fol. 185v Hwi ne serve we Crist and secheth his sauht Seoththe us wes at the font fulluht bytauht? Ne beo we siker of the lif onlepy nauht.fol. 186r Crist, kundeliche Kyng, cuth thu thi mayht.line5 Rihtwise Louerd on rode wes rauht, And tholede dom vor his duthe, that he wes ded strauht. Yef we habbeth werkes yeynes thi wille wrauht, Louerd, have merci of us, that never ne faht.

Hwi ne beo we duhty men and duten ure deden?line10 Al we schullen asyen and seo to the nede — Ther the crysme child for sunnes sore schal drede — Iseon ure Louerd Crist, that schal this world fede, Showen his wunden so blodi tobleden, Nouht for his gultes, bute for Adames deden,line15 Leste he schulde his duthe from himseolve scheden. Leve we this for sayn soth al so the Crede, As ich ihere bolde men upe bok rede: “Ther ere feole to fordeme in schynynde wede.”

Nis so wlonk under Crist ridynde on stede,line20 Ne theos crefty clerekes that upe bok rede, For gold ne for seolver, ne for glysyinde wede, For al the weole and the wyn that riche men fede, For seolk ne for cendal ne for deore wedes, That ne schal at the Dome beon demed of heore dedes.

line25 Ther is the sunfulle unsofte to beon; Hwer he not no wey fyr for to fleon, And Adames eyres beoth parted on thre, Ther is gronynge and grure and gryslich gle. Biseche we the Louerd — that weldeth the veoline30 As he, for monkunnes neodes, don wes on the treo — And Seynte Marie the brude, that bryht is and bleo, Leve that we moten at schrifte ure sunnes unwreo.

Hwi nule we thenchen and beo tholemode For him that tholede for us the wunden of blode?line35 Thayh we her hoppen ihosed and ischode,fol. 186v Heonne we schulle thrynge, that er were so mode. Bileveth oure weorre, warlawes wode! Al thes world is biheled myd hethene-hode. Seynte Peter wes prynce and pyned is on rode,line40 For to volewen ure Fader his wille thet he stode, And we wyth sunnes geteth saulene fode, Ye mowen iheren, fur drerlyke me demeth this gode.

Nu ye muwen iheren in chireche bo syngen and rede Hw Seynte Laurence wes ibrouht, bunde for to brede.line45 So he wes ihyed and hot on the glede. Ful derlike this deore mon dute his dede, Leste he schulde his saule horyen and schede In hethene helle, ther hirdsype is gnede. Biseche we ure Louerde, that schal this world fede,line50 That he have mercy of us of ure misdede.

Seynte Johan is the beste that ever wes iwrouht Seoththe God makede middel-erd and mon myd his thouht. Thureh his sely sermun, serewe him wes bythouht, The prophetes heved to present me brouht,line55 For to folewen ure Fader so he haveth thouht — Hwo ysayh ever blisse byterluker ibouht.

Seynt Thomas wes biscop, and barunes him quolde. Heo brutlede him ful breoly, the beornes that were bolde, For he wolde the lawe leoflyche holde,line60 As God wyth his werkes i this world stolde; For the luve of ure Fader vihten he nolde. Ther he tholede pyne, as the peple me tolde, For the dute of the Dom, he thet lif solde. Hwe schull ich, thauh ure heorte beon in holde.

line65 Alle we schulle to the deth dreoreliche gon, And bileven ure leove freond, everuychon; Me graveth this gode in greote and in ston,fol. 187r Ther wereth ure wlite in wurmene won. Ne geyneth us no grene ne no scarlat non,line70 The robes of russet ne of rencyan, Ne the ronke racches that ruskit the ron — Bothe him schal rotye, that body and the bon! Thayh thu frayny after freond, ne fyndestu non; Bute, saule for seorewe maketh hire mon.line75 He that fulewede himseolve in the Flum Jurdan, Thureh the sybnesse of Seynt Johan, Thureh the riche blode the roche tochon, Louerd, have mercy of us everuychon. Amen.

fol. 185v Why don’t we serve Christ and seek his accord After we’ve been baptized at the font? We’re not secure at all about our only life.fol. 186r Christ, lawful King, you’ve shown your might.line5 The righteous Lord was stretched on the cross, Suffered punishment for his people, stretched to death. If we’ve committed deeds counter to your will, Have mercy on us, Lord, who never resisted.

Why aren’t we loyal men and do your works?line10 We shall all decline and confront the need — The baptized child for sin shall be sorely afraid — Upon seeing our Lord Christ, who sustains this world, Display his wounds all bloodily bleeding, Not for his own guilt, but for Adam’s deeds,line15 Lest his worthy people be parted from him. Let’s believe in this saying as true as the Creed, As I hear good men read from books: “There are many to condemn in beautiful clothes.”

Under Christ there’s none so fine riding a horse,line20 Nor such clever clerks reading from books, With gold or silver, or glistening clothes, Or all the wealth and wine that feeds rich men, Or silk or fine linen or precious garments, Who at the Doom won’t be judged for their deeds.

line25 There the sinful shall be dealt with severely; They won’t know which way to flee the fire, And Adam’s heirs shall be divided into three groups, Where there’s groaning and horror and ghastly music. Pray we to the Lord — who sets the feeline30 Because he, for mankind’s need, was put on the cross — And to Saint Mary the Lady, who’s bright and lovely, Allow us in confession to expose our sins.

Why won’t we be mindful and patient For him who suffered bloody wounds for us?line35 Although we hop about here in our hose and shoes,fol. 186v Later we’ll be pressed, who once were so proud. Give up your resistance, insane sinners! All this world is covered with heathen practices. Saint Peter was a spiritual ruler and suffered on a cross,line40 Because to follow our Father he directed his will, And we sinful ones gain spiritual sustenance, As you may hear, for cruelly they judged this good man.

Now in church you may hear both sung and read How Saint Lawrence was brought, tied up to be burnt.line45 Thus was he pushed and made hot on the coals. Very dearly did this dear man perform his death, Lest his soul he should corrupt and destroy. In heathenish hell, where loyal service is scarce Let us pray to our Lord, who sustains this world,line50 That he have mercy on us for our sins.

Saint John is the best one ever created Since God made with his thought middle-earth and mankind. For his wondrous message, sorrow was planned for him, They brought the prophet’s head to be presented,line55 Because to follow our Father he was determined — He who saw eternal bliss paid the more bitterly.

Saint Thomas was a bishop, and barons killed him. They violently cut him to pieces, the men who were brazen, Because he wished to maintain the law justly,line60 As God by his works established in this world; For love of our Father he didn’t fight back. There he suffered pain, as people have told me, In awe of Doomsday, he delivered up his life. We each should, though our hearts resist.

line65 We all must to death miserably proceed, And abandon our dear friends, every one; They bury this good man in earth and in stone,fol. 187r Where our beauty wastes away in a wormy home. Of no use to us are gowns of green or scarlet,line70 Or robes of gray wool or mottled brown, Or strong hounds that startle in the thicket — Both of them shall rot, the body and the bone! Though you call out for friends, you won’t find any; Instead, the sorrowful soul will utter her lament.line75 He who baptized himself in the River Jordan, By the kinship of Saint John, By the rich blood that broke rock asunder, Lord, have mercy on us, every one. Amen.