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

Here bygynnes þe ferth part þat es of purgatory.

Many spekes, and in buke redes Line 2692 Of purgatory, but fon it dredes; For many wate noght what it es, Þarfor þai drede it wele þe les. Bot if þai knew wele what it ware, Line 2696 Or trowed, þai walde drede it þe mare. And forthy þat sum has na knawyng Of purgatory ne undirstandyng, Þarfor I wille now speke aparty, Line 2700 In þis buke of purgatory. And first shew yhow what it es, And whare it es, als þe buke wittenes; And whatkyn payns er þar-in, Line 2704 And whilk saules gas þeder, and for what syn; And alswa what thyng es mast certayn, Þat þam mught help and slake þair payn. Of þir sex poyntes I wil spek and rede, Line 2708 And swa I sal þis ferth part spede. Purgatory es nathyng elles Bot a clensyng sted þar saules duelles, Þat has synned, and had contricyon, Line 2712 And er in þe way of salvacion, And er noght parfytly clensed here Of al veniel syns sere. Bot þar byhoves þam payne fele, Line 2716 Til þai be clensed parfytely and wele Of alkyn syn þat þai ever wroght, In worde, in dede, in wille or thoght. For swa pured and fyned never gold was, Line 2720 Als þai sal be, ar þai þethen pas. Wharfor þe payn þat þe saul þar hentes Er mare bitter þan alle þe tourmentes Þat alle þe marters in erthe tholed, Line 2724 Sen God was for us boght and sold. For þe lest payn of þe payns þar sere Es mare þan es þe mast payn here,

Als says a grete clerk þus shortly, Line 2728 In a buke of þe payns of purgatory: Minima pena purgatorii est major maxima pena mundi. He says, "þe lest payn þat es þare Line 2732 In purgatori, es wele mare Þan þe mast payn þat may be In al þis werld, to fele or se." For þe payne þar, es mare bitter and felle Line 2736 Þan hert may thynk, or tung telle, Als þe buke says, trow wha swa wille. For sum clerkes says, and pruves by skille Þat bytwen þe payne of helle namly Line 2740 And þe payn of purgatory Es na difference bot at þe tane Has ende, and þe tother has nane. Þe payns of helle sal never sees, Line 2744 Ne þe saules þar-in never haf relees; Bot in purgatori saules dueles stille Until þai be clensed of alle ille, And mare payn fele, als I understande, Line 2748 Þan ever feled man here lyfande; For þai sal haf a day þare Als mykel bitter payn or mare, Als a man mnght thole here of penaunce Line 2752 A yhere and fele als mykel grevaunce; And als mykel drighe þar fourty days, Als fourty yhere here; þus clerkes says; Swa es þe payn þar a day to se Line 2756 Als mykel als here a yhere may be. Bot ever a day of penaunce here May stand in-stede þar for a yhere, Als God says openly and wele, Line 2760 Thurgh þe prophet Ezechyele: Diem pro anno dedi tibi. Þat es on Inglys þus to say, Line 2764 "For a yhere I gyf þe day."

Þe payn þar þe saules avayles noght When þai til purgatori er broght, Bot for to clense þe saul of syn, Line 2768 And for na mede in heven to wyn; Þogh þai a thousand yhere war þare, Þair mede in heven shuld never be þe mare. Þan serves þat payne þar, of noght elles Line 2772 Bot to clense þam of syn, þat þare-in duelles. Bot penaunce to thole here with gude wille, Serves here til twa thynges by skille. Ane es to clense here þe saule wele Line 2776 Of dedly syn and of veniele; Another to haf in heven mare mede; Til þer twa may penaunce us lede. For þe saul for ilka penaunce here, Line 2780 Sal haf specyel ioy in heven swa clere, Þat with-outen ende sal laste, If þai thole payne here with hert stedfast. Here may men se, als þe buke wittenes, Line 2784 And understand what purgatori es. Now wil I shew yow shortly Whar, als clerkes says, es purgatory. Þe stede, þat purgatory es calde, Line 2788 Under þe erthe es, als I halde, Aboven þe stede, als som clerkes telles, Þar crysom [uncristen (MS. Harl. 6923).] dede childer duells, Þat fra þe sight of Goddes face Line 2792 Er putted for ever, with-outen grace. Þat place es neghest aboven hel pitte, Bytwen purgatory and itte. Þus standes þe stede of purgatory, Line 2796 Oboven þam bathe in þat party. Alle þat er þar payn byhoves hafe, Bot þai haf grace and er save. Bot fra þe other stedes, til þe day of dome, Line 2800 Sal never mare saule out come;

For þan sal þai come til þe last iugement, And with þe bodys agayn til helle be hent. Bot fra purgatory saules may wynne Line 2804 Til blisse when þai er clensed of synne. Aboven þat yhit es þe ferthe stede, Þat Crist visited when he was dede; And þa þat þar war with hym out tuke Line 2808 And left nane þaryn, als says þe buke. Ne fra þat tyme als we here clerkes telle Com never nan yhit þeder to duelle, Ne never nan forthward sal com; Line 2812 And þat stede clerkes calles lymbus patrum Þe whilk a fre preson on Inglys es, Whare þe haly faders duelled in myrknes. Alle þir four stedes men may helle calle, Line 2816 For þai er closed with-in þe erthe alle; And for helle þai may alle be tane, Of whilk four purgatory es ane. Þarfor haly kyrk þat for saules prays, Line 2820 Calles purgatory helle, þat þus says: Domine Ihesu Criste libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum, de manu inferni! Line 2824 "Loverd deliver out of helles hande Alle crysten saules þat þar er duellande;" Þat es to say, out [of] purgatory Þar þe saules er clensed parfytely. Line 2828 Bot fra þe lawest helle, with-outen dout, Na saul may be delyverd out; For of mercy þar es na hope; Þarfor þus says þe haly man Iobe. Line 2832 Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio. "In helle", he says, "es na raunceon." For na helpe may be in þat dungeon, Þat es to say, in þe lawest helle, Line 2836 Whar þe dampned saules sal ay duelle, Whar messe ne prayer helpes noght, Til þam þat er þeder broght.

For na thyng may abate þair pyne, Line 2840 And þarfor þus says Saynt Austyne, Si scirem patrem meum aut matrem in inferno, pro eis non orarem. He says, "if my fader or moder ware Line 2844 In helle, and I wist þam þare, I wald nouther nyght ne day, For þam byd bede here, ne pray." For-why, almusdede, ne messe, ne prayers Line 2848 Helpes na saul þar, bot parchaunce ders, Þe twa lawest stedes, þat I nevend ar, Er þe helles þat sal last ever mar. Bot purgatory sal noght last ay; Line 2852 It lastes na langer þan to domesday, For aftir þat day, als clerkes can se, Na stede of purgatory sal be, Bot helle, ful of devels with in, Line 2856 Sal ay last, for vengeaunce of syn. Now som has wonder, and may ask why God has swa ordayned purgatory, And helle ymyddes þe erthe swa law; Line 2860 Þe skylle why may be þis to knaw; Þe syn þat es in erthe wroght Fra erthe unpunyst passes noght. Þan nedly byhoves be punyst syn, Line 2864 Outher opon erthe or with-in, Þat es outher here þar we duelle, Or in purgatory or in helle; For syn es swa hevy and swa harde, Line 2868 Þat it drawes þe saul ay dunwarde; Until payn and penaunce haf wasted þat syn Þe saul may never tylle heven wyn; Yhit says þir grete clerkes namly, Line 2972 Þat twa stedes er of purgatory; Þe tane es comon, als yhe herd me telle, Þat with-in erthe es, oboven helle; And þe tother es speciele, thurgh grace, Line 2876 Þat es oboven erthe, in sere place.

For in þe comon stede som er noght ay, Bot er here punyst, outher nyght or day, In sere stedes specialy in gast, Line 2880 Whar þai haf synned in body mast. And þat may be thurgh helpe and spede Of prayer of frendes and almusdede, Til wham þai ofte in gast apere, Line 2884 Thurgh speciel grace, in sere stedes here, For to hast þair deliverance Out of þair payn and þair penaunce, Þat, als I ar sayde, gretely greves, Line 2888 And for warnyng of frendes þat lyefes. Here may men properly by skille se What purgatory falles to be. Now wille I rede forthermare, Line 2892 And shew yhow of sum paynes þat er þare. In purgatory, als þe buke wittenes, Es diverse payns, som mar, som les, And many mare þan I can neven; Line 2896 Bot I fynd wryten payns seven, Þat may be called payns of purgatory; And þa seven I wille here specefy, Of whilk men sal som fele and se, Line 2900 Als tite als þe ded-comyng sal be, Þe first payn es of þa seven, Als yhe herd me byfor neven, Þe grete drede þat þe saul es in Line 2904 When þe body at [And it (MS. Harl. 6923).] it sal twyn; For þe saul sese þan about it stande Grysly devels agayn it raumpande, Als wode lyons to wayt þair pray, Line 2908 And to ravisshe it with þam away. And þat syght es a payn ful grevous; For þe devels er swa foul and ydous, Þat swa hardy man was never nane Line 2912 Lyfand here in flesshe and bane,

Þat saw þe syght þat þe saul þan sese, Þat ne he for ferdelayk is witte shuld lese, Thogh he war never of hert swa balde, Line 2916 Als in þe thred parte of þis boke was talde. A grete payn aght þis syght to be Til þe saule þan, þat it sal se. Þe secunde payn neghest folowande Line 2920 Es þe grete drede, to understande, Þat þe saul sal hafe wyth dole and care, Until þe dome be gyfen, how he sal fare. For þe angels sal þare redy be Line 2924 And þe devels swa grisly to se, Þat sal disput of alle his lyfe Bytwen þam þar, with grete stryfe. His syns sal þan be shewed ful many, Line 2928 Als I tald byfor in þe thred part namly. Þe saul þan sal bytwene þam stande, And þe angels on his ryght hande, And devels on þe lefte syde. Line 2932 Þan mot þe saul in grete dred abyde, Until þat stryfe be broght to ende, And til it witte whyder it sal wende, And whether it sal be dampned or save; Line 2936 Þan sal þe saul a grete drede have, Als a man þat es in myddes þe se In grete perille, and may noght fle, When tempestes falles and stormes smert, Line 2940 Þan has þat man grete drede in hert; He mas þan vowes, and cryes on Crist, For, he es afered þat he sal be peryst; And þat drede til hym es a grete payn; Line 2944 For of his lyf he es uncertayn; And als a man has drede bodily, When he es acouped of felony Byfor kynges iustice, and þe cuntré, Line 2948 Þat charged es if he gilty be, He wate noght whether he sal be spilt, Or be delyvered of þat gilt.

Until þai have gyven þair verdite, Line 2952 And outher þar-of made hym qwyte Als þe laghe walde, or made hym gilty. If he þan haf drede, it es na ferly, For in grete dout of lyfe es þat man. Line 2956 Bot yhit has the saul mare drede þan, Til þe dome be [The MS. reads by.] gyven and it may se Whether it sal dampned or saufe be. For if it dome of damp[na]cion here, Line 2960 It gas til helle with-outen recoverere; And þe saul þat es dampned til þat place Thar never hope to haf mercy ne grace. What wonder es þan if þe saule drede have Line 2964 Þat doutes whethir he sal be dampned or save. Of þes twa maners of payns of drede Yhe herd me aparty byfor rede, Þe whilk es declared in a stede, Line 2968 In þe thred part þat spekes of þe dede. Alle þis matere men may se þare, Þarfor here I wil spek þar-of na mare. Þe thred payn es a maner of exil Line 2972 When þe saules here agayn þair wil Er exild fra þis lyf til payn, With-outen any turnyng agayn; For þan sal þai haf grete murnyng, Line 2976 When þai er flemed fra þair lykyng, Fra alle þair frendes lefe and dere, And fra alle þe delyces þat þai had here. Þe murnyng þat þai haf on þis wyse, Line 2980 Til þam sal be grete payn and anguyse. Þe fereth payn es sere malady, Þat þe sauls sal haf in purgatory. For þai sal haf þar yvels sere, Line 2984 For sere syns, þat er unclensed here; Som for pride þat þai haf here-in bene, Sal haf þar als a fever cotidiene,

Þat þe saule sal pyn mar bitterly Line 2988 Þan ever fyver pyned here mans body. Som sal haf þar, for covatyse, Als þe dropsy to grege ['eche' (Lands. MS. 348). agrege (Harl. 6923).] þair angwyse. Som sal haf in alle þair lymmes obout, Line 2992 For sleuthe, als þe potagre and þe gout. Som, for envy, sal haf in þair lyms, Als kylles and felouns and apostyms. Som for ire sal have als þe parlesy, Line 2996 Þat yvel þe saul sal grefe gretely. Som for glotoni sal haf þare, Als þe swynacy, þat greves ful sare. And som, for þe syn of lechery, Line 3000 Sal haf als þe yvel of meselry. Þus sal þe saules, als God vouches save, For sere syns, sere maledys have, Þat here has hadde repentance Line 3004 And has noght ful-filed here þair penaunce. Þir maladies þar þe saul mar greves, Þan it dos any body þat here lyves. Thynk we what payn has þe body, Line 3008 Þat has here bot a malady In þis lif, lastand alle a yhere, Or noght bot thre days, or four here. Þat malady greves þe body sare, Line 3012 Bot yhit it greves þe saul vele mare In purgatory, þar es it pynde, For þe saul es of mare tender kynde; For als a lytel thynd [thyng (Harl. MS. 6923).] þin eghe lokand Line 3016 May greve mare þan it may þi hand, Swa feles þe saule mare penaunce Þan þe body, when it has grevaunce. Bot now may som say here agayne, Line 3020 And aske how þe saul may fele payne, Þat es noght elles bot a spirit, Þat may noght be feled, swylk es it;

For it es swa sutil, þat aftir þe dede, Line 3024 It may occupy na stede. Til þis, þus men answer may, Als men may here grete clerkes say. Þe saule þe lyfe of þe body es Line 3028 Of ilk man here, bathe mare and les. And with-outen þe lyfe is na felyng, For felyng may be in na dede thyng. Þan es alle þe felyng halely Line 3032 In þe saul, and noght in þe body; For when þe saul es passed away, Þe body es noght bot erthe and clay, Þat es a dede thyng, als a stane; Line 3036 Þe whilk may fele na thyng be [by?] it ane. Alswa yhit may som þos aske mare, How may þe saule þat duelles þare, Be pyned with sere maledy Line 3040 Þat falles til sere lymes of þe body, Sen it has nouther body ne hede, Ne lym þat may occupy stede. Til þis, men may answer þus shortly: Line 3044 Þe saul, al-if it haf na body, It sal be pyned als in lyms sere, Thurgh whilk it has mast synned here. Swa sal þe saul, fele payn and wa, Line 3048 And til other saules it sal seme swa. For ilkan til other sal seme þan, Als þai had shap of body of man; Þus sal ilka saul other se, Line 3052 For nan of þam may feled be. Na mar þan here a man ande may, When it passes fra his mouthe away. And þis may be pruved be [by?] þe godspelle. Line 3056 Thurgh þe ensampel of þe ryche man in helle, And of Lazar þat he ward [And of þe lazar þat he warned mete. (MSS. Lands. 348, Addit 22283.)] mete Þat in Abraham bosom had his sete.

Abraham bosom es nathyng elles, Line 3060 Bot heven þar haly spyrites duelles. When þe ryche man, þat in helle sat lawe, Lazar in Abraham bosom sawe, He cryed til Abraham and prayed with-alle Line 3064 Þat a drope of calde water mught falle Til his tung, fra Lazar fynger ende, Als es in þe godspel contende. Bot al-if he þus spak to hym, Line 3068 Yhit had he na tung ne [The MS. reads no.] other lym, Ne Lazar, als yhe sal understande, Had nouther fynger, ne fote, ne hande, For þai bathe war spirites anly, Line 3072 Þat nouther had lymmes ne body. Þe tane was in blis soverayne, Þe tother was in endles payne. Bot þe ryche man saule feled in helle Line 3076 Payne, als he had bene in flesshe and felle; And Lazar saule til him semed þan Als he had body and lymes of man. Yhit has men herd som clerkes maynte[ne] Line 3080 Swilk an opinion, als I wene, Þat a saule, þat es in purgatory Or in helle, has of þe ayre a body For to thole payne, in lyms sere, Line 3084 After þat he has synned here. Bot whether þe saul haf body or noght, He sal fele payne, after he has wroght. Þe fifte payne es þe fire hate, Line 3088 Þat na maner of thing may abate, Bot almusdede and messe and prayere, Þat frendes dus for þe saul here. To abate þat fire, þa thre er best, Line 3092 For þa thre may bring þe saul to rest. Þat fire is hatter and mare kene, Þan al þe fire þat here es sene;

For als þe fire of erthe, þar we won, Line 3096 Es hatter þan þe beme of þe son, Ryght swa þat fire on þe same manere, Es hatter þan þe fire es here. Alle þe waters, þat men may rekken, Line 3100 A spark þar-of may noght sleken. We se þe fire þat here es, greves sare Þe body, þat standes þar-in bare; Bot mare greves þe fire of purgatory Line 3104 Þe saul, þan þis fire dus þe body. For þe fire here, of strenthe es les Þan þe fire of purgatory es; And þe body with flesshe and bane, Line 3108 Es harder þan þe saul by it ane; And þe saul mare tender and nesshe Þan es þe body with þe flesshe. Sen þat fire es mare hate þare Line 3112 Þan þe fire es here, als I sayd are, And þe saul es swa tender of kynde, Þan semes it þat it es mare pynde Thurgh þat fire, þan þe body mught be Line 3116 With alle þe fire of Cristianté; For a spark of þat fire es mare hate Þan al þe fire of erthe, als clerkes wate. Many saules duells in þat fire strang. Line 3120 Bot sum duelles short wyle, and sum lang, Aftir þair syn es mare or les, And aftir þair penaunce fulfild es, Bot na saul may þethen pas, Line 3124 Until it be als clene als it first was, When he was hoven at funtstane And his crestendome þar had tane. Som clerkes, þat spekes of purgatory, Line 3128 Says þat þe fire þare is bodily, And noght gastly als þe saule es; For þe saule, als þe boke bers wytnes, May be pyned with fire bodily, Line 3132 Als it may be with þe [þy?] awen body.

Bot þat fire wirkes noght thurgh kynde In þe saule, þat þar-with es pynde, Als dos þe fire þat brinnes here, Line 3136 Bot it wirkes on wonderful manere, Als God has ordaynd, forwhy, it es An instrument of Goddes ryghtwysnes, Thurgh wilk þe saule most clensed be Line 3140 In purgatory, ar it may God se. Alle þe fire þat es þar-in, Es bot a maner of fyre to wast syn, And noght divers fires, les and mare, Line 3144 Bot a maner of fire, als I sayd are, Þat alle veniel syns þan sal waste, Þat es unclensed here, lest and maste. For als fyre þat caffe son may bryn, Line 3148 Gold may melt þat es lang þar-in, Ryght swa þe fyre þar thurgh lang hete Þat wastes smale syns, may wast grete, And als þe hete of þe son þat comon es, Line 3152 Som men greves mare, and som men les, Right swa þe fyre þat es þare, Som sawles pyns les, and som mare; For þe sawles byhoves duelle þar-in, Line 3156 Aftir þe charge es of þair syn. Bot som sawles þar sal be delyver[d] sone, Þat large penaunce here has done; Som sal duel þar many a yhere, Line 3160 Þat litel penaunce has don here. And lang lygyn in þair syn; And þarfor says þus Saynt Austyn: Necesse est quod tantum urat dolor, Line 3164 quantum erat amor; tanto enim quisquis torquetur diucius, quanto affectus eius venialibus ahherebat forcius. Saynt Austyn says "nedeful it es, Line 3168 Þat sorow war als mykel and na les For ilka syn and ilka trespas,

Als luf and delyte in syn was." And alswa he says on þis manere, Line 3172 Þat ay þe styther þat ilk man here Gyves his lykyng and wille Til veniel syns, outher loud or stille, Þe langer sal he pyned be Line 3176 In purgatory;" þus says he. Þis fire, als byfore wryten es, Som saules pynes mare, and sum les, Aftir þat þai þat commes þar-in, Line 3180 Brynges ought with þam þat may bryn. For byfor ar þai may God se Byhoves als thre thynges brinned be, Þat es at say, als wodde, and hay, Line 3184 And stubble, þat may sone wast away; Þa er veniel synnes þat may falle, Bathe grete and smale, and men with-alle, Þe mast veniel syns sal þar bryn langly, Line 3188 Als wodde brinnes, þat es sadde and hevy, Þe lest veniel syns sal brin sone, Als stobble, þat son brinnes and son es done. Botswa son brinnes noght þe mene synnes; Line 3192 Þai brin mar slawly als hay brynnes. Þus sal be brynned and wasted þare, Als veniel syns, bathe les and mare; And al dedly syns of wilk men er shryven, Line 3196 And þe gilt God has forgyven, For whilk þe penaunce es noght fulfilled here, Sal þare be wasted on þe sam manere And þe saules in þat fire be pyned Line 3200 Unto þai be als clene als gold fyned. And when þai er fyned and made bright Þai sal be broght befor Goddes sight, Til hey Paraydise, þat blisful place Line 3204 Whar ay es rest, ioy and solace. Þe sext payne es þis to telle; Þat þe saules unclensed, þat sal duelle

In purgatory, sal be bunden faste Line 3208 With bandes of syn, whilles þai may laste, Als men þat er bonden in pryson, Þat na man may for gyf[t] ne raunson, Out of þat hard payn þam wyn, Line 3212 Until þe fire haf wasted þair bandes of syn. Þus er þai bunden by hend and fete, Alle bydonen [Albedene (MS. Harl. 6923).] , in þat brinnand hete. Me thynk þat na payne may be mare Line 3216 Þan þa saules has, whyles þai er þare. Grete dole þay mak, somtyme, and sarowe; For þai may nathyng begg ne borowe, To help þam, þat þai war out broght, Line 3220 Ne þair awen prayer help þam noght; For þar es nouther stede ne space, Helpe ne frenshepe to purchace; Bot þe gude þat þai did here, þai sal þar fele; Line 3224 Or if þair frendes, þat luffes þam wele, For þam here pray or do almus de[de]; Alle þat may help þam in þair nede. Ful hard payn þar þai fele, Line 3228 Bot at þai er save þai wate wele; Bot sum tyme swa mykel pay[n] þai hafe, Þat þai tak na kepe þat þai er save; Wharfor we shuld thynk, þat lyves here, Line 3232 What payn it es, on þis manere, To be swa pyned, and fele swa sare Fourty wynter, outher les or mare, Omang devels, þat þan has leve Line 3236 Som tyme to turment þe saules and greve, Ay whiles þai haf any spot of syn; For are, may þai noght out of payn wyn, Til þai be clensed and made right clene Line 3240 Of alle spottes of syn þat may be sene. And when þai er þus clensed wele Þan sal þai namare payn fele,

Bot als tite þar-efter þai sal wende Line 3244 Tille þe blis þat es with-outen ende. Þe sevend payn of purgatory es Þat þe saules er als in wildernes, Þar defaut es of alkyn thyng Line 3248 Of wilk man mught haf lykyng; Þair payn es turned manyfalde. Now er þai in hete, and now in calde; For sumtyme þai sal be pyned lang Line 3252 With hete, and som tyme with cald omang. Þai sal haf þare bathe hunger and threst, And travayl grete, with-outen rest. Þai er dungen þare, to eke þaire payn, Line 3256 With smert stormes als of wynd and rayn, And with stormes of hayle, sharpe and kene, Swylk stormes was never here sene, Als þe sauls sal þar here and se. Line 3260 Þus sal þai on sere-wyse pyned be, Sum many wynter for þair syn, Ar þai til þe sight of God may wyn. Swilk maner of payns þai sal have þare, Line 3264 With other ma, þat sal greve sare. Bot a grete payn yhit þis sal be, Þe grete yhernyng þat þai haf to se Þe face of God, þat es swa bright, Line 3268 And þe lang tariyng fra þat syght. Bot til þat sight þai may never wyn, Until þai be clensed þar of al syn. Here haf I talde yhow aparty, Line 3272 Of sum payns of purgatory. Now I wille shew, als þe boke telles, Whilk sauls in purgatory duelles. Þe saules þat to purgatory most wend Line 3276 Aftir þe dede, when þis life has end, Nedly byhoves dwelle þar-in, Unto þai be clensed of al syn, Thurgh bitter paynes þat er þare. Line 3280 Bot sum sal fele les, and sum mare,

Aftir þair syn es mare or les, Als in þis part byfor wryten es, Or aftir þair syns er many or fone, Line 3284 And aftir þai haf here penaunce done. Bot alle saules sal noght duelle in þat stede, For sum here þat als tite aftir þair dede, Sal wend strykly til heven blis, Line 3288 Als Innocentes þat never dyd mys, And other saules of men parfite, Þat in nathyng here has delyte, Bot anly in God þat boght þam dere, Line 3292 In [And (MS. Harl. 6923).] lyffed ay in penaunce here. Som þat þe dede here sodanly tas. In dedely syn strik til helle gas; And þat me thynk es na ferly, Line 3296 Forwhy dedely syn es swa hevy Þat it may with-in a litel stonde A saul draw doun til helle grounde. Bot þe saul þat of dedly syn es shryven, Line 3300 Swa þat þe gilt be here forgyven, If þe penaunce þat es here aioynt Be noght fulfilled at þe dedes poynt, And þe saul þat es noght clensed welc Line 3304 Of smale syns þat er veniele; Þis twa maners of saules er save, Bot in purgatory þam byhoves have Ful bitter payn, and duel stil þare Line 3308 Unto þai be clen, als I sayd are, Als þai war first when þai had tane Haly baptem at þe font stane. Yhit says som clerkes on þis manere, Line 3312 Þat swa clen of syn es naman here, Ne swa parfite in þe law of Crist, Ne yhit a childe, þat es new baptist, Þat til heven sal wend aftir þe dede, Line 3316 Þat he ne sal pas forth by þat stede,

And se þe payns þar ilkan. Bot yhong Innocentes sal fele nan, For þai couthe never na syn wirk, Line 3320 And passes [passede (MS. Harl. 6923).] in þe trouthe of haly kyrk. Þarfor þai swippe þurgh purgatory Als a foul þat flyes smertly, With-outen payn þat may dere, Line 3324 Or any sight þat may þam fere, Bot unnethes any other may Passe qwyte thurgh purgatory away, Þat þe fire ne sal noght fynd in þam to bryn, Line 3328 Ar þai passe thurgh som veniel syn, Swa strayt þai sal be examynd þan; For it es nan swa parfite man Þat he ne thynkes, some tyme, som vayn thoght Line 3332 Þat he lattes pas and charges it noght; Of swilk hym byhoves clensed be Or [ar?] he may þe bright face of God se; For als gold, þat shynes clere and bright, Line 3336 Semes fyned clene ynoghe til mans sight, Whar it put in fire to fyn mare Yhit suld it leve sum dros þare; Right swa þe saules, on þe same manere, Line 3340 Of parfit men, þat semes clene here Of al syn, and es to God redy, Yhit when þai sal pas thurgh purgatory, Þe fire þar, þat es with in, Line 3344 Sal fynd in þam sum dros of syn, Als light speche, or thoght in vayn, For whilk þam byhoves fele sum payn, For swa fyned never na gold here was Line 3348 Thurgh fire, als þai sal be ar þai pas. Here haf I shewed swilk [wilk.] saules sal be In purgatory, als clerkes can se. Now wille I som syns here specify Line 3352 For whilk þai duelle in purgatory.

Many maners of syns, þat greves, Regnes omang men þat leves; Of wilk sum er dedly to fele Line 3356 And sum er noght bot veniele, Þa syns þat er cald dedly Sal noght be purged in purgatory, Bot þai sal be punyst ay in helle; Line 3360 And whilk þas er I wil yow telle. Þir er þa hede syns þat er dedely; Pride, hatreden, and envy; Glotony and sleuthe in Goddes servise, Line 3364 And lychery and covatyse, Sacrilege, and fals wyttenessyng, And slaghter and forsweryng, Thefte alswa and ravyn, Line 3368 Ilkan of þir es a dedly syn. And wreth es dedly syn omang, If it be halden in hert lang; And yhit drunkenes es dedly to fele, Line 3372 If it be over continuele; Wha-swa feles hym here gylty In any of þir syns dedly, Bot-if he hym amende, ar he hethen wende, Line 3376 He sal noght aftir his lyfes ende Wend strek til purgatory, Bot even til helle with-outen mercy. Bot if he wille hym repent and shrife Line 3380 Of alle swilk syns here in his lyfe, Fra helle pyne þan es he save; Bot payn and penaunce hym byhoves have In purgatory, als I wene, Line 3384 Until he be made of alle syn clene; Forwhy penaunce for syn, als I sayd are, Most be fulfilled outher here or þare. Syns þat er veniele may dere, Line 3388 Bot þai er noght swa hevy to bere, Als er dedly, for þai may be here Fordon on light manere.

For als men heres þer clerkes say, Line 3392 Ilk man here lyghtly may Swilk remedys thurgh grace wyn, Þat may fordo al veniel syn; Þat es to say, if he clene be Line 3396 Of dedly syn, and wil it fle; For I fynd writen ten thynges sere, Þat veniel syns fordus here. Þas ten er þir þat I now rede; Line 3400 Haly water and almusdede, Fastyng, and housil of Goddes body, Prayer of þe Pater Noster namly, General shrifte, þat ilk day may be, Line 3404 Benyssoun of bisshope of his dignité; And benyssoun of prest, þat gyyen es Namly, in þe end of þe mes; Knokyng of [On (MS. Harl. 6923).] þe brest of man þat es meke, Line 3408 Last enoyntyng gyven to þe seke. Þer ten puttes veniel syns away, Als men may here þer clerkes say. Bot swa many veniel syns sere Line 3412 May be gadyrd atans togyder here, Þat þai may weghe on þe saul als hevy Als a syn dus þat es dedly, Þat slas þe saul and God myspays; Line 3416 And þarfor þe poet on þis wyse says: De minimis granis fit maxima summa caballo. "Als of many smale cornes es made Line 3420 Til a hors bak a mykel lade," Right swa may veniel syns many Mak a mykel syn dedly. For þai gadir on þe saul ful thyk, Line 3424 And cleves togyder als dos pyk, Bot if þai swythe be done oway, Ay als þai com, with-outen delay;

For swa parfitely may nane lyf here, Line 3428 With-outen veniel syns sere. For a man syns alday þat here duels Als þe boke says þat þus tels. Septies in die cadit Line 3432 iustus "Seven sythes at þe lest o[f] þe day Þe ryghtwys falles," þat es to say, In sere syns þat er veniel, Line 3436 Bot som er mare, and som les to fel. In swa many veniel syns we falle, Þat na man can reken þam alle; Bot sum of þam reherce I can, Line 3440 Als Saynt Austyn telles, þe haly men. For in a boke he reherces som, Þat mast es used of custom, And to telle þat [þas?] syns he þus bygyns, Line 3444 And says þat þer er veniel syns. First when a man etes or drinkes mare Anytime, þan myster ware; When þou may vaile thurgh wytte and skille Line 3448 And wille noght help bot haldes þe stylle; When þou spekes sharppely til þe pure, Þat sum gode askes at þi dore; When þou erte hale and may wele last Line 3452 And etes when tym es to fast; When þe lyst slepe and wil noght ryse, And comes overlate tyl Goddes servise; Or when þou ert in gude state Line 3456 And says þi praers ever late; Or when þou says praier or orison With over litel devocion; When a man list dele in bed Line 3460 With his wyfe þat he has wed, Hys lust anly for to fulfille, And to gette a child es noght in wille;

When þou visites men overlate Line 3464 Þat sek er and in febel state, Or men þat lyes in prison, Or in any tribulacion, Or men þat er synful and sary, Line 3468 Or saules þat er in purgatory; For to visite þam it war grete nede, Thurgh praier and thurgh almusdede; When þou paynes þe noght aftir þi state Line 3472 To accorde þam þat er at debate; When þou spekes over bitterly Til any man with noyse or cry; When þou prayses any man mare Line 3476 Thurgh flateryng, þan mister ware; When þou in kirk makes ianglyng, Or thynkes in vayn anythyng; Be it with-outen, be it with-in, Line 3480 Yhit it es a veniel syn; When þou ert over lyghtly wrathe, Or sweres and may noght hald þin athe; When þou bannes any man, Line 3484 In wham þou fyndes na gilt to ban; When þou supposes any wykkednes, Thurgh suspecion þar na es. Þir smale syns Saynt Austyn telles, Line 3488 Thurgh whilk many saules duelles In purgatory, in payne and wa. Bot yhit þar er ful many ma Of veniel syns, be [by?] many a score, Line 3492 Over þas þat I haf tald byfore. Bot swa witty es nane erthely man, Þat alle veniel syns reken can; For ofte sythes of þe day men falles Line 3496 In syns, þat clerkes veniel calles, Thurgh werk, or worde, or thoght in vayn, And ilka syn es worthy payn,

Þe whilk most be fordone clenly, Line 3500 Outher here or in purgatory. Þarfor I rede ilk man, whyles he lyffes here, Þat he use þa ten thinges sere Þat fordus, als I sayde are, Line 3504 Alle veniel syns, bathe les and mare. And if any fal in dedly syn Ryse he up, and ligg noght lang þar-in, And ga to þe prest hym to shrife, Line 3508 And tak his penaunce in his life, And haf he forthynkyng ay in thoght, For þas syns þat he has wroght, And do he penance with al his myght, Line 3512 And be in prayers, bathe day and night, And fast and ga wolwarde, and wake, And thole hardes [hardnes (Harl. 6923).] for Goddes sake; For na man may to heven ga, Line 3516 Bot-if he thole here anger and wa. And when God sendes a man angwise He suld thole it with-outen fayntise, Be it sekenes, or oght elles þat greves, Line 3520 Losse of catelle, or of fre[n]des þat lyves, Or unkyndnes, fals[h]ed, or treson, Or any other tribulacion, Thole he it mekely and thynk in thoght Line 3524 Þat with-outen cause commes it noght. Bot God wate wele þe cause why, Parchaunce it es for his foly, To chasty hym on swilk manere, Line 3528 For his syns þat he dyd here, Or it may be hym here to pruve, Or to make hym mar drede God and lufe. Þarfor sen God ofte vouches save Line 3532 Þat a man here swilk angers have, Outher for his syn or hym to fande; Love he him þan of alle his sande,

And take mekely þat God him sendes, Line 3536 And fle alle thyng þat he defendes. For thurgh nuyes and angers sere, He makes a man, als his preson here, Payn to drighe for hys foly, Line 3540 In þis lif als he es worthy. And, if he it thole noght grotchand, In-stede of penance it sal hym stand, And yhit wille God him mare do, Line 3544 He wil gif him mede þar-to, Þat his ioy in heven sal heke, If he thole angwyse with hert meke. Als þe gude son tholes mekely Line 3548 Þe fader, when he wille hym chasty, Swa suld ilk man thole and love God ay, And do alle þe gude þat he may, And specialy almusdede, Line 3552 Þe naked to clathe, and hungry to fede, And other werkes of mercy wirke, Als theches and preches haly kirke; And kepe him clene, to his lyfes ende, Line 3556 Fra syn, þan sal his saul wende Til blis, and lyghtly pas alle payne Of purgatori; þis es certayne. Here haf I shewed yhow, on Inglys, Line 3560 Som syns þat Saynt Austyn specifys. Now wil I shew what help es certayne For þam þat in purgatory has payne, And what may mak þair payn cees Line 3564 And þam of þair payn to haf relees. Þe saules, þat til purgatory wendes, May be helped thurgh help of frendes, Þat almus for þam dus, and prays, Line 3568 For þe haly man, Saynt Austyn says: Non est negandum spiritus defunctorum, pietate suorum viventium, posse relevari. He says "men shuld not denye on na manere, Line 3572 Þat þe saules of þam þat er dede here,

Of payn may relesed be Thurgh frendes lyfand þat has pyté." For als þas þat passed, als I sayd are, Line 3576 Til purgatory er pyned þare For weniel syns, mare and lesse, Aparty, thurgh Goddes rightwisnesse, Right swa thurgh help þai may aparty, Line 3580 Be relesed þar, thurgh Goddes mercy. Alle þat men dus here, bathe les and mare, For þe saules þat duelles þare Avayles þam noght als to heven mede, Line 3584 Bot for þair deliverance fra payn to spede. Four maners of helpes er general, Þat in purgatory availes þam al, Þat es to say, prayer and fastyng, Line 3588 And almus dede and messyng. On twa maners, als clerkes can se, Þe saule fra payn deliverd may be; Þe tane by way of grace es, Line 3592 And þe tother by way of rightwisnes, By way of grace on twyn manere Als es writen in þis boke here. First thurgh prayer of Crist þat es hede, Line 3596 When he es offerd in fourme of brede, Thurgh prestes hande here at þe mes, When þe sacrament swa made es. Alswa thurgh prayer of his lyms, Line 3600 Þat es, of gude men þat toward heven clyms. Þan may þe saules in purgatory, By way of grace specialy, Be delivered of pyn þat ders, Line 3604 Thurgh messes and rightwis men prayers. By way of rightwysnes help may be On twyn maners, als yhe may se. First, through byhyng of paynes þat greves, Line 3608 With almus, þat men to the pure gyves. Another es here thurgh assethe makyng, Als thurgh penance of fre[n]des and fastyng.

Þus may saules, als þe buke beres wytnes, Line 3612 By helpyd by way of rightwysnes, Þat es to say, þai may in þat nede Be boght fra payn thurgh almusdede; And thurgh penance for þam here don, Line 3616 Þe dette of payn may be qwitte son, Right als a man, þat duelles in prison Til he haf payed a certayn raunson, May be delyverd and broght away Line 3620 Thurgh a frende, þat wille it for hym pay. On þis wyse may þe saules þat wendes Til purgatory, be helped thurgh fre[n]des. Bot sum frende may help, and som noght, Line 3624 Þe saules þat til purgatory er broght. Thurgh þas frendes may þai helped be Þat here lyves thurgh ryght charité. Bot þe help of þam, þat charité failles Line 3628 Til þe saules þat er þar noght availles, For alle er als lymes of a body, Þat here er, and in purgatory; And als we may se properly here Line 3632 A body hafe many lymmes sere, And ilkan of þam, bathe les and mare, May help other þat feles sare; Bot if a lym dighe, and þe myght faile, Line 3636 Þat lym may noght til þe others availe. Right swa it fars on þe same wyse, By þam [þat] in purgatory lyese, And þat er here; for men may þam calle Line 3640 Als lyms of a body alle. Wha-swa in dedly syn es broght And charité in his hert has noght, He es als dede in saul with-in; Line 3644 Ay, whiles he es in dedly syn, His help vailles noght, bot es in vayne Als to þe saules þat er in payne. His help thurgh hym-selfe standes in na stede, Line 3648 For he es als a lym þat es dede;

Bot never-þe-latter, alle-if he swa be In syn and out of charité, Yhit may he helpe þe saales þus, Line 3652 If he til pure men gyf almus, Þat þai for þe saules pray specialy And helpes þe saules in purgatory. Yhit may þe help and þe travaile Line 3656 Of sum synful men þe saules avayle, If it thurgh biddyng done be Of a frende þat es in charité; Or of [The MS. has 'if'.] þe dede self þat has mast nede Line 3660 Of help of prayer and almusdede; Þat help may avayle þe saules son For his sake, þat biddes it be don, Þat charity in hert has knytt Line 3664 And noght for his sake þat dos it, For-why God wille noght do for his sake Þat charité wílle noght in hert take. Þis case ofte falles, als I understande, Line 3668 Bytwen a loverd and his servande, Whare þe loverd es gude and rightwys, And þe servand ille and uses folys. If þe servand do anythyng Line 3672 Þat es gude at his loverdys bydyng, Yhit may it availle to a gude use, Alle-if he be ille þat it duse; And þat by reson of þe gudenes Line 3676 Of hym of wham þe bygynnyng es. For alle be it onence þe doer dede [Anence the doer if it be dede. (MS. Harl. 6923.)] , Onence þe bidder it standes in stede; Bot if þai bathe in charité ware Line 8360 Þe helpe til þe dede war wele þe mare. Alswa a prest alle-if he be Synful and out of charité, He es Goddes minister and haly kirkes, Line 3684 Þat þe sacrament of þe auter wirkes;

Þe wilk es never-þe-les of myght, Alle-if þe prest here lyf noght right. For if a prest þat synges mes Line 3688 Be never swa ful of wykednes, Þe sacrament, þat es swa haly, May noght apayred be thurgh his foly. Þan may mes saules fra payn bring, Line 3692 Alle-if a synful prest it syng. For in Goddes name he synges þe mes, Under wham in order he es. Bot speciel prayers with gude entente, Line 3696 Þat es made besyde þe sacramente, Of a gude prest er wele better Þan of an ille, and to God swetter; Bot þe offeryng of Goddis body Line 3700 Helpes þe saules principaly; Wharfor it semes þat mes syngyng May titest þe saul out of payn bryng, Þat passes hethen in charité, Line 3704 And in purgatory clensed suld be. Bot til þam þat er dampned for ay Na gude dede avayle ne help may, Nouther almus dede, prayer, ne messe, Line 3708 For þai er, als þe buke bers witnesse, Departed halely fra þe body of Criste, And þe saules for ever er periste, For als lymmes, þat er dede, er þai Line 3712 Þat er hewed fra þe body oway. And als nathyng may help kyndely Þe lymes þat er cutted fra þe body, Right swa alle helpes þat men can telle, Line 3716 Availles þam noght þat er in helle. Yhit help of frendes here on sum wyse, Availles þam þat er in paradise, And alswa þam þat in helle duelles, Line 3720 Als a grete clerk in boke telles. Þan availles almus, messe, and bedes, To þe saules þat er in alle þre stedes;

Þai availe þe saules in purgatory Line 3724 To spede þam out mare hastily. Þai vaile þam þat in heven er; For þai multiplie þar þe titter, And þe ma þat gaders to þat place, Line 3728 Þe mare þair ioy es, and solace. Þai avail til þam þat er in helle, For þe foner shuld com þider to duelle, And þe foner þat þider commes for syn, Line 3732 Þe les payn þai have þat duelles þar-in; And ay þe ma saules þat þider wendes, Þe mare þair payne es, þat never endes. Þus may help here and availe be skille Line 3736 Til þe saules þat duelles ay in helle stille; And til þe saules þat er in heven namly, And til þam þat er in purgatory. Bot help may na saules out of payn spede, Line 3740 Bot þam þat has charité and nede. For in helle es na charité, And in heven na ned may be. Bot bathe þa twa þe saules has Line 3744 Þat fra hethen til purgatory gas. And als a man may here with his hande, Make asethe for another lyfande, Þe whilk es noght of power þar-to, Line 3748 Right swa may a man for þe ded do. Þe saules þat til paradise er gane Nede of help here haf þai nane; Bot if for þam war don any gude dede, Line 3752 It may availe þam, þat of help has nede. Þe help þat es don here specialy Availles til þe saules in purgatory, Bot to som mare and til som les, Line 3756 Aftir þai er of worthynes; And aftir þe charité es clere Of þam þat er lyffand here, Þat mast er bysy, and dus mare Line 3760 For sum þan for other þat er þare.

Bot when a man fra þis world sal flitte Na man for certayn here may wytte Whether he sal þan til purgatory wende, Line 3764 Or to blisse or to payn with-outen ende. For som semes gude here and parfite, Þat, after þe dede, er dampned als-tite; For parchaunce þai er ille with-in, Line 3768 And passes away in dedely syn. Some semes synful, als þai lyfed mys, Þat er save and er in þe way til blisse, For parchaunce byfor þair endyng, Line 3772 Þai er amended of þair myslyvyng. Of þis may na man certayn be, For it es Goddes pryveté. Bot we shuld trow, and suppose ay Line 3776 Þat alle er save and in gude way, Þat we se here gude werkes wirk, And has þe sacramentes of halikyrk. Bot whether it be or noght þus, Line 3780 We suld do þat es in us; We suld pray, bathe loud and stille, For al cristen saules; þus charité wille. Now sum may aske why synges men mes Line 3784 For a yhong child when it dede es, Þat of prayer, ne mes has na nede, For it couth never do synful dede. Þis may be þe right skille why, Line 3788 For þe lovyng of God principaly And for usage of haly kyrk, And for þe dedes use þat office to wirk. And yhit may þe mes in sum case Line 3792 Help þam in purgatory þat ned hase. Here haf yhe herde, als þe buke bers witnes, How almus, penance, praier and mes, Þat er done thurgh fre[n]des certayne, Line 3796 May help þe saules þat [The MS. reads 'þar'.] er in payne. Now wille I shew yhow yhit mare þarto, What pardon may to þe saules do,

Þe whilk þai purchaced, on right manere Line 3800 In clene lif whilles þai liffed here. Pardon helpes þam, als clerkes says, Þat it has purchased in þair lif days; For pardon of papes and bisschopes, Line 3804 Þat es granted here als men hopes, May availe þair saules in purgatory, Þat has purchaced it here worthyly, If þai of þair syn had contricion Line 3808 And war shrifen byfor þat pardon, Þan may pardon after þair dede In purgatory þam stand in stede. For pardon here, þat es certayn, Line 3812 May þam relese of þe dede [dette (MS. Harl. 6923).] of payn, Als fer-forthe als pardon may reche, Þus haf I herd grete clerkes preche. Pardon properly noght elles es Line 3816 Bot of payne, þat es dette, forgyfnes. Pardon may nane hafe bot he wil wirke, For it es of þe tresur of haly kirke, Þat es gadirde for nede of pardon, Line 3820 Of þe vertu of Crestes passion, And of þe worthines of þe dedys Of his halowes and of þair medys; And [it] es gaderd on many maners; Line 3824 First als of marterdom of martires; Of penance and travail of confessours, And of þe thechyng of docturs; And of chastité of virgyns clene, Line 3828 Þat chast and haly ay has bene; Of þe fruyt of haly kirk werkes, And of þe prayers of gude prestes and clerkes; Of alle þis, als I shewed byfor, Line 3832 Es gadird haly kirkes tresor, Of wilk þe pape þe kays bers, Whar-with he bathe opens and spers.

Þat falles hym of office to halde, Line 3836 For he es in erthe, Godes vicar calde. Þa cays er noght elles to se Bot playn power of his dignité, Thurgh whilk he may, be law and skille, Line 3840 Louse and bynde at his wille. For þe sam power hym falles to have, Þat Crist til Peter in erthe gave. For Crist gave to Peter playn powere, Line 3844 And says to hym on þis manere. Quodcunque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum et in celis, Et quodcunque solveris super terram, erit solutum Line 3848 et in celis. "Alle þat þou byndes in erthe," says he, "Sal in heven bunden be And alle þat þou lowses in erthe right Line 3852 Sal be loused in heven bright." Þis power til alle papes gaf he, Þat aftir Petre in erthe shuld be, Als shewes an exposicion Line 3856 Of þe haly godspelle in a lesson. Þan semes it wele by þis skille here, Þat þe pape has swa large powere To assoyle a man, and hym forgyfe, Line 3860 Alle þe dette of payn þat may greve, Swa þat he, þat þe pape assoyles, fulfille Þat, þat þe laghe of þe gospelle wille, [

Yf he þat es assoilede fulfylleAls þe lawe and þe godespelle wille. (Harl. 6923.)

] And yheld agayn, if he be myghty, Line 3864 Alle þat he tas wrangwysly; For when þe pape, þat grace wil do, He byndes hym and alle haly kirk þarto For hym til wham þat grace avayles Line 3868 To fulfille alle þat in hym failles, Bot bischopes here of lagher state, And has les power, als clerkes wate,

For-why þair dignité here es les Line 3872 And þarfor þair powere restreyned es; Bot if it be noght swa suffishaunt Als þe papes es, yhit may þai graunt Of þair power pardon aparty Line 3876 Til þair hawen underloutes [underlynges (MS. Y).] anly; And yhit most þat, als I sayd befor, Be gyfen of haly kirkes tresor. Bot na man may here pardon wyn, Line 3880 Bot he be out of dedly syn; For he, þat kepyng of þat fair tresour has, May noght it dele til haly kyrk fas; And swilk er þai and nan elles Line 3884 Þat here in dedly syn duelles; For out of haly kirk er þai, Þarfor na pardon whyn þai may. Bot þe frendes of haly kirk may wyn Line 3888 Pardon, for þai er with-in; And swilk er þas þat here er fre Of dedly syns and er in charité; Til wham pardon sal noght fail, Line 3892 Bot in purgatory it sal þam avail, To allege þair saules of payne, Als fer als it reches of certayne, Þe whilk, als sum says, falles to be sett Line 3896 For þe [r]emenand of payns, þat es, dett Þat parchaunce es lefte undon here; And þat may falle on sere manere. Aparty for penance þat es [en]ioynt, Line 3900 Þat es noght done at þe dedes poynt; Aparty for veniel syns sere; Aparty for syns þat er forgeten here; Aparty for over litelle penance, Line 3904 And for over littelle repentance; Aparty, for penance enioint, and done Parchaunce over reklesly and over sone; Aparty, for penance þat enioynt es, Line 3908 And es forgeten thurgh reklesnes.

Alle þis may be cald þe remenand, Of þe dette of payn, als I understand Þe whilk felle to be fulfylled haly, Line 3912 Outher here or in purgatory, Bot alle þis dett may þar be qwytt Thurgh large pardon, wha-swa has itt, In forgyvenes of alle penance soght, Line 3916 Whethir it be here enioynt or noght. For swa mykel pardoun may a man Purches here, þat he may þan In purgatory qwyte alle þe dett, Line 3920 Þat hym fra blis may tary or lett; For swa large es haly kirkes tresor, Þat it es ynogh to pay þarfor, And for alle þe paynes þat dett may be Line 3924 Of alle þe men of cristanté. Þus pardon in purgatory availles, Als I tald; bot som clerkes counsailles Þat we it spare and reserve halely, Line 3928 Until we com til purgatory, And do here penance whilles we lyf may, For a man sal thynk þare a day Lenger þan hever thogh[t] him here, Line 3932 Þe space of alle ane hale yhere; Þan es a day of pardon to gesce Mare worthy þan alle þis worldis riches, For þe saule had lever, þat in payn dueles, Line 3936 A day of pardon þan anythyng elles; For alle þe werld, [if] it his ware, He wald gyf for rest a day þare. Of þis maters, þat þus mas mencion Line 3940 Of help of frendes and of pardon Þat vailles þam þat er in purgatory, Als I shewed byfor openly, Spekes Innocent and Austyn Line 3944 In bukes, whar þair [þir?] maters er sen; And Raymu[n]d spekes of þe same In a boke, þat es called his name;

And Thomas Alqwyn spekes alswa Line 3948 Of þis mater, and of other ma In a boke, þe whilk made he, Þat ['And' (Harl. 6923).] hat Veritas Theologie. Here I have many maters redde, Line 3952 And þe ferthe parte of þis boke spede, In þe qwilk yhe hafe herd me specify Þe condicions of purgatory. First what it es to fele and se, Line 3956 And whar God has ordaynd it to be; And what paynes falles þar-to, les and mare, And whilk saules byhoves be pyned þare; And alswa for what manere of syn, Line 3960 And what may þam help þat er þar-in. Of al þis haf I spoken til þe ende, And now wille I til þe fifte part wende, Þat spekes of þe day of dome, Line 3964 And of takens þat byfor sal come.