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

[6-text p 589]

GROUP I. FRAGMENT X.

§ 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK. LANSDOWNE MS. [folio 229b] Incipit prologus Rectoris.

[This is really a link between some unwritten Tale and the Parson's. It has been made into the Manciple-Parson Link (or Yeoman-Parson by the Christ-Church MS) by Chaucer's copiers, though not meant for it.]

BE þat þe manciple hadde his tale endede Line 1 The sonne fro þe souþe side is descendede So lowe þat he was nouht to my siht Degrees nyne & twente as of heiht Line 4 Than of þe clokke it was so as .I. gesse For a .xj. fote a lite more or lesse My schadowe was at þilke time as þere Of fusche fete as myn lengeþ partide were Line 8 In sex foote equale of proporocione þere-wiþe þe mones exaltacione .I. mene libra alweye gan ascende As we were entrynge att þe þropes ende Line 12 For wiþ oure oste as he was wonte to guye As in þis caas oure Ioly compaignye Seide in þis wise lordeinges euerychone Now lakkeþ vs no tale more þan one Line 16 Fulfilled is my sentence & my degre Who wil nowe tel a tale latt see Almost ffulfilled is myne ordenaunce .I. praie to god . so ȝif him riht good chaunce Line 20 þat Telliþ þis tale to vs lustely. Sir prist quod he ert þou a vicarie Or ert þou a person sei soþe be þi feye Be what þowe be ne breke þou nouht oure pleye Line 24

[6-text p 590] Line 24 For euery man saue þoue haþe told his tale Line 25 vnbukel and schewe vs what is in þi male For treuly me þinkeþ be þi chere Thow scholdest knyht vpe wele a grete matier Line 28 Tel vs a fable anone for kokkes bones [folio 230a] þis persone ansewerd al att ones þou getest fable none ytolde for me For Poule þat writeþ vn-to Timothe Line 32 Repreueþ hem þat veyfen soþefastnesse And tellen fabels & suche wrechednesse Whi shold .I. schewen draf out of my fest Whan .I. may schewe whete if þat me lest Line 36 For whiche .I. saie if þat þe lust to here Moralite & vertuous Matiere And þan þat ȝe wil ȝef me audience .I. wil ful feyne att cristes Reuerence Line 40 Done ȝowe plesance lefful as .I. canne Bot trusteþ wele .I. am a soþerne manne .I. can nouht geste. Rom Ram . Ruf be my lettre Ne god wote Rime holde .I. bot litel better Line 44 And þerefor if ȝowe luste .I. wil not glose .I. wil ȝowe tel a mere tale in prose To knyte vp al þis fest & maake an ende An ihesu for his grace witte me sende Line 48 To schew ȝow þe waye in þis viage Of þilke parfite gloriouse pilgrenage Þat hiht Ierusalem Celestiall And if ȝe vouche saue a-none ȝe schall Line 52 Beginne vpon my tale for whiche .I. preye Tell ȝoure avise .I. can no better seye Bot naþeles þis Meditacione .I. put it alweie in correctione Line 56 Of clerkes for .I. am nouht text wele I take bot þe sentence trusteþ wele Thare-fore .I. maake a prodestacione þat .I. wil stant to correctione Line 60

[6-text p 591] Line 60 Vpon þis worde we haue assented sone Line 61 For as it semed it was for to done To enden in som vertuous sentence And for to ȝeue him space & audience Line 64 And badde oure Oste he scholde to him seye þat al we to telle his tale we preye Oure Oste hadde þe wordes for vs all Sire preste quod he faire mote ȝow fall Line 68 Saye what ȝowe lust & we schal gladly here And wiþ þat worde he seide in þis manere. Telleþ quod he ȝoure Meditacione [folio 230b] Bot hasteþ ȝowe þe sonne wil adoune Line 72 Beþ fructuous & þat in litel space And to do wele god send ȝowe his grace Line 74

Explicit prohemium.

[6-text p 593]

Incipit sermo.

[Lansdowne 851, on leaf 230, back.]

[There are no paragraph-breaks in the MS, but Tyrwhitt's are kept in the print for convenience sake.]

Ieremie vj^to.

State super vias. & videte & interrogate de semitis antiquis que sit via bona; & ambulate in ea & inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris.

[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

Incipit secunda pars. eiusdem.

[316] The secunde parte of penitence; is confession þat is signe of contricione; [317] Now scholne ȝe vnder-stande; what is confessioun; And [folio 236a] [MS. repeats ^1_2 And—none] And wheþer it ouhte nedes to be or none;² And whiche þinges bene couenable; to verrey confession;

[318] ¶ ffirst schalt þou vnderstonde þat confessioun is verreye scheweinge of sinnes to þe preste; [319] þis is to seye verraly; þat he mote confessen him of all þe condicions þat be-longen to his sinne as ferforþ as he can; [320] Al mote be saide & noþinge excused; ne hidde ne awrapped And nouht auaunt him of his goode werkes [321] ¶ And forþere ouere it is necessarie to vnder|stande whense þat sinnes springen; and howe þei encresen; And whiche þere biene

[322] of springeinge of sinnes; As seiþe seint Poule on þis wise ¶ Þat rihte as be a man sinne entred first in to þis werlde & þoruht þat sinne deyede; Riht so þilke deþe entreþ in to al men þat sinneden; [323] And þis man was Adam be whome þat sinne entred into þis werlde whan þat he brakke þe commandement of god [324] ¶ And þere fore he þat first was so myhti þat he scholde not haue deied be-cam suche one þat him must nedes deie; wheþer he wolde or none; & al his progenie þat is in þis werlde þat in þilke manere synnen [325] ¶ Loke þat in þe state of innocence whan Adam & Eue

[6-text p 613] nakede weren in paradise; And noþinge schame ne hadden of here nakednesse. [326] How þat þe serpent þat was most wyly of al oþere bestes þat god had maked seide to þe womman ¶ Commaunded god to ȝowe ȝe schold nouȝt of euery tre in paradise [327] The womman anseward; Of þe fruyte quod sche of þe trees in paradyse we feden vs bot soþely of þe fruyte of þe tre þat is in þe myddel of paradise; God for-bede vs for ete ne for to touche it lest parauentour we schold deyen; [328] þ^e serpent seid to þe womman Nay nay; ȝe schol nouȝt deye of deþe; for soþe god wote þat what daie ȝe eten þereof ȝoure eyȝen schal open And ȝe scholne bue as goddes knowynge goode & harme; [329] The womman sawhe þat þ^e tre was good to fedeinge & faire to þe yȝe & delitable to þe sihte Sche toke of þ^e fruyte of þe tree & ete of it; And ȝaf it to hir husbonde & he ete; And anone þe eyȝen of hem boþe opened; [330] And when þat þei knewe þat þei weren naked; þe sowde of fige leues in manere of breches to hiden hir membres; [331] ¶ Here maye ȝe see þat dedely sinne haþ furst suggestion of þe fende; As scheweþ here be Hadder; And afterward þe delite of þ^e flesche as scheweþe here by Eua; And after þat þe consentinge of þe resoun as scheweþ be adam; [332] For. trusteþ wele þouhe so were þat þe fende tempted one; þat is to saie þe flesshe And þe flesshe hadde delite in þe beaute of þe fruyte defended; ȝite certes til þat resoun; þat is to seie; Adam consen|tynge to þe eteynge of þe fruyte þat stode hihe in þ^e state of Innocence [333] ¶ Of þilke Adam toke we þilke sinne of originale for of him flesshely discended bu we all; and engenderd of vile & corrupte matier; [334] And whan þe soule is put in oure bodye riht anone is con|tracte originale sinne; And þat was erst bot onely peyne of concupiscence is afterewarde boþe peyne & sinne; [335] And þerefor be we al yborne sonnes of

[6-text p 614] wraþ^e; And of dampnacion perdurable; if it nere Baptisme þat we receyuen; which be-nymmeþ vs þe culpe; Bot for soþe þe peyne duelleþ with vs as þe tempta [folio 236b] cione; Whiche peine hiht concupiscence [336] And þis concupiscence whan it is wrongfully disposed. or ordeinte in man; it makeþ him coueyten þe couetise of flesshly sinne be siht of his eyȝen; As to erþely þinges ¶ And eke couetise of hihenesse Be pride of hert;/

[337] Now as for to speke of þe firste couetise þat is concupiscence after þe lawe of owre membres þat weren lawfulli maked and be rihtful Iugge|ment of god [338] .I. saie for alsomuche þat man is nouhte obeissant to god þat is lorde ¶ þare for is flesshe to him disobeisant þoruhe concupiscence; . . . . .[339] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] It is impossible bot he be distempered sum time and noyde in his flesshe to sinne [340] And þis þinge maie nouht faile; as longe as þat leueþ; It maie wele wex feble & feile be vertu of Baptime & be þe grace of god þoruhe penitence; [341] Bot fully schal it neuere quenche; þat he ne schal som time be meued in himself; Bot he were al refreyned be sekenesse or be malafice of sorcerye or colde drinkes; [342] ¶ For whatte seiþ seinte poule; The flesshe couetiþe aȝeine þe spirite; And þe spirite aȝeine þe flesche. þei bien so contrarie; & so striuen þat a man mai nouȝt done alwei as he wolde; [343] The same seiþe seinte Poule; After his grete penance in water & in land; In water be nyht & be daye in grete perile And in grete peine in lande; & in famyne & in þurst; in colde & in cloþes want|ynge; And ones stormed almoste to þe deþe; [344] ȝitte seid he Alas .I. keytif man who schal deliuer me fro þe prison; of my caitif body; [345] ¶ And seint Ierom whan he longe time had woned in deserte; Where as he hadd no compaignie bot bestes; Where as he hadde

[6-text p 615] no mete bot erbes; & water to his drink; ne no bedde bot þe naked erþe; For whiche his flesshe was blac as an Ethiopen for hete & nyhe destruyed for colde; [346] ȝete seyde he þe birneynge of lycheri boyled in al his body [347] ¶ Where-for .I. wote wele sekurly þat þei bu desceyuede þat seine þat þei ne bien nouȝt tempted in her body; [348] wittenesse of seint Iame þe Appostle þat seiþe þat euery whihte is tempted in his owen con|cupiscence; þat is to seye þat eueryche of vs haþe matier & occasion to be tempted of þe norissheinge of sinne þat is in his bodye [349] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seinte Iohn in þe euaungeliste; If þat we seine þat we be wiþ outen sinne we deceyuen oureself & treuþe is nouht in vs;

[350] ¶ Nowe scholn ȝe vnderstonde in what manere sinne waxeþ & encreseþ in man; The first þinge is þilke norischeinge of sinne of whiche .I. spak be forne þilke concupiscence; [351] And after þat commeþ þ^e suggestione of þe deuel; þis is to seie þe deueles belye þe whiche he bloweþ in man þe fire of concupiscence [352] ¶ And after þat a man be|þinkeþ him wheþere he wil do or none þilk þinge to whiche he is tempted; [353] And þan if þat a man wiþ-stande and weife þe firste entiseinge of his flesshe and of oþe fende; þan is it no sinne; And if so be þat he do not so þan feleþ he anone a flamme of delite; [354] and þan it is goode to be ware & to kepe him wele; or elles he wil fall anone in to consentynge of sinne; And [folio 237a] þan wil he do it if he maye haue time & space; [355] And of þis matier seiþ Moyses be þe deuel in þis manere; The fende fende seiþe .I. wil chace & pursewe þe man be wikked suggestiones; and .I. wil hente him be moveinge or stereinge of sinne ¶ And .I. will departe my prise or my preye be de|liberacion & my lust schal bue complised in delice; I. wil drawe my swerde in consentinge; [356] ¶ For certes riht as as a swerde departeþ a þinge in two peces; Riht

[6-text p 616] so consentinge departeþ god fro man. … And þan wil .I. sle him with myne honde in deþe of sinne; þus seiþe þe fende. [357] For certes þan is a man al dede in soule; And þus is sinne complised by tempt|acion be delite & be consentynge; And þan is sinne cleped; a [[auū for actu]] uūiel;

[358] ¶ For soþe sinne is in two maners; eyþere it is veniale sinne or dedely sinne Soþe whan men loveþ any creature more þan ihesu criste oure creatour þan is it dedely sinne; And venial sinne is if man loue ihesu crist lesse þan him ouht; [359] The dede for soþe of þis venial sinne is ful perilous. For it amenuseþ þe loue þat men schold haue to god more & more; [360] ¶ And þerfor if a man charge more him self wiþ suche mony venial sinnes certes bot if it so be þat he sum tym discharge him be schrift; þei maie ful lihtly amenuse in him al þe loue þat he haþ to ihesu criste; [361] And in þis scippeþe venial in to dedely sinne ¶ For certes þe more þat a man chargeþ his soule wiþ venial sinnes; þe more is he enclined to fal in dedely sinne; [362] And þerfore lat vs not be necligent to discharge vs of veniale sinnes; ffor þe prouerbe seiþe; þat mony a smale makeþ a grete; [363] An herken þis ensample; A grete wawe of þe see commeþ sum time wiþ so grete a violence; þat it drencheþ þe schippe ¶ And þe same harme done som tim þe smale dropes [¶ Exemplum] of water; þat entreþ þoruhe a luytel creuyse in to þe þurroke & in to þe bothom of þe schippe if men bu so necligent; þat men ne discharge hem nouht be time; [364] And þerfore al þouhe þere bue difference betuex þes tuo causes of drencheinge; Algate þe schipe is dreinte; [365] Riht so fareþ it somtyme of dedely sinne; & of anoyous venials sinnes whan þei multiplie in a man so gretely; þat þilke werldly þinges þat þoruhe whiche He sinneþ venyaly; ys as grete in his herte as þe loue of god or more [366]

[6-text p 617] ¹And þere-for þe loue of euery þinge þat is not be-sette in gode; ne done principale for goddes sake; Al þouhe a man loue it lasse þan god; ȝit is it venial sinne; [367] And dedely sinne whan þe loue of any þinge weyeþe in þe hert of a man as muche as þe loue of god ore¹ [[^1_1 repeated in MS. at ¶]] more [368] ¶ more dedely sinne As seiþ seinte Austine; is whan man turneþ his herte fro god whiche þat is verrey souereyne bounte þat mai nouht chaunge; & ȝiveþ [folio 237b] his herte to a þinge þat mai chaunge & flitte; [369] And certes þat is euery þinge saue onely god of heuene; For soþe is if þat a man ȝiueþ his loue whiche þat he oweþe al to god. with al his herte vnto a creature; Certes as muche of loue as he ȝeueth to whiche creature so muche bereueþ fro god; [370] And þer for doþe he sinne; For he þat is dettour to god ne ȝeldeþ nouȝ al his dette to god þat his to seye al þe loue of his herte

[371] ¶ Nowe seþ þat a man vnderstandeþ generaly. Whyche is venyale sinne Than is it couenable to tellen of special sinnes whiche þat a man peraduenture ne demeþ hem nouht sinnes ne schriueþ hem nouht of þe same þinges And ȝit naþeles þei bue sinnes; [372] ¶ As clerkes writen soþly þis is to seye þat euery time þat a man eteþ or drinkeþ more þan sufficeþ to þe sustinance of his body; in certeine he doþe sinn [373] And eke whane he spekeþ more þan it nede; it is sinne; Eke whan he herkeneþ nouht mekely þe compleinte of þe pore; [374] eke whan he is in hele of body & wol nouht fast whan oþere men fast wiþ outen cause resonable; Eke whenne he slepeþ more þan him nedeþ; or whan he commeþ be þilk encheson late to cherche or to oþere werkes of charite; [375] Eke whan he vseþ his wif wiþ oute souereine desire of engendrure to þe honour of god; or for þentent to ȝelde to his wif þe dette of his body; [376] Eke whan he wil not vesete þe seke; or prisoners whan he maie;

[6-text p 618] eke if he loue wif or childe or any werldly þinge more þan reson requireþ; Eke if he flater or blandische more þan him ouht for any necessite; [377] Eke if he amenuseþ or wiþdraweþ þe almos of þe pore; Eke if he appareleþ his mete mor deliciouly þan nede is or ete it to hastely be lykurus|nesse; [378] eke if he tel vanitees att þe cherche or in goddes seruise; or þat he be a talker of ydel wordes of Folye or of velanye; ffor he schal ȝelde acomptes of it att þe daie of dome; [379] Eke whan he beheteþ or assureþ to done þinges þat he may not performe; Eke whan þat be lyhtenesse of foly mysvseþ or scorneþ his neyhboure [380] Eke whan he haþe any suspecione of þinge þere he ne wote of it no soþe|fastnesse; [381] Thes þinge & mo wiþ owten nombre buen sinnes as seiþ seinte Austine

[382] ¶ Now scholȝe vnderstonde þat albeit so þat none erþely man maye eschewe al veniale sinnes; ȝit maie he refreyne him be þe birneinge loue þat he haþe to oure lorde ihesu criste; And be preyers & be confession & oþere good werkes; so þat it schal bot litel greue; [383] ffor as seiþe seint austyne; If a man lof god in suche manere þat al þat euere he doþe is in þe loue of god or for þe loue of god verreyly; for he birneþ in þe loue of god; [384] Loke howe muche þat a drope of water falleþ in a fornayce & fol of fire anoyeþ or greueþe; so muche a venial sinne is vnto a man þat is parfite in þe loue of ihesu crist; [385] ¶ Men maye also refreine venial sinne; be þe receyueinge of þe preciouse body of ihesu crist; [386] be receyueinge eke of holy water; be almusdede/ be general confession of þe confiteor att þe masse; Att complyne; & be blissinge of bysschopes & be prestes & by oþer good werkes;

[6-text p 619]

De .7. peccatis mortalibus

De Superbia. [[from the side]]

[387]

[folio 238a] NOWe is it be-houely þinges to tellen whiche buen. þe .vij. de[d]ly sinne; þat is to sey chaytifnesse of sinnes Bot al þei renne in Coles; Bot in diuerse manere nowe bue þei cleped kaytifs; for alsomuche as þe bu chef & springen of al oþere sinnes [388] of þe rote of þes frisynnes; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ffor if þis rote springen certeyne braunches as ire envie accidie. or sleuþe. auarice; or couetise; to comune vnder-stondeinge Glotony. & lychery; [389] And eueryche of þese cheue sinnes haþ his braunches & his þinges as schal be declared in here chapeter foloweynge;

[Of the Twigs of Pride.]

[390] And þouhe so be þat noman can tell vtterly þe nomebre of þe þinges & of þe harmes þat comeþ of pride. ȝit wil .I. schewe a party of hem as ȝe schol vnder|stonde; [391] ¶ There is. Inobedience; Auaunteinge; Ipocrisye Despite. Arrogance. Impudence. Swelinge of hert; Insolence. Elacione; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Pertenacie; Veinglorie; And many a noþer þinge. þat; I. kan nouht declare;=[392] Ino|bedience is he þat disobeyeþ for despite to þe commaunde|ment of god and to his souereygnes & to his gostly fadere [393] ¶ Auantour is he þat bosteþ of þe harme or of þe bounte þat he haþ done; [394] Ypocrise is he þat hideþ him to schewe him suche as he is; & scheweþ him suche as he not is; [395] ¶ Dispitous is he þat haþ disdeine of his neyhbours; þat is to seine of his euencristen; or haþe despite to do þat him ouhte to do; [396] ¶ Arrogant. is he þat þinkeþ þat he haþe þilke bountes in him þat he haþe nouht; or

[6-text p 620] weneþ þat he scholde haue hem be his desire; Or elles þat he demeþ þat he be þat he nys note [397] ¶ Im|pudent is he þat for his pride haþe no schame for his sinne; [398] Swellinge of hert is he whan a man reioyseþ him of harme þat he haþ done; [399] Inso|lent is he þat despiseþ in his Iuggement al oþere folke as to regarde of his value; & of his comuneinge. & of his spekeinge; And of his bereinge. [400] ¶ Elacione is whan þat he maie neyþer suffur to haue Maister ne felawe; [401] ¶ Impacient is he; þat wil nouht bue ytauht ne vnder|nome of his vice; & be strif werreþ trouþe witingly; & maynteneþ his folye; [402] ¶ Contumace is he þat þoruhe his indignacion is aȝeines eueryche auctorite or pouer of hem þat bien his souereignes [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcion is he whan a man takeþ an emprise þat him ouht not to do; or elles he maie it not do; & þat is called Surquidre; ¶ Irreuerence is whan men do nouht honoure; þere as hem ouhte to do; An wayteþ to be Reuerenset; [404] ¶ Pertinacy whan a man defendeþ his folye And truste to muche to his owen witte;=[405] veyne glorie is for to haue pompe & delite in temporile richesse; & glorifieþ hem in worldly estates; [406] Iangelynge; is whan a man spekeþe to muche to for folke An clappeþe as a mullen & takeþ no kepe what he seiþe;

[407] And ȝite is þere a priue spice of pride þat wayteþ furst to be halowed or he be salute al bue he lesse worþe þan þe toþere is peraduenture; And eke waiteþ or desireþe to site or to go aboue him in þe weie; or kisse pax or bue encensed or go to offringe to for his neyhboure [408] ¶ And suche . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] a proude desire to be magnified; & honoured be for þe peple;

[409] ¶ Nowe bene þere tuo maners [folio 238b] of pride þat on of hem is wiþinne þe herte of man; And þat

[6-text p 621] oþer is with owte; [410] Of whiche soþely þe for|seide þinges & mo þan .I. haue seide apartinent to pride; Þat is in þe hert of man; ¶ And þer to oþere spices of pride buen wiþ oute [411] Bot Naþelesse one of þ^e spices of pruyde is signe of þat oþere; Riht as þe gay leuesal att tauerners is signe of þe wyne þat is in þe seler; [412] And þis is in mony þinges as in speche & in countenances; and in outrageous araye of cloþeinge; [413] ffor Certes if it nadde be no sinne in cloþeinge; Crist wold nouht so sone haue noted & spoke of þe cloþeinge; of þilke riche man in þe gospell [414] ¶ And as seiþe seint Gregorie; þat precious cloþe is cou|pable for þe derþe of it; And for his soþenesse & for his strangenesse; & for his disgisinesse; and for þe super|fluite; Or for þe ino[r]dinance scantnesse; . . . [415] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[416] ¶ As to þe firste sinne þat is in superfluyte of cloþeinge whiche þat makeþ it so dere to harme of þe pele [417] þat onely þe cost of enbrowdeinge; þe degise endentinge or barringe owndeynge paleinge or bendeinge; And sembla wast of cloþeinge in vanite [418] ¶ Bot þer is also costlewe furringe in hire gounes; so muche pounseinge of cheseles to make holes; so muchel dagynge off scheres [419] forþe wiþe þe superfluyte in lenkeþ of þe forsaid gownes; tray|lein in þe donge & in þ^e myre on hors & eke on fote as wele of man as of womman; þat al þilke trayleinge is verraly as in effecte wasted & consumed; þrede bare & roten wiþ donge; raþer þan it is ȝouen to þe pouer; to grete damage of þe forseide pouer folke; [420] & þat in sondre wyse ¶ þis is to seie þo more þat cloþe is wasted; þe more mot it cost to þe peple for þe scarsenesse [421] And; forþere ouer. if it so be þat þei wolde ȝeue suche pounsed &

[6-text p 622] dagged cloþeinge to þe pore folke it is nouht conuenient to were for her astate; ne sufficeant to bete her necessite; to kepe hem fro þe desperacione of þ^e colde firmament; [422] ¶ On þat oþere side to speke of þe disordinate scantnesse of cloþinge; as bien þis cutted sloppes or hanslynes þat þoruh her schortnesse ne couern not þe schamful membres of a man to wykked entente; [423] Alas sum of hem; somme of hem shewen þe schappe & þe boce of þe orrible swollen membres þat semeþ ylyke to þe maladye of hyrnya in þe wrappeinge of her hoses; [424] And eke þe buttokkes of hem; þat fareþ as it war þe hinder parte of a sche ape in þe ful of þe mone; [425] And more ouer þe wreched swolne membres þat þei schewe þoruhe disgiseinge in departinge of her hoses white & rede semeþ þat halue him scham|ful priue membres; weren fleyne; [426] And so be þat þei departen her hoses in oþere colours as is white & blak; or white & blewe; or blakke & rede; & so forþe [427] ¶ þan ne semeþ it as be variance of colour þa halfe þe partie of his priue membres been corrupte be þe fire of seint Antonye; or be Cancre or be suche oþere meschaunces [428] ¶ Ȝit of þe hinder parte of her buttokes; it is ful orrible for to see; ffor certes in þat partie of hir bodye þer as þei purgen her stinkinge ordure [429] þat foule partie schewe þei prou [folio 239a] dely to þe peple in despite of honeste; Whiche honeste þat ihu criste & his frendes obserued to schew in his lyf. [430] ¶ Now as to owtrageous araye of wemmen; God woote þouhe þe visages of hem semen ful chaste & debonayre. ȝit notifien þei in here araye of atyre likerousnesse & pruyde [431] ¶ I say not þat honeste in cloþeinge of man; & womman is vncouen|able Bot certes þe superfluyte or þe disordinance scantid of cloþeinge is reproueable [432] Also þe sinne of a-ornement or appareile as in þinges þat appartenen to Rideinge; As in to mony delicate horses þat be holden

[6-text p 623] for delite; þat þei bien so faire fatte & costlewe; [433] And also mony a viciouse knave ymayntende be cause of hem; And in to corious harneyse; as in sadels in cropreres. peytrelles; & bridelles couerd wiþ precious cloþe & riche Barres; & plates of gold. & of siluere; [434] For whiche god seiþe by Sacarie þe prophet; I. wil confounde þe riders of suche horses; [435] This folke taken litel rewardeinge of þe rideinge of goddes sonne of heuen and of his harneys . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] bot cloþes of his pouere disciples Ne we rede nouȝt þat euer he rode on oþere beste; [436] I speke þus of þe sinne of superfluyte; And nouht for þe resonable honeste; whan reson it requireþ; [437] ¶ And forþer ouere Certes pride is gretly notified in holdeinge of grete meigne; when þei bien of luytel profite or riht of no profite; [438] And namely whan þat meneȝe is felenous & damage|ous to þe people by hardynesse of hihe lordeschippe; or be way of office [439] ¶ For certes suche lordes; fullen þan her lorschipe to þe deuel of hell; whan þe susteigne þe wykkednesse of here menȝe; [440] Or elles whan þis folke of lowe degre; as þilke þat holden hosteleries; And þat is in mony maner of folke þat susteyne þeft for hire ostelers; And þat is in mony maner of disceytes: [441] þilke maner of folke bien þe flyes þat folowen þ^e hony. Or elle þe hundes þat þat folowen þe Careyne; Whiche for-seide folke stranglen spirituelye her lordschippes; [442] ffor whiche þus seiþ dauid þe prophette; Wikked deþ mot comme on þilke lordeschipes; And god ȝeue þat þei mote descende adoune in to helle; ffor in hire houses bien iniquitees; And schrewnessis & not god of heuen; [443] And certes bot if þei done amende|ment; Riht so as god ȝaf his blissinge to pharao be þ[e s]eruice of Iacob; And to laban be þe seruice of Ioseph; Riht so god wol ȝeue his malison to suche lordeschips And to susteine þe wikkednesse of her seruantes; but þei

[6-text p 624] comme [444] proudly to þe table and appereþ eke ful oft; ffor certes riche men bu cleped to festes and pouere folke bien putte aweie; And rebuked [445] in excesse of diuerse metes & drinkes; And namely suche maner of Baken metes . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] & of semblable waste so þat it is abusion for to þinke; [446] And eke of grete preciousenesse of vessell; & curiosite of mynstralcie; By þe whiche a man is stered þe more to delices of luxurie; [447] If so be þat he sette his herte þe lasse on oure lorde ihesu criste; certeyne it is a sinne; And certeynly þe delices myht be so grete in þe case þat men myht lyhtly fa by hem in-to dedely sinne; [448] ¶ The espices þat sourden of pruyde; soþely whan [folio 239b] þei sourden of malice ymagenyd and avised and aforne cast; Or elles of vsage bien dedely sinnes it is no doute [449] & whan þei sourden be frelte vn|avised sodanly & sodanly wiþ-drawe aȝeine al be þei greuous sinnes .I. gesse · þat þei bu nouht dedelye; [450] ¶ Nowe might men ax where-of þat pride sourdeþ and springeþ; And .I. sum time it springeþ of goodes of Nature; And somme time of þe goodes of fortune And sum tim of þe goodes of grace; [451] Certes þe godes of nature standen in þe goodes of bodye or goodes of soule; [452] Certes goodes of body bene hele of bodye; strenkeþ; diliuernesse; beaute; genterye; ffraunchises; [453] Godes of Nature of þe soule bien goode wiþ scharp vndestandinge subtile engyne; vertue naturell. goode memorie; [454] ¶ Goode of fortune bien richesse; hihe degrees of lordeschippes ¶ Preyseinges of þe peple [455] Goodes of grace biene sciences powere to suffur spyrituele; traveyle benyngnites; vertuous contemplacione withstondinge of temptacione; And semblable þinges; [456] of whiche forseide goodes certes it is a ful grete folye a man to pride him in any of hem all [457]

[6-text p 625] ¶ Nowe as for to speke of goodes of nature; god wote þat sum tyme we haue hem in nature; Als muche to oure damage as to oure profite; [458] As for to speke of hele of body; Certes it passet ful lyhtlye; And eke it is ful ofte encheson of þe sekenesse of þe soule; ffor god woote þe flesche is a ful grete enmy to þe soule; And þerfore þe more þat A body is hole; þe more be we in peril to falle; [459] Eke for to pride him in þe strenkeþ of his bodie; it is an hyhe foly; For certes þe flesche coueyteþ aȝeine þe spirit; And ay þe more stronge þe flesche is; þe sorier maie þe soule be; [460] and ouere al þis strenkeþ of body; ad werldly hardinesse causeþ oft mony men to perile & meschaunce; [461] Eke for to pride him of his gentire; ys ful grete foly; ffor oftentime þe genterye of þe soule; and . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] eke we bene al of o fader and al of o moder; And al we be of o nature roten & corrupte riche & pore; [462] ffor soþe a manere a maner of gentirie is for to preyse þat appareleþ mannes corage wiþ vertuse of moralites & makeþ him cristes childe; [463] For trusteþe wele þat ouere what man þat sinne haþe maystre he is verrey cherle to synne

[464] ¶ Nowe bien þere general þinges of gentillesse. as eschewynge of vices; or rebaudry & seruage of sinne. In worde in werke & contenance. [465] and vsinge vertue Curtasye & clennesse & to be liberal þat is to seie large be mesure; for þilke þat passe mesure is foly & synne [466] ¶ Anoþer is to remembre him of bounte þat he of oþe folke haþe receyuede; [467] Anoþere is to be benygne of his sugettet Where fore; as seiþ senec þer is no þinge more couenable to a man of hihe astate þan debonarte & seite; [468] ¶ And þer for . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] bees whan þey chese hem a kinge; þei chesen him þat haþ no þinge wiþþe to stinge; [469]

[6-text p 626] Anoþere is a man to haue a noble herte & a diligent to atteigne to hihe vertuous þinges; [470^* see after 474 and Hengwrt and Petworth MSS. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [471] Certes also who þat prideþ him in þe goodes of fortune he is a ful grete foole; ffor sometyme is a mān a ful grete lorde be þe morwe; þat is a wreche & a keytif ar it be nyht. [[a leaf cut out of Lansd. MS.; here supplied from Reg. 18, C. 2, on lf 249, bk. ]] [472] [And sumtyme þe . . . . . [no gap in Reg. 18, C. 2] delytes of a man ben cause of þe greuous maladye þoruȝ whiche he deyeth [473] Certes þe Comendacion of þe peple is sum|tyme ful fals & ful brutel for to triste / þis day þey preise to morn [Reg. 18, C. 2 folio 250a] þey blame // [474] God woot desire to haue comendacion eke of peple hath caused deth to many a besy man // [^*470] Now certes a man to pruyde hym in godes of grace / is eke an outragous folye // for þilke ȝyftes of grace þat schulde haue turned hym to goodnesse & to medecyne turnyth hym to venym & to confusion as saiþ seint gregorie / [475] Now sethins þat so is þat ȝe haue vnderstanden what is pruyde and whiche ben þe spices of hit & wēines pride sourdeth and springeþ

[The Remedy against Pride.]

[476] Now schul ȝe vndirstonde whiche is þe remedye aȝayns pruyde & þat is humylite or meknesse [477] þat is vertu þurgh whiche a man hath verray knowelache of hym self And haldeth of hym self no pris / ne deyntee as in regarde of his desertis considerynge euer his freelte / [478] Now ben þere iij maners of humylyte / As humylyte in herte anoþer . . . [no gap in the MS.] in mouth þe iij is in werkes / [479] þe humylyte in herte is in 4 maners þat on is when a man holdeth hym self as nouȝt worth by forn god of heuene / Anoþer is whenne he dispiseth

[6-text p 627] non oþer man // [480] þe þridde is whenne he rekkeþ not þorwȝ men holde hym nouȝt worth // þe iiij is whenne he nys not sory of hys humilyacion [481] Also þe humylyte of mouth is in 4 þinges // In atemprure speche & in humble of speche And whenne he by-houyth wiþ his owen mouth þat he is suche as hym þenkiþ þat he is in his herte Anoþer is whenne he preisiþ þe bounte of anoþer man / And noþing þerof amenusiþ [482] humylyte // Eke in werk is in 4 maners / þe firste is whenne he puttiþ oþer men biforn hym / The secunde is to chese þe loweste place ouer all / The iij is gladly to assente to good counsel / [483] The 4 is gladly to stande to reward of Souerayn or of hym þat is heier in degre Certeyn þis is a gret werke of humylyte

Inuidia.

[484]

After pruyde wol y speke of þe foule synne of Enuye whiche þat is as by þe worde of þe philozofre Sorwe of oþer mannes prosperite and aftir þe word of Seint Austyn Hit is sorwe of oþere mennes wele And ioye of oþer mannes harme // [485] þis foule synne is platly aȝayn þe holy gost Al be hit so þat euery synne is aȝayn þe holy goste // ȝet for asmoche as bounte appertyneth properly to þe holy gost . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [486] ¶ Now haþ malice 2 spices þat is to seye hardnesse of herte And wickednesse or elles þe flesch of a man is so blynde þat he concidereþ not þat he is in synne . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] whiche is þe hardnesse of þe deuel // [487] That other [Reg. 18, C. 2 folio 250b] spice of Enuye is whenne þat a man werreth trouthe when þat he woot þat hit is trowthe And eke when þat he werreieth þe grace of þat god hath ȝoue to his

[6-text p 628] neighbore & al þis is by Enuye [488] Certes þenne is Enuye þe worste synne þat is // ffor soothly alle oþer synnes ben somtyme aȝayn o special vertu [489] ¶ But certez Enuye is aȝayns alle vertues & of alle goodnesses // ffor hit is sory of alle bountes of neighebore and in þis manere hit is dyuers from alle oþer synnes // [490] ffor wel vnnethis is þer any synne þat hit ne hath som delyte in hym self safe only enuye þat euer hath in hym self anguysch and sorwe [491] ¶ The spices of enuye ben þese þer is first sorwe of oþer mennes goodnes and of her pros|perite . . . [no gap in the MS.] is kyndly matere of ioye þēnne is enuye a synne aȝayns kynde. // [492] The 2^e. spice is ioye of oþer mennes harme . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [493] Of þis 2^e. spice cometh bakbytyng . . . . [no gap in the MS.] or detraccion hath tweyn spices as þus / Som men preisiþ his neighboure by a wicked entent [494] for he makeþ alwey a wicked knotte at þe laste ende alwey he makeþ a butte at þe laste ende ¶ þat is digne & more blame þen worþ is alle þe plesynge // [495] The 2^e spice is þat if a man be good & dooth & saith a þing to good entent / þe bacbyter wol turne alle þe goodnesse vp so doun to his schrewed entent / [496] ¶ þe .3^e. is to amenuse þe bountee of his neyȝ|bore / [497] þe 4 spice of bakbytyng is þis þat if men speke goodnesse of a man wol þe bacbyter sayn parfay suche a man ȝet is bettere þen he in dispreisynge of hym þat men preise / [498] þe 5. spice is for to consente gladly herkne þe harme þat men speke of oþer folk þis synne is ful gret and ay encresit after þe wicked entent of þe bacbyter [499] ¶ After bakbytynge comeþ grucchynge or mormuraunce / and somtyme hit spryngeþ of inpacyence aȝayns god and somtyme aȝayns man //

[6-text p 629] [500] Aȝayns [god] it is whenne a man grucchiþ aȝayn þe payne of helle or aȝayns pouert or losse of Catell or aȝayn reyne or tempest or elles gruccheþ þat schrewes han prosperite or elles þat good men han ad|uersyte [501] and alle þese þinges schulde men suffre paciently for þey comyn by þe riȝtful Iugement & ordinaunce of god // [502] Somtyme cometh grucchynge of auarice as Iudas grucchyd aȝayns þe magdelen when sche ennoynted þe heued of oure lord ihesu Crist wiþ here preciouse oignement [503] ¶ Þis manere of mormure is suche as when men grucchen of goodnesse & þat men selue doon Or þat oþer folk doon of her owen [Reg. 18, C. 2 folio 251a] Catell [504] Somtyme comyth murmur of pruyde as when Symon þe Pharisee grucchid aȝayns Magdaleyn when sche approched to ihesu crist and wepte at his fete for her synnes / [505] And somtyme hit sourdeth of Enuye when men discoueren a mannes harome þat was prynce or berith him an hand þing þat is fals [506] ¶ Murmur is eke ofte amange seruauntz þat grucched when her soueraignes bidden hem to doon leefful þinges / [507] And for asmoche as þey dar noȝt openly wiþsaye þe commaundementes of her soueraigne ȝet woln þey saye harm & grucche & murmur pryuyly for verrey dispyte // [508] wiche wordes men clepe þe deuels pater noster þouȝ so be þat þe deuell had neuer pater noster but þat folke ȝeuen hit suche a name // [509] Somtyme hit comeþ of yre or of pryue hate þat norischeth rancour in herte / as afterward I schal declare / [510] þenne comeþ eke bitternesse of herte þurgh wiche bitternesse euery good dede of his neighbore semeþ to hym bitter and vnsauery / [511] Then comeþ discorde [[Reg. 18, C 2, extract, leaf 251, ends]] ] [folio 240a] [[Lansdowne MS, 851, leaf 240 ]] þat vnbyndeþ almaner of frindeschepe; þat commeþ scorenynge of . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] his neyhe|bore al do he neuer so wele; [512] þan commeþ accuseinge; as whan a man sekeþ occasione to anoyen his

[6-text p 630] neyhboure; Whiche þat is like þe crafte of þe deuel; þat wayteþ boþ day & nyht to accusen vs all; [513] ¶ þan commeþ malignite þorwhe whiche a ma anoyeþ his neihbour priuely. if he maie; [514] And if he nouht ne may algates his wikked wil ne schal not wante; as for to birne his house priuely or openly; or slene his bestees; & semblable þinges;

[The Remedy against Envy.]

[515] ¶ Nowe wil .I. speke of þe remedye aȝeines þis foule sinne of Envie; ffirst is þe loue of god principal & loueinge of him selfe & of his neyhbour. ffor soþely þe tone maie not be withouten þe toþere. [516] And trusteþ wele þat in þe name of þi neyhboure þou schalt vnderstande þe name of þi broþere ffor certes al we haue o fader ffleschely & o moder; þat is to seye Adam & Eue; & eke o fader spirituele þat is to seie god of heuen; [517] þine neyhbour ert þou holden for to loue & wilne him al godenesse; And þerefor seiþe god loue þine neyhbour as þi self; þat is to saluacion boþ to lyue & to soule; [518] And more ouere þou schal loue him in worde & benygne ammonesscheynge; And chastiseinge; And comfort him in his anoyes; And praye for him wiþ al þine herte; [519] And in dede þou schalt loue him in suche wise þat þou schalte done to him in charite; As þou woldest were done to þine owen persone; [520] And þerfore þou schalte note done him no damage in wykked worde ne harme in his body ne in his catel ne in his soule be entiseinge of wykked ensample. [521] þou schalt nouht desire his wyf ne none of his þinges; vnderstande eke; þat in þe name of þi neyhbour is com|prehended his enmye [522] ¶ Certes a man schal loue his enemye for þe commandementz of god; And soþely þi frende schalt þou loue in god; [523] I. sei þin ennemye schalt þou loue for goddes saake by his commande|ment

[6-text p 631] ; ffor if it were reson. þat man scholde hate his ennemye; for soþ god wol not receyue vs to his loue þat bien his enemyes [524] aȝeines þre manere of of wronges; þat his Ennemy doþe to him; He schal do þre þinges; As þus; [525] Aȝeines hate & rankour of hert; He schal loue him in Herte aȝeine chideinge & wikkede wordes. he schal praie for his Ennemy. ¶ Aȝeines þe wikked dede of his ennemye he schal done him bounte; [526] ¶ For Crist seiþe; loueþ ȝoure enemys And preieþ for hem þat spekeþ ȝowe harme /./ And eke for hem þat ȝowe chasen; & pursewen; And doþe bounte to hem þat ȝowe haten; =Lo þus commandeþ vs oure lorde ihesu criste to do to oure enemyes; [527] For soþely nature driues vs to loue oure frendes. And parfey oure enemys haue more nede to loue þan oure frendes; And þei þat mor nede had; to hem schal men do goode|nesse [528] ¶ And certes in þilke dede haue þe remem|brance of þe loue of ihesu criste þat deyed for his ennemys; [529] ¶ And in almuche þat þilke loue is þe more to performe; So muche is more þe gre merit; And þerefore þe loueinge of oure Enmi; Haþ confounde þe venime of þe deuyll; [530] ffor rih as þe deuel is dis [folio 240b] comfite be humilite Riht so is he woundede to to þe deþe be þe loue of oure Enmye; [531] Certes þan is loue þe medecyne þat cacheþ oute þe venym of Envye Fro mannes herte [532] ¶ þe spices of þis pas scholne bue more largely in here chapetles folowynge;

de Ira [from the margin]

[533]

After Ennevie wil .I. declare þe sinne of Ire; For soþely who þat haþe envy vpon his neyhbour; anone comunly he wil finde him matier of wreþþe in worde or in dede aȝeines him to whome he haþ envie; [534] and as wele comeþ Ire of pride

[6-text p 632] as of envie; for soþely he þat is proude or envious; is lyhtly wroþe

[535] ¶ Þis sinne of ire after þe discriueinge of seinte Austine; Is wikked will to bue avengede be worde or by dede; [536] ¶ Ire after þe Philosofre. Is þe feruen^t blode of man. ywhiked in his hert þorwhe whiche he wil harme to him þat he hateþ; [537] ¶ For certes þe hert of man be enchaufeinge & moueinge of his blode waxeþ so trouble þat he is out of al Iuggement of Reson; [538] Bot ȝe schal vnderstonde þat Ire is in two maners; þat on of hem is goode & þat oþere is wikked [539] ¶ The good Ire is be Ielowsy of goodnesse þoruhe þe whiche a man is wroþe with wikkednesse & aȝeines wykkednesse; And þere fore seiþe þe wise man; þat ire is bett þan pleye; [540] þis ire is wiþ debonarte; Ant it is wroþe wiþ outen bitternesse nouht wroþe aȝeines þe man bot wroþe wiþ þe mysdede of þe man as seiþe þe pro|phet dauid; Irascimini & nolite peccare [541] ¶ Nowe vnderstonde þat wykked yre is in tuo maners; þat is to seine sodeine Ire wiþe outen avisement & consentinge of his reson; [542] þe meneynge & þe sense of þis; is þat þ^e reson of a man con|senteþ nouht to þilke sodeine Ire; & þan is venial; [543] ¶ Anoþere Iire is ful wikked þat comeþ of velany of hert avised & cast before wiþ wikked will to do vengeance; And þerto his Resoun consenteþ; And so soþely þis is dedely synne; [544] This Ire is so dis|plesant to god þat it troubleþ his hous & chaseþe þe holy gost oute of mannes soule; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [545] & put in him þe lik|nes of þe deuel; & be-nymmeþ þe man fro god þat is rihtful lorde [546] ¶ This ire is a ful grete plesance to þe deuel; ffor it is þ^e deuel forneys þat is ychaufed with þe fire of hell [547] ffor certes

[6-text p 633] as fuyre is more myhtye to distroye erþely þinges þan anoþere Element; Riht so is ire myhty to destreye al sprituel þinges; [548] Loke howe þat fuyre of smale gledys þat bien almost dede vnder asshen wyll qwyken aȝeine whan þei whan þei bue touched with brimstone; Riht so Ire will qwykene aȝeine whan it is touched be pruide þat is couerde in mannes herte; [549] ffor certes fire may not comme out of noþinge bot if were first in þe same þinge naturelly; As fire is drawen oute of flintes wiþ stele; [550] And riht so as pride is often matire of Ire; Riht so is Ran|cour norische & kepere of þe wraþþe in þe mannes hert; [551] ¶ Ther is a manere tree as seiþ seint Isodere; þat whān men makeþ fire of þilke tre And couereþ þe coles of it wiþ asshen; Soþely þe fire of it wil lasten al a ȝere or more; [552] And riht so fareþ it of Rankoure; Whan he is ones conseyued in þe hert of sinne man; Certeyne it wil last paraduenture [folio 241a] Frōme one Hester day vnto anoþere esterdaie or more; [553] Bot certes þilke man is fer fro þe mercy of god al þilke while

[554] in þis forsaide deuels forneys where forgen .thre schrewes; Pride þat al blowþe & encreseþ þe fire be chideinge & wykked wordes; [555] þan standeþ envye & holdeþ þe hote yren vpon þe hertes of man wiþ a peire of longe tonges of longe Rankoure; [556] And þan stant þe sinne of contumely or strif & chest; & batereþ & forgeþ be veleynes reproueynges; [557] ¶ Certes þis cursed sinne anoyeþ boþe þe man him self & eke to his neyhbour; For soþely almost al þe harme þat any man doþe to his neyhbour; commeþ of wraþ; [558]. For certes outrageus wraþþe doþe al þat euer þe deuel him commandeþ; for he ne spareþ neyþere crist ne his swete moder; [559] And in his out|rageous Anger & Ire Alas Alas ful mony one feleþ in þat time ful wikkedly

[6-text p 634] ¶ Boþe of criste & of al his halowes; [560] is nouht þis acursed vice . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] his debonaire lif espirituel þat schold kepen his soule; [561] ¶ Certes it be-nymmeþ eke goddes dieu lord schippe; & þat is mannes soule & þe loue of his neybores; ¶ It striueþ eke al day aȝeines trowþe; it reueþ him to quiete of his herte; And subuerteþ his soule;

[562] ¶ Of. Ire commeþ þes stinkinge engenderoures; ffirst hate þat is olde wraþþe; discorde; þoruhe whiche a man for-sakeþ his olde frende þat he haþ loued ful longe; [563] And þan commeþ werre; And euery maner of wronge þat man doþ to his neyhebour in body or in Catel; [564] Of þis cursed sinne of Ire commeþ manslawhter; And vnder stondeþ wele þat Omycide þat is man slauhter is in diuerse wyse; Somme manere of Omicide is spirituel; & somme is bodely; [565] Spirituel manneslauhtere is in vj þinges; ffirst be hate as seiþe seinte Iohn; þat he þat hateþ his broþer his Omycide; [566] whiche is be bakbiteinge; Of whiche bakbyters seiþ Salomon; þat þei haue tuo swerdes wiþþe whiche þei slene here neyhebours ¶ For soþely also wikked it is to be-nyme hime his goode name as his lif; [567] ¶ Homicide is eke in ȝeueinge of wikked counsel by fraude as for to ȝeue counsel to areyse wrongefully custumes & talliages [568] of whiche seiþe Salomon; Lyon Roreinge; Bere hungrye bien like to crewel lordschippes in wiþ-haldinge or abrugeinge of þe schipe or þe hire of wages; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Of þe almos of þe pouer folke; [569] ffor whiche þe wiseman seiþe; Fedeþ him þat almost deyeþ for hunger; ffor soþely bot þou feede him þou sleste him; And all þes bien dedely sinnes; [570] Bodely manslauhter is whan slest him with þi tunge ¶ In oþere manere as whan þou commandest to sle a man or elles ȝeuest him counsell to slene a

[6-text p 635] mān. [571] ¶ Manslauhtere in dede is in .iiij. maners; þat on is be lawe; Riht as a Iustice dampneþ him þat is coupable to þe deþe; bot latte þe Iustice be warre þat he do it rihtfully; And þat he do it not for delite to spil blode bot for kepeinge of rihtwis|nesse; [572] ¶ Anoþere homycide is done for necessite; as whan a manne sleþe anoþere in his defendant; And þat he ne maye none oþere wise eschape fromme his owen deþ; [573] Bot certeynly if he maie eskape with|outen slauhter of his aduersarye & sleþ him he doþ sinne; & he schal bere penance as for dedely sinne; [574] Eke if a man be cas or aduenture schete an arwe or cast a stone; with þe whiche he sleþe a man it is homycide. [575] Eke if a womman be necligence ouerelyþe hir childe in slepeinge. [folio 241b] itt is homicide & dedely sinne; [576] Eke whan a man distroubleþ þe con|cepcion of a childe or makeþ a womman barayne be drinkeinge of venemous herbes þoruhe whiche sche may nouht conceyue; or sleþe a childe be drinkes; or elles putteþ inne certein material þinges in hire secre places to sle þe childe [577] or elles doþe vnkinde sinne be whiche man or womman schediþ his nature in manere or in place þere as a childe maie nouht be con|ceyued; or elles if a womman haþe conceyued & hurteþ her self & sleeþe here childe; ȝit is it homycide; [578] Whatte seye we eke of wemmen þat mordren her childern; for drede of werldly schame certes an hor|rible homycide; [579] Homycide is eke if a manne aprocheþ to a womman be desire be desire of lychery; be þe whiche þe child is perisched; or elles smyteþ a womman wityngly þoruhe whiche sche leseþ his childe; Al þes ben homy|cides; and dedely orrible sinnes; [580] ¶ ȝutte commeþ þere of Ire mony mo sinnes; as wele in worde as in þouhte; and in dede; as he þat aretteþ vppon god or blameþ god of þinge of whiche he is him selfe gilty; or displeseþ god & al his halowes as done þes cursed hasadours

[6-text p 636] in diuerse contres; [581] þis cursed sinne done þei; when þei felen in her hert ful wikkedly of god & his halowes. [582] ¶ Also whan þei treten vnreuerently þ^e sacrament of þ^e auter ¶ þilke sinnes bien. so grete þat vnneþ þei maie be relest; bot þat þe mercye of god passeþ his werkes it is so grete & so benigne; [583] ¶ þan comeþ of Ire attrye angur; whān a man scharpely amonesched in his schrift for to lete sinne; [584] þan wil he hangry And ansewere hokerlye & angerly; or defende & excuse his sinne be vnstedfastnesse of his flesche; or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye with wyse felawes; Or elles he seiþe þe fende entised hime; [585] or elles he dide it for his ȝouþe or elles his complexion is so corageous þat he mai nouht for bere; or elles it is his destanye as he seiþe vnto a certeine age; or elles; he seiþe it commeþ him of gentilles of his auncestres and semblable þinges [586] ¶ All þese maner of folke so wrappen hem in her sinnes þat þei ne wol nouht deliueren he self; ffore soþely no þat excuseþ him wilfully; of his sinne; may not be deliuered of his sinne til þat he mekely be-knoweþ his sinne. [587] ¶ After þat commeþ swereinge þat is expresse aȝeines þe commandement of god And þis befalleþ oft of anger & of ire; [588] God seiþe; þou schalt nouht take þe name of þine lorde god in veyne ne in ydel. Also oure lorde ihesu seiþ be þe worde of seint Mathewe . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [589] Ne wil ȝe nouht swere in al manere Neyþere be heuen for it is goddes throne. Ne by erþe for it is þe bynche of his feete Ne by iherusalem; For it is þe Cite of a grete kynge; ne be þin hede; for þou maist nouȝt maake an her white ne blake; [590] Bot seiþe be ȝoure ȝe. ȝe. & nay. naye; And what þat is more it is yuel. þus seiþe criste; [591] ffor cristes saake ne swereþ nouht so sinfully in dismembringe of criste by soule.

[6-text p 637] hert. bones. & body; ffor certes it semeþ þat ȝe þenkeþ þat þ^e cursed Iewes dismembred him noȝt ynowhe; . . . [no gap in the MS.] bot ȝe dismembren him more; [592] ¶ And if so be þat þe lawe com|pell ȝow to swere; þan rewleþ ȝowe after þe lawe of god in ȝoure swereinge as seiþe Ieremye in þ^e iiij. capitle. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þou schalt kepe þre condicions; þou schalt [folio 242a] swere in trouþe in dome & in rihtwisnesse; [593] þis to seine þou schalt swere soþe; for euery leseinge is aȝeines crist. For crist is verray trouþe; And þenke wele þis þat euery grete swerer nouht compelled lawfully to swere þe wounde schal not departe fro his house whiles he vseþ suche vnleful swereinge; [594] ¶ þou schalt swere eke in dome whan þou art constreynede by þi domes|man to wittnese þe trewþe; [595] Eke þou schalt nouht swere for envye ne for fauor ne for mede bot for rihtwisnesse for declareinge to worschipe of god; & to helpeinge of þine euen cristen; [596] And þerfore eueryman þat takeþ goddes name in ydel or falsely swereþ wiþ his mouþe or elles takeþ on him þe name of criste to be called a cristenman; And leueþ aȝeines cristes leueynge & his techeinge al þei take goddes name in ydel [597] ¶ Loke eke whate seiþe seint Peter Actuum .iiij^to. Non est aliud nomen sub celo; þere is non oþere name seiþ seint Peter vnder heuen; yȝouen to men in whiche þei muste be saued; þat is to seye bot in þe name of ihesu criste [598] ¶ Tak kepe eke how þat þe precious name of ihesu criste as seiþ seinte Poule ad Philipenses; xij^o. c^o. In nomine ihesu; &c. þat in þe name of ihesu euery kne of heuenly creatures or erþely or of hell scholde bowen; ffor it is so hihe & so worschipfull þat þe cursed fende in hell scholde tremblen to here it nemened;// [599] þan semeþ it þat men þat sweren so orrible by his

[6-text p 638] blissed name þat þei dispisen it more boldely; þan diden þ^e cursed Iewes; or elles þe deuel þat trembleþ whan he hereþ his name;

[600] Now certez seþen þat swereynge bot it be do al lawfully; is so holy defendede meche wers is forswereinge falsly; And ȝutte nedeles

[601] what seie we eke of heme . . [no gap in MS.] in swereinge & holde it a genterye or a manly dede to swere grete oþes; ¶ and of hem þat of verrei vsage. ne cesen nouht to swere grete oþes; al þe cause nouht worþe a strawe; Certes þis is an orrible sinne; [602] Swerynge sodanly wiþ oute avisement is eke a sinne; [603] ¶ Nowe late vs go to þilke orrible & cursed sweringe of adiuracione & coniuracione as done þese fals en|chauntours & nygromansoures; In basins ful of water or in a briht swerde in a serkle; or in a fire or in a scholder|bone of a schepe; [604] I. kanne not seine bot þat þei done corsedly & dampnably aȝeines criste & al þe feiþe of holy chir chirche;=

[605] what seye we be hem þat leuen on deueneyles; as be flyht or be noyse of birdes or of bestes or of sorte by ygromansy; be dremes be chirkeinge of dores; be gnoweinge of rattes or crakkeynge of houses & suche maner of wrichednesse; [606] Certes al þis þinge is defended be god & holy cherche; ffor whiche þei bien acursed till þei come to amendement þat on suche fulþe setten hire beleue; [607] Charmes for woundes; & Maledies of men or of bestes if þei taken any effecte it may be peraduenture þat god suffureþ it þat folke scholde ȝiue þe more faiþe; and Reuerence to his name;

[608] ¶ Nowe wil .I. speke of leseinges whiche gener|aly is fals signifiant; of wordes en entent to deceyuen his heuen cristen; [609] Sum leseynge is of whiche þere commeþ none auauntage to no wight; And some lese|inge torneþ to þese or þe profite of a man

[6-text p 639] & to damage of anoþere manere; [610] ¶ Anoþere leseinge for to . . . [no gap in the MS.] [folio 242b] Anoþere leseinge commeþ of delite for to lye. In whiche delite þei wil forgen a longe tale & peynte it wiþ al circumstance; wher al þe grounde of þe tale is fals; [611] Somme leseinge commeþ for he wil susteyine his worde; And sum leseynge cometh of rechelnesse; wiþ outen avisement; & sem|blable þinges

[612] ¶ Lat vs now touche þe vice of flaterye whiche ne comeþ nouht gladly bot for drede or for Couetise; [613] Flatery is generally wrongeful preyseinge ¶ Flatrer|es bene þe deueles norices þat norischen his childerne wiþ melke of losengrye; [614] ffor soþe seiþe Salomon; þat flatery is wers þan detraccione; ffor sum tyme de|traccion makeþ an haunten mān þe more humble for he dredeþ detraccion; ¶ Bot certes flatery makeþ a man to enhante his herte and his countenance; [615] fflatery bien þe deuels enchauntour; ffor þei maake a man to wene of him self to be like þat he nys nouht lyke; [616] þei bien like to Iudas þat be-trayed . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] a man to sel him to his ennemye þat is to þe deuel [617] ¶ Flatereres bien þe deuel chapelleines þat singen euer placebo; [618] I. reken flatery in þe vices of ire; ¶ For oft time if a man be wroþe wiþ anoþere; þen wil he flatere sum wyght to susteine him in his qwerell;

[619] Speke we nowe of suche cursinge as commeþ oute of Irrous herte; Malyson may be seide generallye; euery man power of harme such cursynge bereueþ man fro þe Regne of god; As seiþe seint Poule; [620] þat suche cursinge wrongefully retourneþ oft tyme aȝeine to him þat curseþe As a birde retourneþ aȝeine vn to his owen neste; [621] And ouere alþinge men ouhte eschewe to curse her childern & ȝeue to þe deuel here engendorere as fer forþe as in hem is ¶ Certes it is a grete perile & a grete sinne;

[6-text p 640]

[622] ¶ Lete vs þan speke of chideinge; And reproche whiche biene grete woundes in mannes herte; for þe vnsewe þe semes of frendschippe in mannes herte; [623] ffor certes vnneþes may a man bue pleynely accorded wiþ him þat haþ him openly revilede & reproued & disclaunderde; þis is a ful grysly sinne; as criste seiþe in þe gospell; [624] And take kepe nowe þat he þat reproueþ his neyhboure; oyþere he reproueþ him be som harme of peyne þat he haþe on his body; as mesel croked harlotte or be somme sinne þat he doþe; [625] Nowe if he reproue him be harme of peyne þan torneþ þe profete to ihesu criste; for peyne is sent be þe rihtwise sonde of gode; & be his suffrance; be it Meselrye or mayme; ore maladye; [626] And if he reproue him vncharitablye of synne; As þou holoure; þou dronken lewde harlote; and so forþ; þan apparteneþ þat to þe rejoyseinge of þe deuel þat euer haþe ioye þat men doon synne; [627] And certes chidynge may not come bot of velens herte; ffor after þe abundance of þe herte spekeþe þe mouþe ful oft; [628] And ȝe scholne vnderstonde . þat loke be any . waye whan any man schal chaste anoþere anoþer þat he be war fro chideinge or reproueinge ¶ ffor trewly bot he be war he may ful lyhtly queken þe fuyre of anger; and of wraþþe; whiche þat he schold qwenche & peraduentur sleþe him þat he myht chastise wiþ benyng|nite; [629] ffor as seiþe Salomon the amyable tonge; is þe tree of lif; þat is to seyne of lif espirituele and a dislaue tunge sleþe þe spirites of him þat repreueþ [folio 243a] And eke of him þat is repreued; [630] Lo what seinte Austine seiþe; þere is noþinge ylyke þe deueles childe as he þat oft chideþ; Seint poule seiþe eke .I. seruant of god behoueþ nouht to chide [631] ¶ And howe þat chideinge is a veleyns þinge betwex al maner folke ȝit is it certes most vnkouenable be-twyx a man & his wyf; for þere is neuer reste;

[6-text p 641] And þerfor seiþe salomon. An house þat is vnkouerde in reyne & dropinge; & a chideinge wif. bene ylike; [632] a man þat is in in a dropinge hous in many place; þeyhe he schewe þe dropinge in o place it droppeþ in anoþere in a noþere. So fareþe it be a chideinge wyf; bot sche chide him in o place sche wil chide him in anoþere; [633] And þerfor is better a morsel of brede with Ioye; þan an hous ful of delices wiþ chideinge seiþe Salomon; [634] Poule seiþe O ȝe wemmen be ȝe soubiettes to ȝoure husbondes as be-houeþe in god; And ȝe men louen ȝoure wyves Ad Clonicenses .iij^o.

[635] ¶ Afterward speke we of scorenynge whiche is a wikked sinne; And namely whan he scoreneþ a man for his goode werkes; [636] ffor certe suche scorners faren y-like þe foule tode þat mai not endure to smel þe swete sauour of þe vine when it floureþ; ¶ [637] þes scorners bien partinge felawes with þe deuel; = for þei haue Ioy whan þe deuel wynneþ; & sorwe whan he leseþ; [638] þei bene aduersaries to oure lorde ihesu criste; ffor þei haten þat he loueþe þat is to sei. sauacion of soule;

[639] ¶ Speke we nowe of wikked counsel ¶ For he þat wikked counsel ȝeueþ is a traitour; for he distroyþe him þat trusteþ in him. vt achitofell de Absonē. But naþeles ȝit is it wikked counsel firste aȝeines him selfe [640] for as seiþe þe wiseman; Euery fals leueynge haþe þis properte in him selfe þat he þat wil anoye anoþere man first anoyeþ him self; [641] And men schal vndestande þat man schal nouht take his counsel of fals folke; ne of to angry folke or greuous folke; ne of folke þat a loueþ specialy to muche here owen profite; ne to muche werldly folke namely in conseleinge of soules;

[642] ¶ Nowe commeþ þe sinne of hem þat maken discorde amonges folke whiche is a sinne þat

[6-text p 642] criste hateþ vtterly; And no wonder is; ffor he deyed for to maake concorde; [643] & mor schame done þei to criste; þan dide þei þat him crucified; ffor god loueþ better þat frenchepe be amonges folke; þan he dide his owen body; whiche he ȝaf for vnitees; þerfore beene þei likned to þe deuel þat euere is aboute to make discorde

[644] ¶ Nowe commeþ þe sinne of dowble tonge suche as speken faire befor folke; & wikkede be-hynde or elles þei maken sembland as þouhe þe spake of goode entencion or elles in game & pleye; And ȝit þe speke of wikked entente;

[645] ¶ Now commeþ be-wreynge of counseile þorwhe whiche a man is defamed; vneþes maye he restoreþ þe damages;

[646] Nowe commeþ manas þat is an hopen foly; ffor he þat manasseþ; he þreteþ more þan he maie do ful oft time;

[647] Nowe comeþ ydel wordes þat is wiþeouten profite of him þat spekeþ þo wordes & eke of him þat herkeneþ þe wordes; Or elle ydel wordes bien þo þat bien nedelesse or wiþouten entent of naturely profite; [648] And al be it þat Idel wordes som|time bien venial sinne ȝit schold men doute hem; ffor we scholne ȝeue reken [folio 243b] ynge of hem be-for god;

[649] Nowe commeþ Iangelynge þat may noȝt come wiþe|owten sinne as seiþe Salomon; It is a signe of aperte folye; [650] And þerefore; a philosophre saide; Whan a man asked hyme howe men schold plese þe peple; And he answarde; Do goode werkes; & speke fewe Iangelinges;

[651] After þis comeþ þe sinne of Iapes þat bien deuels apes ffor þei maken folke to lawhe att her Iaperye as folkes done att þe gaudes of an hape; Suche Iapes defendeþ seint Poule; [652] Loke howe þat vertuouse wordes & holy; conuerten hem

[6-text p 643] þat traueyle in þe seruice of crist; Riht so conuerten þe vilens worde & þe knakkes of þe Iapes hem þat traveylen in þe seruise of þe deuel. [653] ¶ þes bien þ^e sinne þat commeþ of þe tonge; þat commeþ of ire & of oþere sinnes;

[The Remedies against Ire]

[654] The remedes aȝeines Ire is a vertue þat men clepen mansuetude þat is debonarte; And eke anoþere vertue þat men clepen pacience; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[655] Debanarte wiþ - draweþ & refreyneþ þe stringes & þe meueynges of mannes corage in his herte; in suche maner þat þei scipe nouȝt oute be anger ne be ire; [656] Suffrance suffreþ swetly al þe anoyance þat & þe wronges þat men done to a man outewarde; [657] ¶ Seint Ierom . seiþ þus of debonarte; þat it doþe none harme to no wight ne seiþe for none harme þat men him done ne seine; He ne eschaungeþ nouȝt aȝeines his reson; [658] ¶ This vertue commeþ some time of Nature; ffor as seiþe þe Philosopher; A man is a whike þinge be nature; debonaire & tretable be goodnesse; Bot whan debonairete is enformed of grace. it is þe more worþe; //

[659] Pacience þat is anoþere remedy aȝeynes ire; it is a vertue þat suffreþ swetely euery mannes goodnesse; & is noȝt wroþe for none harme þat is done vnto her. // [660] The Philosopher seiþe þat paciens is þilke vertve þat sufferþ debonarly al þe outrage of aduersitee & euery wikked worde; [661] þis vertue makeþ a man ylyke to god; And makeþ him his owen der childe as seiþe crist; This vertue discomforþ þine Ennemye; and þerfore seiþe þe wise man. If þou wilte venqwys þin enemye. lerene to suffer; [662] And þou schalt vnder-stande þat a man sufferþ; iiij. manere

[6-text p 644] of greuance in otward þinges; Aȝeines whiche foure he mot haue foure maner of pacience

[663] þe firste greuance is of wyked wordes; þilke gre|uance suffred oure lorde ihesu crist wiþ outen gruccheinge ful paciently; Whan þe Iewes dispised him & reproued him; ful oft [664] suffur þou þere fore paciently; for þe wiseman eke seiþe; If þou strif wiþ a fole þouhe þe fole be wroþe or þouhe he lawhe al gate; þou schalt haue no reste [665] ¶ þe toþere greuance outeward is to haue damage of þi catel; þere aȝein suffurd criste ful paciently; whan he was dispoilede of þat he hadde in þis life & þat nas nouht bot þe cloþes [666] ¶ þan greuance is to a man haue harme in his bodye; þat suffred criste ful paciently in al his passion [667] þe ferþe greuance is an outrageous laboure in werkes. Wherfor .I. seie þat folke þat maken here seruantes to traueyle to greuouslye or oute of time as on halidayes; soþely þei done grete sinne. / [668] [folio 244a] Here aȝeine suffred criste ful paciently. And tauht vs pacience whan he bare vpon his blissed scholder þe cros vpon þe whiche he scholde suffur a spitous deþ; [669] ¶ Here maie men lerne to be pacient; for certes nouht onely cristen men bene pacient for þe loue of ihesu criste; & for guerdone of þe blisse of heuen. And of þe blisful lyf þat is perdurable; Bot certes þe olde peyneymes þat neuer were cristen com|menden & vsen þe vertue of pacience;

[670] A philosofre vpon a time þat wolde haue bet his disciple for his grete trespace for whiche he was gretely ameuede; & brouhte a ȝerde to scoure þe childe; [671] And whan þe childe sawe þe ȝerde He seide to his maister what wil ȝe do; I. wil bete quod þe Maister for þi correctione. [672] For soþe sire quod þe childe ȝowe ouhte firste corecte ȝoure of þat ȝe haue lost ȝoure pacience for þe gilte of a childe; [673] For soþe quod þe Maister al wepeinge þou

[6-text p 645] seist soþe; Haue þou þe ȝerde my dere sone; & correcte me for myne impacience; [674] Of paciens commeþe obedience; of whiche a man is obedient to criste; & to all hem to wiche he ouhte be obedient in criste. [675] And vndestande wele þat obedience is perfite; whan men done gladly & hastely wiþ good herte enterely al þat he schold do; [676] Obedience generaly is to performe þe doctrine of god & of his sovreygnes to whiche him ouhte to be obeissant to al rihtwisnesse

De Accidia.

[677]

After þ^e sinnes of Enevy . . . . [no gap in the MS.] .I. wil speke of þe sinnes of accide; For Enevy blindeþ þe herte of a man; And ire troubleþ aman; And Accide Makeþ him hevye þouhtful & wrawe; [678] Enevy & Ire makeþ bitternes in hert; whiche bitternes is moder of accidie. & benymeþ him þe loue of al goodnesse. þan is accide þe angwysche of a trowble hert; And seinte. Austeyne seiþe: It is anoye it is anoy of goodenesse; & anoye of harme; [679] sertes þis is a dampnable sinne; ffor it doþe wronge to ihesu criste; in alsomuche þat he nymmeþ þe seruice þat men ouhte to do to ihesu criste wiþ al diligence as seiþ Salomon; [680] Bot accide doþe none suche diligence; he doþe al þinge wiþ anoye; & wrawnesse slaknesse & excusacion & wiþ dulnes & vnlust; ffor whiche þe boke seiþe acursed be he þat doþe þat doþ þe seruice of god neclygently; [681] þen is Accide Enevye to eueryche astate of man; For certes þe estate of man is in þre maners; [682] Eyþere it is þe state of Innocence as was þe state of Adam be-fore he fel in to sinne; In whiche he was holden to worche as in an hereynge; & in adourynge of god; [683] Anoþere estate is þe state of sinfulmen; in whiche estate men bien holden

[6-text p 646] to labour in preyinge to god for amendement of here . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] sinnes; [684] Anoþere estate es þe estate of grace; In whiche estate he is halden to do werkes of penitence; And certes to al þes þinges is accide Enemy & con|trarie. for he loueþ no besinesse att al; [685] ¶ Nowe certes þis foule sinne accide; is eke a ful grete enemye til þe liflode of þe body; ffor it haþe no purueance aȝeine temp[or]ele necessite; for it is for-slewþed & for sloggeþ & distruyeþ al goodes temperelles be rechilnesse;

[686] ¶ þe fourte þinge is þat Accide is like hem þat bien in þe peyne of hell because of her slouþe & of her hevinesse; ffor þei þat bien dampned bien so bounde þat þei ne maye wele do; ne wele þenke; [687] Of accide commeþ first þat a man is anoyed & encombred. [folio 244b] to done any goodnesse; & makeþ þat god haþe Abomynacioun of suche as seiþ seinte Ioh.

[688] Now commeþ sleuþe þat wil not suffre none hardenesse ne none penance; For soþe slouþe is so tender & so delicate as seiþe Salomon; þat he wil not suffre none hardenesse ne penance ¶ And þerfor he schendeþ al þat he doþe [689] aȝeines his roten hercid sinne of Accide; And slouþe sholde men exercise hemself to done good werkes & manly & vertuouslye cachen corage wele to done thenk|inge þat oure lorde ihesu criste quyteþe euery goode dede be it neuere so lite; [690] vsage of laboure is grete a þinge; ffor it makeþ as seiþe seinte Bernard; The laborer to haue stronge harmes & hard synowes; & slowþe makeþ him febel & tendre; [691] ¶ þan commeþ drede to be-ginne for to wirke any goode werke; ¶ For certes he þat is enclined to sinne; him þinke it is so grete an emprise; for to vndertake to do werkes of goodnesse [692] . . . . .

[6-text p 647] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] as seiþe seint Gregorie

[693] ¶ Nowe; commeþ wanhope þat is dispeire of þe mercie of god; þat commeþ sume time of to myche out|rageous sorwe ¶ And some time of muche drede ymagen|ynge; þat he haþ done so muche sinne þat it wil nouht aveile him þouhe he wold repent him; & for-saak & do goode; [694] þoruhe whiche dispeire or drede; he aboundeþ his hert to euery manere sinne; As seiþe seint Auguste; [695] whiche dampnable sinne if þat it continue vn to his ende; it is cleped sinnynge in þe holy gost; [696] þis orrible sinne is so perilous þat he þat is despeired; þere ne is no sinne þat he douteþ for to do as schewde wele be Iudas; [697] Certes þan a-bouen al sinnes þan is þis sinne most displesant to crist; & most aduersarie [698] to crist // Soþely he þat dispeyreþ him; is like þe cowarde champeoun recreant; & seiþe creant; al wiþoutene nede; Alas alas nedeles is he creant; & seiþe creant nedelesse despeired; // [699] for certes þ^e mercy of god is euer redy to þe penytence; it is aboue al his werkes [700] ¶ Alas can not a man be - þenke him of seint luke; 15^o. where as criste seiþe þat as wele schal þere be; Ioye in heuen vpōn a sinful man þat doþe penitence; þan vpon 90 & .19. þat . . . . [no gap in the MS.] nedeþ no penitente [701] ¶ Loke ferþermore in þe gospel; þe Ioy & þe festes of þe good man þat hadde lost his sone; whan his sone wiþ repentance was retorned to his fader; [702] Can þei nouȝt remembre hem eke; þat as seiþe seinte luca 13^o. c^o. how þat þe þef seiþe þat was hongede be-side ihesu cristes side; Lorde remembre on me whan þou commest vn to þi kingedome [703] ¶ For soþe seide crist; To daie þou schalt be with me in paradise; [704] Certes þer nys none so orrible sinne of

[6-text p 648] man þat it ne maye in his lif be destreyde be penitence; þoruhe vertue of þe passion & þe deþ of criste; [705] ¶ Alas what nedeþe man to be despeired þan. seþen his mercy so redye is; An aske & haue; // [706] þan commeþ sompnolence þat is slogge slombre whiche makeþ a man heuy & dul in body; & in soule; And þis sinne commeþ of slewþe; [707] And certes þe time þat be wey of resone men schold nouȝt slepe by þe morwe bot if þere were cause resonable; [708] ffor soþely in þe morwe tide is most couenable a man to seie his preyers & for to þinken on god & for to honoure god; and to ȝeuen almos þatcommen [folio 245a] to þe pore þat first comen in þe name of criste; [709] Lo what seiþe Salomon; who so wil be þe morne awake to seke me he schal finde [710] ¶ þan commeþ; necligence or rechelnesse þat rekkeþ of no þinge; & howe þat ignorance is þe moder of al harme; Certes necligens is þe norische to [711] necligentes ne doþe no force whan he schal done a þinge wheþer he do it wele or badly;

[712] Of þe remedy of þes two sinnes as seiþ þe wisman ¶ þat he þat dredeþ god spareþ nouht to done þat him ouht to done; [713] And he þat loueþ god wyl do diligence to plese god by his werkes & abounden him self wiþ al his myht wele for to done; [714] ¶ þan comme Idelnese þat is þe ȝate of al harmes; An; ydel man is lyke to a place þat haþe no walles; þe deuel may entre on euery side; or schote att him att discouert be tempacions on euery side; [715] þis ydelnes is þe þorrok of al wikked & veleynes þouhtes; & of al Iangles trufles & al ordure; [716] Certes þe heuen is ȝouen to him þat wil laboure & nouht to ydel folke; Eke dauid seiþe þat þei ne be not in þe laboure of men; ne þei ne scholn not be whipped wiþ men; þat is to seie in purgatorie;

[6-text p 649] [717] Certes þan semeþ it þei schal be tormented wiþ þe deuel in hel; bot if þei done penytence;

[718] þan commeþ þe sinne þat men clepen tarditas; As whan a man is so latred & so tariinge ere he wil torne to god; And certes þat is a grete folye; He is like him þat falleþ in þe diche; And wil nouht arise; [719] And þis vice commeþe of fals hope; þat he þinkeþ þat he schal leue longe; bot þat hope faileþ ful oft;

[720] ¶ þan commeþ laches þat is he þat whan he beginneþ any goode werke; anone he wil for-lete it & stinte as done þei þat haue any wight to gouerne; & ne taken of him no more kepe; anone as þei finde any contrarie or anye anoye / [721] ¶ þes bene þe now scheperdes þat laten her schepe renne wyteingly to þe wolf; þat is in þe breres; or done no fors of her owen gouernance; [722] ¶ Of þis commeþ pouerte; & discripcion bot of spirituele & temporal þinges ¶ þan commeþ a manere of coldenesse; þat freseþ al þe herte of man; [723] ¶ þan commeþ vndeuocione þoruhe; whiche a man his so blonte ¶ And as seiþe seint Bernard. He haþe suche langour in soule þat he maie neyþere rede ne singe in holy cherche Ne here ne þinke of deuocion; ne traueyle wiþ his hondes in no goode werke; þat it nys to him vnsauerye; ¶ And al apalled; [724] þan waxeth he sore & slowe & slombre; & sone wil be wroþe; And sone is enclinede to hate & to envye // [725] þane commeþ þe sinne of werldly sorwe; whiche þat is clepide tristicia; þat sleþe a man as seiþe seint Poule; [726] ffor certes suche sorwe worcheþ to þe deþe of þe soule & of þe body also ¶ For þere of commeþ þat a man is anoyed of his owen lif; [727] Where-for suche sorwe; schorteþ ful oft þe lif of a man er þat his time comme;

[6-text p 650]

[The Remedy against Accidie.]

[728] ¶ Aȝeynes þis orrible sinne of Accide & þe braunches of þe same; þere is a vertue þat is called fortitudo; or strenkeþ þat is an affeccioun þoruhe whiche a man dispiseþe al noyeus þinge; [729] ¶ þis vertue is so myhty; & so vigorouse þat it dar wiþ-stande myhtyly & wrestel aȝeines þe saule of the deuel; And wisely kepen him selfe frome periles þat bien wikked; [730] For it enchaunceþ & enfor [folio 245b] ceþ þe soule Riht as accide abateþ it makeþ febel // for þis fortitude may longe endure be longe suffrance; þe traveile þat bien conuenable;

[731] þis vertue haþ mony spyces; ¶ þe first is cleped magnificence; þat is to seie grete Corage; ffor certes þer behoueþ grete corage aȝeines accidie; les þat swolowe þe sowle be þe sinne of sorwe; or destruye it be wanhope; [732] ¶ þis vertu makeþ folke to vndertake harde þinges & greuouse þinges be hire owen wyll wysely & resonably; [733] And for als muche as þe deuel fihteþ aȝeines man more be queyntise & be sleyht þan be strenkeþ; ¶ þerefore a man schal with-stonde him with witte & with reson & with dis|crecion // [734] þen bien þere þe vertues of feiþe & hope in god; & in his seintes to acheuen & accomplise þe goode werkes; in whiche he purpose fermely to continue; [735] þan commeþ suerte or sikernesse; & þat is whan a man . . . . .[736]. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] doþe; & performeþ grete werkes of goodenesse þat he haþe begonne; And þat is þe ende whi þat men schold do goode werkes; ¶ ffor in þe compliseinge of goode werkes liþe þe grete guerdone [737] ¶ þan is þere constance þat is stablenesse of Corage; And þis scholde be in herte be stedfast feiþe; & in mouþe & in

[6-text p 651] bereinge; And in chere; & in dede [738] eke; ¶ þere bien mo special þinges & remedy aȝeines accide in diuerse werkes; & in consideracion of þe peyne of hell & of the Ioy of heuen; & in þe trust of þe grace of þe holy goste þat wil ȝiuen him myht to performe his entente

De Auaricia. [de avaricia]

[739]

Affter Accidie wil .I. speke of avarice; & of Couetyse // Off whiche sinne seiþ seint Paule; þat þe rote of al sinnes is couetise; Ad Thimotheum 6^o. [740] ¶ For soþely whan þe herte of a man is confounded in hit selfe & trouble & þat þe soule haþe loste þe comforte of god; þan sikeþ he ane ydel solace of werldely þinges;

[741] ¶ Auarice after þe scripcione of seint Austyne; is a lykerousnes in hert to haue erþely þinges; [742] Somme oþere folk seyne þat Auarice is for to purchase mony erþely þinges; & no þinge ȝiue to hem þat haue nede [743] ¶ And vnderstand þou wele; þat auarice nys nouht onelye in lande ne in catell; bot sum time in science and in glorye And in euery manere of outrageous þinges is aueryce; & couetyse; [744] ¶ And þe difference be-tuex Auarice & couetise is þis; Couetise is for to coueyte suche þinges as þou haste nouht; = And Auarice is to wiþ-holde & kepe suche þinges as þou hast wiþ outen rihtful nede [745] ¶ Soþely þis Auarice is a sinne þat is ful dampnable; ffor al holy writte curseþ it; & spekeþ aȝeines it; ffor it doþe wronge to ihesu criste; [746] for it be-reueþ him þe loue þat men to him owen. And turneþ it bakwarde aȝeines al reson; [747] & makeþ þat þe Auaricious man haþe more hope in his catel þan in ihesu criste; And . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [748] þerefor seiþe

[6-text p 652] seinte poule. Ephecios 5^o. þat Auarous man is þral to ydolatrie;

[749] What difference is betuex an ydolastre & an Auarous man; Bot þat an ydolatre & an Auaricious man par|aduentur ne haþe bot one maumet; or tuo; And þe Auaricious man haþ monye; For certes euery floreine in his copher is a mawmet; [750] And certes þe sinne of Maumatrie is þat god in þe ten commandementes; As bereþ [folio 246a] wittenesse in exodi .capitulo .20. [751] þou schalt haue none fals goddes beforne me; Ne þou schalt make to þe no graue þinge; þus þan is an Avaricious man þat loueþ his tresor a-forne god; And ydolatre [752] þoruhe his sinne of Auarice & of couetise; be whiche commen þis harde lordeschipes þoruhe whiche mene bien streyned be talyage costomes & Cariages More þan here dewte or reson is And elles take þei of her bonde|men amerciament; whiche myht more resonable be cleped extorcions þan mercymentes; [753] Of whiche mercimentes And raunsons of bonde men somme lorde stewardes sein þat it is rihtful; for also muche as a cherle haþe no temporele þinge þat ne is þe lordes as þei seine. [754] Bot certes þis lordeschipes done wronge þat bereueþ hir bondefolke þinges; þat þei ne ȝafe hem; Augustinus de Ciuitate dei .li^o .9. [755] Soþe is þat þe condicion of þraldome & þe first cause of þraldom is for sinne. Genesis .5.

[756] þus maye ȝe seene þat þe gilt deserueþ þraldome Bot note nature; [757] Where-fore þes lordes schold nouȝt much glorifie hem in here lordeschipe seþþen þat bu naturel condicion þei bien lordes ouer her þralles; Bot for þat þat þraldom cam firste be desert of sinne; = [758] And ferþere ouer; þere as þe lawe seiþe; þat temporel goodes of bonde folke bien þe goodes of here lordeschipes: ȝe þat is for to vnderstande þe goodes of þe Emperour To defende hem in here riht; bot not to Robbe hem ne to Reue hem; [759] And þerfore

[6-text p 653] seiþe Senec þi prudence schold leue benyngly with þi þrall ¶ [760] þilke þat þou clepest þi þrall bien cristes peple; For humble folke bien criste frendes; þei bien contuberniale with þe lorde

[761] ¶ þenke eke þat suche sede as cherles springen; of suche seede springen lordes; as wele may þe cherle be saued as þe lorde; [762] þe same deþe þat takeþ þe cherle; þe same deþ takeþe þe lorde; wherfore I rede do riht so wiþ þi cherle as þou woldest þi lorde dide with þe if þou were in his plite. [763] ¶ Euery sinful man is a cherle to sinne; ¶ I rede þe certes þat þou lorde þou wirche in suche wise; þat þine cherles raþer loue þe þan drede þe [764] ¶ I. wote wele þer is degre aboue degre as reson is; And scyll is þat men don here deuere þere as it is diewe; Bot certes extorcions & dispites of ȝoure vnderlinges is dampnable;

[765] ¶ And forþere ouere vnderstond wele; þat conquerours or tirantes maken ful often; þralles of hem þat bien borne of as Roial blode as ben þei þat hem conqueren; [766] This name of þraldom was neuere knowe erst til þat Noe seide of his sonne Canaan scholde be þrale to his breþerne for his sinne; [767] what sey we þan of hem þat pilen And done extorcions to holy chirche ¶ Certes þe swerde þat men ȝeuen first to a knyhte whan he is newe dubbid; signifieþ þat he scholde defende holy chirche; & nouht rob it; And who so doþe is a traitour to criste [768] as seiþ seinte Austine; þei buen deuels wolues þat stranglen þe schepe of ihesu criste; & done wers þan wolues; [769] ¶ ffor soþely whan þe wolfe haþ ful his wombe He stinteþ to strangel schepe; Bot soþely þe piloures & distrey|ours of goodes of holy chirche done not so; for þe stint neuer to pilen; [770] ¶ Now as .I. [folio 246b] haue seide; Seþen so is þat sinn was first cause of þraldome; þan it is

[6-text p 654] þus þat þilke time þat al þe werld was in sinne; þan was al þis werlde in þraldome And in subiectione; = [771] Bot certes Sethins þe time of grace Cam; god ordeynde þat somme folke scholde be more hihe in Estate; & hihe degree; And somme folke more lowe; & þat eueryche schold be serued in his estate & in his degre; [772] And þerfore in somme contrees þere þei be þrales; whan þei haue turned hem to þe feiþe; þei maken here þralles fre oute of þraldome; And þerfore certes þ^e lorde oweþ to his manne þat þe man oweþ to his lorde ¶ [773] þe Pope clepeþ him self seruant of þe seruantes of god ¶ Bot for as muche as þ^e state of holy chirche ne myht nouht haue be kepped; Ne þe commune profit miȝt haue be kepped; ne pese & rest in erþe; bot if god hadde ordeynde þat sommen haue hier degre & som men lowere; [774] þerfore was souereygnte ordeyned to kepe & mayntene; & de|fende here vnderlinges or her soubiectes in reson; as fer|forþ as it liþe in hir pouere; And nouht to destreye hem ne as ferforþe confounden; [775] Wher for .I. saye þat þilke lordes þat bien þilke wolves; þat deuoure þe possessions or þe catel of pore folke wrongefully wiþ outen Mercye or Mesore; [776] þei schollen receyuen bue þ^e same mesure þat þei haue mesured to pore folke þe mercy of ihesu criste bot it bue amended; [777] ¶ Nowe commeþ disceite b[e]tuex Marchant & marchant; ¶ And þou schalt vnder|stant þat Marchandise is in mony maners; þat one is bodely; & þ^e toþere is gostlye ¶ þat one is lefful & þ^e toþere is dishoneste & vnleful; [778] Of þilke bodely marchandise þat is leful & honest is þis; þat þere as god haþ ordeigned þat a regne or a contre is sufficeant him selfe þan is it honeste & lefull þat of þe abundance of þis contree; þat men helpe a noþere contree þat is more nedye; [779] And þere fore þere mote be marchantz to bringen fro þe to cuntre to þe toþere her march|andise;

[6-text p 655] [780] þe toþere Merchandise þat men haunte wiþ fraude; & trecherye & disceyte wiþe lesinges & fals oþes; is cursed & dampnable [781] ¶ Espyrituel marchandise is properely Symony; þat is ententif desire to by þinge espirituele; þat is þinge þat apparteneþ to þe seintuarye of god; & to cure of þe soule; [782] This desire if so be þat a man do his diligence to performe it al be it þat his desire ne take none effecte ȝit is it to him dedely sinne; And if he be ordrede he is Irregulere; [783] ¶ Certes Symonye; is clepid of Simon Magus þat wolde haue bouht with þe temporele catell þe ȝeft þat god had ȝouen by þe holy goste to seinte Peter; & to þe Apostoles; [784] And þerfore vnderstandeþ; þat boþ he þat selleþ & he þat byeþ þinges espirituels bien cleped Symonyals ¶ be it Catel; be it be procureinge; Ore be fleschely preyere of his frendes or of spirituel frendes [785] ¶ Flesschely; in tuo maners; as by kinred; or as by oþere frendes or of spirituel frendes. ¶ Soþely if þei prey for him þat is not able & worþi; it is Symonye; If he take þ^e benefice; & if he be worþi & able; he nys none; [786] ¶ þe toþere maner is whan a man or a womman preyeþe; preye for folke to auaunce hem only for wikked fleschely affeccione; þat þei haue vn to þe persones; & þat is in foule Symony; [787] Bot certes in seruices for whiche men ȝeuen þinges espirituels vnto her seruantes; It mote bien vnderstonde þat þe seruice most be honeste & elles note; And eke þat it be wiþ outen Barganynge & þat þe persone be able; [788] ffor as seiþe seinte Damasye; Al þe sinnes [folio 247a] of þe worlde att þe regarde of þis sinne biene as a þinge of nouht; For it is þe grestest sinne þat may be; after; þe sinne of lucifer & of antecriste; [789] ffor be þis sinne gor for-leseþ þe chirche & þe soule þat he bouhte wiþ his precious blode; by hem þat ȝeue cherches to hem þat biene nouht digne; [790] For þei putten inn þeues þat

[6-text p 656] stelen þe soule of ihesu criste & destruyeþ his patri|moigne [791] ¶ Be. suche vndigne prestes; & Curates haue men þe lasse Reuerence of þe sacramentz of holychirche; ¶ And suche ȝeuers of chirches putten oute þe childerne of criste; & putten in to þe cherche þe deueles owen sone [792] þei sellen þe soules; þe lombe þei kepen to þe wolf þat strangelleþ hem; And þerefore schol þei neuer houe parte of þe pasture of þe lombes þat is in þe blisse of heuen; [793] ¶ Nowe commeþ hasardy with his apur|tenance as tables & rawfles of whiche commeþ deceyte & fals oþes chideinge; & al rauynges; blasphemyinge & reniinge of god & hate of his neybours; wasteinges of goodes myspendinge of time; And sumtyme man|slawhter [794] ¶ Certes hasardours nemaye nouht be wiþ oute grete sinne whiles þei haunte þat crafte [795] ¶ Of Auarice commeþe eke leseinges þeft & false wittenesse; Fals oþes; And ȝe schall vnderstonde; þat þes bien grete sinnes & expresse aȝeines þe commandementes of god as .I. haue seide; [796] ¶ Fals wittnesse is in worde & eke in dede. In worde as for to be-reve þi neyhbours good name By þine fals witnesinge. Or be-reue him his Catell; or his heritage be þine fals wyttenesinge; ¶ whan þou for Ire or for meede or for envy berest fals wittenesse or accusest him or excusest him by þine fals witnesse; or elles ex|cusest þi self falsly [797] ¶ Ware ȝoue qwestmongers & notories ¶ Certes for false witnesseinge was Susanna in grete sorwe; & peyne; & mony anoþer mo [798] ¶ The sinne of þeft is eke expresse aȝeines godes heste; & þat in tuo maners Corporele & spirituele [799] [Corporele] as for to take þine neyhbours Catel aȝeines his will be it be force or be sleyht; be it be mette; or be mesure; [800] By steleinge eke of fals enditementes vpon him; And in borwein of þin neyhbours Catell; in entent neuere to paye; & semblable þinges [801] ¶ Es|pirituel þeft is sacrilege þat is to seye vrt|ynge

[6-text p 657] of holy þinges; or of þinges sacred to criste in tue maners by reson. of þe holy place as chirches or chirche hawes; [802] ffor euery. violence sinne þat men done in suche place may bue cleped Sacrilege; Or euery violence in þe semblable place; Also þei þat wiþ-drawen falsly þe rihtes þat longen to holy cherche; [803] And pleynely & generaly sacrilege is to ȝeue holy þinge fro holy place; or vnholy þinge oute of holy place; or holy þinge oute of vn|holy place;

[The Remedy against Avarice.]

[804] Nowe scholne ȝe vnderstonde þat þe releuynge of Auarice is misericorde & pite largely taken ¶ And me myht axen whi þat mysericorde & pite is releueinge of Auarice; [805] Certes þe Auarice man scheweþ no pite ne misericorde to þe nedful man; ffor he deliteþ him in þre kepinges of his tresoure; & not in þe restoreinge ne releueinge of his euen|cristen; & þerfore spek .I. first of mysericorde; [806] ¶ þan is misericord as seiþe þe philosofre a vertue bue whiche þe Corage of man is stered be þe corage of him. [folio 247b] þat is my[s]esede [807] vpon whiche misericorde foloweþ pytee in perfourmynge of charitable werkes of misericorde. [808] And certes þes meuen man to þe mysericord of ihesu criste þat him self for oure gilt suffred deþe for misericorde; & forȝaf vs oure originale sinnes; [809] & þere-by relessed vs fro þe peyne of hell; and amynuseþ þe peyne of purgatorie be penitence. And ȝeueþ grace well to do & att þe last þe ioye of heuen; [810] ¶ The spices of mysericorde bien as for to lene & for to ȝeue; & eke for to forȝeue & relese & haue pyte in herte & to haue compassione of þe meschef of þine

[6-text p 658] euecristene; & eke chastice þere as nede is. [811] ¶ Anoþere manere of Remedie aȝeine avarice is resonable largesse; Bot soþely here be-houeþ þe con|sideracioun of þe grace of ihesu criste & of his temporil goodes . . . [no gap in the MS.] perdurables þat crist ȝaff vs [812] and eke to haue remembrance of þe deþ þat he schal receyue he note when; and eke þat he schal for-gone al þat he haþe; . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[813] Bot for as muche as summe folke bien vnmesur|able men ouhten eschiewe foole largesse þat men clepen wast; [814] Certes he þat is foole large ne ȝeueþ nouht his catel bot he leseþ his catel; ¶ Soþely what þinge þat he ȝeueþ for veineglorie as to menstrals & to folke for to beren his renoune in þe werlde he haþe do synne & none almos [815] Certeȝ he leseþ foule his good; þat he ne sekeþ no þinge of his goode bot sinne [816] He is ylike to an hors þat sekeþ raþer to drinke drouy or trouble water þan of þ^e clere well; [817] And for as muche as þei ȝeue þere as þei schold not ȝeue to hem apparteneþ þilke malyson þat crist schal lyven att þe daye of dome to hem þat schal be dampned.

¶ De gula.

[818]

After Auarice commeþ glotonye whiche is expresse eke aȝeines þe commandement of god; Glotonye is vnmesurable appetit to ette or to drinke. or elles to done ynouhe to þe vnmesurable & discorde couetise to ete & to drinke; [819] ¶ þis sinne cor|rumpeþ al þis werlde as is wele schewde in þe sinne of Adam & of Eua ¶ lo eke what seiþe seint Poule of glotonye; [820] Mony folke of whiche

[6-text p 659] .I. haue oft seide to ȝowe; & nowe .I. seye it wepeinge; þat þei bien ennemys of þe croyce of crist of whiche þende is deþe; & of whiche here wombes is hire god & hire glorie in confusione of hem þat so saueren erþely þinges; [821] ¶ He þat is vsant to þis sinne of glotonye he ne may no sinne wiþ-stande; He moste bue in seruage of al vices for it is þ^e deuels horde þere he hideþ him inne & resteþ; [822] ¶ This sinne haþ mony spyces; þe first is dronkennesse þat is þorrible sepulcre of mannes resoun; And þere|for whan þat a man is dronken he haþe lost his reson; & þis is dedely sinne [823] ¶ Bot certes whan a man is nouht wonte to straunge drinke; ne peraduenture ne knoweþ not þe strenkeþ of þ^e drinke; or haþe feblesse in his hede; or haþe trauailede þoruhe whiche he drinkeþ þe more Al be he so sodanly cauht wiþ drinke it is no dedely sinne bot veniale; [824] The secunde spice of glotonye is þat þe spirit of man waxeþ al trouble for dronkenesse bereueþ him discrecioun of his witte; [825] ¶ þe þred spice of glotony is; Whan a man devowreþ [folio 248a] his mete & haþe no rihtful manere of etynge; [826] ¶ þe ferþe is whan þorwh grete abund|aunce of his mete þe homours of his body biene dis|temperd [827] ¶ þe .v^e. is forȝetelnesse be to mechel drynkynge for whiche sumtyme aman summe time a man for|ȝeteþ be þe morwe what he dide att eue or att þ^e nyhte be-fore;

[828] In oþere manere bien distinket of Spices of glotony after seint gregorye. ¶ þe first is for to ete to fortime ¶ þe. secunde is whan a man geteþ him to delicate mete [829] ¶ þ^e. threde; is. whan a man takeþ to muchel ouere mesure ¶ þe ferþe. is þe coriouste wiþ grete entent to maken & apparell his mete. þe fifte. is to ete to gredely; [830] þes bien þe .v. fyngres of þe deueles honde be whiche he draweþ folk to sinne

[6-text p 660]

[The Remedy against Gluttony.]

[831] ¶ Aȝeynes glotonye is remedy. þe abstinence of his bodi; as seiþe Galienus. Bot þat hold .I. not meritorie. if þat he onely it do for þe hele of his body; ¶ Seint Austine wil þat abstinence be done for vertwe; & wiþ paciens [832] abstinens he seiþ is litel worþi bot if a man haue goode wil þere to // And bot if it be enforced be pacience & charite; & þat men do it for goddes saake & in hope to haue þe blisse of heuen;

[833] ¶ þe felawes of abstynence bien attemper|ance þat haldeþ þe mene in all þinges; eke schame þat escheweþ al disoneste; sufficeance þat sekeþ no Riche mete ne drinkes ne doþe no force of no owtrage apparelynge of mete [834] ¶ Mesure also þat distreyneþ bue resoun þe delavy appetite of eteinge; Sobernesse also þat restreyneþ þe outrage of drinke. [835] Sparynge also þat restreyneþ þe delicate ese to sitte att his mete softly; where-for summe folke stonden of here owen will & to eten att þe lasse layser

¶ De luxuria.

[836]

After glotony. þan commeþ lycherye for þes two sinnes bien so nyhe cosines þat often tim þei wil not departe; = [837] god wote þis sinne is displesant to god; for he seiþ him selfe do no lychery;// & þere-fore he put grete peynes aȝeines þis sinne. in þe olde lawe [838] If a wom|man þrall were taken in þis sinne sche scholde be beten with stones to þe deþ; And if sche were a gentil womman sche scholde be sleyne with stones; And if sche wer a bischopes douhtere sche scholde be bernte be goddes commandement; [839] ¶ Forþermore be sinne of licherye god dreynte al þe werlde att þe

[6-text p 661] diluve; & after he berned .v. Cytes with lyht & sanke hem in to hell

[840] ¶ Now latt vs spek of þilk foule stinkynge sinne of lichery; þat men clepen aduoutre of wedded folke; þat is to sey if þat one of hem be wedded or elles boþe; [841] Seint Iohn seiþe þat þat þe advowtrers schal bien in hell in a stinkinge birneinge fire of brimstone for licherye ¶ In brimstone for þe stinkeinge of hire ordure; [842] Certeȝ þe brinynge of þis sacrament is an horible þinge; It was maked of god him self in paradise & confermed be ihesu criste as seiþ seinte Mathewe in þe gospell; A man schal lete fader & moder & take him to his wif. And þe scholne haue be tuo in one flesche; [843] ¶ This sacrament be|tokeneþ þe knyttinge to-geder of criste & of holy chirche [844] ¶ And nouht onely þat god for-badde aduoutre in bedde; Bot eke he commanded [folio 248b] þat þou scholdest nouht coueyte þine neyhebours wif [845] ¶ In þis hest seiþe seint Austine is forboden almanere Couetise to done lychery; Lo what seiþe seint Mathewe .v. c^o. in þe gospel þat who so seþe a womman to couetise of his luste he haþe done lycherye wiþ hire in his herte; [846] Here maye ȝe see þat not onelye þe dede of his sinne is forbode bot eke þe desire to done þat sinne [847] ¶ þis cursed sinne anoyeþ hem greuously þat it haunteþ; & first to here soule ffor he obligeþ it to sinne; & to þe peyne of þe deþe þat is perdurable [848] ¶ Vnto þe body anoyeþ it greuously also; ffor it drieþ him & wasteþ him; & of his blode he makeþ sacrifice vn-to þe fende of hell ¶ It wasteþ eke his catel & his substance; [849] & certes if it be a foule þinge a man to wast his catell one wemmen; ȝit is it a fouler þinge whan þat for whiche ordure wemmen dispenden vpon men here catel & here substance [850] ¶ þis sinne as seiþe þ^e prophite bereueþ man & womman her goode fame & al her honour; And it is ful plesant to þe deuel; & þerby

[6-text p 662] he wynneþ þe moste party of þis werlde; [851] ¶ And riht as a marchant deliteþ him moste in chaffer þat he haþ most a-vantage of Riht so deliteþ þe fende þis ordure;//

[852] þis is þe toþere honde of þe deuel with .v. fingeres þat caccheþ þe peple to his velany; [853] þe first finger is þe foole lokeynge; of þe foole man; & of þe foole womman þat sleþe Riht as þe Basilicoc sleþe folke be þe venym of his syht; ffor couetise of þe eyȝen foloweþ þe couetyse of þe hert; [854] þe toþere finger his þe violence toucheinge in wykked manere; And þerfor seiþ Salomon. þat who so toucheþ & handeleþ a womman; he fareþ y-lyke him þat handeleþ þe scorpion þat stingeþe; And sodanly sleþe þoruhe his envenymynge; As who so towcheþ warme piche þat fouleþ his fingers [855] ¶ þe. þred is; foule wordes þat fareþ.y-lyke fire þat birneþ; þat riht anone birneþ þe herte; [856] ¶ þe ferþe is. kissinge; & trewly he were a grete foole þat wolde kisse þe mouþe of a birneinge houen; or of a forneys;? [857] And more fooles bien þei þat kissen in velanye; ffor þat mouþe is þe mouþe of hell; & namely þes holde dotardes hulours; ȝit wil þei kisse þouhe þei may nouȝt do & smater hem; [858] Certes þei bien ylyke to þe houndes. For an hounde whan he commeþ be þe roser or be oþere beautees þouhe he maie nouht pisse; ȝitte will he lift vp his legge & make coun|tenance to pisse. [859] ¶ And for þat; many weneþ þat þei maie nouȝt sinne for no likerous þat he doþe with his wif; Certeȝ þat opynioune is fals; God wote a man maie sle him self with his owen knyf; & maken him dronken with his owen tunne. [860] Certeȝ be it wif of childe or any oþer werldely þinge þat he loueþ be-for god; it is a maumet & he is an ydolastre; [861] ¶ Man scholde loue his wif be discrecione paciently & temporalye; & þan is sche as it

[6-text p 663] were his sustere; [862] ¶ þe fift finger of þe deueles honde is þe stinkeinge dede of lycherye; [863] Certes þe .v. fingers of glotonye þe fende putteþ in þe wombe of a man; & with þes .v. fingers of lychery; he gripeþ him be þe reynes for to þrowe him into þe forneyse of hell [864] þere as þei scholne haue þe fuyre & þe wormes þat euer schal laste; & wepeinge & waileinge scharpe hunger & þurste griselynesse of deueles þat schal al to treden [folio 249a] Hem wiþ-outen respite & with|outen ende [865] of lychery as .I. seide sourden diuerse spyces; as fornicacion. þat is be-tuex man & womman þat bien not maried; & þis is dedely sinne & aȝeines nature; [866] Al þat is enemy & destruccion to nature is aȝeines nature [867] parfeye ¶ þe resone of a man telleþ him eke wele þat it is dedely sinne for als muche as god forbad lycherye; = And seint Poule ȝeueþe him þe regne þat is dieu to no whight bot to hem þat done dedely sinne [868] ¶ Anoþere sinne of lycherye is; for to be-reven a mayden of hire maydenhade; ffor certes he þat so doþe he takeþ a maiden oute of þe hiest degre þat is in þis present lif; [869] & bereueþ hire þilke precious fruyte þat þe boke clepeþe þe hundreþ fruyte. I. can nouht seye it in none oþere weye in ynglische Bot in latine it hiht Centesimus fructus; [870] Certes he þat so doþe is cause of mony damage & velanyes mo þan any man kan reken ¶ Riht as he sūmtyme is cause of al þe damage þat bestes done in þe felde; þat brekeþ þe hegge of þe closur þoruhe whiche he distroyeþ þat may not be restored; [871] ffor certes no more maye maydenhede bue re|stored; þan an arme þat is smeten fro þe body maye retorne aȝeine to wex; [872] Sche maye haue mercye þis wote .I. wele if sche do penitence; Bot neuer schal it be þat sche nas corrupte; [873] ¶ And albeit so þat .I. haue spoken sumwhat of aduowtre it is goode to schewen mo periles þat longen to aduoutre ¶ For to eschewe þe foule

[6-text p 664] sinne of [874] aduoutre; in latine is for to seye; Approcheinge to anoþere manes bedde; þoruhe whiche þo þat whilom were first o flesche; abawndon here body to oþere persones [875] ¶ Of þis sinne as seiþe þe wisman comeþ mony harmes; ffirste brekinge of feiþe; And certes faiþe. is kaye of cristendome; ¶ [876] And whan þat feiþe is broke & lorne; soþely cristendome stant wiþ outen fruyte; [877] ¶ þis sinne is eke a þefe; ffor þeft generaly to speke is for reue a wight his þinge aȝeines his will; [878] Certes þis is þe fouleste þeft þat maie bue; whan a womman steleþ hir body fro her husbonde; & ȝiueþ it to hire holoure to defoule here & steleþ hire soule fromme criste; & ȝeueþ it to þe deuel. [879] þis is foulere þeft; þan for to breke & stele þe chalys; ffor þes aduoutres breken þe temple of god spyrituelly & stelen þ^e vessel of grace; þat is þe bodye & þ^e soule; ¶ For whiche criste schal destroyen hem as seiþe seinte Poule. [880] Soþely of þis þeft douted gretely Iosephe whan þat his lordes wif preide him of velanye; whan he seide; Lo my lady howe my lorde haþe take to me vnder my warde al þat he haþe in þis werlde ne noþinge of his oute of my powere bot onely ȝe þat bien his wyf [881] ¶ And howe schold .I. þan do þis wikkednesse & sinne so orrible aȝeines god; god it for-bede ¶ Alas al to litel is suche treuþe no wey founde; [882] ¶ þe þredde harme is þe felþe þoruhe whiche þei breken þ^e commandement of god. & defoulen þe autere of here matrimoygne þat is criste; [883] ¶ For certes in so muche þat þe sacrament of Mariage is so noble & so digne So muche it is þe gretter sinne for to breke it; ¶ For god maad mariage in paradise; in þestate of Innocence to multeplie mankynde to þe seruice [folio 249b] of god; [884] & þerfore is þe brekeinge þere-of greuous; Of whiche brekeynge commeþ fals heires often time þat wrongefully occupien oþer mennes heritage; And þere fore wil criste put

[6-text p 665] hem oute of þe Regne of heven þat is þe herytage to good folke [885] Of þis brekeinge commeþe eke oft times þat folke vnware wedden or sinnen wiþ here owen kynred; & namely þil harlotes þat hanten bordels; Of þes foole wemmen þat maie bu likned to a comune gonge where as men purgen here ordur; [886] what saie we eke of poytours þat lyuen bi þe orrible sinne of puytrye And constreyned wemmen ȝe somme time his owen wif; or his childe as done þes baudes to ȝelden hem a serteine rente of her bodely putrye ¶ Certes þes bien cursed sinnes; [887] ¶ Vnderstandeþ eke þat aduoutre is sette gladly in þe ten commandementes; by-tuex þeft & man|slawhter For it is þe gretest þeft þat may be; For it is þe þefte of body & soule; [888] & it is ylike homicide for it kerueþe a tuo; & brekeþ atuo hem þat first weren ymaked o flesche And þere-fore by þe olde lawe þei scholde be sleyne; [889] ¶ Bot naþeles be þe lawe of ihesu crist þat is þe lawe of pite whan he seide to þe womman þat was fou[n]den in aduoutre; and scholde haue slawe with stones after þe will of þe Iewes as was her lawe; ¶ Go quod ihesu criste & haue no more will to do sinne; or willen no more to do sinne; [890] Soþely þe vengeance of advoutre is awarded to þe peyne of hell; bot it bue distroubled be penance. [891] ¶ ȝette bien þere mo spyces of þis cursed sinne as whan þat one of hem is religious or elles boþe; Or of folke þat bien entred vnto order as subdecane & deken; or preste or hospitaleres; And euer þe hyer þat he is in ordre þe gretter is þe sinne; [892] ¶ þe þinges þat gretely agregen his sinne is þe brekeinge of his avowe of chastite whan he receyueþ ordre [893] ¶ And forþere ouere soþe is þat holy holy ordere is chef of al þe tresoure of god; & his especial sinne & merke of chastite to schewe þat þei bien Ioyned to chastite; whiche þat is þe most precious lif þat is [894] ¶ And eke þes ordred folke bien specialy titlyd to god; = & of þe

[6-text p 666] special meyne of god; = ffor whiche whan þei done dedely sinne þei bien þe special traytours of god & of his peple; for þe leven of þe peple to preie for þe peple; ¶ And while þere biene suche traitours Here preyerȝ availeþ nouht to þe peple [895] ¶ Pristes bien as aungels as by þe dignete of here mysterie; ffor soþe seint Poule seiþe; þat Sathanas transformeþe him in Angel of lihte; [896] ¶ Soþelye þe preste þat haunteþ sinne may bue lykned to þe angel of derkenesse transformed in þe Angel of lyht; ¶ He semeþ an Angel of liht; Bot for soþe he is an Angell of derknesse [897] ¶ Suche prestes bien þe sonnes of of Belye. As scheweþe in þe boke of Kynges þat þei weren þe sonnes of belial þat is þe deuel; [898] Belyall is to seyne withowten Iuge; & so faren þei hem þenken þei bien fre & han none Iuge no more þan haþe a fre boll þat takeþ whiche kowe þat him likeþ in þe toune; [899] so faren þei bue wymmen; ffor riht as a fre boll is ynouhe for al a toune [folio 250a] Riht so is a wykked priste corruped ynowhe for al a parische or al a contre // [900] þes prestes as seine þe boke ne konne nouht mynisterye of prestehode to þe peple; ne god ne knoweþ hem nouht; þei ne halde hem not apaide as seiþe þe boke of soþen flesche þat was to hem offred; ¶ Bot þei toke be force þe flesche þat is rowe; [901] Certes riht so þes schrewes ne holden hem nouȝt apaiede of Roste flesche & soþen flesche wiþ þ^e whiche þe peple fedden hem in grete reuerence; Bot þei woll haue rowe flesche as mennes wyves & here douhtern; [902] And certes þes wemmen þat consenten to here harlotries done grete wronges to criste & to holy chirche & to all halowes & to al sowels; ffor þei be-reven al þes him þat schold worschipen criste & holy cherche & pray fo[r] all cristen sowles; [903] And þerfore haue suche prestes & here lemmans eke þat consenten to here lycherye þe malison of þe courte cristen til þei comme to amendement.

[6-text p 667] [904] ¶ þe þred spice of aduoutre is sumtime betwene a man & his wif & þat is whan þei taken no rewarde in here assemblynge bot onely in his ffleschely delite as seiþ seinte Ierom; [905] & ne reken of noþinge bot att þei bien assembled be cause þei bien ymaride; al is good ynouhe as þinkeþ to hem; [906] Bot in suche folk haþe þe deuel pouere as seide þe Angel Raphael to thobie. = ffor in hire assemblynge þei puten oute iheus criste of here hert & ȝaff hem self to al ordour [907] ¶ þe ferþe spice is þe assemblynge of hem þat bien of her kinrede or of hem þat bien of one affinite or elles wiþ hem; with whiche hire fadres or here kinred haþe deled wyþþe inne þe sinne of licherie; þis sinne makeþ hem like houndes þat taken no kepe of kinred; [908] ¶ And certes Parentela is in tuo maners owþer gostely; oþere flesslye; Gostly as for to delen wiþ her gossebes. [909] For riht so as he . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] is his godfader; he is his fader spirituele; For whiche a womman maie in no lesse sinne assemble wiþ hire gossib þat with hire owen ffleschely broþere; [910] ¶ þe fifte spice is þilke abhomynable sinne of whiche þat no man vnneþes ouht write or speke; ¶ Neþeles it is openly rehersed in holy writte; [911] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] to speke of orrible sinne; certes holy writte may not bue defoulede nomore þan þe sonne þat schineþ on a mexen. [912] ¶ Anoþere sinne þat pertineþ to licherye þat commeþ in slepeinge; & þis sinne commeþ oft to hem þat biene maydens; And eke to hem þat bien corrupt ¶ & þis sinne men clepen pollucione þat commeþ in .iiij. maners; [913] somme time of a languysseinge of bodye for þe humers bien to rank & abundant in þe body of a man; Sumtyme for þe infermete for þe feblenesse of þe vertue retentif as phisik makeþ mencion; Somtim for forfete of mete & drinke; [914] And sume time for

[6-text p 668] violence þouhtes þat bien enclosed in mannes mynde whan he goþe to slepe whiche may not bue with outen sinne; For whiche he may noȝt kepe him wiselye; or elles maie men sinne ful greuously

[The Remedy against Lechery.]

[915] ¶ Nowe comeþ remedy aȝeines lycherye & þat is generaly chastite & continence; þat re|freyneþ. [folio 250b] al þe disordeine meueinges þat comen of flesscly talanteȝ; [916] And euere þ[e] grete merite shal he haue þat moste restreyneþ þe wykkede eschau|feinges of ordur of þis sinne; & þis is in tuo maners; þat is for to seyn; chastite of Mariage & chastite of wydewhede;// [917] Now schalt þou knowe þat matrimony is leful assemblynge of man & womman þat receyue be vertue of sacrament þe bande þoruhe whiche þei maie not bu departed al here lif; þat is to sey whiles þei leuen boþe; [918] ¶ þis is as seiþe þe boke a ful gret sacrament; God maked it as .I. haue seide in paradise; & wolde him self bu borne in mariage; [919] ¶ And for to halowen mariage he was at wedynge where as he torned water vnto wyne; whiche was þe firste miracle þat he wrouhte here in erþe befor his deciples; [920] trewe effecte of Mariage clenseþ fornicacion; & replenyscheþ holy chirche of good lignage; for as þe ende of Mariage & it chaungeþ dedly sinne in to veniale be-twex hem þat biene wedded; & makeþ þe hertes alone. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [921] þis is þe verrey maryage þat is ystabist be god; ere þat sinne beganne; whan natural lawe was in his riht pointe in paradise ¶ And it ordeynede þat o mān schold haue bot o womman; & o womman bott o mān; as seiþ seint Austine be mony resones;

[922] first for þat Mariage is figured betuex man &

[6-text p 669] holy chirche; And þat oþere is for aman is þe hede of þe womman algate be ordinance it scholde be so; [923] ¶ For if a womman had mo men þan one; þan schold sche haue mo hedes þan one; & þat were an orrible þinge to for god; ¶ An eke one womman ne myht nouht pleise to mony folke att ones; And also þere ne scholde neuer be pes ne rest amonges hem; ffor eueryche wold axe his owen þinge; [924] And forþer more no man schold knowe his owen en|gendrure ne who scholde haue his heritage; And þe womman scholde þe lasse be louede ffro þe time þat sche were comune to mony men;

[925] ¶ Nowe commeþ howe þat aman scholde bere him wiþ his wif; & namely in tuo þinges þat is to seye in suffrance & in reuerence; And þat schewd first criste whan he maade first womman; [926] ffor he maad hir nouht of þ^e hede of Adam for sche scholde nouȝt haue to grete lordschipe; [927] ffor þere as þ^e womman haþe þe maystre sche makeþ to mekel disaraye; þere nede none ensamples of þis ¶ Thexperience of þis day be day ouhte suffice [928] ¶ Also certes god ne maad noȝt womman of þe foote of Adam; ffor sche schold nouȝt be holden to lowe ffor sche cannot paciently suffur;= Bot god maad womman of þe ribbe of Adam. ffor womman scholde be felawe vnto man; [929] ¶ A man schold bere him to his wif in feiþe in trouþe & in loue; as seiþe seint Poule; þat aman schol loue his wif; As criste loueþ holy chirche þat loued it so wele þat he dyed for it; So schal aman for his wif If it were nede

[930] ¶ Nowe howe þat a womman schold be soubiette to her Husbonde þat telleþ seint Peter; . . . [no gap in the MS.] [931] And eke as seiþe þe decree. A womman as longe as sche is a wyf sche haþe non auctorite to swere ne to bere wittenesse wiþ outen leue of here husbonde þat is hire lorde it scholde be so by reson; [932] Sche scholde eke serue him in all

[6-text p 670] honeste & ben atempre of here [folio 251a] araye; I. wote wele þat þei scholden sette hire entente to plese her hus|bondes bot not by here qweyntise of araye; [933] ¶ Seint Ierom; seiþ; þat wyues þat bien appareled in silke ne mowen nouht cloþen hem in ihesu criste; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [934] Seint gregori seiþ eke þat no wight sekeþ precious araye bot onely veinglorie to be honoured þe more to for þe peple; [935] ¶ It is a grete foly a womman to haue a grete araye outewarde and her self bue foule inwarde; [936] A wif scholde eke be mesurable in lokeynge & in bereinge & in lawheinge; & discrete in al here wordes & here dedes; [937] and abouen al werldly þinges sche scholde loue her housbonde wiþ al her hert; & to him be trewe of hire bodye; [938] So schold an husbond eke be trewe vnto his wif; ffor seþine þat al þe body is þe hosbondes; so schold her hertes bien; Or elles þere is be tuex hem tuo; as in þat no parfit mariage [939] ¶ þan schal aman vnder|stonde þat for þre þinges aman & his wif aman & his wif mowen assemblen; ¶ þe first is in entente of engen|drure of children to þe seruice of god; ¶ For certes þat is þe cause fynal of Matrymoyne; [940] Anoþere is to ȝelde eueryche of hem to oþere þe dette of his bodye; ffor neyþere of hem haþ powere of his owen bodye; The þredde is to eschiew lichery & velanye; ¶ þe ferþe forsoþe is dedly sinne; [941] ¶ As to þe first it is meritorye; = þe secunde also; ffor as seiþe þe decree. ¶ þat chasiþ merite of chastite þat ȝeldeþ to her husbonde þe dette of hire bodye; ȝe þouhe it be aȝeine hir lykeinge & þe lust of here herte; [942] ¶ þe þred manere is veniale An trewly scarcely maye any of þes bue with outen venial sinne for þe corrupcion & for þ^e delite; [943] ¶ þe ferþe manere is for to vnderstonde; and if þe assemble onelye for amerous loue & for none of þe forseide causes bot

[6-text p 671] for accomplice þilke birneinge delite; þei rekken neuer howe often soþely it is a dedely synne; ¶ And ȝitte with sorwe som folke will peynen hem more þan her appetite suffriþ;

[944] ¶ þe secunde Manere of chastie; is to be aclene wydowe & to eschewe þenbraseinge of man; & to desiren þenbrasinges of ihesu crist; [945] ¶ Thes bien þo þat haue bue wyves; & haue for gone here hus|bondes ¶ And eke wemmen þat haue done lycherye & bien releued by penance; [946] And certez if þat a wif couþe keper al chaste be lycence of hire husbonde so þat sche nere none occasion þat he a-gilte it were to hire a grete merite; [947] ¶ Thes manere of wemmen þat obseruen chastite moste bue clene in herte as wele as in body; & in þouht; & mesurable in cloþeinge & in countenance; Abstinent in etynge & drinkeinge in spekeinge // & in dede; & þan is sche þe vessel of þe boyste of þe blissed Magdalene þat fulfilleþ holy chirche ful of good odoure; [948] ¶ þe þredde maner chastite is virginite; ¶ And it be-houeþ þat sche be holy in herte & clene of body; þan is sche spouse to ihesu crist; ¶ And sche is þe lif of Angels; [949] sche is þe preiseinge of þis werld; And sche is as þes martires in Regalite; Sche haþe in hire þat tunge may not tell; [950] virginite bare oure lorde ihesu crist & virgine was him self;

[951] ¶ Anoþere remede aȝeines licherie is to wiþ draw suche þinges þat ȝeuen occacion to þilke velany; As ese. & eteynge & drinkeinge; ffor certez whan. [folio 251b] þe potte boyleþ strongelye þe best remedye is to with|drawe þ^e fire; [952] Slepeinge lange in grete quiete is eke a grete norische to licherye;

[953] ¶ Anoþere remedye aȝeines lycherie is þat a womman or a man eschiewe compaignye of hem be wiche he douteþ to be tempted; ffor albeit so þat þe dede be with-stande ȝite is þere grete temptacione;

[6-text p 672] [954] Soþely a white wall alþouhe it birne nouht ffully be stykynge of a candel; ȝit is þe wal blakke of þe leyte [955] ful oft time; ¶ .I. rede þat noman truste in his owen perfeccione; bot he be st[r]onger þan Sampson. Holiere þan Dauid. wiser þan Salomon

[956] ¶ Nowe after þat .I. haue declared ȝowe as .I. can of þe vij. dedely sinnes and sume of here braunches & her remedies; Soþe if; y. couþe .I. wolde tel ȝowe þe ten. commandementes; [957] Bot so hihe a dottrine .I. lete to devines; Naþeles .I. hope to god þei bien touched in þis tretise eueryche of hem all

De .2^a. part penitencie

[958]

NOw for as muche as þe secunde parte of penite; stant in confessioun of mouþe; as .I. began in þe chapetre; I. seye seint Austine seiþe; [959] Sinne is euery worde & euery dede & al þat men coueyten aȝeines þe lawe of ihesu criste; and þis for to sinne in herte in mouþe & in dede. be þine .v. wittes þat bien siht hereinge smelinge tasteinge or saueringe & feleinge. [960] ¶ Nowe is it goode to vnderstond þe circumstance þat aggregen muchel euery sinne [961] ¶ þou schalt consider what þou ert þat dost þe sinne wheþere þou be male or female. ȝonge or olde. gentil or þrall. free or seruant hole or seke; wedded or sengel. orderde or nouȝt wise or fool. Clerke or seculer; [962] if sche be of þi kinred bodely or gostely or none; If any of þi kinred haue sinned wiþ hire or none; & mony moo þinges;

[963] ¶ þe oþere circumstance is þis; wheþer it be done in fornicacione or none; Or in aduoutre; or inceste or none; Mayden or none; In manere of homicide or none orrible grete sinne or smal. An howe longe þou continued in sinne = [964] þ^e þred circumstance is þe place where þou haste done sinne; Wheþere in oþere

[6-text p 673] mennes hous or in þine owen In felde or in cherche or in chirche hawe In chirche dedicate or none; [965] For if þe cherche were halowed and man or womman spilled his kinde in wiþ þat place be waye of sinne or be wykked temptacione þe chirche were enterdited; til it were reconsiled be þe Bischop; [966] And þe priste scholde be enterdited þat dide suche a velanye to terme of al his lif; he scholde no more singe masse; & if he dide he schold do dedely sinne; att euery time at euery time att he sange masse; [967] ¶ þe ferþe circumstance is be whiche mediat|ours as be messangeres or for enticement or for enticement or for consentment to bere compaigne wiþ felawschipe; ffor mony a wrecche for to bere compaigny wil go to þe deuel of hell [968] ¶ For þei þat eggen or con|senten to þe sinne bien partiners of þe sinne & of þe dampnacion of þe sinner

[969] ¶ þe .v. is; howe monye times þat he haþ sinned; & it be in his mynde; & howe oft þat he haþe fall; [970] ffor he þat oft falleþ in sinne dispiceþ þe mercie of god; And encreseþ his sinne & is vnkinde to god; & he wexeþ þe more feble to wiþstonde sinne; and sinneþ þe more lyhtlyer [971] [folio 252a] and þe latter ariseþ; and is þe more eschewe to schriven him & namely to him þat haþe bue his Con|fessour;// [972] ffor whiche þat folke when þei fall aȝeine in here olde folyes oft þei for-leten here confessours al vtterlye or elles þei departen her scrift in diuers place; Bot soþely suche departed schrift deseueþ no mercy of god of his sinnes; [973] ¶ þe vj^e. Circum|stance is þis; whi þat a man sinneþ as be whiche temptacion; And if him self procure þilk temptacione or be ex|citinge of oþere folke or if þou sinne wiþ a womman be force or be hir owen assent [974] or if þe womman mawgre hire hede haþe bue enforced or none þis schal ȝe tell; ffor couetise or for pouerte; & if it was here procureinge or none & suche manere

[6-text p 674] harneys [975] ¶ þe .vij. circumstance is in what manere he haþ done his sinne or none or howe þat he haþ suffryd howe folke han don to hire; [976] of þe same schal þe man tel pleynely al circumstance & where he haþ sinned; with commune bordel wymmen or none [977] or done his sinne in holy times or none; in fast|inge times or none or be-forne his schrift or aftere his latter schrift [978] & haþ^e par aduenture broken þere-fore his penance enioyned. by whos & whos consel. by sorcery or craft; al must be tolde [979] þes þinges after þat þei bien grete & smale Engregen þe conscience of man; & eke þe þreste þat is þi Iuge may þe better bue avised of his Iugement in ȝeueinge of þine penaunce; And þat is after þine contricione; [980] ¶ For vnderstandeþ wele þat after þe time þat aman haþe defouled his Baptime by sinne if he wil comme to saluacion; þere is none oþere weye bot be penytence & schrift & satisfactione. [981] And namely by þo tuo; if þere be a confessour to whiche he may schriue him ¶ And þe þred if he haue lif to performe it;

[982] þan schal man loke & consider if he wil make a trewe & profitable confessione þere moste bue foure condiciones; = [983] Firste it must be in sorwful bitternesse of hert ¶ As seiþe þe kinge ezechiel; = To god .I. wil remembre me al ȝe ȝeres of my lif in bitternesse of myne herte; [984] ¶ þis condicioun of bitter|nesse haþe .v. signes; þe first is þat confession most be schamefaste not for to kouerne ne to hiden his sinne; = bot for he haþ a-gilte his god & defouled his soule; [985] And here of seiþ seinte Austine; ¶ The hert travaileþ for schame of his sinne; & for he haþe grete schamfastnes he is digne to haue grete mercye; [986] whiche was þe confession of þe puplicane þat wolde not heue vp his eyȝen to heuen; ffor he hadde offended god of heuen; ffor whiche schamfastnesse he had anone þe mercy of god [987] ¶ And þerefore seiþ

[6-text p 675] seint Austine. þat suche schamefast folke bien next for-ȝeuenesse & remission [988] ¶ þat oþere signe is humilite of confessione; of whiche seiþe seint Petre. Vmbleþ ȝow vnder þe miht of of god; ¶ þe honde of god is myhti in confession; For þereby god fo[r]ȝeueþ þe sinnes; for he alon haþ þe powere; [989] & þis humylite schal be in herte & in signe outewarde; For riht as he haþ humylite to god in his herte. Riht so schold he humblen his body outwarde to þe preste þat sitteþ in [folio 252b] goddes place; [990] for whiche in no maner seþen þat crist is souereigne; & þe preste mene & mediatour be tuex criste & þe sinner; And þe sinner is þe last be weie of resoun; [991] þan scholde not þ^e sinner sitte also hihe as his confessour bot knele be-forne him or att his fete bot if malady distourbe it; for he schal not take kepe who sitteþ þere bot in wos place þat he sitteþ; [992] ¶ A man þat haþ trespassed to alorde & commeþe to axe mercye; & maken his accorde & sitte him doune anone by þe lorde; men wolde holde him outrageous & nouht worþi so sone to haue remissione ne mercye; [993] ¶ þe .iij. signe is þat þi schrift scholde be ful of teres if man may wepe; And if man maie not wepe wiþ his bodely eyȝen lat him wepe in his herte; [994] Suche was þe confessione of seinte Peter; ffor after þat he hadde for saake ihesu criste he went oute & weppet ful bitterly; [995] ¶ þe; iiij. signe is þat he let not for his schame to schewe his confessione. [996] Suche was þe confession of þe Magdaleyn for sche spared for no schame of hem þat weren att þe fest for to go to oure lorde ihesu criste; & be-knowe to him hire sinne [997] ¶ þe .v.^te signe þat aman or womman be obeisant to receyue þe penance þat is him enioynede; ¶ For certes ihesu criste for þe giltes of o man was obediente to þe deþe

[998] ¶ þe secunde condicion of verreye confessi[on] is þat it be hastily done; For certes if aman had a dedly wounde euer þe langer þat he tarieþ to warische

[6-text p 676] him self; þe more wolde it corrupte; and haste him to his deþe & eke þe wounde wolde be þe wers for to hele;// [999] And riht so fareþ sinne þat longe time is in a man vnschewde; [1000] Certes aman ouht hastely to schewe his sinne for mony cause as for drede of deþe þat commeþ oft sodanly; & is in no certeine what time it schal be ne in no place; and eke þe drecchinge of o sinne draweþ ine anoþere [1001] & eke þe longer þat he tarieþ þ^e ferþere is he fro criste; & if he abide vnto his last daye skarsly may he schriue him or amend him for his sinnes or repent him for þe greuous malady of his deþe; [1002] ¶ And for as muche as he haþ nouhte in his lif herkened ihesu criste whan he haþe spoken vn to him; he schal crien vnto oure lorde ihesu criste att his last daye; And scarsely wil he herken him [1003] ¶ Vnder stonde þat þis condicione most haue foure þinges; þi schrift moste bien purveide be-forne & avised; = for wykked haste doþe no prophete & þat aman con schriue him. of his sinnes be it of pride eyþere of envie; An so forþe wiþ þe spices & þe circumstaunces; [1004] And þat he haue comprehended in his mynde þ^e nombre & þe gretnesse of his sinnes; & howe longe þat he haþ leyne in sinne [1005] & eke þat he bue contrite of his sinnes; And in stedfast purpos by þe grace of god neuere efte to fal a-ȝeine in sinne; And eke þat he drede & contrewaite him self þat he flie þe occasione of sinne to whiche he is enclined. [1006] ¶ Also þat þou schal schriue þ^e of al þi sinnes to oman; & nouht parcel mele to oman & parcel mele to a noþere man; þat is to vnderstonde in entent to parten þine confessione as for schame or drede; for it is bot [folio 253a] bot stranglinge of þine soule ¶ [1007] For certes ihesu criste is al goode; In him is none imperfeccione; & þerfore euer he for-ȝeueþ perfytlye or elles neuer a dele. [1008] ¶ I saye note if þou be assigned to þe penitancere of certeyne sinne þat þou ert bounden to schew him al þe remenant of þⁱ sinnes of whiche

[6-text p 677] þou hast bue schreuen att þi Curate; bot if it like þe of þine humylite ¶ þis is no depar[t]inge of schreft; = [1009] ne .I. saye not þere as .I. speke of diuision of confes|sione if þat þou haue lycence for to schriue þe to a discrete & an honeste preste; & where þe likeþe // & be þe licence eke of þine curate þat þou ne maiste wel schriue þe of al þi sinnes [1010] bot late no blot bue by-hinde; lete no sinne vntolde as fer as þou haste remem|brance; [1011] ¶ And whan þou schalte bu schriuen of þⁱ Curate. Tel him eke of al þe sinnes þat þou hast done; seþþe þou were last y-schryuen; as þis is þe wikked entent of deuysion of schrift

[1012] ¶ Also þe verrey schrift axeþ certeyne con|diciones.= First þat þou schriue þe be þi fre wyl nouht constreyned ne for schame of folke ne for malady or suche þinges; ¶ For it is reson þat he þat trespas be his fre will . . . . [no gap in the MS.] confesse his trespace; [1013] None oþere man schatel his sinne bot he him self; ne schal noȝt nay it or denye his sinne; ne wreþþe hime aȝeines þe preste for his amonyscheynge to lete sinne [1014] ¶ þe condicion is þat þi schrift be lawful; þat is to sey þou þat schryueþ þe; & eke þe preste þat hereþ þⁱ confession bien verrei in þe fayþe of holy cherche [1015] ¶ And þat aman be nouht despeirede of þe mercie of ihesu criste; as Kayme or Iudas [1016] ¶ And eke aman most accuse him of his owen trespas; & nouht a noþere; bot he schal blame & wyten him self of his owen malice of his sinne & none oþere [1017] Bot naþeles if anoþere man bue encheson or entyseþ of his sinnes; Or þat if þe state of a persone bu suche þoruhe whiche his sinne is agregede or elles þat he may not pleynely schriuen him bot he tel þe persone whiche he haþe sinned wiþ þen maye he tel it [1018] so þat is entent ne be not to bakbite þe person; bot onely to declare his con|fession;

[6-text p 678]

[1019] þou schalt not eke make no lesinge in þi confessione; ffor humilite peraduenture to seie þat þou hast done sinnes of whiche þou were neuer gilte [1020] ¶ For seinte seiþe; If þou because of humylite makest lesinge of þi self þouhe þou ne were nouȝt in sinne a forne ȝit ert þou þan in sinne þoruhe þi lessinges [1021] ¶ þou muste eke schewe þi sinne by þi propre mouþe bot þou be wax domme; & nouht be no letter; ffor þou þat hast don sinne þou schalt haue þe same confesse [1022] ¶ þou schalt nouȝt eke peynte þi confession be faire & subtile wordes to keuer þe more þi sinne; ffor þan begiles þou þi self & not þe priste; þou most tel it platlye be it neuere so foule ne so orrible; [1023] þou schalt schriue þe eke to a priste þat is discrete to counseil þe; & eke þou schalt nouht schriue þe for veyne glorye ne for ypocrisye ne for no cause bott onely for þe deute of ihesu criste; & þ^e hele of þi soule; [1024] ¶ þou schalt not eke rinne to þe priste al sodenly to tel him þine sinne as who so telleþ a Iape or a tale; bo avysyly & wiþe grete deuocyon; [1025] & generaly schriue þe ofte. [folio 253b] if often fall of arise be confessione; [1026] & if þou schriue þe ofter þan ones of sinne of whiche þou haste bue schryuen it is þe more merite & as seiþe seint Austine; þou schalte haue þe more lyhtly relesinge & þe grace of god boþe of sinne & of peyne; [1027] An certes ones a ȝere att þe lest weye it is lawful for to bue houselde; for soþely ones al þinges renouellen;

De Satisfaccione

[1028]

NOw haue .I. tolde of verrey confession þat is þe secunde parte of penitence;

[6-text p 679]

[1029] ¶ þe þredde parte of penitence is satisfaccione; & þat stant generaly in almes & in bodely peyne; [1030] Nowe bien þere. þrey manere of almes; contricion of hert þat a man openneþ him self to god; Anoþere; is to haue pete of þe defaute of his neyhbours; ¶ þe þred is in ȝeueinge good counsel & comfort gostly & bodelye where men haue nede; & namely in sustinance of mannes foode; [1031] & take kepe þat a man haþe nede of þes þinges generaly; he haþe nede of foode of cloþinge of herboruhe; he haþe nede of charitable conselyng & avisetinge in prison; & maladye; & sepulture of his dede bodye; [1032] & if þou maiste not viset þe nedefoll wiþ þi persone; viset him wiþ messages & þi ȝeftes;// [1033] þes bien þe general almes & werkes of charite of hem þat haþ Temperel riches or discrecion in counselinge; ¶ Of þes werkes schalt þou here of þe daie of dome;

[1034] þes almos schal þou done of þine owen propre þinges; And hastely & priuely if þou maiste [1035] ¶ Bot naþeles if þou maye nouht done hit priuelye þou schalt nouht for bere to done almos nere adel þouhe men it see; So þat it be nouht ydo for þe þonke of þe werlde; bot onely to haue þe þonke of oure lorde ihesu crist ¶ [1036] For as wittenesse seint Mathewe .5. A Cite maie not bue hidde þat is on a mowntan sette; Ne men lyhten not a lanterne; & put it vnder a buschell; bot men setteþ it on a candel|stik to lyhten þe men in þe house; [1037] Riht so schal ȝoure liht aforne men þat þei maie seene ȝoure good werkes; and glorifien ȝoure fader þat is in heuen

[1038] ¶ Nowe as to speke of bodely peine it stant in preyer. in wakeinges in fastinge & in vertuus

[6-text p 680] techeinge of orisons [1039] ¶ Ȝe schol vnder stonde þat orisons or preyers is for to seye a pytous wil of hert þat redresseþ in god & expresseþ be worde outewarde to remowe harmes; & to haue þinges espirituel & durable; & somtyme temperal þinges of whiche orisones; certez in þe orsones of þe pater noster haþe ihesu criste enclosed most þinges; [1040] Certes it is priueleged of þrey þinges in his dignite For whiche it is more digne þan any oþere preyere; ffor þat ihesu crist him self maked it; [1041] & it is schorte for it scholde be konde more lihtlye & for to wiþe-holde it more esily in herte; & helpen hem self þoffter wiþ þorison; [1042] And for aman schold be þe lasse were to sey it; And for a man may nouht excusen him to leren it for it is so schort & so Esye & for it comprehendiþ in it selfe al goode preyers; [1043] ¶ þe exposicioun of þis holy preyer þat is so excellent & digne .I. be-take to þes Maystres of Theologie saue þus muche wil .I. seyne; þat whan þou preyest. [folio 254a] þat god schold for ȝeuen þe þi giltes as þou forȝeuest ham [[MS. h^am]] þat agilten þe be ful wil; war þat þou be not oute of charite; [1044] ¶ þis holy orison amenuseþ eke venyal sinne; And þerefor it apperteneþ specialy to penytence;

[1045] ¶ þis preyer most bu trewly seide in verray faiþe & þat men prey to god ordinately; dis|cretely & deuoutely; ¶ Alweye aman schal put his wille to be subiecte to þe wil of god; [1046] ¶ þis orison most eke be seide with grete humblesse & pure honestly. & nouht to anoyance of any man; or womman. ¶ It moste eke be continued with þ^e werkes of charite; = [1047] It avayleþ eke aȝeynes þe vices of þe soule; ¶ For as seiþe seint Ierom; Be fastinge bien saued þe vices of flesche; & be preiers þe vices of soule;

[1048] After þis þou schalt vnderstand þat bodely peyne stant in wakeynge; ¶ For ihesu criste seiþe; wakeþ & prayeþ þat ȝe ne enter in wikked

[6-text p 681] temptacione. [1049] ȝe scholn vnder stand þat ffast|inge stant in þre þinges; = In for beringe of bodely mete & drinke; & in for beringe of werldly Iolytees; & in for|beringe of dedely sinne; þis is to seye þat aman schal kepe him fro dedely sinne; wiþ al his myht;

[1050] ¶ And þou schalt vnderstand eke þat god ordeyned fastinges; And to fastinges appartenen .iiij. þinges; [1051] largenesse to pouer folke; Gladnesse of hert espirituel: nouȝht to be angred ne to be anoyed; ne to grocche for he fasteþ; and also att resonable owre for to ete be mesure; þat is to saye þat aman schold nouht eten in vntyme ne sitte þe langer att his table for he fasteþ;

[1052] ¶ þan schalt þou vnderstand þat bodely peyne stant in discipline or techeinge be worde or be writeinge; or by ensample; Also in wereinge of heyres eyþere of Stamyne; eyþ[er]e of haberione on here naked flesshe for criste sake & suche manere penaunces; [1053] Bot ware þe wele þat suche manere penaunces make nouȝt þine herte bitter or angry anoyed of þine self ¶ For better is to kast awaie þine heire þan for to cast awey þe swettnes of oure lorde; ihesu criste [1054] ¶ And þerefore seiþe seinte poule; Cloþe ȝowe as þei þat bien chosen of god in hert of mysericorde debonarte; suffrance. And suche maner of cloþinge; of whiche ihesu criste is more appaied þan of heyre or of Aberion;

[1055] ¶ þan is discipline eke in knokynge on þⁱ breste; in scouregeinge with ȝerdes in knelyinge in tribulacions; [1056] In suffringe paciently wronges þat bien done to him; & eke in pacient suffrance of Maledies or lesinge of werldly Catel; or wyf or childe or oþere frendes;

[1057] ¶ þan schal þou vnderstande wiche þinge distourben penance; & þis is in þre maners þat is drede schame hope; & wanhope; þat is desperacione; [1058] And for to speken firste of drede; for whiche he

[6-text p 682] weneþ þat he may suffur no penaunce [1059] þere aȝeines is remedye for to þinke þat bodely penaunce is bot schort & lytel att þe regard of þe peyne of hell þat is cruel & so longe þat it lasteþ wiþ outen ende;

[1060] ¶ Now aȝeines þe schame þat aman haþe to schryuen him; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [1061] Aȝeines þe schame schal a man þinke þat by þe waye of resoun þat he þat haþe nouht bue aschamed to do foule þinges; Certes him ouhte not [folio 254b] bue aschamed to do faire þinges & goode þinges; & þat is confessions; [1062] Aman schold þinke þat god seþe & wote al his þouhtes & his werkes; to him maie noþinge bu hudde ne couerde; [1063] Men scholde eke remembre hem of þe schame þat is to come att þ^e daie of dome to hem þat biene nouȝt penitence & lif in present lif; [1064] ¶ For al þe creatures in heuen in erþe & in hell scholne seen apertely al þat hiden in þis werlde;

[1065] Nowe for to speke of þe hope of hem þat bien so neclygent & slowe to schriuen ham it stant in tuo maners; [1066] þat on is; þat he hopeþ to leue longe; & for to purchase muchel riches for his delite & þan he wil schriue hime as he seiþe; he maie as him semeþ timely ynouhe comme to schrifte; [1067] ¶ Anoþere is of þe surquydrye þat he haþe in haþe in cristes mercye; [1068] And aȝeines þe first he schal þinke þat oure lif is in no sekernesse; & eke þat al þe reches in þe werlde bien in aduenture & passinge as a schadowe on a wal [1069] ¶ And as seiþe seinte Gregorie; þat it apparteneþ to þe grete rihtwisnesse of god; þat neuere schal þe peine stinte of hem þat neuere wolde withdrawe hem fro sinne here þankes bot euer continue in sinne; ¶ For þilke perpetuele wil to do sinne scholne þei haue perpetuel peyne;

[1070] ¶ Whanhope is in tuo maners ¶ þe first whan|hope is in þe mercye of criste; þat oþere is þat þei

[6-text p 683] þenke þat þei myht nouht longe perseuerne in good|nesse; [1071] ¶ þe first wanhope commeþ of þat he demeþ þat he haþ sinned so gretely; so ofte & so longe lyggen in sinne þat he schal nouht be sauede; [1072] ¶ Certeȝ aȝeines þat cursed wanhope he schold þinke þat þe passion of ihesu criste is more stronge for to vnbynde; þan sinne is for to binde; [1073] ¶ And aȝeines þe secunde wanhope; he schal þinke þat as oft as he falleþe he schal arisen be penitence; And þouhe he neuer so longe haue lyen in sinne; þe mercye of criste is alwey redy to receyuen him to mercye; [1074] ¶ Aȝeynes þe wanhope þat he demeþ þat he schold nouht longe perseuere in goodnes; He schal þinke þat þe febelne of þe deuel may noþinge done bot men wil suffren him; [1075] ¶ And eke he schal haue streynkeþ of god & of al holy chirche & of þe proteccions of Angels if him luste;

[1076] ¶ þan schol men vndirstande what is þe fruyte of penaunce as after þe worde of ihesu criste; It is þe Endeles blisse of heuen [1077] þere Ioye haþe none contrariouste of woo ne greuance þere all harmes bien passed of þis present lif; = þere as is þ^e sekernesse fro þe peyne of hell; = þere as þe blisful compaignie þat reioysen hem euermore; Eueryche of oþeres Ioye; [1078] þere as þ^e body of man þat whilom was foule & derke; is more clere þan is þe sonne ¶ þere as whilom þe body was seeke & frele; & mortale is vnmortale; & so strange & so hole; þat þere maye no þinge empeyre it; [1079] þere as neyþere is hunger þurst ne colde; Bot euery soule replenyscheþ with þe siht of þe perfit knoweynge of god. [1080] ¶ þis blisfull Regne may man purchace be pouerte espirituell & þe glorie be lowe|nesse; þe plentee of Ioye be hunger & þerste; & þe reste be trauayle; & þ^e lyf be deþ; & mortificacione of sinne;

[6-text p 684]

To þilke lif he vs bringe þat bouht vs wiþ his precious blode AmeN /

Explicit Fabula. Rectoris

Composito huius libri hic capit licenciam. suam.

[1081]

NOw preye .I. to hem all þat herken þis litel tretis or rede; þat if þere bue any þinge in it þat likeþ hem; þat þere of þei þonken oure lorde ihesu criste of whome procedeþ al wite & al goodenesse. [1082] ¶ And if þere be any þinge þat displesen hem .I. preye hem also þat þei arette it to þe defaute of myne vnkonynge: & n[ot] to my will. þat wolde fulfeyne haue seide better. if .I. hadd konynge; [1083] For oure booke seyþe al þat is wreten is writen for oure doctrine & þat is myne entent [1084] ¶ Whare for .I. be seke ȝowe mekely att þe mercye of god; þat ȝe praye for me / þat criste haue mercie on me; & forȝeue me my gultes; [1085] And namely of my translaciones & endite|ynges of werldly vanytees ¶ þe whiche .I. reuoke in my re|tractions [1086] ¶ As is / þe booke of Troyles; ¶ The booke also of fame þe booke of xv ladyes ¶ þe booke of þe Duchesse; þe booke of seint valentynes day & of þe parlement of birdes ¶ þe tales of Cantur|bury þilke þat sounen in to sinne [1087] ¶ þe booke of þe lyon; And moni anoþere booke if þei were in myne remembraunce & mony a songe; & mony a lycherous laye; þat Criste for his grete Mercy forȝeue me þe sinne [1088] ¶ Bot of þe translacioune of Boyce de Consolacione; ¶ And oþere bokes of legendis of seintis; And omelyes & moralyte; & deuocions; [1089] þat þonke .I. oure lorde iesu criste & his blissed moder & al þe seintes of heuen; [1090] besecheinge hem ¶ þat þei from hennes forþe vnto my lyues ende sende me grace to beweyle my giltes; & to stody to saluacione of my soule; And graunt me grace of verrei penance con|fessione

[6-text p 685] & satisfaccioun to done in þis present lif. [1091] þoruhe þe benigne grace of him þat is kinge of kynges. & priste of all pristes; þat bouht vs wiþ þe precious blode of his herte [1092] so þat .I. may bie one of hem att þe daye of dome þat schal be saued. to receyue þe blisse þat euere schal last wiþouten ende. Amen.

Explicit