The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[75] Owre. swete lord god of heuen; þat no man wil perisshe; but wil þat we comme al to þe knowleche of him; & to þe blisful lyf þat is perdurable; [76] amonesteþ vs be þe prophet Ioromie þat seiþe in þis wise; [77] Standeþ vpon þe weyes & seeþe & axeþ of olde paþes. þat is to seie of olde sentences; whiche is þe goode weie; [78] & walkeþ in þat weie; & ȝe schal finde refrisscheinge for ȝoure soules; &c [79] ¶ Many buen þe weyes spirituele. þat leden folk to to oure lorde ihesu criste & to þe regne of glorie [80] ¶ Of whiche weyes þere is a ful noble weie and ful couenable weie; whiche maye not faile to man ne to womman þat þoruhe sinne haþ mys gone fro þe riht weie of Ierusalem celestial. [81] And þis weie is cleped Penitence; of whiche men scholde gladly herken & enquere wiþ al his he [82] to wit what is pen|ance; & whan it is cleped penanc. & in howe many manere bene þe accionce of worchinge of penance; [83] And howe mony spices þere biene of penytence And whiche þinges appartenen; & be-houen to penitence; & whiche þinges distourben penitence

[6-text p 594]

[84] ¶ Seint Ambrose seiþe þat penitence is þe pleyneinge of man for þe gilt þat he haþ done; and no more to do any þinge for whiche we ouhte to pleyne; [85] And sōm doctour seiþe; Penitence is þe weyment|ynge of man þat sorweþ for his sinne; an peyneþ him selft for he haþe mys done; [86] Penytence wiþ certeyne circumstance is verrey repentance of men þat halt him self in sorwe; And oþere peyne for his giltes [87] For he schal be verreye penitent; he schall first beweilen þe sinne þat he haþe done; And stedfastly purposen in his herte to haue schrift of mouþe And to done satisfaccione; [88] And neuer to do þinge. ffor whiche him ouht to beweile or to complene & to con|tinue in goode werkes; or elles his repentance mai nouht availe [89] ¶ For as seint Isider seiþe. He is a Iaper & a gabbere & no verrei repentant; þat eft sone doþ þinge ffor whiche him ouht to repent [90] wepeinge; & nouht for to stinte to do sinne Maie not availe; [91] Bot naþeles men schol hope; þat at euery time þat man falleþ be it neuere so of; þat he may rise þorwhe peni|tence if he haue grace ¶ Bot certeinly. it is grete doute [92] for as seiþe seinte gregori. vnneþes ariseþ he oute of his sinne þat is charged wiþ þe charde of yuel vsage; [93] & þer fore repentant folke þat stinte for to sinne & for-lete sinne. er sinne for- [folio 231a] lete him. Holy cherche holte hem seker of her sauacione; [94] And he þat sinneþ & verraly repenteþ him in his last ende; Holy cherche ȝit hopeþ his saluacion be þe grete mercy of our lorde ihesu for his repentance; ¶ Bot takeþ þe seker weye þat is certeine;

[95] ¶ And nowe seþen .I. haue declared ȝowe what þinge is penitence ¶ Now scholne ȝe vnderstonde þat þere bue þre accions of Penytence; [96] The first is if a man be baptized after þat he haþe sinned [97] ¶ Seint Austine seiþe bot he be penitence for his olde sinful lif; he maie not be-ginne þe newe

[6-text p 595] clene lif; [98] For certes if he be baptist with oute penitence of his olde gilte; he receyueþ þe merke of baptime. bot not þe grace ne þe remission of his sinnes til he haue repentance verreye. [99] ¶ Anoþere defaut is þis; that men done dedely sinne after þat þei haue receyued Baptisme [100] ¶ Þe þredde defaute is; þat men fallen in venial sinnes after her baptisme; fro daie to daie [101] ¶ Ther of seiþ seint Austine; þat penitence of goode & humble folke is þe penitence of euery daie;

[102] ¶ The spices of penance bien þre; þat on of hem is solempne; anoþere is comune. .&. þ^e þred is priue [103] ¶ þilke penance þat is so|lempne; is in tuo maners. As is to be put oute of holy cherche in lente for slauhter of childerne & suche maner þinge; [104] Anoþer is whan man haþ sinned openly; of whiche sinne þe fame is openly spoken in þe contre; ¶ And þan holy cherche be iuge|ment Distreyneþ him for to do penance open. [105] ¶ Somme penance is þat prestes enioynen men comunly in certeine caas as for to gone peraduentur naked in pilgrenage or barfote. [106] ¶ Priue penaunce is þilk þat men done al daie ffor priue sinnes of whiche we schryuen vs priuely & receyuen priue penance.

[107] ¶ Nowe schalt þou vnderstande whas behoueþ; & is necessarie to verrei perfit penitence; An þes standen on þre þinges [108] ¶ Contricio of hert. Con|fession of mouþe; & satisfaccione [109] ¶ For whiche seiþ Iohannes Grisostemus. Penytence Distreyneþ man to accepte benyngly euery peine þat is him enioyned with contricione of hert; & schrift of mouþe & satis|facione & in wercheinge al manere humylite; [110] ¶ And þis is fruyteful penitence aȝein þre þinges in which. we wreþþen our lorde ihesu crist; [111] þis is to seine; be delite in þinkinge; be reclischenesse in spekeinge; be wykked sinful wyrcheinge; [112] ¶ And aȝeines þes

[6-text p 596] wikked giltes is penitence; þat maie be likned vnto a tre.

[113] ¶ þe rote of þis tree is contricione þat hideþ him in þe hert of him þat is verraie repentant Riht as þe rote of a tre hideþ him in þe erþe; [114] ¶ Of þe rote of contricione springeþ a stalk þat bereþ braunches & leues of confessis & fruyte of satisfaccione. [115] For whiche crist seiþe in þe gospel. Doþe digne fruyte of penite. For be þis fruyte men maye knowe þis tre; & nouht be rote þat is hide in þe herte of man; be þe braunche ne be þe leues of confessione; [116] And þere for oure lorde ihesu crist seiþ þus; Be þe fruyte of hem schal ȝe knowe hem [117] ¶ Of þis rote springeþ a seede of grace; þe whiche sede is þe mode of sekernesse; And þis seed is egre & hote; [118] þe grace of þis seed springeþ of god þoruhe þe re|membrance of þe daie of dome & one þe peines of helle. [119] ¶ Of þis [folio 231b] Matier seiþe Salomon. That in þe drede of god man for leteþ his sinne. [120] ¶ þe hete of þis seede is þe loue of god. & þe desire of þe Ioye perdurable; [121] þis hete draueþ þe hert of man to god; & doþe him hate his sinne; [122] ¶ For soþely þere is no þinge þat sauereþ so wele to a childe as þe myke of his norice; Ne no þinge is to him more abhom|inable þat þilke melk whan it is menged wiþ oþere mete. [123] Riht so þe sinnful man þat loueþ his sinne it semeþ þat it is to him moste swete Of any þinge; [124] ¶ Bot fro þat time þat he loueþ sadly oure lorde ihesu criste & desireþ þe lif perdurable; þere nys to hime more abhominable; [125] ¶ For soþe þe lawe of god is þe loue of god; For whiche dauid þe prophete seiþe; I. haue loued þi lawe & hated wikkednesse; & haten; He þat loueþ god kepeþ his lawe & his worde; [126] ¶ This tre sawe þe prophet .Danyel. in spirit vpon þe auysion of nobugodonosor whan he coun|seled him to do penitence. [127] ¶ Penance is þe tre of lif to hem þat it receyven; And he þat holdeþ him

[6-text p 597] verrey penytence is blissed after þe verrey sentence of Salomon.

[128] ¶ In þis penitence or contricion man schal vn|derstonden .iiij. þinges; þat is to seine What is contricione; & whiche bien þe causes þat meuen a man to con|tricione & howe he schold be contrite; & what con|tricioun availed to þe soule; [129] þan is it þus; þat contricion is þe verrei sowe þat a man receyueþ in his hert for his sinnes with sadde purpos to schriuen him & to do penance And to do neuer more sinne; [130] ¶ And þis sorwe schal bien in þis manere As seiþe seinte Bernard. It schal be greuous & heuy & ful scharpe & poynant in herte; [131] ffirst for a man haþ gult his lord & his makere; & mor scharp & poynant; for he haþ agilte his fader celestial; [132] & ȝit more scharp & poynant; For he haþe a-wreþþed & agilte him þat bouht him; þat withe his precious blode haþ deliuerd vs fro þe bandes of sinne And fro þe cruelte of þe deuel. And fro þe peynes of hell;

[133] ¶ The causes þat ouhte to meue a man to con|tricion bien .vj. ¶ First a man schal remembre him of his sinnes; [134] bot loke þat þat remem|brance be to him no delite be no weye bot grette schame; & sorwe For his gilte. For Iob seiþe. Sinfulmen doþ werkes worþi of confession [135] ¶ And þere for seiþe Ezechiele .I. wil remembre me al þe ȝeres of my lif in bitternesse of myn herte; [136] And god seiþe in þe Apocolips. Remembre ȝo fro wemmes þat bue fall; For be forne þat time þat ȝe sinned ȝe weren þe childern of god. & lyme of þe Regne of god; [137] ¶ Bot for ȝoure sinne ȝe bien wax þral & foule & membres of þe fende; hate of Angeles Sclaundre of holy cherche. And foode of þe fals serpent perpetuel matiere of þe fire of hell. [138] And þat more foule & abom|inable for ȝe trespasen so oft time; as doþe þe hounde þat torneþ to eten his spewynge; [139] And ȝit

[6-text p 598] bien ȝe fouler for ȝoure longe continuinge in sinne; & ȝoure sinful vsage; For whiche ȝe be roten in ȝoure sinne as a beste in his donge [140] ¶ Suche manere of þouhtes maken a man to haue schame for his sinne & no delite; As god seiþe be þe prophete Ezechiele. [141] ȝe schol remembre ȝowe of ȝoure weies; & þei schol displesen ȝowe soþely; ¶ Sinnes bien þe weies þat leden folk to hell;

[142] ¶ þe secunde cause þat auhte to make a man to haue disdeyne of sinne is þis; ¶ þat as seiþe seint Petre; Who so doþe sinne is þrall of [folio 232a] sinne; ¶ And sinne putteþ a man in grete þraldome; [143] And þere for seiþe þe prophete Ezechiele; I. went sorweful in disdeine of my selfe; ¶ Certes wele ouht a man to haue disdeine of synne & wiþ-drawe him fro þat þraldome & velanie; [144] And lo whatte seiþe Seneea in þis matiere; þouhe .I. wiste þat god neyþere man ne scholde neuer knowe it; Ȝit wolde .I. haue disdeine for to do sinne. [145] ¶ The same Seneca. seiþe .I. am borne to gretter þinges þan to be þrall to me bodye. . . . . [no gap in MS.] . . . . [146] More a þralle may no man ne womman make of his bodi þan ȝiue his body to sinne; [147] A were it þe foulest cherle or þe foulest womman þat leueþ & leste of value ȝite is he chaunged & moste foule & more in seruitute; [148] Euer fro þe hiere degre þat a man falleþ þe more he is þrall; And more vnto god & to þ^e werlde vile & abomin|able; [149] ¶ O good god wele ouht men haue disdeyne of sinne; seþen þat þoruhe sinne þere he was fre now is he maked bonde [150] ¶ And þere for seiþe seinte Austine. If þou haue disdeine of þi seruant if he a gilte or synne; Haue þou þan disdeine þat þou þi self scholdest do synne; [151] Take rewarde of þine value þat þou ne be to foule to þine value ne to þⁱ self [152] ¶ Alas wele ouhten þei þan to be

[6-text p 599] seruant & þrall to sinne & sore biene aschamed of hem self; [153] þat god of his enles goodenesse haþ sette hem in hihe astate or ȝeuen hem wiþ strenkeþ of body. hele beaute. prosperite; [154] & bouht hem fro deþ with his hert blode; þat þei so vnkindely aȝeines his gentillesse whiten him so velenslye to slauhter of here owen sowles [155] ¶ O goode god. ȝe wemmen þat bien of so grete beaute; remembreþ ȝowe of þe prouerbe of Salomon. he seiþe [156] A faire womman þat is a fole of hir body; is like to a ringe of golde þat wereþ in þe groyne of a sowe [157] ¶ For riht as a sowe wroteþ in euery ordure; So wroteþ sche hir beaute in stinkeinge ordur of sinne

[158] ¶ The þred cause þat ouht to meue a max to contricione is þ^e drede of þe daie of dome & of þe orribles peynes of hell for as seint Ierom seiþe. Att euery time þat me remembreþ of þe daie of dome .I. quake; [160] For whan .I. ete or drink or do what so .I. do euer semeþ me þat þe trompe souneþ in myne ere; [161] Riseþ vpe þat bien dede & commeþ to þe Iugement [162] of god; ¶ Muche ouht iche man to drede suche a Iugement þere as we scholne bue all as seiþ seint Poule Be forne þe strete of oure lorde ihesu crist. [163] Where as ȝe schal maake a general con|gregacioun; Wher as noman mai be absent; [164] For certes þere ne availeþ none assoyene ne excusacion; [165] And not onely þat oure fautes schal bu Iuged; bot eke þat al oure werkes schal openli be knowe; [166] And as seiþe seint Bernarde. There ne schal no pledynge availe ne no sleiht; we scholne ȝeuen Rekenynge of euery Idel worde [167] ¶ There schal we haue a Iuge. þat maie nouht be deceyued ne corruppte; And whi for al oure þouhtes biene discouerde as to him; ne for preier ne for meede he wil not be corrupte; [168] And þerefor seiþe Salomon. þe wraþþe of god wol nouȝt bue corrupte; And þerfor seiþ Salomon; The wreche

[6-text p 600] of god ne wil nouht spare no wight for praier ne for ȝeft; And þere fore att þe daie of dome þere is none hope to escape; [169] wherefore as seiþe Anselme ¶ Ful grete anguysche [folio 232b] Scholne þe sinful folke have att þat time; [170] ¶ Þere schal be þe steren & þ^e wroþe Iuge; site aboue; And vnder him þe orrible putte of hell open to de|strey him þat mot be knowe his . . . [no gap in the MS.] sinnes openly be schewde be forne god & be for euery creature; [171] And one þe left side mo deueles þan hert maie þink for to harye; & to drawe þe sinful sowles to þe peine of hell; [172] and with inne þe hertes of folke schal be þe byteinge conscience; And wiþ oute forþ schal be þe werld al berneynge [173] ¶ Wheder schal þan þe wriched sinful soule flee to hide hime. Certes he maie nouȝt hide him; he most com forþe & schewe him [174] For certes as seiþ seint Ierom. The erþe schal cast him oute of him; & þe see also & þ^e eyre also þat schal be ful of þonder clappes & lyhtnynges; [175] Nowe soþely who so wil remembre of þis þinges .I. gesse þat his sinnes schal nouht turne him into delite; bote to grete sorwe for drede of peyne of hell; [176] And þere for seiþ Iob to god; ¶ Suffur lorde þat .I. maie a while be waile & wepe ar .I. go; & wepe withe outen retorneinge to þe derke lande. couered with þ^e derkenesse of deþe [177] to þ^e londe of Misese & of derkenesse where as is schadowe of deþe; where as is none oþer or|dinance bot grisly drede þat euer schal last [178] ¶ lo here may ȝe seen þat Iob preide respite a while to be-wepe & weile his trespas. For soþely o daie of Respite is better þan al þe tresoure of þis werlde. [179] ¶ And for alsomuche as a man mai aquite him self beforne god be penitence in þis werlde & nouht be tresour; þere fore scholde he preye to god to ȝeue him respite a while to be wepen & be weilen his trespas; [180] ffor certes al þe sorwe þat a man myht make fro þe begynynge

[6-text p 601] of þe werld is bot a luytel þinge. att þe regarde of þe sorwe of hell [181] ¶ The cause whi þat Iob calleþ hell þe londe of derknesse; [182] vnderstondeþ þat he clepeþ it þe londe of erþe for it is stable & neuer schal faile dereknesse; ffor he þat is in hell haþe defaute of liht material; [183] ffor certes þe derk liht þat schal come oute of þe fire þat euer schal berne schal torne him al to peine þat is in hell; ffor it scheweþ him to þe orrible deueles þat him torment. [184] Couerd wiþ þe derkenesse of deþe . . . . .[185] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] bien þe sinnes; þat þe wrecched man haþe do; Whiche þat distourben him to see þe face of god; riht a derke cloude be twex vs & þe sonne; [186] londe of mysese; because þat þere bue þre manere of defautes aȝeynes. þre þinges; þat folke in þis werlde haue in þis present lif; þat is to seie; Honours. delices. & Riches. [187] ¶ Aȝeines honour haue þei in hell schame; & confusione; [188] ffor wele ȝe weten þat men clepen honour þe reuerence þat men don to man; Bot in hell is none honour ne reuerence; ffor certes no more reuerence schal be do to a kinge þan to a knaue; [189] ¶ For whiche go[d] seiþe be þe prophet Ieremye. Thilke folke þat me dispisen schal bue in dispite [190] ¶ Honour is eke cleped grete lod|schipe; Thare schal no wight seruen oþere bot of harme & turment; Honour is eke cleped grete dignite & hihe|nesse bot in hel schal þei be al for-troden of deuels; [191] As god [folio 233a] seiþe; Orrible deuels schal comen & gone vpon þe heuedes of dampned folk; And þis is for also muche. þe hiher þat þei were in þis present lif; þe more schal þei buen abated & defouled in hell; [192] ¶ Aȝeine þe riches of þis werld schal þe haue mysese of pouerte; And þis pouert schal be foure þinges. [193] in defaute of tresour of whiche

[6-text p 602] dauid seiþe þe riche folke þat enbrasen & coueten in all herte þe tresoure of þis werlde; scholne slepe in þe slepeinge of deþe As no þinge schal þei finden in al hir handes of hire tresour [194] ¶ And more ouere þe Misese of hell schall ben in defaute of mete & drinke; [195] ffor god seiþ þus be moyses; Thei scholne be wastede wiþ hunger & þe berdes of hell schal deuouren him wiþ bitter deþ An þe gal of þe dragon . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] hir morsel; [196] And ferþer ouere hire mysese schal buen in defaute of cloþeinge; for þei schal be nake in body as in cloþinge; saue þe fire in whiche þei birne; & oþere felþes [197] & naked schal þei bien in soule of al manere of vertues; whiche þat is þe cloþeinge of soule; // Wher bue þan þe gaie Robes & þe soft schetes & þe smale schertes; [198] Lo what seiþe god of hem be þe prophet Ysaye; þat vnder hem schal be strewed mouhtes; & here couertours schal be of þe wermes of hell. [199] And ferþer ouere hire mysese schalbe in defaute of frendes; For he is nouȝt pouer þat haþe goode frendes bott þere is no frende; [200] ffor neyþere god ne creature schall be frende to hem; And euery of hem schal haten oþere wiþ dedeli hate; [201] þe sonnes of þe douhtern schal rebellen aȝeines fader & moder & kinrede aȝeines kinrede; & chiden and dispisen iche of hem oþere boþe daie & nyght; ¶ As god seiþe be þe prophete Mechias [202] And þe loueynge childern þat whilom loued so fleschely eueryche oþere wolden eueryche of hem eten oþere if þei myht; [203] ffor howe schold þei louen hem to geder in þe peine of hell whan þei hateden eueryche of hem oþere Eyþerin þe prosperite of þis lif [204] ¶ For truste wele here fleschely loue was dedely hate as seiþe þe prophete dauid. ¶ Wo so þat loueþ wikked|nesse; he hateþ his soule; [205] And who þat hateþ his owen soule; certes he may loue none oþer wight

[6-text p 603] in no manere; [206] And þerfor in hell is no frenschippe Bot euer þe more fflessly kinred þat buen in hell; þe more curseinge & þe more chide|inge þe more dedely hate þere is ymonge hem; [207] And ferþere ouere þei scholen haue defaut of al manere delices; For whi þe delites bene þe Appetites of þe five wittes; as siht; hereynge; Sauereinge; Smel|inge; & toucheinge; [208] Bot in hell here siht schal be ful of derknesse & smoke; & ful of teres; And here hereinge ful of waymentynge & of grontinge of teþe As seiþ ihesu crist. [209] Her nose|þrelles schal be ful of stinkinge stinke; And as seiþe ysayas þe prophete. Here Sauereinge schal be ful of bitter gall; [210] And toucheinge of hire body couerd wiþ fire. þat neuer schal be quenched; and wiþ wormes þat neuer schall diȝen. As god seide be þo mouþe of Isaye; [211] And for alsomuche as þei schol not wene þat þei mei deyen for peyne. & be hire deþ flie fro peyne; þat maie vnder-stonde be þe worde of Iobe; þat seiþ þere [folio 233b] as is þe schadow of deþe; [212] Certes a schadowe haþe likenesse of þe þinge of whiche it is schadow; Bot þe schadowe is nouht þe same þinge of whiche it is schadowe [213] Riht so fareþ þe peyne of hell; It is like deþe for þe angwysshe orrible And whie; ffor it peyneþ hem euere as þouhe men schold dyen anone; Bot certes þei schol not deye [214] ¶ For as seiþe seint Gregorie to wrecched kaytifes schal be deþe with owten deþ; And ende wiþ outen ende; And defaute with oute faileinge; [215] ffor here deþ schal alwey lyfe; And here ende schal euermore be ginne; And here defaute schal nouht faile [216] ¶ And þere fore seiþ seint Iohn þe Euaungeliste; Thei schal folowen deþ & þei schal nouht finden him; And þei desiren to deye; And deþ schal flye fro hem; [217] And Eke Iob seiþ; þat in hell is none order of Reule; [218] ¶ And all be it so þat god haþe created al þinge in riht ordre & noþinge with

[6-text p 604] outen order; Bot al þinges bene ordeyned & nom|bred; ȝete naþeles þei þat bue dampned bien no þinge in ordre ne holde no þinge in ordre. [219] ffor þe erþe schal bere hem no fruyte. [220] For as þe prophet seiþe dauid; God schal destruye þe fruyte of þe erþe as fro hem; ne water schal ȝeue hem no moystur. ne þe eyer no refrissheinge; ne fire no lyht; [221] For as seiþe seint Basile; The birneinge of þe fire of þis werlde schal god gif in hell to hem þat bu dampned; [222] Bot þe liht & þe clerenesse. schal be ȝouen in to heuen to his childerne; Riht as þe good man giffeþ flesshe to his childerne and bones to his hondes; [223] And for þei schol haue none hope to escape seiþe Iobe; Att þe laste; þat þere schold orroure & grisely drede dwel wiþ outen ende; [224] Orrour is alwei drede of harme þat is to comme; And þis drede schal euer dwell in þe hertes of hem þat bu dampned ¶ And for þat haueþ þei lorne al here hope for vij. causes; [225] ffirst for god þat is hire Iuge schal bue wiþ outen mercy to hem. Ne þei may not plese him ne none of his halowes ne þei maie ȝeue no þinge for hire Raunson; [226] Ne þei haue no voice to speke to him; ne þei maie not fliȝe fro peine ne þei haue no goodenesse in hem þat þei maie schew to deliuer hem fro peine; [227] ¶ And þerefore seiþe Salomon þe wykked man deyeþ; And whan he is dede he schal haue no hope to ascape fro peyne [228] ¶ Who so schame will wele vn|derstonde þes peynes & be þinke him wele þat he haþe deserued þilke peynes for his sinnes; Certes he schold haue more talent to sike & to wepe; þan for to singen & to pley; [229] ¶ For as seiþ Salomon. Who so þat hadde þe science for to knowe; þe peynes þat buen þat ystablisshed for sinne; he wold maake sorwe; [230] ¶ þilke science as seiþe seinte Austine. Makeþ a man to weyment in his herte;

[231] ¶ þe ferþe point þat ouhte maake a man

[6-text p 605] haue contricion is þe sorweful remembrance of þe goode þat he haþ lost to done here in erþe; And eke good þat he haþ lorne; [232] Soþely þe goode werkes þat he haþ loste; eyþere þei bien þe goode werkes þat he haþ wrouht er he fell in to dedely sinne. or elles þe goode werkes þat he wrouht while he laie in sinne. [233] Soþely þe gode werkes þat he dide beforne þat he fell in sinne bien al mortified & astoned; & dullede be þe oft sinynge [234] ¶ þe toþer goode werke þat he wrouht whiles he ley in sinne; þei bien vtterly dede as to þe lif perdurable in heuen [235] ¶ þan þelke goode werke þat bien [folio 234a] mortified be oft sinynge; Whiche good werkes he dide whiles he was in charite; ne mowen neuere quyken aȝeine withouten parfite penitence [236] And þerfore seiþe god be þe mouþe of ezechiel; That is þe rihtfulman re|torne aȝeine from his rihtwisnesse & to worche wikked|nesse schal he leue [237] naye ffor al þe goode werkes þat haþ wrouht ne scholne neuer bue in remembraunce; ffor he schal deye in sinne [238] ¶ And vpon þilke chapeter seiþ seint Gregorie þus þat we scholde vnder|stonde þis principaly. [239] That whanne we do dedely sinne; it is for nouht þan to reherse or to drawe in to memorie þe good werkes þat we haue wrouht beforne; [240] ¶ For certes in þe worcheinge of dedely sinne; þere is no truste to no good werke þat we han done to fore; þat is to seine As for to haue þere bye; þe lif per|durable in heuen; [241] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] whan we haue contricione; [242] Bott soþely þe goode werkes þat men done whiles þei bien in dedely synne; ffor as muche as þei weren done in dedely sinne þei may neuere whiken aȝeine; [243] ffor certes þinge þat neuer hadde lif; may neuer qwykyne; ¶ And naþeles; Albeit þat þei aveile nouht to haue þe lif perdurable; ȝit aveilen

[6-text p 606] þei to a-brigge þe peyne of hell; or elles to geten temporel richesse; [244] or elles þat god wol þe raþer elumyne & lyhten þe hert of þe sinful|man. to have repentance; [245] And eke þei aveilen to vsen a man to done goode werkes þat þe fende haue þe lesse powere of his soule [246] ¶ And þus þe curteise lorde ihesu crist wol þat no goode werke be lost; ffor in somwhat it schal availe [247] ¶ Bot for also muche þe goode werke þat men done whiles þei bien in goode lif bien al mortified be sinne folowynge; ¶ And eke seþen þat al þe goode werkes . . [no gap in MS.] whiles þei bue in dedely sinne bien vtterly dede as for to haue þe lif perdurable; [248] wele may þat man þat no goode werke doþe singe þilke newe fresshe songe; Iay tout perduz mon temps & mon labour [249] ¶ For certes sinne bereueþ a man goodnesse of nature; & eke þe goodnesse of grace; [250] ¶ For soþe þe grace of þe holy gost fareþ like fire þat may not bu ydel; ffor fire faileþ anone as it fo[r]leseþ his worche|inge; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [251] So leseþ þe sinfulman þe goodnesse of glorie þat only is behiht to good men þat labouren & wirken; [252] wele maie he bu sorie þan þat oweþ al his lif to god as longe as he leueþ; haþe leued; And eke also longe as he schal leue; þat no goodenesse ne haþe to paye with his dett to god to whome he oweþ al his lif [253] ¶ For tresteþ wele he schal ȝeue acomptes as seiþ sein Bernard. of al þe goodes þat haue bu ȝouen him in þis present lif & howe he haþe hem dispended [254] nouht so muche þat þer schal nouht perische an here of his hede ne a moment of an houre ne schal nouht perische of his time þat he ne schal ȝeue of it a rekenynge;

[255] ¶ þe fifte þinge þat ouht meue a man to contricioun; is remembrance of þe passion þat oure lord ihesu crist suffred for oure sinnes; [256] ffor as seiþ seint Bernard. While þat .I. leue .I. schal haue remem|brance

[6-text p 607] of þe traveyles þat oure lorde ihesu crist suffred in precheinge; [257] his werenesse in travaileinge; his tempt|acions whan he fasted; his longe wakeinges whan he praide; his teres whan þat he [folio 234b] wepte for pyte of goode peple; [258] þe wor & þe schame & þe filþe þat mem seiden to him oft; þe foule spitteinge; þat men spitten on his face; of þe buffetes þat men ȝaue him; of þe foule mouþes; & of þe re|proues þat men to him seyden; [259] of þe nayles with þe whiche he was nailed to þe crose and of al þe remenant of his passion þat he suffred for my sinnes And noþinge for his gilte; [260] And ȝe scholne vnder|stonde þat in man sinne is euery maner of order of ordinance turned vp so doune; [261] ffor it is soþe; þat god. & reson & sensualite & þe body of man; buen so ordeined; þat euer yche of þis foure þinges schold haue lordschipe ouer þat oþer [262] As þus; As þus God schold haue lordeschip ouer reson; & resone ouere sensualite; And sensualite ouere þe body of man; [263] But soþely whan man sinneþ al þ^e order of ordenance is turned vp so doune; [264] And þer fore þan for also muche as þe reson of man wil nouht be subiette ne obeisant to god þat is lord be riht; þere for leseþ he þe lordschip þat he scholde haue in sensualite; and eke ouere þe body of man; [265] And whie For sensualite rebelleþ aȝein reson; And þat waye leseþ reson his lordschip ouer sensualite & ouer þe body; [266] For riht as reson is rebelle to god; Riht so is boþe sensualite rebel to reson. & þ^e man also; [267] ¶ And certes þis ordinance & þis rebellion oure lorde ihesu crist bouht vpon his preciouse body ful dere And herkeneþ in whiche wyse; [268] ffor as muche þan is reson rebel to god; þare fore is man worþi to haue sorwe; & to be dede; [269] þis suffurd oure lorde ihesu for man after þat he had be bytrayede of his disciple And distreyned &

[6-text p 608] bounde so þat þe blode braste oute att euery nayle of his handes as seiþe seint Austine [270] ¶ And forþermore for as muche þat reson of man wil nouȝt daunte sensu|alite whan it maie; þerefore is man worþi to haue schame; And þus suffred oure lorde ihesu criste; for man; whan þei spitten in his vesage // [271] And ferþere ouere for as muche þan þat þe kaytif body of man/ is rebel boþe to resoun / & sensualite; And þerefore is it worþi þe deþe; [272] And þis suffurde oure lorde ihesu criste for man vpon þe croys where as þere was no party of his body fre with owten grete pyne & bitter passion; [273] And al þis suffred oure lorde ihesu criste þat neuere for fete [·. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ¶ To mechel am .I. peyned for þe same þinges þat .I. neuer deseruede And to muchel defouled for frendschipe þat man is worþi to haue; [274] And þere|fore maie þe sinnful man wele saie. as seiþe seint Bernard; Acursed be þe butternesse; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [275] ffor certes after þ^e diuerse discordance of oure wikkednesse was þe pas|sion of oure lorde ihesu criste. yordeinede in diuerse þinges [276] as þus; ¶ Certes sinnful mannes soule by-trasede of þe deuel be couetise of temperile prosperite and scorned be deceyte; Whan he cheseþ fleschely delites ¶ And ȝit is he tormented be impacience of aduersite; ¶ And be|spette be seruage in subieccione of sinne; and att þe last it is sleyne fynaly; [277] ffor þis disordinance of sinnful man. was ihesu crist first betrayde; And after þat was he bounde þat cam for to [folio 235a] for to vnbynde vs of sinne & of peyne; [278] þan was he bescorned þat only scholde be honoured in al þinges be al þinges. & of al þinges; [279] ¶ Than was his þat ouht be desired to be seyne of al man kinde; In whiche Angeles desiren to loken vilansly be-spitte; [280] þan was he scowrged þat no þinge had gulte; & fynally þan was he crucified And sleyne [281] ¶ þan was he acompliced þe

[6-text p 609] wordes of Ysaye; He was wounded for oure mesdedes & defouled be oure veleynyes; [282] Nowe seþen. þat ihesu criste toke vpon him selfe þe peyne of al oure wikkednesse; Muchel ouht sinful man be-wepe & be-weile þat for his sinne goddes sonne of heuen schold al þis peine endure [283] ¶ The sext þinge þat ouht to meue a man to contricione is þe hope of þe þre þinges; þat is to seine forȝeuenesse; And þe ȝeft of grace wele for to do; And þe glory of heuen with þe whiche god schal guerdon mān for his goode dedes; [284] ¶ And for as muche as ihesu crist; ȝifeþ vs þis ȝeftes of his largesse and of his souereyne bounte; þer for is he cleped Ihesus nazarenus rex iudeorum; [285] Ihesus ys to seyne saueour or sal|uation on whome men scholne hope to haue forȝeuenesse of sinnes whiche þat is properly saluacione of synnes; [286] And þerfor seide þe Angel to Ioseph; þou clepest his name ihesus þat schal saue his peple of her sinnes; [287] And here of seiþ seinte Peter; There nys none oþere name vnde heuen þat is ȝoue to any man bot only . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ihesus [288] nazarenus. Whiche is as moche to seine As florischeinge in whiche a man schal hope; þat he þat ȝeueþ him remissioun of sinnes; schal ȝeu also him grace wele to do; ¶ For in þe floure is þe hope of fruyte in tyme cominge And in forȝefnesse of sinnes hope of grace wele to do; [289] ¶ .I. was att þe dore of þine herte seiþ ihesus and cleped for to entre ¶ He þat openeþ to me schal haue for-ȝeuenesse of sinne; [290] I. wil entre in to him be my grace And soupe with him be þe good werkes þat he schal done; whiche werkes bene þe foode of god; & he schal soupe wiþ me; be þe gret Ioy þat schal be ȝoue to him; [291] Thus man hope for his werkes of penance god scholde ȝeue him his regne as he behoteþ him in þe gospel;

[292] ¶ Nowe schal man vnderstonde in whiche

[6-text p 610] manere schal be his contricion; .I. say þat it schal bue vniuersale & totale; þis is to sei a man schal be verrey repentant for al his sinnes þat he haþ done in delite of his þouht; ffor delite is ful perilous; [293] ffor þer bien tuo maners of consentynges; þat one of hem is cleped consentynge of affeccioune whan a man is meved to do synne & deliteþ him longe for to þinke on þat sinne; [294] He haþe reson þat perteyneþ wele þat it is sinne aȝeines þe lawe of god; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Al þouhe his reson ne consent noȝt to do þe sinne in dede; [295] ȝut seine somme doctours þat suche delite þat dwelleþ longe is ful perilouse; al be it neuer so lite; [296] And also a man scholde sorwe for al þat; þat euer he haþ desired aȝeines þe lawe of [folio 235b] god with perfite consentinge of resoun; ffor þere of is no doute þat it ne is dedely sinne; In þe consentynge [297] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] & in to þe dede; [298] where for .I. seye þat many men ne repenten hem neuere of suche þouhtes & delices ne neuer schreuen hem of it bot onely of þe dede of grete sinnes vtwarde. [299] where for .y. saye þat suche wikked delites & wikked þouhtes bien subtile begillours of hem þat scholne be dampned; [300] More ouere man ouht to sorwen For his wikked wordes; as for his wikked dedes ¶ For certes þe repentance of a singuler sinne and nouhte repent of al his oþere sinnes; or elles repent him of al his oþere sinnes; & not of singulere sinne maye nouht aveile [301] ¶ For certes almyhti god; is al goode. And þerfor he for-ȝeueþ all; or elles riht nouht; [302] And here of seiþe seint Augustine.I. wote certeinly [303] þat god is enmy to euery sinner; And howe þan he þat obserueþ o synne schal he haue forȝeuenesse of þe

[6-text p 611] remenant of his oþere sinnes; Nay; [304] ¶ And forþere ouer. contricion scholde be woundes sorwful; And Ang|uisschous; and þerfor ȝeueþ him god pleynly his mercy And þerfor whan Mi soule was anguysshous with in me .I. had remembrance of god þat my preyer myht com to him [305] ¶ Forþere ouere contricion must be continuel; and þat men haue sted|fast purpos to schriue him; & for to amend him of his lif [306] ¶ ffor soþely whiles contricion lasteþ man maie haue hope of forȝefnesse; And of þis comeþ hate of sinne þat destruyeþ sinne boþe in him selfe and eke in oþere folke as his power; [307] ffor whiche [Nota bene de qui sit amor dei] seiþe dauid; ȝe þat louen god hateþ wikkednesse; For trustuþ wele to loue god; is. for to loue þat he loueþ & hate þat he hateþe

[308] ¶ The last þinge þat men schal vnderstond is þis; where of availeþ contricion; I. saie þat sumtim contricion deliuerþ a man fro sinne [309] of whiche þat dauid seiþe; I. saie quod dauid þat is to saie I purposed firmly to schryue me And þou lorde relesed my sinne; [310] ¶ And riht so as contricion ne veileþ nouȝt with oute sadd purpos of scrifte . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] or satisfaccione wiþoute contricione [311] ¶ And more contricion distreyeþ þe prison of hell & makeþ wayke; And febleþ þe strengeþes of þe deueles; And restoriþ þe ȝift of þe holy goste; And of al vertues [312] & interclenseþ þe soule of sinne; Ande deliuereþ þe soule fro þe peyne of hell & fro þe compaignie of þ^e deuel; And fro þe seruage of synne ¶ And restoreþ to al goodes espiritueles in to þe compaignie communyoun of holy kirke [313] ¶ And forþere ouere; it makeþ him þat was whilom son of Ire. to be þe son of grace; And al þis þinges he preueþ be holy writte; [314] And þerefor he þat wolde sett his entent to þese þinges he war ful

[6-text p 612] wise; ffor soþe he scholde nouht þan in al his lif to haue corage to sinne ¶ Bot þan his body & al his herte to þe seruise of ihesu criste; And þere of done him homoge [315] ¶ ffor certes oure swete lorde ihesu criste haþ spare vs so debonerly in oure folyes; þat if he ne hadd pite of mannes soule a sori songe miht we al singe;

Explicit prima pars penitencie