Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng Synne,"

A.D. 1303,
WITH THOSE PARTS OF THE ANGLO-FRENCH TREATISE ON WHICH IT WAS FOUNDED,
William of Wadington's "Manuel des Pechiez,"

RE-EDITED FROM MSS. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND BODLEIAN LIBRARIES,
BY

FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL,

M.A. CAMB., HON. PH.D. BERLIN, HON. D. LITT. OXFORD, HONORARY FELLOW OF TRINITY HALL, CAMBRIDGE, FOUNDER OF THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT AND OTHER SOCIETIES, AND OF THE FURNIVALL SCULLING CLUB.

PART I.

LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LIMITED,
PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD, W.C.
1901.

BERLIN:
ASHER & CO., 13, UNTER DEN LINDEN.
NEW YORK:
C. SCRIBNER & CO.; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

Original Series, No. 119.

RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON & BUNGAY.

Roberd of Brunne's "Handlyng Synne."

[Harl. MS. 1701; Bodl. 415.] [The Readings in the English notes are from Bodl. 415 (generally named O.) except when markt Harl. for Harl. 1701, or D. for Dulwich 24.]

Here bygynneþ þe boke þat men clepyn yn frenshe Manuele pecche, þe whych boke made yn frenshe, Roberd Gros-test, Bysshop of Lyncolne.

[Bodl. 415 has this too. The Dulwich MS. 24 has only 'Manuel de Pecche,' and at top in a later hand, 'God be þe fyndere,' and the first four lines of the text repeated.] [THE PROLOG.] [Bodl. 415 has this too. The Dulwich MS. 24 has only 'Manuel de Pecche,' and at top in a later hand, 'God be þe fyndere,' and the first four lines of the text repeated.]

FADYR, and Sone, & holy goste, Þat art o god of myȝtës moste, [is oo god . and myȝt haþ most D.] At þy [his . . . we schul D.] wurschyp [worshepe [o inserted] O.] shul we bygynne, To shame þe fende & shew [shewe O, schoue D.] oure synne; Line 4 Synne to shewë, [shewe O, shew Harl.] vs to frame, [eschewe vs þer D.] God to wurschyp, [worshepe [o inserted] O.] þe fende to shame. Shameful synne ys gode to lete, Al þat men do, boþe smale & grete: [Alle þo þat men don smale or D.] Line 8 Þe grete, withoutyn pryuyte, That ben [beyn O, is D.] commune to me & the, Of hem wyl [wyle O.] y telle ȝow nede [þerof telle I wil and not hyde D.] As y haue herde & red [rede O.] yn dede. [red. herd and sayde . D.] Line 12

Of þyse þan ys my [of þe ferste þan is oure D.] sawe, þe commaundementys of the oldë lawe, Þysë ten were fyrst vs [Þo ten . . vs be D.] ȝeuyn,

And fyrst we wylyn [welyn O.] of hem [of hem we schuld D.] be shreuyn, Yn what [qwhatt D.] poyntys þat we falle Line 17 Yn opon synne aȝen [a-ȝens D.] hem alle.

And syþen of þe seuene synnes, [synnys OD.] In what [qwaht D.] þyng [þynge D.] þe fende vs wynnes; [wynnys OD.] Line 20 And syþen of synne of sacrylege, [sacrilage O, and þe s. of sacrylege D.] Þat ys to holy chyrche outrage; And of þe sacramentys seuene Þat techyn vs [teche ȝow D.] to þe blys [blysse O, blisse D.] of heuene; Line 24

Syþyn of þe tweluë poyntes of shryfte, And of þe twelue gracys of here [And þe . . . goddis D.] ȝyfte; Al þat toucheþ dedly synne, In any spyce [ony speche D.] þat we falle ynne, Line 28 þat ys oponly seen or [opynly in dede D.] wrouȝt.

Of pryuytes [pryuytees O. See line 83 of French.] speke y ryȝt [ryȝt D, om. HO.] nouȝt; Þe pryuytes [pryuytees O. See line 83 of French.] wyl [wyle O.] y nat name For none [noun, or none O.] þareforë shulde me [bere D.] blame; Line 32 Leuer ys me þat þey be hydde, þan for me were oponly kydde. [oponly were kydde O, þorwh me opynly were kyd D.] Noþeles þey mote be shreuyn [but ȝit be-hovyth vs þer-of be schreue D, shreuyen O.] ȝyf ȝyfte of gracë shal be ȝeuyn. [ȝeue D.] Line 36

Of þys clerkys [See line 91, etc. of the French.] wyl [wyle O.] y nouȝt seye; To greuë [greuyn D.] hem y haue grete eye, For þey wote þat ys to wetyn, [þei knowe wel þat is to wete D.] [folio 1a:2] And se hyt wel before hem wrytyn. [& sen it ofte b. h. wrete D.] Line 40

Þat may be weyl on englyssh tolde, To telle ȝow þat, y may be bolde; [ȝow I am be-hold D (part of the leaf is torn off).] For lewdë [lewede O, lewyd D. See l. 113 of the French.] men y vndyr-toke

On englyssh tunge to make þys boke. Line 44 For many ben [beyn O, a[rn] D.] of swyche manere, Þat talys and rymys wyl [wyle O, rymys woldyn here D. See ll. 79-80 of the French.] bleþly here; Yn gamys, & [yn O.] festys, & at þe ale, Loue men to lestene trotëuale: [trotouale O, to telle trotyuale D.] Line 48 Þat may falle ofte to vylanye, [velanye O.] To dedly synne, or oþer folye; [& oþer folyȝe D.] For swyche men haue y made þis [þys O.] ryme Þat þey [Þey O, om. Harl.] may weyl dyspende here tyme, And þere-yn sumwhat for to here, Line 53 To leue al swychë foul manere, And for to kunnë [kun O.] knowe þerynne Þat þey wene no synne be ynne. Line 56

To alle crystyn men vndir sunne, And to godë men of Brunne, And specïali, alle be name, Þe felaushepe of Symprynghame, Line 60 Roberd of Brunnë [Robert of brunne D, leaf 1, back.] greteþ ȝow In al godenesse [alle godenes O, al goodness D.] þat may to prow. [be prow D.]

Of Brunnëwakë [Brunne wake D, brymwake HO.] yn Kesteuene, Syxe myle be-syde [fro D.] Sympryngham euene, Y dwelled [duellyde O.] yn þe [þat D.] pryorye Line 65 Fyftenë ȝere yn cumpanye, [compayne O, good cumpany D.] In þe tyme of gode dane Ione [Daun Ioh D.] Of Camelton, þat now ys gone: Line 68 In hys tyme was y þere ten ȝeres, And knewe [knew O.] and herd of hys [his goode D.] maneres; Syþyn with dane [dan O, dan Joh Ioh Clatton D.] Ione of Clyntone, Fyue wyntyr [ȝeer D.] wyþ hym gan y wone; Line 72 Dane Felyp [Philipp D.] was maystér þat tyme Þat y began [be ganne O.] þys englyssh ryme. Þe ȝeres [ȝers O, ȝeer D.] of grace fyl þan to be

A þousynd & þre hundred & þre. Line 76

In þat tymë turnede [tournede O, turned D.] y þys [folio 1b] On englyssh [In to ynglysch t. o. of frensch D.] tunge out of frankys, Of a boke as y fonde ynne; [Out of . . . . þer inne D.] Men clepyn þe bokë "handlyng [callyd þe book handlyng of D.] synne."

In [of D.] frenshë þer a clerk hyt sees, Line 81 He clepyþ hyt "manuel de pecches." [pecchees O, callyd it . . pecches D.] 'Manuel' ys 'handlyng [handlynge O.] with honde;' 'Pecches' [pecchees O, callyd it . . pecches D.] ys 'synne,' y [to O.] vndyrstonde. [arn synnys to vnderstond D.] Line 84 Þese twey wurdys [wrdys O.] þat beyn otwynne, [to . . . arn a twynne D.] Do [put D.] hem to gedyr, ys "handlyng [handlynge O.] synne." And weyl ys clepyd, for þys skyle; [callyd . . skele D.] And as y wote, ȝow shew [shewe O.] y wyle. [fond schewyn I wele D.] Line 88

We handel synnë euery day; [euer dayly D.] In wurde [wrde O.] and dedë, al [al þat O.] we may, [or dede with oþer foly D.] Lytyl or mochel, [mechil D.] synne we do, Þe fend and oure flesh tysyn [þe flesch techith D.] vs þerto; Line 92 ffór þys skyle hyt may [may wel D.] be seyde 'Handlyng [handlynge O.] synne' for oure mysbreyde; ffor euery day & euery [day . many an D (rest of leaf torn).] oure We synne þat shal we bye ful [we a beyȝe D.] soure. Line 96

Anoþer [A nouþyr O, and ofte handlyng it D (part of leaf gone).] handlyng [handlynge O.] þer shuld be, Wyþ shryfte of mouþe to clensë þe. Handyl þy synnë yn þy þouȝt, [þoghte O.] Lytyl & mochel, what þou hast wroght; Handyl þy [remembre þo D.] synne to hauë drede; Line 101 Noþyng [Noþynge O.] but peyn [peyne O.] ys þarfore mede. Handyl þy synnes, & weyl hem gesse, How þey fordo [fordoun O.] al þy godenesse. Line 104 Handyl þy synnes, ³¹& weyl hem euene,³¹ [31_31 alle weyl and euene O.] Ellës forbarre þey [how þei f. D.] þe blys [blysse O.] of heuene.

Handyl hem at onys euerychone, Noght onë by hym self alone. Line 108 Handyl so to ryse from alle, Þat nonë makë þe eft [oft to O.] falle, With shryfte of mouþe, & wyl of herte, And a party, with penaunce smerte; Line 112 Þys ys a skyl [skyle O.] þat hyt may [shyl & may D (leaf 2).] be tolde Handlyng [Handlynge.] synnë many a folde. [in many fold D.]

Handlyng [Handlynge.] yn spechë [þe handlyng in spycys D.] ys as weyl [folio 1b:2] As handlyng [Handlynge.] yn dedë euery deyl. Line 116 On þys manere handyl þy dedys, And lestene and lerne whan any hem [qwat I þe D.] redys. Þou darst neuer recche where þou bygynne, [he þar not rekke wher he gynne D.] For euery-whare ys bygynnyng [begynnynge O, þer þe begynnyng is D.] of synne; whedyr [whedyr outys O, qwhere he be-gynnyth to opene his book D.] þou wylt opon [opone O.] þe boke, Line 121 Þou shalt fynde begynnyng [begynnynge O, þer þe begynnyng is D.] oueral [on O, haþ a begynnyng on D.] to loke: Oueral ys bygynnyng, [begynnynge O, þer þe begynnyng is D.] oueral [& oueral D.] ys ende; Hou þat þou wylt turne [turne hyt O, how so euere it turne D.] or wende, Line 124 Many þyngys [See l. 73, etc. of French, and 79 for l. 127 English.] mayst þou þeryn [þer yn mayst þou O, maybe þerinne D.] here; With oft [oft Harl., oftyn O.] redyng, [redynge O.] mayst þou [men may it D.] lere; Þou mayst nat, [nouȝt O, He may not D.] with onys redyng, [redynge O.] knowe þe soþe of euery þyng. [þynge O.] Line 128 Handyl, hyt behoueþ, oft [þe ofte O.] syþys, To many maner synnes hyt wryþys. [handle it ofte for to wete D, for many synnys here-in be wrete. D.]

Talys shalt þou [schal he D.] fynde þerynne, And chauncys þat haþ happed for [haue happyde O, for þat han falle for dyuers D.] synne; Meruelys, some as y fonde wrytyn, [fynde wrete D.] Line 133

Line 133 And oþer [ouþyr O.] þat haue be seyn [seye O.] & wetyn; [han be seyn ȝe noun wete D.] None ben þare-yn, [be þer ynne O, Now am þerin. D.] more ne lesse, But þat y founde wryte, [fonde wrete O, þan I fond wreten D.] or had [hadde O, & haue D.] wytnesse. Þarefore may hyt, [it may D.] & gode skyl [skyle O, skele qwhy D.] why, Line 137 'Handlyng [Handlynge O, handlyng of D.] synne' be [be O, be callyd D, ys H; still, is is a root, and in the Northern dialect we find I is, they is, etc. Phil. Soc. Proc. ii. 150-1.] clepyd oponly; For hyt toucheþ no priuite, But opyn [opon O.] synne þat called may be. Line 140

Begynne we þan to telle yn hast, [haste O, þanne now yn hast D.] with fadyr and sone and holy gost, [hely gaste O.] And yn wurschyp [wrshepe O, In þe wurschepe D.] of oure [our O.] lady, And al [alle O, alle seyntis þat ben hir by D.] þe halewys þat beyn hem by: Line 144 Þey ȝeue [ȝyue O.] vs grace ryȝt [ryþ O, om. D.] so to deme, Vs to profyt, [proffyte O, note D.] and god to queme.

[Commandments]

[The First Commandment. [Amen // Primum mandatum D.] ]

[Non habebis deos alienos coram me. D.]

The first commaundment [comaundement O, ferste comaundement of euerychon D.] ys of echone 'Þou shalt haue [houyn D.] no god but one,' Né but o [on .o. O, And in oo g. þou schal D.] god shalt þou leue, Line 149 Ne on no þyng þat wyl [þynge þat wyle O, to don no þing þat schal D.] hym greue. Now [loke þou D.] beþenke þe weyl on þys, Ȝyf þou aȝen þys haue [hast O.] do ouȝt mys. [do owht a-ȝens hym a mys D.] Line 152

The fyrst askyng [askynge O, ferste askyng D, D om. ys.] ys yn oure boke, [folio 2a] 'Ȝyf þou euer god forsoke;' Any tymë, as for nede, [ony t . . drede D.] Or for folye, [foly OD.] or for drede, [nede D.] Line 156 Or ouþer chaunce þat you weyl woste, [wost O.] Forsoke fadyr and sone and holy goste. [gost O.]

For þys ys one þe mostë [is þe moste D, most HO.] synne Þat any man may fallyn [ony . . . falle D.] ynne. Line 160

Ȝyf þou haue synned [synnyd O.] þus gretly, With sory herte þou aske [drery herte aske D.] mercy. For god ys ful euer [euere ful OD.] of pyte, Hys mercy ys euer redy to þe. Line 164 Drede þe noght; [nouȝt O.] ȝyf þou wylt craue, Hys mochel [gret D.] mercy shalt þou haue. And þat may wel [weyl.] [i-]preuyd be Wyþ [be D.] a tale of auctoryte. Line 168 Þe tale ys wrytyn, al and sum, In a boke of [callyd D.] 'Vitas Patrum:'— [[Vit. Pat. p. 579; Libro de los Exemplos, no. 35 (Spanish MS.); Gaston Paris, in Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 193.]]

[The Tale of the Tempted Monk.] A Tale

Hyt was onys a munke, [munk O, monk D.] and had a celle In a wyldernes, [wyldyrnesse O, wildernesse . þere D.] for to dwelle; Line 172 Þys munkë [munk O, monk of holy D.] of relygyoun Had a [hadde a D, had Harl. O.] grete [gret O.] temptacyoun; He was so temptyd [temptyd O, fondyd D.] with lecherye, He ȝede fro hys celle to seke folye; Line 176 He dede hym sone to a cyte, [cytee O.] In-to egypte, þat yche cuntre. [cuntree O, ilke cuntre D.] And, as hé cam [com O, cam in to D.] yn a strete, with a womman he gan mete; Line 180 Hys flesshe on [of O.] here was so abeyted, [abeytyd OD.] Þat þyke [þeke O.] womman [þat woman sore D.] he couéytyd. [coueytyd OD.] To here fadyr swyþe he ȝede, And asked here to haue [hym hir to han D.] yn dede. Line 184 Here fadyr was prest of sarysyne; [sarȝyne D.] In maummetry [maumetrye OD.] he leued ynne. [leuyd ynne O, leuyde he D (om. ynne).]

Þe prest seyd þe munke [munk O, þat monk D.] vn-to,

As my god [god.] wyl, [wyle O, without my goddis wil I not D.] so wyl [wyle O, without my goddis wil I not D.] y do. Line 188 She shal noght [nouȝt O.] to any be sette [to no man ben sett D.] Withoutyn leue of my maumette. The munkë [munk O, monk seide I graunt wel D.] seyd he graunted weyl [folio 2a:2] Aftyr hys maumette to [I graunt wel, after þi mamett D.] do euery deyl. Line 192

Þe sarysyne to hys god [god O, þat s . . . D.] ȝede, And askede cunseyl of swyche a dede, Ȝyf he were of þe munkë [munk D, monk O, þat monk apayȝed D.] payde, Or, þe ȝyfte shulde be delayde.' [delayȝed D.] Line 196

Þan answered hys termagaunt, [teruagaunt O, þat termagaunt D.] "Ȝyue hym þy doghtyr [douȝtyr O, doutter D.] on þys cunnaunt, [vp þis comenaunt D.] Þat he forsake, & quytë clene, [quyt cleyme O (quit claim, give up), clene H, he must forsake qwyȝt & clene D.] God of heuene and hys bapteme, Line 200 And alle [al OD.] þe godenesse of hys munkhede; Þese þre forsakë, mote [muste D.] he nede; And ȝyf he forsake hem apertly, [apertely O.] Ȝyue hym þy douȝtyr hardëly." [Harl. hardly, O hardely, D hardily.] Line 204

Þys prest come [com O.] to þe [þys O, cam to þis D.] munke, & tolde what [how D.] he seyd, and what [how O, qwat D.] he wolde; 'And ȝyf he wolde forsake þese [ȝif he forsake þese alle D.] þre, Hys dougtyr shulde hys ownë be.' [lete þi douȝtter his wyf be D.] Line 208

She was so mochë yn hys þoght; [þouȝt O, meche in his foul þought D.] Had he here, [Hadde he hir D.] he rouȝte of noghte. [nouȝt O.] Alas! [Allas O, Allas þer D.] Ihesus he forsoke, And þe crystyndom þat he toke, Line 212 And þe state of relygyoun, And chesë [ches þer D.] hys Dampnacyun. [damnacyun O, dampnacyoun D.]

Certys he dede grete [a gret D.] outrage, To make þe deuyl so moche omage. [suych seruage D.] Line 216

Line 216 whan he had grauntede al hys [hadde grauntyde O, qwen he had grauntyd his D.] folye, Out of hys mouþe he say [saghe O.] flye [mouþ þer fley a flyte D.] A dowue vn-to [dowe in to D.] þe fyrmament; Þe holy gost þan from hym [fro hym þan O, þo fro hym D.] went. Line 220

Þe sarysyne wente to hys maumet, And tolde hym how þe munke [munk D, monk O, þat monk apayȝed D.] had [hadde O, had D.] het: "Þese [þose O.] þre þyngës" he wyl [wyle O, haþ D.] forsake; Shal y, hym my douȝtyr [doghetyr O, douȝtter D.] take? Line 224 Sey þou me þe [Sey me now D.] certeyn of alle, [al OD.] wheþer y shal, or y ne shalle." [shal OD, schal I ȝeuyn hir . or I not schal D.] Þe maumet [þat deuyl D.] answeryd hastyly, "Y warne þe for enchesoun [nay I warne þee . & a cause qwhy D.] why; Line 228 Þogh he forsake hys god for euere, [folio 2b] Hys god forsakeþ [wyl forsaken D.] hym neuere, For he ys euer ful of pyte; Men clepyn hym god of cristianite; [callen . . cristiente D.] Line 232 For ȝyf he wyl [wyle O, wil D.] hym mercy craue, Redyly mercy shal he haue; ¹⁹Þouȝe [þoghe O, þowh D.] he to-day fro hys god weyue, To-morwe [morue O.] hys god wyl [wyle O.] hym receyue.¹⁹ [19_19 Þowh he þis day his god forsake, to morwyn he wil a-ȝen hym take D.] Þarfor, [þarfore O.] y forbede þe weyl, Line 237 Ne [Ne, om. D.] delë with hym neuer a deyl."

Þe prest vnto þe munkë [munk O, þat monk D.] went [wente O.] And seyd, "y haue [he hadde in D.] commaundëment [comaundemente.] Þat y ne shal delë [delyn D.] with þe, Line 241 Ne my doghtyr þy wyfe to be; For þy god ys of swych [sweche O, þat D.] manere, Þogh þou forsake hym ryght now [ryþtnow O.] here, To-morwe [morue O.] mayst þou com [þou mayst soone after comyn D.] aȝeyn, [aȝeyne O.] Line 245

Line 245 And make with hym acorde certeyn; [acorde wyþ hym certeyne O, & haue forȝeue|nesse of al certeyn D.] Þogh þou haue do [doun O.] neuer [neuer O.] so ylle Ȝyt wyl [wylle O.] he graunte þe [aske mercy. & þou schalt han D.] hys gode wylle. My god me bad on none [no D.] wyse Line 249 To dele with þe, [hym D.] ne none of hyse."

Þe munke [munk O, þat monk D.] rependyd hym þan, and [repentyd hym in þat D.] þoght, "Alas!" he seyd, "what [qwat D.] have y wroght Þat y shulde euer [euer O, hym euere D.] hym forsake Line 253 Þat ys so redy me efte [euere me D.] to take. Þy mercy, god, ys mochyl [his mercy is mechil D.] to telle; when [Whan O, qwan D.] y see a maumet of helle Line 256 Þat neuer [neuer O.] ȝyt loued þe, He spekyþ of þy mochyl [gret D (om. he).] pyte. Seþyn þou art [and siþþin he is D.] so mylde and meke Þy mochyl [His mechil D.] mercy wyl [wyle O, wil I now D.] y seke; Line 260 Here y forsakë þat y toke, To hym y me betake [take OD.] þat y forsoke."

Seþyn [Seþþyn O, Siþþin D.] he ȝede to an ermyte, [heremyte D.] Line 263 And shrofe hym of hys synne [alle his synnys D.] astyte; And tolde hym þat he had y-doun, [how þat he hadde doun O, how he had don D.] Forsaken god and hys relygyoun. [cristendom D.] þys forsayde ermyte ful [þe hermyte þerfore D.] sory was [folio 2b:2] Þat he had [hadde O, had don D.] do so grete trespas; Line 268 Noþeles, he bad hym dwelle [to dwelle O, dwelle D.] Þre wokys [Þo þre woukys O, þre wykis D.] with hym yn his [his D, om. HO.] celle; For hys synne he shulde þan [he shulde D.] faste, And yn preyers wel [weyl O, with wil D.] to laste. [laste OD, last H.] Line 272

þys ychë munke [munk O, ilke mong D.] þat was so madde, Dyde ryght [ryþ O.] as þe [þys O.] ermyte badde. þey preyden [preyȝeden D, preyd H, preyde O.] boþe þat seuenyȝt

To god, for hys mochel [mechil D.] myȝt, Line 276 þat he wulde haue of hym [on hym haue D.] mercy; Þus preyd þey boþë [preyed þey boþen D.] specyaly.

At þe fyrste [fyrste O, fyrst H, ferste suenyȝttis ende D.] seuenyȝt ende, þe ermyte seyd, [hermyte seyde D.] "broþer hende, Line 280 Hast þou any [þou ony good D.] gracë see Yn þy preyers as þou hast be [now hast ben D.] ?" "ȝe," [þo D.] he seyde, "y sagh a syght Yn þe ['þe' om. OD.] lykenes of a dowuës [dowuys O.] flyght, [a dowe qwhyȝt D.] Line 284 Aboue me [Aboue me O, Aboue D.] yn þe firmament, Of þat dowue þat fro me went." þe ermyte þoght þan astyte [þowht as tyȝt D.] Þat hyt was þe same spyryte Line 288 þat went from [wente fro CD.] hym when [wan O, qwan D.] he began God forsake [forsake god D.] for þat womman.

To gret penaunce eft [to gret penaunce D, to penaunce eft HO.] he hym toke For hys cristyndom þat [crystendome þat O, cristendom D.] he forsoke; Line 292 Ȝyt a woke [wouke O, þat wyke D.] he badde hym faste For his flessh þat hym downe [down O.] caste, þat no more þurghe [no man þorw his D.] lecherye He fordo [for-do not.] hys grace so gretly. Line 296

Þys ermyte preyed [þe . . preyed D, preyde O, preyd H.] nyght and day þat hys penaunce were take to [were to his D.] pay. whan þey had [hadde O, qwan þei had D.] preydë day & nyght Alle þat woke [wouke O, þat wyke D.] yn goddys syght, Line 300 Þys ermyte seyd, [þe . . seyde D.] "benedicite; Broþer," he seyd, [þe . . seyde D.] "how þenkeþ [þynke O, þinkiþ H.] þe?" "weyl," he seyd, [þe . . seyde D.] "þurgh goddys grace, Þe dowue haþ be [was here D.] byfore my face, Line 304 And, a whyle, stylle by [a whyle be for D.] me stode; [folio 3a] Þe syght þere-of dyde me gode."

"þat ys weyl, wyþ [þorw D.] goddys wylle, Dwelle ȝyt with me [be-leve [stay] ȝit D.] a wokë [wouke O, wowke D.] stylle, Line 308 And be [Be o wyke D.] yn þyn afflyccyouns, Yn fastyng [fastynge.] and yn [oþer D.] orysouns: And y. shal prey [preye O, preyȝe D.] also with þe Þat god boþe herë me and þe." [here boþe þe and me. O, boþe here . . . D.] Line 312

Stedfastlych [Stedfastlyche O, stedefastly D.] þey preyd a-none [al oon D.] Tyl þat wokë [wouke O, þat wyke D.] were alle gone. [al agone O, wyke was al goon D.] At þe woke [wouke O, þat wyke D.] ende, spake þe ermyte [þat hermyte D.] And asked þe munke of þe [þat D.] spyryte. Line 316 Þe munkë seyde, "y haue hyt seyn, And on my [myn OD.] hede syttyn [setyn O, sotyn D.] and beyn; y sagh hyt [I say it to me D.] so mylde and spake, Line 319 Þat with my [myn OD.] hande y myght hyt take; Me þoght hyt was þat fro me steye, Aȝeyn yn-to my mouþe [mouþ O, in-to my mouþ wol euene D.] hyt fleye." þe ermyte þanked god almyght [of myȝt D.] Þat ȝafe hym grace to see þat syȝt. [syght O, sen þat syȝt D.] Line 324 "Now art þou clene," he seyde, "of [clene of al þi D.] synne, þe holy goste [gost O.] ys þe withynne: kepe þe now fro swych a kas, Aȝen god no more to [a-ȝens god do no D.] trespas." Line 328

By [Be OD.] þys ensample may ȝe see Þat god ys euer ful of pyte; Þogh [ȝif D.] a man hym onys forsake, Eft wyl [wyle O, ȝif he lowly D.] god aȝen [a-ȝen he wil D.] hym take Line 332 Ȝyf he with herte wyl [wyle O, ȝif he lowly D.] mercy crye And do penaunce for hys folye. [cryȝe . . . folyȝe D.] Blessed be he among [amonge O.] vs here, Þat he loueþ vs alle so dere. Line 336

Line 336

Go we now fyrþer [furþer O, forth a litil paas D.] on oure pas And tellë [telle we D.] more of oure trespas.

[On Witchcraft and Dreams.]

Ȝyf þou euer [euere O.] þurgh folye Dydyst ouȝt [oght O, dedyst ony n. D.] do nygrómauncy. Line 340 Or to þe deuyl dedyst [dedist to þe deule D.] sacryfyse Þurgh wychcraftys [wycchecraftys O, wycchecraft as þe on-wyse D.] asyse, Or any man ȝaf [ȝafe O, ȝaf D.] þe mede [folio 3a:2] For to reyse [reysyn D.] þe deuyl yn dede, Line 344 For to telle, or for to wrey, [or to be wreyȝe D.] Þyng þat þe [þat þe O, þat HD.] was don awey; [a weyȝe D.] Ȝyf þou haue do any [don ony D.] of þys, Þou hast synned & do [þan hast þou synnyd & don D.] a-mys, Line 348 And [And om. D.] þou art wurþy [wrþy O, wurþi D.] to be shent Þurgh þys yche [for brekyng of þis D.] commaundëment.

Ȝyf you yn swerd, oþer [or OD.] yn bacyn, Any chylde madyst [ony child dedyst D.] loke þeryn, Line 352 Or yn þumbe, [tombe D.] or yn cristal,— wycchëcraft [. . . fte O, wycchecraft D.] men clepyn [callyn D.] hyt al: [al OD, alle H.] Beleue nouȝt [noght O, trowe not D.] yn þe pyys cheteryng; [. . . nge O, pyȝes chateryng D.] Hyt ys no trouþe, but fals beleuyng. [. . . nge O, It ne is but fals & lesyng D.] Line 356 Many beleuyn [trowyn D.] yn þe pye: whan she comyþ [comþ H, comyþ O, quan he chateryth lowhe or hyȝe D.] lowe or hye Cheteryng, [Cheterynge O, þat cryȝith faste D.] and haþ no reste, þan sey [seye O, sey D.] þey we shul haue geste. [han a gest D.] Line 360 Manyon trowyn on [Harl. or, on O, of D.] here wylys, And many tymes þe pye hem gylys. [many on þe pyȝe be-gylys D.]

Also ys metyng [metynge O, And also it is of metyng D.] on þe morwe [morue O.] when [qwan D.] þou shalt go to bye [beye O.] or to [O. omits 'to.' qwan þou schalt go beyȝe begge or D.] borwe; [borue O.] ȝyf þan þy erende [ȝif þou þin arende not D.] spede ne sette, Line 365 þan [Þanne O.] wylt þou curse hym [hem O, banne hym D.] þat þou mette. Hyt ys þe tycement [þis is þe tysyng D.] of þe deuyl To curse hem [banne hym D.] þat þoght þe no [none O, non D.] euyl. Line 368

Of hancel y can no skylle also; Hyt ys nouȝt to beleue þarto: [

Also of hansele I can no skil.It is not for to truste til D.

] Me þynkeþ hyt ys fals [hyt fals O, for it is fals D.] euery deyl, Line 371 Y beleue hyt nouȝt, ne neuer shal weyl. [I trowe it not ne neuere wil D.] For many hauyn glad hancel at [Many han hansele on D.] þe morw, [morue O.] And to hem or euyn comþ [comyþ O.] mochyl [þat longe or euyn han sum D.] sorw; [sorue O.] And manyon hauyn yn þe day grete noy, [gret noye O, & manye han al day meche noyȝe D.] And ȝyt or euyn comeþ to hem mochyl [hem comyþ gret O, or euyn comyth ioyȝe D.] ioye. So mayst þou wyte, ȝyf þou gode [myȝt þou wite . . . good D.] can, Line 377 Þat hancel ys no beleue [is not trewe D.] to man.

Beleuë nouȝt moche [Ne beleue noghte mochyl. O, Ne trowe þou not D. ('Sompnia ne' in margin. D.)] yn no dremys, For many be nat but gleteryng [beyn but gleterynge O, arn not but gladyng D.] glemys. Þese clerkys seyn [seyyn O.] þat hyt ys [seyn it is but vanyte D.] vanyte, Line 381 Þat nouȝt ys, ne neuer shal be; [folio 3b] And oftë [Harl. oft, oftyn D.] mayst þou fynde hyt ryght [ryþt O.] þat þou hast mete vpon [mette opon O, mett of on D.] þe nyght. [nyþt O.] Line 384 But þerof to haue mochyl [But ouer mochyl to haue þer on. O; but haue þerin non D.] affyaunce Þe may betyde þe sunner [soner O.] a [þat þe be-tyde non oþer. D.] chaunce.

On syxë maners may a man [men may D.] mete: Sum beyn to beleue, sum beyn [summe arn to trowe summe arn D.] to lete. Sum men dremyn [dreme O.] for surfeture, Line 389

Line 389 þat etyn or drynkyn ouer mesure; And sum dremë on veyn þyng [of veyn þynge O, metyn of veyn þingis D.] For ouer mychyl and grete fastyng; [gret fastynge O, of gret fastyngys D.] Line 392 And sum beyn [arn D.] þe fendes temptacyoun Þat to þe trowþe [to trowe D.] ys fals tresoun; And sum come of ouer mochyl þouȝt [þoghte O, summe comyn of mechil þouȝt D.] Of þyng þat men wuld hauë wrouȝt; [wroghte O, woldyn han wrouȝt D.] Line 396 And sum beyn [summe arn D.] goddys pryuyte Þat he shewyþ to warnë þe; And, sum come [summe comyn D.] þurgh grete stody, [stodye O, studye D.] And shewë to þe apertly. [apertlye O.] Line 400 Þese syxë maners a clerk [clerke O, as clerkys D.] vs tellyþ, Seynt Gregory, þat mochyl spellyþ. [tellys, seiþ s. G. þat mechil spellys D.]

Þe fyrst twey maners, we wote [woot O, wetyn D.] weyl, Beyn oure defautë [is owre owyn defauȝtte D.] euery deyl. Line 404 Þe ton [toon O, þat oon D.] ys for ouer mychel [oure gret D.] outrage, Þe touþer ys febylnesse [febylnes.] of corage, [þat oþer is febilnesse of oure D.] ¹⁹ As yn mete, or drynk, ouer moche takyng, [takynge.] ¹⁹ [19_19 þat etiþ ofte tymys & doþ gret wast. þat oþer is febilnesse of body & fast. D.] Or yn feblyng [feblynge.] þe body with moche [wyþ to moche O.] fastyng. [fastynge.] Line 408 þe touþer fourë [voure.] þys [Þo oþer foure as clerkis D.] clerkys wytyn, [wetyn OD.] For yn þe byble þey ben wrytyn. [wretyn O, arn wreten D.] Ȝyf þey ne come þurgh [ne comyn of D.] temptacyun Of þe fende, þat ys a felun, [is feloun D.] Line 412 Neuere had seyd [ne hadde seiþ D.] Salamon 'þat dremys, men deseyue manyon.' [disceyuyth many man D.] For þo þat to dremys ouer moche trastys, [þei þat to dremys meche trust D.] [beleuyn] To scornë hem þe fende þen frastys. [fraystys O. Hym to scorne þe fend is prest D, which leaves out lines 417-478 here, but marks in the margin "hic deficit. Scip to þis signe ⊚," which is at the top of the next leaf 5.] [asayþ] Line 416

Line 416

Ȝyf þey come nat [noghte O.] also þurgh [comyn only of D.] þoght, Þe wysë clerk [clerk, om. D.] hadde tolde hyt noght, Ne suffryd hyt [suffryd to D.] be wrytyn yn boke [folio 3b:2] Þat men alle day rede yn, [þat may we alday redyn D.] and loke. Line 420 Þus þe wyse clerk seyþ, [seyþ om. D.] Catun, And techyþ chyldryn þys [Lernyth childryn in her D.] lessun, 'Ȝeue no charge to [þy] [non entent vn-to þi D.] dremys, Þey been but as [glasyng] [for it ben but glasyng D.] glemys Line 424 Þat yn þe þouȝt [stertys &] [þy þoghte O, in þi þouȝt it stertyth and D.] lepys A-nyȝt [nyghte O.] whan þou [restys &] [On nyȝt qwan þou restyst & D.] slepys: [sumtyme þou on nyȝt þinkys D.] þat you wakyng [sumtyme] þenkes, [wakynge þenkys O.] Beforë þy yȝen [þyn eȝyn O.] hyt [and be-forn þin yȝe D.] blenkys.' Line 428

Ȝyf þey ne come [it come not D.] þurgh pryuyte [þryuyte O.] Þat god [god O.] wyl shewë [shew H, shewe O, ȝeue þe or me D.] me or þe, Iosep of dremys had ȝyue [ȝeue O, ȝouyn D.] no kepe what [qwhan D.] hym was shewed yn hys slepe, Line 432 þat fadyr and modyr & al hys kynde, Þurgh hym shuld þey wurshyp [wrshepe O, wurshepe D.] fynde. yn þe byble men redë [redyn D.] þys In þe fyrst boke of genesys. Line 436 Also hyt was [al was it D.] shewyd pryuyly To iosep þat wedded oure lady, Þat with þe chyld þey shuldë [shulde þey O, schulde þei D.] fle To egypt, [Egypte O, in to Egipt þat c. D.] þat yche [yche om. D.] cuntre. Line 440 þys ys clepyd [klepyde O.] reuelacyun, To shewe byfore what ys to doun. [be-forn qwat is to comyn D.]

Ȝyf þey com noght þurgh stodyyng, [stodyynge O, stodyyng D.] þat tokene ys [takyn it D.] of selkouþe þyng, [selkowþ þynge O.] Line 444 Danyel had noght wyst [wyst O; not wyst D; Harl. omits wyst.] byfore

Þe dreme of Nabugodonósore. Danyel seyd [seyde O.] vn-to þe kyng, [kynge O.] "þou þouȝtyst to [þis D, om. H.] nyȝt a selkouþe þyng; [selkowþ þynge O.] 'what manere [maner folk O, qwat maner folk it schulde be D.] folk [Harl. omits folk.] shuld þey be Line 449 Þat yn þis worlde [þys wrlde O, þis word D, yn worlde H.] come aftyr þe, And how þey shulde þe wurlde [wrlde O, world D.] gouerne;' yn þy þoght þou gunne [gan D.] hyt ȝerne; Line 452 And god shewyd hyt yn þy syȝt; þat dremed þe [þat ilke drem D.] þe touþer nyȝt." He tolde þe profyte [prophete OD.] þan [þanne O, om. D.] euery deyl; And þe profete [prophete OD.] redde hyt [radde hym D.] weyl: Line 456 wysly he seyd, and weyl þurgh [& þorw D.] soght, [folio 4a] whan he hede toke to þat þe kynge [Whanne . . heyd . . kynge O, þat he ȝern (glost 'leer') D, took of þe kyngis D.] þoght. And god shewyd what [qwat D.] shuld betyde; what [qwat D.] manere folk [maner folke O, m. of folk D.] shulde aftyr a-byde.

Seþyn þer beyn dremys [Siþþin dremys arn D.] so many ma|nere, [maneyr O.] Line 461 þan [þanne O, om. D.] ys doute & [is it in douȝtte & in gret D.] gretë were [gret weyr O.] To wytë where [wete whar O, w. qwher D.] of dremys come, Þat euery nyȝt [nyght O.] dremyn [dremyth D.] þurgh custome; Þer beyn [þo þat arn D.] so many dremys yn veyne, Line 465 Þat no man wotë no [woot no O, wot non in D.] certeyn [certeyne O.] But þey [þo OD.] þat beyn [þo þat arn D.] with god pryue, To whom ys graunted [qwom is ȝouyn D.] , swych þyng to see: [se O.] Swych men deseyueþ nat [noghte O, disceyuyn not D.] þe deuyl, Line 469 þey haue no grace to knowe hys euyl; Ellys may no man fynde hem [so may . . . knowyn hym D.] stable, So ben [beyn O.] dremys [For dremys ben so D.] déseyuable. Line 472

Line 472 ȝyf þou telle hem, þan [þowh þou . . ȝit D.] mayst þou erre; Line 473 And ȝyf þow trow [trowe O.] hem, þat ys wel [weyl O, and þou trowe hem ȝit is it þe D.] werre; For þou mayst dreme of sum [myȝt dreme ryȝt D.] euyl þyng [þynge O.] Þat may turne to better for þy preyyng. [preyynge O.] "Þou, leudman, ȝyf [ȝeue O, lewde man ȝeue good D.] godë tent, [tente O, good entent D.] Line 477 Trow [Trowe O, Trowe not aȝens D.] noght aȝen þe comaundment."

Ȝyf þou beleue [trowe D.] yn wycchëcraft To chaungë þyng [þynge O.] be þe deuylys craft, [deuyls crafte O, with deuelys awȝt D.] — Swych beyn [swech arn D.] þe deuyl betaght, Line 481 with holy chyrche þey ben [with þe holy gost þei arn D.] vnsaght, And allë þo [alle þo D, also Harl.] þat on hem trowe Mow [Mowe O.] drede hem self to brenne yn lowe [fyre] ; [mon dredyn hem to be in helle lowhe D.] And þogh þey fynde hyt soþe oþer whyle, [& ȝit þei fynde suyche sumqwhile D.] Hyt ys þurgh [& þat is þorw D.] þe fendës gyle. Line 486 Þe fend fondyþ with alle hys myȝt [myghte O.] To put [putte O.] sumwat [sumqwat D.] yn herë syght Line 488 Þat shal make hem swych þyng [þynge O.] beleue [Þat þei schulde trowe & leve D.] And god almyȝty myspay and [& so al myȝtty god to D.] greue. For þer [it D.] was neuer womman ne man Þat any wycchëcraft be-gan, Line 492 Þat euer myȝt [myghte O.] bryng hyt to an ende, [a nende O, neuere m. truly brynge to þ^e ende D.] But fals beleue þat wyl hem shende. [be-leue hem hadde blende D.] þe wurdys [wrdys O.] certys beyn ryght [of hem be D.] noght, [folio 4a:2] But fals beleue makeþ dede y-wroght. [wroghte O. be fals b. þe dede is wrouȝt D.] Line 496 For whan þou trowyst [trowst O, qwan þou trowist D.] yn a fals þyng [þynge O.] þe deuyl hyt shewyþ for þat trowyng. [trowynge O.] lo here a tale of a wycche, Þat leued no better [more D.] þa[n] a bycche. [A tale.]

[The Tale of the Witch and her Cow-sucking Bag; [See a later version in Laud 416 (A.D. 1459), leaf 1: extracts printed in Reliq. Antiq., ii. 27.] and how a Bishop faild to work her Charm, because he didn't be|lieve in it.]

Þere was a wycche, and [It was D, and om. D.] made a bagge, A bely of leþyr, a gretë swagge, She sygaldryd so þys bagge bely [bagbely O.] Þat [þat, om. D.] hyt ȝede and soke mennys ky, Line 504 At euene, & at morw [on morue O, at morwe D.] tyde, yn here pasture, oþer [or OD; D om. ellys.] ellys be syde. long [Longge O.] hyt ȝede aboutë fast, [alaboute faste O, oueral faste D.] Tyl hyt was parceyued [parseyuyd O.] at the last; [laste OD.] Line 508 Þan al [Þanne alle O, alle D (om. þanne).] þe godemen of þe toune, Byfore þe bysshop dyden [be-forn . . . dede D.] here somoune; Þey dyden þe baggë [bagge O, þei do þe bagge D, bag H.] with here bere, To wetë what she shuld [qwat she schal D.] answere. Line 512 hyt was shewyd byfore [to D.] þe bysshop, Þat she dyde to goo [dede go O.] swych a melk [melke O.] slop, [dede it gon with a meche sop. D.] Þurgh wycchecraft & mysáuenture, To sugke here keyn [soukyn her ken D.] yn here pasture. Line 516 Þe bysshop merueyled, & oþer mo, how þat she myȝt [myghte O.] do hyt go. [so go O.] "Dame," seyd þe bysshop, "do þy quen|tyse, And late vs se [see O, sen D.] how hyt shal ryse." Line 520 Þys wycche here charme began to sey, [be-gan a-non D.] Þe slop ros vp, and ȝede þe weye. [wey O, þe bagge vp ros & gan to gon D.]

Þe bysshop seyd, "þys haue we seyn; [Isen D.] Do hyt now to lygge aȝeyn." [stente aȝen D.] Line 524 Þe wycchë dede al at hys wylle: [al his wil D.] She made þe slop aȝen lygge [& bad þe bagge stonde D.] stylle, Þe bysshop made a clerk [dede . . þer D.] þan wryte Al þat she seyd, mochel [seyde meche D.] and lyte, Line 528 And allë [al OD.] how she made here went; [sche dede & mente D.] Þe bysshop þarto ȝaf gode [ȝaffe gode O, ȝaf his D.] entent. "Þan," seyde þe bysshop, "now shal y, As þou hast do, do [þou dedyst don. D.] þy maystry." Line 532 Þe bysshop bygan þe charme to rede, [folio 4b] And as she dyde, [seyde D.] he dyde yn [dede yn O, dede in D.] dede; He seyd and dedë euery deyl, Ryȝt as she dede, he dede as weyl. [al weyl O, al weel D.] Line 536 Þe sloppe [bagge D.] lay stylle, as hyt ded wore, [oor D.] For hym ne ros hyt [hym it sterede D.] neuer þe more. "why," seyd he, "wyl [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] hyt nat ryse, And y haue do [don D.] þe samë wyse, Line 540 And seyd þe wurdys, [wrdys O, wurdis D.] lesse ne mo, And for my seyyng wyl [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] hyt nat go?" "Nay," she seyd, "why [qwhy D.] shuld hyt so? Ȝe beleue nat [nouȝt O, þou trowist not D.] as y do: Line 544 wlde [Wolde O, it wil D.] ȝe beleue my wrdys as [trowyn as do D.] y, Hyt shulde a [ha O.] go, and sokun [schulde gon & soukke D.] ky." He seyd, "þan fayleþ noght [nouȝt O, not D.] but beleu|yng;" [trowyng D.] She seyd, "þat helpeþ al my þyng; Line 548 And so hyt ys for [of OD.] ourë lawe, Beleue [trouþe D.] ys morë þan þe sawe; [lawhe . . . sawhe D.]

For, þou mayst sey what [qwat D.] þou wylt, But þou beleue hyt, ellys ys alle [trowe it is ellis D.] spylt; Alle [Al.] þat y seyd, y beleue [trowe D.] hyt weyl, Line 553 My beleue haþ do [doun O.] þe dede [trowyng dede it D.] euery deyl." Þe bysshop comaundyd þat she shuld noȝt Beleue ne wurche as [trowe no wycchecraft D.] she had wroȝt. Line 556

Here [Heyr O.] mow we wyte, [wete O, may ȝe wete D.] beleue wyl [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] make Þere þe wurde [wrde O, þo wurdis D.] no myȝt [þer wurd ne myȝt ne D.] may take. Þe bysshop seyd þe wurdys [wrdys O, wurdis D.] echoun, But, beleue þeryn hadde he noun. Line 560 Nomore shall hyt [it schal D.] auaylë þe Þat beleuest not þere [þat trust not in þat. þi D.] beleue shulde be.

Ȝyf þou herdyst a fals þyng [þynge O.] or layþ [foule [fowl O.] ] [spokyn a fals þing D.] Þat were spoke aȝens þe feyþ, [were a-ȝens þe feith brekyng D.] Line 564 And þou ne wuldest [þou woldyst not D.] þeraȝen seye, But beleuyst, oþer for loue, oþer for eye, [but lete it passe f. l. or ay D.] Þou hast synned, & aȝen went Þys ychë fyrst [In þe ferste D.] comaundëment. Line 568 Þus seyþ þe lawë þat men hauntes, 'Ȝyf þou forhelyst, weyl þou grauntes.' [for-hile þat it grauntys D.]

Ȝyf þou trowest or vndyrstondys [folio 4b:2] Þat þre sustren ben [beyn O.] shapandys, [sustrys arn schaphandys D.] Line 572 And comun þere þe chylde ys bore, [come . . . born D.] And shapyn hyt wele [weyl O.] or euel before; [schape . . be-forn D.] For wykked beleue þat þou art [trouþe þat þei ben D.] ynne Line 575 Þey make þe [þy O, cause þe D.] chylde to falle yn synne; Swyche beleue þou shuldest nat [sueche trouþes þei schulde not D.] werche Aȝens þe beleue [trouþe D.] of holy cherche. Þer nys no shapper³³ but god almyȝt, [ys no shaper . . almyghte O, is no schappere of alle þinge D.] Line 579

Line 579 Þat yn þe vyrgyne Mary lyȝt. [lyghte O, lyȝt D.] Line 580 He ys shapper³³ [33_33 Left out of D.] of al þyng; [þynge O.] Of al þat ys, he wote þe endyng; [woot þe endynge O.] He ys boþë god and man; Alle [Al O, alle þinge was be-gynnynge D.] he wote, [woot O.] and alle [Al O, alle þinge was be-gynnynge D.] he can. Line 584 Þe touþer shappers þat men of telle, [D leaves out lines 585-6.] Beteche we hem þe fende of helle.

Ȝyf þou trowyst synne shal be forȝeue [trowe þi . . . for ȝeuyn D.] withoutë répentaunce & shryue, [repente here & be clene schreuyn D. D leaves out lines 589-596.] Line 588 As sum [some.] of þys lewed men seys, 'God of heuene ys so curteys, Þat he shal on domysday certeynly For-ȝyue þe synne of lechery; Line 592 lechery ys but lyght synne, he wyl [wyle.] haue mercy on al [alle.] þerynne;' Þus sey þey þat can no gode, And þouȝ [þoghe.] þey hemself vndyrstode. Line 596 Ȝyf þou þe certeyn wylt lere, Þyn forȝeuenes mote be [must gynne D.] here; yn þe touþer werlde [In oþer word D.] þer [wrlde þer.] we shul come Þere ys but ryȝtfulnes [ryȝtwysnesse D.] of dome; Line 600 Þere ys al ryȝtfulnes [is ryȝtwysnesse D.] at þe last ende; Aske mercy or [ar O, or D.] þou þedyr [hens D.] wende, Elles gest [Ellys getyst O, ellis getyst D.] þou no forȝeuenes, [forȝeuenesse OD.] Here ne þerë, more no lesse. Line 604 God ȝyue vs grace, or we be went, To kepë þys fyrst cómaundment. [þe ferste comaundement D.]

[The Second Commandment. [Secundum mandatum. 'Non assumes nomen dei tui in vanum' D.] ]

THe touþer [That oþer D.] comandement ys, Line 607 'Swere nat [noghte O, not D.] hys name yn ydulnys.' [ydylnes O, ydilnesse D.] [folio 5a] whan þou yn ydulnes swerest [qwan . . . sweryst be D.] hys name, Þou dost hym bere wytnes of blame. Vndyrstond [Vndyrstonde O, Vnderstonde þis menyng D.] þys,—þe menyng ys, Alle [Al O, As D.] yn þe, þe wykednes ys. [as in þe is wikkydnesse D.] Line 612 Ȝyf þou sweryst fals, þy wetande, [suere fals wetende D.] And for soþenes ys [it is D.] vnderstonde, Þere takyst þou god yn þy sweryng To bere wytnesse of a fals þyng. [of fals lesyng D.] Line 616 Y askë 'wheþyr ys grettyr eye, [qweche is more unhable D.] A lesyng, or a fals tale seye.' [a tale culpable D.] Here mayst þou lerne [myȝt þou knowe D.] a queyntyse, To knowe of boþe [knowyn of bothin D.] þe ryȝt [ryþt O, ryȝt D.] asyse;— Line 620 Þou mayst here and beleue a [Vnderstonde þe trewe & D.] fals Þat ys seyd of a-noþer als, And telle hyt forþ þe samë wyse, Ryght as he vn-to þe seyse, [he telliþ his a-vyse D.] Line 624 And ȝyf þou wene þat þat [ȝef þou wene þat D.] sawe ys ryȝt, [ryþt O, ryȝt D.] Þouȝt [þoghe O, þowh D.] hyt be fals, þou hast no plyȝt; [plyght O, plyȝt D.] For, þyn ynwyt, þe shal saue, Line 627 Þou wenyst to seye [wenyst seye O.] weyl, no plyȝt [he sey wel þonk D.] to haue,

A lesyng haþ weyl wers [Lesyng haþ a wers D.] wey: Þe tokyn of a lesyng [tokene of lesynge O, tokyn of lesyng D (om. þe).] y shal þe sey. whan [qwan D (om. a).] ys a lesyng, [lesynge.] but þan ys hyt whan [qwan D (om. a).] hyt ys seyd aȝens ynwyt; Line 632 Soþely [Soþly O, trewe D.] to sey, a lesyng [lesynge.] ys whan þou wost þat þou seyst mys, [qwhan þ. w. þou s. a mys D.]

And ȝyf þou make a grete [make gret D.] sweryng [swerynge O, sueryng D.] For to manteynë [susteyne D.] þy lesyng; [lesynge O.] Line 636 Hym þan [þanne.] þat þou by sweryst, [swerys O.] Fals wytnes on hym þou [þou om. D.] beryst. [berys O.] Ȝyf þou by god, or oure [our O, be god & be oure D.] lady, Or ouþer seyntes þat þou sweryst by, Line 640 Þou dost hym berë fals [fals O, beryn fals D, fas Harl.] wytnes Of þy lesyng, [lesynge O.] þat soþ yt [hyt O.] ys. [þat so ysse D.] How shul [shulde OD.] þey þan help [helpe O, þei helpe D.] þe at þy [þy om. D.] nede, whan þou hem drawyst [draghst O.] to þy falshede; [qwan þow drawyst hem to f. D.] And þyn inwyt, þyn ownë [owyn D.] skyle, Line 645 Aȝen þe seyþ [Aȝenseyþ þe þan O, a-geyn seiþ þe D.] and euermore wylle. [wyle O.] [folio 5a:2]

Ȝyf þou trowest [trowst O, trowe D.] þat god was nat byfore Or [Ar O, not be-forn or D.] he was of þe maydyn bore; [beforn . . . . mayde born D.] Line 648 Or ȝyf þou trowyst [trowst O, trowe D.] þat he was noght Beforë or [Ar O, not be-forn or D.] þe worlde [wrlde O.] was wroght; Ȝyf þou wene þat [þis D.] verement, Hyt ys aȝens þys comaundement. Line 652 God was euer wyþ outyn bygynnyng Ar þe worlde, [wrlde O.] or man, or ouþer [or þe word was mad or ony D.] þyng.

Ȝyf þou trowyst [trowst O, trowe D.] þat hys manhede Haþ no powere with þe [haue no p. w. his D.] godhede, Line 656 Repentë þe, þou art yn synne, For ydylnes hast þou hys name [In ydilnesse hast þou name with D.] ynne;

Ȝyf þou trowest [trowst O, trowe D.] þat he may naght [noghte O, not D.] Yn heuene and erþe hys wyl haue wroȝt, [wroghte O, in erþe h. w. have wrouȝt D.] Þe manhede þat toke flesshe & bone, Line 661 Þat with þe godhede ys al one;— But þou repente þe byfore þy fyn, [ende] [beforn for þi synne D.] Þou mayst be lore, [myȝt be lorn D.] seyþ seynt Austyn.

[Against Swearing Oaths.]

Ȝyf þou were euer so fole [fole om. D.] hardy To swerë grete oþys [oþis & D.] grysly, As we folys do alle [al O, don al D.] day, Dysmembre Ihesu alle [al D.] þat we may. Line 668 Gentyl men, for grete gentry, [gret gentrye OD.] wene þat grete oþys beyn curteysy [þei wene gret oþis were curteysye D.] ; Noþeles, blode, [neþeles boþin blod D.] fete, & yȝen, [ygne O, yne D.] Þey scorne Ihesu, and vpbreyde hys pyn. [pyne O.] Of hys woundys he haþ [wondys he haþ O, handys he was D.] vpbreyd, Line 673 Oure [or D.] shame hyt ys þat yt [hyt.] ys seyd; Alle [al D.] þat he suffred [sufferyd O, suffryd D.] for oure frame, As yn vpbreydyng we sey [seye O, in vpbreyd we seyn D.] hym shame; Hys flesshe, hys blode, he shedde for þe; woundys he [wondys he haþ O, handys he was D.] suffred [sufferyd O, suffryd D.] to make þe fre; So mochyl [meche D.] ys oure shame þe more, Þat we eft pynë [eft we pynyn D.] hym so sore. Line 680 And þo men fallyn more yn plyȝt Þat sweryn oþer fals [eyþer soth D.] or ryȝt, By any menbre [membre O, be ony member D.] of hys manhede Byneþyn [be neþe D.] þe gyrdyl, y þe forbede; Line 684 For y haue herd men swere swyche [I herde m. sw. sweche D.] oþys; To þenke on hem, forsoþe [þo þingis of hym hyȝly D.] me loþys. [folio 5b] A lytyl tale y shal [I wil D.] ȝow telle, Þat y herde onys a frerë spelle. Line 688

[The Tale of the Bloody Child.]

Hyt was onys a rychë man [A tale. [Narracio D.] ] Þat gretë oþys swere bygan;

For ryche men vse [vse D, om. HO.] comunly Sweryn [to swere [contra iuratores in margin] D.] grete oþys grysly. Line 692 Þys rychë man wldë nat [wolde not D.] lete But þat he swore euer [but euere swor D.] oþys grete. An euyl [A neuyl HO.] toke hym on a day, Þat he syke yn hys beddë [bed D.] lay; Line 696 A nyȝt, as he lay a-lone, A womman he herdë make here [he herde a woman make D.] mone; Þat yche womman come hym byfore [þat woman cam his bed be-forn D.] , with a chylde yn here armys bore. [born D.] Line 700 ¹⁰Of þe chylde þat she bare yn here armys Al to-drawë were þe þarmys [guttys] ; Of handys, of fete, þe flessh of drawyn, Mouþe, yȝen, & nose, were alle to-knawyn,¹⁰ [10_10 gretly þat disfyguryd is . brokyn & rent were his armys. of hand & feet þe flesch of drawe . Mouþ. eyȝe & nose . as al to-gnawe D.] Bakke & sydës were [weryn D.] al blody: Line 705 Þys womman sorful [Harl. sorful and, was wunder D.] was, and sory. Þys man for here wax sore agrysyn; [sor agresyn O, hir was sore agresyn D.] he spak, [spake to here O, & spak to hir qwan D.] whan he was rysyn, [resyn OD.] Line 708 "what art þou womman, þat makyst [makst O, qwat . . . makist þis D.] swych cry? ho haþ made [Ho made D.] þy chyld so blody?" "Þou," she seyd, "hast hym so [þus D.] shent, And with þy [þyn.] oþys al [þin oþis hym al D.] to-rent. Line 712 Þus hast þou drawen my dere chylde, [drawyn my child D.] with þy [þyn.] oþys wykked and wylde; And þou makest me sore to grete [glost wepe in O.] , þat þou þyn oþys wylt nat lete. Line 716 hys manhede, þat he toke for þe, Þou pynyst hyt, as þou mayst se; Þyn oþys done hym more greuesnesse [greuusnesse O, care & dred D.] þan alle [al O, alle D.] þe Iewys wykkednesse. [wikkydhed D.] Line 720 Þey pyned hym onys, [onys, om. D.] & passed a-way,

But, þou, pynest hym euery day. Þe [þat D.] pyne, he suffred [sufferyde O, suffred D.] for þy gode, [folio 5b:2] And þou vpbreydyst hym of þe [þat D.] rode; Line 724 Alle [al O.] hys flessh, þan þou [flesch þou al to D.] teryst, whan þou falsly by [qwan þou so grysly be D.] hym swerest; And y [y þan O.] am euer so [I am euere of suych a D.] [in] mynde For to pray [preye O, preyȝe D.] for al mankynde. Line 728 how shulde y lengyr prey [preye O, pray D.] for þe, So rulyche makyst þou [makst þou O, ruly þou makist D.] hym to be, And ouþer [ouþere O, oþer D.] many mo þan þou; How shulde y þan [he þanne D.] be meke to ȝow?" Line 732 Þe caytyfe [kaytyffe O, Þat caytyf D.] þat lay yn hys bedde, For here seyyng wax sore adredde, And seydë, [And seyde O, & seyde lady D.] "ȝyf hyt be þy wylle, Helpe me, lady, þat y ne [not D.] spylle. Line 736 For al men seyn, [seyyn O.] o þou [alle men seyn of þe D.] lady, Þat þou art modyr of [þe moder of al D.] mercy!" She answeryd to þe caytyfe, [kaytyffe O, Þat caytyf D.] "yn [In grete D.] fals oþys ys alle þy lyfe; [lyffe O.] Line 740 what mercy mayst þou aske þurgh [qwat mercy myȝt þou aske of D.] ryȝt whan þou þus my sone hast [qwan þou hast þus my dere sone D, Whan þou my sone hast þus ydyghte? O.] dyght?" "Lady, alle my [al myn O, alle myn D.] oþys grete Fro þys [þys day O.] forward wyl [wyle O, þis tyme forth euere wil D.] y lete; Line 744 And preche to euery man þy lore, þat þey oþys swere [suere oþis D.] no more." "Ȝyf þou wylt of [so ȝif þou wilt þin D.] oþys blynne, Þan wyl [wyle O, þis tyme forth euere wil D.] y pray [preye O, preyȝe D.] for þy synne, Line 748 þat þey máy be þe forȝyue, [moun be þe forȝeuyn D.] And do [do þy O, do D.] penaunce whan þou art shryue. [qwan . . schreuyn D.] ³³For alle men þat hauntyn grete oþys, Line 751 To helpe hem at nede, certys me loþys;³³ [

33_33 For alle þo þat grete synnys haunte,to helpe hem me loþe to graunte D.

]

And my sonë wlde noght [wil not redyly D.] here For fals oþys, any prayere; [falce oþis. no preyȝere D.] For he comaundeþ to [to HO, om. D.] more & lesse, 'Swere nat [noghte O, suere not D.] hys name yn ydulnesse.' " Line 756 Þys womman with here chylde gan wende; Blessyd be she with-outyn ende!

For hem þat ben [beyn O, þou þat art D.] of oþys bolde, For hem haue y [þe I haue D.] þys talë tolde. Line 760 Þys gentyl men, þys gettours, [summe gentilmen & þese gettourys D.] [folio 6a] Þey ben [beyn O, þou þat art D.] but Goddys turmentours; [arn . . . tourmentourys D.] Þey turment hym alle [al D.] þat þey may, with fals oþys nyȝt [boþe nyghte O, falce oþis boþe nyȝt D.] and day. Line 764 But ȝe leue ȝoure [ȝour O, leuyn ȝoure (om. fals) D.] fals sweryng, Ȝoure [ȝour O, leuyn ȝoure (om. fals) D.] vnkyndë vpbreydyng, Ȝe shul go a deueyl weye But ȝe amende ȝou, ar ȝe deye. [qwyl ȝe may D.] Line 768 For euery gadlyng nat wurþ [wrþ O, a gadelyng þat is not wurþ D.] a pere Takyþ ensample at ȝow [oþere D.] to swere, So euery man vn-to ouþer [oþer O, til oþer D.] — Þe porë to þe ryche ys [to ryche is his D.] broþer— Line 772 yn oþys and yn wykkedhede, Þe toon [þat oon D.] þe toþer to helle shal lede.

Ȝyf þou euere swore [swore euer O, suere euere D.] by oure lady [leuedy O, lady D.] yn any [ony D (om. yn).] tyme fals or wykkedly, Line 776 Hastly [Hastely O, hastily D.] þe [þerfro] withdrawe; Vengaunce comþ [comyþ O.] for swych myssawe. [or venoiounce come for þat sawe D.] whan [qwan D.] þou sweryst by here þat he lyȝt [lyghte O, lay D.] ynne, He takyþ [takyþ O, takiþ D, takþ H.] more to wraþþe þat [more hed to hate þe D.] synne Line 780 Þan þou mysdedyst [dedist D.] aȝens hym with worde [wrde O.] or dede neuer so grym.

And as moche, he to hym mekeþ [meche he mekiþ D.] Line 783 þat here wurschyppyþ [wrshepyþ O (here om. D).] or here besechyþ. [be sekiþ D.] þus seyþ seynt Anselme, þat hyt wrote To þys clerkys þat weyl hyt wote: [his clerk wel I wot D.] More drede ys, by [dere it is be D.] here to swere, þan ys by [it is be D.] hym þat she dede bere; Line 788 Sunner [sonere O, sunnere D.] he takyth for here [for hir he takyþ D.] veniaunce [vengaunce O.] Þan for any oþer chaunce: [ony o. greuaunce D.] Þat shal y shewe when we be [qwan ȝe arn D.] went Vnto þe þryd [þredde O, In þe þridde D.] comaundëment. Line 792 Ȝyf þou þe talë ryȝt [ryghtely O, a-ryȝt D.] canst here, Twey þyngës þeryn mayst þou lere: Þe toon [Þat oon D.] ys, 'holde weyl þyn halyday;' Þe touþer, 'oure lady þou wurschyp [wrshepe O, þat oþer wurschip D.] ay.' Now shul we leue [letyn D.] oure oþys sweryng, Line 797 And speke fyrþer of ouþer [forþ of oþer D.] þyng; we shul eft touche [touche eft D.] of þys synne [folio 6a:2] when we be come [qwan we comyn D.] fyrþer withynne. Line 800

[The Third Commandment. [¶ Memento vt sabbatum sanctifices. tercium mandatum D.] ]

The þryd [þredde O, þridde D.] commaundement yn oure lay ys [Hys O.] 'holdë weyl þyn [halewe wel þe D.] halyday,' And come blelyche to þe [þy O, redily to goddes D.] seruyse whan holy chyrche settyþ asyse. Line 804 Of al [alle O, alle D.] þe festys þat [þat om. D.] yn holy chyrche are, [aren D.] Holy sunday men oght [þe holy s. m. owe to sparen, D.] to spare;

Holy [þe D.] sunday ys byfore [be-forn D.] alle fre, Þat euer ȝyt were, or euer shal [shul OD.] be. Line 808 For þe pope may, þurgh hys powere, Turne þe halydays yn [alle þe halydayȝis of D.] þe ȝere How as he wyl, [With counseyl . . owyn D.] at hys owne wyl, But þe sunday shal [muste D.] stondë styl. Line 812 Þe halydays [halydayȝes D.] þat yn heruyst are, In ȝolë [at ȝool D.] he may sette hem þare, And of þe ȝolë euery feste [fest O, ȝool . . feste D.] May he settë yn [yn þe O, he may setten in D.] herueste. [heruest O.] Line 816 But, he may, þurgh [ne may be D.] no resun, Þe sunday puttyn [Harl. put; putte O, puttyn D.] vp no dowun; [down O, ne doun D.] Þarfore þe sunday specyaly ys hyest to halew, [halewe O, heiȝest to haue D.] and most wurþy; [wrþy O.] Line 820 And þat day þou owyst and shal [by license for shalt.] For to herë þy [þou to here þin seruyse al D.] seruyse al; Matyns messe here, [matenys & masse D.] to rede or syngge, [syngge O.] Euery deyl to þe endyngge. [euerydele . . endyngge O, eche sunday D.] Line 824 weyte þy [O. omits þy; þi D.] tyme, and be nat [nat OD.] þe last To come whan [qwan D.] holy watyr ys cast. Come fyrst to matyns, ȝyf þat [þat om. D.] þou may, For hyt ys goddys ownë [cristis owyn day D.] day. Line 828 God made þe wrldë, este [est O, word est D.] & west, yn syxë days; þe seuenþe to reste. [he rest OD.] Þan restyd [restede O, restyd D.] he hym fro al erþly werkys. [fro euere werk D.] How dur [dur þan O, dar þan eyþer prist or clerk D.] oþer prestys or clerkys, Line 832 Or þou lewed [ony lewd D.] man, þat day werche, whan þat day ys [qwan it is D.] halewed yn holy chyrche? Þe seruyng man, þat seruyþ yn [a seruaunt seruynge be D.] þe ȝere, Oweþ to come when [Howith . . qwan D.] he haþ leysere. Line 836 Ȝyf þou come noght, [nat O, not D ('Nota bene' in margin of B).] algate y rede [folio 6b]

Ete noght ar [not til D.] þou haue holy brede, For to [to om. D.] many þyngës hyt may auayle, To soule helpe, or [(To om.), soulehelpe for D.] lyuës trauayle. Line 840 Þy body, ȝyf it þan [it D, þan HO.] smartly endes, [endys O.] Hyt ys for housyl [housul O, hosil D.] aȝens þe fendes; [fendys O.] And holy watyr take of þe prestys [of pristis D.] hand, [honde O.] For anoylyng [a noyntyng D.] hyt wyl [wyle O.] þe stande. [stonde O.] Line 844 Sum tyme hyt was wnt to be dowun [doun O, wont be don D.] To halewe þe satyrday at þe noun, [at non D.] Namëlyche [a namely D.] yn Ing[e]londe; [ynglande O.] And nawer [nawher O, nowhere D.] so moche [mechil D.] y vndyrstand. Line 848 when þat custome [custum O, qwan . . custum D.] was wnt to be, Þan was grace, & grete [gret O, þer grace & al D.] plente; And þere men haunted [þer men hauntyn O, þer men hau D.] þat custome [custum OD.] lest, Falleþ oft tymë grete [ofte . . . gret O, often many D.] tempest. Line 852 Þe satyrday ys specyaly [specyally . is D.] Ordeyned to wurschype [wrshepe O, honoure D.] oure lady, [ladye O.] And þat for [ys for O, is for D.] a grete [gret O.] resun;— whan Ihesu deyd þurgh [qwan i. deyȝede þorwh D.] passyun, Line 856 hys dyscyplys douted [douȝttedyn D.] echoun [echone O.] wheþer he shulde ryse or noun. [none O, qweþer . . non D.] Alle þat beleued yn hym byfore, [Alle þo þat trowedyn . . . beforn D.] Alle here beleuë was nygh forlore, [trouþe was forlorn D.] Line 860 Fro þe fryday þat he deyde, To tyme [deyȝed . til D.] þat he ros, as he seyde. But hys modyr, vyrgyne [blessid D.] Marie, She bare þe beleue vp [þe truþe D.] stedfastly Line 864 Fro þe fryday at þe noun Tyl alle þe satyrday was doun, [non (om. alle) . . al don D.] And alle [al O.] þe nyȝt [nyght O.] tyl þat he ros, Line 867 Of alle [al O.] oure beleue [trouþe D.] she bare þe los;—

Þat, crystyn men beleuyn now [leuyn D.] echon, In here þat tyme was hyt alone; [was a lon D.] And for þat skylle, þan [þen O.] þynkeþ me, Þe satyrday may here ounë [owyn D.] be: Line 872 Þarefore þat day al holy cherche Þeyr [Her O.] seruyse of here [her seruyse for her D.] þey werche. And ryȝt [ryþt.] now for þe [þys O.] samë skylle, [þat ilke skil D.] [folio 6b:2] A tale þerforë telle y wylle. Line 876

The Tale of the Vine-Storms and the Saturday half Holy-Day.

In Nauerne, be-ȝunde þe see, [A tale [narracio D.] ] In Venyse, [O. a later hand has inserted in before a.] a gode [grete D.] cyte, [Cytee O.] Dwellyd a prest of Yng[e]lond, And was a-uaunsed, y vndyrstond. Line 880 Euery ȝere at þe florysyngge, whan þe vynys shuldë [qwan her vynnys gunne to D.] spryngge, A tempest þat tyme began [gan D.] to falle, And fordede here vynys alle; Line 884 Euery ȝere withoutyn fayle, And fordyde here grete [for-dede al her D.] trauayle. Þerfor þe folk [folke O.] were alle [al O, weryn alle D.] sory Þurgh þe cyte comunly. [alle comounly D.] Line 888 Þys prest seyd, "y shal ȝow telle what [qwat D.] shal best þys tempest felle: On Satyrday shul ȝe ryngge noun, [þe s. s. ȝe rynge non D.] Line 891 And late no lenger no werke be doun: [lengere werk be don D.] But halewe[n] [halewyn D.] alle comunly Yn þe wurschype [wrshepe O.] of oure lady; For, þat manere [maner O.] halewe [be þat maner halewyd D.] we

Þurgh Inglond yn oure [þat O, In ynglond my D.] cuntre; Line 896 And ȝyueþ [ȝeuyþ O, ȝeue ȝe D.] better ȝoure offryngys [offryng D.] And tyþeth weyl alle ȝourë þynges. [tyþe ȝe bettere ȝoure newyng D.] And [O and D omit And.] ȝyf ȝe do þus goddys heste, [hest O, be-hest D.] Line 899 He saueþ ȝoure vynys fro þe tempest." [fro tempest D.] At hys cunsel, on þys manere Halewede þey, al þat yche [halewedyn D, om. yche.] ȝere; And whan hyt come to [þe O, qwan it cam þe somerys D.] somer tyde, Tyme of þe tempest to vnryde, [suyche tyme as tempest gan vp hyde D.] Line 904 Here vynys florshedë [floreschedyn D.] feyre & weyl withoutyn tempest euery [with out tach a D.] deyl. Þan commaunded þey, and made [Þei comaundyd þan & madyn D.] a cry Yn the wurschyp, [wrshepe O.] of oure lady, Line 908 'On satyrday shulde men noun ryngge, And syþyn halew of allë [al O, halewyn of alle D.] þyngge, And here tyþys to ȝeuë [tyþis ȝeuyn D.] ryȝt [ryght O.] Mochë bettyr at here myght.' Line 912 And so, grete [þe gret O, þe grete D.] tempest secede al, [folio 7a] Þat on þeyr [here O, here vynys w. wont D.] frutys was wnt to fal. Seþyn, oueral yn þat cuntre Þere þey made nat þys solemnyte, Line 916 were [weryn D.] here vynys al destroyed, And þe folk [folke O.] mochyl [& all þe folk meche D.] a-noyd.

Fel hyt on [it fel so D.] a satyrday A man hyréd folke tó [herede folk to þe D.] ful pay; Line 920 Þe half day ne haléwd [halewede O.] he noght, [haleday he halewid not D.] For al [al an O.] hole day hyt shulde be wroght; [for on þe holyday be wrout D.] Þe tymë come [com O.] þat noun [cam . noon D.] þey rong, [ronge O, runge D.] As þey hadde [as it was D.] ordeyned hem among: [amonge O.] Line 924

Line 924 Alle [Al O.] þe wyrkmen homward [homwarde O, homward þei D.] ȝede, But he and hys dede furþ hys [here D.] dede. Ouþer men seyd, [seidyn D.] þey shuld nat werche Lengyr þan þey rong [ronge O, runge D.] none at þe chyrche. [at cherche D.] "Comyþ alle home, & hauyþ doun, Line 929 And haleweþ with vs at þe [þis.] noun In þe wurschype [wrshepe O.] of oure lady, As now ys custome [custum OD.] comunly." Line 932 One of hem swore hys oþe Þat he ne wlde, [schulde not D.] for lefe ne [no O.] loþe, Halew [Halewe O.] morë at þe [halewyn m. a. þat D.] none [noun O.] Þan hyt wás wnt to be done; [doun O, for t. be don D.] Line 936 Ne he ne shulde, [he wold not D.] for oure lady, But wyrchë forþe þe [furþ þat O.] day holy. [forth al dayly D.] Dowun [Down O, Doun D.] he smotë hys mattok, And fyl hym self ded as a stok. [at þat strok D.] Line 940 (²¹Mattok [Mattoke O.] is a pykeys, Or a pyke, as sum men seys.²¹ [21_21 not in D.] ) Þe [þat D.] caytefe lay, and myȝt nat speke; Furþ, for ded, men gan hym streke; Line 944 Men crydë [creydyn D.] fast 'a prest, a prest.' But no wrde come out of [wurd cam fro D.] hys brest. As þey stode, & made grete [gret O, stodyn & madyn get D.] þrong, [þronge.] A gode man stodë hem a-mong, [amonge O.] Line 948 And seyd [seyde O.] "þys man ys at þe ded; wyl [wyle O.] ȝe do allë at [Wil ȝe don alle be D.] my rede? Allë men þat þys chaunce sees, [folio 7a:2] Syttyþ dowun vpp-on ȝoure [down opon ȝoure O, oure H.] knees; [seen . . kneen D.] Line 952 And pray we god, þat alle þyng [al þynge to god þat al D.] may, And to oure lady þat owyþ þys day,

Þat she graunte vs swyche a [graunt vs þat D.] ȝyfte Line 955 Þat he may speke, & take hys shryfte, [& take . schrifte D.] In swych a forward, þat he & we Shul euer more chastyed [chastyde O, chastysyd D.] be." when þey to prey on knees [qwan þei on knees doun D.] gan falle, Þe [þat D.] man spake fyrst among [amonge O, among D.] hem alle: Line 960 "whan y swore, he seyd, so hastly, [& seyde qwan I swor stedfastly D.] Þat y wlde [I schuld D.] nat leue, for oure lady, Ne halewe þys day of my [to halewe . . myn D.] note, An [& D.] hande y sagh come to my þrote, Line 964 And hyldë me þarby so sore [held me þerby sore D.] Þat y to ȝow myȝt [myghte O, myȝt D.] speke no more. Oure lady was with me so wroþe Þat y swore by here an oþe, Line 968 Þat y wlde nat leue for here to werche Þoght men rong [þoghe men runge O, þowh men runge non D.] noun at þe cherche; Ne here helpe hadde be, þat was [hadde here helpe be þat was O, ne wer hir helpe þat is D.] so nere, Þe hand me haddë [þat hand me schulde a D.] strangled here. Line 972 And ȝe þat stondeþ [stondyn OD.] me bysyde, Þat preyd for me þat ychë [preyedyn for me in þat D.] tyde, Blessed mote ȝe allë be For ȝoure preyers haþ [ȝoure preyer haþ O, ȝoure preyerys han D, oure . . . H.] saued me." Line 976

Of þys tale ys alle [al OD.] þe entent To kepe weyl [holdyn wel D.] þe commaundëment,— Þat ys, to holde wel [weyl O, to om. D.] þyn halyday In allë þyngë [al þynge O, alle þyng H.] þat þou may. [in clene lyuyng . man wyf & may. D.] Line 980 Ne þou shalt swere vnwurschyply, [ne swere not vn-wurþly D.] By oure lorde, ne by [by om. D.] oure lady. Swyche men halewe nat [sweche men halwyn not D.] gostly, Þat on þe [þe om. D.] halyday leuyn no foly. Line 984

Line 984 Ȝyf þou make karol or play, Þou halewyst nat þyn halyday. [brekyst þin holyday D.] Ȝyf þou come ouergladly þar tyl, [come gladly þertille D.] And ȝyuest þarto mochyl [ȝeue þerto meche D.] þy wyl, Line 988 yn þat hast þou mochyl [haddist þou meche D.] plyȝt, [folio 7b] For synne wyl [wyle O.] come þurgh swychë [swylke O, of þat D.] syȝt.

Ȝyf þou euer settyst swerde eyþer ryng [settyst euer swerde or rynge O, ȝif þou cause peple to gret gaderyng D.] For to gadyr a wrastlyng, [gadere a wrastlynge O, to make revel or D.] Line 992 Þe [þi D.] halyday þou holdest noght whan swyche bobaunce for þe ys wroȝt. [qwan suych ryot . . wrout D.] Cuntek [Cunteke D.] þere comyþ, or ouþer bobaunce, [or o. dystaunce O, & distaunce D.] And summan [summe men D.] slayn, or lost [and lost O.] þurȝe [þurghe O, & lorn be D.] chaunce.

Ȝyf [And ȝif D.] þou euer yn felde, eyþer in [or in O, or D.] toune, Dedyst floure-gerland or coroune [Sette fflour garlond vp on þi croun D.] To makë wommen to gadyr [wommen gadere O, to do women gadere D.] þere, To se [see O, sen weche þ . . ore were D.] whych þat feyrer were; Line 1000 Þys ys aȝens þe commaundëment, And þe halyday for þe ys shent; Hyt ys a gaderyng for lecherye, [of leccheryȝe D.] And ful grete pryde, & hertë hye. [herte enuyȝe D.] Line 1004

Ȝyf þou euer ianglyst at [þou make Iangelyng at ony D.] messe Yn þe cherche with [with om. D.] more or lesse, And lettyst [to lette D.] men of here preyers, [preyerys OD.] For hem perel soþely [al here pereyl forsoþe D.] þou berys; Line 1008 Þe halyday þou holdest nat [haldyst nat O, þin holiday . . . not a D.] ryȝt, And lettyst to wurschyp [wrshype O, þat lettyst to wurschep god of myȝt D.] god almyȝt. Halyday [þe haliday D.] was made for preyere,

To god oure herende [erende O, arende D.] for to bere. Line 1012 Certys we ouȝt þan with ful [owyn to be ful of D.] mynde To preye god vs of synne [& pray god out of synne vs D.] vnbynde, And yn gode lyfe vs wysse & rede, And for-ȝeue vs al [he forȝeue vs D.] oure mysdede. Line 1016

Ȝyf þou hauntyst to make þy [haunte . . þis D.] play At þe tauerne on þe halyday, To many on comyþ þarfore [many come þeder for to do D.] euyl Þurgh cumberaunce [þorw encoumbraunce D.] of þe deuyl. Line 1020 Holy chyrchë wyl [wyle O.] þe werne Þe halyday to go [þat day to gon D.] to þe tauerne, And namly byfore [be forn D.] þe noun Line 1023 whan goddys seruyse owyþ to [qwil . . . schulde D.] be doun. Tauerne [þe tauerne D.] ys þe deuylys knyfe Hyt sleþ þe, oþer soule or [sleth boþe soule & D.] lyfe; One of þys, shal hyt [þese it schal D.] do, [folio 7b:2] Ȝyf þou haunte comunly þarto. [þou it vse to gon D.] Line 1028 Hytshortyþ þy lyfe, ouer moche [meche D.] drynkynge, And [it D.] sleþ þy soule with bakbytyngge; Hyt wastyþ þy body, and makeþ þe drye, [it dreyȝe D.] And gadryd lecherye [gaderyþ lechours O, gaderith many D.] to glotonye; Line 1032 And þe comaundment ys brokun, And þe halyday, byfore of spokun. [Þe holy day is ofte broken; & þe comaunde|ment al fore-spoken D.]

Ȝyf þou do any man o dawe [of dawhe D, O. gloss 'to þe deþ.'] On þe halyday for any lawe, Line 1036 Swychë men greuusly [sueche m. g. þei D.] werche Aȝens þe state of holy chyrche: For holy preyere, [preyer O, to be holy in lyuyng D.] and for þe pees, þe halyday god hyt chees. [ordeyned is D.] Line 1040

Ȝyf þou euer with iogeloure,

with hasadoure, or [oþer O, or (ony roytour) D.] with rotoure, Hauntyst tauerne, or were to any pere [were helpere D.] To pley at þe ches [at ches D.] or at þe tablere, Line 1044 Specyaly before þe noun whan goddys seruyse owyþ [oghte O, qwan . . schulde D.] to be doun, Hyt ys [It were D.] aȝens þe comaundment And holy cherches [þat al holy cherche D.] asent. Line 1048 Ȝyf þou be [ȝif he were D, 'ordred' inserted in a later hand.] 'infra sacros,' And art a clerk, & hast þe los [& he were clerk & hadde þe loos D.] Of subdekene, [Sodeke (om. of) D.] or dekene by name, So moche art þou [meche he were D.] þe more to blame. Line 1052 Þys lerned [lerenyde O, þese lerede D.] men ȝyuen [ȝeuyn OD.] ensample so Þat þe lewd [lewede O, lewde (om. þat) D.] men þe more mysdo. God ȝyue us grace þe halyday [oure holiday D.] To kepë [þat it be D.] , Ihesu cryst to pay. Line 1056

[The Fourth Commandment. [Quartum mandatum ¶ Honora patrem & ma|trem, vt sis longeuus D.] ]

The fourþe comaundment ys, "oure Fadyr & modyr we shal [þou schalt D.] honoure." Certys þe chylde trespasyþ ful yl [doþ ful ille D.] Þat wyl [wyle O.] nat do þe fadrys wyl; Line 1060 Þe chylde owyþ hys wyl al [to D.] do, But dedly synne be þar-vnto; [þerto D.] For god forbedeþ swych synne algate, For loue, or for [O omits 'for.'] drede, erly or [Not to do . erly ne D.] late. Line 1064 Ellys yn al þyng [þynge O.] þat we [al þat euere þou D.] may, [folio 8a] Fadyr & modyr wurschype [wrshepe O.] we ay. [ay and glossed 'euere' in O, D om. we.]

Ȝyf þou euer, yn euyl wetand [ȝif ony man in euyl euere wetende D.] , Line 1067 On fadyr or modyr leydest þyn [leyd on D.] hand,

Hyt ys comaunded yn sum lawe [lawhe D.] þat swych men shulde be doun o dawe. [a man schulde be slawe D.] Vnneþys shuld þey mercy [mercy shulde þey O, Vnneþe mercy schulde he D.] fynde, Line 1071 For swyche a chylde ys kalled vnkynde; [on kynde D.] No bysshope may ȝyue þerfore [þer of O, þe byschop þerof may not ȝeue doom D.] dome But þe pope of þe court [curte O, pope of gret Rome D.] of Rome.

Ȝyf þou were euer [& ȝif ony be D.] so felun To ȝyue fadyr or modyr þy [her D.] malysun, Line 1076 Or stonde [stant D.] aȝens hem yn answere, And wldest nat [or wil not D.] bowë ne forbere, Þou hast synned þan dedly, To endëles penaunce wurþy, [wrþy O, & endeles pyne art wurþi D.] Line 1080 But sonë þou þer-of þe [þer of þou þe O, þou þerof Harl., þou þer-of þe clene D.] shryue And be bowyng yn [& to hem bowe þ^e D.] al þy lyue.

Ȝyf þy fadyr or modyr bydde [ȝif fader or moder D.] þe ouȝt do, And þou wylt nat bleþly [blely O, woldist nat wende D.] þarto Line 1084 By [Be OD.] þy wyl, but euer [euere O, om. D.] gruchande, Þou shalt weyl [þer of wel D.] vndyrstande, Þat, þogh þou do forþe þy [alþowh þou do it in D.] dede, Þat synne ys mochë for [ȝit þ. s. mechil is D.] to drede. Line 1088 Þou oghtyst [owyst D.] to bere penaunce grym, For þou greuyst a lytyl [a litil greuedyst D.] hym. with al þy myght, and [in D.] ryȝt gode wyl, Þy fadrys [fadyrs O.] byddyng [faderys entent D.] þou shalt fulfyl. Line 1092

Ȝyf fadyr or modyr falle [fallyn D.] yn elde, And noþer [þat neyþer D.] , for pouert [pouerte O.] , may hem self [hym selfe O, hem be D.] welde, Here chyldryn are holdë þan, þurgh [arn holde be D.] ryȝt, To susteyn [susteyne O.] hem at alle [al O, after her D.] here myght. Line 1096

Line 1096 Ȝyf þey se [& þei sen D.] hem so at mysese And þey may lyuë wel [weyl O, moun lyuyn wel at here D.] at ese, But þey help hem, [hem helpe OD.] þey are [arn D.] to blame And wrþy to haue wrldës [wrldys O, & were wurþi worldys D.] shame. Line 1100 Þoght [þoghe O, þowh þei han to D.] þey hauë þe mysdoun, Þou shalt nát fynde [fynde none OD (eschesoun D).] enchesoun Þat þyn help [helpe O, þi helpe be not fro D.] be fro hem went, [folio 8a:2] For hyt [it D (om. For).] were aȝens þe comaundment. Line 1104

Y se men þat purchasours [I se pourchasourys in labour D.] are, Þat coueyte catel with sorwe & kare Here chyldryn godë for [& for her childryn good D.] to wynne, And here [þowh her D.] soulës synke for synne. Line 1108

And oþer men also y [many men now I D.] see, Þat ȝyue here chyldryn boþe lond & [ȝeuyn here childryn good in D.] fee For to fynde hem [to fyndyn hem her D (om. For).] sustynaunce yn here age [her elde D.] , for allë [al O, alle D.] chaunce. Line 1112 Þo men, me þynkeþ, most [gretly D.] mysdo, Þat ȝyue here godë fro hem so; [ȝeuyþ her lond so hem fro D.] Hyt were [ȝyt were hem OD.] bettyr holde here land, [better to here lond D.] Þan begge hyt at a-nouþers hand: [a noþer hond D.] Line 1116 Men wexen sone sadde of hem þat [orkyn soone with hem to D.] craue When þey weyl wete þat þey naght [þat wetyn wel þei no good D.] haue. By a tale, y shal ȝou mone, [warne] Þat fyl betwyx þe fadyr & þe [be-twen þe good man & his D.] sone. Line 1120

[The Tale of the Fond Father.]

Of a man þat sum tyme was, [A tale.] y shal [I wil D.] ȝou telle a lytyl pas. Of hys sone [child D.] he was gelous, Line 1123

Line 1123 And ȝaue hym alle [al OD.] hys land & hous, And al hys catel in toune & felde, þat he shulde kepe hym wel [weyl O, schulde hym ȝeuyn D.] yn hys elde. Þys ȝong man wax fast [faste O, wex (om. faste) D.] , & was iolyfe, hys cunseyl was [ȝaf O.] to take a wyfe; Line 1128 he weddyd one, & broght here home with alle þe [O omits 'þe.'] myrþe þat þerto come; [al mery he spak to hir & com D.] He badde here fyrst, [O inserts 'boþe;' bad of . . . boþe D.] loude and stylle, Line 1131 To serue [servyn (om. weyl) D.] hys fadyr weyl at hys wylle. Sone aftyrwarde, [after þat D.] þys ȝongë man, Hys herte, hys [he his D.] þoght, chaunge began; Tendrere he was of wyfe and chylde, Line 1135 Þan to hys fadyr oþer [om. oþer D.] meke or mylde. Of o day, he [hym OD.] þoght [four or] fyue; [iiij or fyue D.] Long [Longe O.] hym þoght hys fadyr a-lyue; And euery day, boþe þe toon and þe toþer, [day after oþer D.] Serued hym weyl wers þan oþer. [hym wers . & with wil loþer D.] Line 1140 Y trowe þys man, whan [I þouȝte . . qwan D.] he gan mone [folio 8b] For þoght þat [þat om. D.] he ȝaf so meche [moche O, meche D.] hys sone, Þys oldë man was broght so logh [brout . . . lowhe D.] Þat he lay ful colde besyde a wogh. [and lay . . be þe wowe D.] Line 1144 Þys oldë man, vp-on a day, Pleyned hym þat he coldë lay: "Sone," he seyde, "for goddys loue wrye [hyl D. (Wrye, A.S. wríhan, cover.)] me with sum cloþe aboue." Line 1148 Þe sone, þat was þe husband To whom was ȝyuë alle [al O, ȝowyn al his D.] þe land, Clepyd hys sone, [he callid his child D.] & bade hym take A sak [sake O.] of þo [his D.] þat he dede make, Line 1152 And badde hym turnë hyt tweyfolde [twofolde O, to fold D.]

And ley [leye O, leyn D.] hyt on hys fadyr for colde. Þe chylde [dede [dede D, om. HO.] ] as he bad hym do, Toke a sak [sake O.] & karf [karfe O.] hyt yn [he tok . . . on to D.] two. Line 1156 Hys fadyr spakë to hym ȝorne, [O. glossed 'vaste.' he seyde to þe child hym be-forn D.] "Sey, why hast þou þe [qwhy hast þou þus þis D.] sak shorne?" þe chylde answered hym [hym answerde D.] yn haste A wurdë þurgh þe holy gaste, [hely gast D.] Line 1160 "Þys dedë haue y do for þe; Gode ensample ȝyuyst [ȝyfst O, ȝeue D.] þou me How y shal serue þe yn þy [þyn O, þus schal I þe serue in þin D.] elde, whan þou, þy self, mayst nat [qwhan þou mayst not þe be D.] welde; Line 1164 Þys halfe sak [sake O.] shal lygge [lyn D.] þy fadyr aboue, And kepe þe touþer part [& I schal kepe þat oþer D.] to þy [þyn D.] behoue. [

D adds 2 lines:

þou must han nedis cloth & corn& I provyde for þe be-forn.

] Vnkyndly þou techyst me þe [lernyst me to be D.] gode; Of unkynde cumþ vnkyndë [onkynde . comyþ onkynde D.] blode." Line 1168

[

This example were good to knowe.boþe for þe hyȝe & lowhe D.

] Þys ensample were gode [is good D.] to kone, Boþe to þe fadyr & eke to [for þe fader & D.] þe sone. God ys noght payd, here [not plesyd as D.] we fynde, Þat þe sone to þe fadyr ys nat kynde. [þer þe . . . vnkynde D.] Line 1172 Þarfor spekþ [spekyþ O, seyth þe wyse D.] Salamon To fadrys & to husbandys echon, [euerychon.] 'Þe whylys þat ȝe may drawe ȝoure [ȝour O, qwhyl . . . ȝour ond D.] hand, Ne ȝyueþ neuer awey [ȝeue neuer a-wey al D.] ȝoure land, Line 1176 And make ȝoure [ȝow O, ȝour D.] self, sogettys to be [to be soget D.] To hem þat owyn ȝow seruee.' [serue O, to serue ȝow bet D. D again adds 2 lines: 'do be counseyl & make it sekyr; þat it be truly sauyd fro bekyr'; but then leaves out two, 1183-4, 'Ne þy . . a-ȝene.'] Anoþer wysdom a clerk vs telleþ, [folio 8b:2]

Senek, þat moche of wysdom spellyþ, [mechil of wysdam telliþ D.] 'Ne be þou neuere [Harl. omits 'neuere;' D omits 'Ne.'] yn swych errour Line 1181 To make þyn eyr þy secutour, [secatour D.] Ne þy sekutoure þy fysycyene, Yn hopë for to leue a-ȝene.' Line 1184 For þy þyng, þy [þynge þyn O, Of al þi good . þin D.] eyr seyþ þys, Þat byfore was þyn, he halt hyt hys; [al þat was or is . he tellith his D.] Þyn executure, [exekutour O, executour D.] to haue þy þyng, [þynge O, þing D.] wlde þat þou madyst þyn endyng. [endynge O, Wolde þou . . endyng D.] Line 1188

Þou owyst [owst O.] to do no þyng [þynge O, Do no þing lowd ne D.] stylle withoute leue of þy fadrys wylle; [D adds 2 more lines: þat is to seyn . tak þou no þing. with-out þi faderys byddyng.] Þat ys to seyë, [seyn D.] take no wyfe For to make betwyxe [betwen D.] ȝou stryfe; Line 1192 Ne no grete þyng [gret þynge O, gret þing D.] beye ne [beyȝe ne D.] selle Ȝyf þou vndyr hys gouernaunce [gouernayle O, kepyng D.] dwelle. To relygyun þou mayst [In-to religioun mayst þou D.] go withoutë cunseyl of any [ony D.] mo; Line 1196 And to [to þe OD.] holy land, ȝyf þou haue hyt hette; [ȝif þou it hete D.] Syb, ne vnsyb, may [ne may O.] hyt lette. [for sibbe ne frend schalt þou not lete D.]

A clerk þat folylyche [þe clerk seiþ . he þat folyly D.] dyspendyth þe godys þat hysfadyr hymȝyueþ [ȝyfþ O.] or sendyþ, And wyl [wyle O.] nat ȝyue hym for to lere Line 1201 Clergye ne [er D.] craft, or ouþer mystere, wykkedlyche al þat gode he dyspendyþ [stelyþ O, þat good þou stelyst wikkydly I gesse D.] þat hys fadyr for godenesse spelyþ. [godenes. þat þi fader spendith for þi good|nesse D.] Line 1204 To hard a-cuncte [acomptis D.] shall he be sette At hys endyng, whan he shal be [qwan he is D.] fette, Þat so hys tyme haþ al forlore, [haþ for-lorn D.] Line 1207

Line 1207 And aȝens hys fadyr so hym mysbore, [so mys born D.] But [But ȝyf O.] he ȝelde hym, ȝyf þat [it ȝif D.] he may, Or preye for hym boþe nyght and day; For ȝyf þou mayst, & wylt noght, [& ȝif þou may & wil not D.] Þou art yn weye to peyne [to þe pyne D.] be broght. Line 1212

For a-noþer also [also om. D.] þou mayst be shent: Ȝyf þou destroblyst [desturblyst O, distourble D.] here testament Yn here lyfe, or aftyr here [þe D.] ded, Line 1215 with powere [power or ȝyfte O, power ȝifte D.] or ȝyft, cunseyl or rede, Þou hast trespast apertly [trespasyd a gret party D.] [folio 9a] Aȝens þys cómaundment so hy. Of alle wykked men þat men [alle men þat wikkid we D.] calle, [nota bene] Þe fals executours be [arn D.] werst of alle; Line 1220 For þey ne reche [rekke not D.] how þe soulë fare, [vare O.] And mennys owne eyres [chyldyr O, & her owyn childryn D.] , werst with hem are.

y tolde erwhyle, [erwhyl O, qwhyle qwy D.] for no socour Þou make [mak þou not D.] þyn eyre þyn executour; Line 1224 For alle þat was langere [longe D.] þy catel, he halt [now he holdiþ D.] hyt hys, euery deyl. [euerydel O.] 'Loue þou þy chyldyr out of wytte; Trust to hem, and helples sytte.' Line 1228 Ouþer ensample nedyþ þe noun [thore ȝe non D.] take; what dost [duste O, qwat dost D.] þou for þy fadrys sake, Ȝyt shal þy sone do for þe, les; For euer [euer O.] þe lastë, þe werst es. [is the werse D.] Line 1232 On hem y rede þyn herte so [hym . . þou D.] kest, Þat þou louë þy self [þe selfe O, loue þi self . & þi god best D.] best; Loue so þy chyldyr, loue so [loue þou childryn & loue D.] þy wyff, [wyffe O.]

Þat þou saue þe, boþe [þou loue boþe þi D.] soule & lyff. [lyffe.] Line 1236 Loue fadyr & modyr, þat þe forþe [furþ O, forth D.] brouȝt, Þenk on þat loue whan þey may nouȝt. [her loue qwan þei moun nat D.]

Seynt poule þat sagh [Poule saw D.] goddys pryuyte, he [& D.] seyþ yn hys autoryte Line 1240 A feyrë wurd [feyr wrde O, fayr wurd D.] vs for to saue, And specyaly to hem [þo D.] þat chyldryn [chyldyr O.] haue: He seyþ "be ȝe neuer so fole hardy To curse [kurse O, waryen D.] ȝoure chyldryn byttyrly; Line 1244 Ne greuusly, for lytyl [no D.] trespas, Betechë hem [be-take hem not D.] to satanas." Moche ys ȝour malysun [mechil is ȝoure maleys for D.] to drede; Curseþ hem noght; [cursith not D.] y ȝow forbede. Line 1248 Oft [Ofte O.] haue men boþe herde & see [Oftyn man hau herd & sen D.] Þat moche veniaunce þerfor haþ bee. [mechil . . . ben D (om. þat).]

For to leue ȝoure cursyng [ȝour cursynge O, ȝoure bannyng D.] bolde, [A tale.] Y shal ȝow telle what [þat D.] me was tolde Line 1252 Of a prest þat sagh and fonde [saw & fond D.] Þys chauncë yn [be-fil in D.] þe holy londe.

[The Tale of the Mother who curst her Child.]

A womman on a day ful raþe Line 1255 Ȝede to a watyr here [hir D.] for to baþe, And to[ke] [bad D.] here doghtyr here cloþys to kepe, [cloþis kepe D.] And baddë here [bade here þat O, chargid hir D.] she shuld nat slepe; "But, as sone as y þe kalle, Be redy with my cloþys alle." Line 1260 whan [qwan D.] she was baþed, she kalled [calde O, callyd D (om. her).] here faste, And bade here brynge here cloþys [bad bryngyn hir cloþis to hir D.] yn haste.

Here douȝtyr was nat alle [not al D.] redy, Ne comë nat at here fyrst [& cam not at þe ferste D.] cry. Line 1264 Þe modyr þat sat in here baþ wax [wex D.] ful of ire and of wraþ, And cleþyd [clepede OD.] eft-sonys aftyr here, [. . hyre O, clepede hir hastyly D.] kursyng [Kursynge O.] with ryghte gretë yre, [waryed hir ful bitterly D.] Line 1268 And seyd, "þe devyl come on [sche seyde þe deuyl mote come with D.] þe, For, þou art nat redy to me." "And y am redy," seyd [þo seyde D.] þe deuyl, Line 1271 "To take þat þou me betaght [betakyst D.] with euyl." he flegh on herë [fley in-to hir D.] þere [þer.] she stode, And madë herë wytte [here of here wyt O, hir out of hir wit D.] al wode.

Þys godë man for a-nouþer þyng [made a gret spekyng D.] Tolde hyt oft [ofte.] yn hys prechyng, [þat non come nyȝe hire for no þing D.] Line 1276 Þat none durste speke with here syþyn But ȝyf [ȝyf om. D.] he werë clenë shryuyn; For [& D.] ȝyf he were yn dedely synne, Þe fendë [deuyl D.] þat was here with-ynne Line 1280 Made here seye hym so moche [dede hir seyn hym so mechil D.] shame Þat alle men wundred [þat alle wundredyn D.] on hys blame. And þat was preued with [be D.] many one Þat to þe holy lond was gone. Line 1284

Þerfore, ȝe chyldryn, before al þyng [þynge O, for alle þinge D.] Dredyþ ȝoure [ȝour O, ȝe D.] modrys warryng; [waryynge, glossed 'cursynge,' O; moderys waryynge D.] And, ȝe wyuys, þenkeþ on þys cas, werryþ nat [Waryyþ noghte O, waryyth not for a D.] for lytyl trespas. Line 1288 Þey þat wyl [wyle O, For ȝe þat wil D. D has in margin, 'be war of waryyng.'] gladly warye, hem warryþ [waryyþ O, warye hem D.] god & seynt marye. For ho-so haunteþ hyt [hauntyþ hyt O, it hawnte D.] comunly

Yn ernest [in sclaunder D.] or yn rybaudy, Line 1292 He shall haue warryng [waryynge O, warnyng fro (corr. from 'wary|yng') D.] for blysse, [folio 9b] And of ['his' inserted in a later hand.] blessyng shal he [he schal D.] mysse; [glost 'fayle' in MS.] And ho-so curseþ withoutyn [ho so warye with-out D.] gylt [gylte O.] Hyt shal on hys hede be pylt. [pylte O, spylt D. O. gloss 'caste.'] Line 1296 Curser[y]s yn alle [Kurserys yn al O, for waryerys in al D.] here lyue Shal [Shul O.] neuer haue grace for to [þei shul neuere han grace to D.] þryue; As þey vse, so shal hem [so schal þei D.] falle, For kursyng [kursynge O, waryyng (om. shal) D.] shal come on hem alle.

wurschepyþ ȝoure [ȝour O.] fadrys, & ȝoure fadrys ȝow, Þan queme ȝe God, and doun ȝoure [ȝour O.] prow. [honouriþ ȝoure fader & moder euene; þan plese ȝe god þat sit in heuene. D.] God ȝyue vs grace to oure endyng [endyngge O, endyng D.] To kepe [kepyn D.] vs fro modrys cursyng, [kursyngge O, waryyng D.] Line 1304 And oure [oure O.] fadrys so to queme; Þat goddys comaundement we may ȝeme. [goddis c. þat we may queme D.]

[The Fifth Commandment. [Quintum mandatum. Non occides D.] ]

TO þe fyfþe [fyþe O, fyfte D.] now shul we go, Þat ys, [ys om. D.] 'þou shalt no man slo.' Line 1308 Þe fyfþë, [fyþe O, fyfte D.] shalt þou vndyrstonde, Ys, 'sle no man with þyn [ys om. D. sle no man with wil ne D.] honde, with-outyn iustyce, for felonye, [for no þing . ne for no folyȝe D.] Ne for no manere of robbrye.' Line 1312

Ȝyf þou do any man yn [or þif þou do ony in to D.] prysun, wykkedly, as a fals [as fals D.] felun, Or bynde yn upland or in burgh, [byndyn hym . . . borw D.] Þat he haue hys deþe [deþ O.] þer-þurgh,— Line 1316

Line 1316 Certeyn þe shal no þyng [þynge O.] were, [O. gloss 'kepe.' A-ȝens god schalt þou þe not forbere D.] Þat [þat, om. D.] for hys deþ þou shalt [ne shalt O, schalt þou D.] answere.

Ȝyf þou euer yn any tyme [in ony stryf D.] Reftë any man hys lyme, [reftyst ony man of his lyf D.] Line 1320 Or hyt was reftë þurgh þy rede, Þou art enchesun of hys dede. Ȝyf hyt be aȝens hys wylle [wyl O.] Or hys asent, þou synnest ful ylle. [yl O, þou schalt fulfille D.] Line 1324

Ȝyf þou þurgh wykked ordynaunce Fordost pore mannys [mans O, for-dedyst p. mennys D.] sustynaunce þat aftyrward he may nat lyue, [leue O, myȝt not leue (om. he) D.] þou art coupable, [culpable D.] —a ȝyfte y ȝyue. [ȝeue O.] Line 1328

Ȝyf a porë man ['of' inserted in a later hand O, of D.] þe craue A melys mete, hys lyfe to [hys lyffe to O, it may hym D.] saue,— Ȝyf þou mayst ȝyue [ȝeue O.] hym, & nat [myȝt ȝeuyn hym & not ne D.] wylt, [folio 9b:2] Beforë [be-forn D.] god þou hast hym spylt. Line 1332 Seynt Ambrosë seyþ hardly, [hardyly O, hardily D.] Þat hyt ys slaghtyr [it is manslauȝtter D.] gostly.

what shul we sey [seye O, qwat schul seynt þese doctourys D.] of þys dytours, Þys [a-ȝens þe D.] fals men, þat beyn sysours, Line 1336 Þat, for hate, a trewman wyl [trwman wyle O, trewe man dyȝtte D.] endyte, And a þefe for syluer [seluyr O, & for gold a strong þef D.] quyte? Be he neuer so strong [stronge O, strong D.] a þefe, Ȝyf he may ȝyue, [ȝeuyn D.] he shal be lefe; Line 1340 A porë [pore trewe D.] man þat may nat so, Þe deþë [deþ O.] þey wyl [wyle O, to þe deth he dampneth D.] dampne hym to. Also hyt ys of þys dormers [al is of fals demerys D.] yn tounne,— Falsë [Fals H.] treytours & feloune, [þe false tretourys to-gedere rowne D.] — Line 1344

Line 1344 þat falslychë, for enuye, [þat falsly & felounly D.] On here neghburs wyl gladly [wyle g. O, wil þey D.] lye, And seye [to seyn D [folio 12a] .] forsoþe þat he haþ wroght Line 1347 Þyng [þynge O.] þat neuer ȝyt was do ne [no O, he neuere dede ne D.] þoght. þey sle hem allë [al O, slen hym al D.] þat þey may, whan here gode los þey fordo for ay. [qwan þei þe wrong don say D.] yn alle [al O, slen hym al D.] þe wrlde, no ys more felonye, [felounly D.] Þan of þy neghbur next þe by. ['They byed on him.' Halliwell's Gloss. 'O. Norse bia, to spot or besmirch.'] Line 1352

Ȝyf þou euer dedyst [dedyst euere D.] þyn entent yn fals cunsél [cunseyl O.] or cómaundment, Þat a man to þe deþe [deþ O, to dethe D.] were dyght with wrong dome, or euyl syght; Line 1356 Þoght hyt semyd [semede ȝif al semede it D.] with þe lawe To ȝeue þe dome, hyt ys grete awe [lawhe . . . awhe D.] who-so demyþ felunsly, [deme felounly D.] And noþer wyþ pyte ne [and hath no pyte no no D.] mercy; Line 1360 he [ne] shal no mercy haue, Þat alle wyl sle, and no man [al wyle . . . O, alle wil slen & non wil D.] saue.

y shal ȝow telle for swychë [swych O, of suyche a D.] dome A tale þat sum tyme fyl [fil sumtyme D.] yn Rome. Line 1364 Of [out of D.] holy wryt, þe englysh [englysshe O, ynglysch D.] y toke, 'Dialogus,' [Dealogo D.] men clepyn [clepe O, clepyn D.] þe boke. Þys tale ys wryte þer-yn [þer yn ys wrete O, wretyn þer-in D.] redy, Line 1367 And [It D.] fyl yn þe tyme of seynt Gregory.

[ ['Narracio' in margin D.] The Tale of the Knight who had a Vision of the Judgment.]

yn Romë fyl a grete moreyne, [folio 10a] [gret moryne O, gret moreyn D.] [A tale.] A pestelens [pestlensse O, A man-qualm, a veniaunce of peyn D.] of men, a veniaunce to pyne, For some þat ȝedë [ȝeden D.] yn þe strete

Sawe arwys fro heuene shete, [seyȝen . . . shetyn D.] Line 1372 And smote [smete O, smet D.] men to þe deþ [to dethe D.] doun ryȝt; And one of þe arwys wounded [wndede O.] a knyȝt. Þe knyȝt ful sorë syke gan lye, Line 1375 And was yn poynt as he shuld deye; [poynt for to deyȝe D.] hys spyryt was take to see a [sen þat D.] cas, Ryght as goddys wyllë [wyl O, wille D.] was. hys frendys þat stode hym by [stodyn hym be syde D.] wende þat he hadde be dede bodely. [hildyn hym for ded in þat tyde D.] Line 1380 But sonë, yn a lytyl þrowe, [sone after it gan falle D.] Þe body quaked þat þey alle sowe: [a-wok þat þei seyȝen it alle D.] Seþþë he tolde where he hadde be, [qwere he had ben D.] And mochë þyng þat he hadde see. [meche . . sen D.] Line 1384 "y sagh a brygge of mochë [saw a bregge of meche D.] wndyr, A grymly [grysly D.] watyr was þer vndyr, Blak and depe & ful stynkyngge, [foul styngkende D.] Dredeful noyse hyt made rynnyngge. [a dredful . . rennende D.] Line 1388 Dunward yn-to [vn-to D.] helle hyt ȝede; whan y sagh [qwan I saw D.] hyt, y hadde grete drede. Be-ȝunde þat [þe.] brygge was a cuntre, Þe feyreste [feyrest O.] þat euer [euere O.] god lete be; Line 1392 As a medue hyt was grene, So feyre of syght [feyr of syght O, fayr of syȝt D.] ys noun, y wene, [is non sene D.] So ful of flourys logh and hygh, And saueryd swete [& saueredyn D.] as spycerye. Line 1396 Þarto so feyre syght of coloure, [fayr . . kolour O, þerto fayr . . colour D.] Delytable, & swete of sauoure, [sauour O, & delectable & swete sauvur D.] Y dar weyl seye [seyn D.] þat euermore A man myght leuë þat were þore; [lyuyn þat þer were D.] Line 1400

Line 1400 Deyë certys shuld he neuere, For lyue [lyffe O, lyf D, om. For, for.] and hele ys þere for euere. y sagh þere folk [y saghe þer folke O.] ³[of so feyr syghte, Line 1403 Here wonynge placys yn joye were dyghte; [her wonyngstede in joyȝe was dyȝt D.] All þe [þo D.] folke]³ [3_3 These two lines (from "of so" to "folke") printed from O, are omitted in the Harleian MS.] þat I saghe þere were [O. omits "were"; as fayre aungelys alle þey D.] as feyre as aungelys were. y sagh þere housys of ful ryche atyre, [of ryȝt fayr tyr D.] Alle of gletryng [Al of gleterynge O.] golde as fyre; [as bryȝt schynyng as gold wyr D.] Line 1408 Blesful [Blysful O.] bryghtenes was [bernys were D.] þerynne; [folio 10a:2] Þe syght was cely, & welþe to wynne; For, some of þo wynly wones [þe wurþi wonys D; O. gloss, 'sekyr dwell|yngys.'] were peynted with [al wyþ O, weryn al peynted with D.] precyus stones, Line 1412 Some were caste [dyȝt D.] with ryche colours And feyr [proudly OD.] peynted with frute & floures. Þere ys noun lyuyng here a [no man þat is o D.] lyue, But criste, þat may [myȝte D.] hyt alle dyscryue. Line 1416 Þe soþë myght y neuer wytte, [he neuere wete D.] who shuld yn þo stedys [in þat place D.] sytte. But yn þe watyr þat was [þat water þat is D.] hydus, Sstynkyng, [styngkende & D.] blak, & merueylus, Line 1420 y say [saghe O, saw D.] moche folk falle þerynne, Caytyuys charged ful of [false caytyuys chargyd with D.] synne. A myste out of þe watyr come, And to sum housys [hows O, hous D, om. And.] hyt gan gone, Line 1424 And to sum, come [com O, hous it cam not D.] hyt noght, Þat me merueyled yn my þoght.

Þe bregge þat ouere þe watyr lay, Hyt was euer of swyche a-say, Line 1428 Þat þer-ouere myght no man passe

But he were clene of euery trespas [trespasse O, of his trespas D.] Þat he ne shulde yn [but he schulde in-to D.] þe watyr falle To þe mayster fende [deuel D.] of alle. Line 1432 Þo men þat loue to do ryghtly, [þe man þat louede to do ryȝt D.] Þey shal passe þere sauëly [he schulde passe þer safly a plyȝt D.] Into [In-to D, To HO.] þat blesful cuntre, Þere ioyë withoute ende shal be. Line 1436

A preste y sagh passe þere weyl, [saw þer passede wel D.] And hadde no lettyng of any deyl, [a deyl O, hadde lettyng neuere a del. D.] As he hadde leuyd yn hys lyfe [In his lyf he had lyued D.] clene, At hys passyng was hyt [it was D.] weyl sene. Line 1440

A man y kneugh þere [kn. þere also H, kneghe þ. a. O, saw þere (om. also) D.] yn peynys strong. [stronge O, peyne strong D.] Þat felunlyche dyde euer wrong; [wronge O, felounly euere dede wrong D.] I knegh [knew D.] hym here yn grete [gret OD.] bayly, He loued veniaunce with-oute mercy. Line 1444 'Pers,' y wote [woot O, wot D.] weyl, was hys name, Yn þe [þat D.] watyr he suffred shame. y sagh hym bere [saw þer D.] vpp-on hys krowne [crown Brennynge . . . down O, brennende yryn beryn D.] [folio 10b] Brynnyng eryn þat bare hym downe [crown Brennynge . . . down O, brennende yryn beryn D.] Line 1448 In-to þe watyr, blak [so blac D.] as kole. Alas, þe paynes y sagh hym þole! [O. gloss 'suffre.' þe peyne I say . . D.] Moche y desyred [mechil I askyd D.] to wete certeyne why [qwy D.] he suffred al þat peyne; Line 1452 And asswyþe [also swyþe D.] hyt was me tolde, For to do veniaunce he was euere [euer O, ay D (om. For).] bolde; And whan [qwan D (om. þe).] he shuldë deme þe ryȝt, To felunly he dyde [felunnye he dede O, to deme wrong he deed D.] hys myȝt; Line 1456 At hym myght no man hauë [ha D.] grace,

Myldenesse, ne mercy, for any trespace; [meknesse ne m. to purchase D.] And for he dede so mochë wogh, Suffreþ he now shame ynogh. [suffred he so meche now D.] Line 1460 Swyche ys goddys ordynaunce, 'For veniaunce [for his cruelte D.] to take veniaunce.'

Ȝyt of a-noþer y had a syght, 'Steuene,' forsoþe, hys namë hyght; Line 1464 Þat yche [same D.] Steuene was wont [wnt O.] to be wonyng yn Romë, þys [duellynge in Rome, þat D.] cyte. As he wulde [wlde O.] passe þe brygge, betydde, [bregge þat tyde D.] Hys fete begunne to slyde besyde, [be-gunne for to slyde D.] Line 1468 And, was yn poynt for to [for to OD, to H.] falle In-to þe watyr bytterer þan galle; Þe fendës wende weyl hym to [wendyn hym a D.] fonge, ¹²But by þe bregge þan gan he¹² [12_12 be þe bregge he gan D.] honge. Line 1472 Þe fendys here crokys fasted yn hys knees, [fest in his leggis D.] And al to-drowe & rente hys þees; [thes O, to-drowyn . . þeyȝis D.] Feyr men come þedyr,—but y not [noot O, not D (om. but).] how,— And by hys armys vp hym [be þe . . . hym vp D.] drow; Line 1476 Þey wulde [wlde O.] nat suffre hym falle al [to falle D.] downe [down O.] In-to þat grete confucyoun; He plesyd [preyed D.] god with sum gode dede, Þarefore þey hylpe hym yn hys [holpyn hym at D.] nede.

Almysdede [Almasdede O, almesse deede D.] men vndyrstonde Line 1481 By þe drawyng vp [vp om. D.] of hys honde. Y trowe he trespast [trespacyd D.] yn lecherye Þat þey þe þeës [thes O, to-drowyn . . þeyȝis D.] drow [þeyȝis drowyn D.] hym by. Line 1484 But forsoþe y can [can y O.] nat telle [folio 10b:2] wheþyr [qweþer D.] he shulde to heuene or helle."

Þys talë haue y [I haue D.] tolde to ȝow,

Ȝyf hyt myȝt fallë ȝow to [falle to ȝoure D.] prow, Line 1488 Þys domus men, to chastyse, Þat deme men wrong þurgh [demyn wrong be D.] fals asyse. Many beyn [arn D.] now, as Pers was, Harde domys men as Satanas. [þerfore þei stonde in gret caas D.] Line 1492 Þat man þat demeþ alle to þe [al on D.] ryȝt, Of mercy get he no [non I- D.] plyȝt; And ȝyf he demeþ pytyffully [pytysfully O, & he þat demyth pytously D.] At hys demyng getyþ [demyngge get O, endyng he get D.] he mercy; Line 1496 And [And om. D.] ȝyf he deme fals iuggëment, Þere falsnes ys, [þorwh þat falshed D.] he shalle be shent; He shal be slayn, þat al wyl [wyle O, alle wil D.] slo; Þat peyne wyl deme, [þat to pyne demyþ D.] to pyne shal go. Line 1500

Ȝyf þou with-drowe any mannys wyl, Þat he ne myȝt [myghte O, he myȝt not to god D.] þe gode fulfyl whan [as ȝif D.] he þoght to haue wel [weyl O.] doun, Or entycedest any [entysyd ony D.] fro relygyoun, Line 1504 Gostly þou mayst [dost D.] hym slo Ȝyf he to ouþer wykkednes go:— As, ȝyf a man haue a chylde, And to relygyun hys wyl be [is D.] mylde, Line 1508 And þou [Harl.; þou O om.; ȝif þou D.] eggyst hym away To folue þe fals wrldës [for to folwe þe wordis D.] pay; Ȝyf he þarefore be lore [þerþorw be lorn D.] yn synne, For hym grete perel þou fallyst ynne; Line 1512 Byforë god þou hast hym slayn, And for hym þou shalt [schalt þou D.] suffre payn.

what sey ȝe of þys bakbyters [bakbyterys O.] Þat wykked wurdes [wrdys O.] aboutë bers [berys O.] ? Line 1516 Þey makë oftë mochë [meche D.] stryfe,

And a-peyryn many [peyryn many a D.] mannys lyfe. Ȝyf þou bryng [bryngge O, he brynge D.] a man yn fame, Þat he haue euer lastyng [þat after eueremor it is a D.] shame,— Line 1520 Byforë god, þou hym slos whan þou hym reuyst hys [qwan . . . . of his D.] gode los. Bakbyter, þurgh ryght [a bacbitere þorw D.] resun, [folio 11a] Of þre mennys deþ ys enchesun. Line 1524 Þou wost weyl, with-outyn [þat wete ȝe wel with-out D.] les, þe bakbyter fyrst hym self [hym selfe ferst O.] sles; He slekþ hym þat trowyþ hys lesyng, [lesyngge O, sleth . . eryth þe lesyng D.] whan he forþ beryþ hys bakbytyng; [furþ berþ hys bakbytyngge O, qwan he beriþ forth þis b. D.] Line 1528 And hym algate [also D.] þat hyt ys on leyde, He ys slayn; god help þe vpbreyde. [slayn be þat vpbreyd D.] As mochë þan he ys [mechil is be þan D.] to blame Þat ȝeueþ a man a vyle ekename; [þat causith a sclaundrous name D.] Line 1532 Ȝyf hys ryȝt [good D.] name be withdrawe, Gostlychë [Gostlych O, gostly D.] þou hast hym slawe.

Also ys [þer is a D.] slaghter gostly To vse to spekë [þat vsyn to spekyn D.] vyleyny. Line 1536 For many wurdys þat beþ spoke, [arn spokyn D.] were better [betre O, better D.] yn brest to be loke. [in þe brest be lokyn D.] And, sum owtȝë nat [some owte nat O, so owyn men D.] to be Of herë wurdys to [ouer O, euere D.] fre,— Line 1540 By þese [þys O, þese D.] ordryd men, y mene, Here wurdys owtȝ [oghte to be feyr & O, owyn euere to be D.] to be feyr & clene, And namlyche to [a namely in D.] relygyun Men shuld fynde [schuldyn fyndyn D.] noun enchesun: Line 1544 For ȝyf þey spekë oute of skore, [spekyn ony schame D.] Þey beþ to be blamed eft þarfore. [arn michel þe more to blame D.]

[[This Tale is from Gregory's Dialogues, Bk. IV, ch. liii, says Gaston Paris, Hist. Lit. de la France, t. xxviii, p. 195.]] Seynt Gregori [gregor D.] of a nunne tellys [A tale ['narracio' in margin D.] ] Þat ȝede to helle for no þyng ellys Line 1548 But for she spake euer [ofte D.] vyleyny Among here felaws al ahy. [felawys al an hy O, felawis euere in hyȝe D.] Þys nunnë was of dedys [dede D.] chaste, But þat she spakë wurdys waste [of wast D.] Line 1552 She madë [dede D.] many of here felawys Þenke on synnë for her [to þinkyn . . . hir D.] sawys. For many tyme a vyleynys wurde [vylens wrde O, & many to vyleyne wurdis D.] Gadryþ foulë þouþ [þoght O, gaderyn foule þouȝtis on hordys D.] to hurde. Line 1556 So dede she her felawys alle, For here wurdys, [wrdys O, hir wurdis D.] yn synnë falle. Noþeles, yn here [neþeles in fleschly D.] dedys, Se was chaste as men er hedys. [mene rhedys O, was sche chast . as men redys D.] Line 1560

Sone aftyr þys nunnë deyde, [folio 11a:2] As of herë was purueyde, [A-non þei for hir purueyȝd D.] She was beryyd, [beryde O, þei beryed hir D.] as fyl to be, Be syde an auter [a nautyr O, be sydyn an awter be-forn a gre D.] before þe gre. Line 1564 Sone aftyr, þys [a D.] chaunce gan falle:— Of þe cherche þe wardeynys [wardeyns O, þo wardeynys D.] alle were waked oute of [out of O, weren I-wakyd of D.] here slepe, So loude þey herde one [herden on D.] cry & wepe; Line 1568 Þey sterte vp allë [alle O, al Harl., stertyn alle vp D (om. for).] for to see what wundyr þyng [wndur þynge O, wunder þing D.] þat myȝt be. Þey say [saye O, saw D.] aboute þe [þis D.] Nunnë stonde, Line 1571 Fendys, with brynnyng swerdys yn honde: [honde D, hande HO.] Al [Alle O.] hem þoght þey wulde here [alle þei þouȝttyn hir for to D.] slo, For þey cloue here mouþe [mouþ O.] euyn o two; [o two O, þei clouyn hir euene doun a two D.]

And, þe to [hir O.] syde al to-brent Before þe auter on þe pament. Line 1576 Þe wardeynys come eft on [comyn on D.] þe morow To see where had be [were hadde be O, sen qwere was al D.] þat sorow. þey fonde þe brenyng [brennynge O, brennyng D.] euery deyl As þey before had seye [be-forn had sen D.] hyt weyl; Line 1580 Half þe body was brent a-way, And haluyndele yn her grauë lay. Seynt Gregorye seyþ þat hyt was sygne [O. gloss 'a tokene.'] Þat half here lyfë [lyf it D.] was nat dygne; [O. gloss 'wrþ.'] Line 1584 For þogh here dedys werë chaste, [al þowh hir lyf in dede was chast D.] Here wurdys were al [al om. D.] vyle & waste. So was hyt shewyd before here ygne, [as it was s. be-forn here eyne D.] Þat haluyndele she [half þe body D.] was ȝoue [ȝeue O, ȝoue D.] to pyne. Loke how ȝeuene [euene O, euene dom ȝouyn D.] dome þer was, Line 1589 Euene lyke [euenelych D.] aȝens here trespas. See how here tunggë made here slayn [slayne O, dede hir slo D.] And foulë wurdes broght here to payn. [wrdys . . payne O, wurdys dede hir þat wo D.]

By þys ensample þat vs awys [feryþ] [þat we here se D.] Line 1593 Y rede þat [þat om. O.] we leue alle oure foule sawys, [I rede we letyn alle foule wurdis be D.] Þat we sle nat vs self [vsself O, oure soulys D.] gostly, Ne noun ouþer so, ne [oþer also D.] bodyly, Line 1596 Þat we be nat with herë brent [not so schent heer D.] Yn hellë fere, no with here shent. [ne with hir brent in helle feer D.] God almyghty shelde vs þar fro, [folio 11b] And late vs neuer no man slo. Line 1600

[The Sixth Commandment. [Sextum mandatum (in margin) Non mecha|beris ¶ Sextum mandatum D.] ]

THe syxte comaundyþ vs [sexte comaundement bit D.] al so, Þat we shul noun hurdam [hordam O, hordom D.] do. þys comaundment [comaundement OD, it is D.] ys of prys, For hyt was stabled [mad D.] yn paradys; Line 1604 God stablede hyt, þou shalt beleue, whan he made of Adam, [qwan he made Adam & D.] Eue. A clene womman here [here om. D.] he hym betaght, Yn clenë lyfe to lyue she aght; [leue shaghte O, lyue sche auȝt D.] Line 1608 Al one to be, and of o wyl, Goddys comaundment [comaundement OD, it is D.] to fulfyl. God made womman man to gyue, [kepe] [ȝeue D.] To be hys helpë yn hys [ben his helpe whil þat þei D.] lyue; Line 1612 ¹¹he madë here nat, man to greue, No to be mayster, but felaw leue,¹¹ [11_11 om. D.] No nat ouer logh, no nat [nat om. O, nat ouer lowe . ne ouerhyȝe D.] ouer hy, But euene felaw, to be hym by; [ben hym byȝe D.] Line 1616 And he, mayster, lorde, [& lord he must be mayster D.] & syre; [sere O, syre D.] To hys wyl she shal meke hyre. [here O, makyn hyre D.] Þe sacrament ys for here [s. for þat ilke D.] sake, Of two, o fleshe and o [of to fleschis . oo D.] wyl, to make. Line 1620 Grete mede he getyþ [get O, getith you D.] with-outë fayle Þat wele wyl [wyle O, wil D.] holdë hys spousayle.

Now some of þe [summe of þese D (om. Now).] poyntys wyl [wyle O, wil D.] y touche Þat men vn-to hurdam [hordam O, to þo men þat to holdam D.] souche. Line 1624

Ȝyf þou haue [euer ȝaue O, ȝeue D.] trouþë pryuyly To bygyle a womman to [and O, & lyn D.] lygge here by,

Þogh no wedlok [wedloke O.] were yn þy þoght, Line 1627 But þat wuldest [þou wldyst O, þ. woldyst D.] þy synne were wroght; Ȝyf she vndyrstode weddyng of þe, So shal þy trouþë charged be; Þy trouþe to ȝeue yn swyche [swych O, swych D.] a-tent, hyt ys aȝens þe comaundment. [comaundement OD.] Line 1632 No trouþe oghte to [O. omits 'to.' owith to be ȝouyn be D.] be ȝeue wyþ ryght But yn holy cherchys syȝt, [syght O, cherche syȝt D.] Namlych, þat falleþ to wedlake, [falþ to wedlak O, namely . . wedlok D.] what-so-euer men [men euer O, qwat so men seyn þinke or D.] seyde or spake. [spak OD.] Line 1636

Ȝyf þou ly [lye O, lyn D.] by here seþen, [folio 11b:2] Aftyr þou hast þy trouþë ȝyuen, Y sey [seye O, sey D.] þe weyl certeynly [for certeynly D.] þat þou synnedyst þere [synnyst þanne D.] dedly. Line 1640 Fleshly dede þou oghteyst noun [owist non D.] werche wyþ-outë leue [wedlok D.] of holy cherche; þogh þou haue here trouþë [here trowþe O, alþowh þ. h. hir truþe D.] plyght, And to here hast so godë ryȝt, [ryghte O, haue so good ryȝt D.] Line 1644 Ȝyt holy cherche behoueþ wytte [holi cherche must knowe euerydel D.] Of ȝoure cunnaunt, ȝyf hyt may sytte. [or þe comenaunt be endyd wel D.]

Ȝyf þou plyghtyst [plyȝt D.] trouþe to any lyghtly To be at holy cherchys cry, Line 1648 But þou dedyst with her [with here in margin H, duste wyþ here O, þou dost with hir no fleschly dede D.] no foly dede þat ys fleshly felaurede, [felawrede O, neyþer be feld ne be thede D.] þou gost and ȝyfst [ȝeuyst D.] þy trouþe anouþer As þou dedyst [dest O, dedyst beforn þat oþer D.] byfore þe touþer, Line 1652 And lyst by here, and ys þy wyfe, yn hordam boþe þan ys [boþe ȝe lede D.] ȝoure lyfe.

Þe ferst womman þat þou ches Ys [sche is D.] þy wyfe, with-outë les. Line 1656 Ensample hauë we þerby, Of Iosep þat wedyd [weddede O, wedded D.] oure lady; Þere was verry [verry trewe D.] matrymony, with-outë fleshly dede of any. [dede don ony D.] Line 1660 By þys ensample mayst [myȝt D.] þou se þat þe fyrst [ferste O, ferst D (om. þat).] womman þy wyfe shulde be.

Ȝyf þou dedyst [dest O, dedyst beforn þat oþer D.] euer swyche [swych O, ony D.] outrage To [don D.] wedde chyldryn or [ar O, or D.] þey hadde age, þare [þar O.] -of may comë grete [gret OD.] folye Line 1665 ȝyf þey so ȝunge to-gedyr lye. Oft haue men [Ofte men haue O, oftyn men han (om. boþe) D.] boþe herde & seyn, Þat [þat om. D.] of swych lyggyng haþ foly beyn. For some, when þey yn age are come, [& summe qwan þei comyn to olde D.] Line 1669 þe toon þe touþer may nat loue; [þat oon to oþer neuere loue wolde D.] Þan make þey men [alle men O, þan fare þei boþe alle folk to wunder D.] on hem to wundyr, [wndre O.] And coueyt faste [þei coueyte boþe D.] to be asundyr; [a sundre O, a sunder D.] Line 1672 Also to brekë here [& for brekyn þe D.] spousayle, And here trouþe, þe whych shuld [wheche shulde O, þat schulde D.] nat fayle. Ȝyf þou to swyche [swych O, suych D.] weddyng consent, [folio 12a] Hyt ys aȝens þe commaundment. [comaundement O.] Line 1676

Ȝyf þou hast [haue D.] auowyd þe Þy lyfe to holde [holdyn D.] yn chastyte, Or þou art yn state of prest, Or yn two ordrys alþer nest, Line 1680 Suddekene, or dekene hy, [Subdekne . . hyȝ D.] þys lettyþ weddyng & dede fleshly.

Ne þou shalt neuer [neuer O, neuere D, om. Harl.] wedde, ne synne, wyþ any [non D (om. haþ).] þat þy kyn haþ weddyd ynne; Or ȝyf a man haue houe [ȝif þou haue houyn D.] a chylde, Line 1685 God hyt euer forbede and shylde Þat þat chylde shulde any [þat ilke . . ony D.] haue Of hys godfadrys, maydyn or knaue: Line 1688 Hys breþren or sustren may at here [may oþer D.] pay wedde; but he þat houe neuer [he hoffe neuer O, he þat hof neuere ne D.] may.

Ne þou shalt nat, [þou schalt neuere D.] by þy lyfe, weddë þy godfadrys wyfe. Line 1692 Also shal þe womman wonde [spare] To take [takyn D.] here godmodrys husbonde. Twey godmodrys shul nat wedde, [See 1. 2237, etc., of the French, next page. wede O, to commatres schal þou not wedde D.] Þe toon to aske þe touþer to bede. [þat oon aske þat oþer to bedde D.] Line 1696

Men shul nat wedde [Harl. omits 'wedde.' schuld not wedde for no D.] for any gode Man or womman þat ys wode; For many þyngys hyt ys grete eye, Þe whyche falleþ me nat for [þat falliþ me not now D.] to seye. Line 1700

Ȝyf a womman haue an husband, And he fro here go ouer [& he be gon out of D.] land, She shal noun ouþer take ne wedde [wed O, sche may take non oþer for no dred D.] But she be certeyn of hys ded. [ded O. O. gloss. 'deþ.'] Line 1704 Þou shal [shalt O, schalt truþe no w. D.] nat betrouþe a womman with hand þe whylys [qwhylys D.] here husband ys lyuand; For þe trouþe þat þou here ȝeuys Þe whylys þat here husbund lyuys, [þer qwhylis his husbonde leuyth. þat ilke truþe þat þou hir ȝeuyth D.] Line 1708

Line 1708 hyt ys hope, hurdam [it is opyn hordom D.] to be, And slaghter, but [but ȝyf O, & manslauter ȝif D.] he deye or she.

³Ȝyf þou madest euer any wyche, Line 1711 Þurgh whycchëcraft, wedlak to flycche,³ [3_3 om. H.] For to destruble [desturble O, distorble D.] þe ryȝt weddyng, [folio 12a:2] Þou art a-cursed yn þat þyng. [doyng D.] Ȝyf þou fordost þe weylfare [hem þat welfare.] Betwyx þo [be-twen hem D.] þat weddyde are, Line 1716 Þou synnest certys [þer D.] wykkydly, And brekyst [brekst O, þou brekist þer D.] spousayle & cumpany. Ȝyf þy chylde, mayden [mayde D.] or knaue, wulde a-noþer yn wedlak [wil in wedlok a noþer D.] haue, Line 1720 And with here wylle þey trouþë [truþis þei (om. And) D.] plyȝt withoute cunseyl of fadrys [fadery D.] syȝt, Ȝyf fadyr or modyr be þer aȝen, Line 1723 Seþþe þey haue trouþed & beyn [siþþe þei be truþid & arn D.] certeyn, Þey dysturble þys [þou stourblyst þe D.] sacrament Aȝens þys ychë comaundment. [a ȝens goddis comaundement D.]

Ȝyf a man be [were D.] of Ioly lyfe And mysdo [mysdede D.] onys vndyr hys wyfe, Line 1728 Ȝyf she be gode and certeyn, To gode state she turneþ hym aȝeyn; But þere þe wyfe haunteþ foly [haþ folyȝe D.] Vndyr here husbunde a ludby, [hir lord a lotebyȝe D.] Line 1732 Comunly she wyl [wyle O, wil not D.] neuer blynne, But euere [euer O, euere be ardent D.] be brennyng yn here synne; Vnto þe deuyl confounde [confunde O, confoundith D.] her here [here her O, hir þer D.] And bryngë her [here . . . fer O, bryngiþ her . . . fer D.] to hellë fere. Line 1736

Aȝens swyche maner wyuys [A namelych suych a m. wyf D.]

þat wyl [wyle O, wil not D.] nat amende here lyuys, [amenden her lyf D.] Shal y [I schal D ('narracio' in margin).] tellë ȝow a tale,— To swychë wyuys byttyr [suyche wyuys han bitter D.] bale. Line 1740

[The Tale of the Adulterous Wife, whose Skeleton split in two.] [[Source not found by G. Paris, Hist. Lit. de la France, xxviii. 195.]]

Þer ys an Ile be-ȝunde þe see, [A tale] Þer men were wunt [wnt O, wunt duellyng D.] wonyng to be; Þys ychë ylë wax [ilke yle wex D.] al waste, And þe folk [folke O.] drogh þen [þenne O, þe folk þens drow (om. And) D.] yn haste; Line 1744 So with-ynne a lytyl whyle [so þat . . qwyle D.] Men helde hyt [hylden it D.] a forsakyn yle. Seþþë, [siþþin D ('dragoun' in margin).] wonede þere a dragun, Þat dede many man confusyun; Line 1748 Men and wommen faste he slogh, And dede ouer al shame ynogh; [slow . . . a now D.] Al þat he fonde with-outë [outtyn D.] house [folio 12b] Þys dragun slogh so [þe dragoun slow D.] merueylouse; Line 1752 So mochë folkë [many folk D.] gan he quelle, Men seyd [seyden D.] he was a fende of helle. Alle þe folk [Al þe folke O.] of þat cuntre Line 1755 Cunseyled [Cunseylde O, counseyldyn D.] hem what þat [best O, qwat myȝt best D.] myght be; Þey armyde hem alle [many armyd hem D.] at here myght, Aȝens þe dragun for to fyght, But noun of hem myght vndyrstande Where þe dragun was wonande. [vnderstonde; qwere . . . dwellende D.] Line 1760 Befel ȝyt, [hyt O, So fil it in þat ilke D.] þat ychë tyde, An ermyte wonede [hermyte duellede D.] þere besyde, A godë man and ryȝt [and a ryȝt O, þat a good man was for D.] certeyn, Dwelled [Dwelde O.] besydë þat [& woned þer be syde in a D.] wasteyn,— Line 1764

Line 1764 One of hem ȝaf cunseyl tyte, Þat þey shulde go [for to wende D.] to þat Ermyte, And aske cunseyl of swyche [swych O, suyche D.] adede In hopë alle þe bettyr [þe better alle O, þei hoped alle þe better D.] to spede. Line 1768 whan þey hadde tolde hym [qwan þei had told D.] alle here dere, Þys was þan þe ermytys [þanne his D.] answere:— "Ȝyf ȝe wyl wepe [wepyn D.] for ȝoure [ȝour O, ȝoure D.] synne, Line 1771 And shryue ȝow clene, and þerof blynne, And grauntë me þat ȝe shul [grauntiþ þat ȝe schul alle D (om. And).] faste, And yn preyers wel [preyerys weyl O, ȝoure preyeris wel to D.] to laste, Perauenture [Perauenter O, perauenture ȝe moun D.] ȝe may be al-eggyd, And sum of ȝoure [ȝour O.] sorow abreggyd." Line 1776

To do alle [al O, al as D.] þat þe ermyte bad, Þey grauntede alle, & were ryȝt glad. Þe ermyte seydë, "ȝe shul be In penauncë þre days [al in penaunce here D.] with me; Line 1780 And, aftyr þe þre days [þe þridde day is D.] ende, To ȝow shal y come or sende."

Alle þe folk went [Al þe folke wente O, alle þo folk went D.] home þere weye; [here wey O, her wey D.] Þe ermyte hys preyere [preyer O.] began to seye, [sey O, say D.] "Ihesu cryst, god [cryste O, crist D.] almyghty, Line 1785 Of þys folk [folke O, on þese folk D.] haue þou mercy, Þat þou boghtyst on [þat boutist on þe D.] rode so dere; For hem shewe me on sum manere Line 1788 where [qwere D.] y may þe dragun fynde, [folio 12b:2] And hys power, lorde, þou bynde, [on bynde D.] Þat þe folk may knowe [þo folk moun knowyn D.] and se Þe [þi D.] mercy and þe myȝt of þe." Line 1792

Whan [qwan D.] he hadde preyde hys orysun Long yn grete [Longge yn gret O, longe in gret D.] afflyccyun,

God sagh allë [al O, saw al D.] hys entent, And hys [an D.] aungel to hym he sent Line 1796 For to techë hym þe way Þedyr þere [þer O, qwere þat D.] þe dragun lay. Þe aungel seyde to þe ermyte, "Do sumnë þe folk astyte, [sumnien . . as tyte O, somounne þo folk as tyte D.] Line 1800 Þat þey comë [comyn D.] allë hedyr Beforë þe, echone to gedyr. Y shal be ȝoure [ȝour O, ȝoure alþerys D.] alþer ledere, Þat þe dragun ȝow [schal ȝow D.] nat dere." [desese] Line 1804

Þe folk [folke O, folk ecchon D.] echonë þedyr com; Þe aungel before [be forn D.] hem gan gon, And led [ladde D.] hem to þat wasteyn Þat sum tyme was a stede [place D.] certeyn. Line 1808 Vnto a place þey ȝede [stede þei come D.] echone, And þere þey fonde a tumbe [towmbe O, foundyn a toumbe D (om. And).] of stone. Þe aungel bad hem lyfte [bad left D.] vp þe lydde; And as he bad, ryȝt [And, ryȝt, om. D.] so þey dydde. Line 1812 "here, he seyde, [be syde D.] ys hys wonnyng with anoþer wykked þyng; Drede ȝow noght þoȝt he [nat þoghe he O, douȝete ȝe not þowh he D. H om. he.] be fownde, For all hys power haue y [al his power I haue it D.] bownde." Line 1816 whan þey had þe toumbe o twynne, [.o. twynne O, qwan þei haddyn þese stonys at D.] Þe folk stode and loked [stodyn & loked D.] with-ynne. Þey sagh [sawe O, seyen D.] a womman þere [þer OD (D om. vyly).] vyly lye, Line 1819 And here body cloue yn twey partye; [clouyn on to partyȝe D.] Betwyxe þo twey partys þe [þat O, be twen þo to partis D.] dragun [body Harl., dragun O, dragoun D.] lay, Gresly to se wyþ grete [gret O, grysley to sen with grete D.] affray.

Grete [gret O, gret ferly it was D.] wndyr was hyt to see; Þey asked alle what hyt myȝt [myghte O, askedyn qwat it myȝt D.] be, Line 1824 And why hyt was, and wherë [qwy it was & qwen D.] -fore, [wharfore O.] Þat þe dragun lay so þore; And what [& in qwat D.] manere she synned so, [folio 13a] Þat here body was cloue yn [clouyn a D.] two. Line 1828

he shewede þan vnto [tolde þere to D.] hem alle, For what synne þat sorow gan [qwat . . was D.] falle. "Þys womman," he seyd, [womannys body D.] "þat here lys, And ys departyd yn two [on to D.] partys, Line 1832 She was weddyd, and here wedlak [wedlake O, & in hir wedlak D.] Ful falsly an on-truly brak, [and vntrewly brake O, hir wedlok sche brak D.] whan she was o [qwan . . in D.] flessh and blode with hym þat here to-keyn loue gode; [þat sche vnderstood D.] Line 1836 þurgh matrymony, þe sacrament, [of sacrament ywis D.] were two o flessh made be assent, [to bodyes mad in o flesch D.] holy togedyr [to gedere O.] for to leue [leue O, lyuyn D.] Line 1839 And noun fro ouþer hys flesh may ȝyue. [neyþer may here flesche fro oþer ȝeuyn D.] But þys womman þat þus ys shent, She brak [brake O, brak þat D.] þe holy sacrament; here flesh she ȝaf, o [a D.] party yn hordam and yn [to hordom & to D.] lechery, Line 1844 A-noþer party to here [& anoþer part to hir D.] husbonde, Þat for shame ne myȝt [myghte O, myȝt not (om. she) D.] she wonde. And, for þat yche [Harl. and D om. yche.] vyleyns [vyleyn D.] synne, Ys here body partyd [so partyd D.] a-twynne; Line 1848 And betwyx [be twyxe O, be twen þo to D.] þe twey partys, For veniaunce, þe dragun lys. Alas þe tyme þat she was bore! with-outyn endë she ys lore." [forlore O, born . . lorn D.] Line 1852

Line 1852 Þe aungel seyd, "y cómaunde þe, Dragun, hennë [þou dragoun hens D.] þat þou fle, Þat þou neuer [neuer more O.] any man noye No [? for Ne.] þys cuntre no more dystroye; Line 1856 No [? for Ne.] þat þou comë no more here yn þys stede [place D.] for to apere." And a-none, for drede and eye, [as tyd for dred of þe aungel on eyȝ D.] Þe dragun fleygh furþ hys weye. Line 1860 Þe folk þanked god echone, [echon O, ecchon D.] Þat þe dragun aweye was gone. [gon O, was a-wey gon D.]

wommen þat breke wedlak, mow [Wymmen moun here D.] yn þys tale Here, þat þey brew to hemself [þat breke wedlok brewyn her D.] bale. Line 1864 For þe foule dragun, þe fende [þe fende om. D.] of helle, [folio 13a:2] wyþ hém yn peyne shal euer [hym in p. schul þei D.] dwelle Þat half here flesh haue partyd or brokun [þat han her flesch so partyd & broke D.] Þat holy yn matrymony was lokun. [holy wedlok was be-loke D.]

Ȝyf þer be twey [tweyyn O.] yn cumpany [ȝif þou euere in place were D.] Line 1869 As beþ [byþ O.] yn wedlak specyaly, [þer wrong wedlok schulde a-rere D.] And þe toon do aȝens [but þou for-do þat D.] spousayle whereforë felaushepe may fayle, [so þat her cumpany may preuayle D.] Line 1872 But þe toþer wyl [wyle O.] hym [& but þou wilt hem þerfore D.] blame whan he wote hys foulë [foul O.] fame, [siþþin þou wost her foule schame D.] he consentyþ to hys [þou consentyst to her D.] synne But he desturble hym [þou destourble hem D.] þer-ynne. Line 1876

Ȝyf þou wendest [wentyst D.] oute of cuntre, Aȝens þy wyuys wyl to be, But she mow wonë [myȝt wonyn D.] yn þat stede

To haue þy fleshly felawrede, Line 1880 Ȝyf þou do hyt aȝens her [dedyst a-ȝen hir D.] wyl Certeynly þou synnyst ful yl. [wylle . . . ille D.] Ȝyf þou hyt do [do it D.] to holde þe chaste wyþ-oute here wyl, [leue O, leve D.] þou werchyst [dost D.] waste. For but [but ȝif D.] hyt be for grete resun, Line 1885 Ȝyf she mysdo, þou art enchesun.

Ȝyf þou louyst [loue D.] to haue þy wyfe Yn clennes and yn godë lyfe, Line 1888 vpbreyde here neuer for [of D.] gelusye Of no mannys cumpanye; For ȝyf þou dost, þan [dost . þen O, do . þan D.] wyl she do þyng þat she neuer þoghte to do. [þouȝt to D.] Line 1892 Men sey, þer [seye þere O, seyn þer D.] a man ys gelous, Þat þer [þere O, þer D (om. þat).] ys a kokewolde at [at þat D.] hous. Many a gode man ys kokewolde; [kukkold (om. ys) D.] Þere þe wyfe ys a shrewe, þer ys wykked [qwere þe wif is schrewe . þer is euyl D.] holde. But where [þer D.] þe wyfe haþ gelousye Þere beþ wrdys grete and hye; [Ielowsyȝe . . hyȝe D.] Line 1898 here mayster shal nagher go ne sytte [hir lord schal neuere out of hir syȝt D.] Þat she ne shal wommen on hym wytte. [but sche schal on hym women wyȝt D.] Þan ys þere [boþe D.] chydyng and boste, Line 1901 Þere ys nat [noght O, & þer is wantyng of D.] þe holy goste; For no þyng Ihesu cryst more quemeþ [more i. c. quemys D.] [folio 13b] Þan loue yn wedlak, þere men hyt ȝemyþ; [ȝemys D.] Ne no þyng ys to man [þanne is D.] so dere Line 1905 As [as a D.] wommanys loue yn gode manere. ²⁶A gode womman ys mannys blys Þere here loue ryȝt and [ryght O, þer þat hir lyþ D.] stedfast ys;²⁶ [26_26 A gode woman ys veryly mannys blys When she louys trew and stedfaste ys (? source)] Line 1908

Line 1908 Þere ys no solas vndyr heuene Of al [Harl. al, alle D.] þat a man may [moun D.] neuene, Þat shuld a man [man do O, man so meche D.] so mochë glew As a gode womman þat loueþ trew. Line 1912 Ne derer ys [ys om. D.] none yn goddys hurde Þan a chaste womman with louely wrde; Ensample haue y þerof ful fayre [haue we þare D.] yn þe lyfe of seynt Makayre. [makayr O, Machare D.] Line 1916

[The Tale of St. Macaire and the Two Good Married Women. [Narracio, in margin O.] ] [[Vitas Patrum, p. 656. Libro de los Exemplos, no. 145.—G. Paris.]]

Þere [It D.] was an abbot of great renoun, [A tale] An holy man yn relygyoun, he preydë god [om. god D.] vpp-on a day, And seydë "lorde, as þou weyl may, Line 1920 Ȝeue [ȝyf O, ȝif D.] me gracë for to wete who shal with me yn heuene sytte; Þat wulde y wyte [wete D.] on al manere, who yn heuene shal be my pere." Line 1924 A voys spakë [spak O.] to hym ful fayre, [hym þare D.] "wete [wethe D.] þou wele, for soþe, Makayre, Þere beþ [Þyr byþ O. It arn to D.] twey wymmen yn a cyte, Of so moche boneryte [O. gloss 'godenesse,' of ful mechil honoryte D.] Line 1928 þat alle þe penaunce þat þou mayst do Ne may nat reche here godenes to." he toldë hym þe cyte ryȝt, [ryght O, to þat c. ryȝt D.] And the wommen what þey hyght. [hyght O.] Line 1932 Makayrë wulde no lenger byde, [a-byde D.] But to þat cyte gan [wolde (om. But) D.] he ryde; As sonë as he comë [com O, & . . . cam D.] þere Line 1935 he askede where swyche [aspyed where þo D.] wymmen were.

Men taghte hym sonë to hem weyl; [tawtyn hym soone with wil D.] he come and toke þere hys osteyl. [O. gloss 'herborue.'] "wymmen," he seyde, "y wyl [wyle O.] me reste yn ȝoure Ine [yn O, hous & ben ȝoure gest D.] as [O. omits 'as.'] a nyȝtys geste." Line 1940 "Syr," þey seyde, "we graunte hyt þe [folio 13b:2] Ȝyf þou hyt aske pur [for D.] charyte." To a chambre þey hym broghte; [broght O.] þan [& þo D.] hys erende forȝate he noughte. [noght O.] Line 1944 ¹⁰he madë [O. inserts 'hem.'] boþë by hym sytte, And seyde, "y am come, at ȝow to wytte¹⁰ [10_10 om. D.] , [wete O.] yn what manere ȝe lede [qwat maner lede ȝe D.] ȝoure lyuys yn holynes, and byþ here [ȝe arn D.] wyuys: Line 1948 Forheleþ hyt nat, [for ellis not D.] y ȝow forbede, how þat ȝe ȝoure [ȝour O.] lyuys lede; Þarfore, y am come [I cam D.] to þys cyte, And haue trauayled many a iurne." [many Iourne D.] Line 1952

Þes wymmen answered al at gesse [O. gloss. 'hap'; ansuerden D.] "Syr, we knowe no [noun O, knowyn non D.] holynesse, But whan oure husbandys byþ [ben D.] vs by Þan beþ we yn loue ryȝtly, [ar . . loue all ryȝtfully D.] Line 1956 And yn parfyte charyte whan [qwhan D.] oure husbandys with vs be; Þys ys moste of ourë lyuys, And euer haþ be, syþ [syn O.] we were wyuys." "y beseche [beseke D.] ȝow, on my blessyng, Line 1961 Þat ȝe forhele fro me [forhile for D.] no þyng." [þynge O.] Þe toon [þat oon D.] answered to seynt Makayre [macare O, machure D.] "To twey breþryn we weddyd are Line 1964 A-passyd be [And passyde byþ O, & passid arn D.] twenty ȝere Þat we to-gedyr [gedere OD.] haue lyuyd here,

Þat neuer with hem [with hem, om. D.] were we onys wroth Ne þey with vs þat wedded vs both, Ne for no þyng þat euer [Ne . . euer, om. D.] may betyde Line 1969 To-gedyr shul we neuer chyde. Yn relygyun we wulde [woldyn D.] vs do; Oure husbondys graunte nat [grauntyn not D.] þar-to; Line 1972 Ȝyt haue we leuer leue [to letyn D.] oure wylle Þan oure hosbundys greue with [to greuyn D] ylle. So moche loue ys vs among Þat none to oþer wyl do [meche . . . non of vs wil oþer D.] wrong." Line 1976

Among oþer [Alle oþer H, of many D.] þynges to hym þey spake, [O. gloss 'seyde.'] "We þenke so moche on oure wedlake, For hyt ys [was O, It was D.] yn þe olde testament, [folio 14a] And yn þe newe hyt ys [it is þe D.] sacrament; Line 1980 And God [God OD, om. Harl.] haþ ordeyned hyt for þe pes, And þeryn, [O. to inserted in a later hand. þer in to (om. And) D.] be bore he ches, Þat we ne shul, by oure [our O, þerfore we schul not be oure D.] lyue, Neuermore to-gedyr [gedere OD, ben at D.] stryue, Line 1984 Ne foly wrdys be [be O, om. Harl., no foly wurdis betwen vs be D.] betwyxe vs seyd— As ouþer wymmen makyn vpbreyd,— For noun enuye ne coueytyse, Ne for noun ouþer maner [maner of D.] wyse; Line 1988 But seruë [seruyn D.] god and oure husbondys yn alle þyng þat [þat, om. D.] he sendeþ hys sondys."

Makayre ioyed þat [þat, om. D.] þey were so stable, And so long whylë [qwyle D.] so tretable; Line 1992 he þankeþ God [þankyde god O.] þat he haþ [hade O, þankid . . had D.] founde So mylde wymmen yn wedlak bounde; he toke hys leue and went hys weye, As an abbot shulde, to hys abbeye. Line 1996

Line 1996

[See ll. 2475-80 of the French.] God wuld hyt werë now so here, So meke wymmen ²of so fayre² [2_2 of here O, mylde women of here D.] manere; But of ouþer, men mowe [mow O, may D.] fynde wymmen yn wedlak ryȝt on-kynde, [vnkynde O, ful on-kynde D.] Line 2000 Þat for a gamë wurde [gamyn wurd D.] yn veyn Þey wyl ȝyuë forty [ȝeuyn .xx^ti. þer D.] aȝeyn. Se how þese [þys O.] wymmen [women with D.] a-cordaunce Plesyd [plesedyn D.] god with lytyl penaunce, Line 2004 And preysed hem to [euere preysid he D.] seynt Makayre For þey bare hem [hem bare O.] yn wedlak fayre; [so trewe in wedlok ware D.] As mochë þan shal he hem [& as meche mote hem of D.] blame, Þat chydyn to-gydyr, & reysyn shame. [ch. & fyȝttyn & don meche scame D.] Line 2008

Ȝyf þou euer þy wyfe lay [owher . . ly D.] by Yn tyme of penaunce, to seye flesshly, [it was foly D.] — ȝyf þou be custumable þar-to, Þou synnest gretly, my boke seyþ so. Line 2012 yn holy tyme and halyday Forbere þy wyfe, [lust D.] ȝyf þat þou may.

Ne þou shalt nat know [k. fleschly (om. Ne) D.] þy wyfe yn holy placë, by [be O, þe h. day be D.] þy lyfe; Line 2016 Ȝyf þou do hyt custumably, [folio 14a:2] Þou synnest, y sey, [be hir þan D.] dedly; Cherche or cherchëȝerd, y sey, [seye O, or in cherche sawe D.] yn holy stede hyt ys grete eye. [awe D.] Line 2020

yn lentyn tymë [it is tyme D.] of fastyng Shalt þou leue to do swyche þyng. [þou schalt leue al swych doyng D.] yn estyr tyme also, y [pasche tyme I þe D.] forbede Þat þou haunte any [vse no D.] swyche dede. Line 2024

Ȝyf a womman yn hordam [þou in hordam dost D.] do swyche outrage [L. 2525 Fr.]

Þat a [a, om. D.] wrong eyre bere herytage; But she wul seye hyt, [wyle O, þou wylt seyn it D.] y dar wel telle Þat she þarfore may [þou mayst þerfore D.] go to helle; Line 2028 For she ys cursed, yn stedys sere, [þei arn a-cursyd also in fere D. D puts lines 2031-2 before 2029-30.] Fourë tymës yn þe ȝere. And swyche an eyre, y vndyrstande, Shal neuer wel reioshe [schal he neuere ioyȝe in D.] hys lande. Line 2032

Many synnës to hordam longe; Sum byþ lyȝt, and sum beþ [many be l. & many arn D.] stronge, Þat beþ aȝens ryȝt [þei arn a-ȝens trewe D.] spousale, Þat y nel rekene, ne telle of [I can not . . . be D.] tale, Line 2036 But opunly þat seyd may [þat opynly seyd fel to be D.] be; For many longe [longen D.] to pryuyte. For pryuytees, [preuytes O.] ȝyf y hem named [l. 2039, 2040, om. D.] Lyȝt[e]ly myȝt y be blamed. [l. 2039, 2040, om. D.] Line 2040 But þogh a [þowh sum (om. but) D.] man sey neuer so weyl Vnto hys sawys men fyden [fyndyn O.] teyl. [summe contrarye it euerydel O.] [scorne]

Þat weddyd beþ, [þo þat weddid ben D.] God ȝyue hem myȝt, here wedlak to holdë weyl and ryȝt, Line 2044 And ȝyue hem grace, hordam to fle, Þat yn clenesse wuld leue [lyuyn D (at foot 'Amen. quod. con. Rose:').] and be.

[The Seventh Commandment. [Non Furtum Facies. Septimum Mandatum. D.] ]

The seuenþe shul we nat forhele 'No mannys [mans O, mannys good D.] godë shalt þou stele,' For þys ys one of ten; [þe ten D.] Þarefore y pray [preyȝe D.] allë men Þat þey kepe hem fro þys [kepyn . . þat D.] synne,

For þere ys moche veniauuce þerynne; [ynne O.] yn þys worldë, [wrlde O.] shamely dede; [deþ] Line 2053 And seþyn, helle; for god hyt forbed. [lines 2053-4, om. D.] God forbedyþ men [man D.] to stele [folio 14b] Any maner of worldës [wrldys OD.] wele. Line 2056 "Þou man, beþenke þe wel before [be-forn D.] how þou mayst þerfore be lore, [for þou . . . for lorn D.] And what þou shalt haue [qwat . . . han D.] þarefore, yn þys world, and elyswhore." Line 2060 But manyone wyl neuer beware Tyl sum myschaunce make hem aȝenchare; [myshap bringiþ hym in car D.] Slayn, [takyn & slayn D.] or, yn prysun [prysone O, presoun D.] be, Or hanged, þat al þe worlde may se. Line 2064 So shul men þe body shende; And ȝyt to peyne þe soule shal [þi soule to peyne D.] wende. wuldë men se what myschaunce Cumþ for þeft, [þyfte O, comyth for þefte & ȝit D.] and what penaunce, Line 2068 Þeftë [þyfte O.] shulde nat be so lefe; A foule poynt [poynt O.] ys, be clepyd a þefe. [name it is to be callyd þef D.]

Ouþer poyntes of wykkednes Mow be soffred, sum more, sum les; Line 2072 But þefte [þyfte O.] serueþ of wykkede note, [seruyse] hyt hangeþ hys [þe D.] mayster by þe þrote, Or doþe hym lese hys godë fame, [good name D.] Or bryngeþ hym oute [ellyswher O, ellis qwere D.] of þe towne forshame. 'Þefte shal neuere more be hyd, Line 2077 For, here or elyswhore, [O. hyt out . . wyþ OD, (D om. hym, hyt, þe).] hyt shal be kyd;' Þus seyþ þe prophete þat men on leuys, And [þat D (om. 2nd to).] spekeþ to fals men and to þeuys. Þe synne ys nat forȝyuen [is not forȝoue D.] þe man Line 2081 But he restore þat he haue [haþ O, b. þou r. þat þou hast D.] tan; For ȝyf þou make any man [ȝyf þou ony good D.] falsly tyne, [lese]

As for þeft, [þefte OD.] þou shalt haue pyne; Line 2084 And mochë more, for swyche [mechil m. for sum D.] falsnes, Þan for any ouþer falsnes þat es. [for sum þat falsnesse isse D.] [A tale]

[¶ A tale in margin HO.] A gode ensample þes clerkys wote [woot O, þat cl. wot D.] Of a tale þat an abbot wrote, [wroot O, þat in a bok he wrot D.] Line 2088 Þat þeuys shulde [schuldyn D.] before hem loke Ar [or D.] þey ouþer mennys þyng toke;— yn 'vytas patrum' hyt ys wryte; [wrete O, wreten D.] hyt ys a boke þat [þat þys cl. O, þat cl. weten D.] clerkys wete, Line 2092 And [And a OD.] ful fayre techyng ys þer-ynne [lernyng þerin D.] [folio 14b:2] For to leue of þeft [þyfte O, to letyn of þefte þat s. D.] þe synne.

[The Tale of Zenon, the would-be Thief: how he reformd himself.] [[Vitas Patrum, ed. Roseweyd, p. 569.—G. Paris.]]

Þys yche abbot, Ȝenon he [It was an ab. þat ȝenan D.] hyght, And wel [weyl O.] he was with god almyght; Vppon a day [tyme D.] he went hys wey Line 2097 To Palestyne, þat ys an [ys an, om. D.] abbey, To make hys vysytacyun As falleþ yn [it falliþ in his D.] relygyun; Line 2100 And as he went by [wente be O.] þe strete he behelde a fruyt ryȝt feyre and [frut þat was ful D (om. he).] swete; Þys yche fruyt he desyred [ilke frut he coueytid D.] faste, And hys herte moche þarto [þar to moche O, þerto mechil (om. And) D.] he caste, 'Gourdys' [Gourdus O, turcus . . . calle D.] þus men clepe þe name; Line 2105 Þys gode man þoght, "y am to blame Ȝyf y take ouþer mennys þyng wyþ-outë leue of any [my D.] askyng. Line 2108 For soþe, he seyde, þan were y a þefe [þef OD (om. he seyde D).]

And þefte ne ys gode, ne gode [gode O, no H, þ. to god is not lefe D.] man lefe; [lef O.] And ȝyf y stele, y am a felun; hanged y shal be, þurgh [hangen schal I be D.] ryȝt resun. Line 2112 Fyrst y wylle wyte [wete O, wete þe certeyn D.] þe soþe certeyne. Ȝyf y may suffre þat yche [ilke D.] peyne Þat þefys [þeuys OD.] suffre for þeft [þefte O, þeftis D.] sake, Ar y wyl [wyle O, or I wil ony D.] oght of þe fruyt take; Line 2116 And ȝyf y may nat suffre þat wo, To þeftë wyl [þan wil D.] y neuer go."

Ryght as he þoght, he dede eche dele, he ȝede and clambe [þer he clomb D.] vpp on a pele, [peyl O, pel D.] [perche] Line 2120 And hyng [hynge O, heng D.] þeron by þe hond, [handys D.] — Nat by þe nekke, y vndyrstonde [not be . . . we vnderstandis D.] — For hyt ys nat oueral þe lawe For to do so, men to [men so to O, don men so of D.] dawe. Line 2124 Fyuë days he hyng [hynge O, hong D.] þere stylle Aȝens þe sunnë by [þat synne be D.] hys wylle; And hyt was [& was D.] yn þe somerys tyde, whan þe hete ys al yn [qwan hete is in al his D.] pryde. Line 2128 Þan seyd [spak D.] he, to hymself þore, "Þys peynë wyl [wyle O, of þ. fr. wil D.] y suffre no more: Þefte, he seyde, y here [here I D.] forsake; [folio 15a] Þys fruyt, wyl [wyle O.] y nat take. Line 2132 Syn [Siþþin (om. for) D.] y may nat suffre for grefe Þe peyne þat befalleþ to [falliþ for D.] a þefe."

Þys ensample were gode to kone, [example is good to knowe D.] Alle hem þat to þefte hem wone; [þat to þefte wil hym drawe D.] Line 2136 Þo þat haue here handys as lyme, [han hool handis & lym D.] To hem were gode to here þys ryme;

Þan myght þey wytë [wete OD.] redly what [redily; qwat D.] shamë þat þey were wurþy, Line 2140 And swych grace myȝt god [god myȝt D.] hem sende Þat þey, þurgh þys myȝt [myȝte þorwh þis D.] hem amende.

A [O om. A.] þefë to hys þefte haþ [in to þ. hath alwey D.] rape, For he weneþ euer-more for [more HO, om. D; for HD, om. O.] to skape; yn þat hope he doþe hys euyl, Line 2145 And al ys [is þe OD.] entycement of þe deuyl. Þarefore beþenke þe wel [weyl, man O, man wel D (om. þarfore).] with-ynne Þat þefte ys cumbrement [encumbrement D.] of synne. Line 2148

Ȝyf a man make a chylde oght [owht a child to D.] stele, Swyche styl [stylle O, stille D.] þefte shal he nat hele; A þefte hyt ys, ȝyf þou do so, To tyse [tyce O, teche D.] a chylde swyche synne to do.

Or ȝyf þou euer stale a [þou stele ony D.] chylde aweye, yn swychë þefte ys grete affraye. [it is gret fray D.] yn þys twey þynges and yn þys [Of þese to þingis & of swych D.] fame Are wymmen mochë for [arn many women meche D.] to blame. Line 2156 For þey haue [han D.] cumlyngys yn and oute; Of swyche shuld men haue [han D.] gretë [gret OD.] doute. Þey shul neuer weyte but wo, Swychë cumlyngys, to ne [sueche . . and D.] fro, Line 2160 Þey are wurþy to be shent yn þys yche [ilke D.] comaundëment.

Ȝyf þou brake euer any kyrke [O. gloss. 'cherche,' werk D.] On day, or yn [on O.] nyȝt, yn myrke, [day or nyȝt in þe merke D.] [derke] Line 2164 Þou art a-cursed, þou wostë [wost OD.] weyl, And hange were wurþy [& wurþi to hangen vp D.] on a peyl.

And ȝyf þou bere [beryst O, bere D (om. ȝyf).] awey þe þyng, Þe more þou fallest yn cursyng. Line 2168

Ȝyf þou haue be a þefe of pray [folio 15a:2] To robbë men be [vsyd to robbe men D.] nyȝt or be [OD om. be.] day, Gretly þou dost aȝens þe lawe, Þou oghtyst to do swyche men a [o O, of D.] dawe.

Or ȝyf þou swyche foly began [began OD.] Line 2173 To rauyshë any [to rauaschyn euere ony D.] womman, Þat ys to seye, any [seyne ony D.] wedded wyfe, Þe more ys þy synne & [in D.] perel of lyfe. Line 2176

Ȝyf þou rauyssh any [a O, rauasehedyst ony mayde D.] mayden clene— Aȝens here wyl, þat [it D.] ys to mene,— hyt ys seyde þurgh lawë wrete, Þat þyn hede shulde be of smete [wretyn . . his hed . . smeten D.] Line 2180 (Lawe makeþ þat commandëment) with-outyn any iuggëment; Þat mayst þou fyndë al an [and O.] sum In code 'de raptu virginum.' Line 2184

Ȝyf þou rauysshe a mayden powre, [rauaschyst . . pure D.] Þou art holdyn [holde O, be holde hir to recure O.] to here socoure; And, þat shal be [þat schal be don D.] at here wylle, For, as she wyl, [wyle O, & al þat sche wile D.] þou shalt fulfylle; Line 2188 For þou hast do here [here a O, don hire a D.] tresun, Þou hast stole here [& stolyn hir chef D.] warysun; hyt may þe brynge to more cumbryng Þan þoght [þogh O.] þou haddest stole moche [þan þou had stole meche D.] ouþer þyng. To comun lechours, y þys [þis I D.] seye, Many with-outë shryfte shul deye.

Ȝyf þou be a [a gret D.] lordyng, And outraiusly [þat outrageusly D.] takyst mennys þyng Line 2196 yn tyme of werre or tyme of pes, Þou stelyst hyt, with-outë les,—

But þurgh ryȝt or þurgh cunnaunte, [ryȝt of comenaunt D.] — Þou art a þefe ȝyf þou hyt haunte. Line 2200

And ȝyf [ȝif þou be D.] a lorde of a tounne Robbe hys men oute of [& þi men robbe with-out D.] resoune, Þogh hyt be yn [al be it in his D.] bondage, Aȝens ryȝt [þe ryȝt D.] he doþe outrage. Line 2204 he shal so take, þat he may lyue, [leue O, schuld . . oþere myȝt D.] And as lawe of londe wyl [wyle O, wil ȝeue D.] forȝyue; For ȝyf [& ȝif D.] he take ouer mesure, [folio 15b] lytyl tymë shal hyt dure. [endure D.] Line 2208 Þogh [ȝif D.] god haue ȝeue [ȝeue O, ȝouyn D.] hym þe seynorye, [lordshyp] he ȝaf hym no leue to do [make (om. hym) D.] robborye; For god haþ ordeyned al mennys [alle mens O, for he . . . euery mannys D.] state, how to lyue, [leue O, schuld . . oþere myȝt D.] and yn what gate; [O. gloss 'maner.' How he schal lyuyn & on qwat g. D.] Line 2212 And þoȝt he ȝyue [þogh he ȝeue O, ȝif he ȝeue a man meche m. D.] one ouer oþer myȝt, he wyl, [wyle O.] þat he do hym [he do no man (om. þat) D.] but ryȝt. Þys ys þe ryȝt of goddys lokyng, "Ȝelde euery man hys ownë [owyn D.] þyng." Line 2216 But god takeþ euermore [mechil D.] veniaunce Of lordys, for swych myschaunce, For swych robbery þat [as D.] þey make Þat [þat þey O.] oftë of þe poure [pore O, of þe pore with wrong ofte þei t. D.] men take. Line 2220 y shal ȝou telle a. lytyl wyght how hyt befel onys of [be fil of suyche D.] a knyȝt. [A tale.] [narracio D.]

[The Tale of the Knight who robd a Poor Man.]

Sum tymë was, hyt were twey [it was þer were to D.] knyȝtys Þat loued weyl at [louedyn to-gedere with al D.] herë myȝtys; Line 2224 A sykenes [syknes O, syknesse on þat oon D.] on þe toon gan falle,

he deydë [& deyȝed D.] sone, as we shul alle. Þe touþer knyȝt seyd ofte, alas, For [þat oþer . . þat D.] hys felawe so sone dede was. Line 2228 Fyl hyt [it fel . . lyuende D.] so, þys lyuyng knyȝt, yn hys bed he lay [lay on D.] a nyght, And was yn swyche a-wakyng Þat he myȝt [myghte O, myȝt not D (om. þat).] slepë for no þyng; Line 2232 Þe mone shone yn hys [hys OD, om. H.] chaumbre flore; Þe knyȝt lay, and lokyd furþe. [foor D.] At a [þe D.] wyndowe come yn a beme, And yn þe shynyng he saghe a gleme Ryght lyche þat knyȝt euery [eury O.] deyl Line 2237 Þat sum tyme he loued ful [was he louede so D.] weyl. Þys knyȝt þoght 'hyt ys [þe k. hym þouȝt it was D.] fantome Þat y se þus yn þe monë [yn þe mone þus O, he saw in þe mone lyȝt D.] come.' Line 2240 He was a-frayd [a ferd D.] with-outë fayle, And, þat was no grete merueyle. But þe knyȝt þat was dede Cumfortyd hym sone, & seyde hys rede, "Be nat adred, [a ferd D.] for hyt am y [folio 15b:2] Line 2245 Þat þou louedyst [þe louede D.] so specyaly. Y was þy felaw, þy trewe frere, For help y come to þe now here: Line 2248 Þogh y be dede, þou darst [darst þou O, ȝif þou be ded, þar þe not D.] nat drede, Of helpe had y neuer er nede. At nedë shul men proue [preue O, preuyn D.] here frendys, And frendes loue oþer whyle wel [weyl O, sumtyme wel D.] endys. help me now, y am yn wo, Line 2253 Þat y may come þe sonner [þe sunner come O, come þe sonere D.] þerfro."

Þe [þis D.] knyȝt, þat lay yn hys bed, wax bolder, and lasse [wex boldere & was not D.] a-dred, Line 2256 And seyd "felaw, for charyte, what ys þy wo? shewe hyt [qwat is þi wo, þou telle it D.] me." Þan spake to hym þe dedë knyȝt, Line 2259 "Þoght [Þogh O, ȝif D.] y had space a day & a [O om. 'a.'] nyȝt, Alle þe penaunce ne coude y telle, Þat y suffre yn a welle. A peyne y suffre hard [harde, om. D.] for þe nones, For a cloþe þat y refte [stal D.] ones Line 2264 Of a poure [pore OD.] man with-outë ryȝt; Alas þat euer y say [sagh O, hadde D.] þat syȝt; Þat cloþe ys caste on me to peyne As heuy as any mounteyne; Line 2268 Hyl ne mounteyne, erþe ne stone, Vndyr heuene so heuy ys none; No so hote fyre [fere O, fyr D.] ys yn no land [is now in londe D.] As hyt ys aboute me brennand. [aboue me brennande D.] Line 2272 Þarfore, felaw, y pray [preyȝe to D.] þe, Þat þou haue on me [on me þou haue D.] pyte, And, to pore men do noun [do þou non D.] ylle, Ne aȝens holy chyrches wylle; Line 2276 But al þe gode þat þou mayst, [alwey good þat þou D.] werche To porë men and [do and O, boþe to p. m. & D.] to holy chyrche. Me were leuere deye an hundyr syþe [to deyȝe an hundred syþe D.] Line 2279 Þan suffre þys peyne þat noght may [þat may not D.] lyþe." Þan seyde þe knyȝt, & wepe [þis kn. & wepyd D.] ful sore, "My swete felaw, telle me ȝyt [now telle me D.] more, Ȝyf any þyng be so [ony þing were ful D.] certeyne [folio 16a] Þat may delyuer þe [myȝtte delyuere þe out D.] of peyne." Line 2284

Line 2284 Þan seyd þe knyȝt, "y myȝt [myghte O, myȝt D.] be clere Þurgh þe sacrament of þe autere." Þe knyȝt nemnede prestes [Harl. 'p'test,' om. OD.] manyone; Þan stode þe dedë, stylle as [stille as a D.] stone, Line 2288 "wylt þou þan [þat O, þat þei for D.] any of þese for þe syng, [syngge O.] Þe of peynë [out of peynys D.] for to brynge?" [bryngge O.] Þe dede meuede hys hede [hys hede meuede O.] to & fro, For he was payd of noun [plecyd with non D.] of þo. Line 2292 wete ȝe forsoþe, boþe [boþe, om. D.] man and wyfe, Þey were nat of [alle of D.] clenë lyfe; Of hem þe dede ȝaf noun answere, he made no fors of here preyere. Line 2296

Neþeles, [Noþeles O, not for þan þe self D.] þe seluyn messe ys noþer þe wursë, ne þe [neuere þe wers no of pris D.] lesse; Þe sunne, hys feyrnes neuer he [ne.] tynes, [O. gloss 'lesyþ.'] Þogh hyt on þe muk hepe [mukhyl D.] shynes, But þe muk ys þe more stynkyngge [mukhil . . stynkend D.] Line 2301 Þere þe sunne ys more shynyngge. [hoot schynyng D.] Ne [No O, no more is lorn D.] more hyt ys lore, þe vertu Of þe messe, but [to D.] mannys pru. Line 2304 Þogh [If D.] þe prest be fals or frow, Þe messe, ys euer gode ynow; [a now D.] But þe preyere haþ [preyeris of hym han D.] no myȝt, For hys lyfe ys nat clene dyȝt. Line 2308

Þe knyȝt nemnede one at þe laste, A gode man, and a ryȝt [ryȝt, om. D.] stedefaste: "wylt þou þat he preye for þe?" Þo seyde þe dede "wel were þan me [þou seyde . . were me D.] Line 2312 ȝyf he wuldë for me syngge, he myȝt me of [out of D.] peynës bryngge."

Þe knyȝt seyd [he seyde D.] truly, "truste to me, Þat samë prest shal prey [preye O, ilke p. s. preyȝe D.] for þe; Line 2316 And þat þy peyne mow [myȝt . . lesse (om. And) D.] be þe lasse, Euery day shal he for þe [for þe shal he O, certeyn dayȝis schal he for þe s. masse D.] synge a masse." "May y þan trust to þy [trusten þan to þe D.] sawe Þat þou be now my [þou wilt be to me (om. þat) D.] trew felawe?" Line 2320

"ȝe, as y am a trew knyȝt, [folio 16a:2] hyt shal be do, at [don with al D.] my myȝt." "A tokene betwyxe [be-twen D.] þe and me," [me and þe O.] Þan seyd þe dedë, [þe dede seyde þat D.] "shal þys be?" Line 2324 he toke and grepe [grypyd D.] þe knyȝtys arme, But he felt þer-of none harme; Also he touched hys bare þe; [so he touched þe bare skyn D.] Þe bare bone myȝt men euer after se; [myȝt be sen D.] But sorë [sor O, and for D.] þerof felt [felte O D.] he noght, Line 2329 But for þe felyng, more on hym [on hym more (om. but) D.] he þoght. Þat mark saw alle men comunly, [þe tokene saw many on þerby D.] But no man wyst [wyste O, non wyste r. qwy D.] redely why. Line 2332 Þe dedë seyd "þou shalt leue [not lyuyn D.] here No lenger but [þan D.] þys two ȝere." he tolde what day þat he shuld deye, [t. he schulde deyȝe & qwat day D.] And seþyn he went forþe [ȝede furþ O, þe dede knyȝt þo ȝede D.] hys weye. Line 2336

Þe knyȝt amended seþyn [seþen amendede O, siþþe amendyd D.] hym weyl, And to þe dede was as trew [trewe (om. as) D.] as steyl; For he dede [(om. For) he dede for hym D.] as he hym hette, Þe prest for hym song þat he hem hette. [hym to synge he let D.] Þys aperyng, [schewyng D.] yn my [myne O, myn D.] auys, Line 2341 Auayled [It a-vayled D.] to boþe partys.

Seþyn [Syn O, siþþe . . a palmerys D.] toke þe knyȝt palmers wede, And yn [yn om. D.] to þe holy londe he ȝede; Line 2344 Ihesu cryst [crystys O, cristis D.] sepulcre he soght, For þe synnys [synne hadde D.] þat he had wroght; And, at þe [at þe, OD, at H.] two ȝerës ȝende, God almyghty for hym gan sende; Line 2348 For þat day þat [þe same day D.] þe dede knyȝt seyde, Þe touþer knyghte þat same day [for soþe þat oþer knyȝt D.] deyde. Blessyd be god, of [grace be god D.] heuene kyng, Þat sent hym þat yche [to hym þat D.] tokenyng. Line 2352

Now may ȝe se, by þys tale, Þat þeftë breweþ mochë [mechil D.] bale. Certys þefte ryȝt [ful D.] wykked ys whan [qwan D.] þe dede bereþ wytnes, Line 2356 Namly, pore men for [a namely pore men D.] to pele Or [And O (om. D), robben & beten w. o. skele D.] robbe or bete with-outë skyle. Þeftë wyl hys mayster shende, [folio 16b] And hym fordo [& for don D.] wyþ-outyn ende. Line 2360

Ȝyf þou be a serïaunt, [were euere ony seruaunt D.] And takë [toke . . . comnaunt D.] more þan þy cunnaunt, Custummablychë, mete or drynk [drynge O, & drynk D.] — Þoht for noght hyt be þe þyng [it is al for nouȝt as þe þinkith D.] — Line 2364 y redë þat [rede sum tyme D.] þou þer-of lete, For many smale makeþ a grete. holy chyrche callyþ hyt þefte, wyþ-outë skylle, for hyt [skyl al þat þat D.] ys refte. Line 2368

Ȝyf þou euer reysyddyst [receydist ony fals D.] custome, Þou mayst be sykyr of hard [myȝt . . ryȝt hard D.] dome. But ȝyf þat þou mayst hyt [ȝif þou may for don it & D.] felle, hyt ys robbery, gostly to telle. [g. þou gost to helle D.] Line 2372

Line 2372 Ȝyf hyt so betyde þat hyt lasteþ [laste O, so be it l. D.] ay, Þy medë [song D.] shal be welaway. Ȝyf þou amende hyt nat yn þy lyue, what [qwat D.] prest may þe þer-of shryue? Line 2376 Now telle we forþe, þat ȝe [we D.] may lere, how þeftë comþ [comyþ OD, & on qwat m. D.] yn queynt manere:—

Ȝyf þou [þat þou D.] euer þy werke withdrowe, Or dedyst hyt nat weyl to [dede it not wel to þe ful D.] prowe, Line 2380 Tyde or tyme þat þou shuldest [shust O, qwhan þou schal D.] werche, 'Þou art a þefe,' seyþ holy cherche. Ȝyf þou do custummablyche swych [þys OD.] lak, To begyle [falsyn D.] þy mayster be-hynde hys bak, Þou mayst nat excuse þe with rous, [proud wordys] [must not defende þe with ros D.] Line 2385 And sey, 'al þe worlde so dous.' [þowh al þe wyde word so gos D.] Þe worldë may nat sauë [word may not sauyn D.] þe: Shryue [amende . . word D.] þy defaute, and late þe world be.

Ȝyf þe be leyde a borde [þou ley ony hurd D.] to wedde, Line 2389 Or a cloþe to bak or bedde, Ȝyf þou hyt vse aȝens hys [her D.] wylle, holy cherche seyþ þat þou dost [doust O, þou dost (om. þat) D.] ylle, [yl O, wil . . . il D.] And warneþ þe þerof ȝyt efte, Line 2393 Þat hyt ys boþe okyr [gowl D.] and þefte. Okur [goul D.] hyt ys, for þe outrage To take þy catel, and haue [haue, om. D.] auauntage; And for þefte, he may þe greue [folio 16b:2] Line 2397 To vse hys þyng aȝens hys leue; And ȝyf hyt be so þat þus ys [be sueche forth D.] gone, Charyte ne cristyndome [trewe charyte D.] ys þer none. Line 2400 Þyn euencristyn þou owyst to lene, [releue or relene D.] Ȝyf þou mayst spare hyt, [hyt, om. D.] þat y mene.

Also, [As D.] ȝyf a þyng be þe lent

And þou wyþ-outë hys asent Line 2404 lene furþer þat þyng [put þat þing often D.] to were, For þefte to hym [to hym O, þer of D, om. H.] þou shalt answere. Þou wost weyl, þou dost [doust O, þou dost (om. þat) D.] nat ryȝt; Þat a-noþer hyt useþ, hyt ys þy plyȝt. [to a-peyre his good forsoþe I plyȝt. D.] Line 2408

Ȝyf þou haue a þyng yn ferme To a certeyn day of terme, And ȝyf þou ouer þat terme day Trauelyst hyt [Traueylyst hyt O, trauaylyst it D; hyt om. H.] aȝens hys pay, Line 2412 Þou hast synned yn a spece, [I telle þe D.] yn þeftë þou art come a grece. [In a spyce of þefte in þat degre D.]

Now wyl y speke of okerers, [gouleris D.] Þat þefys ben [beyn O, arn on þe same D.] yn sum maners. Line 2416 To whom þat vsery [he þat to gowle D.] ys lefe, Gost[e]ly, [gostly to telle D.] he ys a þefe.

Ȝyf þou of any okerere [ony gowlere D.] wyþ wrong hys þyng awey dest [a-wey his good D.] bere, Line 2420 Þoghe [ȝif D.] he be no cristyn man, Þefte vnto [to D.] þy self þou wan; Þou ne owyst nat of hys [þou owyst not of hym D.] to haue with wrong, ȝyf þou þy self wylt [wylt om. D.] saue.

Also, ȝyf þou haue founde a þyng, Line 2425 And makyst þerfore [þer of D.] none askyng At cherche ne at þe market an hy, [hij O, þe cherche ne market by D.] But forhelest [kepist D.] hyt pryuyly Line 2428 So þat þe þyng with þe dwelle, hyt ys þefte, þys clerkys telle.

Ȝyf þou withdrawest [wyþdraghst O, with-drawe H.] a mannys [mans.] ryȝt Styllyche, þat hyt be nat yn [þat he haue þer-of no D.] syght, Line 2432 Þogh [alþowh D.] a man parseyue hyt noght,

Þou stelyst hyt, and þefte [& as a þef D.] hast wroght.

Ȝyf þou wyþholdest [withdrawe D.] a mannys seruyse [folio 17a] For euyl herte or fals [for D.] queyntyse, Line 2436 Or withdrawest [wyþdrahst O, with-drawyst ony mannys D.] any manere pay, And ledyst hym furþe [& taryest hym D.] fro day to day, But ȝyf hyt be [Harl. omits 'be'; be O, be be D.] with grete resun, Of þeftë þou art [art þe O, art þou D.] enchesun. Line 2440 For þe gospel commaundeþ ryȝt 'holde nat [withholde non D.] hys seruyse ouer nyght;' whan þe man haþ do [qwan a m. h. don D.] hys dede, God wol [wyle O, wil D.] þat he haue hys mede. Line 2444

what sey [qwat seyn (om. þes) D.] men of þes fals husbandys Þat ere aweye falsly [falsly ere awey O, falsly eryn a-wey oþer D.] mennys landys; Of a land, þurgh and þurgh, Takyn and eryn awey a furgh? [takiþ welny a wey a forw D.] Line 2448 Þat ys boþe thefte and [ȝit it is a þefte & a D.] robberye, And hyt ful derë shal he a-bye. [he O, om. H., & ful dere he schal it a-bey D.] Of swychë, fewe men [fo men god D.] hem amende, For þey beyn [þo men arn D.] þe deuylys frende. Line 2452

Tauuarsyns [gannokerys D.] and vserers, Þys are, Lucyfer, þy [arn lucyferys D.] peres; For þey are alle [þei arn D.] þe deuyl betaght Þat okeryn falsly þe worldes aght. [gode [þat is for goule & for wordis auȝt D.] ] Line 2456 Okyr ys also, [goul it is D.] ȝyf þou hyt haunte, To lenë þyng to [vp D.] certeyn cunnaunt; Also, to bye [a noþer to beyȝe D.] a þyng byfore, halfe vn-to þe [þe OD, om. Harl.] sellers [soweris D.] lore; Line 2460 For ȝyf þe byer may weyl [ȝif þe beyȝere myȝt wel D] lene Þat þyng [þynge O.] with-outë losse or [trey & D.] tene,

he ys holde to helpe [þou art bounden to helpyn D.] hym with-alle, Or holy cherche seyþ, þat he hyt stalle. [seith þou it stal D.]

Okeryng ys on many [goulyng haþ a noþer D.] manere, Line 2465 Mo þan y kan telle now here. But wete ȝe weyl, swyche gode shal go As hyt come, with sorowe and wo; Line 2468 For some haue [summe han (om. For) D.] so grete cumbrement Þat þey may make no testament; For holy cherche neuer vndyrstode To haue of okerer[ë]s gode. [han ony of goulerys good D.] Line 2472

[The Tale of Seint Forsyne's Visit to Hell.] [[Acta Sanctorum, Jan. iii. 404.—G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 196.]]

[folio 17a:2] A tale ys tolde of Seynt Forsyne, [A tale] wharefor he suffryd onys [qwerfore . . meche D.] pyne. Þys samë tale [þat ilke D.] tellyþ seynt Bede yn hys gestys þat men [gestys men it D.] rede. Line 2476 whan [qwan D.] seynt Fursyne had lyued long, Þyr toke hym þan [hym took þanne (om. þyn) D.] an euyl strong; Þat tymë þat he wende [tyme wende he al for D.] to deye, Come one to hym and [þer cam an aungel to hym D.] þus gan seye, "Rys vp, Fursyne, and go with me! Line 2481 Merueyl mochë shalt þou [mechil þou schalt D.] see." wheþer he wulde, or he ne wulde, [qwheþer he wolde or he nolde D.] he toke hym vp, and furþe he shulde; Many stedys he late [lete O, many a place he lete D.] hym se, Line 2485 Merueylys and grete [grete & of D.] pryuyte; he shewed hym þe [hym þe OD, om. Harl.] depnes of helle, And þe peynes þat þeryn dwelle; Line 2488 Seþþe þey toke a weye ryȝt [gate ful D.] euene,

As hym þoght, toward heuene. yn þe fyrmament as þey ȝede, Foure fyres he sawe [ferys hi sagh O, fyrys he saw D.] of gretë [gret OD.] drede; Þes foure fyres [ferys O, fyris wexyn D.] wax hygh & hote, Line 2493 And yn-to one, alle [al O, to on of þo (om. And yn) D.] foure þey smote. wndurful [wunderfully D.] was þan þat fyre, [fere O, fyr D.] And dredful, and also [And also dredful, & O, & so dredful D.] brynnyng shere. Þe aungel þydyrward [to hym ward D.] toke þe weye; Line 2497 Þo [þo om. D.] þoght seynt Fursyne, 'here shal y deye.' Þe aungel ȝede furþ ful boldely, But seynt Fursyne durst nat come ny. Line 2500 Þe aungel say [sagh O, saw D.] he gan abyde, "Come furþe," he seyd, "and þe [þou D.] nat hyde; Of þys fere ne drede [fyr drede D.] þe noght, But þou with wrong euer toke oght; Line 2504 Ȝyf þou haue take any [any om. D.] þyng with wrong, Þou shalt brenne yn þys fyre [brennyn in þis (om. fyre) D.] strong. with mochë [mechil D.] þoght, sorowe, and drede, Fursyne vnto þat fyre [þe fyr D.] ȝede. Line 2508 Þe fyre [fere O, fyr D.] on boþë half hym was, [halue was D.] But furþ he ȝede fast [faste he ȝede furþ O, (forth) D.] on hys pas, yn þat fyre saghe [fere sagh O, fyr saw D.] he lye [folio 17b] Saulys brennyng, [soulys brennende D.] and ruly crye; Line 2512 Þe fendës ȝedë [ȝeden D.] hem among, And fast echone on oþer þrong with brynnyng crokys sorowfuly, [hokys dolefully D.] And pyned hem [sore pyned hem D.] with-oute mercy. Line 2516 None lay by hemself a-lone, But eche [ache O, eche D.] on oþer, with sorowe and wone. [mone D.] Echone [eche D.] to oþer was sorowe and peyne, with-outyn endë for [þis is D.] certeyn. Line 2520 For pynyng, for wepyng, for cryyng, [for-pyned and cryed he seyde D.] alas, Fursyne almoste [ny D.] confunded was.

As he sagh þys sorowe so grym, Come a deuyl rennyng [Cam . . rennende D.] to hym Line 2524 with glesyng yȝen [eȝyn O, grysly eyȝen & hook D.] and croke yn hande, Þe steme stode oute of hys mouþ brennand: [ȝenande O.] he broght on þat brynnyng croke [kroke O, hook D.] A brennyng soule þat al to-shoke. [sore quook D.] Line 2528 Toward Fursyne [þe prist D.] he [he OD, hys Harl.] ran hys cours, And calyd [kalde O, callyd hym feloun of tretours D.] hym 'fals, felun, treytours.' "haue þys soule! þys hast þou slayn! Þou ȝeldyst nat [hym nat O, ȝelde hym now D.] hys gode aȝeyn. Line 2532 he kast þe soule vpp-on þe prest, And brenned hys o [he brent his oo D.] syde, and half hys brest. he went [wende O.] þat tyme haue deydë [wende þ. t. a be left D.] þore, For the soule brennyd [þat saule brende O, þat soule hadde brent D.] hym so sore; Line 2536 he hopyde neuer to haue come þen, [þeþen O, wende . . þenne D.] So had [hadde O, had D.] þe soule broght hym be-neþen. [on brenne D.] But at þe last þan gan he crye, ¹⁷ And seyd, "mayster, me¹⁷ [17_17 mayster D.] helpe now, or y dey!" Line 2540 Þan seyde þe aungel to Fursyne: "y tolde þe langer of þys [er. þis is þi D.] þyne; y sed langer [seyde þe er D.] at þe bygynnyng, Ȝyf þou haddest of oþer mennys þyng Line 2544 Þat þou madest nat of, amendëment, yn þys fyre hyt shulde be brent. loke now, ȝyf þou kanst hyt oght [can it D.] knowe, Þe soule þat þe brenned [brennede O, þat þer brent D.] so lowe." "Ȝe," [folio 17b:2] seyde Fursyne, [þan side þe prist D.] "y knowe hyt wele For whom [qwom D.] y suffre þys peyne eche dele:

Þys he dede, whan [qwan D.] he shuld deye, he ȝaf me a cloþe for hym to preye; Line 2552 For no maystry, ne for noun eyuyl, [non ille D.]

he ȝaf it me; but with [me be D.] hys gode wyl. And now, weyl y hyt [& wel I knowe now & D.] graunte, Þat y helde hym nat [not his (om. þat) D.] cunnaunt; Line 2556 wyllyng, certys, y dyd [dede O, aȝens his wil certis dede he D.] hyt noght, But for rechelesshepe [rentylnesse D.] of þoght." Þe aungel þo toke þe [þat (þo, om. D.)] soule forlore, And dyd [dede OD.] hyt þere hyt was byfore, Line 2560 yn-to þe peyne, þere [þe, þere, om. D.] for to dwelle,— hyt was an okerere, [he was a gowlere D.] y ȝou telle;— Þan touched Fursynys [touched he Fursyns O, þe aungel touchyd hym D.] brest and syde, And þe fyre myȝt no lenger [no lenger myght O, myȝt no lengere (om. And) D.] abyde. Line 2564 Þurghoute þe [þat O, þorw þe fyr he hadde hym D.] fyre he ledde hym euene, And shewed hym of þe blys of heuene: he shewed hym alle [of al D.] þe pryuyte Þere men befalleþ yn flessh to be. [þat men falle . . to se D.] Line 2568 he broght hym þan [brout hym D.] to þe body aȝen For [For, om. D.] to shewe þat hyt was certeyn. Þre days keptë men [dayȝes men keptyn D.] þe body, Alle for dedë comunly. [þanne contynuelly D.] Line 2572 he lyued seþþen many ȝeres, A quyk man, and a feres. [ȝerys . . fers D.] But þe brynnyng alle [be O.] be dene, [O. gloss. 'rewe.'] Euermore aftyrward was hyt [hyt, om. O, it was D.] sene; Line 2576 As long as he here [longe after as he D.] lyued, Þe brynnyng on hys [þe D.] body cleued.

y trowe god shewed þys merueyle, For þou ne shuldest of [ne shust of þy O, þat non schulde D.] trowþë fayle. Line 2580 Seþen leuyd [leuede O, lyuede D.] he so holyly Þat men callyn hym nowe [now O, om. D.] seynt Fursy; He was fyrst [fyrst, om. D.] founder and syre Of þe cherche of Knares [Canyes D.] -myre; Line 2584

Line 2584 And of Norwyche þe modyr cherche he ded hyt fyrst make and werche; And þere he lyþ be-ȝunde þe see, [folio 18a] he ordeyned a mynster [mynstyr O, mynstre D, mynyster H.] for to be; Line 2588 Foure ȝere or [ar O, om. D.] þe cherche were ful set [was endyd D.] was hys soulë to god [heuene O, or h. s. was to heuene sendyd D.] fet.

Okerers men oght to weyue, [gouleris owyn for to whyue D.; O. gloss 'fle.'] Ȝeue hem noght, ne of hem receyue, [ȝif hym nouȝt ne not retyue D.] Line 2592 ȝyf þou wetë what þey are, [OD. transpose these lines. In 2593, D reads 'qwat þei ware.'] — yn no manere of chaffare. [OD. transpose these lines. In 2593, D reads 'qwat þei ware.']

Sum tyme þer was yn [Sumtyme was D.] a cyte, Þat ȝyf an okerer [ȝif ony goulere þerin D.] myȝt founde [founden O.] be, Line 2596 Þey helde hym vyler [hyldyn hym wers D.] þan a Iew, For no man wuldë hys prew; [O. gloss 'profyte,' held hem but on-trew D.] Men clepyde [callyd D.] hys hous yn euery strete 'Þe hous of þe fendës sete.' Line 2600 Fyre, [Fer O, þe fer & D.] watyr, þat he shuld note, [O. gloss 'okepye.'] Þey cursed hyt [hyt, om. D.] euery grote; And euery syde to ouþer, "sere, [men seyde to oþer sone D.] lo, þere þe cursed vsurere!" [qwhere þe cursyd goulere come D.] Line 2604 yn cherchë no man ȝaf [ȝeue D.] hym pes, [O. gloss 'pax.'] For a fend þey [men D.] hym ches. [[6 syllables]] No man was so hardy [[6 syllables]] To bryng hym þyng [bryngyn hym good D.] opunly, Line 2608 Þat he ne shulde vyly [but þat he schulde opynly D.] be shent Of alle þat by þe stretë [stret O, strete D.] went. And whan any vsurere [qwhan a goulere D.] was dede, Þe cherchëȝerde þey hym forbede. Line 2612

Line 2612 Þey wuld nat, for loue ne awe, [O. gloss 'drede.'] Ȝeue hym crystyn mennys [ȝeuyn . . mannys D.] lawe; 'Requiem' ne shulde be note [wyþ note O, r. schulde noon D.] be sunge Ne seyd for hym, wyþ mannys tunge. Line 2616 'Lux perpetua,' and he, were wroþe, For [For, om. D.] yn hys lyue he solde hem boþe. A nyȝt, when men hadde here [qwen men holde D.] reste, he okered pens yn hys [goulyd pens he put in (om. He) D.] cheste; Line 2621 And also, vpp [vpp, om. D.] -on þe day lyȝt he gadered gode [pens D.] with alle hys myȝt. Þan semyþ hyt weyl yn oure lay Line 2623 Þat he solde [he selliþ (om. þat) D.] boþe þe nyȝt and þe day; 'Requiem,' (þe reste with outen ende,) [folio 18a:2] Þar-to [to þat D.] shal he neuer wende; Ne 'lux perpetua' [l. p. ne D.] —þe endles lyȝt— Þer-of shal he neuer haue syȝt; Line 2628 where [þer D.] he ys wurþy, þer shal he be; yn hym nas neuer no [founde D.] charyte.

Now of þeft haue we [þan haue I D.] seyd, And þese [þys O, of þese gouleris D.] vsurers made vp-breyde. Line 2632 god ȝeue vs gracë þefte to fle, And al [alle O.] okerers wel [wylle D, alle gouleris, euele mote þei be D.] to amendyd be.

[The Eighth Commandment. [Non loquaris contra proximum falsum testi|monium:· ¶ Octauum mandatum D.] ]

Now of þe eytþë wyl we speke, [Telle we now of þe eyȝttande D.] Þat fals sysours vse moste to breke. [han most in hande D.] 'Þous halt no fals wytnes bere, Line 2637 Þyn euene crystyn for to dere.' [O. gloss 'harme.] who-so with hys mouþe, one, [& how þat w. his mouth D.] seys, And with hys herte þenkeþ [þenkþ O, þinkiþ oþer D.] ouþer weys,—

he ys wurþy to be shent, For a doþ [D'.s order is l. 2644, 2643, 2642, 2641; ho so do D.] aȝens þys comaundment. But many one þat are [But man on erþe D.] þus fykyl Synnyn nat [nat alle, synnyth not only she O.] ylychë mykyl; [O. gloss 'moche.'] Line 2644 Þarfor behoueþ [it behouyth.] be tolde þe skyl [skylle.] As holy men seyn vs tyl. [tyll O, seyn it wel D, O. gloss 'to.']

who-so beleuyþ a wycches [telle a fals D.] sawe, he bereþ wytnes aȝens þe lawe. Line 2648 Swyche wycches [suych wikke D.] are for to weyue, [O. gloss 'fle.'] For many men þey [it D.] wyl dysceyue. [deseyue O.]

Some men [& summe D.] wytnessen a lesyng For nonë ouþer wynnyng Line 2652 But for to begyle sum man þer-ynne; Ȝyf hyt delyte hym, grete ys þat [ȝif þou delyȝt it meche. synne D.] synne.

On ouþer manere synnen [synne O, on oþer halue ȝit summe (om. synnen) D.] sum Þat makeþ lesyng [makyn lesynges O, maken lesyngis D.] þurgh custum Line 2656 To plese [a-peyre D.] þe folk yn rybaudy: Þat y halde no synne [calle no s. but D.] dedly, But þey [But ȝyf þey OD.] haue þeryn delyte; Line 2659 Þan mow þey [mayst þou D.] synne dedely ful tyte. [O. gloss 'sone.']

And sum vsë [vse as O, lyȝen also D.] for curtesye To speke [þat spekyn D.] nobly, and ȝyt wyl lye, Þey synnë [þou synnyst ȝit D.] yn þat feyre spekyng [folio 18b] Ȝyf þey [þou D.] haue delyt yn þat lesyng. Line 2664

And some lye oþer [& summe lyȝen D.] more or lesse, To preyse one bettere þan he es; [preysen . . . isse D.] Swyche lesyng ys nat [lesyng ys nat D, a lesynge is nat ful HO.] grete folye But þey hyt vsë comunly. Line 2668

Line 2668

And somë lye [& summe lyȝen D.] as þey were wode For men shuld [a man shulde O, þat . . ȝeuyn (om. sum) D.] ȝyuë hem sum gode, And seyn þat he [om. Harl., he O.] haþ do so or [seiþ þat he dede O.] so Þat he myȝt neuer come-to to do. [come þerto D.] Line 2672 But þogh no man haue þer-of euyl, Ȝyt hyt ys [ȝyt ys hyt O, ȝit it is a D.] þe tycement of þe deuyl. No lesyng ys with-outë synne, Line 2675 But þat þer ys algate, sum plyght þerynne [plyght ynne O, þowh a man þerfore no þing wynne D.] ; Al aftyr þat þe lesyng ys, [es O (þat, om. D).] Sum ys more, and sum ys les.

But some [sum O, summe m. synnyn D.] men synnë greuusly yn þys comaundment so hy, [hyȝ D.] Line 2680 Þat of grete þyng fals [fals, om. D.] wytnes beryn, And þar to-also [also, om. D.] grete oþys sweryn. [bere . . suere D.] Swyche synnë greueþ now [regnyth now ryȝt D.] mekyl, Line 2683 For many one are boþe [many on is D.] fals and fykyl; Þat oþer [or D.] for loue, or for awe, Wyl men swere falsly [fals D.] a sawe, And bere wytnes [beryn a witnesse.] of swyche a fals To make a man hang [don . . hangen D.] be þe hals. [nek (O. necke)] Line 2688 God haþ sent for swyche veniaunce, But many trusten of long [lange O, on long D.] suffraunce. Men hope so moche [hopyn so meche D.] hys mercy to, Þat some neuer recche what [not rekke qwat D.] þey do. Line 2692 But þe wys man seyþ yn hys lore, [O. gloss 'techyng.'] 'Þat here synne ys moche [he synnyth meche D.] þe more Ȝyf þey [he.] synne custummably yn þe hope of hys mercy.' Line 2696 Y shal ȝou tellë how hyt fore [A tale.] Of a man þat hym forswore.

[Tale of the Rich Forswearer at a Trial in London.]

[narracio D.] Yn Londun toune fyl swyche a chek, A ryche man and pore [a pore O, a pore weryn D.] were at cuntek, [debate] And pleted [motedyn D.] a-boute a lytyl land [folio 18b:2] Line 2701 Tyl a day was take yn [on D.] hand; þat day was so ny[e] [nyghe O, ny D.] dreue þat þe othe was to þe ryche man ȝyue: [dreuyn . . . ȝeuyn D.] wytnes þey allë gan hym bere Line 2705 Þat he ne wuld[ë] falsly [þat þei woldyn for hym D.] swere; For rychë men are holdë [arn holdyn D.] trewe, Þogh here falsnes be [be her falsnesse (om. þogh) D.] neuer so newe. whan [qwan D.] he was charged þe soþe to seye, Line 2709 Þat he ne shulde, for loue ne eye, [say . . ay D.] Ne for lefë, [No for lef O, ne f. lef D.] no for loþe, But trew[ë]ly to [schulde D.] swere hys oþe; Line 2712 A-nouþer þan [but a noþer D.] was yn hys þoght, For [For, om. D.] falshede he wlde haue furþ broȝt; And God toke veniaunce apertly, Þat alle hyt say þat stode [(om. For) alle it seyȝen . . stodyn D.] hym by. Line 2716 For whan he hadde hys oþë swore, And kest [kessid D.] þe boke hem alle before, Vp ne ros he neuer more, But, lay dede befor hem þore. [fil doun ded hem alle be-fore D.] Line 2720 Þan y trowe þat y dar [I dar wel (om. þat) D.] seye Þat he ȝede an euyl weye.

By þys tale, ȝe mowe se alle Þat fals sweryng wyl euyl befalle, [of f. s. w. e. falle D.] Line 2724 Namlyche, on þe halydom [namely vp-on þe holydom D.] whan he ys charged of any [qwan . . ony D.] whom.

Vndyrstand þys weyl yn þy wyt, Þat god seyþ yn þe holy wryt, Line 2728 'Þat fals oþys, ne [& D.] wrong Iugement, Shul neuer morë be vnshent.' Se how veniaunce was hys mede whan [qwan D.] he hadde of God no drede: Line 2732 Almyghty God, [God OD, om. H.] þat ys soþfastnes, [sothfast is D.] hé wulde [wlde haue O, wolde haue takyn D.] take to fals wytnes.

Fals sweryng ys nat ellys to say, But 'forsakyng of god, and alle [alle, om. D.] hys lay.' A man þat swereþ [swerþ O.] fals swerynges, Line 2737 He forsakeþ fyuë þynges: [sueryng . . þing D.] — Þe ioye of heuene he forsakeþ, [forsakþ O.] [[I]] [folio 19a] whan he, wetyng, [qwan he wetende D.] fals oþys makeþ, [makþ O.] Line 2740 And alle hys blessyd cumpanye Þat þey hym neuer helpe ȝyf þat he lye; [þei helpyn hym neuere ȝyf he lyȝe D.] And Ihesu crystys passyun [[II]] þat for hym to þe deþ [to dethe D.] was doun, Line 2744 þat hyt helpe [þat helpith D.] hym neuer at [yn O.] nede, Ȝyf he swere fals, or falsdom [fals doom D.] bede. Þe þryddë, [þredde ys O.] ȝyf he swerë fals, [[III]] hys crystendom he forsakþ als, [O. gloss 'also.'] Line 2748 þat hyt helpe [helpith D.] hym neuer more Ȝyf þat he lyë þore. [lyȝe of þat he haþ swore D.] [[6 syllables]] Þe fourþe [vourþe O, ferþe D (om. ys).] ys, he forsakeþ [forsakþ O, forsakiþ D.] þe preyers [[IV]] þat holy wryt wytnes of beres, [bers O, cherche wytnesse berys D.] Line 2752 þat þey neuer stonde hym by ȝyf he swere hys oþe falsly. Þe fyueþë [fyfþe O, fyfte D.] þyng wyl hym shende, [[V]] For he ȝyfþe hym self wyþ-oute[n] [(om. For) ȝeuyth . . outtyn D.] ende To þe fende þat ys yn helle, Line 2757 Ȝyf þat he lye, or falsly telle.

On þese fyue maners hymself [wyses hym self he D.] deryþ þat on þe bokë falsly sweryþ. Line 2760 For hys loue þat deyde on [hym þat deyde vp-on D.] þe rode, Forswere ȝow neuer for worldys [forsuerith ȝow not for wordis D.] gode. For ȝe wyte weyl, aud haue [ȝe wetyn it wel & han D.] hyt herde, þat trouþe ys more þan alle þe worlde. [word D.]

Ȝyt þer ys [is þer D.] anoþer sweryng Line 2765 where-þurgh comþ oftë grete cumbryng, [cumberynge O, þer þorw comyth gret coum|bryng D.] Þe whyche [þat D.] ys, an oþe oute of mesure, Þat he shulde haue a mysauenture Line 2768 On wyfë, and on chylde, to [wyf & child þat schulde D.] falle, And on hys ouþer godys alle, But he holdë at hys myght hys oþe þat he swereþ to alle [swerþ to al O, oth he sueriþ it is al D.] ryght. Line 2772 Swyche an oþe ys grete doute [it is douȝtte D.] to swere, For chauncë comþ [chaunsis comyn D.] on many manere. Þou settest þy chylde to mychë rewþe But þou holde þyn [þyn O, þin oth with D.] oþe to trewþe. Line 2776

A-nouþer oth comþ ȝyt [ȝit comyth D.] yn place, [folio 19a:2] Þer [þat D.] a man swereþ by fallace. Fallace ys, as who seye, [ho seiþ D.] 'gyle,' As many one sweryn vmwhyle. [O. gloss 'sum tyme;' sum qwyle D.] Line 2780 Ȝyf þou swere to me for oght, And a-nouþer ys yn þy þoght, wenyst þou þan [þan, om. D.] þat þou swerest wel when [when, om. D.] þyn oth to me ys gyle eche del? Nay: for, [& (om. Nay) D.] as y vndyrstande of þe, Line 2785 So shal þy [þyn O, þin oth D.] as othë charged be. Þus techyþ vs seynt Austyne Þat was a clerk of gret dyuyne. [gret D, om. HO.] Line 2788

Y pray ȝow alle, boþe [boþe, om. D.] lefe and loþe,

Þat ȝe charge neuer body [chargyn non D.] with oþe Þat ȝe suppose wyl be forswore; [hopyn . . . forsuorn D.] For, y warne ȝow wel byfore, [þerof I w. ȝ. alle be-forn D.] Line 2792 Þat [& D.] who-so putteþ hym to swere, Grete chargë for hym shal he [he schal D.] bere.

Ȝyf þou madest awhere any [euere ony D.] vowe To wurschyp God for þy prowe,— Line 2796 Ȝyf þou dedyst [dest O, dedist for g. w. D.] hyt with þy gode wylle, with-outë stresse [out distresse D.] or ouþer ylle, Þou art holde to ȝelde hyt [holdyn to ȝeldyn it D.] hym Or þy synne ys grete and grym; Line 2800 wytnes of othë and of hote: [of oþere þat þin hot D.] [vowe [a vow O.] ] Yn heuene, allë þyng [þyngis D.] þey wote.

Noþeles, y sey hardly, [þe hardily D.] Ȝyf þou vowe to do foly, [a vowe . . . folyȝe D.] — Line 2804 As [As O, om. Harl. D.] a man to bete or [beten or to D.] slo, Or to take hys gode hym fro; Or ȝyf þou vowe yn ȝungþe [ȝunþe O, ȝungþe D.] or elde, And þou mayst nat [not may D.] but wykkedly ȝelde,— God wyl nat þou hold yt so Line 2809 þat þou þy vowe yn wykkednes do; God haþ leuer þou þe [þat þou D.] ²⁰wyþdrow Þan do [do, om. D.] euyl dede after foly vow, Line 2812 Bettere ys [ys . . be, om. D.] a foly wrde be²⁰ [20_20 Harl. omit these two lines.] wyþdrawe Þan wyþ euyl dede to fulfyl þat [þi (om. wyþ) D.] sawe. Þurgh [be D.] goddys wurd yn þe gospel, Þys may be preuyd ryȝt wel. Line 2816

[The Bible-story of John the Baptist's Death.] [[Mark vi. 22-28]]

Hyt speketh [spekþ O, þer it spekiþ D.] of seynt Ion [Ioon O, Ioh D.] baptyst, [folio 19b] Þe best chylde borë [best barn D.] vndyr Cryst.

Hyt telleþ þat Eroud [he telliþ þat herodis D.] swore [A tale] To here þat tumbled [sayled D.] yn þe flore, Line 2820 Þat what-aseuer [qwat D.] she wuld aske to mede, he wuld [schulde D.] fulfyl hyt here [here O, hire D, om. H.] yn dede; halfe hys kyngdom, ȝyf she wuld craue, haluyndele [Hauyndele O, halfuendel (om. hyt) D.] she shuld hyt haue. Line 2824 Eueyl he vowed, [þer he a vowed D.] and swore hys oth, Þer-for with hym ys now god wroth. For ouþer mede wuld she haue none, But þe hede of swete seynt Ion; Line 2828 Here modyr bade here askë þys, Þe hede of seynt Ion [Ioon O, Ioh D.] yn a dyssh. Folylyche, certeyn, Eroud [herodis he (om. certeyn) D.] swore, And yn dede weyl [þe D.] werse he fore. [dede] Line 2832 But ȝyf she hade asked Eroudes ye, Troust þou he wuld nat a [trust þerto he schulde haue D.] made a lye? Y trowe he wulde haue be forswore [ha be forsworn D.] Ar he hade hys ye forlore. [or . . yȝe lorn D.] Line 2836 So had hym better, [be better O, were he b. D.] for hys prowe, For to haue broke þat ychë [brokyn hys D.] vowe, And with-oute mede haue late here [a letyn hir D.] go, Þan for hys [þat D.] vowe a man do [do O, to D.] slo. Line 2840

Ȝyt may y preue hyt by [prouyn it be D.] ouþer sawe Þat wryte [wreten D.] ys yn þe oldë lawe; Yn þe gest of syre Ieptë, Yn þe byble men mow hyt se. Line 2844

Line 2844

[þe Gest of Syre Jepte, — or the Tale of Jephthah and his Daughter. [narracio D.] ] [[Judges xv. 30-39.]]

Ieptë went onys to batayle And preyd God [he preyed D.] hys powere shuld nat fayle;— "Graunte me, Lorde, [O. (not D) inserts 'he seyde.'] þe maystry nowe, And y shal make to þe a vowe, Line 2848 þat þe fyrst þyng [þyng O, þing D, Harl. omits.] þat y mete Befor me homward yn þe strete, Þerof shal y make sacryfyse;" For to sle hyt, was þan þe asyse. [to þe god. with good a-vyce D.] Line 2852

whan [qwan D.] he had, þurgh goddys vertu, Of þe batayle prys and pru, Homward as syre Ieptë ȝede [folio 19b:2] he þanked god for [of D.] hys gode dede. Line 2856 hys doghtyr was þe fyrstë [ferste D, fyrst HO.] þyng þat mette hym and made hym [hym, om. D.] welcomyng; She grette here fadyr fayre with mouþe And made hym all [hym all, om. D.] þe ioye þat she couþe. Þan þoght Ieptë on [þouȝtte . . . of D.] hys vow, Line 2861 And hadde yn herte [In herte he made D.] sorow ynow. To hys doghtyr þan seyd he, "Þou art deseyuyd, and y for þe; Line 2864 Y made my [a D.] vow to heuene kyng Þat y shuld sle þe fyrstë [ferste D, fyrst HO.] þyng Þat y mette homwarde fro þe batayle; [h. be the way D.] And my vow y wyl nat fayle." [& myn a-vow me muste holde ay D.] Line 2868 Hys doghtyr answered myldly, [myldely D.] "Fadyr," she seyde, "y am redy For to take my deþe of [for D.] þe; But y am glade þat y þe [ȝow D.] se. Line 2872

Line 2872 But, swetë fadyr, y pray þe [D. puts this line after 2874, and reads, 'Now s. f. I ȝow preyȝe.'] Graunte me two moneþes ar y dye, [or I deyȝe D.] Þat y may wepe [wepyn D.] my virginite with hem þat noryst be [beyn O, weryn norysched D.] with me." Line 2876 Here fadyr graunted weyl þarto, And she forsoþë ded ryȝt so; She weptë nat for any [non D.] outrage, But for of here come [þat of hem cam D.] no lynage; Line 2880 Þat no fruyt of here myȝt spryng, Þare-for she madë here wepyng, And for here fadyr had chylder [childryn D.] no mo Þat furþer myȝt [myȝt ferþere D.] yn kyndë go. Line 2884 But, ryȝt át þe moneþes ende, here fadyr dede nat þerof [as þe D.] hende, Þat he hys ownë doghtyr [þat his owyn child D.] slowe For a foly and a wykked vowe. [foly wikkyd a-vow D.] Line 2888

Seynt Austyne seyþ certeynly Þat he synned ryȝt [ful D.] dedly; For he auowede, and nedyd naght, [noght O, & trust not D.] Line 2891 And ȝyt yn dede wel werse he wroght. Seynt Austyn seyþ so [a D.] redy wey [folio 20a] Þat y to ȝou dar [to ȝow þat dar I. [The Dulwich fragment stops with 1. 2894, and the catchwords at foot, 'ȝoure wikkid vowys.']] weyl seye 'Ȝoure wykked vowys shul ȝe nat fylle, Ne make no vowe to any ylle, Line 2896 But chaungë hem to better prow, And take penaunce for foly vowe.'

God shelde vs alle wykkedly to swere, And late vs neuer fals wytnes bere, Line 2900 Ne foly vow for to make, lordë, for þy wurschyp [wrshepe O.] sake. [O. adds 'Amen.']

[The Ninth Commandment.]

The nynþe comaundment yn oure tellyng Ys "coueyt nat [noght.] þy neghbours þyng," For to reue hyt hym wykkedly Line 2905 with wrong pleys or ouþer maystry, No with glosyng, no with queyntyse, No wyþ destressë, on noun wyse, Line 2908 No wyþ wykked procurement, To make hym lese hys tenement.

And for hyt haþ þe same assyse Þat longeþ vn-to coueytyse, Line 2912 y wyl now ouer-lepe hyt here, And aftyrwarde ȝe mowe hyt lere whan y speke of þe dedly synne Of coueytyse, hyt ys þer-ynne; Line 2916 For hyt ys one of þe seuene, Among hem y wyl hyt neuene; And of hys spycys telle ȝow neyde, As holy man [men.] haue wryten [wrete.] and seyde. Of þys nynþe wyl y endë now, Line 2921 And of þe tenþë speke [telle.] to ȝow.

[The Tenth Commandment.]

The tenþe comaundment ys, "by þy lyfe Coueytë nat þy neghburs wyfe." Line 2924 And þys ys now a comun synne Þat many onë fallyn ynne, For almost hyt ys euery-whore A gentyl man haþ a wyfe and a hore; [[All future various readings are from O.]]

And wyuës haue [hauen.] now comunly Line 2929 here husbondys and a ludby.

Yn euery place now mow men se [folio 20a:2] Þe wyfe wyl gladly þe mayster be; Line 2932 And ȝyf she onys þe maystry [þe maystry onys.] wynne Alle newë lawys she wyl bygynne; For þan wyl she make hyt alle [þan makyþ she hyt al.] newe, And bygynneþ to be a shrewe; Line 2936 And whan she haþ wune [wnne.] þe maystry Oure syre ys noght but 'veyes moy sy.' [Cp. Ves me ci tot en ta bonté De faire volon|té. Roman de Dolopatos (in Roquefort).] Þan wyl folys fonde and fare [O. gloss 'go.'] To chepë þe wyuys chaffare. Line 2940 And ȝyf þe wyfe lestene here [Harl. omits 'here.'] lore, here wurschyp ys lost for euer more. [Harl. euery more.] Þus wyl bygynnë wykked lyfe To coueyte a-noþer mannys wyfe; Line 2944 For no man ful comunly Besecheþ a wyfë of foly, But þere þe wyfë ys aboute, Þe godë man, for to stoute. Line 2948 Y dar no morë telle for drede Of vnkyndë wyuys hede; Noþeles, y haue grete skylle To sey morë þan y wylle. Line 2952

Ȝyf þou euer, þat þou wystyst, A-nouþer mannys wyfë kystyst, Or ȝaue here ȝyft for þat enchesoun Þat sum synnë myght be doun; Line 2956 Þan as yn þe, þou fallyst yn synne, Ȝyf þou to foly wuldest here wynne.

Ȝyf þou þys foly haunte, [[6 syll.]] Ouþer mennys wyuys for to daunte, Line 2960 yn foly wurdys, or yn foly play, yn vntyme, be nyȝt or day, Þat here herte to þe myght tourne, And late of here husbunde skorne, Line 2964 For soþe þou synnest þer dedly

Þogh þou lygge neuer here by. By foly wurdys mow men a fole kenne; [O. gloss 'knowe.'] Þurgh blast of mouþe þe fyre wyl brenne.

Ȝyf þou euer dedyst þy myght [folio 20b] Line 2969 A womman to tylle with foly syght, As men hauntë now alle day, To hauë glysyng yȝen and gay, Line 2972 A weddyd wyfe y þe forbede, For, þat ys most for to drede.

Also, ȝyf þou dedyst [dest euer.] letter sende To weddyd wyfe, or wrote or kende; Or ȝyf þou [O. inserts 'euer.'] letter bare, Line 2977 And þou were þerof weyl ware, Þogh hyt were ouþer mennys synne Ȝyt art þou partáble þer-ynne. Line 2980

Þys comaundment þat ys þe tenþe, wylle y no lenger drawe or [on.] lengþe; For yn þe syxtë þer y spake, [[p. 58-73]] y touched of þys ychë lake. Line 2984

Now of þys ten wylle we lete, And speke of ouþer synnys grete; [O. adds 'Þat ys to seyë, of þe seuene, How þey forbarre þe blys of heuene.'] God graunte vs gracë so to sey Of trouþe to shewë þe ryȝt weye. Line 2988

Here bygynneþ þe seuene dedly synnes. [O. has 'Here begynne þe s. d. synnys.']

[The Seven Deadly Sins;—and first of Pride.]

Now of þe seuene wyl we telle, þat ben þe dedly doghters of helle. Þe eldyst, men kallë pryde; She was þe fyrst þat walkyd wyde Line 2992 Yn euery land, to euery man,

Þurgh alle þe worlde, ouer alle she ran, And haþ here [haþ O, om. H.] gete many wonynges, Specyally wyþ grete lordynges, Line 2996 And with ouþer many ynowe; For where [þer.] she ys, he wylle nat bowe, She wyl be mayster ouer hem alle; And alle at onys she makeþ hem falle. Line 3000 Þe fadyr of pryde þat fyrst here [here O, hem H.] knew To hellë pyt she down hym threw; And alle þat are of here coueyn, [couyne, glossed 'cumpany.'] Alle she bryngeþ [brynþ.] to hellë peyn. Line 3004 Þarfor y wylle warnë ȝow [folio 20b:2] whare-yn she makeþ ȝow synne, and how, Þat ȝe mowe parceyue vmwhyle Yn what þyng she doþ ȝow gyle. Line 3008

Þys ys þe fyrst þat y fynde Vnbuxumnesse aȝens þy kynde; [fadyr & [[O. or]] modyr,] And he þat ys vnbuxum al Aȝens hys fadyr spiritual, [spyrytual.] Line 3012 And setteþ hym ryȝt at þe leste, And seyþ 'prut for þy cursyng, prest!' Or ȝyf ȝou speke [spekst.] foule wrdys or [and.] rowe, And to þy souereyn wylt þat bowe, Line 3016 Ȝyf þy prout wurdys make hym wroth, Be þou neuer so lefe no loth, Þou synnest þer gretly [gretly þer.] yn pryde, Man or [oþer.] womman, wheþer hyt betyde.

Ȝyf þou, oþer man or wyfe, Line 3021 were preysed for þyn holy lyfe; Or ȝyf þou wuldest men seyde of þe þat þou dedyst grete charyte, Line 3024 And þat þou were boþe meke and chaste, And wuldest speke no wurdës waste; Ȝyf þou wuldest men seyd þys, Þou synnest yn pryde, y sey, ywys. Line 3028

Line 3028 Ouer al [Of alle.] folyys hyt ys þe floure, For þy godenesse to haue wurldys honoure.

Ȝyf þou for prydë art outrage þat þou are [art.] come of hygh lynage, Line 3032 Beþenke þe weyl fro when [whenne.] þou cam; Allë we were of Adam: Ȝyf þou be comë of hygh blode, And þou dost [doust.] more euyl þan gode, Line 3036 Vnwrþyly art þou made gentyl Ȝyf þou yn wurdys and dedys be yl.

Ȝyf þou be prout [proud.] þat þou art wys And for þy cunseyl art holde yn prys, Line 3040 Or yn þyn queyntë wurdys hast pryde, wys yn wrong, euyl shal betyde.

Ȝyf þou be proute [proud.] of þy bewte, [folio 21a] No shoch [swych.] kote to þe shulde be, Line 3044 Þat feyrhede ne shal long with þe wende; Swych pryde endyþ foule at þe last ende.

Ȝyf þou for strenkþë be mysproute, And hast bostful wrdys and loude; Line 3048 Do no-body þarfore despyte ne skaþe Swychë men go to shame ful raþe. [sone]

Ȝyf þou be prout [proud.] of þy rychesse Þogh hyt come neuer wyþ no falsnesse, Hyt may passe þe more lyghtly, Line 3053 And þe sunner, þat þou beryst þe hyy.

Ȝyf þou be prout [proud.] of þy song, Seldë lasteþ þat vertu long; Line 3056 Synger haþ hertë prout [proud.] with-ynne, And tycyþ many on to synne; Ful selde ys synger gode yn thew, But þat yn sum poynt he ys a shrew. Line 3060 yn feyrë wurdys, and yn qeynte, wyþ prydë are swych men ateynte; Flourshed wurdys, and oþerwhyle louely,

Are ful of pryde and trechery. Line 3064 Be a man uncouth or couthe, And he haue laghyng wurdys yn mouþe, y warne þe wel þat oþer whyle, Swych a man ys ful of gyle. Line 3068

Ȝyf þou euer bare þe hyghly yn ouerdo pryde for þy bayly, Bere þe lowe; men se al day, Þy bayly shal nat laste alway; Line 3072 Now þou, and syþen y, [[6 syll.]] So shal go, oure bayly. [[6 syll.]]

Ȝyf þou be prout of þy cunnyng, Þat þou hast lerned mochë þyng, Line 3076 As sum man ys, þat ys scolere, wenyþ þat none ys to hym pere, He wenyþ weyl þat he kan To be mayster, and ouer-man, Line 3080 And when þe endë ys al shewyd, [folio 21a:2] Þan ys he almost al lewyd.

Ȝyf þou delyte þe oftyn stoundes, yn horsys, [horsys O, hors H.] haukys, or yn houndes; Ȝyf þou clerk auaunsed be, Line 3085 Swyche game ys nat graunted to þe. To emperorus [emperours.] and to kyngys ys graunted swych [sweche.] pleyyngys; Line 3088 Erlës, barons, also y graunte, And knyȝtës, þey mow hyt haunte Þat þey ne be tempted of ouþer synne, For ydulnesse þat þey ben [are.] ynne; Line 3092 And ȝyt y rede, þey haunte hyt so, Aȝens god þat þey nat mysdo.

Ȝyf þou art wel wyþ þe kyng, Or with anoþer lordyng, Line 3096 Bere þe nat ouer prout þerfore To þy perys out of skore; For men se hyt yn a þrowe,

To day ys hegh, te morwe [to morne.] ys lowe. Line 3100 And a lorde ful oftë latyþ, Now he louyþ, and now [sone.] he hatyþ.

Ȝyf þou euer vndyrstode Þat þy wyt, or þy gode, Line 3104 Come of þy self, and nat of god, Hyt [þat.] ys grete pryde and falsly troud.

Ȝyf god almyghty haue ȝeue þe Many þewës þat with þe be, Line 3108 werre nat aȝens þe commaundment with þo ȝyftes þat god haþ þe lent; Make nat þy saule so wykked a wem To do wykkednes for pryde of hem. Line 3112

Ȝyf þou þe auaunte of goddys ȝyfte, Or worldly gode, or bodly [bodyly.] þryfte, Or ȝyf þou be se mochë mad Line 3115 To auaunte þe of þat þat þou neuer had, Þys ys pryde and arrogaunce, Vnwrþyly þe to auance. Arrogaunce ys certeynly [folio 21b] Beholdë bettyr þan ys wrþy; Line 3120 To sey a þyng þou shuldest haue do Þat þou neuer myghtyst come þer-to.

A vylë synne men haunte alle now, Of pryde hyt comþ,—lestneþ [lestenyþ.] how,— Þat none can preyse hym self by [be.] name But he wyþ euyl anouþer blame; Þys cumþ of grete enuye Line 3127 And pryde of herte and felonnye.

Ȝyf þou skornedyst euer any man, Or ȝaue cunseyl þat scorne began, hyt ys a pryde, and wykked þyng,

At crystyn man to make scornyng; Line 3132 Þus seyþ þe holy prophete Dauyþ, And Neomas a prophete hym wyþ, þat scorners, at þe hegh Iugement, Of goddys mouþ þey shul be shent.

Ȝyf þou for prydë haue delyte Line 3137 For to be holde an ypocryte, To be preysed wel for þy gode dede, And þat holylech þou canst þe lede, Line 3140 Or to be preysed þat þou hast wroght Þyng þat þou dedyst nowȝt, wetë þou, [þou weyl.] syre ypocryte, Of þe mede of god þan art þou quyte; þat ychë preysyng ys þy mede Line 3145 þat þou receyuest for þy gode dede. Ful fellychë God to hem flytes, [chydeþ] To þes fals[ë] ypocrytes; Line 3148 And seyþ, "at þe ende shul men se Þat ȝe begyle ȝou self, and nat me."

And herë y shal telle as tyte Of a cursed ypocryte. Line 3152

[The Tale of the Hypocritical Monk of the Abbey Tangabaton.] [[Bk. IV, ch. xi, of St. Gregory's Dialogues: the place is Iconium, the monastery των Γαλατων, ton Galaton, then Tongalaton, Tangabaton. The story is in the Libro de los Exemplos (no. 395), but the abbey is not named.—G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 197.]]

Seynt Gregory seyþ, as y shal sey, [A tale] hyt was onës an abbey Þe namë hyght 'tangabaton,' And munkës þey were echon. Line 3156 Of a munke ȝede þe wurde ful ryue, [ryf.] [folio 21b:1] Þat he was of holy lyue; But for þat he was nat so, So holy as men tolde hym to, Line 3160 Fals preysyng shal wykkedly wende, As hyt ys wurþy, so shal hyt ende. A seknes toke þe munke ful grym

As god had purueyd of hym. Line 3164 he was so traueyled, shortly to sey, [seye.] Þat he wyst weyl þat he shuld dey. [deye.] whan he wyst þat, he made do calle Boþe one and oþer, hys bryþryn alle, Line 3168 "Byddyþ hem come byfore me here; Þat may hem auayle, y shal hem lere." [O. gloss 'teche.']

Þey come rennyng, boþe lesse and more, And wende haue herd sum holy lore. Line 3172 And when þey werë come echone, To hem he made of sorow hys mone: "hyt may no lenger be forholne; Falsly, wurschyp haue y stolne; Line 3176 y am nat, breþren, as ȝe wene, Of holy lyfe, as haþ be sene; Þat y fasted when ȝe lete; For twyys pryuyly y ȝete; Line 3180 And whan ȝe wende y had be holy, Y ete and drank ful lustyly. To warnë ȝow, þus y telle, For me ys come þe fende of helle. Line 3184 wyþ hys tayle my knes he haþ knyȝt, And wyþ hys hede my mouþ y-dyt. [stoppyd] Alas þe tyme þat y was bore! As an ypocryte y am forlore. Line 3188 Ryȝt now shal he me strangle and cheke, Ne shal y neuer aftyr speke." Be-fore hem alle he deyde astyte [O. gloss 'anone.'] Þat ychë proud ypocryte. Line 3192

Þys was shewed, hem for to warne, And þat, God, no man shuld scorne. [shulde no man scarne, 'scorne' gloss.] Ypocrysye, þys ys þe synne [folio 22a] Feyre wyþ-oute, and foule [wykkede.] with-ynne. Þys ychë synnë cumþ of pryde, Line 3197

Line 3197 Yn feyre shewyng, here falsnes hyde.

Ȝyf þou art prout of þy [þyn.] her, (As prout men ben euery where,) Line 3200 Or ȝyf þou tyfyst [tyffyst; O.N. 'typpa,' adorn.] þe ouer proudly, Ouer mesure on þy body, Swychë synne ys nat þe leste; Y rede þe telle hyt to þe preste. Line 3204

Be nat proud of þy [a.] croket, [chaplet] Yn þe cherche to tyfe [tyffe.] and set. At home mayst þou þy croket werche, And nat at þy messe yn þe cherche.

And of þese berded buckys [bukkes.] also, Line 3209 with hem-self þey moche mysdo, Þat leuë crystyn mennys acyse And hauntë alle þe newë gyse; Line 3212 Þerwhylys þey had þat gyse on hand, was neuer gracë yn þys land.

Of proud wymmen wuld y telle, But þey are so [sone.] wroth and felle; Line 3216 Of þese þat are so foule and fade, Þat make hem feyrere þan god hem made with oblaunchere or [or wyþ.] ouþer floure, To make hem whytter of coloure. Line 3220 Grete pryde hyt ys, and [O. inserts 'vyle.'] outrage, þat she ys nat payd of goddys ymage.

heuedys tyfed wyþ grete pryde, with heer, [her.] and [and wyþ.] hornës syde, [long] Line 3224 Men mow wete hyt ys grete synne To hauë mochë pryde þer-ynne. Men sey, and haue seyd, here before, For swych pryde are wymmen forlore.—

Ryche ladyys of grete renouns, [name] Line 3229 Þey do make hem ryche corouns, [hauyng] Þey may make to here auenaunt, [O. gloss 'hauynge.']

But ouer mesure ys nat cunnaunt. [couenaunt. Glossed 'semely.'] Line 3232

Of ladyys wulde y leue my sawe, [folio 22a:2] But y dar nat for goddys awe; [drede] Of hem behoueþ to sey sumdeyl, yn what poyntës þey do nat wel. Line 3236 God haþ shewed, and sheweþ euery day, Þat swychë pryde ys noght to pay. A tale y shal þerforë telle, [A tale] How a lady was pyned yn helle. Line 3240

[The Tale of the Proud Lady, who was burnt to ashes again and again in Hell by a Burning Wheel.]

þer was a lady, a lordys wyfe, here fayrhede was yn renoun ryfe; Moche she loued feyre tyfyng, [tyffynge.] On here hede, ouer al þyng, Line 3244 For to be holde þe feyryst lady Of al þo þat woned here by; And whan she wened best [best wende.] to haue lyuyd, Þe deþ here toke; here dayys were fyllyd; For when men wene to lyfe haue space, Þan ys deþ sunnest yn place. Whan she was dede, sone aftyrward here squyer toke a syknes hard, Line 3252 Þat here lorde helde of grete prys, For he was a man yn seruyse wys.

As he lay yn hys bed a nyȝt, hym þoght hys lady come to hym ryȝt, And seyd þus, "rys, and go wyþ me, Line 3257 A merueyle shal y shewe to þe."

Þys ychë man graunted here noght, For hyt ran weyl hym yn þoght Line 3260 Þat shé was dede and leyd yn graue, Þat hym of hys beddë wulde haue. But wheþer he wulde or noght, wyþ wel [wele.] & wo, She had hym vp with here to go. Line 3264 Þus tolde he seþyn with moche drede; Aȝens hys wylle with here he ȝede; She ledde hym to a mochë felde, So grete one neuer he behelde. Line 3268 Þan stodë styl, þys lady, And he by here ful dredfully. As þey hadd stondë but a þrowe, [folio 22b] Line 3271 Come furþ [foure.] deuylys þat fast gun blowe; With hem þey broght a brennyng wheyl, Þat on here hede was set eche deyl. Þys whel þat was set on here heuede, [heuede O, hede H.] Brende here alle, þat noght was leued. Efte she ros, when she was brent, Line 3277 And had þe samë turment, And brende ryȝt as she dede before; To se þat peyne hys herte was sore. Line 3280 Ȝyt she ros þe samë wey; For saule may neuer for peynë deye. And efte þey set [sette.] hyt on here krowne, And brende here al to asshen doune; And euermore she leuyd aȝen, Line 3285 For peynë myȝt she neuer be sleyn.

Þan askede he here, why þat hyt was Þat she suffred swyche peyne. "alas, alas," She seyd, "y suffre þys mys-auenture Line 3289

Line 3289 For on my heuede [hede.] ouer feyre tyfure; For when y shuld agher go or ryde, y dyghte my heuede [hede.] ryȝt [ful.] moche with pryde Line 3292 For to be presyd ouer alle ladyys, And of prydë to bere þe prys, And among knyȝtës yn halle y wulde be holde feyrest of alle. Line 3296 þer-for þys ychë peyne y drygh [suffre] For y bare me yn pryde so hygh. But warne my lordë, y pray þe, hys pryde and bobaunce þat he late be; But ȝyf he do, he shal be forlore, Line 3301 Þat y warne hym weyl before; For on one of þys dayys shul ȝe deye, My lorde and þou: þe soþe y seye." Line 3304 Ryght at þe termë, as [þat.] she seyde, Þe knyȝt, and þat squyer, deyde.

By þat tokenyng wel men knew Þat þe tale was ryȝt and trew. Line 3308 Þerfor hyt ys gretë doute, [O. gloss 'drede.'] [folio 22b:2] wymmen to tyfe here hedys aboute.

Ȝyf god haue lent þe [O, þe lent H.] handys and fete, Armës, leggës, feyre and swete,— Line 3312 Be nat ouer proude of þys, Þey are nat þyne, but þey ben [beyn.] hys; For ȝyf he wylle, he may hem þe [þe hem.] reue; with-oute hys leue, [leue.] shal none beleue.

Despyse noun ouþer þat so haue noght, Ne þoght [þogh.] þey be nat so feyre y-wroght; For ȝyf þou doust, þou mayst hem tyne, [lese] And for þat prydë go to pyne. Line 3320 Ne dysgyse nat þy cloþyng Ouer mesure, for þy preysyng.

Alas! hyt shuldë so betyde, Many one are lost for here pryde. Line 3324 Shal grace come neuer [neuer come.] yn þat land Þere men haue swychë gyse yn hand; God and grace are wyþ hem wroth, Þat haue, for pryde, dysgysed here cloth. Noþeles [O, Noþele H.] euery [eury.] man may, Line 3329 Aftyr hys astate, make hym gay; But when he þasseþ ouer mesure, Þerof cumþ mysauenture. Line 3332 Gentyl men ofte, for swyche desert Fal [Falle.] at þe laste yn grete pouert.

A weddyd wyfe may atyre here Þat here husbunde loue noun but here; For hys loue she may hyt do, Line 3337 But for none ouþer mannys so. Ȝyt swyche y rede, þat þey so fare Þat here pryde make hem nat bare. Line 3340 Gretly [Gretlych.] þey synne yn þer [here.] queyntyse Þat nouelrye al day areyse, For to be preysed and of grete syght, Al day dysgyse hem at here myght; Line 3344 Forsoþe hyt semeþ weyl to be Al here lyfe yn vanyte. But wlde [Harl. omits 'wlde.'] þey þenke þat make swyche strut, yn what robe, yn erþe, þey shul [þey shul yn erþe.] be put, Þey shulde nat make hyt so a-mys, Line 3349 Ȝyf þey þoght oft of [on.] þys.

Y shal ȝou telle a lytyl wyght [[wiht, space]] [A tale] How hyt befyl onys of a knyȝt.

[The Tale of the Knight and Monk who lovd new Fashions.]

Þer was a knyȝt þat loued nouelrye, As many one haunte now þat folye; Line 3354

Line 3354 he dede to make, [do make hym.] yn þe somers tyde, A kote perced queyntly with pryde; And God was nat þer-of payd, Line 3357 For yn hys pryde he was betrayd.

Þys knyȝt ȝede, vpp-on a day, Aboute roberye, to gete hys pray; Line 3360 Homward as he hys pray ledde with hys enmys he was bestedde; with fors þey gun with hym [hym to.] fyght, And slogh þere þys ychë knyȝt. Line 3364 Þe knyȝtys frendys herdë seye how he was slayn by þe weye; Ful feyre þan gun þey for hym [for hym þan gunne þey.] werche, Þey byryed þe body feyre at þe cherche; hys frendys departed hys katel Line 3369 Among þe pore men, and þat was wel. whan þey come at þe kote gysyng, To dele hyt among hys ouþer þyng, Line 3372 Before þe pore men hyt was broght; Þe pore men seyd þey wulde hyt noȝt. A clerk stodë þo þere be syde, And, prayd for þe kote of pryde. Line 3376 To werne hyt hym, þey þoght [hem þught.] loþe; Þey toke and ȝaue þys clerk þe cloþe. Þys clerk was glad whan he hyt hadde; Þys kote asswyþe on hym [on hym asswyþe.] he cladde. Line 3380

Se now here a grete myschaunce Come ryȝt as for veniaunce: Ryȝt as he was yn þe kote al dyght, A fyre brennyng on hym gan lyght, Line 3384 And brend hys body dounne to þe grounde whylys oght of hym myȝt be founde. [folio 23a:2]

Þer shewed God weyl by þat kas

Þat þe kote a-cursed was, Line 3388 And tokened wel sorowe and wrake, Þat nonë [no.] pore man wulde hyt take For prydë of þe newë gyse Aȝens crystyn mennys wyse; Line 3392 But þe clerk was wode al gate To were a cloþe aȝens hys state. here mow ȝe se þat god ys wroth with hem þat dysgyse here cloþe. Line 3396

And a clerk ys moche for to blame Þat bryngyþ [brynth.] hym self yn foule fame, Clerk ordeyned yn dignyte Þat haunteþ swyche Iolyte; Line 3400 Noþeles, of þe newë gyse Þe deuyl haþ made hymself chefe iustyse; And ȝyf he yn folye begynne to stoute, Þan bereþ he þe deuylys baner aboute; Mochë folk ys þerwyþ blent; Line 3405 God do þerof amendment.

Ȝyf þou hauë grete desyre To be clepyd lorde or syre, Line 3408 For to glosë þe, and slyppe, And to haue þe wurdys of wurschyp; Or ȝe wymmen also, comunly, wulde be kallede 'madame' or 'lady;' Al þys comþ of gretë pryde; Line 3413 yn þy shryfte þou noght hyt hyde. he ys ryȝt lorde, þe kyng of heuene; wrong hyt ys þat men any oþer neuene.

Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn grete meyne, Line 3417 For men shulde hauë drede of þe, And for þy meynë wuldyst [wst.] preysed be, ȝyf harme to oþer þan do þat meyne, Line 3420 Þou for þy meynë shalt dampned be Ȝyf þou to euyl vowe þy meynë.

Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn grete hallys, [folio 23b]

Yn a foule prydë þan þou fallys; Line 3424 For y se many þat nowe þey bygge, And now sonë, dede þey lygge. y sey for þo þat haue grete pryde yn hygh hallys and yn wyde. Line 3428 Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn ryche beddyng, yn hors, yn harneys, or yn feyre rydyng, Alle ys pryde and vanyte; Of al shalt þou a-couped be. Line 3432

Y seyd langere, yn gode cunnaunt, [couenaunt.] Euery man may haue to hys auenaunt, Cytes, tounnes, castellys, and hallys, hors, armour, and þat þar to fallys; Line 3436 But, yn al þat mochë þrong, Do holy cherche, ne pore man, [men.] wrong.

what sey ȝe men of ladyys pryde Þat gonë traylyng ouer syde: [O. gloss 'longe.'] Line 3440 Ȝyf a lady were ryghtly shreue, Better hyt were yn almës ȝeue; To soulë helpe hyt myȝt do bote, Þat trayleþ lowe vndyr þe [here.] fote. Line 3444 wymples, kerchyues, saffrund betyde; Ȝelugh vnder ȝelugh þey hyde; Þan wete men neuer, wheþer ys wheþer, þe ȝelugh wymple or þe leþer. [skyn] Line 3448

wymmen þat go fro strete to strete, One or ouþer for to mete, Of prydë comþ swychë desyre,

For þey haue on hem [here.] feyre atyre: Line 3452 But she wul to þe prest þat telle, She may þerforë go to helle; For yn as moche þat [as.] she douþ men synne, yn so moche shal she haue plyght ynne.

And, wymmen, y [haue y.] seye of þo Line 3457 Þat borwe cloþes yn carol to go; [yn to karol go.] Þat porë prydë, god hyt loþes, Þat make hem proude of ouþer mennys cloþys.

Ȝyf þou hast spokë wurdys of pryde, [folio 23b:2] And lettyst ouþer men any tyde Of here bedys and [or.] of here fastyng, Or of any [sum.] ouþer holy þyng, Line 3464 Or of any ouþer godë dede, to telle hyt þe [þy.] prest, behoueþ þe nede.

Ȝyf þou euer lettë began Þat was wurshep to god or man, Line 3468 As yn cherche to synge or rede, Or of sum oþer holy dede; Or also for boste or for pryde, with prest or with clerk to chyde, Line 3472 Þurgh þat pryde þou fallyst [falst.] yn synne, And cursednes þerwith to wynne.

Also þat clerk ys moche to blame Þat letteþ to shaue hys krowne for shame; Y rede þat he yn tyme [yn tyme þat he.] hyt shaue, Line 3477 For he wote neuer what nede he shal þerto haue.

Ȝyf þou yn ernest, or yn game, yn scornë blessedyst Goddys name; Line 3480 Or ȝyf þou were so wundyrly proude Þat þou mysseydyst God al aloude, For any chaunce þat may betyde Skorne nat God, ne wyþ hym chyde: Line 3484

Line 3484 Morë pryde, no [ne.] morë synne, Þan skornë god, mayst þou falle ynne.

Ȝyf þou grucchedest, and seydyst noght, But to God haddyst euyl þoght, Line 3488 wete þou wel, hyt ys grete pryde, Grucchyng with God, or [O. om. 'or.'] for to chyde.

Ȝyf a man haue mysdo or seyde, And men hym blame for þat mysbreyde, Ȝyf he susteynë hys mysdede, Line 3493 And hys mysawe [myssawe.] wyl nat drede, Þat cumþ of mysprout herte and hy Þat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly. Line 3496 Of al [alle.] folyys þat beryn name, Þys foly ys moste for to blame; who-so-euer to þys ys custummable, [folio 24a] hys amendment may neuer be stable. Line 3500

what sey men of þese loseniours Þat haue here wurdys feyre as flours? Now ys þe flourë whyte and rede, And now hyt ys boþe drye and dede. Line 3504 Þe losenioure spekþ now þy pay, And behynde þy bak hyt ys away. þere one haþ smylyng semelaunt And behetyþ þe to holde cunnaunt, [cuuinaunt.] Line 3508 kepe þe þan fro losengrye, For feyre spekyng man kan weyl lye. who-so-euer ys custummable to banne For prydë, sum tymë or whanne, Line 3512 Þe apostyl seyþ þat he may noght Vn-to þe blysse of heuene be broght.

A-noþer spyce hyt ys of pryde, who so haunteþ for to chyde. Line 3516 For holy cherche forbedeþ þe To chyde wyþ any of þy meynë. Teche hym ferst, yn feyre manere;

And ȝyf he wyl nat [nat so.] with feyre lere, Þan mayst þou speke stoutly to hym, Line 3521 with-outë wraþþe, wurdys ful grym, Þat he be chasted at þy fre wylle, But þat þou bere yn herte none ylle. Chydyng cumþ of hertë hy, Line 3525 And gretë pryde, and vylany.

A-nouþer spyce þer ys þat moche deres, [O. gloss 'harmyþ.'] Þat ys, þese cursed bakbyteres. Line 3528 Of al [alle.] men, þey do most euyl, here lorefadyr [? teacher, or for 'forefadyr.'] ys þe deuyl. Þe fende vs bewreyeþ of oure synne whan he haþ made vs fal þer-ynne. Line 3532 So are þese bakbyters wunne, Þey seye þe werst þat þey kunne; Euer behynde a mannys bak, with euyl þey fynde hym to lak. Line 3536 Swyche men god almyȝty hatys [folio 24a:2] And with here foulë synne hym wlatys. [loþeþ] Seynt Austyn spekyþ of swyche þynges yn a bokë of lesyngys. Line 3540 No custummable bakbytyng God forȝeueþ, ne no lesyng, Þat þou þarfore shalt algate drye [suffre] Sum manere peyne for euery lye; Line 3544 As þe lesyng ys lesse or more, Shalt þou suffre peyne þar-fore. And þat may weyl preuyd be with a tale of an autoryte, Line 3548 Þat mochë peynë shal he bere wyþ-outë ende, þe bakbytere; And [And here.] y shal tellë ȝou a lyte Of one þat coude hys felaus byte. Line 3552

Line 3552

[The Tale of the backbiting English Monk.]

þer was a man of relygyun, [A Tale] þat yn þys he was a felun, Yn bakbytyng, as ȝe han herde, As many one are now yn þys werlde. Line 3556 He was wunt to seye wykked sawes Behynde þe bak of hys felaws; For he wulde be holde þe beste Of all hys breþer, and þe wylyeste. Line 3560 A syknes toke þys munke, and deyde, As God had of hym purueyde, And went yn-to peynë hard, As was shewed aftyrward. Line 3564 Befel þe tyme, as hyt ys ryȝt, Munkës to rysë at mydnyȝt; And when matynes were al done, Þe couent ȝede to beddë sone. Line 3568 A munkë lefte be-hynde a throwe, [a trowe.] Þat þe dede was wunt to knowe; whan þys munke come before þe chapytyl, As ordyr askyþ, he louted a lytyl; Line 3572 And as he louted, hys ye [eȝe.] gan blenche, And say [sagh.] one sytte before þe benche, A foulë þyng, and a grysly, [folio 24b] he sagh neuer none so loþly; Line 3576 he shette hys tunge [tunge out.] before þe grecys, And gnogh hyt [Harl. hys.] ynwarde al to pecys. hys tunge was brennynge [O, brenned Harl.] þat he so gnogh, yn-to hys mouþe aȝen he hyt drogh; Line 3580 And eft, oute [out.] he dede hyt shete, And gnogh hyt eft with peynës grete. Many tymes þan dede he so;

Þys munke stode and loked þarto, Line 3584 And had þerof so mochë drede Þat he wende hauë go to wede. [mad] As he stode so sore a glyfte, [feryd] Hys ryȝt hand vp he lyfte Line 3588 And blessede hym-self stedfastly; And seþþen, he wax more hardy, And þoght, 'þys ys sum pryuyte Þat God almyȝty sheweþ to me.' Line 3592 hastyly [O, hastly Harl.] þer-to he ȝede, And hadde þer-of no morë drede; And seyd, "best, y cóniure þe, Yn God þat ys persónës thre, Line 3596 Þat þou me telle why þou syttest here, Yn swych forme, and yn swych manere."

To answere, he ne myȝt wyþ-drawe, "y was a munke, þyn owne felawe, Line 3600 Þat suffre all þys peyne and shame; Hyt am y,"—and tolde hys name,— "y was a wykked bakbytere, Euyl wurdys aboute for to bere; Line 3604 Of my felaws, wykkedly to seye Al þat euer y myȝt bewreye; And mystrowyng was y ay [O. gloss 'eure.'] Of my felaws boþe nyȝt and day. Line 3608 Þe wykked wurdys þat y haue seyd, wykkedly are þey on me leyde; Y shal abeye hem ful dere with peynës strong, as ȝe se here." Line 3612 he wente, an [and.] was no more sene; [folio 24b:2] Dampned he was, as y wene.

þys tale y wote and vndyrstand where hyt fyl, yn Yngland, Line 3616 At a ful namecouthe abbey Þat y ne wyl telle, ne bewrey.

Swych peyne [peyne O, om. H.] ys for hem dyȝt Þat kunne nat kepe here tungë ryȝt. Line 3620 yn þe byble men mow se, yn a boke of pryuyte, Apocalyps þese clerkys wote, Line 3623 Seynt Ioun þe euangylyst hyt wrote; Oure lordë seyþ þat þey shal [shul.] ete here tunges in peynes, [peyne.] and al to-frete, Þese lyers and þese bakbyters; Þe talë, of þys, wytnes berys. Line 3628

Of þys synne, y rede we vs shryue, And take oure penaunce by oure lyue; For but we yn þys so do, harder peyne shul we go to. Line 3632 with what lyme [lyme O, lyne H.] þon dost most synne, yn þat shalt þou have most pyne ynne.

ȝyf þou euer wyþ bakbytyng ȝaue cunsel to wykked þyng, Line 3636 Þat ys a wundyr grete foly; Hyt may be prydë with enuye; who-so-euer haunteþ þat yche dede, Hym shal fayle cunsel at hys nede. Line 3640 And swyche are preued with resun, wykked treytours ful of tresun. ȝyue gode cunsel, ȝyf þat þou kan, And auowe hyt, byfore god and man. Line 3644

Pryde haþ ȝyt anoþer tresun, And a [an.] vnkyndhede as a felun; Þat now ys vnneþë none Þat yn þat synne ne ys mys gone. Line 3648 Ȝyf any shewe to oþer a pryuyte Þat for cunseyl oght to be, ȝyf he þat cunseyl fyrþer fame, [folio 25a] Þat þerof cumþ [come.] boþe synne and shame, Y kan nat se, as yn þys kas, Line 3653 How hé may ámende þys [þat.] trespas;

And specyaly to [vnto.] a preste Cunsel of shryfte sperd yn hys breste, He ne oght [oghte nat hyt.] for to telle Line 3657 For lyfe ne deþ, what so euer befelle. Shryfte ys goddys pryuyte Þat euer for cunsel oght to be. Line 3660 Ȝyf a synnë neuer so grym, To a prest, yn shryfte, were shewede hym; Þogh men aforced hym for drede, To sey þat, 'þat man dyd þat dede' Line 3664 Seþþen he had hys penaunce take, And yn shryfte hys synne forsake, He shuld raþer swere on þe halydam 'Nay!' or [ar.] he tolde hyt any man, Line 3668 Ȝyf he [Harl. omits 'he.'] ne myȝt with noun answere Or ouþer manere hym seluen were. [saue] Þe prest þat telleþ goddys cunsel, he shal se hyt wroþer yn helle; [wroþer heyl.] Line 3672 Yn erþe hys tunge oght to [O. om. 'to.'] be oute drawe, And yn helle be al to-gnawe.

hyt ys also grete pryde and herte hy, To speke foule wurdys yn rybaudy; Line 3676 Seynt Poule seyþ, vs to chastyse, 'kepyþ ȝoure tungës on al wyse, And spekeþ no fylþe oute of skore, Þat noun ouþer synne þarfore.' Line 3680

Ȝyf þou any man [Harl. omits 'man.'] manasse Þurgh force or power þat þou hasse, Hyt ys grete pryde, y ȝeue þe a ȝyfte; Þenkë þer-on, yn þy shryfte. Line 3684

ȝyf þou euer ȝaue iogolours of þy þyng For to be yn here preysyng, Or þou madyst wrastlyng yn place Þat nonë were [were holde.] to þy pygace,— [so grete as þou] Line 3688

Line 3688 Alle ys pryde and vanyte; [folio 25a:2] Of al behoueþ þe shryuë be. No prydë ne may be stole, No yn shryftë be forhole; [O. gloss 'hed.'] Line 3692 For ȝyf hyt be forholë here Yn oþer stede þou shalt abye hyt dere.

Now of pryde shul we leue and dwelle, And furþer of oþer synnys telle; Line 3696 Þogh y þer-of spake euere [O, euere þer of spake Harl.] and oo, Ȝyt myȝt menne telle of [O. omits 'of.'] many mo; For of pryde ys þe bygynnyng Of al manere wykked þyng: Line 3700 God shelde vs þer-yn to falle, And haue mercy on vs alle! [O. adds 'Amen.']

[Of Anger, the 2nd Deadly Sin.]

The touþer synne men callë yre, Þe deuylys doghtyr of hellë fyre. Ȝyf þou art so wundyr wroþe Line 3705 with one þat to þe ys [ys to þe.] dedly loþe, Ȝyf þou nat sone repentë þe To helle þou fallest þe fyrst gre. Line 3708

Þe man wraþþyþ hym lyghtly, For lytyl, as yn malyncoly, Þat synnë ne ys [ne ys nat.] ryght gref Þat sone ys wroþe, and lyghtly lef. Line 3712 Noþeles, hyt were weyl to done, wysman shulde nat wraþ hym sone.

ȝyf þer be oþer lorde or syre þat wraþþyth hym with gretë yre, Line 3716 And euermore ⁷yn strenkþe⁷ [7_7 ylych yn strenþe.] Þat wraþþë drawe [draghþe.] yn lenþe, Þat ychë wraþþe ys synnë strong Þat lastyþ yn any man so long. Line 3720

Ȝyf þou for wraþþe madyst chydyng, Or repreuedyst a man of vyle þyng,

Yre haþ kast þe yn þys kas Anoþer grece to hellë pas. Line 3724

Ȝyf þou for yre bygynne wykkednes Þat no man may lette þe, [þe lette.] ne stres, Þat yche yre ys wyþ pryde, [folio 25b] Ȝyf þou for wraþþe wylt nat abyde. Line 3728

Ȝyf þou yn yre a man hate, And þat wraþþë wylt nat late, Greuusly þou art yn synne, But þou forȝeue, and þer-of blynne. Line 3732 Þe holy man seyþ hardly, [hardyly.] Þat þou hast slayn hym gostly.

Ȝyf þy wraþþe þou wylt not [nat.] blynne, [O. gloss 'leue.'] But bryngest anoþer to þy synne, Line 3736 Þou shalt haue chargë of [for.] þo boþe, For þurgh ȝoure wraþþe are oþer wroþe; For þy defaute þan synneþ he, Þe morë perel þyn shal be. Line 3740

Ȝyf þou ȝaue euer cunsel or rede For yre, þat a man were dede; Or ȝyf þou yn any strut, For Ire wundedyst a man, or [and.] hurt, Line 3744 yn þys synnë ys outrage, To helle þou makyst þy vyage. Þus þan wrote þe holy man At wham [whom.] þys wurdë lerne y gan. Line 3748

Ȝyf þou for yre a man slogh Þat myghtyst haue lefte [left hyt.] weyl ynogh,— Þat hyt was nat þe defendyng, But for wraþþe and yre brennyng,— Line 3752 Al þat euer God shope to be Shal come and fyȝt aȝens þe At þe day of iugëment, And aȝens alle þou shalt be shent. Line 3756

Line 3756

Ȝyf þou art wunt custummably For to curse for lytyl why, Þy tunge bereþ þerof wytnesse Þat men nowe weyl wraþ yn þe gesse. Line 3760

Ȝyf a man curse as yn game, And yn hys herte wyl hym no shame, he ne synneþ nat þan dedly, For hyt ys seyd al yn rybaudy. Line 3764 Þys synne ys nat dampnable [folio 25b:2] But hyt be seyd custummable.

Þou shal vndyrstand and wete, with resun, mayst þou [þou mayst.] þe wraþþe and flyte [chyde] Aȝens vyleynye and synne, Line 3769 ȝyf þou ne mayst do oþer bote þerynne; wraþþe þe with mannys vyleynye, But nat [Harl. with nat.] with his gode ne [Harl. and.] hys body. Line 3772

Þat God loueþ, þou shalt loue, here yn erþe, and yn heuene aboue. Þat God neuer louyd, þou shalt [þat shalt þou.] hate, wraþþe, and oþer synne foolate. [forlate.] Line 3776 God louyþ euery creäture Þat he formed to hys fygure; But þe synnë þat ys wroght, Þat loued he neuer noght. Line 3780 Loue euery man yn hys gode dede; hys wykkednes shalt þou hate & drede.

þou mayst spekë wurdys smerte Þogh wraþþë be nat yn þyn herte; Line 3784 Þou mayst be wroþe, sum body to chastyse, Þogh hate nat [noght.] yn þy [þyn.] hertë ryse; And ȝyf þou hate and sone forȝyuyst, with God hymself þan þou lyuyst; Line 3788 For God loueþ no þyng more specyaly Þan for hys loue to haue mercy. For he commaundeþ yn þe gospel Þat man shuld forȝeue wraþ eche del, Line 3792

Line 3792 And seyþ "blessyd be al mercyable! Þey shul se God, and haue hym stable." And þat shal y shewe ȝow by a knyȝt Þat loued more mercy þan myȝt. Line 3796

[The Tale of the Merciful Knight, and how the Crucifix kist him.]

Betwyxe twey knyȝtes be-ȝunde þe see Fyl a grete cuntek to be; [A tale.] Betwyxe hem fyl swyche wraþ & wo Þat þe toon weyted þe toþer to slo: Line 3800 Þey mette to-gedyr, y ne wote how; Algate þe toon þe toþer slow. Þys ychë slayn knyȝt had a chylde, [folio 26a] A doghty bachelere, and a wylde; Line 3804 þys ychë chylde toke hym to rede For to venge hys fadrys ded; He gate hym grete powere and myȝt And beseged þe toþer knyȝt. Line 3808 Þe toþer knyȝt perseyued hym wel, And drogh hym to hys best castel. Þo was he beseged so streytly, Þat he durst come oute on no party Line 3812 Of alle þe twelue [twel.] monþe with no deseyt, So was he beseged streyte; Messe ne matyns he ne herde ²Ne nagher to þe cherge² [2_2 No neuer nagher to cherche.] he ferde; [ȝede] Line 3816 And hyt was yn þe lentyn tyde, when men shuld leuë wraþ & pryde. Þan fyl hyt on þe gode fryday, Þe knyȝt þat yn þe [Harl. omits 'þe.'] castel lay Line 3820 loked oute, and say [sagh.] men go To þe cherchë, to and fro; Barfote to þe cherche þey ȝede, To aske mercy for here mysdede. Line 3824

Line 3824 "Ey," þoght þe knyȝt, "long ys gone, Þat messe at þe cherchë herd y none. what so euer God wyl for me [for me wyle.] werche, y wyl ryse, and go to þe cherche." Line 3828 He drogh of hys hosyn and hys shone, And ded þe ȝatys be on-done. Barfote his ȝede, as ys þe acyse, [O. gloss 'maner.'] To cherche, for to herë Goddys seruyse. Line 3832 And as he þe wey to þe cherchë name, [namme.] Þe chylde, hys enmye, aȝens hym came, [camme.] And seyd, "treytur, now shalt þou deye, And my fadyr deþ ful dere a-beye; Line 3836 No wurldës gode ne shal þe saue, Þat þou þe deþ of me shalt haue." Þe knyȝt say [sagh.] nonë ouþer bote, But fel on knees byfore hys fote, Line 3840 And seyd, "haue on me mercy [folio 26a:2] For hym þat lyȝt yn þe vyrgyne mary, And suffred deþ on þe rodë tre Þys day, to saue boþe þe and me, [me and þe.] Line 3844 And forȝaue hem þat hys blode spylte; Ryght so forȝyue þou me my gylte; y am as a presun here yn þys place, y putte me now alle [al.] yn þy grace; Line 3848 Þat goddys grace be on þe lent At þe day of Iugëment!" Þys chylde, þat was hys enmye, herde hym prey so rufully, Line 3852 And seyd, "syn þou hast me besoght [O. gloss 'pryde.'] For Ihesu loue þat dere vs boght, And for hys modyr loue so dere, For hem y graunte þe my pes here." Line 3856 Þys ychë chylde down swyþe alyghte, And yn gode louë kest þe [keste þat.] knyȝt; "Now are we frendys, þat ere were wroþe,

Go we nowe to þe cherchë boþe, Line 3860 yn gode loue, and parfyte charyte, For hys sake þat ordeyned pes to be."

Þe knyȝt was glad, and no ferly, [wndyr] And so were al þat cumpanye, Line 3864 Þat he forȝaue hym hys mysdede, And to þe cherchë [cherche þat.] boþe þey ȝede. Byfore þe cros þ[e]y knelyd downe yn þe [O. om. 'þe.'] wurschyp of Ihesu [Ihesus.] passyowne, Line 3868 For to kesse þe cros þat day, As custume ys yn crystyn lay. Þe elder knyȝt, for honoure, Ȝede fyrst, and kyst hys creäture; [creatour.] Line 3872 Aftyr þan, ȝedë þe chylde, Þat was becomë meke and mylde; wyþ þe tokene he gan hym blesse, And kneled down, þe cros to kesse. Line 3876 Þe crucyfyx, þat þere was leyd, hys armës [arme.] fro þe cros vpbreyd, And clepd [clypte.] þe chyldë hym betwyx, [folio 26b] And aftyrward kyst [aftyr keste.] hym, þat crucyfyx.

Alle þe parshe, boþe olde and ȝonge, [ȝynge.] Parseyued, and say, [sagh.] þat clyppynge, And how þe crucyfyx hym kyste; Þey sagh hyt alle, and weyl hyt wyste. Alle þey þanked swete Ihesu Line 3885

Of þat myrácle and þat vertu. Of þys chylde was grete selkouþe Þat þe crycyfyx kyst wyþ mouthe. Line 3888 Noþeles, forsoþe and ywys, Y trowe þat yn hys herte were moche blys; And al þe folke þat sagh þys þyng Made to God grete þankyng. Line 3892

Of þese twey knyȝtës, how hyt betyd, Þe myracle was sone oueral [sone oueral was.] kyd;

And euery man þerof gan telle, Line 3895 Prestys þerof yn prechyng [yn prechynge þer-of.] gun spelle, So þat euery man yn þat [þe.] cuntre lyued wel þe more yn charyte, And allë men þe sunner forȝaue Line 3899 Here wraþþe þat þey to ouþer dyd haue.

Sekyr þou be þat he was dygne, Þat god shewed for hym [for hym shewede.] swyche a sygne; A sygne hyt was of gretë loue That God almyȝty, of heuene aboue, Line 3904 Profrede hym to kesse so louely, For he meked hys herte so hy.

Now mowe ȝe se þat God [se God.] loueþ hem dere Þat forȝyuen here wraþ in þys wrlde here. [O, here wraþ here Harl.] Line 3908 So shal hys wraþ on hem be sene Þat here wyl nat forȝeue here [Harl. he.] tene.

Of Ire and wraþ, wul [wyle.] we now blynne, And telle furþer of a-noþer synne Line 3912 God ȝyue vs grace, so wraþþe forȝyue Þat we may alle wyþ Ihesu lyue.

[Of Envy, the 3rd Deadly Sin.]

T[h]e þryd[ë] synnë ys enuye, Þat ys ful of felunnye; Line 3916 Holy wryt wytnessyþ hyt wel, [folio 26b:2] Þat hyt comþ of þe fende eche del. Þe man þat ys ful of enuye, He ys euer sorowful, we se with ye; Line 3920 Þe gode þat he seþ, [sykþ.] alle doþ hym euyl. And alle ys þe tycement of þe deuyl.

Loke now þarfore, at þe bygynnyng, ȝyf þou were euer payde of myschaunceful þyng Line 3924

Line 3924 Þat befyl to any man, Of grete enuye hyt fyrst began.

Ȝyf þou euer haddyst sorow oþer [&.] kare Of þy neghëburs welfare, Line 3928 Enuye haþ þe yn hys hand Boundë wyþ þe deuylys band.

Ȝyf þou forþenke a mannys prowe, Þat he haþ hegher state þan þow Line 3932 Yn any manere of dygnyte, Þat he may to, auaunssede be; Þogh þou come nat to hys state, But wust apeyre hyt and abate, Line 3936 Þat he may nat haue hys baylè, [baylye.] Dedly synne ys swyche enuye.

Ȝyf þou make one so hard stresse Þat hys godnesse wexe þe lesse, Line 3940 Or ȝyf þou euer yn placë were Þat hys harme þe morë were, Shryue þe wel ar þou deye, For al þys cumþ of grete enuye. Line 3944

Ȝyf þou euer on any manere Lettydyst any man for to lere Craftë, or [or any.] ouþer queyntyse, But fordeddyst hys apryse [lernyng,] Line 3948 For þou shuldest furþeryd be, And more yn prys preysed þan he; Beþenke þe weyl, ȝyf þou do þus, Þat þyn herte ys ful enuyus; Line 3952 For þou shalt neuere, with gode ye, Se hym þat leryþ þy maystrye.

Ȝyf þou be enuyus, and no man trowe, [folio 27a] And behynde hys bak make hym þe mowe, As who seye þat "he naght can, Line 3957 No ys wurþ as a-nouþer man,"

Al ys þys enuyë grete; Ȝyf þou haue do þus, y rede þe [þou.] lete. Line 3960

Ȝyf þou here preyse one for sum þyng, And þou forþenkyst hys preysyng, And felyst weyl yn þy [þyn.] herte Of a lytyl sorow or smerte, Line 3964 Þat þou ne art preysed furþer þan he, Enuye hyt ys, þou mayst wel se.

Many one are of so enuyus wyl Þat þey may preyse none but with yl; Line 3968 Alle þenkeþ hym euyl þat þey se, Þey are enuyus, what-so [as.] -euer þey be.

Enuyus man ys so ful of susspecyun Þat euyl hym þenketh al, as a felun. Line 3972 who-so kan knowe þe properte, Enuyus man may lyknyd be To þe Iawnes, þe whyche ys a pyne þat men mow se yn mennys yne. Line 3976 þe ye þat ys ful of Iawnes, [Iawnys.] Alle þenkeþ hym ȝelogh yn hys auys: So hyt fareþ on hys party, Hys þoght ys euer ful [al.] of enuye. Line 3980

Enuyus men, euyl þey sowe; Þát men telle hem, to euyl þey trowe; Ȝyf þey se þat one doþ more, Enuyús þan angreþ sore; Line 3984 Alle godenes þey turne to euyl; Enuyus men are lyke þe deuyl. Of alle þat yn þys worldë are, Enuyús man [Þe enuyus.] werst shal [shul.] fare. Line 3988 Gladnes herë haue þey none, But whan here neghburs haue mysgone. Yn any maner defaute þat ys, [es.] þan make þey ioye for þat wykkednes. Line 3992 Yn þe toþer worlde þer þey shul be, [folio 27a:2] Þey are nat wurþy any ioye to se. Here and þere þey shul haue greuaunce,

But þere shal be here most veniaunce. Line 3996 Enuye ys onë þe werst synne Þat þe deuyl maketh any man fal ynne. Seynt Gregory telleþ a tale þar-by; [A tale.] And as he seyþ, so wyl y. Line 4000

[The Tale of the Bear which kept the Hermit's Sheep, and how it was slain by envious Monks.]

Þer were twey men of holy wyl Þat leuyd to-gedyr, with-outen yl, A-lonë yn an ermytage, And, as meke as bryd yn kage; Line 4004 Þe toon, men calle Eutycyus, Þe touþer hyght Florentyus. [florencyus.] A gode clerk was þe toon, he turned to þe feyþ many on. Line 4008 Eutycyus was þe clerk Þat taght þe folk of goddys werk. Florens was nat so moche yn lore, Yn preyours he was euermore. Line 4012

þer besyde was an abbey, And yn here tyme þe abbot gan deye; whan þys ychë abbot was dede, Alle þe munkës toke hem to [toke here.] rede, Line 4016 And chese hem syre Eutycyus To be abbot of here hous. On alle manere fyl so here lot, Eutycyus þey made here abbot. Line 4020

Aftyr Eutycyus, Florens gan dwelle And woned a-lonë yn hys celle. Florens madë gretë [þarfore gret.] mone For þat he shuld dwel [wone.] alone; Line 4024 And had grete sorowe, and was drery, As many be þat lese gode cumpany.

On a day, he bad hys orysun, And was yn grete afflyccyon, Line 4028 And preyd God he wulde hym ȝeue Sum gode cumforte with-al to leue. Þus preyd Florens yn hys bede [folio 27b] Þat Gode shuld sende hym sum felaurede.

whan he ros vp of his orysown, he ȝede yn hys celle vp and down, And opened hys ȝate, and loked oute, And sagh a berë wylde and stoute. Line 4036 Þys ychë bere come to þe gate [þe gate, glossed wey, O, gate H.] To Florens þat stode yn þe ȝate; But when þe bere come at hym nere, Þe bere to hym loutede, and made feyre chere,— Line 4040 Feyre chere as a bere myght make,— And was so meke þat he myȝt hym take. þys ychë Florens hym beþoght þat God hadde herd þat he besoght, Line 4044 And þanked hym of hys swete grace, þat he hym sent hadde swyche solace. For a myracle, ȝe may hyt vndyrstande, þat a wyldë bere was tame to hande. Line 4048

Þys godë man hadde syxë shepe, And noun hyrde hem for to kepe; He badde þe bere þat he shulde go And dryue hys shepë to and fro, Line 4052 And kepe hem weyl þat noun hem dere, "And þou shalt be my godë bere." Þe bere hym louted with semblant glad, For to do as Florens hym badde; Line 4056 To þe bere, he seyde hys auys, "Euery day whan y ete twyys, Come þou home at hygh vndurne, And no lenger yn þe felde soiurne; Line 4060 And euery day, when y faste,

Come at þe noun, home, at þe laste." So dyd þe bere, [bere þan.] euery day, One oure passed hym neuer away Line 4064 Þat he ne come home, þe yche cele [godly] , And boþe tymeus [tymes.] he knew hem wele.

Þys Florens hadde cumforte and game At hys bere, þat hyt was so tame, Line 4068 And loued hýt moche with-oute fayle [folio 27b:2] For þe myracle and þe grete meruayle: For soþë so [soþe to seye.] hym byrde [moste] , For he was a merueylus hyrde. Line 4072 A bere þurgh kynde shulde etë shepe; And here as an hyrde he ȝafe to hem kepe.

Þyt yche merueyle myȝt nat be hyd, But yn alle þe cuntre hyt was weyl kyde Þat Florens had a tamë bere, And was an hyrdë, shepe to were [kepe] .

Þe abbot þat hyghte Eutycyus Had foure dyscyplys ful enuyus, Line 4080 Þat alle day of þys berë spakk with grete enuye, gretely to lakk; And seyd, alle fourë hem betwene wyþ grete enuyë, scorne, and tene, Line 4084 "More merueyl doþe Florencyus Þan doþe oure mayster Eutycyus." Þey seydë "hyt shal nat so go;" And made forward, þat bere to slo. Line 4088 As þey seyd, þey dyd þat woghte; [O. reads 'wogh,' and then has the two lines— Þe berë in þe felde þey slogh; For gret enuye þus þey wroghte.] Þe whychë dede ful soure þey boghte.

At þe tyme, þe bere, o day [o day þe bere hom.] come noghte; Florens had þer-of [þar fore.] grete þoghte; Line 4092 He ros and ȝede yn-to þe felde,

And aftyr hys berë faste behelde. At þe laste, hys bere he fonde, Besyde hys shepe, slayn on a londe. Line 4096 Asswyþë hym self gan to rede who hadde do þat ychë dede; Ȝyt pleyned he more þe myschaunce Þat þer shulde falle on hem veniaunce, Þan [Þat H, O.] he pleyned hys ownë dere Line 4101 Þat þey had slayn his godë bere. Noþeles he pleyned wundyrly sore Þat hys solas shulde be no more. Line 4104

Eutycyus þe abbot, his felawe, herd sey hys bere was do adawe; And come to hym on hys dysport, [folio 28a] To makë Florens gode cumfort. Line 4108 Florens seyd Eutycyus vn-to, "Yn God truly y tryst so, Þat veniaunce shal on hem take Yn þys lyfë for my sake. Line 4112 Of Ihesu Cryst þey hade no [MS. non, with dots under n.] drede, To sle þat hylpe me yn my nede, Felunlyche, as [al.] for enuye, And he ded no man folye; Line 4116 He was me sent, þurgh Goddys grace, To be myn helpe and my solace; Þat God wuldë hym [dotted under in red ink.] me ȝeue, why wuld þey nat suffre hym lyue? Line 4120 God almyȝty shal do hys wyl wyþ hem, and mo, þat do [doun.] so yl."

As he seyde, so gan hyt falle; Gode toke veniaunce on hem alle; Line 4124 Meseles þey waxë þan to pyne, Here lemes roted before here yne; Aboue þe erþe þey were stynkyng,

Þat to þe beres deþ were consentyng. Line 4128

Þarfore þe pope seynt Gregory Tellyþ þys talë, resun why, Þat enuye ys a cursed synne, Any man to falle þer-ynne. Line 4132

Moche are they wurþy to suffre shame, Þat [þat O, þan H.] for enuye brynge a man yn blame, Or make hym lese hys wurldly aght, [gode] Or frendys also to be vnsaght. [O. gloss 'at debate.'] Line 4136 who-so þat doþ, he may hym drede, No þyng but peyne shal be hys mede.

Syn þys wurldë fryst bygan, Enuye haþ be euer [eure be.] yn man; Line 4140 Lucyfer had fyrst enuye, Þat man was made to state so hye; Yn paradys he made hym [Harl. hem.] falle, And seþen of hys ofspryng alle; Line 4144 So that enuye haþ reyned ay [folio 28a:2] Yn alle mankynde vnto þys day; And, Englys men namëly Are þurgh kynde of hertë hy: Line 4148 A forbyseyn ys toldë þys, Seyd on Frenshe men [O. om. 'men.'] and on Englys, 'Þat Frenshe men synne yn lecherye, And Englys men yn enuye.' [

John Morley, Speech in Daily News, June 27, 1894:—

"There is no better test of character in my judgment—whether individually or in public life—there is no better test of character than being able to work with other people. A friend of mine came back from the States the other day, and he said the worst feature in American life is the extraordinary distrust and suspicion which men there entertain of one another, and the readiness in which an inferior motive is found for conduct. I do not know whether that is a true account of America or not, but I am perfectly sure it is not true of my own country. (Hear, hear.) Englishmen are not suspicious, they are not jealous, they are not envious, and I think if they find themselves differing from this man or that upon this question or the other, that does not prevent them from being willing to listen to him upon other subjects upon which they have the happiness to agree. (Hear, hear.) Gentle|men, we hear a great deal of war between in|dividualists and collectivists. Well, I tell you frankly in practical affairs I for one am not very fond of these tickets and labels and solemn nick|names. They are very convenient for the purpose of vituperation, and no doubt a compact and handy nickname saves a lazy mind the trouble of thinking things out for itself; but I for one will never quarrel about a word, providing we are working for the same ends and marching towards the same goal. A great poet, who is the glory of the English race, name, and tongue, once used a sublime phrase. He speaks of the prophetic soul of the wide world dreaming on things to come. [Tennyson.] These beneficent dreams of a society elevated, purified, and renewed, must lead by many diverse ways and many hidden paths to their own realisation. I find no fault with them. They will enrich and vivify Liberalism. The great mission of realising, so far as realisation is practicable, those golden dreams, is the mission confided to our party, and I hope and believe that neither you nor I, in the various calls that may be made upon us, will be found unworthy of our trust." (Great cheering, amid which Mr. Morley resumed his seat.)

] Line 4152

Line 4152 lecherye ys flesshly synne; Enuye cumþ of þe soule wyþ-ynne; lechery ys þe lesse, we fynde, And enuye ys þe more vnkynde; Line 4156 For y se noun yn hys lyue Þat of enuye kan hym shryue; Þogh euery day a man hyt haunte, Ȝyt wyl no man be hyt a-graunte. Line 4160 Telle to any þat he haþ enuye, He seyþ aȝen "hyt ys a lye." [O. gloss 'lesynge.'] how mow þéy þan shryue þat synne, Þat seyn þey haue no gylt þerynne? Line 4164 we Englys men þeron shulde þynke, Þat enuyë vs nat blynk. [noght blynke.]

Bakbytyng cumþ also of enuye; y haue ȝow tolde of þat folye; Line 4168 lykenes of hem men mowe bere, A nedder and a bakbytere; Þe nedder makeþ þe semblant mylde, And yn hys tayle ys venym wylde; Line 4172 Þe bakbytere faryþ ryȝt so: wyþ mylde semblant he spekth þe to, And yn hys tayle he beryþ venym; Behynde þy bak, he spekyþ wurdys grym.

Þe wys kyng Salamon Line 4177 Seyþ þese wurdys to men echon:— "hys lyppes," he seyþ, "he shal make swete, wyþ feyrë wurdys he shal þe grete, Line 4180 But yn hys hertë he shal þynke For to do þe a wykked blynke." So ded þe traytur, fals Iudas, [folio 28b]

Þat dampned ys wyþ Satanas, Line 4184 whan þys Iudas, foule felun, weytede Ihesu with tresun. Fyrst he grete hym and gan lagh, And syþen he kest hym [seþen hym keste.] þat alle men sagh, Line 4188 And yn hys herte was tresun bolde, For to þe Iewës he had hym solde. 'Treytur! recorde what þou hast herde Seyde and sunge yn al þe werlde.' Line 4192 Vndyr heuene ne ys so moche tresun As yn feyre wurd of hert felun. Þarfor, treytur, y tolde þe er, Þy wonyng ys wyþ Lucyfer. Line 4196

Þyr may no man so yware be,— For fors, ne wysdom, ne pouste, For byhest, [beheste.] ne for rychesse, Ne powere, ne hardynesse, [O, hardnesse H.] Line 4200 For lynage, ne for onour, For felawshepe, ne for socour, Ne for breþerhede, ne for spousayle,— Þat treytorhede ne wyl hym asayle; Line 4204 Ne for sweryng, ne for awe, Þat a treytur ne haþ yn þys sum sawe.

who was wyser þan Salamon? who was feyrer þan Absolon? Line 4208 who was rycher yn euery þyng Þan Alaxandre þe ryche kyng? who was swetter þan Ionatas, Or better clerk þan Vyrgyle was? Line 4212 Alle þese coude hem neuer were [kepe] From treytur ne fro bakbytere.

Of a treytur, þys ys þe resun smerte,

with feyrë wurdys, and felun herte; Line 4216 ¹ Bakbytere, he haþ a lak, He ys a treytur behynd þy bak;¹ [1_1 Harl. omits these two lines.] Þe toon ys treytur yn þy present, Þe toþer ys whan þou arte [art.] went. Line 4220

A lyer may be on of þyse, For he haþ of boþe a queyntyse, Behynde þy bak, and eke before, [folio 28b:2] lesyng oueralle [oueral.] ys bore, Line 4224 Yn þese þre men ys al tresun; Þarfor hyt ys preued with resun Þat þesë men, allë þre, Mowe neuer lyghtly saued be. Line 4228 Þe apostle seyþ þat God hem hatys, Ande ouer al ouþer wyþ hem wlatys. [ys wrothe] Þarefore ȝyf any swyche men wore, hyt behoueþ betyme repente hem sore; Line 4232 And leue hyt [hyt al.] whyl þey hauë space, For þan y hope þey may fynde grace. God ȝeue vs grace enuye to fle! And alle treyturs, euyl mote þey þe! Line 4236

[Of Sloth, the 4th Deadly Sin.]

Now shul we speke of sloghnes; Among þe toþer ful wyk hyt ys; [es.] Þe fourþe [vourþe.] hyt ys of dedly synnes, Alle þese rychë men hyt wynnes. Line 4240 Moche ys a man for to blame Þat kan nat wurschep Goddys name with pater noster ne [no.] wyþ crede, Þys beleue shuld hym to heuene lede. Line 4244 Ful slogh he ys þat wyl nat lere Þat yche framë blessed preyere; And also he ys ful of slownes Þat may, and wyl nat, here hys messe, Line 4248

Line 4248 Specyaly on þe Sunday he trespasyþ more [þe more.] yn þe lay.

yn þe woke, o day, þurgh ryght, Þe Sunday, ys a day of myȝt. Line 4252 how sey þese men þat are þus slogh, [so slowe.] Þat oute of mesure slepe a throwe? whan he heryþ a bel ryng, [belle rynge.] To holy cherchë men kallyng, Line 4256 Þan may he nat hys beddë lete But þan behoueþ hym to lygge and swete, And take þe mery mornyng slepe; Of matynes ryche men take no kepe Line 4260 Ȝyf þey mowe ryse [aryse.] at tyme of messe. [folio 29a] For þe matynes, noþer more ne lesse Þan ys þys Terlyncels skylle, 'Slepe þou long, and y shal hele.' Line 4264 he putteþ heuenys yn hys yȝe, And makeþ hym lenger for to lye; And seyþ "al betyme mayst þou ryse, whan þey do þe messe seruyse; Line 4268 A messe ys ynogh for þe; Þe touþer gyblot, late hyt be; here mayst þou bettyr slepe a throwe þan sytte and loke vpp-on a wowe." Line 4272 Þys ys þe cunsel of Terlyncel; yn alle sloghnesse [slownes.] he bereþ þe bel; he ys a deuyl of þat myster, To sloghnes [slownes.] he ys cunseler. Line 4276

þan cumþ one aboutë pryme "Rys up," he seyþ, "now ys tyme." Þan begynneþ he to klawe and to [O. omits 'to.'] raske, And ȝyueþ Terlyncel hys taske. Line 4280 he klawyþ, he shrubbyþ, wel at hys pay, And makyþ to Terlyncel a lay; To hym þat kalled, he spekeþ stoutly, Line 4283 "what deuyl! why haþ þe prest swych hy?

Byd hym þat he abyde algate; Hym dar nat syng ȝyt ouer late." For hym shal so Goddys seruyse abyde Tyl hyt be passed ouer þe tyde. Line 4288 Ȝyt perauenture, at hys rysyng, Of God spekeþ he no þyng, But ȝyf hyt be of sum vanyte Þat rennyþ [renþ.] yn hys þoght; [þogh.] þat spekeþ he.

And when he cumþ vnto þe messe, Þere behoueþ hym hys here [heer.] dresse; Ful fewe bedys are yn hys mouþe, He vsyþ none; þey are vncouthe. Line 4296 And ȝyf a frere cum for to preche, Of a dyner were bettyr speche; Þan seyþ he, "God shal alle saue; [folio 29a:2] Do wel; wel shalt þou haue." Line 4300 Certys þat ys nat ynow, For he [Harl. omits 'he.'] doþ no þyng to prow. But ȝyf he wulde lestene þe frere, To do weyl þan myȝt he lere. Line 4304

Ȝyf hyt be nat þan redy, hys dyner, Take furþe þe chesse or þe tabler; So shal he pley tyl hyt be none, And Goddys seruyse be al done. Line 4308 Alas, wykkédly he dyspendyþ Alle þe lyfe þat God hym sendyth!

Aftyr þe none, þan shal he do As he dede before none so. Line 4312 Swyche a lyfe þan shal he lede, Noght þat he shal haue to mede; yn alle hys lyfe shal he [nat] fynde Oght þat may hym of pyne vnbynde; Line 4316 No more he halt to God cunnaunt, But weyl more to Termagaunt; He [He þat.] ys no morë [more a.] crystyn man

Þan who so kallyþ a blak oxe 'swan.' Line 4320

y dar weyl seye to hygh and logh, yn Goddys seruyse are swych men slogh. Swych synne men kalle 'accyde,' yn Goddës seruyse slogh betyde. Line 4324 lord! what shal swych men seye yn þat poynt when þey shul deye? yn alle here lyfe ne roght [reyghete.] þey noght Of hym þat hem ful derë boght. Line 4328 Ful gretly shul þey hem repente whan þe dome ys aȝens hem went; But þan mow þey do no bote; Ylyche logh lyþ boþe hande and fote. Line 4332

Many swyche mow haue no grace To repentaunce, no to space. Line 4334 Hyt ys no wundyr þogh þey haue noun, Þey wyl nat graunte þey haue mysdoun, Yn here lyfe, whyle þey haue myght; [folio 29b] And þan shal God ȝelde alle with ryght. Ful slogh þey were when þey shuld wyrk; Yn tyme of traueyle were þey yrk [[slow]] ; Line 4340 Þéy þoght nat of þat men spelle, Þat God seyþ yn þe gospelle: "Beþ wakyng," he seyþ, to men alle; "what tymë þat ȝoure lorde wyl kalle, Line 4344 For þat tyme þat ȝe lestë wene He wul ȝow kalle; loke ȝe be clene; For ȝyf ȝe slepe at hys kallyng Ȝe shul nat come yn at þe weddyng." Line 4348

Þys yche lorde kalleþ vs euery day, wyþ þe prechour, alle þat he may. Ȝe are slogh, and lyen to slepe, whan ȝe aȝens þe prechur þrepe; Line 4352 Ȝe mow nat come yn to þe weddyng,— Heuene blys ys þe menyng;— For ȝe slepe yn wykked wyl,

And wyl nat shryue ȝow of ȝoure yl. Line 4356 ȝe wenë þat God shal ȝow ȝeue, Yn wykkednes, long to leue; And ȝe here seyë þat sum whyle, Yn swychë hope goþ mochë gyle. Line 4360

A lytyl tale y shal ȝow [O. omits 'ȝow.'] vndo Of a man þat hoped so, As tellyþ þe holy man, seynt Bede, Yn gestys of Ingland þat men rede. Line 4364

[The Tale of the English Squire who put off his Repentance till too late.]

Þyr was a kyng, 'Conred' [coured O.] he hyght, [Atale.] Þe Mercë was hys kyngdom ryȝt; þe Merce hyght þan, as y herd seye, Þat men kalle now Lyndëseye. Line 4368 Þys Conred [coured O.] had a seriaunt, A wys man, and of body vaylaunt; yn armys was [was he.] a doghty squyere, yn alle þe lande ne was hys pere. Line 4372 Of a vyce, he hadde sum deyl, Þat no man myght trowe him weyl; where þat he myght make a wanlace, [folio 29b:2] And any þyng to þe kyng purchace, Line 4376 He ne lette for no fals oth, Ne for wraþþe of lefe ne [no.] loth, Þat he ne made ofte dysheresun, And holy cherche traueylede with tresun. For wrong ne lefte he nyȝt ne day, But onely [onely þat.] he serued þe kyng to pay; He ne ȝaf tale of shame ne synne, Line 4383 But þat onely he myght rycchesse wynne.

Þyr fyl on hym a syknes [a syknes on hym.] so stronge Þat he lay yn hys beddë long. Sone aftyr betydde a lyte Line 4387

Line 4387 Þe kyng come, hym to vysyte, Line 4388 And bad hym be of répentaunce, And shryue hys synne for allë chaunce; "Forsake now," he seyde, "alle þy [O, þe H.] mys|dede, And y shal fynde þe at þy nede." Line 4392 He seyde, "so shall y aftyrwarde; Ȝyf y may skape þys euyl harde, Þan shal y do oueral ryght, And ȝeue me al to God almyght; [of myght.] Line 4396 But ȝyt wyl y do hyt yn respyte Tyl y be of þys euyl alle quyte; Y wul [wlde.] nat be founde so vyl Þat myn herte were yn swyche peryl Line 4400 To repente me for a lytyl syknes, But ȝyf y were yn harder stres. Ȝyf y, for dredë, aske a preste, Þat shame shulde al day [al day shulde.] be me neste Line 4404 Þat y were a-ferd of þe ded. Y wyl nat ȝyt do at þy rede; But lefë syre, latyþ me lye; Alle þat ȝe seye, me þynkeþ folye." Line 4408

Þe kyng lettyd þarforë noȝt; To leue hys synne, efte he hym besoght, For he helde hym of gretë prys For þat he was boþe doghty and wys. Line 4412

And þys ys a custummable þyng [folio 30a] Now, wyþ euëry lordyng, [lordynge.] Þat, ȝyf his stuwarde hym oght wynne, Be hyt wyþ ryght, or wyþ synne, Line 4416 Hym wyl he holdë most pryue Of allë þo þat wyþ hym be. But as he takeþ þerof þe frame, He shal haue parte of synne and shame.

þe kyng come eft to þe seriaunt, Line 4421 And bad hym to be répentaunt, And þenk on hys saluacyun, And shryue hys synne þat he had doun.

"Syre," he seyd, "þys ys my chaunce, Hyt ys noght my répentaunce; For, langér as y here lay, Ryȝt at þe oure of mydday, Line 4428 Twey ȝunge men come hedyr to me, Þe feyrest þat any man myght se; Me þoght, ryȝt whan y sagh þo, Þat y felt no þyng of wo. Line 4432 Byfore my bedde þey stode a þrowe, [O. gloss 'whyle.'] And behelde me as they shuld me knowe; when þey had stonde a lytyl tyde, Þey set hem doune on my bedde syde. Line 4436 when þey set were, furþ þey toke And shewed a lytyl feyrë boke, And bad me þat y shuld hyt rede, For alle hyt was myn ownë dede; Line 4440 And y þat neuer on bokë couþe, Alle y hyt red with opun mouþe; Alle þe gode dedys þat euer y wroght, Alle were þere before me broght, Line 4444 Þe lestë þoght þat y coulde þynke, Þat of godenesse hadde any blynke, Alle y sagh hyt before me, For lytyl was hyt vnto se; Line 4448 For lessë myȝt neuer haue bene Ȝyf any man hyt shulde haue sene.

"when y hadde reddeþat y myght rede, [folio 3012a] Þey shette here boke, and furþ þey ȝede. Sone aftyrward whan þey were gone, Line 4453 Come ouþer two, sone anone; Blak þey were, and foule stynkyng, wyþ glesyng yȝen, and mouþe grennyng; Þey come and stodë on my bedde; Line 4457 Me þoght y wax nygh wode for dredde; Y turned me on euery syde, From hem myght y nat me [me nat.] hyde; Line 4460 And as y me went hem to fle

Euer þey werë aȝens me. But whan y sagh no better bote, Y lay stylle boþe hand and fote; Line 4464 whan þey had traueyled me so with yl, A stoundë sate þey by me styl And drogh furþ a mochë boke,— Þe most þat y euer on gan loke: Line 4468 So grete hyt was and so orryble, þer-yn was more þan yn a byble;— For alle þat y haue do wyþ synne, Euery dele ys wryte þerynne, Line 4472 And euery wurde with sorow and pyne Þey made me redë, maugre myne; Þe lestë wurde þat euer y þoght, Þat vnto synne a-mountede oght, Line 4476 was yn þat boke ful þykly dreuyn, was none forȝetyn ne forȝeuyn; And alle y redde, boþe lesse and more; Þat was þe pyne þat pyned me sore. Line 4480

whan hyt was redd euerydeyl, Þe boke was shet, and leyd vp weyl. Þey ȝaue to me syþen alle here entent, For to here wylle, y am alle went. Line 4484 Twey brennyng knyuys þey oute drogh, And seyd, "Do we oure dedë nowe; Do we swyþe, and noght we dwelle, And hast we vs wyþ hym to helle." Line 4488

Þe toon þurgh myn hedë smote [folio 38b] wyþ þe knyfe þat was so hote; Þe toþer smote me yn-to þe fete Þat almost to-gedyr þe strokës mete; Line 4492 But whan þey are to gedyr y-come, And haue my [myn.] herte betwyxe hem nome, Þan shal y dey, and hennë [O, hen H.] wende with þese to helle with-outyn ende. Line 4496

wharto shuld y þan [þan shulde y.] me repente

whan y wote my Iugëment? And, þogh y myght lenger lyue, No man myȝt hem me forȝyue; Line 4500 Ȝyf y shulde haue any grace, y shulde haue asked whan y had space; But now y wote, ys al to late, O poynt of my pyne to abate. [bate.] Line 4504 My synnes are grete, and many one; Forȝeuënes shal be ryght none."

Alle he tolde þys to þe kyng, And asswyþe made hys endyng; Line 4508 And ȝede to helle, and was forlore For sloghnes, as y tolde byfore.

whan a man ys slogh, and wyl nat do Þat holy cherche techyþ hym to, [vnto.] Line 4512 Aȝens God he ys froward, And yn hys synne he wexeþ hard; Þan puttyþ þe fende yn hys þoght Þat hys synne ys lytyl or noght; Line 4516 And when tyme werë, mercy calle, yn wanhope, he makeþ hym falle. And alle ys þys for sloghþehede, Line 4519 whan man betyme wyl haue no drede; Þarefore seyþ þe kyng Salamon "Beþ nat ydul, neuer none," For ȝoure gode dedys, ȝe shul hem fynde, Oute of pyne þey wyl ȝow vnbynde. Line 4524 he þat ys slogh yn euery gode dede, what shal helpe [helpe hym.] whan he haþ nede?

Þe holyman spekþ of a synne [folio 30b:2] Of sloghnes, þat men falle [are.] ynne; Line 4528 Ȝyf þat any shuld oght weyl do, hym loþyþ so gretly þarto Þat he fondyþ on allë wyse To do hyt on þe werst asyse. Line 4532 Ȝyf he of Godys wurde oght here, Þerof hym þynkeþ an hundred ȝere;

But ȝyf he be at any pleyyng At þe ale house, or at any ouþer ianglyng For to rage wyþ ylka fyle [maydgerle [O. eury maydegerlde.] ] , Line 4540 Þer þenkeþ hym but lytyl whyle.

yn goddys seruyse are swyche [swylke.] men yrk [slow] ; when þey come vn-to þe kyrke Line 4540 To here matynys or messë song, hem þenkeþ hyt lastyþ ouer long; Þan shal he iangle, or telle a tale, Or wyte where þey shul haue þe beste ale. Swyche synne ys kalled 'accyde,' Line 4545 yn gode dede to be slogh, or long abyde.

Ȝyf any man be coupable yn þys, yn swyche poyntys þat he [O. omits 'he.'] haue do mys, Be he hygh or be he logh, Line 4549 He ys yn Goddys seruyse slogh. But whan men heryn of þys preche, Þat god of swyche wyl takë wreche; Line 4552 'A!' lyghtly þey sey, as hyt may falle, 'God haue mercy on vs alle;' As who seye 'ȝyf he wyl vs saue, Or ȝyf he wyl nat; late vs [al.] beleue.' Line 4556

Nay, nay, hyt may nat be so, Þyr behoueþ more þarto; Þou gettyst nat heuene so lyghtly But þou do yn dede more why. Line 4560 Prey hym fyrst he ȝeue þe þat mede Þat þou mayst serue hym wel yn dede: Ȝyf þou praye þus and syþen wel do, So mayst þou come hys mercy to; Line 4564 And nat yn ydylnes, as ȝe þynke, [folio 31a] wel to ete and wel to drynke, And ofte to swerë at youre wyl,

whan no man chargeþ ȝow þar tyl: Line 4568 So come to heuene, hyt may nat be, For, God hadde hyt neuer so fre.

[Against Tournaments.]

Of tournamentys þat are forbede yn holy cherchë, as men rede, Line 4572 Of tournamentys y preue þerynne, Seuene poyntës of dedly synne: Fyrst, ys pryde, as þou wel wost, Auauntëment, bobaunce, and bost; Line 4576 Of ryche atyre ys here auaunce, Prykyng here hors with olypraunce. wete þou wel þer [þyr.] ys enuye whan one seeþ anoþer do maystrye, [more maystrie.] Line 4580 Oþer yn wurdys, oþer yn dedys; Enuye moste of alle hem ledys. Yre and wraþþe may þey nat late; Line 4583 Ofte are tournamentys made for hate. Ȝyf euery knyȝt louede oþer weyl, Tournamentes shulde be neuer a deyl; And certys þey falle yn sloghnes, Line 4587 Þey loue hyt more þan God oþer [or.] messe; And, þerof ys hyt no doute, þey dyspende more gode þer [þyr.] aboute— þat ys ȝeue allë [al.] to folye— Þan to any dede of mercy. Line 4592

And ȝyt may nat, on no wyse, Be forgete dame coueytyse, For she shal fonde, on allë [al.] wyse, To wynnë hors, and harnyse. Line 4596 And ȝyt shal he make sum robbery, Or bygyle hys hoste þer he shal lye.

Glotonye also ys hem among,

Delycyus metes to make hem strong; Line 4600 And drynke þe wyne þat he were lyght, wyþ glotonye to make hym wyght.

Ȝyt ys þere dame lecherye; [folio 31a:2] Of here cumþ allë here maystrye. Line 4604 Many tymes, for wymmen sake, knyghteys tournamentys make; And whan he wendyþ to þe tournament She sendyþ hym sum pryuy present, Line 4608 And byt hym do for hys lemman Yn vasshelage [vasselage.] alle þat he kan; So ys he bete þere, for here loue, Þat he ne may sytte hys hors aboue, Line 4612 Þat perauenture, yn alle hys lyue Shal he neuer aftyr þryue. loke now whedyr swyche tournours [tourneours.] Mow be kallëd turmentours? Line 4616 For, þey turmente alle with synne; Þere tourment ys, þer shul þey ynne, But þey leuë swyche myschaunce, And for here synnë do penaunce. Line 4620

Also y tellë by iustyng, Þér-of cumþ myschefful þyng; Alle ys þe toon with þe touþer, As a shyppe þat ys turned with þe roþer.

And þese bourdys of þese squyers, Line 4625 Also haue þey made for swyche maners Of prydë, hatë, and enuye, Sloghtnesse, [Sloghnes.] coueytyse, and glotonye: lecherye makþ hem alle to bygynne; Line 4629 Þese wymmen are partyners of þere synne.

A clerk of order þat haþ þe name, Ȝyf he iuste, he ys to blame, Line 4632 Hyt were wurþy þat had þe gre, Brokyn þe armë, legge, [or lege.] or thee; hyt ys forsoþe, ȝyf he so werche,

Aȝens þe state of holy cherche. Line 4636

hyt ys forbode hym, yn þe decre, Myrácles for to make or se; For, myrácles ȝyf þou bygynne, Hyt ys a gaderyng, [O, gaderynt, H.] a syght of synne, Line 4640

He may yn þe cherche, þurgh þys resun, [folio 31b] Pley þe resurreccyun,— Þat ys to seyë, how God ros, God and man yn myȝt and los,— Line 4644 To make men be yn beleuë gode Þat he ros with flesshe and blode; And he may pleye, withoutyn plyght howe God was bore yn ȝolë nyght, Line 4648 To make men to beleue stedfastly Þat he lyght yn þe vyrgyne Mary.

Ȝif þou do hyt yn weyys or greuys, A syght of synne truly hyt semys. Line 4652 Seynt Ysodre, [Isidre.] y take to wyttnes, For he hyt seyþ, þat soþe hyt es; þus hyt seyþ, yn hys boke, Þey forsakë þat þey toke— Line 4656 God and herë crystendam— Þat make swyche pleyys to any man As myrácles and [or.] bourdys, Or tournamentys of grete prys. Line 4660 þese are þe pompes þat þou forsoke, Fryst [Fyrst.] whan þou þy crystendam toke. At þe fonte, seyþ þe lewed man, Line 4663 "y forsake þe, here, Satan, And alle þy pompes and all thy werkys:" Þys ys þy lore, aftyr þe clerkys. haldyst þou forward, e, certys nay, whan þou makyst swyche a-dray? Line 4668 Aȝens God þou brekest cunnaunt, [cumnaunt.] And seruyst ȝoure syre, Termagaunt.

Seynt Ysodre seyþ yn hys wrytyng, 'Alle þo þat delyte to se swyche þyng, Line 4672 Or hors or harneys lenyþ þar-tyl; [O. gloss 'to.'] Ȝyt haue þey gylt of here peryl.'

Ȝyf prest or clerk lene vestëment [Harl. vestment.] Þat halwed ys þurgh sacrament; Line 4676 More þan ouþer þey are to blame, Of sacrylege þey haue þe fame: Famë, for þey falle yn plyght, [folio 31b:2] Þey shuld be chastysed [chastyed.] þerfor with ryȝt.

Daunces, karols, somour games, Line 4681 Of many swych come many shames; whan þou stodyst [stodyyst.] to makë þyse, Þou art slogh yn Goddys seruyse; Line 4684 And þat synnen yn swych þurgh þe, For hem þou shalt a-couped be.

what seye ȝe by euery mynstral, Þat yn swyche þynges delyte hem alle? Here doyng ys ful perylous, Line 4689 Hyt loueth noþer God ne goddys house; Hem were leuer here of a daunce, Of host, and of olypraunce, Line 4692 Þan any gode of God of heuene, Or ouþer wysdom þat were to neuene. Yn foly ys allë þat þey gete, here cloth, here drynkë, and here mete. And, for swych þyng, telle y shal, Line 4697 what byfyl onys of a mynstral: Seynt Gregorye telleþ yn hys spell how hyt of a mynstral fell. Line 4700

[The Tale of the Minstrel who was kild for disturbing a Bishop.]

A mynstralle, a gulardous, Come onys to a bysshopes hous [A tale]

And asked þere þe charyte; Þe porter lete hym haue entre; Line 4704

At tyme of mete, þe bourde was leyd, And þe benesun shuld be seyd; Þys mynstral made hys melody with gretë noyse, and loude, and hy. Line 4708 Of þe bysshope, þe famë ran Þat he was an holy man; Þe bysshope sette hym at þe bourde, Line 4711 And shuld haue blessed hyt with wurde; So was he sturbled with þe mynstral, Þat he hadde no grace to sey with [weyl.] -alle His graces ryght deuoutëly For þe noyse of þe mynstralsy. Line 4716

Þe bysshope pleyned hym ful sore, [folio 32a] And seyd to allë þat were þore, Þat he ne shulde make hys nycete Before the graces of þe charyte. Line 4720 He sagh hyt weyl, þurgh þe spryt, [spyryt.] Þat þer shuld come veniaunce astyt. [alstyt.] "Ȝyueþ hym þe charyte, & latyþ hym go; Hys deþ ys nygh, þat shal hym slo." Line 4724 He toke charyte, and toke hys gate; [O. gloss 'weye.'] And as he passed out at þe ȝate, A stonë fyl down of þe wal, And slogh þerë þe mynstral. Line 4728

Þat betokened þat God was noght Payd of þat þe mynstral wroght, Þat he desturbled þe benesoun And þe gode mannys deuocyoun. Line 4732

Þys tolde y for þe glemennes sake, To loke whan þey here gle shuld [shul.] make; And also for þo þat shuld hyt here, Þat þey loue hyt nat so dere, Line 4736

Line 4736 Ne haue þerynne so grete lykyng, Þe lesse to wurschyp heuene kyng.

[A Tale of Bishop St. Robert Grostest of Lincoln, and why he lovd Music.]

Y shall ȝow telle, as y haue herd, Of þe bysshope Seynt Roberd; Line 4740 Hys tonamë ys 'Grostest Of Lynkolne,' so seyþ þe gest. he loued moche to here þe harpe, For mannys wytte hyt makyþ sharpe; Line 4744 Next hys chaumbre, besyde hys stody, Hys harpers chaumbre was fast þerby. Many tymes, be nyȝtys and dayys, He had solace of notes and layys. Line 4748 One asked hym onys, resun why he hadde delyte yn mynstralsy: he answerede hym on þys manere, why he helde þe harper [harpe.] so dere, Line 4752 "Þe vertu of þe harpe, þurgh skylle & ryȝt, wyl destroye þe fendës myȝt, And to þe croys by godë skylle [folio 32a:2] Ys þe harpë lykened weyle. Line 4756

Anoþer poynt cumfórteþ me, Þat God haþ sent vnto [O, to H.] a tre So mochë ioye to here with eere; Moche þan morë ioye ys þere Line 4760 with God hym-selfë, þere he wonys; Þe harpe þerof me oftë mones; Of þe ioye and of þe blys where God hym-self wonys [woneþ.] and ys. Line 4764 Þare-for, gode men, ȝe shul lere, whan ȝe any glemen here, To wurschep God at ȝoure powere, As Dauyd seyþ yn þe sautere, Line 4768 "yn harpe, yn thabour, and symphan gle, wurschepe God, yn troumpes, and sautre,

yn cordys, an [yn.] organes, and bellys ryngyng, yn al þese, wurschepe ȝe heuene kyng." Ȝyf ȝe do þus, y sey hardly, Line 4773 Ȝe mow here ȝoure mynstralsy.

Ȝyf þou lyggë long yn synne, And wylt nat ryse, ne þerof blynne, Line 4776 Certeynly, for euery oure Þou shalt ȝelde a-counte ful soure; For euery oure þat þou þeryn lay Yn purgatorye þou gest þy pay. Line 4780 Hyt ys sloghnes, and kalled 'accyde,' Fro Goddys seruyse so long þe hyde.

And some, alle þe ȝere wyllyn abyde Of shryftë tyl þe lentyn tyde; Line 4784 And nygh tyl lentyn be al gone Mede for fastyng gete þey none; Þat ys, for sloghnes þey wyl nat ryse; lyggyng yn synne, ys lore seruyse. Line 4788

And, sum men, yn alle here lyue, Clenly ne wylë þey hem shryue; For þey synne alle yn hope of grace, At here endyng wene þey haue space; Line 4792 Þan þenkë þey to shryue hem clene: [folio 32b] To swyche men, God sheweþ hys tene. Hyt ys seyd al day, for þys skyl, "he þat wyl nat whan he may, Line 4796 He shal nat, when he wyl, [haue pay.]" And þer byþ many one ful euyl to wynne To any godenes fro vylë synne; Line 4800 Euyl tokyn hyt ys [Harl. omits 'ys.'] of swyche a man, God hym deme; for y ne kan.

And þyr are ouþer þat mys dous, As a best, [beste.] for defaute þat goþ lous. Line 4804 But whan men techë hem þe wey, And þey wyl do as men hem sey;

A tokyn hyt ys, þey shul haue grace To come to God, and hauë space. Line 4808 And he may hope of euyl endyng Þat nonë may to Godë brynge.

A slogh messagere, hys wylland, Þat charged ys wyþ lordes erand, Line 4812 Ȝyf he go nat as he ys sent, He ys wurþy to be shent. Man þat wel spedyþ hym yn dede, And messáger smart at nede, Line 4816 Þey shul stonde byfore þe kyng, And hauë mede to here askyng.

A persone ys slogh yn holy cherche Þat on hys shepë wyl nat werche Line 4820 How þey shul hem-self[ë] ȝeme, And God and holy cherche to queme. Þe hyghë shepard shal hym blame, how he lateþ hem go to shame. Line 4824

Ȝyf he se yn any þyng Þat þey haue defaute of chastysyng, But he teche hem and chastyse so Þat þey forward better do, Line 4828 For hem he shal, at þe assyse, Be ponysshed before þe hygh Iustyse. Also behoueþ hym, for hem pray, Þat God, of grace, wysse hem þe wey. Line 4832

Ȝyf any of hem defautë has, [folio 32b:2] And he may helpe hem yn þat kas, And wyl nat, for vnkyndhede, But late hem perysshe þer for nede, Line 4836 Ful harde a-countë shal he ȝelde Þat he myȝt helpe whan he ne welde. Ȝyf he kyndly vndyrstode, Of hem he haþ al hys gode; Line 4840

Line 4840 For, God seyþ yn þe gospel þys, Vpbreydyng hem when þey do mys: Þe mylke, þe wulle, þey wyl receyue; Line 4843 And syþþen þe shepe þey wyle late weyue. Holy wrytë swyche men holdes As wyldë wuluës brekyng foldes. Swyche a personë ys ful slogh, Be he hygh, or be he logh. Line 4848

Man or womman þat haþ a chylde Þat wyþ vnþewys wexyþ wylde, Þat wyl boþe myssey and do, Chastysment behoueþ þarto; Line 4852 But ȝe hem chastyse at ȝoure myȝt, Ȝe falle, ellys, for hem yn plyȝt. Better were þe chylde vnbore Þan fayle chastysyng, and syþþen lore. Þus seyth þe wys kyng Salamonn Line 4857 To men and wymmen euerychonn, "wyle ȝe þat [Harl. þet.] ȝoure chyldryn [chylder.] be a-ferd, Ȝyueþ [ȝeuyf.] hem þe smert ende of þe ȝerde;" And techeþ hem gode þewys echone; Ȝyt dur ȝow brekë hem no bone. Line 4862

[The Tale of the Father that would not chastise his Child.]

y shal ȝow telle a wundyr þyng [A tale.] Þat fylle for defaute of chastysyng: Line 4864 Seynt Gregory telleþ, þat mochë kan, Of a folë husbunde man Þat hatede a chylde þat he furþe broght wykkedly, for he chastyed hym noght. Þys chylde was wurþy for to blame, Line 4869 For ofte he cursed Goddys name; whan aght was do aȝens hys wylle, He cursede Goddys name wyþ ylle. Line 4872

Line 4872 Seynt Gregory tellyþ hyt wyþ grete eye; But as he seyþ, þan dar y seye.

Þys ychë chyld [sone] aftyrward Fyl yn[to] a syknes hard; Line 4876 Þe fadyr hadde þerof pyte, Þe chyld he daunted on hys kne, And haddë þarfor mochë kare Þat he sagh hys chylde so fare; Line 4880 For hyt began to braye and crye As, þogh hyt shuld al to-flye.

Þe fadyr asked, why hyt so ferde, Or what hyt sagh, or what hyt herde. Line 4884 Þe chyldë seyd "blake men, blake, Are aboutë, me to take; Me, wyþ hem, wyl þey lede, Y ne shal skapë for no nede." Line 4888 Yn þe fadrys [faders.] bosum hyt wulde hym hyde, But þe fende, þat ychë tyde, Refte þe saulë vnto helle. Þan began þe chylde to ȝelle, Line 4892 And cursed onys Goddys name, And deyde, and ȝede [wente.] to helle with shame.

Þys yche chylde þat y haue of tolde, was but fyuë wyntyr olde. Line 4896 Þus þe chylde þat was so ȝunge was lore for faute of chastysynge. But þe fadyr, þat [O. omits 'þat.'] no gode couþe, Line 4899 Myȝte haue chastyëd hym [hyt.] with mouþe, Stoutly, for euery a lak, And betë hyt, whan hyt so spak.

Oueral y se þys custome wonys; Rychë men haue shrewed sonys,— Line 4904 Shrewys yn dedë and yn sawe,— why? For þey haue nonnë awe. Yn hys ȝouþe shal he mysseye

And skornë ouþer by þe weye; Line 4908 Þan seyþ þe fadyr "þys chyldys wurde [folio 33a:2] Ne shal nat ley allë yn hurde." And ȝyf he lernë gylerye, Fals wurde and feynt trenlyng [tremlynge.] with ye, [eye.] Þat halte hys fadyr a queyntyse Line 4913 And of slygh wyt, to knowe þat wyse. Ȝyf he do skaþe gladly with fyght, Þan seyþ þe fadyr "he shal be wyght; He shal be hardy, and no man drede, Line 4917 He begynneþ be tyme be doghty [dughty.] yn dede." But ryght so shal hyt of hem falle As dyd of Ely sonys alle. Line 4920 y shal ȝow telle, to preue my sawe, what fyl yn þe oldë lawe. [dawe O. has 1 (dotted under) and d written over.] [A tale] yn þe byble hyt tellyþ, þat toucheþ swych þynges, yn þe holy boke of kynges; Line 4924 And wrytë hyt ys [ys þere.] opunly, Of a patryark, syre Ely.

[The tale of 'Syre Ely' and his wicked Sons.]

Þys Ely was a man ryȝt ryche, And, to hys chyldrén ryght blyche; Line 4928 he hadde twey sonys, þat ys no les, 'Ofnee' the toon hyght, þe touþer 'Fynees.' Þese twey chyldryn dyd ful wykkedly To man and woman þat þey come by; Line 4932 Lyers, robbours, and lechours, Skorners, and also auoutours; wymmen þat to þe temple come, here offryng from hem þey nome. Line 4936 Þese wymmen come to syre Ely, And pleyned hem of grete vyleynye, 'Þat hys sonys were vnhende,

hem also for to shende. Line 4940 O defaute was, þey by hem lay; A-noþer, þey bare here offryng away.' "Do þerof sum chástysyng, For þe loue of heuene kyng!" Line 4944

Here fadyr Ely þan was wo, For þat yche fame shulde of hem go. Ely kalled hys sone, "Ofnee [folio 33b] And Fyneës, come ȝe to me! Line 4948 Sonës," he seyde, ['he seyde' O, H. omits.] "ȝe are me dere; y bydde ȝow boþe, on feyre manere, Þat ȝe leue ȝoure foly dedes, And ouþer foly þat ȝow ledys; Line 4952 Y herë of ȝow foulë fame, Þe folkë seyn ȝe are to blame; Y rede ȝe leue alle swych foly, Þat y of ȝow here no more cry." Line 4956

Þese chyldryn were strong and stout; Of fadres byddyng þey hadde [had þey.] no dout, But werë shrewys for þe more, [forþermore.] Or werse þan þey hadde be byfore; Line 4960 And God was wroþe wyþ here mysdede Þat þey ne leftë for no drede; And, God was wyþ Ely wroþe, For he dyd hys sones no loþe, Line 4964 To chastyse hem wyþ fyn awe And with þe smartnes of þe lawe.

Þarfor toke god hys venïaunce Of hem, and mo, for þat myschaunce; Line 4968 He lete þe fals Phylystyens, Þe folk of Isrel to werre aȝens. Ely and hys, þey gunne assayle, And ouercome hem tweys yn batayle. Line 4972

Þese Phylystyens þat hadde þe maystry, Beleuyd on Dagoun, a maumettry. On a god þat þey kalled Dagoun, Beleued þe Phylystynes echoun. Line 4976 Þarefor hyt was but Goddys suffraunce

Þat shewyd why þey hadde swych chaunce.

Þe folk of Isrel had þoght, and syghte, For þey were twyys scumfyghte; Line 4980 Þey ordeyned hem on allë wyse how þey shulde best to batayle ryse, Aȝens þe Phylystynes for to go, And hem dyscumfytë and slo. Line 4984 þey ordeyned hem for to bere [folio 33b:2] Goddys arke with hem yn to were. [O. gloss 'bateyle.'] Ely sones were stoute and stark, And were chose to bere Goddys ark; Line 4988 For reuerence þey ded hyt, of Ely, And for þey were of body doghty.

Goddys ark was of swych manere As men make now shrynës here. Line 4992 yn þys ark werë þre þynges Þat men ȝaue to here offrynges; Þar-yn was Moyses table whar-on God wrote þe lawë stable; Line 4996 And Aarons ȝerd, and a potte of golde: Þese þre relykes þey helde ful holde. Yn þe pottë was a floure, whyte, and swete of al sauoure, Line 5000 Þat floure ys kalled 'aungelys mete' Þat God ȝafe þe folke to ete whan þey were yn wyldernes Forty wyntyr, yn hard stres. Line 5004 Þese þyngës þan bare Ely sones yn-to þe batayle þat ȝyt of mones.

Þe phylystyens come hem for [O. omits 'for.'] to assayle, And slogh Ely sonës [sones boþe.] yn batayle, Line 5008 And rauysshed Goddys ark þere, And slogh þe folk þat þer were, And þe relykys þat þere were [were þer.] ynne: Alle were lore for þe sonys synne. Line 5012

whan þe folk to þe batayle fore, [ȝede] Ely sette hym at þe temple dore

yn a chayre, and was herkenyng Fro þe batayle sum tydyng, Line 5016 On what manere þe folk shulde spede, For of Goddys ark he had grete drede.

One come rennyng hastyly, And broghte þys tydyng to Ely Line 5020 Þat hys sonys were boþe slayn, And Goddys ark with myght and mayn [strenkþ] was bore away for euermore. [folio 34a] Alas, þe sorow þat he hadde þerfore! Line 5024 whan Ely herd þys euyl tydyng, For sorowe he gan hys handys wryng, And fyl bakward of hys chayre, And brak on [þer on.] two hys swyer; [nekke] Line 5028 And of hys hede he brake þe bone, Þe harnës [brayn [O. omits the gloss.] ] lay vpp-on þe stone.

Þys ychë tale ys no tryfyl, For hyt ys wryte yn þe bybyl; Line 5032 And to ȝow y telle hyt here, Ȝoure sonys to chastyse and to lere, [O. gloss 'teche.'] Þat ȝe, ne þey, be nat shent For defaute of chastysment Line 5036 Bodyly, yn þys worlde here, And aftyr þat, þe soule so dere.

Þenkeþ on Ely and on [O. omits 'on.'] hys sonys; And to gode ȝoure chyldryn wones. Line 5040 For, ryght so as hem gan tyde, Swyche as þey were, þe same mow byde. Of sloghnes þys ys þe assyse whan þou wylt nat betyme chastyse. Line 5044

Ȝyt ys þyr an ydulnes,— A grete vnwysdom for soþe hyt ys,— whan a ȝunge man dragh [draghþ.] lyte on lenkþe, And wyl nat trauayle yn hys ȝungþe, [Ȝenþe.] Line 5048 Ne lernë hym craft for to wynne, Yn hys agë to leue wel ynne.

Certes me þenkeþ hym ful slogh; Hys þryfte wyl melte away with snogh. Line 5052 And þogh a man haue oght [oght of.] erytage Þat he may lyue wyþ weyl yn age, Certes ȝyt behoueþ hym lere Manhede and curtesye yn fere. Line 5056 A man hys manhedë shal ȝerne [desyre] hymself and hys meynë to gouerne.

Þus seyþ þe kyng Salamon, And þese holy men echone; Line 5060 "Hyt ys an ydulnes yn here lyfe, [folio 34a:2] Alle þat ouþer man or wyfe Trauayleþ for þe lyuës fode, And lytyl for þe soulës gode. Line 5064

Þogh þou trauayle alle þat þou may, Ne be þou neuer so ryche ne gay, But þou serue God yn alle þy þoght Þat þy soule to heuene be broght, Line 5068 Sykyrlyche alle ys hyt but lore, Þy grete trauayle syn þou were bore; Alle for sloghthede be tolde hyt shal, To werche al day, and lese hyt alle. Line 5072

Ȝyt us þyr an vnkynde sloghþhede, Þat a man vnneþ, for no gode dede, wyl wurschep God derwrþly, But more þarfor aȝens hym ly. Line 5076 And [And þat.] mayst þou þe soþë se Of rychë men, how stout þey be; For many one þat he ȝyfþ to rychesse, Of God and man þey ȝyue no [þe.] lesse. Line 5080 Ȝyf he ȝyue to any hys ryght lemes, [lymes.] To þanke hym þerof, no man ȝeue [Ȝeme.] nymes. loke alle þy lymës, fete and hondes, And, ȝyf þou weyl vndyrstondys Line 5084 Þat þou ne hast nedë of þo, Þank hym noþer yn wele no wo;

And ȝyf þou mayst forberë noun, Þank þan hym [hym þan.] of euerychoun; Line 5088 y rede we þanke hym of euery poynt, Syn we may nat [ne may.] forbere þe lest Ioynt.

ȝyt þyr ys a sloghþehede yn þys synne; Vnkynde men are alle þer-ynne; Line 5092 yn sum man, vnkyndehede ys so rank Þat he ne may cunne no man þank For no gode dede þat [þat O, þan H.] men hym dous. A dogge ys kynder, þat goþ lous, Line 5096 For, ȝyue a dogge þryd part hys fode, And he shal euer weyte þe gode, And euermorë be wyþ þe, [folio 34b] For lyfë ne deþ wyl he fle. Line 5100

By þys skyl mayst þou se how An hounde ys kynder þan art þou; And ȝyt may hyt preuyd be Þat þou art as vnkynde as he. Line 5104 Of þe houndë, þys y fynde, Þat most he hateþ hys owne kynde; For that yche houndë þat hym gat, Most of allë hateþ he þat; Line 5108 And hys modyr he hateþ also; He byt here, ȝyf he may cum here to. Ȝyf ȝe vndyrstondë kan, Þus faryþ hyt of a [an.] vnkynd man; Line 5112 For he loueþ more an ouþer kynde, And þarto ys wel morë mynde, Þan he douþ þat ychë flesshe Of whos kynde he cum forþe ys. [ysse.] Line 5116

A-noþer þyng ȝyt ys, [O. omits 'ys.'] ȝyf þou ȝeue kepe, Þat many loue more nete and [and O, þan H.] shepe Þan he douþ hys emcrystene, Or of hys harme wyl oght bemene. Line 5120 And þys ys a grete vnkyndnes, And also aȝen manhede hyt ys; [es.] And sloghþëhede wel for to proue,

Vnkyndly, and lowe, to loue. Line 5124

Ȝyf þou art yn godë wyl To seruë God, and leue alle yl, Repente þe nat, for no feyntyse, Ne be nat heuy to hys seruyse; Line 5128 Þou shuldyst raþer to þe deþ turne Ar þou shust wyþ hys seruyse scorne.

Ȝyf þou bygynne weyl, y rede þou ende, For fyrst and last þou fyndyst hym hende. And ȝyf þou bygynne any þyng, Line 5133 Þenk what shal be þe endyng. For þogh þou seruë God to pay, Alle þy lyfe, [lyue.] boþe nyȝt and day, Line 5136 And at þe laste ende of þy lyffe [folio 34b:2] Þou fallyst aȝens hym yn stryffe, So þat þou yn þat ychë synne Makyst þan þy [þanne þyn.] endyng ynne, Line 5140 God forget alle þy gode dede; Of hym þerfor gest þou no mede. Ryght so ys he to þe redy whan þou wylt leue alle þy foly, Line 5144 And come to hym with répentaunce, yn blys he makeþ þy puruyaunce. At þe ende shal boþe dede and þoght Shewe hym self how hyt ys wroght. Line 5148

Ne be nat þou [þou nat.] sorowful, y þe forbede; hyt semyþ, yn Goddys seruyse þan þou hast drede; And dredë wyl make a man slogh To do þe seruyse þat he hogh. [oghe.] Line 5152 But serue hym gladly with louely chere, Þan ys þy seruyse to hym dere: Þus techyþ vs Dauid þe prophete yn þe sautyr, wurdys swete; Line 5156

Line 5156 "Ne be nat proude þogh þou weyl dous, yn þyn herte to make a rous" [boste] Þat þou holy lyfë ledys, Yn fastyng, or yn almës dedys. Line 5160 Þe fyrst ys ouer mochë drede, Þe touþer ys [O. omits 'ys.'] proude hauncenhede. Holde þe euene hem betwene, Nat ouer-drede ne ouer-wene. Line 5164

No make no sorowe, ne myslyke, Þat wanhope In þyn hertë styke; For þat ys þe werst poynt of alle; To hellë þyt hyt doþe þe falle. Line 5168 Sloghënes, hyt wyl þe grope To bryngë þe yn-to whanhope; Sloghnes yn allë godë dedys, Ys as moche, as sum men redys, Line 5172 As þogh þou shryue þe of a synne, And þenke no more to falle þer-ynne. Ȝyf þou be slogh, and heuy, [folio 35a] And doust no gode dede of mercy, Line 5176 Þus seyþ God yn hys gospel, Þat "þou art to me a voyde vessel." Ful lyght þan art þou for to turne Aȝen to synne, and to soiurne; Line 5180 Þan art þou wersë þan þou was, Boundë vn-to Satanas; Þan wylle Satanas begynne to prykke, And whanhope yn þy hertë stykke. Line 5184 whanhope, God shelde vs þar-fro, hyt steryþ a man hym self to slo; So ded þe treytur Iudas, And forsoþe, wurþy he was. Line 5188 why was he moste wurþy? For he hadde wanhope of Goddys mercy; For he wendë þat God ne wulde Haue forȝyue hym, þat he [he O, god H.] hym solde. Syþþen loked God [Ihesu.] vpp-on Iudas, Line 5193

Line 5193 As who sey, "aske mercy for þy trespas." For ȝyf he had asked hyt any syþe, Ihesu hadde graunted hym asswyþe; Line 5196 For hys mercy fayled noght To any man þat hym besoght. Syn God wulde haue [ha.] be to hym so fre, Þan ys he redy to þe and me: Line 5200 whychë tyme [Whych tyme or when.] þou wylt hym kalle, For hys defaute þou shalt nat falle.

Beþenke þe weyl of þe þefe Þat loued nat [naght.] God, no [ne.] was hym lefe,— he þat was hanged on a tre Line 5205 Bysydë Ihesu for vylte; he spake o wurde at hys endyng. "lordë, haue on me menyng!" [mennynge.] Line 5208 And asswyþe he wan þe prys, And was sent yn-to [O. omits 'yn.'] paradys. he was þe fyrst[ë] þat hyt wan Syn Adam lost hyt, oure formest man. Line 5212

Er was þat þefe yn paradys [folio 35a:2] Þan alle [alle þe.] prophetys þat were of prys. Þat þefe ⁸alle manere wys dyd⁸ [8_8 þat dede al maner.] synne, And neuer ere leuyd Ihesu ynne; Line 5216 For a wurde þat he spak so myldëly, he haþ pes, blys, and mercy. And, þarfor, dysmay þe noght For no þyng þat þou hast wroght; Line 5220 For, haue þou do neuer so mykyl, Ne be so fals, ne so fykyl, Ne ley þer-ynnë so long whyle, And do alle maner synnës vyle, Line 5224 Ȝyf þou wylt, yn strenkþe and hele, Þy synne forsake and nat [noght.] wyþ dele, with sorow of herte and répentaunce Line 5227 Þou mayst pay God with lytyl penaunce. God seyþ þys wurde, to shew vs þe wey, "y wyl þat nonë synful deye;

To leue hys synne he shal haue space, And turne aȝen to lyfe and grace; Line 5232 what so euer he haue [haue he.] done, y wyl nat hys dampnacyone."

To ȝyue a sample, a tale here lys, [A tale] Þat vs telleþ seynt Dyonys. Line 5236

[The Tale of the Priest Carpus's Vision, and how merciful God is.]

Seynt Dyonys of Fraunce seyþ þus:— hyt was a prest þat hyght Carpus; Þys prest, þurgh prechyng and sawe, Broght a sarysyn to crystyn lawe; Line 5240 A-noþer sarasyn of paynye Haddë þerwyþ grete enuye, And turnede þys man to hym aȝeyn, And oure crystyndom was alle veyn. Line 5244 Þys prest þarëfor was sory, And hatyd þys man felunly, And preydë God he wuld hym sende Dampnacyun with-outyn ende, Line 5248 For he þe crystendom forsoke, And to a fals beleue hym toke; Fast he preyd yn hys atent, [folio 35b] þat God on hym veniauncë sent. Line 5252 And God þe prestys prayere herde, And shewed hym þat he mysferde.

Þys prest lay yn hys bede a nyȝt, And, gostly, he sagh a [þys.] syght; Line 5256 he sagh a swyþe merueylus brygge Ouer þe depë pytte [putte.] gan lygge, Þe plank þat on þe bryggë was, was as sledyr as any glas; Line 5260 But yn þe put þat was þer-vndyr, he sagh so moche sorowe and wundyr, Of fendës felë þat þere wore,

Þogh y tolde moche, ȝyt were þer more.

But, shortly to tellë fro, Line 5265 Þe man [Who had returned to Paganism, and who he had prayd should be damnd.] he sagh on þe bryggë go Yn ful gretë perel and kare, And euer yn poynt to mysfare; Line 5268 Yn poynt he was to falle adowne, Of hys hede, [heuede.] formest þe crowne.

Þe fendys þat were yn þe pytte Smote vpwarde, ȝyf þey myȝt hym hytte; And addres bete hym by þe fete. Line 5273 Þe prest sagh þat, and ful weyl lete; He preydë God þat he shuld falle Down yn-to þe fendys [vnto þe deueles.] alle, Line 5276 And þer, with-outyn endë be, 'For he turned away fro þe.'

whan þe prest had seyë þys, He loked vp to heuene blys; Line 5280 Hym þoght þe rofe was cloue yn two, And þe sky opened also, And of Ihesu he hadde a syght, How he was on þe rodë dyght; Line 5284 He sagh hys wundys alle blody, And spak to hym ful sorowfully, "Carpus," he seyd, "se wyþ þyn yne what y suffred for mannys pyne; Line 5288 Man to saue, y lete me slo, [folio 35b:2] why wust þou dampnë hym to wo? why hast þou hym so moche with ylle? And for mankynde y lete me spylle Line 5292 with pyne, and hardë passyoun, My blode y ȝaf for hys raunsun; why wust þou he hadde hellë fere Syn y haue boght hym so dere? Line 5296

Line 5296 Ȝyt were y redy man to beye, Er man with-outyn ende shulde deye. But y haue shewde hym so moche yn dede with my wundes þat þou seest blede, Line 5300 þat y þarfor ne wuldë noght Lese þat y so dere haue boght. Aȝens me ne fyndeþ he no [O. omits 'no.'] skylle, But ȝyf hys ownë wylle hyt wylle. Line 5304 Þogh he be nowe aȝens me went, Ȝyt kepe y hys amendëment; Þarfor, with gode deuocyoun, Pray for mannys saluacyoun." Line 5308 Þan Carpus þanked God almyght Þat he hadde herde and seye þat syght.

Þarfore shul we be ful mynde To serue hym þat ys to vs so kynde, Line 5312 And shewe hym loue whyle we be here For þat he loveþ vs alle so dere, Þat he ne wulde leue eft, for drede, To deye for vs ȝyf we hadde nede. Line 5316 Ne be we slogh, [nat slogh.] but sone vpryse, Ne dredë vs þan on no wyse, But, hope alle to gode endyng, And serue þat mercyáble kyng, Line 5320 Þat hys mercy be to vs lent At þe day of Iugëmement; Amen! so motë hyt betyde To kepe vs fro sloghnes and accyde! Line 5324

[Of Covetousness, 5th Deadly Sin.]

Now shul we speke of couetyse, How hy [he [hy? for A.S. heo, fem., or the t of hyt omitted.]] ys haunted on wykked wyse. Coueytyse ys þe fryst vyce; [folio 36a] Þat streyte ys holde, y [O. omits 'y.'] halte auaryce. Coueytyse ys of vs echone, Line 5329 But auaryce wulde haue echone. Coueytyse, ys desyryng of þoght,

But auaryce, wulde þat none had oght. Line 5332 Coueytyse, cumþ oþerwhyle of gode; But auaryce wyþdrawyþ mannys fode. Coueytyse, to gode men mowe hyt charge; But auaryce, ys noþer gode ne large. Line 5336 Coueytyse, ys of wylle, as ys a bayte, But auaryce, ys nygun haldyng strayte; Coueytyse, cumþ of kynde of blode; But auaryce, ys noþer kynde ne gode. Line 5340 As y kan telle, þys ys þe assyse, Betwyxe auaryce and coueytyse.

Here, y aske at þe bygynnyng, Ȝyf þou with wrong ȝerned oþer mennys þyng, Line 5344 Or falsly purchased: þat ys grete synne, So with wrong mennys gode [þynge.] to wynne. Ȝyf þou withholde, and ȝelde hyt noght, Auaryse to hellë haþ þe broght. Line 5348 Yn [O. omits 'yn.'] þy lyfe, [lyue.] y rede þou ȝelde hyt aȝen, Þy saluacyun ys ellës alle veyn.

Ȝyf þou madest euer any delay, And ledyst one lyte fro day to day Line 5352 with þy wurdys pryuyly, Or perauenture al on hy, For to haue hys þyng with wrong, Euyl coueytyse þou mengest among. Line 5356 Þogh þou broghtest hyt neuer to dede, Ȝyt ys þy wylle moche for to drede.

Or ȝyf þou dedyst euer [euer dedest.] þy myght To false a chartre, þat ys grete plyght. Þat ys a dede of tresun Line 5361 Ȝyf hyt be of dysheresun, [dyserytsun.] Ouþer of lond, ouþer of rent, Oþer of ouþer gode þat God man haþ lent; But þou þe peynë nyȝt and day [folio 36a:2] Line 5365 To amende þat charge, ȝyf þat þou may,

Ȝyf hyt ne be, þou art to blame; Ordeyned to þe ys mochë shame. Line 5368

Ȝyf þou yn batayle, or in fyȝt, Toke oght of man with-outë ryȝt, And namely of relygyun, Þe harder ys þy synnë doun: Line 5372 And but þou sone amendë þe, Þarfor mayst þou acumbred be: Hyt ys wurþy hym for to dere Þat holy cherche wyl nat forbere. Line 5376

Ȝyf þou of rychesse [ryches.] be wel beforne, And a ȝere or two holdyst [haldest.] þy corne Þat þou myȝt [myghtest.] selle hyt ryȝt dere, And to helpe þe pore þou wylt nat here, Salamon seyþ, þat mochë kan, Line 5381 Þou shalt be weryed with many man; For þou ȝyuest myys [ȝyfst mys.] to ȝete [ete.] Þat was ordeyned to [for.] mannys mete; Line 5384 For who so wyl hys myys wel fede, And spare hyt fro þe pore at nede, hyghly shal he go a-lone To þe deuyl, body and bone. Line 5388

Ȝyf þou haue of ouþer tresour, More þan susteyneþ þyn onour,— Syluer, cloþes, or ouþer store, Or of ouþer þyngës more,— Line 5392 Ȝyf þe pore for defautë deye, And þou mayst hym helpe, y seye, Þou are a-couped of þys vyce Of coueytyse, and of auaryce; Line 5396 And before God, of þeft, a þefe, And for hys deþ, of slaghter grefe.

Ȝyf þou yn falshede so moche ȝede, For coueytyse or for grete mede Line 5400

Line 5400 To consente to a fals Iuggyng, Or hyredyst a voket to [for.] swyche þyng, Or myghtyst haue sturbled hyt, & wust noght, [folio 36b] But for coueytyse þe wrong were wroght, Moche shal God challengë þe, Line 5405 Þat day þat þou Iuged shal be.

As for [Of.] lordynges cunseylours, wykked legystrys or fals a-countours, Þey ne recche of no ryȝt fey, Line 5409 Ne more þe lordynges [lordes.] þan do þey; Cunseyl to wykked lawes þey ȝeue, So þat þe pore men mow nat lyue: Line 5412 Þarfor, þey and here lordyngys Doun moche wrong yn many þyngys; Þarfor shul þey and here cunsayl Go to helle, boþe top and tayle. Line 5416 Many man ys broght ful bare For cunseylours þat coueytous are; And many a land yn grete errours Are ouer-turned þurgh cunseylours. Line 5420

Among hem, stywardes mow be tolde, Þat lordyngës courtys holde, For nyrhand euery a styward, Þe dome þat þey ȝeue, ys [ys ȝeue.] ouer hard; Line 5424 And namely to þe porë man, Þey greuë hym alle þat þey kan. who-so-euer to mercy wyl hym drawe, he seyþ, he shal do hym but lawe; Line 5428 But who so shal þe lawe alle do, And no mercy do þar-to, he may neuer for mercy craue To God whan he wulde mercy haue; Line 5432 For ȝyf God shal deme with lawe ryȝt, Shal no man come to heuene lyȝt. But þurgh grace and hys mercy, Þan are we saued certeynly. Line 5436

Line 5436 Þarfor, ȝe stywardes on benche, Þer-on shulde ȝe allë þenche, 'Ȝyf þou of þe porë haue pyte, Þan wylle God haue mercy on þe.' Line 5440 For hardë dome and coueytyse [folio 36b:2] y shal ȝow telle of swych a Iustyse.

[The Tale of the Hard Judge.]

Y haue herde, be-ȝonde þe see [A tale.] was a Iustyse, yn a cuntre; Line 5444 Of hym the wurde ful wydë sprong, he ȝaf harde dome, and oþer whyle wrong. Godë men ofte hym besoght For þe pore, þat he wo wroght, Line 5448 Þat he shulde haue on hem mercy, And pylle hem nat but mesurly; Þat þey myȝt lyue yn pes by hym, And be nat so aȝens hem grym. Line 5452

Þys was hys answere and hys sawe, 'Y shal do hem no þyng but lawe." And many lawes are oute of skylle, But, ȝyf þér [þyr.] be mercy tylle. Line 5456

was hyt nat long aftyrward, He fyl yn a sykenes hard; Hyt telleþ of hym swych a chaunce, He hadde no godë répentaunce; Line 5460 Hys sykënes [O, syknes H.] wax harde and strong, Þat he myȝt nat lyuë long; For allë [alle men.] hoped weyl y-nogh Þat he [he O, om. H.] vn-to þe deþ faste drogh. Line 5464

Men þat sate a-boute hys bedde were a-gast, and sore a-dredde; And hopyd wel, and vndyrstode

Þat here drede was for no gode. Line 5468

Allë þey behelde hym faste, And sawe hys coloure ofte ouer caste; And wroth a-boutë, to and fro; Hys bedde hym þoght wulde cleue on two; And crydë with a loudë cry, Line 5473 "Lordë, haue on me mercy!" Þan spake a voycë yn þe sky, Þat alle hyt herde þat stode hym by, Line 5476 "Þou haddest neuer of man pyte, Ne y shal neuer haue noun of þe." Asswyþë he dëyd yn haste; [folio 37a] Þere he shulde go, he ȝalde þe gaste. Line 5480

Ȝe domës men þat þys chaunce here, Yn þys talë mowe ȝe lere what hyt ys to do euer wreche, And to mercy no þyng reche. Line 5484 Hauyþ yn ȝoure þoght, mercy, and se, Þe pore mow nat so weyl as ȝe; Beþ mercyáble for ȝoure prow Þat God ne take veniaunce on ȝow. Line 5488

Ȝyf þou haue be so coueytous To mercs [mercye.] men ouer outraious, And porë men, specyaly, Þat ferde þe wers for þat mercy, Line 5492 Sykyr mote þou be, syre styward, Þy mercyment shal be ful hard. Þy wreched soule þarfor shal dwelle; Þy mercyment shal be þe þyne of helle.

Þou baylë, owest nat to take Line 5497 (For drede of soule, and þyn oth sake,) Þat þy lordes prow be þe lasse, Ne noun of hys do harder stresse." Line 5500 So shulde eche aturne seriaunt; But many one holde no cunnaunt; [cuuinaunt.] For, sum [some.] take ful greuusly, Þat ful sore shal come hem by. Line 5504

Line 5504 Alle þat þey takë now to frest, Þérof shál God take a quest. Þe quest ys take and draght on hym; Accord þe wyþ þy lorde, betym. Line 5508

[Of Simony.]

To coueytyse longeþ symonye, Þe whych haunteþ almost al clergye. Symonye ys, as men telle, when ȝyftys of holy cherche men selle. Line 5512

Ȝyf þou oþer ȝaue or sent Of holy cherche to haue vaunsement, Or any ȝaf hyt for þe loue of þe, Line 5515 And þou art nat wurþy vaunsed to be, þan art þou come, þurgh þat queyntyse, [folio 37a:2] To symonye and coueytyse. Ȝyf þou þan [þan þou.] þat auaunsement holde, Þou art a wulfe of Goddys folde; Line 5520 A wulf, y sey, take þou gode kepe, For þou shalt answere for þe [þo.] shepe. A clerk þat hys orders takeþ [takþ H, O.] For ȝyft or present þat he makeþ, [makþ.] Line 5524 He ys nat wurþy hem to haue, Hym were bettyr to be a knaue, And so were hem þat so hem selles For ȝyftys, and for no godenes elles. Line 5528 Þese holy men þat hauë ben, And holy wryt haue red and sen, Sey, þat swych ȝyftys are lore, And, now ys noun ware before. Line 5532 For swych men selle þe holy [hely.] gast To hem þat he loueþ last.

Coueytous men and lechours, Of holy cherche þey haue onours: Line 5536 Þys mow men se alle [eury.] day with ye; Cursed be syr symonye!

[Of Usurers.]

And [An.] okerere may þar-to [þar to may.] be tolde, For coueytous man ys okerere bolde. Line 5540 y haue ȝow toldë of þys lak yn þe seuenþe comaundement whan y spak. Þys to sey, y am hardy, Þese chapmen haunte hyt comunly. Line 5544

Ȝyf þou borow of a marchaunte, And makest [makst.] for wynnyng certeyn cun|naunt, 'Gete þou wynnyng, or gete þou lore, Þou shalt ȝyuë so þar-fore;' Line 5548 For soþe ȝe fallë boþe yn synne, And he ys a-cursed þat takeþ þe wynne. with oker forsoþë boþe ȝe lyue; Þat he wyl take, þat wylt þou ȝyue. Line 5552

Okerers, and kauersyns, As wykked þey are as sarasyns. who so myȝt preuë whych þey wore— [folio 37b] were þey lewed, or were þey [þey yn.] lore— Line 5556 Þey shulde nat come yn Crystys herde, Ne come yn cherche ne chyrchë ȝerde. Noþeles, þurgh þys skylle Þey mowe be saued, ȝyf þat þey wylle, leue þat synne, and do no more, Line 5561 And do at holy cherches lore; And ȝyue aȝeyn þat ychë þyng Þat þey haue take yn okeryng; Line 5564 ȝyf þey mow nat aȝen hyt ȝyue, Helpe þe pore men þer-with to lyue, largëly and with gode wylle, And þey mowe peyse [pese.] here dedys ylle. Line 5568

A gode ensample now ȝe here,

Of Pers þat was a tollere; And y shal tellë ȝow as quyk, How he was boþë gode and wyk. Line 5572

[The Tale of Pers the Usurer.]

Seynt Ioun [Iohan.] þe aumenere [A tale.] Seyþ Pers was an okerere, And was swyþë coueytous, And a nygun and auarous, Line 5576 And gadred pens vnto store As okerers doun aywhore.

Befyl hyt so, vp-on a day Þat porë men sate yn þe way, Line 5580 And spred here hatren on here barme Aȝens þe sonnë þat was warme, And rekened þe custome houses echoun, At whych þey had gode, and at whyche noun; Line 5584 Þere þey hadde gode, þey preysed weyl, And þere þey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.

As þey spak of many what, Comë Pers forþ yn þat [þayr.] gat: [wey] Line 5588 Þan seyd echoun þat sate and stode, 'here comþ Pers, þat neuer dyd gode!' Echoun seyd to oþer Iangland, 'Þey toke neuer gode at Pers hand; Line 5592 Ne noun [no.] pore man neuer shal haue, [folio 37b:2] Coude he neuer so weyl craue.'

One of hem began to sey "A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley, Line 5596 Þat y shal haue sum gode at [of.] hym, Be he neuer so gryl ne grym." To þat waiour þey graunted alle, Line 5599 To ȝyue hym a ȝyft ȝyf so myȝt befalle.

Þys man vp sterte, and toke þe gate, [O. gloss 'wey.'] Line 5601 Tyl he com, at Pers ȝate. As he stode stylle, and bode [abode.] þe quede, One come with an asse charged with brede; Þat ychë bredë Pers hade boght, Line 5605 And to hys hous shuld hyt be broght. He sagh Pers comë þerwith-alle; Þe porë þoght 'now aske y shal.' Line 5608 "Y aske þe sum gode, pur charyte, Pers, ȝyf þy wyl be."

Pers stode, and loked on hym Felunlyche with yȝen grym. Line 5612 He stouped down to seke a stone, But, as hap was, þan fonde he none. For þe stone he toke a lofe, And at þe porë man hyf drofe. Line 5616 Þe pore man hente hyt vp belyue, And was þerof ful ferly blyþe. To hys felaws faste he ran with þe lofe, þys porë man, Line 5620 "lo," he seydë, "what y haue Of Pers ȝyft, so God me saue!" Nay, þey sworë [swore alle.] by here þryft, Pers ȝaue [ȝaf.] neuer swych a ȝyft. Line 5624 he seyd, "ȝe shul weyl vndyrstonde Þat y hyt had, at [of.] Pers honde; Þat dar y swere on þe halydom Here beforë ȝow echoun." Line 5628 Gretë merueyle had þey alle, Þat swych a chaunce myȝt hym befalle. [falle.]

Þe þryddë day, þus wryte hyt ys, [es.] [folio 38a] Pers fyl yn a grete syknes; Line 5632 And, as he lay yn hys bedde, Hym þoght weyl, þat he was ledde

with one þat aftyr hym was sent, To come vn-to hys Iugëment. Line 5636

Before þe Iugë was he broght To ȝelde acounte how he hadde wroght. Pers stode ful sore a-drad, And, was ábashed as [al abashede and.] mad; Line 5640 He sagh a fende on þe to party, Bewreyyng hym ful felunly; Alle hyt was shewed hym before, how he had lyued syn he wos [was.] bore; Line 5644 And namely euery wykked dede Syn fyrst he coudë hym self lede; why he hem dyd, and for what chesun, Of alle behoueþ hym to ȝelde [behouede hym elde.] a resoun.

On þe touþer party stode men ful bryȝt, Þat wulde haue saued hym at here myȝt; But þey myght no godë fynde Þat myȝt hym sauë or vnbynde. Line 5652 Þe feyre men seyd "what ys to rede? Of hym fynde we no godë dede Þat God ys payd of, but of [O. omits 'of.'] a lofe þe whych Pers at [at O, a H.] þe pore man drofe: Line 5656 ȝyt ȝaue [ȝaf.] he hyt with no gode wylle, But kast hyt aftyr hym with ylle; For Goddys loue ȝaue [ȝaf.] he hyt noȝt, Ne for almes dede he hyt had þoght. Line 5660 Noþeles, þe porë man Had þe lofë of Pers þan."

Þe fendë had leyd yn balaunce Line 5663 Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce; Þey leyd þe lofe aȝens hys dedys,— Þey had noȝt ellës, þey mote [moste.] nedys— Þe holy man telleþ [telþ.] vs, and seys, Þat þe lofe made euen peys. Line 5568

Þan seyd þese feyrë men to Pers, [folio 38a:2]

"ȝyf þou be wys, now þou leres How þys lofe þe helpeþ at nede To tylle þy soule with almës dede." Line 5672

Pers, of hys slepë gan blynke, And gretly on hys dreme gan þynke— Syghyng with mornyng chere, As man þat was yn gretë were,— Line 5676 How þat he acouped was with fendës fele for hys trespas, And how þey wulde haue dampned hym þere, Ȝyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were. Line 5680

Alle þys yn hys herte he kast, And to hym self he spak at þe laste, "Þat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle Halpe me yn so grete perel, Line 5684 Mochë wlde hyt helpe at nede, with godë wyl do almës [almas.] dede."

Fro þat tymë þan wax Pers A man of so feyrë maners, Line 5688 Þat no man myȝt yn hym fynde, But to þe pore boþe meke and kynde; A mylder man ne myȝt nat be, Ne to þe pore, more of almes fre; Line 5692 And reuful of herte also he was, Þat mayst þou here lere yn þys pas.

Pers mette, vp-on a day, A porë man, by þe way, Line 5696 As naked as he was bore, Þat yn þe see had allë [hadde al.] lore. He come to Pers, þere he stode, And asked hym sum of hys gode,— Line 5700 Sumwhat of hys cloþyng,— For þe loue of heuene kyng. Pers, was of reuful herte,

He toke hys kyrtyl of, as smert, Line 5704 And ded hyt on þe man aboue, And bad hym were hyt for hys loue.

Þe man hyt toke, and was ful blyþe; [folio 38b] He ȝede and soldë hyt asswyþe. Line 5708 Pers stode and dyd [dede.] beholde How þe man þe kyrtyl solde, And was þarwith [þarfore.] ferly wroþe Þat he solde so sone hys cloþe; Line 5712 He myȝt no lenger for sorow stande, But ȝedë home ful sore gretand, And seyd, 'hyt was an euyl sygne, And þat hym self was nat dygne Line 5716 For to be yn hys preyere, Þerfor nolde he þe kyrtyl were.'

Whan he haddë ful long grete [wepte] , And a party þerof began [began þer-of.] lete;— Line 5720 For, comunlych aftyr wepe, Fal men sone on slepe,— As Pers lay yn hys slepyng, Hym þoght a feyrë sweuenyng. Line 5724 Hym þoght he was yn heuene lyȝt, And of God he had a syght, Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clad Þat þe pore man of hym had, Line 5728 And spak to hym ful myldëly, "why wepest þou, and art sory? Lo, Pers," he sayde, "þys ys þy cloth. For he solde hyt, were [ȝyt were.] þou wroth; Line 5732 Know hyt weyl, ȝyf þat þou kan, For me þou ȝaue hyt þe pore man. Þat þou ȝaue hym yn charyte, Euery deyl þou ȝaue hyt me." Line 5736

Line 5736 Pers of slepë outë breyde, [of hys slepe vpbreyde.] And þoght grete wunder, & seþen seyd, "Blessyd be allë porë men, For God almyȝty loueþ hem; Line 5740 And weyl ys hem þat pore are here; Þey are with God, boþe lefe and dere; And y shal fonde, by nyȝt and day, Tó be pore, ȝyf þat y may." Line 5744

Hastly [Hastely.] he tokë hys kateyl, [katel.] [folio 38b:2] And ȝaue [ȝaf.] hyt to porë men echedeyl. Pers kalled to hym hys clerk Line 5747 Þat was hys notarye, and bade hym herk, "Y shal þe shewe a pryuyte, A þyng þat þou shalt do to me; y wyl þat þou no man hyt [hyt no man.] telle; My body y take þe here to selle Line 5752 To sum man, as yn bondage, To lyue in pouert and yn seruage; But þou do þus, y wyl be wroth, And þou and þyne shal be me loth. Line 5756 Ȝyf þou do hyt, y shal þe ȝyue Ten pownd of gold, wel with to lyue; Þo ten pownd y take þe here, And me to selle on bonde manere; Line 5760 Y ne recchë [recche neuer.] vn-to whom, But onlych he haue þe crystendom; Þe raunsun þat þou shalt for me take, Þarfore þou shalt sykernes make, Line 5764 For to ȝyue hyt bleþely and weyl To porë men, euëry deyl, And withholde þerof no þyng, Þe mountouns of a ferþyng." Line 5768

hys clerk was wo to do þat dede,

But only for manas and for drede. ¹For dredë Pers made hym hyt do, And dede hym plyghte his trouthe þer-to.

Whan hys clerk had made hys othe, Line 5773 Pers dede on hym a foulë clothe; Vnto a cherchë boþe þey ȝede For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.¹ [1_1 Harl. omits these six lines that O. has.] Line 5776 whan þat þey to þe cherchë com, "Lorde, þoght þe clerk, now whom Myȝt y fynde, þys ychë sele, [man] To whom y myȝt sellë Pers wele!" Line 5780

Þe clerk loked euery where, And at þe last, he knew where; A rychë man, [man was.] þat er had be Specyal knowlych euer betwe, [knowelache hem betwe.] Line 5784 But þurgh myschauncë at a kas Alle hys gode y-lorë was; 'Ȝole,' þus þat man hyghte, And knew þe clerk wel be [by.] syghte. Line 5788

Þey spak of oldë a-queyntaunce, [folio 39a] And ȝolë tolde hym of hys chaunce. "Ȝe," seyde þe clerk, "y rede þou [þe.] bye A man to do þy marchaundye, Line 5792 Þat þou mayst holdë yn seruage To restore weyl þyn [þy.] dammage."

Þan seyde ȝole, "on swych chaffare wulde y feyn my syluer ware." Line 5796 Þe clerkë seyd, "lo, one here, A trew man an a dubonure, [& a debonurere.] Þat wyl seruë þe to pay, Peyneblë, al þat he may. Line 5800 'Pers,' shalt þou calle hys name; For hym shalt þou haue mochë frame. he ys a man ful gracyous, Gode to wynne vn-to þyn hous, Line 5804 And God shal ȝyue þe hys blessyng,

And foysyn, yn allë þyng."

Þe clerk ȝaue [ȝaf.] allë hys raunsun To þe pore men of þe toun, Line 5808 Plenerly, alle þat he toke, wyþhelde he nat a ferþyng noke. [O. gloss 'a corner.']

Þe Emperoure sent hys messageres alle aboute for to sekë Pers, Line 5812 But þey ne myȝt neuer here Of rychë Pers, þe tollere, yn what stedë [stede þat.] he was nome, No whydyrward he was become; Line 5816 No þe clerk wuld telle to none, whydyrward þat Pers was gone.

Now ys Pers bycomë bryche, [logh] Þat er was boþë stoute and ryche. Line 5820 Alle þat euer any man hym do bade, Pers dyd hyt with hert[ë] glad. he wax so myldë and so meke, A mylder man þurt no man seke; Line 5824 For he meked hym self ouer skyle, Pottes and dysshes for to swele. [swyle.] To grete penaunce he gan hym take, [folio 39a:2] And mochë for to fast and wake, Line 5828 And moche he loued þolmodnesse To ryche, to pore, to more, to lesse. Of allë men he wuld haue doute, And to here byddyng mekly loute; Line 5832 wulde þey bydde hym sytte or stande, Euer [Euermore.] he wuldë be bowande; And for he bare hym so meke and softe, Shrewës mysded hym ful ofte, Line 5836 And heldë hym folted or wode, For he was so mylde of mode. And þey þat were hys felaus Mysseyd hym most yn herë sawes; Line 5840 And alle he suffred here vpbreyd,

And neuer naght aȝens hem seyde.

Ȝole, hys lorde, wel vndyrstode Þat al hys gracë and hys gode Line 5844 Com for þe loue of Pers, Þat was of so holy maners; And whan he wyst of hys bounte, He kalled Pers yn pryuyte, Line 5848 "Pers," he seyd, "þou were wurþy For to be wurscheped more þan y, For þou art weyl with Ihesu; He sheweþ for þe grete vertu; Line 5852 Þarfor y shal make þe fre; Y wyl þat my felaw [my felawe þat.] þou be."

Þar-to Pers granted [grauntede.] noght, To be freman, as he besoght; Line 5856 he wuldë be, as he was ore, yn þat seruage for euermore. he þanked þe lorde myldëly For hys gretë curteysy. Line 5860

Syþþen Ihesu, þurgh hys myȝt, Shewed hym, tó Pers syȝt, For to be stalworþe yn [ys.] hys fondyng, And to hym haue loue longyng. Line 5864 "Be nat sorowful to do penaunce; [folio 39b] y am with þe yn euery chaunce; Pers, I hauë mynde of þe; Line 5867 lo, here þe kyrtyl þat [O. omits 'þat.'] þou ȝaue for me; Þerfor grace y shal þe sende, Yn alle godenessë weyl to ende."

Byfyl þat seriauntes and squyers Þat were wunt to seruë Pers, Line 5872 went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas, To þat cuntre þere Pers was. Ȝole ful feyrë gan hem kalle, And preyde hem homë to hys halle. Line 5876

Line 5876 Pers was þere, þat ychë sele, And euerychone he knew hem wele. Alle he serued hem as a knaue Þat was wunt here seruyse to haue. Line 5880 But Pers nat ȝyt þey knew, For penaunce chaunged was hys hew; [colour] Nat forþy þey behelde hym fast, Line 5883 And oftyn [ofte.] to hym here yȝen þey kast, And seyd, [seyden.] "he þat stontë [stant.] here, Ys lychë to Pers tollere."

He hydde hys vysege al þat he myȝt, Out of knowlych [knowlache.] of here syȝt; Line 5888 Noþeles þey behelde hym more, And knew hym weyl, al þat were þore, And seyd, "Ȝole, ys ȝone þy page? A ryche man ys yn þy seruage; Line 5892 Þe emperoure, boþe fer and nere, Haþ do hym seche, þat we fynde here."

Pers lestned, and herd hem [here.] spekyng, And þat þey had of hym knowyng; Line 5896 And pryuyly a-wey he nam, Tyl he to þe porter cam.

Þe porter had hys spechë lore, And heryng also, syn he was bore; Line 5900 But þurgh þe grace of swete Ihesu, was shewed, for Pers, feyre vertu. Pers seyd, "latë me furþ go." [folio 38b:2] Þe porter spak, and seydë "ȝo." Line 5904 He þat was def, and doumbe also, Spak, whan Pers spak hym to.

Pers out at þe ȝatë wente, And þedyr ȝede, þere God hym sente. Line 5908 Þe porter ȝede vp to þe halle, And þys merueylë tolde hem alle,

How þe squyler of þe kechyn, Pers, þat haþ woned here yn, Line 5912 "He asked leuë, ryȝt now late, And went furþ out at þe ȝate. Y rede ȝow alle, ȝeueþ gode tent, whederward þat Pers ys went. Line 5916 with Ihesu cryst he ys pryue, And þat ys shewed weyl on me; For, what tyme he to me spak, Out of hys mouþ me þoghtë [þughte.] brak Line 5920 A flamme of fyre bryght and clere; Þe flaumme made me boþ speke and here; Speke, and here, now, boþe y may, Blessed be God and Pers to day!" Line 5924

Þe lordë and þe gestës alle, One and oþer þat were yn halle, Had merueyle þat hyt was so, Þat he myȝte swych myrácle do. Line 5928 Þan asswyþë Pers þey soght, But al here sekyng was for noȝt; Neuer, Pers þey ne founde, Nyȝt ne day, yn no stounde; Line 5932 For he þat toke Ennok and Ely, He toke Pers, þurgh hys mercy, To reste with-outyn ende to lede For hys meknes and hys gode dede. Line 5936

Take ensample here, of Pers, And parteþ with þe pore, ȝe okerers, For ȝow shal neuer come Ioye with-ynne, But ȝe leuë fyrst þat synne; Line 5940 And ȝyue to almes þat ychë þyng [folio 40a] Þat ȝe haue wune wyþ okeryng.

Now with God, leue we Pers; God ȝyue vs grace to [O. omits 'to.'] do hys maners! Line 5944

Line 5944

Yn coueytyse synnen marchauntys [marchaundes.] mekyl, Yn feyrë wurdys and yn fykyl, And heteþ hym godë þat he byeþ, And swereþ þarto, and algate lyeþ. Line 5948 For fals peys and [and for.] fals mesure here soulës haue mysáuenture.

Also hyt longeþ to coueytyse Ȝyf þou hyre one out of seruyse Line 5952 Þurgh ȝyft or þurgh procurment, Þou synnest gretly yn swych atent: Enuye hyt ys, and falsnes yn dede, But ȝyf hyt were for þe morë nede. Line 5956

ȝyf þou boghtest of any seriaunt pryuyly, yn stylle cunnaunt, Þyng þat þou wystyst wel was stole, And þurgh þy byyng was forhole, Line 5960 Hyt ys coueytyse and þeft pryue To bye þyng out of commalte. [comnalte.]

ȝyf þou receyuedyst any what Of onë þat hys þyng forgat; Line 5964 But þou ȝyue hyt hym aȝeyn, Or þe valeu for certeyn, Þou art falle þan yn þe vyce Of, coueytyse, þeft, and auaryce. Line 5968

Or [Or ȝyf.] þou ledyst [leddest.] any man to þe ale And madest hym drunk with troteuale, And he solde hys þyng to þe More þan he wulde yn soberte, Line 5972 Hyt semeþ þou art a gylour, And coueytous, and trechour.

For men þat loue to do gylerye, Line 5975 At þe alehous make þey marchaundye, To loke ȝyf þey kunne com with-ynne,

here neghburs þyng, falsly to wynne.

And a ryche man hyt noyeþ oftyn tyde [folio 40a:2] Þat a porë man hat oght [haþ oght hym.] besyde. Line 5980 Alle þat he may, with euyl he fondys For to reue hym, and haue hys londys; Ȝyf he may nat hem at hym bye, He wul weyte hym oþer felunnye, Line 5984 hym to sle, or to endyte, Or þeft he wyl vpon [vpon O, on H.] hym wyte, Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte, Hys bestes for to bete or bayte, [beyte.] Line 5988 To ete hys grasse, [gresse.] or foule hys corne, So þat hys gode shal neuer [nere.] be lorne: Of swyche men, boþe wryte hyt ys [wryte ys.] & seyd, Moche peyne ys before hem leyde; Line 5992 here synne shal noþer be forȝyuen ne slakyn Vn-to [Vntyl.] þey ȝelde þat þey haue takyn; Here mercy ys ful on- [vn.] certeyn But þey ȝelde hem here gode aȝeyn. Line 5996

Of þys, before ȝe herde me rede, How seynt Fursyn founde hyt yn dede; And here y shal telle a lytyl tale Line 5999 Of swyche a man þat brewed hys bale.

[The Tale of Lucretius, and how the Devil leapt into him.]

Þyr was a man þat hyght Lucrecyus, [A tale] A swyþë ryche and [and a.] coueytous; Besyde hym wonèd a mayden wys, Here [Here O, He H.] name was kalled Beatrys. Line 6004 Lucrecyus þoght on felonye; here landës he wulde algate bye. And, shortly ȝow for to telle, Þys lady wuldë nat hem selle. Line 6008

Line 6008 when he wyst hyt, þan was hym wo; He weyted here, and ded here slo. whan he hád do here þat pyne, Yn alle here landes he toke sesyne, Line 6012 And was þan a ryche lordyng And bare hym stoutë [stout.] as a kyng. [kynge.]

Þys Lucrecyus made a feste, A ryche, with men of noble geste. Line 6016 Þe lordyngës þat he myȝt gete [folio 40b] were settë with hym at þe mete; And as he sat yn alle hys pryde, Com a pore womman þat tyde, Line 6020 And bare a chylde yn cloþës loke, Þe pappe yn þe mouþe as hyt had soke; Hyt hade neuer spoke before, saunȝ [sauntȝ.] fayle, Þarfor y telle hyt, þe more meruayle. Line 6024 As for grete myrácle, þe chyld seyd þus, "y sey to þe, Lucrecyus, Þat þou hast slayn seynt Beatrys, To haue here lond þat by here [þe (here adv.).] lys. Line 6028 Þou art come now vn-to here fe, And syttest þere yn þy pouste; And y comaunde, þurgh Goddys myȝt, Þe deuyl, yn-to þe to lyȝt." Line 6032

As sonë as þe chylde had spoke, Þe fendë yn-to hym was lope, And traueyled hym þre dayys with pyne Þat alle hyt sawë with here yne; Line 6036 And, at þe þre day[y]s ende, He deydë, and to helle gan wende.

loke now, how þe deuyl hym laght For coueytyse of wurldys aght. Line 6040 Ful wykked ys þat coueytyse, with oþer mennes gode falsly to ryse.

Ȝyt hyt ys wers þan ys þe lore

To do a man to deþ þarfore. Line 6044 Of God almyȝty haþ he noun eye, Ne he ne þenkeþ [þenkeþ nat.] for to deye; On hys deþ he þenkeþ neuer, And þarfor deyeþ [deyþ.] he for euer. Line 6048 "Ȝe ryche men, ȝe ryche purchasours, Ȝe wene þat al þe worlde be ȝours; And yn alle ȝoure moste purcháce Comþ ȝoure deþ sunnest yn place; Line 6052 God sheweþ hyt oftë to ȝow; Þenkeþ þéron for ȝoure prow.

[folio 40b:2] What seye ȝe by [be.] þese streyte negons [nygones.] Þat se al day Goddës persones [prysones.] Line 6056 Before hem deyë for mysese, And þey are ryche and wel at ese, And, ȝyt mow þey no þyng spare To helpe þe porë þat mys fare. Line 6060 Swyche a man ys auarous, weyl wers þan ys coueytous; For coueytyse ys yn purchace, And auarycë halt long space. Line 6064

Aȝens mokerers wyl y þrepe Þat gadren pens vn-to an [vntyl a.] hepe; y warne hem allë yn þys wurde, whan mokerers gadren yn-to hurde Line 6068 Þe deuyl ys here tresorer, For auaryce ys hys spenser.

Y speke to men of rychë lyfe Þat han no charge of chylde ne wyfe, Line 6072 persones, prestes, þat [þat O, þan H.] han here rente, And ouþer þat han [haue.] grete extente, Þat mow weyl, at allë ȝers, [ȝeres.] lyue as lordes, and be here pers: [peres.] Line 6076 Þese nede nat to haue tresourye,

But aftyr manhede and curteysye.

Ȝyf an husbond chyldryn haue, One or two, mayden or knaue, Line 6080 He may haue store and tresour To kepe with hys chyldryn yn honour. wele ys wurþy þat he haue gode, Þat wel dyspendeþ hyt on hys blode. Line 6084 As wykkedly, me þenkeþ ys hyt doun, A man to gadyr oute of resoun, And do þerwith noun almës dede, Porë men to helpe at nede. Line 6088

A man þat haþ pens in chest, Vnneþes to slepe haþ he rest; with alle þat go nerhond, hym greues, For alle, he weneþ þat þey be þeues; Line 6092 Þus seyþ he þat gadreþ tresoure, [folio 41a] Of alle þat go byfore hys dore. Swych euyl þoghtes here soulë þenkeþ, And seye of hem euyl, þat noun hym [hem.] þenkeþ. Line 6096

He þat gadryþ to tresorye,— Be he neuer so wys ne slye,— Þese þre sorwes [sorous.] shal he haue, hys tresour for to gete and saue: Line 6100 Þe fyrst, ys trauayle yn þe wynnyng; Þe touþer, ys drede to kepe þat þyng; þe þryd ys þe most wo, Þat tyme þat he shall parte þarfro. Line 6104 "Þou rychë man, þou lestene weyl; Þou gettyst but sorow of euery deyl. Sykyr lyfe shalt þou noun lede; Þyn herte ys þerfor euer yn drede." Line 6108 And herë y shal telle a lyte, A wurdë of a gode Ermyte.

[The Tale of the good Hermit who gave away the Money he had saved.]

An ermyte woned fer ouer a doune, [A tale.] yn a wasteyne, fer fro þe toune; Line 6112 Þys ermyte þoght vp-on a day Þat he was yn febyl aray, And seyd, he wulde gader to store Tyl eftsones he had nedë more. Line 6116 He gadred vn-to storë fast, Þat hys purs he fylled at þe last.

Þo was he yn grete stodye where he myȝt do hyt pryuylye, Line 6120 For to lese hyt he was a dred; And [He.] ȝede and leyd hyt at hys bed. whan he shuld slepë, he myȝt noght, So mochë on hyt was hys þoght; Line 6124 whan he sagh men come or go, He þoghte and seydë, "þeues are þo." Euery man he wened [wende.] had be a robbour, For dredë þat he had [hadde.] tresoure. Line 6128 And whan he seyd hys oures of þe day, He þoght on hys tresour þer hyt lay. And more was he þan morenande [folio 41a:2] Seþen þan beforëhand: Line 6132 Þan seyd hym self, "weyl y ferde Ar y, yn purs, penys [penys O, pens H.] sperde; Now slepe y neuer but with kare, Syn y wyst, whére pens ware." Line 6136 "y trowe," he seyde, "þat Goddys curs ys spred [sperde.] with pens, yn þe purs."

he ros vp and ȝede to hys ȝate, And sagh twey men come yn þe gate; [O. gloss 'wey.'] He parseyued weyl whydyrward þey cam,

And swyþe aftyr hys purs he ran, Line 6142 And kast hyt to hem euery deyl, And seyd, "haueþ, and broukeþ hyt weyl, For, myn herte was neuer yn reste Syn y had hem a nyȝtys geste; For shal y neuer, aftyr þys day, Purs, pens, ȝyf þat y may." Line 6148

Þarfor he þat mekel has, Hys herte ys yn many a kas; Syn þat þykë [þeke.] pore ermyte was yn dredë for so lyte. Line 6152

Auaryce ys þy mochë fo; Þe loue of God [God O, om. H.] hyt dragheþ þe fro; And syluer algat[e], namëly, Hyt ys a god of maumetry; Line 6156 For maumetry ys madë alle Of golde and syluer and swych matalle, þe saraȝyns and ouþer wanbodyes, Þer-of þey make þat are here goddes; Line 6160 Þarefor y rede þat ȝe loue hyt noght, Ne [No O. [folio 3b] ] ouer moche to haue yn thoght: Þyr ys no þyng yn erþe aboue, Þat draghþ so mochë mannës loue Line 6164 Fro God, né fro Goddys wurde, [wrd O.] As golde [or O.] and syluer leyde yn hurde; And y haue oftë herdë seye Of sum men whan þey shuldë deye, Line 6168 Þat, þey wulde [wlde O.] haue her pens ete [folio 41b] Raþer þan any ouþer had hem gete; And, here ar y ferþer go, y shal telle of one þat ded [þat wlde O.] so. Line 6172

Line 6172

[The Tale of the Cambridgeshire Miser-Parson.]

yn Chambryg-shyrë, yn a toune, [A tale.] y herd telle of a persoune: Shortly to tellë, at þe laste, hys deþ euyl [euyl O, om. H.] down hym kaste. Line 6176

Men sente aftyr twey freres, Þat perauenture were hys cunseylers; Þese frerès cam, and by hym sate, and askéd hym of hys state. Line 6180 Þis persone lay, and loked furþ [forth O.] vn-tyl a cofre yn þe florth. Þarto þe frere ȝaf godë tente whyderward hys yȝen [eȝen O.] glente; Line 6184 Þarto he loked euer [eure O.] anone, And lay styllë as a stone; Þan asked þe ton [to O.] frere, "what ys yn þys cofre here?" Line 6188 Þe personë spak no þyng, But ȝaf a gretë syghyng. Þe freres kalled men hem to, Þat cofre for to vn-do: Line 6192 Þe persones men come echone: "Key," þey seyd, [seyde þey had O.] "hadd þey none." Þe lyd vp sone þey wraste, And brak þe lok [lokes O.] at þe laste; Line 6196 And þere þey fonde þe cofre ful Sperd wyþ þe deuylys mul Of florens and of goldrynges, And of many ouþer þynges Line 6200 Þat were of syluer, vesseles, And gold and ouþer Iuweles.

Þe wrecche saw hys tresoure sperd, [spred O.]

And sette hym up yn hys bedde, Line 6204 And bekened [beknede O.] þer-aftyr with hys hand: [honde O.] Þe frerë seyd, "y vndyrstande [-stonde O.] Þat he wulde [wlde O.] haue sum of þys." [folio 41b:2]

Þey toke and fylde a syluer dysshe Line 6208 Ful of pens, and to hym broght, To se what was yn hys þoght. he toke and fyldë ful hys fyst, And yn-to hys mouþe þe pens kyst, Line 6212 As þat he wuldë [wlde O.] hem haue ete, Ȝyf he myȝt hem al haue gete. And, whan þey sagh hym þus do, Þe frerë styrtë hym vn-to, Line 6216 And toke þe dysshë of hys hand Magre [Maugre O.] hys wylland. [[5-syll. line]] And a-none he fyllë downe, And deyd, y wenë, yn a suowne. Line 6220

Seeþ now how hys louyng Broȝt hym to euyl endyng! Þat he haþ [had O.] loued and holde faste, with shame þey departed at þe laste; Line 6224 Þerfore hyt were bettyr here Dyspende here þyng on gode manere, Þan for to ley hyt vp yn mucche, Oþer yn cofre, oþer [or O.] yn hucche. Line 6228

Auarycë, ryche and harde, ys a þefe, a mokerad, [mokerard O.] whan he muccheþ pryuyly Þat many man myȝt lyuë by. Line 6232 Ryche men gadere ryche tresours To make with ryche executours: Þe whyles þe execútours sekke, [fyl þe bag] Of þe soulë þey ne rekke; Line 6236 Þe body, whyl hyt on bere lys, A day or two ys holde yn prys, But whan hyt ys yn erþë broght, Body ne soulë gete ryȝt noght; Line 6240 Be he broght nobly to hys pyt,

Dette and soule þey þynke al quyt.

loke þerfore, executore, Ȝyf þou haue ȝyt hold yn store Line 6244 Þat þou oghtest for to haue ȝyue, [folio 42a] But fro day to day hast hyt dryue: Þou synnest þan wykkedly, And doust þe soule treytory; Line 6248 But þus seyþ holy story, Þe soule þat ys yn purgatory lokeþ fast aftyr þe socoure Of þe gode executoure; Line 6252 Ȝyf he hyt helpë for to saue, Gretë mede þan shal he haue; And ȝyf he do nat hys ordynaunce, hyt askeþ of God to hym veniaunce. Line 6256

Of allë fals þat beryn name, Fals executours are maste to blame. þe pope of þe courte of Rome, Aȝens hem ȝyfþ he hardë dome, Line 6260 And curseþ hem yn cherchys here Fourë tymës yn þe ȝere.

Of alle executours þat men fynde, werst are þyn ownë kynde, Line 6264 And þy chyldryn specyaly Are to þy soule vnkyndëly: Þy chyldryn allë sey ryght þus: [ryght þus O, þus H.] "whom shuld þey ȝyuë hyt, but vs?" Line 6268 y graunte weyl hyt ys ȝyue to þe; Be þou to hem þan sumwhat fre: Þat was heren, now hyt ys þyne; helpe hem þerwyþ oute of pyne; Line 6272 But þou mayst nat, for auaryce, Þat haþ þe boundë yn þat vyce, To sparë no þyng þat was hys For to bryngë hym to blys. Line 6276

Line 6276 And many tymës, so hyt gos, mennës eyres are here most fos; Namly, an eyre þat ys a qued, [shrewe [ashrewe O.] ] [aqued O.] þat desyreþ hys fadrys [fader O.] ded; Line 6280 For oftë haue men herde and sen Þat swych eyrës hauë ben.

yn London, þe wurde [wrd O.] gan go, [folio 42a:2] Þat eyrës ded here fadrys slo; Line 6284 And wyues wundryng was so bolde To make here husbundes kokëwolde: Many tymës, for swych dede, Are eyrës mochë for to drede; Line 6288 For doute þerof, þys ys þe skyle, To queþe here landys where þey wyle; hous and rente, and ouþer þyng, Mow þey queþe at here endyng. Line 6292

Ȝe ryche men, before ȝow se, Þe whyles ȝe are yn ȝoure pouste; On ȝoure soules, y rede ȝow þenke; y warne ȝow of ȝoure eyres blenke; Line 6296 Ne haueþ no trust of ȝoure sokoure, Nat of ȝoure owne executoure; Ȝyueþ ȝeself with ȝoure hondys, [hendes O.] For þe dede haþ few[ë] frendys; Line 6300 For þey þat þou louyst [leuest O.] with-alle, For þy soule wyl ȝyue but smalle.

Of þre executurs y shal ȝou rede, how þey halpe ones a soule yn nede. [A tale]

[The Tale of the Three Dishonest Executors.]

A tale y herde a gode man sey, Line 6305 how a man dyd whan he shuld deye: he ches hym þre executours, Of al hys godys ordeynours, Line 6308 Twey lewed men and a clerke,

To do gode yn soulë werke. Þys clerk was a lordyng, [[6-syllable line]] Þe toþer was an husbunde þat lyued [husbund lyued O.] by hys þyng, Line 6312 Þe þrydë was a marchaunde [marchound O.] Þat boght and solde with cunnaunte. [cunnound O.]

Fyl auenture he deydë sone; Þey dyd with hym þat was to done; Line 6316 To þe erþë þey hym dyght, For, þat was þe dedys ryȝt. whan he was dede, forȝate þey noȝt Þat al hys godë þey furþe broght. Line 6320

Whan þey hadde gadred and a-countede [folio 42b] Þrytty mark hys gode amounted; hys vessel was ten mark wurþy, [wrþy O.] and ten mark of pens redy, Line 6324 and ten mark hys ouþer store: Þus þey hyt set, and at no more.

Þys clerk seyd: "we are þre; As y rede, so do shul ȝe: Line 6328 Þys ychë man þat dedë ys, y hope hys soulë be yn blys; [See John of Bromyard's Summa Predicantium (c. 1390, ed. 1485), Executor, E. viij. .xiiij. Exemplum: sicut patet, de executoribus, De quibus scribitur, quod, inter se tractantes de bonis defuncti, dixerunt quod mortuus ille, vel fuit in celo, & tunc bonis illis non indiget; vel in inferno, tunc ei non valerent; vel in purgatorio, & tunc sine illis liberaretur: finaliter, "Ergo," inquiuunt, "inter nos illa diuidamus, quia talibus indigemus."] and ȝyf hys soulë yn blys be, he haþ no nede of gold ne fe; Line 6332 hyt may no more but be yn heuene, þogh we ȝaue þys, and swych[ë] seuene; And ȝyf hys soulë be yn helle, Alle þe pens þat we mow telle, Line 6336 ne alle þe prestes þat messe mow synge, Mow nat hyt out of hellë brynge: So, be hyt yn helle, or be hyt yn blys, hyt haþ no morë nede of þys; Line 6340

Line 6340 "And we are swore to dele hyt ryȝt, And euen to parte hyt at oure myȝt; So we shul, ȝyf þat ȝe wylle: And seyþ now here an euyn skylle; Line 6344 he vouchede hyt saufe on vs, he seyd, Þat we ȝaue hyt whan he deyde.

"Þys yche vessel þat ȝe se, hyt may wel fallë [falle weyl O.] to me. Line 6348 þe store of hous, y vndyrstande, [vndyrstonde O.] Falleþ weyl to an husbande; [husbonde O.] And þese pens falle on best wyse To a marchaunde to do hys marchaundyse. For soþë, y kan se no bet, Line 6353 How euer hyt myȝt be bettyr sette; No better, certes, myȝt hyt falle: Þys ȝe seeþ, [seþ O.] and weteþ alle. Line 6356 Takë eche man hys party, For y haue parted hyt euenly."

And eche of hem hys partë toke; [folio 42b:2] Hyred þey neyþer messe ne boke Line 6360 For to synge, ne for to rede; þey seyd þe soulë had no nede. y pray God, mysauenture hauë swych executure! Line 6364

Executur þat wyl nat do As þe dede ordeyned to, he shal haue ful euyl endyng þat so wyþ-halt þe dedës þyng. Line 6368 Fals executours þat haue ben, þys chaunce haue men of hem sen, þat oþer fayleþ hem wurldës [wrldes O.] grace, Or, at here endyng, speche or space; Line 6372 And ȝyf hyt stonde þe wurldës [wrldes O.] aght, A tokene hyt ys, hys soule ys kaght.

And here, at þys ychë pas, Y shal ȝow tellë of a kas Line 6376 Þat fyl now late yn Kesteuene; But þe name y wyl nat neuene.

[The Tale of the Two wicked Kesteven Executors.]

A man, shortly for to sey, [A tale.] Whan he wyst þat he shuld deye, Line 6380 Twey lewed men hys executours [executurs O, executour H.] he ches, As þou shalt here, wykked and les. Þat tyme hyt happed for to be, Hys sone was oute of þat cuntre. Line 6384

Whan þe dede was yn hys graue, þey toke alle þat þey myȝt haue. þe sonë herd[ë] þat tydyng, And come home fo þe énteryng; Line 6388 But he [he ne O.] myȝt, with no procurement, Se ones hys fadres testament, For þe katel was a-counted More þan þe testament amounted, Line 6392 And þey wuldë [wlde O.] nat fulfylle þe testement of þe dedës wylle.

Þe sone besoght hem þat þey wylde Line 6395 Þe testement of hys fadyr were fulfylede: [fulfylde O.] Þan bygan [bygunne O.] þey hym for to þrete, [folio 43a] And spakë to hym wurdys [wrdes O.] grete; For tene, þey seyd [And seyd for tene O.] þey wulde [wlde O.] nat do For hym þat þey were ordeyned to. Line 6400

Þe chylde besoght[ë] God almyȝt To take veniaunce on here vnryght. hyt was nat a moneþ aftyrward, þe ton [toon O.] fyl yn a chaunce ful hard: Line 6404

Line 6404 At hys foreyne, y ne wot what, Strangled hym þeron [hym þeron O, hym H.] as he sat; Þe touþer executoure þat had þe þyng, Yn pouert he madë hys endyng. Line 6408

Now haue ȝe herde, myschaunce and nede Cumþ of fals executours dede; Whedyr [Wheþer.] hyt be stylle, or loude on hy, Fals executours endyn wykkedly; Line 6412 lyfe or soule, þe toon ys shent, Or, boþe shul yn fyre be brent.

As mochë ioyë and onours Shal come to gode executours; Line 6416 God graunteþ hym, [hym fyrst for O.] for hys gode wyl, hele and welþe with-outyn yl; And for hys dede þat he douþ ryght, He shal haue mercy aȝens hys plyght. Line 6420 Þe soule prayeþ also, with wyl fre, Þat hys gode dede hym ȝouldë be Yn blys of heuene, wyþoutyn ende, Whan he out of þys wurlde [wrld O.] shal wende; And loue of man, he shal fynde, Line 6425 Yn þe syght of alle mankynde: Þys godënesse shal ay be newe To þe executur þat ys trewe. Line 6428

Now we þe executore haue mysseyd, And of hys wrong he haþ vpbreyd, he aȝensseyþ alle þat tresun, And setteþ þus hys resun, Line 6432 And prayeþ vs þe soþe to se, Þat þe dede ys more to blame þan he, And argueþ vp-on þys skylle, [folio 43a:2] And byt þe dede answere þartylle: Line 6436 "ȝyf þou be ryche yn ȝongþe [ȝyngþe O.] or elde, And hast ynowe of welþe to welde, And knowest þy self yn wyl and dedes, Þy wo, þy welë, how þou ledes, Line 6440

Line 6440 "Alle þy lyfe, what hyt ys wurþy, [wrþy O.] Þou wost hyt bettyr þan wote y; Wyk and godë, þou hyt wyst, And þe to sauë, þou ne lyst, Line 6444 And haddest þy self alle þy [þe O.] powere; why were þou nat þyn owne spensere? how shuld y þan do now for þe, Syn þy self were nat so fre? Line 6448 how shulde y loue þy soulë nowe, whan þou louedyst nat þy soulë prowe? how shulde y þenke, þy soule to [þenke þe to O.] saue, Whan þou þoghtyst noun to haue? Line 6452 how shulde y bryngë þe to blys, whan þou þy self ne wuldest þe wysse? how shulde y bringë þe of pyne, when [? when, MS. why.] þou ne wuldest, whyl alle was þyne? how shulde y, frend-man, be þy frende, Line 6457 when þy-self fo-man wald þy hende? how shulde y late þy gode me fro, when þou lete noun fro þy-self go? Line 6460 who shulde þe oute of sorowe vnbynde, When to þy self þou were vnkynde, and wystyst weyl þou shuldest [shuldest O.] deye, and nedely þe behoued passe þat weye? Line 6464

"Þogh y, for þe, ȝaf aywhore, [euermore [euermore, om. O.] ] who shulde kunne me þank þerfore? what shuld God do þè mede? Þou dedyst hyt nat; hyt ys oure dede? Line 6468 a peny ȝyue of þe, yn þy lyue, hadde be bettyr þan oure fyue. Þou gederdyst, and ȝaue þyn executours; Þat before was þyn, now ys hyt ours. Line 6472 Þou gaderdyst faste, and puttest yn holde; [folio 43b] So shul we, be þou bolde; Þou boghtyst fast, and madyst a ryche eyre, Þy sone ys now yn þe samë speyre; Line 6476 he shal nat þenk þat he shal deye,

"Ne noght of þe, but alle to beye. what þoghtest þou on þy fadyr before, lesse shal he þenke on þe, þat of þe ys bore. [line too long.? cut out lesse.] Of þy wofare ne haþ he þoght, Line 6481 Þou myghtyst þy self, and wuldest noght; and þogh now we ȝaue [we now ȝyue O.] alle þy gode vntyl porë mannës fode, Line 6484 Or dede anouþer (for þy sake,) Cherche to sette, or auter make, y trowe þy mede shal be but smal, Syn þou dedyst noȝt whan þyn was al. Line 6488

"loke now þy-self, and gode skyl why, Þat þou art more to blame þan y. wharefor ys alle y with þe stryue, Þat þou do godë yn þy lyue; Line 6492 Make þy-self þyn ownë weye, Þat þyn executor of [ne of O.] þe þus seye; For what time þat þou awey gos, Þo þat were þy frendys are þan þy fos, Line 6496 And comunly þyn ownë wyfe,— Þát, mayst þou se here ful ryfe,— Also þy chyldryn are vnkynde, Þat þou hast be aboute ful mynde; Line 6500 Of boþe mayst þou þy merour se, ȝyf þou kanst, or wyl [wylt O.] párseue þe; And alle cumþ hyt of coueytyse Þat men done vpp-on þys wyse; Line 6504 Þárfore þenk on þe endyng, And spendë weyl þyn ownë þyng, Þat þou fal nat yn auaryce: Of vnkyndhede hyt cumþ, þat vyce." Line 6508

God, for hys holy myȝt, late us neuer, with wnryȝt, Coueyte oght aȝens hys wyl, [folio 43b:2] No with auaryce to holde for yl, Line 6512 But þat hyt be, hym to queme, And body and soule yn clenesse ȝeme.

[On Gluttony.]

The syxtë [sext O.] synne ys glotonye; þat ys a shameful vyleynye Line 6516 þat men doun of mete and drynk, For ouermoche ys abominable & stynk.

y wyl now shewë of hys spyces, [speces O.] Þat noun fallë on hys grecys: Line 6520 Ful many on stumble vp and down Of þe greces of syre glotown. y shal ȝow telle þe samë wyse Ryȝt as 'manuel pecches' seyse: Line 6524 he comaundeþ, [comoundeþ O.] at þe bygynnyng, 'Be mesuráble yn alle þyng.'

Of allë wysdom þat shal dure, Þe most wysdom, þan ys 'mesure'; Line 6528 Mesure and resun, to-gedyr þey wone, And alle manere of vertues þey kone. with whom þey wonë, he ys wys, And ys ryche, and holdyn yn prys. Line 6532 hyt ys a gode sygne þat man ys stable, Þat yn resun ys mesuráble. Many a vertu, mesure has, Þat touched ys nat yn þys pas. Line 6536 But þe mesure of etyng, Þát ys boþe to olde and ȝyng; Þarefore wyl y telle ȝow alle Yn what þyngës þat ȝe falle. Line 6540

Be nat to þy self so large, Ouer mesure þyn [Harl. yn.] herte to charge, Þat þou ne kast for vylaynye Ne for þe foule lust of glotonye. Line 6544 Þenk here-on whan þou hyt bygynnys, For þer-yn are þre wykked synnes: Glotonye, and þefte of þyng, And cursed yn chyrche, ys mede endyng.

And y warne þe of þys kas, [folio 44a] Line 6549 To comone with any þat cursyng has, Þat þou wystyst opunly were cursed with holy cherches cry. Line 6552 Ȝyf þou [þou O, om. H.] dedyst hyt by þy wylle, wyþ-oute destresse or lordys wylle, [ylle.] Holy cherche ys wroth wyþ þe astyt, And halt hyt pryde and grete dyspyt, Line 6556 And seyþ þou art vnbuxum, And manteynest an euyl custum.

Ȝyf a cursed man hadde cumpany with one or ouþer, logh or hy, Line 6560 Or yn mete or yn drynke At þe alehous, or ouþer gaderyng, He ne wulde recche how long he lay yn hys cursyng, nyȝt or day. Line 6564 For holy cherchë curseþ none But yn vnbuxumnesse þat haþ mysgone; Þat wyl nat stonde at hys Iustyse, he defendyþ hym þe comune acyse, Line 6568 For to make hym be ashamed Þat he shulde be so defamed, And so shulde he wyte he may nat be But at holy cherche degre. [cherches gre.] Line 6572 For swych þyng, men ofte hem meken, And mercy at holy cherchë sekyn.

Þarfor hyt ys a grete folye, with cursed man haue cumpanye. Line 6576 Seynt Poule seyþ, þat mochë wote, "who-so handlyþ pycche wellyng [pycch wellynge.] hote, He shal haue fylþe þerof sumdeyl Þogh he kepe hym neuer so weyl." Line 6580 And Dauyd seyþ yn þe sauter, For felaushepe, on swych maner, "with holy man, holy shalt þou be;

with wykked man, þou turnest as he." Line 6584 On þese wurdys y rede ȝe þynke, And kepë ȝow fro cursed blynke.

Ne þou shalt, for no mannes prew, [folio 44a:2] Ete, no drynkë wyþ a Iew. Line 6588 But ȝyf he wyl crystendom take, hys felaushepe shalt þou forsake. And þat ys a grete skyl why, For þe Iew ys Ihesus enmye. Line 6592 Þe Iew loueþ, on no manere, Iesu, ne hys modyr dere. Þarfor, ȝyf þou loue hem ryȝt, Forsakë Iew at alle þy myȝt, Line 6596 But ȝyf þou hope þat he wul weyue [forsake] Hys lawe, and crystendom receyue.

[Against making Men drunk.]

Þys custum ys also [also ys.] perylous, To lede a man to þe alehous Line 6600 To do hym drynke out of resun, Or make hym drunke,—þat ys tresun,— Or to þy [þyn.] hous, ȝyf þou hym lede, On hym drynkë for to bede; Line 6604 Þou art gylty of hys synne Ȝyf þou to drunkenes wldest hym wynne. And ȝyf þou ioyë þerof has, Þe more þou fallyst yn trespas; Line 6608 Hyt ys a tokene of felunnye To weytë hym with swych gylrye.

Also ȝyf þou any day shuldest [shulle.] fast, And þou ouertymely þy metë aske, Line 6612 Glotony haþ swych longyng wroght, Þat þou to tyme abydest noght.

Anoþer spyce ys yn glotonye, To ete ouer delycyusly, Line 6616 For to be serued with many messe: [mese.] Þat haunte þese lordyngës on dese. [on table]

wuld þey of euery a messe [mese.] ȝyue To helpe þe pore wyþ for to lyue, Line 6620 Þe boldlyere þey myȝt hem self fede Ȝyf þey dedyn þat almës dede. But of almës þenk þey noȝt, For lust and lykyng ys more yn þoght. Line 6624

Þou þat louest so many messe, [mes.] [folio 44b] wuldest þou þenke on syre Dyues, And of þe porë man [man also.] Laȝare Þat syre Dyues late mysfare, — Line 6628 For he asked hym sum gode, Of hys mete, for hys [to þe.] lyuës fode, — y trowe þou shuldest nat forgete Þe pore man at þy mete, Line 6632 Ȝyf þou vndyrstode, y wene, what þe talë wulde bemene.

[The Tale of Dives and Lazarus.]

A ryche man was sum tyme of prys [A tale.] Þat wered boþe purpure and bys, Line 6636 And euery day nobly was led, And with delycyus metys fed; And þer was þo a porë man, Lazare, þat þe wurd of ran, Line 6640 He lay at þe ryche mannys ȝate, Ful of bylës, yn þe gate [wey] ; He ȝerned moche to ete hys fylle Of þe crummes þat þe ryche man ded spyl, [spylle.] But no man ȝaue hym on to byte, Line 6645 Þogh þat asked he so lyte: But þe rychë mannës houndes

Come and lykked Laȝares woundes. Line 6648 Sone aftyrward deydë Laȝare Before þe mannes ȝatë þare; Goddës aungeles þe soulë nam, And bare hyt yn-to þe bosum of Abraham.

Abrahams bosum ys a dwellyng Line 6653 Þat holy men haue yn restyng, Þat to Ihesu, Goddys sone, cam, Þat flesshe and blode yn Mary nam. Line 6656 Abrahams bosum ys [ys H, om. O.] a stede, men telle, Betwyxë paradys and helle.

Fyl [Fylle.] auenture, as y er seyde, Þys rychë man sone aftyr deyde. Line 6660 Hys soule was bore to Lucyfere, with-outyn ende to dwellë þere; And, as he was þere yn pyne, [folio 44b:2] He loked vpwarde with hys yne, Line 6664 And sagh Laȝare, þe porë man, yn þe bosum of Abraham; And as he myȝt, he ȝaue a cry, And seyd, "Abraham, mercy, mercy! Line 6668 Late Laȝare hys o fynger wete, And, droppe on my tunge for hete; For y am yn endles peyne, yn fyre and yn leye certeyne." Line 6672

And Abraham spak [spak O, om. H.] as yn vpbreyde, "Sone! menest þou nat what y er [ere.] seyd? Þou receyuedyst þe wurldys blys, Line 6675 And Laȝare, pouert and peyne ywys. Þou ete and drunke, and were ful blyþe; And Laȝare hungred, & ful wo syþe; And now shal he, for hys deserte, Haue welþe y-nogh for hys pouert; Line 6680 And þou, for welþe, to pyne shal [peyne shalt.] go,

And for þy ryches þou shalt haue wo. Now ys Laȝare euer yn solace, And þou yn sorow with-outë grace; Line 6684 Þe endles ende may no man telle Betwyxe vs here, & ȝow yn helle; Betwyxe oure ioye, and ȝourë peyne, ys endles tyme, and vncerteyne. Line 6688 Swych sykernes ys betwyx [sekernes ys betwene.] ȝow two, Þat noun of vs to ȝow may go. None of vs to ȝow may come, But echone haue hys ownë dome." Line 6692

Þan preyde þe ryche man, Abraham, þat he wlde sende Lazare, or sum oþer wham, To hys breþryn allë fyue, Þat þey loke hem so, yn here lyue, Line 6696 Fro auaryce and fro glotonye And ȝyue to porë men bleþlye, "Þat þey neuer hedyr be sent, with me, yn þys hete, to be brent." Line 6700

Abraham ne graunted hym noght [folio 45a] Þat þe ryche man hym besoght, "Þey haue," he seyd, "alle þe prophete dedys, And holy wryt, þat men on redys, Line 6704 To teche hem boþë ryȝt and skyle, Do þeraftyr, ȝyf þey wyle."

Þan spake þe rychë man, "Nay, fadyr Abraham, nay, þey ne kan; But wuldest þou do aftyr my rede, Line 6709 To reyse a man þat haþ be dede, þat myȝt hem þe peynës telle Þat þey shul suffre and yn dwelle, Line 6712 Þan shulde þey do ryȝt penaunce For to askapë þys myschaunce."

Abraham wulde nat graunte Þe ryche man þat cunnaunt, Line 6716 A dedë man vp for to reyse, "Syn Moyses sawes þey wyl nat preyse,

How wulde þey at a dede man lere, whan holy wryt þey wyl nat here?" Line 6720

Þys tale tellyþ oure lorde Ihesu To rychë men for herë prew, [pru.] Þat þey ne be no nythyng Of here mete, ne of here þyng. Line 6724 To porë men, namëly, Þat þou ȝyuest hem, ȝyue hyt [hyt H, om. O.] bleþly, with no betyng, ne with noun awe; Almës ys noȝt wyþ any myssawe. Line 6728

why tellyþ he þe [þe H, om. O.] wykkednes of þys man alle,— And he ne robbed, ne he ne stalle,— But for he bare hym ouer hye, And ledde hys lyfe yn glotonye, Line 6732 And to þe pore dyd euyl yn dede, No halp hym noȝt yn hys nede: Ne Laȝare asked nat greuuslyke, But a fewe crummës for to pyke; Line 6736 And for he ȝaue [ȝaf.] hym noun on to byte, Hym was werned as lyte: [[6-syll.]] As lytyl as he hym wernede, [folio 45a:2] As lytyl þyng he ȝernede; Line 6740 he preydë Laȝare hym to sende A dropë of hys fynger ende.

Loke how euene Iugement, Þe tone aȝens þe toþer, was sent: Line 6744 hyt ys but a lytyl synne, Of a drope and of a crumme; þan wyl hyt be ful harde a-counte Of þyng þat wylle to moche a-mounte. Line 6748 Þarfor, ȝe lordyngys, beþ ful ware, Þenkeþ on Dyues and on Laȝare, And þe porë naȝt [noght.] forgete whan ȝe syttë at ȝoure mete. Line 6752

And þou þat fedyst þe so rychely, Ouer mesure yn glotonye, Þenk þat þou shalt stynk and rote,

And wurmës shul fyl þy þrote, Line 6756 And þe fouler shal þy body stynke, For thy ryche metë, and þy drynke.

Euery man ȝyue tente to þys, And se how vyle hys body ys. Line 6760 Twey dayys or þre mow hyt loke [kepe] Mete, ar man hyt ete or toke; But as sone as hyt ys yn þe ȝoten, Yn half a day þan ys hyt roten; Line 6764 Ryȝt vyle, and alþer meste, Þan hyt ys of any ouþer beste. Se weyl þys! þan mayst þou fynde, how vyle þan ys þyn ownë kynde. Line 6768

Þys rychë man that y of telle, Wente nat oonly þarfor to helle, But, for þat he wuldë noght Ȝyue to Laȝare þat he besoght, Line 6772 Ne noȝt only for glotonye, Ne auaryce, ne for beryng hye, Noȝt for-þy, þe leste of þys, Myȝt brynge a man to Iuwys. Line 6776

why was God moste wyþ hym wroth? [folio 45b] For he dyd þe pore man loth, [harme] And for he dyd hys [hys O, he H.] houndes oute late To byte þe Laȝare at þe ȝate; Line 6780 And, for he dyde hym þat dyspyte, [despyt.] God wrathede hym astyte, And deyneþ nat to nemne hys name, For he dede þe pore man shame, Line 6784 But calleþ hym yn þe gospel, ryche, As vnkyndë and vnbryche. For ful comunly shalt þou fynde Oftë rychë men vnkynde. Line 6788

Lorde! how shul þese robbers fare, Þat þe pore pepyl pelyn ful bare,— Erlës, knyȝtës, and barouns, And ouþer lordyngës of tounnes; Line 6792 Iustyses, shryues, [shereues.] and baylyuys,

Þat þe lawës alle to-ryues, And þe pore men alle to-pyle; To ryche men do þey but as þey wylle. [wyle.]

Þys ryche man, as þe gospel seys, Line 6797 was but to .o. man vncurteys, And hadde so mochë pyne [peyne.] þarfore; On hem wyl fallë mochë more Line 6800 Þat many pore men pyle and bete, For God no synne wyl þey nat lete. Swych ryche men [men H, om. O.] þat are aȝens Goddys [goddes.] pes, Þenkeþ on Laȝare and on Dyues; Line 6804 And beþ nat pynede wyþ Satanas For porë men, as Dyues was, And ys, and euer [euermor.] shal be; Ȝyt robbed he neuer [noþer.] golde ne fee. Line 6808 By þys skylle, þan mow ȝe se, Þat ȝe are wers þan was he. He dyde but lete an hounde hym to; Ȝe rychë men, weyl wers ȝe do! Line 6812 Ȝe wyl noun houndës to hem lete, But, ȝe self, hem sle and bete. He ne dyd but werned hym of hys mete; [folio 45b:2] And ȝe, robbe al þat ȝe mow gete; Line 6816 Ȝe are as Dyues, þat wyl naght ȝyue; And wers, for ȝe robbe þat þey shulde by lyue. Of mochë peyne ȝe mow ȝow drede, For ȝe do weyl wers þan Dyues dede. Line 6820

Ȝe rychë men, God wyl ȝow charge Þat ȝe ȝyue ȝoure almës large; Nat ouer powere, neuer a deyl, But ȝyue þat, þat ȝe mow [may.] ful weyl; Line 6824 And nat allonely largëly, But with loue, þat ys, curtesy;

Ȝyueþ curteysly, and nat to bete, Ȝow were bettyr ȝoure almës lete. Line 6828

Ȝyf a pore man take ons or twyys, [ones or twys.] Mysdo hym nat, ȝyf þou be wys, Ne seye hym noun oþer vyleynye; Þan doust þou larges and curteysye. Line 6832 More þank þou getest for swych ȝyuyng Þan seuene so moche with chydyng. Herefore Seynt Ihon þe aumenere seys, And techyþ men to be curteys. Line 6836

[The Tale of St. John the Almoner, and his great Liberality and Courtesy.] [A tale]

Hyt seyþ Seynt Ihon þe aumenere Pore men called hym Goddys spensere; He was bysshope and patryarke Of Constantynë, [constantyne O, constatyne H.] noble starke. Line 6840 Of hym ȝede ful fyr þe name, [ful fere ȝede þe fame.] Of large almës men ȝaue [ȝafe.] hym name. A pylgryme herde of hym þus seye, And to hys palys he toke þe weye; Line 6844 whan he cam [com.] þer, he sagh seynt Ihōn [Iohone.] Dele þe pore folk ful gode wone; He seyd he wulde hym ouercharge, To wete wheþer seynt Ihon were large.

He com, and asked þe charyte, Line 6849 And seynt Ihon, þat was so fie, He commaundede hys seriaunte Line 6851 For to ȝyue hym syxe besaunte. Þys pylgrym ȝede and chaunged hys wede, [folio 46a] More to aske, ȝyf he myȝt spede. [[Fr. 221/5624]]

And seyd he hadde goun many a gate, [O. gloss 'wey.'] And to þe cyte he was com late, Line 6856 And of spensys had [spenses hadde.] he non, So hadde he yn pylgrymage gon. Seynt Ihōn commaundede hys aumenere To ȝyue hym ouþer syxe, for he had mystere. [nede] Line 6860 Þe aumener parceyued weyl þat tyme Þat hyt was þe same pylgryme Þat toke byfore þe charyte, And seyd, "syre, þys ys he." Line 6864 Noþeles, oþer wroth or glad, He ȝaf [ȝafe.] hym, þat seyn [seynt.] Ihōn bad.

Þys pylgrym eft [eft H, om. O.] besydë nam, [ȝede] And eftë þe þryd tymë cam [he cam.] Line 6868 yn a-noþer wede þan he was ore, And asked at seynt Ihōn ȝyt more. Þe aumenere was wroth þerfore, Þat he asked so oute of skore, Line 6872 Syn hym was ȝyue so largëly, And ȝyt he asked, and was gredy. But Seynt Ihōn, he was fre, And yn ful gretë charyte Line 6876 He commaunded to hym a-none To ȝyue hym twelue besauntes echone: "Peráuenture, God wyl me proue what y wyl do for hys loue, Line 6880 Oþer hyt ys God hym selue; Þarfore ȝyf [ȝyue.] hym besauntes twelue; Or he proueþ me a-noþer wey, Ȝyf y wyl any of hys myssey; Line 6884 Þarfore ȝyueþ with godë wyl And curteysye, with-outyn yl."

Þys tale y toldë ȝow þys tyde, Þat ȝe with no pore men [man.] chyde; Line 6888

Line 6888 ȝyf þou chydyng with hym makes, whan þyn almes of þe he takes, He byeþ hyt dere with hys myssawe, [folio 46a:2] And shame þerwith, and drede, and awe. Ȝyf for þat ȝyft þou wylt haue mede, Line 6893 Mysdo hym nat, yn wurde ne dede.

Also hyt ys grete curteysye To ȝyue ȝoure almës hastylye; Line 6896 Nat for to makë long delay, To late a wrecchë stonde al day Cryyng at þy ȝate yn colde; He byeþ þyn almes on manyfolde, Line 6900 And þogh þou ȝyue hym lytyl or noght, Algate hyt ys dere y-boghte. And, þarfore hyt were weyl doun To ȝyue þyn almës gladly and soun. Line 6904

And y warne ȝow alle of o þyng, Forþenkeþ nat of ȝoure almes-ȝyuyng. Ȝyf þou forþenkest, þou getyst maugre, Þy ȝyft ys nat yn charyte; Line 6908 Ryght so dyd þe bysshope Troyle, For hys almes he made grete doyle, [sorowe] [A tale] Þat a sykenes hym ouer haf [hafe.] For largë almes þat he ȝaf. [ȝafe.] Line 6912 Seynt Ihoun þe aumenere telleþ how, And as he seyþ, y shal telle ȝow; A gode ensample, as we rede, Þat none forþynke hys almës dede. Line 6916

[The Tale of Bishop Troylus and his Thirty Pounds.]

Þys yche seynt Ihōn þe aumenere was a patryark of grete powere; Vndyr hym was bysshope Troylus, Þat for to haue tresour was coueytous.

And on a day, as fyl to be Line 6921 Þat seynt Ihōn ȝaf hys charyte, Þe bysshope Troylë, for cumforte, with hym wentë for [to O, om. H.] dysporte, Line 6924 To se þe folk þat þyrdyr [þyder.] come Of many cuntres þat oute were nome. Þat ychë tyme þat chaunce gan falle, Seynt Ihōn hadde nat to ȝyue hem alle; But a man, þat was þere, [folio 46b] Line 6929 Rouned yn seynt Ihōns [Iones.] ere, 'Þat he hadde broght þat ychë stounde [tyme] To syre Troylë þyrty [þrytty.] pounde, Line 6932 And he myȝt helpë, ȝyf he wylde, Þat hys dolë were fulfylde.'

Seynt Ihon to Troyle bygan to sermun [to speke] with ensamples of [and.] gode resun, Line 6956 "Þat he hadde pyte of here cryyng; To se hem wepe, was reuful þyng; For God shal þanke alle at þe laste day yn dede, Þat of þe pore for hys loue han pyte at nede. Line 6940 what ys hyt wrþ to preche yn cherche, whan men yn dedë wyl nat werche? And now hyt ys so on þy party, Thou hast besauntes of golde redy, Line 6944 Þat þou mayst helpe, ȝyf þat þou wylt, Þat þys pore peple be nat spylt."

what for almes, and what for despyte, Troylë commaunded al styte Line 6948 Þat þo [þe.] þrytty pounde of golde were ȝyue þere seynt Ihōn wolde.

To þe pore was hyt so delte and dryue, Þat euery besaunt was furþ ȝyue. Line 6952 whan allë haddë þat þere cam,

Seynt Ihōn and Troylë homward nam: Troyle fyl yn a grete syknes For sorow [sorowe.] of hys large almes; Line 6956 Þat sorow [sorowe.] hadde hym so ouercome, Þat þe feuer hadde hym nome. [O. gloss 'take.'] He wende weyl þat he hadde be lore, So lytyl hope yn hym was bore. Line 6960 Hys godë hopë was ful badde, For hym þoghte lore, þat pore men hadde.

Seynt Ihon wulde nat Troyle forgete, He sente aftyr hym to þe mete; Line 6964 But he excused hym, and seyd nay, And seyd þat he yn þe feuer lay, And to þe deþe he hoped weyl, [wele.] [folio 46b:2] Þarefore ne myȝt he come þat sele. [þat tyme] Line 6968

whan Seynt Ihōn herde þat seye, Þat Troyle supposed [soposede.] for to deye, Asswyþë to hym he ȝede, And cunseyled hym to haue no drede; "Drede þe noght, [nat.] my godë sone, Line 6973 Goddës manere we owe to kone; For alle þo þat he loueþ dere, he chasteþ hem on many manere; Line 6976 And as he sendeþ to þè, sykenes, He wyl sende hele whan hys wyl es."

Seynt Ihōn wyst wele hys herte, Hys sykënes, and alle hys querte; Line 6980 Þarfore he seydë on þys wyse— For he knew hys coueytyse,— "Þy golde þat was to me so redy, To me þou lentyst hyt, graunte mercy; For y was yn wyl, for þe feste, Line 6985 Þat euery hadde a peny, who so hadde leste.

But y myȝt nat so of myne, But y hadde borowed at þe of þyne; Line 6988 Þo þrytty pounde, God haþ me sente, And here þey are now, þy [yn.] presente; And asswyþe þey shul be payd, No lenger shul þey be delayd." Line 6992

Seynt Ihōn called hys chaumberleyn, And tolde hem to Troyle, be [by.] summe certeyn. Anoun cumforted was Troyle so weyl Þat hys sykenes he forgate eche deyl, Line 6996 And so smartly, yn tyme so lyte, Þat þey allë myȝt wele wyte Þat þe feuer þat hym so shoke was for þe monye [mone.] þat he toke. Line 7000

He dyde on hys cloþys astyte, And to Seynt Ihon he wrote a skryte; Þys skryt [scryte.] conteyneþ, as hyt seyþ þore, Þese samë wurdës, lesse ne more: Line 7004 "God þe ȝelde, my lorde Syre Ihōn, Þe besauntes þat were delte echon, Þat y lente þe, þrytty pounde, Line 7007 Yn hande y haue hem hole and sounde." And Troyle dyde þe skryt [scryte.] weyl sele, And syþen ros vp yn gode hele; And went hym homë with seynt Ihon; Of euyl felte [felt.] he no more non. Line 7012

But Ihesu, þat seëþ al þyng, Shewed to Troyle þys tokenyng How he hadde lore a rychë holde, And for auaryce he hyt solde. Line 7016

Troyle tolde, he sagh þys syght At þe fyrst slepe of þe nyght:

Hym was shewed a paleys, So fayre was neuer noun, hyt seys; Line 7020 For alle hyt was of betyn golde, Alle þat euer stode on molde. Myȝte no man aymë þe largenesse, [largesse.] Ne tungë tellë þe feyrnesse. Line 7024 Þer-yn was so noble atyre, Shynyng as golde, flammyng as fyre. Aboute [aboue.] þe ȝatë wrytyn was Þat Troyle beheldë a long space, [spas.] Line 7028 And ofte he reddë þat wrytyng, And haddë þeryn grete lykyng; Þys was þere wryte,—as seynt Ihōn telles, And as men of þys story spellys,— Line 7032 "Reste and hous with-outyn ende, Þe bysshope Troylë shal to wende."

Þus þoght Troylë yn hys bedde, As he ofte on þe lettyr [lettre.] redde. Line 7036 Þan wende Troylë sykyrly weyl, Þe kyng hadde ȝyue hyt hym [hym hyt.] eche deyl; Þarefore syre Troylë was ful gladde Þat he swyche a paleys hadde. Line 7040

Vnneþë þenne hys yȝe [ye.] was glent, Þat one fro God þydyr was sent, And commaunded alle yn rape [haste] [folio 47a:2] A-wey þat wrytyng for to skrape. Line 7044 Alle þat spakë of syre Troyle was skraped [shrapede.] a-wey, as who sey oyle.

Sone aftyrward, with-yn a lytyl, was þere wryte anoþer [a nouþer.] tytyl; Line 7048 Þys tytyl þat was latter wryte, Þus moche hyt ys for to wyte, "Rest, and hous, and wonyng, Graunteþ, and ȝyueþ, [ȝyfth.] heuene kyng, Line 7052 To Ihōn þe patryark so fre,

with-outyn ende yn ioye to be, For þrytty poundë þat he boghte, And to almës dede hem broghte." Line 7056

And Troylë waked sone anone, And tolde hys dremë to seynt Ihōn, [Johone.] Euery deyl how he hadde sen, And was ordeyned to haue [ha.] ben. Line 7060 "Þarfore," he seyde, "fro henne forward Ne shal y neuer be to pore man hard; So feyre ys dyȝte to hem to lyue, Þat blely wyl to pore men ȝyue." Line 7064 But algate Troyle þat tyme had tynte Þe fyrst paleys þat God hadde hym mynte.

Ȝe lordynges þat haue y-now, Þys talë haue y tolde for ȝow, Line 7068 Þat ȝe ne repente ȝow of largés Þat ȝe ȝyue to ȝoure almés; And þenkeþ on þe bysshope Troyle Þat for large almës made grete doyle, Line 7072 Þat ȝe ne lese nat þat paleys Þat God ordeyneþ to alle curteys; For who so ȝyueþ [ȝyfth.] curteysly, Hyt fordoþe þe synne of glotonye. Line 7076

Of mete, glotonye wyl bygynne; Almës þerof fordoþe þat synne. Almës fordoþ alle wykkednes, Line 7079 And quenchyþ synne, and makyþ hyt les. Almës semeþ hyt cumþ of loue [folio 47b] Þat þou ȝyuest [ȝyfst.] to man for God aboue, Oþer for hym þat þou ȝyuest þore, Or hym þat þou ȝyuest [ȝyfst.] hyt fore. Line 7084 Almës, þou wost weyl, ys a ȝyfte; And for þe ȝyuyng, man ys vplyfte.

Ȝyue gladly, for God, þyn almës here; Hym ȝyue þou hyt on alle manere, Line 7088 And for hys loue, to hys meyne, Ȝyf þou of hym wylt loued be.

So wyl ȝyftys louë tylle, And gadyr many one to gode wylle. Line 7092

For ȝyftys, twey loues mayst þou haue, And boþe be [by.] tymës mow þe saue. Þe fyrst ys, ȝyf þou ȝyue þy þynges To hauë louë of lordynges: Line 7096 For þy ȝyfte þou mayst be herde, And saue þy godë yn þe werlde; But þat love lasteþ lytyl whyle, And aȝens God hyt wyl þe fyle. Line 7100

Þe toþer loue is noght for þys; Hyt askeþ noght but heuene blys; And þat loue ys, euery deyl, loue of God and pore man weyl. Line 7104 what ys loue vnto men pore? Almës to hem ys recouere; Almës dede of loue ys wey, Noþer mysdo, noþer [hem no.] myssey; Line 7108 Þan wyl God almyghty loue þe; Þy loue ys þan with charyte.

Charyte ys, þe certeyn to lere, loue of þyn euyncrysten dere. Line 7112 So sone þerto, noght wyl þe lede, Ne so moche, as wyl almës dede. Charyte ys, þe longyng of loue, As y haue tolde ȝow here aboue; Line 7116 For alle þat euer þou mayst do,— But loue yn charyte be þerto— Alle þat euer hast þou wroght, [folio 47b:2] Stant þe ellës al at noght. Line 7120

Se now what seynt Poulë seys Yn a pystyl, þe samë weys,— "Þogh y speke as weyl with tung [tounge] As any man or aungel haþ song, [sounge.] Line 7124 And y lyue nat with charyte, No þyng auayleþ hyt to me. For y do þan ryȝt as þe bras, And as þe tympan, þat bete was; Line 7128

Line 7128 Þe bras, to oþer, ȝyueþ [ȝyfþe.] grete sown, And bet hym self vp and down. And þogh y speke al yn prephecye, [prophecye.] And haue þe kunnyng of euery maystrye, And, with gode beleue myght seye Line 7133 Þe hylles to turne yn-to þe valey, ȝyf hyt ne be with charyte wroght, Ellës, he seyþ þat y am noght. Line 7136 Þogh y ȝyue alle my wurldës gode Vnto porë mennys fode, And ȝyue my body for to brenne Opunly oþer men to kenne, [teche] Line 7140 But ȝyf þar be charyte with alle, My mede þarfore shal be ful smalle."

loke now how many godenesse [godenesses.] þer are, with-outë charyte noght but bare. Line 7144 wylt þou know [Wyltow knowe.] þy self, and se Ȝyf þou wone yn charyte?

Charyte suffreþ boþe gode and yl, And charyte ys of reuful wyl, Line 7148 Charyte haþ noun enuye, And charyte wyl no felunnye; Charyte ys nat Irus, [wraþful] And charyte ys nat coueytous; Line 7152 Charyte wyl no bostful preysyng; he wyl noght but ryȝtwys þyng; Charyte loueþ no fantome, No þynges þat euyl may of come; Line 7156 He haþ no ioye of wykkednes, [folio 48a] But loueþ alle þat sothfast es; Alle godenes he vp bereþ; Alle he suffreþ, and noun he dereþ; Line 7160 Gode hope he haþ yn ryghtwys þyng, And alle he susteyneþ to þe endyng; Charyte ne fayleþ noght, Ne no þyng þat with hym ys wroght. Line 7164 when alle prophecyes are alle gone, [agone.]

And alle tunges are leyde echone, And alle craftys fordo shul be, Þan [Þen.] lasteþ stedfast charyte." Line 7168

Þus seyþ seynt Poule, and mochë more, Yn hys pystyl of hys lore. Seynt charyte ys [ys boþe.] gode and hende, lastyng with God with-outyn ende. Line 7172

Gode hyt were to loue hyt weyl, And folowe hyt with oure dede sumdeyl. Ȝyf we þys charyte wyl haue, Ȝyue we þe pore whan þey vs craue; Line 7176 Ȝyue we hem, as hyt ys oure myȝt, with-oute myssaw or any fyȝt; Þan ys hyt curteys almës dede; Þank of God þan ys oure mede, Line 7180 And shal stonde ful stalwurþly Aȝens þe synne of glotonye, As y haue tolde ȝow here byfore, Line 7183 And furþer shal y telle ȝow ['ȝow' omitted.] now more.

At þe begynnyng y spake of þys, Ete ne drynk but þat nede ys. who so doþ hyt oute of mesure, Hele of body may nat dure, Line 7188 And to hys soule, hyt ys dedly synne, Þat custummable ys þer-ynne; And penaunce harde þarfore shal go, But we kepe vs weyl þerfro. Line 7192

Loke yn þys sawe what Catoun seys, Þat ys wyys and ryȝt curteys, "Ȝyf þou yn hele wylt dure, [folio 48a:2] Ete and drynk of swych mesure Line 7196 Þat þy strenkþe be nat þe lesse;

For, drynkyng oute of skylle, Þy body bryng hyt wylle To sorowe and to sykënesse." Line 7200

Line 7200

And ouþer spyces haþ glotonye: To ete þy mete ouer brennynglye And lustly, whan þou hyt getyst, And takest noun hede what þou etyst. Line 7204

Anoþer spyce ys noght to pay, As a beste to ete al day, And kepyst nonë [no.] certeyn tyme, Þe settyng at none or pryme, Line 7208 Noþer ouþer tyme þat fallyþ [falþ.] to man, But as a beste þat no resun kan. Me þenkeþ weyl hyt ys resun To callë swych a man 'glotoun.' Line 7212 Twyys on þe day ys sustynaunce To man þat haþ gode cheuysaunce. Þe cheuysauncë, woste þou how, To man þat haþ metë ynow, Line 7216 Þogh he be man of trauayle, Hyt were y-now with-outë fayle.

But þo men þat haue no swynk, Þat delyte hem yn mete or [and.] drynk, Line 7220 Þe apostyl [apostole.] Poulë spekþ of þo, And dampneþ many one to wo. He seyþ "woo to þo þat erly ȝerne, Þat go and hauntë þe tauerne, Line 7224 Yn wyne or ale to haue lykyng; Cursednes hem folowyþ at þe endyng. Of swych, here wombës are here Cryst; [kryst.] Þat ys here loue, þat ys here tryst." Line 7228 Alle þys he meneþ sykyrly For man þat loueþ [loue.] moche glotonye.

Ȝungë chyldryn, þey mow wele, On þe day, etë þre mele; Line 7232 For sum of hem wex ful tyte, [folio 48b] Þarefor ys more, here appetyte; And ȝyt behoueþ tyme be þar-to, Or men mowe wyþ hem mysdo; Line 7236 For, þus seyþ þe oldë man Yn a prouerbe [forbysyn.] þat he can,

"Ȝyue þy chylde when he [hyt.] wyl kraue, And þy whelpe whyl hyt wyl haue, Line 7240 Þan mayst þou make yn a stounde A foulë chylde and a feyrë hounde." So mayst þou be enchesoun To make þy chylde a glotoun. Line 7244

A-nouþer vyce ys ȝyt to graunte, Þat rychë men mochyl haunte, Þat many one are so daungerous, [Compare the French lines 5811-16.] And oute of mesure esquaymous, Line 7248 Þat hys kokë may no day Greyþë hym hys mete to pay. Þat me þenkeþ a feble manere; A vylanye hyt ys to here; Line 7252 For euery coke wulde, at hys myȝt, hys lordës metë were wel dyȝt: wheþer hyt be lorde or lady, Me þenkeþ hyt ys a spyce of glotonye. Line 7256 hyt semeþ, were hyt at þy wyl, Ouer mesure þou wuldest þe fyl.

Rerë sopers yn pryuyte, with glotonye, echone þey be; Line 7260 And þyr ys mochë wastë ynne, And gadryng of ouþer synne. Þefte behoueþ þe sumdele þore, And glotonye algatë more; Line 7264 And leccherye ys quene or kyng; For hym ys all þat gaderyng.

Ȝyt are þer ouþer rere sopers, Line 7267 with men þat seruë knyȝtys and squyers; For al þe day þan wyl þey be Before here maysters yn soberte; But whan here maysters are broght to bedde, [folio 48b:2] Þan wyl þey fonde þat þey be fedde, Line 7272 And sytte vp þare wyþ recolage [rycolage.]

And ȝyt do mochë more outrage; To þe mydnyght ys but a þrowe, But hyt be, tyl þe cok krowe. Line 7276 Þese men are clumbë on a grece To glotonyë with þat spece.

Also fallë men yn plyght, Þat sytte vp [Þat sytte vp on þe Þursday nyght.] þe Þarsday at nyght. Line 7280 And ouerlong ete flesshe and drunke Aftyr þat mydnyght ys runge, Or fysshe or flesshe [Or whyte or fysshe.] þat suffreþ dede, Þat shulde on þe Fryday faste watyr & brede; Line 7284 Swych etyng þey shul sore abeye, But þey amende hem are þey deye. Þe Fryday nyght ys,—þys shalt þou leue,— Aftyr þe Þursday at eue; Line 7288 Þe nyght cumþ byfore þe day, Þat ys now of þe newë lay.

As y haue tolde of rere sopers, Þe same falleþ of erly dyners; Line 7292 Dyners are oute of skyl and resun On þe Sunday, or hye [ar hygh.] messe be doun. Þogh þou haue haste, here ȝyt a messe, Al holy, and no lesse, Line 7296 And nat symple, [symply.] a sakare, For hyt ys nat y-now [ynogh.] for þe, But hyt be for lordys powere, Or pylgrymage þat haþ no pere. Line 7300

Are þou oght ete, þys ys my rede, Take holy watyr and holy brede; For yn auenture kas, hyt may þe saue, Ȝyf housel ne shryftë þou mayst haue. Line 7304

Alle oþer tymes ys glotonye, But hyt be grete enchesun why. On oþer hygh dayys, [days.] ȝyf þat þou may,— Þogh þat hyt be nat Sunday,— Line 7308 Here þy messë ar þou dyne; [folio 49a]

Ȝyf þou do nat, ellys ys hyt pyne.

lordës þat haue prestes at wyl, Me þenketh þey trespas ful yl, Line 7312 Þat any day ete, are [ar.] þey here messe, But ȝyf ['ȝyf' omitted.] hyt be þurgh harder dystresse.

þe [Þese.] men þat are of holy cherche, Þey wetë weyl how þey shul werche; Line 7316 But swych y tellë hardyly, Þat swych a preste douþ [doþ.] glotonye, Þat [Þat O, Þe H.] leuyþ hys messe on þe auter [Written 'autere' first, and then the final e dotted out.] For to go to a dyner. Line 7320 So ne shuld he do, for no þyng, For loue ne awe of no lordyng, But ȝyf hyt were for a grete nede Þat shuld hym falle, or a grete drede. Line 7324

Now haue we tolde yn lytyl space how þat glotonye cumþ yn place On many maner dyuers wyse, And how we shul knowe allë þyse. Line 7328

Ȝyf any seþ hym so coupáble Þat yn þys ys custummáble, leuë hem, and do no more, And askë penauncë þarefore, Line 7332 And God ys curteys, and wul wele Forȝyue þe þy trespas euery dele. God graunte vs, for hys swete mercy, To kepe vs alle fro glotonye! Line 7336

[Of Lechery.]

Now shul we speke of leccherye, Þat foloweþ þe synne of glotonye; Hyt ys þe laste of [of þe.] seuene, And, fyrþest hyt ys fro heuene. Line 7340 wharefore þan hyt ys [ys hyt.] so? For hyt dampneþ euer two. Þou mayst synne þy self yn wyl,

But with anoþer þou shalt fulfyl. Line 7344 Forsoþe þey are [are O, art H. (In H. 'þey' is alterd from þou.')] to folehardy Þat haunte þe synne of lecchery; For why, to do alle ouþer synnes, [folio 49a:2] Þe lyghtlyer þe fende hem wynnes. Line 7348

On seuene maners shal y shewe How lecherye þan ys a shrewe.

Þe fyrst ys 'fornycacyon,' whan two vnweddyd haue mysdon, Line 7352 As sengle knaue and sengle tarne, [tharne, glossed 'a wenche.'] [wenche.] whan þey synne to-gedyr ȝerne; Þe leste hyt ys of allë seuene, Ȝyt hyt forbarreþ þe blys of heuene. Line 7356

Þe touþer ys 'awoutry,' whan weddyd and weddyd to-gedyr lye, As weddyd man takeþ anoþers wyfe, Þat ys þe morë synful lyfe. Line 7360 Ȝyf weddyd man, sengle woman takeþ, Forsoþe spousebrechë þere he makyþ. Ȝyf weddyd wyfe take sengle man, Alle spousebreche tel y hyt þan; Line 7364 For þey haue broke with-outë fayle Þe chastë bondë of spousayle.

Þe þryddë synnë ys þe werst, Þe clerk[es] calleþ hyt 'yncest,' Line 7368 whan men [men.] take kyn yn felawrede, [felaghrede.] And wyþ hem doþ [doun.] flesshëly dede; Þe ner[ë] syb she ys hys [hys B, om. A.] kynde, Þe morë plyȝt shal he þere fynde. Line 7372 Or ȝyf he with a woman synne, Þat sum of hys kyn haþ endyd ynne, Þat ys to sey, haþ ley here by,

Þe more plyȝt ys þat lecchery; Line 7376 Þus hyt seyþ yn þe decre, He calleþ hyt an 'affynyte'; Affynyte hyt makeþ alle an ende, hys blode þarto no more may wende. Line 7380

Þe fourþe synne ys more perylous, with man and womman relygyus; Ȝyf þey haue made professyoun Boþe vn-to relygyoun, Line 7384 Moche ys to chargë þat folye [folio 49b] Ȝyf þey to-gedyr do leccherye. Relygyous man also ys [ys also.] to blame, Þat yn þe wurlde takeþ a foule fame, Line 7388 For he may kepe hym weyl þerfro, Alonë [Allone.] þar hym neuer go.

Þe fyfþe ys mochë for to drede, Line 7391 To rauysh [rauys.] a womman here maydenhede, Þat ys to say, a-ȝens here wylle, But ȝyf she grauntë weyl þar-tylle; And, þogh she [she O, he H. (A.S. heo, she).] to hym consente, he ys holde to here auaunsement; Line 7396 For ȝyf she ȝyue here to folye, She kan nat leuë tyl she deye; And he þat broght here to þat bysmere, For here foly he shal answere. Line 7400

Þe syxtë reyseþ gretë stryfe, To rauys anouþer mannys wyfe; For aȝens God hyt ys euyl dede, And to þe worlde also mochyl drede. Line 7404 Ȝyf hyt be aȝens here wyl, Þe more he douþ hym seluen yl. A clerk, ȝyf [þat] he ordred be, hys synne ys more þan ouþer þre Line 7408 For he douþ þat he shulde forbede, And chastyse ouþer of swyche dede,

And þarto mochyl morë kan Þan a-noþer lewed man. Line 7412 Þou lewed man, knowest also what ys to lete, what ys to do; Þou knowyst as weyl, euery poynt, As þe prest þat ys a-noynt, Line 7416 And wost what peryl ys þerynne; Þou mayst noȝt sey, to fende þy synne.

Also do þesë lordynges, Þey [Þey B, Þe A.] trespas mochë yn twey þynges; Line 7420 Þey rauys a mayden aȝens here wyl, And mennys wyuys þey lede [wyffes lede.] awey þertyl; [þar tyl.] A grete vylanye þarto [þar to.] he dous [folio 49b:2] Ȝyf he make þerof hys rous; [boste] Line 7424 Þe dedë ys confusyun, And more ys þe dyffamacyun.

Þe seuenest [seuenþe.] ys foulest leccherye— Comoun wymmen to lyggë by— Line 7428 Of al þe ouþer þat we haue seyde. longyng of loue ys þerë nede, For to louë one a-lone, Þan here þat tak[e]þ euerychone. Line 7432 Foul ys þat lust and þat peryl, To loue here þat al men go tyl. Ful foulë ys þat forreyne Þat ys comon for al, certeyne; Line 7436 Þerfore, what as euer be yn þy þoght, Comun wymmen take þou noght, For many kas þat may falle, Þat pryuë ys to telle ȝow alle. Line 7440

And somë toldë mow weyl be, Þat are nat holde yn pryuyte; One ys, she may take þy broþer, Fadyr, or sybkynd, as wel as ouþer. Line 7444 Anoþer, for cuntek and foule stryfe, Þou mayst, þurgh here, lese þy lyfe. Þe þred[dë] ys þe werstë [þe werste B, werst A. (See 'þe þrydde,' p. 235, l. 7367.)] wem;

Meseles, men seye, vsen hem; Line 7448 And, who takeþ [who so takþ.] hem yn þat hete, Clennesse of body he may sone lete. Moche wo þan, ys swyche to take, For þesë þre lakkës sake; Line 7452 And moche may be þat wommans mone, [mone.] For she shal answere for hem echone Þat haue ydo any synne wyþ hyre, At domes day, þe day of Ire. Line 7456

Þarefore, ȝe men, takeþ none, Ne ȝe wymmen, takeþ but one. Ȝyf man or womman may nat be chaste, Take, [Take one.] and do no morë waste, Line 7460 One of [on.] whom ȝoure loue wyl be, [folio 50a] And ȝyueþ nat ȝoure bodyys to alle ylych fre.

Seuene maner synnes y haue ȝow tolde, Þe whych cumbren men on many folde, And þe leste of alle þese seuene Line 7465 Forbarreþ a man þe blys of heuene. who-so wyl be clene of þyse, Aȝens hys flessh behoueþ hym ryse, Line 7468 And wyþ hyt fyȝt ful faste Þat hyt be algate dowün [down.] kaste, And elles may he neuer [neure.] be clene, hys flessh hys enmy wyl hym sone [so.] tene: Of swych a fyȝt a sample y kan, [A tale] Of seynt Benet þat holy man. Seynt Gregory telþ for þe nones how seynt Benet was tempted onys. Line 7476

[The Tale of St. Benet's Tempta|tion, and how he freed himself by rolling in Thorns and Nettles.]

As seynt Benet sate yn hys celle, To tempte hym com a fend of helle Yn a lykenes of a bryd.

A 'þrostyl' ys þe namë kyd; Line 7480 hyt come fleyng by seynt Benet, And, mery [myry.] synggyng, by hym hym set; Noþeles, he hadde grete ferly [wundyr] Þat hyt flegh hym so ny. Line 7484 Seynt Benet wende he myȝt hyt ha take, For hyt sate by hym so spake. [tame] he blessed hym fyrst, and bedde hys hande To take þe brydde þat was syttande; Line 7488 As sone as he hadde made þe croyce, Þe bryde flegh furþ, and left hys voys. Þat þrostel sagh he no more; hyt become, he ne wyst whore. Line 7492

Þan come on hym so sodenly So grete temptyng of lecchery, Þat neuer er, syn he was bore, So grete temptyng was hym byfore; Line 7496 Þe fendë þan put yn hys þoght Þat he hadde, or seye, or wroght.

Onës he sagh a feyre womman, [folio 50a:2] And al day yn hys þoght she ran; Line 7500 Swych þoght so hadde hym [þoght had hym so.] ouercome, Þat þe þoght of God, hyt had ny [nygh.] fornome; And foule longyng had hym so take Þat hys ermytage he hadde nygh [nygh he had.] forsake; But Ihesu, þat seeþ al þyng, Line 7505 he sagh weyl hys grete temptyng; Þogh he suffred hym weyl be to-blaste, he suffred hym nat be dowün kaste; [down kast.] Line 7508 Þe fende may nat but tempte þy wyl, Þe [Þy.] selfe behoueþ þe dede fulfyl; And for he stode so stalwrþly, [O, stalwrly H.] Þe holy goste was to hym redy. Line 7512

with-oute hys cellë, þornës wore,

And netles grewe, þat byten sore; So haddë grace made hym stedfaste, Þat al hys cloþys of he kast, Line 7516 And alle [alle he H, al O.] naked hym-self he wrappe Among þe þornës þat were sharpe, And among þe netles echone, Tyl hys temptacyun was al gone. Line 7520

Þe þornes prykked, þe netles dyd byte, Of flesshly temptacyun þey made hym quyte, So clene, þat neuer aftyrward was he tempted more so hard Line 7524 Of hys flessh, þat was hys fo, he dyde hyt þere so mochë wo. Seþþen, loued [louede O, loue H.] he Ihesu cryst wel [weyl O, wel moche H.] more Þan he dede, euer byfore, Line 7528 And hadde to hym more loue longyng Þan byfore hys hard temptyng.

Þys tale y tolde for þat enchesun, To stand aȝens temptacyun; Line 7532 For who-so wyl hys soulë saue, Many a fyȝt behoueþ hym haue Aȝens þe spyces of lecchery, Line 7535 Ar he wynne of hym þe maystry. [folio 50b]

Seynt Poule techyþ vs for þat batayle A sykyr fyght þat wyl nat fayle; He seyþ, "y forbede ȝow echoun, with womman for to go alone." Line 7540 For who-so douþ hyt, sone and lyȝtly He consentyþ to lecchery; Þou alone, alone with hyre, þy þoght, by herte, cumþ sone on fyre; Be þou neuer so chaste ne straunge, Line 7545 Be ȝe alone, þyn herte wyl chaunge; And God commaundeþ boþe þe and me, [me and þe.] Oure herte to [be.] stable yn chastyte. Line 7548

Line 7548 He seyþ nat, to whom he [whom þat he.] wyl kalle, But spekeþ comunly to vs alle; And þogh he calle alle comunly, Sum are called more specyally; Line 7552 For specyaly þat comandeþ he To men þat are of hygh degre, As to bysshopes, and persones, To prestys, and ouþer relygyons; [relygyones.] Line 7556 To þese ys specyal comaundement; Þurgh þese to ouþer hyt shal be sent. Þarefore he byddeþ, with wurdës smarte, [smerte.] Þat þey be allë chaste of herte. Line 7560

what ys hyt wurþ [wrth.] to be, with-outen, clene, whan fylþë ys withynne þe sene? For many one, whan þey to bedde are broȝt, Delyten hem yn fylþys of þoght. Line 7564 Swych þoghtës are synnës greue, Ȝyf þey þè pay, or be þè leue; And ȝyf hyt pay þè so, swych foule þoȝt, Þat þe dede were do, ȝyf þou moght, Line 7568 Certes hyt ys nat [noght.] to drede Þat þy wyl ne shal answere for þe [þy.] dede. For ȝyf þou myȝtyst, þou wuldest, do, Þy wyl consenteþ weyl þarto; Line 7572 Þou art a lechoure yn þat kas, Þyn hertëwyl ys grete trespas.

Anoþer spyce, more synne hyt ys, [folio 50b:2] whan þou sekest þy wyl of flesshe, Line 7576 To þe lust of lecchery, Yn handlyng, or dremyng of foly, Þurgh þoghtes or syghtës þat þou sees, And yn alle ouþer pryuytes; Line 7580 God hym-self forbedeþ alle þys; Þey gete no parte of heuene blys: Yn shryfte forgetë noght of þyse; How ofte þou dedyst, and on what wyse.

Ȝyt þyr ys a-noþer spyce [vyce.] Line 7585 Þat cumþ of þe fendes malyce, Þat he douþ vs alle falle ynne, yn dreme slepyng þat we are ynne. Line 7588 And þat yche temptacyun May be twey maner of enchesun; Þe fyrste ys syghte, þe touþer ys þoght, with-outë þese, dremest þou noght; Line 7592 For swyche þyng þou mayst se with ye, Þat hyt turneþ to þoght of felonye. [Altered to 'vilonye.']

Ȝyf þou þenkest ofte of þat syght, Þat wey of þoght gadreþ myȝt, Line 7596 And knyttyþ harde ryȝt as a seme, And sheweþ on þe nyȝt yn dreme. Yn þat dreme, ȝyf þou do lecherye, hyt makeþ þe þoght of vylayné; [vylaynye.] Line 7600 Ȝyf any do hyt ones [hyt ones O, hyt H.] þurgh chaunce, Þan ys þerfore but lyȝt penaunce; Ȝyf hyt be donë þurgh custome, Þan falleþ þarfore harder dome; Line 7604 For euery tyme, at alþer leste, Behoueþ þe shewe to þe preste: Hyt ys a wysdom to shewe hyt alle; Hyt may be moche, þat þe þenkeþ smalle. Þe prestë, [prest.] he can euene charge, Line 7609 For whyche he shal ȝyue penaunce large.

lecchery ys also grete ȝernyng To be desyred þurgh feyre cloþyng, Line 7612 what wymmen hem tyfe [tyffe.] with ownë wyl, [folio 51a] To foly loue, ouþer men to tylle. Ȝyf men, þurgh here feyre atyre, wyþ hem to do foly, haue desyre, Line 7616 Þey shul answere for here synne, For þey are rote, and fyrst bygynne; Noþeles, þe cónsentour

Shal be holde for a lechour; Line 7620 Euene peynë shul þey bere, Þe toon þe touþer shal answere.

Ȝyt sey men yn þe oldë lawe, Þat, of a þefe and hys felawe, Line 7624 O dome shul þey boþë haue, Þe toon ne toþer [ne þe touþer.] shul men nat saue; And ȝyt men sey, as men gos, As foule ys he þat halt, as he þat fos. [flos.]

Anoþer spyce eke he forbedeþ, Line 7629 Þat many one ful lytyl dredeþ: To suffre a lechour or lechours To hauntë foly yn here hous. Line 7632 Þe prophete spekeþ ful euyl of þo; Þey shul haue part of peyne and wo; And þus seyþ þe prophete Osee, As moche defouled as hordam [hordom.] shal be.

A-noþer spyce, þat mochë dereþ, Line 7637 hauntë þey þat erandes bereþ To do a lechour for to spede, Or ȝyuen conseyl to do þe dede, Line 7640 Or susteyne one with maystry: Swych men are castel of lechery. Þus seyþ þe prophete seynt Danyel; And holy wryt wytnesseþ hyt wel. [weel.] Line 7644

what sey ȝe of þese lordynges Þat a-vowe [auowe.] here men to do swych þyngys? Þat men dur nat hem [nat hem O, nat H.] chastyse with holy cherche, ne oþer wyse. Line 7648 Swych men areysen baner Aȝens holy cherches power, And hem self are castel and toure [folio 51a:2] For to manteynë þe lechoure. Line 7652 who so a-voweþ a ['a' omitted.] man to do euyl, he ys no sybber þan þe deuyl;

For þe fende wulde þat al shulde be Dampned, as weyl as ys he. Line 7656

Ȝyt of ȝouþe men shulde haue drede, Of þat men donë yn chyldhede; Þat may be turned to lechery, For chyldryn ofte to-gedyr ly. Line 7660

Ȝyf þou oght dedyst and hopest, hyt ys Yn þy wyt, synne of foule flessh: Y cunseyl þe to telle þe [þy.] prest, For peryl may fallë, weyl þou seest; Line 7664 Þyn ynwyt telleþ þe þat skyl Of what þou dest þat ys peryl, For comunly, þat men done [do.] yn ȝenkþe, Yn agë haunte þey hyt on lenkþe; Line 7668 And mowe nat leue þat foule [vyle (a late may is interlined above mowe).] vsage Þat þey toke yn ȝouþe yn rage. yn a prouerbe of olde Englys Tellë men, and soþe hyt ys, Line 7672 "Þat ȝougþë wones, yn agë mones;" Þat þou dedyst [dest.] ones, þou dedyst eftsones. Þarefore loke what þy ȝouþë was, And yn þy [þyn.] age amende þy trespas. Line 7676

A-noþer spyce, ware þe fro þys Foly, a womman for to kys; For seldë kys[eth] any frende, Þat lechery ne ys þoght or neuende. Line 7680 kyssyng ys, for loue to wynne, And ys erand for flesshly synne; Man or [and.] womman, loke for-þy, wharefore þou kyssest, whom, & why. Line 7684

Ȝyt ys þer a spyce to mene For hem þat shuld be chaste and clene, As þo men þat are of hygh degree, Of holy cherches owne meyne; Line 7688 Þesë men shuld for no þyng [folio 51b]

Come yn wymmens handëlyng; Ne womman, [Ne womman noþer.] þat godë couþe, Shuld kyssë any prestys mouþe; Line 7692 For þere may nat but synne aryse; [ryse.] hys mouþ ys halewed to Goddys seruyse.

Ne prest oghte no woman touche, For, of foule touchyng, synne men souche. Seynt Ierom seyþ 'he shuld noȝt Line 7697 haue any woman yn hys þoght;' For swych þoght, shal neuer weyl werche, with man þat ys of holy cherche. Line 7700 lestene now what Ierom seyde To hys suster þat hym preyde; She besoghte hym on alle maners Þat he wulde haue here yn hys preyers; Seynt Ierom spake aȝen to hyre, Line 7705 Haluyndele as hyt were yn Ire, "Y prey God, þat mynde of þe, Yn my þoghtë, neuer be." Line 7708

wenest þou nat he dred hym nede, whan he to hys suster [syster.] þus seyde? he dredde hym of sum wykked wrenche whan he ne durstë on here þenche. Line 7712 For soþe þan shulde þey mochë drede Þat are alday with hem yn dede.

[Compare French, lines 6107-10.] Þe fende whan he may any tyce— Þat ys, yn handlyng of sum vyce— Line 7716 Þat ychë cumþ hym wel to pay, Þan þynkeþ he, he haþ wonne a pray; And namely of þese holy men, Þat were hym leuer þan ouþer ten, Line 7720 ⁵And a holy⁵ [5_5 An holy.] man were hym leuer tylle To flesshly lust or wykked wylle Þan an hundred ouþer mo Þat rekkë neuer whedyr [where.] þey go. Line 7724

Line 7724

[The Tale of the Jew who heard some Devils' Reports of their Deeds to Satan; and how the Devil who got a Bishop to pat a Nun on the Back was most praisd. [

This Tale, says Gaston Paris (Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 201), is made up from two distinct stories. All that relates to the Jew, the temple of Apollo, the narrative of the devil who tempted the bishop (St. André de Fondi), the saying about the empty and markt vessel (p. 2444, l. 7854: væ! væ! vas vacuum et signatum!) is borrowd from St. Gregory's Dialogs, III. vii.; but the feats of the different devils, the punishments of some, and the reward of the other, are from the Vitas Patrum, p. 580 (compare p. 576 and 556), which is the source of Wadington's Tale, tho' it substitutes a pagan for the Jew, and greatens the fault of the holy man who is tempted. Guillaume Peraut (Guill. Peraldi, Summa de vitiis: de luxuria, II. 19) tells the two stories, one after the other, with|out mixing them; but we see the mixture going on under our eyes in Libro de los Exemplos (no. 21), which, following without doubt a lost Latin original, tells us, as to Satan's questioning of the other devils: "St. Gregory tells briefly the manner of this questioning; but we can see it more in detail by an example in the Life of the Holy Fathers," etc. This Tale was often retold in the Middle Ages, and a summary of it, after St. Gregory, is certainly found in these verses, De triumphis Ecclesiæ of Johannes de Garlandia (ed. Wright, p. 37) as to the power of the sign of the Cross:

Dæmonis in fanum Judæus tempore noctisVenit, et advenit dæmonis horror ei.Se cruce signavit; signatum vas bene dæmonSed vacuum dixit: credidit ergo timens.Nec præsul tetigit monialem quam tetigisseProposuit, sicut dixerat unus ibi.

One must not then recognise here (as was suggested that one might, in 'Notices et Extraits des MSS.,' t. xxvii, 2^e part., p. 71) the legend of Cyprian and Justine (see p. 258-60 below), or see in Judæus a mistake of the copyists or editor for Julianus.

] ]

Seynt Gregory telleþ, [telþ.] for gode mennys prew, [A tale.] Þat sum tyme was [tyme þyr was.] onës a Iew, And trauayled o tyme by þe cuntre, [folio 51b:2] By iurnes þydyr þat he wulde be. Line 7728 Fyl so, he nyghtede yn a wasteyne, Þere he sagh no stede certeyne; he sagh no stede where wast [was.] best To lygge a nyght and take hys rest. Line 7732 But an [an O, and H.] olde temple he sagh stondyng, þat, sum tyme, folke mysbeleuyng Made here sacrifyse þer-ynne To here god, þat hyght Apolyne; Line 7736 Þys Iew restede þere þat nyȝt, And toke hys esë as he myȝt.

As þe Iew lay þere alone, To hym-self he made hys mone, Line 7740 Þat he beleued on swych a lawe Þat myȝt nat saue hym on [wyþ.] no sawe.

Of Ihesu Cryst, he hadde herd speke, How Iewes dyd hym on þe rodë steke. Þurgh grete þan ynspyracyun, Line 7745 He þoght so on hys passyun Þat oure feyþ yn hys hertë ran, Al be hyt he were no crysten man; Line 7748 So, what for trouþe, and what for doute, He made þe croys hym al a-boute, And seþþen leyd hym downe to slepe; Of ouþer, ȝaf he no more kepe. Line 7752

Sone at þe mydnyȝt he gan to wake Þurgh grete noyse and cry, & sore to quake; He lokèd vp, and sagh þere sytte Fendës fele þat fouly flytte; [chydde] Line 7756 he sagh one syttë yn a cheyre, [chayere.] Þat foule lokèd, and foule gan bere; He bad hem allë ȝelde a-counte, Here dedës what þey wulde amounte; Line 7760 what þey hadde do many ȝeres, He aresoned hem on hys maners; To oon he cast enchesoun, [gret enchesoun.] Line 7763 "Sey þou, felaw, what þou hast doun!" "At a weddyng," he seyde, "y was, [folio 52a] And, þere y dyd grete trespas; Y slogh, þurgh myȝt of honde, Boþe þe wyfe and þe husbonde; Line 7768 And y dyd ȝyt a-noþer chek, Alle þe ouþer y broght on cuntek, And euery, y made ouþres foo, [fo.] Þat euery man gan ouþer slo." Line 7772

Þe mayster fend gan hym beholde, And sette at noȝt þat he hadde tolde. "For þat, how long [lange.] hast þou be þore?" "A twelue monþe," he seyd, "and no more." Line 7776

Line 7776 "For þy dede þou getyst maugre, And þarto ȝyt shalt þou bete be."

with hym wulde he no more stryue; He called [But calde.] an-ouþer furthe belyue; Line 7780 Felunlyche, with yȝen [eyen.] grym, "where hast þou be?" seyd he to hym. "Yn þe seë, haue y bene, And moche sorow made men betwene; Y haue broght to grete encumbre Line 7785 Shyppes and men with-outë noumbre, what yn cuntek, and yn tempest, Twenty þousand at þe lest." Line 7788 Þe deuyl seyd, "þat ys no doute; how long hast þou be þere-aboute?" "Seuene wyntyr, al to-gydyr, hauë y be haunted [hauntynge.] þedyr." Line 7792 Satan comaunded, for hys seruyse He shuld be put to hys Iuwyse.

Þe þred deuyl was forþë fette [furþ fet.] Byfore Satan, þer he was sette; [set.] Line 7796 Satan seyd, "where ware þou? How þou hast sped, sey me now." "A-boute a bysshope y haue be long, Ȝyf y myȝt hym yn synnë fong; Line 7800 But yn hym ys so grete bounte Þat y myȝt neuer turne hym to þe. But, þys nyȝt y haue so sped, [folio 52a:2] Þat hym with temptyng so fer haue led, Þat y hope, y haue hys þoght Line 7805 A party to my wyllë broght. Þyr com to hym, for hys godenesse, A nunne, y wene a pryores, Line 7808 Sum þyng of hym for to here Þat she perauenture myȝt of lere; Algate, y broght hyt so to an ende,

Þat, what tyme þat she shul wende, Line 7812 He smote here a lytyl on þe bak Yn pleyyng, whan he [he O, she H.] to here spak. God wyst what was yn hys þoȝt And yn hys herte, for y wyst hyt ['hyt' omitted.] noȝt."

Satan asked 'how long whyle Line 7817 he hadde be aboute, hym to gyle.' "Fourty wyntyr, and alle yn drede, Ȝyt myȝt y neuer so [neuer er so.] moche spede, Line 7820 Ne [No.] neuer er bryng hym to plyght But þat y ded þys samë nyȝt."

Ful weyl payd was Satanas Þat he hadde broght hym to þat cas: Line 7824 He ros aȝens hym, and made hym blysse, And profred hym hys mouþe to kysse, And seyd, 'he was weyl wurþy For to come and sytte hym by.' Line 7828

Before hem alle, þat ychë tyde, he sette hym by hym, syde be [by.] syde, And seyd, "ende þat þou hast bygunne; For þat þou hast do, my loue þou hast wunne." Line 7832

Þys ychë Iew þat þerë lay, In þe temple with grete affray, Y trowe for soþe he slept [slepe.] ful lytyl, whan he herde þat grete chapytyl; Line 7836 Ȝyf he hadde slept, hym neded awake, Ȝyf he were wakyng, he shulde a [ha.] quake, For Satan asked þere he sat, "who lyþ þere, and what ys þat? Line 7840 who durst so hardy be [folio 52b] [[6-syll. line]] To lye þere with-oute leue of me? Goþe swyþe, one or two to-gedyr, And, what he be, bryngeþ hym hedyr."

Þe deuylys come un-to hys bedde, Line 7845

Line 7845 And styrte aȝen, þey were so dredde; Þe bedde, ne [no.] hym, ne durst þey touche, So had he marked hym with þe crouche. [O. has above a ✗.]

Þey turned aȝen to syre Satan, Line 7849 And seyd, þey durst nat brynge þat man. He asked 'why þat chaunce byfel;' Þey seyd, hyt was "a lore [ler.] vessel, Line 7852 An empty vessel þat marked was From þe and þyne, syre Satanas; Þe vessel, whan hyt þere was leyde, Vn-to vs hyt longed nede. [al nede.] Line 7856 Alas þe whyle þey gunne to reme! He haþ hys mark þat wyl hym ȝeme."

Þe Iew þey called 'a voyde vessel,' And forsoþë, so hyt fel; Line 7860 Voydë he was of hys lawe, For he forsoke hyt for fyne awe; 'Lore,' [Ler.] for he hadde nat oure lawe take Seþþe he hadde [Harl. hadde nat.] hys owne forsake. Line 7864 For þys þyng, y hope þey seyd, And called þe Iew a vessel voyd. But þey myȝt nat ['nat' omitted.] do hym no dere, Noþer to Satanas lede ne bere; Line 7868 So hadde he hym with þe croyce blessed, Þat of hym algate þey myssed. Þe fendës and syre Satanas Þan wente awey, cryying 'alas!' Line 7872

Þe Iewë þo asswyþe a-ros,— hyt was no wundyr þoȝ [þogh.] hym gros,— [dred] Vn-to þe bysshope sone he ȝede And tolde hym what he sagh yn dede; Line 7876 Þe crystendome at hym he toke, And, hys fals[ë] lawe forsoke, And beleued oure lawe echedeyl, [folio 52b:2] And þe bysshope amended hym weyl. Line 7880

Line 7880

Þys talë to ȝow haue y tolde, how þe fendë halt hym bolde whan he haþ tyced an holy man with any temptacyun þat he kan, Line 7884 hym þenkeþ he haþ do a grete chaffare; And namely þo þat ordred are, whedyr hyt be yn a womman handlyng, Or yn any oþer lusty þyng; Line 7888 Þarefore lordynges þat kun wel se, Amendeþ ȝow, pur charyte, And makeþ nat a-mys þe toye, Þat þe fende of ȝou haue Ioye. Line 7892

Prest wel y ['y' omitted.] -lettred ys to blame, Þat letteþ nat, for drede ne shame, To pley with wommen, and to rage; For, aftyr pleyyng, cumþ outrage. Line 7896 Ofte men se, and haue herd seye, Þat swyche men go an euyl weye.

Ȝyue þou a-mong hem mayst na [nat.] lyue, But some algatë on þe clyue, Line 7900 Take þou ensample at seynt Ierom; Do as he dyd, and go fro hom.

Seynt Ierom wente yn-to deserte, For drede of synne and foly grete. Line 7904 Men asked hym why he þedyr ȝede, Syn he was an holy man yn dede; "y wentë þedyr, synne to fle, Y dredde hyt wlde ha maystred me; Line 7908 Synne of womman wyl with me fyȝt, And y fele me yn moche vnmyȝt. For ȝyf y a-bydë þat batayle, Y drede þat y shal falle or fayle; Line 7912 And ȝyf y fle þat ychë bekyr, Y hopë þan y may be sekyr:" Þarfore me þenkeþ, foles are þo Þat fyȝt, and mow[ë] be þar-fro, Line 7916 Þat fyȝt[ë] so þe deþ to haue [folio 53a] whan þey mow fle, hem self to saue.

Þarefore, ȝe prestes þat dwel at hom,

Þenkeþ on þe drede of seynt Ierom, Line 7920 And wommans [wommens.] felawshepe for to fle For doute of synne, for so ded he.

But of wymmen hyt ys grete wundyr, hyt fareþ with hem as fyre and tundyr; Comunly forsake þey none Line 7925 Þat euer ys made of flessh and bone. Ȝyf she wulde to foly here take, Þe prest algate she myȝt forsake; Line 7928 For þer ys none, þat she ne may Haue a sengle man to here pay. And ȝyf she wulde algate mysdo, A knaue myȝt best beseme here to, Line 7932 Þan hyt were to take a prest, For synne and sclaunder were þere lest. But how as euer men preche or spelle, Of prestës wyues men here euer telle. Line 7936

Of ouþer wyues y wyl naght say, Þey do nat wrong, but al day; But y dare sey, as y haue herde, On Englys toung [tonge.] to alle þe werlde. Line 7940

Ȝyf þyr be oþer mayden or wyfe Þat dysturbleþ þe holy lyfe Of þe prest, þurgh lecchery, Aȝens here shal kalle and crye Line 7944 Alle þat are yn paradys, And alle þat yn purgatory lys; And allë þat are yn þys lyue Aȝens here shul aryse and stryue; Line 7948 For euery prest, aftyr þe sacré, He parteþ þere Goddys body yn þre, [þer þe vble yn þre.] And offreþ hem to þe fadyr yn heuene On þys wyse, as y shal neuene; Line 7952 The fyrst he offreþ hem to blys, To hem þat yn heuene ys; [O. gloss 'ben.'] Þe toþer he offreþ for vs alle here, [folio 53a:2] Þat we to hym be boþe lefe and dere; Line 7956

Line 7956 Þe þryde he offreþ to haue memóry For soules þat are yn purgatóry, Þat God bryng hem oute of [of here.] peyne And brynge to [hem to.] þe ioye þat ys certeyne.

Certys, she douþ ful moche a-mys, Line 7961 Þe womman þat dysturbleþ alle þys. For, þo soulës are no þyng wurscheped with þat offryng, Line 7964 Noþer vs to cunseyl, or to rede, Ne hyt helpeþ nat þe dede; Allë þarefore þat now are, And þat shul be, and now are fare, [go] Line 7968 Shul dampne þat womman to be lore, And curse þe tyme þat she was bore; And þarwith-alle, ne shal she be quyt, Ȝyt shal hyre [here.] dampne hyre owne ynwyt Þat ychë day þat alle shal [shal O, þat H.] ryse Line 7973 Before Ihesu, þat hygh Iustyse.

lokeþ, ȝe wymmen, what ȝe do Ȝyf ȝe dyd oght, doþe no more so, Line 7976 Or harder penaunce, with bytter teres, Shul ȝe do here, or ellës wheres. And shame hyt ys euer [ys euer O, ys H.] aywhare To be kalled 'a prestës mare.' Line 7980

Of swych one, y shal ȝow telle Þat þe fendë bare to helle; [A tale] Þys chauncë fyl, þat ys so hard, Yn þe tyme of gode Edward,— Line 7984 Edward, syre Henryës sone,— And þe tale ys weyl to mone.

[The Tale of the Priest's Concu|bine, and how Fiends carried off her Dead Body.]

Þyr was a prest ryȝt amerous,— And amerous men are lechours;— Line 7988

Line 7988 Þys prest, þe moste part of hys lyfe, Helde a womman as hys wyfe, Þat no tymë he hare [here.] lete, Só þoght hym þe synnë swete. Line 7992 Yn synne, and yn foly desyre, [folio 53b] Foure chyldryn he gate on hyre. Þese chyldryn, as þey wox [woxe.] more, He sette hem vn-to scole to lore; Line 7996 So þey lernede, þat þe þre were ordeyned, prestes to be; Þe fourþë sone was a scoler, To lernë more he dyde hys power. Line 8000 when þey were prestys, here fadyr deyde,— Þe prest þat y er of [er of O, er H.] seyde,— Þys ychë womman lefte a-lyue Aftyr hym foure ȝere or fyue. Line 8004 Þese foure chyldryn had grete þoght How þey were yn synne furþe broght, And how here modyr leued ynne, Alle here lyfe, yn dedly synne; Line 8008 Þey preyde here, for allë chaunce, To be of godë répentaunce, And forþynkë here mysdede with sorow of hert, and wyþ drede. Line 8012

But þus answered she to hem alle, "For no þyng þat may befalle, Shal y neuer repentë me whyle y haue ȝow prestës þre Line 8016 Þat for me mow [mowen] rede and synge, And, ful weyl, me to blys brynge; So may my soule to God be broght For any synne þat I haue wroght; Line 8020 But wylle ȝe allë fourë do A þyng þat y prey ȝow to? kepyþ my body, at ȝoure myȝt, Þre dayys, and þre nyȝt, Line 8024

Line 8024 Yn þys hous whan y am dede, And y hope be saued fro þe quede, Þogh y haue lyued a synful lyfe, And haue be called a prestës wyfe." Line 8028

Þat graunted þey euery deyl, For þey wende ha [haue.] do hyt wele. Sone aftyrward she euyld, [folio 53b:2] And deyd sunner þan she wylde. Line 8032

here chyldryn, as þey hadde here [þey here hade.] het, To wake here body were þey set: Þe fyrst nyght þat þey shulde here wake, At mydnyȝt þe berë gan to quake; Line 8036 Here fourë sonys þat saye hyt stere, leyd on hond, [hande.] and helde þe bere; Þe ouþer men hadde swychë drede Þat euery man hys wëy ȝede; Line 8040 with mochë drede and hydous syght Askaped þey on þe fyrst nyȝt.

Þe toþer nyȝt þat þe chyldryn woke, At þe mydnyȝt þe berë quoke, Line 8044 And alle þat sate or þerby stode, For dredë wendë ha wox [haue woxe.] wode: Þat nyȝt shewed he more hys ire, Þat hys power was moche yn hyre. Line 8048 with sorowful syȝt and grete affray He drogh þe body þere hyt lay, And to þe dore þe fende hyt broght; Þat tymë fyrþer myȝt he noght. Line 8052 Here fourë sones, with mochë peyne, Efte hadde þe body yn aȝeyne; Aboute þe body a rope þey wonde, And to þe berë fast þey [hyt.] bonde; Line 8056 So algate þe body with hem lefte; At þat nyȝt was hyt nat refte.

Þe þred nyȝt, moste sorow gan falle;

At þe mydnyȝt, as þey woke alle, Line 8060 Come fendës fele, with loþely brous, And fylden allë ful þe hous, Þey toke þe body and þe bere wyþ lothly cry, þat alle myȝt here; Line 8064 And bare hyt furþe þat none wyst whore, with-outen ende for euermore. here sones hyt seyd, and hoped wel, Þat body and soule was lore eche deyl. Line 8068

Þe ȝongest sone þat was a scolere, He preched þys yn stedys here; [sere.] Þurgh Ingland, yn euery cuntre, he tolde þys tale of grete pyte, Line 8072 Oueral as he went a-boute, (He spared noþer for shame ne doute) Aȝens wymmen þat prestës take, For hys ownë modyr sake; Line 8076 For to dampne and stroye þat synne, Þat no womman falle þer-ynne.

Ȝe wommen, þenkeþ on þys tale, And takeþ hyt for no troteuale! Line 8080 Goddes veniaunce was hyt, and hys Ire, To amende vs alle for loue of hyre.

Yn a prouerbe, telle men þys, "He wyys ys, þat ware ys," [[6-syll. line]] Line 8084 And wysdom es, [ys.] and feyre maystrye, To chastyse vs wyþ ouþres folye.

Of prestës kan y sey no þyng,— So seyd y at þe bygynnyng,— Line 8088 Noþer of clerkys neuer a deyl, Þéy wote [wete.] what ys ylle and weyl; But þus haue y herde for certeyn, Yn þe worlde ys none so gode skryueyne— Þogh he were wyser þan Salamon Line 8093 And bettyr langaged þat [þan.] was Mercyon

And leued yn age a þousend ȝere— Ne myȝt telle þe sorow and were, [dysesc] Line 8096 Ne þe peyne, þat þe preste shal drye, [suffre] Þat haunteþ þat [þe.] synne of lecchery. Þey are wroth whan any þus precheþ, But holy wryt þus vs telleþ [vs þus telþ.] and techeþ.

Now turne we aȝen þere we spak Line 8101 Of handlyng synnë, þat yche lak; Y tolde of handlyng synne as y kouþe, And now wyþ [of.] foly kyssyng with mouþe.

kyssyng doþe moche more euyl Line 8105 whan handlyng cumþ of þe deuyl; Some wene þat kyssyng ys no synne, [folio 54a:2] But grete peryl falleþ þer-ynne. Line 8108 Be þou neuer so chaste and straunge, kyssyng wyl þyn hertë chaunge; Hyt ys forbode, be þou weyl ware, Line 8111 But ȝyf hyt be here, þat furþe þe [þe furþ.] bare; Þy wyfë þou mayst kysse with ryȝt, Ȝyt yn sum poynt mayst þou falle yn plyȝt. Seynt Ierom, he spekeþ [spekþ O.] of þys, Ouer moche for to daunte and kysse; Line 8116 Daunte a womman oute of skylle, when no tyme were, she wyl þer-tyl.

Maner þer ys of foule kyssyng, As ys of dede and of handlyng, Line 8120 Þat falleþ [falþ.] ofte yn pryuyte, But þat shal nat be tolde for me; Noþeles, hyt mote be tolde Line 8123 Yn shryftë, boþe with ȝunge and olde.

Sum maner kyssyng ys ful grete vyce, And wommens hertys to sȳnne wyl tyse; And who so delyteþ hym þer-ynne, wommen to foly for [so.] to wynne, Line 8128 Y do hym weyl to vndyrstande,

So may he go yn deuyl hande.

Ȝyt mayst þou synne yn lecherye Yn þe lokyng of þyn yȝe; [eye.] Line 8132 Beholde nat wymmen ouer mochyl; [mykyl.] Here syȝte makeþ mennys þoghtes fykyl; And who-so haþ a feble herte, hys ye [eye.] ys euer ouerthuerte. Line 8136 Þyn ye [eye.] ys þyn [þy.] messager To brynge þy dedë yn powere; Yn swychë syȝt ys mochë gylte; Shryue þe þerof ȝyf þou wylt. Line 8140

Ȝyt ys þer [þyr.] more of lecherye Þat ys do with sorsorye, Sorsorye þat ys wycchëcrafte; He þat ys with þe fendë lafte Line 8144 Grete synne hyt ys, [hyt ys O, om. H.] y ȝeue þe a ȝyfte; [folio 54b] Þenk þer-on yn þy shryfte. To man þat ys yn gode beleue, wycchecrafte shal hym neuer greue; Line 8148 Be þou yn gode lyfe, and byleue ryȝt, And alle þe wecches [wycches.] wyþ alle here myȝt Shul neuer drecche þe [þe O, om. H.] where-so þou art with no queyntysë of here artt: Line 8152 Þat sheweþ weyl seynt Cypryene, he was a nygromancyene, how he myȝt neuer a mayden wynne Line 8155 with wycchëcrafte here þoghte to synne: why? For here lyfe was gode and clene, And stedfaste byleue yn here was sene.

[The Tale of St. Justyne, and how the Sign of the Cross protected her from Devils.]

Yn Antyoche, þat noble cyte, [A tale.] wonede þys mayden of grete bounte; Line 8160 here name men callë seynt Iustyne, For Ihesu Cryst she suffred pyne.

whan she had takë crystendam Euery day to scole she nam, [ȝede] Line 8164 To þe scolë, for to lere Þe loue of God, and haue hyt dere.

And as she went to þe scole hous, A lorde þat hyghte 'Agladyus'— Line 8168 A gretë mayster and a syre— was a-namourd so on hyre Þat he ne wyst what do he myȝt, She was so semëly by syȝt. Line 8172 He comë vn-to Cypryene, Þys clerk, þys nygromancyene, And tolde hym al þe enchesun Of hys grete temptacyun. Line 8176

Fast he preyde, and hette hym mede Ȝyf þat he coudë do sum dede, were hyt ¹godë, were hyt ylle,¹ [1_1 wyþ gode, were hyt wyþ yl.] Þat he myȝt haue of here hys wylle. Line 8180 "Iustyne," he seyd þan, "hattë [hat.] she Þe feyre mayden þat marreþ me." And Cypryene hette hym for of hys [folio 54b:2] Þat þe mayden shulde be hys. Line 8184

Cypryene made þan hys queyntyse, And ded þe fendys many one [manye.] vpryse, And comaunded [comaundede hem.] þat Iustyne were lede Vn-to syre Agladyous bed. Þe forme of here fadyr and modyr þey nam, [toke] And yn here lykenes to Iustyne cam, And badde, here wyl shuldë be went To Agladyous comaundement. Line 8192

Iustyne hadde grete wundyr of þys, And wyþ þe croys she gan here blys, Þan þey [And þey O, þan þe H.] vanysshed aweye asswyþe; She þanked God and was ful blyþe. Line 8196 Þryys [þrys.] þey come, on þre manere, Beforë Iustyne to apere;

And here cunseyl was euer þus "we rede ȝow take Agladyus." Line 8200 At euery tyme þat þus ['þus' omitted.] þey here besoght, Þe croys was euer yn here þoght, And made hyt euer hem betwene, And alle here cunseyl was no more sene; hadde none of hem lenger powere Line 8205 with here to speke, or come here nere. Þryys [þrys.] ouercomë hadde þey bene, And þus þey tolde to Cypryene. Line 8208

Cypryene haddë grete ferly, [wundyr] And asked 'for whom hyt was, and why Þat þey ne myȝtë of here spede, But euer ouercome awey þey ȝede.' Line 8212 Þan spak to hym a fende of helle, "Syker me here with me to dwelle, And þat þou ne shalt, for loue ne eye, Beleue on þat y shal þe seye." Line 8216

whan he hadde seyde hym hys certeynte, "Now," seyd þe fende, "y shal telle þe: She beleueþ on one men calle Ihesus, He þat confoundeþ euermore vs; Line 8220 She ouercomeþ vs with a croys; [folio 55a] when we se hyt, we haue no voys; Þe sygne þerof euer we fle, And drede we haue when we hyt se; Line 8224 Oure myȝt ys noght, no neuer shal, Ouer any þat blesseþ hym with-al. Iustyne þerwyþ defendeþ here so Þat we ne may haue with here to do; Line 8228 And, for here lyfe ys gode and clene, Oure maystry may ryȝt noȝt be sene; For ȝyf she lyued yn wykkednes, Þan myȝte we do to here sum stres." Line 8232

Cypryen seyd vnto þat fende, "Ihesus ys nat þan ȝoure frende,

Hyt may weyl be hym-self haþ myȝt Syn ȝe drede hys croys be syght; Line 8236 And ys nat ȝyt þe samë tre, Haþ þat tokene more myȝt þan ȝe?" "Ȝee," seyde the fendë, "certaynly, Ouer vs alle he [hyt.] haþ maystry; Line 8240 And euermore so shal be doun For hyt was hys owne passyoun; No þyng þat man may of hym sey, Doþe oure powere so moche a-weye Line 8244 As nemne þat passyun and þat rode Þat he shedde on, hys swetë blode; Heuene and helle þat passyun douten, And creatures allë þarto louten, Line 8248 And specyaly 'Ihesus,' þat name Ys our shenshyp and oure shame."

when Cypryen þys vndyrstode, He forsoke hem, and bycom gode, Line 8252 And alle þe crafte þat he hadde haunted, And Crystendome to take he graunted; He dyd breke his maumetrye, And dyd hyt brenne byfore hys ye; Line 8256 Seþþen at þe bysshope of þe cyte He dyd hym crysten man to be, Seþþen he was so stedfast [folio 55a] Yn þe beleue, þurgh þe holy gast, Line 8260 Þat he was ordeyned dekene hye, And seþþen bysshope he was wurþy; Seþen made he Iustyne, abbas Of alle þe ladyes, as wurþy was. Line 8264

Swyche grace fel seþþen [seþen fyl.] on hom, Þat boþe þey suffred martyrdom; And now [now O, om. H.] ys Cypryen with God so herd Þat he ys wurschypde yn alle þe werlde; [

O. inserts—

For yn þe pryuyte of þe messe,Hys namë euer nemnede ys:—

]

And she ys callede Seynt Iustyne, Line 8269 A martyr and an holy vyrgyne.

Þys tale y tolde to ȝow aboute, Þat ȝe ne dur no wycchecrafte doute, Line 8272 Ȝyf þou be—þat ys to mene— Yn beleuë gode, and lyfë clene. who-so þurgh wycchëcrafte haþ tene, Prey to God and seynt Cypryene Line 8276 And to þe mayden Seynt Iustyne, Þat þey delyuer hem [hym.] fro þat pyne.

Þarefore, þou man and þou wyfe, Ȝyf þou be of clenë lyfe, Line 8280 Þar þe noght drede no wycchëcrafte Noþer temptyng of þe deuylys shafte; And ȝyf þou be yn dedly synne, To hys temptyng he may þe wynne. Line 8284

Ȝyt þer ys spekyng of vylaynye Þat longeþ vnto [vnto O, to H.] lecherye, And oftë tyme of foulë speche Falleþ [Falþ.] þarfor hard[ë] wreche; Line 8288 Of foulë herte cumþ foulë þoȝt; Of foulë þoȝt, foule wurdys are broȝt. Þe foulë wurde, þe speker dereþ, And þat hyt hereþ and furþ bereþ; Line 8292 Y hauë toldë of þys lak Yn þe fyfþe comaundement, þer y spak, whan y of a nunnë tolde, Þat coudë nat here tungë holde. Line 8296

Ȝyt ys þyr a spyce of leccherye, [folio 55b] Auauntëment of olde folye: A kaynard and an [an O, a H.] oldë folte, Þat þryfte haþ loste, [lore.] and boghte a bolte, he shal become[n] a dyssour, Line 8301 And telleþ [telle.] how he was a lecchour; Ioye he haþ, hym-self to dyffame Of alle hys synnes þat he kan name, Line 8304 And auante hym alle an hye,

And make men lagh at hys foly; And þat ys nat þe synnë leste, Auaunte þy synne to hym [hem.] þat þou sest.

Sodom sank, and Gomore, Line 8309 For þey kryed here synne aywhore; Þese twey cytees, boþe þey ['þey' omitted.] sank, For þey hadde ioye at synne þat stank. Feyrer hyt were, oure synne forhele, Line 8313 Þan make auauntement þer-of to fele; Þe apostle seyþ þys autoryte, "Ȝyf þou be [art.] nat chaste, be þou pryue;" Telle hyt þy prest, and to no mo; Line 8317 For oþer tellyng, ys [ys O, hyt ys H.] boþe synne and wo.

Ȝyt ys þyr a specyal spece Þat doþ leccherye klymbe by a grece: Line 8320 who so wyllë ȝyftës ȝyue, On lecheryë he may cleue; [clyue.] For synne, no ȝyftys þou receyue; Line 8323 For doute of gyle þou shalt hem weyue [forsake] ; For whan a lechour haþ ȝyue hys mede, Þan hopeþ he weyl þat he shal spede. Y rede, ȝe wommen, ȝyueþ gode entent, For medë ȝe wyl sone consent; Line 8328 Many one for mede doþ ful euyl, Men sey ofte 'mede ys þe deuyl.'

Ȝyt spekeþ he of a more tresun Þat for lechery ys doun; Line 8332 Ȝyf men or womman be so wylde To fordo a getyng of a chylde wyþ wurde or dede, syn hyt ys gete, [folio 55b:2] with mete or drynk þat þey do ȝete, [þey ete.] Line 8336 Or oþer strenkþë, þat hyt dye, Þan þey doun ful grete folye; with slaghter hast þou þere hyd, Þat þy lecherye ys nat kyd; Line 8340 Gretly yn euyl þou art coupáble Yn twey synnës, and dampnáble.

A-noþer vyleynye þyr ys, To do a womman synne þurgh stres: Line 8344 Ȝyf a womman mete paráuenture Yn pryuë stedë, a lechour, Ȝyf he wyl do with here synne, And she ne may a-weyë wynne Line 8348 But she swerë oþys grym A-noþer tyme to come to hym, Or he makeþ here trouth-plyght Anoþer tymë when she myȝt, Line 8352 For þat trouþë, y answere Þat no perel shal she bere; She nat [ne.] synneþ nat dedly, Hyt ys nó wyl, but maystry; Line 8356 Better ys to skape with an oþe, Þan synne dedly, and God be wrothe. Here-of myȝt men mochë speke, Of trouþë þat men alle day breke, Line 8360 For, fals trouþës, and fykyl, For lechery, are ȝyue mechyl.

Ȝyf þou a womman trouþë plyght Out of holy cherchës syȝt; Line 8364 Men oght nat so for to do Þogh þat frendes consente þarto; For holy cherche oght fyrst for to wyte [wete.] Of here gederyng, ȝyf hyt may sytte Line 8368

Of allë folës are þey fyles, Þat gentyl wymmen begylys with a trouþë of tresun To reuë here, here warysun, Line 8372 But she do by here ordynaunce [folio 56a] Of hem þat shuldë here auaunce.

And a womman loueþ ofte yn pryuyte Þat for here falleþ [falþ.] nat weyl to be; Line 8376 Ȝyf she to þat ȝeueþ [ȝyfþ.] here treuþe, Þat ys [ys to.] here ful mochë reuþe;

Þat trewþe dar she nat be a-knowe, For drede þat she haþ loued so lowe. Line 8380 Þurgh cunseyl of here frendys wylle, She ys þan ȝyue a-noþer vntyl; Y dar sey hyt hardyly, [hardyly O, hardly H.] 'Þat womman leueþ yn lechery; Line 8384 And þat ychë man also To whom she ȝaf fyrst trouþë to, Ȝyf he any ouþer wedde, Or with any go to bedde, Line 8388 Ȝyf þey boþe wulde haue [ha.] do þat Þat here mouþes to-gedyr spak, And haue [ha.] fulfylled, at here myȝt, Here pryue trouþë þat þey plyȝt.' Line 8392

A wers[ë] spycë ȝyt men holdes, To begyle a womman with wordys; To ȝyue here trouþë but lyghtly For no þyng but for lygge here by; Line 8396 with þat gyle þou makest here asent, And bryngest ȝow boþe to cumbrement.

Þarfore now y warne ȝow alle, Man and woman, for þyng may falle, Line 8400 Þat ȝe be neuer so fole-hardy To ȝyue ȝoure trouþe [trouþe O, om. H.] so pryuyly, Ne wommans trouþë for to take, Ne trouþë ȝyue for weddyng sake, Line 8404 Tyl holy cherche haue demyd ryȝt wyþ lokyng of frendes syght.

Pryuytes manye falle þer [her.] -ynne; Þyn ynwyt þe telleþ whych ys synne; Line 8408 Sum pryuytes of lechery Yn opun speche are vyleynye; Þarfor wyl y nat hem alle descryue, [folio 56a:2] But alle behoueþ vs þer-of shryue; Line 8412

Line 8412 Þyn ynwyt wote what þou hast wroght, And whych ys synne, and whych ys noȝt; Alle þese spyces þat y haue tolde, On dyuers maners are synnës folde. Line 8416

Ȝyf þy flesshë ofte aryse Yn wyl or dede to many of þyse, Þat þou mayst nat þy flesshë daunte, Þat sum algate behoueþ þe haunte, Line 8420 Be nat þarfor yn wanhope; Alle may be quenchyde with a drope, Ȝyf þou mayst for þy synnë grete, [O. gloss 'wepe.'] And be yn wyl hyt for to lete. Line 8424 For many a gode man, olde and ȝonge, haþ be yn flesshëly temptyng; So was seynt Poule, þe holy man, Line 8427 Hys flesshe was temptyde with Satan; Seynt Benet was so, ȝe herde me telle, [p. 238.] He was yn poynt to leue hys celle; And ouþer men mo of relygyun Haue be yn hard temptacyun; Line 8432 But man behoueþ pryue [preue.] hys myȝt, Aȝens hys ownë flesshe to fyȝt; For ȝyf þou late hyt haue hys [þe.] wyl, wyltou, neltou, [nyltou.] hyt wyl þe spylle. Line 8436

And y shal telle here, ȝyf ȝe wyl, A talë for þe [þys.] samë skylle, [skyl.] Þat a man myshopë noght Þogh he haue grete temptyng of þoght. Line 8440

[The Tale of the tempted Hermit, or How we should never Despair.]

Seynt Gregory telleþ, for oure profyte, [A tale.] How þyr was onys an ermyte: Þys ermyte had grete temptyng yn hys þoght, ouer alle þyng; Line 8444 And as þys temptyng on hym ran,

He ȝede vnto an oldë man And tolde hym allë, vp an downe, Of hys grete temptacyun. Line 8448 Þat olde man seyd to hym astyte [O. gloss 'anoun.'] [folio 56b] 'He was nat wurþy to be an Ermyte, Þat swychë þoghtës shuldë þynke, And þoght of womman wulde hym synke.'

Þys oldë man gan hym so stoute, Line 8453 Þat hys gode hope was alle yn doute; For þe wurdes þat þe olde man gan seye, Yn-to þe wurlde he toke þe weye. Line 8456 As he cam [com.] goyng yn þe strete, An holy abbot gan he mete; Þe abbotys name was Apollo, And sone he spake þe ermyte to; Line 8460 Þe ermyte hadde so sory þoght, Aȝen to þe abbote spake he noght.

Þys abbot was a ful wys man, And yn hys þoȝt ful sone hyt ran, Line 8464 And be þe semlant of þe ermyte, Þat he was yn grete sorowe and syte; Þe abbot asked hym ones or twyys; At þe [At þe H, At O.] laste þe ermyte seyd hys auys. Line 8468 "Y am," he seyd, "broȝt allë down with flesshly temptacyun; And at an oldë man y was, And tolde hym alle my [myn.] hardë kas; Line 8472 And he seyd, y was nat wurþy, Þe ermytagë to com ny, [nyghe.] Ne was yn wey me to saue, whyl y shulde swych þoȝtës haue; Line 8476 And, for he [he O., H. om.] comforted me so yl, Yn-to þe worlde now ys my wyl,

And lyue þere [þe.] best wyse þat y may, Syn y serue nat God to pay." Line 8480

Þan seyde þe abbot syre Apollo, "Þe olde man wyst nat what was to do; Þou mayst se now, by my vysage, Þat y am olde, and weyl yn age, Line 8484 And y fele a ful hard prykyl Þat my flesshe tempteþ me mykyl, Vnneþë ys hyt day ne oure [folio 56b:2] Þat y ne am þar-with tempted soure; But þogh my þoght be oute of skyl, Line 8489 To do ȝyt wers[ë], y ne wyl; Ne more [No more.] shalt þou þy self mysdo, Þogh þou be tempted neuer so. Line 8492 Y rede, þat ['þat' omitted.] yn godenes þat þou dwelle, And turne aȝen vnto þy celle, And fonde aȝens þy flesshe to fyȝt, And late hyt nat haue alle þe myȝt." Line 8496 He broȝte þys ermyte to swyche certeyne, Þat to hys celle he turned aȝeyne.

Þe abbot knew [wel] alle þe pas where þe olde man wonyng was; Line 8500 Þedyrwarde þe wey he nam. And when he a lytyl besydë cam, He sette hym dowun, and preyd Ihesu Ful of myȝt and [of] vertu, Line 8504 Þat þe olde man myȝt fele sum þyng Of þe ermytes flesshely temptyng, To chastyse hym for hys broþer, Þat he myscumfort eft noun oþer. Line 8508

when he hadde leye yn orysun long with grete deuocyun, He ros vp, and byhelde, And sagh a blak man stonde yn þe felde, And to þe olde man arwes [arewes.] ded shete Line 8513

Line 8513 Ryȝt many, and sum wel [ful.] grete. So many arwes [arewes.] to hym he drogh, Þat þe olde man felt temptyng ynogh; Line 8516 Þe arwes were temptacyons, And sharpë sterynges, and felons; So many and smart, he hem hadde, Þat he sate as he hadde be madde, Line 8520 Þat wytte hadde lorë, as he sat, Or was yn a were [wer.] to do sum-what. Ar he aght seyd, ar dyd any dede, Þe same weye þat þe ermyte ȝede, Line 8524 Þat yche wey þe ermyte ȝede ynne [folio 57a] To þe worlde, to do hys synne.

Þe abbot Appollo say [saghe.] euerydeyl; And how he was temptede, he wyst hyt weyl, Line 8528 And fonded for to take þe strete, with þat olde man for to mete: he seyd, "olde man! what dost þou here, And why hast þou so mornyng chere? Line 8532 whydyr hast þou þoght to go? Be [By.] syȝt hyt semeþ þat þe were wo."

Þe oldë man seyd ryȝt noȝt, But hyt ran hym weyl yn þoȝt Line 8536 Þat þe abbot had [had O, om. H.] inspyracyun, And wyst hys [hyt.] grete temptacyun; For shame he myȝt nat telle how smart [smert.] Þe temptyng þat come to hys hert; Line 8540 But þe abbot wyst for certeyn, And bad [bade O, had H.] hym to turne aȝeyn; And shewed hym weyl for two þynges, why þat he hadde no temptynges; Line 8544 He seyd, 'þe fende of hym ne roȝte, Ne hym to tempte aboutë soȝte, Ne þoght hys lyfe so moche wurþy,

For he helde hym self so holy, Line 8548 And blamed oþer for here fallyng,' "Þy lyfe hym þynkeþ ys wurþ no þyng; To gode men ys hyt grete passyun To fele þe fendes temptacyun; Line 8552 And for he tempted [tempteþ.] þe noȝt here, Yn ouþer stede þou shalt by [bye.] hyt dere; Ne late þou nat lyȝtly by þo Þat are tempted of flesshly wo, Line 8556 But, þenk weyl þat þey are gode, Ȝyf þey þat temptyng with-stode, And are sykerer aftyr temptynges, Line 8559 And kepe hem better with many þynges; And ȝyt [ȝyt O, hyt H.] men sey God loueþ hem noȝt, Þat haue no temptyng yn dede ne þoght. Þys temptyng was for þy despyte [folio 57a:2] Þat þou haddest of þe gode ermyte Line 8564 whan he hys [hys O, om. H.] temptyng to þe shrofe, And þy cumforte awey hym drofe."

At þys pas ['p' erased.] þys tale tolde ys For temptacyons [temptacyun.] of mannys flesshe, Line 8568 Þat none ne myscumforte hym Þogh þat hys flesshe be brysl and brym. So holy man was neuer none Line 8571 Þat temptacyun ne hat [haþ.] hym ouergone, were hyt lytyl, or were hyt mykyl, Þat of hys flesshe ne haþ hadde sum prykyl; And þo þat wyl be ryȝt certeyne, Cumforte hem [hem O, hym H.] weyl to fyȝt aȝeyn, Line 8576 For no man may yn certeyn be, But he fyȝt flesshly lustys [lust.] to fle.

God graunte vs allë now fro heþen Oure flesshë so to holde be-neþen, [byneþen.] Line 8580 And oure soules so to save [haue.] aboue, Þat God of heuene vs allë loue.

Here bygynneþ [bygynþ.] Sacrylage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As he were put oute aȝens hys wyl.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ȝyf þou euer hauntedest swych outrage,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

O. inserts wrongly—

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ȝow þar nat aske ȝyf þere was wo

with þe preste and with many mo. Line 9120

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

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

what man shuld þyr be, yn þys lyue,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

O. inserts—

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

] Line 9324

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here bygynne the Seuenþe [seuen.] Sacra|mentys of holy cherche.

Baptism

The fyrst sacrament ys holy bapteme, Houe of watyr, and noyted [smerede.] with creme; 'Crystendom,' or 'crystynyng,' Þat ys on englys, oure spekyng. Line 9496

Crystendom, to cryst hyt longeþ, And to alle þat crystendom vndyrfongeþ; Þys ys þe fyrst and pryncypalle, Þurgh þe whych we are saued alle; Line 9500 Saued we are, þurgh crystendam, Of þe heued synne of Adam, yn whych synne alle mankynde ys bore, Ȝyt, and shal be, and was byfore. Line 9504

Adams synnë was so grefe, Þat þyr was to God, none [noun to God.] so lefe, Þyt he ne shulde to hellë gone But he were wasshe yn þe fonte stone,

yn fonte stone and watyr baptysed, Line 9509 As Ihesu cryst haþ [had.] dyuysed.

Ȝyf þou beleue þat any wham ys saued with-oute crystyndam, Line 9512 y seye, forsoþe þou hast mys went [folio 63b] Aȝens þys holy sacrament.

Ofte we here þe lewed men seye, Þat [And.] erre ful moche oute of þe weye, Line 9516 Þat of þe Iewës seye sum oun, 'Þey ne wote wheþer þey be saued or noun;' But of sum prestes ys gretter tene, Þat so of þe Iewës also wene; Line 9520 Certes, þey are alle yn were, And yn þe feyþ þey are nat clere, For, shal neuer Iewe þat deyeþ Iewe, Of heuene blys haue part ne prewe, Line 9524 But he be crystened yn þe holy gaste, And yn þe sacrament be ful stedfast.

Lo, here a wurde to leue ȝoure drede! yn þe gospel þat we rede, Line 9528 Þat god Ihesu vs allë techeþ Þurgh seynt Mark, þat hyt precheþ, "He þat beleueþ and ys baptysed, He shal be saued, so ys dyuysed; Line 9532 And he þat beleueþ nat, forsoþe & ywys, Boþe body and soulë, lore he ys."

loke [Lokeþ.] how ȝe mow be a-bawed, þat seye þat þe Iewe ys saued! Line 9536 Þe Iewe, þe oldë lawë kan, But þat alone may saue no man; And þarfore was hyt fyled and left, For heuenë blys, vs hyt [hyt vs.] refte Line 9540 Þurgh Adams synne fro vs echone, Tyl hyt was clensed yn flume Iordone, whan Ihesu was baptysed þer-ynne For to wasshe awey þat synne; Line 9544 And al þat euer to Cryst wyl teme, Behoueþ be baptysed yn watyr and creme:

Þan art þou clene, þou shalt beleue, Of Adams synnë, and of Eue. Line 9548

Þarfore hyt ys þe fyrst sacrament Þat þou art to, fyrst made present; Lokë þat þou kunne hyt knowe; [folio 63b:2] hyt makeþ þe hygh, þere þou were lowe, hyt makeþ þe fre, þat er were þralle, Line 9553 Fro þe fendës seruage alle, Þat þe þar neuer þe fendë drede But hyt be þurgh þyn owne mysdede. Line 9556

Ȝyf a chylde be dedë bore— Þogh hyt were quyk yn wombe byfore— And, receyue nat þe bapteme, Of heuene may hyt neuer cleme; Line 9560 with-outë doute, beleue ȝe þys, Þat hyt shal neuer come to blys; Ne peyne of hetë, ne of colde, Hyt shal non fele, no ryȝt hyt wolde; Line 9564 Hyt noght mysdyd, ne serued wo, Ne [No.] to nonë shal hyt go; Þys ys peyne with-outen ende, hyt shal neuer to Ioyë wende. Line 9568 Gretë grace ys to hem lent, Þat here receyue þys sacrament.

Also, ȝe þat heue chyldryn al day, loke ȝe be stedfast yn oure [ȝoure.] lay, Line 9572 Þat nonë haue yn hertë doute, Ne to wycchecrafte leste no [ne.] loute.

Þou settest þy self yn borghgage To teche þe chylde whan hyt haþ age; Ȝyf þou se hyt mysdo or seye, Line 9577 Þou shalt teche hyt better wey, Ȝyf hyt be so þat þou maght, Þou [þou O, þat H.] art holde þat hyt be taght; Line 9580 Quyte þe weyl [weyl so.] oute of borghgang, Þat þou ne haue for hyt no wrang.

loke also, ȝyf þou euer ware

Yn place þere wymmen chyldryn bare; Ȝyf þou sawe hyt yn perel of dede, Line 9585 And þou ne coudest do bote ne rede, Ne seyë wurde, ne helpe at nede, So þat hyt to þe deþë ȝede; Line 9588 Þou shalt þerforë perel haue; [folio 64a] Vnkunnyng shal þe nat saue; For euery man, boþe hygh and logh, Þe poyntes of bapteme oweþ to knowe, To helpe chyldryn yn many kas; Line 9593 Men wete neuer what nede one has. who so ne kan, y rede hym lere Yn syȝte, yn dede, and he may here. Line 9596

Y shal ȝow teche, as y herde telle Onës a frerë menor spelle: "Ȝyf þou se a chylde yn swyche perel Þat none may saue hyt with no wylle, Line 9600 Sey þan þus, ȝyf þou haue haste, "y crysten þe yn þe name of þe fadyr & sone & holy gast," And ȝyue, what þou wylt, hyt a name, And kast on water; þan ys hyt frame; And ȝyf þou ȝyue hyt namë none, Line 9605 Noþer Robert, Wyllyam, no [ne.] Ione, Loke þat þese wurdës be weyl seyd, And water þer-on algate leyde; Line 9608 And þat þyr be none ouþer waste, But yn þe fadyr and sone, and holy gaste; Þese wurdes forȝete þou naght, Line 9611 Ne watyr, what as euer elles be [ys.] wroȝt."

Mydwyuës þat wyþ wymmen wone, Alle þe poyntes, behoueþ hem kone; Line 9614 Prestes shuld teche hem þe ordynaunce, what þey shuld sey and do yn chaunce, And examyne her [examyne here O, examyne H.] what she couthe, what she shuld do, and seye with mouþe.

[The Tale of the Midwife who christend a Child wrongly.]

Y shal ȝow telle of a mydwyfe, [A tale] Þat loste a chylde, boþe soule & lyfe. Line 9620 he tolde hyt yn hys sermoun, And ȝaue here ofte hys malysoun.

Þys mydwyfe, whan þe chylde was bore, She helde hyt on here lappe before; Line 9624 And whan she sawe þat hyt shulde deye, She bygan, loudë for to crye, And seyd, "God and seynt Ione [folio 64a:2] Line 9627 Crysten þe chylde, boþe flesshe and bone."

[The next twelve lines, from O, are omitted in H.] Þys mydwyffe noghte ellës seyde, [[Bodl. MS.]] And yn þe cherche-ȝerde þey wulde hyt haue leyde, As a-nouþer chyld shuld ha be Þat hade receyuede þe solempte. Line 9632

Þe prest askede þe mydwyffe, 'Ȝyfe hyt were cristenede whan hyt hade lyffe, And who hyt cristened, and on what manere, Line 9635 And what was seyde, þat any myghte here.'

Þe mydwyffe seyde unto þe prest, [Margin, 'a note for mydwyffes.'] "Þys herde þey þat stode me nest, 'Þat God almyghty and Seynt Ioun ȝyue þe chylde cristendom yn flesshe and boun."' Line 9640

Þan seyd þe preste, "God and seynt Iame [[Harl. MS.]] Ȝyue þe boþe sorow and shame, And Crystys malysun haue þou for-þy, And alle þe ouþer þat were þe by! Line 9644 Yn euyl tymë were þou bore, For yn þy defaute, a soule ys lore." She was commaunded she shuld no more Come eftesones þere chyldryn were bore.

Mydwyues, y tolde thys tale for ȝow,

Þat ȝyf ȝe kunnat, lerneþ how Line 9650 To sauë þat, God boȝt ful dere, Þe poyntes of bapteme y rede ȝow lere; Mydwyfe ys a perylus þyng Line 9653 But she kunne þe poyntes of crystenyng;

Ne beleueþ nat on þese shappers, [shapperes.] Ȝoure mysdede ful mykyl deres; Line 9656 y wolde þo shappers were on lowe, And al þo þat on hem trowe.

Þe beleue ys, 'þe fadyr and sone & holy gaste;' Alle ouþer beleue ys wykked and waste; Þurgh hem ys alle þyng shape & wroȝt, Line 9661 And ouþer shappers [shapperes.] ne are noȝt; God ys shapper of alle þyng, he wote þe mydward, and þe endyng; Line 9664 Þe oþer shappers, þat men of seye, Hyt ys a beleue of deuyl weye.

Þe mete þat ȝe leye at þe chyldës hede [heuede.] For swyche shappers, were bettyr leued; Ȝyf hyt for hem þerë lye, Line 9669 Þan ys hyt [ys hyt O, ys H.] a wykked erysye; [heresye.] ley hyt for þe loue of þe holy gaste, Fadyr, and sone, oo God stedfaste, Line 9672 As wysly as he become a chylde, Bore of Marye, mayden mylde, Þat he ȝyue hyt to lyue yn ['yn' omitted.] gode grace, And gode endyng, and se hys face. Line 9676

Ȝyf þou were euer so vnwys [folio 64b] For to crystene a chyldë twys, Or ȝyf þou euer consentedest þar-to Þat any ouþer shulde so do,— Line 9680 At home, as yn pryuyte, Anouþer tyme, þat men myȝt se,— For ȝyf hyt were baptysed at hame wyþ alle þe poyntes of bapteme name, Line 9684

Line 9684 Þan were hyt aȝens þe feyþe to werche, Eftesones [Eftsone.] to baptyse [baptyse O, baptysed H.] hyt at cherche; But ȝyf þou suppose þyr fayleþ a poynte Þat to þe crystendom shuld a-mounte, Þan were hyt nat for to drede Line 9689 For to fulfyl þat shulde be nede; For alle þe poyntes of watyr & creme, Þurgh alle crystendom ys o bapteme, Line 9692 O baptemë, and nat two, Of alle þe [þo.] poyntes þat þou sest do. Þarfore he þat ys ones baptysed, Ones for euer ys; þus ys auysed. Line 9696

Also, ȝe þat chyldryn heue, ȝe shul nat forȝete ne leue To teche hyt pater noster & crede; Ȝyf ȝe ne do, hyt ys to drede. Line 9700

To foly þou shalt nat drawe ne wone Þy goddoȝtyr ne þy godsone, Namely to þat vylayny Þat falleþ vn-to lechery, Line 9704 Ne to no foly þat may be; Þou shalt teche hem synne to fle. Ne nat be so fole hardy, Þy goddoȝtyr to lye þe by, Line 9708 Ne for to dwelle a-lone with þe, For perel þat may falle and be.

Many a pryuy peryl þyr ys, And specyaly yn drunkenes; Line 9712 yn drunkenes men wyl rage, And, ragyng wyl reyse korage; And sonë may a man be shent [folio 64b:2] Þat doþe aȝens þe comaundement. Line 9716

Seynt Gregory telleþ yn hys spelle Of swyche a shame þat onës felle.

[The Tale of the Bad Bourgeois ['Curialis,' Common-Councilman, bourgeois.] who lay with his God-daughter and was kild for it.]

A man hefe onës at þe fonte A maydë chylde, as men are wonte; Line 9720 Þys mayde wax, and bygan to belde weyl yn-to womans elde; And at Ester tyme gan hyt falle whan men hadde fastë lenten alle, Line 9724 Þys man bysoghte, for specyalte, Þat hys god-doȝtyr wyþ hym myȝt be, And alle þat ychë Esterday And lenger, ȝyf hyt were here pay. Line 9728

Þe fadyr and þe modyr graunted sone; Þey þoȝt none euyl myȝt be done. Þys man, for drunkenes & vnryȝt, lay by hys god-doȝtyr þat yche nyȝt: Þys man on þe mornë þoȝt Line 9733 How synfully þat he [he O, om. H.] hadde wroȝt; Ful grete þoȝte þan was he ynne, Þat he hadde do so greuus a synne; Line 9736 Twey þoghtes yn hys hertë come, To go [go O, gode H.] to þe cherche, or byde at home: "Ȝyf y vnto þe cherchë ȝede, Of venïaunce y haue grete drede; Line 9740 And, ȝyf y nat þedyr go, Men wyl wene y haue do sum wo." So algate vnto þe cherche he name; he drede nat God, but morë shame. Line 9744

Þe fyrst day, he dred hym sore he shuld be cumbred sumwore, And ȝyt a-noþer he lokede ay, whyche tyme þe fende wulde bere hym a|way; Line 9748

Line 9748 Alle þe woke, for worldës shame, He ȝede to þe cherche, but lytyl to frame;

whan he hadde long a-bydë so, And, no skaþë come hym to, Line 9752 Þys þoght he yn hys herte ful raþe, [folio 65a] For he hadde þarfore no skaþe, he wendë God had hyt forgete As ouþer men do þat haue forlete; Line 9756 Or þoȝt þat he hadde hyt forȝyue, And hym neded nat þer-of be shryue, Ne shulde þerof come no myschaunce, For he was of so longe suffraunce. Line 9760

But God, þat fórȝeteþ no þyng, he sente þarfore grete heuenyng; Þe seuenþe day þys man deyde, As þe holy man vs seyde; Line 9764 Sone aftyr þat byryed he [he byryede.] was, Veniaunce come for þat trespas; Vpp of [Out of.] hys graue a fyre vpp smote— Ful stynkyng and ful hote— Line 9768 And brenned [brende.] þat cursed body alle, And stone and erþe, boþe grete and smalle; Alle was so brend yn-to þe grounde, Þat of hys body myȝt noȝt be founde. Line 9772

Here mow ȝe here apertly why God toke veniaunce greuusly, Þat God shewed so moche hys Ire, For he synned þat tyme with hyre Line 9776 Þat he [he O, om. H.] lyfte of þe fonte stone: hyt ys a warnyng to vs echone þat we kepe þe sacrament, Oure bapteme þat God haþ sent; [lent.] Line 9780 And þat we bettyr hyt holde For þys tale þat y ȝow tolde. Ȝe, Ihesu lordë, þou hyt graunte

þat we mow holdë þat cunnaunte Line 9784 þat we at þe fonte stonë make, Ihesu to serue, and Satanas forsake.

[Of Confirmation.]

The secunde sacrament, y vndyrstonde, Ys graunted of þe bysshop honde; Men kalle hyt 'confyrmacyon,' Line 9789 A sykernesse neuer more vndon wyþ no lawe, ne with no skylle, [folio 65a:2] But ȝyf ȝe self algatë wylle; [See French, 1. 7232, next page.] Line 9792 As ȝyf þou boghtest house and [or.] land with charter at þy neghburs hande, Þou mayst holde hyt for euer-more, So bapteme þe saueþ ones þore; Line 9796 And ȝyf hyt be graunted of þe kyng, Þat þou hast boght, þan ys syker þyng; Syker ys, þat yn rolle ys leyde, For þan may hyt neuer be wyþseyde; Line 9800 þe rollyng fordoþe croppe and rote, And ryȝt of þo þat wulde þe mote; [plete] Rollyng, and þe grete assyse, Aftyr hem may no lawë ryse. Line 9804

Þus fareþ hyt of confyrmacyun Aftyr tyme þat bapteme ys doun; Confyrmacyun ys more ne lesse, But aftyr crystenyng, gode sykernesse; Þys [þy.] bapteme ys charter of ryȝt Line 9809 Þat fordoþë Adams [adames.] plyȝt, And, þat ys of grete pouste, Þat fro þe fende hyt byeþ þe fre, Line 9812 And defendeþ þe þyn [þyn O, yn H.] erytage, Þat þou mayst holde hyt yn alle þyn age, And saue þy statë euery deyl, Ȝyf þou kepe þy charter weyl; Line 9816 Ouer þys, ȝyf hyt be þy lordes wylle Þat he þy charter wyl fulfyle,

Þan art þou stalworth þurgh hys powere, And þy charter made more clere. Line 9820

Þe bysshope ys as [as O, a H.] lorde or [or þe.] kyng To conferme þy crystenyng; He confermeþ þat we haue take whan we haue Satan forsake, Line 9824 Oure crystendom, þat hyt be sekyr To fende vs aȝens þe fendës bekyr, Þan ys oure charter quyte and clere, Line 9827 Confermyng with þe bysshopes powere.

And ȝe shul alle weyl vndyrstande, [folio 65b] whan chyldryn are blessed of þe bysshopys [of bysshop.] hande, Þat blessyng ys contermacyoun Aȝens þe fendes temptacyun, Line 9832 And makeþ vs stalwurþe yn batayle whan þe fende wyl vs asayle; Þan are we made Goddes champyons, Aȝens þe fendës, Goddys felons; Line 9836 þan haue we receyued fully myȝt Aȝens þe fendë for to fyȝt; And ȝyf we be yn beleue stedfaste, we haue powere, dowun hym to kaste. Line 9840

Certes, þo men moche mysdo, Þat [Þat þey H, Þat O.] a-byde long, are þey go þar-to; And wommen, gretly ouer alle þyng, þat wyl nat here chyldryn bryng Line 9844 To receyue þe sacrament At þe bysshopes confyrment; [conferment O, cofyrment H.] For some wete weyl, þat chyldryn kepe, Þat many are drecched yn here slepe; Line 9848 Þe fende hem sheweþ grete affray, To some on nyȝt, and some a [on.] day, How þat he, may hem greue, [[6 syllables]] To make ouþer men mysbeleue; Line 9852

Line 9852 Some men hyt here, & some men ['men' H, om. O.] hyt sees, Yn many stedys, vanytes, More before þe sacrament Þan aftyr, [afterwarde.] whan he ys shent; Line 9856 Hys powere ys þan moche fordoun Þurgh þys confyrmacyun; For þat oght we, to beleuë ryȝt, þat þys sacrament haþ þat myȝt. Line 9860

Anoþer poynt, here-to longeþ, Þat lewed men nat vndyrstandyþ: "Þou man or womman, be nat so wylde To holde to þe bysshope þyn owne chylde; For ȝyf þou do, þou art commare Line 9865 To hym þat hyt, gat or bare; Ȝyf a frende man holde hyt þore, [folio 65b:2] To wedde þat chylde, he may neuer more; þys longeþ to þys sacrament; Line 9869 Þarefor [Þarfore y rede.] ȝyueþ gode entent."

yn þys skyllë, as y kan, hyt ys grete perel to an vncouþe man, Line 9872 A maydë chyldë for to holde Byfore þe bysshope, as y er tolde, But ȝyf he askë fyrst byfore, what hyt ys, and where was bore; Line 9876 Elles perauenture yn hys lyue he myȝt haue þat chylde to wyue; Or ȝyf she ȝyue here to folye, he myȝt, yn kas, lygge here by; Line 9880 Þys kas [Þys kas O, Þys H.] ys nat often seen, But hyt may fallë, or haþ ben; Þarfore, noþer mo [more.] ne lesse, But 'wyys [wys.] ys, þat ware ys.' Line 9884

Now of þys confyrmacyun wyl we leue oure sermoun; God ȝyue vs gracë, for hys myȝt, yn þe beleue to ferme vs ryȝt, Line 9888 Þat þe holy goste with vs wone, Þat cumþ of þe fadyr and of þe sone.

[Of the Sacrament of the Altar. [This Section, to p. 336, is copied into the Vernon MS. (with a few changes of words and forms) as '7 Miracles of Corpus Christi,' and is printed in 'Minor Poems of the Vernon MS.,' ed. Hortsmann and F. J. F.; E. E. T. Soc. 1891.] ]

God almyȝty, þat al þyng weldes, Line 9891 wyndës, watrys, [and watres.] wodes, & feldes, As soþely as þou madest of noȝt Alle créatures þat euer were wroȝt, Forȝyue me, to day, Lorde, my synne, Þat y þys wrþy ['wrþy' should be cut out.] sacrament mowe begynne, And wurschypfully þar-of to speke, Line 9897 Þat we þe beleuë neuer [neuer þe beleuc.] breke; Ne for to tellë, yn þys long, Þyng, þat falle-of, may any wrong, Line 9900 But þat máy be, þe to queme, And vs yn stedfaste beleue to ȝeme.

Goddës sone, of heuene a-boue, He shewed vs alle, for gretë loue; Line 9904 For whan hys passyun neyghed nye, [folio 66a] To hys dyscyplys þat were hym bye, He ȝaue [Ȝafe.] hys body hem to fede,— More loue ne myȝt he shewe yn dede,— Þat þey shuldë myndë haue Line 9909 On hym, þat he myȝt hem saue; Ȝyt aftyrward he lete hym slo with ful vyle deþ, and pynyng wo; Line 9912 For vs, and hem, ded he þys, To bryngë vs echone to blys, Ne [No.] more loue ne myȝt he do, Ne neuer man, myȝt so do; Line 9916 For vs he ded hyt, þys ys certeyn, Þat we shuld loue hym weyl aȝen; Þogh we vs self ȝaf an hundryd syþe, O poynt of loue ne myȝt we kyþe Line 9920 vn-to þe loue þat he haþ vs doun, For hyt ys oure saluacyun; And of vs, askeþ he ryȝt noȝt

But þat may weyl y-nogh be wroȝt, Line 9924 No þyng but loue-longyng, To loue hym weyl ouer alle þyng, And for hys loue to leuë synne; hys loue, hys blys, þan mow we wynne; For þou mayst neuer haue hym to þe, Line 9929 But, þou wylt fyrst synnë fle; Alle þyng he loueþ, but synne he hates; Ȝyf þou hym louest, with synne þou wlates. [steynyst] Ȝyf þou loue [louest.] one, þe behoueþ nedes Line 9933 Forsake þat þyng þat he þe forbedes; Elles, hyt ys tolde no loue, And namëly to God a-boue. Line 9936

And þou mayst nat [nat H, om. O.] loue hym with no greyth, But þou haue of hym gode feyþe, Þat ys to seye, to beleue hyt weyl, Alle þat ys wryte of hym euerydeyl. Line 9940 Stedfast beleue, of loue hyt comes; And of beleuë, loue men nomes: [O. gloss 'taketh.'] So ys þe toon with þe touþer; [folio 66a:2] with stedfast beleue, loue ys þe broþer. Line 9944

To whom ogh [oghte.] þan oure loue be went, But to þe beleue of þys sacrament? Þys, oght to beleue, euery crysten man, And lerne þe beleue of one þat kan, Line 9948 'Þat þe bred þat sacred ys At þe auter, ys Goddys flessh:' Boþe flesshe and blodë þer ys leyd, Line 9951 Þurgh þe wurdes þat þe prest haþ seyd, Þat lyȝte with-ynne þe vyrgyne Marye, And on þe rode for vs wulde deye, And fro deþ to lyue he ros, God and man, yn myȝt and los. Line 9956

For who so beleueþ nat clere yn þe sacrament of þe autere,

He shal neuer þe blys a-byde, For no þyng þat may betyde. Line 9960

Yn þe oldë lawë, þus ys wryte, Boþe Iewes and crysten weyl hyt wete, "God seyd, and hyt was wroȝt; he commaunded alle þyng of noȝt." Line 9964 Þese wurdës are verry and clere; Dauyd hem seyth yn þe sautere; Syn he made alle þat noȝt er was, lesse maystry were hyt þan [þan were hyt.] yn kas, Line 9968 For to chaunge þe lekënes [lyknes.] Yn-to an ouþer þyng þat es; þe lykënes of bred and wyne, Line 9971 Yn flesshe and blode to turne hyt ynne; Yn flessh and blode þe brede be broȝt, Syn he madë alle [al byfore of noght.] of noȝt.

Ȝyf þou se hyt nat with bodly [bodyly.] syȝt, Line 9975 Þy soule with-ynne shal beleue hyt ryȝt; And ȝyf þou felë no sauour, But ryghtely wyne, and brede of flour, [But . . . flour O. But ryȝt bred and wyne of flour H.] Þat ys þe wysdom of Goddys ordynaunce For to saue vs alle fro þys chaunce; Line 9980 For ȝyf hyt fyl, as flesshe to take, [folio 66b] wlate we shulde, and hyt forsake; And for he wulde nat men hyt forsoke, But þat alle men hyt vndyrtoke, Line 9984 Þarfore hys wysdom, hys ownë rede, Sauerþ hyt yn wyne and brede; Hyt semeþ bredë, as be [by.] syȝt, And as brede, sauer haþ ryȝt; Line 9988 Noþyr þe [þy.] syȝt, noþer þe [no þy.] felyng, Haþ [Hast þou on no (but altered in the same hand).] þer-of any certeyn þyng; what shal þan, þe most saue, [[6-syllable line]] But stedfast beleue þat þou shalt haue? Stedfast beleue of euery deyl, Line 9993 Þat shal þan, saue þe weyl. [[6-syllable line]]

And some haue sey hyt bodyly, To whom he shewed hys mercy; Line 9996 Lo here a tale for of ȝow sum, Þat y fonde yn 'vitas patrum.' [A tale]

[The Tale of the Priest for whom the Sacramental Bread and Wine were turnd into a Child's Flesh and Blood.]

Þyr was a man of relygyoun; Of almës he had grete renoun; Line 10000 But, for þe fende [þe fende O, þe H (? þe = they).] wulde haue [had.] hym shent, He beleued nat yn þe sacrament, And seyd 'hyt was nat Ihesu Þat conceyued was þurgh vertu; Line 10004 Ne Ihesu was nat þe oblé [vbble.] Þat reysed was [was reysede.] at þe sacré; And þo þat wurschep ded þarto, To beleue hyt, [hyt. hyt.] was nat to do.' Line 10008

Byfore twey abbotes þus he tolde; Þese abbotes wryte þys tale to holde; hyt oght be tolde to euery wham Þat ys aȝens þe crystendam, Line 10012 Tyl hyt be preued with [by.] clergye wheþer hyt be beleue or erysye.

Þese abbotes shewed hym þe ryȝt weye with alle þe ensamples þat þey coude seye; And he seyd 'þat hyt was lye, [O. gloss 'fals.'] Line 10017 But ȝyf he sagh [saye.] hyt with hys ye.' "Doþe þan so þat y hyt se, [folio 66b:2] Þan wyl y beleue þat hyt may be." Line 10020

Þese abbotes preyd a ful seuen nyȝt Þat God wulde shewe hym, þurgh hys myȝt, Yn flesshe and blode on þe autere,

To cónferme hys beleuë clere; Line 10024 And hym-self preyd specyaly Þat God wulde shewe hym also yn body; "Lorde," he seyde, "for no mysbeleue Þat þou shuldest, with me þe greue, Line 10028 But for to shewe þe ryȝt soþenes Þat þou art þe sacrament of þe messe, Þat y may make ouþer certeyn whan y with yën haue þe seyn!" Line 10032

Þe [þese.] abbotes lay yn orysun Tyl alle þe seuen nyȝt were [were alle H, were O.] doun; þe seuenþe day, to þe cherche þey cam, [come.] And þe touþer man with hem þey nam; [nome.] A sege was ordeyned for hem þre Line 10037 To beholdë alle þe pryuyte Of þat holy sacrament Þat shewed was yn here present: Line 10040 Betwyxe hem sate þys ychë man Of whom þe myracle fyrst began.

whan þe vble was on þe auter leyd, And þe prest þe wurdes had seyd, Line 10044 Alle þre þoȝt þan verrylyk, Before þe prest, þat a chyld lay quyk Yn feyrë forme of flesshe and blode; Þys say þey þre, þere þey stode. Line 10048

whan þe preste shulde parte þe sacrament, An aungel dowun from heuene was sent, And sacryfyed þe chylde ryȝt þare; As þe prest hyt brak, þe aungel hyt share; þe blode yn-to þe chaleys ran Line 10053 Of þat chylde, boþe God and man.

Þys man ȝede to þe heyȝest degre, To housel hym, as fyl to be; Line 10056

Line 10056 Hym þoght þe prest broȝte on þe pateyn [folio 67a] Morselles of þe chylde alle [Leave out 'alle.'] newe sleyn, And bedde hym a morsel of þe flesshe with alle ȝe blode þer-on alle fresshe.

Þan gan he cry, with loudë steuene, "Mercy! Goddys sone of heuene! Line 10062 Þe brede þat y sagh on þe auter lye, Hyt ys þy body; y se hyt with ye. Of þe brede, þurgh sacrament, Line 10065 To flesshe and blode hyt ys alle went; Þys y beleue, and euer y shal; For verryly we se hyt alle." Line 10068

whan he and þey were alle certeyn, yn forme of brede hyt turned aȝeyn; He ded hym housel as ouþer wore, And was a gode man for euermore; Line 10072 And alle þe toþer [alle ouþre.] beþ þe better, Þat heren þys tale, or redyn þys lettyr.

Þe prest þat sacreþ Goddys body, Hym behoueþ bé clene nedëly: Line 10076 A lewed man þat shal hym [hyt.] receyue, Alle maner of fylþe, behoueþ hym weyue.

Be þou neuer so gode a preste, Ne so grete wyttë yn þy breste, Line 10080 Y rede þe here how þe propertes are shewed, Þogh [Þoghe þat.] þe langage be but lewed.

Þou wost weyl þat þe vblè Ys but a lytyl þyng to se; Line 10084 So shal we be lytyl yn wyl, lytyl and meke, with-outyn yl, Noȝt yn pryde, ne naȝt ['naȝt' omitted.] yn heghþe,

For no wysdom ne for no sleghþe, Line 10088 Þat we ne falle with Lucyfere, For proude men wonë with hym þere.

Þe vblè ys made of whete, [See French 1. 7421-5.] Þe louelyest cornë þat men ete; Line 10092 So shal [shulde.] we be meke and louely To allë þo þat beþ vs by; Þys mekënes ys aȝens Ire, [folio 67a:2] Þat ys with Lucyfere yn fyre. Line 10096

[See French 1. 7389-94.] Þe paste of þe vblè, nat ne ogh [oghþ (the last letter has been added on).] Be made of any maner of [cut out 'maner of.'] soure dogh; For þe soure dogh makeþ alle soure Þe swetnes þat cumþ of þe floure. Line 10100 By þys soure dogh ys tokenyng Þat enuye ys a wykked þyng, For hyt fordoþe swetnes of dede Þat God shulde ȝyue for soulë mede; Line 10104 Þarfore makeþ he none herbergerye Þere he fyndeþ [fyndes.] byfore, enuye.

A vertu also yn þe whete ys, Þat ys moche aȝens sloghnes; Line 10108 For whetë cornës wyl nat prykke, As otës dowün, or barlykke; Ne we shulde nat haue any prykyl Of ydylnes ouer mykyl. Line 10112

Ydylnes gruccheþ, and ys heuy of þoȝt, And also sonë wroþe for noȝt; And þat wraþþë cumþ of [of a.] sorowe, Þat of wanhope wyl mochë borowe. Line 10116 Þys sacrament of þe messe loueþ noun swyche ydulnesse, Ne, with noun, wyl he dwelle,

But þere men of Ioyë spelle. Line 10120

Þe paste to þe vblè seyd byforne, Shal nat be ¹of no medel¹ [1_1 of medlede.] corne, But allë onëly of wete; Þe mastlyoun shul men lete. Line 10124 Þat yche meneþ, with no wyse we shul vs medel with coueytyse, And namëly with auaryce, For þat ys tolde a wykked vyce. Line 10128

[See French l. 7413-20.] Also þou seest þe vblè ys þynne, And grete dunhede ys noun þer-ynne; And þat wyl weyl sygnyfye Aȝens þe synne of glotonye; Line 10132 For þere ne wyl þe sacrament reste, [folio 67b] þere glotonye wyl hym oute keste. [keste O, kaste H.]

[See French l. 7389-94.] And þou seest, þe vblè ys whyte; And we shul hauë noun [no.] delyte Line 10136 Of no maner of flesshely lak, Of lechery, þat makeþ vs blak.

Þese are þe seuene propertes Yn þe vblè, as þou sees; Line 10140 And euery properte [a properte.] þer-ynne Ys aȝens a dedly synne.

Aȝens þys sacrament, þan do þo Þat are yn synne, and þar-to go, Line 10144 Or are yn wyl aȝen to wende To synne, and hemself shende.

Also a preste þat goþ, syngeþ hys messe, þat yn dedly synnë ys, Line 10148 An hunder folde he synneþ more Þan ȝyf he, a lewed man wore.

Alle þey þat receyue þys sacrament yn dedly synne, or wykked entent, Line 10152

Line 10152 yn any óf þese ychë seuene Þat þou hast me herdë [hast here herde me.] neuene, Hyt ys to here dampnacyun, And þarfore veniaunce shal be doun. Line 10156 And, here y shal telle a tale, [A tale] How hyt ys to þo men bale.

[The Tale of the Priest who was enabled to see Folk's sins in their Faces.]

A parysshe prest was yn a tounne, A man of ful grete dyscrecyounne;— Dyscrecyun, a ryȝt wyt ys, Line 10161 On boþe partys ryȝtly to ges;— Of hys parysshenes he vndyrstode, whyche were yl, and whych were ['were' omitted.] gode; Tweyn he haddë for to gete, Line 10165 Þat neuer wuldë synnë lete.

And fyl hyt at an esterne, Þat a prest shul [shulde.] none ouþer [housel.] werne But ȝyf hyt be þe gretter synne, Line 10169 As yn cursyng, or yn vnbuxyme. Þys prest was yn gretë þoȝt [folio 67b:2] wheþer he shulde housel hem or noȝt; he preyd God, of heuene kyng, Line 10173 Þat he wulde sende hym sum tokenyng wheþer hé shulde hem forbede; To housel hem, he [hym.] þoȝt grete drede. Line 10176

Fro God he had þys answere: 'Þat echone shuld hys owne charge bere, And þat he shulde warne hyt none, But ȝyue hyt furþe to euerychone;' Line 10180 "Do þou as Ihesu dyd [dede.] yn dede, And þou shalt no man hyt forbede, Ne morë þan he ded Iudas, Þat haddë do ful grete trespas." Line 10184

he ȝaue hyt to alle with myldë mode whan brede was turned to flessh & blode.

For some þat hyt takeþ, hyt shal hem saue, And some þarforë peyne shal haue; Line 10188 Aftyr þey are of synnë clene, So shal hyt on hem be sene."

Ȝyt preyde he God of morë grace, Þat he myȝt knowë hem by face, Line 10192 Þe whyche receyued hyt wurþyly, And whyche to have hyt were wurþy. And God graunted hym hys wyl, To knowe þe godë fro þe yl. Line 10196

Þe folk [folke.] þat to þe prestë went For to receyue þe sacrament, Of some þe faces were as bryȝt As þe sunne ys, ón days lyȝt; Line 10200 And some, here vysages al blake, Þat no þyng myȝt hem blaker make; And somë [In Harl. the remainder of the line is scratched out.] were as rede as blode, Staryng ryȝt as þey had be wode; Line 10204 And sum were swolle, þe vyseges [vysege.] stout, As þoȝ here yȝen [yen.] shulde burble out; And sum gnapped here fete & handes, As doggës doun þat gnawe here bandes; And sum hadde vysages of meselrye; [folio 68a] And some were lyke foule maumetrye: Many wundrys were on hem sene, Mo þan he myȝt se at þat tyme. Line 10212

Þe prest, whan he say [saghe.] alle þys, Of þat syȝt he gan hym grys; For þat syȝt was hydous, And dreful, [dredful.] and perylous. Line 10216

Ȝyt preyd he God, with gode entent, Þat he myȝt wyte, what al þat ment; And God almyȝty loued hym weyl, And wuldë shewe hym euerydeyl; Line 10220 "Þo men þat are so bryȝt [[6 syllables]] As þe sun, on day[e]s lyȝt, Þo men are ȝyt yn charyte, And clene of synne, & wurschepeþ [wrshype.] me;

Þo men þat were so blake, Line 10225 Þat no þyng myȝt hem blaker make, Þey are lecchours foule with-ynne, And haue no wyl to leue here synne; Þo men þat werë [In Harl. the words after 'were' have been scratched out, but a later hand has written 'face full of blode' for them; an original 'of' can be made out before the 'full.'] rede as blode, Line 10229 Þey are Irus, [yrous.] and wykked of mode, here euene crystyn for to slo with deþ, or, with pyne do wo; Line 10232 Þo þat þou sagh with swolle vysage, Þey are enuyous ouer outrage; And þo þat gnapped here finger endes, Are bakbyters betwyxë frendys; Line 10236 Þo þat þou sagh, meselles be syȝt, Þey loue more gode þan God almyȝt; Þo þat þou sagh lyke maumetrye, On worldly þyng [wrly (sic) þynge.] þey most affye; Line 10240 More loue þey gode þat hé haþ sent þan þey do hym þat alle haþ lent; þese maner men are ȝyt yn wyl, yn here synne to lyuë stylle; Line 10244 And þarfore shal þe sacrament On hem aske hardë Iugëment, Þat þey haue receyue [receyuede.] hyt vnwurþyly, [folio 68a:2] And serued þe fende, hys enemy. Line 10248

Þys tale y tolde for loue of þo Þat yn synne to housel go, Or beþ yn wylle to turne aȝeyn; Line 10251 For alle here trauayle þey do yn veyn.

Ȝyf þou, whan þy [þyn.] housel shalt take, Be yn wylle þy synne to forsake For euermore yn stedfaste herte, Line 10255 Þogh þou synne sone aftyr, [after synne sone.] and smert, Ȝyt God takeþ hyt nat to so grete grym As ȝyf þou yn tresoun receyuedest hym.

yn no þyng wote y more tresun, Þan brynge þy lorde to [on.] hys felun; Line 10260 And ȝyt men sey here synne ys grefe,

Þat bryngeþ [brynge.] a trew man on a þefe; And ȝyf þou do þus, þy wytande, þan chargë men hyt most yn hande; Line 10264 þarfore loke þat þou wyte noȝt, No synne hyde yn herte ne þoȝt, Ne wyl nat wyte for neuer more whan þou receyuest God ryȝt þore. Line 10268

Also þe clerk þat haunteþ synne, But he leue, and þer-of blynne, He shal nat serue at þe auter, Noþer halewed þyng to comë ner. Line 10272

Y touched langer of þys outrage whan y spake of sacrylage, Þat þe holy gost shewed hym noȝt For þe dekene synned yn þoȝt, Line 10276 Yn þe tale of Ion [Ion.] Crysostomus; [[p. 278]] Þys tale ys tolde for ȝow and vs.

Also he ys wurþy to be shent, Þat, sone aftyr þe sacrament, Line 10280 To foly and to synne hym draweþ: lytyl of Goddes veniaunce hym aweþ.

Ȝyf þou forgete or ouersyttes Tyme of housel, þat þou weyl wytes, Line 10284 lytel fors of hym þou ȝyues, [folio 68b] Þou louest hym nat þat þou by lyues, And ouer alle þyng he loueþ þe beste, And þou ne wylt, a nyȝtys geste, Line 10288 lete hym herber yn hys hous; Þou art vnkynde ryȝt merueylous, Þat alle þe ȝere þou latest hym [hyt.] weyue, And with wurschyþ þou wylt nat hyt receyue. Line 10292 God manaceþ swyche, for swyche enchesun, And ryȝt hyt wyl, and gode resun; For swychë men are holde vntrewe Line 10295 Yn þe olde lawe, and eke yn þe newe.

Comaundement yn þe olde lawe was, 'Ones yn þe ȝere to shewe þy trespas;' þe newe law ys of [of þe.] more onour 'Ones to receyue þy creatoure,' Line 10300 Ones yn þe ȝerë, to knowleche, Þy lorde to pes, for drede of wreche.

Þat prest, y blame ouer alle þyng, Þat with-oute skylle lettyþ to synge; Line 10304 For many a soulë myȝt be saued with þe messe þat he haþ leued; For al[lë] þat yn peynë ys, Abydeþ þe socoure of þe messe; Line 10308 For euery messe makeþ memórye Of soules þat are yn purgatórye; Mochë þanke shal þat prest haue, Þat helpeþ, hem for to saue; Line 10312 For no þyng may hem so moche auayle Of here peyne and here trauayle, As þe sacrament of þe autere, Ne makeþ hem of peyne so clere. Line 10316

And þat may y [y O, om. H.] shewe apertly By a tale of seint Gregorye; Seynt Gregory telleþ for þe same, [A tale.]

[The Tale of the Priest who was waited on by a Dead Lord whom he afterwards sang out of Purgatory.]

þer was a prest, Felyx was [was H, om. O.] hys name; Bysyde hys wonyng yn a paþ Line 10321 was a wasshyng yn an hote baþ; Þys prest þedyr [ofte þyder.] oftë ȝede [folio 68b:2] To wasshe hym whan he haddë nede. Þys prest þere euer redy fonde Line 10325

Line 10325 A man þat serued hym to fote and honde; he drogh hys hosen of, and hys shone, And efte was redy hem on to done; Line 10328 At euery tyme þat he þedyr cam, hys shone and hys hosen, of he nam, And serued hym at euery a tyde, Yn þe water, and eke besyde. Line 10332

Þys prest, þat cam [com.] þedyr so ofte, Þat þys man serued so softe, he ne asked hym neuer more when he was, ne how he come þore; But euery tymë was redy Line 10337 And serued hym peynyblëly. [penyblely O, peynybly H.]

Þys prest þoȝt he serued hym weyl, "hys trauayle wyl y quyte sum deyl." On o day he þedyr þoȝt, Line 10341 And, twey loues with hym he broȝt; yn-to þe baþ, ȝede þe prest, And, wesshe [wysshe.] hym, as he dyd neste: Line 10344 Þys man was þere hym aȝayne; To serue hym weyl, he dyde hys mayne;

Þys preste, whan he shuld furþë go, He ȝaue þe man þese louës two, Line 10348 And þanked hym moche, hys seruyse, And more he wuldë ouþer wyse.

Þys man answered þe prest aȝeyn: "Þys brede þou broȝtest to me yn veyn, For neuer morë shal y ete Line 10353 Bredë, ne noun ouþer mete. Y am a man, þat ys dede, Þat neuer more shal etë brede." Line 10356

Þe preste asked "on what manere Ys hyt þat þou wonest þus here?" Þys yche man answered and seyd, "Y was lorde here, are y deyde; Line 10360

Line 10360 And þys seruyse þat y am ynne, [folio 69a] ys þe peynë for my synne; But y pray þe, pur charyte, Offre on þe auter þese loues for me; Line 10364 And y beseche þe, ouer alle þyng, Þat syxe messys for me þou synge, For, were þey sunge, y hope to wende Yn-to þe ioye with-outen ende. Line 10368 whan þe syxtë messe ys lefte, Ȝyf þou ne fyndë me here efte, know þou þan soþëly ywys Þat for þy prayere y am broȝt ['broȝt' omitted.] yn blys."

þys prest, alle þat wokë long, Line 10373 Fór þys same man preyd and song; And whan þe wokë was alle gone, Þe prest cam [com.] þedyr, and fondë none. he beleued þan weyl þat he was broȝt To blys, for, he fonde hym noȝt.

By þys tale þan mowe ȝe se, þat hyt ys grete charyte, Line 10380 Messes for the dede to synge, Þe soulës oute ³of þyne to³ [3_3 of pyne for to.] brynge.

Passyng alle þyng, hyt haþ powere, Þe sacrament of þe autere, Line 10384 And namëly whan hyt ys doun with godë mannes deuocyun; Hym, wyl God sunner here þan one þat ys nat hym so dere. Line 10388

yn þe seuenþe comaundement [[page 73]] Toucheþ to þys sacrament, Yn a talë of a knyȝt, How þe prest þat lyueþ nat ryȝt, Line 10392 Of hys preyer ys lytyl prowe, And þere telleþ hyt weyl how; And y shal telle a-nouþer here, Of a messë of a frere. [A tale.]

[The Tale of the Suffolk Man who was taken out of Purgatory by two Masses his Wife got sung for him.]

A man yn Souþfolke onës deyde Besydë Sudbyry, men seyde. For þat man, swych grace was dyȝt, [folio 69a:2] Þat hym was graunted to come a nyȝt For to spekë wyþ hys wyfe Line 10401 To amende þe defaute of hys lyfe: "Ȝyf a messe were for me doun with gode mannes deuocyoun, Line 10404 y hope," he seyd, "to blys go, And be delyuerd of alle my wo; Y prey þe, pur charyte, To trauayle so moche for me." Line 10408

She graunted hym þat ychë bone, And ros vp on þe mornë sone, And, vn-to þe frerës ȝede, For þere hoped she best to spede. Line 10412 She cam, [com.] and spak with a frere, And preyd she myȝt hys messë here, And for here housbunde soule to synge, And she wulde ȝyuë hym offrynge. Line 10416

Þe frere ded here a messe yn comune, as þe seruyse ys; whan þys messë sungë was She went home a godë pas. Line 10420 Þe nyȝt aftyr, þan come he, "Slepest þou?" he seyd; 'nay,' seyd she, 'Be ȝe ȝyt,' she seyd, 'yn blys? þe messë for ȝow sungen [sunge.] ys.' Line 10424 "þe messe," he seyde, "þou dedyst be do, A party hyt halpë þer-vn-to; My parte y had, of þat messe, As of þyng þat comune ys; Line 10428 Ȝyf one for me were specyale [were specyaly for me.] seyde, Þat ouþer for me blys had nede,— Ȝyf þe prest were of lyfe so gode [gode O, go H.]

Þat God hys preyer vndyrstode— Line 10432 Y hopë [hopede.] þan, grace to haue, Þat hys messë myȝt me saue." Ofte he seyd[ë] to hys wyfe "A prest! A prest! of clenë lyfe." Line 10436

On þe mornë, sone she ȝede [folio 69b] To þe frerës eft god spede, And shewed hyt to þe pryour, And prey[ed] hym of socour, Line 10440 'Ȝyf he had any broþer, Þat he hoped, were better þan oþer, Þat wyl syngë me a messe For a man þat dedë ys; Line 10444 And at myn esë he shal haue, To a pytaunce, þat he wyl craue.'

Þe pryor spake vn-to a frere, And prey[ed] hym on alle manere Line 10448 Þat he wulde a messë synge For þat soule þat she made preyng.

Þe frerë was an holy man; And ar þat he hys messe bygan, Line 10452 He preyde to God hys orysoun Yn ful grete afflyccyoun, Þat hyt myȝt be, hym to pay, Þe messe þat he shulde synge þat day.

whan þe messe was do to ende, Line 10457 He bad þe womman home to wende; "And, whan þou more eftë heres, Cum and sey to ourë freres." Line 10460

Þe nyȝt aftyr, lesteneþ now, He come, [Cum.] and seyd, "slepest þou?" 'Nay,' she sayd, 'how farë ȝe?' "weyl," he seyd, "and so wurþ þe." [most þou] Line 10464 'were ȝe pay[ed] of þat messe, Þat, for ȝow, sungyn ys?' "Ȝe," he seyd, "graunte mercy, Þys messe to me ys more wurþy Line 10468 Þan alle þe worlde, an hunder syþe,

Ne myȝt haue made me halfe so blyþe; hys preyer was to God so dere, Þat he besoghte, þat [al.] wlde he here, Line 10472 Ȝyf he had preyd for an hundred mo, Fro pyne to blys, he had broȝt þo; For what þyng he hade asked bone, [folio 69b:2] God had graunted hyt hym as sone; Line 10476 And haue gode day, for now y wende To þe ioye with-outyn ende." God late vs neuer þer-of mysse, with-outyn ende to haue þat blys! Line 10480

Þys wyfe come sonë on þe morne, And fyl on knees þe frere byforne, And toldë hym weyl, euery deyl, Line 10483 How he, for hys prayer, yn ioye was weyl; And þe frere ful weyl þarby lete, And þanked God; and ['and' omitted.] for ioye he grete. [wepte] weyl were hym at hys endyng Þat had swych a prest for hym to synge!

Yn þys tale, þan, shewed ys, Line 10489 Ouer alle gode þan ys þe messe; For þe sacrament of þe autere Oueral passeþ hys powere; Line 10492 Yn þat messe, þey hem affye, Þe [Þo.] soules þat are yn purgatorye, For hyt makeþ mencyun of þe passyun As Ihesu Cryst to deþ was doun; Line 10496 Þe sone ys offred to þe fadyr yn heuene For þe [þo.] soules þat þe prest wyl neuene.

Also, þys talë wyl mene Þat þe preste be gode and clene; Line 10500 Þan wyl Ihesu Cryst hym here, For what þyng he makeþ preyere: Preye he for body, or for soule, [soule or for bodye.] Þat ys yn pyne, or here yn noye, Line 10504 Boþe wyl God almyȝty saue, what-so þe godë prest wyl craue.

Nat only for soules ys he herd,

But also for vs, yn þys world; [vs here yn þe werlde.] Line 10508 Be a man yn sykenes, or yn prysoun, weyferyng, or yn temptacyun, Or yn any ouþer trauayle, Þe sacrament wyl vs auayle; Line 10512 hyt wyl delyuer vs out of peyne, [folio 70a] Ȝyf oure beleuë be certeyne; And þat was weyl shewed yn dede Yn Ingland, so seyþ seynt Bede; Line 10516 Yn hys bokys wrytyn þyr ys [A tale.] A feyre myrácle of þe messe.

[Bede's Tale of Jumna and Tumna; or, How an Abbot's Mass|singing made the Fetters fall off a Knight in Prison.]

what tyme seynt Bede was man lyuand, were many kyngës yn þys land; Line 10520 Betwyxë tweyn was grete batayle, For whych þyng y telle þys merueyle; þe toon hyght Edfryde of þe norþe cuntre, þe toþer of Lyndëseye was he: Line 10524 Edfryde had grete seygnourye, [seynurrye.] Seynt Audre housbonde, of Ely. [husb. of St. A. of E.; l. 10689.] þys batayle was, [was O, om. H.] þurgh here boþe [boþe her.] assent, Besyde a watyr, men calle Trent: Line 10528 Syre Edfrydes broþer hyȝt Elfwynne, He was slayn þe [Þat.] batayle ynne; On boþe partyys, ne was none So feyre a knyȝt of flesshe and bone, Line 10532 Ne so doȝty was of armes; Þarfore seynt Bede pleyneþ hys harmys.

An noþer knȝyt also was felte [eke was felde.] dowun Almoste dede, and fyl yn swoun: Line 10536 Þe namë of þys ȝungë knyȝt, 'Iumna,' seyþ seynt Bede, he hyȝt. whan þys Iumna had long leyn, He couerd, and sette hym vp aȝeyn, Line 10540

Line 10540 And stopped hys woundes, þey shuld nat blede, And as he myȝt, þennë he ȝede To seke hym helpe agher to haue, Line 10543 Or frendës fynde, þat hym myȝt saue.

And as he wente with mochë drede, He was take with kyng Eldrede, And, broght vn-to a lordyng, An Erle þat heldë of þat kyng. Line 10548 Þe Erle asked hym 'what he was, And where he had be yn hard kas?'

For drede of deþ, he was affryȝt, [folio 70a:2] And durst nat sey he was a knyȝt; Line 10552 He seyd, "seyre, ȝyf þy wyl be, Y am an husband of þe cuntre; Y was wunt to lede vytayle To knyȝtës þat were yn batayle; Line 10556 And now y am a porë man, Yn þys maner fro þe batayle wan, And wyl fonde to saue my lyfe [lyffe.] Tyl y may comë to [vnto.] my wyfe." Line 10560 Þe erle þan made [made þan.] a leche be [by.] stoundes Tende to hym, to hele hys woundes.

Þat tyme were here many thedys, [thedes countries.] Many vságes yn many ledys; Line 10564 For euery kyng, yn þat dawe, Beleued on dyuers lawe; Sum were crystyn, on oure fay, And some beleued on paynyms lay; Line 10568 Þarfore þat tyme was mykyl þro, And ofte was boþë werre and wo; Ȝyf any kyng myȝt of oþers men take, He shuld hem selle, or yn seruage make.

wharfore y telle so of þys knyȝt, Line 10573 þe erle dyd hym bynde euery nyȝt þat he ne shuld[ë] fro hem fle, Ne stele awey to hys cuntre; Line 10576 Noþeles, [Noþeles O, Noþele H.] for alle þat þey myȝt hym bynde,

A-noþer tyme, lose, þey myȝt hym fynde; Só fast, þey neuer [neuer þey.] hym bonde, Þat lose a-noþer tyme þey hym fonde. Line 10580

Þys boundë knyȝt hyght Iumna, And had a broþer þat hyȝt Tumna; þys Tumna was prest relygyous, For he was abbot of an house; Line 10584 So long he leued yn þat estre [toune [Oxf. gloss 'a toune.'] ] Þat for hys name he hyȝt Tuncestre; Þat tounne, as y vndyrstande, hyt was yn Northhumber-lande. Line 10588

þys abbot herd tydyng certeyn [folio 70b] Þat Iumna was yn batayle slayn; He come to Trent, þys abbot Tumna, And fonde a body ryȝt lyke Iumna; Line 10592 Onóurablye he dyd hyt graue Yn hys cherche, þere he wulde hyt haue, And song þarforë, day and ouþer, For he went he [wende hyt (but he is used for the neuter, see ll. 10586, 10786, &c.).] had be hys broþer. Line 10596

Þogh þat Tumna had chose wrong, hys broþer had þe godenesse of hys song; For God alle wote, and wyst hyt þere For whom he madë hys preyere; Line 10600 how as euer men, þys knyȝt at eue bonde, Þe bondes, on þe morne, vndo þey fonde; Men myȝt neuer hym yn bondes so feste Þat þey þat tyme ne gunne al to-braste. [breste.]

Þo men þat had þys man yn holde, Line 10605 Þys wundyr to þe erle þey tolde; Þe erle had þer-of gretë wundyr

Þat hys bondes [bondes O, landes H.] were so a sunder, Line 10608 He seyd 'hym self wulde with hym speke, To wytë why hys bondes dyd breke.'

Before þe erlë was he fette, And þe erle, ful feyre he grette, Line 10612 "Sey me now," he seyd, "bele amye,

"kanst þou weyl on sorcerye? Sum wycchecrafte þou doust aboute bere, [aboute þou doust bere.] Þat þy bondes mow þe nat dere. Line 10616 For soþe," he seyd, "sum what þou dos, Þat euer-more þey fynde þe los."

he seyd, "on whycchecrafte beleue y noȝt, Ne for me shal none be wroȝt, Line 10620 Ne wyl nat be, [be O, om. H.] þurgh fendys crafte, Vnbonde, ne with no whycchëcrafte. Syre erle," he seyd, "hyt ys a-nouþer; Yn my cuntre y haue a broþer Line 10624 Þat supposyþ weyl þat y am [be.] slayn, For y come nat home agayn; For me he syngeþ euery day a messe; [folio 70b:2] Prest, and abbot, for soþe he ys; Line 10628 Y wote weyl, þát ys þe enchesun Þat my bondes are so ondoun, For, no þyng haþ powere Aȝens þe sacrement of þe autere; Line 10632 And ȝyf y were dede [dede O, de H.] yn ouþer werlde, hys preyer shulde for me be herde, To bryngë me of pyne and wo And aftyrward to blys[së] go." Line 10636

Alle þe meyne þan, and þe erle, Supposed weyl he was no cherle, As he to hem byfore hadde seyd, whan þey on hym fyrst handës leyd; By hys semblant and feyre beryng Line 10641 Hym semed weyl to be a lordyng; By hys speche, þey vndyrstode Þat he was man of gentyl blode. Line 10644

Þe erle toke hym yn pryuyte; Of when [wenne.] he was, telle hym shulde he; "Sey me þe soþe, and, as y am knyȝt, Þou ne shalt haue [for me haue.] for me, skaþe ne plyȝt." "Syn ȝe me behete ȝoure pes and gryth, Y am þe kyngës man Edfryth; Armës y bare yn þe batayle,

with alle my powere hym to auayle." Line 10652 "So me þoȝt," seyd þe erle, "Þe semed nat to be a cherle; But, for þát y here þe seye, Þou were wurþy for to deye, Line 10656 For þou hylpë þer to slo, Þat alle my kyn ys dede me fro; But, langer þat y sykerd þe, Shalt þou haue no skaþe for me." Line 10660

He ȝede and solde hym for raunsoun At London to a Frysoun,— A Frysoun ȝe shul vndyrstande To a marchaunde of Fryslande;— Line 10664 Þys Frysun wulde þys man furþe lede, [folio 71a] And, dyd on hym bondes for drede; For he ne shulde skape [eschape.] by þe weye, He dyd on hym, bondes for to leye; [He dede bondes on hym to leye.] But hyt auayled hym no þyng Line 10669 Neuer a day, þat byndyng; For yn þat oure þat þe messe was sunge, Þe bondes to-braste, and alle to-sprunge.

Þys Frysoun þoȝt 'how may þys be? Line 10673 hé may ryȝt weyl fro me fle; Chaunsfullyche hyt vayled noȝt, þe katel þat y wyþ hym [hym wyþ.] boȝt.' Line 10676

þe Frysoun seyd, "wylt þou weyl Restore aȝen alle my katel, And y shal ȝyue þe leue to go To þy cuntre, þere þou come fro; Line 10680 But fyrst þou shalt me trouþë plyght, And trewly holde hyt at alle þy myȝt, To brynge þe katel, and ȝyue for þe, And ellës y grauntë þe nat fre." Line 10684 he graunted hym alle þat he seyd, And trouþe yn hande with hand[ë] leyd.

þys Iumna went to þe kyng Loyre, þat was kyng of Kaunterbyre; Line 10688 he was seynt Audre syster sone, And Iumna was wonte with here to wone;

Of alle hys state, boþe wo and wele, Iumna tolde þe kyng euery deyl; Line 10692 Þe kyng þan ȝaue hym hys raunsoun, And he bare hyt to Londoun to þe Frysoun.

Syþen ȝede he home, þys knyȝt Iumna, To hys broþer þe abbot Tumna, Line 10696 And tolde hym of alle hys wo-fare, And of alle hys cumforte yn alle hys care. Þe abbot ful weyl þan vndyrstode Þat hys messe dyd hym grete gode, Line 10700 And þat þe sacrament gan hym borowe Oute of seruage and out of sorowe.

Þys tale telleþ vs seynt Bede, [folio 71a:2] Yn þe gestys of Inglond þat we rede. Line 10704

By þys talë, mow men lere Þat þe messe helpeþ vs weyl here; For vs lyuyng, hyt makeþ memórye, As weyl as for soules yn purgatórye; Line 10708 Euery man shal beleue þat ryȝt, Þat holpe wyl be, as was þe knyȝt.

Þys sacrament helpeþ nat ȝyt a-lone, But deuoute offrynges also echone; Line 10712 Alle þat we offre at þe messe, Alle oure saluacyun hyt ys; Nat onely for to saue þo þat dede beþ, But þe quyke also hyt saueþ [hyt saueth also.] and redeþ; As weyl haue þe quyke, þe pru, Line 10717 As þe dede, þereof vertu; Quyke and dedë, more and lesse, Alle are saued þurgh þe masse. Line 10720

þe offryng ys also a present þat hyt be oure helpe, þe sacrament, To þe fadyr of heuene bysyly, Line 10723 For whom þou offrest, to haue mercy.

A tale y fondë onës wryte; And as y wote, þan shul ȝe wyte; [A tale] And weyl a-cordeþ yn alle þyng, Þat God ys payd of gode offryng. Line 10728

Line 10728

[The Tale of the Miner, and how his Wife's Offerings for his Soul fed him while he was buried alive in a Mine.]

Þyr was a man beȝunde þe see, A mynour, woned yn a cyte,— Mynurs, þey make yn hyllys holes, Line 10731 As yn þe west cuntre men seke coles.—

Þys mynur soȝte stones vndyr þe molde, Þat men make of, syluer and golde; he wroȝt on a day, and holed yn þe hyl; A perylous chauncë to [vnto.] hym fyl; Line 10736 For, a grete party of þat yche myne Fyl dowun yn þe hole, and closed hym ynne.

hys felaus alle, þat were hym hende, Þat he were dede, weyl soþely wende; Þey ȝede and toke hem alle to rede, [folio 71b] And tolde hys wyfe þat he was dede. Line 10742

Þys womman pleyned here husbonde sore— wulde God þat many swyche [swyche many.] wommen wore!— She hylpe hys soule yn allë þyng, Line 10745 In almës dede, and yn offryng; She offred for hym to þe auter, Ful of wynë, a pecher, Line 10748 And a feyrë lofe with-alle, Euery day as for a pryncypalle; Alle þat twelue moneþ stabëly, But o day þat passed forby. Line 10752

Fewe swyche wymmen now we fynde, Þat to here husbondes are so kynde! But þys wyfe, at alle here myȝt, Ded for hym boþe day and nyȝt. Line 10756

Fyl hyt at þe twelue moneþ ende, Hys felaws to þe mounteyne gun wende, And comë to þe same stede efte,

Þere þey last here werk [i-]lefte. Line 10760 Ryȝt þere, þey fyrst bygan, And perced þurgh vn-to þys man.

Þe man yn godë state þey fonde, lyuyng with-outë wem or wounde; Line 10764 Euerychone, þey hadde grete ferly, And þat was gretë resun why; Alle þo men were yn grete were, How he had lyued alle þat ȝere. Line 10768 But he tolde hem euerychone How he hadde lyued þere alone; "Y haue lyued gracyous lyfe, Þurgh þe curtesye of my wyfe, Line 10772 For euery day she haþ me sent Brede and wynë to present; But o day certys ete y noȝt, For, no mete was to me broȝt." Line 10776

Þey led [ledde.] þys man vnto þe tounne, And tolde þys myracle vp and dounne, Fyrst, þur[o]gh þe cyte, [folio 71b:2] And seþþë [seþþe O, seþ H.] þur[o]gh þe cuntre. Line 10780 Þey asked hym, at þe laste, Þat day þat he dyd[ë] faste; He tolde hem þe day[ë]s name, And hys wyfë seyd þe same; Line 10784 Þat day she offred neuer a deyl; Þe gode fryday, he myȝt be weyl.

Now mow ȝe here, þat almës dede, Gostëly a man wyl fede, Line 10788 And so mow ȝe weyl vndyrstande Þat God ys payd of gode offrande.

But fór alle þys tale, yn ȝoure lyues, [note.] Truste ȝe nat moche ón ȝoure wyues, Line 10792 Ne on ȝoure chyldryn, for no þyng, But makeþ ȝe self, ȝoure offryng:

For, so kynde a womman as y of tolde, lyueþ nat now, be þou bolde; Line 10796 Ne no clerk, þat þys [þys O, om. H.] ryme redys, Shal fynde a womman of so kynde dedes.'

Ȝe men þat are now yn present, þat haue herd me rede þys sacrament, how ouer alle þyng hyt haþ powere, Line 10801 Þe sacrament of þe autere, As y haue here to ȝow shewed —Nat to lered onely, but eke to lewed,— Ȝe lewed men, y telle hyt ȝow, Line 10805 Þese clerkys kun [kunne.] hyt weyl y-now, Pray we [Preye we now.] alle oure creatoure, [creatour O, creature H.] Þe sacrament oure sauyoure, [sauueour.] Line 10808 Þat body and soule he wyl vs saue, And we hym loue, and he vs haue! [The Vernon MS. borrowing ends here.]

[Of Penance.]

The fourþe sacráment ys penaunce, Þat ys for synnë a quytaunce; Line 10812 God graunte vs alle, penaunce to do, For we haue gretë nede þarto.

Aȝens þys, þan, synnë þo Þat to shryftë onely go Line 10816 with-oute any manér of smert [folio 72a] Of felyng, of sorowe of hert; Euery man shulde haue a-fore þoȝt Line 10819 How and whan hys synne was wroȝt, And beþenke hym weyl on [of.] euery dede, Fyrst are he to shryftë ȝede; Elles, asoyled may he nat be clene, Of forȝetë synnes, y mene. Line 10824 Ouer lytyl fors certys he ȝyueþ Of any penaunce, or how he lyueþ;

Swychë men, here synne þey synke, þat recchë nat þer-on to þynke. Line 10828 Some men, whan here synne ys wroȝt, Hyt no more [more eft.] cumþ yn here þoȝt, And ȝyueþ no fors, [force.] þat he forȝeteþ hys synne; and hym þe fend eteþ. Line 10832 leuer ys hym late hem alle weyue, þan any hard penaunce receyue.

Ȝyf þou wylt haue þe sacrament, Þe behoueþ ȝyue weyl bettyr entent, Line 10836 And recordë euery dede with sorow of herte, and with drede, And forþynke, with mochë mone, Þat þou ne mayst þenk on echone; Line 10840 And ȝyf þou shryue þe euery deyl Of þo, þat þe meneþ weyl, Þat þou ne lettë for no shame To tellë opunly þy blame: Line 10844 Swyche a man þat þus ys shryue, May be asoyled, and penaunce ȝyue.

penaunce may be ȝyue to none But he shryue hys synnes echone, Line 10848 And be of godë répentaunce; No prest may elles ȝyue hym penaunce; Penaunce pyneþ þy flessh and ['and' omitted.] þe fende, And plesyþ God, and makyþ hym frende. Aftyr, ȝyf þou þenk on þat Line 10853 Synne þat þou yn shryfte forȝat, Þou art holde to telle hyt þy prest [folio 72a:2] whan þou hast mynde þer-of yn brest.

whan þou hast þy synne forsake, And þy penaunce þer-forë take, Line 10858 Forȝete nat þan þat þou ne do

Þe penaunce þat he [he O, om. H.] ioyneþ þe to. Line 10860 Ȝyf þou forȝetest, þou shalt bey [bye.] hyt harde yn purgatórye aftyrwarde; For o day þat þou forȝetest here, A ȝere, þere [þere O, om. H.] þou shalt by hyt dere. Line 10864

And ȝyf þou fallest eft yn synne, Efte þy shryfte alle newe bygynne, And do gode dedës þer-with-alle, Line 10867 For þat es [ys.] of penaunce pryncypalle; Ȝyf þou ne do, verrement Þou synnest yn þys sacrament; For of þat man, hyt ys grete drede, Þat wyþdraghþ hym fro godë dede. Line 10872

Many man also þenkeþ þys þoȝt, 'þat werk of penaunce auayleþ noȝt þe whylys þat he ys yn synne;' But þan had he most nede to bygynne; For godë dedës and penaunce Line 10877 Reysyn a man to répentaunce; For many þyngës, gode hyt ys, Þogh hyt auayle hym naght yn blys.

þe prest wote neuer what he menes, Þat for lytyl, curseþ hys parysshenes; Þat yche shepard ȝyueþ no gode kepe, Þat betecheþ þe wulfe hys shepe; Line 10884 At þe last acounte shal he mysfalle, whan he shal answere for hem alle; And þe lordë shal þe shepard hate, þat wasteþ hys store, and bryngeþ o gate; Þe lordë boȝt þe shepe ful dere, Line 10889 lese hem nat þan [nat þan O, noȝt H.] so lyȝtly here; Þoȝ þey outrage, and do foly, He shal nat sle hem with felony; Line 10892

Line 10892 he shal hem chastyse with smert [lewede.] speche, [folio 72b] with small baytynges, and nat with wreche.

As þe gode shepard kepyþ hys shepe, So shalle þe prest, hys parysshenes kepe; Þere shepe gone wrong besyde þe paþ, Line 10897 Þe shepard cryeþ for drede of skaþe; And ȝyf þey wyl nat at hys crye Turne aȝen to here pasture nye, Line 10900 Þan setteþ he on hys hounde, And bayteþ hem a wel gode stounde, And bryngeþ hem to her pasture weyl, Ne sleþ he ȝyt none, neuer a deyl. Line 10904

with þese prestes hyt shulde fare so, whan here parysshenes oghte mysdo; wyþ feyre techyng, and godë spelles, And stoutly, whan þey wyl nat elles, Line 10908 And with ordynaryys of holy cherche, Tyl þat þey wyl ryȝtly werche; Nat with cursyng, þat es [ys.] slaghter euyl, So sone betake hem to þe deuyl. Line 10912 Haue to hem swych charyte As þou wuldest God hadde to þe; kowardyse hyt ys, and foule maystry, To þrowe a faucoun at euery flye; Line 10916 Of flyes men mow hem weyl spourge, And þrowe to hem naght but a scourge; No more shal no prest þrawe, But a scorge, þat ys loue [þat ys loue.] awe. Line 10920

Lewed man, þou shalt cursyng doute, And to ['to' omitted.] þy prest þou shalt nat stoute; Be he wykked, or be he gode, Þou shalt to hym be þolëmode. Line 10924

Hyt ys nat a lytyl þyng For to fallë yn cursyng, For hyt reueþ þe þy gostly frendes, And betecheþ þe vn-to þe fendes, Line 10928 And hyt forbarreþ alle gode dedes

Þat þe shuld helpe yn alle þy nedes, Tyl þou com to amendëment [folio 72b:2] with penaunce, þat ys, þys sacrament.

Yn sacrylage, y tolde a tale Line 10933 how cursyng breweþ mochë bale, Þat alle þe ȝere hopped aboute, Þat wulde nat þe prestys byddyng doute.

Now wyl we leuë, at þys [þys O, þs H.] tyme, Line 10937 Of penaunce morë for to ryme, For y shal tellë þer-of more At shryftë, whan y comë þore; Line 10940 God ȝyue me gracë so to telle, To shamë alle þe fendes of helle!

[Of the Fifth Sacrament—Holy Orders.]

NOw of þe fyfþë sacrament, Þe order of þe bysshopes presentement. þys falleþ to þese lordynges, Line 10945 As popës, emperoures, and kynges, And to alle þat clerkys auaunce To holy cherches portynaunce; [purtynaunce.] Line 10948 Swyche men, þat are of grete nobley, Yn þys sacrament þan synne þey, Þat þey graunte, for mede þat þey take, Vnwurþyly, a bysshope to make, Line 10952 Of whom þat ys þe famë ryfe Þat he ys, of febyl lyfe, Or oþer to auaunce, hyt ys folye, wyþoutyn resonable clergye. Line 10956

Clerk behoueþ [behouede.] hym for to be, Þat shulde receyue swyche dygnyte For to gouerne holy cherche; with clergy, behoueþ hym algate werche. But now ys fulfylled þe prophecye Line 10961 Þat, sorë wepyng, seyþ Isaye, "Ryȝt swych shal be þe prest [[6 syllables]]

As þe lewed man lyue, þou sest." Line 10964

lytyl kan lasse þe lewed man þan some of þesë prestës kan. who ȝyuen hem more to worldly þyng þan prestës do, for alle here prechyng?

ȝyf he be clerk, and euyl dous, [folio 73a] Line 10969 Of hym ys nat to make no rous. what vayleþ to vndyrstonde þe lettyr, And hys lyfe be neuer þe bettyr? Line 10972 Alle þat clergye, y telle it but lore, when he lyueþ neuer þe bettyr þer-fore.

But how seyþ Salamon yn hys spellyng, "wo þe land, þere chylde ys kyng!" Line 10976 And wo þe folk, þat kan nat lyue whan holy cherchë ys mys-ȝyue! And to þe husbonde, wo ys [ys H, om. O.] hys lyfe, þat haþ yn hys ['hys' omitted.] hous a fole to wyfe! Line 10980

ȝe lordes, do ȝe Goddes ordynaunce, And godë men ȝe shul auaunce; To gode men ȝyueþ ȝoure benefyces Line 10983 Þat kun hem kepe fro wykked vyces; Þan make ȝe gode presentëment To order of þys sacrament.

Also, haþ he wykkedly doun Þat letteþ gode mannes eleccyoun; Line 10988 'Eleccyoun' ys, 'weyl chesyng A gode man to kepe holy þyng.' Þese hyghë men do grete trespas, Þat chese nat ryȝt, alas! alas! Line 10992 Þát were wurþy, hem þey spare, And þe vnwurþy auaunced are; And, þat ys nat lytyl synne To hem þat hyt ȝyuen, and eke so wynne; Hyt may be tolde for symonye, Line 10997 For ȝyfte to auaunce þe vnwurþy.

By a tale, y may ȝow shewe þat hyt ys synne to chese a shrewe; Line 11000 And ȝyt ys he yn wers entent, þat letteþ gode mannes auauncëment.

Seynt Gregory telleþ þarfore a tale [A tale.] þat telþ many one, what grete and smale, he telleþ mo hymself a-lone, Line 11005 þan alle þe doctours do echone.

[The Tale of Paschasius's Punish|ment for not agreeing to the Election of the best Man for Pope.]

Yn þe cherche of Rome, he telleþ þus, [folio 73a:2] A dekene was þat hyghte Pascasyus, Line 11008 A man of almës þan was he, Þat ofte of þe porë had pyte; Þat yche tyme was elleccyone To chese here pope, as er [ere.] was wone. Line 11012

Twey men were yn choys to take, Oþer Laurence, oþer [or.] Symake; hys felaus alle, Symakus chese, So þat Laurence hys voys lese; Line 11016 Pascasyus graunted neuer þartyl, But chese Laurence at hys owne wyl; He repented hym neuer noȝt, But yn Laurencë stode hys þoȝt. Line 11020

Yn þys popes tyme, syre Symakus, Deyde þe dekene Pascasyus: Þys dekene was an holy man, As yn þe cuntre þe famë ran, Line 11024 And dyd þys myrácle, as ȝe mowe [may.] here: A wode man touched on hys bere, And a party of hys cloþyng,

And a-none he hadde botenyng. Line 11028

longë, aftyr þat þys was, Fyl of þys dekene a merueylous kas; For þere besydë, yn a paþ was a wasshyng, at an hote baþ; Line 11032 'Termes' men calle þat watyr wasshele, For many one had þerat here hele.

Þus þe holy bysshope seynt Germyne Com þedyr to be wasshe þer-ynne; Line 11036 Þere fonde he þys dekene Pascas, And at þe [þat.] watyr seruyng was: Þys bysshope merueyled yn hys þoȝt, wheþer hyt were Pascas or noȝt; Line 11040 At þe laste, seynt Germyne seyde "Art þou nat Pascas þat deyde, Þat we helde a man holy?" "Ȝys," seyd Pascas, "hyt am y; Line 11044 And at þys water, serue y þus, [folio 73b] For y graunted neuer [nat.] to Symakus, But to Laurence, with alle my myȝt, Þat was nat so gode yn Goddys syȝt; Line 11048 y ne repented yn alle my hope, [nat in al myn hope.] For y wulde haue hadde hym pope. But wuldest þou prey for me, Germyne, y shulde come sone oute of þys pyne; Line 11052 And þat [þat O, om. H.] mayst þou wete yn þys manere, Ȝyf þou fynde me no more here."

Þe bysshope Germyne, home he ȝede, And preyd to God for hys mysdede. Line 11056 Þe nextë tyme þat he come þore, Of Pascas, sagh he no more.

Lokë, [Lokeþ.] lordes, how ȝe mysdo, Þat eleccyoun dystroubleþ [dystourbleþ.] so; Line 11060 For a ȝyfte, or a presént,

Ȝe suffre holy cherche to [to H, om. O.] be shent; Ȝourë synnë shal be greuous, whan þys dekene Pascasyus, Line 11064 For so lytyl, to purgatorye ȝede, For whom was shewed myrácle yn dede.

Aȝens God, he ys nat quyte, Þat suffreþ for hys owne profyte, Line 11068 Holy cherche, wrongly be ȝyue To þo men þat wykkedly lyue; Þey shul be a-couped of tresoun, As traytours yn eleccyoun; Line 11072 Many shul go a deuyl wey, Or be encumbred or [ar.] þey dey.

Ȝyt shal y telle, among þese talys, A tale þat now late fyl yn Wales: Line 11076 yn þe tyme of seynt Dauy Fyl þys þyng, a grete ferly.

[A Tale of Warning against buying Bishoprics, and worshipping Bad Bishops' Bodies.]

As þe munkës shulde do werche werk þat fyl vn-to here cherche, Line 11080 As þey dalue dowun yn þe clay, Þey fonde a bysshope alle hole lay, with flesshe and blode, and hole sendal, [folio 73b:2] And, wyþ ouþer vestement alle, Line 11084 As fresshë as he were depeynt. þey wende he had be a corseynt; þey toke hym vp, euerychone, And, leyd hym vppon a stone, [a tumbe of stone.] Line 11088 And wurscheped hyt moche with-alle, For þey wende myrácles shulde falle. At hygh feste tymës of þe ȝere Þey ensensed þe body as [as H O,? for 'at.'] þe hygh autere.

A nyȝt, whan þe sekesteyn yn bede was leyd, Line 11093 Hym þoȝt one come, and to hym seyd,

"Ensense þe body no more so, Ne do no wurschep þar-vnto." Line 11096

Þe sekesteyn, for alle þat defense, Ȝyt he ȝaue þe body ensense. Anouþer nyȝt, fór þat same, Efte þe sekesteyn he gan blame, Line 11100 and seyd, "holde hyt no more yn prys, þat yche body, þat þere lys." þe munkë seyd, "telle me why þat he to wurschep [to be wrshepede.] ne ys wurþy." Line 11104 "loke to morne, and þou mayst wyte what lyþ yn hys mytyr wryte."

þe munkë ros vp on þe morne, And, fonde yn hys mytyr horne Line 11108 Þesë verse wryte on a scrowe, For þat he shulde þe bettyr trowe: Þese are þo ychë twey verse, Þat to holynes are reuers, Line 11112 Quem lapis ille tegit, sandalia viliter emit; Estuat in baratro, pessimus ille latro. "he þat þys stone hyleþ one [on.] lyche, wykkedly boȝt hys bysshopryche. Line 11116 yn helle he welleþ pynë [yn pyne.] grefe, For alþerwerst [alþerwest.] þan was he þefe."

Alþerwerst [alþerwest.] þen shal hem be, Þat for mede come to dygnyte. Line 11120 hyt ys nat to speke, ne to ['to' omitted.] preche, [folio 74a] Þe clergye werche [wercheþ.] moche aftyr wreche.

Ne þou shalt no dedë werche, Noþer to iangle, yn holy cherche; Line 11124 Namely yn tyme of holy feste, Þán shuldë men iangle leste. Þat tyme make many one, gaderyng yn holy cherche of ydul þyng; Line 11128 And of alle shalt þou ȝelde acounte, To whos godenesse hyt shuld amounte. y haue touched of þys [swych.] outrage

whan y spake of sacrylage. [[p. 292]] Line 11132

Ne þou oghtes [oghtest.] nat to be enchesun To sturble mannys deuocyoun. Ȝyf þou ne wylte Goddes seruyse here, lette none ouþer of here preyere; Line 11136 Fole ys, þat foly þat ['þat' omitted.] wyl nat drede, And more þat letteþ alle oþer gode dede. Ryȝt so [so O, om. H.] seyþ Salamon þe wyse, Vs alle of foly to [for to.] chastyse. Line 11140

Clerk to bete, or handes on ley yn vyolence, hyt ys grete eye; Hyt longeþ to þys sacrament Þurgh bysshopës commaundëment; Line 11144 yn sacrylagë þer y spake, [[p. 280]] y touched of þat ychë lak; And yn þe ten commaundëmens, [[p. 72, 77]] y wene y touched of þys defens; Line 11148 Þarforë, now hyt ys beste, Of þys sacrament to reste.

God grauntë þesë lordynges, weyl to do yn allë þynges, Line 11152 And late hem neuer here soulës lese For no wrongës [no wrons O, wronges H.] þat þey chese!

[Of the Sixth Sacrament,—Marriage.]

The syxte sacrament ys matrymony, Þére hyt ys do ryȝtwusly; Line 11156 God comaundeþ yn hys boke Þat man shuldë hyt weyl loke; For he stabled hyt yn paradys, [folio 74a:2] hyt ys holde yn þe morë prys; Line 11160 And yn Kana [kana of.] Galyle He turnede water yn wyne to be.

Aȝens þys ychë sacrament

Do many onë verrement; Line 11164 yn þys, do þo men ful ylle, Þat wedden any aȝens here wylle; Here wyl behoueþ to-gedyr consente, Are þe prest do þe sacrament. Line 11168

Ne þou ne shalt [not] do þy myȝt þat two be weddyd with vnryȝt. Synne þou wystest þat þey shulde noȝt with no skyl togedyr be broȝt, Line 11172 Þou synnest moche þurgh þys resun, For þey mow neuer be weyl vndoun.

Ne þou shalt nat, for no gode— þoȝt [Þogh.] hyt be þyn ownë blode— Line 11176 Dysturble hyt þere hyt oȝt to be, Ȝyf þey haue do hére wyl fre.

Ȝyf þou wost þe soþe of euery deyl, Line 11179 Þat two are weddyd, and oȝt nat weyl, But þou shewe hyt, þou dost grete synne To one þat may do bote þer-ynne; For, þus ys þe gospel sawe, And þe same seyþ [seyþ þe.] landës lawe, Line 11184 'Þat who so consenteþ to a þefe, Euene peyne shul þey [þey shul.] haue grefe.'

Of foly trouþës þat are ȝyue, Þare-of byfore y haue ȝow shryue; Line 11188 Y haue tolde hyt as y couþe, How men falsen here trouþes with mouþe; whan y spake of lecherye, [[p. 234]] Y spakë þer of þat foly, Line 11192 And yn þe syxtë commaundment [[p. 58]] Þere spekþ hyt of þys asent; Þarfore nedeþ me nat here To spekë more of þys matere; Line 11196 But, y pray euery man [folio 74b] þat hys crystendom loueþ, or kan,

Þat þey neuer swych þyng graunte, Two to wedde of fals cunnaunte; Line 11200 For many come neuer yn wedlak But for þe fyrst cunnaunt þat men spak.

Also, for men by-hete hem largely, Are chyldryn wedded ofte for-þy; Line 11204 For þyr are many wedded for gode, And for no stedfast loue of blode, And, þat ys no [no O, þe H.] ryȝt weddyng; Hyt quemeþ nat to heuene kyng. Line 11208 Many one weddeþ euery deyl For þe loue of syre kateyl; whan hyt ys go, and ys alle bare, þan ys þe weddyng sorowe & kare; Line 11212 loue ande catel þan ys awey, And 'welaweye' þey cry and sey.

And ȝe men þat brekyn cunnaunte, Ȝe selfe falsen þat ȝe fyrst graunte; Line 11216 Þan ys weddelak þurgh ȝow shent, Þat was þe fyrst sacrament; Ȝe shende hyt wyþ ȝoure fals behetyng, And þey noȝt weddë but þe þyng; Line 11220 So, betwyxe fals and coueytous, ys welaweyë broȝt to hous. Of þys myȝt men mochë speke, But leuer ys me my mouþe to steke Line 11224 Þan y spak oȝt oute of skore, For sone y myȝt be blamed þarfore. God ȝyue hem grace, þo þat shul wedde, Yn ryȝt wedlak be broȝt to bedde; Line 11228 And delyuer hem of here wyues Þat oute of skyle chyden and stryues!

[Of the Seventh Sacrament,—Aneylyng or Extreme Unction.]

Now of þe seuenþe sacrament: Line 11231 Þese clerkys kalle hyt 'oynament,' On Englys hyt ys 'anelyng' whan man shal make hys endyng;

Seynt Iamë stable[d] hyt for to be [folio 74b:2] A sacrament þurgh crystyanyte. Line 11236

Ȝyf þou aske hyt wyþ gode wyl, Of wykked gostes gest [getest.] þou noun yl, Ne þe fende haþ no powere þy body for to comë nere. Line 11240 Ȝyf þou of dedly synne be shryue, þo þat are venyal beþ þe forȝyue; þou mayst þan sykerly go þy weye, what tyme as euer þat þou shalt deye.

Ȝe þat loue þys sacrament, Line 11245 Here mowe ȝe lerne, ȝyueþ gode entent. Þat tymë þat [Þou trowest þat.] þou shalt wende, And draghest vn-to þy lyuës ende, Line 11248 Þou shalt aske deuoutëly Anelyng to þy body; Þoȝt [Þogh.] hyt be broȝt redy to þe, Asked behoueþ hyt algate be. Line 11252

Ȝyf þou vnwetyng hyt haue, hyt helpeþ þe nat so moche to saue As ȝyf þou asked [askedest.] hyt by name; Þus seyþ þe apostle seynt Iame; Line 11256 For whan þou askest hyt with gode wyl, Þou mekyst þe þan to fulfyl Þe sacramentes of holy cherche with beleue, and gostely to werche; Line 11260 Þan ys holy cherche holde þurgh ryȝt To pray for þe boþe day and nyȝt.

Hyt ys to be holde yn prys, [yn gret prys.] For hyt saueþ man on twey partys; Line 11264 Þe soule hyt bryngeþ to saluacyoun, And for hele of body hyt ys doun.

But many one þus hope and seye, 'Anele hem nat but þey shulde deye; Line 11268 For ȝyf he turne aȝen to lyfe, He shulde lygge no more [no more lygge.] by hys wyfe.' Al þo þat beleueþ þys,

wykkedly þey beleue [beleueþ.] a-mys. Line 11272 Holy cherche makeþ no menyng, [folio 75a] For swyche þyng defende anelyng; But yn euery an euyl strong— lygge þou shortë whyle or long— Line 11276 Þou shalt aske þys sacrament, with gode wyl and gode entent, Syn hyt auayleþ but lyghtly But hyt be asked derwurly. [derwrþely.] Line 11280

Þy gode wyl shal stonde for oght, Ȝyf þou hyt aske, and haue hyt noȝt; For some are now a-lyue þou seest, And dede are he may haue þe preste; Þarfore, askë hyt be tyme, Line 11285 For, deþ cumþ now as yn swyme; yn euery sykenes, aske hyt al-weys; God almyȝty ys ryȝt curteys, Line 11288 he seeþ þy wyl, what þou wuldest [wst.] haue, Hys mercy ys þe more þe to saue.

Ihesu, y þanke þe of þy grace, Þat hast lent me [me lent.] wyt and space, Line 11292 Þys yn Englys for to drawe, As holy men haue seyd yn sawe; For lewed men hyt may auayle, For hem y tokë þys trauayle. Line 11296

Of þys sacrament wyl y blynne; Of shryfte, to telle, y wyl bygynne; God ȝyue me gracë so to seye, Of shryfte to shewë þe ryȝt weye, [shewe ryghtly weye.] Line 11300 Þat we receyue, are we be went, with-outë synne, þys sacrament.

Here bygynneþ shryfte.

[prolog]

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

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—

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;

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

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; Line 11380

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

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; Line 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

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,

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,

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;

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.

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

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,

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,

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.] Line 11669 And knew [knegh.] hym self a wykked man,

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.'

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

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. Line 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, Line 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

Line 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."

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

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;

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;

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,

To-gedyr mow þey neuer be. [neuer mowe þey be.] Line 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,

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,

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

Þat þou lostest with þy wanlace. Line 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.

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

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.

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; Line 12140

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] Line 12164 So moche he hadde of Goddys grace,

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,

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;

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. Line 12252

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

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.

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

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,

But of Goddys mercy he hadde none affy|aunce. Line 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,

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,

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; Line 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,

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;

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.

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

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,

"I do hem þenkë þan ful tyte. Line 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,

"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!