The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[75] Owre swete lord god of heuen þat no man wil perische but wol þat we comen alle to þe knowleche of him and to þe blisful lif þat is perdurable / [76] ammonestith vs by þe prophet Ieremye þat saith in þis wise [77] ¶ Stondeth vpon þe weyes and seeþ & axeþ of olde pathes þat is to sayn of old sentence which is þe good way. [78] . . . [no gap in the MS.] and ȝe schul fynde refresshyng for ȝoure soules &c. [79] ¶ Many ben þe wayes espirituels þat leden folk to oure lord Ihū crist/. and to þe regne of glorie. [80] Of whiche weyes þer is a ful noble way and ful couenable which may not faile to man ne to womman þat þorugh synne haþ mysgon fro þe right way of Ierusalem celestial [81] and þis wey is cleped penitence ¶ Of which men schulden gladly herken and enquere wiþ al here herte [82] to wyte what is penitence and whens it is cleped penitence and in what maner and in how many maners been þe acciones or workynges of pe|naunce [83] and how many spieces ben of penitences & whiche þinges apperteynen and byhouen to penitence. and whiche þinges destourben penitence

[6-text p 594]

[84] ¶ Seint ambrose saiþ. þat penitence is þe pleynyng [folio 252b] of man for þe gult þat he haþ doon. and no more to do ony þing for which him oughte to pleigne [85] ¶ And som doctour saith. penitence is wayment|ynyge of man þat sorweþ for his synne and peyneþ himself for he haþ mysdoon [86] ¶ Penitence wiþ certeyn circumstaunces; is verray repentaunce of man þat holt himself in sorwe and in woo for his giltes [87] ¶ And for he schal be verray penitent; he schal first/ bywaile þe synnes þat he haþ do and stedfastly purposen in his hert to hauen schrifte of mouth. and to doon satisfaccioun [88] and neuer to do þing for which him oughte more to bywayle or to complayne. and to con|tinue in goode werkes or elles his repentaunce may nouȝt auayle [89] For as saith seint Isidre ¶ he is a iapere and a gabbere and no verray repentaunt þat eft soone doþ þing for which him oughte to repente; [90] wepynge. and nouȝt for to stynte to doon synne may nouȝt auayle [91] ¶ But naþeles men schal hope þat at euery tyme þat men fallith. be it neuer so ofte; þat he may arise þorugh peni|tence if he haue grace ¶ But certeyn it is a gret doute. [92] For as saith seint Gregory. Vnneþe arist he out of his synne þat is charged wiþ þe charge of yuel vsage [93] ¶ And þerfore repentaunt folk þat stinte for to synne and forlete synne er þat synne forlete hem. holy chirche holt hem siker of her sauacioun. [94] And he þat synneth and verraily repentith him in his last ende; holy chirche ȝit hopeþ his sauacioun by þe grete mercy of oure lord ihū crist/ for his repentaunce. but take þe siker way

[95] ¶ And now siþ þat I haue declared ȝow what þing is penitence. now schul ȝe vnderstonde þat þer ben þre acciouns of penitence [96] ¶ The first is þat if a man be baptiȝed after þat he haþ synned. [97] Seint augustyn saith but if he be penitent for his olde synful lif; he may not bygynne þe newe

[6-text p 595] clene lif [98] ¶ For certes if he be baptiȝed wiþoute penitence of his olde gilt. he receyueth þe mark of baptisme; but nouȝt þe grace ne þe remissioun of his synnes til he haue repentaunce verray [99] ¶ Anoþer defaute is þis þat men doon deedly synne after þat þay haue receyued baptisme [100] ¶ þe þridde defaute is þat men fallen in to venial synne after here baptisme fro day to day. [101] þer of saiþ seint austyn ¶ That penitence of goode men and of humble [folio 253a] folk is þe penitens of euery day

[102] ¶ The spices of penitence ben thre ¶ That oon of hem is solempne ¶ Anoþer is comune ¶ And þe þridde is pryue [103] ¶ Thilke penaunce þat is so|lempne is in tuo maners as is to be put out of holy chirche in lente for slauȝtre of childre and such maner þing [104] ¶ Anoþer is whan a man haþ synned openly. of which synne þe fame is openly spoken in þe contre. and þanne holy chirche by iugge|ment streyneth him to doon open penaunce [105] ¶ Comune penaunce is þat prestes enioynen men comunly in certeyn caas. as for to goon per aduenture naked in pilgrimage or barfot [106] ¶ Priue penaunce is þilk þat men doon alday for priue synnes of whiche we schryue vs priuely and receyuen priue penaunce

[107] ¶ Now schalt þou vnderstonde what bihoueth and is necessarie to verray parfyt penitence. and þis stondith in þre þinges [108] ¶ Contricioun of hert ¶ Con|fessioun of mouth ¶ And satisfaccion. [109] ¶ For whiche saith seint Iohan Crisostom ¶ penitence distreyneth a man to accepte benignely euery peyne þat him is enioyned with contricioun of herte and schrift of mouth with satis|faccioun and in werking of alle maner humblete [110] and þis is fruytful penitence. agayn þre þinges in whiche we wraþþe our lord ihū crist/. [111] þis is to sayn by delit in þinking ¶ By rechelesnes in speking ¶ By wicked synful werkyng [112] ¶ Again þese

[6-text p 596] þre wickid gultes is penitence þat may be likned vnto a tre

[113] ¶ The roote of þis tre is contricioun þat hydiþ him in þe hert/ of him þat is verray repentaunt ¶ Right as þe roote of a tree hideþ him in þe eorþe. [114] of þe roote of contricioun springeth a stalk þat bereth braunches and leeues of confessioun and fruyt of satisfaccioun [115] ¶ For whiche crist saith in his gospel ¶ Doth digne fruyt of penitence. For by þis fruyt may men knowe þis tree and nouȝt by þe roote þat is hyd in þe hert of a man ne by þe braunches ne the leuys of confessioun [116] ¶ And þerfore oure lord ihū crist saiþ þus ¶ By þe fruyt of hem schul ȝe knowe hem [117] ¶ Of þis roote eek springeþ a seed of grace. þe which seed is mooder of sikurnes ¶ And þis seed is egre and hoot [118] ¶ The grace of þis seed springeth of god þorugh re|membraunce of þe day of doom and of þe peynes of helle [119] ¶ Of þis matier saith Salomon þat in þe drede of god man forleteth his synne [120] [folio 253b] ¶ The hete of þis seed is þe loue of god & þe desiring of þe ioye perdurable [121] ¶ Þis hete draweth þe hert of man to god and doþ him hate his synne [122] ¶ For soþe þer is no þing þat serueþ so wel to a child as þe mylk of his norice ¶ Ne no þing is to him more abhom|inable þan þe milk whan it is melled mete. [123] ¶ Right so þe synful man þat/ loueþ his synne. him semeth it is to him most swete of eny þing [124] ¶ But fro þat tyme he loueþ sadly oure lord ihū crist and desireþ þe lif perdurable. þer nys to him no þing more abhominable / [125] for soþly þe lawe of god is þe loue of god ¶ For which [Dilexi legem tuam &c.] Dauyd saith ¶ I haue loued þy lawe and hated wikkednesse and hate ¶ he þat loueþ god kepeth his lawe and his word [126] ¶ This tree saugh the prophete daniel in spirit vpon þe auysioun of Nabugodonosor whan he coun|seiled him to do penaunce. [127] ¶ Penaunce is tre of lif to hem þat it receyuen and þat holdeth him

[6-text p 597] in verray penitence is blessed after þe sentence of Salomon

[128] In þis penitence or contricioun; men schal vn|derstonde foure þinges that is to sayn what is contricioun and whiche ben þe causes þat moeuen men to con|tricioun and how he schulde be contrit and what con|tricioun auaileth to þe soule [129] ¶ Þanne it is þus þat contricioun is þe verray sorwe þat a man receyueþ in his herte for his synnes wiþ sad purpos to schryue him and to doo penaunce and neuer more to don synne. [130] ¶ And þis sorwe schal be in þis maner as saith seint Bernad ¶ It schal ben heuy and greuous and ful scharp and poynaunt in herte [131] ¶ First for man haþ agilted his lord and his creatour and more scharp and poynaunt. For he haþ agiltid his fader celestial. [132] and ȝit more scharp and poynaunt for he haþ wratthed and agilt him þat bouȝt him wiþ his precious blood and haþ delyuered vs fro þe bondes of synne and fro þe cruelte of þe deuel and fro þe peynes of helle //

[133] ¶ þe causes þat oughten to moeue a man to con|tricioun [¶ Sex sunt cause que mouent homineȝ ad con|tricionem] ben .vj. ¶ First a man schal remembre him of his synnes. [134] but loke þat þilke remem|brance be to no delyt of him by no way but gret schame and sorwe for his gilt. For Iob. saith þat synful men doon werkes worþy of confessioun [135] and þerfor saith Eȝechiel ¶ I wol remembre alle þe ȝeres of my lyf in bitternesse of myn hert. [136] and god saith in thapocalips. [folio 254a] Remembre ȝow from whens þat ȝe ben falle. For biforn þat tyme þat ȝe synned. ȝe were þe children of god . . . . . [no gap] [137] ¶ But for ȝoure synne ȝe be woxe þral and foul and membres of þe feend. hate of aungels. sclaunder of holy chirche & foode of þe fals serpent. perpetual matier of þe fuyr of helle [138] ¶ and ȝet more foule and abhom|inable For ȝe trespassen so ofte tyme as doþ þe hound þat torneþ to ete his spewyng. [139] & ȝet

[6-text p 598] ȝe ben fouler for ȝoure longe continuyng in synne and ȝoure synful vsage. for whiche ȝe ben roten in ȝoure synne as a beest in his donge [140] ¶ Suche maner of þoughtes make a man haue schame of his synne and no delit. and god saiþ by þe prophete Iȝechiel [141] ¶ Ȝe schul remembre ȝow of ȝoure weyes. & þay schal displese ȝow soþly ¶ Synnes ben þe way þat leden folk to helle

[142] ¶ The secounde cause þat oughte make a man to haue desdeyn of his synne is þis. þat as seiþ seint petre / ¶ who so doth synne is þral of synne. and synne put a man in gret þraldom. [143] and þer|fore saith þe prophete. Eȝechiel. I wente sorwful in desdeyn of myself ¶ Certes wel oughte a man haue desdeyn of synne and wiþdrawe him fro þat þraldom and vilonye. [144] and lo what saiþ Seneca. in þis matiere. he saiþ þus ¶ Though I wiste þat god nere god. man schulde neuer knowe it: ȝit wold I haue disdeyn for to do synne [145] and þe same Seneca also saith ¶ I am born to gretter þinges þan to be þral to my body or þan for to make of my body a þral [146] ¶ Ne a fouler þral may no man ne womman make of his body þan ȝiue his body to synne [147] ¶ And were it þe foulest cherl or þe foulest womman þat lyueþ and lest of value; ȝet is þanne synne more foul and more in seruitute [148] Euer fro þe heigher dege þat man falliþ þe more he is þral and more to god vile and abhomin|able [149] ¶ O goode god wel oughte a man haue gret disdayn o such a þing þat þorugh synne þer he was free now is he maked bonde. [150] an þerfore saiþ seint austyn ¶ If þou hast disdayn . . . [no gap] þat þou þiself schuldest doon synne; haue þou þanne desdeyn þat þou þiself schuldist do synne. [151] tak reward of þy value þat þou be nouȝt to foul in þiself [152] Allas wel oughte men haue disdeyn to be

[6-text p 599] seruauntes & þralles to synne. & sore ben aschamed of hemself [153] þat god of his endeles [folio 254b] goodnes haþ set hem in heigh estate or ȝeuen hem witte. strengþ of body. hele. beaute. prosperite. [154] and bought hem fro þe deþ wiþ his herte blood þat þay so vnkyndely aȝeinst his gentilesce quyten so vileynsly to slauȝter of her oughne soules [155] ¶ O goode god ȝe wommen þat ben of so gret beaute remembreþ ȝow of þe prouerbe of Salamon þat saith. [156] he likeneth a fair womman þat is a fool of hir body. to a ryng of gold þat were in þe groyn of a sowe [157] ¶ For right as a sowe wroteþ in euerich ordure; so wrootith sche hir beaute in stynkyng ordure of synne

[158] ¶ The þridde cause þat ouȝte moeue a man to contricioun is drede of þe day of doome. & of þe orrible peynes of helle [159] ¶ For as seint Ierom saith. At euery tyme þat I remembre of þe day of doom; I quake [160] ¶ For whan I ete or drinke or what so þat I doo euer semeth me þat þe trompe sowneþ in myn eere. [161] Riseth ȝe vp þat ben deede / and comeþ to þe Iuggement [162] ¶ O goode god. mochil ought a man to drede such a iuggement. þer as we schul be alle as seiþ seint poul Biforn þe sete of our lord ihū crist [163] wher as he schal make a general con|gregacioun wher as no man may ben absent. [164] for certes þer auayleþ non essoyne ne excusacioun [165] ¶ And nouȝt oonly þat oure defaute schal be . . . . . [no gap] openly knowen. [166] and as seint Bernard saiþ ¶ Ther schal no pleynyng auayle ne no sleight ¶ we schuln ȝiue rekenyng of euery ydel word [167] ¶ Ther schulle we haue a Iuge þat may nouȝt be disceyued ne corupt. and why; For certes alle oure þoughtes ben descouered as to him ne for prayer ne for meede he nyl not / be corupt [168] ¶ And þerfor saiþ Salamon ¶ The wraþþe of god ne wol not be corrupt ¶ And þerfor saiþ Salomon ¶ The wraþ of

[6-text p 600] god ne wol nouȝt spare no wight for praier ne for ȝifte ¶ And þerfore at þe day of doome þer is noon hope to eshcape [169] wherfor as seint anselm seiþ ¶ Ful greet anguisch schuln þe synful folk haue at þat tyme [170] ¶ þere schal þe sterne and þe wroþ Iugge sitte aboue and vnder him þe horrible put of helle open to de|stroye him þat mot byknowe his synnes which synnes openly ben schewed byforn god and biforn euery creature [171] ¶ and on þe lift syde mo deuelis þan herte may þynke for to hary and to drawe þe synful to pyne of helle [172] ¶ And wiþ|inne þe hertes of folk schal be þe bytyng [folio 255a] conscience and wiþoute forþ schal be þe world al brennyng [173] ¶ whider schal þanne þe wrecche synful man. Flee to hyden him; Certes he may not hyde him. he moot come forþ and schewe him [174] ¶ For certes as seith seynt Ierom ¶ The erþe schal caste him out/ of him and þe see also and þe aer also þat schal be ful of þunder-clappes and lightnynges [175] ¶ Now soþly who-so wel remembrith him of þese tydynges; I gesse his synne schal not torne him to delit but/ to gret sorw for drede of þe peyne of helle. [176] and þer|fore saiþ Iob. to god ¶ Suffre lord þat I may a while biwayle and wepe or I go wiþ oute retournynge to þe derk lond couered wiþ derknes of deþ [177] to þe lond of mysese and of derknesse wher as is þe schadow of deth. wher as is noon order [ne] ordinaunce but grislich drede þat euer schal last [178] ¶ loo her may ȝe see þat Iob prayde respit a while to wepe and biwayle his trespas ¶ For forsoþe oon day of respit is bettre þan al þe tresor in þis world. [179] and for as moche as a man may aquyte himself byforn god by penaunce in þis world and not by tresor; þerfore schuld he praye to god ȝiue him respit a while to wepe and to waile his trespas. [180] for certes al . . . . . [no gap]

[6-text p 601] þe world nys but a litel þing at regard of þe sorwe of helle [181] ¶ The cause why þat Iob. calleþ helle þe lond of derknes; [182] vnderstondith þat he clepith it lond or eorþe for it is stable and neuer schal fayle. derk; for he þat is in helle hat defaut/ of light material. [183] for certes þe derke light þat schal come out of þe fuyr þat euer schal brenne / schal torne him to peyne þat is in helle for it schewiþ him to þorrible deueles þat him tormenten [184] couered wiþ the derknes of deth þat is to sayn þat he þat is in helle schal haue defaute of þe sight of god ¶ For certes þe sight of god is þe lif perdurable. [185] þe derk|nes of deth ben þe synnes þat þe wrecchid man haþ doon whiche þat stourben him to see þe face of god right as a derk cloude doþ bitwixe vs and þe sonne [186] ¶ lond of myseyse; By cause þat þere ben þre maner of defautes agains þre þinges þat folk of þis world han in þis present lif þat is to sayn. honures. delices. and richesses [187] ¶ Agayns honours. han þey in helle / schame and confusioun. [188] For wel ȝe witen þat men clepyn honure þe reuerence þat men doon to þe man. but in helle is [folio 255b] noon honour ne reuerence. for certes no more reuerence schal ben doon to a kyng þan to a knaue [189] ¶ For which god saiþ by þe prophete Ieremie ¶ Thilke folk / þat me displesen schul be despit [190] ¶ Honour is eke cleped gret lord|schipe. þere schal no wight seruen oþir but of harm and of torment ¶ honour eek is cleped gret dignite and heigh|nes; but in helle schulle þay be al fortrode of deueles [191] ¶ And god saith. thorrible deueles schuln goon and comen vpon þe heedes of dampned folk. And þis is for als moche as þe heyher þat þay were in þis present lif; þe more schuln þay ben abatid and defouled in helle [192] ¶ Agayns riches of þis world schuln þay han mysese of pouert. A þis pouert schal be in .iiij. þinges [193] In defaut of tresor of which as

[6-text p 602] dauid saith ¶ The riche folk þat embraseden and onedin in al here herte þe tresor of þis world. schuln slepen in þe slepyng of deth and no þing schuln þay fynde in her hondes of al her tresor [194] ¶ & more-ouer þe mysease of helle schal be in þe defaut of mete and drink. [195] For god saith þus by moyses ¶ Thay schul be wasted by hunger and þe briddes of helle schuln deuoure hem wiþ bittir teeth and þe galle of þe dragoun schal be her drink & þe venym of þe dragoun here morsels [196] ¶ And forþer more ouer her misease schal be in defaut of cloþing/ for þay schul be naked in body as of cloþing ¶ For þay schuln be nakid of body saue of fuyr in which þay brenne and oþer filþis. [197] and naked schuln þay be of soule. of alle maner vertues which þat is cloþing of soule ¶ wher ben þanne þe gaye robes. and þe softe scheetis and þe smale schirtes. [198] lo what saiþ of hem þe prophete Isaye ¶ vnder hem schuln be strawed motthis and here couertours schuln ben of wormes of helle [199] ¶ And forþer mor ouer here disease schal be in defaute of frendes. for he is not pouere that haþ goode frendes. but here is no frend. [200] For neyþer god ne no creature schal be frend vnto hem. and euerich of hem schal hate oþer wiþ dedly hate [201] ¶ The sones and the douȝtres schuln rebellen agayns þe fader and þe mooder and kynrede agayns kynrede and chiden and despisen euerich of hem oþer boþe day and night. as god saith by þe prophete Michias [202] ¶ And þe louyng children þat whilom [folio 256a] loueden so fleisschliche euerych oþer; wolden euerych of hem eten oþer if þay miȝten [203] for how schulden þay louen hem togider in þe peyne of helle; whan þay hated euerych of hem oþer in þe prosperite of þis lif. [204] For trustith wel her fleisshly loue was dedly hate as saiþ þe prophete dauid. who-so þat loueth wickid|nes hateþ his soule. [205] And who-so hatiþ his oughne soule. certis he may loue noon oþer wight

[6-text p 603] in no manere [206] ¶ And þerfore in helle is no solace ne frendschipe. but euer þe more flesshly kynredes þat ben in helle; þe more cursynges þe more chyd|ynges and þe more deedly hate þer is among hem [207] And forþer ouer þay schul haue defaute of alle manere delices ¶ For certis delices ben þe appetites of þy fyue wittes as sight hieryng. smellyng. sauor|ing and touching [208] ¶ But in helle here sight schal be ful of derknesse / and of smoke and þerfore ful of teeris. and her hieryng ful of waymentynge and of gruntynge of teeth as saiþ ihū crist // [209] ¶ here nose þurles schuln ben ful of stynkyng stynk. and as saith ysaye þe prophete ¶ here sauoringe schal be ful of bitter galle. [210] and touchyng of al here body y-couered with fuyr þat neuer schal quenche / and wiþ wormes þat neuer schuln deyen / as god saiþ by þe mouþ of ysaie [211] ¶ And for al so moche as þay schuln nouȝt/ wene/ þat þay may deyen for peyne / and by here deth fle fro peyne. þat may þay vnderstonde in þe word of Iob / þat saiþ ¶ Ther as is þe schadow of deth [212] ¶ Certes a schadow haþ þe liknesse of the þing of which it is a schadow. . . . . [no gap] [213] Right so fareth þe peyne of helle. it is lik deþ. for þe horrible anguisshe. And why; for it peyneþ hem euer as though men scholden deye anon. But certes þay schul not deye. [214] For as saith Seint GreGory ¶ To wrecchid caytifs shal be ȝiue deth wiþoute deth and ende wiþouten ende / and defaute withouten faylinge. [215] For here deth schal alway lyuen. and here ende schal euermore bygynne. and here defaute schal not fayle [216] ¶ And þerfor saiþ seint Iohan þe euaungelist ¶ þay schul folwe deþ. and þay schuln nouȝt fynde him. and þay schul desire to deyen And deth schal flee fro hem. [217] ¶ and eek Iob. saiþ. þat in helle is noon ordre of rule [218] ¶ And al be it þat god haþ creat al þing in right ordre and no þing wiþ|oute

[6-text p 604] ordre. but [folio 256b] alle þinges ben ordeyned and noum|bred; ȝit naþeles þay þat ben dampned been nouȝt in ordre ne holden non ordre [219] For þe eorþe schal bere hem no fruyt [220] ¶ For as þe prophete dauid saiþ. God schal destroye þe fruyt of þe eorþe as for hem. ne watir schal ȝiue hem no moysture ne þe aier non refreisching. ne fuyr no light. [221] For as seiþ seint Basile ¶ The brennyng of þe fuyr of þis world schal god ȝiue in helle to hem þat ben dampnyd. [222] But þe light and þe clernesse / schal be ȝeue to heuene to his children. Right as þe goode man ȝeue fleisch to his children and bones to his houndes / [223] ¶ And for þay schul haue noon hope to eschape. saiþ seint Iob. atte laste þat þer schal horrour and grisly drede duelle wiþouten ende [224] ¶ horrour is alway drede of harm þat is to come. and þis drede schal euer duelle in þe hertes of hem þat ben dampnyd. And þerfore han þay lorn al here hope for vij. causes [225] ¶ First / for god þat is here Iugge schal be wiþoute mercy to hem ne þay may not please him ne noon of his halwes Ne þey may ȝiue no þing for here raunsoun / [226] ne þay haue no voice to speke to him. ne þay may not fle fro peyne. ne þay haue no goodnes in hem. þat þay may schewe to deliuere hem fro peyne [227] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salomon / The wikked man deyeth. and whan he is deed; he schal haue noon hope to eschape fro peyne [228] ¶ who-so wolde þanne wel vn|derstonde þese peynes and bythynk him wel þat he haþ deserued þilke peynes for his synnes ¶ Certes he schulde haue more talent to sikyn and to wepe þan for to synge or pleye [229] ¶ For as þat Salamon saiþ ¶ who-so þat þe science to knowe þe peynes þat ben establid and ordeynt for synne; he wolde make sorwe [230] ¶ Thilke science as saiþ seint austyn makeþ a man to wayment in his herte

[231] ¶ The fourþe poynt þat oughte make a man

[6-text p 605] haue contricioun is þe sorwful remembraunce of þe good þat he hath left to doon heer in eorþe. and eek þe good þat he haþ lorn [232] ¶ Soþly þe goode werkes þat he hath left; eyþer þay been þe goode werkes þat he wrought er he fel in to deedly synne; or elles þai ben þe goode werkes þat he . . . . .[233] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] dede er he fel into synne ben amortised. and astoneyed and dullid by ofte synnynge. [234] þat oþere goode werkes that he wrouȝte whil he lay in dedly synne been outrely deede [folio 257a] as to þe lif perdurable in heuen. [235] þanne þilke goode werkes þat ben mortified by ofte synnyng whiche goode werkes he dede whiles he was in charite ne mowe neuer quyken agayn withouten verray penitence. [236] And þerof saith god by þe mouth of Eȝechiel ¶ That if þe rightful man re|tourne agayn fro his rightwisnesse and werke wikked|nesse. schal he liue; [237] nay. For alle þe goode werkes þat he haþ wrought ne schuln neuer be in remembrance for he schal dye in his synne. [238] And vpon þilke chapitre saith seint Gregory þus. þat we schuln vnder|stonde þis principally. [239] That whan we doon dedly synne it is for nouȝt þanne to reherse or to drawe in to memorie þe goode werkes þat we han wrought biforn. [240] For certis in þe werkyng of þe dedly synne þer is no trust to no good werkes that we han don biforne þis tyme. þat is to say as for to haue þerby þe lif per|durable in heuen. [241] But naþeles þe goode werkes quiken agayn and comen again and helpen and auailen to haue þe lif perdurable in heuen whan we han contricioun [242] ¶ But soþly þe goode werkes þat men doon whil þat þai ben in deedly synne. for as moche as þay were doon in dedly synne; þay may neuer quyken . . [243] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ¶ And al be it þat þay auailen not to haue þe lif perdurable; ȝit auaylen

[6-text p 606] þay to abbrigging of þe peyne of helle or elles to gete temporal riches. [244] Or elles þat god wol þe raþer enlumyne and lightene þe hert of þe synful man to haue repentaunce. [245] and eek þey auailen for to vsen a man to do goode werkes þat þe feend haue þe lasse power of his soule. [246] ¶ And þus þe curteys lord ihū crist ne wolde nouȝt no good werk be lost. For in som what it schal auaile. [247] But for als moche as þe goode werkes þat men don whil þay ben in good lif ben amortised by synne folwyng and eek sith þat alle the goode werkes þat men doon whil þay ben in dedly synne been outrely deede as for to haue þe lif perdurable; [248] wel may þat man þat no goode werkes werkiþ synge þilke newe freisch song. Iay tout perdu moun temps et moun labour [249] For certis synne byreueth a man boþe goodnes of nature and eek þe goodnes of grace [250] ¶ For soþly þe grace of þe holy gost fareþ lik fyre þat may not ben ydel. For fuyr as it forletiþ his werk|yng it faileth anoon ¶ And right so whan þe grace faileþ; [251] þan lesith þe synful man þe goodnes of glorie þat oonly is byhight [folio 257b] to goode men þat labouren and werken [252] ¶ wel may he be sory þanne þat oweth al his lif to god as longe as he haþ lyued and eek as longe as he schal lyue. þat no goodnes ne hath to paye wiþ his dette to god to whom he oweth al his lyf. [253] For trusteþ wel he schal ȝiue accompt as saiþ seint Bernard of alle þe goodes þat han be ȝeuen him in þis present lif. & how he hath hem dispendid. [254] nat so moche þat þer ne schal not perische an heer of his heed ne a moment of an hour ne schal not perische of his tyme þat he ne schal ȝiue of it a rekenyng.

[255] ¶ The .v^te. maner of contricioun þat moeueþ a man þerto is þe remembraunce of þe passioun þat oure lord ihū crist suffred for. vs and for our synnes [256] ¶ For as seiþ seint Bernard whil þat I lyue I schal haue remem|braunce

[6-text p 607] of þe passioun þat oure lord ihū crist suffred for vs in preching. [257] his werynesse in trauayling his tempt|acioun whan he fastid. his longe wakinges whan he prayde his teeres whan he wepte for pite of good peple [258] þe wo and þe schame and þe filthe þat men saide to him ofte foul spittyng þat men spitten on his face. Of þe buffettis þat men ȝaf him of þe foule mowes and of þe re|proues þat men to him saiden [259] of þe nayles with whiche he was nayled to þe cros and of al þe remenaunt of his passioun þat he suffred for my synnes and no þing for his gilt [260] ¶ And ȝe schal vnder|stonde þat in mannes synne is euery maner ordre of ordinaunce turned vpso-doun. [261] ¶ For it is soþ þat god & resoun and sensualite and þe body of man be so ordeyned that euerich of þese .iiij. schulde haue lordschipe ouer . . [262] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] resoun and resoun ouer sensualite. and sensualite ouer þe body of man. [263] ¶ But soþly whan man synneþ al þis ordre or ordinaunce is torned vpso-doun [264] and þanne for as moche as þe resoun of a man ne wol not be subiect ne obeissant to god þat is his lord by right; þer|fore lesith it þe lordschipe þat it schulde haue in sensualite and eek ouer þe body of man. [265] And why; For sensualite rebellith þanne agayns resoun. And by þat way lesith resoun þe lordschipe ouer sensualite and ouer þe body. [266] For right as resoun is rebel to god; Right so is boþe sensualite rebel to resoun and þe body also [267] And certis þis disordynaunce and þis rebellioun oure lord ihū crist bought vpon his precious body ful deere ¶ And herkeneth in which wise [268] [folio 258a] ¶ For as moche as resoun is rebel to god; þer|fore is man worþy to haue sorwe and to be deed. [269] þis suffred oure lord ihū crist for man and after þat he was bytraysed of his disciple and destreyned and

[6-text p 608] bounde so þat þe blood brast out at euery nayl of his hondes as saith seint austyn [270] ¶ And forþer ouer for as mochil as resoun of man wol nought daunte sensu|alite whan it may þerfore is man worþy to haue schame ¶ And þis suffred oure lord ihū crist for man whan þay spitten in his face [271] And forþer ouer þanne for as moche as þe caytif body of man is rebelle boþe to resoun and to sensualite. þerfore it is worþy þe deth [272] ¶ And þis suffred oure lord ihū crist for vs vpon þe croys wher as þer was no part of his body fre wiþoute gret peyne and bitter passioun [273] ¶ And al þis suffred ihū crist þat neuer forfeted. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] So mochil am I streyned for þe þinges þat I neuer deseruyd and to moche defouled for schendschip þat man is worthy to haue [274] And þer|fore may þe synful man wel saye as saith sent Bernard ¶ Acursed be þe bitternesse. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [275] For certis after þe dyuers discordaunces of oure wickednes was þe passioun of oure lord ihū crist/ ordeyned in diuers þinges [276] ¶ As þus. Certis sinful mannes soule is bytraysid of þe deuel by coueitise of temporal prosperite and scorned by disceyt whan he cheseþ fleischly delytes and ȝit is it tormentid by impacience of aduersite and byspit by seruage and subieccioun of synne. and atte last it is slayn finally [277] ¶ For þis discordaunce of synful man was Ihū crist first bytraised and after was he bounde that com for to vnbynden vs fro synne and of peyne [278] ¶ Than was he scorned; þat oonly schulde be honoured in alle þing of alle þinges. [279] ¶ Than was his visage þat oughte be desired to be say of al man-kynde. In which visage aungels desiren to loke vileynsly byspit. [280] Thanne was he scorned þat no þing had agilt. and fynally þanne was he crucified and slayn [281] Thanne was accomplised þe

[6-text p 609] word of ysaye ¶ He was woundid for oure mysdede and defouled by oure felonyes [282] ¶ Now sith ihū crist tok vpon him þilke peyne of alle oure wikkednes; Mochil oughte synful men wepe and bywayle þat for his synnes schulde goddes sone of heuene al þis endure [283] ¶ The .vj^te. þing þat ouȝte to moeue a man to contricioun is þe hope of þre þinges. þat is to sayn. forȝeuenes of synne and þe ȝifte of grace wel [folio 258b] for to do. and þe glorie of heuen wiþ which god schal guerdoun man for his goode deedis [284] ¶ And for als moche as ihū crist ȝeueth vs þese ȝiftes of his largesse and of his souerayn bounte; þerfore is he cleped. Ihc naȝarenus rex Iudeorum [285] ¶ Ihū is for to say saueour or sa|uacioun of whom me schal hope to haue forȝeuenes of synnes which þat is proprely sauacioun of synnes [286] ¶ And þerfore seyde þe aungel to Ioseph ¶ Thow clepe his name Ihc þat schal saue his poeple of here synnes [287] ¶ And her of saith Seint petir ¶ Ther is noon oþer name vnder heuen þat is ȝeue to any man by which a man may be sauyd. but oonly Ihc [288] naȝarenus is as moche to say as florisching in which a man schal hope þat he þat ȝeueth him remissioun of synnes schal ȝiue him grace wel wel to doo ¶ For in þe flour is hope of fruyt / in tyme comynge. And in forȝiuenes hope of grace wel to do [289] ¶ I was at þe dore of þin herte saiþ Ihc and cleped for to entre. he þat openith to me. schal haue forȝeuenes of synne. [290] I wol entre into him by my grace and soupe with him by þe goode workes þat he schal doon whiche werkes ben þe foode of god ¶ And he schal soupe wiþ me by þe grete ioye þat I schal ȝiue him [291] ¶ Thus schal man hope þat for his werkis of penaunce god schal ȝiue him his regne as he bihetith him in þe gospel

[292] Now schal man vnderstonde in what

[6-text p 610] maner schal be his contricioun ¶ I say it schal be vniuersal and total ¶ þis is to say. a man schal be verray repentaunt for alle his synnes þat he haþ doon in delyt of his þought for delit is ful perilous [293] ¶ For þer ben tuo maners of consentynge . . . . . [no gap] of affeccioun whan a man is moeued to synne & delitith him longe for to þinke on þat synne. [294] and his resoun aparceyueth wel þat it is synne agayns þe lawe of god. & ȝit his resoun refreyneþ not his foule delit or talent þough he seth wel apertly þat it is aȝenst/ þe reuerence of god al þough his resoun consente not to do þe synne in dede; [295] ȝit sayn some doctours delyt þat duellith longe it is ful perilous al be it neuer so lite [296] ¶ And also a man schulde sorwe namely for al þat he haþ desired agayn þe lawe of god wiþ parfyt consentynge of his hert and of his resoun ¶ For þerof is no doute þat it is dedly synne [297] . . . . . [no gap] þat it nas first in mannes þought. & after þat in his delit/ and so forþ in to consentyng and in to dede [298] ¶ wherfore say I þat many men repente hem neuer [folio 259a] of suche þoughtes and delitis. ne neuer schriue hem of hit. but oonly of þe dede of grete synnes outward [299] ¶ wherfore I say þat suche wickid delitis and wickid þouȝtes ben subtile bigilours of hem þat schuln be dampned [300] ¶ More ouer man oughte to sorwe for his wicked wordes as wel as his wikked dedes. For certis þe repentaunce of a singuler synne & nouȝt repente of alle his oþer synnes . . . . . [no gap] may nouȝt auaile [301] ¶ For certis god almighty is al good and þerfore he forȝeueth al or elles right nouȝt [302] ¶ And here-of seiþ seint augustin ¶ I wot certeynly þat god is enemy to euery synnere [303] ¶ And how þanne he þat obseruith oon synne schal he haue remissioun of þe

[6-text p 611] remenant of his oþer synnes; Nay. [304] And forþer ouer contricioun schulde be woundes sorwful and an|guisschous and þerfore ȝiueth him god pleinly his mercy ¶ And þerfore whan my soule was anguissheous wiþinne me; I hadde remembraunce of god þat my prayer mighte come to him [305] ¶ And forþer ouer. contricioun moste be continuelly and þat a man haue stede|fast purpos to schryue him and for to amende him of his lyf [306] ¶ For soþly whil contricioun lastith man may euer hope of forȝeuenes and of þis comeþ hate of synne þat destroyeth synne boþe in himself and eek in oþer folk at his power [307] ¶ And þerfore saith dauid. ȝe þat louen god; hatith wikkidnesse. For trustiþ wel for to loue god. is for to loue þat he loueþ. and hate þat he hatiþ

[308] ¶ The laste þing þat a man schuld vnderstonde in contricioun is þis. wher of auailith contricioun ¶ I say þat som tyme contricioun deliuereþ man fro synne [309] of which þat dauid saith ¶ I say quod dauid. þat is to say. I purposid fermely to schryue me and þou lord relesedist my synne [310] ¶ And right so as contricioun auailith nat wiþoute sad purpos of schrift if man haue oportunite; Right so. litil worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun wiþoute contricioun [311] ¶ And more ouer contricioun destruyeþ þe prisoun of helle and makiþ wayk and feble þe strengthes of þe deueles and restorith þe ȝift of þe holy gost/ and of alle vertues [312] and it clensith þe soule of synnes and deliuereþ þe soule fro þe peynes of helle and fro þe companye of þe deuel and fro þe seruage of synne and restorith to alle goode espiritueles in to þe companye & communioun of holy chirche [313] ¶ And forþer ouer it makith him þat som tyme was sone of Ire; [folio 259b] sone of grace ¶ And alle þese þinges he prouith by holy writte. [314] And þerfore he þat wil sette his herte to þese þinges; he were ful

[6-text p 612] wys ¶ For soþe he scholde not þanne in al his lyf haue corrage to synne. but ȝiuen his body and al his herte to þe seruice of Ihū crist and þerof do him homage [315] ¶ For certis oure swete lord ihū crist haþ sparid vs so debonerly in oure folyes. þat if he ne hadde pite of mannes soule; sory songe mighte we alle synge.

¶ Explicit prima pars