Cursor mundi (The cursur o the world). A Northumbrian poem of the XIVth century in four versions. Ed. by the Rev. Richard Morris ...

Shrift wiþ mouþ.

To quam I. salle þe tel here nest þou sal þe shriue þat is to prest to quilk our lorde has giuen pauste baþ to binde & lausid be. Line 26141

Line 26141 & if þou mai na prest to wynne Line 26142 þou shaw a lawed man þi syn or ellis til a-noþer clerk him agh to curtaise be in werk if þou be stad in suche a nede for mikil mai þe vaile þis dede ¶ bot writin we þe queþer finde. Line 26148 he may þe nauþer lause ne binde for-qui þat miȝt is giuen to nane bot prest þat has ordour tane. þar-fore man salle hit halde in brest Line 26152 & efterwarde shew hit to prest þat he mai if þat man be dede assoile & wirk his best rede. Line 26155 ¶ þe man þat shriuen & dede þus is we hope he salle haue for-gifnes for þe trauþ & stabil lay þat he had in his last day. Line 26159 & for þe grace þat god has giuen. to man þat ȝernis to be shriuin. ¶ bot þou salle wite at prest is nane mai assoyle bot pape allane Line 26163 he þat pauste has plenere & vnder him his penauncere. þer oþer has alle þaire maistris sette. þat þai agh halde ham in. wiþ dette ne nane oþer has pauste. Line 26168 bot hit him ellis granted be for is na hirde sette to kepe wiþ riȝt bot til his awen shepe. Line 26171 for-þi to shrift quen þou has nede to þi paresshe prest þe bede. ¶ & if þou in suche cas be tane. Line 26174 þat he can consail gif þe nane. þou salle his leue haue & his wille to shriue þe a-noþer tille. Line 26177

Line 26177 & if he be of leue to þra. Line 26178 þou salle wiþ-outin his leue ga. to a wiser to shew þi wounde. atte skille has to make hit sounde Line 26181 ¶ & if we finde oþer casis a-mange. atte þou mai til a-noþer gange. fra þi prest þi shrift to telle Line 26184 quen he is frawarde & felle & þou him haue done priue skaþ þat him to shew þou wate ware waþ. & þou hope in drunkinnes he walde telle in wraþ at þou him talde. ¶ þer is alsqua a comune cas. Line 26190 þat ilk prest may quare he gas. here man shrift assoile in dide quen men is in perel of dede on sekeman agh na penaunce be laide bot þus-gate of þe prest be saide. Line 26195 Man suche penaunce sal þou driue. if þou turne vn-to þe liue. [folio 113b:1] I ne wate queþer þou bes heiþin tan. for-þi penaunce I. gif þe nane. Line 26199 for crist salle make þi saule shire. wiþ penaunce thole in clansing fire bot if þat þou mai liue wiþ chaunce þus & þus do þi penaunce.

And þer is casis we writin finde þat prestis mai nauþer lause ne binde his awen shepe þen salle he sende Line 26206 to bisshop for his state amende. & þer-a-pon I. sal þe lere. a rewle þat sais on þis manere. Line 26209 alle þe synne þat man has done. þat certaine paine is laide a-pon. if hit may be wiþ proue ouer-tane Line 26212 þat lagh may thole for-gifnes nane

& þat for his dede is knawen. Line 26214 his penaunce opin moste be shawen. for lagh wil þat opin pliȝt amended be in mannis siȝt. for wraþþed he has baþ twa. Line 26218 his eyuen cristen þe kirk alsqua. for baþ againe man. men sagh him wirk & alsqua sklaundres hali kirk. Line 26221 ¶ & he þat baþ þaire bliþ has blende againis baþ bi-houis a-mende. & þat mai na-wais ellis be. Line 26224 bot men his opin penaunce se. is na simple prest atte may. suche shrift on man bot bisshop lay ¶ suche synnis mai be synnis alle. Line 26228 bot namli we may ham calle. þa þat chapitels giuis on dome. als spousebreking & horedome. & þat be-twene þe sibbe is done Line 26232 þe bisshop penaunce sal lay him on. fals witnes & trauþ breking. slaȝter of man & hous-brynnyng. wicchecraft als & okering. Line 26236 & stulth þat is of halghed þing. þer synnis if þai come to siȝt. þe bisshoppe agh ham for to riȝt. ¶ þe toþer cas is if þi barne Line 26240 be þorou þi defaute for-farne. sum sais þou salle to bisshop ga. for to take þi synne þe fra. ¶ alsqua þi maister if þou haue slane Line 26244 or bene þi fader or moder bane. þi sone þi sister or þi broþer. þat ilkan agh to socoure oþer. ¶ or laide on fader or moder hande Line 26248 to bisshop dome þou agh to stande

. . . . . Line 26250 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ¶ þe iiij. point is noȝt þe leste. þe man þat mengis wiþ vnkindeli best. his flesshe luste to fulfille. Line 26254 of him þe bisshop mote say his wil. ¶ þe v. in kirk if þou haue done. þe þing þat has þe griþ fordone Line 26257 als horedome or man slaine. quar-fore hit most be halghed a-gain. ¶ þe vj. cas þou prest take kepe. Line 26260 þou synne noȝt wiþ þine awen shepe for if þou hir has to synne driuen. atte þou has auþer houin or shriuin. nauþer mai hir þi shrift amende Line 26264 ne þou hir mai til oþer sende. ne of hir has þou na pauste. of bisshop moste ho shriuen be. ¶ A-noþer reule þou vnder-take. Line 26268 þat ay quen nede is for to slake þe penaunce þat is giuen for pliȝt þer-to has simple prest na miȝt. for to abate ani penaunce. Line 26272 wiþ-outen bisshop ordenaunce. ¶ & þat þou þis mai better knaw. ensaumple soþ I. sal þe shawe. lagh of penaunce wil þat qua. Line 26276 bi moder lise or sisters twa. his doȝter or qua. reuis man. his awen lele spoused womman. or he þat slas his awen wife Line 26280 him nane oþer haue his life. bot he be ȝonge of suche state. þat he mai wife for-bere na gate Line 26283 auþer of spouse or of purchase þen miȝt his bisshop do him grace

wife to take wiþ hir to liue. Line 26286 or he him alle to horedome giue. & þis mai na simple prest do. wiþ-outen bisshop leue þer-to. squa sais lagh Canoun þat is wise Line 26290 þat shrift on mani synnis lise. ¶ Alsqua if at þi parochin. in synne lange lyande has bene & þou has oft-siþe done þi miȝt Line 26294 his wrangewis liuelade for to riȝt & sese wille hit wil noȝt vail. [folio 114a:1] for he ne wille folow þi counsail leue frende agh þou til him say. I. haue þe delt wiþ mani aday. Line 26299 for to lete þi sinful life. bot now I se na bote to strife þou wille noȝt mende þi syn strang I. note quar-on þat hit is lange. Line 26303 queþer on mi pliȝt or on þine. I mai do þe na medecine. or mine unkunnandeshepe mai fal Line 26306 þat I. miȝt I. haue done alle. & sin I. mai þe noȝt amende. I wil þe to bisshop sende. Line 26309 ¶ & if þou sese he wille noȝt squa. sum boke saise atte þou salle ga. to bisshop for to shew þi dede. Line 26312 & folow his rede in suche a nede ¶ alsqua þou prest if þou haue bene in ani pliȝt wiþ þi parochien. In reuelaic theft or okering. Line 26316 fals marchandise or suche þing þou mai him nauþer shriue ne he mai tille a-noþer be sende fra þe. for þou þi riȝt for-done has þan. Line 26320 þat þou first had wiþ-in þis man.

as leche þat sulde seke man male & gif him for to drink his bale. he has his iurediccioun Line 26324 tint of þis man wiþ resoun. ¶ he þat him-self has tint his state he ne mai til oþer hit translate alsqua had þou tint þis riȝt. Line 26328 of þis man þorou þine awen pliȝt quen þou wiþ synne him drafe to dede for-þi is here na better rede. þen to þi bisshop for to gange. Line 26332 & til him shaw al ȝoure wrange. ¶ þe tende cas is if atte þou. has made to god sum gode a-vow. na simple prest mai hit vn-do. Line 26336 wiþ-outin bisshop rede þer-to. & þer is oþer casis slike. sette in serekin bisshoprike. þat bisshop til him-seluin sere Line 26340 haldis or til his penauncere. for þer ȝe salle to bisshop ga. & for oþer I salle telle ma. Line 26343

Þer ar xv. pointis to shaw. for to rekkin here next on raw. I salle vn-do ham euer-ilkan. Line 26346 þer ilk ar þai þat I. haue tane. ¶ Clene & reuful. hale & trew. opin & shire & oft atte new. Line 26349 wreiande tomsome propre stedefast. ernest willi buxum soþfast. oþer pointis has our shrift alle nede þat blis & bote vs to sal bede. Line 26353 qua of shrift clanli wil shaw. alle þes pointis ware gode at knaw.

Þou vnderstande be þis worde clene for to make clansing al be-dene. Line 26357

Line 26357 of saule wiþ-in of bodi wiþ-oute. Line 26358 þat noȝt be left þat is to doute. clense ȝou wiþ-in of alle ȝoure sake. wiþ clene þoȝt ȝour shrift to make. ¶ gasteli synne hit is bot pride. Line 26362 & þair braunches þat springis wide Flesshely synne is liccheri. mane aþ. theft & glutteri. for-þi sais crist til Ipocritis Line 26366 wa worþ ȝou. ȝour-self be-squikis. for of ȝour disshe ȝe was þe tittest. out-wiþ & þat is nede of leste. Line 26369 & ȝe ar inwiþ self ful foule wiþ wikkednes & tresoun ȝe moule. bot wasshe ȝe first ȝour disshe with-in. þen mai ȝe best ȝou clanse of synne. r [[small r, but a capital Þ]] euþe. þou haue in þi shriuing. Line 26374 bot þou sulde haue suche sorowing. þat teris fallande. on þine eye. þe sare of þine hert to wreye. Line 26377 of þis ruþe men mai finde & loke. in þe begynnyng of þis boke.

Hale. agh shrift to be alsqua Line 26380 & noȝt for to be delt in twa. as to prestis twin or þrin. agh þou noȝt to dele þis synne. squa dose maste þer Ipocritis Line 26384 þat walde ay wrenke þaire awen witis for to seme ham gode & lele. to diuerse prestis þaire shrift to dele & wenis squa god for to blinde. þai leue þe grettest synne be-hinde þai leue þe hem & shewes þe liȝt þat ruffelde is to make sliȝt. & þus-gatis þai ar be-telt. [folio 114b:1] Line 26392 wil noȝt god atte shrift be delt.

. . . . . Line 26394 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 26397 ¶ þen be-houis him shriue hali. þat walde haue hali his merci. bot þou salle vnderstande of þa. Line 26400 synnis þou has bene shriuin a. & hali did of ham þi shrift. of þa þe thar noȝt shriue þe eft. bot if þat eft þou fallin be. Line 26404 þou new þi shrift & mende þou þe ¶ & þer-of saltow þe vmbloke. of cases iiij. I. finde in boke. if þou haue shriuin þe of a dede Line 26408 to shriue þe eft ȝet hastow nede. ¶ þe first if þi prest squilk be. þat riȝt he can noȝt consail þe. al if he þi counsail wate Line 26412 þou sal to a wiser shew þi state if þou mai haue his leue þer-tille. or ellis alle wiþ-outin his wille. Line 26415 ¶ þe toþer quen þou noȝt has done. þe penaunce atte þe laide was on. ¶ þe þrid is quen atte þou art sende to bisshoppe fra þi prest to amende. if atte þou in suche cas be tane Line 26420 þer simple prest has pauste nane. ¶ þe firþ vmb-þink þe for to myn. if þou haue dedeli synnis twin. iij. or iiij. mai falle or ma. & þi witande has an of twa. Line 26425 In þine hert vnshriuin left. þou salle alle haly shriue ham eft. for of þat synne atte is noȝt shriuen is nangate þe gilte for-giuen. Line 26429

Line 26429 & for þis cause for soþ allane Line 26430 of þas oþer for-giuen is nane. [questioun.]

Quat if a man be clanli shriuin. & his giltis al for-giuin. Line 26433 & his penaunce done & tane. god him has for-giuin ilkane. ¶ be-tidis in synne he fallis eft. in þe same be-fore he left. Line 26437 or in new quat-euer hit be. touchant dedeli synne say we. I. aske þe queþer his first trauail. Line 26440 of penaunce salle him oȝt a-vail. syn he has þen for-done þe saȝt. þat god had him be-fore raȝt. ¶ þer to ansquare I þe sone. Line 26444 þat al his gode formast done. he has ham wiþ a dede slaine. & alle his wikked went againe. þat first our lorde him had for-giuen Line 26448 & he did penaunce & wele was shriuen þen risis a synne of vn-kindenes þat iiij. sa mikil greuouse is. as alle his oþer synnis ware. Line 26452 & is our lorde mispaiande mare. þen alle þe dide he did be-forne for his lorde he driuis to skorne qua wraþþis his lorde he dos him squeke quen he of merci has funden him meke. Line 26457 if he eft misdos wele is riȝt. þe lorde to calle againe his pliȝt & þe grace he gaf him to. wiþ skil he mai hit al for-do. Line 26461 þat lost be þat he had left. quen he þat pliȝt rehercis eft. ¶ bot siþin quen him rewis his dede I. aske þen if hit be nede. Line 26465

Line 26465 þi forme synnis eft-sonis shriue. Line 26466 & new penaunce for ham to driue queþer he for þis anlepi synne. agh a new penaunce be-gynne. ¶ Raþmunde giues vs here ansquer Line 26470 þat ihesus crist is redier. to mercy giue þan Iuggement. vnderstandis mine entent. þat riȝt als al his forme synnis. þorou a synne al new be-gynnis Line 26475 þis sinful man to pine & sake. & for to thole þan endeles wrake al þe first þai ar for-done. þorou þe last wiþ-outin hone. Line 26479 ¶ alsqua quen he shriuin is riȝt & penaunce done for þis pliȝt. al quikkenis a-gaine his first penance þat tint was þorou þis last chaunce. & al his gode hit couers againe. Line 26484 þat þorou þis anlapi syn was slain. wiþ oþer dedis gode þat he. be-fore had done of charite þat is alle þa; at vnderstande. Line 26488 at oute of dedeli synne him fande quar-fore he is noȝt haldin to. new penaunce of shrift to do. for þis an of þare oþer alle. [folio 115a:1] Line 26492 bot he haue new prest mai falle. þen þer oþer agh he shawe. þat til new prest hit mai ham knaw quatkin man he has bene are. Line 26496 for to amende him forþer-mare. þe gode dedis quickenis againe. Line 26498 þat first ware quik & siþin slaine. ¶ bot þa be-forne dede borne ware. þai mai be quikkened neuer-mare

þou vnderstande me wele reder Line 26502 quat birþin mai þer wordes bere. ¶ þa dides for quik borne I. telle. þou dide or þou in synnis felle. al againe þer saltow wynne. Line 26506 quen þou art amendid of þi synne þat dide dedeborne þou vnder-take þou dide dwellande in dedeli sake þat salle neuer be quik I.-wisse. Line 26510 to couer þe riȝt of heiuen blis. bot hit salle stande in stede sumquare In þre þingis if hit mai na mare ¶ þe first if þou combered be. Line 26514 of wil hit salle helpe þe. out of þi synne for to rise. & ere to ende in criste seruise. Line 26517 ¶ þe toþer þing of werldis wele. alle þe better wiþ hit to dele. ¶ þe þrid is if þou heiþin wende. Line 26520 if þou be dampned wiþ-outen ende þi paine salle be wele þe lesse ofter þat þi gode didis is. for hit is writin as we rede. Line 26524 is na gode dide wiþ-outen mede. ne na wikked wiþ-outen wrake. auþer here or ellis sum-quare to take for suche is criste riȝt-wis-hede. Line 26528 þat merkis ilk man his mede. þer lijs mare of þis matere. þat I. mai noȝt al rekkin here. bot to þe pointis I. first be-ganne Line 26532 I turne to sai ham als I. can. [iiij.]

Trew agh shrift alsqua to be. squa at þou atte shriuis þe. Line 26535 & he þat heris þi shriuing als. In hope ȝe be noȝt fundin fals.

bot of þat synne at þou art shriuin hope þou wele hit is for-giuin. ¶ hit helpis þe noȝt certanly. Line 26540 bot þou hope stedefast in his mercy. for-þi I. þink to shew here now. how cristen men agh for to trow. & þat is fundin in our crede. Line 26544 þat now in Ingelis wil I. rede. ¶ In god fader miȝti þat wroȝt. heiuen & erþ & al of noȝt. & in his sone crist ihesu. Line 26548 our aller anly lorde I. trow. Conceyued of þe haligaste. & borne of mari maidin chaste. vnder ponce pilate done on rode. dede & dollin to helle he ȝode. Line 26553 & out of hit he toke his pray. & ras to liue þe þrid day. tille heiuen he stey þat al weldande & sitis on his fader riȝt hande. Line 26557 þeiþin salle he come al for to deme. quik & dede als him is queme. ¶ I. traw als in þe haligaste. in hali kirk mine hope is maste. Line 26561 to felawshepe of halghes wynne. & alle for-gifnes of our synne. & for to rise in flesshe & bane. to liue þat salle be neuer gane. Line 26565 ¶ þis is þe trauþ men callis crede. þat ilk cristin man has of nede. & stedefast halde þer pointis twelue. alle þat wille saue him-selue. & in þis trauþ þi hert vp-lift. Line 26570 if þou wille come to riȝtwise shrift.

If þou wille noȝt þi saule squike. þou shew þi synne al opinlike. Line 26573

Line 26573 noȝt sende wiþ messager na skrite. for squa þou mai noȝt wasshe þee quite bot þou salle wiþ þine awen mouþ. Line 26576 al þi synnis to prest make couþ. for suche hit is our lordis wille. þat atte þou þi-self dos ille. may na noþer bere þe blame Line 26580 bot þou þi-self. lette for na shame ¶ ne wiþ na quaint wordis of sliȝt agh þou noȝt to shew þi pliȝt. þat mai þi derf didis dil. Line 26584 bot opinli þou ham vn-hile. riȝt als opinli as þou ham did. to þe prest make þou ham kid. [folio 115b:1] ¶ & telle þi synnis ilkan be name. Line 26588 lette þou noȝt for squink ne shame. & noȝt þi synnis self allane. bot circumstanse leue þou nane þe quilk graiþ þe salle be kende & þou wille here þis boke til ende. Line 26593 & shrif of mouþ is made for-þi. þat prest mai se alle opinli. þe wounde of synne al for to leche Line 26596 & wite quat medicine to teyche. for mai na leche saue na wounde. bot hit ware sene vn-to þe grounde Line 26599 & for þe shame men þink shriuande hit sal for part of penaunce stande. for-þi þe wiseman sais of lare Line 26602 mine awen mouþ me sal noȝt spare wiþ-in mi sorou al of mi life. I sal fast wiþ mi-seluin strife. þat is to say þat salle na þing. Line 26606 for shame fra opin synne me bring.

Þe sext point in hert þou halde shrift agh be shire & sundre talde

ilk synne þat is to shawe. Line 26610 rekenande bi þaire-self on raw. or þis worde sundri þat I. say. mai þou vn-do a-noþer way. þat is of synne þat is priue. Line 26614 priueli agh hit shriuin be of syn þat opin is & kid. take opin penaunce & vn-hid. bete opin synne opinli. Line 26618 & priuey sinne priuely. ¶ wiþ þis worde at is oft a-new. saltow if þe þi synnis rew. vnderstande on maners twin. Line 26622 þat is quen þou art filed wiþ synne make þe boun wiþ shrift to rise. atte vnderstande hit on þis wise. quilk hit is þe time & tide. Line 26626 þi shrift agh noȝt at ouer-bide. for þou sal shriue þe als sone. als þou has euer þi synne done. Line 26629 & þou mai prest haue to þi wille for liting is ful selcouþ ille. & if þou algatis wil a-bide. Line 26632 ouer-passe þou noȝt þe lentin-tide. & if sekenes on þe be laide. þou be wiþ shrift ay redy graide. Line 26635 ¶ hit faris of shrift as dos of wound þat lange vnsoȝt is to þe grounde a tent þe wers to hit wil reche Line 26638 quen hit rotis for defaute of leche in muche bale hit mai be wroȝt bot hit wiþ saluing sone be soȝt hit stinkis rynnis & rotis ay. Line 26642 wiþ-outen wa wil noȝt a-way & þer-of haue we resouns fiue þat man agh hasteli him to shriue Line 26645

Line 26645 ¶ þe first of dede þe vn-witernes Line 26646 þat man wate neuer quen hit is ¶ þe toþer for a synne or twa. vnbete þai dragh ay ma & ma. for qua þat combred is wiþ an. Line 26650 wiþ ma peraunter he bes ouertan. ¶ þe þrid qua langest lijs in synne vnneþis he may out of hit wyn. of eldid þing ful wele we wate harde hit is to chaunge þe state Line 26655 ¶ þe firþ for vnhele þat comis al day þat reuis man þe tonge to say. of his synnis he has na hert quen dede þrawes smitis smert Line 26659 ¶ þe fifte is doute of dome þat sal be wowen wiþ our werkis alle. þe whilk didis we ar noȝt shriuen quar-fore þis terme here was vs giuen for-þi I. rede we shriue vs sone Line 26664 & lete hit noȝt to lange hone.

Propre. þat is þou art vn-knawen of ani man synnis bot þine awen. þou knawes þi synne & oþer noȝt Line 26668 of þi wikked werkis wroȝt. & þar-fore sais saint dauid wele I haue mine hert soȝt ilkadele & squepid out þat was þer-in. Line 26672 & shewed my lorde al my synne. for he þat tellis oþer man mis & þar be-mendis he noȝt his. bot he is talde for bak-biter. Line 26676 bot þai be sammin partenare & wroȝt to-geder a sinful dede. for in þat cas man most nede. shew wiþ quam he did foly. als if he lay a womman by. Line 26681

Line 26681 man agh to telle hir qualite. Line 26682 sibbe or fremme queþer ho be. bot & þou telle hir riȝt name. [folio 116a:1] me þink certis þou art to blame Line 26685

Þe ix. point þou vnderstande þat shrift agh seluin be wreiand þat is to knaw þat þi synne is. Line 26688 wroȝt wiþ þine awen witnes þat þou squa wroye þine awen dede þat þou na soyny be-for þe lede. als adam dide & eue his fere. Line 26692 þat formast of our eldres were. þat quen þai ware to resoun done of þat forbote criste laide ham on. Line 26695 he saide þer-tille his wife him lede & ho saide atte þe worme hir bede & squa wenande to make ham quite þai ware þe mare worþi at wite ¶ for-þi sais he atte noȝt leyes. Line 26700 þe riȝt-wis first him-seluin wreis & to his frende he ripis his state. & he shawes him al þat he wate þis frende is crist þou vnderstande our prest þat has his folk in hande ¶ for qua wille noȝt him-seluin wrey be-for þer twa now or he deye. he salle for-soþ on domisday. Line 26708 haue wroyers harde þat is to say. god him-self his awen insiȝt. þe werlde þe deuil his didis vnriȝt. for writin hit is al his pliȝt. & alle þe werlde gaine him sal fiȝt. ¶ alle kin shap of þing salle rise. againe þe felouns & vnwisse. Line 26715 wreye now þi-self. & he sal þan. our lorde him-selfe soyny þe man.

& salle say þis man wil we spare for noȝt he spared him-seluin are we him for-giue his werkis wroȝt for he him-self for-gaf him noȝt ¶ þer is na þing sa wele may pay. Line 26722 our wiþerwine als for to say. quen we haue done anikin ille as say þe feinde vs draue þar-tille

Þe teinde point for-gete þou noȝt Line 26726 þi shrift to haue be-fore in þoȝt þat þou þi didis be-fore loke als þou ham writin had in boke. qua-sim wille ȝilde a-countis riȝt. he agh hit be-fore diȝt. Line 26731 & telle noȝt ouer wiþ rynnande ras. as dos þer men atte penis tas. draghes ij. at anis with-outen hone. atte þai þe sonir mai haue done. Line 26735 ¶ Bot sinful if þou be wise. haste noȝt þi shrift on suche wise & ilk synne bi hit-self þou shaw. Line 26738 atte þi prest mai hit knaw. noȝt an þi werkis atte þou wroȝt. bot wikked wordis & Idel þoȝt. þat þou squa wiþ þine opin hert. Line 26742 make al þi priuetis apert. þat þorou þi þoȝt þou þinkis þare mai þi mede be wele þe mare. Line 26745 ¶ for qua wille noȝt wiþ-outen wene wiþ shrift þaire conscience make clene hit salle be done til ham I.-wis þe prophete sagh þe quilk is þis. þai salle a-pon þe balkis be lift. Line 26750 as squine þat is saltid riȝt. & alle ȝoure entrails als sone in wellande pottis sal be done. Line 26753

Line 26753 & siþin þai salle ȝou caste in brine. als man dos wiþ þe saltid squyne. Line 26755 ¶ þis entrail in fire þat brynnis. be-takenis þine vn-shriuin synnis þi-self salle caste be in brine. þat is to say in lastande pine. þer endeles gnaisting is of toþ. Line 26760 & endeles sorou wite þou for-soþ. brimstan salle be þat brine wiþ wonder & mani a worme a-boue & vnder. on ilk side sal be þi fere. Line 26764 & þou falle wiþ lucifere.

Þe xj. point stedefast & stable. sal shrift be þat is resonable. & noȝt as trewes þat is tane. Line 26768 þat is to-day to-morne is gane. bot atte þi stable pes mai laste. to crist þou halde þi penaunce faste ne do þou noȝt als dos mani man. Line 26772 þat wenis shrift þer shrift is nane. þai come to shrift a glose to make noȝt in entent þaire synne for-sake bot is þaire entent mare to be sene at shrift þan to be shriuin clene. to þe prest þai make a hiȝt Line 26778 þaire synne for-sake þaire life to riȝt. [folio 116b:1] ¶ bot quen þat fals shrift is made. is þer wiþ ham na langer bade. bot to þaire filþis þai hye ham fast Line 26782 & goddis werkis a-way þai caste. & be-comis wors þen are. peraunter amendis neuer-mare. ¶ bot wite þou wele wiþ-outen wene þai do bot taris crist to tene. Line 26787 & his wrake on ham squa lendis. þat mani deys wiþ-outen amendis

for-þi kepe þe wiþ mode & maine. atte þou falle noȝt in synne againe Line 26791 suche penaunce has na mede to. þat dos entent eft to mis-do.

Þe hali man saint Austin tellis In boke of penaunce þer he spellis þat he sais is penaunce riȝt. Line 26796 quen man is wepande for his pliȝt & siþin synnis dos na mare. þat him thar wepe for-þer-mare. ¶ quat if þat man him shriue for syn. & sais þer-of mai he noȝt blin. Line 26801 þat ne ofterwarde he wil in hit wone & asshis penaunce for þat is done or ellis in shrift he an for-bere. Line 26804 & oþer he wille on na manere. I. aske queþer man him agh for-sake. or wiþ suche shrift ellis to take. ¶ hit semis nay al witerli. Line 26808 Isidre tellis vs resoun quy. & sais crist dos to heþing driue. suche men quen þai ham comis to shriue þat grantis ar didis to do ham newe Line 26812 þat þai agh sare wiþ resoun rewe. ne may nane him for buxum deme quen he to crist wille him noȝt queme ¶ for mai na man wiþ queme to wynne to serue atte anis lordis twin. Line 26817 þat is to say god for to wynne & luste of bodi þe tane wil twin. & vnnaite is þat shrift þe quilis Line 26820 quen hit alle þe saule hit filis quat bote to wepe þe synne was left quen þou þat ilk rehercis eft. quat bote on an side gedder tille. & on an-noþer side to spille. Line 26825

Line 26825 ¶ A-gaine suche shrift pape Innocent þus-gatis giuis his comandement Line 26827 ¶ we monest bisshopus & prestis baþ as þai ham-selfe wil kepe fra waþ þat als ferre as þai mai se. Line 26830 þai thole na saulis for to be. led in-to þe feindis hande. nameli wiþ fals shrift doande. ¶ fals shrift is. wele we wate. Line 26834 quen man is stad in sinful state. þer he has synnes manian. he wille do penaunce bot for an. or þer he shrift for an dos squa. Line 26838 & a-noþer letis he ga. ¶ for writin is qua alle fulfillis. for a point al his shrift he spillis. he salle be gilty for þat an. Line 26842 als he ham brokin had ilkane. for an synne is als muche as fiue. to rew man wiþ þe lastande liue a hole mai sink a ship to grounde & oft man deys þorou an wounde Line 26847 ¶ & þer is mani pointis als. þat men mai calle penaunce fals als quen in hert men haldis hete & wil noȝt þaire misdidis bete. or if man be in sli mistere Line 26852 atte þai mai synne noȝt for-bere. als thefe. reuer. & hasardour. hore. okerer. or Iogolour. bot þai þe mister wil for-sake. Line 26856 for fals penaunce man sal ham take ¶ syn þis man þat I. are of spac. wil soþ-fast shrift nane vnder-tak & nane bot soþfast mai a-vail. þan me þink wiþ-out-in faile. Line 26861

Line 26861 þat his shrift is noȝt to here sin he fra synne him wil noȝt skere ¶ þat is soþ. bot we mote say. Line 26864 his shrift þou agh noȝt driue a-way. bot here his shrift & gif him rede þat to sum amendement mai him lede & bid him fonde day & niȝt. Line 26868 to do þe gode al þat he miȝt. als orisoun & almus-dede. til al þe gode he mai him bede Line 26871 be-twix his hert crist come to. & sende him grace riȝt shrift to do ¶ al if his shrift vn-soþfast be. hit salle him serue of þingus þre Line 26875 [folio 117a:1] þe quilk I. talde ȝou in gode resoun. in þe next formast questioun. & hit Is for to traw at þan. þe warlagh salle noȝt in þis man. Line 26879 haue sa mikil of his wille. als if he iþenli did ille. ¶ Als of a iewe saint gregori tellis Line 26882 þat for ferde muȝt noȝt do ellis. quen he þe deuels a-boute him sagh. bot sayuid him-self wiþ mikil agh. quar-fore þai miȝt harme do him nan. bot þus a deuel saide on-an. Line 26887 I fande a vessel tome he saide. bot þer was on a takin laide. quar-fore I muȝt do noȝt þer-to. bot quiteli I. lete hit go. for-þi if man be fest in synne. Line 26892 of gode dide is noȝt to blynne. ¶ ȝet I. aske þe forþer-mare. of suche man I. spac of are quen he is turnid to gode entent & wille do fulle amendement. Line 26897

Line 26897 queþer he new shrift agh for-þi. Line 26898 & new penaunce at vnderli. noȝt allane for his alde pliȝt bot for-þi þat he new wil. riȝt Line 26901 or for þas oþer þe quilk he bette. bot noȝt wiþ penaunce laghhful set ¶ Ramund here onsq uaris til vs. [[Ramundus]] to þis asking & sais he þus Line 26905 he þat walde noȝt leue his synne ne walde noȝt be-fore þer-of blynne he salle wiþ riȝt al new be shriuen quat shrift be-fore sim he has driuen he þat dos shrift of an alsqua. Line 26910 & wille a-noþer noȝt for-ga. ¶ for þis penaunce al mai we se. hit was noȝt done in charite. Line 26913 for þo man shriue him of a synne & letis a-noþer be him wiþ-in. men mai wele wite wiþ nankin riȝt þat euer him was for-giuen his pliȝt for crist for-giuis noȝt a sake. Line 26918 bot we of alle amendis make. & syn þis synne was neuer for-giuen nede he most new be shriuen. ¶ for how he may wiþ ani dett. Line 26922 þat haldis gilt for-giuenes gett. & quilis þat irene is in wounde. is plaster nane mai make hit sounde. na mare þen mai þe saule of synne. Line 26926 to-quilis hit stedefast is þar-in. & hit is stincande euer ¹& Iþin.¹ [[^1_1 substituted for emeþin]] þat soþfast shrift has driuen þeiþin. & þat mai be on na manere. Line 26930 bot haldand shrift at synne for-bere.

Þis scrift agh be made ernestli noȝt als intent of vaine glory. Line 26933

Line 26933 or als þer Ipocritis dos. Line 26934 in mannis siȝt in mannis ros. and als sum in company. tille oþer men tellis þaire foly. & sais a-mang þat riot rone. Line 26938 al men wate wele quat I. haue done bot shrift sulde be wiþ clene entent In wille to do amendement.

Wiseli loke. þou be shriuin. Line 26942 & noȝt wiþ strenght þer-to driuen. for þret shrift mai haue na mede. witnes of sir chaymis dide. alle if he ȝeted his wrecchedhede hit muȝt him to na mercy lede. Line 26947 for he was calde & ouertane þat he had his broþer slaine. or he him-selfe walde hit ȝate. Line 26950 for-þi þan come he al to late. to mercy haue quen he wiþ pride. his broþer slaȝter wende atte hide.

Þe xiiij. point is buxumnes. wiþ-outin quilk is nane atte is. Line 26955 þat mai haue ellis for ani dede. A-nyendis cristis merci. to mede. & writin is qua buxumli. Line 26958 him-self knawes sal haue mercy.

Þe xv. point hit is þe laste. þat þi shrift be made soþ-faste. Line 26961 þe soþ to lame for nankin þing. to blende wiþ þi shrift lesing ne for na mekenes [[substituted for þranes]] þat mai be. Line 26964 þi-seluin say bot soþ of þe. ¶ Saint austine sais þe man þat leyes. or wrangewisli him-seluin wreyes.

In his shriuyng for buxumnes Line 26968 þe synne hit bes him neuer þe lesse. for þe lesing hit is þe mare. & wele worre þen hit soþ ware. bot if þat hit be suche a þing. [folio 117b:1] Line 26972 þat þou ne wate na certaining. þat þou þan trowes þer-of þou say. þen halde þou þe riȝt way. Line 26975 ¶ þer pointis of shrift qua-sim wald hald to merci haue he mai be balde. [abstinance] & salle his soþfast shrift at ende. [fra penance] fra þe warlagh him defende. Line 26979

Als þe hali writte vs shawes [[orig. sais]] four þingis man fra penance drawes hope. & wanhope. shame. & doute. for þe warlagh is euer a-boute. Line 26983 to entise man in synne to lende & þar-wiþ take him atte his ende. ¶ vnderstande þis hope þrinfalde. quen man be-comis ouer-balde. Line 26987 for liking of life for werldis wynne for goddis griþ of traisting in. hope is gode þat haldis wiþ houe. Line 26990 bot to vnskil noȝt worþ a gloue. againe þe first vs sais saint Iame [Iacobus] quat is mannis life bot fame. & a stak þat mai noȝt laste. Line 26994 bot scailis wiþ a windis blaste. ¶ Iob liuid mikil wiþ-outen strife & litel he sette be his life. Line 26997 for wele he wende iche day. out of þis werlde to winde away. ¶ Saint Paule sais our last day. Line 27000 is nane certaine þer-of may say. bot comis hit als a thefe be niȝt. & bindis him fra mannis siȝt. Line 27003

Line 27003 bot quen man wenis alder best. Line 27004 to haue pese & gode reste. þen sal he come & na man warne als baret dos on wife wiþ barne. & atte his wille al doun felle. for-þi crist biddis in þe gosspelle. Line 27009 wakis he sais to cristen men. for ȝe wate nauþer quare ne quen. arli or late on day or niȝt. Line 27012 þe lorde wil come to kiþ is miȝt. for-þi bes warre & takis gode kepe þat he finde ȝou noȝt on slepe. ¶ A-gaine þe toþer hoping þat is. Line 27016 In werldis welþ halde sicurenes. we finde a soþ-fast ensaumple laide. how a richeman til him-seluin saide. Line 27019 loke þat þou be glad & bliþ. þou has I-nogh for al þi siþe. of werldis welþ to liue in pese. Line 27022 now ete & drink & make atte ese. ¶ To quam a voice þus-gatis did say. to niȝt þai salle þe focche a-way. þat is to sai þe foule fende. wiþ þi saule a-way salle wende. Line 27027 quen þou þi-self to him is taȝt. to quam þen saltow giue þine aȝt. ¶ Of wanhope is þer ij. maners. Line 27030 þat man fra shrift of penaunce bers þe first quen þorou his awen gilt he felis wele þat he is spilt. & lesis þe hope of merci riȝt. & lise þar-fore in his pliȝt. ¶ A-gainis þis is medicine Line 27036 to þink on ihesu cristis pine. þat stranger is to lause we finde. þen ani synne is for to binde. Line 27039

Line 27039 & als I talde noȝt siþin lange. if mannis sinne be neuer squa strange Line 27041 or neuer haue laine sa lange þer-in. & he wille rise & bete his synne. þat he ne mai haue of mercy state Line 27044 & hope hit wele for I. hit wate. ¶ þe þrid letting makis mani mad quen þai vn-wiseli ar drad. ofter rising to falle againe. Line 27048 & mistroūs in þaire awen maine. & for suche mishope as þai lye in. ne kepe þai nankin gode be-gynne Line 27051 ¶ Againe þis haue we botis þre quar-wiþ þat we mai strenghþid be þe first for wakenes of our fa. Line 27054 þat qua-sim wille mai kepe him fra for þat fa halde I. noȝt ful strange bot hit on our-self be-lange. for neuer-mare he sal vs wynne. Line 27058 til we serue him in synne. & qua-sa mai wiþ-stande his wil. he has na miȝt to do him ille. & fra he felled be anis doun. Line 27062 he lise ouer-commen as a crachoun. ¶ þe toþer medicine is of strenght. þat mai man baþ confort & lenght & þat strenght is of grete wyn. quen man has caste bis birþin. of synne þat on him be-fore lay. [folio 118a:1] Line 27068 & þralle vn-to þe feindis sum day. & now to crist is made freman. þat ere was þrallid to sathan. ¶ he þat was bare of alle socour. Line 27072 crist has now cled in his armour. þat ere was out of goddis griþ. now is alle riȝt-wisnes him wiþ. Line 27075

Line 27075 þat hali kirk had ere for-sakin. ho has now in hir helpis takin. Line 27077 ¶ þe þrid is crist atte vnderstande. þat tille alle his is ay helpande. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 27081 & nameli þer ypocritis. þat walde hide þaire awen witis. þat an laste mai on oþer se. Line 27084 & on ham-self noȝt twa or þre. bot þai walde seme to mannis siȝt. in þaire licame baþ faire & sliȝt. wiþ-outin ani wart or wemme. Line 27088 wiþ-in þai ar fulle of fen. qua muȝt se his saule wiþ-in. hit sulde be fundin foule of syn. ¶ Againe þis way of letting. Line 27092 we finde þre maners of helping. þe first to mynne of his ouersiȝt. þat alle wrangis has to riȝt. for certis his siȝt al ouer laise Line 27096 we finde þus as þe apostel saise. þat alle þis werlde on lagh & heye is al þing be-fore cristis eye. Line 27099 noȝt an of our werkis þat ar wroȝt bot al our þoȝtis or þai be þoȝt. alle þat ar gane. al he seys. Line 27102 & alle þat ar or euer bes ¶ þink na man shame in his liue. noȝt an to prest his synnis shriue. In him is god I. warne þe ȝare in mannis shap sittande þare. Line 27107 al if he þare his pauste bere. þen þou. mai falle he is sinfuller. quy sulde þe shame to shew þi state. tille him þat alle þi werkis wate Line 27111

Line 27111 ¶ þe toþer for al folk sal him blame. quen he bes led to sorou & shame þat in þe toþer werlde salle be. Line 27114 þer alle folk salle his synnis se our lorde him sais vn-to suche men. ȝour holow synne sal I. do ken. til alle þe werlde in ȝour visage. Line 27118 atte ȝou salle deme for ȝour outrage. & þat ȝe now walde fra me hide. alle sal se þan ȝour sinful pride. ¶ þe þrid point our skil wytnes Line 27122 for skil & resoun gode hit is. þat we leue noȝt to do þe þing. þat mai vs mikil beldes bring. Line 27125 & he is for a fole to traw. þat walde noȝt þe gode knaw. & þe iuel do a-way. & amende him quen he mai. ¶ ȝet salle I. teyche ȝou pointis ma. Line 27130 þat lettis man fra shrift alsqua. als quen þou ensaumple tas. be oþer men þat oft misgas. Line 27133 for þou ham seyse þe þink in pliȝt. þou haldes þine awen gilt boȝt liȝt. ¶ or quen þou takis to þe baldehede. of grete mennis sinful dede. Line 27137 or for þou mani wikked wate þou drawes titter to þaire state. & ay þe ma þat is loste þe worre hit is wele þou woste & þou mai atte þi wille. queþer þou wilt to gode or ille. ¶ or quen þi synnis þe likis squa. Line 27144 atte þou na-wais wil hit for-ga. þer ar þe pointis atte shrift lettis. & mani to þe deuil hit gettis. Line 27147