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Lyk as the Bible makith mencioun, The original ground of devout offryng, Callyd of clerkys just decimacioun (In pleyn Ynglissh, trewe and just tithyng), Abel began, innocent of lyving, Oonly to God for to do plesaunce; Of frut, of beestys, reknyd every thyng,1 Gaff God his part, tenthe of his substaunce. Melchisedech, bisshop, preest and kyng, To Abraham, a prynce of gret puissaunce, For his victorye at his hoom comyng (Whan Amelech was brouht unto uttraunce), Offryd bred and wyn with devout obeisaunce. Of alle oblaciouns figurys out to serche, On bred and wyn by roial suffisaunce The feith is groundid of al Hooly Cherche.2 Of good greyn sowe growith up good wheete; With gret labour plantyd is the vyne; The tenthe part is to oure Lord mooste meete, To whos preceptis hevenly and divyne We muste our heedys meekly doun enclyne, Paye our dymes by His comaundementis: Moyses lawe and eek bi the doctryne - Foure Evangelistis and too Testamentis. Fro Melchisedech doun to Abraham -- To sette of tithes a fundacioun -- Th'encrees of frute and al that therof cam They trewly made there oblacioun. Whan Jacob sauh in his avisioun, Tyme that he slepte upon the cold stoon, Sauh on a laddere goon angelis up and doun, To God above made his avowh anoon. This was his vowh, with gret humylité Lik his entent, in ful pleyn language:3 "Lord, yif Thou list to conduite me, Of Thy grace fortune my passage To retourne hoom to myn herytage, My fadris hous come therto bytymes, Of good and tresoure with al the surplusage I shal to Thee offren up the dymes." Among al frutys in especial By a prerogatif excellent and notable, In worthynesse verray imperial, Of reverence condigne and honourable, By antiquité in templys custumable, In hooly writ remembryd ofte sithes, Wyn, oyle and wheete, frutis moost acceptable To God above were offryd up for tythes. The Patriark of antiquyté, Callyd Isaak, next by successioun To Abraham, which with thes frutys thre4 Gaff to Jacob his benediccioun. The which thre in comparisoun (Of the moralité whoso takith heed) To preesthood first and kynges of renoun:5 Gret mysteries in oyle, wyn, and breed. Breed and wyn to bisshopis apparteene, Oyle longith for to anoynte kynges, Offryng is maad of frutys ripe and greene, Of foul and beeste and of al othire thynges; Breefly conclude: all folk in there livynges That trewly tithe with glad herte and face, Patriarkis, prophetis in ther writynges, Shal evere encreese with fortune, hap, and grace.6 And who fro God withhalte his dewté Lat hym knowe for pleyn conclusyoun Of warantise he shal nevire the, Lakke grace and vertuous foysoun, Of ther tresoure discrece in ech sesoun; To hooly chirche that wil nat pay hys dyme,7 Lat hym adverte and have inspeccioun What there befyl in Awstynes tyme. I meene Austyn that was fro Rome sent By Seyn Gregory into this regioun, Graciously arryved up in Kent, Famous in vertu, of gret perfeccioun. His liff was lyk his predicacioun: As he tauht, sothely so he wrouhte. By his moost hooly conversacioun, Into this lond the feith of Crist he brouhte. Thoruh al the parties and provynces of the lond Of Cristis gospel he gan the seed to sowe, Unkouth myracles wrouhte with hys hond; Worshipped he was bothe of hih and lowe, Withouten pompe grace hath his horn so blowe, Thoruh his merites, that the hevenly soun.8 He callid was, as it is wel knowe, Cristes Apostil in Brutis Albioun. He was Aurora whan Phebus sholde arise With his briht beemys on that lond to shyne, Callyd day sterre, moost glorious to devise. Our feith was dirkid undir the Ecliptik lyne, Oure mysbeleeve he did first enlumyne Whan he outsprad the briht beemys cleere Of Cristes lawe by his parfit doctryne, Thoruh al this lond to make his liht appeere. This was doon by grace or we were ware, Of th'Oly Goost by the influence,9 Whan foure steedys of Phebus goldene chare List in this regioun holde residence. Who droff the chare, to conclude in sentence, By goostly favoure of the nyne speerys, Til blissed Austyn by goostly elloquence Was trewe Auriga of foure gospelleeris? Or Austyn cam we slombryd in dirknesse Lyk ydolastres blyndid in oure siht; Of Cristes feith was curteyned the cleernesse Tyl sol justicie list shewe his beemys briht Of his mercy to clarefye the liht, Chace away oure cloudy ignoraunce, The Lord of lordys of moost imperial myht, Tavoyde away our frowarde mescreaunce. First, fro the pope that callid was Gregory, Awstyn was sent (who that list adverte - Tyme and date be put in memory), To Cristes feith whan he did us converte. Our goostly woundys felte as tho gret smerte, Deed was our soule, our boody eek despised, Tyl Awstyn made us cast of cloth and sherte: In coold watire by hym we were baptised. Kyng Ethelbert regnyng that tyme in Kent, Touchyng the date whan Awstyn cam first doun, Noumbryd the tyme when that he was sent By Pope Gregory into this regioun, Yeer of our Lord by computacioun Compleet five hundryd fourty and eek nyne, As cronyclers make mencioun, In ther bookys fully determyne. Thus he began by grace of Goddis hond (Wher God list werche may be noon obstacle), By his laboure was cristened al this lond, Feith of our Lord wex moor cleere than spectacle. Whan th'Oly Goost made His habitacle In tho personys that wern in woord and deede By Awstyn tournyd, God wrouhte a gret myracle To make hem stable in Articles of the Creede. But to resorte ageyn to my mateere: With th'Oly Goost Austyn sett afire Gan preche and teche devoutly the maneere Of Cristes lawe abrood in every shire, Grace of our Lord did hym so inspire To enlwmyne al this regioun. Of aventure his herte gan desire To entre a village that callid was Comptoun. The parissh preest of the same place Aforn provided, in ful humble wyse Besouhte hym meekly that he wolde of grace Here his compleynt as he shal devise. In pleyn language told hym al the guyse: Lord of that thorpe, requeryd ofte sithes - He ay contrayre t'obeye to th'emprise10 Of Hooly Chirche - list not paye his tithes. "Entretid hym lik to his estat,11 First secrely, next afforn the toun, But al for nouht: I fond hym obstynat, Moost indurat in his oppynyoun, Toold hym the custom groundid on resoun - He was bounde by lawe of oold writyng To pay his dymes - and for rebellioun I cursyd hym, cause of fals tithyng. "This mateer hool ye must of riht redresse, Requeryng you of your goodlyheede, By youre discrecioun to do rihtwisnesse, Peysen al the cas and prudently take heede That Hooly Chirche have no wrong in deede; Al thyng commytted and weyed in ballaunce, Ye to be juge, and lyk as ye proceede We shall obeye to youre ordynaunce." Hooly Awstyn, sad and wel avised, Kneuh by signes this compleynt was no fable And in maneere was of the caas agrised,12 Fond that the lord was in that poynt coupable. To reduce hym and mak hym moor tretable, As the lawe ordeyned hath of riht, Blissid Awstyn, in Cristes feith moost stable, Took hym apart, seyde unto this knyht, "How may this be that thou art froward To Hooly Chirche to pay thy dewtee? Lyk thy desert thou shalt have thy reward; Thynk that thou art bounde of trouthe and equitee To paye thy tithes; and lerne this of mee: The tenthe part fro God yif thou withdrawe,13 Thou muste incurre of necessite To been accursyd by rigoure of the lawe." The knyht, astonyed somwhat of his cheere, "Sire," quod he, "I wol wel that ye knowe My labour is ay from yeere to yeere, By revolucioun, that the lond be sowe;14 Afore this peple stondyng heere arowe, By evidence to maken an open preef, What maner boost that ony man list blowe,15 I with the nynthe wil have the tenthe cheef. "Sey what ye list, I wyl have no lasse." This was the answere pleynly of the knyht; Hooly Austyn dispoosid hym to Masse, Ful devoutly and in the peeplys siht, Tornyd his face, comaundith anoon riht Ech cursyd man that wer out of grace, Tyme of his Masse that every maneere wiht That stood accursyd, voyde shulde his place. Present that tyme many creature, Withoute abood or any long taryeng Ther roos up oon out of his sepulture Terrible of face, the peeple beholdyng, A greet paas the chircheyeerd passyng, The Seyntuarye bood ther a greet whyle, Al the space the Masse was seyeng, Feerfully afore the chirche style. Withoute meevyng, alway stille he stood; The peeple, feerful in ther oppynyoun, Almoost for dreed they gan to wexen wood. Afftir Masse alle of assent cam doun, To hooly Austyn made relacioun Of al this caas riht as it was falle. Gaff hem a spirit of consolacioun, Ful sobirly spak unto them alle. Sad and discreet in his advertence, Sauh by there poort that they stood in dreede. First of alle with ful devout reverence Cros and hooly watir he made aforn proceede (The crucifix ther baner was in deede), Blissid Austyn the careyn gan compelle "In Jesu name, that lyst for man to bleede, What that thu art trewly for to telle." "Disobeisaunt my tithes for to paye, Of yoore agoon I was lord of this toun, My dewtees I did alwey delaye, Stood accursyd for my rebellioun, Made in my liff no restitucioun. Geyn thy biddyng I myht no socoure have, My cursyd careyn, ful of corrupcioun, By Goddis angel was cast out of my grave. "Thy precept was upon ech a side, Beyng at Masse whil thou were in presence.16 No stynkyng flessh myht in the poorche abyde, I was take up, lad forth by violence. On me was yove so dreedful a sentence Of curs, allas! Which to my diffame Now, as ye seen, for disobedience Disclaundrid is perpetuelly my name. "Tyme whan Britouns were lordis of this lond, Hadde the lordship and domynacioun, The same tyme, as ye shal undirstond, Of this village in sothe I was patroun, To Hooly Chirche hadde no devocioun, Offte sithe steryd of my Curat To paye my dymes, hadde indignacioun, Was ay contrayre, froward, and obstinat. "This hundryd yeer I have enduryd peyne, And fifty ovir by computacioun; Greet cause have I to moorne and to compleyne In a dirk prisoun of desolacioun Mong firy flawmys, voyd of remissioun." And whil that he this wooful tale toold, Hooly Austyn with the peeple enviroun Wepte of compassioun, as they to watire woold. Austyn gan muse in his oppynyoun To fynde a mene the sowle for to save. Of this terrible doolful inspeccioun The peeplis hertys gretly gan abave, Whom to behoolde they cowde no coumfort have17 Al the while the careyn was in there presence. Austin axith yif he knew the grave Of thilke preest that gaf un hym sentence "So long aforn for thy fals tythyng, As we have herd the mateer in substaunce." "Sothly," quod he, "there shal be no taryeng, But ye shal have a reconysaunce So ye wil digge and doon youre observaunce To delvyn up his boonys dul and rude -- Loo! heer he lith, cheef cause of my grevaunce, So fel a curs he did on me conclude." Austyn fulfilled of grace and all vertu, As ony pileer in our feith moost stable, The deed preest in name of Crist Jhesu He bad arise with woordys ful tretable, Requeryd hym, by tokenys ful notable, Yif he hadde, sith tyme that he was born, Seyn that owgly careyn lamentable, The deed boody that stood hem beforn. "Sothly," quod he, "and that me rewith soore,18 That evir I knewh hym, for his frowardness. I gaf hym counseil, daily moore and moore, To paye his tithes, the pereil did expresse. He took noon heed his surfetys to redresse. I warnyd hym many divers tymes, But al for nouht, I can weel bere witnesse, Deyed accursyd, rebel to paye his dymes." Whan the preest hath toold every deel, With evy cheer and voys most lamentable Quod Seyn Austyn, "Brothire, thou knowest weel, Thynk He that bouht us is evir merciable; By whoos exaumple we must be tretable As the Gospel pleynly doth recoorde, And for thy part be nat thu vengable So that with rigoure mercy may accoorde. "Thynk how Jhesus bouht us with His blood, Oonly of mercy suffryd Passioun, For mannys sake was nayled on the Rood, Rive to the herte for oure redempcioun. Remembre how thu dist execucioun Upon this penaunt ploungid in greet peyne. Withdrawe thy sentence and do remissioun, Fro Purgatorye his trowblys to restreyne.19 "On hym thu leydist a ful dreedful bond, To thee it longith the same bond to unbynde. Tak this flagelle devoutly in thy hond, On Cristes Passion in this mateere have mynde; Many exaumple to purpoos thu mayst fynde Of trespasours relesyd of there peyne, Of Petir, Poule, and Sein Thomas of Ynde, Of Egipsiacha, and Mary Mawdeleyne, "Take to mercy for there greet repentaunce, There was noon othir mediacioun. Thu must of riht yeve hym his penaunce With this flagelle of equité and resoun, Sette on this careyn a castigacioun As he requerith kneelyng afor thy face; Best restoratif next Cristes Passioun Is thyn assoylyng for his gret trespace." Al this was doon by the comaundement Of Seyn Austyn, the careyn ther knelyng; Lord of that village was also there present, Al the peeple moost pitously sobbyng, From there eyen the teerys distyllyng. The last preest, reised from his grave, The tothir corps with bittir fel scorgyng Assoyled him his soule for to save.20 Oo ded man assoiled hath anothire (An unkouth caas merveilous texpresse), Oon knelith doun, requerith of the tothire Pleyn remissioun of oold cursidnesse; Bete with a scorge, took it with meeknesse, Hopyng that Jhesus shuld his soule save. Seyn Austyn bad him in hast he shuld hym dresse, Thankyng our Lord, ageyn unto his grave. Circumstauncis in ordre to accounte, Of this miracle peised every thyng,21 Mercy of our Lord doth everythyng surmounte. To save and dampne He is Lord and Kyng, Hevene and helle obeye to His biddyng, By many exaumple expert in this mateere.22 Trajan the Emperour for his just deemyng Isavid was by meene and the prayeere Of Seyn Gregory, Pope of Rome toun: Cause in his doomys he did so gret riht, Rigour was medlyd with remyssioun. For He that is of moost imperial myht List advertise in His celestial siht, Tween rihte and favour, rigoure and pité, By doom and sentence of every maneere wiht,23 Mercy of virtues hath the sovereynté. Unto the preest aforn that I you toold Seyn Austyn made a straunge questioun, To cheese of tweyne, whedir that he woold: To goon with hym thoruh this regioun, The feith of Crist by predicacioun, For his part groundid on scripture, To doon his deveere of hool affeccioun;24 Or to resoorte ageyn to his sepulture. "Fadir," quod he, "with supportacioun Of your benygne fadirly pité, I you requeere to graunte me pardoun, Unto my grave I may restooryd be; This world is ful of mutabilité, Full of trouble, chaung, and varyaunce, And for this tyme, I pray you, suffrith me T'abyde in reste from worldly perturbaunce. "I rest in pees and take of nothyng keep, Rejoisshe in quiete and contemplacioun, Voyd of al trouble. Celestial is my sleep And, by the meene of Cristes Passioun, Feith, hoope, and charité, with hool affeccioun, Been pilwes foure to reste upon by grace Day of the general resurreccioun, Whan Gabriel callith t'appeere aforn his face." "O brothire myn, this choys is for thy beste! Contemplatiff, fulfilled of al pleasaunce, I pray to God sende thee good reste, Of goostly gladnesse sovereyn suffisaunce.25 Pray for us and have in remembraunce Al Hooly Chirche in quiete to be crownyd, That Crist Jhesus dispoose so the ballaunce That Petris ship be with no tempest drownyd. "I meene as thus: that noon heresye Ryse in thes dayes, nor noon that was beforn, Nor no darnel growe nor multeplye, Nor no fals cokkyl be medlyd with good corn. Cheese we the roosys, cast away the thorn. Crist boute us alle with His precious bloode: To that He bouht us lat no thyng be lorn,26 For our redempcioun He starf upon the Rood." The knyht, present lord of the same toun, Thes miracles whan he did se, Austyn axith of hym this questioun, "Wilt thu," quod he, "paye thy dewté?" He grauntith his axing and fyl doun on his kne, Moost repentaunt forsook al the world as blyve, With devout herte and al humylité Folwith Seyn Austyn duryng al his live. Go litil tretys, void of presumpcioun! Prese nat to ferre, nor be nat to bold; This laboure stant undir correccioun,27 Of this miracle remembryd manyfold, In many shire and many cité toold. To you echon to whom I it directe, Bycause I am of wittis dul and old, Doth your deveere this processe to corecte. |
source by scholars (see note) [He] gave (see note) power the land of the Amalekites; destruction sowed appropriate; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) tithes also; [gospel] teachings two (see note) (see note) (t-note) angels walking vow please; guide let my journey succeed to arrive at in good time goods; excess outstanding fitting In temples according to ancient custom many times; (see note) (see note) (see note) Gave his blessing to Jacob is appropriate their whoever withholds from God what he owes; (t-note) notice; consider (see note) way of life parts Marvelous; (see note); (t-note) (see note) (see note) the dawn; the sun god; (see note) describe Astronomical equator; (t-note) (t-note) perfect; (see note) (t-note) before; aware; (see note) (see note) Chose spheres; (see note) Charioteer Before idolators "the sun of righteousness"; (see note) To reveal the light of his mercy To dispel; obstinate unbelief (t-note) whoever cares to take note are remembered at that time; pain also off To speak of; (see note) Reckoning (see note) calculate wishes to work grew; glass home those; were converted (see note) Austin, kindled by the Holy Spirit, By chance (see note) Previously appointed; (see note) kindly Hear; describe [it] all the particulars village; [although] often asked would not in private; in front of [I] told [Namely, that] he was; (see note) excommunicated him, because You are required; goodness Weigh; case [Let] all the evidence be considered judge; determine [it] serious and judicious; (see note) Knew [He] determined; guilty [as charged] reform; amenable justly (t-note) According to your deserts bound by be liable wish in rows statement sheaf; (see note) less at once excommunicated; (see note) Throughout his Mass; sort of person vacate I. e., in the presence of delay tomb [inside the church] as the people looked on rapidly; (t-note) Waited there outside the Cemetery; (see note) time; being said gate They became almost crazy with fear with [mutual] consent (see note) [He] gave; (t-note) perceptive; awareness [He] saw by their demeanor (see note); (t-note) corpse; (see note) who chose to bleed for mankind A long time ago (t-note) payment of debts Against your command; (see note) [The power of] your command was everywhere (see note) led given (imposed) [By] which to my shame Disgraced lord; (see note) [Although] many times urged by [I] had (see note) (see note) devoid of forgiveness around [him] [if] they would [dissolve] into water mind means At; spectacle grew disconsolate on him (i.e., the corpse); (see note) knowledge If; rite [of exhumation] unearth (see note) dire; bind (see note) clear and deliberate Asked Seen (t-note) (t-note) [and I] made clear the peril to repay his arrears [He] died With somber countenance merciful flexible (see note) may be reconciled; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) As an act of pure mercy Stabbed prosecuted penitent [formally] forgive [him] (see note) (see note) scourge (whip) (see note) sinners Granted mercy (forgiven); (see note); (t-note) justice Inflict; chastisement remedy except for absolution; transgression (see note); (t-note) (see note) One; (see note) strange Beaten; [he] endured (see note); (t-note) judgment; (see note) intercession Because Justice; joined; forgiveness He (i.e., God) Was pleased to acknowledge (see note) (see note); (t-note) grave [the] help request [So that] unto allow; (t-note) To wait pay no heed to anything; (see note) (see note); (t-note) pillows [Until the] day; (see note); (t-note) summons [us] to appear (see note) to send you (see note) (see note) cockle; mingled bought (redeemed); (t-note) died debt; (t-note) (t-note) at once (see note) too far Concerning; in various ways Do what you can; narrative |