nede;
                      Line 159 
                    
                      ffor sekirly the bowe is bent ful sore [folio 20] 
                    
                      To smytë the: than may I do no more.
                      Line 161

(24)

                      "The birde that syngith on a braunche on hye,
                      Line 162 
                    
                      And schewith him self a lusty Jolyvet,
                    
                      Vnto the deth is sinet sudeingly
                    
                      Or he be ware, and takë with a net.
                    
                      I have the said, how deth hath the be-sette;
                      Line 166 
                    
                      And almost vnder-myned is thi wall;
                    
                      But thu be ware, ful grevous is thi fall.
                      Line 168

(25)

                      "Allas! what thinkest thu? what wilt þou sayn,
                      Line 169 
                    
                      In þat ilke day of anger and of dreed,
                    
                      Vn-to the heighë Iugë souereyne?
                    
                      What dost þou, man? whi takist thu non hede?
                    
                      If þou wilt be releuyd in thi nede,
                      Line 173 
                    
                      What helpith it, thus [for] to preche and teche?
                    
                      But schewe thi soore, to me þat am thi leche,
                      Line 175

(26)

                      "And [than] I schal a-voyde the of thi fylthe,
                      Line 176 
                    
                      receyvyng the anon vnder my cure.
                    
                      I schal the bringe in redynesse of tylthe,
                    
                      So that [thu] schalt thi selff[e] weel assure,
                    
                      Þat whan thi flesch is laid in sepulture,
                      Line 180 
                    
                      Thu schalt be haved up in-to heven blisse;
                    
                      Eternall myrthës schalt þou neuere mysse."
                      Line 182

(2) The chartre of pardon.

[14 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Ihesu, kyng of hie heuen a-bove, [folio 26] 1 Vnto Michael my chief lieu-tenaunt,

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                      And alle thin ássessourës wich I love,
                    
                      That in my seruice be perséueraunt
                    
                      have euermore, and to me ful pleasaunt—
                      Line 5 
                    
                      My gretyng;—and, upon the peyne of dreed,
                    
                      Vnto this present chartre take[th] heed.
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Me hath be-sought, this present ladi here,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Misericorde; and at hire gret instaunce,
                    
                      And also eek myn ownë modier dere— [folio 26b] 
                    
                      That alway redi is, at hire pleasaunce,
                    
                      ffor synful men to makë purueaunce
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Above thei have me bede; wich, of my grace,
                    
                      Graunted hath, hire prayer have his place.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      Ther be pilgrymës (as thei certifie)
                      Line 15 
                    
                      That to meward hire weiës had [i]take,
                    
                      Wich have mysgon, and erred folily
                    
                      Be steryng of the foulë bestis blake,
                    
                      That som of hem hire iourney had forsake,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      And efte hire iourney have a-geyn be-gunne,
                    
                      But sudei[n]gly hath failed him the sonne.
                      Line 21

(4)

                      Some have be lettid be foule temptacïoun
                      Line 22 
                    
                      And steryng of hire fleschly wrechidnesse;
                    
                      So, be disease and tribulacïoun
                    
                      Thei have [i]falle in-to huge hevynesse;
                    
                      And somme also to this worldes besynesse
                      Line 26 
                    
                      So greuously hire hertës ouersette,
                    
                      So þat thei have of hire iournéy be lette.
                      Line 28

(5)

                      But thei haue[n] repented wondir sore,
                      Line 29 
                    
                      Some of hem, but at hirë lyvës ende;
                    
                      & somme of hem, a litel what be-fore
                    
                      Be-gan him selfë somwhat to amende,
                    
                      In wil theraftir neuer to offende,
                      Line 33 
                    
                      But schreven hem of alle hire olde trespace,
                    
                      And put them self[ë] only in my grace.

                      Line 35

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35

(6)

                      At the instaunce of myn owne modier swete—
                      Line 36 
                    
                      To whom I may no maner thing denye,
                    
                      And mercy also may I nought for-gete;
                    
                      But vnto hir bone I wil myself applie:—
                    
                      This grace I graunte them of my Regalye,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      That I schal hem receyve vnto my peas;
                    
                      Of hellë peyne I graunte hem ful relees.
                      Line 42

(7)

                      So thei that han me, Ihesu, mercy cried
                      Line 43 
                    
                      Or that the breeth out of the body yeed, [folio 27] 
                    
                      And alle hire wrechid lustys have defied
                    
                      In veray faith (as techith hem the crede)
                    
                      So þat ye schal not a-geyn hem procede
                      Line 47 
                    
                      As to iuge hem to hellë [bittre] peyne,
                    
                      But that in this, your rygoure ye restreyne.
                      Line 49

(8)

                      And thow þat hir wikked [? wikke.]  workis counterpeise
                      Line 50 
                    
                      hire good[ë] dedës whan thei schul be weye,
                    
                      So þat the beter part hem selfë reyse
                    
                      As for defawte of weighte, yit thus I seye
                    
                      And will, þat [to] this chartre ye obeye,
                      Line 54 
                    
                      Wich I have graunted for my modier sake:
                    
                      To mercy also her have I [i-]take.
                      Line 56

(9)

                      Of tresour of my bitter passïoun,
                      Line 57 
                    
                      And of the merite of my modier der—
                    
                      To whom non othir hath comparysoun—
                    
                      With merite of myn seintës alle in fer,
                    
                      That to my biddyng ful obeysaunt were,
                      Line 61 
                    
                      Of plente and of superhábundaunce
                    
                      A forcet ful, wich puttith in the balaunce,
                      Line 63

(10)

                      The countirpeis a-geyn the fendis part,
                      Line 64 
                    
                      So that he faile of his entencïoun
                    
                      To bringë hem, so with his subtile art,
                    
                      To be iuged [vn-]to dampnacïoun
                    
                      Withowt ony comfort of saluacioun,

                      Line 68

Page xxxi

                    
                      Line 68 
                    
                      With cursidnesse of alle the synnës sevene,
                    
                      Syn the [Since that, since the time.]  that he was chased owt of hevene.
                      Line 70

(11)

                      And nought for-thi,—this is not myn entent,—
                      Line 71 
                    
                      Ne for this cause my blood ne shadde I nought,
                    
                      That ony wight in mysgouérnëment
                    
                      A-bidë schulde, and trust[en] in his thought
                    
                      That this chart[r]e schulde [him] a-vaile[n] ought
                      Line 75 
                    
                      As of this pardon to be partenere,
                    
                      Or of this grace þat I haue graunted her.
                      Line 77

(12)

                      Therfore, owt of this chartre I excepte [folio 27b] 
                      Line 78 
                    
                      To allë which, vnto hir lyvës ende,
                    
                      Have euermore in cursed synnës slepte,
                    
                      Purposyng nowt hire lyvës to amende,
                    
                      Vpon trust here-of, hem selfë to defende
                      Line 82 
                    
                      ffrom hellë peynë, be this present grace,
                    
                      Alle tho þat schal be exiled fro my face;
                      Line 84

(13)

                      And this also, wich that be obstynat,
                      Line 85 
                    
                      and never wil [vn]to my lawe obeye;
                    
                      This also þat be veray desperat,
                    
                      That wil no gracë ne no mercy pray,
                    
                      But right so in hire cursed synnës deye:
                      Line 89 
                    
                      To them is due the hotë fier of helle,
                    
                      With Sathanas eternally to dwelle.
                      Line 91

(14)

                      Wherfore, no man so boldë ne so hardy be,
                      Line 92 
                    
                      Trustyng upon this present pardonaunce,
                    
                      To surfeet or to synne in no degre,
                    
                      Vpon the trust of fynal répentaunce,
                    
                      Wich is my gifte; and aftir my pleasaunce
                      Line 96 
                    
                      I geve it him þat schul myn mercy crave,
                    
                      withowt[en] wich, no wight [ne] wil I save. [MS. crave.] 

                      Line 98

Page xxxii

(3) Cantus peregrinorum. [folio 29]

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      Honowred be thu, blissed lord on hye,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      That of the blisful maydë were I-bore,
                    
                      That with thi deth us boughtist myght[i]ly:
                    
                      Thin ownë flesch and blood, þou gaue us fore,
                    
                      And for us suffred peynës wonder sore,
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Bothe foot and hand [i]nayled to the rode,
                    
                      And bledest alle thin veray hert[es] bloode!
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Honowred be thu, fadir souereigne,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      That vowchedsaff suche raunsom [us] to sende
                    
                      Thin ownë lovëd sone to suffre peyne,
                    
                      Oure mysease & myschief [for] to amende!
                    
                      Thu holigost, þat art withowt[en] ende,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      With fadier & sone, one god in trinite,
                    
                      ffor euere honured be thi maieste!
                      Line 14

(3)

                      And thu, [o] blisful maide & modier mylde,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Thu lady, qween of heven, emperice,
                    
                      Whom Ihesu chees; and as thi ownë childe
                    
                      Thow bare, his veray modiere & noryce,
                    
                      Thu floure of vertue, modiere of delice,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Thu toure of trist, and [trew] tresoure of grace,
                    
                      honowred mote thu be in euery place!
                      Line 21

(4)

                      Honowred be þou, blissed lord Ihesu,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      Suche grace and mercy have we found in the;
                    
                      Suche godlihede, suche myght & suche vertue,
                    
                      Whil þat we in purgátory haue be!
                    
                      Of alle oure peynes, relesed now be we,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Wich long[ë] tyme we have a-byden inne,
                    
                      But wonder schort, in régard of oure synne,
                      Line 28

(5)

With whiche we have the souereyn blisfulheed 29 fful grevously displeasyd & offended, [folio 29b]

Page xxxiii

                    
                      In word & werk, & with vnthryfty dede;
                    
                      But thanked be thu, lord, it is amended;
                    
                      But now is alle oure noyows laboure ended;
                      Line 33 
                    
                      To the we come, as fyne of oure labour,
                    
                      Whom willeth eueri trewë trauayloure.
                      Line 35

(4) What tyme þat the pilgrymes had songyne in this wise, hire aungeles wiche þat led them, ansuerid a-nothir song ful swete & ful delicious, as it sewith: Cantus angelorum.

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      All-myghti lord, oure blisful lord Ihesu,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      Thu myroure of the fadier in maieste,
                    
                      In whom is seyn his myght and his vertue,
                    
                      The welle of witte & [MS. & of.]  wisdaum is in the,
                    
                      To whom-is [whos.]  presence now retourned we be
                      Line 5 
                    
                      With this pylgrymës which to the we bringe;
                    
                      To thin honoure ful ioyefully we synge.
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Towardës the, ful longe thei haue trauayled;
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Thu wost thi selfe, how thei han be distressed.
                    
                      The falsë feend so sorë hem asseyled,
                    
                      And greuously diseased & oppressed;
                    
                      But be thi grace, his malice was repressed,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      And thrughe thy [MS. his.]  mercy weel th[e]i be releved,
                    
                      And hire entent, fully thei han acheved.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      What laboure & what anguysch have we had,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Sithe þat we took them in oure gouernaunce,
                    
                      Thu wost Ihesu; and now, [lord,] we be gladde
                    
                      Of alle þat we have don to thi pleasaunce;
                    
                      Wherfore thu wilt with reward us auaunce
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Suche as the list a-bove[n] in thi blisse;
                    
                      Eternall Ioye, we schul it neuere mysse.
                      Line 21

(4)

Lo, we presente in-to thin hand a-geyn, 22 alle-myghty lord, þat to vs þou hast betake,

Page xxxiv

                    
                      honured be thu, Ihesu souereyn,
                    
                      Of that we have labóurëd for thi sake,
                    
                      Of this labourë, now an ende thu make!
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Thi crëaturës, vnto thi presence, [folio 30] 
                    
                      Receyve hem of thin heighe benevolence!
                      Line 28

(5)

                      For thow [that] thei [MS. thine.]  han erred or myswent,
                      Line 29 
                    
                      Thei have it a-bought with woundës hard & sore,
                    
                      And purgeid with grete peyne & [with] torment,
                    
                      And duely to hem was Iugëd therfore,
                    
                      Alle-thow thei hadde deserued muchë more,
                      Line 33 
                    
                      The remenaunt is relessed, of thi grace;
                    
                      In heven is assigned hirë place.
                      Line 35

(5) The aungelys song within. [folio 30]

[7 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      Al worshippe, wisdam, welthe and worthinesse,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      All bounte, beawte, ioye and blisfulheed,
                    
                      All honure, vertue, and alle myghtynesse,
                    
                      All grace & thankyng, vnto thin godheede,
                    
                      ffrom whom alle grace & mercy doth procede!
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Ay praised be thu, lord, in Trinite,
                    
                      And euere honured be thi maieste!
                      Line 7

(2)

                      That be mankynde oure nombre is encreased,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Of this that longe have be in pilgrymage;
                    
                      And now is alle hire noyows laboure cessed,
                    
                      That was be-gonne here first[ë] dayës age.
                    
                      Here is the port of sekire áryuáge
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Honured be thu, blissed lord on hye, [folio 30b] 
                    
                      And wolcome be ye to owre companye!
                      Line 14

(3)

                      Now passed be youre perilous auentures,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      and alle youre Auenture hath an endë take.
                    
                      Right wolcome be ye, blissed crëatures!
                    
                      Tyme it is, þat scrippe & burdon ye forsake,
                    
                      ffor now ye schal no longere iourne make;

                      Line 19

Page xxxv

                    
                      Line 19 
                    
                      and aftir laboure, tyme is of quiete;
                    
                      Alle hevinesse & Anguysch is for-gete.
                      Line 21

(4)

                      For ye have don a nobill victory,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      And youre labourë nobly díspended,
                    
                      That so ageyn youre treble enemye
                    
                      Youre selffë myghtely haue défendid;
                    
                      And þat ye have mysdon, it is amended
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Be sustenaunce of purgatory peyne;
                    
                      Thanked be thu, [o] Ihesu souereyne!
                      Line 28

(5)

                      In heven blisse, here schul ye be with vs
                      Line 29 
                    
                      Vnto the day of fynall iugëment,
                    
                      To wichë day ye schul a-bydë thus,
                    
                      And preisë god with al youre hool entent,
                    
                      While þat youre bodi, be assignëment
                      Line 33 
                    
                      Of god, is turned to correpcïoun,
                    
                      And fully schal haue hire purgacioun.
                      Line 35

(6)

                      For Reasoun [sayeth] wele, & god-is lawe,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      That he þat hath don alle his besynesse
                    
                      (ffor god-is will) youre lustës to withdrawe—
                    
                      Encombryng yow with muche vnthryftynesse,—
                    
                      That from þat fowle and wofull wrechidnesse
                      Line 40 
                    
                      I-clensid be, and alle renewyd clene
                    
                      That manere weye, youre flesch is, þat I mene.
                      Line 42

(7)

                      So at the last[ë] day thei schal a-ryse,
                      Line 43 
                    
                      And come be-fore that Iugë souereyn,
                    
                      To yow conioyned in a wondere wise
                    
                      In a good áccorde withowt ony peyne,
                    
                      And in this ioye eternally remayne. [folio 31] 
                      Line 47 
                    
                      What ioye is here, ye schul assaye & see,
                    
                      Honured be the hey[ë] maieste!

                      Line 49

Page xxxvi

(6) [The Angels' Song. Honour to Jesus.]

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      Honured be thu, blisful lord Ihesu, [folio 31] 
                      Line 1 
                    
                      and preysed mote thu be in eueri place,
                    
                      So full of myght, [of] mercy and vertue,
                    
                      Of blisse, of bounte, of piete and of grace!
                    
                      Who is honurë, may no thing deface;
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Who is [ther] that withstondë may thi myght?
                    
                      But servë the, of fors mote eueri wight.
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Honúred be thu, Ihesu, heven kyng,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      That hast be-taken to my gouernaunce [folio 31b] 
                    
                      Suche one that hath, a-bove al othire thing,
                    
                      Abowed to the with lowely obeysaunce,
                    
                      And loued the with sadde perséueraunce,—
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Thi counseil and thin hey comaundëment
                    
                      Obseruyng with his hertely hool entent.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      He hath nought walked be the wey[ë]s large,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      That to the worlde so lusty be, & grene;
                    
                      But he hath be ententif to thi charge,
                    
                      ffrom dedly synne to kepe him selfë clene,
                    
                      And gon to the wey of trauayle & of tene,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Of penaunce and of tribulacïoun,
                    
                      In grevous formës of temptacïoun.
                      Line 21

(4)

                      So hath he had in erthe his purgatórye,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      wich þat he hath susteyned wilfully;
                    
                      Wherforë, now receyve him to thi glorye,
                    
                      And take him up in[to] thi blisse an hye,
                    
                      with the to be in ioye eternally,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      In what degre that to him is condigne,
                    
                      Right as thi selffë liketh to assigne.
                      Line 28

(5)

Honoured be thu, Ihesu graciows, 29 That man became thi selfe, for mannës nede; And man thu taughtist to be vertuows, To servë the be veray love & dreed,

Page xxxvii

                    
                      Rewardyng hem with blisse for hirë mede
                      Line 33 
                    
                      That don hire devoire as thei may & kan:
                    
                      Thanked be thu, [o] Ihesu, god and man!
                      Line 35

(7) A lamentacioun of the grene tree, complaynyng of the losyng of hire appill.

[40 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      Ofader god, how fers & how cruel, [folio 63] 
                      Line 1 
                    
                      In whom the list or wilt, canst þou the make!
                    
                      Whom wilt thu spare? ne wot I neuere a deel,
                    
                      Sithe thu thi sone hast to the deth be-take,
                    
                      That the offended neuere, ne dide wrake,
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Or mystook him to the, or disobeyde,
                    
                      Ne to non othere dide he harm, or seide.
                      Line 7

(2)

                      I had ioye éntiere, & also gladnesse, [folio 63b] 
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Whan þou be-took him me to clothe & wrappe
                    
                      In mannës flesch. I wend, in sothfastnesse,
                    
                      Have had for euere Ioyë be the lappe;
                    
                      But now hath sorwe caught me with his trappe;
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Mi ioye hath made a permutacioun
                    
                      With wepyng & eek lamentacioun.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      O holy gost, þat art alle comfortoure
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Of woful hertës that wofullë be,
                    
                      And art hire veray helpe & counceyloure,
                    
                      That [eke] of hey vertue shadówist me
                    
                      Whan þat the clernesse of thi diuinite
                      Line 19 
                    
                      So shynyng in my feerful gost alight,
                    
                      Which that me sore agasted & affright,—
                      Line 21

(4)

                      Whi hast thu me not in thi rémembraunce
                      Line 22 
                    
                      Now at this tymë, right as thu had tho?
                    
                      O whi is it noght [vn-]to thin pleasaunce
                    
                      Now for to schadwe me as weel also,
                    
                      That hid from me myght be my sonës woo?
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Wherof, if þat I may no counfort haue,
                    
                      ffrom deth-is strok there may no thing me save.

                      Line 28

Page xxxviii

28

(5)

                      O gaubriel, whan þat thu come a place,
                      Line 29 
                    
                      And madest vnto me thi salewyng,
                    
                      And seidist thus: "heil, Mary, ful of grace!"
                    
                      Whi ne had thu govë [to] me warnyng
                    
                      Of þat gracë that veyn is and faylyng?
                      Line 33 
                    
                      As thu now seest, & sey it weel beforne,
                    
                      Sith my ioye is me rafte, my grace is lorne.
                      Line 35

(6)

                      O thu elizabeth, my cosyn dere,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      The word[ës] þat thu spak in the mountayne
                    
                      Be ended al in á-nothére manere
                    
                      Than thu had wened; my blissyng in-to peyne
                    
                      Retorned is; of ioye am I bareyne;
                      Line 40 
                    
                      I song to sone; for I sang be the morwe,
                    
                      And now at evene I wepe and makë sorwe. [folio 64] 
                      Line 42

(7) [See Minor Poems I, p. 1-8.] 

                      O woman, þat among the poepil speke,
                      Line 43 
                    
                      how that the wombë blissed was þat bere,
                    
                      And the tetýs þat gave to sowkë eek
                    
                      The sone of god, the which þat hongith hire,
                    
                      What seist þou now? whi comest þou not nere?
                      Line 47 
                    
                      Whi art thu not here? a, woman! where art thu,
                    
                      That noght ne seest my woful body nowe?
                      Line 49

(8)

                      O Symeon, þou seidist me ful sothe,
                      Line 50 
                    
                      "the strook þat perchë schal my sones herte,
                    
                      Myn sowle eek thirle it schal"; & so it doth;
                    
                      The wonde of deth [ne] may I not astirte;
                    
                      There may no martirdam me makë smerte
                      Line 54 
                    
                      So sore as this martírdam smertith me:
                    
                      So schuld he sey, þat myght myn hurtë see.
                      Line 56

(9)

                      O Ioachim, a, derë fadir myn,
                      Line 57 
                    
                      And thu seint anne, my dere modire also,
                    
                      To what entent, or to what ende or [[MS. of]]  fyne
                    
                      Engendred ye, me þat am greved soo?
                    
                      Mirthe to me is become a veray foo:

                      Line 61

Page xxxix

                    
                      Line 61 
                    
                      Youre fadire dauid, þat an harpowre was,
                    
                      Conforted men þat stod in hevy cas.
                      Line 63

(10)

                      Me thinkith ye do not to me aright,
                      Line 64 
                    
                      that were his súccessoures, sith instrument
                    
                      Have ye non left, wherwith to hauë light,
                    
                      And me counfort in my woful turment.
                    
                      Me to [doon] esë, have ye no talent,
                      Line 68 
                    
                      And knowë my counfort[e]les distresse:
                    
                      Ye aught to wepë for myn hevynesse.
                      Line 70

(11)

                      O blissed sone, on the wil I owt-throwe
                      Line 71 
                    
                      My salt[ë] teres; for singulerly on the
                    
                      My loke is sette. o, thinke how many a throwe
                    
                      Thu on myn armës lay, and on my knee
                    
                      Thu sat, & had many a cusse of me;
                      Line 75 
                    
                      Also, the to sowke, of my brestis yaf I, [folio 64b] 
                    
                      Thé norissching [right] faire & tenderly.
                      Line 77

(12)

                      Now the, from me, withdrawith bitter deth,
                      Line 78 
                    
                      And makith a wrong[ful] disseueraunce.
                    
                      Think þou not, sone, in me þat ony breth
                    
                      Endurë may, þat fele al this greuaunce.
                    
                      Mi martirdom, me hath at vtteraunce;
                      Line 82 
                    
                      I nedës stervë mot, sith I the see
                    
                      Shamefully naked, streit upon this tree.
                      Line 84

(13)

                      And this me sleth, that in the open day
                      Line 85 
                    
                      Thin hertis wondë schewith him so wide,
                    
                      That allë men see and be-holde it may,
                    
                      So largëly, lo, openèd is thi side;
                    
                      O, wo is me, þat sith I may not hide!
                      Line 89 
                    
                      And, among other of my smert[ë] grevës,
                    
                      Thu art now put also among [the] thevës,
                      Line 91

(14)

As thowe, my sone, had be a wiked wight. 92 And lest þat som men also, perauenture,

Page xl

                    
                      No knowleche had of thi persone a-right,
                    
                      Pilate hath put up thi name in scripture,
                    
                      That knowë it may eueri crëature,
                      Line 96 
                    
                      ffor þat thi penaunce schuld[ë] not be hid.
                    
                      O, wo is me, þat see alle this beted!
                      Line 98

(15)

                      How may my eynë [þat] be-holde alle this,
                      Line 99 
                    
                      Refreynë hem to schewë by wepyng
                    
                      Myn hert[es] greef? mot I not wepe? o, yis.
                    
                      Sone, if thu hadist here, fadire lievyng,
                    
                      Þat woldë wepe and makë weymentyng
                      Line 103 
                    
                      ffor cause he had[de] part in thi persone,
                    
                      That were [a] gret abreggyng of my mone.
                      Line 105

(16)

                      But thu, in erthë, fadir had[dist] neuere;
                      Line 106 
                    
                      No wight for the, suche cause hath for to wepe,
                    
                      As now haue I. schalt thu fro me disseuere,
                    
                      That art all hooly myn? my sorwes deepe
                    
                      Have all myn hert-is ioyës leyd to slepe. [folio 65] 
                      Line 110 
                    
                      No wight with me, in the, my sone, hath part;
                    
                      Alle holy of my blod, dere child, þou art.
                      Line 112

(17)

                      That dowbleth al my torment & my greef;
                      Line 113 
                    
                      Vn-to myn hert it is confusïon,
                    
                      Thi harme to see, þat art to me so leef.
                    
                      Myght not this raunsom or redempcïon
                    
                      Of man, have be withowt effusyon
                      Line 117 
                    
                      Of thi blood? Yis, if it had be thi lust;
                    
                      But what þat it be do, suffre the must.
                      Line 119

(18)

                      O deth, þat so kithest thi bittirnesse,
                      Line 120 
                    
                      ffirst on my sone, and afterward on me,
                    
                      Bittere art thu, and ful of crabydnesse,
                    
                      That thus my sone hast slayne with cruelte,
                    
                      And noght me slest! certayn I wil not flee.
                      Line 124 
                    
                      Come of, come [of], and slee me here, as blyff; [[MS. be lyff]] 
                    
                      ffro him departë wil I not a-lyffe.

                      Line 126

Page xli

126

(19)

                      O mones, o sterrës, and thou [[MS. the]]  firmament,
                      Line 127 
                    
                      how may ye nowe from wepyng yow restreyne,
                    
                      And see youre crëature in suche torment?
                    
                      Ye owght, tourbled to be in euery veyne,
                    
                      And his dispietows deth with me compleyne.
                      Line 131 
                    
                      Wepith and crieth as lowde as euere ye may!
                    
                      Oure crëature with wrong is slayn this day!
                      Line 133

(20)

                      O Sonnë, with thi cleerë bemys bright,
                      Line 134 
                    
                      That seest my child nakéd this non-is tyde,
                    
                      Whi suffrist him [thou] in the open sight
                    
                      Here of this men, vncovered to abide?
                    
                      Thu art, as muche or more, holde him to hide,
                      Line 138 
                    
                      Than [[MS. Tham]]  Sem þat heled his fadir Noe
                    
                      Whan he aspyed þat naked so was he.
                      Line 140

(21)

                      If thu his sonë be, do like there-to!
                      Line 141 
                    
                      let see with-drawe thi bemës bright[e]nesse:
                    
                      Þou art to blame, but if þat thu so do.
                    
                      ffor schame, hide my sones nakidnesse! [folio 65b] 
                    
                      Is there in the no droppe of kendënesse?
                      Line 145 
                    
                      Remembre, he is thi lord & crëature;
                    
                      Now covere him for thi worshippe and honoure!

(22)

                      O erthe, what lust hast thu, so to susteyne
                      Line 148 
                    
                      The crosse on which he þat the made, and it,
                    
                      Is hongëd, and adornëd the with grene
                    
                      Which þat thu on weredist? how hast thu the qwitte
                    
                      Vnto thi lord? o, do this for him yitte!
                      Line 152 
                    
                      Now qwakë yow for dool, & clevë thu in two,
                    
                      And alle þat blood, restorë thu me to,
                      Line 154

(23)

                      Which þou hast drunken: it is myn, & not thin.
                      Line 155 
                    
                      Or elles thus, with owt[en] tarieng,
                    
                      Tho bodies deed[ë] which þat in the lyne,
                    
                      Cast owt: for thei be taste [[MS. tasted]]  of such dewyng
                    
                      hem owt to clothe [[MS. calle hem]]  a-geyn in hire clothing.
                      Line 159 
                    
                      Thu Caluary, art holdë, namëly
                    
                      So for to do: parde, to the speke I.

                      Line 161

Page xlii

161

(24)

                      O derë sone, my deth now neighith fast,
                      Line 162 
                    
                      Sith to a-nothere thu hast goven me,
                    
                      Than vnto the; And how may my liffe last,
                    
                      Þat me gevest to ony othere than to the,
                    
                      Thow [it] so be that he a virgyne bee?
                      Line 166 
                    
                      if thu, be Iuste Balaunce, woldest wey all,
                    
                      The weight of him & the is not egall.
                      Line 168

(25)

                      He a disciple is; thu art his lord;
                      Line 169 
                    
                      Thu alwey art gretterë than he is;
                    
                      Be-twyn youre myghtis is there gret discorde.
                    
                      My woful turnement [[torment]]  dowblyd is be this;
                    
                      I nedës mornë must, & fare a-mysse.
                      Line 173 
                    
                      it semith þat thu makist départyng
                    
                      Of the & me, for ay withowt endyng;
                      Line 175

(26)

                      And, [[? MS.]]  namely, sith thu me but "woman" callest,
                      Line 176 
                    
                      As I to the were straunge & al vnknowe;
                    
                      There-throw, my sone, my Ioyës thu appallest; [folio 66] 
                    
                      Weel fele I thát deth hís vengeábill bowe
                    
                      hath bent, & me purpósith doun to throwe;
                      Line 180 
                    
                      Of sorwe, takë may I not Inowe,
                    
                      Sith [that] my namë don awey is nowe:
                      Line 182

(27)

                      Wel may men calle or namë me "marra"
                      Line 183 
                    
                      Fro [MS. For.]  hen[ne]s forth; and so men may me calle.
                    
                      How schuld I longere be called 'Mária,'
                    
                      Sith 'I,' which is Ihesus, [MS. Sith he the which is called Ihc.]  is fro me falle
                    
                      This day, and my swetnesse [is] in-to galle
                      Line 187 
                    
                      Turned, sith 'I' [MS. he.]  which was the bëawte,
                    
                      Lo, of my name, this day beraft is me.
                      Line 189

(28)

O Iohn, my derë frende, thu hast receyved 190 A woful modier; & an hevi sone have I of the. deth hath myn other veyued:

Page xliii

                    
                      How may we two the deth eschewe or schone?
                    
                      We drery wightës two, where may we wone?
                      Line 194 
                    
                      Thu art of counfort destitute, I se,
                    
                      And so am I! o, carefull now be we!
                      Line 196

(29)

                      Un-to oure hertës, deth hath sent his wonde;
                      Line 197 
                    
                      Non of vs may allegen othir-is peyne;
                    
                      So many sorwis in vs two abounde,
                    
                      We haue no myght fro [[MS. for]]  sorwe vs to restreyne.
                    
                      I se non othir, but deyë mot we tweyne;
                      Line 201 
                    
                      Now let vs stervë here be companye:
                    
                      Stervë thu there, & right here I wil dye.
                      Line 203

(30)

                      O Aungeles, theï [[though]]  ye mornë, wayle & wepe,
                      Line 204 
                    
                      Ye do no wrong; for slayn is youre créatoure,
                    
                      Be the poepil þat ye were wont to kepe,
                    
                      To gide & lede: thei to the dedës [[death's]]  schowre
                    
                      have put him. thow ye have wo & langoure,
                      Line 208 
                    
                      No wonder is it: who may blamë yowe?
                    
                      And most chier he had, of hem þat him slowe.
                      Line 210

(31)

                      O special love, which þat me ioyned hast
                      Line 211 
                    
                      Vnto my sone, ful strong is thi knettyng! [folio 66b] 
                    
                      This day, there-inne fynde I a bitter tast;
                    
                      ffor now I tast & felë the streynyng
                    
                      Of deth, be thi deth: deth fele I me styng.
                      Line 215 
                    
                      O purë modier, what schalt thu now seye?
                    
                      Pore Maryë! thi witte is now awey.
                      Line 217

(32)

                      Maria, nay, but 'marred' I the call;
                      Line 218 
                    
                      So may I weel; for þou art, weel I wot,
                    
                      Vessel of care & woo, & sorwes alle.
                    
                      Now þou art frosty coold; now fery hoot;
                    
                      And right as þat a schippe, or barge or boot,
                      Line 222 
                    
                      Among the wawës dryveth sternëles,
                    
                      So dost thu, woful woman counfortles.
                      Line 224

(33)

And also of modier hast þou lost the style; 225 No more may thu be called by that name.

Page xliv

                    
                      O sones of Adam, al to long[ë] while
                    
                      Ye tarie hens! hastith hedir for schame!
                    
                      See how my sonë, for youre gilt and blame,
                      Line 229 
                    
                      lo, hangith here, bibléd upon the crosse!
                    
                      Bymeneth him in hert, in chiere & voysse!
                      Line 231

(34)

                      His blody stremës, se now, & be-holde!
                      Line 232 
                    
                      if ye to him have [any] affeccïoun,
                    
                      Now, for his woo, youre hertës owt[en] colde;
                    
                      Schewyth youre kendnesse & youre dileccioun,
                    
                      ffor youre gilt makith he correccioun,
                      Line 236 
                    
                      And ámendith right be his ownë deth:
                    
                      That ye noght rewe on him, myn hert it sleth.
                      Line 238

(35)

                      A, modier, þat so sone hire cotë tare
                      Line 239 
                    
                      Or rentë! say ye neuere none or this,
                    
                      ffor child [the] which [she] of hire body bare,
                    
                      To yeve hire tete. and my child þat here is,
                    
                      his cote hath torne, for youre gilt, not for his,
                      Line 243 
                    
                      [&] hath of his blood spilt in gret foysoun;
                    
                      And alle his, lo, for youre redempcïoun!
                      Line 245

(36)

                      My derë childe, my fruyt þat on [me] growed, [folio 67] 
                      Line 246 
                    
                      Myn lusty appil, blisful faire and sweet,
                    
                      Now deth hath him be-clapped with his clowde,
                    
                      That him perced [vn]to the hertë rote.
                    
                      Go to, thow man, þere thu myght haue thi bote!
                      Line 250 
                    
                      Go suke the Iuce! the is no thing so sweet;
                    
                      Go take thin part! I rede the not for-gete.
                      Line 252

(37)

                      Go nere, & see how þat he is for-bete,
                      Line 253 
                    
                      And alle for-persed sore and pietously!
                    
                      See how there rennë fyvë stremës grete,
                    
                      That yelde[n] owt the Iuce habundauntly!
                    
                      Go sowke therof! I say you faithfully,
                      Line 257 
                    
                      In good tyme was he bore, þat hath þat grace,
                    
                      In tho woundes to make his duellyng place.

                      Line 259

Page xlv

259

(38)

                      O Aduersari, [t]how cruel dryë tree,
                      Line 260 
                    
                      To the speke I! nowe hast þou thi entent;
                    
                      My sweet[ë] fruyt þou hast be-reved me
                    
                      A-geyn my will, nothing of myne assent.
                    
                      I se how al to-Raced and to-rent
                      Line 264 
                    
                      On the he hongith: is this weel I-doo?
                    
                      I bare him monethis nyne, but no thing so.
                      Line 266

(39)

                      O cruel tree, sith thu hast thi desire,
                      Line 267 
                    
                      Whi wilt þou not, to my fruyt [Scan "to my fruyt" as one measure.]  be fauorábill,
                    
                      To saue it hool? but feruentere than the fiere
                    
                      he fyndeth, & nothing [in thee] agrëáble.
                    
                      It is to me but alle discountfortáble
                      Line 271 
                    
                      To se myn herte attached the vpon,
                    
                      ffor he & I, oure hert[ë] is but one.
                      Line 273

(40)

                      Now with my fruyt art þou here openly,
                      Line 274 
                    
                      That alle the world it may be-holde & see
                    
                      Restored, which (I sey the sekerly)
                    
                      Is more of vertue and of dignyte
                    
                      Than was the fruyt þat spoyled was from the.
                      Line 278 
                    
                      Thu hast thi will; thin honoure schal suffise
                    
                      To the: yelde me my fruyt in goodly wise! [folio 67b] 
                      Line 280

(8) The recordyng of aungeles song of the Natiuite of oure lady. [folio 95b]

[7 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      HOnured be thu, blisseful lord benigne,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      That now vntó man wil be merciáble
                    
                      As he may se apertly be a signe,
                    
                      A braunche, þat sprongen is ful profitable,
                    
                      fful fresch & faire, & heily commendable
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Of Iesse-is Rote, þat called is marie,
                    
                      That schal the blisseful appil fructifie.

                      Line 7

Page xlvi

7

(2)

                      A blisful flour, owt of this spray schal springe;
                      Line 8 
                    
                      The fruyt þer-of schal be ful precïous;
                    
                      A causë haue [we] for to ioye & synge,
                    
                      In honure of þat maidë gracïous,
                    
                      That gret comfort schal cause[n] vnto vs;
                      Line 12 
                    
                      ffor now schal faste oure company encrees,
                    
                      And god with man schal makë smallë pees.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      Now be we glad, in honure of this maide,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      That schal be modier of the kyng eterne,
                    
                      Be whom the raunsom fully schal be paid
                    
                      ffor man, þat loken is in hellë herne.
                    
                      Now schal we haue no power for to warne
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Man for [to] entre in-to paradise;
                    
                      The lord wil sette him at so highe a price.
                      Line 21

(4)

                      Thu, lucifer, þat list in helle I-bounde,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      That whylom were one of oure companye, [folio 96] 
                    
                      This maidë schal the vtterly confounde,
                    
                      And do the muchë schame & vilanye,
                    
                      Which Eua hast deceyuëd traytouresly,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      And made hire trust[en] on thi fals behest,
                    
                      Wherby thu hast hire lynage alle arest.
                      Line 28

(5)

                      Thu cursed caitiff! mawgre thi malice [MS. malace.] !
                      Line 29 
                    
                      fful sone he schal be sette owt of thin hande;
                    
                      Reseised schal he be with paradise;
                    
                      Thu schalt not be of powire to with-stande;
                    
                      But, as an hound þat tied is with a bande,
                      Line 33 
                    
                      So schalt thu eternally lyn in thi peyne;
                    
                      Ne no counfort getist thu, thow þou pleyne.
                      Line 35

(6)

                      To gret distresse & gret desólacioun
                      Line 36 
                    
                      A maidë first was déceyvëd be the:
                    
                      Vnto thi schame and [thi] confusïoun,
                    
                      A blissed maidë schal thi ladi be.
                    
                      But weel is him þat schal þat maidë see,

                      Line 40

Page xlvii

                    
                      Line 40 
                    
                      And schal be schent to salue hire, & grete,
                    
                      And say "heil, mary, maidë faire & sweet!"
                      Line 42

(7)

                      Who euere it be, þat schal do this messáge,
                      Line 43 
                    
                      fful weel is him that fyndë may that grace:
                    
                      It schal him weel suffisë for his wage,
                    
                      To see þat blissed sweet[ë] lady face.
                    
                      Now with alle ioyës, myrthë & soláce,
                      Line 47 
                    
                      ffor loue of hire honure, we [synge] this day
                    
                      With alle the songes & myrthës þat we may.
                      Line 49

(9) The aungeles song. [folio 97]

[2 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      Honured be thu, blisful heuene queene,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      And worschepid mot þou be in eueri place,
                    
                      That modier art, and veari maidë clene!
                    
                      Of god, oure lord, thu geten hast þat grace.
                    
                      Thu, cause of Ioyës art, and alle soláce,
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Be merite of thi gret humilite,
                    
                      And by the floure of thi virginite. [folio 97b] 
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Honured be thu blissed ladi bright!
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Be thi persone, embasshëd is natúre;
                    
                      Of heuene blisse, augmented is the light,
                    
                      Be presence of so fare a crëature;
                    
                      Thi worthinessë pasith all mesúre;
                      Line 12 
                    
                      ffor vnto thin astate imperiall,
                    
                      No praisyng is, þat may be peregall.
                      Line 14

(10) The aungeles songe in the feste of the Epiphanie of oure lord. [folio 99]

[4 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

HOnured be this blissed holy festë day 1 In worshippe of the sweet[ë] welle of liffe,

Page xlviii

                    
                      With alle the ioyes & mirthë þat we may,
                    
                      for Crist, the kirke hath chosë to his wiffe;
                    
                      And fynally abated is þat striffe,
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Þat him betwyn, & man, hath longë be;
                    
                      Honured be this blessed Trinite!
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Owt of this welle, so noble licoure ran,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      So faire, so fressh, so lusty, hony-sweet,
                    
                      That sith this first day þat the world be-gan,
                    
                      With suche a wellë might[ë] no man mete.
                    
                      Alle heuynesse & malice is for-gete
                      Line 12 
                    
                      As toward man; excused clene is hee;
                    
                      honured be the blissed Trinite!
                      Line 14

(3)

                      This day, so lowe he wold him self incline,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      The thrid[dë] festë with his highe persone
                    
                      To honure, turnyng watir in-to wynne.
                    
                      This day was Ihesu baptised of seint Iohn;
                    
                      The fadir-is voice was herd owt of his trone:
                      Line 19 
                    
                      "This is my loued sone, þat liketh me."
                    
                      honured be the souereyn Trinite!
                      Line 21

(4)

                      And þat he schuld haue recorde Autentyk,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      The thrid[dë] persone, on oure lord a-light,
                    
                      The holy gost, vn-to a dowe I-lyk,
                    
                      That pleyn[ë]ly was seyn of eueri wight. [folio 99b] 
                    
                      Thus blissed hath he watir, god al-myght,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      In honure of this [highe] solemnite.
                    
                      Honured be the blissed Trinite!
                      Line 28

(11) the aungeles song on pask day.

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      HOnurèd be thu, Ihesu saueour, [folio 100] 
                      Line 1 
                    
                      Þat for mankendë were do on the rode;
                    
                      And þerto woldest do vs þat honure,
                    
                      To fede vs with thi flesche & with thi bloode.
                    
                      was neuere to vs fleschë halfe so goode;

                      Line 5

Page xlix

                    
                      Line 5 
                    
                      ffor wonderly oure ioyes it doth renewe.
                    
                      honured be thu, blissed lord Ihesu!
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Whan thu were died, to hellë þou descended,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      And fette hem owt þat [longe] lay there in peyne;
                    
                      ffor be thi deth, oure mis was alle a-mended.
                    
                      The thrid day, thu a-roos to lyffe a-geyne
                    
                      With highe tryumphe, & ioyë souereyn:
                      Line 12 
                    
                      As champioun [the chef] of hie vertue,
                    
                      Honured be þou, blissed lord Ihesu!
                      Line 14

(3)

                      The grevous iourney þat thu took on hande,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      hath clerly maad, to eueri wight appere,
                    
                      In sothfastnesse to see & vnderstonde,—
                    
                      To þat only was thi talent & thi chiere
                    
                      So suffisaunt, lo,—that oure raunsoum were
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Superhabundaunt over þat was due;
                    
                      Honured be thu, blisseful lord Ihesu!
                      Line 21

(4)

                      On thursday, a noble soper þou made,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      Where thu ordeyned first thi sacrament;
                    
                      But muchë more it doth oure hertës glade,
                    
                      The worthi dyner of this day present,
                    
                      In which þou schewest thi self omnipotent,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Rising from deth to lyve, it is ful trewe:
                    
                      Honured be thu, blisful lord Ihesu!
                      Line 28

(5)

                      Now for this festë schal we say the graces,
                      Line 29 
                    
                      And worthi is, with alle oure diligence,
                    
                      And thank the here, & [eke] in allë places,
                    
                      Of thi ful bountevous benevolence,
                    
                      Thi myght, thi grace, thi souereyn excellence:
                      Line 33 
                    
                      Thu art the ground & welle of alle vertue:
                    
                      Honured be thu, blisfull lord Ihesu! [folio 100b] 

                      Line 35

Page l

(12) The song of graces of alle seintes upon Paske day. [folio 101]

[4 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      HOnured be thu, blisfull lord a-bove,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      That vowchidsaffë this iourny to take,
                    
                      Man to become, only for man-is love,
                    
                      And deth to suffre, for my synnës sake;
                    
                      So hast thu vs owt of the bondë schake,
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Of Sathanas, þat held us longe in peyne:
                    
                      Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyne!
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Full evele I dede, whan I the appil took;
                      Line 8 
                    
                      I wend to haue had therbi prosperite;
                    
                      It satte so ny my sidës, þat thei ooke;
                    
                      To greet myschief I fill from hey degre,
                    
                      And alle my issue, for be-cause of me;
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Now hast þou, lord, restored all a-geyn:
                    
                      Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyne!
                      Line 14

(3)

                      So richëly þou hast refresshèd vs,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      And vs counfórted with thi feste riall;
                    
                      So swet a fruyt, & so delicïows,
                    
                      So faire it is, and so celestiall,
                    
                      That oure disease now is forgotten all,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      This fruyt hath so visíted eueri veyne:
                    
                      Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyne!
                      Line 21

(4)

                      This may be called weel the fruyt of liff.
                      Line 22 
                    
                      The fruyt of deth, was wherof I asaide;
                    
                      That, be thi Iugëment diffinitiffe,
                    
                      ffoure thowsande yere I was ful ille araide,
                    
                      Til þat this fruyt, þat born was of a maide,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      haddë reformed: therefor lat vs seyn,
                    
                      Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyn!

                      Line 28

Page li

(13) The aungeles song & alle othir seintes in the feste of Pentecost. [folio 102]

[3 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      HOnured be thu, holy gost in hie,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      That vn-to poeple of so pore astate
                    
                      hast youe thi grace, to stondë myghtely
                    
                      Ageyn tyrauntës fiers & obstynate,
                    
                      ffor to endwe them with thi principate
                      Line 5 
                    
                      To leve hire erroure, & hire liffe to amende:
                    
                      honured be thu, lord, with-owt[en] ende!
                      Line 7

(2)

                      Thu gave hem wete & cunnyng [for] to preche,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      And corage for to stand[ë] be the lawe,
                    
                      Alle maner poepil, to wisshe & to teche,
                    
                      ffrom vices alle hir lustës to with-drawe,
                    
                      And of hire lord [&] god to stande in awe,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      To his pleasaunce hire hertës to intende:
                    
                      Honured be thu, lord, with-owt[en] ende! [folio 102b] 
                      Line 14

(3)

                      This ffischeres alle be ávoyded of slowthe:
                      Line 15 
                    
                      ffor blaundisshing, for manasyng, ne for drede,
                    
                      Thei spared nought, but stodë by the trowthe;
                    
                      Of peynës & tormént toke thei non heed,
                    
                      But fayne to see hire heed & hire sides blede,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      [aferd] fful myghtly thi lawys to offende:
                    
                      Honured be thu, lord, with-owt[en] ende!
                      Line 21

(14) The pietous complainte of the Soule. [folio 8]

[52 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

                      Blisful lord on heigh, what schall I do,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      or in what place may I my selfë hide?
                    
                      Refute ne wot i non to drawë to.
                    
                      no doute I must my Iugëment a-byde;
                    
                      my foo is alwei redy be my side,
                      Line 5 
                    
                      me schapyng to appelë and accuse;
                    
                      I can no worde myn selffë to excuse.

                      Line 7

Page lii

7

(2)

                      I am aryved to a perilous port,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      ne knowe I nought to whom I may retourne;
                    
                      I am arrest; now kan I non confort;
                    
                      mawgre my selfe, right here mot I soiourne;
                    
                      For my mysshappe, A cause haue I to mourne;
                      Line 12 
                    
                      And in my skrippe now fynde I no vetayle, [folio 8b] 
                    
                      ne my burdonë doth me nought avayle.
                      Line 14

(3)

                      Burdone ne skrippe may I no lengere bere,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Myne enemy so sore assaileth me;
                    
                      I holde it best to cast awey this gere,
                    
                      And shape my selfe preuély for to flee.
                    
                      O blisful lord, I wis it wele nought be,
                      Line 19 
                    
                      And weel þou woot, how þat me hath bywiled
                    
                      Myne enemy that hath now me defiled.
                      Line 21

(4)

                      Wherfore now I am brought to iugëment,
                      Line 22 
                    
                      Sithe I am falle in myschieff and porcert,
                    
                      Ne I ne may, to myn accusëment,
                    
                      Ne can nought say but aftir my desert,
                    
                      And my trespace, that knowë is apert,
                      Line 26 
                    
                      If þat I shall myne [MS. alle myne]  réwarde vnderfonge:
                    
                      Allas! whi have I be synfull so longe.
                      Line 28

(5)

                      But best it is, if reason say me trowthe,
                      Line 29 
                    
                      That of some helpe I make me purveaunce;
                    
                      Parde, some wight on me wil havë rewthe;
                    
                      Asay I shal; but, for my sustenaunce,
                    
                      My burdone must I bere for suffisaunce,
                      Line 33 
                    
                      For, myght withowt[en] it [ne] haue I none;
                    
                      I bere it nought; it berith my persone.
                      Line 35

(6)

                      Allas, but I haue now experience
                      Line 36 
                    
                      Off wis[ë]dam, my selffë to demeane,
                    
                      To éxcuse me have I none audience,
                    
                      And alle my witte availeth not a beane;
                    
                      Thus is myne hope alle discounfórted clene,

                      Line 40

Page liii

                    
                      Line 40 
                    
                      I kan nought do but cryë & compleyne,
                    
                      That charite nought rekkith of my peyne.
                      Line 42

(7)

                      Whi saith Powle, that othere yiftes alle
                      Line 43 
                    
                      Schul failë here, but only charite
                    
                      A-bydyng is, for he kowdë nought falle.
                    
                      Whethir this be soth? but nay, as it semith me,
                    
                      He wold[ë] than myne [good] aduócat be, [folio 9] 
                      Line 47 
                    
                      And somwhat say [MS. say I]  to helpë in myne cause,
                    
                      For I kan nother spekë word ne clause.

(8)

                      I am adred that charite is deed,
                      Line 50 
                    
                      And slayne in erthe, of wikked[ë] men there,
                    
                      Withowt[en] eyre or issue of hire seed,
                    
                      Left here on highë:—lo, this is my fere;
                    
                      And if I wiste that sche on lyvë were,
                      Line 54 
                    
                      I wold not spare to callë and [to] crie,
                    
                      If I hire, in oný place myght a-spie.
                      Line 56

(9)

                      O charite, so good & so gracious!
                      Line 57 
                    
                      Thu hast be euere to tho þat have nede!
                    
                      I that am in this brikë perilous,—
                    
                      That, in myne schippe, my self[ë] for to fede
                    
                      Haue I no bred now of thin almësdede,—
                      Line 61 
                    
                      Somwhat thu helpe, myn hunger to abate,
                    
                      Havyng reward vnto my pouer astate.
                      Line 63

(10)

                      I meanë thus: if ony part of grace
                      Line 64 
                    
                      Reserued be, in tresoure or ellës where,
                    
                      That thu, for me purveyë and purchase
                    
                      Wolde vouchësaff, gret wondere but there were
                    
                      I-nowgh for me: nought ellës I require;
                      Line 68 
                    
                      Do somwhat, than, aftir thi propirte,
                    
                      And schewe whi thu art cleped charite.
                      Line 70

(11)

But now, allas, ful weel I may recorde, 71 Whil I had myght and space of tyme I-nowgh, Of this mattere, towchid I no word, Ne, to seint, I tho my self[ë] drowgh,

Page liv

                    
                      That in myne nede for me may spekë now,
                      Line 75 
                    
                      As for no service that I have to him do:
                    
                      Wot I not, whom to make my monë to.
                      Line 77

(12)

                      If I, to ony seint in specïal
                      Line 78 
                    
                      Had ony thing [i]forsed myne entent
                    
                      With ony service, othir gret or small,
                    
                      I wold me have avaylèd in present; [folio 9b] 
                    
                      But thus have I be slowe and necligent,
                      Line 82 
                    
                      That I no freend have made, ne no seint pleased;
                    
                      Wherfore, as now, am I [right ill] disseased.
                      Line 84

(13)

                      To hem am I a straunger and vnknowe;
                      Line 85 
                    
                      I knowe nought, to whom I shal my selffe dresse
                    
                      To askë helpe, as I suppose and trowe,
                    
                      Ther is none that wold done that besynesse;
                    
                      And nought for this, I be-hotë expresse,
                      Line 89 
                    
                      Vnto hem I will [both] compleyne and crye,
                    
                      To make my causë knowen openly.
                      Line 91

(14)

                      To the, Ihesu, the sone of god above,
                      Line 92 
                    
                      That were of mary, verray maidë, borne
                    
                      In very flesch and blood, for mannës love,
                    
                      To the, will I now áppelë beforne,
                    
                      Syn thu art man, and forthermore
                      Line 96 
                    
                      Oure brothir, and a part of ourë kynde:
                    
                      Good is to us that we thi fauoure fynde.
                      Line 98

(15)

                      This dare I say, sithe that thu wilfully
                      Line 99 
                    
                      Where done to deth, only for mannës sake,
                    
                      And of thi selfe whas none encheasoun whi,
                    
                      This knowe I weel, þou wilt it nought forsake,
                    
                      To alle that will vnto thi grace him take,
                      Line 103 
                    
                      And askë it: as oftë I haue lerned,
                    
                      Was neuere yitte none, to whom it was warned.

(16)

This woot I weel, I haue ful sore offendid 106 Thi maiestes; wherof I me repente. Ful late it was, or I my selfe amended,

Page lv

                    
                      But yitte ne come it neuere in myne entente
                    
                      To disallowë thi gouérnëmente;
                      Line 110 
                    
                      That 'lord and kyng' I have callëd the euere;
                    
                      Thi lawës also ne forsoke I neuere.
                      Line 112

(17)

                      My scrippe of feithë, haue I nought for-lete,
                      Line 113 
                    
                      but hool, right as it was [i]takë me,
                    
                      I have it kepte; but that no thinges gret[e] [folio 10] 
                    
                      (This knowe I weel) susteigned I for the,
                    
                      Nor do that I was bound of duëte.
                    
                      Yitte wote I weel, so gret is nought my synne,
                    
                      as grace & mercy is, Ihesu withinne. [MS. the withinne.] 
                      Line 119

(18)

                      Away, yit nought, eueri deel that grace
                      Line 120 
                    
                      Dispendid is, that tho in thi persone
                    
                      was plentevous whan, with so pale a face,
                    
                      For me thu hengë on the crosse alone;
                    
                      But, for we beggyng wrecchis euerychone
                      Line 124 
                    
                      Be procuryng alway for our purveaunce,
                    
                      Thi grace thu woldest hiden now purchaunce.

(19)

                      Yitte may we, by the persèd holës well,
                      Line 127 
                    
                      And be tho also that large be, & wide,
                    
                      Behalde and see, that certeyn eueridell
                    
                      Now spended is, though that thu woldest it hide;
                    
                      For thowe there ran a Rever from thi side,
                      Line 131 
                    
                      That alle the world hath fully ouerflowen,
                    
                      Thi grace is hool, as euery man may knowen.
                      Line 133

(20)

                      Sithe yitte thi grace is nought dispendid all,
                      Line 134 
                    
                      With that thu hast me schewid to the tyme present,
                    
                      And [? Now]  come, and with the thus argue I schall,
                    
                      "Sithe it alway hath ben [so] affluent,
                    
                      Discreasyng nought, ne none appeyrëment
                      Line 138 
                    
                      Be-fallith it, thoughe neuere so largëly
                    
                      Thou yeve it where thu list habundauntly,
                      Line 140

(21)

Thu owist to defendë me this day, 141 kepyng my cause, that stondith al in dowte

Page lvi

                    
                      A-geyn my foo, with all that euere he may.
                    
                      Thi grace, me to be-revyn is a-bowte,
                    
                      And, me for to passen al with-out;
                      Line 145 
                    
                      Ful ofte he hath grevèd me here-be-fore,
                    
                      And hopith now that all I haue forlore.
                      Line 147

(22)

                      Though þat my speche be sownyng to foly, [folio 10b] 
                      Line 148 
                    
                      Yitte, blissed Lord, displease it nought to the,
                    
                      That to haue spokë of aduócacie,
                    
                      So that thu schuldest myn aduócat be:
                    
                      Thu Art the souereigne iuge of equite,
                      Line 152 
                    
                      And nought for-thi, to hem that to the truste,
                    
                      Here aduocat thu art, whan that the liste.
                      Line 154

(23)

                      For, sothe it is, where synne and wrechidnesse
                      Line 155 
                    
                      A-boundeth most, there nedeth most[ë] grace,
                    
                      To tho that askë thë for-gevënesse,
                    
                      It sittith the nought to wrye awey thin face;
                    
                      Thi charite will cleyme there is a place:
                      Line 159 
                    
                      But this were southe, gret peril must redounde.
                    
                      Al mortal men with mischief to confounde."
                      Line 161

(24)

                      Now maide & modier, of this worlde Princesse,
                      Line 162 
                    
                      So ful of gracë fulfilled thu were
                    
                      Whan gaubriel his massage gan expresse,
                    
                      And 'Aue' was resownyng in thin ere,
                    
                      By wich oure lord, blissed saueoure thu bere,
                      Line 166 
                    
                      And of thi blood he took his humanite,—
                    
                      My cause also I áppele vnto the,
                      Line 168

(25)

                      As aduocate for man, & procuresse
                      Line 169 
                    
                      Approovid oftë be experience,
                    
                      So be myne helpe to ávoide and represse
                    
                      Myne enemy, wich that be violence
                    
                      Wold schend[ë] me, but if [[? for]]  thi résistence,
                      Line 173 
                    
                      Now be myne helpe, o blisful qwene!
                    
                      So lat somwhat [[? some]]  of thi grace on me be sene!

                      Line 175

Page lvii

175

(26)

                      Sith that thi sone and thu of one accorde
                      Line 176 
                    
                      Be vearili, (as reason is that ye be),
                    
                      I, that for dreed vnnethe kan speke a worde,
                    
                      But tremble as doth a leef vpon a tree,
                    
                      Thu, ladi ful of merci and piete,
                      Line 180 
                    
                      Now must thu be myne helpe and myne socoure
                    
                      Of refute, in this áuentóurës howre! [folio 11] 
                      Line 182

(27)

                      For, but thu wilt my causë [now] defende
                      Line 183 
                    
                      A-geyn[ës] him wich is thyne enemy,
                    
                      that redi is, to greve and to offende
                    
                      Bothe the, and allë that wolde hertely
                    
                      The servë, and thi blisful sone also,
                      Line 187 
                    
                      he will hem castë in-to hellë dike,
                    
                      And berith me an hande þat I am him like.
                      Line 189

(28)

                      I ám like, now that I haue done a-mys,
                      Line 190 
                    
                      Eternal deth deserued with my dede;
                    
                      But, gracïous queen[ë] of heuene blisse,
                    
                      Thu be myne helpe and counfort in this nede,
                    
                      But I recordë—and this is my dreed,—
                      Line 194 
                    
                      That wonder sympillë [? synfullye]  I have the served,
                    
                      So that I haue no thing of the deserved.

(29)

                      And nought for-thi, thes burdon is my trest,
                      Line 197 
                    
                      In wich I have my solace & my disport;
                    
                      Of [? On]  this pomel will I my self[ë] rest,
                    
                      That specially to me geuith gret counfort;
                    
                      My febill gost it helpith to support,
                      Line 201 
                    
                      That is, thi selfë, moder, maide and wiffe,
                    
                      The sustenaunce and solace of my liffe.
                      Line 203

(30)

                      And I schal neuere trowë ne suppose,
                      Line 204 
                    
                      Sithe he, the wich of merci is the welle,
                    
                      Within thi sidës wold him selfë close,
                    
                      Right as thi childe, in veari flesch & falle,
                    
                      That he schuld lete the foulë feend of helle

                      Line 208

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                      Line 208 
                    
                      To execute malice, or elles vengeaunce,
                    
                      On hem þat the besekë with instaunce.
                      Line 210

(31)

                      There is no lyon, ne cruel lyonesse,
                      Line 211 
                    
                      So fiers ne so dispietous of corage,
                    
                      That hire malice attempren [? nil tempren]  and oppresse
                    
                      Ne will cessyn of hirë felle corage
                    
                      To the, that lowëly hem selfe will wage
                      Line 215 
                    
                      With mekë hertë to the ground obeye: [folio 11b] 
                    
                      Such is the nature, as this clerkës say.
                      Line 217

(32)

                      I am the same that heighli hath mys-wrought
                      Line 218 
                    
                      A-geyn thi childe Ihesu, and also the;
                    
                      Yit knowe I wel that "lyon" is he nought,
                    
                      Nor thu no "lyonessë" [fiers] may be.
                    
                      In you there is no malice ne cruelte;
                      Line 222 
                    
                      But mercie, pite, goodnessë & grace,
                    
                      In you thei have hire veray propir place.
                      Line 224

(33)

                      Wherfore I schal the pray[ë] and be-seke,
                      Line 225 
                    
                      That thu, a-geyn me, nothing be amoeved,
                    
                      With lowely hertë sith I my-self meke.
                    
                      Though þat I have thi sone and the agreved,
                    
                      Be the is alle my trust to be releuyd,
                      Line 229 
                    
                      And that thu schalt my quarell take an hande,
                    
                      This foulë wightës malicë withstande.
                      Line 231

(34)

                      For weel I wottë, thu wold[est] renome,
                      Line 232 
                    
                      As for myne causë, wilt thu nought refuse,
                    
                      Ne that thi grace thu wilt nought warnë me,
                    
                      But that thu wilt thin ownë maner vse,
                    
                      My quarell now to helpë and excuse,
                      Line 236 
                    
                      And be my socour in this perilows day,
                    
                      Chasyng this foulë gost from me a-way.
                      Line 238

(35)

For alwey hath he be myn enemy 239 Sith I was child, and [eke] tendre in yowthe. Me think thu schuldest let[të] him for-thi To prócede in his accïon as nowthe,

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                      Or suffre him accusë, thow he cowthe;
                      Line 243 
                    
                      Thu schuldest [[? He scholdë]]  nought berë no fals witnesse,
                    
                      That is him-self conuicte of cursidnesse.
                      Line 245

(36)

                      For sekirly this is the comon lawe,
                      Line 246 
                    
                      That he ne schulde non accion procede,
                    
                      That onës owt of courte hath be with-drawe [folio 12] 
                    
                      Convicte as fals,—now here-to takith hede!
                    
                      This knoweth wel euery wight (it is no dreed),
                      Line 250 
                    
                      Thi sone him banysshed from heuen blisse,
                    
                      as for enfamed; he and allë his.
                      Line 252

(37)

                      Michael, prouost, on the I take recorde!
                      Line 253 
                    
                      Thi selffe dedist this execucïon.
                    
                      Thow I my selff wolde lyen ony worde,
                    
                      Yit am I nought of this oppinïon,
                    
                      To couere so be excusacïon
                      Line 257 
                    
                      Of this infame, the malise of my synne:
                    
                      This were a folës purpoce to be-gynne.
                      Line 259

(38)

                      But this put I in thi discreacïon,
                      Line 260 
                    
                      That suche a fals deformèd one as he,
                    
                      I may refusë be excepcïon,
                    
                      That this quarel schal nought receyued be
                    
                      Here in this courte; ne to accusë me
                      Line 264 
                    
                      He schuld not be admitted, as be right,
                    
                      But I-put away, this foulë fals[ë] wight.
                      Line 266

(39)

                      For whi, sere prouost Michael gracïows,
                      Line 267 
                    
                      And alle the Aungeles of thi company
                    
                      That him enfamed, hath foriuged thus,
                    
                      And fals convictë cleere and openly,
                    
                      And him [sente] into peyne eternally,
                      Line 271 
                    
                      In hellë to be [kepte] without[en] ende,
                    
                      With tho that so be déformed in kende.
                      Line 273

(40)

Ful mek[ë]ly at onës I reclayme 274 you alle to do your devere in this case: This cursed gost, whom malice doth enflame,

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                      Here in this court, his malice haue no place:
                    
                      This aske I you of right, and also of grace,
                      Line 278 
                    
                      That ye, his cry & [eke] his bost abate,
                    
                      Þat he neuére more bere aftir estate.
                      Line 280

(41)

                      Seint Michael, if þou rekkest nought at alle,
                      Line 281 
                    
                      Ne nought rewardest [on] myne heuynesse,
                    
                      Alle manere of hope awey from me is falle, [folio 12b] 
                    
                      So am I than encombred with distresse;
                    
                      For Danyell the prophete seith expresse,
                      Line 285 
                    
                      That in his myschief and suche aduersite
                    
                      He fonde none othir helpe but only the. [Dan. x. 13: but lo, Michael, one of the chief princes [angels], came to help me. x. 21: And there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. xii. 1: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.] 
                      Line 287

(42)

                      Wherfore, if I haue the displeased ought,
                      Line 288 
                    
                      So that of me thu takest now none heed,
                    
                      Aftir this oure, I mote with alle my thought
                    
                      The done pleasaunce, for betere I schal spede;
                    
                      For who þat well be holpen at his nede,
                      Line 292 
                    
                      Ful sekere, Placebo mvst go before,
                    
                      As doth the Crosse in the litel childes lore.
                      Line 294

(43)

                      Baptist, an holy man, martir, seint Iohn,
                      Line 295 
                    
                      and alle prophetës of oure lord on heighe,
                    
                      And ye euaungelistës euerichon,
                    
                      And also aposteles, alle the company,
                    
                      With alle myne herte I pray you humb[le]ly,
                      Line 299 
                    
                      Of youre meritës superhábundaunce,
                    
                      As grauntith me of almesse some pietaunce.
                      Line 301

(44)

                      In youre tresoure suche plente is bestowe,
                      Line 302 
                    
                      Of wich you nedith nought a deel I-wis,
                    
                      And lorne it may not be—this weel I knowe,—
                    
                      Discreasyn may it nought—the sothe it is—
                    
                      For whi, of almesse-dede (I pray you this)

                      Line 306

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                      Line 306 
                    
                      That I some manere of porcïon may haue,
                    
                      Where-with I may my self[ë] helpe and saue.
                      Line 308

(45)

                      Ye that haue suffird hard and grevous peyne
                      Line 309 
                    
                      Of martirdam, for ihesu crist-is love,
                    
                      Wich, weel I wottë, was not done in veyne,
                    
                      Yit merite is youre medë muche a-bove;
                    
                      I that am pore, and gret[e]ly be-hove,
                      Line 313 
                    
                      Of helpe I pray you, and [of] almës-dede,
                    
                      Of youre meriteis, helpith at this nede!
                      Line 315

(46)

                      And sithë thei schul endëles endure, [folio 13] 
                      Line 316 
                    
                      Thei wastë nought be dymynucïon:
                    
                      To me, that am so pore a crëature,
                    
                      Of almesse grauntith now a porcïon,
                    
                      I you require, with hool affeccïon,
                      Line 320 
                    
                      That blisful that sittith an highe in trone,
                    
                      Appelith him as töward my persone.
                      Line 322

(47)

                      Ye cónfessourës, and ye othir seintes,
                      Line 323 
                    
                      And uirginës þat to Crist be so dere,
                    
                      Entendith to my pietous complayntes,
                    
                      Be moevid [now] with rewthe vpon my chiere;
                    
                      For woman none, the wich that is ful nere
                      Line 327 
                    
                      To childe-beryng, so of her peynës dredeth,
                    
                      As I woot that my iugëment procedeth.
                      Line 329

(48)

                      And if that ye, of youre meriteis grete,
                      Line 330 
                    
                      Somwhat departen to so pouere a wight,
                    
                      ye wil vouchesaff such gracë me to gete,
                    
                      This foulë gost to putte owt of my sight,
                    
                      Yitte wolde I hope to Ihesu ful of myght,
                      Line 334 
                    
                      Of malice wich he hath a-geyn me spoke,
                    
                      He schuld be [Scan "He schuld be" as one measure.]  atteynt, & alle his barrës broke.

(49)

I have not whom, my selff to turnë to, 337 In specïal to speke, or elles compleyne,

Page lxii

                    
                      That may me ony helpe and socoure do,
                    
                      My symple cause to forthere or susteyne:
                    
                      That doth me sorë [[MS. me sore doth]]  grevë and constreyne.
                      Line 341 
                    
                      The holy Court of Seintës I appele,
                    
                      Betakyng you my quarell eueridell.

(50)

                      Ye knowë weel [right] now what is my nede
                      Line 344 
                    
                      Ageyn the malice of myne enemy,
                    
                      Þat is a-bowte to noyë and mysbede
                    
                      Me, nedi wrecchë: help[ë] me forththi!
                    
                      Geve audience vnto my pietows cry,
                      Line 348 
                    
                      And to my Kyng now reconsilë me,
                    
                      Schewyng the feruoure of youre charite!
                      Line 350

(51)

                      The relieff of youre excellent merites, [folio 13b] 
                      Line 351 
                    
                      Ye preciows seintës chosen euerichon,
                    
                      A-geyn the malice of this perilous wites
                    
                      Wich þat the feend [now] puttith me upon,
                    
                      Þat whil I was levyng in flesch and bon,
                      Line 355 
                    
                      With his disceiptës and his fraudës fele
                    
                      He drowe me to, & now me doth appele.
                      Line 357

(52)

                      Seint Poule him-selff[ë] writith in this wise,
                      Line 358 
                    
                      And saith that "veray parfight charite
                    
                      Is a thing þat may to muche poepil suffice";
                    
                      Sche aboundith nought in propirte.
                    
                      Sithe it behouith, than, in communalte
                      Line 362 
                    
                      Among the nedi to be díspended,
                    
                      Let myne estate somwhat be ámendid! [Minor Poems, I, 38/417. Le Sire de Fournivall Tresourer, was appointed of Henry IV's Council on 27 Nov., 8 Hen. IV, 1406.—Proc. Privy Council, i. 295 (ed. Nicolas, 1834). See also Rot. Parl. iii. 572 b.] 
                      Line 364

About this Item

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APPENDIX.

The XIII Poems in the englisht Be Guilleville's 'Pilgrimage of the Soul.'Egerton MS. 615, Brit. Mus.

(1) The epistle of grace sent to the seek man. littera. [folio 17b]

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(2) The chartre of pardon.

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(3) Cantus peregrinorum. [folio 29]

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(4) What tyme þat the pilgrymes had songyne in this wise, hire aungeles wiche þat led them, ansuerid a-nothir song ful swete & ful delicious, as it sewith: Cantus angelorum.

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(5) The aungelys song within. [folio 30]

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(6) [The Angels' Song. Honour to Jesus.]

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(7) A lamentacioun of the grene tree, complaynyng of the losyng of hire appill.

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(8) The recordyng of aungeles song of the Natiuite of oure lady. [folio 95b]

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(9) The aungeles song. [folio 97]

(10) The aungeles songe in the feste of the Epiphanie of oure lord. [folio 99]

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(11) the aungeles song on pask day.

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(12) The song of graces of alle seintes upon Paske day. [folio 101]

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(13) The aungeles song & alle othir seintes in the feste of Pentecost. [folio 102]

(14) The pietous complainte of the Soule. [folio 8]

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The XIII Poems in the englisht Be Guilleville's 'Pilgrimage of the Soul.'
Egerton MS. 615, Brit. Mus.

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