The lanterne of lizt, ed. from ms. Harl. 2324 / by Lilian M. Swinburn.

Of þe fendis cautels bi whiche he pursueþ in hise membris.̉ þe kepers of Goddis heestis ‖ Capitulum .XII^m.. ‖

The yuel part of þis chirche.̉ schal neuer cese/ wiþ þe malice [folio 76b] þat þei may.̉ to purswe good lyuars/ But for hise chosen children.̉ God schal abrege/ þe daies of her woodnes.̉ & þat schal

men wel knowe/ as seint Ion seiþ to þe chirche.̉ & ȝyueþ it good counfort/ Apoc. ii^o. 'Nichil horum timeas que passurus es/ Ecce missurus est diabolus ex vobis in carcerem & habebitis tribulacionem diebus decem. esto fidelis vsque ad mortem & dabo tibi coronam vite/ qui habet aures audiendi audiat quid spiritus dicat ecclesijs/ qui vicerit a morte secunda non ledetur' [Vulg. Apoc. ii. 10, 11 'Nihil horum timeas quae passurus es ... diabolus aliquos ex vobis in carcerem, ut tentemini, et habebitis ... qui habet aurem,' etc.] / Drede þou not þoo þingis.̉ þat þou arte for to suffre/ Lo þe deuel is for to sende.̉ of ȝou into þe prisoun/ & ȝe schal haue tribulacioun.̉ ten daies bidene/ Be þou feiþful to þe deeþ.̉ & I schal ȝyue to þee a croune of lijf/ he þat haþ eeris of heering heere he.̉ what þe spirit seiþ to þe chirchis/ who þat haþ ouercomen.̉ schal not be hirt of þe secounde deeþ [W. V. 'Drede thou no thing of thes whiche thou art to suffringe. Lo! the deuel is to sendinge summe of ȝou in to prisoun, that ȝe be temptid; and ȝe shulen haue tribulacioun in ten dayes. Be thou feithful unto the deeth, and I shal ȝiue to thee a coroun of lijf. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to the chirchis. He that shal ouercome, shal not be hirt of the secounde deeth.'] ‖ vndirstonde þou bi þis deuel.̉ alle þe yuel peple/ þat schal purswe good lyuars.̉ vnto þe worldis ende/ sumtyme more sumtyme lesse.̉ wiþ diuerse peynes of turmentrie ‖ And vndirstonde þou bi þise ten daies.̉ þe ten comaundementis/ [folio 77a] for þei ben lyȝt of mannes witt.̉ in dercknes of þis world/ as þe dai passiþ þe nyȝt.̉ in his cleer schynyng ‖ Of þese ten comaundementis.̉ þe fende feyneþ his accioun/ to trouble þe good of þe chirche.̉ & sende hem to þe prisoun/ And here it semeþ spedy.̉ to telle þe fendis cautells/ þat he vsiþ in hise membris.̉ aȝen Goddis heestis/ & as þe cloude in þe dai.̉ so marriþ he mannes wittis ‖

Þe firste heest ‖

The firste heeste of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. Mat. xxii^o. Mar. xiii^o [Vulg. Ex. xx. 2-6; Matt. xxii. 37; Marc. xii. 29, 30.] / 'I am þe Lord þi God. þat haue ledde þee out of þe lond of Egipt from þe hous of þraldom/ bifore me þou schalt not haue noon alien goddis. þou schalt make to þee no grauen þing. neiþir ony licknes of ony þing þat is in heuene aboue. or in erþe bineþ. or of þoo þingis þat ben in watir vndir-neþe. þou schalt not worschip hem ne loute hem ‖ I am þe Lord þi God strong loue-gelous. visiting þe wickidnes of fadris vpon sones. in to þe þridde & þe fourþe [folio 77b]

generacioun of hem þat haten me/ & I doing mercy in to þousandis. to hem þat louen me & kepen myn heestis [W. V. 'Y am the Lord thi God, that hath lad thee out of the loond of Egipte, fro the hows of thraldom. Thow shalt not haue alyen goddis before me. Thow shalt not mak to thee grauen thing, ne eny licknes that is in heuene aboue, and that is in erthe benethe, ne of hem that ben in watrys under erthe; thow shalt not anoure hem, ne herye hem; I forsothe am the Lord thi God, strong gelows, visitynge the wickidnes of fadris in sones into the thridde and the ferthe generacioun of hem that hatiden me, and doynge merci into thousyndes to hem that louen me, and kepen myn heestis.' 1388, 'Y am thi Lord God, that ladde thee out of the lond of Egipt, fro the hous of seruage. Thou schalt not haue alien goddis before me. Thou schalt not make to thee a grauun ymage. nethir ony licnesse of thing which is in heuene aboue, and which is in erthe bynethe, nether of tho thingis, that ben in watris undur erthe: thou schalt not herie tho, nether thou schalt worschipe; for Y am thi Lord God, a stronge gelouse louyere; and Y visite the wickidnesse of fadris into the thridde and fourthe generacioun of hem that haten me, and Y do mercy in to a thousynde, to hem that louen me, and kepen myn heestis.'] ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende haþ leied twoo snaris/ & in hem he caccheþ þe peple.̉ þat þei moun not scape/ but oþir þey musten graunt his wille.̉ or elles þei schal to prisoun ‖

Þe firste is clepid obedience.̉ þat þe fende chalengeþ/ cheueli to be don to him.̉ or to hise leeftenauntis/ as to prelatis or to prestis.̉ þat ben hise officeris/ and asken þis obedience.̉ what euer þei comaunde/ þat symple men obeye to hem.̉ in hiȝe & in lowe ‖ Al þis world crieþ lowid.̉ aftir þis obedience/ & seyn 'whateuer þi souereyn biddiþ.̉ þou schalt obeye þerto' ‖ Here we graunten of bileue.̉ þat we owen obedience/ to oure souereyns þat techen vs.̉ to knowe God & drede him/ ȝhe wheþir þat þei ben mynystris.̉ in þe spiritual part/ or officeris in temperalte.̉ we must obeye to hem/ in þat þat þei obei to God.̉ & lerne vs [folio 78a] þis obedi- -ence/ for þus it is writen. I. Re. xv^o. 'Numquid uult dominus holacausta aut victimas & non pocius vt obediatur voci domini? melior est enim obediencia quam victime & ascultare magis quam offerre adipem arietum quoniam quasi peccatum ariolandi est repugnare & quasi scelus ydolatrie nolle adquiescere. Pro eo ergo quod abiecisti sermonem domini.̉ abiecit te dominus ne sis rex' [Vulg. 1 Reg. xv. 22, 23.] / Samuel seide to kyng Saule. No wheþir wol þe Lord brende offryngis or sacrificis. & not raþer þat it þe obeied to þe vois of þe Lord? forsoþe obedience is betir þan sacrificis. &

myche betir it is to take hede to þe lawe.̉ þan to offre þe fattnes/ of rames/ for it is as þe synne of wichcrafte. to fiȝt aȝen God/ & as þe felonye of ydolatrie.̉ not to consent to Goddis word/ For þis cause. þerfore þat þou hast cast awey þe worde of þe Lord.̉ þe Lord haþ cast þe awey. þat þou be not kyng [W. V. 'Whether wole the Lord brent sacrifices or slayn offryngis and not more that it be obeishid to the voice of the Lord? Forsothe betre is obeishaunce than slayn sacrificis, and to take heed more than to offre the fatnes of wetheris; for as synne of denyynge bi deuelis is to repugne and as hidows trespas of mawmetrye to wiln not assent. Forthi thanne that thow hast throwen awey the word of the Lord, the Lord hath throwen awey thee, that thow be not kyng.' 1388, 'Whether the Lord wole brent sacrifices, ethir slayn sacrifices and not more that me obeie to the vois of the Lord? For obedience is betere than sacrifices, and to herkene Goddis word is more than to offre the ynnere fatnesse of rammes; for it is as the synne of mawmetrie to fiȝte aȝens Goddis heest, and it is as the wickidnesse of ydolatrie to nyle ascente to Goddis heest. Therfor for that, that thou castidest awey the word of the Lord, the Lord castide thee awei, that thou be not kyng.'] ‖ and to þis þe wise man acordiþ & seiþ. Ecci. iiii^o. 'Multo enim melior est obediencia quam stultorum victime. qui nesciunt quid faciunt mali' [Vulg. Eccles. iv. 17.] / þat is to seye. Miche betir is obedience þan sacrifice of foolis.̉ [folio 78b] for yuel folkis wot not what þei do [W. V. 'Myche betere is obeisaunce than victori sacrifises of foolis, that wite not what thei don of yuel.' 1388, 'Myche betere is obedience than the sacrifices of foolis, that witen not what yuel thei don.'] ‖ And seint Poul techiþ an open rule.̉ of þis maner obedience.̉ wiþ þe cause of souerente.̉ & knittiþ hem boþe togiddir/ Heb. vlti^o. 'Obedite prepositis vestris & subiacete eis. ipsi enim peruigilant quasi rationem pro animabus vestris reddituri' [Vulg. Heb. xiii. 17.] / þat is to seie. Obeie ȝe to ȝoure souereyns.̉ & vndirloute ȝe to hem/ & cause whi is þis. forsoþe þei walken perfiȝtli. as for to ȝelde a reckenyng for ȝoure soulis [W. V. 'Obeye ȝe to ȝoure prouostis, (or prelatis), and undirligge to hem; thei perfytly waken, asto ȝeldinge resoun for ȝoure soulis.' 1388, 'Obeie ȝe to ȝoure souereyns, and be ȝe suget to hem; for thei perfitli waken, as to ȝeldinge resoun for ȝoure soulis.'] ‖ If þis cause be taken awey.̉ obedience cesiþ þere also/ as þe philosophur seiþ 'Cessante causa.̉ cessabit officialis'/ whanne þe cause cesiþ.̉ þe spede þerof schal cese ‖ But seint Petir techiþ obedience.̉ þat we schal do to lordis/ & þat in more larger maner.̉ þan we owen to þe clergie. I. Pe. ii^o. ‖ 'Serui subdite estote in omni timore dominis. non tantum bonis & modestis. sed

etiam discolis' [Vulg. 1 Pet. ii. 18.] / þat is to seie. Seruauntis be ȝe suget in al drede to ȝoure temperal lordis/ & not oonli to good & to esy lordis. [folio 79a] þat is to seie. in loue. but also to tyrauntis. þat is to seie. in pacience/ But fendis lymes feynen hem.̉ to be on Cristis siȝde/ & to do correcciouns.̉ aftir Cristis wille/ & seyn þei aske obedience.̉ to amende soulis/ whanne þei do þis þing in dede.̉ þat þei here speken/ þanne we schal obeie to hem.̉ & ellis we schal answere/ as Petir seide to bischopis.̉ & prestis of þe lawe/ Act. v^o./ 'Obedire oportet deo magis quam hominibus' [Vulg. Act. v. 29.] ‖ It bihoueþ more to obeie to God.̉ þan to men/ Seint Ierom seiþ. If þe prelat or þe lord.̉ bidde ony þink/ þat accordiþ to Goddis wille.̉ obeie þou þanne to hem/ If þei bidde þe contrarie.̉ to God & to his lawe/ þanne seie þus. I must raþer obeie to þe lord of þe soule.̉ þan to þe lord of þe bodi/ for Crist seiþ. Mat. x^o. Luk xii^o. 'Nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus animam autem non possunt occidere sed pocius timete eum qui potest animam & corpus perdere in gehennam [Vulg. Matt. x. 28.] / Ita dico vobis hunc timete' [Vulg. Luc. xii. 5.] / þat is to seie. Nile ȝe drede hem þat slen þe bodi.̉ forsoþe þei may not slee þe soule/ but raþer drediþ him. þat mai lese boþe bodi [folio 79b] & soule.̉ in to þe pitt of helle/ þus I seie to ȝou.̉ drede ȝe him/ and seint [MS. sein.] Gregor seiþ. þis forseide rule of obedience.̉ schal be streiȝtli kept/ in children to her parentis.̉ in seruauntis to her lordis/ in clerkis to her maistris.̉ in prestis to her prelatis ‖ And if we passe þis rule.̉ in doing of obedience/ þanne we ben vnbuxum to God.̉ & folowars of Lucifer ‖

Þe secounde trappe of þe fende.̉ is clepid pilgrimage/ But miche raþer it schulde be seide.̉ þe outrage of folis/ for pilgrimage in due forme.̉ is euere-more good ‖ Þe peyntour makiþ an ymage.̉ forgid wiþ diuerse colours/ til it seme in foolis iȝen.̉ as a lyueli creature ‖ Þis is sett in þe chirche.̉ in a solempne place/ fast bounden wiþ boondis.̉ for it schulde not falle/ Prestis of þe temple.̉ bigilen þe peple/ wiþ þe foule synne of Balaam.̉ in her open preching ‖ Þei seyn þat Goddis powere.̉ in worching of hise miraclis/ loweþ doun in oo ymage.̉ more þan in anoþir/ & þerfore cum & offre to þis.̉ for here is schewid miche vertu ‖ Lord hou [folio 80a] dar þise fendis for drede þus blasfem her God/ & vse þe synne

of Palaam.̉ þat Goddis lawe haþ dampned/ siþen Crist & hise seyntis.̉ forsoke þis worldis welþe/ & lyueden a pore lijf.̉ as oure bileue techiþ/ whi gedre ȝe prestis richesses.̉ bi ȝoure peyntid ymages/ to make ȝoure silf worldli riche.̉ in spoiling of þe peple? And ȝit ȝe do miche werre.̉ & þat is knowen in parti/ for boþe ȝe & ȝoure consentours.̉ þus doyng ben verry ydolatreris/ as seint Poul seiþ. Rom. i^o. 'Dicentes se esse sapientes stulti facti sunt & mutauerunt gloriam incorruptibilis dei in similitudinem ymaginis corruptibilis hominis' [Vulg. Rom. i. 22, 23.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Þis peple seiyng hem silf to be wijs.̉ þei ben made foolis/ for þei han chaungid þe glorie of God.̉ þat mai not be defoulid/ in to þe licknes of mannes ymage.̉ þat mai be defoilid [W. V. 'Sothli thei seynge hem selue for to be wyse men ben maad foolis. And thei chaungiden the glorie of God uncorruptible, (that may not deie, ne be peirid) in to the lyknesse of an ymage of coruptible man.' 1388, 'For thei seiynge that that hem silf weren wise, thei weren maad foo is. And thei chaungiden the glorie of God uncorruptible in to the licnesse of an ymage of a deedli man.'] / as Poul seiþ. whanne þei knewe þe riȝtwisenes of God.̉ þei wolde not vndirstande/ þat þei þat don suche þingis.̉ ben worþi þe deeþ/ Not oonli þe doars.̉ but also þei þat consenten to þe yuel doars/ For God seiþ. þou [folio 80b] schalt neiþir worschip hem ne loute hem/ for þou schalt neiþir do sacrifice to ymage.̉ ne offryng/ & þat meneþ God whanne he seiþ.̉ þou schalt not worschip hem. wiþ no godli worschip/ but þat þei be treweli peyntid.̉ as nyȝ as man may/ to brynge to mynde as Gregor seiþ.̉ þe passioun of Iesu Crist/ & martirdam of seyntis.̉ as lewid mennes bookis ‖ But seint Austin seiþ. vpon al wise þei han discerued to erre.̉ þat seeken God & hise seyntis/ not in bookis.̉ but in peyntid wowis seiþ seint Austin ‖ Þou schalt not vowe to þise ymagis.̉ þou schalt not seke þise ymagis/ þou schalt not swere bi hem. neiþir knele to hem. ne kisse hem/ neiþir putt feiþ hope ne trist in oo ymage.̉ more þan in anoþir/ and þus meneþ God whanne he seiþ.̉ þou schalt not loute hem

But trewe pilgrimage.̉ is don on sixe maneres ‖ Firste we ben pilgrimes.̉ whanne þat we ben born/ as þe comune glose seiþ.̉ vpon Genesis ‖ 'Omnis ciuis patrie celestis per- -egrinus [folio 81a] est mundi toto tempore vite presentis/' Euery citizen of þe heuenli countre.̉ is a pilgrime of þis world. for al tyme of þis

present lijf/ And whanne we traueilen sore.̉ to kepe Goddis heestis/ þanne we done oure pilgrimage.̉ as þe prophete seiþ/ Ps. cxviii. 'Cantabiles michi erant iustificaciones tue in loco peregrinacionis me' [Vulg. Ps. cxviii. 54.] ‖ Lord þi comaundementis weren my songis.̉ in tyme of my pilgrimage [W. V. 'Chauntable weren to me thi iustefiyngus: in the place of my pilgrimaging.' 1388, 'Thi iustifiyngis weren delitable to me to be sungen: in the place of my pilgrimage.'] ‖

Þe secounde tyme we ben pilgrimes.̉ whanne we gon to chirche/ as it is writen. Luk. xxiiii^o./ 'Tu solus peregrinus es in Ierusalem &c' [Vulg. Luc. xxiv. 18.] / whanne we don in þe chirche.̉ in forme as God haþ tauȝt vs/ þanne we do oure pilgrimage.̉ for þus seiþ seint Luk/ Lucas. ii^o. 'Cum factus esset Iesu annorum. xii. &c.;' [Vulg. Luc. ii. 42.] /

Þe þridde tyme we ben pilgrimes.̉ whanne we visiten þe nedi/ & whanne we delen almes-dede.̉ we don oure pilgrimage/ Luk. xiiii^o. 'Exi cito in plateas & vicos ciuitatis & pauperes ac debiles cecos & claudos introduc huc' [Vulg. Luc. xiv. 21.] / Go þou forþe anoon.̉ in to [folio 81b] stretis & weies & bring in to þin hous/ þise þre maner of peple.̉ pore feble. pore blynde. & pore crokid [W. V. 'Go out soone in to grete stretis and smale streetis of the citee, and brynge in hidur pore men, and feble, and blynde, and crokid.' 1388, 'Go out swithe in to the grete stretis and smal stretis of the citee, and brynge ynne hidir pore men, and feble, blynde, and crokid.'] ‖

Þe fourþe tyme prestis ben pilgrimes.̉ þat studien holi writ/ til þei haue plente in her mynde.̉ of þis heuenli wisdam/ and þanne þei hiȝen hem fast aboute.̉ in al þe brood world/ to dele þis goostli tresour.̉ among þis witles peple/ þat is in poynt to spille for hunger.̉ in wanting goostli teching/ as it is writen. III. Ion. Karissime fideliter agis quicquid operaris in fratres & hoc in peregrinos' [Vulg. 3 Joh. i. 5 'Charissime, fideliter facis,' etc.] ‖ Dere frende þou doist feiþfulli.̉ what euer þou doist to oure briþeren/ & namli in to pilgrimes [W. V. 'Moost dere, thou doist feithfully, what euer thou werchist in to britheren, and this thing in to pilgrimys.' 1388, 'Most dere brother, thou doist feithfuli, what euer thou worchist in britheren, and that in to pilgrymys.'] .̉ þat prechen þe gospel/ & ben apaied where þei cum.̉ wiþ pore symple lyulood‖

Þe fifþe tyme þo ben pilgrimes.̉ þat wonnen in a toune/ where

is noþir prest ne lord.̉ to teche hem ne to rule hem/ and þanne þei gon vnto þe place.̉ where þei may be tauȝt/ & rulid vndir gouerneaunce.̉ þis is her [MS. þis is is her.] pilgrimage/ as it is writen Genesis. xii^o. xx^o. & xxvi^o. [Vulg. Gen. xii. 4-9, xx. 1, xxvi. 17.] Þer is non oþir pilgrimage.̉ þat mai plese God/ outtake þis þat we haue seide.̉ al holi writ beriþ witnes/ For [folio 82a] whanne þe bodi is leide in graue.̉ & þe soule forþe passid/ to blisse oþir peyne wheþir þat it be.̉ þanne þe sixte is ended ‖

Þe .II. heest ‖

Þe secounde comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. 'Non assumes nomen dei tui in uanum. nec enim habebit dominus insontem eum.̉ qui assumpserit nomen dei sui frustra' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 7.] / þat is to seie. þou schalt not take þe name of þi God in veyn/ forsoþe þe Lord schal not haue him clene.̉ þat haþ taken þe name of God in veyn [W. V. 'Thou schalt not tak the name of the Lord thi God in veyn, ne forsothe the Lord shal haue innocent hym, that takith the name of the Lord his God in ydel.' 1388, 'Thou schalt not take in veyn the name of thi Lord God, for the Lord schal not have hym giltles, that takith in veyn the name of his Lord God.'] / and Crist seiþ in his gospel. Mat. v^o./ 'Ego autem dico uobis non iurare omnino. neque per celum quia thronus dei est/ neque per terram. quia scabellum pedum eius est/ neque per Ierusalem. quia ciuitas est regis magni/ neque per caput [MS. capud.] tuum iuraueris. quia non potes vnum capillum album facere aut nigrum/ Sit autem sermo uester. est est. non non' [Vulg. Matt. v. 34-6.] ‖ Forsoþe I seie to ȝou.̉ not swere on ony wise/ neiþir bi heuene.̉ for it is þe trone of God/ neiþir bi þe erþe.̉ for it is þe stool of his feet/ neiþir bi Ierusalem.̉ for it is þe cite of a greet kyng/ neiþir bi þi heed.̉ for þou maist not make a heer whiȝt or blak/ [folio 82b] forsoþe be ȝoure worde ȝhe ȝhe nay nay.̉ wiþ herte & mouþe acording [W. V. 'Forsothe Y say to ȝou, to nat swere on al manere: neither by heuene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heued, for thou maist not make oon heer whyt, or blak; but be ȝoure word ȝea, ȝea; nay, nay.'] ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe deuel in hise membris/ constreynen men for to swere.̉ & leie her hand on bookis/ & þanne he puttiþ hem to open schame.̉ & if þei leeue his bidding/ he seiþ bi lawe þei ben relaps.̉ & þanne þei schal be brent/ And þis is an hidouse cloude.̉ vpon þis schynful dai/ to peyne men for keping of Goddis comaundement/ for seynt Austin seiþ vpon þe gospel. 'Christus quod perfectus est docuit. quod infirmitatis est indulsit/ quod supersticiosum est resecauit. perfeccionis est non iurare omnino/ infirmitatis iurare conpulsi sed supersticionis iurare inaniter' Hec Augustinus om. 6/ þat is to seie. Crist haþ tauȝt þat þing.̉ þat is more perfiȝt/ þat þing þat is of infirmite.̉ he haþ suffrid/ þat þing þat is supersticiouse.̉ he haþ kitte awey ‖ It is of perfeccioun.̉ not to swere in ony manere/ It is of infirmite.̉ to swere constreyned/ but it is of supersticioun.̉ to swere veynli/ [folio 83a] for þe vise man seiþ.̉ Sap. xiiii^o. 'Non enim iuramentum est virtus sed peccancium pena perambulat semper iniustorum preuaricacionem' [Vulg. Sap. xiv. 31 'Non enim iuratorum virtus,' etc.] / Þat is to seie. Sweryng is no vertu.̉ but peyne of synnars [W. V. 'Forsothe of men swerende is not vertue, but the peyne of synneres.' 1388, 'Forwhi an ooth is not vertu, but the peyne of synneris.'] / eiþir of hem þat wole not ȝyue credence.̉ but if men swere/ or ellis of hem.̉ þat sweren wiþouten cause/ and þerfore seint Ion Crisostom.̉ [S. Ioan. Chrysostomus, Homilia XII (Opera, ed. 1547, tom. ii, col. 819).] blameþ prestis/ for þei bringen forþe bookis.̉ to compelle þe peple for to swere on hem.̉ & askiþ þis questioun ‖ wheþir is not he þat settiþ an hous on brennyng. gilti of þis brennyng? wheþir is not he þat bringiþ a swerid. wiþ whiche manslauȝtir is don.̉ gilti of þis manslauȝtir? So þei þat bryngen forþe bookis. on whiche men forsweren hem.̉ ben gilti of þis forswering/ and he seiþ. If þis peple wil seie þe soþe wiþouten ony ooþ.̉ wherto schulde þei swere/ & if þei suppose þei wole seie fals.̉ whi schulde þei compelle hem to forswere hem? & so þe greetnesse of synne.̉ stondiþ cheeuli in suche ordinarijs/ eiþir seculere or spirituel.̉ as þis doctour proueþ/ not accepting purgacioun.̉ [folio 83b] wiþouten suche ooþis and of þis sweryng comeþ wickidnes.̉ and Goddis greuouse veniaunce/ as þe wise man seiþ. Eccles. xxiii^o. 'Vir multum iurans implebitur iniquitate.̉ & a domo eius

non discedet plaga' [Vulg. Ecclesiasticus xxiii. 12.] / þat is to seie. A man miche swering schal be fillid of wickidnes.̉ & veniaunce schal not go from his hous ‖ ȝit enemyes purswen aȝen þis comaundement/ & seyn þat Crist him silf swore.̉ & hise seintis boþe/ swere bi þis book þou obstinat man.̉ or ellis þou schalt to prisoun/ Þou schalt swere in oure courte.̉ bicause of þin infirmite/ as seint Austin haþ tauȝt.̉ whanne þou art constreyned [Augustinus, De Sermone Domini, Lib. I, c. 30; Gratian, Decreti Pars Secunda, causa xxii, quaest. i, cap. v (Migne, tom. 187, col. 1123).] ‖ To þis we seyn þat Iesu Crist.̉ forbediþ on alwise swering/ bi ony of þise foure þingis.̉ þat he him silf rehersiþ/ þat is to seie. heuene or erþe.̉ eiþir bi Ierusalem or bi þin owene heed ‖ And whanne þise foure ben outaken.̉ wiþ al þat is in hem/ ȝe schal not grounde ȝoure viciouse sweryng.̉ til þat heuene be fallen ‖ To þis þat seint Austin seiþ.̉ þou schalt swere compellida/ we graunten wel aforne a iugge.̉ if ellis men wollen not tro- -we vs ‖ But neiþir on bookis schullen we [folio 84a] swere.̉ neiþir bi Goddis creaturis/ but aftir þe forme þat God haþ tauȝt.̉ bi Ieremye þe prophet/ Iere. iiii^o. 'Iurabis viuit dominus in veritate & in iudicio & in iusticia' [Vulg. Jer. iv. 2.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Þou schalt swere.̉ þe Lord lyueþ. in trouþe & in doome & in riȝtwisenesse ‖ Þe Lord lyueþ. is to mene bi God. or bi þin holidom. or bi þi trowþe ‖ Þis schalt þou not swere.̉ but wiþ þre condiciouns‖ Þe firste is trouþe in þe conscience of him þat sweriþ.̉ wiþouten ony gile ‖ Þe secounde þat it be in dom.̉ to exclude al maner of idel & veyn sweryng ‖ Þe þridde. þat it be in riȝtwisenes & in no maner disceyte.̉ ne hyndring to oure neiȝbour. ne discording fro þe riȝtwisenes of God ‖ But we mai in no case swere bi bookis.̉ as we han seide aforne/ neiþir bi lyueli creaturis.̉ as bi seyntis or ony suche oþir ‖ For þe wise man seiþ. Ecclesi. xxiii^o. 'Nominibus sanctorum non assuescas os tuum' [Vulg. Ecclesiasticus xxiii. 9, 10 'Iurationi non assuescas os tuum ... nominatio vero Dei non sit assidua in ore tuo, et nominibus sanctorum non admiscearis.'] ‖ Þat is to seie. Custum þou not þi mouþ.̉ to sweryng bi names of seyntis/ for Crisostom seiþ.

[folio 84b] om. 12. 'Qui iurat per creaturam committit ydolatriam'‖ Iterum. 'qui iurat per creaturas. duppliciter peccat & si iurare liceret. primo. quia iurat/ secundo quia deificat/ quia quicquid est per quod quis iurat deificat illud' [S. Ioan. Chrysostomus, Homilia XII (Opera, ed. 1547, tom. ii, col. 819).] ‖ Þat is to seie. He þat sweriþ bi a creature.̉ doiþ ydolatrie/ he þat sweriþ bi creatures.̉ synneþ duble foold/ ȝhe þouȝ it were so.̉ þat sweryng leeful/ oones. for he sweriþ/ anoþir tyme. for he makiþ him a fals god/ for what euer it be þat a man sweriþ bi.̉ þat þing he makiþ his god ‖ Lord hou manye men & wymmen.̉ maken hem fals goddis/ siþen wel nyȝ al þis world haþ in custum.̉ to swere bi oo seynt or bi oþir/ Certis þise forseide enemyes ben cheef cause.̉ of suche blasfemouse sweryng/ what wiþ her sclaundris.̉ & sumtyme wiþ sore punysching/ & freel peple kunnen not stonde.̉ but ȝelden hem to þise fendis tempting ‖

Þe .III. heest/

Þe þridde comaundement of God is þis. Exodi. xx^o. 'Memento vt diem sabbati sanctifices. vi. diebus operaberis & facies opera tua. septimo autem die sabbati domini dei tui est. Non facies [folio 85a] omne opus tu & filius tuus & filia tua & seruus tuus et ancilla tua iumentum tuum & aduena qui est intra portas tuas. vi. diebus fecit deus celum & terram & mare & omnia que in eis sunt. & requieuit in die septimo/ Iccirco benedixit deus diei sabbati & sanctificauit illud' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 8-11 'Memento ... facies omnia opera tua ... Non facies omne opus in eo, tu et filius tuus ... Sex enim diebus,' etc.] / Þat is to seie. Haue mynde þat þou halowe þin halidai. In .vi. daies þou schalt worche.̉ & do alle þin owne werkis/ forsoþe þe seuenþe dai. is þe sabot of þi Lord. þou schalt not do ony seruyle werk/ þise .vi. schal kepe þis holidai/ þi sone & þi douȝter/ þi seruaunt & þin handmayde/ þi beest & þi straunger þat is wiþynne þi ȝatis ‖ In .vi. daies God mad heuene & erþe & þe see. & alle þingis þat ben in hem.̉ & he restid in þe seuenþe dai/ þerfore God blessid þe dai of þe saboth.̉ & made it holi [W. V. 'Haue mynde to halwe thin holy day; sixe daies thow shalt worche and doon alle thi werkis; the seuenthe forsothe dai is the haliday of the Lord thi God; thow shalt not doon al werk, thow, and thi sone, and thi dowȝter, and thi seruaunt, and thin handmayden thi beeste, and comlyng that is with ynne thi ȝatis; sixe forsothe daies God made heuene and erthe, the see, and alle thingis that ben in hem, and he restide the seuenthe day; therfore the Lord blisside to the holiday and halwide it.' 1388, 'Haue thou mynde, that thou halowe the dai of the sabat; in sixe daies thou schalt worche and schalt do alle thi werkis; forsothe in the seuenthe day is the sabat of thi Lord God; thou schalt not do ony werk, thou, and thi sone, and thi douȝtir, and thi seruaunt, and thin handmaide, thi werk beest, and the comelyng which is withynne thi ȝatis; for in sixe dayes God made heuene and erthe, the see, and alle thingis that ben in tho, and restide in the seuenthe dai; herfor the Lord blesside the dai of the sabat, and halewide it.'] /

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende in hise membris/ ȝyueþ leue to chapmen.̉ to bie & to selle/ ȝhe wiþynne þe sauntwary.̉ on þe holi sundai/ and vitileris of þe countre.̉ holden comune market ‖ ȝet se more wlatsumnes.̉ aȝens þis Goddis heest/ greet feires of þe ȝeere.̉ for þe moost partie.̉ ben sett on þe saboth dai.̉ bi þe [folio 85b] fendis counceile/ God tooke ful hidouse wreeche.̉ vpon þe children of Isrel/ whanne þei wrouȝt seruyle werke. vpon her saboth dai/ as it is writen. Exo. xxxi^o. 'Custodite sabbatum meum sanctum enim est vobis. qui polluerit illud. morte morietur/ qui fecerit in eo opus peribit anima illius de medio populi sui' [Vulg. Ex. xxxi. 14.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Halowe ȝe my saboth.̉ forsoþe it is holi to ȝou/ who þat haþ defoulid it.̉ he schal be deed/ & he þat doiþ ony seruyle werke þerynne.̉ his lijf schal perische fro þe myddis of his peple [W. V. 'Kepith myn holi day, holi forsothe it is to ȝow, who so poluteth it, with deth dye he; who so doth in it werk. shal perishe the lijf of hym fro the myddil of his puple.' 1388, 'Kepe ȝe my sabat, for it is hooli to ȝou; he that defoulith it, schal die bi deeth, the soule of hym, that doith werk in the sabat, schal perische fro the myddis of his puple.'] / & so for gedring of stikkis.̉ on þe saboth dai/ a man bi Goddis bidding was stooned to þe deeþ ‖ þerfore Neemyas.̉ a man þat dredde God/ wolde suffre noon to bie ne selle.̉ on þe sabot dai/ wiþynne þe ȝatis of Ierusalem.̉ neiþir aboute þe wallis/ and chargid alle vitileris.̉ þat þei schulde ceese/ And if þei wolde not take heede.̉ þei schulde fele his hondis/ for he þouȝt to werre on hem.̉ as on Goddis enemyes/ but þei wolde obeie to God.̉ in halowing of his saboth/ Þis processe is writen in þe book of Neemyas.̉ þe last [folio 86a] chapitir [Vulg. Neh. xiii. 15-22.] ‖ Loo hou streiȝtli þe Iewis.̉ kepten Goddis bidding/ & hou God smot hem wiþ bodili peyne.̉ whanne þat þei dide forfet/ But cristen men maken her boost.̉ þat þei ben more perfiȝt/ in seruyse of her Lord God.̉ þan euer were þe Iewis/ who þat euer mekeli.̉ proueþ his word in dede/ þanne mai he

seie boldli.̉ þat þis tyme of grace/ is of more perfeccioun.̉ per vertu of þe sacramentis/ and fredom of þe gospel.̉ þan was Moises lawe/ and þou a more perfite man.̉ in keping þis perfeccioun ‖ But & þou be apostataa.̉ in breking of Goddis heestis/ þanne is þi peyne so miche þe more.̉ as Poul seide to þe Romayns/ Ro. xi^o./ 'Tu autem fide stas. noli altum sapere sed time/ si enim deus naturalibus ramis non pepercit. ne forte nec tibi parcat' [Vulg. Rom. xi. 20, 21.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Forsoþe þou stondist in þe feiþ.̉ nyle þou be proude/ ne bere þee neuere þe hiȝer.̉ but abide þou mekeli/ in þe holi drede of þe Lord ‖ Forsoþe siþen þat God sparid not. to þe [folio 86b] kyndli braunchis/ þat is to þe Iewis.̉ þat he chase to be hise kyndeli heiris/ Bi war lest bi happe he spare not þee.̉ þat camest out of þe heeþen stokke/ & arte plauntid in bi grace.̉ of Crist & hise gospel [W. V. 'Forsoth thou stondist by feith. Nyle thou sauere hiȝe thing, but drede thou, forsothe if God sparide not the kyndely braunchis, lest peraventure he spare not thee.'] ‖ Se now þyn apostasie.̉ þou vnkynde wrecche/ & þe falsenes þat þou vsest.̉ aȝen Cristis gospel/ Mat. xxi^o. Mar. ix^o. Luk. xix^o. & Ion. ii^o./ 'Intrauit Iesu in templum dei. & eiciebat omnes vendentes & ementes in templo & mensas nummulariorum & cathedras vendencium columbas euertit' [Vulg. Matt. xxi. 12; Luc. xix. 45; Joh. ii. 15.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Iesu entrid in to þe temple of God.̉ & he cast out alle sellars & biears in þe temple.̉ & þe bordis of mony-makears/ & he turned vp-so-doun.̉ þe chaiers of hem þat soolden dowues/ and he seide vnto hem.̉ it is writen Isaye .lvi^o. [Vulg. Isaias lvi. 7.] my hous schal be clepid. an hous [MS. hou.] of preiour/ forsoþe ȝe han made it a den of þeeues [W. V. 'Jhesus entride in to the temple of God, and kest out of the temple alle sellynge and biynge; and he turnyde upsodoun the bordis of chaungeris, and the chaiers of men sellynge culveris. And he seith to hem It is writen, My hous shal be clepid an hous of priere; forsothe ȝe han made it a denne of thefes.'] ‖ Criste forbediþ þe laite.̉ þe vsing of her marchaundise/ eiþir in toune or in chirche.̉ on her holy dai/ & he dampneþ more streiȝtlier.̉ [folio 87a] among þise visiouse prestis/ biyng of her beneficis.̉ & selling of her sacramentis/ as doctour Odo seiþ.̉ vpon þis same gospel/ 'Columbas vendentes sunt qui spiritualia vendunt & si non clamant ore. tum cum iuda dicunt/ Quid uultis dare.̉ & ego

vobis eum [MS. ēā.] tradam? Sic clamant monachi ceterique religiosi.̉ habitum & suffragia vendentes. item non sacerdotes diuina celebrantes & tales in ecclesia dei multiplicantur? vbi credis quod sit domus orationis. ibi invenies speluncam latronum/ omnes qui non intrant per hostium id est christum. sed per pecuniam uel seculi gratiam fures sunt & latrones per murum fractum ingredientes/ quia murus ecclesie rumpitur cum prece uel precio aut sanguine minus ydoneus ad beneficium ecclesiasticum indigne promoueatur' [Odo of Cheriton, Flores Sermonum, fols. cvi, cvii.] / Hec ille ‖ Þat is to seie. þei ben sellers of dowues.̉ þat spirituel þingis sellen/ & þouȝ þei crien not wiþ her mouþe.̉ neþles [MS. neþels.] þei seyn wiþ Iudas/ what wole ȝe ȝyue.̉ & I schal bitraie him to ȝou? Þus crien mounkis.̉ & oþir bastard religioun/ þat sellen as þei mai take þerfore.̉ her habit & her suffragijs/ & oþir prestis don als wick.̉ þat treten diuine seruice/ & suche ben [folio 87b] now multiplied.̉ in þe chirche of God/ þerfore where as þou wenest.̉ þat is þe hous of preiour/ þere schalt þou redili fynde.̉ a den of mani þeues/ forsoþe alle þat entren not.̉ bi þe door þat is Crist/ but bi money or seculere fauour.̉ þei ben niȝtþeues & dai-þeues/ þat entren in bi a broken wowe.̉ vnwiting Iesu Crist/ for he proueþ not her dedis.̉ & þat is his vnknowyng/ for þanne is þe chirche wowe.̉ al to-broken doun/ whanne þe vnable is avaunsid.̉ to þe chirches benefice/ eiþir for preiour or for pris.̉ or for vndwe seruice ‖

Siþen oure Lord Iesu Crist.̉ seide to his apostlis/ þat oone of hem was a deuel.̉ & ment it bi Iudas/ Be not þise apostataas.̉ þat don als yuel as he/ worþi to be clepid deuelis.̉ bi þe same resoun? Þei ben greet questioners.̉ & askars of þe lawe/ but þei wole not do so miche.̉ as putt þerto her fynger/ & þei heepen charge on oþir.̉ more þan þei mai bere/ Þei ben preisars of seintis.̉ & no þing her folowars/ þei ben heerars of þe lawe.̉ but no þing þe [folio 88a] doars/ þei ben alwey lernyng.̉ & neuir þei wole be perfite/ þus þei boosten in þe lawe.̉ wiþ worschip & wiþ wynnyng/ but bi breking of þe lawe.̉ þei don dispise her God ‖

Þe .IIII. heeste ‖

Þe fourþe comaundement of God is þis Exo. xx^o. 'Honora patrem tuum & matrem tuam vt sis longeuus super terram quam dominus

deus tuus dabit tibi' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 12.] ‖ Þat is to seie. worschip þou þi fadir & þi modir þat þou be longlyuyng vpon erþe.̉ þe whiche þi Lord God schal ȝyue to þee [W. V. 'Honour thi fader and thi moder, that thou be of long lijf upon erthe, that the Lord thi God shal ȝyue to thee.' 1388, 'Onoure thi fadir and thi modir, that thou be long lyuyng on the lond, which thi Lord God schal ȝyue to thee.'] / And it swiþ of þis comaundement.̉ þat þei þat worschipen not her parentis/ schullen haue schort lijf here in erþe.̉ & aftir þe lond of myschef/ & þerfore Tobie tauȝt his sone.̉ a litil aforne his diyng/ Tobi. iiii^o. 'Corpus meum sepeli & honorem habebis matri tue omnibus diebus vite eius/ memor enim esse debes que & quanta pericula passa sit in vtero propter te' [Vulg. Tob. iv. 3, 4 'Corpus meum ... passa sit propter te in utero suo.'] ‖ Sone birie þou my bodi.̉ & þou schalt haue worschip to þi modir. alle þe daies of þi lijf/ þou owist for to haue in mynde.̉ what perelles & how mani sche haþ suffrid in hir wombe for þee [W. V. 'My bodi birie; and wrshipe thou shalt han to thi moder alle the daȝes of thi lif; forsothe myndeful thou owist to be, what and how grete she suffride perilis for thee in hir wombe.' 1388, 'Byrie thou my bodi; and thou schal haue onour to thi moder in alle the daies of hir lijf; for thou owist to be myndeful, what perels and how grete sche suffride for thee in hir wombe.'] / [folio 88b]

Summe counten it for no synne.̉ to take fro her parentis/ suche þing as þei haue.̉ bi cause þei ben her children/ but certis þis synne passeþ þeeft.̉ & more it greueþ God/ as þe wise man seiþ. Prouer. xxviii^o. 'Qui subtrahit aliquid a patre uel a matre & dicit hoc non est peccatum particeps homicide est' [Vulg. Prov. xxviii. 24 'Qui subtrahit aliquid a patre suo et a matre et dicit hoc non esse peccatum,' etc.] ‖ Þat is to seie. who þat wiþdrawiþ ony þing from his fadir or his modir. & seiþ þat is no synne.̉ he is partener of manslauȝtir [W. V. 'Who withdrawith any thing fro his fader and moder, and seith that not to ben synne, parcener is of a man sleere.' 1388, 'He that withdrawith ony thing fro his fadir and fro his modir, and seith that this is no synne, is parcener of a manquellere.'] / for worschip to oure parentes.̉ stondiþ in worde & dede/ boþe to teche hem & rule hem.̉ if þei ben lewid or pore/ and it longiþ to þise parentes to gouerne wel her children/ & ordeyn oonli not for hem.̉ þe goodis of þis world/ but miche raþir dispose her lijf.̉ toward þe blisse of heuene/ as þe wise man seiþ. Prouer. xxiii^o. 'Noli subtrahere

a puero disciplinam. si enim percusseris eum virga non morietur/ tu virga percutis eum & animam eius de inferno liberabis' [Vulg. Prov. xxiii. 13.] / þat is to seie. 'Nile þou wiþdrawe.̉ teching from þi childe/ for þouȝ þou bete him wiþ a ȝeerde.̉ he schal not die þerou [ = ? þerof þouȝ.] / þou beetist him wiþ a baleys.̉ & þou schalt delyuer his [folio 89a] soule from helle/ [W. V. 'Wile thou not withdrawe fro a childe discipline; if forsothe thou smyte hym with ȝerde, he shal not die. Thou with a ȝerde smite hym, and the soule of hym fro helle thou shalt deliveren.' 1388, 'Nile thou withdrawe chastisyng fro a child; for thouȝ thou smyte hym with a ȝerde, he schal not die. Thou schalt smyte hym with a ȝerde, and thou schalt delyuere his soule fro helle.'] he þat spariþ þis balys.̉ hatiþ his childe/ forsoþe he þat loueþ him.̉ wole teche him bisili/ for a wise childe gladiþ his fadir.̉ forsoþe a foltid childe is þe sorow of his modir ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende wiþ hise membris/ what wiþ ypocrisie.̉ þat is feyned hoolines/ what wiþ blynd pite.̉ þat regneþ in þe seculeris/ he haþ encombrid Cristis chirche.̉ wiþ miche worldli muk/ & ouerladde oure modir.̉ wiþ temperal possessioun/ þat sche mai not rise.̉ to heuenli contemplacioun/ þerfore hir owene children.̉ waxen wilde & wantoune/ & wole noþir take awe ne lawe.̉ alas þis is greet sorow/ but oure fadir þat is in heuene.̉ to whom no þing is hid/ seing hise sones frowardnes.̉ is sterid al to wraþþe/ þouȝ þat he abide long.̉ & differre his veniaunce/ suffring from dai to dai.̉ if þat þei wolde amende/ For he forbadde to prestis.̉ of þe oolde lawe/ to take suche possessioun.̉ among þe oþir tribis/ but holde hem paied of his part.̉ for he [folio 89b] wolde be her eritage/ for þei schulde prynte þis lore.̉ & neuir go þerfro/ þrise it is rehersid.̉ þouȝ oones myȝt haue suffisid ‖ Firste in þe book of Numeri. xviii^o. [Vulg. Num. xviii. 20-4.] / Þe secounde in Deuto. xviii^o. [Vulg. Deut. xviii. 1, 2.] / Þe þridde in Ezechiel. xliiii^o [Vulg. Ezech. xliv. 28.] / And Crist in his gospel.̉ twise forbediþ hise prestis/ to haue þis temperal lordschip.̉ & regne as worldli kyngis ‖ Oones in his worching.̉ for he forsok it him silf/ Ion. vi^o. [Vulg. Joh. vi. 15.] / and also in his teching.̉ þat enemyes schulden not seie/ who mai lyue as Crist dide? & neþles Gregor seiþ/ Gregor. om. xvii/ 'Dominus Iesu Christus aliquando nos sermonibus ammonet aliquando operibus ipsa etenim facta eius precepta sunt

quia dum taciter aliquid facit quid agere debeamus innotescit' [Gregorius Magnus, Homilia XVII 1 (Migne, tom. 76, col. 1139).] ‖ Þat is to seie. Oure Lord Iesu Crist sumtyme wiþ wordis sumtyme wiþ dedis techiþ vs/ forsoþe hise dedis ben comaundementis/ for whanne he doiþ ony þing stilli.̉ in þat he makiþ knowen to vs. what we schal do/ and notwiþstanding. Crist forbediþ suche possessioun.̉ bi word to hise prestis/ Mat. xx^o/ Mar. x^o/ Luk. [folio 90a] xxii^o [Vulg. Matt. xx. 25-7; Marc. x. 42-4; Luc. xxii. 25, 26.] ‖ And if enemyes wollen not accept.̉ God in hise boþe lawes/ neiþir obeie to her fadir.̉ for his worde ne for his dede/ to whom heuene. helle. & erþe.̉ kneelen on her knees/ but stonden stille obstinat.̉ as yuel-willi traitours/ to clense her modir holi chirche.̉ of þis foule corrupcioun/ þanne schullen we leie forþe holi seyntis.̉ þat speken of þis mater/ & saie for þei wole acorde.̉ to wordis þat þei han seide/ and so rise vp to Goddis word.̉ bi þise seintis teching ‖ Seint Austin seiþ. 'Non debet ecclesia suscipere que filio exheredato sibi offerunt. verum quicumque uult exheredato filio. heredem facere ecclesiam querat alterum qui suscipiat. non Augustinum . ymmo deo propicio.̉ neminem inueniet'/ Hec Augustinus in sermone de vita clericorum & xvii. q. iiii^o. finali [St. Augustinus, De Vita Clericorum, Sermo II (Gratian, Decreti Pars Secunda, c. xvii, q. iv, cap. xliii (Migne, tom. 187, col. 1077-88).] ‖ Þat is to seie. Þe chirche owiþ not.̉ to take þoo þingis/ þat ben profrid to hir.̉ of hem þat haþ no eire/ þerfore who þat euer wile.̉ make þe chirche his eire/ seeke anoþir þat mai take it.̉ but on nowise Austin/ but bi þe mercy of God.̉ he schal fynde no man ‖ [folio 90b] And Ierom seiþ/ 'Ex quo ecclesia creuit in possessionibus.̉ decreuit in virtutibus' ‖ Fro þat tyme þat þe chirche.̉ grew in possessiouns. sche haþ lessid or dwyned in vertues ‖ Seint Bernard forbediþ þise possessiouns.̉ to be in prestis handis/ & spekiþ to Eugeny þe pope.̉ in þise witti wordis/ li^o. ii^o. 'Esto ut alia ratione hec tibi vendices/ sed non apostolico iure/ Quomodo potuit iste tibi dare quod non habuerit.̉ quod habuit hoc dedit solicitudinem super ecclesias . Numquid dominacionem.̉ audi ipsum neque dominantes inquit in clero/ sed forma facti gregi/ Et ne dicui sola humilitate putes & non veritate. vox domini est in euangelio/ reges gencium dominantur eorum.̉ vos autem non sic' [St. Bernard, De Consideratione, Liber II, p. 1528 (D. Bernardi Opera Omnia, ed. 1552).] ‖ Þat is

to seie. Chalenge þou þise possessiouns.̉ bi anoþir resoun/ but þou maist not chalenge hem.̉ bi þe apostlis riȝt/ Hou miȝt þe apostle ȝyue.̉ þat he had not? þat he hadde þat he ȝaue.̉ bisines vpon chirchis/ No wheþir seculere lordschip? heere what he seiþ/ neiþir lording in þe clergie.̉ but mad in forme. to profite of þe flok/ & not oonli in mekenes.̉ trowe þou þis to be seid/ But also [folio 91a] in trouþe of dede.̉ as Crist seiþ in his gospel/ 'kyngis of erþe lorden ouer hem.̉ forsoþe ȝe not so' ‖ It is pleyn to þe apostlis þis lordschip is entirdiȝtid/ hou darst þou þanne take þis lordschip vpon þee/ eiþir lording apostilhed. eiþir apostilhed to lordschip? pleynli þou art forboden þe tone/ for if þou wilt haue boþe.̉ þou schalt leese boþe/ þat is to seie. þi presthod & þi lordschip/ or ellis þou schalt not be except of þis noumbre.̉ of þe whiche God pleyneþ him ‖ Þei han regned.̉ but not bi me/ þey han ben princis.̉ but I haue not knowen hem/ Now if it availe to regne wiþouten God.̉ þanne hast þou ioye.̉ but not anentis God ‖ And whane prestis holden þis entirdiȝting.̉ heere þei þanne þe Lordis cry/ 'He þat is more among ȝou.̉ be he made as þe ȝonger/ and he þat is made þe foregoer.̉ be he mad as þe mynystir' [W. V. Luc. xxii. 26, He that is the more in ȝou, be maad as the ȝongere, and he that is bifore goer, as a seruaunt.' 1388, 'He that is grettist among ȝou, be maad as ȝongere, and he that is bifor goere, as a seruaunt.'] / Þis is þe forme of þe apostlis lyuyng/ seculere lordschip is forboden.̉ but mynystring & seruyng is boden ‖ Wel we witen of bileue.̉ þat [folio 91b] God & his lawe/ ben euene acording togidir.̉ & þise seyntis wiþ hem/ þanne lie biside ȝoure poise.̉ & ȝoure heeþen talis/ wiþ alle oþir manglid lawis.̉ & conforme ȝou to God/ to clense þe chirche & bring it aȝen.̉ to þe former astate/ and lyue ȝe on Cristis part.̉ þat lordis myȝt haue her lordschip aȝen ‖ But ȝit ȝe maken pursut.̉ wiþ many greuouse chouris/ & seyn þat seint Siluestir.̉ took þis possessioun & seint Swithen & seint William.̉ wiþ manye oþir seyntis ‖ To þis we seyn þat Siluester.̉ wiþ suche oþir folowars/ weren seyntis in þis takyng.̉ of temperal possessiouns/ as was Petir forsakyng Crist & Poul purswyng þe chirche/ Petir & Poul dide verry penaunce.̉ & suffrid deeþ for Cristis sake/ If þise men diden þe same.̉ þus ben þei verry seyntis ‖

Þe .V. heest. ‖

Þe fif þe comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o/ 'Non occides' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 13.] /

Þou shalt not slee/ neiþir in malice wiþ prisounyng/ neiþir in [folio 92a] worde wiþ bakbiting. neiþir wiþ dede. in vnlawful sched- -yng out of blood/

Of þe firste spekiþ seint Ion & seiþ. I. Icn. iii^o. 'Qui odit fratrem suum homicida est' [Vulg. 1 Joh. iii. 15.] / He þat hatiþ his broþer.̉ is a manslear [W. V. 'Ech man that haatith his brother is a manqueller.' 1388, 'Ech man that hatith his brother, is a man sleere.'] ‖ Summe haten synne in man.̉ & þis is a perfite hate/ Ps. cxviii. 'Perfecto odio oderam illos &c' [Vulg. Ps. cxxxviii. 22.] ‖ Summe haten vertu in man.̉ & þey ben mensleers/ for who þat seiþ he loueþ his God.̉ & hatiþ þus his broþir/ he is a lieer.̉ & þer is no trouþe in him ‖

Of þe secounde spekiþ þe prophete & seiþ. Ps. xiii. 'Quorum os maledictione &c' [Vulg. Ps. xiii. 3.] ‖ Þe mouþe of bakbiters.̉ is ful of cursidnes & bittirnes/ & her feet ben swift.̉ to scheed out blood [W. V. 'Whos mouth of cursing and bitterness is ful; swifte the feet of hem to sheden out blod.' 1388, 'Whos mouth is ful of cursyng and bittirnesse; her feet ben swift to schede out blood.'] / for seint Bernard seiþ. Þe bakbiter & þe wilful heerer.̉ eiþir of hem [MS. of he.] beriþ þe deuel in her tung/ And þis bakbiter sleeþ þre at a strok. þat is to seie. his owene soule. his wilful heerar.̉ & him þat þei falsli sclaundren ‖

Of þe þridde it is writen. Ge. iiii^o. [Vulg. Gen. iv. 8-12.] Hou þat cursid Caym. slouȝ his innocent broþir Abel.̉ & hou his blood cried to God from þe erþe/ for seint Ion seiþ. Apoc. vi^o. 'Vidi subtus altare [folio 92b] animas interfectorum propter verbum dei & propter testimonium quod habebant. Et clamabant voce magna dicentes/ vsquequo domine sanctus & verus non iudicas & vindicas sanguinem nostrum de hijs qui habitant in terra' [Vulg. Apoc. vi. 9.] / Seynt Ion seiþ. I sawȝ vndir þe auter þe soules of hem þat weren slayn for þe word of God.̉ & witnesse þat þei hadden/ & þei crieden wiþ a greet vois seiyng/ holi Lord & trewe.̉ til whanne schalt þou abide/ or þou wilt iugge and venge oure blod on hem þat dwellen in erþe/ And it is seide vnto hem.̉ þat þei schulden be stille/ ȝit a litil while.̉ til her felowis be comen/ & her briþeren þat ben to be slayn.̉ as þei ben hem silf [W. V. 'I siȝe undir an auter the soules of men sleyn for the word of God, and for witnessing that thei hadden. And thei crieden with greet voys, seiynge, Hou longe, Lord, holy and trewe, demyst thou not, and vengist our blood of thes that dwellen in erthe? and it is seid to hem, that thei shulden reste ȝit a litil tyme, til the euen seruauntes of hem be fulfilled, and the britheren of hem, that ben to be slayn, as and thei.' 1388, 'Y say undur the auter the soulis of men slayn for the word of God, and for the witnessing that thei hadden. And thei crieden with a greet vois, and seiden, How long thou, Lord, that art hooli and trewe, demest not, and vengest not oure blood of these that dwellen in the erthe? and it was seide to hem, that thei schulden reste ȝit a litil tyme, til the noumbre of her felowis and of her britheren ben fulfillid, that ben to be slayn as also thei.'] ‖ vndirstonde þat God forfendiþ.̉ al vnlawful

sleeyng/ as Crisostom declariþ. om. LI/ 'Percutere est iniuste percutere/ qui autem propter iustitie causam percutit.̉ percutere non videtur. percutit enim non vt suum dolorem vindicet.̉ sed vt illius animam saluet. sicut vero iusta ira non est ira sed diligencia.̉ sic iusta percussio non est percussio.̉ sed correpcio' [S. Ioan. Chrysostomus, Homilia LI (Opera, ed. 1547, tom. ii, col. 1112).] / To smyt taken bi it silf.̉ is vniustli to smyt/ forsoþe he þat smytiþ.̉ for þe cause of riȝt- wisenes/ he is not sen for to smyt.̉ bi title of [folio 93a] Goddis lawe/ forsoþe he smytiþ not to venge.̉ his owene wreechful herte/ but to do þe wille of God.̉ & saue his neibours soule/ as iust wraþþe is no wraþþe.̉ but a feruent diligence/ so riȝtwise smyting is no smyting.̉ but a iust amending/ for bi suche a feruent loue.̉ Phines slowȝ to lecchours/ & turned þe wraþþe of God.̉ from þe children of Isrel/ as it is writen. Numeri. xxv^o. [Num. xxv. 6-8.] / Also God sent his oostis.̉ Titus and Vaspasian/ two & fourty wyntir.̉ aftir þat Crist was slayn/ for to venge Cristis deeþ.̉ vpon þe cursid Iewis/ as it is writen. Mat. xxii^o. 'Missis exercitibus suis perdidit homisidas illos & ciuitatem eorum succendit' [Vulg. Matt. xxii. 7.] ‖

Fyue þingis men must avoide.̉ whanne þei schullen go to bataile/ for þei ben aȝenst þis heest. & þus seiþ seint Austin/ 'Nocendi cupiditas vlcisendi crudelitas implacabilis animus. feritas rebellandi libido dominandi. & sique sunt talia. hec sunt que in bello iure culpantur'/ Hec Augustinus contra Faustum [S. Augustinus, On the Manichaean Heresy (reply to Faustus), xxii. 7 (Migne, tom. 42, col. 447).] ‖ Þat [folio 93b] is to seie. Coueitise of noiyng. cruelte of vengeyng. an vnpesible mynde. feersenes of fiȝtyng. lust of lordschiping. and what þat ben lijke to þise/ for þise ben þo þingis.̉ þat of riȝt ben blamed in bataile/

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende in his membris/ settiþ wacche & bisie spie.̉ where þat he may fynde/ ony peple þat wole rede.̉ priue or apert/ Goddis lawe in englische.̉ þat is oure modir tunge/ ancon he schal be sumned.̉ to come aforne hise iuggis/ to answere what is seide to him.̉ & bring his book wiþ him/ and eiþir he must forsake his book.̉ & reding of englische/ & algatis he schal forswere.̉ to speke of holi writ ‖ Þei sein lyue as þi fadir dide.̉ & þat is ynow for þee/ or ellis þou schalt to prisoun.̉ as if þou were an heretike/ & suffre peynes many & strong.̉ & ful lickli þe deeþ/ but þou wilt revoke þi worde.̉ & make an open wondirment/ at þi parische chirche at home.̉ or in comune place ‖ [folio 94a] And wiþ þis þei prisoun.̉ many an houngry soule/ wherof growiþ in þis rewme.̉ a greuouse goostli moreyn ‖ For who dar now in þise daies.̉ talke of Crist or þe doom/ & certis þe bodi may not lyue.̉ wiþouten bodili food/ no more may þe celi soule.̉ wiþouten Goddis worde/ as seint Austin seiþ. 'Perit anima fame.̉ si non pascitur celesti pane'/ Þe soule dieþ for hungir.̉ but if it be fedde wiþ heuenli breed/ and þis breed is Goddis worde.̉ as Crist seiþ in his gospel/ Mat. iiii^o. Deuto. iiii^o. Mar. i^o. Luk. iiii^o. [Vulg. Matt. iv. 4, Deut. viii. 3, (Marc. i. 13), Luc. iv. 4.] / 'Non in solo [MS. sole.] pane viuit homo.̉ sed de omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei' [Vulg. Matt. iv. 4 'Non in solo pane vivit homo: sed in omni verbo,' etc.] / A man lyueþ not oonli in bodili breed.̉ but he lyueþ a betir lijf aftir þe soule/ of iche worde þat passiþ.̉ from þe mouþe of God [W. V. 'A man lyueth not in breed aloon, bot in euery word that cometh forth fro the mouthe of God.' 1388, 'Not oonli in breed lyueth man, but in ech word that cometh of Goddis mouth.'] ‖ God tolde long aforn.̉ þis houngir for to come/ þat vntauȝt men schulde aske þis breed.̉ & no man schulde ȝyue it hem/ as he seiþ bi þe mouþe of þe prophete Amos. viii^o. 'Ecce dies veniunt dicit dominus & mittam famem in terram. non famem panis. neque sitim aque.̉ sed audiendi [folio 94b] verbum domini' [Vulg. Amos vii. 11.] ‖ Loo daies comen seiþ þe Lord.̉ & I schal suffre hungir to be sent in to þe erþe/ neiþir of breed ne of watir.̉ but of heeryng þe word of þe Lord/ Þanne men schullen be meved.̉ from þe ton [MS. to.] see to þe toþir/ & fro þe norþe vnto þe eest.̉ seeking þe worde of þe Lord/ & þei schal not fynde it.̉ seiþ

þe Lord God [W. V. 'Loo! the days cummen, saith the Lord, and Y shall sende out hungre in to erthe; not hungre of breed nether thrist of water, bot of heeryng of the word of God. And thei shuln be moued to gydre fro see unto see, and fro the north unto the eest thei shuln cumpasse, seekynge the word of the Lord, and thei shuln not fynde.'] ‖ for þouȝ þer be manye precheours.̉ þer ben fewe trewe prechours/ and if ony preche þe trouþe.̉ þe multitude schal aȝenseie him/ & þus men abiden stille.̉ in her goostli hungir ‖ for þei wot neuer whom to folowe.̉ her preching is so wondirful/ ioynyng in her coriouse wordis.̉ þe trouþe to þe falsehede ‖ who þat hauntriþ him to þis breed.̉ for to slek his hungir/ þouȝ he were als hooli.̉ as euere was seint Ion Baptist/ he schulde not faile to be sclaundrid.̉ for a cursid Lollard/ & pursued as an heretik.̉ of þise cruel enemyes ‖ But in þis þei ben miche werre.̉ þan þe heeþen folkis/ þat trowen in her mawmetis.̉ for wanting [folio 95a] of bileue/ But þise han resceyued þe feiþ.̉ & falsli gon þerfro/ and also dryuen beestli men.̉ to peyne hem in her pinfold/ wiþouten goostli mete or drinke.̉ til þei sterue for hungir ‖ But we reeden þe contrarie.̉ of an heeþen kyng/ for he dide miche betir.̉ to þe children of Isrel. IIII. Re. xvii^o. 'Cumque filij Israel habitare cepissent in Samaria. non timebant dominum & immisit dominus eis leones qui interficiebant eos' [Vulg. 4 Reg. xvii. 25 'Cumque ibi habitare coepissent, non timebant Dominum et immisit in eos Dominus leones, qui,' etc.] / Þat is to seie. whanne þe children of Isrel.̉ bigunne to dwelle in Samarie/ þei dreden not þe Lord.̉ & þe Lord sent among hem. liouns þat slowȝen hem/ & þanne was it tolde to þe kyng.̉ of Assiry & seide/ þe folkis þat þou hast translatid.̉ & mad hem to dwelle in þe cetees of Samarye/ þei knowe not þe laweful þingis.̉ of þe God of erþe/ & þe Lord haþ sent.̉ among hem lyouns/ & lo þei slen hem.̉ for as mich as þei knowe not/ þe riȝt or þe lawe.̉ of þe Lord God of erþe ‖ Forsoþe þe kyng of Assarye.̉ comaundid seiyng/ lediþ þidir [folio 95b] oone of þe prestis.̉ þat ȝe han brouȝt in to þis þraldom/ þat he may go & wiþ hem dwelle.̉ to teche hem þe laweful þingis. of þe God of erþe [W. V. 'And whanne there thei hadden begunne to dwellen, thei dreden not the Lord; and the Lord sent to hem lyouns, that slewen hem. And it is told to the kyng of Assiries, and seide, The folc that thou hast translatyde and maad to dwellen in the cytees of Samarye, knowen not the lawful thingis of the God of the lond; and the Lord sente in to hem lyouns, and loo! thei shuln slen hem; for thy that thei knowen not the custum of the God of the lond. The kyng forsothe of Assiries comaundyde, seyinge, Bringith hidre oon of the prestis, the whiche in to caytyfte ȝe han brouȝt, that he goo, and dwelle with hem, and teche hem the lawful thingis of God of the lond.' 1388, 'And whanne thei bigunnen to dwelle there, thei dredden not the Lord; and the Lord sente to hem liouns, that killiden hem. And it was teld to the kyng of Assiriens, and was seid, The folkis whiche thou translatidist, and madist to dwelle in the cities of Samarie, kunnen not the lawful thingis of God of the lond; and the Lord sente liouns in to hem, and lo! liouns sleen hem; for thei kunnen not the custom of God of the lond. Sotheli the kyng of Assiriens comaundide, and seide, Lede ȝe thidur oon of the prestis, whiche ȝe brouȝten prisoneris fro thennus, that he go, and dwelle with hem, and teche hem the lawful thingis of God of the lond.'] ‖ God graunt oure cristen kyngis.̉ to mark wel

þis story/ þat þei mowe passe þis heeþen kyng.̉ in þis forseide mater/ þanne schulde lyouns þat ben synnes.̉ soone be distried/ if alle men hadden þe lawe.̉ writen in her hertis/ as þe Lord seiþ. Iere. xxxi^o. 'Dabo legem meam in visceribus eorum.̉ & in corde eorum scribam eam' [Vulg. Jer. xxxi. 33.] ‖ Þat is to seie. I schal ȝyue my lawe.̉ in þe bowels of hem/ & I schal write my lawe.̉ in þe herte of hem [W. V. 'Y shal ȝyue my lawe in the boweles of hem, and in the herte of hem Y shal write it.' 1388, 'Y schal ȝyue my lawe in the entrails of hem, and Y schal write it in the herte of hem.'] / O. ȝe prestis ben myche to blame.̉ þat taken from þe peple/ þe lawe þat God haþ writen him silf.̉ in myddis of her herte/ so þoruȝ ȝou þise forseide lyouns.̉ now ben comen among vs/ þat al to-teeren Cristis scheep.̉ & murþeren hem to þe deeþ/ certis ȝe lerned neuir þis loore.̉ in dedis of þe apostlis/ for þus it is writen. Actus, viii^o. 'Et ecce vir ethiops. eunuchus &c.;' [Vulg. Act. viii. 27.] / [folio 96a] Loo a clene chaast man.̉ þe quenes tresourer of Ynde/ þouȝ he were an heeþen man.̉ and hadde not taken þe feiþ/ ȝit he radde in Isaie.̉ sitting in his chaare/ Philip took not awey his booke.̉ ne werned him to reede þeronne/ But what þanne? Philip declarid him prophecie.̉ & tauȝt him for to vndirstonde it/ til he bileued Iesu Crist.̉ to be Goddis son of heuene/ what bitidde þanne? Philip bi stiring of þe spirit.̉ whanne þis man bileued/ confermed him in Cristis name.̉ & ȝaue to him þe bapteme/ How do ȝe prestis.̉ performe þe apostlis lore/ þat stoppen trewe cristen men.̉ from werkis of her cristendom / Þe apostlis vsid not þat maner.̉ whanne þei wenten aboute/ to þe temple & mennes housis.̉ preching & techyng/ boþe to Iewis & heeþen men.̉ þe lawis of Iesu Crist/ Actus. v^o. 'Omni autem die in templo & circa

domos non cessabant.̉ docentes & euangelizantes christum Iesum' [Vulg. Act. v. 42.] / Þat is to seie. Forsoþe iche dai in þe temple & aboute housis.̉ þei ceessid not teching and preching Crist Iesu [W. V. 'Forsoth ech day thei ceesiden not in the temple, and aboute housis, techinge and evangelisynge Jhesu Christ.'] ‖ [folio 96b]

Þe sixte heeste ‖

The sixte comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. 'Non mechaberis' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 14.] ‖ þou schalt not do leccherie/ Neiþir wiþ þin iȝe.̉ in leccherouse lookyng/ Neiþir wiþ þin herte.̉ in lusti þenkyng/ Neiþir wiþ þi bodi.̉ in þe dede doinge/ and þus þis synne is forbeden.̉ in sengle. in weddid. & in widowis ‖

Of þe firste spekiþ seynt Austin & seiþ. 'Inpudicus oculus inpudici cordis est nuncius' [Augustinus, Epistola CCXI 10 (Migne, tom. 33, col. 961).] ‖ An vnchaast iȝe.̉ is messagere of an vnchaast herte ‖

Of þe secounde spekiþ Crist in his gospel. Mat. v^o. 'Qui viderit mulierem ad concupiscendum eam iam mechatus est eam in corde suo' [Vulg. Matt. v. 28.] / Þat is to seie. who þat haþ seen a womman to do his lust wiþ hir.̉ anoon he haþ done leccherie wiþ hir in his hert/ [W. V. 'Every man that seeth a womman for to coueite hire, now he hath do lecherie by hire in his herte.'] In þis Crist techiþ. hou þe roote of synne springeþ from þe herte/

Of þe þridde spekiþ Poul. Ephe. v^o. 'Hoc enim scitote intelligentes quod omnis fornicator aut immundus aut avarus quod est ydolorum seruitus non habet hereditatem in regno dei & christi' [Vulg. Eph. v. 5.] / Forsoþe knowe ȝe þis vndirstonding. þat neiþir fornicarer neiþir [folio 97a] vnclene filþe. neiþir avarouse wrecche. þat is seruage of ydols haþ no heritage in þe rewme of Crist & God/ [W. V. 'Forsoth this thing wyte ȝe, undirstondinge that ech fornycatour, or unclene man, or coueytous, that is seruage of ydols, (or mawmetis), hath not heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.' 1388, 'For wite ȝe this, and undurstonde, that ech letchour, or unclene man, or coueytouse, that serveth to mawmetis, hath not eritage in the kingdom of Christ and of God.'] Hou euer þou lustily treete.̉ þe membris of þi bodi/ aȝens þe resoun of þi soule.̉ þanne þou art a lecchour/ and þerfore schulde boþe man & womman.̉ lerne to kepe her bodi/ in clennes & in vertu.̉ to worschip of her

God/ & not in foule brennyng desiris.̉ as folkis þat knowiþ no resun/ as seint Austin seiþ. 'Dedit tibi deus potestatem per spiritum sanctum. ut membra tua teneas/ surgit libido.̉ tene tu membra/ noli exhibere membra tua. arma iniquitatis peccato/ noli armare aduersarium tuum contra te/ tene pedes. ne eant ad illicita/ libido surrexit.̉ tene tu membra/ tene manus ab omni scelere/ tene oculos. ne male attendant/ tene aures.̉ ne verba libidinis libenter audiant/ tene totum corpus tuum/ tene latera. tene summa/ tene yma/ Quid facit libido? surgere nouit. vincere non nouit'/ Hec Augustinus de verbis domini. sermone XLIII. [Augustinus, Sermo CXXVIII, cap. x (Migne, tom. 38, col. 719).] [folio 97b] God haþ ȝyuen to þee powere.̉ bi þe Holi Goost/ þat þou holde þi membris.̉ from passing of resoun/ luste risiþ.̉ holde þou þi membris/ nile þou ȝyue þi membris armour of wickidnes to synne/ arme not þin aduersarie aȝens þee.̉ to þin owene harme/ Holde þi feet.̉ þat þei go not to vnleful þingis/ Lust haþ risen.̉ wiþholde þou þi membris/ holde þin handis. from alle felonye/ wiþholde þin iȝen. þat þei tent not to yuel/ wiþholde þyn eeris.̉ þat þei heere not þe talis of leccherie/ wiþholde al þi bodi/ holde þi siȝdis/ holde hiȝe/ holde lowe/ what can lust do? rise it can.̉ ouercum can it not ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende in hise membris/ holdiþ a court as he seiþ.̉ of holi chirchis lawe/ from oo weeke to a noþir.̉ for to correct synnars/ and þere þei clepen bi name.̉ þe lecchour & his feere/ þat lediþ þe lijf in hoordam.̉ to ioyne hem to her penaunce/ þat is to walke þre market daies.̉ aboute þe comune market/ bareheed in her schirt.̉ wiþouten hosen or [folio 98a] schoon/ & oþir þre sundaies.̉ aboute her pa- -rische chirche/ wiþ a tapir in her hond.̉ of a pound of wax/ & go biforn þe parische prest.̉ to bete hem wiþ a ȝerde/ Also stonding on her feet.̉ til þe messe be seide/ & þanne offre vp her candils.̉ to þe hiȝe auter/ Þe sumnour is ful bisi.̉ in al þis mene tyme/ to rowne in her eeris.̉ & bidde hem aske grace/ 'for ȝe schal haue betir grace.̉ do bi my counseile/ Paie doun money from ȝoure purse.̉ to my lordis almes/ & ȝe schullen fynde him graciouse.̉ to relese ȝoure penaunce'/ Þanne þei take her leeue boþe.̉ whanne þat þei ben taxid/ to contynue stille in hordam.̉ as þei diden biforn/ ȝhe summe til her deeþ dai.̉ so þat þis rent be paied/ Certis þis is

a cursid synne.̉ þat oure bischopis vsen/ to maynten lecchours in her owene hous.̉ & make hem her ordinarijs/ þat laten synne to greet hire.̉ for her lordis almes ‖ Heere ȝe what God seiþ to ȝou. Eze. xliiii^o. 'Sufficiant vobis omnia scelera uestra domus Israel eo quod inducitis filios alienos incircumcisos corde & incircumcisos‖ carne/ ut sint in sanctuario meo. & polluant domum [folio 98b] meam & offertis panes meos adipem & sanguinem/ Et dissoluistis pactum meum in omnibus sceleribus uestris. & non seruastis precepta sanctuarij mei. & posuistis custodes obseruacionum mearum in sanctuario meo vobismetipsis. hec dicit dominus' [Vulg. Ezech. xliv. 6-9.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Suffice þei to ȝou.̉ hous of Isrel/ alle ȝoure greet felonyes.̉ þat ȝe vsen among ȝou/ bicause þat ȝe bringen in.̉ alien sones/ vncircumcisid in her herte.̉ & in her fleische also/ þat þei be in my sauntwary.̉ & defoyle my hous/ and ȝe offren my looues.̉ my blood & my grece/ but ȝe vndo my couenaunt.̉ in alle ȝoure foule felonyes/ & ȝe han not kept in dede.̉ þe biddingis of my sauntwary/ but ȝe han sette þe wardeynes.̉ of myn obseruauncis/ in my sauntwarie.̉ to ȝoure owene avauntage/ Þise þingis seiþ þe Lord God [W. V. 'ȝe hous of Yrael, alle ȝour grete trespassis suffice thei to ȝou, for that that ȝe bryng yn alyen sonys, uncircumcided in hert, and uncircumcided in flesh, that thei be in my sayntuarie, and defoule myn hous. And ȝe offren my louys, fatnesse and bloode, and ȝe undo my couenaunt in alle ȝour grete trespassis. And ȝe kepte not the preceptis of my sayntuarie and ȝe han putte keepers of myn obseruances, in my sayntuarie to ȝour self. These thingus saith the Lord God.' 1388, 'ȝe hous of Israel, alle ȝoure grete trespassis... And ȝe kepten not the comaundementis of my seyntuarie, and ȝe settiden keperis of my kepyngis in my seyntuarije to ȝou silf. The Lord God seith these thingis.'] ‖ Þis is þe moral witt.̉ of þis forseid sentence/ hiȝe prelatis of þe chirche.̉ schulde þenk ynowe/ of her owene greet synnes.̉ for to ȝyue a rekenyng aforn God at domesdai.̉ & þei [folio 99a] wolde wel avise hem/ þouȝ þei dide not sacre.̉ to þe ordir of presthood/ vnclene men in bodi & soule.̉ þat seken to be prestis/ neiþir in vertu ne in spirit.̉ but for to lyue in lustis/ Þise poluten Cristis chirche.̉ his fleische & his blood/ & causen whi þat Goddis lawe.̉ for her false court/ Not cristen lawe. but cursid lawe.̉ is holden among þe peple/ Þis was not her couenaunt.̉ at oo daies tyme/ whanne þei hiȝten feiþ & trouþe.̉ to swe Cristis steppis/ & kepe hise biddingis in hem silf.̉ & teche hem oþir

men ‖ But now þei setten ordinarijs.̉ for her worldly profite/ þat heepen her purs wiþ money.̉ of many soold synnes/ But soulis þat God chargiþ hem wiþ.̉ to haue cure ouer hem/ and bring to þe blisse of heuene.̉ as scheep vnto þe foold/ þei charge not wheþir þei synk or swyme.̉ so þei moun regne as lordis/ Þus ben alle þre astaatis.̉ enfectid in leccherie/ fro þe lewid man to þe clerk.̉ and noon amenden oþir/ and þerfore þe Lord seiþ. [folio 99b] Iere. v. 'Saturaui eos & mechati sunt & in domo meretricis luxuriabantur/ Equi amatores in feminas & emissarij facti sunt vnusquisque ad vxorem proximi sui hinniebat [MS. inhiebat.] / Numquid super hijs visitabo dicit dominus & in gente [MS. genti.] tali vlciscetur anima mea' [Vulg. Jer. v. 7-9 'Saturavi eos ... Equi amatores et emissarii ... Numquid super hiis non visitabo dicit dominus, et in gente tali non,' etc.] / I haue fedde hem.̉ & þei han don leccherie/ þei han ben horrels.̉ in þe comune bordel hous/ þei ben as feers on wymmen.̉ as hors ben on maris/ & þei ben made stalowens.̉ þat seruen of þat office/ iche man waxiþ wood [MS. waxiþ waxiþ wood.] .̉ aftir his neiȝbours wijf/ vpon þise þingis I schal visite.̉ seiþ þe Lord God/ and vpon þis folk I schal venge my wille.̉ seiþ þe Lord God [W. V. 'I fulfilde them, and thei diden fornycacioun, and in the hous of the strumpet thei diden leccherie. Horses loueres in to wymmen, and courseres thei ben mad; eche to the wif of his neȝhebore neyȝede. Whether upon these thingus Y shal not visite, seith the Lord, and in such a folc of kynde shal not be vengid my soule?' 1388, 'Y fillide hem, and thei diden awowtrie, and in the hous of an hoore thei diden letcherie. Then ben maad horsis, and stalouns, louyeris to wymmen; ech man neiȝede to the wijf of his neiȝbore. Whether Y schal not visite on these thingis, seith the Lord, and schal not my soule take veniaunce in siche a folc.'] ‖

Þe .VII. heeste ‖

Þe seuenþe comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. 'Non furtum facies' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 15.] ‖ Þou schalt not do þeeft/ Neiþir knyȝtis.̉ by tirauntrie/ Neiþir prestis bi ypocrisie/ Neiþir comvnes bi stelþe & robry/

Of þe firste it is writen. Isaie i^o. 'Principes tui infideles socij furum' [Isaias i. 23.] / Þi princis ben vnfeiþful.̉ & felowis of þeeues/ alle þei louen ȝiftis.̉ þei folowen rewardingis/ þei deeme not riȝt [folio 100a] doome.̉ to þe modirles childe/ þe cause of þe widowe.̉ entriþ not to hem [W. V. 'Thi princes unfeithfull, felawes of theues; alle thei loouen ȝiftus, folewen ȝeldyngus; to the faderles child thei demen not; the cause of the widewe goth not in to them.' 1388, 'Thi princes ben unfeithful, the felowis of theuys; alle louen ȝiftis, suen meedis; thei demen not to a fadirles child, and the cause of a widewe entrith not to hem.'] /

Of þe secounde spekiþ Crist in his gospel. Ion. x^o. 'Qui non intrat per hostium in ouile ouium. sed ascendit aliunde.̉ ille fur est & latro' [Vulg. Joh. x. 1.] / He þat entriþ not bi þe dore.̉ in to þe foold of scheep/ but comeþ in bi anoþir weye.̉ he is a nyȝt-þeef & a dayþeef [W. V. 'He that cometh not in by the dore in to the fold of the sheep, but stiȝeth up by another weye, is nyȝt thef and day thef.'] / þis is expouned in þe þridde comaundement ‖

Of þe þridde spekiþ Poul. Ephe. iiii^o./ 'Qui furabatur iam non furetur magis autem laboret vnusquisque manibus suis operando quod bonum est. vt habeat vnde tribuat necessitatem pacienti' [Vulg. Eph. iv. 28 'Qui furabatur iam non furetur; magis autem laboret, operando manibus suis,' etc.] ‖ He þat staale.̉ steele he now no more/ raþir traueile iche man.̉ wirching wiþ hise hondis. þat þing þat is good/ þat he mai whereof haue.̉ to dele to him þat suffriþ nede [W. V. 'He that staal, now stele not; more forsoth traueile he in worchinge with his hondis that that is good thing, that he haue wherof he schal ȝyue to a man suffringe nede.' 1388, 'He that stal, now stele he not; but more trauele he in worchinge with hise hondis that that is good, that he haue wherof he schal ȝyue to nedi.'] / Lord if þei schullen be dampned.̉ as þe gospel seiþ. Luk. xvi^o. [Vulg. Luc. xvi. 10-12.] þat spenden not þe trewe gotun goodis.̉ aftir þe forme of Cristis teching/ Mat. xxv^o. [Vulg. Matt. xxv. 29, 30.] / where schal þei be punyschid þat wasten her owene or hiden her owene.̉ & falseli steelen oþir mennes? Seint Poul seiþ. I. Cor. vi^o. 'Fures regnum dei non possidebunt' [Vulg. 1 Cor. vi. 9 'Iniqui regnum dei,' etc.] ‖ Þeeues [folio 100b] schal not weelde.̉ þe rewme of God [W. V. Wickide men schullen not welde the kingdom of God.'] / and in þis ben conteyned.̉ þe þre forseid steelyngis/ But siþen þat God alle þingis haþ ordeyned.̉ in noumbre. wheiȝt. & mesure. as þe wise man seiþ. Sap. xi^o. 'Omnia in mensura & numero & pondere disposuisti' [Vulg. Sap. xi. 21.] ‖ Who þat falsiþ ony of þise þre.̉ or falseli vseþ hem/ he is a þeef & worþi peyne.̉ as þe wise man seiþ. Prou. xi^o. 'Statura dolosa abhominacio est apud deum pondus equum voluntas eius' [Vulg. Prov. xi. 1.] ‖

A treccherous. þat is a fals balaunce.̉ is abhominacioun anenst God/ an euene wheiȝt.̉ is þe Lordis wille [W. V. 'A treccherous weȝe abominacioun is anent God; and an euen weiȝt the wil of hym.' 1388, 'A gileful balaunce is abhominacioun anentis God; and an euene weiȝte is his wille.'] / as it is seide. Leuit. xix^o. 'Nolite facere iniquum aliquid in iudicio in regula. in pondere. in mensura. statera iusta & equa sint pondera. iustus modius. equusque sextarius/ Ego dominus deus uester' [Vulg. Lev. xix. 35, 36.] ‖ Nile ȝe do ony þing vnevenli.̉ in ony of þise foure/ In doome. in rule. in wheiȝt. in mesure/ Loke þi balaunce be iust.̉ & þi wheiȝtis euene/ Loke þi buschel be iust.̉ & þi mesure euene/ I am ȝoure Lord God [W. V. 'Nyle ȝe do eny wickid thing in dome, in rewle, in weiȝt, in mesure; riȝt balaunce, and even ben the weiȝtis, ryȝt bushel, and even sextarye; Y the Lord ȝoure God.'] ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende wiþ his cautels/ haþ whilid [folio 101a] in to þe chirche.̉ many strong þeeues/ þat don steele boþe nyȝt & dai.̉ & ȝit þei ben not hangid ‖ But God haþ ordeyned for hem.̉ gallous in helle/ & þei þat þere ben oones hangid.̉ schal neuere be delyuered ‖ But þei þat hangen on mannes gallows.̉ bi iugement of þis world/ often bi þis schameful deeþ.̉ & by verry repentaunce/ ben saued from þe endeles peyne.̉ & so was þe þeef/ þat hangid on Cristis riȝt siȝde.̉ in tyme of his passioun ‖ But þei þat fallen bakwarde.̉ & may not se her fal/ þei hang on Cristis left siȝde.̉ in perel of her soule/ from whom Crist turneþ his graciouse face.̉ as þe prophete seiþ/ spekyng wiþ þe mouþe of God.̉ to þise forseide þeeues/ Isaye. lix^o./ 'Iniquitates vestre diuiserunt inter vos & dominum vestrum & peccata vestra absconderunt faciem eius a vobis. ne exaudiret. manus enim vestre plene sunt sanguine & digiti vestri iniquitate [MS. iniquitatē.] . labia vestra locuta sunt mendacium. & lingua vestra iniquitatem fatur' [Vulg. Isaias lix. 2, 3.] ‖ Ȝoure wickidnes haþ made a deuorse.̉ bitwixe þe Lord & ȝou/ & ȝoure synnes han [folio 101b] hidde awey.̉ his graciouse face from ȝou/ þat he schulde not heere ȝou.̉ whanne ȝe crien vpon him/ forsoþe ȝoure handis ben ful of blood.̉ & ȝoure fyngers ful of synne/ ȝoure lippis han spoken lesing.̉ & ȝoure tung spekiþ wickidnes ‖ [W. V. 'ȝoure wickidnesses deuydeden betwe ȝou and ȝoure God, and ȝoure synnes hidden his face fro ȝou, that he ful out here not. Fosothe ȝoure hondis ben defoulid with blod, and ȝoure fingris with wickidnesse; ȝoure lippes speeken lesing and ȝoure tunge wickenesse speketh.' 1388, 'Ȝoure wickidnesses han departid bitwixe ȝou and ȝoure God, and ȝoure synnes han hid his face fro ȝou, that he shulde not here. For whi ȝoure hondis ben defoulid with blood, and ȝoure fingris with wickidnesse; ȝoure lippis spaken leesyng, and ȝoure tunge spekith wickidnesse.'] Þe face of God is here

taken.̉ for his grace in mannes mynde/ In anoþir place it is taken.̉ for Cristis incarnacioun ‖ and in anoþir place it is taken.̉ for þe glorie of God. in his euerlasting maieste/ And þise þre ben turned awey.̉ from þise forseide spoylours/ & cause whi þe prophete seiþ. ben þise twoo þingis/ Her handis & her fyngeris.̉ ben ful of blood and wickidnes ‖ vpon þis seiþ Parsiens/ 'Qui aut furto aut vi aut fraude possidet vnde pauperes ali deberent.̉ pauperum sanguine manus habet pollutas'/ Who þat haþ eiþir bi þeeft as robrie. eiþir bi strengþe. as tirauntrie. eiþir bi fraude or gile as ypocrisie. þo þingis of þe whiche þe pore owid to be norischid. he haþ his handis pollutid. in þore mennes blood/ and who þat cloþiþ him wiþ suche goodis. or fediþ him wiþ suche goodis. or reriþ vp bildyngis wiþ suche gooten goodis.̉ þanne is ‖he cladde in pore mennes blood. þanne is he fedde wiþ pore mennes [folio 102a] blood. þanne groundeþ he his bilding in pore mennes blood ‖

Summe men seyn it is no synne.̉ to take what þat men wole ȝyue hem/ summe seyne þei wole spende her goodis.̉ þere þei haue moost deuocioun/ summe morteisen hous. lond. watir. & wood.̉ in to deed mennes hondis ‖ To ȝou we asken þis questioun/ what profitiþ þe hand.̉ wiþouten fyngeris/ or þe fyngers.̉ wiþouten hand? If ȝe mowen seie þat eiþir of hem may worche his werke wiþouten oþir to mannes profite.̉ þanne mai ȝe seie þat deuocioun mai profite wiþouten discrecioun. & ellis not/ for þus it is writen. Cant. v^o./ 'Manus mee stillauerunt mirram. & digiti mei mirram probatissimam' [Vulg. Cant. v. 5 'Manus meae stillaverunt myrrham, et digiti mei pleni myrrha probatissima.'] ‖ Þise ben þe wordis of a trewe soule. myn hondis haþ droppid mirre.̉ & my fingeris moost proued mirre [W. V. 'Myn hondis droppeden mirre, and my fingres ful of best proued myrre.' 1388, 'Myn hondis droppiden myrre, and my fyngris weren ful of myrre moost preued.'] / vpon þis seiþ seint Bernard. 'Deuocio sine discrecione. vacue iacet/ discrecio sine deuocione precipitat.̉ felix est cui neutra [MS. veutra.] deest' [Bernardus, Super Cantica, Sermo XXIII (D. Bernardi Opera Omnia, ed. 1552, p. 843).] / Deuocioun wiþouten discrecioun.̉ lieþ voide & doiþ no [folio 102b]

good/ discrecioun wiþouten deuocioun.̉ þrowiþ doun heedlingis/ he is blessid.̉ þat wantiþ neiþir of þise/ Loke what it profitiþ to haue Crist in manhod.̉ wiþouten his godhood? or to haue a bodi.̉ wiþouten a soule? or to haue feiþ in worde.̉ wiþouten dede? or to haue þe letter.̉ wiþouten vndirstonding? or to haue a laump wiþouten oyle? So profitiþ deuocioun.̉ wiþouten discrecioun/

Summen ȝit bisien hem.̉ to mayntene þis þeeft & seyn/ Þise men þat ȝe marken.̉ ben good prechours. þei ben deuoute preiars.̉ & algatis amonge hem . God is faire serued ‖

As to her preching.̉ Crist answeriþ & seiþ. Mat. vii^o. Luk. xii^o [Vulg. Matt. vii. 22; Luc. xiii. 25-27.] / 'Multi dicent mihi in illa die. Domine. Domine. nonne in nomine tuo prophetauimus & in nomine tuo demonia eiecimus & in nomine tuo virtutes multas fecimus? & tunc confitebor illis quia nunquam novi vos/ discedite a me omnes qui operamini iniquitatem' ‖ Manye schal come to Crist.̉ & seie to him in þe dai [folio 103a] of doome ‖ Lord. Lord. han not we prechid in þi name & casten out deuelis in þi name. & wrouȝt many vertues in þi name/ Seint Austin seiþ. þe Lord schal not denaye þis/ for who euer þe prechour be.̉ a deuoute heerer may wynne him mede/ but he schal knoweleche to hem.̉ & seie/ For I knew ȝou neuer. þat is to seie. I approued neuere ȝoure werkis.̉ goo fro me alle ȝe þat wirken wickidness [W. V. 'Many shul say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, whether we han not prophecied in thi name, and han cast out deuelis in thi name, and han don many vertues in thi name? And than Y shal knowliche to hem, For I knewe ȝou neuer: departe awey fro me, ȝe that worchen wickidnesse.'] /

And as to her preiars. seint Austin seiþ in a book þat he made.̉ of mounkis lijf/ It profitiþ not to preie.̉ & late þe lond lie leie/

And as to her faire seruice.̉ it is seide aforn/ þat God is no where faire serued.̉ but þere as his lawe is faire kept of þe peple ‖

But in þise þre.̉ þei disceyuen þe peple of her bileue/ þei robben hem of her vertu.̉ & þei spoylen hem of her goodis/ as it is writen. Miche. iii^o./ 'Hec dicit Dominus super prophetas qui seducunt populum meum qui mordent dentibus suis & predicant pacem & si quis non dederit in ore ipsorum quippiam sanctificant super eum [folio 103b] prelium propterea nox [MS. vox.] erit uobis pro visione & tenebre vobis pro

diuinacione' [Vulg. Mich. iii. 5, 6.] ‖ Þise þingis seiþ þe Lord vpon prechours.̉ þat disceyuen my peple as wiþ her preching/ þat biten wiþ her teeþ.̉ as for her preiyng/ & prechen pees.̉ as for her faire seruyng/ and who þat wole not ȝyue sumwhat.̉ in to þe mouþe of hem. þei halowen bataile vpon him/ þerfore þe Lord seiþ. Niȝt schal be to ȝou.̉ for ȝoure visioun/ & dercknes.̉ for ȝoure diuinacioun [W. V. 'These thingus saith the Lord on the prophetis that disceyuen my peple, & biten with her teeth, and prechen pees; and ȝif eny man shal not ȝeve in the mouth of hem enything, thei halewyn bateyle on hym. Therefore niȝt shal be to ȝou for visioun, (or prophecie), and derknessis to ȝou for dyuynacioun.'] / Þise wole be meke.̉ wiþouten dispite/ pore.̉ wiþouten defauȝt/ wel clad.̉ wiþouten bisines/ diligatli fedde.̉ wiþouten traueile/ whili flatirars.̉ to hem þat þei bigilen/ yuel-willi traitours.̉ to hem þat þei haten/ hasti pursuars.̉ of hem þat þei sclaundren/ soore bitars.̉ as doggis/ descyuable.̉ as foxis/ proude.̉ as lyouns/ enviouse.̉ as addris/ wiþouten forþe.̉ as scheep/ wiþynne forþe as raueisching wolues/ Þei wole be iugis.̉ wiþouten autorite/ & at þe laste.̉ false accusars & wanting al vertu/ and þerfore þe wise man seiþ. Prou. vi^o. [Prov. vi. 19.] þat þe Lord boþe hatiþ & wlatiþ him.̉ [folio 104a] þat sowiþ discorde among neiȝbours/ þise ypocritis wole suffre no darte.̉ of correccioun to þrille hem/ but in iche synne þat þei done.̉ þei leien forþe þe bockelere of proude defence/ and whanne ony of hem.̉ is blamed for his wickidnes/ he wil not þanne anoon.̉ þenk hou he mai amende it/ but he seekiþ bisili helpe.̉ hou he mai defende it/ Hec Gregorius. li^o. xxx.

Þe .VIII. heeste ‖

Þe eiȝtiþ comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. 'Non loqueris contra proximum tuum falsum testimonium' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 16.] ‖ Þou schalt not speke fals witnes aȝens þi neiȝbour/ Neiþir for ȝiftis taking/ Neiþir for mannes stering/ Neiþir þi silf in synne excusing ‖

Of þe firste it is writen . Isa. v^o. 'Ve qui iustificatis impium pro muneribus.̉ & iusticiam iusti aufertis ab eo' [Vulg. Isaias v. 23.] ‖ woo to ȝou þat iustifien.̉ þe wickid man for ȝiftis/ & take awey þe riȝtwisenes of þe iust man.̉ for he mai not paye [W. V. 'Wo that iustefien the unpitous for ȝiftes, and the riȝtwisnesse of the riȝtwyse ȝee taken awey fro hym.' 1388, 'ȝe iustifien a wickid man for ȝiftis, and ȝe taken awei the riȝtfulnesse of a iust man fro hym.] ‖ [folio 104b]

Of þe secounde spekiþ þe wise man.̉ Prou. xix^o. 'Falsus testis non erit inpunitus.̉ et qui mendacia loquitur peribit' [Vulg. Prov. xix. 5 'Testis falsus non erit impunitus, et qui mendacia loquitur non effugiet.'] ‖ A false witnesberer.̉ schal not be vnpunyschid/ & he þat spekiþ liees.̉ schal perische [W. V. 'A fals witnesse shal not ben unpunshid; and he that lesing speketh, shal not ascapen.'] / Ps. v^o. 'Perdes omnes qui locuntur mendacium' [Vulg. Ps. v. 6.] / Lord þou schalt leese alle þoo. þat speken lesing/ for þe wise man seiþ. Sap. i^o. [Vulg. Sap. i. 11.] Þe mouþe þat lieþ.̉ sleeþ þe soule/ and þerfor seiþ Crist. Ion. viii^o. 'vos ex patre diabolo estis &c' [Vulg. Joh. viii. 44.] ‖ Þat is to seie. ȝe liears.̉ ben sones of ȝoure fadir þe deuel/ & ȝe wil do þe desiris of ȝoure fadir/ He was a mansleer fro þe bigynnyng.̉ for he stood not in trouþe. for trouþe is not in him/ whanne he spekiþ lesing.̉ he spekiþ of his owene autorite/ for he is a lier.̉ & þe fadir of lesing [W. V. 'ȝe ben of the fadir, the deuel, and ȝe wolen do the desyris of ȝoure fadir. He was a mansleere fro the bigynnyng, and in treuthe he stood not; for treuthe is not in him. Whanne he spekith a lesinge he spekith of his owne thingis; for he is a lyiere, and fadir of it.'] /

Of þe þridde spekiþ þe prophete Ps. cxl. 'Pone domine custodiam ori meo &c' [Vulg. Ps. cxl. 3 (A. V. Ps. cxli. 3).] ‖ Lord putt þou warde to my mouþe.̉ & a dore of circumstaunce to my lippis/ bowe þou not my herte.̉ in to þe wordis of malice.̉ to excusaciouns to be excusid in synne [W. V. 'Put, Lord, warde to my mouth; and a dore of circumstaunce to my lippis. Bowe thou not doun my herte into the woordis of malice; to ben excusid excusaciouns in synnes.' 1388, 'Lord, sette thou a keping to my mouth; and a dore of stonding aboute to my lippis. Bowe thou not myn herte in to wordis of malice; to excuse excusing is in synne.'] / for þe wise man seiþ. Prou. ii. 'Qui letantur cum male fecerint & exultent [folio 105a] in rebus pessimis puniantur' [Vulg. Prov. ii. 14 'Qui laetantur cum malefecerint, et exultant in rebus pessimis.'] / Þat is to seie. Þei þat maken myry.̉ whanne þei han done yuel/ & ioyen in werst þingis.̉ be þei punyschid wiþ eendles peyne [W. V. 'Thei hat gladen, whan thei don euele, and ful out ioȝen in werst thingus.' 1388, 'Whiche ben glad, whanne thei han do yuel, and maken ful out ioye in worste things.'] ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende wiþ hise cautels/ haþ ȝouun leue to .XII. men.̉ for twelue grootis/ to passe forþe on a quest.̉ aȝen a riȝtwise blood/ & seie a false witnesse.̉ þat þe man

is gilti/ & anoon he schal be deed.̉ þouȝ it were Crist him silf ‖ In þis þe fendis membris.̉ grounden hem on Iesabel/ III Re. xxi^o. [Vulg. 3 Reg. xxi. 8-11.] for sche sent lettris.̉ in þe name of Acab/ aseelid wiþ his synet.̉ to iourours of þe countre/ & chargid hem þat þei schulde cheese.̉ twoo men of Belial sones/ þat myȝt seie fals witnes.̉ aȝen þe knyȝt Naboth/ þat he hadde waried.̉ boþe God & þe kyng/ and by þis false witnesse.̉ þei slowen þis giltles knyȝt ‖ Certis so in oure daies.̉ who þat mediþ þise iullars/ þat ben þe sones of Belial.̉ & fals questmongars/ he may slee & he may saue.̉ þus fals were neuer þe Iewis ‖ For whanne tweie oolde prestis.̉ þat brenned in leccherie/ of þe womman Susan.̉ as þe story telliþ/ Daniel. [folio 105b] xiii^o. [Vulg. Dan. xiii. 1-63.] / And sche wolde not consent.̉ to do her foule lust/ þanne þei ȝouun a sentence.̉ of her fals witnesse/ wherbi sche was iugid.̉ worþi to þe deed/ As sche was ledde to þe fire.̉ sche made hir deuoute preiere/ and þanne God rerid vp.̉ þe herte of a ȝong man/ þat was clepid Daniel.̉ & he reuokid her doom/ and repreued þise oolde prestis.̉ of her false witnes/ so þat Goddis aungel.̉ wiþ a scharp swerid/ slowȝe hem for her false doome.̉ in siȝt of alle þe peple/ and þei preised God almyȝti.̉ of þis faire delyueraunce ‖ How schulde ȝe iourours.̉ scape þe fire of helle.̉ þat for a litil money.̉ wole dampne ȝe reck neuir whom/ & diserite trewe eiris.̉ of her iust eritage/ For þoo þat wole not seie þe trouþe.̉ but if þei take mede/ sellen Crist þat is trouþe.̉ & ben werre þan Iewis ‖ Þei slouȝen him whanne he cam to die.̉ but now he regneþ vndeedli/ where schal þanne ȝoure peyne be.̉ þat wole seie false witnes/ for to cacche a vauntage.̉ of sum worldli wynnyng? ȝe selle ȝoure silf boþe bodi and soule.̉ in to þe fendis seruyce ‖ [folio 106a]

ȝit may we se more cumberaunce.̉ of þe fendis worchynge/ for þer is noon officere.̉ temperal ne spirituel/ þan he is redi whanne he may.̉ for to take ȝiftis/ of þe pore comunes.̉ & pille hem euer anoon/ & ellis þei schal no pees haue.̉ from greuousear oppressyng.̉ as is takyng of her beestis.̉ wiþ corn & oþir vitails/ and oþir payment gete þei noon.̉ but a whit stik / til þei haue loost half on half.̉ wiþ myche more traueile ‖ Lord! if þat ȝe markid wel.̉ what Ietro seide to Moyses/ Exo. xviii^o. [Vulg. Ex. xviii. 13-26.] soone ȝe schulde amende þis mys.̉ or ellis ȝe ben vncurable ‖ Ietro counseyled Moyses.̉ þat he schulde wiseli ordeyne/ miȝti men þat dredden God.̉ in

whom was verry trouþe/ & þat hatid auarice.̉ wiþ alle hir cursid braunchis/ & þei schulde haue office.̉ in rulyng vndir Moises/ Moyses consentid.̉ & wrouȝt aftir his counseile/ þerfore pees. welþe. & grace regned in hise daies ‖ Rere vp ȝoure wittis ȝe princis.̉ & lordis in þis world/ & se hou king Iosaphat.̉ chargid [folio 106b] to hise officeris/ II. Para. xix^o. 'Constituitque iudices terre in cunctis ciuitatibus iuda precipiens eis. videte ait quid faciatis/ Non enim hominis exercetis iudicium sed domini. Et quodcumque iudicaueritis in vos redundabit/ Sit timor domini vobiscum.̉ & cum diligencia cuncta facite/ Non est enim apud dominum nostrum iniquitas. nec personarum accepcio. nec cupido munerum' [Vulg. II. Para. xix. 5-7.] / Þat is to seie. Iosophat ordeyned iugis.̉ in alle þe citees of Iurie/ & ȝaue hem þis bidding/ Be war he seiþ what ȝe do/ forsoþe þis doome þat ȝe haunten. is not þe doome of man.̉ but þe doom of God/ & what þat ȝe demen.̉ schal turne vpon ȝoure silf/ loke þe drede of God be among ȝou.̉ & doiþ alle þingis wiþ diligence/ forsoþe anenst þe Lord God.̉ is no wickidnes/ neiþir accepting of persoones.̉ neiþir coueitise of ȝiftis/ and he chargid prestis & dekenes.̉ þat þei schulde make knowen/ alle þe douȝtis of þe lawe.̉ leste þe peple synned [W. V. 'And he sette domesmen of the lond in alle the strengthed citees of Juda, by alle placis. And comaundyng to the iugis, Seeith, he seith, what ȝe done; forsothe ȝe enhaunten not dome of man, bot of the Lord; and what euer ȝe shul demyn in to ȝou it schal redoundyn; be the drede of the Lord with ȝou, and with diligence alle thingus doith; forsothe ther is not anentis the Lord oure God wickidnesse, ne acceptynge of persones, ne couetise of ȝiftis. And Josaphath in Jerusalem sette Leuytis, and prestis, and princes of the meynees of Yrael, that dome and the cause of the Lord thei schulden deemyn to the dwellers of it.' 1388, 'And he ordeynede iugis of the lond in alle the strengthid citees of Judia, bi ech place. And he comaundide to the iugis, and seide. Se ȝe, what ȝe doen; for ȝe usen not the doom of man, but of the Lord; and what euere thing ȝe demen, schal turne in to ȝou; the drede of the Lord be with you, and do ȝe alle thingis with diligence: for anentis ȝoure Lord God is no wickidnesse, nether takynge of persoones nether coueitise of ȝiftis. Also in Jerusalem Josaphat ordeynede dekenes, preestis, and the princes of meynees of Israel, that thei schulden deme the doom & cause of the Lord to the dwellers of it.'] ‖ If þis loore were wel lerned.̉ of oure cristen lordis/ þe harde boondis of anticrist.̉ schulde be altobrosten/ Cristen peple schulde haue leue.̉ to do her office [folio 107a] treweli/ & iche a man his freedam.̉ to serue God in vertu/ Þanne were þis good gouerneaunce.̉ & sauyng of þe rewme/ In pees. in

welþe. in euery astate.̉ as prestis. knyȝtis & comunes/ for þus seiþ Crisostom. om. I./ 'Notandum quod quicumque regum placuerunt deo diucius regnauerunt & prosperati sunt/ & inimicos eorum humiliauit deus sub eis/ Quotquot autem maligne gesserunt velociter & a regno & a uita cum amara morte percisi sunt & humiliauit eos deus sub inimicis eorum' [S. Ioan. Chrysostomus, Homilia I (Opera, ed. 1547, tom. ii, col. 721).] ‖ Þat is to seie. It is to noote þat who of kyngis han plesid God.̉ þei han regned þe lenger/ & þei han ben welþi. & God haþ lowid her enemyes vndir hem/ Forsoþe als many as han don wickidli.̉ þei han ben kitt vp hastili/ boþe from her rewme & from her lijf.̉ wiþ a bittir deeþ/ & God haþ lowid hem.̉ vndir her enemyes þraldom ‖

Þe nynþe heeste ‖

The nynþe comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. Deuto. v^o. 'Non concupisces domum proximi tui' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 17.] / Þou schalt not coueite þe hous of þi neibour ‖ In þe seuenþe heest God forbediþ.̉ þe vnleful takyng of oþir mennes goodis/ & so in þat he refreyneþ.̉ þe vnskilfulnes of mannes dede/ But in þis heest God forbediþ.̉ þe [folio 107b] coueitise of vnleful taking/ & in þat he refreyneþ.̉ þe vnordinat appetite of mannes desire/ namli in alle þo þingis.̉ þat ben vnmoveable/ þat is to seie. þat moun not move hem silf.̉ bi her owene myȝt from oo place to anoþir/ as ben hous. lond. gold. & suche oþir like to þise ‖

And þis viciouse coueitise.̉ if it be conteyned/ growiþ to deeþ of þe soule.̉ from þe roote of mannes herte/ for whanne þe wille haþ consentid.̉ to do þat þing þat God forbediþ/ þouȝ þe dede folowe not aftir.̉ in outward siȝt of mannes doome/ & no þing lettiþ to do þe dede.̉ saue wille mai not as it wolde/ þanne þe soule is deed goostli.̉ wiþynne þe hous of þe bodi/ And þis deeþ is signified.̉ bi a persoones douȝtir/ þat was deed wiþynne hir fadris hous.̉ & Crist bi myracle ȝaue hir lijf/ Mat. ix^o./ Mar. v^o. Luk. viii^o. [Vulg. Matt. ix. 18-26; Marc. v. 22-43; Luc. viii. 41-56.]

Summe norischen her coueitise.̉ til it spring vnto a dede/ as a careyn opunly deed.̉ þat lieþ bi þe weye enfecting þe peple/ and þis is tauȝt in þe widouse sone.̉ þat was born deed on a beere/

[folio 108a] wiþouten þe ȝatis of þe citee.̉ for to putt him in his graue/ Luk. vii^o [Vulg. Luc. vii. 11-15.] / Crist rerid him bi his myracle.̉ & ȝaue him aȝen to his modir ‖

Summe feeden her foule coueitise.̉ wiþ lust & lykyng & delectacioun/ in þouȝt. in worde. & in werke.̉ & þis is moost abhomynable/ for it was schewid in Lazarus/ Ion. xi^o. [Vulg. Joh. xi. 1-46.] þat lay deed foure daies in his graue/ & Crist bi miracle to turne þe Iewis.̉ rerid vp his bodi & ȝaue it þe spirit ‖

Alle þise þre ben aȝenst þis heest of God/ & ben worþi eendles peyne.̉ but if God þoruȝ his graciouse mercy/ move hem to vertu & to verry penaunce.̉ þat ben deed in þise forseid foule coueitises/ Þat is to seie. in coueitise of herte.̉ of dede. & of custum/ and þerfore þe wise man. Ecc. xviii^o. 'Post concupiscencias tuas non eas' [Vulg. Ecclesiasticus xviii. 30.] / Go þou not awey fro þi God.̉ aftir þin owene couetises [W. V. 'After thi lustis go thou not.' 1388, 'Go thou not aftir thi coueitises.'] ‖ Lord hou schulde he kepe him from a viciouse dede.̉ þat doiþ not out of his herte. þe coueitise þerof? Certis it is as vnposible.̉ as to saue þat hous from brennyng/ þat þou settist on fire.̉ wiþ þin [folio 108b] owene handis ‖ A weede may not be distried.̉ but if þat delictable coueitise of synne. be pullid out of þe herte/ for if þere abide ony part of þis foule couetise.̉ vndrawen vp in þe herte/ anoon aftir comeþ þerof. þeeft. false purchase.̉ & suche oþir/ and þerfor seide Moyses.̉ vnto þe children of Israel/ Deuto. xix^o./ 'Non assumes & transferes terminos proximi tui quos fixerunt priores tui in possessione tua quam dominus deus tuus dabit tibi' [Vulg. Deut. xix. 14.] ‖ Þat is to seie. þou schalt not take. ne þou schalt not passe þe termes or þe boundes of þi neiȝbore.̉ þe whiche þin elderis han sett/ in þe whiche possessioun.̉ þat þe Lord þi God schal ȝyue to þee [W. V. 'Thou shalt not take, and ouerbere the teermes of thi neiȝbour, the whiche han maad rather men in thi possessioun, that the Lord thi God shal ȝyue to thee.' 1388, 'Thou schalt not take, and turne over the termes of thi neiȝbore, which the formere men settiden in thi possessioun, which thi Lord God schal ȝyue to thee.'] / For who þat takiþ awey his neiȝboris grounde.̉ þat is to seie. lond or place. wood or watir. corn or grasse. in felde or in toune. þoruȝ ony of þise forseide couetises.̉ he stondiþ in þat acursid of God & his

lawe/ for þus it is writen. Deuto. xxvii^o./ 'Maledictus qui transfert terminos proximi sui' [Vulg. Deut. xxvii. 17.] / Cursid be þat man or womman. þat passiþ þe boundis of laweful mesure.̉ bitwene her neiȝbours & hem [W. V. 'Cursid that overberith the teermes of his neiȝbore.'] /

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende wiþ hise cau- -tels/ haþ largid [folio 109a] þis couetise.̉ to alle þre astatis/ þat vnneþ ony man. takiþ ony hede.̉ hou þat he cum bi good. so þat he were riche ‖

Comunes han purchasid.̉ at anticristis procatour/ to be fermours of þe chirche.̉ for couetise of wynnyng/ and bi þis parischens.̉ ben brouȝt in many custumes/ þat stroyen pees & norischen baate.̉ & quenchen Goddis lawe/ But who þat euere seiþ or biddiþ.̉ biside Goddis wille/ þat is not proued in holy writ.̉ & opunli declarid/ he is a false witnesar.̉ & doiþ cursid sacrilege/ and so seiþ seint Austin/ 'Cum dominus dixit in euangelio. ego sum veritas. & non dixit ego sum consuetudo. itaque veritate manifestata veritati cedat consuetudo/ Petrus qui circumsidebat cessit Paulo veritatem predicanti/ ergo cum christus veritas sit magis veritatem quam consuetudinem sequi debemus quia consuetudinem racio & veritas semper excludunt' [Augustinus, De Baptismo contra Donatistas, Lib. III, cap. vi-ix (Migne, tom. 43, cols. 143, 144); Gratian, Decreti Pars Prima, dist. viii, cap. vi (Migne, tom. 187, cols. 46, 47).] / whanne þe Lord God haþ seid in his gospel. I am trouþe. & he seid not. I am custum.̉ þanne whanne trouþe is schewid. custum mut nede ȝyue stede to trouþe/ Petir þat circumcidid. consentid to Poul. preching þe trouþe/ þerfor siþen Crist is trouþe.̉ we owen miche more to swe trouþe þan [folio 109b] custum/ for euer-more resoun & trouþe.̉ schullen exclude custum/ and whanne resoun & trouþe. excluden þise fermours. & alle her false custumes.̉ he is a verry membre of þe deuel. þat maynteneþ þe contrarie/ & makiþ þe hous of Iesu Crist.̉ þe comune schopp of marchaundise ‖

But lordis here ben more to blame.̉ þat schulde chastise þis synne/ for summe ben fermours hem silf.̉ & fauouren for couetise/ þat þe persun schal haue leue.̉ to liee in grooti placis/ as an hogge in þe myre.̉ & leeue his cure vnkept ‖ ȝhe lordis in þise daies.̉ ben so smyten wiþ couetise/ þat þei holden false gooten

goodis.̉ aȝens her owene conscience/ and feele siþes reren strong hand.̉ armyd in wickidnes/ to kille men boþe sleping & wakyng.̉ to encrese her lordschipis ‖ Kyng Acab for couetise.̉ of Nabathis vynȝerde/ þat he desirid for to haue had.̉ aȝen þis knyȝtis wille/ [folio 110a] leide him gronyng on his bedde.̉ & wolde taste no mete/ for Nabath seide he wolde not chaunge.̉ ne selle his kynde eritage ‖ But Iezabel þat wickid quene.̉ ȝaue þe kyng suche counseile/ þat þei kesten þis manes deeþ.̉ bi a fals sclaundir/ & þus þei brouȝten him to an eende.̉ & reioyced his vynȝerde ‖ God sent worde to Acab & to Iezabel.̉ bi þe prophet Hely/ þat for þei hadden do þus coueitouseli.̉ aȝens his comaundement/ her blood schulde be schadde on þe erþe.̉ & houndis schulde lik it/ And moreouere. God took veniaunce.̉ for þis greuouse synne/ vpon þe seed þat cam of hem.̉ in to þe þridde & þe fourþe generacioun/ And if þat we tooke hede.̉ hou lordis han slayn iche oþir/ in scheding her blood in þe felde.̉ for coueitise of lording/ we schulde not woundir þouȝ Goddis hand.̉ be strecchid ouere hise peple/ to smyt wiþ veniaunce as he doiþ.̉ & no man may avoide it/ and if þou wilt wite.̉ what is þis veniaunce/ God seiþ bi þe prophete. [folio 110b] Ose. iiii^o/ Þat his veniaunce is.̉ whanne he wiþdrawiþ his chastising. & þe ȝerde of amending/ and suffriþ hise enemyes to regne in her synne.̉ to her deeþ day/ & aftir to dampne hem bodi & soule.̉ euer wiþouten eende/ And to þis acordiþ Gregory.̉ in hise morals vpon Iob/ 'Deus quibusdam hec parcit.̉ vt in eternum feriat' ‖ Þat is to se. In þis lijf to summe God spariþ.̉ þat he may smyte hem wiþouten ende/ and Iob seiþ. xxi^o. 'Quare impij viuunt subleuati sunt confortatique diuiciis/ semen eorum permanet coram eis propinquorum turba & nepotum in conspectu eorum domus eorum secure sunt & pacate & non est virga dei super illos/ Bos eorum concepit & non abhortiuit/ vacca peperit & non est priuata fetu suo ‖ Egrediuntur quasi greges paruuli eorum & infantes eorum exultant [MS. exultauit.] lusibus/ tenent timpanum & cytharam & gaudent ad sonitum organi/ Ducunt in bonis dies suos.̉ & in puncto ad inferna descendunt' [Vulg. Job xxi. 7-13.] ‖ Þat is to seie. whi lyuen wickid men avauncid & counfortid in richessis? þe seed of hem dwelliþ biforn [folio 111a] hem.̉ & þe company of nyȝ frendis & cosynes in her siȝt/ her housis ben siker. & þe ȝeerde of God. þat is clepid his chastising.̉

is not vpon hem/ Her heekfar consceyued.̉ & kest not hir fruyt or tyme/ Hir cow bar hir fruyt.̉ & was not braft þe profit of hir wombe/ Her striplyngis gon aforn hem.̉ as flokis of beestis/ and her ȝonglingis ioyen.̉ in pleyes & in games ‖ Þei holden þe tymber & þe harp.̉ & þei ioyen at þe sonde of þe organ/ Þei leden her daies in goodis. þat is to seie. in helþe & in welþe.̉ & in worldli worschip/ and sodenli in a poynt.̉ þei discenden or gon doun to hellis [W V. 'Whi thanne unpitous men liuen, and ben rered up, and coumfortid with richessis? The sed of hem abit stille beforn hem; and the cumpanye of neeȝh men, and of cosynes in the siȝte of hem. The housis of hem ben sikere, and pesible; and the ȝerde of God is not upon hem. The oxe of hem conceyued, and bar not abortif; the kow bar, and is not prived the frut. The little childer of hem gon out as flockis; and the fauntis of hem gladen out with pleies. They holden the timbre, and the harpe; and ioȝen at the soun of the orgne. Thei leden in goodis ther daȝis; and in a point to hellis thei go doun.' 1388, 'Whi therfor lyuen wickid men? Thei ben enhaunsid, and coumfortid with richessis. Her seed dwellith bifor hem; the cumpeny of kynesmen, and of sones of sones dwellith in her siȝt. Her housis ben sikur, and pesible; and the ȝerde of God is not on hem. The cow of hem conseyuede and calvede not a deed calf; the cow caluyde, and is not priued of hir calf. Her litle children goen out as flockis; and her ȝonge children maken fulli ioye with pleies. Thei holden tympan, and harpe; and ioien at the soun of orgun. Thei leden in goodis her daies: and in a point thei goen doun to hellis.'] ‖ But aȝenwarde.̉ Salamon in hise prouerbis. iii^o. [Vulg. Prov. iii. 12.] / And seint Poul to þe Hebre. xii^o [Vulg. Heb. xii. 5, 6.] / And seint Ion in his apocalips. iii^o. [Vulg. Apoc. iii. 19.] / seyn þat God repreueþ & chastisiþ.̉ alle hem þat he loueþ. & resceyueþ to blisse/ And þerfore seiþ Iason. II. Macha. vi^o./ 'Multo tempore non sinere peccatoribus ex sententia agere sed statim vlciones adhibere magni beneficij est indicium' [Vulg. 2 Macc. vi. 13.] ‖ Þat is to seie. It is a greet token of greet goodnes.̉ not to suffre long [folio 111b] tyme synners/ of her wickid purpose.̉ to swe her owene foly/ but soone put to hem.̉ merciful chastisement/ forsoþe þe Lord doþe not so wiþ hise chosun.̉ as he doiþ wiþ alien naciouns/ þat is. þoo þat he forsakiþ þoruȝ her diseruyng.̉ & casteþ hem out of his siȝt/ whom he abidiþ pacientli.̉ to punysche hem at þe fulle in domesday/ forsoþe he haþ not ordeyned so.̉ to punysche hem þat he loueþ/ but he chastiseþ hem pacientli.̉ & aftir resceyueþ hem to his graciouse mercy ‖

But prestis in þis couetise.̉ moost greuen her God/ for þei ben

autours of þise synnes.̉ þat we han seide aforn/ Þei seyn þat þei han a lawe.̉ þat þei clepen hem silf/ fredom of holi chirche.̉ þouȝ it be bondage of þe deuel/ & bi þis þei may purchase.̉ out of þe seculere hand/ ȝhe al her lijflood if þei myȝt wynne it.̉ bi oo weie or bi oþir/ & what þei wynne in to her powere.̉ þer may no man reclem it/ in to þe handis of seculers.̉ for holy chirchis fredam/ [folio 112a] & who so do. schal be suspendid.̉ for holi chirchis grippe/ & acursid bi her lawe.̉ til he restore aȝen ‖ Þus þei vndo seculere [MS. secule.] partie.̉ wiþ her feyned holines/ in cleping her sory chirche holi chirche.̉ & her þraldom fredom/ & magnifien her serymoyns.̉ aboue þe lawe of God/ so þat laymen ben oppressid.̉ vndir þise prestis daunger/ as soore as þe Iewis weren.̉ wiþ scribis & farises ‖

Þe deuel whanne he temptid Eve.̉ made a faire semblaunt/ for to stire hir to coueitise.̉ to breke Goddis biddyng ‖ in eeting of þe appil.̉ wherbi deeþ schulde entre ‖ Þis womman sauȝ þe appil.̉ þat it was good in biholding/ & also faire in siȝt.̉ & likerouse in smelling/ sche eet þerof.̉ & ȝaue part to hir housbond/ He boote þerof. þanne boþe weren deedli. & losten þe ioye of paradise ‖ Þe maistir of sentence seiþ þis appil.̉ is synne þat God forbediþ/ þanne aftir þe wit of allegory.̉ þis is þus to mene/ whanne þat seculere men.̉ fermen spiritual office/ and whanne þat prestis [folio 112b] bowiden doun.̉ to take temperel lordschip/ bi tempting of þe deuel.̉ in her foule couetise/ Þanne þise twoo parties. as Adam & Eve.̉ & þei þat ben consentours/ ben dryuen out of þe blisse of heuen.̉ wiþ þe scharpe swerde of Goddis word/ Balaam was cauȝt in þis coueitise.̉ & his owene beest repreued him/ & hirt his foot aȝen a wal.̉ for his iourney plesid not God/ But þis man wolde not be war.̉ þerfore he was slayn among þe heeþen/ Numeri. xxii^o. Þis couetise sterid Geizi.̉ to take mede of Naaman/ for a spiritual benefice.̉ þat God him silf hadde wrouȝt/ bi his seruaunt Helesie.̉ in clensyng of his myselrie/ & þerfore Geizi.̉ wiþ his generacioun/ were smyten for euer.̉ wiþ þe leepre of Naaman/ IV. Re. v^o./ Anany & Saphir his wijf.̉ ouercomen wiþ þis couetise/ liȝed in her conscience.̉ aforne seint Petris presence/ & þerfore þei died boþe.̉ in þe synne of wanhope/ Actus v^o. [Vulg. Act. v. 1-11.] / who þat rediþ þis blessid loore.̉ þat is oure feiþ & Goddis lawe/ but

he leue þis couetise.̉ he stondiþ in perel of his soule/ as God seiþ bi þe prophete. Isaie. v^o./ 'Ve qui coniungitis domum ad domum & agrum agro capulatis vsque ad terminum loci/ Numquid [folio 113a] habitabitis soli vos in medio terre' [Vulg. Isaias v. 8.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Woo to ȝou þat ioynen hous to hous. & couplen feelde to feelde.̉ vnto þe terme of a place/ Nowheþir schul ȝe dwelle aloone in myddis of þe erþe? seiþ þe Lord God/ In þis God forbediþ. þe vnleful coueitis.̉ þat we han seid aforn/ for if þis couetise cacche not roote in þe herte.̉ it schal neuer growe to þe deed. as it is seide aforn/ and þerfore seiþ seint Poul. I. Cor. x^o. 'Non sumus concupiscentes malorum. sicut quidam eorum concupierunt' [Vulg. 1 Cor. x. 6 'Non simus concupiscentes malorum sicut et illi,' etc.] / Be we not coueiting of yuel.̉ as summe of oure elders han coueited [W. V. 'Forsoth thes thingis ben don in figure of us, that we ben not coueyteris of yuelis, as and thei coueitiden.'] / & we preien ȝou for charite.̉ looke in þise placis/ & se what haþ fallen.̉ for þis synne of couetise Ge. iii^o/ Numerj. xiiii^o/ xvi^o/ & xxii^o/ IIII Re. v^o/ Actus. v^o. ‖

Þe tenþe heest/

The tenþe comaundement of God is þis. Exo. xx^o. 'Non desiderabis vxorem proximi tui. non seruum. non ancillam. non bouem. non azinum. nec omnia que illius sunt' [Vulg. Ex. xx. 17.] ‖ Þou schalt not desire þi neiȝbores wijf. ne his seruaunt. ne his handmayde. ne his oxe. ne his asse. ne no þingis þat ben hise.̉ oþirwise þan þou wilt he coueite þin. aftir resoun & þe lawe of Cristis gospel ‖ In þe [folio 113b] sixte comaundement.̉ God forbediþ þe outwarde dede of leccherie/ & in þat he refreyneþ.̉ þe vnleful treeting of þe bodi/ but in þis he forbediþ.̉ þe inwarde consent of þe herte/ & in þat he refreyneþ.̉ al vnleful desire or wille/ nameli in þo þingis.̉ þat ben moveable/ Þat is to seie. þat han myȝt in hem silf.̉ to remeve fro oo place to anoþir/ for desire & wille þat restiþ in þe inward man.̉ makeþ merite or synne more or lesse. in þe presence of God/ for charitable werkis. þat ben in her owene kynde. myȝti & greet.̉ ben don sumtyme wiþ a frowarde wille. & þanne þei wanten mede/ as Crist seiþ in his gospel. Mat. vii^o/ 'Non omnis qui dicit mihi domine domine intrabit in regnum celorum sed qui facit voluntatem patris mei qui in celis est. ipse intrabit in regnum celorum' [Vulg. Matt. vii. 21.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Not iche man þat seiþ to me. Lord Lord.̉ schal

entre in to þe rewme of heuenes [W. V. & 1388, 'kyngdam of heuenes.'] / A man schal not be saued not oonli for hise good wordis ne for his good dedes. wherfore þanne? But he þat doþ þe wille of my fadir þat is in heuenes.̉ he schal [folio 114a] entre in to þe rewme of heuenes1/ Þat is to seie. aftir þe desire þat a man haþ in worde & dede. to do þe plesing wille of God.̉ aftir þat he schal be rewardid in blisse/ & bi þis greetnes of mannes good wille. þouȝ þe werk be litile in kynde.̉ it askiþ greet rewarde in blisse/ and þerfore þe aungels soungen in Cristis birþe.̉ Luk. ii^o. 'Pax hominibus bone voluntatis' [Vulg. Luc. ii. 14.] ‖ Pees be in erþe.̉ to men of good wille ‖ for suche a good wille. traueileþ to plese God.̉ in worde & in dede/ and whanne it may no ferþir strecche.̉ þis wille is countid for a dede/ as þe maistir of sentence seiþ.̉ rehersyng seynt Austin/ þat þis modir ignoraunce. þat we clepen vnkunnyngnesse.̉ haþ þre douȝtren ‖ Þe firste ben alle þoo.̉ þat myȝten lerne & wole not ‖ Þe secounde ben alle þoo.̉ þat wolden lerne & moun not ‖ Þe þridde ben alle þoo.̉ þat taken no hede ‖ Þe firste schullen algatis be dampned ‖ Þe secounde schullen algatis be saued.̉ bicause her wille answeriþ for þe dede ‖ Þe þridde acorden wiþ þe firste. but if it be so. þat þei schal haue lesse peyne in helle/ and þerfore yuel wille þat a man haþ.̉ to wynne [folio 114b] him goostli strengþe/ or to haue knowyng of verry bileue.̉ to do þe plesing wille of God/ is þe werst yuel þat comeþ to man. & strangliþ him wiþ dispeire.̉ in our of his deeþ ‖

But ȝit we schullen vndirstonde.̉ þat þe wille of þe Godheed/ stondiþ in þre þingis.̉ acording to þe Trinite/ & we must do oure vttirest.̉ to conforme oure wille to þis ‖ Þe Fadir of his rial wille.̉ comaundiþ þat riȝtwisenes were don ‖ Þe Sone of his witti wille suffriþ þe lesse yuel.̉ þe more to be fledde/ & abidiþ synnars long.̉ bi vertu of his incarnacioun ‖ Þe Holi Goost of his charitable wille.̉ forbediþ al vnclennes ‖ whanne þe strengþe of oure wille.̉ is sette to do riȝtwisenes/ þanne we be conformed.̉ to do þe fadirs bidding/ And whanne þe wisdam of oure wille.̉ is turned to mercy/ boþe to oure silf & to oþir.̉ þanne swe we Cristis steppis ‖ But whanne þe loue of oure wille.̉ sprediþ in dwe ordir/ boþe in heuene & in erþe.̉ as we han seide aforn/ [folio 115a] þanne dwelliþ þe Holi Goost.̉ in oure inwarde man ‖ If þis knot be treweli knitt.̉ in wille of oure soule/ þer is non entre fro

þe deuel.̉ to trouble vs from vnite/ as seint Ierom seiþ ‖ 'Diabolus non pugnat contra nos aperta facie.̉ sed fraude/ nostra contra nos vtitur voluntate/ de nostro consensu vires accipit/ nostroque nos iugulat gladio/ vincere non potest nisi nostra voluntate/ procul ergo desperacio. remedium contra ipsum. est sacre scripture studium' Hec Ieromus. ep. 84/ Þat is to seie. Þe deuel fiȝtiþ not aȝens vs wiþ open face.̉ but wiþ gile/ forsoþe he vsiþ aȝens vs.̉ oure owene wille/ he takiþ him strengþis.̉ of oure owene consent/ and he wirieþ vs.̉ wiþ oure owene swerde/ He may neuer ouerecome vs.̉ but þorȝ oure owene wille/ þerfore. feer be desperacioun ‖ Remedie aȝens þis deuel.̉ is studie in hooly writ/ And to þis entent spekiþ þe wisman. Prou. vi^o./ 'Mandatum [MS. mandata.] lucerna est. & lex lux. & via vite. & increpacio discipline vt custodiat te a muliere mala & a blanda lingua extranie/ non concupiscat pulcritudinem eius cor tuum' [Vulg. Prov. vi. 23-5.] ‖ Þat is to seie. Goddis comaundementis ben a lanterne.̉ & þat lawe is liȝt/ & þe weye [folio 115b] of lijf. & vndirnymyng of loore. þat it may kepe þee from an yuel womman. & from þe smeþe tung of a straunge comlyng ‖ loke þin herte coueite not.̉ þe fairenes of hir ‖ No wheþir may a man hide fire in his shirte. & not brenne hise cloþis? or walke on brenning coolis.̉ & not brenne þe soolis of his feet? So he þat entriþ in to his neiȝboris wijf. schal not be clene.̉ whanne he haþ leccherouseli touchid hir [W. J. 'For the maundement is a lanterne, and the lawe liȝt, and the weie of lif the snybbing of discipline; that thei kepe thee fro an evel woman, and fro the flaterende tunge of the straunge womman. Coueite not thin herte the fairnesse of hir: whether mai a man hide fir in his bosum, that his clothis brenne not; or gon upon colis, and his solis ben not brent? So he that goth in to the womman of his neȝhebore; schal not ben clene, whan he touchith hir.' 1388, 'For the comaundement of God is a lanterne, and the lawe is liȝt, and the blamyng of techyng is the weie of lijf; that the comaundementis kepe thee fro an yuel womman, and fro a flaterynge tunge of a straunge womman. Thin herte coueite not the fairnesse of hir. Whether a man mai hide fier in his bosum, that hise clothis brenne not; ethir go on colis, and hise feet be not brent? So he that entrith to the wijf of his neiȝbore schal not be cleene, whanne he hath touchid hir.'] / for he þat is a voutrer. for þe foule nedi desire of his herte.̉ schal lese his soule/ for he gadriþ to him.̉ vilenye & schenschip/ and his vpbreiding.̉ schal not be don awey/ for ȝeel & woodnes of þe man.̉ schal not spare in þe dai of veniaunce/ ne it schal not cese.̉ for preiours of ony man/ ne he

schal not take ony ȝiftis.̉ for his redempcioun/ for seint Ierom seiþ/ 'Cor habet gulosus in ventre lasciuus in libidine cupidus in lucris auarus in pecunijs' ‖ Þat is to seie. A glotun haþ his hert [folio 116a] on his wombe/ A wantoune man.̉ on his leccherie/ A coueitouse man on his wynnyng/ An auarouse man on sore holdeyng/ and þerfore seiþ Salamon. Prou. iiii^o./ 'Omni custodia serua cor tuum. quia ex ipso vita procedit' [Vulg. Prov. iv. 23.] ‖ wiþ al þi bisines kepe þin herte.̉ for lijf passiþ from it [W. V. 'With alle warde kep thou thin herte, for of it lif goth forth.' 1388, 'With al keping kepe thin herte, for lijf cometh forth of it.'] / and Seynt Hewe seiþ. 'In omni natura creatura que sub sole vanitatibus humanis occupantur.̉ nichil humano corde sullimius. nichil nobilius. nichil deo similius reperitur/ quapropter nichil aliud querit a te. nisi cor tuum' ‖ Þat is to seie. In alle creaturis þat ben occupied vndir heuen in mannes vanites.̉ þer is no þing hiȝer þan mannes herte/ þer is no þing founden liker to God. wherfore God sekiþ no þing of þee.̉ but þin herte ‖

Aȝen þis comaundement.̉ þe fende wiþ hise cautels/ moveþ discorde in þe hertis.̉ of hem þat ben weddid/ til þei desire to be departid.̉ þe toone from þe toþir/ Þanne þe man feyneþ a cause.̉ to go fro þis womman/ & in þis þei ben acursid.̉ as þe wise man [folio 116b] seiþ/ Prou. xviii^o/ 'Occasiones querit qui vult recedere ab amico. omni tempore erit exprobrabilis' [Vulg. Prov. xviii. 1.] ‖ Þat is to seie. He sechiþ occasiouns.̉ þat wole go awey from his frende/ at alle tyme he schal be cursid.̉ & worþi vpbreiding [W. V. 'Ocasioun secheth, that wil gon awei fro a frend; alle time wariable he shal be.' 1388, 'He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.'] / Neþeles a foole wole not resceyve.̉ þe wordis of teching/ but if þou seie to him suche þingis.̉ as his herte desiriþ/ and þerfore he renneþ forþe.̉ in woodnes of his herte/ for to procur a devorse.̉ bitwene his wijf & him ‖ He cumeþ anoon to þe chirche.̉ þat is clepid laweles/ Not for þe chirche. but for þe officeris.̉ for þei be laweles hiȝnen/ He chesiþ him a notarie.̉ & paieþ him his wagis/ to make him an instrument.̉ of his forgid lesing/ þanne goiþ he to þe maistris.̉ þat sitten on her seetis/ wiþ furid hoodis & fonned heedis.̉ & ȝyueþ hem money greet plente/ & preieþ hem to be his voketis.̉ þat þis deuorse were mad/ for he wole be redi.̉ at þe laweles dai/

to bring forþe his twelueþ hand.̉ aforn þe iugge sir Symound/ & make good wiþ al þe court.̉ þat he haþ no riȝt/ to þe womman [folio 117a] þat he weddid.̉ for dedis don aforn/ Þanne sir Symound ȝyueþ his doom.̉ to dissolue trewe wedlock/ & autoriseþ leccherie.̉ in þise boþe partiees/ for to lyue in hoordam.̉ fro þat dai forward/ & sendiþ hem forþe at dyuerse doris.̉ departid iche from oþir/ But lo what Crist seiþ. Mat. xix^o. Mar. x^o. Luk. xvi^o. [Vulg. Matt. xix. 5; Marc. x. 7 (Luc. xvi. 18).] / 'Propter hoc dimittet homo patrem & matrem & adherebit vxori sue' ‖ Þat is to seie. For matrimonye a man schal leeve his fadir & his modir.̉ & he schal holde him to his wijf/ & þei schal be tweyne in oo fleische [W. V. 'For this thing a man shal leeue fadir and modir, and he shal cleve, or drawe, to his wif; and thei shulen be two in oo flesh.'] .̉ þat is for her dwelling togidir/ also þei ben not þanne tweyne. but oo fleische.̉ þat is bi vertu of þe sacrament ‖ wherfore þat þing þat God haþ ioyned.̉ man may not departe ‖ I seie forsoþe to ȝow/ þat who euer haþ left his wijf.̉ except þe cause of fornicacioun/ & if he wedde anoþir.̉ þanne he is a lecchour/ & who þat weddiþ þis womman.̉ þat þis man haþ leeft/ he lediþ his lijf in leccherie.̉ als long tyme as he holdiþ hir/ Siþen þat God ioyneþ neuere.̉ but in laweful maner/ How dare ȝe purswe þis [folio 117b] deuorse.̉ in a laweles chirche?

Seint Poul seiþ. Rom. ii^o. 'Quicunque sine lege peccauerit.̉ sine lege peribunt' [Vulg. Rom. ii. 12 'Quicunque sine lege peccaverunt,' etc.] ‖ who euer þat synneþ wiþouten þe lawe.̉ schal perische wiþouten þe lawe/ For & þei weren blynde & knewen not þe lawe.̉ þei myȝten happili þe hesiliar be excusid/ but now þei seyn þei knowe þe lawe.̉ & don foole-hardili aȝen þe lawe. þei haue non excusacioun/ & þerfor þe wiseman seiþ an holsum remedie.̉ aȝens þis synne of þe herte/ Ecci. xviii^o/ 'A voluntate [MS. volutate.] tua auertere' [Vulg. Ecclesiasticus xviii. 30.] / Be þou turned from þyn owene wille.̉ [W. V. 'Fro thi wil turne thee awei.' 1388, 'He thou turned awei fro thi wille.'] & obeie þou to Goddis wille/ and þanne seiþ seint Bernard.̉ þou schalt neuere cum in helle/ and þerfore while þou art hol & sounde.̉ waveryng aboute in þouȝt / þoruȝ diuerse errours.̉ from God & from vertu/ brise doun not oonli suche vnleful coueitise.̉ but also alle superflu & vnstable þouȝtis/ & suffre hem not in ony wise.̉ to

[folio 118a] growe to dede ne to custum/ and þis semeþ to be þe sentence of þe prophete.̉ where he seiþ/ Ps. cxxxvi. 'Beatus qui tenebit & allidet paruulos suos ad petram' [Vulg. Ps. cxxxvi. 9 'Beatus qui tenebit et allidet parvulos tuos ad petram.'] ‖ Blessid be þat man. þat schal holde & hirte.̉ hise ȝounglingis at þe stoon [W. V. 'Blisful that shal holden and hurtlen his little childer to the ston.' 1388, 'He is blessid, that schal holde and hurtle doun hise litle children at a stoon.'] / as þe werkis of man ben hise sones or hise douȝtren aftir goostli sens.̉ so þoo þouȝtis of þe inwarde man. ben hise ȝounglingis ‖ Þanne he hirtiþ hise ȝounglingis.̉ at þe stoon of riȝtwisenesse/ whanne he distrieþ her sodeyn crepyngis.̉ in þenkyng of þe lijf of oure Lord Iesu Crist/ Forsoþe þis is a special remedie. to wiþholde wickid þouȝtis desiris & willis/ þat þei flowe not to deepli wiþynneforþe.̉ neiþir þat þei fliȝe to fer wiþouten forþe ‖ & in suche traueils.̉ pryuen þoo þat God haþ chosun/ for þei wil not in ony disese.̉ neiþir be ouerecomen. neiþir consent ‖ to þise cautels of þe deuel.̉ bi whiche he enprisouneþ/ Goddis seruauntis for þei kepen.̉ þise ten forseid heestis/ But seint Hillary seiþ. 'Hoc habet proprium [folio 118b] ecclesia dum prosequitur floret/ dum opprimitur crescit/ dum contempnitur proficit/ dum leditur vincit/ dum arguitur intelligit/ tunc stat cum superari videtur' ‖ Hec Hillarius de trinitate. li^o. Vii^o. [St Hilarius, De Trinitate, Lib. vii (Migne, tom. 10, col. 202).] / Þat is to seie. þis propurte haþ Cristis chirche/ whanne it is pursued.̉ it florischiþ/ whanne it is brissid doun.̉ it growiþ/ whanne it is dispisid.̉ it profitiþ/ whanne it is hirte.̉ it ouerecomeþ/ whanne it is blamed.̉ it vndirstondiþ/ and þanne it stondiþ moost strongli. whanne it is seen in mannes iȝe.̉ to be ouere-comen ‖ Þis chirche is a trewe soule.̉ as we han seid aforn/ Summe þat ben tendir.̉ & feble for to suffre/ crien wiþ þe prophete.̉ seiyng þus to God/ Abacuk. i^o. 'vsquequo domine clamabo. & non exaudies? vociferabor ad te vim paciens. & non saluabis? Quare ostendisti mihi iniquitatem & laborem videre predam & iniusticiam contra me? Quare respicis contemptores & taces conculcantes impio iustiorem se' [Vulg. Hab. i. 2, 3, 13; ver. 13 'Quare respicis super iniqua agentes, et taces devorante impio iustiorem se?'] ‖ Þat is to seie. Lord hou long

schal I crie.̉ & þou schalt not heere me? Lord til whanne schal I calle vpon þee.̉ & þou schalt not make me saf? whi hast þou schewid me wickidnes & traueile & to se þeeft.̉ & vnriȝtwisenesse [folio 119a] aȝens me? whi biholdest þou dispisears.̉ & art stille.̉ þe wickid man defoiling. þe iustar þan he? [W.V. 'Hou longe, Lord, shal Y crye, and thou shalt not heere graciously? Y suffringe violence shal crie on heeȝ, and shalt thou not saue? Whi shewidist thou to me wickidnesse aȝeinus me? Whi biholdist thou dispisers, and art stille, the unpitouse man defoulyng a iuster than hym?'] Seint Ierom in his prolog seiþ.̉ þat þise ben wordis of mannes impacience/ and settiþ an ensaumple.̉ of a sijke man swelling in fyuers/ and askiþ coold watir.̉ seiyng to his leche ‖ I suffre woo & am al to-turmentid.̉ I am ful nyȝ deed/ how long schal I crye leche.̉ & þou schalt not heere me? Þe witti & þe moost merciful leeche.̉ answeriþ to him/ I wot in what tyme. me houeþ to ȝyue to þee.̉ þat þou askist/ I haue no ruþe on þe now.̉ for þis mercy were cruelte/ & þin owene wille askiþ aȝen þee ‖ Also oure Lord God knowyng. þe weiȝt & þe mesure of his mercy.̉ sumtyme he heeriþ not þe crier anoon/ þat he may proue & more steere to preie.̉ & as examyned bi þe fier/ þat he may make his seruaunt. boþe iuster & purer.̉ to resceyue grace & mede ‖