l**. A ** 1 )_ -< #Pfi VM^& *Vl* ^^T/^V^ / 1 */. FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Dirtiioa Sect?™ <^?3 7 Ujjmns to tfa| Virgin anxl • ^ pits tcr the U'irjfm & (Christ, <&\\{ parliament of gciils, aub other Jicliqious |1ocms, CHIEFLY FROM THE ARClIBISHOr OF CANTERBURY'S LAMBETH MS. No. 8-33. EDITED BTK / FREDERICK J. EURNIVALL, M.A., TJBIH. HALL, C.UIII. ; MEMBHB OF COUNCIL OF THE PHILOLOGICAL AND EABLT ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETIES. LONDON : PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TBUBNEB & CO., GO, PATEBNOSTEB BOW. sum ( ci. xvn. 24 JOHN CIIILDS AND SON, PRINTERS. PREFACE. After telling Mrs Gaskell one day a story for the truth of which I could not vouch, she said, with her beautiful bright smile, " Now I'm going to believe that, whether it's true or not. It ought to be true" On looking through the Lambeth MS. 853, which Mr Stubbs kindly handed to me in Lambeth Palace Library, I could not help saying, " I'll print it all, whether it contains early versions or late ; it is a jolly little Manuscript " : — a chubby vellum quarto, written in a large, clear, upright hand, which looked at first sight fourteenth century, but which the Museum authorities whom I afterwards con- sulted put at about 1430 a.d. As nice a little volume as one would wish to handle ; a pleasing contrast to the shabby, scrubby, paper Percy folio of two hundred years later that I am now working at. Accordingly, the whole MS. is in type for the Society, and I hope members have no cause to regret it, for though earlier versions of some of the poems are no doubt in existence, — I have printed one at least sixty years older at pp. 106, 108, 110, 112, to show how the late text has changed ' — yet the Lambeth MS. has given us the better text of The Complaint of Christ, in " Political, Religious, and Love Poems," (E.E.T.S., 1866,) a better text of "The Parliament of Devils " than that printed by Wynkyn de Worde, and the best texts yet printed of the far-famed Stuns Puer ad Mensam, " How the Good Wife taught her Daughter," and " How the Wise Man taught his Son," &c: these, besides other poems of considerable 1 Two words at least of the earlier text— sau^tcn and vnsau^te^ "to reconcile " and "unreconciled, at enmity," p. 108, 1. 37-38, were unknown to the late BCribe, and were changed by him to soften and unsoft. Mil PREFACE. beauty and interest in the present volume, and the other Texts I have lately edited, or am now editing, for the Society. The early Englishman, like the modern one, was a religious and superstitious person, and as any one in 2360 a.d. should know of us, that in many educated (or deducated ! ) persons' minds now, baptism by an epis- copally-ordained clergyman is necessary to salvation, that a man's being drowned while boating on Sunday is a just judgment of God, whereas a similar death on Monday is a sad accident, with a hundred other like notions 2 ; so we should know of our forefathers, if we would estimate them aright, what their religious belief and superstitious fancies were. Mary-worship, Parliament of Devils, Stations of Rome, St Gregory's Trental, and what not : let us have them all : all the non- sense, as well as the expressions of the pure, simple faith, that through life and death our men of old held to. And a survey of our early religious poetry will, I believe, — and so far as I may speak from some work at it, — result in a verdict favourable to the plain good sense 1 Wc sadly want some word like this Educate, delineation, Sec, to denote the wilful down-leading into prejudice and unreason, in Politics at least, so prevalent in England and everywhere else, to support unjust social arrangements and abuses because they exist, or are in the interest of a powerful class, &c. Let anyone think of the amount of deducation attempted about the Repeal of the Corn Laws, the old and modern Reform Bills, the late American "War, Sec, and then see how hard the deducators still arc at their work ! 2 " Dr Puscy has written another letter to the Times, stating his opinion of absolution. He believes that Christ, conferring upon the Apostles the power to remit sins, intended to confer it also upon their 'successors ' lie therefore holds that every successor has the power to remit the sins of penitent persona as fully as Christ himself could have done ; and so he affirms, on the authority of the Ordination Service, the Church of England also holds. In other words, Christ intended to leave the salvation of souls dependent on the will of such human beings as cm be proved to have been ordained by the ordained up through the ages to Himself. One single unordained Bishop, say in the middle ages or the third century, would spoil the whole arrangement. Why does not Dr Pusey claim the power of working miracles given to the Apostles at the s:imc time ? The invisibility of the power is no greater obstacle in the one case than the other. If the sick did not get visibly better for the priest's tou-h, neither do the bad get visibly better for his absolution. After all, does the human race advance ? A Roman gentleman would have smiled at a superstition so gross as that which Dr Pusey dignifies with the name of Christianity." 1866, Dec. 1, The Spectator, p. 1326,'col. 1-2. Dr Pusey and his school may not admit the con ectness of the statement above, "In other words." I only wish to register here the opinion of one of our best edited weeklies on this point, and to note that however comical the view stated, and a thousand like ones, may seem to our man of 2'iGO a.d. they were equally so to many in 1866 a.d. ami practical going straight at tic main point which Englishmen pride themselves on, whatever amount of philistinism ami humbug is mixed up with these qualities. The burden of the early - I id them) is a prayer for forgiveness of sins, a desire to get out of the filth of the flesh, ami rise, as well here as hereafter, into the purer ami higher life which, to the believer, union with his Saviour implied and implies. Many of the poems in this volume seem to me very touching and beautiful, ami I hope other readers will find them so too. The most interesting to me is the one I have entitled, from 1. 638 in it, p. 7-, "The Mirror of the Periods of Man's Life, or Bids of the Virtues and Vices for the Soul of Man," pp. 58-78. It sketches the tempt- ations of the well-off man of the period — the MS. is ab. 1430 a.i». — from the time when he was new-born from his mother till, at a hundred years old, Overhopeand Wanhope (despair) would ruin him, but ( rood Hope and Good Faith bring him to trust in God's mercy. At twenty — which may be a misprint for fifteen, xx for xv, — this is the choice presented to the young man. Quod resoun, " in age of .xx. 3eer. Goo to oxenford, or lerne lawe." Quod lust, " harpe & giterne \ere may y leere, And pickid stalfe & bucke.lere, Jvre-wiJ) to plane, At tauerne to make wowmen myrie eheere, And wilde felawis to-gidere drawe, And be to bemond 1 A good Bouyer Al ny^t til j>e day do da we. 1 For an explanation of this bemond, I have asked in vain Mr Chappell. Mr Way, Mr Morris, Mr Skeat, Mr Wright, ftc., &c. The only interpretation I can -t is drawn from a passage in Le Yenery de Twety, Cotton MS. Vesp. B. xii.> printed in Bd iquuB Antique, vol. I., pp. 149-154. At pp. 152-3 we read, of the hounds hunting the hare, " And if eny fynde of hym, where he hath hen, Rycher or Bemomdf ft shall say, oyez a Bemond le nvjllaunt, que quide trowre le coward, ou le court cow." The name Bemond might easily pass from the leading hound to the leader of a revel, or be used, by personification, for a fancied god of indulgence in women and wine, a sort of Baccbus. I think it certain that this btmond lias nothing to do witli the beni'd (Hat, 1), and bequarre (natural, the square b, £) of the curious ■ >n learning music in RtHquim Antique, vol. I., p. 292, or the b tmj f of the Burlesque, p. 83, ib. last line. In our early music books B is si, though in the earliest I have seen, no name is given to it. b X PREFACE. Conscience's remonstrance that this will waste his friends' money and his own time and learning, is answered by " Good conscience, goo preche to J?e post, ])\ councel sauerif not my tast . . . Al my lust y wole fnl-fille, I wole spare no womman." After the advice of Pride, Gluttony, Lechery, Wrath, Envy, Sloth, Covetousness, and Avarice, to the young man, how to indulge his passions and lusts, comes Pride again with this bit of counsel as to dress : " Apparaile pe propirli," quod Pride, " Loke Jri pockettis passe pe lengist gise ; Slatre pi clothis bofe schorte & side [ = wide] Passage all opere mennis sise." . And so the poem continues with allusions, more or less, to the manners of the times. The pockettis of the verses last quoted serve tc fix the date of the composition of the poem, if they are (as I suppose them to be) what Camden in his Pemaines, p. 19G, calls " poehetting sleeves." * He says " Of the long pocketting sleeves in the time of King Henry the Fourth, Hocclive, a master of that age, sings, Now hath this laud J if fie. need of hroomes To sweep away the filth out of the streete y Sen side sleeves of pennilesse groomes Will it a j) licke, be it dry or weetc." The woodcut of the Duke of Gloucester])] on p. 153 of Mr Fairholt's Costume in England, copied from the Poyal MS. 15 E 4 (fol. 14), in the British Museum, shows the long pocket sleeve admirably, and ' his crimson jacket furred with deep red is exceedingly short,' but gathered in close folds behind. At p. 159 of Eairholt is another woodcut of an attendant with the pocket sleeve, from the same Poyal MS. 14 E 4. On fol. 133 of the same Poyal MS. are three figures with the long pocket sleeves, and one of them has his sleeves tied 1 Pockets begin to appear in women's dresses in Edward the Third's time, snys Fairholt, and are .shown in that king's daughter's dress on the south side of his tomb in Westminster Abbey, as copied in Fairholt, p. 100. ri:i i \ \i behind his back, just below the bottom of hie jacket The very wide and short doublet Beems not to have appeared till about 14G0, and not to have been Blashed The tighter plaited jackel of Edward the Fourth's reign, also contemporary withpockel >h > had "large sleeves, open at the aides to display the shirt beneath," as shewn in the cut on pages 154 and 159 of Kairholt, This is the only slatring (supposing it means slashing) shown in the figures, unless the opening tor the arm in the long pocket sleeve be meant by the words of the poem. Bui the slashing of garments was at least as early as Chaucer's 'so mochil pounsyng of chiseles to make holes, bo moche daggyng of slieris' (Persones Tale, ed. Wright, p. 143, col. 2). The rere or late suppers noticed in 1. 374 of this Mirror poem are complained of by Eoberd of Brunne in 1303. Handlyng Synne, p. 220, 1. 72G0-3. (See also the servants' 'reresopers' denounced, 1. 7268-79.) Rere sopers yn pryuyte, WyJ glotonye echone fey be ; And J>yr is moche waste ynne, And gadryng of ouJ?er synne. Doubtless Roberd was not the first preacher who inveighed against them. lie also complains of the rich man lying long in bed on Sundays. When he heryf a bel ryng To holy cherche men kallyng, pan may he not hys bedde lete, But pan behouej? hym lygge and swete, And take j>e mery mornyng slepe. Handlyng Synne, p. 135, 1. 4258-G2. For the last three Poems in this volume I am indebted to Mr W. Aldis Wright, who copied them from MSS. under his charge in the Library of the Trinity College, Cambridge. The first, Quindecim Signa mite diem Judicii, he desired to print on account of its variations from the other earlier versions of the Poem in the K. 1 •'.. Poems I edited for the Philological Society (Transactions 1858, Pt. 1 1, pp. 7-1 2), in Eampole's Pricke of Conscience, the Metrical Homilies edited by Mr Small (in E. E. Poems as above, pp. 162-3), &v. The xn PREPACK ■ ml forms a companion to the Virgin's Complaint in onr Political, Religious, and Love Poems, 1866, and the third is given for its historic interest, and its contrast to the temper in which the later chronicler wrote of Archbishop Scrope's death. Some of the poems bear traces of having been Southernized from a Northern original, as in using boon for bane, p. 25, 1. 108, las- tande na mare, 1. 115, sfyhande, p. 30, 1. 261, and Mr Perry has just sent me a version from the Northern Thornton MS. of the Sweetness of Jesus, pp. 8-11, here, pp. 83-6 of the Text edited by Mr Perry from the Thornton MS. that will appear with tliis one. I have only in con- clusion to return thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the loan of his pretty little Manuscript, and to Mr Aldis Wright for his help, always so willingly given, notwithstanding the pressure of crowds of other work that would overwhelm an ordinary man. 3 St George's Square, N.W. 12th November, 1866. CORRIGENDA. P. 27, 1. 171. Lijknes is no doubt a miswriting of the MS. for sijknes, sickness. P. 61, 1. 90. Put " after dawe. P. 119, 1. 38. For dryve. read dryve, (comma for full stop). CONTENTS. NO Contents of the Lambeth MS. 853 . . . xv-xvi Notes . . . . . . xvii-xviii HYMNS TO THE VIRGIN. Vent, Coronaberis ...... 1-3 (A. Song of great Sweetness from Christ to his daintiest Dam) Hail, Blessed .Mary ! . . . . 4-5 A Maria ...... G-7 TOEMS TO CHRIST. The Sweetness of Jesus . . . . 8-11 Be my Coumfort, Crist Ihesus ! . . . .12-14 Richard de Castre's Prayer to Jesus . . . 15-17 Do Merci bifore tlii Iugement . . . .18-21 The Love of Jesus ..... 22-31 Se what oure Lord suffride for oure Sake . . . 32-4 I wiyte my silf myn owne Woo . . . 35-9 The Virtues of the Name Jesus (in Prose) ... 40 OTHER RELIGIOUS POEMS. The Deuelis Perlament, or Parlamentum of Feendis . 41-57 The Mirror of the Periods of Man's Life . . 58-78 (Or Bids of the Virtues & Vices for the Soul of Man) God send us Paciens in oure Olde Age . . . 79-82 This World is but a Vanyte (An Old Man's Lament) . 83-5 This World is false and vain .... c XIV CONTENTS OF THIS VOLUME. * Tune Earth ....... 88-90 Reuertere (In Englisch Tunge " Turno A$en ! w ) . . . 91-4 Merci passith Ri^twisnes .... 95-100 (A Dialogue between a despairing Sinner and Mercy) The Belief 101-3 The Ten Commandments .... 104-5 Keep Wei Cristes Comanndement : two texts, I. from the Vernon MS. (Bodleian Libr.) ab. 1370 a.d. ; even pages 106-112 II. from the Lambeth MS. 853 ab. 1430 a.d. ; odd pages . 107-1 1 3 The Sixtene Poyntis of Charite . . . .114-117 Quindecim Signa ante diem Judicij . . . 118-25 Who can not wepe, com lerne of me . . . 12G-7 (The Virgin's Lament over her dead Son) The Death of Archbishop Scrope (8 June, 1405) . 128 Extract from Halle's Vnion as to Archbp. Scrope's Death . 129-30 Glossary ...... 131-137 Notes . . ... . . .137 Index of First Lines ..... 1 38-9 CONTENTS OF THE LAMBETH MS. 853. Page of MS. 1. Surge mea Sponsa . 1 (printed litre p. 1-3.) 2. In a Tabernacle. Quia Amort langueo. . 4 (Political, Religion*, and Love Poems, E. E. T. Soc., 1866, p. 148-00.) 3. In a valey ... 7 (Pol., Rel., & L. Poems, 1S66, p. 150-8.) 4. Ihesu bi swetnes . 14 (printed here p. 8-11.) 5. Ihesus bat sprong . 20 (here p. 12-14.) G. Heil be bou Marie . 24 (here p. 4-5.) 7. Heil be bou Marie . 26 (here p. 6-7.) 8. Oratio R. tie Castro . 28 (here p. 15-17.) 9. Whoso wilneb . "j „ n Aristotle's A B & j (Buboes Boke, &c, E. E. T. Soc., 1867, p. 11-12.) 10. Win is bis world bilouecl 32 (here p. 86-7.) 11. Erbe out of erbe . . 35 (here p. 88-90.) 12. In bee, god fadir . The Belief. (here p. 101-3.) 13. Man among bi myrbis. The 16 points of\ Char it ii (here p. 111-7.) 39 Paprc Ok MS. 14. Every man schulde \ teche bis lore or r The Ten Command- i merits . j (here p. 104-5.) 15. I warne eche liif or \ The Ten Command- > 49 mentsQ*en p. 107-113.) ) 1G. There is no creature \ Do mere// bifore b/ J 54 iugement . ) ' (here p. 18-21.) 17. As y gan wandre or This world is but a \ tianyte (here p. 83-5.) 18. In a noon tijd . ) p, Reuertere (here p. 91-4.) ) 19. Bi a forest . ") rr Right i role for) . j °° (here p*. 95-100.) 20. As resoun rewlid or j * . FUius Regis . ) (Polit., Religious, and Love Poems, E. E. T. Soc, 1866, p. 205-13.) 21. This is goddis owne complaint . .81 (Political, Religious, and Love Poems, 1866, p. 161-9.) 21. If bou wolebc well . 88 (Prose. Here p. 40.) 21. Loue is lijf (hcrcp. 22-31.) 90 XVI CONTENTS OF THE LAMBETH MS. B5S. 113 Pajre of MS. 22. The good wijf tai^te hir doi^tir . . .102 (Babces Boke, &c, E. E. T. Soc, 1867, p. 36-47.) 23. From be tyme God sewl us padens (here p. 79-82.) 24. Bothe 3onge & olde . 117 (here p. 32-4.) 25. How Mankinde doob bigynne The Mirror (here p. 58-78.) 2G. Mi dere sone . ) Stems Puer . J (Babees Boke, &c., E. E- T. Soc, 1867, p. 27-33.) 27 150 of MS. Sone y schal bee ] schewe . ( Se what Our Lord i mffride (here p. 32-4) / 155 157 28. Whanne Mary was ) greet . . ; Parliament of Dt vils ) (here p. 41-57.) 29. If so be bat lecliis . 182 (Babees Boke, &c., E. E. T. Soc., 1867, p. 54-8.) 30. Listiiib lordingis \ How the wise man \ 18G taught his Son ) (Babees Boke, £c, p. 48-52.) 31. Tims oure gracious god j The Complaint of > 193 Christ . ) (Political, Rel., and Love Poems, 1866, p. 169-203.) 32. In my 3onge age \ 22G / wiyte my silf myn ( to oicne woo . j 233 (here p. 35-9.) NOTES. Prcf. p. iv, 1. 7. A just judgment -ave'i u Vmt lambs de diem. Soe doc the canting and blasphemous roguea of Prance tearme a cankered, gangrened, or desperately-sore leg. a.d. L61 1. p. 35. I wiyit mytelf nyn qwm Id n, in his Introduction //• Gaicai/ti<\ p. Ixv, notes another copy of this, " a Poem in ten eight-line stanzas, the burden of which is -1 write my self myne owne wo,' on foL 71 of MS. Etawlinson, C. 80, Bodleian Library. It begins 'In myyouthe tulle wvlde I w;is.'" Another is printed from MS. Cotton. Calig. A n fol. lOd, v s in Beliquia Aniiqua, v. 1, p. VJ7--200. It is in 15 stanzas of 8, with two in- troductory lines : I may say, and so may mo, I wyte mysylfe myne owene woo. p. 41. "The Pe vppon er\e. In Mr Halliwell's Early English Miscellanies from the Porkington MS., Warton Club, 1S55, is a later and somewhat different version of this poem in twelve stanzas of six, and two intro- ductory stanzas of seven lines. Mr Halliwell calls the Porkington one "tin- most complete copy known to exist." It seems a late recast of the old version. Mr Halliwell also notes, p. 91, "Other versions, varying considerably from each other, are preserved in MS. Seld. sup. 53 ; MS. Bawl. C. 307 ; MS. Rawl. Poet. 32 ; MS. Lambeth 853 (in this text) ; and in the Thornton MS. j ii Lincoln Cathedral (fol. 279). Portions of it arc occasionally found in- scribed on the walls of churches." p. 137. Note to p. 58. The inquirer as to climaeteric.il years is referred to "A Succinct Phylosophical Declaration of the nature of clymaterical y cares occasioned by the death of Queene Elizabeth " in MS. Sloane 2117, fol. 231. Jpnrans fa iljc Virgin, Cjrist, rix Vtm, (loromibms. (a song of GREAT SWEETNESS FROM CHRIST TO HIS DAINTIEST DAM.) (Lambeth MS. 853, ah. a.d. 1430, ^e I.) K QT'rge mea sponsa, swete in si3t, \ ^ ** And se pi sone pon ^afe sonke so scheene; \)ovl schalt abide wit^ pi babe so bri3t, And in my glorie be callide a queene. Tlii inammillis, moder, faUweel y meene, Y had to my meete pat y my3t not mys ; Aboue alle creaturis, my moder clene, Yeni, coronabeiis. Arise, My beloved, who gavest Me Buck from tliy breasts. Above all crea- tures thou slialt be crowned. 12 L6 l/ome, clenner pan crista!, to my cage ; Columba mea, y pee calle, And se pi sone pat in seruage For ma?mis soule was made a pralle. In pi palijs so principal I pleyde pr/uyli wipontc mys ; Myn hi3 cage, moder, liaue pou Bchal ; Veni, coronaberis. VOL. II. 1 Come, My dove, and see tby son WbO was made I slave for man. Tliou slialt have His high j'l i<>', and be crowned. VENI, CORONABERIS. Daughter of Slam, spotless flower, thou shalt sit crowned by Me, [Page 2.] ami all My saints shall honour thee. 20 21 £ or macula, modcr, was ncuerc in pec ; Filia syon, )>ou art pe flour j Ful sweteli schalt pou sitte bi me, And here a crowne with me in tour, ^[ And alle my seintis to J>in honour Schal hono?ire fee, modcr, in my blis, Jpat blessid bodi pat bare me in bowttr, Yeni, coronaberis. Princess of Paradise, Mother fair, the well of mercy in thee shall bring thy blessed body to bliss. Come and be crowned. iota pulcra pou art to my plesynge, My moder, princes of paradijs, Of pee a water ful well gan sprynge "28 pat schal a3en alle my ri3tis rise ; % ])e welle of mercy in pee, moder, lijs To bringe pi blessid bodi to blis ; And my semtis schulen do fee seruicc, 32 Veni, coronaberis. Come, My chosen one, Maiden Queen, dwell here with Me in bliss, and be crownec V eni, electa mea, meekeli chosen, Iloli moder & maiden queene, On sege to sitte semeli bi him an I113, 36 ])i sone and eek pi childe. ^f Here, moder, wip me to dwelle, With pi swete babe p«t sittip in blis, ])ero in ioie & blis p«t schal neucrc mys, 40 Veni, coronaberis. [Page :5.] Sweet Mother, remember the dew tbai dropped from our li]>s when we kissed. ('nine and be crowned. V eni, electa mca, my moder swete, Whawne pou bad me, babe, be ful stille, Ful goodli o?/?-e lippis pan gan mete, 44 AV/t// bri^t brauwehis as blosmcs on liille. ^f Fanus distillans it wente with willc, Oute of owre lippis whanne we dide kis, Jjerfore, moder, now ful stille, 48 Veni, coronaberis. VENI, C0R0NABERI8. Veni de libano, jvm loueli in launche, )>/t Lappid me Leueli with liking song, pou schall abide witfi a blessid brauwche, 52 }M so semeli of J?i bodi sprong. % Ego, floscampi, )>i flow, was soldo, pat on calueri to fee cried y-wvs • Afoder, pi pleasure, MyJSTtoight Ful of brht brauncnis & blosmes of blis : : v , i,h blo8Soms of -> ' bliss. Come now, moder, to pi derling dere ! Come ' Mother, * come and be 1 Veni, coronaberis. crowned. Quid est ista so vertuose Jpat is euere lastyng for liir mekenes 1 Aurora consurgens graciouse, 68 So benigne a ladi, of such bri3tn.es, % j^is is pe colour of kinde cle?mes, Itegina celi fat neiuve dide mys ; |jus endif J?e song of greet sweettnes, 72 Veni, coronaberis. [Quia Amorc Languco, or " In a tabernacle of a tour," and its continuation " In a valcy of J?is rcstlcs mynde," printed in Politi- cal, Religious, and Love Poems, pp. 14S-150, follow here. Then " Ihesu, bi swetnes," p. 8, and " Ihcsus J?at sprong, p. 12, of this volume.] 1 Compare " Awake, north wind, and come, thou south ; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and cat his pleasant fruits." Solomon's Song, ch. iv. 16. u My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies." vi. 2. 1* Who is she that shall endure for ever for her meekness? The Queen of Heaven, who never sinned. Come thou then, and be crowned ! fail, glari pars! [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 A.v.,page 24.] The heavy Clarendon letters mark the red of the MS. Hail, Mary, Mother of the Son of God ! Maiden, never defouled, fairest flower of the field. U.Eil be bou, marie, be modir of cr/st, Heil be blessidist bat euere bare child ! Heil bat conceyuedist al wib list 4 ])e sone of god bobe meeke & mylde ! ^f Heil maide sweete bat neue?*e was filid ! Heil welle and witt of al wijsdome ! Heil bou flour ! lieil fairest in feeld ! 8 Aue regina celorum ! Hail, comely Queen, healer of all pain. [Page 88.] Hail, mother of Christ, the king of Angels. Jjiail comeli queene, coumfort of care ! Heil blessid lady bothe fair & bri3t ! Heil be saluoar of al sore ! 12 Heil be laiuw-pe of lemys h^t ! ^f Heil bou blessid beerde in whom [crist] was p^t ! Heil ioie of marc bothe al and sum ! Heil pinacle in heuene an l^t, 1 6 Mater regis angelorum ! Hall, fairest of all, who bred our blis8,on whom all women In child- bed call. All fiends dread thee, who feddest tliy Son wit li maiden milk, Thon Bower of virgins. Heil crowned queene, fairest of alle ! Heil bat alle oure blis in bradde ! Heil bat alle wommen on doon calle 20 in temynge wha«ne bei hen hard bistadde ! ^ Heil bou bat alle feendis dredde, And schulen do til be day of doome ! With maidens niylk bi sone bou fedde, 24 maria, flos virginum. UAH., BLESSED MARY H«-il faireet pat euere god found, Whiche cheea |>ee to his owns boor ! Ilcil pe Lanterns pat Lb ay li^thond ! 28 To fee schnlen loute bofe riche & poore. ^ Heil spice Bwettist of sauour ! 1 It*ll pat al ome ioye of come ! Heil of alio wo/// men fruyt & flour ! 32 Velud 1 rosa vel lilium. Hail, choice of Qed, whom rich and poor adore. Hail, fruit and flower of womankind. ■> ; /. ", and d rubbed J Hcil be pou goodli ground of grace ! Heil blessid sterre upon pe see ! Heil of coumfortis in euery caas ! 30 r Heil pe cheeuest of charitee ! Heil welle cf witt and of merci ! Heil pat bare ih&m, goddis sone ! Heil tabernacle of pe trynyte ! 40 Funde preces ad filium. Hail, Star upon tl.e MS, chiefest in charity, tabernacle of the Trinity. Heil be fou virgyne of virgins ! Heil blessid modir ! heil blessid may ! Heil norische of sweete ihesus ! 44 Heil cheefest of chastite, forsope to say ^f Lady, kepe vs so in oure last day ])cit we may come to pi kingdom ! For me & alle ertsten pou pray, 48 Pro salute fidelium. Amen. Hail, blessed maiden, In our last day brine us to thy realm. Pray for all faith- ful soul- ! $uc prar. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 a.d.,/o7. 26. P« /■//// written without break*.] Hail, Mary, Queen and Star of Heaven! help me and hear my prayer. [ i Page 27.] IlEil be J?ou marie, cmtis modcr derc, ]>at art queene of heue??, fair and sweete of chore, Jjat art sterre of heue?? schinywge bri^t & clere ! Iielpe me, lady ] fid of my3t, & heere my praiere Aue maria. To thee I make my moan : let me not die In any of the Seven Sins. Heil blessid marie, mylde queene of heue?? ! Blessid be )>i name, ful good it is to nempno : 8 To J?ee, lady, y make my moone ; I p/v?ie fee heere my steue?^, And let me neuere die ira noo?? of pc sy/mis seuene. Aue maria. Hail, Mary, flower of all! To thee I pray ! he by me when die, and save me from Satan's hondH. 12 1G Heil be Jjmi marie fat art flour of alle, As roose in eerbir so reed ! To J?ec, ladi, y clepe and calle, To fee y make my beed ; ))ou be in stide & in stalle Whawne y schal drawe to deed, And lete me neuere falle in bound is of J?c queed ! Aue maria. Grant me my prayer, 20 H^ 1 bo J>°»> marie, fat hi^ sittist in troone ! Y biseche J?ec, swcte lady, graurate me my boone, Al'i; M.VUIA. i Ihesuto lone Adrede, & my lijfe toameende Boone, mmd my ure, All- IT 111 a '"' ,,ri! - And bring me to J>at blia Jwt neuere Bcnal be mru*ii« bu«. doom*. 21 Aue maria. JJril be pi'\\ marie, gloriouse model hende ! Bm&n*mMt- Meeknea & honeste, with abstynence, me Bende, ihatimaygoto With ehastite & charite into my lyuos eende, •»••*•■■ 28 And J?at J>oni3 J>i proier, lady, I mote to heuerc blia weende ! Aue maria. [Oratio Magistri Richardi do Outre, p. 15, below, follows here] fronts fa Cljrat. %k BMtmss of Itstts. Jesu, beside Thy sweetness all earthly love is bitter. Teach me firmly to set my heart on Thee. No earthly love delights like Thine, the King of Love. I would my heart were wholly Thine. [Page 16.] If Nature bids me love my kin, I should love Theo first, who didst put Thy likeness in my soul. [Lambeth MS. 853, ah. 1430 A.D., page 14.] Illesu, f i swetnes, wlio-so nry^te it se, And f erof hauo a cleere knowynge, Al erf eli loue bittir schulde be 4 Saue fin a-loone without leesinge. I praie fee, lord, fat lore leere me, Aftir f i lone to hane longynge, And sadli to sette myn herte on fee, 8 In f i loue to liaue most liking. Oo likinge loue in erf e noon is ; In soule who-so coude him sof eli se, Hi?7i to loue were mykil blis, 1 2 For king of loue callid is he. ^] With true loue, y wolde f is, So faste to him bouwle be, j)at myne herte were holli his 1G So fat no fing likid me but he. IF y for kyndenes schulde loue my kyn, Jpan me f enkif in my folate Bi kyndeli skile y schulde bigynne 20 At him fat haf me maade of noi^t. ^ His lijknes he sette my soule with-i/mo, And al f is world for me haf wrou^t, As fadir he fondid my loue to wy?me, 24 For to heuene he haf me brou^t. Tin: SWEETNESS OF J A^ moder of him, y make now mynde, ]3;it bifore my birfe to me toke hede, And gtyen wttfl baptym vraiscbif jwt kynde 28 Jjat foulide was J><>ni$ adams dede. f WttA noble mete he norischij ottre kynde, For with his fleisch he dooj? as fede, A bettere fode may no man fynde, 32 To lastynge lijf it wole us lede. Bflftm my »>irt h i for dm. and now • dtir raea with His blood. (Jure broker & sustir he is hi skile, For he so seide, & lend us Jjat lore J)at who so wrou^te his fadris wille 36 Briferen & sustren to him pei wore. ^[ Mi kinde also he took Jjer-tille, Ful truli truste y him Jjerfore j^at he wole neuere lete me spille, 40 But wij? his mercy same my sore. He i9 the brother and sister of those who do His Father's will. [Page ML] He took my nature, and so I trust Him. The loue of hi??i passif, certis, Al erpeli loue fat may ben here j God & man, my spouse he is, 44 "Weel oi^te y, wrecche, to loue hiwi dure, ^f Bojje heueft and erj?e holli is his, He is lord of greet powere, Callid he is J?e kyng of blis, 48 His loue me longijj for to leere. His love passes all earthly love, and He is my spouse. His name is King of Bliss. A ftir his loue me J>enkij> long For he haj> myne ful dere y-boi^te ; "Wha/mc y was wente fro hiwi with wrong 52 From heuera to crje he me soi^te. ^f Mi wrecchid kynde for me he fonge, And al his nobley he sette as noi^t, Pouert he surTride, & peynes stronge, 56 A:en to blis or he me bxou^te. He bought my love full dear. tool nay wretched nature, ami brought me to bliee. 10 THE SWEETNESS OF JESUS. [Page 17.] Love for mo brought Him to earth, and tor that He pledged His life, and shed His precious blood. Whatrae y was Jral, to make me fre, Mi loue fro heuene to erfe him ledde, My loue aloone haue wolde he, GO For perfore he leide his lijf to wedde. ^f WiJ? my foo he faujte for me, "Wouwdid he was, and bittirli bledde, His preciouse blood ful greet plentc G-i Ful piteuousli for me was schedde. His side9 were bloody, His heart pierced with a spear. He gave His life for my guilt. Hise sidis bloo and blodi were J}at sumtyme were ful bri^t of blec ; His herte was persid wij) a spere, 68 Hise ruli wouwdis were ru)?e to se. ^f iSXi raurasum forsofe he paied Jjere, And 3af his lijf for gilt of me, His deej? schulde be to me ful dere, 72 And perse myn herte for pure pitee. My heart should break with pity, for I was cause of all His woe. [Page IS.] For me He Buffered death, and rose again, Jtor pitee myn herte schulde broke on two, To his kyndenes if y took hede ; Encheson y was of al his w r oo, 7G He suifride ful harde for my mis-dedo. ^f To lastyng lijf j>at y schulde go, He suffride deef in his manhede ; And wharane his wille was to lyuc also, 80 A3en he roos J>oni3 his godhede. and went to heaven. He protects me from my foes, the friend that never fails, and asks only my love ±o hcucw he wente with mychc blis "Whawnc he ouercome his bataile, His baner ful brode displaied is 84 Wluume so my fo wole me assaile. ^ Weel oujte y, wrecche, to ben his, 1 [e is J?at freend J?at neiure wole faile ; ]S r o bing desirij) he pat is, 88 But true loue aaen for his trauaile. Tin: sweetness of 11 Thus wolde my Bpouse for me fijt, And for me was woundid Bore, For my loue his deef was di t ; 92 What loue my;te he kije more I ^f To jelde his foue haue y no my3te But Loue him hertili ferfore, And worche wvi'l with werkia rijt 9G jjat ho ha]} lend me with loueli lore. Fur DM II.' w:n WOlllllllll tOfS, unci died. I cannot repay His love, 1'iit only <>l»cy His commands. yfip loueli lore his werkia to fille, Weel ou3te y, wrecche, if y were kyndc, Nyjt & day to worche his wille, 100 And curve haue fat lord in mynde, ^f But goostli foos greue?i me ille, And my frccl fleisch makif me blinde ; J>vfore his mercy y toke me tille, 104 For betere bote can y noon fyndc. [Page 19.] I must alway work His will; but my foes and flesh blind me. I fly to His mercy. Betere bote is noon to me J3an to his mercy truli me take )}at with his fleisch haf m^de me free, 108 And me, wrecche, his childe wole make. ^[ I praie fat lord for his pitee )}at he for syrone me not forsake, But 3eue me grace fro sywne to flee, 112 And Iumi to loue let me neuere slake. which is my best remedy. O Lord, forsake me not, but give me grace to love Thee. IheffU, for fe swetnes fat in fee is, Haue mynde of me whan y hens wende, With stidfaat truf e my wittis f on wis, 11G And, lord, fou scheelde me fro>/i fe feende ! ^f For f i mercy fo^eue me my mys, J)at wickid work my soule neuere schende, And lede me, lord, in-to f i Llis, 120 With fee to wone wtt/iouto cende. Amex. For Thy sweetness keep me from Ihe evil one! [Page 20] For Thy mercy lead me mtobUee, erer to dwell with Thee ! 12 §t mj Coumfort, Crist gfyras ! [Lambeth MS. 853, a& 1400 A.D., joa^ 20.] Jesu, savour sweet to man's soul,. thou Virgin's son! Son, and Mother, comfort me ! ±Hesas Jjat sprong of iesse roote, As us ha]) prechid )>i prophete, Flour and fruyt bo)?e softe and sote, 4 To ma?mis soule of sauour sweete ; Ihesu ! jjou broii3tist man to boote Wha?me gabriel gan marie greete, To felle oure foomen vndir foote, 8 In liir Jjou si} a semeli sete : % A mayden was J)i modir meete, Of whom Jjou took fleisch for us ; As 3e may boje my balis beete, 12 So be my cou??ifort, crist ihesus. Jesu, to save man's soul thou wert poorly clad, put in a cradle, [Page 21.] horn in Bethlehem. By Thy kiss to 'J'iiy mother, comfort me ! Ihesu, jjou art wijsdom of witt Of Ji fadir ful of myjt ! Mannys soule, to saue it, 16 In poore aparaile Jjou were pi$t. % Ihesu. ! Jjou were in cradil knyt, In wede wiappid boJ?o day & ny^t, In bethleem born, as J)e gospel writt, 20 'With aiwgelis song and heuene li^t. Earn y-born of a beerde bri^t, Ful curteis was Ju comeli cus ; Jjoruj wertu. of J?at sweete si^te, 24 So be my coumfort, crist ihesus. Jamii who wast fair when young, Alu'.s-u, Jjat were of seeris gong. Fair and frcsch of bide and hue, BE .MY OOUMfOBT, ORIS! 1 1 J I 13 Whanne |>ou were in fraldonj ftong, 28 And turmentid with many a Lewe, If Whanne blood and watiz were out wrong, For beetinge was fi bodi bl< clot <>f clay jvm were for-clonge, 32 So deed in f 1-0113 banne men fee brewe, Tf But grace of f i grane grew j Jjou roos up quik coiunfort to us. For lrir loue fat f is councel knewc, 36 So be my coumfort, crist ih&sus. whm Thou wert on the Cross, turncd'st blue, and like a clod of clay wast cast in grave. lint quickly Thou arose. Then comfort me. Ilu'su, sooffast god and man, Two kindis knyt in oon persone, ])e wondir wcrk fat foil bigan 40 Jjou hast fidfillid in nelson & bone. % Out of f is world wu^tli foil wan, Liftynge up f i silf adoone ; For my3tili foil roos, & ran 44 Strei3t vnto f i fadir in trone. ^F Xow dare man make no more moonc ; For man it is f ou wroi^te f us, And god wif man is maade at oone, 48 So be my coumfort, crist ihesus. [Page 22.] Jesu, God and soon Thou rose from the dead to Thy Father's throne. Man shall mourn no more, so comfort me. ^f Ihesu crist, holi and hende, pat beerde was bless id fat bare fee, Aftir hir whanne fou gan Bende, 52 In heuene blis wif fee to bee. ^f Out of f is worlde whanne sche wende, Bof e bodi & soule were sett in see Hi^er fan ony of aungelis kinde, 56 In troone a-fore fe trynyte. % jperc may fe Bone hie modii se In heuene an lii3 to helpen us ; )pou peerless pnnces, praie for me ! 60 And be my coumfort, crist ih&ras. Jesu, Thou sentest for Thy Mother to heaven, and set her higher than the angels on a throne. [Page 23.] Peerless Prlnoeei, pray for DM ! end, Jesse, oomfort me! 14 Jesus, be my food in body and soul, stay my sorrow, and comfort me. BE MY OOUMFORT, CRIST IHBSUS ! IWu, my souereyne sauyour, Alnry^ti god, pere ben no moo : Crist, foil be my gouernonr, G4 ])i feij> lete me not fallen fro. % Ihmi, my ioye and my soconrc ' In my body and soule also, God, Jjoii be my strengist fode, 68 And wisse Jjou me wlia?* me is wo. % Lord, J>ou makist freend of foo, Lete me not lyue in langour )ms, Bnt se my sorowe, & seie now ' ho,' 72 And be my coumfort, crist iliesus. Trince of Peace, I pray Thee help me Id all my fear, [Page 24.] let me please Thee in word and deed, and die well at my day. He my comfort, Christ ! Ihesu, to J?ee y crie and greede ; Prince of pees, to fee y praye ; )X)ii woldist bleede for mamiis nede, 76 And suffre manye a feerdful fray. % ])on me fede in al my drede WiJ pacience now and ay Mi lijf to lede in word & dede 80 As is moost plesannt to J)i pay, % And to deie weel wliawnc it is my day. Ihesu, fat deied on tree for us, Lete me not be Je feendis pray, 84 But be my cou??ifort, crist ihesus ! AmeX. [The two Hymns to the Virgin, " Ileil be }?oii, Marie," printed on pages 4-7 of this Text, follow here.] 15 $ith;irb k (Litre's prancr to festtS. [/.'///// //' J/N. 863, o5. 1430 k.^page 28, ttrrttfen without breaks.] Oralio magistri Richardi de castre, quam ipse posuit. XHesu, lord, pat madist me, And AviJ) pi blessid "blood hast boi^t, For^eue )>at y haue greued )>ee forp i VP ^ , 4 Wtti worde, wtti wil, 4nd eek wttf J>on 3 t, S2. 8riw- Jesu, ^[ Ih&?u, in whom in al my trust, put deied upon J>e roode tree, WitAdrawe myn lierte from fleisclili lust, 8 And from al wordli vanyte ! Withdraw my heart from fleshly lust. % Them, for ))i wouradis smerte On feet & on J>in hondis two, Make me meeke & low of lierte, 12 And fee to lone as y echulde do ! Make me meek and low ly of heart. ^f Ihmi, for J>i bitter wouode pat wente to J>in herte roote, For synne fat hup myn herte bounde, 1G \)i bleajedd bloode mote be my bote. Thy blood must heal my guilt. % And ihara cmt, to pan y calle pat art god i'ul of my$t j Kepe me cleene, fa\ y ne falle 20 In deedli *ytmc uaifer be day ne n\;t. Keep me ]>un> from mortal mil 16 RICHARD DE CASTRES PRAYER TO JE^US. Let me never displease Thee. % I\u\s\\, giaunte me myne askings, Perfite pacience in my disese, And neuere mote y do pat ping 24 }3«t schulde fee in ony wise displese. Grant that I and all to whom Iain bound may die well. [Page 29] Speed my prayers that I may not be condemned. % Ihesw pat art oure heuenli king, Soopefast god, & man also, 3eue me grace of good eendinge, 28 And hem fat Y am holden vnto. % Ihesu, for pe deedly teeris Jpat foil sclieeddist for my gilt, Here & spede my praiers, 32 And spare me pat y be not spilt. Keep Thy reveng ing hand from those who anger Thee. % Them, for them y pe biseche )3at wrappen pee in ony wise, W7t/*-holde from hem pin hond of wreche, ?6 And lete hem lyue in pi seruice. Comfort all who are full of care. % Ebera, moost cou?/2fort for to se Of pi seintis euerychoone, Conmfort hem pat careful been, 40 And helpe hem pat ben woo bigoon. Amend all who have grieved Thee. % Ihesu, keepe he??i p«t been goode, And ameende hem fat han greued pee, And sende hem fruytis of erpeli fode 44 As ech man nedip in his degree. Stop these wars, and send us peace. % Them, pat art w/t/^-outen lees Almy^ti god in trynyte, Ceesse pese werris, & sende us pees 48 AVip lastingc loue & charitee. Hi' mi, pat art pe goostli stoon Of al holi chirche in myddil erpe, RICHARD di: castuk's PRATBH t>> .11 17 Bringe bi fooldia & flockia in oon, BttagThjMu and I0I1U in our; 52 And rule hem 1 i 5 1 1 i with oon hirda f Ihxwu, for 1 bi blessidful blood, '" :i0J 11 r ' and bring to MlM Bringe, it' bou wolt, bo Boulia to blia ■iiwhoh»T«do« BMgOOd Aiikmi .bor J whom y haue had ony good, [*;■/(»■ Fro] 56 And spare bat bci haw do a-mys. Amen. ["Who-so wilneb," printed on pp. 11-12 of The Babees Book ) &c, follows here, on p. 30 of the MS.] L8 go gprri bifow tin hm\\m\l [Lambeth MS. 583, ab. 1430 a.d., page 54, written without breaks.'] Our Creator is the maker of all, to \vl:om we lament ho .v frail we are. God, be merciful before thy judgment. A here is no creature 1 but oon, Maker of euery creature, God a-loone, & euer more oon, 4 And f re in oon alway to endure. % To fat lord Ave make oure moone To who?tt al coumfort is, & cure, To f hike how freel we ben echoon. 8 In f is world is hard auenture : ^f Who-so f crof is moost ensure, Suwnest schal he be schamed and schent. Or fou fe world w/t// iier pure, 12 Do merci bifore fi iugemeut. Damn not Thine own work to please the Devil; banish us Dot from thytofght. Juord, do mercy or fat Jjou deeme, Lest fou dampne fat fou hast wroujt What ioie were it a feend to qweme, 1G To jeue him fat foil liast dere bou^t. ^f Out of f i si3t if fou us fleme, We ben dampned rijt as nou^t; ];i passiotui make us bri^t cV' Bchene 20 In wil, in worde, in dede & fou^t ! 1 A later hand lias written our over the tor of ' creature/ and dotted the arc out. Do MER< I BIFOHE Till IUGEMENT. 19 24 For whi, synne haf us fnni$ soujt ; pet-fore ameende fon oure entent To fe doom or we bee brouit ! Do mercy bifore pi ingement. oar Thy Judgment, W 1 ' axe fi mercy, (k>b heuenli king, For Jjou art lord of ech degre ; Of erf e fou madist owe bigymij 28 And aftir with spirit enspirid us free. If "Wif trees and gras fou $af us growings, "Wif beestis, feelinge lijf haue wo, And \\7t// axusgils we haue vndirstondinge, 32 And ferbi we schnlden know J>ee. ]3ou baddist fat alle schulde multiplie, But we ben 1'als & necligent: For we may not hide us frowa J?in i;e, 36 Do merci bifore f i iugement. Thy merry. Thou madeel us of earth, and breathedet spirit in us, giving us sentient life with beasts, and knowledge wilh angels. We are f. cannot hide from Thee. Have Mercy on us! J-' oil baddist us axe merci, & we schnlden haue j Thou baddeet us ask Mercy. It doof us couwiort on pea to calle, j)o\i hast ordeined man to saue, For fi merci passif fi werkis alle. ^f ])i lierte blood for us pou jaue, J)ou madist us free where Ave were f ralle : Lcte neuere f e feend oure soulis crane pat waischen was in fin holi welle! ^f Oure ileixh is freel, it niakif us feUe, "Wif grace 1 we risen & schulen repente ; And in hope of fee we Bchal : 48 Haue merci to-fore thi ingement. 1<) 11 Thou pavest Thine heart'l blood for us : [1 Page 56.] our flesh is frail : give us Grace and Hope ; and hare Mercy on us. 52 yl e axe mercy bi ri^twijsnes, For fi biheest La al oure riat> And of fi greet kindenea f'Hi hast mercy to os bilujt. 3 ^ We rely on Thy promise of Merq to us. u .ii do nothing 20 DO MERCI BIFORE Till IUGEMENT. of ourselves. The world, Hie flesh, and the devil fight with us. Have Mercy before Thy Judgment. We have corrupt- ed our nature With sin ; we are untrue. Remember not our trespass ; [Page 57.] wc cannot escape Thee. Have mercy on us. Lord, we commit our life to Thee: keep us night and day. Jesu, drive the devil from us when we die ; let him not seize our souls. Have Mercy before Thy Judgment, liod, mingle Here; with .liiMi e, 56 Go 64 68 72 % We ne be but erpe watirlees, J)at to springe ve?'tu hap no my3t ; Jpis worldis likerose bittirnes Bireuep us discreciou/i & owe si$t. % ])e feend, pe fleisch, pe worlde, wip us ay fi3t ; Jpus be we taken in turme?it ; Jperfore, lord, or pi doom be di}t, Do merci bifore pi iugement. yI ip sywne we ban defoulid oure kinde, And kinde may wc not escbewe ; To wrappe pee, god, we ben vnkinde ; Jpou kindeli king, we be?i vntrewe ! % A^ens pis can no clerk skile fynde ; Graciose god, upon us re we ; Take not owe trespase in to mynde, But in pi doom lete merci sue ! •J" For pou} we wolden from pee remewe, In ecli place pou art p?*esent ; Or we were born, lord, pou us knewe ; Do merci bifore pi iuggemeftt. Jjord ! oure soule, oure spirit, oure lijf, Into pin hondis, lord, we bitake ; Out of temptaeioutt and strijf, 76 Lord, kepe us wheper we slepe or wake. % Ihesu, for pi wou/zdis fyue, And for pi modir sake, j?e feend away from us pou dryue 80 Wha/me deep with us maist/'ie schal make, % And suffre hi»z not oure soule away to take For wliiche on roode pou were torent ; A^ens pi doom we tremble & quake j 81 Do merci tofore pi iugement ! (jod, Jou deeme us ri^twysli, Medele pou merci with execusioura, DO Ml EN l BIFORE Till IUGEMENT. 21 For we lian forfetid wrongfulli ; 88 Take btede to ot»re contricioun ! •fj" We jeelde us synful & Boiy By ' Cnowliche & confession?! ; \>\ passionn & J>i mercy 92 We take to oure entensionn, % Bilccut' is omv saluaciouMj With keping of pi comarmdemewt. God, putte J>in holi passion// 9G Bitwixe us & J>i iugeniewt ! Amen. takt hMd to «nv eontrltlon. We are sinful ud sc.rry. [i Pagtte.] Wr plttd Tliy mimV rings : put them l>etween us ami Thy Judgment. [ v< As y gan wamliv," printed below, follows here.] 22 fire gjobt of |ts«s. (Pages 90-102, written without Jural; Love in Christ is everlasting life; it turns work into rest. T Oue is lijf J? at lastip ay ])cre it is in enst made fest, Wharane wele ne wo it slake may, 4 as wrotera han men wisest. ^f j)e ny^t it turnep in-to day, Traueile it turnep in to rest : If pou wolt do as y fee say, 8 j)o\\ schalt pa«ne be with f»c best. Love is like a fire; it elcanses us of sin. ^ Loue is a poi^t with gret desijr, And also of a fair loouywge ; Loue y likne in-to a fier 1 2 J)at slakeen may for no pi??,g. ^f Loue clensip us of oure sy??ne, loue oure blis sclial bridge, Loue pe kingis lierte may wy/me, 16 loue of ioie euere may synge. The help of Love reaches to heaven* [Page 91.] it oooplei <;<> i to in. in. \)g socour of loue is liftid hie, For i??to heuene it ran ; Me penkip in herte pat it is sli3e, 20 pat makip pe pcple bopc pale & wan. ^[ j)c beed of blis it goip ful ny3, — I telle 3011 it as y can, — fperofua penkip pe wey to dric, 21 Fot euere Loue couplip god to man. THE LOVE OF JESUS. ^J Loue u better pan fe oole To hem fat of it lb fayn & frike, j)c flawme of loue, who my^te it f<»l.', 28 If it were euermore li If Loue as hdif, & makif in 4 wart, And lil'tif us up Ln-to heuene-riche, And lone ranischib crfet in-to ome herti 32 I woot nowhere no lone it La Ujke. inittiT than "Til ; It cheer* I lifl\cll. ^f Leerne to loue if Jwu wolt lyuc Whanne f ou sclialt hena fare ; Al fi Joi^t to him fou^eue 36 fat may fee kepe horn care ; ^f Luke j>ou fin herte fro him not fcwynne J30113 Jj on wandie enery where, So f'm may weelde him wit^-inne, 40 And loue him hcrtili euermore. Loam to Love God, and put not thine heart from Him. Theau, fat me loue hast lende, In-to f i loue fou me bridge, Take to fee al myn entente 44 J3at fou be to me myn jeminge, ^[ And J?at erynne fro?n me awei were went, And loue come myn ownc coneitynge, psA my soule hadde herd & hent 48 ])q songe of f i sweete louynge. [Paprc 92.] Jesu ! bring me to Thy Lu\ a that sin may leave me, and my soul may hear the - Thy lovl ^[ j)i loue is to us euerelastynge Fro fat tyme f"t we may it verrili fele, Jjerinne make we euere brennynge, 52 Jjat no f ing may it nerrili keele. ^f Mi foi^t, take it into fin hand, And stable fou it Like a dele, J?at y be no fing hildande 5G To lone nerrili fe worldia wele. Thy Lovi ever. Take my Thee that I may not love the world. 21 THE LOVE OF JESUS. If I love any earthly tiling, [Page 9:?.] at my death it will be poison in hell. 60 64 % If y loue ony erfeli Jing j)at paiejj to my wille, And sette my ioie in foule likinge, Whanne it may come me tylle 1 may drede at my departynge ])at it wole be attir & ille, For alle my welfis ben wepiwge wha?me peyne my soule wolde spille. Earthly joy, now fresh and green, soon fades. Such is the world: toil and trouble. % j)e ioie pat men heere seen Is ful liki??ge vnto J?e i^ee ; j)at now is fair, freische, and grene, 68 And anooft aftir is welkid awey : ^f jpis is J?e world, alle men mou-w seen, And wole be vnto domysday, Ful greet traueile, & myche tene ; 72 To flee fat is ful hard in fay. If you leave evil, and give yourself to Christ, He will bring you to bliss. % If Jjou leue yuel in al Ji Jio^t, And hate Je filthe of synne, And }eue to him J?at fee dere boi^t, 76 \)at he weelde Jjee w/t/j-inne, % Al Jn soule Ju lord ha]) sou^t, And J?erof he wolde not mywne ; J)us schalt Jjou to blis be brou^t, 80 And wonye heuene wij>-ynne. [I Page 94.] Love is trusty and true, Qerer changing. He who finds it need not care. ^[ For^sojje j>e kinde of loue is j>is, — pere it is trusty and trewe, — To stoonde euere in stabilnes, 84 And cliauragc neuere for no newe. ^f ]pat wi3t Jjat frit loue may finde, Or euere in herte it knewe, Fro care it tnrnej) J?at kinde : 88 Such a mirjje fyndijj to fewe. tin: love of j ^f For-f i, loue f e I Crist is trcwv lone, M v be telle ; "Wif songilia take f"ii fi rtide ; 92 \)i\t ioie Loke f^u not fella ^[ In erfe hate 1 poo no maner qweed, Bat lake fat fi loue may dwelle, For loue is more stranger fan deed, 96 Loue is more harder fan hella CfcfM is true Lot*, [1 I l»ue] Let thy Love be It is stronger than death and hell. « Lone is li;t, A a hirfun fyne ; Loue gladif bof e jonge and oolde ; Loue is wif out ony pyne, 100 Ae louers han me toolde. % Loue is goostli deli- 2 ciouse as wijn J3at makif mew bof e big & bolde ; To fat loue y schal me so faste fcyne, 104 J)at y ill herte it euarmoie hold<*. Love gladdens young and old. [2 Page 95.] It is delicious a wine. Hold fast to it. ^f Loue is f e swettiste f ing ]iat heere in erf e men may han ; Loue is goddis owne derlinge j 108 Loue byndif bofe blood & baan. ^ In loue, f erf ore, be ottre likinge ; I knowe no betere won ; For me oonli, & my loiiynge, 112 Loue makif bofe but oon. Love is Qod*i iiwii darling. Let our delight be in it. •f But al fleischli loue schal fare As doof f e flouris of may, And schal be lastande na mare 1 1G But as it were an hour of a day ; % And sorewen aftir fat ful Bare Hir lust, her pride, & al her play, Whaime f«-i aren cast in c 120 In-to pyne f^/t last if a v. Fle*hly love is like May flowers, lasting only an hour. And after comes sore sorrow in hell. 2G T1IE LOVE OF JESUS. [Page 90.] When men rise ■gain, if they have sin- ned here, they shall lie in hell. ^f Whaime her bodies in J)e fen ligge??, J}a??ne sclmlen her soulis be in drede, And up a^en as men sclmlen risen, 12 4 And answere for her mys dede. ^[ If J?ei be seen Jan in sy??ne, And now heere per liif J?ei ledde, J)an sclmlen Jjei ligge helle wij>-inne, 128 And derkenes haue to mede. Rich men shall rue their sin In hell. But Love, and then you'll sing to Christ. ^f Riche men her liondis schal wryngc, And her wickid werkea abie In flawmes of fiei* bitterli bre??nynge, 132 "Wijj care and sore we schamefastli. ^f If pou wolt lone, fan may Jjou synge To J>i lord crist in melodie : Jpe loue of him overcome]) al Jring ; 136 In lone lyue we & die. Jesu, Son of God ! send Love into my heart! [i Page 97. J Be my Love! Ihesn ! god-is sone Jon art, lord of moost hi 3 magiste, Sende vemli loue in-to myn herte 1 40 Oonly l to coueite pee ! ^[ Reue me likinge of J>is world, Mi loue J>at Jou may be j Take myn herte in-to Ju ward, 144 And sette Jjou me in stabilte ! Jesu, maiden's S..11! Pierce my soul with thy spear. Make my heart light In Thy ■woetnott. ^[ Them ! Jjou, Jje maidens sone, Jj«t with }>i blood me bo^te, Jjirle my soule with J>i spere anoon, 148 fait myche loue in mew hast wrouat. ^[ Me longijj Jjou lede me into Jji si$t, And fastnc Jjcrc in Jjee my Jjoi^t ; In Jji swetnes make my?? herte li}t, 152 }yt al my woo wexetonoi^t. THi: LOVE or JESUS. 27 1T Ih&n, my god A my loneli king ! Forsake fmi not mydeaijr ; Mi Jji>u?t make to l>c mei-kii 15G I hate bofe pride & ire. ^[ ))i wil is al my deediynge ; Of lone kyndele f aungila take myn hire. Jeau, my Ood ! make m kin. lie Within Die ^f "Wbuwde foil myn heite wif-inne, And weelde me at f i wille ; Of blia fat neuere schal blywne, 1G4 fiou fastneme fat ynot spille. ^f fiat y f i loue may wynne, Of grace my Jjoi^t J?on fille, And make me cleene of syftne 1G8 pat y may come fee tille. Wield me at Thy will [Page OS.] that I may win Thy love and come to Thee. 172 17G ^1 Ihera ! putte i?i-to myn herte fie memorie of f i pyne ! In lijknes, and eek in qwarte, fi'\ loue be euere myne ! Mi ioie is al of fee ; My Boule, take it as fine ; Mi lone euere wexinge be, So fat y neui re dwywne. Jesu, remind me of Thy sufferings, give me Thy Love, take my soul aa Thine. % My loue is eiie?*e in si^inge While y dwelle in fis way ; Mi loue is in fee longynge, 180 fiat bindif me mfi <& day ^[ Tille y come vnto my king fiere y wone w/t// him may, And sc hifl fair schyny 184 In lijf f at lastif ay. My Love slghi and Ionics till I come to inv King inl.ifeth.it UUtetil a\ e. 28 Till: LOVE OF JESUS. Christ has sent nie His Love. All woe has left me. ^| Longi/?ge is in me so lent For loue, pat y ne can lete ; His loue he hap me now sent 1 88 fiat eue?*y bale may bete ; ^f Sipen pat myn herte was bre?*t In m'stis loue so sweete, Al woo fro me awei is went 192 And we neue?'e a^en sclmlen mete. I sit and sing. [» Page 99.] Jesu, my joy, bring me to Thy dwelling. ^f I sitte and synge of loue longynge fiat in my l brest is now bred. Ihmi, my king and my ioiynge ! 196 Wlii ne were y to pee led 1 % Ful weel y woot in al my 3ernywge, In al ioie, y schulde be fed. Ihmi ! me brynge to pi woniynge, 200 For pe blood pat pou hast bleed. Jesus was hung on the Cross, scourged, and crowned with thorns. % Demed he was on a crosse to heng, fie fair aurcgelis foode ; Wip scourgis pei gan him sore swing 204 Wharaie pat he howiden stoode ; ^f His brist was bloo in betyng, Not spilt was his blood ; fie porn crowned pat king 208 fiat doon was on pe roode. White was His breast, [See I'ulitical n. and L. Poems, p. 214.] w:ui his face, down bis blood did glide, White was his nakid breest, & reed his bloodi side, Wan was his face fairest, 212 Hise wou/zdis depe & wide. % fie iewis wolde not pan reste To pync him more in pat tide ; Al he suffridc pat was wisest, 210 His blood to lete don// L>lide. •Mil. LOVE OP JB8U8. 20 ^f Blyndid wen- hise faire y^en, And ;il liis fleisch bloodi for bete ; 1 lise 'louesum lijf bat Bile men B^e[n], 220 Ful myldeli lie out gan lete. out lie lit hu [i Page 100. J lovesome life. ^f Deed & lijl' bigunne to stnuen Whejrar my^t be maister J?ere ; Liif was slayn, & roos a^en ; 22 1 In-to blis ful fair may we fare. ^f He )?at pvu bou^t haue al Jn foi^t, Anat in herte him loue) pat day, 21 1 From yuel he wole him schielde. He wlio loves Jesus, [Page ioi.] meekest and mildest of all, will be shielded from evil. ^f Of ihem panne moost list me speke, j?at may of al my hale be bote ; Me J>ink myn herte wole al to-breke 218 Whanne y )>inke on Jnxt soote. oc .fesus i mini speak, 30 THE LOVE OF JESUS. for He haa caught my heart in Love. % 111 loue laujt lie liajj my Joi^t, pat y sclial neuere for-lete ; Ful dere me f inkef he haf me boujt, 252 Wij? bloodi heed, hondis, & feete. For Love my heart will hurst when I sec Christ. Love is the best of all works. % For loue myn herte wole to-berste Wharane y fat fair loue biholde ; Loue is ful fair fere it is fest, 256 J)at neuere wole be coolde. % Loue us reuef f e ny^tis rest ; In g?-ace it niakif us boolde ; Of alle werkis loue is f e beeste, 2 GO As holi me« me haf tolde. I sigh when I think on Jesus nailed on the Cross, [Page 102.] Buffering for man. % Xo wondir if y si3hande be, And sif e?£ in woo al bi-sett ; Iheau was nailid upon f e tree ; 264 $he, al bloody for-beet. Tf To \>bike on him is greet pitec, To se how tenderli he gret ; Jpis ha J) he sufrride, man, for fee, 268 If fat fou wolt f i sy/mes leett. The sweetness of Christ's Love nunc can tell. God keep him who Loves, from hell. % ])ere is no lijf in erf e may telle Of f is loue f e swetnes : })at stidefastli in loue can dwelle, 272 His ioie is euere eendelees. % God scluelde f«t he sc-hulde to hello, )3at of loue longiwge kan not cecsse, Or euere hise enemy es s< hulde him qwelle, 276 Or fat he so his loue schulde iese. the Love that laeteth aye. % Ilie-su is f e loue fat lastif ay , To him is oure longi/?ge. Ihera fe nyjt turnejj to day, 280 And derknes in-to day spryng. IHi: LOVE OF I] 31 % Iho-u ! pinke on us now and ay, i, think on us, For J)ee wc holde nun: k\ : Iho-u, ieue Dfl grace b;it wee! may. 284 To lone fe w*tfc oute eendynge! — A-M-K-X. *•••»« [" The good wijf," printed in 2Vi6' i?ai«tf Boke, $c. y follows.] 32 Bt Mat jouu % mb gtrffrita far am Sake, [Pages 117 — 120, written without breaks.'] Make good cheer in Christ's name. See what he suffered for our sake. Like Him let us 6uffer too. TjCHhe ^onge & oolde, whejnr ^e be, in cristis name good cheer }e make, and liftij) up ^oure hertis, & se What oure lord suffride for oure sake, as meeke as ony lombe was he, ensau??iple of him weel mowe we take, & to suffre also in oure degre, & in his seruice euere to wake. If friends forsake us, let us think how all his disciples fled but Mary and John. And if oure freendis forsake us heere so J>at we be left al aloone, Jittke on ihesus j>at bou3t us dere, 12 & to hi??z make we al cure moone ; ^f For of Jjat lord weel may we leere What wrong he suffride among hise foon ; Wharcne hise disciplis fleddera for feer, 1 6 J?er bood no mo but marie & iolme . If wrong be wrought us, God may help at need ; think how [Page 118.] Christ has bought us with His blood. 20 24 If ony wrong to us be \vr0u3t, Be it in word eifer in dede, Be of good hope }it in Ju foi^t How god may us helpe alle at needc, And Jnnke we how ihesus cnst us bou^i, (V: for oure sy//nis hise blood wolde blcdc ; for his ownc gilt was it nouzt, for he dide neuere synful dede. BE WHAT OUM LORD BUFFRID1 FOB OUB1 BAK& 32 \ K wickid men do us defame, pinke how crial was D0113I & Bolde ; bo Buffre for him is do achame, but him to aerue loke we be boolcL And if men hurte as in owe name, We must for^ene, bofe jonge & olde, For jj.nij we suffire myche blame, criat suffride moore a pouaand foold. Awl ofpouert |k>Q3 we wolde playne, foi ]?.it we want. 'ii worldli good, J)inke we on ihesu, J>at lord aouereyn, how pore lie heng upo?? pe roode, T And how he atryued not ageyn, but enere was meeke & mylde of mood. to folewe J>at lord we achulden be favn, 40 in what degre fat eucre we stood. & Jk>U3 we haue sorowe on ech si & al aboute wTong & woo, 3it sufFre meekeli, & a-bide, 44 And Jjinke on ih^u ]>at suffride also, and how he was in fnl greet drede, Vnto hise peynia whanne he schnlde go ; he suffride moore in hise manhede 48 Jjan euere dide ma??, or euere schal do. ■[[ Jx>u; we with wrong to dee]? be broi^t, 3it Buffratwce is a sikir way Forpe loue of ihera J?i* world at non^t, And Buffre we wickid men to Bay. In ili'-su cnst was meekenes mooet, I \> rfore he )?»• maistrie hadde, Vi"!.. II. 3 52 56 I : ;Ter for Chri-t, an I fm_ He suffered I4M fold more. If poverty pinch us, think bow .Te«us hmtgi I" 'or, on the meek and mild. Follow Him. If sorrow come, and wrong, still suffer met kly anl think on Jesus [Page 119.] who suffered more than any man. If we be wronjrly brought to death, yet suffer still and please our Lord. Christ, through meok : 34 SE WHAT OURE LORD SUFFRIDE FOR OURE SAKE. ami bound the Devil, and brought Adam, Eve, and Others, from hell. And boond )>e feend for al his boost 60 \)'d he was n&aere so sore adradde. % Al a3ens his wil & al his oost Adam & eue with him he ladde, And many moo out of fat coost 64: J?at weren in pmou?* ful hard bistadde. If you follow Jesus, [i Page 120] you shall find that Meekness will prevail, bringing you to endless joy. G8 72 And if }>ou in ihesu haue delite, J30U3 al \q world do J?ee assaile, Do aftir Jis, & Jjou schalt wite )X*t meekenes l Wole £ee moost availe ; For who Jjrtt suffrij? heere dispite, And meekeli a-bidij) in ]>at bataile, it wole turne hern to greet profite & eendlees ioie for her trauaile. If any man do you wrong, for Jesus' love suffer it ; you shall dwell with Him in bliss. 80 % If ony man do to us a mys, Or wole in ony wise to us offende, for Je loue of ihesu haue mynde on Jus, & lete meekenes pi mood ameendo wij? ihesu enst, as oon of his, And suffre meekeli what god wole sende, Jmwne schal we be with him in blis pat eucre schal lastewiJjoute?z eende. A-M-E-X. ["How mankinde doof> bigynne," pp. 58-78 of this Text, follows here] I toipte inn nil imm otonc auloa. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 a.d., pa^e 22G-33.] ±X my ;onge age ful wielde y was, Ml silf Jjat tyme cowde y not known, Y woldc liauc my wil in euery place, <4nd pat hap now brou^t me ful lowe. pinke, ihesu, how y am pin owe ! For me weero pi sidis hope pale & bloo ! To chastise me pou doist it, y troAvc j Y wiyte my silf myne owne woo ! In my youth I .y wild, and that has brought mo low, But, Jesu, think how I am thine. I b.amo • for my woe. % I made couenaimt, true to be, Firste whanne y baptisid was ; Y took to pe world, & wente from pec 12 Y folewide pe feend al in his traas ; From wrappe and ennye wolde y not pas ; ( Joneitise and anarise y nsid also, Mi fleische hadde his wille, alas ! 16 Y wiyte my silf myn owne woo ! I kept not my baptismal covenant, but followed the devil, let my flesh have its will, 20 •21 *~ Now y woot y was ful wielde, In pat my wil passid my witt ; Y was ful sturdy, & pou ful myelde ; Ilv'.sii, lord, y knowe weel it. Of pi blis y were ful qwytt If y hadde aftir pat y have do ; Bui to pi merci y fcruste jitt, Y wiyte my silt' myn owne w< 3» and was rebellious. But, Jesu, [Page ■!■::.] I tru-t to Thy mercy. 36 WITH MY BILE MYN OWNE Woo. I was proud and extravagant, oaring only for woman and dress. I trusted riches, not God, and stuck at no- thing to get money. % I was hi} of heite and stowte, And in my closing wondre gay ; I lokide men schulde vn-to me lowte 28 "Where-so J>at y wente l)i fc wey; Faire wo???men, and good amy, Al myn entent y took J?er-to ; A3en Jn techinge euere y seide nay ; 32 I wite my silf myn owne woo ! % I tmstide more to worldli good pan to gcd J?at it me sente ; Weelfe made me M3 of mood ; 36 Lust and likyng me ouer wente. To gete good y wolde not stente, Y ne im^te how y come J?er-to ; To Je poore y neifer 3af ne lente j 40 Y wiyte my silf myn owne woo ! •TPage82R.l Lord, I feared Thee not, but Thou sufferetl'st for me. Have mercy on me! Three evil things ruin a man. I. The desire of poor man to look like rich ones. 11. Tii«- oovat* >>i in li man. 44 48 52 :.<; ■Jf Lord, y hadde no drede of J>ee ; Mi grace wente away ferfore ; But, lord, as J?ou bo^tist me, So lete me neuere be for-lore. For me J>ou suffredist peines sore j pou art my freend, and y J>i foo j Mercy, lord ! y wole no more ; Y wiyte my silf myn owne wo ! % per ben .iij. poyntis of mysclieef Jjat ben confusiouw to many a man, Which fat worchen to her soulis g?-cct greef j Y Bchal hem rehersen as y can. Poore men proud, fat litil ban, J)ei wolen be a-raied as riche men goo ; jjei hindren hem silf A ofir fan, And mowe wiyte hem silf her owne woo. % A riche man, fecf, is anothir, pat of coueitise wole nol -lake I win: my BILI HTM OWNE WOO. If he with wrong bigile his brofir, GO Heuene blis be BchaJ forsai Bifore god, for peefte it is take, Al put with wrong be wynneb so; But if be here a-meendia make l (')[ he Bchal wiyte him silf hie owne woo. 37 ■ others, which wiiii at schulde hise seruau//ti.s be ; lie Bch,ewith us lone, & we vnkinde, Certis pe more to blame be wee. Suw* me staren broode & mouro not se, Synne is pe cause it fari)) soo j Suche dreden not god, y seie to pee, And may wiyte lie/// silf lier owne woo. God shows us love, and we la k away from Him through sin. We may hlame ourselves for our ^f In iij. Jjingis y dare wee] sayn god schulde be woischipide oner al J>ing j do ri^twijsnes with in* irei with al pi mayn ; 84 pe bridde is cleennesse in lyuyng To bischopis & curat is pfd han kepinge, it is her charge, & to lordis also. and if J)ei contrarie god-is biddinge, 88 pa'i may wiyte he/// silf hex owne woo. [Page 230.] In three things We should worship God, Righteousness, Mercy, Chastity, which bishops, uid lords are bound to keep, •* wrong is an hi; seete pere rijt schulde be, merei for mys deede is pntt away ; Wrong is now *et up where Right should be. 38 WITB MY SILr MYN OWXE WOO. Lechery drives away Parity. Man, amend, or Maine yourself for your own torment. 92 9G letcherie ha J? made clennesse to flee, Loue may not abide nyght ne day. fi\is ])e feend, y dare weel say, wole make oure freend owe moost foo man, amende J>ee whilis J?ou may, Or wiyte Ju silf jun owne woo. I must be trou- bled while I fol- low my own will. [Page 231.] I serve the devil. 100 104 % It is no wondir £0113 y be woo myn owne wil while y wole sewe, & my lordis bidding wole not doo : y am fnl fals, but lie is tiewe, And 3it lie fyndij? me w*t^ al Jung newe, And y serue Je feend, and go him froo; ]}ut if y amende, it schal me rewe, And may wiyte my silf niy/i owne woo. Priests, knights, and labourers shall all sull'er if they do wrong, and blame them- selves for their distress. % In )>re degrees jje world kept is, With preestis, kny^tis, and laborere, ' And which of hem fat doon amvs, 108 Jpei sclmlen it abie wondir deer. Bi good ensauwiplis Je preestis schuld lere fie vnleerned how J)ei schulden doo : If her word & werk coorde not in fere, 112 JX'i mo we wite hewi silf her owne woo. Lords should help the poor, but Instead often oppress them, and when 111 w(x- will hare to blame themselves. % Knyjthode also, lordis, ne ojjir, Schulden not be of conscience light, fiei schulde/i helpe her poore suster or brober, 1 1 G And also strengje hem in her ryght j5orii3 pride & coueitise summe leesen her myit ; For letcherie, grace is kept hem froo J If J?ei biholde her owne in-syght, 120 fiei mowe wiyte hem silf her owne woo. [Page MS.] Labourers should ^f fie laborer schulde truly traueile fan, And be rutfu] bobe in worde & deede, win; my BILF mvn OWN! 124 128 And what-enere werkifl fat li<- can, And reeonabli to take his meede. Wrongfulli summe her lijfheere lede, Among leerned A lewde it La fonn Afi in hear laste eende it La to drede J)(.'i mowe wiyte hem sill' her owne wo. work well, and take reasonable ltut -uinc do wruiitf, ■ad will have to blamt themselves. 132 13G ■J Man, take hede what f«>u art : Jiut wormea meete ! f"ii wooet wed fis Whanne f'/t ft' erje haj? take hia part, Henene and helle schal haue his. If Jjou doist weel, f^u goist to bha ; If foil do ynel, f ou goost to f i foo ; Loue fi lord god, & f hike on fie, Or J?"ii wite fi silf fin owne woo. Man, wonaat food, thun moat to blisa or hell. Do not have to blame thyself for tliy woe. 140 144 ■" Now ill' -n crist, onre sauyour : From oure foos Jjou vb defende ; In al oure node be oure socour, Heere & whanne we hens wende, And sende us grace so to amende, His blisse fat we may come vnto, Heere to make so good an eende Jjat wee not cause oure owne woo. Deo gracias. Christ, defend us, here and hereafter. [Page 888.] Bring us to Thy bliss that nt may not erase our own woe. [End of the MS. In a later hand ia "This is ttr ffary myndee booke, Record of John Davis, & of but John George & of Stir Robert george lines (?) ] Oc Uirtucs of the fjfamt |csus. This name, Jesus, when thou Bpe ikest it, it shall be honey in thy mouth and melody in thine heart. [2 Page 89.] Think on Jesus : it drives out the devil, and opens heaven. Also hail Mary often. Keep Love in thine heart, for Love is the ful- filling of the Law. ±F Jjou wole be weel with god, And haue grace to reule pi lijf, And come to J?e ioie of loue, pis name ihc.su, fastne it so fast in Jjin herte pat it come neuere 4 out of ]ji Joir^t. And wha/me J?ou spekist to him, & seist ihesu J?oni3 custu??*, It schal "be in fin eere ioie, And in Jn mouj? liony, And in Jnn herte melo- die, For J?ou schalt Jn?zke ioie to heere J?e name of 8 ihesu be nempned *, 2 swetnes to speke it, Myirbe & song to Jjinke on it. If Jjou Jinke on ihesu con- tynueli, And holde it stabli, It purgijj Jn sy?me, it kyndelij? fin herte, It clarificj) )>i soule, It remeuej? 12 ange?*, it doij? a-way slownes, It wyndij in loue fulnllid of charite, It chasij) Jje deuel, it puttijj out drede, It openej) heuene, it makij> contemplatijf men haue in mynde ofte ihesu, For alle vicis & 16 fantu???s it puttij) fro J?e loue?'. Also ferto heile ofte marie bojie day & ny^t, And panne myche ioie & loue schalt Jou fele. And Jou do aftir Jis lore, pe needij? not greetli coueite many bookis. Holde loue 20 in herte & in werk, And j>o\\ hast al J)«t we may seie or write, For fulnes of lawe is charite : In fat hongib al. * There is a curl of contraction as for cr over the second e. II gji Song (fnllcb or parlamcntum of JwtMs, (Lambeth MS. 853, a&. 1430 a.d., /%,>• 157—182.) TJThanne marye was greel with gabnel, ** And had cowceyued & borew a childe, Alle j?e deuelis of J?e eir, of erf e, & of helle, 4 helden J>er paralament of Jv/t maide mylde, ^f What man had made her wombe to swelle. " To tempten hir }e tenden to seelde ; her childis fadir who can telle, 8 Who dide with hir po werkis wieldel " When Mary had piven birth to Jesus, all the Devils held a consultation as to who had begotten Ilim. ^f In helle J>e feendis Joo answeride, " Wu knew neuere fadir jjat he hadde, But amongis prophetia we haue leerid 12 put god with man haj couenauwt maade : ^f .V serpent in deseert was rerid, So schal god-is sone in man he had, ])e soule of hi??j sclial be vnsperid, 16 his herte to-eloue, and he for-bleed. The Hell-Devils did not know, but had learnt from Prophets that God's Son was to be raised In man, and to suffer death ; ^[ Jpese prophetie spoken bo in myst, What pci mente we aeuere knewe ; pci spoken of oon schulde hote crust, 20 But maries sone hi^tc ihesu ; [I'a-e Lftfl and that one, Christ, should COmi ; but .Mary Sou mils Jew. 42 Also that Christ should he one with God ; hut Jesus was not. So the Devils were puzzled. )>E DEUELIS PERLAMENT. ^[ And J?ei seide/? Jwt c?-/st with god schulde be a-twist, But pis ihesu neuere in J?e godliede grew ; We ben bigilid alle wij? oure l^-st. 24 ])e clooj) is al of anothir hew ; But they agreed that if God sent His Son into man's body, they would claim Him as theirs, because He'd be of man's nature, ^[ And £0113 god make hise perlament Of pees, mercy, trouthe, & resoun, And fro?ft heuew til erj?e his sone be sent 28 In mankinde to take a cesoun, ^f We schulera ordeyne bi oon assent A prmey couwcell al of tresoun, And clayme ihesu for oure rent : 32 For pat he is kirade of ma?i, it is good chesourc. and though of alien begetting, yet sown in Adam's ground, [Page 159.] and to be reaped by them, God notwith- standing. ^f Write we his name, whefer we spede, SiJ>en to us he is vnknowen, For J70113 he be come of straunge seed, 36 3it iw adams grounde was he so wen. ^f Wha?me he is ripe, do we oure dede ; Loke we fiat we him bofe repe & mowera, For })OU3 god him silf oure rollis rede, 40 Bi ri^t we chalenge ihesu for oure owne." The Master Devil undertook to tackle Jesus, make a fool of him, and bring His BOOl to hell. lo me, maistir deuel, it lijs ; To ihesu wole y take hede, To norische him in man ye delijs, 44 His freel fleische bo)>e to clojje & fede ; ^f And J?ou3 J?at he be neuere so wijs, 3it out of pe wey y wole him lede, And make of him bope fool and nyce, 48 And in helle his soule bredc." For :50 years they tried ^f j^us deuelis J?er wilis caste WiJ) J)er argumeutis greete, & fritti jeer Jx'i foondid faste ))!■; DBUIUfl PKRLAMEtT. 52 To tempte [hean in manye an bete. ^f " In to a wildimea with iharaa y paste, Of hi/// knowliche foi And fourty dales Jere he t 56 Wijxrate sleep, drinke, or meete." [.) to tempt Jesus, and went to :i wililcrn. id days. •J Jpe maistii denel wondre folate Of iheras etalworjw complexioun ; Bi mannys fode Lyaede he nou^te, GO But l)i praiera and deuoeioun. *]" "But whanne ho bigan to hunger, as mo foi^t, To tempte him banne y made mo boon : 'Lo, heero be stoonys bard y-wronjte, G-i Make herof breed, y seide, to ma/mis foisouw.' 100.] vr Devil wondered at ] •!i>tilu- tion, living only on prayers ; bat at la>.t tempted Him, ' Here are stones, make them bread.' ^f ' Forsofe,' ihera seide, * not oonli in breed is venili mannis propir lyuyng, But in euery worde of pe godhede GS To body and soide is coumfortynge.' ■J Vpon an h^ pinnacle J?a>me y him broi^te, And left him J?ere, and lecp a-downe, And seide, ' saue pee harmelees, Lyme & heed, 72 And klpe now maistn'ea while pou art 3onge. Jesus said, ' Man's food is not bread alone, but every word of QodL' The devil took Him to a pinna* cle, leapt down, and asked Him to follow, •J If J?ou be god-is sone, lete se ; Of pee is writen longe a-goon, ' Aungils in hondis seliullen beere pee 7G Lest ])ou Bpurne jn foot at a stoon.' *,[ Quod ihera, 'in holi writt Jou maist se, Tempte not pi lord god lyuynge aloone ; AYiJ) al pi niyglit and jn pooste 80 Jjou schalt him seme, and ojjir Doone.' " • Angels shall bear Thee in their bands lest Thou strike Thy foot against u stone.* [Page 161.] Jesus sail', ' Tempt not thy Cod, but serve Him with all thy might.' ^f ])e deuel si3 it myght not geyn ; Of ih' s-u his purpos he gan mya ; He brou^te him til an hi} mounteyn, Then the Devil bronght Bin to B mountain, 44 showed Him all the world's riches, ami said, ■ Worship me, and all this is Thine.' pE DEUELIS PEBLAMENT. 84 And bad liim do as he wolde wys. ^f And pere he schewide hi//? upon pat pleyn, Iewels, ritchesse, and worldli blisse ; " Worscliipe me here, & bicome my swayn, 88 And y sclial jene pee al this." • Begone, Satan, from heaven ! Thy Lord God only shalt thou honour.' Alas, said the Devil, I am sore hit, I never stood such an attack. ^f " Go, sathanas ! from blis pou flit, From heuene riche, pat rial tour ! It is writen oonli in holi writt 92 ' fii lord god pou schalt honour.' " ^[ "Alas," q?/od pe deuel, "where hast pmi fat witt I fii wordis are bittir, pi werkifl aren sour, fii conclusioun so soore me knyt, 96 I abood neuere so scharp a schour." [Page 162.] Again the Devils held their Parlia- ment in the mist. 1 Some one is coming to rifle our home. Once his name was John the Baptist, then Jesus, then Christ. ^[ fie deuelis gadriden per greet frame, And heelden per perlament in pe myst. " Oon wolde riflee us at hame, 100 And gadere pe flour out of oure gryst ; ^| Neewe gilours wolde waiteus schame, Oon[ys] mew clepid him iohne pe baptist, But now he hap turned, ihesus is his name 104 fiat first hi^te ihesu, now is clepid cryst, He has never sinned in lust, hut has resisted temptation. He said he would throw down the Temple, and raise it on the third day. ^f I si$ him neuere rage ne plawe, But euere in stabilnes he is ay, And streitely kepip god-is lawe, 108 And stijfly wip-stoondip myn assay ; ^[ To werkis of vice wole he not drawe ; A wondir worde y horde him Bay, fie greet temple he wolde doun prawe, 112 And reise ii aaen on pe pridde day. At His birth ■' Whawne he was Lorn, wondris bird ; ()\\rr al was pees, hope rest and west, fi; DEUKLI8 PBRLAMBNT. 15 In rome ofoile pere sprong awelle, 110 Fr<>/// t ristiu' /• to tybre it ran prest. ^f In rome fer templis douw felle, per mawmetis dideti al fco-brest, Atmgils to scheperdis glorie gan telle — 120 ' In erfe, to al mankinde, bofe pees & rest. 1 a well of oil ■prang op in Bonn ; temples fell ; idols Im.ke. [Page innonnoed Peace on earth to all mankind. % })o emperour in rome stood hi$e, fire su/znis in oon he si$ schyninge clero, In fe myddis of hem a maiden he si$e 124 A man childe in her amies beere. ^f j)e emperour & eek sibile spoken prophesie, And fei acordiden bofe in feere, And Beiden 'god-is sone mankinde schulde bie ; 125 It is fe tokene, fe tyme neiaeb neere.' The Emperor saw three Bans m one ; in their midst a .Maid with a child. He and the Sibyl prophesied, 'God'a Son shall redeem mankind ; the time draws nigh.' ^f Also f re kingis come fro fur, To worschipe ihera al ]>ei soi^te ; }}at reisid eroudis lierte fere 132 pern to slee, for fei so "\vr0ii3te. ^f Bi f e li3tnynge of a sterre, To ihesu. alle f re presentis fei broi^te ; Homeward an aungil tau^tc hem nerre 136 A-noJjer wey fan fei had folate. Three Kings came from far to worship Jesus, led by the Ughl of a Star, bringing presents ^f )ja//ne y couwcellid erond with-inne awhile To distroie fe form//- prophesie, ]5al alle men children in towne & pile 140 to slee frm, fat ihesus myght with hewi die, ^f He ascapide in to egipt ; in fat while for mawmetis hi cloura from an hi^e j lie knew my folate, & si$ my gilee, lit y myghte not hide me fixww his yje. [Page 164.] The Devil advised Herod to slay all the male children, but Jesus escaped into Egypt, detecting the Devil's guile. ^f To tempte ihesu it wole not availe ; Of fe worldis good liaf lie no neede ; ' It is no good to tempt Him ; 46 the more I work the worse I speed and the less He heeds me. J?E DEUELIS PERLAMENT. I leesc on him so myche trauaile, 148 fie more y so worche, J?e worse y spede ; ^[ "With J>e scharper a-sautis y him assaile, fie lasse of me he stoondij? in drede, fie bolder in bikir y bidde him bataile, 152 fie lasse of me he takijj hede. If I tempt Him to lechery, He escapee by chastity. [Page 165.] He abides in charity, and will not be covetous. U For if y tempte him in wra])J?e or pride, AVi]> pacience and mekenes he sconfitij) me ; If y te??zpte hi??i to letcherie, y muste me hide, 156 He voidijj me of wij) chastitee. ^f In glotenie & ennye wole he not abide, But is eue?*e in mesure and in charitee ; In coueitise & auarise wole he not ride, 1G0 but is eue?'e in largenes and in pouerte." I can't make him 6tumble. He never went to school, and yet I saw Him argu- lug against all the Doctors. He calls Himself God's Son. ^[ fie deuel seide, " neijjer in hoot ne cookie I may not make him stumble ne falle j I nyste him neue?*e goo to scolee, 164 And yvi oonis y si3 him spute w pe scoole hallo : ^f He satte him silf on Je nicest stoole, And argued a3ens Je maistris alle ; Su??ime callid him wijs, suwme callid him foole, 168 But ' goddis sone' he him silf dooj? calle. He makes tlie crooked straight, gives sight to the blind, sense to madmen, and drives out devils. ^f Hise werkis passen ma?mis kinde, For crokid & creplis he makijj ri3t ; For deef, & dombe, & boren blynde, 172 he 3cuejj hem speche, heeryng, & sight. ^f Woode men, he 30110]? ham for mynde, And makijj mcsels hool and lijt ; A legiou?* of feendis in a man he dide findc, 176 Alle he drofe out poru.3 his myght. [Page 168.] He turn." water into wine ; ^f Wiyn of watir he makij? blyue, And doob manye a wondir dede, ft DBUBLIB PHRLAMENT. AVij? two fyschia, and lonee i'yuc, 180 i'yuc (xrasand men y saw$ him fede, ^f Twelue leepia of relesf fi rof dide frrae To men, women, & children, j?//t haddeti node ; Deed men he reiaid from tl»-«*j> to lyuc, 184 And 3H werij he nem re but oo wede. 17 " men with t«i» fitihea and im . of bagnMotty ami rai life. •J Ho haiiillij} nei)>< /• money ne knyf, Nei)ttr in synne desiiij) he ony woma» to kis ; But oonifl he sailed a weddid wijf, 188 In Bponsebriche fat hadde doon mys. ^f He is so wondirful in lijf, I can not knowe weel what he is ; 1 wolde we hadde eendid oure striif ; 192 He is oute of oure bookis, & we out of his. Ha de-ires no sin with woman, and yet once Mired an adulteress. He is such a wonder I cannot make out what He is. He is out of my books. Qifen y hi??i first tempte bigan, A fitte. S13 him neue?*e chauwge hewe ; Oonys he bad me " go, fonle sathan ! " 196 Euere-more fat repreef y re we. ^f In werkis he is good, in persoone a man ; Lijk to him y neue?'e noon knewe. Where lerned he al f e witt fat he can ? 200 For euery day he doof wondris neewe. I have never seen him change colour, though once He reproved me. [Page 167.] In person He is a man ; but where doea His know- ledge come from ? ^f I folewide him oonys to a place, To a moiu/teync upon an hi^te ; IVti-r, iames, & iohn, fere was. 201: Ely & moyses stood fere np rijt. ^f I wolde haue seen ihmi-is face, But y my^t not, it schoon so brijt ; Tn fe soof fast su?zne closid it was, 208 })q brijt beemys blent my s i 3 1 . Once I saw Him with Peter, James, John, Elias, and Mums. His face shone so bright that it blinded me. If To lette J?e p?-ophesie soone y went, ])v iewis to slee ihera y saf hewi chois I gave the Jews the etini'v nt killing Jesus. 48 If he dies on the eroM we are mined ; - sorry to hear their 'Crucify Him,' and set Pilate's wife to stop it. J)E DEUELIS PEBLAMENT. If he die on pe roode, Ave schul be schent 212 I wolde not ]>at J?ei hadde 3eue Jjat vois. «[ Me was woo for Jnxt iugement, Of " crucifuge" to heere J)e noise j Pilatis wijf y bad bisily 3eue tent 216 \)ai ihmi were not doon on J>e crois. [Page 168.] Bat the Jews bore false witness, and nailed Him on the Cross till He died. I looked sharp after His soul, but couldn't see where it went. ^[ 3it f»e iewis, for hise dedis goode, Fals witnes vpon him Jjei berid, And nailed him upon J?e roode, 220 And peyned him fere til fat he deied. ^[ Vndir his lift side y my silf stood, And aftir his soule ful naru3 a-spied j I wist neuere whidir it 3ode ; 224 Wharane he it up ^af, so manly he cried j The sun and moon lost their light, the eartli trembled, dead men arose. I lost my senses, 00 ^f ])e su?2iie & moone losten Jer light, J?e elementis fou^ten as leit of Jrandir, J>e erfe qwoke, and mou?iteynes an hight, Valeis, & stoonys, bursten a-sundir j «J Dede men risen ]>oyw$ his my^t To bere witnes of fat wondir ; My mynde failid, y loste my si3te, 232 I nyste how soone y came Jer vndir. and don't know where His soul is gone to. ' [Page K.9.] Put we must get ready all our tackle, for i l.-ii attack us. Prepare for defence. ^[ Thesu is soule is wente, y woot not where, So prmely it dide from me passe ; Whmne his herte was Jnrllid with a spare, 236 JjaT&ne wyste y weel who he was. ^[ Ordeyne we us wij) al oure gere, For hidir he JnnkiJ? to make a race; Arise we alle J?at ben bounden heere, 2 10 And foond we to defende oure place, II lie comes we moil all try ■fl" For if Jjat he wole hidir come, We schulen foonde euery-choon, pi: DB1 BLIfl I'|;i;i.\mi.n i. L9 Aile to-gidere, bope tool & Bome, 24 I T<» teer him from p<- top to pi- boon. •IT jjanne seide lucifer anoone, " It is but waasl to spekei) bo ; pe spirit of liim i> imw bidir come 248 Fur to worchen aa alle woo." to tear iiim from top to toe. Lucifer s:ii.|, ' Thatfi iH> good : Mis iplrU la now hen- to work our woe. ^f J)ere as pe goode soulis diden i// dwelle, )>-i cheyned pe ^atis, and barred hew taste; "A ! now," ihesu seidc, "30 princis felle, 252 Openep pe £atis pat euerc schal laste, ^f And letip in $oure ki??g of blis to hello." pa deuelia axid him panne in haste, u Who is pe king of blis p*m doost of telle 1 256 Wenest pou to make us alle a-gaste ? " The Devils chained ap and bmod the gates where the good souls were. Jesus said, ' Princes fell, open the gates, and let the King of Bliss into Hell.' The Devils asked, 1 Who is the King of Bliss ? ' ^f " Strong god and king of myght, I am lord and king of blis, Oner-comer of deep, niyghti in fight ! 2G0 Euerlastynge $atis, openep wight ! fl" Bope pees, mercy, troupe, & right, I brou3t them at.oon, & made pe??i to kis ; Euerlastynge $atis, openep on bight, 264 And lete in $oure king to take out his ! [Page 170.] ' I am,' said Christ, 'and over- comer of death. Everlasting gates ! open quickly. Let in your King to take out 11 is own. ^[ For y, pe soule of ihe-su crist, am come hider, Witnes pc/*of, my body in erpe lief deed, And pe holi goost with pe sonic togider 268 J>/t neuere Bchal parte from pe godhede. ^y In heuen blis 3c stooden full slidil ; ))oru3 pride 3c offendid my fadnsbede ; Mannifl sonic for meeknes schal come pidcr, 272 pere as je feendia forfetid pat slide." I, Christ's soul, am here, though my body lies dead. Ye lost Heaven from Pride. Man through Meekness shall possess your seats.' ^f p&nne Beide Lucifer, "god dide forbede To adam in paradiie but oon tree, VOL. II. 4 Lucifer said, 'Cod condemned 50 ],E DEUELIS rEKLA.MENT. Adam to Hell for ever. [Page 171.] Thou art of Adam's seed, and we claim Thee. There is no return from Hell.' And peyne of deejj to haue for pat dede, 276 And aftir in helle euere for to be : % And Jjou art come of adam. seed, Jjcrfore bi right we chalenge J>ee, For in lioli writt Jjou made rede, 280 ' In helle is no remedie.' " " True,' said Christ; 'but the closed Hell is for you ; this Hell is free. Man is redeemed. Thou art condemned. ^f Ihesu seide, "lucifer, sooj? J>ou tellist me ; Bnt Jjoii woost not j?i silf how j)eve is a boonde helle, but J?is is free. 284 ])e boond helle was ordeyned for 3011 ; ^[ For pat pat man forfetid £01*113 a tree, )?orii3 a tree a3en bou3t is he now. j)ou madist him symie, pe peyne longij? to pee, 288 For pou waitist neiwe good to ma?znis prow3« I sprang not from sinful seed, but took flesh in a maiden sinlessly. •^[ Lucifer, Jjou me vndir-nome, And seidist y was of pe seed of adams kyn ; forsojje y out of pe godhede come, 292 And took fleisch & blood a maiden wttA-iftne. ^[ for as of pe seed of erj>e per sprmgij? blome, So mette we, & partid wijjoute synne : j)'\n argument is fals, so is Ji doome ; 296 Bi what right woldist pou me wynne 1 [Page 172.] When thou temptedst Adam, I fought for him, aii'l now will defeat thee.' ^[ Who was cheef of Jn coiuzcell In heuen wha?me pou forfetidist pe blis ? In paradiis adam £ou dedist assaile, 300 And te?? i ptidist him to forfete his ; •^f And y in liis quarel took bataile A3en my fadir to amende his mys, Wherfor of Jn purpos pou schalt faile, 304 forthi j)i quarel nou3t it is." Lucifer said, ^ Jjannc lucifer answeride ageyn, AVlii spekist pou so to me hcere ? fi: DEURLI8 PXBLAMENT. li is l.ut wantowne wordia in veyn ; 308 T fcrowe fou comest hidii ua to fere. ^f Sumtyme whanne y was in heuew an In'?, jjat \»/t y fere loste for my prtde, certeyn, Heeiv-at'tir y hope l'ul sikiily 312 Fur to come to pal blifi ageyn." 51 'Thou CDiin -t bare to fl I hope I heayen •][ Crist ihe#u spak to aathan tho, And seide to him in f is manere, "It is but waast to speken so, 316 Or ony suche cordis to seie now here. ^f \)cit tyine while fou in heuen were, Ful myche ioie haddist fou tho ; Foralle fi felawis, glad were J>ei fere, 320 But ri$t soone it was ouer-goo." Christ answered, 1 That is Idle talk. [Page 178.] While you wero in heaven you had much joy, hot it soon ceased.' % Lucifer spak to him ageyn, And seide to him with wordia sere, " In jus place y haue dwellid hi woo & peine 32-4 Moore fan fis .iiij. fousand 3eere : ^f Helpe me to fat hlis ageyn \)e which y loste for my pride fere, for fere it is myrie in certeyn 328 To wonye wif rial aungils clere." Lucifer said, ' I have dwelt here in torment above 4000 years; help rne to bliss again, to mem- time with angels.' If " I seie fee, lucifer, y schal fee telle, Or eucre ony f ing was wrought — Heuene or erf e, eir or helle, — 332 Forsofe f oo y made fee of nought. ^[ In heuen whanne fou stoodist in wele, I made fee aboue aungils alle, But f erof rai^t fou neuere a deel, 33G Suche prtde in fin herte gan falle. Clirist answered, 'Before the heaven* were I made thee of nothing, and set theeabov< the aii^-il-. ^[ In heuen whanne f"ii wen- at fi wille, J>>u my^tist haue be in peea & n [Page 171.] In heaven 52 J?E DEUELIS PERLAMENT. I gave thee my seat when I went away, ami when 1 came back thou said'st thou wast the worthier, I took fee my seete ful stille, 340 It to 3eme f ou were ful prest ; ^ And while y wente where me list, And come a3en a-noon in 11130, J)ou seidist fat fou were wordiest, 344 And to sitte fere as weel as y ; and thou never repentedst. Adam did ; he asked mercy. God sent me here for that, and let me die. ^ And f ou repentidist fee neuermore, But eue?-e aggregidist f i trespas. Adam wepte & si3ede soore, 348 And askid mercy & oile of grace ; ^[ My fadir sende me hidir f erfore, Ypon a tree leete dee]) me chase, A spere f 01113 myn herte gan boore, 352 & leete out fe derworfiest oile fat euere was. In His name, open your gates.' Like lightning the gates burst. Christ took out Adam and all His chosen ones; and all sang thank?, namely, ^f In my fadris name of heuene Opene f e 3atis a3ens me ! " As li^t of leite, and fnradii leeme, 356 ])e jatis to-burste, and gan to flee ; ^f God took out adam and eue ful euene, And alle hise chosen companye. ])o prophetis seiden witA mylde steuene, 360 " A song of wondris now synge we." Adam, Noah, Abraham. David, U " A, ha ! " seide Adam, " my god y se ; He fat made me wijj his hond ! " " I se," seide noe, " where come]? hee 364 \)at sauede me bof e on watir & londe ! " % Quod abraham, " y se my god so free J)at sauede my sone fro bittir bande ! " \)o seide moyses, "fese tablis he bitook me 368 His la we to preche and vndiistande ! " ^ Quod Dauid, " we spoken of oon so grym })at schuldc broke f e brasen 3atis. " pi DEUBLIfl PBBLAXBNT. 53 Quod Zacharie, "& his folk ou1 nym, 372 And leue pere stille po pal he hatis." f Quod symeon, "he li^tnejj his folk bi ia lomb, y Bpak of him, 37G J>*t al Jx> worldia synne a-batys." Zacharlah Bymeon, and John the Bap- Uet ^[ Oure lord them took bi f»e hond, And broujt Jjcin to Je place of blis, And seide to them, y vndir-stonde, 380 il j)is baigeyn y haue bou^t her, p'm : ^f For riche & pore, free and honde j)i\t wole axe grace and ameende per nivs, Schulen be w/tA aou heere pleyande 38 I In my kingdom, heuene blis." [Page no.] Christ led them to bllee, aey« ing he had bought it for all who will ask grace, and amend their sins. ^f Thus ihesus crist harewide helle, And ledde hise louers to paradijs : Of pe opera hellis wolde he not melle, 388 Where feendis blake bounden lijs, ^[ And where dampned soulis euere schuleft dwelle pint wolen not do weel, bnt euere be nyce, Turmentid with horible deuelis of helle 392 pd Bumtyme were aungils of prijs. Thus Christ liar rowed Hell. But the other hells he wouldn't touch, where fiends and damn- ed souls ever dwell, tormented by horrible devils. ^[ Helle repreued £<> pe deuel sathan, And horribli gan him dispice, "To me Jjou art a schrewide captayn, 39G A combrid wretche in cowardise." ^| ])o seide lucifer, u sij?cn pa world bigan T haue brou^t hidii manye a greet price Hidir into helle of al kinde of man, 400 Bobe be false, foolis, and pi' wise. Then Hell re- proached Satan with cowardice. [Page 177.] Hut Lucifer justi- fied himself; be had brought all kinds of men there, *{ Helle, so worschipide neuere |>ou were If foil cowdisi haue kepi pee boo; an 1 Chrlel too; bat Hell wouldn't 54 })E DEUEL1S PEBLAHENT. keep them. Hell said he couldn't help it. Christ took them. I brou^te Jjee boJ)e god & man in fere ; 404 Whi were J?ou so nyce to leete him go 1 " ^f Quod helle, " not wij) Jri poowere I my^te not werne him oon of tho ; He took out alle pat were him dove ; 408 I myjte not lette him, J0113 he wolde mo.' Beelzebub barred up the gates, but Christ broke them through with a word. After the Doom comes endless torment. ^| Qwod belsabub, " y barrid ful faste \)e 3atis with 1< >k, cheyne, bolt, & pyn ; And vrith 00 word of liis wyndia blaste 412 ])ei broken vp, and he came yime. ^[ He boond me, and downe me caste j it is to us no bote to stryue with him ; Whanne pe dreedful doome is come & paste, 416 Oure eendelees peyne is panne to bigynne." [Page 178.] Jesus rose on the third day, and was seen by many ; once in of 500. . company ^[ ])on$ pe iewis dide ihesu to die, Jit on pe Jnidde day he roos to liif ajen ; It was to him moore victorie 420 j)an J0W3 he hadde alle pe iewis sleyn. % Surame were glad wha/me J>ei him si3e, Summe were sory, surame were fayne, And suintyme in oon companye 424 Amonsje .v. himdrid he was seyn. To Mary Magda- lene He said ' Touch me not,' but to His disciples, ' Handle my wounds; I have 1 blood, which g] have not.' % Of oynement ful manye a drope, Marie mawdeleyne to ihesu sche broii3te ; Ihesu wente fro a litil a-slope, 428 And seide, " mawdeleyn, towche me nou3t." T Alle hise disciplis weren in wanhope j For to conmforte them ihesu Jjoi^to, And bad hem hise woundis handle & grope, 4132 " I haue fleisch & blood ! so spiritus haue noi^t. To Thomas ■ Thomas was of right hard bileeue Til he hadde spoke wij ihesu tho pi Dll ELIfl PKUJJfZXT. [heeu spak wij) woidia bieae, 430 "Come hidir, thomas, A speke me to ; ^f For here pou tnaiai oou f \ prene, How J>at y on Jj«« roode was y doo; And he J?at wille aot on it bileeue, 440 Schal be dampned to peine foi euermo." ' Come and see the priH -• wu cru [Pap, Elf win) will DOC believe it shall l>e damned. ' % panne Beide ihefu wi)> myelde speche To hise disciplia, "y wole 30 goo To alle creaturis aboute, to preche 444 Myn upriaynge, to freende & foo ; ^f And ]>o J>at bileeuen pal je teeche, liee and abulia aaned ben thoo; And Jjo ]}>/t bileeuen not, y seie to eche, 448 ])o schulen for euere to peine goo. To HU d Hi- -.ii'1, ' (in :tll< 1 v ujitis- ing to all people. They who believe it shall bt they who do not shall go to hell. ^[ From 3011, feendis schulen flee for my name ; Eddiis & venym schal from 3011 Steele ; jpou^ 3e drinke poisou;?, it schal not 3011 tame, 4-")2 Neij>er harme 30U, ne noo greef feele. ^f I schal newe tu??gis in 3011 frame Alle maner of langagis for]) to deele ; And fo Jjat 3e touche, sike or lame, 45G Body and sonle y wole hem heele." Devils shall flee from ynu, poison shall not hurt you. You shall speak all languages, and lieal all sick you touch.' *[ Oure lord, aftir his resurreccioiu?, here In erj?e he was foraope dwellynge Til hooly Jnrrsday comen were, 460 j)fit lie st 13 to heuene, where he is ki>?g. ^f At J>e dreedful doom, wijj-out losing, Bobe quyoke and deecLe p< re schal he deme. God 3eue us grace in oure lyuynge 4G4 To serue oure god, & marie to qweeme. [Page Christ remained on earth till Holy Thursday, and then aseeii led into heaven. HeicpU judge the living and de.i 1. % Of alle fe children \»\ euere were boron, Sam- oonli crist hiwi Bilf a-loone, Next t.> ChrM 56 the holiest child was John the Baptist, who baptized Christ and died for Him. pE DEUELI8 PERLAMEN'T. Was no on so lioli here biforn 468 As was pis holi child seynt ioliu/? % fiat baptisid oure lord m flom iordon "Wijj ful deuout & good denocioun, And after for ihes?^ loue to dee]) gan goon, 472 And suffride ful mykil passioun. Christ's blessed Mother was taken up to her Son [Page 181.] by angels, and crowned Queen of Heaven, % Xow schal y telle with ful good cheere Of pat holi assumpcioun Of his blessid modir dere, 476 How sche was taken up with greet deuociou?* ^[ Ynto liir blessid sone, as his wil were, j)nt perto sente hise aungils a-down, & vp pei baren pat maiden cleere ; 480 Queene of heuew pe?*e pei dide hir crowne. while all the angels sang Glory to God. May we all see that sight ! % ])enne alle auwgils pat were in heuene Were at pe crownywg of pat maide free, And songen alle with mylde steuene 484 " Gloria tibi domine." % Jpat is a song of ioie and blisse ! God ^eue us grace pat si^t to se, Of his mercy pat we noi^t mysse, 488 Qui natus es de virgine. Thi9 song is called « The Devil'8 Perla- ment,' and is read on the first Sunday in Lent. He who would go to heaven must keep clear of the devil. ^f )}is song pat y haue suwge 3011 heere, Is clepid ' pe deuelis perlament : ' jperof is red in tyme of 3eere 492 On pe first Sunday of clene lent. ^f Who-so wole haue heuew to his hire, Kepe he him ivom pe deuelis combirment ; In heuene his soule may fere be sure 496 Wif aungils to pleie verament. [Page 182.] There is no tri- llii-gin this tale. ^f ]?is lessou?? was made but late ; J)ere ben no triflis in f is tale ; bi: DBUKLIfl PBBLAMBNT. 57 \)c denelis boost bus gan be bate, 500 Ouro curteis crist, owe king rialec ^] He belpe mi in alle at henene jate, Wib seintis to sitte fere in sale I Crist ! kepe ua bnt of barme and hate, 50-i For Jin booli spirit bo special ! Thin in how Ohrlal buablad the Devil. M:iy H» help uh into hc.i\ tii, :unl IMSP M out of hum. Explicit parlamentuiii of feendis. [The Diaton'e printed in The Babees Boke, $c, follows here.] 58 Cjjt gtkror of % tytmh of bait's fife, OR BIDS OF THE VIRTUES AND VICES FOR THE SOUL OF MAN. Man's birth is wonderful ! Be- gotten in sin, endangering his mother's life. Poor he comes ; poor he goes. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 a.d., pages 120-150, written without breaks, till near the bottom of p. 131, as marked by the insetting of the even lines here.] Jti.Ow mankinde dooj? bigynne is wondir for to scryue so ; In game he is bigoten in sy?ine, 4 fie child is j>e modris deedli foo j Or jjei be fulli partide on tweyne, In perelle of deej) be?z bojje two. Pore he come J»e world w/t/i-ynne, 8 WiJ? sorewe & pouert oute schal he goo. I dreamt I saw a new-born child L 1 Page 121.] go into the desert, and be taken in hand by an Angel-friend and an Angel- foe. The World told the Child it gave him food and clothes. 12 1G In wyntir ny$t or y wakid, In my sleep y dreemed so ; I saw a child mod/r l nakid, New born J?e modir fro. Al aloone, as god him makid, In wildirnesse he dide goo, Til two in gouernaunce it takid, An aungel freende, an aungil foo. Quod pe world to Je child, " how many foolde Hast fou broi^t richesse ? now late se : fiou schuldist deie for hunger and coolde 20 But y lente meete & clobe to fee : Tin-: MIRROR 01 THE PERIODS OP .man's i.ifi:. 59 2t I wole ]?(•<• fynde til pmi be oolde; How wolt Jj«iu quyte it me ?" Quod detteine, u he is bon^l & soolde." >d dee]), tt his eende make Bchal we." How would he pay it for them ? Quod Jj(? child, "y come poore ]>e world witft- bine To pursue a wondirfu] eritaj Nakid out of po wyket of synne, 28 Of tin* perellis of streite passage, To seke deejj y dide bigynne, ))at ilke dredful pilgrymage, Mi body & soule to parte a tweyne, 32 To make a deuourse of )>at mariage. Jji3tnesse, strenjje, corage & bewte, ])e comau// dementis J?at god bede ; Lust, liking, & iolite, 3G .vij. werkis of mercy l and J?e crede. Veyne glorie, flaterynge, and vanyte, Sowowe, siting, loue, & drede, To the child her seruice profren he, 40 For helle peyne or heuene meede. Aha?me come oon & stood ful stille, And his seruice profride he : u jX'se folke wolde pi silfe spille 44 To make pee bonde ; y wole make fee free. j)ei han pee tai^t bo]?e good & ille ; From her coiuicel fast Jjou flee, For my name is freewille ; 48 Leue alio hem & folowe me." A he 3onge childe i/t studie stood, And in herte wittis sou^tc Conscience mengid his mood, 52 "Mi fell childe, what hast J>»m JkhijI I TheChU'l. I came to seek ■ wondrous heritage ; to seek Death ; to divorce my soul from my body. Bodily gifts, and God's Command^ merits, the Pleasures of this life, its [l Page 122.J Sorrows, and the Works of Mercy, offer to lead the child to heaven or hell. Freewill says, I will make thee free ; leave all others, and follow me. Coiueit GO THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MANS LIFE. know evil from good; Freewill will make thee mad \ 56 I am Conscience, knowe yuel & good, We two to rekenynge must be bronit : Biwaare ! free wille wole make J>ee woode ; Free wille withouten witte is nou;t. know me, Conscience ; ' [l Page 123.] cultivate P ruck- 1 ice : beware of Reck- lessness. GO Gi For my name is Conscience ; To knowe me pan must bigywne ; Discreciou?* is my science, A'icis & Vertues l to voide a twynne. A-queynte Jje weel with Prudence, He ledij) alle vertues out & inne ; Bi waar of richelees, for lie wole make diffence, For he is leder of al synne. At seven years old the Child is urged by the Good Angel to honour hi9 parents; by the wicked Angel to despise t lic-iii ; % Whanne J?e child was .vij. }eer olde, Passyng sowkyng of milke drewis, pe good auwgil J?e childe dide weelde ; 68 Al vertu to him J?an soone he schewi^ ; " To fadir & modir honour J>ou ^eelde ; Loue god, & drede, and be of good jjewis." pe wickid au??gil bad him be boold 72 To calle bo)>e fadir & modir schrewis. bv the Good to bridle his tongue ; by the Wicked to give it license. 76 80 J?e good aungil bad.de him M he mylde From al woo, it wole fee verre : pat man may hije housis bilde put his tunge can weel for-beci Quod J?e wickid aiwgil, "while ))<>u art a child, With Jn tunge on folk Jv/u bleere ; ( 'muse of kynde is for 3011 Jh- to be wilde, To beete alio children, and do hem deeire." 'i Page Iti.] Childhood lasts tram Mrao to fourteen. A bus at l vij. leer age childhood bigynnes, And folomtft foliea many foold ; Aftirward his childhode blynn 84 Wliiimir he is fourtene jeer olde, TIIK MIRK' »Il <»f TFIK PBBI0D8 OF MANS LIFE. 61 ptLttne knowliche of manhode he Wynnes, j; .vij. Fertnea wib him wonne wolde ; panne come) pe .vij. .1 Qi 88 With \><- wickidtaufigil houaholde to h<«lde. Q, id ;• -■;.•■ in ige of ..\.\. j Goo t'» oxenford, or lerne 1 1 lust, k; harpe & ,L r it«-rn»- fere may y leere, 92 And pickid staffe & buckelere, Jv-/v-wij> to plawe, At tanerne to make wommen myrie cheere, And wilde felawia to-gideie drawe, And be to bemond A good squyer 96 Al nyjt til J?e day do dawe. Quod conscience, u }v/t axijj coost ; \)e moore )>ou spendist, J?e lease Jon hast j ))i tyme, j?i leernynge boje be/* loost, 100 ])i freendis good J>ou spendist in waast. " Quod lust to conscience, " 30u)?e so mnste ; 3ouJ>e can not kepe him chast." " Good conscience, goo preche to J>e post, 104 \)\ councel sauerij? not my tast. pouj Conscience bidde me be stille, I wole holde forfe fat y bigan ; Al my lust y w< >le ful-fille, 108 I wole spare no woniman ; Lde binde me to skille, And make me hie bondman. Fareweel Conscience! weelcome frewille ! 112 I wole lerne no more good J?an y can." H"\\ Ficifl & V' /lues wole not slake, Now man is .xx. wvntir in Quod pride, "no man fan forsake, 1 10 I wi j tte in £<• 1 ii 3 • rl Then th. Virtues and the Seven Mortal Sins strive for the boy's soul. About tuxnty years oM, Reason advises man study ; Lust advises tlT-phiy, women, and wild companions. Conscience says these will waste time and learning. Lust poohpoohs that ; and the [Page 125.] young Man scorns it; his lust will spare no woman ; he will not be a servant to con- science, but to Freewill, and learn no good. After tirenty years old, come the advice of Pride, THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MAN 8 LIFE. Gluttony, Lechery, Wrath, Envy, [i Tage 126.] Sloth, Covetousness, Avarice. Pride says, wear long pockets, and slashed (?) clothes : reverence no one, oppress the poor, despise advice. Meekness says : Pride will bring you to woe. Once he was lovely in highest heaven, now he is loath- •ome in hell, and meek man has his inherit- ance. Wrath advises.': meddle in every quanvl, IPage 127.] wrong or right. Quod glotenye, " ny3t & day J?/>u wake; Ete late & eerli in outrage." Quod leccherie, " f i seed richelees foil scliake, 120 And make no force of no manage." tjuod wraf f e, " loke f ou here fee boldc ; What man fee teene, His heed f ou breest." Quod enuie, " f i foote f ou holde, 124 And pursue l for to passe fe beest." Quod slouf e, " in 3ouf e, or f ou be oolde, Leerne for to take f i reest." Quod Coueitise, " wynnen y wolde." 128 Quod auarise, " locke me in fi cheest." Apparaile f e propirli," quod Pride, " Loke f i pockettis passe f e lengist gise ; Slatre f i clotliis bof e schorte & side 132 Passi/zge alle of ere me/mis* sise ; And where fat f ou goo ouf er ride, Do no reuerence to foole ne wise ; Late no poore nei3bore f ryue fee biside ; 136 Alle ofer me/niis cou?icel loke fou dispise." Jji waar," quod Meekenes, " how pride doof wys j He 3euef but woo & wyssche to wage ; Of aungelis bewte f e prijs was his ; 140 In heuene on f e hi3est stage, He wolde haue peerid with god of blis ; Now is he in helle moost loof eli page. Jjat feendis forfetid for her mys, 144 Is now meeke mamiis critage." Quod WTaffe, " From f at cou??cel flee, fion art stalworfe, £onge, and li3te, Of all quarellia medic fou fee 148 Bofe of wronge & of rijte. Till- MIRKoR OF Till: PERIODS OF MAN", I. IFF. G3 Who dai be, Riche "i- i iv, vreike 01 wi^te, Loke p"\\ bare f- e boolde od me, 152 And y for fee wole chide & Hi;' J?anne no Stood Pad - A- wraffe biddif, do not soo, For wraffe haf no Conscience, 156 lie inaki]? eeh ma// oferis foo; |)er-wttA he getif his disp \)i\t schulde be rreende, to make hem foo. P/v/ie god, he be Ju diifence, 160 }3at j>>u be not founde in fe noumbre of foo." tjuod enuie panne, u y wole fee leere To make fi lord to p e tame ; Be homeli, A rowne in his eere, 164 And bringe trewe folk in fals fame. Make him fi snget, to fee to swore ))at he schal not discure f i name ; So make him fals witnesse to bere, 108 And gete fee richesse wif god-is grame." I will bully for you. warns hiiu against who makes friends foes. Ettrii counsels man to whisper evil reports of true men under a promise of secresy. 17G J/anne up roos a souereyn u# rtu pat is clepid Charite : " Loke fan not hise manors sue, For god-is enemy so)>eli is he. Do pou to euery man p"i is due As j?'»u woldist he dido to I Quod Coueitise "and alio folk wore trewe, Manye a man schulde neuere fee. Cimrttt Envy is God's enemy. ' Do to others as you would they'd do to you.' . [Page US.] OmmCpmmcm ad\ ises man to • l/aste fee Caste to Coueitise, Make soldi fi wittis, & forge wilis, And preue fat trewe men be nj 180 For so fe fals fe trewe bigilis ; scheme and cheat, 64 THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MASS LIFE. and so grow rich. 184 Such be?i worschipid & holden wise, fiei purchasen hem townes, manors, & pilis, And truje wolde wite where ]?i Lordschip lijs ; Make heggis bi-twene 3011, and no stilis." Quod largenes in almesse dede, " Coueitise couttcellij) pee amys. 3eue to pe pore, & Jjovi schalt spede 188 ])e bettir, pe gospel seij> Jns ; For at pe doome J>ere Jwu schalt drede, Crist wole reherse of pee y-wys }}e werkis of mem, as clerkis reede : you'll go to bliss. 192 if p ou hast doon hem, J?ou goost to blis.' Bounty in Alm.i- dceds says, Give to the poor, and at the Judgment Gluttony says, Love your belly, eat and drink ; fornicate, and never fast. [Page 129.1 196 200 JMLan, loue Ju wombe," quod Gloteny, " Leie mete upon meete, & ete faste ; But leue not pi crummes drye, Drinke pow til pe ful flood be paste. Leue cle?messe, & use harlotrie, But neuere a day loke Jjou ne faste ; In J)i wombe make ]>i tresorie, • Of J?eeuis panne pou. schalt not be agast." Moderation says, Gluttony makes men beasts, and drunkenness blinds their souls. 204 208 Quod Mesure, " man ! haue me in mynde. God made man suget to resouw : Wat turnej) a man to beestis kinde But etynge & drynking out of sesou?* 1 Drunkelew folk hen goostli bliwdc ; For faute of witt her lijf is gesoun ; In ydil ooJ)is wasten J?ei her wynde : To repreue suche, god fyiidip enchcsou/i." Sloth says, Never p> to church, don't mind good advice, 212 Quod Slouj>e, " bisynesse y pee forbede To chirche neiper goo ne renne ; Who techif pee good, take noon hede, A jens 00 worde 3cue him ten : mi: mirror of mi: periods of ma • alle folk ben not sotil In d }■ i bi oJk r : An 1 j i myche maugre to mede 16 ]3'/t i L fee wold ii I To diode god fou mua ])i fleischeli lustis j><»u muste spare, is and vertuee wole voideatwynne ; In besine88ifi bona is g I weelfaie, And SlouJ>e haf hung'/- and clofifl j>ini] 224 228 Qu"\\ fulfille, Fur if jvm in joufe sparist fanne fee, )>>u maist falle in greet perille. Joufe ful of corage wole be ; )>m nm.st'.' hane helpe, or ellis spille ; Spare no womman, y conncelle J>e, Jton} Bnmme cryen neuere so senilis." example. Dmttmtm warns - 1, ami deny your lusts. [Page 130.] ■ brings welfare. • ■ ur lust with women ; youth will be gay. Spare no woman. LO if, i"d ( Jhastite to man, u I II rken how leccherie doof speke ! Whanne |>on pi fonle Inste nasi doo, Bi waare hira fannc ! he wole J>ee frete, And fOO hast BO doo ))on must Buffre p te ;' And bnt it' god help \ ■ \ . 9 »nein wanhope he wol > fee Chastity warns man that Lust when gratified will threaten him with torments, ami he'll fall into despair. tj'i'-d fe go< d anngil, M jit fee a Lerne witte while J'»u art heei Be is a foole fat may be w 244 In henene comef no t 11. 6 ill to consider, ami not be a fool, 131.J 66 THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MAN S LITE. as Gol refuses reckless fools. At thirt\ old, man of his powers. proves liiiu for his vices, awl shows him the cost of Pride, (as against Meekness), of Lechery, Gluttony, Envy, [Page 132.] Sloth, I Avarice. God doojj richelees foolis refuse Jjat ku/men no good, ne noon wole lere ; If wordis excuse, werkis accuse, 2-18 pat makijj hem worse pan Jei were." "T IX fritti jeer now y abide ; In discrecioun I liaue in-sijt, Loueli to goo, and to ride, Ful of manliode & ofmy^t." Quod Conscience, "virtues foil pnttist aside, And norischist vicis day & nyjt." Qttod man in scorn, "lo, Conscience doojj chide! For losse of catel he dar not fi^t." 252 236 260 261 268 JKLan, kepe Jn richesse," quod Conscience, u To niaynteiiic pride, it costij) grcete j ' It costij? noi^t, meekenesse ne pacience, But it axij) greet coost to chide & to beete. Leccherie axijj greet dispense, It distroiej) mawnis kindeli heete ; And glotenie coostijj wiJ>oute« diffence Bofe in diuerse drinkis and meet'-. xT costif greet to use a syrane pat is clepid foide Enuye, For it fretij? man withrinne ; Bodi & soule it doo]? distroie. SlouJ)is jnifte, it is ful funne, It costij? myche in sle were a foole and nyce, 276 II"\v schulde wijsdom be founde in oolde. THE MIRROR <>i Tin; PERIODS OF MAN 8 LIFE, ]> to heei Ad 1 y ilid*' as pmi doist me teche, I holde li'ii' re make myrie chore. Wenest J?^u witA Jin hond henene to rcclie? J)in arme wole not be so longe to ^eere; Now, good Conscience, & Jwu wolt preche, Goo stele an abite, & bicome a frere." ' I lint t> b Mm, Oonecience, tr\ log I" itop iny meny-maHng. If yon wflJ preach, steal a cowl ami be a friar. tlu°il matt, y pleie, y wrastile, y sprynge, J)ese ioies wolen neuere wende me fro ; Now alle gamya horn y bryngej 292 What such as y am, J>er ben no moo : I leepe, y daunce, y skippe, y synge, I am so myrie y can not seie hoo." Quod Conscience, " ]jou schalt weepe & wringe 29G Wnanrie fei take her leeue to goo." JJLyn i^en ben cleere & bri^t as glas, Mj lire as lillye and roose of bewe, Of schappe & strengj>e alle fulke y passe, 300 An I euere my uartu wexif newe." Quod Conscience, " y loue fee weel Jjc laase, JjOU usist no wcrkis of good vertu." '• (!oo, Conscience, Jou lewide asse, 304 I kepe not Jn maneris to sue" [Page 1:53.1 play and wreetlo, dance and sing, and oarer cry Halt ! ' " You'll weep when that's over." ' .My eyes are bright) and I'm Stronger than any other man.' " Von do no good works." Mini. ' Conscience, you're an ignorant 308 t£uoe world, k 'y offre to fee my weele." Quod strengfe, 'Male no man be \>i peere." Quod corage, "late no man with Jeedeele." 5 * AtjbrQf yean old, man i* ad« riaed by the World, strength, Courage, 08 THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MAN S LIFE. [Page ISA.] Lost, Healih, Consdenoef Quod luste and liking, " make good chceiv." " I am al hool wip pee," quod heele. Quod Conscience, " wistist pouwhat pese were 312 At node wole faile pi fleische so freele." and Truth. Got riches in" youth that shall do for age. 316 320 Quod Conscience to man in 3oupe, " Traueile i/i troupe in tyme is beste." Quod troupe, "gete pee richesse notice AVherwip in oolde to haue pi reste ; j)ou^ age can as he cowthe, My$t & corage he hap looste, He kepip his soule pat kepip his moupe, For pe soule to pe fleisch is but a goost." At Jifty years old, Conscience tolls man to do good works. He prefers covetousness. " ]JOw am I fifti ^eere y-wis, Myn heer bigynnep to change his hewe." Quod Conscience, " flee from alle vice, 324 And use werkis of good vertu, Late not pi werkis preue pee nyce, Loke pat pou euere be founden trewe." " Fare weel Conscience, weelcome Coueitise 328 To he lichee now y wole pursue." [Page 135.1 Conscience dis- suades him; Overhope makes him sin ; Despair helps too. 332 336 Quod Conscience, " pat is idil bisynesse, Nedelees richesse to gadre soo ; ( )nc/liope is pe cause y-wisse, He wenep ameende al er he goo." YVanhope seip, "kepe weel pis, For pe world wole faile us two." Qwod Conscience, " chaunge notheuen blis For helle peyne, sorowe, and woo." At tixty years old, man Lamei t- hia evil doings. "Jn sixti jeere myu age is prjte, Myn \]r\\ daswen, myn beer is hoore ; In my wfikis y baue febil in-srjte, 340 I fynde no vertu in my stoore. Tin: KIRBOB OF tin: PERIODS OP .man's i.ui.. 3 1 1 How scha] y reckene witfl god almy^l ? 1 am aschamed gondii booi I ( Jon8cience, "certis it wen n';t holi row or n< u- /•<• m i How shall he .til God P " Be holy now or Ili-\iT." Quel joRthe to age, "what dotal pm now)>e1 Han-'' op J>in Rachel & take p'\ n |^«* SRnne is past fer bi pe Bowthe, And hi^eth swij>e in to pe w< Quod man, " y Berned pee in jong)>e And al pv tyme myne eruesl Leste, }Y'ip sorowe of herte & Bchrifte of monjje 3.")2 To^god 3 i t haue y kepte J>e beste." Youth taunts (he old man : he li past and gone. [Page 130.1 Tin- old man repents ami will serve God. 3.">G 360 A.- 1 '* ra ^ e a 3 en jistirday to-morowej And alle J?i werkis, bigynne hem Rewe." Quod man, " Jjouj J>or speke in scorne, J?ou techist me good J>at y neuere knewe I wole bifinke me or my werkis biforn, Do almes dede, praie, & rewe, And goddis mercy schal ynne my corn, And fede me wip pat pat y new n Youth mocks him again. The old man learns from the Mora, will pray and sorrow, and God will in his corn. 304 3G8 ±X 30110]?,' whamie y was wilde & Bfa pe fals world fair dide me wowe, Me |K>R)t ech worde a myri "\Vi)j pipis, and daRncis, & mirpis y-Rowe. Now seij he, he loued me to lou For myn heer bigynnej) to bl To jn mercy, lord, me vndirfonge, )>■ tyde is ebbid, li;t<- pee bom," resouR dide Baye, * Miche of my candel in waaste y spende, 372 MaRye wickid windia haj> wastid it away; ■ <>f life I lei irindt of vrickedn 70 THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MANS LIFE. I oan scarcely hold its end. 376 Vnncjje y hokle my candelis eende, It is past euensonge of my day ; To reepe myn heruest, whidir mai y winde? Mi londis of vcrtues liggen al lay. I lived in the Devil's service, with Lite suppers and late rising. Now the wise reprove me, and former friends hate me. 380 384 ■■ Whanne 3ou)je was maistir, y was page, We lyueden myclie in Je feendia sendee, AViJ) rere souperis and wickid outrage, Ligge longe in bed, loojje to arise. Now haue y noi^t but wisschis to wage, And myclie repreef amonge Jje wijse j J3ei J>«t loueden me in 30ujje, hatiden me m age, And vnkindeli me diden dispice. I wonder why the world was made. I have no rest, [Page 138.] and see nothing but battle and dread. JN Ow haue y greet meruaile j)e world to man wlii it was wroi^te ; Fele temptaciouns now me assaile, 388 I haue no reste for chaunge of Jo^te. Wha/rme y sclmlde reste y haue greet merueile ; In bed to sleepe whawnc y am brou^te, I se but drede and greet bataile 392 Al ma??nys lijfe, and it be sou$te. The world has forsaken me ; niy sins accuse me fiends threaten me; Death shakes his ■pear at me. 39G 400 X hus ])Q fals world hajj forsaken me ; For waste of hise goodis he accusij? me ; j)e synnes fat y loued, now haten me, To Conscience pei adwiten me ; Feendis Jjrctcn faste to take me, And stercn helle houndis to bite me ; Deejj seif, my breed he haf baken me ; Now schakcj? he his spore to smite me. I am like a stag at bay. J?ns y am huntid as an hertc to a-bav, I not whidir y may me turne, Myne enemyes my^tilime assay, 404 I waxc feble and vnonrnc ; THE MIRROR OP Till. MAN S LIFE. 71 To flee to god Lb my beste way, Jjere scnaJ y in no poynl spurn Lord ; now socoui me f it beste may, 108 In fin herte Mood, fat holi bourne." I will IV Lord, 1. •I 1 2 416 tjuuil jonfe I ■. fee forsake, ]}i frendis deien, fi Btrengpe do. if faile, )M si;tc and heeryng bigynnejj to slake, })ee needif hetye and good eouftsaile; (I. nl-is seruauTitis in areest haj fee take Til dee) on fee haue doon bataile ; );i reckenyng bi tyme bisili Jvm make, Or J?e deuel bringe fe countirtaile." [Page isb I Youth t.i w Ltfa hit failing ■trength ':'.- ad ranee on him. Re must make op his aoooouta quickly. J? 0113 dee]? he eende of worldlis woo, Jeanne dee) Lb euere mannys freende ; tlioii3 soulis in hello' Tje ponischid soo, 420 Dee]? come]? not Jv.to to make noo?* eende ; Dee) makij? soulis to heue/i to goo, But in to heuen dee]? may not wende. For dee]? is flemyd heuene froo, 424 Dee]? is sugett to god to bende. To some Death here is a friend. but not to any In hell. It sends some to hearen, and there troubles tlieni not. 428 432 MOw y am sixti 3eerc and ten, 3onge folke Y fynde my foo, Where euere fci pleie, leepe, orrenne, ])vl finken in her weir. Y goo ; And whanne y mete with olde men, I pleyne * Jis world is chaungid soo ; ' Noon oJ?cr bote is but seelde when Ech man tellif opir his v A' old, the man feela In the way of young folk j HO.] his oin\ . is in complaints, and telling other old men hie troubles. Quod 3011)0 to age, "y J?eo a-p And j?;it bifore oure god y-wia ; I lente fee streng)e, bewte, & heele,- 43G Jjese percellia ben of heuen blis, — Youth 1 him of wasting his THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MAN 8 LIPB. and wealth in follv, Coiage, li^tnesse, freendis, & weele ; Alle )>ese ]?ou hast wastide amys From wijsdom in-to folies feele : 440 God wole haue rekenyng of al pis. his sight in rain- glory, his mouth in out lis and gluttony, his hands in rubbery, his beauty in lechery. [Page 141.] The old man con- fesses his short- coinings, regrets his loss of youth and power, J^ine heeiynge and J? in 13c si^te j)at Jxui hast wastide in veyngloiy; ])i moujje to wronge a^en ri^te, 444 In fals oojjis and fonle gloteny ; ))in hondis to robbe and to li^t ])i strengj>e Jxra wastidist in fcyrauntry; \)'\ feet in derknesse oute of li3te, 448 \)i bewte pon wastidist in leccheiy." tjuod man, "y was gonmied Bitwenetwo penis, \)ei stale on me : Y was stalworfe & wliite j WhaTme my leepis were?i bro^t to prenis, I wondre on my silf Y was so li$te. 3ougJ?e staale from me ; yd soore me grenis ; Age Steele J? on me boj^e day and ny3te ; Mi 3ougjje, my verfcu, al fro//?, me menis j Now wondre y on my silf where is my my$tc. 452 45G and complains how youth, with all i:s glory, has bt (ilen from 3 1 i in, and age, with all its defect-, lias stolen upon him. At eighty years old % ?oug]>e staale fro?/? me, Y was stalworfe & lijte ; And age steelej) on me Filjis to weelde ; 3ong)>e steelij) fro?/? me, Y jeede up l^te j Age Steele]? on me, Y bowe and 3eelde j 3ongJ?e haj> stolen fro?/i me My leepis li3te ; Age steelij? on me, Y wexe on-mylde ; 3ongJ)e Steele)) my corage To pleie & ii;tc, Age is so on me stooL-// \)a\ y mote to god me jilde. ' JJOw y am euene of zeeris fore scoure, So manye wyntir Y am oolde ; Jjere y was wonte To leepe bifoTe, 168 Fer aboute dow My wei y hoolde : 4G0 4G4 tin: mirror of Tin: nmmns «»r mans lite. 73 476 480 My backe bowip, myn i}<'ii ben soon, Mvn hoote blood is kelid coolde : Alas ! ( lonscience ! to litil y toke pi 1 JX' talis pat \»>u hast ofte me toolde." [Page! I.'. 1 k is bent, his hot blOOd odd. All, Conscience ! I did not listen to JOB. the man's rapentanet, QuodCoi " where haddistpou ^at spechel JJJJJ*"" ))i lijte leepifl foonde to preue ; pe jmt of |>e stoon pou maist nut reche, To litil my^te is in pi alone. In yougpe whanne y dide pee teche, Funic Jk)u me panne dedist reprene j I panke god of pi good leeche." " Jhe, Conscience, now to pi wordis y leeue." boi thanks God for it. JJOw fonre score 3eeris is past, Mi lijf is but tnmcil & woo, Fer w to fereage y am cast, 484 Into ten jeer and moo. My Lymes foulden pat wen-// fast, AYip Btaffe in honde now y goo ; My redy speche may not last, 488 So my tcep ben fallen me fro. At ninety yours Old man's life is but woe, lie walks with ■ stall", his teeth fall out, 492 49G Fnl of fleissche Y was to fele, Now may I neijw r stonde ne goon ; It hap now Lefte me euery dele, Me is Lefte Bnt skyn & boon. Now y am vndre Fortunes whole, My frendis forsaken me Euerychoon, And alle pe synnes Y loned so weel, Now wote y weel pei been my foon." [Page 141 1 his flesh is gone. he is but skin and bone. (brsaken by his friends, and his sins his toes. tjnod course of kinde, "What helpip, y wende };i wissching And pin hadde-y-wist ? What maist pou On po wordis spende, HOO It is ful febil In pi list. Oomr m <>/ ifatitrt asks tin . hi- vain i THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MAX 8 LIFE. All men expect liis death, and none will regret him j hecambera. all. 504 Now alle me?* waiter? aftir \>\/t eende ; ])ow$ ]>()\\ deye, fou schalt not be myste ; }>/u combrest bojje foo & frende, ])i mylle liajj gronnde Jn laste griste." These mortal sins must quit the aged : Pride, Lechery, [Page 144.] Glultony. J? re deedli sywnes maden her moone, " We forsaken man in age." Qttod Pride, "y am from Mm goon, 508 For Pride in age Doip disperage." Q//od leccherie, " He louej) to lie a-loone j J^oii} he wolde do, him wantij) corage." Quod Glotenie, " he is but felle & boone, 512 He loue)) more mesure Jmn outrage." Two think him no good, Envy and Wrath. Two claim him, Sloth and Covetousness. 516 520 Quod En vie, " age hath no my^te Ne richesse, lenger me to fynde." Qz^od wraJ)J>e, " age may not fi3te j)o\\^ he be angii, bi course of kynde." Qwod Sloufe, " age my chaumbre liajj di^te, And callej? me ease in his mynde." Q?«od Coueitise, " age haj> me hi:tc ; Suget to me he dooj) him binde." Overhope, or vain Confidence that they will ever do well, is the cause of men's waste and sin. Then comes Sickness. Then Wanhope or Despair, 524 528 " T X knowe," q?/od ouerhope, u fleissch is freele, Of oolde and 3onge, of man, of cliilde ; In ouerhope pei wastcn her weelc, And in diuo'se werkis ful wylde ; Jjei ouerhope euere to lyue in heele, From age & sijknesse j?ei wenc}) hew schilde, J?a?me come]) sijknesse, & printij) liis seele." Qwod wanhope " j?an y make hiwi mylde; [Page 146.] and bide them hoard. or, rfiope s'ill lures them on i 532 I bidde hiw horde, and richesse sane, For wanhope after mischife d«»ij) waite, Whawne sijknesse come]) men to crane," Quod oi •hope, " fan y flatir, Asuratyme flaite, Tin: MIRR0B OP THE PERIODS OP MANS LIPB. l \xm Bchalt lyne, and p\ ailf it hane. ,w " 3he," seij wanhope, "kepe it strait--, Of good hope do connceU p on crane Til dee) \ tste yrith a trippe of disBaite." Qu<»d wanhope, u a :_c< >^p -1 y radde : To telle it fee y wole bigynne, 1 If a man in synne be sadde 540 Ech day newe, and Hop (lear-inne, Of snch a man god is moore gladde j)an of a childe fat nenere dide synne. M Quod ( 'onscience, " lie wolde make j?e madde 5 it To repente pec not, ne nenere hlynne." mocks them, !:cm tho U tl.ey will plii! into sin, God will be more pleased than if they never «i lined. ' 548 552 Quod Conscience to wanhope, " I-wh Jjou liest, y hate pe Jwfore ; I knowe J?e gospel, it seij) pis, 1 If a man hane synned longe hiforc, And axe mercy And a-mende his mys, Repente, and wilne to sy>me no more, Of j?at man god gladder is Jjan of a child syn-lees y-bore.' " reproves Despair, and repeats the true Gospel, that Of a repentant sinner God is gladder than of [Page 140.] one who never sinned. Qu<»d wanhope, " a gospel y radde ; What it mene)) y can expownde, Ech man schal haue peine or meede, 556 In foujtr or dede as he is founde ; He ha)j not 3H repent id his dede, He ai^kejj for synnes ben not vnbounde ; \)ow$ mercy come, he schal not spede, 5G0 For in daunger of wanhope he is bonnde.' Quod Conscience, "J>ou dotid hoore ! God-is mercy J3011 woldist distroie ; JXra wenest pi widddneese were moore not j)an god-is goodnesse & his mercie. Despair urges the Gospel lh.it men softer ai they are found, and M the Old man has iiotyetrepente.i.i.e cannot get mercy. Conscienee says, ' Doted win no, mercy 76 Till: MIRROR OF TIIE TERIODS OF MANS LIFE. is enough for a thousand worlds if they Mk it.' The Old Man calls on tlie Virtues to befriend him in his need. [Page 117.] Recklessness offers instead, the crew of Sins that he loved. For if a man he woundid soore, And axe no medicine, him liste te deie ; God hap mercies y-now i// stoore 568 For a pousand worldis pat mercie wole crie." JJlEkenes, Pacienee, and Charitee, 3e j>/tt weren my frendis dere, Mesure, Bisinesse, and Chastitee, 572 At pis mystiie come]? meneere." Quod Conscience, " pou denied us from p^e ; Jpou woldist not oure loore leere." Quod richelees, u loo, heere my meynee ! 576 \)e synnes pat pou louedist & smiedist, lo hem here ! " At a hundred years old man carries his bier on his bade, all his friends wish him dead. He may stretch oat his neck for Death's sword; he is full of sin ; he must go to wreck God have mercy, The w, rid re- ]• feendis writ if my synnee Baste, And «liM-j> me waitif with a trippe of These sixe maken me Boore agasi Ulll-llM-. forhim.t for him. Jeanne come) forj good hope : To sane man he wolde fonde ; "J)ou wronge weuere ouerhope ! 604 Imakehi/n free,)>ouwoldis1 make hi/// bonde ; I schal conclude }v<', J>au wanhope, Wile good feij wole with me stoonde; II oli writte seij>, 'in g<»u] hast serued me, I wole ]?<•«• kepe from al perile, f>12 And make pees bitwene god & f e ; .Vnil ouerhope, for al his gile, ami drive out From fin herte y schal do hi/n flee ; And wanhope also V Wole exile, Orarhope and GIG For he is not of owe fraternitee." 1) ^ ,;lir - w ill -a\e the old ■MD. Faith will help. Good Faith will make Ids peace with Qod. G20 624 QikmI fe worlde, Y wole hise dettis guyte, And oute of his daungt r me le J)ou3 my fleissche berke, he schal not bitee, From his lustia y wole hiiw lye ; 1 wole waissche a- 1 Wry \<<{ feendis write With sorowe of herte and teer of j^e, But with drrj? y Avoir not dispnite, Jiut make me cleene, and leerne to deie. Man says he will give up his fleshly _e 149.] toata, will sorrow and weep, and learn to die. (ji>d ; Bowe )>i ni'/ci amonge my Beede, Jjanne schal it growe bou^ y sowe late, And Repentaunce my come schal weede, 628 And make good pees fere was hate. i ~ . . w 1 1 i — lneiiy in him, and Bepantanea « ill weed his 01 hi. THE MIRROR OF THE PERIODS OF MAN'S LIFE. Then the works of Mercy will let hhn in at heaven's gate. Reader, yon have heard of South and Age, Virtue ami Vice, Good Ansel and Bad. Look in this Mirror; take your choice, for Heaven or Hell. The world, the flesh, and the devil tempt us. [Page 150.] Let us pray to God that after death we may see His fair face. Dear friends, who read this, pray for the Writer's soul to Mary, Mother, to pity il If Christ will. Amen. ])o, comaundementis pat god bede, J3at is pe locke of lieue?* ^ate j Seuene werkis of mercy, and pe erode, 632 ))ese keies schullen late me in perate." JM ow haue $e herde of 3011 J)is delice ; And age in kynde, sijke, & woo ; Knowing of uertu & of vice ; 636 Good aungil, & wickid freende, & foo ; And vndirstondiwge to "be wijs. Now in fis mirrowr loke 3011 soo ; In 30HTG free wille pe choice lijs, 610 To heuen or helle whipir 33 wille goo. Ihe worlde, pe fleissche, & pe feende, In tewtptacioim doip us chase ; Bid repentau?zce to merci beende, 644 And waissche us at pe welle of grace. Praie we to god graunte us good eende, And in heiie/a to haue a place, \)at after oure deep we mowen pidir wende, 648 And in pof^t loue se his fair face. How, leeue freendis, greete and smale, J?at haue herde pis trete, Praie for pe soule Jjat wroot pis tale 652 A Pater noster, & an aue To marie modir, maiden free, As sche bare a childe Couwforte to us, On pat soule haue pitee G5G If pe wille be of crist ihesus. amen. [Stems Fuer, printed in Babecs Bote, §c, p. 27, follows here] 7:> 60b scnb u.s |);tticns in oarc Oolbc t [Pages 113 — 17, written without breaks.] 12 £ Rom Jv tyme fat wo were born oure ;ou)>e passij frow day to day, And age encreesij moore & moore, & so doif it now, fe sothe to say : At euery hour a poynt is y-loore, So fast goojj owre 3011)50 away, And £OuJ>e wole come ajen no moore, But age wole make ns hojje blak & gray. Jjerfore take hede IjoJjc ny$t & day How fast 30111V ^oufe doof ass wage; Ami boje 3'»nge & oolde, lete us praie ])ai god send as paciens in oure oolde age. Our youth passes away from day to day, and'will come back no more. Take heed, then, ami pray God for patience in old age. 16 20 24 ^f Age wole take from as ot*re myjt ])nt in oure £Ou)>e to as was lent ; And also jv c] of oure syght I oure heerynge schal be faynt. panne schuleft we be heuy Jwt eer were lijt, Bicause J>at 3011 J?e is from us went, And panne wole men do as no r^t, Bu1 al contrarie to owe. entent, And sikenes wole do us greet turment Whom o wolen scbake, And oure Leggia wole tremble where we go; Oure bonis wole drie as doo]> a stake, And in oure bodi we schulen be woo, Oure nose, oure chekis, wolen wexe al Make, & oure glad chere wole fade us fro ; Awl wharane oure tee]? ben goon also, Oure tunge schal lese his fair langage : Praie we for us silf & ofcv moo pat god sende us paciens in oure olde age ! Our friends will hate us : we shall say, if I had but known ; ' no kiss will greet us and no joy gladden us. [i Page 113.] God -end us patience in our old age ! Oh, Oure freendis J?at schulden lone us best, pmme wole fei haue us but in hate, In freendsehip is \er woon o\er trust, 40 & j?erof be we waare to late. ]}an may we synge of had y wist, Oure feynt freendis ban us forsake, And also we schulen go vukist 44 bojje at pe dore & at J?e gate : And for al J?e cheer J?at we can make, ])an is l uo ioie of oure visage : Wbanne oure bewte schal aslake, 48 god send us paciens in oure olde age ! Some will scorn U-, others think we live too long; our stomachs will take no food : w- thai] ring <>f ■OITOW and care. ^f we schulen be so angn euermore, we wolden ben awreke of euery wrong, pa/rme surame wolen scorne us ferfore, 52 & summe wole Beie we lyue to long ; Oure sorowe wole fan sitte us so soore Oure stomak wole no mete fongej myche ; ft Jan wole sijki. iile Til it liaj? made US lijk a wrecche, & |Mm may we do no greet traueile 68 But 'summtyme grone, & sumtyme gracche, Ami sumtyme dawe for Bcabbe & icche Whanne age haj? us at his auauwtage : Who-80 lynej) long sehal be such ; 72 God sende us paciews in oure olde age ! 1 ■ ! -in our eld ■§§. • hilt praye«> crutch will then for sickness will assault us, - > 116.] and we shall groan and get the itch. May God send us Patience then ! ^| Al )>"t we haue lyned lieere, It is but as a dream y-met, For now it is as it nenare were, 76 Ane 3onge may lore, 80 And fewe |K>r ben fat doon J?e bett ; For j>e feend haj> caut hem in his nett, h<»ldij) hem Cast in bon F<>r Jjci schulden not dispose her witt 84 To haue pacience in her oolde 8 Our time on earth is but as a dram ; we draw towards our death. Let the young learn from the old, tor the devil keepa them from having Patience in their *~ panne schulen we se J?"t worldli blis \> but a jji//g of vanitc, A)i'I it makij) me« to do amys 88 ])ot ben in weelje & greet bewl And ferfor, Lord, good rijt it is With oure owne staf chastisid to be: Lord ! jeue ns grace to jnnke on bis, '.'- As \"\\ bon^t ns alle npon a ta . Vol.. II. 6 Then worldly Mi>t. will Been vain. It li right that we beebaatla our ova I us think on this, 117.| 82 GOD SEND US PACHNS IN OURE OOLDE AGE ! And \>at we may in charite AVeel passe oner j?is passage and pass over Itt-to ])e blis ]?at enere schal be, lMtk^uteT 9^ AVlianne we ben passid owe oolde age. [" Bothe 3 on g6 & olde," or " Se what oure lord suffride for oure sake," printed above, pp. 32-4, follows here.] 83 ©jjis Etorlit is but ;t Dannto. AN OLD MAN B LAMENT. 12 1G 20 24 [Lambeth MS. 853, o& 1430, a.d., jpo^e 58 ■ written without breaks.'] As Y Gau wandre in my walki/?ge Bisidis an holt vndir an hille, Y say an oolde man sitte wepinge : [ With si3ynge sore he seide me tillo, % " Sumtimc y hadde J?e world at wille, With ricchessc & with rialte, And now it is turned al to ille ; \ ])u worlde is but a vanyte. JttLy silf I likne vnto J?e morewe : Whawne y was child, & bor[e]n bare, Mi modir for me suffride sorewe With gruntyngis gril & eri^ittge sarc; % On me was neifcr wem ne horo j But sifen in sy/zne y liaue be ; Now y am oolde y wepe Jerfore ; Jjis world is but a vanyte. £i,t mydmore y lerned to go, And plaied as children doon in 'strete ; pe kinde of cliildhode y dide also, AViJ) my felawis to fi3te and )>rete. % Al J>at y dide, it folate me swete, For al Jns childhode tai^te me ; Now y am oolde, ferfore y wepe ; )3is worlde is hut a vanite. In my walk I saw an old man 6ighing, and lie 6aid, " Once I had all the world at my will, but now it's all turned to ill. I am like the Morning. At my birth my Mother groaned with pain. I was spotless, but now am sinful. At Mid-morn I played, [l Page 59.] and like a boy fought. All I did, seemed sweet: but now I weep for it. This world is but vanity. 84 THIS WORLD IS BUT A VANYTE. At Undern 9 a.m.) I was put to school, and cursed my master when he beat me. I cared only for joy and jollity, alas ! 28 32 At vndren to scole y was sett To lerne lore, as oj>ir doof ; "Whawne my maistir wolde me bet, I wolde him curse, y was ful wrooj). % To lerne good y was ful loo)), I Jo^te on ioie & ioilitc ; Now certis, for to seie J?e soojj, j)is world is hut a vanyte. At Mid-day I was knighted, and none durst stand my charge. Where is now my lira very ? Not to be hidden from death. 36 40 At mydday y was dubbid kny^t, In route y lerned for to ryde ; Was j?er noon so hardi a wi^t J)at in bataile durste me abide. ^f Where is bicome now al my pride, Mi booldnes, & my fair bewte ? Now from dee]? may y me not hide j Jjis world is bwt a vanyte. At High Noon I was crowned King, and fulfil- led all my lusts, [i Page 60.] Now age has crept on me. This world is but vanity. 44 48 At hi^ noo?i y was crowned king, ])is world was oonli at my wille ; Euere to ' lyue was my liking, And alle my lustis to fulfille. ^f Now age is cropen on me ful stille, And maki]) me oold & blac of ble, And y go downeward wijj J?e liille ; Jpis World is but a vanite. At Mid-afternoon my pleasures passed away. Man's, life here is but a day com- pared to everlast- ing life. 52 56 At mydouernoon y droupid faste, Mi lust & liking wente away ; From iolite myn hert is paste, From rialte & riche aray, % Ma??nis lijf here is but a day A^ens J?e lijf J?at euere schal be j And oo fing y dare wcel say, J?at Jus world is but a vanyte. THIS WORLD FS BUT VANYTE. GO G4 At enensong tyme y wax l'ul coold, And bigan to ,u r " bi stane ; Now La deej on me l'ul boold, And for his rent he wole me crane, ^[ Whanne y am deed A: leid in graue, per is no ping J»awne fat sauef me But ,u r ".xl or ynal bat y do hau jjia world is hut a vanite. Wiilk.-d with :i me. In the sp-ave nought - good done. Alius is be day come to ny$t, J?at me lobith of my lyuyngc, And doolful deeb to me is ou^t* G8 And in coold 'clay now schal y clinge." % j)us an oold man y herde mornynge Biside an holte vndir a tree. God grannte us his blie enerlastinge ! 72 ])'\6 world is but a vanite. At Night I loathe my life. Death and the Grave possess me. L 1 P»ge 01.] Ool tyrant us His bliss! for this world is but vanity. [ " In a noon tijd," or follows here in the MS.] Reuertere" pp. 91-4 of this volume, 8G C|)is 8®db is Jfafett anb Wain. [Lnmhrfli MS. 853, page 32, written withoict breaks.] Why is t'lia world beloved P Its power presses away like a brittle pot. It i9 false in all, and so unstable, Page S3.] false in Its business ami its pleasures too. Where is Solo- mon, or Samson, Absalom or Jonathan, ('a ;-;ir or Dives, Tully or Aristotle, TTThi is J>is world biloued Jwt fals is & veyn, " SiJ?en jwt hise weljns ben so unsertcyn ? T Al so soone liee passij) his power away 4 As dooj) a brokil poot J?at freisch is and gay. % Truste $e rajer to lettris writte?^ w/t/anne J)is Jjan to j)is wreccliid world ]>at fill of sy?me is. fl" It is fals in his biheeste, & ri3t disceyuable ; 8 It ha]) bigilid many a man, it is so vnstable. % It is rajnr ] to bileeue Je wageringe wijn.de Jpan J>e changeable world )>at makij? men so blinde. ^[ For whefer J?ou slepe or wake, Jon schalt fynde it fals 12 Bothe in hise bisinessis & in hise lustis als. % Telle me where is Salamon, sumtyme a king lichee, Or Sampson j)e stro??ge to whom was no man lichel % Or J)e fair man absolon, mmieilosc in cheere, 1G Or Jjc duke ionatas, a weel biloued fere? % Where is bicome cesar, \>at lorde was of al, Or J?e richc man clojid in purpur & in pal 1 % Telle me where ys tullius, in eloquence so sweete, 20 Or aristotil \>o Filosofre witfl his witt so greete? Tins WORLD is PAL8I am> vain. N ^[ Where ben feee worjri f'/t were heere-to-fornl nmii former Bofe kingifl Sc bischopis, her power is al lorn. } % Alle Jjeso greete princia with her power bo hi^e .,n mUwd in 2 t Benvaniflcbid qo way way fa twynkeling'ofan yy. .n^,. • ^[ ))e ioie of J?is wrecchid world Lb a schoorte feeste, twi And it is likened toa Bcbadewe fat may not Longe shadow, lcste, ^[ And ^it it drawif man from henen riche blis, end yet makes 23 And ofte tyme it makif him to Bynne & do a-mys. % Calle no Jung fine owne, f e/'fore, fat Jkhi maist can nothing here heereleeee; tbiaBOWni For fat f e world ha J) lent fee, efte he wole it cese. % Sette fin herte in henene a-boue, & f enke what set thy heart on . . . „ heaven above. ioie is fere, 32 And fus to dispise fe world y rede fat fou lere. % j)o\x Jjat art but wormes meete, poudre, & dust, Thou food for mi • -ip • worms, exalt not lo enkaurtce Ju sine m pride sett not fi lust. thyself in pride; % For foU WOOSt not tO-day fat fOU SClialt lyue to- thou may'st die _ . to-morrow. morowe, 3G Jperfore do foueuere weel, Ainlfawne schalt fou Therefore do wen. not sorowe. % It w r ere ful ioieful & sweete, lordschipe to haue, Lordship would If so fat lordsehip mijte a man fro 2 deef sane, *£?J™ "*" % But for as myche as a man schal deie at f e laste, b u tano 40 It is noo worschip, but a charge, lordsehip to *"***»** «">■ 1 ° x burden. taaste. Omnia terrena AU eart \ ll - v **?# are another s by Per vices sunt aliena : turn9 > nescio sunt cuius ; 44 mea nunc, eras huius et huius. Die, homo, quid speres, what do you hope for, If J mi elea\e si mundo totus adheres ; wnoiij to tins world P nulla tecum feres, ran can take 1 8 licet tu solus haberes. tayouwu: HOW mine, now another's. 88 €wci\. Whanne liif is moost loued, and deef is moost hatid : f anne doof deef drawe his draw^t, and makif man ful nakid. De terra plasmasti me, &c. Man, made of earth, has only cared how he may be set high up on earth. ERf e out of erfe is wondirly wroi^t, Erfe of erfe haf geto a dignyte of 110113 1, Erfe iipo^ erfe ha]? sett al his Jwi^t, 4 How fat erfe upon erfe may be ln^ brou^t. Man would he a king on earth ; but when earth [' Page 36.] bids him home, he shall find it hard to part. •jf Erfe upon erfe wold be a king ; But how erfe schal to erfe, f enkif he no ! f ing ; Wharme fat erfe biddif erfe hise rentis horn bring, 8 }?an schal erfe out of erfe haue a piteuous parting. Man wins on earth castles, and says ' It is ours.' But he shall suffer sharply for It. % Erfe vpon erfe wyrmef castels & touris, |5an seif erfe to erfe * now is f is al houris : ' Wha?ine erfe upon erfe haf biggid up hise boure[s], 1 2 Jeanne schal erfe upow erfe suffir scharpe schouris. Man goes on earth glittering in gold, and yet he shall return to earth before he likes. ^[ Erfe goof vpon erfe as molde upon molde, So goof erfe upon erfe al gliteringe in golde, Like as erfe vnto erfe neuere go schulde ; 16 And 3it schal erfe vn-to erfe rafer fan lie wolde. Wretched man, Who toilest *[ f ou wrecchid erfe fat on erfe traueilist ny3t and day EARTH. 89 To floriflche p»> erfe, to peynte p<> erfe vriih wan- to adom thee with towneaiay; •»«*^ 3it schal pou, erfe, for al pi erpe, make pou it yet ihalt thoa neuere so queynte & gay, 20 Out of pis er>e into pe erpe, )wo to dinge as a retuni to earth clot of clay. like ■ ' ll ">- ( % wrecchid man, win art pmi proud ' fat art of p Page 37.1 . , i-ii w, 'y art thou pe erpe makid ? prou(I who art Eider bro^ttist pou no schroud, But poore come S clmesuo Jjou, and iiakid ; *»rth naked, ind Whanne pi soule is went out, & pi bodi in erpe when thou ftrt r gVi ^ put in earth, all 24 Jjan pi bodi pat was rank & Vndeuout, Of alle men win bate men is bihatid. thee - % Out of J>is erpe cam to pis erpe pis wrecchid Thy clothing came from earth garnement ; To hide pis erpe, to happe pis erpe, to him was to enwrap thy clopinge lente ; earth. Now goop erpe upon erpe, ruli, raggid, and rent, which under the earth sha torment. 28 fegjfore schal erpe vndir pe erpe haue hidiose ea turment. % Whi pat erpe to myche louep erpe, wondir me whyearth(man) loves earth too pmk, much, I wonder, Or whi pat erpe for supe?-flue erpe to sore sweete wole or swynk ; For whanne bat erbe upo/z erbe is broiut with- for when man * * * * J comes to the ircno pe brink, & rave ' s brink he shall have a sad 32 ))an schal erpe of pe erpe haue a rewful swynk. time of it. % Lo, erbe upon erbe, considere bou may Man, thou earnest 11 ' Y l Y ' Y J into earth naked, How erpe comep i^to erpe nakid al way, % Whi schulde erpe upon erpe go now so stoute or [Page ».] gay 90 EARTH. and shall be so when thou diest. 3G "Whawne erfe sclial passe out of erfe in so poore a ray 1 Think on thi«, and of the judgment at thy resurrec- tion, and then never for this earth Blialt thou dis- please God. % Wolde god, f erfore, f is erfe, While fat he is upon f is erfe, Ypon f is wolde liertile f inke, And how f e erfe out of f e erthe schal haue his a^en-risynge, And f is erfe for ])is erfe schal 3eelde streite rekenyng ; 40 Schulde neuere fan f is erfe for J>is erfe mysplese heuene kino-. Pray therefore, man, to God, that thou may'st come to bliss. If ]?erfore, f ou erfe, vpon erfe fat so wickidli hast wrou^t, While fat f ou, erfe, art upon erfe, turne a^en f i fou^t, And praie to fat god upora erf e fat al f e erf e haf wrou^t, 44 Jpat f ou, erf e upon erf e, to blis may be bro^t. Lord, let not man come to grief for this earth, but [« Page 38.] here ever work thy will, that he may ascend to thy high hill. % f ou lord fat madist f is erf e for f is erf e, & suffridist heere peynes ille, Lete neuere f is erf e for f is erf e myscheue ne spille, But fat f is erf e on f is ' erf e be euere worchinge f i wille, 48 So f at f is erf e from f is erf e may stie up to fin hi3 hille. A-M-E-K [See an earlier Poem on Earth, in alternate English and Latin stanzas, in my edition of Early English Poems for the Philological Society, 1862, p. 150-2; and in Reliquuc Autiqxce, vol. ii. p. 216. Memento homo quod cinis es, and the Creed (pp. 101-3 of this Text), follow here in the MS. 91 Jlennlcrc ! (in engliboh tunge, turns A3BN !) [Lambeth MS. 853, ah 1430 a.d., page Gl, written without breaks,] AN a noon tijd of a somers day fie swnne schoon ful myrie fat tide, I took myn hauk al for to play, 4 Mi spaynel rewnywg bi my side. Tf A feisaunt hen soone gan y se, Myn hoiu/d put up ful fair to fl^t, I sente my faukuw, y leet him flee : 8 It was to me a deinteuose si3t. One sunny summer noon I took out my hawk and spaniel. The dog put up a hen pheasant, and I flew my falcon at her— a pretty sight. % My faukun flij faste to his pray, I ran J>o "with a ful glad chere, I spurned ful soone on my way, 12 Mi leg was lient al with a hrere. % fiis brere forsojje dide me grijf, And soone it made me to tt/rne a^e, For he bare written in euoy leef 1G j^is word in latyn, reuertere. I ran on fast, but a briar brought me to grief, and made me turn back, for on every leaf it was written Rt V tr tt ft . I knelid & pullid fe brere me fro, And redde Jjis word ful liendeli ; Myn herte fil down vnto my too 20 fiat was woont sitten ful likingly. ^[ I leete myn hauke & feysaunt fare, Mi spaynel fil douw to my knee, I disentangled myself. My heart fell to my toe. [Page 02.] I let the hawk and hen fly, 92 and sighed over this Jtevertere. REUERTERE ! pa>me took y me wif si^ynge sare 24 pis new lessou??, reuertere. It means * turn again, or back.' Turn, then, man ami think of thy life, open and hidden. If thou would' st go to heaven, think of ' turn wjain.' Reuertere is as myche to say In englisch tunge as, turns ajen : Turne a3en, man, y fee pray, 28 And f hike hertili what foil hast ben ; ^f Of f i liuynge be-f hike fee rijfe, In open & in priuite. pat foil may come to euerlastingc lijf, 32 Take to f i mynde reuertere. I became serious, and thought how I had spent my life. I found myself full far from God, and will repent. "is word made me to stndie sore, And binam me al my list ; How y hadde ledde my lijf so 3 ore, 3G I putt it freischli in-to my brist. % jja/me foond y me fill fer y-flet Al from god in maieste j Forsof e fere schal no f ing me leett 40 pat y ne wole synge reuertere. This summer- noon heat [i Page 63.] is like man in youth, rushing into all kinds of sin. A his noon hete of f e someris day, "VVharcne f e suwne moost l hi3est is, It may be likened in good fay, 44 For gregorie witnessif weel f is ; % For in 3onge age men wide doon walke To dyuers sy?mis in fele degre : j3ou 3 a 3ong man make a balke, 48 3it take to f i mynde reuertere. Lust blinds many a man, and prevents him thinking of heaven. 52 for likinge blind if many 0011 pat he seef not him-silf y-wis, And makif his herte as hard as stoon ; pa/me fenkif he not on lieue??, blis ; % For danyel preuef it weel ri^tfulH, Aa Busawnis stone tollif me, RBUEBTERH I Two preeetia were deemed worbili ; 56 For likinge J?ci knew not reuertere, 93 3ouJjc beri)) j?e hauke upofl hia hond Whanne Loilite for^etij? age : Thia hauke is mannia herte, y vndirsfomde, GO For it is ^ong & of 1 113 romage. % He puttij) liis hauke &o his fist, lie fat schulde to god be free ; lie nieltij) and wexij a weel poore gist 64 Whanne 'he comef to reuertere. Vou'li boars t he hawk tin hia hand. The hawk is Uian's heart, and is flown from the fist, but not to God. [1 Page 61.] Jt or ful of corage is ^ougeje in berte, And waitynge euere on his pray, He ne spar i J) ryuer ne Jornes smerte 68 To gete his myrjje pere he beest may. % He J?at ensercbij) J?e derknes of uy3t, And pa niyst of pc morowtide may se, lie schal know bi cristis my$t 72 If 3ouJ?e ku/me synge reuertere. Vontli watches ever its prey, and Rpares no prick of thorn to get its pleasure. Let the watcher of the night ask whether youth will heed the call 1 Turn again' This liauk of herte in 3011 j>e y-wys, Pursue]? euere Jns feisaunt hen ; j)is feisau/?t hen is likingnes, 76 And euere folewij? hir Jjese 3onge men. ^[ ])is is likinge in euery sjnne, Venial & deedli whefer it be, With greet likinge he wole bigy?me, 80 But sorewe bridge for]) reuertere. This hawk, man's heart, pursues ever the hen pheasant Pleasure. Lust or Desire is the beginning of every sin, Liking is modir of syrcnis alle, And norischij) euery wickid dede, In feele myscheues sche makijj to falle, 8-i Of al sorowe sche dooj? Jjc daunce leede, ^[ Jois herte of 3ouJ>e is hie l of port, And wildenes makij> him ofte to He, their mother, and nourisher, and of all sorrow leads the dance. [ 1 MS. his.] [Pager,;..] Youth, through [ wi Mi less, 94 REUERTERE ! often goes wrong. Then it should turn again. In pleasure, think that youth must leave thee. When age takes thee, thou wilt think it best to turn again. Holy Writ says that a request too long delayed will be refused. In youth thou didst wild out- rage and forgat- test Eeverterc. Let every one think how short a time he shall be here. [» Page 66.] Cocks crow when midnight comes. Man knows not his time if he cannot say Ilevertere. Think, then, man, that there is no so poor wretch as tliou. Pray we all to God to grant ever- lasting bliss to all wIki eaa say * Turn again.' And ofto to falle in wickid sort ; 88 J}a/me is it Jje beste, reuertere. But be waar of weljje or Jjou be woo ; In iolite whan Jjou art pi^t, ]5inke Jjat 3onge wole go Jje fro, 92 Be Jjou neuo-e so greet of mi^t. Whanne age ha]) take Jjee bi Jje brest, And for febilnes Jjou my^t not se, \)'m herte seijj Jja>me Jjat it is best 96 For to seie & synge reuertere. JJut in holi writt we fynd'e If J>ou Jji lord sclmlde ou3t aske a ping, For Jji longe beinge bihinde, 100 A3enseid art Jjou of Jjin askinge. ^J Wliile Jjou were ^onge, in tendre age, Of J) in askinge Jjou were ful free In ydilnes & wilde outrage ; 104 panne was for^ete reuertere. J^erfore eue?y man bijjinke him weel How litil while is his dwellynge ; As holy writt yt doojj telle, 108 He schal not l knowe wit/i-oute lesinge. ^f A cok can crowe his tyme mydny^t, Which he knowM weel in his degre : But his tyme he knowith not ari3t 112 pat can weel neue?'e seie reuertere. Aherfore be Jjou in certein, man, While Jjou muste knowe how ; Bijjinke Jji silf how Jjou art Jjan ; 116 Noon so poore a wrecche as Jjou ! fl jperfore praye we to heuene king, Euery man in his degree, To grauntc tliem Jjo blis eucrlastingc 120 J?at Jjis word weelkan seie, reuertere. 95 Petri J);tssit(r gfcjfoisius. (a dialogue between a sinner and mercy.) [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 a.d., pay&sQQ to 73; written without breaks.] 8 jjl a forest as y gan walke "WVt/i-out a paleys in a leye, I herde two men togidre talke ; I folate to wite what J>ei wolde seie. % pat oon stood in a doolful aray, Hise deedli sy/mis he gan to dene, "Alas," he seide, me dreedij) to-day Jjat ri3t wole forjj, & no inercye." As I walked heard two men talking. One was very sad, fearing that Right would be done, without Mercy. 12 16 ■[[ )5anne answeride merci with sobir 'cheer, " Man, me )»iikij> J?i witt is bare ; If j?ou wolt, y sclial J?ee leer, \)ee needi)) not to moorne so sare. *[ I rede J:ee to foonde to ameende Jn fare j Go euery day & heere a masse, And schryue pee cleene, & haue noo care, For mercy passij) ri3twiflD.ee." [1 Page 67.] But Mercy said, Man, you need not mourn. Amend your ways, hear Mass daily, be shriven, and fear not, Mercy pMMth BigfatoOUMMk ^f Jpa»ne seide Jje sywner with angri mood, " Man, me penkist 2 pon docst raue ; I woot weel Jjou canst no good, 20 J3011 baiist neiure staat but as a knawe. The S'uuur answered, Thou ravest : [2/or penkip] 96 as I deserve, so shall 1 have ; Right, not Mercy. MERCI PASSITH RI3TWISXES. % As y deserue, so schal y haue ; Weel bittirli y schal a-bie ; I knowe noon helpe pat me sclmlde haue, 24 But pat ri^t sclial for]?, and no mercie." Mercy. If thou wilt give up thy sin, love God and repent, [1 Page 68.] He is over the law : His Mercy ex- ceeds His Justice. ^f purine seide mercye meeke & mylde, " If pou wolt fro pi syranes drawe, j)oiij pou speke pese wordis wilde, 28 To helpe ])ee 3 it I wolde be fawe. ^f Loue weel god, pat is my sawe, Eepente fee blyue of ' al pi mys ; Almy3ti god is oner pe lawe, 32 His merci passip his ri3twisnes." The Sinner. [ 2 or fonoued.] I never willingly did a good deed ; I deserve hell ; my wicked deeds will kill me. . Bight, and no Mercy, on me. 36 40 Seie me," quodpe syraner, "poufocwued 2 clerk, pou coudist neuere rede in no spel ; I \vr0113te wilfulli neuere good werk ; What ri^t haue y in he\ie?i to dwelle 1 % I haue deserued to go to helle, And perfore ofte sore sike y ; My wickid dedis wole me quelle, J}ere ri3t schal for]?, and no mercye." Mercy. God shed His blood for thee and me, and bought us with bis flesh. Thy soul is His. lb u ill have mercy. 44 l.s % Merci seide " pou canst no good ; God schewip pee kyndenes many foolde, For fee & me he schedde his blood, And suffride woundis bittir & colde, ^f His fair body to pe iewis was solde To bie oure synful soulis to blis ; ])\ soule is his, y my3t be bolde ; His merci passip his ryjtwisnes." The Sinner. I know <;<>d is good and true, and loves Truth. f>2 ^[ " Forsope," quod pe sy/mer, " pat leue y weel, pat he is hope good & kynde, And perto trewer pan ony steel ; p&t he loue]? tmpe weel schal y fyndc, 5G ICBROl PAS8ITH kijtwi ^f How myjt god me of care vnbinde Sifen god loucjj troufe bo wrili '? Do way, mercy, Job spillist myche winde, For ri3t schal forjj, & no mercy." 97 [Pag* «.] HOW then shall Hi' In c DM t BlghJ will pre- vail, not Mi t< y. 60 64 ^f Merci seide, " woldist Jvm god knowe, And wij? good enteni mercy calle, And to him meekeli fee abowe, Jjan scha] nensre myscheef in foe falle. ^f Jjouj Jjou haddist do J>e syrcnis alle, And foil crie mercy for al pi mys, ylW with good herte on hiwi to calle, Jjan wole his mercy passe ri^twisnes." M /■■'/. If thou wilt really pray tor mercy, tbODgfa thou hast, sinned all the sins. God's Mercy will exceed His Justice. G8 72 ^[ " "What," quod J»e syroner, "y trowe pon raue ; Canst foil neuero of f i pletinge blyrane 1 ])c deuel bad ne neuere mercy craue, And he can more clergie fan al pi kywnc ; •J And he him silf is ful of sy/me, And }it wole he neuere me?-cy eric : I coueite neuere henew to wywne While ri3t schal forf , & no mercie." 77c: sinner. Nonsense ! The Devil had me never ask mercy and he knows more than thou. He is full of sin, and never asks mercy ; Justice will prevail. 76 80 ^[Mcrci seide " y pieue bi skile, Witt is nomt worf , but grace be soi^t ; J)e deuel ' Ilaf clergie & witt at willc, And euere he scttif it foulc at 110113 1 : U He fil in wanhope as him neuere roi^te, J)orii3 pride in henem he loste his blis ; Hadde he oonys grace bisoi^te, Mcrci hadde passid l^twijsnos." Mercy. The devil's wit is DO pood without grace. [1 Pago 70.] He fell into de- spair when he [f thee. The ile\ il must he bad it he might have had mercy. 98 MERCI PA88ITH RI$TWISNESS. He needs be sorry who gets Bigfat and not Mercy. MS. transposes riitwisnes and mercy.] MtTCy, Dear brother, give up the devil, who would send you to hell. Tray for prare, God will send it, and thy soul will go to heaven. A f ousand sif is y liim defie ; lie may "be sory & no-f ing glad 88 pat sclial liaue l l^twisnes & no mercy." Mercy bihecld fat semeli goost, And seide, " leue broker, forsake fe feend, For lie wolde fayn f i soule were lost, 92 To dwelle in lielle w/t/iout eend. If Biseche now grace, & god wole sende And Jon wolt do as y fee wijs, And fan f i soule to lieue?? sclial wende, 96 ])ere merci passif ri^twisnes." The Sinner. [Page 71.] IMy past life is worthless; I will serve God ; may He keep me from sin. I defy the false fiend who promis- ed me Right, not Mercy. 100 104 Alas," quod f e symier, " al my lijf y rue, For it is no f ing as y wende ; To seme god y wole be trewe If ony grace lie wole me sende. ^f Of al wickidnes lie me defende ! \)c fals feend, y him defie j He wolde no Jung fat y dids meende, Jpat bilieet me rijt & no mercie." Mcrey. Do so, and re- joice. He sorry for thy sin, be shriven, do penance, and repent: Thou shall know that Mercy passes Justice. 108 112 Merci seide " if foil wolt so, j)on my^t be glad al fi lijf, And for f i sy??ne f on maist be woo, And to a prccst cleene fee scliriue, % And take penaimce w/t//out strijf, Repentynge fee of al f i mys, Jjan bi f i witt f ou maist knowe rijf j)at merci passi f ^twisnes." The Sinner. Xn penance is enough for me : not being buried alive. Alas," quod the symier, y haue lyucd wrong ! Wn&t penaunce were y worfi to haue? J)er may no man sette me to strong 116 pou} y were quicke doluen on graue. MXB01 PA8BITH i;i;tvvi ^f A ! alini$ty god, mercy I crane, v leta my fleeche my syimifl abie ! Gn ale p<>u bane, 12») For i^t is noo^t wifont iiK/vie." Mi-ivy Beide, " fa] wee] foo w Afl j?«iu liast often herd sayen, What man is foojide fat was lost, 12 t \Yif him La crist plesid & fayn. ^[ What nede had eriek to suffre payne But for to bie oure soulis to blis 1 Telle me Ju lijf heere al playn, 1 28 ])at mercy may passe ri^twisni - All O.xl ! have take my soul. [Page 7*] 1 rejoices over the lost pinner who is (band. Te!l me all thy 132 13G JJHy fyue wittie y haue mys spende jporu^ pride, enuie, & lecclierie : To J?e ten heestis y liane not tende ]> T113 sloujc, wraffe, & glotenie. % In eoneitise lyued liaue y, And neuere dide werkis of mercyes ; God ! 3eue me grace or Jwt y die ! ])i merci may passe rijtwisnes." Th' Sinrvr. I have 11 rii my Five - I the Ten Command- ments ; lived in covetousness, and done no good works. God, let thy Mercy pass thy Justice. 140 1U Merci }af him penaunce stronge, And Beide "man, wolt J?ou pis take ? \)ou muste suffre bofe ri3t and wrong ; If boo fi synne wolt forsake, % In good praiers {vm muste wake, And neuere l wilne to do a-my And for J)i BOiewe fat Jk>u doost make, Merci Bchal passe ri^twisn Mtrcy. Do this penance ; Suffer, and for- sake thy sin. Watch and pray. Never will to sin. 1 Pag '!■ Ti-y ■haO exceed "e syimez took penaunce wijj good entent, And lefte al his wickid eynne ; Wnanne he hadde leeue, away he went The sinner for- 100 and all his friends ; did great penance, and no sin wil- fully. He trusted to God to bring hira to heaven. MERCI TASSITH RI3TWISNESS. 148 From alio his freendis, ki)> & kywne. % In greet penaiuice he putte him inne, And neuere aftir wilfulli dide mys j He truste on god heue/i to wywne, 152 Jpere mercy passij) ri^twijsnes. Lord ! give us grace, and be merciful to us. Mary, guide our souls to thy Son, where Mercy pre- vails over Justice. 156 1G0 Almi^ti god ! now make ns stable, And 3eue us grace weel to spede, And to us alio bee merciable, And fo^eue us alle owe mysdede. % And helpe us, ladi, att oure moost nede, To ])i sone oure soulis J?ou wys, And with his niercy fulli us fcde j)ere mercy passi]) 1i2twijsn.es. A-M-E-N, ["As rcsoun rcwlid," or " Filius Regis Mortuus est," follows. It is printed in Political, Religious, and Love Toons, p. 205, &c.] 10] £||t Relief. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 a.d., pagre 39 ; written without breaks.] % Memento homo quod cinis es, et iu cinerem Remember, man, that thou art dust. reuerteris. % Fac bene dum viuis. Post mortem viuere si nis. Do wen while thou livest. % Tangere qui gaudet. meretricem qualiter now does he who •j , delights to touch 3-UQet. a lKirlot, dare to Palmis pollutis. regem tractare salutis. SSi^SL polluted hands. Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem. IX fee, god fadir, I bileeue, \)e firste persoone ful of myjt, Jjat al of no^t hast maad to meeue, 4 hope heuerc & erpe, day & ny3t. I believe in God the Father, If And in pin oonly goten sone, Born of pi silf bifor al ping, Oure lord ihesus, pe Becunde persoone, 8 Bothe oo god in heuew beinge. and in His only begotten Son, Jesu Christ, one with God, % j)c same god pat euere hap ben, And sipen conceyued bi pe holi goost, And born of a mayden cleene, 12 Bicause a man in meekenea moost conceived by the Holy Ghost) and horn of a pan virgin, [Page 40.] ^f And ri^t as in pe trynyte Bew persoones pre, substauncia but oon, lii3t so in pec b ( -n Bubstauncifl pre, 1G (J. .d, sonic, bodi, & al oon persoone. {of three rob- stances, God, soul, hotly) 102 Tin: BELIEF. who suffered under Pontius Pilate, wis crucified, and buried, % Undir pilate J>ou suffridist peyne Bi fre wil, mawkinde to sane, ftailid on a croos, & Jwon slain, 20 And taken dowi & biried in crane. descended into hell, but rose again the third day, % In sonle oonli Jjou wente to helle, & took Jens Jn part, it was good n$% But up Jou roos in fleisch and hi felle 24 pa prid day bi godli my3t. ascended into heaven. ■IT ])o\\ sti^ to lieue?i in J?i manhede, And Jjere Jon sittist on J?i fadir ri3t side, But oii'v al-where is Ju godhede, 28 )5ere is noo?i J?at from J?ee him may hide. whence He shall come to judge both quick and % pens schalt J?ou come us alle to deeme, BoJ?e quik and dede of adams seed. ~\V/tJi opene woundis & visage breme ; 32 pis bileeue makij) true men drede. [i Page -11.] I believe in thej Holy Ghost, % I bileeue in pe holi 1 goost, pe Jjridde persoone m trynyte, Of which pre noon is more ne moost, 3G But al oon god in persoones fre. who makes Holy Church, by faith- ful men giving each to other what each can. ^[ pa holi goost makip holi chirche Of feipful men, bi comynynge Ech oon to opir what pei ku/me worche 40 In holines and good lyuyng. I believe in the Forgiveness of Sins (through the Bacnunent , % For^eeuenes y bileeue of sy7?ne Bi pc holi goost and pe sacrament, If y maye goostli to hem wyrme, 44 Or ellishi??i silfe is eue?*e present. •jf j^on^ he ncuere so present be, 3it he wole for ful meekenes THE BELIEF. 103 48 Jjat y do peito Jv/t is in me, Lest contempt lette nie of f oneuenea If Also y bilceiie in hool mynde, \)q lioli goost schalle knytte a$en j)G sonic to Jjc fleische of al mankinde J 52 For al fleish schal ryse fat dec)) hath slayn. ami that the Holy .11 knit ■gain all ni.u's ■OOll to tlicir flesh an their resurrection, ^f )?e holi goost sclial 3ene also Eii'rlastynge lijf to alio true rn.cn. ])ni we may heere seme ]?er-to, 56 Tf Y rede we seie alle, amen. and shall give everlasting life to all true men. [The Sixteen Toints of Charity, or "Man, among Jn myrbis," printed p. 114, below, follows here in the MS.] lot CIjc Cat Coinnmnkcnts. [Lambeth 3IS. 1853, ab. 430 a.d., page 47 ; written without breaks.] Every one should teach his children these, and keep thern himself. I. Have no false gods. Worship God Almighty. II. Take not God's name in vain. Swear by no created thing. JSUeiy man schulde teche pis lore To hise children with good entent, And do it him-silf euermore, 4 To kepe weel goddis comauwdenient. % Fals goddis pou sclialt noo?^ haue, But worschipe god omnipotent ; Make not pi god pat man hap graue : 8 ))is is pe firste comauwdeme?it. % Goddis name in ydil take foil not, For if pou do pou sclialt be scheent ; Swore bi no ])ing pat god hap wroi^t : 12 Jjis is pe secuwde comaiuz dement. III. Hallow the Holy Day. IV. Honour thy Father and Mother. [i Page 41.] V. Kill no man, % Haue mynde to helewe pin holi day, pou & alio pine with good entent ; Leue seruile werkis & nyce aray : 1G J)is is pe pridde comaiuadement. ^[ Worschipe pi fadir & pi modir bope, — Jjat longe lijf to pee be lent, — With meete 'and drink, couwffort & elope 20 J>is is pe iiij e comaimdement. % Sle no man with yuel wille, Ensaumple, or tunge, or strokis dent; Tin: TEN COMMANDMENTS. 24 Btd lip rfiaore i.s La pe sixtc comaundement. VI. Commit not adultery or fornication. % ])o\\ schalt not stele no maner of Jring, Xe helpe perio bi no consent. Leue alle fals mesuris & al gilinge : 32 }pis is J?e .vij. comauwdc?wen£. VII. Steal not. Use no deceit. % J)ou schalt beere no fals witnes For no mater fat may be ment ; ' Seie euere pe sofe, or holde J>i pees : 36 j)is is j?e .viij. comau/z dement. VIII. Bearno fa be witness. % ftou schalt not coueite pi nei3boris good, As hous, lond, catel, ne rent, In hindringe of him & of Ins blood : 40 J?is is J)e .ix. comaundement. IX. Covet not thy neighbour's goods. Tf ]?ou schalt not desire Ji nei^boris feere, Ne falsli his seruau/it from him hent, Ne no good pat l he hath heere : 44 Jpis is pa .x. comau?ideme-wt. X. Covet not thy neighbour's wife; take not his servant or goods falsely. [l Page 49.] % j)cse ten to kepe, Jjou 3eue us grace Jjat on pe roode was al to-rent, In-to his blis fat we niowe passe 48 At po laste day of Iugement. Christ, give us gTaoe to keep these Ten that we may pass to bliss. [" I Warnc cchc lijf," p. 107, &c, of this print, follows here in the MS.] 10G jtegt Ml Crista Contiutnbcincnt. [Vernon MS., ab. 1370 a.d., fol. 408 &., eoJ. 1. Printed here for comparison mice, with the metrical points, but no stoj^s.] L warne vche leod. pat Hue]) in londo. And do hem dredles. out of were. \)&t pei most studie. and vnderstonde. 4 ])e lawe of crist. to loue and lere. j)Qr nis no nion. fer ne nere. j)at may him seluen. saue vn-schent. But he pat caste]?, wip concience clere. 8 To kepe. weL Cristes ComauwdemeHt. |)ow most haue o God. and no mo. And serue him bope. with mayn and miht. And ouer alle pinges. loue him also. 12 For he hap lant pe. lyf and liht. 3 if fou beo nuy3ed. day or nilit. In peyne be meke. and pacient. And rule pe ay. be reson riht. 1G And kep wel. Cristes Comaundement. % And let pi ncijhebor. frend and fo. Riht frely. of ]»i frendschupe felc. In herte. p«t pou wilne hem so. 20 Riht as fou woldesi pi self weoie wele. And help to sauen hem. from vncele. So pat hcoro soules. beo not sellout. And also heore care, pou helpc to kele. 24 And kepe weL Cristes comaundement. 107 Jttpc (Kited Cristis Comaunbnnmt. [Lambeth MS. 853, a& 1430 kj>.,page 49; imfcfen without breaks.] I Warne eche lijf fat Hue]? in lontl And do him dredlees out of were, pit lie must studie & vndiistonde \)c lawe of god to loue & lere. ^[ For fere is no ma?i feer no necr J?at may him sillfe sauo vnschent But lie fat castij? him witft conscience clere To kepe weel cristis comaundemerct. Every man most take ore to lore the Law of God. Only he can he saved who gives himself to keep Christ's Commandments. Xhou sclialt haue oon god & no mo, And seme hi??* bofe wijj mayn & my^t, And oue?- al fing loue him also, 12 For he haj) lent \eo, lijf & li^t. % If J?ou be noied bi day or ny^t, In peync be meeke & pacient, And rewle J?ee ay bi resoiu* ri}t, 1G And kepe weel cristis comaundemettt. JLete j>i nei3e- 1 boris, bo)?o freend & fo, Freli of Jn freeradschip feele ; In hertc wilne Jou he?>i also 20 Bi^t as Jjou woldist Jn silf were wele. ^[ Helpe to sauo he?n fro??i vnsele So J>at her soulis ben not schent, And her care J?ou helpe to kele, 'J I And kepe wed cristis comanndemefit I. Thou shalt have one God, and love Him above every- thing. Be patient in suffering. [i Page 50.] Love thy neighbour as thyself; and help to save him Iron all ill. 108 KEPE WEL CRISTES COMAUNDEMEXT. (VERNON MS.) % 111 Idel. Godes nome tak foil noiv^t. But cese. and saue f e from Jjat synne, Swere bi no bing. pat God haf wrouht. 28 Be war. his wraf f e. lest fou hit wynne. But bisy f e her. bale to blynne. Jpat blaberyng are wif of es blent. Vncouf e and knowen. awd of f i kynne. 32 And kep weL cristes comaundeme??t. If In clannes and in cristes werk. Ilaue mynde. to holden fin haly day. And drauh f e f enne. from dedes derk. 3G "Wif al f i nieyne. Mon and may. And men vnsai^te. loke fou assay. To sau3te?i hem f enne. at on assent. And pore and seke. fou plese and pay. 40 And kepe wel cristes Comaimdement. % ])i Fader f i Moder. f ou worschupe bof e. 3if f ou wolt boteles. bale escheuwc. With courcseil cu?n-forte hem. with mete and clofe. 44 As fou sest. hem neodef newe. And ^if f ei talke of tales vn-trewe. Jpou torn hem out. of fat entent. And cristes lawe. help fat f ei knewe. 48 And kep wel cristes. Comauwdeinewt. ^f Sle no mon. wif wikked wille. Be war. and vengeaiu/ce tak fou non. In word, no dede. loude. ne stille. 52 Bakbyte fou no mon. blod ny bon. But ay let gabbynges. glyde and gon. A-wey wher f ei woL glace, or glent. And help fat alle men ben aton. 5G And kep wel cristes comau/idemewt. KEPE WBBL 0BI8TI8 OOMAUNDBMBHT. fLAMBXTH MS. 86&) 109 28 32 (Joddis name in ydil take frm non^t, But oeesse & Bane fee from fat synnej Swere bi ao ping fat god haf wrou^t, Be waar his wraffe lest fou so Wynne. % But bisie fee enure her bale t<> blinne ])ni wij> blaberinge oofifl ben blent, Vnconpe & knowen of fi kynne ; Ami kepe weal Croatia comaxmdement. n. T . Qod*l n.une in vain. Swear by no thing tfa i hai made, but keep from iho bale of blabbering oath-swearers. 3G 40 In clennea and in cristis work Hane mynde to halowe Jin holi daye, And drawe Jee Ja?me from dedis derk WiJ al Ji meyne, man & may. Tf Men vnsoft, loke Jou asay To soften Hhem to good assent, Helpe poore and sike to please & pay, And kepe weel Croatia comaiuzdeine^t. III. Hallow thy Holy Day, with all thy household. Try to soften unsoft men, Ll Page 51.] ; and to help the poor and sick. 44 48 P'i fadir & modir worschipe boje — If Jou wolt botelees bale eschewe — With couftcelle, cou???forte, meete & cloje, As fou secst f at hem nedif newe. ■" And if fei talke of wordis vntrewe, ]>>u t?;nie hem out of fat entent, And Croatia lawe helpe J«t fei knew, And kepe weel cristis comauwdement. IV. Honour thy Father and Mother with counsel, food, and clothes. Turn them from untrue words, and help them to know Christ's law. 52 5G Sl<' no man with wickid M'ille; Be waar, of veraaunce take f ou noon ; Ecrli ne late, lowde ne stille, Bacbite no man, blood ne boon, ^f But lete ez^ere gabbing glide & goon Away, whefer it wole glase or glent ; And helpe fat alle men were at oonc, And kepe weel Croatia comaundement V. Slay no man: take no venge- ance. Backbite no one, but let gabbing goby. Help on peace. 110 KEPE WEE CRISTES COMAUXDEMEXT. (VERXOX MS.) ^[ Stele pou nou^t. pi nei3ebors ping. Noupur wip stillenes. ne wij strif. Nor with no maner. wrong getyng. 60 j)i self pi seruau??t. child, ne wyf. To snlle and buye. 3if pou be ryf. Wayte al way. pat wrong be went. As pou wolt lyue. pe lastyng lyf. 64 pou kepe wel. cristes coniau?idement. [Coi. 2.] Fals witnesse. loke pow non bere. 3if pow wolt. in blisse a-byde. ])i nei^ebore. wityngly to dere. 68 Ne no mon nouper. in no syde. But loke fat no mon. be a nuy3ed. And pou may him. from liarmes hcnt. And help pat falshede. bco distruiet. 72 And kep wel. cristes comau»dement. % Sunge pou not. in leclieric. Such lust vn leueful. let hit pas, Consente pou not. to such folye. 76 J?at foimden is so foul trespas. And loke. pot nouper more ne las. ])i lykyng. on pat lust be lent. Leste pou synge. pis songe alias. 80 For brekyng. of cristes comau?*deme??t. ^f ])i nei3hebors wyf. coueyte pou nou3t. Vnlcuefully. a^eynes pc lawc. Wif hire to sunge. in word ne poi^t. 84 And from pat deede. cue/* pou pc drawe. And neuer sey. to hire no sawe. To make hire, to synnc assent. Ne plcse hire not. with no mis plawe. 88 3>ut kep wel. cristes comauwdemerat. Y.T.I a. OBISTia COMAUNDEMENT. (LAMBBTH U 111 CO ct Syy/ni" pou nol in Leccherie ; Such lust vnleefful, Lete it paw ( lonsente Jkhi not to fat folie pat founden it is bo 'foule a tree] % And loke foil, neif/r more ae I \)[ likinge on fat Lust bo lent, Lest foil singe fis song ' alas For brekrnge of cristis comaundement. ' vi. sin not in Lechery md unlawful lust: V Pagee*] Ml not lliy ||k. log on it lest thou repent it. 68 7^ otele fou nou^t of f i nei^boris fing Xeifer wif stilnes nc with strijf, Ke with no maner of wrong geetynge, pi silf, fi seruaunt, child, nc wijf. ^[ To hie & sille if f ou be rijfe, Loke euere fat wrong away be went : If fou wolt ban euerlastinge lijf, Kepe weel c?*?'stis comauwdement. VII. Steal no- thing of thy neighbour's- * Cheat not in buying and selling. 80 Fuls witnes, loke f at fou noon bare j If fou wolt in blis a-bide, f i nei3bore wilfulli fou ne dere, Xc noon fat wonef fee biside ; % But loke fat no man be anoied If fou may hirra from harmes bent, And helpe fat falshede were distroied, And kepe wool cristis comaundement. VIII. Bear no false witness. Injure not thy neighbour, but keep every one from harm. Help to destroy falsehood. 84 88 y)\ nci3boris wijf coueite fou noi^t Vnlecffulli a^ens f c lawe Wif liir to sy??no in dedc or foi^t, But fro??? fc dede euere fou drawe, % And ceesse, & seic to hir no sawe To make liir for to sy??ne asse??t, Ke please hii not with no nyce plawe, Bui kepe weed cristis comaundement. IX. Covet not thy neighbour's wife, [Page 68.] and say and do nothing U) make hex assent to .-in. 112 KEPE WEL CRISTES COMAUNDEMENT. (VERNON MS.) % ])i nei^hebors hous. wenche ne knaue. Vnskilfully. coueyte pou nonht. "Ne 3it his good. v?tth wrong to haue. 92 For hit. lest J?ou to bale be brouht. For wlion J?e sofe. schal vp be souht. 3if Jwu in to Jris sarnies assent. Ful bitterly, hit mot be bou^t. 96 For brekyng of cristes. Comauwdemewt. ^f Vche mon fat woL f is lessim lere. And louej?. a laweful lyf. to lede. He may not misse. on none manere. 100 ])q merjje of heuene. to his mede. For crist him here, wol helpe and hede. And he)>ene. in to henene hent. For J?i I. preye. fat crist vs spede. 104 Kuyndely to kepe. his comaiu?deme?it. KEFE WBBL OBISTia OOHA.UNDRMBNT. (LAMBETH MB. W3.) 113 Ihi neijboria hous, wenche, oe knawe, Vnleeffulli coueitc boil noi^t, Ne obir good, wrong to liaue, 92 Lest Jou for it to bale be 01*0113 1. % For wlia/me be soobe schal be up soi^t, If bou to bis synne assent, Ful bittirli it schal be boi^t 9G For brekinge of cmtis coniaundcmcut. Covet not thy neighbour's lioiisf, maid, or man, for at the Last Day thou shalt pay bitterly for it. 100 101 J2ich man fat wole J>is lessoura lere, And loueb a lawful lijf to lede, He ne may mys on no manere ])q myrbis of heuera to haue to meede ; % For crist wole hiw* heere helpe at nede, For from hens to heuene be wole him hent, For-bi praie we \ai crist us spede Eindeli to kepe his comauwdeine>jt. Amen. No man who learns this lesson can miss the joys of heaven, for Christ will take him there. Let us pray Him that we may keep His Command- ments. ["There is no creatour but oon," printed pp. 18-21, follows here in the MS.] m Man, remember whence thou earnest, and whither thou goest, and that hereafter thou may'st see thy Lord as His chosen child in Charity. Man's highest task is to live a just life. God told St Paul in the third heaven the 16 points of Charity. %\t Bitittn JJoptis of Cjmufc. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. l-t30 a.d., page 42 ; written without breaks, except lines 6-12, 21-4.] JMLAn, among Ji myitis haue in mynde From whens J?ou come & whidir J>ou teendis, How freelli J>ou fallist & filist jn kinde ! 4 Arise & make of J>i mys ameendis, ^[ )3at of ]ns world wha?me Jjou out wendis, j)ou maist in heuene J?i lord god se Among liise apostolis & dere freendis 8 As a chosen child in charitee. JL he nicest lessoiuz fat man may lere Is to lyue iust lijf, if J?ou wolt loke, Yf J) ou haue grace to holde & heere, Is playnli printid in poulis booke. ^[ For god to poul Jus lessoim tooke in pe Jridde heuew, Invest of Jjrc, Euery man to cu?me & looke j)e sixtene propirtees of charitee. 12 16 Though I speak With angels* tongues, and have- not Charity, I am but as a brazen cymbal. [Page 4:5.] And though I can move mountains, I ain worthless if J want Charity. 20 24 AI10U3 y speke,' seij) seint poule, ' As auwgils doon, or with memiis tango. If charite be not in Jn soule, I am but as a brasen symbal song. % And J0113 my bileeue be neucro so strow-g So Jwt mouwteyns bo meued bi feij? of mo, I am not worthi to god so longe As me wantif charite. Till: XVI 1' ! MUTE. 1 1 28 32 II10113 y t<» p<><. iv men jeue al my good, Ami my bodi tobienne here 1 1 « »« » t (ieryB, And charite be not in my mood, It profiti} me not to heuefi Mis.' % But for god wolde it scbukle not my« To knowe in charite wbaitne we be, He tau;te ponl to teclie al his \)e .xvj. Poyntis of charite. And Ihmgt I - lie hurtled, :m I have 110: I it profits nothing. God told Taul to teach his dis- ciples the IB points of Charity. 36 40 Charite,' he seij?, ■ is pacient, Alle disesis meekli sniFringe, Benigne also in hir entent, Eindelid Witt her of good lyuyng; •" X' -; v enuyose for ony Jing To freend ne foo, whejjir it be, But euere glad to goddis plesi^g To cherische alle men in charitee. 1. Charity is patient, an 1 2. Benign, :>. Never envious, 44 48 Charite dooJ> neue/-e wickidli Bi purpos of wil, ne wickid dede, Xe blowen l is with pride po\i} sche be wel)>i, For to greue god is hir moost drede ; % For in helle depe scbal be her meede, A low wij) lucihr for to be j)at for blynde pride wole take noon hede lowli to lyue in charite. 4. Never does wu-kcdly, 5. Is not puffed l :i'age 44.] up with pride, 5G Charite is not coueitose toold Of worschipe ne of wronge wynnynge, For wij> ypocritis sche may not holde, Ne consente with wrong getyng. % Sche sechij) not liir owne ping for hindringe of nei^boria J>at my$te be, For manye p< rela ben in pletynge pii aeoiden not with charitee, 8« a DeriiM no honour or WTOOg gains, 7. Seekcth not her own, 116 Tin: XVI poyxtis of ciiarite. P. Is not easily provoked, 9. Thinkcth no evil, Uharitee wole no ping be wroop For harmes pat hir silf may hent, But for to syime, al oonli is hir loop, 60 A^ens goddis comaundement. % Charitee penkip noon yuel in liir cntent, But stintip strijf, & stoondip free ; Al yuel wil, it wolde were went, 64 And chau??gid al for ciiarite. [Page 45.] 10. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but 11. Rejoiceth in the truth. 68 72 Uf wickidnes ciiarite is not glad, Bi latter ne bi no likinge, But euere sobre, soft, & sad, In poi^t, in word, & in worching. % To ri3t & troupe is hir ioiyng, To maynteine trupe whero-euere sche be, With feipful and true folk Is hir dwelling, For suche ben chosen in ciiarite. 12. Charity beareth all things, 18. Relieveth all things, 76 80 Alle pingis sche berip vp meekeli, For al hir wronge schal turne to game ; Sche fallip not vnder for vilonye, For los, for sijknes, ne for schame. % Alle pingis sche trowip wip-out fame J}at goddis lawe tcchip trupe to be, And bidip perbi for ony blame, For suche ben children of charitee. 14 Hopetli all things, 15. Enduretb. all tilings. [i Page 4G.] 84 88 Alle pingis sche hopip to haue in blis ; For suche sche suffrip & scruep licerc; For of mercy sche may not mys ];at pis lesso?i wole loue & lere. ^f Sche abidip alle fingis w/tAgood chere j)ow$ sche pinko lo/?,ge pe eende to so, For of reward sche hap ' no were jpat pus abidip in ciiarite. Till: XVI P0TNTI8 OP CHARITE. 117 92 9G Uharite fallij> ueuere a way From him J>at it in charite wole holde, Bifore ae aft ir domya day, But encreeij in blisaii hundrid folde, •j" Whanne a] tresoui ia tried & tolde, Al help t'» Mis is in Jjese Jm*, Fei)>, hope, & charite, Doling colde ; ])a moostu of hew is charite. ' If, Charity never faileth. All help to bliss i" in thai! three: Faith, i charity \ ami the - of these is charity. 100 104 Bi charite, man, Jjou must loue more God fan silf, pe soojj to say, For jus is J?e lord-is owne lore, With al J?i power hi/// please & pay ; % Tin nei3bore also, wijKmte nay, Loue as ))i silf saaf to bee ; To freend & fo holde faste Ji fay, And ehaunge Jjou neuere fro charite It makes thee lova Qod alxjve tliy-clf, and thy neighbour as thyself. If we bis lessou?? we loue & leere, And take it truli to oure entent, We schiile/i haue knowinge good & cleere 108 Who bew blamelees & who ben schent. God, Jv/t hast us oure lijf lent, Graunte bat we may oure ! silf to enserche & se, As bou for us on roode were rent, 112 Jxra chese us to fee for charite. A-M-E-X. If we learn this lesson, we shall know wiio will be blessed and who punished. God grant that [I Page 47.] Clirist may choose us, for His love. [" Eucry man schulde teche J>is lore," printed p. 104-5, follows bcre in the MS.l 118 <$wttkint j&gira ante blent $ubicij. [MS. B. 11. 24, Trinity College, Cambridge; ah. 1450, a.d.] Lord of Heaven, have mercy onus' I will tell of the xv. Signs before Doomsday. I. Rain shall fall, bitter as gall, red as blood, and overwhelm the whole world, and terrify chil- dren unborn. II. The Stars shall fall from heaven. Kynge of grace, & fill of pyte, Lord of heuyn, I-blyssyd ]>ou "be ! Haue mercy on vs, we the beseche, 4 Or we lese our wytt & speclie ! xv. tokenys telle I may That shal come before doomys day, As it is seyde yn the prophecye, 8 In the book of Jeremye. Herkenyth now J?e tokenywge That J)e firste day shal biynge : Fro heuy?i shal a rayne fa lie, 12 Hit shal be byttyr as eny galle, Hytt shall be as red as any blod, Ouyr all Jje worlle a grymly nod ; Hytt schallc ouergo wyth large mett 1 G Alle that ys in erth I-sett : The chylderyn vn-borfi Aferd shall be Of thys tokenynge, as I telle the, And meue hem tyll our Syth 20 Ryth as J>ey speke myth. The secunde day ys stronge with alle : I'lio sterrys shal fro heuyn falle, So dredfulle and so breyth 24 As the fyre off Jje dondyr lyth. QUINDBOIH BIONA ami; DIEM IUDICU. 1 1 1> Men Bchallf say, " vrelld-awsy ! Toys ben the tokenya offdomya day I" They schall oiy & ayke sore, 28 Ami say, " lord, mercy, thyn ore 1 ! " The iij ,le day ys off syche : In erthe and in heuyn-ryche The liyc son thatt ys so birth, 32 So fayr, and so full off lyth, Hitt shall* be awarte as any pyche : Alle thatt shall be rewlyche. Men schalle J>en sone se 36 Att mydday hytt shalle awarte be ; All thatt hen on lyve Schalle thys wordya dryve. "Alas thatt we acholle Abyde 40 To se jns sorowe in Euery syde I " The iiij te day ys swythe longe, With wepynge & wyth sorow Anionge : All }>«t in erthe stonde 44 Schall to red blod wende ; They schalle drawe he?n to Je grownde, Ther schalle they dwelle butt no stownde, To the see J>ey schalle for drede, 48 Ryth as moyses the prophytt sayde, Thatt the mono schalle rewly falle And wynd outt of hys reche stalle. The man schalle say to hys wyff 52 u Alas Jatt we be no we Alyve ! " The v te day corny th swythe j For euery best j)att ys on lyve, Toward heuyn her hedd schall holde. 56 For thatt wonder As y yowe tollde, Men schalle say, " lord, thyn ore Off our sorowe & off our sore ! " Thys tellyth the prophecy CO In J)u booke of Jeromy. [I MS. tliynori'J III. The Sum shall turn black u pitch i IV. Everything on earth shall turn into red blood and flee to the sea. The Moon shall fall from heaven. v. All beasts shall hull up their heads towarda heaven. lien shall pray Uod mercy, 120 QUINDECIM SIGXA ANTE DIEM IUDICIJ. and ask Christ to [ l Omitted, and inserted in Margin.] bring them to bliss. VI. The Trees shall turn upside down, and children shall die. VII. All castles shall fall down.' [2 MS. dowti] The hills shall he lowered and fill up the valleys, so that all the earth shall he even. VIII. A day of dread. The Sea will rise and fiee, and he driven up to the clouds by the wind. All living will wish to be hid under the earth. G4 G8 72 80 84 92 9G Welle we schalle vndyrstonde Tliatt cristyndom hatt vnjjotfonge. " Thatt day, Ihe^s to vs se As fou 1 vs bowtyst vppon a tre, Tliatt we may com to J?y blysse Lord, when Jjy wille ys ! " The vj day scliall down Falle The treys with )>e croppys alle, And toward J»e erthe the croppys schalle be. For fere the man schalle lese hys wyff, The wyffher chyld, fe chylld hys lyff; Alle thatt leve schall lese here wytte ; Wo they be thatt schalle a-byde hytte, Bettyr they were to be oute off lyve Than soche payne for to dryve. The vij day schalle fall down Chyrche and castelle and eue?y town 2 ; All schall to-breke j and eue?y hylle Shalle lowe, valeys For to Fylle ; The erthe schalle [be] shene and clene ; In Jjls worlle alle schalle be evyn ; Than schalle J?e worlle evyn be : "Wo ys he Jrtt thatt schalle se ! The viij day ys a day off drede, Eyth as moyses )>e prophytt seyde Thatt the see woll ryse & tie, Thatt euery best aferd schall be ; Than for drede hytt woll ryse & flowe Wtt$ wawys grete, & stormys towe : Thorowe the strength off J>e wynd Into the Welken liitt schall slynge ; All thatt lenyth J?att day Wold fie away, but pey ne may ; Yndyr erthe I-hydd they wold be Thatt Ili''.su cryst scholl nott hem Ase. Then wolle the see wytdrawe, QUINDRC1M sk;N A ami: dish iudicij. 121 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 132 And wend to hya owyn hawe. Godd of heuyn, pat best may, II i lie mercy on vs vppon Jwtt day ! The be day, wondyi hytt ys, As the prophecy fcellyth hytt I wya : Thatt all pynge Bchall speke fan, And cry in erthe aftyr )>e steuyn off man, And be-mone hem self in owr svjth Kyth as J>ey speke myth. Lord Ihesu, thy myth )>ou fullfelle ! We be sorry )>att we dede agayn )>i wille Or with towyth or with dede. Lord Ihftni ! brenge vs oute of Jus diede Thatt we may com to rest ! Ther bale ys most, & bote ys nexte. The .x. day ys day of welaway As gregory sayth, and Jeromy : Than schalle knele J>e angelys bryth Before Je face of godd allmyth. Seynt peter, nofer Ms felow-redde, Dar nott speke A word for drede ; They schalle se heuyn vngo, And J?e erthe schall Also, They schalle schryke & crye lome For Jje drede of J>e grett dome. Develyn schall com oute off helle As seynt Johcm doyth vs tell, They schalle kry, " lord, thyn ore Off our sorowe & of our sore ! Lett vs to heuyn com ! Longe J?ou hast hytt vs be-nome For our gylt, and our mysdede, And for our awyn wykkyd rede ! " Thys ys a day of moche sorowe j A strongyr corny th on the morrow* •. The xi day comyth lyche, IX. As the pro- phecy tells. all things on earth shall speak with the voire of man ami bemoan themselves. Jesu, bring us from this dread to rest, with Thee. X. A day of lamentation. The Angels shall kneel before God. Peter and his companions shall not dare to speak. Heaven and earth shall move on- wards (?) Devils shall come out of hell and pray God to let them come back in to heaven. XI. Oral storms 122 QUINDECIM SIGXA ANTE DIEM IUDICIJ. shall rage ; all rocks and stones shall clash together, and all the world. The Rainbow 6hall be twisted, and the Devils shall run back to hell. XII. This day is dreadful. Angels shall fall at God's feet for us. Lord.be merciful ! XIII. Of this day, no one can tell half the sorrow. All the stones on earth ■ball drive against one another With stronge stormys sykyrlycho, And alle the stonys moclie & lyte Scholle to-gedyr sore smyte ; 136 Alle the worlle schalle to-dry ve ; Wo be jjey )>att ben on lyve ! The rayn bo we Iwiyyd schalle be, Grymlyche In sy^th. for to see. 140 Than the deuelyn schalle swyde pen, And for fere to helle torn ; God wille say, u ther schull ye be, Ther schall ye wone & be war," 144 God grownte so to be-tyde Thatt we may be on bettyr syde ! The xij day ys dredfulle than, For than was neue;' schappe of man 148 That wolle fatt god dyd hym ryth Yff he dyrst, & most of myth. Angelys thatt hy??i senryn alle Scholl for vs vppon kneys falle 152 To goddys feett for our syn ; And for the loue of all man kyn. Lord we be-seche the In Jn mercy for to be ! 15G Dredfully comyth the xiij day To all J?att Abyde hytt may. Fro the begynnynge of Adamys com Tylle the end of Je day of doome, 1G0 Ke myth no man in booke rede Half the sorow, nofer half J>e drede, That god schalle say than When he comyth down yn schappe of man, 1G4 For alle the stonys grett and smalo Thatt byth in erthc wttfamtyn tale, All they schalle to-gedyr drynge, And euerychon to ofer dynge ; 1G8 They schall ryse & grynd so QUIXIM'.i [M \NTK DIEM IUDICIJ. 123 Thatt J>«' 1\t fro hem Bchalk go ; They schall bren also l.rvtli As ^«- iy r of \>r ftondyi lyth. 172 The xiiij day y> A day ofsorowe; Stronge fyr Bchalle com on )><' morow, Ther BchaUi nothyng in fjB worlle leva Butt Bchallfl bran to morow tvll ova 17G Tliys paasyth noti swythe sone ; On the morow ya J>e day f»f doome. The xv day comyth swythe : For euery man pat was on lyre 180 Fro Adamys tyme, the fyrst man, Alle to the dome Bchalld com than, Euery man of xxx tl wynter olde, All schall com J>e dome to be-holde ; 18-1 Enefy man schalle ofere mete Att tlie mownte of olevett. Two angelys scliall blowe her bemys ; The folke schall com all? attonys. 188 Fulle sore than they may Agryse Whan tliey simile to )>e dome aryse, Two angelys scliall com be-forne With )>e scorg^, and with the crowne of thorn 192 With drewry cher and sory mode As hytt on hys hedd stode ; And the sper al so scharpe As hytt stod on hys hertt. 19G For no enuy, ne for no pryde, Longer hym stonge dorow \>e syde : Longer? then styll stode, On hys fyngorys ran J>e blod, 200 He strokyd ther-wM hys eyn ryth, They be-coom as cler as candy llyjth. "Kynge and lord full of pyte, Tliys mys-gylt J«u for-yene me I 204 I dyd hyt lor nonevyU dede, M tlint fire ahall fly from them like lightning. XIV. Fire shall MM in the morning and burn u|' tiling on earth till the evening. XV. The Day of Doom. All men that have lived since Adam's time, every one made 30 yean old, Bhall come to Mount Olivet. Two angels shall blow their trumpets, two shall bring the scourges that beat Christ.and the Crown of Thorns as it stood on His head, with the spear, as it stood on His heart. (Longeus, the soldier, did not pierce Christ from envy or pride, but put Christ's blood on his eyes, and they became as clear as candle- light. • Piteous Lord, forgive me, who pienvd Thee, my guilt ' 124 QUINDECIM SIGXA ANTE DIEM IUDIOIJ. Angels shall bring the Cross and bloody hails. Then Christ, sad, shall come, and say, " Man, see what I suffered for thee ! I was crowned with thorns. And thou lovedst to swear by My eyes, hair, and pains, My five wounds, teeth, tongue, heart, lungs, side, brains and head, [i ? heved] nay, My soul. Such shame thou didst me ! Thou wouldst not feed or help me. What hast thou Buffered for Me ? " Tlien comes Our Lady, weeping tears of blood, and saying, " King and Lord, my sweet Son, L2 thee] grant me to-day my prayer. LOM DOt Tliy handiwork 208 212 21G 220 224 228 232 23G 240 ]NoJ?er for no covetyse of mede." Angelys scliall brenge J>e rode bryth, ' With blody naylys precyous of sytli. Then comyth our lord with drewiy mode, Wyth armys I-spred all on blod : " Man, now J?e soth ])ou mayst I-se, Whatt I snfferd her for the. Thys passyon I sufferd her for J?e : I-cronyd I was with thornys of a tre ; Thys was to the leff for to swere Be my eyn & be myn here, And be my paynys that wher stronge. ]\Ian, hytt was j)e fulle ryve . To swere be my wowndys fy ve, Be my tethe And my tonge, Be my hertt and be my longe, Hytt thowyth the fulle grett pryde For to swere be my syde, Be my brayne & be my hedd ; l be my sowle I was ofte be-revyd. Man, hytt was fnll grett dyspyte So offte to make me edwyte ! Thou woldyst nott clothe me, ne fede, Thou woldyst nott helpe me att my nede ! Man offte ]jou hast for-sworn me ! Man what sufferst Jjou for me ? " Than comyth our lady hew be-fore — In blyssyd tyme was she I-bore — With terys rennynge alle on blodd, Sore wepynge with drewry modd ; " Fadyr, & son, and holygost, Kynge and lord as J>ou wost, My swete son, I praye de 2 My bone to day Jwu grawnt me ! Thy honde warke J?at fou hast wrowyth, My dcre son, for-lese ham nowhte ! QUINDIii'IM BIONA ANTE DIEM Il'DICIJ. 125 2U 248 252 25 G 2G0 2G4 2G8 Thou bowBt hem wyth by blodd And wttt by fleesch vppon be roq grete bemes blast.] 12G Wfys nut not Wiqt, torn kite of me. (the virgin's song over her dead son.) IMS. 0. 9. 38, Trin. Coll. Cambridge. Written mostly as prose."] A woman fair sat weeping over her dead son lying in her lap, lamenting how Jesus was robbed of his life, ' saying, ' Who cannot weep, come learn of me.' Sodenly A-frayd, halfe wakynge lialfe slepyng, and gretly dysmayd, A woman sate wepyng, With f&mhtr in here face far passynge my reson, And of here sore wepyng J>/s was pc encheson ; Here sone yn here lappe layd, sche scyd, sleyn by treson : yf wepyng my^t rype be, hit semyd then yn seson. Jhesus, so sche sobbed, so here sone was bobbed And of hys lyue robbed ; Seynge thys wordys as y sey the, " Who can not wepe, com lerne of me." "I cannot weep." * Nature shall make thee. thy father is dead ; my son is robbed of his life.' 12 y seyd y cowde not wepe, y was so hard hertyd. Sche answerd me schortly with wordys pat smartyd, " Lo, nature schall meve J?e ; thow must bo coftuertyd, thyn owne fadyr thys nyjth ys dede :" thys scliee twhertyd : 16 "Ihesus, so my sone ys bobbed, and of hys lyue robbed. ffor soth then y sobbed who can not \vi:ri:, COM LERNfl OF ME. l-'7 Veiyfyyng thya woidya, seyng to the, 20 Who can not wepe com Lerne at me," •• Now, hruke hert, y the praye ! thys cord lyeth ■Hr.-.-ik.my bmrtl for my hoii ho SO rillye, foully Med So betyn, so woundyd, Entrctyd so fuly. What wy*t may he-hold, and wepe not? none wtaowwidiea *' <> * him ami not truly, wiMi,?' 24 to see my ded dyre sone blcdyng«, lo, thys newly ! " Euer stylle schee sobbed, Bottffldie«*tad how her son was So here sone was bobbed slain. And of hys lyue robbed. 28 Newyng these wordys, as y sey the, 11 Who can not wepe, com lerne at me." On me sche cast here yee, and seyd, " see, man, thy brother ! " Sche kyste hym, and seyd, "swete, am y not she kissed him ; tliy modyr 1 " 32 And swonyngtf schee fylle ; ther hyt wold be no she swooned; nothyr : y not wliycli more dedlye, the tone or the todyr. yett sche reuyued, and sobbed and reviving, she sobbed how her how here sone was bobbed sou was bobbed, 36 & of hys lyue robbed. " Who can not wepe," thys ys the lay, and then vanished And w/t/i that wordys schee vanyschyd A-way.*. ffinis. 128 %\t geatlj of ^rtJKsJjj Sfempt (who WAS BEHEADED, 8 JUNE, 1405). [From MS. R. 4. 20, Trin. Coll Cambridge, on a blank leaf at the end of Lydgate's Siege of Thebes.] Wise Bishop Scrope is dead, but by Mary's help he may rise to heaven. 4 Hay hay hay hay thynke on Whitsonnionday. The bysshop Scrope that was so wyse Xowe is he dede and lowe he lyse hay To hevyns blys yhit may he ryse Thnrghe helpe of Marie that mylde may On the hill he took his death right willingly. "When he was broght vnto the hylle He held hym both mylde and stylle He toke his deth with fulle gode wyllfl 8 As I haue herde fulle trewe men say hay His executioner knelt to him and asked his forgiveness. He that shulde his dethe be He kneled downe vppoii his kne Lord youx deth forgyffe it Die 12 Fulle hertly here to yowe I pray hay He granted it, asking for five strokes to send him to heaven. Here I wylle the cowraiende y u gyff me fyve strokys with thy hende And then my wayes y u latt me wende 16 To hevyns blys that lastys ay hay [Compare Hall's Chronicle, lien. IV. fol. xxv (ed. 1550) W. A.W.] L29 BXTRACT FftOM HALLE LS TO LBCHBISHOP 8CBOPB*8 i>i:v:n. i:i>. um I nv. BLLIfl POL. I w. KYNG EENRY THE JUL TJ THE si XT 7EBE. IN tliis yere the Earle of Northumber- Thpvi Ti.eEarw.f J m n "_ u Northumberland land.', which bare styll a venomous >,rt '' eoupiradvith scorpion in his cankered heart, and collide not desist to innent and deuise waies and meanes howe to be renenged of kyng Henry and his fautours, began fcely to communicate his interior imaginaciona and prinie thonghtes with Richard Scrop, Archebishop of AwhMahop Yorke, brother to william lord Scrop, treasorer of England, whome kyng Henry (as yon have heard) he- headed at the towne of Bristow, and with Tliomas Eari Mowbray, Mowberey, erle Marshal, Sonne to Thomas duke of Nbrffolke, for kyng Henries cause before banished the realme of England, and with the lordes, Hast- ynges, Fauconbridge, Bardolfe, and diverse other and others.agninst whiche he knewe to beare deadely hate and inward grudge toward the kyng. After long consnltacion Henry, had, it was finally concluded and determined amongest andaiiagret-.it.) theym, that all they, their frendes and alies, with all their power, should mete at Yorkeswold at a day m..t m y. -re- appointed, and that therle of Northumberland should ippotnted. be chefetaine and supreme gouernour of the armie, which promised to bring with him a great number of Scot! This sedicions conspiracye was not so secretly kept, nor so closely cloked, but that the kyng therof had knowledge, and was fully aduertised. wherfore to pre- uent the time of their assembly, he, with snche power Bntbaftntui as he could sodainly gather together, with all diligence JJjJJ 130 HALLE ON ARCHBISHOP SCROPE S DEATH. and apprehended Archbishop Bcrope and others, who were all doomed to die on Whit-Monday outside York. Seditious Asses said that at the Archbishop's execution, when he asked for 6 strokes, re- membering Christ's 6 wounds, King Henry had 6 strokes in the neck; which is a lie. What shall we think of these beastly persons, these jagglen and railers? Let wise men Judge. marched toward the North parties, and vsed suche a celeritie in his iourney that he was thither come with all his hoste and power "before the confederates liearde any inkelyng of his marchyng forward ; and sodainly there wer apprehended the archebishop, the earle Marshall, sir Iohn Lampley, and sir Kobart Plumpton. These personnes wer arrained, atteinted, and adiudged to die ; and so on the Monday in Whytson weke all they withoute the Citie of Yorke were beheadded. Here of necessitie I ought not, nor will not, forgeate how some foolishe and fantasticall personnes haue wrytten, howe erronius Ippocrites and sedicyous Asses bane endited, how T e supersticious Fryers and malycious Monkes haue declared and diuulged — bothe contrary to goddes doctrine, the honoure of their prince, and common knowen veritie — that at the howre of the execucion of this Bishop (which of the Execucioner desired to haue.fiuc strokes in remembraunce of the hue woundes of Christ) the kyng at tlie same tyme syttyng at diner had .v. strokes in his necke by a person inuisible, & was incontinently striken with a leprey; which is a manifest lye, as you shall after plainely perceiue. What shall a man say of suche writers whiche toke upon them to knowe the secretes of Goddes iudgement ? what shall ^ men thinke of suche beastly persones, whiche, regardyng not their bounden dutie and obeisance to their prynce & souerain Lorde, enuied the punishment of traiters and torment of offe?iders. But what shall all men coniecture of suche whyche, fauor- ynge theyr owne worldly dignitie, their owne priuat auctorite, their owne peculiar profit, wyl thus iuggle, raile, and imagine fantasies agaynst their soueraigne lorde and Prince, and put them in memorye as a miracle to his dyshonor and perpctuall infamy : well let wysc men iudge what I haue said. GLOSSARY. Abie, p. 2G, 1. 130; p. 96, 1. 22, pay lor, atone for; A.S. abicgan. Abowe, p. 97, 1. 69, bow, Lend, humble. Adwiten, p. 70, 1. 396, blame, accuse ; A.S. edtoitan. A3enseid, p. 94, 1. 100, denied. sgidist, p. 52, L 346, aggre- ger, to aggravate. Cotgrave. se, p. 123,1.188, A.S. agry- 8d?l, to fear. Among, p. 81, 1. 59, at intervals, 'amonge, or sum tyme, inter- (him, qnandoque. 1 P. Parv. Apeele, p. 71, 1. 433, Fr. ap% ><■/<■ r, to accuse, appeach, or charge with. Cot. Aslake, p. 80, 1. 47, A.S. aslacian 2 slacken, dissolve. Aslope, j). 54, 1. 427, aside. Asswage, p. 79, 1. 10, quiet down; Fr. assouvager, 1 < i assuage, quiet, still, paeilie. Cot. Attir, p. 24, 1. 02, poisonous. Auauntage, at his, p. 81, 1. 70, in his power, control. Awaite, p. 7G, 1. 593, ? watch. Balke, p. 92, 1. 47, baulk, a mesa of his life. Beerde, p. 13, 1. 50, woman, maiden. Beete, p. 12, 1. 11, A.S. gebetan, to amend, atone for. Bemys, p. 123, 1. 186, trumpets; A.S. lc)i>". Bigoon, p. 16, 1. 40, overwhelmed; A.S. began, to go over. Bihatid, p. 82, 1. 24, thoroughly hated. Bil^t, p. 19, 1. 52, promised; A.S. behdten. Bikir, p. 46, 1. 15, strife. Binam, p. 92, 1. 34, took away from ; A.S. bendm. Bitake, p. 20, 1. 74, commit; A.S. betart/D. Bleere, p. GO, 1. 78, mock, scorn; ' I gyue him the best counsayle I can, and the knaue bleareth his tonge at me, titer hi hm• poifig. 1 Palsgrave. Boone, p. 6, 1. 21, prayer ; A.S. ben. 132 GLOSSARY. Bote, p. 11, 1. 104, remedy ; A.S. 6 7. Boteles, p. 108, 1. 42, remediless. Breme, p. 102, 1. 31, ?not A.s. breme, glorious, but i brym or fere. Ferns, ferox? Pr. Parv. Broode, p. 37, 1. 77, abroad, about. Careful, p. 16, 1. 39, full of care and trouble. Cesoun, p. 42, 1. 28, ? seizin, pos- session, or ' take a cesoun,' stay a season or time. Chesoun, p. 42, 1. 32, cause, reason ; O.Fr. achaison, occasion. Clene, p. 1 , 1. 7, pure ; ' Clene, mundus, puma.' Pr. Parv. Clennesse, p. 64, 1. 197, purity. Clinge, p. 85, 1. 68 ; p. 89, 1. 20, A.S. clingan, to wither, cling, or shrink up. Conclude, p. 77, 1. 605, shut up. Contrarie, p. 37, 1. 87, go contrary to. Coorde, p. 38, 1. 1 11, accord, agree. Coost, p. 34, 1. 63, Fr. coste, a coast or quarter. Cotgrave. Countirtaile, p. 71, 1. 416, Fr. contretaille, the one part of a tallie, or score, alreadie marked, or notched. Cotgrave. Croppys, p. 120, 1. 68, tops ; A.S. crop, top, bunch, berry. Cunne, p. 114, 1. 15, A.S. cuniuin, to know. Cus, p. 12, 1. 22, kiss; A.S. cus, cyss. Daswen, p. 68, 1. 338, become dazed or dim; I hi. duyster,6im. Defie, p. 95, 1. 6, fear for? Delice, p. 78, 1. 633 ; Delijs, p. 42, 1. 43, Fr. delices, delights, plea- sures. Dcre, p. 110, 1. 67, injure; A.S. derian, Derworfiest, p. 52, 1. 3-")2, A.S. deorwurde, precious, of great value. Diffence, p. 60, 1. 63, Fr. defense, answer, argument. Discure, p. 63, 1. 165, discover. Dispence, p. 63, 1. 157, gain, re- ward ? Disceyuable, p. 86, 1. 7, deceitful. Disperage, p. 74, 1. 508, incon- gruity ; O.Fr. deaparager, to otter vnto, or impose on, a man vnfit, or unworthie conditions. Cot. Dondyr, p. 118, 1. 24, thunder. 1 )rewis, p. 60, 1. 6G 1 draughts. Drynge, p. 122, 1. 166, A.S. \rin- gan, throng, rush. D wynne, p. 27, 1. 176, dwindle; A.S. dicinan, to pine, fade, waste away. Edwyte, p. 124, 1. 226, reproach, twitting; A.S. edwite, reproach, disgrace, contumely. Encheson, p. 10, 1. 75, occasion; O. French, achaison. Ensure, p. 18, 1. 9, cock sure. Entensioun, p. 21, 1. 92, 1 excuse, or mind. Eruest, p. 69, 1. 350, harvest; A.S. Ii't/fcd. Faite, p. 77, 1.595, ?deceive;O.Fr. 'fattens, criminel, coupable.' Fare, p. 95, 1. 13, goings on, ways, life. Fawe, p. 96, 1. 28, fain, glad. Folic, p. 25, 1. 92, Hail, or fell. Fen, ]). 26, 1. 121, mire, mud. Fere, ]>. 38, 1. Ill, company ; in /< re, together. Fere, p. 86, 1. 16, companion, person. Filist, p. 114, 1. 3, defilest. Flaite, ]>. 75, 1.532, Du. vleyden, to flatter, to sooth, or to entice with 1'aire [words]. Hexham. - \\:\ . 133 Fleme, p. 18, 1. 17, banish; A.s. flyman. Florische, p. 89, 1. 18, ornament, deck. 1 -mi, p. 13, 1. 'I I, Pp. foison, plentie, great fullnesse. ( Jot Fondid, p. 8, L 23, tried j A.S. fandian, to try. Foondij p. 95, 1. 13, try. ined, p. 90, 1. 33, foolishl For, p. 19, 1. 35, 40, becau Forbeere, p. GO, 1. 7*5, restrain. Forclonge, p. 18, 1. 31, AS. din- (J* in, to wither, pine, oi shrink up ; fordungen, shrunk. Forlete, p. 30,' 1. 250, A.S. for- hi tun, to let go. For]>i, p. 24, 1. 89, for that reason. Foulden,p.73,l. 485, Ifold, bend. Frame, p. 44, 1. 97, ] A*S.freme } profit, advant France, p. 70, 1. 590, freight, load. Frike, p. 23, 1. 2G, glad, joyful j A.S. frician, to dance, frisk. Gesonn, p. 64, 1. 206, ? Fr. gesse, a common sinke or sewer; a gutter for the voiding of ordure. < otgr. Not E. geasorij rare, strange. Gist, p. 93, 1. G3, show. Glewe, p. 29, 1. 236, A.s gleow, joy, mirth, glee. Grame, p. G3, 1. 1G8, A.S. grama, anger, rage, wrath. le, p. 14, 1. 73. greet, moan ; A.S. grcetan, to weep, cry out. Gill, p. 83, 1. 12, sharp, unkind; O.N. yrila. H. Coleridge. Iladde-y-wist, p. 73, 1. 497, had- I-known (what would have happened), at'ter-r< Happe, p. 89, 1. 2G, wrap over, cover for defence ; LsL hypia, Jamieson. Harewide, p. 53, 1. 385, tore open. Hau-e, p. 121, 1. 97, A.s. keek, hole, den. Be, p. 59, 1. 39, they. Bende, p. 7, L 25, gentl< Bildande, p. 23, 1. 55, beholden. Hirde. p. 17, 1. 52, A.s. hirde, a shepherd. Bo, p. 14, 1. 71, hah, stop. Bomeli, p. 63, 1. 163, familiar. Bore, p. 83, 1. 13, hoar, hoarineaa. Bote, p. 41,1. 15, he called; A.s. hat ys (happyn to-gedyr, wrap togei ler in clothes). InvdlvoJ 1 V. Parv, Lai^t, p. 30,1. 249 ; p. 76, 1. caught, taken; A.S. laxcan, to sei/e. Leeme, p. 52, L 335, A.S. leoma, light, flame Leepis, p. 47, 1. 181 j p. 72, 1. 451, A.S. leap, a basket, hamper. Leere, p. 8, 1. 5, teach ; A.S. la run. . p. 16, 1. 45, lies. Leit, p. 48, 1. 226 : Leite, p. 52, 1. 35J5, lightning; A.S. lihting. Lende, p. 23, 1. 41, lent ; A.s. Lent, ]). 105, 1. 2G, put away /; ? A.S. lrinj.lv, pllt Oil', pi if. of lengian. 134 GLOSSARY. Lete, ]». 28, 1. 186, leave, cease; A.S. loetan, let go. Lewide,p. 67,1. 303, lay, ignorant. Leye, p. 95, 1. 2, field after the crop is cut, clover ley, &c. ; 1 not A.S. lagu, a district in which a certain law was in force. Likerose, p. 20, 1. 55, lecherous. Likid, p. 8, 1. 16, pleased Liking, p. 3, 1. 50, pleasant. Likinge, p. 92, 1. 49 ; p. 93, 1. 77, 81, lust. Likingly, p. 91, 1. 20, pleasantly. List, p. 4, 1. 3 ; A.S. list, wisdom, science, power, faculty ; lyst, desire, love, admiration. Lome, p. 121, 1. 120, frequently; A.S. gelome. Maistrie, p. 20, 1. 80, mastery, (see p. 33, 1. 58,) 1 not tricks. Mammillis, p. 1, 1.5, breasts, paps; Pappe, Mamilla. P. Parv. Maugre, p. 65,1. 215, reviling, rail- ing ; Fr. maugrier, to curse, re- uile extreamly, raile on de- spightfully. Mawmetis, p. 45, 1. 118, idols. Medele, p. 20, 1. 86, mingle. Meene, p. 1,1. 4, remember ; A.S. mcenan. Meete, p. 1,1. 6, food. Melle, p. 53, 1. 387, meddle. Mengid, p. 59, 1. 51, A.S. men- gian, mix, mingle. Mett, p. 118, 1. 15, measure ; A.S. mete. Mydmore, p. 83, 1. 17, mid- morning. Mynde, ]>. 9, 1. 25, 1 mention, or A.S. my tie, memory. Mynne, p. 24, 1. 78, remember. Myscheue, p. 90, 1. 46, come to grief. Mystire, ]>. 76, 1. 572, need ; Fr. mestier, need, lacke, necessitie, want, Cotgrave. Xcmpne, p. 6, 1. 7, name; A.S. nemnan. Newyng, p. 127, 1. 28, renewing, repeating. Nuy^ed, p. 106, 1. 13, annoyed, troubled. Nyce, p. 53, 1. 390, Fr. niais, a simple, witlesse, and vnex- perienced gull. Nice, lither, lazie, sloatlifull, dull, simple. Cot. Nym, p. 53, 1. 371, take; A.S. niman, to take. Of, p. 98, 1. 101, from. Ore, p. 119, 1. 57, mercy. Ouerhope, p. 68, 1. 331, too much confidence, sanguineness. Paicth, p. 24, 1. 58, pleases. Pay, p. 14, 1. 80, satisfaction, pleasure ; paye, satisfied, con- tented. Cotgrave. Pilis, p. 64, 1. 182, peels, holds, castles. Pi3t, p. 3, 1. 61, pitched ; p. 4, 1. 13; p. 94, 1. 90, placed; p. 12, 1. 16, put, dressed. Pooste, p. 43, 1. 79, power. Port, p. 93, 1. 85, mien. Prest, p. 45, 1. 116, quickly. Prou}, p. 50, 1. 288, advantage, profit ; Fr. prdu. Pure, p. 18, 1. 11, purify. Pursue, p. 68, 1. 328, follow, strive 1 . Put, p. 73, 1. 475, throw, casting. Queed, p. 6, 1. 18, wicked one, devil ; Dutch, quoad. Qwart, p. 23, 1. 2, of good heart or cheer; O.Fr. quor, courage. Qweme, p. 18, 1. 15, A.S. cweman, to please. Race, p. 48, 1. 238, A.S. roes, rush, attack ; cp. inilbv/rc. GLOSSARY. Ra)>er, p. 88, 1. 16, earlier, Booner. Rabir, p. 86, 1. 9, preferable. Releef; p. 47, L L81, leavin Remewe, p. 20, 1. 69, remove. Rere, p. 70, 1. 379, late. Rere suppers are complained of in Waddington (1>. 1300), Robert of Brunne, 1303, a.i>., and many other writ R , p, 7."., 1. 483, arrears. ReueJ), p. 30, 1. 257, bereaves, takes away. Rijt, p. 46, 1. 170, upright, straight. Rijfe, p. 92, L 29, much j Da. r!jt\ rife, abundant. Romage, p. 93, 1. GO, roaming. Roujte, p. 3G,1. 38, recked; A.S. rokie. Rowne, p. 63, 1. 163, whisper. Ruli, p. 10, L 68, grievous; p. 89, 1. 27, sad, mournful; A.S. hreSw, grief, penitence ; hredto- lic, cruel, mournful. Ryve, p. 124, L 217 (see rijfe), customary, frequent. Sadli, p. 8, 1. 7, fixedly. Sale, p. 57, 1. 502 ; Fr. salle, hall. Saug^te, p. 76, 1. 592, A.S. saht, reconciled. Hansen, p. 108, 1. 38, reconcile; A.S. sehtian. Note the change to soften in the later text, p. 109. Schende, p. 11, 1. 118, shame, dis- grace, ruin ; A.8.8Ceond, shame, disgrace. 8chendiJ>, p. 53, 1. 374, A.S. scendan, to confound, shame, reproach, revile. Schille, p. 65, 1. 232 ; schylle and sharpe, acutus, sonorus. Schowr, p. 44, 1. 96, A.S. settr, battle, tight. Sconfitith, p. 46, 1. lot, dis- comfits. Scryue, p. 58, 1. 2. describe. Secke, p. 76, 1. 589, sack, I See, ]>. 13, 1. 54, Beat. Seelde, p. 41, 1. 6, Beldom. Seete, p. 37, 1. B9, Bet . p. 2, 1. 3."), scat ; Fr. . Seruile, p. 101, 1. 15, of service, of busini Sijke, p. 78, 1. 634, sicki. 1 >u. zieckj sick. Sikir, p. 33, 1. 50, certain, sure. Skile, p. 9, 1. 33, reason; O.N. shil. Slake, p. 11,1. 112, become Black, cease. Slidir, p. 49, 1. 269, slydyr (or swypyr as a wey). Lubricus, P. Parv. Smerte, p. 93, 1. 67, smart, pain, prick. Soote, p. 29, 1. 248, sweet one. Spaynel, p. 91, 1. 4, spaniel j Fr. espagneul, a Spaniell. Cot. Spousebriche, p. 47, 1. 188, adultery. Spurne, p. 43, 1. 76, A.S. spurnan, to strike with the heel ; p, 91, 1. 11, spurned. Spute, p. 46, 1. 164, dispute. Stabilte, p. 26, 1. 144, fixedness, firmness. Stie, p. 90, 1. 48, ascend SU3, p. 55, 1. 460, ascended ; AS. kigariy to ascend, rise Stintith, p. 116, 1. 62, stoppeth. Sue, p. 20, 1. 6S, follow. Sufferance, p. 33, 1. 50, Yr. souffrance, sufferance, forbear- ance, patience, abiding. Sunge, p. 110, 1. 73, sin; A.S. 8yngian. Supernue, p. 89, 1. 30, super- fluous. Swarte, p. 119, 1. 33, dark, black (swarthy). Swing, p. 28, 1. 203, A.S. 8wingan } to whip, *r<>w 136 GLOSSARY. Swijxj, p. 09, l. 348, quickly. Swyde, p. 122, 1. 140, quickly. Swynk, p. 89, 1. 32, A.S. surinc, labour, gesmnc, affliction, torment. Temynge, p. 4, 1. 20, childbirth ; A.S. team, offspring ; tedmian, temarif to propagate, beget. Tende, p. 69, 1. 369 ; tenden, p. 41, 1. 6, attend. Tcne, p. 24, 1. 71, A.S. teona, injury, wrong. J5at fat, p. 51, 1. 310, that which. ])ee, p. 63, 1. 176, thrive. jX'itille, p. 9, 1. 37, thereto, in addition. )?irle, p. 26, 1. 147, pierce; A.S. firlian. Jjole, p. 23, 1. 27, A.S. folia n, suffer. Jjrong, p. 13, 1. 27, driven, forced; A.S. yringan, to press, crowd. Jjrouj, p. 13, 1. 32, A.S. fruh, a chest, coffin, sepulchre, grave. Tille, p. 27, 1. 168, to. Toberste, p. 30, 1. 251, burst all to pieces. Tobreke, p. 29, 1. 247, break to pieces. Torent, p. 20, 1. 82, rent to pieces. To we, p. 120, 1. 29, tough, harsh; A.S. ioh. Towyth, p. 121, 1. 108, thought. Twhertyd, p. 126, 1. 15, retorted? A.S. hweorfan, to turn. Twynne, p. 23, 1. 37, separate. Tyne, p. 25, 1. 103, A.S. tynan, to hedge in, enclose, shut, close. Uertu, p. 67, 1. 300, power, strength. Vertu, p. 72, 1. 455, power, si length. Vncele, p. 10fi, 1. 21, unhappiness. Vndirfonge, p. 09, 1. 367, receive, take; AS. underfangan, under- take, receive. Vndirnome, p. 50, 1. 289, Uook- est up or under, objectedst to ; A.S. underniman, to undertake, comprehend. Vngo, p. 121, 1. 118, Hw for urn, round; A.S. ymbgan^ go round. Yndren, p. 84, 1. 25, AS. undent, the third hour, 9 a.m., extend- ing also to noon. Vnleueful, p. 110,1. 74, unlawful. Vnnefe, p. 70, 1. 373, A.S. mi- (. 1. 450, quick, active ; same as W ;••• p. 63, 1. l.V); 8w. rig, active ; ' wi/te, or delyvyr, or RwyftejAgiHajVelox.' Pr. Parv. Wijtli, p. 1.".. 1. 41, swiftly, or powerfully. Wijs, p. 98, 1. 94, teach. Wis, p. 11. 1. li:» ; Wisse, p. 14, 1. 68 1 A.S. wi8sian, to instruct, guide, govern. Wite, p. 34, 1. 67; p. 99, 1. 4, know ; A.S. witan. Wiyte, ].. 35, 1. 8, 16, &c, blame, reproach, impute, ascribe to; A.S. mtan, wttian. Wone, p. 11, 1. 120, dwell; A.S. tounian. AYoniynge, p. 28, 1. 199, dwelling. p. •">'.', 1. 35, k ii i Worschipide, p. 53, 1. M)l, hon- oured. Wreche, ]>. L6, I. 35, vengeance ; A.S. ,r,-n C. Jeere, p. 05, L 244; p. 67, 1. \ '. A.s. ,/, ■!,-■ . certainly, feme, p. 52, 1. :'» I' ; A.s. gimany govern, take care "i'. Jernynge, p. 28, 1. L9 7, yearning, desire. )on>, p. 92, 1. 35, formerly. Yll -i, ]>. 92, 1. 37, fled, gone. Yl.it, p. 128, 1. 3, yet. Yloore, p. 79, 1. 5, lost ; A.S. loren. Ymet, p. 81, 1. 74, dreamt; A.S. mcbtod. Ynne, p. 69, 1. 359, ? bring in, not let in; A.S. innan, to go in, enter. Ynow, p. 76, 1. 567, enough. NOTE S. P. 58. Mirror of the Periods of Man's Life. "Theauneient sages by curious notes haue found out, that certaine yccrcs in roans lite be very perilous. These they name climacterical or stayrie yeares, for then they saw great alterations. Now a climactericall yeare is euery seaueuth yeare . . jlcncc is it that in the seaueuth 'yeere children doe cast and renew their teeth. In the fourteenth yeere proceedetli the strippling age. In the one and twentieth, youth. And when a man hath past seauon times seauen years, to weet, nine and fortie yeares, he is a ripe and perfect, man. Also, when he attaineth to ten times seauen yeeres, that is, to the age of threescore and ten, his strength and chiefest vertue beginnes to fall away." W. Yaughau, Natural and Artificial Directions for Health, 1602, pp. 47-8. P. 12S. Archbishop Scrope's Death. Sec the Latin Poem on this in Mr. Thomas Wright's " Political Songs," v. 2, p. 114-18. IXDEX OF FIRST LINES. As y gan wandre in my walkinge . . . . . 83 Bi a forest as y gan walke 05 Bothe 3onge & oolde, whef ir $e be . . . . . 32 Erf e out of erf e is wondirly wrou^t .... 88 Euery man schulde teche fis lore . . . . . 104 From fe tyme fat we were born . . . . . 79 Hay, hay, hay, hay! thynke on AVliitsonmonday . . 128 Heil be f on, marie, cristis moder dere .... 6 Ileil be f ou, marie, f e modir of crist .... 4 How mankinde doof bigynne. (The Mirror.) ... 58 If fou wole be weel with god. (A prose piece.) . . 40 Ihesu, lord, fat madist me. (Richard de Castre's Prayer.) 15 Ehesu, }n swetnes, who-so my$te it se .... 8 Ihesus f at sprong of iesse roote . . . . . 12 In a noon tijd of a somers day . . . . . . 91 In my 3onge age ful wielde y was ..... 35 In fee, god fadir, I bileeuc . . . . . . 101 I wame vche leod fat liuej in londe (From the Vernon MB.) 106 I wame eche lijffat liuef in lond ..... 107 I x I > f : x OP FIRST links. 130 Kyng of grace, & fid of pyte . . . . . . lis Loue La liji pat lastijj ay ...... 'J2 Man, among Ju myitis hauo in mynde . . . . Ill Sodenly a- fray* I, halfe wakynge, halfe alepyng . . . 126 Surge, mea epofua, Bwete in si^t ..... 1 There is no creature lmt oon . . . . . . 18 Whanne marye was greet witli gain-id. (J?eDeuelis Perlament) 41 Whi is pis world biloued put fals is & veyn ... 86 JOHN (HILDS AND SON, l'KINTEKS. rr. rt n 1