Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

Here bygynneþ [bygynþ.] Sacrylage.

Of þese dedly synnës seuene, Line 8583 Þat we wraþþe with, God of heuene, Of hem haue we touched neyde [nede.] As holy men haue wryten and seyd; Ȝyt mow[ë] we nát [weyl nat.] weyl werche Ȝyf we forgetë holy cherche, Line 8588 holy cherche, our modyr dere, Of here shul we telle ȝow here, How men synne, and on what wyse, Aȝens þat falleþ to here fraunchyse. Line 8592

Þat aȝens here fraunchyse falles, 'Sacrylegë' men hyt calles; 'Sacrylegë,' frenche hyt ys, Menyng of 'mysdede' or 'mys.' Line 8596 'Mysdedë to holynes,' 'Sacrylege' on Englysshe ys; Allë þyng þat men with-holde, [folio 57b] Stole or reftë, [reft.] ȝyue or solde, Line 8600 with-outë leue of here wytyng, Þat kepë holy cherches þyng, Alle swych þyng ys sacrylege, with-outë leue ys alle outrage. Line 8604

Now of þe fyrst þat we haue spoke, Þey þat hauë cherches broke, And stole þo þynges þat were þer-ynne, 'Sacrylage' men calle þat synne. Line 8608

Ȝyf þyng vnhalewed were forgete, Þat yn holy cherche were lete, Or halewed þyng yn ouþer stede lay, And oght þerof were bore away, Line 8612 where [Wheþer.] hyt werë ȝyue or solde, For sacrylege, alle ys hyt tolde.

Many vyces þerto [her to.] longe; Alle are þey synne, but sum are stronge; y shal ȝow telle of [on.] sum maners Line 8617

Line 8617 As 'manuel pecchés' me lers. [manuele pecche . . leres.] But, vnkynde and enuyous, Ouerdo, proud, and daungerous, Line 8620 Euermorë fynde þey teyl, Þogh a man sey neuer so weyl; Noþeles, so weyl y nat seyd, But þat to my sawe, blame may be leyd For foule englyssh, and feble ryme Line 8625 Seyde oute of resun many tyme; But God ȝelde hem at here endyng, Þat wyl amende myn vnkunnyng; Line 8628 But who so blameþ and wyl nat amende, [mende.] He doþe nat as þe curteys kende. Go we furþe now [now furþ.] on oure werk:—

Ȝyf a man yn euyl smyte a clerk, Line 8632 Yn sacrylage he falleþ ylle Ȝyf he dyde hyt by hys wylle. Ȝyf he be man of relygyoun, Þou art to blame with more resun; Line 8636 Twey skyles are ful perylous, [folio 57b:2] Boþe ordred and relygyous.

Also relygyous are [men are.] to wyte, Þat for maystry wyl gladly smyte; Line 8640 Þey ogh [oghte.] to be suffráble and meke, And no foly on ouþer men seke; Hys tung shuld be hys fauchoun; Hys strokes shulde be hys orysun; Line 8644 Ȝyf any be yn foly stoute, Holde yn cloystre, [Holde hym yn cloustre.] and com nat out.

Also may he be sore a-ferde Þat doþ vyleynye yn chyrche ȝerde, Line 8648 Namly, syn hyt halewed was, Þe more he doþë of trespas. Vnkynde man ys he hardly [hardyly.] Þat yn cherche ȝerde [cherche ȝerde O, cherȝerde H.] doþ vyleyny; Line 8652

Line 8652 Oure long hous hyt ys to come, To reste yn, tyl þe day of dome. Þerfore we shuld, ȝyf we were kynde, kepe hyt clene with godë mynde. Line 8656

And þese prestes me þynkeþ do synne Þat late here bestys fyle þer-ynne. Þe gres ys hys þat þerë grenes, Þe placë ys þe parysshenes. Line 8660

But lordës þat haue seynorye, Þey do þeryn most vyleynye; For þer [here.] hope ys, whan þey shul deye, Þat yn þe cherche men shul hem leye; Line 8664 And y shal telle a lytyl wyȝt, how a bonde man bourded with a knyȝt; And þe borde ys gode to here, Line 8667 who-so loueþ wurdes to lere. [A tale]

[The Tale of the Reproof that a Norfolk Bondman gave a Knight for not respecting the Sanctity of a Churchyard.]

Yn Northfolk, yn a tounne, wonede a knyȝt besyde a persone; Fyl hyt so, þe knyȝtes manere was nat fro þe cherche ful fere; Line 8672 And was hyt þan, as oftyn falles, Brokë were þe cherche-ȝerde walles.

Þe lordës hyrdës often lete [folio 58a] Line 8675 Hys bestys yn-to þe cherche [cherche om.] ȝerde & ete; Þe bestys dyd as þey mote [moste.] nede, Fyled oueral þere þey ȝede. A bond man say [saghe.] þat, and was wo Þat þe bestys shuld þere go; Line 8680 He com to þe lorde, and seyd hym þys:— "Lorde," he seyde, "ȝoure bestys go mys; Ȝoure hyrde doþ wrong, and ȝourë knauys, Þat late ȝoure bestys fyle þus þese grauys; Þere mennys bonys shuldë lye, Line 8685 Bestës shuld do no vyleynye."

Þe lordes answere was sumwhat vyle, And þat falleþ euyl to a man gentyle; Line 8688 "weyl were hyt do ryȝt for þe nones To wurschyþ swych[ë] cherlës bones; what wurschyp shuld men make Aboute swych cherlës bodyes blake?" Line 8692 Þe bonde man answerëd and seyd wurdys to-gedyr ful weyl [ful weyl to-gedyr.] leyd: "Þe lorde þat made of erþë, erles, Of þe [þat.] same erþe made he cherles; Line 8696 Erlës myȝt, and lordës stut, As cherlës shal yn erþe be put; Erlës, cherlës, alle at ones, Line 8699 Shal none knowe ȝoure, fro oure, bones."

Þe lorde lestened þe wurdës weyl And recorded hem euery deyl; No morë to hym wulde he seye, But, lete hym go furþe hys weye; Line 8704 He seyd þe bestys shulde no more, By hys wyl, comë þore. [[6-syll. line]] Seþen he closed þe chercheȝerde so Þat no best myȝt come þarto Line 8708 For to ete, ne fyle þer-ynne; So þoȝt [þught.] hym seþen, þat hyt was synne.

Þyr are but fewë lordës now Þat turne a wrde so wel to prow; Line 8712 But, who [who so.] seyþ hem any skylle, [folio 58a:2] Mysseye aȝen, fouly þey wylle. Lordynges,—þyr are ynow of þo, Of gentyl men, þyr are but fo. [fewe] Line 8716

Hyt ys defended yn þe decre, Þat none yn cherche shal beryed be, But bysshope, or abbot of relygyun, Or prest þat ys of gode renoun. Line 8720

A man þat haþ no gode fame ryfe [ryffe.] Of dede, of hew, of holy lyfe, Of gode feyþ, ne of charyte

Yn almes dede, ne of ouþer bounte, Line 8724 Me þenkeþ hyt were ful perylous To berye swych one yn Goddes house; with swych ys holy cherche but fyled, And hem self are moste bygyled. Line 8728 Ȝyf þe soulë be nat wurþy Þat þe body lygge so solempny, [solemply.] Þan haþ þe soulë morë [more of.] peyne; Þat men wurschyp þe body, ys veyne. Line 8732

wykked men and vserers, lechours, and lordys of foule maners, Þat mow ȝyue pens ful godë wone, Þey shul be leyde yn toumbe of stone, Line 8736 And hys ymáge ful feyre depeynte, Ryȝt as hé were a cors seynt; Þe wrecched soule, þe soþe to seye, Shal a-bye alle þe noblye, Line 8740 And sum for euer be broȝt to bale; [sorow] And þerby wyl y telle a tale.

[The Tale of Valentine, and how Devils puld his Body out of its Grave in the Church.]

Þyr was a man þat ['þat' omitted.] hyght Valentyne, [A tale] Playtour he was, and ryche man fyne, For of þe cherche of Myleyne [mylon.] was he playtour, Line 8745 More for mede þan Goddes onour. Besyde Genë, a noble cytë, Deyde Valentyne, and beryed shuld be; Yn seynt Syxtes cherchë shuld he lye; So ordeyned men whan he shuld deye. Line 8750 Þe fyrste nyȝt þat he was þere leyde, [folio 58b] Þe wardeynes of þe cherche vpbreyde, And herd one cry, rewly and shyl,

As he were put oute aȝens hys wyl.

Þe wardeynes asked what þat myȝt be, "Ryse we vp [vp we.] alle, and go we se." Line 8756 Þere he was beryed, þydyr þey ran, And sagh many fendes aboute þys man; And of hys graue þey oute [vp.] hym pulde; Oute of þe cherche, drawe hym þey wulde; Þe deuylys droȝ [drowe.] hym by þe fete Line 8761 As hyt were careyne þat dogges ete. Þe wardeynes werë sore affryght For þat noysë and þat syght; Line 8764 Aȝen to here bedde þey ȝede; Þey durst no lenger dwelle for drede. On þe morne whan þey were ryse, Þey ȝede to þe graue, þere þey were so agryse; Line 8768 Þer-yn alle aboute þey soght, But þe body founde þey noȝt. Þey opende þe dores, and loked aboute, And fonde þe body lygge [lyggynge.] þere with-oute; Þe fete ybounde to-gedyr ful faste, Line 8773 And as a foulë careyne caste.

Seynt Gregory seyþ hardly, Þere he lay fyrst, he was nat wurþy; Line 8776 But hys soule hadde pyne þe more For þe pompe and pryde þat he was leyd þore. lordes are besy aboute to haue Proude stones lyggyng an hye on here graue; Line 8780 Þurgh þat pryde þey mowe be lore, Þogh þey hadde do no synne byfore; Hyt helpyþ ryȝt noght, þe toumbe of pryde, Line 8783 whan þe soule fro pyne may hyt nat hyde.

Ȝyf þou euer vsedest halewed þyng, And wystyst hyt fyl to cherches offryng, Hyt ys grete synne, y do þe to knowne, Ȝyf þou helde hyt as for þyn owne. Line 8788 Ȝyf þou wyþhelde any þyng seþyn [folio 58b:2] Þat hyt was to holy cherche ȝeuyn, [ȝyuen.] Þyn or ouþres, with-outë leue Line 8791 Of parsone, or prest, or cherchë reue; Hyt ys sacrylage, y þe plyȝt, To wyþholde þat falleþ to cherchë ryȝt.

Ȝyf þou dedyst euer þat vnlawe, Line 8795 A man oute of holy cherche to drawe Seþen þat he toke hym þar-tyl, Þou hast synned yn moche vnskyl. But ȝyf he hadde do aȝens þe assyse Þat fyl to holy cherches fraunchyse, Line 8800 Slayn one þar-ynne, or robbed hyt, Hyt shulde nat þan saue hym, [saue hym þan.] by my wyt.

Þe lewed man, holy cherche wyl forbede To stounde yn þe chaunsel whyl men rede: who-so-euer þarto ys custummer, Line 8805 Þogh he be of grete powere, Boþe he synneþ and doþe greuaunce Aȝens þe clergy ordynaunce. Line 8808

But ȝyt do wymmen gretter folye Þat vse to stonde among þe clergye, ³Oþer at matyns, or at messe, But ȝyf hyt were yn cas of stresse;³ [3_3 Omitted in Harl.] Line 8812 For þerof may come temptacyun, And dysturblyng of deuocyun; For foule þoght cumþ of feble ye-syȝt, And fordoþë grace with ryȝt; Line 8816 And with a tale hyt may be shewed, Þat ys gode boþe for lered and lewed.

[The Tale of the Temptation of St. John Chrysostom's Deacon.]

An holy man telleþ vs þus, [A tale] Men calle hym Ion Crysostomus; Line 8820 He was a bysshope, and ful gode clerk, Þat shewe hys bokës of hys werk; Swych grace of God, grauntede hym was, At euery tyme þat he song hys masse Line 8824 Þe holy goste to hym was sent whan he shulde receyue þe sacrament; Certeynly, aftyr þe sacrë, Yn a dowue lyknes he myȝt [myghte hyt se.] se, Line 8828 So whyte and [Omitted.] so blesful, and so clere, [folio 59a] whan he vsed vpp-on þe autere.

Of þat cumfort, and [and of.] þat syȝt, He þanked oftë God almyȝt. Line 8832 Þe fendë hadde þarwith enuye, And wulde shewe hys wykked maystry.

A day seynt Ion shulde synge hys messe, Þe fende made hym yn womman lyknesse, weyl atyrede, with mochë pryde, Line 8837 And stodë ouþer men besyde.

Þe dekene þat serued seynt Ion, At here turnyng tymes echon Line 8840 He behelde þys womman weyl, And hys herte chaunged euery deyl; Temptacyun of þys womman, Ouer al yn hys þoȝt hyt ran. Line 8844

Þe bysshope, aftyr þe sacrë, Shulde receyue God, as byfyl [fyl.] to be; As he stode and heylde [helde.] þe oste, He loked vp aftyr þe holy goste; Line 8848 But þat tyme ne come hyt noȝt. Seynt Ion hadde þarfor [þarfore hade.] grete þoȝt,

He soght yn hys herte aboute, But þeryn foundë he no doute Line 8852 Þat fyl to synne, ne dedly þyng To lette þe holy gostes comyng.

He called hys dekene to hym bylyue, And cunseyled hym 'he shuld hym shryue Ȝyf he felt oght hym wyþ-ynne,' Line 8857 "Any maner of dedly synne Yn þoght or dede þat þou mayst mene; Of alle, y pray þe, shryue þe clene." Line 8860

Þe dekene þan opunly with mouþe Shroue hym of allë þat he couþe. ¹He seyde, "of o þyng y haue gret doute: Yn þoghtës, whan we turnede aboute,¹ [1_1 Omitted in Harl.] Line 8864 On a womman myn ²yȝe ys y² [2_2 ye y.] -caste; Þe syȝte of here myn herte to-blaste And, swal yn my [myn.] herte so grete, Þe þoȝt of here ne coude y lete; Line 8868 But God and ȝow, mercy y crye [folio 59a:2] Of þat þoȝt and þat folye."

Þe bysshope seyd hyt was tresun Of þe fendes temptacyun. Line 8872 Of þat synne he asoyled hym fre, And ȝede aȝen to hys degre.

Þe dekene loked at þe nexte turnyng, She was a-wey, he sagh no þyng; Line 8876 Þe holy goste come furþe a-none, And shewed hym to þe bysshope Ione; And seynt Ioun was þer-of blyþe, And þanked God ful felë syþe. Line 8880

For wommens sake, þys tale y tolde, Þat þey [þey hem.] oute of þe chaunsel holde wyþ here kercheues, [kercheuers.] þe deuylys sayle, Elles shal þey go to helle, boþe top and tayle; Line 8884

Line 8884 For at hym þey lernë alle To temptë men yn synne to falle. Line 8886 To synne þey calle men, alle þat þey may, why shuld þey ellës make hem so gay? For no-þyng elles are þey so dyȝt, But for to blyndë mennës syȝt. Certes hyt semeþ, at alle endes, Þat many of hem are but fendes. Line 8892

And ȝe clerkes [clerkes ȝow.] nedeþ to be wyse, Ȝow nedeþ cune ȝow [cunne ȝoure.] self chastyse; Ȝe mowë se yn holy wryt How ȝe shul kepe ȝoure ownë wyt. Line 8896

whan ȝe at Goddës seruyse are, Ȝe shul nat þan aboute ȝow stare, Specyaly wymmen to be-holde, Ne for to Iangle wurdës bolde. Line 8900

Clerk with skyl shulde be pryue, And nat yn cherche of wurdës fre; Ne dysturble men with hys rage, For hyt ys called [callede al.] sacrylage. Line 8904

kepe þy body yn cherche fro synne, Þy menbrys and þy wyt with-ynne; Specyally þy þoȝt and þy syȝt, [folio 59b] Þan may þy preyer be made alle ryȝt. Line 8908

Also hyt ys vyleynye to werche, A lewed man to plete yn cherche, lay courte, or elles counte, Þer any man myȝt dampned be; Line 8912 Ne quest take of endytëment yn holy cherche, oþer ȝerde purseynt; [pursent.] Ne sysours oght nat to enquere Of felonye, ne of þeftë þere; Line 8916 Þou þat hym wreyest, þou mayst weyl se Þou demyst hym with þat ys yn þe. Ȝyf þou yn cherche dest any of þyse, Þou trespast aȝens þe fraunchyse. Line 8920

Ȝyf þou euer hauntedest swych outrage,

yn holy cherche with wymmen to rage, Þat so ferfurþ was þy wyl Þat þy naturë dydë spyl,— Line 8924 Þere, y sey, þou synnest [synnedest.] dedly; Ȝe, [ȝee.] morë þan þou lay here by. For þus sey þey þat clergy can, he [Hyt.] myȝt betyde slaghter of man; Line 8928 Also holy wryt hyt forbedes, with womman to do flesshely dedes; Yn holy stede, hyt ys grete awe Þe dede to do, or speke with sawe; Line 8932 And nam[ë]ly þer men do messe, Many more folde þe synnë ys. And, for to fle[en] swych trespas, Y shal ȝow telle an auenturs kas. Line 8936

[The Tale of the Sacrilegious Husband and Wife who stuck together.]

Þyr was a man, and hyght Rychere, [A tale] A ryche of pens and of powere; hyt telleþ algate he hadde enmys, Oþer for hys gode, or for folys; Line 8940 Of hem hadde he swyche drede & eye, he fled and woned yn an abbeye.

Þe abbot ded hym a chambre werche For hys ese, fast by þe cherche; Line 8944 And he and hyse hadde here wonnyng, [folio 59b:2] wyfe and chylde, and ouþer þyng.

O nyȝt þyr was, he knewe hys wyfe Of flesshely dede, as fyl here lyfe; Line 8948 And God was nat payd, and [ne.] wlde hyt noȝt, So ny þe cherche, swyche dede were wroȝt; Þey myghte no more be broghte a-sondre⁵

Þan dog and bych þat men on wondre.⁵ [5_5 In the Harl. MS. these two lines have been inked over and scraped out by some ancient fig|leafite.] Betydde a shame, þey gun to crye, Line 8953 Þat wundyr fyl on here folye.

Men asked sone what was þat drede; At þe laste, hyt shewed yn dede. Line 8956 Sone oueral ȝedë þat fame; Ȝow þar nat aske ȝyf þey [hem.] þoȝt shame.

Þys man dyd þe munkes to kalle, And specyaly besoghte hem alle Line 8960 ²To praye for hem yn orysun Þat þey myghtë be undoun.² [2_2 The figleafite has scratched over these two lines too.] "And largëly we wul ȝow ȝyue, Line 8963 And wurschyp þys stede whyl þat we lyue; Þat God almyȝty graunte hyt be so Þat oure synne he wyl vndo." Þese munkes besoghte for hem a bone, And God almyȝty graunted hyt sone. Line 8968

Þere, þurgh alle here ordynaunce, Þey dede to [do.] wryte yn boke þys chaunce, For to shewe hyt euer more, Þat ouþer myȝt beware þar-fore. Line 8972

Þys chaunce fyl nat for hem allone, But for to warne vs euerychone, Þat we shul euermorë drede, Yn holy place to do þat dede. Line 8976 For, moche more dampnacyun wyl falle of fornycacyun, And, ȝyt more for auowtrye Of prestys or wyuës lecherye, Line 8980 whan God toke wreche, þat many of spake, For a dede þat was do yn ryȝt wedlake.

Þys yche chaunce, to ȝow y tolde, [folio 60a] For hyt ys gode yn herte to holde, Line 8984 Namly men of holy cherche, Þat þey þer-ynne no swyche dede werche.

karolles, wrastlynges, or somour games, who-so euer haunteþ any swyche shames Yn cherche, oþer yn cherchëȝerd, Line 8989 Of sacrylage he may be a-ferd; Or entyrludës, or syngynge, Or tabure bete, or oþer pypynge, Line 8992 Alle swychë þyng forbodyn es, whyle þe prest stondeþ at messe. Alle swyche, to euery gode preste ys lothe, And sunner wyl he make hym wroth Line 8996 Þan hé wyl, þat haþ no wyt, Ne vndyrstondeþ nat holy wryt; And specyaly, at hyghe tymes, karolles to synge, and redë rymys, Line 9000 Noght yn nonë holy stedes, Þat myȝt dysturble þe prestës bedes, Or ȝyf he were yn orysun Or any ouþer deuocyun, Line 9004 Sacrylage ys alle hyt [al ys hyt.] tolde, Þys and many oþer folde.

But for to leue, yn cherche to [to O, for to H.] daunce, Y shal ȝow telle a ful grete chaunce, Line 9008 And y trow, þe most þat fel Ys as soþ as þe gospel; [Ys as soth as þe gospel O, Ys soþe as y ȝow telle H.] And fyl þys chauncë yn þys londe, Yn Ingland, as y vndyrstonde; Line 9012 Yn a kynges tyme þat hyght Edward, Fyl þys chaunce þat was so hard.

[The Tale of the Sacrilegious Carollers, and how they danst together for twelve Months without stopping, and then went hopping about singly ever afterwards. [Found in William of Malmesbury, but is earlier. It often occurs singly, and no doubt followed the Itinerarium Clementis in the MS. where Wadington read it.—G. Paris, Hist. Litt. xxviii. 204.] ]

Hyt was vpp-on a crystemesse nyȝt Þat twelue folys a karolle dyȝt; Line 9016

Line 9016 yn wodehed, as hyt were yn cuntek Þey come to a tounne men calles [calle.] Colbek; Þe cherche of þe [þe H, om. O.] tounne þat þey to come, Ys of seynt Magne þat suffred martyr|dome; Line 9020 Of seynt Bukcestre hyt ys also, [folio 60a:2] Seynt Magnes suster, þat þey come to. here names of alle, þus fonde y wryte, [wrete.] And as y wote, now shul ȝe wyte: [wete.] Line 9024 here lodës-man þat made hem glew, Þus ys wryte, [wrete.] he hyȝte Gerlew; [

O. inserts wrongly—

Þe ouþer twelue, here namës alle,Þus were þey wrete as y can kalle.

] Twey maydens were yn here coueyne, Mayden Merswynde and Wybessyne; Line 9028 Alle þese come þedyr for þat enchesone, Of þe prestës doghtyr of þe tounne.

Þe prest hyȝt Robert, as y kan ame; Aȝone, hyght hys sone by name; Line 9032 Hys doghter, þat þese men wulde haue, Þus ys wryte, [wrete.] þat she hyȝt Aue; Echoune consented to o wyl, who shuld go, Aue oute to tyl: Line 9036 Þey graunted echone out to sende Boþe Wybessynë and Merswynde.

Þese wommen ȝede and tolled here oute wyþ hem to karolle þe cherche aboute. Line 9040 Beune ordeyned here karollyng; Gerlew endyted what þey shuld syng: Þys ys þe karolle þat þey sunge, As telleþ þe latyn tunge, Line 9044 "Equitabat Beuo per siluam frondosam, Ducebat secum Merswyndam formosam, Quid stamus, cur non imus?" [Equitabat dux Bovo per silvam frondosam, etc. See the study of this legend of the Curst Dancers by Schröder of Marburg before the Congress of German Philologists and Teachers in 1895 (since publisht). The first couplet of the song that the Cölbigk dancers sang in 1013 is traced back to a certain Dietrich (Theodoricus), who pretended that he'd been one of those dancers, and who was cured of his convulsive malady at Wilton in England, at the tomb of St. Edith. The original song, latinised above, was Low-Saxon.—Romania, xxv. 340-1.] . . . . . [A gap in the MS.] Line 9048

Line 9048 "By þe leued wode rode Beuolyne, wyþ hym he leddë feyre Merswyne; why stondë we? why go we noght?" Þys ys þe karolle þat Grysly wroght. Line 9052 Þys songe sunge þey yn þe chercheȝerd,— Of foly were þey no þyng aferd,— Vn-to þe matynes were alle done, And þe messe shuld bygynnë sone. Line 9056

Þe preste hym reuest to begynne messe, And þey ne left þerfore, neuer þe lesse, But daunsed furþe as þey bygan; [folio 60b] For alle þe messë þey ne blan. Line 9060

Þe preste, þat stode at þe autere And herde here noysë and here bere, Fro þe auter down he nam, And to þe cherchë porche he cam, Line 9064 And seyd, "on Goddes behalue, [halfe.] y ȝow forbede Þat ȝe no lenger do swych dede; But comeþ yn, on feyre manere, Goddës seruysë for to here, Line 9068 And doþ at Crystyn mennys lawe; karolleþ no more for Crystys awe, wurschyppeþ hym with alle ȝoure myȝt, Þat of þe vyrgyne was bore þys nyȝt." Line 9072

For alle hys byddyng, lefte þey noȝt, But daunsed furþ, as þey þoȝt. Þe prest þarefore was sore a-greued, he preyd God þat he on beleuyd, Line 9076 And for seynt Magne, þat he wulde so werche, yn whos wurschyp, sette was þe cherche, Þat swych a veniaunce were on hem sent Are [Ar.] þey oute of þat stedé were went, Line 9080 Þat þey [þey O, om. H.] myȝt euer, ryȝt so wende Vnto þat tymë tweluemonth ende:

(Yn þe latyne þat y fonde þore, Line 9083 he seyþ nat 'tweluemonth,' but 'euermore.') He cursed hem þere alsaume As þey karoled on here gaume.

as sone as þe preste hadde so spoke, Line 9087 Euery hande yn ouþer so fast was loke, Þat no man myȝt with no wundyr Þat tweluemonþe [tweluemonþe H, twelfmonþe O.] parte hem asundyr.

Þe preste ȝede yn, whan þys was done, And commaunded hys sone Aȝone Line 9092 Þat he [he O, om. H.] shulde go swyþe aftyr Aue, Oute of þat karolle algate to haue. But al to late þat wurde was seyd, Line 9095 For on hem alle was þe veniaunce leyd.

Aȝone wende weyl for to spede; [folio 60b:2] Vn-to þe karolle asswyþe he ȝede; hys systyr by þe arme he hente, And, þe arme fro þe body wente. Line 9100 Men wundred allë, þat þere wore, And merueyle mowe ȝe herë more, For seþen he had þe arme yn hande, Þe body ȝede furþ karoland; Line 9104 And noþer [noþer þc.] body, ne þe arme, Bledde neuer blodë, colde ne warme, But was as drye, with al þe haunche, As of a stok were ryue a braunche. Line 9108

Aȝone to hys fadyr went, And broght hym a sory present: "loke, fadyr," he seyd, "and haue hyt here, Þe armë of þy doghtyr dere Line 9112 Þat was myn ownë syster Aue, Þat y wende y myȝt a [haue.] saue. Þy cursyng, now sene hyt ys with veniaunce on þyn [þyn O, þy H.] ownë flessh; Line 9116 Fellyche þou cursedest, and ouer sone; Þou askedest veniaunce, þou hast þy bone."

Ȝow þar nat aske ȝyf þere was wo

with þe preste and with many mo. Line 9120

Þe prest þat cursed for þat daunce, On some of hys, fyl hardë chaunce. he toke hys doghtyr arme forlorn And byryëd hyt on þe morn; Line 9124 Þe nextë day, þe arme of Aue, he fonde hyt lyggyng aboue þe graue. he byryed hyt on [hyt on O, on H.] anouþer day, And eft aboue þe graue hyt lay; Line 9128 Þe þryddë tyme he byryed hyt, And eft was hyt kast oute of þe pyt. Þe prest wulde byrye hyt no more; hé dredde þe veniaunce ferly sore; Line 9132 yn-to þe cherche he bare þe arme, For drede and doute of morë harme, hé ordeyned hyt for to be, [folio 61a] Þat euery man myȝt with ye hyt se. Line 9136

Þese men þat ȝede so karolland Alle þat ȝerë hand yn hand, Þey neuer oute of þat stede ȝede, Ne nonë myȝt hem þennë lede; Line 9140 Þere þe cursyng fyrst bygan, yn þat place, a-boute þey ran, Þat neuer ne ['ne' omitted.] felte [felt O, fette H.] þey no werynes— As many bodyes, for goyng, dos— Line 9144 Ne metë etë, ne drank drynke, Ne sleptë onely a-lepy wynke; Nyȝt, ne day, þey wyst of none, Line 9147 whan hyt was come, whan hyt was gone; Frost ne snogh, hayle ne reyne, Of colde ne hete, felte þey no peyne; Heere ne naylës neuer grewe, Ne solowed cloþes, ne turned hewe; Line 9152 Þundyr ne lyȝtnyng dyd hem no dere, Goddes mercy dyd hyt fro hem were; But sungge þat songge þat þe wo wroȝt, "why stondë we, why go we noȝt?" Line 9156

what man shuld þyr be, yn þys lyue,

Þat ne wulde hyt [hyt ne wulde O, hyt ne wulde hyt H.] see, and þedyr dryue? Þe Emperoure Henry come fro Rome For to see þys hard[ë] dome; Line 9160 whan he hem say, [saghe.] he weptë sore For þe myschefe þat he sagh þore; He ded come wryȝtës [carponters] for to make Coueryng ouer hem, for tempest sake; Line 9164 But þat þey wroght, hyt was yn veyn, For, hyt come to no certeyn; For þat þey settë on oo [o.] day, On þe touþer, downe hyt lay; Line 9168 Ones, twyys, þryys, þus þey wroȝt, And alle here makyng was for noȝt; Myght no coueryng hyle hem fro colde Line 9171 Tyl tyme of mercy, þat Cryst hyt wolde.

Tyme of grace fyl þurgh hys myȝt [folio 61a:2] At þe twelvemonth ende, on þe ȝolë nyȝt, Þe same oure þat þe prest hem banned, Þe samë oure, atwynne þey woned; Line 9176 Þat houre þat he cursed hem ynne, Þat [þat O, þe H.] samë oure þey ȝede atwynne: And, as yn [yn a.] twynkelyng of an ye, Yn-to þe cherchë gun þey flye, Line 9180 And on þe pauement þey fyl alle downe, As þey hade be dede, or fal yn a swone.

Þre days, styl, þey lay echone, Þat none steryd, oþer flesshe or bone, Line 9184 And, at þe þre days ende, To lyfe God grauntede hem to wende. Þey sette hem vpp, and spak apert To þe parysshe prest, syre Robert: Line 9188 "Þou art ensample and enchesun Of oure long confusyun; Þou maker art of oure trauayle, Þat ys to many grete [ful gret.] meruayle; Line 9192 And þy traueyle shalt þou sone ende,

For to þy long home, sone shalt þou wende."

Alle þey ryse þat ychë tyde, But Auë; she lay dede besyde; Line 9196 Grete sorowe had here fadyr, here broþer, Merueyle and drede had allë ouþer, Y trow no drede of soulë dede, Line 9199 But with pyne was broght þe body dede. Þe fyrst man was þe fadyr, þe prest, Þat, deyd aftyr þe doȝtyr nest, Þys ychë arme þat was of Aue, Þat, nonë myȝt leye yn graue, Line 9204 Þe emperoure dyd a vessel werche To do hyt yn, and hange yn þe ['þe' omitted.] cherche, Þat alle men myȝt se hyt and knawe, Line 9207 And þenk on þe chaunce when men [þey.] hyt sawe.

Þese men þat hadde go þus karolland Alle þe ȝere, fast hand yn hand, Þogh þat þey were þan asunder, [folio 61b] Line 9211 Ȝyt alle þe worlde spake of hem wunder: Þat same hoppyng þat þey fyrst ȝede, Þat daunce ȝede [wente.] þey þurgh land and lede; And as þey ne myȝt fyrst be vnbounde, So efte to-gedyr myȝt þey neuer [mighte þey neuer to-gedyr.] be founde, Ne myȝt þey neuer come [come neuer.] aȝeyn Line 9217 To-gedyr, to oo stede certeyn.

Foure ȝede to þe courte of Rome, And euer hoppyng aboute þey nome; Line 9220 with sundyr lepys come þey þedyr, But þey come neuer efte to-gedyr; Here cloþes ne roted, ne naylës grewe, Ne heere ne wax, ne solowed hewe, Line 9224 Ne neuer hadde þey amendëment, Þat we herde, at any corseynt, But at þe vyrgyne Seynt Edyght, Line 9227 Þere was he botened, seynt ['seynt' omitted.] Teodryght; On oure lady day, yn lenten tyde, As he slepte [slepe.] here toumbe besyde,

Þere he hade hys medycyne, At seynt Edyght, þe holy vyrgyne. Line 9232

Brunyng, þe bysshope of seynt Tolous, wrote þys tale so merueylous; Seþþe was hys name of more renoun, Men called hym þe pope Leoun; Line 9236 Þys at þe court of Rome þey wyte, And yn þe kronykeles hyt ys wryte, Yn many stedys be-ȝounde þe see, More þan ys yn þys cuntre; Line 9240 Þarfor men seye, an weyl ys trowed, "Þe nere þe cherche, þe fyrþer fro God."

So fare men here by þys tale: Some holde hyt but a [but for a.] trotëuale; Line 9244 Yn oþer stedys hyt ys ful dere, And for grete merueyle þey wyl hyt here; A tale hyt ys of feyre shewyng, Ensample and drede aȝens cursyng; Line 9248 Þys tale y tolde ȝow, to make [to make H, om. O.] ȝow aferde, [folio 61b:2] Yn cherche to karolle, or yn cherche ȝerde, Namely aȝens þe prestys wylle; leueþ, whan he byddeþ ȝow be stylle, Line 9252

Ianglyng longeþ to sacrylage; Þar-of takeþ þe fende taylage; Iangle we yn cherche neuer so lyte, Alle þat we do [Iangle O, do Iangle H.] Iangle, þe fende doþe wryte, And shal shewe hyt before oure face Line 9257 whan hys rolle ys broght yn place: And y shal tellë, as y kan, A bourdë of an holy man. Line 9260

[The Tale of the Devil's Disappointment with the Chattering Women.]

Shortly to tellë, and nat longe, [A tale] An holy man hys messë songe; And at þe messe, whan tymë fel Þe dekene to redë þe gospel, Line 9264

Line 9264 Yn hys redyng, none wyst why, he logh a grete laghter an hy.

Þe preste, and oþer þat þere stode, helde hym a fole, þat coude no gode. Line 9268 Seþþë, whan þe messe was done, Þe preste asked þe dekene sone, 'why þat he so ferde, and how þat he, yn hys gospel, logh?' [low.] Line 9272 Moche þarfore he gan hym blame, For þe lewed folk þoght hyt [hym.] shame.

Þe dekene told hym why hyt fel þere to laghe [laghhe.] yn hys gospel: Line 9276 "As y redde þat ychë tyde, Twey wymmen Iangled þere besyde; Betwyx hem to, [two.] y say [saghe.] a fende with penne and parchëmen yn honde, Line 9280 And, wrote alle þat euer þey spake, Pryuyly be-hynde here bake.

whan hys rolle was wryte alle ful, To drawe hyt oute he gan to pul; Line 9284 with hys teþe he gan to drawe, And hardë for to tugge and gnawe, Þat hys rolle to-braste and rofe; [folio 62a] And hys hede aȝens þe walle drofe Line 9288 Só hard, and so ferly sore, Whan hys parchemen was no more.

whan y say þat, y lete so gode, Y brast on laghter þere y stode, Line 9292 Þat he so mochë sorow hadde, As hys wrytyng was alle to-fade; And when he parceyued þat y wyste, He al to-drofe hyt with hys fyste, Line 9296 And went a-wey, alle for shame; þarfore y logh and hadde gode game."

Þe prest hym asked 'whedyr he say mo.' "Many," he seyd, "y sagh þere go, Line 9300 And wrote oueral þere men tolde, But none so moche þat y dyde beholde; Hym behelde y weyl ynogh,

For þat he dyd, þere-at y logh." Line 9304 Þan wyst þe prest, þurgh þat syȝt Þat he was weyl with God almyȝt.

For Ianglers, þys tale y tolde, Þat þey yn cherche here tungës holde. Line 9308 Speke to God yn þy preyere, And þat shal nat þe fendë here. Þou Iangler, take þou godë kepe, Line 9311 hyt were wel bettyr þou were on slepe; Ȝyf nyt ne be amended here, [O. inserts—Wyþ shryfte of mouth and pen|aunce clere.] Elleswere shalt þou a-bye hyt dere.

Sacrylage also may be for tyþe; yn þat, synne men ful oftë syþe. Line 9316 Of allë þyng, þat þe neweþ, Tyþe ryȝtly, ór elles hyt þe reweþ. Of þe werst þou shalt nat ȝyue, For þan lesest þou þy gode yn þy lyue; Ne ȝyue hyt nat with wykked wyl, Line 9321 For al þe touþer, mayst þou þan spyl; Ȝyue God þe best þat þou mayst haue, And alle þe touþer he wyl þe saue. [

O. inserts—

But þou do so, wyte þou weylHe wyl þe reuë eury deyl.

] Line 9324

Foure þynges are ȝyuë specyaly [folio 62a:2] To euery man þat tyþeþ ryȝtly; [nota bene] Þe fyrst ys, long lyfe to haue; Þe touþer, þe yn gode hele to saue; Line 9328 Þe þryd ys, gracë gode with-ynne; [to wynne.] Þe fourþe, forȝyuenes of þy synne: Ȝyf þou wylt haue any of þyse, Tyþë weyl, and on gode syse. [assyse.] Line 9332

ȝyf þou turnedest, for worldes wynnyng, halewed place, or holy þyng, Cherche ȝerde, or þere chapyl was, Tymber, stones, eren, or glas, Line 9336 Curteynes, or ouþer vestyment, Or any oþer vesselement Þat falleþ to holy cherches seruyse,

And vsest hem on ouþer wyse, Line 9340 Þy wytyng;—þou synnest dedly Yn sacrylage certeynly.

Þarto shal y preue my sawe By a tale of þe oldë lawe; Line 9344 And þys tale yn þat tyme fyl, [fel.] Þat was of þe prophete Danyël.

[The Tale of Belshazzar's Feast, and the Prophet Daniel.]

Þyr was a kyng of grete powere; [A tale.] yn hys tyme was none hys pere; Line 9348 ynogh he hadde of worldës myȝt, And Baltazar [Crost out, and 'Nabygodonosore' inserted.] hys namë hyȝt.

Þys kyng was a paynym, and with oste he come to Ierusalem, Line 9352 And robbed þe temple, þys Baltaȝare, And þe tresour awey bare; Þe vessel þat was of ryche metalle, Þat Goddes temple was seruede with-alle, þat, and more, he dyd aloyne, Line 9357 And ledde hem yn-to Babyloyne.

Sone aftyrward, þys ychë kyng Deyd, and madë hys endyng. Line 9360 hys sone reyned yn þat same, And Baltaȝarë was hys name; Alle þe vessel with hym lefte, [folio 62b] Þat hys fadyr hadd stole and refte. Line 9364

A day he made a noble feste with barons and with rychë geste; Þys vessel þat hys fadyr stale, Rychely he dyd hym serue with-alle; Line 9368 Of þe vessel þey ete and dranke, But to God made þey no þanke; But yn alle here moste gladyng, To fals goddys þey made wurschypyng. Line 9372

Line 9372 A kandelstyke stode þe kyng before, Þat oute of Ierusalem was bore; Þe kyng lokede to þat candelstyke, And sagh besyde a grete ferlyke: Line 9376 Vndyr þe kandelstyke, a lytel logh, He sagh an hande wryte on þe wogh; No morë he sagh þan þe hande, But þe lettres were weyl farande; Line 9380 he redde hyt as he sate on þe des, "Mane. techel. fares. [phares.] " No more þyr was þere wryte; On englys þus ys hyt to wyte, Line 9384 'To mornë shal [shal þe.] departyng be, Of þy ryche kyngdom fro þe.'

Þe kyng vndyrstode no þyng of þys, Ne none of hysë coude hym wys. Line 9388 As he þys hand began to holde, hys herte bygan to tremle and colde; he shewed hyt to alle hys ássemble, And crydë hyt þurgh [þurghe out.] þe cyte, Line 9392 'Þat ȝyf any coude do hym to wyte, what hyt mente, þat þere was wryte, He shulde haue of hym grete mede, Þat coudë vndo þat yn dede.' Line 9396 But none of alle, forsoþe to wene, Coude telle þe kyng what hyt wlde mene.

But þe quene seyd sone anone: "Syre kyng, y wotë where ys one, Line 9400 Þat kan do ȝow alle to knowe [folio 62b:2] what ys wrytë on þe wowe. yn þys cyte, yn a strete, woneþ a ful wys prophete, Line 9404 hys name men callë Danyël, he shal vndo þe wrytyng wel."

Þe kyng aftyr Danyël sente, And þe prophete to hym wente; Line 9408

Line 9408 Þe kyng hym preyd, byfore hem alle, To tellë hem what shulde befalle.

Þe prophete wuldë no þyng hyde: Line 9411 "Þe hand þat þou sawe yn þe euyntyde, hyt was sent fro God almyȝt, Þat hys wraþþe ys to þe dyȝt, For þou were serued of þe vesseles Þat of hys temple were Ieuwels; [Iuelles.] Line 9416 Þys day before, of hem þou ete, And no wurschyp of hym [hym O, hem H.] þou lete, Þat ys God, alle þyng weldande, And þe and þyne haþ yn hys hande; But to fals goddes þou madest onour Line 9421 with vessel of hys owne tresour; And for þou dedyst boþe euyl, and seyd, Þy kyngdom ys yn balaunce leyd, Line 9424 Tyl [Tyl H O.] ryȝt be-demeþ, [be-demede.] with euyn hand, To wham hyt shal be ȝyue, þy land. Þurgh dome of God, hyt ys so dryue, Line 9427 To twey maner of folke þy land ys ȝyue; Medys, and Persys, þy land shul haue; Þe, ne þyne, mayst þou nat saue. Here ys wryte þe samë wyse, Y sey to þe, [to þe O, to H.] ryȝt as hyt seyse." Line 9432

Þe [Þat.] samë nyȝt þe lande was lore, Þe kyng was slayn, and awey bore.

Here mayst þou se, euyl-wunne þyng, [O. has in margin, 'note. of euill goten goodes.'] with eyre shal neuer make gode endyng, Namly, with þyng of holy cherche Line 9437 Shalt þou neuer spede wel to werche. Þat mayst þou se by parsones eyres, [folio 63a] hyt fareþ with hem as doþe ['doþe' omitted.] with þese feyres; Now ys þe feyrë bygged weyl, And on þe morne ys þer neuer a deyl: Line 9442

Line 9442 Ryche tresoure, now furþe men leye, And on þe touþer day hyt ys alle aweye; O day, to-gedyr men mowe hyt se, Line 9445 A-nouther, [A nouþer day.] sprede þurgh all þe cuntre.

Þus fareþ hyt by þese [þe.] parsones cosynes; Þát þe parsone wynnyþ, þe cosyne tynes; [O. gloss 'lest.'] yn þe parsones tyme, rychely he lyueþ, Aftyr hym, no man of hym ȝyueþ; [of hym no man oghte ȝyueþ.] yn hys tyme, ofte pens he telleþ, Line 9451 Aftyr hym, for pouert, penys he selleþ.

Also with purchasours ryȝt so hyt fareþ, Alle þat þey bygge, here eyrës bareþ; A purchasoure may beye þyng, & with lawe, with-oute any dede of wrong or sawe; [any wronge of dede or of sawe.] But lokeþ, ȝyue he [he O, ȝe H.] wynne þat katel weyl, wharewith he byeþ hyt euerydeyl. Ȝyf he haue wunne þe penys [penys O, pens H.] ryȝt, Þan haþ he þe lande with-outë plyȝt; Line 9460 Ȝyue he haue wunne þe penys [penys O, pens H.] falsle, with ryȝt to þe lande com neuer he. with fals[ë] weyght, or fals[ë] peys, And many falshede ouþer weys; Line 9464 And ȝyt moste, with fals sweryng, wynneþ manyone moche þyng; with swyche þyng, wene þou hyt noȝt Þat þe hous ne lande was ryȝtly boȝt. Line 9468

Vnneþ lasteþ aght þat men bye with þat ys wunne with marchaundye; Yn erytage nat long hyt vayleþ, Line 9471 Þe þred eyre leseþ, [lest.] þat ouþer trauayleþ; Vnneþe ys any þat haþ gode grace To lyuë weyl with swych purchace, Oþer lyue þey a bysyly lyfe, Line 9475 Or lese hyt [hyt O, om. H.] for pouert and for [for H, om. O.] stryfe; For þys men se, and seye alday, [folio 63a:2] "Þe þred eyre selleþ [selþ.] alle away."

For sacrylage, alle þys ys tolde, Line 9479 Þat vesselment of cherche ys wyþholde,— Chaleys, cloth, boke, or lome, [LOOME or instrument, utensile, instrumentum. Prompt. Parv.] — For sacrylage cumþ ofte hard dome; yn alle þe poyntës seyd before, Þat fro holy cherche, oght haþ bore, Line 9484 Or aght mysdo on any wyse Þat longeþ vn-to þe fraunchyse, Y or þou, yn any outrage, we synne dedly yn sacrylage. Line 9488

Gode ȝyue vs grace so to serue here [to serue so here.] Holy cherche, oure modyr dere, Here so to serue, and wurschyp make, Þat we be hyre, and she vs take. Line 9492