The pricke of conscience (stimulus conscientiæ): a Northumbrian poem / by Richard Rolle de Hampole ; ed. Richard Morris.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(From Mr. Yates' Southern MS. of the xiv^th century.)

Here bigynneþ þe boke whiche is iclepid þe Prick of Conscience . þe whiche is dyvised in vii parties.

Page

Þe first party is of þe bigynnyng of mannes lif. (l. 371-931)

11- 26

Þe secunde is of þe unstabulnes of þis world. (l. 932-1663)

26- 46

Þe iii. part telleþ of deþ and whi deþ is to drede. (l. 1664-2689)

46- 73

Þe iv. part telleþ of purgatory. (l. 2690-3965)

73-108

Þe v. part spekeþ of þe day of dome. (l. 3966-6420)

108-173

Þe vi. part is of þe paynes of helle. (l. 6421-7531)

173-203

Þe vii. part is of þe ioyes of heven. (l. 7532-9532)

203-256

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe first part of þis boke.

First hit telleþ of þe commendacioun of þe trinité. (l. 1)

1

And how þe fader was ever wiþ-out bigynnyng. (l. 12)

1

And how þat God is bigynnyng and ending of eche þing. (. 25)

1

And how þat God made alle þyng of nought. (l. 43)

2

And how god made man to his owne liknes. (l. 69)

3

How mekenes is princepal wey to blisse. (l. 139)

5

How foure thynges letteþ a mannes Insyȝt þat he may not knowe what he is . and makeþ his hert wel hautyne to servy God . and þes buþ þilk foure. (l. 241)

7

Favour of þe puple. Fairnes of man. [Brennyng of ȝouþe.] Riches of godes. (l. 249)

7

And þanne hit telleþ of bigynnyng of mannes lif. (l. 370)

11

And wherof God made man (l. 372). How God made man of foule mater for two skilles. (l. 374)

11

Of þe mydward of mannes lif. (l. 552)

16

Of þe ende of mannes lif. (l. 728)

21

Of þe tokens of deþ þat a man haþ or he deþ. (l. 812)

23

What a man is aftur his deþ. (l. 830)

24

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe secunde part of þis boke þat telleþ of þe world.

First hit telleþ how God made two worldes for man. (l. 962)

27

Þat one is heven. Þat othere, þis dale . where In we buþ now lyv|yng. (l. 972)

27

How God made two erthliche worldes þe more and þe lesse. (l. 1042)

29

How God made þis world to be soget to man, and not man to be soget þerto. (l. 1055)

30

How a man schuld not trist to þis world þat nys bot vanite. (l. 1088)

30

How þe more world may be lickend to foure thinges. (l. 1211)

34

Hit is ilikened to þe see. (l. 1213)

34

Hit is ilickened to a wildernes þat is ful of wild bestes. (l. 1225)

34

Hit is ilikened to a grete forest þat is ful of thefis. (l. 1235)

35

Hit is ilikened to a feld ful of dyvers batailes. (l. 1245)

35

How þe world fyȝtteþ aȝens us wiþ doumble hond. (l. 1257)

35

Wiþ þe right hond and wiþ þe lift. (l. 1259)

35

How he calleþ þe right hond welth and gret havyng of goodes. (l. 1261)

35

And þe lyfte honde . angres and tenes þat ofte cometh to man. (l. 1262)

35

Of two weyes þat buþ in þis world . þat one is þe wey of lif and þat oþere is þe wey of deþ. (l. 1398)

39

Of þe variaunces of þis worlde. (l. 1412)

39

How a man is ilikend to þe more world and he clepid þe lasse world (l. 1487). Of dyvers condiciouns þat toucheþ to a mannes lif. Of þe nyce degises þat men useþ in þis world. (l. 1516)

42

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe þrid partof þis boke, whiche telleþ of deþ and whi deþ is to drede.

First he telleþ of thre manners of deþ (l. 1680). Þe first is bodi|liche deþ (l. 1686). Þe secunde is gostly deþ (l. 1690)

47

How a mannes soul may be slawe thurgh dedly syne (l. 1708). Þe thrid es endles deþ. How þat endles deþ is in helle (l. 1742)

48

What thing deþ is (l. 1761)

49

How he likeneþ deþ (l. 1808)

50

How men schuld drede deþ for foure skilles (l. 1818)

51

How deþ haþ no mercy of no man (l. 1864)

52

How deþ is commune to alle men (l. 1895). How a philosophre dis|creveþ þe paynes of deþ (l. 1900). How dredful thyng deþ is (l. 1920)

53

How no man knoweþ þe tyme of deþ when hit schal come and þe skile why (l. 1940)

54

How sikenes is iclepid þe messanger of deþ (l. 2024)

56

How God visiteþ us al day wiþ tokenes by whiche he warneþ us to be-ware (l. 2092)

58

How þe fend apperid to Seint Bernard in þe tyme of his dyȝyng. (l. 2248)

62

How griseliche þe fendes buþ of sight (l. 2300)

63

How a mau schuld ever thynk on his last day for to fle synne (l. 2593)

71

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe iv. part of þis boke þat telleþ of purgatorie, wherein soules beþ iclansid of synne.

First hittelleþ what purgatory is (l. 2710)

74

Where þat purgatory is (l. 2788)

75

Of two dyvers purgatories (l. 2871)

78

Of þe bittur paynes þat buþ in purgatory (l. 2892)

79

Of meny dyvers synnes, whiche buþ venial and whiche buþ dedly (l. 3354) How a mannes soul is dampned to helle for dedly synne (l. 3358). How for venial synnes þe soul is purgid in purgatory (l. 3383).

92

How x thynges mowe fordo lyȝtly þe venyal synnes, if a man wil use hem (l. 3394). Þe first is holy watur (l. 3401). (2) Almes dede. (3) Fastyng. (4) Howsel of þe sacrament (l. 3402). (5) Praier of þe paternoster (l. 3403). (6) Blessyng of Bischop (l. 3404). (7) Schrift of mouthe (l. 3405). (8) Knockyng of mannes brest (l. 3408). (9) Kussyng of þe grounde. (10) And þe last ennoynt|yng (l. 3409)

93

93

Þanne he counsaileþ þat eche man schold use þes x thinges (l. 3502).

96

What profit þe help of lyvyng frendes doþ to þe soul (l. 3572)

97

What pardoun availeþ to mannes soule (l. 3798)

103

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe v. part of þis boke . þe whiche spekeþ of þe dredful day of dome.

First hit telleþ of dyvers tokens þat to-fore þilk day schul be, of whiche crist here on erthe spake to his disciples . how Rome tofore þilk day schal be put to al manere subiection and destructioun (l. 3972)

109

Of þe lif of Antecrist (l. 4047)

110

Where Antecrist schal be bore (l. 4166)

113

In what place he schal be norisched (l. 4199)

114

In what cite he schal regne (l. 4210)

115

How Antecrist schal deceyve þe puple on iiii maneres (l. 4255). Þe first es thurgh fals prechyng (l. 4257). Þe secunde thurgh fals miracles shewyng (l. 4258). Þe iii thurgh large ȝifftes ȝyvyng (l. 4259). Þe iiii thurgh grete manaces, and tourment, and strong payne . þat he schal do busiliche to alle folk þat stondeþ aȝeyns his wille (l. 4260). How his tourmentis and þretynges schul passe þurȝ al þe world (l. 4276). How Gog and Magog þanne schulle appery and be obedient to Antecristis lawe (l. 4449)

116

121

Of þe commyng Ennok and Ely and of hare prechyng (l. 4496). How þe Jewes schul be turned to cristen feeþ þurȝ prechyng of Ennok and Ely (l. 4499)

122

How þes two prophetes, Ennok and Ely, schulle be put to hard deth thurgh Antecrist and his mynystres (l. 4541)

123

How Antecrist schal be slawe thurgh Goddes myȝt, of Seint Michael appon þe mount of Olyvete (l. 4599). Of þe sodeyne deth þat Antecrist mynystres schul at þe last take thurgh goddis ven|geance (l. 4619)

125

Howe aftur þe deth of Antecrist and of his mynystres, alle men

schul be turned to cristen feth thurȝ gods mercy (l. 4631). How we schuld ever make us redy, as þe day of dome schuld falle to-morow (l. 4655)

126

127

131

Of meny mo tokenes þat holy writ makeþ mencion of, þat schulle be in þe moone and in þe sonne and in þe sterres tofore domes|day (l. 4685)

127

Of xv other tokenes of whiche seint Jerom makeþ mencioun of, þat schul be tofore þe day of dome . in xv dayes . þe whiche buþ þes (l. 4738). 1. On þe first day þe see schal arise, and be more heghe þan eny mountayne þat is þere-to nye, bi fourty cubites (l. 4758). 2. On þe secund day þe see schall bicome so lowe, þat uneþe eny man schal hit knowe (l. 4764). 3. On þe iii day þe sea schal seme al playn, and so stonde stille as hit first stode at þe bigynnyng of þe worlde, wiþ out eny more arisyng other doune fallyng (l. 4766). 4. On þe iiii day all þe wondurful fisches in þe see schal come to-gidur and make suche a roryng, þat for drede þere-of meny a man schal quake (l. 4770)

129

5. On þe v day þe see and alle other watres schul brenne (l. 4776). 6. On þe vi day hit schal rayne blode þurȝ al þe world (l. 4780). 7. On þe vii day castels and toures ful fele schul falle adoun (l. 4782). 8. On þe viii day rete roches and hevy stones schal fyȝt to gedur, and eche schal othere to-barst and in þre parties dyvyse (l. 4784). 9. On þe ix day schal grete erthe-dyn be generalliche in eche londe and in eche cuntree (l. 4790). 10. On þe x day schal come suche wyndes blast, þe whiche hilles and dales schal turne into playne þat non hille schal be i-sene (l. 4794). 11. On þe xi day men and wymman schul come out of caves and holes and so wend aboute as gidy men þat conneþ no witte (l. 4798). 12. On þe xii day men and wymmen schul se a token falle doune fram heven (l. 4802). 13. On þe xiii day schal dey both man, and womman, and child and alle oþere thyng þat on erthe þanne lyveþ (l. 4804). 14. On þe xiiii day dede mennes bones schul togidur be i-set, and out of hare graves hi schul arise and þere-upon stonde (l. 4805)

130

127

131

15. On þe xv day þe world schal brenne in eche side (l. 4812). And þus endeþ þe worlde (l. 4813)

131

Of þe fuyr þat schal brenne al þe worlde (l. 4856). How þilk fire schal worche and brenne in four maners (l. 4875). Hit schal worche as þe fuyre of helle (l. 4877). Hit schal worche as þe fuyre of purgatorie (l. 4879)

132

Hit schal worche as þis worldliche fuyre (l. 4881). And hit schal worche as þe fuyre of þe spere (l. 4887)

133

Of þe general arisyng of alle men to þe dome (l. 4959)

135

Of þe stede in whiche crist schal ȝif his dome (l. 5147)

140

Whi God wol ȝeve his dome in þilk stede rathere þan in eny othere (l. 5193)

141

How crist schal ȝeve his dome in þe fourme of man (l. 5253)

142

How þe tokenns of cristis passioun schul be brought to þe dome (l. 5271)

143

Of xv manere accusours þat schul accuse þe synful bifore god atte day of dome, and þo buþ þes (l. 5424)

147

1. A mannes owne conscience. þat is his Inwit (l. 5452). 2. The secunde es a mannes owne synne þat he haþ do (l. 5454.) 3. The iii is holy writ (l. 5468). 4. The iiii is þe sonne and þe mone. and al þe world (l. 5472)

148

5. The v is fendis of helle, þat schulle accuse men of synnes un|schryven (l. 5480). 6. The vi aungellis schul accuse þe synful cristen, for a fals cristen man schal þanne be worse i-hold þan eny iewe or sarzyne (l. 5498). 7. [The vii. How hethen men schul accuse þe fals cristen] (l. 5508)

149

8. The viii. Seintes of heven, and princepallyche martures, schul accuse þe synful (l. 5520). 9. The ix. hy þat suffereþ wronges here, schulle hem accuse þat dide hem wrong (l. 5544)

150

10. The x. how children þat were unchastide schul accuse hare fadres and hare modres (l. 5560). 11. The xi. how þe poere men schul accuse þe riche (l. 5578). 12. The xii. how sogettis schulle accuse þe riche (l. 5582). 13. The xiii. how benefices þat god haþ to man schal hem accuse (l. 5588)

151

14. The xiiii. how þe tourment of cristes passioun schal hem accuse þat buþ synful (l. 5604). 15. The xv. how þe holy trinité schal þe synful accuse . at þe day of dome (l. 5608)

152

Of þe streit acountis þe whiche men schul ȝyf tofore god atte day of dome (l. 5642). How men schul ȝeld acountis of al hare lif (l. 5652). How men schul ȝeld acountis of eche tyme and moment spendid dedliche (l. 5657). How men schold ȝeld acountes of eche idel word and þouȝt (l. 5664)

153

How men schnl not onlyche ȝeld acountis of þe synnes þat hy dud in hare elde, but also of synnes þat hi dude in hare ȝouthe (l. 5700)

154

How men schul ȝeld acountis of þat hy synned in hare v wittes. How men schul ȝeld acountes not onliche of eche yvul opyn dede, but also of eche privy yvel dede (l. 5742)

155

How men schul ȝeld acount of þe seven werkes of mercy þat hy wold not here in hare lif fulfille (l. 5760). How eche man schal ȝeld acountes of his own soul (l. 5776)

156

How men schul ȝeld acountes nouȝt only of hare soules but also of hare bodies (l. 5814)

157

How men schuld not ȝeld acountes of þe soul by hit self and of þe bodi bi hit self, but of boþe to gadre emeyned (l. 5830)

158

How men schuld not ȝeld acountes only of hem self, but also of hare neghboures (l. 5858). How faders and moders schul ȝeld acountis of hare children þat were unchastised (l. 5866). How lordis schul ȝelde acountis of hare maynye (l. 5870). How prelatis schul ȝif acountis of hare sogettis (l. 5882). How scole maisters

schul ȝeld acountes of hare disciples þat myspendid hare tyme in lerning (l. 5892). How men schul ȝelde acountis of þe godes þat god haþ sent ham, of whiche þai wold not ȝyve to þe pore þat þere-to had nede (l. 5894)

159

How somme men schul be demed and some schul not be demed (l. 6017). How somme schul deme oþere men, and somme schul non oþer man deme, but take hare dome (l. 6018, 6027)

163

Of þe fynal dome þat crist schal ȝyve (l. 6126)

166

How þe yvel men schal be demed and wend to helle (l. 6222)

168

How þe gode men schul be saved and wend to heven (l. 6240)

169

How men schul be saved at þe day of dome, thurgh mercy i-pur|chast here in hare lif (l. 6294)

170

How þe mercy of god passiþ alle mannes synne (l. 6310). How þe world schal seme as hit were new made aftur þe day of dome (l. 6346)

171

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe vi. part of þis boke þat telleþ of helle.

First hit telleþ where helle is (l. 6437)

174

How soules schul þere for ever duelle (l. 6491)

175

Of xiiii maners of paynes þat buþ in helle (l. 6552)

177

1. Of þe fuyre of helle, how hot hit is (l. 6595)

178

2. Of þe strong cold þat is in helle (l. 6637)

179

3. Of þe grete filthe and stenche þat is in helle (l. 6675)

180

4. Of þe strong hungur þat is in helle (l. 6699)

181

5. Of þe gret thurst þat es in helle (l. 6733)

182

6. Of þe grete derknys þat es in helle (l. 6796)

183

7. Of þe hidous siȝt of fendes þat buþ in helle (l. 6841)

185

8. Of þe horribul vermyne þat is in helle (l. 6895)

186

9. Of þe betyng of fendis upon þe synful in helle (l. 7007)

189

10. Of þe gnawyng of a mannes conscience in helle (l. 7049)

190

11. Of teres of þe wepyng of þe synful in helle (l. 7097)

191

12. Of þe grete schame and schendschip þat þe synfulle schule have in helle for hare synnes (l. 7135)

192

13. Of þe hidous bondes, wiþ þe whiche þe synfulle beþ i-bounde in helle (l. 7173)

193

14. Of þe grete dispaire þat þe synfulle schul have in helle, for þai schul never have hope ne trist to come out of helle (l. 7233)

195

How þe synful schal ever more wanty þe siȝt of God (l. 7298)

197

And þus endiþ þe seȝt party of þis boke (l. 7520)

203

Here bigynneþ þe chapitles of þe vii. part and þe last of þis boke. þe whiche spekes of þe ioyes of heven.

First hit telleþ where heven is (l. 7553). Of meny dyvers hevens (l. 7567). Þe first es þe sterred heven (l. 7571). Þe secunde es þe cristal heven (l. 7574)

204

Þe iii þe hegh heven, where-In god duelliþ, þe whiche he made for man (l. 7618). How somme clerkes telleþ þat þer buþ seven ma|nere hevens, þat buþ þe seven planetis (l. 7621)

205

1. Þe first is þe mone. 2. Þe secunde is Mercury. 3. Þe iii is Venus (l. 7628). 4. Þe iiii is þe sonne. 5. Þe v is Mars. 6. Þe vi is Iubiter (l. 7629). 7. Þe vii is Saturnus þat is last (l. 7630)

206

Of þe ioy þat is in heven (l. 7813)

211

How no thing is hegher þan heven (l. 7726)

208

How alle worldliche blisses buþ acountid as nouȝt to regard of þe blisse of heven (l. 8767)

236

Of þe lickenyng of þe cite of heven (l. 8867)

238

How heven is lickend to a worldliche thyng and expouneþ hit in gostliche thyng (l. 8883)

239

How no man can telle wher-of heven is made (l. 8853)

238

Of seven manere blisses þat þe saved bodies schul have in heven. Of seven schenschipes þat þe dampned bodies schul have in helle. (l. 7875)

212

1. Of þe blisse of bryȝtnys (l. 7909)

213

Of þe contrarie of þilk blisse (l. 7925). 2. Of þe blisse of swiftnes. (l. 7933). Of þe contrarie of þulk blisse (l. 7951). 3. Of þe blisse of strengthe (l. 7959)

214

Of þe contrarie of þilk blisse (l. 7973). 4. Of þe blisse of fredom (l. 7979). Of þe contrarie of þat blisse (l. 7999)

215

5. Of þe blisse of helthe (l. 8007). Of þe contrarie of þilk blisse (l. 8015). 6. Of þe blisse of delices (l. 8023)

216

Of þe contrarie of þilk blisse (l. 8053). 7. Of þe blisse of endeles lif (l. 8063)

217

Of þe contrarie of þilk blisse (l. 8151)

219

Of seven manere of blisses þat þe saved soules schul have aftur þe day of dome (l. 8175). Of vii paynes þat þe dampned souls schulle have in helle (l. 8181). 1. Of þe blisse of wisdom (l. 8187)

220

Of þe contrarie of þat blisse (l. 8365)

225

2. Of þe blisse of onhed and acorde (l. 8377). Of þe contrarie of þat blisse (l. 8403)

226

3. Of þe blisse of frendschip and parfit love (l. 8447)

227

Of þe contrarie of þat blisse (l. 8469). 4. Of þe blisse of myght and strengthe (l. 8485)

228

Of þe contrarie of þat blisse (l. 8507). 5. Of þe blisse of honour and worschip (l. 8525)

229

Of þe contrary of þat blisse (l. 8543). 6. Of þe blisse of suyrté and sikernys (l. 8555)

230

Of þe contrarie of þat blys (l. 8577). 7. Of þe blisse of parfit ioye (l. 8601). Of þe contrarie of þat blisse

231

Of þe blis þat þe saved schul have in hare v wittes (l. 9355). Of

þe vii schenschipes þat þe dampned soules schul have in hare fyve wittes (l. 9392)

252

Of þe ioyful sight of þe trinité (l. 8652)

233

Of þe ioyful sight of oure lady (l. 8681). Of þe ioyful sight of þe ix ordres of aungelis (l. 8693)

234

Of þe ioyful sight of þe seintes in heven (l. 8717). Of þe ioyful sight of dyvers worschippes (l. 8741). Of þe ioyful sight of dy|vers medes (l. 8747)

235

Of þe ioyful sight of þe cité of heven (l. 8848)

238

Of þe ioy of huyryng and of þe contrarie of hit (l. 9257). Of þe ioy of smellyng and of þe contrarie of hit (l. 9276)

249

Of þe ioy of tastyng and of þe contrarie of hit. Of þe ioy of felyng and of þe contrarie of hit (l. 9363)

252