Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

Here bygynneþ shryfte.

[prolog]

The lyȝt of grace þat neuer haþ ende, From whom al cumþ, and to al men sende; 11304

Page 350

                    
                      Line 11304 
                    
                      Of alle godenes, wel and bygynnyng
                    
                      Ys God of heuene, and of erþe kyng,
                    
                      Hym wurschepeþ alle, as wel ys wurþy,
                    
                      Gostly þynges as weyl as dedly,
                      Line 11308 
                    
                      Alle creatures doun hym onoure, [folio 75a:2] 
                    
                      Ihesu, þat ryche emperoure;
                    
                      Þou, Ihesu, lyȝt my soule with-ynne,
                    
                      And graunte me swychë to bygynne
                      Line 11312 
                    
                      Þat hyt mowe be, þe to queme,
                    
                      And vs alle fro synnë ȝeme!
                    
                      Namly, of shryftë so [now.]  to seye,
                    
                      Þat we mow make vs redy wey
                      Line 11316 
                    
                      Aȝens þe fende, þat ys oure fo,
                    
                      Þarto God graunte vs alle to go.

                    
                       [See French, 1. 9605, p.351, note e.] Tweluë poyntes þyr are yn shryfte,
                    
                      And tweluë graces of here ȝyfte,
                      Line 11320 
                    
                      And yn alle þesë, are but þre
                    
                      whych are to do, and whych are to fle.

                    
                      To telle hyt shortly, alle [al.]  at gesse,
                    
                      Þe fyrst ys þe grete godënesse,
                      Line 11324 
                    
                      How yt ȝyueþ hem grace to þryue,
                    
                      Þo men þat wyl bleþely hem shryue;
                    
                      Syþen, fro what þyng men shulde hem loke
                    
                      Þat shryftë blely vndyrtoke;
                      Line 11328 
                    
                      And how many þynges, behoueþ hem haue,
                    
                      Þat, ryȝtly, here shryfte wyl craue.

                    
                      Yn tokenyng, to holde vs lowe,
                    
                      And oure wykkednes for to knowe,
                      Line 11332 
                    
                      Hyt ys ordeyned, þurgh Goddys ȝyfte,
                    
                      To man, fór to knowe oure shryfte.

                    
                      For vnbuxumnesse of oure fadyr Adam
                    
                      And Eue—þurgh prydë þat fyrst cam,
                    
                      Þat Goddes commaundëment þey brake—

Page 351

                    
                      knowlachyng behoueþ vs allë make;
                    
                      And þurgh a-nother resun ryȝt gode,
                    
                      Syn Ihesu Cryst toke flesshe and blode,
                    
                      And was cloþed yn oure man-hede,
                      Line 11341 
                    
                      And wyst oure wykkednes & oure nede,
                    
                      To man behoueþ vs to telle oure trespas,
                    
                      Syn he knew alle þat yn man was.
                      Line 11344 
                    
                      For whan we shryue vs to þe preste,
                    
                      To God we shewe vs yn mannes [mannes O, goddes H.]  breste;
                    
                      Þan wotë boþë God and man, [folio 75b] 
                      Line 11347 
                    
                      Oure lyfe, þat alle may wete [wyte.]  and kan;
                    
                      Now we shul, telle ȝow sone,
                    
                      what ys to leue, and what to done.

[12 points of shrift]

The fyrste poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        Þe fyrst poynt of þy shryfte oweþ to be,
                      
                        'with þy gode wyl and hertë fre,
                        Line 11352 
                      
                        whan þou art yn þy lyfë best,
                      
                        Awey þou shalt þy synnë kest;'
                      
                        For þan wurschepest þou God aboue,
                      
                        And forsakest þy synne for hys loue.

                      
                        Dauyd seyþ, yn wurde to fulfyl,
                        Line 11357 
                      
                        God shrofe hym with hys [hys O, om. H.]  gode wyl;
                      
                        Abyde nat tyl þou most nedly,
                      
                        For þan hyt ys with fors and maystry;
                      
                        Þou shryuest þe þan for drede,
                        Line 11361 
                      
                        Nat for loue, but more for nede;

Page 352

                      
                        Þan semeþ hyt þat hyt shulde be
                      
                        Þat þy synne forsakeþ þe.
                        Line 11364 
                      
                        Swyche shryftë made Acor þe þefe:
                      
                        whan he shulde go to pynë grefe,
                      
                        He shrof hys synne, how he hadde stole
                      
                        Þre þyngës þat he hade forhole,
                        Line 11368 
                      
                        A mantle of skarlet, a rolle of golde,
                      
                        And syluer, he hydde vndyr molde;
                      
                        Yn þe byble men mow hyt se,
                      
                        Yn þe story of Iosue.

                        Line 11372

Page 353

The Secunde poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        þe secunde poynt ys next þyr-by,
                      
                        'þat þou shalt shryue þe hastyly;'
                      
                        For whan þou doust [dost hyt.]  yn longe respyte,
                      
                        hyt ys forȝete, þat long ys olyte.
                        Line 11376 
                      
                        Seynt Bernard þarfore, to swych chyt,
                      
                        And seyþ 'moche forȝyt, þat longe abyt.'

Anouþer skyl ys, þat þou shalt hyt haste, For yn þy synne þy lyfe ys waste; 11380

Page 354

                      
                        Line 11380 
                      
                        For, as moche as þe tyme doþ amounte,
                      
                        For euery oure, shalt þou ȝelde acounte,
                      
                        Ȝyf hyt so were, þou myȝtest had space, [folio 75b:2] 
                      
                        And wuldest nat come to shryfte ne grace.

                      
                        Ȝyt, þyr ys þe þred resun [See French, l. 9719, &c. last page.] 
                        Line 11385 
                      
                        þat hastyly shal þy shryfte be doun;
                      
                        For yn þat tyme þat þy synne [synne O, shryfte H.]  ys,
                      
                        Þou art departed fro heuene blys,
                        Line 11388 
                      
                        And fro alle þe felawrede
                      
                        Þat shulde þe helpë at þy nede,
                      
                        And fro þe preyers of holy cherche,
                      
                        And fro alle gode dedes, þat men þer werche;
                      
                        Alle þe prayers, with-outë fayle,
                        Line 11393 
                      
                        To þe blys of heuene, þe mow nat auayle.

                      
                        Algate y rede, þou do gode dede;
                      
                        To ryse fro synne, hyt wyl þe spede,
                        Line 11396 
                      
                        And bettyr wyl hyt pay God almyȝt,
                      
                        And þy penaunce shal be þe more lyȝt,
                      
                        And, þe more grace shalt þou haue,
                      
                        Þe for to shryue and saue. [[6 syll.]] 

                        Line 11400

Page 355

The þred poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        Þe þryd poynt of þy shryfte,
                      
                        'Opunly þyn herte vp lyfte:'
                      
                        So byt God to me and þe,
                      
                        Þat opunly shal þy shryftë be.
                        Line 11404

                      
                        Salamon to vs seyþ, and [seyþ & to us.]  kalleþ,
                      
                        'Seuene tymes on a day þe ryȝtwys man falleþ;'
                      
                        As oftë þan behoueþ þe ryse,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou lyue yn ryȝt seruyse.
                        Line 11408 
                      
                        Þus seyþ þe clerke seynt Austyne,
                      
                        Þat was a mayster of dyuyne, [deuyn.] 
                      
                        'Ȝyf þou to many prestes atwynne,
                      
                        Al holyche wylt shryue þy synne,
                        Line 11412 
                      
                        Þou shalt fynde grace and forȝyuenes,
                      
                        And mede to þe, for þy mekenes.'

Þre þyngës mayst þou fynde, Þat wyl þe oute of synnë bynde; 11416

                      
                        Þe fyrst ys, þat þou mayst lere,
                      
                        And many dyuers samples [sample.]  here,
                      
                        Of euery prest, a lessoun,
                      
                        To knowë þy saluacyoun; [folio 76a] 
                        Line 11420 
                      
                        Ȝyf þou haue herde of many a-pryse,
                      
                        þe morë þou canst, of queyntyse.

                      
                        þe touþer me þenkeþ a gode resoun,
                      
                        Þat quyteþ þe fro dampnacyoun,
                        Line 11424 
                      
                        þe ofter þat þou shewest þy blame,
                      
                        þe more me þenkeþ þou hast of shame;
                      
                        þe shame þat þou hast yn þy shewyng,
                      
                        hyt ys forȝyuenes, to gode endyng.
                        Line 11428

Þe þred, ys, þat þe weyl weres, [Glossed 'kepeþ' in Oxf.; 'kepyþ' in Harl., by a later hand.] For þou shalt be yn alle preyers

Page 356

                      
                        Of alle þe prestes þat þe haue shryue,
                      
                        As longë tyme as euer þey lyue,
                        Line 11432 
                      
                        For þey are holdë þar-vn-to;
                      
                        þe order of prest wyl hyt be so;
                      
                        þe mo prestës þat for þe prey,
                      
                        þe sunner [soner.]  art þou yn gode wey;
                        Line 11436 
                      
                        And, at þe day of Iugëment,
                      
                        To God þey shul make þy present,
                      
                        þat þou werë clenë shryue,
                      
                        And þat þey mow be þe forȝyue.
                        Line 11440

                      
                        þo þat þou hast here hyd,
                      
                        þurgh alle þe werld þey shul be kyd,
                      
                        And askë domë on þe þere,
                      
                        þat þou, of hem, neuer shryuë were;
                        Line 11444 
                      
                        For allë þyng þat euer ȝyt was,
                      
                        Shal þe acoupe of þy trespas;
                      
                        Þe synnë hymself shal forwreye;
                      
                        Þyn Inwyt, on þe self, þe dome shal leye.

þe fourþe poynt of shryfte.

Þe fourþë poynt, ful feyre hyt ys, 'yn shryftë to haue mekënes.'

                      
                        She chese þat vertu, oure lady,
                        Line 11451 
                      
                        So seyþ "magnificat," here owne storye,
                      
                        'Þe gretë mekenes many folde
                      
                        Yn hys hand-mayden, God wlde beholde.'

Syn mekenes ys so noble a ȝyfte,

Page 357

                      
                        For-ȝete [Forȝeteþ.]  hyt nat yn ȝourë shryfte.
                        Line 11456 
                      
                        So spekeþ þe gospel of þys vertu, [folio 76a:2] 
                      
                        How a mesyl come to Ihesu
                      
                        with gode wyl, and on knees hym sette,
                      
                        And ful myldely, Ihesu he grette;
                        Line 11460 
                      
                        "lorde," he seyd, "þou mayst me saue
                      
                        Ȝyf þou wylt, and y hele haue."
                      
                        Ihesu sagh hys myldënes,
                        Line 11463 
                      
                        And seyd "y wyl hele, alle þy sykenes."

                      
                        He þat ys yn dedly synne,
                      
                        Gostely he ys a mesyl with-ynne;
                      
                        He þat wyl hys helë seke,
                      
                        To hys prest he mote be meke;
                        Line 11468 
                      
                        Ȝyf þou meke þe to þy prest,
                      
                        Þou mekës [mekest.]  þe to Goddës brest;
                      
                        Ȝyf þou be to hym ful stour,
                      
                        Þou doust to God grete dysonour;
                        Line 11472 
                      
                        he sytteþ þere, yn Goddys se;
                      
                        To deme þy synne, he haþ pouste;
                      
                        Ȝyf he blame þe for þyn euyl,
                      
                        þat þou hast serued moche þe deuyl,
                        Line 11476 
                      
                        Defendë nat þy folye,
                      
                        yn pryde ne yn ypocrysye;
                      
                        Noþer on þy self lye þou noȝt,
                      
                        To seye þyng þat þou neuer wroȝt;
                        Line 11480 
                      
                        Ne forsake nat þy synne to wreye;
                      
                        More and [þan.]  lesse, behoueþ þe seye.

þe fyueþe [Þe fyfþe.] poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        Go we now to þe fyfþe [fyfþe O, fythe H.]  poynt:
                      
                        To þe þrydde hyt ys a ioynt,
                        Line 11484 
                      
                        þere y spake of ofte shryuyng,

Page 358

To tellë many prestes a þyng.

                      
                        what men are þo þat shryue hem bleþly,
                      
                        But þo þat synne but lyȝtly?
                        Line 11488 
                      
                        For þo þat haue do synnës grete,
                      
                        Vnneþë [Vnneþe O, Vnneþ H.]  wyl þey any lete.
                      
                        Ȝyf þey here any predycacyoun,
                      
                        Or sum ouþer chaunse be doun,
                        Line 11492 
                      
                        Ȝyt wyl þey neuer shryue here shame,
                      
                        So are þey bounde yn þe fendës hame. [folio 76b]

                      
                        And somë lette, for hard penaunce,
                      
                        For to telle here grete cumberaunce.
                        Line 11496 
                      
                        And somë lette here synne to seye,
                      
                        For doute of prest, þat wyl hem bewreye:
                      
                        No shame myȝt to mochë be
                      
                        To þe ['þe' omitted.]  prest þat telleþ [telþ.]  þat pryuyte.
                        Line 11500

letteþ nat, ȝoure synne to telle;

Page 359

                      
                        Þenkeþ on þe peynes of helle;
                        Line 11502 
                      
                        what day þat ȝe dyd ȝoure synne,
                      
                        And how long ȝe haue lyued þer-ynne,
                      
                        what tyme, ánd how, hyt was wroȝt;
                      
                        Alle hyt nede [nedeþ.]  þurghout be soghte.

                      
                        Seynt Dauyd, þe holy prophete,
                      
                        Seyþ, þese wurdes, ful swete,
                        Line 11508 
                      
                        "Alle my shryftë and my shame
                      
                        Haþ so couerd and hyd my blame,
                      
                        þat þe fende may haue no syȝt,
                      
                        Me to bewreyë with no plyȝt;
                        Line 11512 
                      
                        Ne God of heuene wyl nat se
                      
                        Any þyng þat wyl dampnë me."
                      
                        Ȝyf þou shryue þe apertly,
                      
                        Þou mayst be sekyr to haue mercy.
                        Line 11516

The syxte poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        Þe syxte poynt ys, sorowe of herte;
                      
                        Þat oght to be bytter and smerte
                      
                        whan þou þenkest on þe gode dedes,
                      
                        þat, God haþ do for þy nedes,
                        Line 11520 
                      
                        And þou hast do, as þou weyl wost,
                      
                        Þyng, þat, he hateþ moste.

                      
                        No creatures ne hateþ he noȝt,
                      
                        But synnë þat ys do or wroȝt;
                        Line 11524 
                      
                        Ne he hateþ nat þe fende of helle,
                      
                        Þe crëature of hym y telle,
                      
                        But þe wykkednes, pryde and synne
                      
                        Þat yn hym ys, and wyl nat blynne;
                        Line 11528 
                      
                        Ne was þyr neuer aungel so bryȝt,
                      
                        Ne man so weyl with God almyȝt,
                      
                        Þat, ȝyf he had synned dedly, [folio 76b:2] 
                      
                        To hellë pyne he was wurþy;
                        Line 11532 
                      
                        Þat oght þey boþe to sorowe and kare,
                      
                        Þat yn dedly synnë are.

Page 360

                      
                        God hym [hym O, hym hym H.]  self, of mageste,
                      
                        Vnto hys lykenes he formed þe;
                        Line 11536 
                      
                        he made þy soule boþe fayre and clene,
                      
                        And to hys ownë godhede sene;
                      
                        And whan þou synnest, þou turnest wyk,
                      
                        And makest þy soulë black as pyk;
                        Line 11540 
                      
                        Þát God had made to hym so weyl,
                      
                        Þou makest hyt lyke þe fende echedeyl.
                      
                        Sorowe oghte þan, þyn hertë bynde,
                      
                        Þat þou art tó hym so vnkynde;
                        Line 11544 
                      
                        Þou dysonourest hym yn þat outrage,
                      
                        And reuylyst hys feyre ymage.

                      
                        Of þys þyng þan ȝyuest [ȝyfst.]  þou leste,
                        Line 11547 
                      
                        whan þou cumst laghyng to þe prest;
                      
                        Euyl oghtest þou laghe, coudest þou se
                      
                        How þou bryngest þy dome with þe;
                      
                        Aboute þy nekke, hanggeþ a wyþþe,
                      
                        Þat haþ þe departed fro Goddys gryþþe:
                      
                        Þy self beryst þan, on þy bak,
                        Line 11553 
                      
                        Þy vylë synne þat makeþ þe blak;
                      
                        May nonë fro þat dome þe borowe,
                      
                        But ȝyf hyt be with byttyr sorowe.
                        Line 11556

                      
                        Goddys treytour, and ryȝt vyleyn!
                      
                        Hast þou no mynde of Marye Maudeleyn,
                      
                        How she soȝt oure lorde Ihesus
                      
                        Yn Symundës hous leprous?
                        Line 11560 
                      
                        Opone þyn herte, þy gostly eres,
                      
                        And þenke on herë byttyr teres!
                      
                        She cam nat laghyng to þe [com . . . . to þat.]  feste,
                      
                        Noþer for game, noþer [no.]  for geste;
                        Line 11564 
                      
                        She com wepyng with here yne,
                      
                        Of Ihesu to haue medycyne;
                      
                        She broȝt a smel of grete sauour,
                      
                        Þat tokeneþ loue and grete onour;

                        Line 11568

Page 361

                      
                        Line 11568 
                      
                        with here terës þat she lete, [folio 77a] 
                      
                        þarwyþ she wyssh Ihesu [Ihū.]  fete:
                      
                        So behoueþ vs with here to grete,
                      
                        Ȝyf we, oure synne, wyl truly lete;
                        Line 11572 
                      
                        And, but we haue sorowe for oure [for oure O, with here H.]  synne,
                      
                        Þe mercy of God mow we nat wynne.

þe [Þe O, Te H.] seuenþe poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        The seuenþe poynt ys a gode resun,
                      
                        'Þat þy shryfte be wysly doun,'
                        Line 11576 
                      
                        Þat ys to sey, to a wys man,
                      
                        Þat þy shryfte vndyrstondë kan;
                      
                        Nat to one þat haþ no wyt
                      
                        Of vndyrstondyng of holy wryt.
                        Line 11580 
                      
                        Seynt Austyn seyþ þys skyl,
                      
                        Do þyr-aftyr who so wyl,
                      
                        'Of synnë, who so wyl hym lese,
                        Line 11583 
                      
                        A wyse shryftfadyr behoueþ hym chese;
                      
                        And þat may byndë and vnbynde,
                      
                        Swych a man behoueþ hym fynde."

                      
                        A prest þat ys no clergye ynne,
                        Line 11587 
                      
                        How can he weyl dystyncte þy synne?
                      
                        But now, oueralle, se we mowne
                      
                        An holywatyr clerk of a tounne,
                      
                        þat lytyl haþ lerned yn hys lyue,
                      
                        he ys ordeyned a prest to shryue.
                        Line 11592 
                      
                        Ȝyf he shulde a shryfadyr [shryftefader.]  be,
                      
                        hym behoueþ [behouede.]  haue lerned of sum degre,
                      
                        Or lerned, or herde, of some þat couþe,
                      
                        Ar he had be prest yn hys ȝouþe;
                        Line 11596 
                      
                        And moche behoueþ [behouede.]  hym stody and se,
                      
                        Or lerne at sum, yn pryuyte.
                      
                        he may lyue, as a gode man,

Page 362

                      
                        Þoghe he lytyl clergy kan;
                        Line 11600 
                      
                        But for to preche, or herë shryfte,
                      
                        Of clergy behoueþ hym sum þryfte.

                      
                        And allë prestes haue nat powere
                      
                        For to assoylë þe ryȝt clere,
                        Line 11604 
                      
                        But hyt be þy parysshe preste,
                      
                        Or haue hys leuë at þe leste, [folio 77a:2] 
                      
                        Or at þy parsone or vycary,
                      
                        For þese haue of þy soule maystry:
                        Line 11608 
                      
                        Aske hem leue, and haue no gylt,
                      
                        And shryuë þe þan, where þou wylt.

The eyȝtþe [eyghteþe.] poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        The eyghtþe poynt of þe twelue,
                      
                        'Þy shryfte shal be alle of þy selue,'
                        Line 11612 
                      
                        Of þyn ownë proper dede,
                      
                        And bewreye none ouþer, y þe forbede.
                      
                        Þyn ownë foly þou shalt seye,
                      
                        And none ouþer body bewreye.
                        Line 11616

                      
                        Dauyd seyþ yn þe sautere
                      
                        Þese wurdes, þurgh Goddys powere,—
                      
                        he spekeþ 2as weyl to lerned as to lewed,2 [2_2 to lernede as weyl as lewede.] —
                      
                        "Myn owne lyfe, lorde, y haue þe shewed;
                      
                        None ouþer mannes y wyl dyscrye,
                        Line 11621 
                      
                        For þat were boþe synne and vyleynye."

                      
                        Ȝyue gode tent, to þys poynt,
                      
                        Þou prest þat art a-noynt!
                        Line 11624 
                      
                        Ȝyf a man telle þe hys synne,
                      
                        And a-noþer be menged þer-ynne,—
                      
                        As ȝyf hyt were yn lecherye,
                      
                        Or hylp to sle, or robborye,
                        Line 11628 
                      
                        For þese may nat a man weyl do
                      
                        Alone, but ouþer be þar-vnto,—
                      
                        Aske aftyr none ouþer name,
                      
                        But lestene wyl hys ownë blame;
                        Line 11632 
                      
                        For ȝyf þou any ouþer man namest,

Page 363

                      
                        Y dar weyl seye þou hym dyffamest;
                      
                        hyt ys grete synne to hym and þe
                      
                        To aske or telle þat shulde nat be;
                        Line 11636 
                      
                        hyt ys bakbytyng, and no shryfte;
                      
                        hyt ys a spyce of euyl þryfte.

                      
                        Þou lewed man, y forbede þe weyl,
                        Line 11639 
                      
                        Þogh þe prest aske, bewreye þou no deyl;
                      
                        Bewreyë weyl þyn ownë dede,
                      
                        But none ouþer, y þe forbede.
                      
                        y tolde langer yn myn auys, [folio 77b] 
                      
                        Loke algate þy preste be wys.
                        Line 11644

                      
                        Do nat as þe pharysu,
                      
                        Preydë God aȝens hys pru;
                      
                        He ȝede to þe cherche with a man
                      
                        Þat men calle a publycan,—
                        Line 11648 
                      
                        A publycan ys, yn oure sawe,
                      
                        A synful man, oute of þe lawe;
                      
                        Þys pharysu ys to mene 'byfore,'
                      
                        As forby alle, and fro ouþer shore,—
                        Line 11652 
                      
                        Þys pharysu bygan to prey,
                      
                        And seyd, as a shrewe shulde sey,
                      
                        "Lordë, þanked mote þou be, [See French, lines 10111-15.] 
                      
                        y am nat, as y ouþer se,
                        Line 11656 
                      
                        Coueytous, ne lecherous of flesshe,
                      
                        And nat as he, þys publycan, ys:
                      
                        Euery woke y fastë twys,
                        Line 11659 
                      
                        And ȝyue my tyþes of rychë prys."

                      
                        Loke how he made hys auauntement
                      
                        Of þat gode þat God hadde hym sent;
                      
                        ȝe, syre, on a wykked wyse,
                      
                        Oþer men for tó despyce;
                        Line 11664 
                      
                        hys owne godenes, coude he nat sey,
                      
                        But algate ouþer, behoueþ [behouede.]  hym wreye.

Besydë stode þe pupblycan, [publykan.] 11669 And knew [knegh.] hym self a wykked man,

Page 364

                      
                        And durst nat loke to God vpward,
                      
                        But knokked on hys brest ful harde,
                      
                        And seyd with herte ful drefully,
                      
                        "Lorde, þou haue on me mercy!"
                        Line 11672

                      
                        Þe þublycan had mochë þanke;
                      
                        Þe pharysu, byfore God he stanke.
                      
                        Þus seyþ þe gospel, þat we alle knowe,
                      
                        "who so makeþ hym hygh, he shal be lowe;
                        Line 11676 
                      
                        And, who loghyþ [who so logheþ.]  hym yn skylle,
                      
                        Gode heghnes he shal come tylle."

                      
                        Some, whan þey here shryfte [shryfte O, synne H.]  bygynne,
                      
                        he shal hepe on God hys synne,
                        Line 11680 
                      
                        And seyþ algate, 'he ne may noȝt [folio 77b:2] 
                      
                        kepe hym, but synne be wroȝt.'

                      
                        And some sey, whan þey do euyl,
                      
                        Hyt was algate þurgh þe deuyl;
                        Line 11684 
                      
                        And some sey, as y haue herde,
                      
                        'A! syre! so synneþ alle þe werlde.'
                      
                        Of þy self, shal nat be seyd;
                      
                        On þe, shal alle þe blame be leyd;
                        Line 11688 
                      
                        God blameþ þe for þy mysdede,
                      
                        why seyst þou þan, 'þe behoueþ nede?' [hyt behoueþ be nede.] 
                      
                        Ne no fende may but temptë þe;
                      
                        Þe dede shal alle þyn ownë be;
                        Line 11692 
                      
                        Ne at þe worlde mayst þou noȝt kest;
                      
                        Do þy self weyl, hyt ys þe best;
                      
                        Here mayst þou se wyþ godë skyl,
                      
                        Alle hyt ys at þyn ownë wyl.
                        Line 11696

The nyȝnþe poynt of shryfte.

þe nyȝnþë seyþ 'hyt ys foly On þy self for to lye.'

Page 365

                      
                        Sey of þy self no [to.]  trespas,
                      
                        Ne more synne, þan þou done has;
                        Line 11700 
                      
                        Ne forhele nat þy mysdede;
                      
                        Goddes veniaunce shalt þou drede.

[The Bible-Tale of Ananias and Sapphira.]

                        Seynt Luke seyþ hys autoryte,
                      
                        Yn þe bygynnyng of crystyanyte,
                        Line 11704 
                      
                        Þe apostoles wente [ȝede.]  aboute to preche—
                      
                        Þe crystyndom for to preche [teche.] —
                      
                        how men shuld þe worlde forsake,
                      
                        And what mede þarforë take;
                        Line 11708 
                      
                        Ryche men solde here lande and fee,
                      
                        And come to þe apostoles yn pouerte.

                      
                        A ryche man, þat hyghte Ananye,
                      
                        He solde hys godë plenerlye; [al plenerlye.] 
                        Line 11712 
                      
                        þe syluer þat he þarfore tolde,
                      
                        þerof a party he ded withholde;—
                      
                        Hys wyfe cunseyled wel þar-to
                      
                        Þat he shulde nat awey alle do;—
                        Line 11716 
                      
                        Þe touþer partë, alle he lete,
                      
                        And keste hyt at seynt Peter fete. [folio 78a]

                      
                        Seynt Petyr parceyued anoun
                      
                        þat þyr was þere [þyr was þere O, þer was H.]  gylë doun:
                        Line 11720 
                      
                        he seyd, "y comaundë þe,
                      
                        Alle þat þyr was, þou shewe hyt me."
                      
                        Ananyas þan swore hym þore,
                      
                        he solde hys þyng, for no more.
                        Line 11724 
                      
                        Seynt Peter, þan seyd [seyde þan.]  astyt,
                      
                        "why lyest þou on þe holy spyryt?"
                      
                        þys Ananyas fyl dowun dede,
                      
                        As, blak, as any lede. [[6 syll.]] 

                        Line 11728

Page 366

                      
                        Line 11728 
                      
                        Men tokë þe body asswyþe,
                      
                        And byryed hyt, þat ychë syþe.

                      
                        hys wyfe come byfore hem alle,—
                      
                        Saphyra, men here calle;—
                        Line 11732 
                      
                        She cunseyled þat hyt was hyd,
                      
                        But she ne wyst what was betyd.
                      
                        Seyn Peter asked here þe soþe ywys,
                      
                        "hast þou no more þan now here ys?"
                      
                        Saphyra answered and seyd,
                        Line 11737 
                      
                        "Y haue no more þan here ys leyd."
                      
                        "þou lyest," he seyde, "þe soþe y se,
                      
                        And nat ȝyt al onely to me,
                        Line 11740 
                      
                        But þou lyest vnto þe holy goste,
                      
                        þat alle þyng wote, and myȝt haþ moste."
                      
                        Asswyþë, yn a lytyl stounde,
                      
                        She fyl dowun dede vnto þe grounde.
                        Line 11744 
                      
                        Men byryed sone here body
                      
                        Besyde here husbonde Anany.

Here-fore y rede þat þou soþe seye To þy prest, as þou shust deye. 11748

                      
                        Yn þy shryfte, lye þou neuer a deyl;
                      
                        holy wryt forbedeþ hyt weyl.
                      
                        þou seyst hyt nat vnto þe prest,
                        Line 11751 
                      
                        þou shewest hyt vnto Goddys breste;
                      
                        Boþe to God and to man,
                      
                        Þat oure defaute, seeþ alle, and kan.

Gode graunte vs þe soþe to sey, 11755 And clene be shryuë ar we dey! [folio 78a:2]

þe tenþe poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        Þe tenþë poynte of shryfte, þys ys:
                      
                        'Ȝyf þou shalt haue forȝyuënes,
                      
                        Þy synne naked shalt þou make,
                      
                        And opunly, hyt forsake.'

                        Line 11760

Page 367

11760

                      
                        hyle hem nat with feyrë wurde,
                      
                        Þat semeþ to gadyr þy synnes to hurde:
                      
                        yn tyfed [tyffede.]  wurdys þat slyked are,
                      
                        Semeþ þy synnes þat þey noȝt were;
                        Line 11764 
                      
                        yn swyche wurdys, þe fende ys queynte
                      
                        To make þy shryftë fals and feynte.
                      
                        No queyntyse make þou þerynne,
                        Line 11767 
                      
                        But sey ryȝt as þou dedyst [dest.]  þy synne.

                      
                        þou mayst nat þy synnës wryte,
                      
                        Yn shryftë þe so to quyte,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou mayste speke, and haste [haue.]  space
                      
                        To fynde a preste yn any place,
                        Line 11772 
                      
                        with mouþe to speke, and nat [noght.]  to hyde,
                      
                        Elles hyt ys a spyce of pryde:
                      
                        Seynt Austyn seyþ, algate þy lyue,
                      
                        'wyþ mouþe opunly, þou þe shryue.'

þe eleuenþe poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        þe elleuenþe poynt shul we [we shul.]  knowe,
                        Line 11777 
                      
                        'To þy prest þou bere þe lowe,
                      
                        Blelyche yn [þy.]  penaunce for to do
                      
                        Alle þat he ioyneþ þe vnto.'
                        Line 11780

                      
                        Þou shalt make no fals delay,
                      
                        Penaunce to takë at þy pay;
                      
                        Hyt ys sloghnes and feyntés
                      
                        To take penaunce at þy dyuys;
                        Line 11784 
                      
                        For þy synne, þe ryȝt penaunce
                      
                        Shal be þe prestës ordynaunce:
                      
                        Þus seyþ þe clerk, seynt Austyn,
                        Line 11787 
                      
                        "Þe prestes mercy, þou do þe ynne;
                      
                        Þe prest ys crystys vycarye;
                      
                        Do þe alle yn hys mercy."

Page 368

                      
                        Ȝyf þe prest be of any resun,
                        Line 11791 
                      
                        He wote weyl what shal be doun; [folio 78b] 
                      
                        he wote what penaunce þe falleþ [falþ.]  to haue,
                      
                        And what þy state ys, and what hyt wyl craue.
                      
                        And, þus þou wost weyl at gesse,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou were now yn a sykenes,
                        Line 11796 
                      
                        And [al.]  wuldest þou do, for to lyue,
                      
                        Alle þat þy leche wulde þe ȝyue;
                      
                        To þy soule, do þe samë wyse,
                      
                        Þy penaunce, as þe prest seyse.
                        Line 11800

                      
                        Many aȝens þe prest þey kaste,
                      
                        Þat þey mowe noþer bydde ne faste,
                      
                        But ȝyf þey algate penaunce [penaunce O, om. H.]  shul do,
                      
                        Þan þay seye hyt behoueþ be so;
                        Line 11804 
                      
                        No þyng aftyr hys dedys ylle,
                      
                        But algate at hys ownë wylle.

                      
                        wenest þou so to come to heuene,
                        Line 11807 
                      
                        with lyghte penaunce as þou wylt neuene?
                      
                        But y warne þe of þys cas;
                      
                        Þarto ys many a streytë pas.
                      
                        Þe manhede of God wulde noȝt
                      
                        Haue heuene, but hyt were boȝt.
                        Line 11812 
                      
                        what wenest þou haue hyt for so lytyl here,
                      
                        whan God and man boȝt hyt so dere?
                      
                        By heuene with þy penaunce,
                      
                        Or, ellës-where, kepe harder chaunce.

                        Line 11816

Page 369

þe twelueþ poynt of shryfte.

                      
                        þe twelueþe poynt of oure resun:
                      
                        'Alle holy oweþ þy shryfte be doun;
                      
                        No poynt þou shalt with-holde,
                        Line 11819 
                      
                        For, alle holy, hyt oweþ to ['to' omitted.]  be tolde;
                      
                        And, þat shal y shewë þe
                      
                        On two maners; þy shryfte al hole shall be.

                      
                        Ȝyf þou þe shryue by parcelles,
                        Line 11823 
                      
                        Þe holy man seyþ, þy shryfte þou steles;
                      
                        Ȝyf þou shewe one, o party,
                      
                        And anoþer prest þou tellest anoþer foly,
                      
                        Þat shryfte ys noȝt, þy soule ys betrayd,
                      
                        And God almyȝty ys mys-payd;
                        Line 11828 
                      
                        For to echoun þyn herte was stoken, [folio 78b:2] 
                      
                        A synne þou heldë þer-ynne loken;
                      
                        þat þou with-helde, was nat forȝyue;
                        Line 11831 
                      
                        Þou shewedest hyt nat, hyt ys vnshryue.

                      
                        Body ne soulë ys payd weyl
                      
                        Tyl þou haue tolde þy synne [synne O, soule H.]  eche deyl;
                      
                        Telle alle þy synnes, and with-holde noun;
                      
                        Or elles, y seye, shryfte ys þyr noun;
                      
                        For, ȝyt haþ þe fende pouste
                        Line 11837 
                      
                        For to make sorowe yn þe.

                      
                        lo here, ensample þat ys certeyn,
                      
                        Þat noun [no man.]  may sey þer-aȝeyn;
                        Line 11840 
                      
                        Ȝyf þou yn þy body haue woundës [wndes.]  fyue,
                      
                        Þat, þe leste may for-do þy lyue,
                      
                        And hele hem allë but o wunde,
                        Line 11843 
                      
                        Ȝyt may þat on, [one.]  brynge þe to [to þe H, to O.]  grounde.

[The Tale of how Shrift made a Woman's unconfest Sin fly out of her Mouth as a 'Blak,' a 'Fende of Helle.']

Of a womman y herde onys spelle, [A tale] þat alle here synnës wulde nat telle;

Page 370

                      
                        þys wumman hadde do a synful dede;
                      
                        here shamed to telle hyt for drede.
                        Line 11848

                      
                        On a [o.]  day, grace was here ȝyue,
                      
                        þat she þoȝte she wulde be shryue:
                      
                        þys womman come vnto a frere,
                      
                        And, preyd hym, here lyfe to here.
                        Line 11852 
                      
                        As she sat here shryftë ynne,
                      
                        She þoȝte vppon þys ychë synne;
                      
                        Þe frerë cumforted here weyl,
                      
                        Boldely to sey euery deyl;
                        Line 11856 
                      
                        hys cumforte madë here ryȝt bolde,
                      
                        So þat she furþe þe [þat.]  synnë tolde,
                      
                        þat she haddë longe forhole,
                      
                        þurgh cunseyl of þe deuyl stole;
                        Line 11860 
                      
                        But, at þat ychë breyde
                      
                        þat she furþe þe [þat.]  synnë seyde,
                      
                        Come fleyng oute, at [of.]  here mouþe a blak,
                      
                        Ryȝt as she þe wurdë spak:
                        Line 11864 
                      
                        þe frerë sagh hyt apertly,
                      
                        And þanked God of hys mercy.

                      
                        þat ychë blak, y dar wel telle [folio 79a] 
                      
                        þat hyt was a fende of helle,
                        Line 11868 
                      
                        þat myȝt no lenger yn here reste
                      
                        whan þe synnë oute gan breste;
                      
                        But as longe as she þe synne forhale,
                      
                        Þe deuyl helde ful stylle hys stale;
                        Line 11872 
                      
                        For euer-more he wyl a-byde
                      
                        whyl o synnë may hym hyde;
                      
                        And, for þat yche resun why,
                      
                        Shryue we oure synnë, alle holy;
                        Line 11876 
                      
                        Nat by parcelles, to prestes atwynne;
                      
                        To one, alle holy, shryue þy synne;

Page 371

                      
                        To o preste telle [telle þou.]  hyt euery deyl,
                      
                        Þan art þou shryuë holy weyl:
                        Line 11880 
                      
                        At oure shryfte, God ȝyue vs myȝt
                      
                        Þese poyntes to kunne, and shewe hem ryȝt.

                      
                        Now haue ȝe herde þe poyntës twelue,
                      
                        how euery man shal shryue hym selue,
                      
                        And of þese ['þese' omitted.]  poyntes lerned sum deyl,
                      
                        how ȝe mow[ë] shryue ȝow weyl.
                      
                        Prestës oghte hem alle to kunne,
                      
                        lewed men to teche and monne;
                        Line 11888 
                      
                        And but þey techë hem þys lore,
                      
                        Here perel ys weyl þe more.

[8 graces that shrift gives]

                      
                        Moche ys shryftë for to preyse;
                      
                        Þe dede, to lyue, he may vpreyse;
                        Line 11892 
                      
                        A soulë þat ys dede þurgh synne,
                      
                        Þurgh shryftë comþ gracë þer-ynne.
                      
                        Many godenesse myȝt men telle,
                        Line 11895 
                      
                        How shryfte confoundeþ þe deuyl [fende.]  of helle.
                      
                        Lesteneþ, godë men, to lere,
                      
                        Þe grace of shryftë ȝe mow here.

The fyrste grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        þe fyrst grace þat þy shryfte shal ȝyue,
                      
                        he makeþ þy soulë for to lyue.
                        Line 11900 
                      
                        whan þy mouþe with shryfte ys opun,
                      
                        Deþ and synne are boþe oute lopun.

                      
                        Salamon seyþ, þat ys wys,
                      
                        Yn a bokë of Prouerbyys, [folio 97a:2] 
                        Line 11904 
                      
                        "Þe weye of lyue, [lyffe.]  with-outyn ende,
                      
                        Oute of ryȝtwys mannes mouþe shal wende."
                      
                        Of þe mouþe þat ys vnryȝt,
                      
                        hyd hys [ys.]  synne fro grace and [of.]  lyȝt;
                        Line 11908 
                      
                        Þy mouþë, no gracë cumþ ynne,
                      
                        whan þyn herte ys ded yn synne:
                      
                        Deþ and lyfe, ȝe mowe weyl se,

Page 372

To-gedyr mow þey neuer be. [neuer mowe þey be.] 11912

                      
                        For somë, whan þey come to shryfte,
                      
                        No more wyl þey here herte vp lyfte
                      
                        To God for grace, but beþ harde as stone,
                      
                        So longe haue þey with here synne gone;
                      
                        Sorowe of synnë haue þey noȝt,
                      
                        So ys here soule beneþë broȝt.

                      
                        For, a lymme þat ys ded or drye
                        Line 11919 
                      
                        Þurgh sykenes, or smete yn pallësye,
                      
                        Þogh men prykkë hyt wyþ oghte, [See French, l. 8729 below.] 
                      
                        For hyt ys dede, hyt feleþ noȝte;
                      
                        No more of grace, þe soule may fonge,
                      
                        Þat haþ ley yn synne so longe;
                        Line 11924 
                      
                        But Ihesu cryst, þat none wyl tyne,
                      
                        he boghte alle mankynde wyþ pyne,
                      
                        And graunteþ hym grace, hys shryfte by|gynne,
                        Line 11927 
                      
                        And yn hys shryfte, to sorowe hys synne.

                      
                        Þurgh swyche sorow, cumþ þe lyfe of grace,
                      
                        Þe deþ of synne awey to chace.
                      
                        Þan ys þys a feyrë ȝyfte,
                      
                        Þe lyfe of euer, þurg þy shryfte;
                        Line 11932 
                      
                        Þy soule þat was for synnë lore,
                      
                        Þurgh shryfte haþ grace and lyfe byfore;
                      
                        Þys ys þe grace and þe fyrst vertu,
                      
                        Þat shryfte doþ to þy soulë pru.
                        Line 11936

þe [þe O, Te H.] secunde grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        A-noþer ȝyfte he ȝyueþ large;
                      
                        hyt aleggeþ þe of heuy charge;
                      
                        For euery synne, as hyt amounteþ,

Page 373

                      
                        Shalt þou haue, whan deþ acounteþ;
                        Line 11940 
                      
                        But yn [yn H, om. O.]  euery tyme þat þou shryuest þe, [folio 79b] 
                      
                        Of pyne shalt þou vncharged be;
                      
                        For, þe prest haþ powere
                      
                        To asoyle þe quyte and clere.
                        Line 11944

                      
                        ȝyf þou for synne mayst haue sorowe,
                      
                        Fro heuy pyne hyt wyl þe borowe;
                      
                        Body and soule moche ys a-legged,
                      
                        whan of [of þy.]  synne þou art a-bregged;
                        Line 11948 
                      
                        kyndly, ys þat man heuy

                      
                        Loke what Iope seyþ, þat was of suff|raunce;
                      
                        Þat haþ synned wykkedly.
                      
                        He spekeþ to God for swyche a chaunce,
                      
                        "Lorde," he seyþ, "weyl y hyt se,
                        Line 11953 
                      
                        My synne ys allë áȝens me;
                      
                        For, whan y þenke on my synne,
                      
                        Ful of angwys y am with-ynne;
                        Line 11956 
                      
                        For heuy byrdon, þat y of hem bere,
                      
                        Y am confounded, my self to were."

                      
                        And y haue oftë herd men seye,
                      
                        And y wote my self þe certeyn wey,
                        Line 11960 
                      
                        Þat, when men haue synned dedly,
                      
                        Here soule ys mornyng and heuy,
                      
                        And cumbred ful of þoȝt and drede,
                      
                        Ne he haþ no wyl to do gode dede;
                        Line 11964 
                      
                        But whan þey haue be clenë shryue
                      
                        And do þe penaunce þat was hem ȝyue,
                      
                        Hem þoȝt hem self wundyr lyȝt,
                      
                        And, lesse dremed on þe nyȝt.
                        Line 11968

                      
                        Yn alle þys worlde [n]ys [Neither of the MSS. has a 'no.']  so heuy þyng,
                      
                        As yn synne to haue dwellyng;
                      
                        Þe synne God hateþ, þat on hem hangeþ;
                      
                        And Goddës hatred, helle hyt fangeþ;
                      
                        Þan ys wundyr, þat þe erþe hym bereþ,
                      
                        But onely þat Goddys mercy hym wereþ,

Page 374

                      
                        And wyl [nat] þat he were cumbred or [and.]  shent,
                      
                        But a-bydeth hys amendëment;
                        Line 11976 
                      
                        So ys þe ȝyfte of shryftë large,
                      
                        And leseþ men of heuy charge;
                      
                        Y rede we loue hyt, at alle our myȝt, [folio 79b:2] 
                      
                        For body and soule, hyt makeþ lyȝt.
                        Line 11980

The þred grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        þe þred grace of hys ȝeuyng
                      
                        ys, as hyt were, anoyntyng: [anoytyng H, anoyntyng O.] 
                      
                        Anoyntyng ys gode for body sore,
                        Line 11983 
                      
                        And shryfte ys a-noyntyng for euermore;
                      
                        For, shryfte ys [ys as a.]  a sacrament,
                      
                        hyt ys a grace, to alle men lent;
                      
                        And, who-so cumþ weyl þar-tyl,
                      
                        Fourë þynges he haþ þurgh skyl;—
                        Line 11988

                      
                        Þe fyrst þyng þou shalt beleue ynne,
                      
                        To haue forȝyuenes for [of.]  þy synne,
                      
                        Ȝyf þat þou truly þe shryue,
                      
                        And weyl holde hyt yn þy lyue.
                        Line 11992

                      
                        Mekenes ys þe touþer, men telle,
                      
                        And yn godë hope to dwelle,
                      
                        Þat þe shryfte, þat we to go,
                        Line 11995 
                      
                        Alle oure synne may quenche and slo.

                      
                        Þe þred ys, þat he shal fonde
                      
                        To brynge hym oute of þe fendës bonde;
                      
                        For þus hyt seyþ, weyl y wote,
                        Line 11999 
                      
                        yn a boke þat seynt Austyn wrote:
                      
                        'Yn wey to heuene, may no man be,
                      
                        But he haue wyl, hys bande to fle.'

                      
                        Þe fourþë þyng þat shal be dyȝt,
                      
                        Alle hole þy wyl, to God almyȝt,
                        Line 12004 
                      
                        Hym to wurschepe ouer alle,
                      
                        Þat he wulde to shryfte þe calle,
                      
                        And brynge þe áȝen to hys grace

Page 375

Þat þou lostest with þy wanlace. 12008

                      
                        whan þou art ȝolde to be hys seruaunt,
                      
                        Fals hym nat, but holde hym cunnaunt;
                      
                        Hyt ys alle hys, þat þou lyuest by,
                      
                        Serue nat þan hys en[e]my!
                        Line 12012

The fourþe grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        Þe fourþë grace ys weyl to telle,
                      
                        how shryfte shendeþ [shent.]  þe fende of helle.
                      
                        Ȝy[f] þou wylt make þe deuyl shent, [folio 80a] 
                      
                        And with-stonde hys tycëment,
                        Line 12016 
                      
                        with no þyng mayst þou do hym so wo
                      
                        As louë ofte to shryftë go;
                      
                        Þan ys he a-shamed to tempte þe,
                        Line 12019 
                      
                        For þat þou bewreyyst hys pryuyte:
                      
                        Þys seyþ Salamon þe kyng,
                      
                        'Ȝyf þou shewe þy frende a þyng,
                      
                        And he þat pryuyte bewreye, [furþer bewreye.] 
                      
                        Þe loue betwenë ȝow shal deye.'
                        Line 12024

                      
                        Sykyr [Syker ynogh.]  þou be, certeynly,
                      
                        Þe fende þe fleþ ful hastyly:
                      
                        whan þou shryuest þe for hys shame,
                      
                        Þat ys shenshepe vnto hys name;
                        Line 12028 
                      
                        Hym shameþ þat he ys [ys so.]  ouercome,
                      
                        For þan ys moche of hys myȝt [ys hys myghte moche.]  ouernome,
                      
                        And euermore he ys þe more coward
                      
                        For to tempte þe aftyrward.
                        Line 12032

                      
                        Syn þat God haþ swyche grace lent
                      
                        Þurgh oure shryfte to make hym shent,
                      
                        Fonde we þan, and leuë noȝt,
                      
                        Þat he were to shamë broȝt;
                        Line 12036 
                      
                        Certys we shuld haue gode wyl
                      
                        To shendë hym þat wulde vs spyl.

Page 376

                      
                        Anouþer cumfort ys wel to mene,
                        Line 12039 
                      
                        þat shent þe fende, and doþe hym tene:
                      
                        Ȝyf he ys aboute to temptë þe
                      
                        To any synne, what so hyt be,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou with-stonde þe temptacyoun,
                        Line 12043 
                      
                        And parceyuest what he wld haue doun,
                      
                        Þan halt he hym shamly dysceyued,
                      
                        Þat of hys queyntyse þou art parceyued;
                      
                        Ne he shal neuer efte haue [haue eft.]  þat powere,
                      
                        Of þat synne to tempte þe nere;
                        Line 12048 
                      
                        For þy wyþstondyng haþ hym rafte,
                      
                        Of hys temptyng, alle þe crafte.

                      
                        Blessed ys shryfte with God almyȝt,
                      
                        For hyt confoundeþ þe deuyl doun ryȝt;
                      
                        God ȝyue vs grace, þe fende to shende, [folio 80a:2] 
                      
                        And vn-to shryfte oure wyl alle wende.

The fyfueþ [fyfþe.] grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        Ȝyt þyr ys a feyrë ȝyfte
                        Line 12055 
                      
                        Þat vs [vus.]  purcháceþ þe grace of shryfte;
                      
                        hyt makeþ vs [vus.]  lefe, þere we were loþe,
                      
                        hyt peseþ God whan he ys wroþe.
                      
                        wroþë shul we neuer hym make,
                      
                        But hyt were for synnë sake;
                        Line 12060 
                      
                        Ȝyue þou þe shryue, and mercy cry,
                      
                        God forȝyueþ all þy foly.

                      
                        weyl oȝt we loue [to loue.]  hym as lorde and syre,
                      
                        Þat wyl so sone forȝyue hys yre;
                        Line 12064 
                      
                        Þarfore seyþ seynt Bernard,
                      
                        Þat noun, to shryfte, be slogh ne hard.
                      
                        Haue þou mekenes with répentaunce,
                      
                        And hope yn shryfte gode áffyaunce,
                        Line 12068 
                      
                        How þou hast myȝt merueylusly
                      
                        Ouer God, and hyse þat are hym by,
                      
                        And ouercomest hym gracyously,
                      
                        Þat noun may wynnë with maystry;

                        Line 12072

Page 377

                      
                        Line 12072 
                      
                        For allë þyng, for drede hym douteþ,
                      
                        And to hys domë, alle þyng louteþ.

                      
                        Shryfte, þou art of grete vertu,
                      
                        And purchacest to vs grete pru;
                        Line 12076 
                      
                        For whan þou comst byfore þe kyng,
                      
                        Forgyuënes ys þyn askyng;
                      
                        And þat yche kyng loueþ þe so wel,
                      
                        Þat he forȝyueþ þe euery deyl.
                        Line 12080

                      
                        Shryfte, þou art Goddes messangere;
                      
                        Þou makyst synful, aungelys pere;
                      
                        Þou purchasest vs, pes [pees.]  and gryþ;
                      
                        So seyþ to vs þe prophete Dauyd: [dauyþ.] 
                      
                        whan he was yn synnë shent,
                        Line 12085 
                      
                        And dampnable yn Iugëment,
                      
                        A wurde he seyde to þe prophete,
                      
                        "Y haue synned; y wyl of lete."
                        Line 12088 
                      
                        Natan þe prophete forȝaue hys synne
                      
                        whan he seyd þat he wulde blynne. [folio 80b] 
                      
                        Þe glose here-on seyþ redyly,
                      
                        'he þat shryueþ hym parfytely,
                        Line 12092 
                      
                        Asswyþë, for þat shryfte,
                      
                        He haþ forȝyuenes, of Goddys ȝyfte.'

                      
                        He þat þenkeþ for to be shryue,
                      
                        And hope hyt ys to be forȝyue,
                        Line 12096 
                      
                        Ȝyf hyt so be þat he with-drawe
                      
                        Hys mys-dede, for Goddys awe,
                      
                        Þan may y, ful weyl proue
                      
                        Þat þe prophete Dauyd seyde aboue:
                        Line 12100 
                      
                        Þus he seyd yn hys lyue,
                      
                        "Y haue þoȝtë me to shryue,
                      
                        And God forȝauë me, as sone,
                      
                        Alle þe synnes þat y haue [hade.]  done."
                        Line 12104 
                      
                        Yn [See French, l. 8885-86.]  þe byble men fynde þese þynges,
                      
                        Yn a boke þat ys of kynges.

Page 378

The syxte grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        The syxtë grace of shryfte to neuene,
                      
                        Hyt ioyeþ alle þe court of heuene.
                        Line 12108 
                      
                        whan þou þe mekest to make þy shryfte,
                      
                        Þe aungelys of heuene þou ȝyuest a ȝyfte;
                      
                        A swetnes of ioye ys hem among,
                      
                        Þat ys confermed with gospel song;
                        Line 12112 
                      
                        'Yn heuene, ys more ioye auenaunt,
                      
                        Of a synful man repentaunt,
                      
                        Þan of nynty aungelys and nyne
                        Line 12115 
                      
                        Þat neuer synned, ne were wurþy pyne;'
                      
                        Þys ys Goddys ownë wurde,
                      
                        And redde yn chyrchë at hys borde.

                      
                        whan þou repentest with þy gode wyl,
                      
                        And clene art shryue of alle þyn yl,
                        Line 12120 
                      
                        Þe aungelys make for þe a þankyng,
                      
                        Þat þou fulfyllest here grete longyng;
                      
                        Longyng, ful ofte þe aungelys make,
                        Line 12123 
                      
                        what tyme we wyl oure synnes forsake,
                      
                        Þat we [we O, om. H.]  were redy to haue þat blys
                      
                        That for vs [vs alle.]  ordeyned ys;
                      
                        For þurgh þe manhede of Ihesus, [folio 80b:2] 
                      
                        Ys here ioye fulfylled yn vs.
                        Line 12128

                      
                        Þan ys hyt on þe touþer party
                      
                        whan we synnë [synnen.]  dedly;
                      
                        we lese þe ioye þat þey are ynne,
                      
                        For long lyggyng yn oure synne.
                        Line 12132 
                      
                        Y trowe euery man þat had þys þoȝt,
                      
                        wulde ful sone of synne be broȝt,
                      
                        Þogh hyt were for noun oþer þyng,
                      
                        But for þe aungelys grete longyng;
                        Line 12136 
                      
                        Shryue we vs þan, most and leste,
                      
                        And make þe aungelys a feyre feste.

Shryftë ys þe ȝate of heuene, Hyt ys a wey þat ledeþ vs euene; 12140

Page 379

                      
                        Line 12140 
                      
                        And at þe [þat.]  entre, ys none forsake
                      
                        Þat ys weyl shryue, and haþ penaunce take;
                      
                        And, þo þat vnshryuë be,
                      
                        þere þey getë none entre.
                        Line 12144 
                      
                        Allas, þat oure synne ys so grefe,
                      
                        Þat leseþ [lesseþ.]  þe ioye þat we are lefe!
                      
                        God graunte vs alle swych shryfte to take,
                      
                        Þat we, þe aungeles, ioye mow make!
                        Line 12148

The seuenþe grace þat shryfte ȝyueþ.

                      
                        The seuenþe ys, and þat weyl endyþ,
                      
                        'Þat oure shryfte, þe deuyl blyndeþ.'
                      
                        whan he made vs falle yn plyght,
                      
                        He refte vs allë gostely syȝt;
                        Line 12152 
                      
                        Fro synne to synne he made vs falle,
                      
                        And oure fadres byfore vs alle.
                      
                        Y rede we ȝelde hym þe countre paye,
                      
                        And blyndë we hym fro hys praye.
                        Line 12156

                      
                        we put oute hys yȝe [ye.]  gostly
                      
                        whan we shryue vs opunly;
                      
                        Certes he may nat knowe vs efte,
                        Line 12159 
                      
                        For oure shryfte haþ hym þe syȝt refte.
                      
                        þat may weyl y-shewed [y-shewede O, shewed H.]  be
                      
                        with [By.]  a tale of an autoryte.

[A Tale of How to put the Devil's Eye out spiritually, or How by Shrift a Man made himself invisible to the Fiend who before used to lead him about chaind. [I have read many analogous stories in the religious writings of the Middle-Age, but the present one I have not found.—G. Paris, Hist. Litt. xxviii. 205.] ]

Þyr was onys an ermyte, [A tale.] Þat was euer yn Gode parfyte; [folio 81a] 12164 So moche he hadde of Goddys grace,

Page 380

                      
                        Þat he coude knowe, yn euery place,
                      
                        whych men were yn dedly synne,
                      
                        And who was godë lyfe with-ynne;
                        Line 12168 
                      
                        And also, he myȝt se weyl
                      
                        Þyng þat was spyrytuele.

                      
                        An halyday fyl, as ys þe acyse,
                      
                        Men to go to Goddys seruyse;
                        Line 12172 
                      
                        Þys erymyte lened hym on a walle,
                      
                        And badde hys bedys, and loked ouer-alle,
                      
                        And beheld þe folke þat come yn þe gate, [O. gloss 'wey.'] 
                      
                        whyche come erlye, and whyche late,
                        Line 12176 
                      
                        whyche come with [for.]  gode deuocyoun,
                      
                        And whyche for ouþer enchesoun:
                      
                        Alle sagh þys ermyte euerydeyl,
                        Line 12179 
                      
                        who come wrong, and who come weyl.

                      
                        As he stode, he toke gode hede,
                      
                        How a deuyl, a man gan lede;
                      
                        with hym he com alle weyl þe gate,
                      
                        And ledde hym to þe chyrchë ȝate,
                        Line 12184 
                      
                        And yn to þe cherchëȝerde;
                      
                        Forþer durst he nat, for ferde.
                      
                        And whan he yn-to þe cherch shuld go,
                      
                        Þan brast þe fendës chayn yn two;
                        Line 12188 
                      
                        Þe fende stode stylle, and loked a-boute,
                      
                        And a-bode þys man wyþ-oute;
                      
                        On hys clawys he helde þys cheyne,
                        Line 12191 
                      
                        And loked what tyme he come aȝeyne.
                      
                        þe holy man ȝaue godë tent
                      
                        whyder þat ychë man was went.
                      
                        þat ychë man, þat [þat O, 'þat' struck thru in H.]  was yn synne,
                      
                        And haddë longë leye þer-ynne;
                        Line 12196 
                      
                        Þurgh grace óf þe holy spyryt,
                      
                        he ȝede and shrouë hym astyt,
                      
                        And þoȝt neuer to turne aȝeyn,
                        Line 12199 
                      
                        But sorowed þat hé þer-ynne had leyn.

whan þat þys man shryuë was,

Page 381

                      
                        And was passed þat synful pas, [folio 81a:2] 
                      
                        As þys man come outë þere,
                      
                        Þe fende loked aboute euery-where,
                        Line 12204 
                      
                        And coude nat fynde hym, for no nede,
                      
                        Among þe ouþer, þere þey ȝede;
                      
                        Þe syȝtë of hym hadde he [he O, hym H.]  lore,
                      
                        Al þogh he ȝede next hym byfore.
                        Line 12208

                      
                        Long loked þat foulë wyght,
                      
                        And coude nat se hym with no syȝt;
                      
                        He stode stylle tyl alle men were goun,
                      
                        But syȝtë of hym hadde he noun.
                        Line 12212 
                      
                        Þys holy ermyte to hym ȝede:
                      
                        "Treytur," he seyd, "for what nede
                      
                        Stanst þou here; telle hyt me,
                      
                        Yn Goddys name, y cóniure þe."
                        Line 12216

                      
                        Þan answered þat glotoun,
                      
                        "y abyde here my prysoun,
                      
                        Þat long haþ be vndyr my [myn.]  hande,
                        Line 12219 
                      
                        And haue led hym aboute with þys bande;
                      
                        Langer wente he yn fro me,
                      
                        He come nat oute ȝyt, þat y coude [may.]  se;
                      
                        Among many, y haue hym soȝte;
                        Line 12223 
                      
                        Me þenkeþ [þynke.]  wundyr, y fynde hym noȝte."

                      
                        Þys ermyte hyed fast and ran,
                      
                        And ouertoke þys ychë man,
                      
                        And, preyd hym a stounde to dwelle,
                      
                        And of hys lyfe, sumwhat to telle:
                        Line 12228 
                      
                        "Y graunte," he seyd, "to þe to seye.
                      
                        To þe cherche, as y wente my weye
                      
                        y felte me charged yn a synne,—
                      
                        And, long had y leye þere-ynne,—
                        Line 12232 
                      
                        y þoȝte y wulde me þer-of shryue,
                      
                        And amende þe trespas yn my lyue.
                      
                        At þe cherche, y shroue me weyl,
                        Line 12236 
                      
                        Plenerly of euery deyl;

Page 382

                      
                        Blessed be now God almyȝt,
                      
                        Me þynkeþ y am wundyrly lyȝt."

                      
                        Þan þoȝte þe Ermyte astyte,
                        Line 12239 
                      
                        þat whan men haue yn synne delyte, [folio 81b] 
                      
                        Þan haþ þe fendë enchesoun
                      
                        To byndë hym as a presun;
                      
                        And whan he haþ wyl, hym to shryue,
                      
                        Hys bandys brest, and al to-ryue;
                        Line 12244 
                      
                        And, whan he ys clenë shryuyn,
                      
                        Þe deuyl knoweþ hym no more syþen.

                      
                        Þe holy man come þan to þe deuyl,
                      
                        And bad he shulde do no man euyl,
                        Line 12248 
                      
                        But go to helle, þere he come fro,
                      
                        Euer to dwelle yn pyne and wo.

Þarfore, y rede þat we bygynne To shryuë vs of alle our synne. 12252

Page 383

The eyghte [eyghteþe.] grace þat shryfte ȝyneþ.

Newë þy shryftë euer ylyke, hyt makeþ Iesu cryst to þe meke. [myke.]

                      
                        Ȝyt þyr ys a properte,
                      
                        Þat euer ylyke þy shryfte shal be;
                        Line 12256 
                      
                        As ofte as þou yn synne doust falle,
                      
                        As oftë rys vp fro hem alle,
                      
                        Nat, wyþ no feyntyse,
                      
                        with verry shryftë shalt þou ryse.
                        Line 12260

                      
                        Baptem, fro Adams synne vs drewe,
                      
                        But shryfte clenseþ vs euery day newe;
                      
                        we synful mow þarfore be [be þarfore.]  bolde;
                      
                        To vs ys shryfte a blysful holde;
                        Line 12264 
                      
                        As ofte as þou to shryfte art went,
                      
                        As ofte helpeþ þe, þe sacrament:
                      
                        Here-of spekeþ Isayë
                      
                        A wurde yn hys [hys O, om. H.]  prophesye,
                        Line 12268 
                      
                        "whan man haþ fylled hys soule with ylle

Page 384

                      
                        Þurgh hys ownë wykked wylle,
                      
                        y rede hym þat he oftë synge
                        Line 12271 
                      
                        wurschyp vn-to oure heuene kynge."
                      
                        Þys song to mene, yn my resoun,
                      
                        Ys trewë shryfte, and oftë doun.
                      
                        Þyr ys no þyng þat man may neuene,
                      
                        Þat more stereþ [styreþ.]  God of heuene,
                        Line 12276 
                      
                        Of vs synful to haue mercy,
                      
                        Þan doþ shryfte, þere hyt ys do trewly.

Page 385

                      
                        who so syngeþ to God with shryfte,
                      
                        For hys song he ȝyueþ hym a ȝyfte;
                        Line 12280 
                      
                        Hys ȝyfte ys ioye with-outyn wo,
                      
                        Þat þe fendë was kast fro.

[properties of shrift]

                      
                        On many maner myȝt men proue
                        Line 12283 
                      
                        How shryfte ys gode to oure byhoue;
                      
                        But longe hyt werë for to dwelle,
                      
                        Þe [And.]  propertees, alle for ['for' omitted.]  to telle,
                      
                        But touche y wyl, two or þre,
                      
                        Þat ȝe mow weyl warned be.

                        Line 12288

Page 386

That þou falle nat yn wanhope.

                      
                        Haue no wanhope, for no maner of kas;
                      
                        Be nat lyke Kaym ne Iudas.
                      
                        Þe werst þarfore, y wylle fyrst grope,
                      
                        Þat man kalle 'wanhope:'
                        Line 12292 
                      
                        Al tymes ys God more ['more' omitted.]  wroþer with þys
                      
                        Þan with any oþer þyng [synne.]  þat ys;
                      
                        Þyr ys no synne þat men of rede,
                      
                        Só moche withseyþ þe godhede;
                        Line 12296 
                      
                        For wanhope wenyþ þat þe foly
                      
                        Be more þan [þan ys.]  Goddës mercy;
                      
                        And ȝyf þou wene þat synne be more,
                      
                        Þou wenest þat þe godhede, so moche ne wore,
                        Line 12300 
                      
                        Ne had so mochë myȝt hym ynne,
                      
                        Þat hyt myȝt fórȝyue alle þy synne.

                      
                        Se how wanhope, man wyl shende
                      
                        Aȝens þe godhede with-outyn ende!
                        Line 12304 
                      
                        Hyt ys no wundyr, þogh he be wroþe;
                      
                        Hyt aȝenseyþ hys myȝt & hys ['hys' omitted.]  mercy boþe.

                      
                        Swych shryfte madë wreched Kaym,
                      
                        whan he hadde hys broþer slayn;
                        Line 12308 
                      
                        'Of God,' he seyd, 'he was nat wurþy,
                      
                        For hys grete synne, to haue mercy.'
                      
                        For hys wanhope, þat foule glotoun,
                      
                        God ȝaue hym hys malysun;
                        Line 12312 
                      
                        And alle þo, þat trowe synne may be
                      
                        Morë þan Goddës pyte. [folio 82a]

                      
                        And swych shryftë, made Iudas;
                      
                        He shrouë hym of hys trespas,
                        Line 12316 
                      
                        He hadde grete sorowe and contrycyun
                      
                        Þat he ded hys lorde tresun;
                      
                        Þer-of he repented hym so gretly,
                        Line 12319 
                      
                        he ȝede and hyng hym self ful hy;
                      
                        He shroue hym with grete répentaunce,

Page 387

But of Goddys mercy he hadde none affy|aunce. 12322

                      
                        Here mowe ȝe se, þat shryfte and sorowe
                      
                        Alle only may no man borowe,
                      
                        But he haue gode hope, whan he ys shryue,
                      
                        Þat hys synne shal be forȝyue:
                      
                        Þys shal ȝe beleue, with-outë nay,
                      
                        Þat, God wyl forȝyue, and may.
                        Line 12328

                      
                        An holy man þys samë spelleþ
                      
                        Þat of Iudas wanhope telleþ,
                      
                        'For hys wanhope, God wroþer was,
                      
                        Þan for hys tresun or ouþer trespas;
                      
                        Hys wanhope toke he more to grefe,
                      
                        Þan hys takyng, as a þefe.'
                        Line 12334

                      
                        Ihesu, ful of mercy mylde,
                      
                        Fro wanhope vs allë shylde,
                      
                        And graunte vs alle swych 1hope & sted|fast1 [[1_1 overline: leave out stedfast]]  trouþe
                      
                        þat þy mercy on vs haue rouþe!
                        Line 12338

That þou excuse nat þy synne.

                      
                        Ȝyt þer ys an vnþryfte
                      
                        Þat doþ moche skaþe yn shryfte;
                        Line 12340 
                      
                        Þat þou defendest þe fro plyȝt,
                      
                        And puttest þy synne on God almyȝt.
                      
                        So dyd oure fadyr Adam,
                      
                        whan God of heuene to hym cam,
                        Line 12344 
                      
                        And seyd, "Adam, why art þou yn synne?"
                      
                        "lorde," he seyd, "my wyfe made me bygynne;
                      
                        Þat ychë wyfe þat þou me wroȝt,
                      
                        She synned fyrst, and y noȝt."
                        Line 12348 
                      
                        Seeþ how Adam bygan to lye,

Page 388

                      
                        And put on God hys owne folye!
                      
                        For, God forbede þat [hym þat.]  tre, [folio 82a:2] 
                      
                        Þat he ne shulde ete þer-of, ne she:
                        Line 12352 
                      
                        Seeþ how he ded, þat God forbede,
                      
                        And dyd aftyr hys wyuës rede;
                      
                        He wulde haue excused hys fame,
                      
                        As who seyþ 'God was to blame;'
                        Line 12356 
                      
                        Þese lewed men sey, and erre ful ylle,
                      
                        And seye 'hyt was alle Goddys wylle.'

                      
                        Ȝyf þat hyt Goddys wyl shulde be,
                      
                        why forbede he hym þat tre?
                        Line 12360 
                      
                        Hyt may nat be, for no nede,
                      
                        Þat God wulde be do, he shulde forbede;
                      
                        Syn he forbed, hyt shulde be noȝt,
                        Line 12363 
                      
                        Aȝens hys byddyng, Adam hyt wroȝt;
                      
                        Þan hyt semeþ, hyt was but suffraunce,
                      
                        Nat hys wyl, nat [ne.]  hys ordynaunce,
                      
                        But lete hym [hym O, om. A.]  haue alle hys fre wyl,
                      
                        Hym self for to saue or spyl.
                        Line 12368

                      
                        Nay, nay! Adam, alle mys ȝede,
                      
                        On God to put alle hys mysdede,
                      
                        As who seyþ 'he shulde nat be shent,
                      
                        But Eue brak þe commaundëment,
                        Line 12372 
                      
                        For she ȝaue hym þe appul here lete,
                      
                        And God was gylty þat he hyt ete.'
                      
                        He myȝt a [haue.]  fórsake, and seyd nay,
                      
                        But whan he toke hyt, he brake þe lay.

                      
                        Ȝyf a man me now forbede
                        Line 12377 
                      
                        þyng þat y ne shulde haue of dede,
                      
                        y were to blame ȝyf y hyt toke;
                      
                        Bettyr were fyrst þat y hyt forsoke;
                        Line 12380 
                      
                        So myȝt Adam haue hyt forsake,
                      
                        For God for-bede þat ['þat' omitted.]  none shuld be take.
                      
                        Syn he dyd þus aȝens hys forbode,
                      
                        Ho dar sey hyt was þe wyl of God?
                        Line 12384

Ȝyt þyr are many þat þus seye, Þat alle here wyte on God wul leye,

Page 389

                      
                        And tellë men þus apertly
                      
                        Þey mow nat holdë [holde hem.]  fro foly,
                        Line 12388 
                      
                        And sey þey mowe nat lyuë chaste, [folio 82b] 
                      
                        But nedly hym [hem.]  behoueþ do waste.

                      
                        Y seye, as þe holy man seys,
                      
                        He lyeþ apertely on alle weys;
                        Line 12392 
                      
                        For ȝyf þat he wulde do now folye
                      
                        wyþ a womman yn lecherye,
                      
                        And ȝyf a-noþer, hyt myȝt se,
                      
                        At þat tyme he wulde late be;
                        Line 12396 
                      
                        He ne letteþ for Goddes comaundement, [Harl. omits these two lines.] 
                      
                        But for hym þat þere ys present. [Harl. omits these two lines.]

                      
                        Alle þo þat sey 'hem byhoueþ nedely,'
                      
                        Þey acoupe God of here folye.
                        Line 12400 
                      
                        why shulde he þat [þan.]  þyng forbede,
                      
                        Þat nedely moste be do yn dede?
                      
                        hyt were foly, comaunde a þyng
                      
                        Þat myȝt nat ȝyue no warantyng.
                        Line 12404

                      
                        yn twey þynges, wykkedly þey sey,
                      
                        Þat on God here blame alle leye;
                      
                        Lyers algate þey are strong;
                        Line 12407 
                      
                        A-noþer, þey hepe on God here wrong;
                      
                        wykkedly þey synne on þese maners,
                      
                        Þey make hym wers þan ben [be.]  here peres.

That þou make nat þy synne lytyl to ['to' omitted.] seme.

Make nat þy synne, lytyl to seme; 12411 Telle smale and grete, ȝyf þou God queme.

                      
                        Ȝyt þer ys an enchesun
                      
                        ys kalled 'dymynucyun':
                      
                        On englys, hyt ys to mene,
                      
                        To make þy synne lytyl to ['to' omitted.]  seme;
                        Line 12416 
                      
                        Hyt ys to mene also anoþer þyng,

Page 390

                      
                        Of þy synne to make shedyng;
                      
                        And þys may be on two manere,
                      
                        whan hyt shuld be hole and clere:—
                        Line 12420 
                      
                        whan þou tellest but þe grete,
                      
                        þe smalë synnes þan wylt þou lete;
                      
                        þese clerkys kalle hem 'cyrcumstauncys,'
                      
                        To þe grete synnes are þey puruyaunces; [purueyaunces.] 
                      
                        þou puruéyst fyrst, yn þy þoȝt
                        Line 12425 
                      
                        How þe grete synnes shulde [shul.]  be wroȝt;
                      
                        Oftyn tyme, a foule þoȝt and an ['an' omitted.]  yl,
                      
                        wyþ lykyng þer-yn, gadereþ a wyl [folio 82b:2] 
                      
                        Aftyr þat wyl, cumþ a syȝt;
                        Line 12429 
                      
                        Aftyr a [þe.]  syghte, a speche ful ryȝt;
                      
                        weytyng yn wey, and þarto ȝyftes;
                      
                        Alle þese, to þe dede a man lyftes;
                        Line 12432 
                      
                        Alle þese kalle men 'cyrcumstaunces,'
                      
                        Þat vn-to þe grete dede men haunces.

                      
                        Lo here ensample of oure tale;
                      
                        Þou sëest [sest.]  stykkës þat are smale,
                        Line 12436 
                      
                        Þey brenne fyrst, feyre [lyght.]  and shyre,
                      
                        To brynge þe grete stokkes [stokes.]  sone on fyre:
                      
                        Ryȝt so do þése smale, þe with-ynne,
                      
                        A gretë synnë to bygynne;
                        Line 12440 
                      
                        Þarfore y warne þe, yn þy lyfe,
                      
                        Of swychë smale þat þou þe shryue;
                      
                        For ȝyf þou for-hele hem with þy wyl,
                      
                        So mayst þou þy soulë spyl.
                        Line 12444

                      
                        Ryȝt so fareþ forholen synne,
                      
                        As fyre, borë bosum ynne;
                      
                        At þe lastë, hyt hym dereþ,
                      
                        And brennyþ [brēnþ.]  þat hym aboutë bereþ;
                      
                        For no synne may be hyd,
                        Line 12449 
                      
                        Þat hyt ne behoueþ opunly be kyd;

Page 391

                      
                        Ȝyf hyt be shewed here apert,
                      
                        Yn ouþer stede hyt ys couert;
                        Line 12452 
                      
                        And ȝyf þou hydë here þy blame,
                      
                        hyt shal be shewed to þy shame.

                      
                        Seynt Austyn seyþ a wurde to charge,
                      
                        Of Goddys ȝyfte, how hyt ys large:
                        Line 12456 
                      
                        "Shryueþ ȝoure dedës and ȝoure þoȝt,
                      
                        For God forȝyueþ alle or noȝt;
                      
                        Oþer forȝyueþ he alle with gladehede,
                      
                        Or alle abydeþ to hys wraþhede.
                        Line 12460 
                      
                        Ȝyf þou be allë fully shryue,
                      
                        Forsoþe þan be þey all forȝyue;
                      
                        Ȝyf þou þe shryue of alle but one,
                      
                        Noþer he forȝyueþ þat, ne none."
                        Line 12464

                      
                        Yn ryȝt resun þese clerkys telle,
                      
                        yn þat stede þere God shal dwelle [folio 83a] 
                      
                        Plenerly, hyt behoueþ be clene,
                      
                        Þat no synnë mowe be sene.
                        Line 12468 
                      
                        whan synne ys shryue, and clene eche deyl
                      
                        Þere wyl God, holde hys hostele;
                      
                        Þe mantel of loue ys leyd ful euene,
                      
                        Þat heleþ Ihesu and kyng of heuene.
                        Line 12472 
                      
                        Yn o stede ne mowe þey reste;
                      
                        God or þe fendë, outë [þe toon oute O.]  keste;
                      
                        One of þese, behoueþ þe chese;
                      
                        Take þe toon, þe touþer þou lese.
                        Line 12476 
                      
                        Y wulde holde hym more þan wode,
                      
                        Þat cheseþ þe wykked, and leueþ þe gode.
                      
                        Take we God on oure party,
                      
                        And fle we þe fendës cumpany.
                        Line 12480

That þou make no skornyng yn shryfte.

Skorne nat, and seye þou wylt forsake Þy synne, and eft aȝen hyt take.

Page 392

                      
                        Ȝyt wyl y warne þe of o þyng,
                      
                        Yn shryftë make þou no skornyng.
                        Line 12484 
                      
                        Lytyl mayst þou spede þat whyle,
                      
                        Ȝyf þou shryuë þe with gyle;
                      
                        For ȝyf þou make þy shryftë feynt,
                      
                        Sykyr þou be, þou shalt be a-teynt,
                        Line 12488 
                      
                        whan [þat] þou art nat yn wyl
                      
                        Þe to wyþdrawë fro þyn yl.

                      
                        what doust þou byfore þe prest,
                      
                        And, hast déseyt yn þy brest?
                        Line 12492 
                      
                        Asoyled mayst þou neuer be,
                      
                        But þou wylt þy synnë fle.
                      
                        with skornë wenest þou þe quyte
                      
                        As a fals ypocryte,
                        Line 12496 
                      
                        Þat þou holdest nat cunnaunt,
                      
                        þat þou hetest and takest an hand.

A lytyl tale y wyl ȝow telle, How he was shryue, þe fende of helle. [A tale.]

[The Tale of how the Devil came to be Shriven.] [[Not found elsewhere by G. Paris.]] 

                        An holy man, þat God was dere,
                      
                        Onës sat, shryftë to here;
                        Line 12502 
                      
                        To hym come þe fende of helle, [folio 83a:2] 
                      
                        Yn form of a [of a O, a H.]  man, hys synne to telle;—
                      
                        Þe holy man wende hyt had be
                      
                        A man yn flessh as [þat.]  he dyd se;
                      
                        On hys knees he sett hym downe,
                      
                        with þe prest, for to roune,
                        Line 12508 
                      
                        And tolde hys wykkednes ful bostely.
                      
                        Þe gode man lestned, þat satte hym by;
                      
                        He seyde, "y haue be yn þe se;
                      
                        Þere þre þousend shyppes were dreynt þurgh me;

                        Line 12512

Page 393

                      
                        Line 12512 
                      
                        "And alle þe folk with-outë numbre,
                      
                        Allë broȝt y hem to kumbre;
                      
                        Aboue, yn-to þe wynde y wente,
                        Line 12515 
                      
                        And broȝt hem alle to þat turment;
                      
                        On land y haue do more tresun
                      
                        wyþ fyre and slaghtyr yn euery toune,
                      
                        And alle þe skaþe y myȝt of mone,
                      
                        Tó hem þat yn borwës [borewes.]  wone;
                        Line 12520 
                      
                        y haue made wraþþe and euyl wyl
                      
                        Betwyxë hem þat wulde none [none O, mone H.]  yl,
                      
                        And sle [sle O, om. H.]  echoun ouþer at here myȝt,
                      
                        More with wrong, þan with ryȝt.
                        Line 12524

                      
                        "Yn pryde, yn Ire, yn enuye,
                      
                        yn slouþë, [slouþe O, slogh H.]  and yn coueytyse,
                      
                        yn glotonye, and yn lecherye,
                      
                        Y delyte me yn euery vyleynye;
                        Line 12528 
                      
                        Foule flessh dedes þat are ouer rank,
                      
                        More þan ouþer y take to þank;
                      
                        But, pryde algate, and coueytyse,
                      
                        Y may nat leue, ne none of þyse;
                        Line 12532 
                      
                        Ten þousend men dampned be
                      
                        Yn þese two, for loue of me;
                      
                        when y fynde hem custummably
                      
                        Yn þese two synnës alle redy,
                        Line 12536 
                      
                        Ful weyl payeþ me þat synne,
                      
                        And bounde are þey to me þer-ynne;
                      
                        Þan do þey, ryȝt as y wyl,
                      
                        Allë wrong wyþ-outë skylle;
                        Line 12540 
                      
                        Fro wykked to wers, y do hem falle, [folio 83b] 
                      
                        For y am mayster ouer hem alle;
                      
                        Ȝyf þey wulde wake, y do hem slepe,
                      
                        And yn ydulnes to lepe;
                        Line 12544 
                      
                        For whan þey are yn beddë [bedde O, bed H.]  broȝt,
                      
                        y do hem synne yn ydul þoȝt;
                      
                        yn þoȝt of folye, and foule delyte,

Page 394

"I do hem þenkë þan ful tyte. 12548

                      
                        "Certes y may nat telle hyt alle,
                      
                        þe synne þat y haue do, and more shal.
                      
                        Cryst, loue y neuer a deyl,
                      
                        Ne none þat on hym byleueþ weyl,
                        Line 12552 
                      
                        For, yn euery dedly synne
                      
                        y am bounde, and may nat blynne.

                      
                        "Y dyd neuer commaundement
                      
                        þat God vn-to þe folk haþ sent.
                        Line 12556 
                      
                        Þe sacramentys of holy cherche,
                      
                        y loued hem neuer, ne neuer wulde werche.
                      
                        Pryue synne and sacrylage,
                      
                        Þat loue y moste, and rycolage.
                        Line 12560 
                      
                        holy cherche, despyse and fyle,
                      
                        þat wyl y bleþly, alle my whyle." [tyme]

                      
                        þe holy man, lestnë [lystene.]  bygan,
                      
                        And, had wundyr of þat o man
                        Line 12564 
                      
                        Þat he myȝt so moche synnë do,
                      
                        As he a-couped hym self vn-to:
                      
                        Þe godë man, for alle þys chaunce,
                      
                        Sagh yn hym no répentaunce,
                        Line 12568 
                      
                        Ne no sorowe made of contrycyun
                      
                        For no synne þat he had doun.
                      
                        He seyd, "hast þou any shame of þy synne
                      
                        Þat þou hást be so moche ynne?"
                        Line 12572

                      
                        Þe fende answered to hym aȝen:
                      
                        "Wytë þou weyl for certeyn,
                      
                        Þere y dyd but one or two,
                      
                        Y wulde haue do twenty and mo."
                        Line 12576 
                      
                        "Þan [Þan O, Þat H.]  art þou," he seyd, "a wykked denyl,
                      
                        Þat þou repentest þe of none euyl."
                      
                        "Ȝe, certeys," he seyd, "so y am, [folio 83b:2] 
                      
                        A fende of helle, to þe y cam."
                        Line 12580 
                      
                        "Y coniure þe þat þou me telle—
                      
                        Syn þou art a fende of helle—
                      
                        For what maner þyng a lyue,

Page 395

                      
                        "Þat þou come hedyr, þe to shryue?"
                      
                        "Now behoueþ me nedely
                        Line 12585 
                      
                        Telle þe euerydel, and why.

                      
                        "Y se men come to shryfte so þykke,—
                      
                        Of some, here soules as [as H, om. O.]  blak as pykke,
                      
                        And as grymly on to se
                        Line 12589 
                      
                        As [And as H, As O.]  any fende yn helle may be,—
                      
                        Þo samë men, when þey are shryue,
                      
                        So moche bryȝtnes ys hem ȝyue,
                        Line 12592 
                      
                        Þat no sonnë ys so bryȝt
                      
                        As here soules yn Goddys syȝt.
                      
                        Y wyst my self hydus and blak,
                      
                        And no þyng haþ so mochë lak;
                        Line 12596 
                      
                        Þurgh my shryfte, y wende to spede,
                      
                        To haue turned so bryȝt as ouþer ȝede."

                      
                        "Þou art dyceyued, foule treytoure!
                      
                        Þy shryfte may haue no swyche onour;
                      
                        Hyt may neuer do þe pru,
                        Line 12601 
                      
                        Þe feyrehede of shryfte, ne þe vertu.
                      
                        Þo þat þou sawe so blak with-ynne,
                      
                        Þey are repentaunt of here synne,
                        Line 12604 
                      
                        And are now come to ryȝt gode wyl,
                      
                        To do penaunce, and no more yl;
                      
                        And þurgh þe shryfte þat þey haue take,
                      
                        Þey are asoyled, and synne forsake.
                        Line 12608 
                      
                        Þere [þer.] -of cumþ alle [al.]  here beute
                      
                        Yn here soules, as þou mayst se;
                      
                        But þou þat hast no répentaunce,
                        Line 12611 
                      
                        But loue and lykyng yn [in þy.]  cumbraunce,
                      
                        To feyrehede shalt þou neuer wende,
                      
                        But blak [blake.]  and foule wyþ-outyn [outen.]  ende;
                      
                        A deuyl þou come; to Satan þou go!

Page 396

                      
                        To þat sorowe þat þou come fro."
                        Line 12616 
                      
                        he wente a-wey, alle for-lore, [al forlore.]  [folio 84a] 
                      
                        A deuyl, as he was byfore.

                      
                        Þarfore, gode men, wyte [wete.]  ȝe weyl,
                      
                        Shryfte saueþ nat a-lone eche dyl, [alone yche deyl.] 
                        Line 12620 
                      
                        But ȝe haue gode répentaunce,
                      
                        And of foryȝuenes gode affyaunce,
                      
                        And yn gode wyl, ȝow to withholde
                      
                        Fro þe [þo.]  synnes þat byfore are tolde. [folio 84a:2]

                      
                        God graunte vs grace, swyche [swych.]  shryfte to make,
                        Line 12625 
                      
                        And for oure synne swyche [swych.]  penaunce take,
                      
                        Þat we be neuer more a-teynt [neuermor ateynt.] 
                      
                        For fals shryuyng, ne for feynt;
                        Line 12628 
                      
                        But graunte vs alle vs self [selfe.]  to ȝeme,
                      
                        And yn oure shryfte Ihesu to queme! Amen! [O. adds 'Explicit.' [The next Treatise to Man. Pecché, in the same scribe's hand, is no. 60 in the E. E. T. Soc.'s Original Series, the "Medytacyuns of þe soper of oure lorde Ihesu, And also of his Passyun, And eke of þe peynes of hys swete modyr, Mayden Marye, þe whyche made yn latyn, Bonauenture Cardynall,"—edited by Mr. J. Meadows Cowper. After this, follows 'Roberd of Cysylle' in another hand, and ends the MS.] ]

Here endyþ Manuel Pecché.

About this Item

Pages

Here bygynneþ shryfte.

[prolog]

description Page 350

description Page 351

[12 points of shrift]

The fyrste poynt of shryfte.

description Page 352

description Page 353

The Secunde poynt of shryfte.

description Page 354

description Page 355

The þred poynt of shryfte.

description Page 356

þe fourþe poynt of shryfte.

description Page 357

þe fyueþe [Þe fyfþe.] poynt of shryfte.

description Page 358

description Page 359

The syxte poynt of shryfte.

description Page 360

description Page 361

þe [Þe O, Te H.] seuenþe poynt of shryfte.

description Page 362

The eyȝtþe [eyghteþe.] poynt of shryfte.

description Page 363

description Page 364

The nyȝnþe poynt of shryfte.

description Page 365

description Page 366

þe tenþe poynt of shryfte.

description Page 367

þe eleuenþe poynt of shryfte.

description Page 368

description Page 369

þe twelueþ poynt of shryfte.

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