To dai me ȝiue gode beginninge
Þe king of heuen [Ms. houen] to worþing
And spekin [speken] of is lore!
And þat ȝe hit mote vnderstonde,
Þe fend to mochil schame and schonde,
Þis predicacioune,
And þat ȝe hit hold mote,
Bodi and soule to mochil bote
And to saluacioune.
Alle we beþ meiis and mowe
And of one foule erþe isowe,
Who so hit wold vnderstond. [vnderstonde]
Þis world is wel nis bot wowe,
Þis wrecche lif nis bot a þrow,
Al dai hit is gond.
Man, ne be þou neuer so riche,
Behold, whom þou art iliche,
Whan þou ert al nakid.
Beþench þat þou salt iworþe [o undeutlich]
And forroti to axin and erþe,
Whar of þou ert makid.
Clansi þe of þi misdede
And lerne welle þi lif to lede,
Þe while þou art aliue;
To none [nene] frend þou nab triste,
Bot to one Iesus Criste,
To child no to wiue.
Mi leue frendis, ich ȝou biseche,
Ȝung, old, pouer [poure, Ms. poư] and reche,
Herkniþ [herkenþ] to god is speche!
In þe name of god and seint Marie
Ȝoure sinful lif to amendie
To dai ich wol ȝow teche,
