Proprium sanctorum zusatz-homilien des ms. Vernon fol. CCXV ff. zur nördlichen sammlung der dominicalia evangelia / mitgeteilt von C. Horstmann.

Proprium Sanctorum,

Zusatz-Homilien des Ms. Vernon fol. CCXV ff. zur nördlichen Sammlung der Dominicalia evangelia. [Vgl. Altengl. Legenden, Neue Folge, Heilbronn 1881, p. LXXI-LXXVII, woselbst auch die Heiligenfeste, wofür die Homilien geschrieben sind, angeführt werden.]

Mitgeteilt von C. Horstmann.

Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terra mortuum fuerit, ipsum solum manet (Joh. 12, 24-26).

But greine of whete in eorþe dye, hit schal not newe. þis is to seie: Whon grein of whete is cast to grounde, But ȝif hit die, hit schal not newe. Vre furste greyne wiþ deuȝ was bounde, [ 5] ffeole greynes þerof grewe, Spires stoden vp In a stounde And bar blosmes briht of hewe; ffeole greynes growen rounde Of o greyne þat we sewe. [ 10] whon greyn in grounde biginneþ falle, But ȝif hit die, hit schal not sprede, þe londus folk forte fede— In Johan gospel þus I rede, þe apostles witen alle. [ 15] Whon greyne of whete is cast in grounde, [16 l. in grounde is sowe.] hit liggeþ lowe vndur þe londe; þerof springeþ spires I-nowe Aȝein þe sonne vndur þe sonde, wiþ bitter blastes hit is I-blowe, [ 20] To wagge wiþ wynd hit wol not wonde; And aftur is ropen and leid ful lowe, Boistesliche bounden in a bonde, And þenne in cartes cast, þen hit is brouht hom til a Berne, [ 25] hard I-þrosschen in an hurne; ffair bred, as ȝe schul lerne, þerof comeþ atte last. þenne is hit winewed wiþ þe wynde, In Mesures meten and grounden to mele, [ 30] ffeire I-kneden, as ȝe may se [31 se st. fynde?] Bake Bred and feden fele. þis whete-corn I haue in muynde þat furst stod on a luytel stele. Nou wol I preue bi wei of kuynde [ 35] þat o greyne won al vr wele, whon greyne on grounde was sowe In Marie lond, þat Mylde croft; þer-in com crist feire and soft Out of heuene, þe heiȝe loft, [ 40] And greuh in grounde ful lowe. Whon greyne of whete in grounde was cast, Quikliche hit quiked in a Qweene. here hit liuede, for vs hit fast ffourti dawes, as clerkes sene; [ 45] In eorþe hit dyed atte last, And queyntely hit quiked aȝen— þat made þe fend sore agast; Nou greyne is brouht in bred to ben. Bote for vre greyne gon dye, [ 50] Schulde neuere Mayden ne wyf Ones haue ete þe bred of lyf, But euere ha liued in þe fendes strif, fforsoþe, as I ow seye.

Whon þis spyr was sprad and spronge, [ 55] þritti wynter and al-most þre wiþ fele wyndes hit (was) wronge, Vre spir sprong al in pouerte. he preched boþe olde and ȝonge, And helede seke in mony cite. [ 60] Atte laste þe Jewes stronge Scheren vr greyne ful lowe on kne— þis me þinkeþ gret reuþe. þe Jewes, þat (were) wikked and wrong, Euere þei songen in heore song [ 65] And callede him false liȝere strong þat was rote of treuþe. his hondes þei bounden at his bac And cariede him to sire Caiphas; whos heued þei knelled wiþ moni a knoc, [ 70] þei Robbed him and hud his fas; And aftur þei schoken a ful gret schak, To proude pilate þei gon pas, To heroude þei runne on rak wiþ Jhesus þat diede for vre tres∣pas— [ 75] þus was he driuen aboute. heroude, þat wikked þing, As a fool cloþud vr kyng, And bad leden him to þreffchyng Of sire Pilatus Route. [ 80] þen was he þreffchen þer on a tre, On vre curnel knaues gon knoke, Til his bodi bar a blodi ble, Swete bred was out i-broke. Of þis spyr I haue pite; [ 85] þorwh his woundes mon was spoke, To buy hem heuene, þat hiȝe Cite, þat lyȝen in helle ful lowe iloke. ffleyles on hym gun flynge, þey flapped on his feire flesch [ 90] þat whit was and swiþe nesch, And as þe deuh doþ on þe gres Spedly þe blod gon springe. þen was he lad to an hulle, To don him schome was heore delys, [ 95] To winewen him þer was heore wille In wikked weder, boþe snowh and ys. þe meke þing stod naked in þe chelle, his cloþes þei wonnen atte dys, [99 Ms. wonnes.] And aftur leiden him doun ful stille wiþ rode red so Rose on Rys. þis Mayde seed was mete, þe Rode-treo was heore Mesour; On Crois þei cleynten vre Creatour, On a schyd wiþ scharpe schour [ 105] þis mon was mad ful mete. In writ as hit is founde, þe Rode-treo þei liften vp anon, Rampned hit harde in a ston; his senewes brooken euerichon [ 110] þus was vr greyne I-grounde. On longe laddres vp þei trede, þe Jewes þat weore wylde and wode, Berien vre bred aȝeyn þe brede Til al his bac to-brast on blode. [ 115] Vre Cake on Crois þei knede, Rampned hit harde aȝeyn þe Roode, þat made vre Meole swetter þen mede. [118 Ms. moode.] þus for us was greyþed vr gostly foode, Molded in his oune bloode. [ 120] þer he heng I-Robed in Red, In druye blood, whon he was ded— þus spekeþ seynt Luc of vre bred In his gospel goode. þo was he marked wiþ a launce, [ 125] Don in þe ouene—such was heore lawe. he Ros vp at his ordinaunce On Aster-day, whon þe day gon dawe, whon bred of lyf was forþ i-drawe. his feire feste doþ vs a-vaunce, [ 130] his flesch vs fedeþ, we may be fawe of his Blessed Ordinaunce. þus seide seint Thomas of Inde his bred of lyf couþe he not knowe, whuch a Lof þat was I-sowe, [ 135] Til vch a fynger rikened on Rowe þorw his bored breste gan fynde. Kerueþ vr lof bi þe ouer syde, ȝe þat ben Mylde makeþ ou þerwiþ wel atese, And loke ȝe þenken In eueri tyde [ 140] what God haþ don ow wiþ to plese. he bouhte blisse mon to abyde, wiþ heuene-halle he gan ȝou sese, But ȝe hit loste þorw pompe and pride: To Bugge hit aȝeyn god gan prese, [ 145] To sauen ou from þe qued; On a Rode he heng to-torn, To lechen hem þat lay forlorn. Ȝit is he God, as he was born, And Mon in fourme of Bred. [ 150] þe neoþur croste mai þe fulle: Cheuȝ þeron and ofte þenke hou grim, hou hot hit is in helle, fful of pich, þat euer schal stynke, I-ȝoten, and Brimston welle; [ 155] In Bras þei brennen bi þe brinke,

In serwe and wo þei sweltere and swelle— þer nis no clerk mai write wiþ Inke half þe cumbring ne care. þer is þe worm þat neuer schal dye, [ 160] Derknes and dym lyȝe. þeih peter for a soule preye, hit is not worþ a tare. þenk hou gostes schul grede and grenne, And hou deueles schul in hem dynge, [ 165] And hou bitterly þey schul brenne, And þenk hou neddres schul in hem stinge, þenk hou þei schul warien heuene∣wynne, fforsake crist and heore cristnynge; þenk al is for vre sori synne, [ 170] And þenk þat serwe haþ non endynge. þenk my tale is treuþe, ffor Poule and Gregori þus þei rikenen bi an bi, In helle is al þis vileni, [ 175] And sixti so muche reuþe. þenk how bemes schul blaste and blowe And breke brinkes on domus-day, Al vre þrouhwes þen schul ouer∣þrowe, vr kun schal comen out of þe clay; [ 180] Cursed and clene þen crist wol knowe, þat Mon was marked In a May: þe Crosede wol he caste lowe, þe clene faste bi him, in fay, In Joye þat lasteþ ay; [ 185] his face þenne schal vs fede, Jhesus of whom I rede, Ȝif we him loue and drede And serue him to his pay. Joye and pyne schal laste longe [ 190] whon vr prince haþ mad vre partyng; In helle schul dwelle þe wrecches wronge, þe clene in Court wiþ heuene-kyng Ben fed wiþ Joye and Angeles songe, þer is loue and lyf and no long∣yng. [ 195] ffleo we helle, þat stinkeþ stronge, And bugge we heuene, þat blisful þing! fful Joyful is þat bour þer mon mai sitten In heuene-des, þer is preued þe place of pees, [ 200] þe Joye þat is endeles hem þinkeþ not half an hour. Penaunce wiþ his speres Ord Schal come departe and spende. þerfore beþ wyse and worcheþ godus word, [ 205] Of alle oure synnes ow amende! þen may ȝe byde at godus bord þat Bred þat furst in loue Brende. þis bred is to my pay, In heuene hit is kyng, as telleþ ȝor crede; [ 210] þis bred is broken vr frendes to fede wiþ blessynges eueri day. Eueri day þis bred is delt, Broken in þre and al is on. þat on is offret to him þat welt [ 215] his holy Angeles in heuene-tron. þat oþur helpeþ him þat helt ffrom þe fendes, vre soule fon. þe þridde for-ȝiueþ gostes heore gult, But hote helle haþ he non. [ 220] þis bred is broken on þreo: þat on is offred to God in glorie, þat oþur aleggeþ peynes In purga∣torie, þe þridde makeþ vs good Memorie; Ac in helle þer may non beo. [ 225] Mon and Angeles feire ben fed wiþ bred þat was in Marie born. Goode gostes may beo ful glad whon Messe amendeþ ow eueri Morn: ffeole ben delyueret and feire i-lad [ 230] To þat riche feste I haue seid be∣forn. But hote helle neuer helpyng had þorwh þat Cake of Cristes Corn. In helle pyne is piht, weore hem loked eny leggaunce [ 235] In helpyng of heore harde chaunce, Or eny þing mihte hem auaunce, In ffoure þis bred were diht. þis world is nouht, bote heuene is ouht, whon deþ schal come wiþ his knyf. [ 240] Jhesus, þat vs lauht, kep vs in to þi frauht And ay from vs stinte þe fendes strif. þen schal beo rauht a Riche drauht Out of þe wyse welle of lyf. In to þat frauȝt Jhesus hire tauht [ 245] Samaritan, þat cely wyf. he hiȝte hire drinke ful hende: watur of lyf wiþ lyues bred Schal sauen vs alle from þe qued. God graunt vs þat whon we beo ded [ 250] To heuene þat we may wende

Amen.

Stabat Johannes & ex discipulis duo (Joh. 1, 35-51).

Seint Jon vppon a tyme stoode, And tweine of his disciples goode. he biheold Jhesu comynge, And seide þus of þat þinge: "Seo here of God þe goode lomb, [ 5] þat was and Is wiþ-outen wrong." And þis ilke disciples tweyn herden Jon so to hem seyn, To Jhesu sone þei made heor pas And suwed hym þat was ful of gras. [ 10] Jhesu torned aȝein ful trewe And (say) þo men þen him suwe, he seide to hem: "what seche ȝe?" þei seiden aȝeyn: "Rabi, þe"— [14 Ms. Babi.] Rabi is to vndurstonde [ 15] Maister most in vch a londe. "wher dwellestou?" þen seide þei. Jhesu aȝein to hem gon sei: "Comeþ and seoþ", he hem bad. þei coomen and seȝen wiþ herte glad where þat he schulde dwelle, And wiþ him weren þat day to telle: hit was forsoþe in þat stour þe tyme of þe tenþe our. þis Andrew in þis plas [ 25] Symound peter broþur was, [26 Ms. preter.] he was on of þe two þat herde Jon speke so, þerfore anon wiþ good wille Jhesu þei suwed feir and stille. [ 30] his furste broþur he fond her, þat Symound ws cald fer and neer, And to his broþur sone seide he: "Messye I-founden nou haue we"— þat is þus muche forte mene [ 35] As crist, to schewe ow al atene. Aftur Andreuȝ þus his Broþur kneuȝ, he ladde him sone to goode Jhesu. Jhesu biheold Symound vppon, Siggyng þus to þat mon: [ 40] "þou art Symound in þis wone, þe sone of þat wommon Jone: Cephas cald schalt þou beo, þat Peter is to knowe and seo." On þe morwen Jhesu hende [ 45] In to Galilee wolde he wende: Philippe he fond, þat was ful trewe. To him he seide: "þou me suwe!" Philippe was, soþ to say, Of Bethsaida, þat Cite gay; [ 50] Peter also and eke Andreuȝ Of þat same men hem kneuȝ. Philippe fond Natanael þon, And þus he seide to þat mon: "whom wrot Moyses in his lawes [ 55] And þe prophetes in heore dawes, þat we schulde Jhesu fynde, Joseph sone, of Naȝareth kynde." Natanael seide, þer he stod: "Of Naȝareth may sum þing be good?" Philip Natanael þo bad: "Cum seo Jhesu, wiþ wille glad." Jhesus þen say Natanael Touward him come, as hit þo fel; he kneuh he schulde beo to him dere: þus he seide, as ȝe schul here: "Seo a verrey Israelyte, In whom nis nouþur wo nor wyte." Natanael seide in þat þrowe To Jhesu: "wher hastou me knowe?" Jhesu onswerde, þat al walt, And seide: "ar Philip hedde þe calt, whon þow weore vndur þe ffyge-tre, Bifore þat tyme sayȝ I þe." Natanael seide anon: "Raby, [ 75] þou art Godus sone on hiȝ, Of Israel þou art þe kyng." Jhesu onswerde to þat þing: "ffor I haue seid I haue þe sen vndur þe ffyge-tre to ben, [ 80] And þou in me leeuest al, More þen þis seo þou schal." Jhesu seide to him þat day: [83 Ms. hem.] "Siker forsoþe, wiþouten nay, Ȝe schul seo þe heuene vndo, [ 85] And godus Angeles vp styȝe also, Comen adoun schul þei eke vpon þe sone of Mon so meke."—

DEre breþren, here we rede On þis gospel, seiþ seint Bede, [ 90] whi Jon, Cristes forgoer, here Cald him þe lomb of god so dere: ffor he him kneuh for Innocent And vndefoulet þer present, þat is to sei of alle synne [ 95] þat euer was þe world wiþ-Inne. þe prophete seiþ a word honest: Riht as a schep, þe meke best, he schulde be take wiþ wolues badde, And so forþ to his deþ beo ladde, [ 100] And as a lomb, meke of wille, wiþ-oute noyse he schulde beo stille. ffor Jon witnessed in þis plas þat Crist þe lomb of God so was, þeose tweye disciples trewe [ 105] Anon assented him to suwe,

þei hoped þat he schulde hem make More gostly grace for to take, þenne Jon, þat was his fore-goere, wiþ whom þei dwelled wiþ-outen dere; [ 110] þey leeued þat crist wiþ-outen drede hedde most miht of þe godhede. Jhesu torned to þo men And asked what þei souhten þen, Not only, for he kneuh not here [ 115] what-maner men þat þei were, But for þei him so suwynge Schulde haue a verrey knowlechynge Of þe ffey wiþ-outen let, þer-Inne stabliche to beo set; [ 120] he hem asked bi þat entent, ffor þei schulde knowe wiþ whom þei went: ffor sone he schewed hem good techyng To knowen him for heuene-kyng, ffor þei schulde haue þe more loue [ 125] To him and to his ffadur aboue. Passyng þinges asked þei nouht, But aftur his dwellyng sone þei souht. þis com of a wilful kynde, To wite wher þei schulde him fynde, [ 130] ffor þei wolde ofte þider come To beo tauht of Godus sone. Such as þei souhte þerfore he ordeynd to hem for euermore, he tauht hem, sikerliche for to sey, [ 135] In soþnesse to go þe heiȝe wey. þeose disciples sone he bed Cum sen his dwellyng out of dred. his dwellyng was, wiþ-outen fable, In heuenly techinges profitable, [ 140] By whuche to Joyes euerlastynge þei schulde come in tyme comynge. hit was comen in þat stoure To tyme of þe tenþe oure: þis is þat godus lawe presens [ 145] Is ȝiuen In Ten comaundemens. þe parfytnesse of þat lawes was wont to beo demed bi dawes In þe noble Noumbre of Ten, In scripture as we fynden hit þen. [ 150] Andrew þenne to Symound tolde: 'Messye we ha founde to holde.' þis ilke word Messye clere Is Ebreuȝ in þis Maneere: hit is a name of gret vertu, [ 155] 'Crist' hit is i-called In Gru; In latyn also whon hit is Joynt, fforsoþe hit is cald 'anoynt'. Jhesus biheld Symound anone, And seide he was þe sone of Jone. [ 160] Not only Jhesu ful of gras Bodiliche him byheold in fas, Bote wiþ-inne-forþ bi þe miht Of his Godhede þat is so briht he saiȝ þe sympelnes and þe quert [ 165] þat was in þat monnes hert, þe heiȝnes of his soule also, þat hit scholde to his blisse go; he wuste him scholde wonte no Mes Of alle þe vertuwes of holynes. [ 170] Symound is here for to say 'he þat is Boxsum euer and ay'; Jone is vndurstonden, dere, 'þe grace of god wiþ-outen pere'. þer as Jhesu seide allone [ 175] 'þou art Symound sone of Jone,' þat is þus muche to seye nou: 'To Godus grace Boxsum artou;' ffor he was ful of grace fuld, þe blisse of heuene was to him buld. [ 180] Andreu is to sey ful wele 'Monly to be þe trouþe to fele.' Androuȝ, wiþ goode wille he ron To seo Jhesu whon he com. Aftur, whon crist him calle wolde [ 185] To ben on of his disciples bolde, his Nettes alle he forsok, him to suwe, as seiþ þe Bok. God us graunte þat ilke grace So him to suwe to sen his face. [ 190]

Ambulans Jhesus iuxta mare Galilee (Math. 4, 18-22).

Herkeneþ alle, Olde and ȝonge; I rede ȝe þinke not her to longe, but herkne nou what I schal telle, As Matheu vs seiþ in vre gospelle. As Jhesu wente forþ bi þe séé [ 5] þat is I cald of Galiléé, Two Breþeren sone þen saih he, Symound, þat Petur cald scholde be, And Andreuȝ he say also, his broþur, þere wiþ him go; [ 10] Jhesu hem say doinde faste heore Nettes In þe see to caste— ffor þei þat ilke tyme were ffischers, and þerbi liuede þere. Jhesu þo to hem he come [ 15] And seide þus to hem sone: "Comeþ," he seide, "and foleweþ me: ffischers of Men schul ȝe be."

And þe Breþeren sone anon Laft heore Nettes, wiþ him to gon. [ 20] And as þei wente al in-fere, Tweyn oþur breþren sauȝ crist dere: Sones þey weore of ȝebede þo, James and Jon, breþeren two; þe two breþeren weore þer ful ȝare [ 25] In a schip wiþ heore ffadur þare— heore fadur hiȝt, as I haue tald, Ȝebede his nome I-cald; þer þei leyden heore Net(t)es þenne, To take ffissches to helpe menne. [ 30] And Jhesus calde to hem ful sone And bad þat þei schulde wiþ him come. And þe breþeren þenne weore ful þro And lafte heore nettes, heore fader also, And folewede crist wiþ al heore miht, him to serue boþe day and niht. þis Is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As men in Englisch tonge may tel.—

Þe wyse clerkes þat sum tyme were, þus expounede þis gospel here. [ 40] þer Jhesu to him þis men calde riht, And þei come wiþ al heore miht, To his callyng þei come þo And heore Nettes forsoke also, fforþi wiþ him he dude hem take, [ 45] ffischers of Men he dude hem make. Bote heore Nettes þat þei forsoke To wite what þat is, good weore to loke. þis Nettes beþ þus muche to telle As hous and lond and oþur Catelle, [ 50] wyf and Child—at þis doing þer þei forsoken al worliche þing; þei forsoken also riht þere Al fulþe of synne hat euer were, And alle foule vices also, [ 55] Only wiþ god, heore lord, to go— ffor wite we wel: hose ne doþ, Crist may he not folwe, for-soþ. ffor hose to crist wol him take, þreo of his enemys he mot forsake: [ 60] þe world, his fflesch, þe fend þat is; Or þeose wol make him bare of blis. So dude þeos foure Men, soþ to say, Of whom vr gospel spekeþ to-day. Lord, what schal þenne of vs bi∣falle, [ 65] þat al day dost on vs calle And we come not at þi callyng? vnkynde, forsoþe, he may vs þink, whon þeose apostles goode and hende fforsoken alle þing wiþ him to wende. [ 70] And for Petur furst þe world forsook, Petur is he cald in holy Book. Petur is as muche to say As 'ston of Sadnes euer and ay'; ffor-þi I-cald was petur so, [ 75] ffor he was sad and trewe euer-mo; To cristes biddyng he was boun An eode wiþ him from toun to toun. ffor he was sad and eke good mon, holy chirche was founded him on, [ 80] þat tyme þat he was mad in place Pope ef Rome bi godus grace. But forþer is vs good to telle þat toucheþ to þis ilke gospelle. þer as we scholde alle þing forsake [ 85] And only to vr lord vs take, Mony of vs, forsoþe, þer ben þat þe rihte wey cunne not sen; þei onsweren and seyn 'we haue no þing To forsaken and suwen vr kyng, [ 90] Of worldly possessiouns haue we nouȝt, wyf ne child to vs I-brouht; þerfore what scholde we forsake þat nout to vs ȝit naue we take?' fforsoþe, þeose gabben euerichon: [ 95] we haue take þat we schulde forgon; whon vr lord schal vs deeme or saue, Non excusaciun mou we haue. vr self we moste forsake here, And dispise þe world fer and neere. [ 100] Vre self Is þus muche to say As vre fflessches wille euere and ay, þe whuche flesch draweþ vs euer to synne And al-wey wilneþ to beo þer-Inne. ffor of vr self haue we no good, [ 105] But hit come of vre lordes mood. we schul dispise þe world also, þat is þus muche to seye ow to: Seo we not þe world coueytyng þat wol þe to þin ende bring? [ 110] ffor euere he is vre O ffo, fforþ wiþ vr flesch forte go; ffor alle synnes and vices þat beþ Redi he is to acorde hem wiþ. Ȝif þow þe world holly forsake, [ 115] Al dedly synne and to crist take; Ȝif þow wolt do In þis wyse, þus þe world þow may dispyse. What schal we vnderstonde of þeos foure men þat lafte þe world and suwede crist þen— [ 120] Petur and Andreu, Jame and Jon— þeose dude so euerich on.

Bi hem is vndurstonden, I-wis, ffour foundementes of holi chirche þat is. ffor Petur, as I schal ȝow telle, [ 125] þat in Crist wolde dwelle, Al-holy chirche he doþ schewe, wiþ his good lyuynge al on rewe, And in crist he edefyed so Al þat he on eorþe dude þo; [ 130] þerfore he was furst foundement þat to holy churche was sent. Andreu was 'Monliche' and feir wiþ-Inne Al goodnesse to holde and mo bi∣ginne, Strong he was in alle þinge [ 135] Godus Comaundemens forþ to bringe. James also, he was þen 'Supplaunter of vices fro men'; ffor he halp monye ferre and hende Aȝeyn temptacioun of þe fende, [ 140] And schewed hem hou þat þay heore lord God schulde serue and pay. Jon is vndurstonde to be 'þe grace of God of heiȝ degre', þat is as muche forte mene [ 145] As Chast, sobre he was and clene; Clene he was wiþ-oute and wiþ-Inne, Defouled was he not wiþ synne. wiþ þis foure foundemens of vr kyng Crist was þe chirche atte beginnyng. And hose scholde edefye wel A place þer scholde beo Joye and cel, him bihouede þis to haue, him to helpe and to saue, And he moste seche feir and sone [ 155] þat in Crist his doyng beo done. Ȝe þat ben feir and stronge, I rede ȝe þerof muche God þonke, And loke þenne in alle þing þat hit beo spendet in his worching. [ 160] And hose is chast of his bodi, Loke he serue god Inwardli. Loke wel also, I rede þe, þat þou beo in ful Charite. ffor al þe vertuwes of þis men [ 165] were dispendet in god þen, þerfore þei were þonked atte ende, whon þei to þe blisse of heuene dude wende. Bote þer crist seide 'comeþ aftur me, ffisschers of men schul ȝe be', [ 170] heore Nettes schulde be heore preching, To make to crist soulus gederyng; As vr lord to petur seide so 'what-so þou biddest in eorþe, be do In heuene þer my kindom is, [ 175] þer euer is Joye and muchel blis; And what bond in eorþe þou breke, In heuene beo hit no lengore steke.' þis seide he to þe Apostel Pere, And to oþur mo þat lyk him were, [ 180] And bad hem bynde bi confessioun, To breke þat bond wiþ penaunce don. ffor vche mon what werk he doþ, Sone of þat werk he is, forsoþ. hose serueþ Jhesu, þat al walt, Sone of him he schal be calt; And hose serueþ þe fend, vr fo, his sone he is þe while also. þerfore is good, whil we ben here, þat we vs cheose þe beter mestere, [ 190] þat we forsake al vuel doinge And serue crist þat is vr kynge. Ȝif þou haue wyf wiþ þe atom, To þe schal heo ben as non, As non to þe In þis manere: [ 195] Loke heo beo not to þe so dere þat þou more bisy aboute hire beo þen to loue þi lord so freo; Bote loue furst god wiþ al þi miht þat wol for þe such wyuyng diht; [ 200] þenk hou he maad ow boþe of nouht, And also ow to-gedere brouht, And al þe loue of ow bo-two Loke hit beo hol to Jhesu do: þen schal ȝe loue or eiþer oþur, [ 205] ffor Godus loue as suster and broþur; In alle maner of good clannes Loke hou ȝe mouwe or lyf redres. Ȝif þou haue also, wite hit wel, Mony possessions and gret Catel, [ 210] hit is to þe good hem to leue, Leste hit muche vr lord greue. Leue hem þus, I rede þe: Loke þou neuer þe pruddore be, Ne þe more In-Obedient [ 215] To him þat haþ þe al þat sent, But muche more þou him plese þat haþ þe maad so wel atese. Plese him þenne In þis manere: Loke what he haþ sent þe here, [ 220] And þenne þat þou bisi be To dele aboute (to) his Meyne, To alle þat þou maiȝt sen also þat eny neode haue þerto. ffor hit was take þe not þerfore [ 225] To kepe to þin owne store; Bote beo we bisy In alle þing To do þerwiþ vr lordus biddyng;

Sette we not to gret loue þerto, But lihtly loue to parte hit fro. [ 230] ffor þauh a Mon hedde a þousund pounde, And dalt hit in a luytel stounde, we mihte beo siker of good tresor— he þat sende þat, wol sende mor. And þus I rede we forsake [ 235] þe Richesse of þis worldus wrake, þat we sette no prys þerto, Bote only Godus wille do. we ouhte leue al oþur þing To come to crist at his callyng, [ 240] As dude þe Apostles þat I of telle, Of whom we speke in þis gospelle: þei forsoke al worldlich þing To folwe crist, þat is vr kyng. Biseche we to þe Apostles dere [ 245] þat þei for vs make preyere þat we so here do his biddynge þat to his Blisse he vs bringe, þer as þe holye Apostles be, AMEN AMEN alle sigge we.

Amen.

Liber generacionis Jhesu Christi fili Dauid (Math. 1, 1-16).

ÞE Bok of Jhesu cristes kuynde, þe sone of Dauid, ha we in muynde. he þat is verrey God and Mon, þe sone is cleped Abraham. Abraham gat Ysaak þo. [ 5] Ysaak gat Jacob also. Jacob gat Judas anon And his Breþeren euerichon. Judas gat, as we beo war, Phares and Ȝaram, of Thamar. [ 10] Sone þeraftur þat Phares Gat Esrom wiþ-outen lees. Esrom, he þenne gat Anoþur Child þat Aram hat. Aram gat, wiþ-outen gabbe, [ 15] A child þat hette Amynadabbe. Amynadab gat wiþ Riht him þat in name Naȝon hiht. Naason sone þenne gat he Salmon, þat was so fre. [ 20] Salmon, he gat þon Bos of Raab, þat wommon. Bos wente forþ in trouþe And he gat Obeth of Ruthe. Obeth gat Jesse, to telle, [ 25] As bereþ witnesse þis gospelle. Jesse gat, wiþ-outen lesyng, him þat was cald Dauid þe kyng. And þe goode kyng Daui Gat Salomon soone, þat was witti, [ 30] Of hire þat þo called was Vries wyf in þat plas— hire nome nis not here present, ffor heo to monnes deþ asent. Salomon, þat was so wys, [ 35] Gat Roboam of muche prys. And he þat so Roboam hette, he gat Abias wiþ-outen lette. Abias, haue we no drede, he gat Ason in his dede. [ 40] Ason þenne gat in game þat Josephath hette bi name. Josephath, þat I of say, Joram he gat, wiþ-outen nay. Joram aftur in a stounde [ 45] Oȝias gat, as hit is founde. Oȝias, þat was bold, Gat Joatan, as hit is told. Joatan nas not to lat, Sone þer-aftur he Achaȝ gat. [ 50] Achaȝ þenne in tyme schert Eȝechias he gat in quert. Eȝechias gat in pres him þat hette Manasses. Manasses, he gat þon [ 55] him þat was I-called Amon. Amon þenne wiþ good wille Josyas he gat ful stille. Josyas, of whom we speke, Jeconias he gat eke, [ 60] And his Breþeren bi certeyn stage, Of Babilon in þat passage. And aftur þulke passynge Of Babilon, wiþ-oute lesynge, Jeconias gat ful wel [ 65] hym þat hette Salatiel. þis Salatiel heere Gat Ȝorobabel wiþ good chere. Ȝorobabel, as hit is seid, Gat Abiuth in a breid. [ 70] Abiuth, þat was so grim, he gat þenne Eliachim. Eliachim also þerfor In þat tyme he gat Asor. Asor gat him, nis not nay, [ 75] Sadok, soþli for to say. Sadok, þat was so good, Gat Achim wiþ Milde mood. Achim þenne wiþ his bodi Gat Eliuth, sikerli. [ 80] Eliuth þenne, as we rede, Eliaȝar he gat in dede. Eliaȝar, he gat of his kynde Mathan, forsoþe, as we fynde.

Mathan þenne wiþ his blood [ 85] Gat Jacob, þat was so good. Jacob, to vndurstonde, Gat Joseph, Marie hosebonde; Of whuche Marie Jhesus is boren, þat crist is cald vs biforen. [ 90] þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As Men in E(n)glische may ou tel.

Þis ilke Joseph and Marie dere, we fynde of o kinreden þei were; þerfore hit is writen þus [ 95] In holi writ to rede to vs. Matheu, þe goode Ewangelist Of vre lord Jhesu Crist, he wrot longe her-bifore þis Bok of kuynde of cristes lore, [ 100] In whuche al Monkyndes hele was bigonnen aboute to dele. ffor in þis nome of Jhesu Is bitokned muche vertu: Jhesu is to vndurstonde [ 105] 'Sauer of Mon out of bonde'. Crist in to þis world com, þat is soþfast God and Mon, To buggen vs of helle fre— So mihte non oþur do bote he; [ 110] þe nome of Jhesu her so hih þus he folfulde as kyng mihti. þe sone he was cald þo Of Dauid and Abraham also. Dauid is as muche to say [ 115] As 'an hondstrong mon ay'; ffor he asayled, ouercom and slouh, Soþliche, as I telle ȝou now, þulke stronge false enemye þat Godus pepel wolde distriȝe. [ 120] vre strengest Conquerour was only Crist, vr saueour, þat wiþ þe deuel foul and grym, fful of Atter and of venym, ffauȝt here on eorþly lond [ 125] And ouercom him wiþ strong hond; As mihti he him ouercom And dampned him be Rihtwis dom. Abraham is forte Mene 'ffadur of mony folk atene'. [ 130] Aftur þis victori to se [131 Ms. vittori.] þe fadur of mony folk was he, ffor he hem gat newe aȝeyn þat weore in perisschyng, soþ to seyn. þat Abraham gat Ysaak, [ 135] And Ysaak Jacob gat, And Jacob, þat we to calle, Gat Judas and his breþeren alle. Spiritualy com Jhesus hende ffor vre hele In to þis ende [ 140] Bi þos patriarkes goode þat we toforen of vndurstode. þe nome of hem euerichone Is vndurstonde Jhesu one, [144 Ms. In.] þe vndurstondyng of alle hem [ 145] Is forto mene þe hele of Men. Abraham, as I haue seid, To ffader of mony folk is leid, Bitokneþ þat crist þe fader is Of alle hem þat lyuen in þis. [ 150] And also þis Ysaak þat we biforen of spak, Is vndurstonde 'a lauȝwhyng' Or a-noþur gret Joyng: hit tokneþ him, wiþ-outen drede, [ 155] Of whom þe Angel spac in dede whon he to þe schepherde tolde 'Joye I schewe ȝou monyfolde, And þat schal euere-more beo To alle pepul to here and seo.' [ 160] Jacob is vndurstonden her verreily 'a supplaunter': þat was crist, vr aller bote, þat caste and putte vndur foote þe fend of helle fer beo-hynde [ 165] þat wastor was to al monkynde, And his dwellyng-place he brac And entred in at þat ȝat. Judas is as muche to say As 'blisfulliche to knowleche ay': [ 170] þis was crist God an hiȝ, As witnesset þe Ewangely, þer as he seide 'ffadur fre, In heuene and eorþe I knouleche þe;' Also þe salm good and dere [ 175] þus seiþ in þe sautere 'vr lord is blisful euer-more In his holynesses' þerfore his holynesses is to calle þo þat ben his menbres alle. [ 180] he vs graunte of his grace In his blisse to haue a place.

Amen.

Thomas vnus ex duodecim (Joh. 20, 24-29).

Thomas didimus him-selue, On of þe Apostles twelue, he was not on a tyme wiþ hom whon þat Jhesu to hem com. Summe of hem gan to hym say: [ 5] "we han I-seȝen vr lord verray."

he onswerde and seide aȝeyn, ffor his bileeue nas not serteyn: "Bote I seo in his hondes schalle þe forme of þe nayles alle, [ 10] To puyte my ffyngres in þat plas þer as þe nayles was, And in his syde myn hond to do, Elles nul I not leeue so." Whon eiȝte dayes past were, [ 15] þe disciples aȝeyn were þere: And Thomas, of bileeue vnstrong, was þat tyme hem among. Jhesu com, as was his wille, In at þe sperred ȝates stille; [ 20] Anon he stod hem amidde, Pees to hem bigon to bidde. Soone to Thomas seide he: "puit in þy finger nou and se, Grope and seo at þis tyme [ 25] hondes and eke feet myne, Tac þin hond in þis tyde And puyt hit here in to my syde: Of mis-bi-leeue beo þou no more, But leeue þou treweli in my lore!" [ 30] Thomas putte his hond strong In to his wounde, þat was so long; Thomas onswerde and seide sone: "Mi lord, mi God! what haue I done!" "Thomas," he seide, "for þou hast sen, [ 35] þou leeuest þat hit mai so ben: Blessed beo þei of me so heiȝ þat leeuen hit and neuere hit seiȝ." þis is þe strengþe of þis gospel, As Men in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 40]

Thomas, þat we speke of here, was not wiþ þe Apostles dere whon þei furst seȝe Jhesu Aftur his Resurexiun tru; þerfore he was in muche doute [ 45] And wente faste þeraboute. Bote Jhesu, heiȝe heuene-kyng, ffolfulde his desiryng: he schewede him openli in his siht, As þis gospel witnesset riht. [ 50] he put his hond in to his syde And feled þer his woundes wyde; þen was he to bileeue i-brouht whuch þat he hedde aftur souht; 'Mi lord, Mi God!' he seide an hiȜmdash; þat was þus muche to discri: God of pite he menede þo And lord of Dampnaciun also. 'Thomas,' he seide, 'for þou hit syȝe heere wiþ þi bodily eȝe, [ 60] þerfore þou leeuest in þis stounde þat þou hast now þe soþe i-founde: Blesset mote þei euer beo þat leeuen hit wel and not hit seo.' Mony a blesset prophete ȝore [ 65] Leeued, þat say him not bifore; Bodili saiȝ þei him not here, But nou þei don In heuene clere. Also on þis eorþe þer is Mony a Mon þat leeueþ þis [ 70] And neuer-þe-les bodili to loke þei seon him not, as seiþ þe boke, But hopen þer-aftur euer-more, And seruen him nou here þerfore. Blessed þei ben bi good record [ 75] Euer-more of vre lord; þat blessyng schul þei fynden al whon bodi and soule de-part schal: þen þe spirit schal ful euene knowe þe heiȝe wey to heuene; [ 80] And also in þe laste day whon god him-self þus schal say: 'Comeþ hider alle ȝe þat blessed ben of my fader and me! fforsoþe, for ȝou hit is diht [ 85] þe kynedom of heuene briht.' Leeue in him þat was ful boun To payen his blood for vre raun∣soun; Let mis-bileeue from vs go, ffor þat is ȝate of endeles wo. [ 90] ffor, and we vndurstonde hem wolde, Mony ensaumples we haue to holde, ffeole goodnesses dude Jhesus To his disciples, for hem and vs. Summe of hem I wole rehers— [ 95] Alle, were a long vers. Neodful hit is to al Monkuynde þeos to knowe and haue in Muynde; ffor þei wole wiþ-oute strif vs lede to euerlastynge lyf. [ 100] ffurst he was boren, sikerly, wiþ-outen synne of Mayden Mari— And so was þer neuer non wiþ-outen synne but he alon. To twelue ȝer age whon he rauht, [ 105] In þe temple he sat and tauht. And he from pepel mony and fele Cast out deueles and ȝaf hem hele. he eode vpon þe watres won, þei bar him vp as god and Mon. [ 110] To þe blynde in mony place Siht he ȝaf of his grace: Of Cleiȝ and of his spotel also þe Blynde he made eȝen þo. Mony he heled in þat tyme [ 115] þat weren in þe palesy pyne.

he made þe see, when hit was wood, To stonde stille and sese mod. Also he made mony a Doumbe To here and beo ful hol and sounde. [ 120] Also a wommon þat was ful seke In þe bodi flix þenne eke, Bi his cloþus ones touchinge he ȝaf hire hele, as mihti kynge. Mony wymmen he heled mo [ 125] Of al heore seknesse and heore wo. þe watur he tornde into wyn And mad hit boþe fresch and fyn. þreo dede men he reised blyue ffrom þe deþ to þe lyue: [ 130] In þat hous hit was I-wis Of Archisinagogis, his owne douhtur heo was on; þe wydewe sone in þe ȝate anon; And Laȝer of his Monument [ 135] was vp rered and com present, þat foure dayes hedde i-leyn Ded stynkyng, soþ to seyn. ffyf þousund men also he fedde wiþ fyue loues þat he hedde, [ 140] And also ffissches þer weore two, þe Bok telleþ þer weore no mo; ffyue þousund weore þere of Men, wiþ-outen children and wymmen þen, And of þe Relef leid on hepes [ 145] þer lafte fulle twelue lepes. his face he made sonne lyk And his cloþing snouȝ-whit. Meseles he touched moni on And made hem forþ hol to gon; [ 150] whon he seide 'ȝor hele i wolle', Anon þei heled at þe folle. Al þat he tauhte euer-more, he dude hit þe disciples to-fore. he spac wiþ þe ffadur in heuene, [ 155] þat þei of him herde þe steuene: he made Nettes to beo cast In to þe se vnstudefast And at his biddyng vp was drawe An hondred ffissches and þre þat þrawe. [ 160] he made peter to take couþ A peny of gold of a ffissches mouþ. To his disciples he dude a-peere In mony a dyuers maneere; he ordeynte hem mete newe [ 165] whon þei him not þer knewe; wiþ O lof þat he hadde In schip he fedde hem alle gladde. þe Olde lawe chaunged he In to þe newe forto be. [ 170] he ros maugrey þe Jewes strif Bodiliche from deþ to lyf. Mony holy he made to rise Aftur his passion in þis wyse; To mony folk wiþ-outen were [ 175] þat same tyme þei dude apeere. þe sonne he made waxen derk, þe eorþe to quake at þat werk, þe veil of þe temple also he made hit euene cleuen atwo. [ 180] þe spoyled helle and out he tok hem þat he louede, as seiþ þe Bok; þe fend he bond, of synne þe Roote, ffor euere to ben vndur foote. Grace he made sone to falle [ 185] Among his disciples alle whon he seide 'alle pouwer Of heuene and eorþe is ȝiue me her', he bad hem go in þis wyse On eorþe heere to Baptiȝe [ 190] In nome of ffadur and of sone And of þe holigost in wone; he hem made alle a-Rowe In Brekyng Bred him to knowe. he entred In at þe sperred ȝate [ 195] whon he þere of pes spake. [196 Ms. spes.] he steih to heuene wiþ his miht In alle hise disciples siht. he sende wit and wisdom In to þe world, god and mon.— [ 200] Alle þeose, and mony mo, Goode dedes dude he þo; And ȝit he is, ful sikerli, To don vs goodnesse euer redi. Leeue and knowe him we scholde [ 205] þat al þis goodnes schewe us wolde; þen wol he vs make to wende In to Joye wiþ-outen ende.

Amen.

Dicebat Jhesus turbis (Math. 23, 34-39).

Herkneþ alle þe Mylde speche þat Matheu here wol vs teche. Jhesus spac, as he doþ telle, To ffelawschipes of Jewes felle, And to þe princes of prestes þo [ 5] þat weore in þat world also: "Seo," he seiþ, "I to ȝou sende propheetes, wyse, and lettred hende, And ȝe of hem faste schul slo, Crucifye hem and don hem wo, [ 10] Ȝe schul of hem scourge bi-dene In ȝoure synagogus wiþ teone, ffaste also ȝe schul hem suwe ffrom Cite in to Cite newe

þen schal hit on ȝow falle [ 15] þe rihtful blod of hem alle þat schal wrongfoly beo sched And on þe eorþe wyde spred, ffrom Abels blood Rihtwys To Ȝakarias, luytel of prys; [ 20] þat ilke same Ȝakarie þat was sone of Barachie, whom ȝe slowe wiþ vnfeer Bitwene þe temple and þe Auter. And forsoþe to ȝou I say, [ 25] Al þis schal falle sum day vppon þis ilke same kuynde, þat I haue mad nou of muynde. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, þou slest and stonest prophetes wiþ grem [ 30] whuche þat ben to þe sende ffor þi profyt, þe to amende: hou ofte wold I geder to-geder þe sones of þe þat are so slyder; As ofte-tymes as þe hen [ 35] Gedereþ hire Chikenes þen To-gedere holliche vndur hire whynges, wolde I gedere þe wiþ-outen lesynges, And þou hit nult not of me take, But al-to-geder hit forsake! [ 40] Seþþe þat ȝoure dwellynge Schal in desert beo leuynge. And þerfore I seye to ȝow, Ȝe schul me seo no more from nou, Til þat tyme come and þat day [ 45] þat ȝe schule vchone say 'Blessed beo he þat comeþ In Godus nome and wiþ vs woneþ.'" þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As Men in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 50]

Breþeren, take we gode hede To Poules word þat we rede, how he wrot for þe bettre To Men of Corinthi bi lettre: he seide, Diuerse ȝiftus were [ 55] Ȝiuen to Godus Apostles here: To beo prophetus to summe was ȝiuen, here in eorþe so to lyuen þinges forte telle bolde þat weore to come mony-folde. [ 60] To summe was ȝiuen wisdam boun, ffor to knowe bi good resoun In what tyme þei schulde teche Godus wordus to profre and preche. Summe was ȝiuen scribes to be, [ 65] Cunnyng of lawe, as I sei þe. Among þis noumbre acounted was Steuene, þat stoned was in plas, And poul also, þat was slawen, And petur, on þe Cros drawen, [ 70] And mony disciplus of crist also weore bitterli I-scourged þo, As þe apostles in heore dedes wol witnesse, hose redes. þer as crist doþ vs telle [ 75] fforþur-more in þis gospelle þat þei schulde summe porsuwe ffrom Cite in to Cite newe: þe Jewes hem flemed, to vnderstonde, ffrom toun to toun, from lond to londe, [ 80] ffrom heore kinraden weore þei þrowe, þe Jewes wolde hem noþing knowe. þei wente þe pepul forto preche þat nolde not heore god knoweleche. þerfore crist mad hit couþ [ 85] And seide wiþ his owne mouþ þat al þe rihtful blod bi-sted þat schulde on þe eorþe be sched ffrom Abeles blod, muche of prys, To Ȝakaries vnrihtwys, [ 90] þat was Barachies sone, As holy writ hit telleþ in wone, Schulde aske veniaunce of hem ffor heore misdedes þen, But þei amended and were meke [ 95] And wolde Merci ofte biseche. Of Abel hit nis no drede To speke of his deþ in dede, whom Caym, his broþur, slouh, As Genesis vs telleþ nou. [ 100] Of Ȝakarie is questiun gret, [101 Ms. þis.] As we fynden write ȝet, þat was sone of Barachie, As men hit rede openlye. he is a-Counted on him-selue [ 105] Of þe prophetus þat were twelue, ffor on forsoþe told was he, And þe elleueþe forte be. But sum men vnderstonde wolde In oþur maner beo hit scholde: [ 110] þat ilke Ȝakarie ffadur was Of Jon Baptist, ful of gras. But þis resun bi good likenes In beter maner we may redres, whil oþur þing Resonable [ 115] preueþ þe soþe wiþ-outen fable. Oþur men þei seyn also, þis Ȝakarie þat was þo Slayn and mad ful vnfeere Bitwene þe temple and þe Autere, [ 120] þat he schulde beo þe rihtful mon Of whom vr speche is maked on.

But afturward holy writ To vs apertly telleþ hit hou we schulle in þis stour [ 125] kepe vs from þis errour. Bote of þis ilke Ȝakarie þat was þe sone of Barachie: he was a prest of lawe badde, his oþur nome was Joadde. [ 130] Neuer-þe-latur in þat gospelle þa(t) Naȝarenes vsun to telle ffor þis Barachie his sone his fadur nome we fynde in wone. þerfore schortli þus sei we [ 135] ffrom Abeles blod þat was so fre, ffor he was rihtwys and trewe Godus lawe for to suwe, þe furste was his rihtful blod þat was sched for god so good, [ 140] þerfore þis blod of Renoun Is clept of vre generacioun To Ȝakarie, sone in dede Of Barachie, as we rede. her-of muche muse we may [ 145] And þenke bi vr-self to say: hou þeos kunrades tweyn Schulde de-parted be, to seyn Of whuche holy writ here Ofte is muche in were, [ 150] whuche of þeos two tofore Schulde ha be slayn ȝore. Of holy writ þe Manere þus de-parteþ hit hem here, þe kyndes þat beo goode þen [ 155] ffrom þo þat beþ wikked men; þerfore is þe de-partynge So bi him-self vch a þinge. þerfore he seide, from Abels kynde To Ȝakaries, þat was beo-hynde, [ 160] þat blod schal on þe Jewes crie veniaunce bifore god openlye, ffor þey þe gode blod spilt In muche distaunce wiþ-oute gult. Abels kuynde was rihtful blod, [ 165] And Ȝakaries no-þing good. Bote of þe goode at þis tyme Take we ensaumple fyne, þat we may wiþ þe prophete say þat in his salmus seiþ al-day [ 170] ,ho schal stiȝe in to þat hille Of vr holy lord wiþ wille, Or ho in þat hul holy Euermore schal reste . forþi Siþen mony men disseruet han [ 175] þider for to wende þan þat blesset hul for te come to In diuers ages so þis ilke kinraden hende Alle schul þei þider wende [ 180] þat sechen to sen vr lordes face, God of Jacob, ful of grace. And in a-noþur place we fynde Of seyntes þat ben not bihynde, þe kinraden of holy men [ 185] Euer schal beo blesset þen. Of wikked Men in þis stede holy writ telleþ to drede þat schrewed Men likned are To Neddres kynde, of godnes bare, [ 190] þat euere are redi day and niht To do wikkednes by heore miht, heore Euencristen forte nuyȝe And al-wey liuen in þat Envye. þeose men, beo þei siker, [ 195] Bote þei amenden of þis biker, wiþ Sathanas þei schul dwelle Euer-more lastynge in helle. Bote prophete hose wol lok, Telleþ In Eȝechiels bok: [ 200] þo þat are trewe I-founden, þei schul be sparet and not bounden, As Noe, Job, I ow biheete, And Daniel, þe goode prophete. þeos þre are to vndurstonde [ 205] To þreo-maner folk liuonde: Noe is likned forte be To widewes kept In Chastite; Job to wyues trewe also þat not out of heore ordre go; [ 210] And Daniel to Maydenes clene þat trewe and louely are to mene. And ȝif þis ilke peple sounde Mai here in eorþe be founde, Vre lord god wol us spare [ 215] And kepe us out of wo and care. And riht on þe same prise As Caym and Joaad vnwyse Striuen euere wiþ heore Mayn þe holi Apostles aȝayn, [ 220] þerfore þei beo þus i-told Of on kinraden, beo ȝe bold, To dissese þei ben put, Euer þerto to beo knut. Riht so Godus seyntes schal [ 225] Beo sauet from alle wo and þral, lykyng of loue schul þei take, Euer to lyue wiþ-outen sake. þerfore he seide, from Abels blood To Ȝakaries, no-þing good; [ 230] Abels kuynde is riht-wys, þe toþur euer ful of vys. But forþur-more is good to here what vr gospel wol us lere,

As þeos holy Clerkes tel [ 235] And wol vs teche in þis gospel. þat crist to Jerusalem spake, In double wyse we hit take. Twyȝe he seide 'Jerusalem, þat prophetes slest and stonest hem þat are for goode to þe iwent And beo myn owne biddyng sent'. Jerusalem cald he nouht þe harde stones þat þer weore wrouȝt, Nor of þe toun þe Buildyng [ 245] þat mad was of Real þing; Bote to þe dwellers in þat toun, On hem to crie crist was boun. In oþur place, as we fynde And ofte haue hit in vre mynde, [ 250] Crist seiþ Jerusalem eft-sone, And wepte for synne þat hit hedde done. he seide þus wiþ wille fre: 'fful deore of ȝow wolde I be, To gedre ȝou to-gedere dere [ 255] As hen hire chikenes doþ I-fere, I wolde ow gedere to my kepynge As hen hire chikenes vndur whinge'; Bote he seide, as he þouht, þerof in no wey wolde þei nouht. [ 260] Bi þis word openly he schawes þat mony prophetes in þo dawes þat he in þis world send, Mony of hem hyndward went. But þen is heer a questioun [ 265] Meued, þat is of gret renoun. þer he seiþ 'hou ofte-tyme Mi wille weore to deuyne þat I wolde þe so slyder ha norissched and gederet to-gider': [ 270] þe prophete in a place seiþ þus, Is in þe Bok of salmus: þat alle þing þat god wolde he dude hit at his wille bolde. þis is to sei wiþ-outen dere: [ 275] þeiȝ godus wille such were þat vche mon schulde biginne wel to do and leue synne, Ȝit ofte-tyme mon forsakeþ, As wrecche vnkuynde on he takeþ. [ 280] To him haþ god I-ȝiuen freo wille To chesun þe goode from þe ille. Alle oþur þing to mon is lant, ffreo wille of ȝift to him stant; þerfore he may þerwiþ chese [ 285] him-self to saue or to leose. But god seide in þat place To wrecches þat wolde take no grace Ne folewe Merci in þat say, But euere liuen In synne to stray; [ 290] he seide þat heore housus schal Beo laft voyde and wasted al, 'No socur schal hit to ow ȝiue At ȝor neode þerwiþ to liue.' þeos wordus moste we more clerly [ 295] vndurstonde and telle why, And seiȝe to hiȝe and to lowe þat vr saueour doþ vs schowe. whon þat we weore ful ȝonge Out of vr Modur wombe Ispronge [ 300] And clansed of þe synne badde þat we of þe Original hadde Bi Adam, vre forme ffader, Made clene we weore in watur; þenne weore we godus hous, [ 305] Soþly, and his owne spous. But whon we falle to synful pyne Aftur þat in eny tyme, vr oune desyr to don in hiȝe And not to godus wille plyȝe. [ 310] þerfore þe heiȝe heuene-kyng Called hem nout his housyng; Crist seide not his hous, Bote heoren, for þei weore tricherous, heor owne bi þis enchesoun, [ 315] ffor hit schulde to dampnacioun; And ȝif hit i-kept þenne wel were, his hous schulde hit beo ful dere. þerfore seide Jeremy In Cristes persone Almihty [ 320] þat God forsok heore soules þo ffor his hous for synne and wo. he departed his heritage On diuerse wyse in luytel stage. he ȝaf his louers heuene at ene, [ 325] þat kept his hous veir and clene And wiþ-draweþ hem from þat fuire Of hem þat in synne duire. God seiþ, þe oþur parti was As an vuel best in plas [ 330] þat Iana is cald of man. In sum-maner tonge þan Iana is a best felle, As þeos clerkes don vs telle, þat diggeþ vp dede men [ 335] þer þei ligge in graue þen; Non vnclannes nul he spare Of þat ilke bodi bare, But draweþ and eteþ þat he may fynde, he leueþ neiþer Roote ne rynde. [ 340] Such was þis pepel als Of þis Jewes þat weore fals, þat vre lord, as seiþ þe bok, ffor his hous hem forsok. þei weore put for heore pride [ 345] To seche dwellynge in londes wyde;

þei haue no propur lond wiþ boundes, But Crepen aboute as corsud houndes. þus Godus wordus weore not fyled, But þei hem-self foule bigyled. [ 350] þer vre lord seide to hem wiþ his owne mouþ þen: ,ȝe schul not seo me til þat day þat ȝe schule to me come and say Blessed be þou, al in game, [ 355] þat comest vs to in godus name': whi vr lord seide so þat þei scholde him blesse so? ffor he wolde ensaumple ȝiue To tellen vs hou we schulde lyue. [ 360] we may neuer sen his face Til we þis wordus seye of grace, þat is, to knowen him in vr lyue, To do penaunce and vs to schriue, And euere in wille so to beo boun [ 365] To make satisfaccioun. þus mote we do ful riht, Ȝif we wol seo his face in siht, þer as he him-seluen is In heuene, in his glorious blis. [ 370] þerfore þe Jewes of penaunce haue tyme and of repentaunce: To crist wer beter þei hem dresset, þat euer is so good and blesset, þat in þe holy ffader name [ 375] Com to eorþe for vre blame. And þus his face wiþ-outen let, þat euere in Joyfulnes is set, we schul euer-more seo And in his blisse wiþ him beo. [ 380] To þat blisse he us bringe þat is kyng of alle kynge.

Amen.

Dixit Jhesus Petro, sequere me (Joh. 21, 19-24).

Herkneþ alle for ȝor prou, what goode Jon vs telleþ nou. Jhesu seide to petur þo: "ffolewe me, whodur I go!" Petur tornde aȝeyn þat day [ 5] And sone þat disciple say whuche þat Jhesu louede wel; þe serteyn soþe for to tel, Jon hit was wiþ-outen pride: he folewed Jhesu in þat tyde, [ 10] he leoned aftur at þe sopere To Jhesu breste, as ȝe schul here, And as he leoned to þat brest he seide to him, as he þer rest, "Lord, I wolde I-wite who [ 15] Schal þe bitraye and do þat þo?" whon petur saih þat disciple Speke to Jhesu of þis title, "Lord," he seide, "what schal he þis, To folewe þe þat of good wille is?" [ 20] Jhesu seide, godus sone: "I wole he dwelle þus, til i come. what," he seide, "is þat to þe? Do nou so þat þow folewe me!" þis ilke word sone sprong [ 25] þe breþeren þere alle among: þat þulke disciple so good Schulde neuere die, þei vnderstod. Jhesus seide not þat þyng, But he to dwelle to his comyng, [ 30] To Petur he seide wiþ wille fre. þis same disciple is he þat schal heraftur bere witnes Of alle þeos þinges more and les; And þis ilke same þing [ 35] Schal beo witnessed bi þis writyng. we witen hit wel wiþ-outen drede his witnessyng is soþ in dede. þis is þe strengþe of þis gospel, As men in Englisch tonge may tel.—

Ful openly weore þei seyde, þe wordus þat crist to Peter leide, þer he bad þat Apostel sleih þat he schulde folewe him trewely; þat was þus muche forte say, [ 45] þat he schulde dye sum day vppon a Cros as Jhesus dere, But not in þe same maneere; þerfore he bad hym take hede him to folewe, to dye nede. [ 50] Crist ros from þe mete anon In to a-noþur place to gon; To folewe him petur nolde not lete, he suwed þe steppes of his feete; þus was he asent to folfille [ 55] Al þat crist hedde I-seid him tille, whon he seide to þim þo 'Suwe me and wiþ me go.' Also anoþur him suwed ȝare þat crist louede eueri-whare. [ 60] Not only þis disciple heere was loued of god þus syngulere, Not only was he loued þere, But mony oþure þat þer were; Ac for he was Mayden wiþ-Inne [ 65] And kneuh not þe fulþe of synne, þe more special loue-drinke Crist let vppon him synke. But Crist him-self preue wolle Bi mony skiles atte fulle

þat he louede hem wel alle, Ar he to þe deþ wolde falle; he hem tolde of his diȝinge, And also of his vprisynge, he seide: "as my ffadur in wone [ 75] haþ me loued þat am his sone, So haue I loued ow in querte wiþ al þe wille of myn herte. þerfore wiþ al myn herte I pray, Dwelle ȝe in my loue euere and ay; [ 80] Loke þat ȝe not out weende Neuer to ȝor lyues ende!" Bote Jon was loued of god þore Alle oþur men tofore; he was his Mayden, chosen hende [ 85] So to dwellen wiþ-outen ende. Sum storius þat we reden on, Seiȝen Jon was a weddet mon; Crist, þat is lord in trone, Cald him from his weddyng soone, [ 90] And þat only was, for he wolde ffrom flesches lust him take and holde; he fulde hym wiþ swetnes aboue ffulliche of his oune loue. And afturward, whon crist schulde dye [ 95] vppon þe Cros, þat was so hiȝe, To þis gode disciple dere he bitok his modur to fere, ffor Marie Mayden þat he chees, þat was of alle synne wem-lees, [ 100] vndur þe kepyng of Jon Schulde beo fro hire fon. þis kepyng was of good entayle, ffor Jon hire schulde neuer fayle, O Maiden, wiþ-outen lesyng, [ 105] hedde heer anoþur in kepyng; ffor eiþer schulde beo wiþ oþur In clannes as suster and broþur, Euer to-gedere forte wone Aftur þe diȝinge of hire sone, [ 110] And aftur his vp-rist also And his steiȝing to heuene þo— whuch steiȝinge was ful euene vp in to þe hexte heuene. whos chast lyf schulde witnes bere [ 115] þe Chastite of vr ladi þere, þat neuer synne he ne wrouhte, Ne so muche as to his þouhte. þer as he seiþ þat Jon Reste vn-to Jhesu Cristes breste: [ 120] þat is bi-tokned holy writ. þe gode Apostel witnesseþ hit þat Jon hedde al oþur tofore Plente of priuetes more Of þe Godhede of Jhesu [ 125] þen ony oþur disciple kneuh. þerfore he seiþ þen leoned he To þat breste of gret pouste; ffor in þat breste fulliche is knit Al þe tresours of gostly wit, [ 130] ffor þer-Inne beoþ wisdames kud And at his owne wille I-hud. þerfore þat disciple þon To þat breste reste con; þat breste ȝiueþ folliche in place [ 135] Grettest ȝiftus and most of grace. Ȝit neodeþ vs to haue lore Of vr gospel forþur-more. whon petur þis disciple say, he seide to Jhesu at þat day, [ 140] "Lord," he seide, "what is he þis, To folewe þe of such wille is," As hos seiþ, I wolde witen al what þer schal of him bifal. Jhesu onswerde feir and wel: [ 145] "þis mon I wole þat he dwel, heere to dwelle schal he not schone Til I my-self aftur him come," As hos seiþ, þis worldus fray Schal him neuere of lyf stray. [ 150] "Petur, what is þis to þe? Beo þou aboute and folewe me," þat was to sei, tac non hede, But beo aboute þyn owne nede, ffollich forte make þe ende [ 155] Of þat þou most to wende. þeose wordus he seide bi seint Jon: he schulde not dye bi Martirdom, Bute wiþ-outen violence In eorþe enden in his presence. [ 160] þerfore, breþeren heiȝe and lowe, hit nis not wel for to trowe þat Jon suffrede in his flesch As oþur dude, hard and nesch; þerfore god, vr goode lord, [ 165] Seide to him þis record "I wole þat he heere abyde Til my-self come in tyde." whon oþur Apostles in distaunce Diȝed her In gret penaunce, [ 170] he abod þe good comynge Of Jhesu crist, heuene-kynge, Not only for his suffryng sore þat Jon suffrede þerbifore, Bote for vr lord soþly wolde [ 175] þat in his pes diȝe he scholde. ffor in eorþe nis no mon þat wuste where his bodi beo∣com, But þat crist of heuene hit fette And þer as he wolde hit sette. [ 180]

þus weore folfuld at a breid þe wordus þat crist of him seid. he vs graunte of his grace To come to heuene and sen his face.

Amen.

Angelus domini apparuit Joseph (Math. 2, 13-15).

Alle I rede þat we here þat goode Matheu wol vs lere. he seiþ þat Godus Aungel Apeered, as þis tyme fel, To Joseph in his slepynge, [ 5] þeos wordus to him seyinge: "Rys and take þis blessede childe And his Moodur, Meke and mylde, ffleo in to Egipt Cuntre, And beo þer til I warne þe. [ 10] ffor to come Is þis þinge þat heroud, þat is heore kynge, Schal seche þis child wiþ his mayn And bisy him þat he weore slayn." Joseph ros vp, whon he wok, [ 15] þat child and his Mooder tok, And in to Egipt hem dihte, he fleih a-wey al bi nihte. þer þei dwelled bi godus red Til þat false heroude was ded: [ 20] ffor þat hit moste nede Beo folfuld in eueri dede þat of god was spoken hiȝe Bi prophetes in heore prophecie, þer as hit was seid in sawe [ 25] And out of prophecyes drawe: "Out of Egipte haue I cald Mi sone of miht þat al walt." Whon heroud wuste he was bi∣gyled, And þat þe kynges had him wyled, [ 30] þat hette to bringe him warnynge Of þat childes berynge; whon he wust þei come nouht, In muche wraþþe was he brouht: he sende to sle in þat wood drem [ 35] Alle þe children In Bethleem And aboute in mony cuntre, þat of two ȝer old mihte be, þei spared not for no synne, Of two ȝer and wiþ-Inne [ 40] After he hedde I-spoke in wast wiþ þo kynges and þei were past. þus hit was folfuld þon þat seide þe prophet Jerom, Seyinge: "an heih was herd a vois, [ 45] wepyng and serwyng wiþ gret nois: Rachel bi-wep his sones bolde, [47 Ms. Bachel.] Cumfort take he not wolde, ffor þat þei not ben"— þus Is hit writen to sen. [ 50] þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge may tel.—

Clerkes, þat were of gret prise, Expounden þis gospel on þis wyse. þei speken of þe deþ pressious [ 55] Of þeos Martires of godus hous, þei were Innocens wiþ-Inne, [57 þei st. þat.] fful gultiles of alle synne. Deore breþeren, þis lessoun Is, forsoþe, of gret renoun, [ 60] And is reherced at þis tyme To vs alle here in Ryme; Bi whuche we may vndurstonde þat þis precious deþ in londe Of godus Martires, ful of miht, [ 65] þat derworþ is in godus siȝt. [66 tilge þat?] Bot bi þeos ȝonge children here þat slayn at þis tyme were, vndurstonde wel we may Meknesse, þat grace bringeþ ay; [ 70] þei weore meke, wiþ-outen loþ, wiþ heore fo-Men weore þei not wroþ [72 Ms. worþ.] þe deþ for godus loue to take. vche mon schulde him meke make, þenne he schulde to Joye aboue [ 75] [75 Ms. þe st. to.] Come and resseyue Godus loue. But forþer-more, as Matheu In his gospel wol vs scheuȝ, But ȝif we children be, he seiþ, And torne vs from synne to feiþ, [ 80] we may not elles, soþ to telle, In Joye wiþ Jhesu crist dwelle. ffor as þeos children alle atene wust not what was synne to mene, So moste we fare bi North and South Til synne weore to vs so vnkouth. But þere as þis gospel good Telleþ vs soþly hou hit stod, þat þese ȝonge children weore slawe In Bethleem Cite bi þat dawe, [ 90] And in mony Cuntres mo Al aboute þei souȝte hem þo: þat hit was in mony cuntre As wel as in Bethleem Cite, þis schweþ þat not in Juweri [ 95] Al-holly churche schulde not onli Take byginnynge þer bi grace, Bote also wel in oþur place,

In oþur Cuntres aboute wyde, þer godus wordus wolde abyde. [ 100] ffor riht as þeos childre weore slayn, Cursed wrecches weore aftur fayn Bi persecussions to do dissese To Godus peple and hem displese, And aftur heor paciens I-holde [ 105] God hem aftur croune wolde. þer Heroude bad ful of qued þat alle þo children schulde beo ded þat weore in elde of ȝeres two And þei þat wiþ-inne dude go: [ 110] þis bitokneþ bi good wit, As witnesseþ holy writ, þat þei þat wolen ben parfyt To loue god wiþ gret dilyt, And desiren þenne ful euene [ 115] To haue þe gode kyngdom of heuene, þei mosten ben of two ȝer old In þis maner, beo ȝe bold: þeos two ȝer moste wiþ hem wende Techynge and worchynge ful hende; Bi þeose two ȝer sone schal he Parfyt to God of heuene be. þo þat weore two ȝer wiþ-Inne, þeos Innocens wiþ-outen synne, Of whom in þis ilke speche [ 125] Muche good þei wole vs teche? we vndurstonde þis lewed men, vn-knowyng of lettre þen; Ofte we seon, of olde and newe, Studefast of feiþ þei ben and trewe. [ 130] þei ben cald wiþ-Inne two ȝere ffor þis skil þat ȝe schul here: Of teching and worchyng sikerli þei ben not two ȝer old fulli. But þe blisse schul þei wynne, [ 135] As Innocens þat weore wiþ-Inne. But a wondur þing is þis fforte vndurstonde, I-wis: þey þat neuer trespast nouht, ffor crist weore to deþe i-brouht, [ 140] And crist, þat is al-weldande, Scaped þo from his enemys hande. þis bitokneþ soþli þus þat gode mennes bodius þat are for godus loue i-slawe [ 145] And in þis world don of dawe, [146 Ms. sawe st. dawe.] Schul beo kept in eueri tyde In blisse wiþ crist to abyde And ben eyres to þat kyndom þer as woneþ god and Mon. [ 150] But for þat verrey godus sone Is lord of alle þinges in wone And in his pouwer, out of drede, weldeþ boþe þe quike and þe dede And alle þing þat haþ lyf, [ 155] þat ben in londe and watur rif— ffor as þe Apostel poul telleþ And in his bokes þerof melleþ, 'wheþer we lyue or we dye, God is vr lord, witterlye'— [ 160] þis is also muche to sey: wheþer we go to pyne or pley, he is vr lord, soþly to telle, And lord of alle þe fendes in helle—: Siþen he is lord of so gret miht, [ 165] wondre we nouȝt in vre insiht þeih he wolde fle in his childhede þe Deth þat mony men drede. he wolde hit scape bi þis skil: ffor oþur dedes he moste folfil; [ 170] þe dedes were not þo Complyed þat hedden of him beo prophecied. þerfore Joseph awey him stal, ffor þei schulde beo folfuld al; And whon þei come to ende were, [ 175] þen wolde he dye, þat Duyk so dere. fforþermore Is good we say, þat vr gospel spekeþ to-day, As Jeremye þe prophete Seide to-fore In wordus swete, [ 180] þat Godus vois was I-herd On heiȝ, wiþ gret noyse hit ferd, weop and waymentynge to make wondurliche for Monnes sake: þis was þe grete forþinkynge [ 185] þat god hedde for vre synne stynk∣ynge, ffor his Membres of holy churche Liued not trewely ne wel woldeworche, Godus pepel forte teche wiþ heore good liuynge and to preche, þat þei mihte to þat hul stih þat is cald heuene on heih. þerfore as hit askeþ veniaunce þe blod of Abel for distaunce, þe furste Martir and rihtful blod, [ 195] Til Ȝakaries comyng stod, vppon þat wikked pepul al Til God leete his veniaunce fal: So schal þe blod of Rihtful men Crie on hem þat nolde hem ken, [ 200] And for þe vuele ensaumple of lyf þat þei ȝiue þe pepul Ryf. Loke ȝe what þe wyse mon In his Bokes sei ow con: þat of þe faderles childe [ 205] Ne of þe trewe widewe Mylde, heore preyer God wol not dispise, Bote heere hem as heiȝ Justise;

he wol sende hem good cumfort And in schort tyme gret disport. [ 210] ffor preyers of soules meke Persen heuene and þorw þei seke; heore preyer herd euer schal be Bifore þe holy Trinite; But þulke þat faste veniaunce crien, To bi wroke in eorþe hiȝen, Crist of hem haþ no likyng, Nor he wole hem here no-þing; þey schulde put hit in to his honde And let him worche, al-weldonde. [ 220] But what þis widewe is to mene, And þis ffaderles children at ene, Good hit is wiþ-oute lettyng To make hit in to ȝow synk. Children ffadurles ben þay, [ 225] ffor faute of lore þat gon astray, Siþen þe faders of holi churche, [227 Ms. Men þe faderles.] þat schulde vs teche wel to worche, Bote wiþ ensaumple þat þei ȝiue [229 Ms. Boþe.] þei make vs þe worse to lyue; [ 230] þus is he fadurles childe þat is ilet han his wille wilde. þat widewe is þe pepul alle þat is to Cristendom I-falle, ffor heore hosebondes schulde be [ 235] Techers of holy chirche fre, þe goode þei leue and teche qued— ffor þus is vre hosebonde ded; þerfore men may in þis cas Beo likned to a widewe in plas. [ 240] ffurþer-more in vre proces Good is nou þat we vs dres. þer Rachel wepte and made serwe ffor his sones o Euen and Morwe And nolde no cumfort to him take [ 245] On no wyse for heore sake, ffor his children weore nouht In to parfyt liuyng brouht: þis is bitokned in þis dede As we in þis stori rede. [ 250] we fynden hit writen for to proue: hose wol dwelle in godus loue, Striue wiþ þe world moot he, Ȝif he wole good ende se, fforte loke forþward euere [ 255] And beo-hynde to loke neuer. Luyk in his gospel seiþ þat no Mon is able, in feiþ, To heuene-kyngdom forte wende þat takeþ þe plouh bi þe ende [ 260] And, while he schulde worchen harde, Stont and lokeþ hyndwarde. þeos beon þo, to telle wiþ mouþe, þat vsen parfytnes in ȝouþe And aftur bi wil and counseil badde fforsaken þe vertuwes þat þei furst hadde. But declare we forþur-more Rachel nome I-spoke bifore. Rachel soþli is to sei 'A schep', þat meke is al-wey, [ 270] Or elles 'a Mon þat God seo', In gostli wyse, ȝif hit beo. And þat may wel liknet beo To al-holy churche freo: we schulde euer-more disire [ 275] To seo god in gostli Empire. þus Rachel is, wiþ-outen wene, Al-holi churche bi-dene, And holichurche is God him-selue, And wiþ him ladde þe Apostles twelue. [ 280] [280 And st. þat.] þus he serewed for þe synne þat his sones heere liued Inne, ffor þei nolde not forsake þe synne þat þei hedde take; þei nolde haue no cumfortynge [ 285] þerof to make forsakynge. ffor, as we reden In holi writ, hose wol take tente to hit: A Mon þer was, take we kep, þat hedde fullich an hundred schep, And on was lost, of Nynti and Nine; And he þat hem ouhte at a tyme, ffor pite þat he hedde of þat on, he lafte þe Noumbre of euerichon And dude his owne sone dresse [ 295] In to desert and wildernesse, he sende his sone hider to seke, wiþ þat schep for to mete. þis is forte wite and knawe, As Doctours seyn in heore sawe, [ 300] þat of þe ffadur þe wisdom here in to eorþe hit com And tok flesch of a Mayden þenne þat fulliche was wiþ-outen wemme, In eorþe fostred for vr goode, [ 305] And tok among vs erþly fode, And siþen dyed deolful deþ Bi þe Jewes wiþ-outen meþ. he quit þat schep wiþ Raunsun good: þat was his holy herte blod; [ 310] þus he brouȝte þat schep bi craft To þat flok he was from raft: þo weore Godus Angeles alle whuche Adam fouliche was from falle.

But þer as god, ful of meþ, [ 315] ffleih to Egipte from his deþ, Bi ffadur and Modur sone he fleih ffrom Bethleem to Egipte, we sey: þis techeþ vs þat holy men, þat holynes wol knowe and ken, [ 320] Schulde Coueyte to suffre here Persecussions in mony manere, And so to crist wiþ mekenesse hende To come at vr laste ende. þus crist him-self tauȝte [ 325] Bi þis goode ensaumple sauhte, As Luyc in his gospelle Opunly doþ vs telle; To suffre serewes monyfold he biddeþ vs to beo bold, [ 330] And euer aftur vre endyng To Beo wiþ crist euer-lastyng.

Amen.

Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terra (Joh. 12, 24-26).

Jhesu to his disciplus tolde wordus gode forte holde, þus he seide hem biforn: "But ȝif þat a whete-Corn ffalle in to þe eorþe lowe [ 5] And breke and dye, soþ to knowe, Elles, I sey wiþ-outen lesynge, No fruit may hit forþ bringe; ffor, ȝif he dwelle hol al-on, ffruit bringeþ he forþ non; [ 10] And ȝif he wel clouen beo, Muche fruit bringeþ forþ he. hose loueþ in world here his owne wille þat is him nere, he leoseþ þing of more prys— [ 15] þen is he noþing wys; And hose wole his wille hate In þis world, þat is so mate, To euerlastyng lyf ceete (!) þenne he doþ his soule kepe. [ 20] hose wole wel serue me to, he schal me folewe þen so, And wherso-euere þat am I, Schal my seruaunt beo, sikerli. And hose to me serueþ al, [ 25] honouren him my fadur schal, þe whuche fader is ful euene Abouen in þe hiȝe heuene." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 30]

Crist here him-self calde A whete-Corn, to eorþe þat falde: he clef also and was ded, þorwh þe Jewes falsed; ffruit he multipliȝed also, [ 35] þe feiþ, and cristen pepul þo; And he fette, soþ to telle, Muche fruit out of helle. Whi he calde him-self a corn In þis gospel here-biforn? [ 40] he fedeþ Angeles in heuene briht, And men in eorþe wiþ his miht, And also alle maner of Best he fedeþ at his owne request. he is þat corn, soþ to sey, [ 45] þat hunger from soules doþ awey, And bodyes susteneþ in vch a plas, And struyȝeþ hertes bi his gras. [48 l. strengþeþ.] whon þis corn wiþ deþ was souht, Not only fruit to vs he brouht, [ 50] But al þe world he dude folfille wiþ gostly corn, as was his wille. þerfore þis blessed corn heere seide to hem on þis maneere, 'he þat wole his wille heer loue [ 55] Schal hit leose in heuene aboue, And he þat wole his wille her hate And hold hit euere at louh state, he schal fynde þe lyf hende Euer-lastyng wiþ-outen ende': [ 60] vr lordus biddyng heere hit was Of his passiun to suwe þe tras. þeos wordus þat ȝe herd han, On twey maners þei ben tan: þe toþur maner is of þeose, [ 65] hose loueþ he schal leose. þis is follich forte say: Ȝif þou louest, leose þou may, But ȝif þou wolt loue holde to crist þat for þe diȝe wolde. [ 70] Drede þe not þenne baldelye ffor his loue for to dyȝe; But beo þou nouȝt aboute ryf To loue þi wille in eorþli lyf, Leste þou þerfore þi wille leose [ 75] Euer-lastyng lyf for to chese. þerfore hit folweþ forþur-more, As þis gospel seiþ byfore: he þat hateþ bi good skil þat is cald his owne wil, [ 80] And also his bodi likyng, he takeþ his soule to good kepyng, To þat lyf for to wende þat euer schal laste wiþ - outen ende. þis goode Thomas, as we fynde [ 85] And as þis day makeþ mynde,

his worldly wille forsok þat clerk And put him al to godus werk; he soffrede harde Martirdame ffor Godus loue and for his name: [ 90] þerfore he is, wiþ-outen were, vp an heiȝ in heuene cleere. Bidde we to him niht and day þat he wolde for vs pray þat we may to þat blisse beo brouht [ 95] þat for goode men is wrouht.

Amen.

Ecce nos relinquimus omnia (Math. 19, 27-29).

Simound Petur to Jhesus vppon a tyme he seide þus: "Seþþe, alle þinges we forsake, [3 Seþþe = seoþ.] And to suwe þe we han us take: what þerfore schal ben vr mede?" [ 5] Jhesus onswerde anon in dede: "fforsoþe, siker to ȝou i sei: Ȝe þat me suwe and my wei, In þe aȝeyn-makyng newe Of alle þe Men þat euer grewe, [ 10] whon þe sone of Mon so hiȝ Schal sitte in dom, sikerli, vppon þat ilke blisful seete Of his Mageste so meete, Ȝe schul sitte at þat day [ 15] On twelue seges, hit nis not nay, Juggyng, soþly for to tel, þe twelfe kyndes of Israel. And also i seie to alle þo þat worldlich wele forsake also, [ 20] [20 Ms. wole.] hous, Breþeren and sustren ryf, his ffadur, Modur or his wyf, his children also or his londe, ffor my nome to vndurstonde, he schal hit take an hundred-fold [ 25] And so beo ȝolden, beo ȝe bold, And also he schal þerto haue Euerlastyng lyf, him to saue." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As men in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 30]

PEtur þe ffisschere, hit is seid, was sadly in þe feiþ leid, he nedde not, as we rede and se, Of worldlich catel gret plente; Mete and cloþ, we vndurstonde, [ 35] he gat wiþ trauayl of his honde: here he spac ful feiþfully, þer he seide to god Almihti 'we forsake al oþur þing To suwe þe, heuene-kyng'. [ 40] heere he schewed þeose two: ffeiþ and parfytnes also; ffor ȝif a mon wol beo trewe, he mot boþe forsake and suwe. And also he asked what mede [ 45] þei schulde haue for þat dede. Jhesu seide wiþ mylde chere: 'Ȝe þat me suwen here, In þe Regeneraciun good Of alle men to flesch and blod, [ 50] whon þe noble sone of mon Schal sitte vppon þe dom þon In þe seete of his Maieste, On Twelf seetes sitte schal ȝe, [54 Ms. he st. ȝe.] þe twelf kuyndes demynge [ 55] Of Israel wiþ-oute lesynge, ffor þat þat ȝe han lyued wel'— þei nolde hit leeue neuer a del. vr goode lord, þat al wald, Sweteliche þe sone of mon him cald, [ 60] And also he seide bi grace and wit, whon he in Maieste schulde sit; þat is to mene al in-fere: he wol not at þe dom apere In liknes of his Godhede, [ 65] But in Monhod, as we rede; ffor in þat same liknesse semed þat he was here him-self I-demed, In þat liknesse schal he com To deme þe dom al and sum. [ 70] Bi þat ilke holi seete Of his Maieste so swete Is vndurstonde þe cloudes euene, Bi whuche he steih vp to heuene, Bi whuche also he schal eft-sone [ 75] Come to deme þe dredful dome. Also his seete likned is To holy Angeles þat ben in blis, And to his trewe chosene also, þat þenne schulle toforen him go [ 80] whon he schal sitte, þat is so hende, Of þe dom to maken an ende. þe prophete Ysaias Spekeþ þerof in a plas And he likneþ his Maieste [ 85] A fflaume of fuir lyk to be, As a wheol round aboute, Lihtnynge boþe wiþ-Inne and oute. þe seetes of þe Apostles alle vndurstonde hem we not schalle [ 90] Bodiliche chayers, in to sit— In no maner þink we hit— [92 Ms. þing.]

Bote raþer hit is þe pouwere þat hem is ȝiuen to demen in-fere. ffor þe Apostles wiþ-outen lesyng [ 95] Schullen deme in tyme comyng, And wiþ hem holly of Renoun þat folwe wole heore perfecciun. And so as þeose kyndes twelue Beon to deme hem-selue, [ 100] So alle folk sone a-none, Jewes and Gentes euerichone, To þe dom þei schul beo brouht Bi miht of god at a þouht. And in þat dom, as we may seo, [ 105] ffoure Ordres þer schal beo: Of Rihtwys schal be þe two, And vnrihtwys þe tweyne also. þe ffurste ordre and þe best Aposteles and heore folewers prest; þeose schul deme, leue broþur, And not be deemed bi non oþur. þe secunde ordre schal beo þen Of seculers and wedded men whuche ha not knowen here [ 115] vuel felauschipes in none maneere; of hem seiþ vr gode lord, his owne word to Record: 'Comeþ to me alle in-feere þat blessed ben of my fadur dere! [ 120] heuene kindam ȝe schul take, þat is ordeynt for ȝor sake ffrom þe biginnynge, soþ to say, Of þis world, hit is not nay.' þe two ordres her-bi-fore [ 125] Deemed schul þei beo neuer-more. þe þridde ordre schal beo rad Of hem þat knoulechyng her had [128 Ms. heo st. her.] Of God boþe loud and stille And nolde his lawes neuer folfille [ 130] In no werkes þat þei wrouht, But euer set hem at nouht; Al þat careful cumpany Schul beo demet deolfoly. þe feorþe ordre, hit beo schalle [ 135] Of þeos paynynus on and alle; whuche schul not, as we rede, Beo demet at þat dom in dede; ffor to hem hit is leide þeos wordus þat poul toforen seide: 'þo þat þus wiþ-outen lawe Sunged han and stod non awe, wiþ-outen lawe schul alle þei Beon i-perisched, soþ to sey.' fforþer-more to vre matere: [ 145] þer as crist seide here 'Alle þat han mad forsakyng Of ffadur and Modur and al heor þing ffor myn nome, beo ȝe bold, he schal hit take an hundredfold, [ 150] And also þe euerlastyng lyf þei schal hit haue wiþ-oute strif': heer may we seo muche profyt To forsake worldlich delyt; ffor hose forsakeþ al þing worldli [ 155] ffor þe loue of crist an heih, wiþ þe Apostles wel schal he Beo loued and rewardet be. þus to forsake alle þing, þis is þe vndurstondyng: [ 160] In worldlich Riches not to (t)rust, [161 Ms. rust.] And euer to kepe vs fro foul lust. [162 Ms. for st. fro.] whose his wyf wol forsake, þat Joyned is to ben his Make, ffor vuel wille, sikerlye, [ 165] Or for a feirore in his eiȝe, Or for eny cause present þat god him-self haþ to hire sent; vndurstondeþ euerichon, þerfore to helle he may gon; [ 170] ffor þis is not for godus nome, But for his vuel wille and grome. And hose haþ take no wyuyng, And wol not haue, for heuene-kyng, But lyuen of his bodi chast, [ 175] his tyme spendeþ he not in wast; And he þat wyth a wyf mot be And wol him kepe in his degre ffrom foul lust of dedly synne, In lecheri not delyte him Inne. [ 180] Ȝif þeos don þus for godus sake, An hundred-fold þei schal hit take. ffor hose for crist, his saueour, Leoseþ her al worldli honour, he schal resseyue, beo ȝe bold, [ 185] Spiritual Joyes monyfold; As þis word witnesseþ trewe: 'whon mon schal beo mad newe'— þat is to sey on þis wyse, ffrom deþ of Corupciun to rise [ 190] To lyf incorupt for ay, þat neuer aftur dye may. And he þat takeþ him vppon To holy Religioun for to gon And comeþ for ffraude to þat plas, [ 195] vnderstonden he is Judas; Judas penaunce schal he bere, ffor he is godus traytur þere; ffor god he cusseþ wiþ tresun whon he so entreþ Religiun. [ 200]

he þat scheweþ hem in þis wyse Religious, entred to godus seruise And worldlych riches ben hem sende, But al in Idel þei hem spende, Al aftur heore owne wille, [ 205] And not, godus worschip to folfille: Part of þat curs þei ha Of Ananye and Saphi(r)a; ffor he þat goþ to holi churche, Not, Religiously to worche, [ 210] Riches for to croche and craue þat in þe world he mihte not haue, Sikerliche suffre schal þay þe Lepre of Giesy, soþ to say: ffor þat he suffred in bodi, [ 215] In soule schul þei serweli. [216 l. sewerli.] he þat was boren of Marie milde, ffrom þat ilke serwe vs schilde.

Amen.

Postquam impleti sunt. Ewan∣gelium quere in temporali.

Venit Jhesus in partes Cesaree Ph[ilipp]i (Math. 16, 13-19).

Herkeneþ now, I wol ȝow telle As Mathew seiþ in þis gospelle. Jhesus com þat tyme in heiȝ To þe cuntre of Ceesar philippi, Askinde his disciples þere [ 5] And seide to hem þat wiþ him were: "whom sigge ȝe men of þis Cuntre þat þe sone of mon scholde be?" þen seide his disciples to crist: "Summe seyen, Jon þe Baptist, [ 10] And summe seyen Elesye, And summe forsoþe seyn Jeremye, Or on of þe prophetes here Men seyn hit is in alle manere." þo seide Jhesus openly: [ 15] "whom wol ȝe seyn þenne ho am I?" Symon Peter onswerde þon And þus to seye he bigon: "þou art crist, heuene-kyng, þe sone of God, holy liuyng." [ 20] Jhesu onswerde wiþ feir mod And seide to petur, þer he stod: "I-blesset þou art and ma, þat art cleped Symon Bariona: ffor bi flesch ne blod, I sei þe, [ 25] Miht þis not to þe brouht be, But þorw my ffader þat is in heuen was hit þe brouht wiþ mylde steuen. Soþly, nou to þe sei I: þou art stedefast, trewe as ston is tri: vppon þe, petur, trewe as ston, I schal buylde my chirche anon, Aȝeyn wȝuche chirche, I þe say, þe ȝates of helle not stonde may. And I schal ȝiue þe keyes euene [ 35] Of ȝates of þe kyndom of heuene. And what þou euere In eorþe dost bynde, In heuene bounde schal men hit fynde: And what þou vnbyndest in eorþe here, In heuene vnbounde beo hit clere." [ 10] þis is þe tixt of vre gospelle, As seint Matheu doþ vs telle.

Grete clerkes doþ vs teche what þis gospel is to preche. þis phelip Cesar þat we of kenne, [ 45] was heroudes broþer, þe ȝongur, þenne, In hos tyme, soþ hit is, God suffrede his passiun, I-wis. In his ffader tyme þon was I-bore boþe god and mon, [ 50] As hit is in stories seid And for witnesse in bokes leyd. þat Philip in honour of Cesar forþi Let make a Citee feir and heiȝ, And in his nome and Cesar also [ 55] he clepte hit Cesar philip þo, And in þat cuntre Bi North and Souþ Cesar philip hit is cald wiþ mouþ. þe kynges of Rome þat þo were newe, þat forþur in þis storie suwe, [ 60] Alle kyngdomes weore þei wont to make Tribut to hem to bringe and take. [62 Ms. Trubut.] þerfore vs þinkeþ worþi hit was, þer eorþly kynges her tribut tas Of al oþur þat heore sogettes be, [ 65] vchon in his owne degre, þat þer þe kyng of heuene hiȝe Tok tribut of his sogettes trye. þat tribut is studefast bileeue, þe soule to saue and not to greue. [ 70] þerfore he seide to hem þon 'whom siggen heo is þe sone of mon?' he asked not þis of hem so ffor vnknowen nas hit not him to, Ne also he asked hit not of hame [ 75] ffor þen-haunsyng of his name,

But for men scholde bileeue sad þe feiþ þat (he) hem tauhte and bad. Bi þis ensaumple he techeþ to worche Bisschopes and prelatus of holy churche, [ 80] þat of heore pepul þei schulde enquere In what Opinions þei were, So þat he mihte hem puite wel In to þe feiþ trewe as stel. ffor whon he seide to hem þus [ 85] 'whom seye men is Jhesus', þe pepul þo was wiþ-oute resoun In monye diuerse opunioun. þerfore he seide to hem freo 'whom wolde ȝe þat i calde beo?' [ 90] Petur onswerde in hiȝing 'þou art cristes sone, heuene-kyng.' þenne seide Jhesus to hem in same 'þou art Blessed, Symound bi name, [94 bi name st. Barione?] ffor bi flesch and blod, certeynly, [ 95] hast þou not þis onswere sleih, But of my fadur of miht most, Sende bi þe holy gost.' Bariona, þat we of mone, hit is to mene 'a coluer sone.' [ 100] A Coluer sone he was bi riht, þe gode Apostel þat peter hiht; ffor mekelich and swetelich þat tym he folwede and wente wiþ hym. Euer was he godus sone to deuyne [ 105] wiþ-outen ende tofore þat tyme, And Petur aftur Godus child he was wiþ oþur chosen bi godus gras. Petur was godus child from þat tyme þo: þerfore he seiþ acordyngly, þe ffadur of heuene him wissed forþi And wisdam brouȝte to Coluer sone þe priuetes of god, as was his wone; ffor flesch and blod miht hit not do, Bote from god hit moste come so. ffor alle þe wisdam of blod ne flesch To þe wisdam of spirit ne acordes, But (is) euer aȝeyn þe spirites wille And most acordyng in to ille. [ 120] Jhesu to petur seide anon 'ffor þi nome is cald a ston, And on þe ston trewe and trie Mi churche I wol edefye:' þat is þat God, vr saueour, [ 125] þat ȝaf so to his knowelechour, [126 tilge þat.] his louer and his confessor eke And to partiner of his nome swete, Grace, mihte and muche godnesse, wiþ rihtful feiþ þe pepul to dresse. [ 130] Petur is a ston sad and trewe, So cald he petur þerfore newe. þer as vr lord seyde þat day 'þe ȝates of helle aȝeinstonde him ne may': þe ȝates of helle beo cleped here [ 135] þe deueles limes þat ben and were, þat him dude muche turmentrie, To haue I-maad him leeue in Mau∣metrie, And þus þei wolde haue mad discort Bitwene Petur and his lord [ 140] wiþ turmentries and mony scour∣ginges And persecucions and schrewed þinges. ffor þis doinges, as I þe telle, þei ben cald þe ȝates of helle— Bi heore doinges mony men [ 145] þe wey to helle þei hem ken. þer vr lord seide 'I ȝiue to þe þe keyȝes of heuene feir and fre': þat is to seye, (for) Petur was Most deuout and knowyng of graas Bifore oþere þat weore him bye, Touward þe kyng of heuene hiȝe, þis keȝes of heuene weore him bitake ffor his confession and contriciun sake. wiþ-outen þe keiȝes, soþ to say, [ 155] No mon to heuene go ne may. þe keiȝes also, I telle þe, ffeiþ and Confession þei be; wiþ-outen hem may no mon Entre in to þe heiȝe kyngdom. [ 160] þe keyes also is of heuene Bi wit and discrecion euene, his wit and pouste boþe at on, þat knoweþ hem þat þider schal gon, And also hem þat vnworþi bene [ 165] Caste hem awey as vnclene. þer god seide 'þat þou heer byndest, In heuene bounde þou hit fyndest; And þat þou vnbyndest here, In heuene be hit vnbounden þere:' [ 170] þouh al þis pouwer and þis miht weore ȝiue to Petur, as god him hiht, To vnbynde and to bynde also Or what he wolde þer wiþ do, herof haue we no drede [ 175] Ouerseiȝen hit was bi godus dede. Al-þouh to Petur ȝiuen hit were, And to oþur Apostles I-feere,

To Bisschops and to þo of holy churche, To oþere þat vndur hem schal worche [ 180] þe same pouwer hem graunted is, So þei do treweli and not mis. þei nol vnbynden hem, to bigynne, þat nul not leuen heore dedly synne, Bote hem to vnbynden soone in hiȝe [ 185] Meoke forþinkyng heore folye; þeose from endeles deþ, to mene, he schal vnbynde and make clene. And heo þat wollen at heor owne wille In fulþe of synne dwelle stille, [ 190] he schal hem bynde bi such waxing þat to endeles pyne hit wol hem bring. þerfore vche chosun to Churche, þat serueþ God and wel wol worche, þer is ȝiuen Auttorite [ 195] vnbynde and Bynde, as I sei þe, After þe maner of mennes penaunce, And of heore synnes wiþ-oute dis∣taunce. þerfore Blessede petur forþi Took þe keyȝes speciali [ 200] Of þat noble kyngdom þer as dwelleþ God and mon; he tok as Apostel principal Pouwer of suche dedes al. prince of apostles was he cald [ 205] Of him þat al wot and walt, ffor vche mon schulde vndurstonde he mihte bynde and leese of bonde. ffor hose departeþ him sikerliche ffrom þe acord of ffeiþ þat is muche, Or hem þat beþ in synne i-bounde And nulleþ not out in none stounde, þei may not entre at heuene-ȝate, Ne non oþur bringe þer-ate. þerfore, ȝif þat we wilne blis, [ 215] To vs ful neodful hit is þat we lerne bi vre witynge And bi al vre vnderstondynge To fleo þe mony ȝatus of helle þat of vr feiþ wolde vs felle, [ 220] To haue reward, and þenke vppon, Of þe swete ȝate of Syon, þer is þe euerlastinge Joye to seo, þat we þider come worþi to beo. In to þat ilke gloriouse blisse [ 225] he þat vs wrouhte us þider wisse.

Amen.

Confitebor tibi pater celi & terre (Math. 11, 25-30).

Vppon a tyme goode Jhesus Onswering he seide þus: "ffadur of heuene ad eorþe fre, her I knowleche me to þe, þe wȝuche hast hud þeose þinges [ 5] ffrom wyse and sleiȝe at þi likynges, And hast also hem schewed wyde To smale children hem bisyde. ffor so, ffadur, payinge hit was Tofore þe, folfuld of graas. [ 10] Alle þinges," he seide, "here Beon ȝiuen me of my fadur deore. And no mon þe sone knoweþ, Bote þe ffader, þat him oweþ: And who knoweþ þe ffader in wone [ 15] Bote his owne deore sone, And to whom þe sone wolde Beon I-schewed, as hit is tolde?" þenne seide Jhesu anon: "Comeþ to me euerichon, [ 20] Ȝe þat trauayl and charge han take, And al fresch I schal ȝou make. Bereþ my ȝok for ȝor prow, And lerneþ also at me now, ffor I am here verrey meke [ 25] And also tender of herte eke: Ȝe schul þenne fynde prest To oure soules muche rest. fforsoþe, my ȝok is swete bi riht, And my burþen also is liht." [ 30]

Gret meknes her we se Of God þat noumbred may not be, hit is schewed to vs ful wel In þe lessun of þis gospel. vre lord god, of mihtes most, [ 35] Seide here wiþ a glad gost 'ffadur, to þe I knoweleche, Of heuene and eorþe, in þis speche': Bi þeose wordus seo we may, Openliche knowe hit ay, [ 40] þat knowelechyng, soþ to sey, Nis not mad al-wey ffor Excusaciun of synne, Bote oþurwhile, to biginne, worschipe to declare in cas, [ 45] As hit stod in þis plas. þis knowleching of god so dere Gladful hit is vs to here: A dispensaciun hit þenne is Of vre hele, forsoþe i-wis. [ 50] Crist dude his ffadur calle Lord of heuene, eorþe and alle,

ffor to vs schewe wolde he þe godnesse of his grete pyte. Riht as þe ffader wiþ bisynes [ 55] Gouerneþ, Norisscheþ to redres And techeþ his children of pris, Riht so on þe same wis Only lord god, þat is aboue, lihtneþ and techeþ vs wiþ loue. [ 60] þer crist seide 'ffadur kud, þou hast þeose þinges hud, þat passen from my mouþ in hiȝ, ffrom hem þat aren wys and sleih, And hast schewed hem forte knowe [ 65] To luytel children and to lowe': þis was to mene þe wisdom þat þenne opened was to mon, To alle þe apostles trewe þat þenne wente him to suwe— [ 70] ffor luytel children weore þei told ffor þei weore meke monyfold; And þat hit was I-hud þo þe wyse Philosofres fro. he cald hem sleih and eke wyse, [ 75] ffor þei weore ful of fals queyntise, To alle oþere þei made scorn, wiþ bostyng set hem-self toforn: ffrom hem he hudde hit, soþ to say, ffor þei weore at þis aray. [ 80] hose wys him-self calle wolle, [81 Ms. is wys.] A fol he makeþ him atte fulle. þeose Apostles hedden wisdom, Ȝiuen to hem of god and mon: þerfore godus wordus of prys [ 85] ffolwed aftur on þis wys: 'Deore ffadur, on þis Manere hit was to þe likyng and deore': þis was of þe Apostles twelue, ffor he hem ordeynt to him-selue; [ 90] Bifore þe world mad was Or bigynnyng tok in plas, Ordeynt hit was to beo put wisdom in to heor hertus knut. þe Monhed hit spac her [ 95] To þe godhede wiþ-oute per. Crist seide þenne atte large 'Ȝe þat han trauayled and boren charge, I schal ow fede wiþ milde steuene wiþ þe foode þat is in heuene': [ 100] þeose beo þo þat trauayle þus In eorþe here for Jhesus And strongliche suffre wiþ heore miht Persecussion for þe riht And nulleþ not wiþ þe fend beo nomen [ 105] Ne in herte trauayle ouercomen. [106 l. here?] þis is þe ȝok, soþ to sey, þat crist on his meyne wol ley. To Monnes soule hit is ful sééte: þerfore he seide, hit was ful swééte; [ 110] þis burþen is ful liht also, ffrom eorþe to heuene hit makeþ us go. Bi him beo we þider lad þat on þe Roode for vs was sprad.

Amen.

Missus est angelus Gabriel.

Non turbetur cor uestrum neque (Joh. 14, 1-13).

Jhesus, þat is ful of disport, Ȝaf his disciplus heore cumfort, In þis place he hem bad: "Trouble not ȝor hertes, ne beo drad! Leeueþ in god þat is an heiȝ, [ 5] þen leeue ȝe in me, sikerly. Mony dwellyng-places þer ben In my ffadur hous to sen. Ofte haue I to ȝou tolde þat to my fadur go I wolde, [ 10] To make to ow redi a place, þer to wone in griþ and grace. And ȝif I go, haue ȝe no drede, I schal ȝou dihte a place in dede: þenne schal I comen aȝeyn [ 15] And take ow to me, soþ to seyn, ffor, where so þat I am, Ȝe schul beo, wiþ-oute blam. Ȝe schul witen whodur I go, And knowe ȝe schulle þe wei also." [ 20] Thomas seide to him anon: "Lord, we nute not whodur ȝe gon: hou scholde hit þenne, Lord Jhesus, þe wey ben knowe her to vs?" Jhesu seide wiþ-oute strif: [ 25] "I am wey, soþnesse, and lyf. No mon may to þe ffadur come Bote bi me þat am his sone. Ȝif ȝe me knowe, wiþ-outen dere, Ȝe knowe my ffadur vche-where: [ 30] ffro þis tyme ȝe schul him knowe And seon him, soþli, as ȝe owe." Philip seide þat ilke day: "Schewh vs, lord, þi ffadur, we pray, And þenne hit may folliche suffise [ 35] To vs vchon on alle wyse."

Jhesu seide to Philip dere: "hou long haue I beo wiþ ow here, And ȝe ȝit here on þis molde haue not knowe me as ȝe scholde? [ 40] Philip," he seide, "whose seoþ me, Mi ffadur þenne doþ he se. how biddestou þat I schulde schewe Mi ffadur to ow al on-rewe? Leeuest þou not þat I be [ 45] In my ffader and he in me? þe wordus þat I speke ow to, Of my-self come þei not so, Bote my ffadur in me dwellynge he makeþ þat ilke worchynge. [ 50] Leeuest þou not, as I þe telle, Eiþer of vs in oþur to dwelle? Ȝit i bede wiþ-outen greue þat ȝe þis studefast bileeue. fforsoþe, sikerly I ow teche: [ 55] hose leeueþ in þis ilke speche, þe werk þat I am doinge he schal hit do in tyme comynge, And more schal he do þen þo: ffor I now to my ffadur go. [ 60] And what ȝe asken my ffadur to done In my nome feir and sone, þat schal I do trewely to trie, þe ffadur in þe sone to glorifye. Ȝif ȝe out aske þat I ow wone [ 65] Of my ffadur in my nome, þat þing schal I do ful hende, To ȝoure profyt to make þe ende." þis is þe strengþe of þis gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 70]

BI þeos wordus forto telle Of þis holy Gospelle Gret ensaumple seo we may þat godus help is redi ay. ffor whon vr lord, þat vs wrouht, [ 75] And siþen wiþ his deþ vs bouht, his disciples hertes knowyng To beo dreri for his suffryng, he hem ȝaf cumfort good In mony wyse, þer he stood; [ 80] ffor, er vre lord for vre sake þe deþ to him wolde take, Bisy he was eueri-where þe soules of hem vp to rere wiþ his techinge, to haue trist [ 85] In þe Joyes of his vprist; he cumfortede heor hertes hard wiþ hope þat þei schulde afterward wiþ-outen ende wiþ him dwelle— þis and more he dude hem telle. [ 90] ffor gret wondur nas hit non þouȝ þei weore druri euerichon— ffor whon he was passed hem from, þei wenden to ha perisched þon. Bote whon þei þouht forte lende [ 95] And dwelle wiþ him wiþ-outen ende, ffrom hard þei wenten þus to nesch— þis was euer heore refresch; whon þei weore dreri and wo, þis hem made out to go. [ 100] ffor al-þeiȝ hit so were þat on of þe apostles dere weore strengor þen a-noþur leyd In þe feiþ, as hit is seid, Or more rihtwys in his dawes [ 105] þen a noþur of his felawes; Crist seide to hem þerfore, As ȝe schul heere aftur more, þat in his ffadur hous of grace þer was moni a dwellyng-place. [ 110] þis he seide to hem a-rowe, ffor þei schulde wite and knowe þat non of hem schulde beo put Ne from þat holy Joyes flut; ffor vche mon þat þider is schape, [ 115] his dwellyng-place þer schal take After he haþ in world here Deserued boþe fer and nere. But let hit not come in ȝor þouht þat eni of hem schal wonten ouht; [ 120] ffor vche mon þat þer is Schal haue ful Joye and blis. Envye schal þer beo non Oon aboue a-noþur to gon, Bote þe onhede of charite al [ 125] Euere in hem Regne schal. þat hit so mote do in vs, Prey we faste to goode Jhesus.

Erat homo ex phariseis Nicho∣demus. (Derselbe Text im Tempo∣rale Nr. 52, fol. CXCIIII.)

Dixit Jhesus Petro Sequere me.

Hoc est preceptum meum vt dili∣gatis (Joh. 15, 12-16).

JHesus, þat is heuene-kyng, To his disciplus seide þis þing: "Mi biddyng, forsoþe, hit is þat ȝe loue to-gedere, i-wis, As I haue ȝou, to sen, while I haue among ȝou ben.

No mon, forsoþe to say, More loue haue ne may þen he þat putteþ his lyf clere ffor his frendes þat ben him dere. [ 10] Ȝif ȝe do þat I ow bidde, þen beo ȝe for my frendes kidde. I sey not to ȝow in þis chaunce, Ow to clepe heer, seruaunce, ffor he þat is a seruaunt so, [ 15] he not what his lord schal do. fforsoþe, I haue i-seid to ȝou Mi frendes in my place nou: ffor al þing þat I herd haue Of my fadur, ow to saue, [ 20] I haue mad hit ow to knowen, And as my frendes in ow hit sowen. ȝe ha not chosen me, to seyn, Bote I haue chosun ȝou, serteyn, And I haue put ow, forþ to go [ 25] ffruit to bringe forþ to mo, And ȝoure fruit dwelle hit schal, Sikerli forsoþe, to telle ȝou al; And what ȝe asken euerichone Of my fadur In my nome, [ 30] he schal hit sone to ow ȝiue, And euer wiþ-outen ende to liue." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As Mon in Englisch tong mai tel.

ÞEr Crist seyde here present [ 35] 'þis is my Comaundement þat ȝe loue to-geder dere', ffor vche Comaundement here Is follich set in good louynge— þis witnesseþ heuene-kynge. [ 40] þer may no mon wiþ-outen let In no Comaundement wel beo set, Bot loue and Charite mote and schal Beo þe biginninge principal. Riht as mony semely bowes [ 45] þat out of a good tre growes, Passen furst out of þe Roote And þer heore strengþe take mote, Mony vertuwes, as we may se, Springen of þe Rote of Charite; [ 50] vertu non may haue þe Bouh Ne grenes of good werk nou, But ȝif he from þe Roote come Of Charite to beo out nome. þerfore Godus Comaundemens [ 55] Are mony euere in vre presens, And als, a-noþur wey to gon, Alle þei ben bote on. Mony beo werkes þat ben diuers, In Roote of loue .on. to rehers. [ 60] he haþ charite, verreyli, þat loueþ his frend and his Enemy— þat is to seye, his frend to loue In god þat is vs aboue, And his enemy þenne also [ 65] ffor God þat bouht us from vr fo. But moni þer ben nou in londe þat louen þus, I vndurstonde, More for fleschlich knoweleching þen for eny oþur þing. [ 70] But oþur loue þer schulde be: To louen bi wey of Charite— And þat is þis þat i of tel þat is comaundet in þis gospel; And hose loueþ in þis manere, [ 75] In heuene he schal ben a peere, And hose loueþ fleschly in dede, þerof haþ he luytel meede. Crist biddeþ hem ful sone 'Loue ȝe as I haue ow done': [ 80] his loue was euer gostly, To bringe hem touward heuene an heiȝ. Alle may we seo þe strif Of vr olde fadres lyf: þe olde enemy, vre fo, [ 85] To eorþly louyng drou vs þo, he stured vs to pyne wende, And mad vr fo of vr frende; Erþly longyng, soþ to say, [89 l. louyng.] hit melteþ euere to nouht a-way. [ 90] þe olde deuel, vr enemy, þat haþ to Monkynde envy, Stureþ vs to loue eorþly, To haue vs in to his Baily, And euer he is aboute in place [ 95] Charite from vs to chase. In hattreden we fullich wone But we vr flesch ouercome, ffor we vr owne soule hate But we wiþ vr flesch debate. [ 100] Ȝif we þis wiþ-outen vs witen, wiþ-Inne we beo sone smiten; whil we loue most worldli þing, we leose þe loue of heuene-kyng. Of Charite is a pref certeyn [ 105] Ȝif a Mon may loue, to seyn, And hertlich wole preye for þo þat don to him hate and wo. No mon may haue loue more þen he þat dieþ his frendes fore. [ 110] [110 Ms. doþ.] vre lord God for vre sake þe deþ to him he dude take— ho mihte þerfore more loue haue þen he þat dyed vs to saue?

God com bodily anon [ 115] ffor his enemys euerichon, And for his frendes also com he Gostliche, as we here may se: he come here in fleschly wede þe fend to beo-gyle in dede, [ 120] And bodiliche wiþ him he fauht whon he was on þe Roode strauht, And þus he com for þat enemy And ouercom him, sikerly. ffor his frendus also he com, [ 125] he þat is verrei God and Mon, þe Godhede in þe Monhede schut— Euer þei weore to-gedere knut; Beo miht of his Godhede þus he com and wente to helle for vs, [ 130] And so he saued out of beendes þat weoren and ben his folle frendes. Jhesus seide wiþ-oute distauns 'I calle ow not heore seruauns, ffor þe seruaunt, hit is soþ, [ 135] Not not what þe lord doþ; Ȝou I calle my frendes her, ffor alle þinges feor and ner þat I herde of my ffader stille, I maad hit knowen to ȝoure wille.' [ 140] what beo þo þinges sete þat he herde of his fadur meete? To his seruauns he made a-rowe ffolli þen forte beo knowe þe Joyes of eorþli Charite, [ 145] Euer wiþ hem to dwelle and be; And bi þis wey of gret noblay he maad hem heuenly frendes ay. Godus children of his asise, þat chasten heore flesch on þis wyse, [ 150] þei strengþen þenne heor spirit god And dispisen þen þe deuel so wood; In vertuwes þei schyne also þat eorþly þinges put hem fro; þe cuntre of euerlastynge [ 155] Beo þat wey þei ben techynge. And whon þei here dyen þus ffrom alle worldly delytus, Bi grace of þat diyng euene Soone þei come to hiȝe heuene. [ 160] Crist seide, as I ow telle, fforþur þenne in þis gospelle 'Ȝe naue not I-chosen me, Bote I haue chosen ow ful fre, And I haue put ow to delyt [ 165] To go and bringe forþ fruit': þat is to sei in þis place: I haue ou plaunted and put to grace ffruit of good werk forþ to bringe In willyng and in worchynge. [ 170] Al þat euere we here trauayle worldly, may vs not avayle, vnneþe hit is I-nouh, to say, Til tyme of vr endyng-day. Deþ þenne sodeynly comynge [ 175] þe fruit of worldly doynge Sodeynly, þat trauayl al, he struiȝeþ and makeþ vs from hit fal; Al þat we don for eorþly lyf, Aftur deþ comeþ to rikenyng ryf. [ 180] þerfore, whil we haue respyt, Beo we bisy aboute such fruit þat Deþ may not wiþ his pley, whon he comeþ, do hit awey.— 'What-so ȝe aske my fadur nou, [ 185] In my name he schal ȝiue ow.' Mony askynges þer ben, certeyn, þat ben not fully to vr geyn. Mony comen to churche prest, kneolen and knocken on heore brest And maken also heore preyer þore And wepen þerto wondur sore, But good hit weore for mony þinges þei weore a-vised of heore askynges; Ȝif þei þer eorþli Joyes craue, [ 195] weolþe and wynnyng forte haue, þen seke þei not god so bolde In Godus hous forte holde. Ȝif we þerfore come to þe place þer as grouweþ gostly grace, [ 200] Euer-lastynge lyf þen seche we, þat is god in trinite. Summe asken in heore preyere A feir wyf to haue hem nere, Oþur to aske þei ben ful boun [ 205] To beo lord of Tour and toun, Summe asken for eny þing To haue worschipful cloþing, Summe also aske con To beo worschupet of mony mon. [ 210] But furst to vche mon rede I To asken Godus kingdam hiȝ, And þat we may in eueri stude worchen as he wolde we dude; And for vr bodi aske we may [ 215] Euenliche sustenaunce, to say. And ȝif we aske forsoþe þus, Bi grace hit schal beo ȝeuen to vs; ffor hose is godus seruaunt dere, him schal neuere faile nout here, [ 220] And siker he may beo atte ende To his blisse forte wende. he vs graunte þat ilke way, þat for vs diȝede a goode fryday.

Amen.

Venit Jhesus in partes Cesaree ph(ilipp)i.

Jussit Jhesus discipulos suos ascen∣dere (Math. 14, 22-33).

Jhesu, vppon a tyme he bad his disciplus, as þei weore stad, Go vp a luytel schip into, ffrom þat tempest (!) to passe so, whil he lafte (þat) pepul strong [ 5] whuche he was þer among. Soone he lafte þe folk þer stille And wente him-self vp to an hulle; To preye, þider was he gon. Euen com, he was þer al-on. [ 10] þat luitel schip a-middes was Of þat séé in þat cas, þe schip was hogely I-þrowe wiþ grete flodus heiȝe and lowe: fforsoþe, þe wynd was risen heiȝ, [ 15] Contrarie to al þe cumpany. þe ffeorþe vre of þat niht Jhesu com to hem ful riht, wondurliche to hem com he: Goinge abouen vppon þe se. [ 20] whon þei him seiȝe wiþ-oute lesynge So vppon þe séé goynge, Aferd þei weore, sikerli, And seiden hit nas but fantasi. And for puire fere and drede [ 25] Alle þei criede anon god spede. Jhesu com, hem to saue, And seide: "feiþ loke ȝe haue: I hit am, witeþ hit wel, þerfore doute ȝe neuer a del." [ 30] Petur onswerde sone anon, þus to seiȝe he bigon: "Mi lord god, ȝif þou beo he, Let me come on þeos watres to þe." Jhesu seide in þat stede: [ 35] "Cum on nou, as þou hast bede. Petur of þat schip went doun And eode vppon þe watres broun; ffor to go was his entent To Jhesu, þer he was present. [ 40] he sayh þe wynt hoge anon, ffor fere he miht no forþur gon: whon he bigon forte droune, he cried wiþ a loud soune: "Lor", he seide, "mak me saf". [ 45] And Jhesus sone his hond him ȝaf And vp anon he him tok, As witnesseþ holy Bok. "Whi", he seide, "artou in doute, Luitel of ffeiþ al aboute?" [ 50] Whon Jhesus wente, as was his wille, vp in to þat schip ful stille, Anon sesed þat hoge wynde And com aȝeyn in to his kynde. þei þat in þe schip were, [ 55] Come and worschiped him in-fere, Seiȝinge al wiþ o cri: "þou art godus sone on hiȝ." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As Mon in Englisch tonge mai tel. [ 60]

Crist, þat euere is so hende, In to þe schip he made hem wende, whil he laft þat pepul al, þat wiþ him was, gret and smal, And went vp so In to þe hulle [ 65] ffor to preye al his fulle. þe goode gospeller Jon Declareþ openly her anon: Jhesus alle þing wel kneuh Of his owne grete vertu: [ 70] whon he þat Noumbur of pepul hedde I-fed wel and ful wiþ so luytel biginnyng, To hem hit was a gret wondring; þei come, and chese him þei wolde [ 75] ffor to beo heore kyng bolde: And he from þat profre fleyh, And so in to þe hul he steih. here ensaumple may we take worldly worschupe to forsake. [ 80] whil crist in þat hul abod, þe schip a-midde þe séé rod, þe wynt wox þo contrarious, þe séé aros anon ful crous; þo þat in þe schip were, [ 85] In poynt were to perissche in-fere. So longe as þei Jhesu hedde left, So longe laste þe tempest, As heore schip (wolde) to-breke And neuer a pece wiþ oþur steke. [ 90] þis is to mene, as we rede, þe trauayl of þe disciples dede. þe Rouwyng in Contrariusnesse Of þeose wyndes more and lesse Bitokneþ diuers trauayle [ 95] Of holi churche, wiþ-outen fayle, whuche þat þe Apostles goode hedden among þe worldus flode. Ofte þei wente þe blastes among Of vnclene spiritus, ful of wrong; [ 100] Bisiliche þei trauaylede heer men to bringe to heuene cler [102 Ms. hem st. men.] And to þe feiþ hem to redresse Of euer-lastynge rihtwysnesse.

whuche feiþ and brennyng loue [ 105] Petur hedde to god aboue. he wende wel þat ilke niht Bi kynde þat he do miht, whon he seide 'lord, let me On þeos watres come to þe; [ 110] And þou hit bidde, hit is no les, Sone schal þeos watres sees, Or elles þe bodi schal beo liht To come at þi wille ful riht,— ffor flesch of his owne kynde [ 115] Is heui and doneward, as we fynde. whon peter wente doun anon vppon þe watres forte gon, Anon as he to synke bigon, he cried 'saue me, god and mon'. [ 120] Brennyng loue and feiþ also Maad him þenne saf to go; But Monnes owne frelete Maad him synke, as I sey þe, Luttul and luttel, petur, ofte; [ 125] þus was he asayed softe. To such asayes put he was fforte encrese his feiþ in plas, And for he schulde not vndurstonde þat he was saaf I-brouȝt to londe [ 130] Beo wei of his liht preyere, Ne for his bolde asay heere, Bote bi þe grete pouwer so good Of godus merci, þer he stod; Nedde crist to him I-take kepe, [ 135] he hedde drenched In þe depe. þenne hedde he not, soþ (to) telle, Nedde crist ben, ascaped helle. wondur also was hit nouht, whon crist in to þat schip was brouht, [ 140] þen þe wynt wox al stille, ffor hit was at his owne wille. ffor in to what herte in place þat he entreþ of his grace, Alle vices for to mene [ 145] And aduersites vnclene, wikked blastes þat forþ strikeþ he struyȝeþ and secheþ, as him lykeþ. [148 l. schedeþ.] his Mekenes Is wyde streuwed, In vche pouwer of him schewed. [ 150] heo þat in þe schip þo were, Coome and worschiped god ful dere, Siggyng alle wiþ o Cri 'þou art Godus sone on hiȝ'. þei wuste wel þat no mon [ 155] Mihte do þis dedes þon, But ȝif hit weore, wiþ-outen drede, þat in him weore þe godhede. So be þe biseching dresset Of þe holy Apostles blesset, Petur, Poul, vr help þei be þat we to heuene fynde entre, To þe Joyes bi alle weies wherof heore tonges ben made keies.

Simile est regnum celorum the∣sauro ab(scondito) (Math. 13, 44-52).

Jhesu crist, to whom we calle, Seide to his disciples alle: "heuene-kyngdam", he seide, "is liche To tresur hud In feld riche: And a Mon com ouer þat lond [ 5] And þat ilke tresur fond; he hit helede harde so, No mon wolde he telle hit to; he wente forþ in þat stounde, ffor Joye þat he hedde hit founde, Al þat he hedde sone he solde And bouȝte þat feld, for to holde. heuene-kyngdom also lyk is To a caffaryng mon, I-wis, Goinge aboute for þe nones [ 15] To seche goode Margari-stones. And as he wente aboute anon, he fond a precious Margari-ston; he wente and solde al þat he hadd, And bouȝte þat ston wiþ wille glad. [ 20] heuene-kyngdom is lyk ȝut To a Net in séé I-put, þat of alle ffissches kuynde Gedereþ in to him muche muynde. Whon hit is fuld of þat þing, [ 25] Men anon hit vp drawyng, þei sittinge on þe banke sone Of þe séé, as is to done, þe goode ffissches chese þei þere In to heor vessel, forþ to bere, [ 30] þe wikked þei lete not wiþ hem rest, Bote anon þei hem out kest. Riht so schal hit wende whon þe world comeþ to ende: Aungeles schul go out þikke, [ 35] To parte þe goode from þe wikke, And þe wikke sende þei schalle To endeles fuir, on and alle; þer as schal beo euer wepynge, And of Teeþ Grisbatynge. [ 40] vndurstonde ȝe al þis?" "Ȝe", þei seiden, "kyng of blis". To hem he seide wiþ-outen dere: "vche wys techere

In heuene-kyngdom, to vndurstonde, Is lyk a good hosebonde, þat bringeþ forþ of his tresour Old and newe wiþ gret honour." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 50]

DEre breþeren, of Renoun As ȝe han herd in þis lessoun þe heȝe kyngdom of heuene Beo liknet to eorþly þing euene, ffor as muche hit is to schowe [ 55] As beo þe þinges þat we knowe To knowleching we schul be brouȝt Of þinges þat we knowe nouȝt. þeos ensaumples haue we strong, Bi þinges þat ben here among, [ 60] ffor we scholde ha good knowleche To þinges abouen vs forte reche. ffor founden sone hit was and kud þis ilke tresur þat was hud. þis same tresour founde [ 65] þat so was hud in þe grounde, Is monnes good liuynge al; ffrom þe fend he huide hit schal. And hou þat he schal hit huyde, I wol ȝou telle in þis tyde. [ 70] he moste hit huyde in alle þing ffrom eorþly monnes preisyng, Leste he heere take his mede And so leose al his good dede. ffor in þis lyf þat nou is, [ 75] we þat go touward heuene-blis Aren as we weoren In a wey In wȝuche ben, soþ to sey, wikked spiritus, ful of Envye, As þeues liggen in a wey to spye, [ 80] Desyring euere, soþ to sey, To let vs of vr goode Jurney. þerfore is good þat alle we ffrom Monnes preisyng kept be, Leste þat preysyng bringe in pride, [ 85] To put vs vr goode wei bi-side. Ȝif þow of þi good dede boost, þi Mede is luitel, wel þow wost. þe goode Clerk seint Gregori Seiþ þis word ful openli: [ 90] 'þat mon þat bereþ In eueri stour Openly in þe wey his tresour, he desireþ of þeues in plas To beo Robbed of þat purchas.' þerfore, breþeren, good hit is [ 95] þat we worche so, I-wis, þat vr good entencion dwelle Euere in priuite to telle. But ȝit ensaumples schal we ȝiue To vr neiȝebors, whil we lyue, [ 100] In alle-maner werkes goode þat may beo þe soules fode— But loke þat we not disire worldlich preisyng fro vr huyre. þe feld in wȝuche þis tresur briȝt [ 105] Is hud, as we radde nou riht, hit is þe techinges more and les Euer of heuenlich bisines; wȝuche þyng a Mon bouȝte to holde, And al his good þefore solde. [ 110] þis Mon is he þat wolde forsake þe lustes and þe likynges blake Of his fleschliche desires heer, Defoulyng hem bi his pouwer, And wole bi good kepynge þe roote [ 115] holde hem euere vndur foote, And vndurstonde wol euer-more And rule hem aftur gostly lore. And he þat sulleþ his goodes vchone To buiȝe þerwiþ þis precious stone, þat is he þat haþ take And wole for godus loue forsake Alle-Maner eorþli þing þat he hedde to gret louyng, And oþur likyng nul non haue [ 125] But in him þat may him saue. he sulleþ his þing for þe best, To bugge þat precious ston honest, A Mariari-ston buïþ he þat vseþ þe werkes of charite. [ 130] wiþ Charite is good to go, And wiþ Chastite also; ffor hose vsuþ þeose tweyn, he schyneþ tofore god, certeyn. Bi þis ston may we þus come [ 135] Euer-more wiþ crist to wone. In þat blisse, briht schynynge, Jhesu lord vs þider bringe.

Amen.

Rogabat Jhesum quidam phareseus (Luc. 7, 36-50). [V. 23-100 ist identisch mit v. 1-76 der ersten Evangeliengeschichte dessel∣ben Ms. (ediert im Archiv 1877, p. 241), wo indessen die nördlichen Spuren we∣niger verwischt sind.]

WOrldus weole Made Marie wede, whil heo was child in hire feirhede; heo caste hire Maidenhed awei, whon heo ȝaf hire to synful play. Ofte makeþ þis worldus wynne [ 5] þeos feire wymmen falle in synne! heo liued longe In lecheri, Ar crist hedde of hire merci; he com gostly to hire herte And mad hire torne to good querte: [ 10] heo þouȝte heo hedde heuene tynt, And sone of synne þo gon heo stint, heo rewed of hire synnes ful sore And ofte hedde care more and more. Non þat hereþ speke of Mari, [ 15] Ne thar haue wonhope of godus merci. ffor þeiȝ a mon do muche synne, And he wole þerof blynne, God of heuene is euer redi To haue of him ful good merci. [ 20] þat was seene on Maudelayn, þat mony synful makeþ fayn.— Seint Luc, þe gode gospeller, Telleþ vs on what maner þat þis ilke sunful Mari [ 25] hedde forȝiuenes and Merci. he seiþ þat in þat ilke toun woned a Mon þat hette Symoun, þer Marie woned whon þat ho hedde wille penance to do. [ 30] þulke Symound was Mesele; But crist hedde ȝiuen him his hele. he hedde I-nouh wher-of to liue And almus to þe pore to ȝiue. he preyed crist, as auntur felle, [ 35] wiþ him to þe mete to dwelle; And crist, þat seknes from him hed kest, Com and eet wiþ him as gest. Soone whon Mari herde say þat crist schulde dwelle to mete þat dai, [ 40] heo com þer as crist was set. wiþ wordus feire heo him gret, wiþ teres þer heo wosch his feet þat heo of hire eȝen leet, heo wept hem aftur wiþ hire hare, [ 45] And custe hem ofte wiþ swete fare; heo anoynt hem wiþ an oynement, þat alle feled swetnesse þer present. þat oynement i-bouht heo hadde To anoynte hire bodi badde, [ 50] To make swote smelle hire bodi, while heo vsede hire foli. þis Symound þat i spac of ere, Biheold þis wommons loueli here: he þouȝte, for crist was pro∣phete, [ 55] heo scholde not ha touched his feete, And als, him þouȝte, wite þat ho weore vnworþi þat dede to do: ffor synne mad hire vnworþi To touche him þat was holi. [ 60] And as Symound þouȝte þis, Crist wuste what he þouȝte, i-wis,

And seide: "Symound, tak hede to me, I haue sum þing to speke to þe." Symound onswerde and seide him tille: [ 65] "Sei on, Mayster, what is þi wille." Crist him seide a saumple þon, And seide: "hit was a Riche mon, þis Riche mon hedde dettours two þat ouȝten to him moneye þo: [ 70] On ouȝte to him fifti penys, Anoþur an hundred or þe prys. Nouþur of þo men, soþ to say, hedde peny to make wiþ his pay: he hem forȝaf heore dettes boþe, [ 75] wiþ-outen stresse or eny loþe. wheþur of þeos two in plas Most holden to him was?" Symound onswerde crist ful sone, As him þhouȝte hit was to done, [ 80] And seide: "to whom he most for∣ȝaue, Most loue schulde to him haue." Crist seide anon: "þow demest riht. þus fareþ þe dette of synful wiht. I com hidere as vncouþ mon: [ 85] watur to my feet ȝaf þou non; þis wommon haþ wass chen my feet wiþ salte teres þat heo leet, heo haþ maad hire heo bare And wyped my ffeet wiþ hire hare. [ 90] Cos ȝaf þou me non heer-Inne: To cusse my ffeet con heo not blynne. . . . hire synne forȝiuen is and away, ffor muche loue þat heo haþ don to-day. þe lasse þat mon loueþ me, [ 95] þe lasse synne may forȝiuen be. But for hire loue is to me lele, I forȝiue hire synnes fele." God seide: "go, wommon, in pes, ffor al þi synne forȝiuen is." [ 100] þis is þe strengþe of vr gospel, As Mon in englisch [tonge may tel].

Whon we þenken, soþ to seyn, Of þis synful Maudeleyn And on þe wepyng þat heo tok [ 105] whon þat heo hir synnes forsok, More likyng may we haue to wepe þen eny oþur murþe to kepe. þis wommon, ar heo lafte hire synne, fful vnwrast heo was wiþ-Inne, [ 110] heo nolde no good techyng tast, But wrouhte hir owne wille in wast. Til a tyme þat fel in quert, þat Jhesu com in to hire hert. To precen in heo not let [ 115] þer þei weore to mete iset. ffurst heo offred to god on heih Teres, wepyng ful bitterli, And al for hire synne hit was— þus bi-gon heo in þat plas, [ 120] AMong þe gestes þat þer seete heo lette not for schome to wepe. þat ilke same Marie hit is Of whom Mark bereþ witnis þat seue deuelen at þe last [ 125] weore from hire out cast. Marie seue deuelen hadde, wiþ alle vices heo was ladde. But whon þis wommon bihuld þe place of fulþe in hire ibuld, [ 130] heo Ron, soþly for to telle, Of Merci to þat holy welle, þer to wasshe hire al at ene And fulliche to make hire clene. To vr lord heo brouhte þo [ 135] An Oynement ful swete also, fforte abate þe foule stynk Of hire fflessches lykyng. wiþ þe Oynement so neuȝ heo anoynt þe feet of Jhesu; [ 140] heo bigon lowe in kynde, ffor heo wolde heiȝe clymbe. ffor heo hedde ek coueyted vnriht Of worldly þing wiþ eȝen siht, hire eȝen þer heo dude despise [ 145] wiþ gret wepyng in alle wyse. And for heo hedde also beo proud And of hire hed wondur stout, wiþ þat her heo wipte wiþ wille þe teres þat on his feet dude trille. [ 150] ffor heo hedde I-spoken als wiþ hire mouþ muche and fals, And þat Mouþ assent to mene To cussynges lechours vnclene, wiþ þat Mouþ stunt heo nouht, [ 155] Cristes feet to cusse heo souht. wiþ alle hire lymes herbifore þat hedden synne I-vsed ȝore, heo hem torned in þis cas To Godus seruyse bi his gras, [ 160] wȝuche bifore by foul haunt To synne weore ful seruaunt. þis synful wommon furst vnsleih, God forȝaf hire sikerly! And seide to hire on þis manere [ 165] As ȝe schul aftur here; Of mony synnes heo was releset, And for heo god loued muchel and plesed,

And for heo schulde nomore do so, he seide: "wommon, in pes þou go." þerfore, breþeren, beo we bolde Penaunce forte take and holde; Beo we not þerto febul þan, Take we ensaumple at þis womman: þenne touche we sone to þe feet [ 175] Of vre sauiour so sweet. Boldly penaunce is þe Roote [177 l. bodily.] Of forȝiuenes, þe beste bote. þe same fflesch þat dude þe synne, Penaunce in hit we moste bigynne— ffor þat is beter mony-fold þen hit to bugge wiþ seluer and gold. ffurst we moste bigynne þus: Serwe for synne take wiþ vs. þat may ȝe lerne wiþ-oute fable [ 185] Bi a Beest vnresonable:

Of a best þat is like a man in visage.

IN Bok a best we fynde con þat haþ a face as a Mon. whon hit hungreþ, forþ he geþ, ffint a Mon and him he sleþ, [ 190] he fedeþ him on þat bodi And goþ to drinke to watur neih. whon he comeþ to þat place And in þat watur seoþ his face, þen he biþenkeþ him vnfayn [ 195] þat he his liknesse haþ slayn; Such serwe to him he takeþ, his lyf sone he forsakeþ. þis is aȝeyn þeos wymmen þat ouerliggen heor children þen, [ 200] ffor þei slen þer bi distresse þat is heore owne liknesse. But þei amende hem ar þei go, [203 þei st. men?] Godus liknesse þey slen also, þat is þis, to biginne, [ 205] fforsoþe her oune soule wiþ-Inne. his soule he sleþ in his dede whil he his flesch wiþ synne wol fede. At þis Beest wiþ-oute resoun Take ensaumple alle we moun [ 210] Serwe to vr-self to take And for vr synnes amendes make. hou we schulle þat dede don, I wol ȝou telle feire and son. Penaunce is a salue sleih [ 215] To hele synne þat is dedly. Penaunce do hit hose wol, he schal hit fynde nedful; Ȝif he trewely þerin wende, hit is spedful at þe ende; [ 220] To don hit is a noble dede, we schul fynde hit ful of mede. Neodful þenne to vs hit is And to almonkynde, I-wis: ffor ouþur schul we don hit here, [ 225] Or aftur we ben ileid on bere; Neede reherseþ in þis caas þat we may not from hit pas. Betur weor here ȝeres tweyn þen þer a day, soþ to seyn; [ 230] ffor þat a mon schal þer fulfille, hit is muche aȝeynes his wille; So muche þonk naþ not he As þat he doþ of wille fre.

Off mirre-tre þat ȝiueþ two-maner gummes.

A Maner tre, forsoþe, we fynde [ 235] þat Mirre ȝiueþ be wei of kynde; Two Maner of Mirres from him goþ: On wiþ loue, anoþur wiþ loþ; þe ton is taken out bi craft, And þe toþur freoly laft. [ 240] But þat þat so geten may beo Bi fre wille out of þe treo, hit is þe beter, beo ȝe bold, And more of miht an hundred-fold. So is þat penaunce, forsoþe, [ 245] þat mon of his freo wille doþ.

hou a brid wan he fleth maket a cros.

A foul þat vp his fliȝt schal take, ffurst a cros he mot make; whon he in þat ilke tyde his whinges casteþ on eiþer syde, [ 250] þen lok his hed and to his tayl: And of a cros þou maiȝt not fayl. ȝif we þerfore wole vp flyȝe, To cros of penaunce mote we hiȝe. ffor ȝif þou scholdes a burþen bere [ 255] þat heui weore þe to dere, wher were hit betur þi-self hit do Or haue a felawe to helpe to? þis ilke burþun penaunce, i-wis, To bere hit þus, my red hit is, [ 260] whil þi bodi, þat is his fere, In eorþe is wiþ þi soule here; ffor beter may ȝe bere hit so þen on bi him-self to go. ffor o day in eorþe here [ 265] Releseþ In purgatorie a ȝere; þis forsoþe þe skil mot beo: ffor hit comeþ of wille freo.

A man haþ [Ms. had.] two-maner londes to ferme.

Two maner of londes breme vche mon haþ her to ȝeme: [ 270] To terme of ȝeres þe ton to seyn, But þei ben in noun-certeyn; þe toþur is of beter store, hit is ffee for euer-more. [274 Ms. in st. is.] ȝif we wiþ muche cost gouerne [ 275] þat lond þat we haue to ferme, whon vs best lykeþ þer to play hit schal beo take from vs away. þerfore is betur þat we spende þe gode tresour þat god vs sende, [ 280] To tile nobliche þat lond þat neuer schal out of vre hond; þen whon þe ferme-lond is take, þer we may vs muri make. þeos londes þat I here of mene, [ 285] Bodi and soule þei ben atene. þi bodi is terme of ȝeres so, þou nost what tyme hit to forgo. Lei not þeron to muche trauayle, ffor hit wol þenne at neode fayle; [ 290] But lei þi cost and þi kepyng vppon þi soule, þat heiȝe þing: ffor hit schal neuer-more dye, weole or wo wheþer hit drie. Sette and sowe þer-in Inowe [ 295] Penaunce and gode vertuwes to growe.— þus may we seo bi word and dede þat penaunce moste beo don neede. Spedful als hit is anon: To heuene hit makeþ men sone to gon, [ 300] To þat blisse þat is so hiȝe, In þe twynklynk of an eiȝe. Medful also þenne hit is: hit makeþ a Mon to wone in blis; þat schal he haue wiþ-oute distaunce Euere, for he dude penaunce.— vre penaunce þen moste we do hastily, and lastyngly also.

Off a fisch þat euere slepeth.

ÞEr is a ffisch, wiþ-oute lesynge, þat in þe see is walkynge, [ 310] Euere he slumbreþ and eke slepeþ, Bote whonne he to his mete kepeþ; whon he is so in slep þrowe, A Mon may vnneþes knowe wheþer he lyueþ eny-þing, [ 315] But bi a luytel meuyng. Comeþ þe ffisschere wiþ his net And abouten him he set, þen is he taken so vnfayn, And so in sleuþe is he slayn. [ 320] þe ffisch is he þat nul not hiȝe To do penaunce hastilye, But liþ slepynge in þe séé, þat worldus catel cald may be. þe more þerof a Mon drinke, [ 325] þe sarre afurst him schal þinke; vnneþe in him is eny lyue, Touward heuene him to driue, Not ones par auntur in þe wike A pater noster to biseke. [ 330] Comeþ þe deuel atte laste And caccheþ him in his net faste, þer he sleþ him, soþ to telle, ffor he makeþ him go to helle. To do penaunce hit is ful late [ 335] whon þe deþ is at þe ȝate. þerfore penaunce moste ben hastely don, as we mouwe sen.— Lastingly, hose wol be meke, he moste do his penaunce eke. [ 340] ffor þeih þe ffend venymous, þat euere haþ Envye to vs, Makeþ vs vr penaunce to berste, As ofte doþ he for þe worste, Schriue we vs wiþ good wille [ 345] And take we hit aȝeyn vs tille; þouȝ hit beo bitter to vr flesch, To vr soule hit is ful nesch. Moyses caste his ȝerde him fro, In to a Neddre hit wox þo; [ 350] vr lord bad him for his geyn Take hit bi þe tayl aȝeyn: Aȝeyn he tok hit bi þe ende And in to a ȝerde dude hit wende. ȝif we vr penaunce take so, [ 355] To heuene hit wole make vs go. þenne is þis good ordinaunce Lastyngly to do penaunce; And þat we moste do freoly, Bi þe Mirre-treo ȝou told I. [ 360] Bi vr bodi set we no-þing, Bute vr soule to blisse to bring. Ensaumple þerof may we take And bi a wylde brid hit make.

On ensample of a bryd in a cage.

A Brid In to a Cage cauht, [ 365] þer-In he liueþ ful vnsauht, he rewardeþ mete ne drynke Nor on song wol he þenke, But lokeþ euer niht and day hou he mihte skape away, [ 370]

To his kuynde wolde he pas þat he furst fro taken was; At eueri hole of þat Cage he a-wayteþ to has passage. So schulde we here bi riht [ 375] Awayte euer day and niht hou we mihte out breke Of þis world we ben in steke, And comen to vre kuynde aȝeyn, þat is paradys, certeyn. [ 380] hose wol do þus, sone he comeþ To þat blisse þer Maudeleyn woneþ. he vs sende þat ilke grace þat brouȝt hire to heuene-place.

Amen.

Accessit ad Jhesum mater filiorum Ȝebedei (Math. 20, 20-23).

Vppon a tyme as Jhesu went, To him a wommon com present, þe Modur heo was, as I sei þe, Of þe sones of Ȝebede; Gret worschipe to him heo dude [ 5] And asked him sumwhat in þat stude. Jhesu asked hire what heo wolde. And heo anon to him tolde: "Graunte me þat my children tweyn Mou sitten as I schal now seyn: [ 10] [10 l. mon.] þe ton on þi Riht half to byde, þe toþur on þi luft syde, In þi kyngdom þer þou schalt leende Euer-more wiþ-outen ende." Jhesu onswerde wiþ wille fre: [ 15] "what ȝe aske wite not ȝe." he seide to þe children wys: "May ȝe drinke of þat chalys þat i schal drinke herafturward? Loke hit beo not to ȝou to hard!" [ 20] þei onswerde wiþ-outen nay: "Ȝe, lord," þei seide, "do hit we may." vr lord seide to hem þan: "hose of my chalys drynke can [24 ff. setzen einen ver∣derbten lat. Text voraus.] And trewely wole þat drynke abyde, Sitte he schal on my riht syde; Bote to me hit is no-þing To graunte þis oþur askyng, On my luft syde for to sit— þat askyng nis not al bi wit; [ 30] Non oþur þerto schal come Bote þeose men alle and some þat my ffadur haþ to demeyned And also for hem hit ordeyned." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, [ 35] As Mon in Englisch mai ow tel.

Þis wommon þat þus com þore, was Modur of Jon and Jamus þe more; Sones þei weore, wiþ-outen stryf, Of Ȝebede, and heo þe wyf. [ 40] þis wommon here asked and chees To haue worldli worþines, To hire children heo wolde hit haue, þerfore þus heo dude hit craue. þer as vr lord hem asked riht [ 45] wher þei of his chalis drinke miht, þat was þe deþ þat he schulde take Only for Monkuynde sake. Anon þei hit graunted wel And seide ȝe of eueridel: [ 50] þis was to seye, sikerlye, Riht as crist for mon schulde dye, þe deþ þei schulde take grym ffor þe knowleching of him. ffor Jhesu hedde biforen seid [ 55] þat he schulde to deþ beo leid And þe þridde day arise And Regne þenne as heiȝ Justise: þis wommon wende and hedde trist þat aftur his holy vprist [ 60] he schulde ha ben a bodily kyng her on eorþe regnyng And deled worldly godus in pres To hem þat he toforen ches; þus bi worldly Couetyse [ 65] heo was stured in þis wyse. Jhesu seide to hem 'dere, Ȝe witen not what ȝe asken here.' þe Modur of þeos children two þus asked þis þyng þo, [ 70] Ȝit nolde crist hire not blame, Bote þo children þer bi name, ffor bi pouwer of his godhede he vndurstode, haue we no drede, þe þing þat heo hedde asked þan [ 75] Of hire children furst hit cam.— Bi þis wordus heer-bifore Crist scheweþ of soffring sore, þat a mon soffre mote Mony diseses for his bote [ 80] In þis world whil he wol byde, ȝif he wol sitte on his riht syde. Jamus soffring nas not bihynde, As þis day makeþ mynde; he dronk of godus chalys clere— [ 85] þerof beo we out of were; As we rede In his legende may, he was byhedet, hit nis not nay;

Such was þenne his suffringe Bi ffals heroudes biddynge. [ 90] Bote of his goode broþur Jon So fel hit not sone anon; Of his lyf was mad non ende Bi Martirdom, whon he schulde wende. But of þe chalys he dronk a fit [ 95] whon he in to þe tonne was pit fful of wellyng oyle sad, As þe luþur Domician bad; And also in a-noþur plas: Bifore Aristodum he was [ 100] And þer he dronk wiþ wille grym Bitter Atter and eke venym— But forsoþe hit greued him nouȝt, Bi Crist awey hit was I-brouȝt; Also he was to scourgyng sende, [ 105] As witnesseþ his legende.— [106 Ms. þis.] herbi may we wel seo þat heuene-kyngdom mai not beo Onliche ȝiuen bote to hom þat muche serwe suffren hem on; [ 110] As hos seiþ, such as ȝe are To heuene-kyngdom ȝe may not fare, Bote suche as ȝe ben schal To heuene may ȝe come wiþ-al. þer as he seide 'myn hit nis [ 115] To graunten ȝow askyng þis', þat was to mene, soþ to say, whil þei in pruide and heiȝnesse lay. þerfore is good þat we seke Euermore to beo meke, [ 120] And so may we come euene To þe heiȝe blisse of heuene. But hose wol haue þat ilke blis, he mot him chaunge from þat he is— I þe telle, leoue broþur, [ 125] hit is elles ordeynd to oþur. Beo we 'oþur' al at ene, And þen is hit to vs to mene. Bote what is þis for to say Beo þe oþur, I ow pray? [ 130] Ȝe þat wole on hiȝ flyȝe, Make ȝou here louhlye. A ffoul whon he takeþ his fliht, he loweþ him forte make him liht. þe lower þat mon her beo, [ 135] þe herre to heuene schal he fleo. þerfore liht we vs make, þat we may þat wey take; Clanse we vs of vre synne, Let not heuines ben vs wiþ-Inne: [ 140] þen may we safly wende To þe Joye wiþ-outen ende. þider mote he vs bringe þat maade of nouȝt alle þinge.

Amen.

Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terra.

Intrauit Jhesus in quoddam Ca∣stellum (Luc. 10, 38-42).

Seint luc, þat holi mon, Telleþ vs here, as he wel con, þat Jhesus entrede In to a Castel wiþ muche worschip feir and wel. þen was þer a wommon, [ 5] Martha was hire rihte nom: heo tok Jhesus in to hire hous wiþ semblaunt good and dilicious. And þer was Martha suster in hiȝe, whos nome was cald Marie: [ 10] þe whuche sat, as wommon meke, A-louh bifore godus feete And hedde lyking forte here þe wordus of god þat weore so dere. Martha was bisy, as was hire wone, To serue tentyfliche godus sone. As Martha stod Jhesu bifore, þis wordus seide heo to him þore: "Lord, whi not recche ȝe þat my suster nul not wiþ me [ 20] Serue to ow here in þis stede, But let me one in word and dede? Sey to hire þerfore sum-þing, Me to helpe in hiȝing." þen onsweryng vr lord gon say [ 25] To gode Martha þat ilke day: "Martha, Martha, þou art bisy And istorbed þe more in hiȝ. wherfore i sey, on is nedful,— So þat hit beo nou i wol. [ 30] Marie þe beste partye haþ chose, þat fro hire nas not do to lose." [32 Ms. for st. fro.] þis in þe Tixt of vre gospel, As Luc hit seiþ feir and wel.

ÞE goode clerk holy Beede [ 35] Expouneþ þis gospel feire in dede, And seide of Martha þis wordus þus: þat heo was wommon Religius And tok Jhesu into hire hous, hire loue to him was precious; [ 40]

heo made hire bisy and occupied, [41 Ms. hiri.] God seruede heo wel and tried. And for hire suster sat to heere Godus wordus þat weore dere; ffor heo trauayled wiþ so gret wille [ 45] And hire suster sat þer so stille, þerfore vr lord aske heo wolde whi hire suster hire helpe ne scholde. Martha þis him asked þo As domes-mon bitwenen hem bo. [ 50] God onswerde for Mari As hire avoket ful treweli. [49-50 u. 51-52 im Ms. umgesetzt.] ffor Jhesus seide in his sawe fful bisy heo was al þat dawe, whil on was neodful in þat pres; [ 55] Marie þe betur partie ches, þat nas neuere, as I þe sei, ffro hire take ne don awei. [58 Ms. for. no dom.] Nou ha we herd Marthas askyng And hou þat god onswere dude bring. [60 Ms. onswerde.] Marie was aboute þat hord To here and lerne godus word; And Martha bisi aboute eode hou heo mihte best god fede: þerfore he seide þat Marie [ 65] hedde chose þe beter partie. At þis feste þat Martha made was Marie Joyful and glade, And whon Marie, I ow bihete, hedde herd þis godus wordus swete, [70 tilge hedde.] In to hir herte heo tok hem sad And þer hem wrot and aftur rad. And whon Martha askede hire askyng, Aȝeyn þen seide not heuene-kyng 'Rys and go forþ anon [ 75] And help þi suster in þis won'. A gret swetnesse hedde Marie þon To here him speke, god and Mon, ffor hire þhouȝte hit profyt more, þen to beo aboute hire baly þore. [ 80] hir suster trauaylde bodily, And heo ful gostly, witerly; Marie was þo In alle wyse Aboute þerfore þe beter seruise. þenne seide Jhesu to Martha freo: [ 85] Aboute muche occupaciun þeiȝ þou beo, Aboute (!) on, he seide, was more nedful: þe sely soule from serwe to pul. ffor beter so a-twynne þei were, þen forte ha serued to-gedere Ifere, [ 90] he seide Marie hedde chose þe bet; þat oþur for non vuel he hit set— ffor Marthas doinge was ful good; Bote Maries þe beter, þer heo stod, ffor heo was aboute bote o þing, [ 95] And Martha monye in doing. þat o þing was soule-hele, þat Mony þinges passeþ in his dele. þerfore seide Jhesu bi þis skil 'O þing is nedful mon vntil', [ 100] Not only oþing from moni to gon, But mony godnesses to come from on. Mony þinges are þo to glade þat for vs in þis world god made; Bute verrey o þing þat is he, [ 105] On in godhede, bote persones þre, þat made heuene and erþe wiþ much wynne And alle þinges þat ben þer-Inne, And þeose and oþur þinges Made o kyng of alle kynges. [ 110] þerfore seide Jhesu in hiȝ þat o þyng was Necessari, ffor he was on, in word and dede, And of him þus hedde þei neode. þat kyng þat gracius is [ 115] Bring vs, lord, to þi blis.

Amen.

Facta est contencio inter disci∣pulos (Luc. 22, 24-30).

Vppon a tyme þer ros a strif Among þe disciplus ryf, whuche of hem schulde be sen Most Mayster forte ben. Jhesu sone to hem seide, [ 5] A feir ensaumple to hem leide: "kynges of folk fer and neer Schul take lordschipe and pouwer, And for þat pouwer and for þat fame Maistres schal beo cald her name. [ 10] But I ow warne, on and alle, So wiþ ow hit schal not falle: wȝuche of ow þat wolde beo mest, he schal beo mad as þe lest; And whuche tofore wolde beo so, [ 15] As a seruaunt he schal go. wheþer is he þat sitteþ more, Or he þat serueþ him to-fore? Nis hit not he þat sit? Ȝe may knowe bi kynde wit. [ 20] I am euere amidde ȝow As he þat serueþ for ȝor prow. And ȝe beo þo þat wiþ me dwelle In my temptaciun, to telle:

And I dispose to ȝou heere, [ 25] As my ffadur good and dere haþ disposed for me In heuene-kyndom forte be: ȝe schul ete and drynke þan On my Bord In my kyngdam, [ 30] And also ȝe schule sitte eke On þe Trones, for ȝe beo meke, Juggyng, as I sigge my-selue, Of Israel þe kuyndes twelue." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, [ 35] As Mon in Englisch tonge may tel.

ÞEose disciples, sikerly, þat striuen here aboute maystri, heor Meke Maister euer kynde Repreueþ hem not, as we fynde, [ 40] Of þat strif among hem drawe, But bi Mekenesse in sawe þe goode wei of Mekenes he bad hem folwe more and les; In Meke maner he hem tauht, [ 45] As was aboute to make hem sauht, þis mekenesse as I haue tolde, As holi churche schulde holde— Al-holy chirche is þis þing: [49 As st. Al?] þei þat ha lernd godus techyng. [ 50] Jhesu seide 'eorþly kynges Of folk ha lorschipes and preis∣ynges, And for þat Maistri and þat fame Grete þei beo calde In name; Bote so', he seide, 'schul ȝe not be [ 55] þat suwe þe techyng of me; Ȝe schule in no Maner beo glade kynges of folk to beo made, Lordschipes, Maistries forte haue And make sogettes Mon and knawe; Beo not aboute in non hast To haue preysynges þat ben wast,' But aftur ensaumple of þat kyng þat is euer-more lastyng, he bad þei schulde hem make lasse [ 65] And as seruauntes forþ to passe. 'Beoþ seruauntes', he seide, 'at al, To hem þat ȝe gouerne schal; ffor ned hit is, soþ to sen, Bi Mekenesse felawes to ben [ 70] To hem þat wel wolde certeyn Euermore hem aȝeyn. And hose makeþ eny trespas Bi loue of rihtwysnes in plas, Let charite wiþ al ȝor miht [ 75] Beo Mediatur to make hit riht. And þerfore in no maner Coueyte ȝe not so gret pouwer.' whose Coueyteþ heiȝ astate, Ofte men seon him foule abate, [ 80] ffor such astates in moni a tyde Rauisscheþ a mon in foul pride. þerfore in a place he seiþ A word þat is of gret feiþ: 'A Mayster men han þe ordeynt, [ 85] But let no pruide beo wiþ þe meynt; Beo þow euere among hem dere, As hit on of hem weore.'— Vr lord seide aftur þis, þat is heiȝe kyng of Blis: [ 90] 'wheþer is he þat sit more, Or he þat serueþ hem bifore? Nis hit not he þat sit? Ȝe may knowe bi ȝor wit. Amiddes ow euer am I [ 95] Ow to serue sikerly.'

IOn þe Ewangelist in a place Reherseþ þeos wordus of grace þat Jhesu seide as ȝe schul here, wordus of Mekenes clere: [ 100] 'Syn I haue wasschen ȝoure feet alle, As lord and Mayster principalle, Euerichon ȝe schul wasch oþur, As Broþur schulde do to Broþur.' Bi þis word forte haunt [ 105] he tauht hem alle to beo seruaunt. ffor al þat vr lord haþ born In flesch for vs þat weore lorn, Al hit was, to vndurstonde, vs to serue and bringe of bonde. [ 110] þerfore he seiþ ful swetely, þat toucheþ to þis Matere heiȝ: 'þe sone of mon com not he Only Iserued forte be, Bote he com wiþ-outen nay [ 115] To seruen vs boþe niht and day. þe sacramentes of his blod he ȝaf to vs wiþ wille good, his lyf he ȝaf, wiþ-outen lesynge, ffor mony monnes aȝeyn-Buggynge.' þerfore, as he his lyf put To make vs and his godhede knut, Ensaumple to eueri trewe broþur Schulde good wille puite for oþur.— þen seide Jhesu, as I ow telle, [ 125] fforþur-more in þis gospelle: 'ffor ȝe ha dwelled wiþ me In my temptacions to se, þerfore I ordeyne to ȝou, As my ffadur for my prou [ 130] haþ ordeynt me a kyndam, Ȝe schulle hit haue þan.'

Not for þe bigynnyng Of her goode suffring, [134 Ms. ȝor st. her.] þerfore wiþ-outen drede [ 135] Schul þei nouȝt haue þat mede, But for þe wel duryng haunted heuene-kyngdam was he(m) graunted. þis suffraunce, wiþ-outen nay, Studefastnes hit is cald ay, [ 140] Strengþe of soule wiþ-outen strif, And also strengþe of gostly lyf. Studefastnesse is þe pileer Of alle vertuwes fer and ner; þe goode werkes of resoun falle [ 145] Bote duryng soffraunce be prin∣cipalle. þerfore, breþeren, striue we In duryng soffraunce for to be; Ȝif we beo goode, wiþ-outen fayle, No turmentrie of worldus assayle, [ 150] Ne of þe fend, vr fflesch also, Schal not parte vs vre God fro. hose wel lasteþ to þe ende, he schal saaf to blisse wende. þer crist seide ful of loue [ 155] 'So as my ffadur aboue haþ ordeynt kyngdam me to, I haue ordeynt to ȝow also': þe ffadur haþ disposed to wone heuene-kyngdam to þe sone. [ 160] he him made Boxum þon To dye vppon þe cros for mon; þerfore þe ffadur wiþ-oute fayle haþ him vp rered for his trauayle, And he haþ ȝiuen him a name [ 165] Al oþur aboue in Joye and game. hose wole wiþ þe sone duire In his temptacions sure, he hem wole lede in-fere In to heuene-kyngdam clere. [ 170] Aftur þis seide vr lord, As Luc here bereþ Record: 'Ȝe schul ete and drinke þan On my Bord in my kingdam': þat Bord is euer forþ iset [ 175] To alle holy wiþ-outen let, þe goode to feede wiþ gostly grace Euer-more in heuenly place. In a-noþur place Meke Crist spekeþ of þis mete eke: [ 180] 'Blessed,' he seide, 'beo alle þo þat hungren and þursten euer-mo', þat is to sei, aftur þat Mes þat is icald Rihtwysnes, 'ffor, sikerly, þei schul beo fuld [ 185] In þat blisse abouen I-buld'. þeose beo þo þat beþ nouht wiþ temptaciun doun brouht. And þenne Jhesu seide eft-sones þat þei schulde sitte on Trones, [ 190] Juggyng þat to hem fel, þe twelue kyndes of Israel. þeos beo þo wiþ-outen strif þat trewely trauayled heere in lyf And soffred temptaciuns and wo [ 195] Of wikked pepul in world þo And weore demed wiþ-outen skil And tok heore dom wiþ good wil; wiþ vr lord schul þei þerfore In heuene dwellen euer-more. [ 200] þei schul come wiþ him also whon he to þe dom schal go, Domus-men to beo rihtwyse, hem to deme and to diuise þat in þis world dude hem schame [ 205] ffor Godus sake and his name. And for þe spyt þat þei had And tok hit mekely and glad, þer þei schul wiþ-outen weer Entre in to þe grete pouwer, [ 210] hiȝe seetes þer takyng, Euer to dwelle in lykyng. he vs graunte þer to wone þat is mon and godus sone.

Liber generacionis Jhesu Christi fili.

Nunc iudicium est mundi (Joh. 12, 31-36).

Jhesu, ful of alle vertuwes, Seide to þe pepul of þe Jewes: "Nou," he seide, "þer is a dome Of þis world, I warne ȝow sone: þe prince of þis world vnwrast [ 5] Nou he schal beo out cast. And ȝif I schal beo rered heiȝ ffrom þe eorþe, sikerly, Alle þing I schal drawe To my-self in luytel þrawe"— [ 10] þis he seide bi tokenyng what deþ he was to dyȝing. þe folk seide and onswerd: "Of þe lawe we han herd þat crist, soþli for to telle, [ 15] wiþ-outen ende euer schal dwelle: hou seistou þat þe sone of Man Moste ben vp reyset þan? who is þe sone of mon þus?" þen seide to hem Jhesus: [ 20]

"Ȝit," he seide, "bi in-siht In ȝou þer is but luyte liht. Goþ while ȝe ha liht, I rede, þat derknes take ȝou not in drede: ffor hose goþ in derknes, [ 25] he not whodur he goþ to ges. Leueþ in liht, ȝou to saue, while ȝe liht wiþ ȝou haue, þat ȝe in þis maner mai beo þe sones of liht feir and freo." [ 30] þis is þe strengþe of þis gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge may tel.

ÞE Apostel seiþ in a place: 'Mony beo þe domes of godus grace; þe domus of god may not beo þouht By Monnes wit ne forþ ibrouht.' Of whuche domes þis is þe ton þat Crist (s)pak of hem anon, [38 Ms. hem st. here.] þer he seide wordus fyne A dom was of þe world þat tyme. [ 40] But not þat In þe ende whon alle schule to doom wende, Bote a-noþur dom was þis, Of whuche ȝe schul here, I-wis. whon þe fend hedde Monkynde [ 45] þorwh Bondage of synne blynde, þorwh þe feiþ of crist, vr kyng, Bi his deþ and blood schedyng, þat was sched In forȝifnes Of vre synnes more and les, [ 50] As bi his Resurexiun Mony weore diliuered of prisun ffrom þe deueles daunger so, And coupled weore to Jhesu þo: And þis he called a doom, deore, [ 55] Of þis world þat is here. þe goode þo departed he ffrom þe wikked for to be, þe fend he put þo from his, And brouht hem sone in to his blis. [ 60] þe worldus prince, þat was stout, he seide, schulde beo cast out. þat dom, haue we no drede, hit was don þat tyme in dede. Crist aftur his passiun swete [ 65] And his Resurrexiun eke Also bi his Assenciun heiȝe, Muche pepul þat was vnsleiȝe ffor mysbileeue þat þei in lay, he brouhte in to þe rihte way; [ 70] In whos hertus longe to-fore þe fend hedde leyen harde and sore, þo Reneued þei beo graas heore bileeue, as his wille was. þe prince of þis world aboute [ 75] þus from hem was cast oute. þe worldus prince nout elles nis But cheef of alle wikkednis. In anoþur place þen þe world is cald goode men, [ 80] whuche ben aboute spred In al þe world, as hit is red; ffor þe apostel seiþ ful euene, Crist forsoþe was in heuene, þe goode world Reconseylinge [ 85] To him-self, as mihti kynge. þat world, forsoþe, is not mo But whuche þe ffend Is cast fro. fforþur-more for to wende, þen seide Jhesu hende: [ 90] 'Ȝif I schal beo rered heiȝ ffrom þe eorþe, sikerli, Alle þing I schal drawe To my-self in luitel þrawe': Alle þe goode, hit is to say, [ 95] þat han þe fend cast away; And þat he wolde hem drawe sone Aftur him as was to done, þus muche hit is to mene, As I schal telle ȝou at ene: [ 100] he was lord and hed of alle, And þeih þe Membre to him do falle. [102 l. þei.] þe reryng fro þe eorþe in plas þe passion on þe Cros hit was. þe pepul þenne seide in sawe: [ 105] 'we han herd hit in þe lawe þat crist schal euer-more dwelle wiþ-outen ende, soþ to telle: hou scholde he þenne arered beo ffrom þe eorþe for to seo,' [ 110] As hos seiþ, hou schulde he dye vppon a Cros þenne bi envye?— þeos wordus þat þei spek in wille, þei þouȝten aftur to folfille. Jhesus hem not open wolde [ 115] þe derknes of þeos wordes bolde, Priue wisdam forte helde In to hem þat weoren vnwelde; But sumwhat of heore Conciens he prikked þat tyme in presens. [ 120] þen seide to hem Jhesu of miht: 'In ȝou', he seide, 'is luytel liht:' þat was to sey, for þei hadde knowȝlechyng, but hit was badde, Of cristes dwellyng so hende, [ 125] hit to beo wiþ-outen ende, And nolden not leeuen þat þer were So muche mekenesse in hym here

To suffre deþ for vre sake On þe Cros wiþ wo and wrake. [ 130] 'Goþ', he seide, 'whil ȝe ha liht, þat ȝow ne take þe derk niht': þat was to sei in þat stounde, wordus goode of grace I-founde: 'Leeueþ as wel þe diȝinge [ 135] As ȝe do þe euer-lastynge, And also þe schedyng of my blood As myn vprisyng so good And my steiȝinge to heuene cler, As heiȝe kyng of gret pouwer; [ 140] But ȝif ȝe wolde leeue þis wiþ þe euerlastinge, I-wis, ȝe ben ouertake wiþ mis-bileeue, þat sore aftur wol ȝow greue.' þis he cald þe derknes, [ 145] ffor to helle hit wolde hem dres. 'hose in derknesse goþ so, he not whodurward to go.' Jhesu seide in þis gospel More, as he coude ful wel: [ 150] 'Leueþ in liht in ȝou, I say, whil ȝe liht haue may: þen may ȝe haue good siht And also beo þe sones of liht:' þis is to sei in þis speche: [ 155] vre goode lord dude hem teche, whil þei hedde trewe techyng, To leuen in trouþe for eny-þing: 'Bi þi(s) wei may ȝe beo sone þe sones of liht in his trone.' [ 160] he þat for vs wolde dye Bring vs vp to heuene hiȝe.

Amen.

Vidit Jhesus hominem sedentem in (Math. 9, 9-13).

AS Jhesus wide aboute went, he sai a Mon sitte present, Matheu cald was his name, In a Tol-boþe sat þe same. Jhesu seide to him soone: [ 5] "Suwe me, hit is to done." he vp ros feir and stille And suwede him wiþ god wille. In to his hous he haþ him gete, And þer þei wenten to þe mete. [ 10] Mony Publicanus þere, And oþur synners þat þer were, Come þider in gret hiȝe To sitte wiþ Jhesus, sikerlye, And wiþ his disciples also, [ 15] þat þere weore at mete þo. Sone þis Pharisens alle, þat seȝen þis cas so to falle, To þe disciples soone þei seid, As hit was in heor hertus leid: [ 20] "whi eteþ ȝor Mayster þus heere wiþ þeos Publicanus, And also he eteþ þen wiþ oþure synfole men?" Jhesu, sone þis he herde [ 25] And seide sone and hem onswerde: "þei haue no neode of leches here þat ben sounde, hol and feere; Leche-craft hem neodeþ more þat mony vueles han and sore. [ 30] Bote goþ nou and seiþ to me [31 lat. Euntes autem discite quid sit.] what þis questiun may bee: I wole merci on alle wyse, And not only sacrifise. I com not þe rihtwys to calle, [ 35] But synners to her penaunces alle." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge mai tel.

DEre breþeren, vre lord þat calde Matheu bi record, [ 40] he tauht him folliche wiþ-Inne Of gostly sturyng to bigynne; he put into his soule place þe liht of his gostly grace, ffor he vndurstonde scholde, [ 45] he þat hym so clepe wolde ffrom alle worldlich wynnynges, Miht him ȝiue wiþoute lesynges I-nouh of heuenlich tresour, þat neuer roteþ for no schour. [ 50] þis ilke Matheu ros anon To suwe Jhesu forte gon: þus muche hit is to say, he forsok þat same day Alle passyng þing vnable, [ 55] þat to him was disseyuable, ffor þei hedde to him muche nyud whil he hem vsud and occupyud; he hem tok to folwe faste [59 l. him?] þynges þat euermore wolde laste, [ 60] To whuche þinges soþfastnesse, þat is crist him-self expresse, Bi his holy grace him drouh And mad him studefast Inouh. þis Publicanes goode turnyng [ 65] þat so was tornd to heuene-kyng, Ȝif to publicanes hit schalle And to oþur synners alle Ensaumple, for to take penaunce And haue forȝiuenesse bi þis chaunse.

þis Matheu stured was so hard, þat he tok no reward To þis world þat is so badde, Ne to no catel þat he hadde. Matheu in his hous honeste [ 75] Made vr lord a gret feste, As luyc, þe goode gospellere, Telleþ in his gospel here. hose Resseyueþ Crist, seiþ he, In to his soule bi grace to be, [ 80] he is fed Plentyuouse wiþ likynges most in his house. þat Publicanus and synful men Come and eten þer wiþ hem, And oþur men þat hit seiȝe [ 85] hedden þerto gret Envye: þei knewe Matheu wiþouten strif Muche amendet of his lyf, ffor he hedde þenne Ifounden þe plas Of good penaunce bi godus graas. [ 90] þis Pharesens for vbbreide To þe disciples þerof seide: þei asked whi þo ful of synne wiþ hem to ete schulde bigynne. þis Pharesens weore vnquert, [ 95] þey knewe not heor owne hert, Ne oþur mennes kneuh þei nouht; þerfore þei weore to folye i-brouht. But Jhesu crist, þat is so good, þat kneuȝ hou mennes hertes stood, he wolde hem resseyue alle ffrom heore synnes forto falle; And for þe synnes mony-fold To do penaunce þat wolde be bold, he hem cumforteþ more and more [ 105] In sadnesse of bileeue þerfore; hem þat he wole suffre stout ffor a tyme to beo proud, Aftur he wole hem redres Bi grace and calle to Mekenes. [ 110] þenne hit is in scripture leid, Jhesus to þat pepul seid: 'A leche nedeþ him not þat stounde þat is al hol and sounde, But hem þat aren in dissese, [ 115] Muche a leche may hem plese.' In þis noble onswere sleih Is vndurstonden þing gostly: Crist repreueþ her more and les þe Jewes fol-hastines; [ 120] Euer þei putte hem bihynde Gostly grace forto fynde, And ȝit þei made gret bost þat heore rihtwisnes was most. But þenne vre gode lord dere [ 125] Bad þei schulde go and lere what þis was in alle wyse 'I wol Merci and no sacrifise'. þe Pharesenes her he bad þat bi þe werkes of Merci glad [ 130] þei schulde gete hem þe Mede Of euerlastyng lyf in dede. þerfore he seiþ 'I not com fforte clepe þe rihtful mon, But I com forto calle [ 135] Synners to heore penaunce alle': þis is forte mene þen: 'I com not for to calle hem þat wole at heor owne avyse holde hym-self most rihtwyse, [ 140] [140 l. hem.] But hem þat mekeli wol arowe heore defautes seo and knowe; hem I com to calle vchon, To heuene þei schul wiþ me gon.' Bi þis grete enchesun [ 145] To ete wiþ hem crist was boun, ffor no lust of glotenye, But hem touward heuene to hyȝe. hem þat he fond þer wrapped, wiþ mony bitter synnes lappet, [ 150] Euer was þat lord redi To hym to calle hem sikerli, Bi þat siker wei to go Of penaunce, as he bad hem þo.— þis ilke same Matheu here [ 155] was þe furste gospellere; Loþ hed he beo icald ȝerne, [157 l. Levy.] Cristen Men he dude conferme. he þat for þe world bihoue Sat furst in þe tolboþe, [ 160] þat his tent al hedde i-ȝiuen Bi worldlich doyng forto liuen, þus he was ymad spenser Of heuenliche metes fer and neer Bi preching of þe pepul sleih, [ 165] Besauntes of heuenly tresori. þerfore I rede þat alle we Aske of him vr help to be, þat he wolde so for vs pray þat we to heuene come may [ 170] þorwh goode dedes also doynge. þat grace vs graunte heuene-kynge.

Amen.

Quis putas est maior? (Math. 18, 1-10).

ÞE disciplus of Jhesus Comen to him and seide þus: "wȝuch trowest þou moste be In heuene-kindam of vs to se?"

Jhesu calde a luytel childe, [ 5] And seet amonges hem ful mylde; he seide to hem for heor prou: "ffor soþe", he seide, "I warne ȝow, But ȝe beo tornd and mad meke As þis luitel child is eke, [ 10] Ȝe may not elles entre euene In to þe heiȝe kyndom of heuene. fforsoþe, hose him meke wolle As þis luitel child folle, he schal beo more, soþ to telle, [ 15] In heuene-kyngdam, for to dwelle. And hose wole In my nome take Such a child for my sake, Siker may he þenne be þat verreyli he takeþ me. [ 20] hose sclaundreþ eny of þeose smale þat in me leuen al by tale, To him muche beter hit were, þen for to do þat ilke dere, þat an heui Mulne-ston [ 25] [25 Ms. þen st. þat.] weore honged aboute his nekke anon And he drouned, as I sei þe, In þe depnes of þe séé. To þe world beo muche wo ffor þe sclaundres þat þer-in go! [ 30] And ȝit nedful hit is Sclaundres to gon in world, I-wis: wo to þat mon in wone Bi whom þe sclaundre so schal come. Ȝif þi feet or þin honde [ 35] Sclaundreþ þe, to vndurstonde, Cut hit of, I þe sey, And cast hit fro þe soone awey: Good is to þe, wiþ-outen strif, halt and feble gon into lyf, [ 40] þen forto haue also skeet Oþur two hondes or two feet Sent into þe fuir brennyng þat is euermore lastyng. And ȝif þyn eȝe bi wey of siht [ 45] Disclaundreth þe aȝeyn riht, Pul hit out sone and faste, Awey from þe sone hit caste: Good is to þe wiþ on eiȝe To entre in to þe lyf on hiȝe, [ 50] þen two eȝen to haue snelle Seende into þe fuir of helle. Loke þat ȝe dispise ne greue [53 Ms. im.] Nonne of þe smale þat in me leeue: fforsoþe i telle ow þerfore, [ 55] þe Aungeles of heuene euer-more [56 l. þer st. þe.] seon my ffadur face, þat is Euermore in heuene-blis." þis is þe strengþe of þis gospel, As mon in englisch tonge (may tel).— [ 60]

Also ofte as we rede þat þe disciples in heor dede Askeden wiþ-outen bost whuche of hem schulde be most, we schul not suppose þerbi, [ 65] Beo wey of wraþþe ne envy, Bote to monnes frelete, his vnstabelnes to se. þe disciples weore boistous þo And neweli take þe world fro; [ 70] Ofte hedde þei I-herd crist Prechen of his vprist, Ȝit were þei not tend In place fful in þe holi gostes grace, þey hedde not lernd þe parfyt loue [ 75] Of heuene-kyngdam aboue; ffor, as þe gospel to vs seiþ þat is rote of vr feiþ, þe holigost was not ȝit þen I-sent þat tyme doun to hem, [ 80] Ne Jhesu, þat is trewe and triȝed, was not ȝit in hem glorifyed. þey hopud, whon he I-risen were ffrom þe deþ and maad al cleere, þat he a kyngdam schulde holde [ 85] In þis world þat is vnbolde, And þei to ha ben I-hiȝed þus wiþ mony worldus worschipus; þis was þenne þe enchesun In tyme of his passiun [ 90] þat þis strif among hem went whuche schulde beo most þer present. vppon a tyme Cleophas, And anoþur þat wiþ him was, To wȝuche crist dude apeere [ 95] Aftur his vprist so dere In liknes of a pilgrym sleih, þei seide: 'we hopen soþly þat he schal beo þat mon To bugge Israel of þraldom.' [ 100] And summe of his disciples eke Asked him wiþ wordus meke, þei seide: 'lord, we preye þin ore, wher þou in þy tyme schul restore þat kyndam, to make hit wel, [ 105] þat is cald Israel, To þe freodom of olde þat hit was wont forte holde?' Breþeren, þat han herd now þis gode lessun for ȝor prow, [ 110] Ȝe mai herbi vndurstonde what reuerens in eueri londe

þat ouȝte al-wey to beo ȝiuen To godus seruauns þat wel lyuen; Bi Mekenes, as loue wolde, [ 115] Euer þei moste to-geder holde. In ensaumple Crist þenne fette A luytel child, and among hem sette, And seide to hem wordus mylde: 'hose wol meke hym as þis childe, [ 120] he schal beo grettest of ȝow In heuene-kyngdam forte know.' þus we schal þis resun take þat Mekenesse may vs make To come to þat glorious blis [ 125] þer as crist him-self now is; Bi simpelnes and louh berynge heuene is persed, þe heiȝe þinge. hose coueyteþ forte se Godus heiȝnesse and his degre, [ 130] he moste go bi þat lowe place Of Mekenes to folwe þe trace. ffor beo hit on oþur oþur þat wolde regne toforen his broþur, he moste bifore beo ful sleih [ 135] God to serue ful louhly; As þe goode Apostel seiþ, þat saddeþ vs muche in þe feiþ: 'þei þat heer tofore are set, Most holde hem to-gedere þe bet [ 140] In worschipyng more and les Of euer-lastynge Meknes.' vche mon þus moste ouercome Bi godus doynges alle and some; þen ouercomeþ he, soþ hit is, [ 145] Al to-gedere bi holynes. þis is a souereyn þing þon þat falleþ to vche cristene mon: þei þat hem louen, certeyn, To loue hem feiþfuly aȝeyn, [ 150] And þei þat don hem eny dissese, wiþ pacience hem to plese. ffor hose is most pacient To suffre wrong in good entent, hit schal beo most of his miht [ 155] In heuene-kyngdom so briht. þe wei þat þider a mon wol hiȝe, To fflesch is streit and vn-esye. he þat wole ben hiȝet her In worldus worschupe fer and neer And wol beo preysed on þis molde Bi tresur of seluer and of golde, he may not passe to heuene þen, whil he trustneþ vppon hem; But he discharge him in hiȝinge [ 165] wiþ-outen eny tariinge, he may not entre into þat blis More þen a beest þat charged is. A beest þat charged is In plaas, Mai not passe þorwh narwh paas [ 170] Til he vncharged be þat tide And his burþen leid beo-syde. þe luttel ȝate to heuene-way worldly richesse receyue ne may: ffor hose is here so charged heiȝe [ 175] And asayeþ þer-in to stiȝe, he doþ not elles, wel I wot, But takeþ hym-self a gret strok, And is constreynet to turne aȝeyn, To stoupe lower for his geyn. [ 180] ffor also strait hit is þon To a worldly riche mon þat haþ in richesse al his trist And liueþ so in þat foule lust, To entre in to þat rial ȝate [ 185] Of heuene þat we of spake, As to a Chamayle, sikerlye, To passe þorwh an Nelde-eiȝe. Naked weore we, breþeren, born In to þis world scharp as þorn, [ 190] Naked aftur eke we come To Receyue vr cristendome; Naked of richesse moste we hiȝe vs in to heuene to be. Bi þis enchesun of record [ 195] Set we vr herte in vr lord, Loke we haue no tristinge In worldus tresur passynge. þerto þat holy angel þat is called Michael, [ 200] he help vs heuene to purchase Bi preyere and also bi grace, And bi þe preyer also bolde Of alle heuenly Angles tolde, wȝuche wer lutled at o tyme [ 205] Bi pruide of lucifer in pyne; whos place schal beo restored aȝeyn At þis worldus ende to seyn, fful of cristene soules clere, To worschipe þer her maker dere, [ 210] þat mihtiust is and most hende And liueþ and regneþ wiþouten ende.

Designauit dominus duo &c. (Luc. 10, 1-9).

Oure lord Jhesu asigned þo Seuenti and oþur tweyne to go, he hem sende bi tweyn and twein to alle cites and places, to seyn, Biforen his face forte be þer as aftur come wolde he.

Jhesu seide to hem þen: "Muche corn þer is, and fewe werk∣men. þerfore prey ȝe al a-rowe To þat lord þat hit owe, [ 10] þat he wolde werkmen sende In to his corn, hit to amende." Crist seide aftur þere To his disciples þat þer were: "Goþ; and seoþ þat I sende ȝou [ 15] As Lombes a-Mong wolues nou. Bere ȝe no sachel, ne no ston, Ne hosen ne schon ȝou vppon, No mon also se ȝe grete [19 Ms. þe st. se.] Bi þe wey, ȝif ȝe him mete. [ 20] In to what hous ȝe entre schal, ffurst seiþ 'pees to þis hous al'. Ȝif þe sone of pees þere beo, ȝoure pees schal reste on þat hous freo; And ȝif þat hit not so bi þon, [ 25] Torne hit schal aȝein ȝou on. In what hous þat ȝe dwelle, Ȝe ete and drinke, as I ow telle, [28 Ms. To st. ȝe.] Of such as ȝe fynde þore Beoinge þer hem bifore; [ 30] ffor worþi is a werk-mon his huyre, þat wel worche con." þis is þe Tixt of þis gospel, As mon in Englisch tonge may tel.

DEre breþeren of honour, [ 35] vr lord and vr saueour Oþurwhile he biddeþ vs Bi word, and eke bi werkes— ffor his dedes þat we of here, Aren his biddynges goode and dere. ffor þeiȝ he do mony a þing Priuely as lord and kyng, what we schul do in disert he makeþ hit knowen to vs apert. Tweyne he sent bi vre speche [ 45] To-geder aboute forte preche. þis bitokneþ soþliche so: þer are Comaundemens two, On, to loue god on hiȝ, And vr euencristen also vs bi. [ 50] Bitwene lasse þen two ilad Charite mai not beo had; ffor Charite and loue, his broþur, Draweþ a mon in to a-noþur. þerfore dude vr lord sende [ 55] Two to-gider forte weende, ffor euer-lastynge Charite ffolliche among hem schulde be. ffor he þat in him-self haþ nouȝt Charite to oþur I-þouȝt, [ 60] Ouȝte not þe offys to resseyue Of prechyng, but hit fulli to weyue. þerfore þus, we seyn, he hem sende tweyn and tweyn, To go toforen to vche place [ 65] þider as he wolde come bi grace. Vre gode lord of his ore ffolweþ his prechours euermore; ffurst prechyng toforen goþ, And he comeþ aftur wiþ-outen loþ [ 70] Into þe dwellyng-places of prys Of vr soules bi his avys; On þis wyse in alle þinge, Bi þeose wordus of techynge þat come tofore crist þon, [ 75] Beo resseyued to wone in mon, þis is folliche for to mene In vche cristene soule clene. þerfore now to þe same Prechours þat ben of goode fame, [ 80] Isaye doþ hem sey þat 'makeþ redi godus wey'. Godus wey euer-more Make we heere redi þerfore, 'Make we rihtwys þe paþus alle [ 85] Of vr lord, what so bifalle.' And also seiþ þe sautere wordus þat ben goode and clere: 'To him so good a wey we make þat steih vp for vre sake [ 90] Aboue þe goynge to softnis Of þe sonne þat briht is.' ffor vr lord, ful of loue, þe sonne softnes steiȝ aboue þer as he diȝed, deore Jhesus, [ 95] And soffrede gret dissese for vs; he schewed in his vprisynge þe more Joye and lykynge: In þis Maner haþ he wonne Aboue þe softnes of þe sonne. [ 100] ffor þat ilke same deþ þat he suffrede ful of meþ, Bi his rysing he put away, þe serteyn soþ forto say. þis is to vndurstonde ȝore [ 105] þe deþ schal he suffre no more. þerfore to him þat so vp steih, we makeþ vs a good wey whon we of his Joyes preche And hertfulliche hem leeue and teche. [ 110] þen wol he as lord of miht Come in to vr hertus riht,

And lihtne vr soules wiþ wynne, wiþ alle swetnes vs wiþ-Inne. Bote vr lord here verrement [ 115] Seide to hise þat were present: 'Muche Corn þer is to schewe, But werk-men þer beo wondur fewe. þerfore to þat lord ȝe pray þat oweþ þat corn as he wel may, [ 120] þat he werk-men þerto sende, þat corn to helpe and amende.' Bote þat þer to fewe are werk-men wiþ þis corn to fare, Ȝif we schul to þis mater gon, [ 125] we schul beo sori euerichon. ffor al-þeih hit so be þat mony goode of heore degre wolde fayn here preching ay, hem wonteþ þo þat schulde hit say. [ 130] ffor nou þis world at a pul Is plenteuous of prestes ful, But neuerþeles in Godus corn, þat to him-self schulde be schorn, fful selde þer is in eny stounde [ 135] But fewe goode werk-men founde. þerfore ful sore I me doute Lest mony of vs þat ben stoute þe offys of prest haþ receyued, But prestlich werkes fully weyued; [ 140] fful selden loud or stille Prestes werkes we folfille. 'But preyeþ to him þat hit owe, þis corn, boþe heiȝe and lowe, þat he werkmen sende [ 145] þis ilke corn to a-mende': þis is forte mene þus: Ȝe lewed pepul, prey for vs, þat we make good worchyng In ȝou þorwh godus techyng, [ 150] þat vre tonges in sleuþe not falle To warne ow of or synnes alle. Leste veniaunce falle on vs sone, Siþen we beo charged hit to done, Place to occupye for to preche, [ 155] þe pepul godus wey to teche, Let we not vr stillenes ffor euere dampne vs to distres, Aȝeyn þe Juge Rihtwyse, Domusmon, hiȝest Justise. [ 160]

hec mando vobis vt diligatis (Joh. 15, 17-25).

Jhesu seide þis wordus meke To his disciples whon he speke: "þis," he seide, "I to ȝou sende þat ȝe loue to-geder hende. And þeih þe world ȝou hate þe more, Me hit hedde in hate to-fore. ȝif ȝe of þe world were, he wolde loue his þing dere; But ȝe beo not þerof so, ffor I haue chose ȝou þer-fro: [ 10] þe world, ful of debate, þerfore haþ ȝou in hate. Biþenkeþ ȝou of wordus myne þat I haue seid mony a tyme: A seruaunt, bi good record, [ 15] Nis not more þen his lord. ffor ȝif þei han pursuwed me, Pursuwed of hem schul ȝe be; ȝif þei my word kept haue, ȝoures schul þei kepe and saue. [ 20] þei schul ȝow do al þis þing ffor my nome knowlechyng: Mi ffadur wol þei knowe nouht Ne me þat hem hider brouht. Ȝif I hedde not to hem come [ 25] And spoken wiþ hem ofte in wone, þen schulde þei not han had Synne þat is in hem stad: Now ha þei excusaciun non Of heor synnes euerichon. [ 30] hose hateþ fulliche me, Mi ffader also in hate haþ he. Ned I no werkes wrouȝt in hem þat non oþur wrouȝt er þen, Soþli, now to biginne, [ 35] þen schulde þei not han had no synne. þei han sen, and hated me, And my ffadur also so fre. Bute for þis word writen of olde In heore lawe folfuld beo scholde: [ 40] In hate þei hedde me neuer-þe-les ffor myn owne kyndenes."

By moni skiles goode and clere Crist, vr gode Mayster, here, he sendeþ vs techynges hider [ 45] Euer for to loue to-gider. vche mon schulde loue oþur As Broþur schulde loue Broþur. wiþ-outen loue of godus delyt Goodnes may not vs profyt, [ 50] Ne good loue may not beo had But goodnes beo wiþ him lad; Bi wȝuche loue of goodnesse A Mon mai him to god redresse. ffor his loue þat is so heiȝ, [ 55] we schulde soffre pacientli Of þis wrecched world þe hate, Boþe erly and eke late.

ffor hit most vs hate nede whom þat hit seoþ in dede [ 60] þat wol not to þe loue drawe þat hit doþ in dede and sawe. But ofte vr goode lord Jhesus Bi him-self cumforteþ vs, þer he seide him-self sone: [ 65] 'þis I Comaunde ȝou to done þat ȝe loue wel to-gider, þerfore weore ȝe i-brouht hider.' Ȝit he putte more þerto And seide on þis wyse also: [ 70] 'Ȝif þe world þerfore ow hate, Beo ȝe no-þing þerof mate, ffor witeþ wel, ȝou to-forn To me haþ hit hate iboren.' But muche pepul leeueþ nouȝt [ 75] [75 l. bereþ.] In worldly hate to beo brouht. I ȝou telle þerfore biforn, þat is wondur gret skorn þat eny Membre of a Mon Schulde ben herre and more told on [ 80] þen þe Croune of his hed, þat hiȝest is wiþ-outen dred. Siker, þou forsakest to beo A Membre of godus bodi freo, But þou wolt soffre meke [ 85] þe worldus hate, þat is so seke, wiþ þat ilke hiȝest hede, Crist, þat for vs suffrede dede. Crist to his disciplus seide And þis resun to hem leyde: [ 90] 'ȝif ȝe þe worldus were, iwis, hit wolde loue þat weore his.' þis ilke word here he seiþ To al-holi churche of ffeiþ. Ofte-tyme Crist hit calleþ, [ 95] Diuersliche, as hit falleþ, holy churche, þat is dere, Bi nome of þis wor(l)d here; And bi þis word here in plas: 'God', he seiþ, 'in heuene was, [ 100] Reconcilyng þe world wel To him-self eueridel'— þat world is folliche forte mene Alholy churche at ene. And in anoþur place, to se, [ 105] he seiþ a word of dygnite: 'Godus sone in goodnes breme Com not þe world for to deme, But þe goode world vche a lym Schulde ben wel saued bi him.' [ 110] ffor, as Jon seiþ in dede, In his gospel as we rede: 'we han euer a good voket Toforen his holi fader set, þat rihtwys is and helpere [ 115] Aȝeyn vr synnes eueriwhere.' þe world is here forte say Al-holi chirche niht and day. And ȝit al þe world to worche hateþ al-holi churche. [ 120] þen beo we þus þerate: þe world doþ þe world hate. þe Enemy world, þat is wood, hateþ holy churche good; þat on, haþ lost gostli place, [ 125] þe toþur reconcyled bi grace; þe to world þat dampned is hateþ þe toþur touward blis; þe world defouled ful of synne hateþ holichirche clene wiþ-Inne. [ 130] þis ilke holi chirche so clene, þat god in his sone to mene To him-self Reconciled, hit was clene vndefuiled; Also bi Crist þat tyme [ 135] hit was saued fro muche pyne, To whuche, þe beter for to lyuen, Bi Crist alle synnes were forȝiuen. þeose weore chosen to good astate ffrom þe world ful of hate, [ 140] þat dampned is, enemy wikke, And defouled wiþ synne þikke. Of þat lompe bi tyme and spas Bi whuche in Adam al perisched was, weore mad vessels of merci, [ 145] In wȝuche þe goode world to cri, þat holi chirche we calle moun, Is falle to Reconsiliacioun; þe wrecched world þe more hateþ wiþ holy churche and debateþ, [ 150] þat of þe same lumpe cam, Apartenyng to þat vessel þan Of nuy and wraþþe, euer in bost; Euerlastyngliche þei schul be lost. But whon he hedde seid here [ 155] 'ȝif ȝe of þis world were, þe world wolde, soþ hit is, ffulliche loue þat were his. ȝe nare not of þe world so: I ha chose ȝou fulliche þerfro. [ 160] he is wikked and vnwrest, þerfore to hate ȝou hit is prest.' þeose disciplus weore not chose Out of þis world, þat goþ to lose, Bi her owne disseruynge, [ 165] Of whos tofore-lyuynge ffewe goode vertuwes cam, Til hit was ȝiuen bi grace to ham;

Ne þey weore not, as we fynde, Chosun bi wey of heiȝ kynde, [ 170] ffor al vr kuynde, til þer cum bote, Defouled was In Adames rote— þis synful dede, þat was so ille, was al I-don bi freo wille. þei weore chose, soþ to sey, [ 175] By grace of god þat is verrey. Crist þerfore to hem preid: 'þenk on þe word þat I haue seid. þe seruaunt bi good record Nis no better þen his lord. [ 180] ffor as þei me dude pursuwe, Porsuwe schal ow mony vntrewe; þo þat my word dude kepe. ȝoures þei schal, I ow hete.' vr lordes biddyng erli and late [ 185] Stureþ his seruauns to soffre bate Of þis world so venimous, þat euer is enemy to vs; ȝif we hit soffre wiþ-oute mod, hit wol vs torne to muche good. [ 190] A grettore saumple ne more bet hou miht he him-self set? Petur seiþ, þe apostel dere, þat crist suffrede for vs here, To ȝiue vs ensaumple in plas [ 195] Mekeliche forte suwe his tras. Crist seide: 'al þis ilke schame þei schal ȝou do for myn name, Ow to hate in alle wyse, Porsuwe ȝor wordus to dispise.' [ 200] whi for his nome hit to beo don, þis is good to wite son. 'In ȝow schul þei me hate newe, In ȝow schul þei me pursuwe, And bi enchesun þat ȝoure word [ 205] Is myn and of myn hord, þerfore, I ou telle eke, In no wyse wol þei hem kepe, ffor my nome þei schal þis do, And not for ȝoures, take hit so. [ 210] Riht as þei more corsud are þat don ȝow þis dissese and fare ffor myn name in ȝow dresset, Riht so are ȝe þe more blesset þat suffren mekely al þis schome [ 215] ffor me and also in my nome.'

Videns Jhesus turbas ascendit in montem (Math. 5, 1-12).

Herkeneþ alle to þis gospel, what Matheu herof wol us tel, In þe feste of þis heiȝe-day þat al halwen is to say. Jhesus sayȝ, as seiþ þis storye, [ 5] Of peple muche a Cumpaynye, And he wente feir and stille vpon heih in to an hille, And þer he set him doun anon. his disciples to him gan gon, [ 10] And he his Mouþ feir openynge Tauȝt hem þer ful derworþe þinge, And þus to sey he bigan, þat lord þat was God and Man. þus he seide, as I sei þe: [ 15] "þe pore of spirit blesset þei be: ffor I ow sey wiþ mylde steuene, heoren is þe kyngdom of heuene. Also Blesset mote þei be þat ben Meke wiþ herte fre: [ 20] ffor sikerly þei schal haue Erthly possessions, hem to saue. I-blesset beo þo þat make serw∣ynge: ffor I schal sende hem cumfortynge. Blesset beo þat þat han þat miht [ 25] To hongrun and þursten aftur riht: ffor, ȝif þei in þis Maner beo sted, I schal ordeynen þat þei beo fed. Blessed beo þe Merciful vchone þat Merci nis not wiþ hem wone: [ 30] ffor I schal so ordeyne heore pay, þat Merci schal hem folewen ay. Blesset mote þei clene of hertes beo: ffor God Almihti schul þei seo. Blessed beo þe pesybles i-tald: [ 35] þe sones of god schul þei be cald. Blesset beo þo þat day and niht Soffre persecucions for þe riht: ffor heores is þe kyngdom clene þer as dwelleþ Crist I mene. [ 40] Blesset beo ȝe in hiȝinge To whom þe world makeþ missig∣gynge And persecucions to ȝow make ffor my word and for my sake, And vp-on ȝou seyȝen lesynge [ 45] ffor ȝe of me witnesse bringe: Beoþ glad and also ful of blis, ȝor Meede in heuene plentyuous is." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As Mon in Englisch tonge may tel. [ 50]

SEint Bede her scheweþ forþi And expouneþ þis Ewangeli, And seiþ þe ffeste of þis day was vnknowe, soþ to say, To prestes, techers and Confessours, þat serueden God wiþ honours,

þe wȝuche techers dude Moyste wel þe hertes of trewe men eueridel. þat Moysture is gode techinges þat gostly vs to blisse bringes; [ 60] And such scholde þis techinge be founde þat profitable fruit scholde þeron grounde; þat fruit þat so comeþ of prest and clerk, Cal I þe fruit of godus werk. ffor þo þat prechen godus word, [ 65] þo ben Besauns of godus hord, wȝuche þat god haþ take to hem To dele to alle cristene men. ȝif þei hit holden hem-self wiþ-Inne, Aboute to dele hit wol not bi∣ginne, [ 70] þeoues þei ben apertely þat so stele godus tresory. þerfore þei scholde in eueri route Teche hit to þe pepul aboute, And liuen hem-self good lyuinge: [ 75] þen seruen þei god, heuene-kynge. ffor doctours þat weore sum-tyme, þauȝ þei of swerd feled no pyne, Martyres in þis Maner þei were: In liuyng of heore lyf ful clere; [ 80] ffor hit is noble Martirdom To liue in alle manere a clene mon. A Martir only proued nis not he To schede his blod, so ded to be, [84 l. who schedeþ.] But he þat wol abstene him [ 85] ffrom alle fulþus and alle syn, And vseþ alle godus Comaundemens And noþing doþ to his defens. Whi God went vp in to an hille, Good hit is to telle ȝow tille. [ 90] An hul, ȝe wite wel, hit is hiȝe: So dude god in grace vp stiȝe þis day to teche þis lessun wys— Of alle lessuns hit bereþ þe pris. þerfore to an hul ȝede he, [ 95] [95 Ms. seide st. ȝede.] ffor herre lessun mihte non be. þere he seide: 'I telle ȝow, Blesset mote þe pore of spirit be nou, ȝif þei pouert holde and haue ffor loue of him þat schal hem saue.' [ 100] pore of spirit ben þise men þat Meke ben and drede god þen, And þo þat make no couetynge To erthli ni to fflescly þinge; hose put him furst in good ordringe, So may he furst come in blessynge. þer he blesset þe Meke þan: possessiouns eorþli scholde þei han. þei beo Meke icald a-rewe þat no ȝeyn-stondyng her enemys schewe, [ 110] þat nouþur bi dede ne word ispeke Of her enemys nil hem not wreke, But gladly wole for Godus sake Suffre pyne, teone and wrake, And wiþ Maystrie aȝeinstonde hit nouȝt, [ 115] Bot ouercome hit wiþ goodnes wrouȝt. þei schul folwe þe lombe, wher-so-euer he go or stonde. þat lomb is Jhesu, ful of Meth, þat for vs alle soffrede deþ. [ 120] 'Blessed beo þo þat sori are' And for heore synnes in herte ha care, And for heor neihȝebors synne and sake Muche del and mournyng make; ffor þat dede þat þei so do, [ 125] Godus kyndam schul þei come to. ffor þe ffingres of god ful hiȝe Schul wiþe þe teres from heor eiȝe, And þei schul haue cumfort most, þat schal come of þe holigost. [ 130] whon þei han lost eorþly lyf here, þei schul ha lyf in heuene clere; ffor þei þat preyen wiþ wepynge, Schul gedere fruit wiþ Joyinge. Also spekeþ þe prophecye [ 135] þise wordus bi Ysaye: 'wo to ȝou þat lauhtres make Of ȝoure synnes and nil not slake; ffor as muche Joye as ȝe make now, wel more serwe schal come to ȝow.' [ 140] þei þat make lauhtur and game Of heore neiȝhebores harm and schame, And in Idel heor tyme þei lese, And muche God þei displese. þer Jhesu seide ful of miht [ 145] 'Blessed beo þe hungri aftur riht: ffor in þat place ful heiȝe ibult, þer schal þei beo ful wel I-fult:' Aftur Riht to hongrun and þurst, To kepe þe Comaundemens to ha lust, [ 150] To kepe hem wel, I sey apliht, And hem to serue day and niht: þei beo coueyted of god wiþ loue, þat wole hem bringe to blisse aboue.

'Blesset beo þe Merciful vchan [ 155] þat euer merci wiþ hem han': þo ben þei, I telle hit þe, þat helpen wrecches þat nedi be; ffor þer þei haue pite of hom, Merci hem folweþ sone anon. [ 160] Ensaumple þerfore may we lere, As þis feste reherseþ here, Of Ten Maydens, weore sum-tyme þo, ffyue wyse and fyue foles also. þeos fyue gode forsoke þon [ 165] To beo couplet to eny mon, þei nolde leue heore clannes ffor no worldly Riches, But euere þei seruede heuene-kyng, In word, In þouht and doing. [ 170] Do we so þenne as dude þay: we wite wel, come schal domes-day; Do we, wiþ him knowe to be þat schal sitte and Jugge vs in se. þen wol he take vs to him, [ 175] As he þe virgynes dude þat tym, And bringen vs to þat blis þer as þei wiþ him-seluen is. To þat blisse he vs bringe, þat in world of worldus is regninge.

Amen.

Vos estis sal terre (Math. 5, 13-19).

IN þat tyme God Jhesus To his disciples seide þus: "ȝe beon salt, I ow say, Of þe eorþe, hit is no nay. But ȝif salt euanissche fro [ 5] þing þat hit is salted in so? hit nis nomore worþi, we rede, Bote beo cast out in dede And defoulet fer men fro— To oþur profyt may hit not go. [ 10] Ȝe ben also þe liht clere Of þe world, to me dere. Men may not huyde a gret cite, ȝif hit is set on an heiȝ hul to be. Nor men takeþ not of a lanterne þe liht [ 15] And put vndur a strik vnriht, Bote on a Candelstikke on hiȝ, To lihten alle in house worþi. So lihten ȝe ȝor liȝt in place Bifore men, þorwh gret grace, [ 20] þat þei ȝor goode werkes may sen wȝuche idon bi ow schal ben, þat þei þerfore may glorifye ȝor fadur þat is in heuene heiȝe. Ne leeueþ not I com ȝow to [ 25] þe lawe or prophecies to vndo; To vndo hem com not I, Bote to folfulle hem, sikerli." þis is þe strengþe of vre gospel, As Mon in Englisch may ow tel. [ 30]

Grete clerkes forto proue, þat loueden wel her god aboue, Expouneden þis gospel on þis wyse þat ȝe schul here wiþ-outen feyntyse. God seide þeos wordus same [ 35] þat for knowlechyng of his name þei schulde suffre moni a teene— And so þei duden al-bi-deene. And for þei schulden I-cumforted be, More to hem heer seide he. [ 40] þe kyng of heuene, þat al walt, Seide, of þe eorþe þei schulde be salt. Salt to vndurstonde gostly Is wisdam, siker to ȝou sei I. Salt of þis eorþe here [ 45] Bi hete of fuir from watur clere And also bi blowyng of wynde Is tornd out of watres kynde In to salt, as we may seo Ofte-tyme among vs beo. [ 50] Riht so þe apostles for to mene And heore folweres alle bidene Bi holy watur of Baptiȝinge And bi hete of feiþ brennynge And also bi enspiraciun trie [ 55] Of þe holigost so hiȝe ffrom erþly þinges chaunged beo þei In to heuenly þinges, soþ to sey. þe kuynde of salt þen is þus: hit druyeþ vp mo(i)stnussus, [ 60] And stunch hit doþ awei in dede, And soffreþ no quik worm to brede. So druiȝeþ heuenlich wisdam Moistnesses of ffleschlich dilites þan, And also hit doþ awey þe stink [ 65] Of vuel liuyng in alle þing, hit kepeþ from mon sikerli þe quike worm of lecheri; Of whom Ysaye in vre feiþ þeose wordus scheweþ and seiþ: [ 70] 'þe worm of þe lechours hyne Schal neuer dye in no tyme, Ne þe fuir of hem so stout hit schal neuer beo quenched out.' In þe olde testament we fynde, [ 75] As we reden and han in muynde: þer schulde beo offred non offringe To god, þat is heuene-kynge,

But hit weore furst i-sauered wel wiþ salt aboute eueridel; [ 80] þis is þus muche for to say: No mon wel make may An Offringe worschupful To God, þat al godnes wol, wiþ-outen þe sauour of þe craft [ 85] Of heuenlich wisdam in him laft. Poul seiþ also in place þeos wordus ful of grace: 'þe wordus of ȝou wel sauered mot be In þe grace of god bi wisdom fre.' [ 90]

I ffynde in þe Bok of kynges Acordyng sum-what to þeos þinges: þat whon þe grete watres of Jerico weore waxen bareyn and bitter also, EliȜeacute;é, þe gode prophete, [ 95] preyed þerfore to god so swete; And god of his grace him sende And tauȝte him þus hem to amende: EliȜeacute;é anon him biþouht And comaundet a vessel to be brouht [ 100] fful of salt, and he hit caste In to þe hed of þe watres faste: And sone þei hedden heor kynde aȝeyn, As hit is writen, in certeyn. Salt is vndurstonden here [ 105] þe Godhede of god so clere, And þe vessel þat hit was Inne was his Monhede wiþ-outen synne. þer as þis salt so wel was put in to þat vessel, [ 110] þat was, whon þe godhed stronge was entred in to Marie wombe And so com and dwelled in vs, God and Mon swete Jhesus. þer þe salt In þe vessel was [ 115] þrowen in to þe hedes bi gras Of þe watres, soþ to seyn, þat weore bitter and bareyn, And anon as we fynde þei tornde aȝeyn in to heor kynde: [ 120] þis is to vndurstonden euene: whon godus sone, þe wisdam of heuene, hedde folfuld þe priuetes Of his passion in alle degrees, þe watures bitter and vnseete [ 125] were ymad boþe gode and swete; þat was þat Monkynde, to telle, þat was in bitter pyne of helle, was þo restored in certeyn To heuene to his kynde aȝeyn. [ 130] But þenne ȝif salt passe awey, In whom hit is salted to sey? As hos seiþ, ȝif we passe þerfro þat God haþ chosun to beo salt so, þat is to sei wisdom hende, [ 135] vs to kepe from þe fende: þen go we wrong to wo. Oþere, siker schul not so, wȝuche ben sauered and studefast, In heuenliche wisdam euer to last. [ 140]

Egressus Jhesus perambulabat Jerico (Luc. 19, 1-9).

IN a tyme as goode Jhesus Bi Jerico wente þus, þer com a Mon þat Ȝachee hiht, was prince of publicanus riht; A Riche mon þenne was he. [ 5] he ȝeorned muche Jhesu to se, ffor he wolde wite and quere what-maner mon þat he were. Of Jhesu miht he seo no-þing ffor plente of pepul presyng, [ 10] ffor he was of makyng lowe, Luytel for to seo and knowe. In to a treo he wente þerfore, A Sikamour, to seon him þore: ffor þat wey Jhesu scholde [ 15] passe, as his wille wolde. Whon Jhesu com to þat place, he loked vp and sayȝ his face, To him he seide: "Ȝachéé, Go nou doun, and hiȝe þou þe: [ 20] ffor in þin hous, I þe telle, þis ilke day moot I dwelle." Ȝachee hiȝing wente doun, And resseyued him wiþ Joyful soun. whon þat pepul þis þer seih, [ 25] þei Merueyled, seiȝinge wondurly þat Jhesu wolde turne þan To such a maner synful man. Ȝachee þenne, þer he stod, Seide to vr lord so good: [ 30] "Del half my good, whil I liue, To pore men wol I ȝiue; Ȝif I ouȝt wiþ wrong haue holde, I schal hit ȝelde aȝeyn foure∣folde." Jhesus, þat is lord aboue, [ 35] Seide to him wiþ gret loue: "hele þis day is fully maad To þin hous, þou maiȝt beo glad:" þerfore, to him þus seide he, "ffor he was sone of Abraee. [ 40]

þe sone of Mon þat was so meke Com þat tyme for to seke And for to make saaf also þat to perisching schulde ha go." þis is þe tixt of þis gospel, [ 45] As mon in Englisch tonge may tel.

IN þis holy teching heere þis holy gospel good and clere Scheweþ to vs and oþur mo þat Jhesus wente to Jerico [ 50] And hou þat Ȝacheus hedde longinge To seo his lord, heuene-kynge. þis Ȝachee vndurstonden is 'he þat is maad Rihtwys', And bitokneþ þe pepul of gentes [ 55] þat leeued in god bi heore ententes. Jerico bitokneþ als 'þis wrecched world þat is fals': ffor Jhesu wente ofte among þis wrecched world ful of wrong. [ 60] þouȝ þis ȝachee weore mon wys And of þat lawe bar þe prys, More bi feiþ vr lord souhte he þen bi lawe, as fynde we; And for he was in feiþ studefast, [ 65] he deserued atte last To resseyue þe benisoun Of vr lord ful of renoun; So ferforþ, þat vr lord so good wolde him graunte wiþ mylde mood [ 70] To come in to hous his And reste þer as kyng of blis. he ȝaf him þenne, as lord hende, Euerlastinge hele wiþouten ende. þe same wyse þis pepul al [ 75] Of þe gentes, gret and smal, vre lord bi lawe þei not kneuh, But bi feiþ ful of vertu; þerfore þei diseruet ryf Of vr lord euerlastyng lyf. [ 80] þis ilke Sicomours tre In wȝuche clomb vp Ȝachee, was ful hiȝ and feir to siht, And swete in schadewe and muche in miht, And als in fruites plenteuous, [ 85] Most swettest and delicious. And þis tre, so good and dere, Mai wel be tokned here To þat blessed Rode-treo Of wȝuche we alle weore bouȝt freo. [ 90] þis sicamour was feir and heiȝ, I wol ȝou telle þe resun whi: A ladder was þerof maked whon crist was sprad þeron naked, þat out of helle þat laddur rauhte, [ 95] In to heiȝ heuene hit strauhte. þat ilke wei wente ful euene vr elder-ffadres to heiȝ heuene; ffor hit was ful of honour þat scholde so bere vr saueour. [ 100] Swete in schade also hit was, As ȝe may here in þis plas: hit schadewede from þe hote fuire Of helle, þat euermore schal duire, þe prophetes and þe patriarkes alle [ 105] þat Adam synne hedde mad falle. Plentiuous in ffruit was þat treo— Non oþur so plentiuous mihte beo; þe fruit þat on þat treo greuȝ, was Jhesu, ful of alle vertu. [ 110] þe fruit on þat o treo, we fynde, Brouhte forþ þo almonkynde ffrom endeles pyne to blisse aboue, Euer to wonen wiþ him in loue. Ȝachee also bitokne may [ 115] þis synful pepul boþe niht and day þat for heore synnes mai haue no siht Of god vr lord, kyng of miht. But hose wole þe siht haue Of god, his lord, þat may him saue, [ 120] In to þis treo he most climbe Of Sikamour, as I hit fynde: þat is to seche folli to loue vre lord god alle þing aboue; þat is to say he moste forsake [ 125] Alle synnes, in him so blake, And beo boxum in alle þinges To godus holy Biddynges, And suffre wo in world here ffor his loue þat bouht hym dere; [ 130] In to þat tre þus may he wende And seon his lord wiþouten ende. Nou forþurmore me mot biholde, As hit is in vr gospel tolde; whon vr lord, blesset he be, [ 135] Say þe feiþ of Sachee he hiht him, as I ow telle, In his hous þat day to dwelle; þat was for he knoulechede clene Al his trespas þer at ene, [ 140] And graunted þer Jhesus bifore fforto amende for euermore. Jhesus coueyted not to abyde In hous of treo, maad wiþ pride, But in þe clene soule of mon, [ 145] þer wolde he dwelle, þerfore he com. þerfore I rede, we clanse vs, þat we may resseyue him þus,

And þenne to kepe him so vs wiþ Euer to lyuen in grace and griþ. [ 150] þen seide Ȝachéé to Jhesu, þat is ful of alle vertu: 'Lo, lord, half my godus I ȝiue To pore men, whil I lyue; And ȝif I haue bi wrench or wile [ 155] Do to eny mon eny gyle, To ȝelde aȝeyn I am ful bold To vche mon foure-fold.'

ÞEn seide vr lord precious: 'þis day is hele mad to þyn hous, [ 160] ffor as muche as þou art þan þe holy sone of Abraham.' vche mon þat wol come fforte ben Abrahames sone, As longe as he liueþ sikerly [ 165] he moste ben aboute bisy To folwe þe ensaumple in his dede þat we here of Ȝachéé rede: þat is to sey, wiþ wille feruent Of goodus þat god him haþ isent [ 170] Ȝif þe pore for godus sake, And so Abraham sone hym make. Abraham is forto say 'ffadur of mony folk' verray— þat is he þat for vs diȝed [ 175] And al his bodi wiþ blood biwriȝed. Ȝif we kepen, breþeren dere, Coueitousliche þeos goodes here þat god him-self haþ vs lant, And wol not parte hem wiþ vre hand, [ 180] Afert may we beo ful sore Leste we gete peyne for euer more; But ȝif we wole wiþ wille fre Departe wiþ pore, as I sei þe, we schul haue þat ilke lyf [ 185] þat euer schal laste wiþ-oute strif. þerfore do we al vre entent, whil we ben in eorþe present, To trauayle boþe niht and day Goode werkes to worchen ay; [ 190] So þat, whonne þe soule schal go And beo parted þe bodi fro, hit may clayme forte wende To þat blise wiþ-outen ende. he vs graunte þer to wone, [ 195] God and Mon, Mayden sone.

Amen.