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Part 8







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Part Eight

The Outer Rule


Bivoren, on earst, ich seide thet ye ne schulden na-wiht as i vu bihaten for-
te halden nan of the uttre riwlen. Thet ilke ich segge yetten, ne nane ne
write ich ham buten ow ane. Ich segge this for-thi thet othre ancren ne
seggen nawt thet ich thurh mi meistrie makie ham neowe riwle. Ne bidde ich nawt
thet ha halden ham. Ah ye yet moten changin hwen-se ye eaver wulleth theose for
betere. Ayein thinges the beoth bivoren - of ham is lutel strengthe.
    Of sihthe ant of speche ant of the othre wittes is inoh i-seid. Nu is this leaste
dale, as ich bihet on earst, todealet ant i-sundret o lutle seove stucchen.
    Me let leasse of the thing thet me haveth ofte. For-thi ne schule ye beon bute -
as ure brethren beoth - i-huslet in-with tweolf-moneth fiftene sithen: (i) Mid-
winter Dei, (ii) Tweofte Dei, (iii) Condelmeasse Dei, (iiii) a Sunnedei mid-wei
bitweonen thet ant Easter, other Ure Leafdi Dei, yef he is neh the Sunnedei, for
the hehnesse, (v) Easter Dei, (vi) the thridde Sunnedei th'refter, (vii) Hali Thursdei,
(viii) Witsunne Dei, (ix) Midsumer Dei, (x) Seinte Marie Dei Magdaleine, (xi)
the Assumptiun, (xii) the Nativite, (xiii) Seinte Mihales Dei, (xiii) Alle Halhene
Dei, (xv), Seint Andrews Dei. Ayein alle theose beoth cleanliche i-schrivene, ant
neometh disceplines, neaver thah of na-mon bute of ow-seolven, ant forgath an
dei ower pitance. Yef ewt i-limpeth misliche thet ye ne beon nawt i-huslet i theose
sette tearmes, beoth hit the neste Sunnedei, other yef the other terme is neh,
abideth athet tenne.
    Ye schulen eoten from Easter athet te Hali Rode Dei - the leatere, the is in
hervest - euche dei twien bute the Fridahes, [other Umbri-dayes, Yong-dayes,
vigilies. I theose dayes] ne i the Advent ne schule ye nawt eoten hwit bute neode
hit makie. The other half yer feasten al, bute Sunnedahes ane, hwen ye beoth in
heale ant i ful strengthe - ah riwle ne tweast nawt seke ne blod-letene.
    Ye ne schulen nawt eoten flesch ne seim, bute for muche secnesse other hwa-
se is over-feble. Potage eoteth blitheliche, ant wunieth ow to lutel drunch. No-
the-les, leove sustren, ower mete ant ower drunch haveth i-thuht me ofte leasse
then ich walde. Ne feaste ye na dei to bread ne to weattre, bute ye habben leave.
    Sum ancre maketh hire bord with hire gest ute-with. Thet is to muche
freondschipe, for of alle ordres thenne is hit uncundelukest, ant meast ayein ancre
ordre, the is al dead to the world. Me haveth i-herd ofte thet deade speken with
cwike - ah thet ha eten with cwike ne fond ich yet neaver.
    Ne makie ye nane gestnunges, ne ne tulle ye to the yete nane uncuthe hearloz;
thah ther nere nw uvel bute hare meadlese nurth, hit walde letten other-hwile
heovenliche thohtes. Ne limpeth nawt to ancre of other monnes ealmesse to makien
hire large. Nalde me lahhen a beggere lude to bismere the leathede men to feaste?
Marie ant Marthe ba weren sustren, ah hare lif sundrede: ye ancren beoth i-numen
ow to Marie dale, the ure Laverd seolf herede: Maria optimam partem elegit.
"Marthe, Marthe," quoth he, "thu art [in] muche baret. Marie haveth i-core bet,
ant ne schal hire na thing reavin hire dale." Husewifschipe is Marthe dale; Marie
dale is stilnesse ant reste of alle worldes noise, thet na thing ne lette hire to heren
Godes stevene. Ant lokith hwet Godd seith, thet "na thing ne schal ow reavin this
dale." Marthe haveth hire meoster - leoteth hire i-wurthen. Ye sitten with Marie
stan-stille ed Godes fet ant hercnith him ane. Marthe meoster is to feden povre ant
schruden, as hus-leafdi. Marie ne ah nawt to entremeatin th'rof. Yef ei blameth
hire, Godd seolf i-hwer wereth hire, as Hali Writ witneth: Contra Symonem:
duo debitores, et cetera. Contra Martham: Maria optimam partem, et cetera.
Contra apostolos murmurantes, ut quid perditio hec? Bonum, inquit, opus,
et cetera
. On other half, nan ancre ne ah to neomen bute meathfulliche thet hire to
neodeth. Hwer-of thenne mei ha makien hire large? Ha schal libben bi ealmesse
ase meathfulliche as ha eaver mei, ant nawt gederin for-te yeoven. Ha nis nawt
huse-wif, ah is a chirch-ancre. Yef ha mei spearien eani povre schraden, sende
ham al dearnliche ut of hire wanes. Under semblant of god is ofte i-hulet sunne.
Ant hu schulen theose riche ancres, the tilieth other habbeth rentes i-sette, don to
povre nehburs dearnliche hare ealmesse? Ne wilni ha nawt to habbe word of a
large ancre, ne for-te yeoven muchel, ne beo nan the gred[i]ure for-te habben
mare. For-hwon thet gredinesse beo rote of thet gederunge, of hire bitternesse al
beoth the bohes bittre, the of hire spruteth. Bidden hit for-te yeoven hit nis nawt
ancre rihte. Of ancre curteisie, of ancre largesce is i-cumen ofte sunne ant scheome
on ende.
    Wummen ant children ant nomeliche ancre meidnes the cumeth i-swenchet for
ow - thah ye spearien hit on ow, other borhin other bidden hit - makieth ham to
eotene with chearitable chere, ant leathieth to herbarhin.
    Na mon ne eote bivoren ow bute bi ower meistres leave, general other spetial:
[general] as of freres preachurs ant meonurs, spetial of alle othre. Ne leathie ye
nane othre to eoten ne to drinken bute alswa thurh his leave. Liht is, me seith,
leave. Na-wiht ne yirne ich thet me for swucche boden telle ow hende ancren. I-
hwear thah ant eaver yemeth ow thet nan from ow thurh ower untuhtle ne parti
with scandle.
    Ed gode men neometh al thet ow to nedeth. Ah thet lokith ow wel, thet ye ne
kecchen the nome of gederinde ancren. Of mon thet ye misleveth thurh his fol
semblant other bi his wake wordes, nowther ne neome ye ne leasse ne mare. Neode
schal driven ow for-te bidden ei thing; thah eadmodliche schawith to gode men
ant wummen ower meoseise.
    Ye, mine leove sustren, bute yef neod ow drive ant ower meistre hit reade, ne
schulen habbe na beast bute cat ane. Ancre the haveth ahte thuncheth bet huse-
wif, ase Marthe wes - ne lihtliche ne mei ha nawt beo Marie, Marthe suster, with
grithfullnesse of heorte. For thenne mot ha thenchen of the kues foddre, of heorde-
monne hure, olhnin the hei-ward, wearien hwen he punt hire, ant yelden thah the
hearmes. Ladlich thing is hit, wat Crist, hwen me maketh i tune man of ancre
ahte. Nu thenne yef eani mot nedlunge habben hit, loki thet hit na-mon ne eili ne ne
hearmi, ne thet hire thoht ne beo na-wiht th'ron i-festnet. Ancre ne ah to habben
na thing thet ut-ward drahe hire heorte.
    Na chaffere ne drive ye. Ancre thet is chepilt - thet is, buth for-te sullen efter
biyete - ha chepeth hire sawle the chap-mon of helle. Thing thah thet ha wurcheth
ha mei, thurh hire meistres read, for hire neode sullen. Hali men sum-hwile liveden
bi hare honden.
    Nawt, deore dehtren, ne wite ye in ower hus of other monne thinges, ne ahte ne
clathes, ne boistes, ne chartres, scoren ne cyrograffes, ne the chirch vestemenz,
ne the calices, bute neode other strengthe hit makie, other muchel eie. Of swuch
witunge is muchel uvel i-lumpen ofte sithen.
    In-with ower wanes ne leote ye na-mon slepen. Yef muchel neod mid alle maketh
breoken ower hus, hwil hit eaver is i-broken habbeth th'rinne with ow a wummon
of cleane lif deies ant nihtes.
    For-thi thet wepmen ne seoth ow, ne ye ham, wel mei don of ower clath, beo hit
hwit, beo hit blac, bute hit beo unorne, warm ant wel i-wraht, felles wel i-tawet -
ant habbeth ase monie as ow to neodeth to bedde ant to rugge.
    Nest flesch ne schal nan werien linnene clath bute hit beo of hearde ant of
greate heorden. Stamin habbe hwa-se wule, hwa-se wule beo buten.
    Ye schulen in an hetter ant i-gurd liggen, swa leotheliche thah thet ye mahen
honden putten ther-under. Nest lich nan ne gurde hire with na cunne gurdles, bute
thurh schriftes leave, ne beore nan irn ne here, ne iles-piles felles, ne ne beate hire
ther-with, ne with scurge i-leadet, with holin ne with breres, ne biblodgi hire-
seolf withute schriftes leave, no-hwer ne binetli hire, ne ne beate bivoren, ne na
keorvunge ne keorve, ne ne neome ed eanes to luthere disceplines, temptatiuns
for-te acwenchen. Ne for na bote ayein cundeliche secnesses, nan uncundelich
lechecreft ne leve ye, ne ne fondin, withuten ower meistres read, leste ow stonde
wurse.
    Ower schon i winter beon meoke, greate ant warme. I sumer ye habbeth leave
bear-vot gan, ant sitten, ant lihte scheos werien.
    Hosen withute vampez ligge in hwa-se liketh. I-scheoed ne slepe ye nawt, ne
no-hwer bute i bedde. Sum wummon inoh-reathe wereth the brech of here ful wel
i-cnottet, the streapeles dun to the vet i-lacet ful feaste, ah eaver is best the swete
ant te swote heorte - me is leovere thet ye tholien wel an heard word, then an
heard here.
    Yef ye muhen beo wimpel-les ant ye wel wullen, beoth bi warme cappen ant
ther-uppon hwite other blake veiles. Ancren summe sungith in hare wimplunge,
na leasse then leafdis. Ah thah seith sum thet hit limpeth to euch wummon
cundeliche for-te werien wimpel. - Nai. Wimpel ne heaved-clath nowther ne
nempneth Hali Writ, ah wriheles ane: Ad Corinthios: Mulier velet caput suum.
"Wummon," seith the Apostle, "schal wreon hire heaved." "Wrihen" he seith -
nawt "wimplin." Wrihen ha schal hire scheome, as Eve sunfule dohter, i mungunge
of the sunne thet schende us on earst alle, ant nawt drahe the wriheles to tiffunge
ant to prude. Eft wule the Apostle thet wummon wreo i chirche hire neb yetten,
leste uvel thoht arise thurh hire on-sihthe. Et hoc est propter angelos. Hwi thenne,
thu chirch-ancre, i-wimplet, openest thi neb to wepmonnes ehe? Toyeines [the]
the sist men speketh the Apostle, yef thu the ne hudest. Ah yef thet ei thing wriheth
thi neb from monnes ehe, beo hit wah, beo hit clath i wel i-tund windowe, wel mei
duhen ancre of other wimplunge. Toyeines the the thus ne dest speketh the Apostle,
nawt toyeines othre, thet hare ahne wah wriheth with euch monnes sihthe, ther
awakenith ofte wake thohtes of - ant werkes other-hwiles. Hwa-se wule beon i-
sehen, thah ha atiffi hire nis nawt muche wunder. Ah to Godes ehnen ha is lufsumre,
the is for the luve of him untiffet withuten.
    Ring ne broche ne habbe ye, ne gurdel i-membret, ne gloven, ne nan swuch
thing thet ow ne deh to habben. A meoke surpliz ye mahen in hat sumer werien.
    Eaver me is leovere se ye doth greattre werkes.
    Ne makie ye nane purses for-te freondin ow with, bute to theo thet ower meistre
yeveth ow his leave, ne huve, ne blod-binde of seolc, ne laz, buten leave. Ah
schapieth ant seowith ant mendith chirche clathes ant povre monne hettren. Na
swuch thing ne schule ye yeoven withuten schriftes leave, na-mare then neomen
thet ye ne seggen him fore - as of othre thinges: kun other cuththe, hu ofte ye
undervengen, hu longe ye edheolden. Tendre of cun ne limpeth nawt ancre beonne.
A mon wes of religiun, ant com to him efter help his fleschliche brother, ant he
tahte him to his thridde brether, the wes dead biburiet - the ondswerede wundrinde:
"Nai," quoth he, "nis he dead?" "Ant ich," quoth the hali mon, "am dead gasteliche.
Na fleschlich freond ne easki me fleschlich frovre." Amites ant parures worldliche
leafdis mahen inoh wurchen. Ant yef ye ham makieth, ne makie ye th'rof na
mustreisun. Veine-gloire attreth alle gode theawes ant alle gode werkes. Criblin
ne schal nan of ow for luve ne for hure. Taveles ne forbeode ich nawt, yef sum
riveth surpliz other measse-kemese. Othre rivunges ne rive ha nawt, nomeliche
overegede, bute for muche neode.
    Helpeth ow with ower ahne swinc se forth se ye eaver mahen to schruden ow-
seolven ant feden, yef neod is, ant theo the ow servith.
    As Sein Jerome leareth, ne beo ye neaver longe ne lihtliche of sum thing allunges
idel, for anan-rihtes the feond beot hire his werc, the i Godes werc ne swinketh,
ant tuteleth anan toward hire, for hwil he sith hire bisi, he thencheth thus: "For
nawt ich schulde nu cume neh hire, ne mei ha nawt i-yemen to lustni mi lare." Of
idelnesse awakeneth muchel flesches fondunge. Iniquitas Sodome saturitas panis
et ocium - thet is, "Sodomes cwedschipe com of idelnesse ant of ful wombe."
Irn thet lith stille gedereth sone rust. Weater the ne stureth nawt readliche stinketh.
    Ancre ne schal nawt forwurthe scol-meistre, ne turnen ancre-hus to childrene
scole. Hire meiden mei learen sum other meiden thet were pliht of to leornin among
wepmen other bimong gromes, ah ancre ne ah to yemen bute Godd ane, thah bi
hire meistres read ha mei sum rihten ant helpen to learen.
    Ye ne schulen senden leattres, ne undervon leattres, ne writen bute leave.
    Ye schulen beon i-doddet other, yef ye wulleth, i-schaven fowr sithen i the yer,
to lihtin ower heaved - beo bi the her i-eveset, hwa-se swa is leovere - ant as
ofte i-leten blod ant, yef neod is, oftre. The mei beo ther-buten, ich hit mei wel
tholien. Hwen ye beoth al greithe i-lete blod, ye ne schule don na thing the threo
dahes thet ow greveth, ah talkith to ower meidnes, ant with theawfule talen schurteth
ow togederes. Ye mahen swa don ofte hwen ow thuncheth hevie, other beoth for
sum worltlich thing sare other seke, thah euch worltlich frovre is unwurthe to
ancre.
    Swa wisliche witeth ow in ower blod-letunge ant haldeth ow i swuch reste thet
ye longe th'refter mahen i Godes servise the monluker swinken, ant alswa hwen
ye feleth eani secnesse. Muchel sotschipe hit is leosen for an dei tene other tweolve.
    Wesscheth ow, hwer-se neod is, as ofte as ye wulleth, ant ower othre thinges:
nes neaver fulthe Godd leof, thah poverte ant unorneschipe beon him lic-wurthe.
    Understondeth eaver of alle theose thinges, thet nan nis heast ne forbod thet
beoth of the uttre riwle, thet is lute strengthe of, for-hwon thet te inre beo wel i-
wist, as ich seide i the frumthe. Theos mei beon i-changet hwer-se eani neod other
eani skile hit easketh, efter thet ha best mei the leafdi riwle servin as hire eadmode
thuften. Ah sikerliche withuten hire, the leafdi feareth to wundre.
    Ancre the naveth nawt neh honde hire fode beoth bisie twa wummen: an eaver
the leave ed hame, an other the wende ut hwenne driveth neod, ant theo beo ful
unorne, withuten euch tiffunge - other a lutel thuftene other of feier ealde. Bi the
wei as ha geath, ga singinde hire beoden, ne ne halde na tale with mon ne with
wummon, ne sitte, ne ne stonde, bute thet leaste thet ha eaver mei ear then ha ham
cume. No-hwider elles ne ga heo, bute thider as me send hire. Withute leave, ne
ne eote ha, ne ne drinke ute. The other beo eaver inne, ne withute the yeten ne ga
withute leave. Ba beon obedient to hare dame in alle thing, bute i sunne ane. Na
thing nabben thet heo hit nute, ne undervo na thing, ne ne yeove nowther, withuten
hire leave. Na mon ne leoten in, ne the yungre ne speoke with na-mon bute leave,
ne ga ha nawt ut of tune, withuten siker fere. Yef hit swa mei beon, ne ne ligge
ute. Yef heo ne con o boke, segge bi Pater nostres ant bi Avez hire ures, ant
wurche thet me hat hire withute gruchunge. Habbe eaver hire earen opene toward
hire dame. Nowther of the wummen ne beore from hare dame, ne ne bringe to
hire, nane idele talen, ne neowe tidinges, ne bitweonen ham-seolf ne singen, ne ne
speoken nane worldliche spechen, ne lahhen swa ne pleien, thet ei mon thet hit
sehe mahte hit to uvel turnen.
    Over alle thinges, leasunges ant luthere wordes heatien. Hare her beo i-corven;
hare heaved-clath sitte lahhe. Either ligge ane. Hare cop beo hehe i-sticchet ant
bute broche. Na mon ne seo ham unleppet ne open-heaved. Lah locunge habben.
Heo ne schulen cussen na mon, ne cuthmon ne cunnesmon, ne for na cuththe
cluppen ne weschen hare heaved, ne lokin feaste o na mon, ne toggin with ne
pleien. Hare weden beon of swuch schape, ant al hare aturn swuch, thet hit beo
edscene hwer-to ha beoth i-turnde. Hare lates lokin warliche, thet nan ne mahe
edwiten ham in hus ne ut of hus. On alle wise forbeoren to wreathen hare dame,
ant as ofte as heo hit doth, ear ha drinken other eoten, makien hare Venie, o cneon
dun bivoren hire, ant seggen, Mea culpa, ant undervon the penitence thet ha leith
upon hire, lutinde hire lahe. The ancre th'refter neaver mare thet ilke gult ne
upbreide for na wreaththe, bute yef ha eft sone falle i thet ilke, ah do hit allunge ut
of hire heorte. Yef ei strif ariseth bitweone the wummen, the ancre makie either to
makien other Venie o cneon to ther eorthe, ant either rihte up other, ant cussen on
ende, ant te ancre legge on either sum penitence, mare up-o the ilke the greatluker
gulte. This is a thing - witen ha wel - thet is Gode leovest: sahtnesse ant some
- ant te feond lathest. For-thi he is eaver umben to arearen sum leaththe. Nu sith
the sweoke wel, thet hwen fur is wel o brune, ant me wule thet hit aga, me sundreth
the brondes, ant he deth [on] hond thet ilke. Luve is Jesu Cristes fur, thet he wule
thet bleasie aa i thin heorte, ant te deovel blaweth for-te puffen hit ut. Hwen his
blawunge ne geineth nawt, he bringeth up sum uvel word, other sum other
nohtunge, hwer-thurh ha tohurten either frommard other - ant te Hali Gastes fur
cwencheth hwen the brondes thurh wreaththe beoth i-sundret. For-thi halden ham
i luve feaste togederes. Ant ne beo ham nawt of, hwen the feond blawe, nomeliche
yef monie beon i-veiet somet, ant wel with luve ontende. Thah the ancre on hire
meidnes for openliche gultes legge penitence, to the preost no-the-leater schriven
ham hwen neod is, ah eaver thah with leave.
    Yef ha ne cunnen nawt the mete-graces, seggen in hare stude Pater noster
bivoren, ant Ave Maria, ant efter mete alswa, ant a Credo mare, ant segge thus
on ende: "Feader, Sune, Hali Gast, [an] almihti Godd, yeove ure dame his grace,
se lengre se mare, ant leve hire ant us ba neomen god ende. Foryelde alle the us
god doth, ant milci hare sawle the us god i-don habbeth - hare sawle, ant alle
Cristene sawles."
    Bitweone mel ne gruseli nawt nowther frut ne other-hwet, ne drinken bute leave,
ant te leave beo liht in al thet nis sunne. Ed te mete na word, other lut, ant teo
stille. Alswa efter the ancre Complie, athet Prime, ne don na thing ne seggen,
hwer-thurh hire silence mahe beon i-sturbet.
    Nan ancre servant ne ahte bi rihte to easkin i-set hure bute mete ant clath thet
ha mei flutte bi - ant Godes milce. Ne misleve nan Godd - hwet-se tide of the
ancre - thet he hire trukie. The meidnes withuten, yef ha servith the ancre alswa
as ha ahen, hare hure schal beon the hehe blisse of heovene. Hwa-se haveth ehe of
hope toward se heh hure, gleadliche wule ha servin ant lihtliche alle wa ant alle
teone tholien: with eise ant with este ne buth me nawt blisse.
    Ye ancres ahen this leaste stucche reden to ower wummen euche wike eanes,
athet ha hit cunnen. Ant muche neod is thet ye neomen to ham muche yeme, for ye
mahen muchel beon thurh ham i-godet, ant i-wurset. On other half, yef thet ha
sungith thurh ower yemeles, ye schule beo bicleopet th'rof bivore the hehe deme,
ant for-thi as ow is muche neod, ant ham yet mare, yeornliche leareth ham to
halden hare riwle, ba for ow ant for ham-seolf, litheliche ant luveliche, for swuch
ah wummone lare to beonne, luvelich ant lithe, ant selt-hwenne sturne. Ba is riht
thet ha ow dreden ant luvien, ant thah thet ter beo eaver mare of luve then of
drede. Thenne schal hit wel fearen. Me schal healden eoli ant win ba i wunden
efter Godes lare, ah mare of softe eoli then of bitinde win. Thet is, mare of lithe
wordes then of suhinde, for ther-of kimeth thinge best - thet is, luve eie. Lihtliche
ant sweteliche foryeoveth ham hare gultes hwen ha ham i-cnaweth ant bihateth
bote.
    As forth as ye mahen, of mete ant of clathes, ant of othre thinges thet neode of
flesch easketh, beoth large toward ham, thah ye nearowe beon ant hearde to ow-
seolven. Swa deth the wel blaweth: went te nearewe of the horn to his ahne muth,
ant ut-ward thet wide. Ant ye don alswa as ye wulleth thet ower beoden bemin
wel ant dremen i Drihtines earen, nawt ane to ower ahnes, ah to alle folkes heale
- as ure Laverd leve thurh the grace of him-seolf thet hit swa mote, amen.
    Hwen ower sustres meidnes cumeth to ow to frovre, cumeth to ham to the thurl
ear-under ant over-under eanes other twien, ant gath ayein sone to ower note
gastelich, ne bivore Complie ne sitte ye nawt for ham over riht time, swa thet hare
cume beo na lure of ower religiun, ah gastelich biyete. Yef ther is eani word i-seid
thet mahte hurten heorte, ne beo hit nawt i-boren ut, ne i-broht to other ancre thet
is eth-hurte. To him hit schal beon i-seid, the loketh ham alle. Twa niht is inoh
thet ei beo edhalden, ant thet beo ful seldene, ne for heom ne breoke silence ed te
wmete ne for blod-letunge, bute yef sum muche god other neod hit makie.
    The ancre ne hire meiden ne plohien nane worldliche gomenes ed te thurle, ne
ne ticki togederes, for ase seith Seint Beornard, unwurthe thing is to euch gastelich
mon, ant nomeliche to ancre, euch swuch fleschlich frovre, ant hit binimeth
gastelich thet is withute met utnume murhthe - ant thet is uvel change, as is i-
seid th'ruppe.
    Of this boc redeth hwen ye beoth eise euche dei leasse other mare. Ich hopie
thet hit schal beon ow, yef ye hit redeth ofte, swithe biheve thurh Godes muchele
grace, elles ich hefde uvele bitohe mi muchele hwile. Me were leovere, Godd hit
wite, do me toward Rome, then for-te biginnen hit eft for-te donne. Yef ye findeth
thet ye doth alswa as ye redeth, thonckith Godd yeorne; yef ye ne doth nawt,
biddeth Godes are, ant beoth umben ther-onuven thet ye hit bet halden efter ower
mihte.
    Feader, Sune, Hali Gast - an almihti Godd wite ow in his warde. He gleadie
ow ant frovri ow, mine leove sustren, ant for al thet ye for him dreheth ant dreaieth,
ne yeove ow neaver leasse then al togedere him-seolven. Beo he aa i-heiet from
world into world aa on ecnesse. AMEN.
    Ase ofte as ye habbeth i-red ea-wiht her-on, greteth the Leafdi with an Ave for
him thet swonc her-abuten. Inoh meathful ich am the bidde se lutel. Explicit.
    I-thench on thi writere i thine beoden sum-chearre: ne beo hit ne se lutel, hit
turneth the to gode, thet tu bidest for othre.