5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 600 605 610 615 620 625 630 635 640 645 650 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 695 700 705 710	[X.] TRUE LIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In hel ne purgatoré non other plase, Thes synnes wold make you schamyd and schent, And lese your worchyp in erth and grace. Al day, with ene, sene thou has Hou men bene slayne fore dedlé synne And han vengans fore here trespace; Both lyve and goodes thay lesyn then,              Bi londys law.        Yif thai had kept Cristis comaundment,        Thai schuld never be schamyd ne chent,        Ne lost here lyfe ne lond ne rent,              Nouther hongud ne draw. Hel is not ordent fore ryghtwyse mon, Bot fore hom that here serven the Fynd; No more ys a preson of lyme and ston Bot to hom that the lauys thai done offend, Fore wyckyd dedys makys thevys ischent, Hye on galouys fore to heng. Ther rightwyse men thai han god end, Fore thay bene treue in here levyng —              Trust wel therto!        He that levys here ryghtwysly,        On what deth that ever he dy,        His soul never schal ponyschyd be,              Ne never wyt of wo. The syn of sodom, into heven Hit crys ever on God Almyght! And monslaght, with a rewful steven Hit askys vengans day and nyght! Extorcyons agayns the ryght, And huyrus that with wrong holdon be: Damnacion to ham hit is ydyght That usyn these, and avowteré —              Everychon!        These synnys a mon thai done blynde,        Fore thai be don agayns kynde,        And bene the werkys of the Fynde              Of damnacion. Thre synns princypaly a man doth mare — Murthyr, theuft, and avoutré — Thai wyl you schend ore ye be ware! Be thai done never so prevely, The Fynd wyl schew ham hopunly, That al the word schal have wyttyng, Fore thai bene cursyd in heven on hye. Ale that usus that cursid doyng,              Thai wyl be schent.        Fore morther, Cayme cursud of God was he,        And fore theft, thevys al day hongud thay be;        Fore avoutré, vengans had Kyng Davé              Fore brekyng of the sacrement. Avowtré ne lechory, men set not by To breke the bond of the sacrement; Thay schul aby ful sekyrly, Bot thai have spase ham to repent. Herefore, ye curatis, ye wyl be schent, And prestis that bene lewyd in here levyng, Fore to this syn ye done asent With evyl ensampyl to other yeveng!              And wretyn hit ys:        Ye were choson to chastyté,        To kepe your holy order and your degré        In parfyt love and charité,              And mend ale other that done amys. Kepe youre wedloke, ye weddid men! In paradyse God furst hit mad Betwene Adam and Eve, with trew love then, Both mon and womon therwith to glad; Therwith he is both plesud and payd Yif hit be kept laufully. Hymselfe was borne of a mayde To fulfyl that sacrement princypaly;              Into herth he come        To make ther eyrus of heven blys;        That Lucefyr lost and al hys,        Monkynd schal hit agayne encrese              Or the Day of Dome. Nou yif a woman maryd schal be, Anoon sche schal be boght and sold; Hit is fore no love of hert, treuly, Bot fore covetyse of lond or gold. This is Goddis wyle, and his lau wolde: Evan of blood, evan good, evan of age, Fore love togeder thus cum thai schalde, Fore thes makus metely maryage              Here in al wyse.        Thai schal have ayres ham betwene,        That schal have grace to thryve and thene;        Ther other schul have turment and tene              Fore covetyse. Ther is no cryatour, as wreton Y fynde, Save only mon that doth outrage; Thai chesun here makus of here houne kynd, With treu love makun here mareage. Nou a ladé wyl take a page Fore no love bot fore fleschely lust, And al here blood dysparage; Thes lordys and lordchips, thay ben ilost              In moné a place!        Lordys and lorchypus, thay wastyn away,        That makys false ayris, hit is no nay,        And wele and worchyp, foreever and ay,              Onour and grace. Now yif that a man he wed a wyfe And hym thynke sche plese hym noght, Anon ther rysis care and stryfe; He wold here selle that he had boght, And schenchypus here that he hath soght, And takys to hym a lotoby. These bargeyn wyle be dere aboght Here ore henns he schal aby!              He is foresworne:        When he as chosyn hyr to his make,        And plyght here trowth to here ytake,        Hy schulde never here foresake,              Even ne morne. Agayns ale this, remedy I fynde: Foresake youre syn, Y you pray! To God and mon loke ye be kynde (To heven ther is nother way), And make amendis wyle that ye may! Yif ye wyl have remyssyon, God ye most both plese and pay (Or ellus have damnacion)              Wyle ye han space.        Thus graciously says the Kyng of Blys,        “Yeff ye wyl mend that ye do mysse,        Nolo mortem peccatoris,1              Ye schul have grace.” In what order or what degré Holé Cherche hath bound thee to, Kepe hit wel, I counsel thee; Dyssyre thou never to go therfro, Fore thou art boundon, go were thou goo. When thou hast ressayvd the sacrement, Ther is no mon may hit undoo, Bot he be cursid, verament.              In the Gospel thou sist        That God be law byndus yfyre,        Ther is no mon that hath pouere        Hit to undo in no manere,              Bot he be curst. Love your God over al thyng, Youre neghbore as yourselfe, as I you saye. Let be youre othis, youre false sweryng. In clannes kepe youre haleday. Youre fader, youre moder, worchip ay. Sle no mon fore wordlé thyng. Bakbyte no mon, nyght ne day, Ne say no word to hym sklaunderyng; False wytnes, loke thou non bere. Dysseyte ne theft, loke thou do non, And lechory, thou most foreswere; Here beth the comaundmentis, everychon —              Loke ye kepe hem wele!        I rede ye serven Heven Kyng,        Fore ané loust or lykyng,        Have mynd apon youre endyng,              Of the payns of helle. Another remedé yet ther is — Gentyl seres, herkens to me! — The Seven Werkys of Mercé, so have I blys, I wyl declare ham oponlé. Thai schul be schewed ful petuysly At Domysday, at Cristis cumyng, Ther God and mon present schal be, And al the world on fuyre brennyng,              A reuful aray!        Then wele is hym, and wele schal be,        That doth these werkys with peté;        He schal have grace and mercé              On Domysday. The hungré, gif mete; the thorsté, gif dryng. Cleth the nakyd, as I thee say. Vysyte the seke in preson lying, And beré the ded, as I thee pray. And herbere the pore that goth be the way, And teche the unwyse of thi cunnyng.2 Do these werkys both nyght and day To Goddis worchip and his plesyng —              This is his wylle! —        Ever have this in thi mynd:        To the pore, loke thou be kynd,        Then in heven thou schalt hit fynd              Thou schalt never spyle. Thi Fyve Wyttis thou most know — Thonke thi God that land ham thee! — Thi heryng, thi seyng (as I thee schewe Thi syght), thi smellyng, here be thre; Thi touchyng, thi tastyng, here fyve ther be, To reule thee withyn thi levyng. God hath thee graundid ham graciously, Hym to love over al thyng.              His wyl hit is.        Yif thi fyve wittis here bynn welle spend,        Thi God thou schalt noght afend,        Bot bryng thiselfe to good end              Into heven blys. Ellys a mon, he were unablle As a best ys of kynd; Bott mon ys made resnabyle, Good and evyl to have in his mynd, And has fre choys, as we fynde, Weder he wyl do good or ylle, Owther ysavyd or ellys yschent. Owther have heven or ellus have helle,              Thou hast fre choys!        Then, I red, foresake the Fynd!        To God and mon, loke thou be kynd,        And have his Passyon in thi mynd,              That dyed on cros. Thou most have Fayth, Hope, and Charyté. This is the ground of thi beleve, Ellys isavyd thou maght not be. Thus Poul, in his pystyl, he doth preve. Then God and mon thou schalt never greve; This is the ground of good levyng. Then Charyté, he is chif; Herfore he lovys God over al thyng.              This wyl I preve:        Lok in thi merour —        Yif thou love thi neghtboure,        Then thou lovyst thi Savyoure;              Thou art trew in thi beleve! Thi beleve is the Fayth of Holé Cherche. Soule, in Hope God hath ordynd thee Ever good werkys that thou schuld werche And be rewarded therfore in heven on hye. Then Charyté chif callid is hee, Fore he counselys uche mon that is levyng To do as thou woldest me dud by thee, And bryng thi lyf to good endyng,              Here and hen.        Do fore youreself ore ye gone,        Or mede of God get ye none,        Bot sone be foregetone              Of kyth and of kyn. Ever have peté of the pore Of the goodus that God thee sende. Thou hast non other here tresoure Agayns the Day of Jugyment, Or ellys thou schalt be schamyd and chent When thou art callid to thi rekynyng. Ther God and mon schal be present, And al the world on fuyre brenyng,              Thee to afray!        Yif thou have partyd with the pore,        God wyl thonke thee therfore,        And in his kyngdom thee restore              The lyf that lastyth ay. The pore schul be made domysmen Apon the ryche at Domysday; Let se houe thai cun onswere then For al here ryal, reverent aray! In hunger, in cold, in thurst — weleway! — Afftyr here almes ay waytyng: “Thay wold not vysete us, nyght ne day!” Thus wyl thai playn ham to Heven Kyng,              That is above:        “Thus we dydon myschyvysly;        Fore hungyr and thurst, ful petuysly        Thai nold not on us have no peté,              Ny for thai love.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSTRUCTIONS FOR READING 1 The Day of Dome shuld come in here; Ver the defawte of the wrytere; At the thirtenth leef afore hyt ys; Seche hyt there, thou shalt nott mys. XI. MARCOLF AND SOLOMON [Lines 1–65: Introduction] De concordia inter rectores fratres et rectores ecclesie.1 God hath grauntyd grace unto oure lernyng Al that we fyndon fayfully wrytyn in Holé Wryt, That be our pacyens, princypaly, and holy wrytyng, We schuld have consolacion and comford — byleve truly in hyt! I schal say you the soth, that wele schul ye wyt, Hit is Godys Word and his werke and his worchyng. Be the grace of the Holé Gost, togedyr hit is yknyt, Redlé us to remembyr in oure redyng,              And hold hit in mynde:        Ther is no mon that saved may be,        But he have Faythe, Hope, and Charité,        And do as thou woldust me dud by thee,              To God and men, be kynde. Hec est fides catholyca.2 This foreward furst we mad at the fontston, Tofore owre fader faythfely, that folowed us in fay, To forsake Syr Sathanas — his werkus everychon — And become Criston men to byleve in God veray, And kepe his comawndmentis kyndly, nyght and day. Ther we were croysid in a crysum, with a carful krye; To this covenant was callud to wytnes, Y say, Oure godfars, oure godmoders, to stond ther us by.              When we myght not speke,        Ther thai answerd fore us        In the name of Jhesus,        Al thre with one woys.              This bond we schuld noght breke! Time Dominum, et mandata serva.3 Hwoso brekys this bond, bare thai bene of blys — Bot thai ben salvyd of here syn or thai hense passe, Thai schuln wytt of wo, Y warne youe ywys! Hit schale be ponyschid here, ore hennus evere trespasse;4 Men have not this in mynd, nowther more ne lasse. Thai most obey obedyans that thai be boundon to, And mend here here mysdedys, and here matens and masse,5 And kepe the comawndmentis of Crist. This deuté most thai doo              With devocion,        Fore thai beth ayres of heven blis!        The Fader of Heven hath grauntud ham this,        Yif thai wyle mend that thai do mys              To have remyssyon. Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est aput Dominum.6 “Alas, al the wyt of this word fallus to foly!” Thus sayth Sapyens, forsoth, in the Boke of Lyfe. He has wysdam and wyt, I tel yow trewly, That can beware or he be wo and leve in clene lyve. Who mai kepe hym unkyt fro a kene knyfe Yif he boldly that blad touche in his tene? No more may a mon here, maydon, ne wyfe Plese God unto his pay bot his consyans be clene.              Ensaumpil I make:        Who may here serve a lorde?        Bot yif he hold hym forwarde,        He getys never reward,              Y dare undertake! Si quis diligit me sermonem meum servabit.7 He that sayth he lovys his Lord — on hym take good eme — And kepus not his comawndmentis as a Cristyn mon, Leve he is a lyere! His dedis thai done hym deme, Fore he schuld walke the same wayes his Lord had igone. Ellys, lely, hit is like that treu love ys ther non, Fore he schuld sew his Soferayns and his Saveour. This may ye kyndlé know. Hit is treu as ané ston! He lese ale his lyve-days and his labour,              And stondis in gret drede.        He that is untreu to his Lorde,        Outher in dede or in word,        The law wyl hym rewarde —              Deth to his mede. [Lines 66–169: Criticism of those who neglect souls] Vox populi vox Dei.8 I, Marcol, the more fole mon, on my mad wyse, I send thee, broder Salamon, to say, as I here, Hou homlé hosbondusmen, here hertis thai aryse, Thai woldon thai wroghton wysely, that schuld ham lede and lere.9 Do thi message mekely to pryst and to frere; Thai are the lanternys of lyf, the leud men to lyght, Bot thai be caght with covetyse, with consians unclere, Ageyns the lauys of here Lord, reson and ryght.              Hit is noght unknow.        Comawnd hem in al wyse —        Never onother thai dar dyspyse! —        Fore here cursid covetyse,              Here horne is eblaw. Ubi est tesaurus tuus, ibi et cor tuum erit.10 Counsel ham fro Covetyse. Cursid mot he be! He wyl hem lede to here lost and lyke to be lore; Yif thai foluyn his fare, thai fallyn to foly. He wyl ham gyde gylfully and goo hem before; Have thai never so mekyl mok, he wyl have more; With wylis and with wrongus, he wyl hit ay wyn. He is unkynd and uncurtes. He kepis not to restore That he takys amys, to no maner mon,              Hent his endyng.        Then is he a traytour        Fore he trustys to his secatour;        He schuld his soule socour              Here in his levyng. Averte oculos tuos, ne vidiant vanitatem.11 Dispise thou no pristhod, broder, I thee pray, Bot Veynglory, and here vysis and here vanité; Bed ham mend that thay do mys — spare not to say! — Fore her dedus wyl hem deme, yif thai be gylté. Thai schuld rader repreve the synnys that thai se Rennyng and reynyng in the reume al aboute, And clanse here consyans clene, and kepe charité; Then myght thai say a sad soth, and stond out of doute              In al mens syght.        Therof the pepul wold be fayne        Fore to cum home agayne,        That hath goon gatis ungayne              For defaute of lyght. Quod natura didit nemo tollere poterit.12 Uche best that ys blest, togeder thai wyl draw Be kynd to the cuntré that thai come fro, Yet thai ben unleryd, unwyse in the law, Bot as nature has ham noryschid, hit nedus no noder to do. We were put in paradise to have wele withoutyn woo, Hent we had, unblest, brokyn the comaundmentis of our Kyng, That is Lord of ale lordys. Hwere bene oné moo That mai us salve of oure sore, oure botyng to us bryng?              That Lord, be he blest!        I rede, ye draun to your Kyng,        Fore oné lust or lykyng!        Pray hem with here prechyng              To set mon soule in rest. Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, etc., set unusquisque onus suum portabit.13 What was Abel the worse, thagh Kayme his borne broder 14 Were cursid for his covetyse and his creuel dede? No more ys a good prest the worse fore another, That wyle love his Lord God, hym serve and drede. Make moche of a good mon! On hym, take good hede! Loke ye bete not Bayard for bryd ne fore brend! Ale a seté may be savyd and schal the better spede Throgh the prayere of a good prest, an holé and an hynd,              That kepys his ordore.        He whot never hou sone        God wyl here his bone,        And ale that here wele done,              Heryd ys here prayoure. Declinate a me, malingni, etc.15 Yif ther be a pore prest, and spirituale in spiryt, And be devoute with devocion, his servyse syng and say, Thay lekon hym to a Lollere and to an epocryte. Yif he be besé in his bedus, the Prince of Heven to pay, And holde hym in Holé Cherche, dulé uche day, Oute of the curse of cumpané, and kepe his concyans clene, He ys a nythyng, a noght, a negard, thai say. Bot yif he folou his felows, his chekys mai be ful lene —              On hym, men han no mynde.        A holy prest men set not by!        Therfore ther bene bot feu, truly!        Thai kepe not of here cumpany —              To hom, men beth unkynde. Increpasti superbos. Maledicti qui declinant a mandatis tuis.16 Oure gentyl Ser Jone — joy hym mot betyde! — He is a meré mon of mouth among cumpané. He con harpe! He con syng! His orglus ben herd ful wyd! He wyl noght spare his purse to spend his selaré — Alas, he ner a parsun or a vecory! Be Jhesu, he is a gentyl mon, and jolylé arayd — His gurdlis harneschit with selver, his baslard hongus bye —17 Apon his perte pautener, uch mon ys apayd,              Both maydyn and wyfe.        Ifayth, he schale noght from us gon,        Fore oure myrth, hit were edon,        Fore he con glad us everychon!              Y pray God hold his lyve! Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas.18 Thus this wyckyd world is plesid with vanité, And wrathyn God wyttyngly, unwysely evermore; God, of his gret grace, graunt hem that beth gulté Here mysse and here mysdedus, to mend here therfore; And let hem never fore here lust, Lord, be forelore, Bot send soreue in here hert, here synnus to slake; Into thi curte and thi kyngdam, Lord, hem restore; From ale temtacion and tene, the Treneté us take,              His hestis to fulfyle.        Here schul ye here anon        Of men of relegyon —        What lyfe thay leedon,              Goddus heest to fulfyl. [Lines 170–390: On monks] Relegio munda et inmaculata. Hoc est preceptum meum: ut diligatis invicem.19 I move these mater to monkys in a meke maner, And to al relegyous that beth iblest by Goddis ordynans. Forst Saynt Benet hom enformyd to kepe her cloyster, In povert and in prayerys, in prevé penawns; And to abeyde abstinens, and foresake abundans, To sle the lust of hore lycam and hore lykyng; And obey obedyans, and kepe observans; Both in cloystyr and in quere, holdyth sylens fore ané thyng.              And to God and mon, be kynde,        And ryse at mydnyght out of here ryst,        And pray fore here good-doers, as breder iblest,        And depart here almys, lest hit be lest,              Fore the founders that hem fynd. Fore in the rewle of relygyous, ther may ye rede Hou the graceous goodys of God schuld be spend; Uche person schuld have his part after that he had ned,20 And cast hit al in comyn, the goodys that God ham send, And leve not lyke leud men fore schame, lest ye be schent, That storon stryf and wrath because of covetyng. Ye schuld have no propurté; on the pore hit schuld be spend! And hold up youre houshold and youre housyng,              And let hem not adoune,        And herbore the pore, pur charyté,        And yef mete and dreng to the nedé,        And cumford hom that woful be —              Ellis be ye no relegyon! Servite Domino in timore, et exultate ei cum tremore.21 Both in cloyster and in quere, when that thai syng and rede Aperte et distincte,22 han mynd for hom thay pray, And kepun her pausus and her poyntis — ellus myght thai gete no mede! —23 Fore thus sayth here Sovereyns, sothly to say: “Mi pepyl praysy me with here lyppus; here hertis ben far away,24 Fore thai be caght with covetyse, that schal ham cast in care. To the worchip of this world, thai wryn fro me away; Thai han no lykyng ne no lust to lerne apon my lare.              To me, thai beth unkynd —        Agayns my gret goodnes,        Thai chewyn me unbuxumnes,        And I graunt ham foregifnes —              Thai have not this in mynd.” . . . rat in vanum . . . t Thus he prevys youre prayers and your spiritualté, For when ye prayyn to your God, ye spekyn with hym in spyrit, And yif ye redon in Holé Wryt, he speke agayn with thee. Remembyr you redely when ye red — ther may ye wyle wyt! — Take knoulache at youre consians, fore ther hit is yknyt;25 Thus sayth Marke, sothely, Mathou, Louke, and Jon. No mon mese in this mater ny in Holy Wryt, For ale the four doctors acordon ale in hon,              And clerkys of deveneté,        Thai conferme the same,        And comawndoun in Cristis name:        Holé Wryt no mon blame;              Hit is Goddis preveté. Beatus qui intellegit super egenum et pauperem.26 Fayne mai be the fadyrs and al the fonders That sustyne or sokeron relygious in oné way, And so mai be, sothli, ale here good-doars, That prayn for hom besyly, both nyght and day. When your caren is yclunggun and cast into clay, Hore matyns, here masse, fore ham, thai red and syng.27 When ale the welth of this word is went from hem away, Then the bedis of Holé Cherche, thai beth abydyng              Foreever and for ay.        And do you dredles out of drede:        Thai schal have heven to here mede,        That socures relegyous at nede,              Her in ané way. Da tua dum tua sunt; post mortem tunc tua non sunt.28 Lokys, lordus, to youre lyffe and to your levyng — For I am touchid upon the tong, the soth for to say! — Thagh ye be leders of the lond, gete you lovyng, And cale the clargé to your counsel, that beryn Cristis kay,29 And holdist up Holé Cherche, the Prinse of Heven to pay. Y dred lest dedlé sun this reeme wyl dystry, Fore the lauys of this lond ben lad a wrong way, Both temperale and spirituale, Y tel you treuly,              Even up-so-doune!        Yif Goddes lawys ye dystry,        And Holy Cherche set not by,        Then, farewelle, the clergy!              Hit is your damnacion. Takys fayre ensampyle be your faders that were you before, Hou thai worchypd Holé Cherche hyly to Godys honore: Therfore thai blessun her burth and the bodys that ham bare, For thai knouyn wel in her consians hit was her tresoure; For al har lordchip and here londys, hit farys as a floure —30 This day hit ys fresche, tomorow hit is fadyng! A sad ensampyl, forsoth, your soule to socour, And do as youre faders ded before, here in here levyng.              Hit is fore the best —        Do fore youreself or ye gone;        Trust not to another mon        (Ellus med of God get ye non!),              Bot then ye be eblest. Qui perceveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit.31 Redelé these relegyos men schul have hygh reward Yif thai kepyn her cloyster and here comawndment. Fore oné fondyng of the Fynd, fulfyl your forward, And castis awai covetyse, that is cause of cumberment, And kepe youe clene in chastyté. To chareté ale asent. What sayd your Soveren to his dyssiplis, when he dyd wasche hem, And knelud louly apon his knen tofore his blessid covent,32 And betoke hom this tokyn, diligatis invicem?33              “As I have lovyd yow,        Then joyful schal ye be,        For in my kyngdom ye schul me se,        And sit apon my dome with me.              My counsel schale ye knoue.” Honora Deum tuum de tuis substanciis.34 Withdraw ye not fro Holé Cherche your faderes han yeven before 35 To the prelatis and the prystis, fore hom fore to pray; Bot ye han grace of God hit to restore, Ye schul yild a carful counte on dredful Domysday. Y rede ye mend your mysdedus here wyle ye may, And let no cursid counsel cast you in care, Fore ale the worchyp of this word, hit wyl wype sone away — Hit falls and fadys forth, so doth a cheré fayre!              Thenke wel on this:        Thai bene acursid be Goddis law,        The goodys of Holé Cherche that withdrawe,36        That other han geven in holdon daw              To mayntyn Godys servyse. Quid prodest homini, si universum mundum lucretur?37 Thus have I cumford you, covens, and counsel you fro care!38 I rede ye obey obedyens that ye bene bowndon to. Then schul ye bles your byrth and the bodys that youe bare, For ye forsake this wyckyd word, to have wele without woo. This may ye know kyndlé, yfayth, both frynd and fo. Remember you of the ryche mon, and redlé on his end, What is reches, his reverans, his ryot broght hym to: Sodenlé was send to hele with moné a foul fynde 39              To serve Ser Satanas,        Fore to his God he was unkynd;        The lazar he had not in his mynd,        Fore worldys worchip, hit con hym blynd,              Therfore he syngys, “Alas!”40 Humilitas est radix omnium virtutum. Eever have mekenes in your mynd, relegyouse, I you rede, And use vertuys, and leve visis ale vayne, and vaneté; For yif ye love your Lord God his lauys, thai wyle yow leede Into his court and his coindam, were ys no vanygloré — That unfyttyng sun, forsothe, al verteus hit duystry! Hit lad Lusyfer to his los, that was an angel clere — God had claryfyud hym so clene of his cortesy, He sygh the Trinyté apere within his body clere;              Then enterd in hym envy —        Whan he hade seyne this gloryis syght,        He wolde arast hym his myght;        Anoon he fel downe ryght              Into hel sodenly. Qui se exaltat umeliabitur.41 A sad ensampyl, forsoth, to ale relygyous men That bene caght with covetyse, to be sit in hye astate: Thai most hem ground furst in grace, hemselve know and ken,42 Ellys the worchip of this world, hit wyle sone abate. Ye most have mekenes and mercé, hyghnes of hert hate, And werche not hafter wylsumnes, bot wysdam to youe cale. After chec fore the roke, ware fore the mate, For yif the fondment be false, the werke most nede falle              Withyn a lytyl stounde.        No mon make a covernour        Bot yif hit be to Godys honour;        His worchip wyl fare as floure,              Anon gurd to grounde! Non honor sed honus accepere nomen honoris.43 Ther is no worchyp wyt hit, bot a gret charche, To take the name of astate and of hye honour, Fore both to God and to mon, thou most ned be large, Fore thou are choson fore chif and made here covernour;44 Then loke thou grounde thee in God and drede thi Saveoure That wyle cale thee to thi countus and to thi rekynyng — Hou thou hast done thi deuté and, treuly, thi devour, And spend his goodys princypaly to His plesyng —              Fore this most thou nede.        Yif thou hast spend more fore the worde        Then fore love of thi Lord,        The law wyl thee reward —              Deth to thi mede! Concilium meum non est cum impiis.45 A foul defaute, feythfuly, in Holé Cherche we fynde: To let lordis or leud men make election; Thai schul not know your consel. Hit is agayn kynde! Fore this cause Saynt Thomas soferd deth and passyon. Your chapytre schuld be Cownsel and Confession, And now boldly theryn, thay mon thee both halle! Thus these preletus, of her prevelache, thay deprevon;46 There Holy Chirche was fre, now they make hit thrale,              And leson worchip and grace.        To let lord or leud men        Know of youre corexeon,        Ye men of relegyon              Beth cursid in that case. Leges meas custodite, dicit Dominus.47 Ye schuld rather sofyr deth, payn, and passyon, Then lese the love of youre Lord and let down his laue. Corsid covetyse, hit is the cause, prid, presomseon. Ye beth ungroundid in grace; your God ye con not knowe; Your dedus demeys youe, dredles! Devocion hit is withdraw. Ye han chasid away charyté and the reule of relegyon; Al gestlé grace and holénes, hit is layd fule lowe. Thus have ye pot Holé Cherche to gret confusion,              And made yourselfe thral!        Godys lauys ye han suspend,        Herefore ye wyl be schamyd and chend;        Bot ye han grace you to amend,              Ful dere aby ye schal! Quid prodest homini si universum mundum lucretur?48 Thenke on the cursid covetyse mon that to hymself gon say: “Ete and drenke and make thee meré; this word is at thi wyle!”49 A voyse onswerd hym anon: “Tomorw or hit be day, Thi soule sodenly schal be send into the fouyre of hele, Fore thou trustis more to thi tresoure and to thi catele Then in the love of thi Lord, that ale thi wele hath wroght.” Thou carful caytyf, the curst, hit is treu that I thee telle: Thou schuldyst thonke thi Lord God that with his blod thee boght —              To hym, thou art unkynd;        Therfore damnyd schalt thou be        Into hele perpetualy,        Withoutyn grace and mercy,              World withoutyn end. Qui vult venire post me abneget semetipsum.50 Bot he that wyl come after Crist, and kyndlé bere his cros, And crucyfé his caren with love and charyté, Leve thou me that his love schal not turne to losse; Both fore his meryd and his mede, rewardyd schal he be. Ther is no tong that con tele, hert thenke, ne ye se That joye, that jocundnes, that Jhesus wyle joyn hym to, Ne the melodé, ne the myry minstrasye! Hit is without comparisoun, wele withouton woo,              And love that lastis ay!        That joy hit schal never sesse,        Bot ever endoyre and ey ever encresse;        Thus with rest and with pesse,              I make a loveday. [Lines 391–546: On friars] Pacem et veritatem diligite ait Dominus omnipotens.51 My blessid broder, Salamon, spesialy I thee pray, Meve this mater maysterfully to prest and to frere; Spare not to say the soth, and make a loveday. Loke thou coré not favele ne be no flaterer. I am hevy in my hert, and chaunget al my chere, To wyt leud men, unleryd, lagh ham to scorne. Thai were better unborne and broght on a bere, Bot yif thai mend here mysdede — Y lykyn hem be lorne! —              And kepe charyté.        Fore mon soule thai schuld save;        No spot of sun thai schuld have;        Alas, I trou that thai rave!              Lord, benedyceté! Fore schryfte and fore trentale, thai scorne ale this stryf; Yif hit be cause of covetyse, cursud then thai be! Yif thai loven more here lucour then the soule lyve, Lytul deynteth of here doctrine and of here dyngnité. Fore thai were chosun to be chast and kepe charyté, And cast away covetys, is cause of cumberment, And be clene kalender, the sekelers on to see, Ellys with chenchip and with chame, thai wyle be echent.              Thai stond in gret drede!        Pray ham ale, for charyté,        To save mon soule, spesialy,        Ellys woful schale thay be              Fore her falshede. Si linguis hominum loquar et angelorum caritatem autem non habeam.52 I say thee, broder Salamon, tel in thi talkyng Furst of the frerys; thus meve thou may Of here prevelache and of here prayrys and here prechyng, And of here clergé and clannes and onest aray. Yif thou say not the soth, then may won say That thou art leud and unlerd, and letter canste thou non.53 Yif thou touche the treuth, truly thou hem pray Fore to holde thee excusid, evereche mon,              Yif hit be here wyle.        I hold hit bot a leude thyng        Fore to make a lesyng —        To God hit his displesyng,              Outher loud or style. Vos amici mei estis si feceritis quae precepio vobis.54 The furst founders of the freres and of the four oordyrs Weron four bernes iblest of oure Saveour, I say, And betokyn here bokys and baggus to be beggers, To preche the pepul apert the Prince of Heven to pay, To borou, to beg, to put schame bothe away, To by and to bylde with here beggyng, And pray fore here good-doerys both nyght and day, That sendus ham here sustynans and here levyng              Here in this worlde —        Nyght and day, contynualy,        Fore hom thai prayn spesealy,        In matyns, messe, and memoré,              To here lovely Lord. Petite et accipietis. Whosoever sparys fore to speke, sparys for to spede, And he that spekys and spedys noght, he spellys the wynd; I do youe clene out of dout and dredles out of drede, Better is to speke and sped then hold hit in mynd, Fore moné hanne moné maners, and moné beth unkynd, Unclene in here consyans because of covetyse. Spek and have, Y thee hete; seche and thou schalt fynd,55 Ellys may thou fal in myschif and fare ale amysse;              Nyk not this with nay.        Asay thi frynd or thou have nede,        And of his answere take good hede;        Thou getyst no good, withoutyn drede,              Bot yif thou byd or pray. Querite et invenietis. Yif ye wyle yef ham of your good without beggyng, Thai wold nowther begge ne borou, thus dare I say; And fynd hem here houshold and here housyng, Nouther by ne byld — I red ye asay!56 Behold, syrus, apon here chyrche, now I you pray, Apon here bellys, on here bokys, and here byldyng, Apon here prechyng, here prayes, her reverent aray; Thai pase ale other men in here governyng —              I whot hit is no nay!        Thai play not the fole,        Contenualy thai gon to scole;        Lordys worchip han thai wole,              And poton folys away. Dingnus est mercenareus mercede sua. Ego autem mendicus sum et pauper.57 Sum men sayn these selé frerys thai han no consyans —58 A mon to take seven salerys, ten trentale, yif thai may, And cast ham in a hogpoch togedur fore to daunce — Hit ys no ferly thagh the folke in hom thai han no fay! I lekyn ham to Judas that Crist he con betray — Because of his covetyse, he sold his Soferayn — So to begyle the selé pepul and greve God — weleaway! —59 Redelé thai ben ravenourys and non relegyous men,              That schal han reuful sore.        Hit is agayns Godys ordenans        To covet more then youre sustynans;        This makys debat and dystans —              And mend you, syrus, herefore! Ego autem mendicus sum et pauper.60 Sothly, hit is wel beset, at my wetyng, The grace and the goodnes that men done hem here; Hit prevys wel apert by here levyng To pot hom to povert in soche a manere. Yet thai makyn moné men ful mekusly chere With the grace and the goodys that God here hom sende; Wyselé and wyttlé the leud thai wyle lere Here mys and here mysdedis her to amende;              Why schuld men be wroth,        Sethyn God sendys hom of His sond —        Withoutyn plogh or londe        Ore saleré of kovenande —              Mete and drenke and cloth? Fratres, nolumus vos ignorare veretatem.61 I wyl not faver youe, frerys, with no flateryng; Ye were better unborne then fore to be to bolde! Passe not youre prevelege because of covetyng, Fore this tale treulé apon youe hit is told. Of soche that knouen hom gulté, agayns me thai hold,62 And I repreve no presthod bot here leud levyng; Fore to stond at a stake, bren ther Y wolde Yif I say falslé at my wyttyng —              Blynd as Y am,        To me hit were a slawnder        To lye apon my broder;        I wold han fayn forther,              Bot sonn gelo cuiuscam.63 Attendete a falsis prophetis.64 Beth faythful, ye frerys, in your fay. Let be your flateryng. Preche the pepul pryncypaly the Prince of Heven to pay. Pil not the pore pepule with your prechyng, Bot begge at abundand and at ryche aray. Ye may mete moné men ye walkyn be the way, That bene nedé and nedful and woful begoon, That ave a peny in here purse — thagh ye beg and pray, Agayns twenty of yours, Y trou, thai have not hone.              This is no charyté!        Fore to beg at the pore,        Ye schuld haven here socoure        Of that ye potyn in tresoure,              On ham have peté. Estote micerecordes, sicut Pater vester miserecors est.65 Thus ye techyn truly to ale maner men Fore to part with the pore — on ham have peté! As ye counsel other, Y counsel you then, To solans ham, to socour ham in here fyrmeté — Ellys, lelé, hit is lyke ye have no chareté. Ye schul schew good ensampyl to the soulehele; Men waytyn apon your werkys, Y tele you wytterly. As ye techen other to do, ye don never a dele!              Beth seche as ye seme.        A prechur schuld lyve parfytly,        And do as he techys truly,        Ellys hit is ypocresy —              Your dedus, thai doth you deme. Nulli malum pro malo reddentes.66 He that wyle not forther these frerus wyllun hom no harme; Wyle thai loven her Lord God, thai mow not fare amys. Thenk on the leyth Lazar was borne into Abraamus barme;67 With ys povert and his payne, he boght hym heven blys, Fore the ryche mon hym refusid, he faryth ale amys, And lyus law with Lucefyr, leghyst in hele!68 Parte with these pore frerus — your Fader wyle hit his! — Last the case on youe fal that on hym befelle.              Ye schuld fynde hit fore the best.        Do as thou woldus me dud be thee;        Apon thi broder thou have peté;        Depart with hym and he with thee,              Then be thai both yblest. [Lines 547–857: On secular clergy] Ingnorancia non excusat saserdotem. Moné men of Holé Cherche thai ben ale to lewd; I lekyn ham to a bred is pynud in a cage. When he hath shertly hymselfe ale bescherewd, Then he begynys to daunse, to harpe, and to rage, Fore he is leud and understond not his oune langwage; Therfore he settys therby bot a lytyl prise, Fore he lerd hit in his youthe and in his yenge age, And castis hym never to lerne more att here oune devyse.              I say you forewhy —        Thus leud men thai can say,        He is an honest prest in good faye,        Yif his goune be pynchit gay,              He getis a salary. Legere et non intellegere est quasi neclegere.69 Now yif a pore mon set hys son to Oxford to scole, Both the fader and the moder hynderyd thay schal be; And yif ther falle a benefyse, hit schal be gif a fole, To a clerke of a kechyn, ore into the chaunceré.70 This makys the worchip of clerkys wrong fore to wry, Seth sekeler men schul have mon soulys in kepyng, And pytton here personache to ferme to a baylé,71 And caston doune here howsold and here housyng,              Here paryschun dystroy.        Clerkys that han cunyng        Schuld have monys soule in kepyng,        Bot thai mai get no vaunsyng              Without symony! Qui intrat in ovile nisi per hostium, . . . ille fur est et latro.72 Symony is a sun forbedun be the laue Hyly in Holy Cherche — no mon hit use! And fro that dredful dede ye schul you withdraw, Ellus the lauys of God ye doth not bot dyspyse.73 Curatis that beth unkunyng, hem ye schuld refuse, And aspy pore prevyd clerkys among the clergy, And gef hem awaunsment and a benefyse To save synful soulys with here feleceté.              Goddys wyl hit ys:        Curatus resident thai schul be,        And ald houshold oponly,        And part with the pore that beth nedé,              And mend that ye do mys. In tres partes dividite rerum ecclesie substanciam.74 The furst princypale parte lungus to your levyng; The secund part to Holé Cherche, to hold his honesté; The third part to your parechyngs that ale to youe bryng, To hom that faylun the fode and fallun in poverté. Thus the goodys of Holé Cherch schuld be spend specyaly; Both your meryt and your mede in heven schul ye have. Al Cristyn men on Crist wold thai crye, Fore the bodé and the soule bothe do ye save              Here in this word;        That susteyne ham both nyght and day,        And techyn to heven the redé way,        Pryncepal fore youe thai wold pray              To here gracious Lord. Aprehendite disciplinam, ne quando irascatur.75 Trulé, I trow this rewme where chamyd and chent Nere the foretheryng of the frerys and here prechyng,76 Fore the seculars prestis take non entent Bot to here leudnes and her lust and here lykyng; Thai beth nothyng covetese to lerne no conyng, The laus of here Lord God to know and to ken. Hit demys wele be here dedys thay have no lovyng, Nowther to God, ne goodnes, ne non to odyr men.77              This is a gret peté!        Here holé order when that thai toke,        Thai where exampnyd apon a boke,        Godys lauys to lerne and to loke,              And kepe charyté. Accipite jugum castitatis. Clerkys were choson to be chast and kepe charyté, With alle here wyt and here wyle and here worchyng, And be a clene calender, the leud men on to se, And not to stere stryf and wrath fore here covetyng. Hit is a schenchyp and a schame and a sclawnderyng Agayns the order of Holé Cherch and Goddys ordenawns, Prestis fore to covet ale, the frerys to han nothyng! This dole is undeulé dalt. Hit maketh dystans,              And al thai beth breder.        And sethen thai serven won Lord,        Thai schuld never be at dyscord,        Nouther in ded nor in word,              Bot ychon part with othyr. Erant illis omnia communia. In Actibus Apostolorum ther may ye rede Hou the goodys of Holé Cherche sumtyme were isempde; Uche postyl had his part, ryght as he had nede; Thai cast hit ale in comyn, the goodys that God hym sende. Curst Covetyse, foresoth, the clergé hath yblynd, That schuld be lanterns lyght in Holé Cherche to bren, And chasud away Charyté! Therfore thai wyl be chent, And turne hemself fro the treuth and marrun other men.              More arme is!        Thai pottyn hamselfe in gret parel,        Fore treuly the pepul thai schuld tele,        And warne ham of the payns of hele,              And mend that thai do mys. Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum. Take tent to this tyxt, prestis, I you pray. Habitare semper fratres in unum,78 Thus Davit in the Sauter, sothlé con he say. Crist of his curtessé to curatis tak his kay, Mon soul with mekenes to have in kepyng, With the treuth of here toung to teche hem the way, Throgh the seven sacrementis here soule to blis bryng.              God grantyth hem his pouere        To asoyle that wyl repent,        And schryve hem clene with good entent,        And do here penans verament,              Wyle that thei ben here. Ego sum pastor bonus. The ground of al goodnes, curatis schuld be the cause, And knyt hem kyndly togeder, ale the clergé, And leve here leudnes and here lust and lern Godys laues, With hare conyng and clannes, dedlé synnus dystory, Both the flesche and the Fynd, false covetys defye, With mercé and with mekenes, the treuth for to teche, The comawndmentis of Crist to kepe kyndly Tofore the pepul apart. Thus schuld he preche!              Fore ye ben schepardys ale one.        Then Crist to Peter, what sayd he?        “My keyis I betake to thee;        Kepe my schepe fore love of me,              That thai peresche never on.” The prophecy of the prophetus, ale nowe hit doth apere, That sumtyme was sayd be the clergy: That leud men, the laue of God that schuld love and lere, Fore curatis fore here covetyse, wold count noght therby, Bot to talke of here teythys, Y tel you treuly. And yif the secular say a soth, anon thai bene eschent, And lyen apon the leud men and sayn, “Hit is Lollere!”79 Thus the pepul and the prestis beth of one asent;              Thai dare no noder do,        Fore dred of the clergé,        Wold dampnen hem unlaufully        To preche apon the peleré,              And bren hem after too. Ve vobis qui dicitis malum bonum et bonum malum.80 Lef thou me, a Loller his dedis thai wyl hem deme.81 Yif he withdraue his deutes fro Holé Cherche away, And wyl not worchip the cros, on hym take good eme, And here his matyns and his masse apon the haleday, And belevys not in the sacrement, that hit is God veray, And wyl not schryve him to a prest on what deth he dye, And settis noght be the sacrementus, sothly to say, Take him fore a Loller, Y tel you treuly,              And false in his fay!        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        Deme hym after his saw;        Bot he wyl hym withdraw,              Never fore hym pray. Corripite inquietos, quod nolunt intelligere ut bene facerent.82 Thagh the pepyl be never so leud in here levyng, And brekun the comawndementis of Crist, and wykud werk worch, Thay may go mery ale the yere for ané reprevyng Outher of parsun or of prest or men of Holé Cherche; Bot yif thai fayle slus or schof, anon therwith thai groche, Comawnd in Cristis name here tethyng to hem bryng, Ellis a letter of sentens thai wyle on hem sorche; Hit cemys that to the celé soule thai have no lovyng.83              Thus may ye wel knowe!        Y pray, serys, that ye aspye        Houe contenuys Lechoré —        Have he cordit with the consteré,              Vola veredé voo?84 Videte, rectores ecclesie, ne propter lucrum dampnatis animas Christianas.85 Alas, that thes offecers of Holé Cherchis laue Lettyth these leud men lye in here syn, That dredun nothyng here domus hem to withdrawe,86 Fore Mede the maydyn mantens hem therin, Because of Ser Covetys, is neyre of here kyn, May do with mon of Holé Cherche hollé his entent; The wyf and the hosbond he mai part atwyn; Thagh thai be boundon togeder be the sacrement,              He wyle dessever hem two,        And yet the Gospel hom dos lere,        That God juins togeder yfere,        Ther is no mon that hath pouere              That sacrement undoo.	[W1] nor; nor any other place ashamed; disgraced lose your honor on earth eyes, you have seen receive retribution; their life; lose law of the land (t-note) disgraced income Nor be hanged nor drawn (executed) ordained; righteous man; (see note); (t-note) them; Devil prison; limestone Only for them; laws thieves disgraced gallows These; have a good end; (t-note) (see note) lives here righteously (see note); (t-note) punished experience woe sodomy; (t-note) cries manslaughter; rueful voice payments them; ordained adultery These sins do blind a man against nature ruin Murder; theft; adultery disgrace you before you know [it] privately them openly world; knowledge use; doing Cain [Genesis 4:11] adultery; David received punishment men fear not (t-note) be punished most certainly Unless; space themselves; (see note) curates; disgraced unchaste giving (t-note) profession correct (see note) [Genesis 2:21–24] (t-note) satisfied [God] himself earth their (Adam and Eve’s) heirs [gain] What Lucifer and all his [company] lost replenish Before married; (see note) Soon This [instead]; law’s command Equal; (t-note) For thus shall they come together for love these [equal conditions] suitably make in every way heirs; (t-note) prosper These others; trouble creature perverts nature [Animals] choose their mates; own; (t-note) make (t-note) disparage by marrying low many [By those] who; heirs weal Honor arises embarrasses; (see note) paramour; (see note) This bargain; dearly bought or later he will pay has broken his oath has; mate plighted his troth to marry her Evening or morn (see note) no other; (see note); (t-note) while please and satisfy else If; amend; amiss; (see note) religious order or estate; (see note) Uphold wherever you go received; (t-note) Unless he be damned, truly see That what God by law binds together power above; (see note) [Matthew 19:19] Forsake; oaths sinlessness; holy day always Slay; worldly Gossip about slanderous Look that you do not bear false witness Deceit every one [Exodus 20:1–17] counsel; (see note) any desire or pleasure Be mindful of openly shown; pitiably fire burning; (t-note) pitiful compassion food; thirsty; drink; (see note) Clothe Visit; sick bury shelter ignorant; knowledge; (t-note) be destroyed (see note) lent them call rule; existence granted [So that you might] love him are; spent; (t-note) offend Suppose; incapable [of reason] beast; by nature able to reason; (t-note) free choice; (see note) Whether; evil Either to be saved or else ruined free choice advise (see note) epistle [1 Corinthians 13:13]; attest grieve chief; (t-note) mirror [Matthew 19:19] ordained Always one [Matthew 7:12]; (see note) hence before; go reward [you will be] forgotten people and kinsmen Always; compassion; (see note) By [sharing] the goods treasure here (t-note) reckoning fire burning frighten shared judges; (see note) how royal, dignified array alas!; (t-note) always waiting complain suffered piteously would not Nor; thy; (see note) [not in W] (see note) On account of the writer’s mistake; (see note) before [this folio]; (t-note) Search for [W2] (see note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) by; patience truth; know It (i.e., Holy Writ); making By; composed For us to recall easily [1 Corinthians 13:13] [See Matthew 7:12]; (see note) courteous (as nature demands); (see note) (see note) agreement; baptismal font Before our father; sought; faith every one of his deeds truly; (t-note) by natural instinct crossed; chrism; anxious cry; (see note); (t-note) godfathers voice (see note) Whoso; barren; are Unless; absolved; before shall know woe; indeed; (t-note) (t-note) nor less rules; (see note) duty are heirs has granted them this; (t-note) amend what they do amiss wisdom; world; (see note) (i.e., Solomon, in Ecclesiastes) (see note) Who; before; woeful; (t-note) himself uncut blade [should] touch wrongfully here a man, maiden, nor wife Satisfy; debt; unless; conscience abides by an agreement; (t-note) (t-note) heed; (see note) Believe; liar; will him judge; (see note) [Or] else, truly follow; (see note); (t-note) instinctively; any; (see note) [shall] lose; life-days Either (t-note) Death [is] his reward Marcolf; more fool; way; (see note) enjoin; brother Solomon; hear humble husbandmen, their Take; priest; friar; (see note); (t-note) illiterate; (see note) Unless; are entangled in avarice laws (i.e., It is well known) (i.e., They will listen only to you) their horn (i.e., judgment); blown; (see note) them [to turn away] from loss and likely damnation follow; path; fall; (see note); (t-note) guide guilefully much muck (i.e., property) always acquire [more] unnatural; uncourteous; (see note) What; wrongfully Until executor; (see note) succor Here in his life (t-note) priesthood; (see note); (t-note) Vainglory; their vices; their vanity Bid them amend; (see note) guilty; (see note) rather; reprove Running and flourishing; realm; (t-note) cleanse sober truth; guiltless pleased; (see note) [on] unpleasant roads lack beast; blessed; (see note) By nature; region Though; unlearned Nourished; other happiness; (see note) Until; (t-note) Where is [there] any other; (t-note) Who; heal; health draw; (t-note) By a [natural] desire Bid them (i.e., priests) (t-note) [Genesis 4:11] Who beat; rashness nor for passion; (see note) city; prosper a holy one and a servant; (t-note) Who upholds his sworn duties knows; soon request do well; (t-note) Heard is their humble; (see note) Lollard; hypocrite; (t-note) busy; prayers; satisfy conforms to; duly course; company niggard Unless; cheeks few are discourteous; (t-note) (t-note) noble Sir John; may come to him; (see note) merry instruments are (see note) salary; (t-note) he seems not; vicar; (see note) By; jollily (see note); (t-note) open purse; (see note) (t-note) For [then] our mirth would be over gladden shield his life; (t-note) vanity; (t-note) [it] angers; knowingly, foolishly guilty sins; misdeeds; repent desires; damned contrition court trouble; Trinity commands; (t-note) lead commandment (t-note) address this subject; (t-note) ordinance First; Benedict informed them; (see note) private penance; (t-note) endure slay; body; pleasure monastic rule; (see note) choir; silence naturally harmonious sleep their; brethren blessed disperse; lost; (t-note) On behalf of the donors rule; (see note) spent common Live; ignorant stir strife (i.e., maintain your standards); (see note) shelter; for give food; drink comfort; miserable Or else you are no [man of] religion choir; (see note) whom; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) turn teaching; (see note) show; disobedience (t-note) assesses (see note) read; speaks; (t-note) readily; well learn No one [may] dispute; nor; (see note) (i.e., Gospels) accord entirely in unity divinity confirm (t-note) divine mystery (t-note) Pleased; fathers; founders (lay patrons) sustain; support; men of religion; (t-note) truly; their good-doers For whom [those monks] pray busily flesh; withered; (t-note) (t-note) prayers; are permanent (i.e., And do believe this) [They] who help Here (see note) tongue; truth; (see note) leaders; acquire [Christian] loving; (see note) (see note) support; satisfy sin; realm; destroy; (t-note) are led temporal; (see note) upside down destroy; (t-note) (t-note) piously (see note) somber example did; their; (see note) before; go (see note); (t-note) reward blessed Certainly maintain; monastic rule Against any temptation; agreement encumberment wholly assent; (t-note) [John 13:5]; (t-note) gave them (t-note) (see note) them (i.e., your fathers) Unless yield an accurate account advise; repent wicked; (see note) world; (see note); (t-note) cherry fair; (see note) by What others have given in former days (see note) rules; (see note) bodies that bore you; (see note); (t-note) For [then] you [shall]; joy; (see note) instinctively, in faith; (see note) actively [think] upon his riches; dignity; extravagance; (t-note) poor man Humility is the root of all the virtues. humility; advise practice; abandon vices; vanity; (t-note) laws; (t-note) kingdom, where; vainglory; (t-note) unfitting sin (i.e., Pride); destroys fall; pure purified; courtesy saw glorious wrest from somber seated; high (see note) soon; (see note) [and] hate pride of heart after willfulness; call check; rook; beware; checkmate; (t-note) foundation time; (t-note) No man can be a governor Unless pass as a flower fall; (t-note) with it (i.e., high office); responsibility [high] estate generous (t-note) (see note) call; accounts; (see note) duty; obligation; (t-note) spent world (t-note) flaw ignorant; election [of prelates] against nature suffered; (see note); (t-note) chapter [of religious order] they both shall haul you in; (see note) (t-note) Where; [once] free; enslaved; (t-note) lessen correction (t-note) suffer; torment presumption (see note) deeds judge you, indeed spiritual; holiness; (t-note) put disgraced Unless dearly buy [it] before fire property; (see note) fortune wretched caitiff kindly mortify; flesh Believe merit; award tongue; heart conceive, nor eye see joyousness merry minstrelsy; (t-note) joy cease endure; always increase; (t-note) peace day of accord; (see note) (see note) Stress this subject (see note) curry not duplicity nor; (see note) changed entirely in my countenance teach ignorant; unlearned, [and] laugh bier Unless they repent practice charity sin believe Lord, your blessing Despite shrift; strife on account of avarice; doomed; (t-note) lucre; than; soul’s immortality [They] think little; dignity (see note) sinning; (see note) [a] pure example, for the laity to view; (see note) disgrace; shame; ruined (see note) friars; talk about privilege learning; honest garment; (see note) one; (see note) you [may] bid them To excuse you, every man will corrupt; (see note) lie is Either aloud or silent orders (see note) men blessed by; (t-note) [who] carried; in the way of beggars [to] the people openly; please borrow buy; build good-doers (i.e., benefactors) sustenance; living loving Ask, and you shall receive [John 16:24] fails to speak; prosper; (see note) spills the wind than many; unnatural; (t-note) conscience (t-note) (t-note) Deny friend (confessor or God) before; (see note); (t-note) certainly Unless; ask Seek and you will find [see Matthew 7:7] (see note) (t-note) (see note) prayers; (t-note) surpass; governance; (t-note) know it is undeniable fool (i.e., honest truth-teller); (see note) school Lords’ worship they wish to have put foolishness (t-note) (see note) salaries; trentals [these pluralities]; hodgepodge wonder; faith (see note) Certainly; plunderers; (t-note) Who shall have miserable pain sustenance dispute and disagreement repent by my understanding that people grant friars here It shows quite openly in their way of life put themselves in poverty; (see note) In addition; meek countenance knowingly; laity; teach; (t-note) sins; (t-note) (see note) Since; gifts salary of covenant (i.e., employment) curry your favor; (see note) brazenly corrupt Neglect; greediness (t-note) reprove; except for their lewd behavior burn; (see note) by my understanding (see note) (see note) lie (t-note) (see note); (t-note) Cease please Pillage from the wealthy and richly dressed [as] you walk; (t-note) woebegone have [barely] I believe; one Whom you should aid With what you put compassion share solace; infirmity truly soul’s health; (see note) observe; surely at all such hypocrisy; (t-note) (see note) (see note); (t-note) support; wishes them; (t-note) While; may; (t-note) his While the rich man refused him; (t-note) lies low; most deceitful Share; Father’s will; is Lest; fate one [Matthew 7:12]; (see note); (t-note) brother (i.e., a friar) Share Ignorance does not excuse a priest [see Hebrews 9:7] too unlearned bird; confined quickly; befouled; (see note); (t-note) rave; (t-note) poorly literate; (t-note) value learned on his own; (t-note) Thus do common men say pleated stylishly [And] he (t-note) (see note) financially deprived Yet if; benefice; given to a fool; (see note) honor; turn Since laymen (see note) neglect; household [And thus] their parish knowledge advancement ecclesiastical bribery sin forbidden by the law; (t-note) Sacredly; [may] no one are untrained; (t-note) notice; trustworthy scholars advancement; benefice; (t-note) blessedness; (t-note) Curates should be in residence hold; (see note) share; are in need amend what you do amiss share; belongs; benefice; (t-note) maintain its honor parishioners lack food spent specifically world You (honest curates) who direct [them]; straight Principally (t-note) believe; realm is shamed; disgraced; (t-note) pay no attention To anything other than; stupidity not at all willing to learn any doctrine laws; understand ordination were examined Accept the yoke of chastity (see note) knowledge; will; work pure example; laity; (see note) stir strife; avarice disgrace; slandering have portion is unduly dealt; discord brethren since; one (see note) each one [should] share All things were common to them [see Acts of the Apostles 4:32]; (t-note) Acts of the Apostles collected Each apostle (t-note) Cursed Covetousness; blinded burn; (see note) disgraced mar harm put; peril preach [to] [to] repent; amiss Behold, how good and how pleasant [Psalm 132:1] Pay attention David; Psalter truly did courtesy; bestowed; key; (t-note) tongue (i.e., preaching); (see note) power absolve [them] truly While I am the good shepherd [John 10:11; see John 10:14] (see note) bring together naturally; (t-note) forsake; stupidity knowledge; purity; destroy; (t-note) [and] false avarice Before; plainly give [Matthew 16:19] sheep perish; one is now wholly fulfilled; (see note) concerning (see note) assent do nothing else [Who] would accuse them of heresy preach (ironic); pillory burn; (see note) (t-note) duties; (see note) heed; (see note) hear; holy day true confess; when he dies; (see note) cares nothing about faith Judge him according to his words; (t-note) Unless; recant (t-note) wanton; behavior do wicked work without any reproof; (t-note) From either (see note) (see note) (t-note) continues (How) he has accorded; consistory (see note) (t-note) law Allow; lay folk [to] remain maintains them (i.e., the clergy); (see note) near; (t-note) wholly allow to divorce (i.e., for payment) (see note) divorce does teach them What; in companionship power
	Episcopus debet esse sine crimene, et corrigere rectores ecclesie. Sicut vult respondere coram summo Judice.87; (t-note)
715 720 725 730 735 740 745 750	Thus oure blessud byschop, dene offecialle, Sofers thes sekelers in here syght to sun opynly, Thagh thai to here constri, hom to here court calle, Thai mercyn hem with moné and med prevely.88 Thai schuld put hom to prayers and to penans opunly, Fore “opun syn, opun penans,” this is Godys laue — Yif ye wyl serche the soth, here is remedé! Then wold thai dred your domys and sone hom withdraw,              And kepe Godys laus.        Curatis the soth thai dar not say,        Fore thai be worse levers then thai,        And leven in syn fro day to day,              So thai beth the cause. Inclina cor meum, Deus, in testimonia tua, et non in avariciam.89 Ye curatis, fore your covetys ye castun in the new fayre The churches that ye byn chosun to, be Godus ordenauns, And callun hit “permetacion,” cuntreys about to kayre,90 Bot yif ye han pluralytis, hit is not plesans. I preve the pope principaly ys worthy to have penaunce That grauntus ané seche grace because of covetyng; Hit dous dysese in Holé Cherch, and makys bot dystauns —91 A mon to have four benefyse, anoder no lyvyng.              This is not Godys wyle!        The furst benefyce ye ben bound to —        Ye schuld not desyre to go therfro,        And take a levyng and no mo,              Lest ye your soulis spyle. Nemo potest duobus dominis servire.92 Ye schul make no marketys ne no marchandyse, Nouther for to by ne sel for lucur, I say; Hit chasis away charyté, your covetyse, Alle your goostly grace hit wypis clene away. Who may serve two lordis, and bothe to here pay —93 That is, this wyckyd word and God — to plesyng? Yit ye serve not your God! The Fynd wyl you fray When ye ben callud to your countys and to your rekynyng,              That most ye nede.        Yif ye have servyd the worlde,        And be untreue to your Lorde,        The laue wyle youe rewarde:              Deth to your end!	dean Allows; laity; sin (see note) assess judgments miscreants live (i.e., barter and trade); (see note) by (see note) two or more benefices held at once; proper; (see note) declare; is suited for penance Who another will But take one benefice and no more; (t-note) destroy markets; merchandise buy or sell for lucre chases wipes world Thus; confront; (t-note) are called; accounts; (t-note)
	Hoc quocienscunque feceritis, in meum memoriam faciatis. Qui vero propter lucrum quodlibet temperale officium Dominicum presumit celebrare prossus quidem simulis proditore Jude qui Christum Judeis propter denarios XXXta, non dubitavit vendere. Qui ergo hoc modo accedit ad corpus Dominicum indigne vere sibi id ipsum accipit et sanguinem Dominicum non ad salutem sed ad judicium et juste. Nullus itaque propter lucrum hoc agat ne Jude proditore sociis in penis fiat.94; (see note); (t-note)
755 760 765 770 775 780 785 790 795 800 805 810 815	A foule defaute, faythfully, I fynd in Holy Cherche, Prestis to syng twyse a day fore here leucur, Yef thai schuld fore Cristis sake, anon then thay groche,95 And thus thai sellyn here Soverayn and here Saveour; I lekyn hem to Judas that was a traytoure — Because of his covetyse, his Soveren he solde. Boldlé the byschop is to blame that doth ham favour, Fore this tale, treuly, on hem hit is tolde.              This is a gret schame.        And yet the laue hit doth hem lere        Thai schuld syng bot twyse a yere,        At Crystymas and Astere,              Ellys thai beth to blame. Sicut aqua extinguit ignem, ita elemosina extinguit peccatum.96 Prestis, ye schul preve yourselfe and princypalé in dede: Ever depart with the pore. On hem have peté. Cownsel ham and cumford ham, and cloth hem at here nede, In presun and in poverté and infyrmety. Thus ye prechyn the pepul in the pylpit opynlé The seven werkys of mercé mekelé to fulfyl, And to ressayve here reward, remissyon redelé At the dredful Dai of Dome, fore this is Godis wyle,              Ore ellus schul thai rew!        As ye techon other to do,        Do yourselve also,        Ore ellis men wyl part youe fro,              And say ye bene untrew. Nota. De confescione et de sacramento altaris.97 Subjecti estote omnis humane creature propter Dominum.98 I counsel youe, ale Cristun men, and comawnd in Cristis name That ye obey your curatis that ye ben boundon to; Yif oné be fallyn be frelté in ané febel fame, God graunt hem of his grace no more so to do; And beth in ful charyté with frynd and with foo, Fore that is the grownd of al goodnes, with contricion, And serve that Lord of al lordys. Where ben ané mo That may soyle youe of your sunne and graunt you remyssyon?              In fayth, no mo bot hee.        Of al lordis, be he blest!        He wold no mon where elost        That wyl in his mercé trust,              And in his benyngneté. Yif your curatis comaund you to kepe Cristis lawus, Then do aftyr here doctrine, and ye bene out of drede, Fore, serys, thai may save your soule throgh here soth sauus, Then in heven schale ye have your meryd and your mede; Bot do not as thai doun — therof take good hede! — Bot yif thai schowe youe good ensampil to the soulehele,99 Fore God in the Gospel, thus he forebed. After here werkus, worche ye never a dele,              Ellus schul ye reue!        Fore as thai techyn you to do,        Bot yif thai don hamselve also;        Ellus Y rede ye gon hem fro,              And say thay bene untreu.100 Quodcumque ligaveris super terram.101 Fore God hath graunt of his grace to curatis his pouere — Thagh thai ben synful men — to asoyle youe of your synne, Thorgh vertu of the sacrementte, sothlé I yowe enseure; No mon mese in this matere yif he wyl savyd bene. Everé prest he hath pouere to asoyle you then, And to here confession in your nesescyté; Yif to your curatis ye mai not cum, that beth your soveren, Thai may do youe ryghtus, Y telle youe treuly.102              Thai have this pouere,        To asoyle that wyl repent,        And schryve ham clene with good entent,        Be vertu of the sacrement,              Both prest and frere.	fault; (t-note) twice; payment (t-note) truth-telling tale teach Easter in good action Always share prison; infirmity pulpit; plainly meekly receive; remission straightaway; (t-note) rue (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) frailty; poor repute friend (see note) [may] be any others absolve; sin [there is] no other but he wants; to be lost [see Ezechiel 33:11 and note] benignity you are secure their true sayings; (t-note) merit; reward (t-note) (see note) forbade regret [it] (see note) power absolve assure; (t-note) [should] dispute; (see note) hear; necessity sovereign (confessor) (t-note) [those] who
	Nota secundum decretalis et constitucionis ecclesie quod omnis homo utriusque sexus tenetur confitere suo proprio saserdoti semel in anno ad minus, nisi habeat licenciam vel dispensacionem, vel prevelegium a superiori.103; (t-note)
820 825 830 835 840 845 850 855	Bot ye most come to your curaturus be the comen laue, And schryve youe sothely of your synne at the lest enns a yere; Ye stonden in doute and in dred yif ye you withdraw Without lysens or leve, outher to prest or frere. Thai most your counsel knoue, that schal youe led and lere, That have the charche of youre soule in here kepyng; Ye byth princypaly under here pouere — Go not ungoodly away without here wytyng,              And know your entent:        Thai may not answere fore youe        Your consel bot thai know;        Thai beth excusid be the laue,              And ye schul be schent. Quicumque enim manducaverit . . . vel biberit calecem Domini indigne.104 Yif the prest unworthelé presume to syng his mas, Serus, Y say the sacrement enpayrd hit may not be, Bot his owne deth and his dome he ressayvs — alas! — Yif in his consians he knaw that he be gulté. Thagh he syng and say his mas, the prest, unworthelé, Both your meret and your mede in heven ye schul have, Fore God hath grauntyd of his grace, be his auuctoreté, Be he never so synful, youre soulys may he save.              Have this in thoght:        The masse is of so hye degré        Apayryd, forsoth, hit mai not be,        Ne no mon mend hit may,              Theron doctours han soght. Nichil imposebele apud Deum.105 Take ensampil by the sunne ye syne here with syght. Wha may depreve hym of his pouere and let his lyghtyng,106 That schenus apon a synful man as wele as on a ryght? Alse wele on fouele as on fayre, without defouteryng? Alse wel apon a knave as apon a kyng? A sad saumpil, foresoth, her may ye se: Hit is Godys Word and his werke and his worchyng. The sacrement of the autere defoulyd mai not be,              I do youe out of drede.        His Godhed may not be sayne        With no fleschlé eyne,        Bot in the sacrement ye may hit sene              In fegure and fourme of bred.	common law once a year; (see note) (i.e., neglect confession) license; permission either from guide and teach charge knowledge understand your duty (see note); (t-note) Unless they know your counsel doomed unworthily presumes; (see note) impaired receives; (t-note) knows; is guilty merit; reward his (the priest’s) authority; (t-note) he (the priest) sacred Impaired improve learned men have inquired sun; see shines; righteous foul; fair; faltering; (see note) (see note) serious example; here altar; desecrated assure you eyes see figure; form; bread
	[Lines 858–1013: Exhortations to adhere to the faith: the Trinity, the sacraments, and penance]
860 865 870 875 880 885 890 895 900 905 910 915 920 925 930 935 940 945 950 955 960	I se, sothlé, in the sune knyt thre maner kynde, His clerté and his clerenes, what clerke can declare; Bohold the hete in thi hert, and have hit in mynd; The conselacion and the comford, thai thre what thai are. Fore al that levys in this lond, ful evyl schul hit fare Nere that gloreus Gleme that fro the heven glydis; Ho that servyth not that Soverayn, his hert may be ful sare, That lenus of his love seche a lyght that ale this word gladis              In everych a place.        A, synful mon! Have this in mynde!        To that Lord, be not unkynde,        Fore he may both louse and bynde,              Graunt mercé and grace. I declare the clerté to the Fader of myghtis most; The heete hylé therof to his onlé Sunne; The consolacion and the comford to the Holé Gost; Kyndly yknyt togeder, without devesioun. The Fader, the Son, the Holé Gost, al thai beth bot hone — Thre persons prevyd in the Treneté — That never had begynyng, ende have thai none, That now is, and ever was, and ever schal be,              Lord of myghtys most!        Thus the Fader oure lyght us broght;        With the hete of his blod, his Son us boght;        Consolacion and cumford thus have thai wroght              Throgh the grace of the Holé Gost. Fides non habet meretum.107 Ryght as ye se all this world is glorefyd with one sunne, Serrs, so is mons soule with the sacrement: Als moné men at a mas as ye acount con, Uche person has his part that is ther present, And ale hit is bot hone Good — beleve this verament! — That is sacyrd on the autere betwen the prestis honde, That schal you deme at Domysday at his Jugement, After your dedis, dredles, thus schul ye understonde.              Thagh ye have done amys,        Yif fore your synnus ye be soré,        Then ye resseyven hem worthelé,        And schul have grace and mercy              And joy in heven bliss. Estote fortes in bello. Dredles, uche dedly sunne Y declare a wounde, That when the Fynd hath foght with youe, and hath the maystré, Then most ye seche a surgoun yif ye wyl be save and sound, That con sothlé serche your sore and make youe hole. Confession and contresion, thi salve schal hit be, The penans of thi penetawnsere, thi satisfaccion; Then feghtust with the Fynd agayne, and hast the maystré, And dost hym schenchip and schame, foreever confucyon,108              Thi soule fore to save!        Thus thi wondis helyd schul be,        With gret worchip to thee —        Because of thi victoré,              Reward schalt thou have. Misere mei, Deus, quia infirmus sum.109 I lekyn uche a synful soule to a seke mon That is yschakyd and schent with the aksis; Ther is no dayntet edyght that pay hym thai con, Bot al that is agayns hym that wyl hym pleese.110 So hit farus by a mon that ys recheles, That is seke in his soule — the soth he nel not here, Bot wrys away fro Godys Word to his wyckydnes. Here may ye know kyndlé yif your consians be clere,              The soth verament.        Cristyn men yif that ye be,        Then loke ye done cristynlé,        Ellus ye berun that nome in veyne, treuly;              Ye wyl be shamed and yshent! I counsel ale youe, ale curators, that wyselé you wayt, That han the cure of mons soule in youre kepyng, Engeyne ye not to yeesy penans, ne to strayt alegat,111 Lest ye slene both bodé and soule with youre ponyschyng, Fore better is a Paternoster with repentyng To send hem, to the mercé of God, to purgatoré, Fore Crist enjoynd no nother penans in his levyng, Bot vade in pace, amplius noly peccare.112              Fore as possebel hit were        Here, with a tere of thyn nye,        To qwensche the foyre of purgatoré,        As al the water in the se,              To qwench a blase of foyre. Ye that be chosun to ben chif and sittyng in Cristis place, Ye most have Treuth and Ryghtwysnes in your demyng; Then let Treuth dele and tok hym both Mercé and grace, And Ryghtwysnes rest Pes, fore dred of perechyng. These four sistyrs made acord betwene Heven Kyng And Manse Soule, that was forjuggyd to damnacion, Fore Pes agayns Ryghtwysnesche was ever pletyng, Hwyle Mercé with his mekenes turrne Treth to remyssioun.113              Herewith God plesid was,        And send doune his Son from heven an hye        To leght in the vergyn mayde Mary,        In herth to be boren of here body,              To graunt mercé and grace. Qui praemunitur non falletur.114 I hold hym wyse that wyl beware whan he has warnyng — Have this mater in your hert, and hoolde hit in mynd! Bot never honé whyl beware in here levyng, Bot al blustyrne furth unblest, as Bayard the blynd.115 Agayns the goodnes of God, men bene unkynde. Frerys fekul and freel and false in here fay, Amonke the men of Holé Cherche, feu ther I fynd That worchyn wysly hemselfe to wyse men the way.              This is a carful case.        To curatis sayth Saynt Gregoré,        That thai schal answere, trewlé,        Fore mon soul specyalé              Tofore Goddis face.	sun [are] joined three types of nature; (see note) clarity; brightness, as heat; heart; (t-note) consolation; comfort lives; evil shall it go Were it not for; glides Whoever; unhappy; (t-note) Who lends by; gladdens every loosen [see Matthew 16:19, 18:18]; (see note) assign; clarity heat spiritually; only Holy Ghost Intrinsically joined; division are but one proved; Trinity might (t-note) glorified; sun many; mass; count Each; share one; truly consecrated; altar judge doubtless Though sorry receive him worthily Be valiant in war [See Wisdom 8:15, Hebrews 11:34] Indeed, each; sin; [to be] a wound; (see note) Fiend; mastery seek a surgeon; safe truly search your wound; whole contrition; remedy priest appointed to assign penance; (see note) healed liken; each; sick shaken; harmed; aches dainty [thing] prepared; satisfy reckless will not hear turns by nature; conscience; clear; (see note) truly christianly Or else; bear; name in vain ruined curates; wisely; take heed; (see note) care (see note); (t-note) slay; punishing (see note) by other penance; life possible it is tear of your eye quench the fire; (t-note) sea blaze chief [officials]; [are] sitting Righteousness; judgment; (see note) allow; deal and give; (see note); (t-note) Justice rest [with] Peace; perishing [Psalm 84:11] destined for pleading [her case] (t-note) pleased down alight earth; born (see note) subject; heart [they who are] never any while (see note) fickle; frail; faith; (t-note) Among; few apply themselves wisely to show sad be called to account especially Before
	Verbi gratia, qui sicut dicit papa episcopo, episcopus rectoribus eclesie qui resipiunt potestatem ligandi atque solvendi et curam animarum: fratres in Christo, habet, trado vobis curam animarum parachanorum vestrorum ut respondiatis pro me et pro nobis coram summo Judice in die judicii.116; (see note)
965 970 975 980 985 990 995 1000	I meve this mater mekelé fore murmur of men, Wherefore I pray you spesyaly that ye wyl aspye At clerkus that have conyng, that can this know and ken, Houe thus Treuth is he touchid, wherefore and hwy. I red ye, rede hit aryght. Remembyr you redlé. Fore the love of our Lord, nouther lagh ne gren. As God, of my mysdedis, He have mercé, I meve this to amend me and ale other men,              My God to plese and pay.        No mon deney this        Yif that he thynke to have blys;        Betwene prestis and frerys, ywys,              I make this loveday. Misericordia et veretas obbeaverunt sibi; pax et justecia osculati sunt.117 Thus sayth David, foresoth, in the Sautere, And verefyus in a verse the love of our Lord: Misericordia et Verytas han thai met efere That long tyme before had bene at dyscord; Ther was faythfolé made a feneal corde, Fore Justicia et Pax mad ham to kus, Fro that day furth to fulfyl that forward, Never that mater to have in mynd, tofore was amys.              So I you pray,        Fore Godis wyl, forsoth, hit is,        That ye amend ye han do mys,        And hoch on other here ye cusse,              Forever and for ay. Cuius finis bonum, ipsum totum bonum.118 Thus Salamon hath sayd the soth, verement, As Marcol, the more fole, warned hym, I wene; Bot yif this draght be draun wel, thai goun wil be schent,119 And schal turne treulé to turment and to tene. Have mynd on this mater; ye wot what I mene. Blust not furth unblest, as Bayard the blynd, Bot cal agayne charyté with consians clene, And wry not fro Godis word, as the wroth wynd —              Herkyns hit as the hynd.        Apon your levyng, take good eme,        And beth seche as ye schul seme,        Fore be your dedis men wyl you deme.              Here I make an end.	broach this subject; grumbling notice; (see note) understand; (t-note) How; affected; why counsel; correctly; readily neither laugh nor grin broach satisfy deny indeed day of accord; (see note) Psalter; (see note) verifies Mercy and Truth have met together faithfully; final accord Justice and Peace; kiss [Psalm 84:11] compact [which] before what you have done amiss each other; kiss (see note) truth, truly; (see note) Marcolf, the very fool; believe (see note) truly; torment; trouble Pay attention to; know; mean (see note); (t-note) call again [for]; conscience turn; like the angry [who] twist away good servant behavior; heed; (see note) such deeds; judge
	Si veretatem dico, quare non creditis mihi? Qui ex Deo est, verba Dei audit. Ideo non auditis quia ex Deo non estis.120; (t-note)
1005 1010	Fore I have towchid the trouth, I trow I schal be schent, And said sadlé the soth without flateryng; Hald me fore no parté that beth heere present; I have ne lykyng ne lust to make no lesyng. Fore Favel with his fayre wordis and his flateryng, He wyl preche the pepul apert hem for to pay; I nel not wrath my God at my wetyng, As God have mercé on me, Syr Jon Audlay,              At my most ned.        I reche never who hit here,        Weder prest or frere,        For at a fole ye ma lere,              Yif ye wil take hede. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Because; disgraced; (see note); (t-note) seriously Assign me to no faction; (see note); (t-note) liking nor pleasure; any lies; (t-note) Flattery (i.e., one who curries favor); (see note) openly to please them will not anger; with my knowledge (see note) care; hears Whether from a fool you may learn; (t-note) (see note); (t-note)
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40	[XV.] THE REMEDY OF NINE VIRTUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “To thi neghbour fore love of me, To make debate ny dyscorde, And thou dust me more cumford, Then thagh thou wentust barefote in the strete, For love of me that ys thi Lorde, That stremus of blood folewed thi fete.              I sai forwi:        A wekid worde a mon may schame,        To lese his godes and hys good name;        Whoso falsly duth men fame              Beth curst truly. “The seventh vertu ys good conselyng; Entyse not thi neghbour to wekednes, Ny say no worde to hym ni sklanderyng, But consel hym to al goodenes, And this thou myght me more plese Then thagh thou stydest ones a day Into heven, thi sowle to sese Into that joy that lastus ay,              Withowten drede!        For bi this goodenes and this consele,        Thou may pytte thi neghbour fro gret perele,        And save hym fro the peynes of hele,              And encrese thi mede. “The eighth vertu is holé prayere Dyssyre, and aske of me ryghtwesly. Thiselfe thou schalt be messangere, And do thi message dewoutly; And thou plesust me more speciali, Then thagh my moder and sayntis alle Praydyn in heven on hy fore thee — For thou ast fre choyse to ryse or falle,              Both thou may.        Yif thou fall, aryse anon,        And call to me with contricion;        Then my moder and sayntis uchon              Wil fore thee pray. “The ninth vertu is thou schalt only Love me in hert over al thyng, Then gold or selver, or lond or fee, Or wyf or child, or wordlé thyng; And thou dost me then more plesyng Then thagh thou styedust upon hygh peleré Folle of rayssors kene stekyng Fore my love, thi flesche to tere.              Bileve wyl this!        Love plesis me over al thyng,        Fore Chareté with hym is ever dwellyng;        Mon soule to joy hit doth hit bryng              Into my blis. “These nine vertus son soth thou schalt fynd — Lerne this lesson now, I thee pray. To God and mon, loke thou be kynd, And make amendis wyle thou may, For to heven ther ys noon oder way, Yyf thou wolt have salvasyon; Me thou most nede plese and pay, Or ellus have damnacyon.              Hit ys for the best.        Do as thou woldust me dud by thee,        Ucheon of oder ye have pyté,        And leves in love, in charyté —              Then be ye blest. “Sum men ther ben that stelon heven With penans, prayers, and poverté, And sum goon to hele ful even For lust and lykyng of here body. Here twey wayes, my sone, ther be; Thou hast fre choyse wedur to passe. Chese the better, Y consel thee, Lest thou syng the sung ‘alasse’              Forever and ay.        I rede thou serve Heven Kyng —        For any lust or lykyng,        Have mynde apon thi endyng,              And dredeful Domusday!” Mervel ye not of this makyng; I me excuse, hit ys not Y. Hit ys Goddus worde and his techyng, That he taght a salutary, For Y kowthe never but hye foly. God hath me chastest for my levyng. I thonk my God, my Grace, trewly, Of his gracyouse visetyng,              Ellus were Y lore.        Ever that Lorde, be he blest!        Al that he duth ys for the best,        Ellus were ye lyke to be lost,              And better unbore. Upon your lyfe take good eme; Bewar lest God that ye offende. As he fyndes yow, he wil you deme, Owther be saved, or ellus be schent. For soden deth, loke ye amende, And settus no trist where noon ys, For al ys good that hath good ende When ye han mended ye han do mys —              This ys no nay!        Y made this wit good entent,        In hope the rather ye wolde repent.        Prayes for me that beth present —              My name hyt ys the Blynde Awdelay. Explicit de salutare. XVI. SEVEN BLEEDINGS OF CHRIST De effusione sanguinis Christi in remissione peccatorum.1 An holy prayer here bygynnes In remedy of seven dedly synnes.        Seven blodes, Crist he bled, The fyrst in his Circumsycyoun; The secund in holé Oresown,        The deth when that he dred. The thred in his Flagellacion; The fourth in his Coronacion;        The fyfth in his Hondis also; The sixth in his holé Fete; The seventh blood ran out of his Hert wete        To wasche us out of our wo. With moné another enstrement, He suffyrd tene and turmentyng        In his Monheed; In tyme of his Passion, Here fore oure redemcion,        His blesful blod he bled. O Jhesu, fore the blod thou bledyst, And in the furst tyme thou cheddust        In thi Circumcecion, That I have synnyd in Lechoré, That stynkyng syn, foreyif thou me,        And my delectacion. O Jhesu, at the Mount of Olefete, There blod and water thou con swete,        To thi Fader when thou dydist pray So, Fader, yif thi wyl hit be, Put Envy away from me,        And temtacions nyght and day. O Jhesu, thi payns were ful strong, When the skorgis both scharp and long,        Mad thi body to bled; To thee, Lord, mercé I cry, Thou kepe me out of Glotoné,        And helpe me at my ned. O Jhesu, fore thi scharp croune, That mad the blod to ren adoune        About thi fayre face, Ther Proud in Hert I have be, Lord, unbuxum to thee,        Grawnt mercé and grace. O Jhesu, as I understond, Thou ched blod at both thi hond        When thai were naylid; Thou cast me out of Covetyse, And graunt me grace sone to aryse        Of syn when I am seyled. O Jhesu, thou bledyst more blod Wen thou wast nayld apon the rood        Throgh thi fete with naylis; Let me never in Slouth stynke, Bot grawnt me grace fore to swynke        Thyng me avaylis. O Jhesu, blessid be thi bones, Fore blod and water thou chedist at ones        Out of thi pressious hert; Out of Wrath kepe thou me, And grawnd me love and charyté,        Fore thi woundis smert. O Jhesu, for the Peler strong, Thi bodi was bound therto with wrong,        Ybuffet and yblend; That Holé Cherche as bound me to, Grawnt me grace that fore to do,        Lest I be chamyd and schent. O Jhesu, fore thi blesful Face, Thou betoke Veroneca bi grace        Upon here sudaré; That Face be me consolacion, And to the Fynd confusion,        That day when I schal dye. O Jhesu, fore thi holé Cros, Thi body sprad theron was        Fore our syn sake; That Cros be my proteccion, Agayns myn enmys everychon,        Weder I slepe or wake. O Jhesu, fore thi Naylis thre, That persid thee to the rod-tre,        Ydrevyn with gret distres; Thou grawnt me repentawns, Fore my syns to do penans,        My payns to relesse. O Jhesu, fore the Vessel also, That aysel and gal thai broght thee to,        That drenke, hit was unsete; That I have synd in gloteney, That stynkyng syn, foreyif thou me,        That me hath thoght ful swete. O Jhesu, fore the charp Spere, That throgh thyn hert Longyus can bere,        That was a blynd knyght, Thou perse me hert with contricion Fore the syns I have edone,        As thou yif him his syght. O Jhesu, fore the lovelé Ladder, And fore the Tongis and fore Hamyr,        That laust thee fro the tre, Thou graunt me contemplacion, To thong thee for thi Passion,        That thou soferest fore me. O Jhesu, as Josep of Haramathé 2 Beryd thee ful onestlé        In his monument, Fore thi gloryous Resurexion, And thi marvelis Assencion, Thou grawnt me remyssion        Tofore thi Jugement. In worchip of thi holé Passion And of my syns remyssion,        Fiftene Paternoster Y say, And fiftene Aves to our Lady, Fore heo is the wel of al pyté,        That heo wil fore me pray. He that says this prayere Everé day in the yere,        He worchips everé wonde That Crist sofyrd fore his sake, Fore his syns amendis to make;        Iblessid be that stounde! Wherefore Y pray youe specialy That ye say hit dewoutly —        Youre souls ye may save; Fore Crist hath grawndtid seche a grace; In heven he schal have a plasse,        That other schal noght have. That fulfyld not this prayere, And worchipd not his Passion wyle thai bene here,        With devocion, Thes that to him be unkynd, He wil not have ham in mynd        In here trebulacion. He that techis another mon this, He schal be sekyr of heven blis —        Thus wretyn I fynde — Fore thai be blessud of our Lord, That heren and don after Godis word,        And holdyn hit in mynd. Explicit de sanguine Christi. XVII. PRAYER ON CHRIST’S PASSION Quomodo Jhesu fuit reprobatus a Judeis. O God, the wyche thou woldust, Lorde, Fore the redempcion of the worlde        Of Jewis to be reprevyd, And to be betrayd of Judas, Of that traytur with a cos,        Strayt boundyn and dispilid. And as a lomb and ennosent, To be lad to sacrefyce tofore present        Of Ann and Kayface, Of Pilate, Erod, and moné mo, Unsemelé to be offyrd up so,        That never didist trespace. And to be acusid of false witnes, Reprevyd and scorgid with creuelnes,        And to be crownd with thorns, And to be spit in the face, And to be bofet and blyndfuld — alas! —        With moné schamful skorns. And to be throullid hond and food With charp naylus to the rod,        And to be lift up in the cros, Betwene two thevys for to hyng; Of aysel and gal thai propherd thee drynke;        With a spere thi hert persid was. Be these most holé payns, Lord, Fore me, synful, that thou soffyrd,        I worchip with hert and wylle; Also, fore the holé cros, Delyver my soule, Lord, fro losse,        Fro the payns of helle. And led me, Lord, graciously, Synful wreche and onworthé,        Into that some plasse Thou ladist the thefe hongyng thee by, And grauntust him grace and thi mercy;        Foregif me my trespace. Wele is him that wil and may Say this oreson everé day        Of Cristis Passion; Out of this word or that he wynd; Of al his synnus, as wretyn I fynd,        Schal have remyssion. XVIII. THE PSALTER OF THE PASSION De psalterio passionis. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 1 Wele is him that wele can Sai the Sauter of the Passion; Here thus thou schalt begyn In the remission of thi synne. LATIN VERSE PRAYER ANIMA CHRISTI SANCTIFICA ME	[W3] nor give; comfort Than if; walked explain why lose; goods defame (t-note) Entice; wickedness nor slander; (see note) ascend (i.e., meditate) once; (see note) Than if; establish forever Assuredly remove; from reward correctly Than if hast; (see note) [More] than Than if; ascended; pillory; (see note) Full of spikes sharply protruding; (see note) tear; (t-note) well soon true; (see note) no other one [Matthew 7:12]; (see note) Of one another have compassion live obtain penance very directly desire and pleasure; (t-note) two song advise; (see note) (see note) excuse myself remedy; (see note) know nothing but high folly chastised visiting (i.e., affliction) lost doth likely unborn heed; (see note) lest ye offend God finds; judge Either; else For [fear of] trust amended [what]; amiss cannot be denied with; (see note) Pray; (you) who are [Here] ends the remedy. [W4] (t-note) Circumcision Orison (i.e., Paternoster) dreaded third wet many other instruments trouble Manhood redemption (see note) shed [blood] [When] that; lechery forgive pleasure Mount of Olives sweat (i.e., the Paternoster) scourges Gluttony disobedient shed avarice From; assailed; (t-note) sloth labor [For] what profits me shed simultaneously precious grant Pillar (i.e., for the Flagellation); (t-note) Buffeted and made blind What; has to do that shamed and ruined (see note) shroud Fiend spread enemies Whether pierced Driven; pain vinegar; gall foul-tasting sinned has seemed to me (t-note) Longinus [John 19:34] (see note) pierce my; (t-note) done gave Tongs; Hammer released thank (see note) Buried; honestly Before; (i.e., Doomsday) (see note) well of all compassion she time granted such place Those who have not fulfilled tribulation assured they shall be [Here] ends the blood of Christ. [W5] How Jesus was tortured by the Jews; (t-note) because you willed, Lord reproved (see note) kiss [Matthew 26:48–49] Tightly; despoiled innocent led; before [those] Annas; Caiaphas [John 18:13–14] Herod; many Unseemly Reproved; scourged; cruelty [Matthew 27:30, Mark 15:19]; (see note) blindfold taunts pierced; foot sharp; cross hang [Luke 23:33] vinegar; proffered [John 19:29]; (see note) [John 19:34]; (see note) (see note) unworthy same place led [Luke 23:42–43] wishes to and can; (see note) world before he departs [He] shall [W6] Concerning the Psalter of the Passion [W6] (see note) Psalter [W6]
5 10	Anima Christi sanctifica me, Corpus Christi salva me, Sanguis Christi inebrea me, Aqua latris Christi lava me, Passio Christi conforta me.1 O bone Jhesu exaudi me, Et ne permittas me seperare a te. Ab osti maligno defende. In hora mortis voca me, Et pone me juxta te Ut cum angelis tuis laudem te In saecula saeculorum. Amen, pur chareté.	Spirit of Christ, sanctify me, Body of Christ, save me, Blood of Christ, inebriate me, Water from the side of Christ, bathe me, Passion of Christ, fortify me. O good Jesus, hear me, And do not let me be separated from you. Defend me from the wicked enemy. In the hour of death call me, And place me next to you So that with angels I may praise you Forever and ever. Amen, for charity.
	INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 2 Instid of thi Paternoster, this thou take, And this thi Ave, fore Cristis sake. LATIN VERSE PRAYER O PENDENS DUDUM	[W6] [W6]
	O pendens dudum In hara crucis nudum Pro nostro scelere, Jhesu, nostri miserere. Amen.	O long hanging On the altar of the cross naked For our sin, Jesus, have mercy on us. Amen.
5	INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 3 And say on thi bedis in this manere As thou didist our Ladé Sautere; When the Sauter hit is edone, Then say thi Crede with hit anon; Then in the worchip of Cristis Passion, Say this holé oresoune. LATIN VERSE PRAYER O DEUS QUI VOLUISTI	[W6] rosary beads Lady’s Psalter (i.e., Hours of the Virgin) [W6]
5 10 15 20 25 30	O Deus qui voluisti Pro redemcionem mundi A Judeis reprobare, A Juda traditory Osculo dare, Vinculis aligary, Et sicut agnus innocens ad victimam, eia! Ante conspectum Anne, Cayfe, Pilate, et Herodis, Indecenter offerri, Falsis testibus accusary, Flagellis et oprobryis vexare, Spinis coronare, Cholafiis cedi, Clavis aculeys perforari. O Deus qui voluisti Pro redemcionem mundi A Judeys reprobari, A Juda traditory, Et sicut angnus innocens ad victimam duci, Ante conspectum Anni, Cayfe, et Pilati, Et Erodes, indecenter offerre, A falsis testibus acusare, Flagellis et oprobryis vexari, Spinis coronari, Sputis conspui, Colaphiis aculeys perforari, In cruce levari, Inter latrones deputare, Felle et aceto potare, Lance vulnerare.	O God, you who were willing [see note] For the sake of the salvation of the world To be condemned by the Jews, By the traitor Judas [see note] To be given a kiss, To be bound in chains, And to be led as an innocent lamb to sacri­fice, ah! In the sight of Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod, To be profanely offered up, To be accused with false witnesses, To be tormented with whips and abuse, To be crowned with thorns, To be struck with blows, To be pierced with points of nail. O God, you who were willing For the salvation of the world [t-note] To be condemned by the Jews, (And) by the traitor Judas, And to be led as an innocent lamb to the sacrifice In the sight of Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate, [t-note] And Herod, to be profanely offered up, And to be accused by false witnesses, And to be tormented with whips and abuse, To be crowned with thorns, To be spat upon, To be pierced with blows and points (of nails), To be raised onto the cross, [see note] To be accounted among thieves To drink gall and vinegar, To be wounded with the spear. [t-note]
	LATIN PROSE PRAYER TU DOMINE PER HAS SANCTISSIMAS PENAS TUAS	[W6]
	Tu Domine per has sanctissimas penas tuas, quas ego indignis etiam recolo, et per sanctum crucem tuam, libera me de penis inferne et perducere me digneris, indignum, quo perduxisti latronem tecum crucifixum, Qui vivis et regnas.1; (t-note)
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 5 5 10 15	XIX. SEVEN WORDS OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS De septem verbis Jhesu Christi pendentis in cruce.1 O Jhesu Crist, hongyng on cros, Seven wordis thou saydest with myld voys        Unto the Fader of Heven. Be the vertu of tho wordis, foregif thou me That I have trespast here to thee        In the dedlé syns seven. In Pride, in Wrath, and in Envy, In Lechory, in Glotony,        With gret unkyndnes, In Slouth, Lord, in thi servyse, And in this wordis Covetyse,        Graunt me foregifnes. O Jhesu, this word furst ye sayde: “Fader, I am elé apayd;        Graunt ham remission That don me al this turmentré, On ham, Fader, have peté,        That wot not what thai done.” O Jhesu, so I thee beseche, Ryght with herfulli speche,        Thou graunt myn enmes grace; Here mysdedis here to mende Out of this word or thai wynde,        Fader, thou gif ham space. O Jhesu, the theff to thee con say: “Have mynd on me, Lord, I thee pray,        When thou cumyst to thi kyngdam.” “Amen, I say thou schalt be This day in paradyse with me,        Without syn and schame.” O Jhesu, my Soveren and my Lord, Have mynd on me with that word        In that same wyse; When my soule schal wynd away, Graunt me part, I thee pray,        Of the joys of paradyse. O Jhesu, thi moder had gret peté When heo se the turment on rod-tre;        To here thus con thou say: “Womon, lo, here thi sune, Take here to thi moder, Jon,        And kepe here now, I thee pray.” O Jhesu, for thi moder love, That is cround in heven with thee above,        And Jon, thi dere derlyng, Fore the love thai hadyn to thee, Uppon my soule thou have peté,        And graunt me good endyng. O Jhesu, thou saydyst ful petuysly, “Eloy lama zabatani?”2        With a rewful voyse — “My God, my God,” hit is to say, “Wy foresakis thou me this day?” —        Hongyng apon the croyse. O Jhesu Lord, I thee pray, Graunt me grace that I may say        In tyme of temptacion, “Fader, thou have mercé on me, As thou chadist thi blood on rod-tre        Fore my redempcion.” O Jhesu, thou saydist “Citio”; Eysel and gal thai propherd thee to;        Thou foresoke that bittere drynke. Hit were the soulis that were in payn, To delyver ham, thou wast ful fayne,        Out of that darke dwellyng. O Jhesu, graunt me grace to thorst The water of lyve that ever schal last,        The wel that is ever lyghtyng, With al the dessire of my hert To foresake my synns with terys smert        Here in my levyng. O Jhesu, thou saydist ful spiritualy: “In manus tuas, Domine,        Comendo spiritum meum.”3 Out of this word when I schal wynd, My soule to thee I recomend;        Fader, to thee I cum. O Jhesu, my Lord and my Soveren, When bodé and soule schal part antwyn,        My speryt I comende In manus tuas, Domine, In thi blis with thee to be,        Word without ende. O Jhesu, thou saydist, “Al endyd is.” Labors, sorowys wooful, iwys,        Thou sofyrd fore synful men. To us, Lord, thou wast ful kynd; Graunt us grace to have in mynd,        To thonke thee here and hen. And make me worthé, Fader dere, Thi swete voyse that I may here        In the oure of my partyng — “Cum to me, my chosun blest” — And have the blis that ever schal last,        Word without endyng. In the worchip of these wordis seven, Devoutlé to the Fader of Heven,        Seven Paternosters ye say, And seven Aves to our Lady, Fore sche is the wel of al peté,        That heo wyl fore me pray. And graunt me trew confession, And very contrecion,        Hens ore I wynd, That Cristis holé Passion May be my satisfaccion,        And schenchip to the Fynd. Welle is him that wil and may Worchip these wordis everé day        With devocion. Ful secur then may he be, Yif he be in love and charyté,        Hath playn remyssion. Explicit septem verba Domini nostri Jhesu Christi.4 XX. DEVOTIONS AT THE LEVATION OF CHRIST’S BODY De salutacione corporis Christi Jhesu. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 4 When thou seyst the sacrement, Worchip hit with good entent.        Thus thou schalt begyn: Knele on thi kneys; then mekely Beceche him, of grace and mercy,        Foregifnes of thi synne. SALUTATION TO CHRIST’S BODY Hayle, gracious Lord in thi Godhede, Hayle, faythful Fygur in forme of bred, Hayle, matryal Mater in thi Monhede,        Worchip mot thou be. Hayle, Fader and Son and Holé Gost, Hayle, Maker of medylerd of myghtis most, Hayle, Halnere of this holé Host,        Thre Persons in Trenité. Hayle, thi gloryous Godhede, hit may not be sene, Hayle, with no freelté of flesly yene. Hayle, I beleve truly in this bred that ye bene        Verey God and Mon. Hayle, of a maydyn ye were borne To save thi pepul that was forelorne. A, seche another was never beforne        In thi Carnacion! Hayle, I beleve lelé in that lady ye lyght. Hayle, I beleve ye were conseyvyd in here body bryght. Hayle, throgh the grace of the Holé Gost and thi Fader myght,        Borne of hyre thou was. Hayle, thou sofyrdst ther payne and passion Here fore our redempcion, And graunt us now remissione        Fore our trespase. Hayle, I beleve in thi gloryous resureccion. Hayle, I beleve in thy mervelus assencion. Hayle, I beleve the Holé Gost thou sendist here adowne        Among the postillis alle. Hayle, he enspyrus everé spirite, And gewes hem wysdam and wit That wille reule ham affter hit,        And to his grace calle. Hayle, I beleve faythfulé ye beth Fader Omnipotent. Hayle, I beleve thou schalt me deme at thi Jugement. Hayle, I beleve body and soule schal be ther present        Tofore thi gloryouse face. Hayle, I beleve savyd to be, And al Cristyn men, treuly, That fore here syns here beth soré.        Thou grawntis mercé and grace. Hayle, pereles Prince withowton any pere, Hayle, blesful Blood and Flesche both yfere, Hayle, thus I worchip youe with al my pouere,        With hert and good entent. Hayle, graunt me grace goostely To ressayve thi blessid body In parfyte love and charité,        That is here present. Hayle, Ground ai of my goodnes and my Governowre, Hayle, Sustenans to my soule and my Saveour, Hayle, Cumforder of the seke and al here socour        In the Lord hit is. Hayle, Solans to hom that beth sory, Hayle, Help to hom that beth gulté, Hayle, Hope of grace and of mercy,        Thou grawnt us al thy blys. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 5 He that wyl say this oreson With good hert and dewocion Afftyr the Levacion        Of that sacrement, He schal have this pardon Of his synns, remyssione; Thus I fynd ewretyn        Of Pope Enocent. PRAYER FOR PARDON AFTER THE LEVATION O Lord Jhesu Crist, fore thi holé flesche most worthi, And thi presious blood thou toke of the vergyn Mari,        And that same blod be grace Thou chidist out of thi presious syde, Hongyng on cros with wondis wyde,        Fore our hele hit was. And in that same flesche thou rose fro deth to lyve, And stydist up to heven with joyis, with joyful ryve;        For thens thou art to cum To deme the pepul both quyk and dede, In that same flesche, withoutyn drede,        At the Dai of Dome. Lord, delyver me, both gracious and good — Fore thi holé flesche and blod        Is sacred in this autere — From alle unclenes of bodé and soule, And payns and perellis both seke and hole,        And graunt me my prayere. LATIN PROSE PRAYER ADORAMUS TE CHRISTE ET BENEDICIMUS	(t-note) power; (t-note) What; (see note) (t-note) world’s Avarice ill paid; (t-note) torment compassion know [Luke 23:34] heartfelt enemies thief; (see note) come [Luke 23:42–43] pass compassion she saw (see note) her her [John 19:26–27] (see note) (see note) Why cross shed “I thirst” [John 19:28]; (t-note) Vinegar; gall; proffered [John 19:29]; (see note); (t-note) forsook thirst [for] life shining painful tears (t-note) (see note) (t-note) world; depart in two; (t-note) Into your hands, Lord [See John 19:30]; (see note) sorrows woeful, indeed suffered hence voice hour; (t-note) chosen [one] compassion she true contrition; (t-note) Before I depart hence (t-note) disgrace; (t-note) wishes to and can; (see note) assured full remission; (t-note) [W8] Concerning a salutation to the body of Jesus Christ; (t-note) [W8] see; (t-note) [W8] Figure maternal Matter middle-earth (i.e., earth) Alms-Giver; eucharistic Host; (see note) frailty; fleshly eyes such thy Incarnation; (t-note) loyally [that] you alighted in that lady; (t-note) conceived in her suffered (see note); (t-note) apostles breathes life into; (t-note) gives rule them[selves] by these gifts calls [them] to his grace judge (see note) [myself] saved their; sorry peerless sacred; together power spiritually receive Foundation always; (t-note) Sustenance succor; (t-note) Solace to those guilty [W8] prayer devotion (t-note) Innocent [W8] (see note) Virgin Mary shed health from; life ascended; abundance thence; come judge; quick certainly altar perils; sick; whole [W8]
	Adoramus te Christe et benedecimus tibi quia per sanctam crucem tuam.1; [t-note] Ecce Angnus Dei. Ecce qui tollis peccata mundi. Ecce Deus noster, ecce Deus justus. Ecce Deus vivorum et mortuorum. Ecce vita vivencium, spes moriencium, salus omnium in te credentium quem adoramus, quem gloreficamus, cui benedicamus. Dominum omnipotentem Patrem et Filium cum Sancto Spiritu laudemus et superexaltemus eum in secula. Adiutor et protector et defensor sis, Judice benignissime et gloriosissime. Amen.2; [t-note]
	LATIN VERSE PRAYER LAUDES DEO DICAM PER SECULA	[W8]
5	Laudes Deo dicam per secula, Qui me plassmavit manu dextera, Atque redemit cruci Propria sanguine nati. Spiritus Sancti assit nobis gracia, Soli Deo remanet honor virtus et gloria. A. M. E. N. Explicit salutacio.	Let me speak praises to God forever, The One who formed me with his right hand, And redeemed me by the cross With his Son’s own blood. May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with us, May honor, power, and glory be for God alone. Amen. [t-note] [Here] ends the salutation
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410	XXI. VIRTUES OF THE MASS De meritis misse, quomodo debemus audire missam.1 Lordis, yif ye wil lythe Of a thyng I wil you kythe,        Is helth to al monkynd, Of the medis of the masse, Hou everé mon, more and lasse,        Schuld have hem in mynd. How ye schul your servyse say, Your prayers prevelé to pray        To hym that mai unbynd, In salvyng of your synis seven, To Jhesu Godis Son in heven,        Oure Fader that we schul fynd. Your faythful Fader he schal be fond To everé mon that is ebonde        In syn, fore to say; Be hys soferens we may se How he provys thee and me,        And letys us wyle he may. Fore he is boune our bale to bete Yef we wyl of our syn lete        Into our deth-day; And yif we wyl leve our synne, He wyl wys us fore to wyne        To heven the redé way. What mon long Y wold sofir to se, Fore hys syn himselfe to sle,        Yif he myght lif agayne; Fore yif he were fore traytre take, Then he most amendis make,        Or ellis to be slayne. Ryght, serus, soo most we In our hertis soré be        Fore our synys sake, And to the prest schryve thee, And do thi penans devoutly,        And this amendis make. Holeer thyng may no mon here, Ne lyghtyr thyng fore to lere,        To lerne men of lore, To teche mon in what wyse Hou thay schal say here servyse        In chorche, when thai be thore. Yif thou to the cherche go, Toward, froward, or ellis cum fro,        To here masse, yif thou may, Al the way that thou gase An angel payntus thi face        The Prynce of Heven to pay. So in that oure thou lest noght That thou hast ther in thi thoght,        In thi prayers fore to praye; Blynd that day thou schalt noght be, The sacrement yif thou may se,        Sothlé, as I thee say. And seche grace God hath thee yeve, Yif thou be clene of syne schreve        When thou his bodé ast yseyne, Yif thou dey that ilke day, Thou schalt be found in the fay        As thou houseld hadust bene. And both thi mete and thi drynke Thou schalt wyn with lasse swynke,        Without travayle or tene, And yif thou stond in oné drede, Alle day thou schalt the bettyr spede        To kever thi cars kene. Saynt Austyne comawndis youe spesialy That ye beleve truly        In that sacrement: That he is ther, God veray, That schal you deme at Domysday,        At his Jugement. That sofyrd payn and passione Here fore your redempcion        Apon the rod-tre, And grawntis you remission Yif ye have contresion,        When schrevyn that ye be. When that thai knele to the sacreyng, Knelis adoune fore oné thyng,        And hold up your hond, And thonk that Lord of his grace, That al thyng land you he has,        Throgh his swet sond. Then glad mai ye be Your Saveour so to se,        Tent and ye wold take, Fore hit is the same brede That he dalt or he was dede,        Fore his discipilis sake, And lafft hit with hem in memoré, And to ale other prestis truly,        To have hit in mynd, Yevery day of the yere, To ofur hit upon his autere        In salvacion of al monkynd. And he that ressayvs hit worthely, At that day wen he schal dye,        Hit is his salvacion; And he that is in dedlé syn, Anon as hit enters him withyn,        Hit is his dampnacion. Take ensampil be Judas: At Cristis soper, Y wot, he was,        And ete of that blessid bred, Bot fore he was in didlé syn, The Fynd entyrd anon him yn,        Fore his Lord he had betrayd. Therfore loke that ye be In parfite love and charyté,        And out of dedlé syn. Loke what bone that ye crave; Aske God and ye may have,        And heven blis to wyn. Youre Paternostere, loke ye con, And your Ave, everé mon,        And spesialy youre Crede, Ellis esavyd ye may not be; Bot ye con your beleve, truly,        Ye stond in gret dred. For al that ever nedis to thee, And to thi nyghtbore, truly,        In the Paternoster hit is. Seven petecions ther be in, That getis you foregifnes of your syn,        And bryngis your soule to blis. Fyve worchipis thou dost to our Lady, When that thou sayst thyn Ave —        Blessid mot heo be! Thus angel Gabreel, he con say: “Hayle! Ful of grace, thou swet may,        God he is with thee.” Twelve arteklus of thi beleve — Thus clerkis thai don ham preve —        That beth in this Crede, That getyn thee salvacion, And of thi syns remission,        And heven to thi mede. Your Ten Comawndmentis ye most con, And kepe hem wel, everé mon,        Thus Crist he bede; Thi gostlé Fader schal teche ham thee, Or ellis ful woful schal ye be;        Thai stond in gret dred. The seven dedlé synns ye most know, Wyche thai bene I wyl you schew,        Ryght here anon — Pride, covetyse, wrath, envy, Lechoré, slouth, and glotoné —        Here thai bene echon. Yif any of these that ye in falle, Anon on Crist loke that ye calle        With contricion; Anon schryve you of your syn Be frelté, yif ye fal theryn,        And ye schal have remission. Then in the cherche ye knele adowne, With good hert and devocion,        Hold up your hondis then; Furst fore yourselfe ye schul pray, Sethen fore fader and moder, as I thee say,        And then fore al thi kyn, And fore thi frynd and fore thi foo, And fore thi good-doeres also,        Alse moné as thou mai myn, And fore the prest that syngis masse, That God forgif him his trespasse,        And al the cherche beth in. Yif that the prest the masse doth syng Be not at thi lykyng,        Therfore let thou noght, For thee, his masse is as good to here As ané monkis ore ané frere;        Have this in thi thoght. Bot his prayers and his bone Be not hard half so sone        As the mon that wele hath wroght, Y do you out of dispaire — The sacrement no mon may mend ne payre;        Theron doctors han soght. Both Saynt Barnard and Saynt Bede Sayne the masse is of so gret mede        That no mon mend hit may; Weder that he were wold or yong, He myght tel with no tung,        Thagh he myght leve fore ay, Ne expone hit opres, Half the medis of the masse,        Into his last day; Were he never so wyse of art, He schuld fayle the fifth part        Of the soth to say! I pray yo, serrys, more and lasse, When ye stond at your masse,        Sum good word ye say Fore as moné as ye prayn fore — Securly fore moné a score        At masse myn ye may. All thyng, thagh ye myn noght, Hold ham stil in your thoght,        Hom that ye fore pray; I do you clene out of dout Ther is non the masse without        Bot he be in hel for ay. Fore alse moné as ye may myn When ye beth the cherche withyn,        Ther is non a masse without, Bot yif he be in dedlé syn, And thynke to contenu theryn,        Then he stondis en dowte. When that ye bene in the kerke, Thenke theron, and thenke not erke,        Hent to the last endyng. Then have no dout of thi doole — Thou hast a masse, thiselfe, al hole;        Hit is so hy a thyng! Saynt Austyn sayth, fore soulis here A thousand and thou woldist, here,        Do a masse fore to syng, Hit is nouther more ny lasse, Bot everé soule he hath a masse;        Hit is to Godis plesyng.2 In that houre thou herst thi masse, Soules hit doth gret solas,        That byth in payns bidyng; Of that oure thai beth ful fayne, Fore hit delyvers hem of here payne;        This is a gracious thyng. Fore his love that you dere boght, Have mynd of this. Foregete hit noght!        Ye not when ye schul passe. Yif ye will be sekyr and sere, Everé day in the yere,        Loke thou here thi masse. Yif thou may not thi masse here, Then this lesson Y rede thou lere:        When thai to masse do knyle, Pray God, of his gret grace, To send thee part of that masse,        Yif hit be his wylle. I do thee clene out of dout Thou art not that masse without,        Seche grace is gif to thee; Fore thi hert dissiryng, Thou hast part of beedis and masse syngyng,        Where that ever thou be. Fore the prest that syngis the masse For al astatus, more and lasse,        That is here levyng; He takis hem in his memoré, And soulis that beth in purgatoré,        That God to blis hem bryng. Herefore, serys, more and lasse, Everé day here your masse,        On morowe, yif ye may. And yif ye mai not on morwe, Loke ye do be undorne,        Or ellis be mydday. Sertenly, without fayle, Lese thou schalt not of thi travayle        Half a fote of thi way; Al dai thou schalt be the lyghtur, And have grace to do thee better,        Foresoth, as I thee say. Yet Saynt Austyn bedth take tent That ye hold no parlement        With no levyng mon, Fro tyme the cherche ye ben within, And the prest he doth begyn        His vestmentus to take on. Fore wyckid gostis, thai wyl hit wyt, And your wordis thay wil ham wryte        In here bokis, everechon. That witnes wele Saynt Austyne, That furst in Englond with his gyn        The treuth to preche began. Tofore that Awstyn in Englond come, With Saynt Gregoré in gret Rome        Ful derelé con he dwel, Hent on a day of gret dernes, Saynt Gregoré wold syng his masse,        So fayre as him befelle. To the Austyn, he mad a syne Fore to be his dekyn dene        To red his Cospel, And as he red, he sau sit Thre fyendys, as ye may wit,        And talis con thai telle. What thai sayd, he herd hit alle Throgh a wyndow of the walle,        No fer fro his face. He se a fynd sit witin, With pen and enke and parchemen,        As God gif him grace. He wrot so lung that he ded want, And his parchement wex scant —        To speke, thai had space — With is teth he con hit tug, And as Rofyn begon to rug,        His rolle began to rase. So hard Rofyn rogud his rolle, That he smot with his choule        Agayns the marbys stone; Of that dynt, thai had gret doute — Al that setyn ther aboute —        Fore thai herd hit echon. When the fynd so hard drou, Saynt Austyn stod and low.        Saynt Gregoré then con grone; Neverthelees, fore grame he get. Sone after masse the Austyn he met,        And myldelé mad his mone. He sayd to him with myld mode: “What aylid thee, thou wytles woode,        Todai to do this dede? Seche a dede was never done.” Then he answerd him ful sone,        Fore of him he had gret drede: “Sere, greve ye noght or ye wyt, Fore yonder I se a satanas sit —        Hit semyd his hed did blede — What he wrot tofore he brayd, That thre wyvys seton and sayde,        As I stode to rede. “I was adevyd of that dynt; Hit stoned me and mad me stont,        Styl out of my steven! I schal you tel what I se, And word therof I wyl noght lye;        Be Godis Son in heven, “Syr, ye may wyl trow.” He lad him to the wyndow.        “Cum nere, syr, and sene!” Tho Saynt Gregoré was adred, Fore blak blood he se espred        Apon the aschelere even. Then this good mon grevyd him lasse, And comawndit at everé masse        Of this mater to myn. Kepe you out of Godis wreke, Fore ther is no word that ye speke,        Bot ye don syn! Therfore, serys, with good wyl, Loke that ye hold you styl        The cherche when ye bene in; A prest, to stone in his masse, Al a lond may fare the worse,        Out of wo to wyn. The chorche is a house of prayere; Hold hilé to Godis honoure,        To worchip hym therin. What ryghtful bone that ye crave, Aske God and ye schul have,        And be foregevyn of your syn. Hit were hard, to oure behove, Uche proferbe fore to prove,        Of our awntros alle; Here schortlé I wyl chew hit, Lewd men to know hit,        Crist on fore to calle. In the cherche thou knele adown, With good hert and devocion;        Hold up thi hondis then — Fore thiself, furst thou pray, Fore fader and moder, as I thee say,        And sethyn fore al thi kyn, And fore the weder, and fore the pes, And fore men and wemen, mo and lees,        That Cristyndam an han tane. In the name of the Treneté, Then Paternoster say thou thre —        Say furst in Cristis name. Then fyve Paternoster thou schalt say, To pray him that best may        To gyf thee wit and grace, Thi fyve wyttis so to spende, Thi synful soule here to amend,        To heven to folou the trasse. Sethin seven to the Holé Gost To kepe thee out of werkis wast,        And out of dedlé syn. Ten Paternoster say thou then Fore brekyng of thi Hestis Ten;        And thus thou schalt begyn. On the werkeday yif that thou be About thi labor, treuly,        In word, as thou most nede, On the haleday thou fulfyl Ryght as I have sayd thee tyll,        And thou art out of drede. And oche a day thi masse thou here, And take halé bred and halé watere        Out of the prestis hond; Seche grace God hath gif thee, Yif that thou dey sodenly,        Fore thi housil hit schal thee stond. Fore suche power that blessyng hit has, That God blessud the bred in wildernes,        And two fyschis also, And fedd therwith fyve thosand men,3 Twelve lepus of relef laft affter then;        Soche lordis ther be no moo. And also loke that ye be In parfyte love and charyté        And out of dedlé syn; What ryghtful bone that ye crave, Aske God and ye schul have,        And heven blis to wyn. Alle that han herd this sermon, A hundred days of pardon,        Saynt Gregoré grauntis you this. Out of this word wen ye schal wynd, Jhesu save you from the Fynd,        And bryng your soule to blis! Explicit meritis misse.	[W9] if; listen; (see note) show (see note) rewards privately spiritual healing (see note) bound sufferance tests hinders us while prepared; relieve If; desist instruct direct I would endure a long time to see; (see note) [Who would] for his sin slay himself live taken for a traitor In the same manner, sirs sorry (t-note) confess Holier; hear; (see note) Nor more delightful; learn learned [Than] to teach; (t-note) (see note) there (see note) away from go adorns satisfy So that in that hour you do not fail to; (t-note) [Remember] what (t-note) (t-note) such; given; (see note); (t-note) shriven; (t-note) have seen same; (t-note) faith purified food labor travail; trouble any speed relieve; sharp cares specifically; (see note) true He contrition shriven consecration; (see note) loaned [to] you gift If you would take heed; (see note) before disciples’; (t-note) left (t-note) Every offer; altar receives As soon as by; (see note) supper; know ate [Matthew 26:23–25] deadly boon every especially; (t-note) saved Unless; know is needful petitions; (see note) get [for] you honors; (t-note) she maiden [Luke 1:28] articles; belief have proven them (see note) must know commanded; (t-note) spiritual; (t-note) else awe (t-note) avarice commit (fall into) By frailty (see note) As many; mention all who are in the church (see note) In a manner not pleasing to you be not apprehensive hear As [that] of any monk or any friar Even if; petition heard; soon well has performed [the service] I do [counsel] improve; impair theologians; confirmed (see note) Say; benefit improve Whether; old; (t-note) express [it]; tongue live forever Nor expound it exactly; (t-note) rewards fifth you, sirs; (see note); (t-note) many; pray Certainly remember though; mention advise you full assuredly [who is] without the mass forever as many; mention none [of them] without a mass Unless continue doubt; (t-note) church; (see note) with annoyance Until portion a whole mass to yourself sacred (see note) hear; (t-note) are in pains abiding hour; glad [out] of know not; die secure and sure; (t-note) advise you [to] learn kneel (t-note) I do advise you full assuredly Such; given heart’s desiring prayers; (t-note) Wherever; (t-note) ranks their vocation (t-note) Therefore, sirs; (see note) morning by undern (9 a.m.) (t-note) Certainly Lose; travail; (t-note) foot; (t-note) lighter [of sin] Augustine bids [you]; heed; (see note); (t-note) conversation; (t-note) vestments wicked spirits; note every word witnessed well followers; (see note) Before; (see note) reverently did Until; reverence; (t-note) So fairly as befell to him sign; (see note) presiding deacon read; Gospel; (t-note) saw sitting; (t-note) fiends; understand gossip did they tell (see note) far saw; within; (t-note) ink; parchment gave wrote; long; want [more room]; (t-note) became had space (i.e., they gabbed on); (t-note) his teeth; did; (see note); (t-note) Ruffin (the devil’s name); pull; (t-note) tear; (t-note) pulled; (see note) struck; jowl marble; (t-note) blow; were startled sat For each of them heard it fiend; fell down laughed did groan [with dismay]; (see note); (t-note) Furthermore, he became irritated (see note); (t-note) mildly; complaint; (t-note) demeanor; (see note) ailed; foolish madman; (t-note) before you know saw; demon seemed before he cried out [All] that three wives sat stood to read [the Gospel] deafened; noise; (see note); (t-note) astonished; stupefied; (t-note) Speechless; voice saw not lie well believe led; (t-note) see Then; afraid; (t-note) spread out ashlar directly was less aggrieved; (see note) (t-note) remember vengeance speak [in church] be quiet When you are in church A priest, to astonish [Can mean that] an entire land [Rather than] be won out of woe (see note) reverently prayer properly speaking; (t-note) Each maxim to demonstrate; (t-note) mysteries briefly; explain Laymen; (t-note) (see note) then weather; peace (t-note) Who have accepted Christianity; (t-note) the first one give; understanding path Afterwards [say] seven [prayers]; (t-note) wasteful deeds Ten Commandments workday the world holy day Just; to you safe each; hear holy Such; given die suddenly received eucharist; protect baskets of relief [were] left over (t-note) proper boon (see note) world when; depart; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) [Here] ends the virtues of the mass
	XXII. FOR REMISSION OF SINS SAINT GREGORY’S INDULGENCE	[W10] [W10]
	Quomodo Dominus Jhesus Christus apparuit Sancto Gregorio in tale effugie.1; (see note); (t-note)
5 10 15 20 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 5 10 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 5	Apon a day Saynt Gregoré Song his mas at Rome, truly; Crist to him he con apere In the fegure of his autere; Then Gregoré had conpassion, And grawntis fourtene thousand yere of pardon, And other bischops, moné mo, Grawntyd more pardon therto; The nowmbur hit is of al efere Twenty thousand and six days and thirty-six yere. Say fyve Paternoster and fyve Ave In reverens of this holé peté With good herd and devocion, In worchip of his Passion, Knelyng down apon your kne, Askyng grace of this peté. Yif ye be out of dedlé syn, Then this pardon may ye wyn, In what plase hit payntid is, The same pardon therto ther is. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 6 Then loke thou say anon Dewowtlé this confession. PRAYER OF GENERAL CONFESSION De confesione generali. Swete Jhesu Crist, to thee, Coubabil wreche, Y yild me; Of al the syns I have edo In al my lyve hederto, In Pride, in Wrath, and in Envy, In Lechoré and in Glotony, In Slouth, Lord, in thi servyce, And in thi worldis Covetyse, To oft I have in my lyve Isynnud with my wyttis fyve — With eren her, with eyne syght, Wyth synful speche, day and nyght, With clepyng and with cussyng bo, With hond ehandild, with fete ego, With hert synfulli I have thoght, With al my bodi mys ewroght — Here, of al my foly, Lord, mercé to thee I cry! Ale thagh I have synyd ever, Lord, I foresoke thee never; No nother god toke I non, Fader of Heven, bot thee alone; Herefore, Fader, I thee beseche, Ryght with hertful speche, That thou gif me no mede After my synful dede, Bot, Lord, fore thi gret mercy, Have reuth and peté apon me, And send me hereof, er Y dye, Sorou of hert with tere of ye, And let me never heft begyn Fore to do no dedlé syn, So at myn endyng day, Clene of syn dey I may, With schryft and housil at myn end, So that my soule mai wynd Into that blis withoutyn pere, Ther ye dwel, Lord and Syre. Amen. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER 7 Loke ye say this oresoun Dewoutlé with devocion. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Quomodo Jhesus in cruce rogabat Patrem pro inimicis. Oracio.1 O Lord Jhesu Crist, hongyng on cros — Fore our syn I wot hit was — Ther thou praydist thi Fader alhone To foregif thyn enmys everechon; I beseche thee, fore that holé word, Foregif myn enmys, Y pray thee, Lorde, That han trespassid here to me, And grawnt ham love and charyté. I pray thee, Lord, that hit so be And that ye wil foregif me. Amen. XXIII. VISITING THE SICK AND CONSOLING THE NEEDY De visitacione infirmorum et consolacione miserorum.1 Saynt Ancelyne, that holé bischop, He med this tretys be Godis grace, Hou ye schul set in God your hope, Out of this word wen ye schul passe, And to foresake al that thou has — Wyfe and child, al wordlé thyng — And to dissyre to have that plas Were joy and blis is ay bydyng,              And have this in thi mynd —        Fore that joy schal never sese,        Bot ever endure, and ever encres,        And ever in love, rest, and pesse,              In joy and blis, without end! Thus to thi God, thou schalt thee yild, And knowleche to him al thi trespas — His comawndmentis not fulfillid; Thi fyve wittis myspend thou has — And aske him mercy loulé and grace. The werkis of mercy thou hast not don — Vesid the pore in evereche plase; Ne done the seke consolacion.              Then thus schal thou say:        “I knowleche me, Lord, gilté,        In pride, covetys, wrath, envy,        In lechoré, slouth, and glotony.              I have esynyd both nyght and day.” Thus alle men he doth cumford, And cowncelis you, pur charité, Settis noght be the joy of this word — Hit is bot vayn and vaneté! — Fore youre namys wretyn thay be In the boke of lyve in heven blis, To have joy ther perpetualy! Al erthlé joy hit schal vanysche              Within a lytil stound,        Fore ale this wordlé honor        Schal fal and fade as doth a floure.        Pope, kyng, duke, emperoure —              Al schul thai go to grounde. Behold a charnel ful of boonys — What clerke con therowte a boone Of lord ore ladys, schete al at ones? Of ryche, of pore, of gentilmon? So bredern and sisterne we beth echone; And he that doth best in his levyng Schal have most mede when he is goon, And most thonk of his Fader Heven Kyng.              Uche mon in his degré,        As he hath kept his oune astate,        To Godis worchip, erlé and late,        He schal have reward algate —              Bale or blis — wedersoever hit be. Allas, that we con not beleve That we felyn and sen with syght! How lytil a thyng mon may greve When eny syknes is on him dyght! Anon he has lost al his myght; Then hard on Crist he wyl crye! Fore payn of deth, he is afryght, That al wordlé joy he settis not by.              Then comford is ther non.        A, synful mon! Have this in mynd —        Thi mysdedis betyme amend,        And serve thi God; forsake the Fynd.              Then schal thou have remyssion. Fore cursid be he that trustis in mon And doth not affter Cristis wil, More then he doth in God alone, That bodé and soule may save and spil; Fore Cristis bidyng we schuld fulfil, And do fore ourself or we passe hen, And pot oure soulis out of parelle, And trust not ale to other men.              Fore thou getyst no more with thee        Save thi good dydis, withoutyn drede,        Holé prayers, masse, and almusdede.        After thi meryd and thi mede              Rewardid schal thou be. Fore Cristis love, doth almesdede — In thi good lyve, gif a pené To the pore that hath gret nede, Or mete, drynk, clothis, or herbar fre — And thou plecyst God more specyaly Then a thowsond hillis of gold, as I thee say, Were made in mynt and in money To dele after thi deth day.              Fore mede getis thou none        Bot yif thiselfe thi soule sokoure,        Ellis may not thi cecatoure.2        Hit is the wordis — alle thi tresoure —              When thou art goon. More med is a mas here in thi lyve Then to have a thausand after thi day; Yif to the prest thou wylt thee schryve, And do thi penans here wyl thou maye, Thus thou myght God plese and pay, Yif that thou wold thi soule socour Or thi caren be cast in clay, And trost not to thi secatoure.              Gregoré thus con he say:        “Better hit is now fore thee        To wenche the fuyre of purgatoré —        Therin cast or that thou be —              Thiselfe here wyle thou may.” Thus Seynt Ancellyne to youe he sayd: “Dissyre ye not agayns Godis wile, Bot ever ald you wel apayd, What vesetacion he send you tylle, Fore his mercé in you he wil fulfil When tyme is cum at his lykyng; Fore wom he lovys, he chastest wele, And save his soule fro perescheng              Fro the payns of helle —        Fore his grace and his goodnes,        His benyngnyté and his blessidnes,        His hye mercé and his mekenes,              Con no tung here telle!” “Thus clepth agen yusterday,” Saynt Ancellyne, he cownsellis thee, “And mesure thi wynde, Y thee pray, And wy the foyre of purgatoré!” These thre wordis declared schal be What thai beth to understond; Lerne this lesson, pur chareté, And thonke thi God of his swet sond —              Fore hit is fore the best        To have thi payne, thi purgatorye,        Out of this word or that thou dye,        Fore God ponysche not twyse, truly!              Take hede mekelé; then art thu bleste. Thus yistyrday thou clepe agayne, And take knoulesche of thi consians — Hou thou hast spend thi lyve in vayn, Agen Godis wil and his plesans. Then mesoure thi wynd with repentans, And schryve thee clene of alle thi synne. Then wey the fouyre with trew balans — What purgatoré thou schuldist have then.              Fore this is Godis oune wyll,        That everé good dede rewardid schal be        In erth or ellis in heven on he,        And uche syn eponyst, truly,              In erth, in purgatoré, or ellis in helle. Bot above his warkis is his mercy. Thenke what did Maré Mawdleyn, And Peter, that foresoke him thry, Fore the ways of twey wemen, And Thomas of Ynd, that mysbelevyd then — Al thai had mercy and grace. And so schul have al Cristyn men That wil repent wyle thai han space.              Fore as possibil hit were        With watere of thi ne        To wenche the fuyre of purgatory,        As al the water in the se              To wenche a gnost of fuyre. Fore more joye in heven ther is Of a mon that foresakis his syn, And wil amende he dothe amys, And do his penans is enjunyd then, Then of four score of ryghtwys men — In the Gospel wretyn hit is — Fore hom ned is heren oune medsyn, Bot thai that beth seke in soule, iwys.              Cryst sayth thus, graciously:        “I come not to clepe ryghtwyse men,        Bot tho that in erth synful bene;        Hom I cal to penans then              To graunt hom grace and my mercy.”3 For he that wil himselve here loue, And forsake his syn and be soré, And to the prest him schryve and chewe, And do his penans dewoutly, He never rehersid schal be When he is callid to his rekynyng, Fore Crist hath foregifne him throgh His mercy, Here in erth in his levyng,              Throgh his specyale grace.        Yif thou wilt sekyr savyd be,        Foresake thi syn or hit do thee,        Ellis thai schul be cheuyd opynlé,              At Domysday before Cristis face. Fore Peter wept ever aftur moore When he herd eny koke crowe; And Maré Mawdlyan, wepeng ful sore, Askid grace of Crist with hert so low; And Thomas of Ynd mad us to know Hou false he was in his beleve, Fore Crist his wondis to him con shew — The soth himselve he mad him preve:              “Thomas, to thee I say,        Blessid be thai that never seyn,        And trewlé in my werkis belevyn,        Fore thai schul have the blis of heven,              And my blissyng, nyght and day.” Affter Crist made Peter of paradyse porter, And betoke him the kyis of heven gate, And yif him fullé his pouere To louce and bynd, erlé and late,4 And bede him thynke on his astate — How freel he was, and eth to falle — And he him graunt mercé, allegate, To al that in erth his grace wyl calle,              With sorow of ert and confession:        “Peter, as I geve thee mercy,        So on other thou have peté;        That foresakis his synus and beth sory,              Thou graunt hem ale remission.” Thus we ben bleste of Godis mouth! Al that beleven in him truly — Est and west, north and south — Thai schal have grace and mercy, And no nother sekyrly. Dampnacion to hom al is dight That wol witt how and wy That al thyng Crist do he myght.              Ensampil ale day we se,        Fro the heven, on he token —        The lyght, the thonder, and ster, mone, and son —        That he is Almyghté God alhon,              And no nother Lord bot he! Fore Holé Cherche prays fore no mo Bot tho that belevyn and dye in Crist; Al other to penans thai schal goo, That to his mercé and grace wil not trost, Bot leven after here flesschelé lust As bestis don, unresnabelé; Hur lyve days thai han elost; Here dedis schul deme hem openly              At Cristis Jugement.        Fore Cristyn men callid thagh ye be,        Bot yif ye done Cristynly,        Ye bere that name in wayn, truly —              Ye wil be schamyd and schent! Herefore, beleve in Crist truly, And foresake youre lust and your lykyng, And set your trust in him, truly, To have that joy that is everlastyng; And let this be al thi wylnyng, Yif that thou turne to lyve agayn, And to amend thi myslevyng, And him to serve be glad and fayn —              And have this in thi mynd! —        And aske him grace and his mercy,        Fore his moder love, maydyn Maré,        And al the sayntis in heven on hye,              To graunt thee grace to make good end. Thus in thi God thou cumford thee, And thenk apon his Passion — That fore thi love here wold he dey With cros, spere, nayle, and croune — Fore in him is al consolacion, And may thee hele of thi sekenes, And grawnt thee here now remission, And of thi syns foregifnes.              Loke thou beleve wel this!        Thagh thou have grevyd Crist here before,        His mercé is mekil more,        Fore he hath salve fore everé sore,              And may amend thou dost mys. Thi baptim and thi confyrmacion, Thes be his salvys, verament; And holé order, and matremon, And schreft, and housil that sacrement; Then the last anelyng with good entent, Hit may thee clens, both out and yn. The prest hath pouere that is present To asoyle thee of al thi syn —              Of God he hath pouere,        Thorghe vertu of the sacrement,        To asoyle al that wil repent,        And chryve him clene, verament,              And do here penans wyle thay beth here. Fore this is Godis ordenans, Thes sacrements to save monkynd, Fore in hom is al sofecians, Both fore to loos and fore to bynd. Then to that Lord, be never unkynd, That hath grawnt his spesial grace; Thow we al day him offend, Remedé thus ordend he has.              Thow we han don amys,        Yif fore our syns we beth sory,        And ressayve his pressious body,        We schul have grace and mercy,              And part of heven blis. Then aske thi sacrements, pur charyté, And when thou ressayvst that sacrement, Beleve in hert, truly, That he is that Lord Omnipotent, And Crist is God Son, verament, That with his blod thee dere hath boght, That schal thee save at his Jugement. Have this in mynde — foreget hit noght!              And beware, uche Cristin mon,        Fore heretekis and renegatis that uncriston be,        That beleve not in that sacrement, treuly —        That Crist was not borne of the vergyn Mari —              Of hom is no redemcion! Herefore beleve in Crist, treuly, That thorghe the Holé Gost conseyvd he was, And borne of the vergyn Mari, And sofyrd payn and passion, crucifid on cros, Ded and beryd fore oure trespace. Into hel he dissendid, with myght and mayn, And toke Adam and Eve out of here place; The thrid day he ros to lyve agayn;              Into heven he stid up then,        And syttus there on his Fadur ryght honde.        Fro thens he is to cum, thus understond,        To deme his pepil, ded or lewand,              After here dedis, al maner men. Also beleve in the Holé Gost, As Holé Cherche hath informed thee, And in the Fader and Sone of myghtis most, Thre Persons in Treneté, And in comenecacions with sayntis to be, And to have foregifnes of thi syn, And the uprysyng of thi flesche, treuly, And to have everlastyng lyve. Amen.5              Here is the conclucion.        These beth the artecelis of thi beleve;        Kepe hem wele without repreve,        And thou schalt never have myschife.              Hit is the wel of salvacion! And beleve and hope and trust also As thy gostlé faders cownsels thee; Loke thou never go herefro Thagh thou have fal throgh thi freelté, Bot aske God grace and his mercé, And foregifnes of al other men, And foregif thou, pur charyté, And thou art savyd, my soule fore thyn,              And stondis clene out of dred,        Fore Crist he says thus to thee:        “Yif thou foregif fore love of me,        Then foregifne schalt thou be              Of al thi mysdede.”6 And let make thi testment and thi last wil. Furst pay thi dettis alle treuly, And remembir thee, fore that is skil, What thou hou and other to thee; Then let hit be selid opynlé, And make thi soule a sekyr way, Lest thi sekatours don not treuly. Ensampil be other, se thou may:              Beware, ye sekators —        The dedis wil loke that ye done,        Out of the word when thai bene gon,        That setyn here trust in youe alone,              Ellis to God and mon ye be traytours. Yif ye do trewly your devor, Ful wele rewardid schal ye be, Of Jhesu that is your Saveour, At that day when ye schul dee; Fore hit is a dede of charité To do treuly unto the dede, That lyen in the paynes of purgatori, After your help, ther to abyde.              No nother sokyr thai han, treuly,        Save holy prayers, mas, and almesdede,        That qwenchyn here synus and here mysdede        As water doth foyre, without drede,              And al the payns of purgatory. Ye that wepe for childer and frynd Wen thai schul dey, have this in mynd: Hyly ye ofend swet Jhesus, As childer uncurtes and unkynd; In Holé Wret thus wretyn I fynd That joyful and glad schal ye be When your Fader wold after youe send — Ever to him make youe redy              As blessid childer then.        Fore when fader and moder has you foresake,        Then Jhesus oure soulus to him wil take,        Bot they him grete cause sorou to make,              That dyen in det and dedlé syn. Mervel ye not of this makyng, Fore I me excuse — hit is not I; This was Seynt Ancelme cownselyng, That was a bischop ful holy. Fore I couth never bot hye foly; Crist has me chastist fore my levyng. I thonke me God, my Grace, trewly, Of hys graciouse visetyng.              Ye curatis here, I you pray,        That han mon soule in your kepyng,        Let red this treté fore oné thyng        To the seke at here endyng.              Thus counsels you the Blynd Audley. And of your lyve, take good eme. Beware lest God ye offend, Fore as he fyndis youe, he wil you deme, Other be savyd or ellis be schent; Fore soden deth, lok ye amend, And set not your trust were non is, Fore al is good that good end, When ye amend it ye han do mys.              This is my cownselyng —        How Godis wesitacion ye schuld take,        Fore your mysdedis and your syns sake,        And howe ye schul amendis make,              To have that joy that is everlastyng. Amen. Explicit visitacio infirmorum et consolacio miserorum.7 BLIND AUDELAY’S ENGLISH PASSION INSTRUCTIONS FOR READING 2 I pray you, serys, pur charyté, When ye han red this, treuly, Then redis this Passion, What Cryst sofyrd fore synful mon. Here schul ye here a treu lessoun Hou fayth and charyté away is gon. ON THE WORLD’S FOLLY	(see note) did appear In the painted image on his altar many more in total; (t-note) (t-note) indulgence heart painted [W10] Devoutly; (t-note) [W10] Concerning general confession A culpable wretch, I yield myself; (see note) done hitherto (see note); (t-note) (see note) avarice Too often Sinned; (see note) ears’ hearing, eyes’ sight embracing; kissing both hands’ having handled; feet’s having gone having misdone Therefore heartfelt; (see note) give; reward Accordant to my sinfulness But rather compassion; pity here (i.e., to confession); before; (t-note) Sorrow of heart; (see note) again Clean; die penance and Holy Communion go equal There [where] [W10] prayer Devoutly [W10] (t-note) know prayed [to]; alone [W11] Anselm made How world when; pass (die) worldly desire; place Where; ever abiding (see note) cease increase peace yield yourself acknowledge [how you have] not misspent humbly every place Nor given the sick consolation guilty avarice sinned does comfort counsels; for by; world; (see note) vanity are book of life in heaven’s bliss while flower burial place; bones; (t-note) recognizes there; (t-note) enclosed all together nobleman brothers; sisters; each one living actions reward most esteem from Each; rank; (see note) position early in any case whatsoever What; feel and see may grieve a man any sickness; ordained loudly afraid; (t-note) values not comfort misdeeds in time Fiend acts not according to Who; or destroy act on our own behalf before; hence; (see note) put; peril other men shall bring Other than; deeds, doubtless almsdeeds According to living, give a penny food; clothes; lodging please; significantly thousand hills distribute reward; (see note) (see note); (t-note) It belongs to the world (t-note) More meed [accrues from] a mass; (see note) thousand [said for your soul] confess while please and requite Before; body; earth trust; executor; (see note) quench the fire before [To save] yourself here while Anselm Desire not against; (see note); (t-note) hold yourself well paid Whatever visitation he sends to you whomever; chastises well [Hebrews 12:6] saves; perishing mildness great tongue “Thus think upon yesterday” Anselm be careful what you say weigh; fire As they are to be understood for message before punishes; twice think upon knowledge; conscience spent Against; liking speak carefully weigh the fire; balance every high punished Mary Magdalene; (see note) thrice two [Matthew 26:69–75] doubted [John 20:25]; (t-note) while; time your eye; (t-note) quench; fire As [it would be] spark; (see note) amend [what] [as he] is enjoined Than [there is] [see Luke 15:7]; (see note) For whom need is their own medicine Unless; sick; indeed; (t-note) call those who Them bow down [in humility]; (see note) sorry; (t-note) shows [his sins] devoutly mentioned securely before it forsakes you shown openly evermore afterwards any cock [Matthew 26:69–75] humble [see John 20:11–18] [John 20:25] did show prove witness [the wounds] [John 20:29] gatekeeper; (see note) keys gave; power loose; bind, early; (see note) bid; estate frail; susceptible in any case; (see note) heart compassion Whoever (see note) assuredly prepared; (t-note) wish to understand a high token; (see note) (t-note) alone only for Those who believe (t-note) (t-note) live by their fleshly desire beasts; unreasonably days of life; lost (see note) (t-note) Unless vain shamed; disgraced Therefore entirely your intent misbehavior; (t-note) eager For love of his mother die heal; sickness Although much remedy amend [what]; amiss baptism remedies matrimony penance; Holy Communion extreme unction cleanse power absolve shrive; truly ordinance sufficiency release Although ordained receive; precious request; for; (see note) receive truly dearly each; (see note) heretics; renegades (t-note) For them; (t-note) conceived; (t-note) buried; sin descended; strength their third ascended thence judge; dead or living According to their deeds, all kinds of men (t-note) communications resurrection; body (t-note) articles reproof misfortune spiritual fathers fallen; frailty give forgiveness yourself for fully; doubt forgiven testament debts; honestly appropriate owe settled openly secure executors act dishonestly; (see note) you may see [of the] executors dead will see what world duty By die; (see note) deed dead Who lie [Seeking] after succor (t-note) quench; sins fire; assuredly weep; children; friends When; die Greatly; offend uncourteous to [dwell with] forsaken cause him to make great sorrow; (t-note) die; debt Marvel; (see note) excuse myself Anselm’s could never [make anything] but great folly chastised visiting [of affliction] Let [them] read this treatise heed; (see note) judge Either; else; destroyed For [fear of] where that [has a] good end what; amiss; (t-note) adversity (visitation) [W12–W14] [W12] for; (t-note) (see note) (see note); (t-note) (see note) [W12]
5	Multis diebus iam peractis, Nulla fides est in pactis.        Videte. Mel in ore verbis lactis, Fel in corde, fraus in factis.        Cavete.	When many days have already passed, [t-note] There is no reliance in agreements.        See. [t-note] Honey in the mouth with words of milk, Gall in the heart, deceit in deeds.        Beware.
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90	Moné days now agone Fayth ne covenant is ther non —        Behold and se! In mouth is honé swet wordis uchon; In hert is galle, in dede, tresoun.        Ware now be! Godis laus beth turnyd up-so-doun, In Holé Cherche devocion,        And fore chareté. Fore trew corexion is ther non, Fore love of Mede, that swet maydyn,        In non degré. Fore ale that clerkis now prechon, Of holé Cristis Passion,        Is no peté, To make here satisfaccion, With wrong that men here geten        With sotelté. Ye schul acownt everechon Fore your goodis, when ye bene gone,        Ful sekyrlé, Yif ye have dissayvyd oné mon, Bot ye make satisfaccion        Or that ye dye. Here may ye se an he tokyn That God he is wroth with mon,        In heven on hye: Now werris then don awakyn, The erth we fele quakyn,        Honger hathe be. Pestlens we sen raynen, Men al day thai dyen,        Sum sodenlé! Fore al that trew tokyn, Oure wittis yet we wantyn        To make us redy. Nou excusacion hath we non Out of this word when that we gon —        Leve ye me! Godis bedyng bot we done, We schul have confucion,        Ful ryghtwysly. Fore men wil not beleven That heven nor hel ther is non,        Ne turmentré. And sekyr thou schalt have thet on — Joy or ellis dampnacion —        Perpetualy! I red that nowe we amend To God and mon, that we offend,        Here specialy; And do fore oreselve or we goon, And trust not to another mon —        Hit is foly! Fore other cownsel nede ye non, Yif ye wil have salvacion        Or that ye dee: Schryve youe clene with contrition, And make treu satisfaccion —        Then blessid ye be! I mad this with good entent, In hope the rather ye wold repent,        The soth to say, Fore I say soth, I am eschent. Prays fore me, that beth present,        The Blynd Audlay. XXIIII. POPE JOHN’S PASSION OF OUR LORD De passione Domini nostri Jhesu Christi et de horis canonicis.1 Pope Jon the XXII at Avyon was. Ther, in the worchip of Cristis Passion, He made this gospel, be Godis grace, And gaf therto a gret pardoun — Thre hundred days of remyssion — The thred day before or he schuld dye, To al that sayd or herd hit with dewocion, And on Cristis Passion had peté. Passio Christe conforta me2 Out of this word when I schal wynd; A, synful mon! Make memory: Of Cristis Passion have in thi mynd. To that Lord, be never unkynd, That after his fegur he formyd thee, And bond himselve thee to unbynd, And al hit was fore love of thee. This is the Gospel of Jon truly — To this passion take good entent! Pilat, Jhesu, fore gret envy, Toke that Lord Omnipotent, And scorgid him nakud in his present, Fro top to too with turmentry, That skyn and flesche, hit was torent, And al hit was fore love of thee. His knyghtis mad a croun of thorne And set on his hede — hit persid his brayn! — And clothid him in purpul with chamful scornns: “Hayle, Kyng of Jewys,” to him con sayn. To boffet him, thai were ful fayn, And spit in his face welansly, And smot him on his hed with a rodde agayn, And al hit was fore love of thee. When thai hed don him this turmentry, The knyghtis tokon swete Jhesus And drou him to the Mownt of Calvaré, Apon his schulder beryng a cros. Both hondis and fete naylid on ther was, Betwene two thevys hongud to be, That were damnyd fore here trespace, And al hit was fore love of thee. Then up thai lyft that hevé tre, And gurdid into a mortes of stone; That grevys Jhesus more grevesly Then al the turment thai had him done, Fore vayns and seneus, hit brast, and bone, That everé joynt men myght ese — He was most lyke a leperus mon, And al hit was fore love of thee. Then Jhesus wyst after what was cummyng And sayd, “Now I thorst ful sore.” Of aysel and gal thai geven him drynk, And put hit in a sponge his mouth before; When he hit tastid, he wold no more, And sayd, “Al endid is now treuly,” And bowd doun his hed with sekyng sore, And gif up his spiryt fore love of thee. Then the herth anon con quake, And also the sun, he lost his lyght; The stons of the tempil, on pesis thai brake, The vayle therof, atwyn was twyght;3 Gravys thai opend, anon ther ryght Ther ros up moné a ded body Of men and wemen, were seyn with syght, And al hit was fore love of thee. When sentoreo this syght had sene, He sayd, “This is verey Godis Son.” A blynd knyght with a spere ful even Smot Jhesus into the hert anon. Blod and water out ther ron; A drop therof fel in his hee. He had his syght, this synful mon, Fore on Crystis Passion he had peté. He that al this sorous se, He bers treu witnes hereon, That was keper to mayd Mary, The holé evangelyst, swete Saynt Jon; And bedis you beleve this everechon Yif that ye wil savyd be, That Crist sofyrd this for synful mon Apon his Passion to have peté. A, synful mon! Have this in mynd, Weder that thou slepe or wake: To that Lord, be never unkynd, That sofyrd these sorous for thi syn sake. Hou schalt thou amendis make? What sofyrd thou fore him? Onswere me! Into his mercé, loke thou thee take, And say this prayour with gret peté. O, Jhesu, that bothe thi holy hond And thi blessid fyet, also, And al thi body, I understonde, Fore me, synful, on cros was do, And cround of the Jewis with thornes, thi fo,4 In dispite of thi holy body — Apon thi hed, thou sofyrd gret wo, And alle hit was fore love of me! With fyve captel wondis fore me, synful, Thou were ipaynd apon the cros, Me to agayn by, Lord merceful, With thi precyous blood, throgh thi gret grace. Of repentans thou gif me spase To foresake my synnus and be sory, And foregif hem here trespase, That on thi Passion han peté. And grawnt me, Lord, that I may Everé day do sum penans, With sobirnes thee plese and pay, And kepe me chast with abstenans, And gif me wit and wisdam with perseverans To kepe my state and my degré, Thee to serve to thi plesans, And on thi Passion to have peté. Fyve Paternoster nou thou schalt say In the worchip of Cristis Passion, And grete our Lady nou, I thee pray, With fyve Aves knelyng adoune; In reverens of his fyve wondis alon, Spesialy, thou say thi Crede, That Crist graunt thee remission, That fore thi synnus, thi blod con schede. AUDELAY’S PRAYER EXPLICIT TO POPE JOHN’S PASSION Amen, Jhesu, now I thee pray, Have mynd and mercé on Blynd Audlay, That mad in Englesche this Passion, Fore synful men to have mynd theron. SEVEN HOURS OF THE CROSS Hic incepiunt hore canonice passionis Jhesu Christe.1 Crist, that was crucifyd on cros for our synnus sake, Lord, on our mysdede no vengans thou take, Bot send sorou into our hert, our synus fore to slake, And let thi mercy be medysyn, our mendis for to make —              Lord, we thee pray.        Here schul ye here anon,        What hard payn and passion,        That Crist sofyrd fore synful mon —              Gret dole here ye may! Patris sapeencia, veritas divina.2 The wysdam of the Fader above ben the treuth of his Godede; God and Mon, he was ytakun in the oure of morotyde, His fryndis and his dyspilis sun him had elevyde; When he was takyn of the Jewys, to deth he was betrayde —              Judas had him sold.        Fore thyrty pens of lytil pryce,        With Jewys he mad his marchandyce,        Because of cursid covetyse,              As a traytur bold! Hora prima ductus est Jhesus ad Pilatum. At prime Jhesus out thai lad; to Pilat thai cun him draw.3 Moné was the false wetnes thai saydyn in here saue; Thai blynfeld him, thai buffet him, and bond him agen law, And spit in his fayre face — his chere myght no mon know! —              And spulid him al nakyd,        And cast loot fore his cote anon,4        And bondon him to a peler of ston,        And betin him with scorgis fro top to ton.              The red blod fro him strakid! “Crucifige” clamatant hora terciarum.5 At undor thai droun him to his deth; loud cun thai cri: “Crucifi him on the cros. Dispoyle we him in hye!” Thai cround him with a croun of thornes; the blood ran in his ye. He bere his cros on his chulder to the Mount of Calveré,              That his Monhod lost his myght.        Thai drown him forth with ropis then;        Tho wept the wyfis of Jerusalem;        His moder, and Jon, Maré Maudlene,              Thai swonyd ther in his syght! Hora sexta est cruce conclavatus. At mydday thai nayld him on the cros, and crucifid Heven Kyng, And lift him up apon the tre betwen two thevus to hyng. Because of turment he thurstid; then of aysel thai gif him dryng.6 Thus the Lombe he did away our synn, his Godhed gloryfyyng,              Hongyng apon the cros.        To his moder, he sayd anon:        “A, womon, lo! Here thi sun;        Take here to thi moder, Jon.”7              He swonyd before his face! Hora nona Dominus Jhesus experavit. At the heour of non Jhesus gif up the gost. His spyrit cryd “Eloy” to the Fader of myghtis most. A blynd knight with a scharpe spere, to the hert him throst. The stons tobreke, the erth con quake, the son his lyght had lost.8              Then senterio con he say:        “This is veray Godis Sun,        To deth that ye han here don,        Was borne of a maydyn,              Schal deme you at Domysday!” De cruce deponetur hora vespertina. At the oure of evensong of the cros thai toke him doun. The strenkth of his Godhed, in him was hit alleone. Seche a deth he sofyrd then, of our syn to be medysyn. Alas, that the croun of joy was cast up-so-doun!              Thai toke him of the tre —        Necodeme, he was thet one,        And Josep of Barmathé, that holé mone —        Thai beren him to his tombe of stone,              Therin beryd to be. Hora completore datur sepulteure. At the hore of cumplyn in grave thai cun him bryng — Then was the nobil body of Crist, our hope of lyfe comyng. Thai beryd hym with blessid bamus, the prophcy fullyng. Ever have we his delful deth in our hertis mynyng.              Hereof we schul be fayne!        When he had fulfillid the prophesé,        That was sayd of hym, trewly,        The thyrd day he ros with gret maystry,              Fro deth to lyve agayn. Has hororas canonicas cum devocione. These holé hours have we in mynd with devocion, And worchip we Jhesu Crist with these meke oresoun, That fore our sak, with brenyng love, sofyrd payn and passioun. In the hour of our deth, be he our solacion!              Lord Omnipotent,        Fore thi holé Passion,        That thou sofyrd fore synful mon,        Thou graunt us alle remyssion              Tofore thi Jugement. He that these ours wil say with devocion, In reverens and worchip of Crist Passion, And schryve him clen to a prest with contricion, God he grauntis him, of his grace, ful remyssion              Of al his trespace.        Then joyful may ye be        Agens the day that ye schul dye,        To have grace and mercé,              In heven foreever a place! XXV. OUR LORD’S EPISTLE ON SUNDAY De epistola Domini nostri Jhesu Christi de die Dominica.1	honey sweet words each one deed, treason Beware now are (t-note) correction Material Reward; (see note) To no degree preach Is not heartfelt subtlety account every bit; (see note) certainly deceived any [Take care that] you Before see a great token; (see note); (t-note) wars; do arise (t-note) Pestilence we see raining [down] wits; lack excuse world Believe Unless we do God’s bidding Full assuredly That there is [any] heaven or hell Or [eternal] torments certainly; one of them [Either] joy or else damnation urge ourselves before; (see note) Before you die Confess yourself (see note) sooner Were I not to speak truth; disgraced Pray [W13] (see note) Avignon; (see note); (t-note) by gave third compassion (see note) depart image (see note) (see note) (t-note) scourged; presence [John 19:1] toe; torture torn to pieces [Pilate’s] knights pierced purple; shameful [John 19:2] [they] did say [John 19:3] glad villainously [Matthew 27:30; Mark 15:19] rods; (t-note) (t-note) took drew bearing [John 19:17] were nailed on there to be hung [John 19:18] heavy tree; (see note) fastened [it] into a mortise caused Jesus to suffer; grievously veins; sinews; burst every joint; might have seen leprous knew what came next thirst [John 19:28]; (see note) vinegar; gall [John 19:29] bowed; grievous sighing gave [John 19:30] earth soon did it; its into pieces; broke Graves; immediately many a dead seen [Matthew 27:51–53] centurion; (see note) true [Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39] sharp; (see note); (t-note) Struck ran out there [John 19:34] eye He who sees all these sorrows bears commands suffered Answer look that you entrust hands; (see note) feet done (i.e., nailed) capital put in pain to buy again By means of; give me space forgive them soberness; please and requite abstinence estate (i.e., social place); (see note) liking greet [So] that Christ [may] grant did shed [W13] [W14] (see note) vengeance sorrow; (t-note) medicine; amends hear suffered; (see note) (see note) Godhead hour; morning disciples soon; left; (t-note) from; (see note) worth merchandise covetousness [Matthew 26:14–16] In the first hour, Jesus was brought to Pilate Many; witness; said; sayings bound; pillar beat; scourges; toe flowed undern (9 a.m.); drew; did despoil eye shoulder; Calvary manhood drew Then; women John [the Evangelist]; Mary Magdalene swooned At sext he was nailed to the cross; (t-note) thieves; hang (see note) removed (t-note) (see note) They swooned At none Lord Jesus breathed his last none (3 p.m.); spirit (see note) (see note); (t-note) centurion did; (see note); (t-note) true [Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39] have here brought judge At vespers he is taken down from the cross off; took strength; alone medicine; (see note) upside down off Nicodemus Arimathea [see John 19:38–42] bore buried At compline he is given to the tomb compline; did noble; future life buried; balms; fulfilling; (t-note) doleful; hearts’ remembrance; (t-note) glad prophecy truly strength life [Remember] these canonical hours with devotion humble prayers burning; suffered consolation remission [of sin] Before hours; say; (see note) confess; (t-note) Against [And] in heaven forever [W15] (see note); (t-note)
	Audite hec, omnes gentes: hanc epistolam scripsit Dominus Jhesus Christus manibus suis et misit in sivitatem Gazon ubi ego Petrus primum episcopatum accepi.2
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205	Now here this pistil, I you pray, Fore Crist hit wrot with his oun hond — Hou ye schul halou the Sonday, Al Cristin men in everé lond — And send hit to Petir, thorogh his swete sond, To preche the pepul with good entent, And do ale curatours to understond That hit is Cristis comawndment —              Beleve this, everechon!        He that belevys this treuly        Schal have grace and mercy,        And no nother, securly,              He is the child of perdecion. Fore ye con not of God this holeday Kepe clene out of dedlé syn, Therfore his wrath, syrus, Y yow say, Schal fal on youe, false Cristyn men! Your enmys and aleans schal over you ren, And lede youe to thraldam foreever and ay, Both ryful, rob, sle, and bren. Bot yif ye kepyn that holeday,              Herefore ye wil be chent!        Raveners sodenly schal fal on you,        And wyckid terantis cast you ful loue,        Fore gracyous God ye wyl not know,              Ne kyndlé kepe his comawndment. “Herefore fro you I wil turne my face, And betake you into your enemyse hond, And withdraw fro you mercé and grace, And blynd you both with schame and schond, And drown you within a lytyl stownd — As I did Sodom and Comor, That the erthe swolewd to hel ground Sodenly or thai were ware!              Have mend, seris, here apon,        Beware betyme, or ye be schend!        And your mysdedis, loke ye amend,        And serve your God. Foresake the Fynd!              Then schul ye have remyssion. “Hwosoever wil go, seris, truly, Into ony other plase, I say, Bot to Holé Cherche, specialy, In the fest of that holeday, Or on pilgremage, seyntis to pray, Or vesid the seke that woful be, Ore make acord and treu loveday To bryng mon into charyté,              And serve your Saveour —        Ellis I schal bete youe with scorgis sore,        And send into your place, herefore,        Sorou and sekenes foreevermore,              Swerd, pestlens, hongir with gret dolour! “He that on any erand wil ryd or goo In the fest of that holeday Fore oné cause he hath to do, Or schave heerus of heed or berde away, Bot go to the cherche, yif that ye may, And hold him ther in his prayere — Al evylis Y wil send him, soth to say, And chortyn his days he schuld have here!              Beware, serys, I you pray,        Or he that waschis clothis or hed,        On Sunday breuys or bakus bred,        Y schul him blynd with carful red,              Nother have my blessyng, nyght ne day. “Bot my curse have he schal: Y wyl send sekenes and sorous sore Apon you, and your childer alle, That ye schul curse that ye were bore! Ye unbelevyd pepul, herkyns more, And schreud generacions that nyl beleve, Your days schal be ful schort therfore, Fore ye set noght by your God to greve.              I am among you, ever-present,        And synful men I wyl abyde,        Yif thay wil turne in oné tyde,        Foresake cursid covetyse, envy, and pride,              And here mysdedis betyme repent. “In six days, al thyng I made; On the Sunday, Y rest of my werkis ale. The same do ye. Then schul ye glad Of your labors both gret and smale! Non other thyng do ye schal Bot go to the cherche, to Godis servyse, Alse wel your servandis that beth youe thral; Non other warkis loke that thai use.              Then ful joyful schul ye be —        Your corns, your vynes, and creaturs alle        Schul bryng forth froyt, both gret and smale —        That nothyng to Cristyn men wont hit schale              Bot pese and rest in uche contré! “Bot yif ye kepyn this holeday Fro Setterday at non, Y say you then, Into the furst our of Monday, In reverens and worchip of your Soveren, I schal curse youe tofore my Fader in heven; Ye schul have no part therin with me, Ne with my angelys that with me bene In the word of wordis perpetualy.              Bot Y wyl send youe herefore        Gret fuyrus and leytis, youe fore to bren,        Al evelys to perysche your lobors then —        Your cornes, your froytis, your vynus, your tren —              And never rayn schal fal on you more. “Your tethis, your offryngis, yevyn treuly To my prestis, I you pray, That serven me in Holé Cherche spesialy, And prayn fore you both nyght and day. Hwosoever his tethys defraudys away, His froyttis in erth defraudid schuld bene, And never se lyght bot derkenes ay, Ne never have your lastyng lyve hen,              Bot hungyr in erthe among Cristin schal be.        Fore I kepe my dome fro unbelevyd men,        And yet I nold dampne hem then,        My comawndmentis to kepe and ken,              And foresake here synus, and aske mercy. “Treulé, yif ye wil haloue this holeday, The rakkis of heven I wil opyn And multyplé you in me foreever and ay, Yif ye wil do after my tokyn, And knouth wel that I am God alone, And non other ther is save Y That may you grawnt remyssion, And gif you grace and mercy.              Loke ye leven treuly this!        Amen, foresoth, to you I say,        Yif ye wil halou this haleday,        Al evelis fro you, Y wyl do away —              Then schul ye never fare amys! “What prest this pistil nyl not teche To my pepil, as I ham pray — In cetis, in tounus, in cherche hem preche How thai schal halow the holeday, To have hit in memory foreever and ay — My domys apon my prestis schal passe! I schal ham ponys treuly, in fay, Both without mercy and grace.              Bot yif thai techen this pistil, treuly,        And make men to haloue this holeday,        I schal ham curse in herth, I say,        And in the word of wordis that lastyth ay              And in myn oun trone in heven on hye.” This pistil then our Lord Jhesu Crist Send into the seté of Gason, Ther Y, Petur, was made bischop furst In the present yere tofore agoone — That hit be trewe and leosyng non, Y, Peter, swere be Goddus pouere, And be Jhesu Crist, his honlé Sone, And be the Holé Treneté, in fere,              And be the four evaungelistis, this is no nay,        And be the patryarchis and prophetus and postlius holy,        And be angelis and archangelis and Mary,        And be al the holy seyntis in heven ther be,              That hit is soth that I you say. Ryght as the sun hath more clerté Then ané ster of the fyrmant, So the Sunday is worthear of dyngneté Then ané day in the wike present: That day mad angeles omnipotent, The nine orders in heven on hye; That day Noys flod sesud, verament — His schip toke rest of the hil of Armony.              I swere to youe that beth present,        This pistil was never ordent of erthlé mon,        Bot transelat out of heven trone —        Crist wrot hit with his fyngers alon              To warne his pepel lest thay were chent. Fore he callis you to his grace echon: “Cum to me fore giftis, I you pray, Fore I grawnt you remission, And joy and blis foreever and ay.” No hert may thenke, tung tel hit may, The lest joy Jhesus wil joyne you to; Yif ye halou the Sunday, Ye schul have wel without wo!              A, synful mon! Hereof have mynde:        That joy, hit schal never sees,        Bot ever endeuer and ever encrese,        And ever in love, rest, and pes,              In joy and blis withouton ende! To that blis, Crist he us bryng — Was crucefyd on cros and croned with thorne — And foregif us oure myslevyng, That we han offendid here beforne, And let us never, Lord, be forlorne, Bot graunt us grace that we may — As ye were of a maydyn borne — In clannes to halou the Sounonday.              Lord Omnipotent,        Fore thi Passion, thou have peté        Apon our soulis when we schul dey,        And grawnt us thi grace and thi mercy,              Fadur, tofore thi Jugement. Mervel ye noght of this makyng — Fore I me excuse, hit is not I. Fore this of Godis oun wrytyng That he send doun fro heven on hye, Fore I couth never bot he foly. He hath me chastist for my levyng; I thonke my God, my Grace, treuly, Of his gracious vesetyng.              Beware, serys, I you pray,        Fore I mad this with good entent,        Fore hit is Cristis comawndment;        Prays for me that beth present —              My name hit is the Blynd Awdlay. XXVI. THE VISION OF SAINT PAUL	hear; epistle; (see note); (t-note) wrote; own hallow every message curates everyone who believes anyone else, indeed perdition; (t-note) If you do not know how to cleanly sirs; (t-note) enemies; strangers; overrun servitude plunder; slay; burn Unless; keep Therefore; ruined plunderers tyrants; low kindly [away] from with both; disgrace while Gomorrah swallowed; (t-note) Suddenly before they Think, sirs, upon this in time before; ruined Whosoever; (t-note) place Than; specifically On the feast saints visit day for the settlement of difference; (see note) (t-note) beat Sorrow; sickness War, pestilence, hunger any reason shave hair from [his] head or beard Rather than evils shorten (t-note) Before; washes clothes or head brews; bakes blind; sore punishment Never [to] have grievous sorrows children; (t-note) born unbelieving; listen wicked; will not; (t-note) await convert at any time in time (t-note) be glad God’s service (i.e., the mass) As well [as should]; who are to you bound labor; (see note) grains; (t-note) fruit want; (t-note) peace; country Unless Saturday at noon hour Sovereign before forever and ever; (see note) fires; lightnings; burn evils; destroy; labors; (t-note) grains; fruits; vines; trees rain tithes; offerings give defrauds fruits eternal life henceforth hunger on earth among Christians withhold my reward from unbelieving; (see note); (t-note) wish not to damn them [But rather I want them] my; learn sins [see Ezechiel 33:11] hallow paths sign know; (t-note) except give Believe evils go amiss will not people; them cities; towns (t-note) judgments punish; indeed Unless earth through all eternity; (see note) throne (see note); (t-note) city of Gaza year before gone by lying not swear; power only; (t-note) together lie apostles; (t-note) (t-note) splendor any; firmament worthier of reverence week; (t-note) angels were made (t-note) ended truly came to rest on; Armenia; (t-note) created by was translated; heaven’s alone ruined each one of you; (see note) gifts conceive, [no] tongue may it tell least; bring to you keep holy weal cease endure; increase peace crowned misbelief utterly lost cleanness; hallow Sunday; (t-note) die before (see note) excuse myself this [work is created] by; own high folly chastised; living (t-note) visitation (i.e., affliction) sirs [W16]
	Incipit narracio quo Michel duxit Paulum ad infernum. Interogandum est quis primus rogavit ut anime haberent requiem in infernum, i.e., Paulus apostolus et Michael archangelus. Dies Dominicus est dies electus.1
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365	The Sononday is Godis oun chosyn day, The wyche angelis in heven, thai worchipyn thore. Gret sorow and dole here ye may, Hou Mychael and Poule thay went in fere To se what payns in hel were ther, And ther thay se a sorouful syght! Herkyns to me! Now moy ye here What payns to synful mon be dyght              Because men nel not beleve.        Therefore, hit was Godis oune wyl        That Mekel schuld led Poule to hel        To se the payns, the gret parel,              The soth himselve he myght hit preve. Tofore hel-gatis furst thai se then Moné an orebil brenyng tre Hengyng ful of wemen and men — That was a sorouful syght to se! Sum be the hed, sum be the tungus, treuly, Sum be the fyt, sum be the hond, Sum be the membirs of here body, That thai han sunnyd within herthe levand.              The angel to Poule, he sayd then:        “These grevyn God ful grevously        With al the lymys of here body,        In lechory, slouth, and glotoné,              And dyed in det and dedlé syn.” Withyn the gatis wen thay were passid, A mervelis fournes ther thai se: Moné a synful soule were therin cast — Four flamys o foyre stod on a lye, Of dyvers colours wonderfully! About that fournes, seven sorous ther were: Gret snow, gret yse, gret cold greslé, Gret eddyrs, gret stenche, gret leyte, gret foyre.              Then the angel sayd to Poule, treuly,        “These were proud men, raveners echon,        Extorcioners, monslers, robbid moné one;        Satisfaccion in erth thai wold do non,              And deseredyn treu ayrs unryghtfully. “Here thai schal have here payns, therfore. Fore al the synns thai han don cursidly, Sum wepin, sum waylin, sum gron ful sore, Sum broudun, sum brennen, dissyryn to dye — Hou dredful is hel, here may ye se! In the whyche is hevenes without gladnes; In the wyche is sorou of hert contenualy; In the wych of wepyng is gret plenteuesnes;              In the wych ther is a brenyng wel —        A thosand tymys an our about doth ren,        Uche day an angel, foresmytis him then,        A thousand soulis therin thai bren.”              “Alas!” sayd Poule, “Here is gret deel!” Affter, Poule se an orebbil flood In the wyche moné develis bestis were in fuyre: As feschis in the se, about thai yod, Devowreng soulis as hit chep were. A brygge was over that gret water, That soulis passud over after here meryt; Moné an evyl mancion was ordent ther As Crist in the Gospel reherse het: “Lygate faceculus ad comburandum similis cum similibus”2 —              Bynd bundels togeder to be ibrent;        Bynd spouse-brekers with awouters,        And ranegates with raveners,        And cursid levers with here cumpers,              And cast ham in the fuyre without end. Ther Poule, moné soulis he se That were dround in that watere — Sum stod up to the kne, And sum to the armes, a lytil layghere, And sum to the lippis, moche deppere, And sum to the brouys oche day were paynd! Then Poule sykud and wept with gret doloure, And at the angel anon he fraynd:              “What soulis ben these, bene drownyd here?”        “Tho that stodyn up to the kne        Bakbidit here neghtbore fore envy,        And sklaundird hem in erth ful falseley —              That loston here goodis, hir lyvus yfere. “And tho that stodin up to the armus Weron spouse-brekers and levyd in lechory. And tho that stod up to the leppis, Be the servys of God, thai set noght by, And did no reverens to Cristis body, In Holé Cherche were ever changilyng, And sayd here prayers undevoutly, And let other men of mas hereng —              Herefore thai have passyng payn!        And tho that stod up to the elbow,        At here neghtbors harmes thay low —        Yif thai ferd wel, her hertis hit slow,              And of here losse, were glad and fayne.” Holé Cherche is a house of prayere — The gat of heven, Crist doth hit calle — To worchip therin our Saveour. Whatever thou askis ther, have thou schal Yif that ye bene in chareté alle, And serve your God in love and dred. No myschif on them hit schal falle; In al your werkis, wel schul ye spede!              A, synful mon! Hereof have mynd:        In Holé Cherche, nothyng thou say,        Bot with holé prayers to God ye pray,        He grawnt youe grace, both nyght and day,              Him to serve, that al you send. Then Poule wept and sayd in good sothnes: “Wo is him to these payns ben ordent!” Then he se a plase of gret darknes In the wyche men and wemen wern in gret turment, That etyn here tongis, here torent! Then the angel sayd to Poule, treuly: “These were makers of moné with cursid entent, With wrong mokerers, false mesurs, and useré;              Ther, fore wo, thai etin here tung,        Fore thai foreswere ham wettanly        On Cristis Passion, have no peté        To part with the pore that were nedé,              Bot holdun hit fast thai geten with wrong.” Then after, Poule a plase he se In the wyche were moné damselse blake, Iclothid in blake al cresly, In pych and brymston, fuyre and smoke; About here nekis were nedirs and snake, Fore wickid angelus reprevyd hem ther, With horns of fyre, here heedus to schake, And went about hom with hedus bere,              And saydon to hom with carful cry:        “Cnow ye now the Sun of God        That agayn boght the word,        That ye han grevyd in dede and word,              And slayn his creatours, your childer distrye?” Then Poule he askid: “What ben these?” The angel onswerd without tareyng: “Hylé God these con displese, And kept hem not chast to here wedyng, And slowyn here childer in burth-beryng, And cast ham to houndis in prevé place, In watirs, in pittis, about drounyng, And never wold shryve hem of that trespase,              Fore dred of sklawnder and penans doyng.        So the Fynd, he con hem blynd        With disperacion — hem schame and schend! —        Lest here mysdedis thai wold amend,              And broght hem ta evyl endyng.” Then after, Poule he se moche more: Men and wemen on kamels rydyng — Moch froyt ther was here face before; To ete therof was here lykyng; Thai myght not hit touche, fore no thyng! Then the angel to Poule con say: “These brekyn the tymys of here fastyng, And wold not fast the Good Fryday              That Crist sofyrd deth apon,        Bot wastin here goodis in glotoné        Fore fleschelé lust of here body.        Fore thai wold not parte with the pore nedy,              Thai schil have hongir and thrust wereever thai gon.” Then after, Poule in plase he se A sorouful syght: a horé hold mon Betwene four fyndis, in turmentré — And gryd and wept with ful gret mon! Then Poule he askid the angel anon What maner of mon hit myght be. The angel answerd him ful sone: “A neclygent mon, foresoth, was he,              And kept not obedyans he was bound to,        Ne levyd not chast in his bodé,        In word, in dede, in thoght, treuly,        Bot covetis, prude, ever out of charyté —              To al payne ent Domysday, he schal go.” Then Poule he weppid with hevé chere. The angel sayd: “Why wepis thou soo? Thou sest not the gret payn that beth here! Come, on with me now thou schal goo.” He lad him to the blak pit tho, With seven selys was selid treuly; Therin was care, sorow, and wo, Stenche, and al maner turmentry!              “Stond uttir, Poule,” quod the angel then.        Anon he unselid the pit thore —        With a stynche, gurd out a rore —        Al the payns hit passid before!              Hit wold have slayn al Crystin men! Then Poule he askid the angel in hye: “What pepul in this pit ben don?” “These belevid not in vergyn Mary, Ne treuly in Cristis Carnacione. Thai beth uncristynd, everechon, And never resayvyd Cristis body. Al tho, into that pet thay gon — Of hem, schal never be memory              On him in heven, tofore Godis Son,        Fore hit is Godis wil, specialy,        Of eretekis schal be no memoré,        Ne false Cristin men — renegatis that dyed curstly,              Of hom is no redempcion! Then after, Poule, forsoth, he se In a wonderful depe plase — As fro the erth to heven on hy — Uche soule on other couchid ther was; For fader and moder thai had dispisid, alas, Orebil wormys devouryd hem there! Then Poul he herd a dolful noyse — As layte or thonder that hit were —              Then was he ware of a soule anon:        Between four fendes, borne he was.        He rored and cryd, “Alas! Alas!” —        That ever his bodé con forth passe              Without shrift, housil, contricion! The angelis of God agayns him criud: “Alas, wrechid soule, what hast thou done In erth?” The fyndis them verefyd: “Dispisid Godis laus, everechon.” Tofore him, thai red his dedis anon, And cast him into derkens, deppist of alle. Quod angel to Poule: “Beleve uche mon, As ye do in erthe, so have ye schal.              He hath fre choys to do good or elle,        Fore uche good dede rewardid schal be        In erth, or ellis on even on hei,        And uche cursid dede ponyschid, truly,              In erth, in purgatoré, or ellis in hel. “For this schal be here ponyschyng: Pride, covetyse, wrat, envy — These be the brondis in hel brenyng! — Lechoré, slouth, and glotery, Then disperacion of Godis mercy. Of al the payns in hel, hit is most, Fore thai soght no grace, ne no mercy, Bot synnud agayns the Holé Gost.              That sin schal never foregeven be.        To God, hit is most hye trespace        To mystrost his mercy and grace —        So ded that traytur false Judas              And dampned himself perpetualy.” Anon, Poule a joyful syght gon se: A ryghtful soule angelis beryng — That oure was ravyschid fro his body — Up taward heven thai con him bryng. Then Poule herd a voyse — a hevenlé thyng! — A thousand anglis, togeder holy, That said and song in his heryng: “Be glad, blesful soule, perpetualy,              Fore the wil of thi God thou hast edon!”        Thai beryn hym up before oure Lord.        Then Mychael let him to gret cumford,        In joy and blis to have reward.              “Laudes Deo!” thai song, ucheon! Then sayd Poule with gret gladnes: “Wele is ham to even may go!” The angel answerd in good sothnes: “Thai schul have wele without wo! No tong con tel, hert thynke therto, The lest joy that is in paradyse! In heven bene a thousand underde mo — Was never clerke couth ham devyse              The lest joy to mon God hath ordend!        Fore tho joys schul never sese,        Bot ever enduyre and ever encres,        And ever leve in rest and pese —              That joy and blis schal never have ende!” Then al the sorouful soulus in hel That were ther in turmentyng, Thai crydyn: “Holé archangel Mechael, Have mercy on us, in payne bydyng! And thou, Poul, belovyd with Heven Kyng, To that Lord for us thou pray!” Then sayd the angel: “Loke!” — with sore wepyng — “Prays with Poule yif that ye may              Gete you grace of oné mercé.”        When he had sayd this word, anon        Thay wept and cryd out, everechon:        “A, the Sun of David, in heven trone,              Have mercé on us, fore thi gret peté!” A voyse fro heven answerd agayn: “What good dedes have ye nou done? Ye did me to deth with passion and payn — Hwy aske ye me now remyssioun? I was crucifid on cros fore you alon; With spere and nayles, Y sched my blood. Of aysel and gal, ye yeven me drenkyn When I was on therst, hongyng on the rode,              And I put myself to the deth fore yow,        That ye schul ever have levyd with me.        Bot ye were proud, covetyse, ful of envy,        And wold do no good dede, bot cursid, treuly,              And false lyers in your lyve, as wel ye cnow.” Then, sore wepyng, Poul knelid adowne, And al the angelis in heven ther, And prayd hylé to Godis oune Sun Fore the soulis in hel, sum ryst have ther. Oure Lorde he made hem this honswere: “Throgh the besechyng of myn angelis alle, And of Poule, myn apostil, leve and dere, This special grace graunt ham, I schal,              Fro Setterday at non, Y say treuly,        And al the fest of the Sununday        Into the fyrst our of Monday,        In reverens that ye here fore ham pray,              Thai schal have rou and rest perpetualy.” Then al the soulis in hel with one steven, Thai cryd and sayd with gret gladnes: “The Sun of God on hi in heven, We bles thi grace and thi goodnes, That thou woldist, of thi worthenes, Graunt us thi grace and thi mercy, Oure gret payns fore to reles Uche Sunday perpetualy!              Herefore, we thonke the Lord of al!”        Wosoever wil halou this Sununday        Wele and worchipful, as I youe say,        With angelis of God in heven, fore ay,              Joy and blis ther have ye schale! Then Poule askid the angel anon Houe moné payns in hel ther be. The angel answerd him ful sone: “Four thousand a hundred and fourté. And hunder men thagh ther were truly Fro the bekynyng of world ay spekyng, And uche a hundred tungis had, sothly, Thai myght not tel the payns in hel duryng,              For thai may not be noumbyrd, treuly.”        Herefore, dere breder that beth present,        That heren these payns, these gret turment,        Torne you to God Omnipotent              That we mow reyng with him in heven perpetualy. Alas, that ever oné Cristyn mon Wil not have that mater in mynd! What schame and chenchip, confucion, Thai schal have that serven the Fynd! That here mysdedis thai nyl not mend, And foresake here synnus and be sory, And sen al day what chamful end Thay have, that levyn here unryghtwysly —              To God this is a he trespas!        That never on be other ware wil be,        And wrath here God wetyngly,        That dyud fore hom on rod-tre —              Thai bene acursid, syrs, in thys case! Fore hel is not ordend fore ryghtwyse mon, Bot fore hom that serven the Fynd, No more than is a preson of lyme and stone Bot fore hom the lawis offend. Cursid dedis makis men al day eschend And theffys on galous on hye to hyng. Ther ryghtwys men, thai han good end, That servyn here God in here levyng.              Y pray you, seris! Trest wele hereto!        Fore he that levys here ryghtwysly,        On what deth ever he dey,        His soule never paynd schal be,              Ne never after wit of wo. Mervel ye not of this makyng — Y me excuse, hit is not I. Thus Mychael lad Powle, be Goddis bedyng, To se in hel the turmentré, Fore I couth never bot hy foly. God hath me chastyst fore my levyng; I thonke my God, my Grace, treuly, Of his gracious vesityng.              Beware, serys, I you pray,        And your mysdedis loke ye amend        Betyme, lest ye be chamyd and schend!        Fore al is good that hath good end.              Thus counsels youe the Blynd Audlay.	Sunday On which; there together saw may you hear will not [archangel] Michael peril [So that] the truth; witness and relate Before hell-gates horrible burning tree (t-note) head; tongues feet sinned; earth [when] alive; (see note) (t-note) grieve (t-note) debt marvelous furnace fire were ablaze; (see note) furnace grisly adders; light robbers each one; (see note) manslayers; (see note) disinherited; heirs; (see note) weep; wail; groan writhe; burn; desire; (see note) heaviness plenitude burning well hour around [it]; run; (see note) [who] strikes them to pieces dole Next; saw; horrible sea many devils’ beasts; (see note) fish; swam Devouring; as if they were sheep bridge according to their dwelling spot in hell; ordained; (t-note) adulterers renegades; robbers sinners with their companions fire saw drowned lower deeper brows; pained sighed asked Backbit They; goods; together; (t-note) (t-note) adulterers lips service (i.e., mass); (see note) jangling impiously prevented; from hearing mass surpassing laughed fared; slew delighted gate It shall not go badly for them; (t-note) [if] you refrain from speaking who gives you all honest sincerity ordained saw; place were; great torment They ate their tongues, here torn to pieces makers of money (i.e., counterfeiters) hoarders; measures; usury Therefore forswore; knowingly [and] had no compassion share kept what they stole wrongfully place; saw damsels black grisly; (t-note) pitch and brimstone necks; adders and snakes punished heads hideous noise Know redeemed the world Whom; sinned against slay; children destroy Who are answered; delay Supremely did these displease God slew; at birth hidden in order to drown [them] confess; (see note) doing of penance did blind them desperation; ruin to an evil end next camel; (see note) fruit; before their faces desire broke the times gluttony Because; share thirst wherever; (t-note) white-haired old [he] cried out; moan rule; (see note) body [in] avarice [and] pride until wept see; greatest; (see note) led; then seals; sealed all types of torment Stand back; (t-note) stench, a roar rose [from there] It surpassed all the pains [seen] before; (t-note) Incarnation unbaptized received pit They shall be forgotten By those heretics renegades; accursed deep place laid Horrible worms lightning confession, eucharist; (see note) The fiends verified them [his earthly sins] [He] despised; laws Before; read his deeds darkness, deepest Believe that each man; (see note); (t-note) ill in heaven on high [shall be] punished [For] pride; (t-note) brands burning in hell desperation for; (t-note) sinned against; (t-note) mistrust did; traitor; (see note) (see note) [same] hour [in which he] toward wholly; (t-note) sung done bore led; comfort Praise God (see note) heaven weal [no] heart may conceive; (t-note) least hundred more able to devise them ordained those; cease increase remain; peace [who are] abiding in pain (t-note) Pray any (see note) Why vinegar; gall; gave [John 19:29] afflicted with thirst abided avaricious accursed [deed] [were] false liars; lives; know reverently rest answer (see note) beloved and dear Saturday feast; Sunday hour peace voice high (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note) many 4,140 [for 144,000] [Apocalypse 7:4]; (see note); (t-note) [a] hundred; (t-note) beginning; always speaking; (t-note) tongues enduring in hell brethren Who hear [about] flourish any subject torment [They] that see; shameful live here unrighteously; (t-note) supreme never will one beware of another [will] anger their; knowingly Who died for them damned ordained; (see note) Except for them; (t-note) prison; limestone them that break the laws ruined thieves; gallows their lives trust lives; righteously experience (see note) chastised visitation
	Hec dicit Dominus Deus convertimini ad me et salvi eritis. Nolo mortem peccatoris set ut magis convertatur et vivat. Quia Cananeum et puplicanum vocavit ad penitenciam et peccatum lacrimantem. Ita et vos venite et audite incredoli quod timorem Domini docebit vos.3 [(see note); (t-note)]
5	XXVII. THE LORD’S MERCY De misericordia Domini.1 GOD’S ADDRESS TO SINFUL MEN Alle Cristyn men, Y bid you cum — Ye unbelevyd, cum wyle ye may, And thenkis apon my dredful dome! Hit schal you teche — hit is no nay! — Hou dredful then is Domysday, In the wyche nowther grace ne mercé is. Ther is no saynt may fore youe pray. Nolo mortem peccatoris.1	[W17–W18] [W17] come; (t-note) unbelievers; while judgment I shall teach it to you [there is] neither (see note)
	Ego sum Deus judex et justus, et do uniquique secundum opera sua.2
10 15 20	Thenke that I am God ryghtwyse, And yif uche mon after his wark: To my blissid, I have orden blis, And to the cursid, dampnacion darke. Leud and lerd, prest and clerke, Thai schal be rewardid, ywis, Affter here dedis — this word ye mark! Nolo mortem peccatoris. The valey of wepyng, this word I cal, I say you, serys, foresoth, forehwy: Fore al day in myschif of syn ye fal And greven me, ful grevosly! Ucheon for other may be sory, Fore anon ye lesin heven blis, Savyng my grace and mercy. Nolo mortem peccatoris.	Know; righteous give each; accord to his labor blessed [ones]; ordained Ignorant and learned weeping; world tell; the reason why Each; another lose Unless [you have]
	Non veni vocare justos, sed peccatores ad penitenciam.3
25 30 35 40 45	I come not to cal ryghtwys men To penans, as I you say, Bot thos that in erth synful bene — Hem I clepe, both nyght and day! — With disese and sekenes, yif that I may Make ham to mend thai done amys. Cum to me now, I you pray! Nolo mortem peccatoris. Magis gaudium est in celo super unum.4 For ther is more joy, iwys, Of a synner that foresakis his syn, And wil mend he doth amys, Then four score and twenty of ryghtwys men — Fore hom nedis no medesyne. Bot he that in soule seke he is, Hom I clepe to my grace then! Nolo mortem peccatoris. Tradide me ipsum pro vobis ad mortem ut mecum . . .5 Fourté days fore you I fast To fulfil my Fader law. Fore my deth I was agast; I wist ryght wel I schuld be slaw — And al hit was fore love of yow Lest that ye schuld fare amys. My grace, my goodnes, now ye schul know! Nolo mortem peccatoris.	call penance are call [what] they have done amiss indeed; (see note) (i.e., one hundred); (t-note) medicine; (t-note) that is sick in soul Forty; fasted slain (see note) wander astray
	Sic oportet vos jejunare propter peccata vestra et pro amore passionis Jhesu Christe.6
50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120	So fourté days ye schul fast Fore love of my Passion, I you pray, In the tyme that holé Lentyn last, Save onlé apon the Sunnday; In the clensyng days, hom fast ye may, The fourté days to fulfil hit is; This is my comawndmentis, hit is no nay. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Save wemen with child, and sekelou men, And laborers that worchyn both nyght and day, And pilgrems and palmers, and yong childer then, Al other schuld fast, as I you say. Yif a resnabil mele have thai may, Relegeus, prestis, and seculers, Non excusacion have thai may! Nolo mortem peccatoris. Qui cum jejuneo visia comprimis mentem elevas, etc.7 Fore, serys, I say that bodélé fast Lifftis up your mynd to heven on hye, And visis and synnus adown doth cast, And getis youe vertus and mede with me, And putis away the Fyndis pousté, And distroys your thre enmys, Curst Pride, false Covetis, and Glotoné, And bryngis you into heven blis. On Aske Wenesday ye schul come To Holé Cherche, serus, I you pray, And takis askis, al and sum, Fore thus the prest to youe wil say: “Umthynk thee, mon, thou are pouder of clay, And in to askis schal turne, iwis.” Have mynd hereon both nyght and day, Nolo mortem peccatoris. Fore clansyng days I do hom calle, In hom to clanse your concians Of al your synnus, both gret and smal, And schryve youe clene with repentans, And with good wil, do youre penans Fore al the yere ye han don amys; Then I wil withdraw my venchance. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Fore ye most nede do your penans In the tyme of holé Lentyn, And shryve youe clene of repentans In the clansyng days, yif that ye mouen, To make a syth satisfaccion Fore al the yere ye han don mys, Fore then I grawnt remyssion. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Now ye schul schryve youe, I wil youe telle: Mekelé to the prest, ye knele adoune; Hele no thyng, bot truly spel Hou and were that ye han done, Hwen, to hwom, outher God or mon; Tellis forth treuly, ryght as hit is, Then this is treue confession. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Thre thyngys longis to confession — Beware, seris, now I you pray! — Tru schryft of mowth, contricion, And then satisfaccion, hit is no nay! Never on without other be ther may, Yif ye wil bryng your soule to blis — To heven ther is no nother way. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Trust ye not to esy penans That the prest injoyns you to; Bot yif ye have veré repentans, And thynke never more so to do, And make satisfaccion also — Ellis the pop asoylis no mon, iwys — To purgatoré or to hel ye most nede go. Nolo mortem peccatoris.	(see note) them (i.e., in those days) commandment Except [for]; unhealthy; (t-note) work If they should have a moderate meal Men of religion; secular clergy excuse bodily vices reward power avarice Ash Wednesday ashes, everyone Remember; powder indeed Be mindful of this cleansing In which to clean your conscience confess yourself clean; (see note) amiss vengeance need holy Lent confess yourself may true Now [how] Humbly; (see note) Hide; recount where what When; whom, either; (t-note) truthfully pertain one too easy penance; (see note) (t-note) Unless; true repentance Or else; pope; absolves
	Penetentes penitentes et non irritentes, si estis penitentes imitate mores corigite vitam et convertemini ad Dominum secundum Augustinum.8; (t-note)
125 130 135	Bot ye have very contricion, To me hit is a he scornyng: Your schryft is bot confusion! Ye schul have schame at your endyng; Bot yf ye change your maners, your cursid levyng, And clanse your consians of al malis, To evel end hit wel you bryng. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Ye that foregete me in your levyng, And on my Passion hath no peté, I wil foregete youe in your dyyng, And withdraw my grace and my mercy, And your good angel fro you schal fle And betake yow into the honde of your enmys; Then ful woful schul ye be, That nyl not mend that thai do mys.	Unless; true contrition strong repudiation confession; (t-note) damnation Unless; cursed way of life; (t-note) conscience; malice compassion flee abandon will not amend what; amiss
	Quia numquam peccatum diluatur nisi satisfaccio operis restituatur.9
140	Ye curatours, wysely ye wayt, That han mon soule in your kepyng; Enjoyne ye not penance to strayt, Lest ye slen mon soule with ponyschyng! A Paternoster with repentyng To send ham to purgatoré, better hit is, And save bodé and soule fro peryschyng. Nolo mortem peccatoris.	curates; take heed; (see note); (t-note) have too rigorous slay; punishment repentance perishing
	Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt sibi; justicia et pax osculate.10; (t-note)
145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260	Ye that sittyn here, in my place, Ye most have treuth and ryghtwysnes. Then let Treuth, Mercy, and Grace, And Ryghwysnes take rest and pese; These four sistyrs mad me pese Of my vengans and my males, Fore mercé and grace hit you mo ples. Nolo mortem peccatorys. Qui sola contricion deluit peccatum. Fore as possebil, foresoth, hit is, With a tere of thyn ye, To quenche al the synns thou hast do mys, Yif fore thi synns thou be sory, As al the water is in the se To qwenche a gnost of fuyre, iwys, Fore to hom I grawnt mercy. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Dimittite et demittetur vobis.11 And loke ye bene in charyté, And foregif ucheon other then, And quetis your det, treuly; Then brekis your bred to my pore men, And gif ham drynk that thorsté bene, And clethe nakid, that nedé is, And harbare the pore, that woful ye syn. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Date elemosenam et omnia nobis munda.12 And vysette the seke that in preson be, And beré the dede, I you pray, And cownsel the unwyse, pur charyté,13 And here my Word when that ye may, And do therafter, both nyght and day, Fore this wil bryng you to my blis; To heven hit is the hyewaye. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro. And turne you to me fore oné thyng In al your hartis, with myght and mayn, In fastyng, in wepyng, with sorowyng, Yif ye have gon mys, cum home agayn! Then of youe I wil be fayne. And kuttus your hertus with contrecion hit is, Bot kutt not your clothis, let hem be playne. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Anima que peccaverit, ipsa moreatur.14 A soule hit doth a dedlé syn, He schal dye in good sothnes, Bot the fader of the child then Schal not bere his synns, his wyckidnes; Be the Fader of the Sun, ............................................................ ............................................................ That for my love han forsakyn this word, That nyght and day knelis on knen, Thai pray for you to me your Lord; Then loke that ye han here cumford, And wit ye han not fare amys, Fore in heven I wil you rewarde. Nolo mortem peccatoris. And ever depart with the pore Of the gracis and goodis that God you send; Ye have non other sycur tresoure Agayns the Day of Jugement; Ellis wil ye be chamyd and chent When I cal youe to your cowntys, iwys, How wordlé goodis ye han spend. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Meche be ye aldyn to the pore That ye geven here oné thyng, Fore that is your trew trusté tresoure, Ye gif hit to me is Heven Kyng; Fore thai get no more bot here levyng, And ye schul have therfore heven blis, And that lyve that is everlastyng. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Fore the pore schal be mad domysman Apon the ryche on Domysday; Let se how thai con answere then Fore al here reverent ryal aray, In hungere, in thorst, in gold — welay! — Affter here almes ay waytyng: “Thai wold not us vesit, nyght ne day!” Thus wil thai playn to me, Heven Kyng. Date et dabetur vobis To my pore that leven in payne; Dimitte, et dimittetur vobis, And then foregifyn schul ye ben; Querite, et invenietis, Taré not to long bot cum betyme, Pulsate, et aperietur vobis, Or I me gatis for you tyne, Yif ye wil oné thyng that is myne, Petete, et accepietis; Here may ye know wel and sene, Nolo mortem peccatoris. Take ensampil be Saint Martyne: The nakid he clothid with gret peté — With his swerd he swapt atwyn His mantil, and said, “This gif I thee.” Anon in heven, he con hit se — Myselve therin was clothyd, iwys, And sayd: “Martyne, this gif thou me.” Nolo mortem peccatoris. Thenke on the ryche mon, had no peté On the lazare lying on the gate, And ther he dyed myschifusly; The ryche mon sterve in his astate, Hes soule, to hel hit toke the gate; The lazar was borne to heven blis!15 Have mynd on this, erlé and late. Nolo mortem peccatoris. Thus I cal youe to my grace, ucheon — Cum to me for giftis, I you pray, And I wil gif you remissiown, And joy and blis foreever and ay! No hert con thonke, ne tung tel hit may The lest joy in heven ye schul have, iwys, Yif ye wil do as I you say! Nolo mortem peccatoris. Joy be to the Fader and to the Sun, And to the Holé Gost, al thre efere, That in the word of wordis togeder thai were, That now is, and was, schal be ever! To that perles Prince without pere Be worchip and joy in heven blis, That says to us with so good chere, Nolo mortem peccatoris!	(see note) bring about; peace; (t-note) appeased [Psalm 84:11] From; vengeance; malice may; (t-note) Because only contrition washes away a sin; (t-note) done amiss sea spark of fire, indeed forgive each other repay your debt break your bread [with] thirsty are clothe whom you see are woeful visit; prison bury; (see note) for hear accordingly highway Be converted to me with all your heart [Joel 2:12] before anything [else] hearts amiss attentive pierce; hearts; (t-note) clothes; unadorned (see note); (t-note) [They] who; world Who; kneels; knees comfort be certain [that] share; (see note) gifts secure shamed and disgraced accounts, indeed; (t-note) worldly You are much beholden any assured as their living [sustenance] life made judges; (see note) rich they (i.e., the rich) dignified royal array cold; alas alms always waiting (t-note) Give and it shall be given to you [Luke 6:38] who live Forgive, and you shall be forgiven [Luke 6:37] forgiven Seek, and you shall find [Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9]; (t-note) Tarry not too long; in time Knock, and it shall be opened to you [Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9] I will myself close [heaven’s] gates to you wish for any Ask, and you shall receive [John 16:24] soon; (t-note) example; Martin; (see note) sword; cut in two cloak; give clothed, indeed; (t-note) leper; (t-note) died miserably died; estate His; made its way each one [of you] always conceive; (see note) least together forever and ever; (see note) peerless; peer
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440	AUDELAY’S EPILOGUE TO THE COUNSEL OF CONSCIENCE Here I conclud al my makyng, In the mercé of God, I have sayd before; God grawnt ham grace of good endyng That done theraftir, both lasse and more, And let ham never, Lord, be forelore, That prayn for Jon the Blynd Audlay. Into the kyngdam thou ham restore, Unto that blis that lasteth fore ay,              In word without end!        Fore blessid be thai that heren the Word        And don therafter here in this word,        Fore in heven thou wilt hem reward,              That here mysdedis here wil amende. Fore al that is nedful to bodé and soule Here in this boke then may ye se, And take record of the apostil Poule That Crist callid to grace and his mercé, Fore so I hope he hath done me And geven me wil, wit, tyme, and space, Throgh the Holé Gost, blynd, def to be, And say this wordis throgh his gret grace.              So synful a wreche, unworthély,        Y pray you, seris, fore Cristis sake,        Ensampil at me that ye wil take,        And amendis betime ye make              Wile ye han space here specialy. Fore as I lay seke, in my dremyng, Methoght a mon to me con say: “Let be thi slouth and thi slomeryng! Have mynd on God both nyght and day! Bohold and se a reuful aray — Al the word on foyre brenyng! Warne the pepul now, I thee pray — Thai lovyn here God overe al thyng.              Aryse anon, and awake!        Fore thus God wil take venchans on thee,        Apon his pepil sodenly,        Fore pride, covetyse, wrath, envy,              Fore God is wroth fore here syne sake!” Herewith I woke of my dremyng, And al fore fryght I was afrayd. Anon I barst on wepyng; With soroue of hert, to Crist I prayd: “Take no venchanche, Lord!” I sayd, “Bot send the pepul sum warnyng, As thou was borne al of a mayde, And withdraw thi wenchanse that is comyng,              And grawnt me, Lord, throgh thi gret grace,        Sum good word that I may say        To thi worchip, Lord, I thee pray,        To help mon soule, that hit may,              That hit heren in honé plase!” I pray youe al, in Cristis name — Beware, seris, ye han warnyng! Fore I say soth. No mon me blame. God hath me grawntid myn askeng. He hath youe send a hye tokenyng, And erthquake the last day, That Domysday is nygh cumyng, Fore to his dissiplis, thus con He say:              “I pray you, seris, tent herto take —        Tofore my dome this tokyn schal fal:        Vengans fore syn my pepil se chal —        Werrs and pestelens, hungir with ale,              That, fore drede, the erth schul quake.” A, thenke on, mon! Thou art made of erth; In thi hert, fore, thou may quake! Moche payn and penans thou art wele worthe To greve thi God so, fore thi syn sake; Herefore, wo hit wil awake Fore the brekyng of Cristis comawndment Betyme, amendis bot ye make And seche grace tofore His Jugement,              Wile ye han tyme and spase.        Of al lordis be He blessid!        He wold not mon were lost,        That wil in His mercé trost,              And foresake His syn and soche His grace. Alas, in my hert sore I drede Lest men beleve not faythfully, Fore to prechyng and techyng, thai take non hede! Here dedis, hom demys ful opynly — To bye and sel thay be besy, Bot feu to purches heven blis; Thai have no trest therin, treuly, Ellis wold thai mend that thay do mys.              Bot, seris, ther is cause:        Curatis the soth thai dare not say —        The soth yourselve, se ye may —        How thai lye in syn fro day to day              And been the furst that breken Cristis laws! Fore and curatis lyved spirytualy, Ful evel durst ané mon offend The laws of God in oné degré; Anon therfore thai schul be chent! Alas, our bischopis thai ben yblynd That to this myschif thai cun not se! Fore few ther be that wile amend Fore oné corexion now trewly              Of Holé Cherche, I say.        I pray you, seris, that ye aspie        Howe contenwes Lechoré —        Have he cordid with Constery —              Leve forth in syn thai may. Few ther bene that sechen soulehele — Herefore ye ston in gret drede! — Bot moné ther ay sechen ryches and wele, That schal youe fayle here at your nede. Y pra youe, seris, that ye take hede: Ye schul acownt ful securly Fore al your goodus, withoutyn dred, How ye han getin and spend, treuly;              Foresoth, acownt ye schul        Tofore that Lord that you dere boght —        Fore word, fore wil, fore dede, fore thoght,        Your synys loke excuse ye noght;              That greveth God most of alle. Now ye callyn pride honesté. Whrath, envy, hardénes. False covetys, wisdam callid his he. Lecheouré, a lover of lustenes. Glotoné, a felaw of gentilnes. Slouth, ye callyn onest levyng. Thus have ye cullord your wickidnes Agayns Godis hest and his bedyng!              I say you, seris, forewy:        Thus the Fynd he hath you blynd        Lest your mysdedis ye schuld amend —        With pride, wrath, covetyse, envy, you schend,              With lechoré, slowth, and glotoné! Thenke to the Fynd, when ye were boren, Ther ye foresokyn the werkis of the Fynd, Ellis I lekyn you to be forelorne, Bot your mysdedis that ye amend. Thus Adam, your fader, furst con affend, And excusid him of the appil etyng, And sayd Eve, his wyf, so had him kend, And soght no grace of Heven Kyng,              Herefore God was wroth hylé.        An angel with a swerd brenyng bryght        Drof him out of paradyse anon ryght,        Fore he had synyd in Godis syght              With pride, covetyse, and glotoné. Your synus, loke excuse ye noght — He is above that knowis ale, Your werd, your wil, your dede, your thoght. Ye wot never whent he wil on you calle, Fore at his bar, stond ye schal; Your consians schal cuse youere cursid levyng And al your dedis, both gret and smale; Ther schul ye here a hard rekenyng!              Beware, seris, hereby!        Anon schryve youe of your syn        Be frelté, yif ye fal therin,        Fore the Fynd he takis youe in his gren              With pride, covetys, and glotony. Fore he that wil himself here lowe, And foresake his syn, and be sory, And to the prest him schryve and chewe, And do his penans dewoutly, He never reprevyd schal be When he is callid to his rekenyng, Fore God hath foregeven him throght his mercé, Here in herth in his levyng,              Throgh his special grace.        He wil not ponyche youe twice then —        Yif ye han don your penans fore your syn,        Ye schul never have penans hen,              When God hath foregifyn you your trespace. Non est verior probacio quam oculorum demonstracio.1 Thus Experiens treulé me tolde, That walkis amongis youe ever spyyng, What ye deth, both yong and hold, And al the maner of your levyng; He bede me, in the name of Heven Kyng, I schuld not spare the soth to say, Ne faver youe with no false flateryng — That nygh hand is Domysday,              Fore al the tokens beth efalle!        Thus sayth Luke in his Gospele, truly,        That Domysday schal cum sodenly        When men in erth ben most besi,              That never onother help thai schal. Qui praemunitur non fallitur.2 Reght as in the tyme of Noyé Sodenly al the word was drownd, And as Sodom and Gomor, that gret ceté, Sodenlé was sonkyn to hel grownde, So within a lytil stownd, Domsday schal fal, treuly! In Lukis Gospel thus I fond — Seche hit, serys, and ye may se.              Herefore, beth redé nyght and day!        Alas, ye dred not God to greve!        Alas, ye bene false in your beleve!        Alas, your dedis thay don youe preve!              Alas, alas, and waylaway! Alas, swerde and pestelens al day doth falle! Beware lest froytis withdrawn be! Alas, erthquake is comen with al! Alas, amende yow, pur charyté! These takyns fro the heven ye se That God sendis youe in fayre war. Alas, bot fewe ware . . . Alas, for . . .              Alas! Thus sayth the profecé:        Was never more better purchesyng        Then schal be agayns Cristis cumyng,        Ne never alf so cursid levyng;              Herefor this word God wil distroye. Alas, that ye con not beleve That ye felyn and se with syght! Hou lytil a thyng a mon may greve When oné sekenes is on him light! Anon he has lost al his myght — Then ard on Crist wil he cry, Fore payne and deth he is afryght. Al wordlé good he settis noght by.              A, thynke on this, thou synful mon!        In wele beware, or thou be wo,        And thynk weder that thou wilt go —        To hel or heven, on of tho —              Fore other joyse is ther non. Fore to lye I have no lust, Fore yif I did, I schuld hit rew; Bot to this tale, treulé ye tryst, Fore wil I wot that is trew. The soth I wold, seris, that ye knewe — At your concians take knowlescheng! Among Cristyn men ther be to fewe That lovyn here God over al thyng,              And as amselve here trew neghtboure,        Fore al the lawys of our Lord,        In this two comawndmentis hengus uche worde;        Herefore, al the wo of this worde              Is fore we kepe not the wyl of your Savyour. Al Cristin men, Y cownsel youe That ye wil do as Y youe say, Then in yore conseans ye schul wele know That schal youe deme at Domysday — Weder hit be soth, ore ellis nay. Yif hit be trew, at your wittyng, Then doth therafter, I youe pray, And lovys your God over al thyng —              Y hwolde hit for the best.        I rede ye loven Heven Kyng,        And your neghtbore fore oné thyng,        Fore oné lost ore lykyng.              Then, seris, al ye beth eblest. I wot ryght wel I schal be chent Of Godis enmys — hit is no nay! — Fore to the treuth thai take no tent; The soth fore hem, Y dar not say; Herefore the Fynd he wil hem fray, Fore thay cal trew Cristyn men Lollard, That kepyn Cristis comawndmentis nyght and day, And don Godis wil in dede and worde.              Agayns ham, I take Crist to wytnes;        Here is non error ne Lollardré,        Bot pistill and gospel, the Sauter, treuly;        I take witnes of the treue clargy              That han Godis lauys fore to redres. Yet I wil say more yif I bere grame — Fore wele I wot that hit is trewe — Fore Holé Wryt ye may not blame, Nowther the Hold Lawe ne the Newe; God gif you grace your synnys excuse; The treuth to preche, men may be bold, Ore ellis, ye curatis, ye schul sore rew, That han the kepyng of Christis folde              In Holé Cherche, in heveré place —        Fore to curatis, sayth Saynt Gregory,        Thai schul onswere treuly        Fore mons soule specialy,              At Domusday tofore Crystis face. Of al the createurs that ever God mad, Mon soule was most pressious — A prynt of the Treneté that never schal fade, Partener and eyre of even blis! Al erthelé thyng hit schal vanysche. Into the erth we schul be broght. Thou getist no more with thee, iwys, Save good werd, good wil, good dede, good thoght;              Fore these four, specialy,        In heven thou shalt have joy and blis,        After thi merit have mede, iwis;        Beware, seris, fore nede hit is,              Lest bodé and soule ye distroy! Fore God, mon soule he hath betake To curaturs in ilke lond, To kepe hem wel fore his love sake. He wil hem seche out of here hond Fore to his face thai schal stond, And yild ther a hard rekynyng Fore everé soule, both fre and bond, Yif oné be peryschid throgh here kepyng.              Fore God hath grawnt youe his pouere,        Be the vertu of the sacrement,        To asoyle al that wil repent,        And chryve ham clene with good entent,              And do here penans wyle thai bene here. Then yif ané fal throgh here frelté In ané maner dedlé syn, What maner man that ever hit be, Anon corect im as law wil then, And take no mede of no maner men. Fore opyn syn, gif opin penans. In the decretals, ther ye may sene, Hit is Godis law, his ordenans,              That ye schul bryng mon soule to blis —        Fore treuly the pepil ye schuld telle,        And warne ham of the payne of helle,        And to put hem out of the parel,              And make ame amend that thai don mys. Fore a holé curate, he schal have In heven coronacion Fore everé soule that he doth save And bryngis ham to salvacion; And other schul have confucion, Under fyndis of hel turmentré, That bryngth mon soule to dampnacion Throgh evyl ensampil in prestis thay se.              Thus Jon Belet, he gon you tele        How mon soule that ye schuld save —        No spot of syn ye schuld have.        Alas, I trow now that ye rave,              Fore ye dred nowther heven ne hel! Ye prestis, I pray youe take good kepe, That mas ne matens nyl say ne syng: Ye deprevyn the Treneté of his worchip, And al sayntis in heven with him dwellyng, And al Cristin soulis in payne bydyng Affter your prayors in purgatory, And al your god-doers of here helpyng. Alas, this is a gret peté —              To God and mon a hye trespace! —        To take your hoyre, your salaré,        Bot yif ye levyn spyretwaly,        And sayne your servyse dewoutly!              Ye ben Godis traytors in this case! Dissyre ye nowther wyke ne dede; Beth holé prestis in your levyng; In trust ther schuld be no falsode; Men in your prayours, thai bene hopyng, Ellis schuld ye yild ard rekenyng, Fore your hoyre, your selaré. Mon soule to blis bot ye hit bryng With your prayors specialy,              Fore God hath geven thee pouere        To be mens betwene God and mon,        That al day agayns his laus thai don,        To get ham grace, remyssion,              Throgh here halmys and your prayere. Fore oche day ye spekyn with Crist asyt When ye dewotlé to him pray, And yif ye reden in Holé Wryt, He spekis to youe, hit is no nay; Remembyr, youe prestis, I you pray, And say your servys dewoutly; Then the sothe ther se ye may.              Thys ensampul Y pray yow leve:        Yif ye schuld do omache to a kyng,        Ye most with reverens, adown knelyng,        Say your mesache without faylyng,              Ellis that lord wil youe repreve. Fore wyle hert worchipis noght, The tong foresoth lebors in vayne; Have mynd on him that youe dere boght, That sofyrd both passion and payne — Fore him to plese ye schuld be fayne, And in your prayers, specialy, Have mend on hom fore hom ye prayne, I pray youe, seris, fore charyté!              I say you, breder, in Cristis name,        To me hit were a hy slawnder        To lye apon my blessid breder;        Y wold youe fayne here forther,              Bot your wyckid dedus thay don you fame. A sad ensampil her may ye se; I pray youe, breder, have hit in mynd. Thagh I say soth, blamys not me — I blustur forth as Bayard blynd. Fore to Crist, ye bene unkynd, Freris, and freel, false in your fay; Among men of Holé Cherche, fewe men fynd That worchyn wysely to wyse men the way              Into the courte of heven blis —        Fore as ye techyn other to do,        Yourselfe ye gon clen therfro!        Thus be ye wercher of al our wo              Hent ye wil mend that ye do mys. Beware hereby, bothe frynd and foo, A sad soth I wil youe say — This is the cause of al our woo: We beleve not treuly in Cristis fay, Ellis wold we dred God both nyght and day, And kepe the comawndment of our Kyng, That wot never how sone we schul wynd away, To hel or even at our endyng,              Fore ther is non other joyse;        And yet wil ye serve the Fynd,        To God and mon both, be unkynd;        Ye have not his Passion in your mynd,              That dyid fore youe apon the cros. I pray you al, pur charyté, That heryn or redin in this boke, Doth therafter specialy; Cownsel therat I wold ye toke, Fore here is nowther wyle ne croke. I faver you noght with no flateryng; The hyeway to heven I wold ye toke, To joy and blis without endyng,              Fore other cownsel nedis you non.        Doth therafter then, I youe pray,        Fore to heven ther is no nother way.        Then meré in hert be ye may              To go to the way of salvacion. The Cownsel of Conseans this boke I calle, Or The Ladder of Heven, I say, forewy: Ther is no mon may clym up a walle Without a ladder, sekyrly; No more may we to heven on hye Without treu cownsel of consians. Clyme up this ladder — then may ye se What ye schul do to Godis plesans,              And weder ye wil have wele or wo.        Clyme up this ladder — then may ye se        What joys in heven that ther be,        And what payns in hel and turmentré.              Then chese yourselve weder to go. Al Cristyn men, I cownsel yow No mon deme other specially, Fore oche mon schuld himselve here know, And deme himselve whatever he be, Fore a lytil mote ye con sone se In another mons ye then, Bot in your owne ye con not se, Thagh ther be fallyn in nine or ten.              Alas, thus bene ye blynd!        Lest he be gilté in the same,        No mon be to bold to blame,        Bot uche mon mend hymselve fore chame.              Yif ye deme mys, ye wil be chent!	[W18] (see note); (t-note) forlorn pray world hear their misdeeds (see note) heed these amends in good time sick; (see note); (t-note) It seemed to me; did say slumbering (t-note) sorrowful sight world; fire burning They [who]; (t-note) vengeance (t-note) their sins’ from (t-note) burst out vengeance as it may Who it hears in any place powerful sign; (see note) recently coming nigh take heed hereto Before; sign shall see Wars Consider therefore you thoroughly deserve [Because you] grieve woe Soon, unless you make amends While does no desire that a man be lost seek; (t-note) They are judged by their deeds buy few [work] to purchase repent what they do amiss a reason Curates dare not say the truth they (i.e., the curates) For if curates; (t-note) Very evilly (fearfully) would anyone dare any manner damned are made blind By means of any reprimand From take note Lechery continues He has joined with Consistory [courts] They may live forth in sin; (t-note) soul’s health; (see note) stand; (t-note) always seek; wealth pray; (t-note) certainly; (see note) gotten and spent [it] shall [make] (see note) [You call] wrath [and] envy hardiness is lustiness (i.e., high spirits) companion of nobility honest living colored command and bidding therefore blinded you are damned Consider At that time you forsook Or else I depict you as Unless did offend (i.e., sinned) advised highly enraged immediately Look not to excuse your sins; (t-note) word; (see note); (t-note) know; when; (t-note) bar (i.e., court) conscience; excuse judgment confess frailty; (see note) Before; snare; (see note) (t-note) be humble; (see note) confess and show [sin] reproved reckoning forgiven; through on earth (t-note) hence (i.e., later) Who; spying do; old; (t-note) bid near at hand signs have happened [When] they shall never help another Just as; Noah city; (see note) to the ground of hell while befall [Luke 17:24–30] ready become your test fruits (i.e., rewards) for; (t-note) (t-note) warning (see note); (t-note) prophecy Nothing was ever better purchased Than [safeguards taken] against Nor [against] half so cursed a living Soon; world What How little a thing may grieve a person fallen hard worldly; gauges as nothing before you grow woeful; (see note) which way one of those; (see note) choice regret trust well; know In your conscience acknowledge too themselves hang in each word Therefore; world [Occurs] because What shall be your verdict or else not [true] by your understanding hold (i.e., declare) (see note) before Despite any desire or pleasure all of you are blessed destroyed; (see note) By God’s enemies pay no heed on account of them frighten Lollards Who witness heresy; Lollardy epistle; Psalter Whose duty it is to redress God’s laws righteous anger Old to excuse regret flock every answer (i.e., be held to account) man’s soul precious Trinity Partner; heir; heaven’s (see note) reward, indeed needful For God has committed man’s soul curates; every He will seek them from the curates’ hand [When] before pay their (i.e., the curates’) power absolve shrive frailty; (see note) Whatever sort of person he is him; decrees reward; no man whatsoever open penance ordinance peril them; what they do amiss; (t-note) others fiends; hell’s torments Who Beleth; he did tell you; (see note) pay close attention neither mass nor matins will not deprive good-doers; their share [of salvation] hire; salary Unless you live spiritually say Desire neither living nor dead (t-note) falsehood expectant (i.e., trusting) receive a hard judgment power means (i.e., mediator) alms in privacy; (see note) devoutly if you read in the Bible service (i.e., mass) believe example; believe homage message reprove while labors; (t-note) eager Be mindful of them for whom (see note) I would gladly advance you here defame you bluster; (see note) frail; faith instruct fully away from there maker Until; amend; amiss friend serious faith Who know (referring to “we”) heaven; (see note) choice for Follow its counsel specifically I want you to take; (t-note) wile nor trick compliment merry Counsel of Conscience; (see note) because climb certainly may we [climb] delight whether; weal torments choose judge each; should [know] eye nine or ten [motes] [Matthew 7:1–5] ought to be too eager to blame each; ought to amend; shame amiss; ruined
	Nolite judicare et non judicabimini. . . . Eadem messure qua messi fueritis messietur vobis.3
445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505	Fore Crist sayth, the same mesere That ye metin to other men, The same ye schul have to your hoyre — Outher joy or fuyre that ever schal bren. Ye wot never what day ne wen Ye schul be callid to your rekenyng; Ryght as ye demon other men, Ye schul be dampnyd at your endyng.              In the Gospel thus wretyn hit is;        To this ensampil takys good yeme:        Uche mon his dedis, thai schul him deme,        Then be seche as ye schuld deme,              And deme ye never onother amys. Takis no venchans, this Crist forebede: “Your venjans ye schul yif to me, Fore I wil elde uche mon after his mede.” In everé state whatever he be, What cyté or rem devidid ye se, Hit schal be distroyd, wretyn hit is; Bot yif ye leve in charyté And foregif uche onother, ye don amys.              Thus in this Gospel wretyn I fynd,        He that lovys here rust and pese,        He is Godis child without lese,        And he that sterys debate with his males,              Thai be the chylder of the Fynd. To the Treneté I me recomend, That al this word at his wil wroght, That myght and grace he hath me send, And to Crist his Sun that me dere boght, And to the Holé Gost foregete I noght, Fore him I thonke specialy, That wit and wysdam to me hath broght To foresake my syn and my foly.              In this word here levyng,        To have my payne, my purgatory,        Out of this word or that I dy,        A, gracyus God, gramarsy,              To grawnt me grace of good endyng! As I lay seke in my langure, In an abbay here be west, This boke I made with gret dolour When I myght not slep ne have no rest. Offt with my prayers I me blest, And sayd hilé to Heven Kyng: “I knowlache, Lord, hit is the best Mekelé to take thi vesetyng,              Ellis wot I wil that I were lorne.”        Of al lordis be he blest!        Fore al that ye done is fore the best,        Fore in thi defawte was never mon lost,              That is here of womon borne. Mervel ye not of this makyng, Fore I me excuse — hit is not I; This was the Holé Gost wercheng, That sayd these wordis so faythfully, Fore I quoth never bot hye foly. God hath me chastyst fore my levyng; I thong my God, my Grace, treuly, Fore his gracious vesityng.              Beware, seris, I youe pray,        Fore I mad this with good entent,        In the reverens of God Omnipotent.        Prays fore me that beth present —              My name is Jon the Blynd Awdlay. LATIN PROSE COLOPHON FINITO LIBRO	mete out hire fire know; when judge judged heed such vengeance requite; deserved reward rank realm divided Unless; believe forgive one another rest; peace lie stirs discord; evil intentions children commend myself created forget in particular [I pray that] in this world (see note) before I die out of this world grant mercy illness; (see note) grief blessed myself reverently acknowledge meekly; visitation; (see note) know I well; lost (t-note) misdeed Marvel; (see note) excuse myself Holy Ghost’s making say; high folly; (see note) chastised thank visiting (i.e., by affliction) (t-note) [those] who are [W18]
	Finito libro. Sit laus et gloria Christo. Liber vocatur Concilium conciencie, sic nominatur, aut Scala celi et vita salutis eterni. Iste liber fuit compositus per Johannem Awdelay, capellanum, qui fuit secus et surdus in sua visitacione, ad honorem Domini nostri Jhesu Christi et ad exemplum aliorum in monasterio de Haghmon. Anno Domini millesimo cccc visecimo vj. Cuius anime propicietur Deus.1; (see note) Amen.