Old English homilies and homiletic treatises (Sawles warde, and Pe wohunge of Ure Lauerd: Ureisuns of Ure Louerd and of Ure Lefdi, &c.) of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries / edited from mss. in the British Museum, Lambeth, and Bodleian Libraries ; with introd., translation, and notes, by Richard Morris.

I. [IN DOMINICA PALMARUM.]

[Q]uum appropinquasset ihesus ierosolimam & cetera. Gode [folio 1a] men hit is an heste dei to dei þe is on .xii. monþe þis godspel sed hu þe helend nehlechede to-ward ierusalem þare burh to dei mid his apostles and ec mid oðere floc manna þa he com to þere dune oliueti his ihaten þa sende he is .ii. leornicnihtes and oþed [So in MS.,? cwed.] to heom God in þane castel þet is on|ȝein eou and ȝe finded redliche þar ane asse ȝe-bunden mid hire colt unbinded heo and leaded heo to me. ȝif eniman seid eawiht to eou segged þet þe lauerd haued þar-of neode and redliche heo eou leted fere þer-mid. Euntes autem discipuli fecerunt sicut precepit illis ihesus & cetera. Þa apostles eoden and dedeun [sic.] alswa þe helende heom het heo nomen þe asse and here colt and ledden to him and heo duden heore claþes huppon þe asse fole and ure drihten seodþan rad þer-on uppen toward ierusalem þa wes hit cud ouer al þe burh þet þe helind wes þiderward. heo urnen on-ȝein him al þa hebreisce men mid godere heorte and summe mid ufele þeonke. Moni of þan floc manna þe earþon fulieden ure drihten and ec þa ȝe-leafulle of þere burh heo nomen heore claþes and þe beste þet heo hefde and strehiten under þa assa fet þer drihten rad inne þe

weye. him to luue and heriȝinge þa oðre men þe reil nefden heo stiȝen uppeon þe godes cunnes treowe and nomen þa twigga and þa blostme and duden under þe assa fet and bistreweden al þane weye him to wurþscipe [MS. wurþ|seipe.] and al þe [folio 1b] hebreisce folc þe eode efter him and biuoren him sungun þisne lofsong hehliche to heringe and cweþen. Osanna filio dauid benedictus qui uenit in nomine domini. þet is he is iblesced þe [? he.] þe her cumet on drihtenes nome. Þus ha hine hereden a þe þe [? he.] rad in et þan est ȝete þere burh þet ȝet me hat. Speciosa porta. þet his þet faire ȝet me hat hit and seodþan þe cristindom wes; nefre ouer .xii. monþe nis hit undon bute to dei al þat folc eode þar ford to processiun to munte oliueti; and in al swa. Nu leoue broðre nu ic eou habbe þet godspel iseid anfaldeliche nu scule ȝe understonden twafaldeliche þet hit bi-tacnet. ȝe iherden er on þe godspel hu ure drihten sende his .ii. apostles petrum and iohannem on-ȝein þene castel þet heo unbunden þat assa and hire fole mid hire. and hu hure drihten set uppen ða assa fole. Leoue broðre and sustre ȝe hi hered hu muchel edmodnesce ure drihten dude for us. he mihte ridan ȝif he walde on riche stede and palefrai and mule and arabisz nalde he no. na forþon uppon þa muchele assa aȝc uppon þa lutthle fole þat ȝet hit wes sukinde ne ber hit nes nefre nane burðene ne hit nes nefere ifuled of nane oðre assa. In swa muchele edmodnesse godalmihti hine dude for us and ec sette us bisne þaȝ [? þa ȝe.] habbe wele to ouer stohwennesse on þisse liue ne beo þu þereuore prud ne wilde ne sterc ne wemod ne ouer modi ah þes þe we heoueden mare wele on þisse liue. þes we ahte to beon þe edmoddre. and þa mare imete al swa hit ure wele nere and þonkien hit ure drihten þe hit us lende and don þan monna þerof þat hit nabbet. Godemen þa ȝe-leafule ebreisce folc eoden and streweden mid twigan in drihtenes weye þer he rad. þa hit wes ifullet þet ysaias þe prophete iwitegede ueale hund wintra er þis were and cwed.

Parate uiam domini rectas facite semitas eius. Rereð up drihtenes wei and makiet his weoȝes rihte. Þet tacnet þet we sulen habben ure heorte and habben godne ileafe to ure drihten.

þe witeȝa het þet we sculde makien his stiȝes þenne make we ham rihte ȝef we haldet his beode and ȝef we beod under sod scrifte and god fructe þurh-ut of alle þinge. and we luuien ure efrec oðer us bi-twenen swa we weren broðre and sustre and ȝif we þonkiet ure drihten alles þinges þe he us sent. þet gode and þet ufele. ȝif we þis doð; þenne make we rihte and clene godes weies and his sties þet god almihti mei riden on. ȝif we þis doð þenne wunet god almihti in us. Al swa ic er cwet hu hure drihten rad to ierusalem þat ebreisce folc sungen heore leof song ure helende to wurðinge summe hit sungen þurh þene halie gast walden heo naldden heo and þa children ploȝeden in þere strete heriende ure drihten and cweþen. Osanna filio dauid. þis witeȝede dauid þe þe salm scop in þe saltere muchel erdþon þa wile he liuede and cwet. Ex ore infancium & lactancium. þis he witeȝede bi drihtene þurh þene halie gast. Drihten þu dest þe lof of milc drinkende childre muðe wu [? þu.] warpest þene alde feont for þine feonden and þine feond þu bi|scildest. Nu we wulleð seggen mare wet þis godspel itacnet þe castel þe wes aȝeines drih[t]nes twa leornikenehtes; he bi-tacnet þeos world is whilende and ontful and swiðe lewe. and swinc|ful Ne swincke þu nefre swa muchel; a hit bið undon and misliche wederes comet oðer while. and unfrit. and hunger. and licome un-hele al for ure gulte and þenne þu wenest þet þu scalt libben alre best. þenne gest þu forð and oðer cumed for|þi ne litmie namon to swiðe to þisse liue. al heo us truket þer we lest wenet. Ne we ne beoð iboren for to habbene nane prudu ne forðe nane oðre rencas ah we beoð on þisse liue for to ernien þa eche blisse in houeneriche. ȝe habbet iherd hu god almihti sende his apostles oȝein þene castel efter þe assa fole þe wes ibunden and seoðan un-bunden. þa apostles itacned þa leorneres þet beoð þa wise witega þe beoð nu ouer þe halie chirche and libbed gastliche heore lif heo sullen eure un-binden godes folc from þam deofle [folio 2a] and heom seggen godes lore hu heo sculen leden heore lif and ernien þa eche blisse mid ibede and mid scrifte to betende mid festene and mid elmesse and bidden for heom deies and nihtes þet crist heom milcie of heore

misdede. Þat [? þa.] assa itacned þe chirche oðer þe sinagoga heo wes ibunden on þa ealde laȝe and nuða heo is unbunden in þisse newe laȝe. Godemen wite ȝe hwet þes sinagoge on þam alde laȝe ere crist were iboren alswa hefden þe giwis heore sinagoge efter moises laȝe alswa we habbet nu chirche efter drihtenes laȝe and efere to þam setteres dei heo comen þa iudeisce folc to settes tima to þan sinagoge and hereden heore drihten swa heore laȝe wes. Þat wes heore sunedei and bet heo heolden heore wurðing dei þene we doð and ȝet doð þer þe heo beoð. leofemen alle þa ileafulle iudeisce men þe heolden wel heore laȝe and hersumeden heore drihten her he come on þisse middelerd heo weren iclipet synagoge al swa is nu iclepet al cristen folc. þa ilke þa haldet cristes heste. Þa assa þe wes ibunden and seodðan unbunden þet itacned þe sinagoge þe wes ibunden on þan alde laȝe. þet wes al þet ileafule folc of iudeus heo weren strongliche ibunden er ure drihten come to þisse liue. heo heofden odðre laȝe þenne we habbet. Þet wes [folio 2b] þa laȝe þa ilke wrake þe ic dude þe; þu scoldest don me and ȝef þu sungedest to-ward þine drihtene and me hit mihte witen nouþer gold ne seoluer ne moste gan for þe. ac me þe sculde nimen and al to-teon mid horse oðer þe al to-toruion mid stane. For-þi leofe breðre hit is muchel neot þet we þonkien ure drihten þa [? þat.] haued þa stronge ealde laȝe auulsed mid þere newe. Nu ne þerf [MS. þeif.] na mon his sunne mid wite abuggen bute towar[d] crist ane mid scrifte swa him his preost lered al swa his festen. þe swiðe ouerkimet þes flesces wlongnesse and chuc [? chirc.] ȝong and god to donne þeruore monie and feole oðre godere werke þe nu were long eou to telle. A. hu þenne ȝif hwa is swa sunful and mid deofle biuon þet nulle for his ouer-moð. oðer for his prude. oðer for his fule heorte wil his scrift ihalden. þenne segge ic eou to soðe þet nis hit nan þerf þet me her on þisse liue for his saule bidde pater noster. ne messe singe ne nan oðer god don. A. hu scolde oðermonnes goddede comen him to gode þe nefre on þisse liue nanes godes ne rohte; A. hwa is þet mei þet hors wectrien þe him self nule drinken; Na ma ne mei me her god don for þere saule þe

on þisse liue god bi-ȝinnen nalde. Muchel is us þenne neod leoue breðren wet we on þisse middelerd liuien sod scrift and swiðe adreden ure monifolde sunne. and ȝerne bidden ure milciende drihten þet he us leue swa libben on [folio 3a] þisse scorte liue þet we moten heonene feren to þan echeblisse þe hon wunet. þe feder. and þe sune. and þe halie gast a buten ende. per omnia secula seculorum amen.

II. HIC DICENDUM EST DE QUADRAGESIMA.

Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile ecce nunc dies salutis et cetera. Gode men nu beoð icumen þa bicumeliche daȝes and þa halie daȝes uppen us ȝif we wullet us seolue þet is þet we maȝen on þisse gastliche daȝen ibeten ure sunne þet we abbet idon erþisse þurh þe licome lust þas daȝes beoð iset us to muchele helpe, and to frefre al moncun, al swa moyses þe hehte heom feste þes daȝes uppon þe munte of synai þet he nefre ne ete mennisses metes for drihtenes luue and ec crist hit walde habben idon. Efter þan drihten him bi-tahte twa stanene tables breode on hwulche godalmihti heofde iwriten þa ten laȝe þe þa israelisce folc sceolde halden þa he heom ledde of egipte londe þer weren in þer oðres tables sunderliche .iii. ibode þa weren. Audi Israel. Dominus deus tuus unus est. Secundum. Non habebis nomen dei tui in uanum. Tercium. Obserua diem sab|bati. þet is on englis Ihereð ȝe israelisce bem [? bern.] þet nis buten an god on heofene and on eorðan and over alle þing hine ȝe scule wurþian and hersumen and luuian mid al euwer heorte. Þe oðer heste wes. Ne haue þu þines drihtenes nome in nane aða ne in [folio 3b] nane idel speche. in nane idel ȝelwunge [? Ȝelpunge.] . And þe þridde godes heste wes iwriten inne þa table. Wite ȝe þet ȝe ȝemen þenne halie sunnedei. and þet ȝe hine wurðien and halden from uwilche swinke. Nu godemen nu weren þas þreo laȝe ȝe-writen inne þa oðre [? ore for are.] table breode sunderlipes alswa crist hit hefde idon

to him seoluen. on þa oðre souen laȝe weren iwriten alswa sund|erliche inna oðre stanene table brede hu uwil[c] mon scal his euenexta beodan alswa he walde þet me him bude. honora patrem tuum et matrem tuam. þet wes þe þeofeðe [So in MS.;? feowerðe.] heste þet godalmihti het wurðian alre erest þin feder and þin moder ouer alle eorð|liche þing. Þenne beoð þine daȝes ilenged mid muchele blisse in eorðan. Ne be þu monslaȝe. Ne bi sunt [? smit.] þu þe mid drunkenesse. Ne beo þu eubruche. Ne do þu þeofðe. Ne spec þu aȝein þine nexta nane false witnesse. N[e] beo þu lihȝere. ne for eye ne for luue. Ne wilne þu oðres monnes wif [MS. yif.] ne nanes þurȝes þe oðre mon aȝc uhtre þenne þu. Ne for-swerie þu þe þas .x. bebode þe godalmihti seolf idihte and awrat mid is aȝene fringres [sic.] and moyses bitahte. Drihten cweð eft and ȝerne lerde þet uwilc mon scal beoden oðre alswa he wile þet me him beode. Vre drihten cweð to moyses þet he scolde wissien his folc and wernede him ȝeorne and him to [folio 4a] þus cweð. Gif ȝe mine bibode healded. þenne sende ic eou rihte widerunge and ic eou wille ȝeuan wela and westme inoȝe and murðhe sculen wunian on londe þet bið on griðe and on friðe under mire onwalde. and ic eou wulle werien wið elene [? elcne.] herm. Ne þet eou ne scal derien nouðer here ne hunger. Euwer feond eou ne scal derian ne swenchen. Ah ic eou ȝife siȝe and streinþe þet ȝe maȝen ower feond ouer cumen. ȝet cweð ure lauerd to moyses. Gif ȝe cherrat from me ower heortam [sic.] and to-brecað mine lare and mine laȝe and mine heste forȝemeð oðer for-hoȝiet þenne scal eou sone ȝe waxen muchele wrake and sake here and hunger and þet eower heorte erȝian swiðe and eower feond stronȝian and westmes þorð uuele wederas oft and ilome scal for-wurðan. stala and steorfa. swiðe eow [MS. cow.] scal hene and ȝe beoð iseald [MS. iscald.] eower feonde to prisune. Swa þet heo eow tintraȝed and heow iswenchet. lond heo eou awesteð and eower burh heo for-bernað and ehee [? ehte.] heo aspillað and eard heo amerrad and þenne eower sunne forworðon and eou seolfan al fordon. þenne wille ȝe hit bireusian and sunne bimenen and to boto [? bote.] gan. and iswica þenne þe orð þa iswingla ȝe me þenne clepiað and helpes me biddað and þet unriht for-letað and to rihte ibuȝað and ic

wulle eow ireden and milcian and eower lond ic wulle friþian and eow selfe meȝhan and bi- [folio 4b] werian. and blisse and lisse ic sende uppon monnen þe me luuieð and irihte iherað þis beoð godes word þe god seolf idihte. and moises bi-tahte. Al hit mei us rede and to lare ȝif we wulleð. Soðliche me þunched gode men þet al þas wrake is icumen ouer alle þeode. ȝe hit maȝen witen iwis þet hit is al for ure sunne. hwulc mon is þet nauet to broken elche dei þas godes laȝe þe ic eou nu cweð. Þas laȝen weren from Moyses. a þet drihten com on þis middilert for us to alesnesse of deofles onwalde and seodðan he com on þisse mid|delert; he sette his mildheortnesse laȝe ouer us. and ouer al moncun. þet wes þaȝh we suneghie nu on þisse liue ne scal us na mon uuelien þer uore. Gif we nulleð gan to bote and iswican hit is riht þet me us nede and isegge þet sceamie. Nawiht þon monne ah þon deofle þe rixlað in him. Ge herde wilche laȝe weren er crist wes iboren. Monimon seið þet þa weren strotige [? stronge.] laȝe and ȝif þa laȝe weren nu nalde na mon mis-don wið oðre ne wepmon ne wifmon ne meiden. fulsoð hit seið moni hit for-let for drihtenes eye. and moni hit forlet for þa reða dome þe þa wes. Leofe men þet we sculden þenchen nu ȝef we weren iseli. Swa heh lauerd and mihti ouer heuene. and eorðe þet he walde us iseon forðan hit wes þa laȝe þet ilke uuel þe ic dude þe. þu scoldest don me þet wes ȝif þu me wundedest ic sculde wundie þe þer [folio 5a] on-ȝein. ȝif þu me puttest in þet eȝe; ic þin alswa. dunt a-ȝein dunt. Alswa of neate bute þu were Monslaȝe oðer þu to-breke wed durge [? burge.] . oðer for-leȝen heo weren ȝe tintraȝed ah god haueð iset his mildhert-nesse laȝe on gode. Ne scalt þu ȝelden vuel onȝein uuel nuða. ah god almihtin þe hat don þin god on-ȝein his uuel. Ne do he þe neure swa muchelne teone ne wite on þisse liue ne beo þu nefre ene wrað þer fore. ah forber for drihtenes luue. Gif þu dest þin uuel on-ȝein his uuel. Swa muchel þa wredða bid þe mare bi-twenen eow and eour eyþer sunegað bi-foran drihten and ec leter ȝe beoð sahte. þas ruperes and þas reueres and þas þeues þet nulleð nu nefre swike heore uueles þu aȝest luuan heore saule for cristes luue and heore uuel þe heo doð þu aȝest to hetiene and wið-stewen ȝif þu

miht al swa hit is nu laȝe a londe. ȝif heo nulluð nefre iswiken ne gan to bote; hit is riht þet me hem spille. forþan betere hit is þet heo beon ispilled of heore licome þenne mid alle fordon to þes deofles hond. Gif þin nexta freond agult wið þe beo hit of ane þinge beo hit of oðre alswa moni deð; bide hine luueliche þet he þe do riht. Gif he nulle; nim tweien of þine freond and ga ȝet bi-sec hine. and gif he nule þe ȝet; men þe to halie chirche. þet is to þan preoste and to þan folke. [folio 5b] Gif he him nule rihtlechen for preoste na for halie chirche; hald hine þenne swilche mon þe beo bute laȝe and heðenne monne ȝe ilic. þine frond þu luuest for þam goddede þe he þe deð and he þe alswa. þet nis noht. Ah þenne were þu wel his freond toward criste; Gif þu hine iseȝe þet he wulle asottie to þes deofles hond and to his werkes. þet þu hine lettest. and wið-stewest ȝif þu mihtest and crist hafeð ihaten þet þu scalt luuan þine feond for his luue and wið-stewen his uueles ȝif þu muhȝe. and bide for him deihwamliche þet crist hine bringe þet he icherre from þan uuelnesse ear his ende dei. Hwet halt þe wredðe seodðan þus god almihtin hauet ihaten uwil[c]ne cristene mon seodðan he com on þis middelerd and ec ȝif þu agultest. oðer sunegest toward drihten þet þu scalt gan to bote and niman scrift þer of al swa þe proest þe techet. Ne do þu þin uuel on-gein uuel swa me dude hwile. Al swa ic er seide. ȝif eni mon touward criste isunegede on Moyses laȝe. he wes ipinet ermiliche to deðe and ec nes his sunne noþelesse to drihten. Ah crist þurh his muchele mildheortnesse seodðan he a-steh of heuene riche. and eadmode hine seolfne þet he wes iboren of ure lefdi Zeinte Marie. and he wes seodðan twa and þritti wintra on þisse liue. and seodðan þrouwede deð for al moncun al for ure neode nawiht [folio 6a] for his. and ec ȝef us seodðan ane muchele ȝef for his muchele eadmodnesse and sette þas laȝe. Gif þu agultest wið þine efen-nexta unðonkes; bet hit þin þonkes hu se þu miht wið him for-þon ic wat fulwel þet þu miht agultan wið þine euen nexta. Þa wile crist þe haueð ihate þet þu beode eilcmon al swa þu waldest þet me dude þe þines þonkes. and þa ȝet he ȝef us ane heȝe ȝefe. Gif we sunegieð towaarð him we sculen gan

to bote and forleten ure misdede er ure liues ende ne scal us nan mon pinian þer for al swa me dude hwile. Ah þu scalt hit ibeten al swa þin scrifte þe techet. Nu godemon crist us ȝef moni freo ȝeue [MS. ȝene.] seodðan he com on þisse midelerd nawiht for ure ernunge bute for his muchele mildheortnesse. er we weren al for|gult in to helle þurh adam ure alde feder for-þon þe he to-brec godes bebode and al for ure neode wrecche sunfule he asteh to þisse liue. and þrouwede deð for us and alesde us of helle grunde mid his derewurðe flesse and mid his blode and þa ȝet he haueð us iȝarket þa ecche blisse ȝif we wulleð hit iernien in heuene riche. Nimað ȝeme nu leofemon hwilche ȝife he us ȝefeð þet þet ear us bohte deore. and þa ȝet he us astalde his mildheort|nesse laȝe seodðan he com a-mong us þet is ȝif we suneged we hit sculen beote and pinian þene wreche licome [folio 6b] imececheliche [? imeteliche.] þer a-ȝein. for-þon þe licome luuað muchele slauðe [MS. slanðe.] and muchele etinge [MS. ecinge.] and drunkunge. and glanesse. [? galnesse.] and prude. and ouer|modinesse and oðermonnes istreon mid wohȝe for-þon þe him ne lust swinken mid rihte on þisse liue. Al þet þe licome luueð þet þa saule heteð and wa is hire þer fore. Nu sculle we for-lete þes licome lust for-þon. and tilian to þere saule bihofðe þa hwile we maȝen þa hwile crist us wule ȝefen furst on þisse liue. for|þon crist us haueð iȝefen muchele mare blisse and forlaȝe on þisse liue to biȝeten heouene riche. þenne he dude þan monne þe ic er cweð er he were iboren. for-þon monimon hit forlet þet he ne misdude wið oðerne for þon eisliche dome. and for drihtenes eie and þat nusten heo nawiht swa muchel of him swa we witen. bute þet heo wisten ðurh þe halie witege þet he wes hali and mihti and heh ouer heouene and ouer eorða and ouer alle þing and þet he sculde cumen to þisse middeleard for ure neode and þah heo heolden wel his laȝe þa and is heste. and bi-lefden wel on him. we wrecche sunfulle ne do we noht swa. Ah setteð deihwamliche sunne uppon sunne we hine sculde luuian and hersumian and halden his heste al for ure aȝene neode. forðon we habbeð ihereden þurh wise witega hu he erest astalde þeos woreld. Al for ure neode. and he þreowede deð for us. and uwlche dei we ihereð siggen. [folio 7a] and we hit witen to soðe. and

we hit iseoð hwilche wunder and murhðe he dude. and deð deihwamliche. for-þi we scolden halden his heste us bitwenan. Muchel is þines eorðliches louerdes eie. and hunfold mare is cristes eie. forðon þe eorðliche lauerd ne mei don na mare bote pinen þe wrecche licome to deaðe. Ah godalmihtin þe mei for|don eiðer ȝe þine wrecche licome and þine saule. Swilcne lauerd we aȝen to dreden. þet is godalmihtin. Nu godemen summe of us for þisse weorlde lewnesse and ec for þa licome lustfulnesse. al swa ic ear cweð we ne maȝen alre coste halden crist bibode þet us is þe mare herm. forðon a þis worlð winð onȝein us. and we on-ȝein heo mid muchele earueðnesse [MS. earneð|nesse.] for-þi we sunegiet on-ȝein drihtenes welle ofter þene we scolde. ah ic eow segge to soðe þes þu hefdest mare deruenesse on þisse liue of þine licome; þes þu scoldest hersumian þe bet þine leofe drihten and halden his bibode. Gif hit itit þet þu brekest godes heste unþonkes be [? bet.] hit þin þonkes. þet is þet þu scalt gan to scrifte and pinian þine licome þe hit þe makeð don. and scenden þene deofel forðon alre erest þu þenchest þa sunne mid þine þonke. Ne mei þe deofle þa sunne iwiten þa ȝet er þu habbe heo idon mid þe licome þenne kimeð þe deofel þer on and wit heo. and ec he writ heo in his tables. and a he wuneð inne fule sunne to þes monnes ende dei. bute he hine driue a-wei. [folio 7b] Mid sodðe dedbote his sunne bi reowsumnesse. þe wrecche sunfulle ne elde nawiht þet he ne ga to bote þe wile he mei to dei he mei. tomarȝan hit him is awane: Leofe broðre ne ouertrowiȝe cristes milce ne his mild|heortnesse al swa monimon seið and weneð. Hu mei ic efre ibete ic habbe idon swa muchele and swa monifalde ne bete ic hit nefre on mine liue. O. seið þus þe boc. wei þet he eure hit wule iþenche in his þonke. Ne beo heo nefre swa frekel. ne swa heh. ne swa muchel. ne swa eðelic. þah ure an heofde idon eower alre sunne and he walde gan to scrifte and bi-reusien ha. and forleten ha a mare. þet crist almihti nule [? wule.] milcie for his muchele mildheortnesse bute þan ilke monne þe swa þencheð. swa ic er cweð. and ouer-treoweð godes milce. Gif he bidðed [? biddeð.] inna þa sunne. and in þon þonke. he is al for-loren into helle grunde. and þa monne ec þa nulleð ileuen. þet he walð [? walde.] beon iboren of

ure lefdi sancte marie ne þolien deð for us. and ec þa sunfulle monne þe dreȝeð a heore uuele werkes. and þencheð her on ic wille liggen a þet ic beo ealdre oðer þet ic beo sec. þenne wulle ic birewsien. and beten. forðon drihten is mildheorteð inoh he wule hit me forȝeuen. þus þe deofel wule bilesnien þe wreche. and ec we ileueð to soþe alswa redliche swa adam ure eldre feder us forgulte erest in to helle. [folio 8a] Swa ne mei nan mon seggen hu muchele mare godalmihtines milce and his mildheortnesse is þer aȝein. þon sunfulle monne he hine wile biseche mid gode heorte and mid soþe dedbote his sunne ȝif he wile heo þurhut forleten and nimin scrift þer-of. and beten a mare. Leofe breoðre and sustre þah we numen scrift of ane sunne oðre of twa. and þe [? we.] fulie ane nis þet icweme godalmihti. Ne þe preost þe ne mei scrife bute þu wulle heo alforleten. Hu mei þe leche þe lechnien [MS. lechi|nen.] þa hwile þet iren sticat in þine wunde. Nefre. Ne þu ne miȝt beon wel iscrifen god almihti to cweme. bute þu heo alle for-lete eiðer ȝe þa ane ȝe þa oðer. wite þe wel þet þe an sunne wule amerran al þa godnesse. and þe almesse. and þa dedbote þe þu dest of þam oðer. A lutel ater bitteret muchel swete. And þah an castel beo wel bemoned mid monne and mid wepne. and þer beo analpi holh þat an mon mei crepan in. Nis hit al unnet. hwet itacnet þe castel þe mon seolf. hwet þa men þe beoð in þe castel and hin ȝemeð. þet beoð þes monnes eȝan. and his fet. and his hondan. and his muð. and his nesa. and his earen. her beoð þa limen þet suneGet uwilene mon. þu scodeldest [? scoldest.] heo bi|witen al swa clenliche swa crist ha þe bitahte on þas fulhtes beðe. Noþeles oðerhwile þu sunegest mid summe of þisse [folio 8b] limen ofter þenne þu scoldest. hit nis nan wunder þah mon sunegie oðer hwile unwaldes. ah hit is muchele muchele [sic.] mare wunder ȝif he nule nefre swiken. Al swa ic er cweð hwet tacneð þa wepne þine elmisse þe þu dest. þet is þu gast to chirche bluþeliche and fedest wreche men and herebureȝest and scrudest elles al þet þu maht don to gode. and þa ȝet þu hersumest þere sunne þet is þet holh þet ic er cweð hwa creopeð þer-in; þe awariede deofel. forðon þenne þe sunne bið idon. Seodðan bicumet he. and wunet þer-on abute þu hit bete. hu miht þu don þine elmesse and

icwemen drihten. þa hwile þu þeowest þire sunne and eft þu wult bi-haten god almihtin and þine scrifte þet þu wult forleten þine misdede. and nimest scrift þer-of. and ferest þe eft and dest þa ilke sunne þenne hafest þu þes hundes laȝe þe nu speoweð and ef [? eft.] hit fret. and bið muchele. fulre þene he wes earðon. Swa bið þe mon erðon he hefde anfalde sunne and seodðan he hauef [? hauet.] twafald gif he hit deð in his witscipe. þe þe wule ilome ibeten. and ilome breken. he gremeð ure drihten and eft moni mon dreȝet his fule sunne and efre him þurȝeð [? þingeð.] al to lutel þat he deð to unrihte þet he habbe oðer monnes [istreon] mid wohe. and þah he wite mid him seolf eni heafsunne he ha [folio 9a] nule beten þa ȝet ah þenchet ic em hal. and fere. and strong. and stelewurðe ȝet ic mei longe libben and alle mine sunne timliche ibeten. þen-ne cumeð her under þe deofel swicanðliche mid alle and him scorteð his daȝes and awerpeð hine in to helle pine þer he scal wnian [? wunian.] abuten ende from þan helle and from þan pine us bureȝe þe lauerd þe is feder and sune and hali gast wuniende and rixlende on worlde a buten ende. Amen.

III. [DOMINICA PRIMA IN QUADRAGESIMA.]

[I]n leinten time uwilc mon gað to scrifte; þer beoð summe þe mare herm is þe gað al swa ic nuþe eow tellen wulle. He seið mið [? mid.] þa muðe þet nis naut in his heorte. ic wulle gan to scrifte for scome alswa doð oðer men. ȝif ic forlete þe preost me walde eskien on ester dei hwa me scriue er he me ȝefe husul and ec for monne weordes ðinge. he ne gad naut to scrifte al swa doð oðer men. Ah al swa he doð [originally deð.] swa þe swica þe bi-swikeð hine seolfe on-ende and bið al swa is an eppel iheoweð. he bið wið-uten feire and frakel wið-innen. Awah þet he efre wulle þristelechen oðer bi-þenchen mid his fule heorte þe heo wulle underfon swa heȝ þing and swa hali swa is cristes licome in his sunfulle buke. and weneð þet hit wulle

him helpen; Neisoðliche nawiht ah þenne þe preost hit deð in his muþe. þenne cumeð drihtenes engel and binimeð þa halinesse mid him toward heouene [folio 9b] riche. þet þer bilefð in his muðe. ah ȝif eni mon hit muste isean. he mahte iseon ane berninde glede þet hine al for-bernað þurut to cole. Leofemen ȝif þu ert swiðe for-gult wið þine eorðliche lauerd he þe wule for|beode of his eȝane on siht. [? aȝene on|siht.] and ec þu ne derst cumen bi-foren him fore þine gulte. Hu der þe wrecche mon underfon drihtenes fleis and his blod in his licome. hu derst þu mon þer on-ȝein underfon drihtenes [fleis] and his blod in þine licome imong þan unwreste sunne and ec imong þan deofle þe wuneð in him. Mare hit him deð to herme þenne to gode for hit hine tið to þan bittre deðe to helle mare þenne to þan eche liue. Swa longe þe deofle wunað swa inne þe sunfulle men a þet he hine haueð al ifonded to his wille þurhut. and þe deofel þet to soþe þe rixat in-nan him þet he nulle nefre forleten his sunne. He þen-cheð þe deofel. þesne mon ic habbe itaken to mine aȝene bihofþe. [MS. bi|hosþe.] Ma monna ic scolde biȝeten swa bi hulche monna seið drihten in his spelle. þa he þus cweþ Cum inmundus spiritus exierit ab homine ambulat per uia[s] inaquosa[s] querens requiem & non inuenit þe unclene gast þe geð him of þan sunfulle mon and geð him of þan stude to stude. and secheð reste hwer he mei wunian. [folio 10a] ah he ne mei in nane gode men. forðon ȝif he bið wel iscrifen and godfurht ne þe deofel mey nefre cumen in-ne him for his gode werkes. þenne cweð he eft. Reuertar in domum meam unde exiui. Nu ic mot in þet ilke hus þet ic er wes. and þenne ferað he and nimeð him. vii. deofle þe beoð muchele wurse þenne he. heo fereð swa ic er cweð. and wuniað in him a mare and swa dreieð his erme saule in eche pine to helle grunde. Erðon he nefde bute enne deofel. nu he haueð sefene. Nu þah he walde þa ufele sunne for-leten; Ne mei he for þan deoflan. Ah wulche men ilimpeð swa ic habbe er icweðen; witicrist þet beoð þa men þe gað to scrifte mare for worl[d]es scome þenne for heore sunne to beten; and to reusi[e]n. for hwet wule mon et scrifte bute he wulle for leten his misdede. and beten. Soðliche ȝif þu wreiest þe seolfen to

þine scrifte; ne mei þe deofel þe wreienson [? wreien on.] þan oðre liue. for þe mon þe heleð his sunne aðisse liue ne siht he nefre almihtin drihten. ne nawiht of his blisse. Hu maht þu iseon þine sceadewe in worie watere; Hwet is scrift bute forlete þene deofel. and þine sunne. and bi-rewsien and beten and wepen. and habben in his þonke þe he nule nefre mare eft ȝe don þeo sunnen; þe he geð to scrifte [folio 10b] fore and cumen to þan preoste and werian [? wreian.] hine seolfe. and cweðen in his þonke þar hi [? he.] bið. Awah; þet ic hit efre dude mid mine wrechede licome þas sunnen. for godes luue beteð ower sunnen þa wile ȝe beoð heren on þisse scorte liue. and iþencheð hu lutte hw[i]le ȝe beoð here. Mid soðe þus seið þe boc. Rubberes. [? rupperes.] and þa reueres. and þa þeoues. and þa morðslaȝa. and ȝitteres. and þa eawbrekeres. and þa liȝeres and þa wohdemeres and þa iuguleres. and þa oðer sottes alle heo habbeð an þonc fulneh. hwet seggeð heo. we moten idreȝan ure wil þe hwile þe we beoð ȝunge. and eft þenne we beoð eldre bete we hit þenne weilawei wrecche. þus cweð þe boc. Soðliche al swa eða þu mihtest neoman þine aȝen wepne and smiten of þin aȝen heaueð. and gan eft to þin aȝene liche. hu mahtest þu gan to þine aȝene liche ȝif þin hefet were offe; Nefre. Alswa nauest þu nefre milce of heofenlic drihten; ȝif þu eart inumen in þon ilke þonke. on enelpi luttele hwile mon mei underfon ane wunde on his licome; þet ne mei beon longe hwile hal. And oðer hwile hit is on wane of his hele. þa lutle hw[i]le þu ha dest ha þe þuncheð fulgod. and ful swete. and eft wite crist heo is ful biter [MS. bicer.] to betene, and oðer hwile hit itit þet þu heo nefre ne ibettest on þisse liue. hwet [folio 11a] weneð þas ruperes and þas reueres þet nemeð oðres monnes eahte mid wohe. þet crist heom wulle milcien þah heo habbeð inumen and heom bi-ȝeten freondscipe et þon monnen; þet heo a-gult habbeð; nei. hwet þencheð heo þus ic wulle bi-ȝeten mid wohe. þa hwile ic mei. and seoðan ic wulle gan to scrifte. and forleten and festen þer fore. he haueð þes deofles costes. þet a festeð and a deð uuel. þus ha þencheð þet heo wulleð biȝeten; and nawiht aȝefen ah soðliche al he hit mot aȝefen ȝif he hit haueð. and ȝif he hit naueð aȝefe swa muchel swa he mei and forȝeuenesse

weorne [? Ȝeorne.] bidde et þan ouereake þis him wule þunche swiðe strong and swiðe scondful þet he scal al a-ȝeuen and seodðan bisechen milce et þan ilke monne þe he haueð er istolen oðer oðer-weis wa idon. Bluðeliche þe mon wile gan to scrifte and segge þe preoste þet he haueð ireaueð and istolen. and bluðeliche he wule herkien. þet þe preost him leið on; ah þenne þe preost hine hat aȝefen þa ehte þon monne þet hit er ahte. þet he nulle iheren his þonkes. ah he wile seggen. and foxliche smeþien mid worde. Nabbe ic nawiht þer-of ic hit habbe al ispened þus seið þenne þe preost þer onȝein. God mon nim þu nuðe of þin aȝen ehte and do þer onȝein. hit mei ilimpen þet he wile seggen þah ic hefde al þet [folio 11b] ic efre biȝet ne mahtic ȝelden swa muchel swa ic habbe idon to herme. witecrist he mot aȝeuen al swa muchel swa he mei. forðon moni mon hit walde him forȝeuen half oðer þridde lot þenne he iseȝe þet he ne mahte na mare ȝe-forðian. Hit mei ilimpen þet he wile seggen þam preoste. Lauerð nat ic hwer heo beoð þeo men þe ic þene herm to dude. Summe beoð deade and summe on oðre stude. ne ic cume to heom nawiht. Soðliche þus cweþeð þe boc he mot ham isecham. [? isechan.] ȝif he wat to soðe þet heo beoð liues. and þene preost he mot isechen þe hine acursede. þet he hine iblecie onȝein þet he hine acursede. and ȝif he nat to soðe þet heo beoð liues þa men ne þe preost; cume þenne to þer ilke chirche þer er nom þa ehte. and do efter þes preostes rede þe he þer uindeð. þe preost him wile haten þet he nime þa ilke ehte oðer his wurð. and dele hit wrecche monne oðer to brugge oðer to chirche weorke oðer on sume stude þer hit beoð wel bitoȝen for cristes luue. and for þene mon þet hit er ahte. and þaȝet nime bote to criste. þe ilke þet is iseli; þis he wule don. and he his uniseli ȝif him is lað to donne þis forðon þe he scal aȝein ȝeuen awiht. þus þe uniselie þencheð þes [folio 12a] preost wile habben min ehte mid wohe. and ne don me nan oðer bote buten a ic scal festen. and þa ȝet hit were wel god moste ic alunges festen swa þet ic mine oðre goð [? god.] al ne fors-spende. Bi þam men þe þus þencheð. þus seið þe boc. he wule festen. and eaten. ȝif he mei et ane mele swa muchel swa et twam. Soðliche ne con crist him nenne

þonc. Ne þenche ȝe herto. Gif þu me dest woh and wit beon anes lauerdes men; ic hit mene to mine lauerde alre erest þu me scalt don riht. and seodðan þe lauerde. witicrist muchele strengere dom is of godalmihtine. Gif þu wilt habben for|ȝefenesse of þire misdede to drihten alre erest þu most habben mine freonseipe [? freond|scipe.] ȝif þu wið me agultes. and seodðan þu most biȝeten milce et þine drihtene. Tobreoke anes eorðliches monnes heste; he wile wreðe wið þe. hunfald mare þu scoldest halden cristes biheste for þon he is alra kinge king þe mon þe leie .xii. moneð in ane prisune nalde he ȝefen al þet he efre mahte biȝeten wið þet he moste .xii. beo ðer ut of. and þah þu leie in ane prisune oðer hwile þu hefdest clað to werien. and to etene and to drinken. ȝe soðliche on cristes prisune nis nan of þis sere; þet is in helle. ah a þer is waning [folio 12b] and graming. and toþen grisbating. hunger and þurst. and chele. and feonda bitinga. and neddre slittinga. wa is him þet he efre wes iboren on þis liue þe þer scal wunian. For godes luue gað to scriffte of alla eower sunne. for þah ȝe gan of sunne ower sunne to bote. and ȝe nulleð forleten hordomes. and ȝifernesse and druncnesse. ne halt nawiht þat scrift. and þis beot þa twa sunne þe men fulieð alra swiðest. and weneð þet hit ne beo na sunne bute he habbe scrift. he is forloren in to helle. Gif eani mon bið inumen in þere sunne. Soðliche þus seið þe boc. hwet seið þe dusie to ufele hele wes ic iboren ȝif ic ne mot habben on þisse weorlde ȝeuenesse. ah swa me helpe drihten. þe ilke mon þe wule fulien alle his sunne lustes. Non intrabit in regnum celo|rum. þet is ne kimeð he nefre inne heoueneriche. and eft þe oðer witege seið. Nemo potest gaudere cum seculo. & in eternum regnare cum Christo. þet is to understondene. Ne mei nan mon habben al his wil. and blissien him mid þisse wordle and ec wunian a wið crist on heofene. þah þu liuedest of adames frumðe þet come þes dei and þu ahtest al weorld iwald. and alre welene mest. þenne þu scalt of þisse liue nalde hit þe þinchen na mare bute al swa þu ene unpriȝedest [? unwriȝ|edest.] mid þine eȝen [folio 13a] forðon nis nawiht þeos weorld al heo aȝeð on ane alpi þraȝe þerihtes he ne bið wei hwi beo we uule on þisse wrecche

world. Sodðliche heo us truket þenne we lest weneð. wei þet eni mon scal wið oðerne misdon for þisse worldes ȝifsunge [? Ȝitsunge.] . Soðliche al heo a-gað. and þa wrecche saule hit scal abuggen. Ga to þine feder burinesse oðer þer eni of þine cunne lið in. and esca hine hwet he habbe biȝeten mid his wohe domas. and mid his reuunge. mid his licome lustes. mid his oðre sunne. hwile he wes her on þisse liue. Soðliche he walde seggen ȝif he mihte speken. wa is me þet ic efre dude swa muchele sunne. and heo ne ȝe bette. for swilche pine ic habbe þet me were leofere þenne al world þah hit were min most ic habben an alpi þraȝe summe lisse and summe leðe. and ec mostic underfon minne licome and beon on worlde a mare ic walde fein pinian and sitten on forste and on snawe up et mine chinne. and þa ȝet hit walð [? walde.] me þunchen þet softeste beð. and þet wunsemeste þet ic efre ibad moste ic beon of þisse earme liue. and þaȝet þu maht understonden þenne þu stondest et his burienesse þet he wes prud and wlonc. swa þu ert nu. and þu forwurðest. eca swa he is nu al to nohte; and þu nast neure hwenne; Leof wes he on liue and lað is [folio 13b] he nuðe. and þa wrecche saule forloren; for-þi leofemen under|stondet. eouseluen þa hwile ȝe mahten. Nis þas weorld nawiht ȝe hit iseoð eow seluen. Ne beo he nefre swa riche forð he scal þenne is dei cumeð. for-þi gað bluðeliche to bote of eower sunne þa hwile ȝe maȝen. Vfel is þet mon aldeð and his daȝes. him at-gað and nehlecheð his ende dei and nule him biþenchen þet his sunnen waxað. þat is þere saule deð; forðon heo ne mei abeoren alla þa sunne þe þe mon uppon hire deð. þenne heo wulle ut of þon licome. Soðliche þus seið þa boc þet moni þusent monne mahte libben fele ȝere mare þenne he do; ȝif he were riht-wis and god-furht leoue men þenne ȝe gad to scrifte ne forlete ȝe for nane scame þet ȝe ne seggen þam preoste alle eower sunne ne beo heo nefre swa ethelic. for nis nan sunne þet he ne con oðer he heo wat ðurh. þet he heo dude him seolf oðer he heo hafð i-escad oðer hafð ifunden on boke. Nis nan sunne þet nis iwriten on boke. for-þi betere eow is þet eow sceamie bi|foren þam preoste ane; þenne on domes-dei biforen criste. and bi-foren al heuene wara. and bi-foren al eorðe wara. and bi|foren

al helle wara. and þa hweþere þine saule feren scal in to eche pine. Leofe men ne mei þe preost forȝefen [folio 14a] nane men his sunne ne his aȝene ah he is iset bi-twihan god almihtin. and þe for þe wissine hu þu scalt et god seolf habben þine sunne forȝeuene. and he hauefð [sic.] þa ilke mahte of Sancte petre to bindene. and to unbindene. and of ure biscope þe is on sancte petres stude forðon he ne mei beon on ewilche stude for-þi beoð þa preostes under heom. Gif þu sunegest; he þe scal reden on godes halfe hu þu scalt habben cristes freond|scipe; Soðliche ne þerft þu bidden namare. Ne mei nan mon seggen hu lihtliche þu maht habben godes milce. gif þu sunegest; forlet hit a mare. and þet mid rihte scrifte. and bete a. alswa ic er cweð. þah þu ga to bote and for-heole summe þine sunna. nis þet nawiht to þine bi-heofðe. Ne reccheð crist nane leasunge. ne him nis na neoð [? neod.] . oðer þu most hersumian crist. oðer þam deofle. Godemen uwilc mon scal beon twiȝen awesscen of his sunne enes et þam fulhtbeda [? fulhtbeða.] . for er þonne þet child beo ifulȝeð hit is þes deofles. oðer siðe þu scalt beon iwesscen et soð scrifte; þenne þu forletest þine sunne. Soðliche ȝif þu wult habben bone to drihten; þu most beon on ward þine sunnen for þus cweð þa boc. peccatores deus non audit. Sunfulles monnes bone nulle [folio 14b] god almihtin iheren bute he wulle forleten þa sunne and gan to bote leofemen þah ȝe sunegien and gan to bote ne lipnie ȝe no al to eower festene ȝif ȝe maȝen eni oðer god don. Nis nan mon þet ne mei mare don þene festen. Gif he ne mei don elmesse of claðe ne of mete al swa mei an riche mon; do summe of þisse þinge þe ic wulle nu cweþen. Alra erest þu scalt gan to scrifte and forleten þurhut þine misdede and festen swa þet þin licome beo þe lenre þet is fest for ðines drihtenes luue. þe mon þe þus fest crist him ȝeueð swilcne mete þet him nefre eft ne hungreð. þet oðer is do þine elmesse of þon þet þu maht iforðien. Messen for alle cristine saule. Wrecche men sceos and claðes. and mete. and dringen. and wermþe. and herburȝe. and to seke gan. and þa deden helpen to buriene and helpen heom mid þon þe þu maȝe. for þa boc seið. Sicut aqua extinguit ignem; ita & elemosina extinguit peccatum. Al swa

þet water acwencheð þet fur. swa þa elmesse acwencheð þa sunne þat þridde is þet þu scalt bi-wepen þine sunne bi-eften monnen and ȝeoten þine teres swiðe sariliche for þon drihten cweð on þan god-spelle. Beati qui nunc fletis quoniam ridebitis. þet is eadi beoð þa ilke þe nu wepeð for heore sunne [folio 15a] for heo sceolen beon igledeð [? igledede.] bi-foren drihten þat forðe is þet þu scalt wakien for þines drihtenes luue. forðon þe boc cweð. Non sit uobis uanum surgere ante lucem. quia promisit dominus coronam uigilantibus. Ne beo eow noht lað to arisene er dei. for drihten bi-hat þon wakiende ane crune þet scal beon seofesiðe brihtre þene þa sunne fifte is þet þu scalt forȝeuen þon monne þe wið þe agultet. and swa se þu forȝeuest þam monne þe wið þe agulteð; swa þin drihten forȝeueð þe þine misdede. and swa þu hine biddest deihwamliche þenne þu seist. Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut & nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Laueð [? Lauerd.] feder forȝef us alle ure gultes swa we forȝeueð þan monne þe us to agulteð. her is ane reowlic bone to biddene bute we inwarliche imilcien and forȝeuen þan monne þe us wreðeð and sceandet. þet seste is þat þu scalt sahtnien. þa þe beoð unisahte mid alle þine mahte. þenne bureȝest þu here saule. and ec þine aȝene from þan ufele deaðe þet is from helle pine. þet seofeðe is cherite. heo fulled alle þa oðre þing and endeð. witicrist þe mon þe ne luueð cherite ne cumeð he nefre in godes riche. Nu ȝe maȝen iheren hwet is riht cherite. þet uwilc mon ah to habben þet is [folio 15b] þet þu luuie þine drihten ofer þin wif. and ofer child and ofer alle eorðliche þing and him þonkien alles þinges. and seoðan beoden uwilc mon swa þu waldest þet me þe bude. þis is riht cherite. Soðliche þus cweð þe boc. þet þis scal beren eower saule to heuene riche. Nu leofe men habbe ȝe iherd hwet ic habbe iseaid hwet ȝe sculen don ȝif ȝe hit maȝen iforðian. Nis nan mon swa riche. ne swa wrecche þet he ne mei sum þing iforðian of þan þe ic heou habbe iseid. þe deð. his elmesse of þinge mid wohe biȝeten; ne con him crist na mare þong [? þonc.] þene þah he sloȝe þin child and bere þe his heaued to lake. for-þi godemen forleteð eower sunne and gad to rihte scrifte and leteð eower stale and eower reaflac. for nis þer nan [? an omission here.] feng on. and

eft þe boc seið. Ne scule ȝe neure god don unforgolden. Ne ec ne scule ȝe nefre ufel don þet ȝe hit ne sculen mid uuele bitter abuggen. Forði leofe breoðre haldeð broþerreddene eow bi|twenen. and earnie ȝe eow nu on þisse sceorte liue þet we [? Ȝe.] bicumen moten to þere upplican riche and þere wunian mid þe feder and mid þe sune and mid þe halie gast abuten ende. Amen.

IV. IN DIEBUS DOMINICIS.

[L]eofemen ȝef ȝe lusten wuleð. and ȝe willeliche hit under|stonden we eow wulleð [folio 16a] suteliche seggen of þa fredome þe limpeð to þan deie þe is iclepeð su [sic.] sunedei. Sunedei is ihaten þes lauerdes dei and ec þe dei of blisse and of lisse and of alle|irest. On þon deie þa engles of heofene ham iblissieð. forði þe þa erming saulen habbeð rest of heore pine. Gif hwa wule witen hwa erest bi-won reste þam wrecche saule to soþe ic eow segge. þet wes sancte paul þe apostel and mihhal þe archangel heo tweien eoden et sume time in to helle alswa heom drihten het for to lokien hu hit þer ferde. Mihhal eode bi-foren and paul com efter and þa scawede mihhal to sancte paul þa wrecche sun|fulle þe þer were wuniende þer-efter he him sceawede heȝe treon eisliche beorninde et-foren helle ȝete. and uppon þan treon he him sceawede þe wrecche saulen a-honge. Summe bi þa fet. summe bi þa honden. summe bi þe tunge. summe bi þe eȝen. summe bi þe hefede. summe bi þer heorte. Seodðan he him sceaude an ouen on berninde fure he warp ut of him seofe leies uwilan [? uwilcan.] of seolcuðre heowe þe alle weren eateliche to bihaldene and muchele strengre þen eani þurg to þolien. and þer wið-innen weren swiðe feole saule a-honge. ȝette he him sceawede ane welle of fure and alle hire stremes [MS. strenies.] urnen fur berninde. and þa welle bi-wisten .xii. meister [folio 16b] deoflen swilc ha weren kinges to pinen þer wiðinnen þa earming saulen þe for-gult weren; and heore

aȝene pine neure nere þe lesse þah heo meistres weren. Efter þon he him sceawede þe sea of helle and innan þan sea weren .vii. bittere uþe. þe forme wes swnan [? snaw.] . þat oðer is. þet þridde fur. þet feorðe blod. þe fifte neddren. þe siste smorðer. þe seofeþe ful stunch. heo wes wurse to þolien þenne efreni of alle þa oðre pine. Innan þan ilke sea weren un-aneomned deor summe feðer fotetd. Summe al bute fet. and heore eȝen weren al swilc swa fur. and heore eþem scean swa deð þe leit a-monge þunre. þas ilke nefre ne swiken ne dei ne niht to brekene þa erming licome of þa ilca men þe on þisse liue her hare scrift enden nalden. Summe of þan monne sare wepeð. Summe swa deor lude remeð. summe þer graninde sikeð. summe þer reowliche gneȝeð his aȝene tunge. Summe þer wepeð. and alle heore teres beoð berninde gleden glidende ouer heore aȝene nebbe. and swiðe reowliche ilome ȝeiȝeð and ȝeorne bisecheð þat me ham ibureȝe from þam uuele pinan of þas pinan speked dauid þe halie witeȝe. and þus seið. Miserere nostri domine quia penas inferni sustinere non possumus. Lauerd haue merci of us forðon þa pinen of helle we ham ne maȝen iðolien. [folio 17a] Seoð-þan he him sceawede and [? ane.] stude inne midde-warðe [? midde|warde.] helle. and bi-foren þam ilke stude weren seofen clusterlokan þar neh ne mihte nan liuiende mon gan for þan ufele breðe and þer wið-inna he him sceawede gan on ald mon þet .iiii. deoflen ledden abuten. þa escade paul to mihhal hwet þe alde mon were. þa cweð mihhal heh angel he wes an biscop on eoðre liue þe nefre nalde cristes laȝen lokien ne halden. ofter he walde anuppon his underlinges mid wohe motien and longe dringan þenne he walde salmes singen oðer eani oðer god don. Herefter iseh paul hwer .iii. deoflen ledden an meiden swiðe unbisorȝeliche; ȝeorne escade to mihhal hwi me heo swa ledde. þa cweð mihhal. heo wes an meiden on oðer liue þet wel wiste hire licome in alle clenesse. ah heo nalde nefre nan oðer god don. Elmesȝeorn nes heo nefre. ah prud heo wes swiðe and modi. and liȝere and swikel. and wreðful and ontful. and forði heo bið wuniende inne þisse pine. Nu bi-gon paul to wepen wunder|liche. and mihhal heh engel þer weop forð mid him. þa com ure drihten of heueneriche to heom on wunres [? þunres.] liche and þus cweð.

Ahwi wepest þu paul. paul him onswerde. Lauerð ic biwepe þas monifolde pine ðe ic her in helle iseo. þa cweð ure lauerd. Ahwi nalden heo witen mine [folio 17b] laȝe þe hwile heo weren en eorðe; þa seide paul him mildeliche to ȝeines. Louerd nu ic bidde þe ȝef þin wille is þet þu heom ȝefe rest la hwure þen sunne dei a þet cume domes-dei. þa cweð drihten to him. paul wel ic wat hwer ic sceal milcien. Ic heom wulle milcien þe weren efterward mine milce þa hwile heo on liue weren. þa wes sancte paul swiðe wa. and abeh him redliche to his lauerdes fet and on halsien hine gon mid þas ilke weord þe ȝe maȝen iheren. Lauerd he cweð þa. Nu ic þe bidde for þine kinedome and for þine engles. and for þine muchele milce. and for alle þine weorkes. and for alle þine haleȝen. and ec þine icorene. þat þu heom milcie þes þe redþer þet ic to heom com and reste ȝefe þen sunne-dei a þet cume þin heh domes dei. þa onswerede him drihten mildere steuene. Aris nu paul aris. Ic ham ȝeue reste alswa þu ibeden hauest from non on saterdei a þa cume monedeis lihting. þet efre forð to domes dei. Nu leofe breðre ȝe habbeð iherð hwa erest bi-won reste þam forgulte saule. Nu bi-cumeð hit þerfore to uwilche cristene monne mucheles þe mare to haliȝen and to wurðien þenne dei þe is icleped sunne-dei. for of þam deie ure lauerd seolf seið. Dies dominicus est dies leticie & requiei. [folio 18a] Sunne dei is dei of blisse and of alle ireste. Non facietur in ea aliquid nisi deum orare manducare & bibere cum pace et leticia. Ne beo in hire naþing iwrat bute chirche bisocnie and beode to criste and eoten and drinken mid griðe and mid gledscipe. Sicut dicitur. pax in terra. pax in celo. pax inter homines. for swa is iset. grið on eorðe. and grið on hefene. and grið bitwenen uwilc cristene monne. eft ure lauerd seolf seit. Maledictus homo qui non cus|todit sabatum. Amansed beo þe mon þe sunne-dei nulle iloken. And for-þi leofemen uwilc sunne-dei is to locan alswa ester dei for heo is muneȝing of his halie ariste from deðe to liue. and muneȝeing of þam hali gast þe he sende in his apostles on þon dei þe is icleped wit-sunne-dei. ec we understondeð þet on sunne dei drihten cumeð to demene al mon-cun; we aȝen þene sunne dei swiþeliche wel to wurþien. and on alle clenesse to locan. for

heo hafð mid hire þreo wurdliche mihte þe ȝe iheren maȝen. ðet forme mihte is þet heo on eorðe ȝeueð reste to alle eorðe þrelles wepmen and wifmen of heore þrel weorkes. þet oðer mihte is on heouene. for-þi þa engles hem heom rested mare þenn on sum oðer dei. þet þridde mihte is þet þa erming saule habbeð ireste inne helle [folio 18b] of heore muchele pine. Hwa efre þenne ilokie wel þene sunne dei. oðer þa oðer halie daȝes þe mon beot in chirche to lokien swa þe sunne dei. beo heo dal neominde of heofene riches blisse; mid þan ferde [? fedre.] . and mid þan sunne. and mid þan halie gast abuten ende. amen. Quod ipse prestare dignetur qui uiuit & regnat deus. þer omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

V. HIC DICENDUM EST DE PROPHETA.

[M]issus est ieremias in puteum et stetit ibi usque ad os. Qui cum aliquandiu ibi stetisset; debilitatum est corpus eius. & tandem dimissis funibus subtractus est. Et cum eorum duriciam. quia debilis erat sustinere non posset. allati sunt panni de domo regia et circumpositi sunt funibus ne [e]orum duricia lederetuR. Leofemen we uindeð in halie boc. þet ieremie þe prophete stod in ane putte. and þet in þe uenne up to his muðe and þa he hefede þer ane hwile istonde. þa bi-com his licome swiðe feble. and me nom rapes and caste in to him fro [? for.] to draȝen hine ut of þisse putte. Ah his licome wes se swiðe feble; þet he ne mihte noht iþolie þe herdnesse of þe rapes. þa sende me claðes ut of þes kinges huse for to bi-winden þe rapes. þet his licome þe feble wes ne sceolde noht wursien. Leofemen þeos ilke weord þe ic habbe her iseit [sic.] habbeð muchele bi-tacnunge [folio 19a] and god ha beoð to heren and muchele betere to et-halden. Is hit god for to hiheren godes weordes and heom athalden; ȝe fuliwis. for ure lauerd godalmihtin seið in þan halie godspelle. Beati qui audiunt uerbum & custodiunt illud. Ædie and blessede beon alle þeo þe ihereð godes weordes and heom athaldeð. Nu ȝe

habbeð iherd wulc hit is for to iheren godes weordes and heom ethalden. Nu we sculen heow sceawen hwilc hit is heom for to heren and nawiht for to ethalden. for seint gregori seið. Melius est uiam ueritatis non agnoscere; quam post agnitam retroire. Betre hit is þet mon ne iknawe noht þe wei to godalmihtin þe he hine icnawe and seodðe hine for-hoȝie; and on oðer stude he seið. Qui obturat aures suas ne audiat legem dei; oratio eius erit execrabilis. Þe mon þe tuneð his eren in halie chirche to|ȝeines godes laȝe and nule noht iheren þe weordes þe of him beoð. his beoden beoð aweriede and unwurðe gode. Puteus est peccati profunditas. quia quam diu stas in luto; tam diu iaces in mortali peccato. Þes put bitacneð deopnesse of sunne. for alse longe alse we liggeð in heueð sunnen; al þa hwile we sto[n]deð in þe putte. and þet in þe uenne up to þe muðe alse þeos men doð þe liggeð inne eubruche and ine glutenerie and ine manaðas. and ine prude. and ine oðre fule sunnen. and þet beoð riche men [folio 19b] alremest þe habbeð þas muchele prude in þis worlde. þe habbeð feire huses. and feire hames. feire wifes. and feire children. feire hors and feire claþes. heauekes and hundes. castles and tunes. her uppon heo þencheð muchele mare þen uppon godalmihtin þe al þis heom haueð isend þa þe liggeð inne swilc sunne. and ne þencheð noht for to arisen; heo delueð deihwamliche heore put deoppre and deoppre. vnde propheta. Non claudit super te puteus os suum nisi clauseris os tuum. þe prophete seið. þet þe put ne tuneð noht lihtliche his muð ouer us bute we tunen ure muð. ah ȝif we tuneð ure muð; þenne do þe [? we.] alse þe mon þe delueð ene put feower daȝes oðer fiue and þenne he haueð hine alra lengest idoluen; þenne ualleð he þer inne. þet him brekeð þe sweore. þet. is þet he ualleð in to helle pine þer neuer eft ne cumeð of bote. Ah leofemen godalmihtin haueð isceaweð us wel muchele grace. þenne he haueð geuen us to beon mud freo. þet we maȝen mid ure muðe bringen us ut of þisse putte; þe bitacneð þeo deop|nesse of sunne. and þet þurh þreo herde weies þe þus beoð ihaten. Cordis contricione. Oris confessione. Operis satisfactione. þurð [? þurh.] heorte bireusunke. þurh muðes openunge. þurh dede wel endinge. Cordis contritione moritur peccatum. [folio 20a] oris confessione defertur

ad tumulum. operis satisfactione tumulatur in perpetuum. þe we beoð sari in ure heorte þet we isuneged habbeð þenne slage we ure sunne; þene we to sunbote cumeð. þenne do we bi ure sunne al swa me deað bi þe deade. for efterþan þet þe mon bið dead me leið þene licome in þere þruh. Al swa þu leist þine sunne in þare þruh; hwenne þu scrift underuongest of þe sunnen þe þu idon hauest to-geines godes wille. þenne þu hauest þine sunnen ibet; efter þines scriftes wissunge. þenne buriest þu þine sunnen and bringest heom ut of þine on-walde. Per ieremiam notatur quilibet peccator qui in suo peccato moram facit. Bi ieremie þe prophete we aȝen to understonden ulcne mon sunfulle. þet lið in heuie sunne and þurh soðe scrift his sunbendes nule slakien. funiculi amaritudines penitencie sig|nificant. Þe rapes þe weren icast to him; bitacneð þe herdnesse of scrifte. for nis nan of us se strong þe hefde idon þre hefsunnen þet his licome nere swiðe feble er he hefde idreȝen þet scrift þe þer to bilimpeð. panni circumpositi funibus; ecclesie sacramenta significant quibus penitencie duricia mitigatur. þas kinges hus bitacneð hali chirch[e þa] claðes þet weren isende ut of þ[es kinges huse] for to binden þe rapes [folio 20b] mid; bitacnet þe halie ureisuns þe me singeð in halie chirche. and þe halie sacramens þe me sacreð in alesnesse of alla sunfulle. Leofemen nu ȝe habbeð iherð of þis putte þe bitacninge þe ic habbe embe ispeken. and þe bitacninge of þe prophete. and þet. þe rapes bitacneð. and hwat þa claðes bi-tacneð þe þe rapes weren mide biwunden. Ihereð nuðe whulche þinges wunieð in þisse putte. þer wunieð fower cunnes wurmes inne. þet fordoð nuðe al þeos midelerd. þer wunieð in-ne faȝe neddren. and beoreð atter under heore tunge. Blake tadden and habbeð atter uppon heore heorte. ȝeluwe froggen. and crabben. Crabbe is an manere of fissce in þere sea. þis fis is of swulc cunde. þet. euer se he mare strengðdeð him to sw[i]mminde mid þe watere; se he mare swimmeð abac. and þe alde crabbe seide to þe ȝunge. hwi ne swimmest þu forðwarð in þere sea alse oðer fisses doð. and heo seide. Leofe moder swim þu foren me and tech me hu ic scal swimmen forðward and [heo] bi-gon to swimmen forðward mid þe streme. and swam hire þer

aȝen. þas faȝe neddre bitacneð þis faȝe folc þe wuneð in þisse weorlde. þe speket alse feire bi-foren heore euencristene [folio 21a] alse heo heom walde in to heore bosme puten. and swa sone se hi beoð iturnd awey from heom; heom to-twiccheð and to-draȝeð mid ufele weordes. Hii eciam sunt doctores & falsi christiani. Þos men þe þus to-draȝed heore euencristene bi-hinden heo habbeð þe nome of cristene ah þah heo beoð cristes unwines and beoð monslaȝen for heo slaȝeð heore aȝene saule. and bringeð heon [? heom.] in to þare eche pine of helle. þos blaca tadden þet habbeð þet atter uppon heore heorte. bi-tacneð þes riche men þe habbeð þes mucheles weorldes ehte and na maȝen noht itimien þar of to eten ne to drinken ne na god don þer of for þe luue of god|almihtin þe haueð hit heom al geuen. ah liggeð þer uppon alse þe tadde deð in þere eorðe þet neure ne mei itimien to eten hire fulle; swa heo is afered leste þeo eorðe hire trukie. þeos ilke ehte þe þeos þus ouerliggeð heom turneð to swart atter for heo falleð þer þurh in to þer stronge pine þet na mon ne mei tellen. Þeos ȝeolewe claþes. [? some|thing omitted here.] for þe ȝeolewe clað is þes deofles helfter. [? helster.] þeos wimmen þe þus luuieð [? liuieð.] beoð þes deofles musestoch iclepede. for þenne þe mon wule tilden his musestoch he bindeð uppon þa swike chese and bret hine for þon þet he scolde [MS. sclode.] swote smelle. and þurh þe [folio 21b] sweote smel of þe chese; he bicherreð monie mus to þe stoke. Alswa doð monie of þas wimmen heo smurieð heom mid blanchet þet is þes deofles sape and claþeð heom mid ȝeoluwe claþe þet is þes deofles helfter. [? helster.] and seodðan heo lokieð in þe scawere. þet is þes deofles hindene. Þus heo doð for to feiren heom seoluen. and to draȝen lechurs to ham. ah heo fuleð heom soluen þer mide. Nu leofemen for godes lufe witeð how wið þes deofles musestoch and witeð eow þet ȝe ne beo noht þe foaȝe neddre. ne þe blake tadde. ne þe ȝolewe frogge. þe feder. and þe sune. and þe halie gast. iscilde us þer wið. and wið alle sunnen a buten ende. per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

VI. PATER NOSTER.

[P]Ater noster qui es in celis & cetera.

Vre feder þet in heouene is þet is al soð ful iwis. weo moten to þeos weordes iseon. þet to liue and to saule gode beon. Line 4 þet weo beon swa his sunes iborene. þet he beo feder and we him icorene. þet we don alle his ibeden. and his wille for to reden. Line 8 Loke weo us wið him misdon þurh beelzebubes swikedom. he haueð to us muchel nið. alle þa deies of ure sið. Line 12 abuten us he is for to blenchen. Mid alle his mihte he wule us swenchen. Gif we leornið godes lare; þenne of-þuncheð hit him sare. Line 16 Bute we bileuen ure ufele iwune. Ne kepeð he noht [folio 22a] þet we beon sune. Gif we clepieð hine feder þenne. al þet is us to lutel wunne. Line 20 halde we godes laȝe. þet we habbeð of his saȝe. þa bodes he beodeð þer inne. Bute weo hes halden; we doð sunne Line 24 and uwilc mon hes undernim. to halden wel anundes him. for alswa god hit bit; and inne þe godspelle þe he writ. Line 28 Luuien god mid ure mihte

ouer alle cunnes wihte mid ure saule mid ure deden. baþe luuien him and ec dreden. Line 32 þis is þe furste bode here; þet we aȝen to habben deore. þeos beode ofer alle oðer is. Ne habbe we hit noht onimis. [MS. onuius.] Line 36 and þis oðer efter þis. þis is ilich fuliwis. Luuien þi cristen euenling. Alswa þe seoluen in alle þing. Line 40 Mid al þis haue þu charite. and soðfeste leaue and trowðe lef. for god let þu þet uuele beon. Godere hele þu hit scalt iseon. Line 44 Ne beo þu nawiht monslaht. ne in hordom dei ne naht. Ne þu naȝest for to stele. ne nan þefþe for to heole. Line 48 Prud ne wreiere ne beo þu noht. Ne niðful in þi þoht. beo buhsum toward gode. and wel hald þu his bode. Line 52 Do þu þis mid gode mune. þenne eart þu godes sune. þus þu maht ȝif þu wulle. godes heste wel ifulle. Line 56

San[c]tificetur nomen tuum.

Þi nome beo iblecced. þet we seggeð and þus þa wordes we bi-leggeð. his name is hali and efre wes iliche swiðe hit nis noht les. Line 60 þet is and wes and efre scal beon iblecced ofer al. þenne aȝe we to [folio 22b] understonden us from alle uuele he scal blecen us. Line 64

Line 64 To blecen þenne inoh his nome anð kepen us from hearm and scome. In þe font we weren eft iboren iclensed and to gode icorene. Line 68 his halie nome we nomen and beren. In þe font þer we iclensed weren. Cristen beoð icleped riche and loð. [sic.] efter crist seolf þet is god. Line 72 his nome. þet. we of him hafen. he hit haleȝe þet we crauen.

Adueniat regnum tuum.

Cume þi riche we seggeð hit. Hercnið alle to þis writ. Line 76 his riche is al þis middeleard. Eorðe and heofene and uwilcherd ofer alle is his muchele mihte. lauerd he is icleped mid rihte. Line 80 Lauerd he is of alle scafte. In eorðe. in heuene is his mahte alle þe scafte þe he bi-gon. þet is þet sodðe hit wes for mon Line 84 alle þinge he makede æt [it may be aft.] agan. Er he efre makede mon. he makede mon i rihtwisnesse. Onlete on his onlichnesse. Line 88 Alle dor and fuȝel ifliht; lete he makede adunriht. þene Mon he lufede and welbiþohte. and for-þi his neb upward he wrohte. Line 92 þet wes al mid muchele skile; Ȝif he [? ȝe.] hit understondon wile. Neb upwardes he him wrohte. he walde þet he of him þohte Line 96 þet he lufede him mid þoht[e]. Al swa þe lauerd þet him wrohte. þencheð nu men hwilch wurðin[g]

eow haueð idon þe heouenking; Line 100 To bon in heuene fuliwis. In touþe [? In to þe.] sete of para[d]is. from hwonne þe engles a-dun follon [? fellen.] in to [folio 23a] þe þosternesse hellen. Line 104 þet secle [? setle.] swa ho radden þus; þer god scal herberȝen us. Crist us ȝife þider to cumen. and efre mid him solue to wunen. Line 108 and cristes wille bo us bitwon. neb wið neb for him to son. and wunen mid him niht and dei up in heouene þe is swa briht. Line 112 þet he beo feder and we beo sunes. to him is ure al to cumes. þet is ure eðele and ure riche; Mid him to wunen in heouene riche. Line 116

Fiat uoluntas tua. sicut in celo & in terra.

þin aȝen wille beo for þet segge we. In orðe in heuene swa hit beo Al swa is in heouene þin aȝen wil. Þet we [MS. þe.] þeowen lauerd al mid skil. Line 120 For to beon lauerd þine archangles. and þi leoue hali engles. þa þe angles. of heouene uolle for heore prude in to helle. Line 124 þa oðre weren fulfeste sone. þet ho ne mihten nefre mare misdone. Sodðon ne mihten sunegenen [sic.] nan; ne ut of godes wille gan. Line 128 Ne muȝen heo nefre ufele swinken; ne for men enes hit bi-þinken. God us ȝefe in horte to fon; þet we ne þenchen ufel to don. Line 132 and ȝife us to him god iwil; and to alle men; riht and skil.

and ȝife us swa his wil to donne; þet we gode likie and monne. Line 136 and þet he fulle us mid his mihte and mid his halie gast us lihte. and in cherite to wnien inne; þet we ne fallen naut ine sunne. Line 140 þet we nabben wil to sunegen. þenne ure unwines us munegen. Ne mare þene þo engles [folio 23b] efden þet in godes luue heo heom lende. Line 144

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.

Gif us to dei ure deies bred. Lauerd god al ure red. Gif us ure liuenað; and to þe flesce scrud and clað. Line 148 Bred on grikisce is; Larspel to us fuliwis for alse me fet þet fleis wið-uten mid mete mid claðe al abuten; Line 152 swa bi-houeð þe saule fode; mid godes wordes mid gode mode. Godes songes beoð alle gode. to þere saule heo senden fode. Line 156 We hit aȝen to ȝeme. and god solf þer mid iqueme. þenne mei ure saule lifen. þet ure lauerd us haueð iȝeuen. Line 160 þe luste nulleð þesne red wisliche he scal wurðen ded for þe saule of him; is forloren. and þe sorȝe is him biforen. Line 164 and fereð in to helle mid eche wa; ut ne cumeð he nefre ma. Ah lauerd god her ure bone. [? bene.] of ure sunne make us clene. Line 168 þet he us ȝeue alswa he mei;

þet us bihoueð ulche dei. To liue and to saule ure fode and him luuien mid clene mode. [Et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.] Line 172 Vre gultes lauerd bon us forȝeuen al swa we doþ alle men þet liuen. Lauerd forȝef us ure unskile and alswa we alle oðre wile. Line 176 ure sunnen. and ure misdonning. and her is a roulich moting. to gode solf we us wreið; hwenne we þos word seggeð. Line 180 hwenne we habbeð nið and onde; [folio 24a] to eni monne þet is on londe. for ȝif eni mon mis-deð us oht; we wulleð him habben to deðe ibroht. Line 184 her is swiþe ufel bone; ȝif we hetieð us bitwene. ȝif eni us misdoð awiht; and nule us do riht. Line 188 for godes luue forȝeue we al; for he hit wel forȝelden scal. Wenne scal þos bode [? beode.] us god don; and god wule hit underfon. Line 192 wenne ic forȝeue min hating; for þe luue of heuene king. Wenne ic ileue and wel iso; þet no gult me forȝeuen bo. Line 196 for hwenne ic i-halde þa ibode; þet we habbeð of ure lauerd gode. luue þine euecristene dei and niht; alswa þe solue and þet is riht. Line 200 Gif we þos bode þus bileggeð; ful [? for.] goderhele we hit seggeð. þe pater noster bi-halt me noht;

bute ic þis habbe in mi þoht. Line 204 þenne muȝe we wenen and seggen þus; þet oðer swiðe lutel helpeð us. þos ilke bode wisliche þing; of oðre is ful festning. Line 208 þenne muȝe we wel trowen al; hwa swa wile and hwa swa scal. þet wið gode awiht mis-doð; Iwis in þe bode he misfoð. Line 212 þet hetunge habbeð hom bitwone; hu maȝen heo bidden eni bene. for-ȝif þi wreððe and þi mod; for þenne is þi bode god. Line 216 þet is soð and god seið hit; and in þe godspelle he hit writ. hwa swa ne forȝefeð heore hating. ne god ne forȝeueð him [? heom.] na þing. Line 220 Gode men lusteð to me. ower hating forȝefe ȝe þin sunful efenling; luue him for godes þing. and þu aȝest [folio 24b] to hatien wel his sunne; Line 224 þet ðu ne dele noht þer inne. for ȝef þu þus dost wel iwis; þu quemest god to fuliwis.

Et ne nos inducas in temptationem.

Ne led us noht in to costnunga; Line 228 þet is an cum [? cun.] of fundunga. for ure fond nefre ne linnen; for to fonden us mid sunnen. he haueð leue to fonden mon. Line 232 þer he mei ful wel he con. he fondede god solf mid his wrenche; and walde hine ȝorne swenche. and his apostles riht al swa; Line 236 and monie oðre þere to. God us ȝefe mihte and deden;

þet we þene fond noht ne adreden. and ȝefe us mihte þurh his held; Line 240 þet ure leue beo ure sceld aȝein þes fondes fondunge; þurh trowþe and þurh swincunge. On oðer wise ic habbe ifunde Line 244 hu me mei in sunne bon ibunde. þet forme is to beon underling. and þet oðer is liking. þet ðridde is þes monnes wil. Line 248 and swa us seið ure skil. Crist us ȝeue of him mihte betere þenne we habbeð wrihte. We ne maȝen þe fond from us driue; Line 252 ne mid sworde ne mid kniue. bute hit beo þurh godes ȝifte; and he us ȝeue streinðe and mihte. and ȝeue us wepne for to boren; Line 256 Mid gode werkes for us to weren. þet is þurh trouðe; and þurh cherite. vre rihte leue god cume to þe þurh festing and þurh wacunge. Line 260 and ec þurh ibodenes biddunge. and wunien efre in clene scrifte; þet is godes aȝene ȝeifte. and halde we us from uniwil; Line 264 and habben feir lete and ec skil. and edmodnesse and þolemod; þet þuncheð gode swiðe god. Mid elmesse and ec [folio 25a] mid trowe inhed; Line 268 þe node habbeð ȝiuen heom red. Mid hereberȝe. and mid fode; and mid þet þu miht to gode. þos beoð þa wepne þet beoð gode; Line 272 and beo we swiþe þolemode. þet we þenne fond noht ne dreden.

ne he us biswike þurh his deden.

Sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

ac þu from alle ufele us ales. Line 276 and to þin aȝen us ches; and kep us from his waning. þat laþe gast þet laðe þing. and from uuele men kep us swa; Line 280 Al þet we biddeð ec þerto. And from iwilch heued sunne. þet he ne bringe us in to unwune. Ac ȝif us eni ufel bitit; Line 284 þonke we gode in ure wit. We aȝen þenne ure boden to singe. þet god us helpe to gode þinge. þet lif and saule beon iborȝen. Line 288 and baðe ilesed ut of sorȝen. and ȝefe us his muchele blessunge. and riht scrift et ure endunge. þet we habben him swa wel imune. [? inume.] Line 292 þet þe saule mote to him cume. Vre deð he do in firste ȝet; swa he þurh þe witega bihet. Ne wille ic noht þet þe sunfulle beo ded; Line 296 ac libbe and nime godne red. Lauerd god we biddeð þus mid edmode heorte ȝif hit us. þet ure saule beo to þe icore. Line 300 Noht for þe flesce for-lore. þole us to bi-wepen ure sunne; þet we ne steruen noht þer inne. And ȝif us lauerd þet ilke ȝifte; Line 304 þet we hes ibeten þurh halie scrifte. Amen.

VII. [CREDO.]

[T]ria sunt hominum saluti nescessaria. fides. baptissmus. mundicia uite.

Þro þing bod þet ech .Mon. habbe mot þet wile his cristindom [folio 25b] foleȝe. þet an is rihte ileue. þet oðer; fulluht. þet ðridde; feir lif to leden on þisse liue. he nis noht fulliche cristene mon þet is awiht wone of þisse þreo þing. of ileue spek ure drihten ine þe hali godspel and seið. Qui non crediderit condempnabitur. þe mon. þet naueð rihte ileue mid him. he wurh [? wurð.] idemed to þolien wawe mid douelen in helle. on oðer stude of rihte ileue spec þe apostle and seið. Inpossibile est hominem sine fide posse deo placere. Ne mei na man do þing þet beo god iqueme. bute he habbe rihte ileue mid him. of þe halie fulht spec ure drihten on oðer stude and seið. Nisi quis renatus [Much rubbed in MS.] fuerit ex aqua & spiritu sancto non potest introire in regnum celorum. Ne mei na .Mon. cume in to godes riche bote he beo ifulhted. of clene liflade spec þe prophete isaias and þus seið. Lauamini mundi estote. wascheð ou; and wonieð clene. and dauid þe prophete spekeð in an salm of clene lif and seið. Asperges me domine isopo & mundabor bi-spreng me lauerd mid buhsum|nesse; þenne wurðe ic clene. & alibi. Delicto meo munda me domine. and on oðer stude he seið. lauerd clense me of alle mine fule sunnen. and þeh alle men beon of hore sunnen iclensed [folio 26a] et [MS. ec.] þe fulht; noþeles heo aȝen for to cumen [? cunnen.] heore bileue. onforward þos cristendomes ech man leornede his bileue er he fulht underfenge. Ah þa weren monie childre dede fulhtles. and forlorne. þer fore hit wes iloked bi godes wissunge ine halie chirche. þet mon scule childre fulhten and heore godfaderes and heore godmoderes scullen onswerie for hem et þe chirche dure and beo in borȝes et þe fonstan þet heo sculen beon bi-lefulle .Men. and heore bileue cunnen; wenne heo lorne muȝe. and þis ne mei þe godfadres ne þe

godmodres don; buten heo cunnen heore bileue. þet is. pater noster. and credo. Ne na .Mon. nah him solue wernen henne [? þenne.] .Mon. him for node þer to bide. þer fore we willen biginne ure larspel of bileue. þet rihte ileue setten þe twelue apostles on write er heo to-wenden in to al þis middelerd. and ec of heom wrat þer of his uers. and sancte peter wrat þet ereste. and þe salm þet heo alle þus writen wes ihaten. Credo. efter þan formeste word of þe salm. Alle ȝe kunnen leste þet ich wene ower credo. þeh ȝe nuten nawiht alle hwat hit seið. Numeð nu ȝeme þerto and ic ou wile seggen word efter word and þermide hwat þet word bi-queþ. Þis word. credo. Mon mei understonden. on þro wise. þet on is; Credo deo. Ih ileue gode. þet oðer is; Credo deum. ich ileue þet god is. þos twa þing doð alle heðene men. ah þet [þridde] ne leueð nan; bute þe gode cristene .Mon. and þe godfurhte and þe lefulle [folio 26b] qui credit in deum. þe bileued in god. and to luuene [? leuene.] ine god; mote fif þing. Silicet. eum dominum omnium cognoscere. super omnia diligere. pre omnibus timere. & uenerari eique per omnia obedire. Þet an is iknawen him to lauerd ouer alle þing. þet oðer is luuien him ouer alle þing. þet þridde is; habben heie of him ouer alle þing. þet forþe is; wurþen him ouer alle þing. þet fifte is; beon him ibucsum ouer alle þing. Þe .Mon. þet haueð þis ilke fif þing mid him; he is leful .Mon. and if him is eni þer of wane; he nis nawiht alse leful alse him bi-houede. Credo in deum. Ic ileue in god. patrem omnipotentem. þe fede[r] almihti. Creatorem celi & terre. scuppende and weldende of heouene and of orðe and of alle iscefte & in ihesum christum. and ich ileue on þe helende crist. filium eius unicum. his enlepi sune. dominum nostrum. ure lauerd he is ihaten helende for he moncun helede of þan deþliche atter. þet þe alde deouel blou on adam. and on eue. and on al heore ofsprinke. swa þet heore fif-falde mihte [MS. inihte,?for imihte.] hom wes al binumen. þet is hore lust. hore loking. hore blawing. hore smelling. heore feling wes al iattret. ac he hom helde mid his halie fif wunden þa he þolede for us ine þe halie rode. and gef hom eche frechipe alle þa þet hit alde [? walde.] cunnen. he is his enlipi sune. nawiht efter þoþnunge. ac efter istrone.

for þan he him alse þe sunne streonþ þe lome þet ho spret in to al þis wide [folio 27a] worlde. and þe fader is ine þe sune on þre wise. On wacste; for he is muchel and mihti ouer alle þing. On wlite; for sunne and mone þostreþ for his fairnesse. On þewe. for he is ful of alle godnesse. and þeð [? þeh.] he beo alle ichefte lauerd for he alle þing iscop. noþeles he nis nawiht alle monne lauerd. þech alle men bon on his onwald; but lefulle monne lauerð. and þe godfurhte. and gode cristene .Monne. lauerd; þet on god bileueð. for alle oðre .men. þet heuie sunnen drecheð. and nulleð heore sunnen forleten; boð on þe doules on-walde. and þet hwile ne studed hom nawiht þet ho singe pater noster. and credo. God ȝefe gode leue alle þa þet hit nabbet. and ihalde hit us. and alle oðre þa hit habbeð to hore liues ende. Qui conceptus est & cetera. We habbeð bigunnen ou to seggen on englisch hwat bi-qu[e]þ þe crede. and habbeð ou iseið twa uers. and wule nuþe þet þridde. and ic ileue on þene helend þe þet halie meide in hire likame underfeng. nawiht efter flesces wille. ne efter likames ikunde; ah alswa alse ȝe nimeð þe worde þet iho [sic.] speke to ou of mine muþe swa ho ifeng ure drihten. þa þe engel hire brohte þe blisfulle tidinge. þus queþende. Ecce con|cipies in utero & paries filium. þu scald underfon an child in þi wombe and bere knaue child; and haten hit helend and hit scal king bon on þet endelese kineriche. and þet hali meiden onswerede and seide. quomodo fiet istud & cetera. [folio 27b] hu scal þat bon soþþen na .Mon. mine likame irineð ne mid me flesliche nefde to donne. Þa onswerede þe engel and seide. spiritus sanctus & cetera.

VIII. [DE NATALE DOMINI.] [For the probable commencement of this discourse, see homily "In die natalis Domini," in Second Series of this Collection.]

[H]omo quidam descendebat ab ierusalem in ierico. & cetera. Godalmihti seið an forbisne to his folk in þe halie godspel and seið. A mon lihte from ierusalem in to ierico. and fol imong þoues. ho him bireueden. and ho him ferwundeden and letten hine liggen half quic. and wenden forð. Þer com a prost bi þe weie and him nawiht ne help; and wende forð þer com an diacne. et cetera. þa com þer an helendis .Mon. and heuede rouþe of him. and wesch his wunden mid wine. and smerede mid oli and bond his wunden. and brohte him huppen his werue. and brohte him to an hors huse. and bitahte hine þe hors horde; to witene. A þe marȝen bitahte him twa peneȝes to spenen on him and seide. and ȝif þu mare spenest of þine hwan ic aȝen cherre; al ic þe ȝelde. Nu hit iburd breke þas word; alse me brekeð þe nute for to habbene þene curnel. Þes .Mon. þhet a lihte from ierusalem in to ierico. þet his bitacned adam ure forme feder; þet alihte from hehe in to lahe. Ierusalem bitacneð griþes sihþe. and ierico; trukinge of lihte. her me mei understonde þet he [folio 28a] alihte from hehe to lahe from derewurð wuninge; in to wone of blisse. He uol imong þeues. hwet boð þas þeues; þet boð þo þet weren imakede engles in houene. and fellen ut for hore wrechede. þe he uel imong hom and foleȝede hore lare; and brec cristes heste. þa ho hine bireueden of þere muchele mihte. þet crist him hefde iȝefen of al þer orþe scrude of þe uisces iþe wetere. and fuȝeles iþe lufte. and alles cunnes wilde dor; and alles cunnes wurmes. Al adam him mihte to clopie. and al walde him to cume. Al se hwat se he forgulte wes; al hit him ulel [? uleh.] and scunede; þet him er luuede ho him for wundeden; þa þe he heuede scome aȝeines his scuppende. þa he hefde þurst and hunger and chele and alle wreche siþe; ho hine bilefde liggen

half quic. half quic ho wes; þa þe he sarinesse heuede wið-innen him; for his sunnen. Her me ah to understonden for-whi hit seið alf quic. and noht alf ded. her of me mei ane forbisne of twa brondes. hwanne þe an is aquenched al to gederes. and þe oðer is aquenched al buten a gnast þene þet haued þene ene gnast upen him. me mei blauwen. and he wule aquikien and al þe brond tenden. þe brond þe is al aquenched þah me blouwe efre; ne quikeð he neure. þas twa brondes bitacneð twein men. þe an sunegeð. and is sari for his sunne. ah he ne mei his flesc awelden. þis monne me mei sermonen [folio 28b] mid godes worde. for hwat he scal his sunne uor-saken and bileuen and bon itent of þen hali gast. Alse is þe brond of þe lutle fure. Þes oðer .Mon. þet sunegeð and luueð his sunnen alse deð þet fette swin þet fule fen to liggen in. þes ilke .Mon. is strong to sermonen; ah crist hine tende mid holde mode þer we muȝen understonde þet adam wes sari uor þe sunne þet he heuede idon. and for þisse sarinesse hit is iseid; þet he wes half quic bileued. Nu cumeð þe prest þet him nawiht ne help. þis bitacneð þe world þet wes from biginnegge and eue; þat cume to moises þe prophete. In þisse worlde nas na laȝe ne na larþeu. and þah þes patriarches alse abel and noe and abraham and ysaac. gode men weren þurh þet ho weren itende of þan halie gast. and al þos godnesse hom ne mihte werien. þet ho ne wenden alle in to helle. and al þos world wende forþ and efre lei þes wreche for-wunden. Nu is þes prest uorþe. and him naueþ nawiht iholpen. Nu cumeð þes diakne; þet bitacneð moyses þe prophete. he brohte þe laȝe; þet me sculde in þe ehtuþe dei þet knaue child embsniþen mid ane ulint sexe. and sette imong monkunne laȝe and lare hu me sulde godalmihti serue. and his wille wurche in orðe. and al þis hom helpe ne mihte; þet ho ne wenden alle in to helle. Nu is þes deakne forþe. Nu kumeð þes helendisse .Mon. and haueð reunesse of þisse forwundede [folio 29a] .Mon. elelendis [? elendis.] he is icleped for he is of unkuþe þode. þe king of heuene þe com in to herþe and auenede [? awende.] him in to his iscefte. her of seid; seint Iohan þe ewan|geliste in apocalipsi. A vuhel com flon from houene into orðe. her he uette feþer-home and wenge mid þisse fluhte he fleh into

houene þer he uatte þet he nes and nawiht ne lefde of þet he wes. þis is to understonden þet hit wes þes liuiendes godes sune þe muchele lauerd; þet al þe world fulleð of him solue. bitunde him solue in ane meidenes inneþe alse þe sunne scineð þurh þe glesne ehþurl. þet gles ne brekeð ne chineð and þe sunne schineð þer þurh. and ho nimeð al swuch hou alse ho þer on uint. ȝif þet gles is red; ho schineð red. Alse þe liuendes godes sune in to þe meidene com. and ho of hire meiden-had nawiht ne wemde. ȝef ho awemmed were of hire meiden-had; þenne ne mihte noht hire sune habbe þene nome þet him wes iȝefen at circumcisiun þet wes helend. and ȝef he hefde on his moder ibroken hire meiden|had; ne mihte nawiht brekere bon icloped helere. for-þi he com and bette þe ne brec nefre. for-þi he is icleped elelendis. for-þi þe here he is; and honen he nis. þes .Mon. þet com þus from houene in to horðe and uppen him nom monnes icunde for monnes node. Hwet node efde moncun þet he .Mon. were; Mon hefde uorloren [folio 29b] efre stephne bi-uore gode. Þa com þes .Mon. he nefre ne gulte. þes mihte speken ouer al þes .Mon bi-com uorspeker. he isehtnede god and man. he com bi þis forwundede mon. Wel he com bi him; þa he bicom alswich alse he; wiþ|ute sunne ane. He wes iwunde mid wine. and smirede mid oli. We aȝen to understonden hwet boð þe wepne þet adam wes mide forwunded. mid þa ilke wepne we boð forwunded. mid spere of prude. of ȝitcunge. of ȝifernesse. of eorre. of hordome. mid onde. mid aswolkenesse. þis boð þa wepne þet adam was mide for|wunded. Nu bihoueð þe forwunded wreche þet he habbe leche. we boð forwunded us bi-houed leche. Adam wes ilechned þurh god almihti solf. and us bi-houeð leche þurh prestes muð. he weis his wunde mid wine. hwet is win in wunde; Win makeð wunde smerte. Ah þe smertinge clenseð þe wunde; swa þet ho ne scal of þere wunde habbe nan oðer uuel. Al so hali scrift bið in mine [ure] [The words in brackets are written above the others.] wunde hwan we scale [? scule.] festen. and fleis bileuen and muchel of ure [mine] wille for ure [mine] wrechede. Hwet is þet oli; Oli haueð huppen him lihtnesse and softnesse and hele. Alse þu scalt habben hwenne þu hauest idon þi scrift of þine misdede þenne þu scalt habbe lihtnesse and softnesse and

hele. þis is þet oli þe muchele mede þet [folio 30a] þu scalt habben hwenne þu hauest ibet þine misdeden. þenne he brohte hine uppen his werue þet is unorne mare. þet bitacneð ure unorne fleis. hwense we habbeð imaked þene licome to þer saule bihoue. he hine brohte to ane hors-huse. and bitahte hine þan hors|horde. and bed hine witen þene forwundede .Mon. H[w]et is þis hors-us; þet is hali chirche. hali chirche hwet is; al cristene folc. for hwon; In halie chirche boð betere and wurse. Alse in hors-huse boð fule and clene. he þet haueð þet hors-hus te witene; scal þer. þer hit is ful; makien hit clene. þet bitakneð þe prost þet scal among cristene monkun þene sunfulle of sunne clensen. he haueð oþe marȝen þa twein peneȝes þe þe helelendisse. [? helendisse.] Mon. bitahte. þet boð þa twa laȝen þe alde and þe nowe þet prost scal spenen among al his underþede. ȝef he mare speneð of his; hwense he aȝein cherreð al he hit him wule ȝelden. hwet is þet he mei mare spenen of his aȝen; feire forbisne of his aȝene liflade. Alse alle þo þet him boð underþede. þet nimeð mare uppen hom þen þe heste of hali chirche. þet is to understonden. Meiden þet hire meiden-hat wit. and haldeþ so se hit nis noht heste of hali chirche. and widewe of hire widewe-had [folio 30b] ne .Mon. þe worlde to forsaken. In þe deie of liureisun hwense god al|mihtin wule windwin þet er wes iþor[s]chen. he wile ison hwiche boð þo. þet muȝe stonden aȝein þes fleisces lust and wernen his aȝene fleisces iwille. þet bitakneð þet corn þet þurleð þe wind. þet smal chef þet flid ford mid þe winde; bicumeð wurþinge þet corn me deð in to gerner. þet bitakeneð þe gode men þe scule bon idon in to heuene. þe ilke þe foleȝeð þes fleisces lust. Alse deð þet smalchef þe winde; þo scule bileuen in þosternesse. God almihtin iscilde us þet we ne bo noht of þe smalcheue. Ah þet we moten bon of þe corne þe me scal don in to þe gernere þet is in to heuene; þe feder and þe sune and þe halie gast. per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

IX. [IN DIE PENTECOSTEN.]

[F]ram þan halie hester dei; boð italde. fifti daȝa to þisse deie and þes dei is ihaten pentecostes þet is þe fiftuða dei fram þan ester tid. þes dei wes on þere alde laȝe iset and ihalden. God het Moyses on egipte londe þet he and al þet israelisce folc þet he þider iled hefde; þet heo sculden offrien of elchan hiwscipe gode an lomb of ane ȝeres and merki mid þan blode hore duren. and hore ouersleaht. þa on þere ilke nihte; iwende godes engel to and acwalde on elche huse of þam egiptiss|en folche þet frumkenede childe and þet lefeste; and þet israelisce folc ferde on þere ilca nihte of þam londe. forðon muchele wawen þet hi þer iðoleden. [folio 31a] and god hom ledde ofer þa rede se; mid druȝe fotan. þa iwende pharaon þe kin[g] of þam londe efter heom ledde [? mide.] muchele ferde. þa þe heo comen on midden þere se. þa wes þet godes folc [MS. focl.] up of þere se agan. and god bisencte þa þe pharaon; and al his genge. Ða het god moyse and þan folce þet heo heolden þa tid mid muchlere blisse ewilche ȝere þa wes þon folce iset þo tid to estertide; for þon god heom aredde wið heore ifan and heom fordude. Ða fram þam ester tid fifti daȝa isette god þam folke laȝe. and wes iseȝen godes fortacne uppon ane dune þat is þe mont of synai. for þet [? þer.] com muchel liht. and eislic swei and blawende beman. þa cleopede god þe [MS. þe.] ner Moyses him to. and he wes mid gode fowerti daȝes and awrat þa alde e bi godes wissunge. þa wes þe dei pentecostes ihaten on þere alde isetnesse. þet i-offrede lomb þet þe engel het offrian bitacneð cristes deðþe þet wes milde. and wiðutan gulte his feder i-offrad; for ure alesendnesse. Nu is his þrowunge and his ariste ure ester tid; forðon þet he us alesde from deofles þewdome alswa he alesde þet israelisce folc of pharaones þewdome and ure ifan þet beoð þa deofles beoð bisencte in to helle þurh þe halie fullht

ȝif we hit ariht haldeð alswa pharaon wes mid his ferde on þare rede se. Ðas fifti daȝes fram þan esterliche [folio 31b] deie beoð alle ihal|ȝode to ane herunge; and þes dei is ure pentecostes dei. þet is ure witte sunnedei þet is þe fifteoȝaðe dei fram þam ester deie. on þam ealdan pentecoste god sette .e. þam israelisce folce hu heo sculden heore lif leaden; on þisse deie com þe halie gast on fures heowe to godes hirede. forði alswa þet lomb bitacnede cristes þrowunge; Swa ec þeo alde .e. on moyses daȝen bitacneðe god|spelles bodunge; under godes ȝife. Ðreo tide beoð on þissere worlde. An is þet wes buten .e. and oðer is þe þet wes under þere .e. þe þridde is nu efter cristes to-cume. Þeos tide iset under godes ȝife. we ne beoð na buten .e. ne we ne moten. halden moyses .e. licamliche. Ac godes ȝife us wissað to his willen. ȝif we imundie beoð godes bibode and þera apostla lare. Hit is ireht on þes pistles redinge; hu þe halia gast on þisse deie com to þan ileaufullen hirede. Lucas þe godspellere awrat on þere boc þet is inemned actus apostolorum. and cweð. Cu com|plerenturdies pentecostes erant omnes discipuli pariter in eodem loco. Et factus est repente de celo sonus tanquam aduenientis spiritus uehementis & repleuit totam domum ubi erant sedentes. Ðat halie hired cristes apostles weren wuniende edmodliche [? anmod|liche.] on heore ibeoden on ane upflore [folio 32a] efter cristes upstiȝe onbodinde his bi-hates. þa on þisse deie þet is pentecostes and wittesunnedeie on ure speche; com ferliche muchel swei of heofne and fulde al þa upfleunge [? upfler|unge.] mid fure. And wes iseȝen biforan heore elche swilc hit were furene tungen. and heo weren þa alle ifullede mid þan halie gast. and on-gunnen to speoken mid mislichen spechen bi þam þet þe halie gast him tahte. þa weren þer igedered wiðinne þere buruh of ierusalem trowfeste men of elchere þeode þet under heofene erde|den. and þe apostles speken to þes folkes igederunge. and heor eclicnew [? elc icnew.] his ahȝene speche. þa iwarð þat folc swiðe abluied; [? ablicged.] and mid wundrunge cweðen. None ecce omnes isti galilei sunt; & quomodo nos audiuimus unusquisque linguam nostram in qua nati sumus. La hu ne beað þa þet here specað galileisce; and ure elc iherden hu hi spechen ure speche on þan þet we akenned weren; Lahwet scal þis beon; þa seiden þa iudeiscen men a

bismer. þas men beoð mid miste fordrencte. Ða and-wurde petrus. hit is undertid hu mihte we on þissere tide beon for|drencte; Ac þes witeȝan cwide ioheles is ifulled. God cweð þurh þes witeȝan muð. þet he walde his gast asenden ofer men|nesc flesc. and monna bern sculen witeȝan. and ic sende min tacna ȝeond [folio 32b] þa eorðe. petrus cweð þa. wite ȝe soðliche þet crist aras of deaðe and on ure iwitnesse astah to heofene. and sit on his feder riht alfe; alswa dauið bi him witeȝede þus cweðinde. Dixit dominus domino meo sede a dextris meis. Drihten cweð to mine drihtene. site to mine riht alfe. forð þet ic alegge þine feond under þine fot-sceomele. þa þet folc þis iherde þa iturne [? iturnde.] heore mod and seden to þan apostlan. Leofemen hwet is us to donne; Ða and-wrde petrus. Bi-reowsiað eo[w]re sunnan and under|foð fuluht on cristes nome. þenne beoð eowre sunnen aleide and ȝe underfoð þene halie gast. þa underfengen heo his lare and buȝen to fulehte on þon deie; þreo þusend monna. and þa weren alle mid sibsumnesse; and fuleden þam apostles. and salden heore ehte and þet feh bitahten þam apostles and heo hit delden elcan alswa heo neode hefde. eft on ane oðre bodunge ȝe-lefden fif þusend monna on criste. þa iweorden alle þos ilefede men swulche hi alle hefden ane heorte and ane sawle ne heore nan nefden sunderlich ehte ac heom alen wes imene heore þing ne þer nas nan wone bi-twuxan heom and þa þet lond hefden he hit sealden; and þet wurð brohten to þes apostlas fotan and heo hit delden elchun alswa heo neode hefden. þa warhte god feole tacne on þan folke þurh þere apostlan hondan [folio 33a] swa þet ileiden þa untrummen men bi þere stret þere petrus forð-eoðe and swa reðe swa his sceadu [It may be sceada.] heom on glað heo weren iheled. from alle untrumnesse. heo setten heore honden ofer ilefde men; and heo underfengen þene halian gast. Þa wes þere an mon ananias ihaten and his wif saphira. Heo bispeken heom bitweonen; þet heo walden ibuȝen to þere apostlan fereden and swa duden. Heo nomen heom to þam rede þet heo walden sum of heore ehte etholdan. þam apostlan; for heo nusten hwet heom ilumpe. þa com þe mon mid his gersume to þan apostolum. þa cweð petrus. Ananias þe deofel bipehte þine heorte and þu hauest iloȝen þan halie gaste;

hwi woldest þu swikian on þine aȝene þinge; Ne luȝe þu na monnum; ac dudest gode. þa he þa worde iherde; þa feol he adun and iwat and þa he iburied wes; þa com his wif saphira and nuste hwet hire were ilumpen wes. Ð[a] cweð petrus hwi iwearð hinc swa þet ȝit dursten fondian godes; þa heo þis iherde; þa feol heo þer adun and iwat and me buriede heo mid hire fere. Ða iwearð þer muchel eie on godes folke. and on alle þam þet þeos tiðinge iherdon. Ða apostoli siððan er þon þet heo to|ferden isetten iacob þet wes ihaten rihtwis on cristes selt and alle þeo ileafulle laðunge him ihersummede; efter godes [folio 33b] tecunge. he þa iset þet seld .xxx. ȝera and efter him simeon þes h[e]lendes mei. and efter þissere bisnunge weren arerede munechene lif mid. mid þere annesse and sibsumnesse þet heo sculen þolien; bi heore abbodes iwissunge. ȝe iherden a lutel er. on þisse redunge. þet ðe halie gast com ofer þa apostlas mid furene tungen; and heom ȝef þo mihte þet heo cuþen alle spechen; forðon þet ðeo edmode isomnunge iernade et gode; þet muchel er þe engles of eofene for heore modinesse forluren. hit itimode efter noes flode þet eontas walden areran ane buruh and anne stepel swa hehne; þet his Rof astiȝe up to heofena. and þa wes an speche on al moncun. and þet weorc wes bigunnen on-ȝen godes iwillan. God ec forðon heom to drefde swa þet he ȝef ewilcum of þan wurhtan selcuðe speche; and heore nan ne icnew oðres speche. þi [? for þi.] bileafden heo heore timbr|unge and to dreofden ȝeond al middeleard. and þeððan [? seððan.] weren swa felen spechen swa þere wurhten weren, þet weren twa hun manna. Nu eft on þisse deie þurh þes halie gastes to-cume; weren alle ispechen aȝein inumen. and isome; forðon þet cristes apostlas weren specende mid alle spechen. and ec þet wunderluker forðon þet þa an of þon apostlum bodeden mid ane speche; elche men wes iþuht þet þa bodunge iherde; swilche heo spechen mid heore speche [folio 34a] weren heo ebreisce. weren heo grekisce. oðer romenisce. oðer egiptisse. oðer of hwulche londe swa heo weren þet þe lare iherden. On þissere ifereden iemede [? iernede.] þere apostlan admodnesse þas mihte. and þere eontan modinisse iarnede iscendnesse. þe heolia [sic.] gast wes iseȝen ofer þa apostlas on fures heowe. and ofer crist on hi[s] fuluhte on ane culfre

onlicnesse. Hwi ofer criste on culfren heowe. and hwi ofer cristes hirede on fures ilicnesse; forðon þe þet fuȝel-cun is swiðe bilehwit. and wit-utan laðe and isibsum. þe helend is alles moncunnes dema. Ac he ne com na to demane moncun swa se heo him seolf cweð; ac to helenne. Gif he walde þa deman moncun þa þe he erest to middelearde com. hwa weren þanne ihalden; Ac he nalde mid his to-cume þa sunfullen fordemen; ac he walde to his riche heom igederian. Erest he walde us mid liðnesse isteoren þet he mihte seoððan on his dome us ihalden. and forðon we[s] þe halia gast on culfren onlic|nesse bufan criste. forðon þet he wes dreihninde on þissere worlde mid bilehwitnesse. and mid nane laðnesse and mid sib|sumnesse. for he ne remde ne of bitere speche nes. ne he sake ne asterde; ac forbere monna hufelnesse þurh his liðnesse. Ac þe þet on þam ercan [erran.] to-cume liðegedde þan [folio 34b] sunfullen to þere godnesse; he demað stiðne dom þam forsunegede on his efter to-come þet is on domes deie. þe halia gast wes iseȝen on fures heowe bufan þam apostlas. forðon þe he dude þet heo weren birnende on godes willan. and bodiende umbe godes riche. Furen tungen heo hefden þa þe heo mid lufe godes murhðe bodeden. þet ðere heðene monnan heortan þet calde weren þurh ilefleaste and flescliche iwilnunge; muhten beon atende to þan heofenliche biboden. ȝif þe halia gast ne learð þes monnes heorte and his mod wið-innan; on idel beoð þes budeles word wið-utan icleopde. þes fares [? fures.] icunde is þet hit forðnimeð swa hwet him neh bið. Alswa scal þe larðeu don þe ðet bið mid þen [? MS. þet.] halia gast itend. Erest he scal hine seolfne wið sunnan isteoran. and seoððan his heorde. On culfre onlicnesse and on fures heowe wes godes gast isceawed. forðon þet he deð þa þe beoð bilehwite. and wið-utan ufelnesse. and birnende on godes willan. þet he mid his ȝif ifulleð. Ne bið þeo bilehwitnesse godes icwime butas [? butan.] sno [sno at first, but altered to sne.] ternesse ne sneternesse butan bile|hwitnesse. hwet bið bilehwitnesse butan rihtwisnesse; and hwet [folio 35a] bið sneternesse bute soðe lufe to gode and to monnen; forðon þe halia gast þe þet tecð riht-wissnesse and bilehwitnesse scule [? sculde.] beon isceawed eiðer ȝe on fure. ȝe on culfren. forðon þet heo deð

þere monnan heortan þet he onlihteð mid his ȝife. þet heo beoð liðe þurh un-cladnesse [unlaðnesse.] . and itenð þurh lufe and snoternesse. God is swa paul cweð. þet niminde fur and he is un-asecgliche fur. and unisewenlich fur. Bi þam fure cweð þe helende. Ic com forðon þet ic walde sendan fur on eorðan. and ic wile þat hit berne. he sende þene halia gast to eorðan and he mid his bleade on-ealde eorðlichen monnan heortan þenne birneð þa eorð [? eorðe.] þenne þes eorðliche monnes heorte bið itend to godes lufe. þa þet er wes cald þurh flescliche lustes. Ni [? nis.] na þe halia gast wuniende on his icunde. swa se he iseȝen wes; forðon þet he is uniseȝenlic. Ac for þere itacnunge swa þe [? we.] er seiden. þet he wes iseȝen on culfre and on fure. He is ihate on grekisc paraclitus. þet is þe frofre gast. forðon þet he ifrefrað þa droriȝan. þa þet heore sun|nan bireusiað. and ȝifð heom forȝifnesse. and huht. and heore ȝeomerinde mod iliðegað. heo forȝifeð sunna. and he is þe wei to [folio 35b] alre sunnen forȝifenesse. he ȝifð his ȝefe þan þet he wule. Summe Men he ȝif wisdom and speche. Summe god iðonc. Summe muchele ileafe. Summe mihte to helene un-trume men. Summe witegunge. Summe iscead godra gast. and ufele. Summe he ȝifð misliche irord. Summen man irecednesse of misliche spechen. Ealle þas þing and moniȝe oðre deð þe haliȝa gast; to delende uwilchen bi þan þet him iwurð; forðon þet he is almihtin wurhte. for swa reðe swa he þes mannes heorte and his mod on-lihte; hit iwendeð from ufele to gode. he on-lihte dauiðes heorte þa þe he on ȝeoȝoþe herpan lufede. and warhte hine; to salm wurhtan. Amos het a reoðer heorde þene aw[e]nde þe haliȝa gast to ane gode witege. petrus wes fixere þene iturnde þe þe [sic.] ilcan godes gast to apostle. paul þet hermede cristene men; þene he iches to larðewe alle þeoden. Matheus þet wes cachepol þene he iwende to god-spellere. Ða apostlas ne dursten bodian þa soðen ileafen for þon eie of þon heðene. Ac þa siððan heo weren itend of þan halia gaste. hi neren aferede of nane licamliche pinunge. and þerfore wið-utan fore godes blisse bodedan. Ðisses deiȝes hehnesse is to heriane. forðon þet þe almihti god hine seoffimede [folio 36a] mede [? seolfne imedemede.] þet he walde monna cun on þisse deie isundian. on cristes akennednesse iwearð þe almihtiȝa

godes sune to monnesce men ibroht. and on þisse deie iweorden ileafulle men godes and swa se crist cweð. Ic cweðe ȝe beoð godes bern þa icorene men beoð godes bern; na icunðliche; ac þurh þes halȝan gastes ȝife. And [? An.] god is icundeliche on þreom. Hadan feder. and sune. þet is his wisdom. and þe halȝe gast; þe þet is heore beire wille. Heore cunde is unto-deledlich efer [MS. efter.] wuniende on ane godnesse. þe ilca cweð. bi his icorene ȝe beoð godes. Þuruh cristes menniscnesse men weren alesde from deofles ðeowdome. and þurh þes halȝe gastes to-cume mennen saule were ibroht to gode. Crist underfenc meniscnesse on his to-cume. and men underfengen god; þurh þes halȝan gastes isundunge. þe mon þet nafð godes gast on him nis he na godes. Elches monnes weorc cuðan hwilc gast hine wissað. Godes gast wissað efre to haliȝnesse. and to godnesse. Deofles gast wissað to sunnan; and to mandeden. þe halȝa gast bicom twa ofer þa apostlas. Crist ableow þana [sic.] halȝa gast ofer þa apostlas; er his upst[i]ȝe þus cweðinde onfoð haline gast. eft on þisse deie he sende þe almihtin feder and þe sune heore [folio 36b] beire gast to þam apostli; þa ȝet wuniende on þissere weorlde. þe helende ableu his gast on his apostlas for ðere itacnunge. þet heo and alle cristen men scullan lufian heore nehstan; al swa he heom er bihet þene ilca gast of heofne. forðon þet we sculen lufian god ofer alle oðer þing. An is þe halie gast þah þet he twa bicome ofer þa apostlas. Al swa ec is an lufe; and twa biboden. þet we sculen lufian god; and. Men. Ac we sculen leornian on mannen hu we maȝen bicuman to godes lufe. Al swa Iohan þe godspellere cweð. þe þet ne lufeð his broðer þene þet he isihð. hu mei he lufian god þene þet he ne isihð licomliche; we wurðiað þes halȝen gastes to-cume mid loft|songe [? lof-.] seofen daȝes. forðon þet he onlihte ure mod mid seofanfald ȝife. þet is mid wisdom. and anȝite mid iðohte. and streinde mid gode dedan; and trewfestnesse. and he us ifulð mid godes eiȝe. þe þet ðurh gode iearnunge [sic.] bi-cumð to þissan seofænfalden ȝefan of þam [? þan.] halȝan gaste; he haueð alle blisse. Ac þe þet wule to þare blisse bicumen; he scal ileafan on þa halȝa þreomnesse. and on soðre annesse. þet is þe feder. and his sune and heore beira gast heo beoð þreo on hadan and an god unto- [folio 37a] delendlich on

ane drihtnesse and godnesse wuniende þeos ileafan itacneden þa þreo þusend men. þet erest buȝen to ileafan efter þes halȝa gastes to-cume. and alswa þeo þreo þusend weren an iferende [? iferedene.] . alswa is þeo halȝe þreomnesse an god. and þet iferende is swa anmod swulc heom alle an weren on heorte. and an sawul; forðon þet þere halȝan þremnesse is an godnesse. and an icunde. and an iwille. and an worc un-to-delendlich. Ða ileaffullen brohton heore gersum and leiden heo et þere apostlan fotan. Mid þan is itacned þet cristene men ne sculen heore bileafe bisettan on þere weordliche eahte; ac on heore god ane. þe ȝitsere þe biset his iþonc on his ehte; he bið þes deofles bern buten he hit iswike; forðon heo þet þa ȝitsunge heolden heore eahte unwur[ð]liche nefde nenne stude; on heore heortan [The proper order is—heo heolden heore eaht unwur|liche forðon þet þa ȝitsung nef de, &c.] . and for þi heo dudan heore þing heom ȝemene; þet heo soðre sibsumnesse butan ȝitsunge beon mihten, þa apostlas setten here hondan ofer ileaffulle men; and heom com to þe halȝa gast. þurh heore bisceopunge. Bisceopas þes ilcan hades on godes ilaðunge. and haldað þa isetnesse on heore bisceopunge swa þet heo setteð heoran [folio 37b] handan ofer ifulȝede men. and biddað þet þe almihti welden[de] heom sende þa seofenfalde ȝife of þam halȝan gaste. Qui uiuit & Regnat, &c.

X. DE OCTO UICIIS & DE DUODECIM ABUSIUIS HUIUS SECULI.

[O]mnia nimia nocent. & temperancia mater uirtutum di|citur. þet is on englisc. alle ofer done þing denað [? deriað.] . and imetnesse is alre mihta moder þe oferlifa on hete and on wete macað þene mon un-halne. and his saule gode laðeð [MS. ladeð.] and swa ure drihten on his godspelle seide. ÞEt þer toȝeines unimete festen and to michel forhefednesse on hete and on wete macað þene mon un-halne and on michelere sarinesse bringeð swa swa us seggeð bec. þet sume men festen swa þet hi swencten swiðe

heom seolfe. and nane mede nefden for þa michele iswinche. ac þes þe fir weren fram godes milce [E]aðe mei þe mon fundan hu he hine seolfe amerre. ac we scole witan. þet nan seolf cwale þet is aȝen-sclaȝa ne cumeð to godes riche. Nu beoð .viii. heofod sunnan þe rixað on us to swiðe. On is icweðen. Gula. þet is ȝifernesse on englisc. þeo deð þet mon et er timan. and drinceð. oðer eft to muchel nimeð on ete oðer on wete. Ðeos sunne fordeð eiðer ȝe saule. ȝe lichoma. for [folio 38a] heo maceð þan men muchele untrumnesse and to deþe bringeð mid unmete drunche. and heo fordeð ec þes monnes saule for heo scal suneȝan oft. þenne he nat hu he ferð for his feondlichan drunche. Þa oðer sunne forliger and unimete galnesse. þet is ihaten fornicatio. He buleð [? befuleð.] þene mon and maceð of cristes leoman heoranna leoman; and of godes husa gromena wuniunge. þa þridde sunne is. Aua|ricia. þet is þeo ufele ȝitsunge. heo is more of elchere wohnesse heo macað reaflac and unrihte domes. stale and lesunge. and forsworenesse. heo is helle iliche. forðon þet hi ba habbeð un|afillendliche gredinesse; þet hi nefre ne beoð fulle. þeo feorð[e] sunne is ihatan. Ira. þet is on englisc wemodnesse. heo deð þet þe mon ne ah his modes iwald and heo macað monslehtas. and monies cunnes ufel. Þeo fifte sunne is. Tristicia. þet is þissere worlde sarinesse þenne þe mon sorȝeð alles to swiðe for his hehte lure. þe he luuede to swiðe. and chit þenne wið gode. and his sunnen echeð. Twa sarinesse beoð. an is þeos uuele oðer is halwende. þet is þet mon beo sari her on worlde for his sunnen. Þeo sixte is ihaten. Desidia. þet is slewðe on englisc þenne þan mon ne lust on his liue nan god don. and bið eure unȝearu to elchere duȝeðe. [folio 38b] Þe seofeðe sunne is icweðen. Iactancia. þet is idelȝelp on englisc. þenne mon bið lof-ȝeorn. and mid fikenunge fearð and deð for ȝelpe mare þenne for godes luue. ȝif he awiht delan wule. and forðon bið þe lesse [? for hlisse.] his edlen þere dede, and his wite abideð on þere oðre weorlde. Þe ehtuðe sunne is ihatan. Superbia. þet is on englisc, modinesse. Heo is|ord and ende of alle uuele. heo macode englas to ateliche deoflan and þene mon makeð ec ȝif [MS. ȝis.] heo modigað to swiðe þes deofles ifere; þe feol er ut of heouene þurh modinesse. Nu beoð .viii.

heafod mihtan. þe maȝen ouercumen alle þas sunnan þurh drihtnes fultum. An is [Temperantia] þet is metnesse on englisc. þet mon beo imete on alle þing and to muchel ne þigge on ete and on wete. ne er timan to his borde ne sitte. Nutenu etað swa er [? ec.] swa hi hit habbeð. ac þa iscead-wise mon scal kepan his meles and þenne mid isceade his isetnesse halden. þenne mei he ouercuman swa þa ȝiue[r]nesse. Þe oðer mihte is Castitas. þet is clenesse on englisc. þet þe leawde mon hine halde butan for|liȝere on rihte laȝe. and mid isceadwisnesse. þeo ihadode godes þeowa halde eure his clenesse ouer alle þing. and þenne bið ouer|cumen swa ec þa fule galnesse. Þe þridde mihte is. Largitas. þet is custinesse on englisc þet mon wisliche [folio 39a] spene þa þing þe him god lene on þisse liue to brukene. and noht for world ȝelpe. God nele þet we beon gredie ȝitseras. ne ec for weorld ȝelpe for|worpan ure ehtan ah dele we ure ehtan mid wisdome. swa þet hit drihtne likie. and ȝif [we] almesse doð; don hi butan ȝelpe þenne maȝe we fordon swa þa deofliche ȝitsunge. Þe feorðe mihte is. paciencia. þet is on englisc iþuld. þet þe mon beo iþuldi. and þolemod for godes luue. and lete elchur [? æfre.] his iwit weldre þene his wreððe. forðon þe helend cweð þus on his godspel. In paciencia uestra possidebitis animas uestras. þet is on englisc. on eower iþulde ȝe habbeð eower saulen ihaldene and eft þe heouenlich[e] wisdom cweð. Ira requiescit in sinu stulti. þet is wreððe hafð wununge on þes dusian bosme. þet is þenne þe mon bið to red|mod. and þe al weldenda dema demeð eou mid rihtwisnesse. and we sculen mid iþulde ouercuman þa wreððe. Þe fifte mihte is. [Spiritalis laetitia] þet is gastliche blisse þet þe mon on god blissie bitwuxe þa sorinessen þissere sterke worlde. swa þet we [MS. þe.] on unilimpan to ormode ne beon; ne eft on iselhðan to swiðe ne blissian. and ȝif we forleosað þas lenan world-þing; þenne we sculan witan þet ure wununge nis nauht her; ac is on heuene; ȝif we hopiað to gode swa þe apostel seide bi him and bi oðran rihtwise. [Nostra autem conversatio in celis est.] þet is ure wununge is on heuene. þider we sculen [folio 39b] hihȝen of þissere erfeð|nesse mid gastlichere blisse. þenne bið þa ufele sarinesse mid alle ouercuman mid ure gode iþulde. Þe sixte mihte is. [Instantia

boni operis.] þet is anrednesse godes werkes. for ȝif weo beoð anrede on ure gode werckan; þenne maȝe we swa ouercumen þa slauðe. for hit bið lonsum bismer ȝif al ure life bið on unnet her. Þe seofeðe mihte is. [Caritas.] þet is soð luue to gode and to monnen. þet weo on gode weorcas godes luue kepan; and naut idelȝelp þe is him ansete. ac uten don elmessen swa he us tehte gode to luue. and naut for herunge. ac þet ure drihten beo eure ihered on ure godan weorcan. and þe idele ȝelp us beo eure un|wurð. Þe eahtuðe mihte is ihaten. [Humilitas.] þet is soð edmodnesse to gode and to monnen. mid modes lusternesse. [? hlutter|ness.] for þe þe bið [wis] he neme [? ne wurð neure.] modi. On hwan mei þe mon modegian þeh he beo wel iþoȝen and iþungen. for he mei findan fele þe beoð bet iþoȝen and istoȝen þene he. Ne eft he ne mei on his welan. ne on his ehte modegian. forðon þet he nat þene dei ne þene time þe hit al forletan scal. Ne on nane þinge ne ah þe mon to modegian. ȝif he wis bið. nu [MS. hu.] ȝe habbeð iherd hu þes halie mihten ouercumað [folio 40a] þa sunnan þe deouel bisaweð on us. and ȝif we nelleð heom ouercuman. hi bisencheð us on helle. [W]e maȝen þurh godes fulste þa fondliche sunnan mid icompe ouercuman. ȝif we kenliche fehtað and habban [? originally habbeð.] us on ende þene eche wurðment a mid gode seoluan. ȝif we swincað nu her. Nv beoð .xii. unþeawes. þe we sculen eou seggan erest on bocleden; and siðþan on englisc. Duodecim abusiua sunt seculi. Hoc est. Sapiens sine operibus bonis. Senex sine religione. Ado|lescens sine obediencia. Diues sine elemosina. Femina sine pudicitia. Dominus sine uirtute. Christianus contenciosus. Pauper superbus. Rex iniquus. Episcopus negligens. Plebs. sine disciplina. Populus sine lege & sic suffocatur iusticia dei.

[T]welf unþeawes beoð on þissere weorlde to hermen alle monnen. ȝif hi moten rixian and hi aleggað rihtwis|nesse. and þene ileafan amerrað. and moncun bringeð ȝif hi motan to helle. Þet is ȝif þe wisa mon bið butan [gode wercan. and ȝif þe alde bið butan [See p. 109, l. 3.] ] treuscipe. and ȝif þe ȝunge bið butan hersumnesse. and þe richen butan elmesdedan. wif butan clenesse. and þe lauerd butan mihte. and ȝif þe cristene mon

bið sacful. and ȝif þe wrecche bið modi. and ȝif þe king [folio 40b] bið unrihtwis. and ȝif þe biscop bið ȝemeles. and þet folc butan steore eft [sic.] butan laȝe. Nu ȝif þe wisa mon bið butan gode wercan. þe þe oðer monnen scolde sullan gode bisne. hu ne bið sone his lare þan lewede monnen unwurð. ȝif he seolf nule don swa swa he heom techeð to donne; Ne bið naut his lare fremful ne icweme þan ileweden; ȝif he mid wercan to-werpeð his bodunge. Eft ȝif þe larðeu dwelað. hwa bið siððan his larþeu; Gif þet eȝe ablindað; ne bið naut þe hond wel lokinde. Þe alde mon þe bið butan treowscipe. bið iliche þan treo þe bereð lef and blosman. and nane westmas ne bereð. and bið unwurð his lauerde. Hwet is eure swa dusi and swa stuntlic swa is þet þe alde mon nule his mod to gode awendan mid gode huhte. þenne his leoman him cuþað þet he ne bið quic longe; Ȝunge monnan mei tweonian hweðer hi moten alibban. ac þe alde mei him witan iwis þone deð. Ðan alden his to warniene wið uuele iþohtas for þeo heorte ne aldeð naut ne þa tunge. ac þas twa þing deriað oft þan alden. Wite for þi þe alde alde [sic.] hwet is elde bihouige. and þa ðing for|seo þat his saule deriað. Þe þridde unþeau is on þissere worlde. þet ȝung mon beo butan ihersumnesse. [folio 41a] vnwurðe bið þe on elde þet him oðer men þenien [MS. we|nien.] þe on his ȝuheðe nule his eldian [? eldran.] her|sumian. Vre helend on his ȝuheðe wes ihersum his cunne. and his heouenlich federe he hersumede to ða deðe. Swa swa þan alden bihouað duȝende þewas and [t]riwe treofestnesse; swa biriseð þan ȝungan þet he abbe ihersumnesse and ibuhsumnesse. Godes laȝe bit ec mon wurðie efre his feder and his moder mid muche|lere wurþunge. and ȝif he heom werieð; he bið deðes wurðe. Þe feorðe unþeu is þet þe riche mon [beo] butan elmesdedan. and bihude his feh. and ȝeornliche halde hit him to helle wite. vniseli bið þe ȝitsere þe þurh his iselhðe leosað. and þurh his ahȝene ehte forwurð a on echnesse. ac iselie beoð efre þa mildheortan. for þi heo imetað þa mildheortnesse. Eft þe ðe deleð elmessan for his drihtnes luuan; þe bihut his gold hord on heouene riche. þer nan þeof ne mei [his] maðmas forsteolan. ac heo beoð bi hundfalde ihalden him þer. On monie wisen mon mei wurchen elmessan. on ete and on wete. and ec on iwedan. and þet mon gistas

underuo. and to seke monan ga. oðer sarine frefrað. oðer blindne mon let. oðer bereð unhalne. oðer unhalne lechnað ȝif he leche|dom con. [folio 41b] oðer ȝif he miltsað [MS. nult|sað.] þan men þe hine abelh. oðer ȝif he ȝeher-godne [? insert here efter neode ideð.] mon fereð to buriene. Al þis bið almesse and ec þet mon biswinke þene stunte lichome for steore þe þe [sic.] steoran scal for þet is mildheortnesse. þet þe wisa mon mid steore þene unwisan irihleche. Ne ligge nefre on þine heorde. þet hauelese monnam meie fremian. for þu ane ne brukest naut þinra welena; þah þu hi demliche [? dernliche.] halde. Ðu gederast mare and mare. and men cwelað on hungre. and þine welan forrotiað biforan þine ehȝan. Ne don we nauht þus. ac uten don al swa ure drihten cweð. he seide on his godspelle. Date elemosinam; & omnia munda sun[t] uobis. þet is. deleð elmesse and alle þing eou beoð clene. Þe fifta unþeu is þet wif beo buten clenesse. Vnclene wif þoleð scome on weorlde. and unclene wif bið unwurð on liue. and efter þisse liue nane blisse nafð mid gode. Wisdom biriseð weran. and clenesse birisað wifan. for þe clenesse iscilt heo wið u[n]þeawes. Ðer þa clenesse bið; þer beoð ec þa gode þeawes and þet clene wif scunað ȝitsunge and cheste ne sturað. ac heo gestilð groman and forsihð galnesse and gredinesse for|hoȝað. heo hi wernað wið drunkenesse and idele weord [folio 42a] ne luuað. Iwisliche þa clennesse iwelt alle unþeawes and halt gode þeawes þe gode likiað and monnan. [Þ]e sixte unþeau is þet þeðe to lauerde bið iset. þet he for modleste ne mei his monnan don stere ac bið swa mihtles on his modes streche. þet he his men eisian ne der ne to nane wisdome heom nule wissian. Summe lauerdes inehlecheð gode þurh heore lauer[d]scipe swa Moyses þe heretoȝa dude þe to þan almihtiȝan gode spec. and summe lauerdes on heore onwalde god gremiað. swa saul þe king dude þe forsech godes heste. Ðe lauerd scal beon liðe þan godan and eisful þan dusian þet he heore dusi alegge. and he scal beon weordfeste. and wise lare lusten. Hine scule þa gode men lufie for his liðnesse. and þa dusian him sculen efre adredan. elles ne bið his rixlunge ne fest ne lonsum. he scal beon swa iweorht þet him mon mote wið speken and his neode menan. and swa hwet swa þe lauerd speke to his men sterliche; do hit for rihtwisnesse

and for godes eȝe and noht for wreððe. hit is awriten on boken. þet þe bið al swa sculdig þe þet uuel iþeuað; swa þe þe hit deð. ȝif he hit betan mei; and umbe þe bota[ne] hoȝað. he scal hine mid rih[t] wisnesse ibuȝan to gode. for he ne mei habben nane mihte [folio 42b] to rihte butan godes fulste swa god cweð. Ðe lauerd scal bihohȝian þet he habbe godes fultum and he ne scal nohwer ortrowian bi godes fultum. Gif god bið his ifulsta; ne bið his mehte nohwer for-seȝen. for þon þe nan mihte nis bute of gode. Qui suscitat de puluere egenum. & de stercore erigit pauperem. þet is. God ahef of mexe þene mon þe he wule þau he were er wreche and macað hine to lauerde and eft þe witega seið bi gode. Deponit potentes de sede & exaltat humiles. þet is. Drihten aworpeð þa modian of heore heh setle and on-hefð þa mildan and eft þet writ cweð. Deus superbis resistit; humilibus dat gratiam. þet is. Drihten widset þan prudan and ȝeueð þan ed|meodan streinþe þet al middel eard beo him ibuhsum; and his nome heriȝe. Þe [The þ is by a later hand.] seofeðe un-þeaw is þet þe cristene mon beo sacful. of cristes noman. is cristianus icweðen. þet is þe cristene mon þe is on criste ifulehȝad. þenne ȝif he bið sacful; soðliche ne bið he noht wel cristene. Soðliche nis nan mon wel cristene; butan þe þe criste euenlecheð. Crist nalde flitan ne chidan. swa swa his feder stefne cweð bi him. Her is min child þe me is swiðe leof and ic sette minne gast ouer him. He ne flit mid cheste. ne he sake ne sturað. ne on strete ne ihereð nan mon his stefne. Drihten seið ec on his godspelle þet þa beoð godes bern þe beoð isibsumme ac sake ne sturiað. and swa swa [þa] isibsumma [folio 43a] beoð soðliche godes bern; swa beoð ec þa sacfulle soðliche deofles bern. Alle we cleopiað to gode; and cweðað. pater noster. þet is. þu ure feder þe ert on heuene ac we ne maȝen habben þene heouenlichen eþel; butan we beon clene from alle sake. [Þ]e ehtuðe unþeau is þet þe wrecche mon beo modi. Moni mon nafð ehta. and þeh haueð modinesse and is erm for worlde. and uniseli for gode. þenne he arereð his mod mid modinesse onȝein god. and nule on his ermðe; edmodnesse halden. Crist cweð on his godspelle bi þan gastliche wrecchan. Beati pauperes spiritu; quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum. þet is. eadiȝe beoð þa wrecchan þe on gaste beoð wrecchan; for

heore is heouenriche murhðe. Ða beoð wrecchan on gaste þe for godes luue beod milde and admode. for þon þe þes modes edmodnesse mei biȝetan godes riche reðer þen þe haueleste þe of henðe cumeð. Gewisliche þa richan þe rihtliche libbað maȝen beon bitwixen godes wrecchan ȝif heo edmodnesse habbeð and ouerflowendnesse forletað swa swa þe king dauid cweð bi him seoluen. Ego egenus & pauper sum; deus adiuua me. þet is. Ic em þarua and wrecche. ac god fulst þu me. Ðe modie wreccha for his modes upahefednesse is to richan itald rihtliche on boken and þe edmeda riche þah he ehte habbe mei beon godes wrecche. ȝif he gode icwemeð. [Þ]e nihȝeðe unþeau is þet þe king beo unrih[t]wis. Ðe king bið icoren to þan þe him cuð his noma. [folio 43b] King is ihaten rex; þet is wisegend for he scal wissian mid wisdome his folke and unriht aleggen and þene ileaue areren. þenne bið hit ermlic. ȝif he bið unrihtwis. for he ne mei nenne irihtlechan; ȝif he bið him seolf unrihtwis. Ðes kingges rihtwisnesse arereð his kine setle and his sodfestnesse istaþeleð þes folkes stere. Ðet is kinges rihtwisnesse þet he mid wohȝe ne of-sitte ne ermne ne eadine. ac elche men deme riht. He scal biwerian widewan and steopbern and stale aleggen and heordom for-beodan. and þeouas addriuan. of his erde mid alle and he scal wicche creft aleggan and wiȝelunge ne geman wise men him scule readan and he ne scal beo nefre wemod godes minist[re] [The con|traction is scarcely legible;? read minstre.] he scal mundian efre. and fedan wrecchan. and festliche winnan wið onsiȝend-ne here. and haldan his eþel. He scal soðfeste men setten him to irefen. and for godes eie libban his lif rihtliche and beon on erfeðnesse anred and edmod on stilnesse. and his of[s]pringe ne iþauie þet hi beon unrihtwise. he scal hine ibidan on a-sette tidan [MS. ridan.] . and er meltiman metes ne arinan. for hit is a|writen þet wa þere þeode þer þe king bið child. and þer þa aldor|men etað on erne marȝen ulaȝeliche [? unlaȝe|liche.] . Gif þe king wule mid carfulnesse haldan þas bebodan; þenne bið his riche isundful on liue. and efter þisse liue he scal faran to þan eche liue for his treowscipe. And ȝif he forsihð þas isetnesse [folio 44a] and þas lare; þene bið his erd ihened oft and ilome eiðer ȝe on herȝunge. ȝe on hungre. ȝe on cwalme. ȝe on uniwidere. ȝe on wilde deoran.

Wite ec þe king hu hit is icweðen on boken. ȝif he rihtwisnesse ne halt. þet swa swa he is on heuene [read on|houen.] on his kine setle to-foran oðer mennen; swa he bið eft iniþered on þan neoþemeste pinan under þan unrihtwise deoule þe he er iherd and icwemde. [Þ]e teouðe unþeau is þet biscop beo ȝemeles. Episcopus is gerkisc noma þet is on boc leden speculator. and is on englisc scawere. for he is iset to þon þet he scal ouerscawian mid his ȝeme þa lewedan. swa god seolf cweð to ezechiele þan witegan. Specula|torem dedi te domui israel. þet is. Ic þe ȝef to scawere mine folke israeles hirede. þet þu ihere mine word and of mine muðe mine speche heom cuðe. and ȝif þu þan unrihtwisan nult his unriht|wisnesse seggan; þenne swelt þe unrihtwise on his unrihtwis|nesse. and ic of-ga et þe mid groman his blod and ȝif þu wernast þane unrihtwise mon and he nule icherran from his sunnan þurh þe; he swelt on his unrihtwisnesse and þine saule bið alesed. Ðus speked ure drihten to biscopan. Nu ȝif þe biscop bið ȝemeles þenne he godes budel is and to larþeawe iset þan leawede folke; þenne losiað fele saulen and he seolf forð mid for his ȝemeleste. ac þet folc bið iseli þurh snoterne biscop þe heom seið godes lare. and halt heom under gode swa god heoȝte [read heorde.] þet heo beon ihaldene and he habbe [originally habbenen.] þe mede. [Þ]e endleofte unþeau is folc beo butan steore. fela stuntnesse beoð; þer [folio 44b] nan steore ne bið. and þer þe dusie mon bið þriste. and þer þe dwolunge rixað; þere bið uuel to wunienne eni wise men. and for þon cweð þe salmwurhta mid þise [MS. wise] wurden cleopiende. Apprehendite disciplinam nequando irascatur dominus & pereatis de uia iusta. þet is on englisc. Vnderfoð steore þi les ðe god iwurðe wrað wið eou and ȝe þenne losian of þan rihtan weie. Ec þe apostel paulus cweð on his pistel Ðurð [? Ðurh.] -wuniað on steore and ȝe beoð swilche forliȝeres. ȝif ȝe libbað butan steore. Eft þe witega ysaias bi þan ilcan cweð. Quiescite agere peruerse. discite bene facere. þet is iswikeð unrihtwisra dedan; and leorniað god to wurchenne. and dauid cweð ec. Declina a malo & fac bonum. þet is. Buh from uuele and do god. Gif þu uuel were; iwend þe from uuele. þi les þe ðu steorles losie on ende. [Þe] twelfta unðeau is. þet folc beo butan laȝe. we ne moten halden nu Moises laȝe on þa alde

wisan efter ure helendes to-cume. ac we sculen ȝefullan swa we best muȝen þes helendes biboda. and þa beoð us for laȝe for we beoð efre butan gode; ȝif we godes bibodan ne haldeð. Monie þewas [? weȝes.] beoð swa swa þe wisdom cleopað. þe monnen þuncheð rihte. ac hi þah ledað to deðe on ende þa þe heom duseliche folȝiað. Ðe þe godes laȝe forlet þe is ure wei; he scal misliche faran on monie gedwilþan. Crist seolf is þe weie; swa he seide bi him Ego sum uia ueritas & uita. þet is. Ic em þe wei and þa soðfestnesse and þet eche lif ne mei nan man bicuman to mine heouenliche federe butan þurh me. ac we beoð þurh crist to heouene ibroht; ȝif we his bigenge haldað. [folio 45a] Ða þe butan godes laȝe and godes isetnesse libbeð; þa beoð butan gode efre wuni|ende. Drihten seolf bihat þis alle þon þe haldeð his biboden. Ecce ego uobiscum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consummacio|nem seculi. þet is. ic seolf beo mid eow alle daȝen aþet endunge þissere weorlde. Ðe helen[de] us iwissie to his willan efre þet ure saule moten eft-siðian to him efter ure liue to þan eche liue. þet he ure saule underfo þe he er asende to þan lichoman. Quod [MS. quoð.] ipse prestare dignetur qui uiuit & regnat deus per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

XI. [DOMINICA V. QUADRAGESIMÆ.]

[F]actus est filius dei omnibus sibi obtemperantibus causa salutis eterne; apellatus a deo pontifex iuxsta ordinem Melchisedech.

Vre drihtnes halie passiun. þet is his halie þrowunge þe he for moncunne underfeng. is nu icumen in. and þe halie writ us muneȝað and hat. þet we beon imundie of þere pine þe ure drihten þolede for us on þisse timan. and for-þi we sculen hine efre mid alle ure heorte. and mid alle ure mode herian and swiþest on þissere halie tide þe is nu icumen to us. and we

sculan þonkian him þere muchele mildheortnesse þe he dude on us þa he na sparede na ihesu crist his aȝene sune ac salde hine to deðe for moncunne al swa we singeð on boken. proprio filio suo non pepercit deus. Sed pro nobis omnibus tradidit illum. Ðet is. God ne sparede na his aȝene berne; ac ȝef hine to cwale for us alle. eft þe apostel seið on his pistel. Cristus factus est pro nobis obediens patri usque ad mortem mortem autem crucis. Crist godes sune wes ibuhsum þan heuenliche federe to þa deðe. and þet to swulche [folio 45b] deðe swa ȝe maȝen iseon on þere rode tacne to-foren eou. Mid irenen neilen he wes on þere rode ifestned. and mid speres orde to þere heorte istungen. and mid þornene crune his heaued wes icruned. swa þet þet rede blod seh ut on iwulche half. and þet folc þe hine þus makede knewede to-foren him on bismer and hine greite and cleopede king on bismer. Summe þer weren þet his eȝan bundan and hine on þet neb mid heore hondan stercliche beoten and hehten hine aredan; hwa hit were þet hine smite. Ðas pine and monie oðre ure drihten þolede of ðan heðene folke in þisse timan. al swa þe prophete heffede iboded þa he seide bi him. O uos omnes qui transitis per uiam; attendite & uidete si est dolor similis dolori meo. þet is Ge alle þe ferað þene wei; abidað and understondað and lokiað hewðer enies monnes sar beo iliche mine sare. Imong alle þere pine þe he for us þolede; ne undude he nefre ene his muð mid uuele to-ȝeines nan of heom al swa þet writ seide bi him muchel to-foran. Dominus tanquam ouis ad uictimam ductus est; & non aperuit os suum. Vre drihten wes iled to sleȝe al swa me dede a scep and he nefre þa ne undude his muð. His ahȝenes þonkes he þrowede for us and binom ure sunnan. for ȝif hit his willa nere; ne mahte him nan deð ne nan pine denan [? for derian.] ; al swa þe boc seið. Oblatus est quia ipse uoluit; & peccata ipse por|tauit. þet is ure drihten wes ioffred for-þi þe he hit walde and aber ure sunnan. and þah ne nedde he na þet heðene folc to his cwale ac þe deofel heom tuhte to þan werke and god iþeafede þet to [folio 46a] alesendnesse alles ileffulles moncunnes. and þe deofel ablende heore heortan þet heo ne cunnan icnawen ure helend þe wes imong heom. Quia si principes mundi huius Christum

cognouissent nunquam illum crucifixissent. Ðet is to seggane. Gif þa hefdmen of þissere worlde hefden icnawen crist; nefden heo nefre ifestned hine on rode for ure hele. Cristes rihtwis|nesse is swa muchel þet he nolde niman moncun nedunga of ðan deofle butan he hit forgulte. ac he hit forgulte eteliche þa þe he tuhte and spuhte þet folc to cristes cwale; þes almihtie godes sune. and þa þurh his deorewurðe deðe we weren alesede from þan eche deaðe. Ȝif we us seolue nu ne fordoð þurh sunnan. Ða itimede þan deofle alswa deð mahȝe fisce þe isið þet es. and ne isihȝ na þene hoc þe sticað on þan ese. þenne bið he gredi þes eses and forswoleȝeð þene hoc forð mid þan ese. Swa wes þon deofle. He iseh þa monnisnesse on criste and nauht þa god|cunnesse. Ða tuhte he ðet heðene folc to his sleȝe and ifelde þa þene hoc þet wes cristes godcumnesse [sic.] . þe ferde to helle and iwrað þene alde deouel and nom of him adam þene frumscepene mon. and his wif euan and alle þa þe of heore cunne on þis liue gode icwemden. Ne nom he na alle þa þe þer inne weren ah ane dale alswa me bit of ane epple; for hit wes awriten þurh þan prophete. O mors ero mors tua morsus tuus ero in|ferne. þet is. Ðu deað ic wulle beon þin deð; and þu helle ic wulle beon þin bite. and þa ifelde þe deofel þene hoc. þe he er gredliche forswealh for ure drihten [folio 46b] aras of deaðe on þene sunnen dei þe we hateð easter dei. þe nu bið to dei on fowertene niht. and alesde us ȝif we wulleð of þan eche deaðe þe is on helle þe we weren in bifolen þurh ure eldra gult. ah we sculen don nu al swa þe mon þe bið efter criste selue cristene mon inemned þet wit and þene wisdom þe ure drihten us sende aspenen we hit on godes willan and on godes wercan. and us seluan to helpe herien we ure drihten þe us alesde and makede us freo of þeowan and of þrelan his ahȝene bern. Luuian we hine mid alre heorte. mid alre saulen. mid alle mode. mid alle meine alswa þe apostel Sancte Iohannes us munað. Diligamus deum quia ipse prior dilexit nos. Ðet is luuian we ure drihten. for þon þe he luuede us er we hine. Muchele luue he us cudde þa he us alesde. Nefde he nane neode to us ac we hefden muchele neode to him. Git we sculen mare. we sculan luuian ure nehstan

þet is al cristene folc alswa us seoluan. for alle we beoð ibroðran. Alle we habbeð enne feder on heouene and alle we cleopiað to him and seggað. Pater noster qui es in celis. Vre feder þe ert in heouene. Ne seið ure nan min [n is partly erased.] feder ne þin feder ah ure feder þe ert in heouene alswa baldeliche mei þe wrechesta mon clepian drihtan him to federe swa þe richeste mon of þan londe for-þi ah nan mon to beoran nið ne onde to nane cristene monne; al swa Sancte iohan seið in his pistelle. Qui odit fratrem suum manet in morte. Ðe mon þe hetað his broðer he wunað in deaðe and ef(t) þe ilca apostel seið. Qui dicit se diligere dominum & fratrem suum odit; mendax est. Ðe mon ðe seið þet he luuað [folio 47a] god. and hateð his broþer he is lihȝare. for þe mon þe ne luuað na his broðer þe he isið. hu mei he luuian wel ure drihten þe he naut ne isihð; Imong þan muchela wisdoma þe ure drihten lerde his apostles he tahte heom. þis swulche to|foran oðran þingan; and cweð. Hoc est preceptum meum ut diligatis inuicem sicut dilexi uos. Ðis is min bibode and min heste. þet ȝe luuian eou bitwixan alswa ic luuede eou. and for-þi scal iwilc mon oðerne luuian. Non uerbo neque lingua sed opere & ueritate. þet is naut one mid worde ne mid tunge; ac ec mid worke and mid soðfestnesse. and ure drihten and ure alesend iunne us allen þet we swa on þisse liue maȝen his hest and his biboden halden; þet we moten habben to mede heouenariches blisse. Auxiliante domino nostro ihesu Christo qui uiuit & regnat per omnia secula seculorum. amen.

XII. [DOMINICA SECUNDA POST PASCHA.]

Christus passus est pro nobis uobis relinquens exemplum. ut sequimini uestigia eius & cetera. Al þet me ret and singeð on þisse timan in halie chirche. al hit bilimpeð to godes luue; and to godes herunge. Ða songes þa we nu singeð beoð blisfulle for heo boð makede of þere heouenliche blisse þe us wes

iopenad on þisse timan þe ure drihten aras of deaðe and alesde us of þan eche deðe and wule us bringan to eche liue. Muchele luue ure drihten us cudde þa þe he þe is and eure wes butan biginnunge soð god bicom for ure helpe soð mon. In simili|tudinem hominum factus & habitu inuentus ut homo. þet is he wes imacad to monne ilicnesse and iwunden mid flesce al swa mon and muchele [folio 47b] mare luue he scawede us þa þe he us alesde for hit is awriten. Nichil nobis nasci profuit; nisi redimi pro|fuisset. Ðet is. Ne fremede us na þing þet he [? we.] were iboren; buten he us alesde. Mid swiðe muchele wurðe we weren alesde al swa. Sancte peter us seide and cweð. Non ex coruptibili auro uel argento redempti estis de uestra uana conuersatione; sed pre|cioso sanguine agni inmaculati & incontaminati ihesu Christi filii dei. Ðet is to seggen. Ge ne beoð ne alesde of deofles anwalde mid golde ne mid seolure; ac beoð mid þan deorewurþe bleode of þan clenan and of þan unwemmedan lombe ðet is godes sune. He is þet soðe lomb alswa. Sancte Iohan þe baptist cweð. Qui tollit peccata mundi. þe binimeð middanerdes sunne. his deorewurþe blod wes asced on stude þe is ihaten. caluarie locus. al swa þe godspellere us seið. Ðer hit wes agoten In remissionem peccatorum nostrorum. Ðet is alesendnesse of ure sunnan. Mid his blode we sculen deihwanliche [? deihwam|liche.] þa postles and þet ouerslaht of ure huse þet is of ure heortan gastliche bispren|gan. þet is to understondan þet we sculen ure forheafod and þa. vii. ȝeade ures lichomes mid þere halie rode tacne seinian þet ure wiðerwinna. Qui tanquam leo rugiens circuit querens quem deuoret. þet is þet þe deofel þe geð abutan alswa þe gredie leo sechinde hwen he maȝe fordon þet he neure ne maȝe cuman wið-innan us. hwet beoð þas .vii. ȝeate; Ðet beoð ure eȝan and ure neose and ure muð and ure earan. vppon heom alswa we er seiden we sculen markian þet tacne of þere halie rode. In qua triumphauit rex angelorum. þet is of þere rode of [folio 48a] hwem englan king ouercom þene deofel. for þet inseil þe þe deofel ne mei nefre to breocan. þet is þet [loc] þeðe deofel ne con unlucan. þet is þet scutles þeðe deofel ne mei nefre to-cysan. Bi þisse tacne seide sum wis mon. Hec est scala peccatorum per quam Christus rex

celorum ad se traxit omnia. Ðis is sunfulla monna leddre þurh hwam [? hwan.] ure drihtan teh to him al moncun. þurh þis tacne þe king constantinus ouer com al þet folc þe feiht to-ȝeines him. Ðurh þisse tacne makede Moyses þet ðet weter of egipte wes liðe and swete þan folce of israel. þe wes sur and bitere alle þon monnen of þan londe. Eft þurh þisse tacne Moyses werp ut þet welle weter of þan herda flinte and ȝef þan folke drinken uppan þan hulle synai. On oðer wise ure drihten us mehte alesan ȝif his wille were. ac him þuhte bicumelic þet we þe weren þurh þe treo forgult in to helle; weren. eft þurh þet treo of þere rode alesede. Of þissere alesednesse and of þan icompe þe ure drihten hefde wið þene feond; dauid þe prophete seide þo he wes on eorðe. Liberauit pauperem a potente & pauperem cui non erat adiutor. Ðet is on englisc. Drihten alesde þene wrechan of þan mehtiȝan and þen werchan þe wes al helples. Ðes wrecche þe he of spec wes ure feder adam. þe bicom wreche and helples swa sone swa he to-brec godes bibode and godes heste. vre drihten þe hine iscop ne macode hine na wrecche. alswa hit is awriten. þet ure drihten hine crunede mid blisse and mid wurðscipe. and sette hine ouer his hondiwerc. and eft hit is awriten bi him on þan ilcan psalme. Omnia [folio 48b] subiecisti sub pedibus eius. Ðet is al eorðlic þing ure drihten dude under his fotan. Alle þa deor and alle þe nutenu þe on eorðe weren. and alle þe fuȝelas þe fluȝen bi þan lufte. and alle þe fiscas þe swummen in þere se; alle heo weren adame ibuhsume and naut ane under his hond; ac under his fet. Ac swa sone swa he forseh his scuppend þurh his wifes red; heo forluren ba þa murie wununge þe heom bitaht wes; þet wes eorðliche para[d]is. Ða anan heo weren iscouen; alswa þe boc seið. Expulsi sunt nec potuerunt stare. heo weren ipult ut of paradise; and ne mehten þer naleng etstonden. and hwer bicomen heo þa; Soðliche on þissere worulde. vbi omnis homo cum dolore nascitur & cum dolore moritur. on þissere weorlde heo bicomen þer iwilch mon bið iboren mid muchele sara. and mid muchele sorȝe his lif iendað. her heo leueden al heore lifdaȝes on kare and on pine and on unimete iswinche. and efter þisse liue heore saulen ferden to helle and þer wuneden.

iiii. þusend ȝeran and þerto iiii. hundred ȝeran and alle þa men þe comen of heom gode and uuele swa sone swa heore saulen and heore licoma to-delden heo ferden to helle. Ne mihte þer nan wiðstonden. ne prophete. ne patriarche. ne hure. Sancte iohannes baptiste. þe ure drihten ber iwitnesse and seide. Bitwuxe were and wife nes nefre mare mon þenne he. ac þah hweðre his saule wes in helle. a ðet þa streonge leo þet wes þes liuiȝendes godes sune. Et contriuit portas ereas. & uectes fereos confregit. Ðet is he to-þruste þa stelene gate. and to brec þa irene barren of helle. and nom ut alle þa ilcan þe on þisse [folio 49a] liue his bibode heolden. Et eduxit eos de tenebris & umbra mortis. He ledde heom of þeostran and of scadewe. and of deaðe into heouena riche. ad quod et nos perducat Christus filius dei uiui. qui uiuit et regnat per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

XIII. [SERMO IN EPIST. 2 AD CORINTH. IX. 6.]

[Q]vi parce seminat; parce & metet. vre lauerd seinte paul heȝes[t] larðewen. efter ure helende seolfe; speceð on þe halie pistle þe me ret to dei ine halie chirche and munegeð eiðer ihadede and ileawede to godes worde and to weldede and þus seið. Spiritualiter quidem monens hos ut ait gregorius ad sancte predicationis officium. Generaliter uero hos & illos ad salutarem obedienciam mandatorum. Ihadede men he munegeð wel to lerene ilewede men. Ihadede and lewede feier lif and clene to leden in þisse liue. and seið þet euric mon scal auon mede; and þus seið. Qui parce seminat et cetera. Ðe mon þet lutel seweð he scal lutel maȝe. and þe ðe saweð on blescunge he scal mawen of blescunge þet is to suggen. Ðe mon þe wel deð; he wel ifehð. Sacra scriptura nomine seminis appellat tria. scilicet hominis progenituram. dei uerbum. opus bonum. Halie boc nemneð iwuneliche ðreo þing to sede. an is monnes istreon. þet

oðer is godes word. and þet ðridde is weldede. vre drihten cleop|ede monnes streon sed; þa þe he spec wið ðene halie mon abraham of his istreone and seide. þet swa muchel moncun sculde springen of him ðet na man ne mihte itellen a mare þe me mei ðeo steorren of heuene; and þus seide. Suspice celum & numera stellas si potes; Sic erit semen tuum. Bihald he [folio 49b] seide up to heouene and tel þeo steoren ȝif þu miht swulc scal beon þin of|spring. Sed obseruandum est quod prudens sator obseruat & glebe aptitudinem & temporis opportunitatem. hit is to witene þet alrihtes swa alse þe wise teolie þenne he wule sawe nimeð ȝeme of twam þingen. an is hweðer þet lond beo bicumelic to þe sede. Alswa ahte eurec cristene mon; wepmon and wifmon. þenne heo fundieð to teoliende; efter istreone nimen muchele ȝeme þet heo hit [MS. bit.] don on bicumeliche stude and on rihte time. Nis na stude to istreone bicumelic butan ða þe istreonieð beon bispused rihtliche to gedere. ne neaure nis riht time þer to; þenne me scal ueste oðer al freosȝe. Eft-sone godes word is icleoped sed; on þere feire forbisne þe ure helend seide mid his aȝene muðe to his apostlen; and þus seide. Exiit qui seminat et cetera. A riche mon ferde ut; and seow and sum of þe sede feol an uppe þe stane and þer adruȝede and sum among þeornen and þer aswond and sum bi þe weie and werð to-treden and fuȝeles hit freten. and sum on gode eorðe; and þet com wel forð. Ðeo apostles hine beden þet he scalde suggen hwet þeo saȝe bicweðe and he seide. Semen est uerbum dei sator autem Christus omnis qui audit eum manebit ineternum. Godes word is sed and crist is þe sawere and euric mon þe lusteð luueliche godes wordes and ledeð his lif rihtliche þer efter; he scal habben eche lif and blisse abuten ende. Sed est diligenter attendendum quod hoc semen spargitur tum ore proprio tum [MS. cum.] ore ministrorum. ah þet is to understonde þet ure helend saweð [folio 50a] his halie word hwile þurh his aȝene muðe and hwile þurh ðere apostlene muðe. hwile þurh ðere clerkene muðe þe cunnen þe lare of halie boke þe radeð and techeð godes laȝe in to þes monnes heorte. and alswuche wise spekeð ðe eorðliche [? heofen|liche.] king wið iwilche cristene monne þe he to sendeð his halie iwriten. In hac eciam satione diligenter obserua agri competentiam; & temporis

congruenciam. Ðenne þeȝs folkes larþew his sed wule sawen he ahte to nimene muchele ȝeme þet he hit sawe on bicumeliche eorðe; and on rihte time. On ðere monne heorte þe luuelich[e] lusteð godes wordes summe heo ereðon gode weoren summe heo ðere þurh gode iwurðeð. and þet bið bicumelic eorðe godes wordes on to sawen. Ah þa ðe sunnen luueð and for-leten heom nulleð ne nane bileafe under-fo; heo beoð unbicumelic eorðe to þe sede of godes weorde. Vnde diuina scriptura. Nolite spargere Margaritas ante porcos. and þere for seide þe heouenliche larþew. Ne sculen ȝe nawiht ȝimstones leggen swinen to mete. Æuriche sunen deie. and oðre heȝe daȝen is time to sawene þet halie sed þet is godes word. and ðet in halie chirche þer alle cristene men aȝen to beon isomned to gedere. Bonum opus nomine seminis dicitur. tum quum nunc seritur in futuro metetur. tum quum more frugum multiplicabitur. Weldede is icleoped sed; for twam þingen. An is ðet alrihtes swa alse me saweð sed on ane time and gedereð þet frut on oðer time; al swa mon deð nuðe his dede in þisse liue. and on ðere eche weorlde [folio 50b] he scal hafon ðer of his mede. Ðet oðer is. Alswa of ane sede cumeð feole folde weste. Alswa of ane eðeliche dede mon scal afon eft feole folde mede and muchele. Multa quidem genera sunt bonorum operum. sed hic de uno eorum agitur. scilicet de elemosinarum largitione. vnde prophetam inducit dicentem. Dispersit dedit pauperibus. et cetera. feole cunne beoð of weldede. Ah þe apostel us munegeð here to one of heom þet is elmasdele and seið þet me heo scal ȝefen hafelesen monne monne [sic.] . Ah alse ðe halie salmwurhte dauid. seide delen heo þet euric neodi ðe heo biseceð sum þing ðer of afo. Gif þan bihaȝeð ðe héo deleð and neng [sic.] sullen heom ðeo elmesse ah ȝefen. Alle weldede beoð freomfulle to sun-bote [MS. sum|bote.] . ah nan mare freomful denne elmes idal. Quia sicut aqua extinguit ignem ita elemosina peccatum. for alswa weter acwencheð fur; alswa elmesdede acwencheð sunne. Ah ȝif me sulleð þeo elmesse heo feorleoseð hire nome and hire mihte alswa. Quatuor modis uenditur elemosina. & tunc inde populi fauor euertitur [? emitur.] . aut pudoris molestia deprimitur. aut re|compensatio rei temporalis adquiritur. aut debiti beneficii solucio

inpenditur. An fower cunne wise mon sulleð his elmesse. An is þenne he biȝeteð hereword ðere mide. Et hoc animi morbo laborat fere omnis homo. and þesne lehter habbeð mest hwet alle men. ðe ȝefeð heore elmesse eiðer for godes luue and ec for here|word to habbene and beon iwurðegede fir [folio 51a] and neor ðer þe heo icnawene beoð. An oðre wise mon sulde [sulðe = sulleð.] his elmesse þenne he heo ȝefeð swulche monne ðe he for scome wernen ne mei for neȝeburredde oðer elles freonde and þere mide hine aleseð of scome; þe he habben sculde. ȝif he heo ne Ȝef. On ðridde wise mon sullðe his elmesse ðenne he heo ȝefeð sulche monne þe him deð. oðer haueð idon. oðer don scal wiken and cherres and ðencheð mid his elmesse forȝelden him ðeo hwile. ðenne bið þes monnes wile ibeht mid þere elmisse. On feorðe wise mon sulleð his elmesse. þenne he heo ȝefeð swulche monne þe he ahte mid rihte helpe to fodneðe and to scrude bi his bi-haȝe. alse deð monimon ðe ȝefeð his elmesse feader oðer moder broðer oðer suster oðer oðre swa isibbe ðe he ne mei mid rihte wiðteon. Al ðe almisse þe mon deð sunderlipe for to quemen ure drihten; alle þeo cwencheð sunnen and ernið sunbote at ure helende seolfe. and alle goddede þe mon deð on odre wise and beoð ec idone for godes luue. Neoðeles he heom sulleð and underuehðe here ðer of his mede alswa ure drihten seið in þe godspelle. amen dico uobis; receperunt mercedem suam. to soðe ic eow sugge þet þa ðe doð god for to habben ðer of aȝen in þisse liue; nabbeð heo nenne þonc on eche weorlde. Ah al þet mon deð sunderlipe [folio 51b] for godes luuen; he scal auon ðer of his mede. and beon þenne ifunde alse hit bið nuðe ierned here. for ure drihten hit seið in þe halie godspelle. Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur uobis. Biðon ilke imet ðe ȝe meteð nuðe; eower weldede scal eft beon imeten eower mede. and bi hunderfalde mare; alswa we er seiden. Qui parce seminat & cetera. Æuric mon scal eft mowen bi þon þe he nu saweð. and þe þe [sic.] saweð nu on blescunge. he scal eft mowen of blescunge. Ðet is æuric mon þe ledeð feir lif and clene. and bi al his bihaȝe deleð his elmesse and þere mide ierned þet alle men hine blesceð. and for him biddeð. and ure lauerd god almihten for heore bene ȝeueð

him his blescunge. Ðet is ðeo echeliche riche þet he haueð iȝarwed to alle ðon monnen þe his iwille wurcheð her on [þisse] liue. Ad quam gloriam nos perducere dignetur dominus noster ihesus christus qui uiuit et regnat per omnia secula seculorum. amen.

XIV. IN DIE DOMINICA.

[R]euerenda est nobis hec dies sancta que dicitur dominica. & ideo dicitur dominica quoniam hec dies sola dies domini est. Muchel man ach to wurþen þis halie dei þat is sunnen dei icleoped. for hit is godes aȝen dei. Alle oðer daȝes of þe wike beoð to þreldome to þis dei. [folio 52a] þis dei is þet halie dei þet blescede dei þe blisfulle dei þe murie dei. þe dei seouensiþe brictere þene þe sunne. þe fo[r]meste dei þet eauer ȝiete was iseȝen buuen eorðe. In qua uisa est lux. Sunnen dei was iseȝan þet formeste liht buuen eorðe for ure drihten seide þis dei. Fiat lux & facta est lux. beo liht and hit wes liht. Ex hac enim die; relique dies sumpserunt exordium. Of þisse dei nomen alle oðer heore biginni[n]ge. Dies in qua conuenit plebs ad ecclesiam ad pre|dicandum & ad celebrandum. Sunnedei ah efri cristenne. Mon. nomeliche to chirche cume þe ahte for to techen þe folke godes hesne to done. þe lewede godes hesne for to heren. and hom to gode bidden. Dies in qua letantur agmina celi & terre. Sunne dei blisseð to-gederes houeneware and horðe ware. alse þe halie gast seið þurh dauiðes muð þe prophete. Hec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemur & letemur in ea. þis is þe dei þet god makede. beo we bliðe and glade on þis dei. In hac die multa & magna mirabilia fecit dominus pro salute nostra. Monie wundre and muchele dude ure drihten. for ure hele on þisse dei. In die dominica creati sunt angeli ab ore dei. sunnendei; weren engles makede of godes muðe. In die dominica resedit archa post diluuium. sunnendei fond noe lond efter þet ure drihten

hefde þet folc adreint. In die dominica pluit dominus manna filiis israel. sunnedei god sende manna from houene þam [MS. Þet.] is|raelisce folc. In die dominica [folio 52b] percussum est mare rubrum in uirtute dei per manum moysi & transierunt filii israel siccis pedibus per mare rubrum. Sunnedei smat [MS. siriat.] Moyses þe rede séé. and þe see to-eode and þet iraelisce folc wende ouer. Et stetit illis murus in dextera atque in sinistra. and þer stod a richt halue and a luft; alse an castel wal. & iterum percussit Moyses mare & reuersum est in locum suum & mersus est pharao cum curribus & equitibus eius. and eft sone Moyses smat [MS. siriat.] þe see. and heo wende to gederes. and adreinte pharao. and al his ferede mid him. swa þet nes þere nefre an bileued un-dreint. In die dominica percussit moyses petram in heremo & fluxerunt quatuor flumina que diuisa sunt in duodecim partes ut traxerint sitim populo. Sunnedei smat [MS. siriat.] Moyses þene stan ine þe wastine; þa þet folc wes welnech for-faren drinkeles alse ure drihten him het. and þe stan to-chan; and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer of. and þa fouwer weren ideled a twelue. for þa twelf kun|reden sculden þer mide heore þurst kelen. In die dominica natus est Christus ex Maria uirgine pro salute nostra. Sunnen|dei wes ure drihten iboren of þe halie Maiden Marie for ure hele. In die dominica baptizatus est dominus noster in iordane. Sunnendei wes ure drihten ifulchted ine flum iordan. & spiritus sanctus uenit super eum in specie columbe. and þe halie gast com uppen ure drihten in ane culfre liche. and iherde his fadre stefne of heouene and seide. Hic est filius [folio 53a] meus dilectus. in quo michi bene complacitum. þis is min loue sune þet me wel likeð. In die dominica resurexit Christus a mortuis. Sunnedei aras ure drihten from deðe to liue. and makede arisen mid him alle þa þet him efden er ihersumed. In die dominica post dies octo uenit ad dicipulos per clausas ianuas. & stetit in medio eorum dicens. pax uobis. and on þe twelftuȝeþe dei efter þet he wes arisen. he com among his disciples þer þe ȝeten weren ilokene. þet wes a sunnedei. and seide to heom setnesse beo mid eou. Sunnedei makede ure drihten pes bitweone heouene and eorðe. bi-tweone engles and monne. bi-tweone gode and monne.

bi-tweone licome and saule. bi-tweone þe alde laȝe and þe neowe. bi-tweone heðene and cristene. Ipse enim est qui facit utraque unum. he is þet makeð twa to an. In die dominica misit dominus spiritum super apostolos. Sunnedei sende ure drihten þene halie gast his apostlen in fures liche. In die do|minica uenturus est in maiestate sua cum sanctis angelis & arcangelis in iudicium uiuorum & mortuorum. Sunnedei wile ure drihten cumen ine his muchele strenðe mid alle heouenware for to deme baþe þe gode and þe uuele. and alle Men sculen beon igedered bi-foren him. and ech eorþe scal hwakien on his ecsene [sic.] . alse deoð þe see in storme. tunc montes liquescent sicut cera a facie ignis. þenne uch dune scal berne. and al folc alse þe p[ro]phete seið. Ignis ante ipsum precedet & inflammabit in circuitu in|imicos eius. þet fur scal gan biforen and [folio 53b] forbernen abuten him fon. et iterum. Dominus noster cum uirtute ueniet. & cetera. Vre drihten wile cumen dredliche in fures liche and wile for-berne alle his fon. and heom þet beoð iwunede uuel to done. Tunc cantabunt angeli magna tuba & mortui resurgent. þenne sculen engles mid beme blauwen on fower halue þe world. and alle dede arisen and steorren sculen þeostren. and þe sunne hire liht for|leose. and steorren sculen from heouene falle. Et tunc iudi|cabit iudicia nouissima. & reddet unicuique iuxta opera sua. þenne wille god deme his leste dom. and wile ȝelden eche men his mede efter his werke. þe sunfulle .Men. þet spushad brekeð. þa feste .Men [? Mon.] . þa þet mei lutel to wreche. þe þoues. þe þet spekeð faire bi-foren and false bi-hinden. þe niðfulle. þe prude. þe fordrunkene. þe chidinde. þe forsworene [MS. for|sporene.] . þe heðene. þe erites. eicientur cum fletu & lamentatione in penam sempiternam sine ablutione & misericordia. sculen beon iwarpen ine eche pine. wiþ-uten alesinge and wið-uten milce. Ach þe richtwise men. þe treowe men. þe munekes. þe meidene. þe weddede wiues. þe gode .Men. þe softe .Men. and þe .Men. ful of milce. and þe large. Men. and þe milde .Men. þe herbe[r]gers. þe þolemode. þe elmes|fulle. þa þe heom wið-teoð of flesliche lustes. uocabuntur in dextra dei patris omnipotentis. sculen beon icleoped on þe fader riht halue. þer scal beon worldwunne; wið-uten [folio 54a] pouerte.

fulle; wið-uten hungre. hele; wið-uten unhele. reste; wið|uten swinge [? swincunge.] . blisse; wið-uten sarinesse. Ivȝeðe; wið-uten elde. Lokinge; wið-uten winkunge. song; wið-uten lisse. smellinge; mid swetnesse. and dunge [? ðenunge.] ; wið-uten prikunge. defectio omnis mali. Habundancia omnis boni. wone of alle uuele; wole; and alle gode [? and wole of alle gode.] . Amen.

XV. [SERMO IN MARCUM VIII. 34.]

[Q]vi uult uenire post me. abneget semet ipsum & tollat crucem suam & sequatur me. wa is þan [MS. þet.] .Mon. þet wa is and me him mare bihat. and mei and wile hit him ileste. Ach him is wel þet is ilaðed from lutel weole to muchele. and him is ec muchele bet; þet is ilaðed from muchele wowe; to muchele wele. Alle we beoð in monifald wawe ine þisse wreche liue. hwat for ure eldere werkes. hwat for ure aȝene gultes. ach god almihtin us freureð mid his milde word and techeð us bi hwiche weie we maȝen to him cume and seið. Qui uult uenire post me et cetera. Hwa se wile cume efter me; for-sake him seolf. and bere his rode. and folege me. Þos word he seide et sumtime to|ȝeines þet he walde þis lif forleten. he munegede alle þa þet þo weren oðer seoþðen habbeð ikumen. oðer to kumene beoð to endeles blisse. ach heom þingð uuel to forleten þet heo muchel luueð. Alii quidem amant peccata sua. alii parentes. alii pos|sessiones. alii uoluptatates [sic.] & uicia. Summe men luuieð heore sunnen. summe heore kun. summe world wunne. summe; gal|iche [folio 54b] lectres and luðere lastes þa þet luuieð heore sunne; he muneȝeð þus and seið. penitenciam agite appropinquabit enim regnum celorum. Cumeð to sunbote and forleteð eower sunne. for domes dei nehlechet þa þet luueð heore kun; he muneȝeð and seið. Omnis qui reliquerit patrem aut matrem. fratrem aut sororem. aut ceteros amicos propter nomen meum; centuplum. & uitam eternam possidebit. Alle þa þet forleteð fader oðer moder.

suster oðer broþer. oðer oðre freond. for mine nome; heo sculen underfon hundfalde mede. and lif buten ende. þet luueð world wunne; he muneȝeð and seið. Qui non renunciauerit omnibus que possidet non potest meus esse dicipulus. Ne mei na .Mon. me folȝen; bute he forlete al þet he iwald ach. Duobus modis renunciatur possesis desinendo habere & desinendo amare. On twa wise .Mon. mei forlete world winne. an is þet he hit do for him; þet he hit nabbe. an oðer is þet he telle swa lutel tale þer of; þet he hit nawicht ne luuie. hit nis nawicht sunne muchel; if .Mon. echte habbe. ach hit is muche sunne; if .Mon. echte luuieð. for he ne mei nawiht luuie god; and ec his ehte. þa þet luueð galiche lectres; he muneȝeð þus and seið. Qui uult uenire et cetera. hwa se wule cume efter me; forsake him solf. and bere his rode. and foleȝe me. Ach hit is uuel to understonden on hwulche wise .Mon. mei him solf forsake [folio 55a] nimeð ȝeme þer to; and ic hit weo [? eow.] wile sugge b[i] godes leue. Duo sunt in homine. aliud per naturam conditum. aliud per culpam illatum. Twa þing beoð ine þe .Mon. þet an is þet brochte icunde. and þet faire icunde þet is igedered bi-twene saule and licame. þet oðer is þe fule on-kume þa þe douel haueð þeron ibroht. þerfore ne mei na .Mon. to gode cume; bute he forlete þe fule on-cume þe ðe douel haued on him ibroht of sunne. and het halde þet faire ikunde. þet god haueð on him idon of saule and of likame. and wunie ine þet clenesse; þet he haueð et [MS. ec.] his fulluhte ifet. tres cruces sunt de quibus hic agitur. due corporis una mentis. þreo roden beoð þa ich umbe speche. twa licamliche; and an gastliche. Crux corporis est; quando corpus distensum menbratim punitur. þe likameliche rode is; hwenne þe likame þoleð pine ine þis liue ine rode and bið þer on to-spred; alse ure helende wes ine þe halie rode for ure gultes. þet nefde him solf nane. þa þe he hefde uppen his hefde þornene helm. and weren his side mid speres orde iopened. and his fet mid irnene neiles þurhstungen. ach .Mon. mei to gode cume þach his likame swiche pine ne þole. Ac he munegeð us an oðer rode to berene; þet is inemned. Carnis maceratio. fleises lensing. Mon. lenseð his fleis; hwenne he him ȝefeð lutel to etene. and lesse to drinke. [folio 55b] and ofte for

his sunne swingeð him mið [MS. nuð.] smele twige. Et hec est scala pecca|torum. and þis is alle sunfulle monne leddre þet heo sculen in to heouene stiȝen. Crux mentis est cordis contritio & proxumi com|passio. þe gastliche rode is inemned; heorte sar for þe monnes aȝene sunne. and rowðe for his emcristenes wawe. horte sar haueð þe .Mon. [hwenne] him biþengþ þet he isuneged haueð. and þet sare bi-murneð and to scrifte kimet. and bi his prostes wissunge his sunne beteð. Reuþe for his emcristenes wawe haueð þe .Mon. þet isich his emcristene in sunne bi-falle. oðer mid sicnesse bi-gan. and ne mei buten helpe þer cume. If he ne mei mid worldliche echte his neode ibete; þet him sare roweþ. and his emcristenes wawe sare bi-murneð. eft sone hwenne .Mon. him bi-þencheð þet he haueð sunful ibeon. and to fele sunne idon. þenne wule his heorte ake alse his heued wolde; if he hefde þer uppon þornene helm. Eft sone hwenne þe .Mon. him biþenchþ þet he haueð on galiche dede to muche god iwreþed. and naueð inume ȝeme hweðer heo bi-wedded were þe nere; þet he hefde mid to donne; bute his fule lust were ikeled. þenne þe .Mon. him bi|þengþ þet he haueð to selde igan to chirche. and ilome mid his honde idon þet he don ne sculde; þenne wule his heorte ake alse his fet and his honde; if heo þurh irnene neile were þurh-stunge. and if we þus us solue willeliche pineð; þenne maȝe we beon godes lornigkinchtes [? leorning|knichtes.] . þenne [folio 56a] we maȝe him folege. and mid him bileue. Biddeð ure drihten þet ȝe moten efter him kume and þene fule onkume for-lete þa þe douel haueð in ow ibroht of sunne and edhalde þet brihte ikunde; þet god haueð in ow ibroht of saule and of likame. and þe klennesse of ower fulluhte þet ȝe habbeð et þe fonstan underfonge. and þet ȝe moten þe rode bere. þe god ow to munegeð. and him folege and mid him bileue. Quod nobis prestare dignetur qui uiuit & cetera. Amen.

XVI. [ESTOTE FORTES IN BELLO.]

[E]stote fortes in bello & pugnate cum antiquo serpente. & accipietis regnum eternum dicit dominus. Þis word þe ich nu þe for-tech [? forð-teah.] ; seide ure drihten et sume time þa he wunede ine þe londe of ierusalem. and munegede alle þet weren to stronge fechte. and for þon þe þet fecht wes strong to ouer-cumen. and uuel to underfone; he bi-het hom muche mede wið þan þet heo walde þis fecht underfon and seið. Estote fortes & cetera. beoð stronge on fihte. and fihteð wið þe alde neddre. and if ȝe beoð strengre þe heo; ȝe sculen habben to me[de] eche blisse Quia diuersa genera hominum sequebantur eum. & ipse dixit sermones suos. tum ad dicipulos. tum ad hos. tum ad illos. aperiendum est et quibus. et de qua fortitudine et de quo bello. et de qua serpente hoc dixerit. Monie kunnes men foleȝeden ure drihten ine þisse liue; summe to fechen heore bileue et him. summe to fechen heore deis fode. summe to kunnen if heo mihten him mid sunne undernime [folio 56b] þer fore hit is god þet Mon ow segge hwiche he munegeþ to þis fehte. Summe men luueden heore sunne. and nalden heom forleten. he ne munegeð noht heom to þis fiht. ne for þon þa þe hefden heore sunne forleten. and nawiht ibet. Ah þa he munegeð to þis feht; þet hefden heore sunne ibet. oþer on bote bifongen. and nomeliche þe twelf apostles. and among heom þe lauerd. N. hwas dei hit is to dei. of þe streinþe þet god us to munegeð spech liber sapientie. þet is þe boc of wisdom and seið. fortitudo simplicis est uia domini. Godes wei is streinðe þe anfalde monne. Anfald oðer twafald is ech mon þet kimed [? kunneð.] þe lauerd saint Iame. and seið. Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus uiis suis. Þe twafalde .Mon. is unstaþelfest; on alle his weies. Ah Iob wes anfald rihtwis .Mon. and swa godmon; þet ure drihten him solf hine herede. and seide þet under houene ne nan his ilike. Via domini qua uenit ad nos & nos ad eum

misericordia & ueritas. þe wei þet god com in to monne. and mon kumeð in to him; is ihaten mildheortnesse, and soðfest|nesse. Mildheortnesse God kudde monne; þa þe he sende his patriarken and propheten; for to bodien his tokume. Soðfest|nesse he kudde mon; þa þe he him solf com alse he hefde bihaten. and us alesde ut of eche wawe. Iþonked wurðe him. Mildheort|nesse me kuð him soluen; henne [? hwenne.] he him bi-þengð þet he isuneg|ed haueð. and þet sare bimurneð. and milce bit. Soðfestnesse [folio 57a] me kuð him solue; hwenne he his sunnen undeð to his proste. alswa alse he heom haueð idon and to-ȝeines hwiche fan we aȝen to fechte þe apostel seið. Non est nobis colluctatio aduersus carnem et sanguinem. sed aduersus rectores tenebrarum. We ne aȝen naut to fihten to-ȝeines fleis and blod; ah to-ȝeines þa awariede gastes þet weldeð þosternesse. sed ab hoste inuisibili dificile cauetur. Ah uuel hit is to werien to-ȝeines þene fa; þe .Mon. ne mei naut ison. and þe duntes boð uuel to kepen; þet mon nat nefre on hwilche halue ho wilen falle. Ach for-hwi nemneð ure drihten þis fa to neddre. Diabolus nominatur hic serpens; propter tria. Inuidia; tabescit. sine strepitu; serpit. quod pungit; ueneno afficit. [ned]dre deþ þreo þing licamliche; þet þe douel deð gastliche. Nedre haueð niþ and onde. Nedre smuȝeð derneliche. nedre attreð al þet heo priked. Swa haueð þe douel nih [? nið.] and onde to monne. and þolede [? wolde.] þet Mon ded were; þeh him solf þe betre nere. alse þe boc seið. Per inuidiam in|trauit mors in orbem terrarum. þurh nið and onde com deð in to þe worlde. Eft sone smuȝeð derneliche; swa deð þe douel ine þe monnes eȝen; if ho boð opene to bihalden idel and unnet. Ine þe; eren; if ho boð opene to lusten hoker. and spel. and leow. and oðer þing þet boð to-ȝeines godes heste. Ine þe nose; hwenne þe nose bið open to smelle unlofne breð. Ine þe muðe. hwenne þe [folio 57b] muð is open for to liȝen. oðer suneȝeð on muchele ete and on ouer drinke. Et þe schape þe douel smuȝeð in derneliche; hwenne hit bið ȝaru to galiche deden. Hee sunt quinque porte mortis per quas ingreditur auctor mortis ut afferat mortuos. Þis beoð þe fif ȝeten þurh hwam kimð in deðes wurhte. and þer ine deð alse þe lof-songere seið. Per mille meandros

agitat quieta corda. Mid þusend falde wrenche he to-drefeð þe þonk þet erre weren to-gedere. and wundeþ þe saule. Ah ure drihten þet munegeð us to fechten te-ȝeines þet [? þe.] alde neddre; ȝeue us mihte and streinðe to habben þet [? þe.] ilke wepne þa þe apostel spekð of and seið. Induite uos armaturam dei sumentes loricam fidei. Galeam spei. scutum caritatis. gladium spiritus; quod est uerbum dei. Scrudeð ow mid godes wepne. and nimeð gode ileue to burne. To hope to helme; soðe luue to scelde. godes word to sworde. His armis munitus uicit dauid Goliam. Mid þis wepne wes dauid iscrud þa he goliam þe fond ouer-com. swa wile god þet we moten her mide þe alde neddre ouercume. and habbe to mede endelese blisse. Quod nobis prestare dignetur qui uiuit et regnat deus, et cetera. Amen.

XVII. [SERMO IN PS. CXXVI. 6.]

[E]untes ibant et flebant. mittentes semina sua. Venientes autem uenient cum exultatione portantes manipulos suos. Þe halie prophete dauid specð on ane stude in þe sauter. and deþ us to understonden on hwiche wise þe halie .Men. hersumden ure drihten [folio 58a] ine þisse liue. and hwiche mede heo sculen habben for hore feire seruise and þus seið. euntes et cetera. heo oden wepende. and sowen and sculen eft cumen mid blisse and mawen. he specð of þet wes to cumene alse hit icumene were. for he wiste þet hit cume sculde. Sed quo euntes; in mortem. Ach hwider wenden heo; from worliche wunne ine likamliche wawe. fram hele; in unhele. from reste in to swinke. and þer hore likame pineden for to þet heo comen to his [sic.] liues ende. Quas lacrimas fundentes. tum compunctionis. tum compassionis. tum peregrinationis. tum contemplationis. hwiche teres scheden ho; oðer hwile heo scheden hate teres for hore aȝen sunnen; hwenne ho hom biðohten þet heo isuneged hefden. and þet sare bimurneden. and milce beden. Tales

lacrimas fudit Maria Magdalene quando lauit pedes domini. swiche teres scedde. M. Magdalene; þa heo [Þe has been dotted out before heo.] wosch ure drihtenes fet. and heo werð hire solf waschen of hire fule sunnen. Interdum uidentes aliquos affligi multotiens fuderunt lacrimas compas|sionis. Oðer hwile þe halie .Men. scedden hare teres; for heore emcristene wawe. hwenne ho iseȝen hore emcristene wandrede þolie. oðer in seknesse bifalle and þet hom sare rowð. and bi heore mihte hore node bette. Tales lacrimas fudit dominus quando lazarum suscitauit. swiche teres schedde ure drihten; þa he iseh Martham and Mariam Magdalene þe sustren wepe for hore broðer deð and ure drihten þurþ rouðe þet he efde of hom; schedde of his halie eȝene hate teres and hore [folio 58b] broðer arerde and weren stille of hore wope. and iturnd hore horte and heore wope to muchele blisse. Plerique et tedio uite presentis affecti fuderunt lacrimas peregrinationis. oðerhwile þe halie .Men. sched|den hate teres for laþe of þe worlde; for hom ofþuchte þet þis orliche [? eorðliche.] lif hom to longe leste. Tales lacrimas fudit Iob; quando dicebat. Tedet animam meam uite mee. swiche teres schedde iob; þa þe he þos word seide. Wa is mine saule; þet mi lif þus longe ilest. and dauid. þe prophete wop; for laðe of þe [? þere.] world; þa he seide. heu michi et cetera. Wume nu þet min utbiwiste is her swa longe ituþed. and þet ic scal wunien in unkuþe londe. Hoc autem dicebat. quia non habemus hic manentem ciuitatem; sed in celis debet esse conuersatio nostra. þet he seide for we wunieð here alse fleme. Ah ure erde is in houene; if we þer efter erneð. Iustus autem cum languet pro desiderio celestis patrie fundit lacrimas contemplationis. Þe rihtwise .Mon. þet mid þe eȝene of his horte bihalt in to houene and sicð þe muchele blisse þet he is to ileðed; him wile sone longe þiderward and hwenne he ne mei þider cume alse raðe se he walde; he send þider his hate teres. vtrasque lacrimas. scilicet peregrinati|onis & contemplationis fudit fortasse apostolus quando dicebat. cupio dissolui & esse cum Christo. Eiðer of þisse teres schedde þe apostel leste ich wene. þa þe he seide ich walde þet ich ded were; for me longeð to criste. [folio 59a] hee quatuor lacrime sunt .iiii. ^or aque quibus lauari iubemur per isayam dicentem. Lauamini

mundi estote. þos fure kunnes teres boð þe fuwer wateres; þa þe beoð ihaten us on to weschen þurh ysaiam þe prophete þus que|þende. beoð iweschen; and w[u]nieð clene. Lacrima compunc|tionis est amara sicut aqua maris. Þe tere þet mon wepð for his aȝen sunne; is alse salt water. and þer fore hit is inemned see water. Lacrima compunctionis comparatur aque niuis; que defluit contra calorem solis. Þe ter þet .Mon. schet for his em|cristenes sunne; is inemned snaw water for hit melt of þe neche [? nesche.] horte swa deð þe snaw to-ȝeines þe sunne. Lacrima peregrina|tionis; comparatur aque fontis. quia sicut hec ebullit de terra; ita illa de cordis angustia. Þe ter þet .Mon. wepð for laðe of þisse liue; is inemned welle water. for he welleð of þe horte swa doð water of welle. Lacrima contemplationis comparatur aque roris. quia sicut aqua illa nutu dei trahitur ab imo in altum; ita illa emanat per alti desiderium. Þe ter þet .Mon. wepð for longinge to heouene; is inemned deu water for alswa se þe sunne drach up þene deu. and makeð þer of kume reines; swa makeð þe halie gast þe .Mon. bi-halden up to houene. and hwenne he ne mai þider cume alse raþe se he walde; he send þider his hate teres. and hwiche mede sculen ho fo of þisse sonde; Salutem eternam. lucem perpetuam. vitam sempiternam. eche hele. [folio 59b] les|tende liht. and endeles lif. swa wile god þet we moten þis fouwer kunnes teres sawen biuuen [? buuen.] orðe þet we moten to mede habben eche hele. and lesten[de] liht. and endeles lif. Quod nobis prestare dignetur, et cetera. Amen.

XVIII. POEMA MORALE.

Ich em nu alder þene ich wes awintre and a lare [The italics represent the rubrical letters of the MS.] . Ich welde mare þene ich dede mi wit ahte [? ah.] bon mare. Wel longe ich habbe child ibon a worde and a [? ec a.] dede Þah ich bo a wintre ald to ȝung ich em on rede. Line 4

Line 4 Vnnet lif ich habbe iled. and ȝet me þingþ ilede. Þenne ich me bi-þenche wel ful sare ich me adrede. mest al þet ich habbe idon bi-fealt to child-hade. Wel late ich habbe me bi-þocht; bute God me nu rede. Line 8 Fole idel word ich habbe iqueðen soððen ich speke kuðe. fole ȝunge dede idon; þe me of-þinchet nuðe. Mest al þet me likede er nu; hit me mislikeð þa muchel fulieð his wil; hine solf he biswikeð. Line 12 Ich mihte habbe bet idon. hefde ich þe iselþe. Nu ich walde ah ich ne mei; for elde and for un-helþe. Elde me is bistolen on. er ich hit wiste. ne michte ich seon bi-fore me. for smike ne for miste. Line 16 Erȝe we beoð to done god. and to ufele al to þriste. Mare eie stondeð men of monne þanne hom do of criste. Þe wel ne doð þe hwile þe ho muȝen. wel oft hit schal rowen; þenne ȝe mawen sculen and repen þet ho er sowen. Line 20 Do he to gode þet he muȝe þe hwile þet he bo aliue. ne lipnie na mon to [folio 60a] muchel to childe ne to wiue. þe him solue forȝet for wiue ne for childe; he scal cumen in uuel stude bute him God bo milde. Line 24 Sendeð sum god bi-foren eow. þe hw[i]le þet ȝe muȝen to houene. for betere is an elmesse biforen; þenne boð efter souene. Al to lome ich habbe igult a werke and o worde. Al to muchel ich habbe ispent. to litel ihud in horde. Line 28 Ne beo þe loure þene þe solf; ne þin mei. ne þin maȝe. Soht [sic.] is þet is oðers monnes frond betre þen his aȝen. Ne lipnie wif to hire were. ne were to his wiue Bo for him solue ech .Mon. þe hwile þet he bo aliue. Line 32 Wis is þe to him solue þench þe hwile þe mot libben. For sone wule hine forȝeten þe fremede and þe sibbe. þe wel ne deð þe hwile he mai; ne scal[he] wenne he walde. Monies monnes sare iswinc habbeð oft unholde. Line 36 Ne scal na mon don afirst. ne slawen wel to done. for moni mon bihateð wel þe hit forȝeteð sone. Þe .Mon. þe wule siker bon to habben Godes blisse.

do wel him solf hwile þet he mai; þenne haueð he his mid iwisse. Line 40 þes riche .Men. weneð bon siker þurh walle and þurh diche. þe deð his echte on sikere stude he hit sent to heueneriche. For þer ne þerf he bon of-dred of fure ne of þoue þer ne [folio 60b] þerf he him binimen þe laðe ne þe loue. Line 44 þer ne þerf he habben kare of ȝefe ne of ȝelde. þider he sent. and solf bereð to lutel and to selde. þider we sculen draȝen and don wel ofte and ilome. for þer ne scal me us naut binimen mid wrangwise dome. Line 48 þider ȝe sculen ȝorne draȝen. walde ȝe god ileue. for ne mei þer [MS. þet.] hit ou binimen king ne reue. Al þet beste þet we hefden þider we hit solde senden for þer we hit michte finden eft. and habben buten ende. Line 52 Þo þe er doð eni God for habben godes are. al he hit scal finden eft þer and hundred fald mare. Þe þet echte wile habben wel hwile þe he muȝe es welden. Giue hies for godes luue; þenne deþ hes wel ihalden. Line 56 Vre swinc and ure tilþe is ofte iwoned to swinden. Ach þet þe we doð for godes luue; eft we sculen al finden. Ne scal nan ufel bon unbocht. ne nan god unforȝolden. Vfel we doð al to muchel. and god lesse þenne we sculden. Line 60 Þo þe mest doð nu to gode. and þe lest to laðe. Eiðer to lutel and to muchel scal þunchen eft hom baþe. Þer me scal ure werkes weien bi-foran þe heuen king. and ȝeuen us ure swinkes lan efter ure erninge. Line 64 Ech mon mid þet he hauet mei buggen houene riche. þe mare haueþ and þe þe lesse; baþe hi [folio 61a] muȝen iliche. Alse mid his penie alse oðer mið his punde. þet is þe wunderlukeste chep; þet eni mon efre funde. Line 68 And þe ðe mare ne mai don; do hit mid his gode þonke. Alse wel se þe þe haueð golde fele manke. And oft god kon mare þonc þen þe him ȝeueð lesse. And his werkes and his weȝes his milce. and rihtwisnesse. Line 72 lutel lac is gode lof; þet kumeð of gode wille.

And ec-lete [? et-lete.] muchel ȝeue of þan þe herte is ille. Houene and horþe he ouer sich. his eȝen boð swa brichte Sunne and mone and houen fur boð þestre aȝein his lihte. Line 76 Nis him noht forholen nihud. swa muchele boð his mihte. nis hit ne swa derne [idon] ne [a] swa þostre nihte. he wat wet þenkeð and hwet doð alle quike wihte. Nis na lauerd swich se is crist. ne king swuch ure drihten. Line 80 houene and orðe and al þet is biloken is in his honde. he deð al þet his wil is; a wettre and alonde. He makede fisses in þe se and fuȝeles in þe lifte. he wit and waldeð alle þing and scop alle scefte. Line 84 he is hord buten horde and ende buten ende. he ane is eure an ilche stude wende þer þu wende. he is buuen us and binoþen. biforen and bihinden. þe þe deð godes wille uwer he mei him finden. Line 88 Helche rune he iherð and wat [he] alle deden. he þurþ-sicheþ uches monnes þonc. wi hwat scal us to rede. We þet brokeð godes hese and gulteð swa ilome. hwet scule we seggen oðer don et þe muchele dome Line 92 Þa þe luueden unriht and ufel lif [folio 61b] leden. Wet sculen ho seggen oðer don; þen þe engles bon of-dred. hwet sculen we beren biforen us mid hom scule we iquemen. þo þe neure god ne dude þe houenliche deme[n]. Line 96 þer sculen bon doule swa fole þet wulleð us forwreien. And nabbeð hi naþing forȝeten of al þet ho [ere] iseȝen. Al þet we misduden her; ho hit wulleð kuðe þere. Al ho habbeð in hore write þet we misduden here. Line 100 [Buten we habben it ibet þe wile we her were] Þach we nusten ne niseȝen. ho weren ure ifere. Hwet sculen ordlinghes [? orlinges.] don þa swicen and ta for|sworene hwi boð fole iclepede. and swa lut icorene Line 104 wi hwi weren ho biȝeten to hwon weren ho iborene. þet sculen bon to deþe idemet. and eure ma forlorene.

Ech .Mon. scal him solue þer biclepie and bidemen. his aȝen werch and his þonc te witnesse he scal demen [? temen.] . Line 108 ne mei him na Mon alsa wel demen ne alswa rihte for nan ne knauð him ase ȝere; buten ane drihte. Ech .Mon. wat him solue best; his werkes. and his wille. Þe ðe lest wat biseið ofte mest; þe hit al wat is stille. Line 112 nis nan witnesse alse muchel se monnes aȝen horte. Wa se seið þet he bo hal. him solf wat best his smirte. Ech .Mon. scal hin [MS. hm.] solf demen to deðe oðer to liue. þa witnesse of his aȝen werch; hine þer to scal driue. Line 116 Al þet ech .Mon. haueð idon soððen he com to monne sculde he [folio 62a] hit sechen o boke iwriten he scal iþenchen þenne. Ah drihten ne demeð nenne .Mon. efter his biginnigge. ah al his lif scal bon suilch boð his endinge. Line 120 ȝef þet his [ende is] uuel al hit is uuel and [al] God ȝefe god his ende. God ȝeue þet ure ende bo god. and wite þet he us lende. þe .Mon. þet uuel [? nule.] don na god. ne neure god lif leden. er deð and dom come to his dure he mei him sare adreden. Line 124 þet he ne muȝe þenne biden are. for þet itit ilome. for-þi he is wis þe biet and bit and bet bi-fore dome. Wenne deð is attere dure wel late he biddeþ are. Wel late he latheð uuel werc; þe ne mei hit don ne mare. Line 128 þet achten we to leuen wel. for ure drihten solf hit seide. A hwilke time se eure .Mon. of þinchþ his mis-dede. Oþer raþer oðer later; milce he scal imeten. Ac we [? þe.] þet þer naf[eð] nocht ibet; wel muchel he haueð to beten. Line 132 Moni mon seit hwa rechð of pine þe scal habben ende. Ne bidde ich na bet bo alesed a domes dei of bende. Lutel he wat wet is pine. and lutel he hit scaweð [? icnaweð.] hwice hete is þer þa saule wuneð hu biter wind þer blaweð. Line 136 hefde he bon þer enne dei oðer twa bare tide;

nolde he for al middenerd þe þerdde þer abiden. þet habbeð iseid þ[et] comen þonen þa hit wisten mid iwissen. wa wurð sorȝe seueȝer. for souenihte blisse. Line 140 In [? And.] hure blisse þe [folio 62b] þe ende haueð. for endelese pine. betere is wori water drunch; þen atter meind mid wine. Swines brede is swiðe swete. swa is of wilde dore. alto dore he is abuh; þe ȝefð þer fore his swore. Line 144 Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger. and of festen; swa mei of pine þe ne cnauð [hu] þe scal a ilesten. Hefð he ifonded summe stunde; he wolde al seggen oðer. Et-lete him were wif. child. suster. feder and broðer. Line 148 Al he walde and oðerluker don and oðerluker þenchen Wenne he bi-þohte on helle fur þe nawiht ne mei quenchen. Eure he walde her inne wawe and ine wene wunien; Wið þet þe mihte helle pine bi-flien and bi-sunien Line 152 Et lete him were al world wele and orðliche blisse. for to þet muchele blisse cumen is murþe mid iwisse. Iwule nu cumen eft to þe dome þet ich er ow of sede A þa dei and at ta dome us helpe crist and rede. Line 156 þer we muȝen bon eþe offerd and herde us adreden. þer he scal al son him biforen his word and ec his deden. Al scal þer bon þenne cud þer men luȝen her ent stelen. Al scal þer bon þanne unwron; þet men wruȝen her and helen. Line 160 We sculen alre monne lif iknauwen [þer] alse ure ahen. þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche and þe laȝe. Ne scal na mon smakie [for skamie.] þer ne þerf he him adreden. Gif him her of-þincþ [folio 63a] his gult and bet his misdede. Line 164 For him ne scameþ ne ne gromeð þe sculen bon iborȝen. Ach þoþre habbeþ scome and grome and oft fele sorȝe. Þe dom scal sone bon idon ne lest he nawiht longe. ne scal him na mon mene þer of strengþe ne of wronge. Line 168 Þe sculen habbe herdne dom þa her weren herde. Þa þe uuele holden wreche men and uuele laȝe redde.

Ec efter þet he efð idon s[c]al þer þenne [beon] idemet. [Bliþe mai he þanne buen þe god haued iquemed] Line 172 Alle þa þi sprunge boþ of adam and of eue. Alle hi sculen cumen þider for soðe we hit ileueð. þa þe habbeð wel idon efter hore mihte. to houene riche hi sculen faren forð mid ure drihte. Line 176 Þa þe habbeð doules werc idon. and þer inne bo ifunde. hi sculen faren forð mid him in to helle grunde. Þer hi sculen wunien a buten are and ende. Ne brekeþ ne ure drihte helle gate for lesen hi of bende. Line 180 Nis na sullic þech hom bo wa and hom bo uneade. Ne scal neure eft crist þolie deþ for lesen hom of deaþe. Enes drihten helle brec his frond he ut brochte. him solf he þolede deð for him [? heom.] . wel dore he hom bohte. Line 184 Nalde hit mei do for mei. ne suster for broðer. nalde hit sune do for fader. ne na mon for oðer. Vre alre lauerd for his þrelles ipined wes a rode. vre bendes he unbon[d] and bohte us mid his blode. Line 188 We ȝeueð [folio 63b] uneðe for his luue a stuche of ure brede. Ne þenke we noht þet he scal deme þa quike and þa dede. Muchele luue he us cudde. walde we hit understonde þet ure eldre misduden; we habbeð uuele on honde. Line 192 Deþ com in þis middenerde þurh þes doules honde. And sake and sorȝe and swinc a watere and a londe. vre forme fader gult. we abuȝeð alle. [Al his ofsprunge after hym in herme is bifalle] Line 196 þurst and hunger. chele and hete. helde and unhelðe. þurh him deð com in þis middenerd and oðer uniselðe. Nere namon elles ded ne sec ne nan unsele. ac mihten libben eure ma a blisse and a hele. Line 200 lutel hit þuncheð moni mon. ac muchel wes þa sunne. for hwam alle þolieð deð þe comen of hore cunne. Hore sunne and ec ure aȝen sare us mei of-þinche. þurh sunne we libbeð alle in sorȝe and in swinke. Line 204

Line 204 Suððen God nom swa muchele wrake for are misdede; We þe swa muchel and swa ofte mis-doð. we muȝen eðe us adrede. Adam and his of-sprung for are þare [? bare.] sunne. Wes fele undret wintre an helle pine and an unwunne. Line 208 Þa þe ledden hore lif mid unriht and mid wrange. buten hit godes milce do ho sculen bon þer wel longe. Godes wisdom is wel muchel and alswa is his mihte And nis his milce naut lesse. ac bi þan ilke iwichte. Line 212 Mare he ane mei forȝeuen. þen [folio 64a] al folc gulte cunne. Sulf douel mihte habben milce. ȝif he hit bigunne. Þa þe godes milce secheð; he iwis mei ha ifinden. Ac helle king is are-les with þa þe he mei binden. Line 216 þe þe deþ is wille mest; he haueð wurst mede. His baþ scal bon wallinde. his bað scal [MS. scab.] bon berninde glede. Wurst he deð his gode frond; þenne his fulle fond[e]; God scilde alle godes frond. a wih swilche freonde. Line 220 Neure in helle hi com. ne þer ne come reche. Þach ich elches worldes wele. þer me mahte feche þet his wulle seggen on þat wise men us seiden. And aboken hit writen þer [me] mei hit reden. Line 224 Ich hit wille seggen þan þe hit hom solf nusten. Warni hom wið hore unfrome. ȝif ho me wulleð lusten. Vnderstondeð nu to me edi men and arme. Ich wulle tellen of helle pin; and wernin ow wið herme. Line 228 In helle his hunger and þurst; twa uuele iuere. þas [pine] þolieð þa weren maket [? mete.] niþinges here. Þer is waning and wow. efter eche streche. ho fareð from hete to hete. and hech to frure þe wreche. Line 232 þenne hi bið in þere hete; þe chele him þunchet blisse. þenne hi cumeð eft to þe chele; of hete hi habbeð misse. hi hem deð wa inoch nabbeð hi nane blisse. Nute hi hweþer hom deþ wurs [MS. þurs.] mid neure nane wisse. Line 236 hi walkeð eure and secheð reste [folio 64b] ac ho ne muȝen imeten.

for-þi þe ho nolden þe hwile þet ho mihten here sunne beten. ho secheð reste þer nis nan. for-þi ne muȝen hi es finden. Ac walkeð weri up and dun; se water deþ mid winde. Line 240 þo boð þa þe weren her a þanke unstedefeste. And þa þe gode biheten heste and nolden hit ileste. Þa þe god werc bigunnen and ful enden hit nolden. Nu witen [? weren.] her. and nuðe þer. and nusten hwat hi wolden. Line 244 þer is bernunde pich hore saule to baþien inne. þa þe ledden here lif in werre and in winne. Þer is fur þet is undret fald hattre. þene bo ure. Ne mei quenchen salt weter ne uersc of þe burne. Line 248 Þis is þet fur þet efre bernd ne mei nawiht hit quenchen. Þer inne boð þa þe was to lof wreche men to swenchen. þa þe weren swikelemen and ful of uuel wrenchen. þa þe mihten uuel don. þe þe lef hit wes to þenchen. Line 252 Þe luueden tening and stale. hordom and drunken And a doules werche bliþeliche swunken. Þa þe weren swa lese [MS. lele.] þet me hom ne mihte ileuen. Med-ierne domes men. and wrongwise reuen. Line 256 þet oðer monnes wif lof. his aȝen et-lete. þo þe sungede muchel; a drunke and an ete. þe wreche mon binom his ehte. and leide his on horde. þet lutel let of godes borde. and godes worde. Line 260 And þo þe his aȝen nalde ȝeuen þer he isech. [folio 65a] þe node ne nalde iheren godes sonde. þenne he hit herde bode. Þe þet is oðers monnes þing. loure þene hit sculde. And weren to gredi of solure and of golde. Line 264 And þa þe untrownesse duden þon þe ho sculden bon holde. And leten þet ho sculden don. and duden þet ho wolden. Þa þe weren eure abuten þisse worldes echte. And duden al þet þe laþe gast hechte to and tachte. Line 268 And alle þe þen anigewise doulen iquemde [MS. iquende.] . Þa boð nu mid him in helle fordon and fordemet [? fordemde.] . [Bute þo þe ofþouhte sore. her here mis-deden and gunnen here gultes beten. and betere lif leden Line 272

Line 272 Þeor beð naddren and snaken. eueten and frude þa tered and freteð þe uuele speken. þe nihtfulle and þe prute Neure sunne þer ne scinð. ne mone ne steorre þer is muchel godes hete. and muchel godes ȝeorre Line 276 Eure þer is vuel smech. þusternesse and eie nis þer neure oþer liht. þanne þe swarte leie Þer ligget laðliche fend. in stronge raketeie þat buð þe þe were mid gode. on heuene wel heie Line 280 Þer buð ateliche fend. and eisliche wihte þos sculle þa wrecchen i-son. þe sunege þurð sihte Þer is þe loþe sathanas. and belsebuc þe ealde Ieþe he muwen ben of-drad [MS. of-drard.] . þe hine sculled bi-helde Line 284 Ne mai non heorte it þenche. ne no tunge ne can telle hu muchele pine. and hu vele. senden inne helle Of þo pine þe þere bued. nelle ic hou nout leioȝen nis it bute gamen and gleo. al þat man mai here dreoȝen Line 288 Ac ȝet ne deð heom nout so wo. in þo loþe biende bute þat hi witeð þat heore pine. ne scal neure habben ende Þer buð þo heþenemen. þe were lawe-lese þe heom nas nout of godes bode. ne of godes hese Line 292 Vuele cristenemen. hi bud here i-vere þo þe heore cristen-dom. vuele heolden here Ȝut hi bud a wurse stede. on þere helle grunde ne sculle hi neure comen vp. for marke ne for punde Line 296 Ne mai heom noþer helpen þer. i-bede ne almesse for nis noþer inne helle. ore ne forȝiuenesse Sculde him elc man þe wile he mai. of þos helle pine And warnie æc his frend þer wid. so ic habbe mine Line 300 Þo þe scilden heom ne cunnen. ic heom wulle teache ich kan beo ȝif i scal. lichame and soule liache Lete we þat god for-bet. alle mancunne and do we þat he us hat. and scilde we us wid sunne Line 304 Luuie we god mid vre heorte. and mid al vre mihte and vre emcristene alse us suelf. swa us lerde drihte Al þat me rat and singð. be-fore godes borde al it hanged and bi-halt. bi þisse twam worde Line 308

Line 308 Alle godes lawe he fulð. þe newe and þe ealde he þe þos twa luue haued. and wel hi wule healde Ac hi buð wunder erued-helde. swa ofte we gulted alle for it is strong to stonde longe. and liht it is to falle Line 312 Ac drihte crist he ȝiue us strencþe. stonde þat we mote and of alle vre gultes. unne us come bote We wilnied efter worldes wele. þe longe ne mai ileste and leggeð al ure iswinch. on þinge un-stede-faste Line 316 Sswunche we for godes luue. half þat we doð for ehte ne were we nout swa bi-cherd. ne swa vuele bi-cauhte Ȝif we serueden god. so we doð erninges more we haueden of heuene. þanne eorles oþer kinges Line 320 Ne muwen hi her werien heom wid chele. wid þurst. ne wid hunger ne wid elde ne wid deð. þe eldre ne þe ȝeonger Ac þer nis hunger ne þurst ne deð. ne vnhelþe ne elde of þisse riche we þenchet oft. and of þere to selde Line 324 We scolden alle us bi-þenche. oft and wel ilome hwet we beð. and to wan we sculle. and of wan we come Hu lutel wile we beð her. hu longe elles ware hwat we muȝen habben her. and hwet elles hware Line 328 Ȝif we were wise men. þis we scolden iþenche bute we wurþe us iwar. þes worlð us wule for-drenche Mest alle men he ȝiued drinke. of one deofles scenche he sceal him cunne sculde wel. ȝif he him nele screnche Line 332 Mid ealm[i]hties godes luue. vte we us bi-werien wid þes wrecches worldes luue. þat he ne mawe us derien Mid fasten. and almesse. and ibede. werie we us wid sunne Mid þo wepnen þe god haued ȝiuen alle mancunne Line 336 Læte we þe brode stret. and þe wei bene þe lat þe niȝeðe del to helle of manne. and mo ic wene Go we þene narewe wei. and þene wei grene þer forð-fareð lutel folc. ac it is feir and scene Line 340 Þe brode stret is vre iwil. ðe is us lod for to lete þe ðe al folewed his wil. fared bi þusse strete Hi muwen lihtliche gon. mid ðere nuðer hulde

ðurh ane godliese wude. in-to ane bare felde Line 344 Þe narewei is godes hes. þer forð-farð wel feuwe þat buð ða þe heom sculdeð ȝeorne. wid elche un|ðeawe Þos god un-ieþe to-ȝeanes þe cliue aȝean þe heȝe hulle þos leteð al here aȝen wil. for godes hese to fulle Line 348 Go we alle þene wei. for he us wulle bringe mid þo faire feuwe men. be-foren heuene kinge Þer is alre meruþe mest. mid englene songe þe þis a þusent wintre þer. ne þincð him noht to longe Line 352 Þe þe lest haued. haueð so muchel. þat he ne bit no more þe ðe blisse for ðos for-lat. it him mai reuwe sore Ne mai non vuel ne non wane. beon inne godes riche ðeh þer beð wunienges fele. elc oþer vn-iliche Line 356 Sume þer habbet lasse murhðe. and sume habbed more after þan þe hi dude her. after þan þe hi swonke sore Ne scal þer ben bred ne win. ne oþer cunnes este god one scal beo eche lif. and blisse. and eche reste Line 360 Ne scal þer beo fou ne grei. ne cunig ne ermine ne ocquerne ne martres cheole. ne beuer ne sabeline Ne scal þer beo sced ne scrud. ne woruld wele none al þe murhðe þe me us bi-hat. al it scal beo god one Line 364 Ne mai non murhðe beo so muchel. so is godes sihte he is soð sunne and briht. and dai a-buten nihte He is elches godes ful. nis him noþing ȝit vten no god nis him wane. þe wunied him abuten Line 368 Þer is wele abute grame. and reste abuten swinche þe mai and nele þider come. sore it him scal ofþinche Þer is blisse abuten treȝe. and lif abuten deaþe þe eure scullen wunien þer. bliþe muwen ben eþe Line 372 Þer is ȝeoȝeðe bute ulde. and hele abuten vn-helðe nis þer sorewe ne sor. ne neure nan vn-sealþe Þer me scal drihte sulf i-seon. swa he is mid iwisse he one mai and scal al beo. engle and manne blisse Line 376 And ðeh ne beod heore eȝe naht. alle iliche brihte

ði nabbed hi nouht iliche. alle of godes lihte On þisse liue hi neren nout. alle of one mihte ne þer ne scullen hi habben god. alle bi one ȝihte Line 380 Þo scullen more of him seon. þe luuede him her more and more icnawen and iwiten. his mihte and his ore On him hi scullen finden al þat man mai to lesten hali boc hi sculle i-seon. al þat hi her nusten Line 384 Crist scal one beon mou. alle his durlinges he one is muchele mare and betere. þanne alle oþere þinges Inoh he haued þe hine haueð. þe alle þing wealdeð [MS. wealded.] of him to sene nis no sed. wel hem is þe hine bi-healdeð Line 388 God is so mere and swa muchel. in his godcunnesse þat al þat is. and al þat wes is wurse. þenne he and lesse Ne mai it neure no man oþer segge mid iwisse hu muchele murhðe habbet þo. þe beod inne godes blisse Line 392 To þere blisse us bringe god. þe rixlet abuten ende þenne he vre soule vn-bint. of licames bende Crist ȝyue us leden her swilc lif. and habben her swilc ende þat we moten þuder come. wanne we henne wende. Amen. Line 396

XIX. [ON UREISUN OF OURE LOUERDE.]

[I] Hesu soð god. godes sone. ihesu soð goð. soð mon. Mon [folio 65b] Maidene bern. Ihesu min hali loue min sikere spet|nesse [?swetnesse.] . Ihesu min heorte. Mi sel. mi saule hele. Ihesu swete. ihesu mi leof. mi lif. mi leome. Min halwi. Min huniter. þu al þet ic hopie. Ihesu mi weole mi wunne. Min bliþe breostes blisse. Ihesu teke þet tu art se softe. and se swote. ȝette to swa leoflic. swo leoflic and swa lufsum. þet te engles .a. biholdeþ

þe. Ne beoþ heo neuer fulle. forto lokin on þe. Ihesu al feir a|ȝein hwam. þe sunne nis boten a schadwe. ase þeo þet leoseþ here liht. and scomeþ aȝein þi brihte leor. of hire þesturnesse. þu þet ȝeuest hire liht and al þet leome hauest aliht mi þester heorte. ȝef þi bur brihtnesse. mi saule þet is suti ȝet. make hire wurþe to þi swete wunninge. Ontend me wiþ þe blase. of þi leitinde loue. let me beo mi [? Þi.] leofmon and her [? ler.] to loue þe. louie þe louende louerd. wa [is me] þet ic am swa fremede. wiþ þe. Ah ase þu licomliche iwend iwend me from the worlde. wend me. and [? ec.] heorte-liche. and turn me allunge to þe. wiþ soþe loue. and bileue. Ich nabbe no mong. ne felawscipe. ne priuete. wiþ þe world. for wel ich þat [read wat.] mi leofmon dear ich swa clipien. þet flehsliche loue. and gostliche eorþliche lou [MS. louo for loue?] and heouenliche. ne maȝen onone wise beddin in a breoste. hwa se euer haueð longe wone of gastliche elne. of heouenliche murhðe hit is for-þi ha haueþ. oþer wilneþ after cunfort on eorþe. þet is fikel. and fals. and al imengd wiþ balewsið. and wiþ bitternesse. nis nan blisse soþes inan þing þet is utewið. þet ne beo to bitter aboht. þet et huni þer in beoþ liked of þornes. me nis he fol [folio 66a] chapmon þe buþ deore a wac þing. and for forsakeþ a deorwurþe þing. þet me beodeþ him for naut and bi-hat him þer take mede. forto nimen hit. Min ihesu liues louerd þu beodest us þin elming [? elnung.] . al wiþ uthen [sic.] bune. and þer after bihastest [sic.] us wiþ þon þet we neomen hit heouenliche blissen. and we wendeþ us þer from. and buggeþ worldles froure. wiþ moni sori teone. and elne of monnes speche. a ihesu louerd þi griþ. hwi abbe ich eni [MS. ein.] licung in oþer þing þene in þe. hwi loue ich eni [MS. ein.] þing boten þe one. hwi ne bi-hold ich hu þu strahstest þe for me on þe rode. hwine warpe ich me bitweone þe ilke earmes. swa swiþe wide to-spradde. he openeþ swa þe moder hire earmes hire leoue child for to cluppen; ȝe soþes and tu deorwurþe louerd. gostliche to us and to [þine] deorlinges wiþ þe ilke spredunge gest. as þe moder to hire child. hua leof; hwa lif; hwa deþ him þe bitweonen. hwa wule beo bi-cluppet; a ihesu þin eadmodnesse. and þin muchele milce. hwi nam ich in þin earmes. In þin earmes swa istrahte. and isprad on rode. and weneð ei to beon bi-clupped bi-twene þine blisfulle earmes. In

heouene bute he warpe. er her bitweone þine rewfulle earmes on þe rode. Nai soþes. nai. Ne wene hit neuer no mon. þurh his lahe clupping. me mot come heh to þe þer [? Þet, or Þus.] þe wule bi-cluppe. þe þear swilc. ase þu art þear louerd of leome. he mot cluppe þe ear her swilc. ase þu makedest te her wreche. for us wreches. þet is to suggen hwa se euer wule habbe lot wiþ þe of þi blisse; he mot deale wiþ þe of þine pine on eorþe. Nis na trewe ifere þe nule naut scottin in þe lure. ase in þe biȝete; he mot scottin efne after his euene. [þ]e wule beo þin felaȝe luuiende louerd. he mot foleȝi þine steapes þurh sar. and þurh sorewe to to [folio 66b] wunninge. of weole and of eche wunne. Ne wene na mon to stihen wið este to þe steorren. A swete ihesu hwi w[ið] earmes of luue ne cluppe ich þe swa faste. þet na þing ne þeonne ne maȝe breide min heorte. hwine cusse ich þe sweteliche ine gaste wið swote munegunge. of þine god-deden. hwinis me bitter al þet mi flehs likeð. hwi nis me unwurhþ elc wurþliche þing. aȝein þe muchel delit of þi swetnesse. hwi ne fele ich þe in mi breostes swo swote ase þu art. hwi art tu me swo fremede. hwine con ich þe woȝe wiþ swete luue. uor alle þinge swetest. alre þinge leoflucest. and luue wurðest. wei. wei. þe bitternesse of mine sunnen attri is þe lettunge. mine sunnen beoþ wal bi-tweone me and þe. Mine sunnen werneþ me al þis swotnesse. Mine sunnen habbeþ grimliche iwreþed me. and iueed me towart te luueliche louerd. and þet is lute wunder. for swa ich am wiþ hare hori fenliche ifuled. þet ich ne mai ne ne dear cume lufsum god in þin ehsihþe. A ihesu þin aore hwet deþ þenne þi blod isched on þe rode. hwet deþ þenne þe large broc of þi softe side. þe strunden þe striken adun of þine deorwurþe fet. and of þine edi honden. Nes hit for to waschen sunfulle saulen. Nes hit for to sauuin seke inne sunne. hwa is þenne unwaschen þe haueþ þis halwende wet inwið his heorte. hwa derf beon un-sauuet þe haueþ se mihti salue. ase ofte as he þer to haueþ trewe bileue. min heoueneliche leche. þet makedest us of þi seolf se mihti medi|cine. iblesced beo þu euer as mi trust is þer to. hit beo mi lechunge hit beo mi bote. ȝef min uuel is muchel. þe mihte þer of is more. as wis ase dieope [for drope.] of þi deorwurþe [MS. deor|þurþe.] blod. mahte

waschen a-wai alle folkes fulþe. ase wis lifes louerd þe [folio 67a] ilke fif wallen þet of þi blisfulle bodi sprungen. and strike dun strondes of blode wasche mine fif wittes of alle bodi sunnen. of al þet ich abbe mis-seien mid eȝen. mid min eren iherd. mid muþ ispekin. oþer ismaht. and wið neose ismelled. wiþ eini lim mis ifeled. and wið flehs isuneged. þine wunden healen þe wunden of mi saule. þi deaþ adeadi in me flehces licunge. and licomliche lustes. and do me liuien to þe. þer ich maȝe. seggen; wiþ seinte pawel þe seiþ. Ic liuie naut ic ac crist liueð in me. þet is to seggen. Ic liuie ic ilif þet ic leuede. ah crist liueþ in me þurh his wunende grace. þet acwikeð me wel wes ha iboren þo mai ihesu þis balde|liche segge to þe. þu þet ert eafter him alle helpleses help. and sunfulles hele þet to þe habbeþ hope. helpe me englene quene. heoueneliche leafdi seinte marie moder and maiden deorwurþ wimmon forto salui sunne ihesu crist bicom þi sone. for ure sake þu were maked maiden godes moder. Nere þu naut þet tu art edi ouer alle ȝef sunfulle neren for þi aȝen sunfulle to cleopien to þe baldeliche. for hwam þu hauest þin edinesse. and ti muchele heh-schipe. maiden moder. maiden and hwas moder. his hwas dohter þu art. his þat wrahte. and walt [al] þat ischapen is. his þet naueþ nouþer ne biginnunge þet is euer ilic wiþ-ute truch|unge. þet halt euer anon wiþ-ute sturunge. O. muchele menske to beon moder of swuche sone. mid holscipe of maiden and habben him swa abandun. þet he wule þet al þine wil ihwer beo iforþed. forto schawen us þis he strahte forþ his riht earm ase [he] stod o rode. and bereþ [? beieþ.] dun towart te his deorwurþe heaued ase þah he saide. Moder þet þu wult [For remainder of text, see p. 203, ll. 10-21.] . . . . .

XX. ON GOD UREISUN OF URE LEFDI. [Cotton. MS. Nero A xiv.]

[Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 120b]

Cristes milde moder seynte marie. Mines liues leome mi leoue lefdi. To þe ich buwe and mine kneon ich beie. And al min heorte blod to ðe ich offrie. Line 4 Þu ert mire soule liht. and mine heorte blisse. Mi lif and mi tohope min heale mid iwisse. Ich ouh wurðie ðe mid alle mine mihte. And singge þe lofsong bi daie and bi nihte. Line 8 Vor þu me hauest iholpen aueole kunne wise. And ibrouht of helle in-to paradise. Ich hit þonkie ðe mi leoue lefdi. And þonkie wulle þe hwule ðet ich liuie. Line 12 Alle cristene men owen don ðe wurschipe. And singen ðe lofsong mid swuðe muchele gledschipe. Vor ðu ham hauest alesed of deoflene honde. And i-send mid blisse to englene londe. Line 16 Wel owe we þe luuien mi swete lefdi. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 121a] Wel owen we uor þine luue ure heorte beien. Þu ert briht and blisful ouer alle wummen. And god ðu ert and gode leof ouer alle wepmen. Line 20 Alle meidene were wurðeð þe one. Vor þu ert hore blostme biuoren godes trone. Nis no wummon iboren þet ðe beo iliche. Ne non þer nis þin efning wið-inne heoueriche. Line 24 Heih is þi kinestol onuppe cherubine. Biuoren ðine leoue sune wið-innen seraphine. Murie dreameð engles biuoren þin onsene.

Pleieð. and sweieð. and singeð. bitweonen. Line 28 Swuðe wel ham likeð biuoren þe to beonne. Vor heo neuer ne beoð sead þi ueir to iseonne. Þine blisse ne mei nowiht understonden. Vor al is godes riche an under þine honden. Line 32 Alle þine ureondes þu makest riche kinges. Þu ham ȝiuest kinescrud beies and gold ringes. Þu ȝiuest eche reste ful of swete blisse. Þer ðe neure deað ne com; ne herm ne sorinesse. Line 36 Þer bloweð inne blisse blostmen. hwite and reade. Þer ham neuer ne mei. snou. ne uorst iureden. Þer ne mei non ualuwen. uor þer is eche sumer. Ne non liuiinde þing woc þer nis ne ȝeomer. Line 40 Þer heo schulen resten þe her ðe doð wurschipe. Ȝif heo ȝemeð hore lif cleane urom alle queadschipe. Þer ne schulen heo neuer karien ne swinken. Ne weopen ne murnen ne helle stenches stinken. Line 44 Þer me schal ham steoren mid guldene chelle. And schenchen ham eche lif mid englene wille. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 121b] Ne mei non heorte þenchen ne nowiht arechen. Ne no muð imelen ne no tunge tegen [? techen.] . Line 48 Hu muchel god ðu ȝeirkest wið-inne paradise. Ham þet swinkeð dei and niht iðine seruise. Al þin hird is i-schrud mid hwite ciclatune. And alle heo beoð ikruned mid guldene krune. Line 52 Heo beoð so read so rose so hwit so þe lilie. And euer more heo beoð gled and singeð þuruhut murie. Mid brihte ȝimstones hore krune is al biset. And al heo doð þet ham likeð. so þet no þing ham ne let. Line 56 Þi leoue sune is hore king and þu ert hore kwene. Ne beoð heo neuer i-dreaued mid winde ne mid reine. Mid ham is euer more dei wið-ute nihte. Song wið-ute seoruwe and sib wið-ute uihte. Line 60 Mid ham is muruhðe moniuold wið-ute teone and treie. Gleobeames and gome inouh liues wil and eche pleie. Þereuore leoue lefdi long hit þuncheð us wrecchen.

Vort þu of þisse erme liue to ðe suluen us fecche. Line 64 We ne muwen neuer habben fulle gledschipe. Er we to þe suluen kumen to þine heie wurschipe. Swete Godes moder softe meiden and wel icoren. Þin iliche neuer nes ne neuermore ne wurð iboren. Line 68 Moder þu ert and meiden cleane of alle laste. Þuruhtut hei and holi in englene reste. Al englene were and alle holie þing. Siggeð and singeð þet tu ert liues welsprung. Line 72 And heo siggeð alle þet ðe ne wonteð neuer ore. Ne no mon þet ðe wurðeð ne mei neuer beon uorloren. Þu ert mire soule wið-ute leasunge. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 122a] Efter þine leoue sune; leouest alre þinge. Line 76 Al is þe heouene ful of þine blisse. And so is al þes middeleard of þine mildheortnesse So muchel is þi milce and þin edmodnesse. Þet no mon þet ðe ȝeorne bit of helpe ne mei missen. Line 80 Ilch mon þet to þe bisihð þu ȝiuest milce and ore. Þauh he ðe habbe swuðe agult and i-dreaued sore. Þereuore ich ðe bidde holi heouene kwene. Þet tu ȝif þi wille is iher mine bene. Line 84 Ich ðe bidde lefdi uor þere gretunge. Þet Gabriel ðe brouhte urom ure heouen kinge. And ek ich ðe biseche uor ihesu cristes blode. Þet for ure note was i-sched oðere rode. Line 88 Vor ðe muchele seoruwe ðet was oðine mode. Þo þu et ðe deaðe him bi-uore stode. Þet tu me makie cleane wið-uten and eke wið-innen. So þet me ne schende none kunnes sunne. Line 92 Þene loðe deouel and alle kunnes dweoluhðe. Aulem urom me ueor awei mid hore fule fulðe. Mi leoue lif urom þine luue ne schal me no þing to-dealen. Vor oðe is al ilong mi lif and eke min heale. Line 96 Vor þine luue i swinke and sike wel ilome. Vor þine luue ich ham ibrouht in to þeoudome. Vor þine luue ich uorsoc al þet me leof was.

And ȝef ðe al mi suluen. looue lif iþench þu þes. Line 100 Þet ich ðe wreðede sume siðe hit me reoweð sore. Vor cristes fif wunden ðu ȝif me milce and ore. Ȝif þu milce nauest of me þet ich wot wel ȝeorne Þet ine helle pine swelten ich schal and beornen. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 122b] Line 104 Ful wel þu me iseie þauh þu stille were. Hwar ich was and hwat i dude þauh þu me uorbere. Ȝif þu heuedest wreche inumen of mine luðernesse. Iwis ich heuede al uorloren paradises blisse. Line 108 Þu hauest ȝet forboren me uor þine godnesse. And nu ich hopie habben fulle uorȝiuenesse. Ne wene ich neure uallen in-to helle pine. Hwon ich am to ðe ikumen and am ðin owune hine. Line 112 Þin ich am and wule beon nu and euer more. Vor oðe is al mi lif ilong and o godes ore. Mi leoue swete lefdi to þe me longeð swuðe. Bute ich habbe þine help ne beo ich neuer bliðe. Line 116 Ich þe bidde þet tu kume to mine uorð-siðe. And nomeliche þeonne þine luue kuðe. Auouh mine soule hwon ich of þisse liue uare. And i-schild me urom seoruwe and from eche deaðes kare. Line 120 Ȝif þu wult ðet ich iðeo gode ȝeme nim to me. Vor wel ne wurð me neuer bute hit beo þuruh ðe. Mid swuþe luðere lasten mi soule is þuruh bunden. Ne mei no þing so wel so þu healen mine wunden. Line 124 To þe one is al mi trust efter þine leoue sune. Vor is holie nome of mine liue ȝif me lune. Ne þole þu þene unwine þet he me arine. Ne þet he me drawe in-to helle pine. Line 128 Nim nu ȝeme to me so me best a beo ðe beo. Vor þin is þe wurchipe ȝif ich wreeche wel iþeo. Þu ne uorsakest nenne mon uor his luðernesse. Ȝif he is to bote ȝeruh and bit þe uorȝiuenesse. Line 132 Þu miht lihtliche ȝif þu wult al mi sor aleggen. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 123a] And muchele bet biseon to me þen ich kunne siggen. Þu miht forȝelden lihtliche mine gretunge.

Al mi swinc and mi sor and mine kneouwunge. Line 136 Ine me nis noþing feier on to biseonne. Ne no þing þet beo wurðe biuoren þe to beonne. Þereuore ich þe bidde þet þu me wassche and schrude Þuruh þine muchele milce þet spert [? spret.] so swuðe wide. Line 140 Nis hit ðe no wurðscipe þet þe deouel me to-drawe. ȝif þu wult hit iðauien iwis he wule ðurchut fawe. Vor he nolde neuere þet þu hefedest wurðschipe. Ne no mon þet þe wurðeð þet he hedde gledschipe. Line 144 Þu hit wost ful ȝeorne þet þe deouel hateð me. And nomeliche þereuore þet ich wurðie þe. Þereuore ich þe bidde þet þu me wite and werie. Þet þe deouel me ne drecche ne dweolðe me ne derie. Line 148 So þu dest and so þu schalt uor ðire mild-heortnesse. Þu schalt me a ueir dol of heoueriche blisse. Ȝif ich habbe muchel ibroken muchel ich wulle beten. And do mine schrifte and þe ueire greten. Line 152 Þe hwule þet ich habbe mi lif and mine heale. Vrom ðire seruise ne schal me no þing deale. Biuoren þine uote ich wulle liggen and greden. Vort ich habbe uorȝiuenesse of mine misdeden. Line 156 Mi lif is þin mi luue is þin mine heorte blod is þin. And ȝif ich der seggen mi leoue leafdi þu ert min. Alle wurðschipe haue þu on heouene and ec on eorðe. And alle gledschipe haue þu al so þu ert wurðe. Line 160 Nu ich þe bi-seche ine cristes cherite. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 123b] Þet þu þine blescinge and þine luue ȝiue me. Ȝeme mine licame ine clenenesse. God almihti unne me vor his mild-heortnesse. Line 164 Þet ich mote þe iseo in ðire heie blisse. And alle mine ureondmen þe bet beo nu to dai. Þet ich habbe i-sungen þe ðesne englissce lai. And nu ich þe bi-seche vor ðire holinesse. Line 168 Þet þu bringe þene Munuch to þire glednesse. Þet funde ðesne song bi ðe mi looue leafdi. Cristes milde moder seinte marie. amen.

beot him for nowt. and bihat him þer teken mede. for to nimen hit; Mi iesu liues louerd. þu beodest þin elning. al wið-ute bone. and þer efter bihotest us wið þen ðet we nimen hit. heouenliche blissen; and we wendeð us þer from. and buggeð worldes froure. wið moni sor. and teone. and elne of monnes speche; a; iesu louerd. þi grið. hwi habbe ich eni [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 124b] licunge. in oðer þinge; þen i þe. hwi luuie ich ei þing bute þe one; hwi ne bi-hold ich hu þu streihtest þe for me on þe rode; hwi ne worpe ich me bi-tweonen þeo ilke ermes so swiðe wiðe to-spredde. and i-openeð so þe moder deð hire ermes. hire leoue child for to bi|cluppen; ȝe soðes. and þu deorewurðe louerd gostliche to us and to ðine deorelinges. wið þe ilke spredunge ȝeiest. ase þe moder to hire childe. hwo leof; hwo lif; hwo deð him her bitweonen; hwoa wule beon bi-clupped; a iesu þin edmodnesse. and þi muchele milce. hwi nam ich iþin ermes so istreihte. and ispred on rode; and weneð ei to beon bi-clupped bitweonen þine blisfulle ermes in heouene. bute he worpe er him her; bi-tweon|en þine rewðful ermes oðe rode; Nai soðes nai; ne wene hit neuer nomon. þuurh þis lowe cluppinge. me mot come to þe heie; þet wule bi-cluppen þe þer swuch; ase þu ert þer louerd of leoue. he mot cluppen þe er her; swuch ase þu makedest þe her. wrecche; for us wrecches. ðet is to seggen. hwoa so euer wule habben lot wið þe of þine blisse; he mot delen wið þe; of þine pine on eorðe. nis he nout treowe ifere þet nule nout scotten iþe lure; ase iþe bi-ȝete. he mot scotten efne efter his euene. þet wule beon þi felawe; liuiinde louerd. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 125a] he mot folewen þine steopes. þuruh sor. and þuruh seoruwe. to ðe wununge of weole; and of eche wunne. Ne wene nomon to stihen wið este to þe steorren. A swete iesu. hwi mid ermes of luue ne cluppe ich þe so feste. þet no þing þeonne ne muwe breiden mine heorte; hwi ne cusse ich þe sweteliche ine goste. wið swete munegunge of þine goddeden; hwi nis me bitter. al þet mi flesch likeð. hwi nis me unwurð euerich wordlich þing a-ȝein þe muchele delit of þine swetnesse; hwi ne iuele ich þe imine breoste so swete ase þu ert; hwi ertu me so freomede; hwi ne con ich wowen þe. wið swete luue wordes alre þinge swetest. and alre þinge leoflu|to

þe baldeliche; for hwam þu hauest þin eadinesse. and þine muchele heihschipe. Meiden. and moder. Meiden [and] hwas moder [his hwas] dohter þu ert his þet wrohte and welt. al þet ischeapen is. his þet naueð nouðer ende; ne biginnunge. þet is euer i-liche. wið-ute sturiunge oþe muchele menske to boen [So in MS.] moder of swich sune wið iholschipe of meiden. and habben him so abaundune. ðet he wule ðet þin wille oueral beo i-uorðed. for to scheawen us þis; he streccheð þene ritht [So in MS.] erm uorð. ase he stont orode. and beieð adun toward þe. his deorewurðe heaued. ase þauh he seide. Moder al þet þu wult; al ich wulle. aswete leafdi. hwi leafdi hwi; nabe ich euer bi-foren mine heorte eihen. þeo ilke þreo stondunges. þi sune was ituht on rode. þurh driuen fet and honden. wið dulte neiles. blodi his side. and þi stondunge leafdi. and sein iohanes ewangelistes weopinde otwo half wið sorhfule sikes; hwi ne bi-hold ich þis euer in mine heorte. and þenche ðet hit was for me. and for oðre sunfule [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 126b] to aredden of helle. and forto ȝiuen us heoueriche blisse; þis þoht wolde siker|liche ontenden so soð luue on me. Nere þe heorte so cold. þet ne schulde neuer sunne habben forðer in-ȝong. þer þis brune were. a iesu hwuder schal ich fleon hwon þe deouel hunteð efter me bute to þine rode;

XXII. [ON LOFSONG OF URE LEFDI.]

Swete leafdi seinte marie meiden ouer alle meidnes. þet bere ðet blisfule bern. þet aredde [? arerdde.] al moncun up. þet was adun a-fallen. ðet [Originally ðer.] þuruð adames sunne. and ðet [Originally ðer.] þuruh his holi pas|siun werp þene deouel adun. and heriede helle. ich on sori sunfule þing; bidde þin ore. ðet tu beo mi motild aȝeines mine soule fon. þet heo hire ne muwen bitellen. auh were me. and help me milzfule meiden; in alle mine neoden. Mine widerwines habbeð biset me on euche half abuten; and secheð mine soule deað. luðre men and deoflen. heo habbeð monie wunden on me ifestned; þet acwelleð mine soule. bute þu beo mi leche. ich habbe ofte ibuwen to alle mine þreo i-fon. to þe feond. and to þe world. and to mine flesches sunne. ich icnowe me gulti. and creie þe leafdi merci. for ich habbe imaked ȝetes of alle mine fif wittes. to sun|fule unþeawes. mis i-loked. Mis ihercned. Mis ifeled. mis ispeken. iloued swote smelles. prude and wilnunge of pris; me habbeð sore iwunded. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 127a] ase wreððe. and onde. lesunge. missware. vuele i-holden treouðe. cursunge. bac bitunge. and fikelunge; summe tide. ich habbe iheued of oðer monnes mid woh. and mid unriht iȝeuen mis. and inumen mis. and mis etholden ofte. tovel; spac. and slow; to Godd. ȝemeleas; and unlusti. sumehwile to pleiful; to drupi oðer hwiles. ich habbe i-suneged ine mete. and ine drunche boðe. and mid flesches fulðe ifuled me. þus ich am lod|liche i-hurt ine licame. and ine soule; wið alle cunnes sunnen. for þauh þet werc nere i þe bodie; þe wil was in þe heorte. al þis ich i-cnoulechie þe swete leafdi seinte marie. heiest alre hale|wen. Nim mot for me and were me. for ich am pine wurðe. bi|sech for me þine seli sune; Milce. and merci. and ore. for nout ne mai he werne þe; maiden þe hine bere of alle þine bisocnen. Ich bide þe and biseche þe and halsi ȝif me howeð hit; bi his flech founge of þine eadie bodie. bi his iborenesse. bi his eadi

festunge iþe wildernesse. bi þe herde hurtes and þe unwurðe wowes ðet he for us sunfule willeliche þolede. bi his deaðfule grure. and bi his blodie swote. bi his eadi beoden in hulles him one. bi his nimunge. and bindunge. bi his ledunge forð. bi al þet me him demde. bi his cloðes wrixlunge. Nu red. nu hwit. him on hokerunge. bi his scornunge. and bi his spotlunge. and bufet|tunge. [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 127b] and his heliunge. bi þe þornene crununge. bi ðe kineȝerde of rode. [=rede.] him of scornunge. bi his owune rode. on his softe schul|dres. so herde druggunge. bi þe dulte neiles. bi þe sore wunden; bi þe holie rode. bi his side openunge. bi his blodi Rune þet ron inne monie studen. In umbe keoruunge. in his blod swetunge [A word erased.] . in his pine þornene crununge. erest in his one hond and seoððen in his oðer. olast in his side þurlunge wið-ute sore wunde. Ȝet ase halewen weneð. þet toðe [? soðe.] blod rune. was in his ereste. nimunge in þe feste bindunge. þet tet blod wrong ut et his eadie neiles. ich halsi þe þet ðu bi-seche him bi his schome. bi his sor. bi his deað on rode. bi al þet he seide wrohte and þolede in eorðe. bi þe holi sacrement of his flech and of his blod þet ðe preost sacreð. þurh þe grace of fuluht. þurh alle þe oðre sacre|menz. þet holi chirche foluweð and useð. þurh alle ich bi-seche þe godes deore-wurðe moder þet heore mihte helpe me. and hore strencðe go forð. þer min offringe wonteð. for min bileue is þet ich schal þuruh ham beon iboreuwen. iesu þi sune and Godes sune. ȝif us al him suluen and al is ure þet he spec and wrohte and þolede in orðe. his pine on rode and his deað acwellen Mine sunnen. and his ariste arere me in lif holinesse. and his [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 128a] up ariste do me stepen uwward in heie and holi þeawes. from heih and to herre euer ðet ich iseo in syon þe heie tur of heouene; þene louerd of leome. þet te engles euer biholdeð. and euer so lengrre so heo ȝirneð hit more. for iþet seli song is al þet me secheð. leafdi þurh þin erndinge tuðe [? cuðe.] me mine bone to þine eadi sune amen.

XXIII. [ON LOFSONG OF URE LOUERDE.]

Iesu crist godes sune soð godd and soð mon of þe eadie meiden iboren maria. þet is meiden and bute make moder. ich of alle sunfulle am on mest ifuled of sunne ase ich drede. ich bidde and bi-seche þe wið inwarde heorte þurh þin akennednesse ine meidenes licame of þe holi Goste. and þuruh þin iborenesse wið uten bruche of hire bodie þuruh al þet ðu tawhtest. and þoledest for sunfule in eorðe. þurh þine vif wunden. and þe eadie flod þet of ham fledde. þurh ðe irene neiles and þe þornene crune. and þurh þe pinen and þe schomen and þi deorewurðe deað oðe rode and þuruh ðe ilke rode i-halewed of þine deorewurðe limen. ðet þu on hire mildeliche streihtest. and þine moderes ream and sein i[o]hanes soruwe þo þu somnedest ham ase sune and moder. uor rewðe of þine pinen and þurch þine blisfule ariste þe þridde dai of deaðe. and þurh þine wurðful astiunge into heouene. þurh ðe grace and þe ȝeoue of þe holi goste. þet þu on hwite sune dai sendest þine deorewurðe [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 128b] deciples. and ȝettedest to þeo þet rith luuieð þe and leued. and þurh þine eisfule cume a domesdai to demen boðe cwike and deade. and þurh þine eadi flesche and þine iblescede blode i-sacred oðe weouede. þurh þe mihte of fuluht. þurh alle þe oðre sacremens. þet holi chirche ileueð. þurh þine muchele milce and merci þet is more þen al þet is inempned wið-ute þe grace of þe oli goste. þet is efne wið þe and wið þin eadi feder. Godd of alle godd ful. haue merci of me and iher mine bonen. þuruh þe selie bonen of þine milde moder and seint iohannes ewangeliste. and alle þine halewen. for-ȝif me mine sunnen þet ateliche beoð and grisliche i þine eih sihðe. louerd ich i-seo ham wið muchel ugge of þin eie. ne bi-hold þu ham nout leste þu wreoke ham on

me iwodschipe of þine wreððe. louerd þin apostel seið þus. Ȝif we ne fordemden us seoluen ne schulde we nout beon elles hwar for-demed. milde merciable godd ich deme to þe; efter þine milce þet is [mo]re þen al min [uu]el is; ase wis [as]e a drope of þine deorewurðe blode þet tu o rode scheddest were i-nouh to weaschen alle folkes fulðe. þeo sterke stremes and þet flod þet fleaw of þine wunden. moncun uor to helen; clense and waschs mine sunfule soule þurh þine fif wunden iopened o rode. wið neiles uor-driuene and seoruhfulliche fordutte. hel me uorwunded [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 129a] þurh mine fif wittes wið deadliche sunnen. and opene ham heouenliche king touward heouenliche þinges. and turn to þe worlde þi wurðfule rode þet þu spreddest þe on. beo mi scheld and mi warant on euche half; aȝein þes feondes flon þet he scheot to me on euche halue þe swike. þi passiun acwenche þe passiun of sunnen þet wunieð wið inne me. þine pinen buruwen me from þe pinen of helle. and þi dereowurðe [sic.] deað from þene deað ðet neuer ne deieð. þet ði deað a-deadie þe deaðliche lustes of mine licame. and te lawen of mine limen beo ðe world [dead] to me. and me to þe worlde. þurh þine ariste louerd to liue; bute deaðe. of soule deaðe arer me. and ȝif me lif in ðe. þet ich iþisse worlde ne luuie nout bute þe liuinde louerd. and hwat so god is uor þe. þet ich to þe world beo dead. and euer liuie [A stroke too many in MS.] to þe. þet ich muwe siggen wið seinte powel þet seið. ich liuie nout ich; auh crist liueð in me. louerd þi merci ase ich ham heie iclumben wið þis ilke bone. þet ligge so lowe. and uor eorðliche luren so muche mislicunge habbe in mine heorte. Milde godd þi milce. for herþurh ich deie þet spec er of swuche þinge. and deaðliche sunegi. heie helinde godd help me. and hel herof mine heorte. leoue louerd iesu crist loke toward me ase ich ligge lowe. and mone to ðe of þinge ðet me derueð mest nuðe efter mine sunnen. heie helinde [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 129b] beih þe to me. and buh to mine bonen. Nabbich nowðer in me wisdom ne wurschipe and am redleas nab ich [h]waremide le[de]n mi lif i þis[se] worlde and am helples. ich habbe on monie wise mislicunge of þonke and heorte sec of sorwe. and nabbe hwoa me froure. Deorewurðe drihten ase

þu ert redlease red. red me þet am helples and redles. hu ich schule leden me and liuien on eorðe wið meidhod and ine clennesse of soule. and of bodie boðe. ase þu ert neodfulles help bi-hold heie louerd hu monnes help trukeð me. þin help beo me þe ȝarewere forto þe one ich chulle trusten and hopien euer buten ende. hefdich ȝare so idon me stode betere þen me deð ich hit wot to soðe. uor þeo hwile ðet ich truste uppo mon þu seidest. hold þe to ham and lettest me al iwurden wið þeo þet ich truste uppon. and heo beoð me itrukede heouenlich louerd. ich i-leue for mine selhðe ich herie þe and þonke. þu ham hauest bi-nume me. uor þu iseihe. þet te hope of ham bi|swoc me and wult þet ich hopie and truste to þe one. for to schewen hu þis hope to þin ones help schal gon me betere ut. þen dude er þe oðres. þu hauest binume me fulst of monne; uor þu wult þin ȝeouen me. Iblesced beo þet þus went lure to biȝeate. sikerliche al mi woa on eorðe schal turnen me to ioie. ȝif ich Godd luuie mid treowe bileaue. louerd [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 130a] ich ileue hit and luuie and wulle luuien þe more louerd þurh þis wondred þen er in al mine weole. uor ich wot to soðe hit wolde habben al bi-swike me. Ȝif þe help nere louerd of þine grace. louerd ich bi-seche ðe wið inwarde heorte ne ȝif þu me nouðer to muchel ne to lutel. uor þurh eiðer moni mon suneggeð i-lome. auh leue me ðet ich mote soðliche seggen wið ðe meiden þet of þe seið þeors [sic.] wordes. Mi leofmonnes luft erm halt up min heaued heo seið. and his riht erm schal biclupen me abuten. let me beo þi leouemon and siggen ase heo seið. leof wið þi luft erm. þet is. wið þine worldliche ȝeouen hold up min heawed ðet ich þurh to muche wone ne falle i fulðe of sunne. and leof wið þin riht erm. þet is in heuene wið endelease blissen bi-clupe me abuten. al schal beon þet ich wulle þeonne forð swete milde louerd bidde oðer wilni ich bidde ðe ðet ich mote under-uon in obedience boðe wone and weole þe ine cwemnesse. þauh ich nabbe nout one al ðet me biheouede ne me ne cume nowt ase sone ase ich wolde. ich ne mishopie þe nout auh am al siker of ðet þu wult binime me ðet me wolde herm don. and ȝife me þet me is biheue swete milzfule louerd. auh þu þet alle þing

isihst ðet abidest his time. Nu ich habbe uorloren al moncunne froure ich wot [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 130b] þet þu wult senden me þene holi gost to elnen me. and reden me and helpen me and froure me betere þen alle þeo ilke muhten þet ich on truste. uor þus seið þe salmwruhte dauið iþe sawter. þe world haueð for-let me. and godd haweð underfo me. eft elles hwar he seið. haue þi licung ine godd and he wule ȝiuen þe bonen of þine heorte. vnwrih him þene wei þet is þi wilnunge. and he wule hit forðen. þu wost hwat ich wilni al weldinde Godd. auh of þet ase of helles hwat; iwurðe þi wille euer. uor þu wult inouhreðe don betere bi me þen is þet ich wilni. and ich buhsumliche bi-seche þe louerd þuruh non of|seruunge to ðe. auh þurh þis hope. and i þis trust to þine muchele milce. ðet þu beo mi red nu. Min help and min elne. auh þe ich chulle luuien nu. uor ham þet ich luuede er and truste to and hopede. uor nu ich understonde hu soð hit is ðet seint austin seið in his boc. uniseli is ðet is wið luue to eni eorðlich þing iteied. uor euer bið ðet swete; abouht mid twofold of bittre. auh me ne hit underȝit nout er þen me hit leose. and to lure hit bi-kumeð of hwuche half so hit falleð; er me lest wene.

Swete softe iesu iseli beoð ðet þe luuieð and þine siker swet|nesse. þet no mon ne mai leosen bute he þe treulac of þine luue lete auh wið-uten þine ȝeoue ne mai þe non [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 131a] luuien. wið þe lai louerd of þe holigost. þet is þi feder luue and þin. tend mine heorte and uorbern al þat is baluful. þer inne and fed hit so forðward. þet hit ontende me euere iþine bileaue and in þine luue. so lengre so more. Mi luue and mi red al min help and mi froure fulst me euer to gode and cher me from sunne. and ȝif me wil and mihte and wit to leten euch uuel and wel uorto wurchen. deorwurðe drithen þu nowest none mon nowitht þurh his of-seruunge auh dest us al þet þu dest þurh þine swete grace al unofserued cuið in me hwat is milce and þet grace is grace nout hure werkes auh do so bi me. þet mine fon grennen and gode gladien and blescien þine nome. and herien buten hende. hwat mote ich milzfule louerd to þe

þet alle þing meiht. and const. and wult wel don. and wult al þet god is. al þet god is. al þet me euer is neod. ich biseche þe godd of alle godd ful wið þeos þreo wordes. ase þu meiht. and const. and wult. Milzfule louerd haue merci of me and of alle cristene men. amen.

[ÞE LESSE CREDE].

Ich bileue on god feder al-mihti. schuppare of heouene and of eorðe. and on iesu crist his onlepi sune ure louerd· þet was ikenned þuruh ðe holi goste. iboren was of ðe meidene marie. ipined was under ponce pilate. ineiled was oðe rode. dead and iburied. he lihto [read lihte.] in to helle. ðe þridde dei he a-ros from deaðe to liue. and steih in to heouene. þer he sit o godes rithond feder al-mihti. þonene he kumeð to demen ðe quike and ðe deade. Ibileue on [Cotton MS. Nero A xiv folio 131b] ðe holi goste. and on holi chirche. imennesse of haluwen. uorȝiuenesse of sunnen. uleches up ariste eche lif efter deað; amen.

XXIV. [DE INITIO CREATURE. [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 54] [Cott. Vesp. A. 22.] ]

Vre hlaford almihtiȝ god wile and ús hót. þat we híne lufie. and óf him smáȝe and spece. naht him tó méde ac hús to freme and to fultúme. fór. him seíȝc alle hiscéfte. Bonorum meorum non [in]-diges. hlaford to mine góde ne beníedeð þe. Ac alswo sanctus augustinus cweð. Gif non mán ne þoht óf Góde. non ne spece of him. Gif non óf him ne spece non híne ne lufede. Gif non híne ne lufede. non to him ne cóme. ne delende nére óf his eádinésse. nóf hís merhðe. Hit is wel swete of him tó spécene. þenche ȝíe ælc word of him swete. al swá án huni tíar felle upe ȝíure híerte. Héo is hefone liht. and eorðe briht|nesse. loftes leom. and all hiscefte ȝímston. anglene blisse. and mancénne hiht and hope. richtwisen strenhcþe. and níedfulle fróuer. Heo his ælra þínga angin. and hordfruma and ænde. he his órd fór he wes efre. he is ænde buton ælcere ȝiendunȝe.

heo is alra kingene king. and alra hlaforden hlaford. he hált mid his mihte hefene and eorðe. and alle ȝescefte buton ȝe|swince. Ne méȝ nan iscefte fulfremedlice smeáȝan ne under|stonden émbe god. heo ȝescop ȝesceafte þaða he wólde. þurh hís wisdom (se sune) heo ȝeworhte alle þing. and þurh his wille (ali gast.) he hi alle ȝeliffeste. þeos þrímnis ís an gód. þat is sé fader. and his wisdom. of him selfe efre acenned. and hare beíre wille þat is sé hali gast. he géð of þe fader and of þe sune ȝelice. He ȝescóp tyen engle werod. (oðer hád.) oðer hapes. þat beoð. angeli (bóden.) archangeli. (hahboden.) Troni. (þrimsetles.) Domina|tiones. hlafordscipe. Principatus alderscipen. Potestates. an|wealda gastes. Uirtutes. mihti gastes. Cherubim. ȝefildnesse of ywítte. Seraphim birninde oðer anhelend. for wan hi beoð þuss icwéðe me scel sigge, an oðre stowe. Her beoð níȝen anglen hapes. [oðer had.] oðer werod. Hi nabbeð nenne lichama. ac hi bæð alle gastes. swiðe strange and mihti an mucele feirnesse isceapen to lofe and to wurhminte hare sceoppinde. þat teonðe werod abreað. and awende ón yfele oðer al swa fele þe me mihte þat tioðe hape fulfellen. Gód ȝesceop alle gode. and lét hi hi habben áȝen chíre. to chíesen ȝíef [h]y wolden hare sceappinde lufie. oðer hine ferleten. Þa wes þes tyendes hapes alder swiþe feir isceapen. swa þat heo was ȝehoten leoht berinde. Þa be-gan hé to modienne fer þere feirnesse. þe héo hafde. and cweð an his hérto. þat he wolde and eaðe mihte bien his sceoppende ȝelic. and sitte án norðdele hefene riches. and habbe anwealda and riche anȝen godelmichti þa yfesten[d]e [he] þisne red. wið þan hape þe [he] bewiste. and hi alle to rede gebuȝon. Þa þe li [? hi.] alle hafeden þisne réd betwuxe ham ȝefestnod. þa be-com godes grama ofer ham alle. and hi alle wurðon [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 54b] awende of þan féȝre híwe þe hi anȝescapen were to loðlice deóflen. and swiðe richtlice ham swá bélamp. Þáðe hi wolde mid modinesse beón betere þonne he ȝesceapen wére. and cweð háre alder þat he mihte beón þam ælmihti gód ȝelic. þa warð he and halle his iféren forcuðran and wursan þanne æníg oðer ȝesceafte. And þa wile þe he sméade hu he mihte delen ríce wið gód. þa wile ȝearcode se almihti sceappende him and his iferen helle wite. and hi alle adrefde of heofan ríces

mirhðe. and lét befállen on þat éce fer þe ham ȝéarcod wás fer háre préde. Þa sona þe nigon werod [oðe hapes]. þe þer to lafon wére. búgon to hare scyppende. mid ælra ædmodnisse. and betéhton hare réd to his wille. Þa ȝefestnéde se ælmihti gód þa nigen ángle wærod [heapes. had.]. and ȝesteþelfaste swa þat hi nefre ne míhten ne noldan siððan. fram his wille ȝebugon. né hi múȝen ne hi nélleð nane synne ȝewércon. Ac hi efre beoð ymbe þat án hu hi mugon gód hihersamian and him ȝecwemen. Swá míchte æac þe oðre þe þer fellon dón ȝéf hi wolden. forði ðe gód hí ȝéworhte to meren anglen. and lét ham hábba agénne círe. and hi nefre ne bíde nane níede to þan yfele réde. ne yfel tó þence. né tó donne. Þa wolde god ȝefýllan and ȝeínnian þone lére þe forloren was. of þan hefenlice werode [vel hade.] and cweð þat he wolde wércan man of eórðan þat he eórðlic man sceolde ȝeðeon. and ȝeárnian mid admodnísse. þ [? þe or þa.] wuniunge ón hefen ríce. þe se deofel forwo[r]hte míd modinesse. And god þa ȝeworhte ænne man óf láme. and him on bleów gást. and hine ȝeliffeste. and he wárð þá man ȝesceapen ón sáwle. and on lichame and god him sette nama. adam. and he wes tó sume wíle anstándende. Gód þa hine brohte into paradís. and hine ȝelógode and him to cweð. Ælra þara þinge þe on paradis beoð þu most brúce. and alle hi beoð þe betéhte. buton áne treówe þe stent on midden paradis. ne hrépe þu þes trówes westm. for þan þu wurst deaðlic. ȝéf þu þes trowes westm ȝéétst. Hwí wolde god swá litles þinges him forwerne. þe him swa mycel oðer þing betohte? fórté don him understonden. þat he his hlaford was. and þat he sceolde to him bugon and his ȝehése healde. Al se he to hím cweðe. forgáng þu ones treówes westm. and mid þare æðelice hyrsumnesse. þu ȝearnest hefen rices merhðe. and þane stéde þe se deofel of háfel; þurh unihersamnesse. Gif þu þanne þis litle bebód to brecst. þu scealt deaðe sweltan. And þa was adam swa wís. þat god ȝeledde to him niátenu. and deorcén. and fugel cyn. þaða he ȝesceapen hafede. and adam ham alle námen ȝesceop. Þa cweð gód. Nis hit náht ȝedanfenlic. þat þes man ane beo. and nab[be] nenne fultume. ac uton wircan him ȝemace him to fultume and to froure [An f is written above u in the MS.] . And go[d] þa ȝeswefede þat

adam. and þaðæ he slep. þa ȝename he ribb of his sidan. and ȝeworhte of þane ribbe ana wifman. and adam hi nemnede. eua. þat his lif. for þan þe hi ís ælra libbinde moder. Ælla ȝescefte god ȝesceop and hiworhte on sýx dágum. [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 55a] and on þan seofeðan déȝ he ȝeendode his wurc. and ȝesweac þá. and þane deȝ halgode. Ealle þing ȝeworhcte god þurch his worda. ac þaða ȝeworhte man. he ne cweð naht ȝewurðe man. alse of oðere sceafte. ac he cweð. Uton gewurcan man to ure anlicnesse. and he worhte þa þane man mid his handen. and him anbléow sáwle. forði is se man beter ȝéf he gód ȝeðihð þanne oðre ȝesceafte buton englen. for þan þe hi alle ȝewrðeð to nachte. and se man is ēce on ane dele. þat his an þer sáwle. Se lichame is deadlic þurh adames gylt ac þeahweðe[r] god arerð eft þane licame to écene þingum adomes déȝ. Þa onȝeat se deofel þat adam and eua weron toði ȝesceapene. þat hi sceoldan mid edmodnisse and mid hersamnisse ȝearníe þa wuniunge on hefe ríce þe hé óf aféol. for his upahefed|nesse. Þa nam hé mulcene grámen and ándan toðan mannum. and smeade hu he hi fordon mihte. he com þa anédren híwe toðam twám mannum. erést toðan wífe. and hir to cweð. Hwī for-bead ȝéu god þes trówes westm. þe stent on midden paradis? Þa cweð þat wif. God hus for-bead þes trówes westm. and cweð. þat wé sceoldon deað swelten. ȝíf. we his abiriȝdon. Þa cweð se deofel. Nis hit naht swa. ac god wot ȝenoh ȝéare ȝif ȝé of [MS. os.] þan treówe ætéð. þanne beoð ȝíure eágen ȝeopened. and imugon ȝecnówen eíȝðer god and euyl. and beoð englen ȝélice. Nare hío blinde ȝescapene. ac god hi ȝesceop swa bilewítte þat hi ne cuðan nan þing eueles. naðor ne an iséhðe. ne on sprece. ne on weorce. Warþ þa þat wif for-spannen þurh þe deofles lare. and ȝenam of þes trówes westm. and æát. and ȝiáf hire were and he æt. Þa weran boðe deadlice. and cuðon ȝéider god and yfel. and hi þer [or wer.] þa nacode. and ham þas scamede. Þa com gód and ácsode. þe his bebod to bréce. and adrefde hi út of paradis. and cweð. for þan þe were hihersam. þines [? wifes] wordum mor ðan mine. þu scealt mid ærfeðnesse þe metes tylian. and se eorðe his awírigd on þine weorcum. sýlðe þornes and brembles. Þu éart of eorðe ȝenume. and þu awénst to eorðe. Þu æart dust. and þu

awénst to duste. God ham ȝeworhta þa reāf of fellan and hi were mid þan fellen ȝescridde. Adam þa wes wniende on þeses life mid ȝeswínce. and heo and his wif þa bearn ȝestriende. ȝedéir sunen and dochtren. and he lefede nigon hundred ȝíere. and XXX^ti. and siððan swealt. swa swa him ær be-haton wes forðam gilte. and his sáwle ȝíwénde to helle. Þa wearð þa redlice micel mennisc ȝewexon. and wére swíðe manége on yfele awende. and ȝegremeden god mid mistlicum leahtrum. and swiðost mid for-líȝere. Þo warð god toðan swiðe ȝegremed þurh manna mandede þat he cweð þat him of-þuhte þat he efre mancínn ȝesceop. þa wes hweðere an man richwís et-foran gode. þe wes Nóe ȝehaten. þa cweð god to him. ic wille fordon al mancínn mid wátere for hare sinnum. ac ic wille halden þe ennen and tí wif. and þine þreo sunes. sem. cham. iafet. and hare þreo wif. for þan þe þu art richwis and me ȝecweme. Wrec þe nu an arc. þreo hund fedme lang. and fifti fedme wid. and þritti fedme heah. Géref hit all. and iclem hall þ[e] seames mid tirwan. and ga inn seðen mid þine híwún. [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 55b] Ic ȝegáderi in-toðe of diercynne. and of fugel cynne simle gemácan. þat hi éft to fóstre bien. Ic wille senden flod ofer álne middennard. Hé dede þa swa him god bebead. and god be-leác hi binnan þan arce. and asende rén of heofene. xl. dágas to-gédere. and ȝeopenede þer to ȝéanes alle well-springes. and wéter þéotan of þer mycele níwelnisse. Þat flod wex þa. and aber up þan arc. and hit ofer-stah ælle duna. Wearð þa élc þinȝ cuces adrenct. buton þa þe binnon þane arce were. Of þan wearð eft ȝestaþeled eall middenard. Þa be-heot god þat he nolde nefre eft. al mancyn míd water acwellan. and cweð to nóe. and to his sunum. Ic wille settan mi wed betwuxe me. and eow. to þisan behate. þat is. Þanne ic ofe[r]-téo hefenes mid wlcne. þanne bið atáwed min rén bóge. betwuxe þan folce [vel wlcne]. þanne beo ic ȝemenéȝed mines weddes. þat ic nelle henon forð mancyn. mid watere adrenche. Noe lefede on all his life nigon hund ȝeare. and fiftí. and he þa forðferde. Þa wes þa sume hwille godes ȝéíe. on ȝemancynne. efter þa flode. and wes on ȝereard an ham állen. Þa cweðen hi betwxe ham þat hi woldan wercen ane burch. and enne stepel binnan þara biríe.

swa háhcne þat his rof ástíȝe up to hefenne. and begunnon þa to worcen. Þa com god þer to. þa þa hi swiðest worhtan. and ȝíaf ælce man þe þer was sunderlice sprece. and har non neste wat oðer cweð. and hi þa iswicon hare timbringe. and tó-ferden ofer alne middenarde. Þa siððan wearð mancynn. þurh deofol beswice. and awendan fram godes ȝelafen. swa þat hi worhtan ham anlicnessen sum of golde sum of selfre. of stane. of [MS. os.] tréwe. and sceope ham naman. and lác offreden. and com se deofel to har anlicnesse and þer an wnede and to mannen sprece swice hi godes wére. and beswicene mennisc. Þa asprang þis ȝedwéld ofer all middenard. and was se soðe sceppende se þe ane is god forsewen and ȝeunwurðed. Þa wes hweðere an meȝíe cynn þe nefer ne abeáh to nane deofel ȝyld. ac efer wurðade þane soðne god. Se asprang of nóés ýlste sune þe wes ȝehotan sem. and his sune hete arfaxat. and his sune sale. and þes sale ȝestrienede enne sune þe wes ȝehaten heber. of þan asprang þat eberisce folc. þe god lufede. and of þa cynn come alle þe heahfederes. and witíȝen. þaðe cyddon Christes to-cyme to þis life. þat heo wolde man beon for nean en ende þissere wurold. for ure alysendnisse. se þe efre wes god mid þan hefonlice feder. and þes cenne god sælde and ȝesette æ [vel laga]. and he hi ledde ofer sé mid dreie fote. and he hi afedde feortiȝ wíntre mid hefenlice hlafe. and fele wundre onðam folce ȝeworhte. fer þan þe he wolde of þise cynne him moder ȝeceosen. Þa et nextan þa se time cóm þe god fore|scewede. þa sende he his ængel to áne mede þe was Maria ȝeháten. Þa com se ængel to hire and ȝégrette hi mid godes wordon. and cydde hyre. þat godes sune sceolde beon acenned of hire. buton weres ȝemánan. and hi þa ȝelifd his wordum and warð mid cylde. Þaða hire time com hi acennede and þurh|wúnedo meden. þat cild his twíes acenned. he is acenned of þe feder on hefene buton elcer moder. and eft þaðe he man ȝéwarð. þa was he acenned of þe clene meidene buton elce eorðlice federe. God fader ȝeworhte mancin. and ælle ȝesceafte þurh þane sune. and efft þaðe we forwyrhte were þa sende þan ilce sune to ure alisendnesse. heó was buton senne acenned. and his lif was all buton synne. Næ worhte he [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 56a] þah nane wndre openlice. er þan

þe he was þritti wintre an þara mennisnisse. þa seððen aceas he him leorninchnihtes. erest twelf. þa we hatað apostles. þat bið erndracene. And siððan twa and sefentiȝe. þa beoð ȝenamned. discipuli. leornincnihtes. Þa wercte he fele wundra. þat men mihten ȝelefen. þat he was godes bearn. He awende water to uine. and éóde ofer sé mid dréíe fotum. and hé ȝestilde windes mid his hésne. and he forȝíaf blinde manne ȝesechðe. and halten and lamen richte gang. and hreoflin smiðnesse. and héle hare lichame. dumben he forgeaf. getocnisse. and deafum hercnunge. Déofel seocun and wodan h[e] ȝeaf ȝewitt. and þa deoflen to drefde. and ælc untrumnisse heo ȝehelde. Déáde men he arerde of hare berieles to life. and lerde þat folc þe he to com mid mucelene wísdome. and cweð þat naman ne máí bien ȝehalden. buton he rich[t]lice ȝelife on gód. and þat he beo ȝefulled. and his ȝeleafen mid goden wrcon ȝeȝlenge. heo onscúnede elc unricht and alle leasunge. and tochte richwisnesse. and soðfestnesse. Þa nam þe iudeisce folc micel anda onȝean his lare. and smeadan hu hi michte hine to deaðe ȝedon. Þa warð an þera twelf Christes þeigne se þe was iudas ȝehaten. þurh diofles tihtinge beswicen. and heo ȝéde to þan iudeiscan folce. and smeade wið him hú hé Christ heom beléwen michte. þah al mennisc were ȝegadered. ne michti hi alle hin acwelle. ȝef he sylf nold. for þi he com tú ús. þat he wolde for hus deað þrowian. and swa al mancyn. þaðe ȝelyfad. mid his aȝen deaðe alyse fram helle wite. Crist þa ȝeðafode. þat þa wel reowén hine ȝenuman [vel á [i.e. or ȝenáman.] ] and ȝebunden. and an róde hencgene acwealdon. Hwet þa tweȝen ȝelefde men him arwrðlice bebyriddon. and crist on þare wile. to helle ȝewende. and þane deofel ȝewilde. and him of ánam. adam and euam. and hare ofspring þane del. þe him ær ȝecwemde. and arás of deaðe mid þam mucellum werode. an þan þridde deiȝe. his þrowunge. Com þa to his apostlen and hi ȝefrefrode. and furtíe daȝen firste hám mid wnede. and þa ilce lare. þe he ham ér tochte eft ȝeedlehte [MS. ȝeedsehte.] . and het hi faren ofer all middennárd bodiende fulluht. and soð ȝeleafen. Drihten þa an þa furteohte deȝe his æristes astah to heofene. et-for har alra ȝesychðe. mid þan ilce licama þe he onþrowode and sit an þar swiðeran halfe

his faðer. and alre sceafte ȝewalt. He haueð ȝerimed rihtwisan mannan infer to his rice. and þa þe his bebode allunge for-seoð beð an helle besencte. Witodlice he cumð an ende þisser wrld. and alle þaðe sawle efre underfengon. ariseð of daðe him to|ȝeanes. and elc ȝéélt efter his ȝearnunge.

XXV. [AN BISPEL. [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 56b] ]

[H]it ȝelamp þat an rice king wes. strang and mihti. his land gélest wide and side. his folc was swiðe ærfeð-telle. his under-þéoden ȝéwér on his cyne ríce wuneden. Þa be-fel hit swa þat him a þance beféll to underȝeíte wá an alle his cyne rice him were frend oðer fend. hold oðer fá. and he nam him tó rede þat heom wolde ȝearceon anæ grate laðienge. and þider ȝeclepíen all his underþeód. þat hi bi éne féce to his curt [berie] come sceolde and sette ænne déȝie. þat hi alle be þe látst to þa deȝie. þer were. Ac þis ȝesceod he hadde isétt bi-tweone frend and fend. þat þan hi come mistlice to beríe. ȝef he frend wére. me hine sceolde derewrlice forð clepien. and do hine wasse. and ȝíefe him hís formemete. þat him to lang ne þuhte to abiden of fe [read oð se.] laford to þe none inn come. Gief he fend wére. me sceolden ánon eter [= et þer.] gat ȝemete mid gode repples and stiarne swépen. and stiarne híne besíé. and binde him hand and fétt. and do hine into þiester|nesse. and þer abide of [? of=oð.] all his ȝeferen were ȝegadered. þat hi alle clone. símle belócen were. Þa sende se king his ærndraches of fif ceðen to alle his underþeoden. to ȝelaðie þis folc. hwet bute ícome súm cófer sum láter sum frend sum fend. and was idon bí ham al swá ær cweðe þat isett was. Þa hit þer to com. þat se hlaford into þar halle come. mid his díerewurd ȝeferede. mid ærlen and aldren. mid cnihten mid þeínen. þa cweð se hlafor[d] to his. Æér þanne we mid ure frienden toðe mete gó. scepie [? scewie.] we þes uncoðe mæn ur ȝefó. þa hi to-for him cóme. þa wénte he hin to

ham and þus cweð. Unwraste man wat lacede ȝéu an alle míre rice þat ȝíe hatrede and widerwardnesse aȝénes me ȝe win sceolde. and to mine fá ȝebugon. Swá ibrúce ic mine rice ne scule ȝíe mine mete ibite. ac scule þa þe hit mid mire lufe ȝearnede. Þa þis was iségd. þa were cofe abruden into þesternesse. þe hi sturfe hungre. and se hlaford nam hit him to is frenden and et and dranc and macede hine wel bliðe mid his and þer hi hadden brad and win. and vii. sandon. ¶ [N]u gode menn understandeð þis bispel. Þes king is ure hlaford almihti god þe is king ofer alle kingen. and hlaford ofer alle hlaforden. S[t]rang he his and michti. for he ȝesceop alle þing of nahte. and na þing ne máȝi áȝenes his wille. ne him wiðstande. for þan him seigd se wítíȝe. Qui celorum contines tronos et cetera. þat is. hlaford of mihte þe alste hefenen þrimsettles. and tó neowelnesse þe under eorðe is be-locést. in. pon [? uppon.] . þe dunan þu awiðhst eorðe belucst [in. pon þe dunan eorðe belucst seems to be an inter|polation of the scribe.] mid þina hand; he is íwiss mihti for þan þe non mihte nis buton fram him. His land is all þes middenard. for he alle ȝesceop. and all dihte wið-ute swince. He us is. king. and sceppend. and fader. and hlaford. King for he mid rihtwisnesse diht man and engel god and euel. sceppende. for he us machede lichame and sawle ableow. feder for he us fett and scred. and forðteh al se is cyldren. hlaford for þan þe is ȝéie and drednesse is ofer hus. and [vel as] áh to bienne. He is hure fader. he lenð us his eorðe tó tolie. he corn to sawe. his eorðe us werpð corn and westm. níatt. and dierchin. his loht leóem and lif. his wáter. drench and fiscynn. his fér manifeald þenínge. his sónne. mone. sterren. rien. dáw. wind. wude. unitald fultume al þat we habbeð of þése feder we habbeð. of [MS. os.] wam we alle and us sielþe habbeð. Múȝe we ahct clepeien hine moder wene we. ȝíe muȝe we. hwat deð si moder hire bearn. formes hi hit cheteð and blissið be þe lichte. and seþe hi dieð under hire árme [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 57a] oðer his hafed heleð to don him slepe. and reste. Þis deð all ȝíure drihte. he blisseð hus mid dȝéies [sic.] licht. h[e] sweueð hus mid þiestre nicht. Gíet for an oðre þing god ȝescop þa niht. He wat wel þat maníȝe men bieð sa ful of ȝéscung. mihti efre ísí. Ná ȝewóld ham selfe. to bigeten wrldlic échte. þer for. god hafd ȝescepe ham reste.

súme wile hares unþances. ȝeíet he cweð a wunder worder to þar sawle bi þa witíe ysaiam. Numquid potest mulier obliuisci in|fantem suum ut non misereatur filii uteri sui. þat is la líef maȝíe wiman forȝeten his oge cild. þat hi ne milsi. hire bárn of hire ogen innoð. and ȝief hi forȝiet þah hwéðer nell íc forȝete þe cweð drihten. be þam · þe he fader is and lafórd he him selþ cwed be þe witíe. Si ego pater ubi est honor meus. si dominus ubi est timor meus. þat is. gif ic fader ham. wer his mi manscipe. ȝif ic. hlaford wer hís [MS. hss.] mine aȝéíe? þer fore. G. m. ure king. we oȝeð wrhmint. hur sceappend al þat we bieð. ure fader soðe lufe. ur hlaford drednesse. And þis is séo king þe wile wíte an alle his under|þeode wá hine lufeð and hwa hine hateð. hwá him is frend oðer fend. And þer for he hað ȝelaðed alle fol[c]. to ane dȝeíe. þat is domes dȝeíe. þat hi alle þer beon be þe latst. hwé seden ærst þat þes ærndraces wer isent of fif cheðen. swa ibeoð. þas fif cheðen beoð fif lágan. for þan þe god is þurh þesen ȝecnówé. Si forme lage þat is si ȝécénde láge. þe god sett formest an þes mannes heorte. þat is þat non man ne don oðere. buton þat þe he wolde þat me ded him. Wið-ute þeser láge nis man þe ȝescod habbe. Ærndraces of þisser lage wer [MS. þer.] abel. Seth. enoc. Nóe. and swíce gode man. Seðe þes middenard was ȝestaþeled fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð ét þes wrldes ende. nas tid ne týme ne ne wrð. þat god ne send gode mænn his folc forte ȝelaðie to his rice. Ac si láge sóne adilígde. þurh unwreaste leahtrum and manifald sénne. Þer efter arerde god þas lage þurh moysen þe heretoche of his folce þe he þa ȝecás. and wráte his him self in stanene wax bredene. and si ȝeleste sume wíle. and þer of were larþawes and ȝelaðieres Moises and aaron. and samuel. and fele oðre. Swa láge [or lange.] þat si alswa swið abreað. and adiliȝede. þurh unhersam|nesse. wat hit com to þa time þe god sende þe halíe witíȝe. and hi þa arérdon mid hare wríte þurh þes halíe gastes gífe þa god lage. and rihtleceden þat folc swase hi mihten. and bodeden ures hlafordes to-cýme ses helendes ihesu cristes. þe sceolde his aȝén wille. þurh his gastes ȝífe in ure heorte wríte. and don ús mid his mihte þat stef creft ne mihte. and an þesser láȝe of þe witȝin. wer laðieres móche. Eft bine. fece and þes lare and lage swiðe

acolede þurh manifead fénne [read sénne.] . and hur and hur þurh false gódes þe ælc þiode ham selfe mácede. sume of golde. súm of silure. of treowe. of stane. and awente godes lof and wrhminte fram þe sceappende to þare ȝesceafte. swa þat þa ure halende wes accenned of þam unwemmede mede sante Marie. al se middennard was mid senne begripe. and al folc ȝede in to þes diefles muðe. buton wel feáwe of wam his lefe moder wes istriened. he þa arerd alle godnisse. and sette his halíe láge. and þat þe móre his. ȝiaf miht and strencþe þurl [? þurh.] þe gief of his gaste his hesne to fulforðie. þat non oðre laȝe ne mihte. and understandeð hwu. Þri ampres were an mancyn ær his to-cyme. Ure acenneng wes ful. un [? ur.] lif unwreast. ur deað grislic. he com and brochte þri þin[g] þer aȝén. he wes acénde of þe clene mede. þe efer þurh lefede mede. his lif was halíȝe. his deað ful of milce. his clene acennende clénséde ure fule acennende. his hali lif rihtlecede ure unwreaste lif. his admoded deað ofer com. and fordede ure soríȝe and ȝelice deað. þís ís [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 57b] si fierðe láge. An þisser were ærndraces and ȝelaðieres þa apostles and þe leorninchihtes. þer efter ures helendes upstíȝe to heuene. þa apostles and hare íunglenges þe[r] efter come halíe men and þe hafedmen þe nu beoð in halíe cyrce. and wrðeð of [? oð.] domes déȝe. þurh þes hali gastes ȝífe. and al swa ure helende ham leórde. maníȝe þing ehten þa folce to freme. and þis is si fifte lage. An þisser beoð bedeles and laðieres to berie archebiscopes. and biscopes. prestes. and hare ȝegeng. Ac þah we fif næmmíe. alle hit on godes wille. and élc of ham ȝestrenð and fulfellþ oðre. Of þeses fif ceþen and of hare bedeles we habbeð ȝéu ȝéséd. Of þe folce we siggeð þat hit cumþ fastlice. fram middenardes anginn alse fele alse deade beoð alse fele beoð to berie ícóme. wat frend. wat fá. and elce deȝíe þícce þringeð. Ac ȝief ȝé habbeð under|stande þat we ȝíu er séde. eter gate me his scýft. and þer me hi to ȝesceodeð. Si gate þat is elces mannes endedeíe. þat he stepð ut of þese life into þan oðre [MS. ddðre.] . Ac we sede ȝehw. þat ȝief he frend were me sceolde ȝief him his mórȝe mete þat he þe bet mihte abide þane more mete. Swa hit is here. þat se gode man þe godes lufe hað ȝefolged to is ende cumþ. witetlice wið-ut míantruce þer cumeð þe hali engles him tó. and ȝéf hað ahte uniwasse oðer hit

wrð ȝewasse iþer pine of þe deaðe þe he her þáleð. oðer efter mid eðelice lette. and þan lat me þa sawle to merchestowe. þat his se morȝemete si blisse þe he hað an þar sawle. þat wite ȝe wel. nan halege nað his fulle blisse er he underfó adomes deíe his licame. þat wrð se fulle mete. þan se mann mid sawle and mid licame underfangð sicernesse of écer blisse. And wat belimpð hit ȝief he fend his þe to þare gate cumþ? God þurh his mucele milce ne letes us nefer fandie. Ac naþeles ȝief he fend his an unwreast mann þer beoð anú ȝerédie. þe weregede gastes þe hine uniredlice underfangeð min stiarne swupen. Alse fele unþeawes alse hade upe him and sennenn. al swa fendes he þer ȝemet. hīne to underfó. and to don hīne into þiesternesse. oft a domes dȝéi alle godes fend simle fram his ȝesecðe abroden bienn. and hi to hare lean ham þe lange scel ȝeleste. Þus hit hað íbí and ís. and wrð oft domesdei. Ac þanne hit þer to cumþ þat se hlaford á þe mucele deíe. cumþ forté ísí and frend and fend. þann cumþ all his underþiede him to-fore. þer he sit mid his derewrþe ȝefered mid niȝen anglene had. mid þer unwēmmed meide his moder. mid his apostlen. mid þa hágefaderen. and þo halíȝe wítien. mid martiren. mi[d] hali confessoren mid halie meiden. mid al þan þe þer midenarde for his lufe werpeð abéc. and lagelice her him þenið. wic ȝeíe. wic drednesse wurð þer. þan þat fer to for him abernð þat middernad [sic.] . þan si eorðe alle cwáced þan þe sterren falleð. si sunne and se mone aþestreð for godes brictnesse. þe wlcne to gað. and si hali rode tacne mid þe spere and mid þe neiles þurh angles beoð forð ibrocht. þanne þe angles cwaciað. and tó richtwíse ham adredeð. wat sceol se senfulle don. þe isecgð þer his richtwise deme. þe non ne maíe bechece. non beswice. he his him selþ witnisse and deme. Wat sceol se wrecce don. þe bufon iséȝð his hlaford þe he ȝegremed áfeð. under him helle muð open. abuuten him all folc. him selfe bi sandlice senne beswapen. þer ne mái non frend oðre helpe. ælc had innóh to donne an him selfe. Þan seied ham god þe gelty mannen ȝe seneȝeden. an ȝeur écenesse. and ȝe scule [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 58a] birne an mire écenisse. Ȝe seneȝden alse lange alse ȝé lefede and ȝe scule birne alse longe as íc lefie. Witeð into éce fer. þe is ȝæarced mine fó and his

ȝegen[g] Son hi wrðeð abroden of his ȝesecþe. And þan sone [MS. fone.] geð se hlaford mid his frenden to his mete. þat his to is esten. þe seið an þan hali write Delicie méé sunt esse cum filiis homi|num. þat is. Mine esten beoð wunian mid mannen bearnen. Ac we[habbeð ȝe-] sed ȝíu litl her þat hi sceolden abben god brad and uin. and vii. sonden. hi sculen habe þat brad þe seið iþe godspel. Ego sum panis uiuus qui de celo descendit. Þet is. Ic ám cwuce bread þe astah fram hefene. seȝð ure helende. Se þe of þese brad ett. ne sterfeð he nefer. Þis bread was ímaced of ane hwete corne. al swa se he cweð ȝeðe godspelle. Nisi granum frumenti. et cetera. þis corn was ȝesawen þurh þes ængles muð into ðes meidenes ære Marie. in þare burh of nazareth. þis corn cóm [MS. cón.] ferst inne bethleem. þat cweð us of breade. hit wex and bleówu. in iudea. hit rípede in ierusalem. Iudas and þat leoðre folc hit répén. and deden hit an þar rode alswa alse betwenen melstanent. Sede hit was idon into þer berien. alswa into hófne. þanen hit was ibroht up into heofene to þes hahes hlafordes borde. þer hit fet. and engles. and mancinn in écenisse. and þis is hare bread. hwer scule we win finden? Al swa se he cweð. Ego sum uitis uera. et cetera.

XXVI. [INDUITE UOS ARMATURA DEI.]

[U]r hlaford sanctes paulus þe is þeoden lareaw. us maneð [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 58b] and meneȝeð of sume wepne to nemene þus cweðende. Induite uos armatura dei. Nan man ne nemð wepne buto to fihten mide. ne nanman ne fiht buton wið his ifómenn. Ute we nu isi wice bioð ure ifó. and wice wepne we scule nemen aȝenes ham. Ælc cristen mán ánon se stepð up of [MS. os.] þe funte wer he ifulled his. ipicches he maceð him þri ifón. for þan þe hit is íwrite. Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire. Nan ne mai twan hlaforde þe wransehte bien sámod þówie. þas þri ifon beð. Se

forme is se deofel. and his igéng. Se oðer þes middennard. Se þridde is wel nieh þe cristen men. þat is his aȝon flesc. Þas þri fihteð agen elcen ileafful man alse longe se we iðese westen of þesser woruld wandrið. alse þri reaferes. Þer for sede se hali iob. Milicia est uita hominis super terram. Cnihtscipe is mannes lif upen eorðe. In þes deofles heriscole fihteð agén ús his iferred ȝewerged gastes. and unþeawes. and unwraste lahtres. In þes middeneardes iscole. selðen and uniselðen. In þes flesces iscole. euel ȝeþanc and fule lustes. Of þe formen seieð sanctus paulus. Non est nobis coluctatio aduersus carnem et sanguinem. et cetera. Of þan oðren cweð sanctus Iohannes se godspellere. kuū [? kueðinde.] . Nolite diligere mundum nec ea que in mundo sunt. Of þe þridde queð sanctus paulus. Caro concupiscit aduersus spiritum. S[t]range bieð þes ifó. and swice wið wam we ne muȝe grið ne sibbe mácie. oðer hi ofer cumeð us oðer we him. Gif hi us ofercumeð ne ceped hi of hus gold ne selfer bute ure bane. Gif we ofercumed heom. we scule bien ímersed alle gode cempen and imeaded mid heahere mede. Ac se þe geð into fihte wið-ute heretoche. him mai sone mislimpe. Vte we nu isi wa scel beon ur here|toche. and seðe wice ure wepne bien scu[l]e. Ur heretoche is se haligost. and ure laford ihesu crist þe seið. Sine me nichil potestis facere. Þu ahst to habben ehte wepnecin. þa beoð sceold. helm and brenie. swrd and spere. Stede and twei sporen. and ane smearte ȝerd. Hwic scule beon ure sceld. sanctus paulus hus seið. In omnibus sumentes scutum fidei. in quo possitis omnia tela nequissimi [ignea] extinguere.

XXVII. [DOMINICA IIII. POST PENTECOSTEN.]

[E]rant appropinquantes. et cetera. þet háli godspell ús seið. [Cott. Vesp. A. 22. folio 59b] þat hi-réfen and synþulle [So in MS.] mén ȝeneahlehton þan helende. and woldan his láre ȝehiran. Þa céarodon þa sunder hálȝán and

þa boceras þer heðen þeode. for ðan þe se helende under-feng þa sinfullan. and ham mid imóne hafede. Þa sede se helende þa sunder halȝe and þa bócere þis bispell. Hwilc eower hefð an hu[n]dred sceap. Gif he fo[r]list ān þara sceape. la húne forlet hé neȝon and hun neoȝontie a westene and geð secende þat an þe him losede? Gif he hit þan ȝemet. he hit berð an his eaxlun to þara eowde. oder falde blissiende. Þan he ham cymð he ȝelaðeð his frend and nichi-bures him to and cweð. Blissiað mid me fo[r]þan þe ic iméte mi sceap þe me losede. Ic sege eow þat mare blisse bið an hefene be anun synfulle man. ȝif he his synnen mid dedbote bereúseð. þan him sí be nigon and hund negontíe rihtwisen þe ne beofiað nanre ded bote.

XXVIII. HER BIGINEÐ: SAWLES WARDE. [Bodleian MS. 34, collated with Royal MS. 17 A. 27.]

Si sciret paterfamilias qua hora fur uenturus esset; vigilaret utique et non sineret perfodi domum suam. Ure lauerd i þe godspel teacheð us þurh abisne. hu we ahen wearliche to biwiten us seoluen wið þe unwiht of helle. ant wið his wrenches [MS. wern|ches.] . ȝef þes lauerd [þe huse|bonde.] wiste he seið. hwenne ant hwuch [i hwuch.] time. þe þeof walde cume to his hus; he walde wakien. ne nalde he nawt þolien þe þeof forte breoken hire. Þis hus þe ure lauerð spekeð of; is seolf þe mon inwið þe monnes wit. I þis hus. is þe huse lauerd. ant te fulitohe wif; mei beon wil ihaten. þat ga þe hus efter hire; ha diht hit al to wundre. bute wit ase lauerd chasti hire þe betere. ant bi neome hire muchel of [ofte of.] þat ha walde. ant tah walde al hire hird folhin hire ouer al; gef wit ne forbude ham. for alle hit [ha.] beoð untohene. ant rechelese hinen; bute ȝef he ham rihte. Ant hwucche beoð þeos hinen; Summe beoð wið vten. ant summe wið in nen. þeo [þeos.] wið vten beoð. þe monnes fif wittes. Sihðe. ant herunge. smechunge. ant smeallunge. ant euch limes felunge. þeos beoð hinen vnder wit. as under huse

lauerd. ant hwer. se he is ȝemeles; nis hare nan þe ne feareð ofte untoheliche. ant gulteð ilome. oðer ifol semblant; oder in vuel dede. In wið beoð his hinen. in se moni mislich þonc to cwemen wel þe husewif; aȝein godes wille. ant swerieð somet reaðliche. þat efter hire hit schal [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 76b] gan. þah we hit ne here nawt; we [omitted.] mahen ifelen [MS. iþþlen.] hare nurhð [nurð.] . ant hare untohe bere. a þet hit [wit.] cume forð. ant ba wið eie. ant wið luue tuhte ham þe betere. Ne bið neauer his hus for þeos hinen wel iwist. for hwon þat he slepe. oðer ohwider [ohwider fare.] from hame. þat is hwen mon forȝet his wit. ant let ham iwurðen. ah ne bihoueð hit nawt. þat tis hus beo irobbet. for þer is inne þe tre[sur] þat godd ȝef him seolf fore. þat is monnes sawle. forte breoke þis hus efter þis tresor. þat godd bohte mid his deað. ant lette lif o rode; is moni þeof a buten ba bi dei ant bi niht. vnseheliche gasttes wið alle unwreaste þeawes. ant aȝein euch god þeaw. þe biwiteð iþis hus godes deore castel [chatel.] . vnder wittes wissunge þat is huse lauerd. is eauer hire unþeaw forte sechen in ȝong abute þe wahes to a murðrin hire þrinne. þat heaued þrof is þe feont. þe meistreð ham alle aȝeines him ant his keis. þe husebonde þat is wit. warneð his hus þus. vre lauerd haueð ileanett him froure [fowre.] of his dehtren. þat beoð to vnderstonden þe fowr heaued þeawes. þe earste is warschipe icleopet. ant te oþer is ihaten gastelich strengðe. ant te þridde is meað. rihtwisnesse þe feorðe. Wit þe husbonde godes cunestable cleopeð war [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 77a] schipe forð. ant makið hire durewart. þe war|liche loki hwam ha leote in ant ut. ant of feor bihalde alle þe cuminde. hwuch beo wurðe inȝong to habben; oðer beon bistek|en þrute. Strengðe stont nest hire. þat ȝef ei wule in; war|schipes [omitted.] vn þonkes. warni strengðe fore. þat is hire suster; ant heo hit ut warpe. þe þridde suster þat is meað. hire he makeð meistre ouer his willesfule hirð [hinen.] þat we ear of speken. þat ha leare ham mete [me ðe.] . þat me [omitted.] meosure hat. þe middel of twa uueles [þing.] . for þat is þeaw in euch stude ant tuht forte halden. ant hateð ham alle þat nan of ham aȝein hire; nohwer wid vnmeoð; ne ga ouer mete. þe feorðe suster rihtwisnesse. sit on hest as deme [demere.] . ant beateð þeo þe aȝulteð. ant cruneð þeo þe wel doð. ant demeð euchan his dom efter his rihte. for dret [dred.] of hire nimeð his [þis.]

hirð euch [omitted.] efter þat he is warde to [omitted.] witene [omitted.] . þe ehnen hare. þe muð his. þe earen hare. þe hondon hare. ant euch [euchan.] alswa [al swa as.] of þe oþre wit [wið Þ wit.] þat onont him ne schal nan un-þeaw cumen iN. As þis is ido þus. ant is al stille þrinne; warschipe þat áá is waker is offearet lest sum for truste him. ant feole o slepe. ant forȝeme his warde. ant send ham. in a sonde. þat ha wel cnaweð. of feorren icumen. forte offearen þeo þe beoð [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 77b] ouer hardi. ant þeo þe ȝeme|lese beoð; halden ham wakere. he is underuon in. ant swiðe bihalden of ham alle. for lonc he is. ant leane [feier has been erased before leane.] . ant his leor deaðlich. ant blac ant elheowet. ant euch her þuncheð þat stont in his heaued up [euh er in his heauet þuncheð þat stont up.] ; warschipe hat him tellen [to telle.] biuoren [biuoren ham.] hwet he beo ant hweonene he comme ant hwet he þer seche. Ne mei ich he seið. nohwer speoken. bute ich habbe god lust; lustnið me þenne. fearlac ich hatte. ant am deaðes sonde. ant deaðes munegunge ant am icumen biuore hire to warnin ow of hire cume. warschipe þat best con bisetten hire wordes. ant ec hire werkes; spekeð for ham alle. ant freineð hweonene he cume. ant hwuch hird ha leade. fearlac hire ontswereð. Ich nat nawt þe time; for ha ne seide hit me nawt ah eauer lokið hwenne. for hire wune is to cumen bi stale ferliche ant un|mundlunge hwen me least weneð. of hire hird þat tu easkest Ich þe ondswerie. ha lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen. ant euch an bereð a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten wið swarte smeale leattres. ant an unrude raketehe gled read of fure. forte binden ant to drahen in to in warde helle. hwuch se he mei preoouin þurh his boc þat is on euch sunne enbre [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 78a] uedt [ibreuet.] . þat he wið wil. oðer wið word. oðer wið werc. wrahtte in al his lif siðe. bute þat he haueð i-bet earþon wið soð schrift. ant wið [oðer.] deadbote. ant warschipe hire easkeð. Hweonene [hweonne.] cumest tu [MS. to.] fearlac deaðes [þu deaðes.] munegunge. Ich cume he seið of helle. Of helle ha seið warschipe. ant hauest tu isehen helle; ȝe seið fearlac witerliche. ofte. ant ilome. Nu seið þenne warschipe for þi trowðe treoweliche tele us hwuch is helle. ant hwet tu hauest isehen þrin. ant ich he seið fearlac omi trewðe bluðeliche. nawt tah efter þat hit is. for þat ne mei na tunge tellen [omitted.] . ah efter þat ich mei ant con; þer towart ich chulle readien [rodien.] . Helle is [wid] wið

ute met. ant deop wið ute grunde. ful of brune uneuenlich [unwerilich.] . for ne mei nan eorðlich fur euenin þer towart. ful of stench unþole|lich. for ne mahte in eorðe na cwic þinge hit þolien. ful of sorhe untalelich. for ne mei na muð for wrecchedom ne for wa; rikenin hit [omitted.] ne tellen. Se [so.] þicke is þrinne þe þosternesse; þat me [omitted.] hire mei grapin. for þat fur. ne ȝeueð na liht. ah blent ham þe ehnen. þe þer beoð wið a smorðrinde smoke smeche forcuðest. ant tah iþat ilke swarte þeosternesse swarte þinges ha iseoð as deoflen þat ham meallið ant derueð áá ant dreccheð wið alles cunnes pinen. ant iteilede draken grisliche ase [as þe.] deoflen þe forswolheð ham ihal. ant speoweð ham [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 78b] eft ut biuoren ant bihinden. oðer hwile torendeð ham ant to cheoweð ham euch greot. ant heo eft iwurðeð hal. to a swuch bale bute bote. as ha ear weren. ant ful wel ha i seoð ham to grisle ant to grure. ant to echen hare pine. þe laðe helle wurmes. tadden ant froggen. þe freoteð ham ut te ehnen. ant te nease. gristles. ant snikeð in. ant ut neddren. ant eauraskes [eaureskes.] . nawt ilich þeose her; ah [an.] hundret siðe grisluker et muð. ant et earen. ed ehnen. ant ed neauele. ant ed te breoste holke as meaðen [me deð.] iforrotet flesch eauergete þickest. þer is remunge [MS. ren|ninge.] iþe brune. ant toðes hechelunge iþe snawi weattres. ferliche ha flutteð from þe heate; in [omitted.] to þe chele. Ne [omitted.] neauer nuten ha of þeos twa; hweðer ham þuncheð wurse. for eiðer is unþolelich. ant iþis ferliche mong þe leatere þurh þe earre derueð þe mare. þat fur ham forbearneð al to colen calde. þat pich ham forwalleð aðet ha beon for mealte. ant eft acwikieð [acwick|eneð.] anan to drehen al þat ilke; ant muchedeale wurse á wið uten ende. Ant tis ilke unhope is ham meast pine. þat nan naueð neauer mare hope [omitted.] of [omitted.] nan a couerunge. Ah [ah aa.] aren sikere of euch uuel to þurh leasten iwa from world in to worlde áá on echnesse. Euch aþrusmeð oðer. ant euch is oðres pine. Ant euchan heateð oðer. ant him seoluen as [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 79a] þe blake deouel. ant eauer se ha i þis world luueden ham mare; se ha þer heatieð ham swiðere. ant eiðer curseð oðer. ant fret of þe oðres earen [oderes earm. earen.] . ant te [omitted.] nease alswa. Ich habbe bigunne to [forto.] tellen of þing þat ich ne mahte nawt bringe to eni ende. þah ich hefde a þusent tungen of stele ant talde aðet ha weren alle forwerede. Ah þencheð nu her [hwer.] þurh hwuch þe measte

pine beo; for þe leaste pine is se heard þat hefde a mon i slein ba mi feader. ant mi moder ant al þe [omitted.] ende of [omitted.] mi cun. ant i do me seoluen al þe scheome ant te hearm þat cwic mon mahte þolien. ant ich isehe þes mon i þe ilke [omitted.] leaste pine. þat ich [omitted.] iseh in helle; Ich walde ȝef hit mahte beon. þolien a þusent deaðes to a rudden him ut þrof. swa is þe sihðe grislich ant reowðful to bihalden. for [omitted.] þah neauer nere nan oðer pine bute to i seon eauer þe unseli gastes. ant hare grisliche schape. biseon on hare grimfule. ant grurefule nebbes. ant heren hare rarunge. ant hu ha wið hokeres edwiteð ant up breideð euch an his sunnen. þis [wið.] schenðlac ant te grure of ham were unimete pine; ant hure þolien ant a beoren hare unirude [unrude.] duntes wið mealles istelet. ant wið hare eawles gled reade hare dustlunges. as þah hit were a pilche clut euchan towart oðer imisliche pinen. O helle deaðes hus. wununge of wanunge. of grure ant of granunge. heatel [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 79b] ham. ant heard wan. of alle wontreaðes. buri of bale. ant bold of eauer euch bitternesse [bold eauer euch bitter|nesse is of.] . þu laðest lont of alle. þu dorc stude ifullet of alle dreorinesses. Ich cwakie of grisle [grissen.] . ant of grure. ant euch ban schokeð [sorheð.] me. ant euch her me rueð [runeð (or ruueð).] up of [for.] þi munegunge. for nis þer na steuene bituhhe þe fordemde bute wumme. ant wa is me. and wa beo þe. ant wa beo þe. wa ha ȝeieð. ant wa ha habbeð ne of al þat eauer wa is; ne schal ham neauer wontin. þe swuch wununge of earneð. for ei hwilinde blisse her o þisse worlde; wel were him ȝef [omitted.] þat he neauer ibore nere. bi þis ȝe mahen sumdel witen hwuch is helle. for i wis ich habbe þrin isehen a þusent siðe wurse. ant from þeonne kimeð deað wið a þusent deoflen hiderwart as ich seide. ant ich [omitted.] com þus quoð fearlac forte warnin ow fore; ant tellen ow þeos [o is blotted or erased.] tidinges. Nv lauerd godd quoð warschipe wardi us ant werie. ant rihte us. ant reade hwet us beo to donne. ant we beon þe [omitted.] warre ant wakere to witen us on euch half under godes wengen. ȝef we wel werieð ant witeð ure hus ant godes deore tresor þat he haueð bitaht us; cume deað hwen he wule [ha eauer wule.] Ne þurue we nowðer beon of dred for hire. ne for helle. for ure deað bið deore godd ant in-ȝong in to heouene. of þeos fikelinde world; ne of hire false [fahe.] blisse: ne neome we neauer ȝeme. for al þat is on eorðe.

nis bute as a schadewe; for al wurðeð [wurcheð.] [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 80a] to noht bute þat deore tresor godes deorewurðe feh þat is us. bitaht to witene. Ich habbe þeruore sar care for ich iseo seið warschipe hu þe unwhiht wið his ferd ase liun iburst. ȝeað [geð.] abuten ure hus sechinde [sechinde in Ȝong.] ȝeorn|liche hu he hit forswolhe. ant tis ich mei seið warschipe warnin ow of his lað ant for his wrenches. ah ich ne mei nawt aȝeines his strengðe. Do nu quoð strengðe. warschipe suster þat te limpet to þe ant warne us of his wiheles. for [from for to nawiht omitted.] of al his strengðe ne drede we nawiht. for nis his strengðe noht wurð bute hwer se he ifindeð eðeliche. ant wake unwarnede of treowe bileaue. þe apostle seið. Etstont. þen feont. ant he flið anan riht. schulde we þenne fleon him; ȝenis godd ure scheld. ant alle beoð ure wepnen of his deore grace. ant godd is on [on ont.] ure half. ant stont bi us ifehte. ȝef he schute towart me wið weole ant wunne of þe world. wið este of flesches lustes. of þulliche nesche wepnen ich mahte carien summes weis. ah ne mei me na þing heardes offearen. ne nowcin. ne na wone [MS. wode.] falsi min heorte ne wursi mi bileaue towart him þat ȝeueð me alle mine strengðen. For ba me ah. quoð meað. ant for heart [hard.] of nowcin. ant for wone of wunne dreden. ant carien for moni for to muchel heard of wa þat he dreheð. forȝet ure lauerd. ant ma þah for nesche ant for flesches licunge for [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 80b] ȝemeð ham ofte. bituhhen heard ant nesche. bituhhe wa of þis world ant to muche wunne. bituhhe muchel ant lutel is in euch worldlich þing þe middel wei ȝuldene. ȝef we hire haldeð þenne gawe sikerliche ne þerf us nowðer for deað ne for deouel dreden. hwet se beo of heardes ne drede ich nawiht nesches for ne mei na wunne. ne na flesches licunge ne [ne of.] licomlich este bringe me ouer þe midel of mesure. ant of mete. Riht|wissnesse spekeð nu. Mi suster ha seið warschipe þe haueð wit. ant schad bituhhe god. ant uuel. ant wat hwet is in euch þing to cheosen ant to schunien; readeð us ant leareð forte ȝeme lutel alle fallinde þing. ant witen warliche þeo þe schulen á lesten. ant seið as ha soð seið þat þurh unweotenesse [unwit|nesse.] ne mei ha nawt sunegin. ant tah nis nawt siker of þe unwihtes strengde as þeo þe halt hire wac þah ha beo muche wurð. ant [to.] ure alre ehnen demeð hire unmihti onont hire seoluen to etstonden wið his.

turnes ant deð ase þe wise. Mi suster strengðe is swiðe bald. ant seið þat [þat ha.] nawiht heardes ne mei hire offearen. ah þah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen; ah deð o godes grace ant þat ich demi riht ant wisdom to donne. Mi þridde suster meað spekeð of þe middel sti. bituhhe riht ant luft þat lut cunnen halden. [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 81a] ant seið i nesche ha is bald. ant heard mei hire offearen. ant for þi ne ȝelpeð ha of na sikernesse ant deð as þe wise. Mi meoster is to do riht forte demen ant [to don riht ant riht fon ant demen.] ich deme me seolf þat ich þurh me ne do hit nawt; for al þat god is of godd þat we her habbeð. Nu is riht þenne þat we demen us seolf eauer unmihtie to werien ant to witen us oðer ei god to halden wið ute godes helpe. Þe rihtwise godd wule þat we demen us seolf eðeliche ant lahe. Ne beo we neauer swucche; for þenne demeð he us muche wurð. ant gode ant halt for his dehtren. for þah mi forme suster war beo of euch uuel. ant min oðer strong beo to ȝeines euch nowcin; ant mi þridde meaðful in alles cunnes estes; ant ich do riht ant deme. bute we wið al þis milde beon ant meoke; ant halden us wake. godd mei mid rihte fordemen us of al þis þurh ure prude. ant for þi is riht dom þet we al ure god þonkin him ane. Wiit þe husebonde godes cunestable hereð alle hare sahen ant þonkeð god ȝeorne wið swiðe glead heorte of se riche lane as beoð þeos sustren his fowr dehtren þat he haueð ileanet him on helpe forte wite wel ant werien his castel. ant godes deorewurðe feh. þat is biloke þrinne. Þe willesfule husewif halt hire al stille. ant [þa] al þat hird þat ha wes i wunet to dreaien [dreien.] efter hire; turneð [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 81b] ham treowliliche to wit hare lauerd. ant to þeos fowr sustren. Vmben ane stunde spekeð eft warschipe. ant seið ich iseo a sonde cumen swide gledd icheret. feier ant freolich ant leofliche aturnet. let him in seið wit ȝef godd wule he bringeð us gleade tidinges. ant þat us were muche neod. for fearlac deaðes sonde haueð wið his; offearet us swiðe mid alle. warschipe let him in. ant he gret wit þen lauerd. ant al þat [his.] hird seoðen. wið lahhinde chere. ant ha ȝeldeð him his gretunge. ant beoð alle ilihtet ant igleadet ham þuncheð of his on-sihðe. for al þat hus schineð. ant schimmeð of his leome. he easkeð ham [omitted.] ȝef ham biluueð to heren him ane hwile. ȝe quoð ha rihtwisnesse.

wel us biluueð hit. ant wel is riht þat we þe liðeliche lustnin. Hercnið nu þenne he seið. ant ȝeornliche understondeð. [I]ch am murðes sonde. ant munegunge [munege.] of eche lif. ant liues luue i haten ant cume riht from heouene þat ich habbe isehen nu ant ofte ear þe blisse þat na monnes tunge ne mei of tellen. þe iblescede godd iseh ow offruhte. ant sumdel drupnin [durcnin.] of þat fearlac talde of deað. ant of helle. ant sende me to gleadien ow. nawt for þi þat hit ne beo al soð þat he seide. ant þat schulen alle uuele fondin. ant ifinden. Ah ȝe wið þe fulst of godd ne þurue na þing dreden for he sit on [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 82a] heh þat is ow on helpe. ant is al wealdent þat haueð ow to witene. A seið warschipe welcume liues. luue. ant for þe luue of godd seolf ȝef þu eauer sehe him; tele us sumhwet of him. ant of his eche blisse. ȝe iseoð quod liues luue; Murhdes sonde. Ich habbe isehen him ofte nawt tah alswa as he is; for aȝein þe brihtnesse ant te liht of his leor. þe sunne gleam is dosc. ant þuncheð aschadewe [þuncheð dosc. ant as aschadewe.] . ant for þi ne mahte ich nawt aȝein þe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden; bute þurh a schene schawere [schadewe.] bituhhe me ant him þat schilde mine ehnen. Swa ich habbe ofte isehen þe [him. þe.] hali þrumnesse [or þrun|nesse.] . feader ant sune. ant hali gast. þreo an unto-dealet. ah lutle hwile ich mahte þolie þe leome. ah summes weis ich mahte bi|halden ure lauerd ihesu crist godes sune þat bohte us o rode. Hu he sit blisful [wunderful.] on his feader riht half þat is al wealdent rixleð i þat eche [riche.] lif bute linnunge. se unimete feier; þat te engles ne beoð neauer ful on him to bihalden. ant ȝet ich iseh etscene [Ȝet is eðsene.] þe studen of his wunden. ant hu he schaweð ham his feader to cuðen hu he luuede us ant hu he wes buhsum to him þe sende him swa to alesen us ant bisecheð him a for moncunnes heale. Efter him ich iseh on heh ouer alle heouenliche þe eadi meiden his [ant.] moder marie i-nempnet sitten in [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 82b] a trone se swiðe briht wid ȝimmes i-stirret. ant hire wlite se weoleful [meinful.] . þat euch eorðlich liht; is þeoster þe[r] o ȝeines. þear ich iseh as ha bit hire deore wurðe sune se ȝeornliche. ant se inwardliche for þeo þat hire seruið. ant he hire ȝetteð blideliche al þat ha bi secheð. Þet liht þa ich ne mahte lengre þolien [na mare of hire iþolien.] ; Ich biseh to þe engles ant to þe archangles ant to þe oðre; þe beoð buuen ham. iblescede [iblesce.]

gastes þe beoð a biuore godd ant seruið him eauer. ant singeð a unwerȝeð. Nihe wordes þer beoð. ah [ant.] hu ha beoð i-ordret ant sunderliche isette. þe an buue þe oðre. ant euchanes meoster were long to tellen. Se muche murhðe ich hefde on hare on sihðe; þat ne mahte ich longe hwile elles hwider lokin. Efter ham ich iseh towart te patriarches. ant te prophetes þe makied swuch murhðe þat ha aren nuðe i þat ilke lont of blisse þat ha hefden of feor igret ear [igreiðet.] on eorðe ant seoð nu al þat isoðet. þat ha hefden longe ear icwiddet of ure lauerd as he hefde ischawed ham igastelich sihðe. Ich iseh þe apostles poure [þat poure weren.] . ant lah on eorðe. ifullet ant biȝoten al of unimete blisse sitten i trones. ant al under hare uet þat heh is i þe worlde. ȝarowe forte demen i þe dei of dome kinges ant keiseres. ant alle cunreadnes [cunredes.] of alle cunnes ledenes. [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 83a] Ich biheolt te Martyrs. ant hare unimete murhðe þe þoleden her pinen. ant deað for ure lauerd. ant liht|liche talden to alles cunnes neowcins. ant eorðliche tintreohen aȝeines þe blisse þat godd in hare heorte schawede ham to cumene. Efter ham ich biheolt þe cunfessurs hird þe liueden igod lif. ant haliche deiden. þe schineð as doð steorren iþe eche blissen. ant seoð [iseoð.] godd in his wlite þat haueð alle teares iwipet of hare ehnen. Ich iseh þat schene. ant þat brihte ferreden of þe eadi meidnes ilikest towart engles. ant feolohlukest wið ham blissin ant gleadien. þe libbinde iflesche ouergað flesches lahe ant ouercumeð cunde þe leadeð heouenlich lif in eorðe as ha wunieð hare murhðe. ant hare blisse. þe feierlec of hare wlite. þe swetnesse of hare song; ne mei na tunge tellen. Alle ha singeð þe [from þe to singen omit|ted.] þer beoð. Ah hare song ne mahe nane buten heo singen. Se swote smal ham folheð hwider se ha wendeð. þat me mahte libben aa bi þe swot|nesse. hwam se heo bisecheð fore; is sikerliche iborhen. for aȝein hare bisocnen; godd him seolf ariseð þat alle þe oðre halhen [he walden.] sittende ihereð. Swiðe wel quoð warschipe likeð us þat tu seist. Ah nu þu hauest se wel iseið of euch a [euchan to.] setnesse; of þe seli sunder-lepes sumhwet sei us nu hwuch blisse is to alle iliche meane; ant liues luue hire ondswereð. [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 83b] Þe imeane blisse is seouenfald. lengðe of lif. wit. ant luue. ant of þe luue a gleadunge. wið-ute met murie. loft song. ant lihtschipe. ant sikernesse. is

þe seoueðe. þah ich þis seið warschipe sumdel understonde; þu most unwreo þis witerluker ant openin to þeos oðre. ant hit schal beon seið liues luue warschipe as þu wilnest. Ha liuieð á in awlite. þat is brihtre seoueualð. ant schenre þen þe sunne. ant eauer in a strengðe to don buten euch swinc al þat ha wulleð. ant eauer mare in a steal in al þat eauer god is wið ute wonunge. wið uten euch þing þat mahe hearmin [hearm.] oðer eilin. in al þat eauer is. softe oðer swote. ant hare lif is godes sihðe. ant godes . . . . . [a word erased here in MS.] cnawlechunge as ure lauerd seide. þat is quod he [he seið.] eche lif to seon ant cnawen sod godd. ant him þat he sende ihesu crist ure lauerd to ure alesnesse ant beoð for þi ilich him iþe ilke wlite þat he is. for ha seoð him as he is. nebbe to nebbe. Ha beoð se wise þat ha witen alle godes reades. his runes ant his domes [godes runes. ant his reades.] þe derne beoð. ant deopre þen eni sea dingle. ha seoð igodd alle þing. ant witen of al þat is ant wes ant eauer schal iwurden. hwet hit beo. hwi. ant hwerto ant hwer of hit bigunne [biginne.] . Ha luuieð god wið ute met. for þat ha understondeð hu he haueð bi ham idon þurh his muchele godlec ant hwet ha ahen his deorewurde milce to ȝelden. ant euch an luueð oðer ase muchel as him seoluen. Se gleade ha beoð of godd; þat al is hare blisse. se muchel [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 84a] þat ne mei hit munne na muð. ne spealie na speche for þi þat euchan luueð oðer as him seoluen. Euchan haueð of odres god ase muche murhðe as of his ahne [as him seoluen.] . bi þis ȝe mahen seon ant witen. þat euchan haueð sunderlepes ase feole glead|schipes; as ha beod monie alle. ant euch of þe ilke gleadschipes is [beoð.] to eauer euch an ase muche gleadunge; as his ahne sunderliche. ȝet ouer al þis. hwen euchan luueð godd mare þen him seoluen. ant þen alle þe odre; mare he gleadeð of godd wið uten ei et|lunge [ei eilung.] þen of his ahne gleadunge. ant of alle þe oðres. Neomeð nu þenne ȝeme ȝef neauer anes heorte ne mei in hire [und] [MS. torn.] eruon hire ahne gleadunge sunderliche [iseide. so unim] ete muchel is þe [þen.] anlepi blisse. þat ha nimeð i[n] hi[re] þus monie. ant þus muchele. for þi seide ure lauerd to þeo þe him hefden ic|wemet. Intra in gaudium. et cetera. Ga quoð he in to þi lauerdes blisse [hus.] . þu most al gan þrin. ant al beon bigotten þrin for in þe ne mei hit nanesweis [o nane wise.] neomen in. her of ha herieð godd ant singeð

á un werget eauer iliche lusti in þis loft songes. as hit iwriten is. Beati qui habitant. et cetera. Eadi beoð þeo lauerd. þe iþin [in þis.] hus wunieð ha schulen herien þe from [worlde into worlde]. Ha beoð alle ase li[hte ant as swifte as þe sunne] gleam þe sc[heot from est into west. ase þin] [Bodleian MS. 34 folio 84b] ehe-lid tuneð ant openeð for hwer se eauer þe gast wule þe bodi is anan riht wið ute lettunge. for ne mei ham na þing aȝeines etstonden. for euch an is al [as.] mihti to don al þat he wule. ȝe makie to cwakien heouene ba ant eorðe wið his an finger. Sikere ha beoð of al þis of þulli lif. of þulli wit. of þulli luue ant [a.] gleadunge þrof. ant of þulli blisse. þat hit ne me neauer mare lutlin ne wursin. ne neome nan ende. þis lutle ich habbe iseid of þat ich iseh in heouene ah nower neh ne neh ich al. ne þat ȝet þat ich [iseh. ne] ne con ich half [al.] tellen. Witer|[liche quoð] warschipe. wel we understondeð þat tu hauest ibeo þear ant soð hauest iseid trof. efter þi sihðe. ant wel is him þat is war. ant bisið him hu he mahe beast halden his hus þat godes tresor is in aȝeines godes unwine þe weorreð þer towart a wið unþeawes. for þet. schal bringen him þider as he schal. al þis þat tu hauest ispeken of an [ant.] hundret siðe mare of blisse buten euch bale [wið uten balesið.] folhin ant ifinden. Quoð strengðe hwen hit swa is; hwet mei tweamen us from godd ant hald[en us þeonne. ih] am siker ine godd. [þat ne schal lif ne deð; ne wa] ne wunne nowðer [to dealen us ant his luue. ah al þis] us haueð igarc [Bodl. MS.] [ket ȝèf we as treowe tresures witeð wel his tresor þat is bitaht us to halden. as we schulen ful wel under his wengen. Warpeð ut quoð warschipe; farlac ure fa. nis nawt riht þat an hus halde þeos tweien. for þer as murðes sonde is; ant soð luue of eche lif. farlac is fleme. nu ut quoð strenðe farlac ne schaltu na lengere leuen in ure ende. nu quoð ich seide for god al þat ich seide. ant þah hit muri nere nes na lessere mi tale þen wes murhðes sondes ne unbihefre to ow. þah hit ne beo so licwurðe ne icweme. Eiðer of ow haueð his stunde to speokene. ne nis incker noðres tale to schunien in his time. þu warnest of wa. he telleð of wunne. muche neod is þat me ow ba ȝeornliche hercni. Flute nu farlac þah. hwil liues luue is herinne. ant þole wið efne heorte þe dom of rihtwisnesse. for þu schal[t]. ful bliðeliche beon

under-fon in as ofte as liues luue stinteð [MS. stutteð.] forto spekene. Nv is wil þat husewif al stille. þat er wes so willesful. Al ituht efter wittes wissunge þat is husebonde. ant Al þat hird halt him stille. þat wes i-wunet to beon fulitohen ant don efter wil hare lefdi. Ant nawt efter wit; lustneð nu his lare. ant fondeð euer euchan efter þat him limpeð to. þurh þeos twa sonden. þat ha i-herd habbeð. ant þat fowr sustren lerden þruppe for euch unþeawes inȝong his warde te witene. ant te warden treowliche. Þvs ah mon te þenchen ofte Ant ilome. Ant wið þulliche þohtes awec|chen his heorte. þe islep of ȝemeles for-ȝet hire sawle heale. efter þeos twa sonden. From helle sihðe biseon; to þe blisse of heouene. To habben farlac of þat an; luue toward þat oðer. ant leaden him ant hinen. þat beoð his limen alle. nawt efter wil þe untohe lefdi ant his lust leareð. ah efter þat wit wule þat is husebonde tuhten ant teachen þat wit ga euer biuore ant teache wil efter him. to al þat he dihteð ant demeð to donne. ant wið þe fowr sustren; þer fore þe fowr heued þeawes. War|schipe. Strencðe in godd. Ant Með. Ant Rihtwisnesse. witen godes treosor þat is his ahne sawle. iþe hus of þe bodi; from þe þeof of helle. þulli þoht makeð mon te fleon alle unþeawes ant ontent his heorte toward þe blisse of heouene. þat ure lauerd ȝeue us þurh his hali milce þat wið þe feder. ant e sune ant e hali gast rixleð in þreo had á buten ende. AMEN.

Par seinte charite biddeð a pater noster for iohan þat þeos boc wrat.

Hwa se þis writ haueð ired. Ant crist him haueð swa isped. Ich bidde par seinte charite. Þet ȝe bidden ofte for me. Aa pater noster. ant aue marie. Þet ich mote þat lif her drehen. Ant ure lauerd wel icwemen. I Mi ȝuheðe ant in min elde. Þet ich mote ihesu crist mi sawle ȝelden.]

AMEN.

XXIX. HER BIGINNES ÞE WOHUNGE OF URE LAUERD. [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18.]

Ihesu swete ihesu. mi druð. mi derling. mi drihtin. mi healend. mi huniter. mi haliwei. Swetter is munegunge of þe þen mildeu o muðe. Hwa ne mei luue þi luueli leor? Hwat herte is swa hard þat ne mei to-melte i þe munegunge of þe? Ah hwa ne mei luue þe luueliche ihesu? for inwið þe ane arn alle þe þinges igedered þat eauer muhen maken ani mon luuewurði to oðer. feirnesse and lufsum neb. flesch hwit under schrud makes moni mon beo luued te raðer. and te mare. Summe gold and Gersum and ahte of þis worlde makes luued and heried. Sume; fredom and largesce þat leuer is menskli to ȝiuen þen cwedli to wið halde. Summe; wit and wisdom and ȝapschipe of werlde. Summe; maht and strengðe to beo kid and kene ifiht his riht for to halde. Summe; noblesce. and hehnesse of burðe. Summe; þeaw. and hendeleic and lastelese [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 127b] lates. Summe; menske and mildeschipe and debonairte of herte and dede. And ȝette ouer al þis; kinde makes sibbe frend euchan to luuen oðer. Nu mi derewurðe druð. mi luue. mi lif. mi leof. mi luueleuest, mi heorte haliwei. mi sawle swetnesse. Þu art lufsum on leor. þu art al schene. al engles lif is ti neb to bihalden. for þi leor is swa unimete lufsum and lusti on to loken; þat ȝif þe forwariede þat wallen in helle mihten hit echeliche seon; al þat pinende pik. ne walde ham þunche bote a softe bekinde bað. for ȝif hit swa mihte beon; leuere ham were eauer mare in wa for to welle and o þat welefule wlite eauer mar to loken; þen in alle blisse beon and forgan þi sihðe. Þu art swa schene and swa hwit; þat te sunne were dosk ȝif hit to þi blisfule bleo mihte beo euenet. Þa ȝif þat iwile animon for feirnesse luue; luue iwile þe mi leue lif, moder sune feirest. A ihesu mi swete

ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote nu iwile for ahte lefmon chese for aihwer wið chatel mon mai luue cheape. Ah is ani ricchere þen þu mi leof þat rixles in heuene. þu art kid keiser þat al þis werld wrahtes. for as te hali prophete dauid cwiddes. drihtines is te eorðe. and al þat hit fulles werld and al þat trin wuneð. Heuene wið þe murhðes and ta unimete blisses. Al is tin mi sweting. and al þu wilt ȝiue me ȝif i þe riht luuie. Ne mai i na man ȝiue mi luue to swettere biȝete. Halde iwile þa to þe mi leof for þe self luue þe seluen. and for þi luue leten alle oðre þinges þat min herte fram þi luue mihte drahe and turnen. A Ihesu swete ihesu leoue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 128a] hwat is ahte and weorldes wele wurð wið|uten fredom? And hwa is frerre þen þu? For first þu mades al þis werld and dides hit under mine fet. and makedes me lauedi ouer alle þine schaftes þat tu schop on eorðe. Bote Ich hit rewli fordide þurh-hut mine sunnes. Ah lest ine al forlesede þu ȝef þe seluen for me to lese me fra pine Þenne ȝif i ani wile for largesce luue; luue iwile þe ihesu crist largest ouer oðre. For oðre largemen ȝiuen þise uttre þinges. bute þu swete ihesu for me ȝef þe seluen. þat tin ahne heorte blod ne cuðes tu wið-halde. Derre druri ne ȝef neauer na lefmon to oðer. And tu þat erst me ȝef al þe seluen; þu hafdes me heht mi lefmon to þe ȝiue al me seluen. to rixlen o þi rihthond crunet wið þe seluen. Hwa is ta largere þen þu. Hwa for largesce is betere wurð to beo luued þen þu mi luue lif. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote largesce is lutel wurð þer wisdom wontes. And ȝif þat iwile animon luue for wisdom; nis nan wisere þen þu þat art wisedom cald of þi fader in heuene. For he þurh þe þat wisdom art al þis world wrahte and dihteð hit and dealeð as hit best semeð. Inwið þe mi leue lif is hord of alle wisedom hid as te bok witnesses. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote moni man þurh his strengðe and hardischipe ek makes him luued and ȝerned. And is ani swa hardi swa artu? Nai. for þu þe ane dreddes nawt wið þin anre deore bodi to fihte aȝaines alle þe ahefulle deueles of helle. þat hwuch of ham swa is lest laðeliche. and grureful.

mihte he swuch as he is to monkin him scheawe; al þe world were offeard him ane to bihalde for ne mihte na mon him seo and in his wit wunie. bute ȝif þe grace [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 128b] and te strengðe of crist baldede his heorte. þu art ȝette her wið swa unimete mihti þat wið þi deorewurðe hond nailet on rode; þu band ta helle dogges. and reftes ham hare praie þat tai hefden grediliche gripen and helden hit faste for adames sunne. þu kene kidde kempe robbedes helle hus. lesedes tine prisuns and riddes ham ut of cwalm hus and leddes ham wið þe self to þi ȝimmede bur. bold of eche blisse. forþi of þe mi lefmon was soðliche quiddet. Drihti[n] is mahti strong and kene ifihte. And for þi ȝif me likes stalewurðe lefmon; luue iwile þe ihesu strongest ouer alle. þat þi maht felle mine starke sawle fan. and te strengðe of þe helpe mi muchele wacnesse. and hardischipe of þe balde min herte. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Ah noble men and gentile and of heh burðe ofte winnen luue lihtliche cheape. for ofte moni wummon letes hire mensket þurh þe luue of wepmon þat is of heh burðe. þenne swete ihesu up o hwat herre mon mai i mi luue sette. hwer mai i gentiller mon chese þen þe þat art te kinges sune þat tis world wealdes. and king and euene wið þi fader. king ouer kinges lauerd ouer lauerdes And ȝette onont ti monhad born þu wes of marie meiden mildest o mod. kine bearn of burðe. of dauiðes kin þe king. of Abrahames streone. Hehere burðe þen þis nis nan under sunne. Luue iwile þe þa swete ihesu as te gentileste lif þat eauer liuede on eorðe. alswa for in al þi lif neauer na leaste nes ifunden. mi deore lefmon lasteles. and tat com þe of burðe. and of foster alswa. þu þat eauer wunedest i þe hurd of heouene. [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 129] A mi deorewurðe druð swa gentile and swa hende. ne þole me neauer mi luue nohwer to sette o karlische þinges. ne eorðli þing ne fleschli aȝaines te ȝerne ne luue aȝain þi wille. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Meknesse and mildschipe makes mon eihwer luued. and tu mi leue ihesu for þi mikle meknesse to lamb was euenet. For aȝaines al þe woh and te schome þat tu þoledest. and aȝaines al þe wa and te pinfule wundes; neauer ne opnedes ti muð

to grucchen aȝaines. and ȝette þe schome and te woh þat te sunefule of þe world euch dai don þe; mildeliche þu þolest hit. ne wrekes tu þe nawt sone after ure Gultes Bote longe abides bote þurh ut ti milce. Þenne þi deboneirschipe mai make þe eihwer luued. and for þi is riht þat i luue þe. and leaue alle oðre for þe. for muchel þu haues ti milce toward me scheawed. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote for þi þat sibbe frend kindeliche euchan luues oðer; þu schruddes te wið ure flesch. nam of hire flesch mon born of wummon þi flesch nam of hire flesch wið uten meane of wepmon. nam wið þat ilke flesch fulliche monnes cunde to þolen al þat mon mai þole. Don al þat mon deð wið uten sunne ane. for sunne and unwitschipe ne hafdes tu nowðer. Þenne aȝaines kinde Gað hwa þat swuche kinsemon ne luueð and leueð. And for þi þat trewere luue ah beo imong breðre þu monnes broðer bicom of an fader wið alle þoa þat cleneliche singen. Pater noster. Bute þu þurhut kinde. and we þurhut grace. and mon of þat ilke flesch þat we beren on eorðe. A. hwam mai he luue treweliche hwa ne luues his broðer. Þenne hwa se þe ne luues; he is mon unwreastest Nu mi swete ihesu. leaued haue i for þi luue flesches sibnesse [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 129b] and ȝette borne breðre hauen me forwurpen. bote ne recches me na þing hwils þat i þe halde. for i þe ane mai ich alle frend finden. þu art me mare þen fader. mare þen moder. Broðer suster. oðre frend narn nawiht aȝaines te to tellen. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te. &c. Þenne þu wið þi fairnesse. þu wið richesce. þu wið largesce. þu wið wit and wisdom. þu wið maht and strengðe. þu wið no|blesce and hendeleic. þu wið meknesse and mildeschipe and mikel debonairte. þu wið sibnesse. þu wið alle þe þinges þat man mai luue wið bugge; haues mi luue chepet. Ah ouer alle oðre þinges makes te luuewurði to me þa harde atele hurtes. þa schomeliche wohes þat tu þoledes for me. þi bittre pine and passiun. þi derue deað o rode telles riht in al mi luue. calenges al mi heorte. Ihesu mi liues luue. min herte swetnesse. þre fan fihten aȝaines me. and ȝet mai ich sare for hare duntes drede. and bihoues þurh þi grace ȝapliche to wite me. þe werld mi flesch. þe deouel.

Þe world to make me þewe. Mi fles; to make me hore. Þe deuel þurh ut þise twa to drahe me to helle. Arh ich was meself and wah and neh dune fallen. and mine fan derue. swa bucchede and swa kene þat hwen þai sehen me swa wak and swa forhuhande and buhande toward ham. þei swiðre sohten uppo me. and wenden of me wrecche haue maked al hare ahen and hefden forsoðe maked. nere helpe nere þe nerre. Þai grennede for gladschipe euchan toward oðer as wode wulues þat fainen of hare praie. Bote þer þurh under|stonde i þat tu wult haue me to lefmon and to spuse. þat tu ne þoledes ham noht fulli fainen of me. and alle gate haue wurpen me in schome and in sinne. and ter after in to pine. Bote þer þe bale was alre meast. swa was te bote nehest. Þu biheld al þis and tu allegate seh þat ine mihte stonde aȝain hare [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 130] wilfulle crokes þurh wit oðer strengðe þat wes in me seluen. Bot neh hefde i fulliche buhed til alle mine þre fan. þu com me to helpe. feng to fihte for me. and riddes me fram deaðes hus sorhe and pine of helle. Þu biddes me bihalde hu þu faht for me. þat i pouerte of worlde ne schome of wicke monnes muð for uten mine Gulte. ne secnesse of mi bodi. ne flesches pine drede. hwen þat i bihalde hu þu was poure for me. hu þu was schent and schomet for me; and atte laste wið pineful deað henged orode. Ihesu mi liues luue riche ar tu as lauerd in heuene and in eorðe. and tah poure þu [MS. þi.] bicom for me. westi and wrecched Poure þu born was of þe meiden þi moder. for þenne iþi burð tid in al þe burh of belleem ne fant tu hus lewe þer þine nesche childes limes inne mihte reste. Bot in a waheles hus imiddes þe strete. Poure þu wunden was irattes and i clutes and caldeliche dennet in a beastes cribbe. Bote swa þu eldere wex; swa þu pourere was. For i þi childhad hafdes tu þe pappe to þi fode. and ti moder readi hwen þu pappe ȝerndes. Bote hwen þu eldere was. þu þat fuhel ofluht. fisch iflod folc on eorðe fedes; þoledes for wone of mete moni hat hungre as clerkes witerliche in god|spel reden. and tu þat heuene and eorðe and al þis werld wrahtes. nauedes in al þis werld hwer þu o þin ahen þi heaued

mihtes reste. Bote baðe ȝung and eldre alle Gate þu hafdes hwer þu mihtes wrihe þine banes. Ah atte laste of þi lif hwen þu for me swa rewliche hengedes on rode. ne hafdes in al þis world hwer wið þat blisfule blodi bodi þu mihtes hule and huide. and swa mi swete lefmon poure þu þe self was. and te poure [MS. þoure.] þu raðeste cheas. pouerte þu luuedes. pouerte þu tahtes. and ȝiuen þu haues echeliche þin endelese blisse. til alle þat clenli for þi luue mesaise and pouerte wilfulliche þolien. A hu schulde i beo riche. and tu mi leof swa poure; for þi swete [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 130b] ihesu crist wile i beo poure for þe; as tu was for þe luue of me. for to beo riche wið þe i þin eche blisse. for wið pouerte and wið wa schal mon wele buggen. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te &c. Bote po|uerte wið menske is eað for to þolien. Ah þu mi lef for mi luue wið al þi pouerte was schomeliche heaned. for hu mon þe ofte seide schomeliche wordes and haðfule hokeres. long weren hit al to tellen. Bote muche schome þu þoledes. hwen þu þat neauer sunne dides; was taken as untreowe. Broht biforen sinfule men þa heaðene hundes of ham to beo demet. þat demere art of werlde. Þer þu bote of mon kin schomeliche was demed. and te monquellere fra deðes dom was lesed. For as i þe godspel is writen. alle þai crieden o wode wulues wise Heng heng þat treitur ihesus on rode. Heng him o rode. and lese us Baraban. was tat barabas a þeof þat wið tresun i þe burh hafde a mon cwelled. bote mare schome þu þoledes hwen þat te sunefule men i þi neb spitted. A ihesu hwa mihte mare þolen cristen oðer heaðen; þen mon him for schendlac i þe beard spitted. And tu i þi welefulle wlite. i þat lufsume leor swuche schome þoledes. And al þe menske þuhte for þe luue of me. þat tu mihtes wið þat spatel þat swa biclarted [MS. biclar|ied.] ti leor wasche mi sawle. and make hit hwit and schene and semlike i þi sihte. and for þi þu biddes me her up on þenche. Scito, quoniam propter te sus|tinui oprobrium operuit confusio faciem meam. Vnderstond þu seist and herteliche þenke þat i for þe luue of þe þolede schome and bismere. and schomeliche spateling of unwurði ribauz þa heaðene hundes hilede mi neb for þe. As tah he seide. ne dred tu nawt

for þe of me to þole schome of worlde wið ute þine Gulte. Bote schome ouer schomes [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 131] þoledes tu hwen þu wes henged bituhhe twa þeofes. As hwa se seie. He þis is mare þen þeof. And for þi as hare meister he henges ham bituhhen. A ihesu mi liues luue hwat herte ne mai to breke hwen ha herof þenches hu þu þat menske art of al mon kin. of alle bales bote. mon for to menske swuch schome þoledes. Mon spekes ofte of wundres and of selcuðes þat misliche and monifald hauen bifallen. bote þis was te measte wunder þat eauer bifel on eorðe. ȝa wunder ouer wundres þat tat kidde keiser cruned in heuene. schuppere of alle schaftes. for to mensken hise fan. walde henge bituhhe twa þeoues. A ihesu swete ihesu þat tu wes schent for mi luue leue þat te luue of þe &c. Inoh were pouerte and schome wið uten oðre pines bote ne þuhte þe neauer mi liues luue. þat tu mihtes fulliche mi frendschipe buggen hwils [MS. hwilf.] þe lif þe lasted A. deore cheap hefdes tu on me. ne was neauer unwurði þing chepet swa deore. Al þi lif on eorðe wes iswink for me swa lengre swa mare Ah bifore þin ending swa unimeteliche þu swanc and swa sare þat reade blod þu swattes for as. seint luk seið i þe godspel. þu was i swa strang a swing þat te swat as blodes dropes eorn dune to þe eorðe. Bute hwat tunge mai hit telle. hwat heorte mai hit þenche for sorhe and for reowðe of alle þa buffetes and ta bali duntes þat tu þoledest i þin earst niminge hwen þat iudas scharioth brohte þa helle bearnes þe to taken and bringen biforen hare princes. hu ha þe bunden swa [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 131b] hetelifaste þat te blod wrang ut at tine finger neiles as halhes bileuen and bunden ledden rewli and dintede unrideli o rug and o schuldres. and bifore þe princes buffeted and beten. Siðen bifore pilat hu þu was naket bunden faste to þe piler. þat tu ne mihtes nowhwider wrenche fra þa duntes. þer þu wes for mi luue wið cnotti swepes swungen swa þat ti luueliche lich mihte beo to torn and to rent. and al þi blisfule bodi streamed on a Girre blod. Siðen o þin heaued wes set te crune of scharpe þornes. þat wið eauriche þorn wrang ut te reade blod of þin heali heaued. Siðen ȝette buffetet and to dunet i þe heaued wið þe red ȝerde þat te was ear in honde ȝiuen þe on hoker|ringe.

A hwat schal i nu don? Nu min herte mai to breke. min ehne flowen al o water. A nu is mi lefmon demd for to deien. A nu mon ledes him forð to munte caluarie to þe cwalm stowe. A lo he beres his rode up on his bare schuldres. and lef þa duntes drepen me þat tai þe dunchen and þrasten þe forðward swiðe toward ti dom. A lefmon hu mon folhes te. þine frend sariliche wið reming and sorhe. þine fend hokerliche to schome and wundren up o þe. A nu haue þai broht him þider. A nu raise þai up þe rode. Setis up þe warh treo. A nu nacnes mon mi lef A. nu driuen ha him up wið swepes and wið schurges. A hu liue i for reowðe þat seo mi [? nu.] mi lefmon up o rode. and swa to drahen hise limes þat i mai in his bodi euch ban tellen. A hu þat ha nu driuen irnene neiles þurh þine feire hondes in to hard rode þurh þine freoliche fet. A nu of þa honden and of þa fet swa luueli. streames te blod swa rewli. A nu beden ha mi leof þat seið þat him þristes; aisille surest alre drinch menged wið galle þat is þing bittrest. Twa [MS. Ewa.] Bale drinch i blodleting swa sur and swa bittre. bote ne drinkes he hit noht. A nu swete ihesu. ȝet up on al þi wa ha eken schome and bismer. lahhen þe to hokere þer þu o rode hengest. þu mi luueliche lef þer þu wið strahte [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 132] earmes henges o rode; was reowðe to rihtwise. lahter to þe luðere. And tu þat al þe world fore mihte drede and diuere; was unwreste folk of world to hoker lahter. A þat luuelike bodi þat henges swa rewli swa blodi and swa kalde. A hu schal i nu liue for nu deies mi lef for me up o þe deore rode? Henges dun his heaued and sendes his sawle. Bote ne þinche ham nawt ȝet þat he is ful pinet. ne þat rewfule deade bodi nulen ha nawt friðie. Bringen forð longis wið þat brade scharpe spere. He þurles his side cleues tat herte. and cumes flowinde ut of þat wide wunde. þe blod þat bohte. þe water þat te world wesch of sake and of sunne. A swete ihesu þu oppnes me þin herte for to cnawe witerliche and in to reden trewe luue lettres. for þer i mai openlich seo hu muchel þu me luuedes. Wið wrange schuldi þe min heorte wearnen siðen þat tu bohtes herte for herte. Lauedi moder and meiden þu stod here ful neh and seh al þis sorhe vpo þi deore|wurðe

sune. was wiðinne martird iþi moderliche herte. þat seh to cleue his heorte wið þe speres ord. Bote lafdi for þe Ioie þat tu hefdes of his ariste þe þridde dai þer after; leue me vnderstonde þi dol and herteli to felen sum hwat of þe sorhe þat tu þa hefdes and helpe þe to wepe. þat i wið him and wið þe muhe i min ariste o domes dai gladien and wið ȝu beon i blisse þat he me swa bitterliche wið his blod bohte. Ihesu swete ihesu þus tu faht for me aȝaines mine sawle fan. þu me derennedes wið like. and makedes of me wrecche þi leofmon and spuse. Broht tu haues me fra þe world to bur of þi burðe. steked me i chaumbre. I mai þer þe swa sweteli kissen and cluppen. and of þi luue haue gastli likinge. A swete ihesu mi liues luue wið þi blod þu haues me boht. and fram þe world þu haues me broht. Bote nu mai i seggen wið þe salmewrihte. Quid retribuam domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi. Lauerd hwat mai i ȝelde þe for al þat tu haues ȝiuen me. Hwat mai þole for þe for al þat tu þoledes for me? Ah me [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 132b] bihoueð þat tu beo eað to paie. a wrecche bodi and a wac bere ich ouer eorðe. and tat swuch as hit is haue ȝiuen and ȝiue wile to þi seruise. Mi bodi henge wið þi bodi neiled o rode. sperred querfaste wið inne fowr wahes and henge i wile wið þe and neauer mare of mi rode cume til þat i deie. For þenne schal i lepen fra rode in to reste. fra wa to wele and to eche blisse A. ihesu swa swet hit is wið þe to henge. for hwen þat i seo o þe þat henges me biside; þe muchele swetnesse of þe; reaues me fele of pine. Bote swete ihesu hwat mai mi bodi aȝaines tin for ȝif ich mihte a þusand fald ȝiue þe me seluen nere hit nowt onont te þat ȝef þe seluen for me. And ȝet ich haue an heorte unwrest and unwurði and westi and poure of alle gode þeawes and tat swuch as hit is; tac hit to þe nu leue lif wið treowe luuenesse. and ne þole me neauer nan oðer þing aȝain þi wille luuie for ne mai ich nowhwer mi luue bettre sette þen o þe ihesu crist þat bohtes hit swa dere. nis nan swa wurði to beo luued as tu swete ihesu þat in þe haues alle þing hwer fore mon ah beo luuewurði to oðer. þu art best wurð mi luue þat for mi luue deidest. ȝette ȝif þat i mi luue bede for to selle. and sette

feor þer upon swa hehe swa ich eauer wile; ȝette þu wult hit habbe and teken al þat tu haues ȝiuen; wil tu eke mare. and ȝif i þe riht luuie. wilt me crune in heuene wið þe self to rixlen werld in to werlde A ihesu swete ihesu mi luue. mi lef. mi lif. mi luue leuest þat swa muchel luuedes me þat tu deides for luue of me and fra þe world haues broht [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 133] me. and ti spuse haues maked me. and al þi blisse haues heht me; leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge.

Prei for me mi leue suster. þis haue i writen þe for þi þat wordes ofte quemen þe heorte to þenken on ure lauerd And for þi hwen þu art on eise carpe toward ihesu and seie þise wordes. and þenc as tah he heng biside þe blodi up o rode. And he þurh his grace opn[e] þin heorte to his luue and to reowðe of his pine.