[6-text p 678]
[1019] Thow schalt nouȝt eke make no lesyng in þy confessioun for humilite . . . [no gap] to sayn þat þou hast don synnes of whiche þou were neuer gulty [1020] as seint augustyn saiþ ¶ If þou by cause of humilite makest lesynges on þiself. þough þou were not in synne biforn ȝit art þou þanne in synne þurgh þy lesynges [1021] ¶ Thou most schewe þy synne by þyn oughne propre mouth but þou woxe dombe. and not by no lettre. for þou þat hast don þe synne þou schalt haue þe schame. [1022] þou schalt nouȝt peynte þy confessioun by faire subtil wordes to couer þe more þy synne for þanne bigilist þou þiself and not þe prest. þou most telle it platly be it neuer so foul ne so horrible. [1023] þou schalt eek/ schriue þe to a prest þat is discrete to counsaile þe ¶ And þou schalt nouȝt schryue þe for [folio 284a] veinneglorie ne for ypocrisie. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [1024] ¶ þou schalt not eek renne to þe prest sodeinly to telle him lightly þy synne as who-so tellith a tale or a iape. but auysily and wiþ gret deuocioun; [1025] and generally schriue þe ofte. if þou ofte falle; ofte þou aryse by confessioun [1026] ¶ And þough þou schryue þe ofter þan oones of synne of which þou hast ben schriuen; it is þe more merite and as saith seint augustyn ¶ Thou schalt haue þe more lightly relessyng and grace of god bothe of synne and of payne. [1027] and certes oones a ȝer atte atte lest/ way it is laweful to be houselyd. For sothely oones a ȝer alle þinges renouelen [[No break in the MS.]]
[1028] ¶ Now haue I told of verray confessioun þat is the secounde partye of penitence
