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II* 
 
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 nt 
 
 BxaBt ant, 8to. 
 
 EDITED FROM ROBERT THORNTON'S MS. (Cir. 1440) 
 
 IN THE LI-N'COLV CATHEDRAL LIBRARY, 
 
 BY 
 
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 PREBENDARY OF LINCOLN AND RECTOR OF WADDINGTOX, 
 
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26 
 OXFOKD: 
 
 BY T. COMBE, M. A., E. PICKAKD HALL, AND H. LATHAM, M. A. 
 PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 The miscellany of Religious Tracts and Poems which follows, is 
 edited from the Thornton Manuscript, which has already contri- 
 buted the Morte Arthure and the Hampole Short Treatises to the 
 publications of the E. E. T. S. It is hoped that it will serve some- 
 what towards illustrating the religious teaching of the fourteenth 
 and fifteenth centuries, as well as towards exhibiting the pecu- 
 liarities of the Northern English, in which all the pieces are 
 written. 
 
 The first tract is a good and idiomatic specimen of a mediaeval 
 Sermon, and as we find that it was preached in obedience to the 
 command of " oure fiadire ]?e byschope/'' who had directed all those 
 who under him had cure of souls " opynly, one ynglysche, apone 
 Sonondayes, to preche and teche ]?aym J?at J?ay have cure off the 
 lawe and the care to knawe God Almyghty,'" it is also at the same 
 time an evidence of the amount of instruction provided for the 
 people in those days. Some hundred years before this Sermon was 
 written, Bishop Grosseteste had given veiy similar directions to his 
 clergy, mentioning the very heads which are touched in this 
 Sermon, and bidding them discourse of them to the people every 
 Sunday in idiomate communi. Surely these facts, and many others 
 like them which might be produced, go far to prove that the 
 parish-priest of the Middle Ages was not such a c dumb dog' as 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 some would have him to be, and that preaching was not confined 
 to the Friars. Dan Jon Gaytrigg must have been a very sensible 
 instructor for his flock, according- to their creed and lights ; and the 
 nervous and rythmical English in which his teaching is conveyed 
 would be hard to equal in modern days. There is another copy of 
 this Sermon in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, MSS. 
 B. 10. 12, from which Mr. Skeat has kindly made an extract for 
 me. It differs very slightly from the text here printed, but has 
 indications of being a somewhat later transcript. For instance, 
 the old and probably not well-known word ( tray 3 of the Thornton 
 MS. is changed in the Cambridge copy into ' tho3t/ and an occa- 
 sional omission of a Northern form betrays the fact that the copier 
 was not writing his own dialect. Mr. Skeat, whose opinion on 
 this subject is of the utmost weight, writes as follows with regard 
 to the style of the Sermon. " I have not a doubt that the 
 ' Sermon'' was originally in verse, and to print it as prose, without 
 remark, would be a mistake. It is to be noted that the Trinity 
 MS. is at first written as prose (but there are frequent dots shew- 
 ing where the lines end), and very soon it is written as verse, and 
 so continues down to the end. For instance, look at the fol- 
 lowing : — 
 
 ' pe sexte poynt is . ]>at we sail trowe 
 )>at ]>e fourtyde day . after J?at he rase, 
 thurgh strengh of hemselfe . he steghed vntil heuen, 
 whare oure kynde is now . in his blyssed person, 
 noght anely euen . no mete til his adngels, 
 bot heghe corounde kynge . abouen all aungels.' 
 
 It is clear that we have here the regular alliterative verse, perfect 
 as regards accent, imperfect as regards alliteration; in fact, the very 
 kind of metre into which the old Piers Plowman metre would 
 naturally degenerate. The third line preserves the alliteration 
 altogether, and is a nearly perfect line." Perhaps even a stronger 
 passage than the one selected by Mr. Skeat might be found at 
 page 11 : — 
 
PREFACE . Vii 
 
 ' Euynly to suffire . ]>e wele and j>e waa, 
 Welthe or wandreth . whethire so betyde . . . 
 StyfFely to stande . agaynes our faas, 
 Whethir J?ay be bodyly . or J>ay be gastely, 
 Swa ]?at na fulle fandyng . make vs to falle, 
 N~e be false in our fay the . agaynes God Almyghtty.' 
 
 Here the alliteration is very marked. I confess, however, I do not 
 see my way to bringing the whole of the Sermon into this form. 
 If it were originally written in alliterative verse, it would evidently 
 have been with the object of helping the people to commit it to 
 memory. 
 
 Treatise No. II. is an old English translation of the Speculum 
 of S. Edmund. This was a very popular treatise in its day, 
 and, we believe, the only surviving work of the famous Ed- 
 mund Rich, Archbishop of Canterbury — famous for his asceti- 
 cism — famous as a teacher of Greek at Oxford, and as having had 
 for his pupils Grosseteste, Robert, and Roger Bacon — famous for 
 his sudden elevation to the Primacy — notably famous for the good 
 stand he made in that office for English liberties — famous also for 
 his retirement from his high post ; and famous after death for the 
 popular tumult which forced the pope to canonize him. All these 
 points are well brought out in Dr. Hook's Life of the Archbishop. 
 At the Monastery of Pontigny in France, the place of his retire- 
 ment, where the great spirits of Thomas a Becket and Stephen 
 Langton had before him found rest, he wrote, or at any rate 
 finished, his Speculum. It is a composition which breathes a fierce 
 asceticism, and is almost Manichean in its hatred of bodily ease. 
 This would insure its popularity in an age which only compre- 
 hended religion as a bitter and unsparing chastiser of the flesh, and 
 hence its early translation into French and English. We subjoin a 
 specimen of the original, with the French and English translations. 
 With regard to the age of the latter, Mr. Morris, on examining a 
 passage sent to him, was of opinion that it might be as early as 
 1350. Very probably it is a rescript from a still earlier English 
 
Vlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 version in a Southern dialect, but I have not discovered any other 
 English MS. of this Treatise. 
 
 French. 
 
 From Arundel MS. 288. 
 
 p. 207. 
 
 Uidete uocationem ue- 
 stram. — Ces moj de la po- 
 stle partenent a nous genj 
 de religion. uee3, fet il, a 
 quey uous estes apelle3. e 
 ceo dit il por nous exciter 
 a perfection, e por ceo quel 
 homme 1 ke ieo pens de 
 moy, mesmes de nuit e de 
 iour, de une part ay ioye 
 grant, e dautre part grant 
 dolur. Ioye por la seynte 
 religion, dolur en confu- 
 sion por ma feble conuer- 
 saczon. e ceo nest pas 
 grauwt merueyle. Kar Ieo 
 ay grant acheson. Kar ci 
 dit Seynt Eusebye en un 
 sermon, uenir a religion 
 est souereyne perfecewm. 
 e nent parfitement uiure 
 souerayne dampnacion. 
 
 i ? houre. 
 
 Latin. (Original.) 
 
 From Magna Bibl. Vet. 
 
 Patr. XIII. 355. 
 
 ' Videte vocationem ve- 
 stram fratres.' Ista verba 
 apostoli pertinent ad homi- 
 nes religiosos. Videte (in- 
 quit) ad quid vocati estis. 
 Et hoc dixit Apostolus ad 
 excitandum nos ad perfec- 
 tionem. Et propter hoc 
 quacunque horli cogito de 
 me ipso, die vel nocte, ex 
 un& parte habeo magnum 
 gaudium, et ex alia" parte 
 magnum dolorem. Gau- 
 dium habeo propter sanc- 
 tam religionem, dolorem et 
 confusionem propter meam 
 debilem conuersationem. 
 Et illud non est mirum, 
 quia habeo magnam caus- 
 am. Nam, sicut dicit Sanc- 
 tus Eusebius in vno ser- 
 mone, Venire ad Religio- 
 nem summa perfectio est, 
 sed non perfecte viuere in 
 religione, summa damnatio 
 est. 
 
 English. 
 
 Thornton MS. 
 
 (as printed). 
 
 'Videte vocacionem ve- 
 stram.' This wordes sayse 
 Saynte Paule in his pystyll, 
 and thay are thus mekill 
 to saye one ynglysche, 
 ' ' See3e 30ure callynge.' 
 This worde falles till vs 
 folke of religiouwe : and 
 that sais He till excite 
 vs till perfeccyone. And 
 ther-fore what houre bat 
 I thynke of my-selfe, one 
 nyghte or on day, on a 
 syde hafe I gret joye, and 
 on anober syde gret sorowe 
 — joy for be haly religione, 
 sorowe and cowfusyon for 
 my febill conuersasione. 
 And J?at es na wondire for 
 I hafe gret enchesone. Als 
 be wyese man saise in his 
 sermon, he sais to com to 
 religione es souerayne per- 
 feccyone, and there - in 
 noghte perfitly to lyffe es 
 souerayne dampnacyone. 
 
 Among the promises of future publications made by theE.E.T.S. 
 there is held out to us the hope of some day seeing in print the 
 Life of S. Edmund from the British Museum MS. When it is 
 printed I feel persuaded that it will be found very illustrative of 
 the Speculum,, and vice versa. I believe Dr. Hook does not profess 
 to have consulted this old mediaeval Life of the Archbishop for his 
 biography in the third volume of his Archbishops. 
 
 We now come to No. III. The Abbaye of S. Spirit. This trea- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 tise, of which there are several MS. copies, has been attributed to 
 various authors. Some would have it the composition of Bishop 
 Alcock, who died 1480, but as it exists in the Vernon MS., which 
 is about a century earlier, this notion is disposed of. In the 
 Lambeth MS. it is given to Richard Rolle de Hampole, but as 
 his paternity is claimed for almost all religious Middle- Age MSS. 
 that have gone astray, we cannot build much on that. The fact 
 of the early Vernon MS. having the Treatise in a Southern dialect, 
 is much against the supposition of its being HampolVs. Whether 
 Robert Thornton re-wrote it in his own idiom, or how it got into 
 the form we have here, cannot be discovered ; but as the preference 
 here given to the Thornton copy may seem to some to be un- 
 founded, we subjoin a conspectus of a portion of four manuscripts 
 for the purpose of comparison. 
 
 I. 
 
 Vernon MS. 
 (Bodleian.) 
 A. D. 1380. 
 
 Here biginneb a 
 tretis bat is clept 
 be Abbey of J»e holy 
 gost. ]>at is con- 
 science of monnes 
 herte schulde ben 
 in bis Abbey most. 
 
 Mi deore Brebren 
 And Sustren. I seo 
 wel . \>at monie 
 wolde ben In Reli- 
 gion . but ]>ei mowe 
 not . for Pouert. or 
 for Age . or for 
 drede of heore kun. 
 or for bond of ma- 
 nage. And berfore 
 I make her a Book 
 of Religion of herte . 
 bat is of be Abbeye 
 
 II. 
 
 Lambeth MS. 
 432. fol. 37 B. 
 
 Here begynnythe 
 Rechard Hamppulle 
 of the Abbay of the 
 holy goest fulle nes- 
 sessarye. 
 
 Dere Bretheryne 
 and Sustfren, I Se 
 welle ther wold be 
 many in Religeoun, 
 but bay may not, for 
 pouerte, or for Awe, 
 or for drede of kyn, 
 or for bondage, or 
 for mariage ; therfor 
 y make here a boke 
 of Religeouw of the 
 hert That is of the 
 Abbey of the holy 
 
 III. 
 
 Thin. Coll. Camb. 
 MS. 0. 1. 29. 
 
 pis es ]>e begyn- 
 nynge of be abbay 
 of be holye goste, be 
 wilke bat es founded 
 in A place bat es 
 callede conscience, 
 and berfore, man, 
 be-whare ! 
 
 My fulle dere and 
 well loued brethire 
 and sisters in god, I 
 see now weel in bies 
 dayes bat many men 
 wilde full gladely be 
 in religious, bot bei 
 may nou3t, fore po- 
 uerte or fore elde, or 
 fore dreed, or ellej 
 fore kyndrede or for 
 bonde of mariage. 
 And berfore I make 
 
 IV. 
 
 Thornton MS. 
 (as printed). 
 
 Of the abbaye of 
 saynte Spirite that 
 es in a place that es 
 callede conscyence. 
 
 A dere brethir 
 and sy stirs, I see bat 
 many walde be in 
 religyone bot bay 
 may noghte, owthir 
 for pouerte, or for 
 drede of thaire kyne, 
 or for band of ma- 
 ryage, and for-thi I 
 make here a buke 
 of be religeon of be 
 herte, bat es of be 
 abbaye of the Holy 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 of \>e holi gost . bat 
 alle bo bat mouwe 
 not ben In bodi Re- 
 ligion bei mowe ben 
 In gostly. Ah Jhesu 
 Merci . Where may 
 bis Abbey and bis 
 Religion best ben j 
 I . f ounded. Certes 
 neuere so wel . ne 
 so semely . as in a 
 place . \>at is clept 
 Concience. Now be 
 houeb hit benne . at 
 be biginnynge . bat 
 be place of be Con- 
 cience be clanset . 
 borw wys clansynge. 
 be holi gost sendee 
 a doun twey Mai- 
 dens ful comiynge . 
 bat on is clept . 
 Rihtwisnesse. And 
 bat ober loue of 
 clannesse . beose 
 tweyne schul caste 
 from be concience 
 and from be herte 
 all manere fulyth of 
 foule bou3tes and of 
 foule seornynges. 
 
 here now a boke of 
 religione of be herte, 
 bat es, of be abbaye 
 of be holy goste ; 
 bat all boo bat may 
 nou3t be in bodily 
 rehgione, bat bei 
 maye godely be in 
 gostely religioun. 
 % A Ihesu, mersy ! 
 where maye bis ab- 
 bay and bis religione 
 beste be f ounden and 
 groundede ? ^ Cer- 
 fcej, neuer nowere so 
 well ne so stedefast- 
 lye, nor 3it berto so 
 semely, as right in 
 a place3 1 bat bei 
 calle conscience. 
 % Now ban behoues 
 it firste at be begyn- 
 nynge, bat be place 
 of be conscience be 
 so enclosede on ilke 
 syde thorough wies 
 closynge, for bis en- 
 cheson : % pe holy 
 goste salle do sende 
 two maydens full 
 conande. \\ be tone 
 is callede by clerkes 
 Ryghtwysnes ^| And 
 be tother is called 
 lufe of grete (?) clen- 
 nes. ^[ bies two may- 
 denes sail keste fro 
 be conscience and 
 fro be herte all ma- 
 nere of fylthes and 
 foule boughtes, and 
 of foule 3ernynges. 
 
 i sic in MS.; read 
 "place." 
 
 It seems probable that II., III. and IV. have 
 from No. I. in their different dialects, but at any 
 
 goest, that all tho 
 that may not be in 
 Bodely Religeourc, 
 myght be in goestly 
 religeouw. A Ihesu 
 mercy where may 
 the abbay of this 
 religeouw be best 
 y foundid. Certis 
 nowhwhere so wele 
 ne so surely as in a 
 place that is callid 
 Consciens. Now hit 
 behovith, at the by- 
 gynnyng that the 
 place of the Con- 
 science be clensyd 
 wislye. The holy 
 goest shalle Fynde 
 two maydennys 
 Fulle cunnyng, the 
 tone is callid Right- 
 wisnesse, And the 
 tother is callid love 
 of clennesse. These 
 two shalle cast out 
 from the conscience, 
 and from the hert, 
 alle maner Filthe of 
 foule thoughtes and 
 foule Desyris. 
 
 Goste, that all tho 
 bat ne may noghte 
 be bodyly in reli- 
 gyone, bat bay may 
 be gostely. A Ihesu 
 mercy ! Whare may 
 bis abbaye beste be 
 funded and jus re- 
 ligione ? Now certis 
 nowhare so well als 
 in a place \>at es 
 called conscyence ; 
 and who so will be 
 besy to funde bis 
 holy religione, and 
 bat may ilke gud 
 crystyne mane and 
 woman do bat will 
 be besy berabowte. 
 And at be begyn- 
 nynge it es by-houe- 
 ly bat be place of 
 thi conscience be 
 clensed clene of 
 syne, to be whilke 
 clensynge the Holy 
 Goste sail sende two 
 maydyns \>at ere co- 
 nande, the one es 
 callede Rightwys- 
 nes, and be tober es 
 called Luffe of clen- 
 nes. These two sail 
 cast fro \>e conscience 
 and fro be herte all 
 maner of fylthe of 
 foule thoghtes and 
 desyrs. 
 
 been re-written 
 rate this con- 
 
PREFACE. XI 
 
 spectus remarkably illustrates the well-known fact, that mediaeval 
 copiers never kept close to their original, but altered and improved 
 according to their own views of grammar and dialect, without any 
 of that wholesome dread of omitting an inflection which is the 
 scourge of modern editors. The Lambeth MS. in its latter part 
 differs considerably from the Thornton, and contains several pas- 
 sages which the other has not. In fact it may almost better be 
 described as a similar treatise than as identical. The Cambridge 
 MS. shews a tendency to insert amplifications and additions, and 
 would thus seem to be later in style, but Mr. Skeat says that the 
 MS. looks like the fourteenth century. There are doubtless several 
 other copies of the treatise to be found. 
 
 The matter of this treatise well illustrates the sort of notion 
 which must always have existed even in the most palmy days of 
 monasticism, viz. that it was just possible to live a religious life 
 outside a convent. But the 'Abbaye of S. Spirit ' further shews 
 us the reluctance with which this was admitted, the attempt to 
 clothe even active life with the forms, images, and duties of the 
 cloister, and while admitting the possibility of its successful pur- 
 suit of holiness, at the same time putting by its side the far higher 
 and more blessed state of the incarcerated regular. 
 
 The Religious Poem of William of Nassyngton is certainly 
 not remarkable for its poetical genius, but in the simple scrip- 
 tural statements of the quondam York lawyer we recognize with 
 pleasure the mind of a devout layman rising out of distracting 
 superstitions to a repose on the great eternal verities of the 
 faith. The Hymns numbered V. and VI. both contain some 
 simple and touching passages. The Moral Poem, No. VII., is by 
 Richard Rolle de Hampole, and will, I believe, be published for 
 the Society among some other Poems and Songs of this writer 
 which are being collected by the Rev. J. R. Lumby. The present 
 edition was in type before I discovered this, and as, on a com- 
 parison with Mr. Lumby's copy, this poem was found to contain 
 two stanzas more than his, and also to differ (as usual) in much of 
 the wording, it was thought better to let it stand. Much the 
 
Xll PREFACE. 
 
 same may be said of Hymn No. VIIL, which is among Mr. Fur- 
 nivall's selections from the Lambeth MSS. There are differences 
 here also, and none, it is thought, will object to have two versions 
 of such a beautiful and touching little poem. We now come to the 
 most singular poem of the collection — Saint John the Evangelist. 
 I have not hitherto heard of any other Manuscript of this, and I 
 think all lovers of early English will not fail to be pleased with it. 
 Indeed some of the words were quite beyond my power, and must 
 have been left unattempted, but for the kind assistance given me in 
 this, and in many other points, by the Rev. W. W. Skeat. 
 
 I am afraid, taking the Miscellany throughout, rather a bitter 
 vein of religionism will be found to permeate it. Christianity 
 seems to be regarded as an institution for vexing and harassing the 
 human race, and everything connected with the body and its 
 belongings is simply evil. Manicheeism indeed, as Dean Milman 
 well points out, poisoned the very life-blood of mediaeval Chris- 
 tianity, and Augustine, while he overthrew it as a system, only 
 confirmed and established it as a sentiment. It is probable that 
 this sour asceticism, which has been remarkably illustrated by 
 several publications of the E. E. T. S., will come out even more 
 strongly, as the Society proceeds to dive deeper into the recesses of 
 old English. But this, at any rate, only makes us admire Chaucer 
 the more. 
 
DAN JON GATTETGE'S SEEMON. 
 
 Here begyimes a Sermon J?at Dan John Gaytryge made, J?e 
 whilke teclies how scrifte es to be made and whare-of, and in 
 scrifte how many thynges solde be cowsideride. Et est Petrus 
 seratenciar%m discrec&me prima. 
 
 Als a grett Doctowr schewes in his buke, of all \e creators God's mercy 
 
 r* i i • rr • • m Creation. 
 
 |>at Gode made in Heuene and in erthe, in water and in ayere, or 
 in oghte elles, ]>e souerayne cause and \e skyll whi He mad ]?ame 
 was His awene gud will and His gudnes, thurgh ]?e whilke 
 gudnes alls He es all gude He walde J>at some creatures of J?ase 
 J?at He made ware communers of bat blyse bat ouer mare lastis. Man must 
 
 have know- 
 
 And for bat na creatowre myghte come to bat blyse witA-owtten ledge in order 
 
 r Ja r J to obtain a 
 
 knawynge of Godd, als J>at clerkes teches, He made skill wyse share in it. 
 creators angelle aud man of witt and wysdom to knawe God 
 Almyghtyne, and thorowe )?aire knawynge lufe Hym and serue 
 Hyme, and so come to ]?at blyse \at ]?ay ware made to. This 
 manere of knawynge had oure forme-fadyrs in ]>e state of inno- 
 cence J>at J>ay ware mad in, and so sulde we hafe hade if J?ay had 
 noghte synnede. 1ST oghte so mekill als hally saules hase now in 
 Heuene, bot mekill mare ]>an mane hase now in erthe. ffor oure 
 foitrme-fadyrs synned, sayse j?e prophete, and we bere J>e wyk- 
 kydnes of )>aire mysdedis, ffor ]>e knawyng J>at }>ay had of Godd 
 All-myghtene thay had it of Goddes gyfte at ]>aire begynnynge 
 witA-owtten trauayle or tray or passmge of tym. And all ]?e This must be 
 
 gained by 
 
 knawyng ]?at we hafe in j>is werlde of Hym, es of heryng and of hearing and 
 lerynge and of techyng of o)>er, of ]?e law and j?e lare ]?at langes 
 till Haly Kyrke, ]>e whilke all creatowrs ]?at lufes God Almygh- 
 tene awe to knawe and to cune and lede ]>aire lyfe aftire, and swa 
 
 1 
 
THE SIX THINGS TO BE LEARNT BY ALL. 
 
 And there- 
 fore those 
 who have 
 charge of 
 souls must 
 instruct 
 them. 
 
 Our father 
 the Bishop 
 has ordered 
 all parish 
 priests to 
 instruct the 
 people in 
 their own 
 tongue j 
 
 In these six 
 things : 
 The fourteen 
 points of the 
 
 the Ten 
 Command- 
 ments, 
 the seven 
 Sacraments, 
 the seven 
 works of 
 mercy, 
 the seven 
 virtues, 
 the seven 
 deadly sins. 
 
 And Parsons 
 and Vicars 
 are to inquire 
 at Lent whe- 
 ther their 
 Parishioners 
 know them. 
 
 And first of 
 the fourteen 
 Articles of 
 the Creed. 
 
 come to J?at blysse \at neuer mare Wynnes. And for-thi \at 
 mekill folke now in ]?is werlde ne ere noglite wele ynoghe lerede 
 to knawe God Almyghty, ne lufe Hym ne seme Hym als J?ay 
 sulde do, and als )>aire dedys oftesythes opynly schewes, in gret 
 perell to }>ame to lyfe and to saule, and perawnter J>e defaute may 
 be in tkaym ]>at hase }>aire saules for to kepe and thaym snide 
 teche, als prelates and persons, vicars and prestes, )>at ere kaldene 
 by dett for to lere ]>ame — ffor-tlii oure ffadire )?e bysckope ]>at 
 God Almyghty saue, ]>at, als Sayne Paule sayse in his pystill, 
 will ]>at all mene be safe and knawe God Almygktene, and namely 
 ]>ase vndirlowttes \at till hym langes, hase tretide and ordeyned 
 for J?e como^e profett, thorowe J>e councell of his clergy, J>at 
 ilkane j>at vndire hym hase cure of saule, opynly, one ynglysche, 
 apone sonwondayes, preche and teche ]>aym \at ]?ay hase cure off, 
 J>e lawe and ]>e lare to knawe God Almyghty, J>at principally 
 may be schewede in theis sexe thynges — in J>e fourtene poyntes 
 J»at fallis to J>e trowthe — in ]>e ten commandemewtes )?at Gode 
 hase gyfene vs — in J?e seuene sacramentes J>at er in Haly Kyrke 
 — in ]?e seuene werkes of mercy vntill oure euene cristyne — in ]>e 
 seuene vertus J>at ilke mane sail vse — and in ]?e seuene dedly 
 synnes ]?at ilke man sail refuse. And he byddes and commandes 
 in all ]>at he may, ]?at all ]?at hase cure or kepynge vndire hym 
 emoyue J>aire parischenes and ]?aire sugettes ]?at J>ay here and 
 lere Jnse ilke sex thynges, and oftesythes reherse )>am till )>at ]?ay 
 cune J?ame, and sythene teche J>ame ))aire childire, if ]?ay any 
 haue, whate tyme so ]?ay are of elde to lere )?ame. And )>at 
 personns and vycars and all parische prestis, enquere delygently 
 of ]?aire sugettes in J>e lentyne tym, when |?ay come to scryfte, 
 whe]?er ]?ay knawe and cune ]?ise sex thynges, and if it be fundene 
 J>at ]?ay cune ]?am noghte, J>at J>ay enjoyne )>am appone his be- 
 halfe and of payne of penance for to cune ]>ame. And for-thi 
 \at nane sail excuse thaym thurghe unknawlechynge for to cune 
 }>am, oure haly ffadir ]>e beschope, of his guclnes, hase ordaynede 
 and bedyne J?at j>ay be schewede opynly one ynglysche amanges 
 ]>e folke. Whare-fore anence J>e fyrste of ]>ise sex thynges, ]?at 
 es to knawe ]>e articles ]>at falles to J>e trouthe. Als gret clerkes 
 
THE ARTICLES OF THE CREED. 3 
 
 teches and scliewes in tliaire bukes, thare ffalles to be faythe 
 
 fourtene poyntes, of be whilke seuene ffalles to Goddes Goddhede, seven are of 
 
 1 J ' ' ' the Godhead. 
 
 and ober seuene ffalles to Cristes manliede. The firste poynte 
 
 bat we sail trowe of be Godhede es to trow stedfastly in a trewe (i) one true 
 
 Godd, and bat na nober es for to trowe in. The tober es \at be ( 2 ) Father 
 
 heghe ffadir of Heuene es stedfaste and sothefaste Godd Al- 
 
 myghtyne. The thirde es bat Ikesu Criste, Goddes sone of (3) God the 
 
 Heuene, es sothefastly Gode euene till his ffadir. The ferthe es ( 4 ) God the 
 
 bat be Haly Gaste bat samenly conies of bathe be ffadir and be 
 
 Sone, es sothefaste Gode euen to baym bathe, and be whethir 
 
 noghte twa Goddes, be ffadire and be Sone, ne thre Goddes, be 
 
 ffadir and be Sone and be Haly Gaste, bot thre sere persomis 
 
 and noghte bot a Godd. The fyfte arctecle es bat be Trynyte, (s) Three 
 
 be ffadir and be Sonwe and be Haly Gaste, thre persons s and a 5Jaker°ofaii 
 
 Godd, es makere of Heuene and Erthe and of all thynges. The tlnngs- 
 
 ' (6) The 
 
 sexte artycle es \at Haly Kirke oure modire es hallyly ane J£JJjjS| e tll 
 thorow owte be werlde, that es comonynge and felawrede of all of ^™ 1011 
 cristene folke bat commons to-geclire in be sacrementes, and in 
 ober haly thynges bat falles till Haly Kyrke, wit/i-owttene be 
 whilke ne es na saule hele. The seuend article bat vs awe to (7) The 
 
 Resurrection 
 
 trowe es vppe-rysynge of flesche and life wit/i-owttene ende. of the Body, 
 
 ffor when be dede hase sundyrde oure bodyes and oure saules Everlasting. 
 
 for a certayne tym als oure kynd askes, vnto whene bat God sail 
 
 deme be qwykke and be dede, thane oure saules sail turne agayne 
 
 till oure bodyes, and we base ilke and nane ober ban we are 
 
 nowe, sothefastly sail ryse vp in body and saule bat neuer mare 
 
 sail sundire fra bat tyme furthe, bot samene if we wele doo whiles 
 
 we er here wende \siili Godd to bat blysse bat euer-mare lastes. 
 
 And if we euyll do, till endles payne. 
 
 There are ober seuene poyntes of Cristes manhede bat are seven points 
 
 r L J Y of Christ's 
 
 nedfull to trow till all bat are crystyne. The fyrste es bat Jhesu manhood. 
 Criste, Goddes Sone of Heuene, was sothefastly conceyuede of be of the virgin 
 madene Marie, and tuke flesche and blude and become mane 
 thurghe be myghte and be strenghe of be Haly Gaste, wit/i-owt- 
 tene any menyng of hir modirhede, wzt/i-owttene any mynynge 
 of hir maydenhede. The tober artecle es bat we sail trowe 
 
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS . 
 
 (2) Both 
 God and 
 man. 
 
 (3) Suffered 
 for us. 
 
 (j) Descend- 
 ed into Hell. 
 
 (5) Rose 
 again the 
 third day. 
 
 (6) Ascended 
 into Heaven. 
 
 (7) From 
 thence He 
 shall come 
 to judge the 
 quick and 
 the dead. 
 
 Secondly, 
 of the Ten 
 Command- 
 ments. 
 
 bat Ee, Godd and man bathe in a personne, was sothefastly 
 of bat blessyde maydene, Godd getyne of his ffadire be-fore any 
 tyme, and man borne of his modir and broghte furthe in tyme. 
 The thirde poynte bat we sail trowe es Cristes passione that 
 He tholede bodyly for synfull man-kynde, how He was be- 
 traysede with his disciple, and taken with be Jewes, beten with 
 scourges bat na skynne helde, naylede one be rude and corounde 
 with thornes and many o]>er harde paynes, and dyede at be laste. 
 The ferthe artecle es bat whene He was clede and His body tane 
 doune, and wondene and doluene, 3ft be whills His body lay in be 
 gTaue be gaste with be Godhede wente vnto Helle, and heryede 
 it, and tuke owte base bat ware bare-in, als Adam and Eue and 
 ober fforme-fadyrs whilke He in his forluke walde bat ware 
 sauede. The fyfte poynte es bat one be thirde day after bat He 
 dyede He rase fra dede to lyfe sothefaste Godd and man in body 
 and in saule. ffor als He dyede in seknes of oure manhede, so 
 he rase thurghe strenghe of His Godhede and swa dystroyed 
 oure dede thurgh His diynge, and quykkynd vs unto lyfe 
 thurghe His rysehynge. The sexte artecle es bat we sail trowe 
 bat one be fourtede day eftyr bat He rase thurgh strenghe of 
 hym-selfe, He steye in till Heuene, whare oure kynde es now in 
 his blyssyde personne, noghte anely euyne ne mete till his 
 angells, bot hey coround kynge abowne all His angells, bat 
 before tyme was lesse ban be kynde of angells. The seuend 
 article es \at righte als He dyede and eftirwarde rase and stey 
 in-till heuene, righte swa sail He come apone be laste day, bathe 
 for to deme be qwykke and be dede, whare all be folke bat euer 
 was, or es, or sail be, sail sothefastly be schewede and sene 
 be-fore Hym, and ilke a man answere of his awen dedis and be 
 saued or dampnede whe^er so he semes, ffor als His ryght- 
 wysenes no we es mengede with mercy swa sail it thane be with- 
 owttene mercy. 
 
 Secimdo. 
 
 Decern precepta Dei. 
 
 The ten Commandenientis. 
 pe secund thyng of be sex to knawe God Almyghtene es be 
 
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 5 
 
 ten commanclmentes bat He liase gyffene vs. Of be whilke tene 
 be thre bat ere firste awe us hallyly to halde anence oure Godd, 
 and be seuene bat ere eftyre anence oure euen cristene. The The first 
 
 Command- 
 fir Ste comandement charges vs and teches vs bat we leue ne ment. 
 
 lowte na false goddes ; and in bis commandement es forbodene 
 
 vs alkyne mysbeleues and all mawmetryes, all false enchante- 
 
 mentes, and all soceryes, all false charmes, and all wichecraftes, 
 
 bat mene of myssebyleue traystes appone or hopes any helpe 
 
 ine w^t/i-owttene God Almyg'htene. The tober commandement The second 
 
 J ° y Command- 
 
 byddes vs noghte take in ydillchipe, ne in vayne, be name of oure ment - 
 Lorde Godd, so ]>at we trowe noghte in His name bot bat es 
 sothefaste, bat we swere noghte by His name bot it be by-houely, 
 and bat we neuene noghte His name bot wirchipfully. The The third 
 
 Command- 
 
 thirde coinmandement es bat we halde and halowe oure haly ment. 
 
 r J ( 4 th of the 
 
 clay, be sonondaye, and all ober bat falles to be 3ere, bat er Decalogue.) 
 
 ordeynede to halowe thurgh Haly Kyrke ; in be whilke dayes 
 
 all folke bathe lerede and lawede awe to gyffe bame guclly to 
 
 Goddes seruyce to here and saye it efter baire state es, in wir- 
 
 chipe of Godd All-myghty and of His gucl halowes, noghte bane 
 
 for to tente to tary y?ith be werlde, ne lyffe in lykynge ne luste, 
 
 bat be flesche 3ernes, bot gudly to serue Godd in clennes of lyfe. 
 
 The ferthe commandement byddes vs doo wyrchipe to ffadire The fourth 
 
 Command- 
 
 and to moclire, noghte anely to fleschely fadyr and modire bat ment. 
 
 getes vs and fosters vs furthe in be werlde, bot till oure gastely Decalogue.) 
 
 ffadire bat hase heuede of vs, and teches vs to lyffe till hele of 
 
 oure saules, and till our gastely modyr, bat es Haly Kyrke, to be 
 
 bouxome bare-to, and saue be ryghte of it, ffor it es modir till all 
 
 bat cristenly lyffes, and alswa till ilke mane bat wyrchipfull es 
 
 for to do wyrchipp eftere \at it es. The fyfte comandement The fifth 
 
 byddes vs \at we sla na mane, bat es to say bodyly ne gastely ^JJ^^ 
 
 nober, ffor als many we sla in bat at we may, als we slaundire Decalogue.) 
 
 or bakbyte or falsely deffames, or fandes for to confounde baym 
 
 bat noghte serues, or wit/idrawes lyfelade fra bame bat hase nede, 
 
 if we be of hauynge for to helpe bame. The sexte commandement The sixth 
 
 Command- 
 
 forbeddes vs to syne or for to foly fleschely with any womane ment. 
 
 J j j j (7th of the 
 
 owbe?* sybbe or fremede, wedde or unwedde, or any fleschely Decalogue.) 
 
THE TEX ALE INCLUDED EN TWO. 
 
 -venth 
 Command - 
 :. t :. 
 
 fthe 
 
 1-r. .-.:.- :-. 
 
 The eighth 
 Command - 
 ment. 
 (9th of the 
 
 l'r.„i. --■-■ 
 
 The ninth 
 
 < :..:.'.*- 
 
 (Part of the 
 icth of the 
 
 The b 
 Command- 
 I 
 
 fthe 
 10th of the 
 
 i'r..:.. ■...- 
 
 These Ten 
 Command- 
 ments are 
 included in 
 two of the 
 Gospefc— that 
 we love God 
 and our 
 brethren. 
 
 knawynge or dede haue w?'t/< any. obe/* J>an be sacrament of 
 niatremoyne exeuse5. and be la we and be lare of Haly Kyrke 
 teches. The seuend byddis vs bat we sail nog": in whilke 
 
 es forbodene rs robbyng and reuyng and all wrangwyse takynge 
 or wvtArhaldynge or hydynge or helelynge of oper nienes go 
 
 . nes baire witt and baire will bat hase ryghte to baynie. 
 The aughtene eoniandement byddes vs \>at we sail bere na false 
 wytnes agaynes oure euene eristene. in be whilke es forbodene vs 
 all manure of lesynges. flalac is eraeye and false swarynge, 
 whai'e-thurghe oure euene eristyne may lese Havre catelle. ffaith. 
 ffauour or ffame. or anything e- ■ it be in gastely or in 
 
 iy gudes. The nyende com?/<andeme/>t es bat we 5erne 
 noghte oure neghteboure house : in whilke es forbodene all wrang- 
 c-f land or of lythe. or of oghte elles bat may 
 noghte be le fra be grounde, als thynge Hat es 
 
 stedfaste and may noghte be styrrede. The tend comandement 
 an be laste es bat we 5erne noghte be wyefe of oui-e neghtel 
 ne of oure enyne eristene, ne his maydene, ne his knaue. n 
 
 ne his asse. In be whilke es forboden vs to 3erne or to 
 take any thynge bat may be Bf :' oper m *, als 
 
 - or reches or obe/- eatell. bat we hafe na gude titill ne na 
 ryghte to. ffor what thyng so we take c ne ober wyse 
 
 ban be lawe and be lare shes, we may :: 
 
 ; lede of ': : if we make assethe in bat bat we 
 
 may to bam ]>at we harmede w<*t//-haldande bake glide. And in 
 
 pat we hafe thurghe false athes. als in asm - r ober en- 
 questes. wetandly or willfully gerte oure euen<? eristyne lesse baire 
 patrenioyne or baire heritage, or falsely be dyasessede of land 
 of lythe. or false deuoree be made, or any mane dam/?pnede. bofe 
 all we do bat we may to be party, 3H may we noghte be as 
 lede of ]- - ■ -. bot of oure bcschoppe, or of hym bat has 
 power, for swylke eaas es ryuely reseruede till hym-: 
 Thise tent eo?7<mandeme??tes \at I hafe now rekkenede ere 
 nnbylowkede in twa of \>e gospelle. The tane es bat we luffe 
 
 1 oner all thynges. the toper es bat we lufe onre euene eris- 
 tene hallelv in Is wc do oure seluene : : awe 
 
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS. 7 
 
 vs to lufe hallv with herte, with all our myghte, with all our 
 tlioghte, with worde and with dede. Oure euyne crystene als swa 
 awe vs to lufe vu-to bat ilke gude bat we lufe oure-selfe, bat es 
 bat bay wele fare in body and in saule and come to bat ilke blysse 
 bat we thvnke to; and wkate-so-ever bat lie bee bat J>ise twa wele 
 3emes all be tene coni/^andementes forsotlie he fulfilles. 
 
 Tertio. 
 Septem Su?<t Sacramenta Ecclesise 
 The Seuen Sacranientes of Haly Kp-ke. 
 
 pe thirde thvuge of be sex bat I firste touchide es be seuene The third 
 
 1 c r r r thing is the 
 
 sacranientes bat Halv Kirke sryffes, thuro-he prelates and obe?- seven 
 
 1 / Sacraments. 
 
 prestes bat hase be powere ; of whilke seuene the firste fyve ilke 
 cristene mane awe lawefully to take efter his elde es, and twa 
 Ives in baire will bat ressavues bavin. The first sacreme/it of Tiie first is 
 
 / J J Baptism. 
 
 seuene is oure baptym bat we take be firste tynie bat we become 
 cristyne. In whilke bathe be firste synn bat we ere borne with 
 and alkyne obe/- synnes ere wasehe/ie awaye bat we ere fylede 
 with are we take it, and be trouthe of Haly Kyrke es takene 
 bare-in, w*t/*-owttene whilke na synfull mans saule may be 
 sauede. And till bis sac/'enie>;t ffalles foure tkvno'es if it sail Four things 
 
 1 ' ~ required to 
 
 rvsfhtelv be tane als Halv Kirke teches. Ane es rvghte sayeyng make Ba p- 
 
 ' 8 • * * ° • * ° tism valid. 
 
 and carpyng of be wordes bat hym awe for to say bat gyffes bis 
 sacrament, bat ere bise. ' I baptise be in be name of be Fadir 
 and be Son/ie and be Haly Gaste.' Ane ober es bat it be done 
 anely in watire ffor na nobe/- licoure es lefulle bare-fore, pe thirde 
 es bat he bat gyifes bis sacreme/i^ be in witt and in will for to 
 gyffe it. And be ferthe es bat he bat takes it be nober of lerede 
 nor of lewde baptisede be-fore, ffor if be preste be inwere of kvm 
 bat sail take it, whethire he be baptisede or he be noghte, ban 
 sail he say bs wordes one bis wyese, ' If \ou be noghte baptisede 
 I baptize be in be name of be fiadire and be Sone and be Haly 
 Gaste.' The secunde sacrament es co/rfernrynge bat be byschope The second 
 
 Sacrament is 
 
 gyffes to bam bat ere baptisede, bat gyffes thorowe his powere to confirma- 
 tion. 
 bam bat takes it be grace and be gyfte of be Haly Gaste to make 
 
 bayme mare stallworthe ban bay ware before to stande agaynes 
 
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS. 
 
 The third 
 Sacrament is 
 Penance. 
 
 The fourth 
 Sacrament is 
 that of the 
 Altar. 
 
 The fifth 
 Sacrament 
 Extreme 
 Unction. 
 
 The sixth 
 Sacrament is 
 Orders. 
 
 The seventh 
 Sacrament is 
 Matrimony. 
 
 be fende and dedly syne ; J>at nane hase powere to do bot be 
 byschope allane, bat hase the state and be stede of Cristes Apos- 
 tilles. The thirde sacrement es callede penance, bat es sothe- 
 faste for-thynkynge J?at we hafe of oure syne wit/i-owttene will 
 or thoghte to turne agayne to it. And j>is sacrement bus haue 
 thre thynges. Ane es sorowe in oure herte bat we hafe synnede. 
 Anober es opyne scrifte of mouthe how we hafe S} T nnede. The 
 
 1 bise thre with gud will to forsake oure syne clenses vs 
 
 and wasches vs of alkyne syne. The ferthe es be sacrement of be 
 autyr, Cristes awne body in lyknes of brede, als hale als He tuke 
 it of be blysside maydene, the whilke ilke mane and womane bat 
 of elde es awe for to rescheyue anes in be ^ere, bat es at say at 
 be pasch, als Haly Kyrke vses, when bay ere clensede of syne 
 thurghe penance, o payne of doynge owte of Haly Kyrke, bot if 
 J>ay forbere it by skillwyse cause ]>at awe to be knawene to bani 
 \at sail gyffe it ; ffor he bat tase it worthily tase his saluacyone, 
 and wha so takes it vnworthily tase his dampnacione. The 
 fyfte sacrament es be laste enoyntynge with oyle, J>at es 
 halowede and handelyde of prestes, be whilke sacrement awe 
 anely to be gyffene to J>am bat he wate ere of skillwyse elde, and 
 ]>at he sese sekyrly in perelle of dede, in lyghtenes and alegeance 
 of J?aire sekenes, if Godde wille J>at ]?ay turne agayne to j?e hele, 
 and als in forgyffnes of venial synnes and in lessynge of payne if 
 ]?ay passe he]?ene. The sexte sacrement of Haly Kyrke es ordire, 
 J?at gyffes powere to ]?am J?at ryghtwysly tase it, ffor to seme in 
 Haly Kirke efter )>aire state es, and to J>ame ]?at takes j>e 
 ord}Te of preste for to synge messe, and for to mynystre ]>e 
 sacrementes of Haly Kyrke, )?at to Jjame fallys, eftyr ]?e state J>at 
 J>ay hafe and ]?aire degre askes. The seuende Sacrament es 
 matrymoyne, ]?at es la^vefull festymiynge be-twyx mane and 
 womane at ]>aire bathere assente, for to lyffe samene wit/i-owtten 
 any lowssynge, whills J?aire lyffe lastes, in remedy of syne and 
 getynge of grace if it be tane in gude entente and clennes of 
 lyfe. 
 
 1 A sentence is here wanting through error of the scribe. 
 
-THE SEVEN DEEDS OF MERCY. 9 
 
 The fertile thyng of be Sex. 
 These be be seuene werkes of mercy bodyly. 
 pe ferthe thynge of be sex to knawe Godd Aliiiyghty bat vs Tiie fourth 
 
 _ _ thing is the 
 
 byhoues fullfille in alle bat we maye, ere be seuene dedis of mercy Seven works 
 
 vntill oure euene cristene bat Godd sail reherse vs apon be dred- 
 
 fulle day of dome, and wiet howe we haue done bam here in bis 
 
 lyfe, als Sayne Mathewe makes mynde in his gospelle. Of 
 
 whilke be firste es to fede baym bat er humigry. The tober es 
 
 to gyffe bay??*, drynke bat er thristy. The thyrde es for to 
 
 clathe banie bat er clatheles or nakede. The ferthe es for to 
 
 herber bam bat er houseles. The fyfte es for to vesete barne bat 
 
 lyes in sekenes. The sexte es for to helpe bame bat lyes or er 
 
 in presoune. The senende es to bery dede mene bat hase myster. 
 
 pise ere the seuene bodyly dedis of mercy bat ilke ma.ne awe to 
 
 doo bat es niygktty. par are of mercy alswa seuene gastely 
 
 dedis bat vs awe to doo till bame bat hase nede till vs. Ane es 
 
 to consaile and wysse bam bat are wyll. Anober es to chasty 
 
 bam bat wyrkkys ill. pe thyrcl es to solauce tkayin bat er sorowe- 
 
 full and comforthe thaym. The ferthe es to pray for thaym bat 
 
 ere synfull. pe fyfte es to be thole-mode when men mysdose vs. 
 
 pe sexte es gladly to forgyffe when men haue greuede vs. 
 
 The seuend when men askes vs for to lere thaym, if we cune 
 
 mare ban bay, for to lere thayme. pise vn-till oure neghtebours 
 
 ere full nedfull, and to bame bat duse thayme wondire medfulle, 
 
 ffor he sail mercy bat mercyfull es, and man witA-owttene mercy 
 
 of mercy sail mysse. 
 
 VII opera misericoixlie corporalia vno Yersicido. 
 Vestio, cibo, poto, redimo, tego, colligo, condo. 
 
 VII opera misericordise spi'Wftialia. 
 Consule, castiga, solare, remitte, fer, ora, 
 Instrue, si poteris, sic Christo cams haberis. 
 
10 
 
 THE SEVEN VIRTUES. 
 
 The fifth 
 thing is the 
 Seven Vir- 
 tues. 
 
 Faith. 
 
 Hope. 
 
 Charity. 
 
 Justice. 
 
 Prudence. 
 
 The ffifte thyng of ]>e sex. 
 The seuene gastely vertus. 
 
 pe fyfte thynge of ]>e sex to knawe God Almyghtene are J>e 
 seuene vertus )>at Haly Writte teches ; of whilke seuene )>e thre 
 firste ]?at are hede thewes teches vs how to hafe vs vn-to God 
 Almyghtty, and ]?e foure teches us swa for to lyfFe ]?at it be bathe 
 lykande to Godd and to mane, pe firste vertu es trouthe whare- 
 thurghe we trow anely in Godd J>at made alle thynges, with all ]>e 
 o]>er vertus I touchede be-fore. And ]?is es nedfull till all }>at 
 cristenly lyfFes ; fFor trouthe es begynnynge of all gude dedis ; 
 fFor no)>er es trouthe werthe witA-owttene gud werk, ne na werke 
 with-owttene trouthe may pay Godd Almyghty. pe to]>er gude 
 thewe or vertue es hope, J?at es a sekyr habydynge of gastely 
 gude thurghe Goddes gudnes and oure gude dedis for to come to 
 )>at blysse \at neuer mare blynnes, noghte anely in trayste of 
 Goddes gudnes, ne allanly in trayste of oure gude dedis, bot in 
 trayste of thaym bathe whene )?ay are bathe sa??imene ; fFor no]>er 
 sail we fall sa ferre in-till whanhope J>at we ne sail traiste to 
 hafe ]>at blysse if we wele do, ne we sail noghte com so ferre 
 in-to oue?'hope for to trayste so mekill in Goddes gudnes ]?at we 
 sail hope to haue J>at blysse wit/i-owttene gude dedys. pe thirde 
 vertue or thewe es charyte, ]>e whylke es a dere lufe J?at vs awe 
 vn-till Godd -Almyghtty als for Hym selfe, and till oure euen- 
 cristene for Godd Almyghttyne, ffor )?e tane may noghte be lufede 
 witA-owttene J?e to]>er, als Sayn John ]>e gospellere sayse in his 
 pystill. ' pat commandemewt,' he saise, ' hafe we of Godd J?at 
 wha-sa-euer lufes Gode lufes his euencristyne, fFor he ]?at lufes 
 noghte his broker whame he may see, how sulde he lufe God 
 whame he sese noghte.' pe ferthe vertue or thewe es ryght- 
 wysenes, ]?at es to 3elde to all mene ]?at he awe )>ame, ffor to do 
 to ilke a mane J?at vs awe to doo, for to wirchipe thame ]?at ere 
 worthy, fFor to helpe ]>e pure ]>at er nedy, to do no gyle ne 
 wrange vn-to na mane bot for to do ]?at skill es vn-till ilke mane, 
 pe fyfte vertue or thewe es sleghte or sleghenes, ]?at wysses vs to 
 be-warre with wathes of J>e werlde, fFor it kennes vs to knawe j?e 
 
THE SEVEN DEADLY SOTS. 11 
 
 gud and }>e ill, and alswa to sundire j?e tane fra ]>e toj>e?*, and for 
 
 to leue ]?at es euyll and take to )?e gude, and of twa gnd thynges 
 
 for to chese J>e better, pe sexte vertne es strenghe or stal- Fortitude. 
 
 worthnes, noghte anely of body bot of herte and will, euynly to 
 
 suffire |?e wele and ]>e waa, welthe or wandreth whethire so 
 
 betyde, and )?at oure herte be noghte to hye for na wele-fare, ne 
 
 ouer-niekill vndire for nane euylle fare, bot styffely for to stande 
 
 agaynes oure faas, wkethir ]>ay be bodyly or ]?ay be gastely, swa 
 
 ]>at na falle fandynge make vs to falle ne be false in oure faythe 
 
 agaynes God Almyghtty. pe seuend vertue and ]>e laste es Temperance. 
 
 methe or methefulnes, ]>at kepes vs fra owterage and haldes vs in 
 
 everhede, lettes fulle lykynge and luste of ]>e flesche and 3emes ts 
 
 fra 5ernynges of werldly glides and kepes in clennes of body and 
 
 of saule. ffor methe es mesure and niett of all J?at we do if we 
 
 lyffe skillwysly als ]?e lawe teches. 
 
 The sexte thyng and ]>e laste. The sixth 
 
 thing is the 
 
 The sexte thynge and J?e laste of ]?ase I firste towchede es ]?e *?JJ n deadJ y 
 seuene hevede or dedly synns ]?at ilke a mane and womane awe 
 for to knawe to flee and forhewe, ffor folkes may noghte flee 
 j?ame bot ]>ay knawe thaym. Pride and Enuye, Wreth and 
 Glotonye, Couetyse and Slouthe, and Lecherye. And for-]?i er 
 ]?ay callede seuene heuede synnes for \at all o\er com??ies of 
 thayme ; and for-)>i er ]?ay callede dedely syn?zes, for J>ay gastely 
 slaa ilke manes and womanes saule ])at es haunkede in alle or in 
 any of thayme. Whare-fore ]?e wyese mane byddes in his buke 
 als fra ]>e face of J>e neddyre fande to flee syne, ffor als ]>e 
 venyme of ]>e neddire slaas manes body swa ]?e ven}Tne of syn 
 slaas manes saule. The firste of ]>ise seuene synnes es callede Pride, 
 pryde, ]?at es a lykande heghenees of a manes herte, of offyce or 
 of heghe state, or o\er noblaye ]?at he o\\\>er haues of kynde or 
 of gi-ace, or he hopes J?at he haues mare ]?an anothire. And of 
 Jris wikkede synne com??ies some sere spyces, boste and &uaunt- 
 ynge and vn-bouxomnes, despite, and ypocrisy and vnhamlynes, 
 and o]>er ]?at ofte ere sene amanges prowde mene. The secunde 
 dedely synne es hattene-enuy. }?at es a sorowe and a syte of ]>e Envy, 
 
12 THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 
 
 wele fare and a ioy of ]>e euyll fare of oure euenecristene, of 
 whilke synn many spyces sprenges and spredes. Ane es 
 hateredyne to speke or here oghte be spokene ]>at may sowne 
 vn-to gude to ]?aym J>at ]?ay hate. Ane-o)>er, false juggynge or 
 dome of ]>aire dedis, and ay turne vn-to euylle ]?at es done to 
 gude. J)e thirde es bakbytynge, to saye be-hynde ]?ame ]?at we 
 Avill noghte auowe ne saye before J?ame. Whare noghte anely he 
 \at spekes )>e euyll bot he J>at heres it be spokene, es for to 
 blame, ffor ware J?are na herere )>are ware na bakbyttere. 
 
 Anger. pe thirde dedly synn or heuede syne es wrethe, ]?at es a wykkede 
 
 stirrynge or bolleuynge of herte whare-fore a man wilnes for to 
 wreke hyme or wykkydly to venge hym appone his euynecristyne. 
 And of )>is wykkede syne coinmes stryvynge and flytynge wiih 
 many false athes and many foule wordes sclaundere, for to 
 for-do a man's gude fame, ffeghtynge and ffelony and ofte 
 manes-slaughtere and many ma ]?at nowe es [na] nede for to 
 
 Gluttony. be neuenede. pe fferthe dedly synne mene calles glotonye, ]?at 
 es ane vnskilwyse lykynge or lufe in taste or in takynge of mete 
 or of drynke ; and j?ise trespas mene duse appone sere wyse. 
 Ane es ou]?er ouer arely or ouer late or ouer ofte-sythe for to ete 
 or drynke bot if nede gere it. Ane o]>er es for to lyffe ouer dely- 
 cately. pe thirde es for to ete or drynke ouer mekyll. pe 
 ferthe es ouer hastely to ete or to drynke. pe fifte es to compas 
 and caste appone whate wyese we may gette dylicious metis or 
 drynkes to fulfill \e lykynges and \e lustes of ]>e flesch oJ>er Jjan 
 we may gudly lede oure lyffe with — 
 
 prcepropere, laute, nimis, ardenter, studiose. 
 
 Covetousness. p e fyfte dedly syne es callede couetyse ]?at es a Avi^angwyse 
 wilnynge or 3ernynge to haue any maner of gude vs awe noghte. 
 And ]?is es don^ie pryncypally appone twyn w^ T ese. Ane es 
 wrangwysely to get any thynge ]>at oure likynge or oure lufe 
 lyghtes apone, als be sacrelege or by symony, falsehede or okyr, 
 or o]>er gelery, whilke ]?ise worldely mene er wounte for to vse 
 J>at castes ]?aire couaundenes swa vn-to couetyse ]?at ]>ay ne rekke 
 whe]?e/- it be with ryghte or with wrange, bot J>at )>ay may gette 
 ]?at at j>aire herte 3ernes. Ano}>er es wrangwisely to halde J?at 
 
THE SEYEX DEADLY SINS. 13 
 
 at es getyne, )>at es whene we will noghte do to Gocld Almyghtene 
 
 ne till Haly Kyrke ne till oure euenecristyne }>at vs awe for to 
 
 do by dett and by lawe, bot anely haldes ]?at we hafe for ese of 
 
 oure selfe/ie, whare noghte anely he ]>at wrangwysly getes bot he 
 
 j»t wrangwysely haldes falles in ]>e synne. pe sexte dedly synne sioth. 
 
 es slewthe or slawenes, ]>at es a hertly angere or anoye till vs of 
 
 any gastely gud }>at we sail do ; and of ]?is wikkede synn comes 
 
 sere spyces. Ane es latesomnes or lyte to drawe apone lenghte 
 
 or to lache any glide dedis ]?at we sail do )>at may turne vs till 
 
 helpe or hele of oure saules. Anojjer es a dullnes or heuenes of 
 
 herte J>at lettes vs for to lufe oure Lorde Gode Almyghtene or 
 
 any lykynge to hafe in his seruyse. pe thircle es ydillchip/> ]?at 
 
 oner mekylle es hauntede, J?at makes lathe to begynne any gude 
 
 dedis and lyghtly dose vs to leue whe;?e oghte es begunne, and 
 
 J>are whare we ere kyndely borne for to swynke, als J>e feule es 
 
 kyndely brede for to flie, it haldes vs euermare in ese agayne oure 
 
 kynde, ffor ydillnes es enemy to cristene mane saule, stepmodire 
 
 and stamerynge agaynes gude thewes, and witter-wyssynge and 
 
 waye till alkyne vices, pe seuend dedely syne es hattene lychery, Lechery. 
 
 J»at es a foule lykynge or luste of ]?e flesche, and of )>is foule sjme 
 
 comes many sere spyces. Ane es ffornycacyone, a fleschely synn 
 
 be-twyxe ane anlypy mane and ane anlypy womane, and for-thi 
 
 )?at it agaynes J?e lawe and ]>e leue and ]?e lere ]?at Haly Kirke 
 
 haldes it es dedly syne to ]?aym \at it duse. Ano]?e?' es avowtry, 
 
 and ]?at es spousebreke, wke]>er it be bodyly or it be gastely ]>at 
 
 gi-euosere and gretter es J?an ]>e to]?er. pe thirde es incest ]?at 
 
 es when a mane synnes fleschely with any of his sybb frendes, or 
 
 any o^e?* ]?at es of his aflynyte gastely or bodyly, whe]?e?* so it be. 
 
 0]>er spyces many sprynges of ]?is syne ]?at ouer mekill es 
 
 knawene and kende in ]?is werlde with ]>aym \at ledes ]?aire l}-fe 
 
 als ]?aire flesche 3ernes. pise are ]?e sex thynges j>at I hafe 
 
 spoken off j?at ]?e lawe of Haly Kirke lyes maste in, the whilke 
 
 we er haldene to knawe and to cune if we sail knawe God These things 
 
 must be 
 
 Almyghty and come till his blysse. And for to gyffe 30W better known if we 
 wyll for to cune thaym oure ffadir ]?e beschope grauntes of his * he bliss of 
 gTace ffourty dayes of perdoune till all J>at cun?zes thaym and 
 
14 IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THESE THIXGS. 
 
 ratyfyes alswa }>at o]>er inene gyffes, swa mekille coueites he ]>e 
 hele of %our saules ; ffor ^ife ^e couaundely knawe }>ise sex 
 thynges thnrgh thayni sail %e cune knawe Godd Alniyghty, 
 wliayni. als Sayne John sayse in his gospelle, cumiandely for to 
 knawe swylke als He es, it es endles lyfe and lastande blysse. To 
 ]?e wkylke blysse he brynge ts oure Lorde Gode Almygkty. 
 Amen. Amen. Per Domini/. m nostra?/*, Jesum Christum qui 
 cum. Deo patri et Spirit w San do vinii et regnat omnipotens in 
 sec?da seculorum. Amen. Amen. Amen. 
 
THE MIEEOE OF SAINT EDMUND, 
 
 II. 
 
 Incipit Speculuni Sancti Edimmdi Cantuarensis Archipiscopi in 
 Anglia. Here begynnys the mirroztr of Seynt Edmonde be 
 Ersebechopp of Canterberye. 
 
 Videte vocacione?n restrain. This wordes sayse Saynte Paule I. 1 
 in his pistyll, and thay are thus inekill to saye one ynglysche, 
 1 Seese 3owre callynge.' This worde falles till vs folke of reli- Tiie writer 
 
 moxme: and bat sais He till excite vs till perfeccyone. And himself to the 
 
 r r J folkofreli- 
 
 ther-fore what houre bat I thynke of rny-selfe, one nyghte or on s ion ' and 
 day, on a syde hafe I gret joye, and on anober syde gret sorowe. f° c |j v r e per * 
 Joy, for be haly religione, sorowe and co?ifusyon for my febille 
 conuersasione. And bat es na wondire, for I hafe gret enchesone. 
 Als be wyese man saise in his sermon, he sais to com to religione 
 es souerayne perfeccyone, and there-in noghte pe/-fitly to lyffe es 
 souerayne danrpnacyone. And thar-for bare es na turne of be 
 way bot ane, to come in congregacyone, bat es to drawe to 
 perfeccione als bow will bi saluacyone, to lene all bat es in this 
 worlde and all \at ber-to langys, and sett thi nryghte to lyffe 
 perfitly. To lyffe pe?'fitly, as Sayne Bernarde vs kennys, bat es II. 
 to lyffe honowrabilly mekely and lufe-somly. Hono^rabilly als conautein™ 8 
 to God, bat \ou sett thyne entente to do Hys will, bat es say in abjy, meekly, 
 all thynges bat \ou sail thynke in hert, or say with mouthe, or • Honourably' 
 doo in dede, with any of bi fyve wittes. Alls with seynge of SKS 
 
 all things. 
 
 1 The numbers at the side are not in the MS., but are appended to mark 
 the chapters of the original Latin work. 
 
16 
 
 THE NEED OF KNOWING OURSELVES. 
 
 What the will 
 of God is, viz. 
 tiiat we 
 should be 
 holy. 
 
 III. 
 
 Holiness con- 
 sists in know- 
 ing and 
 loving. 
 
 To know God 
 we must 
 know r our- 
 selves. 
 
 Reflect then 
 on thyself. 
 
 Thou art 
 made of vile 
 corrupting 
 matter. 
 
 Thou hast 
 done many 
 sins. 
 
 Thou must 
 give account 
 of all. 
 
 It is hard to 
 search out all 
 that is in the 
 heart of man. 
 
 eghe, herynge of ere, smellynge of neese, suellynge of throtte, 
 towchynge of hande, gangand, or standand, lygand, or sittande, 
 thynke at \e begyrmynge if ]?at it be Goddes will or noglite. 
 And if it be Goddes will do it at thy powere. And if it be 
 noglite hys will do it noghte for to suftre \e dede. Bot now 
 may \ou aske mee what es Goddes wyll. I say \e his will es na 
 nother thynge bot ]>i halynes. Als ]>e Appostill in his pystill. 
 Hec est voluntas Dei sanctificatio vestra : pat es to say )>at es 
 Goddes will ]?at ^e be haly. Bot now may \ou aske me. What 
 mase man haly 1 I say j?e twa thynges w^tA-owtten ma, J>at es 
 knawynge and lufe. Knawyng of sothefastnes and lufe of 
 gudnes. Bot to ]>e knawyng of Godde, \at es sothefastnes, ne 
 may \ou noghte come bot be knawynge of thi selfe, ne 3et to J>e 
 luf of Godde may \ou noghte come bot thurghe \e luf of thynne 
 evyne-crystyne. To J?e knaweyng of ]>i selfe \ou may come one 
 \is manere. Thynke besely and ofte what \ou erte, what \ou 
 was, and what \ou sail be. fFyrste als vn-to J>i body, pou erte 
 nowe vylere )>ane any mukke. pou was getyne of sa vile matire 
 and sa gret fylthe )>at it es schame for to nevunne and abhomyna- 
 cyone for to thynke. pou sail be delyuerde to tades and to 
 neddyrs for to ete. What ]>ou has bene and what thou erte, now 
 sail J>ou als to \i saule, thynke, for what thou sail be \ou may 
 noghte wyete nowe. Umbethynke ]>e nowe how ]>ou has done 
 gret synns and many, and how thou has lefte gret gudnes and 
 many. Thynke how lange )>ou hase lyffede and what thou has 
 rescheyuede and how ]>ou has dyspende it. ffor ilke an houre 
 )>at ]?ou has noghte thoghte one God })OU has it tynte. ffor ]?ou 
 sail ^elde resone of ilke one ydill thoghte of ilke ane ydill dede, 
 of ilke ane ydill worde. And righte as ]>ou has noghte ane 
 hare of thi heuede ]>at it ne sail be gloryfyede if swa be )>ou be 
 safede, righte swa sail eschape nane houre \at it ne sail [be] ac- 
 countede. A Ihesu mercy ! If all ]?is worlde ware full of 
 smalle powdire wha suld be sa qwaynte ]?at he sulde or moghte 
 jugge ilke a thoghte ilke a sawe, ilke a dede by ]?ame selfe, and 
 twyn ilke ane fra o\er ? Certis na thynge bot ]?e saule ]?at es a 
 thowsande sythes gretter J>an all )?is worlde if it ware a thow- 
 
REASONS FOR LOVING JESUS. 17 
 
 sande sythes gretter ban it es. And it es so full of dyuerse 
 
 thoghtes, lykynges and 3ernynges, wha moghte ban thus seke his 
 
 herte bat he moghte knawe all bat es bare-in or thynke it 1 See 
 
 nowe my dere hertly frende howe bou has gret nede of knawynge 
 
 of thi selfe. Sythene aftyrwarde take gude hede whate bou erte 
 
 nowe als vn-to hi saule ; how bou has littyll of gude in the and Our short- 
 comings and 
 littill of witte and littill of powere, ffor bou sernys ilke a claye imperfections 
 
 1 r ' J J are manifold. 
 
 bat at noghte avayles the, and euer mare ouer lattly bat it may 
 availe the. Dere ffrende, bou erte dessaysede sa ofte with 
 vayne joye, nowe trauelde with drede, nowe erte bou lyftede one 
 lofte with false trayste. See now on be tober syde. pou ert 
 chaungeabill, bat at bou will doo to day hou will noghte to 
 morne. And ofte sythes bou erte anoyede eftire many thynges, 
 and twrment if bou hase thaym noghte. And sythen when bou 
 has bam at hi will ban erte bou of thaa thynges annoyede. 
 Thynke jjitt one ye tober syde how bou erte lyghte to fande, 
 frele to agayne-stande and redy to assente. Of all bese Jesus the only 
 
 • i it ti • deliverer from 
 
 wrechidnes now has be delyue'/'de lhesu hi spouse, and delyuers weakness and 
 
 wretchedness. 
 
 be ylke clay mare and mare, ffor whene bou was noghte he mad 
 be in saule aftire his awewe lyknesse and his ymage, and hi body 
 made of foule stjmkande skyume of he erthe whare-of es abhomy- 
 nacyone to thynke, he mad be in witte and in membirs sa nobill 
 and sa faire bat nane can deuyse. Thynke now besyly $e bat 
 has fleschely frendis and kynredyn why ye luffe bam sa derely 
 and sa tendirly. If bou say bat hou lufes hi fadire or hi modire He ought to 
 
 e i • c n be lo\ed more 
 
 for-thi bat bou erte of baire blude and oi nesche getyne, sa are be than earthly 
 
 friends. 
 
 wormes bat comes of bam day be day. On a-nober syde bou has 
 nober of bam body ne saule hot bou ban has of God thurghe 
 thaym. ffor whate sulde bou hafe bene if hoio had duellyde 
 swilke as bou was of tkaym ? when bou genderide in fylthe and 
 in syne ? One he tober syd if bou lufe brethire or syste?" or ober 
 kynredyn, for-thi hat bay are of be same flesche of fadir or of 
 modire and of baire blude, by be same skyll solde hoic lufe a pece 
 of baire flesche if it shorne a-waye, and bat solde be erroi^r gret 
 wz't/i-owtten mesure. 3}'^ e l 5011 sa y ^ \ ou lufes bam for-thi bat 
 bay hafe fleschely fegure in lyknes of man and for-thi bat bay 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 THE INFINITE MERCY OF JESUS. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The infinite 
 mercies of 
 Jesus. 
 
 The service 
 that we owe 
 to Him. 
 
 V. 
 
 haue saule ryghte als )?ou has, |?an es \i broker fleschely na nerre 
 j?an anoj>er, bot in als mekill als \ou and he hase bathe a fadire 
 and a modire fleschely, the begynnynge of ]>i flesche ]>at es a 
 lyttill filth stynkande and full to see. Thare-fore ]>ou sail lufe 
 hpn of whaym all \i fairenes comes. And ]>ou sail lufe gastely 
 ilk a man and flee fra now-forthwarde to lufe fleschly. And 
 swa sail ]>ou doo certaynly if ]>ou couabilly thynke of gudes J>at 
 he has done gudly for j?e, and mare sail doo if \ou lufe hym 
 enterely, ffor als I saide at \e begynnynge when ]>ou was noghte 
 he made \e of noghte, and when ]jou was tynte he fande ]>e, and 
 when ]>ou was peryschede he soghte ]>e, and whene \ou was 
 saulde with syne ]?an he boghte ]>e, and whene ]>ou was dampnede 
 J?an he sauede )?e. And when \ou was borne in syne he bap- 
 ty3ede ]>e, and fythen aftirwarde when \ou synnede sa foully and 
 sa ofte, J>an he sufferde \e so frely, and habade thyne amende- 
 mente sa lange, and fythen rescheyuede J>e sa swetly, and J?e has 
 sett in sa swett a falachipe. And ilke a day when \ou mysdose 
 ]?an he reprofes ]?e, and when ]>ou repentis ]>e ]?an he forgyffes 
 the, and when \ou erris ]>an he amenclis ]>e, and when \ou dredis 
 \e ])an he leris ]>e, and when \ou hungers ]>an he fedis )>e, and 
 when ]>ou erte calde ]?an he warmes ]?e, and when \ou has hete 
 )>an he kelis ]>e, and when \ou slepis ]?an he saues j>e, and when 
 \ou ryse3 vpe ]>an he vphaldes ]>e, and eue?* mare when \ou erte 
 a^ male eese ]?an he comforthes \e. Thyre gudnes and many 
 o\er hase done vnto \e thi swete spouse Ihesu Criste. And \e 
 swettnes of his herte sail \ou thynke euer mare, and euer speke 
 ]>are-of, and euer mare lofe hyni, and euer thanke hym, and that 
 bath nyghte and day, if }>ou oghte kane of lufe. And J>are-for 
 when \ou ryses of \i bedde at morne or at mydnyghte thynke 
 als tite how many thowsand mene and womene ere perischede in 
 body or in saule \at nyghte. Some in fyre some in o]?er manere, 
 als in water or on lande. Some robbide, woundide, slayne, dede 
 sodanly wit^-owtten sacramentis, and fallyne in till dampnacione 
 ay lastande. Thynk alswa how many thowsande \at nyghte are 
 in perill of saule )?at es to say in dedly syne, als in glotony, 
 lechery, couetyse, in manes-slaynge and in many ojjer folyes. 
 
PRAYERS WHICH WE SHOULD OFFER TO JESUS. 19 
 
 And of all bise illes the has delyuered thy swete Lorde Ihesu, 
 w«t/i-owtten bi deserte. What se?*uyce hase ]>ou done wharefore 
 he hase ynsgate keped be, and many ober loste and forsakene 1 
 ffor sothe if ]>ou take gud kepe how gret gude he has done be on 
 ilk a syde, bou sail fynd hym ocupiede aboute J>i profet als he did 
 nane o]>er thynge bot anely ware entendande to be and to bi hele, 
 als if he had forgetyne all bis worlde for to be anely intendand 
 vn-to be. And when \ou hase bis thoghte lyfte vp thi handis 
 and thanke thi Lorde of bis and of all ober gudes, and say one 
 bis manere, ' My Lorde Ihesu Criste, £race I 2elde and thanke Tiie prayers 
 
 ' J . we ought to 
 
 be bat me thyne vnworthy seruande \ou hase kepid coue?'de offer to 
 and vesete in bis nyghte (or in bis day), hale, safe, and wemles 
 vn-to bis tyme \ou hase made to come, and for all ober 
 gudes and benefitis bat \ou hase gefiyne me, anely thurghe \i 
 gudnes and bi pete \ou bat lyffes and regnes endles. Amen.' 
 Dere frende in bis same manere sail \ou say when \ou ryses 
 at morne, and when \ou lygges downe at evyne. And when 
 ]>ou has done swa ban sail \ou besyly thynke how \ou hase 
 spende bat day (or bat nyghte), and pray God of mercy of be ill 
 \at \ou hase done, and of be gude \at \ou hase lefte vn-till bat 
 tyme. And dere frende, do na thynge in bis lyfe till \ou com- 
 7?iand bi selfe and thi frendes qwykke and dede in the handes of 
 thi swete Lorde Ihesu Criste, and say one bis maner 1 , ' Lorde 
 Ihesu Criste in bi handis, and in be handis of thyne haly angells 
 I gyfie in bis nyghte (or in bis day) my saule and my body, my 
 ffadir and my modire, my brothire and my systirs, frendis and 
 seruandes, neghtebours and kynredyn, my gude doers and all 
 folke righte trowande ; kepe vs Lorde in bis nyghte (or bis day) 
 thurgh be gud declis and be prayere of be blyssed maydene Marie 
 and all thi halous, fra vices and fra wj'kked 3ernynge3, fra synns 
 and fra fandynges of be deuell, fra sodayne and avysede dede, and 
 fra be paynes of helle. Lyght my herte of the Haly Gaste and of 
 thi haly grace. Lorde \ou make me to be bouxsome euer mare 
 
 1 This prayer and the above are first given in the MS. in Latin, the 
 translation immediately following. It did not seem necessary to print the 
 Latin as -well, the English being a full equivalent. 
 
20 
 
 CONTEMPLATION OF GOD IN HIS WORKS. 
 
 Thus we may 
 obtain the 
 knowledge of 
 ourselves. 
 
 VI. 
 
 The three 
 different sorts 
 of contem- 
 plation : 
 
 Contempla. 
 tion of the 
 works of 
 God; 
 
 The excel- 
 lence of 
 man's nature: 
 
 to \>i byddynges, and suffire me neuer mare to twyne fra the, 
 endles Ihesu, Lorde in Trinite. Amen.' My dere frende if )>ou 
 base J)is manere )?an sail \ou bafe verray knaweynge of tbi selfe, 
 ffor tbus saise baly Wriite, If \ou traiste one tby selfe to \i selfe 
 \gu sail be takyne, and 31 f \ov, traiste one God and nogbte one 
 J)i-selfe to God \ou sail be gyffene. And ]?is manere of consedera- 
 cyone es called medytacyone, ffor by J>is maner of knawynge 
 of \i selfe and by ]?is maner of medytacyone sail \ou come to 
 \e knaweynge of Gode by baly co/itemplacyone. Wiet \ou ]?at 
 ]?are es tbre manere of co?iteinplacyone. Tbe fyrste es in 
 creaturs. The to)?er es in baly scripture. The thirde es in 
 Gode hym-selfe in his nature. Thow sail wyet ]?at co/itempla- 
 cyone es na no]?er tbyuge bot thoghte of God in gret lykynge in 
 saule, and to se his gudnes in his creaturs. His gudnes in 
 his creaturs may \ou see one ]>is manere. Tbre tbynges pryn- 
 cypaly ere in Gode )>at es to say Myghte, Wysdome, and Gudnes. 
 Myghte es appropirde to^Godd \e ffadire. Wysdome to God \e 
 Son. Gudnes to God ]?e Haly Gaste. Tburgh Goddes myghte 
 ere all thynges made, and tburgh his wysdome ere all tbynges 
 meruailously ordaynede, and tburgh his gudnes ilke a day ere all 
 thynges waxande. His powere may ]?ou see by )>aire gretnes and by 
 thaire makynge ; His wysedorne by ]?aire fairenes of J>aire ordayn- 
 jnge ; His gudnes may ]>ou see by ]?aire encressynge. paire gret- 
 nes may ]?ou see by ]?aire four pertynges, J>at es to saye by ]?aire 
 heghte, and by J?aire depnes, and by )>an*e largenes, and by )>aire 
 lengbe. His wysedorne may \ou see if )>ou take kepe how he base 
 gyffene ylke a creature to be. Some he base gyffene to be anely 
 wj't/i-owttene mare, als vn-to stanes. Till o]>er to be and to lyffe, 
 als to grysse and trees. Till o]>er to be, to lyffe, to fele als to bestes. 
 Till o]?er to be, to lyffe, to fele and with resone to deme, als to 
 mane and to angells. ffor stanes erre bot ]?ay ne hafe nogte lyffe, 
 ne felys nogbte, ne demes nogbte. Trees are, ]>ay lyffe bot thay 
 fele nogbte. Men are, ]?ay lyffe ]?ay fele and )>ay deme, and 
 }>ay erre with stanes, lyffe with trees, J?ay fele with bestes and 
 demys with angells. Here sail \ou tbynke besyly ]>e worthynes 
 of manes kynde how it ouer-pasees ilke a creature. And }>are- 
 
CONTEMPLATION OF GOD IX HIS WORKS. 21 
 
 fore saise Saint Austyne "I wald noglit liafe be stede of ane angelle 
 if I myghte hafe be stede bat es purvayede to inane.' Thynk 
 also bat mane es worthy gret schenchip bat will noglite lyffe 
 eftyre hys degre and eftyre his condicyone askis ; ffor all be 
 creators in be worlde ere made anelv for mane, pase bat ere ah creatures 
 
 made for 
 
 meke ere made for thre skylles, ffor to helpe vs at trauayle, als him. 
 
 nate, oxene, kye and horse ; ffor to eoue?' vs and clethe vs. als 
 
 lyne, and wolle and lethire ; for to fede vs and vphalde vs, als 
 
 bestes, corne of be erthe, ffysche of be see, and be noyande crea- 
 
 tnrs als ill trees and venemous bestes ; be wylke are made for 
 
 thre tkynges, ffor oure chastyyng, for onre amendement, and for 
 
 oure kennynge. We ere chastied and punesehet when we ere 
 
 hnrte. And bat es gret mercy of Godde bat he will chasty vs 
 
 bodyly bat we be noghte punescht lastandly. We erre amendid 
 
 when we thynke bat all bese ere broght vs fer onre syne, ffor 
 
 when we see bat sa lyttill ereaturs may noye vs, bane we thynke 
 
 one onre wrechidnes, and bane we ere mekyde. We ere efter- 
 
 warde kende for-bi \a.t we see in bise creatnrs be wondirfull 
 
 werkes of God oure Makere, ffor mare vs availes till oure ensam- 
 
 pill and edifyeacione be werkes of be pyssmowre ban dose be 
 
 strenghe of be lyone or of be bere. Als-swa, right e als I haue 
 
 said of bestes, reght swa vndirstande of trees, and when \ou base 
 
 domie on bis manere raise vp thy herte vn-till Godd, and thynke 
 
 how it es orete nivghte to make all thvnges of noghte and to 
 
 g^*ffe bam to bee, and gret wysdorn to ordayne bam in sa gret 
 
 fairenes and in swa gi'et bounte, to inultyply bam ilk a day for 
 
 oure prowe. A ! mercy Godd ! how we are vnkvnde ! We The thoughts 
 
 this should 
 
 dyspende all his ereaturs and he bam makes ! We confound cause in us. 
 bam and he bam gouernes. We distruy barne ilke a day, and he 
 bam multyplies. And bare-fore say till hyni in thi herte, ' Lorde 
 for-bi \at \ou arte, bay ere, and for-bi bat \ou arte fap-e, bay are 
 faire ; and for-bi \at \ou arte gude, bay are gude. With gud 
 ryghte bay loue be, and onoures be, and glor)-fyes be, all thy 
 ereaturs. blyssed Godd in Trinyte, vrith gud ryghte bay loue 
 be for baire gudnes, witA gud ryghte bay anourene be for 
 thaire fairenes, with gud right e bay glorify be for baire profet, 
 
22 CONTEMPLATION OF GOD IN HIS WORD. 
 
 all pi creaturs blyssed Trinyte ! of wham all thynges ere 
 
 tliurgh His powere made ; thurgh whayra all tlrynges are 
 
 thurgh Hys wysedome gouernede ; in whaym all thynges are 
 
 thurgh His bounte multipliede ; till Hym honowr and louynge 
 
 with owttene [ende]. Amen.' 
 
 VII. pe toper degre of contenmlacyone es in Haly Wryte. Bot 
 
 son of C c°"n. nowe may )?ou say to me, ]>at knawes na letters, how may I euer 
 
 is of P Hoiy n mare com to contemplacyone of Haly Writte ? Now my dere 
 
 frende vndirstande me swetely and I sail say perchance to pe 
 
 all pat es wretene if pou kane noghte vndirstand Haly Writt. 
 
 How the Here gladly pe gud pat mene saise pe, and whewe pou heres Haly 
 
 S a -J p {y fit t by Wiyte owJ>er in sermone or in priue collacyone, take kepe als tyte 
 
 if pou here oghte pat may availe pe till edyfycacyone, to hate 
 
 syne and to lufe vertue, and to dowte payne, and to 3erne joye, to 
 
 dispyse J)is worlde and to hye to blysse, and what pou sail doo 
 
 and whate pou sail lefe, and all J>at lyghtes ]?ine vndirstandynge 
 
 in knawynge of sothefastnes, and all ]?at kyndills p\ lykynge in 
 
 brynnynge of charite, ffor ef J?ise twa gndnes es all that es wre- 
 
 tyne in preue or in apperte. Owte of haly writte sail pou drawe 
 
 and cune witte whilke are pe seuene dedly synnes, and pe seuene 
 
 vertus, and pe ten comandementis, and pe tuelfe artycles of pe 
 
 trouthe, and pe seuene gyftis of pe Haly Gaste, and pe seuene 
 
 werkes of mercy, and pe seuene vertus of pe Gospell, and pe seuen 
 
 prayers of pe pater noster. 
 
 VIII. P n * ar ^ pe seuene dedly symies — 
 
 The seven Pryde and Envy, Ire, Slouth, Couetyse, Glotony and Lechery. 
 
 Pride. Pryde es lufe of vnkyndly heghyng, and }>ar-of comes J>ir seuen 
 
 vubouxomnes agayne God, or agayne soueraynge, J?at es to say to 
 
 lefe )?at ]>at es comandyd, and to do j?at that es defendyde. The 
 
 toper branch of pride es surquytry, )>at es to vndirtake thyng 
 
 ouer his powere, or wenys to be mare wyse pan he es, or better 
 
 pan he es, and anaunte^ hym of gude }>at he base of oper, or of 
 
 ill J>at he hase of hym-selfe. The thrid braunche of pride es 
 
 ypocrisye, J>at es whene he feynys hym to hafe gudnes ]>at he 
 
 hase noghte, and hydes pe wykkednes J>at he hase. The ferth 
 
 braunch of pride es despyte of thyne euencristene, J?at es when 
 
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 23 
 
 man lesses gudnes of o]>er, for-thi J?at hym selfe suld seme J>e 
 
 bettir. The fyfte braunche ]>at es when man makes lyknes 
 
 betwyx his awene wykkednes and o]?er mens wikkednes, J>at his 
 
 awene may seme J?e lesse. The sexte braunche of pryde es 
 
 vnschamefulnes, ]>at es when men hase noghte schame of ill ded 
 
 aperte. The seuene braunche of pryde es elacione, ]?at es when a 
 
 man hase heghe herte ]?at he will no3te suffire to felawe ne 
 
 mayster. Dere frende ]?ou sail wit ]?at thre thynges ere whare-of 
 
 a man enprides hym, ]?at es to say of ]?e gude3 ]?at he hase of 
 
 kynde, als fairenes or strenghe or of gude witte or of nobille 
 
 kynredyne. The to]>er thyng es ]>at men hase of purchase als 
 
 cunnynge, grace, gud loos or dygnyte or offyce. The thirde 
 
 thynge es erthely thynge or erthely gude, als clethynge, hous- 
 
 synge, rente}, possessione, men^e horssyng and honour of J>is 
 
 w r orlde. Pride makes man to be of gret herte and heghe, to 
 
 despyse his euencristene and to 3erne heghenes and maystry 
 
 ouer o\er. The to\er dedly syne es envy. And ]>at es joye Envy. 
 
 of o]>er mens harme and sorowe of o]>er mens welefare. And 
 
 )>at may be in herte with lykynge, or in mouth with bakbyt- 
 
 ynge, or in werke with of mens gudnes wythdrawyng, or 
 
 ells with ill procurynge. Envye mase man to hafe )>e herte 
 
 hevy of ]?at he sese o]>er men mare worthi J>an he in any 
 
 thyng. The third dedly syne es wrethe, ]>at es ane vnresonabyll Anger. 
 
 tempoure of herte, and of it comes stryfes and contekes schame- 
 
 full, and dyuerse wordes, and deuyouse and wikked sclandirs. 
 
 The ferthe dedly syne es slouthe, and ]>at mase manes herte hevy sioth. 
 
 and slawe in gude dede, and makes mane to yrke in prayere or 
 
 halynes, and puttes man in wykkednes of wanhope for it slokyns 
 
 \e lykynge of gastely lufe. The fyfte dedly s}Tie es couetyse, and Covetousness. 
 
 ]?at es ane vnmesurabill luffe to haffe erthely gudes, and it de- 
 
 stroyes and blyndes manes herte. And ]?are-of comes tresones, 
 
 ffalse athes, wykked reste-malice, and hardnes of herte agaynes 
 
 mercy. The sexte dedly syne es glotony, and ]>at makes man to Gluttony. 
 
 serue and to be bouxome till wykked lykynges of \e flesche, \e 
 
 whilke man suld maister and ouercome with mesure. Of glotony 
 
 comes vayne joy, lyghtnes, and littill vndirstandynge. The 
 
24 
 
 THE REMEDY FOR SIN. 
 
 Lechery. 
 
 Why these 
 are deadly 
 
 IX. 
 
 The seven 
 Christian 
 
 virtues. 
 
 Four of these 
 needful for 
 the active life. 
 
 The other 
 three for the 
 contemplative 
 
 life. 
 
 seuene declly syne es leclierye, and fat mase manes herte to 
 melte, and to playe thare fare his herte lykes, and heldes, and 
 fat wit/i-owttene gouernynge of fe souwe. Of lechery comes 
 blyndynge of herte, in pmyere vnstabilnes and fulle hastynes, 
 lufe of hym selfe, hatredene of Godde, lufe of ]>is worlde, 
 vgglynes and whanhope of fe blysse of heuene. Dere frende, 
 thire are fe seuene dedly synnes, and wele are fay call id 
 dedly synnes, ffor Pryde t Wynnes fra man his Godde, Envy 
 his euencristen, Ire hym-selfe twynnes, Slouthe hym tour- 
 mentes, Couetyse hym begyles, Glotony hym dessayues, and 
 Lecherye hym in thraledome settis. Nowe hase ]>ou herde fe 
 seuene sekenes of manes saule. Sythen aftirwarde comes fe 
 souerayne leche and takes J>ere medcynes, and waresche man 
 of fese seuene seknes, and stabills hym in fe seuene vertues, 
 thurgh fe gyftes of f e Haly Gaste. pe whilke are fese, fe gaste 
 of wysdom and vndirstandynge, f e gaste of co?^saile and of stal- 
 worthenes, f e gaste of cunnynge and of pete, and fe gaste of 
 drede of Godde Almyghty. Thurghe fese gyftes oure Lord 
 Jhesu lerres man all ]?at he hase myster till ]>e lyfe J>at es callid 
 actyfe, and til J>e lyfe called contemplatyfe. And se how firste 
 man suld lefe \,c euyll and do \e gude ; lefe ]>e euyll, |?at teches vs 
 \e gaste of drede of Godd Almyghty, and do \e gude, []?at] leres 
 vs )?e gaste of pete. And for-thi J?at twa thynges are ]?at lettis vs 
 to do gude, that es at saye welefare and tribulacione of ]>is worlde, 
 ffor welefare desayues vs with losengery, tribulacione with hard- 
 nes of noyes and dysses, for-thi sail \ou despyse \e welefare of 
 ]?is worlde ]?at ]>ou be noghte ]>er-with dessayued, and J>at leres \e 
 gaste of cunnynge, and \ou sail stallworthly suffire tWbulacyone 
 J?at ]>ou be noghte ouercomen, and ]>at teches vs ]>e gaste of stall- 
 worthenes. And fire foure suffice till )>e lyfe fat es callid actyfe. 
 And fe tofer thre fallys to fe lyfe \at es callid cowtemplatyfe 
 ffor thre maners of cowtemplacione. Ane es in creaturs and fat 
 leres f e gaste of vndirstandynge. The tof er es in Haly Writte 
 whare f ou sese whate f ou doo and what f ou sail lefe, and fat 
 leres fe the gaste of cowsaile. The thirde manere es in Godde 
 hym-selfe, and fat leres vs the gaste of wysdom e. Now f ou sese 
 
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 25 
 
 thurghe be gyftes of Ihesu how he es besy aboute oure hele. X. 
 
 Eftire bis sail bou wiete whilke ere be ten cornandementis. pe mandinewts™* 
 
 firste comandement es bis, ' Thou sail wirchippe hot a Godde bi 
 
 Lorde, and till hym anely bou sail serue.' pat es at say, wyr- 
 
 chip/> hym with righte trouthe, serue vntill anely with gude 
 
 werkes. Here sail bou thynke if bou hase lelly serued Godde The first com- 
 mandment. 
 and wirchiped Godde ; if \ou hase seruede hym ouer all thynge, 
 
 if ]>ou hase 3olden hym bat that \ou hyghte, or if \ou hase done 
 
 lesse penance, and if \ou hase 3oldyne hyni bat that bou hyghte 
 
 hym in bi cristyndome, that was to forsake be cleuelle and all his 
 
 werkes and in God lelly to trowe. And thurghe bis comande- 
 
 ment es man ordaynede ynence God be ffadire. pe tober The second 
 
 Comniand- 
 
 comandement es defendid to take Goddes name in vayne, and ment. 
 lying and falsenes bare-in es defendid, and thurghe bis com- 
 mandenient es man ordaynede ynence Gocld be Sone, \at saise 
 hym-selfe ' I am sothefastnes.' pe thirde comandemente es, The third 
 
 Command- 
 
 1 vmb}i:hynke be bat ]>ou kepe \i haly-dayes,' bat es to saye in ment (4th of 
 bine awene herte to kepe be in riste and pees witA-owttene 
 seruage of syne or of bodyly dedis. And bis comandement 
 ordaynes mane to reschayfe be Haly Gaste. pise thre comande- 
 mentes lerres man how-gates he sail hafe hym ynence Godd be 
 Trynyte, to whas lyknes he es made in saule. pe ober seuene 
 comanclementes lercs man how he sail hafe hym ynence his 
 euencristene. pe firste es ' bou sail honour hi faclire and bi The fourth 
 
 Command- 
 
 moclire fleschely and gastely and bat in twa mane?*s, bat es to ment (' th of 
 
 J & J \ ' y Decalogue). 
 
 say bat bou be bouxom to thayni in reuerence and honoitr, and 
 bou helpe bame at thy powere in all thynges bat bay hafe myster, 
 bat ]>ou be of lange lyfe in erthe, ffor if \ou will be of lang lyfe it 
 es resone bat bou honoure thayme of whaym \ou hase be lyfe, 
 fFor he \at will noghte honoure hym thurgh whaym he es, it es 
 noghte righte bat he be mare ban he es. pe tober comandement The fifth 
 
 Command- 
 
 es bis, ' pou sail sla na man.' Here sail bou wyt bat slaughter ment (6th of 
 
 r r J r ° Decalogue). 
 
 es of many maneres. ffor ber es manes-slaghter of hand, of 
 tunge, of herte. Manes-slaynge of hande es when a mane slaes 
 anobe/* with his handes, or when he duse hym in bandis of dede, 
 als in presone or in ober stede bat may be enchesone of his 
 
26 
 
 THE SEVEN CHRISTIAN VIRTUES. 
 
 The sixth 
 
 Command- 
 ment (7th of 
 Decalogue i . 
 
 The seventh 
 Command- 
 ment (sth of 
 Decalogue) . 
 
 The eighth 
 Command- 
 ment (9th of 
 Decalogue) . 
 
 The ninth and 
 tenth Com- 
 mandments 
 (10th of De- 
 calogue) . 
 
 XI. 
 
 The seven 
 Christian 
 virtues. 
 
 Difference be- 
 tween these 
 and the Com- 
 mandments. 
 
 dede. Manes slaynge of tunge es in twa maners, thurghe 
 comandement, or thurghe enticement. Manes-slaynge of herte 
 es alswa one twa maners J?at es whene mene ^ernys and couaytes 
 ded of oJ>er, and when he suffyrs man to dy and will noghte 
 delyuer hym if he hafe powere. pe thirde comandement es )>is. 
 ' pou sail do na lechery ;' and )>at es ryghte. Wha so will hafe 
 \e lyfe wit/i-owttene corupcyone in J>e joy of heuene, hym 
 byhoues kepe his lyfe )>at es dedly wit/i-owttene corupcione of 
 body. The ferthe comandement es J>is, ' pou sail do na thyfte 
 ne na falsenes,' and }>at es ryghte, for he ]>at will safe o]>er menes 
 lyfe he sail noghte do away ]?at that moghte his lyfe sustayne. 
 The fyfte comandement es ]?is, ' pou sail noghte here false 
 wittnes agaynes thyne euencristyn with hym J>at will noye 
 hym or sla hym.' And J>at es ryghte, ffor he )>at will noghte 
 sckathe his euencristyne he sail noghte consente ne na consaile 
 gyffe to do hym ill. The sexte comandement and \e seuend er 
 J>ir, ' pou sail noghte couaite \\ neghtboure wyfe, ne )>ou sail 
 noghte couayte his house, ne nane of his gude wrangwysly,' ffor 
 he J?at hase wykked will and ill entente in his herte, he may 
 noghte lang witA-haldynge hym fra wykkide dede, and J?er-fore 
 if \ou will noghte do lecherye J>ou sail noghte consente to mane 
 ne to womane ]>at it duse, and if ]?ou will noghte stele ]>ou [sail] 
 noghte couayte other manes thynges in ]?i herte. Dere frende, 
 J>ir are \e ten comandementes ]?at God gafe till Moyses in the 
 mounte of Synay. The thre fyrste er pertenande to \e lufe of 
 God and the tother seuene to \e lufe of ]>i selfe and of thyne 
 euene crystyne. Now, efter, sail J>ou wyt whilke ere ]>e seuene 
 vertues, J>at es to saye Trouthe, Trayste and Lufe, Wysedome 
 and Rightw} r senes, Mesure and fforce. Of \e same matire er ]>e 
 seuene vertus ]>at ]>e ten comandementis, bot ]?is es ]>e varyance 
 be-twyx thaym. The tene comandmente3 kennes vs what we 
 sail do, and \e seuene vertus kennes vs how we sail doo. The 
 thre fyrste, )>at es to say Trouthe, Trayste and Lufe, ordaynes 
 the how J>ou sail lyfe als to Godd, \e to]>er foure how \ou sail 
 ordayne thyne awene lyfe ]?at sail lede till \e joye of heuene. 
 Dere frende the awe to wyt }>at we ere all made for ane ende, 
 
FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY. 27 
 
 bat es to say for to knawe Godde, to hafe hym and to lufe hym. 
 
 Bot thre thynges er nedefull at puruaye till oure cunwynge, that What is re- 
 
 es to wyte whedyr we sail ga and bat we wyll come thedyre, and h -u e wisdom. 
 
 bat we hafe trayste to com thedyre ; ffor grete foly ware it to 
 
 be-gyne be thynge mane may noghte ende ; ^itt one be tober syde 
 
 be mane bat will wyele doo, hym nedide to hafe wysdome, 
 
 myghte, and will ; bat es to say bat he koune doo, and bat he 
 
 may doo, and bat he wyll doo. Bot for-bi bat we hafe noghte XII. 
 
 cumiynge, myghte, ne will of oure selfe, for-bi hase Gode gyfene ^ charity.' 
 
 vs trouthe for to fulfill be defaute of oure myghte ; Sothefaste 
 
 lufe es for to ordayne oure will to be tane and to be tober. 
 
 Trouthe ordaynes vs to Godde be Sone to whaym es appropyrde 
 
 Wysdome, Trayste till Godd be ffadyre to whaym es appropyrde 
 
 myghte, Lufe to be Haly Gaste till whayme es appropyrde gudnes. 
 
 And ]?are trouthe makes vs to hafe knawynge, and )?at knaweynge 
 
 vs sayse bat he es wondyrfull, fire es he bat one bis manere and 
 
 bus largely gyffes of his gudnes, and of bat comes trayste, and [of] 
 
 bat knawynge bat sais bat he es gude comes be thj'rde sothefastnes, 
 
 bat es lufe, ffor ylke a thynge luffes kyndely be gude. Dere XIII. 
 
 frende, here sail \ou wyte whilke are be twelue artycles of be Articles of 
 
 trouthe. The firste es bis bat Godde es ane in hym selfe and 
 
 thre in persons, with-owtten begynnynge, and w^-owtten end- 
 
 ynge, and bat all thynges made of noghte with his worde. pe 
 
 tobe?* artecle es bat Goddes sone tuke flesche and blode of be 
 
 blyssed maydene Marie and was borne of hire sothefaste Godd 
 
 and sothefaste mane, pe thirde es bat he was dede and grauene, 
 
 noghte for nede, bot for to by vs of his fre will. The ferthe 
 
 artecle es bat be same Ihesu rase fra dede to lyfe and we sail ryse 
 
 alswa. The fyfte artecle es bat be same sothefaste God and mane 
 
 steighe vp in till heuene in manhed and godhede, and we sail 
 
 steighe vp alswa thurgh his grace, pe sext artecle es baptyme XIV. 
 
 bat mase mane clene of syne bat he drawes of kynde, and gyffes Baptlsra - 
 
 grace to dense. The seuend artecle es confirmacione, ]>at con- Confirmation. 
 
 fermys be Haly Gaste one man \at es cristenede. pe aughtened Penance. 
 
 artecle es penance, bat duse awaye all mane?* of syne dedly and 
 
 venyall. pe nynde es be sacrament of be auter, bat confermys TheEucha- 
 
28 
 
 PRUDENCE, JUSTICE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE. 
 
 Orders. 
 
 Matrimony. 
 
 Extreme Unc- 
 tion. 
 
 XV. 
 
 The four Car- 
 dinal Virtues. 
 
 Prudence. 
 
 Temperance. 
 Fortitude. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 The seven 
 works of 
 mercy. 
 
 How those 
 that are ' in 
 religion' can 
 perform these. 
 
 be penance and gyffes hyni force \at he fall noghte efte in syne 
 and vpkaldes kyine and reconsailles hyni. pe tend artecle es 
 ordyre, bat gyffes powere till baym bat are ordaynecle to do baire 
 offece and to do be sacrament, pe elleuend artecle es Matri- 
 nione, bat defendis dedly syn in werke of generacyone by-twyx 
 mane and womane. pe twelfed artecle es enoyntynge, bat mene 
 enoyntes be seke in perell of dede for alegeance of body and 
 sanle. Dere frende aftyre sail \ou wyt whilke are be foure 
 vertus cardynalles, tliurgli whilke all manes lyfe es goue?*nede in 
 bis worlde bat es Cunnynge and Eightwisnes fforce and Mesure. 
 Of thir foure saise be Haly Gaste in be buke of Wysdome bat 
 bare es na tliynge mare profytabill till man in erthe, and so 
 nowe, whare-fore, wha so walde any tliynge wele do, firste hym 
 byhouys he koune chese be ill fra be gude, and of twa gude chese 
 be bettire and leffe be lesse gude, and bis es J>e vertu bat es 
 callede ryghtwysnes 1 . And for-bi bat twa thynges lettes mane 
 to do wele and lefe be yll, bat es at say welefare of bis worlde, for 
 it dessayfes hyme with false vanytes, be tober es tribulacyone, to 
 putt hym downe with many scharpnes, agaynes welefare sail ]>ou 
 hafe mesure bat bou be noghte ouer hye. And bis vertu es 
 called temperance. And agayne aduersyte sail bou hafe hardynes 
 bat bou be noghte castene downe. And \at ve?-tue es callyde 
 fforce or strenghe. There-eftyre sail bow wyte whylke are be 
 seuene werkes of mercy. The firste werke of mercy es to gyffe 
 mete to be hungry. The tober es to gyffe drynke to be thrysty. 
 The thirde es to clothe be nakede. pe ferthe es to herbere be 
 berberies, pe fyfte es to vesete barn J?at ere in pWsone. The 
 sexte es to comforth be seke. The seuend to bery be dede. 
 Thyse are be seuene werkes of mercy bat are langande to be 
 body. Bot nowe may \ou say to me how sulde I bat es in 
 relygyone, and noghte hase to gyffe at ete ne at drynke, ne 
 clathes to be nakede ne berbery to be herberles, ffor I am at 
 o]>er mens will and noghte at myne awene, for-thi ware it better 
 bat I ware seculere \>at I myghte do bise werkes of mercy. 
 
 1 The description of the virtue of Prudence is here given to Eighteous- 
 ness or Justice — which is omitted. 
 
RICHES AND POVERTY. 29 
 
 A dere frende be noghte begylede. Better it es to hafe pete 
 
 and compassione in ]n herte of hym bat hase mysese and 
 
 wreckednes, thane \ou bade all bis werlde to gyffe for charyte, 
 
 ffor it es bettir wyth compassione to gyffe jn-selfe als \ou erte 
 
 ban it es to gyffe J>at that \ou hase. There-fore dere frende 
 
 gyffe thi-selfe and ban gyffes bou mare ban es in all bis worlde. 
 
 Bot now may bou say me one bis inanere. Sothe it es bat it es 
 
 better to gyffe hyme-selfe ban it es to gyffe of his, bot better 
 
 es be tane and be tober ban es ane be it selfe, for lesse es a gnd 
 
 ban twa. It es noghte swa, for whethire es better be callede The blessed- 
 ness of 
 Godde or his seruande. Thou wate wele bat es better to be poverty. 
 
 callede Godd. Bot base \at suffirs hun»gere, thryste, caulde 
 
 and defaute, and o]>er wrechidnes and mysese, calles oure Lorde 
 
 Jhesu Criste hym-selfe, ffor he saise bus in be Gosepelle, ' What 
 
 als \>ou dyde to be leste of myne bou did to me.' Saynt Barnarde 
 
 says, ' thire pure hase noghte in erthe, ne thire riche hase noghte 
 
 in heuene, and bare-fore if be riche will it hafe thaym byhoues 
 
 bye it at be pure.' Now wate I wele bou couaytes to wyte 
 
 whilke are verray pure and whilke noghte. Now herkene with who are the 
 
 really pour. 
 
 deuocyone. Sume are bat hase reches and lufes thaym, and bare 
 are be haldande and be couaytourse of \h worlde. Othere are 
 bat hase banie noghte bot thay luffe thayme, and thay walde hafe 
 thayme gladly, and base are be wrechide beggers of be worlde, 
 and be false folke in religyone, and base are als riche and richere 
 bane be ober. And of thame Jhesu saise in be gospelle bat 
 lyghtere it ware a camelle to passe thurgh anedill eghe ban be 
 riche to come in-to be blysse of heuene. Sume are bat hase Those to 
 
 J whom riches 
 
 reches bot thay lufe thaym noghte, noghte for-thy bay will are a blessing. 
 wele hafe bame, and base are be gud mene of be worlde bat 
 dispendis wele that at bay hase. Bot fone are of base, ^it it are 
 ober bat hase noghte reches, ne lufes noghte thaym, ne will 
 noghte hafe bame, and base are be gude folke bat are in 
 religione, and base are sothefastly pure, and bairs es be joye of 
 heuene, ffor bat es the benysone of be pure. Than it behufes bat 
 be riche hafe be reuere of bat benysone, and bare-fore may I say. 
 ' Blyssede be be pouer for baires es be kyngdome and be joye of 
 
30 THE LORD'S PRAYER. 
 
 heuene.' And swa may I say of be riche ffor bairs es pyne 
 
 of helle. Alswa pouer bay are \at hase pouerte and lufes na 
 
 reches, and poue?* bay are )>at hase reches and lufes pouert. 
 
 XVII. Now aftire J>is awe be to wyte whylke are be seuene prayers of 
 
 The seven 
 
 prayers of the pe ^>a£er noster, bat duse away all ill and purchase all gude. 
 
 Pater Noster. . 
 
 And base seuene prayers er co/itende in be pater noster be 
 whilke oure Lorde Ihesu Criste kennde till his discypls how bay 
 pray Godd be ffadire and said thaym one bis manere, •' When $e 
 sail praye one bis wyese sail ^e say, Pater noster qui es in celis, 
 <tc. Xow my frende wit boil bat oure Lorde Ihesu Cryste 
 kennes vs in be gospelle to make bis prayere. And bare-fore 
 I walde at bou wyste at be begynnynge whate es prayere or 
 orysone, and sythyne bat bou vndirstande be prayere of be pater 
 
 what Prayer noster. Prayere or orysone es noghte elles bot ^ernyng of saule 
 WftA certayne trayste bat it comes bat ]>ou prayes. And in bat 
 trayste vs settis Jhe^u Criste whene he kennes vs to call Godde 
 oure fadyre bat es in heuene, ffor in Hym sail man hafe certayne 
 trayste bat He may and will all gudnes gyffe bat oure saule kane 
 3erne, and mekill mare, be whilke es betakynde by bise wordes, 
 Qui es in celis, \at es to say be whilke es in heuene, ffor if 
 
 God, our Fa- Godde will call hyni selfe oure fadire, ban he makes vs to wiet 
 bat he lufes vs als childyre, and at he will gyfe vs all at we hafe 
 myster of. Bot certanly if all be lufe bat euer had fadire or 
 modire vn-to baire childyre, or all othire lufes of bis worlde ware 
 gedirde to gedyre in a lufe, and jit bat lufe ware multipliede als 
 mekill als mans herte moghte thynke, yk it moghte na thynge 
 atteyne to be lufe bat Godde oure fadire hase vn-till vs baire 
 whare we are hys enmys. And bat sail we wele see thurgh be 
 grace of Godde, if we se one what manere he is oure ffadyr and 
 what he has done for vs. Wit bou bat when God made all 
 creaturs of noghte, we rede noghte bat he made any creature till 
 bis lyknes bot man allane, and bare-fore Godd he es, and makere 
 of all thynges of be worlde, bot he es noghte baire fadyre ; bot 
 vntill vs, thurghe bis awene myghte full of mercy, es he Godd 
 and makere and ffadyr, for bat oure saule es lelly lyke vn-till be 
 lyknes of be ffadyr, and be Sone, and be Haly Gaste, bat ere hallyly 
 
 ther. 
 
god's mercy in our creation and redemption. 31 
 
 a God and persons thre. And all pis werlde he hase made to 
 seme man whils mane will duelle in His lele lufe als His awene 
 childvre. Bot als tyte als we twyne fra pat lele lufe for lufe of 
 pis lyfe, or for any oper thynge, we losse pe lordechipe of pis 
 worlde, and becomes thralles dreryly to pe deuelle, pare we ware 
 before fre, and avers of pe erytage of pe kyngdome of heuene and 
 to welde pe weltlie of pis werlde. Alias may save Alias ! Alias ! 
 what here es a sorowfull chamzge wha sa it vndvrstode. "Wit God's great 
 
 mercy in our 
 
 \ou wele pat here es gret lykynge of lufe, when Godd pat es Creation, 
 
 witA-owttyne begy/inynge, and es with-owttene chaungeyng, and 
 
 duellys wj'tA-owttyn endynge, for he es al-pir-myghtyeste and 
 
 althirwyseste, and alswa althire-beste pat manes herte may 
 
 noghte thynke, in whaym es lufe and joy endles, here I say es 
 
 takyne of gret lufe pat he deyned hym to make vs till his awene 
 
 lyknes righte als we had bene his awen chosene childvre, and 
 
 noghte hafe lefte vs to be a littill vyle matire als we ware made 
 
 of oure modyr, pat vile es to neuene ; or he moghte hafe made 
 
 vs at his will anykyne oper best, and pane had we dyede to-gedire 
 
 bathe body and saule. Bot when he hade made vs man, 
 
 and gafe vs pe saule to his awene lyknes, louede and luffede 
 
 be pat Lorde, for to be ayres of pe erytage of heuene and lyfe in 
 
 pat gret joye w?'t/t-owttene ende, now es na herte sa herde pat it 
 
 na moghte nesche and lufe swylke a Godd with all his myghte. 
 
 And his herte suld melte, tilled of joy, if it thoghte sothely of pat 
 
 grace pat oure Lorde hase done till vs by -fore all oper creators, 
 
 And sitt did he marc thuro-he his mekill mercy, ffor when we And in our 
 
 ^ ■* Redemption. 
 
 ware thurghe oure sorowfull S}*ne twynnede fra Godd, oure 
 swetteste ffadire, and become thralles to pe ill gaste, pan he, 
 thurghe his maste mercy, sente his awene Sone, pat wttA hym es 
 Godd in his Godhede, for to take flesche and blode of pe Virgyn 
 Marie, mayden and modyr, lastand in joy, and one pis manere 
 did he pe dede. In state of thralle tuke he oure flesche to sunre 
 \e gylteste pouerte, and schame, and noyes, and paynes, pat neuer 
 dyd ill ne na maner of syne, and sythene delyuerde H)-m till pe 
 \41este dede and pe schamefulleste pat man moghte thynke, to 
 delyuer vs wreches of sorowfull bandis, and of pe pyn and pre- 
 
32 
 
 WHAT SHALL WE RENDER UNTO GOD ? 
 
 What service 
 can we ren- 
 der unto God 
 for His good- 
 
 We cannot 
 repay Him 
 for His 
 mercy. 
 
 God only 
 requires of us 
 contrition 
 and humility. 
 
 sone puttid in hell, and to make vs to come till be hegke heuene, 
 whare we sail be als kynges corounde in blyse, if we do be will 
 of bat swet Lorde, bat for vs ordaynede hym to dye one be crosse 
 als bofe he had bene a wykkid thefe. Dere ftrende nowe hase 
 bou here twa thyngeij in be whilke Godde hase schewede vs bat 
 he es onre fadire and bat he lufes vs als his awene childyre bare 
 we are agayne hym with oure wykked syne. The ferste es bat 
 he made vs till his awene lyknes, and be to]>er es bat he boghte 
 vs fra presoun with his precyouse dede of his manhede. ffor be 
 fyrste es man kaldene till hym for to lufe hym with all his herte. 
 Bot ban may \ou aske what sail I do hym for be tober thynge. 
 ffor if I sail with pouerhede lofe Godd be ffadyr, and lufe Hym 
 and seme Him with all my saule and with all my herte in all 
 thynges, for-bi bat He made me of noghte and gafe me saule aftir 
 his awene lyknes, als it was comandyd in be aide lawe be-fore 
 Godde was borne and be-com man for vs, what nioghte I now do 
 Hym whe/ze He for me wreched synnere sa mekill Hym lawede 
 bat He walde become mane, and He gafe Hym to me whe?ze He 
 thurghe His swetteste mercy walde dye for me, and of be maste 
 noyouse and be moste vile dede bat euer was thoghte % I wate 
 neuer what I may say here, ffor if I nryghte lyffe a hundrethe 
 3ere, and if I moghte in bat tym ilk a day at a tyme dye als vile 
 ded als he for me dide, }it ne ware it noghte ynence his gret 
 gyfte} when he es sothely said Goddes Sone of heuene, and gaffe 
 hym selfe till vs bat tynte was for syne, and put in to be pyne of 
 helle, and bare in be dispytte of hym seruede to be deuelle. How 
 sulde we ba^e ^elde hym be gude gret gyfte when he walde sende 
 his awene Sone to be pynede for oure syne % Now I sail lere the, 
 if God gyffe me grace, how oure dere ffadir askes nane ober 
 store bot that we with herte knawe oure awene febillnes and 
 oure wrechidnes bat we hafe for oure awene syne. Thane sail 
 we be in bitternes of penance, and crye till hym faste mercy, bat 
 he vs saue for his haly name, ffor of oure selfe hafe we noghte 
 hym for to ^elde, bare-fore said the prophete in be psahne, 
 Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus que reiribuit mihi, Calicem 
 salutaris accipiam et nomen Domini invocabo, bat es what sail I 
 
THE DUTY OF BllOTHERLY LOVE. 33 
 
 5elde to God for all his gad gyftes als Lorde wit/t-owttene niy 
 deserte 1 The coppe of hele I sail take and calle \e name of my 
 lorde. The cope of hele whare-of dranke oure Lord Jhesu oure 
 Saueowr, )>at es the byttemes of penance in his grete pynes, and 
 }?at man in all his thoghte^ calles Godes name, ]?at sothefastly 
 knawes }>at he hase noghte of hym-selfe bot sorowe and synne. 
 And wit thou J?at if sothefastenes be sett faste in thi saule, \e 
 mare ]>at Jjou knawes ]?e for wrechide and febyll ]>e mare sail |?ou 
 meke be and calle on hys mercy. And )>us it was of oure swete such humility 
 
 and meekness 
 
 Lady, may dene and modyr, ffor scho had mare of grace ]?ane any as was in 
 in this lyfe man or womane J?at euer was borne, thare-fore scho 
 halde hir lesse and lawere |)an any o]>er wyghte, and mare cryede 
 scho mercy ]>an any o]>er man, whene sothefaste Goddes Sone 
 lighte in hir wambe. My dere frende, se now aftir-warde why 
 oure Lord Ihesu kennes vs in be Gospelle to say oure fFadire and what is 
 
 implied hy 
 
 noghte my ffadir, ffor by }>at will he kenn vs J>at we suld gedyre Our Father ? 
 
 all men with vs in oure prayers, for all ere oure brethire, crys- 
 
 tende and vncristend men, ffor |>at all of a goumiaylle hafe we a 
 
 ffadyr, and )>at \ou may J>is thynge thurghe \e grace of God 
 
 clerelyere see, gyffe gude entente till J>at at I say. Hym calles 
 
 \ou thi fleschely broker ]>at hase his body of \e same mane and 
 
 womane of whaym \ou hase thyne, thane sail J?ou wele halde 
 
 hym \i brother ]>at hase his saule of \e same fadir of heuene of 
 
 whaym ]>ou hase ]>i saule, and of swylke a kynd, and of swylke a 
 
 lyknes, for als wele made Godd ilke mane till lyknes of \e Tri- 
 
 nyte als He did be, and bis broberhede mare suld we lufe, and Ti>e duty of 
 
 - j j j ^ brotherly 
 
 mare dere halde ]>an ]?e bro]?erhede of \e flesche, in als mekill als love. 
 \e saule es mare nobyll J>an \e flesche, and in als mekill als Godd 
 oure fadir of heuene es mare nobill and mare for to lufe |?an 
 oure fleschely fadir. And )>at suld we do if we saghe als clerely 
 with oure gastely eghe als we do with oure bodyly eghe. Bot 
 for-thy )?at we see noghte bot with ]?e fleschely eghe, als it ware 
 bestes, we hafe na knawynge ne na lufe bot of J>at broberhede |>at 
 comes of \e flesche stynkande and foule. Alias ! Alias ! what 
 sorowfull thynge thus hase blyndid vs ! Certis na thynge mare 
 blyndis manes saule }?an lufe of erthely thynge J>at son^e takes 
 
 3 
 
3-4 
 
 THE LORD'S PKAYEll. 
 
 God the lov- 
 ing Father 
 of all his 
 creatures. 
 
 We may 
 
 therefore 
 trustfully 
 call upon 
 Him. 
 
 The Lord's 
 Prayer before 
 all other 
 prayers. 
 
 encle . ffor-]n behufes mawe lefe his propire will if he will perfitly 
 knawe ]>e lufe-somest bro^erhecle. Whare-of now mekill I hafe 
 spoken, for whate-sa-euer we hafe in sanle of gudnes or of faire- 
 nes we hafe of oure fadir of heuene, God, J?at es till vs fadir, 
 and euenly till all his creaturs, noghte anely for his makynge of 
 noghte, ne for his gouernyng of his grace, for his purchasynge 
 \at he made of vs ]?at ware tynt childir with his flesche and his 
 blode \at he for vs gafe, als Saynt Austyn \e noble clerk witnes. 
 He sayse J?e ffadir gaffe his Sone thurgh whaym he walde by vs 
 thralles, he gafe ]?e Haly Gaste thurghe whayme he walde pur- 
 chase \e thralles in his childire. pe Sonn he gafe in pryse of 
 raunsone, j>e Haly Gaste in preuelege of purchase, and }>ar-fore 
 ]?e ffadir kepis hym selfe in erytage till his childir J>at he pur- 
 chase. And J>arefore, dere frende, na man sail mystrayste of \e 
 lufe of his swete ffadirhede and of his dere pete, ffor mare es his 
 mercy ]>an all oure wykkednes, for wha sa calles till hym with 
 all his herte w^tA-owttene faile he will here hyme, for he es full 
 of mercy. And j?are-fore, als I before saide, with ^ernynge of 
 saule and certayne trayste calle apone hym trewely with all thi 
 herte. He es ]>\ ffadir pereles J?at purchaceces \e pees, and saye 
 traystely till hym, als hymselfe vs lerede, Pater noster qui es in 
 celis, ]?at es to say Oure ffadir that es in heuene, sanctificetur nomen 
 tuum, ]?at es to say halyed be jn name, adveniat regnum tuum, it 
 come ]?i kyngdome, ffiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra, ]>i 
 will be donne swa in erthe als it es in heuene, panem nostrum 
 cotidiamum du nobis hodie, oure ylke day brede )>ou gyffe vs to 
 day, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debi- 
 toribus nostris, and forgyffe vs oure dettis als we forgyffe oure 
 clettowrs, et ne nos inducas in temptacionem, and suffire vs noghte 
 be ledde in -to fandynge, set libera nos a malo, bot delyuer vs fra 
 all ill thynge. Amen, pat es to say Swa mot it be. Now, my 
 dere frende, \ou sail wyt \at J»is orysone passes all o]>er prayers 
 pryncypally in twa thynges, ]?at es to say in worthynes and in 
 profyte. In worthynes, for J?at God hymselfe mad it, and for-]u 
 do )>ay gret schame and gret vnreuerence till Ihesu Goddes Sone, 
 ]>at takes ]>&m. till wordis rynnand and curios, and leues \e prayere 
 
FULLNESS OF THE LOUD S PltAYElt. So 
 
 lie vs kennecle ]>at wate all be will of Godd be ffadir, and be whilkc 
 
 orysone comes mare till his plesynge,andwhate thynges be wrecliide 
 
 caytyfe base myster at pray fore. Alswa, als I hafe sayde, he wate 
 
 anely all be ffadir wyll, and he wate all oure nede, and ]?are-fore 
 
 a hundrethe thousand er dyssayuede wit/i multyplicacione of 
 
 wordes and of orysoims, ffor when ]>ay wene bat }>ay hafe gret 
 
 deuocyone, ban hafe }>ai a fulle fleschely likynge, ffor-thy j?at ilk 
 
 a fleschely lykynge delytes jjam kyndely in swylke twmede 
 
 langage ; and bare -fore I walde bat bou war warre, ffor I say be 
 
 sykerly J>at it es a foule lychery for to clelyte be in rymes and 
 
 slyke gulyardy; 3ft one a-noJ>er syde, Saynt Austyne, and Saynt 
 
 Gregore, and ober halowes ]>at prayede als was j?aire likynge. I Those that 
 
 blame noghte prayers, bot I blame ]>ase ]?at lefes be prayere of Lord's Prayer 
 
 Godd bat hymselfe made and lerede vs for to pray, |?at es pater t0 hiame. 
 
 noster, and takes ]>ame till be orysons of a synfull Saynte whare 
 
 ]>ay fynde it wrettene, ffor oure Lorde Ihesu hym-selfe sayse in 
 
 the Gospelle, when %e will praye, prayes noghte with many 
 
 wordes, bot praye one J>is manere pater noster he. Dere frende, 
 
 3it sail bou wit one ano]?er syde ]?at be pater noster passes all The Lord's 
 
 ober prayers in worthynes, ffor bare-in es ccmtende all thynge tains ail things 
 r l J j ■> x j o which we need 
 
 what sa we hafe myster of till ]jis lyfe or till be to]>er; ffor we to ask. 
 
 praye }>are-in Godd the ffadyr j?at he delyuer vs of all illes, and 
 
 J>at he gyffe vs all gudes, and bat he make vs swylke ]>at we may 
 
 neuer do ill, ne ]?at we may noghte fayle of gude. And now all 
 
 \e ille J>at vs greues, ou|?er es it ille bat es done, or it es ille for 
 
 to come, or elles it es ille bat we sufnre nowe. Of bat ille bat es How we pray 
 
 r r r to be deli- 
 
 done and passede we pray oure swete Lorde bat he delyuer vs veredfrom 
 
 jjer-of when we say remitte nobis debita nostra. We pray hym 
 
 delyuer vs of ill bat es for to come when we say et ne nos 
 
 inducas in temptacionem. Of illes )?at we suffire nowe we praye 
 
 hym bat he delyuer vs when we say set libera nos a malo. $&, now we pray 
 
 for good. 
 
 dere frende, on ano]?er syde, wit }>ou bat all maner of gude bat es, 
 ouber it es erthely gude, or gastely gude, or gude lastande endles ; 
 ffor erthely gude we praye when we saye panem nostrum coti- 
 dianum da nobis hod'ie; for gastely gude we pray when we say 
 ffiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra; ffor endles gude we 
 
36 FULLNESS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER. 
 
 pray when we say adveniat regnum tuum; and confermywg of all 
 this we praye when we say sanctificetur nomen tuum. Now, my 
 dere frende, }>ere ere seuene prayers of \e ewangelle )>at oure 
 Lorde Ihesu Criste kenned till his dyscypills. And )>ou sail wit 
 whatia )>at )?ese foure wordes J>at comes be-fore, ]>at es to wit pater 
 
 words ' our noster qui es in celis, leres vs how we sail praye, and what oure 
 
 Father which . r J ' 
 
 art in hea- selfe sail be in prayere, ffor we sail in ylke ane orysone haue 
 foure thynges, J>at es to say perfite lufe till hym till whaym we 
 praye, and certayne trayste to haue J?at at we praye fore, and 
 stabill trouth in hym in whaym we trowe, and sothefaste 
 mekenes of J>at that of oure selfe na gude we haue. Perfite lufe 
 es vndirstandene in ]?is worde pater, for ylke a creature kyndly 
 lufes his ffadir. Certayne trayste es contende in }>is worde 
 noster, for if he be ours )>an may we sekerly trayst in hym |?at 
 he es haldene till vs. Stabill trouthe es taken in )>ise wordes 
 Qui es, for when we say qui es )>an graunt we wele j?at Godd es 
 ]?at we neuer sawe, and J>at es ryghte trouthe, ffor trouthe es na 
 no]>er thynge bot trowyng of thyng ]?at may noghte be sene. 
 Sothefaste mekenes es betakynde in ]?is worde In celis, ffor when 
 we thynke how he es heghe in joy, and how we are here lawe in 
 besynes, than we are mekide. Bot when we hafe festenede ]?ese 
 foure thynges in oure hertes, ]?an may we hardyly praye and save 
 
 « Hallowed he wit/i all oure affeccyon, Sanctificetur nomen tuum, bat es to say 
 
 thy Name.' . J * / # . . 
 
 haly be thi name ; als swa stabill \i name, \at es ffadir, in vs, ]?at 
 we be one ]>at manere \\ childire J>at we do na thyng J>at be 
 agaynes )>i will, and that euer mare we doo ]>at at comes to J>i 
 2)lesynge, thurgh grauntynge of \\ gi-ace. And for-thi J>at we 
 may noghte euer mare do J>at perfitely whyls we ere in J?is 
 "Thy kingdom caytifecle worlde, bare-fore pray we bus and sayse, Adveniat 
 
 come.' 
 
 regnum tuum, ]>at es to say it come till vs ]?i kyngdom, ]?at we 
 regne in ]>e Ihesu in ]?is lyfe thurgh thi grace, and \ou in vs in 
 \e to)>er lyfe thurgh joy. And })is ilke we praye for ]?ase ]?at are 
 in purgatorie, and for-)>i ]?at we neuer mare may hafe j^arte wit/i 
 joye of heuene if we do noghte thi will in erthe, J?are-fore we 
 • Tiiy will he praye thus, fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terrd, )>at es to 
 
 done in earth 
 
 as in heaven.' say thi will be done als in heuen swa in erthe. Alswa say make 
 
FULLNESS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER. 37 
 
 vs to do ]>i wyll, j?at es to say )>ou gyffe vs grace to do all \at 
 \ou comandes, and to lefe all j?at \ou defendes, and )>at svva in 
 erthe als in heueu, J>at es to say als Michaell, and Gabrielle, and 
 Raphaelle, cherubyn and seraphyn, and all \e o]>er angells and 
 archangells, and all ]?ase J>at are ordaynede to \e endles lyfe in 
 joy, in ilke a kynde, in ilke ane ordire, and in ilke ane elde, thi 
 wille duse; and for-thi ]>at we may noglite do jn will whiles we 
 lyfe in ]?is body if \ou ne sustayne vs noglite, j?are-fore say 
 we jms, panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie, J>at es to 'Give us tin's 
 
 day our daily 
 
 say oure ilke day brede \ou gyffe vs to day in body and m saule, bread.* 
 
 and liele if it be \\ will of ]>e tane and offe ]>e to]>er. And here 
 
 es for to wit ]?at ]>ar es thre maners of brede, j?at es bodyly 
 
 brede, J>at es to say ffode and clethynge, J>are es brede gastely, 
 
 j?at es to say of haly wrytte \e leryng, and J?are es ]?e brede of 
 
 eukaryste, j>at es \e grace in \e sacrament of \e autere, for to 
 
 comforthe \i kynde of \e tane and \e to]>er. Bot for-thi |?at we 
 
 ere worthi na gudnes whills we ere bownden in synn, J?are-fore 
 
 say we ]>us, Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus 'Forgive us 
 
 . ,», i • i our trespasses, 
 
 debitonbus nostris, bis es to say forgyffe vs oure dettis als we as we forgive 
 
 r J OJ m them that 
 
 forgyffe oure dettours, ]?ou sail wyt ]?are oure synns byndis oure trespass ^ 
 
 dettours to pynne, ]?are-fore we pray Ihesu to for-gyff vs synnes, 
 
 \at es to say all ]?at we hafe synnede in thoghte in worde and in 
 
 dede, and J?at ryghte als we for-gyffe till ]>ase J>at base mysdone 
 
 agaynes vs. And for-J>i J?at a lyttill vs helpes to hafe forgyfnes of 
 
 syne, if we may noglite kepe vs fra syn, |?are-fore pray we J>us, 
 
 et ne nos inducas in temptacionem, and bis es to say lede us 'Lead us not 
 
 y J into tempta- 
 
 no^te in-to na fandynge, als swa say suffere vs noglite be ouer tion -' 
 
 comene in fandynge3 of \e deuell, ne of \e flesch, ne of \e worlde. 
 
 And noghte allanly we j)ray ]?at we be delyuered of all euyll 
 
 fandynge3, bot alswa we pray J?at we be delyuered of all ill 
 
 thynge, when we say, set libera nos a malo, and ]?is es to say bot ' Rut deliver 
 
 delyuer vs of all ill thynge, ]?at es of body and of saule, of syn 
 
 and of pyne, ffor syn ]>at now es or sail be. Say we Amen, ]?at es 
 
 to say swa be it, and for-thi sayse oure Lorde Jhesu Criste in \e 
 
 Gospelle, what sa ]>ou prayes my fadir in my name he sail do it, 
 
 and per-fore say at \e ende, per Dominum nostrum Jesum 
 
38 
 
 THE JOYS OP HEAVEN. 
 
 When the 
 words are said 
 with the 
 mouth their 
 meaning 
 ought to he 
 thought of in 
 the heart. 
 
 Devotion the 
 
 important 
 
 thing. 
 
 The mischief 
 
 of inde\ out 
 service. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 The sifts that 
 the faithful 
 shall have in 
 heaven. 
 
 The penalties 
 of hell. 
 
 Cristum filium iuurn. And now my dere frendc vndirsfcande 
 noglite J?at \ou sail say \i pater noster with monthe als I hafe it 
 here wretyn be-fore ]?e. Bot say all anely \e nakede lettir with 
 J>i mouthe, and thynke in ]n herte of this ]?at I hafe said here, of 
 ilke a worde by it-selfe, and rekk noghte ]?of \ou ne multiply 
 many pater nosters, ffor it es better to say a pater noster with 
 gude deuocyon, J>an a thousande witA-owtten deuocyon; ffor J?us 
 sais Saynte Paule appertly. he sayse, me ware leuer say fyue 
 wordes in herte deuotely, }>ane fyue thousande with my mouthe 
 witA-owttene lykyng. And one |?e same rnanere sail ]>ov say and 
 do at thyne offece in \e qweire, for swa sayse ]?e prophete, 
 Psallite sapienter, and }>at es to say synges and versy wyesly, ]>at 
 es to say or to synge wyesly, )?at es ]?at thi herte be one )>at at }>ou 
 saise, and one }>at at o]>er saise, J>at }>ou here it besyly; ffor if \>i 
 body be at thi seruyce, and )n mouthe speke one a wyse, and thi 
 herte th}Tike of wreckidnes caytefly, )>an es \ou twynned, ffor 
 when \ou swa es twynned ]>ou tynes \e mede of jn seruyce, ffor 
 \e awe to serue Godd With all ]>i lierte, with all thi saule, and 
 with all ]>i vertu, and swa )>ou may pay ]>i Godd. Bot ]?are es 
 many thynges pat ere cause of swylke wrechede twynnynge, als 
 mete, drynke, reste, claytkynge, layke, discorde, thoghte, laboure, 
 hethynge. These makes hirpynge, homerynge of medles momel- 
 lynge. And J>are-fore take kepe what oure Lorde Jhesu Criste 
 saise in ]>e Gospelle. ffirste he saise sekes \e kyngdome of heuen, 
 and all ]?at $e hase myster of sail be gyffene yowe with owttyne 
 any askynge. Thare-fore, dere ffrende, J>ou sail wit what \ou sail 
 hafe in \e blysse of heuene; wit \ou wele J>at ]?ou sail hafe seuen 
 gyftes in body and seuen in saule, |?at es to say, ffairenes in body 
 w/tA-owtten fylth. lyghtenes WffA-owttyne slewth, fforce with-owt- 
 tene ffeblesce, ffrenes with-owtten^ thralledome, lykynge wixh-owt- 
 ten noye, lufelynes wztA-owtten envye, hele w/tA-owtten sekenes, 
 lange lyfe w/tA-owtten ende. Thou sail hafe in saule wysedome 
 wrtA-owtten ygnorance, ftrenchipe w*'tA-owtten hatredyne, accorde 
 witA-owtten discorde, mygkte w?tA-owtten wayknes, honoz.tr wixh- 
 owtten dishonoz^r, sekirnes w/tA-owttene drede, joy witA-owttene 
 sorowe. Bot \e wreehes in belle all \e reuerce both in body and 
 
THE THIRD PART OF CONTEMPLATION. 39 
 
 in saule, bat es to say fylth wit/Vowttyne fairenes, slouthe with- 
 owtten lyghtenes, ffeblesce with-owttene force, thraldom with- 
 owttene freenes, angwyse wit/i-owttene lykynge, sekenes with- 
 owttene hele, ded wzt/i-outtene ende. Thare sail be in bair saules 
 ignorance wit/i-owttyne wysdome, hatredyne witA-owttene lufe, 
 discorde w?t/i-owtten accorde,feblesce witA-owttene powere,scliame 
 w?'t/i-owttene honowr, drede w?t/i-owttene sekernes, and sorowe 
 wit/i-owttene joy. And for bis sail bou seke with all bi myglite 
 J>at bou may wyne be joye of heuene, ffor bare es sa gret joye and 
 sa mekill swettnes bat if bou myghte lyffe fra be begynnynge of 
 be worlde vntill be ende, and hafe all be lykynge bat bou coutlie 
 ordeyne, 3k bou sulde with gret ryghte lefe all base for to be a day 
 
 in be joy of heuene. And tlius endes be tober degre of contem- Tiiis is suffi- 
 r J J r r o cient of the 
 
 placyone, bat es to say be co^templacione of haly writte, of be ^ n ^ p ^ rt of 
 
 whylke if bou take gud kepe in hi herte it sail be lygbte ynto tion - 
 
 be ilke a worde to halde. One ane ober syde if bou hase mater 
 
 to speke ynto be clerke3, be bay neuer sa wyse, or to lewede men 
 
 be bay neuer so ruyde, of be clerkes bou mofe som maters of bis, 
 
 and alswa at bou may lere more. And wkene bou spekes till 
 
 sympill mene and ruyde, gladly bou lere banie with swettnes, ffor 
 
 j>ou hafe enoghe whare of bou may speke and how bou sail \i 
 
 lyfe amende and gouerne, and e>ber menes alswa. pe thirde 
 
 degre of co?ztemplacyone es in Godd Hym selfe. And bat may be 
 
 in twa maners, bat es with owttene in his manhede, and in his 
 
 Godhede so blyschede. For bus saise Saynt Austyne, ffor-bi XIX. 
 
 be-come Godd mane ffor to make mane to be Godd in his ofcontemp"- 
 
 •,,/y ,, , , .7. .;? tion is of God. 
 
 kynde, nor wheber som be 3ode with-m or with -owttene, ewer 
 mare moghte man fynde pasture, wz'tA-owttene thurgh conse- 
 deracyone of his manhed, witA-in thurghe contemplacyone of his 
 Godhede. Of his manhede sail bou thynke thre thynge3, be The manhood 
 
 i • • of Christ. 
 
 meknes of his mcarnacyone, be swetenes of his conuersasione, 
 
 and be grete charite of his passione. Bot J>is may bou noghte 
 
 do all att anes, and bare-fore hafe I twynned the thaym by be 
 
 seuene houres of be daye bat bou saise in be kyrke, swa bat nan Some part of 
 
 houre passe the bat bou ne sail be swetely ocupyed in bi herte. thought of at 
 
 Bot nowe for to do bis, ban sail bou witt ]nit till ilke ane houre seven hours. 
 
40 MEDITATIONS FOR THE HOURS. 
 
 of \e daye es dowbyll medytacyone, ane of his passyone, and 
 XX. ano]>er of \e to)>er sesone. Now, dere frende, before matyns sail 
 Betrayal lS }> ou thynke of J>e swete byrthe of Ihesu Criste al-]>er-fyrste, and 
 sythyne eftyrwarde of his passione. Of his byrth sail thou 
 thynke besyly ]>e tyme and J?e stede and ]>e houre J?at oure 
 Lorde Jhesu Criste was borne of his modir Marie, pe tyme 
 was in myd-wynter, when it was maste calde, ]>e houre was at 
 mydnyghte, \e hardeste houre ]?at es, \e stede was in mydwarde 
 j>e strete, in a house wit/i-owttene walles. In clowtis was he 
 wondene, and as a chylde was he bundene, and in a crybbe 
 by-fore ane oxe and ane asse ]?at lufely lorde layde was, for ]?are 
 was na nojjer stede voyde. And here sail \ou thynke of \e 
 kepynge of Marye, and of hir childe, and of hir spouse Joseph — 
 wat joye Ihesu ]?am sente. Thou sail thynke also of \e byrdes 
 J?at saw \e takyne of his byrthe, and ]?ou sail thynke of J>e swete 
 felachipjoe of angells, and rayse vpe thi herte and synge with 
 XXI. J>am, Gloria in excelsis Deo, &c. Of J?e passione sail ]?ou thynke 
 aidi?es C ur" s now \<& ne was a ^ swylke a tyme of \e nyghte betrayed by his 
 Prime!' e ore descyple, and taken als a traytoure, and bowndewe als a thefe, 
 and ledde als a felone. Be-fore pryme \ou sail thynke of \e 
 passione of Ihesu and of his joyfull ryssynge. Of his passyone 
 sail ]>ou thynke how \e Jewes ledcl hym into ]?aire counsaile, and 
 bare false wytnes agayne hym, and put appone hym J>at he had 
 saide blasefeme, ]>at es sclandyre in Godd, and \at he had saide 
 J>at he suld haue distroyede \e temple of Godd, and make agayne 
 ano})er wit/i-in the thirde day, and ]?an ]?ay began to dryfe hym 
 till hethynge, and to fulle hym als a fule, and spite one hym in 
 dispyte of his faire face, and sythyne thay hide his eghene and 
 gafe hym bofetes grete, and sythene asked hym whate he was 
 )>at hym smate, and sythen ]?ay ledde hym dreryly to \e dede, 
 and 3itt neuer he sayde till thaym anes why ]?ay swa dyde. 
 Many othyre wykkydnes J>ay dide hym ]?at lange ware to telle ; 
 5itt before pryme sail )>ou thynke of ]>e haly rysesynge, \at at ]?at 
 tyme of ]?e daye Ihesu joyfully rase fra dede to lyfe, when ]?at he 
 hade destruyede helle and delyuerde haly sawles out of \e 
 XXII. powere of \e deuelle. 3itt before vndrone sail ]>ou thynke of 
 
 The scourging 
 
MEDITATIONS FOR THE HOURS. 41 
 
 Jx? passione and of be witsondaye. Of be passions sail \ou and giving of 
 
 thynke, how bat tyme oure Lorde Jhesu Cryste dispytously was foreUndroun. 
 
 dispuylede, nakkynde and bowndene till a tree in Pylate house, 
 
 and swa wykkedly scourgede and domigene, bat of his swete 
 
 body fra be heued till be fute noghte was lefte hale ; and at ]>at 
 
 ilke houre J>ou sail thynke of be witsonday, how be tyme of be 
 
 day oure Lorde Jhesu Criste sent be Haly Gaste till his disciples, 
 
 in lyknes of fyre, and of tmiges, in takynnynge bat bay sulde hafe 
 
 abowndance in worde and brynnynge in lufe, and bat ryghte es 
 
 be p^meance of oure Lorde pwruayde ; ffor in twa maners be 
 
 wykked gaste begylede mane in paradyse, bat es to saye with 
 
 wykked entycement of his tunge, and with be calcines of his 
 
 venyme. Be-fore myddaye sail \ou thynke of be ammciacyone XXIII. 
 
 and of Ihesu passione. And of be ammciacione sail \ou thynke ciationTnd ~ 
 
 of be grete mercy of oure Lorde Jhesu Criste, whi \at he walde before mid- 
 
 be-come mane, and for vs suffire be dede in bat swete manhed, 
 
 sen he moghte hafe boghte vs agayne on o]?er manere. And J>at 
 
 dyde he for till drawe till hym oure luiFe. ffor if ane hade bene 
 
 ]?i maker, and ano]?er thi byere, and hade sufferde in thaire bodyes 
 
 all oure sorowe for to by all oure lufe, than hade noghte oure 
 
 trouthe bene anely in ane. Off \>e passione sail \ou thynke at 
 
 J?at houre how oure Lorde Ihesu was done one \e Crosse be-twyx 
 
 twa thefes, ane one his ryghte syde and ano)>er one his lefte syde, 
 
 and hym-selfe ]?ay hangede be-twyx ]?am twa alls mayster of 
 
 thefes ; ffor if all \e sekenes of J>is werlde and all ]?e sorowe ware 
 
 in J>e body of a man anely, and )>at man myghte consayfe alls 
 
 mekill noye and angwysce and sorowe in his body als all \e men 
 
 of )>is werlde moghte thynke, 3itt it ware full littill or ells noghte 
 
 to regarde of \e sorowe J>at he suffei'de for vs ane houre of J>e 
 
 daye. Bifore none sail ]?ou thynke of \e passione and of \e glo- XXIV. 
 
 riouse ascencione. Of \e passione sail \ou thynke ]?at at swylke J,^ K. 
 
 a tym of \e daye dyede ]>e makere of lyfe for J>{ lufe. And here None. e ° re 
 
 sail \ou thynke of \e wordes )>at Ihesu spake on \e crosse and of 
 
 be foure takyns bat be felle in his dede. The fyrste worde was The words of 
 
 . Jesus on the 
 
 bis bat he spake, ' Ffadire forgyffe bame bis syne, for bay wate Cross - 
 noghte whate bay doo.' The tother worde was bis bat he said to 
 
4.2 MEDITATIONS BOB THE HOURS. 
 
 ]>e tliefe, ' ffor sothe I say the, }ns day sail \ou be with me in 
 
 paradyse.' The tliirde was ]>at lie saide to Lis modire of Sayne 
 John his cosyne, i "Woman lo )>are thi sone.' And to \e discyple 
 saide he, ' Mane lo Jnire thy modire.' The ferthe worde J>at he 
 saide was this, ' Godd my Godd whi hase ]?ou lefte me )ms.' 
 The fyfte was, ' Scicio' 1 ]?at es to say ' I hafe thriste.' The sexte 
 worde was this, ' In manus tuas Domine,' whilk es for to saye, 
 ' ffadir in-to ]>i haimdis I gyffe my sawle.' The senend worde 
 was ]>is, Consummatum est, ]?at es to say, ' Xow es ]?e prophecye 
 fulfillede,' and with j?at worde he helde his hede downe and gafe 
 ]>e gaste. Xow }>e takyns pat ware in his dede ere J>ire. ffirste 
 all ]>e erthe bygane to tremble, and ]>e vaile of |?e temple braste in 
 twa and felle doune, ]>e stanes raue in sundyre, J?e gi'aues opyned 
 and \e dede men rase, and }>e son?ie with drewe his lyghte fra \e 
 werlde fra myddaye to nou?ie. Of \e ascencione sail )>ou thynke 
 that swylke a tyme of \e daye wente ype oure lorde Ihesu Criste 
 in till ]>e mounte of Olynete, seande his discyples and his swete 
 modire Marie, how he steighe in till heuene, and sett hym one 
 ffadir right e hande, and how his dyscyples turnede agayne into \e 
 cete, and ware in fastynge and in prayere yntill \e comynge of 
 ]>e Haly Gaste, and J>are ware togedire a hundreth and twentty in 
 a house for to abyde \e comynge of \e Haly Gaste als oure Lorde 
 XX Y. comande ]?ame before. Before euensange sail \ou thynke of Ihesu 
 do'vntom passione and of his supere. Of ]?e passion sail \ou thynke how 
 the Lord's Joseph of Aramathy p?/ /-chaste Ihesu body of Pilate, and how j?ey 
 
 Supper before " , .. -i 1 i i i 
 
 Evensong. come to ]?e crosse J>are he hang, and ]?ay brakke the twa thee 
 banes of \e twa thefes. And ]?are was a knyghte redye with a 
 spere, and perchede ]>e syde of Ihesu, and smate hyni to \e herte, 
 and als sone come rynnande downe ]>e p/ecyouse blode and watir. 
 And )>at was the rawnsone of \e whilke I before spake — louede be 
 that Lorde ! And ]?an Joseph tuke hym downe of \e crosse, for-)>i 
 ]>at na bodye sulde duelle on ]>e crosse in so hye a daye als was 
 
 The Supper of one \e inorne. Of \e supere of Ihesu sail \ou thynke, how J?at fcyme 
 he gafe his precyouse flesche and his blude in lyknes of brede and 
 of wyne ]?at we may see, and it es sothefastly flesche and blude of 
 Ihesu Criste, }>at we may noghte see with bodyli egliene. pe 
 
MEDITATIONS FOE THE HOURS. 43 
 
 thirde thynge es gastely, fe grace J>at we rescheyue whene we 
 take fat flesche and fat blude. We se Jwure lyknes of brede and 
 of wyne and it es noghte, bot we trowe fat fare es sothefastly f e 
 flesche and fe blude of Ihesu Criste. And noghte forthi fe 
 lyknes of flesche ne may we noghte see. And fare-fore fare 
 whare we sulde hafe vgglynes als vntill oure body for to ete 
 flesche and drynke blude of man, oure Lorde Ihesu Criste 
 twrnede his flesche and his blude in lyknes of brede and of wyne, 
 for to comforthe oure bodyly witte thurghe swylke fude als we 
 ere wounte for to see, and alswa for to helpe oure trouthe 
 thurohe bat bat we see a thynsre and trowes anof er. And fare- The disposi- 
 
 ° r r J ° r * tion required 
 
 fore, dere frende, when bow sail gaa for to reschaife fat swete inus - 
 flesche and fat blude of Ihesu thi saueow, hike at fou liaue 
 verray contricyone, and repentance, and clensynge of thi syne in 
 thi herte, ffor fare fou resayfes in sacrament reghte als fou 
 ressayfede hym in flesche and blude — blescede be fat grace ! 
 Before complyn sail fou thynke how \at Joseph and Nicodemus XXVI. 
 wande Ihesu body in faire schetis, and enoynte it wit/i precyouse pii ne r tiie ' 
 
 ... .. . Agony and 
 
 oynementes, and laide it in a monumente of stane, and sett f aire the Burial. 
 
 seles apon fe stane and knygktes fat sulde ik it kepe. The 
 
 tofer thynge fat \ou sail thynke in f e same tyme es fis, how 
 
 Iliesu in f e daye of supere, when he had souppede, he 3ode in till 
 
 a gardj-n wit/t his discyples, and felle downe in orysoune, and 
 
 bygann for to swete one swilke manere fat f e droppis of blode 
 
 droppede of his blyssede face Tn-till fe erthe. Now base ]>ou XXVII. 
 
 matire and manere for to thynke of Goddis manhede. And The contem- 
 plation of the 
 eftirwarde sail \ou wit how f ou sail thynke on hyni in his heghe Godhead. 
 
 Goclhede. To fat sail \ou wit fat Godd temperd swa his 
 
 knawjmge fra f e begynnynge of mankynde, f at he walde noghte 
 
 all hally schewe hym to man, ne all hally hele hyme fra man, 
 
 ffbr if he hade all hally schewede hym to man fan hadd trouthe 
 
 noghte bene worthe and mysbileue had noghte bene fan ouer- 
 
 comene, ffor trouthe es of thynge fat may noghte be sene, fan 
 
 fat at I see es noghte trouthe ; and if he had all hallily helede 
 
 fra man fan had trouthe noghte bene helpede and mysbileue 
 
 hade bene excusede, and for-fi fan walde he in party schewe 
 
44 THOUGHTS ON THE NATURE OF GOD. 
 
 hym, and in party hele hym. Bot now may \ou aske me in how 
 God reveals many maners he walde schewe hyme. I say in twa maners, ane 
 
 himself in two m " 
 
 special man- with-in, anof er with-owttene. With-in he schewede hym thurghe 
 reuelacvone and thurghe resonne. With-owttene, thurgh halve 
 
 r.ers 
 
 The inward writte and thurgh creature. Thurgh reuelacvon, when he 
 
 revelation of 
 
 God. schewede hym till any folke thurgh inspiracione and thurgh 
 
 myracles. By resound, comes he till fe knawynge of man one 
 fis manere. like a man may wele see in hyin-selfe fat at he 
 es, and fat at he hase bene, bot he may wele wit fat he hase 
 noghte bene ay, and for fat he wate wele fat sum tym he began 
 for to be, fan was )>aire sum tym when he was noghte. Bot 
 when he was noghte fan moghte he one na wyese make lrym- 
 selfe, and f is seghes man in his creature, nor he sees ilke a day 
 sum ga and sum com ; ffor-f i, sen ilke thynges erre, and J>ay erre 
 
 Reason noghte of thaym selfe, fare-fore it behoues nede J>at fare be ane 
 
 teaches us the 
 
 eternal exist- to gvne all thvnges to be. bat es to saye of whaym alle thynges 
 
 ence of God. & ' " . ° Y ' J " ° 
 
 are, fare-fore it behoues of force fat he thurghe whaym alle 
 thynges erre be wit/Vowttene begynnynge. fFor if he hade 
 begynnyng, than it behoufede fat he had begynnyng of sum 
 ofer, fan had he noghte bene f e first autour and fe fyrste be- 
 gynnyng of all thynge3. Bot fare was nathynge before hym, 
 fan he come of na nofer, fan hade he neuer na begynnynge. 
 And fare-fore it behoufes one all mane?* of fe werlde fat fare be 
 a thynge fat neuer hade begynnynge, and whene resone of man 
 sese of force fat it may na nofer wyase be. fan he begynnys for 
 to trowe stabilly fat a thynge fat was wzt/Vowttene begynnynge, 
 fat es awtoure, and makere, and gouemere of all thynges fat ere. 
 And hym ealles men Godd by this skill, for this worde Deus, fat 
 es to say Godd, comes of a worde of grewe fat es called theos, 
 and fat es als mekill for to say all anely Godd. And fat 
 
 XXVIII. betakyns fis worde Godd. And, dere frend, \ou awe to wit 
 fat fare ne es bot a Godd, and \ou awe to wit fat na gride may 
 
 And that faile to Godd. Bot for-bi bat swete thynge and gud thynge es 
 
 there must be r r " ° ° . 
 
 more than comforthe of felaschepe, ban may noghte Godd be w/t/i-owttcne 
 
 ore Person in ■■ * •* ° 
 
 the Godhead, gudnes of felaschip/?. Thane behouede it nede fat fare ware 
 many persons in Godd, \e hegheste gudnes. And for-fi fat 
 
THOUGHTS ON THE NATURE OF GOD. 45 
 
 felyschepe may noghte be be-twyx faere ]>an twa, bare-fore 
 be-houes it be bat in Godd be at be leste twa persons, and for-J>i 
 bat felyschipe es littill wortlie whare bare es nane allyance ne 
 lufe, ffor-bi it behoues bat be tliirde person ware in Godd bat 
 ware tlie allyance and be lufe be-twyx the twa. And for-bi 
 bat anehede es gude and manyhede alswa, J>are-fore it beliouede 
 nede bat anehede and manyhede bathe ware in Godd. And by 
 bis skill comes man to be knawynge of Godd, bat he es a Godd 
 in hymself and thre in personnes. And bis ilke may man see in 
 hym-selfe, fFor he sese at be begynnynge bat he hase in hym-selfe 
 powere, and sythene eftir powere he hase wysdom. And sythen 
 begane he for to lufe bat wysedom, and ban begynnes he for to 
 knawe aj>ertely J>at bare es in be saule myghte, and of bat 
 myghte comes wysdom, and of thaym bathe comes lufe, and 
 when one seses bat it es one swylke manere in hym, of J>at awe 
 hyme to wit bat one swylke maner awe it to be in Godd bat es 
 abouene hym, bat es to say bat in Godd es myghte, and of bat 
 comes his wysedome, and of powere and wysedom bathe comes 
 lufe. And for-bi bat of be fyrste persone comes be tober, and 
 owte of thaym bathe comes be thyrde, ffor-thi calles he be firste The three 
 
 Persons of the 
 
 persone Godd be ffadire, )>e to]>er Godd J>e sone, ]>e thirde Godd Trinity. 
 
 ]?e Haly Gaste. And for J?at it wounte to be thus in manges 
 
 mene, J?at ]>e ffaclir was mare ffebill J?an \e sone for his elde, and 
 
 j>e sone mare vnwyse ]?an ]?e ffadire for his ^outhe — and for J?at 
 
 a man sulde noghte wene ]>at it ware swa of Godd, therefore es 
 
 powere appropirde to Godd be fFadir, wysdom to Godd be sone. Power the at- 
 
 r . . . tribute of the 
 
 And for-bi bat bis worde Gaste sowunes sumwhate into fellenes, Father, wis- 
 
 y * * dom of the 
 
 fFor-Jji es swetnes, lufe, and gudenes appropirde to be Haly Gaste. ^ n '^ xe of 
 
 Oppone bis maner comes man firste to be knaweynge of his s P irit ' 
 
 Godd, how he es witA-owttene begynnynge, and whi he es called 
 
 Godd, ane in substance and thre in persones, and whi be firste 
 
 persone es callede Godd be ffadir, be tober, Godd be sone, be 
 
 thyrde, Godd be Haly Gaste; and whi powere es appropirde to 
 
 Godd be ffadir, and wysdom to Godd be sone, and gudnes 
 
 to Godd be Haly Gaste. In swylke maner sail \ou knawe bi 
 
 Godd. The fyrste degre of contemplacione es bat be saule be XXIX. 
 
 Three degrees 
 
46 THE LIFE OF LOVE. 
 
 of contempia- leclde agayne to be selfe and gedire it all with-'m be selfe. The 
 
 tiou. 
 
 tober degre es J>at man see whate he es swa gedyrde to -gedire. 
 The thirde degre es Jjat he lefte hym selfe abouen hym-selfe and 
 payne hym for to hike one his Godd in his awen kynde. Bot 
 till selfe may he neuer mare come, vntill he hafe lerede to resayfc 
 ilke a bodily ymagynacyone erthely and gastely, )>at comes to his 
 awen herte, owber of herynge, or of tastynge, or of sweloynge or 
 of any ober bodily wite, to refuse it and to defule it, J?at it may 
 The nature of see the selfe swylke as it es wit/i-owtten be bodye. Thare-fore, 
 
 the soul. J r J 
 
 dere ffrende, take gud hede how be saule es wondirfull in be selfe, 
 and howe it es ane in be kynde, and noghte forthi ^it it duse 
 dyuerse thynges ; ffor be selfe it sese J>at at bou sese with thyn 
 eghne, heres with thyne eres, swelawes with thi mouthe, smelles 
 with b\ nese, and al swa ]?at at J?ou touches with all b\ membris. 
 
 its rower of Thynke 3ft eftyrwarde, howe b\ saule es grete, ]>at all anely with 
 a thoghte it may comprehende heuen and erthe and all bat in 
 
 The greatness thayme are, if bay ware a hundreth falde grettere ban bay are or 
 
 of the Maker 
 
 of the soui. may be. When manes lyfe es grete and swa nobill ]?at na 
 creature may vnclirstande it perfitly, thane grete and mekill es 
 he J>at swa nobill thynge made of noghte. He es abouen all 
 thynge, and with-in all thynge, and witA-owttene all thynge, and 
 be-nethe all thynge. He is abouen all thynge, all thynge gouer- 
 nande, be-nethe all thynge, berande all thynge, with-in all 
 thynge, fulfillande all, wit/i-owtten all thynge, abowte gangande 
 all. Swylke manere of co^templacione engendyrs in mane ffaste 
 
 The bounty of trouthe and sekire deuocyone. Eftir ]?is sail bou thynke howe 
 J?at he es large, and ]?at may bo\i see one many maners. See at 
 be begynnpige howe j>at he es large of erthely gud.e, how he 
 gyfes his gudes als wele to be ille als to be gude in alle thynges 
 J>at Jjou sese in erthe. Sythene eftfrward see howe J>at he es 
 
 ins great large for to fforgyffe, ffor if a mane hym ane hade done als 
 
 mercy. 
 
 mekill ille als all be men of ]?is werlde moghte doo, ^itt sulde 
 
 he be mare redy be be hundrethe parte for to forgyffe hym J?an 
 
 XXX. )>at caytife sulde bee for to aske of hym forgyfenes. Nowe my 
 
 ledge is the ( ^ ere ffrende, if bou lyfe eftir ]?is kennynge bern sail bou lyfe 
 
 honourably, honowmbily, and )?at es be fyrste parte of oure sermone )?at I 
 
THE LIFE OF MEEKNESS. 47 
 
 touchede at be begynnynge, and eftir bat sail bo?/ studye to lyffe winch was the 
 lufely als to thyne euencrysten, and vntill bat sail bou sette all the Senium. 
 hally bi nivghte to lufe and for to be lufede. Thou sail lufe all Next you 
 
 J ' * ° must study to 
 
 inene in Godd, bat es at say, anely in gudnes, and noghte for hve in lore. 
 baire fairenes of bodye for to lufe, ne for force, ne for na nober 
 bodily vertu, ffor bay bat lufes in swylke manere bay lufe noghte 
 for Goddes sake, and for to lufe mane in Godd es na nober 
 thynge bot for to lufe hym for any thynge bat may noghte be 
 lufede w?tA-owttene Godd, als for gudnes or for rightewysnes, or 
 for sothefastenes. If we do gude bane hafe we na frende bot 
 gude, ne nane enemy bot ill, and bar-fore base bat er gude sail 
 we lufe for-thi bat bay er glide, and be ille sail we lufe for-bi bat 
 bay may be gude. In bis manere lufe bou na thynge bot gudnes, 
 sen bat bou lufes all thynges for gudnes, and if bou will be 
 lufede sehewe thi selfe lufely. Ife bou will be lufely resayfe 
 these thre wordes wztA-owttene forgetynge. Do bat at man The way to 
 
 , . , , . . , , „, shew true 
 
 biddis be or praies be bat gude es, take bat at man gynes be love, 
 and gruche noghte, and bat at men will say be, suffire it mekely 
 and wrethe the noghte. If bou lyfe bus lelely ban lyfes thou 
 lufely. Dere svste/* and frende, siben eftirwarde sail bou studye The way to 
 
 hve meekly. 
 
 for to lyffe mekely, and to bis sail bou cwne wit bat bare are twa Two waysof 
 maners of mekenes. The tane comes of sothefastenes, and be meekness; 
 tobe?* comes of charite. By be firste may bou hafe knawvnge of First, from 
 
 * - r m . . knowing our- 
 
 thi selfe, ffor thou may noghte in na manere of bis worlde see bi selves ; 
 
 selfe whate bou arte in sothefastenes, if bou be noghte mekyde. 
 
 The tobe?* manere of meknes may bou hafe if thou thynke of be Second, from 
 
 " the example 
 
 meknes of Ihesu Criste, how bat he mekid h}~m bat neuer dyde of Christ, 
 syn. and swylke mekenes comes clenely of charyte. Now my These three 
 
 things, To hve 
 
 dere syste?* and ffrende. wate bou whate it es to lyffe honourabily, honourably, 
 
 ' lo\ingly, and 
 
 lufely, and mekely, and bat es to lvffe p<??-fitlv. Now oure svrete meekly, make 
 
 J * *■ " up the perfect 
 
 Lorde Ihesu Criste gyffe vs gi-ace swa Godd for to honoary, and life - 
 oure euencristen for to lufe, and oure selfe for to meke, bat we 
 may for oure honowynge be honourede, and for oure lufe be 
 lufede, and for oure mekenes be lyftede vp in-to be heghe blysse 
 of heuen, bat he boghte vs to Ihesu with his swete blude and his 
 preciouse passione. Amen. 
 
THE ABBEY OF THE HOLY GHOST. 
 
 Because 
 many are hin- 
 dered from 
 actually tak- 
 ing religious 
 vows, he will 
 make a hook 
 of the religion 
 of the heart. 
 
 The Ahbey of 
 the Holy 
 Ghost found- 
 ed in a place 
 called Con- 
 science. 
 
 The maidens 
 that cleanse 
 the place, 
 Righteous- 
 ness and 
 Purity. 
 
 Meekness and 
 Poverty pre- 
 pare the 
 ground. 
 
 III. 
 
 Religio Sancti Spmft*c. Religio Munda. 
 
 Off the abbaye of saynte Spirite that es in a place that es 
 callede conscyence. 
 A dere brethir and systirs, I see )>at many walde be in reli- 
 gyone bot J>ay may noghte, owthir for pouerte, or for drede of 
 thaire kyne, or for band of maryage, and for-thi I make here a 
 buke of \e religeon of \e herte, ]>at es of \>e abbaye of the Holy 
 Goste, that all tho |?at ne may noghte be bodyly in religyone, ]?at 
 J>ay may be gostely. A Ihesu mercy ! whare may )>is abbaye beste 
 be funded and ]?is religione 1 Now certis nowhare so well als in 
 a place \at es called co?iscyence, and who so will be besy to funde 
 bis holy religione, and J>at may ilke gud crystyne mane and 
 woman do ]?at will be besy }>er-abowte. And at be begynnynge 
 it es by-houely ]?at be place of thi conscience be clensed clene of 
 syne, to be whilke clensynge the Holy Goste sail sende two 
 maydyns bat ere couande, the one es callede Rightwysnes, and be 
 to)>er es called Luffe of Clennes. Thiese two sail cast fro \>e con- 
 science and fro be herte all maner of fylthe of foule thoghtes and 
 desyrs. Whene be place of be conscience es wele clensed, than 
 sail be grownde be mad lange and depe, and thies two maydenes 
 sail be made, J>e one es callede Mekenes, bat sail make be 
 grownde depe thorowe lowlynes of hir selfe, the to)>er es callede 
 Pouerte, |>at makis it large and wyde abowne, ]?at castis oue?* ilke 
 a halfe be erthe owte, J>at es to say all erthely lustes and worldely 
 thoghtes ferre fro be herte, ]?at if |>ay base erthely gudis wit/a luffe 
 j>ay for-gete ]>ayme for \e tyme, and castis no lufe to J>ame nor 
 hase noghte, ne settis noghte for bat tyme J>aire hertes no thynge 
 one ]?ame. And thies ere callede pure in spy rite, of whame God 
 spekes in |>e Gospelle and sayse J>at thaires es be kyngdome of 
 heuene be thies wordes Beati jmuperes s])iritu quoniam ipsorum 
 
THE BUILDERS OF THE HOUSE. 49 
 
 est regnum coelorum. Blyssed es J>ane ]>at religyone j>at es 
 fundide in pouerte and in meknes. This es agaynes many reli- 
 gyons j?at are couetous and prowde. This abbaye also sail be The Abbey 
 
 built on a 
 
 sett on a gud reuer and bat sail be be reuer of teres. For good river, 
 
 ° r * The River of 
 
 swylke abbayes J?at ere sett one swylke gude ryuers bay are wele Tears. 
 at ese and be more dylecyous duellyng es ber. One swylke a 
 reuer was Mary Mawdelayne fowndide, ffor-thy grace and rechesse 
 come all to hir will, and for-thi sayde Dauid thus, ffluminis 
 impetus Icetificat ciuitatem, J>at es to saye the gude reuer mase be 
 cete lykande, for it es clene sekyr and ryche of all gude mar- 
 chandyse. And so be reuer of teris clenses Goddes cete, ]?at es 
 mannes saule, bat es Goddes cite. And also be holy man sayse 
 of fylthe of synne ]?at it brynges owte be reches of vertus. and of 
 alle gude thewes. And when ])is grownde es made }?an sail come The wails 
 
 raised by 
 
 a dameselle, Bowsomnes, on be tone halfe, and dameselle Misere- obedience 
 
 J and Mercy. 
 
 corde on be tober halfe, for to rayse be walles one heghte, and to 
 make ]?am stalworthe, with a fre hert largely gyfande to be 
 pure, and to ]?ame )>at myster hase ; flfor whene we do any gud 
 werkes of charite thorow be grace of Gode, also ofte sythis als 
 we J?am do in be lufe and louynge of God, and in gud entent, als 
 many gud stonys we laye one owre howssynge in be blysse of 
 heuene, festenande togedir with be lufe of Gode and oure euene 
 crystene. We rede bat Salomone made his howssynge of gret 
 precyouse stones. Thiese precyous stones are almos dedes and 
 werkes of mercy, and holy werkes ]>at sail be bowndene togedir 
 with qwyke lyme of lufe and stedfaste byleue, and for->i sayse The Love of 
 
 ^ J f _ J ' . Godandright 
 
 Dauid, Omnia opera erant in fide, j>at es to saye alle his werkes Faith are the 
 be done in stedfaste byleue ; and als a walle maye not laste wiih- 
 owttene syment, or more, also no werkes J?at we wyrke are 
 noghte worthe to God, nor spedfull till oure saules, bot J>ay be 
 done in the lufe of God and in trewe by-leue, ffor alle ]>at be 
 synfull dose alle es loste. Sythene dameselle Sufferance and Patience and 
 
 Strength shall 
 
 damesell Forte sail rayse be pelars, and vndirsett ]>ame so raise the 
 
 strangly )>at no wynde of wordes, angre of stryffe, fleschely nor 
 gastely, sowre ne swete, caste J>ame downe. A dere brethir and 
 systers, 3itt by-houys be cloystyre be made one foure corners, and 
 
 pillars. 
 
 4 
 
50 
 
 THE OFFICERS OF THE ABBEY. 
 
 There must 
 be a Cloister 
 to keep from 
 evil. 
 
 Shrift shall 
 make the 
 Chapter- 
 house ; 
 Preaching 
 the Fratour ; 
 Prayer the 
 Chapel; Con- 
 templation 
 the Dormi- 
 tory. 
 
 Sadness the 
 Infirmary ; 
 Devotion the 
 Cellar; Medi- 
 tation the 
 Store-house. 
 
 The Holy 
 Ghost the 
 "Warden and 
 Visitor. 
 
 Charity the 
 Lady Abbess. 
 
 it es callecle cloyster for it closys and steskys, and warely sail be 
 lokkede. My dere brejn'r and systyrs, wylke of 30W as will halde 
 this gastely religyone, and be in ryste of sawle and in swetnes of 
 hert, halde be with-m. be cl oyster, and so sparre \ou be gates, and 
 so warely kepe \ou be wardes of \i cloyster, bat no nober fand- 
 ynges nor euylle styrrynges hafe in-gate in the, and make \at 
 thy sylence, and for to [ ] the, or styrre the to synne 1 , steke 
 
 thyne eghne fro fowle syghtes, thyne heres fro foule herynges, thy 
 mouthe fro foule speche, and thyne herte fra foule thoghtes. 
 Scrifte sail [make] thi chapitir, Predicacione sail make thi 
 iv&tour, Oracione sail make thi chapelle, Co^templacione sail 
 make thi dortour, bat sail be raysede one heghte with heghe 
 3ernynge, and with lufe qwykkynynge to Gode, and \at sail be 
 owte of worldly noyse and of worldly angyrse, and besynes, als fere 
 furthe als \ou may for be tyme thorow grace for be tyme of pray ere. 
 Co?ztemplacione es a deuote rysynge of herte with byrnynge lufe 
 to God to do wele, and in his delites joyes his saule, and somdele 
 ressayues of that swetnes bat Goddis chosene childir sail hafe in 
 heuene. Rewfulnes sail make the fermorye, Deuockme sail make be 
 celere, Meditacion sail make the gernere ; and when all be howses 
 bene made ban behoues \e Holy Gaste ordeyne \e coueut of 
 grace and of vertu, and J?an sail \e Holy Gaste J?at ]?is religyone 
 es of, bee wardene and visiture, the whilke God \e Fadir funded 
 thorow his powere, ffor J?us saise Dauide, ffundauit earn altissimus, 
 and this es to saye the heghe Gode \e Fadyr ffundide this rele- 
 gyone. The Sone thurgh his wysedome ]>au ordayned it, als Sayne 
 Paule witnes it, Que adeo ordinata sunt, J>at es at saye alle ]?at 
 es of God the Sone it rewlis and orda}Ties. The Holy Goste :$ernys 
 it and vesettes it, and j^at saye we in holy kyrke whene we saye 
 ])is, Veni Creator Spiritus, with Qui paraelitus dicer is, J>at es for 
 to saye, come \ou God \e Haly Gaste, and thyne \ou vesete and 
 fulfill ]?ame with grace. And than the gude lady Charite, als scho 
 j?at es most worthy by-fore alle o\er, sail be abbas of this sely 
 abbaye. And also als J?ay ]>at are in relegyone sail do no thynge, 
 
 1 There is some confusion in this sentence from the omission of one or 
 more words. 
 
THE OFFICERS OE THE ABBEY. 51 
 
 ne saye thynge, ne gange into no stede, ne take no gyfte, with 
 owttene leue of be abbasse. Also gastely sail none of swylke 
 thyngys be done witA-owtten leue of charite, ffor thus commandes 
 Sayne Paule, Omnia vestra in caritate fiant, bat es what so $e do 
 or saye or thynke with herte, alle $e mon do in charite. A dere 
 brebir and systirs, whate here es harde comandemewt, bot it es 
 noghte full ill to oure sawles bat oure thoghtes and oure wordes 
 and oure werkes be onely done for lufe. Wayleawaye ! if I 
 durste saye ! for many are in religione, bot to fewe relegious J>at 
 bay ne done be comandement of saynte Paule, or be concelle of be 
 gud lady Charite bat es abbesse of this cely relegyone. And for- 
 thi bay lose mekill tyme, and losses baire niede, and ekes thaire 
 payne gretly, bot if bay amende barn. Wh are-fore leue brejnV 
 and systirs, bese euer more wakire and warre, and in all 30ure 
 werkes thynke depely bat whate so 3ee doo be it done in be lufe 
 of Gode, and for be lufe of be lady Wysdome bat sail be pWoresse, wisdom the 
 
 Prioress. 
 
 for scho es worthi, nam prior omnibus creaturis est sapientia, 
 bat es al-bir-firste es Wysedome made, and thurgh be lare of hir, 
 and be concelle of bis pnoresse sail we do alle bat we do ; and this 
 sayse Dauid, Omnia in sapientia feeisti, bat es at saye, alle bat 
 bou base made bou hase made wysely. The gud lady Meknes Meekness the 
 
 Sub-Prioress. 
 
 bat aye elyke makis hir selfe lowly and vndir alle ober, sail be 
 supprioresse, hir sail %e honoure and wirchipe with bouxomnes. 
 A Jhesu ! blyssede bat abbaye, and cely es bat religyone, bat hase 
 so haly ane abbas as Charyte, a prioresse as Wysedome, a sup- 
 prioresse as Mekenes. A dere bre]n> and systirs, blyssede and 
 cely are bay, bat es to say those saules are cely, bat haldis be 
 comandmewt of be abbas lady Charite, and be techynge of be 
 priores lady Wysdome, and the concele of be supprioresse lady 
 Mekenes, ffor who-so is bouxome to thir thre ladyse, and baire 
 lyflfe rewlis aftir baire techynge, the ffadir, the Sone, the Holy 
 Goste, bam sail comfurthe with many gostely joyes, and bam 
 helpe and socoure in alle fandmges, in angirs bat bay ne be 
 noghte ouercomene ; bam thare drede no wrenkis ne no wylis of 
 the fende, for why God es with bame, and standis aye by bame als 
 a trewe kepere and a strange ane. For-bi says Dauid thus, 
 
52 THE OFFICERS OF THE ABBEY. 
 
 Dominus protector vite mee, a quo trepidabo ? als if he sayd 
 God es my champyone staleworthe and trewe, \at for me ]?at es 
 so wayke and so Ymnygktfull agaynes myne enemyse hase 
 yndirtane for to fyghte, whaine tliare me )?ane drede, now trewly 
 righte none % AVe rede in a buke of Danyele J>at a myghtfull 
 was )?at niene callede Xabogodhonosore, \at sett in Rome thre 
 niene )>at solde do and ordayne and stabyll, als baylyes, alle \e 
 rewme, so )>at \e kynge herde no noyse, ne no playnte, bot \at he 
 myghte be in pese, and in joye, and in ryste in his rewme. And 
 righte so \e rewme of \e sawle j>at thiese thre baylyes are ine, and 
 \e religione ]?at thies thre prelates are ine, J>at es Charite, Wyse- 
 dome and Mekenes, thare es pese, ryste, and lykynge in saule 
 Discretion the and coniforthe in Me. Damselle Discrecyone bat es witty and 
 
 Treasurer. J J y J 
 
 be full ware sail be tresorere ; scho sail hafe in hir kepynge alle, 
 oryson the and 3ernely luke J?at all go wele. Orysone salle chaunteresse, J>at 
 wz'tA hertly prayers sail trauele daye and nyghte, and what 
 Orysone es the haly mane sayse, Oracio est Deo sacrificium, 
 angelis solarium, diabolis tormentum, ]?at es to say, Orysone es 
 a louely sacrance to God, solase and lykynge to angelis, and 
 turment to J>e fende. It witnes in the lyfe of Saynte Barthil- 
 mewe ]>at it es turment to \e fende, for ]>e fende cryede to hjmi 
 and sayde Bartholomee incendunt me oraciones tue, ]>at es to saye, 
 Bertilmew thi prayers byrnys me. And ]>at es lykynge to 
 angelis Saynte Bartilmew w)i;nes it, and sayse, whene we praye 
 with deuocyone of hert, the angels standis byfore daunsesande 
 and prayeande, and beris oure prayers vp, and a p/'esent of ]?ame 
 to \e ffadir of heuene. pe whilke prayers oure Lorde com- 
 wiandes to wi*yte in ]>e buke of lyfe, ]?at es sacrafyce to God this 
 are of ]?ame J>at hym moste payes, and for-thi he askes vs it ]>er 
 he sayse thus, Sacrificium laudis honorificabis me, J?at es to saye 
 jubilation the ' ^ salle wyrchipe with sacrifice of louynge.' Jubilacio hir 
 
 helper of the 
 
 chauntress. felowe sail helpe, and, what Jubilacione es, a seynt it telles, and 
 sayse ]>at Jubylacione es a grete joye \at es co/isayuede in teris, 
 thorow brynnande luffe of spirite, J>at may noghte be in alle 
 schewede no in alle hycle, als it fallis somtyme of tho \at God 
 hertly lufes ]?ere eftir }?at bay hafe bene in prayere and in ory- 
 
THE OFFICERS OF THE ABBEY. 53 
 
 soiie, bay ere so lyglite and so lykaude in God bat whare so 
 bay go ber hertes synges murnynge songes of lufe longynge to 
 baire lefe, bat bay }erne with arrays of lufe semlyly to falde, and 
 with gastely mouy^ge of his gudnes swetly to kysse, and ^it 
 umwhile so depely, ba£ wordis bam wanttis for luf, longynge so 
 ferforthe rauesckes thorow hertis )>at somtyme bay ne wote 
 noghte whate bay do. Deuocione es celeresse bat kepis be Devotion the 
 
 ° Y J y \ Y Cellaress. 
 
 wynes, bothe be white and be rede, ^ith depe vinbythynkynge 
 of be gudnes of God, and of be paynnes and of be anguyse bat 
 he tholede, and of the joyes and be delytes of paradyse bat he 
 hase ordavned to his chosene. Penance sail be kychynnere, bat Penance the 
 
 Cook. 
 
 with grete besynes trayuells daye and nygkte for to plese alle, 
 and ofte swetis with bitter teris for angyre of hir synnes. Scho 
 makes gud metis, bat es many bitter sorowes alle for hir gylte3 v 
 and theys metis fede be saule, bot scho sparis hir-selfe thorow 
 abstynence, and etys bot littill, ffor do scho neuer so mekill ne so 
 many fold of gud werkes, ays semys scho hirself vnworthy and 
 s} r nfull. Atempe/'ance seruede in the fratotw bat scho to ylkone Temperance 
 
 J L y J the Waiter. 
 
 so hikes bat mesure be ouer alle, bat none oue?* mekill nere ouer 
 
 lyttill ete ne drynke. Sobirnes redis at be borde the ^es of Soberness the 
 
 the haly ffadirs, and rehirces whate l}*fe bat bay lede for to take 
 
 gud ensampille to do all bay dyd, and bere thorowe slyke mede 
 
 to wyne als bay now hafe. Pete es sponsere bat dose seruesse to Pity the An- 
 swerer, 
 gud all \at scho niaye. And Mercy hir syster salle be amby- ^ercy the 
 
 nowre bat gyffes to alle and noghte kane kepe to hir-selfe. The Dread n the 
 
 lady Drede es portere, bat kepis besyly be cloyster of be herte, Porteress - 
 
 and of be co/iscience, \at chases owte alle vnthewes, and calles in 
 
 alle gud vertus and so speres be 3atis of be cloyster and be wyn- 
 
 dows, bat none evylle hafe none ingate to be herte, thorowe be 
 
 3atis of be mouthe, ne thorowe be w}Tidows of be eghne, nere of 
 
 be eris. Honeste es maytresse of be nouyce and teches bam alle Honesty the 
 
 Mistress of 
 
 curtasye, how bay sail speke and gauge and sytt and stande, and the Novices. 
 
 how bay sail bere bame wi't/i-owttene and witA-ine; howe to God, 
 
 how to mane, so bat alle bat bame sese of bam may take ensampill 
 
 of alle gudnes, and alle gude thewes. Dameselle Curtasye sail courtesy and 
 
 Simplicity the 
 
 be hostelere, and bat bay comande and byddes bat scho sail bam receivers of 
 
 ' r r J J » Y the guests. 
 
54 
 
 THE OFFICERS OF THE ABBEY. 
 
 Reason the 
 Purveyor. 
 
 Service shall 
 attend to the 
 hospital and 
 nurse the 
 sick. 
 
 Largess shall 
 help her. 
 
 Meditation 
 the store- 
 keeper. 
 
 resafe hendely, so bat ylke one may speke of hir ; and for-thi bat 
 nowber sail be by banie one emange the gestes, ffor it myghte 
 falle bat dameselle Curtasye solde be oure balde a ouer hardy, 
 for-thy sail scho hafe a felawe damselle Symplese, for bay two 
 alyede to-gedir thorowe felawchipe are sekyre and semande, for 
 be tone wit/i-owttene be tober vmwhile es littill worthe, for ouer 
 grete symplesse may make of be symple a sott, or ouer nyce, and 
 ouer grete curtasye may be somewhile ober to lyghte chere or to 
 glade, or ouer balde for to paye be gestes ; bot fayre and wele, 
 and witA-owttene fandynge of blame may bay do baire offece 
 bothe to-gedir. Damselle Resone sail be p^ruerere, ffor scho 
 sail ordayne with-m and with owttyne so skilfully, bat bere ne 
 be no defaute. Damselle Lowte sail be fermoresse \at sail 
 trauelle abowte and besely seme be seke, and for-bi sen \at in be 
 fermory of this religyone are moo seke bane hole, mo febyll bane 
 wighte, and es ouer grete trauelle to seme bam alle hyrone, 
 ffor-thi sail scho hafe a felawe, dameselle Largesse, bat sail see 
 full wele to ylkone after bat bam nedis. Dameselle Couande 
 and Wysse, bat es callede Meditacyone, or Poleschefy, es garnere, 
 scho sail gedyre and sembyll gude whete and ober gud cornes 
 to-gedir and bat fully, with grete plente, thorowe the whilke alle 
 J>e gud ladyse of be howse may hafe baire sustenance. Medita- 
 cione es in gud thoghtes of God, and of his werkes, and of his 
 wordes, and of his creaturs, and of his paynens \at he tholede, 
 and of his grete lufe \at he had and hase to bame for whaym he 
 tholede. This garnere had be gud kyng Dauid, ffor-bi was he ay 
 riche and in plente, and for-bi he sayse in be psaltyre, In 
 omnibus operibus tuis meditabar die ac node, \at es to saye 
 Lorde in thi lawe I thynke nyghte and daye. This es begyn- 
 nyng of all perfeccione. Than whene mane settis and stabylls 
 his herte in depe thynkynge on God and of his werkes, ffor ofte 
 es better a gud thoghte in haly meditacyone ban many wordes 
 sayd in prayere, ffor be holy thoghtes in meditacione cryes in 
 Gocldes eris, and ber-fore sayd Dauid thus, Qui tacui dum cla- 
 marem totd die, as if he sayd, Lorde ! lo here the whills myne 
 herte was in depe thoghtes, and of thi werkes it cryed one the in 
 
THE WHEAT, WINE, AND OIL OF THE ABBEY. 55 
 
 holy medytacyons, and was stylle as beynge dome. And ber 
 sayse be glose, the grete cryes J)at we crye to God ban are oure 
 grete desyres and oure grete 3ernynges. And this sayse Saynte 
 Denyse, bat sayse, When be herte es lyfte and raueschede to be 
 lufe of God with gelouse 3ernynges, he ne may sownde with 
 worde bat be herte thynkis. This holy Meditacione bat es be 
 gernare J>at kepis ^erely be whete bat es rede with-owte and 
 white with-'me, bat hase be syde clouene, of be whilke men mase 
 gud brede, J>at es called Ihesu Criste, \at wit/i-owttene was rede 
 of his awene blode, and whitte with-wi thorowe his awene mekenes 
 and clennes of lyfe, and hade his syde clouene with a spere. 
 This es be brede bat we ressayue and etis in be sacrament of be 
 altyr. And wele \ou weite bat the gerne;- sail be abowne be 
 selare, also sail be ineditacione before deuocione, and for-thi 
 Meditacione sail be gernare, Deuocione celerrere, and Pete pene- Devotion the 
 
 /-\c Cellarer. 
 
 tancere 1 . Of thiese thre sayse \e profete Danide A fructu pitythe 
 frumenti vini et olei sui multiplicati sunt, j^at es at saye of the 
 fruyte of ]>e whete and wyne and oyle ]?ay ere fulfillede. In ]>e 
 aide la we in many stedis Gode takis to his chosene thiese thre. 
 Seme me, he sayse, wele and I sail gyffe 3owe plente of whete The wheat, 
 
 wine, ai d oil 
 
 and wyne and oyle. Plente of whete es hertly to thynke one ]>e of the Abbey. 
 
 croyce, and euer haffe \>e passyone of Ihesu Crist hertly in mynde. 
 
 This es Meditacione. Plente of wyne, \at es \e welle of teres, 
 
 wele for to wepe, this es Deuocione. Plente of oyle, J?at es for to 
 
 hafe delyte and sauoyre in God, and this es comforthe, for \e 
 
 oyle gyffes odoure to metis, and lyghtes in \>e kyi'ke, and byrnys 
 
 in \e lampe. Also whene Goddis seruandes hase depely thoghte 
 
 with schire herte on Gode, and on his werkes, with lufe longynge 
 
 to jiame, )>ane hase God pete of J?arue, and sendis Jjam petance of 
 
 comforthe and of gastely joye, and this gyffes hym at \e begyn- 
 
 nyng meditacione, and J>is es \e whete |?at God hyghttes vs, and 
 
 deuocyone \>at men consayues in medytacyone. Than sendis 
 
 God sone after \e wyne, ]?at es plente of teris, and after, ]?e wyne 
 
 of swete teris ; than sendys he J>e oyle of consolacione, and gyffes 
 
 1 Sic in MS. ; but tpifiancere, i. e. the officer who served out the rations. 
 The Prioress had charge of the discipline. 
 
56 THE CLOCK 01 THE ABBEY. 
 
 bam and lyghtnes his knawefiggynge, and schewes to 
 
 barn of his heuenly pnuatyse. bat es hide fro bame bat folowes 
 fleschely desyris, and gyffes banie selfe alle to be wysedorue of be 
 worlde and his fantasyse, and so enflawmes bain vrith be blysse of 
 his lufe bat bay taste somedelle and fele how swete he es, how 
 gxid he es, how lnffande he es — bot noghte alle fully. I wote wele 
 bat none may fele it fully bot if his herte sulde bryste for 
 lvkvn^e of iove. Savne Austvne telles of a preste bat whene he 
 
 story of a . . o J . J . I r 
 
 priest. herde any thynge of God \at lykynge ware in, he wold be so 
 
 rauesehede in joye bat he wolde fall downe and lygge als he ware 
 dede. And also in ]>at tyme if men layde brynnande fyre to his 
 
 Saint Bernard flesihe nakide. he felid it no more ban dose a dede corse. Savne 
 
 onthel: r h:o: r 
 
 God. Bernarde spekes of be wordis of Job be/* he sayse Ahscond.it 
 
 hk sem in manxbus, bat es at say God base lygfate hyde in his 
 handis. pou wete wele he bat hase a candill lyghte by-twene 
 his handis he may hyde it and schewe it at his owenne will. 
 So dose oure Lorde to his chosen?. Whene he will he opynis 
 his handes and lyghtenes bam vrith heuenly gladnes, and whene 
 he will, he clcsis his handis and withdrawes be likynge and be 
 comforthe fro name. He wille noghte \a.t bay fele it fully aye, 
 bot here he gyffes bame as for to taste and sauo>/r somdele how 
 swete he es, how gud, als Dauid sayse, Go-state et videte quam 
 bonus est Dominv.s. als if God sayd to vs. be bis comforthe and 
 this lykynge bat bou bis schorte tyme hase of ime, bou may taste 
 : fele how swete, how gude I ame to my chosyne in my blysse 
 in be werlde wftA-owttene ende; and bus he dose for to drawe vs 
 fro worldly besynes, and be lykynge ber-of, and for to enflawme 
 oure hertes w*tA lufe 3ernynges, ffor to wyne and to hafe be 
 lykynge of \a.t joye, alle at be full in body and saule, w/'t/< hym 
 for to be ever more w*'tA-owttene ende. A dameselle wyse 
 
 be time- 
 keeper, -wele taghte \at mene calles Gelosye, bat es ay wakyre and besy 
 
 euery'yke wele for to do, sail kepe be orloge, and sail wakkyne be 
 
 obe/' ladyse, and make bam arely to ryse and go be wyllylyere to 
 
 baire seruyse. per es orloges in towne ]>at wakyns mene to ryse 
 
 to bodily trauayle, and ]>at es be seke, and \er es orloges in be 
 
 cete bat wakynnes be marchauntes to wende a-boute baire mar- 
 
THE FOUR WICKED NUNS. o7 
 
 chandyce bat es be wynde bat blawes daye. And ber es orloges 
 in religione of contemplacione. And this es of this holy rele- 
 gyone bat es fundede of be Haly Gaste, and J?is es Jelosy, and 
 this es sauoure of perfeccione. And ofte it falles in relegione 
 before \at be orloge falles or any belles rynges, Goddes gostely 
 seruandes are lange wakenede before and base wepede by-fore 
 God, and hase wasckene bani<s with baire teris, and ]>aire spyrit 
 base vesete with deuote prayers and gastely comforthe. And 
 why rose bay so arely and so tynily ? Enterly for be orloge of 
 lufe and dameselle Jelosye had wakened banie before be tyme 
 \at be handmayde orloge felle. A dere brethir and syster, sely 
 ar the sawles bat be lnfe of God and longyng till hym wakyns, 
 and slomers noghte no slepis noghte in be slowthe of fleschely 
 lustes, ffor-thi he sayse in Canticis. Ecce dormio et cor meum 
 vigil at, bat es at save when I slepe bodily my flesche for to ese 
 and ryste, my herte es ay wakyre in gelosy and in lnfe 3ernynge 
 to Gode. That saule bat bus wakes to God me thynke hole 
 conscyence \a.t werldly niene thynke, and ]>at es this, Jeo ay h 
 quer a leche rauayh par amours, \at es at save Myne herte es 
 styrte fro me wakened with lufe. "Whate es this bat mase be 
 herte fro be flesche to wake, and for ]>at es it as it were frende to 
 hyni ? Wittirly Jeloussye with lufe, teres, and mo/*nynge, with lufe 
 longynge co/isayuede in deuote vprysynge of herte. When this 
 abbaye was alle wele ordaynede and Goddes will seruede in 
 ryste, and in lykynge. and in pese of saule, than come a tyrante 
 of be lande thorowe his powere, and did in this holy abbaye 
 ffoure doghtvrs bat he hade bat were lothelv and of euvll nianers. Four evil 
 
 ° * r \ * J . damsels intro- 
 
 bat be fende was fadyr of thiese doghtyrs. pe firste ber-of bis <*uced into 
 
 foule barne-tyme highte Envye, the tober highte Pride, the SSjoS* 
 
 thirde highte Gruchynge, the ferthe highte False Demynge of E^-thinking. 
 
 ober. Thiese foure doghetyrs ban hase be tyraunt, be deuell of 
 
 helle, for euyll will and malese, done in this holy abbaye, and 
 
 bay with baire foule vnclennes be couent hase greuede and The mischief 
 
 harmede, so \at bay no riste ne no pete may haife, nyghte nor 
 
 daye. nor lykynge in saule ; and when the gud lady Charite saw 
 
 this \a.t was abbas, and the lady Wysedome bat was pnoresse, 
 
58 THE VISITATION OF THE ABBEY. 
 
 and the lady Mekenes snpprioresse, and be tober gude ladyse of 
 this holy abbaye, that the holy abbaye was in poynte for to 
 worthe to noghte thorowe be wykkydnes of thir foure, than 
 range be chapetowr belle, and gedirde bam alle to-gedir and 
 The counsel asked concele whate was beste to do, and than lady Dyscre- 
 
 ofLadyDis- J J 
 
 cretion. cyone bame concelde bat bay solde alle falle in prayere to be 
 
 Holy Goste, bat of this abbay es vesetowr, bat he haste hym for 
 to come, as bay grete myster hade, bare for to helpe and vesete 
 with his grace. And bay alle at hir consaile with grete deuo- 
 cyone of herte vnto hym sange alle with a swete steuene, Veni 
 
 The visitor of creator spiritus. And also sone be Holy Goste come at baire 
 
 the Abbey ex- 
 pels the evil desyrynge, and bam comforthede with his grace, and chasede 
 
 damsels. 
 
 owte be foule wyghtes, bose lothely fendis doghetirs, and clenesede 
 be abbaye of all be fylthe, and ordayned it and restorede better 
 bane it was by-fore, Now I pray 30W all in charite of God, bat 
 all ba bat of this relegione redis or heris bat bay be bouxome 
 with all baire myghte, and suffire bat be gud ladys be-fore 
 namede do baire ofFece ilke daye gastely with-'m baire hertes. 
 And luke ylkone wysely bat he ne do no trespasse agayne be 
 rewle ne be obedyence of bis relegione, and of base lufe frayners, 
 and if thorow vnhape falle bat any of thiese foure fendis 
 doghetyrs seke one any wyse any ingate for to hafe wit^-in 
 youre hertes for to duelle, or ingate hase wonne and with yow 
 duellis, do so, after be concelle of be lady Discrecione, and gyffe 
 30W to deuocione with hertly prayers in hope of Goddes helpe 
 and of his socoure, and %e sail be delyuerde thurgh be mercy of 
 oure Lorde Ihesu Criste there. Blyssede mot he be with owttene 
 ende. Amen. 
 
RELIGIOUS POEM. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Incipit Tractatus Willim Xassyngton, quondam aduocati juris 
 Eboraci, de Trinitate et Unitate cum declaracione ope/Tim Dei, et 
 de passione Domini nostri Ihesu Christi. 
 
 A Lord God of inyghtej niaste, 
 
 Fader, and Son, and Haly Gaste. 
 
 Fadir, for thou ert almyghty, 
 4 Sone, for \ou ert all wytty, 
 
 Haly Gaste, for thow all wyll, 
 
 That gud es and nathynge yll. 
 
 A God and ane Lord yn threhed, 
 8 And thre persons yn anehede. 
 
 Thus was thow aye and euer sail be, 
 
 Thre yn ane, and ane yn thre. 
 
 And begynnynge and ende of all thatt is, 
 12 And \at euer was bathe mare and lesse. 
 
 Begynnynge, wit/i-outtene begynnynge, 
 
 And ende, w«'t/i-outene endynge. 
 
 That be-for any thynge wer wroght, 
 1 6 Or any begynnynge was, or oghtt, 
 
 And befor all tymes God was thow, 
 
 And Allmygtty and wysse, as \ou ert now. 
 
 Thy myght and thy will of thy selfe was tane, 
 20 For neuer God was bo \ou ane. 
 
 Thanksgiving 
 to the ador- 
 able Trinity. 
 
 The nature of 
 God. 
 
60 REFLECTIONS ON THE CREATION. 
 
 And als bou was Gocle ay suthefaste, 
 Swa sail thy Godhede euer mare laste. 
 And alls )>ou began all bat euer was, 
 
 24 Swa sail bou ende all bat sail passe. 
 Louede and blyssede ay mote bou be, 
 And with all herte I thanke the, 
 Of all bat J?ou has done and wroghte, 
 
 28 ffra be firste tym bat bou began oghte, 
 ffor me and for all man kynde, 
 Whare-fore aghte vs ay haue be in mynde. 
 And loue be for bou has done to mane, 
 
 32 Als I here thurgh \i grace reherse cane. 
 By God all ffyrste heuen and erth for man bou made, 
 
 things were 
 
 made. And all J)is werlde here wyd and brade, 
 
 And al thyng J>at es }>er-in, 
 
 36 For w^t/i-owtten the es noghte bot synn. 
 The wilke was neuer thurgh the wroghte, 
 per-for in haly uritte es synn called noghte. 
 Heuene bou made whare bou duelles, 
 
 40 Fer oure endles wonnynge with angells. 
 And be werlde owre suget here to be, 
 To serue vs bat we ]?are-in seme be. 
 The firmament bou made monande, 
 
 44 To noresche all thyng ]?are vndire lyfande, 
 And the sonne to schede be day fra be nyght, 
 And be mone and be sternes to tak J>aire lyghte. 
 The lighte of grace bat gastely gifte es, 
 
 48 Of be bat es somie of ryghtwisnes. 
 
 The mone lyghte thou made to waxe and wane, 
 Alls semes bat ensample ber-hy es tane, 
 Of owre lyfe bat passes here sone, 
 
 52 And waxes and wanes als lyghte of mone. 
 The sternes bou made on be sky standande, 
 And the pianettes in Jieire course passande, 
 ffor ensaumple til vs to knawe and se, 
 
 56 How we salde liffe here in ilke a degre. 
 
THE NATURE OF MAX. 
 
 61 
 
 60 
 
 64 
 
 68 
 
 72 
 
 76 
 
 80 
 
 84 
 
 88 
 
 92 
 
 The foure elementes \ou mad sere, 
 
 To sustayne oure bodyly kyndes here, 
 
 And all o\er creatowres als was thi will, 
 
 In sere kyndes \>ou made for certayn skyll. 
 
 Of wilke som are noyeand till vs kyndly, 
 
 And som are profytable and esye. 
 
 All all are they for owre profet wroghte, 
 
 Bathe they \at noyes, and \at noyes noghte. 
 
 The noyeand \ou made vs for to chasty, 
 
 And to dense vs here of owre foly. 
 
 And to make vs to knawe and se, 
 
 How febill and how frele are we. 
 
 The vnnoyeand to sustayne vs and fede, 
 
 And to helpe vs and ese vs in owre nede. 
 
 Thy creators are ay whare in sere stede, 
 
 Of whilke som are qwyke and som are dede. 
 
 ffor som semes noghte bot alles dede thynges, 
 
 Als stanes ]?at has noghte bot beynges, 
 
 Som, als gryse and trees \at inene sese sprynge, 
 
 Has beyng and lifynge bot na felynge. 
 
 Som, als bestes \at crepis and rynnys, 
 
 And als foghles with fethirs, and fische with fynnes, 
 
 Hase bathe beyng, lyffyng, and felyng, 
 
 Bot na witte ne skyll of demyng. 
 
 Som, als men and angells has thurghe the, 
 
 And thurghe \i myghte, beyng and lifyng fre, 
 
 And felmg bath of gude and ill, 
 
 And discrecyone of witte and skylle. 
 
 Thus has man beyng, als men sese, 
 
 "With stanes, and lyfe with grysse and trees, 
 
 And felynge with bestes of sere kynde, 
 
 And with angells skill and mynde. 
 
 Thus walde ]>ou, are )>ou oghte begane, 
 
 pat somwhat of ylke creatoz^re hade mane, 
 
 Mane thow made maste dynge creatoure, 
 
 And maste semly of schape and, of stature, 
 
 For our profit 
 and blessing. 
 
 Some things 
 have life, 
 some are 
 without life. 
 
 Man the high- 
 est work, 
 
62 
 
 Therefore is 
 he bound to 
 love God. 
 
 Man has a 
 higher bless- 
 ing than the 
 other crea- 
 tures, in the 
 Redemption. 
 
 Of all olper creatowrs mare or lesse, 
 
 For \ou mad hym aftire thyne owene liknesse. 
 
 And gafe hym lordechipe and powere, 
 96 Abowene all otyer vnskilhvyse creatures sere. 
 
 And to rewle hym with witte and skyll, 
 
 And for to knawe bathe gud and ill. 
 
 Whare-fore gret lufe to man \ou kide, 
 100 When \ou this fore man ordaynede and dide, 
 
 It semes Jx)u hade gret lufe tyll man, 
 
 Before are \ou oghte begane. 
 
 Lorde I am man for whaym \on dide thus, 
 104 And \at man es ilke man and womane of vs, 
 
 And als wele all J>is \o%i did for me, 
 
 Als for ilk man or woman \at are made thurghe the. 
 
 And for-thy |>at I am ]>at man, 
 108 For whaym Ipou al thyng begane, 
 
 I awe thurghe ryghte the to lufe ay, 
 
 And to loue the bath nyghte and daye. 
 
 And to wirchipe with saule and body, 
 112 Righte als \ou had done all anely. 
 
 Lord God Almyghty ^it thanke I the, 
 
 That mekill mare walde doo for me. 
 
 And for man kynd for thy gudnes, 
 116 And thy mercy \at till vs ay redy es. 
 
 That fra heuene til erthe downe walde com, 
 
 To bryng vs here owt of thraledome, 
 
 Of of ]>e fendis dawngere that we ware in, 
 120 Thurghe owre foremaste fadire syne. 
 
 Lorde mekyll \ou mekede the for owre sake, 
 
 pat come fra so heghe owre kynde to take. 
 
 And vouchede safe swa lawe to lighte, 
 124 pat swa heghe a lorde es of grett myghte. 
 
 Bot lufe the made of vs mercy to haue, 
 
 pat fra the was tynt vs for to saue, 
 
 Thurghe p?-ocesse of lyfe ]>at \ou walde lede, 
 128 In erthe in oure kynde of manhede. 
 
THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 
 
 63 
 
 132 
 
 136 
 
 140 
 
 144 
 
 148 
 
 152 
 
 156 
 
 160 
 
 164 
 
 ffirste ]>ou lyghtede in a maydene chaste, 
 
 pat conceyuecle the of \e Haly Gaste, 
 
 And of hir body \at was ay wemlesse, 
 
 Thow tuke flesche and blude and oure lyknesse, 
 
 And oure kynde here, and of nan oJ>er, 
 
 And be-come mane for vs, and oure brothire. 
 
 And for the luffe J>ou hade till vs, 
 
 Walde be borne of hir and calde Jhesus. 
 
 ffor Jhesu es als mekill for to saye, 
 
 Alls hele or helere, \at all hele maye. 
 
 Thow come to hele vs ]>at ware lorne, 
 
 Bot in na reall place )>ou was borne, 
 
 Nowthire in palays, castell, ne toure, 
 
 Ne in none othir stede of honour ; 
 
 Bot in a lawe hows and laid \ou was 
 
 In a crybe be-fore an oxe and an asse. 
 
 Thow wald nowthir in p^trpure ne byse 
 
 Be lappede, ne in nan o]>er clothes of pryce, 
 
 Bot in vile clowttes for to couer thi body, 
 
 ffor we sulcle take ensample lper-by, 
 
 To lufe mekenes and gastely pouerte, 
 
 And fra reches and pompes wit/i-draue oure herte, 
 
 One \e aughtene clay of thi byrthe here, 
 
 That }>e firste day es of ]>e newe 3ere, 
 
 Circumsysede in body walde ]>ou be, 
 
 Alls ]>e law was ]>an in sere contre. 
 
 In fassyng of ]?e lawe and in fullfillyng, 
 
 And in ensampill till vs and in takenyng, 
 
 That als ]?ou was circumsisede in body, 
 
 Swa sulde we circumcise vs here gastely. 
 
 That es we sulde schere fra vs away, 
 
 All \at til luste and likyng styre vs may. 
 
 One the twesste day \ou was vesete with kynges 
 
 And wirchipede with thre precyous thynges, 
 
 That es at say, with golde and ensence, 
 
 And myre, \at |?ey offerde in \i presence. 
 
 God born of a 
 Virgin. 
 
 Called Jesus 
 Saviour. 
 
 Born in lowly 
 fashion. 
 
 Circumcised 
 the eighth 
 day. 
 
 Worshipped 
 by kings with 
 three precious 
 gifts. 
 
64 
 
 THE PASSION OF JESUS. 
 
 At thirty 
 years oid 
 baptized. 
 
 168 
 
 172 
 
 176 
 
 180 
 
 184 
 
 Tempted in 
 the wilder- 
 
 Betrayed for 192 
 thirty pieces 
 of silver. 
 
 Made to suffer 
 indignities. 
 
 196 
 
 200 
 
 Be \e golde may vndirstand be, 
 
 That y/u. arte kynge of maste pouste, 
 
 The ensence ]>at ]>e was offerde nexte, 
 
 Be takyns \o.t ]>o». art souerayne priste, 
 
 The myr \at kepis all thynge fra rotynge 
 
 Be takyns thy dede and pi beryenge. 
 
 The thritty 3ere of ]>e elde of ]>e 
 
 Of Sayn John walde \ou bapteste be, 
 
 In j>e flom Jordane specyally, 
 
 For to gyfe vs ensample ther-by. 
 
 That all sulde be \ot till heuen suld passe 
 
 Baptizede in watyr als ]>ou was. 
 
 Bot for na cause of syne in the hyde, 
 
 Was \ou baptizede \at neuer syne dide, 
 
 For in the neue/' was funde/ie gyle, 
 
 Xe nathyng \at any saule myght fyle. 
 
 Bot for to lere ts howe we sulde begyne 
 
 To wesche vs of }>e origenall syne, 
 
 And for to make vertue in all watirs to be, 
 
 ffor to get vs agayne vrith grace to be fre. 
 
 Sythen when ]>ou had fasted ]?ourghe myghte, 
 
 ffourty dayes. and fourty nyghte, 
 
 Thow sufferd thi selfe temped to be, 
 
 Of )>e deuell \a.t J>are-to had leue of the. 
 
 To lere vs to wrestyll and stand styfly, 
 
 Agayne ]>e fandyng of \>at enmy. 
 
 Thow lett the of Judas troytow balde, 
 
 ffor thritty penys to ]>e Jewes be saulde. 
 
 Thow lette the alls thefe be tane bodyly, 
 
 Of J>e Jewes \at till ]>e hade envye, 
 
 The wilke till Anna house the ledde, 
 
 And than all thi discypills fra \e fiede. 
 
 Till the was done thare at J>e begynnynge 
 
 Many fawlde dispyte and hethynge. 
 
 ffirste ]?ey spittede appone J>e thare, 
 
 And gafe ]>e many bufettes sare. 
 
THE PASSION OF JESUS. 
 
 65 
 
 204 
 
 208 
 
 212 
 
 216 
 
 220 
 
 224 
 
 228 
 
 232 
 
 236 
 
 And tbyne eghne with a clathe j?ey hide, 
 
 And smate \e and askede wha it dide. 
 
 Sithene }>ey dide \e mare hethynge, 
 
 They lede ]>e to Herodes hows \e kynge. 
 
 That helde \e a fule as hyme thoghte, 
 
 ffor \on till his speche ansuerde noghte. 
 
 He did elethe \e in whitte garment, 
 
 And til Pilate agayne he j>e sente. 
 
 Eftirwarde \ou was skowreghide sare, 
 
 In Pilates hows nakynde bare, 
 
 That thi hide was all to-reuene than, 
 
 And ]>e blude one ylke a syde downe ran we. 
 
 The knyghtes aftire \at skourgegynge, 
 
 Abowte \e lappecle a mantill in hethynge, 
 
 That wttA \e blude till thi body cleuede, 
 
 Sythene drew ]?ey it ofe and \at )?e greuede. 
 
 And racede of all j>e skyne ]?at tyde, 
 
 ffor till clethynge cleued faste \i hyde. 
 
 And when }>ey had done j?e ]>is payne, 
 
 They clecle j>e in ]>i awene clethyng agayne. 
 
 And thryste J?an appone )>i heuede thare, 
 
 A crowne of thornnes ]>ai prykkede \e sare, 
 
 Of wilke \e prykkes ware swa scharpe )?ane, 
 
 That ]>ey percede nere thurghe \i heme pan?^e. 
 
 They gafe \e a rede in thi hande, 
 
 In stede of a ceptire, the skornande, 
 
 And knelide be-fore ]?e in hethynge, 
 
 And said till \e ' hail Jewes kynge.' 
 
 Sythene was ]?ou demede at \e Jewes vo} r ce, 
 
 Thurghe Pilate to be hynged on ]?e croyce, 
 
 The wilke \ou bare towarde j?e stede, 
 
 Whare \ou was ordeynede to be done to dede. 
 
 Sithene was \ou straynede on ]>e crosse so faste, 
 
 Thurghe J>e Jewes, \at \i vaynes and synows al to-braste, 
 
 And naylede \er one thurghe hand and fute, 
 
 ffor hele of my saule and for my bute, 
 
 Sent to Herod 
 and Pilate. 
 
 Scourged, 
 
 Crowned with 
 thorns. 
 
 With a reed 
 for a sceptre. 
 
 Mocked and 
 condemned to 
 the Cross. 
 
66 THE PASSION OF JESUS. 
 
 Crucified. And when bey had naylide be on be crosse swa, 
 
 They did be aftire strange payne and wa, 
 ffor they reysede be crosse with bi body, 
 240 And fychede it in a tre niortasse vyolently. 
 In wilke be crosse swilke a rage tuke, 
 pat J>i body thurglie weghte al to-schoke, 
 Than rane thy wondes thurglie fute and hande, 
 244 And ware sene full wyde gapaunde. 
 And be joynetes of ilk lym and bane, 
 And be vaynes ware strydand ilkane. 
 
 tries Sithene bou said hyngande on be rude tree. 
 
 •I thirst.' / J ° Y 
 
 248 The thristede, and ban be Jewes bed the, 
 Given gall \ f u \\ bittire drynke bat was wroghte, 
 
 and vinegar. •* * ° 7 
 
 Of aysell and gall bat be lykede noghte, 
 Xeuer-be-lattere to taste it bou was bowne. 
 
 252 Bot bou walde noghte swelowe it downe, 
 ffor bat thriste was noghte ells ban, 
 Bot a ^ernynge aftyre be sawle of mane. 
 Thow suffirde many repreues bat tyde, 
 
 256 Bathe on be thefe bat hange on bi lefte syde. 
 And of othire maysters of be Jewry, 
 That mekill schame be dide and velany. 
 fries At nonne of the daye bou cryed Hely, 
 
 260 And 3eldide bi gaste to bi fadir Almyghty. 
 Dies. Thus bou diede to make vs free, 
 
 ffra be grett thraldome in whilke ware we. 
 Bot mekill payne and mekill reprefe, 
 
 264 pou tholed before bi dede fore oure lufe. 
 For our deli- And noghte for to bve vs a^ayne anely, 
 
 veranceand ° J ° J J ' 
 
 example. ff or w hy bi dede moghte suffyce vs all to bye. 
 
 Bot for we sulde bare by ensampill take, 
 268 To be pacyente in angows for bi sake, 
 
 And for the to thole all bat harde es, 
 
 Alls bou tholede for vs thurglie bi gudnes. 
 
 Ells thurte be hafe tholede nan ober payne, 
 272 Bot be dede anely for to bye vs agayne. 
 
THE SINFULNESS OF MAN. 
 
 67 
 
 276 
 
 280 
 
 284 
 
 288 
 
 292 
 
 296 
 
 300 
 
 304 
 
 308 
 
 Sythene was ]>ou smetyne in ]>i reghte syde. 
 
 Wit/* a spere ]>at till ]>i herte gune glide, 
 
 ffra whilke owt raue to oure saluacyone, 
 
 The precyous blode of owre ransome. 
 
 Wit// ]>e water of baptym clere and thyne, 
 
 ffor to wesche vs here of \e oregynall syrme. 
 
 Lorde for ]>ire bitter paynes and fell, 
 
 WitA othere rna \at I kane tell. 
 
 That \ou swa mekill suffire walde, 
 
 ffor me synfull \i traytoure baulde, 
 
 I thanke ]>e here inwardly, 
 
 With all my herte and my body. 
 
 A Jhesu Crist, Lorde, full of myghte, 
 
 When I tliynke outhire day or nyghte. 
 
 Of swa mekill kyndnes of ]>e, 
 
 And of \e paynes \at \ou tholide for me, 
 
 And of myn vnkyndnesse many fa wide, 
 
 And how I to urethe the ay hafe bene bawlde. 
 
 Of myn hard herte ]?an es gret wondire, 
 
 pat it for sorowe briste3 noghte in siunlyre. 
 
 Bot flescly herte in me semes nan, 
 
 ffor my herte es hard als it ware stane. 
 
 A Jhesu I grante to ]>e my trespas, 
 
 And knawes ]>at I am wers J>an Judas was. 
 
 That the bytrayede als traytoure balde, 
 
 And til ]>e Jewes for thritty penys sawlde. 
 
 ffor I synfull wreche has ofte sawlde the, 
 
 ffor a littill worldly vanyte, 
 
 And for a littill fleschely delyte, 
 
 Whare-fore I am mare ]>an Judas to wyte. 
 
 I halde me ^itt werse, and mare wode, 
 
 pan \e Jewes ware \at did \e one \e rude ; 
 
 ffor why J?ay dide ]?e bot anes ]>at dede, 
 
 And jjey knewe \e noglite Gode in manhede. 
 
 And I ]mt wate and knawes righte. 
 
 pat \>ov arte Gode ay full of myghte. 
 
 Praise to the 
 Saviour for 
 his mercv. 
 
 The umvor- 
 thiness and 
 sinfulness of 
 man. 
 
 Christ cruci- 
 fied again by 
 sin. 
 
68 
 
 THE RESURRECTION OP JESUS. 
 
 312 
 
 Prayer for 316 
 
 merer. 
 
 Christ de- 
 scended into 
 hell. 
 
 And spoiled 
 it of his. 
 
 Rose again 
 the third day. 
 
 320 
 
 324 
 
 328 
 
 332 
 
 336 
 
 340 
 
 344 
 
 Thurghe niyn awen malece as I ware wode, 
 
 ffull ofte sythes hafe I done \>e one \e rude. 
 
 nor als ofte als I hafe done dedly syne, 
 
 And thurghe malece wetandly fallyne there-ine. 
 
 Alls ofte hafe I done \e one ]>e rude. 
 
 In ]>at }>at in nie was. and sehede }>i blude. 
 
 Lorde all if I hafe done swilke foly. 
 
 Putt me noghte away fra ]>i mercy. 
 
 Bot grannie me grace ]?at may me wysse, 
 
 To amende me of }>at I hafe done mysse ; 
 
 Sen \o.t \ou saide \i selfe ]>ou will noghte 
 
 The dede of synfull \at }>ou has boghte 
 
 Bot |>at he turne hym to doo )ri will. 
 
 And lyfe, for ]x>u will na man spyll. 
 
 Lorde swylke grace ]>ou me gyffe. 
 
 pat I may turne me to \e and lyffe. 
 
 A Lord Jhe-yu Crista ;it thanke I the. 
 
 pat all jns and mare has done for me. 
 
 And for saluacyone of mankynde, 
 
 ffor wkayin ]?ou was swa bitterly pynede. 
 
 And sufferde dede, als I be -for saide, 
 
 And lett jn body be in sepulcre layde. 
 
 Thow 3ernede sa mekill agayne to wyne 
 
 All )?as \at J?ou hade loste for syne, 
 
 That when )?ow was dede and 5eldede ]>e gaste, 
 
 Als tyte till hell \ov. gun \e fa 
 
 In saule and godhede, als was }n will, 
 
 Thy body whils in \e sepulcre lay styll ; 
 
 Till \ov. at hell come \ov. walde noghte stynte. 
 
 And ware sesede of ]>as \at \ou hade tynte. 
 
 Thow spoylede hell whene \ou come J?are, 
 
 And tuke owt vrith the all \at thyne ware. 
 
 Bot \ou lefte ]?as }?are \at walde noghte trowe, 
 
 In bj lawe, ne in ]>i biddynge bowe. 
 
 Sythene when \oo. come fra \at stede. 
 
 At \e thred day aftyre \i dede. 
 
THE FUTURE JUDGMENT. 
 
 69 
 
 348 
 
 352 
 
 356 
 
 360 
 
 364 
 
 368 
 
 372 
 
 376 
 
 380 
 
 To vpe-ryse fra decle ]>ou vouch ede-safe, 
 
 To eke \e trowhe \at we here hafe, 
 
 And schewede the bodily in thi manhede, 
 
 To conferme \e trowthe for oure mede. 
 
 Whare-fore )>i bodily vp-ryssynge, 
 
 Till vs ensample es and takynnynge, 
 
 That we sail ryse all generally 
 
 At j?e day of dome in saule and body. 
 
 Thane sail all ]>at are fundyne reghtewisse 
 
 Thurghe thyne vprysynge to blysse ryse, 
 
 Bot ]?ay ]>at lyffes ill vnto ]>aire endynge, 
 
 Settes na parte of thyne vpe-rysynge, 
 
 Bot J>ay sail ryse with dule \at day, 
 
 Till \e fire of hell \at lastes aye. 
 
 3itt thi rysynge forbysen till vs es, 
 
 ffor all \at rase fra dede til blyse endlesse, 
 
 Swa sulde we J>at til blysse wyll wyne 
 
 Gastely ryse fra dedely syne. 
 
 Eftire \i rysehynge, als \e buke sais, 
 
 pou duellede in erthe ^itt fourty dayes, 
 
 And at ]>e fourtty day \ou stey vp-righte, 
 
 Til \\ fader in till heuene bryghte. 
 
 To teche vs \e way \at we sail wende, 
 
 Til ]>e gret blysse \at has nan ende, 
 
 And settis J>are one ]>i ffadire regte liande 
 
 Als God and Lorde alweldande. 
 
 That es to saye in Godhede euene, 
 
 With thi fFadir and owrs in heuene, 
 
 The tendaye aftire \at \ou vp wente, 
 
 At vndrone ]>e Haly Gaste doune \ou sente, 
 
 Till thyn Appostills, als \ou |>em hyghte, 
 
 pat ]?eire hertes cowforthede and made ]?em lyghte. 
 
 Thurghe whame lyghtenede and leride ware we, 
 
 Off all ]?is Lorde I thanke \e. 
 
 A Lorde Jhesu at ]>e dredfull daye of dome, 
 
 When pou sail fra heuene come, 
 
 All men shall 
 rise in their 
 bodies. 
 
 Remained on 
 earth forty 
 days. 
 
 Ascended into 
 heaven. 
 
 On the tenth 
 day after, the 
 Holy Ghost 
 came down. 
 
 Christ shall 
 come again to 
 judgment. 
 
70 
 
 CHRIST THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE SINNER. 
 
 384 
 
 The strict ac- oqq 
 count that °°° 
 
 must be given 
 then. 
 
 Then can we 
 only utter the 
 prayer of 
 David. 
 
 None can be 
 saved who has 
 not obtained 
 Christ's mercy 
 here. 
 
 392 
 
 396 
 
 400 
 
 404 
 
 408 
 
 412 
 
 416 
 
 With thyne angells bryglite and clere, 
 
 And Apostells and o]>er halowes sere, 
 
 In ]>e same foiwme of man and lyknesse, 
 
 In wilke \ou was demyde here giltlesse, 
 
 To deme gud and ill of ilke lande, 
 
 Schewande jn wondes al bledande, 
 
 That \ou walde thole for synfull mane — 
 
 What sail I say or what sail I do J>an ] 
 
 When all oure werkes ]?at euer we dyde, 
 
 Sail ]?an be schewede and nathyng hide, 
 
 Of whilke we sail 3elde a cownte straitly, 
 
 And be demyde aftire we are worthi. 
 
 And I than with me na gud sail brynge 
 
 Be-fore sa heghe domesmane and kynge, 
 
 Bot synnes \at are swa manyfaulde, 
 
 That ]?ey may noghte by tonge be tawlde, 
 
 Certes I am ]?are-fore full drecland, 
 
 My herte for dred aghte to be full tremblande, 
 
 When discussione sail be of all dedis, 
 
 And \i wrethe sail be maste \at all men dredis. 
 
 Certes I ne wate whate I may say jjane, 
 
 Bot alls Dauid did, ]>e haly mane — 
 
 Do \ou, Lorde, with ]?i seruande, 
 
 Eftyi^e pi mercy, ]>at es ay sauande, 
 
 And in till dome come \ou noghte 
 
 With ]?i seruande \at \ou has boghte. 
 
 ffor I hafe hade grete drede in thoghte, 
 
 Of yi domes and \at drede leffe I noghte. 
 
 ffor ]?ou, Lorde, arte reghtewysse domes-mane, 
 
 That all thyng reghtewissly dom kane. 
 
 And thi reghtwysse dome and reghtwyssnes, 
 
 Domes synfull mene to payne endlesse, 
 
 That of J>ayre wikkidnesse will noghte blyne, 
 
 And J)i mercy here may nat wyne. 
 
 ffor sekere of mercy nane getes he, 
 
 In ]?is life bot he turne hym till ]>e. 
 
LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME. 71 
 
 And nane may \at daye be saffe, 
 Bot lie \i mercy in ]>is lyfe liafe. 
 Of whilke ]>ou erte large and leberall, 
 420 To grante it bathe grete and smalle, 
 That mercy askes and folowes ]>are-to, 
 And dos )?are-fore \at ]?eme falles to doo. 
 Whare-fore Lorde sen \ou arte ay redy, Lord grant me 
 
 m «ii -n • T^ mercy 
 
 424 To granite till like a mane \\ mercy, now. 
 
 That sekes ]?ar-to- whils ]>ay here lyffe, 
 
 Swilke grace in ]?is lyfe \ou me gyffe, 
 
 To t^rne me and to fle syne. 
 428 pat I may here \i mercy wyne. Amen. 
 
 Thurghe whilke I may at ]>e dredfull day, 
 
 Be led to \e blyse \at sail last ay. Amen. 
 
HYMN TO JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 Jesu Criste, Saynte Marye sonwe, 
 Thurgh whaym }>is werlde was worthily wroghte, 
 I pray ]>e come and in me wonne, 
 4 And of all filthes clense my thoghte. 
 
 Jesu Criste, my Godde verrav. 
 pat of oure dere lady was borne, 
 pou helpe now, and euer, and aye, 
 8 And lat me neuer for syn be lorne. 
 
 Jesu Criste, Goddes sone of heuene, 
 pat for me dyede one ]>e rude, 
 I pray J>e here my symple steuene, 
 1 2 Thurghe |?e vertue of thi haly blude. 
 
 Jesu Criste |?at one \>e thirde daye, 
 flra dede to lyffe rase thurgh thi myghte, 
 pou gyffe me gi-ace the serue to paye, 
 16 And \e to wirchip^ day and nyghte. 
 
 Jesu of whaym all gudnes sprynges, 
 Whaym all men awe to lufe by ryghte, 
 Thou make me to 3eme thi biddynges, 
 20 And thaym fullfill witA all my myghte. 
 
 Jesu Criste \at tholede for me 
 Paynes and angers bitter and felle, 
 Late me neuer be partede fra ]?e, 
 24 Ne thole \e bitter paynes of helle. 
 
THE BLESSINGS OF THE LOVE OF JESUS. 73 
 
 Jesu Criste, welle of mercy, 
 Of pete and of all gudnes, 
 Of all \e synnes \at euer did I, 
 28 I pray \e gyffe me forgyffnes. 
 
 Jesu to \e I make my mane, 
 Jesu to )>e I calle and crye, 
 Late neue?* my saule wiih syn be slane, 
 32 ffor \e mekillnes of \i mercy. 
 
 Jesu ]>at es my saueoure, 
 pou be my joy and my solace, 
 My helpe, my liele, my comfortoure, 
 36 And my socoure in ilke a place. 
 
 Jesu J>at with thi blude me boghte, 
 Jesu )?ou make me clene of syne, 
 And with ]>i lufe ]?ou wounde my thoghte, 
 40 And late me neue?* mare fra \e twynne. 
 
 Jesu I couayte to lufe the, 
 And )>at es hally my ^ernynge, 
 pare-fore to lufe ]?e \ou lere me, 
 44 And I thi lufe sail [eue?'] synge. 
 
 Jesu thi lufe in-to me sende, 
 And with J>{ lufe }>ou me fFede, 
 Jesu ]>i lufe ay in me lende, 
 48 Thi lufe euer be my saule mede. 
 
 Jesu my herte with lufe \ou lyghte, 
 Thi lufe me make euer to forsake 
 All werldly joy, bathe day and nyghte, 
 52 And joy in \e anely to make. 
 
 Jesu \\ lufe me chaufe with-in, 
 So J?at na thjmge bot the I seke, 
 In thi lufe make my saule to brym*e, 
 56 Thi lufe me make bathe milde and meke. 
 
74 THE SOUL SEEKING JESUS. 
 
 Jesu ray joy and my louynge, 
 Jesu my comforthe clere, 
 Jesu my Godde, Jesu my kynge, 
 60 Jesu witbowtten pere. 
 
 Jesu )>at all hase made of noghte, 
 Jesu ]?at boghte me dere, 
 Jesu joyne J?i lufe iu my thoghte, 
 64 Swa ]?at )?ay neuer be sere. 
 
 Jesu my dere, and my drewrye, 
 Delyte )>ou arte to synge, 
 Jesu my myrtbe, and my nielodye, 
 68 Into tbi lufe me brynge. 
 
 Jesu, Jesu, my bony swete, 
 My berte, my comfortynge, 
 Jesu all my bales )>ou bete, 
 72 And to ]>i blysse me brynge. 
 
 Jesu in tbi lufe wounde my tbogbte 
 And lyfte my berte to tbe, 
 Jesu my saule ]?at ]?ou dere bogbte, 
 76 Tbi lufere mak it to bee. 
 
 Now Jesu Lorde ]>ou gyffe me grace, 
 If it be tbi will, 
 
 Tbat I may come vn-to tbi place, 
 80 And wonne ay wit A tbe stylle. Amen. 
 
HYMN TO JESUS CHRIST 
 AND THE VIRGIN. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Fadir and Sone and Haly Gaste, 
 Lorde to \e I make my nione, 
 Stedfaste kyng of niyghtes maste, 
 4 Alle-welaand Gode sittand in trone. 
 I p?*aye \e Lorde, \at \>ou \e haste 
 To for-gyffe \at I hafe mysdone. 
 
 Lord hafe mercy of my syne, 
 8 And brynge me owte of all my care. 
 Euylle to doo I couthe neue?' blyne, 
 I hafe ay wroghte agaynes J>i lare. 
 pou rewe one me bathe owte and in, 
 1 2 And hele me of my woundes sare. 
 
 tfadir of Heuene J?at all may, 
 
 I pray )>e Lorde, J>at \ou me lede, 
 
 In stabyll trouthe ]>e ryghte way, 
 
 16 At myn endynge when I sail drede. 
 
 Thi grace I aske, bathe nyghte and day 
 
 Hafe mercy now of my mysdede. 
 
 Of rnyne askynge say me noghte nay, 
 
 20 Bot helpe me Lorde att all my nede. 
 
76 THE INTERCESSION OF THE VIRGIN. 
 
 Swete Jhegu jjat for me was borne, 
 pou here my prayere loude and stille. 
 ffor paynes ]?at me ere laide beforne, 
 
 24 ffull ofte I syghe and wepis my fylle, 
 ffull ofte haf I bene forswourne, 
 When I hafe wroghte agaynes \i will. 
 Thou late me never be forlorne, 
 
 28 Lorde, for my dedis ille. 
 
 Haly Gaste I pray to the. 
 Nyghte and clay y\ith gud entent, 
 In all my sorowe \ou oomforthe me. 
 
 32 Thi haly grace be to me sente. 
 And late me neue>* bowndene bee, 
 In dedly syn J?at I be schente, 
 ffor Marie lufe ]?at niayden free. 
 
 36 In whaym \o" lyghte verraymentc. 
 
 I pray the Lady meke and mylde, 
 pat \ou pray for my misdede, 
 ffor ]>e luffe of \at ilke ehilde. 
 
 40 pat Y jU saghe one ]>e rude blede. 
 Ewire and ay haf I bene wylde. 
 My synfull saule es euar in drede, 
 Mercy lady meke and mylde, 
 
 44 pou helpe me euer at all my nede. 
 
 Mercy Mary may den clene. 
 
 pou late me neuer in syne duelle, 
 
 Pray for me. J>at it be sene. 
 
 48 And sehelde me fra ]>e lyre of helle. 
 Certis. lady, wele I wene 
 pat all my saamen may \ou felle, 
 ffor-}>i my sorowe to J>e I mene, 
 
 52 Wftfl drery mode my tale I telle. 
 
AIAX'S NEED OF HELP. 77 
 
 Bethynke ]>e lady euer and ay, 
 
 pat of womene \ou beris \e fiour, 
 
 ffor synfull men, als I J?e say, 
 60 Oure Lorde hase done \e gret honowr. 
 
 Helpe me lady so wele \ou may. 
 
 pe behouse be my corcsailloure, 
 
 Of consaile lady I \e praye, 
 64 And also of helpe and of soconre. 
 
 Nyghte and day in wele and wa, 
 
 In all my sorowe ]>ou co?/rforthe me, 
 
 And be my schelde agayne my faa, 
 68 And kepe me, gyffe ]?i willes bee, 
 
 ffra dedly syne j>at will me slaa. 
 
 Mercy lady faire and ffree, 
 
 pon take )>at ]>e es falleue fraa. 
 72 ffor tin mercy and ]>i pete. 
 
 At myn endynge )?on stand by me, 
 
 He]?yn when I sail fou?ide and ffare, 
 
 When I sail qwake and dredfnll be, 
 76 And all my synnes so we full Bare. 
 
 Als ay my hope hase bene in the, 
 
 I pray \e lady helpe me J?are, 
 
 Ffor ]>e luffe of ]>e swette tre, 
 80 pat Jhe-s'u sprede one his body bare. 
 
 Jhesu for \at ilke harde stounde, 
 
 pat \ou walde one ]>e rude tre blede, 
 
 At myne endynge when I sail founde, 
 84 Hafe mercy Lorde of my mysdede. 
 
 And helpe me ]?are-of \e dedes wounde, 
 
 And kepe me J>are at all my nede, 
 
 "When dede me takes and brynges to grounde 
 88 Lorde |?are I sail thi domes drede. 
 
78 PRAYER FOR AID AT THE LAST. 
 
 ffor my syimes to do penance 
 
 Be-fore my clede Lorde graunt ]>ou me, 
 
 And space of verray repentance 
 
 92 Inwardly I beseke the. 
 
 In thi mercy is my fyannce, 
 
 Of my foly \ou hase pete, 
 
 And of me take \ou na vengeance. 
 
 96 Lorde for Jw debonerte. 
 
 Lorde als )>ou erte full of myghte, 
 Whase lufe es swetteste for to taste, 
 My lyfe amende, my dedis )?ou ryghte, 
 
 100 For Marie lufe \e mayden chaste. 
 And brynge me to \at ilke syghte, 
 One \e to see )?are joy es maste, 
 One \e to see J?at joyfull syghte, 
 
 104 fiadir and Sonn and ]>e Haly Gaste. Amen. 
 
MORAL POEM. 
 
 VII. 
 
 When Adam dalfe and Ene spane, 
 So spire if \ou may spede, 
 Whare was ]?an \e pride of man, 
 4 pat nowe merres bis mede % 
 
 Of erthe and lame as was Adam, 
 Nakede to noye and nede, 
 We er, als he, naked to be, 
 8 Wbills we J>is lyfe sail lede. 
 With I and oe, borne er we, 
 As Salamon vs highte, 
 To trauell here whills we er fere, 
 12 As fewle vn-to ]>e flyghte. 
 
 In werlde we ware casten for care. 
 To we ware worthi to wende, 
 To wele or wa, ane of Jrnse twa, 
 
 16 To walde witA-owtten ende. 
 
 For-thi whiles J>ou may helpe \e nowe, 
 Amend \e and hafe mynde, 
 When J>ou sail ga, he bese thi ffaa, 
 
 20 pat here was are thi ffrende. 
 WttA oe and I, I rede forthi, 
 Umthynke ]>e ay of thre, 
 What we er, and whate we warre, 
 
 24 And whate ]?at we sail be. 
 
80 man's perishing state. 
 
 Ware \ou als wysse prays ede in pryce, 
 
 Als was Salomon, 
 
 Wele fairere fude of bane and blude, 
 28 pat was Absolone, 
 
 Strenghely and strange, to wreke thi wrange 
 
 As euer was Sanipsone, 
 
 pou ne nryghte a day, na mare }>an ]?ay, 
 32 pe dede witA-stand allone. 
 
 Wit& I and ce. \e dede to ]>e, 
 
 Sail come als I )>e kene, 
 
 Bot J)OU ne whate in whatekynstate 
 36 Ne how. ne whare, ne whence. 
 
 When bemes sail blawe, rewly on rawe, 
 To rekkenynge buse vs ryse, 
 When he sail come vn-to J?at dome 
 
 40 Jhesu to sitt instyse. 
 
 pat are was leue ]?ane mon be greue, 
 When all gastis sail ryse, 
 I say ]>at ]>an to synfull man 
 
 44 Sary bese }>at assise. 
 
 WftA I and ce, he sail noghte flee, 
 
 If all he his giltes fele, 
 
 He ne may hyni hide, bot |?are habyde, 
 
 48 Ne fra \at dome appelle. 
 
 Of all thyne aughte, \at \e was raughte, 
 Sail J>ou noghte hafe I hete, 
 Bot seuen fote J>are-in to rote, 
 And a wyndynge schete. 
 
 52 ffor-]?i \ou gyffe, whils \ou may lyfe, 
 Or all gase ]>at \ou may gete, 
 Thi gaste fra Godd \i gudes clodde, 
 Thi flesche foldes vndir fete. 
 
 56 With I and ce, full sekire \ou be, 
 pat thyne executurs 
 
81 
 
 Of J>e ne will rekke, bot skikk and skekke 
 Full baldely in thi boures. 
 
 60 To dome we drawe, \e sothe to schawe, 
 
 In lyfe J?at vs was lente. 
 
 No latyn ne lawe may helpe an hawe, 
 
 Bot rathely vs repente. 
 64 The croice, \e crowne, ]>e spere bese bowne 
 
 pat Ihesu ruggede and rente ; 
 
 pe nayles ruyde sail \e conclude 
 
 With thyne awene argument. 
 68 With ce, and o, take kepe }>er-to, 
 
 As Criste hym-selfe vs kende ; 
 
 We come and goo to wele or wo, 
 
 That dredfull dome sail ende. 
 
 72 Of will and witt \at vesettes it 
 In worde, and ]?at we wroghte, 
 Rekkene we nione, and 3elde resone 
 Full rathely of our thoghte. 
 
 76 Sail no fallace cufere our case, 
 Ne consaile gette we noghte, 
 Ne gyfte ne grace nojjer }>are gase, 
 Bot brwke as we hafe broghte. 
 
 80 With 03 and I, I rede for-thi, 
 Be warre nowe witA thi werkes, 
 ffor terymes of 5ere hase \ou nane here, 
 Thi medes sail be thi merkes. 
 
 84 What so it be, ]?at we here see, 
 
 pe fairehede of thi face, 
 
 Thi ble so bryghte, thi mayne, thi myghte, 
 
 pi mouthe \at myrthis mase. 
 88 All mon als was to powdir passe, 
 
 To graue whene J?at \ou gase, 
 
82 MANS PERISHING STATE. 
 
 A grysely geste, )>an bese ]>ou preste, 
 In armes for to brace. 
 92 With I and oe for leue \ou me, 
 Bese nane, as I \e hete, 
 Of all J>i kyth dare slepe \e with 
 A nyghte vndir }>i schete. 
 
 
HYMN TO JESUS CHEIST. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Ihesu, thi swetnes wha moglite it se, 
 And j?are-of hafe a clere knawynge, 
 All erthely lufe sulde bitter bee, 
 
 4 Bot thyne allane witA-owtten lesynge. 
 I pray ]>e Lorde ]?at lare lere mee, 
 Aftir ]>i lufe to hafe langynge, 
 And sadly sett my lierte one )>e, 
 
 8 In ]?i lufe to hafe lykynge. 
 
 So lykand lufe in erthe nane es, 
 In saule wha sa couthe hertly se, 
 To lufe hym wele ware mekill blysse, 
 
 12 ffor kyng of lufe callede es he. 
 With trewe lufe I walde, I wysse, 
 So harde to hym bowndene be, 
 pat my herte ware hally hys, 
 
 16 And o]>er lufe lykede noghte me. 
 
 If I for kyndnes suld luf my kyne, 
 Ay me thynke ]?us in my thoghte, 
 By kyndly skyll I sulde begyne 
 
 20 At hym J>at me gun make of noghte. 
 Hys semblant he sette my saule with-in, 
 And this werlde for me he wroghte, 
 As fadir of fude my lufe to wyne, 
 
 24 ffor herytage in heuene he me boghte. 
 
84 HYMN TO JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 As modir, of hym I may make mynde, 
 
 pat are my byrthe to me tuke hede, 
 
 And sejme with baptym weschede \at strynde 
 
 28 With synn was fylede with Adame's dede. 
 With nobill mete he nureschede my kynde, 
 ffor with his flesche he walde me fede, 
 A better fude may na mane fynde, 
 
 32 ffor to lastande lyfe it will vs lede. 
 
 My broker and syster he es by skyll, 
 ffor he saide and lerede J>at lare, 
 pat wha sa dide his fadyr will, 
 
 36 Systers and brejnr till hym ]?ay ware. 
 My kynde also he tuke ]>are till, 
 ffull trewly I tryste ]?are-fore, 
 pat he will neuer lat me spyll, 
 
 40 Bot with his mercy sane my sore. 
 
 Eftyr his lufe me bude lange, 
 ffor he has nryne full dere boghte, 
 When I was went fra hym with wrange, 
 
 44 ftra heuene to erthe he me soghte. 
 My wrechede kynde for me he fange, 
 And all his noblay sette at noghte, 
 Pouerte he suffirde and penance strange, 
 
 48 To blysse agayne are he me broghte. 
 
 When I was thralle to make me fre, 
 My lufe fra heuene till erthe hym ledde, 
 My lufe allane hafe walde he, 
 
 52 And ]?at my saule sulde sauede be. 
 pare-fore he laide his lyfe in wedde, 
 With my faa he faughte for mee, 
 Woundide he was and bitterly bledde, 
 
 56 His precyous blude full of plentee 
 
HYMN TO JESUS CHRIST. 85 
 
 ffull petevofely for me was schede, 
 His sydes full bla and bludy ware, 
 That sumtym ware full brighte of blee, 
 
 60 His herte was perchede with a spere. 
 His bludy woundes was reutlie to see, 
 My raunsone I wys he payede ]>are, 
 And gaffe his lyffe for gylte of me, 
 
 64 His dulefull dede burde do me dere, 
 
 And perche myne herte for pure petee, 
 ffor pete myne herte burde breke in two, 
 To his kyndenes if I tuke hede, 
 
 68 Enchesone I was of all his wo. 
 
 He sufferde full harde for my mysdede, 
 To lastand lyfe for I sulde goo, 
 The dede he tholede in his manhede 
 
 72 When his will was to lyfe also. 
 
 He rasse agayne thurghe his Godhede, 
 Till heuene he wente with mekill blysse, 
 When he hade vengwyste his bataile, 
 
 76 His banere full brade displayede es. 
 When so my faa will me assaile, 
 Wele aghte myne herte J?an to be his, 
 ffor he es \at frende \at neuer will faile, 
 
 80 And na thynge he will I wys, 
 Bot trewe lufe for his trauaile. 
 
 Thus walde my spouse for me fyghte, 
 And woundide for me he was full sare, 
 
 84 ffor my lufe his dede was dyghte — 
 
 WTiat kyndnes myghte he do me mare 1 
 To 3elde hym his lufe hafe I na myghte, 
 Bot lufe hym lelly I sulde |?are-fore, 
 
 88 And wyrke his will with werkes ryghte, 
 That he me leryde with lufely lore. 
 
86 HYMN TO JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 His lufly lare with werkes fulfill, 
 Well aghte me wreche if I ware kynde, 
 
 92 Nygkte and claye to wirke his will, 
 And euer mare hafe hym in mynde. 
 Bot gastely enemyse greues me ill, 
 And my frele flesche makes me blynde, 
 
 96 Thare-fore his mercy I take me till, 
 ffor bettire bute I kane nane fynde. 
 
 Bettire bute es nane to me, 
 
 Bot till his mercy trewely me take, 
 
 100 That with his blude made me fre, 
 
 And me a wreche his sune walde make. 
 I praye ]>at lorde for his petee, 
 ffor my synn noghte me for-sake, 
 
 104 Bot gyffe me grace syne for to flee, 
 And in his lufe lat me neuer slake. 
 
 A Ihesu, for \>e swetnes ])at in the es, 
 Hafe mynde of me when I sail wende, 
 
 108 Wit/i stedfaste trouthe my wittes wysse, 
 And defende me fra ]>e fencle. 
 ffor Jn mercy forgyffe me my mysse, 
 That wikkede werkes my saule ne schende, 
 
 112 Bot brynge me, Lorde, vnto ]>i blysse 
 With )>e to wonne with owttene ende. 
 
 Amen. 
 
OF SAYNE JOHN THE EU A C/NGELIST. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1 Of all mankynde )?at he made J>at maste es of myghte, 
 And of \e inolde merkede and mesured that tyde, 
 Wirchipede be J?ou Eiumngelist with euer-ilke a wyghte, 
 pat he wroghte in this werlde wonnande so wyde. 
 Louede be J>ou lufely lugede in lyghte. 
 To life ay in lykynge J>at lorde the relyede, 
 That in bedleme was borne of a byrde brighte. 
 That barne brynge vs to blysse J?are beste es to byde ; 
 To byde in his blysse, 
 Thare he is and his 
 Dysciplis ilkone. 
 Whare myrthe may noghte mysse, 
 That way ]>ou vs wysse, 
 Eucmngelist Ihon. 
 
 Of all men 
 the worthiest 
 was John, 
 called of him 
 who was 
 born in 
 Bethlehem. 
 
 Iohn as ]>e gete or germandir gente, 
 As jasper ]?e jowell of gentill perry, 
 So was J?ou daynte as drowry derely endent 
 In his dedis ]>at for dule endeynede hym to dye. 
 pou was lufed of ]>at lorde )?at vs lyfe lente, 
 pare was na lyncaude lede he lete mare by, 
 Ne na wyghte in |>is werlde with hym \at went, 
 And by thi werkes I wate \dX ]>ou was worthi. 
 
 A bright 
 jewel among 
 men, dearly 
 loved of that 
 Lord that 
 gave us life. 
 
88 
 
 SAINT JOHN, 
 
 Wele worthi j>ou ware, 
 ffor thi werkes ay whare, 
 
 And dedis by-dene. 
 Now forthir to fare, 
 Of thi mekenes mare 
 
 With mouthe will I mene. 
 
 Born in 
 Galilee, of 
 Zebedee and 
 Mary. He 
 left his father 
 and his nets 
 and went to 
 Jesus. 
 
 His mother 
 and all his 
 worldly goods 
 he abandoned 
 to follow his 
 Lord. 
 
 In Galylee graythely gome was \ou get, 
 
 As Godcl of his gudnes graunted \e grace, 
 
 Zebede thi fadir the fude ]>at the fet, 
 
 He fedd the and fosterde ]?at faire was of face, 
 
 pou was myldeste of mode ]?at euer mane mett, 
 
 Thi modir highte Mary, swylk menesyng men mase. 
 
 The seet scho aste for hir sondes myght hir thynk wele sett, 
 
 And of thaire syttynge for-sothe hafe sere solace. 
 
 Solace was it to \e, 
 
 The pereles of poust£, 
 Called the full styll. 
 
 pou forsuke thi fadir fre, 
 
 Schipe and nett of j?e see, 
 And went hym vntill. 
 
 Thi modir thi mobles all maner of thyng, 
 
 pat any man in his mynde aftir myghte mene, 
 
 Of all J>e welthe and ]>e wanes thou hade in kepynge, 
 
 To carye with J?at curaly thou keste the full clene. 
 
 With )>at lorde for to lende was thi lykynge, 
 
 And for his lufe all lythes lefte thou by- dene. 
 
 By-dene lefte ]?ou it all, 
 
 pat was thyne in with walle, 
 The werlde J?ou forsuke. 
 
 Thare-by sett J?ou bot smalle 
 
 When \ou come to his calle, 
 As witnese the buke. 
 
 He was wise 
 and meek 
 and pure 
 and good. 
 
 Thou was witty and wyse, thi werkes vn-wylde, 
 pou werede the fro werkynges wrechid ]?at ware, 
 
SAINT JOHN. 
 
 89 
 
 pou was methe and meke as maydene for-mylde, 
 Thi inynde moued }>ou fro myse one ilk a manere. 
 Thou was faire and fayntles, with na fylthe filede, 
 Ne with na fandyng thi flesche defoulide with na fere, 
 ffor-thi was J>ou chosene chaste as a child, 
 Oure cheftane he chose the vnchangide of chere. 
 
 Thi chere was full chaste 
 
 ffro werkes all waste, 
 
 Noghte assentand to syne. 
 
 mill gude was thi gaste, 
 
 Na filthe had defaste 
 The verray virgyne. 
 
 Thou was sybbe oure saueoure, hir system' sone 
 
 Whas semely sydis saluede oure sare, 
 
 pat was ]>e byrde so bryghte with birdyne 3ode bun, 
 
 And ]?e barne aljnr-beste of body scho bare. 
 
 Bathe frenchipe and faythe to frayste it bese fune, 
 
 In )>at frely fude to folowe his fare, 
 
 ffor-thi with ]?at worthi, Iohn, wald \ou wonne, 
 
 And wiih hym walke whate way Jjat his will ware. 
 
 Ware his will was to wende, 
 
 Or hym lyked to lende, 
 Bathe myldely and still. 
 
 pou helde J?e ay with J?at hende, 
 
 And ferde forthe with thi frende, 
 And wroghte at his wyll. 
 
 Akin after 
 the flesh to 
 the Saviour. 
 His faithful 
 follower In 
 all things. 
 
 Thou was preue with j?at prynce in euer-ilk a place, 
 
 To the he publischede )>e poyntis of his preuate, 
 
 ffirste when ]?at frely transfegurede his face, 
 
 To a fone of his folke a ferly to see. 
 
 Serene at the supere, thorghe souerayne grace, 
 
 Many selcouthe syghte schewede he to ]>e. 
 
 ffor \ou was trayste and trewe and folowede his trace, 
 
 And tuke at his techyng )?at faythfull es and free. 
 
 In the Trans- 
 figuration 
 and at the 
 Supper spe- 
 cial grace 
 was shewn 
 to him. 
 
90 
 
 SAINT JOHN. 
 
 ffree fro thralle vs to brynge, 
 Heghe one rude walde he hynge, 
 
 So lawe wald he lende. 
 And )>ou his derlyng, 
 His modir in kepyng, 
 
 To \e he be-kende. 
 
 He kept the 
 holy mother 
 with care 
 and duty. 
 
 After her 
 departure, 
 went into 
 Asia, and 
 preached. 
 
 Thou was bouxsome and bayne his body to tent, 
 
 And to his byddyng bowand to blysse J>at vs broghte, 
 
 Thou seruede j>at semly till hir sone sent 
 
 Aftir hir hym-selfene, and sythene Jjou soghte, 
 
 In-to Asye ]>e way warly thou went, 
 
 Thare worthyly werkes of wirchipe )?ou wroghte, 
 
 Prechede appertely the puple repent, 
 
 Thorghe prikkynges of penance frapaynes ]?outhay me broghte. 
 
 pou broghte thaym to blysse 
 
 Therowe mendynge of mysse, 
 Gret kirkes \ou made. 
 
 pe Emperoure of ]>is 
 
 Was warre, as I wysse, 
 And hatrede he hade. 
 
 The heathen 
 emperor had 
 him seized, 
 and boiled in 
 oil ; then laid 
 on an iron 
 plate. 
 
 Domycyane, )>at deuyls lymme, dedeyned at )>i clede, 
 
 And demyd the for thi doynge with dule for to dye, 
 
 With tyraunte3 he tuk the als theefe in ]?at thede, 
 
 Thay toylede the by-twene thaym and threted the thraly. 
 
 Thase licherouse lurdans, laytheste in lede, 
 
 To porte-latyne thase laddes the ledden full laythely, 
 
 Thane the boustoure balde with barett he bedde 
 
 That thay thi body suld bare with bale for to bye. 
 
 To by was }>ou made bare, 
 
 And done in a toune thare, 
 With oyle wellande hate. 
 
 Sej?ene wald J>ay noghte spare, 
 
 pay sett the full sare 
 One ane yrene plate. 
 
SAINT JOHN. 
 
 91 
 
 10 Of all J?e dedes J>ay couthe doo ]>at derfe ware and dill 
 Thou dyede noghte, for thaire dide no dere vn-to the, 
 ffoulely foullede ]?ay thi flesche, }it felid ]?ou nane ille, 
 ffor-thi ]>is famene the flemede owte of cuntre, 
 pan to Pathmos a place passede ]>ou vn-tyll, 
 The apocalips in that place with a pene free 
 Wysely |?ou wrate it, with witt and with will, 
 And for thi werke ]?ou ware worthi wirchipede to be. 
 To be wirchiped with nryghte, 
 pou ware worthi full ryghte 
 
 In euer-ilk a place. 
 Thou was witnes of lyghte, 
 That wysses euer-ilk a wyghte. 
 Thi name es Goddes grace. 
 
 But no tor- 
 tures could 
 hurt him. 
 Therefore he 
 was banished 
 to Patmos, 
 where he 
 wrote the 
 Apocalypse. 
 
 1 1 Grete grace was ]>e gyffene and grauntede also, 
 
 Thurghe his gudnes ]?at gyfes vs all gyftes of mayne, 
 Whils ]>ou suggeourned in ]?at suyle Domycyane thi foo 
 At a senile ]>at segge in certayne was slayne. 
 pan ]?ou gysed the gerne and gafe \e to goo 
 Till Ephesym graythely \e gates J>at ware gayne. 
 ffeele folke ware thi frendes J>are \ou ferde froo, 
 And for to frayste of thi fare \e to]?er ware fayne. 
 ffayne ware ]?e folke free, 
 And come rynnande to the, 
 
 And hailsed the hame. 
 And saide )>us vn-to the, 
 Blissede ay mote he be, 
 
 pat comes in Goddes name. 
 
 But Domitian 
 being slain, 
 he returned 
 to Ephesus, 
 where he is 
 joyfully 
 received. 
 
 12 Thane was Orncyane clede, thi derlynge so dere, 
 And sulde to delfynge be done dredles }>at daye, 
 Bot }>ou bade thayme habycle and sett downe \e bere, 
 Then blyssede J>e body bare |>are it laye. 
 Scho sett hir vp softely with a blythe chere, 
 Als scho hade slepede it semede, sothe for to saye, 
 
 He raises 
 Orncyane 
 to life. 
 
92 
 
 SAINT JOHN. 
 
 Turns sticks 
 into gold, 
 and makes 
 precious 
 
 stones. 
 
 He raises a 
 child to life, 
 who testifies 
 against the 
 lovers of gold. 
 
 pay hade wondir of J>at wyghte, ]>e wyes J?at ]>ere ware, 
 And all wirchipede tin werke ]?at wente by ]>e waye. 
 By ]>e way )>ay }>at went 
 pay lefte landis and rent 
 "With the for to wende. 
 To no thyng tuke J?ay tent, 
 And sone sum of thaym repent, 
 By fondyng of )>e fende. 
 
 13 pay ware curabyrde in couetyse )>e caytefs had care, 
 ffor J?aire knaues ware cledde in clethyng full clene, 
 And )>ay hade no thynge in hande as ]>ay had hadde are, 
 And-ware noghte haldene so myghty as ]?ay had are bene, 
 ffor-thi wroghte J>ou )?aire will, of wandes ]?at ware 
 Thow made golde full gude and gafe ]?am I wene, 
 Smale stanes of ]?e see saynecle \ou ]>are, 
 
 And j>ay warre saphirs for-sothe was nane swylke sene. 
 Sene swylke was ]>are none, 
 ffor fyne precyouse stone. 
 
 The wandes whe?ie \ou badde 
 pay ware golde ylkone, 
 pou gafe thaym welthe mare wone 
 pan ]>ay euer hadde. 
 
 14 When J?ay had welthe more wane ]?an )>ay euer bewane, 
 pay wente home by }>e waye, vnwysely J>ay wroghte. 
 
 A 3onge barne in ]?at burghe was dede ryghte thane, 
 
 pat ilke body J>at hym bare to bale scho was broghte. 
 
 His modir come manande, with hir many mane, 
 
 To the made thay thayre mane, mele myghte thay noghte, 
 
 And for thay grett so grysely to grete ]?ou bygane, 
 
 To Godd of his gudnes serene ]?ou besoghte. 
 
 pou besoghte Godd of myghte, 
 
 pan ]>e childe rase vpe-ryghte, 
 And tolde j?ame mil euene 
 
 pat lett by ]?i lare lyghte, 
 
 And couetede ]?e golde bryghte, 
 How J>ay hadd loste heuene. 
 
SAINT JOHN. 
 
 93 
 
 1 5 Than thay wepede and weryede ]>aire werke and J>aire wyll, 
 pat ]?ay for welthe of j>e werlde sulde wende vn-to woo, 
 Thow said will }e suffire sothely and still 
 
 Seuene dayes penance 1 and son?ie said thay 500. 
 Thay tuke at thi techynge and traysted J>ar-tyll, 
 pay had for-thynkyng in thoghte ]?at J>ay it fledde froo. 
 pe p?*ecyouse stones semly to see appone syll, 
 And )>e golde in thaire kynde a-gayne gun ]>ay goo. 
 
 Thay go agayne in degre 
 
 As ]?aire kynde was to bee 
 Stones as ]>ay ware. 
 
 The golde turnede to wandis free, 
 
 pan ]>at syghte fra thay see, 
 Myse dicld J>ay na mare. 
 
 16 In J>at cuntre was a clerke knawene and kende, 
 
 pay callede hym Gratone \e cunande thurghe owte clergy, 
 
 All }>e laude and J>at lede ]>at he gune in lende, 
 
 With his lawes and his lare warre J?ay ledd by ; 
 
 pat philosophir all j?e folke faste he defende 
 
 That thay suld noghte in thy faythe, Iohn, J?ame any. 
 
 pus merrede be )>e mene ]?aire mysse for to mende, 
 
 And thurghe mawmetis he made mony a maystry. 
 
 Thurgh thaym the he soghte, 
 
 ffor the, Iohn, forsothe he wroghte, 
 A puysowe to profe the. 
 
 He saide, as he thoghte, 
 
 If it noyede the noghte, 
 pane walde he lufe the. 
 
 1 7 Bot j?at puysone to profe that prouddeste in palle, 
 Profirde it two presoners was puneschede in pyne, 
 Als faste als J)ay felyd it downe dede gune ]>ay falle, 
 So was it fell for to prayste ]>e fylthe was so fyne. 
 Bot ]>ou sanede thayme alsone seande thaym alle, 
 And sayuede \e coppe owtely and suppede it off syne, 
 Thow hade no harme |?at behelde ]>at hendeste in hall, 
 And to the hally |?ay helidide bathe he and his hyne. 
 
 The gold- 
 lovers do 
 penance, and 
 the gold and 
 precious 
 stones turn 
 back again. 
 
 A cunning 
 clerk called 
 Graton op- 
 posed John, 
 and tried to 
 poison him. 
 
 The poison 
 slays two 
 prisoners, but 
 John re- 
 stored them, 
 and drank 
 the cup 
 without 
 harm. 
 
04 
 
 SAINT JOHX 
 
 He preaches 
 brotherly 
 love and 
 charitv. 
 
 The wise men 
 of Ephesus 
 desire John 
 to be their 
 bishop. 
 
 19 
 
 His hyne holly and he 
 Trewely trowede Jiare to }>e. 
 
 Become }>are thi brothire. 
 pou said to ]?at meu;e 
 Luke \>at 3c lufande be 
 
 Ilkone to o]>er. 
 
 Thou bade thavm be free to frayste in J>aire fare, 
 
 ftaythefull and frendely till eucr-ilk a fere, 
 
 What may jns mene, quod these niene, mone it vs mare. 
 
 We hafe no mencyone no mynde of )?is matere. 
 
 It es ]>e com//2andeme/it of Criste )?at I 30W declare, 
 
 To kepe it be commande all mankynde clere, 
 
 Luke 3e releue ilke a lede J?at lykes 3oure lare, 
 
 To lufe ilk man as 30iire selfe this lessone ye lere. 
 
 To lere nowe ]?is rygkte. 
 
 Gret Godd of his myghte 
 Graunte 30U \e grace, 
 
 And Ih&su, )>at worthi wyghte, 
 
 Helpe vs all to J>at lyghte 
 For to see his face. 
 
 Wyse men and witty )>at of thi werkes wyste, 
 TVeled the for wo [r] thi wirchip/? to welde, 
 To be )?aire beschope blithely J>ay bedde the so blyste, 
 ffor j?ou myghte in thaire bale beste be thaire belde, 
 Thay menskede the with manhede with mytir vn-myste, 
 And folowed thi fare freely in frythe and in felde. 
 Thus thow lyffede in the lande whils oure Lorde lyste. 
 And whene hym lykede he laghte the thi gaste \ou gun 
 hym 3elde. 
 
 ffor to 5elde the thi mede, 
 
 In heuene for thi glide dede, 
 Whene \ou heuene paste, 
 
 He was redy we rede. 
 
 To }iat lyghte he vs lede, 
 
 pat mar more sail laste. Amen. 
 
EAETH TO EAETH. 
 
 x. 
 
 Erthe owte of ertlie es wondirly wroghte, 
 Ertlie hase getyn one erthe a dignyte of noghte, 
 Erthe appone erthe hase sett alle his thoghte, 
 4 How J>at erthe appone erthe may be heghe broghte. 
 Erthe appone erthe wolde be a kynge, 
 Bot howe \at erthe to erthe sail, thynkis he no thynge. 
 When erthe bredis erthe and his rentis home brynge, 
 8 Thane sail erthe of erthe hafe full harde partynge. 
 Erthe appone erthe wynnys castells and towrys, 
 Thus sase erthe vnto erthe, this es alle owrris, 
 When erthe appone erthe hase bigged vp his bourns, 
 
 12 Than schalle erthe for erthe suffire scharp stourrys. 
 Erthe gose appone erthe as golde appone golde, 
 He that gose appone erthe gleterande as golde, 
 Lyke als erthe neue?* mare goo to erthe scholde, 
 
 16 And 3itt schall erthe vnto erthe 3a ra there )>an he wolde. 
 Now why \at ertlie luffis erthe, wondire me thynke, 
 Or why \at erthe for erthe scholde o]>er swete or swynke, 
 For when ]>at erthe appone erthe es broghte wttA-in brynke. 
 
 20 Thane schalle erthe of erthe hafe a foulle stynke. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 A, adj. one, p. 3, 1. 4. 
 
 Affy, v. trust, have confidence in, 
 
 p. 93, 1. 20. 
 Agayne-stande, v. resist, p. 17, 
 
 1. 18. 
 Alegeance, s. lightening, allevia- 
 tion, p. 8, 1. 20, p. 28, 1. 8. 
 Alkyn, adj. all sorts of, p. 5, 
 
 1. 6. 
 Als-tite, adv. as soon, at once, 
 
 p. 18, 1. 30, p. 22, 1. 9. 
 Althir-beste, adj. best of all, p. 31, 
 
 1. 12. Althir = genitive aller. 
 Al)?ir-myghtyeste, adj. mightiest 
 
 of all, p. 31, 1. 11. 
 Althir-wyseste, adj. wisest of all, 
 
 p. 31, 1. 12. 
 Alweldande or alwelaand, v. rul- 
 ing over all, p. 69, 1. 370, p. 75, 
 
 1.4. 
 Ambynowre, s. almoner, p. 53, 
 
 1. 24. 
 Anehede, s. unity, p. 45, 1. 7. 
 Anence, adv. concerning, p. 2, 
 
 1. 35. 
 Anlypy, adj. single, unmarried, 
 
 p. 13, 1.22 (A.-S. anlipig). 
 Anourene, v. honour, p. 21, 1. 32. 
 Anykyne, adj. any sort, p. 31, 
 
 1. 18. 
 Apperte, adj. open, p. 22, 1. 20. 
 Appertly, openly, p. 90, 1. 13. 
 Are, adv. erewhile, before, p. 79, 
 
 1. 20, p. 92, 1. 11. 
 
 Assethe, s. restitution, p. 6, 1. 22. 
 
 The early form of the word 
 
 ' Assets.' See Glossary to 
 
 Pricke of Conscience (ed. 
 
 Morris). 
 Assoylede, v. absolved, p. 6, 1. 28. 
 At, prep, to, p. 26, 1. 35. 
 Aughte, s. one's own, possessions, 
 
 p. 80, 1. 49. 
 Avowtry, s. adultery, p. 13, 1. 24. 
 Avysede, adj. foreseen, expected, 
 
 p. 19, 1.31. 
 Awe, v. ought, owe, p. 1, 1. 23, 
 
 p. 8, 1. 14. 
 Ayers, s. heirs, p. 31, 1. 6. 
 Aysell, s. vinegar, p. 66, 1. 250. 
 
 Barett, s. fierceness, savage en- 
 mity (Halliwell), p. 90, 1. 27. 
 
 Barne-tyme, s. progeny, p. 57, 
 1. 29 (A.-S. beam-team). 
 
 Bathere, old gen. form, of both, 
 p. 8, 1. 30. 
 
 Baylyes, s. governors, p. 52, 1. 7. 
 
 Bayne, adj. ready, p. 90, 1. 7. 
 
 "So bayn were )>ay boJ?e two his 
 bone for to wyrk." 
 
 Allit. Poems, c. 136. 
 
 Bedleme, s. Bethlehem, p. 87, 
 
 1. 7. 
 Behouse, v. behoves, p. 77, 1. 62. 
 Bekende, v. committed, entrusted, 
 
 p. 90, 1. 6. 
 Belde, s. protection, p. 94, 1. 24. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 97 
 
 Also used as a verb, to be in 
 safety and security. 
 
 " Ewyre to byde and to belde in 
 blysse with hym selvene." 
 
 Morte Arthure, 1. 8. 
 
 Bemes, s. trumpets, p. 80, 1. 37. 
 Benysone, s. blessing, p. 29, 1. 35. 
 Bete, v. make better, heal, p. 74, 
 
 1.71. 
 Bewane (r. be wan we), v. won, a 
 
 stronger form of wanne, p. 92, 
 
 1. 23. 
 Bigged, v. builded, p. 95, 1. 11. 
 Birdyne, s. burden, p. 89, 1. 15. 
 Ble or blee, s. complexion, p. 81, 
 
 1. 87, p. 85, 1. 59. 
 
 "Us bus have a blode bande, or bi 
 ble change." 
 
 Morte Arthure, 2576. 
 
 Blynnes, v. ceases, p. 2, 1. 1. 
 
 " And get ne kuSe he nogt blinne, 
 For to don an oSer sinne." 
 
 Genesis and Exodus, 289. 
 
 Bolleuynge (r. bollenynge), s. 
 
 swelling, p. 12, 1. 11. 
 Boste, s. boasting, p. 11, 1. 31. 
 Boustoure, s. arrogant one, tyrant, 
 
 p. 90, 1. 27. 
 Bouxome, adj. obedient, p. 5, 
 
 1.27. 
 Bowne, adj. ready, p. 81, 1. 65. 
 Brwke, v. enjoy, receive, p. 81, 
 
 1.80. 
 Brynke, s. bank, mound, p. 95, 
 
 I. 19. 
 
 Brynnynge, s. burning, p. 22, 
 
 1.15. 
 Bun, adv. promptly, p. 89, 1. 15. 
 Buse or bude, v. behoves, behoved, 
 
 p. 80, 1. 38, p. 84, 1.41. 
 Bute, s. remedy, p. 86, 1. 97. 
 By-dene, adv. thereto, besides, 
 
 p. 88, 1. 3 ; straightway, 1. 27. 
 Bye, v. abye, abide, endure, p. 90, 
 
 II. 28, 29. 
 
 By-houely, adv. fittingly, pro- 
 perly, p. 5, 1. 12. 
 Byrde, s. lady, virgin, p. 87, 1. 7. 
 
 Byse, s. fine linen, p. 63, 1. 145 
 (M. Gothic hwssaun, Gr. fivovos, 
 Hebrew Buts). 
 
 " Sum man was rich and was clothid 
 in purpur and biys, and he eet ech 
 day schynyngli." 
 
 Luke xvi. 19. Wicldiffe. 
 
 Carpyng, s. speaking, p. 7, 1. 17. 
 Carye, v. go, p. 88, 1. 24 (A.-S. 
 
 cerran). 
 Catell, s. chattels, goods, property, 
 
 p. 6, 1.19. 
 
 " Bekennes be catel to be kyng, bat 
 he ca3t hade." 
 
 Allit. Poems, 1296. 
 
 Caytefly, adv. wretchedly, p. 38, 
 
 1. 16. 
 Caytifiede, adj. wretched, p. 36, 
 
 1. 29. 
 Cely, vide Sely. 
 Chasty, v. chastise, correct, p. 9, 
 
 1.15. 
 Chaufe, v. warm, p. 73, 1. 53. 
 Chese, v. choose, p. 11, 1. 3. 
 Clowtis, s. cloths, p. 40, 1. 10. 
 Collacyone, s. instruction, p. 22, 
 
 1. 9. 
 Communers, s. partakers of, p. 1, 
 
 1. 6. 
 Comonynge, s. communion, p. 3, 
 
 1. 18. 
 Complyn, s. the last or completing 
 
 service of the 24 hours, p. 43, 
 
 I. 17. 
 
 Contekes, s. contests, p. 23, 1. 21. 
 
 Couande (r. conande), adj. cun- 
 ning, skilful, p. 48, 1. 13. 
 
 Couandely (r. conandely), adv. 
 carefully, thoroughly, p. 14, 
 
 II. 2, 4. 
 
 Couaundenes (r. conaundenes), s. 
 
 care, skill, thought, p. 12, 1. 32. 
 Cufere, v. cover, conceal, p. 81, 
 
 1. 77. 
 Cumly, adj. comely, fair one, 
 
 p. 88, 1.24. 
 
 7 
 
98 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Cun, v. to know, to know how, 
 to be able, p. 1, 1. 23, p. 2, 1. 29 
 (A.-S. cunnan). 
 
 Dalfe (perf. of delve), dug, p. 79, 
 
 1. 1. 
 Debonerte, s. kindness, mercy, 
 
 p. 78, 1. 96. 
 Dede, s. death, p. 3, 1. 23. 
 Dedeyned, s. disdained, was angry 
 
 at, p. 90, 1.21. 
 Defaute, s. lack, want, p. 29, 1. 14. 
 Defendes, v. forbids, p. 37, 1. 2. 
 Defule, v. overcome, p. 46, 1. 8 
 
 (0. F. defoiller). 
 Deme, v. think, judge, p. 3, 1. 25, 
 
 p. 20, 1. 28, p. 90, 1. 22. 
 Demyng, s. thinking, reasoning, 
 
 judging, p. 61, 1.80. 
 Dere, s. mischief, harm, p. 91, 
 
 1.2. 
 Derely, adv. richly, p. 87, 1. 17. 
 Derfe, adj. strong, p. 91, 1. 1. 
 Dill, adj. secret, cunning, p. 91, 
 
 1. 1. 
 Dolvene, v. buried, p. 4, 1. 10. 
 Dortour, s. the dormitory, p. 50, 
 
 1. 11. 
 Doungene, v. beaten violently, 
 
 p. 41, 1. 4. 
 Dowte, v. do out, put away, avoid, 
 
 p. 22, 1. 11. 
 Dredles, adv. certainly, p. 91, 
 
 1. 30. 
 Dreryly, adv. miserably, p. 31, 
 
 1. 5, p. 60, 1. 30. 
 Drewry, s. love, p. 74, 1. 65 ; 
 
 jewel, p. 87, 1. 17. 
 Dule, s. sorrow, trouble, p. 87, 
 
 1. 18. 
 Dynge, adj. worthy, p. 61, 1. 91. 
 Dysses, s. want of ease, discom- 
 fort, p. 24, 1. 26. 
 Dyssessed, v. disseized, made to 
 
 give up, p. 6, 1. 26. 
 
 Efter, adv. according to, p. 7, 1. 8. 
 Eke, v. increase, p. 69, 1. 346. 
 
 Elde, s. age, p. 2, 1. 26. 
 
 Elyke, adv. alike, p. 51, 1. 22. 
 
 Emoyue, v. move, stir up, p. 2, 
 1. 23. 
 
 Enchesone, s. reason, cause, p. 15, 
 1. 8. 
 
 Encressynge, s. increasing, grow- 
 ing, p. 20, 1. 20. 
 
 Endent, adj. fixed, set, p. 87, 
 1.17. 
 
 Endeynede, v. condescended, 
 deigned, p. 87, 1. 18. 
 
 Enterly, adv. entirely, simply, 
 p. 57, 1.9. 
 
 Eschape, v. escape, p. 16, 1. 31. 
 
 Euen-cristyn, s. fellow-christians, 
 p. 2, 1. 19. 
 
 Euynly, adv. evenly, patiently, 
 p. 11,1. 4. 
 
 Everhede, s. constant watchful- 
 ness, p. 11, 1. 12. 
 
 Fallace, s. deceit, p. 81, 1. 77 (Lat. 
 
 fallacia). 
 Falles (till), v. belongs to, p. 15, 
 
 1.3. 
 Famene, s. foeman, p. 91, 1. 4. 
 Fande, v. try, endeavour, tempt, 
 
 p. 5, 1.32, p. 11, 1.25. 
 Fandynge, s. temptation, p. 11, 
 
 1.9, p. 19, 1.31. 
 Fare, v. go, p. 77, 1. 74. 
 Fassyng, s. performing, p. 63, 
 
 1. 155. 
 Felawrede, s. fellowship, p. 3, 1. 18. 
 Fellenes, s. bitterness, awfulness, 
 
 p. 45, 1. 27. 
 Ferde, v. went, p. 89, 1. 25, p. 91, 
 
 1. 21 (pret. of fare, A.-S. faran). 
 Fere, adj. vigorous, alive, p. 79, 
 
 1. 11. (King Horn, 1.149.) 
 Fere, s. companion, p. 89, 1. 4 ; 
 
 fellow-creature, p. 94, 1. 8. 
 Ferly, s. wonder, p. 89, 1. 30. 
 Fermerye, s. infirmary, p. 50, 
 
 1. 19. 
 Fet, v. fetched, p. 88, 1.9. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 99 
 
 ffeele, adj. many (Ger. viel), p. 91, 
 
 1.21. 
 ffrenes, s. freedom, liberty, p. 38, 
 
 1. 30. 
 Flemede, v. banished, p. 91, 1. 4 
 
 (A.-S. fiema, a fugitive). 
 Flora, s. river, p. 64, 1. 173. 
 Flytynge, s. contention, p. 12, 
 
 1. 13. 
 
 "Styiist of \>j strot and fyne to jlyte 
 And sech hys blybe full swefte and 
 swybe." Allit. Poems, A. 353. 
 
 Fondyng, p. 92, 1. 8. Vide fan- 
 
 dyng. 
 Fone (perhaps foue), adj. few, 
 
 p. 29, 1.31, p. 89, 1. 30. 
 Force, s. necessity, p. 44, 1. 17. 
 
 Forhevve, v. despise, reject, avoid, 
 p. 11, 1. 8. (A.-S. for-hugian, 
 Genesis and Exodus, 3814.) 
 
 Forluke, s. foresight, predestina- 
 tion, p. 4, 1. 13. 
 
 Forme-fadyrs, s. forefathers, p. 1, 
 1. 12. 
 
 For-thynkynge, s. sorrowfully 
 thinking over, repenting, p. 8, 
 1. 3, p. 93, 1. 6. The for in- 
 tensitive, as in for-spent, for- 
 straught, for-wept, for-lorn, 
 &c. 
 
 Founde, v. journey, p. 77, 11. 74, 
 83. 
 
 Fratour, s. the hall where the 
 brethren met, p. 50, 1. 12. 
 
 Frayste, v. try, p. 89, 1. 17, p. 91, 
 1.22. 
 
 Frythe, s. wood, p. 94, 1. 26. 
 
 Fulle, adj. foul, p. 11, 1. 12, p. 35, 
 1. 7. 
 
 Fulle, v. befoul, defile, p. 40, 
 1. 27. 
 
 Fyannce (r. fyaunce), s. trust, 
 p. 78, 1. 93. 
 
 Fyle, v. defile, p. 64, 1. 180. 
 
 Gates, s. ways, p. 91, 1. 20. 
 Gayne, adj. near, p. 91, 1. 20. 
 
 Gelery, s. cheating, trickery, 
 p. 12, ]. 33. See Glossary to 
 Ilampoles Short Treatises. 
 
 Gente, adj. graceful, p. 87, 1. 15. 
 
 Germandir, s. ('() p. 87, 1. 15. 
 
 Gerne, adv. readily, p. 91, 1. 19. 
 
 Gerte or gere, perf. garte or gare, 
 v. make, cause, p. 6, 1. 25. 
 
 Gete, s. jet, p. 87, 1. 15. 
 
 Gome, s. man, p. 88, 1. 7. 
 
 Gouernaylle, s. governor, p. 33, 
 1. 18. 
 
 Grauene, v. buried, p. 27, 1. 23. 
 
 Graythely, adv. truly, p. 88, 1. 7 ; 
 readily, quickly, p. 91, 1. 20. 
 (Gloss. Allit. Poems.) 
 
 " As mathew mele3 in 30ur messe, 
 In sothful gospel of god al-my3t. 
 In sample he can full graythely 
 gesse." Allit. Poems, A. 496. 
 
 Grett, v. (perf. of grete), cried, 
 
 lamented, p. 92, 1. 29. 
 Gruche, v. grudge, p. 47, 1. 18. 
 Grysely, adv. terribly, p. 92, 1. 29. 
 Grysse, s. grass, p. 20, 1. 26. 
 Gulyardy, s. trifling, vanity, p. 35, 
 
 1.11. 
 
 " He was a jester and a goliardeis." 
 Chaucer. 
 
 Gune, v. began, p. 67, 1. 274, 
 p. 68, 1. 334. Frequently used 
 as an auxiliary. See Glossary 
 to Pricke of Conscience. 
 
 Gysed, v. prepared, p. 91, 1. 19. 
 
 Habade, v. waited for, p. 18, 
 1.15. 
 
 Hailsed, v. received with embrac- 
 ing, p. 91, 1. 24. 
 
 Halowes or halous, s. saints, p. 5, 
 1. 19, p. 19, 1.30. 
 
 Hateredyne, s. hatred, p. 12, 1. 3. 
 
 Hattene, v. hight, called, named, 
 p. 11, 1. 34, p. 13, 1. 19. 
 
 Hawe, s. a trifle, the least bit, 
 p. 81, 1.63. From the berry 
 of the hawthorn. 
 
100 
 
 GLOSSA11Y. 
 
 Hele, adj. safe ; also s. salvation, 
 p. 3, 1.21. 
 
 Helelynge, v. hiding, p. 6, 1. 5 
 (A.-S. helan). 
 
 Helidide, v. (perf. of helde) yield- 
 ed, submitted, p. 93, 1. 36. 
 
 " Than they heldede to hir hest alle 
 holly at ones." 
 
 Morte Arthure, 3369. 
 
 Hende, adj. graceful, gentle, p. 89, 
 1. 24. 
 
 1 * And the hendeste in hawle undire 
 hevene riche." 
 
 Morte Arthure, 3880. 
 
 Hendely, adv. with grace, p. 54, 
 
 1. 1. 
 Herbere, v. harbour, p. 28, 1. 27. 
 Herberles, adj. without harbour 
 
 or shelter, p. 28, 1. 33. 
 Herbery, s. harbour, refuge, p. 28, 
 
 1.33. 
 Herne-panne, s. brain-pan, skull, 
 
 p. 65, 1. 224. 
 Heryede, v. harried, spoiled, p. 4, 
 
 1. 11. 
 Hete, v. tell, promise, p. 82, 
 
 1. 94. 
 Hethene or hethune, adv. hence, 
 
 p. 8, 1. 23. 
 Hethynge, s. scorn, mockery, ridi- 
 cule, p. 38, 1. 22, p. 40, 1. 37. 
 
 " And hentte3 bem in he byng an 
 usage vn-clene." 
 
 Allit. Poems, 710. 
 
 Heuede, s. head, power over, p. 5, 
 
 1.25. 
 Hirpynge, s. hopping over or 
 
 omitting part of the service, 
 
 p. 38, 1. 22. 
 Homerynge, s. muttering, mum- 
 bling, p. 38, 1. 22. 
 Hopes, v. thinks, p. 11, 1. 30. 
 Horssyng, s. equipage, state, p. 23, 
 
 1.11. 
 How-gates, adv. how, in what 
 
 way, p. 25, 1. 18. 
 Howssynge, s. building, p. 49, 
 
 1.21. 
 
 Hyghte, v. said, promised, p. 25, 
 
 1.5. 
 Hyne, s. servants, p. 93, 1. 36, 
 
 p. 94, 1. 1. 
 Hyrdes, s. shepherds, p. 40, 1. 14. 
 Hyrone, by herself, p. 54, 1. 16. 
 
 Instyse (r. iustyse), adv. as judge 
 
 in judgment, p. 80, 1. 40. 
 Inwere, adj. unaware, p. 7, 1. 23. 
 
 Kennynge, s. instruction, p. 21, 
 
 1. 9. 
 Knaweliggynge, s. knowing, p. 56, 
 
 1. 1. 
 Koune, see Cun. 
 
 Kychynnere, s. cook, p. 53, 1. 11. 
 Kynde, s. nature, p. 27, 1. 29. 
 Kynredyn, s. kindred, p. 17, 1. 32, 
 
 p. 18, 1. 27. 
 
 Lache, v. abandon, leave, p. 13, 
 1. 9. 
 
 Laghte, v. took, p. 94, 1. 28. 
 
 Lame, s. loam, clay, p. 79, 1. 5. 
 
 Langes, v. belongs, p. 1, 1. 21. 
 
 Lare, s. lore, doctrine, p. 1, 1. 21. 
 
 Large, adj. bountiful, p. 46, 11. 27, 
 28, 31. 
 
 Latesomnes, s. slowness, delay, 
 unwillingness, p. 13, 1. 8. 
 
 Lawede, adj. lewd, ordinary, op- 
 posed to lerede, p. 5, 1. 17. 
 
 Layke, s. play, game, p. 38, 1. 21. 
 Morte Arthure, 1599. 
 
 Laythely, adv. wickedly, p. 90,1. 26. 
 
 Laytheste, adj. most vile, hateful 
 (A.-S. lath), p. 90, 1. 25. 
 
 Lede, s. man, p. 87, 1. 20; peo- 
 ple, p. 93, 1. 17. 
 
 Lefte, v. lift, p. 46, 1. 3. 
 
 Lelly, adv. truly, p. 30, 1. 36. 
 
 Lende, v. tarry, remain, p. 88, 
 1. 25, p. 89, 1. 22, p. 90, 1. 3, 
 p. 93,1. 17. 
 
 " They put up pavilyons round 
 And Undid there that night." 
 
 HalliwelVs Did. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 101 
 
 Lesse, v. lose, p. 6, 1. 25. 
 Lessynge, s. lessening, p. 8, 1. 22. 
 Lesynges, s. injuries with the 
 
 tongue, lies, p. 6, 1. 9. 
 Lete, v. set, p. 87, 1. 20. 
 Leue, adj. dear, p. 51, 1. 13. 
 Leuer, adj. rather, p. 38, 1. 8. 
 Loos, s. praise, renown, p. 23, 
 
 1. 9. 
 Lome, adj. lost, p. 63, 1. 139. 
 Losengery, s. lying, deceiving, p. 
 
 24, 1. 22 (0. Fr. losengier). See 
 
 Gloss, to Allit. Poems. 
 Lowssynge, s. loosing, p. 8, 1. 31. 
 Lufe-frayners, s. those who demand 
 
 love, to whom love is justly due, 
 
 p. 58, 1. 20. 
 Lufe-somly, adv. lovingly, p. 15, 
 
 1. 16. 
 Lugede, v. lodged, p. 87, 1. 5. 
 Lurdans, s. villains, wretches, p. 
 
 90, 1. 25. 
 Lyfelade, s. livelihood, p. 5, 1. 33. 
 Lygand, v. lying, p. 16, 1. 2, p. 18, 
 
 1. 17. 
 Lyghtere, adj. easier, p. 29, 1. 27. 
 Lyghtnes, v. makes light or clear, 
 
 p. 56, 1. 1. 
 Lykynge, v - j° v > pleasure, p. 11, 
 
 1. 12, p. 38, 1. 30, p. 39, 11. 3, 
 
 11. 
 Lyncaude (r. lyncande), 1 from the 
 
 verb link = to walk smartly, 
 
 hence moving, living, p. 87, 
 
 1. 20. 
 Lyne, s. flax, p. 21, 1. 5. 
 Lyte, s. unwillingness, hindering, 
 
 p. 13, 1.8. 
 Lythe, s. property, p. 6, 1. 12, 27, 
 
 p. 88, 1. 26. 
 
 " For both lande3 and lythes ffulle 
 lyttile by he settes." 
 
 Morte Arihure, 994. 
 
 Male-eese, s. distress, p. 18, 1. 24 
 
 (Fr. mal-aise). 
 Manges, in-manges, prep, among, 
 
 p. 45, 1. 22. 
 
 Manyhede, s. plurality, p. 45, 1. 7. 
 Mawmetis, s. idols, images, p. 93, 
 
 1.22. 
 Mawmetryes, s. idolatries, p. 5, 
 
 1. 6. 
 Mayne, s. power, force, p. 81, 1. 87 
 
 (A.-S. mcegan). 
 Medfulle, adj. profitable, p. 9, 1. 22. 
 Medles, adj. useless, profitless, p. 
 
 38, 1. 22. 
 Mekide, v. humbled, made meek, 
 
 p. 36, 1. 22. 
 Mele, v. speak, p. 92, 1. 28. 
 Mene, v. speak, tell, p. 76, 1. 51. 
 Menesyng, s. remembrance, men- 
 tion, account, p. 88, 1. 12. 
 Mengede, v. mingled, p. 4, 1. 31. 
 Menskede, v. did honour to, p. 94, 
 
 1. 25. 
 Men3e, s. suite, retinue, p. 23, 
 
 1.11. 
 Merres, v. mars, p. 79, 1. 4. 
 Merryng, s. marring, injuring, p. 
 
 3, 1. 35. 
 Mesure, s. moderation, p. 26, 1.26. 
 Methe or methefulness, s. tempe- 
 rance, p. 11, 1. 11, p. 89, 1. 1. 
 Momellynge, s. mumbling, p. 38, 
 
 1. 22. 
 Monande (r. mouande), adj. moving, 
 
 revolving, p. 60, 1. 43. 
 Mone, v. admonish, teach, p. 94, 
 
 1. 9 (Lat. moneo), 
 
 " By a tale y shal 30U mone 
 That fyl betwyx the fadyr and the 
 sone." Halliwell. 
 
 More, s. mortar, p. 49, 1. 28. 
 Mukke, s. filth, dirt, p. 16, 1. 18. 
 Mynyng, s. diminishing, lessening, 
 
 p. 3, 1. 35. 
 Mysse or myse, s. wickedness, p. 
 
 86, 1. 105, p. 89, 1. 2. 
 Myster, s. need, p. 9, 1. 11. 
 
 1 ' And swa wyde and large bat it 
 most kepe 
 Alle be creaturs, les and mare, 
 Of alle be world if myster ware." 
 
 Pricke of Conscience, 7373. 
 
102 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Xate. s. neat, cattle, p. 21, I. 4. 
 
 Xeddyre, s. adder, p. 11, 1. 25. 
 
 Nere, conj. nor, p. 53, 1. 29. 
 
 Nerre, adj. nearer, p. 18, 1. 1. 
 
 Nesche, v. melt, soften, p. 31, 1.23. 
 See Glossary to Pricke of Con- 
 science. 
 
 Neuene, v. name, speak, p. 5, 1. 13. 
 
 Noune, s. the fourth ' hour,' p. 41, 
 1.30, p. 42, 1. 15. 
 
 Novande, adj. mischievous, p. 21, 
 1.6. 
 
 Noyes, s. troubles, discomforts, p. 
 24, 1. 23. 
 
 Oftesythes, adv. oft-times, p. 2, 
 
 1.4. 
 Okvr, s. usury, p. 12, 1. 32. 
 Orloge, s. clock, p. 56, 1. 32. 
 Overhope, s. presumption, p. 10, 
 
 1. 18. 
 Owterage, s. excess, p. 11, 1. 11. 
 
 Palle, s. fine cloth, grand robes, 
 stately appearance, p. 93, 1. 29. 
 
 Parischenes, s. parishioners, p. 2, 
 1.23. 
 
 Pave, v. please, gratify, p. 54, 1. 9. 
 See Glossary to Pricke of Con- 
 science. 
 
 Penetancere (r. petancere, v. pe- 
 tance, 1. 29), the distributor of 
 the portions or commons in the 
 monastery, p. 55, 1. 15. 
 
 Perawnter, adv. peradventure, p. 2, 
 1. 5. 
 
 Pereles, s. without equal, p. 34, 
 1.20. 
 
 Perry, s. jewellery, p. 87, 1. 16. 
 
 Poleschefy, s. meditation, p. 54, 
 
 1. 19 (Or. 7T0\vS-(TK€\^ts). 
 
 Pouste, s. power, dignity, p. 64, 
 
 1. 166, p. 88, 1. 16. 
 Privatyse, s. secrets, p. 56, 1. 2. 
 Pure, adj. poor, p. 29, 11.19,34,35. 
 Purvayede, v. provided for, given, 
 
 p. 20, 1. 35, p. 26, 1. 35, p. 41, 
 
 1. 10. 
 
 i Purueance. s. providence, care, p. 
 41,1. 10. 
 Puttid, v. put, placed, p. 32, 1. 1. 
 Pyne, s. suffering, p. 30, 1. 2. 
 Pyssmoure, s. pismire, ant, p. 21, 
 1. 17. 
 
 Qwaynte, adj. witty, wise, p. 16, 
 1. 33. 
 
 " If bou with quayntyse conquere hit, 
 I quyte be by mede." 
 
 Allit. Poems, B. 1632. 
 
 Eacede, v. tore, p. 65, 1. 217. 
 Rathely, adv. early, in time, p. 81, 
 
 1.64. 
 Raughte, v. reached, procured, p. 
 
 80, 1. 49. 
 Reall, adj. royal, p. 63, 1. 140. 
 Rekk, v. care, p. 38, 1. 5. 
 Relyede, v. placed, sent, p. 87, 1. 6. 
 Reste-malice, s. bitter tempers, 
 
 p. 23, 1. 29. 
 Reuere, s. reverse, opposite, p. 29, 
 
 1. 36. 
 Reuyng, s. pillaging, p. 6, 1. 4. 
 Rewfulness, s. sadness, sorrow, p. 
 
 50, 1. 19. 
 Rewly, adv. sorrowfully, dreadfully, 
 
 p. 80, 1. 37. 
 Ruggede, v. tore, pierced, p. 81, 
 
 1. 66. 
 Rvuely, adv. strictly, p. 6, 1. 30. 
 
 From ruyt, to strive. See Gloss. 
 
 to Allit. Poems. 
 
 Saamen (r. faamen = foemen), p. 
 
 76, 1. 50. 
 Samenly, adv. equally, p. 3, 1. 9 ; 
 
 samene, together, p. 3, 1. 28, 
 
 p. 10, 1. 15. 
 Sane, v. heal, p. 84, 1. 60. 
 Sauoyre, s. savour, pleasure, p. 55, 
 
 1.25. 
 Savuede, v. blessed, p. 92, 1. 15, 
 
 p. 93, 1. 34. 
 Schenchip, v. disgrace, shame, p. 
 
 20, 1. 36. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 103 
 
 Schende, v. injure, ruin. p. 86, 
 1. 113. 
 
 Sehente, v. (perf. of schende), in- 
 jured, lost, p. 76, 1. 34. 
 
 Schere. v. cut, sever, p. 63, 1. 159. 
 
 Schire, adj. pure, clean, p. 55. 1. 28. 
 
 Sckathe, v. injure, p. 26, 1. 12. 
 
 S sjge, s. man, p. 91, 1. 18. 
 
 Sekyrlv, adv. securely, certainly, 
 p. 8,* 1.20. 
 
 Selcouthe, adj. strange, p. 89, 1. 32. 
 
 Selv. adj. blessed, holy, venerable, 
 p. 50, 1. 33. 
 
 Semblant, s. likeness, p. 84, 1. 21. 
 
 Sembvll. v. assemble, get together, 
 p. 54. 1. 20. 
 
 Senile, s. assembly, meeting, bat- 
 tle, p. 91, 1. 18. 
 
 Sere, adj. several, p. 3, 1. 13. 
 
 Serue, s. service, p. 72, 1. 15. 
 
 Skikk and skekke, v. quarrel and 
 contend, p. 81, 1. 59. HaUiwett. 
 
 Skyll, s. reason, 1. 3. Skillwyse, 
 adj. reasonable, p. 1, 1. 8, p. 8, 
 1.14. 
 
 Slake, v. slacken, p. 86, 1. 105. 
 
 Sleghte or sleghenes, s. wisdom, 
 prudence, p. 10, 1. 32. 
 
 " When he stey tylle heven on halghe 
 Thursday, 
 pat wate he best thurgh wytt and 
 
 sleght, 
 What space bat way contened of 
 heght." 
 
 Pride of Conscience, 7696. 
 
 Slewthe, s. sloth, p. 13, 1. 6. 
 Slokyns, v. slackens, p. 23, 1. 25. 
 Slomers, v. slumbers, p. 57, 1. 13. 
 Slyke, adj. suchlike, p. 35, 1. 11. 
 Somdele, adv. somewhat, p. 50, 
 
 1. 17. 
 Sothefaste, adj. true, p. 3, 1. 6. 
 Sothefastnes, s. truth, p. 16, 1. 11. 
 Sowunes, v. sound, p. 45. 1. 27. 
 Sparre, v. shut, bar, p. 50, 1. 4. 
 Speres, v. closes, fences, p. 53. 
 
 1. 27. 
 Spire, v. speer, ask, enquire, p. 79, 
 
 1.2. 
 
 Spousebreke, s. adultery, p. 13, 
 1.25. 
 j Spyces, s. species, sorts, p. 11, 1.31. 
 I Spyll, v. go to ruin, p. 84, 1. 39. 
 I Stallworthe. adj. stalwart, strung, 
 
 p. 7, 1. 30. 
 , Stamerynge, s. impediment, ob- 
 stacle, p. 13, 1. 18. 
 Stede. s. stead, place, p. 8, 1. 1, 
 
 p. 25, 1. 33. 
 Steke, see Steshys. 
 '< Sternes, s. stars, p. 50, 1. 53. 
 Steskys or stekys. v. shuts, en- 
 closes, bars, p. 50, 1. 1. 
 
 "For qwho his ens frome the puple 
 stekith." Sir Lancelot. 
 
 j Steuene, s. voice, p. 58, 1. 10. 
 j Steve or steigh, v. ascended, p. 4, 
 121. 
 
 Stounde, s. moment, portion of 
 time, p. 77, 1. 81. 
 
 Stourrys, s. conflicts, p. 95, 1. 12. 
 
 Strynde, s. generation, race, p. 84, 
 1. 27 (A.-S. strynd). 
 
 Surquytry, s. arrogance, presump- 
 tion, p. 22, 1. 27. 
 
 Swylke, adj. such, p. 14, 1. 4. 
 
 Swvnke, v. labour, toil, p. 13, 
 L 15. 
 
 Sybb, adj. near of kin, p. 13, 1. 27, 
 "p. 89, 1. 13. 
 
 Syll, s. ornament of jewellery, p. 
 * 93. 1. 7 (A.-S. sigef). 
 
 Syte, s. disappointment, annoy- 
 ance, p. 11, 1. 34. See Glossary 
 to AUit. Poems. 
 
 Sythene, adv. afterwards, then, 
 p. 2, 1. 25. 
 
 Tente, v. try, p. 5, 1. 20. 
 
 Thede, s. land, country, p. 90, 1. 23 
 
 (A.-S. \eod). 
 
 " Such a knight in. this thede 
 Saw I never nane." Syr Perciral. 
 
 Thewes. s. qualities, habits. Hede- 
 thewes, chief qualities, p. 10, 
 1. 3. 
 
 Thole-mode, adj. patient, p. 9, 1.18. 
 
104 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Tholede, v. bore, endured, p. 4, 1. 5 
 (A.-S. ydlian \. 
 
 Thralles, s. slaves, p. 31, 1. 5. 
 Thrall v. adv. harshly, cruelly, p. 90, 
 1. 24. 
 
 Threhed, s. Trinity, p. 59, 1. 7. 
 Threted, v. threatened, p. 90, 1. 24. 
 Thurte, v. pret. of thar. to need : 
 
 (Gloss, to Pricke of Conscience), 
 
 p. 6Q, 1. 271. 
 To-reuene, adj. utterly riven or 
 
 cut. p. 65, 1. 211. 
 Tother, adj. second, p. 3, 11. 5, 36. 
 Toune (r. tonne), s. tun, cask, p. ; 
 
 90, 1. 29. 
 Tovlede. v. earned off, p. 90, 1. 24 
 
 (? O. F. toller). 
 Trauayle, s. labour, p. 1. 1. 19. 
 Tray, s. vexation, annoyance, p. 1, 
 
 1." 19 (A.-S. trega). 
 Trayste, s. trust, faith, p. 27, 1.1. 
 Trouthe, s. faith, p. 10, 1. 5. 
 Trowhe, s. faith, p. 69. 1. 346. 
 Twyne, v. sever, divide, p. 19, 
 
 L 34. 
 Tyde, s. time, p. 87, 1. 2. 
 Tynes, v. loses, p. 38, 1. 17. 
 Tynte, adj. lost, ruined, p. 18, 1. 10, 
 
 p. 32, 1. 25. 
 
 Umbethynke or Umthynke, v. re 
 member, p. 16, 1. '23, p. 79 
 1. 22. 
 
 Unbylowkede (error for umby 
 lowkede), v. included, p. 6 
 
 1. 34. 
 Unknawlechynge, s. ignorance, p 
 
 2, 1. 32. 
 
 Unwvlde. adj. good, virtuous, p 
 88, 1. 33. 
 
 Versy, v. repeat, p. 38, 1. 12. 
 
 Ygglynes, s. horror, p. 24, 1. 3, 
 p. 43, 1. 6. See Glossary to 
 Pricke of Conscience. 
 
 Yndirlowttes, s. dependents, sub- 
 jects, p. 2, 1. 11. 
 
 Vndirsett. v. lav the foundations 
 
 of, p. 49, 1. 36. 
 Vndrone, s. one of the mediaeval 
 
 service hours, 9 o'clock a.m., 
 
 p. 40, 1. 36. 
 Vnhamlvnes, s. strange affectation, 
 
 p. 11." 1. 32. 
 Vn-myste, adj. good, honourable, 
 
 or not cloudy, bright, shining, 
 
 p. 94. 1. 25. 
 Ynnoveand, adj. innocent, p. 61, 
 
 1. 69. 
 Yntliewes, s. bad habits, p. 53, 
 
 1. 26. 
 Yppe-rvsvnge, s. Resurrection, p. 
 
 3, 1. 22. 
 
 Wakire, adj. wakeful, active, p. 51, 
 
 1.14. 
 Walde. See Welde. 
 Wandreth, s. adversity, p. 11, 1. 5. 
 Wane, v. won. p. 92, 1. 23. 
 Wanes, s. abodes, houses, property, 
 
 p. 88, 1. 23. 
 
 " Deth woned in the.wones." 
 
 Piers Plowman. 
 
 Waresche, v. protects, heals, p. 24, 
 
 1. 10. 
 Warre, adj. cautious, p. 51, 1. 14. 
 Wathes, s. dangers, difficulties, 
 
 p. 10. 1. 33. 
 Waxande, v. growing, p. 20, 1. 18. 
 Wedde, s. pledge, p. 85, 1. 52. 
 
 " Hath any mon upon a i 
 Borowet at the oght in nede ?" 
 
 HallhrelVs Bid. 
 
 Welde, v. possess, wield, govern, 
 
 p. 94, 1. 22. 
 Wemles. adj. without harm or 
 
 blemish, p. 19, 1. 12, p. 63, 1. 
 
 131. 
 Wende, v. go, p. 3, 1. 29. 
 Wene. v. think, p. 45, 1. 25. 
 Werede, v. guarded, p. 88, 1. 34. 
 
 " My woodbine so wlonk that wered 
 mv hevede." 
 
 Allit. Poem*, C. 486. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 105 
 
 Weryede, v. cursed, p. 93, 1. 1. 
 
 " J?ai sail wery be tynie bat bai war 
 wroght." 
 
 Priche of Conscience, 4422. 
 
 Whanhope, s. despair, p. 10, 1. 16, 
 
 p. 23, 1. 25, p. 24, 1. 3. 
 Wilnes, v. desires, wills, p. 12, 1. 1 1. 
 Wilnynge, s. desiring, p. 12, 1. 29. 
 Witter- wyssynge, s. instructor, 
 
 guide, p. 13, 1. 18. 
 Wode, adj. mad, in a bad sense, 
 
 p. 67, 1. 303. 
 Wonnynge, s. dwelling, p. 60, 1.40. 
 Worthe, v. perish, p. 58, 1.3 (A.-S. 
 
 umr6ian). 
 Wrenkis, s. tricks, stratagem, p. 51, 
 
 1.34. 
 
 " For it ledes a man with wrenJces 
 and wyles 
 And at the last it hym begyles." 
 
 Pricke of Conscience, 1360. 
 
 Wrethe, v. enrage, p. 47, 1. 19. 
 Wyes, s. men, p. 92, 1. 1. 
 
 H Sythyne wente into Wales with 
 his wyes alle." 
 
 Morte Arthur e, 56. 
 
 Wyllylyere, adv. more readily, p. 
 
 56, 1. 33. 
 Wysse, v. teach, make known, p. 
 
 10, 1. 32, p. 87, 1. 13. 
 
 Yddillchipe, v. idleness, p. 5, 1. 10, 
 
 p. 13, 1. 12. 
 Ynsgate (r. bus-gate), adv. in this 
 
 manner, p. 19, 1. 3. 
 Yrke, v. be we,ary, p. 23, 1. 24. 
 
 3eme, v. cares for, practises, p. 7, 
 1. 4, p. 72, 1. 19 ; guards, pro- 
 tects, p. 11, 1. 12. 
 
 ^ernely, adv. carefully, p. 52, 
 1. 15. 
 
 ^ernes, v. desires, delights in, p. 5, 
 1.21, p. 6, 1.12. 
 
 3ode, v. gone, made to go, taken, 
 p. 39, 1. 27. 
 
 3olden, v. paid, given, p. 25, 1. 5. 
 
 300, adv. yes, p. 93, 1. 4. 
 
 3yfe, conj. if, p. 17, 1. 35. 
 
CORRIGENDA, 
 
 P. 12. 
 
 1. 11. 
 
 P. 12. 
 
 1. 32. 
 
 P. 14. 
 
 1. 2\ 
 
 P. 18. 
 
 1. 14. 
 
 P. 19. 
 
 1. 3. 
 
 P. 23. 
 
 1.14. 
 
 P. 40. 
 
 1. 14. 
 
 P. 54. 
 
 1. 18. 
 
 P. 60. 
 
 1. 43. 
 
 P. 76. 
 
 1. 50. 
 
 P. 78. 
 
 1.93. 
 
 P. 79. 
 
 1. 2. 
 
 P. 79. 
 
 1. 8. 
 
 P. 80. 
 
 1. 40. 
 
 P. 87. 
 
 1.20. 
 
 P. 90. 
 
 1.30. 
 
 P. 92. 
 
 1.23. 
 
 P. 93. 
 
 1. 17. 
 
 For bolleuynge read bollenynge. 
 
 For couaundenes read conaundenes. 
 
 For couandely read conandly. 
 
 For fythen read sythen. 
 
 For ynsgate read Jmsgate. 
 
 After nie^e insert comma (,). 
 
 For byrdes read hyrdes. 
 
 For Couande read Conande. 
 
 For monande read mouande. 
 
 For saamen read faamen. 
 
 For fyannce read fyaunce. 
 
 For So read Go. 
 
 For (E read E, and so throughout the poem. 
 
 For instyse read iustyse. 
 
 For lyncaude read lyncande. 
 
 For toune read tonne. 
 
 For bewane read bewamie. 
 
 For laude read lande.