[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;
