The Lay folks mass book; or, The manner of hearing mass : with rubrics and devotions for the people, in four texts, and office in English according to the use of York, from manuscripts of the Xth to the XVth century / with appendix, notes, and glossary by Thomas Frederick Simmons ...

APPENDIX IV.

A TREATISE OF THE MANNER AND MEDE OF THE MASS.

(From the Vernon MS., Bodleian Library.)

Her techeþ þys tretys þenne, [fol. 302 b.] [col. 1] Hou mon scholde here hys masse: [This treatise teaches how people should hear their mass, and is needful to high and low.] Hit is ful nedful to alle menne, To more and eke to lasse. [ 4]

Ȝong and olde · More and lasse, [Hearing mass, good for all bap∣tized Christians.] Ful god hit is · to here A Masse. þat Cristendam · haþ tan. Hit was mad · for soule hele, [ 8] [It was made for soul's health, and the Lord's Prayer,] þe Pater noster · wiþ dedes fele And deprofundis · Is on. þe Pater noster · Is pris preyere [prayer of price, with others, many and diverse.] Wiþ oþer orisons · mony and sere. [ 12] Holdeþ ow stille as ston, And ȝe schul here · þe beste þing [Silence bespoken,] þat euer ȝe herde · of Olde or ȝyng As wyde · as mon haþ gon. [ 16]

¶ Lustneþ here · and ȝe wol lyþe Of a talkyng · I wol ȝou kiþe, [for a discourse full of comfort,] Cumfort · to al Mon-kynde, þat is þe Meedes · of þe Masse. [ 20] [viz. The merits of the mass.] Eueri mon · boþe more and lasse, Schulde haue hit · in his mynde, [All should know how to take part]

Hou þat ȝe scholde · ȝor seruise seye, [in common prayer, and use of private devotion;] And priueliche · ȝor preyers preye [ 24] To him þat may · vn-bynde, In saluyng · of ȝor synnes seuene To þe mihtful kyng · of heuene Vr Fader · þat we schal fynde. [ 28]

¶ And hou vr Fader · schal be founde [and how they may turn to God.] To vche a mon · þat is I-bounde In sunne · as I ow say. His suffrance · we may se [ 32] [His longsuffering and readiness to help.] Hou þat he suffreþ · þe and me Wiþ miht · al þat he may, And euere is redi · vr bales to bete, To loke what tyme · þat we wol leete [ 36] In-to vr laste day, Ȝif we ben in wille · to leue vr synne, [If we have a good will, he teaches the way to heaven.] He techeþ vs wel · hou we schal wynne To heuene · þe heiȝe way. [ 40]

¶ What mon wolde now · suffre so, [No man in the like case would be so longsuffering,] His sone I-slayen · and hedde no mo, But ȝif he miȝte · lyue a-ȝeyn. Ȝif he for traytrie · weore take, [ 44] Sone he schulde · be forsake, Or elles · soþli slayn. Whon þou dost · a dedly synne, [and we by sin crucify the Lord afresh,] Al þe while · þat þou dwellest þer-Inne, [ 48] þou puttest · to his payn, þe same he suffred · for vr sake. þen most merci · a-mendes make [but his mercy clears us.] Boþe wiþ miht · and mayn. [ 52]

¶ þorw his Merci · and his miht He reweþ of vs · a-ȝeynes þe riht, [He grieves for us,] As Rihtwysnes · wol rede. Rihtwysnes · wolde assone [ 56] As we dedly synne · haue done [where justice would condemn us to death.] To dampne vs · to þe dede.

þen most Merci · be Mayster most, [Therefore, mercy, stand us in stead,] þorw þe miht · of þe holy gost, [ 60] And stonde wiþ vs · in stede; [and remain with us till prayer has freed us from that sentence of death.] And lenge wiþ vs · in leo and lede Til we beo don · out of þat dede þorw bone · of holy bede. [ 64]

¶ wiþ ȝor leue · I wol be-gynne [Now I begin to put you in mind of the Mass, and it is a good subject for my verse-making.] Of A Mater · for to mynne, A good þing · for to make, On þe hexte þing hit is, [ 68] þat euer was mad · þat is þe Mes, Monnes sunnes · to slake. Eueri day · þou maiȝt se [Thou mayest see the Body of Christ, who died for thee,] þe same bodi · þat diȝed for þe, [ 72] Tent · ȝif þou wolt take, In figure · and in fourme of Bred, [in figure, and in form of bread, as He gave it before His death.] þat Iesus dalte · er he weore ded, For his disciples · sake. [ 76]

On þe hexte þing · to here, [High as it is,] And þe lihtest · for to lere, [it is easy for the unlearned to learn] For lewed men · In lare. Hou þat ȝe schul · ȝor seruise say, [ 80] [when to join in the service, and] And priueliche · ȝor preyers pray, [Fol. 302 b.] [col. 2] In churche · whon þat ȝe are. [when to pray by themselves,] do ow wel to witen · wiþ-outen drede, þe Masse was mad · for monnes nede, [ 84] [for the Mass is for all.] For al folk lasse and mare. As þe prest seiþ · his preyere, [All ought to pray as the priest, if they knew what he said.] So schulde vche mon · þat him gon here, And þei wuste · what hit ware. [ 88]

¶ Ȝif I seide þis word · wiþ my wit [I do not speak of myself, without warrant of holy writ,] Wiþ-outen witnesse · of holi writ, Wisdam weore hit non: þerfore I wole þat ȝe hit witen, [ 92] Hou þat we · fynde hit writen Wiþ Auctours · mony on.

Of Austin, Ambrose · Bernard, and Bede [and so I give the reasons of St Augustine, &c.,] Ȝit heore Resons · wol I rede [ 96] A-Mong ȝow · euerichon. þei make muynde · of mony a mede [who put on record the merits of the Mass.] þat we schul haue · for vre good dede, To churche · whon þat we gon. [ 100]

What tyme · þat þow biginnest to go, [Every step to and from hearing Mass is noted by the guardian angel.] Ouþer · to þe churche or fro, To here A Masse · ȝif þou may, Eueri fote · þat þou gas, [ 104] þyn Angel poynteþ hit · vch a pas þe Prince of heuene · to pay. þat day schalt þou elde nouȝt, [That day a man does not age,] Ȝif þou beo studefast in þi þouht [ 108] On God · þat is verray. Not Blynt þat day · schalt þou not be, [nor become blind:] þat þou þi sauiour · hast se, þorw him þat mihtes · may. [ 112]

¶ A Fair grace · God haþ þe ȝiuen [he has God's par∣don, if he goes to confession;] Of þi sunnes · and þou be schriuen þat day · þou hast god se. ȝif þou be ded · þe same day, [ 116] [and if he die, it avails as the viaticum.] þou schalt be founden · I þe fay, Hoseled · as þou hed be. Baldely maiȝt þou · swete and swynke [It makes work to be without annoy∣ance or trouble,] For to wynne þe · Mete and drinke [ 120] Wiþ-outen tray · or tene. And ȝif þou be · in eny drede, [and helps to cure sharp sorrows.] Al þe better · schalt þou spede To keuere of cares kene. [ 124]

¶ Ȝif þou haue eny · wey to wende, [Before a journey hear early Mass,] I rede þou here · a masse to ende In þe Morennynge · ȝif þow may: And ȝif þou may not · do so, [ 128] I rede beo vnderne · ar þou go, [or ad tertiam,] Or elles · be heiȝ midday. [or ad sextam.]

Serteynliche · wiþ-outen fayle, þou schalt not leose · of þi trauayle [ 132] [It will not hinder your journey.] Not half a foote · of way. O þi bodi · þou schalt be lihtore, And þi weyes · wende þe Rihtore, þorwh him · þat mihtes may. [ 136]

ÞOuh he be nouȝt · at þi lykynge [Be not kept away by any priest.] þe prest þat schal þy masse synge, þerfore lette þou nouht: His Masse schal be · as good to heere, [ 140] [His unworthiness cannot hinder the Sacrament;] As Monk, Chanoun · Hermyte, or Frere. þus þenk hit · in þy þouht. þauȝ his preyere · and his bone Bi-fore God · come not so sone, [ 144] As he þat neuer synne wrouȝt. Ihesu crist · souereyn of al [and his Master, Christ, will judge him.] He may deeme · boþe gret and smal. þus Doctours · han I-souht. [ 148]

¶ Seynt Ambrose seiþ · hose redeþ riht, [St Ambrose says] þe Masse · Is of so muche miht, þer nys no mon · þat May, Wheþer þat he · be old or ȝonge, [ 152] þe tenþe part · telle wiþ tonge, þeiȝ he schulde · liue for ay. þe Exposission · is so expres [the subject is inexhaustible by time or skill.] Wiþ al þe priuete of þe Mes [ 156] Serteyn · wiþ-oute delay þat couþe a mon neuere · so muche of art He mihte not telle · þe tenþe part, þauȝ he hedde þouȝt to say. [ 160]

¶ Seynt Ierom seiþ · for soules sere [Fol. 302 b.] [col. 3] þauh a Mon wolde · a þousent ȝere [St Jerome cited for the necessity for a mass for every several soul.] Do a Masse · for to synge, His [[read Hit]] is nouþer more ne las, [ 164] But vch a soule · schal haue a mas— Hit is so heiȝ · a þinge.

ȝit I Rede ow · go to chirche, [Still go to church and be doing God's work.] Godes werkes · for to worche, [ 168] In-to vr laste · endynge. Haue we no doute · of vr dole, Vch soule schal haue · a masse al hole, [Every soul shall have a separate Mass.] þorw help · of heuene kynge. [ 172]

Ful hard hit were · to vre bi-houe Vch a prouerbe · for to proue [Hard to prove all this by all these authors;] Of þeos Auctours · alle: Serteynliche · wiþ-outen lees [ 176] Of sum of hem · þen wol I sees [for I foresee if I only cited some at length,] For þing · þat may be-falle Ȝif I drouȝ hem · on lengþe, I trou no mon · schulde haue þe strengþe [ 180] [no man could stand it out;] To stonde · and heere hem alle. Lewed men · and ȝe wol list, [but I shall be glad for you to know when to call on Christ.] Ful fayn I wolde · þat ȝe hit wist, On Crist · whon ȝe schulde calle. [ 184]

¶ To calle on Crist · with mylde chere, [You are ignorant, and I will teach you.] Lewed Men · I schal ȝou lere Whon þat þe prest · bi-ginnes, Whon he seiþ · his Confiteore, [ 188] [When the priest says his Confiteor, bowing before the altar,] Feire he louteþ · þe Auter bi-fore To schriue him of his synnes. Serteynly · wiþ-oute delay And ȝe for þe prest pray, [ 192] [and you pray for him, if he remem∣bers you in the memento, how great is your reward.] And he atte Masse ȝou mynne, Sikerli · I dar wel say, þer nis no tonge · þat telle may What Mede · þat ȝe may wynne. [ 196]

¶ But ȝit I telle ȝou sikerly, [But if you only pray for yourself, it is not half what your fallen nature demands from you,] And ȝe preye · but only For ȝor owne · hele, I do ȝow to witen · with-outen drede, [ 200] Ȝe beo not worþ · so muche meede, Not be þe haluendele,

As þi kuynde · puttes þe to, To don vuele · he biddes þe do: [ 204] [since it inclines you to evil.] Ȝif þou wol wone · in weole, Prey for þe prest · and he for þe. [Where there is this mutual prayer, there is true praise.] þat Is a preyere · of charite, þen maiȝt þou synge · of loue lele. [ 208]

¶ Loue is trewe · in vche a leede Ȝif þou do ille · vuel schalt þou spede ["Ill deed, ill speed."] For al þe craftes · þat þou con. Whon þat þou comest · þe chirche with-Inne [ 212] And þou sest · þe prest bi-gynne [Whilst the priest is vesting,] Take his vestimens · on, Loke þou do · as I sey þe: Knele a-doun · vppon þi kne, [ 216] [kneel and be still,] Noyse · þat þow make non. Seþþe stond vp · at þi seruise [then stand and do your service,] And serue god · on þis wyse, Al folk · euerichon. [ 220] [all of you.]

¶ þou schalt say · þi drihten, [Say thy Domine in multitudine, &c., and place thyself under the safe∣guard of the Blessed Virgin;] And deore god almihten, And In Marie · I me a-seure, þat heo saue vs alle, [ 224] Boþe grete · and smalle,— Of sunnes · we beþ vn-pure— [and pray for shrift of sins] And þat I may me schriue Of al my wikked lyue, [ 228] To Prest · þat bereþ þe cure, þat I haue I-wrouȝt, And in herte · I-þouȝt, [in deed and thought against man's better nature.] As vnkuynde · creature. [ 232]

¶ I was vn-kuynde, [A Form of Con∣fession.] And was þenne · blynde, To worche · a-ȝeynes his wille, þat furst me wrouȝt, [ 236] And seþþe me bouȝt, Fro peynes · he was put to ille,

þer-fore · we pray To þe · to-day, [ 240] þat knowes boþe good · and ille, [Fol. 303] [col. 1] Graunt vs lyue, [Prayer to live to complete penance.] We may vs schriue, Vr penaunce · to folfille. [ 244]

¶ We schal preyȝe Iesus [Prayer to Christ for forgiveness,] þat he forȝiue vs Vr sunnes · þat we may synge, þat we may pray, [ 248] þe Prince · to-day, Schop eorþe · and alle þinge; þat in Clannesse, [for purity, and for benefit from the Mass.] We may þe Messe, [ 252] [for purity, and for benefit from the Mass.] þorw miht · of heuene kynge, So deorliche · to do, To torne þe to Vs alle · to good endynge. [ 256]

¶ Certes sires · ful good hit is [It is no doubt good to stand and say a word of prayer at the Mass;] To stonde stille · at þe Mes, Sum good word · for-to say, Whuche þat ȝe wole preye fore, [ 260] [you may pray for scores,] þauh ȝe do · for mony a score At a Masse ȝe may, Alle þo · þat ȝe nempne nouȝt, [either naming them or thinking of them,] But only þenke · in ȝor þouȝt [ 264] þat ȝe wolde · fore pray. I do ow to wite · with-outen doute, [and every soul of them has a Mass, if not lost in hell for ever.] þer nis no soule · a Masse wiþ-oute, But he haue helle for ay. [ 268]

¶ Wust I my Fader · in flesch and felle [If my father was in hell,] Weore holliche · I-holden in helle, þer weore · non hope of hele. To preye for him · I couþe no Red, [ 272] [I would no more pray for him than for a dead dog;] No more · þen for A Dogge were ded, But let hem wiþ him · dele.

Ȝit I rede · we go to chirche Godes werkes for-to worche [ 276] Ȝif we wole wone · in wele. Seþþe hit is · vnknowe to vs, [but still, as this is not known, we pray for all the faithful.] We schul preye for alle · Fidelibus To Rewe soules · þat beþ lele. [ 280]

Ȝit I bidde ȝou · takeþ good tent [Now take care you don't talk with any man,] þat ȝe holde · no parlyment Wiþ no cristen mon Whon ȝe come · þe Churche with-Inne, [ 284] And ȝe seo · þe prest bi-ginne [after the priest begins to vest,] Take · þe vestimens on. þe foule fend · so fel is. [or the Devil will write all you say,] He writ ȝor wordes · I-wis [ 288] On A Rolle · euerichon. Also witnesseþ · seynt Austine, [as witness Saint Augustine of England.] þat furst wit · in Engelond gan lene And preched · þe treuþe bi-gon. [ 292]

¶ Ar seynt Austin · In Engelond come, Wiþ [[scratched out]] Pope Gregori · of Rome [When he was at Rome, he was one day called to minister as deacon by Saint Gregory the Great,] Ful long tyme · gon he dwelle. Vppon a day · for worschupefulnesse [ 296] þe [[scratched out]] Pope wolde · synge A Messe, As him ful fayre · bi-felle. He made a signe · to seynt Austyne, For he schulde ben · his dekne digne [ 300] To Rede · þe gospelle, And as he radde · þen sauh he þen [and he saw two women talking together, whilst he read the gospel,] Two wyues · as ȝe may witen, Tales þen gonne þei telle. [ 304]

¶ Seynt Austin · herde þis wordes alle, In A wyndow · on þe walle, þer · bi-fore his face A foul fend · he sauȝ þer-In [ 308] [and he saw a devil also (so God gave him grace), who wrote what they said,] Wiþ penne · and enke. and parchemin As God ȝaf him þe grace

He wrot so faste · til þat he want, For his parchemyn skin · was so scant, [ 312] [but soon used his parchment,] To speken · þei hedde such space. Wiþ his teeþ · he gon hit togge, [so he tugged it with his teeth, till it stretched,] And so radli · he gon hit Rogge, þat al þe Rolle · gon race. [ 316]

¶ So harde raced · he þat Rolle, þat he chopped · his Cholle, [and he knocked his head against the wall.] A-ȝeyn þe Marbel-ston. Al þe folk · I þe chirche A-bout [ 320] Was a-stoneid · of þat clout, [Fol. 303] [col. 2] And herden hit · euerichone. [Every one heard the blow, and St Austin burst out laugh∣ing,] Seynt Austin seiȝ · hou faste he drouh, He barst on lauhtre · and loude louh; [ 324] þe [ [[erased]] Pope] ful sore · gon grone [to the great grief of the Pope,] For serwe · neiȝ þe [[erased]] Pope wept. [who remonstrated with him after Mass,] After masse · Austyn he met And Mekely · made his mone. [ 328]

¶ He made his mone · wiþ mylde mod, Whi weore þou · so wikked and wod For to do · þat dede, [charging him with madness for what he had done;] A worse dede · miht þou neuer done. [ 332] Austin onswerde · him ful sone— þer-of he hedde · gret dred— Lord, greue ȝe nouȝt · til þat ȝe wite; [but he asked him not to grieve till he knew all,] A foul fend · I say site— [ 336] Serwe · mot ben his mede— Two wyues · sat ȝonder, langare, [and told him the story of the women and the fiend,] Alle heore wordes · wrot he þare Vppon a Rolle · to rede. [ 340]

¶ þei tok no tent · til heore Mas, Al heore wordes · more and las He wrot hem · euerichon. [who wrote all they said,] For to speke · þei hedde such space, [ 344] þe fend wrot · wiþ a foul face, Til his Parchemyn · was al gon.

Whon his parchemyn · was al spende, [and how in stretching the parchment,] He rauhte þe Rolle · bi þe ende [ 348] Wiþ his teth · a-non He logged · þat al in synder gon lasch And wiþ his hed · he ȝaf a dasch [he dashed his head against the marble,] A-ȝeyn þe Marbel-ston. [ 352]

¶ Lord greue ȝe not · for þat dunt [and that cut the saint short in his reading.] He stoneyd me · and made me stunt Stille out of my steuene. I wol sigge · as I seȝe, [ 356] [He said as he saw, without a lie,] For a word · wol I not lyȝe Be Mihtful kyng · of heuene. He ladde him forþ · as I trowe, [and led the Pope to the window,] Til he com · to þe wynt-douwe [ 360] þat I be-fore · gon nemene. Foul þei fond · þer I-sched [and there they found black filth on the ashlar.] As blac as pich · was I-spred Vppon þe Aschelers · euene. [ 364]

¶ þis is wonder-þing · with-outen drede— [This is a miracle, no doubt, for devils have no blood, but it was allowed for cor∣rection sake.] þer was neuer fend · blod mihte blede, He haþ nouþer · flesch ne bon, But god wolde · þat hit were so [ 368] To chastise hem · and oþer mo þat to churche · gun gon. Til a Masse · was seid to ende. [Till Mass is ended, a man should be stone-still,] A Mon schulde talke · with fo nor frende, [ 372] But holde him stille · as ston. þat hous was mad · for preyere [for it is the house of prayer to Jesus and His mother.] To Iesu · and to his Moder dere To þonke hem · al heore lon. [ 376]

At þe wyues · gon þei witen [The women had much unseemly talk,] What þei seiden · whon þei siten Seynt Austyn · hem bi-syde, Bi heore onswere · þei wuste ful wel, [ 380] þat þei hedde spoken · muchel vncel, [and would fain have kept it secret;] And in heore hertes · gun hyde.

þerfore sires · I rede ȝe loke, God tent · I wolde ȝe toke, [ 384] [so do you take care,] For þing · þat may bi-tyde, þat ȝe mesure ȝou · þe mare Of speche · þat ȝe ow spare [and moderate your loquacity at Mass.] At Masse · whon þat ȝe byde. [ 388]

¶ þe [[erased]] Pope greued him · wel þe lasse, [The Pope com∣manded that the miracle should be borne in mind,] He let comaunden · at þe Masse Of þat Miracle · to mynne, And also bad · wiþ ful good wille [ 392] þat eueri Mon · schulde stonde stille, [and that every one should be silent at Mass.] Whon he comeþ · þe churche with-Inne. And þenne hou wel · þat god may wreke [Think of God's anger.] Euerich a word · þat we speke, [ 396] [A word might hinder the priest in his Mass,] We do ful muche synne; A Prest miȝt be let · of his mes, Al þis world · miȝt fare þe wers, [and the whole world might suf∣fer for it.] Vs alle to wo · to wynne. [ 400]

¶ Vr Fader vre · al weldyng is, [Fol. 303] [col. 3] God let vs neuere · his murþes mis. [Here follows a paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer with a Farsura.] Lord halwed · be þi name. In heuene and eorþe · þi wille [ 404] Be don · and þat is skille, Or elles we ben · to blame. Vr vche dayes bred · ȝif vs to-day, þat we may trustily · whon we schul a-way, [ 408] To come · to þi kyndame God kepe vs · to vre laste endynge Let neuer þe fend · with fals fondynge Cumbre vs · in no schame. [ 412]

¶ þis pater noster · schulde ben vsed [The Paternoster should be put aside for no prayer,] And for non orison · beo refused— I schal ȝow telle · for whi. Of his Mouþ · hit was maad [ 416] [for it was He made it who redeemed the world from woe.] þat al þis world · long and braad Out of Bale · gan buyȝe.

Leeue hit wel · and not wene hit, [Believe the Lord's Prayer,] þe pater noster · contened [ 420] Alle þing · hollye, þat vs neodeþ · and non oþer, [as none other comprises all we need in this world and the next.] Boþe for þis world · and þat oþer, Quik · whon we schal dye. [ 424]

¶ At the gospel · were ful good, [Stand at the gospel;] Studefastliche · þat ȝe stod, For no þing · þat ȝe stured hit. Al ȝor lykyng · þer-on leiþ [ 428] To wite what þe prest seiþ, Holliche · þat ȝe here hit. þauȝ ȝe vnderstonde · hit nouȝt, [you may under∣stand none of it, but it is what Christ wrought, and it is wisdom in the unlearned to honour His work.] Ȝe may wel wite · þat god hit wrouȝt, [ 432] And þerfore · wisdam were hit For to worschupe · al godes werkes To lewed men · þat ben none clerkes: þis lesson · now go lere hit. [ 436] [Now learn that,]

¶ And whi ȝe schulde · þis lessun lere Herkneþ alle · and ȝe may here. [exemplum.] þer a Neddre · hauntes [And here's a reason.] ȝe may wel fynde · and ȝe wol seche. [ 440] He[o] vnderstond · no þing þi speche, [The adder under∣stands not a word of thy charm,] Whon þou hire · enchauntes, Neuerþeles · heo wot ful wel [but she knows thy meaning.] What is þi menynge · eueri-del [ 444] Whon þat þou hire · endauntes. So fereþ · þer vnderstondyng fayles, [So, when not understood, the power of God's word still avails.] þe verrey vertu · ȝow alle a-vayles þorw grace · þat god ȝow grauntes. [ 448]

WHon þe gospel · is I-don, [After the Gospel] ȝit wolde I, gode men · euerichon, þat ȝe couþe · ȝor crede, [comes the Creed.] What tyme · þat þe prest say, [ 452] [Would that you knew it, and could say it with the priest,] þat ȝe miȝte · ȝor-self pray, Forsoþe · hit were gret nede.

And seþþe trewely · trouwe þer-Inne, [and belieed it, as well as said it, for therein is great reward;] And fulliche · out of ȝor mouþ hit mynne, [ 456] þer-to liht · muche mede. And ȝif ȝe trowe · and wol not telle, [but believing without doing is devil's deed.] So dude þe fend · þat from heuene felle, And doþ hit nouht · in dede. [ 460]

¶ þouȝ þou neuere · so trewely trowe, [To believe without works is nothing; the devil believes and trembles;] Wiþ-oute dede [[MS. drede]] · ful luytel hit douwe, So doþ þe deuel · þat dredes. But seynt Jacob · Josepes broþer [ 464] Seiþ þat we schal · don non oþer In his pistel · whose redes. Such þing as þou seyst and doos þi Neiȝebor wol þer-of · make Roos [ 468] [and man's praise is according to the life you lead.] What lyf · þat þow lede. Wiþ-In a storie · in þat stede He seiþ · þat trouþe is but dede, ["Faith without works is dead," (Ja. ii. 20,)] But hit be don · in dede. [ 472]

¶ Ȝit beo þer mo men · lyuing in lede, [still I would more men, that live in the world, knew their creed.] þat I wolde · couþe heore crede, And whon þei couþe ken hit. I haue I-seid · as I con: [ 476] [I have done my best to English it—if there is a fault, do not turn me into ridicule behind my back, but let me know of it.] Ȝif þer beo euer · eny mon, þat seiþ he con a-mende hit, Faute þer-Inne · ȝif þat he fynde, Mak no scornynge · me be-hynde, [ 480] But a-ȝeyn to me · he sende hit, [Fol. 303 b.] [col. 1] Or elles help · þat I may here hit. þus an Englisch · as I lernde hit, [ 483] I haue I-þouht · to ende hit. [[The MS. does not insert the Creed.]]

¶ A Resun · I schal reden ow riht, [The reason why day precedes the night.] Whi þe day · bi-fore þe niht Was ordeynt · for-to be. For Adam · of þe Appel eete, [ 488] [Adam sinned.] Iesu Crist · vr bales con beete, [Christ betters our woe.] þat dyed · vppon þe Tre.

Out of liht · þat he was Inne [Adam for his sin became the prisoner of hell,] In-to helle · for his sinne [ 492] Holliche · þer was he, He was banischt · out of blis In-to helle · boþe he and his, Bi-foren · þat was so fre. [ 496] [though at first so free.]

¶ Ȝit a Resun · I schal ȝou say, [Another reason—why night before day.] Whi þe niht · bi-fore þe day Was ordeynt · I schal ȝou telle. For Iesus suffred · woundes fyue, [ 500] [Christ suffered and harrowed hell, and then rose again out of dark∣ness:] And siþþe a-Ros · fro deþ to lyue, And after · herwede helle, Out of þesternes · þorw his miht, A-ȝeyn he put him · to þe liht, [ 504] [He restored Adam to the light of paradise.] Whuch · þat he fro felle, And dude him a-ȝeyn · in paradis, þat he hedde lost · boþe he and his, Wiþ speche · as I ow spelle. [ 508]

Aluytel bi-fore · þe prest wasch, [Before the wash∣ing, don't wait for the priest to ask for the mass∣penny, but go up and offer:] let him not · his offryng asch, Ȝif þou þenke · for-to offre. Whon he torneþ · a-non þe tille, [ 512] Go vp to him · with ful good-wille, And þi peny · him profre, þauȝ þou be not · þer-to in dette, [though there is no obligation, it is well bestowed,] þou schalt þinke hit · ful wel bi-set, [ 516] I swere bi seynt Cristofre. [for it will keep you from sin,] Of sinnes · hit wol make þe to sese, And þi catel · also encrese [and make thy chattel increase in thy strong box.] Of seluer · in þi Cofre. [ 520]

But fayn I wolde · þat þou þus seide, [Devotion to be said at the offer∣ing to God,] Whon þou · in his hond hit leide, Or þenk hit · in þi þouht: God þat was · In Bethleem bore, [ 524] [that was born in Bethlehem,] þreo kynges kneled · þe beo-fore, And heore offryng · brouȝt.

þou tok heore offryng · of alle þre, So receyue · þis of me [ 528] [and accepted the gifts of the Magi to receive thine, and that thou mayest dwell with Him.] And for-ȝete me · nouȝt þat I may euere · wiþ þe wone And kuyndelich clepe þe · godes sone On þe Roode · as þou me bouȝt. [ 532]

¶ Whon he haþ waschen · þen he walkes [After washing the priest returns to the altar,] Priueliche · and stille he stalkes To his Auter · a-ȝeyn. þe furste þing he doþ · with-oute doute [ 536] To his weuede · þen wol he loute— [when he bows before it,] þe soþe is nouȝt to leyn. Seþþe he stondeþ · vp-riht His hondes heueþ · vppon hiht [ 540] [and crosses him∣self,] Him-self · for-to sayn. þenne he torneþ · him to ȝow; [and turns towards the people to ask their prayers.] Cristene men · herkeneþ now And preyeþ · wiþ al ȝor mayn. [ 544]

¶ þen he bi-ginnes · his secre [Then he says his secreta, the people kneel∣ing,] A-doun þenne · knele ȝe A luyte while way, Til þat he seþ per omnia, [ 548] And seþþe · Sursum corda. [until the Sursum corda;] What is þat · to say, Hit is a nedful note to nemen: Hef vp ȝor hertes · in-to heuen [ 552] [Heave (lift) up your hearts.] To him · þat al mihtes may. Seþþe schul ȝe · þonke him þus Of bodi and soule · has ȝiuen vs, And þus maner · schul ȝe pray. [ 556]

¶ Lustneþ alle · to þis þing— Bi-twene þe sanctus · and þe sakeryng. [From the Sanctus to the consecra∣tion, the people stand,] Ȝe schal preye · stondynge. Hit semes wel · in þat whyle [ 560] þat god · in his Exyle In þis world · was wonynge.

Seþþe schul ȝe · knele a-doun [but then kneel and meditate of Christ's passion,] And þenke · vppon his passioun [ 564] þat he hedde heer · suffrande— Hou þat he suffrede · woundes fyue And seþþe he ros · from deþe to lyue And nou has heuene · in hande. [ 568]

¶ Ȝit schul ȝe preye · for eny þing [though before the bell rings they may pray as they will.] Bi-twene þe sanctus · and be sakeryng, Til þat þe belle knelle: Ȝif eny mon haþ scorn · to here hit, [ 572] Be my trouþe · wisdam weore hit, [A warning against scorn of the doctrine—go home, ye scorners!] þat he heolde · him stille. þe same mon · ȝe lauȝwhe to scorn, Was of A Mayden · in Bethleem born, [ 576] Me þinke · ȝe don ful ille. Whose has hoker · gas hame: To telle hit ȝou · me þinkes no schame, I preue hit bi a Bille. [ 580]

¶ Godes Flesch · he reiseth o-lofte, [At the elevation of the body and also of the blood,] And his blod · feir and softe In þe chalis · wiþ-Inne; þen schul ȝe knele a-doun, [ 584] [kneel and say a prayer.] And sey a luyte · orisoun, For no þing · þat ȝe blynne. God þat on þe Rode · was slon, þo two and he · beoþ boþe on [ 588] [Both the species and the crucified are but one.] þat dyed · for al monnes synne. After, þe prest · his Armes spredes he [Then the priest spreads his arms cross-wise.] In toknynge · he dyed vppon þe tre For me · and al mon-kunne. [ 592]

¶ Whon þe pater noster · is don, [After the Lord's prayer follows the Agnus Dei.] To þe Agnus dei · he goþ ful son, (Herkneþ hende · in halle) Godes lomb · hit is to sei, [ 596] þis worldes sinne · to don a-wey And haue merci · on vs alle

þe same lomb · hit is to minne, To don a-wei · þis worldes synne [ 600] To þe we crie · and calle. [A prayer for strength and grace and peace.] Iesu for þi miht and grace A-bate vr synnes · In vch a place þi pes mot on vs · falle. [ 604]

¶ Whon he haþ vsed · he walkeþ riht [After the priest has communi∣cated,] To Lauatorie · þer hit is diht For to wassche · his hende. [he washes again, and says the Post-communion,] So gostly · he comes a-geyn [ 608] Vn-to god · for-to preyen Sum special grace · hym sende For al þe folk · þat þer wore, [and the people are to kneel to the end of the Mass,] Whuch þat he haþ · preyed fore, [ 612] þat a Masse · may mende. þen to knele · hit is best Til hit cum · to Ite Missa est Be seid · in-to þe ende. [ 616]

¶ þenne schul ȝe knele a-doun, And sei a luytel Orisoun [and say a prayer of Saint Ambrose,] Riht on þis Maneere. þe Orisoun is · of seynt Ambrose [ 620] þat he properly · in prose [which he made in Latin prose,] Made in his preyere. þen to preye · is ful good tyme, I con not wonder wel ryme [ 624] On latin · ȝou to lere. [but I render it into English verse, as well as I can.] But noþeles · I wol assay As neiȝ þe text · as euer I may. Herkne · and ȝe may heere. [ 628]

¶ God þat diȝed · vppon þe tre, [A prayer to our Lord,] Þat þe prest receyuede · bodile Vppon · þe Auter-ston; Graunt vs grace · whon we hennes go, [ 632] [for inward peace of conscience.] þat we may worþily · don al-so In vre concience · al on.

After vr dedes · and we be demed, [If we were judged according to our works we should be banished from His bliss.] From his blisse · we schal be flemed [ 636] Out of þat worþli won. God graunt vs grace · In wille and word We may be worþi · to his bord, Vr lord lene vs · þat lon. [ 640]

Ȝit prei vr ladi · as I ow telle [Fol. 303 b.] [col. 3] þat ȝe forȝete not · þe god-spelle [And pray also to the Virgin, and don't forget the gospel after the Mass:] For þing · þat may bi-falle. Tac a good entent · þer-to [ 644] Hit is · þe Inprincipio On latin · þat men calle. A ȝer and fourti dayes · atte lest For verbum caro factum est [ 648] To pardoun · haue ȝe schalle. [an indulgence to those who kiss the ground, when it is ended.] Mon or wommon · schal haue þis, þat kneles doun · þe eorþe to kis. For-þi · þenk on hit, alle. [ 652]

¶ Now haue I endet · so as is [Now I have finished,] þe Maner · and þe Mede · of þe Mes: þer-of I am · ful bliþe [and well pleased I am.] Ne more þer-of · to mele with mouþe. [ 656] I haue seid · as I couþe, I þonke god · fele siþe. Of my trauayle · is me nouȝt, [I think nothing of my trouble, if you profit by it;] Wolde ȝe þenke hit · in ȝor þouȝt, [ 660] And in þe chirche · hit kiþe, þen were hit lykynge · of ȝor mynde [but it is good to know it, listen who will.] And gret cumfort · to Al Monkynde. Hose wol, lusten · and lyþe. [ 664]

Ȝit is þer þreo þinges · on þe Bok, [Still I have made exception of three things in the mass-book;] Sikerly · þat I out-tok, And neuer dar make · in Mynde. Hit was wel þouȝt · at my likynge, [ 668] I ches hit out · bi heuene kynge, þe toþer is ȝit bi-hynde,

But better þing · þen I haue told, [but none has heard tell of better things than I have told,] Herde ȝe neuere · of ȝong ne old [ 672] On ground · þat men may fynde, Saue fyue wordes · wiþ-outen drede, [except the words of consecration, which are for a priest alone.] þat no man · but a prest schulde rede, Is comen · of cristen kynde. [ 676]

God þat dyȝed · vppon þe Roode, þat bouȝt vs · with his blessed blode Vp-on þe harde · tre, Ȝiue vs grace · boþe more and lasse, [ 680] [for grace,] þorw þe vertu · of þe Masse, Vr soules · mai saued be. [unto salvation.] Fader and Sone · and Holigost [A prayer to the holy Trinity against hell∣torment.] As þou art lord · of mihtest most, [ 684] And sittes · In Trinite, Whon we schal dye · no lengor dwelle, Kep vs · from þe pyne of helle AMEN · For Charite. [ 688]